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Annual report 2003Annual report 2003

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Ruðer Boškoviæ Institute

Annual report 2003

Zagreb, 2004.

Arial view of the RBI campus

Editorial Board:Editor: Nela Pivac

Members: Stjepko Faziniæ Stjepan MarèeljaIva Melinšèak Zlodi Karolj SkalaDavid SmithNeven Žarkoviæ

Technical Support:Photographer: Josip UhrlGraphic Design: Faculty of Graphic Arts, University of ZagrebPrinted by: Kratis d.o.o.Print run of 1500 copiesWeb edition: www.irb.hr/annualreport

Address:Ruðer Boškoviæ InstituteBijenièka cesta 54, P.O.Box 180HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia

Contact:URL: http://www.irb.hre-mail: godisnjak2003@irb.hrtel: +385 1 45 61 111fax: +385 1 46 80 084

Copyright © 2004 by RBIISSN 1334-854X

Contents

Introduction..........................................................................................1

Education.............................................................................................5

RBI Bibliography..................................................................................7

Theoretical Physics Division..............................................................11

Division of Experimental Physics ......................................................15

Division of Materials Physics.............................................................21

Division of Laser and Atomic Research and Development ...............25

Division of Electronics .......................................................................27

Division of Physical Chemistry ..........................................................31

Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ..............................35

Division of Materials Chemistry .........................................................41

Division of Molecular Biology ............................................................45

Division of Molecular Medicine..........................................................51

Division of Marine and Environmental Research ..............................57

Center for Marine Research ..............................................................63

Center for Informatics and Computing ..............................................69

Center for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ..........................................73

Library................................................................................................75

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Welcome to the new format of the annualreport. This year, rather than providing acomprehensive report of all work at theRuðer Boškoviæ Institute (RBI), we wish topresent selected information and examplesthat will illustrate the activity of the RBI in itsmain areas of work. The Institute strives toimprove the performance in all aspects of itsmission and during 2003 we made signifi-cant advances. Some of the achievementswill be apparent from this report, while moredetails will be available shortly from thecomprehensive report to be posted on theinstitute web pages.

In some respects, 2003 was a difficultyear at the Institute. This was primarily dueto the fact that, throughout Croatia, very fewgraduate student positions were approvedby the Ministry of Science and Technology(presently the Ministry of Science, Education

and Sport). As this is ordinarily the primarysource of young personnel at the Institute,progress was necessarily slowed. In anattempt to help rectify this problem, the Insti-tute decided to use its own reserves, com-bined with funding received by researchgroups for their scientific work, to support agroup of 17 graduate students. In a positivebut partial corrective step, national financialsupport was granted to some of the studentsfrom this internally supported group, towardsthe end of the year.

Another step in the right direction wasalso made towards the end of 2003. Thiscame in the form of around two hundred newreform positions, at the level of lecturer orresearch associate, made available nation-ally. The positions were proportionally divid-ed between different institutions in the coun-try so that the RBI received 18 new posts. A

competitive selectionprocedure, based solelyon the criterion of excel-lence, resulted in theseposts being filled withscientists ranging in agefrom 30 to 37. In addi-tion, three further posi-tions, also at the level ofresearch associate,were approved for Croa-tian nationals returningfrom distinguished stays

Introduction

Figure 1. Composition of Researchers at the RBI

Computer science and engineering

Chemistry

Physics

GeoscienceBioscience

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at foreign institutions. With these appoint-ments, the scientific strength of the Instituteis much improved and we are very pleasedto be able to offer a warm welcome to ournew colleagues as we wish them a success-ful career at the RBI.

OVERVIEW

The Ruðer Boškoviæ Institute is thelargest Croatian research centre in sciencesand science applications. In the multi-disci-plinary environment of the Institute, morethan 500 academic staff and graduate stu-dents work in many different fields includingphysics, chemistry,biology, biomedicineand marine and enviro-mental research (seeFigures 1 and 2).Within Croatia, the RBIis a national institutiondedicated to research,higher education andprovision of support tothe academic commu-nity, to state and localgovernments and totechnology-based indu-stry. Within the Euro-pean Union, the RBIforms a part of theEuropean ResearchArea. Worldwide, theRBI collaborates withmany research institu-tions and universitiesupholding the samevalues and vision.

The organization of the Ruðer BoškoviæInstitute is depicted in Figure 2. In an effortto improve the overall performance of theInstitute, several new elements of organiza-tional structure were introduced in 2003.These included the creation of three associ-ate directorships (as part of Executive Man-agement) to encompass the areas of

Figure 2. Organizational Structure of RBI

ORGANIZATION OF THE INSTITUTE

Director: Stjepan Marèelja

Head of the Scientific Council: Krunoslav Pisk

Chairman of the Board of Governors: Ivo Šlaus

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Science (Neven Žarkoviæ), CommercialDevelopment (Božidar Etlinger), andFinance (Jaroslav Horvat).

ACTIVITIES

Fundamental research

Despite the somewhat difficult circum-stances apparent throughout 2003, the Insti-tute achieved many significant scientificadvances. The most important achievementof the year was the discovery of two newfive-quark states. Working within a largeinternational collaboration at the CERNSuper Proton Synchrotron, a small groupfrom the RBI, consisting of Tome Antièiæ,Krešo Kadija, and Tatjana Šuša, analysedthe data in Zagreb and identified two newheavy pentaquark baryons (see Figure 3).

Overall, 2003 saw an increase in thenumber of research articles published injournals cited by Current Contents. Thisyear's total of 408 represents a 32 %improvement over the 310 such articles pro-duced in 2002.

Applied Science, Technology and Business Management

For the first time ever, scientists form theInstitute, lead by the Associate Director forCommercial Development, wrote the Busi-ness Plan for the period 2004-2008. Thiswas done under the supervision of expertsengaged by the Ministry of Science andTechnology in the context of the World Bankrestructuring program entitled The Scienceand Technology Project (STP). Severaldrafts (28) of the Business Plan were writtenand it is expected that the final version willbe accepted in 2004.

The Business Plan includes a short-list of12 applied research projects (from an origi-nal 46) selected through an evaluationprocess conducted by an internal committeeas well as international technical experts,including the RBI's Institutional Advisor (IanCooper) and foreign experts (RameshMashelkar and Stewart Craig). During thefirst phase, four of these projects have beenselected to be funded (with a planned sup-port of up to $0.5 million for equipment, con-sultants and services) on a pilot basis.

Contribution to higher education

Despite the fact that the RBI is primarily aresearch institution, our participation in edu-cational activities during 2003 was strong.Scientists from the Institute contributed 39courses at the undergraduate level as wellas 186 postgraduate courses. In addition, 27B.Sc., 23 M.Sc. and 28 Ph.D. theses werecompleted under the supervision of the Insti-tute's academic staff. Importantly, 2003 sawthe signing of an Agreement of Collabora-

Figure 3. A hypothetical antidecuplet of pentaquarkbaryons. The states at the corners of the triangle are

manifestly exotic and cannot be made of threequarks. Experiments now see candidates for the

three circled members.

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tion between the RBI and the University ofZagreb Medical Faculty. In this context,experts from the RBI were chosen to leadthe new joint field of doctoral study in Molec-ular Medicine.

Environmental research and consulting

The Institute's two environmentalresearch divisions contribute strongly to ourknowledge of the Adriatic Sea and inlandwaters in the region. They are also involvedin nationwide programs for the monitoring ofboth the level of radiation and the quality ofthe air. The RBI, through the many interna-tional collaborations with other Europeancountries, also contributes to the collectionand dissemination of environmental informa-tion across the continent. Experts from theInstitute are often contacted, by both localand national authorities, for advice on theevaluation of the environmental impact ofdifferent proposed developments.

New Instrumentation and Infrastructure

In 2003, the revived national program ofmajor equipment purchases operated for thethird consecutive year. As part of this pro-

gram, the RBI received a major grantenabling the purchase of a Confocal micro-scope (Leica TCS SP2 AOBS) and a CMS-18 sputtering system (Kurt J. Lesker Co, PA,USA). It is expected that both of theseinstruments will be used widely and con-tribute significantly to the expansion ofresearch possibilities available at the Insti-tute.

All major instrumentation at RBI is under-stood as a national resource and is open toall qualified users from the Republic of Croa-tia at the nominal running cost. The equip-ment use can also be leased out commer-cially if time is available. Indeed, severalcommercial users made use of this possibil-ity with our relatively new NMR facilities and,in doing so, partially offset the operationalcosts.

In addition to the above purchases, thelocal area computer network (LAN) wasoverhauled in 2003. The new network con-sists of 5 km of fibre-optic cable stretchingbetween 26 buildings and is controlled by 2Layer-3 and 31 Layer-2 Cisco switches with3100 connections. This new LAN satisfiesthe demanding requirements for Virtual Pri-vate Network and Grid applications.

In 2003, the RBI continued with theexpansion of its educational activities. Theon-site education of young scientists result-ed in 27 B.Sc., 23 M.Sc., and 28 Ph.D. the-ses. Formal teaching consisted of a total of39 undergraduate courses and 186 post-graduate courses taught on behalf of Croat-ian universities.

The majority of the undergraduate cours-es taught by teachers from RBI (29/39)resulted from our links with the University ofZagreb (Figure 4). The Division of MolecularBiology, in collaboration with the Faculty ofScience, was the most active (12 courses),followed by the Division of Physical Chem-istry (9) and the Division of Marine and Envi-

ronmental Research (8) (Figure 5).

The postgraduate (doctoral) studies werealso primarily conducted in collaborationwith the University of Zagreb (Figure 6). Ofthe 160 such courses held during 2003, 109were courses taught in collaborative pro-grams with the Faculty of Science, Universi-ty of Zagreb. The Medical School, Universi-ty of Zagreb, was our second largest partner(25 courses) followed by the University ofOsijek (14 courses). One course of special-ized postgraduate study was taught at theBudapest University of Technology and Eco-nomics. As can be seen from Figure 7, themost active Divisions in postgraduate edu-cation were the Division of Marine and Envi-

Education R

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Figure 4. Distribution ofthe RBI held

undergraduate coursesby domicile University

Figure 5. Distribution of the RBI held undergraduate coursesby Division

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ronmental Research (48 courses), the Divi-sion of Molecular Medicine (43 courses),and the Division of Molecular Biology (29courses).

Importantly, 2003 saw the signing of anAgreement of Collaboration between theRBI and the Medical School, University ofZagreb. In this context, experts from the RBIwere chosen to lead the new joint field ofdoctoral study in Molecular Medicine. Simi-larly, a Ph.D. study program in collaborationwith the Faculty of Science of the Universityof Zagreb in the field of Environmental Man-agement was launched during the year.These two additions brought the number ofPhD programs taught in collaborationbetween RBI and domestic universities to 8.

The remaining programs are: Protection ofNature and Environment (in collaborationwith the University of Osijek), OrganicChemistry, Biochemistry, Oceanology,Molecular and Cellular Biology, and NuclearPhysics (in collaboration with the Faculty ofScience of the University of Zagreb).

The intensive level of involvement of theRBI in education led the Board of Governorsto conclude that we should establish aDepartment of Education at the Institute.This decision saw the formal creation ofsuch a Department (as a part of the Insti-tute's organizational structure) but its trans-formation into an actual and integral part ofour organization remains a task for 2004.

Figure 6. Distribution of the RBI held postgraduate coursesby domicile University

Figure 7. Distribution of the RBI held postgraduate courses by Division

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In the summer and autumn of 2002, 121new projects from RBI received grants bythe Ministry of Science & Technology. Sev-eral research groups received grants for thefirst time, while for others the new grantsrepresented an increase in the researchsupport.

Working with the benefit of new projectfinancing, scientists from the RBI published408 research articles in journals indexed inCurrent Contents (CC) in 2003. This is a39% increase on the average productivityfor the period 1996-2002 (the period of pre-vious project grants, see Figure 8. Similarincreases were also observed for articlespublished in other journals (33%) and booksand book chapters (21%).

While the use of a simple (CC-based)publication count is not a complete criterion

for the productivity assessment of either theInstitute or an individual research group, itdoes offer an important insight into the Insti-tute's achievement. We expect that the sig-nificance of educational and commercialcontributions, which is not reflected in thepublication numbers, is apparent from thecontents of the appropriate sections of thisreport.

Table 1 shows the number of (CC-indexed) publications produced by the sub-set of those fundamental research projectscarried out at the RBI that, in terms of publi-cations, were ranked among the top 10 proj-ects in Croatia in their respective researchfields. It is clear from the table that, accord-ing to this criterion, the RBI projects wereamong the most prominent in all fields of sci-ence during 2003. This is especially pro-

nounced in the case ofchemistry, oceanology &geology and physicswhere 7 to 9 of the 10 to11 most productive Croa-tian projects were carriedout at the RBI. However,excellence in publishingpapers in CC journals atthe RBI was also evidentfor the fields of biology(5/10) and biomedicine(4/10). This latterachievement is particu-larly noteworthy given

RBI Bibliography

Figure 8. Publication output of the RBI since 1996

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the sheer number of projects (399) funded inthis field by the Ministry. In addition to thetabulated presence of projects from the RBIwithin the top 10 Croatian projects, it shouldbe mentioned that according to the same cri-terion many other projects carried out at theRBI rank among the top 20 in their respec-tive fields.

Although the prominence of the RBI inCroatian science was not a new factor in2003, the large increase in CC indexed pub-lications was, and thus deserves some briefcomments. One factor contributing to thisincrease was certainly the significant quanti-ty of research equipment granted by theMinistry of Science and Technology to theRBI during the last three years. This equip-ment enabled scientists at the Institute toparticipate in fields of research that werepreviously not accessible. In addition, 2003

was a year of promotions and re-electionsfor about 130 scientists at the RBI. As thecriteria for these procedures were based pri-marily on the number of articles published inCC journals, this was quite likely a signifi-cant factor in the increased publication out-put.

Our experts were invited to give 85 sci-entific lectures in 2003, almost twice theannual average for 1996-2002 (46 lecturesper year). At the same time, the number ofpatent applications in 2003 (6) representeda slight increase from the analogous annualaverage (4). This data, combined with that inTable 1, confirm the high reputation of theRBI. Concomitantly, the data can also betaken to indicate that the focus of our activi-ties is currently oriented towards excellencein fundamental research, with less emphasisplaced on commercial and applied sciences.

TABLE 1 (next page): Publication results of RBI fundamental research projects ranked amongtop 10 Croatian projects in 2003 in their respective fields of science. The list was prepared

according to National Bibliography database - only research articles published in journalsindexed in Currents Contents were counted.

OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

The research performed in the Divisionis mainly concerned with the theoreticalinvestigation of “high-energy” physics,such as particle physics, general andmathematical physics, astroparticlephysics and cosmology. In addition, thereexists a healthy level of investigation intoproblems in condensed matter physics. Arelatively new and exciting activity in theDivision is the application of nonlineardynamical analysis in biomedicine. In

2003, the members of the Division contin-ued to be involved in lecturing at theUniversity of Zagreb and a number of stu-dents completed their B. Sc., M. Sc. andPh. D. theses.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Quantum well states in nanometre filmsThe understanding of nanometre thick

metal films on metal surfaces is of funda-mental interest in terms of the discoveryand characterization of new structural andelectronic properties. The formation of dis-crete electronic states, so-called quantumwell states is one such intriguing feature. Inthis respect, our ab initio numerical calcu-lations found structural parameters of 1-5monolayer silver films in good agreementwith photoemission and STM measure-ments obtained by collaborating experi-mental groups (M. Kralj et al., Phys. Rev. B2003, 68, 195402).

Superluminal pions foundIn a recent study of the propagation of

pions at finite temperature in a hadronicfluid, it was found that the velocity of mass-

ZTF

Theoretical PhysicsDivision

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Branko Guberina

Theoretical Physics Division (ZTF) consists of the following laboratories:

Solid State Physics Group, Radovan Brako

Particle Physics and Cosmology Group, Neven Biliæ

Theoretical and Mathematical Physics Group, Stjepan Meljanac

Group for Linear and Nonlinear Dynamics, Mladen Martinis

http://thphys.irb.hr

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less pions differs from that of light. Impor-tantly, one-loop calculations showed thatpions in the chiral symmetry broken phase,under certain conditions, propagate fasterthan light (N. Biliæ and H. Nikoliæ, Phys. Rev.D 2003, 68, 085008).

Potential for the experimentalobservation of noncommutativity

The Standard Model (SM) of spacetimestrictly forbids certain decay modes of Zbosons. On non-commutative spacetime,however, such SM-forbidden triple gaugeboson interactions are allowed. We proposethat two particular decay modes, comingfrom the gauge sector of the Noncommuta-tive SM, represent a potential means bywhich noncommutativity could be experi-mentally discovered (W. Behr et al., Eur.Phys. J. C 2003, 29, 441).

Fate of the Universe The renormalization group running of the

cosmological constant was consistentlyincorporated into the standard cosmologicalmodel. Starting from the present era valuesfor cosmological parameters, we demon-

strate how the running can easily provide anegative cosmological constant therebychanging the fate of the universe. Interest-ingly, the running also renders compatibilitywith critical string theory (B. Guberina et al.,Phys. Rev. D 2003, 67, 083001).

Unified approach to the representationsof QM on noncommutative space

We presented a unified approach to therepresentations of quantum mechanics onnoncommutative spaces. As a demonstra-tion of the utility of the approach we haveapplied it to both the two dimensional har-monic oscillator and the Landau problem (L.Jonke and S. Meljanac, Eur. Phys. J. C2003, 29, 433).

Modeling Chronic LymphocyticLeukaemia (CCL)

As a result of extensive modelling, weconclude that CLL occurs as a consequenceof age-dependent, genetically related func-tional restrictions of the thymic microenvi-ronment in supporting common lymphoidprogenitor cells (B. Vitale et al., Scan. J. ofImmun. 2003, 58, 588).

SELECTED INVITED LECTURES

1. B. Meliæ, “LCSR analysis of exclusive two-body B decays”, invited plenary talk at 3rd International Workshop on B physics and CP violation (BCP3), Taipei,Taiwan, 29.9.-1.10.2003.

