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Wellbeing of siblings of persons with disability
No full textUVOD
Dob je jedan od ključnih faktora subjektivne dobrobiti. Čimbenici koji određuju dobrobit mogu se razlikovati ovisno o dobi pojedinca. Pregledom literature pokazalo se da dobrobit može biti najranjivija u adolescentskoj dobi. Iako je mnogo različitih kategorizacija koje određuju čimbenike koji su važni za dobrobit adolescenata, primjećuje se da je u svakoj neizostavno navedena obitelj. Roditelji svojim ponašanjima određuju kvalitetu odnosa s adolescentom, kvalitetu sestrinsko-bratskog odnosa, a sve to utječe na dobrobit. Osim što autonomija čini važnu sastavnicu dobrobiti, čini i važnu sastavnicu odnosa s obitelji. Prisustvo djeteta s teškoćama u razvoju / osobe s invaliditetom u obitelji može utjecati na roditeljska ponašanja, sestrinsko-bratski odnos i roditeljevu podršku autonomiji. Dakle, prisustvo sestre/brata s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom može utjecati na važne sastavnice dobrobiti adolescenata. Dosadašnjim se pregledom literature pokazalo da će roditelji zbog prisustva sestre/brata s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom više vremena provoditi sa sestrom/bratom s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom i više njihovih potreba zadovoljavati. Zbog toga djeca tipičnog razvoja najčešće izvještavaju o nejednakom roditeljskom tretmanu. Empirijski se pokazalo da nejednak roditeljski tretman, osim na dobrobit, može utjecati na sestrinsko-bratski odnos. Nekim se dosadašnjim istraživanjima sestrinsko-bratski odnos za dobrobit djece pokazao važnijim od odnosa s roditeljima. Međutim, ovaj odnos može biti narušen zbog teškoće u razvoju / invaliditeta sestre/brata. Osim što prisustvo teškoće u razvoju / invaliditet može promijeniti očekivane i željene obiteljske navike, teškoća u razvoju / invaliditet može utjecati na sestrinsko-bratski odnos, npr. zbog načina funkcioniranja sestre/brata. Mnoga istraživanja pokazuju da nepoželjna ponašanja sestre/brata s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom mogu utjecati na dobrobit osoba tipičnog razvoja.
CILJ I METODOLOGIJA
Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati odrednice subjektivne dobrobiti sestara/braće tipičnog razvoja djece s teškoćama u razvoju / osobama s invaliditetom. U skladu s ciljem postavljene su tri istraživačke hipoteze. Istraživanje je provedeno tijekom 2022. godine na području Republike Hrvatske (Zagreb, Sisak, Petrinja, Vukovar, Slavonski Brod, Čakovec, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Split, Zadar, Šibenik, Koprivnica i okolna mjesta navedenih gradova). U istraživanje je bilo uključeno 100 adolescenata koji imaju sestru/brata s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom, prosječne dobi 13,5 godina. U skladu s ciljem istraživanja koristilo se ukupno sedam mjernih instrumenata: upitnik sociodemografskih podataka (konstruiran za svrhu istraživanja), Upitnik odnosa među braćom i
sestrama (Jurkin, 2014), Upitnik za procjenu roditeljskog ponašanja (Keresteš, 1999), Skala percipirane roditeljske podrške autonomiji (Lukač, 2019), Upitnik pozitivnog i negativnog afekta (Brdar, 2010), Skala zadovoljstva životom (Penezić, 1996), check lista nepoželjnih ponašanja kojom se ispitala vrsta i učestalost nepoželjnih ponašanja, a koja je konstruirana u svrhu istraživanja.
REZULTATI I ZAKLJUČAK
Od roditeljskih ponašanja, za kognitivnu dobrobit adolescenata tipičnog razvoja sa sestrom/bratom s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom, važnom se pokazala očeva dimenzija prihvaćanja/odbijanja. Osim dimenzije očeva prihvaćanja/odbijanja, za kognitivnu dobrobit značajnim su se pokazala i nepoželjna ponašanja sestre/brata s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom. Za razliku od roditeljskih ponašanja, sestrinsko-bratski odnos pokazao se značajnim za subjektivnu dobrobit adolescenata tipičnog razvoja sa sestrom/bratom s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom. Roditeljeva podrška autonomiji nije se pokazala značajnom za dobrobit adolescenata, ali sestrinsko/bratski odnos jest. Nepoželjna su se ponašanja sestre/brata s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom pokazala značajno povezana s emotivnom komponentom subjektivne dobrobiti i sestrinsko-bratskim odnosom. Ukoliko sestra/brat s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom ima puno nepoželjnih ponašanja, pozitivan afekt i sestrinsko-bratski odnos ocijenio se lošijim. Osim toga, pokazalo se da su očeva dimenzija prihvaćanja/odbijanja i nepoželjna ponašanja također značajan faktor za dobar sestrinsko-bratski odnos. Dob i nepoželjna ponašanja sestre/brata s teškoćama pokazali su se značajnima za pozitivan afekt dobrobiti. Stariji adolescenti pozitivan afekt subjektivne dobrobiti ocjenjuju nižim. Također su stariji adolescenti afekt vezan uz sestrinsko-bratski odnos ocijenili lošijim, a što utječe na emotivnu komponentu subjektivne dobrobiti. Rezultati odstupaju od očekivanih s obzirom na dosadašnje empirijske spoznaje, no svakako se preporuča da se daljnjim istraživanjima podrobnije istraži tema dobrobiti adolescenata tipičnog razvoja sa sestrom/bratom s teškoćama u razvoju / invaliditetom.INTRODUCTION
One of the key factors of subjective wellbeing is age. The factors that determine wellbeing can vary depending on the individual's age. A literature review has shown that wellbeing can be most vulnerable during adolescence. Although many different categorizations determine the factors important for adolescent wellbeing, it is noticed that family is inevitably included in every category. Parents' behaviour determines the quality of relationships with the adolescent and the quality of sibling relationships, as well as all of this affects wellbeing. Besides autonomy being a vital component of wellbeing, it is also crucial to family relationships. The presence of a child with developmental disabilities or a person with a disability in the family can affect parental behaviour, sibling relationships, and parental autonomy support. Therefore, the presence of a sibling with disabilities can affect the important components of adolescent wellbeing. A literature review has shown that parents will spend more time with a sibling with disabilities and fulfil more of their needs due to their presence. As a result, typically developing children often report differential parental treatment. Empirical research has shown that differential parental treatment, besides affecting wellbeing, can also affect sibling relationships. Previous research has shown that sibling relationships are more important for a child's wellbeing than relationships with parents. However, the relationship with parents can be disrupted due to the disability of the sibling. Besides changing expected and desired family habits, a disability can affect sibling relationships, for example, due to the way the sibling functions.
