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Leveraging Community Based Tourism for sustainable development : The role of ecolodges in Nyabutaka, Rwanda
No full textThis study researches the role of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) in fostering sustainable development within outdoor hospitality, focusing on Nyabutaka, Kinigi, Rwanda. As tourism drives economic growth in the region, ecolodges have integrated CBT principles to ensure benefits extend to local communities. By exploring initiatives in economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability, this research identifies strategies to reduce reliance on tourism as the only income source.
Through qualitative research, including ethnographic fieldwork and stakeholder interviews, the study highlights successful skill development programs, alternative income projects, and conservation efforts led by ecolodges. These initiatives have improved employment, financial stability, and community participation. However, challenges such as economic vulnerability and unequal benefit distribution remain.
This research aims to contribute to the sustainable tourism discourse by showcasing the benefits of Community based tourism within the outdoor hospitality industry while addressing its limitations. The goal is to offer practical recommendations for outdoor hospitality companies to sustainably integrate CBT in their operations. These recommendations include economic diversification, vocational training, small bussiness support, and infrastructure investments. By integrating CBT into outdoor hospitality, tourism businesses can improve visitor experiences while fostering inclusive economic growth and environmental conservation, ensuring long-term sustainability for their destinations
Outbreak of hantavirus disease caused by Puumala virus, Croatia, 2021
No full textIn 2021, a large outbreak of hantavirus disease (HAVID) in Croatia with 334 notified cases coincided with a COVID-19 wave and included patients from areas previously not considered endemic, challenging HAVID recognition and patient management. We analysed clinical and epidemiological data on all 254 patients with HAVID treated in the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka (CHC Rijeka) between February and November 2021. Most patients (n = 246; 96.9%) had antibodies against Puumala virus, 212 (83.5%) were residents of endemic areas for HAVID, 93 (36.6%) reported occupational exposure and 86 (33.9%) had observed rodents or rodent excreta. Thirty-seven (14.6%) patients were not notified to the public health authorities. Most patients (n = 177; 69.7%) were male. The median age of the patients was 43 years (range: 17–79 years) in males and 54 years (range: 14–77 years) in females. More severe courses of disease were observed in males age
Dizajn web stranice za kupovinu i prodaju rabljene odjeće
No full textDizajn web stranice za kupovinu i prodaju rabljene odjeć
Updates in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Management: From Proton Pump Inhibitors to Dietary and Lifestyle Modifications
No full textGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder that greatly influences patients’ quality of life and represents a growing public health concern. Characterized by typical and atypical symptoms, GERD encompasses a range of clinical phenotypes and is associated with complications such as erosive esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus. This review intends to provide a thorough overview of current scientific knowledge on the etiological factors, risk determinants, and pathophysiology of GERD, while exploring diagnostic challenges and therapeutic approaches. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain the mainstay of medical therapy; however, concerns regarding their long-term safety have encouraged interest in adjunctive and alternative strategies. Emerging pharmacological agents, plant-based treatments, and integrative approaches rooted in traditional medicine offer promising modalities for enhanced management. Additionally, dietary and lifestyle modifications such as weight control, meal timing, and avoidance of trigger foods, are essential components of effective care. A multidisciplinary framework incorporating pharmacological, nutritional, and behavioral strategies is emphasized as the most reliable path toward personalized and sustainable GERD management. This review further aims to synthesize current therapeutic modalities and evolving perspectives in the treatment of GERD
Effects of the centralization of the logistics system in the company MI-PE d.o.o.
