Search Results (8,063)

Introduction/Objectives: Patient-centered communication is essential in oncology care, where healthcare professionals often manage emotionally demanding conversations, uncertainty, complex decisions, and patient involvement in care. However, the relationship between communication knowledge, empathic listening, and practical communication skills remains insufficiently examined. This study aimed to examine the associations between communication knowledge, empathic listening, and interpersonal communication skills among healthcare professionals involved in oncology care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Croatia from May to November 2025 on a convenience sample of 138 healthcare professionals involved in oncology care. Communication knowledge was assessed using a study-specific questionnaire, empathic listening using an adapted Active Empathic Listening Scale, and interpersonal communication skills using an adapted Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory. Because the instruments were adapted to the oncology care context, their dimensions were examined using exploratory factor analysis and interpreted as sample-specific exploratory constructs. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Clear message delivery and assertiveness had the highest self-reported score, whereas emotional interaction management had the lowest. Communication knowledge was not an independent predictor of communication skills dimensions. Processing and responding positively predicted clear message delivery and assertiveness (β = 0.361; p = 0.001; R² = 13.4%), while noticing emotional and nonverbal cues negatively predicted emotional interaction management (β = −0.234; p = 0.032; R² = 7.6%). The explained variance of the models was low. Conclusions: The findings suggest limited but potentially relevant associations between selected dimensions of empathic listening and self-reported communication skills in oncology care. Communication knowledge, measured using a study-specific exploratory instrument, was not independently associated with communication skills. Because of the exploratory design, self-report measures, adapted instruments, and convenience sampling, the results should be interpreted with caution. Full article

Egon Steinmann’s industrial architecture represents a significant yet insufficiently researched contribution to the development of post-war industrial architecture in Croatia. This paper examines his industrial projects designed between 1947 and 1965 within the context of post-war industrialization and modernization in socialist Yugoslavia. Based on archival documents, historical photographs, field observations, and comparative analysis, the paper first identifies Steinmann’s broader industrial work and then examines six selected industrial complexes in Zagreb. The case studies are compared in terms of their urban context, spatial organization, structural systems, production logistics, daylighting strategies, and architectural expression, highlighting differences between heavy industrial facilities and food-processing plants. A comparison of historical and contemporary orthophotos is further used to evaluate the long-term spatial transformation and adaptability of these industrial sites. The findings demonstrate that Steinmann’s designs were characterized by rational planning, large-span and flexible structures, integration of technological and transport requirements, and the capacity for phased expansion. The continued industrial use and preservation of many of these complexes confirm the lasting value of his architectural and planning concepts, contributing to a broader understanding of Croatian industrial architecture and socialist industrial modernism of the 1950s and 1960s. Full article

Wildfires increasingly contribute to urban particulate matter (PM) exposure, particularly fine particles (PM_2.5), through atmospheric transport processes influenced by meteorological conditions and terrain complexity. This study investigated wildfire impacts on PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in Split, Solin, and Kaštela (Croatia) using a terrain-aware wildfire transport framework combined with statistical and machine learning (ML) approaches. Daily PM observations (2016–2024) from three air quality monitoring stations were integrated with meteorological data from six stations, wildfire polygons, and a digital elevation model (DEM). A wildfire influence index accounting for fire size, transport distance, wind conditions, and terrain-modified airflow was evaluated using Ordinary Least Squares (OLSs) regression, Random Forest (RF) modelling, and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis. Results showed stronger wildfire-related effects for PM_2.5 than for PM₁₀, while meteorological variables remained the dominant predictors of PM variability. RF models improved predictive performance relative to OLS, achieving $R^2$ = 0.474 for PM_2.5 and $R^2$ = 0.416 for PM₁₀. SHAP analysis identified precipitation, temperature, and lagged wildfire transport variables as important predictors. A total of 84 wildfire events were classified as effective wildfires, with most measurable impacts occurring within approximately 30–70 km of monitoring stations, indicating that wildfire impacts on urban air quality in Mediterranean coastal environments are strongly mediated by atmospheric transport and meteorological conditions. The proposed framework demonstrates the potential of explainable and geospatially informed ML for environmental monitoring and wildfire-related urban air quality risk assessment. Full article

