http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A nenad@nenadbach.com Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:13:14 -0800 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9658/1/Lavoslav-Ruzicka-Croatian-Nobel-Prize-winner-from-Vukovar.html Lavoslav Leopold Ru¾ièka (1887-1976) is one among three Croatian winners of the Nobel Prize. Born in the town of Vukovar, he obtained the Nobel Prize for chemistry while working et ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. In Vukovar the home of his birth has been renovated in 2007 from the 1991 destruction, now known as the Ru¾ièka House. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9647/1/Hrvoje-Saric-1922-2007--inventor-of-the-first-360-degree-camera.html In 1972 Hrvoje Sariæ invented and patented the first professional 360  degree synchro-rotational photo-camera in history. In 1988 he deviced the first electronical construction consisting of nine BETACAM videocameras, catching the range of the full circle. It was used at 1998 and 2000 EXPO exhibitions in Lisbon and Hannover in Portugal and Germany. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9635/1/Ivan-Vueetiae-the-father-of-dactilosopy---fingerprinting-as-a-method-of-identification.html Ivan Vuèetiæ (1858-1925), in Argentina better known as Juan Vucetich, introduced dactilosopy, that is, fingerprinting as a method of identification. This year we mark 150 years since his birth on the island of Hvar. On this occasion The Croatian Heritage Foundation in Zagreb has organized a series of events and issued a nice publication. muzej@matis.hr (Ljerka Galic, prof.) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9625/1/Marin-Soljaeiae-Named-MacArthur-Fellow-for-Work-on-Wireless-Power.html Asked how it felt to be a certified genius, Marin Soljaèiæ (left) laughed, "What, did I just grow a second head?" No, it's just that his head’s in two fields at once-electrical engineering and physics. That polyvirtuosity may have helped the MIT professor win one of the 25 fellowships announced today by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9605/1/Erik-Margan-an-artistic-scientist-in-search-for-invisible-particles.html Erik Margan is a specialist in electronics working in Slovenia, with roots from Croatia. He participates a particle physics experiment called ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland. The ATLAS detector will search for new discoveries in the head-on collisions of protons of extraordinarily high energy. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9595/1/Andrija-Stampar-Croatian-scientist-father-of-the-World-Health-Organization.html Andrija ©tampar (1888-1958), Croatian scientist and professor at the University of Zagreb, is the father of the World Health Organization, founded 60 years ago. He introduced the public health service in China in 1930s, where he spent three years as a specialist and representative of the then League of Nations. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9593/1/Richard-Hortons-lecture-in-Zagreb.html Richard Horton is editor in chief of The Lancet, one of the oldest and most influential medical journals in the world, issued in Great Britain. In May 2008 he delivered a lecture in Zagreb concerning the problems of scientific publishing. He stressed outstanding achievements of the Croatian Medical Journal and scientific legacy of professors Ana and Matko Maru¹iæ. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9586/1/International-Conference-in-honour-of-Josip-Pecaric-in-Trogir-Croatia.html On the left you can see three mathematicians: professor Lars-Erik Persson, Sweden, academician Vladimir D. Stepanov, Russia, and academician Josip Peèariæ, Croatia. An exceptionally successful international math conference was orgnaized in June in the town of Trogir, attended by 150 participants. Trogir is a part of World Cultural Heritage, protected by UNESCO. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9576/1/Korado-Korlevic-and-Visnjan-Astronomical-Observatory-in-Croatia.html Korado Korleviæ is Croatian astronomer of international reputation, infatigable promoter and popularizer of astronomy, especially among the young. He founded the Vi¹njan Observatory in the town of Vi¹njan in Istria, where he discovered more than 1,100 asteroids and three comets. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9543/1/University-of-Oklahoma-to-conduct-modernization-study-for-Croatia.html   The University of Oklahoma will conduct a year-long study on modernizing Croatia's weather service. A team from the school's Office of Weather Programs and Projects was chosen to undertake the $500,000 (€321,000) study to determine how to update the country's weather service infrastructure, which is left over from the Soviet era. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9486/1/The-Croatian-Centre-for-Global-Health-has-launched.html The Croatian Centre for Global Health has recently been founded at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Split, Croatia. Its co-founders, Professor Ana Marusic and Professor Igor Rudan, are both hoping that the Centre will help to re-integrate Croatian biomedical science into global trends. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9467/1/Professor-Balthazar-and-Zagreb-Film-a-Croatian-trademark.html Probably the most famous Croatian professor worldwide is Professor Balthazar, a well known figure from Croatian cartoon movie series initiated in 1967 by late Zlatko Grgiæ. This was the most successful project of Zagreb Film ever. His popularity is amazing even today, especially in Scandinavian countries, but also in Iran for example! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9453/1/Professor-Mladen-Vraniae-outstanding-Croatian-scientist-in-Canada.html Distinguished researcher and educator in medical sciences (endocrinology and metabolism) and former chair of physiology, where 85 years ago insulin was discovered. He earned the title of Honorary Medical Doctor from Karolinska Institute, Sweden. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a corresponding member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9425/1/Mime-Cuvalo-web-developer-and-proponent-of-open-web-standards.html Mime Cuvalo, on the photo with small Stipo Adzaip, is a young Croatian web developer and proponent of open web standards. He is currently employed at three jobs: YouTube/Google, finishing up FireFTP, and creating the online music database The Rock Hard Times. His "charityware" FireFTP has been downloaded over 4.5 million times! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9393/1/Croatia-to-hold-quotAccess-to-Infoquot-conference.html Zadar (pictured left) will be the host of a symposium from 28 to 30 January 2008, where participants will talk about barriers to accessing information, whether they are political, social, economic or technical, and then come up with ways to break through them. The keynote speaker will be Professor Ana Maru¹iæ MD, PhD, and Editor of the Croatian Medical Journal. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9386/1/Croatian-Medical-Journal-appreciates-Your-support-in-2007.html Croatian Medical Journal appreciates Your support and contribution in the year that is behind us. In 2007 CMJ has published 67 original scientific articles. CMJ published the thematic issue on Poverty and Human Development, together with 237 journals from 37 countries in the Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development. mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9376/1/Zvonimir-Janko-an-outstanding-Croatian-mathematician.html Zvonimir Janko, professor of mathematics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, is a well known expert in the theory of finite groups. His discovery in 1964 of the group now called the first Janko group in his honour, launched the modern theory of sporadic groups. We wish him a happy 75th birthday! And a happy 100th birthday to his father in Bjelovar, Croatia! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9348/1/Silvija-Gradeeak---young-and-brilliant-Croatian-scientist-born-in-Vukovar.html Professor Silvija Gradeèak, with diploma in physics, University of Zagreb, Croatia, 1999, is employed at MIT, USA. Her research focuses on nano-photonics and electronics. She explores novel optoelectronic applications such as nanoscale light-emitting sources, single photon sources, or nanowire lasers. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9342/1/Croatian-Medical-Journal-takes-a-lead-among-235-journals-from-37-countries.html The Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes for Health organized the public presentation of the largest coordinated publishing effort in medicine - Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development.  At the NIH presentation, the lead speaker was Professor Ana Marusic, editor of the CMJ and current president of the Council of Science Editors. marusica@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Ana Maru¹iæ) Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9312/1/ProfDr-Daniel-D-Gajski-a-hero-of-Computer-Science.html Prof.Dr. Franz Ramming: "... Daniel Gajski did not just light the fire, he also fuelled it substantially. During the last three decades he achieved pioneering results. He was a principal contributor to the areas Silicon Compilation, High-Level Synthesis, and System-Level Design. ..." c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkoviæ) Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9289/1/Opportunity-for-Croatian-Talent---RechargeIT-Request-for-Investment.html   Earlier this summer, Google.org launched its RechargeIT Initiative to accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology through technical demonstrations, grant-making, advocacy and investments.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9288/1/Making-an-electrifying-difference-to-climate-change.html   Wattwatt.com is a social network website that brings together people interested in making a difference. It provides the means for more direct public involvement in helping identify priorities and in finding the solutions  for increasing electrical energy efficiency. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9284/1/Henry-Suzzallo-president-of-the-University-of-Washington-from-1915-to-1926.html Henry Suzzallo (1875-1933) was president of the University of Washington from 1915 to 1926. The central library of the University of Washington is called Suzzallo Library. His parents Petar and Ana Suzzallo, Croatians originating from Dalmatia, arrived to San Francisco in 1852. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9264/1/1st-US-Croatian-conference-on-the-ICT-Biotechnology-and-Pharmaceutical-Industry.html  The Conference in Split, Croatia, October 1-4, 2007, will feature renowned experts from the U.S. and Croatia who will focus on determining opportunities and strategies that will lead to increased collaboration in several key areas that might directly influence educational and scientific exchange, investment and trade between the U.S. and Croatia in the ICT, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry sectors. mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9254/1/Prvo-slubeno-mikroeipiranje-konja-u-Hrvatskoj.html  Oznaèavanja mikroèipom je "prijateljska" metoda koja doprinosi dobrobiti ¾ivotinja, a ujedno omoguæava i identifikaciju ¾ivotinje, cjelo¾ivotno praæenje ¾ivotinje kako u uzgojno - selekcijskom radu tako i u praæenju zdravstvenog stanja konja. mcacic@inet.hr (Mato Èaèiæ, M.Sc.) Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9241/1/Space-Travelers-Gather-in-Croatia-for-Historic-Summit.html     stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9232/1/Astronauts-and-Cosmonauts-LIVE-from-Croatia-Aug-24---26-2007.html   The Astrophysics Initiative in Dalmatia letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9223/1/Ivan-Krstiae-Harvard-Making-antivirus-software-obsolete.html  Instead of blocking specific viruses, Krstiæ's system sequesters every program on the computer in a separate virtual operating system, preventing any program from damaging the computer, stealing files, or spying on the user. "This defeats the entire purpose of writing a virus," says Krstiæ. hrabri.rajic@intel.com (Hrabri Rajiæ, Ph.D.) Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9201/1/MEDILS-Znaeajni-rezultati-u-svega-4-mjeseca-rada.html   Usagla¹eni su znanstveni programi i smjernice za rad u slijedeæoj godini. Isto tako, ¾elimo napomenuti da su prva dva projekta, "Bioinformatika i Biofizika" i "Genetika smrti u kvasca", veæ poluèili znaèajne originalne rezultate. medils@medils.hr (Dr. Bojan ®agroviæ) Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9200/1/Marko-Puljiae-PhD-Philosophy-with-the-touch-of-Artificial-Intelligence.html   Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, University of Memphis, 2005. Master of Science in Finance, Fogelman College of Business and Economics, 1998. Bachelor of Science in Mathematics / Economics, University of Zagreb, 1996. Unique, to say the least. