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The relation between intracranial and intraocular pressure in patients with acute increase of intracranial pressure
No full textUVOD: S obzirom na suprotstavljena mišljenja o povezanosti intrakranijskog tlaka (ICP) i intraokularnog tlaka (IOP), provedeno je istraživanje kako bi se pokušao razjasniti odnos između tlakova i utvrditi postoji li klinička uloga IOP-a u prepoznavanju akutnog povišenja ICP-a.
METODE I ISPITANICI: Istraživanje je dizajnirano kao prospektivna studija u trajanju od 2018. do 2023. godine. Ispitanici su odrasli pacijenti s akutnim povišenjem ICP-a kojima je bilo indicirano kontinuirano mjerenje ICP-a metodom ventrikularne vanjske drenaže likvora. Inicijalno mjerenje IOP-a kod ispitanika bilo je pri prvom nalazu povišenog ICP-a. Sljedeća mjerenja su obavljana dva puta dnevno tijekom iduća tri dana, simultano, u točno definiranom položaju tijela.
REZULTATI: Analizom dobivenih vrijednosti intrakranijskog i intraokularnog tlaka kod pacijenata s akutnim povišenjem ICP-a u ovom istraživanju nije nađena povezanost između IOP-a i ICP-a koristeći Spearmanov koeficijent korelacije ni u početnoj točki mjerenja (rs = 0,00, p > 0,05) kao ni u mjerenjima tijekom iduća tri dana (rs = 0,01, p > 0,05; rs = -0,08, p > 0,05; rs = 0,08, p > 0,05; rs = 0,23, p > 0,05; rs = -0,01, p > 0,05; rs = 0,12, p > 0,05).
ZAKLJUČAK: Ovo istraživanje pokazalo je da mjerenje IOP-a nema prognostičku vrijednost u ranom prepoznavanju akutnog povišenja ICP-a, kao ni u svrhu monitoringa. Razvoj funkcionalnih slikovnih dijagnostičkih metoda, bolje razumijevanje anatomskih odnosa u orbitalnom prostoru vidnog živca, kao i potencijalne neuralne sprege mogle bi dovesti do potpunijeg razumijevanja ovog međuodnosa.INTRODUCTION: Due to conflicting opinions in the literature regarding the relationship between intracranial pressure (ICP) and intraocular pressure (IOP), the aim was to clarify the interrelationship between the pressures in the settings of acute ICP elevation.
METHODS: The research was a prospective study lasting from 2018 to 2023. The subjects were adult patients with acute ICP elevation who needed continuous ICP monitoring using the external ventricular drainage. The initial measurement of IOP was obtained at the first finding of elevated ICP. The following measurements were performed twice a day for the next three days, simultaneously, in a precisely defined position of the body.
RESULTS: Analyzing the values of intracranial and intraocular pressure in patients with an acute increase in ICP, no correlation between IOP and ICP has been found using Spearman correlation coefficient, neither at the starting point of measurement nor in subsequent measurements (rs = 0,00, p > 0,05; rs = 0,01, p > 0,05; rs = -0,08, p > 0,05; rs = 0,08, p > 0,05; rs = 0,23, p > 0,05; rs = -0,01, p > 0,05; rs = 0,12, p > 0,05, respectively).
CONCLUSION: This study showed that IOP measurement has no prognostic value in the early recognition of acute ICP elevation, nor for monitoring purposes. The development of imaging and functional methods, a better understanding of the anatomical relationships in the orbital space of the optic nerve, as well as potential neural connections will lead to a better understanding of this interrelationship
Using artificial intelligence in writing medical ethics essays during medical school education
No full textCiljevi: Cilj prvog istraživanja bio je provesti lingvističku analizu i usporedbu eseja studenata medicine s esejima generiranim pomoću UI-ja (ChatGPT i Bard) na temu etičke, profesionalne ili moralne dileme. Jezične varijable su analizirane uz pomoć LIWC softvera, a izvor eseja je ispitan pomoću softvera za prepoznavanje UI-ja. Hipoteze su pretpostavljale razlike u izražavanju emocija i kognitivnim procesima između studentskih i UI-generiranih eseja. U drugom istraživanju cilj je bio ispitati utjecaj korištenja ChatGPT-a na stavove studenata prema UI-ju, uz predpostavku da će studenti koji sami pišu eseje kao i oni s višom intrizičkom motivacijom pokazati snažniju promjenu postojećih stavova. Ispitanici i postupci: U prvom istraživanju sudjelovali su studenti 5. i 6. godine Medicinskog fakulteta u Splitu koji su napisali reflektivne eseje. Uz pomoć LIWC programa eseji su potom uspoređeni s istim brojem eseja generiranih pomoću ChatGPT-a i Barda. Drugo istraživanje uključivalo je također studente medicinskog fakulteta podijeljenih u dvije skupine: jedna je pisala eseje koristeći ChatGPT, a druga samostalno. Prije i poslije pisanja, studenti su ispunjavali upitnike o stavovima prema UI-ju i o svojoj intrinzičnoj motivaciji. Rezultati: Lingvistička analiza ukazala je da su eseji koje je generirao UI imali višu razinu analitičkog mišljenja, autentičnosti i veću upotrebu dugih riječi u usporedbi s esejima studenata. Studentski eseji pokazivali su više izraza kognitivnih procesa i duže rečenice, kao i veću raznolikost izražavanja neslaganja i kognitivnih procesa. Eseji potencijalno napisani uz pomoć UI-ja pokazivali su mješovite karakteristike, bliže UI-generiranim esejima nego originalnim studentskim esejima. U drugom istraživanju, promjena stavova prema UI-ju nije bila statistički značajna između grupa. Međutim, studenti koji su pisali bez pomoći ChatGPT-a temeljitije su proučili dodijeljeni članak i posvetili više napora u izvršavanju zadatka. Intrinzična motivacija bila je povezana s pozitivnijim stavovima prema UI-ju. Zaključci: Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da, iako UI vrlo uspješno stvara stilski kvalitetne i sadržajno bogate eseje, i dalje postoje uočljive lingvističke razlike između eseja napisanih od strane studenata i onih kreiranih pomoću UI. Te razlike posebno se očituju u područjima analitičkog razmišljanja, izražavanja emocija i kognitivnih procesa. Iako UI pokazuje izuzetnu sposobnost pisanja, ljudsko pisanje zadržava složenije izražavanje misli i emocija. Korištenje UI alata bilo je povezanom sa načinom na koji studenti pristupaju zadacima, ali nije značajno promijenilo njihove stavove prema UI-ju. Budući izazovi uključuju razvoj novih načina ocjenjivanje studentskog rada, uz etičku upotrebu UI-ja u obrazovanju.Objectives: The first study aimed to conduct a linguistic analysis and comparison of essays written by