•Element levels determined in maternal blood, placenta and cord blood (fetus).•Maternal smoking increases Cd and Pb in mother and newborn, and affects serum MT2.•Maternal smoking increases Fe and Cu ...in cord blood and Zn in placenta.•Maternal and cord blood elements and MT2A rs28366003 could not be related.•Placental Fe levels are lower in non-smoking AG/GG genotype subjects.
The main source of exposure for all essential and toxic elements in the general population is diet. In smokers, the main route for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) intake is the inhalation of tobacco smoke. Besides gender, age, nutrition, lifestyle, and physiological conditions such as pregnancy, specific genetic characteristics also influence individual element uptake. Metallothionein MT2 is a cysteine-rich low-weight protein found ubiquitously throughout the body. Specific gene polymorphism may influence MT2 expression and subsequent binding, transfer and organ accumulation of metals, though data on these influences are lacking, especially in human mother-newborn pairs. The objective of this study was to determine selected toxic (Cd, Pb, Hg) and essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) elements in maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood (by ICP-MS), and MT2 levels in maternal serum (by ELISA) in relation to maternal MT2A –5A/G (rs28366003) polymorphism (by RFLP-PCR and electrophoresis). Study participants were healthy postpartum women in Croatia (n=268, mean age 29 years) with term vaginal childbirth in a maternity ward assigned into two study groups by self-reporting about their smoking habit (by questionnaire). Smokers vs. non-smokers had increased levels of Cd and Pb in all measured samples, Fe and Cu in cord blood, Zn in placenta, and MT2 in maternal serum. Among subjects with AG/GG genotype, placental Fe was significantly lower only among non-smokers, while MT2 levels in serum were lower, though not significantly, regardless of maternal smoking habit. There was no impact of MT2A –5A/G SNP on any element in maternal or cord blood. In conclusion, the results confirmed maternal smoking-related increases in Cd and Pb levels in the maternal-placental-foetal unit. They also provided additional data on concomitant metal concentrations in representative samples of maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood, as well as increased cord blood Fe and Cu, placental Zn, and maternal serum MT2 in smokers. New evidence is that MT2A –5A/G SNP was associated with decreased placental Fe levels in non-smokers. For a final conclusion on the influence of the MT2A –5A/G polymorphism on toxic and essential element levels in mother-newborn pairs, further research would require a larger number of participants divided across subgroups defined by the main source of particular toxic metal exposure (such as specific food intake, cigarette smoking, air pollution and/or occupational exposure).
The journals ≫Mehanizacija sumarstvamuch less than (MS) and ≫Nova mehanizacija Sumarstva≪ (NMS) were analyzed for the period from 1994 to 2010 with the aim toshozo the connection between these two ...journals and their characteristics (Tables 1, 2 and 4) through editorial and publishing features (Table 3, Fig, 1) and analysis of articles, authors, and references. The pairs and groups of authors were identified for each journal individually and in total (Fig. 5 and 6). The tendency of an increasing number of authors (Table 5), pages, references (Tables 6, 8, 9 and 10), and author and journal self-citations (Table 7, Fig. 2, 3 and 4) per article in all types of scientific papers was observed in the articles published by ≫Nova mehanizacija sumarstva≪ and compared to those published by much greater thanMeiianizacija sumarstva≪. Analyzing the title words, it was found with great certainty that most titles briefly and concisely describe the content of the articles and that more than one third of all title words may be considered as keywords (Tables 11,12 and 13, Fig. 7). Keywords: scientific communication, bibliometrics, forest sciences, citation analysis, word analysis, association analysis, Nova mehanizacija Sumarstva, Mehanizacija Sumarstva Analizom casopisa ≫Mehanizacija sumarstvamuch less than i ≫Nova mehanizacija sumarstva≪ za razdoblje od 1994. do 2010. godine zeljela se pokazati povezanost dvaju Casopisa i njihove karakteristike s obzirom na uredivacko-izdavacka obiljezja, rasclambu clanaka, strukturu autora i referen-cija. Utvrdene su skupine ustanova iz kojih su autori clanaka u promatranim casopisima. Povecavanje broja autora, stranica, referencija te autorskih i casopisnih samocitata po clanku u svim znanstvenim kategorijama radova uocena je u clancima objavljenima u ≫Novoj mehanizaciji sumarstva≪ u odnosu na clanke objavljene u much greater thanMehanizaciji sumarstva≪. Analizom rijeci naslova utvrdeno je da su naslovi kratki i da jezgrovito opisuju sadrzaj clanaka te da se vise od trecine svih rijeci moze smatrati ujedno I kljucnim rijecima. Kljucne rijeci: znanstvena komunikacija, bibliometrija, sumarstvo, citatna analiza, analiza rijeci, analiza udruzivanja, ≫Nova mehanizacija sumarstva≪, ≫Mehanizacija sumarstva≪
