Dalmatia Region Research Articles

Investigation on the population dynamics of Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus and its relationship with soil factors in tomato fields

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the premier vegetables in the world and is widely cultivated globally. As it is a relatively short-duration crop with a high yield, it is economically attractive, and the area under cultivation is increasing. Plant-parasitic nematodes are some of the most important plant pathogens in tomato farms. Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus is one of the most important plant-parasitic nematodes in tomato fields. Therefore, understanding the population dynamics of H. pseudorobustus on the tomato field assists the farmer in managing them and having better yields. In this study, the soil was sampled in 2022. Identification and determination of nematodes were made in the Aquaculture Research Unit, University of Limpopo. The properties of soils infected with this nematode, including pH and EC, were investigated during the investigation of this nematode in the Dalmatia region. The population of H. pseudorobustus was counted in 100 grams of soil in each season, and soil characteristics were also analyzed at the same time. The results in different seasons of the year showed that the range of pH changes during the years of investigation was between 7.5 and 7.7, and the range of EC changes was between 1.3 and 2.0 dS/m. A comparison of EC and pH changes with population changes showed that the population increased approximately in the months when soil salinity decreased. In addition, as the pH increases, the population of H. pseudorobustus also increases. However, no significant relationship was found between the values of pH, EC, and changes in the population of H. pseudorobustus nematode throughout the year.

Determination of anthropometric measurements and their application in the development of clothing sizing systems for women in the regions of the Republic of Croatia

Abstract The aim of this article is to determine the differences in the physical dimensions of the female body that form the basis of the clothing size system and compare their deviations within the three regions of the Republic of Croatia. Due to the changes in the dimensions and shape of the human body, there is a need to adjust clothing in order to achieve the best possible fit. A systematic consideration of the fit of clothing includes investigation of a number of elements and factors, especially those based on anthropometric knowledge. The results of anthropometric measurements performed on a representative sample determine the body dimensions of the measured population. By sorting and grouping the data of body measurements, clothing sizes are created, with significant differences in body shape and body proportions of individual population groups. In the clothing size system, individual body dimensions define the clothing size and form a scale determined by a norm that prescribes body shape based on two dimensions of girths, where the measurement of bust girth is the basic measurement, and the body height is the dependent variable. This research was carried out on a sample of 940 women from the region of Slavonia, 1,109 women from the region of Dalmatia, and 799 women from the City of Zagreb, classified into seven age groups. The statistical processing of the results, i.e., the method of principal components, the values of the observed body measurements, and the representation of certain categories of bust girth and body size in the measured population of each region were determined.

White grape variety Maraština as a promising source of non-Saccharomyces yeasts intended as starter cultures

Non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts are recognized for their ability to enhance the aroma complexity of wines. New trends in winemaking have highlighted the concept of microbiological terroir thus encouraging the use of indigenous non-Saccharomyces starter cultures in mixed fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to overcome the lack of authenticity and provide the wines with unique regional character and distinct aromatic profiles. In this study, 257 indigenous non-Saccharomyces isolates were obtained for the first time from 11 Maraština vineyards located within the winegrowing region of Dalmatia (Croatia). The isolates were identified at the molecular level and characterized for desirable oenological traits such as growth at different temperatures, high ethanol and SO2 tolerance, and for negative features such as high hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and acetic acid production as well as hydroxycinnamic acid decarboxylase (HCDC) activity. Among 27 identified species, those from Aureobasidium genera prevailed, followed by Metschnikowia, Hanseniaspora and Lachancea. The representatives from different species showed high SO2 (up to 250 mg/L) and ethanol (up to 12%) tolerance, low acetic acid, and medium-low H2S production. The HCDC activity was detected exclusively among Metschnikowia, Aureobasidium and Kabatiella species. Some regionally distinct characteristics within the isolates from the same species were observed. The encouraging insights into potential new starter cultures emerged after the evaluation of enzymatic activities of selected isolates. Most of them showed high leucine and valine arylamidase activity, whereas Hanseniaspora and Metschnikowia isolates were additionally characterized by high β-glucosidase and esterase activity, respectively.

SPATIAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE 1918-1919 PANDEMIC FLU IN SPLIT

The Spanish flu pandemic is considered the largest and most dangerous epidemic at the beginning of the 20th century affecting most of the world today. The Spanish flu pandemic did not bypass the territory of Croatia (at the time, Croatia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy), nor its southern coastal region of Dalmatia and the city of Split. Using the example of the city Split, the paper analyses the spatial and demographic determinants of population mortality from the Spanish flu between 1918 and 1919, i.e., from March 1918 to April 1919. The paper is based on the data of the Church Death registers kept in the Archbishop’s Archives in Split and newspaper articles. The analysis of the spatial distribution of mortality within urban settlements showed that the number of deaths per urban settlement

Potentiometric Determination of Free Fluoride Content in Wines from Dalmatia Region (Croatia)—A Comparative Study of Direct Potentiometry and Standard Addition Method

The aim of this study was to investigate 30 different types of Dalmatian wines as a potential source of fluoride. A fluoride ion selective electrode was used to measure the fluoride concentration in each sample. The direct potentiometric method and the standard addition method were evaluated, the latter being suggested as more accurate and precise. Measurements were performed in two buffers, acetate buffer and total ionic strength adjustment buffer (TISAB), to compare their influence on fluoride determination. The obtained results show that TISAB is a better choice than acetate buffer as a medium for fluoride determination. According to the proposed method, mass concentrations of fluoride of 0.19 and 0.18 mg/L were found in the studied red and white wines, with standard deviations of 0.04 and 0.03 mg/L, respectively. All determined fluorine levels in the tested wines were within the recommended limits and do not pose a risk to human health. No significant difference was found between the fluorine content in white and red wines, but there was a difference depending on the place of origin of the wine. The measured pH values for all the wines studied (except one sample) are very similar and show no significant correlation with the fluoride content.

Developing a Spatial Emission Inventory of Agricultural Machinery in Croatia by Using Large-Scale Survey Data

Agricultural machinery has an essential impact on climate change. However, its emission data are often missing, which makes it harder to develop policies which could lower its emissions. An emission inventory should first be developed to understand the impact of agricultural machinery on climate change. This article presents a spatial variation of emissions from agricultural machinery in Croatia. Data on agricultural machinery for 2016 was collected via a large-scale survey with 8895 respondents and included machinery type, location data, and fuel consumption by fuel type. Data processing was conducted to optimize the survey results, and the emissions were calculated using the “EEA/EMEP Emission Inventory Guidebook” Tier 1 method. The research shows that two-axle tractors with engine power 61–100 kW had the most significant energy consumption and were responsible for most of the emissions. The highest total emissions were in counties in the Slavonia region, while counties in the Dalmatia region had the highest emissions per hectare of arable land. Results obtained this way enable policies to be developed that will target specific spatial areas and machinery types. Furthermore, this approach could allow precise spatial and temporal emission tracking. A designated institution which could conduct annual surveys and update the agricultural machinery emission data would ensure emission data continuity.

Croatian white grape variety Maraština: First taste of its indigenous mycobiota

The indigenous vineyard mycobiota contribute both to wine quality and vineyard sanitary status. Wines made from same grape variety but from different geographical locations are appreciated for their diversity. Because no information on indigenous mycobiota of Croatian grapevines is available, the aim of the present study was to start filling this knowledge gap by characterizing the indigenous mycobiota of Maraština variety. The use of metataxonomic approach has enabled the identification of 25 different fungal genera present on Maraština grape berries collected from 11 vineyards located within the Croatian coastal winegrowing region of Dalmatia (Northern Dalmatia, Dalmatian hinterland, Central and Southern Dalmatia). The substantial regional and local scale differences in their distribution were observed. Overall, Aureobasidium was the dominant genus followed by Cladosporium and Metschnikowia. Botrytis and Plenodomus were associated with the vineyards located in Central and Southern Dalmatia, whereas Pichia was associated with Northern Dalmatia vineyards. The largest abundance of Buckleyzyma, Cladosporium, Eremothecium, Fusarium, Papiliotrema, and Rhodotorula was observed in Dalmatian hinterland. Moreover, data suggested that climate conditions and soil type partially influenced the distribution of fungal communities. The local-scale differences emerged also for the physicochemical characteristics of fresh musts. The high malic acid content supported the development of Metschnikowia, and inhibited Fusarium growth, whereas a positive correlation between Erysiphe and pH values was observed. Sporobolomyces and Cystobasidium were negatively associated with high glucose concentration. The revealing of Maraština indigenous mycobiota provided information on the members of fungal community negatively influencing the grapevine sanitary status as well as those which could be employed in disease biocontrol.