RESEARCH GOAL AND METHODOLOGY
The goal of this research was to examine the determinants of subjective wellbeing in typically developing children with siblings with disabilities. Per the set goal, three research hypotheses were set. The research was conducted in 2022 in the Republic of Croatia (Zagreb, Sisak, Petrinja, Vukovar, Slavonski Brod, Čakovec, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Split, Zadar, Šibenik, Koprivnica, and surrounding areas). The study included one hundred adolescents with siblings with disabilities, with an average age of 13.5 years. For the research goal, a total of seven measurement instruments were used: a sociodemographic data questionnaire (constructed for the research), the Sibling Relationships Questionnaire (Jurkin, 2014), Child's Report of Parental Behavior Inventory (Keresteš, 1999), the The Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale (Lukač, 2019), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Brdar, 2010), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Penezić, 1996), and a checklist of undesirable behaviour, which was constructed for the research.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
From parental behaviours, the father's dimension of acceptance/rejection was found to be important for the cognitive wellbeing of adolescents with siblings with disabilities. Besides the father's dimension of acceptance/rejection, undesirable sibling behaviours were also determined to be significant for cognitive wellbeing. In contrast to parental behaviours, sibling relationships were found to be substantial for the subjective wellbeing of adolescents with siblings with developmental disabilities or any other disabilities. Parental support for autonomy was not ascertained to be significant for wellbeing, but sibling relationships were. Undesirable sibling behaviours were significantly related to the affective component of subjective wellbeing and sibling relationships. If the sibling with disabilities has numerous undesirable behaviours, positive affect and sibling relationships were rated as poorer. Furthermore, it was determined that the father's dimension of acceptance/rejection and unwanted behaviours are also significant factors for good sibling relationships. Age and undesirable sibling behaviours were identified to have a substantial positive effect on wellbeing. Older adolescents rated the positive effect of subjective wellbeing lower. Older adolescents also rated affect related to sibling relationships as poorer, which affects the emotional component of subjective wellbeing. The results deviate from expectations based on previous empirical knowledge, but it is still recommended that further research investigates the topic of wellbeing in adolescents with siblings with disabilities in more detail
The problematization of belonging in a maritime context: pilgrimage from Sali to Piškera
No full textHodočašće iz Sali na Dugom otoku u uvalu Piškera na kornatskom otoku Jadra maritimna je ritualna praksa lokalnog karaktera, ukorijenjena u povijesne i ekonomske odnose zajednice s prostorom Kornatskog arhipelaga. U svom suvremenom obliku, ono se temelji na fragmentima ribarske prošlosti, osobito na nekadašnjem ribarskom naselju Piškera, čime se uspostavlja veza između prošlih i sadašnjih oblika korištenja i percepcije prostora. Ribarska povijest Sali neodvojiva je od Kornata, a niz političkih, ekonomskih i društvenih promjena kroz povijest oblikovao je teritorijalne i upravne odnose koji su neposredno utjecali na ovu otočnu zajednicu. Redefinirana ekonomska i gospodarska uloga Kornata, zajedno sa suvremenim kontekstom Dugog otoka, otvara prostor za promišljanje pripadnosti koja nadilazi isključivo prostorne okvire te se isprepliće s društvenim, ekonomskim, političkim i ekološkim dimenzijama. Sagledavajući hodočašće kroz teorijski okvir Johna Eadea i Michaela Sallnowa (1991.), koji naglašavaju da hodočasničke prakse nisu izdvojene iz svakodnevnog života već su oblikovane nizom interesa koji su u njih ugrađeni (1991: 15), polazim od pretpostavke kako hodočašće na Piškeru za lokalnu zajednicu generira kulturni, socijalni i simbolički kapital, ponajviše u odnosu prema imovinsko pravnoj situaciji unutar Kornatskog arhipelaga. Postavljajući pitanje kako se povijesne okolnosti, zajedno s recentnim političkim i ekološkim promjenama, međusobno isprepliću u oblikovanju razumijevanja prostora, ovo istraživanje analizira izvedbene aspekte hodočašća kao praksu kroz koju zajednica konstruira percepcije pripadnosti i prostorne identitifikacije. Oslanjajući se na fenomenološki i ekohistorijski pristup, hodočašće promatram kao dinamičan proces u kojem se utjelovljeno iskustvo sudionika oblikuje kroz interakciju s okolišem. Pri tom, prostor nije statična pozadina već aktivni sudionik u konstituiranju kulturnih značenja i pripadnosti zajednice. Kako bi se analizirala dinamika odnosa između zajednice, prostora i kulturnih praksi, istraživanje je provedeno metodološkim pristupom koji kombinira klasične etnografske tehnike, uključujući promatranje sa sudjelovanjem i polustrukturirane intervjue, s metodama mapiranja, pratnje (go-along) ili suhodanja (Kusenbach, 2003) i arhipelaške etnografije (Mahajan, 2021). 144 Pružajući dublji uvid u načine na koje zajednica kroz kolektivne ritualne aktivnosti reafirmira svoje povijesno pravo na prostor te kako religijske prakse reflektiraju šire društvene, političke i ekonomske procese, znanstveni doprinos ovog rada očituje se u povezivanju izvedbenih aspekata hodočašća s procesima pripadnosti. Uz doprinos antropološkim studijama hodočašća, istraživanje također obogaćuje rasprave o konceptima maritimnosti, otočnosti i prostorne dinamike otočnih zajednica u kontekstu otočnih studija. Osim toga, rad donosi prvi cjelovitiji zapis hodočašća Kraljici ribara.The pilgrimage from Sali on Dugi Otok to the cove of Piškera on the Kornati island of Jadra is a maritime ritual practice of local significance, deeply embedded in the historical and economic relationship between the community and the Kornati archipelago. In its contemporary form, it is grounded in fragments of the region’s fishing past, particularly the former fishing settlement of Piškera, thereby establishing a link between past and present spatial practices and perceptions. The fishing heritage of Sali is inseparable from the Kornati archipelago, and a series of political, economic, and social transformations over time have shaped territorial and administrative relations that have had a direct and significant impact on this island community. The redefined economic and commercial role of the Kornati, alongside the contemporary context of Dugi Otok, provides an opportunity to reflect on a sense of belonging that extends beyond mere spatial attachment and intersects with social, economic, political, and ecological dimensions. Drawing on the theoretical framework of John Eade and Michael Sallnow (1991), who argue that pilgrimage practices are not isolated from everyday life but are instead shaped by multiple interests embedded within them (1991: 15), I propose that the Piškera pilgrimage generates cultural, social, and symbolic capital for the local community, particularly in relation to property rights within the Kornati archipelago. By examining how historical circumstances, in conjunction with contemporary political and ecological changes, intertwine to shape understandings of space, this research explores how the ritual aspects of pilgrimage contribute to the formation of communal belonging and spatial identity. Adopting a phenomenological and eco-historical approach, I conceptualise pilgrimage as a dynamic process in which participants’ embodied experiences are shaped through interactions with their environment. In this context, space is not perceived as a static backdrop but as an active agent in the construction of cultural meanings and communal identity. To analyse the dynamics between community, space, and cultural practices, this study employs a methodological approach that combines classical ethnographic techniques—including participant observation and semi-structured interviews—with mapping, go-along method (Kusenbach, 2003), and archipelagic ethnography (Mahajan, 2021). 146 By offering deeper insights into how the community reaffirms its historical claims to space through collective ritual activities and how religious practices reflect broader socio-political and economic processes, the academic contribution of this study lies in its linkage of the performative aspects of pilgrimage with processes of belonging. In addition to contributing to anthropological studies of pilgrimage, this research also enhances discussions on the concepts of maritime belonging, islandness, and the spatial dynamics of island communities within the framework of island studies. Furthermore, it provides the first comprehensive ethnographic account of the pilgrimage to the Queen of Fishermen
Posterior Root Muscle Reflex Recorded in Muscles of Low Extremities in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Polyradiculoneuropathy
No full textCilj istraživanja: Glavni cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati postoji li razlika u obilježjima
refleksa stražnjih korijena kaude ekvine (PRMR) između skupine zdravih ispitanika i
skupine bolesnika s dijagnozom autoimunih poliradikuloneuropatija. Sporedni ciljevi
bili su odrediti vrijednosti latencija i površina PRMR-a u zdravih ispitanika te ispitati
postoji li njihova povezanost s demografskim značajkama ispitanika.
Nacrt studije: Istraživanje je ustrojeno kao presječno prospektivno istraživanje.
