Legacy of Plant Virology in Croatia—From Virus Identification to Molecular Epidemiology, Evolution, Genomics and Beyond

This paper showcases the development of plant virology in Croatia at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, from its beginning in the 1950s until today, more than 70 years later. The main achievements of the previous and current group members are highlighted according to various research topics and fields. Expectedly, some of those accomplishments remained within the field of plant virology, but others make part of a much-extended research spectrum exploring subviral pathogens, prokaryotic plant pathogens, fungi and their viruses, as well as their interactions within ecosystems. Thus, the legacy of plant virology in Croatia continues to contribute to the state of the art of microbiology far beyond virology. Research problems pertinent for directing the future research endeavors are also proposed in this review.

DEVELOPMENT OF MODELS FOR ELIMINATION OF EMERGENCIES ON VEHICLES WITH ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Introduction. The growing demand and use of vehicles on alternative fuels pose several challenges to humanity. Starting from the development and implementation of technological processes and algorithms for safe production, transportation, storage in the large capacity of lithiumion elements (batteries) and energy sources under high pressure (hydrogen cylinders) and ending with the process of final processing and reuse of the above-mentioned components of vehicles on alternative sources energy.The purpose and objectives of the study. The purpose of the work is to research the readiness and activities of fire and rescue units for acting as intended, namely - the elimination of possible (potential) threats in the event of emergencies on vehicles with alternative fuels. To achieve this goal it is necessary to determine the current group of vehicles on alternative fuels; describe the main danger of such vehicles; to develop an appropriate conceptual (imitation) model of actions of fire and rescue units in case of actions on purpose on similar vehicles.Methods. To achieve the goal and objectives of the study used theoretical research methods, which included analysis of the main dangers of vehicles on alternative fuels, generalization of the results of the study with their following systematization to achieve the goal of the study.Results. According to the literature review results, the probable hazards associated with the elimination of emergencies at EV and HFCEV were identified. To protect the personal fire and rescue units involved in the elimination of such emergencies, an algorithm of rescuers' actions was developed in case of the threat of fire of the EV battery, the threat of ignition of hydrogen tanks in the HFCEV, the threat of ignition of the battery.Conclusions. The presented conceptual (imitation) model of actions of fire and rescue units in case of possible dangers associated with EV and HFCV provide a scientific basis. For further development and development of a decision support system that can be expressed in the form of application software. For further development of a life cycle model of emergency response projects on vehicles with alternative fuels.

Frantz Fanon and revolutionary group praxis

Frantz Fanon was a political revolutionary, and he remains a key intellectual figure in decolonization debates and postcolonial studies. He was also a psychiatrist, continuing to practice, teach and explore new forms of community mental health and groupwork even in exile. In this talk, I explore convergences between Fanon’s institutional psychotherapy and group analysis, alongside his other commitments, to indicate how Fanon’s geopolitically-situated psychosocial analyses linking individual and social change can inform more politically engaged group analytic practice. More specifically, Fanon’s observations on language and power highlight how histories and legacies of colonialism infuse everyday interaction, structuring both relationships and bodily experiences. I argue that his insistence on the need to engage with power and privilege, and the ethical-political responsibilities of the therapeutic practitioner in mobilizing their own practice to acknowledge and challenge these, remain acutely relevant to current group analytic practice in these times of intensified suffering, distress and social inequalities.

Research on Psychological Scales Based on the Multitheory Fusion

Objective: This study proposed an innovative approach to simplify the multiple psychological scales for children and adolescents by integrating statistical methods and item reflection theory into a structural equation model. Methods: First, a psychological scale for adolescents to replace the existing scales optimized for adults with the Delphi method has been developed. Second, the number of items in the current group of scales has been reduced. Result and Conclusion: A psychological scale for adolescents has been built up that comprehensively reflects their psychological characteristics in terms of mental state, behavioral status, emotion & feeling, relationship, and environmental adaptation. This psychological scale has been simplified and improved its reliability and validity.

Number of sunspot groups from the Galileo–Scheiner controversy revisited

ABSTRACT We revise the sunspot observations made by Galileo Galilei and Christoph Scheiner in the context of their controversy regarding the nature of sunspots. Those of their sunspot records not included in the current sunspot group database, used as a basis to calculate the sunspot group number, are analysed. Within the documentary sources consulted in this work, we can highlight the sunspot observations by Scheiner included in the letters sent under the pseudonym Apelles to Marcus Welser and the first sunspot observations made by Galileo, which can be consulted in Le opere di Galileo Galilei. These sunspot observations would extend the temporal coverage for these two observers and fill some gaps in the current group database in the earliest period, where the data available are sparse. Moreover, we have detected changes in the quality of the sunspot drawings made by Galileo and Scheiner in their observation series, affecting the number of groups recorded by the two observers. We also compare these records with sunspot observations made by other astronomers of that time. According to this comparison and regarding the same observation days, Scheiner was generally the astronomer who reported more sunspot groups, while Harriot, Cigoli and Galileo recorded a similar number of groups. We conclude that these differences are mainly because of the observational methods used by the observers.

