Dubrovnik International University

Given Croatia's high and rising prevalence of arterial hypertension, we aimed to investigate the population-level determinants of hypertension. Out of 2049 individuals recruited in the EHUH 2 study (random sample), in this analysis, we included 864 individuals (men 34.5%) who provided valid 24-h urine samples. Data on demographics, lifestyle, clinical and laboratory parameters were collected. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure at least 140/90 mm Hg or antihypertensive use. Key determinants of hypertension included male sex [odds ratio (OR) 2.27], salt intake more than 5 g/day (OR 2.46), presence of diabetes (OR 1.95), residence in rural areas (OR 1.63) and a high sodium-to-potassium ratio (OR 1.24). Current smokers had fewer odds than nonsmokers (OR 0.55). When estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) was added, model 2 became stronger ( R2 = 0.455), and each increase of 1 m/s of ePWV increased odd for hypertension by 3.73. The higher prevalence of hypertension observed in rural areas was linked to low socioeconomic status, obesity and high sodium/potassium ratio. Ex-smokers had a higher risk obviously because they replaced one poor habit with another one. Based on our results, we can recommend in low-medium-income countries like Croatia tailor screening programs for hypertension not only for individuals with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or obesity but also for those with low socioeconomic status and rural residents. We can suggest that two low-cost methods, sodium-to-potassium ratio and ePWV, become a regular routine part of these screening programs. In smoking cessation programs, smokers should be educated how to quit smoking, but also how to live healthier.

Impulzivna kupnja detaljno je proučavano područje potrošačke psihologije jer u sebi objedinjuje emocionalne, kognitivne i socijalne aspekte ponašanja potrošača. Riječ je o spontanoj odluci o kupnji proizvoda ili usluge koja nije rezultat prethodnog planiranja, već je uglavnom potaknuta trenutačnim emocionalnim podražajem umjesto racionalnom procjenom potreba i koristi. Takvo ponašanje ima značajne implikacije na pojedinačnoj i društvenoj razini s obzirom na to da može utjecati na financijsku stabilnost potrošača, oblikovanje obrazaca potrošnje u gospodarstvu te razvoj marketinških strategija.

Organizational climate (OC) impacts and shapes employees’ performance, motivation, and job satisfaction (JS). This satisfaction stems from specific elements that affect the quality of an individual’s work life. The connection between OC and JS is intricate as it relates to every employee’s experience and its understanding. Numerous scientific studies indicate that the leadership style of managers plays a key role in creating JS. This paper examines the ways in which various dimensions of organizational culture (OC) relate to employee job satisfaction (JS) in Croatian companies, based on the primary hypothesis and five supplementary hypotheses. The initial section of the questionnaire pertains to a series of statements connected to the OC. Satisfaction served as a dependent variable, whereas the independent variables represented the five dimensions of the OC: “internal communication,” “enterprise structure,” “enterprise policy,” “employee’s advancement opportunities,” and “regard for employees’ personal interests”. An empirical study was carried out on a random selection of 100 employees from medium and large companies. The findings indicate that the relationship between OC and JS is mainly reflected in the “internal communication” aspect. Thus, enhancing “internal communication” is significantly linked to boosting employee JS in the chosen companies. No meaningful correlation was observed in the other four dimensions. The respondents highly rated their JS and the influence of their superior leaders on the chosen five dimensions. Due to the lack of sufficient empirical studies of this nature in Croatia and the surrounding region, the value of this work lies in its findings that are beneficial both to researchers and professionals. They can improve the design and execution of difficult changes to ensure a positive OC and JS. A relatively small size of the respondent sample and the demographic imbalance further restricted the general validity of the conclusions. In upcoming studies, the authors may explore additional statistical tests and further examine the connections between various forms of OC and specific industries and business operations.

Economic growth rests on human capital, along with natural resources, technological innovation and capital, which points to a strong interdependence between the quality of effective management and production inputs. Energy efficiency is an effective instrument for achieving competitiveness and economic growth. While renewable energy in the energy mix can reduce import dependence and energy supply uncertainty, as well as help decarbonize industry, exploiting synergies between energy and industrial policies will be key for achieving competitiveness. This scientific paper explores modalities for improving the management of energy efficiency measures through an analysis of the interdependence of selected variables and their impact on the observed output variables, energy efficiency and energy productivity. A new approach indicates the variables that should be considered when choosing the direction for Croatia’s faster transition and economic prosperity. The selected variables tend to be nonlinear, so fuzzy logic is used to reduce uncertainty in decision-making in the presence of such nonlinearities. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was deployed for the new approach in connecting such variables and yielding better modelling results. Additionally, expert knowledge was introduced through a survey of Croatian entrepreneurs, for validation purposes. The analysis of the interdependence of variables provides valuable insight for future interventions, and in EU member states, indicates the need for a different model of effective governance. In this context, an improved, optimal model is constructed, which can, if applied, help Croatia achieve faster economic growth.

