Evaluation of risk management status for Croatian logistic operators

Understanding organisational risks makes possible to control them and to change them into organisational strengths. Being known as “measure of uncertainty” in the business process, the risk is the uncertainty of achieving the organizational objectives. It may involve positive or negative consequences. There is a level of uncertainty in every supply chain while operating transportation and warehousing, positioning on the market, developing customer support, reducing cycle times or cutting costs. Therefore, the risk assessment should be one of the main tasks for any supply chain management team. It is required to develop formal risk assessment procedures, to identify the potential impacts to the supply chain operations and to develop a set of contingency plans to mitigate risks. This paper deals with supply chain risk assessment methodology, outlining the present risk management status of Croatian logistic operators

Possibility of Applying Business Process Management Methodology in Logistic Processes Optimization

Raising the service level and developing new logistic services require better understanding of logistic processes and possibilities of optimization. Different methodologies have been used for that purpose, while the application of Business Process Management (BPM) methodology is outlined in this paper. Identifying parts of logistic processes that could be optimized is facilitated by applying BPM methodology. It also enables more accurate quantification of impacts of the changes introduced in a particular process or activity on the processes as a whole and to other interacting processes. The application of BPM methodology is demonstrated in the case study, where a solution for logistic processes optimization is suggested and the prospective outcomes are simulated. The results of the logistic process comparative analysis have indicated a synergic effect of different improvements in sub-process on the effectiveness of the process as a whole, both on the operative and managerial level. The respective changes in workload distribution among interacting logistic processes have been quantified according to the same methodology.</p

Logistics Aspect of Offshore Support Vessels on the West Africa Market

With the rapidly increasing global energy needs, offshore oil production has become an attractive source of energy. Supplying offshore oil production installations is a complex logistics problem that hinges on many factors with significant uncertainties. So, it is critical to provide the necessary supplies and services without interruption. In a typical offshore oil production effort, oil companies charter most or all drilling units as well as offshore supply vessels (OSV). The type and duration of charter contract has direct impact on the project budget as vessels market is closely correlated with the world market crude oil price which can have daily significant fluctuations. As the region of West Africa is one of the world’s busiest offshore exploration and oil production markets employing 12% of the world’s fleet, exploring its issues, was taken to study the relations between daily OSV rates and crude oil price. The research results presented in this paper show correlation between OSV daily rates and crude oil price with broader fluctuations in crude oil price. </p

Analiza utjecaja agregacije uzoraka na prognozu potražnje

Supply chains are rarely in their basic, simple form – they involve different participants who respectively use demand forecasting methods related to their filed. Demand forecasting based on orders received instead on end user demand data will inherently become more and more inaccurate as it moves up the supply chain. Each participant in a supply chain receives different fluctuations data in the orders obtained, which is caused by the bullwhip effect. In order to mitigate these distortions, producers require the distributors to deliver the data on demand forecasting for a certain market. Thus the distributor tries to find the appropriate forecast method. This can be very difficult since the demand patterns of buyers differ. The paper analyses the pattern aggregation used for demand forecasting by applying different forecasting methods.Opskrbni lanci su vrlo rijetko u jednostavnom generičkom obliku, već uključuju različite sudionike, koji neovisno provode prognozu potražnje u svojem djelokrugu. Prognoziranje potražnje temeljem podataka o narudžbama umjesto podataka o potražnji krajnjeg kupca (korisnika) u lancu, na sljedećim višim razinama kumulativno generira sve veća odstupanja. Svaki od sudionika opskrbnog lanca tako dobiva drugačije podatke o potražnji što je uzrokovano tim kumulativnim djelovanjem, poznatim pod nazivom “efekt biča”. U cilju smanjivanja ovih nepravilnosti, proizvođači obvezuju distributere na dostavljanje podataka o prognozi potražnji na svojem tržištu. Distributeri su pritom suočeni s problemom prikupljanja i obrade heterogenih uzoraka potražnje od ostalih sudionika na nižim razinama. U radu je prikazana analiza agregacije uzoraka koji su korišteni za prognoziranje potražnje primjenom različitih metoda prognoziranja