Ispitanici i metode: U istraživanje je bilo uključeno trideset zdravih ispitanika bez
poznatih bolesti perifernog živčanog sustava i deset bolesnika s dijagnozom akutne ili
kronične autoimune poliradikuloneuropatije. Ispitanici su bili podvrgnuti transkutanoj
električnoj stimulaciji korijena kaude ekvine. PRMR je bilježen u četirima skupinama
mišića donjih ekstremiteta obostrano: tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (GC),
quadriceps femoris (Q) i biceps femoris (BF).
Rezultati: PRMR je uspješno izazvan u mišiću TA (96,70 %), u mišiću GC (100,00 %),
u mišiću Q (93,30 %) i u mišiću BF (96,70 %). Nije pronađena statistički značajna
razlika u intenzitetu stimulacije, latenciji niti površini PRMR-a u istim mišićima lijeve i
desne noge zdravih ispitanika. Površina PRMR-a pokazala je značajnu varijabilnost
između istih mišića ispitanika, dok su vrijednosti latencija varirale u malom rasponu.
Tjelesna težina i opseg trbuha pokazali su značajnu pozitivnu povezanost s
intenzitetom stimulacije i značajnu negativnu povezanost s površinom PRMR-a. Starija
dob ispitanika pokazala je značajnu negativnu povezanost s uspjehom izazivanja
PRMR-a, kao i s površinom PRMR-a. Visina ispitanika pokazala je značajnu
povezanost s latencijom PRMR-a. U 90,00 % mišića bolesnika PRMR nije izazvan ili
je površina PRMR-a bila ispod očekivanih vrijednosti u zdravih ispitanika. Neizazvan
odgovor ili PRMR male površine zabilježen je u 5 – 8 od 8 mišića svakog bolesnika.
Latencije očekivanih vrijednosti u zdravih ispitanika zabilježene su u svega 8,75 %
mišića bolesnika. Produljene latencije PRMR-a zabilježene su u 5 – 8 od 8 mišića
svakog bolesnika. Od 80 mišića bolesnika u samo jednom zabilježen je PRMR urednih
vrijednosti površine i latencije.
Zaključak: PRMR je neinvazivna, uspješna metoda za selektivno izazivanje refleksnih
odgovora stražnjih spinalnih korijena. Opisana metodologija i dobiveni rezultati u
zdravih ispitanika mogu se koristiti u procjeni funkcionalnog integriteta lumbosakralnih
spinalnih korijena i proksimalnih dijelova perifernih živaca nogu. Metodologija je
pokazala visoku osjetljivost za otkrivanje višestrukih lezija lumbosakralnih spinalnih
korijena. Dokazana je upotrebljivost i vrijednost PRMR-a u potvrdi dijagnoze autoimunih
poliradikuloneuropatija uz izbjegavanje nedostataka standardnih elektrofizioloških
pretraga.Objectives: The main aim of the study was to investigate whether there is a difference
in the characteristics of posterior root muscle reflex (PRMR) of the cauda equina
between a group of healthy subjects and a group of patients diagnosed with
autoimmune polyradiculoneuropathies. The secondary aims were to determine the
latency and area values of PRMR in healthy subjects and to examine their association
with demographic characteristics.
Study design: The study was designed as a cross-sectional prospective study.
Participants and Methods: The study included thirty healthy subjects, without known
peripheral nervous system diseases, and ten patients diagnosed with acute or chronic
polyradiculoneuropathy. Subjects underwent transcutaneous electrical stimulation of
the cauda equina roots. PRMR was recorded in four groups of lower extremity muscles
bilaterally: TA – tibialis anterior, GC – gastrocnemius, Q – quadriceps femoris, and BF
– biceps femoris.
Results: The PRMR was successfully elicited in TA (96.70%), GC (100.00%), Q
(93.30%), and BF (96.70%). No statistically significant difference was found in the
intensity of stimulation, latency, or area of PRMR in the same muscles of the left and
right legs of healthy subjects. The area of PRMR showed significant variability between
the same muscles of the subjects, while the latency values varied within a small range.
Body weight and abdominal circumference showed a significant positive correlation
with the intensity of stimulation and a significant negative correlation with the area of
PRMR. Older age showed a significant negative correlation with the success of eliciting
PRMR and the area of PRMR. The height of the subjects showed a significant
correlation with PRMR latency. In 90.00% of the patients' muscles, PRMR was not
elicited or the area of PRMR was below the expected values in healthy subjects. An
unelicited response or small PRMR area was recorded in 5 – 8 out of 8 muscles of
each patient. Latencies within the expected range in healthy subjects were recorded
in only 8.75% of the patients' muscles. Prolonged PRMR latencies were recorded in 5
– 8 out of 8 muscles of each patient. Of the 80 muscles of the patients, PRMR with
normal area and latency values was registered in only one muscle.
Conclusion: PRMR is a non-invasive, successful method for selectively eliciting reflex
responses of the posterior spinal roots. The described methodology and the results
obtained in healthy subjects can be used to assess the functional integrity of the
lumbosacral spinal roots and proximal parts of the peripheral nerves of the legs. The
methodology demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting multiple lesions of the
lumbosacral spinal roots. The usability and value of the PRMR in confirming the
diagnosis of autoimmune polyradiculoneuropathies have been proven, avoiding the
disadvantages of standard electrophysiological tests
EFFECTS OF THE APPLICATION OF THE ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC BIOLOGICAL FEEDBACK DURING THE REHABILITATION ON FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS AFTER TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY
No full textCILJ ISTRAŽIVANJA: Glavni cilj bio je istražiti učinke elektromiografskog biofeedbacka
(EMG-BF) na funkcionalni oporavak, kvalitetu života i postoperativnu bol nakon ugradnje
totalne endoproteze kuka. Sekundarni ciljevi bili su ispitati učinke EMG-BF-a na ishode
rehabilitacije prema spolu i s obzirom na vrijeme početka rehabilitacije te istražiti povezanost
subjektivnih i objektivnih mjera ishoda.
NACRT STUDIJE: Ovo je bila prospektivna, randomizirana, jednostruko slijepa
intervencijska studija na dvije paralelne skupine ispitanika.
ISPITANICI I METODE: U istraživanje je uključeno 90 ispitanika primljenih na rehabilitaciju
nakon totalne endoproteze kuka. Randomizirani su u eksperimentalnu skupinu (ES) (N=45;
srednja dob 63.9±8.8; 61% muškog spola) i kontrolnu skupinu (KS) (N=45; srednja dob
63.9±9; 60% muškog spola). Obje skupine uključene su u 21 dan rehabilitacije koja se sastojala
od terapijskog vježbanja, interferentnih struja, elektrostimulacije i edukacije. Dio vježbi u ES
bio je nadopunjen EMG-BF-om. Thirty-seconds Chair Stand Test (30s CST), Timed Up and
Go Test (TUG) te korištenje pomagala za hod koristili su se za mjerenje objektivnih ishoda.
Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), EQ-5D-5L, Short Form Health
Survey – 36 (SF-36) i Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) koristili su se za procjenu subjektivnih
ishoda.
REZULTATI: U obje skupine došlo je do poboljšanja u rezultatima 30s CST-a i TUG-a
(p<0,001) te u korištenju pomagala za hod nakon rehabilitacije (p<0,05). Rezultati upitnika
HOOS, EQ-5D-5L, SF-36 i NRS poboljšali su se u obje skupine (p<0,05). Međutim, nisu
utvrđene značajne razlike između skupina. Razlike nisu utvrđene s obzirom na spol, osim u
rezultatima SF-36 domene Tjelesna bol i profila tjelesnog zdravlja te u kategoriji sposobnosti
samozbrinjavanja EQ-5D-5L upitnika u korist muškog spola. Nadalje, nisu utvrđene razlike s
obzirom na vrijeme početka rehabilitacije, osim što su ispitanici s ranijim početkom
rehabilitacije iz ES imali nižu razinu boli i viši rezultat u SF-36 domenama ograničenja u
ostvarivanju životne uloge zbog emocionalnih problema i općeg zdravlja u odnosu na KS.
