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.

Demonstration of the presence of IL-16, IL-17 and IL-18 at the murine fetomaternal interface during murine pregnancy.

Abstract: PROBLEM: To determine if interleukin-16 (IL-16), IL-17, and IL-18 are present at the murine fetomaternal interface during pregnancy as a first step towards investigating their roles in fetomaternal relationship. METHODS: Expression of IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18, was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the BALB/c x BALB/k (H2d x H2k), and the CBA/J x BALB/c non-abortion prone, and CBA/J x DBA/2 abortion prone matings. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed for the two latter cytokines to compare local production in the abortion prone CBA/J x DBA/2 versus the non-abortion prone CBA/J x BALB/c matings. RESULTS: Expression of IL-17 was borderline. The anti-IL-16 staining specifically localized in the uterine stroma and glandular epithelium and was rather low in the placenta. IL-18 staining started in the peri-implantation uterus in the basal proliferative stroma, and was also traced, although weaker, in the glandular epithelium. In the immediate post-implantation period, a weak stromal staining persisted but there was a strong labeling of the ectoplacental cone. Interestingly, when the ectoplacental cone differentiates into placenta having a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I + spongiotrophoblast and a (MHC class I-) labyrinth, a very strong transient labeling of uterine natural killer (u-NK) cells was found. Later in gestation, IL-18 was also produced by giant cell and spongiotrophoblast. Finally, we compared by ELISA the production of IL-17/-18 in CBA/J x DBA/2 and CBA/J x BALB/c matings. We detected significantly more IL-18 in the non-abortion prone combination decidua or placenta. CONCLUSION: The three cytokines IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18 were detected at the fetomaternal interface with a tissue specific, stage-dependent distribution. The predominance of IL-18 secretion in the non-resorption prone matings lead us to question the general validity of the classical T-helper (Th)1/2 paradigm.

Discovery of VHE gamma-rays from the blazar 1ES 1215+303 with the MAGIC telescopes and simultaneous multi-wavelength observations

Abstract: Context. We present the discovery of very high energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission from the BL Lac object 1ES 1215+303 by the MAGIC telescopes and simultaneous multi-wavelength data in a broad energy range from radio to gamma-rays. Aims. We study the VHE gamma-ray emission from 1ES 1215+303 and its relation to the emissions in other wavelengths. Methods. Triggered by an optical outburst, MAGIC observed the source in 2011 January-February for 20.3 h. The target was monitored in the optical R-band by the KVA telescope that also performed optical polarization measurements. We triggered target of opportunity observations with the Swift satellite and obtained simultaneous and quasi-simultaneous data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope and from the Metsahovi radio telescope. We also present the analysis of older MAGIC data taken in 2010. Results. The MAGIC observations of 1ES 1215+303 carried out in 2011 January-February resulted in the first detection of the source at VHE with a statistical significance of 9.4 sigma. Simultaneously, the source was observed in a high optical and X-ray state. In 2010 the source was observed in a lower state in optical, X-ray, and VHE, while the GeV gamma-ray flux and the radio flux were comparable in 2010 and 2011. The spectral energy distribution obtained with the 2011 data can be modeled with a simple one zone SSC model, but it requires extreme values for the Doppler factor or the electron energy distribution.

Life Goals and Well-Being: Are Extrinsic Aspirations Always Detrimental to Well-Being?

Abstract: Past research has revealed that relative importance a person places on extrinsic life goals as oposed to intrinsic ones is related to lower well-being. But sometimes it is more important why a goal is being pursued than the content of the goal. Materialistic aspirations will not decrease people's well-being if they help them to achieve basic financial security or some intrinsic goals. On the other hand, if social comparison or seeking power drives extrinsic orientation, these aspirations may be detrimental for well-being, since they do not satisfy satisfy our basic psychological needs. Research from Croatia and other, less rich countries suggest that extrinsic aspirations are not necessarily deterimental but may even contribute to well-being. This finding suggests that various factors can moderate the relationship between aspirations and well-being. Intrinsic life goals may probably be affordable only for people who are well off enough. The meaning of financial success in transitional and poor countries may not necesseraly be associated with purchase and consumption. On the contrary, it may bring opportunities and possibilities of selfexpression and self-growth. Individualistic societies allow individuals to pursue their intrinsic goals while collectivistic cultures stress extrinsic ones. Although this extrinsic orientation may detract their well-being, the sense of individual well-being may not be as important to them as the survival of the group they belong to or so called social well-being.

Metacognitive strategies and reading comprehension in elementary school students

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore comprehension monitoring and perceived use of reading strategies as factors of reading comprehension. Participants were elementary school students from the fifth to the eighth grade. Error correction and text sensitivity tasks from the Metacomprehension test (Pazzaglia, De Beni, & Cristante, 1994). and the cloze-task were used as measures of comprehension monitoring during reading. A Strategic reading questionnaire (Kolic-Vehovec & Bajsanski, 2001b) was applied as a measure of perceived use of strategies during reading. Girls had better results than boys on text comprehension, all measures of comprehension monitoring, as well as on the Strategic reading questionnaire. Significant developmental improvements in comprehension monitoring occurred after the fifth grade and between the sixth and the eighth grade. A similar change was evident in reading comprehension. All measures of comprehension monitoring were significantly related to text comprehension in all age groups. However, perceived use of reading strategies was significantly related to reading comprehension only in eighth-grade students.