Five-Year Report of Croatian Medical Journal’s Research Integrity Editor – Policy, Policing, or Policing Policy

Imagine an action sequence before the opening credits, a combination of an action thriller and a sword-and-sorcery movie: It is raining outside. That and the fog make this day just another one in a long line of days one should forget as soon as possible. Our righteous “hero”, ie, the Research Integrity Editor, is in his tent, ie, the offices of the Croatian Medical Journal (CMJ). By a signal fire he’s been warned of another foe (a reviewer/co-editor has red-flagged a manuscript, instantly turning it into a “case”). A foe gaining in strength and number (hopefully not), a dark Lord whose forces are in the valley below, hidden by the fog and the rain (obfuscation of actual author contributions). But the hero has lit his torch, ie, computers with access to the journal’s databases and PubMed (1), WAME (2), ORI (3), and COPE (4) websites, sharpened his sword (gathered what little wit he has), and is ready to overcome (well, at least investigate, process, and advise) another foe, another arch-enemy (a possible case of research/publication misconduct). Ah, what a feat! It seems another skirmish is ahead. But greater things are at stake. Is our hero going to make it? Will righteousness prevail? Will he win the battle? Can it be won? Is there a battle at all? Why is he fighting? For whom? Does he need the fight? Does anyone? Not likely questions for our hero. He pushes on. Relentlessly. Or until the opening credits start. Which is right about … now

Creating a motorbike television commercial

Cilj ovog završnog rada je izrada promotivnog, reklamnog videospota za motocikl. Rad će biti koncipiran na naĉin da prikazuje i redom obrađuje pojmove predprodukcije, produkcije i postprodukcije videomaterijala. Sama tematika reklamnog videospota je vezana za motocikl, a samim time za uski krug motociklističke zajednice, njihove suradnje i suživota. Kadrovi će u relativno kratkom vremenskom okviru prikazati odnose unutar same zajednice, ali i istaknuti najbolje kvalitete reklamiranog proizvoda. Početna ideja rada je bila pokazati javnosti kako za reklamni spot sasvim zadovoljavajuće kvalitete nije potrebno ulagati velike svote novca, te da se isti mogu kreirati i upotrebom mobitela i produkcijskih alata za obradu videomaterijala. Kompletan videomaterijal je snimljen mobitelom uz dopuštenje i podršku lokalnog motokluba. Većinski dio obrade videomaterijala je odrađen u programu Adobe Premiere Pro.Main goal of making this final paper is creating a motorbike television commercial. This paper is concieved in a way which shows and explains terms like preproduction, production and postproduction of a videomaterial. Main plot of the motorbike commercial is linked to a motorcycle, and in the same time with the motorbike community, their cooperation and coexistence. Frames will in short timeframe show relations inside community, but also highlight the best qualities of the product. Main idea was showing to the public that you do'nt need to invest big sums of money in creating a good quality commercial. You can use your cellphone and postproduction tools for that purpose. All gathered videomaterial for making the commercial is filmed with a cellphone with clearance and support of the local motorcycle club. Most of the video editing was done in Adobe Premiere Pro

Antefixes from the Mursa Area

The problematic case of antefixes from ancient Mursa has already been touched upon by Mirko Bulat who published an article on twenty two antefixes in Osjeeki zbornik XIII in 1971. On the basis of style and execution of the decorative parts on faces and cornices the antefixes were typologically divided into three main groups, namely mythological group, portraits and a group of tragic masks. I was hoping to offer answers to Mr. Bulat\u27s open questions with the help of contemporary means of gathering information and new insights unto this matter. For that reason, this paper combines the published antefixes with nine new antefixes found during rescue excavation at Mursa and three antefixes from Mursa at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb. Unfortunately, scientific approach to studying antefixes has not changed so that even those rare analogical examples of antefixes together with their photos have been mainly published in catalogues. Such situation makes the context of the finds as well as their chronological and typological characteristics from being defined. Numerous and varied in style, thirty four antefixes from the area of Mursa refer to the existence of local workshops which distributed their products over a small area of the province. It is possible that the local workshops developed specific decorative group of portraits. A number of antefixes carrying the image of the empress Sabine, but similar examples have not been found, apart from the antefix from Vinkovnci which substantiates the hypothesis about the distribution of antefixes made in local workshops in Mursa. Regardless of the inadequate scientific approach to this problematic case, antefixes from Mursa point out to the importance of a colony in trade and crafts in that time. Hopefully, future archaeological investigations would determine the location of local workshops and that a more thorough scientific approach would resolve at least some of the issues related to these architectural elements

Retractions of scientific publications: responsibility and accountability

This evidence-based opinion piece gives a short overview of the increase in retractions of publications in scientific journals and discusses various reasons for that increase. Also discussed are some of the recent prominent cases of scientific misconduct, the number of authors with multiple retractions, and problems with reproducibility of published research. Finally, some of the effects of faulty research on science and society, as well as possible solutions are discussed

Archaeological Rescue Excavations of the Roman Farming and Leisure Complex in Dujmovača

