University of Rijeka

About: University of Rijeka is a education organization based out in Rijeka, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 3471 authors who have published 7993 publications receiving 110386 citations. The organization is also known as: Rijeka University & Sveučilište u Rijeci.

Cocoa Processing and Impact on Composition

Abstract: Chocolate and cocoa are a potent source of bioactive substances such as polyphenols whose benefits are beneficial to maintaining human health. This review is focused on the main processes that have the highest effect on chocolate quality. During cocoa processing, significant amounts of bioactive substances can be lost, and the final cocoa products may have flavors which decrease their quality. These undesired effects, such as reduction of bioactive substances and presence of off-flavors, can be diminished by the standardization of farming practices applied by cocoa farmers at the beginning of the chocolate supply chain, and by improving the technology of the chocolate production process. Finally, in order to protect consumers, the implementation of systems of traceability, authenticity, food quality, and safety are necessary.

The C-terminus of IcmT is essential for pore formation and for intracellular trafficking of Legionella pneumophila within Acanthamoeba polyphaga.

Abstract: We have shown previously that the five rib (release of intracellular bacteria) mutants of Legionella pneumophila are competent for intracellular replication but defective in pore formation-mediated cytolysis and egress from protozoan and mammalian cells. The rib phenotype results from a point mutation (deletion) DeltaG544 in icmT that is predicted to result in the expression of a protein truncated by 32 amino acids from the C-terminus. In contrast to the rib mutants that are capable of intracellular replication, an icmT null mutant was completely defective in intracellular replication within mammalian and protozoan cells, in addition to its defect in pore formation-mediated cytolysis. The icmT wild-type allele complemented the icmT null mutant for both defects of intracellular replication and pore formation-mediated cytolysis and egress from mammalian cells. In contrast, the icmTDeltaG544 allele complemented the icmT null mutant for intracellular growth, but not for the pore-forming activity. Consistent with their defect in pore formation-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro, both mutants failed to cause pulmonary inflammation in A/J mice. Interestingly, the rib mutant was severely defective in intracellular growth within Acanthamoeba polyphaga. Confocal laser scanning and electron microscopy confirmed that the rib mutant and the icmT null mutant were severely and completely defective, respectively, in intracellular growth in A. polyphaga, and the respective defects correlated with fusion of the bacterial phagosomes to lysosomes. Taken together, the data showed that the C-terminus domain of IcmT is essential for the pore-forming activity and is required for intracellular trafficking and replication within A. polyphaga, but not within mammalian cells.

Complex landslide in the Rječina valley (Croatia): origin and sliding mechanism

Abstract: This paper discusses the development of the Grohovo landslide on the north-eastern slope of the Rjecina valley, the largest active landslide along the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea coast. This complex retrogressive landslide was reactivated in December 1996. Thirteen separate slide bodies have been identified. The slide surface is considered to be on the upper flysch bedrock. Monitoring indicated that the magnitude of displacements was very different in time and space. The maximum movements were recorded on the upper part of the slope. The limestone mega-block and separated rocky blocks on top of the slope have also moved, which is not a typical phenomenon of the flysch slopes in the area of Rijeka.

Childhood and adulthood traumatic experiences in patients with psoriasis.

Abstract: It is well known that several psychiatric disorders may be related to childhood psychological trauma. Recent studies have associated childhood exposure to trauma to some skin diseases. Our study aimed at exploring whether psoriasis is related to the reported positive and negative traumatic life events in different age intervals beginning from early childhood to adulthood. Furthermore, we investigated differences between psoriatics with early and late onset according to traumatic experiences in different age intervals. Also, we investigated the possible correlation of traumatic experiences with the disease severity. One hundred patients with psoriasis and 101 controls (patients with skin conditions considered to be "non-psychosomatic") were enrolled in the study. All participants completed a specific questionnaire measuring traumatic life experiences (Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire, TAQ). The TAQ assesses positive personal experiences (competence and safety) and negative personal experiences (neglect, separation, secrets, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, trauma witnessing, other traumas and exposure to alcohol/drugs) from early childhood to adulthood. The severity of psoriasis was estimated according to the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), a standardized measuring instrument. The amount of positive experiences did not differ significantly among groups, except for safety scores that were higher in controls compared with both psoriatic groups (early and late onset). On the other side, negative traumatic experiences appeared more frequently in patients with psoriasis during all developmental periods. We found no correlation between severity of psoriasis and traumatic experiences. The present study demonstrates an increased history of childhood and adulthood negative traumatic experiences in patients with psoriasis compared to the control group. Our findings suggest a relationship between retrospectively reported negative traumatic experiences and psoriasis.