medical students with essays generated by AI (ChatGPT and Bard) on the topic of an ethical, professional, or moral dilemma. Linguistic variables were analyzed using the LIWC software, and the origin of the essays was examined using AI detection tools. The hypotheses assumed differences in the expression of emotions and cognitive processes between student-written and AI-generated essays. The second study aimed to examine how the use of ChatGPT affects students' attitudes toward AI, with the hypothesis that students who wrote essays independently and those with higher intrinsic motivation would show a stronger change in their existing attitudes. Participans and procedures: In the first study, participants were 5th- and 6th-year medical students from the University of Split School of Medicine who wrote reflective essays. Using the LIWC software, these essays were compared with an equal number of essays generated by ChatGPT and Bard. The second study involved 80 students divided into two groups: one group wrote essays using ChatGPT, while the other wrote independently. Before and after the writing task, students completed questionnaires on their attitudes toward artificial intelligence and their intrinsic motivation. Results: The linguistic analysis showed that AI-generated essays exhibited higher levels of analytical thinking, authenticity, and greater use of long words compared to student essays. Student essays demonstrated greater expression of cognitive processes and longer sentence lengths. Furthermore, student essays showed greater variation in the expression of disagreement and cognitive processes. Essays potentially written with AI assistance exhibited mixed characteristics, being more similar to AI-generated essays than to original student essays. In the second study, changes in attitudes toward AI were not statistically significant between groups. However, students who wrote essays without the help of ChatGPT engaged more thoroughly with the assigned article and demonstrated greater effort in completing the task. Intrinsic motivation was associated with more positive attitudes toward AI. Conclusions: The results indicate that although AI is highly successful in producing stylistically polished and content-rich essays, recognizable linguistic differences still exist between student-written and AI-generated texts. These differences are particularly evident in aspects of analytical thinking, emotional expression, and cognitive processing. While AI demonstrates exceptional writing capabilities, human writing retains a more complex expression of thoughts and emotions. The use of AI tools influenced the way students approached academic tasks but did not significantly alter their attitudes toward AI. Future challenges include developing new methods for assessing student work, alongside promoting the ethical use of AI in education
Vesicular phospholipid gels for localized skin drug delivery
No full textUčinkovito lokalno liječenje bolesti i ozljeda kože, koje su nerijetko praćene infekcijama, od velikog je medicinskog značaja. Svrha ovog rada bila je razviti biokompatibilan i učinkovit terapijski nanosustav za dermalnu primjenu, baziran na fosfolipidima, koži-sličnim tvarima. Riječ je o visokokoncentriranoj liposomskoj disperziji - vezikularnom fosfolipidnom gelu (VFG), koji bi zbog svoje polučvrste konzistencije omogućio dostavu visoke koncentracije lijeka na oboljelo mjesto, a integriranjem koži-sličnih sastojaka formulacije u kožu ili onih koji potiču zacjeljivanje, omogućila bi se njezina brža regeneracija. Istraživanja su obuhvatila razvoj i optimizaciju industrijski prikladne metode priprave VFG-ova s hidrofilnim modelnim lijekom (ciprofloksacinklorid, CPF), karakterizaciju CPF-VFG-ova u pogledu fizičko-kemijskih i reoloških svojstava, simulirane in vivo i fizičke stabilnosti, bioadhezivnosti, biokompatibilnosti, in vitro antimikrobne aktivnosti i in vitro učinka zacjeljivanja ozlijeđene kože. Rezultati provedenih ispitivanja su pokazali utjecaj fluidnosti (fosfo)lipidnih dvoslojeva i viskoznosti CPF-VFG-ova na profil oslobađanja CPF-a i njegovu permeabilnost u kožu. Neovisno o sastavu, svi CPF-VFG-ovi su bili kompatibilni sa stanicama keratinocita te su učinkovito inhibirali rast patogenih bakterija, čestih uzročnika infekcija kože i mekih tkiva. Antibakterijska aktivnost svih CPF-VFG-ova u prevenciji razvoja biofilmova Pseudomonas aeruginosa i meticilin-rezistentnog Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) kliničkog izolata je bila dva puta veća od aktivnosti CPF otopine. CPF-VFG-ovi s hidrogeniranim fosfolipidima i kitozanom su se pokazali optimalnim nanoformulacijama zbog snažnog proliferativnog učinka na keratinocite, brzog zacjeljivanja ozlijeđenog epidermisa in vitro i lokalizacije lijeka na/u koži. Pritom bi CPF-VFG s kitozanom bio prikladan za liječenje površinskih infekcija s kompromitiranim epidermisom, dok bi CPF-VFG s hidrogeniranim fosfolipidima bio poželjan za liječenje dubljih infekcija kože. Njihovo dobro zadržavanje na površini koži te produljeno oslobađanje CPF-a tijekom duljeg vremena, u koncentracijama koje značajno premašuju minimalne biofilm inhibitorne koncentracije CPF-a na patogene bakterije na mjestu infekcije, rezultiralo bi učinkovitom lokalnom terapijom i prevencijom razvoja kroničnih infekcija kože. Time bi se značajno unaprijedila postojeća lokalna antimikrobna terapija, a dodatno bi se smanjila učestalost doziranja, što je posebno važno kod tretiranja bolnih područja ozlijeđene kože.Effective local treatment of skin diseases and injuries, which are often accompanied by infections, holds great medical importance. The aim of this thesis was to develop a biocompatible and therapeutically effective dermal drug delivery nanosystem, based on phospholipids - substances structurally like those found in human skin. This system is a vesicular phospholipid gel (VPG), a highly concentrated liposomal dispersion of semisolid consistency. VPGs are designed to enable the delivery of high drug concentrations to the affected skin area, while the integration of skin-like components and healing-promoting agents into the skin would support faster regeneration. The research included the development and optimization of an industrially suitable method for preparing VPGs