Human induced translocation and introduction of species have reshaped parasite fauna on a global scale. The introduction of the large American liver fluke Fascioloides magna from North America to ...Europe is an example of an invasive alien parasite causing significant ecological and economic damage. Recent genetic studies have shown that F. magna was introduced to Europe on multiple occasions forming three permanent foci of infection. This study primarily focuses on the poorly researched genetic structuring of F. magna flukes originating from Croatia and Serbia. Additional samples from USA and Italy are also included, thereby providing novel insights into F. magna’s biogeography. Partial cox1 and nad1 genes were amplified from 216 F. magna flukes extracted from red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, white-tailed deer and wild boar. Seven cox1 and nine nad1 haplotypes were identified, of which two cox1 and four nad1 haplotypes have not been not previously found. Our analysis has expanded the knowledge about possible sources of F. magna introduction to Europe, by identifying a cox1 haplotype shared by flukes from the north-eastern parts of the USA and Italy and another cox1 haplotype shared by flukes also from north eastern parts of the USA and the Danube floodplains.
•New cox1 and nad1 haplotypes identified in Fascioloides magna from Serbia, Italy and USA.•Additional confirmation that F. magna was introduced to Europe at least twice.•Western North America was not the only source of F. magna introduction to Italy- New York state is a possible source of F. magna introduction to Europe.
An underwater survey was conducted in September of 2020 on several locations in Kaštela Bay, mainly around the area of Pantan near Trogir, with the aim of assessing the potential of these locations ...for more detailed investigations. The limited survey gave positive results, as the collected prehistoric and Roman material pointed to a great potential of specific locations for further archaeological research.
: Seroepidemiological studies indicate that parvovirus B19 circulates in all areas of the world, although with some differences. The aim of this study is to analyze the seroprevalence of parvovirus ...B19 in the Croatian population.
: From 2010 to 2021, 1538 serum samples from different populations were tested for the presence of parvovirus B19 IgM/IgG antibodies. Serological tests were performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
: IgG antibodies were detected in 986/64.1% of participants with differences (
< 0.001) among the following population groups: 42.4% of children and adolescents, 67.1% of the adult general population, 66.7% of hemodialysis patients, and 65.6% of liver transplant recipients. Seroprevalence increased with age, from 30.0% in the 6 months-9 years age group to 69.0% in the 40-49 years age group, and remained stable thereafter (68.8-73.3%). There was no difference in the seropositivity among males (66.1%) and females (63.1%), as well as the place of residence (suburban/rural 63.9%, urban 64.1%). IgM antibodies (current/recent infection) were found in 61/4.0% of participants with the highest seropositivity in the youngest age group (11.1%). In pregnant women, seroprevalence was higher in women with an unfavorable obstetric history compared with a normal pregnancy (IgG 71.0% vs. 62.6%; IgM 6.5% vs. 2.4%), but these differences were not significant. Logistic regression showed that the adult population had almost three times higher risk of IgG seropositivity compared to children/adolescents (general population OR = 2.777, 95% CI = 2.023-3.812; hemodialysis patients OR = 2.586, 95% CI = 1.531-4.367; and transplant patients OR = 2.717, 95% CI = 1.604-4.603). A one-year increase in age increased the risk of IgG seroprevalence (OR = 1.017; 95% CI = 1.011-1.022).
: Older age was the main risk factor for IgG seropositivity. Hemodialysis and organ transplantation seem unrelated to the increased parvovirus B19 seroprevalence. The role of parvovirus B19 in the etiology of TORCH infections needs to be studied further.
We present a new sea-level reconstruction for the past 1500years based on biological indicators from the Central Adriatic islands. Biogenic littoral rims built by the coralline rhodophyte ...Lithophyllum byssoides were found on the particularly exposed sites on the rocky coasts of the islands of Vis, Ravnik and Biševo in Croatia. The presence of thick and well-developed Lithophyllum rims, considered to be precise (±10cm) sea-level indicators, points directly to the rising sea-level environment. Biogenic rims were mapped, measured and sampled for 14C dating.