2. K. Passek-Kumerièki, “Hard exclusive processes and higher-order QCD corrections”, invited talk given at the 9th Adriatic Meeting, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 4-14.9.2003.

ZTF

Figure 1. Seminar room: junior researchers and Ph. D. students

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3. B. Meliæ, “Estimate of Charming Penguins inB pi pi” , invited talk given at Internation-al Europhysics Conference on High EnergyPhysics EPS, Aachen, Germany, 17-23.7.2003.

4. B. Meliæ, “Some aspects of charmless Bdecays from QCD light-cone sum rules”,invited plenary talk at the International con-ference Flavor Physics & CP Violation,FPCP 2003, Ecole Polytechnique, Paris,France, 3-6.6.2003.

5. J. Trampetiæ, “Phenomenology of Noncom-mutative Gauge Theory”, invited lecture atthe workshop JULIUS WESS DAYS 2003,Noncommutativity: From Mathematics toPhenomenology, Bayrischzell, Germany, 2-5.5.2003.

6. B. Meliæ, “Charming penguins in B pi pifrom QCD light-cone sum rules”, invitedtalk, CKM Workshop, 2nd Meeting, IPPPDurham, United Kingdom, 5-9.4.2003.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES ORGANIZED BY SCIENTISTS OF THE DIVISION

9th Adriatic Meeting (Central European Sym-posia) – Particle Physics and the Universe,Dubrovnik, Croatia, 4-14.9.2003., Chairmen:Josip Trampetiæ, Julius Wess. See also: “Lecture Notes in Physics: ParticlePhysics in the New Millennium”, Proceedings ofthe 8th Adriatic Meeting, J. Trampetiæ, J. Wess(Eds.)

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Physics of surfaces, microstructures andstrongly correlated systems, Radovan Brako

2. Fundamental interactions in elementaryparticle physics and cosmology,Branko Guberina

3. Quantum field theory, noncommutativespaces, and symmetries, Stjepan Meljanac

4. Structure of dynamical fluctuations in non-linear systems, Mladen Martinis

Collaborative projects

1. Radovan Brako: Participation in collabora-tive project “Nanosciences: A way towardsnew technologies”, MZT, December 2003.Project leader: Dr. M. Milun, Institute ofPhysics, Zagreb.

2. Kornelija Passek-Kumerièki, collaborationbeetwen Ruðer Boškoviæ Institute, Theoret-ical Physics Division and Institut für Theo-retische Physik II, Bochum, Germany, DFGproject “Higher-order QCD corrections inexclusive processes-mesons and baryons”.

3. M. Martinis: Research in self organizationand organization of molecules in supramol-ecules, complexes, macromolecules, andsupermolecular structures. Coordinator: N.Filipoviæ-Vincekoviæ, and I. Jalšenjak, Fac-ulty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Bio-chemistry, Zagreb.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

M. Kralj, P. Pervan, M. Milun, P. Laziæ, Ž. Crljen,R. Brako, J. Schneider, A. Rosenhahn, K. Wan-delt, “Tetragonal silver films on V(100): Experi-mental and ab initio studies” Phys. Rev. B 2003,68, 195402.

Ž. Crljen, P. Laziæ, D. Šokèeviæ, R. Brako,“Relaxation and reconstruction on (111) surfacesof Au, Pt, and Cu” Phys. Rev. B 2003, 68,195411.

N. Biliæ, H. Nikoliæ, “Superluminal pions in ahadronic fluid”, Phys. Rev. D 2003, 68, 085008.

B. Meliæ, D. Müller, K. Passek-Kumerièki, “Next-to-next-to-leading order prediction for the pho-ton-to-pion transition form factor” Phys. Rev. D2003, 68, 014013.

W. Behr, N.G. Deshpande, G. Duplanèiæ, P.Schupp, J. Trampetiæ, J. Wess, “The Z γγ, ggdecays in the non-commutative standard model”Eur. Phys. J. C 2003, 29, 441.

B. Guberina, R. Horvat, H. Štefanèiæ, “Renormal-ization-group running of the cosmological con-stant and the fate of the universe” Phys. Rev. D2003, 67, 083001.

ZTF

L. Jonke, S. Meljanac, “Representations of non-commutative quantum mechanics and symme-tries” Eur. Phys. J. C 2003, 29, 433.

S. Meljanac, M. Milekoviæ, A. Samsarov, “A mul-tispecies Calogero model” Phys Lett. B 2003,573, 202.

M. Dimitrijeviæ, L. Jonke, L. Möller, E. Tsouchni-ka, J. Wess, M. Wohlgenannt, “Deformed fieldtheory on κ-spacetime” Eur. Phys. J. C 2003, 31,129.

B. Vitale, M. Martinis, M. Antica, B. Kušiæ, S.Rabatiæ, A. Gagro, R. Kušec, B. Jakšiæ, “Prole-gomenon for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia”Scan. J. Immun. 2003, 58, 588.

ZTF

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OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION IN 2003

The research goal of the Division is toobtain new basic knowledge of the structureand behaviour of matter on the subatomiclevel. In particular, we investigate elemen-tary particles and their interactions, symme-tries in nature, nuclear reactions, the struc-ture of nuclei, the behaviour of nuclear mat-ter under extreme conditions, and the inter-action of charged particles with matter. Wedevelop and use new experimental tech-niques for measurements and applications.We are also involved in teaching at the grad-uate and postgraduate levels and, as hasbeen traditionally the case, we maintain anintense cooperation with world-leading cen-tres in nuclear and particle physics.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

IRB Group Finds Evidence for More Pentaquark States in CERN Experiment

The constituent quark model of hadronshas been very successful in describing theknown baryons as composites of threevalence quarks. The theory of strong inter-actions, however, does not forbid baryons

ZEF

Division of Experimental Physics

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Ante Ljubièiæ until April 16th

Acting Head: Roman Èaplar from April 17th

The Division of Experimental Physics(ZEF) consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for nuclear reactions, Ðuro Miljaniæ

Laboratory for heavy-ion physics, Roman Èaplar

Laboratory for electromagnetic and weak interactions,Ante Ljubièiæ

Laboratory for ion-beam interactions, Milko Jakšiæ

Laboratory for measurement of lowlevel activities, Bogomil Obeliæ

Laboratory for high-energy physics, Krešo Kadija

Group for the development and the use of analytical methods, Vladivoj Valkoviæ

http://www.irb.hr/str/zef

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with more than three quarks. Suchstates were proposed a long time agobut, until recently, no good candidateshad been experimentally observed. Thediscovery of the exotic barions, goodcandidates for the isospin quartet of pre-dicted pentaquark states, represents animportant step towards the experimentalconfirmation of the existence of thehypothesized baryon antidecuplet (Fig-ure 1). This discovery, made by theNA49 collaboration at CERN, was led bya group of scientists from the Institute RuðerBoškoviæ who analysed related NA49 dataaccumulated over several years. The newbaryon has a combination of charge andstrangeness that cannot be realised withfewer than five quarks (T. Antièiæ et al.,CERN Courier, 2003, 43, 5; C. Alt, T. Antièiæet al., Phys. Rev. Lett. in press).

Upgrade of the IRB Accelerator Facility

The upgrade of the accelerator facilitycommenced in 2003 with the delivery of a

new 1.0 MV Tandetron accelerator, financedmainly by the joint project with the Interna-tional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Thisaccelerator will be installed during 2004 inthe new experimental area in the northernextension of the existing accelerator hall(Figure 2).

Nuclear Physics Measurements andAstrophysics

The α+8Li decay of the excited states ofthe 12B nucleus was measured for the firsttime and its relevance to the astrophysicallyimportant 8Li+α 11B+n reaction was dis-cussed (N.Soiæ et al., Europhys. Lett., 2003,63, 524)

The search for dark matter

Axions, which are pseudoscalars that arisein models resolving the strong CP problemin quantum chromodynamics by the Peccei-Quinn mechanism, could also explain themystery of dark matter in the Universe. AtCERN we are involved in the CASTexperiment, designed to search for solaraxions associated with a broad energy spec-trum. Using data collected in 2003, our sci-

ZEF

Figure 1. A hypothetical antidecuplet of pentaquarkbaryons. The states at the corners of the triangle are

manifestly exotic and cannot be made of threequarks. Experiments now see candidates for the

three circled members.

Figure 2. Layout of the ZEF accelerator facility

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entists were able to establish a new upperbound on axion-photon coupling of 1.4x10-10 GeV-1. This limit is approximately afactor of 4 more stringent than the best pre-vious estimate. In addition, we proposed anovel approach to search for solar, near-monochromatic hadronic axions, that couldbe created in the solar core. Finally, in anexperiment performed in 2003, an upperlimit of 5.5 keV on hadronic axion mass wasobtained.

New experimental method

A new version of the Time Resolved IonBeam Induced Charge (TRIBIC) techniquewas applied to study the temperaturedependence of the shape of a transientpulse of charge, for the first time in 2003.This technique can provide information onthe charge trapping mechanisms which limitthe performance of such radiation detectors(Z. Meduniæ et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B.,2003, 210, 237).

Compressed Baryonic Matter

In 2003, ZEF joined the major worldwideheavy-ion physics project, namely the inter-national Compressed Baryonic Matter(CBM) collaboration. The goal of the collab-oration is to design and build a dedicateddetector in order to investigate the proper-ties of highly compressed baryonic matteras it will be produced in ultrarelativisticnucleus-nucleus collisions at the FutureInternational Accelerator Facility at the GSI,Darmstadt.

Neutrons for applications

New equipment was installed in the labo-ratory housing the refurbished neutron gen-

ZEF

Figure 3. An example of semi-classical simulation ofheavy-ion collision dynamics at an intermediate energy.

Figure 4. Small (above) microchannel plates baseddetector and medium size (below) nuclear micro-

probe experimental equipment.

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erator. Development and applications ofnuclear instrumentation and methods for thedetection and identification of hidden explo-sives and dangerous materials has beenvigorously continued. This work, which isalso devoted to the improvement of techni-cal measures to detect and respond to illicittrafficking of nuclear and other radioactivematerials, is supported by EU, NATO, andIAEA projects.

Radioactivity and ecological investigations

Ecological investigations in Dinaric Karstwere continued within the 5th FrameworkProgramme of the EU on the project entitled“Study of anthropogenic pollution after thewar and the establishment of measures forthe protection of Plitvice National Park andthe Bihaæ region at the border area of Croa-tia and Bosnia-Herzegovina”. Measure-ments of 2H, 3H, and 18O in precipitation ofthe Adriatic region were completed withinthe three-year long IAEA project entitled“Isotopic composition of precipitation in theMediterranean Basin in relation to air circu-lation patterns and climate”.

INVITED LECTURES AT INTERNATIONALCONFERENCES

1. Z. Basrak, Nuclear opacity from low to rel-ativistic energies, 10th International Confer-ence on Nuclear Reaction Mechanisms,Varenna, Italy,

2. K. Kadija, Search for exotic baryon reso-nances at NA49, Penta-Quark 2003 Work-shop Jefferson Lab, Newport News, USA,

3. D. Kekez, Role of (A2) condensate in Sch-winger-Dyson approach to QCD andhadrons, 2nd International Conference onNuclear and Particle Physics with CEBAF atJlab, Dubrovnik, Croatia,

4. D. Mekteroviæ (D. Mekteroviæ and I. Supekfor Crystal Ball Collaboration), Differentialcross sections of the charge exchangereaction in a momentum region between105 MeV/c and 180 MeV/c, ibid.

5. N. Soiæ (N. Soiæ, W.N. Catford, S. Cherubi-ni, N.M. Clarke, L. Donadille, M. Freer, B. R.Fulton, M. Lattuada, Ð. Miljaniæ, S.Romano, C. Spitaleri, D.L. Watson, M.Zadro), Experimental evidence for molecu-lar structures in light nuclei, ibid.

6. V. Valkoviæ (D. Sudac, S. Blagus, D. Matika,R. Kollar, T. Grivièiæ, V. Valkoviæ), The use of14 MeV neutrons in explosive detection,International Conference on Requirementsand Neutralisation of Landmines and UXO,Brussels, Belgium.

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Figure 5. The recently refurbished low-energy accelerator which delivers energetic neutrons via the deuteronproduced in tritium fusion has become known as the neutron generator. It is used in applied research.

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CONFERENCES ORGANIZED BYSCIENTISTS OF THE DIVISION

1. Second International Conference onNuclear And Particle Physics (NAPP),Dubrovnik, Croatia (I. Supek - co-chairman)

2. 5th Symposium of the Croatian RadiationProtection Association, Stubièke toplice,Croatia (B.Obeliæ - chairman of the Orga-nizing Committee, I. Krajcar-Broniæ - chair-woman of the Scientific Committee)

3. Kick-off meeting of the EU project Study ofanthropogenic pollution after the war andestablishing the measures for protection ofPlitvice National Park and Bihaæ region atthe border area of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, National Park Plitvice Lakes,Croatia (B.Obeliæ - chairman of the Orga-nizing Committee).

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Hadronic physics and QCD, Ivan Supek 2. Light atomic nuclei: clusters, nuclear mole-

cules, reactions, Ðuro Miljaniæ 3. Interactions in subatomic and medical

physics, Alfred Švarc 4. Heavy-ion physics, Zoran Basrak 5. Massive neutrinos and astro-particles,

Ante Ljubièiæ 6. Photon-atom interactions and correlations,

Tihomir Suriæ 7. Processes of fast ion interactions with mat-

ter, Milko Jakšiæ 8. Natural isotopes of weak activities and de-

velopment of instrumentation, Bogomil Obeliæ

9. High-energy experimental physics, Krešo Kadija

10. Methods of explosive, chemical and nuclearmaterial detection, Vladivoj Valkoviæ

11. Invariant special relativity and electrody-namics, Tomislav Iveziæ

Research and development projects

1. Computer aided control of 1.0 MV Tande-tron accelerator, Milko Jakšiæ (MZT, Infor-mation Technology Project)

2. Secure web server with individual userpasswords for access to the database,Mario Stipèeviæ (MZT Information Technolo-gy Project)

Other projects

1. Tritium and stable isotope distribution in theatmosphere at the coastal region of Croatia(Nada Horvatinèiæ), IAEA, Vienna, Austria,

2. Nuclear Spectroscopy Techniques and IonBeam Analysis in Environmental and Indus-trial Applications (Milko Jakšiæ and BogomilObeliæ), IAEA, Vienna, Austria,

3. Quality Assurance/Quality Control ofNuclear Analytical Techniques (BogomilObeliæ), IAEA, Vienna, Austria,

4. Facility for testing nuclear methods for land-mine and UXO detection and identification(Vladivoj Valkoviæ), IAEA, Vienna, Austria,

5. Study of anthropogenic pollution after thewar and establishing the measures for pro-tection of Plitvice National Park and Bihaæregion at the border area of Croatia andBosnia-Herzegovina, European Commi-ssion, 5th Framework Programme, (BogomilObeliæ),

6. Tritium and Stable Isotope Distribution inthe Atmosphere at the Coastal Region ofCroatia, IAEA, Vienna, Austria (Nada Hor-vatinèiæ),

7. Determination of isotopic composition ofoxygen and hydrogen in precipitation inecological and hydrological investigations(Ines Krajcar Broniæ), Croatian-Slovenianjoint research project,

8. Monitoring of anthropogenic influence inKarst (Bogomil Obeliæ), Croatian-Slovenianjoint research project,

9. Investigation of influence of forest ecosys-tems of National Park Plitvice to the qualityof water and lakes (Nada Horvatinèiæ),National Park Plitvice, Croatia,

ZEF

10. Control of illicit trafficking in explosives,chemical agents, and humans (VladivojValkoviæ), IAEA, Vienna, Austria,

11. Inspection of shipping containers for undis-closed radioactive materials (VladivojValkoviæ), IAEA, Vienna, Austria.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

T. Antièiæ, K. Kadija, T. Šuša and P. Seyboth.New five-quark states found at CERN, CERNCourier, Dec. 2003, vol. 43, No. 10, p. 5.

C. Alt, T. Antièiæ et al. Evidence for an Exotic S =–2, Q = –2 Baryon Resonance in Proton-ProtonCollisions at the CERN SPS, Phys. Rev. Lett., inpress

C. Alt et al. Directed and elliptic flow of chargedpions and protons in Pb + Pb collisions at 40Aand 158A GeV, Phys. Rev. C, 2003, 68, 034903

N.Soiæ, S.Cherubini, M.Lattuada, D.Miljaniæ, S.Romano, C.Spitaleri and M.Zadro. 8Li+α decayof 12B and its astrophysical implications”, Euro-phys. Lett., 2003, 63, 524-530.

Z. Meduniæ, M. Jakšiæ and Ž. Pastuoviæ. Temper-ature dependent TRIBIC in CZT detectors, Nucl.Instr. and Meth. B., 2003, 210, 237-242

A. Androniæ et al. Directed flow in Au + Au, Xe +CsI, and Ni + Ni collisions and the nuclear equa-tion of state, Phys. Rev. C, 2003, 67, 034907

Z. Basrak, R. Èaplar and V. Paar (guest editors).Fizika B, 2003, 12, 1-192.

N. Soiæ et al. Cluster structure of 13C probed via7Li(9Be,13C* 9Be*α) reaction, Nucl. Phys. A,2003, 728, 12.

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OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

The Division of Materials Physics isfocused mainly on fundamental and appliedstudies of physical parameters and process-es that describe and connect the microscop-ic and macroscopic properties of condensedmatter and molecules. The main goal of theZFM is to obtain a better understanding ofthe fundamental characteristics of defects insimple (Si), binary (GaAs, GaN, CdS), andmultinary semiconductors and their comple-mentary oxides. Certain aspects, such asthe mutual interactions of defects, theirimpact on the relation between microscopic

and macroscopic properties of materials, aswell as nanophase and glassy material char-acteristics, prove particularly important. Themethods of investigation include the study ofamorphous thin films produced by non-ther-modynamic processes (magnetron sputter-ing), particularly Al-W and WC, a-Si and a-Si1-xCx:H films. In addition, the study ofprocesses in magnetron sputtering sourcesand plasma obtained during laser ablation ofmetallic and non-metallic materials, isundertaken. The ZFM is also involved in fun-damental research in the field of molecularand solid state physics with special empha-sis on vibrational spectroscopy. The sys-tems under investigation vary in their originand composition from metals, semiconduc-tors, and ceramics on one side, to molecularcrystals and biological samples on the other.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Nanosciences

Nanoscience and/or nanotechnology rep-resent the most promising direction for bothmodern fundamental scientific research anddevelopments in technology. In 2003, theCroatian Nanonetwork was established, withthe aim of stimulating collaboration amongst

ZFM

Division of MaterialsPhysics

DEPARTMENT ORGANISATIONHead: Branko Pivac

The Division of Materials Physics (ZFM)consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for semiconductors, Branko Pivac

Laboratory for thin films, Nikola Radiæ

Laboratory for molecular physics, Krešimir Furiæ

http://www.irb.hr/str/zfm

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different groups having expertise and equip-ment suitable for research in this field. Sucha collaboration will encourage closer con-tacts and focus the efforts of different groupson a few selected principal directions ofresearch. Indeed, the first results have iden-tified several promising nucleation centerswith significant future potential. The project,entitled "Nano sciences: a road to new tech-nologies" is coordinated by M. Milun (Insti-tute of Physics) and involves 7 institutionsand 15 formal and 26 international projects.From 22 domestic projects, 4 are led by B.Pivac, N. Radiæ, A. Turkoviæ and D. Gracin.