containing a hydrophilic model drug (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, CPX), and characterization of the several prepared CPX-VPGs in terms of their physicochemical and rheological properties, in vitro drug release profiles, physical and simulated in vivo stability, bioadhesiveness, in vitro antibacterial activity, biocompatibility and wound healing potential. The results demonstrated that bilayer fluidity and viscosity of the CPX-VPGs significantly influenced CPX release profiles and skin permeability. Regardless of composition, all CPX-VPGs were compatible with human keratinocytes in vitro and effectively inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria typically associated with skin and soft tissue infections. Notably, all CPX-VPGs showed a twofold increase in activity against biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolate compared to CPX solution. Formulations containing hydrogenated phospholipids and chitosan proved to be the most promising nanoformulations due to their strong proliferative effects on keratinocytes, rapid in vitro healing of injured epidermis, and efficient localization of the drug within and on the skin. CPX-VPGs with chitosan would be particularly suitable for treating superficial infections involving compromised epidermis, while those with hydrogenated phospholipids would be better suited for deeper skin infections. Their effective retention on the skin surface and sustained release of CPX at concentrations well above the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration at the site of infection suggest that these formulations could enable effective local therapy and help prevent the development of chronic skin infections. This would significantly improve dermal treatment outcomes and reduce dosing frequency, which is an especially important benefit when treating painful, injured skin areas
Determinants of effective deinstitutionalization process of persons with intellectual disabilities
No full textDeinstitucionalizacija je složeni proces kojim se omogućava prijelaz iz segregacijskih okruženja i institucionalne skrbi u neovisan život u zajednici. Osim zatvaranja ustanova i smanjenja broja osoba koje žive u institucijama, deinstitucionalizacija podrazumijeva i razvoj visokokvalitetnih, individualiziranih usluga u zajednici te prilagodbu redovnih usluga kako bi one bile univerzalno dostupne i pristupačne svim građanima. Proces deinstitucionalizacije u Hrvatskoj započeo je 1997. godine. Iako su u svijetu provedena brojna istraživanja različitih učinaka procesa deinstitucionalizacije, proces deinstitucionalizacije u Hrvatskoj značajnije je
intenziviran tek 2013. godine tako da je u našoj zemlji do sada proveden relativno manji broj istraživanja koja su obuhvatila samo neke aspekte procesa deinstitucionalizacije. Uzimajući u obzir konceptualni model kvalitete življenja (QoL) te rekonstruirani model
podrške za kvalitetu života koji naglašava važnost i kvalitetu podrške (QoLSM), u ovom je istraživanju istraživački problem postavljen mnogo šire kako bi se sveobuhvatnije ispitao kompleksan prostor različitih učinaka procesa deinstitucionalizacije. U skladu s navedenim, ciljevi ovog istraživanja su znanstvena evaluacija utjecaja procesa deinstitucionalizacije na
različite dimenzije kvalitete življenja osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama, evaluacija utjecaja procesa deinstitucionalizacije na karakteristike službi podrške unutar usluge organiziranog stanovanja te utvrđivanje ključnih determinanti učinkovitosti procesa deinstitucionalizacije osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. Sudionici ovog istraživanja su odrasle osobe s intelektualnim teškoćama (N=93) iz 2 različite ustanove koje su nakon deinstitucionalizacije uključene u izvaninstitucijsku uslugu organiziranog stanovanja. Kako bi se ispitali učinci procesa deinstitucionalizacije u odnosu na različite dimenzije kvalitete življenja, na prigodnom uzorku osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama primijenjeni su različiti instrumenti kojima se ispituje razina adaptivnog ponašanja, nepoželjnih
oblika ponašanja, mogućnosti vršenja izbora, socijalna uključenost te stupanj individualizacije službi podrške tj. razina prilagodbe službi podrške individualnim potrebama osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. Kako bi se ispitao utjecaj procesa deinstitucionalizacije na karakteristike službi podrške, na uzorku stambenih jedinica organiziranog stanovanja iz obje
ustanove (N=29) primijenjen je upitnik kojim se procjenjuju različite karakteristike službi podrške. Osim deskriptivne statistike, statistička analiza u ovom istraživanju uključivala je usporedbe prije i nakon deinstitucionalizacije primjenom t-testa za zavisne uzorke te analizu povezanosti pomoću Pearsonovog koeficijenta korelacije. Osim toga, McNemarov test korišten je za analizu
promjena u učestalosti određenih ponašanja i aktivnosti u zajednici. Rezultati potvrđuju pad vještina adaptivnog ponašanja na 8 od ukupno 10 domena nakon deinstitucionalizacije. U odnosu na nepoželjne oblike ponašanja, utvrđena je statistički značajna razlika na samo jednoj od ukupno 14 domena te je potvrđeno značajno povećanje autoagresivnog ponašanja nakon deinstitucionalizacije. Rezultati potvrđuju statistički značajno veće mogućnosti vršenja izbora osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama nakon deinstitucionalizacije. U odnosu na socijalnu uključenost, mješoviti rezultati ukazuju na činjenicu da su ispunjeni
određeni preduvjeti za sudjelovanje osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama u zajednici, no s druge strane potvrđena je usmjerenost na osoblje, druge osobe s intelektualnim teškoćama i pružatelja usluge te otežano širenje društvenih mreža.
Potvrđen je i značajno viši stupanj individualizacije službi podrške nakon deinstitucionalizacije u odnosu na potrebe osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. U odnosu na ispitivanje karakteristika službi podrške unutar usluge organiziranog stanovanja, rezultati potvrđuju pozitivne promjene u odnosu na određeni broj karakteristika službi podrške koje se povezuju s kvalitetom.
Međutim, rezultati ukazuju i na određene nedostatke službi podrške koje mogu ozbiljno ugroziti kvalitetu same usluge.