Process decomposition as a basis for logistics performance measuring

Promatranje tehničko-tehnoloških karakteristika opskrbnog lanca i svih njegovih strukturnih elemenata kroz prizmu procesa i aktivnosti iznimno je važno za potrebe kvalitativne i kvantitativne evaluacije. Kada je koncept mjerenja individualno koncipiran i dobro postavljen, detaljna dekompozicija poslovanja do razine aktivnosti rezultira potpunim, detaljnim i točnim podacima o osobitostima procesa i involviranim resursima. Spomenuti koncept u službi je podrške cjelokupnom poslovanju unutar opskrbnog lanca i prije svega se koristi u svrhu postavljanja i dostizanja strateških ciljeva poslovanja. Implementacija istog ostvaruje se uspostavom direktne veze između objekata mjerenja, performanci procesa i vezanih informacija. U radu je prikazana problematika definiranja logističkih pokazatelja uspješnosti te je predložen koncept dekompozicije procesa kao dijela metodologije upravljanja poslovnim procesima, s pozicije mjerenja njihove učinkovitosti u cilju jednostavnije identifikacije ključnih pokazatelja uspješnosti.Observation of the supply chain elements and its technical and technological structure in the form of processes and activities that an element includes, it is extremely important when it is implemented in the form of qualitative and qualitative evaluation. When the concept of measurement is individually designed and well appointed, detailed decomposition of the business structure up to activities results in accurate and detailed data. The concept is formed for the purpose of achieving strategic business objectives, and can be done by establishing a direct link between the performance of the process, object measurement and information related to them. In this paper, the problems in defining logistics performance indicators are described. The concept of process decomposition as part of business process management is proposed, from the point of their efficiency and effectiveness measurement in order to better identify key performance indicators

Matične ćelije opredeljene za granulocitno-monocitnu lozu kostne srži i periferne krvi svinja

The pig is widely used as a large animal model for biomedical research and could be an interesting experimental model for studies of the hematopoietic system and its response in physiological and pathological conditions. With the intention of using the pig as a large animal model in hematopoietic research, a clonal assay in methylcellulose was developed and standardized for detection of committed progenitors of the granulocyte-macrophage lineage from adult pig bone marrow and peripheral blood. Progenitor cells were stimulated to proliferate and differentiate in vitro by adding pig leukocyte conditioned medium (LCM) as a source of homologous growth factors. The number of CFU-GM (Colony Forming Unit -Granulocyte-Macrophage) directly depended on the concentration of LCM. The proliferative rate of CFU-GM progenitor cells was determined by the cytosine arabinoside suicide technique. The percentage of bone marrow and peripheral blood CFU-GM cells in S phase of the cell cycle was 34.7% and 22.2%, respectively. The data obtained regarding the number and characteristics of pig bone marrow and peripheral blood CFU-GM confirmed that the organization of the pig CFU-GM progenitor cell compartment is similar and comparable to that in miniature swine, other animal species and humans.Svinja je životinja koja se koristi kao model u različitim biomedicinskim istraživanjima, a mogia bi biti i interesantan model u ispitivanju fiziologije i patolofizioloških promena hematopoetskog sistema. U cilju razvoja eksperimentalnog modela svinje u istraživanju hematopoeze, stanadardizovan je esej za odredivanje i karakterizaciju opredeljenih matičnih ćelija granulocitno-monocitne loze iz kostne srži i krvi odrasle svinje. Stimulacija proliferacije i diferencijacije ovih matičnih ćelija postignuta je dodavanjem medijuma kondicioniranog leukocitima (LCM - Leukocyte conditioned medium) bogatog faktorima rasta. Broj CFU-GM (Colony forming unit- granulocyte-macrophage) je direktno zavisio od koncentracije LCM-a. Procenat CFU-GM ćelija u S fazi ćelijskog cikiusa odredjivan je tehnikom 'suicida' korišćenjem citozin arabinozida (Ara-C) i iznosio je 34.7% za CFU-GM iz kostne srži i 22.2% za CFU-GM iz periferne krvi. Podaci dobijeni za broj i karakteristike CFU-GM iz kostne srži i periferne krvi potvrđuju da je ovaj odeljak matičnih ćelija kod odraslih svinja organizovan na isti način kao i kod minijaturnih svinja, drugih vrsta životinja i ljudi

Odnos između totalnog kapaciteta za vezivanje gvožđa i koncentracije transferina kod novorođene prasadi tretirane gvožđe-dekstranom