Povezanost između subjektivnih i objektivnih mjera ishoda bila je slaba.
ZAKLJUČAK: EMG-BF ne nudi komparativne prednosti nakon ugradnje totalne endoproteze
kuka u usporedbi s kovencionalnom rehabilitacijom. Zbog slabe povezanosti subjektivnih i
objektivnih mjera ishoda trebalo bi koristiti obje.OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of electromyographic feedback
(EMG-BF) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) on functional recovery, quality of life and
postoperative pain. The secondary aims were to investigate the effects of EMG-BF on
outcomes regarding the participants' sex and rehabilitation timing, and to explore associations
between subjective and objective outcome measures.
STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized, single-blinded interventional study on
two parallel groups of participants.
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The study involved 90 participants admitted to
rehabilitation after THA. They were randomized into experimental group (EG) (N=45; mean
age 63.9±8.8; 61% males) and control group (CG) (N=45; mean age 63.9±9; 60% males). Both
groups were included in 21-day rehabilitation program consisting of therapeutic exercises,
interferential current therapy, electrostimulation, and education. A part of exercises was
supplemented by EMG-BF in the EG. Objective rehabilitation outcomes were measured using
the Thirty-second Chair Stand Test (30s CST), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the use of
mobility aid. Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), EQ-5D-5L, Short
Form Health Survey – 36 (SF-36), and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were used to assess
subjective outcomes.
RESULTS: There was an improvement in both groups regarding the 30s CST and TUG results
(p<0.001) and the use of mobility aid after rehabilitation (p<0.05). Results of HOOS, EQ-5D5L, SF-36, and NRS results improved in both groups (p<0.05). However, there were no
significant differences between the groups. No differences in respect to EMG-BF regarding the
sex were found, except in results of SF-36 domain of Bodily Pain and Physical Component
Summary score and dimension of self-care of EQ-5D-5L questionnaire in favour of males
(p<0.05). Furthermore, no differences were found in regard of rehabilation timing except for
lower pain levels and higher score in the SF-36 domains of Role Emotional and General Health
for those with earlier start of rehabilitation in favour of EG. Associations between subjective
and objective outcome measures were weak.
CONCLUSION: EMG-BF does not offer additional benefits compared to conventional
rehabilitation protocol after THA. Due to week association between subjective and objective
outcome measures both should be used
DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF STANDARD AND NOVEL BEHAVIORAL ELEMENTS AND THEIR APPLICATION AS BIOMARKERS OF EXPOSURE OF EARTHWORMS (LUMBRICIDAE) AND WATER FLEAS (DAPHNIIDAE) TO MODEL POLLUTANTS
No full textPromjene u ponašanju organizama sve su više prepoznate kao rani i osjetljivi biomarkeri izloženosti zagađivalima. U ovom istraživanju primijenjeni su standardni i predstavljeni su novi bihevioristički elementi modelnih organizama, predstavnika gujavica i vodenbuha. Primjenom tehnika strojnog učenja razvijeni su alati za precizno praćenje promjena u ponašanju organizama pri izloženosti različitim koncentracijama pesticida. Rezultati pokazuju smanjenje aktivnosti pri višim koncentracijama, dok su niže koncentracije u pojedinim slučajevima uzrokovale blagu stimulaciju aktivnosti. Ovakvi bihevioristički odgovori pružaju rane i pouzdane pokazatelje subletalnih učinaka pesticida te nadopunjuju tradicionalne biokemijske pokazatelje. Ovakav pristup kvantifikaciji biheviorističkih elemenata predstavlja inovativan korak u ekotoksikološkim istraživanjima i procjeni ekoloških rizika, s potencijalnom primjenom u sustavima monitoringa i regulaciji uporabe pesticida.Behavioral changes are increasingly recognized as early and sensitive biomarkers of exposure to pollutants. This study applied standard and introduced novel behavioral elements in model organisms, specifically earthworms and water fleas. Using machine learning techniques, tools were developed for precise monitoring of behavioral changes in organisms exposed to various concentrations of pesticides. The results indicate reduced activity at higher concentrations, while lower concentrations in some cases caused slight stimulation of activity. These behavioral responses provide early and reliable indicators of the sublethal effects of pesticides, complementing traditional biochemical biomarkers. This approach to quantifying behavioral elements represents an innovative step in ecotoxicological research and ecological risk assessment, with potential applications in monitoring systems and the regulation of pesticide use
Teacher's self-efficacy, personality and psychological characteristics of the situation - a dynamic approach
No full textNastavnička samoefikasnost povezana je s važnim ishodima kao što su kvaliteta poučavanja i učenički ishodi, zadovoljstvo poslom i sagorijevanje na poslu. Jedan od korelata nastavničke samoefikasnosti su pet-faktorske osobine ličnosti. Međutim, dosadašnje spoznaje o odnosu osobina ličnosti i nastavničke samoefikasnosti zasnivaju se na pretpostavci o nastavničkoj samoefikasnosti i osobinama ličnosti kao stabilnim konstruktima. No, prema postavkama Bandurine socijalno-kognitivne teorije, nastavnička samoefikasnost predstavlja dinamički konstrukt, određen interakcijom nastavnika i okoline u kojoj se nalazi. Također, prema suvremenim teorijama ličnosti, ličnost karakteriziraju stabilnost i varijabilnost do koje dolazi uslijed adaptacije pojedinca na okolinu s ciljem postizanja ciljeva. Stoga se ličnost može manifestirati kao vremenski stabilna (crta) i vremenski promjenjiva (stanje) osobina. Pri tome, stanje ličnosti nastaje kao odgovor na interpretaciju okoline u kojoj se pojedinac nalazi. Ova subjektivna percepcija okoline naziva se psihološka karakteristika situacije i povezana je s crtama ličnosti jer na temelju njih pojedinci odabiru i percipiraju situacije. Uzimajući u obzir važnost boljeg razumijevanja dinamičkih odrednica nastavničke samoefikasnosti, cilj doktorskog rada bio je ispitati prikladnost pretpostavljenog modela serijalne medijacije (i pojedinih njegovih dijelova) prema kojemu su crte ličnosti, osim što direktno predviđaju nastavničku samoefikasnost, povezane i s psihološkim karakteristikama situacije na temelju kojih dolazi do pojave stanja ličnosti koja, u konačnici, predviđaju nastavničku samoefikasnost. Istraživanje je provedeno u sklopu HRZZ projekta „Ličnost, emocije i radna uspješnost nastavnika: dinamička perspektiva“ na uzorku od 128 gimnazijskih nastavnica i nastavnika. Nastavnici su u prvoj točci mjerenja ispunili upitnik osobina ličnosti, dok su u drugoj točci sudjelovali u istraživanju temeljenom na metodi uzorkovanja iskustva. Rezultati višerazinskog modeliranja strukturalnim jednadžbama ukazuju na doprinos crta ličnosti, psiholoških karakteristika situacije i stanja ličnosti u objašnjenju varijance nastavničke samoefikasnosti, kao i na njihov međuodnos u vidu pretpostavljenih medijacijskih efekata.Teacher self-efficacy is a construct derived from social-cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986). It is generally defined as a dynamic phenomenon that changes based on mastery experience, vicarious learning, social and verbal persuasion, and physiological and affective states (Marschall, 2021). It can be viewed as teachers’ evaluation of their own ability to achieve the desired outcome in terms of student engagement and knowledge acquisition (Tschannen-Moran and Hoy, 2001). Although teacher self-efficacy is a dynamic construct, it has mostly been measured as a temporally stable construct or a trait (Schmitt & Blum, 2020), using cross-sectional and longitudinal designs with small number of time points (Murayama et al., 2017). Teacher selfefficacy measured in this way is related to important outcomes such as teaching effectiveness (positive relationship; Klassen & Tze, 2014), teaching quality (positive relationship; Burić & Kim, 2020), job satisfaction (positive relationship; Kasalak & Dağyar, 2020), and burnout (negative relationship; Aloe et al., 2014). Research on teacher self-efficacy as a dynamic construct or a state is less well represented. One of the few studies of this kind was conducted by Malmberg et al. (2014) using experience sampling method. The results of their study show that 25% of the variance in teachers' situationspecific self-efficacy can be explained by between-teacher variability, 25% by between-class variability, and 50% by between-lesson variability. These results show the importance of considering both stable (enduring characteristics of the teacher) and dynamic aspects (such as those arising from the characteristics of a particular class or lesson) of teacher self-efficacy. When it comes to stable characteristics of teachers, personality traits must be considered. They are defined as a set of psychological mechanisms within a person that are relatively consistent across time and