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9190/1/Honey-bees-hunt-for-landmines-in-Croatia.html   Honey bees buzz over Croatian meadows in an experimental hunt for explosives in an effort to clear away potentially deadly landmines. No field is ever 100% cleared, and that is why any method by which we could additionally increase security is priceless. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9180/1/Forensic-approach-to-investigation-of-human-right-violations.html Excavation of site in Dalmatian hinterland, near the village of Zagvozd. All remains were men, mainly middle-aged, with gunshot wounds to the head. All of the positively identified remains belonged to the Franciscan friars allegedly killed in Herzegovina and buried at the analyzed site.  mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9178/1/The-Visnjan-Summer-School-of-Science.html Summer School of Science (S3/S3++) is a science workshop held at Visnjan Observatory for high school students interested in natural sciences.  branimir.lukic@epfl.ch (Branimir Lukic) Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9117/1/Marin-Soljacic-A-New-Nikola-Tesla-in-Zagreb.html   The scientist was visibly moved by interest of Croatian media in his work and prime minister praised his team and invention. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9158/1/Ana-Maruiae-MD-PhD-President-of-Council-of-Science-Editors.html     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9157/1/Croatian-Medical-Journals-Receive-International-Recognition.html   Two Croatian medical journals, "Croatian Medical Journal" and "Lijecnicke novine", received important international recognition, which was not given much attention in Croatian media. mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9143/1/International-conference-in-honour-of-Academician-Josip-Peeariae.html We are pleased to announce the conference Mathematical Inequalities and Applications 2008 in Trogir and Split. This conference is organized in honour of Professor Josip Peèariæ on the occasion of his 60th birthday. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9131/1/Croatia-founded-a-national-body-for-ethics-in-science.html    mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9098/1/arko-Dolinar-table-tennis-world-champion-and-top-scientist.html   Croatian table tennis player Professor ®arko Dolinar (1920-2003) holds a quite interesting record. He is the only athlete to have won eight world championships while holding a doctorate of science. He taught John Lennon how to play table tennis. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9101/1/Help-harness-renewable-energy-from-waves-and-tides.html IEC, the global body for electrical energy standards, is now recruiting experts from around the world to develop international standards for wave and tidal energy technology.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9081/1/The-Unity-through-Knowledge-Fund-for-skilled-Croatians-from-abroad.html The UKF has started its Young Researchers and Professionals Program and opened two calls for grants that will attract young highly skilled Croatians from abroad. The grants will subsidy autonomous R&D projects of the future science and technology leaders. The projects should contribute to brain gain, knowledge transfer and investments into Croatia. pizeta@irb.hr (Ivanèica Pi¾eta, Ph. D.) Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9070/1/Suddenly-the-bees-are-simply-vanishing.html  The puzzling phenomenon, known as Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, has been reported in 35 states, five Canadian provinces and several European countries. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9064/1/ProfDr-Marin-Soljacic-Wireless-technology-used-to-power-light-bulb.html   Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology made a 60 watt light bulb glow by sending it energy wirelessly - from a device 7 feet away - potentially heralding a future in which cellphones and other gadgets get their juice without having to be plugged in. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9059/1/A-major-link-exchange-with-The-Mac-Tutor-History-of-Mathematics-Archive.html The Mac Tutor History of Mathematics Archive is the leading web site dealing with the History of Mathematics. It contains also biographies of three outstanding Croatian mathematicians: Ruðer Bo¹koviæ, Marin Getaldiæ, and William Feller. In May 2007 the Mac Tutor included a link to a Croatian source dealing with Feller.  darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9055/1/Honey-Bees-Being-Trained-to-Find-Landmines.html  An interesting new way of detecting lands mines has been developed in Croatia. This the new method uses regular honeybees to search out dangerous land mines. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9047/1/II-kongres-hrvatskih-znanstvenika-iz-domovine-i-inozemstva.html U Splitu je od 7. do 10. svibnja 2007. odr¾an Drugi kongres hrvatskih znanstvenika iz domovine i inozemstva. Kongres se odvijao u pet tematskih cjelina: Europski i meðunarodni projekti, Suradnja s gospodarstvom i tehnologijski projekti, Razvoj znanstvenih institucija, Strate¹ki okvir razvoja znanosti do 2010., Privlaèenje pozornosti medija na znanstvene teme.  darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9031/1/New-power-generation-technologies-to-be-built-in-Croatia.html Siemens and the Israeli-US firm Ormat presented a joint proposal for building a geothermal power plant in Bjelovar, Croatia  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9004/1/Unity-through-Knowledge-Fund-first-Calls-for-Proposals-open.html Unity through Knowledge Fund has recently launched its first program and announced the Calls for Proposals for financing joint research projects of Croatian expatriate scientists and experts with their Croatian colleagues. Read more...   mestric@ukf.hr (Hrvoje Mestric, Ph.D.) Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8938/1/Second-Congress-of-Croatian-Scientists-from-the-Homeland-and-Abroad-May-7-10-2007.html   Hrvoje.Pavletic@mzos.hr (Ministry of Science Education and Sports) Sat, 10 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8936/1/3-Simpozij-o-prehospitalnoj-urgentnoj-medicini-VINJAN-CROATIA-16-17-02-2007.html Na¹ skup skup ima za cilj iznijeti iskustva kolega koji su bili u kaznenim i prekr¹ajnim procesima, obavijestiti medicinare o njihovim pravima. Pozvat æemo i predstavnike sudstva, HLK I HLS posebno pravnike tih slu¾bi da nam iznesu svoje poglede na te teme.  stjepan.arnold@pu.t-com.hr (Dr. Stjepan Arnold) Sat, 10 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8926/1/Croatia-India-Sign-Co-operation-Agreement.html  Croatian Minister of Science Dragan Primorac and his visiting Indian counterpart, Kapil Sibal, signed a declaration on strengthening bilateral scientific and technological co-operation. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8900/1/Andrija-Mohorovieiae-and-his-MOHO-discontinuity-of-the-Earth.html Among scientists studying seismology the famous Moho layer (or Moho discontinuity) of the Earth is well known. It was named after the great Croatian geophysicist Andrija Mohorovièiæ (1857-1936), professor at the University of Zagreb. His discovery was essential for understanding the inner structure of the Earth and the behavior of seismic waves. This is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian science.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8890/1/George-M-Slavich-PhD-Lecture-at-Mediterranean-Institute-for-Life-Sciences-Jan-10th-2007.html 'Life Stress and the Development of Depression' George M. Slavich, Ph.D. Harvard Medical School Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences Me¹troviæevo ¹etali¹te b.b. Split, Croatia Wednesday, January 10th, 2006 6:00pm - 8:00pm   Prosper.Radonic@medils.hr (Prosper Radonic) Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8869/1/William-Feller--outstanding-Croatian---American-mathematician.html  William Feller (Zagreb, 1906 - New York, 1970), graduated in mathematics from the University of Zagreb (1925), earned his PhD in Göttingen (1926), since 1939 living in the USA. One of the founders of Probability Theory as a scientific discipline. Many mathematical notions bear his name. Author of a one of the best math textbooks of the 20th century. Recipient of the National Medal of Science, USA. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8844/1/The-dead-sexy-Tesla-delivers-on-its-promise-100--Electric-car-No-more-excuses.html     c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkoviæ) Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8830/1/Knjievni-Petak---Tragovima-znanja-u-buduaenost.html     ante@medri.hr (Prof.Dr. Ante Simoniæ) Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8829/1/U-HRVATSKU-SE-VRAAEA-SEDMERO-VRHUNSKIH-ZNANSTVENIKA.html     mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8824/1/Adolph-Lomb-Medal-2005-Marin-Soljacic.html   Adolph Lomb was OSA's treasurer from its founding until his death in 1932. In recognition of his devotion to OSA and the advancement of optics, the Adolph Lomb Medal, established in 1940, is presented to a person who has made a noteworthy contribution to optics at an early age. The candidate cannot be older than the age of 35. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8818/1/BBC-Physics-promises-wireless-power---Dr-Marin-Soljaeiae.html   "There are so many autonomous devices such as cell phones and laptops that have emerged in the last few years," said Assistant Professor Marin Soljacic from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of the researchers behind the work. "We started thinking, 'it would be really convenient if you didn't have to recharge these things'. c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkoviæ) Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8808/1/Global-Engineering-Excellence-recommendations-for-the-future-education-of-engineers.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8803/1/Znanstvena-i-tehnologijska-politika-Republike-Hrvatske---Science-and-Technology-Policy-of-the-Republic-of-Croatia.html     mmarusic@mef.hr (Prof. Dr. Matko Maru¹iæ) Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8794/1/Launching-of-the-National-Fellowships-8220For-Women-in-Science8221.html  It is with particular pleasure that we would like to announce the launching of the National Fellowships "For Women in Science" organized by L'Oreal Adria and the Croatian Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Culture, with the purpose of awarding young women scientists from the Republic of Croatia.   ljerka.ivankovic@sabor.hr (Ljerka Ivankoviæ) Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8736/1/Lord-of-the-DNA-ring.html Zagreb, Croatia. The study was completed in cooperation between the Croatian research institute Rudjer Boskovic and the Paris-based Necker Institute. Ksenija Zahradka, a leading researcher in the study, told a news conference. "It is an extremely fascinating phenomenon to see how a cell itself can repair its fairly destroyed DNA." Croatian scientist Miroslav Radman supervised the experimental part of the study. October 3rd 2006. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8735/1/Croatians-Show-the-Way-to-Immortality.html ZAGREB - Croatian scientists have worked out how a radiation-resistant bacterium that can exist in extreme conditions repairs damage to itself, a discovery which could provide clues about diseases such as cancer. "Through evolution, the bacteria have developed a mechanism to precisely reconstruct its DNA. Until now this has been a scientific riddle," Ksenija Zahradka, a leading researcher in the study, told a news conference.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8570/1/H-Hrvatski-Fizicari-PRVI-ispred-Njemacke-i-Koreje--Rusije-USA.html Hrvatski Fizicari PRVI ispred Njemacke i Koreje ... Rusije, USAOdlicna vijest za stasajucu mladu Hrvatsku ZNANJA :Tim mladih fizicara iz Hrvatske je osvojio PRVO MJESTOna redovnom Medjunarodnom turniru u Bratislavi od 5 do 12. srpnja :http://www.iypt.sk/iypt.php?category=Tournament&item=Results&detail=final ispred Njemacke (2.) i Juzne Koreje (3.) ... te Australije, USA, Rusije ...Nase iskrene cestitke svim mladim natjecateljima i voditeljima tima,Dr.