Rezultati ovog istraživanja ukazuju na značaj različitih okolinskih faktora u ostvarivanju pozitivnih učinaka procesa deinstitucionalizacije budući da nije potvrđena značajna povezanost adaptivnog ponašanja i nepoželjnih oblika ponašanja s mogućnošću vršenja izbora i socijalnom uključenošću osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama. Zbog velike fluktuacije u sastavu stambenih zajednica u odnosu na stanare i osoblje koje pruža podršku, nije se mogla ispitati povezanost pojedinih karakteristika službi podrške unutar usluge organiziranog stanovanja s očekivanim ishodima procesa deinstitucionalizacije. Pored navedenog, u radu se razmatra specifičan kontekst provođenja istraživanja i mogući utjecaj COVID-19 pandemije na rezultate, te su uz ograničenja istraživanja predložene i preporuke za buduća istraživanja.Deinstitutionalization is a political and social process that facilitates the transition from institutional care and other isolating and segregating environments to independent living within the community. It is a process that involves the development of high-quality, individualized community-based services aimed at preventing institutionalization, the planned closure of
institutions, and reducing the number of persons living in institutions. Additionally, it encompasses adapting and restructuring of mainstream services to ensure universal accessibility and availability. The deinstitutionalization policy has a strong legal framework and international standards that serve as the foundation for numerous policy documents. Notably, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stipulates in Article 19 the right to living independently and
being included in the community (United Nations, 2006). The Republic of Croatia signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, making it one of the first countries to formally adopt it. By doing so, Croatia committed to promoting, protecting, and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for persons with disabilities. One of these rights pertains to living independently and being included in the community. A significant number of studies confirm an improvement in the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities following deinstitutionalization. In their systematic review of the literature, which includes 61 studies published between 2004 and 2016, Bredewold et al. (2020) highlight the improvement in the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities as one of the positive effects of the deinstitutionalization process. A literature review by McCarron et al. (2019) identified an initial improvement in quality of life that occurred 12 months after deinstitutionalization and, in some studies, even 24 months afterward. However, some studies recorded a plateau effect concerning the quality of life of
deinstitutionalized persons. Additionally, regarding the degree of intellectual disability, it was found that the quality of life did not significantly change after deinstitutionalization for persons with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. In contrast, for persons with more severe intellectual disabilities, a significant improvement in quality of life was recorded, which was
still evident 24 months after deinstitutionalization (McCarron et al., 2019). Kozma et al. (2009) found that moving into the community is generally associated with a better quality of life. However, significant differences were identified among persons and environments regarding quality-of-life improvements, which were linked to individual characteristics, staff practices, and service provision procedures. Navas et al. (2025) identified a significant improvement in the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities following deinstitutionalization. However, as the authors emphasize, simply relocating to a different community setting was not the primary factor responsible for the observed improvements. They highlighted that these improvements in quality of life were mediated by two key variables: the support persons receive for participating in daily activities and the extent to which they have opportunities for choice and decision-making in their daily lives. This study not only underscores the importance of quality of life but also highlights the crucial role of support, aligning with the previously mentioned contemporary support model for quality of life. In the context of the deinstitutionalization process, research examining the effects of this process on various dimensions of quality of life is of particular importance. Obtaining
scientifically grounded evidence on whether deinstitutionalization leads to an improvement in the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities is crucial. Furthermore, it is essential to determine whether the institutional culture is being abandoned and whether support services and service delivery methods are changing in ways that align with improving the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, it is important to assess whether newly developed community-based services meet quality standards. The deinstitutionalization process in Croatia began in 1997 but gained significant momentum only in 2013. Although numerous studies worldwide have examined various effects of the
deinstitutionalization process, relatively few studies have been conducted in Croatia, and they have covered only certain aspects of the process. Following contemporary global trends, this study employs the conceptual Quality of Life Model
(QoL) as its guiding framework. In this context, this study examines the effects of the deinstitutionalization process on various dimensions of quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, this study considers the reconstruction of the conceptual model of quality of life into the Quality of Life Support Model (QoLSM), which emphasizes
the importance of the quality of support and its impact on the quality of life of persons with intellectual disabilities. It is also important to highlight that certain definitions of service quality for persons with intellectual disabilities recognize the positive impact of services on their quality of life as a key factor in overall service quality. In this context, this study also focuses
on examining the impact of the deinstitutionalization process on the characteristics of support services within the organized housing service. Specifically, it explores whether communitybased organized housing service, as an alternative to institutional care, contributes to improving the quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities and whether this service meets the quality standards of social services. Considering the Quality of Life Model and the reconstructed Quality of Life Support Model, this study defines the research problem more broadly to comprehensively examine the complex range of effects of the deinstitutionalization process on persons with intellectual disabilities. In line with this, the objectives of this study are:
1. Scientific evaluation of the impact of the deinstitutionalization process on various
dimensions of the quality of life of persons with intellectual disabilities,
2. Scientific evaluation of the impact of the deinstitutionalization process on the
characteristics of support services,
3. Identifying key determinants of the effectiveness of the deinstitutionalization process,
primarily focusing on individual differences among persons with intellectual disabilities
(such as the level of adaptive behavior and the presence of challenging behaviors) and
the characteristics of support services.
Methodology
This study was conducted within the project “Transformation and Deinstitutionalization of the Center for Rehabilitation Stančić and the Center for Rehabilitation Zagreb”. The project was implemented by the ministry responsible for social welfare affairs in collaboration with the Center for Rehabilitation Stančić, the Center for Rehabilitation Zagreb, and the Association for the Promotion of Inclusion, with financial support from the Open Society Mental Health Initiative. The study used a convenience sample comprising 93 adults with intellectual disabilities over the age of 21 who receive organized housing service from two state service providers. These are adults with intellectual disabilities who, after einstitutionalization and leaving the institution, have been included in community-based organized housing service. Regarding the questionnaires used to examine the impact of the deinstitutionalization on various dimensions of quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities, the initial assessment for each participant was conducted immediately before deinstitutionalization and entering community-based organized housing service. This applies to the following instruments: Adaptive Behavior Scale, Decision Control Inventory, Before and Now, Questionnaire on Community Involvement, and Scale for Assessing the Individualization of Support Services. For the purpose of data collection, the previously mentioned questionnaires were completed by educational rehabilitators and other professionals from related fields who possess the necessary expert knowledge for assessment and are most familiar with the participants. Regarding the assessment of the impact of the deinstitutionalization process on the characteristics of support services, the initial evaluation for each housing community, i.e., each organized housing service unit, was conducted immediately after deinstitutionalization and the
establishment of support services within the organized housing service. This applies to the Organizational Capacities for Person-Centered Outcomes questionnaire, which examines specific characteristics of the support services within the organized housing service. In order to obtain the most objective and reliable data regarding the characteristics of support services and given that Croatia lacks a system for evaluating and monitoring social services by independent external assessors specially trained for such evaluations, the mentioned questionnaire was completed by managers of support services within the organized housing program, who possess the fundamental knowledge necessary for this type of assessment. Depending on the planned dynamics of deinstitutionalization and the transition of persons with intellectual disabilities from institutions, the initial assessment was conducted at the end of 2013 and for the majority of participants during 2014 and 2015. Simultaneously with the establishment of support services within the community-based organized housing service, an initial assessment of the characteristics of support services was also conducted on a sample of
housing units within the organized housing service, immediately after deinstitutionalization. Although the period for the final assessment was originally planned to take place 12 to 18 months after deinstitutionalization, due to delays in the implementation of the previously mentioned project and other objective reasons, the timing of the final assessment was
significantly postponed. The COVID-19 pandemic caused additional delays, so the final assessment was conducted at the end of 2021. The questionnaire on general information about the research participants was completed once, during the initial assessment, for each participant individually. The statistical analysis in this study included pre- and post-deinstitutionalization comparisons using the paired samples t-test, as well as correlation analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Furthermore, the McNemar test was used to analyze changes in the frequency of certain behaviors and community activities.