The obtained results point to four phases of sea-level changes. The sea-level was near stable from around 550 till 770calAD, in the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP), then during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (770 till 1330calAD) the sea-level increased at a rate of 0.71mm/yr. During the Little Ice Age (LIA) (1330 till 1640calAD) it was near stable again. Later, the sea-level started to rise at a much higher rate particularly during the Current Warm Period (CWP). These data were compared with local predictions derived from a glacio-hydro-isostatic models associated with the Last Glacial cycle. If the isostatic–eustatic component is separated, this area seems to have almost stable tectonic conditions during the past 1500years.
Our results show that the large algal rims most likely grew during near-stable sea-level conditions that occurred during two relatively colder periods in the past 1500years. They also reveal that well-developed (up to 1.8m wide) upper levels of algal rims were formed during ~300years of stabilisation throughout the LIA.
► Biogenic littoral rims built by Lithophyllum byssoides exist in the Adriatic Sea. ► Large algal rims up to 1.8m wide grew during near-stable sea-level conditions. ► Near stable sea-level conditions occurred during two colder periods (DACP and LIA). ► Existing algal rims reflect palaeoenvironmental conditions. ► They could be related to geomorphological and archaeological sea-level indicators.
High levels of stress, anxiety, and depression are commonly reported among medical students. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms among medical and ...nursing students at the University of Osijek, Croatia and their relation to subjective happiness and personality traits. This cross-sectional study included a total of 562 students. To assess the levels of depression and anxiety, the PHQ-9 (The Patient Health Questionnaire), GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), SHS (Subjective Happiness Scale), and IPIP Big-5 questionnaires were used. A very high prevalence of both anxiety (54.5%) and depressive (60.2%) symptoms was found among medical and nursing students. Subjective happiness most strongly correlated with emotional stability and extraversion, also emotional stability correlated negatively with anxiety and depression. Nursing students scored higher on subjective happiness and in the domain of conscientiousness, but lower on depression. The differences in depression and anxiety could not be attributed to personality traits. Although the reported symptoms were mostly mild in intensity, we believe that this represents a significant public mental health concern. Appropriate measures should be taken to motivate students to seek help for their symptoms and to increase the availability of mental health services for students.
Water used for water supply undergoes numerous changes that affect its composition prior to entering the water supply system (WSS). Once it enters the WSS, it is subject to numerous influences ...altering its physical and chemical composition, redox potential, and microbial quality. Observations of water quality parameters at different locations within the WSS indicate that it is justified to assume that these processes take place from the source to the end user. In this study, we used the results of routine everyday analyses (EC, T, pH, ORP, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and bacteria) supplemented by experimental data from a one-year sampling campaign assessing the main cations and anions and stable isotopes δsup.2H and δsup.18O. Through these data, the statistical significance of the differences between the concentrations of the basic water quality parameters among different WSS locations was determined, together with the water retention time in the system. The results indicate minor changes in water chemical composition within the observed WSS, remaining below the prescribed Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for human consumption. However, factors such as water retention time, CaCOsub.3 deposition, pH fluctuations, and bacterial growth may influence its suitability, which necessitates further investigation into potential risks affecting water quality.
The article presents the situation of members of the Slovene community in Croatia, focusing on selected aspects of their socioeconomic participation (inclusion) in Croatian society. This topic has ...not been thoroughly studied yet, firstly due to the low interest of researchers in the position and activities of members of the Slovene community in Croatia, and secondly due to a continuous lack of data on the socioeconomic participation of members of not only the Slovene community but of all minorities in Croatia in general. Based on the analysis of data mainly collected from Croatian official reports, the situation of members of the Slovene minority in Croatia is presented mainly in relation to the exercise of their rights to education and employment.
