Broj gnijezdećih parova i izbor vrsta stabala gačaca Corvus frugilegus u Zagrebu, Hrvatska

The Rook is a common breeding species in lowland Croatia where it inhabits agricultural and urban habitats. This study aimed to determine the trend of the Rook population in Zagreb and the preferences of the tree species for nesting. Data used in this analysis was collected from 2017 to 2023 through citizen science. From 2017 until 2023, a total of 20 rookeries were counted and the number of breeding pairs from 2017 has increased by 49.7%. The highest numbers of breeding pairs were observed in 2022 and 2023, with 1172 and 1168 active nests, respectively. Nests were located on 35 different tree species, with the London plane Platanus x acerifolia being the most common. Also, a significant proportion of the rookeries\u27 surroundings was covered by grasslands. A total number of 18 instances of nest destruction, tree removal, or the cutting down of main branches was recorded, aiming to reduce the Rook population. These efforts did not impact the overall numbers of breeding pairs significantly.Gačac je česta gnjezdarica u nizinskoj Hrvatskoj gdje nastanjuje poljoprivredna i urbana područja. Cilj ovog rada bio je odrediti trend populacije gačaca u gradu Zagrebu te vrste stabla na kojima se gnijezde. Podaci korišteni u analizi prikupljeni su od 2017. do 2023. godine metodom građanske znanosti. Volonteri su u istraživanom razdoblju posjećivali kolonije pri čemu su bilježili broj gnjezdećih parova, vrste stabla na kojima se gnijezda nalaze te ostale važne napomene. U razdoblju od 2017. do 2023. na području grada Zagreba zabilježeno je 20 kolonija te se broj gnijezdećih parova ukupno povećao za 49,7 %. Najveći ukupan broj gnijezdećih parova zabilježen je 2022. i 2023. godine s 1172 i 1168 gnijezdećih parova. Gnijezda su se nalazila na 35 različitih vrsta stabla, a najčešće na platani Platanus x acerifolia. U okolici kolonija zabilježen je velik udio travnjačkih površina koje su značajne za prehranu gačaca. Zabilježeno je 18 pokušaja uklanjanja gnijezda ili rezanja grana sa stabla na kojima se nalaze kolonije s ciljem smanjenja broja gačaca. Ti pokušaji nisu imali velik utjecaj na promjenu broja gačaca na području grada Zagrebu

Modular Smart House System Based on a Wireless Sensor Network

Smart House is an automated and controlled system, which enables adjustment of living environment according to user demands. Advancements of wireless sensor network (WSN) technology give us an opportunity to improve, simplify and ensure a costeffective smart home system. The paper describes the system composed of the BeagleBoard-xM, an XBeePro S2B coordinator, an XBee smart plug and a sensor, a mobile and a web application. The test solution was made in the laboratory environment. Compared to other existing solutions, the proposed system has benefits such as low-power consumption, cost effectiveness, modularity, module placement independence of power source, etc. In future, the system can be supplemented by power consumption regulation, speech and face recognition software, etc

UTJECAJ VJEŽBI DISANJA NA KVALITETU IZVEDBE TJELESNE AKTIVNOSTI

Disanje, kao osnova ljudskog života, proučavano je desetljećima unazad. Periodizacija treninga, kao osnova sportskog ostvarivanja cilja, sve do danas pokušava pronaći individualni savršeni plan za svakog sportaša pojedinačno. Sukladno toj ideji, s ciljem postizanja nepobjedivih rezultata, znanstvena istraživanja sve više uključuju i respiratorna saznanja u redove taktičko-tehničke pripreme. Dobro poznavanje fiziologije disanja ostavlja znanstvenicima kvalitetnu podlogu za pronalaženje i objašnjavanje utjecaja koje vježbe disanja ostvaruju kao sastavni dio periodizacije treninga. Izvođenje vježbi disanja posljedično rezultira većim plućnim kapacitetom, boljom iskoristivošću VO2max, ekonomičnijim kretanjem te poboljšanjem izvedbe i profesionalnih i rekreativnih sportaša. Cilj rada je utvrditi kako vježbe disanja utječu na performans pojedinca, te može li se izoliranim vježbama respiratornog sustava poboljšati ukupni primitak kisika. Pregledom baza podataka (PubMed, Cochrane i Elsevier) pronađeni su radovi istraživačkog karaktera na navedeni cilj. Iako sportska i medicinska znanost imaju puno kvalitetnih informacija i znanja o važnosti disanja te pozitivnim učincima respiratornog treninga, ono još uvijek nije uključeno u svakodnevno ponašanje prosječnog čovjeka i profesionalnih sportaša

