Rainfall kinetic energy–intensity relationships for rainfall erosivity estimation were established on the basis of raindrop size distribution measurements performed in the Brkini hilly area in ...southwest Slovenia, a transitional area between the Mediterranean and continental climate conditions. A set of measurement instruments, an optical disdrometer coupled with a rain gauge, was installed on two locations: Koseze and Kozjane. The data set contained raindrop size distribution and rainfall intensity measurements of the rainfall events that occurred during a one-year period in the 2008/2009 season. The rainfall intensities obtained with the rain gauges were used for event rainfall depth control measured by the disdrometers and testing the established kinetic energy–intensity (
KE–I) relationships. Two exponential
KE–
I relationships were established for each measuring site, for 1-min and 5-min rainfall intensity data, respectively. Their performances were tested and compared with the performances of other
KE–
I relationships proposed by authors throughout the world, which could be recognised as relatively suitable for kinetic energy estimation in the Mediterranean area. The comparison included 11
KE–
I relationships expressed with linear, linear-log or exponential formulations. The analyses exposed the rainfall intensity overestimation by the disdrometers and the limited use of the tipping bucket rain gauge for kinetic energy estimation under such climate conditions. According to our results, the established
KE–
I relationship for 5-min intensity data in Koseze is recommended to be used while estimating rainfall kinetic energy in the Mediterranean part of Slovenia. As input data, rainfall intensities measured with precise weighing rain gauges, as those installed in the Slovenian meteorological network, should be used. However, when using rainfall intensity data obtained with a tipping bucket rain gauge of lower accuracy or insufficient intensity range, the exponential relationship of
Coutinho and Tomás (1995) is expected to deliver better kinetic energy estimations.
Road sediments from gully pots of the drainage system and stream sediments from local streams were investigated for the first time in the urban area of Idrija town, the central part of the second ...largest and strongly contaminated Hg mining district in the world. Hg concentrations in road sediments were lower than in stream sediments. They ranged from 16 to 110 mg/kg (Md = 29 mg/kg) for <0.125 mm particles and from 7 to 125 mg/kg (Md = 35 mg/kg) for <0.04 mm particles, while Hg concentrations in stream sediments ranged from 10 to 610 mg/kg (Md = 95 mg/kg) for <0.125 particles and from 10 to 440 mg/kg (Md = 105 mg/kg) for <0.04 mm particles. High Hg loadings in stream sediments were successfully linked with identified mercury sources (rocks containing mercury ore, areas of former ore roasting sites, ore residue dumps), because they are located in the drainage areas of streams, from which the sediments were collected. Links between Hg loadings in road sediments and identified mercury sources were not recognized. Solid phases of Hg were determined by thermo-desorption technique and are similar for both types of sediments. Results show the occurrence of three different forms: elemental mercury, mercury bound to matrix components and cinnabar. Approximately 50 % of Hg in samples consist of non-cinnabar fractions. This is important, since they are potentially bioavailable. An interesting new discovery according to previous research of environmental media from Idrija area by solid-phase Hg thermo-desorption technique is that elemental mercury was determined in almost all investigated sediments in minor amounts (Md = 3 %).
Several studies conducted around the world showed substantial vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among different population groups. Sources of vitamin D in the human body include ultraviolet B ...(UVB)-light-induced biosynthesis and dietary intake, but people's diets are often poor in vitamin D. Furthermore, in many regions, sun exposure and the intensity of UVB irradiation during wintertime are not sufficient for vitamin D biosynthesis. In Slovenia, epidemiological data about vitamin D status in the population were investigated through a national Nutrihealth study-an extension to the national dietary survey SI.Menu (2017/18). The study was conducted on a representative sample of 125 adult (18-64 years) and 155 elderly (65-74 years old) subjects, enrolled in the study in different seasons. Their vitamin D status was determined by measuring the serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration. Thresholds for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 25(OH)D levels below 30 and 50 nmol/L, respectively. Altogether, 24.9% of the adults and 23.5% of the elderly were found to be vitamin D deficient, while an insufficient status was found in 58.2% and 62.9%, respectively. A particularly concerning situation was observed during extended wintertime (November-April); vitamin D deficiency was found in 40.8% and 34.6%, and insufficient serum 25(OH)D levels were observed in 81.6% and 78.8%, respectively. The results of the study showed high seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D levels in both the adult and elderly population, with deficiency being especially pronounced during wintertime. The prevalence of this deficiency in Slovenia is among the highest in Europe and poses a possible public health risk that needs to be addressed with appropriate recommendations and/or policy interventions.
