This paper is an analysis of complex crisis management and the importance of resilience on the example of co-occurring disasters. A resilience framework model was analyzed based on epidemiologic data ...and the interplay of several disasters; the COVID-19 pandemic and two 2020 Zagreb, Croatia earthquakes. A dose-response principle may be applied to a complex crisis scenario, within a resilience-vulnerability framework. The available data present the concept of balance between vulnerability and resilience of the population affected by complex crises as well as possible adaptation mechanisms. Multiple disasters that last for a prolonged period reduce the populations’ resilience and increase the risk of the next crisis becoming a disaster as well. Such complex disasters should not be approached by multiple risk management protocols, but rather by a single, multilayered protocol. Health policies that predict the possible effects of complex disasters on health risk management need to provide measures to maintain and promote resilience instead of collapse. These is a clear need to adopt green environmental policies, reduce socioeconomic inequality, train volunteer managers during crises, introduce timely evidence-informed policies and transfer new research and innovations in society rapidly.
•Analysis of crisis management on the example of the COVID-19 pandemic co-occurring with two earthquakes in Zagreb, Croatia.•Vulnerability and resilience offer explanations for the stimulating effects of optimal stress during crisis events.•Arndt-Schulz Law and Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome may explain complex disasters dynamics.•Balance between vulnerability and resilience affected by complex crises may be influenced with comprehensive health policy.
Xerophilic species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Eurotium genera from surfaces of dry-cured traditional meat products (TMPs) can cause mycotoxin contamination during uncontrolled household ...processing. The aim of this study was to investigate into surface moulds growing on Croatian prosciuttos and fermented sausages produced in different climate regions using different technologies (n = 160), and to relate the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) to their presence. The results revealed the Penicillium (79%) to be the dominating contaminating mould, while Aspergillus (11%), Eurotium (7%) and Mucor (4%) species were present in a significantly lower number of isolates, with higher prevalence and greater diversity in prosciuttos than in sausages, relative of the production technology and regional climate. OTA contamination (14% of samples) was significantly more frequent than that with AFB1 (8% of samples), with OTA concentration rising to the maximal 6.86 μg/kg, whereas AFB1 concentrations were slightly higher than, or around, the limit of quantification of the method in use, with the maximal value of 1.92 μg/kg. The presence of AFB1 in absence of toxicogenic moulds, observed in some samples, can be attributed to contaminated spices used in TMP production or an indirect contamination via a carry-over effect.
•Higher percentages of mould isolates were found in prosciuttos than in sausages;•Penicillium represents the dominant contaminating mould genus;•Production technology and climatic conditions affect mould overgrowth;•AFB1 concentrations were lower than, or around, the LOD of the method in use;•Significantly higher levels of OTA were determined.
As one of the most interactive economic activities, tourism has improved significantly since the Internet allowed customers (travelers) to look for and create their trips without the need to go to a ...travel agency. Through the development of Internet marketing, tourists are able to receive information in real-time and view them on the screens of their devices (computers, laptops, mobile phones or tablets), and consequently they can create their own content and share it with others. Due to this development, we are witnessing a new phenomenon, so-called app capitalism, in which companies like Uber and Airbnb make money on services and goods they do not own and finding new business models in the tourism sector which enable customer-to-customer models. To be able to respond to these changes, the tourism industry needs to bring together knowledge, money, and technology for the purpose of creating new business models. The development of technology in all social spheres, including tourism, has provided a strong tool for consumers in terms of both acquiring and disclosing information to others. One of the rapidly growing technologies which is also one of the cutting-edge technologies entering tourism is blockchain. Blockchain technology captured worldwide attention in 2017 and its implementation has been revolutionizing various industries (e.g., retail, healthcare, tourism). The aim of this paper is to analyze the potential of the tourism industry in terms of blockchain implementation. Blockchain technology provides significant benefits to the tourism industry since its implementation can help increase competitive advantage, improve customer satisfaction and enhance performance. In this paper, the authors present the current situation in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia regarding the use of blockchain technology in the tourism industry. The main findings of this paper comprise the detection of key areas regarding why blockchain technology is not implemented in the tourist industry, and what processes should be handled. By presenting a case study of the implementation of blockchain technology in tourism, the authors analyze the potential of using blockchain technology in the tourism industry and discuss topics for further research.
The purpose of this study was to explore the receptiveness of Croatian local governmental officials in adopting a council-manager reform model of governance, given the low administrative and fiscal ...capacities of many Croatian cities. We surveyed all 128 cities in Croatia with a response rate of 48% (n = 61). Sixty-two percent of top administrators were skeptical that this reform model was feasible. Our data suggest a desire of city administrators for shielding administrative functions from political ones as half of all respondents felt political pressure in budgeting and personnel issues. This was amplified through the qualitative data where respondents cited political parties’ control in city administration and interference in administrative functions. Chief obstacles to implementing reform components focused on concerns about the political influence of politicians.
