Gender differences in risky sexual behavior among adolescents

Seksualno rizično ponašanje u razdoblju adolescencije postaje sve veći problem današnjice. Iako adolescenti misle da sami donose odluku o svom ponašanju, ipak je njihovo ponašanje rezultat utjecaja različitih faktora. Općeprihvaćeno mišljenje jest da mladići manifestiraju više seksualnog rizika nego djevojke, ali za sve preventivne i edukacijske programe važno je pažnju usmjeriti se na razloge zašto ta razlika postoji. Da bi se ona objasnila potrebno je razmatrajući različite faktore pobliže objasniti njihov utjecaj na oblikovanje ponašanja. U ovom radu utjecaj je podjeljen na tri osnovne razine. Individualnu razinu čine psihološke, konstitucijske i biološke karakteristike pojedinca kao što su osobine ličnosti, religioznost, maturacija, znanje, broj seksualnih partnera, upotreba kontracepcijskih sredstava te konzumacija alkohola i droga. Razina užeg okruženja razmatra se pod vidom utjecaja obitelji, vršnjaka i susjedstva u kojem žive. Pod utjecajem obitelji misli se na njezinu strukturu te komunikaciju i povezanost s roditeljima. A vršnjački utjecaj podrazumijeva oblikovanje ponašanja adolescenata stavovima i ponašanjem njihovih prijatelja te ujedno percipiranjem njih kao osoba. Utjecaj susjedstva u kojem adolescenti žive može nastati zbog različite količine nadzora i podrške, različite proporcije jednoroditeljskih i dvoroditeljskih obitelji, a ujedno i zbog velike varijacije u socioekonomskom statusu ljudi koji u nekoj četvrti žive. Na posljednjoj razini, razini šireg okruženja, smjestili su se društvo i socijalne norme koje postavljanjem pravila oblikuju prihvatljiva ponašanja. Iz generacije u generaciju promjenom utjecaja faktora dolazi do trenda seksualne permisivnosti, a ujedno i do smanjenja spolnih razlika u manifestiranju seksualno rizičnog ponašanja. Iz tog razloga nužno je uz praćenje promjena u ponašanju adolescenata pratiti i promjene navedenih faktora

The effect of Facebook self-disclosure on the reduction of uncertainty, liking and social attractiveness

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati utjecaj samootkrivanja na Facebooku na smanjenje nesigurnosti, sviđanje i socijalnu atraktivnost prilikom inicijalnog kontakta. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 196 studenata) u dobi od 18 do 25 godina koji su bili raspoređeni u tri eksperimentalne situacije. Svaka situacija razlikovala se po razini samootkrivanja na Facebook profilu (niska, srednja, visoka). Sudionici su procjene vlastite nesigurnosti, sviđanja i socijalne atraktivnosti prezentirane osobe izvršavali na Skali opće nesigurnosti, Skali sviđanja, Skali interpersonalne privlačnosti- subskala Socijalne atraktivnosti te su ispunili i upitniku o njihovim sociodemografskim podacima. Korelacije između ispitivanih varijabli nisu se pokazale statistički značajnima. Složenom analizom varijance utvrđeno je da ne postoji efekt individualnih faktora, razina samootkrivanja i spola procjenjivača, ali je dobivena njihova statistički značajna interakcija u slučaju procjene nesigurnosti koju izaziva prezentirana osoba te razine sviđanja. Prema dobivenim rezultatima žene pokazuju manju razinu nesigurnosti i višu razinu sviđanja u situaciji većeg samootkrivanja prezentirane ženske osobe nego muškarci.The aim of this study was to examine the effects of self-disclosure via Facebook on uncertainty reduction, liking and social attraction in initial interaction. The sample consisted of 196 students (M = 96, F = 100) ranging from 18 to 25 years. They were divided into three experimental situations differing by the level of self-disclosure on Facebook profile (low, medium, high). Participants completed a survey reporting their levels of uncertainty, liking and social attraction while making judgements about presented person on General uncertainty scale, Likability Scale and Interpersonal Attraction Scale- subscale Social attraction. They, also, filled out sociodemografic questionnare about themselves. No significant association between examined variables were found. The results of MANOVA indicated that there is no univariate main effects for self-disclosure level and percievers gender, but significant interaction effect for the level of uncertainty and liking evoked by the presented person. Results showed that women had lower levels of uncertainty and higher levels of liking in the situation of high level of self disclosure on female Facebook profile than male