Fluoride remains the keystone of evidence-based caries prevention by stabilizing the mineral balance at the tooth–biofilm–saliva interface. Contemporary understanding emphasizes a predominantly post-eruptive, topical mode of action where fluoride inhibits demineralization and accelerates remineralization. This interfacial catalysis is reinforced by pH-responsive calcium-fluoride-like reservoirs that release fluoride during acid challenges. While community water fluoridation confers population-level reductions, the most effective approach is sustaining low-level fluoride in the biofilm environment. Evidence confirms that toothpastes with 1000–1500 ppm fluoride provide a dose–response benefit in children, while 5000 ppm concentrations are indicated for high-risk scenarios such as root caries and xerostomia. Beyond physicochemical effects, fluoride modulates the oral microbiome by inhibiting bacterial enzymes and proton pumps, shifting community function toward a health-associated state without reducing overall diversity. In restorative dentistry, glass ionomer cements offer superior preventive effects against secondary caries compared to amalgam; however, marginal integrity, adhesive performance, and clinical technique, rather than fluoride release alone, remain the primary determinants of success. Despite well-known risks associated with high systemic intake, such as fluorosis, current evidence does not indicate genotoxic or adverse microbiome effects in humans from routine topical use of standard fluoride products at recommended preventive concentrations. Overall, fluoride’s cariostatic value rests on frequent, low-level exposures that maintain tissues in a repair-favoring state. Full article

Recent transformations of utopia as a form can be followed from modernist totalizing grand narratives that depicted new socio-spatial orderings to its fragmentation, pluralization, and critical turn in the second half of the 20th century. But if we think about utopia as a critical form in our contemporary context, we often encounter it being perceived either as a pejorative term for a concept too outlandish and impossible to even be considered, or as a term used in conjunction with large-scale ideological projects which hold little regard for their socio-spatial context. Refusing to concede that utopia as a critical form has lost its relevance within the architectural discipline, the paper asks how contemporary utopian production could be identified, mapped, and interpreted after the fragmentation of modernist grand narratives. To that aim, the paper develops a three-axis analytical framework which observes contemporary forms of utopian architectural production. Viewing utopia not as a prescriptive image of an ideal future, but as a critical apparatus aimed at projection and inquiry, the framework maps utopian production according to its position between the possible and the impossible, the critical and the affirmative, and the uncovering and the projective. Building on the positions and relationships revealed through the structured three-axis framework, the paper constructs a typology of four ideal-typical protagonists: the Critical Thinker, the Speculative Designer, the Architect, and the Developer, demonstrating that contemporary utopian thought has not disappeared, but has dispersed across different forms of theory, speculative design, practice, and spatial production. Identifying through the four protagonists the potential of utopia not as a representational or prescriptive form, but rather as an operative strategy and a method of inquiry, the paper offers both a conceptual tool for analyzing architecture’s contemporary engagement with utopia as a critical method, and demonstrates how utopian thinking operates as critique, intervention, ideological projection, and a speculative scenario building within our fragmented and individualized contemporary condition. Full article

Wild boar populations are increasingly recognized as important hosts in the ecology of swine viruses, yet data from Croatia remain limited. This study aimed to establish baseline information on the presence of porcine bocavirus (PBoV) and porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) in Croatian wild boar within the framework of the national African swine fever (ASF) surveillance program. Spleen and blood samples from 184 ASF-negative wild boar collected across 11 counties were tested using real-time PCR. PCMV DNA was detected in 16 animals (8.69%), with similar detection frequencies in spleen (7.69%) and blood (9.52%). PBoV DNA was identified in seven animals (3.80%), all from spleen samples. Positive animals were distributed across several counties, but no significant associations were observed between virus detection and age, sex, or geographic origin. Coinfection with both viruses was detected in a single animal (0.05%). These findings provide the first molecular evidence of PBoV and PCMV in Croatian wild boar and indicate low-level viral circulation across multiple regions. Although both viruses are typically subclinical, their detection contributes to understanding pathogen diversity in free-living suids and establishes a foundation for future epidemiological and molecular studies in the region. Full article

