As climate change (CC) is recognised as one of the main threats to food and feed security and safety, each concerned and interested party is working on finding the most elegant solution. The expected impact of CC on the presence of mycotoxins in food and feed is of great concern. One of the most adaptable and applicable platforms to combat climate change on a global level is conservation agriculture (CA). In 2021, an experiment at two different locations (eastern and western Croatia) was set up with different conservation tillage treatments (as part of the three main pillars of CA). One of the main goals of this project was to determine the influence of different conservation soil tillage treatments (in comparison with conventional) on the occurrence intensity of different types of mycotoxins (maize in 2021 year). Soil and maize were analysed and mycotoxin profiles were obtained. As expected, certain regulated mycotoxins were prevalent in maize, while emerging mycotoxins, Aspergillus and Alternaria metabolites had higher occurrence and concentrations in soil. The effect of tillage treatment showed differences in the concentrations of mycotoxins in both soil and maize, where conservation soil tillage treatment showed reduced mycotoxins concentrations. Only one sample exceeded the concentrations regulated for fumonisins, while other samples had all mycotoxin levels within legal limits.

More than 50% of all gynecologic tumors can be classified as rare (defined as an incidence of ≤6 per 100, 000 women) and usually have a poor prognosis owing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. In contrast to almost all other common solid tumors, the treatment of rare gynecologic tumors (RGT) is often based on retrospective studies, expert opinion, or extrapolation from other tumor sites with similar histology, leading to difficulty in developing guidelines for clinical practice. Currently, gynecologic cancer research, due to distinct scientific and technological challenges, is lagging behind. Moreover, the overall efforts for addressing these challenges are fragmented across different European countries and indeed, worldwide. The GYNOCARE, COST Action CA18117 (European Network for Gynecological Rare Cancer Research) programme aims to address these challenges by creating a unique network between key stakeholders covering distinct domains from concept to cure: basic research on RGT, biobanking, bridging with industry, and setting up the legal and regulatory requirements for international innovative clinical trials. On this basis, members of this COST Action, (Working Group 1, “Basic and Translational Research on Rare Gynecological Cancer”) have decided to focus their future efforts on the development of new approaches to improve the diagnosis and treatment of RGT. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current state of-the-art and describe the goals of this COST Action and its future challenges with the aim to stimulate discussion and promote synergy across scientists engaged in the fight against this rare cancer worldwide.

Sterigmatocystin (STC) and 5- methoxysterigmatocystin (5-M-STC) are structurally related mycotoxins with cytotoxic and genotoxic properties. They are predominantly produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, series Versicolores. The presence of these mycotoxins was investigated in indoor environments, while the data regarding food products remains insufficient, especially for 5-M-STC. Given the high consumption of beer in Croatia and the world, the presence of STC and 5-M-STC in beer may negatively affect the health of exposed individuals. Thus, 58 different samples of beer were collected from the Croatian market, extracted by combining the QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe) extraction procedure and dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE). The prepared extracts were analysed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using silica gel 60 as a stationary phase and toulen:ethyl acetate:formic acid 90 vol. % (5:4:1) as a mobile phase. Following chromatographic separation, to enhance the detection of the fluorescent spots assigned to STC and 5-M-STC, the TLC plates were dried and heated for 10 minutes in an oven at 140 °C. Additionally, the TLC plates were sprayed with aluminium chloride solution prepared in ethanol 60 vol. %. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1.3 μg/mL for STC and 3.2 μg/mL for 5-M-STC. While STC was not detected in any of the samples, 5-M-STC was detected in 46.55% of the samples. The presence of 5-M-STC was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy following the extraction of the spot of interest from the TLC plate. Further analysis of the same extracts by application of more sensitive chromatographic techniques will allow for a more accurate interpretation of these observations, allow the detection of STC and 5-M-STC in the concentrations below the LOD, and enable us to quantify both metabolites.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques are becoming more common nowadays, due to the growing incidence of infertility. Such pregnancies are more often multiple, which carries the risk of premature birth and lower birth weight and, accordingly, a higher risk of occurrence of neurodevelop mental disorders. Aside from the before mentioned, other known risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders include chorioamnionitis, gestational diabetes, and respiratory distress. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders between two groups of children born preterm, those conceived through ART and those conceived naturally. This was a retrospective study based on the data of births collected by Croatian Institute of Public Health for the year 2018. The study included a total of 2233 children born before week 37 of gestational age, 181 of which were conceived through ART. The prevalence of pathological con ditions during pregnancy, delivery, and at birth, known as neurodevelopmental risk factors, was compared between children conceived through ART and those conceived natu rally. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to perform data analysis. Pathological conditions in pregnancy were recorded in 82.3% of children conceived by ART, compared to 58.4% of children conceived naturally (p <0.001). The most common disorders during pregnancy are twin pregnancy (2.8%), cho rioamnionitis (2.8%), and retarded fetal growth (2.8%). On the other hand, in the group of naturally conceived neonates, the most common diagnoses were retarded fetal growth (3.5%) and gestational diabetes (3.0%). It was observed that the share of children with pathological conditions was significantly higher in the group of those con ceived by ART (92.2%) compared to the second group (84.1%) of children (p = 0.003). The diagnoses that predomi nated among the ART conceived after delivery were neonatal respiratory arrest (24.9%) and low birth weight (14.9%). Additionally, the mean birth weight was significantly lower in the group of children conceived by ART (2170.77 grams), in comparison to another group (2307.68 grams, p=0.015). Nevertheless, groups of neonates did not differ significantly in postnatal mortality (p = 1.00). Newborns conceived by ART are more likely to suffer from conditions that represent risk for factors for neurodevelopmen tal disorders. Neonatal respiratory arrest especially represents the risk for the neurodevelopmental disorders. The results of this research are consistent with other published studies, further research is needed to assess other risk factors associated with ART.