The CMS-18 sputtering system

The CMS-18 sputtering system has beeninstalled in the Laboratory for Thin Films ofthe Division of Materials Physics. Producedand delivered by the Kurt J. Lesker, Co.USA, the system is designed to allow thepreparation of new materials in the form ofthin films by magnetron sputtering of sever-al targets under various deposition condi-tions. Four magnetron sputtering guns fur-nished with shutters, allow co- or sequentialdeposition of up to the same number of tar-get materials - metals, alloys, semiconduc-tors, or isolators. A movable substrate hold-er is provided with DC or RF bias capability,and the heating assembly can handle tem-peratures up to 800 oC. A separate assemblyfor LN2 cooling is also available. Besidesworking gas (argon), two inlets for reactivegases allow for rective deposition. Deposi-tion process may be manually or fully com-puter-controlled.

New standards in measuring oxygencontent in silicon

In response to an editorial invitation, thatwas based on their recent paper, B. Pivac etal. published a review article in which longstanding DIN and ASTM standards for IRdetermination of oxygen in silicon were chal-lenged. As this parameter is extremelyimportant in modern semiconductor technol-ogy, this contribution is of widespread inter-est. In additon to the literature review com-ponent, the article presented a new method,with significantly improved accuracy, for IRdetermination of the interstitial oxygen in sil-icon (B. Pivac et al., Defect and DiffusionForum, 2003, 221-223, 123).

ZFM

Figure 1. The CMS-18 sputtering system

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International conference

The 93rd Executive Council Meeting ofIUVSTA, Dubrovnik, 19-21 September 2003was organized by the division members N.Radiæ and B. Pivac.

Non thermodynamic production of quantum dots

The viability of the synthesis of a 3Densemble of well crystallized quantum dots

(QDs) of compound semiconductors (CdS,ZnTe, CdTe and PbTe) embedded in SiO2

substrate by ion implantation and annealing,was established.

Possible benefits of a novel method

GISAXS patterns suggest that the syn-thesis of nanoparticles (which may not beyet fully ordered, possibly even amorphous)occurs already during ion implantation. If,indeed, II-VI QDs are already formed duringhigh-dose implantation, the production ofhigh-quality QDs of II-VI compounds wouldbe reduced to re-crystallization of alreadyformed compounds, without requiring diffu-sion of the compound components. In thiscase, much lower annealing temperatureswould be sufficient which is desirable sincethermally driven, equilibrium, thermodynam-ic processes tend to broaden the size distri-bution of QDs.

ZFM

Figure 3. Non Thermodynamic production of quantum dots

Figure 2. The 93rd Executive Council Meeting of IUVISTA, Dubrovnik

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Impact of Defects and Nanostructures onSemiconductor Properties. B. Pivac

2. Magnetron Deposition of Thin Films. N. Radiæ

3. Physics and Application of Nanostructures.K. Furiæ

4. Multiphase Amorphous Silicon Alloys as Thin Films. D. Gracin

5. Sugar Hydratation Dynamics. V. Mohaèek-Grošev

6. Nanophase Films and Nanocomposite SolidElectrolytes Research. A. Turkoviæ

7. Structure and Electrical Relaxation inGlasses and Glass-Ceramics. A. Moguš-Milankoviæ

8. Statics and Dynamics of Molecular Solids.D. Kirin

9. Optical Interactions and Organizational Processes in Matter. S. Lugomer

10. Semiconductor Materials for Optoelectronics. B. Šantiæ

Research and development projects

1. Reseach collaboration contract with the fac-tory “Solar cells”, Split (D. Gracin)

2. Stress in thin films (N. Radiæ), (Bilateral col-laboration with Slovenia)

3. Study of nanocomposite polymer electro-lites (A. Turkoviæ), (Bilateral collaborationwith Slovenia)

4. Study of disordered materials, nano-opticallayers (M. Ivanda), (Bilateral collaborationwith Slovenia)

5. Chemically durable iron phosphate glassesfor vitrifying stimulated nuclear waste (A. Moguš-Milankoviæ), (IAEA)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

B. Pivac, A. Sassella, and A. Borghesi. Recent“Advances in the Measurement of InterstitialOxygen in Silicon by Infra-Red Spectroscopy”.Defect and Diffusion Forum, 2003, 221-223, 123-131.

I. Desnica-Frankoviæ, U. Desnica, P. Dubèek, M.Buljan, S. Bernstorff, K. Helmut, B. Stritzker, “Ionbeam synthesis of buried Zn-VI quantum dots inSiO2: GISAXS studies“. Journal of Applied Crys-talography, 2003, 36, 439-442.

U. Desnica, P. Dubèek, I. Desnica-Frankoviæ, M.Buljan, S. Bernstorff, C.W. White, “GISAXS stud-ies of the synthesis and growth of CdS quantumdots from constituent atoms in SiO2 matrix“.Journal of Applied Crystalography, 2003, 36,443-446.

P. Dubèek, B. Pivac, S. Bernstorff, F. Corni, R.Tonini, G. Ottaviani, “Grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering study of defects in deu-terium implanted monocrystalline silicon“. Jour-nal of Applied Crystalography, 2003, 36, 447-449.

V. Desnica, K. Furic, B. Hochleitner, M. Mantler,“A comparative analysis of five chrome greenpigments based on different spectroscopic tech-niques“. Spectrochimica Acta Part B. 2003, 58,681– 687.

M. Ivanda, K. Babocsi, C. Dem, M. Schmitt, M.Montagna, W. Kiefer, “Low-wave-number Ramanscattering from CdSxSe1-x quantum dotsembedded in a glass matrix“. Physical Reveiw B.2003, 67, 235329-235338.

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¨OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

The activities of the division have beendirected towards the development of newmedical instrumentation, particularly in thefield of photodynamic therapy using noveladvanced light sources such as light emit-ting diode clusters. Research and develop-ment in the fields of optical design, electron-ics, and mechanical design, combined witha permanent interaction with the Universityclinic, resulted in several new devices forphotodynamic therapy. Such devices areapplicable to certain skin tumours, pre-malignant diseases and other dermatoses.In addition, clinical research has started on

several types of malignant diseases, the firstresults of which are very promising.

LAIR is also involved in basic researchand development, as well as the small scaleproduction of optical instruments and aimingdevices for defence systems. The Divisionalso provides user oriented educationalcourses for maintenance and service of theaforementioned optical devices.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

The major achievement in 2003 was thedevelopment of an advanced, computercontrolled, apparatus for photodynamicdiagnosis and therapy under the commercialname "MediLED 4 PDD & PDT" (patentpending). This comprehensive system incor-porates highly efficient light sources - lightemitting diode clusters and is designed foruse in clinical practice.

Simultaneously, the MediLED Vio andMediLED Thera devices were produced asportable, easy to use light sources for treat-ment of smaller lesions (patent pending).MediLED devices were exhibited for the firsttime during the 5th International Symposium

LAIRDivision of Laser and

Atomic Research andDevelopment

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Hrvoje Zorc

The Division of Laser and AtomicResearch and Development (LAIR) consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for Optics and Thin Films, Hrvoje Zorc

Multipurpose workshops, Eduard Švegel

http://www.irb.hr/str/lair

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on Photodynamic Diagnosis and Therapy inClinical Practice (Bressanone, Italy, 7-11Oct. 2003).

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry of Scienceand Technology (MZT)

1. Photonics of image- and non-image opticalsystems, Hrvoje Zorc

Research and development projects

1. Light sources for photodynamic therapy oftumors, Anton Peršin (HITRA-TEST)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Radman, I., Peršin, A., Zorc, H.,Tisaj, K., Stanišiæ, V., Lonèariæ, M.,Soldo Roudnicky, D., Radman, A.:First results of the use of new LED-based light sources on PDD andPDT of Mycosis Fungoides, 5th

International Symposium on Photo-dynamic Diagnosis and Therapy inClinical Practice / B. Kramer, H.Kostron, G. Jori (ur.), Bressanone,

2003. 31

Harvey, J.E. Bogunoviæ, D., Krywonos, A.: Aber-rations of Diffracted Wave Fields: Distortion.,Applied Optics - OT. 2003, 42, 1167-1174.

Janicki, V., Zorc, H.: Determination of refractiveindex profile of ZrO2 on amorphous and pre-evaporated substrates by reverse engineering,Proc. SPIE, 2003, 5250, 546-53.

Piegari, A., Janicki, V.:Metal/dielectric coatingsfor transmission filters with wide rejection bands,Proc. SPIE, 2003, 5250, 343-48.

Pavloviæ, M., Šantiæ, B., Desnica-Frankoviæ, D.I.,Radiæ, N., Šmuc T., Desnica, U.V.: The impact ofdeep levels on the photocurrent transients insemi-insulating GaAs, J. of Electronic Mater.2003, 32, 10.

LAIR

Figure 1. MediLED 4, MediLED Vio and Thera

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Figure 2. Testing MediLED 4 in the laboratory

OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

In 2003, the Division of Electronicsbroadened the scope of its research withapplications and original contributions in thefields of bioinformatics (gene array expres-sion data analysis, compaction and indexingDNA sequences) and time-series modelling.New international collaborations were initiat-ed in the field of data mining, with the AIDepartment at the Josef Stefan Institute (AI-IJS), Slovenia, and in material behaviourmodelling, with the Institute for New Materi-als in Saarbruecken, Germany. The labora-tory for information systems organized ajoint conference ECML/PKDD-2003, in Cav-tat in collaboration with AI-IJS, and the CS

department KU, Leuven, Belgium. BožidarVojnoviæ, the former head of the Division,retired at the end of the year.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Methodology for subgroup discovery

An original approach to subgroup discov-ery and representation was applied to prob-lems related to the detection/classification ofpatients suffering from coronary heart dis-ease. This approach has also been appliedto marketing research problems, and hasfound use as an online data mining tool (B.Cestnik et al., Data mining and decision sup-port, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003).

New areas of research

New areas of interest within ZEL includeapplications of machine learning methods togene array expression analysis and com-pression and indexing of large DNAsequence databases. Important contribu-tions have also been made in the areas ofsoftware engineering and modelling ofchaotic signals and processes (A. Maksi-moviæ et al., J. Fluid. Struct. 2003, 17, 317.I. Michieli, B. Vojnoviæ, J. Comp. Inf. Tech-nol. 2003, 11, 55).

ZEL

Division of Electronics

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Tomislav Šmuc

The Division of Electronics (ZEL) consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for information systems, Dragan Gamberger

Laboratory for stochastic signals and processes research, Ivan Michieli

http://www.irb.hr/str/zel

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New WEB portals

Two new WEB portals,financed by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)were realized within the scope ofInformation technology projects.

Educational activities

A new course entitled Knowledgediscovery in medical domains,(Dragan Gamberger) is now partof the curriculum of the Ph.D. pro-gram Biomedicine & HealthSciences, at the Medical School ofthe University of Zagreb.

PROJECTS

Basic projects supported by theMinistry of Science and Technology (MZT)

1. Automated Knowledge Discovery and Reasoning,Nikola Bogunoviæ

2. Analysis of Stochastic Signals, Time Series and Data Structures, Božidar Vojnoviæ

Information technology projectssupported by MZT

1. International Standards for the flow measurements - Active Network Objects, Ivan Mariæ

2. Information portal for the epidemiological study of arterial hypertension in Croatia, Tomislav Šmuc

ZEL

Figure 1. IP EH-UH: Information Portal of epidemiological study ofArterial Hypertension in Croatia

Figure 2. International Standards for the flow Measurements - Active Network Objects

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Research, development and collaborativeprojects

1. Collaboration with Division for marine andenvironmental research on a project “Devel-opment of the new electrochemical sensorfor the measurement of water pollution”(LISSP)

2. Intelligent Data Analysis with AI Depa-rtment, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana,Slovenia

CONFERENCES

Organization of the joint conferenceECML/PKDD 2003 (14th European Conferenceon Machine Learning and 7th European Confer-ence on Principles and Practice of KnowledgeDiscovery in Databases), Cavtat, 22.-26.09.2003.

Knowledge Discovery in Databases: PKDD2003, Lavraè, Nada; Gamberger, Dragan; Block-eel, Hendrik; Todorovski, Ljupèo (editors). Berlin:Springer, 2003, (conference proceedings)

Machine Learning: ECML 2003, Lavraè, Nada;Gamberger, Dragan; Blockeel, Hendrik; Todor-ovski, Ljupèo (editors), Berlin: Springer, 2003(conference proceedings).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Cestnik, B., Lavraè, N., Flach, P., Gamberger, D.,Kline, M. Data mining for decision support: Sup-porting marketing decisions through subgroupdiscovery, Data mining and decision support,Mladeniæ, D., Lavraè, N., Bohanec, M., Moyle, S.(editors). Boston/Dordrecht/London: Kluwer Aca-demic Publishers, 2003.

Bogunoviæ, N., Grudeniæ, I., Pek, E. A Synthe-sized Framework for Formal Verification of Com-puting Systems, Journal on Systemics, Cyber-netics and Informatics. 2003, 1, 6-11.

Gamberger, D., Lavraè, N., Krstaèiæ, G. ActiveSubgroup Mining: A Case Study in CoronaryHeart Disease Risk Group Detection, ArtificialIntelligence in Medicine. 2003, 28, 27-57.

Mariæ, I. Software objects in distributed flowmeasurements, ISA Transactions. 2003, 42, 497-504.

Michieli, I., Vojnoviæ, B. Detecting Noise inChaotic Signals through Principal ComponentMatrix Transformation, Journal of Computingand Information Technology. 2003, 11, 1, 55-66.

Maksimoviæ, A., Lugomer, S., Michieli, I. Multi-solitons on vortex filaments: the origin of axialtangling. Journal of Fluids and Structures. 2003,17, 317-330.

ZEL

OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

In 2003, the members of ZFK contributedvaluable publications on a broad range oftopics such as atmospheric chemistry, struc-tural chemistry, theoretical chemistry, themodelling of physical and chemical process-es, structural and chemical analyses, andbiosciences. A significant number of these

contributions were published in the highestranking chemical journals such as the Jour-nal of the American Chemical Society,Chemistry - A European Journal, the Journalof Physical Chemistry, the Journal of Organ-ic Chemistry, and Biochimica et BiophysicaActa. The contribution to undergraduate andgraduate education this year was extensiveand the division continued to participate inthe organization of highly regarded scientificconferences. In addition, the traditional inter-national collaborations with institutions suchas Harvard University, Rice University,Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Free Universi-ty Berlin, and the Hebrew University ofJerusalem were maintained.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Probing the properties of molecularmagnets

Single molecule magnets (SMMs) are thefocus of many experimental and theoreticalstudies. They exhibit the novel phenomenonof quantum tunnelling of the magnetization.In the context of SMMs, a single moleculemay exhibit a hysteresis loop and hence hasthe potential to serve as the basis of memo-ry storage at the molecular level, and possi-

ZFK

Division of PhysicalChemistry

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Aleksandar Sabljiæ

The Division of Physical Chemistry (ZFK)consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for Chemical Kinetics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Dunja Srziæ

Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Nada Filipoviæ-Vincekoviæ

Theoretical Chemistry Group, Tomislav Živkoviæ

Laboratory of Chemical and Biological Crystallography, Biserka Kojiæ-Prodiæ

Laboratory for Magnetic Resonances, Boris Rakvin

Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Ivan Habuš

http://www.irb.hr/str/zfk

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bly even for quantum computation. A sensi-tive method, based on EPR spectroscopy,was developed to measure the magneticfield near the surfaces of the molecular mag-net Mn12-acetate (B. Rakvin et al. J. Mag.Res. 2003, 165, 260). This method has thepotential to become an accurate, efficientand inexpensive screening tool for probingproperties of highly magnetic molecules, i.e.potential molecular magnets.

Potential new delivery system forimmunostimulants

Immunostimulating compounds enhancethe immune response of the host to an anti-gen. Such compounds are particularly usefulin stimulating the immune response to weakantigens and vaccines. EPR spectroscopywas used to study the interactions of thepotential immunostimulating agents, thepeptidoglycan monomer and the structurallyrelated adamantyltripeptides, with multil-

amellar liposomes. The strong interaction ofadamantyltripeptides with the negativelycharged liposomes makes them good candi-dates for use as immunostimulating agentsin vivo (R. Frkanec et al. Biochim. Biophys.Acta 2003, 1611, 187).