Cement Raw Material Reserve Calculation—Geological Sections vs. Structural Maps Approaches, Case Study from Southern Croatia

This study aims to compare two approaches for the reserve calculation of cement raw material by geological sections and structural maps. The first is legally based, and its accuracy is approved by periodical calculation of the exploited material on site. In this research, it was crucial to determine deviation in the calculation approach, i.e., geological section volume calculation versus the volume obtained as a software solution estimated as a number of cells between two structural maps, i.e., maps interpolated at the top and bottom of the analysed lithological unit. Due to complex mineralogy, raw cement needs different energy consumption that directly affects the procedure of cement production, e.g., increases in air pollution through CO2 emissions. The research area was the exploitation field “St. Juraj–St. Kajo,” situated near the town of Split, region of Dalmatia, Southern Croatia. In the deposit, there are seven different lithological units, and all were technologically divided based on their chemical compounds. The lithology included dominantly marl and sandstone with occasional alternations of the conglomerate. Although in the geological sense it is considered a single unit, it partially contains interlayers in the form of lenses such as limy (calcitic) marl, clacisiltite (clayey limestone), and clayey marl. Generally, the knowledge of interlayers’ existence is more important than their exact quantity because it affects expectations of a nonuniform material’s technological quality at the location. For the purpose of the analysed lithological unit calculation, the volumes of the interlayers within were determined as well. Using geological sections for volume calculation is based on the calculation of the block volume (V) between two parallel vertical sections (P1, P2), which is obtained as a product of the mean areas (Paverage) of adjacent parallel sections (P1, P2) multiplied by the distance between them (d). Structural maps represent the calculation of the volume of the analysed object under a function f (x, y) defined by a double definite integral. Comparison of research results encourages the use of software solutions for the volume calculation of cement raw material volume in the future.

Sanitarni status tri hrvatske autohtone sorte vinove loze (Vitis vinifera L.) s područja Dalmacije uključene u postupak klonske selekcije

The research of sanitary status and virus presence was conducted on three native Croatian grapevine varieties (Kujudžuša bijela, Zlatarica vrgorska and Trnjak crni) that are grown in Dalmatia region. The investigation was done on 492 vines from 31 vineyards. Vines were tested by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) on four main economic viruses: arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 and 3 (GLRaV–1, GLRaV-3) as a first step in clonal selection of these rare native grapevine varieties. Altogether, 40 vines were free of all tested viruses. The research confirms high rate of virus infection and eroded sanitary status of all investigated varieties. The above indicates necessity of implementation clonal and sanitary selection programme.

Population genetic structure of wolves in the northwestern Dinaric-Balkan region.

The Balkan Peninsula and the Dinaric Mountains possess extraordinary biodiversity and support one of the largest and most diverse wolf (Canis lupus) populations in Europe. Results obtained with diverse genetic markers show west‐east substructure, also seen in various other species, despite the absence of obvious barriers to movement. However, the spatial extent of the genetic clusters remains unresolved, and our aim was to combine fine‐scale sampling with population and spatial genetic analyses to improve resolution of wolf genetic clusters. We analyzed 16 autosomal microsatellites from 255 wolves sampled in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), and Serbia and documented three genetic clusters. These comprised (1) Slovenia and the regions of Gorski kotar and Lika in Croatia, (2) the region of Dalmatia in southern Croatia and BIH, and (3) Serbia. When we mapped the clusters geographically, we observed west‐east genetic structure across the study area, together with some specific structure in BIH–Dalmatia. We observed that cluster 1 had a smaller effective population size, consistent with earlier reports of population recovery since the 1980s. Our results provide foundation for future genomic studies that would further resolve the observed west‐east population structure and its evolutionary history in wolves and other taxa in the region and identify focal areas for habitat conservation. They also have immediate importance for conservation planning for the wolves in one of the most important parts of the species’ European range.