-u Zeljku Marohniçu (Institut za fiziku) i prof. Dariu Micicu iz V gimanzije u Zagrebu.Dakle, nemamo samo sportase koji pobjedjuju !Davor :-)Seventeen problems which have to be solved are selected by the International committee after the international meeting. These problems are made public in August, latest September. Than students are free to prepare solutions for most of these problems. In March or April in participating countries the national rounds are organized - to select the best students for the international meeting. The methods vary from country to country - where a good tradition and a lot of interesting students exist, the rules from the International tournament are adopted. In other countries individual students are selected. In the international meeting, every state has the right to participate with one group of students - a team. During the meeting, these teams meet in groups of three, where every team is challenged by an other one to present a solution to a specific problem; the challenging team presents a critique (opposition) for the solution and the third participating team makes a short review about both presentations. Also a short discussion is part of the performance. After this, an assembly of scientists - a jury evaluates the performance of all teams. Five rounds are performed during the whole meeting, so every team has the possibility to present the solution of five problems. The three best teams have at the end the opportunity to present a solution of their own problem during the final - the best team becomes a winner. The TournamentThe 19th IYPT will take place in Bratislava (Slovakia) from 5 to 12 July 2006. The fights take place at the Comenius University.The International Young Physicists' Tournament (for reasons of brevity we'll call it just "IYPT" or "the tournament" from now on) is, as its name suggests, a competition for students from all over the world who are interested in physics. It consists of a number of "physics fights", where three teams (composed of five students each) have in turns to present and defend their solution to a problem, criticise this solution or report on the performances of the two other teams involved in the fight. Their respective performances are then marked by an international jury. After five preliminary rounds the best three teams qualify for the final fight. Although the problems are already known in advance and you can use every available resource (books, internet, your physics teacher, even a nobel price laureate you happen to know), there is usually not a clear and final solution to them. You can find out more about the rules of the tournament on the international IYPT website.Get an idea of what to expect at the IYPT and have a look at some impressions from the 18th IYPT in Winterthur , Switzerland.http://www.sypt.ch/tournament.htm nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8568/1/E-Croatian-immigrant-Nikola-Tesla-celebrated-at-Brookhaven.html Brookhaven salutes 150 years of genius  By AMBROSE CLANCY MEDFORD--Genius was celebrated July 10, 2006 at Brookhaven Town Hall.In honor of the 150th anniversary of Nikola Tesla's birth, the day was named for the scientist/inventor -- and Supervisor John Jay LaValle declared that every future July 10 will be known as "Nikola Tesla Day" in Brookhaven Town. "This is a wonderful day, not just for Brookhaven but for all of Long Island," said Kenneth Blinn, a member of the Rocky Point Historical Society and one of the most dedicated advocates of preserving what is known as the "Tesla property" in Shoreham.Located at the northeast corner of Route 25A and Randall Road, the 16-acre property was first developed in 1903 as the residence and laboratory of Nikola Tesla, a Croatian immigrant who, the supervisor noted in his remarks, arrived in this country with "exactly four cents in his pocket."Tesla was the inventor of, among other things, the polyphase alternating current system and a method of transmitting that power, wireless communication, remote control and fluorescent lights. He held more than 700 patents, and although less well-known is considered an innovator on the level of Edison. He is thought by many to be the creator of radio, since a 1943 U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidated many of Guglielmo Marconi's patents.The Rocky Point Historical Society and the Friends of Science East, a not-for-profit organization established to develop a science and technology center on Eastern Long Island, have convinced Brookhaven Town to create a museum at the Shoreham site, which includes a house designed by Sanford White.In May, Mr. LaValle said the town was eager to take the property from the present owners, AGFA, which purchased all 16 acres in 1969. AGFA, a multinational corporation based in Belgium with offices in more than 40 countries, ended all manufacturing at the site about 18 years later."They would have an enormous write-off if they gave us the property," Mr. LaValle said then. "I told AGFA this is the poster child of property that should be preserved." The only roadblock seems to be an environmental cleanup. Serious contamination began in 1939 when Peerless Photo Products bought the property and chemicals used in photographic development soaked into groundwater over the years, according to Bill Fonda of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.Mr. Fonda said that two reports on the severity of the pollution were filed over the Fourth of July weekend and are being reviewed. One study determines where groundwater will migrate over the next several decades and the other tests the quality of the water on and off the site."A feasibility study is then submitted, which will give options on how the site can be cleaned up," Mr. Fonda said. "Potentially, we could have this by August." After another review, which should take about six months, a public hearing will be held to discuss various plans, the DEC official said. A decision will be made then by the state, and AGFA will begin operations which will make the property safe "for the environment and human beings," Mr. Fonda said. At the July 10 celebration, which included a cake with a Tesla Radio Tower rendered in chocolate icing, Mr. Blinn said plans for the town to take and preserve the property were coming along well. "The conversations with AGFA are ongoing about donating the property, and we're really now waiting for the state," Mr. Blinn said.(Photo) Brookhaven Town Supervisor John Jay LaValle (with cake) and others -- including (left to right) Robert White, a descendent of Stanford White; Jane Alcorn of the Friends of Long Island Science East; William Terbo, great-nephew of inventor Nikola Tesla; and Town Board members Timothy P. Mazzei and James M. Tullo -- gathered at Town Hall July 10 to celebrate the late inventor's 150th birthday.http://www.timesreview.com nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8569/1/H-Medicina-je-ljubav---Intervju-s-Matkom-Marusicem.html Medicina je ljubav   Razgovarao: Valerije Vr ekO medicini razgovaramo s Matkom Marusiem, sveu ilisnim profesorom fiziologije i imunologije na Medicinskom fakultetu u Zagrebu. Predstavite svoju knjigu 'Medicina iznutra'. Kakva je medicina izvana?Ja sam lije nik, istraziva i nastavnik u medicini i moja knjiga o tim stvarima govori 'iznutra'. Govori o ozbiljnim i vaznim stvarima, ali na smijesan na in, pa se svia i nemedicinarima. Prepri ava konkretne dogaaje. Smije se slabostima lije nika, bolesnika, studenata, profesora i istraziva a. Ne stedi korupciju, ali nije zla i gorka, nego vesela i optimisti na.'Medicina izvana' bila bi medicina koju vidi i dozivljava bolesnik. Bolesnik voli svojega lije nika i ezne da on bude sto u eniji i moniji i da mu posveti sto vise vremena i pozornosti. I lije nik voli i treba bolesnika, jer je lije enje posao kojemu je posvetio svoj zivot. Bolesnikovo priznanje i ljubav smisao su njegova rada i zivota. I onda se te dvije ljubavi traze i susreu u razli itim uvjetima. Nesporazumi su prirodni, a mogli bi se opisati i na smijesan na in. No treba znati da se radi o ljubavi, i da je ljubav dar Bozji. Zato bi taj dar i u slu aju medicine trebalo marljivije traziti i vise postovati.Zasto dio znanstvene javnosti prigovara da su medicinski asopisi produzena ruka industrije?Te je prigovore iznio glasoviti 'New York Times', ali oni nisu na mjestu. Prvo treba rei da farmaceutska industrija uvelike financira tzv. klini ka ispitivanja lijekova. Ona se provode na bolesnicima i vrlo su skupa. Potom istraziva i zele dobiveni rezultat objaviti u uglednom znanstvenom asopisu, jer je to na in prijenosa informacije iz pokusa u prakti nu medicinu. Znanstveni asopisi prije objavljivanja provode strogu provjeru valjanosti i vrijednosti podastrtih rezultata, pa njihovim vijestima medicina vjeruje i po njima se ravna. Drugim rije ima, nema prodaje lijeka bez objavljivanja rezultata o njemu u uglednom asopisu.Nas se asopis zove 'Croatian Medical Journal'. lan je Meunarodne udruge urednika medicinskih asopisa, koja odreuje sva pravila publiciranja u medicini. Ta skupina, u kojoj su i najugledniji medicinski asopisi na svijetu, kao ameri ki 'New England Journal of Medicine' i 'JAMA', te engleski 'British Medical Journal' i 'The Lancet', donijela je 2005. u Cavtatu iznimno vaznu odluku - da asopisi nee objavljivati lanke o rezultatima klini kih pokusa ako ti pokusi nisu prije po etka istrazivanja registrirani u nekoj javnoj pismohrani. Propisali su 20 klju nih podataka o planu pokusa koji se moraju pohraniti u pismohranu i poslije pokazati - zajedno s dobivenim rezultatima. Tako registracija plana rada na po etku omoguuje kontrolu rezultata koji se dobiju na kraju i rezultati klini kih istrazivanja sada ne mogu 'uljepsavati' sliku o lijeku.O odgovornosti urednika za neke pogreske i prijevare koje su se otkrile, moja supruga i ja, kao urednici, napisali smo raspravu za 'Medical Journal of Australia'. Drzimo da se urednike napada samo zbog toga sto su njihovi asopisi mjesto gdje se nalazi osnovni javni dokument o u incima lijekova. Objavljeni znanstveni lanak glavni je oblik komunikacije u znanosti i mjerilo znanstvene valjanosti, ali vrlo vjeste varalice kadsto izmaknu i najstru nijim provjerama. Takve probleme najbolje mogu suzbiti preventivne i obrazovne mjere cijele istraziva ke zajednice! Uvoenje obveze prethodne registracije plana klini kog istrazivanja u inkovit je potez, ali bez promicanja morala ipak se moze provui kakva poluistina ili prijevara.Mozete li komentirati prigovore da se zbog financijskih interesa 'izmisljaju bolesti'?U posljednje se vrijeme puno govori o nekim novim bolestima i mnogi sumnjaju da su one 'izmisljene' zbog financijskih interesa farmaceutskih tvrtka, zbog prodaje novih lijekova. Primjeri su 'sindrom kroni nog umora', razli ite nijanse neuroze i depresije, ili grani ni slu ajevi posttraumatskog stresnog sindroma. Odgovor na takve dvojbe mogu dati samo sustavna znanstvena istrazivanja.Ina e je izmisljanje bolesti poznato otkad je svijeta i vijeka. Kad bolesnik izmislja bolest, onda je to ve samo po sebi bolest! Kadsto moze i lije nik, suosjeajui s bolesnikom, svjesno ili nesvjesno - sudjelovati u izmisljanju. I za to bi trebalo imati razumijevanja. No, kad se upletu izravni materijalni dobici, napose na strani lije nika, prekrsaj treba prokazati i kazniti.Poseban je problem izmisljanje novih postupka lije enja i lijekova. To je ona prijevara koja se krije pod imenima alternativne medicine, narodne medicine ili 'otkria' koja ne postuju pravila istraziva kog rada. Ljudima treba jasno rei da je znanstvena medicina jedini put do boljega zdravlja. Nazalost, paramedicina se sve vise siri. Vjera suvremenoga ovjeka sve vise slabi, a zivot postaje sve ugodniji i ljepsi. Danasnji ovjek sve vise vjeruje u svjetovne uzitke, a sve manje u zagrobni zivot i - postaje mu sve teze ostarjeti i umrijeti. Znanstvena medicina zapravo ne daje nadu, nego ovozemaljsko olaksanje. Nadu daje samo vjera. Na kraju ispada da vjera, obi na ljudska, svakodnevna vjera, ja a i nase povjerenje u znanost! Bez vjere nema ni ovostranog ni onostranog zivota! Nego samo strah od smrti i privremeni i nemirni zaborav.Glas Koncila, broj 25 (1669), 18.6.2006.http://www.glas-koncila.hr/rubrike_prigovor_znanosti.html?broj_ID=7526  Matko Marusic Editor-in-Chief Croatian Medical Journal Zagreb University School of Medicine Salata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Phone: + 385 1 4566 782; fax: ++ 4590 222 mmarusic@mef.hr  www.cmj.hr  Visit the web site of the Croatian Medical Journal - www.cmj.hr  for the free full text of all articles.Croatian Medical Journal is the window to the best health research in developing and newly emerging countries. nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8567/1/H-Raznolikost-je-baza-napretka-u-prirodi-Intervju-Ivana-Djikica.html Raznolikost je baza napretka u prirodiIntervju Ivana Djikica   http://www.croatianworld.net/Letters/DIKIC_Intervju_Playboy_2006.pdf nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7678/1/H-O-Sveucilistima-i-znanosti-u-SAD-i-njihovom-financiranju.html  Kolokvij Instituta Rudjer Boskovic"O SVEUCILISTIMA I ZNANOSTI U SAD I NJIHOVOM FINANCIRANJU"Prof. Zlatko Bacic, Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, USASrijeda, 24. svibnja 2006, u 16.00 sati, Predavaonica III krila, Institut Rudjer Boskovic, Bijenicka c. 54, ZagrebObrazovno-znanstveni sustav SAD cine gotovo 3000 institucija, koje se jako razlikuju po svojoj prirodi, primarnoj misiji, velicini, bogatstvu, i prestizu. U vrhu piramide je oko 100 sveucilista u kojima je izrazit naglasak na znanstvenom radu, i koja dodjeljuju doktorate u sirokom spektru disciplina. Dobar dio tih sveucilista ima dominantan polozaj na svjetskoj znanstvenoj sceni. Ponudit cemo moguca objasnjenja za tu situaciju, i opisati izvore financiranja americkih sveucilista, koja su raznolika i bitno se razlikuju od onih u Europi. Osim toga, bit ce dan opcenit pregled sustava financiranja znanosti u SAD i novijih trendova u njemu. Nastojat cemo nesto detaljnije opisati ustroj National Science Foundation (NSF) i National Institute ofHealth (NIH), njihove budzete, i natjecanje za njih.Voditeljica IRB kolokvija: Prof.dr. G. Pifat-Mrzljak(u 15.30 h pocetak druzenja uz kavu i caj)  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 17 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7681/1/H-5-Medjunarodni-kongres-o-prehospitalnim-hitnim-stanjima-od-21-23-04.html  5. Medjunarodni kongres o prehospitalnim hitnim stanjima od 21.