U radu se istražuju stavovi odraslih polaznika o etičkim aspektima korištenja umjetne inteligencije (AI) u obrazovnim sustavima. Razvoj i integracija AI tehnologija u obrazovanje otvaraju mnogobrojna pitanja vezana uz privatnost, pristranost, transparentnost i odgovornost, što su ključna etička pitanja u suvremenom obrazovanju. Primjenom kombinacije kvantitativnih i kvalitativnih metoda istraživanja, prikupljeni su podaci od odraslih polaznika različitih obrazovnih programa kako bi se istražile njihove percepcije i zabrinutosti vezane uz uporabu AI-a u obrazovnim sustavima. Rezultati pokazuju da polaznici imaju različite stavove prema primjeni AI-a, pri čemu istovremeno prepoznaju potencijalne prednosti u personalizaciji i poboljšanju kvalitete obrazovanja, ali također izražavaju zabrinutost zbog mogućih negativnih implikacija na privatnost i etičke standarde. Ovaj rad pridonosi boljem razumijevanju kompleksnosti etičkih pitanja u obrazovanju odraslih, posebno u kontekstu sve prisutnije uloge umjetne inteligencije.

The paper provides a literature review in the form of 52 papers, 12 different databases, and 165 different institutional variables, which can be a useful first step for future authors in exploring the phenomenon of formal institutions. Considering the complexity of the concept and differenc es that exist between formal and informal institutions, it is easiest to define formal institutions as a legislative framework managed by the government of a particular country, which can be changed and adapted in the short and medium term. The aim of this paper is to highlight the basic problems associated with defining, measuring and conducting empirical research in the field of institutional economics. In addition, possible obstacles and solutions to the problems of subjectivity, multicollinearity and endogeneity, which are often not sufficiently considered by au thors in academic research on formal institutions, are identified. Finally, an overview of basic remarks on databases enables authors to more easily select the most appropriate database for their potential future research.

Ketamin je fenciklidinski derivat (N-1-fenil-cikloheksilpiperidin-[PCP]), anestetik s disocijativnim, analgetskim i psihodeličnim svojstvima, široko korišten u humanoj i veterinarskoj medicini. U upotrebi je od 1964 godine. Zbog njegovih halucinogenih svostava 70-tih godina prošlog stoljeća započinje njegova nemedicinska upotreba kao rekreacijske droge. Ketamin primarno djeluje kao nekompetitivni agonist N-metil-D-aspartat (NMDA) receptora. Svojim djelovanjem izaziva snažnu anesteziju, sedaciju i amneziju istovremeno održavajući spontano disanje. Upotreba ketamina danas je široka, osim kao anestetik koristi se za liječenje kronične boli, te kao brzodjelujući antidepresiv. Ovaj pregledni članak ima cilj pružiti kratki prikaz svestrane upotrebe ketamina s naglaskom na njegovo korištenje u hitnim stanjima.

1 U literaturi, u povijesnoj i recentnoj prizmi, pronalaze se pojmovi koji ukljuuju sline sadraje, ali nisu ekonomske sankcije, makar se nerijetko koriste kao sinonimi.Primjerice to su pojmovi ekonomsko ratovanje (engl.economic warfare), ekonomsko oruje (engl.economic weapon), ekonomska prisila (engl.economic coer-

Organizacijska je struktura svake tvrtke jednim dijelom rezultanta trenutne situacije u okruženju. Odražava ujedno i prethodne obrasce, promjene unutarnjih okolnosti te menadžerske prosudbe o hijerarhijskim odnosima i načelima po kojima se dodjeljuju zadaci. U tom smislu, u usporedbi s krutim tradicionalnim Waterfallom, Agile metodologija omogućava diferencirani način upravljanja projektima i organizacijskim procesima. Zbog svojih načela iterativnosti, fleksibilnosti i timskog pristupa stekla je naročito učestalu primjenu u razvoju softvera. Ovaj rad analizira razloge napuštanja Waterfall pristupa i učinke novouvedene Agile metodologije rada na ključne pokazatelje uspješnosti i zadovoljstva zaposlenika u austrijskoj tehnološkoj tvrtki NativeWaves. Posebno se opisuju procesi implementacije agilnih načela u organizaciji rada i načini djelovanja fokus-grupa. Pomoću Agile metodologije ova je tvrtka bolje odgovorila na izazove dinamičnog okruženja, jasnije je definirala pojedinačnu odgovornost, poboljšala komunikaciju među organizacijskim cjelinama te izgradila kulturu kontinuiranog uvođenja inovacija. U novoj organizacijskoj strukturi iznimno je važna uloga product managera (PM) koja obuhvaća identificiranje i određivanje prioriteta među razvojnim temama, jasno postavljanje zahtjeva timu, facilitiranje rada fokus-grupa i osiguravanje stalne komunikacije i usklađenosti svih članova tima. PM osigurava agilan, učinkovit i tržišno relevantan razvoj softverskih rješenja i proizvoda. Prijelaz na Agile način rada rezultirao je značajnim poboljšanjima u organizaciji rada, kvaliteti isporučenih proizvoda i zadovoljstvu svih dionika. Potrebno vrijeme za razvoj novih ideja skraćeno je 50 %, produktivnost povećana 30 %, broj prijavljenih bugova smanjen je65 %, a zadovoljstvo zaposlenika povećano je 32 %.