Serum iron concentration and iron saturation of transferrin (Trf) are measures of body iron stores after administration of iron supplements. In clinical and experimental research, the complex determination of Trf was replaced by the simple determination of total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The objective of this work was to define if TIBC could be an adequate measure for Trf in neonatal piglets after i.m. iron administration. Treated piglets received 150 mg of iron-dextran i.m. the first day of life, and were compared to the untreated control group. Prior to iron administration, as well as on days 2, 8 and 12 after iron administration, serum iron and TIBC concentration were analyzed by an automatized chemical analyzer and Trf was determined by densitometry of electrophoretic strips. Our results show that regardless of iron treatment, TIBC is not a measure of Trf concentration in neonatal piglets two days after birth. At day 8 of their life a high correlation coefficient of these two parameters was established in non-treated animals, while in iron-treated piglets the same correlation was established 12 days after iron treatment. Thus, we suggest that in neonatal piglets, TIBC could be used as a measure of Trf concentration only 12 days after i.m. iron treatment.Određivanje statusa gvožđa u organizmu jedinke posle primene određenog preparata ovog mikroelementa moguće je utvrditi određivanjem njegove koncentracije u serumu i zasićenja transferina (Trf) gvožđem. U kliničkoj i eksperimentalnoj praksi složeno određivanje koncentracije Trf zamenjeno je jednostavnim određ ivanjem ukupnog serumskog kapaciteta za vezivanje gvožđa (TIBC). Cilj ovog rada je bio da se na modelu porasta serumskog Fe po i.m. aplikaciji Fe-dextrana novorođenoj prasadi, utvrdi odnos TIBC i Trf po aplikaciji ovog mikroelementa, kako bi se utvrdilo da li visoke doze gvožđa u serumu utiču na vrednost TIBC kao mere za određivanje koncentracije Trf. Vrednosti za serumsko Fe, TIBC i Trf poređene su između grupe životinja koja je odmah po rođenju dobila 150 mg Fe-dextrana i kontrolne grupe u kojoj životoinje nisu tretirane Fe-dextranom. Krv je uzorkovana pre aplikacije Fe-dextrana, drugog, osmog i dvanaestog dana po aplikaciji preparata gvožđa. Koncentracija gvožđa u serumu i TIBC su određivani standarnim kliničkim biohemijskim analizama, dok je koncenracija Trf određena denzitometrijom elektroforetskih traka. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da bez obzira na primenu preparata Fe, TIBC nije adekvatna mera za Trf kod novorođene prasadi u prva tri dana po rođenju. Osmog dana života prasadi, utvrđen je visoki stepen korelacije ova dva parametra kod životinja koje nisu bile tretirane, dok je kod tretiranih jedinki taj stepen korelacije postignut dvanaestog dana. Na osnovu izloženih rezultata se može zaključiti da se kod novorođene prasadi TIBC može koristiti kao mera za Trf tek 12 dana nakon i.m. tretmana Fe-dextranom

Kultivacija matičnih i progenitorskih ćelija hematopoeze iz kostne srži hrčka

Hamster, a hibernating animal, is an important experimental model in research on the influence of hypothermia on different physiological processes. A simple procedure for cultivation and identification of hamster hematopoetic stem cells (HSC) and hematopoetic progenitor cells (HPC) is a premise for a successful investigation upon hypothermia effects on hematopoiesis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the utilization of commercially available methylcellulose media (MC) and recombinant mouse and human cytokines for hamster HSC and HPC assays, in order to enable further studies on these cells. Hamster bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) were plated in MC containing cytokines that support mouse or human HPC growth. Also, BMMNC were resuspended in cytokine supplemented liquid media and incubated for 5 weeks with a four day monitoring of viable cell number. We demonstrated that hamster hematopoietic progenitor cells committed for erythroid lineage and myeloid lineage successfully formed recognizable colonies in both mouse and human MC, while multipotent progenitor cells formed colonies only in mouse MC. We also defined conditions for the evaluation of hamster HSC activity in liquid cultures, based on continuous 5 weeks HSC proliferation. The obtained results verify the utilization of mouse specific MC for further research on hamster HPC biology during hypothermia.Fiziološka hibernacija u koju hrčci ulaze prilikom izlaganja niskim temperaturama, čini ove životinje zanimljivim eksperimentalnim modelom za ispitivanje hematopoeze u uslovima hipotermije. Preduslov za ovo ispitivanje je postojanje jednostavne metode za kultivaciju i identifikaciju hematopoetskih ćelija hrčka. Cilj ovog rada je bio da se ispita mogućnost kultivacije progenitorskih ćelija hematopoeze hrčka u kompletnoj metil celulozi dizajniranoj za kultivaciju mišijih i humanih hematopoetskih ćelija, kao i da se odrede optimalni uslovi za kultivaciju matičnih ćelija hematopoeze hrčka u tečnoj kulturi. Mononuklearne ćelije kostne srži hrčka su posađene u metil celulozu i u tečnu kulturu. Oba medijuma su sadržala kombinacije rekombinantnih mišijih i/ili humanih citokina. Kolonije progenitorskih ćelija opredeljenih za mijelopoezu i opredeljenih za eritropoezu su se formirale u metil celulozi dizajniranoj za kultivaciju mišijih i humanih hematopoetskih ćelija, dok su se primitivnije kolonije sastavljene od oba tipa ćelija (mijeloidna i eritrocitna loza) formirale samo u metil celulozi dizajniranoj za kultivaciju mišijih hematopoetskih ćelija. Osim toga, populacija matičnih ćelija hematopoeze hrčka je proliferisala u tečnim kulturama tokom 5 nedelja bez znakova opadanja proliferativnog potencijala. Ova istraživanja pokazuju da se primenjene metode mogu uspešno koristiti za ispitivanje hematopoeze kod hrčka

