Framework of the Language Learning Environment for Assisting Foreigners in Learning Croatian (AFILC)

The goal of this paper is to present the development framework of the interactive multimedia project AFILC (Assisting Foreigners in Learning Croatian). The purpose of the AFILC is to develop language learning materials that will motivate foreigners to learn the Croatian language and help them cope with its grammatical richness. Interesting graphics, motivating user-friendly interface, educational character and interactivity are the characteristics that will enhance the process of mastering the Croatian language for foreigners. In the AFILC the users will be able to almost completely control and manage the process of learning at their own pace

Spirit drinks: a source of dietary polyphenols

There is a long tradition in the production of spirit drinks and using them in the human diet, especially in the Southeast European and Mediterranean regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether and which spirits can serve, and to what extent, as a source of biologically active compounds in the human diet. Polyphenolic compounds are biologically active compounds of fruits, vegetables and derived beverages, which have been implicated in their antioxidant activity. Therefore, the total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidative properties of 46 spirit drinks and liqueurs produced in Croatia were examined. The total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were estimated using spectrophotometric methods (Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and FRAP), while certain phenols were detected by the HPLC. It was established that spirit drinks aged in wooden casks, such as wine or plum brandy, contain polyphenols ranging from 40-90 mg GAE/L (gallic acid equivalents), whereas walnut or sour cherry liquors contain much more polyphenols ranging from 680-3360 mg GAE/L. The antioxidant activity of analyzed spirit drinks was in correlation with TPC. Walnut and sour cherry liqueur samples had very high antioxidant activity, within the range of those obtained with 1.26 mM Trolox-DPPH assay and 9.5 mM Trolox-FRAP assay

Isolation of indigenous microbial populations in slavonski kulen

Svrha ovog rada bila je izolirati autohtonu mikrobnu populaciju iz uzoraka slavonskih kulena proizvedenih na tradicionalan način u seoskim domaćinstvima. Autohtona mikrobna populacija izvor je sojeva za razvoj starter kultura koje će, između ostalog, utjecati na aromu i teksturu određenog tradicionalnog mesnog proizvoda. Dominantna mikrobna populacija sastojala se od bakterija mliječne kiseline (BMK) i to : Lactobacillus plantarum u dva uzorka, Lactobacillus delbrueckii u dva uzorka, te Leuconostoc mesenteroides i Lactobacillus acidophilus u po jednom uzorku kulena. Također, su prevladavale i bakterije iz roda Staphylococcus, tipični predstavnici starter kultura za meso, i to: S. xylosus, S. warneri, S. lentus i S. auricularis.The purpose of this study was to isolate the indigenous microbial population of samples from the Slavonian kulen produced in the traditional way in rural households. Autochthonous microbial population are potential source of starter cultures, which can be used to obtain top quality flavour and texture for specific traditional meat products. Dominant microbial populations consists of lactic acid bacteria (LAB): L. plantarum, in two samples, L. delbrueckii, in two samples, L. mesenteroides, and L. acidophilus in one sample of Slavonian kulen. The bacteria from the genus of Staphylococcus were also dominated in microbial population in Slavonian kulen, which are also the ingrediens of starter cultures for meat, such as follows: S. xylosus, S. warneri, S. lentus and S. auricularis

Isolation of indigenous microbial populations in slavonski kulen

Svrha ovog rada bila je izolirati autohtonu mikrobnu populaciju iz uzoraka slavonskih kulena proizvedenih na tradicionalan način u seoskim domaćinstvima. Autohtona mikrobna populacija izvor je sojeva za razvoj starter kultura koje će, između ostalog, utjecati na aromu i teksturu određenog tradicionalnog mesnog proizvoda. Dominantna mikrobna populacija sastojala se od bakterija mliječne kiseline (BMK) i to : Lactobacillus plantarum u dva uzorka, Lactobacillus delbrueckii u dva uzorka, te Leuconostoc mesenteroides i Lactobacillus acidophilus u po jednom uzorku kulena. Također, su prevladavale i bakterije iz roda Staphylococcus, tipični predstavnici starter kultura za meso, i to: S. xylosus, S. warneri, S. lentus i S. auricularis.The purpose of this study was to isolate the indigenous microbial population of samples from the Slavonian kulen produced in the traditional way in rural households. Autochthonous microbial population are potential source of starter cultures, which can be used to obtain top quality flavour and texture for specific traditional meat products. Dominant microbial populations consists of lactic acid bacteria (LAB): L. plantarum, in two samples, L. delbrueckii, in two samples, L. mesenteroides, and L. acidophilus in one sample of Slavonian kulen. The bacteria from the genus of Staphylococcus were also dominated in microbial population in Slavonian kulen, which are also the ingrediens of starter cultures for meat, such as follows: S. xylosus, S. warneri, S. lentus and S. auricularis