Results
The results confirm a decline in adaptive behavior in 8 of 10 domains following deinstitutionalization. This somewhat unexpected finding has been linked to the relatively high average chronological age of the study participants (M = 47.8, SD = 10.62), as well as the effects of aging and the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding challenging behaviors, a statistically
significant difference was found in only one of the 14 domains, with a notable increase in selfaggressive behavior after deinstitutionalization. In relation to the opportunities for making choices, the results of this study confirm a statistically significant difference in 7 of 9 assessed areas. In all 7 areas where a significant difference was found, the results indicate significantly greater opportunities for choice-making after deinstitutionalization. The two areas where no statistically significant differences were found relate to programs and staff and money. These findings are not unexpected, considering
the relatively limited range of programs and services available in the community, as well as the organizational challenges faced by service providers, which, for objective reasons, do not always allow for the fulfillment of each individual's personal preferences. In relation to community involvement, the mixed results indicate that certain prerequisites for the involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in the community have been met, but the impact of the deinstitutionalization process on the degree of actual community involvement remains unknown. Regarding interpersonal relationships, the results of this study confirm that the number of neighbors who have a superficial acquaintance with persons with intellectual disabilities has significantly increased after deinstitutionalization, while the number of neighbors who know them well has remained unchanged. Additionally, the findings indicate an increase in the number of friends among deinstitutionalized persons with intellectual disabilities. However, this increase pertains primarily to friends who are also persons with intellectual disabilities,
while the number of friends outside their home or residence has not changed significantly. The increase in the number of neighbors who have a superficial acquaintance with the person suggests, on one hand, the potential for expanding the social networks of persons with intellectual disabilities after deinstitutionalization. On the other hand, the rise in the number of friends who are also persons with intellectual disabilities, combined with the unchanged number of friends outside their home or residence, indicates a continued focus on housemates or others with intellectual disabilities. This suggests that the social networks of persons with intellectual disabilities remain limited and do not easily expand even after deinstitutionalization. Regarding the type and frequency of communication with friends, the results of this study confirmed that after deinstitutionalization, persons with intellectual disabilities communicate with their friends more frequently by phone, visit their friends more often, receive visits from friends more frequently, and go on joint trips and outings more often.
Regarding the type and frequency of communication with family members, the results of this study confirm a significant difference in only one of the six variables. Based on this, it can be concluded that the frequency of communication with family members has not changed significantly after deinstitutionalization. This study did not find significant differences in the romantic and intimate relationships of persons with intellectual disabilities before and after deinstitutionalization. These findings suggest that most persons with intellectual disabilities who participated in this study do not engage in romantic or intimate relationships. According to the results, in the final assessment, only 27.96% of deinstitutionalized persons with intellectual disabilities were in romantic relationships, while only 8.6% had intimate relationships with a partner. In this regard, the findings highlight the need to develop and implement a support system within existing support services in organized housing, aimed at facilitating romantic and intimate relationships for adults with intellectual disabilities - an area that has been entirely overlooked. The results of this study confirm a significantly higher degree of individualization in support services after deinstitutionalization, in relation to the needs of persons with intellectual disabilities. In all 15 variables used to assess the degree of individualization in support services, better results were achieved in the final assessment.
In addition to the degree of individualization in relation to the needs of persons with intellectual disabilities, this study also examined certain characteristics of support services within the service of organized housing during the initial and final assessments. The results confirm a significant difference in 7 of 17 variables used to assess specific characteristics of support services within organized housing. The results of this study indicate that the deinstitutionalization process has led to positive changes in several characteristics of support services associated with quality. Most notably, the application of a person-centered approach in planning support for adults with intellectual disabilities stands out as a key improvement. However, the results also highlight certain shortcomings in support services within organized housing. These primarily include the limited involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities in staff selection, insufficient opportunities for financing services according to individual needs (due to the absence of an individualized service funding model), and inadequate attention to the personal satisfaction of suppo
Osporavanje Zajedničke vanjske i sigurnosne politike EU-a : nastavak europeizacije drugim sredstvima
No full textThis thesis investigates the phenomenon of internal contestation within the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Drawing upon a Sociological Institutionalist framework, it examines the interplay between contestation and Europeanization, exploring how these processes shape member state behaviour and influence the development of EU foreign policy.
The research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing in-depth interviews with policymakers within the CFSP structure to gather empirical data. Thematic analysis is used to systematically organize and interpret the findings. Process tracing is then employed to establish causal relationships between variables, leading to the development of a novel theory of "constructive contestation" in CFSP.
The thesis argues that external pressures, particularly major international crises such as the Russian aggression on Ukraine, have significantly increased the pressure on member states to cooperate in foreign policy. This pressure, coupled with the growing influence of EU institutions and certain member states, incentivizes member states to adopt more flexible positions in CFSP decision-making. However, when faced with proposals that clash with their national sensitivities, member states often resort to contestation as a means of navigating the tension between collective action and individual preferences.
The research identifies a spectrum of contestation practices, ranging from passive and symbolic strategies to more active and formal methods. Importantly, these contestation practices are increasingly becoming accepted and legitimized within the CFSP framework. This is because contestation allows for the advancement of EU foreign policy while respecting member states' core national interests, paradoxically strengthening the CFSP's ability to respond effectively to external challenges.
The thesis concludes by proposing a new theory of "constructive contestation" in CFSP, which provides a conditional mechanism approach to explain how and why member states choose specific contestation strategies. It further outlines avenues for future research, including empirical testing of the theory, exploring the long-term effects of contestation, and incorporating additional factors into the conditional mechanism. By illuminating the complex dynamics of contestation and
its relationship with Europeanization, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of EU foreign policy cooperation.Ova disertacija istražuje fenomen internog osporavanja Zajedničke vanjske i sigurnosne politike (ZVSP) Europske unije. Koristeći teorijski okvir sociološkog institucionalizma, rad ispituje međusobni odnos između koncepata osporavanja i europeizacije, istražujući kako ti procesi oblikuju ponašanje država članica i utječu na razvoj vanjske politike EU-a.
Istraživanje koristi kvalitativnu metodologiju, koristeći intervjue s kreatorima politika unutar strukture ZVSP-a za prikupljanje empirijskih podataka. Tematska analiza se zatim koristi za sustavno organiziranje i interpretaciju nalaza. Na kraju, metodom process-tracinga uspostavljuju se uzročne veze između varijabli, što dovodi do razvoja nove teorije "konstruktivnog osporavanja" u ZVSP-u.
Rad tvrdi da su vanjski pritisci, posebno velike međunarodne krize poput ruske agresije na Ukrajinu, značajno povećali pritisak na države članice da surađuju u vanjskoj politici. Taj pritisak, zajedno s rastućim utjecajem institucija EU-a i određenih država članica, potiče države članice da usvoje fleksibilnije pozicije u donošenju odluka unutar ZVSP-a. Međutim, kada se suoče s prijedlozima koji se sukobljavaju s njihovim nacionalnim interesima, države članice često pribjegavaju osporavanju kao sredstvu navigacije između kolektivnog djelovanja i individualnih preferencija.
