University of Zagreb

About: University of Zagreb is a education organization based out in Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 21769 authors who have published 50267 publications receiving 783239 citations. The organization is also known as: Zagreb University & Sveučilište u Zagrebu.

A Recent Evolutionary Change Affects a Regulatory Element in the Human FOXP2 Gene

Abstract: The FOXP2 gene is required for normal development of speech and language. By isolating and sequencing FOXP2 genomic DNA fragments from a 49,000-year-old Iberian Neandertal and 50 present-day humans, we have identified substitutions in the gene shared by all or nearly all present-day humansbut absent or polymorphic in Neandertals. One such substitution is localized in intron 8 and affects a binding site for the transcription factor POU3F2, which is highly conserved among vertebrates. We find that the derived allele of this site is less efficient than the ancestral allele in activating transcription from a reporter construct. The derived allele also binds less POU3F2 dimers than POU3F2 monomers compared with the ancestral allele. Because the substitution in the POU3F2 binding site is likely to alter the regulation of FOXP2 expression, and because it is localized in a region of the gene associated with a previously described signal of positive selection, it is a plausible candidate for having caused a recent selective sweep in the FOXP2 gene.

Pornography, Sexual Socialization, and Satisfaction Among Young Men

Abstract: In spite of a growing presence of pornography in contemporary life, little is known about its potential effects on young people's sexual socialization and sexual satisfaction. In this article, we present a theoretical model of the effects of sexually explicit materials (SEM) mediated by sexual scripting and moderated by the type of SEM used. An on-line survey dataset that included 650 young Croatian men aged 18-25 years was used to explore empirically the model. Descriptive findings pointed to significant differences between mainstream and paraphilic SEM users in frequency of SEM use at the age of 14, current SEM use, frequency of masturbation, sexual boredom, acceptance of sex myths, and sexual compulsiveness. In testing the model, a novel instrument was used, the Sexual Scripts Overlap Scale, designed to measure the influence of SEM on sexual socialization. Structural equation analyses suggested that negative effects of early exposure to SEM on young men's sexual satisfaction, albeit small, could be stronger than positive effects. Both positive and negative effects-the latter being expressed through suppression of intimacy-were observed only among users of paraphilic SEM. No effect of early exposure to SEM was found among the mainstream SEM users. To counterbalance moral panic but also glamorization of pornography, sex education programs should incorporate contents that would increase media literacy and assist young people in critical interpretation of pornographic imagery.

Electrochemical and thermal oxidation of TiN coatings studied by XPS

Abstract: X-ray pbotoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the electrochemical and thermal oxidation of titanium nitride (TiN) coatings prepared by physical vapour deposition (PVD) at 200°C. Electrochemical oxidation of TiN was carried out at various potentials in phthalate buffer solution (pH 5.0). Evaluation of the XPS Ti 2p and N 1s spectra showed the presence of nitride, oxynitride and oxide species in the layer formed by anodic oxidation. The electrochemical oxidation of TiN to TiO 2 proceeds through the formation of a mixed oxynitride/oxide layer, which transforms into oxide (TiO 2 ) at sufficiently positive potentials (E > 1.1 V vs. SHE). The oxidation of TiN to TiO 2 is accompanied by the formation of molecular nitrogen (N 2 ). The thickness of the oxide layer reaches ∼ 7 nm after oxidation at the highest potential (1.9 V). A complete coverage of the TiN surface by TiO 2 leads to an anodic peak in the polarization curve. On the basis of angle-resolved XPS measurements, two types of oxynitride species are identified, which are distributed differently throughout the oxidized layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiles of TiN oxidized at 450°C and 600°C in an oxygen flow reveal that at the lower temperature an oxynitride layer is formed, whereas a thick TiO 2 layer appears on top of TiN at the higher temperature. The interface between the nitride and oxide phases is relatively sharp. It is suggested that the mechanism of TiN oxidation proceeds by a progressive replacement of nitrogen by oxygen. The TiN coatings can be used up to 600°C as a protective coating in an oxygen atmosphere. Valance band spectra of TiN, as well as of electrochemically and thermally oxidized TiN, are presented and discussed.

Developing a core collection of olive ( Olea europaea L.) based on molecular markers (DArTs, SSRs, SNPs) and agronomic traits

Abstract: Molecular markers (SSR, SNP and DArT) and agronomical traits have been used in the world’s largest olive (Olea europaea L.) germplasm collection (IFAPA, Centre Alameda del Obispo, Cordoba, Spain) to study the patterns of genetic diversity and underlying genetic structure among 361 olive accessions. In addition the marker data were used to construct a set of core collections by means of two different algorithms (MSTRAT and PowerCore) based on M (maximization) strategy. Our results confirm that the germplasm collection is a useful source of genetically diverse material. We also found that geographical origin is an important factor structuring genetic diversity in olive. Subsets of 18, 27, 36, 45 and 68 olive accessions, representing respectively 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5% and 19% of the whole germplasm collection, were selected based on the information obtained by all the data set as well as each marker type considered individually. According to our results, the core collections that represent between 19% and 10% of the total collection size could be considered as optimal to retain the bulk of the genetic diversity found in this collection. Due to its high efficiency at capturing all the alleles/traits states found in the whole collection, the core size of 68 accessions could be of special interest for genetic conservation applications in olive. The high average genetic distance and diversity and the almost equal representation of accessions from different geographical regions indicate that the core size of 36 accessions, could be the working collection for olive breeders.