Skup Zajednički temelji 2017. koncipiran je tako da sudionici prezentiraju svoja istraživanja pred kolegama, a da se njihovi radovi objave u zborniku radova. Uz prezentacije radova, koje su centralni dio skupa, organizirani su i prateći događaji: pozvana predavanja, okrugli stol na temu mobilnosti za vrijeme doktorskih studija, obilazak laboratorija fakulteta i razgledavanje Zagreba. Važno je napomenuti da na skupu od samih početaka osim mladih znanstvenika s fakulteta članova udruge kao pozvani gosti sudjeluju i kolege istraživači sa srodnih fakulteta i tvrtki iz Hrvatske, Irske, Makedonije, SAD-a, Slovenije i Srbije. Javna prezentacija i diskusija pružaju mladim znanstvenicima dodatne smjernice za odabir odgovarajuće metodologije za provedbu istraživanja. Na temelju međunarodnih iskustava sudionika koji su studirali ili provodili istraživanja na nekom od inozemnih sveučilišta izgrađena je ideja za organiziranje okrugloga stola na temu mobilnosti za vrijeme doktorskih studija, koja je zanimljiva i korisna mladim znanstvenicima kako bi prepoznali i usvojili primjere dobre prakse s ostalih sveučilišta. Posebno nas veseli veliki odziv mladih znanstvenika koji su odlučili aktivno sudjelovati na skupu pripremivši rad na temu vlastitog istraživanja. Za skup Zajednički temelji 2017. recenzirana su i u zborniku objavljena 33 rada. Važno je istaknuti da su na ovogodišnjem skupu po prvi puta objavljeni cjeloviti radovi. Također, svi su radovi prošli sustav recenzija koje su proveli mladi doktori znanosti, djelatnici fakulteta okupljenih u Udrugu. Na taj su se način sudionici, neki možda i po prvi put, susreli sa sustavom recenzije radova kakvu mogu očekivati prilikom objavljivanja radova na međunarodnim skupovima i u znanstvenim časopisima. Recenzija je dakako rezultirala i većom kvalitetom sadržaja radova. Osim postupka recenzije radova, svakom je radu u zborniku, također po prvi put na skupu Zajednički temelji, dodijeljen i DOI (eng. Digital Object Identifier) broj koji jednoznačno identificira publikaciju i objavljeni rad te jamči postojanu internetsku lokaciju na kojoj se rad nalazi, njegovu dostupnost i pretraživost u svakom trenutku te točnost metapodataka. Svaki rad ima dvojezični naslov, sažetak i ključne riječi, što će se, vjerujemo, pozitivno odraziti na povećanje vidljivosti predstavljenih istraživanja mladih znanstvenika. Zbornik radova Zajednički temelji 2017. obuhvaća radove iz širokoga područja građevinarstva i srodnih struka koji su svrstani u poglavlja: Upravljanje projektima i zakonska regulativa ; Prometnice ; Hidrotehnika ; Primijenjena matematika ; Materijali ; Betonske i zidane konstrukcije ; Geotehnika ; Čelične konstrukcije ; Potresno inženjerstvo ; Arhitektura ; Mobilnost za vrijeme doktorskih studija.

In 2014 a CROWN (Croatia, Workability, Nurses) study was conducted among Croatian nurses employed in clinical hospitals to determine general health status, physical and psychosocial health of nurses, prevalence and distribution of hand eczema and musculoskeletal symptoms, and their influence on daily functioning. We present the data for musculoskeletal complaints and daily functioning for nurses employed in child and adult care. A Nordic standardised questionnaire for evaluation of musculoskeletal complaints accompanied with Lickert scale for self- evaluation of complaints and a Disability of arm, shoulder and hands (DASH) questionnaire for daily functioning, were used for this part of research in 115 nurses from three large clinical hospitals for children and two large clinical centres for adults. In both groups, the analysis of musculoskeletal pain (sites, frequency) and daily functioning were compared to the duration of work experience, the number of patients, patients’ weight and nurses’ general health. The prevalence rate of musculoskeletal complaints among our cohorts of nurses was 95% in childcare, and 98, 6% in adult care. Lower back pain and neck pain were the most frequent complaints in both groups. The lower back pain had the strongest influence on daily functioning. The prevalence rate for musculoskeletal complaints in this study was very high, higher than reported in similar other studies. That has confirmed the great need for analysing reasons for such a high prevalence of complaints and taking actions which will reduce their contributing factors and influence on daily functioning. Although the nurses are highly aware of this problem, a need exists for formal training in ergonomics, maintenance of adequate posture, and taking micro-breaks in reducing WRMDs.