Designing surfactants with desirableproperties

To design surfactants with specific quali-ties, it is imperative to understand the rela-tionships between their structure and theirsupramolecular organization (into micelles,vesicles, liotropic liquid crystals). Such rela-tionships are studied by an interdisciplinaryapproach involving a new generation of sur-factants, namely the dissymmetric geminis.It was found that the length of the hydropho-bic spacer in these molecules is a criticalparameter for their structural andamphotropic properties. In particular, thepresence of a longer spacer was found tomodify the supramolecular structure fromwormlike to spherical micelles. In this way, itis possible to manipulate the arrangement of

ZFK

Figure 1. Images of EPR probe NMP-TCNQ utilizedto measure magnetic fields at the surface of

nanomagnet Mn12-acetate shown under magnification at 60 times

Figure 2. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrometer (FT/CW EPR) working with the

pulse and continuous microwave sourcein a wide temperature range (4K-300K)

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surfactants in micellar, mesomorphic andcrystalline states and, consequently, todesign surfactants with desirable character-istics (M. Sikiriæ et al. Langmuir 2003, 19,10044).

Electronic structure of anti-HIV drugAZT revealed

The electronic structures of the anti-HIVdrug AZT and the antimalarial drug artemisi-nine were resolved by photoelectron spec-troscopy and quantum-chemical calcula-tions (I. Novak, B. Kovaè, J. Org. Chem.2003, 68, 5777). These results will help toclarify the mechanisms of their biologicalactivity as well as to derive improved anti-HIV and antimalarial agents.

AWARDS

1. Greta Pifat-Mrzljak: Austrian HonoraryAward for Science and Art, I Order

SELECTED COLLABORATIONS

1. COST chemistry D-27 action “Origin of lifeand early evolution”, Vesna Noethig-Laslo

2. COST D-22 Project “Protein-lipid interac-tions”, Greta Pifat-Mrzljak

3. “Ultrafast and ultracold experimental andtheoretical methods and applications” Col-laborative project supported by the Ministryof Science and Technology.

SELECTED INVITED LECTURES

1. S. Bosanac “Charge in ultra strong electro-magnetic fields” Harvard University, Cam-bridge, MA, U.S.A., 27 January 2003

2. S. Bosanac “Dynamics in phase space”NATO Workshop “The Dynamics of Ele-mentary Chemical Reactions” Balatonföld-vár, Hungary, 8-12 June 2003

3. V. Noethig-Laslo “A spin-labelling study ofpeptidoglycan monomer and adamantyl-tripeptides entrapped into liposomes” 2nd

International Conference on BiomedicalSpectroscopy, London, UK, 5-8 July 2003

4. B. Rakvin “An EPR spin probe method formeasuring magnetic field at the surface ofsingle molecule magnets Fe8 and Mn12”, 8th

Workshop ELECTRON MAGNETICRESONANCE OF DISORDEREDSYSTEMS, Sofia, Bulgaria, 11 November2003

CONFERENCES ORGANIZED BYSCIENTISTS OF THE DIVISION

1. 18th MATH/CHEM/COMP, Dubrovnik, 23-28June 2003

2. Summer School “Supramolecular Structureand Function”, Rovinj, 14-26 Sept. 2003

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Properties and behavior of atmosfericmicroconstituents, Tomislav Cvitaš

2. Surfactants, processes in solution and atinterfaces, Nada Filipoviæ-Vincekoviæ

3. Reactivity and reaction mechanism, LeoKlasinc

4. Investigation on chemical reactivity andultrafast processes, Aleksandar Sabljiæ

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Figure 3. Transformation of dissymmetric geminisurfactants from a fan shaped texture

to the giant vesicular phase

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5. Develeopment and application of models inchemistry and bioinformatics, Nenad Trinajstiæ

6. Structural and biological investigation ofnew complex compounds, Ljerka Tušek-Božiæ

7. Structure and dynamics of (bio)molecules,Biserka Kojiæ-Prodiæ

8. Biophysics of liporotein interactions withactive substances, Greta Pifat-Mrzljak

9. Electron spin resonance in systems withparamagnetic particles, Boris Rakvin

10. Modeling of novel carbon materials, Ante Graovac

11. Interactions of biomembranes with aminoacids and peptides, Vesna Nöthig-Laslo

12. Multidisciplinary sedimentological investiga-tions, Halka Bilinski

13. Matter under extreme conditions, Slobodan Bosanac

14. Description and behavior of quantum sys-tems in interaction, Tomislav Živkoviæ

15. Custom DNA synthesis, Ivan Habuš

Other projects

1. Lipoprotein interactions with active sub-stances, Greta Pifat-Mrzljak (Bilateral proj-ect with Austria)

2. Prediction of Enzyme Selectivity, Regula-tion, and Inhibition by COMBINE Analysis,S. Tomiæ (Bilateral project with Germany)

3. Molecular Basis for Biocatalysis by Micro-bial Lipases, Biserka Kojiæ-Prodiæ, (Bilateralproject with Germany)

4. Structure and dynamics of interpenetratingpolymer networks, Mladen Andreis(Bilateral project with Slovenia)

5. Interaction of biomembranes with peptides,Vesna Noethig-Laslo (Bilateral project withSlovenia)

6. Structural investigation of natural polymersand complexes by mass spectrometry,Dunja Srziæ (Bilateral project with Slovenia)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

B. Rakvin, D. Žiliæ, J. M. North, N. S. Dalal “Prob-ing magnetic fields on crystals of the nanomag-net Mn12-acetate by electron paramagnetic reso-nance” J. Mag. Res. 2003, 165, 260

B. Cage, F.A. Cotton, N.S. Dalal, E.A. Hillard, B.Rakvin, C.M. Ramsey, M.Chris, “Observation ofSymmetry Lowering and Electron Localization inthe Doublet-States of a Spin-Frustrated Equilat-eral Triangular Lattice: Cu3(O7C16H23)x1.2C6H12”J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 5270.

J. Makareviæ, M. Jokiæ, Z. Raza, Z. Štefaniæ, B.Kojiæ-Prodiæ, M. Žiniæ, “Chiral Bis(Amino Alcohol)Oxalyl Amide Gelators-Gelation Properties andSupramolecular Organization. Racemate vsPure Enantiomer Gelation”. Chemistry-A Euro-pean Journal. 2003, 9, 5567.

M. Kveder, A. Kriško, G. Pifat, H.J. Steinhoff,“The Study of Structural Accessibility of FreeThiol Groups in Human LDL”, Biochim. Biophys.Acta, 2003, 1631, 239.

I. Novak, B. Kovaè, “Photoelectron spectra ofimportant drug molecules: Zidovudine &Artemisinine”, J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 5777.

R. Frkanec, V. Noethig-Laslo, B. Vranešiæ, K.Mirosavljeviæ, J. Tomašiæ “A spin labeling studyof immunomodulating peptidoglycan monomerand adamantyltripeptides entrapped into lipo-somes” Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2003, 1611, 187.

M. Sikiriæ, I. Šmit, Lj. Tušek-Božiæ, V. Tomašiæ, I.Puciæ, I. Primožiè, N. Filipoviæ-Vincekoviæ, “Effectof the Spacer Length on the Solid Phase Transi-tions of Dissymmetric Gemini Surfactants”,Langmuir 2003, 19, 10044.

M. Bonifaèiæ, K.-D. Asmus, K.A. Gray, “On theReaction of 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol with HydroxylRadicals: New Information on Transients andtheir Properties”. J. Phys. Chem. A, 2003, 107,1307.

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OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

Research activities within the divisionduring 2003 resulted in the publication of animpressive number of scientific papers, mostof which appeared in reputed internationaljournals. The topics of scientific investigationvaried widely and included fields such assynthesis, physical organic chemistry,supramolecular chemistry, molecular spec-troscopy, cellular biochemistry, and quantumorganic chemistry. The members of the divi-sion actively participated in the organizingcommittee for the 13th European Symposiumon Organic Chemistry (ESOC 13), held inCavtat near Dubrovnik. This highly success-ful meeting attracted 455 participants from40 different countries all over the world. Thescientists of the division also made a signifi-cant contribution to higher education inorganic chemistry by providing 9 courses, atundergraduate and postgraduate levels, andby supervising 4 M.Sc. and 5 Ph.D. theses.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Supramolecular chemistry of gelsThe formation of nano-fibers in organo-

gels of bis(amino alcohol) oxalamides was

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BDivision of OrganicChemistry and Biochemistry

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Mladen Žiniæ

The Division of Organic Chemistry andBiochemistry (ZOKB) consists of the fol-lowing laboratories:

Laboratory for stereoselective catalysis and biocatalysis, Vitomir Šunjiæ

Laboratory for synthetic organic chemistry, Kata Majerski

Laboratory for supramolecular and nucleoside chemistry, Mladen Žiniæ

Laboratory for carbohydrate, peptide and glycopeptide chemistry, Štefica Horvat

Laboratory for cellular biochemistry, Maja Abramiæ

Laboratory for physical organic chemistry, Mirjana Eckert-Maksiæ

Laboratory for molecular spectroscopy, Goran Baranoviæ

Group for quantum organic chemistry, Zvonimir Maksiæ

http://www.irb.hr/str/zokb

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elucidated. The self-assembly of such mole-cules into fibrous aggregates was shown toresult from differing strengths and direction-ality of aggregate forces (supramolecularvectors) in three-dimensional space (J.Makareviæ et al., Chem. Eur. J. 2003, 9,5567). Supramolecular gels as new “smartmaterials” are of interest for the develop-ment of new technologies such as slow drug

delivery systems,tissue engineering,safer surface trans-port of dangerousliquids or fuels andthe preparation ofnano-dimensionalinorganic materialsfor catalysis orelectronics.

Quantum organic chemistryStudies of the correlation energy of elec-

trons in molecules resulted in the discoveryof a direct relationship between the correla-tion energy calculated by ab initio methodol-ogy and that obtained by Density FunctionalTheory (D. Bariæ, Z. B. Maksiæ, J. Phys.Chem. A, 2003, 107, 11577). It was shownthat the energy of electronic correlationexhibits a remarkable atomic additivity whichenables an accurate estimation of the corre-lation energy in larger molecules, for whichdemanding ab initio calculations are not fea-sible.

Photoprotonation studiesThe protonation state of the carbonyl

group of formaldehyde was shown to haveimportant ramifications for its electronic exci-tation spectrum. These effects wererevealed through state of the art calcula-tions, applied to the lowest excited valenceand Rydberg states (I. Antol et al. Chem.

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Figure 1. TEM images: gel fibres can be transcribed into silica nano-tubes (left)or twisted ribbons (right).

Figure 2. One moleculeof an organogelatorhardens up to 40.000molecules of solvent.

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Phys. Lett. 2003, 374, 587), and provide animportant stepping-stone on the way to adeeper understanding of photoinduced pro-ton transfer processes in complex, biologi-cally active molecules.

Carbohydrate and peptide chemistryAn extensive study of glycation products

implicated in the pathogenesis of diabeticcomplications, aging, and Alzheimer’s dis-ease, revealed new facts about the stabilityand degradation products of the glycatedpeptide hormone leucine-enkephalin underphysiological conditions. A new chemicaltransformation of the glycated peptide, lead-ing to beta-scission of the terminal aminoacid side-chain, was found to result in reac-tive aldehyde species that can impair cellviability (A. Jakas, Š. Horvat, Biopolymers,2003, 69, 421-431).

PATENT

New compounds with antitumor activityN-1-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives synthesized

in the Laboratory for supramolecular and nucleo-side chemistry showed strong in vitro anticanceractivity against various human tumor cell lineswhile their cytostatic effects against normalhuman fibroblasts were significantly lower. Euro-pean Patent (EP 0 877 022, 2003; inventors: Bis-erka Žiniæ, Mladen Žiniæ, Irena Krizmaniæ,) hasbeen granted for new sulfonylpyrimidines withantitumor activity. The compounds are promisingcandidates for development of new anticancerdrugs.

AWARDS

Mladen Žiniæ was awarded the Croatian Acad-emy of Sciences and Arts prize for scientificachievement in natural sciences -chemistry.Irena Zrinski won the annual award for youngscientists from The Society of University Teach-

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Figure 3. Calculated electronic spectrum of protonated formaldehyde.

Figure 4. Apparatus for microwaveassisted synthesis.

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ers and Scientists, Zagreb, Croatia, for the mostimportant published scientific paper (New Jour-nal of Chemistry 2003, 8, 1270).

INVITED LECTURES

Štefica Horvat, Synthetic Glycopeptides inExploring Sugar-Mediated Nonenzymatic Cova-lent Modifications of Peptides and Proteins.13th

European Symposium on Organic Chemistry(Cavtat-Dubrovnik, Croatia, 10-15.09.2003.)

Kata Majerski, Carbenes in Polycyclic Systems.Generation and Fate of Carbene and DicarbeneSpecies, FRANK WARREN Organic ChemistryConference, Rhodes University, Grahamstown,SA, 13-16. 04. 2003.

Kata Majerski, “Adamantane as Building Block inConstruction of Crown Ethers and Cryptands: Synthesis, Structure and Properties”, 2nd CentralEuropean Chemical Meeting (CECM-2)Varaždin, Croatia, 19-21. 06. 2003.

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry of Scienceand Technology (MZT)

1. Stereoselective synthesis and catalysis, Vitomir Šunjiæ

2. New optically active materials,Vladimir Vinkoviæ

3. Synthesis, molecular structure and functionof polycyclic molecules, Kata Majerski

4. Supramolecular organization of gels,molecular recognition and catalysis, Mladen Žiniæ

5. Design and synthesis of bioactive peptides,glycopeptides and biomarkers, Štefica Horvat

6. Reactive intermediates in ground and excit-ed state, Mirjana Eckert Maksiæ

7. Hydrolases – from isolation to function,Maja Abramiæ

8. Extended π-systems and molecular spec-troscopies, Goran Baranoviæ

9. Proton affinity and the proton transfer reac-tion in chemistry, Zvonimir Maksiæ

International and collaborative projects

1. Properties of new molecular materials,Working group within COST D26, Mirjana Eckert-Maksiæ

2. Intrinsic Reactivity of New Molecular Materi-als, Working group within COST D26, Zvonimir Maksiæ

3. Syntheses, structure and mechanisms offunctional molecular and supramolecularsystems, Collaborative project, MSES, pro-ject coordinator Mladen Žiniæ

4. Mirjana Eckert-Maksiæ and ZvonimirMakasiæ also collaborate in 3 bilateral Croa-tia-Austria and Croatia-Slovenia projects.

Research and development projects

1. Potential antitumor drugs, Štefica Horvat,(MZT, HITRA, TP-B23/2001)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

J. Makareviæ, M. Jokiæ, Z. Raza, Z. Stefaniæ, B.Kojiæ-Prodiæ, M. Žiniæ , Chiral Bis(amino alco-hol)oxalamide Gelators–Gelation Properties andSupramolecular Organization: Racemate versusPure Enantiomer Gelation, Chem. Eur. J. 2003,9, 5567-5580.

D. Bariæ, Z. B. Maksiæ, Atomic Additivity of theCorrelation Energy in Molecules by the DFT-B3LYP Scheme, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2003, 107,11577.

I. Antol, M. Eckert-Maksiæ, T. Mueller, M. Dallos,H. Lischka, Valence and Rydberg states of pro-tonated formaldehyde, Chemical Physics Let-ters. 2003, 374, 5-6; 587-593.

A. Jakas , Š. Horvat, Study of Degradation Path-ways of Amadori Compounds Obtained by Gly-cation of Opioid Pentapeptide and RelatedSmaller Fragments: Stability, reactions andSpectroscopic Properties. Biopolymers, 2003,69, 421-431.

G. Kragol, I. Benko, J. Muharemspahiæ, K. Mli-nariæ-Majerski, A Cyclopropyl-HomoallylRearrangement Accompanying the Borane-

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Mediated Reduction of Tosylhydrazones, Eur. J.Org. Chem. 2003, 2622.

M. Majeriæ-Elenkov, Z. Hameršak, V. Šunjiæ,Kinetic Resolution of Diastereomeric Racematesof 7-Bromo-3-(1`-hydroxy-ethyl)-1-methyl-5-(2`-pyridyl)-2, 3-dihydro-1H-1, 4-benzodiazepin-2-one by Immobilized CAL-B. Tetrahedron Asym-metry. 2003, 14, 2725-2730.

Š. Šimaga, D. Babiæ, Osmak M, Šprem M.Abramiæ M., Tumor cytosol dipeptidyl peptidaseIII activity is increased with histological aggres-

siveness of ovarian primary carcinomas, Gyne-cologic Oncology, 2003, 91, 194-200.

N. Biliškov, B. Zimmermann, G. Baranoviæ,.Vibrational spectroscopy of macrocyclicoligo(phenyldi-acetylenes) – I. A theoretical andexperimental study of octadehydrodibe-nzo[12]annulene and dodecadehydrotriben-zo[18]annulene, J. Mol. Struct. 2003, 661-662,65-80.

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OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

The Division of Materials Chemistry con-tinued to focus on obtaining a better under-standing of the properties of materials suchas magnetic and nonmagnetic metal oxides,oxide glass-ceramics, zeolites, cluster com-

pounds, organic polymers, intermetalliccompounds, and metal hydrides. This wasachieved through the application of a varietyof established techniques, including thekinetics and mechanisms of precipitation,and the biochemical research of fish, shell-fish and crustacean tissues, as well asthrough the development of new and exist-ing theoretical and experimental methods inmaterials science. In addition to the 50 or socompanies that used our established radia-tion services for sterilization, pasteurization,desinsection and/or decontamination, thedivision participated in numerous coopera-tive activities with different industries, hospi-tals, and state institutions.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

A new zeolite microstructureZeolites, particularly those with control-

lable microstructure, have the potential to beused for the storage of various organic com-pounds. In our laboratories one such materi-al was synthesized by controlled heating ofthe NH4-exchanged zeolite A4. This processinitially resulted in an amorphous phase,which was then replaced by a mixture of

ZKM

Division of MaterialsChemistry

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Svetozar Musiæ

The Division of Materials Chemistry(ZKM) consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for synthesis of new materials, Boris Subotiæ

Laboratory for precipitation processes, Ljerka Breèeviæ

Laboratory for radiation chemistry and dosimetry, Dušan Ražem

Laboratory for solid state chemistry, Želimir Blažina

Laboratory for complex compounds chemistry, Pavica Planiniæ

Group for ichtiopathology – biological materials, Rozelinda Èož-Rakovac

http://www.irb.hr/str/zkm

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mullite and amorphous silica (SiO2). Thetreatment of this final product with alkaliresulted in the extraction of the amorphousSiO2 from the interior of each particle andformation of mullite micro-vessels (C.Kosanoviæ, B. Subotiæ, Micropor. Mesopor.Mater., 2003, 2-3, 311).