Istraživanje identificira širi spektar oblika osporavanja, od pasivnih i simboličkih strategija do aktivnijih i formalnih metoda. Ti oblici osporavanja postaju sve prihvaćeniji i legitimniji unutar okvira ZVSP-a jer osporavanje omogućava napredovanje vanjske politike EU-a uz poštivanje temeljnih nacionalnih interesa država članica. Time se paradoksalno jačaja sposobnost ZVSP-a da učinkovito odgovori na vanjske izazove.
Disertacija zaključuje predlaganjem nove teorije "konstruktivnog osporavanja" u ZVSP-u, koja pruža uvjetovani mehanizam za objašnjenje kako i zašto države članice biraju određene strategije osporavanja. Nadalje, iznosi smjernice za buduća istraživanja, uključujući empirijsko testiranje teorije, istraživanje dugoročnih učinaka osporavanja i uključivanje dodatnih čimbenika u uvjetovani mehanizam. Osvjetljavanjem složenih dinamika osporavanja i njegovog odnosa s europeizacijom, ova disertacija doprinosi dubljem razumijevanju evoluirajuće prirode suradnje u vanjskoj politici EU-a
Identification and analysis of malicious user accounts on Twitter
No full textCilj ovoga istraživanja je identifikacija i analiza zlonamjernih korisničkih računa na društvenoj mreži Twitter (trenutno zvanoj X). U svrhu izgradnje klasifikatora korišten je skup podataka Russian Troll Tweets koji je objavio NBC News te koji sadrži više od 200 000 tweetova koje je Twitter povezao sa „zlonamjernim aktivnostima“. Istraživanje je provedeno na 1 020 733 tweetova prikupljenih u razdoblju od 2021. do 2023. koji pripadaju domenama Politika, Sport i Tehnologija. Nad detektiranim zlonamjernim računima provedena je analiza sentimenta prilikom čega su analizirani polaritet i subjektivnost. Rezultati ovoga istraživanja pokazuju da je 45,97 % prikupljenih korisničkih računa klasificirano kao zlonamjerno, prilikom čega je najveći broj zlonamjernih korisničkih računa detektiran u domeni Politika. Obilježja sentimenta u definiranim domenama statistički se značajno razlikuju, prilikom čega su razlike u aspektu polariteta značajnije izražene, naspram subjektivnosti. Izgrađeni klasifikator u trima obrađenim domenama postiže prosječnu točnost od 97,78 %, pri čemu najveću točnost od 98,14 % postiže u domeni Politika.The aim of this research is to identify and analyze malicious user accounts on the social network Twitter (currently known as X). For the purpose of building a classifier, the dataset Russian Troll Tweets, published by NBC News and containing over 200,000 tweets linked by Twitter to “malicious activities” was utilized. The research was conducted on 1,020,733 tweets collected between 2021 and 2023, belonging to the domains of Politics, Sports, and Technology. Sentiment analysis was performed on the detected malicious accounts, examining polarity and subjectivity. The results of this study show that 45.97% of the collected user accounts were classified as malicious, with the majority of malicious accounts detected in the Politics domain. Sentiment characteristics across the defined domains statistically differ significantly, with differences in polarity being more pronounced compared to subjectivity. The built classifier achieves an average accuracy of 97.78% across the three analyzed domains, with the highest accuracy of 98.14% recorded in the Politics domain
Risk factors analysis of West Nile virus infection in Croatia
No full textU ovom istraživanju analizirana je prevalencija, epidemiološke značajke i abiotički čimbenici VZN infekcije u Hrvatskoj, 2011.-2014. godine. Istraživana je povezanost klimatoloških, geomorfoloških, prostornih i demografskih parametara s pojavnošću infekcija u konja tijekom četiri uzastopne sezone u županijama s najviše dokazanih infekcija. Dokazana je značajna razlika u učestalosti akutnih infekcija i seroprevalencije tijekom pojedinih sezona kao i regionalno. Udio akutno zaraženih konja iznosio je 0,1-1,4%, a IgG seroprevalencija 6,9-12,9%, što odgovara pojavi akutnih infekcija u ljudi 2012. i ukazuje na intenzivniju cirkulaciju virusa s njezinim posljedičnim porastom. Korelacijskom analizom utvrđena je značajna pozitivna povezanost IgG seroprevalencije s temperaturom 2011., 2013. i 2014., s vlagom 2012., a značajna negativna povezanost 2011. i 2014. i s količinom oborina u 2013. godini. Poplavno područje i udaljenost od šuma pokazali su se statistički značajni prediktori IgG seropozitiviteta konja na univarijatnoj razini, a kao negativni prediktori udaljenost od vodenih površina i nadmorska visina. Na multivarijatnoj razini značajni su samo udaljenost od šuma i nadmorska visina. Seroprevalencija VZN u ljudi u odabranim županijma 2013. godine iznosila je 4,2%, a 2014. godine 0,9%. U četiri od šest promatranih županija, utvrđena je značajna povezanost između seroprevalencije u konja i ljudi, u Zagrebačkoj županiji, Gradu Zagrebu, Osječko-baranjskoj i Vukovarsko-srijemskoj županiji.The prevalence, epidemiological features, and abiotic factors of WNV infection in Croatia were analyzed in the period from 2011 to 2014. The association of climatological, geomorphological, spatial and demographic parameters with the occurrence of infections in horses during four consecutive seasons in the counties with the highest number of infections was investigated. The frequency of acute infections and seroprevalence differed significantly between seasons as well as regionally. The proportion of acutely infected horses was 0.1-1.4%, and the IgG seroprevalence was 6.9-12.9%, which corresponds to the occurrence of acute infections in humans in 2012 and indicates a more intensive circulation of the virus with its consequent increase. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association of IgG seroprevalence with temperature in 2011, 2013, and 2014, with humidity in 2012, and a significant negative correlation in 2011 and 2014, and with the amount of precipitation in 2013. Flood area and distance from forests were statistically significant predictors of IgG seropositivity in horses at the univariate level, while water surface distance and altitude were negative predictors. At the multivariate level, only forest distance and altitude are significant. The WNV seroprevalence in humans in selected counties was 4.2% in 2013, and 0.9% in 2014. In four of the six analyzed counties, a significant association was observed between seroprevalence in horses and humans, in Zagreb County, the City of Zagreb, Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem Counties
The controlled release of flavonoids from magnetic nanocarriers by external magnetic fields