This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Slovenia contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced entries ...on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture.
East Asia in Slovenia Vampelj Suhadolnik, Nataša
Azijske študije (Spletna izd.),
09/2021, Letnik:
9, Številka:
3
Journal Article
This special issue of Asian Studies aims to contribute to the field of European global collecting history by opening new vistas in order to readdress some of the unexplored topics. By presenting East ...Asian material in Slovenia and reconstructing the intercultural contacts between the two territories, it sheds light on the specific position of the Slovenian territory in the history of Euro-Asian exchanges on the threshold of the 20th century.
This study examines long-term effects of a large minimum wage increase in Slovenia, covering the universe of employed and unemployed workers. By distinguishing subminimum and super-minimum workers, ...we find large, persistent disemployment effects for the subminimum group whose productivity fell below the rising minimum wage, both due to lower probability of remaining employed and of finding a job if non-employed. The shock to firm wage bills caused by the minimum wage creates a substitution toward workers whose marginal revenue products are slightly above the minimum wage, but the most skilled are complements with the subminimum workers in their firm.
•In 2010, the minimum wage in Slovenia increased by 22.9%.•The increase had a large and persistent disemployment effect on low-skill workers.•The effect occured due to lower probability of remaining employed and of finding job.•The shock caused firms to substitute from subminimum toward super-minimum workers
East Asia in Slovenia Nataša Vampelj Suhadolnik
Asian Studies/Asian studies,
09/2021, Letnik:
9, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
This special issue of Asian Studies aims to contribute to the field of European global collecting history by opening new vistas in order to readdress some of the unexplored topics. By presenting East ...Asian material in Slovenia and reconstructing the intercultural contacts between the two territories, it sheds light on the specific position of the Slovenian territory in the history of Euro-Asian exchanges on the threshold of the 20th century.
Face coverings, such as surgical masks and respirators, have an important role in preventing bacterial and viral transmission, especially during a global pandemic like COVID-19. Therefore, to secure ...their availability, new manufacturers and the use of novel materials must be encouraged. However, masks and their materials must first be properly tested for safety and efficiency, as required by the relevant standard, valid in a specific region. All standards prescribe determination of the bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) of masks. In this study, we report the establishment of a test method for the BFE of face masks in accordance with European standard EN 14683:2019, by which we tested 52 samples, each composed of 3 to 5 subsamples, of surgical and cloth masks, respirators, filters, and mask materials. Forty-seven out of the 52 samples reached a BFE above 75 %. Of these, 16 samples had a BFE of 75 % to 95 %, 3 had a BFE of 95 % to 98 %, while 28 reached a filtration efficiency above 98 %. Our findings show that all tested samples provided some level of protection, most of which met the requirements for the national or European market.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a markedly negative impact on global tourism and, on the other hand, has offered new opportunities for researchers to analyze the resilience of the tourism industry in ...such conditions. Recently, several scientific articles have emerged claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic could represent an opportunity for significant changes in tourism. This refers to changing practices at several levels and spreading new ethical principles. The pandemic has also made people aware of the importance of "well-being". Even without a pandemic, wellness tourism has been one of the fastest-growing types of tourism in recent years. In all parts of the world, including Slovenia, natural spas have tried to adapt to new conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis confirms that visitors to Slovenian spas strongly support introducing new/alternative activities and thus the dispersion of visitors to several locations. They showed the greatest interest in visiting nature in the vicinity of spas, which is also expected as a result of the closure during the pandemic. The purpose of our article is to give suggestions for offering alternative activities in Slovenian natural spas. However, adapting the wellness offer in spas should ensure that the basic traditional principles of wellness are maintained.