The use of metaphors often characterizes contemporary public discourses on various issues. By the same token, metaphors have been used extensively in the discourse on the COVID-19 pandemic. This ...paper examines the WAR metaphor as a framing and rhetorical device with distinct persuasive potency within the Croatian sociocultural context. The analysis shows that militaristic metaphors were omnipresent in the Croatian public discourse at the beginning of the pandemic. Their dual role, explanatory and persuasive, was instrumental in convincing the public to understand the pandemic and accept the restrictive mandates put in place.
Metafore se često upotrebljavaju u suvremenim javnim diskursima o različitim temama, pa tako i u diskursu o pandemiji virusa COVID-19. Prema rezultatima dosadašnjih istraživanja (Bates 2020, Semino 2021, Wicke and Bolognesi 2020), u javnom diskursuo pandemiji koronavirusa najbrojnije su ratne metafore, koje su tema ovog rada. U radu su prikupljeni metaforički jezični izrazi iz izvorišne domene rata korišteni u dnevnim novinama za vrijeme prvog vala pandemije te je analiziran njihov retorički persuazivni potencijal u hrvatskom sociokulturnom kontekstu. Kvalitativna analiza korpusa temelji se na Charteris-Blackovom (2011) trodijelnom pristupu koji obuhvaća identifikaciju, interpretaciju i objašnjenje metafora. Cilj je utvrditi koji su se metaforički jezični izričaji iz domene rata koristili u hrvatskom javnom diskursu o pandemiji te objasniti zašto su se koristili i na koji način su oblikovali percepciju javnosti. Rezultati analize potvrdili su sveprisutnost ratnih metafora u hrvatskom javnom diskursu na početku pandemije koronavirusa. Njihova dvostruka uloga, kao sredstva za tumačenje i uvjeravanje, bila je ključna u oblikovanju mišljenja javnosti o pandemiji i prihvaćanju nametnutih restriktivnih mjera.
We analyze atmospheric conditions conducive for a meteotsunami event that occurred in the Adriatic on 25 June 2014. This was the most intensive of a series of meteotsunami events which occurred in ...the Mediterranean and Black Seas during 23–27 June 2014 period. Considerable sea-level oscillations were observed in several eastern Adriatic harbors with a maximum wave height of around 3 m and period of approximately 20 min observed in Vela Luka harbor, Korčula Island, Croatia. Observational analysis of the event utilizes available in situ and remote sensing measurements. For a more detailed insight into the structure of the atmosphere we reproduced the event with the WRF model configured at a sub-kilometer grid spacing. Observational and simulated data both demonstrate that sea-level oscillations in Vela Luka harbor were caused by rapid air–pressure perturbations with amplitudes of up to 4 hPa and a maximal rate of air pressure change above 2 hPa/5 min. Around the time pressure perturbations affected the area, pressure distribution was affected by both convection and internal gravity waves, with both wave-CISK and wave duct promoting maintenance of pressure perturbations. This makes the 2014 Adriatic event the first known meteotsunami event in the Mediterranean and Black Seas during which both of these maintenance mechanisms acted jointly. Finally, simulations performed in this event represented meteotsunami-related pressure perturbations at the adequate time and location, which is a step forward in the ability of atmospheric models to assist early warning meteotsunami systems for the Mediterranean and the Black Seas.
Background
Adverse reactions to warfarin may be serious and can lead to hospitalisation or death. Minimising the risk of adverse drug reactions through the intervention of community pharmacists is ...important for patients receiving warfarin, especially for elderly (≥ 65 years) patients living in rural areas.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of an intervention by community pharmacists on the risk of adverse drug reactions in elderly rural patients receiving warfarin. Setting: A community pharmacy in a rural area of Croatia.
Method
We conducted a prospective randomised trial. Eligible patients were recruited at the pharmacy and randomised into one of two groups. The participants were followed up every month for 6 months. Main outcome measure: The incidence and type of adverse drug reactions caused by warfarin and the time-to-event.
Results
In total, 140 patients were randomized and 131 patients completed the study; 65 patients were in the intervention group. The median age of patients was 73 years of age. The cumulative incidence of adverse drug reactions was significantly lower in the intervention group (6-months rate 29% vs. 85% for intervention and control, respectively; hazard ratio = 0.17,
p
< 0.001) than in the control group. Factors multivariately associated with the development of adverse drug reactions related to warfarin (
p
< 0.05) were the absence of pharmaceutical intervention, higher time in therapeutic range, change of warfarin dose, changes in dietary vitamin K intake, and marital status other than married.
