Siphons are devices that transport liquids uphill between two containers. It has been proposed that a siphon principle operates in closed circulatory systems, as best exemplified by the circulation ...of blood in mammals. This principle is supposed to ensure that no additional work is necessary to pump blood above the level of the heart, and that there is no gravitational static pressure gradient in the column of blood. The first statement is correct, while we demonstrate that, ignoring hydraulic resistance to blood flow, the static pressure gradient is equal to the hydrostatic gradient in a siphon model of blood circulation, although the details of the proof do not depend on the geometry of the circulatory system and the proof can be trivially extended to other models such as a vascular waterfall. This implies that the controversy over the siphon principle has no implications for the description of blood circulation, and that mechanisms such as the “baffle,” which some authors have appealed to in order to obtain the expected gradient, are not necessary. In our discussion, we also discuss empirical data that appear to provide additional verification of our results, as well as several everyday occurrences that provide additional support.
Agencija za plaćanja u poljoprivredi, ribarstvu i ruralnom razvoju osnovana je Zakonom o osnivanju Agencije za plaćanja u poljoprivredi, ribarstvu i ruralnom razvoju kao javna ustanova radi ...operativne provedbe mjera tržišne i strukturne potpore u poljoprivredi, ribarstvu i ruralnom razvoju koja ima za cilj razvoj i održivost poljoprivredne stočarske proizvodnje. Za provođenje tih mjera, po uzoru na legislativu EU, u Hrvatskoj je 2011. godine uspostavljen Integrirani administrativni i kontrolni sustav (IAKS) s ciljem točne identifikacije podnositelja zahtjeva i praćenja rezultata kontrola na terenu. Na odabranim poljoprivrednim gospodarstvima kontrola na terenu provodi se temeljem analize rizika i slučajnim odabirom. U ovom radu prikazano je istraživanje i analiza podataka o provedenim kontrolama na terenu od 2011. do 2018. godine. Ukupno je obrađeno i analizirano 17.344 rezultata provedene kontrole na terenu, tj. pregledanih gospodarstva. Analizom podataka o provedenim kontrolama na terenu na gospodarstvima ustvrđeno da je udio nesukladnosti u pregledanom uzorku gospodarstava u 2018. godini bio veći (79,83 %) nego 2011. godine (66,46 %). Statistički značajno manji broj nesukladnosti ustanovljen je tijekom 2015. i 2016. godine. Udio nađenih nesukladnosti u pojedinim županijama kretao se od 37,29 % u Krapinsko-zagorskoj župainji pa do 75,69 % u Dubrovačko-neretvanskoj župaiji. U 12 županija u području centralne i zapadne Hrvatske i Slavonije i Baranje, nađene su nesukladnosti na 50 % do 65 % gospodarstava. Porast nesukladnosti životinja može se objasniti kombinacijom faktora rizika, koja se određuje iznova prije svake kontrolne godine, temeljem analize učinkovitosti faktora rizika iz prošlih godina te uvođenjem praćenja novih parametara vezanih za dobrobit životinja, kratkoćom vremena za prilagodbu i nedostatnom edukacijom poljoprivrednika.