Nano-sized metal oxide particles showactivity against cancer cellsExperiments with squamous carcinoma cells(SCCVII cultured in vitro) have shown, forthe first time, that ultrafine iron-doped TiO2

particles display appreciable cytotoxiceffects in the presence of UV irradiation, andare otherwise relatively inert. The most pro-

nounced photokilling effect was observed forthe Fe/Ti molar ratio of 0.136 (S. Ivankoviæet al. J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol. 2003, 27, 225).

Ultrafast redox chemistryThe second step in the biologically impor-

tant reduction of hydroperoxides with iron(II)is extremely rapid and its kinetic characteri-zation has thus far proven elusive. This year,we have succeeded to measure, by meansof competition kinetics, the rate constant forthe reaction of a model alkoxyl radical withiron(II) ion in methanol. The model tert-butoxyl radical was generated by applying alaser impulse at the wavelength correspon-ding to the absorption of the peroxide bondof dibutylperoxide. The formation of iron(III)was monitored by observing the opticalabsorption of the monochloroiron(III) com-plex on the microsecond time scale after thepulse (B. Mihaljeviæ, D. Ražem, Radiat.Phys. Chem., 2003, 67, 269).

Orientational growth inpolypropylene/talc compositesThe study of the structure-property relation-ships of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/talccomposites is important for the design ofsuperior plastics for industrial application.Our recent characterization of such compos-ites has revealed that plate-like talc crystalsdisturbed the well-developed spherulitiza-tion of iPP matrix as well as affecting orien-tational growth of polypropylene lamellae. Inaddition, we were able to show that plane-parallel separated talc crystals reduce theeffects of irradiation (M. Denac et al., Polym.Degrad. Stabil. 2003, 82, 263).

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Figure 1. Mullite micro-vessels

Figure 2. Control of zeolite crystallization

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A new type of materials for hydrogenstorage

The crystal structure and hydrogen sorp-tion properties of the new RENi5-xAlx (RE =Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Y) alloys were inves-tigated. In all systems the binary prototypestructure of the CaCu5 type is preserved upto x=2, while beyond this composition atransformation into the YCo3Ga2 structuretype occurs. Taking into account the hydridecapacity of at least 3.5 H atoms per alloy for-mula unit and the suitable equilibrium pres-sure at ambient temperature, the systemsRENi4.5Al0.5-hydrogen (RE= Tb, Y) andRENi4Al-hydrogen (RE=Gd, Tb, Y, Dy, Ho)are attractive candidates for hydrogen stor-

age purposes (B. Šorgiæ et al., J. AlloysComp. 2003, 356/357, 501).

A new crystal structure of a molybdenum methoxo cluster

In an effort to better understand theunique nature of organometallic compoundspossessing a direct metal-metal bond, twoseries of polymeric methoxo clusters ofmolybdenum and tungsten have been syn-thesized. In the first series, the methoxogroups act as bridges between neighbouringcluster units while the second series showsboth bridging and terminal methoxo groups.The crystal structure for the monomer clus-ter [Na(CH3OH)5]2[Mo6(µ3-Br)8(OCH3)6] hasbeen solved. (N. Brnièeviæ et al., Polyhedron2003, 22, 1553).

International training courseIn addition to the established contribution toundergraduate and graduate education atthe universities of Split and Zagreb, the divi-sion offered a specialized training course toa fellow of the International Atomic EnergyAgency in the area of radiation sterilizationof pharmaceuticals.

INVITED LECTURES

1. F. Ranogajec, “Improvement of PolymerStability by Radiation Grafting”, Internation-al Meeting on Radiation Processing, Chica-go, September 7-12, 2003.

2. F. Ranogajec, “Liquid-liquid Transition inUnsaturated Polyesters”, Polymer Scienceand Engineering, University of Massachu-setts, September 4, 2003.

3. F. Ranogajec, “Crosslinking and StructuralTransitions in Unsaturated Polyester

ZKM

Figure 3. Metal ion hydrolysis forced by ultrasound

Figure 4. Moessbauer spectrometer for materials research

Resins”, Kansas Polymer Research Center,Pittsburg State University, Kansas, Septem-ber 15, 2003.

4. S. Musiæ, “Moessbauer Spectroscopy inChemistry”, Croatian Academy of Scienceand Arts, Zagreb, November 18, 2003.

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Research of the crystallization process anduse of zeolites, Boris Subotiæ

2. Kinetics and mechanisms of solid phaseprecipitation from electrolyte solutions, Ljerka Breèeviæ

3. Synthesis and microstructure of metaloxides and oxide glasses, Svetozar Musiæ

4. Physico-chemical effects of ionizing radia-tions, Dušan Ražem

5. Synthesis, characterization and modifica-tion of polymers by ionizing radiation, Franjo Ranogajec

6. Intermetallic compounds and metalhydrides, Želimir Blažina

7. Superconducting oxides and polynuclearmetal complexes, Nevenka Brnièeviæ

8. Influence of dopands on the structure andproperties of materials for technical applica-tions, Biserka Gržeta

9. Development of an adaptable technologicalprocedure for the production of precipitatedcalcium carbonate, Damir Kralj (HITRA)

10. Characterization of the aluminate cementclinker by the Rietveld method, Biserka Gržeta (HITRA).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

B. Subotiæ, J. Broniæ, “Theoretical and PracticalAspects of Zeolite Crystal Growth”. S. M. Auer-bach, K. A. Carrado and P. K. Dutta (Eds.),“Handbook of Zeolite Science and Technology”,Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, Basel, 2003, pp.129-203.

C. Kosanoviæ and B. Subotiæ, “Preparation ofMullite Micro-vessels by a Combined Treatmentof Zeolites”, Micropor. Mesopor. Mater., 2003, 2-3, 311.

S. Ivankoviæ, M. Gotiæ, M. Jurin, S. Musiæ “Pho-tokilling Squamous Carcinoma Cells SCCVII withUltrafine Particles of Selected Metal Oxides”, J.Sol-Gel Sci. Technol. 2003, 27, 225.

B. Mihaljeviæ, D. Ražem, “Oxidation kinetics ofiron(II) ion with t-butoxyl radical”, Radiat. Phys.Chem., 2003, 67, 269.

M. Denac, V. Musil, I. Šmit, F. Ranogajec,“Effects of talc and gamma irradiation onmechanical properties and morphology of isotac-tic polypropylene/talc composites”, Polym.Degrad. Stabil. 2003, 82, 263.

B. Šorgiæ, A. Drašner, Ž. Blažina, “Structural andhydrogen sorption properties of RENI5-xAlx (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Y) alloys.”, J. AlloysComp. 2003, 356/357, 501)

N. Brnièeviæ, I. Bašic, B. Hoxha, P. Planiniæ, R.E.McCarley, “Molybdenum and Tungsten MethoxoClusters with Differently Bonded MethoxoGroups. Crystal Structure of[Na(CH3OH)5]2[Mo6(µ3-Br)8(OCH3)6]”, Polyhe-dron 2003, 22, 1553.

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OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

In 2003, the Division of Molecular Biologymade several major discoveries in basicresearch areas such as bacterial recombi-nation and translational control. The installa-tion of a new confocal microscope willexpand the scope of possible projects inmany of the research groups. The divisionwas responsible for the organization of thehighly successful Methodological Courses inBiology and Medicine. In recognition for herefforts as the head of the Molecular Genet-ics Laboratory, Vera Gamulin was awardedthe Croatian state prize for significant contri-butions to the development of molecularbiology research in Croatia.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Fidelity enhancement of RNA synthesisby small proteins

In collaboration with D. Soll’s group atYale University, I. Ahel discovered smallautonomous proteins which enhance thefidelity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis. Theseediting modules could represent a linkbetween the ancestral aminoacyl-tRNA syn-thetases and extant enzymes (I. Ahel et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2003, 100,15422).

ZMB

Division of MolecularBiology

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Ðurðica Ugarkoviæ

The Division of Molecular Biology (ZMB)consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory of Microbial Genetics, Erika Salaj-Šmic

Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Mirjana Petranoviæ

Laboratory for Molecular Genetics, Vera Gamulin

Laboratory for Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes, Miroslav Plohl

Gene Regulation Laboratory, Mary Sopta

Laboratory of Experimental Cancerology, Ivica Rubelj

Laboratory for Genotoxic Agents, Maja Osmak

Laboratory for Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, Branimir Jernej

Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Nikola Ljubešiæ

Laboratory for Chemical Biology, Volker Magnus

Laboratory for Biocenotic Investigation, Andrija Željko Lovriæ

http://www.irb.hr/str/zmg

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Interaction of two recombinational pathways

The first experimental proof for the possi-bility for enzymes derived from two inde-pendent recombinational pathways (recBCDand RecF) to functionally replace eachother, under certain conditions, wasobtained in the ZMB (I. Ivanèiæ-Baæe et al.,Genetics, 2003, 163, 485). The model whichexplains the interactions of these tworecombinational pathways was proposed bythe same authors.

New confocal microscopeThe microscopy infrastructure of the Divi-

sion was improved in 2003 by the installa-tion of a Leica confocal microscope (Figure1). It is planned to use this equipment toexpand an exciting new research area intro-duced by Igor Weber from the Max PlanckInstitute in Martinsried (Figures 2, 3, 4; I.Weber, Methods of Enzymology, 2003, 361,34).

Award to Vera GamulinThe Croatian State Award, the most pres-

tigious scientific recognition available in

Croatia, was presented this year to VeraGamulin, senior researcher at the Division ofMolecular Biology, for research on the genestructure of marine sponges and the bacte-ria Streptomyces rimosus. She is also rec-ognized as a pioneer of molecular biologyresearch in Croatia for her introduction ofrecombinant DNA technology into theresearch program at the Ruðer BoškoviæInstitute in 1982.

Biodiversity in CroatiaA large collaborative research project,

entitled “Biodiversity in Croatia: geneticcharacterization of autochthonous flora andfauna and economically important speciesand breeds” and involving 20 researchgroups from different institutions in Croatia,was initiated by the ZMB. This project iscoordinated by V. Gamulin and N. Tvrtkoviæ.

Novel initiative in educationTo improve the education in the field of

molecular biology in Croatia, the Method-ological courses in Biology and Medicinewere organized by the ZMB in collaboration

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Figure 1. Confocal microscope at the Divisionof Molecular Biology

Figure 2. Phagocytosis of opsonized yeast particlesby Dictyostelium amoebae tranfected with a protein

marker for endoplasmatic reticulum fused to GFP (green).

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with the Divisions of Molecular Medicine,Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, andMarine Research from the Ruðer BoškoviæInstitute. The courses were initiated andlead by A. Ambrioviæ-Ristov.

50 years of double helixTo mark the 50th anniversary of the dis-

covery of the DNA double helix and the 45th

anniversary of the commencement of molec-ular biology in Croatia, the ZMB (A. Ferle-Vidoviæ and E. Salaj-Šmic) organized a sym-

posium on November 20-21 at the RuðerBoškoviæ Institute. This symposium, entitled“45 years of Molecular Biology in Croatia -50 of Double Helix”, included notable inter-national contributions by D. Erlich, R. Lloyd,W. Mueller, M. Radman, W. Schaffner andH. Schwab.

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. The role of recombination in DNA repair andgenome stability, Erika Salaj-Šmic

2. Regulation of recombination and recombi-national repair, Mirjana Petranoviæ

3. Genes and genomes of evolutionarily con-served and economically important species,Vera Gamulin

4. Evolutionary dynamics of satellite DNAs,Ðurðica Ugarkoviæ

5. Organization of heterochromatic DNAsequences in invertebrates, Miroslav Plohl

6. Transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes,Mary Sopta

7. Molecular mechanisms of imortalization andcellular aging, Ivica Rubelj

8. Structure, function and regulation of plas-minogen serine proteases, Branko Brdar

9. Cell response to physical, chemical and bio-logical noxa, Maja Osmak

10. Molecular pathophysiology of serotonergictransmission, Branimir Jernej

11. Hydrodynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid,Darko Oreškoviæ

12. Structure and function of plastids andcytoskeleton, Nikola Ljubešiæ

13. Dynamics and genetics of bioactive mole-cules, Volker Magnus

14. Endemic and relict phytocenoses of Croatiaand their mycoflora, Andrija Željko Lovriæ

ZMB

Figures 3 and 4. Cell division of multinuclear mutantDictyostelium cells with deletion of a gene that codes

for the motor protein myosin II. Cortical proteins ofthe cytoskeleton (red) and microtubuli (green and

yellow) are labeled by immunofluorescence. Nucleiare labeled by DAPI (blue).

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Collaborative projects

1. Biodiversity in Croatia: genetic characteri-zation of autochthonous flora and fauna andeconomically important species and breeds,Gamulin V, Tvrtkoviæ, N – collaborative proj-ect, MZT, (2003-)

2. Usage of telomerase in revitalization of cellsand tissues in vitro and in vivo, Rubelj I- col-laborative project, MZT, (2003- )

3. Plant Hormones - Physiology, Biochemistryand Application, Magnus V- collaborativeproject, MZT, (2003- )

4. Biological response to damage, Osmak M –collaborative project, MZT (2003- )

5. Diazenes as potential anti-cancer drugs(2001-2003), Faculty of Chemistry andChemical Technology, University of Ljubl-jana, (Osmak M. and Polanc S), bilateralcollaboration

6. Human adenovirus type 5 retargeted onaminopeptidase (2002-2004) NATOScience Programme, Collaborative linkageGrant Nationale Veterinaire d’Alfort, France,Ambrioviæ-Ristov A. and Eloit M.

7. Functional characterization of the Xtc1 pro-tein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae,SCOPES Grant, Swiss National ScienceFoundation, Sopta, M. (IRB), Schaffner, W.(University of Zuerich, Institute for Molecu-lar Biology)

8. Effect of fibronilytic treatment in experimen-tal models of rheumatoid arthritis, SCOPESGrant, Swiss National Science Foundation,Brdar, B. (IRB), Busso, N. (Centre Hospital-ier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne)

9. Serotonin and immune functions: studies onrats after pharmacological and geneticmanipulations of serotonin homeostasis,Jernej, B. (IRB); Schauenstein, K (Institutefor General and Experimental pathology,Karl-Franzens University, Graz) bilateralproject

10. Studies on serotonin transporter gene struc-ture and expression in schizophrenia,Jernej, B.; Wildenauer, D.B (School ofMedicine, University of Bonn), bilateral proj-ect

11. Genetic studies on synaptic elements inhealthy population and psychiatric disor-ders, Jernej, B. (IRB), Bondy, B. (Neuro-chemistry Department, Psychiatric Hospital,University of Munich) bilateral project

12. Molecular enzymology and enzyme engi-neering of hydrolases, Vujaklija, D. (IRB),Schwab, H. (Graz University of Technology,Institute of Biotechnology) bilateral project

13. Comparative study of the distribution, struc-ture and evolution of satellite DNAsequences in the genome of root-knotnematodes in relation with their mode ofreproduction, Plohl, M. (IRB), Castagnone-Sereno, P. (INRA, Antibes, France)COGITO bilateral project

14. Role of RecBCD enzyme in cell viability,Salaj-Šmic, E. (IRB), Lloyd, R.G. (Universi-ty of Nottingham, Institute of Genetics): Aca-demic Links and Interchange Scheme(ALIS), British Council and MZT, Republic ofCroatia

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Ahel, I.; Korenèiæ, D.; Ibba, M.; Soll, D. Trans-editing of mischarged tRNAs. Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. U. S. A., 2003, 100, 15422-15427.

Ivanèiæ-Baæe, I.; Peharec, P.; Moslavac, S.; Škro-bot N.; Salaj-Šmic E.; Brèiæ-Kostiæ K. RecFORfunction is required for DNA repair and recombi-nation in a RecA loading-deficient recB mutant ofEscherichia coli. Genetics, 2003, 163, 485-494.

Hraniloviæ D, Štefulj J, Furaè I, Kubat M, Balija M,Jernej B. Serotonin transporter gene promoter(5-HTTLPR) and intron 2 (VNTR) polymorphismsin suicide victims of Croatian origin. BiologicalPsychiatry, 2003, 54, 884-889.

Ambrioviæ-Ristov A, Mercier S, Eloit M: Shorten-ing adenovirus type 5 fiber shaft decreases theefficiency of post binding steps in CAR-express-ing and non-expressing cells. Virology, 2003,312, 425-433.

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Bruvo B., Pons J., Ugarkoviæ Ð., Juan C., Petit-pierre E., Plohl M. Evolution of low-copy numberand major satellite DNA sequences coexisting intwo Pimelia species-groups (Coleoptera). Gene,2003, 312, 85-94.

Viguera E, Petranoviæ M, Zahradka D, GermainK, Ehrlich DS, Michel B. Lethality of bypass poly-merases in Escherichia coli cells with a defectiveclamp loader complex of DNA polymerase III.Mol. Microbiol., 2003, 50, 193-204. ZM

B

OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

The mission of the Division of MolecularMedicine is to expand and strengthen theknowledge of the nature of disease and todevelop and improve new strategies for thediagnosis, treatment and prevention of dis-ease. These goals are realized through theevaluation of the impact of genetic factors indisease prevention, the reduction of risk fac-tors, the development and evaluation of newdrugs, the exploration of the biochemicaland cellular effects of drugs on cells and liv-ing organisms, the improvement of scientificmethodology, and the education of scientistsand students.