The record industry grew rapidly between 1900 and 1914. Although record production was concentrated in the largest industrialised countries, companies set out to create a global market by recording ...songs in all major languages. Typically, they sent their engineers on expeditions which took them to major European cities. They made recordings with local artists selected by the company’s local representatives. The recording masters were shipped to a factory to be processed, and the finished pressings sent back to local retailers. The paper will discuss in detail the activities of the Gramophone Company (UK), which made at least 500 recordings in Zagreb and Osijek between 1902 and 1913. The company had several competitors, including the German Lindström group (Odeon, Beka, Parlophon) and Pathé in France, and their activities will also be considered. The Great War caused a break in recording, but after the war the companies returned. Gramophone was back in Zagreb in 1924, and the Germans followed. A new peak in global record sales was reached in 1929. Meanwhile, American record companies, especially Victor and Columbia, created large catalogues of »foreign-language« records for immigrants, including Croatian-Americans. They also issued material recorded by their European associates, such as Gramophone Co., for the American market. The early record industry had been dominated by a small number of multi-national companies which held the basic patents on recording technology. After World War I, local enterprises also entered the market, as independent record companies were started in smaller countries such as Sweden (Sonora), Latvia (Bellaccord), Czechoslovakia (Esta) and Yugoslavia (Edison Bell Penkala).
Netom održani predsjednički izbori četvrti su po redu na kojima se pokazuje trend koji je već 15 godina vidljiv na svim ostalim izborima u Hrvatskoj. Trend se ukratko može opisati kao slabljenje ...snage stranačkih blokova ljevice i desnice i porast broja birača koji ne pripadaju niti lijevom niti desnom bloku. Od Borisa Mikšića, Nadana Vidoševića, Ivana Vilibora Sinčića, Miroslava Škore, Mislava Kolakušića, Darija Ju¬ričana, Ivana Pernara, Dalije Orešković, čak i Milana Bandića, Dragana Primorca ili Milana Kujundžića, dugačak je popis kandidata koji su na predsjedničkim izborima osvojili značajan broj glasova, iako nisu bili kandidati glavnih stranaka odnosno stranačkih blokova. Dok su neki od njih imali prepoznatljivu ideološku poziciju i bili ograničeni na birače jednog dijela političkog spektra, većina ih ipak nije nastupala s jasnim političkim identitetom ljevice ili desnice utemeljenim na odnosu prema po¬vijesti, tradiciji i religiji, kakve u Hrvatskoj imamo. Naprotiv, znatan je dio kandidata jasno pokušavao ostati izvan tih podjela, iako to u hrvatskom političkom kontekstu, gdje političkim i medijskim diskursom dominiraju te teme, nije lako postići.
Summary
Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with specific ribosomal RNA (rRNA)‐targeted oligonucleotides is a standard method to detect and identify microorganisms, the specific ...detection of genes in bacteria and archaea, for example by using geneFISH, requires complicated and lengthy (> 30 h) procedures. Here we report a much improved protocol, direct‐geneFISH, which allows specific gene and rRNA detection within less than 6 h. For direct‐geneFISH, catalyzed amplification reporter deposition (CARD) steps are removed and fluorochrome‐labelled polynucleotide gene probes and rRNA‐targeted oligonucleotide probes are hybridized simultaneously. The protocol allows quantification of gene copy numbers per cell and the signal of the directly labelled probes enables a subcellular localization of the rRNA and target gene. The detection efficiencies of direct‐geneFISH were first evaluated on Escherichia coli carrying the target gene on a copy‐control vector. We could show that gene copy numbers correlated to the geneFISH signal within the cells. The new protocol was then applied for the detection of the sulfate thiolhydrolase (soxB) genes in cells of the gammaproteobacterial clade SUP05 in Lake Rogoznica, Croatia. Cell and gene detection efficiencies by direct‐geneFISH were statistically identical to those obtained with the original geneFISH, demonstrating the suitability of the simpler and faster protocol for environmental samples.
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