Acorn woodpeckers vocally discriminate current and former group members from nongroup members

In species with long-term social relationships, the ability to recognize individuals after extended separation and the ability to discriminate between former social affiliates that have died and those that have left the group but may return are likely to be beneficial. Few studies, however, have investigated whether animals can make these discriminations. We presented acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a group-living, cooperatively breeding bird, with playbacks of current group members, former group members still living nearby, former group members that had died or left the study area, and familiar nongroup members. Subjects responded more quickly to the calls of nongroup members than to the calls of current group members or former group members still living in the study area but did not discriminate between nongroup members and former group members that had died or disappeared. This suggests that acorn woodpeckers can vocally recognize both current group members and former group members that have dispersed to nearby groups and that they either forget former group members that no longer live in the vicinity or classify them differently from former group members that still live nearby. This study suggests an important role for vocal recognition in maintaining valuable relationships with social affiliates postdispersal.

The unnoticed influence of peers on educational preferences

Some of the most important decisions young people make are choices about education. Yet recent research shows that educational decisions are poorly explained by classical models of human capital investments: adolescents do not always choose what would best optimize their long-term net outcomes. Instead, students have been shown to be influenced by their current group of peers at the time when they make educational decisions. We expand on existing models by showing that students’ stated educational preferences can be influenced by simply priming them with their peers’ preferences. Further, we show that students are unaware of this peer influence in the sense that: (1) they claim that peers have no influence; (2) in a conjoint experiment, they do not select educations based on peers’ assessments; and (3) in a list experiment absent of any social desirability bias, they do not ascribe any influence to their peers either. All in all, the results show that young people are unwittingly influenced by their peers. These results have important implications for public policies aimed at encouraging young people to make more deliberate and informed educational choices.

Is interferential current effective in the management of pain, range of motion, and edema following total knee arthroplasty surgery? A randomized double-blind controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of interferential current implementation following total knee arthroplasty surgery. Design: Double-blind randomized controlled study. Setting: Orthopedics and traumatology in-patient clinic. Participants: From an initial enrollment of 132 patients, 113 who met the study inclusion criteria were randomly separated into two groups: the interferential current group ( n = 57) and the sham current group ( n = 56). A total of 98 patients completed the study: 49 in the interferential current group and 49 in the sham group. Intervention: Patients in the interferential current group received interferential current treatment for 30 minutes, twice a day for five days postoperatively. For the patients in the sham interferential current treatment group, the same pads were applied to the patients for the same time periods but no electrical stimulation was applied. Main outcome measures: Patients were assessed in respect of pain, range of motion (ROM), edema, and the amount of paracetamol used at baseline and on the 5th and 30th days after surgery. Results: No significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of pain, ROM, and edema at days 0, 5, and 30. At the end of the 5th day, the amount of paracetamol used was significantly lower in the interferential current group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, both groups showed significant improvements in pain, ROM, and edema with no significant difference between the groups. Although there was a significant difference in paracetamol intake of the two groups, this cannot be argued as showing the effectiveness of interferential current.

Reflections on introducing a Leavers’ Preparation Group in an intellectual disability secure service

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on the introduction of a Leavers’ Preparation Group in an Intellectual Disability (ID) Secure Service. In the context of reductions in ID inpatient beds and reductions in restrictive practices, discharge and transfers out of hospital settings are increasing. The current group was established to provide support and preparation for service users as they approach discharge/transfer from hospital. The current paper provides example outcome data and reflects on the experience and learning points in delivering such interventions in secure contexts. Design/methodology/approach The Leavers’ Preparation Group is an eight-session preparatory, recovery focussed group intervention focussing on supporting service users as they approach discharge/transfer to lower levels of security. The intervention has a multi-disciplinary approach, focussing on psychosocial aspects of current and future risk reduction. Findings Overwhelmingly service users reported that they experienced the group as positive and beneficial. Personal reflections of the authors are offered on service user attitudes to discharge/transfer, the contextual impact of restrictive systems and the benefits of this type of group intervention. Originality/value This paper reports on clinical practice, which involves multi-disciplinary intervention, co-production with service users and relevant stakeholders, and provides a description of the group intervention. It also offers critical reflection on tensions in this area of service provision, such as control and choice, freedom and responsibility, limitations and restrictions and power imbalances.

Looking back on identities past: Implicit and explicit evaluations of former groups

Group memberships have consequences for social evaluation, leading people to prefer in-groups over out-groups. However, group membership can change. In this paper, I investigate implicit and explicit evaluations of a past in-group. Across three studies, former Christians showed less positive implicit and explicit evaluations of Christianity than current Christians, but also slightly more positive implicit evaluations compared to non-religious individuals who were never Christian. This lingering influence of group membership on implicit evaluation was not moderated by the length of time since group exit or past level of involvement in Christianity. Overall, implicit and explicit evaluations of former Christians more closely resembled those of their current group rather than those of their past identity.