No full textDiplomski rad istražuje učinke centralizacije logističkog sustava na primjeru poduzeća MI-PE d.o.o. s ciljem utvrđivanja kako konsolidacija skladišnih kapaciteta utječe na optimizaciju opskrbnog lanca. Istraživanje je provedeno primjenom kvalitativne metodologije kroz dubinski intervju s direktoricom logistike i analizu poslovne dokumentacije. Teorijski dio rada obrađuje koncept menadžmenta opskrbnog lanca, dok empirijski dio analizira transformaciju iz decentraliziranog u centralizirani model logističkog sustava. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da centralizacija donosi višestruke koristi: smanjenje fiksnih troškova infrastrukture za 20-30%, standardizaciju procesa i eliminaciju sezonskih oscilacija. Identificirani su i određeni izazovi, poput produljenog vremena isporuke za kupce koji su ranije bili u blizini izdvojenih skladišta. Analiza učinaka na dionike opskrbnog lanca pokazuje pozitivan utjecaj na dobavljače kroz unapređenje procesa prijema robe, dok je utjecaj na kupce i zaposlenike kompleksniji. Implementacija centralizacije strukturirana je kroz četiri faze s naglaskom na održavanje kontinuiteta poslovanja, pri čemu se posebno učinkovitim pokazao razvoj kompenzacijskih mehanizama za specifične potrebe kupaca. Komparativna SWOT analiza dodatno je potvrdila prednosti centraliziranog modela, osobito u segmentu dugoročne održivosti i mogućnosti daljnje tehnološke modernizacije. Zaključno, rezultati potvrđuju postavljenu hipotezu da centralizacija logističkog sustava pozitivno utječe na optimizaciju opskrbnog lanca, uz preporuke za daljnje unapređenje kroz optimizaciju transporta i implementaciju naprednih tehnologija.This thesis explores the effects of logistics system centralization using MI-PE d.o.o. company as a case study, with the aim of determining how warehouse capacity consolidation affects supply chain optimization. The research was conducted using qualitative methodology through an in-depth interview with the logistics director and analysis of business documentation. The theoretical part of the paper examines the concept of supply chain management, while the empirical part analyzes the transformation from a decentralized to a centralized logistics system model. Research results show that centralization brings multiple benefits: 20-30% reduction in fixed infrastructure costs, process standardization, and elimination of seasonal fluctuations. Certain challenges were also identified, such as extended delivery times for customers who were previously near satellite warehouses. Analysis of effects on supply chain stakeholders shows a positive impact on suppliers through improved goods reception processes, while the impact on customers and employees is more complex. The implementation of centralization was structured through four phases with emphasis on maintaining business continuity, where the development of compensation mechanisms for specific customer needs proved particularly effective. Comparative SWOT analysis further confirmed the advantages of the centralized model, especially in terms of long-term sustainability and possibilities for further technological modernization. In conclusion, the results confirm the hypothesis that logistics system centralization positively affects supply chain optimization, with recommendations for further improvement through transport optimization and advanced technology implementation
Remimazolam and Esketamine for CT-Guided Aortic Graft Infection Drainage in a Patient with Severe Systematic Comorbidities: A Case Report
No full textBackground/Objectives: The management of patients with severe systemic comorbidities undergoing radiologic interventional procedures presents a significant challenge for anesthesiologists. Selecting an appropriate combination of anesthetic drugs is crucial to ensure a safe, painless procedure, facilitate rapid recovery, and minimalize complications. Here, we present a case of a 68-year-old female patient of ASA V status with a history of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to lung emphysema and dependence on a home oxygenator, requiring sedation for CT-guided percutaneous drainage of the aortic graft infection. Methods: After on-site emergent patient preparation and several position adjustments, sedation was initiated and maintained using continuous infusions of remimazolam and esketamine. Results: Throughout the procedure, the patient remained sedated, comfortable, and free of unwanted movements. The patient was hemodynamically stable and maintained oxygen saturation between 92 and 96%. Conclusions: In our opinion, the combination of remimazolam and esketamine demonstrated an effective and safe profile for procedural sedation. This approach holds the potential to influence standard operating protocols, particularly for patients with severe and multiple comorbidities requiring personalized anesthetic management
Nondestructive testing of a pressure vessel
