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Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the municipal status and legal status of Issa, Croatia, during the Roman era. Topics discussed include the use of historical events, urban planning, historical sources and epigraphy to explain the legal status of Issa in the Roman era; historical sources, architecture, economy, and epigraphic sources which show that Issa existed during the imperial era; and the sarcophagus from the Albucius' family of Salona, which has a reference to Issa.

Leptin, a possible mediator between energy homeostasis, inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD), acts via leptin receptors. We investigated association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) with several CVD risk factors: body mass index, waist circumference (WC), serum lipids, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels. Thirty-one SNPs in and near LEPR gene were analyzed in 986 inhabitants of the island of Vis, Croatia and 29 SNPs in the inland sample (N=499). We assessed linkage disequilibrium (LD), SNP and haplotype associations with the selected phenotypes. rs4291477 significantly associated with fibrinogen (P=0.003) and rs7539471 marginally significantly with high-density lipoprotein (P=0.004), but only in the Vis sample, while rs10493384 marginally significantly associated with triglyceride levels (P=0.006) in the inland sample. SNPs were grouped into eight LD blocks in Vis and in seven blocks in the inland population. Haplotype A-C-A-A-G-A in block 5 in Vis (rs1782754, rs1171269, rs1022981, rs6673324, rs3790426, rs10493380) and haplotype A-A-A-A in block 4 in the inland data (rs1782754, rs1022981, rs6673324, rs1137100) were nominally associated with WC, P=7.085 × 10−22 (adjusted P=0.0979) and P=5.496 × 10−144 (adjusted P=0.1062), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The External Dinarides from which several conflicting tectonic models were published, are the more tectonized NE margin of autochthonous Adria. Dugi otok and Vis islands belong to this margin. From the two islands a new paleomagnetic study is presented, based on 48 geographically distributed and biostratigraphically controlled Cretaceous carbonate sediment localities. The results suggest that the two islands certainly moved in co-ordination after the mid-Albian, which was the time of resumed sedimentation after a period of emersion, although some relative movement could have occurred earlier. The new post-Aptian paleomagnetic results are in perfect agreement with recently published paleomagnetic results from stable Adria and from the more northerly Adriatic islands. This consistency suggests that all these areas moved together from the Albian on, while the coastal range of the External Dinarides seems to have moved independently. Thus, autochthonous Adria together with the Adriatic islands is established as a crustal block within the Central Mediterranean region, which rotated significantly in CCW sense in post-Cretaceous times. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The object of this study are hillslopes of the Vis island. The slopes can be defined as relief surfaces determined by geographical position, slope inclination (related with horizontal surface) and slope aspect. Recent slope shapes can be defined as result of series of natural and anthropogenic factors during relief genesis and evolution. It is possible to correlate slope characteristics with geological structure and other natural geographic features (climate, soils, vegetation etc.) using geomorphometrical analysis. The main aims of this study are: a) analysis of morphometrical relief indicators (hypsometry, slope inclination and slope aspect), b) analysis of relationships between morphometrical indicators, and c) analysis of relatioships between morphometrical parameters, structural and lithological features, in order to gain more detailed understanding of exogeomorphological and morphostructural features of the investigated area. The final intention is to assess extent and intensity of dominant geomorphological processes. Special attention was given to detailed geomorphometrical analysis of morphostructures of Vis island in GIS environment based on DMR. Applied geomorphometrical relief analysis included use of different methods for precise calculation of numerical relief parameters of investigated area, which enabled mutual comparison of specified parameters and comparison with maps of tectonic units and lithology. The aim of this approach is more exact analysis and interpretation of morphometrical relief parameters as indicators of characteristics of endogenous and exogenous processes in the investigated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an evaluation of the tourist-hiking maps of the Island of Vis and Nature Park of Biokovo and the hiking-tourist map of Orjen-Snijež, which are donated by the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (CMRS) to the Croatian Cartographic Society (CCS). There are several elements in these maps including title with subtitles and the title page, represented area, field and orientation and map graphics. Other aspects cited are the projection data, map graphics and production date.