No full textFlavonoidi su prirodni antioksidansi polifenolne strukture koji pokazuju terapeutski potencijal zbog svojih protuupalnih, antikancerogenih, antimikrobnih i antioksidativnih svojstava. Međutim, ograničena bioraspoloživost i apsorpcija u organizmu, slaba topljivost u vodi i nestabilnost u fiziološkim uvjetima smanjuju njihovu učinkovitost kao biološki aktivnih tvari. Učinkovita strategija za prevladavanje tih ograničenja je ugradnja flavonoida u mezoporozne nanonosače. Izniman kandidat za dostavu flavonoida su nanočestice magnetita zbog svoje biorazgradljivosti, fizikalno-kemijskih svojstava i superparamagnetičnosti. Funkcionalizacija nanočestica magnetita poli(etilen-glikolom) poboljšava učinkovitost flavonoida smanjenjem imunološke reakcije organizma. U okviru ovog doktorskog rada, solvotermalnom metodom sintetizirane su funkcionalizirane nanočestice magnetita. Provedena je strukturna, morfološka, termička i magnetska karakterizacija nanočestica različitim eksperimentalnim tehnikama te je ispitana stabilnost nanočestica u fosfatnom puferu. Mezoporozna struktura nanočestica magnetita potvrđena je Brunauer-Emmett-Tellerovom analizom. Ugradnja flavonoida kvercetina, miricetina i miricitrina provedena je metodom adsorpcije, a efikasnost ugradnje kvantificirana je UV-Vis spektroskopijom. Strukturnom, morfološkom i termičkom karakterizacijom potvrđena je ugradnja flavonoida u mezoporozne nanočestice magnetita. Kinetika otpuštanja flavonoida iz istraživanih nanonosača in vitro kontrolirana je primjenom vanjskog permanentnog i oscilirajućeg magnetskog polja i kvantificirana UV-Vis spektroskopijom. Rezultati ovog doktorskog rada ukazuju na to da je razvijen nanosustav za efikasnu ugradnju flavonoida radi prevladavanja njihove slabe topljivosti i nestabilnosti u fiziološkim uvjetima. Ujedno su pronađeni optimalni uvjeti za kontrolirano otpuštanje flavonoida iz nanočestica magnetita pomoću vanjskog oscilirajućeg i permanentnog magnetskog polja.Flavonoids are natural antioxidants with a polyphenolic structure that exhibit therapeutic potential due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. However, limited bioavailability and absorption in the body, poor solubility in water and instability in physiological conditions reduce their effectiveness as biologically active substances. An effective strategy to overcome these limitations is encapsulation into nanocarriers. An exceptional candidate for flavonoid delivery are mesoporous magnetite nanoparticles due to their biodegradability, physicochemical properties and superparamagnetic nature. Functionalization of nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol) further improves the effectivness of flavonoids by reducing the body's immune response.
In the framework of this doctoral thesis, magnetite nanoparticles functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) were synthesized by the solvothermal method. Structural, morphological, thermal and magnetic characterization of nanoparticles was carried out using different experimental techniques, and the stability of nanoparticles was tested in phosphate buffer. The mesoporous structure of magnetite nanoparticles was confirmed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Encapsulation of flavonoids: quercetin, myricetin and myricitrin was carried out by the adsorption method, and the efficiency of encapsulation was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Structural, thermal and morphological characterization confirmed the encapsulation of flavonoids into magnetite nanoparticles. In vitro kinetics of flavonoid release from magnetic nanocarriers was controlled by combination of external permanent and oscillating magnetic fields and quantified by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results of this doctoral dissertation indicate that a nanosystem has been developed for the efficient encapsulation of flavonoids in order to overcome their low solubility and instability in physiological conditions. At the same time, optimal conditions were found for the controlled release of flavonoids from magnetite nanocarriers using an external oscillating and permanent magnetic field
GUT MICROBIOME DYSBIOSIS IN INFLAMMATION CAUSED BY THE COMBINED ACTION OF INHALED ANESTHETICS WITH HEAVY METALS IN RATS
No full textNarušavanje crijevnog mikrobioma snažno je povezano s razvojem patofizioloških bolesti
posredovanim oksidacijskim stresom (OS) u ljudi i životinja. Temeljem toga, cilj rada bio je
dublje razumijevanje odnosa između crijevnog mikrobioma i redoks homeostaze prouzročene
prekomjernim unosom teških metala (TM; Fe i Al) te izlaganja inhalacijskim anesteticima (IA)
kroz praćenje strukturnih i funkcionalnih promjena crijevnog mikrobioma, crijevne barijere,
OS, upale, regulacije hepcidina i feritina, makrofagne polarizacije te funkcionalnih promjena
tkiva i organa. Rezultati ukazuju da subakutna, a posebice kronična primjena IA (sevoflurana i
izoflurana) uz prekomjerni unos TM narušava stanični metabolizam, vodi poremećaju
esencijalnih i nakupljanju TM, povećanju OS, upale, makrofagne polarizacije, imunosne
supresije i disbioze povezane s narušenom brojnošću i raznolikošću crijevnog mikrobioma,
upalom, promjenjenom razinom zonulina, serotonina, enzima mikrobiote i apsorpcije važnih
mikronutrijenata. Razina hepcidina usko je povezana s makrofagnom polarizacijom, OS,
upalom i reorganizacijom oštećenog tkiva, dok je feritin kao upalni biljeg povećan u prisutnosti
metala i/ili IA. Izofluran sam ili u prisutnosti TM izaziva veća oštećenja tkiva od sevoflurana.
Naši podatci naglašavaju molekularno biološku osnovu razumijevanja uloge povezanosti
između IA, TM, crijevnog mikrobioma i makrofagne polarizacije u cilju poduzimanja boljih
terapijskih ili preventivnih mogućnosti zaštite pacijenta od mogućih štetnih posljedica
izazvanih prekomjernim unosom IA, TM i OS.Altered gut microbiome is strongly associated with the development of pathophysiological
diseases mediated by oxidative stress (OS) in humans and animals. Hence, the aim of this thesis
is to get a deeper understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and redox
homeostasis caused by excessive intake of heavy metals (HM, Fe and Al) and exposure to
inhalation anesthetics (IA) through monitoring of structural and functional changes of the gut
microbiome, the intestinal barrier, OS, inflammation, regulation of hepcidin and ferritin,
macrophage polarization and functional changes in tissues and organs. The results indicate that
subacute and especially chronic administration of IA (sevoflurane/isoflurane) with excessive
HM intake disrupts cellular metabolism. It further leads to disruption of essential metals and
accumulation of HM, increased OS, inflammation, macrophage polarization, immune
suppression, and dysbiosis associated with altered abundance and diversity of the gut
microbiome, inflammation, altered levels of zonulin, serotonin, microbiota enzymes and
absorption of micronutrients. Hepcidin level is closely related to macrophage polarization, OS,
inflammation, and reorganization of damaged tissue, while ferritin as an inflammatory marker
is increased in the presence of HM and/or IA. Isoflurane alone or in the presence of HM causes
greater tissue damage compared to sevoflurane. Our data emphasize the molecular biological
basis of understanding of the connection between IA, HM, gut microbiome, and macrophage
polarization in order to undertake better therapeutic or preventive options to protect the patient
from possible adverse consequences caused by excessive intake of IA, HM, and OS
MASS GRAVES OF VICTIMS OF THE HOMELAND WAR IN THE CROATIAN DANUBE REGION
No full textU doktorskome radu s historiografskog motrišta istražene su masovne grobnice na području hrvatskoga Podunavlja. Radi se o 71-oj do sada otkrivenoj masovnoj grobnici. Grobnice su nastale tijekom Domovinskog rata, a otkrivene su uz pomoć iskaza svjedoka. Nakon provedenih forenzičkih aktivnosti te istražnih radnji podignute su međunarodne i domaće optužnice za počinjene ratne zločine, a koje su počinile srbijanske snage tijekom oružane agresije na Republiku Hrvatsku. Osim povijesnog konteksta, u ovome je radu izvršena podrobna analiza i klasifikacija tih masovnih grobnica sukladno međunarodnim pravnim i drugim strukovnim standardima.