situations and influence person’s interactions and adaptations to the environment (Larsen & Buss, 2008). Fundamental property of personality traits is their temporal and situational stability (Church et al., 2008), which enables prediction of behavior at different times and in different situations. Nowadays, the five-factor model (McCrae & Costa, 1987) is the most widely accepted model of personality traits. It consists of five basic dimensions: Extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness. The results of meta-analytical studies indicate a positive correlation between teacher self-efficacy and traits of conscientiousness, openness, extraversion (Đigić et al, 2014; Ramdani et al, 2021; Sari et al, 2021), and agreeableness (Đigić et al, 2014; Sari et al, 2021) as well as a negative correlation between teacher self-efficacy and neuroticism (Đigić et al, 2014; Sari et al, 2021). Although personality is relatively stable over time, there is still some variability that can be described by the state model of personality. This model assumes that personality is characterized by both stability and variability (Judge et al., 2014), and it allows for the study of inter- and intraindividual differences in personality. One of the better-known models of dynamic personality was proposed by Fleeson and Jayawickreme (2015) as part of the whole trait theory. According to this theory, when people find themselves in a certain situation, they activate social-cognitive mechanisms with the aim of adapting to the demands of the situation, which invokes personality states (Jayawickreme et al., 2021). Personality traits represent a distribution of personality states, and individuals differ in the central point of the distribution, which explains the existence of interindividual differences in personality traits. However, given the states variability, it is possible that in certain situations people show personality states that are not typical for them (e.g. a very extraverted person shows introverted behavior). Although there is yet no research examining the relationship between teachers' self-efficacy and their personality states, certain conclusions about the nature of the associations can be drawn from research that has examined related or similar constructs. For example, findings of Abrahams et al. (2023) suggest that variability in states of conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and openness are positively related to teachers' self-rated job performance. This may be relevant in the context of examining the relationship between teachers' personality states and selfefficacy, as it is known that self-efficacy and job performance are related (Judge et al., 2007). To better understand the characteristics of situations, authors have developed standardized models that describe the variety of situations people encounter. By doing so, they focused on the meaning and interpretation of the situation, known as psychological characteristics of the situation (Rauthman & Sherman, 2020). About 7 such taxonomies have been developed in the last 10 years, using three different approaches: empirical, lexical, and theoretical (Rauthman & Sherman, 2020). The focus of the dissertation is on the CAPTION model (Parrigon et al., 2017) due to its conceptual relevance to educational context. This model is based on a lexical approach, according to which language contains words that can describe common psychological characteristics of situations (Rauthmann & Sherman, 2018). It consists of seven dimensions: complexity, adversity, positive valence, typicality, importance, humor, and negative valence. Although the model itself has not been used in educational research, several studies found a positive correlation between teachers’ ratings of their own humor (the corresponding CAPTION dimension is humor) and self-efficacy (Evans-Palmer, 2020; EvansPalmer, 2010; Daumiller et al., 2020). Lee, W.C. et al. (2020) found that teachers reported higher levels of self-efficacy when performing routine tasks (the corresponding CAPTION dimension is typicality) than when performing novel tasks and lower levels of self-efficacy when performing complex tasks (the corresponding CAPTION dimension is complexity). In addition, previous research involving undergraduate students has found a positive relationship between self-efficacy and task importance (the corresponding CAPTION dimension is importance; Azar et al, 2010; Lee, D. et al, 2020; Liem et al, 2008). Finally, in line with the social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), teachers' positive emotions (the corresponding CAPTION dimension is positive valence) were found to be positively related to self-efficacy, while negative emotions (the corresponding CAPTION dimensions are adversity and negative valence) were found to be negatively related to self-efficacy (Burić et al., 2020). Although people find themselves in a variety of situations, their interpretation still may be predictable and can be related to personality traits (Allport, 1961, as cited in Rauthman et al., 2015). This was also confirmed for the dimensions of the CAPTION model. Parrigon et al. (2017) reported a positive association of extraversion with the dimensions of complexity, importance, and humor and a negative association of extraversion with the dimension of typicality. In addition, they found a positive association of agreeableness with importance and a negative association with the dimensions of adversity, humor and negative valence. Conscientiousness also has a positive association with importance and a negative association with humor and negative valence. Neuroticism is positively related to adversity and negative valence and negatively related to importance. Finally, openness is positively related to complexity, typicality and importance and negatively related to negative valence. Given that perception of the situation invokes personality states (Jayawickreme et al., 2021), psychological characteristics of situation should be related to personality states as well. This was confirmed in the study by Abrahams et al. (2021), in which the CAPTION dimension of humor was a positive predictor of the state of extraversion and the state of openness, while the CAPTION dimension of adversity was a negative predictor of the state of agreeableness. Based on the established relationships between personality traits, psychological characteristics of the situation, personality states and teacher self-efficacy, it can be concluded that there is a complex relation between these constructs and that teacher self-efficacy is a dynamic construct shaped by the interplay of personal and environmental factors (Bandura, 1986). However, effects of intraindividual processes have been largely neglected in the field of educational psychology (Murayama et al., 2017). Instead, research has predominantly focused on stable inter-individual differences (Đigić et al., 2014; Ramdani et al., 2021; Sari et al., 2021). In a few studies in which teacher self-efficacy was operationalized as a dynamic construct (Malmberg et al., 2014; Rupp & Becker, 2021), the authors only considered the role of contextual factors (e.g. the classroom) and disregarded personal factors. On the other hand, research that has examined the dynamic relationships between teachers’ personal factors and environmental factors (Abrahams et al., 2021, 2023) has not specifically focused on teacher self-efficacy. Therefore, research that simultaneously examines the dynamic interplay of personal factors, contextual factors, and teacher self-efficacy is missing. The aim of the present study is therefore to examine a serial mediation model (and its parts), which includes both personal and environmental factors as relevant predictors of teacher selfefficacy (Bandura, 1986). The most important personal factor of the proposed model is personality, based on the findings on the relationship between personality traits and teacher self-efficacy (Đigić et al., 2014; Ramdani et al., 2021; Sari et al., 2021). In line with the assumptions of the whole-trait theory (Fleeson & Jayawickreme, 2015) according to which personality can also be expressed as a state in response to individual's perception of the situation (Allport, 1961, as cited in Rauthman et al., 2015), the serial mediation model assumes that personality traits also indirectly predict teacher self-efficacy. Specifically, personality traits shape perceptions of the situation (i.e., psychological characteristics of the situation; Parrigon et al., 2017), which in turn triggers a response that manifests in personality states (Jayawickreme et al., 2021) that further has an effect on teacher self-efficacy (Abrahams et al., 2023). METHOD The study was conducted as part of the research project "Teacher personality, emotions and job performance: A dynamic perspective", which was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (Grant No. IP-04-2019-5472) In total, 113 female and 15 male teachers working at 17 secondary schools in Croatia participated in the study. Teachers taught a wide range of subjects (i.e., biology, chemistry, ecology, Croatian language, English language, German language, Italian language, Portuguese