Gender differences in risky sexual behavior among adolescents

Seksualno rizično ponašanje u razdoblju adolescencije postaje sve veći problem današnjice. Iako adolescenti misle da sami donose odluku o svom ponašanju, ipak je njihovo ponašanje rezultat utjecaja različitih faktora. Općeprihvaćeno mišljenje jest da mladići manifestiraju više seksualnog rizika nego djevojke, ali za sve preventivne i edukacijske programe važno je pažnju usmjeriti se na razloge zašto ta razlika postoji. Da bi se ona objasnila potrebno je razmatrajući različite faktore pobliže objasniti njihov utjecaj na oblikovanje ponašanja. U ovom radu utjecaj je podjeljen na tri osnovne razine. Individualnu razinu čine psihološke, konstitucijske i biološke karakteristike pojedinca kao što su osobine ličnosti, religioznost, maturacija, znanje, broj seksualnih partnera, upotreba kontracepcijskih sredstava te konzumacija alkohola i droga. Razina užeg okruženja razmatra se pod vidom utjecaja obitelji, vršnjaka i susjedstva u kojem žive. Pod utjecajem obitelji misli se na njezinu strukturu te komunikaciju i povezanost s roditeljima. A vršnjački utjecaj podrazumijeva oblikovanje ponašanja adolescenata stavovima i ponašanjem njihovih prijatelja te ujedno percipiranjem njih kao osoba. Utjecaj susjedstva u kojem adolescenti žive može nastati zbog različite količine nadzora i podrške, različite proporcije jednoroditeljskih i dvoroditeljskih obitelji, a ujedno i zbog velike varijacije u socioekonomskom statusu ljudi koji u nekoj četvrti žive. Na posljednjoj razini, razini šireg okruženja, smjestili su se društvo i socijalne norme koje postavljanjem pravila oblikuju prihvatljiva ponašanja. Iz generacije u generaciju promjenom utjecaja faktora dolazi do trenda seksualne permisivnosti, a ujedno i do smanjenja spolnih razlika u manifestiranju seksualno rizičnog ponašanja. Iz tog razloga nužno je uz praćenje promjena u ponašanju adolescenata pratiti i promjene navedenih faktora

Functional and immunophenotypic characteristics of NK cells from regional lymph nodes of melanoma patients and their in vitro activation with IL-2 and IL-15

Melanom, maligni tumor melanocita, iako ima brojna imunogenicna svojstva, predstavlja tumor kože sa najvišom incidencom smrtnosti. Za anititumorsku imunost u melanomu posebno su znacajne celije prirodne ubice (NK celije), efektorske celije sistema uroene imunosti koje mogu neposredno da prepoznaju maligno transformisane celije i da ih liziraju citolitickim enzimima (perforin i granzimi) kao i da produkcijom citokina i hemokina regulišu adaptivnu i uroenu amtitumorsku imunost. NK celije su prisutne u mnogim tkivima i organima. Kod melanoma su uglavnom proucavane NK celije u perifernj krvi i u tumorskom tkivu, dok NK celije regionalnih limfnih cvorova (LC) obolelih nisu do sada ispitivane. NK celije su CD3-CD56+ i obuhvataju dve funkcionalno razlicite subpopulacije, imunoregulatornu, CD3-CD56sjajno+ i citotoksicnu, CD3-CD56potmulo+. Funkcija NK celija je regulisna balansom signala koji poticu od aktivacionih i inhibitornih NKcelijskih receptora. Aktivacioni receptori prepoznaju stresogene ligande na tumorskim celijama, dok inhibitorni ubilacki receptori slicni imunoglobulinima (engl. Immunoglobulin-like Killer Receptors, KIR) vezivanjem za MHC molekule klase I inhibiraju NK celijsku funkciju i pored toga omogucavaju toleranciju NK celija na celije sopstvenog organizma. NK celije su prisutne u T celijskoj zoni LC, gde se odvija njihovo sazrevanje i diferencijacija. U fiziološkim uslovima u LC perifernom cirkulacijom dospeva uglavnom nezrela (CD3-CD56sjajno+) NK celijska subpopulacija koja cini veci deo NK celijske populacije u mirujucim limfnim cvorovima. Pod uticajem endogenih citokina u LC ova subpopulacija sazreva u citotoksicnu CD3-CD56potmulo+ perforin+CD16+KIR+ subpopulaciju koja zatim napušta LC. U patološkim stanjima dolazi do povecane zastupljenosti CD16+KIR+ NK celija u reaktivnim LC što može biti posledica povecane produkcije citokina uroene imunosti od strane dendriticnih celija, kao i Th1 citokina od strane stimulisanih T celija antigenima u LC, kao i selektivne migracije CD16+KIR+ NK celija u LC...Introduction: Melanoma, malignant neoplasm of melanocytes, despite of its immunogenicity is skin cancer with the highest mortality rate. In antitumor immunity im melanoma, natural killer (NK) cells as innate immune system effector cells play an important role as they are able to recognize malignantly transformed cells, lyse them by cytolitic enzymes (perforin and gramzymes) and also regulate adaptive and innate antitumor immunity by production of cytokines and chemokines. NK cells are present in many tissues and organs. In melanoma NK cells have been studied mostly in peripheral blood and in tumor tissue, while NK cells in regional lymph nodes (LN)s have not been investigated. NK cells are CD3-CD56+ and comprise two functionally distinct subsets, immunoregulatory, CD3-CD56bright+ and cytotoxic, CD3-CD56dim+. NK cell function is regulated by the balance of signals mediated by activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors. Activating receptors recognize stress induced ligands on tumor cells, while the inhibitory immunoglobulin-like killer receptors (KIR) by binding to MHC class I molecules inhibit NK cell function and enable self tolerance. NK cells are located mostly in T cell zone of LNs, where NK cell differentiation and maturation may occur. In physiological conditions, by peripheral circulation mostly immature CD3-CD56bright+ NK cell subset migrates to LNs and represents the majority of NK cell population in resting LNs. Endogenous cytokines in LN mediate maturation of this subset into cytotoxic CD3-CD56dim+ perforin+CD16+KIR+ subset that subsequently leaves LN. In pathological conditions, increase in CD16+KIR+ NK cell population in reactive LNs may be the consequence of increased production of innate immunity cytokines by dendritic cells, as well as Th1 cytokine production by antigen stimulated T cells in LNs, or selective migration of CD16+KIR+ NK cells into LNs..

