The Challenge of Application of Phillips Curve: The Case of Croatia

In this paper hypothesis of relation between unemployment and the rate of change in prices is tested in Croatia with data spanning from 1962 to 2004. Empirical test is designed with a goal of testing the original Phillips curve developed by A. W. Phillips and adaptive expectation augmented Phillips curve designed by Edmund S. Phelps. Since both these versions of the relationship were designed for the US economy, authors suggest a new theory of accommodation through insolvency for the Croatian economy

Sollen wir das Vaterunser ändern – was, wie und warum? Unser kroatisches tausendjähriges Vaterunser

In der vorliegenden Studie Sollen wir das Vaterunser ändern – was, wie und warum? mit dem Untertitel Unser kroatisches tausendjähriges Vaterunser untersuchen die Autoren das Vaterunser ausgehend von dessen (vermutlicher) aramäischer Version, über seine schriftlich belegten griechischen und lateinischen Textversionen bis in die Gegenwart hinein. Dabei überprüfen sie sowohl die Genauigkeit der neueren Übersetzungen als auch die Verständlichkeit der Wortbedeutungen, wobei sie die eminentesten Kenner dieser Problematik berücksichtigen. Sie konzentrieren sich hauptsächlich auf das altslawische, altkroatische und kroatische Vaterunser und vergleichen es mit anderen, insbesondere mit anderen slawischen Vaterunser-Versionen. Dabei weisen sie auf die große Vielfalt in der reichhaltigen kroatischen pluridialektologischen Tradition, bis zu den neueren Übersetzungen und dem heutigen kroatischen Vaterunser hin. In der allseitigen Betrachtung der einzelnen Anrufungen des kroatischen Vaterunsers stellen die Autoren Schwankungen in der kroatischen Übersetzungstradition fest, wenn sie diese mit anderen, besonders den slawischen Versionen vergleichen. Die Autoren finden einige umstrittene Stellen heraus, die in Fachkreisen erörtert werden sollten, geben zugleich aber auch wichtige Hinweise dafür, was bei solchen Diskussionen berücksichtigt werden sollte. Was die Übereinstimmung mit der kroatischen Standardsprache betrifft, betonen die Autoren, dass die Eigenart des kirchlichen, biblischen und liturgischen Stils ständig im Auge behalten werden sollte. Insbesondere heben sie die Tatsache hervor, dass das Vaterunser ein universelles, internationales Gebet ist, das oft in mehreren Sprachen gleichzeitig gebetet, rezitiert oder gesungen wird. Sie betonen die Wichtigkeit der Treue zum Original, der Bewahrung der „ursprünglichen“ Textstruktur, des Sprechrhythmus, der Musikalität und der klassischen (hebräischen, griechischen und römischen) Auffassung von Gott und Mensch, Himmel und Erde, der Welt und des Universums als Indikatoren einer guten Übersetzung. Die ganze Studie durchzieht ein Gedanke: Weder Vater noch Vaterunser ist nur kroatisch. Tradition und Universalität verpflichten. Es gilt, die christliche biblische Bildung und Kultur zu fördern, und man soll nicht der Mode, den Trends und dem Zeitgeist aufsitzen

Upotreba alternativne i komplementarne medicine u bolesnika s malignim bolestima u velikom onkološkom centru i gledišta na budućnost

Usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is steadily increasing over the last decades, gaining medical, economic and sociological importance. The aim of the present study was to assess the use of complementary and alternative therapies in cancer patients. A crosssectional, descriptive survey design was used to collect data through an anonymous questionnaire. A total of 267 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients in this study was 60.3%. It was found that 61 heterogeneous CAM therapies were used, the most popular among patients being naturopathy/folk medicine. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of CAM use were high income, divorced status, female sex and younger age. In conclusion, considering the fact that a large proportion of patients used at least one CAM approach, we need to continue our efforts to improve the patient-oncologist communication in order to deliver most reliable information to patients and to better understand the possible standard medicine-CAM interactions. According to results of the latest studies, CAM therapies that help manage pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and other symptoms should be integrated into the patient overall care.Proširenost upotrebe komplementarne i alternativne medicine (KAM) u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća u stalnom je porastu, dobivajući sve veće medicinsko, ekonomsko i sociološko značenje. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je procijeniti proširenost upotrebe KAM u onkoloških bolesnika u Hrvatskoj. Studija je dizajnirana kao presječno, deskriptivno, pregledno istraživanje te je provedena u obliku anonimnog upitnika. Istraživanje je provedeno na onkološkoj i hematološkoj klinici kliničkog bolničkog centra s velikim obrtajem onkoloških bolesnika. Ukupno 267 bolesnika koji su dali svoj informirani pristanak bilo je uključeno u studiju. Nakon statističke analize utvrđena je učestalost upotrebe KAM kod onkoloških bolesnika 60,3%. Pokazalo se da je korišten ukupno 61 različit oblik KAM, a najpopularnija alternativna terapija među bolesnicima bila je naturopatija/narodna medicina. U multivarijatnoj logističkoj regresijskoj analizi nezavisni prediktori povezani uz korištenje KAM bili su visoka primanja, razveden/a stanje, ženski spol i mlađa dob. S obzirom na činjenicu da značajan udio bolesnika koristi barem jedan oblik KAM nužno je nastaviti djelovanje u smjeru poboljšanja komunikacije između bolesnika i onkologa te razmisliti o integraciji onih KAM terapija koje imaju pozitivan učinak u uklanjanju boli, mučnine, umora, anksioznosti i drugih simptoma u cjelokupnu onkološku skrb

Acinetobacter Baumannii Pneumonia Associated with Mechanical Ventilation in COVID-19 Pandemic

Infekcije uzrokovane bakterijom Acinetobacter baumannii predstavljaju veliki javnozdravstveni problem. Acinetobacter baumannii kontaminira bolničko okruženje, kožu i sluznice pacijenata te se prenosi rukama osoblja uzrokujući oportunističke infekcije kao što su upale pluća povezane s mehaničkom ventilacijom, bakterijemije, infekcije rana te urinarne infekcije. Ventilatorom uzrokovana upala pluća druga je po učestalosti nozokomijalna infekcija u jedinicama intenzivnog liječenja. Vodeći čimbenik rizika za razvoj ventilatorom uzrokovane upale pluća jest invazivna mehanička ventilacija. U pacijenata s bolešću COVID-19, liječenje u jedinicama intenzivnog liječenja često je zahtijevalo intubaciju i uporabu mehaničke ventilacije izlažući ih riziku od razvoja ventilatorom uzrokovane upale pluća. S obzirom na brojna preklapanja u kliničkoj slici COVID upale pluća i upale pluća povezane s ventilatorom, teško je sa sigurnošću odrediti njezinu prevalenciju. Oštećenja pluća uzrokovana bolešću COVID-19, imunosupresivna terapija, često profilaktičko korištenje antibiotika i organizacijske teškoće – prenapučenost u jedinicama intenzivnog liječenja, manjak osoblja, potreba za zaštitom osoblja od virusa SARS-CoV-2 (engl. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infekcije i dr., pridonijeli su povećanoj pojavnosti ventilatorom izazvane upale pluća uzrokovane Acinetobacter baumannii u pacijenata oboljelih od COVID-a. Brojni mehanizmi otpornosti na antibiotike, uz posljedično sve veću prevalenciju višestruko otpornih sojeva Acinetobacter baumannii predstavljaju izazov u liječenju. U osjetljivih sojeva, monoterapija karbapenemima dovodi do pozitivnog ishoda. Liječenje karbapenem-otpornih Acinetobacter baumannii sojeva u kompliciranim infekcijama provodi se uglavnom kolistinom. Kolistin se može primjenjivati intravenski i inhalacijski te ga se preporučuje koristiti u kombinaciji s drugim djelotvornim antibioticima.Infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii are a major public health issue. Acinetobacter baumannii contaminates the hospital environment, skin, and mucous membranes of patients and is transmitted by the hands of staff, causing opportunistic infections such as pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation, bacteremia, wound infections, and urinary tract infections. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection in the intensive care units. The leading risk factor for the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia is invasive mechanical ventilation. In the patients with COVID-19 disease, the treatment in intensive care units often required intubation and the use of mechanical ventilation, exposing them to the risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia. Given the numerous overlaps in the clinical picture of COVID-19 pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia, it is difficult to determine its prevalence with certainty. Lung damage caused by COVID-19, immunosuppressive therapy, frequent prophylactic use of antibiotics, and organizational difficulties (overcrowding in intensive care units, staff shortages, the need to protect staff from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, etc.) have contributed to the increased incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in COVID-19 patients. Numerous mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains such as carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii present a challenge in treatment. In susceptible strains, monotherapy with carbapenems leads to a positive outcome. The treatment of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains in complicated infections is carried out mainly with colistin. Colistin can be administered intravenously or by inhalation, and it’s use in combination with other effective antibiotics is recommended