The performance of European beech (
Fagus sylvatica
L.) is severely threatened by abiotic and biotic stresses, but the resilience of its provenances from distinct geographic areas has not been ...sufficiently studied. Therefore, the performance of European beech was investigated in an international provenance trial consisting of twenty-one natural populations originating from Central Europe and Southeast Europe located on Medvednica Mountain (Croatia). The performance of European beech was investigated by characterizing I) damage types, II) crown damage intensity, III) damage frequency, and IV) clustering of provenances based on damage types. Anthracnose, galls, chewing damages, and aphids were recorded on leaves, and canker on the trunk and branches. The crown damage intensity was minute (less than 10%) for all types of disease. Anthracnose was the most common damage, followed in descending order by galls, canker, chewing damages and aphids. When the types of damage were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency analysis and clustering), significant differences were recorded between provenances (χ2=322.19, p<0.0001). European beech provenances were classified into four clusters. Aphids and galls caused the least and the highest damage, respectively, in each cluster, except for Cluster 4, where anthracnose caused the highest damage. The results of this study showed generally good health condition of European beech provenances originating from Central and Southeast Europe in the period of the investigation.
Genetic damage induced by anaesthetic gases in occupationally exposed populations was investigated using the comet assay and micronucleus test. The study included two groups of subjects: 50 operating ...theatre medical workers (anaesthesiologists, technicians and nurses) and 50 control subjects corresponding in sex, age and smoking habit. The exposed group revealed an increase in genome damage in both tests. In the comet assay, exposure to anaesthetics was a highly significant predictor of the tail length for technicians, while sex proved to be significant predictor of tail moment for women in exposed group.
Micronucleus frequency increased significantly, showing threefold increase in exposed groups (RR>3.029). Univariate analysis showed significant influence of duration of exposure, while multivariate analysis showed age to be significant predictor of micronucleus frequency. The obtained results call for further, targeted investigation of exposure risk.
Background and Purpose: Morphological features of one year old holm oak (Quercus ilex) seedlings grown in different types of containers were analyzed in order to establish the effect of container ...type on seedlings’ development. The survival rates and the development of the seedlings were measured and monitored in the period of six years, on an experimental plot with the aim to assess the influence of container size and soil preparation on afforestation success in Mediterranean karst area. Materials and Methods: Four types of containers were used: MP53/12, MP33/18, T7/24 and T8/24. Morphological features of seedlings include: height, root collar diameter, biomass of the aboveground part, root biomass and total biomass. Two morphological indexes were calculated from the measured variables: S:R ratio and DQI. Morphological dimensions of root systems are, namely: total length, the number of tips, surface area and volume. Seedlings were arranged over the area of the experimental plot according to the randomized block method. Within each block (0,2 ha) two types of soil preparation prior to planting were performed: in pits with dimensions of 40 × 40 × 40 cm, and on the ripping ground. Each year during the experiment, seedlings were measured for height increment and survival rates (e.g. mortality), with respect to the container type and the planting method. Results: Almost all morphological features of seedlings have significantly higher values in larger containers (T7/24 and T8/24) compared to smaller containers (MP53/12 and MP33/18). Survival rates over six years in field experiment are influenced mainly by container size in interaction with soil preparation method (exp (β) = 6.5789; p < 0.0001). The container size exhibited influence on height increment of holm oak during first six years (F = 20.619, p = 0.000012). Conclusions: Soil preparation by ripping combined with high-quality seedlings played the most important role in the holm oak’s survival in the research area. Key words: Mediterranean karst area, container type, morphological features of seedlings, soil preparation, afforestation success, height increment
Background and Purpose: Morphological features of one year old holm oak (Quercus ilex) seedlings grown in different types of containers were analyzed in order to establish the effect of container ...type on seedlings’ development. The survival rates and the development of the seedlings were measured and monitored in the period of six years, on an experimental plot with the aim to assess the influence of container size and soil preparation on afforestation success in Mediterranean karst area.