UTJECAJ VJEŽBI DISANJA NA KVALITETU IZVEDBE TJELESNE AKTIVNOSTI

Disanje, kao osnova ljudskog života, proučavano je desetljećima unazad. Periodizacija treninga, kao osnova sportskog ostvarivanja cilja, sve do danas pokušava pronaći individualni savršeni plan za svakog sportaša pojedinačno. Sukladno toj ideji, s ciljem postizanja nepobjedivih rezultata, znanstvena istraživanja sve više uključuju i respiratorna saznanja u redove taktičko-tehničke pripreme. Dobro poznavanje fiziologije disanja ostavlja znanstvenicima kvalitetnu podlogu za pronalaženje i objašnjavanje utjecaja koje vježbe disanja ostvaruju kao sastavni dio periodizacije treninga. Izvođenje vježbi disanja posljedično rezultira većim plućnim kapacitetom, boljom iskoristivošću VO2max, ekonomičnijim kretanjem te poboljšanjem izvedbe i profesionalnih i rekreativnih sportaša. Cilj rada je utvrditi kako vježbe disanja utječu na performans pojedinca, te može li se izoliranim vježbama respiratornog sustava poboljšati ukupni primitak kisika. Pregledom baza podataka (PubMed, Cochrane i Elsevier) pronađeni su radovi istraživačkog karaktera na navedeni cilj. Iako sportska i medicinska znanost imaju puno kvalitetnih informacija i znanja o važnosti disanja te pozitivnim učincima respiratornog treninga, ono još uvijek nije uključeno u svakodnevno ponašanje prosječnog čovjeka i profesionalnih sportaša

Association between aryl hydrocarbon receptor and 4-hydroxynonenal in oxidative stress-mediated chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Background: Сhronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) is a distinct entity within the chronic rhinosinusitis group of diseases, which are chronic upper airway diseases with several pheno- and endotypes. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CRSwNPs. Aim: The aim was to assess the association between the expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in patients with CRSwNPs. Methods: The study included 26 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery – 14 patients with CRSwNPs, and 12 controls with healthy sinus mucosa. The expression of AhR and 4-HNE was assessed in tissue samples using immunohistochemistry. The level of 4-HNE in serum samples was measured using the ELISA assay. The total oxidative capacity (TOC) was assessed by measuring the peroxidase activity. Results: Higher levels of 4-HNE expression were observed in tissues (3, range 1-3 vs. 0, range 0-0, p<0.001) and serum (27.7±11.5 vs. 9.8±7.7 pmol/mg, p<0.001) samples of CRSwNPs patients, as compared to healthy controls. A higher expression of AhR was found in inflammatory cells (plasma cells, lymphocytes, eosinopholes) of CRSwNPs patients, compared to controls (3, range 1-3 vs. 2, range 1-2, p=0.001). There were no differences in TOC across groups (0.0285±0.0207 vs. 0.02978±0.0197 µM H2O2 eq., p=0.848). Patients with bronchial asthma (57%) had abundant eosinophiles in tissue samples. Patients with recalcitrant CRSwNPs had higher 4-HNE serum levels, compared to non-recalcitrant cases (27.3 vs. 24.2 pmol/mg, p=0.339). Conclusion: Patients suffering from CRSwNPs have oxidative stress mediated overexpression of AhR, which is linked to a chronic inflammatory response in the paranasal sinus tissues

Evaluation of Soil and Plant Nitrogen Tests in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production