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to detect the presence of maedi visna virus (MVV) infections in sheep in three counties in southwestern Croatia: Istria County, Primorje-Gorski Kotar ...County and Lika-Senj County, and to estimate the influence of geographical location, breed, age and gender as risk factors on the prevalence rate. A total of 460 randomly selected sheep were tested using a commercially available ID Screen® MVV/CAEV Indirect screening test, VISNAS-5P (ID.VET, Grabels France) for detection of antibodies against the Maedi-Visna virus. The prevalence rate for the entire population was 10.00 % (95 % 7.26 - 12.74 %), The highest seroprevalence of MVV was found in Istria County (19.02%, CI 95% 13.35 –24.70%), followed by Lika-Senj County (5.43 %, CI 95 % 2.17- 8.70) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (1.07 %, CI 95 % -1.03 – 3.17) (P<0.01). When comparing the seroprevalence among breeds, statistically significant differences were observed. The largest number of positive sheep was found in the following breeds: Istrian Pramenka (22.97%, CI 95% 13.39 - 32.55%), Jezersko-Solcava sheep (23.53%, CI 95% 11.89 - 35.17%%), Pramenka (13.16%, CI 95% 2.41 - 23.91%) and Lika sheep (9.78%, CI 95% 3.71- 15.85%). Prevalence rates in other examined breeds (Krk sheep, Pag sheep and Romanov sheep) were lower than 2 % (P<0.01). No statistically significant differences in seroprevalence between sex and age were found. According to risk estimation, the main risk factors were found to be geographical location and breed. In Istria County, seroprevalence was 4.77 ( CI 95 % 2.67 – 8.54) higher than in other examined areas (OR = 5.66, CI 95 % 2.97-10.79) (P<0.01). As for breeds, significant differences were observed between Jezersko-Solcava sheep and Lika sheep (OR = 2.84, CI 95% 1.13-7.14) and Istrian Pramenka in relation to Pag sheep (OR 22.51,, CI 95% 16.99-119.73), Krk sheep (OR 19.53, CI 95% 5.80-108.27), and Lika sheep (OR 2.35, CI 95% 1.17-6.47). This cross-section study indicates the circulation of MVV in this sheep population in Croatia, and represents the first research into the risk factors for MVV in sheep in southwestern Croatia.
We conducted a survey on the beekeeping production, practices and attitudes of 117 beekeepers in Croatia, via a questionnaire. The beekeepers were divided into three groups: full-time ...(professionals), part-time (side-liners) and hobby (hobbyists) beekeepers. The questions covered the purpose and size of their beekeeping production, the production interests of the beekeepers, treatment of the economically most important honeybee diseases, and the possibilities of the growth of their operation. Professional beekeepers were the youngest (39 years of age on average), with the largest average number of beehives per beekeeper (135 beehives), the largest proportion of LR hives and migratory apiaries, and the largest yearly per hive production of 17.04 kg of honey. The results show that the most marketable beekeeping product was honey, and that professional beekeepers also value propolis as equally interesting for production. They all inherited their beekeeping operations from their predecessors. Varroosis is perceived as the largest cause of honeybee colony death, followed by bad beekeeping practices. About 56% of the beekeepers are prepared to switch to organic/ecological beekeeping. Almost all the beekeepers (96.46%) support the introduction of the early diagnostics of American foulbrood. We found that professional beekeepers prefer the conservative economic model of growth based on their own equity, while hobbyists prefer a more expansive but riskier model of growth based on financial leverage (debt). Professional beekeepers are not inclined to create a mutual beekeepers' fund to cover losses. On the other hand, they strongly support the idea of creating an alliance for the purpose of joint market penetration. Key words: beekeeping economics; honey production; treatment of honeybee diseases; organic beekeeping, Croatia
In the survey, some variables were analyzed of cross-compliance control on livestock production farms in Croatia from 2011 to 2018. Collected data covered three animal production groups: cattle, ...sheep and goats, and pigs, for which the following parameters were monitored: wrongly marked breed, wrong gender, incorrect labeling, no animal on the holding, and no evidence of the animal in the farm register or in the national one. A total of 621,146 animals were surveyed, and in 92,523 (14.89%) of them noncompliance was found. It ranged from 9.66% in 2012 to 26.30% in 2018. Out of 221,311 investigated cattle, 373,515 sheep and goats and 26,320 pigs, noncompliance was found in 18.74%, 13.28% and 5.58% respectively. More noncompliance was detected in 2011 when the on-the-spot control started, followed by a decrease in the amount of noncompliance observed in 2012. However, in 2013, 2014 and 2018 an increase in the proportion of noncompliance was detected (17.54%, 16.86% and 26.30% respectively), due to the introduction of new parameters, i.e. new risk factors used in monitoring, and a lack of adequate education of farmers to adapt to new conditions. The value of the correlation coefficient (r) between the proportion of a particular production group of animals in the total number of animals, and the proportion of non-compliant animals in that production group for cattle was -0.232, for sheep and goats 0.637, and for pigs -0.317. For cattle and pigs this implies a negative but very weak correlation, and for sheep and goats a positive but moderate correlation. This means that there is not sufficient evidence of a strong negative correlation between those two variables, which was the hypothesis. The most important noncompliance item in cattle was no identification in the central register (26.25%), and the wrong gender (25.00%) in sheep and goats. The findings imply that more frequent training, as well as improvement of cooperation between all stakeholders should be obligatory measures for better farm management, resulting in reduced frequency of noncompliance. Key words: Common Agricultural Policy; livestock production farms; income support; cross-compliance; control strategy
