The age, size and morphology of trees, including crown dimensions, can influence crown defoliation. In Croatia, the selection management of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) forests involves pure or ...mixed stands, either of which can be affected by various disturbances, resulting in unbalanced stand structures. The aim of this study was to estimate the probability of trees transitioning from one defoliation class to the next, examine the influence of tree attributes on that process and analyze the changes in survival over time. The study was conducted over a 18-year period (1990–2007) on two sites with contrasting stand structures: a uniform stand with a dominant share of silver fir (Site A) and an uneven-aged mixed beech–fir stand (Site B). Logistic regression was used to model tree transitions between defoliation classes. Uniform stand structure increased the likelihood of silver fir trees transitioning to a higher defoliation class, with limited dependence on the tree crown position. In contrast, suppressed and central trees in uneven-aged stands were more likely to transition to a higher defoliation due to greater competition between them. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was found to be a significant predictor of tree transition to higher defoliation classes, with a linear trend of increasing probability with increasing DBH. Crown position and crown length were also found to be significant predictors of changing defoliation class, with observed differences between sites occurring due to differences in stand structure. To ensure a balanced stand structure and enhance tree vitality, careful consideration of easily measurable tree elements such as DBH, crown length, and tree crown position is imperative when selecting trees for felling.
Abstract
Adequate reading behaviour is vital for text comprehension across fields. In today’s professional environment, a well-developed reading skill is also expected in English as a second language ...(EL2), which happens already in college, although transition to college-level reading may be difficult even in the first language. It is therefore useful to analyse students’ use of reading strategies to facilitate their academic progress. This study investigates the reading behaviour of junior students of business/economics when reading academic texts in EL2. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (N=134) of a 45-item questionnaire about students’ awareness of reading strategies and their reading confidence (i.e. self-perceived competence in text retelling). The majority of the items were based on self-reports found in the literature (Kolić-Vehovec, Bajšanski, 2001; Mokhtari, Reichard, 2002; Taraban, Kerr, Rynearson, 2004) and several items were added to the questionnaire (e.g. questions related to note taking). Five factors were interpretable: four factors related to Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies (Repeated Reading, Monitoring/Regulation, Note Taking and Elaboration) and the fifth factor covering self-perceived competence in text retelling (Reading Confidence). Internal consistency of the factors indicated by standardized Cronbach’s alphas were 0.83 (Repeated Reading), 0.80 (Monitoring and Regulation), 0.77 (Note Taking), 0.63 (Elaboration) and 0.75 (Reading Confidence). Three strategies positively correlated with each other (Repeated Reading, Monitoring/Regulation and Elaboration), while negative correlation was found between Note Taking and Reading Confidence. The results provide valuable information on the patterns in student reading as a baseline for further analysis of L2 text comprehension in college.
Istraživanje je motivirano raspravom kako rezultati državne mature utječu na uspjeh prijediplomskog studija: prosječna ocjena i trajanje prijediplomskog studija. Na državnoj maturi su tri obvezna ...predmeta: matematika (MATH), hrvatski (CRO) i strani (FORL) jezik. MATH i CRO se mogu polagati na dvije razine (viša i niža). Analizirani su podaci iz upitnika među 257 diplomanata od 2016. do 2018. Višestrukom regresijom analizirano je da li i kako ocjene predmeta iz državne mature utječu na uspjeh prijediplomskog studija: prosječnu ocjenu i trajanje studija. Kako bismo povezali ove rezultate, koristili smo kanoničku korelaciju kao poveznicu višestruke regresije i korelacijske analize. Analiziran je odnos između dva skupa varijabli, ocjene mature: MATH, CRO i FORL i uspjeha na prijediplomskom studiju: trajanje i prosječna ocjena studija. Ocjena mature iz matematike je statistički značajan prediktor prosječne ocjene i trajanja prijediplomskog studija. Što je viša ocjena iz MATH to je viša prosječna ocjena studija i kraće je trajanje studija. Prva kanonička varijata za uspjeh na prijediplomskom studiju ima veću težinu prosječne ocjene od trajanja studija.
This study was motivated by a discussion how the results of state maturity influence on academic undergraduate performance (average mark) and the number of year students take to complete their undergraduate studies (study duration). There are three compulsory subjects on the state maturity: Mathematics (MATH), Croatian (CRO) and foreign (FORL) language. MATH and CRO can be deployed on two levels. Were analysed data using data from a questionnaire among 257 graduates from 2016 to 2018.(Table 1) A multivariate linear regression was used to analyse if and how marks of subjects from state maturity predict undergraduate study achievement: average mark and duration of study with logarithmic transformation. In order to consolidate these results, we used canonical correlation as a variation on the concept of multivariate regression and correlation analysis. analyse the relationship between two sets of variables, maturity marks: MATH, CRO and FORL and undergraduate performance: duration and average mark of study. Mark of MATH on maturity is statistically significant predictor of average mark and duration of undergraduate study (Table 4). The higher MATH the higher average grade of the study and the shorter duration of the study. Results of canonical correlation shows that only the first canonical correlation rc1=0.3576 is statistically significant F(6,392)=5.43, p<0.001. The first canonical variate for undergraduate performance shows most weight on average mark than duration of study.