Nitrogen (N) management is critical in optimizing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield and reducing environmental pollution. Several plant and soil based tests were proposed for assessment of N status in crop plants. Aim of this study was to evaluate the convenience of plant based tests (leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI) and petiole nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations) and soil based test (soil nitrogen (Nmin) content) for estimating potato N status. Experiment was conducted in North West region of Croatia in 2011 growing season as randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments were four N rates, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1. At pre-plant 50 kg N ha-1 was applied as NPK 7:20:30. Four side-dressed N rates, 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1 were applied 45 days after planting (DAP). CCI and petiole NO3-N concentrations were measured at 58 and 98 (DAP), while soil Nmin content was measured before planting, 58 DAP, 98 DAP and after harvest. No significant differences in total tuber yield were determined between 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1 treatments. Significantly highest residual Nmin content (33.25 kg ha-1) after harvest was determined on plots fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1, indicating potential N leaching during fall and winter. Significant linear relationship between petiole N-NO3 and N treatments were determined at 58 DAP (R2=0.32) and 98 DAP (R2=0.75) and between CCI and N treatments at 98 DAP (R2=0.62). Significant linear relationship between soil Nmin content and N treatments were determined at 58 (R2=0.57) and 98 DAP (R2=0.56). Plant based tests are better correlated with N treatments at later growth stages in which applied N could be utilized by the crop

Evaluation of Soil and Plant Nitrogen Tests in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production

Nitrogen (N) management is critical in optimizing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield and reducing environmental pollution. Several plant and soil based tests were proposed for assessment of N status in crop plants. Aim of this study was to evaluate the convenience of plant based tests (leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI) and petiole nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations) and soil based test (soil nitrogen (Nmin) content) for estimating potato N status. Experiment was conducted in North West region of Croatia in 2011 growing season as randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments were four N rates, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1. At pre-plant 50 kg N ha-1 was applied as NPK 7:20:30. Four side-dressed N rates, 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1 were applied 45 days after planting (DAP). CCI and petiole NO3-N concentrations were measured at 58 and 98 (DAP), while soil Nmin content was measured before planting, 58 DAP, 98 DAP and after harvest. No significant differences in total tuber yield were determined between 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1 treatments. Significantly highest residual Nmin content (33.25 kg ha-1) after harvest was determined on plots fertilized with 200 kg N ha-1, indicating potential N leaching during fall and winter. Significant linear relationship between petiole N-NO3 and N treatments were determined at 58 DAP (R2=0.32) and 98 DAP (R2=0.75) and between CCI and N treatments at 98 DAP (R2=0.62). Significant linear relationship between soil Nmin content and N treatments were determined at 58 (R2=0.57) and 98 DAP (R2=0.56). Plant based tests are better correlated with N treatments at later growth stages in which applied N could be utilized by the crop

Modular Smart House System Based on a Wireless Sensor Network

Smart House is an automated and controlled system, which enables adjustment of living environment according to user demands. Advancements of wireless sensor network (WSN) technology give us an opportunity to improve, simplify and ensure a costeffective smart home system. The paper describes the system composed of the BeagleBoard-xM, an XBeePro S2B coordinator, an XBee smart plug and a sensor, a mobile and a web application. The test solution was made in the laboratory environment. Compared to other existing solutions, the proposed system has benefits such as low-power consumption, cost effectiveness, modularity, module placement independence of power source, etc. In future, the system can be supplemented by power consumption regulation, speech and face recognition software, etc

Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Soil Chemical Properties on Vineyard Calcareous Soil