Iznose se rezultati zaštitnih arheoloških istraživanja tijekom kojih su pronađeni dijelovi građevinskoga sklopa rustične vile s pratećim pojedinačnim grobovima te su sagledani u kontekstu širega prostora Dujmovače. Pokretni arheološki nalazi govore o razvoju gospodarskoga objekta od 1. do 6. stoljeća, a sačuvani ostaci arhitekture idu u prilog pretpostavci o primarno termalnoj namjeni prostorija.During the archaeological excavations at the Dujmovača – Zagorski put site, of around 400 m2 in area, established are remains of Roman architecture and multilayer stratigraphic relations. Most part of the artefacts belong to the Roman stages of development of this part of the ager of Salona. Some immobile artefacts indicate medieval origin, however there are no significant and chronologically more precise mobile artefacts originating from that period of time. The excavated Roman architecture remains are preserved at the level of their walls and wall foundations, canal systems, floors and floorings, belonging to buildings consisting of larger numbers of rooms. Since the found walls spread out of the excavated areas, some of the rooms, especially those in the western part, have not been fully defined. The excavated rooms most probably belong to the south-easternmost part of a much larger family-economy complex. The assumed purpose of the rooms indicates their thermal character. From the construction methods and techniques, the relations between the excavated walls and floorings of particular rooms, and first of all the datable mobile artefacts, it may be concluded that the excavated complex was developed in the mid 1st century, and was functional till the early 5th century. Some dry stone separation interventions in the third room, as well as the found 5th century coins indicate an even longer period of utilisation of this part of the complex. To this Classical architectural complex also belong excavated single graves of an assumed nearby necropolis. The graves indicate proximity of an important communication, as one of numerous natural conditions suitable for occurrence of a Roman complex

Archaeological Rescue Excavations of the Roman Farming and Leisure Complex in Dujmovača

Iznose se rezultati zaštitnih arheoloških istraživanja tijekom kojih su pronađeni dijelovi građevinskoga sklopa rustične vile s pratećim pojedinačnim grobovima te su sagledani u kontekstu širega prostora Dujmovače. Pokretni arheološki nalazi govore o razvoju gospodarskoga objekta od 1. do 6. stoljeća, a sačuvani ostaci arhitekture idu u prilog pretpostavci o primarno termalnoj namjeni prostorija.During the archaeological excavations at the Dujmovača – Zagorski put site, of around 400 m2 in area, established are remains of Roman architecture and multilayer stratigraphic relations. Most part of the artefacts belong to the Roman stages of development of this part of the ager of Salona. Some immobile artefacts indicate medieval origin, however there are no significant and chronologically more precise mobile artefacts originating from that period of time. The excavated Roman architecture remains are preserved at the level of their walls and wall foundations, canal systems, floors and floorings, belonging to buildings consisting of larger numbers of rooms. Since the found walls spread out of the excavated areas, some of the rooms, especially those in the western part, have not been fully defined. The excavated rooms most probably belong to the south-easternmost part of a much larger family-economy complex. The assumed purpose of the rooms indicates their thermal character. From the construction methods and techniques, the relations between the excavated walls and floorings of particular rooms, and first of all the datable mobile artefacts, it may be concluded that the excavated complex was developed in the mid 1st century, and was functional till the early 5th century. Some dry stone separation interventions in the third room, as well as the found 5th century coins indicate an even longer period of utilisation of this part of the complex. To this Classical architectural complex also belong excavated single graves of an assumed nearby necropolis. The graves indicate proximity of an important communication, as one of numerous natural conditions suitable for occurrence of a Roman complex

The Late Roman Cemetery at Bencunuše near Manastirine

Arheološkim istraživanjima na predjelu Bencunuša osim kasnorepublikanskih nalaza pronađeni su i grobovi iz kasnoantičkoga perioda najkasnije datirani prilozima zlatnoga novca Justina I. i Justinijana. Uglavnom se radi o pojedinačnim ukopima pojedinaca skromnijega imovinskog statusa. Pronađene zidane grobnice (kosturnice s većim brojem pojedinaca) s prilozima zlatnoga novca predstavljaju nešto luksuznije ukope. Pronađeni grobovi sagledani su u kontekstu dijela sjeverne salonitanske nekropole, čiji nastanak i razvoj uvjetuju cestovne komunikacije i cemeterijalni kompleks na prostoru Manastirina.Archaeological excavations at the locality of Bencunuše revealed various types of Late Roman interments. The appearance of such interments resulted from the proximity of the cemetery complex of Manastirine, an important communicational intersection where a necropolis was created as early as in the 1st century. In the course of its development, especially in the 4th century with the first Christian burials, the Manastirine necropolis gained importance, and while extending it encompassed the locality of Bencunuše as well. The researches at Bencunuše were performed in the western peripheral part of the necropolis, spreading north-eastern. The necropolis is mostly made of single graves of younger individuals of lower property status, with no grave goods. Bodies are buried in amphorae, wooden coffins and earthen graves, and graves covered with tegulae. The amphorae fragments show typologically diverse, mostly north-African, Late Roman production. The earliest dated grave, with numerous grave goods, has been dated by coins to the early 5th century. Two discovered walled graves stand out, besides by the type of internment, also by multiple interments of, mostly, elderly persons and valuable grave goods. Given the specific nature of the walled graves, it is possible that these are central graves, used for a longer period of time. The grave goods found in the walled graves: golden Byzantine coins and amphorae of eastern-Mediterranean origin, confirm the necropolis to have been used also after the mid 6th century. Development of the cemetery complex at Manastirine probably also increased traffic of the northern roads alongside which subsequently appeared later Roman interments, like the ones discovered at Donje Bencunuše. The researched graves have provided new information related to functioning of the Salona\u27s north-western suburbs