-23. 04 2006 Porec, 10.03.2006.Draga kolegice, dragi kolega!Sluzba hitne medicinske pomoci Porec Istarskih domova zdravlja organizira "5. Medjunarodni kongres o prehospitalnim hitnim stanjima" od 21.-23. 04. 2006. godine. Kongres ce se odrzati u hotelima ''Plavi'' i ''Zorna'' u Zelenoj laguni uz sudjelovanje medicinskih strucnjaka iz USA, Poljske, Austrije, Italije, Slovenije, Madjarske, BiH, SiCG i Hrvatske.Ovo je nas peti medjunarodni kongres, a vec deseti medicinski skup (dva tecaja ultrazvucne dijagnostike, Jadranska konferencija o ovisnostima, dva medjunarodna simpozija urgentne medicine i cetiri medjunarodna kongresa urgentne medicine) koji je Dom zdravlja Porec, odnosno sadasnja ispostava Porec Istarskih domova zdravlja, organizirao od 1999. godine.Skup je namijenjen lijecnicima, medicinskim sestrama - tehnicarima i svima koji se pri svojem poslu susrecu s hitnim slucajevima i spasavanjem.Nasi dosadasnji skupovi bili su izuzetno zanimljivi i doprinijeli su napretku u odnosima djelatnika hitne medicinske pomoci na terenu i specijalista u bolnicama, a unaprijedili smo i nas svakodnevni rad, od cega imaju koristi pacijenti naseg podrucja, te nasi turisti. Skup ce se odrzati pod visokim pokroviteljstvom Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi RH i pod pokroviteljstvom poglavarstva Istarske zupanije, kao i nasi dosadasnji skupovi.Website kongresa: http://www.kompasdmc.com/hitna/ 2. obavijest kongresa:http://www.kompasdmc.com/hitna/5.Kongres_2.Obavijest_Web.pdf Za Organizacijski odbor KongresaPredsjednik Organizacijskog odbora Kongresa,Stjepan Arnold, dr. med. Adresa: Pazinska 11, HR-52440 Porec, HrvatskaE-mail: stjepan.arnold@pu.t-com.hr GSM: +385 / 91 / 5259722Fax: +385 / 52 / 451025  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7679/1/E-The-Croatian-Neuropsychology-Group-Call-for-members.html  The Croatian Neuropsychology Group, Call for membersThe Croatian Neuropsychology Group is an organization dedicated to enhancing communication regarding both clinical practice and research in the field of neuropsychology amongst professionals of Croatian descent across the globe. Neuropsychologists, as well professionals from other fields (i.e., neuroscientists, other psychologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, etc.) with a particular interest in the area of brain-behavior relationships are encouraged to join and contribute to our dialogues.If you are interested in joining, or know someone of a similar background who might, please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cronpsych/ or email us at: cronpsych@yahoogroups.com Thank you for your time and help in getting our message out,Elizabeth C. Kera, M.A., M.Phil.Clinical Neuropsychology InternNS/LIJ Health SystemPsychological ServicesKaufmann Building, Room 211Glen Oaks, NY 11004tel: 718-470-8395pager: 917-448-0292email: ekera@nshs.edu I created this group in the interest of joining together thoseindividuals of Croatian descent who are interested in the field ofneuropsychology. I hope that this will provide a useful resource forthose looking to not only increase communication with colleagues in thefield internationally, but also an avenue through which we can help tofurther develop and contribute to the field of neuropsychology asprofessionals in various countries.I welcome you, as well as encourage you to invite others who you thinkmight be interested in the Croatian Neuropsychology Group. Let thedialogue begin!Best wishes,Elizabeth C. Keraekera@nshs.edu   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7680/1/H-Medicina-iznutra---Nova-Knjiga-Matka-Marusica.html Matko Marusic Editor-in-Chief Croatian Medical Journal Zagreb University School of Medicine Salata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Phone: + 385 1 4566 782; fax: ++ 4590 222 mmarusic@mef.hr  www.cmj.hr  Visit the web site of the Croatian Medical Journal - www.cmj.hr  for the free full text of all articles.Croatian Medical Journal is the window to the best health research in developing and newly emerging countries.   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7682/1/E-Croatian-invented-worlds-first-mechanical-pencil-100-years-ago.html  Pen comes from Croatia Antiques dealer Miroslav Tischler holds an original mechanical pencil and a bust of its inventor Slavoljub Penkala in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday Jan. 25, 2006. A Croatian museum on Wednesday displayed the world's first mechanical pencil, marking the 100th anniversary since a Croat invented the item that later became essential in everyday life around the world. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat) Antiques dealer Miroslav Tischler holds a book on the original mechanical pencil and a bust of its inventor Slavoljub Penkala in Zagreb, Croatia, Wednesday Jan. 25, 2006. A Croatian museum on Wednesday displayed the world's first mechanical pencil, marking the 100th anniversary since a Croat invented the item that later became essential in everyday life around the world. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 24 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7684/1/E-Dr-Zeljko-Reiner-Sugar-cane-extract-may-favorably-alter-lipid-level.html  Sugar-cane extract may favorably alter lipid levelDr. Zeljko Reiner from University Hospital Center Zagreb in Croatia Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:33 PM GMT NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The results of a new study provide more evidence that rice policosanol -- a mixture of alcohols extracted from sugar-cane wax -- has favorable effects on serum lipids.In an 8-week study of 70 patients with very high cholesterol levels, 10 milligrams of rice policosanol daily significantly reduced total cholesterol concentrations in plasma and increased apolipoprotein A1 -- a protein portion of "good" HDL cholesterol that carries cholesterol in the blood.Dr. Zeljko Reiner from University Hospital Center Zagreb in Croatia and two associates describe their study in the journal Clinical Drug Investigation.The combination of high total cholesterol and "bad" LDL cholesterol and low "good" HDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, they note in the paper. Large studies have clearly shown that lowering elevated total and LDL cholesterol through diet, exercise, and cholesterol-lowering drug therapy is beneficial.However, concerns regarding side effects of chemically derived cholesterol-lowering drugs have fueled interest in naturally derived agents, such as rice policosanol. This compound has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol in animal models, healthy volunteers, and in those with very high cholesterol levels.The current findings from Reiner and colleagues support rice policosanol's favorable effects on serum lipids.Compared with placebo, policosanol for 8 weeks significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol from 7.37 to 6.99 mmol/L and increased Apo A1 from 1.49 to 1.58 mmol/L, Reiner and colleagues report.In this brief study, however, the researchers could not prove a significant reduction in triglycerides or LDL cholesterol or increase in HDL cholesterol with policosanol, as has been shown in other studies. It may be that the dose of policosanol used (10 milligrams daily) was too low and the duration of the study was too short, the authors offer.There were no side effects from policosanol therapy.Reiner and colleagues conclude that further study of rice policosanol as a potentially natural cholesterol-lowering aid is warranted.SOURCE: Clinical Drug Investigation, November 2005.http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-11-28T203332Z_01_FLE873937_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-SUGAR-CANE-DC.XML&archived=False   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7683/1/E-Anthony-F-Lucas-discoverer-of-the-first-major-gusher-in-Texas.html  Anthony F. Lucasdiscoverer of the first major gusher in TexasAnthony F. Lucas (Antun Lucic) (Split 1855, Washington 1925) discovered the first major gusher in Texas, The Lucas gusher, flowing at the rate of 80,000 to 100,000 barrels per day.It blew in January 1901, and about 50,000 people came to see it. This meant the first massive exploitation of oil and petroleum in history.A museum with 18 m high granite obelisk was built in honor to the Lucas gusher in Spindletop. There is also 1,5 m granite monument of Lucic with inscription saying that his discovery revolutionarized industry and transport,... and changed lives of people in the whole world.The American Institute for Geological and Metalurgical Investigations founded a prizeAnthony F. Lucas Gold Medal. In 2005 we commemorated hundred and fifty years since his birth, and eighty years since his death. Submitted by Darko Zubrinic, Zagrebwww.croatianhistory.net nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7685/1/H-HR-znanstvenici-u-svim-projektima-EU-od-4-Listopada-2005.html  Hrvatski znanstvenici u svim projektima EU od 4 Listopada 2005Molim Vas proslijedite :Buduci vec godinama djelujem i koordiniram umrezavanjesvih hrvatskih znanstvenika i tehnologa diljem svijeta,ministar Primorac mi je potvrdio da vec od ponoci 4. listopadasvi hrvatski znanstvenici u domovini imaju pravu ucestvovatiu svim projektima Europske Unije.MZOS moli da obavjestim(o) sve nase aktivne znanstvenikei tehnologe uEuropi koji vec imaju svoje Euro-projekte dapronadju partnere u Hrvatskoj i pomognu im uci u razne Europrojekte, jer su i sve financije dostupne vec od 18. studenog.Zainteresirani se mogu javiti ili meni ili kolegama u MZOS-u.Unaprijed hvala na sirenju poruke.Prof. D. PavunaEPFL, Lausanne,Svicarska  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 09 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7686/1/E-British-Medical-Association-read-only-Croatian-CMJ-letter.html  Out of some 30, only the letter from Croatian Medical Journal was readAt commemoration of the victims of the bombing attack in London, in British Medical Association (BMA House), out of some 30, only the letter from Croatian Medical Journal was read. We sent the letter of support and condolences. Name of Croatian Medical Journal means so much, and maybe the words were so good that - it was read in public.Sincerely, yours, Matko Marusicmmarusic@mef.hr  In a message dated 7/25/2005 3:56:40 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 9:03 AMTo: Matko MarusicSubject: Re: LondonDragi profesoreCestitke na CMJ-u. Zaboravila sam Vam reci - na komemoraciji zrtvamabomaskog napada koja je bila u BMA House u cetvrtak procitali su samo jednuporuku podrske, i to od Croatian Medical Journal-a.Pala sam na ledja kad su Vas spomenuli u takvoj prilici, na cas sampomislila - gdje sam to, nisam se valjda teleportirala kuci?! :)SrdacnoKristina  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7687/1/E-Mathematical-Conferences-in-2005---report-by-Darko-Zubrinic.html  Mathematical Conferences in 2005Upon the request of Nenad Bach, I am submitting a shortreport about several international mathematicalconferences organized this year, where I had the privilege toparticipate. Of course, there were many more mathconferences in general, I will mention just a few of them.1. Functional Analysis IXhttp://www.math.hr/~congress/Dubrovnik05/ (if you are interested, see the photos)about 70 participantsThis is international congress organized biannually inCroatia, in the city of Dubrovnik, in June, for a weekor so. Its strong international reputation is clear from thenames of participants. I will try to introduce some of them, enclosing thetitles of their talks (which, very probably will not tell you anything):David Vogan (M.I.T., USA): Branching laws forrepresentations of real reductive groups.This is one of the best specialist of today in thefield of Representation theory of groups, truly agreat privilege to have such a staron the conference. He has very fruitful collaborationwith Croatian mathematicians, and it is indeed a greatthing for young scientists to haveopportunity to listen to him, and discuss with him.Prof. Vogan even organized once a walk to the hill ofSrdj above the City, with amazing viewto Dubrovnik and the surrounding