“Intramammary propolis formulation for prevention and treatment of mastitis in dairy ruminants”, the first project of collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the business sector financed from EU structural funds

Projekt suradnje Veterinarskoga fakulteta i tvrtke Hedera d.o.o. iz Splita „Intramamarna formulacija propolisa za prevenciju i tretman mastitisa kod mliječnih preživača“ sufinanciran je iz strukturnih instrumenata Europskog fonda za regionalni razvoj (EFRR) te iz Državnog proračuna Republike Hrvatske. Ovo je prvi strukturni projekt suradnje s industrijom koji je Veterinarski fakultet ostvario, a ukupan iznos odobrenih sredstava je 3.048.238,43 kuna. Cilj je projekta istraživanje i razvoj inovativne intramamarne formulacije propolisa za prevenciju i tretman mastitisa kod krava i koza. Glavne prednosti ove formulacije u odnosu na standardne intramamarne antibiotike jesu nepostojanje karencije i vrlo vjerojatno nemogućnost razvoja rezistencije, budući da je propolis mješavina nekoliko stotina spojeva sa složenim antimikrobnim i antioksidacijskim učincima. Razvoj ovakvog proizvoda, koji nedostaje nacionalnom i međunarodnom tržištu, dovest će do jačanja gospodarskog sektora, među ostalim i smanjenjem financijskih troškova proizvođača mlijeka te lakšim postizanjem standarda ekološkog stočarstva. Interdisciplinarna suradnja ostvarena tijekom ovog projekta, kao i investicije u opremu i edukaciju, ojačat će kapacitet Veterinarskoga fakulteta za daljnje transfere znanja i tehnologije.The project of collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb and the small enterprise Hedera Ltd from Split, entitled: “Intramammary propolis formulation for prevention and treatment of mastitis in dairy ruminants”is co-financed from the structural instruments of the European fund for regional development (EFRD) and the State Budget of Republic of Croatia. This is the first structural project of collaboration between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the business sector. The project’s estimated value is 3,048,238.43 HRK. The main goal of the project is research and development of innovative intramammary propolis formulation, as an alternative to antibiotic treatment of mastitis in dairy cows and goats. The development of this unique and original product may contribute to strengthening the business sector, through reducing the costs of milk production by facilitating meeting organic criteria in dairy farming. Interdisciplinary expert collaboration, along with investments in equipment and education, will strengthen the capacity of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for further transfer of knowledge & technology projects

Smjernice za dijagnostiku i liječenje bolesnika s vratoboljom – 1. dio

Vratobolja je jedna od najčešćih mišićnokoštanih bolesti koja rezultira značajnom boli i nesposobnosti te ima velik utjecaj na individualnoj razini, kao i na zdravstveni sustav i društvo u cjelini. Uzroci vratobolje su različiti, a etiološki prevladavaju oni mehanički povezani s degenerativnim promjenama vratne kralješnice. Svjedočimo raznim dijagnostičkim i terapijskim pristupima za ove bolesnike. Hrvatsko vertebrološko društvo Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora predstavlja sveobuhvatni narativni pregled i smjernice za dijagnozu i liječenje bolesnika s vratoboljom, s naglaskom na najčešće uzroke. Smjernice su rezultat konsenzusa stručnjaka različitih specijalnosti, a temelje se na najboljim dokazima. Ovaj prvi dio odnosi se na dijagnostiku, a drugi njemu komplementarni dio odnosi se na terapiju. Dijagnostički dio smjernica (1. dio) obuhvaća: klinička obilježja i evaluaciju (uključivo strukturirane upitnike), laboratorijsku dijagnostiku, slikovne metode, neurofiziološko testiranje i minimalno invazivne dijagnostičke postupke. Dio smjernica o liječenju (2. dio) uključuje: farmakološko liječenje, tjelesne medicinske vježbe, trakciju, manualnu terapiju, metode fizikalne terapije, primjenu ortoza, minimalno invazivne terapijske intervencije, kirurško liječenje, rehabilitaciju nakon kirurških zahvata i psihijatrijski pristup. Ovo su prve hrvatske smjernice za vratobolju primarno namijenjene liječničkoj profesionalnoj zajednici