Organic fertilizers are an important contribution of organic matter that modify the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of the soil. The aim of investigation was to determine the effect of different organic fertilization on soil chemical properties on vineyard calcareous soil. Two-year fertilization trial was carried out in the Plešivica wine-growing region, in a 10-year old vineyard, cv. Sauvignon White grafted on Kobber 5BB rootstock, planted on soil with quite high pH for grapevine growing. The trial was performed according to randomize complete block design with 6 treatments (unfertilized, farmyard manure 20 t ha-1 and 40 t ha-1, peat 20 000 L ha-1 and 40 000 L ha-1, NPK 5-20-30 500 kg ha-1+200 kg UREA ha-1) in 4 repetitions. Statistically significant differences in soil reaction (pH) in plowing layer (0-30 cm) were found among fertilization treatments in the second year of studies. In the plowing layer (0-30 cm) in both years of the study significant differences between the values of average total nitrogen content and available phosphorus as well were found, while there were no significant differences in the subplowing layer (30-60cm). Regarding to average value of fertilization treatment, statistically significant difference in the content of available potassium in plowing layer were found in the both investigated years, while in subplowing layer statistical differences were found in the first year of investigation only. Therefore, fertilization with different organic fertilizers significantly influenced the most of studied chemical properties of the soil, especially in plowing layer (0-30 cm)

Causes of lawn and ornamental plants degradation at the Patriotic War Memorial Cemetery in Vukovar

Provedena istraživanja imala su za cilj utvrditi razloge propadanja travnjaka i ukrasnog bilja na Memorijalnom groblju žrtava Domovinskog rata u Vukovaru. U tu svrhu otvorena su tri reprezentativna pedološka profila iz kojih su uzeti uzorci tla za fizikalne i kemijske analize te sedam prosječnih uzoraka tla u kojima su određena kemijska svojstva tla te biljno hranidbeni kapacitet tla. Određivanje fizikalnih i kemijskih svojstava tla obavljeno je u Zavodu za ishranu bilja Agronomskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu standardnim analitičkim metodama. Na temelju provedenih istraživanja fizikalno-kemijskih svojstava tla utvrđeni su značajni propusti u pripremi tla i uzgojnog supstrata za biljke. To se prvenstveno odnosi na slabu dreniranost tla što uzrokuje površinsko stagniranje oborinskih i drugih voda, zbog pojave nepropusnog sloja tla i zbijenost tla u vrijeme sušnog razdoblja. Također su utvrđena vrlo nepovoljna fizikalna i kemijska svojstva tla (visoka pH vrijednost), a relativno niski biljno-hranidbeni kapacitet tla. Zbog vrlo slabe propusnosti tla, potrebno je postaviti sustav cijevne drenaže koji će omogućiti odvođenje suvišne vode u pojedinim razdobljima godine. Unošenjem većih količina organske tvari (treseta cca 4-5 L/m2 i zrelog stajskog gnojiva cca 4-5 kg/m2) i pijeska te dobrim miješanjem s postojećim tlom, povećat će se propusnost, kapacitet tla za zrak i vodu i stabilnost strukture, a umanjit će se specifična masa tla volumna i zbijenost tla. Povoljna pH reakcija tla za određenu kulturu može se postići unošenjem različitih količina treseta odgo-varajuće pH vrijednosti. Osnovnom gnojidbom s većim količinama mineralnih gnojiva, poglavito fosfornih, povećava se fond pristupačnih hraniva u tlu.The aim of the research was to find the reasons for lawn and ornamental plants degradation at the Patriotic War Memorial Cemetery in Vukovar. For this purpose, three representative pedological profiles were opened, from which soil samples were taken for physical and chemical analyses. Seven average soil samples were also taken for determining soil chemical properties and the plant nutrition capacity. Physical and chemical properties of the soil were analyzed in the Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, by standard analytical methods. Analyses of the soil physical and chemical properties revealed considerable oversights in the soil and substrate preparation for cultivation. This primarily applies to poor soil drainage, which caused surface retention of precipitation and other waters because of the formation of a soil layer impervious to water and compactness during the dry period. Excessively high soil reaction (pH value) was also recorded as well as a relatively low plant nutrition capacity. Due to very poor soil permeability, a pipe drainage system should be installed to enable draining of surplus water that appears in some parts of the year. Higher amounts of organic matter (cca 4-5 L/m2 peat and ca 4-5 kg/m2 ripe manure) and sand well mixed with the existing soil will increase the soil permeability, air capacity and structure stability. Specific soil volume and compactness will also be reduced. Acid Lithuanian peat will lower the pH value, while higher mineral fertilizer (mainly phosphorus) rates will raise the levels of available nutrients in soil