Conclusion
Overall, the pharmacist’s intervention significantly prolonged the time to occurrence of adverse drug reactions and reduced their incidence.
The purpose of this study is to identify data from the financial reportsof NGOs that influence donors’ willingness to donate. Using logistic regression,the authors attempt to identify the accounting ...measures associatedwith donations among the NGOs in our sample. The study included a sampleof 2,981 NGOs in Croatia that use a double-entry accounting system. Theresults show that several accounting variables have an impact on donations,including organizational size, volunteer staff, revenue concentration,government grants, business-like income, debt ratio and adequacy of equity.The study has some limitations. First, the sample covered mainly largeCroatian NGOs. Second, by design, the focus was on a broad sample whichincludes different types of organizations, so there is the possibility that theeffects of organizational and financial characteristics on donations are notequal across the sample of different types of organizations. This study helpsto fill the gap in the literature on this topic by examining the relationshipbetween information from NGOs financial reports and giving behaviour. This study also presents new empirical findings from a large sample studyfrom Croatia with a different institutional background. Research results providenew insights into how financial disclosure can meet the needs of donors.
Ovaj članak istražuje reakcije ulagača na objavu tromjesečne dobiti za kompanijesa Zagrebačke burze. Empirijsko istraživanje temeljeno na studiji događajai 409 opservacija potvrđuje da investitori reagiraju na objavu tromjesečne dobiti,dok Friedmanov test ukazuje da su reakcije najčešće na objave dobiti iz drugogtromjesečja (Q2). Pojava abnormalnih standardiziranih povrata na dan objave sugerirada hipoteza efikasnih tržišta u polujakom obliku ne vrijedi za hrvatsko tržištekapitala. Štoviše, postoje dokazi o postupnoj prilagodbi cijena dionica nakondana objave dobiti. Longitudinalna analiza za razdoblje 2010-2022. pokazala jeda su reakcije ulagača stabilne te da nema trenda rasta ili pada standardiziranihabnormalnih povrata. Ocijenjeni regresijski model otkrio je da nekoliko karakteristikakompanije utječe na informacijski sadržaj tromjesečne dobiti. Varijablaiznenađenja dobiti pozitivno utječe na standardizirane abnormalne povrate, dokvarijable veličina kompanije i objava gubitka negativno utječu na standardiziraneabnormalne povrate. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju regulatorima tržišta kapitalapraktične koristi od tromjesečnog financijskog izvještavanja, listanim kompanijamada mogu koristiti tromjesečne financijske izvještaje za smanjenje informacijskeasimetrije, a ulagačima da nakon objave tromjesečne dobiti postoji mogućnostostvarenja abnormalnih povrata. Ograničenje ovog istraživanja je relativno maliuzorak u usporedbi sa sličnim istraživanjima. Nalazi o sporoj prilagodbi cijenadionica nakon dana objave dobiti mogu biti dovedeni u pitanje zbog objave drugihcjenovno osjetljivih informacija. Neka buduća istraživanja mogla bi poboljšatinalaze korištenjem dodatnih nezavisnih varijabli, kao što su analize menadžmentai predviđanja analitičara, što bi moglo baciti novo svjetlo na sadržaj tromjesečnedobiti na Zagrebačkoj burzi.
This numerical work aims to better understand the behavior of extreme Adriatic Sea wave storms under projected climate change. In this spirit, 36 characteristic events—22 bora and 14 sirocco storms ...occurring between 1979 and 2019, were selected and ran in evaluation mode in order to estimate the skill of the kilometer-scale Adriatic Sea and Coast (AdriSC) modelling suite used in this study and to provide baseline conditions for the climate change impact. The pseudo-global warming (PGW) methodology—which imposes an additional climatological change to the forcing used in the evaluation simulations, was implemented, for the very first time, for a coupled ocean–wave–atmosphere model and used to assess the behavior of the selected storms under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5 greenhouse gas projections. The findings of this experiment are that, on the one hand, the AdriSC model is found capable of reproducing both the Adriatic waves associated with the 36 storms and the northern Adriatic surges occurring during the sirocco events and, on the other hand, the significant wave heights and peak periods are likely to decrease during all future extreme events but most particularly during bora storms. The northern Adriatic storm surges are in consequence also likely to decrease during sirocco events. As it was previously demonstrated that the Adriatic extreme wind-wave events are likely to be less intense in a future warmer climate, this study also proved the validity of applying the PGW methodology to coupled ocean–wave–atmosphere models at the coastal and nearshore scales.
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