The Division is currently developing sever-al strategic projects. These range from thedevelopment of gene therapy for useagainst cancer to new diagnostic andresearch tools based on transcriptomic andproteomic approaches, as well as tissue

ZMM

Division of MolecularMedicine

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: Krešimir Paveliæ

The Division of Molecular Medicine(ZMM) consists of the following laborato-ries:

Laboratory of cellular and molecular immunology, Mariastefania Antica

Laboratory of molecular oncology, Jasminka Paveliæ

Laboratory of molecular pathology, Koraljka Gall-Trošelj

Laboratory of experimental hematology, immunology andoncology, Jelka Gabrilovac

Laboratory of biological response modifiers, Tatjana Marotti

Laboratory of immunochemistry, Biserka Pokriæ

Laboratory of molecular endocrinology and transplantation, Mirko Hadžija

Laboratory for oxidative stress, Neven Žarkoviæ

Laboratory of molecular neuropharmacology, Danka Perièiæ

http://www.irb.hr/str/zmm

Laboratory of functional genomics, Marijeta Kralj

Laboratory of molecular virology and bacteriology, Magdalena Grce

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engineering for the purpose of therapeuticcloning. As such, the Division is emerging asa preeminent centre (centre of excellence),for research in molecular approaches to thestudy of disease, in south-eastern Europe.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Gene therapy of cancer

Our results have contributed to a betterunderstanding of the roles of the p53 andp21WAF1/CIP1 genes in the regulation of the cellcycle and apoptosis. Such understanding isnaturally of great importance for their futureapplication in gene therapy. We comparedthe relative antitumor activities of the p53and p21WAF1/CIP1 genes using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. In addition, we stud-ied their roles in the induction of apoptosisand evaluated the possibility of using themas therapeutic genes. (M. Kralj et al. CancerGene Ther., 2003, 10, 457).

New strategy for human gastric cancertherapy

A new approach, based on the blockageof the IGF family of genes, has been pro-posed for human gastric cancer therapy. We

discovered that the growth of gastric carci-noma cells that produce IGF 2 is regulatedby autocrine IGF-2-mediated stimulation ofthe IGF 1 receptor. The IGF 2/IGF 1R ismore pronounced in the aggressive diffusetype of cancer than the intestinal type. Theautocrine circuit can be completely interrupt-ed by using antibodies that prevent interac-tions between IGF 2 and one of its receptors(IGF 1R) (K. Paveliæ et al., J. Pathol., 2003,201, 430).

Mechanisms of antidepressant drugs

It has been shown that desipramine, anantidepressant drug that blocks the re-uptake of noradrenaline, affects the rate ofserotonin synthesis in the rat brain by anaction that is similar to the effects of otherantidepressants that selectively block the re-uptake of serotonin. (N. Pivac et al., Neu-rochem Int., 2003, 43, 611).

A powerful new technology

A powerful new technology has beenimplemented in the Division for global geneexpression analysis (DNA microarray) foruse in basic and applied research. In addi-tion to being able to analyze a whole

genome in as little as one week,this methodology allows, after thebiostatistical profiling of the rele-vant results, further study of spe-cific gene clusters as well as theanalysis of highly polymorphicmarkers. These latter two fea-tures are becoming extremelyimportant areas of research, intheir own right, in all fields ofmolecular medicine.

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Figure 1. The expression of p53 protein in human tumor cells before(left) and after (right) the introduction of p53 gene,

using adenoviral vectors.

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The establishment of the Laboratory ofFunctional Genomics

The Laboratory of Functional Genomicswas established and partially equipped in2003. In addition to facilitating the imple-mentation of functional genomics and pro-teomics methods, this laboratory isequipped to allow in vitro screening ofpotential antitumor compounds.

Megaproject Core

The establishment of “The center for inte-grative genomics, molecular diagnostics,and gene therapy”, worth 6 000 000 HRKand led by Krešimir Paveliæ and Dragan Pri-morac, has been recently approved.

Application to animal viruses

For the first time in Croatia, the restrictionenzyme analysis of the reverse transcrip-tion/polymerase chain reaction products ofviral genome segments was applied for thedifferentiation of field isolates of animalviruses. Infectious bursal disease virus is

responsible for the outbreak of the diseaseresulting in a significant economical loss inchicken production during a 5-year period.The results were applied for the design ofboth immunoprophylactic schedules andappropriate vaccines (I. Lijkiæ et al. AvianDis. 2003, 47, 59).

In vitro production of skin transplants

In vitro cultivation of human keratinocyteswithout feeder layer has been adopted andapplied as an experimental model for theinvestigation of cell differentiation. The pro-cedure for in vitro production of skin trans-plants for clinical application has been mas-tered.

New equipment

The Abi Prism 7000 Sequencing Detec-tion system apparatus, for gene expressionanalysis (real time PCR) has been imple-mented for basic and applied research. TheVarian Spectrophotofluorimeter CaryECLIPSE (VARIAN) was purchased with thefinancial help of the Croatian Ministry ofScience and Technology. This instrument is

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Figure 3. The Abi Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer

Figure 2. Laboratory of Functional Genomics

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used for the measurement of fluorescence,phosphorescence and bio/chemolumines-cence of various samples.

Education

Together with the Medical School at theUniversity of Zagreb, the ZMM established ajoint field of doctoral study in MolecularMedicine (http://bio.mef.hr/docs/Publication.pdf) intowhich the Division submitted 21 new cours-es for the Ph.D. study program. In addition,The Division introduced the novel method-ological course within the Ph.D. study pro-gram of Biomedicine and Health Sciencesentitled Science management: researchprojects and business plans in biomedicine.

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesisof neuroendocrine tumors, Koraljka Gall-Trošelj

2. Molecular genetics of gastrointestinaltumors, Sanja Kapitanoviæ

3. The SHH/PTCH/SMO signalling pathway incancer and development, Sonja Levanat

4. Role of FHIT in neuroendocrine tumors,Šime Križanac

5. Insulin-like growth factor family of genes inlung cancer, Ljubomir Paveliæ

6. New therapeutic possibilities in breast can-cer, Josip Unušiæ

7. Genetic and molecular prognostic factors ofcervical cancerogenesis, Magdalena Grce

8. Oxidative stress and malignant diseases,Neven Žarkoviæ

9. Gene or protein transduction and signallingpathways in transformed cells, Krešimir Paveliæ

10. Cxclooxygenase-2: new target for chemo-prevention and treatment of colon tumors,Radan Spaventi

11. Molecular mechanisms of immunosuppres-sion, Renata Novak

12. Modulation of immunological response bybioactive peptides, Biserka Pokriæ

13. Transcriptional control of lymphocyte devel-opment – its role in leukemogenesis, Mari-astefania Antica

14. Tumor gene therapy – correction of onco-suppressor genes, Jasminka Paveliæ

15. Virus antitumorous action and oncolyticvirus vaccine, Mislav Jurin

16. Embryonic cell production of pancreatic-likeislets, Mirko Hadžija

17. DNA chip technology in global profiling oftumors, Šime Spaventi

18. Nonlinear modulation of the chronic lym-phatic leukemia, Branko Vitale

19. Regulation of ectopeptidases and opioidreceptors expression, Jelka Gabrilovac

20. Oxidative/antioxidative status after treat-ment with opioids/opiates, Tatjana Marotti

21. Neuropharmacology of serotonergic sys-tem, Dorotea Mueck-Šeler

22. Neurotransmitters in stress and regulationof GABA-A receptors in vitro, Danka Perièiæ

23. Assessing functions of the heat repeat inHuntingtin protein, Oliver Vugrek

24. The effects of new drugs and hyperthermiaon the growth of mouse tumors and humanxenografts, Marko Radaèiæ

25. Specific immunotherapy and allergic dis-eases (Branimir Èvorišèec)

26. Epidemiology, diagnostics and therapy of H.pylori infection (Miroslava Katièiæ)

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Figure 4. Measurement of platelet serotonin concen-tration on Varian spectrophotofluorimeter

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Research and development projects

1. Development of new analgetic,antirheumatic and antioxidative substancesfrom pine resin, Neven Žarkoviæ (MZT,HITRA, TP-01/0098-28)

2. Production of skin transplants in vitro,Milivoj Boraniæ (MZT, HITRA (TP-01/0098-03)

3. snRNP U2 in lymphoid malignancies, Mariastefania Antica (International Office forBilateral Cooperation Bonn, Germany)

Other projects

1. Ecopropolis - natural antioxidant, TatjanaMarotti (BICRO)

2. Center for integrative genomics, moleculardiagnostics, cellular and gene therapy,Krešimir Paveliæ (Core)

SELECTED LECTURES

1. Pavelic K: Opinion on EMBO ResearchAwards and about European ResearchCouncil. Member of Preparative Workingparty for EMBC/EMBO on the Selection ofStrategic Working Party EMBC and LifeSciences in the European Research Coun-cil. The scientist’s opinion. FEBS, EMBOand UNESCO. Paris 18-19 February 2003,Paris, France

2. Pavelic K: Nanotechnology and MolecularMedicine. The 3rd European-AmericanSchool in Forensic Medicine and Mayo Clin-ic Course in Advanced Molecular and Cellu-lar Medicine, 1-5 September 2003, Zagreb,Croatia

3. Žarkoviæ, N: Oxidative stress, lipid peroxida-tion and 4-hydroxynonenal inexperimental neuropathology, Third Interna-tional Symposium on Normal and AbnormalDevelopment of the Human Fetal Brain,June 13-15, 2003, Zagreb, Croatia.

4. Žarkoviæ N: Biomedical relevance of lipidperoxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal, 39th

Congress of the Polish Biochemical Society,September 16-19, 2003, Gdansk, Poland.

CONFERENCES

1. 2nd EMBO Sectoral Meeting on MolecularMedicine, 19. – 22. June, 2003. Cavtat,Croatia. Organizers: European MolecularBiology Organization and Ruðer BoškoviæInstitute.

2. 43rd International Neuropsychiatric PulaSymposium, 18-21.06. 2003, Pula, Croatia.Satellite Symposium: “Biological markers ofpsychiatric diseases”. Organizers: RuðerBoškoviæ Institute and Croatian Pharmaco-logical Society (D. Mueck-Šeler and N.Pivac).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Review articles

Mueck-Šeler D. and Pivac N: Mirko Dikšiæ -Radiochemist and Neuroscientist. In: Herak J(ed) Distinguished Croatian Scientists in theWorld (Part II), Croatian-American Society,Zagreb, Croatia, 2003, pp 133-142.

Kralj M., Pavelic K., Medicine on a small scale:EMBO Reports , 2003, 4, 1008-1012.

Paveliæ J., Zeljko Ž., Herak-Bosnar M., Moleculargenetic aspects of prostate transition zonelesions. Urology, 2003, 62, 607-613.

Grdisa M., White M. K., Molecular and biochem-ical events during differentiation of HD3 chickenerythroblastic cell line, Review. Int. J. Biochem.Cell. Biology, 2003, 35, 422-431.

Žarkoviæ, N., 4-Hydroxynonenal as a bioactivemarker of pathophysiological processes. Mol.Asp. Med., 2003, 24, 281-91.

Vitale, B., Martinis, M., Antica, M., Kusic, B.,Rabatic, S., Gagro, A., Kusec, R., Jaksic, B.,Prolegomenon for chronic lymphocyticleukaemia [Review]. Scand. J. Immuno., 200358, 588-600.

ZMM

Additional publications

Paveliæ K., Kolak T., Kapitanoviæ S., RadoševiæS., Spaventi S., Krušlin B., Paveliæ J.: Gastriccancer: the role of insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF 2) and its receptors (IGF 1R and M6-P/IGF2R). J Pathol., 2003, 201, 430-438.

Kralj M., Husnjak K., Korbler T., Paveliæ J.:Endogenous p21WAF1/CIP1 status predicts theresponse of human tumor cells to wild-type p53and p21WAF1/CIP1 overexpression. Cancer GeneTher., 2003, 10, 457-467.

Pivac N., Mueck-Šeler D., Diksic M.: Effects ofdesipramine on regional serotonin synthesis ratein the rat brain: Acute and chronic autoradi-ographic studies Neurochem Int., 2003, 43, 611-619.

Lijkiæ I., Biðin Z., Pokriæ B.: Differentiation ofinfectious bursal disease viruses in Croatia.Avian Dis. 2003, 47, 59-65.

Perièiæ D., Swim stress inhibits 5-HT2A receptor-mediated head twitch behaviour in mice. Psy-chopharmacology, 2003, 167, 373-379.

Erster S., Slade N., Moll U. M., Mutational analy-sis of p53 in human tumors: direct DNA sequenc-ing and SSCP. Methods Mol. Biol., 2003, 234,219-30.

Dogan Koružnjak J., Grdiša M., Slade N., Zamo-la B., Paveliæ K., Karminski-Zamola G., Novelderivatives of benzo[b]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones:synthesis, photochemical synthesis, and antitu-mor evaluation. J Med. Chem., 2003, 46, 4516-24.

Šariæ T., Muller D., Seitz H. J., Paveliæ K., Non-covalent interaction of ubiquitin with insulin-degrading enzyme. Mol. Cell Endocrinol, 2003,204, 11-20.

Kowanetz K, Szymkiewicz I, Haglund K,Kowanetz M, Husnjak K, Taylor JD, SoubeyranP, Engstrom U, Ladbury J, Dikic I. Identificationof a novel proline-arginine motif involved inCIN85-dependent clustering of Cbl and down-regulation of EGF receptors. J. Biol. Chem.2003, 278, 39735-39746.

Schroeter E.H., Ilagan M.X.G., Brunkan A.L.,Hecimovic S., Li Y-M, Xu M., Lewos H.D., Saxe-na M.T., De Strooper B., Coonrod A., Tomita T.,Iwatsubo T., Moore C.L., Shearman M., GoateA., Wolfe M.S., Kopan R., A presenilin dimmer atthe core of the gamma-secretase enzyme:insights from parallel analysis of Notch 1 andAPP proteolysis. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA,2003, 100, 13075-13080.

Kušiæ, B., Dominis, M., Dzebro, S., Antica, M.,Molecular insight into the diagnosis of lym-phoma. Int. J. Mol. Med., 2003, 12, 667-71.

Miloševiæ, D., Batiniæ, D., Konjovoda, P., Blau.,N., Štambuk, N., Nižiæ, Lj., Vrljièak, K., Batiniæ,D., Analysis of calcium, oxalate, and citrate inter-action in idiopathic calcium urolithiasis in chil-dren. J. Chem. Informat. Comp. Sci., 2003, 43,1844-7.

Saboèanec, S., Balog, T., Šverko, V., Marotti, T.,Sex-dependent antioxidant enzyme activity andlipid peroxidation in ageing mouse brain. FreeRadical Res., 2003, 37, 743-8.

Antica, M., Kusic, B., Hranilovic, D., Dietz, AB.,Vuk-Pavlovic, S., Cloning the cDNA for murineU2 snRNP-A' gene and its differential expressionin lymphocyte development. Immunol. Let.,2003, 82, 217-223.

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OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION

During 2003, researchers from the divi-sion worked on over 50 research projectscontracted by the Ministry of Science andTechnology, as well as outside clients.These projects spanned a wide range of top-ics in marine and environmental science,ranging all the way from satellite oceanogra-phy, on the large scale, down to nanotech-nology, at the other extreme. Each projectwas designed to contribute to the overallmission of the division, which is to continueto strive for excellence in the fundamentaland applied research of environmental sys-tems, processes and states. In this way,ZIMO aims to make a significant contributiontowards achieving the optimal managementof the environment, for the benefit of ourcountry and, indeed, the whole world.

ZIM

ODivision of Marine andEnvironmental

Research

DIVISIONAL ORGANISATIONHead: until May 2003, Božena Æosoviæ,

from May 2003, Tarzan Legoviæ

The Division of Marine and EnvironmentalResearch (ZIMO) consists of the followinglaboratories:

Group for satellite oceanography, Milivoj Kuzmiæ

Group for modelling and information systems, Ivica Ružiæ

Laboratory for aquatic physicalchemistry, Božena Æosoviæ

Laboratory for radioecology,Stipe Luliæ

Laboratory for chemistry of trace metals, Goran Kniewald

Laboratory for electrochemistry and surface chemistry, Marijan Vukoviæ

Laboratory for biogeochemistry of organic compounds, Marijan Ahel

Laboratory for biological effects of metals, Biserka Raspor

Laboratory for molecular ecotoxicology, Sanja Krèa

http://www.irb.hr/str/zimo

Laboratory for aquaculture and fish pathology, Emin Teskeredžiæ

Laboratory for ecological modelling, Vera Žutiæ

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TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Electrochemistry CommunicationsAward 2003

The Electrochemistry Communi-cations Award 2003 for the best citedpaper in the year 2000 was presented,during Electrochem 2003 in South-ampton, to the authors of the publication:F. Scholz, Š. Komorsky-Lovric, M. Lovric"A new access to Gibbs energies of trans-fer of ions across liquid-liquid interfacesand a new method to study electrochemi-cal processes at well-defined three-phasejunctions", Electrochemistry Communi-cations, 2000, 2, 112. The full-text of theawarded paper is freely accessible via thejournal's homepage at http://www.elsevi-er.com./locate/elecom (see also, Electro-chemistry Communications 2003, 5).

Development of the Croatian FairwayInformation system

Further development of the Croatian Fair-way Information system was achievedthrough the creation of a vectorized digitalnavigation map for the Croatian segment ofthe Danube river.

A new electrochemical method

A novel application of electrochemistrywas used in the study of the surface activeproperties of organic matter in the NorthernAdriatic Sea. This method enabledresearchers, for the first time, to determinethe relative acidity of organic matter in sea-water and to distinguish between freshly

produced biogenic organic matter and themore refractive humic substances.

Comprehensive analysis of surfactantconcentrations

A comprehensive analytical approach forthe trace determination of anionic and non-ionic surfactants and their stable metabolicproducts using high-performance liquidchromatography (HPLC) and tandem massspectrometry (MS/MS) has been developed.The methods were applied to investigate thebiogeochemical behaviour of the target com-pounds in the highly stratified Krka estuaryand indicated a significant decrease of theconcentration of non-ionic surfactants, of thealkylphenol polyethoxylate type, during thelast decade.

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Figure 1. Above left: Software for Danube river navigation withreal-time signalization of depth. Above right: Temperature as an

indicator of currents from Ionean into the Adriatic sea. Belowleft: Filling the Adriatic map with variable-depth prisms to com-

pute currents and dispersion from coastal sources. Center:Acoustic Doppler current profiler anchored in a way that inter-ference from trawlers is negligible. Below right: Result of a 3-Dmodel to estimate deposition of particles from an aquaculture.