islands. The fortresson the top of Srdj still has visible traces ofGreater-Serbian aggression. And Professor Vogan had amath seminar there, without blackboard or paper.Corrine Blonde (Univ. Denis Diderot - Paris 7,France): Tadi'c's philosophy and propagation oftypes. The title of her talk is indeed amazing. Namely, MarkoTadic is outstanding Croatian mathematician working atthe Mathematics Department ofthe University of Zagreb. I really did not expect thata mathematician from Paris will come to Dubrovnik todeliver a talk about Tadic's philosophy. By the way, the lecture was mathematics, notphilosophy (a famousFrench mathematician Henry Lebesgue said around 1920that "if you are working in mathematics then there isno need to do philosophy - philosophers also sharethis opinion")Guy Henniart (Universite Paris-Sud and CNRS, France): Representations of GL(2), old and new.Also one of outstanding, internationally knownmathematicians at the conference (for the first timein Croatia).Known for his work related to the famous Langlandstheory.Gilles Pisier (Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie, France &Texas A&M Univ., USA).A very well known French mathematician. Member of theeditorial board of Bulletin des SciencesMathematiques,founded in 1870, one of the most prestigious in France(two Croatian mathematicians recently published arather long paper there,dr. Vesna Zupanovic and the author of these lines,both working in Zagreb)Dragan Milicic (University of Utah, USA) Is "hardduality" really hard?Outstanding Croatian mathematician working in the USA,studied mathematics in Zagreb, where he also defendedhis PhD and started hisacademic career. Member of the Editorial board of theElectronic Research Announcements in RepresentationTheory (published by the American Math. Society),and also member of the Croatian math. journal Glasnikmatematicki.I want to add a few words aboutHarry I. Miller (University of Sarajevo), who lives inSarajevo for more than 30 years continuously,including the years of the Greater-Serbian aggression.Extremely interesting person, born in Chicago, wherehe obtained his PhD in Math, started his academicscientific career, and after having fallen in lovewith dr. Naza Tanjevic (died a few years ago), continuedhis life and scientific work in Sarajevo. Theirdaughter is also a mathematician.I remember Harry when he had a lecture (in English) atthe Math. seminar in Zagreb in 1996, when I was astudent. There was a huge audience, among them aRussianmathematician Shostak (then guest of prof. Mardesic inZagreb for one year). Shostak asked a question afterthe talk, which Harry was not able to understand.Shostak repeated his question twice, but in vain.There was a moment of very unpleasant silence, whensomebody in the audience remarked -"This was a true Soviet - American dialog". There wasa burst of laughter which completely changed theatmosphere.Goran Muic(Department of Mathematics, University of Zagreb,Zagreb) Construction of generalized Steinbergrepresentations for reductive p-adic groups.This is one of the best young Croatian mathematicianstoday, a student of professor Tadic. Professor Muic isa frequent guest with his lectures inParis, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, etc.Professor Tadic is one of the youngest members of theCroatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. During the conference we had nice excursion with aboat to the Elafit islands near the City. It was agreat day, I will not forget how professor Murali Rao(USA, Gainsville, but born in India) enjoyed theexcursion, beautiful plants, with his daughter.Professor Rao is a member of the organizing committeeof the conference besides Damir Bakic, Davor Butkovic, Hrvoje Kraljevic,Goran Peskir, Hrvoje Sikic and Marko Tadic.Unfortunately, the meal on the boat was bad, we allhad problems with stomach during the next day at theconference (Harry said - I had TRCKALICA the wholenight).The conference this time was held in the building of the University of Dubrovnik, indeed very nice, withinteresting entering hall where you can sitby a small sailing-boat. 2. Almost simultaneously, another international mathconference on Mathematical Chemistry was organized inthe Hotel Lero where we also stayed. The hotel staff was excellent,and the meals were indeed very good. Here I do notintend to describe the City itself,it is unforgettable experience for me any time I cometo visit it, seewww.croatianhistory.net/etf/et111.html 3. The main international congressional event inDubrovnik this year was probably the conference onIndustrial Electronics, held under the auspicies of IEEE, and local organizerwas Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computingfrom Zagreb (I also work in this institution). It had more than300 participants and about 60 of them from Croatia, if I remember well.For more information seehttp://www.isie2005.org/ During my stay in Dubrovnik I learned that the City ismuch older than people think. Its history goes back toAncient Times, to at least 6th to 5th centuries BC.The current literature operates that the City wasfounded in 7th century AD. I learned this from dr.Antun Nicetic, professor at the University ofDubrovnik, who recently published an important monographAntun Nicetic: Nove spoznaje o postanku Dubrovnika, onjegovu brodarstvu i plovidbi Svetoga Pavla,Sveuciliste u Dubrovniku, Dubrovnik, 2005., ISBN953-7153-02-9This fact has to enter all tourist and school books,since it is based on solid data, gathered during morethan 30 years of research.I you are interested in Croatian mathematiciansworking abroad, please, seeCroatian Mathematical Diasporawww.croatianhistory.net/mat/cromath.html 4. In May there was another very successfulconference, organized byThe Department of Mathematics, University of Zagreb:the Conference on Wavelets and Frames. This was the second conference on recent topics in thetheory of wavelets, frames and other reproducingfunction systems, which is a part of the ongoing research projectbetween Croatian and US researchers (the firstconference was held at Washington University inSt.Louis in March of 2004).http://waveframe.math.hr/ The conference was held in Terme Tuhelj (near Zagreb),in the Mihanovic palace. Indeed a nice and lovelyplace. We had several outstanding guests:Professor Guido Weiss and Mladen Victor Wickerhauser(born in Zagreb) from Washignton University in St.Louis. Professor Wickerhauser speaks Croatianvery good, and it was a pleasant surprise for me whenhe told me that he used my TeX fonts for CroatianGlagolitic to play with his veryyoung daughter.5. In Croatia we had another conference, Fourth Conference on Applied Mathematics andScientific Computing, organized by the Department ofMathematics of the University of Zagreb, seehttp://applmath05.math.hr/6. I also want to mention the ISAAC math. conferencein Catania, Sicilia, Italy. I came there upon thepersonal invitation of Professor Francesco Nicolosi,local organizer of the conference. ISAAC is forInternational Society of Analysis, its Applications,and Computation. There were four mathematicians fromZagreb (with their lectures and presentations), out of about350 participants.At the opening ceremony there was also Rector of theUniversity of Catania, city mayor, and others. Most ofthem addressed to participants in Italian, not inEnglish.It was a great surprise for me when Professor Nicolosiinvited me to be the chairman of a morning session ofthe conference. It was my third visit to Catania,three years ago I had a series of six lectures for hisstudents of doctoral study at Dipartimento diMatematica. Professor Nicolosi is also the director ofthe Department.Two mathematicians asked me to convey my greetings toprofessor Josip Pecaric: professor Burenkov, workingin Cardiff, GB (of the Russian origin), and professorSiato from Japan, who is member of editorial board ofMIA (a Cro. math. scientific journal - MathematicalInequalities and Applications), where prof. Pecaric iseditor in chief.In Catania I met an Armenian professor of mathematicsfrom Yerevan. It was a pleasant surprise for him when Itold him that the first history of Armenian people inEurope was written by a Croat:Josip Marinovic (1741 - 1801), was a Jesuit born inPerast - Kotor (in Boka kotorska, annexed toMontenegro in 1945), professor of theology in Venice.His friendship with an Armenian banker Serpos resultedin his interest for the history of Armenians. Hisassiduous research resulted in the book "Compendiostorico...della nazione armena", published in Venicein 1783. The book had a great success. Though it wassigned by Serpos, its true author was Marinovic. Itrepresents the first history of Armenians published inEurope. It is interesting that the book had beenextended and republished by Ivan Dominik Stratico,bishop on the Croatian island of Hvar. This bookincited European interest for Armenian people andtheir culture. In particular, upon the initiative ofthe Vatican, supported by Austria and Russia, in 1830the Turkish sultan admitted very old ArmenianChristian Church and allowed Armenian Archbishopric tobe founded in Constantinople. See [Gregory Peroche],p. 119.From www.croatianhistory.net/etf/lat.html#marin The white flag of Dubrovnik contains a figure of Sv.Vlaho (St. Blais, St. Blasius, Armenian martyr from3/4 centuries), patron of the City. From www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et111.html This by far is not all what is related to mathconferences where Croatian mathematicians participatedthis year. Of course, there are numerous conferences in otherfields - in natural, technical and social sciences.Also, there are many more details to be said aboutaforementioned conferences, but I hope this willsuffice.Many greetings to all readers of CROWN from Zagreb,Darko Zubrinicwww.croatianhistory.net  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 07 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7688/1/E-Engage-the-Croatian-scientific-diaspora-in-joint-projects.html  Croatia: World Bank Helps Increase Croatia’s Competitiveness Through Investments July 7 2005 Press Release - World Bank The World Bank today approved a US$ 40 million loan for a Science and Technology Project for Croatia. The project will help to improve the competitiveness of Croatian industry both in domestic and foreign markets. Croatia has made significant progress in its transition towards a market economy. However, the Government of Croatia recognizes that more remains to be done to improve the competitiveness of the Croatian economy and propel it forward on a path to sustained economic growth. An increased productivity and technological base and strengthened linkages among Research and Development (R&D) Institutions, the scientific community, and industry will help enterprises compete more effectively and facilitate Croatia’s economic integration with global markets. In addition, upgrading the technological capabilities of firms is an important step in Croatia’s future accession to the European Union. The Project is comprised of three main components: · restructure R&D Institutions to increase the focus on applied research while maintaining scientific excellence; · upgrade technological capabilities of private enterprises by providing financing support for technology startups, technology-based companies and R&D centers; · engage the Croatian scientific Diaspora in joint projects and other initiatives, to transfer their knowledge and skills for the benefit of Croatian society, as well as to encourage the scientists to return to Croatia. "The Project will build on the great depth of scientific knowledge in Croatian Research and Development institutions and will help bring more innovation into the market. It will also help to reduce ‘brain drain’ as well as use the knowledge and resources accumulated by the Croatian Diaspora to national advantage," said Anand K. Seth, World Bank Country Director for Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. The Science and Technology Project will yield a positive return for Croatia’s economy in the long run by reducing the burden of R&D Institutions on the state budget. Local private companies will benefit from increased incomes, improved competitiveness, raised market share, and positive impact on exports. The Project was prepared in collaboration among key partners: the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, the Brodarski Institute, the Business Innovation Center for Croatia, and the Ruđer BoÅ¡ković Institute. The project has a maturity of 15 years, including a five-year grace period. Croatia joined the World Bank in 1993. Since then, commitments to the country total approximately US$1.2 billion for 32 operations. http://www.harolddoan.