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Objavljivanje radova u kvalitetnom znanstvenom časopisu glavni je cilj za svakog znanstvenika, osobito za istraživače u ranoj fazi karijere. Međutim, znanstvenicima i stručnjacima je važno naučiti pažljivo procijeniti i odabrati publikacije u kojima mogu publicirati svoje članke, zadovoljavajući uvjete za postizanje znanstvenih i nastavnih zvanja. Naime, s "eksplozijom" broja novoutemeljenih znanstvenih časopisa zadatak odabira može biti vrlo težak, a pritom osobiti problem stvaraju tzv. predatorski časopisi (PČ). PČ, kao specifični oblik kriminaliteta, ostvaruju zaradu krađom identiteta legitimnih časopisa, krivotvorenjem metrike i baza u kojima se citiraju, uz prikupljanje pristojbe za objavu članaka. Nastoje pridobiti znanstvenike dobro razvijenom mrežom koja uključuje izradu web stranica, intenzivni e-mail marketing i dobar izbor žrtava. Pokušaji razlučivanja legitimnih i nelegitimnih časopisa, kreiranjem liste sumnjivih časopisa (Jeffrey Beallov popis), uz zahtijevanje izdavanja pismene izjave o transparentnosti u izdavaštvu (udruge Open Access Scholarly Publishers /OAS/ i drugih globalnih organizacija), te postroženje kriterija indeksiranja od strane ureda OAS-a. Na žalost, niti jedna od postojećih mjera nije se pokazala posve učinkovitom, pa se autorima savjetuje stalno sustavno provjeravanje postojećih lista PČ zbog njihove sve češće pojave. Naime, rezultati provedene analize Beallove liste predatorskih izdavača, časopisa, metrike i "ukradenih" časopisa (2011-2015), pokazuju drastične razlike u verižnim (prosječna stopa promjene 84-267), a osobito u baznim (138-4883) indeksima (kod usporedbe početnog i finalnog razdoblja).

Plivanje i sinkronizirano plivanje su dva slična sporta, no sa bitnim razlikama u posebnim strukturama pokreta u sinkroniziranom plivanju. Ovaj članak pokušava dati pregled sličnosti i razlika među mladim sportašicama uključenima u ove sportove, prvenstveno u morfološkim obilježjima plivačica, a u širem kontekstu njihovih funkcionalnih kapaciteta i motoričkih karakteristika. Distinktivna obilježja sinkroniziranog plivanja u odnosu na klasično plivanje proizlaze dominantno zbog veće složenosti tehnike pokreta u tom sportu.

Swimming and synchronized swimming are two similar sports, different in required patterns of movements, but with similar predispositions in important motor abilities, functional capacities and morphology. First goal in this study is to determine the differences between female girls in two age groups, actively engaged in classic and synchronized swimming in chosen health and morphological parameters, as well se to forecast body mass index (BMI) in overall sample of active athletes with same parameters as the predictors. The data are collected from routine medical examinations of the athletes in the Polyclinic for Occupational Health and Sport in Zagreb, including sample of female athletes: swimmers (N=46) and synchronized swimmers (N=15), in two age groups: 7-13 years and 13-15 years. The results showed that the differences between swimmers and synchronized swimmers are not found, except in the age group 7-13 years, where diastolic blood pressure and hematocrits showed higher mean values in synchronized swimmers, as compared to the swimmers. BMI could be successfully predicted on the base of only one statistically significant predictor (hemoglobin). Results offer the guidelines for improving the training process for both sports.

Goal: Mitochondrial haplogroup (hg) X was estimated to originate in the Near East cca 30 ka years ago. Its approximate prevalence in the general European population is 2%, with most sublineages belonging to the X2 clade. The X2 clade is far less common in Croatian insular populations according to our previous findings - 6 out of 13 detected X samples belong to a new, local variant based on specific mutations in both the control and coding region of the mitochondrial genome. The aim of this study was to fully explore mentioned 6 mitochondrial haplotypes found in islands of Rab and Cres. Materials and methods: Complete sequencing of one Rab and one Cres mitochondrial genome was performed using both Sanger sequencing and massively parallel sequencing with the Illumina® Human mtDNA Genome assay on MiSeq FGx™ instrument. Results: Sequenced samples indicate a novel lineage within the global mitochondrial X hg phylogeny according to both PhyloTree and Mitomap. The lineage is connected with the hg X3 by a common polymorphism G3531A in the coding region of the mitochondrial genome, but it lacks all other X3 defining mutations. Mutations specific for this lineage are T195C, C338T, A7518G, G7853A, A10113G, C10673T, C10920T, A11380G, A13614G, C13950T, A15903G, G15927A, T16136C and A16289G. Analysis of non-phylogenetic variants exposed a rare, A7518G mutation in the tRNA gene, which is predicted as possibly pathogenic by MitoTIP. Findings of different heteroplasmic mutation patterns between samples indicate a more distant kinship within the same mitochondrial lineage. Conclusion: Our finding indicates a recent local microdifferentiation process within hg X. Described lineage could possibly be marked as a new, island-specific X twig formed within the Croatian population. The extension of present research, including genealogical and clinical data, is needed to confirm further enrichment of existing mtDNA phylogeny and to establish possible functional manifestations of locally specific variants.

