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Objective. The aim of this paper is to gain insight into changes in information needs and habits of users of the online reference service Ask the Librarians provided by Croatian public libraries since 2004. Methodology. Based on the research of Jagoda Ille and Helena Novak and the analysis of user information queries in the fi rst four years of service implementation from 2004 to 2008, an analysis of posted information inquiries was conducted from 2018 to 2022. By using the same methodology and time frame, the aim was to enable a comparative analysis of the obtained data regarding users' level of education, the number and type of information inquiries (divided into four categories: requests for direction, quick or factual information, bibliographic information and other inquiries), user satisfaction and the number of librarians involved in the service. Results. The research results for the period from 2018 to 2022 indicated a higher number of posted inquiries, a change in the educational structure of users and a change in the type of inquiries compared to the fi rst four years of service implementation from 2004 to 2008, as well as a constant increase in the number of librarians involved in the online reference service Ask the Librarians. Originality/Value. The value of the research lies in detecting changes in information inquiries and new information needs of users of the Croatian public libraries' online reference service Ask the Librarians, available to users since 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper brings a review of the linked data concept as a semantic upgrade of the existing World Wide Web. It also analyzes the possibility of integrating library catalog and services into the intelligently linked network -- semantic web. The irst part of the paper presents some basic principles of the semantic web in general. Then we discuss the main elements of the linked data (URI - Uniform Resource Identifiers and RDF - Resource Description Framework), its principal concepts, publishing procedure, licensing and some security issues. The next section explains the main advantage of linked data searching in comparison with the conventional web search. Furthermore, we discuss the application of linked data on library catalogue records. MARC properties are analyzed in a network environment as well as the difference between catalogue with linked data and traditional library catalogue. The analysis has shown that MARC record is only readable, while the same record in RDF/XML format integrated into linked data is also understandable in the semantic sense. The conclusion is that the linked data technology presents a great opportunity for further development of library catalogues and library services, but also a was to improve eficiency in the intelligently linked global network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natura 2000 is the European ecological network established to protect important habitat areas and to maintain the biodiversity of the European Union. The network consists of the Special Protection Areas (SPA) selected in accordance with the Directive on the Protection of Birds, and the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) selected in accordance with the Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. During the EU accession process, the Republic of Croatia has had to harmonize the legal framework for the environmental protection and to propose sites for the Natura 2000 network. This paper describes proposed sites mapping process and gives a brief summary of the INSPIRE Data Specification on Protected Sites according to which the spatial data of the ecological network should be adjusted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of research of spatial and national distribution of foreign direct investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina through quantitative and qualitative analysis of the available data. For a better insight into the origin of investments and possible geopolitical interest of the investors, investing countries are grouped according to the criteria of similarity. The spatial distribution of foreign direct investment presented at the entity level complements insight into the connection between national or religious affiliation with the origins of the investment. Furthermore, analysis of foreign direct investment by sector of activity indicates a possible orientation of investing countries towards target branches of the economy. Using various geographic graphical methods, processed data are presented by a series of parallel graphics. Mutual incompatibility of the information provided by various state authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina produced some problems in processing of data. However, according to this analysis, the article confirms the initial assumption about the connection between the geopolitical interests of the countries investors and recipients in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A basic statistical data analysis and trend analysis were performed for the flows recorded at the Tisne Stine 1 gauging station on the Cetina River. The analysis was carried out using the linear and nonlinear regression, Mann-Kendall test, and the so-called RAPS method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Republic of Croatia, occupational infectious diseases are defined in the Act on the List of Occupational Diseases as "infectious or parasitic diseases transmitted to people from animals or animal remains" and as "infectious or parasitic diseases caused while working in circumstances with proven increased risk of infection." The paper discusses the data on the occupational infectious diseases recorded in the Register of Occupational Diseases maintained by the Croatian Institute for Health Protection and Safety at Work for the period from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2010. The occupational infectious diseases in the Register are reviewed according to their overall incidence, their portion in the total number of occupational diseases in the Republic of Croatia, according to the type of disease, occupation of the infected workers and the employers' business. From 2001 to 2010 the Register records show a total of 1054 