The long Pentraxin 3 plays a role in bone turnover and repair

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an inflammatory mediator acting as a fluid-phase pattern recognition molecule and playing an essential role in innate immunity and matrix remodeling. Inflammatory mediators also contribute to skeletal homeostasis, operating at multiple levels in physiological and pathological conditions. This study was designed to investigate the role of PTX3 in physiological skeletal remodeling and bone healing. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) and bone histomorphometry of distal femur showed that PTX3 gene-targeted female and male mice (ptx3−/−) had lower trabecular bone volume than their wild-type (ptx3+/+) littermates (BV/TV by μCT: 3.50 ± 1.31 vs 6.09 ± 1.17 for females, p < 0.0001; BV/TV 9.06 ± 1.89 vs 10.47 ± 1.97 for males, p = 0.0435). In addition, μCT revealed lower trabecular bone volume in second lumbar vertebra of ptx3−/− mice. PTX3 was increasingly expressed during osteoblast maturation in vitro and was able to reverse the negative effect of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) on osteoblast differentiation. This effect was specific for the N-terminal domain of PTX3 that contains the FGF2-binding site. By using the closed transversal tibial fracture model, we found that ptx3−/− female mice formed significantly less mineralized callus during the anabolic phase following fracture injury compared to ptx3+/+ mice (BV/TV 17.05 ± 4.59 vs 20.47 ± 3.32, p = 0.0195). Nonhematopoietic periosteal cells highly upregulated PTX3 expression during the initial phase of fracture healing, particularly CD51+ and αSma+ osteoprogenitor subsets, and callus tissue exhibited concomitant expression of PTX3 and FGF2 around the fracture site. Thus, PTX3 supports maintenance of the bone mass possibly by inhibiting FGF2 and its negative impact on bone formation. Moreover, PTX3 enables timely occurring sequence of callus mineralization after bone fracture injury. These results indicate that PTX3 plays an important role in bone homeostasis and in proper matrix mineralization during fracture repair, a reflection of the function of this molecule in tissue homeostasis and repair

SATISFACTION OF YOUNG DOCTORS IN CROATIA: ARE WE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

Uvod: Zadovoljstvo mladih liječnika vezano je ponajprije uz edukaciju tijekom specijalizacije i uvjetima rada. S obzirom na znatan odljev liječnika iz Republike Hrvatske, cilj istraživanja bio je evaluirati zadovoljstvo mladih liječnika. Metode: Povjerenstvo za mlade liječnike Hrvatske liječničke komore izradilo je anketu o zadovoljstvu mladih liječnika. Anketa je bila dostupna za ispunjavanje u razdoblju od 1. 2. do 20. 3. 2016. godine putem interneta. Rezultati: Anketu je ispunila 1531 osoba, srednje dobi 32 godine (raspon 29 – 35), 67% ženskog spola. Pedeset osam posto ispitanika napustilo bi Republiku Hrvatsku ako bi im se pružila prilika. Glavni razlozi odlaska jesu bolji uvjeti rada (74%), uređenost zdravstvenog sustava (64%) i bolja plaća (64%). U budućnosti svoj profesionalni status i razvoj ostankom ocjenjuju većinom nepromijenjen (44%). Zaključak: Rezultati pokazuju visoku razinu nezadovoljstva zdravstvenim sustavom, segmentima specijalističkog usavršavanja i ulogom mentora. Analizom čimbenika koji utječu na zadovoljstvo mladih liječnika omogućuju se razrada i donošenje mjera kojima će se navedeni trend umanjiti.Introduction: The satisfaction of junior medical doctors is primarily associated with the training they receive during the residency period and working conditions. Given a considerable brain-drain of medical doctors from the Republic of Croatia, the present research focused on the evaluation of the satisfaction of junior medical doctors. Methodology: The Junior Doctors Committee of the Croatian Medical Chamber prepared a questionnaire on the satisfaction of junior doctors. The relevant questionnaire was available for filling in online in the period from February 1 to March 20, 2016. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1,531 persons aged between 29 and 35 (mean age 32) of which 67% were females. A 58% of respondents would leave the Republic of Croatia if offered an opportunity. The main reasons for leaving the country include better working conditions (74%), well-regulated healthcare system (64%) and higher wages (64%). In case of staying in the country, their future professional status and development would remain unaltered (44%). Conclusion: The questionnaire results show a high level of dissatisfaction with the healthcare system, some segments of the specialist training and the mentor role. The analysis of factors affecting the satisfaction of junior doctors will facilitate the preparation and adoption of measures aiming to mitigate the above-mentioned trend