COOPERATIVES IN CROATIA:CHALLENGES TO STABLITY OF FARMS

Ovaj rad nastoji prikazati zadružno organiziranje malih obiteljskih poljoprivrednih gospodarstava u Hrvatskoj. U dijelu rada daje se kratki prikaz povijenog razvoja poljoprivrednih zadruga, te najnovije stanje obiteljskih poljoprivrednih gospodarstava prema veličini posjeda. Iako su obiteljska poljoprivredna gospodarstva nosioci razvoja poljoprivredne proizvodnje ona nisu u agrarnoj politici zauzimala temeljno mjesto, ona su usitnjena i kontinuirano propadala.. Ovi se nedostaci, kao pojedinačni u svakom gospodarstvu, mogu nadomjestiti u zadružnom konceptu poslovne ekspanzije. Nadalje, navedene su glavne prednosti, slabosti, prigode i prijetnje hrvatskog zadrugarstva. U dijelu rada istražuje se kako obiteljska gospodarstva percipiraju zadruge, i to na temelju tvrdnja, pokušavajući rangirati stavove. Rezultati pokazuju kako se prednost zadruge prepoznaje kao distribucijski kanal za proizvode s gospodarstava i u tome što zadruga ne ograničava poduzetničke slobode obiteljskog gospodarstva kao svoga poslovnog člana. Isticanje zadruga kao kanala prodaje za proizvode s gospodarstva, još uvijek zadrugu stavlja u kontekst "izbavitelja" u trenucima kada se, vlastitom inicijativom, prodaja s obiteljskih gospodarstava teško postiže.The objective of the paper is to present cooperative organisation of small family in Croatia. There is a brief review of historic development of farming cooperatives and the present status of family farms according to their size. Although family farms are a key factor of development of agricultural production they have not had due prominence in the agrarian policy, they are fragmented, and gradually decaying. These shortcomings can be overcome in a cooperative concept. The main advantages, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Croatian cooperatives are given. The subject of the research is also how family farms perceive cooperatives and based assumptions try to rank priorities. The results show that cooperatives are considered distribution channels for farm produce and that they do not curb entrepreneurial freedom of family farms. Stressing the importance as channels for the sale of farm produce gives cooperatives a role of „ saviours“ in times when it is difficult to sell farm produce by personal initiative alone

MANAGING STOCKS OF SARDINES IN THE CROATIAN PART OF THE ADRIATIC SEA

Autori predstavljaju rezultate modelskog istraživanja kojim se potvrđuje bioekonometrijski pristup upravljanja fondom srdele Sardina pilchardus (Walb.,1972) na istočnoj obali hrvatskog dijela Jadranskog mora. Nastojali su, metodološki i teoretski odraditi polazne scenarije za rješavanje aktualnih problema upravljanja fondom srdele te ih izvući iz dosadašnjeg, strogo, empirijsko-prakticističkog konteksta. U tom smislu, za hrvatske prilike kreirana je stanovita istraživačka paradigma, sjedinivši kvantitativni i kvalitativni pristup upravljanja fondom srdele. Uzimajući biološke parametre fonda kao polazne veličine interaktivno se izvodio ekonometrijski dio spajajući ga time u cjeloviti bioekonometrijski model. Model je definiran kroz tri pretpostavljena scenarija, i to: (1) demisiju i prenamjenu manje učinkovitog dijela ribarske flote iz profesionalnog ribarstva, (2) uvođenje mreža veće selektivnosti ulova i (3) promjenu razine troškovno-cjenovnog poticanja ulova. Koristeći programski paket Mefisto došlo se do zaključka da svaki od izvedenih scenarija pokazuje polarizirajuću prednost u biološkim i ekonomskim veličinama u odnosu na postojeće stanje. Tražeći među scenarijima optimalnu biološko-ekonomsku kombinaciju prednosti, scenarij demisije i prenamjene postojeće ribarske flote, pokazalo se najprihvatljivijom strategijom u odnosu na polazište problema. Dugoročno sagledavanje optimalne veličine fonda srdele, na istočnom dijelu Jadranskog mora, upućuje da treba voditi računa o broju ribarske flote odnosno demisiji manje učinkovitijih brodova iz profesionalnog ribarstva.The results of a model research to affirm the bioeconometrica approach to sardine stocks management on the eastern coast of the Croatian part of the Adriatic sea are presented. The aim was to define methodologically and theoretically the starting scenarios for solving current problems in sardine stocks management extracting them from strictly empirical context. With this in mind a research pattern for Croatian conditions was created integrating quantitative and qualitative approach to sardine stocks management. Taking biological stock parameters as the starting value econometric part was carried out thus interactively integrating it into the complete bioeconometric model. The model was defined in three presumed scenarios: 1) demission and conversion of sell efficient part of fishing fleet from professional fishing, 2) introduction of nets of higher catch selectivity and 3) changing the level of cost-expenses catch subsidizing. Using the Mephisto program package it was established that each of the scenarios applied showed a polarizing advantage in biological and economic values in relation to the existing status. Seeking among the scenarios the optimal biological and economic advantages the demission and conversion of the existing fishing fleet appeared to be the best acceptable strategy with respect to the problem. Long – term consideration of the optimal value of sardine stocks in the eastern part of the Adriatic sea indicates that the number of fishing fleet and demission of less efficient boats from professional fishing should be taken account of