No full textCilj ovog diplomskog rada je određivanje stanja i daljnje upotrebljivosti zadane posude pod tlakom upotrebljavajući dostupne nerazorne metode ispitivanja materijala. U teoretskom dijelu rada opisani su osnovni dijelovi posude pod tlakom, pravilnici o ispitivanju posuda pod tlakom, vrste nerazornih metoda ispitivanja posuda pod tlakom, opisani su postupci vizualnog i ultrazvučnog nerazornog ispitivanja te ispitivanja tlakom jer će se oni primijeniti u eksperimentalnom dijelu. Također opisana su i moguća oštećenja posuda pod tlakom i uzroci njihovog nastajanja. U eksperimentalnom dijelu navedeni su opći podaci o posudi pod tlakom, dostupne nerazorne metode ispitivanja materijala koje su se primijenile poput vizualnog i ultrazvučnog ispitivanja, navedeni su svi uređaji i oprema koja se koristila prilikom ispitivanja, opisan i dokumentiran je sam tijek ispitivanja, prikazani su rezultati na osnovu kojih je donijeta odluka o daljnjoj upotrebljivosti posude pod tlakom.The aim of this thesis is to determine the condition and further usability of a given pressure vessel using available non-destructive material testing methods. In the theoretical part of the work, the basic parts of the pressure vessel are described, the regulations on the testing of pressure vessels, the types of non-destructive testing methods of pressure vessels, the procedures of visual and ultrasonic non-destructive testing along with the pressure test are described because they will be applied in the experimental part. Possible damage to pressure vessels and the causes of their occurrence are also described. In the experimental part, general information about the pressure vessel is listed, available non-destructive material testing methods that were applied, such as visual and ultrasonic testing, all the devices and equipment used during the test are listed, the test process itself is described and documented, and the results are presented on the basis of which a decision was made on the further usability of the pressure vessel
Karakterizacija agregacije DISC1 proteina u neuropsihijatrijskim poremećajima
No full textTo date, the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders remains poorly understood. While
traditionally investigated using genetics, disrupted protein homeostasis has been
suggested as a biological basis for these diseases in at least a subset of patients. Several
proteins previously implicated by genetic studies have been shown to form insoluble
aggregates in such illnesses, including Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1). DISC1 is
a cytosolic, multi-functional scaffolding protein involved in numerous disease-related
neuronal pathways. Due to its large interaction network, it has many reported roles,
including, but not limited to, brain development, maturation, migration and proliferation
of neuronal cells, synapse regulation and mitochondrial trafficking. However, delineation
of the domain structure of DISC1 has only recently been attempted, using highthroughput analysis in Escherichia coli. This approach identified four distinct stable
regions, named D, I, S and C. Here, we used both empirical and theoretical data to confirm
and refine the domain structure of DISC1 when expressed in mammalian cells, as well as
test the functionality of each region through protein-protein interactions. We then utilised
this knowledge to identify the exact part of DISC1 responsible for its aggregation.
Moreover, we created Drosophila lines expressing human DISC1, to assess behavioural
phenotypes corresponding to symptoms often linked with psychiatric disorders.
First, we attempted to refine the borders of DISC1 by combining previously published
bioinformatics data on DISC1 domains with the recent empirical data. Constructs
encoding variants of D, I and C regions were cloned, with borders modified based on
theoretical predictions. These were transfected into HEK293 cells and tested for stability
via proteasome inhibition assay. Results obtained by immunoblotting implicated that
modified versions of D and C regions have improved stability over their empirical
counterparts, with evidence that the I region may not represent a stable folded region by
itself. The D, S and C domains were further shown to be functional in isolation, although
only the C region was capable of forming interactions with known protein binding
partners.
In order to investigate which structural region(s) might be responsible for its aggregation,
fragments of DISC1 were expressed in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and their
localization patterns viewed by fluorescent microscopy. Single regions exhibited clear
II
cytoplasmic localization with no aggregate formation. In contrast, the combination of D
and I region showed clear signs of aggregation, with full length DISC1 used as a positive
control. Based on this, we hypothesized that the unstructured region between these two
regions, D and I, is responsible for DISC1 aggregation propensity, which was verified
using further truncation constructs.