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Bacteria for waste disposal

Two bacterial communities expressingPolychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) transforma-tion activity have been found in laboratoryenrichment experiments from PCB pollutedsoils. In addition, substantial atrazine miner-alization activities of four bacterial communi-ties were found in enriched polluted soil andwastewater.

Evidence for drug resistance in mullets

The expression of multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) related tomRNA in the liver tissue isolated fromteleost red mullet (Mullus barbatus) hasbeen found. This novel partial cDNAsequence of red mullet represents the firstMRP-related sequence reported for anaquatic teleost fish species.

Uncovering the origins of historical artefacts

An investigation of the mineralogical andchemical characteristics of the Lamboglia 2amphorae, excavated from different under-water localities in the central Adriatic Seawas carried out. This study was used toresolve the origin of the raw materials, andconsequently, to indicate the probable loca-tion of historical production facilities.

The mesocosm experiment

In the context of a bilateral cooperationwith National Science Foundation (USA),ZIMO and CIM-Rovinj performed interactiveand simultaneous data collection andexchange for the mesocosm experiment(http://nereus.irb.hr/lem/theexperiment, S.Geèek, web-master, V. Svetlièiæ, scientificcoordinator)

Sustainable management of the AdriaticSea

The Extension of the Croatian jurisdictionin the Adriatic Sea was approved by theCroatian Parliament on October 3, 2003.This decision, in agreement with the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea, was

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Figure 2. Effects of heavy metals on organisms

Figure 3. Marine lake: Investigation of its unique properties

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based on the proof of overfishing and theneed for sustainable management present-ed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (LegoviæT. Croat. Int. Rel. Rev., 2003, 9, 35).

INVITED LECTURES

1. Horvat-Radoševiæ V., Electrochemicalimpedance spectroscopy of some noblemetal electrodes, 2003 Sofia ImpedanceDays, Central Laboratory of Electroche-mical Power Sources, Bulgarian Academyof Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2003.

2. Komorsky-Lovriæ Š. Voltammetric determi-nation of microparticles of cocaine andsome local anaesthetics immobilized on thegraphite electrode. 36th Heyrovsky Discus-sion: Electrochemistry of biological systemsand their models, Trešt, Check Republic,15. - 19. June 2003.

3. Legoviæ T., Graduate Environmental Mana-gement Study. 3rd National Conference onScience, Policy and the Environment: Edu-cation for Sustainable and Secure Future.Council of Environmental Deans and Direc-tors, Washington, USA, 1. Feb. 2003

4. Legoviæ T. Revisiting the Redfield ratio andmodelling the effects of a fish culture on amarine environment, Workshop on Integrat-ed Coastal Zone Management. AquaplanNiva, Tromso, 2. April 2003.

5. Omanoviæ D., Pižeta I and Branica M.,Pseudopolarography as a tool for character-ization of natural organic matter – metal

ions interactions, Séminaire de lancementdu Groupement de Recherche « Monal-isa » : 9 -10 Oct. 2003, Université de Toulonet du Var. La Garde, France

6. Svetlièiæ V., From microparticles to giantgels of northern Adriatic, 13th Balkan Bio-chemical Biophysical Days, Kusadasi,Turkey, 11-13. October, 2003.

ORGANIZED CONFERENCES

1. 8th Meeting of the Laboratories accreditedfor water analysis, Rovinj, March 11-14,2003 Oceanographic Workshop (B. Raspor)

2. Workshop on the Content of the StrategicEnvironmental Impact Assessment - DružbaAdria, Ministry of Environmental Protectionand Physical Planning, Zagreb, 28.04.2003(T. Legoviæ)

3. Rovinj 2003 Experiment, Northern AdriaticMesocosm, International Workshop, RudjerBoškoviæ Institute, Rovinj, 11-13 August,2003 (Vera Žutiæ)

4. Aquaculture, Coastal Management andEnvironmental Impact, Croatian - Norwe-gian, Workshop, Vodice, October 1 - 5,Croatia (B. Æosoviæ)

5. Rovinj Oceanographic Workshop, Office ofNaval Research International Field Office,Rovinj, 7-9 October 2003 (M. Kuzmiæ, H.Perkins, R. Signell)

6. Biogeochemical Processes in AnoxicMarine Environments, Croatian-BritishWorkshop, Zagreb, January, 17- 20. 2004(I. Cigleneèki - Jušiæ)

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Tidal and longer-period dynamics of thenorthern Adriatic, Milivoj Kuzmiæ

2. Analysis and biogeochemistry of organiccompounds in the aquatic environment,Marijan Ahel

3. Physical chemistry and biogeochemistry oftrace metals in aquatic systems, Marko Branica

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Figure 4. Monitoring fish health and assessment ofenvironmental effects

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4. Nature and reactivity of organic substancesin marine and environment,Božena Æosoviæ

5. Electroanalytical research in liquid and solidelectrolytes, Milivoj Lovriæ

6. Models and info. systems for environmentalprotection and navigation management,Ivica Ružiæ

7. Protection of biocoenotic balance in aqua-culture receiving waters, Emin Teskeredžiæ

8. Preparation and properties of metal sur-faces in the environmental protection, Marijan Vukoviæ

9. Interfacial processes and eutrophication,Vera Žutiæ

10. Radionuclides in environmental systems,Delko Barišiæ

11. Metals and cellular biomarkers,Biserka Raspor

12. Persistent organohalogen pollutants insome coastal area of Dalmatia, Mladen Picer

13. Geochemistry of recent and ancient sedi-mentary systems of the Adriatic platform,Goran Kniewald

14. Modelling aquatic ecosystems, Tarzan Legoviæ

15. Microbial communities as catalysts in bio-transformation processes, Dubravka Hršak

16. Multixenobiotic resistance mechanism as abiomarker of environmental quality, Tvrtko Smital

Selected research and development projects

1. Treatment of wastewaters using membranetechniques (HITRA), Ivan Mijatoviæ andMarijan Ahel

2. Conceptual model for biological treatmentof effluents from atrazine production(HITRA), Dubravka Hršak

3. Development of new type of electrochemi-cal sensor and measurement system forreactive microparticles (HITRA), Vera Žutiæ

4. Nano-systems and nano-tecnology (Therole of enzymes in the formation of inorgan-ic colloids), Croatia-Slovenia CollaborationProject (Ivan Sondi)

5. Reduction of environmental risks, posed byEmerging Contaminants, through advanced

treatment of municipal and industrialwastes, EMCO (EU-FP6) (M. Ahel)

6. Sava River Basin: Sustainable Use, man-agement and Protection of Resources. EUFP6-2002-INCO-WBC-1. (B. Raspor, Coor-dinator of WP3)

7. Environmental sono-electroanalysis: man-ganese speciation and determination, TheRoyal Society, 2003-2005. (Š. Komorsky-Lovriæ and R. Compton, Oxford University).

8. Monitoring of Dunav water quality, CroatianWater Management, 2003 ( S. Luliæ)

9. Radiological monitoring around Krško,Nuclear Power Plant Krško, Slovenija (S.Luliæ)

10. Assessment of selected POPS in theatmosphere and water ecosystems fromwaste materials generated by warfare in thearea of former Yugoslavia (APOPSBAL) (M.Picer)

11. MONALISA, The role of natural organicmatter in speciation of bioavailable contam-inants in coastal waters, French-CroatianCooperation, (G. Kniewald)

12. Mechanism of mucilage formation in theNorthern Adriatic Sea, Bilateral Cooperationproject with NSF, USA, Scripps Institution ofOceanography, UCSD (V. Žutiæ),

13. Ecosystem Approach for Sustainable Aqua-culture, ECASA, EU-FP6-2003 (T. Legoviæ)

14. Croatian national monitoring programme(M. Ahel, B. Æosoviæ, M. Kuzmiæ, D. Hršak,M. Picer, B. Pivèeviæ, B. Raspor, E.Teskeredžiæ, V. Žutiæ)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Reference laboratory (B. Æosoviæ, Z.Kozarac, D. Hršak, B. Raspor)

2. An integrated environmental monitoringsystem for Croatian freshwater, estuarineand coastal marine areas. Croatian-Norwe-gian International project (Coordinators:Hylland, Ketil, B. Raspor, S. Britviæ, B.Hackenberger, G. Klobuèar)

3. Digital navigational charts for the riverDunav. Ministry of Seafare and Traffic.Cooperation with the European programCOMPRIS and Regional Project D4D (I.Ružiæ)

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4. Development of control system with naviga-tional signs at the river Dunav. Incooperation with KOMTEH, Zagreb andMinistry of Seafare, Traffic and Connections(I. Ružiæ)

5. Arrival of AFM equipment to the depart-ment. It is expected that the equipment, sofar the first in Croatia, will be applied inresearch activities ranging from life- tomaterial science. (V. Svetlièiæ, V. Žutiæ).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Legoviæ T. (Editor), ISEM The third EuropeanEcological Modelling Conference, EcologicalModelling Journal, 2003, 170, 170-490.

Svetlièiæ V, Hoziæ A. (Editors.) Rovinj 2003Experiment, Northern Adriatic Mesocosm:Experimental Data. Rudjer Boskovic Institute,Zagreb, 2003, ISBN 953-6690-46-2.

Bermanec V., Furiæ K., Rajiæ M., Kniewald G.,Thermal stability and vibrational spectra of thesheet borate tuzlaite, NaCa(B5O8(OH)2)x3H2O.American mineralogist. 2003, 88, 271-276.

Cigleneèki I., Plavšiæ M., Vojvodiæ V., Æosoviæ B.,Pepi M., Baldi F. Mucopolysaccharide transfor-mation by sulfide in diatom culture and naturalmucilage. Marine Ecology Progress Series.2003, 263, 17-27.

Franèiškoviæ-Bilinski S., Bilinski H., Vdoviæ N.,Balagurunathan Y., Dougherty E. R. Applicationof Image-based Granulometry to Siliceous andCalcareous Estuarine and Marine Sediments.Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. 2003, 58,227-239.

Komorsky-Lovriæ Š., Vukašinoviæ N., Penovski R.Voltammetric determination of micro particles ofsome local anaesthetics and antithusics immo-bilised on the graphite electrode. Electroanaly-sis. 2003, 15 , 544-547.

Lovriæ M., Scholz F. Modelling cyclic voltammo-grams of simultaneous electron and ion transferreactions at a conic film three-phase electrode.Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry. 2003,540, 89-96.

Malej, A., Mozetiè, P., Turk, V., Terziæ, S., Ahel,M., Cauwet, G. Changes in particulate and dis-solved organic matter in nutrient-enriched enclo-sures from an area influenced by mucilage: thenorthern Adriatic Sea. Journal of PlanktonResearch. 2003, 25, 949-966.

Mlakar, M. Determination of trace ytterbium bycathodic stripping voltammetry. Electroanalysis.2003, 15, 27-35.

Omanoviæ D., Branica M. Pseudopolarographyof trace metals. Part 1. The automatic ASVmeasurements of reversible electrode reactions.Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry. 2003,543, 83-92.

Pižeta I., Billon G., Fischer J-C., Wartel M. Solidmicroelectrodes for in situ voltammetric meas-urements. Electroanalysis. 2003, 15, 1389-1396.

Plavšiæ M. Electroanalytical techniques appliedfor studying the interaction of organic matter andparticles with metal ions in natural waters. Ana-lytical Letters. 2003, 36, 143-157.

Smital T., Sauerborn R. and Hackenberger K.B.Inducibility of the multixenobiotic resistancemechanism (MXR) transport activity in themarine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and thefreshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha.Aquatic Toxicol. 2003, 65, 443-465.

Sondi I., Goia V.Dan, Matijeviæ E. Preparation ofHighly Concentrated Stable Dispersions of Uni-form Silver Nanoparticles. Journal of Colloid andInterface Science. 2003, 260, 75-81.

Tomec M., Teskeredžiæ Z., Teskeredžiæ E. Foodand nutritive value of gut contents of rudd (Scar-dinius erythrophtalmus L.) from Lake Vrana,Cres Island, Croatia. Czech Journal of AnimalScience. 2003, 48, 28-34.

Zeliæ M., Lovriæ M. The influence of electrolyteconcentration on the parameters of the Frumkinisotherm in the Cd2+ - I- system. Journal of Elec-troanalytical Chemistry. 2003, 541, 67-76.

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OVERVIEW OF THE CENTER

Project JadranThe Ruðer Boškoviæ Institute (RBI), and

in particular the Center for Marine Research(CIM), is responsible for coordinating thenational monitoring and research aspects ofthe project “Jadran”. In 2003 CIM enhancedthe level of cooperation among various inter-est groups and continued to contribute to thefulfilment of Croatia’s international obliga-

tions concerning environmental protection.This project potentially represents an impor-tant basis for the regional initiative, recom-mended by the Croatian-Italian-Sloveniantrilateral commission for the protection of theAdriatic, of establishing a permanentobserving system (Coordinated AdriaticObserving System - CAOS), suitable forfuture marine research in the Adriatic. Theinternational projects ADRICOSM (2002-2004) and MAT (1999-2003) are closelylinked with the project “Jadran”.

Maritime Forecasting systemThe project “ADRICOSM,” an internation-

al collaboration between Italy, Croatia andSlovenia, has put in place, for the first time,a near real-time maritime forecasting systemfor the Adriatic Sea. The basis for this mod-elling and predictive forecast system has, asone of its sources, a recent high resolutionoceanographic study of the north-easternAdriatic conducted by RBI-CIM in the westIstrian coastal region (Figure 1: Circulationpattern). Previously unknown details of cir-culation patterns have been revealed andthe subsequent establishment of a link tometeorological conditions is expected toprovide a basis for a future rapid marineforecast and management system.

CIMCenter for Marine

Research

DEPARTMENT ORGANISATIONHead: Nenad Smodlaka

The Center for Marine Research (CIM)consists of the following laboratories:

Laboratory for ecology and systematics, Ana Travizi

Laboratory for processes in the marine ecosystem, Danilo Degobbis

Laboratory for ecophysiology and toxicology, Èedomil Lucu

Laboratory for marine molecular toxicology, Renato Batel

Laboratory for ecotoxicology, Bartolo Ozretiæ

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Mucilage eventsIn the framework of the project “MAT”

(Mucilage phenomenon in the Adriatic andTyrrhenian seas), numerous Italian andthree Croatian research groups studied(field and laboratory work) the processes,mechanism and consequences of themucilage events. CIM coordinated the Croa-tian research units and participated in thecoordination activities of the entire project. Amajor part of the results obtained will be

published in a special issue of The Scienceof Total Environment. The occurrence of amucilage event in the northern Adriatic dur-ing summer 2003 (Figure 2 - mucilaginouscloud, 14 July, 20 km off the Po River delta)was monitored in real time, comparison withlaboratory data was made as well studies ofthe consequences of the event on theecosystem.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Invasive seaweed effects Caulerpa taxifolia is known to out-com-

pete native seaweeds and seagrasses, dis-place invertebrate communities, and seri-ously reduce species abundance and diver-sity of benthic habitats. Formation anddevelopment of a specific epibionthic com-munity whose appearance and existenceare closely linked to the establishment andmaintenance of C. taxifolia settlement, hasbeen described.

New nematoda speciesFree-living Nematoda species, new to

science, were discovered in the northernAdriatic Sea at depths of 4-47 m and in var-ious sediment types. In particular, two newspecies of the genus Metacyatholaimuswere described as can be seen in theaccompanying key.

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Figure 1. Circulation pattern

Figure 2. Mucilaginous cloud, 14 July, 20 kmoff the Po River delta

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Fast genotoxicity biomonitoringStudies of the Fast Micromethod® and its

applicability for the measurement of theDNA integrity of small samples for genotoxi-city assessment (biomonitoring), the effectsof genotoxins on lower marine taxa or ses-sile invertebrates in the marine environment(e.g. sponges, mussels), and the estimationof directional changes and harmful effects in

the ecosystem, has been assessed. Investi-gations using flow cytometry have shown itto be a powerful technique for the determi-nation of alterations in cell cycle characteris-tics in mussel hemocyte DNA (Figure 5).

Proapoptotic stress responseStudies of KRS_SD induction, its phos-

phorylation and proteolytical cleavage dur-ing TBT stress suggest that in sponge cellsthere exists a mechanism similar to thatpresent in human cells where KRS/MST pro-tein kinase is involved in promotion of apop-tosis following oxidative stress (Figure 6).

Lobster osmoregulatory capacityThe osmoregulatory capacity of the com-

mercially important northern Adriatic lobsterHomarus gammarus was investigated.Under extreme conditions, the natural lob-ster population living in the northern Adriaticcoastal areas can be exposed to low salinewaters for short periods. For the first timeunder laboratory conditions, the enzymecarbonic anhydrase was found to be activat-ed in the tissues responsible for respirationand osmoregulation, following the adapta-tion of lobsters to dilute seawater concentra-tions.

INVITED LECTURES

Èedomil Lucu: Physiological adaptive mecha-nisms of organisms in marine and brackish waterenvironment. Na,K-ATPase and carbonic anhy-drase. Universite degli Studi di Firenze, Diparti-mento di Chimica, Consorzio per lo Svillupo deiSistemi a Grandi Interfasi. Florence, 28 February2003.

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Figure 3. Metacyathlaimus papillatussp.nov. Male, total view

Figure 4. Metacyatholaimus adriaticus sp.nov, Male, total view

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Systematic research of the Adriatic Sea asa base for sustainable development of theRepublic of Croatia, project “Jadran” Croat-ian national monitoring programme, Direc-tor Nenad Smodlaka.

2. Mechanism of long-term changes in theAdriatic Sea ecosystem, Danilo Degobbis

3. Programmed biosynthesis and genotoxic risk assessments, Renato Batel

4. Physiological and biochemical indicators oftoxicological stress in marine biota, Bartolo Ozretiæ

5. Ecophysiological studies and stressresponse in marine organisms,Èedomil Lucu

Other projects

1. Mineral composition and stabile isotopes inshellfish shells as pollution indicators,Davorin Medakoviæ (bilateral collaborationwith Slovenia)

2. Regional collaboration in environmentalmonitoring and forecasting in the northernAdriatic Sea, Nenad Smodlaka (quadrilater-al collaboration with U.S.A., Italy and Slove-nia)

3. Adriatic Sea integrated coastal areas andriver basin management system pilot proj-

CIM

Figure 5. M. galloprovincialis DNA profiles of mussel hemocytes encountered in flow cytometric analysis: (A)normal DNA profile, normal sample 2 N peak used in statistical comparison of CV values lower then 8 %, (B) DNA

profiles with CV values greater then 8 % (C) DNA profiles with aneuploid peak before 2 N peak, (D) apoptoticDNA profile, (E) asymmetric 2 N peak. F1-F5: other altered DNA profiles occurred in hemocytes of

mussel natural populations.