This paper focuses on the evolution and patterns of microscale weathering forms and dissolution rates of "standard" (Lipica) limestone tablets. Analysis of carbonate weathering using combination of methods (quantitative analysis by the weight loss of "standard" tablets, and qualitative analysis of the weathered surfaces by stained acetate peels and SEM imaging) showed that dissolution takes place not only at the surface of limestone tablets, but also along voids and cavities in limestone tablets which makes total weathering surface larger than the area of the tablet surface. Dissolution is more pronounced on the micritic calcite surfaces (due to different dissolution kinetics of carbonate minerals), resulting in lowering of the surface (calcite matrix) which causes gradual unburial and removal of authigenic dolomite grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of its general morphological and morphostructural characteristics it is possible to distinguish several parts of Vis island: northern, central and southern ridge and northern and southern valley, which are elongated in W (WSW) - E (ENE) direction. Morphologically, most prominent are the southern valley (bigger, built of karst poljes and economically more important) and ridge which dominates the central part of the island. Carbonate foundation of the Vis island is restructured by tectonics, and sea level rise of 120 m after the last ice age gave the island its recent contours. Cracked carbonate rocks, which were exposed to different climatic and biological processes, were the foundation of karst relief formation. Exogenous destructive and accumulative processes (karst, fluvio-karst, derasional and abrasional) have formed the final appearance of Vis island. The material which had been washed away from slopes or eroded by paleostreams activity accumulated in morphological depressions in interior part of the island, while along the coastline it was washed away or restructured as beach sediments by wave activity. Vast areas of more or less steep slopes were transformed by anthropogenic activity, or to be more precise, by terracing for grapevine cultivation. Dry stonewalls, which had the function of retention of the soil on the steeper parts of the slopes, served as a supporting element for terraced plots. Today, because of their greatly reduced function, vast areas of terraced poljes on hill-slopes are becoming overgrown and dry stonewalls are collapsing because they are not under maintenance anymore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the geographical position of the island of Vis, its climate features are under the strong impact of the sea. The data analysed for the period between 1981. and 2009. show positive rising trend of mean annual air temperature and mean annual precipitation, and they are inversely proportional to mean annual humidity. Changes in the values of air temperature and humidity (in the period analysed) are mainly in accordance with the data for the Mediterranean region (except from its eastern part). The changes of the values of mean annual precipitation are not in accordance with the data for the Mediterranean region where the amount of precipitation is mainly decreasing. In the period analysed, there is a great variability of air temperature and precipitation values which is more pronounced in summer precipitation, which emphasizes the negative impact of summer aridity in the years when the deviation from the average is negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic assumption of this paper is that the relationship between geological basics, geomorphological and pedological characteristics, with structural features of the natural and cultural landscape can serve as a criterion to determine landscape typology with respect to sensitivity to natural processes and anthropogenic influences. Karst natural and cultural landscape of Vis Island, continuously developed under the influence of traditional agriculture, transformed Vis Island into landscape of unique identity and relevance in the wider context of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean. Its characteristics are significant typological variations, authenticity and interdependence of natural and cultivated landscape structure, which makes significant difference respective to appearances of natural and human environment on other Adriatic islands. In this paper character and scope of the impact of natural and social features of the landscape were assessed and sensitivity of areas to existing and potential adverse natural and anthropogenic influences was estimated. This is especially important due to the fact that in the future the island of Vis can expect significant transformation of natural and cultural landscape, as a result of synergic effect of recent natural and social processes. The last are represented through the stronger trend of abandonment of agricultural land, parallel with the spreading of tourism and related activity which leaves the consequences on the natural and cultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BackgroundPopulation isolates are characterized by simplified genetic background and as such present promising opportunities for studying complex diseases. We performed a genome-wide linkage analysis for systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) followed up by the association analysis in the Croatian isolated island of Vis, where a very high prevalence of hypertension was reported (75%).MethodsVariance-components linkage analysis was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SBP and DBP in 125 families with 1,389 members. Follow-up association analysis was performed in a sample of 421 subjects from the island of Vis. The 15 top-ranking single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and tested for the association by in silico replication in the British 1958 Birth Cohort DNA Collection.ResultsLinkage results showed evidence for a QTL influencing DBP (lod = 1.89) on chromosome 7p14.2 and two QTL influencing SBP (lod = 2.03 on chromosome 1p36 and lod = 1.75 on chromosome 20q13). For the association results, the replication was observed for the rs237484 polymorphism on chromosome 20 that was associated with SBP with the effect size β = −5.2 (P = 0.001; per A allele) in Vis population and β = −1.1 (P = 0.04) in the British 1958 Birth Cohort. rs237484 is in proximity to the potassium voltage gate channel gene (KCNB1) and close to the prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin) synthase gene (PTGIS).ConclusionsThese results provide evidence of a QTL influencing blood pressure (BP) variability in this region and support the notion that the isolated population of the island of Vis is a suitable population for conducting linkage and association analyses of cardiovascular-related phenotypes.American Journal of Hypertension 2009; doi:10.1038/ajh.2009.46American Journal of Hypertension (2009); 22, 6, 663–668. doi:10.1038/ajh.2009.46 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]