A synchronic and diachronic computer corpus of Makarska littoral dialects (Croatia)

Abstract This paper presents a synchronic and diachronic computer corpus of Makarska littoral dialects. This corpus was created as part of the project to explore the ikavian neoštokavian dialects of the narrow coastal area in Croatian region of Dalmatia around the town of Makarska. The dialectological characteristics of the dialects studied are briefly presented first, followed by presentation of the digital system. The system is logically organized in first part as a corpus of literary texts created from 1729 to 1803 and digitally processed, and in the second part from the materials collected through dialectological questionnaires prepared and methodologically adapted as part of the creation of the Croatian Linguistic Atlas. Methods of collecting linguistic data, method of input into the digital form and methods and possibilities of data processing will be explained. Based on the input and search strategies within the system, the examples will prove the origin of the dialects of the Makarska littoral to be that of the ikavian neoštokavian dialect described in the dialectological literature. This computer-based principle of work is a novelty in Croatian dialectology which has not been digitally processed so far and offers a basis for future dialectological research. This platform can be used in order to shorten the time of data processing and to analyse them more systematically and more efficiently. So far, there has been no such digital repository for any Croatian speech. This project represents a thorough synchronic and diachronic study of one rounded language area.

(Re)Searching the Morlachs and the Uskoks: The Challenges of Writing about Marginal People from the Border Region of Dalmatia (Sixteenth Century)

This paper aims to present various types of documents referring directly or indirectly to the Morlachs and the Uskoks, in order to answer to questions such as which main activities these people developed, and how they influenced daily life in Dalmatia. A significant characteristic and paradox of both the Morlachs and Uskoks is that their names are conventions and denominations found mostly in external sources. Frequently mentioned in sixteenth-century Venetian documents, despite the little additional information provided, the archival material investigated nevertheless offers the opportunity to understand these very active, mobile and adaptable populations, especially with regard to their role as cross-cultural and transimperial subjects.

Zdravstvena selekcija višnje Maraske (Prunus cerasus var. Marasca) u najvećoj Hrvatskoj plantaži “Vlačine”

Sour cherry cv. Marasca is considered a native Croatian variety with the best fruit quality in the Northern Dalmatia region. The current production is not sufficient to cover the demand, therefore new orchards should be established with pathogen-tested planting material. To select virus- and bacteria-free mother trees, a survey was conducted in the largest Croatian Marasca plantation "Vlačine". ELISA on 205 trees (51 elite, 103 average, 51 below average) confirmed the presence of prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) on 101 trees (49.3%); petunia asteroid mosaic virus (PeAMV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) on 10 trees each (4.9%); raspberry ringspot virus (RpRSV) on 7 trees (3.4%); cherry leafroll virus (CLRV), arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) and plum pox virus (PPV) on 3 trees each (1.5%); and apple mosaic virus (ApMV) on 1 tree (0.5%). For PNRSV, significant ELISA detection sensitivity was found, with twigs in dormant period as more reliable virus source compared to leaves during the growing season. In addition, six trees were positive on little cherry virus 2 (LChV-2) by RT-PCR. Along with very frequent latent infections, following symptoms were observed during pre-harvest period: yellow spots on leaves (ApMV); yellowing, stunted growth, leafless twigs with leaves only at the tip (PDV), bark splitting (PeAMV), reduced leaf size (RpRSV), chlorotic/necrotic ring spots (PNRSV), and uneven fruit ripening (LChV-2). Eleven trees were free of all viruses and bacteria defined by EPPO cherry certification scheme, including PPV. The selected virus- and bacteria-free elite trees represent a valuable genetic source for propagation and further clonal selection.

Analysing wildfire occurrence through a mixed-method approach: a case study from the Croatian Mediterranean

Processes such as littoralization, socio-economic restructuring and agricultural abandonment facilitate land cover changes in the Mediterranean, which then lead to an increased fire risk in the region. These processes are in part driven by people’s values, beliefs and traditional knowledge, lending itself to both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. However, despite the importance of human factors in wildfire occurrence and the complexity of humanenvironmental relations, such studies so far have been almost exclusively quantitative. This research aims at analysing the drivers of wildfire occurrence in the Mediterranean region of Dalmatia, Croatia through mixed-method approach. Croatia has gone through rapid social and economic changes in the past 30 years which have affected livelihood strategies and landscape configuration. The study includes spatial and statistical analysis of a set of variables during two fire seasons (2011 and 2013), but in-depth interviews with fire-fighters and farmers in the region as well. The results show that grassland and shrubland (maquis) are one of the most important drivers of wildfire occurrence in the region, and that they can be seen as indicators of the process of agricultural abandonment. The research demonstrated differing opinions on the use of agricultural burning in preventing wildfires between farmers and fire-fighters, but a common view of wildfires posing a risk only to human life and material property, disregarding potential risk to ecosystem services.