The mixing layer height (MLH) is a key meteorological parameter governing the dispersion and accumulation of air pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer. Over the Zagreb urban area, low MLH values are associated with stable atmospheric conditions and temperature inversions that inhibit vertical air mixing and promote pollutant accumulation near the ground. This study investigates the influence of MLH on concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀) and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a five-year dataset of radiosonde measurements and air quality observations. Daily MLH values at 12:00 UTC were compared with simultaneous measurements of PM₁₀ and PAH concentrations. Inversion conditions (MLH < 1000 m) occurred on 44% of days, with approximately 80% of events recorded during the cold season. Elevated PM₁₀ and PAH concentrations were strongly associated with these stable conditions. Of 69 daily exceedances of the PM₁₀ limit value (50 µg m⁻³), 62 occurred during inversion events. Statistical tests confirmed significantly higher concentrations during stable atmospheric conditions (p < 0.05), with further increases observed during prolonged inversion periods. Empirical relationships between MLH and pollutant concentrations were developed and may support future machine-learning-based air quality forecasting. The results highlight atmospheric stability as a critical factor for urban air quality management. Full article

This study investigates the potential, limitations, and pedagogical implications of applying a parallel multi-model AI evaluation workflow, using ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Uizard, to assess student design projects in higher education. Because design assessment involves both formal criteria and subjective creative interpretation, the study first established a human expert baseline based on three independent university professors. The human inter-rater reliability was low to moderate, with a mean pairwise Spearman’s ρ of 0.36 and Cronbach’s α of 0.60 for packaging design, and ρ of 0.43 and α of 0.69 for web design. This finding is central to the study, as it shows that the human benchmark in creative design assessment is itself variable and interpretive. Against this baseline, AI–human alignment remained limited and task-dependent. For packaging design, the AI ensemble showed only a weak positive association with the human expert baseline (Spearman’s ρ = 0.30, p = 0.031), which should be interpreted cautiously given the Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold used in the study. For web design, no significant AI–human association was observed. Qualitative analysis of AI-generated rationales identified recurring limitations, including hallucination, aesthetic shield effects, and missed context, where visually polished work was rewarded despite deeper conceptual or structural weaknesses. The findings suggest that current AI systems can provide useful formative feedback on visible formal features, but they are not reliable as autonomous grading tools for complex creative work. AI-assisted assessment is therefore best understood as a supervised formative support mechanism, while final evaluation should remain grounded in human pedagogical judgment. Full article

The linguistic landscape is a significant aspect of the cultural landscape and heritage. Istria, a region and peninsula located in the Republic of Croatia, has experienced various influences over the years that have shaped language use, impacting the linguistic landscape and the identity of the local population. This paper aims to investigate how the linguistic and spatial identity of the people in Istria has been represented in the region’s cultural landscape during two comparative periods: the turn of the 20th century (the local population’s fight for their national language against the languages imposed by the European powers that governed this region—Italy and Austria) and the turn of the 21st century (the status of minorities in the present Croatian region of Istria). This diachronic research employs a cross-sectional method to compare findings and establish cause-and-effect relationships. This study involves analyzing linguistic data from historical postcards, conducting field studies, and using the pin placement feature on Google Maps to assess recent periods. This research identified Italian and Croatian as the dominant languages during different periods, with English being increasingly prevalent in contemporary times. The results demonstrated that the spatial identity of the Italian minority community is strongly reflected in the linguistic landscape, primarily due to bilateral interstate agreements. Full article