Referendum in the Republic of Croatia

Referendum, kao jedan od najvažnijih instituta demokratskog društva koji omogućuje građanima da izravno sudjeluju u vlasti, posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća doživljava svojevrsnu renesansu u nizu zemalja. Iako je blagi napredak vidljiv i u Hrvatskoj, to je još uvijek nedostatno u usporedbi s drugim državama. Rad se bavi referendumom kroz njegov zakonodavni okvir. Uspoređuju se državni i lokalni referendum, te se navode nedostaci njihova zakonodavnog uređenja. Nedostaci se navode i na primjerima do danas održanih državnih referenduma u Republici Hrvatskoj. Hrvatsko referendumsko iskustvo vrlo je siromašno sa samo tri državna referenduma i nekolicinom lokalnih referenduma. Razlog tome može se naći u svijesti kako političara tako i samog naroda. Političari nerado dijele vlast s narodom, a narod ne pokazuje dovoljan interes za referendum, čemu svjedoče posljednja dva državna referenduma. Takvom problemu ishodište se može pronaći u restriktivno uređenom referendumu, naročito kada je riječ o referendumu na temelju građanskih inicijativa. Na kraju rada, navode se moguća rješenja utemeljena na primjerima referendumske prakse i referendumskog zakonodavstva nekih europskih država.Referendum, as one of the most important institutes of democratic society that enables citizens to participate directly in the government, has experienced a sort of renaissance in a number of countries over the last few decades. Although a slight progress is visible in Croatia, it is still insufficient compared to other countries. The paper deals with referendum through its legislative framework. It compares state to the local referendum, and highlights the shortcomings of their legislative arrangements. Disadvantages are pointed out through the examples of the state referendums held in the Republic of Croatia to this day. The Croatian referendum experience is very poor with only three state referendums and several local referendums. The reason for this can be found in the awareness of both politicians and the people themselves. Politicians are reluctant to share power with the people, and the people do not show enough interest in the referendum, as witnessed by the last two national referendums. Such a problem can be found in a restrictive referendum legislature, especially when it comes to a referendum based on citizens' initiatives. At the end of the paper, possible solutions are offered, based on examples of referendum practices and referendum legislation of some European countries

Comparison of activities of bacteria and yeast starter cultures at different temperatures