Children’s Play—The Educator’s Opinion

The educator’s personal role in understanding children’s play is a key factor in planning organization of educational process in kindergarten. An educator´s personal paradigm is assumed to be an experiential and educational construct. This research examines the possible correlation of educators’ personal paradigms (N = 291) and contextual factors in the region of Dalmatia (Croatia). A questionnaire Q-EOCP (α = 0.78) was designed for this research. Research findings suggest that most educators are reluctant to introduce information and communication technology /ICT into the educational process (M = 2.25; SD = 1.02) or work with children with disabilities (M = 2.03; SD = 1.33). There was a slightly positive correlation between the educator’s professional work experience and the view that children with disabilities /CWD should be taught how to play (r = 0.35; p ≤ 0.05). Work experience is slightly negatively correlated with the opinion that natural materials encourage creative play in children more than the didactic toys (r = −0.29; p ≤ 0.05) and with the assessment of daily play in nature (r = −0.21; p ≤ 0.05). The research measured the correlation of assessments of daily play in nature and the educators’ level of education (F = 3.47; p ≤ 0.05). Findings suggest that early childhood and preschool educators need additional education on children’s play and the possibilities of augmentative technology.

Geographic distribution and risk of upper urothelial carcinomas in Croatia, 2001\u20132011

BackgroundStrong associations exist between Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and upper urothelial carcinomas (UUCs). However, the common etiology between the two remains unclear and there are no studies to date that visualize UUC risks in Croatia. In Croatia, 14 villages in the southwestern part of Brod-Posavina County are considered endemic for BEN. The aim of this ecological study is to map cancer risks and describe the case distribution of UUCs in Croatia at the county level during 2001–2011.MethodsA total of 608 incident cases from the Croatian National Cancer Registry were identified. Indirect standardization was employed to compute standardized incidence ratios (SIRs).ResultsCounties with SIRs greater than 1 were concentrated around the agricultural region of Slavonia and the coastal region of Dalmatia. However, only Brod-Posavina County and Vukovar-Srijem County had a statistically significant risk of UUC development, where there were 390 and 210% more UUC cases observed than expected, respectively. Only unique to Brod-Posavina County, females were at higher risk (SIR 4.96; 95% CI 3.59–6.34) of developing UUCs than males (SIR 3.03; 95% CI 2.04–4.01) when compared to their Croatian counterparts. Although Brod-Posavina County only made up 3.7% of the total Croatian population (as of 2011), it had the highest frequency of incident UUC cases after the capital City of Zagreb. No elevated cancer risks were noted in the City of Zagreb, even after stratifying by sex.ConclusionOur findings suggest that Brod-Posavina County had the highest cancer risk for UUCs, especially among females, when compared to Croatia as a whole during 2001–2011. Given that a majority of BEN patients develop associated UUCs, concurrent screening programs for UUCs and BEN should be considered not only in endemic areas of BEN but also the surrounding rural areas and amongst at-risk groups such as those undergoing hemodialysis, who frequently develop UUCs, to help clarify BEN-UUC associations by identifying common risk factors while standardizing disease estimates across endemic regions for BEN.

Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies novel loci associated with free triiodothyronine and thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Thyroid hormones are essential for the normal function of almost all human tissues, and have critical roles in metabolism, differentiation and growth. Free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are under strong genetic influence; however, most of the heritability is yet unexplained. In order to identify novel loci associated with fT3, fT4 and TSH serum levels we performed a genome-wide meta-analysis of 7411206 polymorphisms in up to 1731 euthyroid individuals from three Croatian cohorts from Dalmatia region: two genetically isolated island populations and one mainland population. Additionally, we also performed a bivariate analysis of fT3 and fT4 levels. The EPHB2 gene variant rs67142165 reached genome-wide significance for association with fT3 plasma levels (P = 9.27 × 10-9) and its significance was confirmed in bivariate analysis (P = 9.72 × 10-9). We also found a genome-wide significant association for variant rs13037502 upstream of the PTPN1 gene and TSH plasma levels (P = 1.67 × 10-8). We identified a first genome-wide significant variant associated with fT3 plasma levels, as well as a novel locus associated with TSH plasma levels. These findings are biologically relevant and enrich our knowledge about the genetic basis of pituitary-thyroid axis function.