Introduction: The circum-Mediterranean region is a global biodiversity hotspot, hosting a highly distinctive freshwater fauna with a high degree of endemism and conservation concern. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by biological invasions, particularly by non-native fish species, which represent a major driver of biodiversity loss. Objective: This study aims to compile a comprehensive and updated inventory of non-native inland fish species across the circum-Mediterranean region and to identify the main taxonomic, biogeographical, and socio-environmental drivers shaping their distribution. Methodology: We conducted an extensive review of the scientific literature, online databases (including EASIN, GISD, and CABI), and technical reports to compile records of non-native fish species across inland and transitional waters of Mediterranean-climate basins. Analyses focused on species composition, taxonomic representativeness, introduction pathways, native regions, and the relationship between species richness and selected environmental and socio-economic variables. Results: A total of 151 non-native fish species were recorded across the study area. Italy, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, and Croatia exhibited the highest numbers of established species. Taxonomic representation was uneven, with Salmoniformes and Esociformes overrepresented among established non-native species, while Siluriformes and Characiformes were underrepresented. Most introductions originated from Europe, Asia, and North America, primarily through intentional releases and escape events. Non-native species richness was positively correlated with gross domestic product, precipitation, and the number of dams, highlighting the role of economic development and habitat modification in facilitating invasions. Conclusions: Biological invasions by non-native fishes are widespread across the Mediterranean basin and are strongly driven by human activities and environmental conditions. The high invasion levels observed in this biodiversity hotspot pose a significant threat to endemic freshwater faunas. These findings underscore the need for coordinated transnational management strategies, stricter regulation of introduction pathways, and prioritization of high-risk species to mitigate further impacts. Full article

Background and Objectives: Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) halts keratoconus progression, yet potential differences between conventional and accelerated protocols at one year remain uncertain. We analyzed the completed 12-month follow-up of a previously reported 6-month cohort to compare conventional (3 mW/cm² × 30 min; CXL 30) versus accelerated (9 mW/cm² × 10 min; CXL 10) CXL, interpreting outcomes within the ABCD framework alongside Kmax and curvature radii. Materials and Methods: In this single-center retrospective longitudinal analysis of prospectively collected routine clinical data, 22 eyes were included, with assessments performed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. Evaluated outcomes comprised ABCD stages (A–D), anterior and posterior radius of curvature (ARC and PRC), Kmax, pachymetric and elevation indices, as well as UDVA and BCVA. Within-group change used Friedman with Wilcoxon post hoc; between-group differences used Mann–Whitney (α = 0.05). Results: Both protocols resulted in significant visual improvement and Kmax reduction at 12 months (overall time effect: CXL 30 p < 0.001; CXL 10 p = 0.026). Median Kmax decreased 56.5 → 52.3 D (CXL 30) and 59.3 → 58.3 D (CXL 10). UDVA improved 0.2 → 0.6 (CXL 30) and 0.2 → 0.3 (CXL 10); BCVA 0.4 → 0.8 (CXL 30) and 0.2 → 0.5 (CXL 10). Tomographic analysis showed predominantly anterior changes, with a significant decrease in A stage in the CXL 30 group and an increase in ARC in both groups, more pronounced in CXL 30. In the late 6 → 12-month window, posterior metrics (PRC and posterior elevation) were largely stable; raw PRC change did not reach significance. Conclusions: Conventional and accelerated CXL both stabilized keratoconus at one year with meaningful functional gains. Beyond 6 months, remodeling was predominantly anterior; within-group findings suggested a more pronounced anterior tomographic response in the CXL 30 group. The 12-month visit may be useful for reassessing stability after CXL, although this study was not designed to determine optimal retreatment timing or optical rehabilitation strategy. Longer-term studies with standardized biomechanical and densitometric endpoints are warranted to assess durability and refine protocol selection. Full article

Intrusion detection systems (IDSs) are commonly evaluated through aggregate classification metrics, although operational workflows require detected flows to be interpreted, prioritized, and transformed into actionable evidence. This study proposes a detection-to-triage framework for multiclass intrusion detection using a CSE-CIC-IDS2018-derived experimental subset containing 213,463 records across one benign class and fourteen attack classes. The framework combines supervised multiclass classification, SHAP-style post hoc explanation, class-specific false positive analysis, and a Suspicious Flow Priority Score (SFPS) for analyst-oriented suspicious flow ranking. The practical role of SFPS is to reorder suspicious flows by combining model confidence, explanation strength, predefined attack severity, and validation-based false positive control, thereby producing a transparent triage list rather than a probability-only alert queue. Three detection backbones were evaluated under a shared preprocessing protocol: Random Forest, XGBoost, and a lightweight multilayer perceptron baseline. To assess stability, experiments were repeated across five random seeds. XGBoost achieved the strongest mean performance across most aggregate indicators, with an accuracy of 0.9494 ± 0.0011, a macro F1-score of 0.8366 ± 0.0193, a weighted F1-score of 0.9494 ± 0.0011, and a Matthews Correlation Coefficient of 0.9429 ± 0.0012. Random Forest produced closely comparable results, while the lightweight MLP remained lower on aggregate and macro-level indicators. False positive analysis showed that the alert burden was concentrated in selected classes and differed across models, confirming that aggregate performance alone is insufficient for assessing IDS usefulness. SHAP-style analysis identified stable flow-level contributors to XGBoost discrimination, while SFPS substantially changed the post-detection ordering of suspicious flows compared with probability-only ranking. The study does not claim universal state-of-the-art superiority, causal explanation, or deployment validation; instead, it demonstrates how multiclass IDS outputs can be extended into explainable, false positive-aware, and triage-oriented rankings for analyst review. Full article