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4298  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 08 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7689/1/E-India-okays-pact-with-Croatia-in-the-field-of-health-and-medicine.html   Indian Cabinet okays pact with Croatia   5/27/2005 10:10:53 AM IST The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for the signing of agreement with Croatia in the field of health and medicine for a period of five years.The agreement provides for cooperation in the areas of mother and child health; family planning; public health and nursing; communicable diseases; medicine research; medicine equipment and pharmaceutical products; hospital management; and standards and curricula of medical education.The cooperation shall be in the form of exchange of information in the field of health and Medicine; exchange of delegations of health and medical specialists; training in the mutually agreed identified areas and deputation of experts to attend international meetings held in either country.The bilateral agreement will encourage cooperation between India and Croatia in the field of health and medicine on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. India has entered into similar bilateral agreements with Hungary, Yemen, Seychelles, Tanzania and Austria.http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/news.asp?dat=59366   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 27 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7690/1/H-Medjunarodni-kongres-o-prehospitalnim-hitnim-stanjima-Porec-21-24.html  ISTARSKI DOMOVI ZDRAVLJA, SLUZBA HMP POREC& SESTRINSKO VIJECE ZA POSTUPKE OZIVLJAVANJA- ORGANIZIRAJU -4. MEdjUNARODNI KONGRES O PREHOSPITALNIM HITNIM STANJIMA& 3. SIMPOZIJ O URGENTNOJ MEDICINI I SPASAVANJU Hotel »Pical«, Porec, Hrvatska 21.–24. 04. 2005.http://www.kompasdmc.com/hitna Draga kolegice, dragi kolega!Nastavljajuci visegodisnju tradiciju organizacije skupova hitne medicine od strane sluzbe hitne medicinske pomoci Porec Istarskih domova zdravlja, sa zadovoljstvom Vam javljam da ce se u Porecu od 21-24. travnja 2005. godine odrzati 4. Medjunarodni kongres o prehospitalnim hitnim stanjima. Istovremeno i na istom mjestu odrzat ce se i Meetings simpozij o urgentnoj medicini i spasavanju, koji organizira Sestrinsko vijece za postupke ozivljavanja. Vjerujemo da ce program ovog kombiniranog skupa biti zanimljiv za sve ucesnike, jer cemo se pretezno posvetiti prakticnom radu, radionicama sa medjunarodnim sudjelovanjem. U privitku imate zavrsnu obavijest o Kongresu u obliku .pdf dokumenta (otvara ga program Acrobat Reader).Dovidjenja u Porecu!Stjepan Arnold, dr. med.Predsjednik organizacijskog odboraHitna medicinska pomoc Porec (HMP)Emergency Medical Service (EMS)Ul. Gioseffi 2, HR-52440 Porec, croatiaTel: +385/52/431054; Fax: +385/52/451025E-mail: hitna@domzdravlja-porec.hr Web: http://www.domzdravlja-porec.hr/hitna.htm  Web: http://www.domzdravlja-porec.hr/jezici/english.htm    nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 17 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7691/1/E-PLIVA-a-global-company-in-more-than-30-countries.html  PLIVA, d.d., headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, is now a global generics and specialty company, with operations in more than 30 countriesMarch 29, 2005 09:09 AM US Eastern Timezone Odyssey Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces FDA Approval for Custodiol HTK Solution for Perfusion and Flushing of Donor Pancreata, in Addition to Previously Approved Liver, Kidney and Heart Transplants FLORHAM PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2005--Odyssey Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA has approved an additional indication for the use of Custodiol(R)* HTK Solution for the perfusion and flushing of donor pancreata. Custodiol HTK Solution has already been approved for use in the perfusion and flushing of other key donor organs -- livers, kidneys and hearts. Custodiol(R) now presents with indications for the vast majority of organ transplants in the United States - both abdominal and thoracic organs - an important consideration for transplant specialists. "With this new indication, Custodiol makes an excellent single product choice for the large majority of transplant procedures involving pancreata, hearts, kidneys, and livers," said Wayne Yetter, President and CEO of Odyssey. According to statistics compiled by The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, during 2004, of the 26,998 organs transplanted from all donors in the U.S., 22,141 (82%) were of kidneys and livers.(1) Another 2,013 were heart transplants, 602 were pancreas or islet cell transplants and 880 were kidney/pancreas transplants. This makes the pancreas the fourth most commonly transplanted solid organ. "This new indication for Custodiol also demonstrates the commitment that Odyssey has made to the field of transplantation. For example, PLIVA, Inc., an affiliated company, offers Cyclosporine Soft-Gel Capsules and Oral Solution. In addition, a dedicated team of Odyssey/PLIVA Transplant Specialists presents these products to the medical community," added Allan Weber, senior director, sales and marketing at Odyssey. Custodiol offers several important advantages over other available products. Custodiol requires no flushing of the organ prior to transplantation. Custodiol requires no additives, filtering, or premixing, and it can be stored over a wider range of temperatures (2 degrees C - 15 degrees C (35 degrees F - 59 degrees F)). The low viscosity of Custodiol -- similar to water -- and its clear appearance make for easier handling for both the perfusionist and the surgeon. Adding to its ease of handling, Custodiol is packaged in 4 sizes -- 500-mL bottles, 1000-mL bottles, 2000-mL bags, and 5000-mL bags -- for greater convenience. For additional information about Custodiol or any other Odyssey products, please visit our website at www.OdysseyPharm.com or call 1-877-427-9068. About Odyssey Odyssey Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of PLIVA, d.d., is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative products to improve quality of life. Since 2000, Odyssey has concentrated on key therapeutic categories such as urology, respiratory and central nervous system. The company recently launched SANCTURA(TM), a prescription medicine that is indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). An estimated 33 million Americans suffer from OAB, with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency. For more information, visit www.sanctura.com. About PLIVA, d.d. With more than 80 years of experience in the pharmaceuticals area, PLIVA, d.d., headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, is now a global generics and specialty company, with operations in more than 30 countries in the U.S., Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Building upon a strong R&D history, the company specializes in the discovery, development, production and distribution of generic and branded pharmaceutical products. Since its listing on the London Stock Exchange in 1996, PLIVA has established a fully internationalized business, with the majority of its revenues now realized in Western markets. (1)The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. National data. Donors recovered in the U.S. by donor type. Available at: http://www.optn.org/latestData/rptData.asp. Accessed March 31, 2003. *CUSTODIOL is a registered trademark of Dr. Franz Kohler Chemie GmbH, Alsbach-Hahnlein, Germany.http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050329005534&newsLang=en  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7692/1/H-Predvidjanja-i-futurolozi---Dr-Pavuna.html  Predvidjanja i futuroloziPREDVIDJANJADavor Pavuna, fizicar, objasnjava kakva buducnost ceka Zemlju, a kakvaHrvatskuZnanost je spremna za izvanzemaljce, dok Hrvatska zivi tranziciju iznaftne polukolonije u drustvo znalacaAutor : Tomislav OharekRazoran potres i tsunami koji je odnio najmanje 225.000 zivota,neuobicajeno tople zime zbog kojih europski medvjedi ne spavaju zimskisan, a njihovim polarnim rodjacima prijeti izumiranje, uragani koji supoharali jug SAD-a i Karibe, katastrofalne poplave u Indiji i Kini,teroristicki napadi diljem svijeta...Nekad je to mogao biti prolog znanstvenofantasticnog filma katastrofe, adanas nam je stvarnost. Vise i nema covjeka koji se ne pita sto ce bitisa Zemljom, cemu se nadati i sto planirati.A ima li na planetu ikoga osim vidovnjaka, astrologa, parapsihologa islicnih "strucnjaka" tko se usudi ponuditi imalo pouzdane odgovore.Srecom, tu su znanstvenici-futurolozi.Jedan je od rijetkih Hrvata koji povremeno djeluje i kao futurologfizicar dr. Davor Pavuna, voditelj grupe za supravodljivost i visokokorelirane sustave na Svicarskom institutu za tehnologiju u Lausanni.Vrlo se malo osoba deklarira futurolozima jer opce usvojeni trening zato kompleksno podrucje ne postoji kao za meteorologe ili biologe.Poceo sam se kao fizicar baviti vjerojatnostima dogadjaja kao prirodnimprosirenjem znanstvenih interesa, nakon sto su mi u britanskimkompanijama British Petroleum i Shell 1979. rekli da imaju strategiju na100 godina, a Japanci i Korejci i na 300 godina, te kad sam u Australiji1982. slusao ozbiljno predavanje da ce se bivsa Jugoslavija raspasti! -kazao nam je Davor Pavuna.Stizu epidemijeGodinama je proucavao sve o futurologiji u fizici, metafizici,povijesti, religiji, sociologiji, psihologiji, dramaturgiji,menadzmentu, a nakon brojnih rasprava s vodecim strucnjacima, i sam sepoceo baviti analizama i vjerojatnostima odredjenih trendova idogadjaja. Suvremeni je futurolog multidisciplinarno obrazovana osoba scvrstim znanstvenim temeljima.Fizicar Pavuna naglasava da buducnost nije nesto sto se automatskidogadja bez nas iako ce na galaktickoj razini Mjesec ostati na istojputanji, a Sunce sjati.Dogadjaju se ocite klimatske promjene. Bit ce jos toplije u nasempodrucju, a po tome se ravnaju i geostratezi.Ako nas svjetski rat, veci ratovi ili terorizam ne uniste, vecina ljudizivjet ce dulje, no to ce donijeti probleme u radnom sustavu, smirovinama i nacinom zivota. Bit ce i dosta epidemija jer se povezanostbiosfere vise ne moze izbjeci, ali i neocekivanih dogadjaja poputotkrica u biogenetskoj sferi te u razumijevanju svemira navodi Pavunaneke od prognoza koje objavljuju mnogi futurolozi.Janaf-naftañDruzba Adria u polukolonijalizmu ili suverena eko-Hrvatskaznalaca.Vise nego ikad, tvrdi dr. Pavuna, i Hrvatska treba strategiju i viziju,jer EU nece automatski poboljsati sudbinu nacije, dok sposobni kreatorii inzenjeri-poduzetnici to mogu. Nasi mladi jesu sposobni i vec djeluju,ponajprije na internetu.Kaze kako se Hrvatska nalazi pred simbolickom dvojbom koja je ujedno srznase tranzicije: Janaf - nafta - DruzbAdria u polukolonijalizmu ilisuverena ekohrvatska znalaca.Ako pobijedi naftna opcija, to vodi sve dublje u manipulaciju VelikogBrata i naftne klike - toboze radi spasa nase naftne industrije, azauzvrat dobivamo sustavno visok rizik za Jadran i ekoturizam.Svaki bi ozbiljan futurolog izbjegao rizik zagadjenja nacije i Jadrana,ma kako malen taj rizik bio. Izgubiti pritom i 100 milijuna dolaragodisnje je zanemarivo : To je bit strategije !Specijalni ratAko sada izbjegnemo tu Janafovu zamku, postupno cemo evoluirati u cistuzemlju znalaca, a Hrvatskoj skloni stranci s nama ce rado (su)zivjeti!Mi smo posebno talentirani da umrezimo po desetak superznalaca ipokrenemo npr. start-up tvrtku za lijekove za usporeno starenje, uzpomoc Pliva-instituta ili novu web-trazilicu sa strucnjacima s FER-a. Ada o Rudjeru Boskovicu i ostalim centrima za inovacije i ne govorim.Dapace, izvozit cemo i nasu kulturu !Hrvatska ce biti materijalno bogatija, standard ce rasti, ali umjesto davec oko 2015. imamo drustvo znanja, to ce se dogoditi tek oko 2030. ilikasnije. A imamo talente da to obavimo brze! napominje Pavuna. Brzinaovisi o pomoci medija, poglavito HTV-a, koji svoju tranzicijsku ulogucini se jos uopce ne shvaca.Kako kaze, udruga svjetskih strucnjaka dragovoljaca - Hrvatski svjetskisabor (www.hssd.hr ), Nacionalna sveucilisna knjiznica (www.nsk.hr) teMinistarstvo znanosti i obrazovanja (www.mzos.hr) sustavno rade na tojviziji, potpomognuti znalcima u domovini i svijetu.Eksploatatorska globalizacija mora pastiSadasnja eksploatatorska globalizacija mora pasti, smatra on, nije niglobalno, ni lokalno ekonomsko-politicki, a ni moralno prihvatljiva! Tosu shvatili i brojni mislioci i djeluju u tom specijalnom ratu, a samoslijepac ne bi uocio da je Hrvatska u svemu tome nezaobilazna.O buducnosti Zemlje Pavuna nagovijesta: Uz sve nezanemarive geostrateskepromjene, ali i tehnoloski napredak, nije zanemariva ni vjerojatnost zakontakt s izvanzemaljskom civilizacijom jer smo u ovom stoljecutehnoloski nedvojbeno sposobni primiti i prepoznati kontaktnuinformaciju.Stovise, postoje tvrdnje da su odredjene izvanzemaljske informacije vecprisutne. Taj je susret prilicno izvjestan u ovom tisucljecu, a postojei osobe te grupe koje su za to strucno spremne.Kome trebaju futuroloziFuturoloske analize dobro su iskoristili Amerikanci nakon prelaskabrojnih znanstvenika iz Europe u SAD za II. svjetskog rata. Za hladnograta razvio se vojno-tehnoloski sektor, cije su neke metode preuzele ivisokotehnoloske tvrtke.Juzna Koreja