Finally, we created transgenic Drosophila lines expressing human DISC1 on both the
second and third chromosome by using the Gal4-UAS system, which allows selective
activation of any cloned gene in a variety of neuronal clusters. We assessed flies’ abilities
to climb vertical surfaces, as well as locomotor activity and sleep patterns, which are often
prone to disturbances in neuropsychiatric disorders. Our results signified that locomotor
activity and sleep in Drosophila are affected by both the DISC1 insertion and protein
expression, in correlation to symptoms reported by psychiatric patients.
With this thesis, we confirmed and refined the domain structure of DISC1, a known risk
factor for mental disorders. Additionally, our results provided an insight into its
aggregation as an important emerging aspect of DISC1 pathology, as well as the direct
effect of DISC1 expression on the behavioural phenotypes seen in Drosophila animal
models. Together, our data will aid in elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms underlying
psychiatric disorders, and generation of new, high-quality animal models to study
behavioural consequences and relevance of DISC1 aggregation for major psychiatric
disorders.Unatoč velikim znanstvenim napretcima postignutim tijekom posljednjih desetljeća,
patofiziologija psihijatrijskih poremećaja još uvijek nije u potpunosti razjašnjena. Dok se
tradicionalni pristup istraživanja primarno fokusirao na genetske aspekte bolesti, nova
saznanja ukazuju na poremećaje u homeostazi proteina kao biološku bazu ovih bolesti.
Štoviše, nekolicina proteina prethodno impliciranih u genetskim studijama
neuropsihijatrijskih poremećaja također imaju sposobnost stvaranja toksičnih, netopljivih
proteina u mozgovima pacijenata, uključujući i Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1)
protein.
DISC1 je citosolični, multifunkcionalni protein uključen u velik broj neuralnih procesa
kritičnih za normalno obnašanje kognitivnih i tjelesnih funkcija. Zahvaljujući širokoj
mreži interakcijskih proteina, DISC1 ima ulogu u razvoju mozga, maturaciji, migraciji i
proliferaciji neuronalnih stanica, regulaciji sinapsi te mitohondrijskom transportu. No
unatoč važnosti ovog proteina, tek je nedavno, uz pomoć visokopropusnih tehnologija,
razotkrivena njegova strukturalna organizacija. Ovim su pristupom identificirane četiri
stabilne regije proteina, nazvane D, I, S i C. U ovome radu koristili smo kombinaciju
empirijskih i teorijskih podataka kako bismo potvrdili i usavršili strukturu domene DISC1
proteina u stanicama sisavaca te testirali funkcionalnost svake regije kroz interakciju sa
drugim proteinima. Nadalje, identificirali smo točnu regiju DISC1 proteina odgovornu za
njegovu agregaciju te proizveli linije vinskih mušica koje eksprimiraju ljudski DISC1
kako bismo evaluirali fenotipe ponašanja koji su u skladu sa čestim simptomima viđenim
u psihijatrijskim poremećajima.
Za potrebe optimizacije granica DISC1 regija kombinirali smo prethodno publicirana
bioinformatička saznanja sa nedavnim eksperimentalnim otkrićima. Klonirali smo
modificirane konstrukte koji kodiraju varijante D, I i C regija na temelju teorijskih
predviđanja te ih transficirali u HEK293 stanice. Potom smo testirali stabilnost istih
inhibicijom funkcije proteasoma. Dobiveni rezultati ukazali su na to da modificirane
verzije D i C regije imaju povećanu stabilnost u usporedbi sa eksperimentalno dobivenim
konstruktima, kao i da I regija eksprimirana u izolaciji ne predstavlja stabilnu regiju.