language, French language, Russian language, Latin language, philosophy, ethics, logic, theatre pedagogy, physics, geography, history, sociology, politics and economics, psychology, music arts, visual arts, computer science, mathematics, religious education). On average, teachers had M = 14.81, SD = 8.64 years of teaching experience. In February 2023, teachers completed a 15-minute online survey in which data on teacher demographics and personality traits were collected. Teacher personality traits were measured using the Big Five Inventory-2 (Soto & John, 2017). In late March 2023, teachers participated in an experience sampling study which lasted for 10 working days or two weeks. Upon arrival at the first lesson of each working day, by using a specially designed application for experience sampling (m-Path) installed on their cellphones, teachers indicated that they started the class. This triggered a sequence of 3 short surveys that were sent to teachers at random intervals over a period of 4 hours. The sequence of 3 surveys represents a compromise between the number of data points required to capture the dynamics of the process on one hand, and the statistical power of the study, teacher workload, and interference of surveys with teaching on the other hand. The first survey arrived at intervals of 10 to 70 minutes after teachers indicated the start of their first lesson (to allow sufficient time for lesson development), the next at intervals of 100 to 160 minutes after the start of the lesson, and the last at intervals of 190 to 250 minutes after the start of the lesson. A break of 30 minutes was set between the intervals to control the pause between lessons and to allow sufficient time to develop the dynamics of the next lesson. At the beginning of each questionnaire, teachers were asked to indicate whether they were in class. If the answer was yes, a questionnaire measuring teacher personality states (Big Five Inventory-10-R; Stone et al., 2022, item reference changed to “at this moment“), psychological characteristics of the situation (CAPTIONs-SF; Parrigon et al., 2017; adapted by Reindl et al., 2021), and self-efficacy (item reference changed to “at this situation”, one item per dimension taken from the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale; Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001) was administered. Each time, teachers had 20 minutes to open the questionnaire, after which it was no longer active. If teachers indicated that they were not in the class, the questionnaire was automatically stopped, and the next notification was delivered at scheduled time. Considering duration of the study and the number of daily notifications, a maximum of 30 experiences per teacher could be recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Given the hierarchical structure of the data (time points nested within teachers), all analyses were based on the Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling (ML-SEM) approach. The MLSEM allows decomposition of variance into two components – within-person and between- person – thus enabling the investigation of the proposed associations at within-person (L1) and between-person (L2) levels of analysis. ML-SEM analyses were performed in Mplus 8.10 (Muthén & Muthén, 1998-2017) using the Bayesian algorithm for parameter estimation. Bayesian estimation was applied because it is less sensitive to sample size and number of time points compared to the maximum likelihood estimation algorithm (Kim et al., 2020). When it comes to the relationships between personality dimensions and self-efficacy, at the between-person level, teacher self-efficacy was best explained by agreeableness (positive relation). This is partly in line with the hypothesis, as we expected that conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and negative emotionality will also explain teacher self-efficacy (Đigić et al, 2014; Sari et al, 2021). In line with the hypothesis, at the within-person level, all personality states were related to teacher self-efficacy in the expected direction. Conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness were positively related to selfefficacy, while negative emotionality was negatively related to self-efficacy. However, the hypothesis was partially confirmed at the between-person level since only conscientiousness and openness were positively related to teacher self-efficacy. Regarding the relationship between psychological characteristics of the situation and teacher self-efficacy, at the within-person level, the hypothesis was partially confirmed. As expected, importance, typicality, and positive valence were positively related to teacher self-efficacy, while adversity was negatively related to teacher self-efficacy. However, humor and negative valence were unrelated to self-efficacy, while complexity showed positive associations with teacher self-efficacy (rather than expected negative). At the between-person level, only the importance of the situation was positively related to the teacher self-efficacy, partially confirming the hypothesis. Considering the relationships between personality traits and personality states, the hypothesis was partially confirmed. In accordance with the assumptions of the whole trait theory (Fleeson & Jayawickreme, 2015), at the between-person level, traits of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were related to the corresponding personality states. However, traits of negative emotionality and openness were not related to the corresponding personality states. Moreover, since people select and perceive situations to a certain extent based on personality traits (Allport, 1961, as cited in Rauthman et al., 2015), significant relationship between personality states and psychological characteristics of situations was hypothesized. This assumption was only confirmed (partially) for the dimension of agreeableness. At the between- person level, agreeableness trait was related to importance, typicality (positive relation), negative valence, and adversity (negative relation). Given that perception of the situation is related to personality states (Jayawickreme et al., 2021), specific hypothesis about its relationship with the personality states for each dimension of psychological characteristics of situation was set. The complexity was assumed to be positively related to extraversion and openness. At the within-person level, the hypothesis was partially confirmed, as complexity (positive correlation) explained the variance in conscientiousness and openness. At the between-person level, complexity did not explain the variance of any of the personality dimensions, so the hypothesis was rejected. For the dimension of adversity, it was assumed that it is positively related to negative emotionality and negatively related to agreeableness. At the within-person level, hypothesis was partially confirmed, since adversity of the situation explained the variance in negative emotionality (positive correlation), extraversion, agreeableness, and openness (negative correlation). At the between-person level, adversity only explained the variance in negative emotionality (positive association), so the hypothesis was partially confirmed. Positive valence was hypothesized to be positively associated with extraversion. This hypothesis was partially confirmed at the within-person level. Positive valence explained the variance of extraversion, conscientiousness, openness (positive correlation), and negative emotionality (negative correlation). At the between-person level, positive valence was not related to personality states, so the hypothesis was rejected. For typicality, it was assumed that it is positively related to openness and negatively to extraversion. At both levels of analysis, the hypothesis was rejected because typicality did not explain the variance in openness and extraversion. However, at the between-person level, typicality only explained the variance in negative emotionality (negative association). For importance, it was assumed that it is positively related to extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness and negatively to negative emotionality. At the within-person level, the hypothesis was partially confirmed, since the importance explained the variance in conscientiousness (positive correlation). At the between-person level, importance explained the variance in extraversion and openness (positive corre
Standardizing construction project management services within the system of public procurement in the Republic of Croatia
No full textU srpnju 2015. u Republici Hrvatskoj donesen je Zakon o poslovima i djelatnostima prostornog uređenja i gradnje (NN 78/15) – ZoPDPUG, prema kojemu djelatnost upravljanja projektima gradnje (DUPG) postaje obveza za određene javne, a izmjenama ZoPDPUG-a (NN 118/18) i za projekte sektorskih naručitelja. Za razliku od propisa koji detaljno i jednoznačno uređuju obavljanje djelatnosti i poslova projektiranja i stručnog nadzora građenja, posebice u provedbenom djelu, pravnu prirodu DUPG-a definira različitost pravnih obilježja koja proizlaze iz različitosti pravnih propisa koji čine platformu za provedbu DUPG-a.
