Istraživanjem učinkovitosti suhih i mokrih Theysohn® naletno barijernih feromonskih klopki došlo se do novih spoznaja značajnih za monitoring populacija smrekovih potkornjaka – Ips typographus i Pityogenes chalcographus. Tijekom 2014. godine 12 mokro-suhih parova crnih Theysohn® naletno barijernih feromonskih klopki postavljeno je u dvije g. j. UŠP Gospić na različitim nadmorskim visinama. Šest parova klopki postavljeno je u g.j. Žitnik na 500 metara nadmorske visine, a preostalih šest na nadmorskoj visini od 1100 metara u g.j. Štirovača u blizini nacionalnog parka Sjeverni Velebit. Između testiranih klopki nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika broja ulovljenih potkornjaka, iako je suha feromonska klopka ulovila veći broj jedinki smrekovog pisara i šesterozubog smrekovog potkornjaka. Mokra i suha feromonska klopka pokazale su jednaku selektivnost prema predatorskoj entomofauni – Thanasimus formicarius i Nemozoma elongatum. U suhim feromonskim klopkama utvrđena je redukcija broja ulovljenih potkornjaka djelovanjem predatora. Kod vrste T. formicarius uočena je mogućnost bijega iz suhih feromonskih klopki. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja omogućuju racionalniji pristup monitoringu populacija smrekovih potkornjaka sustavom suhih i mokrih naletno barijernih Theysohn feromonskih klopki.

Purpose: Clinical experience regarding the fluctuations of the refractive error of the eye during the different stages of Graves’ ophthalmopathy observed through outpatient clinic frequent check-ups points towards an underestimated and often overlooked problem. Published data about it are sparse. The clinical manifestations of Graves’ ophthalmopathy can be understood from the perspective of “compartment syndrome” and literature implies how such changes can affect the refractive error and consequently, the visual acuity. The purpose of the study was to explore how the clinical activity score of Graves’ ophthalmopathy affects refractive error and visual acuity. Patients and Methods: The study was prospective and observational, including 60 eyes of 30 patients with clinically active Graves’ ophthalmopathy. All the patients were monitored and evaluated over a period of 36 months by the clinical activity score, spherical equivalent and visual acuity. All the observed parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: The mean values of spherical equivalent and visual acuity throughout the observed period showed continuous fluctuation. Repeated measure analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences in visual acuity and spherical equivalent over the observed period. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between visual acuity and clinical activity score. The correlation between spherical equivalent and clinical activity score was also positive but not statistically significant. Conclusion: A decrease in the clinical activity score is either the result of a spontaneously resolving course of Graves’ ophthalmopathy or a consequence of treatment, so lowering in fluctuation of refractive error and improved visual acuity may be associated with a reduction in orbital inflammation.

One of the priorities in sustainable forest management is monitoring the health status of trees and stands. From the aspect of remote sensing (RS), the best way of doing this is by interpreting color infrared (CIR) aerial photographs; however, this raises the issue of sample size. For this reason, to apply this method in practice, it is indispensable to determine an appropriate sample size to ensure sufficient reliability of the health status assessment of trees in CIR aerial photographs. This research was conducted in lowland forests of pedunculate oak in Croatia. To determine damage in the photographs of the main tree species, a systematic sample with varying dot grid densities—100 × 100 m, 200 × 200 m, 300 × 300 m, 500 × 500 m, 1000 × 1000 m—was used with combinations of different numbers of interpreted trees per sample. Damage indicators were also calculated based on tree distributions obtained by interpreting four trees, two trees and one tree in different sample sizes. The results of the testing showed that there were no statistically significant differences between different sample densities and numbers of interpreted trees in relation to mean damage assessment. Regardless of the fact that there were no statistically significant differences during damage assessment, it was found that by lowering sample densities, starting with 200 × 200 m, the number of trees and the number of sample points per particular sub-compartment significantly decreased, and so did the desired accuracy. Consequently, the participation (distribution) of particular species and damage degrees in the sample were lost, which significantly affected the overall tree health assessment. In contrast, grid densities of 100 × 100 m with one interpreted tree at the raster point proved to be the optimal sample size. This confirms the fact found in earlier research, that is, that the selected sample should have several spatially well-distributed points with a smaller number of trees in the point, and samples with larger numbers of trees in a smaller number of points should be avoided.

The purpose of this article is to present the Croatian dual career system (DC) and observe its implementation in secondary schools that provide DC special conditions and support. The participants of this study are 54 student-athletes (31 female and 23 male), who are representatives of three secondary schools that were partners in the project “Sinergy of Sports Culture, Olympic Value and DC for Young Athletes”, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the European Olympic Committee (EOC) programs (2019). Despite the mandatory flexibility in education, 55.56% athletes confirmed that they had faced the problem of balancing between school and sports commitments. The majority of athletes (57.41%) trained every day, while 33.33% athletes trained several times a day. This study confirmed that student-athletes got most help and support on DC from family (83.33%) and coaches (9.26%). Monitoring the implementation of DC special conditions and support services designed specifically for athletes could be more successful.

Crown defoliation in trees is one of the indicators of forest tree vitality, and a primary criterion for selecting trees for sanitary felling. In Croatia, the selection of trees for sanitary felling includes all dead trees and those with crown defoliation greater than 60% (defoliation class 3a); in the past, the threshold for marking trees for sanitary felling was above 80% (class 3b). The aim of this study was to analyze tree mortality in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), silver fir (Abies alba), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica), as well as crown regeneration, i.e., the reduction in defoliation. The analysis included a total of 7975 trees, comprising 1182 silver fir, 4221 European beech, and 2572 pedunculate oak trees, covering the period from 1998 to 2023. The mortality rate was 7.2% for silver fir, 2.16% for beech, and 9.6% for oak. The percentage of trees that regenerated their crowns or reduced defoliation to below 60% was 17.01% for fir, 4.33% for beech, and 12.51% for oak. Considering the proportion of silver fir and pedunculate oak trees whose defoliation decreased to below 60%, a defoliation threshold greater than 80% would be a more appropriate criterion for sanitary felling, except for European beech trees, for which there is a minimal difference between the recovery rates in classes 3a and 3b.