Agriculture is one of the several major sources of nitrate pollution, and therefore the EU Nitrate Directive, designed to decrease pollution, has been implemented. Point sources like septic systems ...and broken sewage systems also contribute to water pollution. Pollution of groundwater by nitrate from 19 shallow wells was studied in a typical agricultural region, middle Podravina, in northwest Croatia. The concentration of nitrate ranged from <0.1 to 367 mg/l in water from wells, and 29.8 % of 253 total samples were above maximum acceptable value of 50 mg/l (MAV). Among regions R1–R6, there was no statistically significant difference in nitrate concentrations (
F
= 1.98;
p
= 0.15) during the years 2002–2007. Average concentrations of nitrate in all 19 wells for all the analyzed years were between recommended limit value of 25 mg/l (RLV) and MAV except in 2002 (concentration was under RLV). The results of the repeated measures ANOVA showed statistically significant differences between the wells at the point source distance (proximity) of <10 m, compared to the wells at the point source distance of >20 m (
F
= 10.6;
p
< 0.001). Average annual concentrations of nitrate during the years studied are not statistically different, but interaction between proximity and years is statistically significant (
F
= 2.07;
p
= 0.04). Results of k-means clustering confirmed division into four clusters according to the pollution. Principal component analysis showed that there is only one significant factor, proximity, which explains 91.6 % of the total variability of nitrate. Differences in water quality were found as a result of different environmental factors. These results will contribute to the implementation of the Nitrate Directive in Croatia and the EU.
This research analyzed the motivating and demotivating factors amongst employees in a wood processing and furniture manufacturing company. Research was conducted over the year 2010, during the time ...of a full economic crisis and before the restructuring of the company was done. Analysis also was conducted in 2014, during the beginning of the economic recovery and after the restructuring of the company. Research was conducted with a survey using a questionnaire containing six questions with multiple choice statements. The questions were closed-ended, and respondents used the Likert four-level scale of importance for each statement. A total of 180 employees were surveyed, and results were statistically processed by using the χ2- test and cluster analysis. This study established that the motivation factors most important to employees in a company are significantly different during the time of an economic crisis, and in the period of economic recovery, i.e. before and after restructuring of the company. Employees were most concerned about physiological needs in the time of a crisis, whereas in the time of an economic recovery, employees consider social needs to be of more importance. Also, employees consider psychological circumstances of work to be more important in the year 2014 than in the year 2010. Employees’ overall motivation can be linked to higher efficiency and higher quality production and business results, and such research should be conducted more often.
Research highlights: The susceptibility of oaks to late spring and early autumn frosts is directly related to their leaf phenology. Drought may alter the leaf phenology and therefore frost tolerance ...of oaks. However, the effects of drought on oak leaf phenology and frost resistance have not been thoroughly studied. Background and objectives: One of the consequences of climate change is an increase in the frequency of dry episodes during the vegetation period. Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) is an economically and ecologically important forest tree species that prefers humid habitats. Therefore, knowledge of the impact of drought on this species is of great importance for the adaptation of forestry strategies and practices to altered environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of drought on leaf phenology and spring frost susceptibility in nine provenances. Materials and methods: One-year-old saplings originating from nine European provenances were used in the trial. The saplings were exposed to experimental drought and then re-watered in two subsequent years. Spring and autumn leaf phenology were scored. The trial was impacted by a late spring frost in the third year, and the resulting leaf frost injury was scored. The effects of drought treatment on the phenology and frost susceptibility of plants from the provenances were analysed. Results: Leaf phenology of plants from most of the studied provenances was significantly influenced by the drought treatment (p < 0.001). Drought induced a carry-over effect on flushing phenology, which was observed as delayed bud burst (from 0.6 to 2.4 days) in the second year and as advanced bud burst (from 0.1 to 6.3 days) in the third year. Therefore, opposite shifts in flushing phenology may be induced as a result of differences in the time span when plants sense water deficits. In contrast to flushing, autumn leaf phenology was unambiguously delayed following the drought treatments for all studied provenances (from 2.1 to 25.8 days). Differences in late frost susceptibility were predominantly caused by among-provenance differences in flushing phenology. However, the drought treatment significantly increased frost susceptibility in the plants (the rate of frost-injured plants per provenance increased from 3% to 78%). This higher susceptibility to spring frost was most likely caused by the advanced flushing phenology that resulted from the drought treatment in the previous year.
