Transduction of p27 to Induce Apoptosis in Tumor Cells

Transduction is a biochemical technique for the introduction of full-length proteins into the cells. It has the potential to be used in the development of a new therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy. Different forms of p27 (TAT-p27, TAT-Mp27, TAT-p23) were transduced into tumor cell lines, lymphocytes and B-CLL cells, and their influence on proliferation and apoptosis was investigated. The metabolism of transduced proteins differed between the cell types. TAT-p27 protein is metabolized faster than the mutated form. Furthermore, the half-life of TAT-p27 depended on the type of cells. All forms of TAT-p27 fusion protein moderately decreased the proliferation of different types of the cells and induced apoptosis. The cells from some B-CLL patients were sensitive to TAT fusion proteins, and the sensitivity was increased with the addition of Fluda. This study provides valuable results for further development of TAT technology as the potential tool for a specially targeted therapy of tumors

Culture Gaps: Challenges in Translating Non-standard Language Varieties

This thesis comprises five annotated translations, accompanied by a discussion. Excerpts from three books were translated from English into Croatian, The Willpower Instinct.How Self- Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal, Social Class in the 21st Century by Mike Savage, and UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, and two from Croatian into English, Ženski udesi: Tri pripovijesti (Parskina sreća - Sirota - Udala se) by Živko Bertić, and Oči by Edo Popović .The discussion focused on the challenges in translating non-standard language varieties which can cause culture gaps. It was also meant to show possible solutions and the positive and negative aspects of existing taxonomies created to help translators make decisions during the translation event. In the discussion, the the focus was on scholars Jianqing Wu and Vladimir Ivir who wrote about bridging the culture gaps in translations and they both offered their taxonomies. They each respectively developed procedure meant to help translators deal with cultural elements in source texts. Moreover, the discussion examines the positive and negative aspects and consequences of using these strategies in certain contexts.Ovaj diplomski rad sastoji se od pet prijevoda koji su popraćeni komentarima te na kraju slijedi rasprava. Tri su teksta prevedena s engleskog jezika na hrvatski, The Willpower Instinct.How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It autorice Kelly McGonigal, Social Class in the 21st Century autora Mikea Savagea, i UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, te dva s hrvatskog na engleski, Ženski udesi: Tri pripovijesti (Parskina sreća - Sirota - Udala se) autora Živka Bertića, i Oči autora Ede Popovića. Teme rasprave su izazovi pri prevođenju nestandardnih inačica jezika koje mogu uzrokovati rupe u kulturama. Također su prikazana moguća rješenja te pozitivne i negativne posljedice taksonomija koje pomažu prevoditeljima pri prevođenju. U raspravi su spomenute taksonomije Vladimira Ivira i Jianqing Wu koji su napisali radove o premošćivanju rupa u kulturama. Također se raspravlja o pozitivnim i negativnim aspektima i posljedicama korištenja tih strategija u određenim kontekstima

Botanical Insecticides in Plant Protection

Botanical insecticides are natural compounds with insecticidal properties and their use in crop protection is as old as agricultural practice. Although they have been in use for over one hundred years, the advent of synthetic insecticides has unfortunately displaced their use today. Due to fast action, low cost, easy application and efficiency against a wide range of harmful species, synthetic insecticides have become an important part of pest management in modern agricultural systems. However, after decades of use, their negative side effects, such as toxicity to humans and animals, environmental contamination, and toxicity to non-target insects have become apparent and interest in less hazardous alternatives of pest control is therefore being renewed. Plant species with known insecticidal actions are being promoted and research is being conducted to find new sources of botanical insecticides. The most important botanical insecticide is pyrethrin, a secondary metabolite of Dalmatian pyrethrum, neem, followed by insecticides based on the essential oils, rotenone, quassia, ryania and sabadilla. Th ey have various chemical properties and modes of action. However, some general characteristics include fast degradation in sunlight, air and moisture, and selectivity to non-target insects. Unfortunately, neither of these insecticides is widely used as a pest control agent but is recognized by organic crop producers in industrialized countries

Nematode Control by the Use of Antagonistic Plants

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) cause significant economic damage to a wide range of crops. Although soil treatment with synthetic nematicides has given some protection and increased yields, many of them are being banned from the world market, because like other pesticides used in conventional agriculture, they might cause adverse damage to the agricultural ecosystem. Also, trends toward organic farming and sustainable agriculture continue to rise. Thus, the uses of alternative nematode management practices, which are safe and economically acceptable, are increasingly used. Among them, the use of antagonistic plants is a very attractive alternative. Some of antagonistic plants give the benefit of a green manure. Also, some nematocidal substances have been isolated from them and have drawn the attention of the pesticide industry. The use and the effect of the most investigated antagonistic plants like marigold (Tagetes spp.), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), species from the genus Brassica, Crotolaria, Mucuna, etc. are presented in this review. It is necessary to continue the discovery of the new effective nematode antagonists and to develop techniques for their more efficient utilization. Furthermore, it is important to explore other benefits of antagonistic plants that would stimulate their cultivation by the farmers