MANAGING STOCKS OF SARDINES IN THE CROATIAN PART OF THE ADRIATIC SEA

Autori predstavljaju rezultate modelskog istraživanja kojim se potvrđuje bioekonometrijski pristup upravljanja fondom srdele Sardina pilchardus (Walb.,1972) na istočnoj obali hrvatskog dijela Jadranskog mora. Nastojali su, metodološki i teoretski odraditi polazne scenarije za rješavanje aktualnih problema upravljanja fondom srdele te ih izvući iz dosadašnjeg, strogo, empirijsko-prakticističkog konteksta. U tom smislu, za hrvatske prilike kreirana je stanovita istraživačka paradigma, sjedinivši kvantitativni i kvalitativni pristup upravljanja fondom srdele. Uzimajući biološke parametre fonda kao polazne veličine interaktivno se izvodio ekonometrijski dio spajajući ga time u cjeloviti bioekonometrijski model. Model je definiran kroz tri pretpostavljena scenarija, i to: (1) demisiju i prenamjenu manje učinkovitog dijela ribarske flote iz profesionalnog ribarstva, (2) uvođenje mreža veće selektivnosti ulova i (3) promjenu razine troškovno-cjenovnog poticanja ulova. Koristeći programski paket Mefisto došlo se do zaključka da svaki od izvedenih scenarija pokazuje polarizirajuću prednost u biološkim i ekonomskim veličinama u odnosu na postojeće stanje. Tražeći među scenarijima optimalnu biološko-ekonomsku kombinaciju prednosti, scenarij demisije i prenamjene postojeće ribarske flote, pokazalo se najprihvatljivijom strategijom u odnosu na polazište problema. Dugoročno sagledavanje optimalne veličine fonda srdele, na istočnom dijelu Jadranskog mora, upućuje da treba voditi računa o broju ribarske flote odnosno demisiji manje učinkovitijih brodova iz profesionalnog ribarstva.The results of a model research to affirm the bioeconometrica approach to sardine stocks management on the eastern coast of the Croatian part of the Adriatic sea are presented. The aim was to define methodologically and theoretically the starting scenarios for solving current problems in sardine stocks management extracting them from strictly empirical context. With this in mind a research pattern for Croatian conditions was created integrating quantitative and qualitative approach to sardine stocks management. Taking biological stock parameters as the starting value econometric part was carried out thus interactively integrating it into the complete bioeconometric model. The model was defined in three presumed scenarios: 1) demission and conversion of sell efficient part of fishing fleet from professional fishing, 2) introduction of nets of higher catch selectivity and 3) changing the level of cost-expenses catch subsidizing. Using the Mephisto program package it was established that each of the scenarios applied showed a polarizing advantage in biological and economic values in relation to the existing status. Seeking among the scenarios the optimal biological and economic advantages the demission and conversion of the existing fishing fleet appeared to be the best acceptable strategy with respect to the problem. Long – term consideration of the optimal value of sardine stocks in the eastern part of the Adriatic sea indicates that the number of fishing fleet and demission of less efficient boats from professional fishing should be taken account of

THE IMPACT OF CULTURE AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS ON STUDENTSʼ E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE – A PILOT STUDY

E-mail correspondence between teachers and students is common. Online communication provides students with possibilities to write to teachers directly, using a diverse level of knowledge, level of ignorance and personal beliefs. The aim of this paper is to answer whether culture and cultural dimensions (defined by Hofstede’s high and low Power Distance dimension) influence the professional correspondence between teachers and students. The small-scale corpus consists of 100 e-mails, 50 written by Slovene students in English or Slovene, and 50 by Serbian students in Serbian or English. The research investigates the choice of e-mail template, the choice of language (native tongue or language of instructions), and the norms related to politeness and power distance, with the focus on salutations, formality, polite expressions, and directness. Usage of lexical modifiers, such as downtoners, upstaters and hedges will also be investigated. The results will demonstrate that e-mails by Slovene students follow new cultural standards and have become more indirect and informal, while Serbian students write e-mails with formal salutations and direct requests following the inherited hierarchy and still unmodified cultural dimensions

ALAD and APOE polymorphisms are associated with lead and mercury levels in Italian pregnant women and their newborns with adequate nutritional status of zinc and selenium