The objective of this study was to compare the colony development cycle (unsealed and sealed worker brood, drone brood, pollen and colony strength) of two Apis mellifera carnica subpopulations in two ...distinct environments (alpine and continental). At each test location were two sub groups of 12 colonies headed by naturally mated sister queens from either the Institute of Apiculture Lunz am See, Austria (AT) or from the Faculty of Agriculture University of Zagreb, Croatia (HR). Colony development was monitored every 14 days. The HR genotype, adapted to a continental climate, had faster spring brood development in both environments. During spring and early summer the AT genotype maintained the number of sealed brood cells at a constant level in the more favourable conditions, although the amount of unsealed brood reached its maximum in early June. The environment influenced colony development, food stores and colony strength. Interaction between genotype and environment did not affect the number of unsealed brood cells, but the difference was statistically significant for the number of sealed brood cells. The study indicated the presence of a number of genotype and environment interactions between the two honey bee genotypes and their colony traits.
Canine distemper is a contagious, potentially lethal disease of mainly domestic and wild canids, but also of many other mammalian species including large felids. In February 2004, two Siberian tiger ...(
Panthera tigris altaica
) cubs at the age of six months died at the Zagreb ZOO. The animals were presented for necropsy with two days history of severe digestive disorders, characterized mainly by haemathemesis. Dissections revealed catarrhal to pseudomembranous gastroenteritis (depending on the animal) accompanied with haemorrhagic oedema of the lungs. Necrotic tonsillitis and disseminated depletion of the lymphocytes were the most prominent histological findings in both examined animals, while intranuclear and intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies were found in the samples of the tongues and intestines. Representative portions of the livers, intestines, tonsils and lymph nodes were submitted for bacteriological and mycological analysis. The presence of
Clostridium
spp.,
Campylobacter coli
and
Escherichia coli
was detected in gut samples, coli-like bacteria were found in samples of liver, tonsils and lymph nodes, while
Candida
sp. was found in the gut and pharynx samples. Toxicological analysis excluded anticoagulant and organophosphorous intoxication as the cause of death. Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for canine distemper virus. Based on all this, epizootiological, clinical and additional findings, canine distemper was recognized as the cause of the observed condition in these animals.
Anaplazmoza je vektorski prenosiva zoonoza koja ima javnozdravstveno značenje i koja se svrstava u skupinu emergentnih bolesti. Prouzročena je vrstom Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a prenosi se preko ...krpelja. Dokazana je u 39 zemalja svijeta kao i u Hrvatskoj te je uz babeziozu najprisutnija bolest koju prenose krpelji, a izaziva i velike ekonomske gubitke. Utvrđena zemljopisna rasprostranjenost A. phagocytophilum obuhvaća Ameriku, Europu, Afriku i Aziju. Međutim, oboljenja ljudi uglavnom se javljaju u Sjevernoj Americi, dok se u Europi i Aziji rijetko prijavljuju. Epidemiološke studije u Europi sugeriraju povećani profesionalni rizik od infekcije za radnike u šumarstvu, lovce, veterinare i poljoprivrednike koji imaju povijest uboda krpelja, a žive u endemskim područjima. Zbog toga anaplazmoza predstavlja javnozdravstveni problem. Iako je ukupna genetska raznolikost A. phagocytophilum u Europi veća nego u SAD-u, sojevi odgovorni za infekciju ljudi srodni su na oba kontinenta. Genetska varijabilnost i procjena razlike patogenosti i infektivnosti između sojeva za različite domaćine do danas nisu dovoljno istraženi. Međutim, iako je broj radova koji opisuju genetsku varijabilnost anaplazme sve veći, još uvijek je nedovoljno podataka za razumijevanje geografske distribucije i prijemljivosti domaćina na pojedine sojeve, a nedovoljno je istražena i povezanost patogenosti i infektivnosti sojeva za različite vrste domaćina. U Hrvatskoj postoji veći broj radova koji se bave istraživanjima bolesti koje se prenose vektorima i uglavnom usmjerena na istraživanja domaćih životinja, poglavito pasa, dok je populacija divljih životinja, uključujući divlje kanide, još uvijek nedovoljno istražena. Radi toga su potrebne daljnje studije da bi se utvrdila prevalencija i distribucija A. phagocytophilum kao vektorski prenosivog uzročnika u divljih kanida i njihovih ektoparazita.