occupational diseases, of which 10% were infectious diseases. When compared to other occupational diseases, the incidence of infectious diseases occupies a high third place, and in some years within the studied period even the second or first place. The most common occupational infectious disease was tuberculosis, followed by different types of hepatitis and zoonoses, Q fever and hemorrhagic fever. Zoonoses occur most commonly in agriculture, forestry and veterinary practice. Tuberculosis and hepatitis occur among health care workers, nurses in particular. Given that the results indicate a steadily increasing incidence of tuberculosis in the overall number of occupational infectious diseases, additional cautionary measures should be taken, especially in health care, to prevent further increase in the number of infected individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with spatial differences in precipitation variability in Central Croatia. Precipitation variability is analysed for 8 meteorological stations for which data for the 1950-2007 period are available. All the researched stations have a continental pluviometric regime. The annual values of mean relative variability in the studied area have relatively small range. The precipitation variability maximum occurs in Autumn at most of the stations, and the minimum in Spring. The annual course of precipitation variability is characterised, at all stations, by a maximum in October. The secondary maximum of precipitation variability occurs in January or February. The primary minimum of precipitation variability is in June at all stations apart from Sisak, where the minimum is in April. The secondary minimum is in March or April. There are spatial differences in precipitation variability, although not particularly pronounced, especially in the March till July period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the sources of stress in the work of university teachers working in Croatia and to construct a questionnaire that would enable quantitative studies in this area. A qualitative study, aimed to determine the sources of stress at work, was conducted on a convenience sample of 34 higher education teachers in different academic ranks (assistants and professors), working in twelve faculties of the University of Zagreb and University in Split. Using the method of guided group discussions, we identified 125 characteristic sources of stress in the work that are logically categorized into nine content groups. Based on a qualitative study, we have constructed Questionnaire of Exposure to Stress in the Work for University Teachers and apply it on a sample of teachers (N=388) from three Croatian universities. After the implementation of confirmatory factor analysis procedures, the final questionnaire contains 68 items, which define the seven latent dimensions of sources of stress: Teaching and students, Consequences of the Bologna reform, Scientific-research work, Role-conflict, Remuneration and recognition, and Interpersonal relationships. The paper presents data on the metric characteristics of the structured questionnaire, and descriptive results of the pilot application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective factors have great significance for introducing inclusion into schools. The hypothesis of this paper is that teachers' attitudes can have great impact on the realisation of inclusive education since they are the main bearers of upbringing and educational process, and of admitting children with special needs in regular classes. The aim of the research was to examine teachers' attitudes towards inclusion in some regular primary schools, and to determine differences in attitudes towards educational inclusion The research was carried out on a sample of eleven regular schools in the Municipality of Zenica, two schools in the Municipality of Kakanj and one school in the Municipality of Maglaj. The sample included 202 examinees (teachers of class and subject teaching). The questionnaire on inclusion of students with special needs into regular schools was used to examine teachers (Mešalić, Š., Halilović Z., 2006). The questionnaire for teachers, in addition to basic information about examinees, included indicators of attitudes (I agree, Not sure, I disagree). Some of the statements were given in inverted sentence forms, and different attitudes of examinees were evaluated with Anova or t-test. The research findings indicated that the majority of examinees 106 (52,5%) had positive attitude towards inclusive education, whereas 187 (92,6%) teachers believe that inclusive education is possible with help of special education teachers. Additional data analysis provided statistics for local community of a school (a town, suburb, and village) and for activities performed in the class and subject teaching and for teachers that teach students with special needs, and teachers that do not teach those students. Inclusion was supported by 59, 7% of teachers from town schools, 39,1% of teachers from suburban schools, and 37,8% of teachers from village schools. In general, teachers would support inclusive education with the help of special education teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manuscripts containing collections of folk recipes for treatment of deseases were written mostly by Catholic priests especially Franciscians in Croatia in the past centuries. They were used as manuals for preparation of remedies and gave directions for their use. These writtings provide valuble data for etnographers and historians of ethnomedicine. The paper describes the manuscript "Many different remedies for headache treatment" written by unknown author probably in 18. century in Sinj, Dalmatia. The manuscript was found in the archives of Sinj Friary. The collection contains 16 recipes for headache treatment. Materia medica of the manuscript is composed of drugs of plant origin. Valuable information is given about the folk names for medicinal plants as well as descriptions of the ways of preparing remedies. Latin as well as contemporaly croatian names are attributed to the plants species mentioned in the manuscript. Use of the plants for treatment of the specific deseases were compared with their use in modem fitotherapy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]