The impacts of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ALAD and VDR genes on Pb health effects and/or kinetics are inconclusive at low exposure levels, while studies including APOE SNPs are rare. In this study, we examined the associations of ALAD, VDR and APOE SNPs with exposure biomarkers of Pb and other trace elements (TEs) in Italian pregnant women (N = 873, aged 18–44 years) and their newborns (N = 619) with low-level mixed-element exposure through diet, the environment or endogenously. DNA from maternal peripheral venous blood (mB), sampled during the second and third trimesters, was genotyped for ALAD (rs1800435, rs1805313, rs1139488, rs818708), VDR (rs2228570, rs1544410, rs7975232, rs731236) and APOE (rs429358, rs7421) using TaqMan SNP assays. Personal and lifestyle data and TE levels (mB, maternal plasma, hair and mixed umbilical cord blood [CB]) from the PHIME project were used. Multiple linear regression models, controlling for confounding variables, were performed to test the associations between SNPs and TEs. The geometric means of mB-Pb, mB-Hg, mB-As and mB-Cd (11.0 ng/g, 2.16 ng/g, 1.38 ng/g and 0.31 ng/g, respectively) indicated low exposure levels, whereas maternal plasma Zn and Se (0.72 μg/mL and 78.6 ng/g, respectively) indicated adequate micronutritional status. Variant alleles of ALAD rs1800435 and rs1805313 were negatively associated with mB-Pb levels, whereas a positive association was observed for rs1139488. None of the VDR SNPs or their haplotypes had any association with Pb levels. Regarding APOE, the ϵ4 allele was associated with lower mB-Hg and CB-Hg, while a positive association was found with the ϵ2 allele and CB-Pb when the model included only newborn girls. The observed associations indicate possible modification effects of ALAD and APOE SNPs on Pb or Hg kinetics in women and their newborns with low exposure to non-essential TEs, as well as an adequate nutritional status of Zn and Se

Travelling solitons in the parametrically driven nonlinear Schroedinger equation

We show that the parametrically driven nonlinear Schroedinger equation has wide classes of travelling soliton solutions, some of which are stable. For small driving strengths nonpropogating and moving solitons co-exist while strongly forced solitons can only be stably when moving sufficiently fast.Comment: The paper is available as the JINR preprint E17-2000-147(Dubna, Russia) and the preprint of the Max-Planck Institute for the Complex Systems mpipks/0009011, Dresden, Germany. It was submitted to Physical Review

Nutrient intake during pregnancy and adherence to dietary recommendations: The mediterranean phime cohort

Few studies provide a detailed description of dietary habits during pregnancy, despite the central role of nutrition for the health of the mother and offspring. This paper describes the dietary habits, energy and nutrient intake in pregnant women from four countries belonging to the Mediterranean PHIME cohort (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and evaluates their adherence to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. A total of 1436 women were included in the present analysis. Maternal diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs). The percentage distribution of the 16 food groups in the total intake of each macronutrient was estimated. All women shared a similar diet during pregnancy; almost all the women in the four countries exceeded the DRV for sugars, and the total fat intake was above the DRV in most women in all the countries, as was the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to the total energy intake. In all four countries, we observed an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency for iron, folate and vitamin D. Shared guidelines, implemented at both the national and European level, are essential to improve the maternal nutritional status during pregnancy

Completely integrable models of non-linear optics

The models of the non-linear optics in which solitons were appeared are considered. These models are of paramount importance in studies of non-linear wave phenomena. The classical examples of phenomena of this kind are the self-focusing, self-induced transparency, and parametric interaction of three waves. At the present time there are a number of the theories based on completely integrable systems of equations, which are both generations of the original known models and new ones. The modified Korteweg-de Vries equation, the non- linear Schrodinger equation, the derivative non-linear Schrodinger equation, Sine-Gordon equation, the reduced Maxwell-Bloch equation, Hirota equation, the principal chiral field equations, and the equations of massive Thirring model are gradually putting together a list of soliton equations, which are usually to be found in non-linear optics theory.Comment: Latex, 17 pages, no figures, submitted to Pramana

Approaches to mixture risk assessment of PFASs in the European population based on human hazard and biomonitoring data

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a highly persistent, mobile, and bioaccumulative class of chemicals, of which emissions into the environment result in long-lasting contamination with high probability for causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. Within the European Biomonitoring Initiative HBM4EU, samples and data were collected in a harmonized way from human biomonitoring (HBM) studies in Europe to derive current exposure data across a geographic spread. We performed mixture risk assessments based on recent internal exposure data of PFASs in European teenagers generated in the HBM4EU Aligned Studies (dataset with N = 1957, sampling years 2014-2021). Mixture risk assessments were performed based on three hazard-based approaches: the Hazard Index (HI) approach, the sum value approach as used by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Relative Potency Factor (RPF) approach. The HI approach resulted in the highest risk estimates, followed by the RPF approach and the sum value approach. The assessments indicate that PFAS exposure may result in a health risk in a considerable fraction of individuals in the HBM4EU teenager study sample, thereby confirming the conclusion drawn in the recent EFSA scientific opinion. This study underlines that HBM data are of added value in assessing the health risks of aggregate and cumulative exposure to PFASs, as such data are able to reflect exposure from different sources and via different routes.This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant agreement No 733032 HBM4EU (www.HBM4EU.eu), and received co-funding from the au thors’ organizations. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has contributed to funding of the Norwegian Environmental Biobank (NEB), and the laboratory measurements have partly been funded by the Research Council of Norway through research projects (275903 and 268465). The PCB cohort (follow-up) received additional funding from the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (program 07B0103).S