U ovom radu praćena je aktivnost različitih kvasaca i bakterija pri nižim temperaturama u cilju odabira najpogodnijih starter kultura za pekarstvo. Ispitana su tri soja kvasaca: Saccharomyces cerevisie TVG-4, Saccharomyces uvarum K-1 i ZP, te bakterije mliječne kiseline: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3), Lactobacillus brevis (L-62) te Lactobacillus plantarum (L-73). Aktivnost starter kultura ispitana je pri temperaturama od 22°C, 12°C i 4°C. Pokusi su provedeni na sintetskim laboratorijskim podlogama te u smjesi brašna i vode kao realnom uzorku. Rezultati su pokazali da smanjenje temperature uzrokuje smanjenje fiziološke aktivnosti kvasaca i bakterija. Potrošnja šećera kao i sinteza produkata mikrobnog metabolizma je usporena. Kvasac Saccharomyces uvarum ZP pokazao je najbolju fiziološku aktivnost pri niskim temperaturama na sintetskim podlogama, međutim pokazao se nepogodnim za primjenu na realnim podlogama sastavljenim od brašna i vode. Bakterija Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3) pokazala je najbolju fiziološku aktivnost pri nižim temperaturama te najmanju osjetljivost na promjene temperature kako u sintetskim podlogama tako i u realnom uzorku.This study monitors the activity of different yeasts and bacteria at low temperatures with the purpose of selecting the most suitable starter cultures for bakery. Three types of yeast have been tested: Saccharomyces cerevisie TVG-4, Saccharomyces uvarum K-1 and ZP, and lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3), Lactobacillus brevis (L-62) and Lactobacillus plantarum (L-73). The activity of starter cultures has been tested at temperatures of 22°C, 12°C and 4°C. The experiments were conducted in synthetic laboratory media and in mixture flour and water as the actual sample. The results have shown that decreased temperatures cause a decrease in the physiological activity of both yeast and bacteria. The consumption of sugar, as well as the synthesis of the products of microbial metabolism is retarded. The Saccharomyces uvarum ZP yeast has shown the best physiological activity at low temperatures in synthetic media, but it has proven unsuitable for use in actual media composed of flour and water. The Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3) has shown the best physiological activity at low temperatures and the lowest sensitivity to temperature alterations both in synthetic media and in the actual sample

Comparison of activities of bacteria and yeast starter cultures at different temperatures

U ovom radu praćena je aktivnost različitih kvasaca i bakterija pri nižim temperaturama u cilju odabira najpogodnijih starter kultura za pekarstvo. Ispitana su tri soja kvasaca: Saccharomyces cerevisie TVG-4, Saccharomyces uvarum K-1 i ZP, te bakterije mliječne kiseline: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3), Lactobacillus brevis (L-62) te Lactobacillus plantarum (L-73). Aktivnost starter kultura ispitana je pri temperaturama od 22°C, 12°C i 4°C. Pokusi su provedeni na sintetskim laboratorijskim podlogama te u smjesi brašna i vode kao realnom uzorku. Rezultati su pokazali da smanjenje temperature uzrokuje smanjenje fiziološke aktivnosti kvasaca i bakterija. Potrošnja šećera kao i sinteza produkata mikrobnog metabolizma je usporena. Kvasac Saccharomyces uvarum ZP pokazao je najbolju fiziološku aktivnost pri niskim temperaturama na sintetskim podlogama, međutim pokazao se nepogodnim za primjenu na realnim podlogama sastavljenim od brašna i vode. Bakterija Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3) pokazala je najbolju fiziološku aktivnost pri nižim temperaturama te najmanju osjetljivost na promjene temperature kako u sintetskim podlogama tako i u realnom uzorku.This study monitors the activity of different yeasts and bacteria at low temperatures with the purpose of selecting the most suitable starter cultures for bakery. Three types of yeast have been tested: Saccharomyces cerevisie TVG-4, Saccharomyces uvarum K-1 and ZP, and lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3), Lactobacillus brevis (L-62) and Lactobacillus plantarum (L-73). The activity of starter cultures has been tested at temperatures of 22°C, 12°C and 4°C. The experiments were conducted in synthetic laboratory media and in mixture flour and water as the actual sample. The results have shown that decreased temperatures cause a decrease in the physiological activity of both yeast and bacteria. The consumption of sugar, as well as the synthesis of the products of microbial metabolism is retarded. The Saccharomyces uvarum ZP yeast has shown the best physiological activity at low temperatures in synthetic media, but it has proven unsuitable for use in actual media composed of flour and water. The Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis (L-3) has shown the best physiological activity at low temperatures and the lowest sensitivity to temperature alterations both in synthetic media and in the actual sample