The Croatian Adult Health Cohort Study (CroHort) - background, methodology & perspectives [CroHort: Hrvatska kohortna studija kardiovaskularnog zdravlja - pozadina, metodologija i perspektiva]

Health interview surveys are important source of health information. All previous adult population-based health interview surveys in Croatia until CroHort, were one-off projects with very limited possibility of data comparison. CroHort enabled repeated survey of CAHS 2003 respondents with almost identical questionnaire, thus providing comparable data on trends of different risk factors as well as their relation to the specific outcomes. Next follow-up survey of the CroHort cohort is foreseen for 2013. Health interview survey according to Eurostat methodology (EHIS) on the new representative sample of adult Croatian population is planned for 2014. As the data from health interview surveys are valuable in health policy, efforts should be made to increase their use by policymakers in Croatia

UPCOMING CHALLENGES ON REGULATING REMUNERATION OF THE DIRECTORS AND IMPLEMENTING REMUNERATION POLICIES

The European Parliament adopted the Directive 2017/828 as regards the encouragement of long-term shareholder engagement that grants shareholders to hold the right to vote on the remuneration policy for employees and directors. Following the collapse of large companies in the USA and common agency problem, the intent of regulators on capital markets was to ensure preconditions for stable companies, so remuneration policies were prescribed by the recommendations and through corporate governance mechanisms, such as is say on pay. In order to align interests of the companies and their directors, remuneration policy was recognized as one of the key instruments introduced by the EU legislator for financial institutions, primarily investment funds and banks. The implementation of the Directive into national legislation is mandatory, so for the first time the regulator gives shareholders the right to decide on the remuneration of directors, it gives them the option of setting the framework within the pay of directors is to be held and proposing public disclosure of remuneration policy. One of the major issues that will be imposed by the new Directive will be how and to what extent the decision on the remuneration of directors, will be left to the shareholders to vote at the general meeting. The authors in this paper analyze new system on remuneration policies, opportunities and obstacles that companies may face, as well as the challenges imposed to directors, in the implementation of the Directive in national legislation and practice

