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.

Predominant type-2 response in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection demonstrated by cytokine flow cytometry.

Abstract: Acute RSV infection in infancy may produce some asthma-like symptoms and may be followed by a recurrent wheeze later in childhood. It has been proposed that RSV infection stimulates type-2 cytokine responses, resembling those found in atopy and asthma. Peripheral blood cells were obtained from RSV-infected infants (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 10). After in vitro restimulation of the cells, intracellular IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured by flow cytometry. The cells from RSV-infected infants produced more IL-4 and less IFN-γ than those from healthy controls. IL-4 production was more frequent in CD8 than in CD4 cells, and the bias toward IL-4 production was greatest in infants with mild infections, whereas IFN-γ production increased with disease severity. Our conclusions are that RSV infection is associated with IL-4 production in peripheral T cells, and that peripheral blood in infants with severe disease may be depleted of cytokine-producing cells.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Causative Mutations in Families with Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract.

Abstract: Background Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most prevalent cause of kidney disease in the first three decades of life. Previous gene panel studies showed monogenic causation in up to 12% of patients with CAKUT. Methods We applied whole-exome sequencing to analyze the genotypes of individuals from 232 families with CAKUT, evaluating for mutations in single genes known to cause human CAKUT and genes known to cause CAKUT in mice. In consanguineous or multiplex families, we additionally performed a search for novel monogenic causes of CAKUT. Results In 29 families (13%), we detected a causative mutation in a known gene for isolated or syndromic CAKUT that sufficiently explained the patient’s CAKUT phenotype. In three families (1%), we detected a mutation in a gene reported to cause a phenocopy of CAKUT. In 15 of 155 families with isolated CAKUT, we detected deleterious mutations in syndromic CAKUT genes. Our additional search for novel monogenic causes of CAKUT in consanguineous and multiplex families revealed a potential single, novel monogenic CAKUT gene in 19 of 232 families (8%). Conclusions We identified monogenic mutations in a known human CAKUT gene or CAKUT phenocopy gene as the cause of disease in 14% of the CAKUT families in this study. Whole-exome sequencing provides an etiologic diagnosis in a high fraction of patients with CAKUT and will provide a new basis for the mechanistic understanding of CAKUT.

Sex Differences in Mate Preferences Across 45 Countries: A Large-Scale Replication

Abstract: Considerable research has examined human mate preferences across cultures, finding universal sex differences in preferences for attractiveness and resources as well as sources of systematic cultural variation. Two competing perspectives-an evolutionary psychological perspective and a biosocial role perspective-offer alternative explanations for these findings. However, the original data on which each perspective relies are decades old, and the literature is fraught with conflicting methods, analyses, results, and conclusions. Using a new 45-country sample (N = 14,399), we attempted to replicate classic studies and test both the evolutionary and biosocial role perspectives. Support for universal sex differences in preferences remains robust: Men, more than women, prefer attractive, young mates, and women, more than men, prefer older mates with financial prospects. Cross-culturally, both sexes have mates closer to their own ages as gender equality increases. Beyond age of partner, neither pathogen prevalence nor gender equality robustly predicted sex differences or preferences across countries.

Potential theory of subordinate killed Brownian motion in a domain

Abstract: Subordination of a killed Brownian motion in a bounded domain D⊂ℝ d via an α/2-stable subordinator gives a process Z t whose infinitesimal generator is −(−Δ| D )α/2, the fractional power of the negative Dirichlet Laplacian. In this paper we study the properties of the process Z t in a Lipschitz domain D by comparing the process with the rotationally invariant α-stable process killed upon exiting D. We show that these processes have comparable killing measures, prove the intrinsic ultracontractivity of the generator of Z t , prove the intrinsic ultracontractivity of the semigroup of Z t , and, in the case when D is a bounded C 1,1 domain, obtain bounds on the Green function and the jumping kernel of Z t .

Flare waves observed in Helium I 10 830 Å - A link between Hα Moreton and EIT waves

Abstract: Three traveling disturbances recorded in the absorption line of Helium I at 10830 A (HeI), analogous to HαMoreton waves, are analyzed. The morphology and kinematics of the wavefronts are described in detail. The HeI wave appears as an expanding arc of increased absorption roughly corresponding to the Hα disturbance, although not as sharply defined. HeI perturbations consist of a relatively uniform diffuse component and a patchy one that appears as enhanced absorption in HeI mottles. It leads the Hα front by some 20 Mm and can be followed to considerably larger distances than in Hα observations. Behind the front stationary areas of reduced HeI absorption develop, resembling EUV coronal dimming. The observed HeI as well as the Hα disturbances show a deceleration of the order of 100-1000 ms −2 . Moreover, in the event where Hα ,H eI, and EUV wavefronts are observed, all of them follow closely related kinematical curves, indicating that they are a consequence of a common disturbance. The analysis of spatial perturbation profiles indicates that HeI disturbances consist of a forerunner and a main dip,the latterbeing cospatial withthe Hαdisturbance. The properties and behavior of the wavefronts can be comprehended as a consequence of a fast-mode MHD coronal shock whose front is weakly inclined to the solar surface. The Hα disturbance and the main HeI dip are a consequence of the pressure jump in the corona behind the shock front. The HeI forerunner might be caused by thermal conduction from the oblique shock segments ahead of the shock-chromosphere intersection, or by electron beams accelerated in the quasi-perpendicular section of the shock.