Nadalje, demonstrirali smo da su D, S i C regije funkcionalne u izolaciji, iako je samo
potonja demonstrirala sposobnost interakcije sa poznatim veznim partnerima.
IV
Kako bismo istražili koje strukturalne regije imaju sposobnost agregacije eksprimirali
smo fragmente DISC1 proteina u SH-SY5Y stanicama neuroblastoma te pratili njihovu
lokalizaciju koristeći fluorescentnu mikroskopiju. Izolirane regije demonstrirale su
citoplazmatsku lokalizaciju s izostankom agregacije. Suprotno tome, kombinacija D i I
regije demonstrirala je jasne znakove agregacije, u korespondenciji sa agregacijom
vidljivom pri ekspresiji nefragmentiranog DISC1 proteina korištenog kao pozitivna
kontrola. Temeljem ovih rezultata, pretpostavili smo kako je nestrukturirani dio između
D i I regije zaslužan za sklonost DISC1 proteina ka formaciji agregata, što smo potvrdili
daljnom ekspresijom fragmentiranih konstrukata te regije.
Naposlijetku, proizveli smo transgenične linije vinskih mušica koje eksprimiraju ljudski
DISC1 protein na drugom i trećem kromosomu, koristeći Gal4-UAS sistem koji
omogućava selektivnu aktivaciju bilo kojeg kloniranog gena u različitim skupinama
neurona. Testirali smo sposobnost transgeničnih linija pri uspinjanju vertikalnih površina
te lokomotornu aktivnost i obrasce spavanja, čiji su poremećaji česta pojava u
neuropsihijatrijskim bolestima. Dobiveni rezultati ukazali su na to kako insercija DISC1
gena i ekspresija proteina obje utječu na lokomotornu aktivnost i spavanje u vinskih
mušica, u korelaciji sa simptomima zabilježenim u psihijatrijskih pacijenata.
Ovim doktorskim radom potvrdili smo i optimizirali strukturu domene DISC1 proteina,
važnog rizičnog faktora za razvoj mentalnih poremećaja. Nadalje, naši rezultati pružaju
uvid u agregaciju ovog proteina kao potencijalnog patofiziološkog mehanizma bolesti,
kao i izravan utjecaj ekspresije DISC1 gena na bihevioralne fenotipove viđene u modelu
vinske mušice. Naši će podaci pridonijeti razjašnjenju patogenih mehanizama koji su
temeljni uzrok psihijatrijskih poremećaja, kao i generaciji novih životinjskih modela
visoke kvalitete koji će omogućiti proučavanje bihevioralnih posljedica DISC1
ekspresije, kao i važnost DISC1 agregacije, u psihijatrijskim poremećajima
Design of a Conceptual Underwater Wireless Communication System Integrating Electromagnetic and Optical Technologies
No full textUnderwater wireless communication is pivotal for advancing maritime technology, supporting applications such as underwater exploration, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), diver communication, search-and-rescue operations, and military systems. Traditional acoustic communication systems, while effective over long distances, are constrained by low bandwidth and high latency, limiting their suitability for data-intensive operations. Electromagnetic (EM) and optical communication technologies offer promising alternatives, providing higher data rates, greater bandwidth, and lower latency, but face challenges such as signal attenuation, scattering, and environmental interference. To address these challenges, this paper explores the potential of an integrated wireless communication and navigation system combining EM and optical technologies. Initial experimental measurements of EM wave propagation in freshwater provided valuable insights into signal attenuation and frequency-dependent performance, demonstrating the feasibility of overcoming attenuation in such environments. Building on these observations, this paper proposes a conceptual system comprising three interconnected segments: a space segment utilizing the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) for precise GNSS signals, a waterline segment processing and transmitting GNSS-like signals, and an underwater segment facilitating navigationand communication for divers and AUVs. Preliminary findings highlight the potential of combining EM and optical technologies for reliable, near real-time underwater wireless communication. Future work will focus on extending functionality, validating the system in saltwater environments, and refining the design for practical deployment