Spatial patterns and drivers of fire occurrence in a Mediterranean environment: a case study of southern Croatia

Wildfires are an important factor of landscape dynamics in fire-prone environments of the world. In the Mediterranean, one of the most fire-susceptible environments globally, between 45,000 and 50,000 wildfires are recorded every year, causing disturbances in forest and grassland ecosystems. As a Mediterranean country, Croatia faces these problems, averaging over 1000 registered wildfires annually, with the coastal areas dominated by forest fires and continental Croatia by fires on agricultural lands. This research combines various landscape and socio-economic factors in the analysis of fire occurrence in Croatia’s southernmost region of Dalmatia. Around 275 of the largest fires (encompassing 98% of the total burnt area) registered in 2013 were investigated using OLS, and different spatial indices were employed to analyse regional variability in fire distribution. The results revealed that areas more prone to fires are the northern inland areas of Dalmatia and its entire coastal zone. Altitude and vegetation type demonstrated a correlation with fire occurrence, but an increase in population in the study area was also correlated with wildfire occurrence. Regarding vegetation, the grasslands and Mediterranean shrubland (maquis) were found to be the most fire-prone vegetation types in the study region, the distribution of which can be linked to different socio-economic and demographic processes occurring in the Eastern Adriatic.

Forest fires in Dalmatia

Abstract Every year the Republic of Croatia, especially in its south part in Dalmatia, faces forest fire risks. The weather is exceptionally conducive to fires, so the main period of fire occurrences is between June and October, characterized by long lasting dry and warm weather with temperatures over 30°C. Research carried out by the authors in 1997 and 2012 have pointed to the fact that human impact is the main cause of ignition. This paper presents an overview of the total number of fires in the period from 1998 to 2012, with the emphasis on forest and woodland fires in the Croatian region of Dalmatia. Data on the situation in Dalmatia refer to the situation in the areas of responsibility of four Dalmatian Police Administrations. Analysis is based on official data of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior and the report of the National councillor for managing and controlling forest fires. The authors have analysed the frequency of forest fires in Dalmatia in a period of fourteen years (1998-2012) comparing it with the previous period, 1989-1996. The results that the authors have obtained reveal how forest fires most commonly (2/3) break out during the warm part of a day, from 09.00 until 18.00 hours in the warm period of the year. Particularly vulnerable are the forests of Aleppo pines and maquis being mostly thermal forests, whilst in the south of the country the forests of Holm oak (Quercus ilex) and English oak (Quercus robur) are at the highest risk. Reforesting of burned areas is very slow and Croatia has been far behind in reforesting in the continental part of the country.

In search of inhospitable knowledge

Abstract The aim of this article is to discuss the key issues that have had significant influence on a Ph.D. research student’s journey from positivism to interpretivism and the subsequent impact on the research methodology adopted. This journey is illustrated by briefly analysing and reflecting upon the nature of relevant accumulated knowledge in the fields of hospitality, tourism and entrepreneurship fields; critically analysing the impact of the social setting on entrepreneurial behaviours and attitude; and reflecting upon how the two previous points influence researcher behaviour and methodological design. Drawing upon research undertaken within the Dalmatia region of Croatia, a former socialist country, the contextual focus is on small hotel owners within the hospitality industry. The article is loosely framed within a hospitality analytical lens and furthers debate on the nature of academic hospitality (Phipps and Barnett 2007) as well as proposing steps to welcome inhospitable knowledge. This article charts moments in the intellectual journey from positivism to interpretivism travelled by a Ph.D. researcher, who critically engaged in, analysed and deliberated upon the nature of accumulated knowledge associated with the field of her studies, where the power base of the knowledge resided, and consequential issues for advancement of thought. Further, as the journey progressed she reflected on the impact of the social setting of the key actors, which is the focus of her research, and ensuing implications for the research methodological design. In addition, the researcher had to engage in a critical self-reflection that required she transform herself from a ‘dispassionate scientist’ to an ‘insider participant’. The magnitude of this revelation is given context and profound meaning within the setting of Croatia, a former socialist country that has faced severe political, economic and social turmoil and transitions, including war. In making the transformation, the researcher had to engage with inhospitable knowledge from the point of view of her educational formation. In so doing, the article highlights the importance of the boundaries of hospitality and looking at both their construction and exploration beyond.