Nematode Control by the Use of Antagonistic Plants

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) cause significant economic damage to a wide range of crops. Although soil treatment with synthetic nematicides has given some protection and increased yields, many of them are being banned from the world market, because like other pesticides used in conventional agriculture, they might cause adverse damage to the agricultural ecosystem. Also, trends toward organic farming and sustainable agriculture continue to rise. Thus, the uses of alternative nematode management practices, which are safe and economically acceptable, are increasingly used. Among them, the use of antagonistic plants is a very attractive alternative. Some of antagonistic plants give the benefit of a green manure. Also, some nematocidal substances have been isolated from them and have drawn the attention of the pesticide industry. The use and the effect of the most investigated antagonistic plants like marigold (Tagetes spp.), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), species from the genus Brassica, Crotolaria, Mucuna, etc. are presented in this review. It is necessary to continue the discovery of the new effective nematode antagonists and to develop techniques for their more efficient utilization. Furthermore, it is important to explore other benefits of antagonistic plants that would stimulate their cultivation by the farmers

Phenotypic Diversity among Croatian Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces

Phenotypic diversity among Croatian common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces was assessed by analysing 12 qualitative and six quantitative traits in 338 accessions collected from all production areas in Croatia. Out of 12 qualitative morphological traits, seed coat colour was the most polymorphic among accessions having the highest Shannon’s information index and discriminating power. Out of six quantitative traits, the highest coefficient of variation was detected in duration of flowering. A weak correlation was found between distance matrices among accessions based on qualitative and quantitative traits

Synergistic Effects of Combining Morphological and Molecular Data in Resolving the Intraspecific Classification in O. basilicum L.

High levels of both morphological and chemical variability exist within the O. basilicum L. species. Long-term traditional uses and wide distribution throughout the world, as well as traditional selection and breeding efforts, have contributed to variability within the species. Morphological traits according to UPOV descriptor list and AFLP markers were utilized to define the extent of existing variation in the species analyzing 24 accessions. Phenotypic dissimilarities between pairs of accessions were calculated and the UPGMA dendrogram was constructed. A number of clearly defined clusters have been detected, giving a good representation of traditional taxonomic relationships. Genetic relationships were determined by Neighbour-Joining cluster analysis based on Dice’s distance matrix between accessions. Generally, morphologically similar accessions grouped together and a high congruence between trees was observed. Our analyses revealed a certain degree of correspondence between morphological and molecular data among O. basilicum L. accessions. Both AFLP markers and morphological descriptors can contribute in resolving existing problems concerning intraspecific classification in O. basilicum

The first contribution to the ethnobotany of inland Dalmatia: medicinal and wild food plants of the Knin area, Croatia

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the Knin area (northern Dalmatia, Croatia) with the aim of recording traditional plant use by the local (native) people and contributing to the knowledge of plant biodiversity in the investigated area. Ethnobotanical data were collected by interviewing 40 local people at 17 locations. Data on 123 plant taxa (on average 21 taxa per interview) and 122 unique medicinal and 18 food uses in the local community were recorded. Prevalent medicinal uses of the recorded taxa were the treatment of digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular disorders, and injuries. The most commonly used plant parts gathered were leaves (35%) and flowers (20%). The most commonly collected plants in the investigated area were: Urtica dioica, Thymus longicaulis, Sambucus nigra, and Hypericum perforatum

Botanical Insecticides in Plant Protection

Botanical insecticides are natural compounds with insecticidal properties and their use in crop protection is as old as agricultural practice. Although they have been in use for over one hundred years, the advent of synthetic insecticides has unfortunately displaced their use today. Due to fast action, low cost, easy application and efficiency against a wide range of harmful species, synthetic insecticides have become an important part of pest management in modern agricultural systems. However, after decades of use, their negative side effects, such as toxicity to humans and animals, environmental contamination, and toxicity to non-target insects have become apparent and interest in less hazardous alternatives of pest control is therefore being renewed. Plant species with known insecticidal actions are being promoted and research is being conducted to find new sources of botanical insecticides. The most important botanical insecticide is pyrethrin, a secondary metabolite of Dalmatian pyrethrum, neem, followed by insecticides based on the essential oils, rotenone, quassia, ryania and sabadilla. Th ey have various chemical properties and modes of action. However, some general characteristics include fast degradation in sunlight, air and moisture, and selectivity to non-target insects. Unfortunately, neither of these insecticides is widely used as a pest control agent but is recognized by organic crop producers in industrialized countries