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.

Antifungal activity of fluid extract and essential oil from anise fruits (Pimpinella anisum L., Apiaceae)

Abstract: Antifungal activities of fluid extract and essential oil obtained from anise fruits Pimpinella anisum L. (Apiaceae) were tested in vitro on clinical isolates of seven species of yeasts and four species of dermatophytes. Diffusion method with cylinders and the broth dilution method were used for antifungal activity testing. Anise fluid extract showed antimycotic activity against Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis and C. krusei with MIC values between 17 and 20% (V/V). No activity was noticed against C. glabrata, and anis fruits extracts showed growth promotion activity on Geotrichum spp. Anise fruits extract inhibited the growth of dermatophyte species (Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis and M. gypseum) with MIC values between 1.5 and 9% (V/V). Anise essential oil showed strong antifungal activity against yeasts with MIC lower than 1.56% (V/V) and dermatophytes with MIC lower than 0.78% (V/V). Significant differences in antifungal activities were found between anise fluid extract and anise essential oil (p < 0.01). Anise essential oil exhibited stronger antifungal activities against yeasts and dermatophytes with MIC values between 0.10 and 1.56% (V/V), respectively.

A review of recent advances in understanding the meso‐ and microscale properties of the severe Bora wind

Abstract: A gusty downslope windstorm that blows at the eastern Adriatic coast is called bora. Similar winds exist at many other places on virtually all continents. Related hourly mean wind speeds surpassing 20 m s −1 , with gusts reaching up to 50 or even 70 m s −1 , in the coastal mountain lee areas are common (hurricane speeds). There has been substantial progress in bora observations and measurements, understanding, modelling and its more detailed prediction during the last 25 yr. It was generally thought before that bora was a falling, mostly thermodynamically driven wind; however, (severe) bora is primarily governed by mountain wave breaking. Understandings of bora interactions and influences on other processes have taken place as well, most notably in the air-sea interaction, but are not completed yet. The overall progress mentioned would not be possible without airborne data, non-linear theory and advances in computational techniques, most notably mesoscale numerical models. Some gaps in bora knowledge are also indicated, for example, dynamical transition from weak to moderate to strong to severe bora flows, where the latter are the main subject here, and vice versa. Moreover, the role of the boundary layer and waves on the upwind side of the bora evolution and the consequent lee side flow structures are inadequately understood; this is especially so for bora at the southern Adriatic coast. The focus here is on stronger bora flows at the NE Adriatic coast.

Flare-CME Models: An Observational Perspective (Invited Review)

Abstract: Eruptions, flares, and coronal mass ejection (CMEs) are due to physical phenomena mainly driven by an initially force-free current-carrying magnetic field. We review some key observations relevant to the current theoretical trigger mechanisms of the eruption and to the energy release via reconnection. Sigmoids observed in X-rays and UV, as well as the pattern (double J-shaped) of electric currents in the photosphere show clear evidence of the existence of currents parallel to the magnetic field and can be the signature of a flux rope that is detectable in CMEs. The magnetic helicity of filaments and active regions is an interesting indirectly measurable parameter because it can quantify the twist of the flux rope. On the other hand, the magnetic helicity of the solar structures allows us to associate solar eruptions and magnetic clouds in the heliosphere. The magnetic topology analysis based on the 3D magnetic field extrapolated from vector magnetograms is a good tool for identifying the reconnection locations (null points and/or the 3D large volumes – hyperbolic flux tube, HFT). Flares are associated more with quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) and HFTs than with a single null point, which is a relatively rare case. We review various mechanisms that have been proposed to trigger CMEs and their observable signatures: by “breaking” the field lines overlying the flux rope or by reconnection below the flux rope to reduce the magnetic tension, or by letting the flux rope to expand until it reaches a minimum threshold height (loss of equilibrium or torus instability). Additional mechanisms are commonly operating in the solar atmosphere. Examples of observations are presented throughout the article and are discussed in this framework.