Polyphenolic profile and antioxidative activity of strong beverages produced in the Republic of Croatia

Određen je polifenolni profil i antioksidativna aktivnost jakih alkoholnih pića proizvedenih na području Republike Hrvatske. Antioksidativna aktivnost određivana je spektrofotometrijski FRAP i DPPH metodom, koncentracija ukupnih fenola određena je spektrofotometrijski pomoću Folin-Ciocalteu reagensa, a polifenolni profil jakih alkoholnih pića HPLC metodom. Rezultati su pokazali da jaka alkoholna pića mogu biti izvor antioksidativnih spojeva u prehrani, a u pićima ovi spojevi potječu od sirovina od kojih su JAP proizvedena ili od drveta bačvi u kojima destilati odležavaju. U destilatima koji ne stare fenolni spojevi nisu detektirani, u pićima tipa vinjaka ili šljivovice njihova koncentracija iznosi od 30 – 90 mg L-1 GAL, dok su najviše koncentracije fenolnih spojeva od oko 3 000 mg L-1 GAL zabilježene u višnjevcu i orahovcu. Galna, siringinska, elaginska i vanilinska kiselina te siringaldehid, najzastupljenije su fenolne kiseline u većini istraživanih JAP, dok druge grupe fenolnih spojeva ovom metodom nisu detektirane. Količine polifenolnih spojeva u pićima istog tipa različitih proizvođača su različite.In this work were defined polyphenolic profile and antioxidative activity of strong beverages produced in the Republic of Croatia. Antioxidative activity was determined with specrofotometric methods, FRAP and DPPH. Concentration of total phenols was determined with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and polyphenolic profile was defined by HPLC method. The results showed that strong beverages can be the source of antioxidative compounds in diet, and all compounds transfers in beverages from raw material or from wooden barrels during the aging period. In distillets where isn`t present aging period, phenolic compounds aren`t detected. In beverages like wine brandies or plum brandies concentracion of phenolic compounds is 30-90 mg L-1 GAL, while the highest concentracion of phenolic compounds are around 3 000 mg L-1 GAL in cherry brandies. Galic, syringic, elagic and vanilic acid and syringaldehid are the most present phenolic acids in our samples, while other group of phenolic compounds aren`t detected whit this mathod. The concentracion of phenolic compounds in beverages from the same gruop of beverages but different producer are different

The influence of C3435T polymorphism of ABCB1 gene on penetration of phenobarbital across the blood-brain barrier in patients with generalized epilepsy

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is refractory to medical treatment in about one-third of the patients. The exact pathological mechanism of epilepsy pharmacoresistance is still unclear, but a decreased antiepileptic drug (AED) uptake into the brain is suspected to play a role. P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a transmembrane transporter encoded by ABCB1 gene and located at the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), has been associated with epilepsy pharmacoresistance. ----- OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of two ABCB1 gene polymorphisms, C3435T and G2677T/A, on phenobarbital (PB) concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum (S) and to assess the relationship of ABCB1 polymorphisms to phenobarbital penetration across BBB in vivo and seizure frequency. ----- METHODS: CSF PB and S PB concentrations were measured in 60 patients with idiopathic primary generalized epilepsy receiving phenobarbital monotherapy. CSF/S PB concentration ratio was calculated as an index of phenobarbital penetration across BBB. The patients were genotyped for the ABCB1 gene C3435T and G2677T/A polymorphisms. Seizure frequency was recorded during the 6-month phenobarbital monotherapy. ----- RESULTS: Patients with different C3435T polymorphism had significantly different CSF PB concentrations and CSF/S PB concentration ratio. In comparison with CT heterozygotes and TT homozygotes, CC homozygotes had a significantly lower CSF PB concentration (p=0.006) and CSF/PB concentration ratio (p<0.001). G2677T/A polymorphism showed no such effect (p=0.466). CC genotype and low CSF/S PB concentration ratio correlated with increased seizure frequency. ----- CONCLUSIONS: C3435T polymorphism of ABCB1 gene was demonstrated in vivo to significantly influence the CSF/S PB concentration ratio and seizure frequency