Od početka svjetske gospodarske recesije 2008. godine pa i uoči nje, praćene su promjene gospodarskih pokazatelja u veterinarskim stanicama i ambulantama. Neki autori su u nekoliko navrata pisali o ...potencijalnim uzrocima i posljedicama krize na poslovanje veterinarskih organizacija. U žarištu interesa bilo je više pokazatelja od kojih su tri praćena u ovom istraživanju. To su: prosječna neto plaća, broj zaposlenih i ukupni prihod. Oni su prikazani za razdoblje od 2003. do 2017. godine. Radi stjecanja jasnijeg uvida u okolnosti u kojima su poslovale, našu smo pažnju proširili i na općenitije pokazatelje gospodarske aktivnosti na razini ukupnog gospodarstva (bruto domaći proizvod, jav- ni dug, zaposlenost, broj i dobna struktura stanovništva, uvoz i izvoz) i poljoprivrede kao bitne odrednice aktivnosti veterinarskih organizacija. Naime, rezultati istraživanja pojedinih autora pokazuju da je recesija više naštetila veterinarstvu negoli ukupnom gospodarstvu pa smo željeli u široj ekonomskoj slici uočiti naznake buduće gospodarske stvarnosti i upozoriti na njih. S obzirom na to da su gospodarski trendovi potaknuti i vođeni potrebama ljudi, demografski podatci mogu pomoći pri otkrivanju makro i mikro trendova. Zato smo u promatranje uključili i demografske pokazatelje. Ukupni prihod i broj zaposlenih u veterinarskim stanicama smanjivali su se, dok su plaće lagano rasle do 2008. a zatim stagnirale. U veteri- narskim ambulantama, za razliku od stanica, svi pokazatelji su rasli, no u godinama nakon početka recesije plaće su uglavnom stagnirale ili lagano padale. U 2017. godini zabilježen je lagani porast neto plaća i u veterinarskim stanicama i u veterinarskim ambulantama. Zabilježene promjene u kretanju poljoprivrednih i općih demografskih i gospodarskih trendova poput: bitnog smanjenja broja reproduktivnih životinja i proizvodnje mlijeka i jaja, starenja ljudske populacije i smanjenja nataliteta, stalno rastućeg uvoza hrane i pića i uvoza općenito te uočena jaka korelacija između duga i broja stanovnika, i rastući pritisak na novo zaduživanje upućuju na izvjesnu daljnju stagnaciju ili smanjivanje gospodarskih aktivnosti veterinarskih organizacija. Porast proizvodnje bio je najizraženiji u broju košnica i proizvonji meda, u uzgoju ovaca i konja te tovu pilića. Evidentno je da su se najviše smanjivale one stočarske proivodnje koje zahtijevaju više vještine, potrošenog vremena i intenzivnijeg rada, dok su porasle one koje traže manje rada i jednostavnije postupke. Struktura proizvodnje prilagođavala se potrebama i mogućnostima koje proizlaze iz strurkture radne snage.
PDF