Nitrates are the most common chemical pollutant of groundwater in agricultural and suburban areas. Croatia must comply with the Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC) whose aim is to reduce water pollution ...by nitrates originating from agriculture and to prevent further pollution. Podravina and Prigorje are the areas with a relatively high degree of agricultural activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was, by monitoring nitrates, to determine the distribution of nitrates in two different areas, Podravina and Prigorje (Croatia), to determine sources of contamination as well as annual and seasonal trends. The nitrate concentrations were measured in 30 wells (
N
= 382 samples) in Prigorje and in 19 wells (
N
= 174 samples) in Podravina from 2002 to 2007. In Podravina, the nitrate content was 24.9 mg/l and 6 % of the samples were above the maximum available value (MAV), and in Prigorje the content was 53.9 mg/l and 38 % of the samples above MAV. The wells were classified as correct, occasionally incorrect and incorrect. In the group of occasionally incorrect and incorrect wells, the point sources were within 10 m of the well. There is no statistically significant difference over the years or seasons within the year, but the interaction between locations and years was significant. Nitrate concentrations’ trend was not significant during the monitoring. These results are a prerequisite for the adjustment of Croatian standards to those of the EU and will contribute to the implementation of the Nitrate Directive and the Directives on Environmental Protection in Croatia and the EU.
Introduction In children, congenital heart defects represent the primary cause of increased serum troponin I. The elimination process of cardiac troponin I from the bloodstream and the factors ...influencing this process remain unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the role of troponin I as an indicator of cardiac damage in children both in serum and urine, a concept previously investigated in adults. Methods Our prospective study involved 70 children under 24 months of age. The first group underwent ventricular septal defect repair, while the second group involved children who had undergone partial cavopulmonary anastomosis. For these groups, urine and serum troponin I were assessed on four occasions. The third group, consisting of healthy children, underwent a single measurement of urine troponin I. Results Serum troponin I values exhibited an expected elevation in the early postoperative period, followed by a return to lower levels. Significantly higher concentrations of serum troponin I were observed in the first group of children ( p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between troponin I in the first three measurements and cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping time. There was no discernible increase in urine troponin I directly related to myocardial damage; troponin I couldn't be detected in most urine samples. Discussion The inability to detect troponin I in urine remains unexplained. Potential explanatory factors may include the isoelectric point of troponin I, elevated urinary concentrations of salts and urea, variations in urine acidity (different pH levels), and a relatively low protein concentration in urine.
Tree height is one of the more fundamental measurements in forest inventories. In addition to classical field measurements, tree height may be estimated by remote sensing methods, such as by ...photogrammetric measurements of aerial images. Since it has been found and generally accepted that the extraction of forest and tree data from classical analogue aerial photographs has certain limitations, especially in the densely canopied forests, the usefulness of photogrammetric-based forest inventory in many countries remains a controversial issue. Therefore, this paper focuses on investigating the possibility of applying digital photogrammetric method to estimate mean stand height. Photogrammetric stereo-measurements of tree height were conducted on colour infrared images of high spatial resolution (ground sample distance - GSD - of 30 cm and 10 cm) using a digital photogrammetric workstation. The height of each tree within 183 sample plots (14 subcompartments) were calculated as the difference between the tree top elevations determined with the aerial images and the corresponding tree bottom elevations determined from the digital terrain model. To compare the photogrammetric- and field-estimated mean stand heights, the mean plot heights were calculated for both photogrammetric and field estimates of tree heights. Repeated measurements using ANOVA testing did not reveal a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between the field-estimated and photogrammetric-estimated mean stand heights using the 30 cm and 10 cm GSD digital aerial images. Deviations of the mean stand heights estimated using the images of both spatial resolutions were similar to the field-estimated heights. Using the 30 cm images the deviations of the photogrammetrically estimated mean stand height amounted to 0.35 m (1.59%) on average, whereas using the 10 cm images the deviations amounted to 0.31 m (1.41%) compared to the field estimation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the 30 cm GSD aerial images allow for the photogrammetric measurement of mean stand heights with accuracy similar to 10 cm GSD aerial images. In addition, 30 cm GSD aerial images are more favourable financially since the same area of interest could be covered with a considerably smaller number of images than of the 10 cm GSD aerial images.
Purpose. The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is insufficiently understood but may possibly involve chronic, low-grade inflammation. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate ...the relationship between inflammatory and haemostatic markers, other markers of endothelial dysfunction and anthropometric parameters, and their association with DR in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. According to the DR status patients were divided into three groups: no retinopathy, mild/moderate nonproliferative (NPDR), and severe NPDR/proliferative retinopathy (PDR). Results. The groups did not differ in the levels of inflammatory and haemostatic markers, other markers of endothelial dysfunction, and anthropometric parameters. After dividing the patients according to the level of obesity (defined by BMI, WC, and WHR) into three groups ANOVA showed the differences in C-reactive protein according to the WC (P=0.0265) and in fibrinogen according to the WHR (P=0.0102) as well as in total cholesterol (P=0.0109) and triglycerides (P=0.0133) according to the BMI. Logistic regression analyses showed that diabetes duration and prolonged poor glycemic control are the main predictors of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion. Interrelations between obesity, inflammation, haemostatic disturbance, and other risk factors may possibly play an important additional role in endothelial dysfunction involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.
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