Figure 6. Alignment of C-terminal regions of sponge and human MST homologues (MST-1/KRS-2, accessionnumber Q13043, MST-2/KRS-1, accession number Q13188). Caspase-3 recognition sites are underlined.

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ect (ADRICOSM), Nenad Smodlaka(quadrilateral collaboration with Italy,France and Slovenia)

4. Progetto di monitoraggio e studio dellemucillagini nell’Adriatico e nel Tirreno(MAT), Danilo Degobbis (bilateral collabora-tion with Italy)

5. Molekulare Biotechnologie und Wirkstoffemariner Schwaemme sowie Schwamm-assoziierter Mikroorganismen (Biotec-Marin), Project: Schwaemme aus Rovinj(Kroatien) – Extractbereitstellung undMarikultur, Renato Batel (bilateral collabora-tion with Germany)

6. Biosensor methods for the assessment ofthe effects pollution, Renato Batel (bilateralcollaboration with Germany)

7. Mechanism of mucilage formation in thenorthern Adriatic Sea: A component ofCREICO (Cooperative research on ecologi-cal interactions in the coastal ocean, NSF),Vera Žutiæ (quadrilateral collaboration withU.S.A., Italy and Slovenia)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Bihari, N., Mièiæ, M., Batel, R., Zahn, R.K. Flowcytometric detection of DNA cell cycle alterationsin hemocytes of mussels (Mytilus galloprovin-cialis) off the Adriatic coast, Croatia. Aquat. Tox-icol. 2003, 64, 121-129.

Fafanðel, M., Müller, W.E.G., Batel, R. Molecularresponse to TBT stress in marine spongeSuberites domuncula: proteolytical cleavage andphosphorylation of KRS_SD protein kinase. J.Exper. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 2003, 297, 239-252.

Jakšiæ, Ž., Batel, R DNA integrity determinationin marine invertebrates by Fast Micromethod®.Aquat. Toxicol. 2003, 65, 361-376.

Lucu, È., Towle, D. Na,K-ATPase in gills ofaquatic crustacea. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.,2003, 135, 195-214.

Luèiæ, D., Njire, J., Moroviæ, M., Precali, R., Fuks,D., Bolotin, J. 2003. Microzooplankton in theopen waters of the northern Adriatic Sea from1990 to 1993: the importance of copepod naupliidensities. Helgol. Mar. Res., 2003, 57, 73-81.

Pavièiæ-Hamer, D., Devescovi, M., Lucu, È. Acti-vation of carbonic anhydrase in tissues of thelobster Homarus gammarus by dilute seawaterexposure. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 2003, 287, 79-92.

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OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT

In 2003, CIR focused on applied scienti-fic and technological research as well asInformation and Computer Technology (ICT)advancement. The center was heavilyinvolved in software implementation anddevelopment as well as the advancement ofcomputer usage in scientific work(e-Science technology). Further develop-ment was carried out in the areas of detec-tion theory, modern network technology and

distributed computing, cluster computing,and GRID systems.

The CIR played an important role in thedevelopment and maintenance of the Insti-tute’s computational infrastructure. In partic-ular, services such as server park for infor-mation services, numerical cluster computa-tion, printing, plotting, e-mail and internetaccess were provided. The Institute’s localarea network and associated equipment,which connects computers throughout thewhole Institute, was also under the auspicesof CIR, Figure 2.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Development of new technologies andequipment

New design, implementation and testingof the new hybrid fiber optical cable formonomodal and multimodal optical signaltransmissions which is now in production inELKA d.d.Research and development of the freespace laser communication equipment formetropolian area networks was undertakenand the successes presented (E. Wendling,K. Skala, 26th International MIPRO Conven-tion), Figure 3.

CIRCenter for Informatics

and Computing

ORGANISATION OF THE CENTERHead: Karolj Skala

The Center for Informatics and Computing(CIR) consists of the following sections:

The optoelectronics and hypermedia laboratory, Karolj Skala

Information and Computer Technology research and development, Zorislav Šojat

Information systems, Neven Kmetiæ

Service and maintenance,Ratko Mileta

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Infrastructure improvementsCIR planned and implemented the campusgigabit Ethernet optical and wirelesscomputer network. The existing distributed

computing infrastructure was also improvedand the enhancements in cluster computingwere constantly provided.

New software

CIR designed the software for the WebContent Management Systems as well asfor pilot wireless LAN applications, both onland and at sea (K. Skala et al., Retrospec-tive of distributed media server technology,Intelligent Media Communications, KluwerLtd. 2003, 317. D. Kolariæ et al., Proceed-ings ELMAR, 2003, 345).

Project initiatives

CIR started the CRO GRID national proj-ect initiative and completed the negotiationsfor the European project SEE-GRID as part

of the Sixth Framework Program. The goalof this project is to combine with other Euro-pean countries, in the context of pan-Euro-pean and worldwide Grid initiatives, in orderto establish e-Science technologies.

CONFERENCES AND SPORTING EVENTSCIR organized the annual conference Hyper-

media and Grid Systems within the InternationalConvention MIPRO in Opatija. The traditionalyearly gathering of scientist sailors from theUniversity and Institutes at the University sailingregatta was also staged by CIR in Zadar, Adriat-ic coast.

PROJECTS

Supported by Ministry of Science and Tech-nology (MZT) and European Union (EU)Coordinator of the projects: Karolj Skala

Scientific project in Applied Science1. Stohastic Source Detection and distributed

information processing (2002-2005).

Technological projects1. Free space laser optical communications, 2. CRO GRID Infrastructure, 3. CRO GRID Applications, STRIP,4. Campus Local Area computer network proj-

ect and realization.

Information technology project1. Remote monitoring and control of Cluster

computers.

International projects1. COST-276 “Information and Knowledge

Management for Integrated Media Commu-nication”.

2. Joint project with the Institute for SoftwareScience from the University of Vienna, Aus-tria: “Development of New Grid Technolo-gies for Advanced Scientific and Engineer-ing Application”.

CIR

Figure 1. Young CIR staff, mean age 32

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3. Grid Enabled Infrastructure Development,SEE GRID, EU F6, con. no. 002356

4. Joint project with the Faculty of Education ,University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia:“Visual Interface Development using Multi-media technologies and Intelligent Agents”.

COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS

1. Institute for Software Science of the Univer-sity of Vienna, Austria

2. Long-term contract for collaboration in thefield of GRID technology, Ericsson - NikolaTesla, Zagreb

3. Collaboration agreement for the transfer ofGRID computing technology, HEP, Zagreb

4. Collaboration contract for fiber-optic net-work development, ELKA, Zagreb

5. Memorandum of joint ICT development,SRCE, Zagreb

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Skala, K., Zelenika, H., Nikoliæ, I. Retrospectiveof distributed media server technology, IntelligentMedia Communications, editor Mohamed Najim,Kluwer Ltd., London, 2003, 317-330.

Wendling, E., Skala, K. Free Space Optical LinkTowards Remote Cluster, 26th International Con-vention MIPRO, Hypermedia and Grid SystemsConference Proceedings HGS, 2003, 173-177.

Kolariæ, D., Dubraviæ, A., Skala, K. Determinationof the Space characteristics of the Flame inVideo Signal, Proceedings ELMAR 2003, 2003,345-349.

Žiha, K., Stankoviæ, T., Pavkoviæ, N., Skala, K.Handling Engineering Design Experience, Pro-ceedings of 25th Int. conf. Information TechnologyInterfaces, ITI, 2003, 287-291.

Skala, K. Optoelektronièki sustavi, University textbook, ISBN 953-6564-07-6, 2003.

CIR

Figure 3. Free space optical communication linkdeveloped in CIR in cooperation with LAIR

(project HITRA)

Figure 2. Local area network active equipment

OVERVIEW OF THE CENTER The International Opening of the NMR

center, the first and only academic NMRfacility in Croatia, took place in October2003. Since this time, extensive serviceshave been provided for scientists andresearchers from the Ruðer Boškoviæ Insti-tute, from the Universities of Zagreb, Rijeka,Split and Osijek, as well as governmentaland industrial institutions. Research work atthe NMR center includes bioorganic andpharmaceutical chemistry as well as theo-retical calculations of structure and spectralparameters. Investigations of small pep-tides, gels and isotope effects are also inprogress. The center was also involved inundergraduate and graduate studies of theUniversities of Zagreb and Osijek. The cen-ter’s equipment includes 300 and 600 MHzNMR spectrometers manufactured by Bruk-er Avance.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTSSmall active peptide fragments

Investigations of small peptide fragmentswhich are able to mimic, and even

supercede, the activity of the whole peptidefrom which they are derived, were undertak-en in the center in 2003. A detailed under-standing of this phenomenon requires thedetermination of subtle sense-antisenseinteractions between short peptide frag-ments with five to thirteen amino acids. Fur-thermore, it is neccesary to perform suchanalysis both in solution, via NMR spec-troscopy, and in the gas phase, via massspectrometry (N. Štambuk et al., to be pub-lished).

PROJECTSCooordinator of the projects: Dražen Vikiæ-Topiæ

Domestic and international projects1. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Calcula-

tions of Bioorganic Molecules2. Multi-Dimensional NMR Spectroscopy of

Biomolecules, Austrian-Croatian project

Technological projects1. Plant Terpenes and Lignin as Natural Sub-

strates for Biosythesis of Anticancer andIndustrial Intermediates, EUREKA project.

Information technology projects1. Web Server with Individual Approach to

Data Base and Separated Local Networkwith Applications for Providing Services toNMR

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Center for NuclearMagnetic Resonance

Head of center: Dražen Vikiæ-Topiæ

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Contract with industry1. Collaboration Contract with BELUPO d. d.

Pharmaceutical Industry, 2003-2004

International collaborations1. Institute of Chemistry, Johannes Kepler

University, Linz, Austria2. National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova

19, Ljubljana, Slovenia3. Faculty of Science, Masaryk University,

Brno, The Czech Republic4. Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester,

MN, USA

ORGANIZATION OF INTERNATIONALCONFERENCES AND COURSES

1. Opening of the NMR Center and FT EPRFacility at Ruðer Boškoviæ Institute and TheSecond International DU NMR Conference,Zagreb, October 20-22, 2003

2. The 2nd Central European Chemical Meet-ing, Varaždin, June 19-21, 2003

3. Summer School on Biomolecular Structureand Dynamics - Advances in NMR andComputational Methods, Otoèec, Slovenia,June 22-29, 2003

4. The 18th Dubrovnik International Course &Conference on the Interfaces among Math-ematics, Chemistry and ComputerSciences, Dubrovnik (IUC), July 23-28, 2003

5. The Fourth International DubrovnikNMR Course and Conference, DUNMR 2003, Dubrovnik (IUC), June28-July 1, 2003

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Ž. Mariniæ, M. Æuriæ, D. Vikiæ-Topiæ and Lj.Tušek-Božiæ: Assignment of 1H and 13C NMRData for Diethyl 2- and 8-Quinolylmethylpho-sphonates and their Palladium(II) Dihalide Com-plexes. Magn. Reson. Chem. 2003, 41, 969-973.

A. Višnjevac, B. Kojiæ-Prodiæ, M. Vinkoviæ, K. Mli-nariæ-Majerski: Dispiro [Adamantane 2,2´-1´,3´,6´,9´,11´,14´-Hexathiacyclohexadecane-10´,2”-Aadamantane]. Acta Cryst. C., 2003, 59,314-316.

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Figure 1. The NMR operators room with a view on300 MHz NMR magnet

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Figure 2. The staff of NMR center with a 600 MHz NMR magnet

Library

http://library.irb.hr

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LIB

OVERVIEW OF LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

As the largest scientific library in the field ofnatural sciences in Croatia, the holdings of theInstitute’s library cover the fields of physics,mathematics, electrical engineering, chem-istry, biology, medicine, environmental, andmarine sciences.

The Library’s book collection amounts tosome 33000 volumes, 500 of which werenewly acquired in 2003. The total number ofavailable journal volumes is nearly 40000. Aselectronic access to information and journalarticles increased significantly in 2003, thejournal acquisition model was rather complex.It consisted of:

- 96 printed and electronic journalsfunded by the RBI

- 251 printed journals funded by Ministry of Science and Technology (MZT)

- 7530 electronic journals funded by MZTvia consortia agreements with major sci-entific publishers

- 6715 electronic journals provided through cooperation with University Library of Regensburg and their collaborative project Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek EZB.

The access to the relevant bibliographic andfull-text databases was provided through thecenter for online databases(http://baze.irb.hr), maintained by the RBILibrary for the academic and research com-munity in Croatia. Databases such as CurrentContents, Medline, Inspec, PsycInfo, EI Vil-lage, Web of Science (WoS) and others areaccessible on a regular basis.

The RBI Library has a well established inter-library loan service with Croatian and foreignlibraries. Last year it fulfilled approximately700 requests for documents made by RBImembers, and over 1200 requests from otherlibraries. To help our users, and other libraries,to obtain printed and electronic documentsfaster and more easily, we developed a sys-tem (SEND) for managing loans through aweb interface.

In addition, the library’s extremely popularweb portal, with more than 2500 web pages,received over 1400 visits per day and wasregularly maintained throughout the year.

Head of Library: Jadranka Stojanovski

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TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

Croatian Scientific Bibliography (CROSBI)

The new version of CROSBI(http://bib.irb.hr), which collects and publiclyreleases data about scientific papers result-ing from research projects financed by theMZT, was released in 2003. CROSBI hasnow evolved into a comprehensive bibliog-raphy and collection, with over 100000records covering all scientific publications inCroatia.

The EJOL project

EJOL (http://ejol.irb.hr) is the newestproduct of the RBI Library. The main goal ofthis project is to provide access to electron-ic journals through a single interface. Uponits creation, the database enabled access tothe full text of more than 7000 journals, andis currently enjoying a rapid expansion.

The SEND project

SEND (http://send.irb.hr) is the electronicdocument ordering system for interlibrary

loans. Fully developed inside the library, thesystem was designed to facilitate documentordering by users, to improve the manage-ment and processing of requests, and toprovide comprehensive statistical reports.

SELECTED LECTURES

1 Konjeviæ, S. Croatian Scholarly Journals onthe Web // EURASLIC 10 “Smooth Sailing:Crossing the Boundaries in AquaticSciences Information Management”. Kiel,Germany, 7-9 May 2003

2. Melinšèak Zlodi, I.; Melinšèak M.OAI@AKM // Archives, Libraries, Museums2003. Rovinj, Croatia, 24-26 November2003

3. Pažur, I. Electronic Journals – Catch them ifyou Can // Croatian Academic and SpecialLibraries Conference “Don’t shoot the librar-ian - how others see us” Faculty of Electri-cal Engineering and Computing, Universityof Zagreb, Croatia, 8-9 November 2003

4. Stojanovski, J. Croatian Academic and Spe-cial Library Web Sites: an Analysis of Con-tent // Libraries in the Digital Age LIDA 2003.Dubrovnik, Mljet, Croatia, 26-30 May 2003.

Figure 1. CROSBI Interface

Figure 2. EJOL Homepage

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CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION

The Croatian academic and special libraries con-ference of 2003 entitles “Don’t shoot the librarian- how others see us?” was organized by the Insti-tute’s library at the faculty of engineering andcomputing, Zagreb University, Zagreb, from 8 - 9November 2003.

PROJECTS

Projects supported by the Ministry ofScience and Technology (MZT)

1. Croatian Scientific Bibliography CROSBI(Jadranka Stojanovski)

2. Croatian Scientific Information System –Natural Sciences (Jadranka Stojanovski)

3. Online Databases Center (Jadranka Stojanovski)

4. Who is Who in Science in Croatia (Jadranka Stojanovski)

5. EJOL Electronic Journals Online Library(Ivana Pažur and Sofija Konjeviæ)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Konjeviæ, S. Hrvatski znanstveni èasopisi naInternetu, Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske, 46,(2003) 3-4, 111-118.

Melinšèak Zlodi, I. Elektronièki arhivi – revolucijau pristupu znanstvenim informacijama? 6. semi-nar Arhivi, knjižnice, muzeji : moguænosti surad-nje u okruženju globalne informacijske infrastruk-ture: zbornik radova, Katiæ T.(ur.). Zagreb:Hrvatsko knjižnièarsko društvo, 2003.

Pažur, I. Digitalni izvori znanja i njihovo korišten-je - primjer knjižnice Instituta Ruðer BoškoviæSpecijalne knjižnice - izvori i korištenje znanja,Jokiæ, M. (ur.). Zagreb: Hrvatsko knjižnièarskodruštvo, 2003, 32-41

Pažur, I.; Konjeviæ, S. Kemièari instituta RuðerBoškoviæ i elektronièki èasopisi. Kemija u indus-triji. 2003, 52, 123-125.

Stojanovski, J. CROSBI - A Tool for MonitoringScientific Productivity TERENA NetworkingConference and CARNet User’s Conference2003 Conference Proceedings.

Figure 3. RBI Library and its users

LIB

Bilješke:

The Ruðer Boškoviæ Institute (RBI) is the largest Croatian researchcentre in sciences and science applications. In the multi-disciplinaryenvironment of the Institute more than 500 academic staff and grad-uate students work on problems in experimental and theoreticalphysics, chemistry and physics of materials, organic and physicalchemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology and medicine, environ-mental and marine research and computer science and electronics.Within Croatia, the RBI is a national institution dedicated to research,higher education and provision of support to the academic communi-ty, to state and local governments and to technology-based industry.Within the European Union, the RBI forms a part of the EuropeanResearch Area. Worldwide, the RBI collaborates with many researchinstitutions and universities upholding the same values and vision.