Materials and Methods: Four types of containers were used: MP53/12, MP33/18, T7/24 and T8/24. Morphological features of seedlings include: height, root collar diameter, biomass of the aboveground part, root biomass and total biomass. Two morphological indexes were calculated from the measured variables: S:R ratio and DQI. Morphological dimensions of root systems are, namely: total length, the number of tips, surface area and volume. Seedlings were arranged over the area of the experimental plot according to the randomized block method. Within each block (0,2 ha) two types of soil preparation prior to planting were performed: in pits with dimensions of 40 × 40 × 40 cm, and on the ripping ground. Each year during the experiment, seedlings were measured for height increment and survival rates (e.g. mortality), with respect to the container type and the planting method.
Results: Almost all morphological features of seedlings have significantly higher values in larger containers (T7/24 and T8/24) compared to smaller containers (MP53/12 and MP33/18). Survival rates over six years in field experiment are influenced mainly by container size in interaction with soil preparation method (exp (β) = 6.5789; p < 0.0001). The container size exhibited influence on height increment of holm oak during first six years (F = 20.619, p = 0.000012).
Conclusions: Soil preparation by ripping combined with high-quality seedlings played the most important role in the holm oak’s survival in the research area.
The study examines the influence of naturally elevated ozone concentrations and some meteorological variables on the lung function of untrained volunteers walking in an unpolluted mountain area. ...Forty male participants between 18 and 70 years (smokers and nonsmokers) walked at the top of Medvednica Mountain near Zagreb, Croatia, at approximately 1000 m above sea level (a.s.l.) and engaged in other recreational activities for at least 1 hour. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV
1
) of the participants were measured at arrival and before they left the mountain. Regression analysis showed a statistically significant influence of environmental variables on lung function tests. However, all variables together explained less than 35% variability of FVC and 41% variability of FEV
1
. The results suggest that short-term exposure to ozone may affect lung function tests, but no more than temperature and humidity. FEV
1
was found to be more sensitive to ozone than FVC. Smoking habit also had an important role in subject's sensitivity to ozone.
Modern intensive production of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) tends to planting of high quality cultivars on the dwarfing rootstocks in high density orchards. The most productive training system is ...used, providing an ideal condition for undisturbed growth and yield. The main objective of this study was to determine the best training system of sweet cherry, considering regular and high yields and fruit quality. The three-year study was carried out on a 4-years old sweet cherry orchard with cultivar summit grafted on the dwarfing rootstock Tabel registered Edabriz. Three different training systems (Spanish bush, Spindle bush and "V") were compared. The smaller vegetative growth, expressed as trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) was recorded in Spanish bush (34.68 cm super(2)) when compared to Spindle bush (40.11 cm super(2)) and "V" (40.82 cm super(2)). The largest cumulative yield per hectare was gotten by the training system "V" (41.65 t/ha), followed by Spindle bush (21.12 t/ha) and Spanish bush (11.30 t/ha). Yield efficiency (YE) (kg/cm super(2)) of Spanish bush (0.19 kg/cm super(2)) was significantly lower than that of Spindle bush (0.32 kg/cm super(2)) and "V" (0.28 kg/cm super(2)). Yield per unit land area (YA) (kg/m super(2)) differed in all training systems and the highest was recorded on "V", while the smallest was in Spanish bush. Training system and density did not affect the fruit weight. Results showed that the training system significantly affected the growth and yield of sweet cherry.