Dignity of Person in Context of Christian Anthropology

Dostojanstvo predstavlja najuzvišeniju vrijednost ljudske osobe i njezinu transcendentnu vlastitost. Nastojeći što cjelovitije obuhvatiti kompleksan pojam dostojanstva, članak u svome prvom naslovu polazi od interdisciplinarnog prezentiranja dostojanstva kroz filozofsko, teološko i bioetičko utemeljenje, koja nailaze na određena vrijednosna odstupanja s obzirom na njegovu univerzalnost i normativnost. Stoga se u drugom naslovu ukazuje i na nužnost pravne zaštite ljudskog dostojanstva u sklopu neotuđivih ljudskih prava. U završnom se naslovu nastoje integrirati prethodna dva, promatrajući dostojanstvo iz perspektive kršćanske personalističke antropologije, naglašavajući proistjecanje čovjekova dostojanstva, prije svega, na temelju stvorenosti čovjeka na sliku Božju, utemeljujući ga na integralnoj antropologiji koja čovjeka promatra u holističkoj objedinjenosti duha i tijela, na temelju čega proizlazi i njegova dimenzija svetosti, koja snažno afirmira čovjekovu dostojanstvenu nepovredivost, posebnim protektivnim naglascima iz perspektive Crkvenog učiteljstva.Dignity represents the supreme value of human being and his/her transcendental distinctiveness. Trying to cover the complex idea of dignity as fully as possible, the first part of the article starts from interdisciplinary presentation of dignity through philosophical, theological and bioethical foundation, which encounter certain value aberrations in view of its universality and normativity. Therefore, in the second part, the article points out the necessity of the person’s legal protection as part of inalienable human rights. The final part seeks to integrate the previous two, observing dignity from the perspective of Christian personalistic anthropology, emphasizing that the emergence of human dignity is primarily based on the creation of man in the image of God, founding it on the integral anthropology which observes man in the holistic unity of spirit and body. On this basis, the human dimension of holiness is also derived, which strongly affirms the inviolability of human dignity, with special protective emphases from the perspective of the Church Magisterium

The Role of Activating and Inhibitory NK Cell Receptors in Antitumor Immune Response

Natural killer (NK) cells express many newly identified activating and inhibitory receptors that upon engagement by cognate ligands on target tumor cells regulate NK cell antitumor activity. Recently, several paired NK cell receptor families that include receptors with similar binding specificities but opposite function have been defined. The expression of most important activating receptors, natural killer group 2D (NKG2D), natural cytotoxic receptors (NCR), DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM1) and activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KAR) is often decreased, while the expression of most prominent inhibitory NK cell receptors, killer cell inhibitory immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and CD94/NKG2A, may occasionally be increased in malignancies. These data indicate that impaired NK cell antitumor response results from NK cell receptor alterations induced by suppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment, including cytokines, growth factors, enzymes and metabolites, as well as by chronic NK cell receptor engagement by the tumor. The established alterations in NK cell receptor expression in cancer patients represent potential disease biomarkers and may aid in choosing therapies that upregulate activating or block inhibitory receptor function. Accumulating knowledge of NK cell biology has been helpful in creating novel therapeutic approaches that by release from tumor-influenced immunosuppression potentiate NK cell activity in cancer patients

Is There any Association between Blood Pressure and Education Level? the CroHort Study

The aim of this study was to explore how the association of 5-year cumulative incidence of arterial hypertension (further 5-CIAH) and education varies according to body weight, age and sex. The study was conducted on cohort of 1383 subjects aged 18+ with initially normal blood pressure (systolic <140 mmHg and diastolic <90 mmHg, and not taking medication). Data were collected in 2003 and repeated in 2008. Methods of descriptive statistics, c2 test and logistic regression were used. No association between education level and hypertension development was recorded in the group of men and in the group of woman aged 65+. In the group of women with normal body weight, younger than 65 years, significantly higher 5-CIAH values were recorded in those with less than 12 years of education (32.5% [22.0 to 42.9]) compared to those with 12 or more years of education (9.6% [6.1 to 13.1])

Is There any Association between Blood Pressure and Education Level? the CroHort Study

The aim of this study was to explore how the association of 5-year cumulative incidence of arterial hypertension (further 5-CIAH) and education varies according to body weight, age and sex. The study was conducted on cohort of 1383 subjects aged 18+ with initially normal blood pressure (systolic <140 mmHg and diastolic <90 mmHg, and not taking medication). Data were collected in 2003 and repeated in 2008. Methods of descriptive statistics, c2 test and logistic regression were used. No association between education level and hypertension development was recorded in the group of men and in the group of woman aged 65+. In the group of women with normal body weight, younger than 65 years, significantly higher 5-CIAH values were recorded in those with less than 12 years of education (32.5% [22.0 to 42.9]) compared to those with 12 or more years of education (9.6% [6.1 to 13.1])