Mechanical vibrations occur in the operation of most technical systems. High-level vibrations could indicate an overloaded or damaged technical system. These states and behaviours can be monitored or reported, and ambient vibrations may, in turn, be used as a source of energy. The vibrational energy harvesters used in this framework could be an alternative to the supply of low-power autonomous electronic systems for the remote sensing of operations. However, the level of energy harvested using such an approach is usually very low, and the whole concept of vibration energy harvesting system operations (including power management electronics and wireless sensors) must be adapted for specific target applications. This Special Issue, through twelve diverse contributions, intends to present some of the contemporary challenges, solutions and insights around the outlined issues and provides an overview of this rapidly evolving topic. The papers collected in this SI cover a variety of energy harvesting sources, as well as the need to create bases of numerical and experimental evidence around them. Qualifying and quantifying their performances in terms of energy harvesting levels, as well as their consistency and potential applications, are all reflected in these papers. The fundamental importance of understanding sensors, along with their possible integration within their respective application areas, including those related to the effective communication of measurement data, are also emphasized throughout this Special Issue.

As a region with rich cultural heritage and maritime beauty, Majene required efforts and community involvement to maximize its tourism potential. This included the enhancement and training of English language skills among the community and its human resources for the dissemination of information and to attract international tourists. This study aimed to assess the impact of using technologies such as AI (Fully Fluent) and social media (Instagram) in developing English-speaking skills for tourism at Universitas Sulawesi Barat. This research was a descriptive quantitative study, in which a Likert scale questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was administered to 25 English Education students at Universitas Sulawesi Barat. The findings revealed that the average mean score obtained from the questionnaire was 3.408, which falls under the 'very high' category. Among the TAM components, 'Perceived Ease of Use' had the highest mean score, followed by 'Perceived Usefulness,' 'Behavioral Intention to Use,' and 'Attitude toward Use,' all of which were categorized as 'very high,' while 'Actual System Use' ranked last in the 'high' category. These results indicated that the use of AI and social media was perceived as having a very positive impact on the students of Universitas Sulawesi Barat, particularly in terms of the ease and effectiveness which implied that it is applicable for English speaking practice for specific purpose included tourism. Contribution : this study can serve as a relevant reference and guide in the field of English education, particularly in the area of English for specific purposes, with a focus on speaking skills.

Pandalus borealis, commonly found in the cold North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, has been observed to exhibit seasonal discoloration of the cephalothorax. This study investigates whether this discoloration correlates with cadmium bioaccumulation, a heavy metal pollutant introduced into marine environments through both natural and anthropogenic sources. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), cadmium concentrations were measured in 62 composite shrimp samples (31 pink-headed and 31 discolored). Concentrations in pink samples ranged from 2.484 to 10.895 mg/kg (relative standard deviation 30%), while discolored samples ranged from 2.405 to 6.901 mg/kg (RSD 20%). Normality tests (p = 0.073 for pink, p = 0.088 for discolored) indicated non-normal data distribution, prompting the use of the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in cadmium concentrations between the two groups (p = 0.3983). These results indicate that cadmium bioaccumulation is not a primary contributor to cephalothorax discoloration in P. borealis. Given the overlapping concentration ranges and high variability, further research is recommended to investigate other contributing factors such as additional trace metals, microbial infections, age, and exposure duration. The study implies the need for a multifactorial approach to understanding discoloration and potential food safety risks in marine species.

A series of experiments was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of enriching maize meal with nicotinic acid and riboflavin. First the necessary level of enrichment was established and then the efficacy of such enrichment of maize was tested in the field on children and young adults. This report deals with the results of an experiment designed to establish whether such an enrichment scheme would have any detrimental effects on young growing children with marginal protein calorie malnutrition. As in the previous experiments, a marked improvement in the nicotinic acid and riboflavin status was found in the experimental group. These biochemical findings were in conformity with the improvement in clinical status found. Moreover, such enrichment did not have any noticeable adverse effects. The hypothesis that vitamin enrichment could cause growth stimulation, and thus aggravate an existing marginal protein deficiency state, could not in any way be substantiated. The enrichment of maize meal with riboflavin and nicotinic acid during milling has been shown conclusively to be highly effective in improving the vitamin nutritional status while at the same time not harming the protein nutritional status of young children. Since tho:! previous experiments proved it to be economically and technologically feasible, it is now strongly r::commended that such an enrichment scheme be introduced on a national basis with the least possible delay.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1641 (1974)