Predmet istraživanja ove doktorske disertacije je analiza stanja područja od primjene DUPG-a, odnosno razina (ne)ujednačenosti pristupa javnih i sektorskih naručitelja pri ugovaranju i provedbi javnih usluga upravljanja projektom gradnje u RH i entropija zakonske regulative koja čini platformu za DUPG, kao i analiza najboljih svjetskih praksi: standarda i autonomnih izvora prava za upravljanje projektima.
Zaključeno je da stanje područja primjene DUPG-a, iako u primjeni devetu godinu, i dalje nije rezultiralo ujednačenim pristupom javnih i sektorskih naručitelja kao i da postoji disparitet u odnosu na međunarodne standarde. U radu su identificirana ograničenja i nedosljednosti u zakonskoj regulativi te je uspostavljena uzročno-posljedična veza između identificiranih uzroka, posljedica i standardizacije DUPG-a kao mogućeg rješenja identificirane problematike.
Upravljanje javnim projektima gradnje u RH određeno je sa svojim specifičnostima koje se realiziraju unutar reguliranoga zakonodavnog konteksta, no propisi ne uređuju proces donošenja projektnih odluka, već je to zadaća projektnih procedura. Kod DUPG-a kao zakonskoj kategoriji projektne procedure i odluke podređene su prisilnoj naravi odlučivanja, dok je prihvaćanje moralnih društvenih normi očekivano dispozitivno. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja stvoriti pretpostavke i pozicionirati bitne smjernice za standardiziranje DUPG-a kojima će se jednoznačno provedbeno odrediti projektna procedura za DUPG i ujednačiti pristup investitora obveznika javne nabave, odnosno harmonizirati institucionalno regulatorni okvir za DUPG unutar normativnog dijela propisa, uvažavajući etičke standarde primjenjive na struku.
Rezultati ovog istraživanja omogućit će subjektima iz realnoga i javnog sektora ujednačeni pristup upravljanju projektima uz primjenu smjernica u svim fazama realizacije projekta i dobivanje standardne usluge za standardnu cijenu, pri čemu smjernice trebaju pružiti referenciju i biti sredstvo za lakše postizanje ciljeva, a ne zamjena za iskustvo, kreativnost, stručnost i inicijativu kompetentnog voditelja projekta.
Ova doktorska disertacija daje nove spoznaje o upravljanju javnim projektima gradnje identifikacijom njihovih sličnosti koja opravdava primjenu standarda za različite vrste javnih projekata čime se pridonosi literaturi koja se odnosi na standardiziranje upravljanja projektima.The Act on Physical Planning and Building Tasks and Activities (Official Gazette 78/15) – ZoPDPUG was passed in July 2015 in the Republic of Croatia. According to the Act, the activity of construction project management (DUPG) is now obligatory for certain public projects and due to changes to ZoPDPUG (Official Gazette 118/18) also for sectoral projects of the contracting authority. Unlike the regulations that stipulate in detail and unambiguously the performance of design and building supervision activities, especially in the implementation part, the legal nature of the DUPG is defined by diversity of legal features resulting from the variety of legal regulations that make the basis for the DUPG implementation.
The subject of research of this doctoral dissertation is the analysis of the state of the area since the application of DUPG, i.e. the level of (non) - uniformity in the approach of public and sectoral contracting authorities in contracting and implementing public services of construction project management in the Republic of Croatia and the entropy of the legal regulation that makes the basis for DUPG, as well as an analysis of the world's best practices: standards and autonomous sources of law for project management.
It was concluded that the state of the DUPG application area, even though it has been in use for the 9th year, has not yet resulted in a uniform approach by public and sectoral contracting authorities, as well as that there is a disparity in relation to international standards. The paper identified limitations and inconsistencies in the legal regulations and established a cause-and-effect relationship between the identified causes, consequences and standardization of DUPG as a possible solution to the identified problem.
The management of public construction projects in the Republic of Croatia is determined by its specificities, which are accomplished within the regulated legislative context. However, the regulations do not stipulate the process of making project decisions, but that is the task of project procedures. With DUPG as a legal category project procedures and decisions are subordinated to the forced nature of decision-making, while acceptance of moral social norms is dispositive as expected. Therefore, the goal of this research is to make assumptions and position Guidelines for the standardization of DUPG, which will unambiguously determine project procedures for DUPG and standardize the approach of public investors, i.e. align the institutional regulatory framework for DUPG within the normative part of the regulations, while respecting ethical standards applicable to the field of expertise.
The results of this research will enable entities from the real and public sector to obtain a uniform approach to project management by applying the Guidelines in all phases of project implementation and to receive a standard service for a standard price. At the same time the Guidelines should provide a reference and be a means for easier achievement of goals, and not a substitute for experience, creativity, expertise and initiative of a competent project manager.
This doctoral dissertation provides new insights into the management of public construction projects by identifying their similarities, which justifies application of standards for different types of public projects, thus contributing to the literature related to the standardization of project management
Appearance of Lüders bands in niobium microalloyed steel
No full textPosljednjih godina provode se intenzivna istraživanja nehomogenih deformacija na početku plastičnog toka materijala tijekom hladne deformacije. Prethodna istraživanja pokazala su da postoji razlika u ponašanju mikrolegiranih čelika na početku plastičnog toka s obzirom da kod čelika s dodatkom mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija dolazi do pojave Lüdersovih linija, dok čelici istog osnovnog kemijskog sastava bez dodatka mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija ne pokazuju pojavu nehomogenih deformacija, odnosno pojavu Lüdersovih linija. U ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji provedena su istraživanja na niobijem mikrolegiranom čeliku s različitim dodacima mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija dobivenima u industrijskim i poluindustrijskim uvjetima te niskougljičnom čeliku bez dodatka mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija. Primjenom suvremenih metoda istraživanja termografije i digitalne korelacije slike, zapaženo je da su nehomogene deformacije povezane s pojavom Lüdersovih linija. Statičkim vlačnim ispitivanjem uz suvremene metode, termografiju i digitalnu korelaciju slike te metodama za mikrostrukturna ispitivanja, istražen je utjecaj mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija na pojavu i propagaciju Lüdersovih linija. U svrhu mikrostrukturnih ispitivanja prije i nakon određenog stupnja deformacije korištene su metalografija, pretražna elektronska mikroskopija uz EBSD analizu, transmisijska elektronska mikroskopija te analiza rendgenskom difrakcijom. Posebna pozornost u istraživanju posvećena je formiranju i propagaciji Lüdersovih linija na početku plastičnog toka niobijem mikrolegiranoga čelika tijekom hladne deformacije. U cilju utvrđivanja utjecaja mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija, početne mikrostrukture i brzine deformacije na pojavu i propagaciju Lüdersovih linija te lokalne iznose deformacije provedena su ispitivanja na čelicima različitog kemijskog sastava, početne mikrostrukture i brzine deformacije. S obzirom da je kod niobijem mikrolegiranih čelika prethodnim istraživanjima uočena prisutnost sitnih, deformacijom induciranih, niobijevih precipitata ovim istraživanjem istražen je njihov utjecaj zajedno s dislokacijama na formiranje i propagaciju Lüdersove linije u različitim pozicijama zone deformacije kako bi se utvrdio njihov mehanizam nastajanja. Istraživanja su pokazala da utjecajni faktori različitog sadržaja mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija, početna mikrostruktura i brzina deformacije imaju utjecaj na propagaciju Lüdersove linije. Međutim, brzina deformacije nema utjecaj na pojavu Lüdersove linije dok dodatak mikrolegirajućega elementa niobija, početna mikrostruktura te veličina i sastav niobijevih