ima plan i program "Tri generacije", s kojim su od kolonijes tisucu inzenjera u dvije generacije stigli na prag kluba najbogatihindustrijskih zemalja. Futurologe mnogi koriste pod imenomsavjetnik-analiticar i(li) kreator strategije.Ozbiljnije nacije i vece kompanije imaju razradjene strategije, i to na1-3, 10, 25 te 100 godina. Kina i na dulje. Isto vrijedi za sigurnosne,obrambene, financijske i informacijske sustave. To je vrlo ozbiljanposao, niposto prognoziranje u smislu "hoce li se Stefica udati zaFranceka".Od 1990. u Hrvatskoj su futuroloske prognoze radili odabrani strucnjacikod Predsjednika, u HAZU, te neke nezavisne udruge i organizacije.Postoje analize razvoja i opcija strategije Hrvatske u nekoliko namasusjednih zemalja, u EU, SAD-u i Londonu. Neke i nisu previseprijateljske rekao nam je dr. Pavuna.Netko bi pucao na dosljakeGovoreci o predvidivom susretu s drugim civilizacijama u svemiru, dr.Pavuna upucuje i na analize ekonomista dr. Slavka Kulica(ëíNeoliberalizamíí, www.prometej.net 2004), koji istice vazne trendovei pogreske ove civilizacije. Nasa je civilizacija otisla u sivutehnologiju i vladavinu straha umjesto da evoluira u civilizacijuharmonije, ljubavi i tzv. zelenu planetarnu tehnologiju. Nakon susreta sizvanzemaljskim civilizacijama, predvidja Pavuna, vjerojatno bi doslo ido lokalnih ratova jer bi odredjeni ljudi pokusali pucati na dosljake.No, brzo bi se situacija pretvorila u harmonican zivot. - Zivot jefundamentalna pojava, a mi se tako neodgovorno ponasamo da tesko mozemoimati goru civilizaciju kazao je dr. Pavuna.Pogled u buducnost s AlpaDiplomirao je eksperimentalnu fiziku na zagrebackom PMF-u 1977.Doktorirao je u Engleskoj 1982. na fizici kompleksnih materijala. Od1986. je voditelj grupe za supravodljivost i kompleksne sustave naSvicarskom institutu za tehnologiju u Lausanni. Od 2004. je medjunarodnikoordinator hrvatskih prirodoznanstvenika u svijetu. Ozenjen je i otacdvoje djece, a s obitelji zivi u svicarskim Alpama.Nedjeljni Vecernji list 22.01.2005 Zivothttp://www.vecernji-list.hr/home/nedjeljni/index.do   Kontakt Dr. Pavuna:davor.pavuna@urbanet.ch  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7693/1/E-Croatian-Medical-Journal---Class-Acts-for-2004.html  Croatian Medical Journal - Class Acts for 2004 Money magazine (January 2005 issue) has named the ICMJE editors one of its handful of "Class Acts" for 2004Dear Friends,May I remind you the Croatian Medical Journal, represented by editor Ana Marusic, is the member of ICMJE? Please see what compliments ICMJE has received (below).Yours sincerely, Matko From: Hal Sox :HSox@mail.acponline.orgSent: 10. prosinac 2004 16:11Subject: Something nice for a changeDear ICMJE friends,First, let me append my apology to Cathy's. We should have done a better job of engaging everyone in the thinking that will hopefully lead an agreement that will respect pharma's legitimate needs and protect the public's need for access to trial information. Let's move on from here together as best we can (think of cooperating in this way without email!!). I think all of us treasure the spirit that has bound us together and led us to accomplish so much together. It has certainly been one of the most satisfying parts of my professional life.Which is a nice segue to the good news that Money magazine (January 2005 issue) has named the ICMJE editors one of its handful of "Class Acts" for 2004 "a dozen unsung people (us and eleven others) who did right by you last year." It starts with "Twelve competing editors have never agreed on anything--until now. It describes how "the editors of the world's top medical journals decided to take their red pencils and draw a line in the sand" and goes on to finish with "....the practice is sure to give the public a better window into drug safety."All best,Hal nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7694/1/H-Znanjem-i-stvaralastvom-iz-kolonijalnog-stanja-svijesti.html  Znanjem i stvaralastvom iz kolonijalnog stanja nacijeHrvatska je cista zemlja i, ako takva ostane, s vremenom cemo postaviti nasu mrezu instituta idobrih sveucilista te povezati i nasu strucnost po svijetu i ambiciozna fi nanciranja po pozitivnimkriterijima medjunarodne zajednice. Ali, najprije moramo promijeniti mentalitet i stav barem nasihakademskih gradjana, tzv. inteligencije koja je potpuno izgubila i nadu i viziju cak i vjeru da jesve to ovdje jos ipak moguce! A moguce jest, no moramo svi zasukati rukaveReforma obrazovanjaOsobnost i karakter, a ne staticno "tobozeznanje"Jedna od pretpostavki da bi hrvatska znanost i znanje bili konkurentni u svijetu jest i odgovarajuciobrazovni sustav. Je li postojeci hrvatski obrazovni sustav, od osnovne skole do sveucilista, dorastao tomu i sto u njemu treba mijenjati?- Treba jos malo poboljsati skolovanje do studija: posebno vise paznje treba posvetiti razvoju osobnosti i karaktera, a manje punjenju glava staticnim "tobozznanjem". Sveucilista nam nisu dovoljno dobra na svjetskoj ljestvici i Zagreb nije ni medju prvih 500 sto znaci da su tu velika poboljsanja nuzna, ali i moguca, no znamo kako se to radi, pa, ako krenemo u ovu gornju pozitivnu viziju i strategiju, moci cemo i to postupno poboljsati do, recimo, godine 2020. Citav clanak procitati s Adobe Reader: Znanjem i stvaralastvom iz kolonijalnog stanja nacije  nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 09 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7695/1/E-Honey-could-help-fight-cancer-University-of-Zagreb.html  Honey 'could help fight cancer' The humble bee may be able to help fight cancer Honey and royal jelly could become part of the arsenal of weapons against cancer, researchers say. A team from the University of Zagreb, in Croatia, found a range of honey-bee products stopped tumours growing or spreading in tests on mice. Writing in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, they say human cancer sufferers may also see benefits. But they said the products should be considered for use along with, not instead of, chemotherapy treatment. Tumour growth The researchers looked at the potential benefits of bee venom and honey. There is no doubt that honey has beneficial properties and can be very good for you Dr Emma Croager, Cancer Research UK They also examined compounds found in propolis, or bee glue, a resin-like substance which is used in the construction of honeycombs. And they also looked at royal jelly from the salivary glands of worker bees - used as food for young larvae, Tumours were generated in the mice via the injection of cancer cells, and each bee product was given to different mice before, at the same time, or afterwards.It was found that giving honey orally appeared to inhibit the development of tumours when it was given before the injection of cancer cells - although if given afterwards, it appeared to fuel the development of secondary cancers. Injecting the mice with royal jelly at the same time as they were injected with tumour cells significantly reduced the spread of the cancer. And injecting bee venom into the tumour appeared to lead to it shrinking. When propolis or caffeic acid, a chemical found in propolis, were injected, researchers saw significantly reduced subcutaneous tumour growth and an increase in the survival time of mice. The researchers say it is not yet clear how bee products affect cancer cells.But they suggest they may cause apoptosis (cell suicide) or have direct effects which are toxic to the cells, or which help the immune system fight the development of tumours. The research team, led by Dr Nada Orsolic, said their study indicated honey-bee products could be a useful tool in the control of tumour growth in research. They added: "The intake of honey-bee products may be advantageous with respect to cancer and metastasis [secondary cancers] prevention. "Further animal and clinical research utilising these substances is suggested."Dr Emma Croager, a science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "There is no doubt that honey has beneficial properties and can be very good for you. "However, this work is preliminary and careful large-scale studies in people are needed to confirm if eating honey can protect us from cancer." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4063377.stm   nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7696/1/H-Deklaracija-Prvog-kongresa-hrvatskih-znanstvenika.html  Deklaracija Prvog kongresa Hrvatskih znanstvenikaZnanstvenici okupljeni na Prvome kongresu hrvatskih znanstvenika iz domovine i inozemstva uglavnome gradu Zagrebu i u gradu Vukovaru, koji je svojim stradanjem postao simbol hrvatske borbeza slobodu, svjesni izazova današnjega trenutka kada Republika Hrvatska kao slobodna idemokratska dr ava stupa prema clanstvu u Europskoj uniji,i svjesni uloge koju u tome imaju znanost i obrazovanje,smatrajuci da se Hrvatska mo e ekonomski, kulturno i politicki razvijati uz punouvazavanje ljudskih sloboda, vladavine prava, afirmaciju znanja i obrazovanja,polazeci od odgovornosti koju znanstvenici imaju za razvoj Republike Hrvatske, mi,hrvatski znanstvenici iz domovine i inozemstva, donosimo sljedecuDeklaraciju1. Svrha je Kongresa hrvatskih znanstvenika iz domovine i inozemstva, koji je organiziraloMinistarstvo znanosti, obrazovanja i športa Republike Hrvatske, a kojemu smo se odazvali iz svihkrajeva svijeta,- da na njemu potvrdimo i posvjedocimo svoje uvjerenje da je od svih ulaganja u razvojneke zemlje, a tako i naše domovine Hrvatske, najvrednije i najisplativije ulaganje uljude, posebice mlade ljude, i to osobito ulaganje u obrazovanje i znanje,- te da pokazemo svojom prisutnošcu koliko je Hrvatska dala svijetu, obrazujuci svojeznanstvenike koji su potom stjecajem okolnosti otišli u svijet u potrazi zaprihvatljivim uvjetima rada, te da taj "odljev mozgova" koji je istovremeno jedna odnajvecih opasnosti za zemlje poput Hrvatske i jedan od najvecih darova koje nekazemlja mo e dati svijetu, pretvorimo od bolesti u lijek za domovinu, i da svojomsuradnjom, mi hrvatski znanstvenici iz svijeta i iz domovine, pomognemo da svijetHrvatskoj za taj dar uzvrati jednakim darom potpore, strucne i materijalne, u razvojuznanosti u Hrvatskoj i u cjelovitom razvoju zemlje, za koji je ulaganje u ljude i uobrazovanje najpresudniji preduvjet.2. Razvoj i bogatstvo neke zemlje temelje se na razvoju slobode, demokracije s jedne strane, agospodarstva i tehnologije s druge strane. Ni jedno od toga nije zamislivo bez znanja i znanosti.Današnji se vrtoglavi razvoj tehnologije zasniva na znanosti, a što je preduvjet uspješnoggospodarstva. Tu je uloga prirodnih, medicinskih, tehnickih i informacijskihznanosti u temelju svakoga suvremenog gospodarstva. Ali se ni bez društvenih ihumanistickih znanosti ne mo e ustrojiti suvremeno društvo, a još manje cuvati irazvijati kulturni identitet i suvremene civilizacijske i kulturne tekovine.Politicka odgovornost mora pocivati na suverenitetu naroda i gradjana, koji jeizra avaju kroz svoje ustanove politickoga sustava, i ne mo e je u demokracijizamijeniti ekspertiza znanstvenika. Volja gradjana i njihovih zastupnika trebapocivati na dobroj obaviještenosti o mogucnostima rješavanja problemasuvremenoga svijeta, a tu znanost ima ogromnu savjetodavnu ulogu. Iako je sna nopovezivanje znanosti s gospodarstvom preduvjet i gospodarskoga i znanstvenogarazvoja, znanost ne smije samo slu iti gospodarstvu, nego mora cuvati i svojuautonomiju, jer su gotovo sva velika otkrica sprva slu ila spoznaji, a tek potomnalazila svoju bogatu i korisnu primjenu.3. Svjesni toga, i svjesni razvojnih potreba Republike Hrvatske i potrebe njena brzarazvoja i dostizanja standarda razvijenoga svijeta, pozivamoinstitucije Republike Hrvatske:- Hrvatski sabor, izabran slobodnom voljom hrvatskih gradjana, dasvojim zakonima omoguci što bolju i plodniju suradnju hrvatskihznanstvenika iz svijeta i znanstvenika iz Hrvatske, kao i razvoj svakedruge korisne medjunarodne znanstvene suradnje, koju elimo poticati,- Vladu Republike Hrvatske da ukloni sve prepreke toj suradnji i dastvara što povoljnije materijalne i druge uvjete za ostvarivanjeznanstvene, a i svekolike druge suradnje domovinske i iseljeneHrvatske,- sva ministarstva da odrede osobe kojima se mogu obracati znanstveniciiz inozemstva i domovine, kao i za to kvalificirani gradjani sprijedlozima za medjunarodnu znanstvenu i srodnu suradnju, te da seotvore racunalne mre ne stranice za raspravu o takvoj suradnji;hrvatske znanstvenike u inozemstvu- da poticu i razvijaju suradnju s domovinom Hrvatskom i saznanstvenicima u njoj, da predla u zajednicke medjunarodneznanstvene i razvojne projekte, da tra e mogucnosti financijske potporeu svijetu takvim projektima, i poma u u školovanju mladihznanstvenika iz Hrvatske u svijetu,- da šire obaviještenost o Hrvatskoj u svijetu, zala u se za suradnju snjom i rade na afirmaciji njene kulture i identiteta u svijesti javnosti ikulturnih sredina u kojima ive,- da u svoje projekte ukljucuju znanstvenike u domovini, podupirustipendiranje naših mladih znanstvenika za studij u inozemstvu, dasudjeluju u domacim