Fight Against Stigma

Predmet ovog završnog rada je borba protiv stigme. Svrha rada je pojasniti pojmove stigma, predrasude i diskriminacija te koja je njihova međusobna povezanost. Cilj rada je pobliže prikazati kako se razvojem društva mijenjalo mišljenje o stigmi i stigmatizaciji te po čemu je posebna stigma psihičkih poremećaja. Prikazane su metode u borbi protiv stigme, koja je uloga edukacije za očuvanje mentalnog zdravlja te kako se Europska unija bori protiv stigme. Poseban naglasak je stavljen na pomorstvo gdje će se prikazati istraživanje International Transport Workers' Federation Seafarers' Trust o mentalnom zdravlju pomoraca. Borba protiv stigme mentalnih poremećaja u pomorstvu može uspostaviti prikladno liječenje pozadinskih zdravstvenih stanja pomoraca te stvoriti radno okruženje u kojem se pomorci osjećaju ugodnije.The subject of this final work is the fight against stigma. The purpose of the paper is to clarify the concepts of stigma, prejudice and discrimination and their interrelationship. The aim of the work is to show more closely how the opinion about stigma and stigmatization changed with the development of society and what makes the stigma of mental disorders special. The paper presents the methods in the fight against stigma, the role of education in preserving mental health and how the European Union fights against stigma. Special emphasis is placed on seafaring where research by the International Transport Workers' Federation Seafarers' Trust on the mental health of seafarers will be presented. Combating the stigma of mental disorders in seafaring can establish appropriate treatment for seafarers' underlying health conditions and create a work environment in which seafarers feel more comfortable

Referendum in the Republic of Croatia

Referendum, kao jedan od najvažnijih instituta demokratskog društva koji omogućuje građanima da izravno sudjeluju u vlasti, posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća doživljava svojevrsnu renesansu u nizu zemalja. Iako je blagi napredak vidljiv i u Hrvatskoj, to je još uvijek nedostatno u usporedbi s drugim državama. Rad se bavi referendumom kroz njegov zakonodavni okvir. Uspoređuju se državni i lokalni referendum, te se navode nedostaci njihova zakonodavnog uređenja. Nedostaci se navode i na primjerima do danas održanih državnih referenduma u Republici Hrvatskoj. Hrvatsko referendumsko iskustvo vrlo je siromašno sa samo tri državna referenduma i nekolicinom lokalnih referenduma. Razlog tome može se naći u svijesti kako političara tako i samog naroda. Političari nerado dijele vlast s narodom, a narod ne pokazuje dovoljan interes za referendum, čemu svjedoče posljednja dva državna referenduma. Takvom problemu ishodište se može pronaći u restriktivno uređenom referendumu, naročito kada je riječ o referendumu na temelju građanskih inicijativa. Na kraju rada, navode se moguća rješenja utemeljena na primjerima referendumske prakse i referendumskog zakonodavstva nekih europskih država.Referendum, as one of the most important institutes of democratic society that enables citizens to participate directly in the government, has experienced a sort of renaissance in a number of countries over the last few decades. Although a slight progress is visible in Croatia, it is still insufficient compared to other countries. The paper deals with referendum through its legislative framework. It compares state to the local referendum, and highlights the shortcomings of their legislative arrangements. Disadvantages are pointed out through the examples of the state referendums held in the Republic of Croatia to this day. The Croatian referendum experience is very poor with only three state referendums and several local referendums. The reason for this can be found in the awareness of both politicians and the people themselves. Politicians are reluctant to share power with the people, and the people do not show enough interest in the referendum, as witnessed by the last two national referendums. Such a problem can be found in a restrictive referendum legislature, especially when it comes to a referendum based on citizens' initiatives. At the end of the paper, possible solutions are offered, based on examples of referendum practices and referendum legislation of some European countries