precipitata imaju utjecaj na pojavu Lüdersove linije. Sitni, deformacijom inducirani, niobijevi precipitati i gustoća dislokacija pokazali su se kao parametri koji imaju značajan utjecaj na nastajanje i propagaciju Lüdersove linije. Detaljno je, po prvi puta, postavljen mehanizam formiranja i propagacije Lüdersove linije kod niobijem mikrolegiranoga čelika. Na kraju su postavljeni jednostavni matematički modeli za opisivanje utjecajnih parametara na formiranje i propagaciju Lüdersove linije. Postavljenim matematičkim modelima moguće je predvidjeti ponašanje niobijem mikrolegiranoga čelika s obzirom na pojavu Lüdersove linije na početku plastičnog toka tijekom hladne deformacije.Intensive research into inhomogeneous deformations at the start of the plastic flow in cold deformation of different metal materials has been carried out during the last few years. Previous research has clearly shown that there are differences in deformation behaviour of microalloyed steels at the start of the plastic flow. Lüders bands appear only in low carbon steels with addition of microalloying element niobium while low carbon steels with the same basic chemical composition without niobium do not show inhomogeneous deformations, i.e. Lüders bands. This research was carried out on low carbon steels without niobium and niobium microalloyed steels with various additions of the microalloying element niobium obtained in industrial and semi-industrial conditions. Connection of Lüders bands with inhomogeneous deformations was observed using modern methods of thermography and digital image correlation. Influence of microalloying element niobium on Lüders bands formation and propagation was researched by static tensile tests with thermography and digital image correlation, and modern methods of microstructural testing. Metallography, scanning electron microscopy with EBSD analysis, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were used for the purpose of microstructural testing before and after a certain deformation degree. In this research particular attention was given to the formation and propagation of Lüders bands at the start of the plastic flow of niobium microalloyed steels during cold deformation. Tests were conducted on steels with various chemical composition, initial microstructure and strain rate in order to determine the influence of the microalloying element niobium, the initial microstructure and strain rate on the appearance and propagation of Lüders bands as well as local strain amounts. Previous studies have shown a presence of fine deformation induced niobium precipitates in niobium microalloyed steels. This doctoral thesis presents a research of their influence along with dislocations on the formation and propagation of Lüders bands in various positions of the deformation zone to determine the mechanism of Lüders bands formation. The research showed an influence of various contents of the microalloying element niobium, initial microstructure and strain rate on the propagation of the Lüders bands. However, the strain rate do not have influence on the appearance of Lüders bands while the addition of the microalloying element niobium, initial microstructure, size and chemical composition of niobium precipitates have influence on the appearance of Lüders bands. Fine deformation induced niobium precipitates and dislocation density showed a significant impact on the formation and propagation of Lüders bands. The mechanism of formation and propagation of Lüders bands in niobium microalloyed steel is set out in detail for the first time. Simple mathematical models for the parameters influencing the formation and propagation of Lüders bands were developed at the end of the doctoral thesis. Behaviour of niobium microalloyed steels with Lüders bands can be predicted by the defined mathematical models at the start of the plastic flow during the cold deformation
Computational study on the effect of deuteration on the ligand binding to the adenosine A2A receptor
No full textPrimjenom niza modernih računalnih metoda dobiven je detaljan uvid u interakcije koje antagonist istradefilin ostvaruje s adenozinskim A2A receptorom. Temeljem identifikacije strukturnih elemenata koji najviše doprinose vezanju, dizajnirani su derivati većeg afiniteta. Osim konvencionalnog pristupa koji uključuje uvođenje novih funkcionalnih skupina, primijenjena je i modifikacija deuteriranjem čime je postignuto poboljšano vezanje istradefilina u A2A receptor. U ovom radu izotopna supstitucija predstavlja originalan koncept moduliranja farmakodinamičkih svojstava, a dobiveni rezultati ukazuju na veću učinkovitost istradefilina obogaćenog deuterijem što bi se moglo iskoristiti za poboljšanje njegovog farmakoterapijskog profila u liječenju Parkinsonove bolesti.By utilising a series of modern computational methods, a detailed insight into the interactions of the antagonist istradefylline with the adenosine A2A receptor was obtained. Based on the identification of structural elements that contribute the most to binding, higher affinity derivatives were designed. In addition to the conventional approach that includes the introduction of new functional groups, modification by deuteration was also applied, which achieved improved binding of istradefylline to the A2A receptor. In this work, isotopic substitution represents an original concept of modulating pharmacodynamic properties, and the obtained results indicate a greater efficiency of deuterium-enriched istradefylline, which could be used to improve its pharmacotherapeutic profile in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
Arterial stiffness assessed with oscillometry considering dynamic or static type of exercise in children athletes
No full textCiljevi: ciljevi ovog istraţivanja bili su izmjeriti parametre arterijske krutosti u skupini djece i adolescenata sportaša u ovisnosti o vrsti sporta i usporediti ih s istima u skupini djece i adolescenata koji se nisu aktivno bavili sportom.
Ispitanici i metode: U prospektivnoj studiji sudjelovalo je 238 djece i adolescenata, dobne skupine između 13 i 18 godina, podijeljenih u dvije skupine. Prvu skupinu činila su djeca sportaši (N=138; 80 u dinamičkoj, 58 u statičkoj skupini sportova), dok se druga skupina sastojala od djece iste dobi koja se nisu aktivno bavila sportom (N=100). Mjerenja arterijske krutosti u djece sportaša provodila su se prije početka tjelesne aktivnosti, u 60-oj minuti treninga, i ponovljena su nakon dvije godine, u mirovanju.
Rezultati: U skupini djece i adolescenata koja s nisu aktivno bavili sportom, zabiljeţili smo statistički značajno više vrijednosti PWVao u usporedbi sa skupinom djece sportaša (P< 0,000, PWVao 6,28 (IQ 5,70-7,00), vs 5,74 (IQ 5,1-6,23)). Skupina djece i adolescenata koji se nisu aktivno bavili sportom imala je statistički značajno više vrijednosti indeksa tjelesna mase u odnosu na skupinu djece i adolescenata sportaša (P=0,046). Mjerenja provedena nakon dvije godine u skupini djece sportaša, pokazala su statistički značajno niţe vrijednosti PWVao u skupini djece koja su se bavila aktivnošću visokog dinamičkog i niskog statičkog opterećenja, u odnosu na skupinu djece i adolescenata koji su se bavili aktivnošću visokog statičkog i niskog dinamičkog opterećenja (P=0,040, PWVao 5,64 (IQ 5,10-6,10) vs 5,95 (IQ 5,50-6,50)).
Zaključak: Tjelesna aktivnost osobito dinamičkog tipa, povoljno utječe na parametre arterijske krutosti.Objectives: This study aims to assess the parameters of arterial stiffness in children according to the type of exercise and compare them with those who do not participate in sport.
Materials and methods: There were 238 subjects divided into two groups. One included children who practiced sports (N=138; 80 in the dynamic, 58 in the static group of sports), and the other included children of the same age who did not practice sport (N=100). Measurements were performed before physical activity, in the 60th minute of exercise and repeated after two years, in rest only.
Results: The control group had statistically significantly higher values of PWVao in comparison with the group of children athletes (P< 0.000, mean PWVao 6,28 (IQ 5,70-7,00), vs 5,74 (IQ 5,1-6,23)). This group had a significantly higher body mass index than children athletes (P=0,046). Children who practiced sports with a high level of dynamic and low level of static load after two years showed significantly lower values of PWVao in comparison with those who practiced sports with a high level of static and low level of dynamic exercise (P=0,040, PWVao 5,64 (IQ 5,10-6,10) vs 5,95 (IQ 5,50-6,50)).
Conclusion: Physical activity, especially dynamic, has a beneficial impact on arterial stiffness