projektima i nastavi u Hrvatskoj kao i urecenziranju sveucilišnih programa i znanstvenih projekata i radova,- da pozivaju znanstvenike iz Hrvatske i da dolaze u Hrvatsku na poziveza strucnu, znanstvenu i obrazovnu suradnju;hrvatske znanstvenike u domovini- da predano rade na razvoju svojih znanosti i na širenju medjunarodnesuradnje s hrvatskim znanstvenicima u svijetu u sklopu svekolikemedjunarodne suradnje u znanosti koja pridonosi dosezanju najvišihsvjetskih standarda, te razvoju hrvatskoga društva i gospodarstva,- da promišljeno razvijaju, u suradnji s hrvatskim znanstvenicima uinozemstvu, strategiju afirmacije hrvatske kulture, jezika i identiteta usvijetu i obavješcivanja inozemne i svjetske javnosti o Hrvatskoj,ukljucujuci se svojim znanstvenim radom u tokove svjetske znanosti imre u medjunarodne suradnje na takav nacin koji ce njima slu iti nacast, Hrvatskoj biti na korist, a razvoju znanosti na slu bu.4. Djelovanje znanstvenika treba vrednovati prema najvišim znanstvenim kriterijima,uva avajuci specificnosti pojedinih znanstvenih podrucja, posebice nacionalnihdisciplina, kao i prema etickim nacelima. Naše djelovanje pociva na autonomijiznanstvenih organizacija i samih znanstvenika, usmjereno na afirmaciju tolerancije,nediskriminacije, razvoj ljudskih prava i sloboda te vrijednosti demokratskogpluralistickog društva.5. Razmišljamo o oblicima razvoja suradnje medju hrvatskim znanstvenicima udomovini i inozemstvu, kao što su:- potpora Nacionalnoj zakladi za znanost, visoko školstvo i tehnologijskirazvoj RH koju treba podupirati gospodarstvo, i koja, uz ostalo, trebaosigurati stipendije mladim hrvatskim znanstvenicima za studij uinozemstvu i potpomagati projekte koji se rade u suradnji s inozemnimpartnerima,- osnivanje burze medjunarodne suradnje na kojoj ce se nuditi ali i tra itiznanstvena suradnja na svim vrstama znanstvenih projekata,- organiziranje informacijske mre e o mogucnostima medjunarodnesuradnje hrvatske znanosti sa svijetom,- razvoj institucija za afirmaciju hrvatske kulture, osobito znanosti iumjetnosti u svijetu,- širenje mre e lektorata, katedara za kroatistiku, hrvatskih studija usvijetu,- razvoj strategije suradnje na afirmaciji hrvatske kulture i identiteta usvim podrucjima humanistickih i drugih odgovarajucih znanosti.Mi se obavezujemo da cemo ulagati trajne napore u takvu suradnju, razvojznanosti u Hrvatskoj i u cjelokupni razvoj moderne, demokratske, europske imedjunarodno afirmirane Hrvatske koja ce svojom kulturom, znanošcu i blagostanjemravnopravno i kreativno sudjelovati u ivotu i napretku svjetske zajednice.Prirodne znanostiProf. dr. sc. Davor Pavuna Akademik Vladimir PaarTehnicke znanostiProf. dr. sc. Ivica Crnkovic Prof. dr. sc. Darko StipanicevBiomedicina i zdravstvoProf. dr. sc. eljko Bošnjak Akademik Daniel RukavinaDruštvene znanostiProf. dr. sc. Stjepan G. Meštrovic Prof. dr. sc. Ivo JosipovicHumanisticke znanostiProf. dr. sc. Vladimir Goss Akademik Mislav Je icBiotehnicke znanostiProf. dr. sc. Stanimir Vuk-Pavlovic Akademik Slavko MaticPredsjednik Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnostiAkademik Milan MogušPredsjednica Rektorskog zboraProf. dr. sc. dr. h. c. Gordana KralikU Vukovaru, 18. studenoga 2004. godineMinistar znanosti, obrazovanjai športaDoc. dr. sc. Dragan PrimoracPotpredsjednik Vlade Republike Hrvatskei ministar zdravstva i socijalne skrbiProf. dr. sc. Andrija HebrangMolim pogledati: http://www.mzos.hr/pkhz/dokumenti/deklaracija.pdf  Vas odani, Matko Marusic Editor-in-Chief Croatian Medical Journal Zagreb University School of Medicine Salata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Phone: + 385 1 4566 782; fax: ++ 4590 222 mmarusic@mef.hr  www.cmj.hr    nenad@nenadbach.com (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 06 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7697/1/HE-Constructive-Networking-of-Croatian-Scientists.html  Konstruktivno udruzivanje Hrvatskih prirodoznanstvenikaConstructive Networking of Croatian Scientists (text below)U Hrvatskoj naizgled postoji sve sto nam treba za uspjeh nacije: obrazovni sustav, (visoko-)skolski programi, instituti, centri za transfer tehnologije, izvjesca privredne komore koja javljaju da su nasi inovatori vrlo uspjesni.(vidihttp://www.hgk.hr/komora/hrv/PRESS/PRIOPCENJA/arhiva/2003/11/2711-6.htm  ) Medjutim, na internet stranici Centra za Transfer Tehnologije (CTT: http://www.ctt.hr/obrazovanje.asp ) vidimo realnost: '' Prema posljednjim izvjestajima Zavoda za statistiku tek nesto preko sedam posto stanovnistva ima visoku naobrazbu, visu svega oko cetiri posto, srednju naobrazbu ima oko 45 posto, a 40-ak posto stanovnistva nizu. U danasnje vrijeme to su vrlo losi pokazatelji, pogotovo gledajuçi sa stajalista razvijenih zemalja i visokih tehnologija. CTT neprekidno naglasava da Hrvatska gubi intelektualne/radne resurse i sve cesce nedostaju strucnjaci. Iz tog razloga, CTT posvecuje veliku paznju upravo obrazovanju, kao jednoj od primarnih potreba RH.''Dakle, jasno je da objektivno vrlo malen broj znanstvenika, te opcenito, visoko strucnih osoba, ne moze preko noci promjeniti sveopcu situaciju nacije, pa sam vec ranije u brojnim izvjescima napisao (http://www.hkz-kkv.ch/pavuna.php ) da smatram da je red da se u katolickoj zemlji Crkva pobrine da ipak bas nemamo gladnih, a da Vlada djeluje na poboljsanju opce socijalne situacije u zemlji.Ono sto mi znanstvenici, nasi inzenjeri-inovatori, te poduzetni tehnolozi, mozemo uciniti jest da u svjetskoj ekonomiji znanja, inicijativa i strateskih udruzivanja 21-og stoljeca pokusamo svi zajedno poboljsati barem utjecaj i uspjesnost tog visoko-obrazovanog dijela nacije. U principu, to je ono sto i MZOS i Poslovno-inovacijski centar BICRO vide u svojoj viziji ( http://www.mzos.hr/default.asp?jezik=&ru=177&sid= ).No, ravnatelj Instituta Rudjer Boskovic-a, dr. Stjepan Marcelja, biofizicar s dugogodisnjim iskustvom u svjetskim institucijama, jasno upozorava na svojoj web stranici http://www.director.irb.hr/inovacije.htm   : ''Ceka nas jos mnogo posla da bismo sva vazna pravila dotjerali tako da znanost postane cvrsto integrirani dio uspjesnog nacionalnog inovacijskog sustava.''Dakle, Hrvatska ocito ima i brojne organizacijske probleme tzv. tranzicijskih zemalja, no, poput Irske ili Izraela mi takodjer imamo specificnost da velik broj nasih strucnjaka zivi i djeluje posvuda u svijetu, te svi imamo volju da pomognemo da se taj proces tranzicije ubrza.Buduci sam vec godinama redovno povezan s brojnim strucnjacima dragovoljcima ( vidi : http://www.hssd.hr/odbori/znanost.htm ) smatram da uz bolju organizaciju, te strateskim povezivanjem znalaca, uz mudru orijentaciju na mlade talente, Hrvatska bi vec u jednoj generaciji (npr. do 2025.) mogla ostvariti jacu znanstveno-tehnolosku bazu, pa nadajmo se i bar 2-3 visoko uspjesne, svjetski relevantne tvrtke, poput Nokia-e, Ikea-e ili Nestle-a (http://www.hkz-kkv.ch/pavuna.php ). Nasu buducnost cine kultura biotehnologije i ekoturizam, nova znanja u gospodarstvu te stvaranje velikih dohodaka s malo znalaca ('Microsoft' nema ni 300.000 zaposlenih) u najljepsoj i zadnjoj cistoj zemlji u Europi! Evo, na taj nacin mi u inozemstvu pojednostavljeno vidimo Hrvatsku. I naglasavam, takva ce Hrvatska i biti jer bi u suprotnome mogla nestati, izmanipulirana najgorom vrstom tzv. eurokapitalista. Uz to svakako je nuzno pojacati ulogu Splita i juzne Hrvatske, jer je jos uvijek skoro 99% znanosti koncentrirano u Zagrebu; no, naravno i ostale centre cemo podrzati.Da bismo to postigli nuzna nam je medijska pomoc hrvatske televizije da bi se u naciji sustavno pojacala svijest da i mi imamo nase vrhunske 'Janice' u znanosti i tehnologiji : postoje brojni primjeri uspjeha nasih mladih, a samopouzdanje nacije je bit nase buducnosti (http://www.fokus-tjednik.hr/vijest_arhiva.asp?vijest=1737&izdanje=78 ).Cesto mozemo koristiti uspjesne primjere iz Irske, Izraela, Svicarske ... kako se mlade ljude planski stimulira i kako im se zrelom infrastrukturom pomaze u inovaciji i integraciji u svjetski znanstveno-tehnoloski sustav (vidi npr. http://www.startupcafe.ch/ i http://cdm.epfl.ch/homepage.php ). Postoje uspjesna rijesenja kako se smanjuje odlijev mozgova, a mnogi mladi bi se lakse odluciliostati u Hrvatskoj (ili vratiti se nakon specijalizacije) ako im pomognemo u rijesavanju stambenog pitanja. Za nase dokazane vrhunske strucnjake koje zelimo vracati iz inozemstva takodjer postoje brojna rijesenja, ali je svima bitno da cijela vizija i strategija post-tranzicijskog drustva znanja bude jednom zauvijek prihvacena na najvisem nacionalnom nivou; u suprotnom, odlijev mozgova ce se nastaviti.Rijetko cemo samo 'suhim' znanjem i pokusajima iz Hrvatske uspjeti u bilo kojoj svjetski relevantnoj aktivnosti. Zato moramo napokon postaviti i nasu globalnu infrastrukturu te imati nase ljude i prijatelje u tzv. centrima moci i odlucivanja: u filmskoj industriji to je npr. Hollywood, dok u znanosti to moze biti npr. Harvard, u tehnologiji Stanford ... a u financijskoj podrsci projektima Europske Unije to je svakako Bruxelles ...Planirajmo i stvaranje nase 'krovne' tvrtke 'Croatia-Tech' koja ce nacionalne proizvode i inovacije uspjesno predstavljati u New Yorku, u Parizu ili Hong Kongu ... sve to, a i jos puno vise su vec ostvarili npr. Izraelci, a i drugi narodi, pa iskoristimo i poklonimo naciji sva ta brojna korisna iskustva jer nas ima stvarno posvuda po svijetu.Pritom cuvajmo zajednistvo jer mi znanstvenici nismo korumpirani, te imamo i razvijenu kulturu strucnog (ne)slaganja, pa pokusajmo (p)ostati nacionalni primjer. Vazno je da mudrom strategijom izbjegnemo polarizaciju izmedju 'siromasnih' domacih i 'privilegiranih' inozemnih hrvatskih strucnjaka, te u nasim buducim susretima ponudimo, te realiziramo jednu uspjesnu viziju i strategiju koju Lijepa Nasa, nakon brojnih stoljeca patnje, svakako zasluzuje. Davor Pavuna, co-chairhttp://dubrovnik2004.epfl.chInstitute of Physics of Complex MatterEcole Polytechnique Federale de LausanneSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)EPFL SB-IPMC-LPRXBât. PH D3 304 Station 3 CH-1015 Lausanne, EPFL - SwitzerlandMobitel: +4179 2404127Voice: + 41 21 693 3301 (direct)Voice: + 41 21 693 4475 / 3374 (secretaries)Fax: + 41 21 693 4666Email: davor.pavuna@epfl.chWeb page: http://pavuna.epfl.chConstructive Networking of Croatian ScientistsDavor Pavunadavor.pavuna@epfl.ch Institute of Physics of Complex MatterSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)CH-1015 Lausanne, EPFL - Switzerlandhttp://pavuna.epfl.ch At a first sight Croatia has everything that the nation requires to perform successfully: a functional education system, advanced university programs, numerous institutes, centers for the technology transfers Š and even the chamber of commerce reports that Croatian inventors are very successful.(see :http://www.hgk.hr/komora/hrv/PRESS/PRIOPCENJA/arhiva/2003/11/2711-6.htm  )However, the Center for the Technology Transfer (CTT: http://www.ctt.hr/obrazovanje.asp ) warns us of the daily reality: ''According to the National Bureau for Statistics only little over 7% of Croatian citizens has university education, higher education some 4%, secondary school education 45% and 40% only the basic education. In the present age these are rather discouraging facts from the point of view of highly technologically developed countries. Therefore the CTT emphasizes that Croatia looses intellectual and working resourses and often lacks experts. Hence CTT pays great attention to education of badly needed experts.''Evidently, a rather small number of scientists (few thousand at best), and other top professionals cannot overnight change the overall situation of the nation. As I wrote in several previous reports (http://www.hkz-kkv.ch/pavuna.php ) in a poor catholic nation it is the church that should help genuinely starving fraction of the population, while the government should take great care that the overall social situation gradually improves.What we scientists, our engineers-innovators, as well as enterpreneur-technologists can hope to achieve is that in the global knowledge economy, we join our forces and know-how and try to influence and improve the performance of the highest educated section of the society. In principle, that is what the science ministry MZOS and the innovation-managment center BICRO also propose ( http://www.mzos.hr/default.asp?jezik=&ru=177&sid= ).However, the director of the Institute Rudjer Boskovic, dr. Stjepan Marcelja, a biophysicist with long experience in scientific institutions worldwide, warns us at his web page ( http://www.director.irb.hr/inovacije.htm ) : ''We still have a lot of work to do until all the requirements are met and the science becomes truly an integral part of a successful national system of innovation.''Namely, Croatia still has numerous organisational problems of the transitional society, yet like Ireland or Israel we also have numerous successful professionals who live and work abroad and who are willing to help speed up this (painfull) transitional process. Over the years I was