Medical staff is an occupational group exposed to different agents suspected to induce genetic damage. Among them ionising radiation is the most studied. Cytogenetic analysis of human chromosomes in ...peripheral lymphocytes allows direct detection of mutation in somatic cells. This study investigated the cytogenetic effects of low-level ionising x-radiation in 48-hour peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures sampled from 765 hospital staff occupationally exposed to several agents known or suspected to induce chromosome damage and compared them with 200 control subjects. The exposed subjects were divided in eight (8) groups according to their specialities and job titles. The exposed groups manifested an increase in all types of chromosome aberrations. Acentric fragments were the most frequent chromosome-type aberration. Dicentric chromosomes were statistically significant only in urologists/gynaecologists. Age and smoking significantly influenced the incidence of dicentrics in the exposed groups. The frequency of ring chromosomes was low in all exposed groups (range: 0-2), and none were found in the control group. These findings indicate the importance of periodic medical checkups of hospital staff occupationally exposed to low doses of ionising radiation. The purpose is to create an individual cytogenetic register, where changes could evidence individual risks.
Medicinsko osoblje u svom je radu izloženo različitim potencijalno genotoksičnim agensima. Zbog široke primjene u medicini ionizirajuće zračenje je jedan od najistraživanijih fizikalnih agensa. Citogenetička analiza kromosoma iz limfocita periferne krvi omogućuje izravno određivanje oštećenja genoma izazvanog kroničnom izloženošću zračenju. Ova je studija uključila 765 ispitanika različitih medicinskih profesija izloženih pretežno ionizirajućem zračenju, ali uz to i nekim od potencijalno genotoksičnih kemijskih agensa, kao i 200 kontrolnih ispitanika. Izložena skupina ispitanika podijeljena je u osam podskupina prema profesiji. U izloženoj skupini uočen je porast svih tipova kromosomskih aberacija. Najčešći tip kromosomskih aberacija je acentrični fragment. U usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom statistički značajna razlika za dicentrične kromosome uočena je jedino kod podskupine urologa/ginekologa. Životna dob i pušenje značajno su utjecali na pojavu dicentričnih kromosoma u izloženim skupinama. Učestalost prstenastih kromosoma bila je niska u svim izloženim skupinama (raspon: 0-2), dok u kontrolnoj skupini prstenasti kromosomi nisu nađeni. Rezultati upućuju na važnost periodičkih kontrolnih medicinskih pregleda u zdravstvenih radnika profesionalno izloženih genotoksičnim agensima. Svrha takvih pregleda je i stvaranje baze podataka u kojoj su pohranjeni svi citogenetički nalazi pojedinačnih izloženih ispitanika, koji su iznimno važni za pravilnu procjenu njihova individualnog rizika proizašlog iz profesionalne izloženosti.
The paper presents a case study in which a potential investor wanted to invest into a furniture store in the part of the Republic of Croatia named Dalmatia. In four Dalmatian counties (Split, Zadar, ...Sibenik and Dubrovnik counties), 220 randomly selected persons (180 answered) were asked by telephone what kind offurniture they would like to buy in the next two years and how much they were prepared to pay for the purchase. Based on the results of a consumer survey, five possible alternatives (product lines) were selected and the priorities determined, i.e. which product line was the most profitable taking into account criteria of successful business operations using the multi-criteria model. Key words: market research, furniture, multi-criteria decision making, AHP model. U radu je prikazan studij slucaja na osnovi kojega potencijalni ulagaci mogu ulagati u prodajna mjesta namjestaja na podrucju Dalmacije. U cetiri dalmatinske zupanije (Splitsko-dalmatinskoj, Zadarskoj, Sibensko-kninskoj i Dubrovacko-neretvanskoj), 220 anketiranih osoba (180 odgovora) anketirani su telefonom o tome koje skupine namjestaja namjeravaju kupiti u sljedece dvije godine te koliko su spremni platiti za namjestaj. Koristeci se rezultatima ankete, odredeno je pet mogucih proizvodnih programa. Na temelju kriterija uspjesnog poslovanja poduzeca, primjenom visekriterijskog modela, odredeni su prioriteti, tj. ustanovljeno je koji je proizvodni program najisplativiji. Kljucne rijeci: istrazivanje trzista, namjestaj, multikriterijsko odlucivanje, AHP model.
PDF