Goal was to determine the influence of island population isolation on the sub structuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the sub structuring of Southeast Europe with regards to basic population genetic statistical parameters calculated using STR locus analysis. Bio-statistical analyzes were performed for a total sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes from the area of Southeastern Europe was analyzed. Nine autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S82) were analyzed using standard F-statistics and population structure analysis (program STRUCTURE). The total coefficient of genetic differentiation of Croatian subpopulations calculated by the FST method is higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeast Europe (0.002). In the population of Croatia, the subpopulation of the island of Vis shows the most pronounced separation, and in the population of Southeast Europe the population of Albanians from Kosovo, then the populations of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. The established higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to the populations of Southeast Europe suggests the existence of a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations. The total genetic differentiation coefficient of Croatian subpopulations calculated by the FST method is higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeast Europe (0.002). The established higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to Southeast Europe suggest the existence of a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations.

The majority of psychoactive fungi contain psilocybin (PY) and psilocin (PI), latter causes LSD-like psychoactive effects but lesser in intensity. PY and PI are illegal in Croatia and most of EU countries, while fungi as their source are mainly excepted. Since PY/PI are not yet synthesized in fungal spores and sclerotia (“truffles”), drug users increasingly buy them via Internet without legal consequences. Furthermore, established toxicology and morphology methods are useless on these kind of samples. Hence, main goal of this study was to present the usefulness of DNA analysis on abovementioned forensic samples in order to confirm its psychoactive origin. Study addressed sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear DNA and large portion of 28S gene (nuclear-encoded large subunit ribosomal RNA genes, nLSU-rDNA). ITS region enables unambiguous identification of fungal species while part of LSU gene from 5' end enables distinguishing between closely related psychoactive and non-psychoactive species. DNA from total of 14 “spore-print“ and „truffle“ samples seized on Croatian territory (2010-2014), were isolated and ITS region and large portion of 28S gene (nLSU-rDNA) were sequenced. ITS and LSU sequences were obtained from 11 out of 14 tested samples with haplotypes congruent to GenBank database sequences of psychoactive species Psilocybe cubensis and Psilocybe mexicana. One out of 14 samples most probably represents a mixture of these two, and for the two remaining samples only ITS haplotype was obtained, matching those of P. cubensis. As previously published, P. cubensis varieties are most popular among users due to their proven potency and are easy growing. Applied DNA method can be easily implemented into routine forensic workflow. The latter legislation update, i.e. to include fungi species/body parts as the source of psychoactive substances could lead to continuing decrease of illegal fungi drug abuse.

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic and chemical profiles of the seized cannabis obtained from the growing farm. According to the farmer, certified variety Santhica 27 was sown. However, police officers recovered 118 plants under the suspicion of drug production. Quantitative cannabinoid content was determined using GC-FID on Agilent 7890A GC System. Extraction of DNA from plant material was performed using DNAeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen) following the manufacturer’s protocol. DNA quantity was determined by Qubit™ dsDNA HS Assay Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). A portion of the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS) gene was amplified using Qiagen Multiplex PCR kit. Sequencing was performed according to the laboratory standard operating procedures using Big Dye Terminator v.3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit on AB3500xl GA (both from Life Technologies). Data analysis was accomplished in Sequencher v.5.4.6 (Gene Codes). Sequences were aligned against the THCAS coding sequence of the drug-type Skunk deposited in NCBI (KJ469378). Based on qualitative chemotype, 61% of total samples were cannabigerol (CBG) predominant, and 39% were THC dominant. Alignment of the obtained sequences correlated with their cannabinoid content, clustering in two distinct groups. Eleven identical sequences differed from variants in hemp Finola and probably Santhica 27 that showed undetectable THCAS. Moreover, several variants were revealed including 1064A that had been previously reported to be responsible for THCAS inactivation and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) precursor accumulation. This finding was in correlation with the average CBG content of 2%. The remaining three sequences were identical to those obtained in drug-type. The average proportion of THC in these plants was 2.5%. According to chemical and genetic results, we conclude that on the industrial hemp farm was growing THC and CBG predominant cannabis varieties under the guise of certified variety Santhica 27.

The Croatian DNA database was legally formed at the beginning of the 2000s with new Police regulation. Firstly, it contains DNA profiles of persons in general and crime stains/unknown persons stored in home-made database. In 2006 database migrated to CODIS (FBI) platform, where DNA profiles of known persons were distinguished into suspects, victims, and laboratory staff. With the new system, DNA profiles originated from unknown persons also distinguished into DNA profiles originated from crime scene/stains and those originated from unidentified bodies/persons. Since the migration to CODIS, the Croatian DNA database recorded more than 2.500 matches of unsolved crime stains with suspect DNA profiles. With new regulation that came to force in late 2011 storing DNA profiles into the database, the time of retention and deletion especially DNA profiles from individuals involved in crime act was regulated more precisely. In 2018, because of Croatia’s obligation to EU directives, DNA profiles were made available to EU member states through so-called Prüm decisions that enabled 400 unsolved domestic crimes to be linked to known persons. Before the start of automated exchanging DNA profiles and data, the DNA database and all stored profiles were thoroughly revised in which DNA profiles of suspects were differentiated into Suspects (general name for suspects, arrestees, and offenders not yet convicted) and Convicted Offenders according to revised legal acts. DNA profiles of crime stains also were revised in accordance with a number of loci and statistical significance. Today Croatian DNA database counts approximately 15.000 DNA profiles of which 11.000 are daily exchanging with other EU member states.