Međunarodni standardi definiraju prikrivene ratne masovne grobnice kao mjesta (lokacije) na kojima su nelegalno pokopani posmrtni ostaci tri ili više osoba, bez obilježja i bez poštivanja drugih mjera prema posmrtnim ostacima koje su mjere određene međunarodnim ratnim i humanitarnim pravom. Prikrivene ratne masovne grobnice su općenito najjasniji pokazatelj provedbe etničkog čišćenja. Stoga su upravo zločini počinjeni etničkim čišćenjem razvidni iz konteksta masovnih grobnica na području hrvatskoga Podunavlja i na drugim područjima Republike Hrvatske. Prve masovne grobnice koje je iza sebe ostavio srbijanski agresor, odnosno snage hrvatskih Srba, Jugoslavenske narodne armije i dobrovoljačkih skupina iz Srbije na području hrvatskoga Podunavlja i na drugim područjima Republike Hrvatske, nastale su već sredinom srpnja 1991. godine.
Istraživanje je provedeno korištenjem znanstvenih metoda historiografije i društvenih znanosti. Prevladava induktivni pristup, kojim su zasebno kvantitativno i kvalitativno analizirane pojedine masovne grobnice te se na temelju toga došlo do sintetičkih zaključka i interpretacija. Nadalje, u kontekstu analize masovnih grobnica u hrvatskom Podunavlju, proširena je dosadašnja teorijska kategorizacija masovnih grobnica. Naime, u dosadašnjem je diskursu prevladavala kategorizacija koja je masovne grobnice dijelila po načinu nastanka na masovne grobnice – stratišta te asanacijske masovne grobnice. Tijekom istraživanja masovnih grobnica uvidjelo se kako je dosadašnja kategorizacija nedostatna odnosno manjkava te je osmišljena i pojašnjena nova kategorizacija koja uključuje i masovne grobnice – sabirališta.
Cjelokupno istraživanje i naročito analiza masovnih grobnica otkrivenih na području hrvatskoga Podunavlja pokazali su kako je srbijanski agresor u potpunosti kršio odredbe međunarodnog ratnog i humanitarnog prava, a to jasno pokazuju i dimenzije provedenog etničkog čišćenja koje su također istražene u ovome radu. Na taj način, ovo prvo sveobuhvatno istraživanje
masovnih grobnica na području hrvatskoga Podunavlja predstavlja prinos znanstvenim spoznajama o srbijanskoj oružanoj agresiji i hrvatskome Domovinskom ratu.The central theme of this paper is the discovered mass graves in the area of the Croatian Danube region, with the aim of the research, classification and analysis of 71 discovered mass graves in the said area. The initial definition is the one that defines mass graves as places where the remains of three or more people were illegally buried, without signs and measures of respect for the remains. Mass graves as a means of ethnic cleansing are one of the clearest indicators of the implementation of ethnic cleansing, taking into account that it is described as a political design that enables the creation of an ethnically pure, homogeneous state. That is, as a planned and deliberate, violent removal of the residents of a certain area who are homogeneous, but undesirable for certain characteristics such as religion, nationality, gender, etc., using force and methods of intimidation to remove persons of another ethnic or religious group from a certain area. In the area of the Croatian Danube region, this political project in the context of mass graves was already reflected in mid-July 1991 and the creation of the first mass graves of the victims of the Homeland War, both in the area of the Croatian Danube region, but also in the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia. This paper analyzed, classified and investigated all discovered mass graves in the area of the Croatian Danube region, where the largest number of mass graves from the Homeland War were found. In this sense, if one takes into account the premise that the areas where the largest number of mass graves were found are those that were exposed to the most severe destruction and suffering, according to the number of mass graves discovered above, it confirms that the area of the Croatian Danube region was the scene of the most severe destruction and suffering. The aforementioned conclusion also stems from the discovery of the first mass grave from the Homeland War, from which the remains of victims, civilians forcibly taken and detained in Tenja at the beginning of July 1991 and killed in the middle of the same month in 1991, were exhumed. At the same time, this conclusion is also confirmed by the discovery of the largest mass graves - the execution site at Grabovo, Ovčara and the largest battlefield clearance grave at the New Cemetery in Vukovar. The analysis of mass graves was carried out using
the inductive and historical method in order to achieve the goal of this research. The inductive approach follows the logic of analyzing individual cases on the basis of which a general conclusion is reached. At the same time, the work is followed by the analysis of individual cases, ie mass graves, within which, in such an individual analysis, the use of several scientific methods is interwoven as part of the processing or research of each grave. In this sense, the analysis of each mass grave was subjected to the historical method, the classification method and the counting method. Furthermore, in the context of the analysis of mass graves, a categorization of mass graves was originally designed with new theoretical considerations. Namely, in the previous discourse, the prevailing categorization was that mass graves were divided by the way they were created into mass graves - execution sites and battlefield clearance mass graves. During the investigation of mass graves, it was determined that the previous division was insufficient, and a new categorization was proposed that includes mass graves – gathering sites. In relation to mass graves - execution sites, the analysis determined that the smallest number of mass graves corresponds to this categorization, which is obvious considering that the clearest characteristic of mass graves is their concealment. Precisely for this reason, the largest number of mass graves (64.7%) corresponds to the categorization of gathering places, that is, those graves that were dug further from the place of execution and that represent places that have the above-mentioned characteristics of mass graves. The graves created by the cleanup of the battlefield represent those that correspond to the provisions of international humanitarian law in relation to the almost minimum legal obligations for victims of armed conflicts - burial in maintained and marked grave sites in accordance with the victim's religion and the exchange of information about the victims and their burial locations. The research showed that out of 71 mass graves, 13 of them correspond to those that can be categorized as graves created by the implementation of battlefield clearance. In this sense, it can be quite clearly concluded that the Serbian forces almost completely ignored the provisions of international humanitarian law, as shown by all the presented dimensions of ethnic cleansing