Flexible polyurethane (PUR) foams and latex rubber foams are widely used in furniture and mattress cushioning, yet conventional standardized mechanical tests only partially capture comfort-relevant behavior, particularly in layered constructions where material interactions and sequencing can alter elastic response. This study aimed to compare the mechanical (elastic) properties of selected three-layer composites of approximately 60 mm thickness (composed of conventional PUR, high-resilience PUR, low-resilience PUR, and latex foam) and to preliminarily assess whether combining foam types improves support of such setup and whether changing layer order modifies elasticity and support. Indentation hardness testing of multilayer cushions was conducted by ISO 2439:2008 Method E. Six three-layer systems (Alpha–Zeta) were assembled in two groups. Group X showed nearly identical support factors (2.6–2.7), high recovery (64.3–66.2%), low hysteresis loss (24.3–24.5%), and overlapping force–indentation (IFD) curves, indicating minimal effect of layer order and dominance of the PUR layers. Group Y exhibited higher but more sequence-dependent support (3.1–3.7), markedly reduced, wider range recovery (30.0–45.9%), increased hysteresis (33.0–34.7%), and more dispersed IFD curves. Placing high-resilience foam at the top partially improve recovery, whereas locating low-resilience foam at the surface increase energy loss. The research contributes in part to the body of knowledge about the behavior of the tested materials according to standardized rules. These preliminary results can be compared with other research findings and used in the preparation of testing models for multilayer foam composites, thereby generating new knowledge to improve the design of future experiments, which will result in increased sitting and lying comfort. Full article

Heritage management has traditionally been shaped by what Laurajane Smith termed the “authorized heritage discourse,” wherein a narrow group of professionals determines values and meanings on behalf of broader communities. This article argues that a more inclusive, socially responsible model of heritage management is both possible and necessary. Drawing on three convergent intellectual traditions—heritage interpretation as originally formulated by Freeman Tilden, eco-museums and the new museology born from the Santiago de Chile Round Table of 1972, and the human-rights-based framework for cultural heritage enshrined in the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention of 2005—the article proposes “heritage literacy” as a conceptual synthesis which can bridge these streams. Heritage literacy denotes a form of socially responsible heritage management that empowers citizens to understand the processes through which heritage is constructed, to participate actively in its interpretation, and to direct their own development through it. The article demonstrates that heritage literacy operates simultaneously as knowledge/wisdom management and as a democratic practice, arguing that it should be recognized as an essential dimension of (cultural/heritage-related) human rights. By tracing the theoretical genealogy of each contributing tradition and synthesizing them into a unified framework, this article offers both a conceptual contribution to heritage studies and a practical orientation for heritage professionals and policymakers seeking to move beyond top–down models of heritage governance. Full article

Electrospinning is a highly versatile technique for fabricating nanofibrous membranes with high surface-area-to-volume ratios and tunable porosity. Although polycaprolactone (PCL) is widely utilized in biomedical engineering due to its biocompatibility, its electrospinning traditionally relies on hazardous organic solvents like dichloromethane (DCM) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). This paper details the development of a fully sustainable, green electrospinning process for PCL using a bio-derived binary mixture of acetic acid and formic acid. Processing parameters (applied voltage, tip-to-collector distance, and flow rate) were systematically optimized using a Design of Experiments (DoE) response surface methodology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the successful fabrication of uniform, bead-free nanofibers with a mean diameter of 247 nm, representing a 37.3% reduction compared to conventional DCM:DMF-spun matrices. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified complete solvent evaporates. Full article