The diversity of processes taking place in hillslope agro-ecosystems makes the estimation of vadose zone dynamics rather challenging. This paper presents the first insight into the research of ...volumetric water content, granulometric composition, meteorological data, precipitation and soil-water isotopic composition conducted within the SUPREHILL project at its vadose zone observatory. The main goals of this research are related to the evaluation of soil-water origin at the hillslope vineyard, but also to the estimation of depths until which precipitation infiltrates and where the occurrence of preferential flow is possible. For that purpose, hydrometeorological data, granulometric composition and stable isotopesof hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) from precipitation and sampled soil water have been used. The results indicate the existence of a different isotopic signature in soil water, which suggests different infiltration patterns in the investigated area. Also, the results point out that surface runoff, subsurface runoff, and most of the passive wick lysimeters respond to precipitation, while the response of suction probes located at deeper depth is not that evident. This corresponds to the results related to the variation of water content at different depths. All the results indicate the possible existence of a low permeable layer at an approximate depth of 60 cm. Furthermore, preferential flow, if it exists, can be expected from the shallowest depths of the vineyard to a maximum depth of 80 cm. It is expected that an established long-term monitoring network at the SUPREHILL Observatory will give a more precise definition of soil-water behaviour and the existence of preferential flow.
To determine the relationship between bilateral allodynia induced by masseter inflammation and P2X3 receptor expression changes in trigeminal ganglia (TRG) and the influence of intramasseteric P2X3 ...antagonist administration on bilateral masseter allodynia.
To induce bilateral allodynia, rats received a unilateral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the masseter muscle. Bilateral head withdrawal threshold (HWT) was measured 4 days later. Behavioral measurements were followed by bilateral masseter muscle and TRG dissection. Masseter tissue was evaluated histopathologically and TRG tissue was analyzed for P2X3 receptor mRNA expression by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. To assess the P2X3 receptor involvement in nocifensive behavior, two doses (6 and 60 μg/50 μL) of selective P2X3 antagonist A-317491 were administrated into the inflamed masseter muscle 4 days after the CFA injection. Bilateral HWT was measured at 15-, 30-, 60-, and 120-minute time points.
HWT was bilaterally reduced after the CFA injection (P<0.001). Intramasseteric inflammation was confirmed ipsilaterally to the CFA injection. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated enhanced P2X3 expression in TRG ipsilaterally to CFA administration (P<0.01). In comparison with controls, the dose of 6 μg of A-317491 significantly increased bilateral HWT at 15-, 30-, and 60-minute time points after the A-317491 administration (P<0.001), whereas the dose of 60 μg of A-317491 was efficient at all time points ipsilaterally (P=0.004) and at 15-, 30-, and 60-minute time points contralaterally (P<0.001).
Unilateral masseter inflammation can induce bilateral allodynia in rats. The study provided evidence that P2X3 receptors can functionally influence masseter muscle allodynia and suggested that P2X3 receptors expressed in TRG neurons are involved in masseter inflammatory pain conditions.
Hydraulic parameters affects behaviour of various ions in soils. The goal of this paper was to get better understanding of relationship between physical and chemical properties and soil permeability ...at the location of case study profile Velika Gorica, based on the physical and chemical data. Soil profile is situated in the Eutric Cambisol of the Zagreb aquifer, Croatia. Zagreb aquifer represents the only source of potable water for inhabitants of the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County. Based on the data obtained from particle size analysis, soil hydraulic parameters and measured water content, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity values were calculated for the estimation of soil profile permeability. Soil water retention curves and unsaturated hydraulic conductivities are very similar for all depths because soil content does not change significantly through the depth. Determination of anions and cations on soil samples was performed using the method of ion chromatography. Results showed decrease of ions concentrations after 0.6 m depth. SAR distribution in the soil profile shows that SAR values are not significantly changing at the soil profile. The highest CEC and EC values are determined in horizon Bw developed in 0.6 m depth which is consistent with highest SAR value and ions concentrations. All results suggest that physical and chemical properties of investigated profile are in relationship with soil permeability.
The main purpose of this study was to understand the interactions between precipitation, surface water, and groundwater in the Zagreb aquifer system using water stable isotopes. The Zagreb aquifer is ...of the unconfined type and strongly hydraulically connected to the Sava River. As the groundwater is the main source of drinking water for one million inhabitants, it is essential to investigate each detail of the recharge processes of the aquifer to ensure adequate protection of the groundwater. Measuring the content of water stable isotopes in surface waters and groundwater enabled the creation of two- and three-component mixing models based on the isotopic mass balance for the purpose of the quantification of each recharge component. The mixing models gave ambiguous results. Observation wells equally distant from the Sava River did not have the same recharge component ratio. This indicated that there were more factors (in addition to the distance from the river) that were affecting groundwater recharge, and the properties of the unsaturated zone and surface cover data were therefore also taken into consideration. The thickness of the unsaturated zone and the characteristics of different soil types were identified as important factors in the recharge of the Zagreb aquifer. The areas with high thickness of the unsaturated zone and well-permeable soil had a very similar recharge component ratio to the areas with small thickness of the unsaturated zone but low-permeable soil.
Megalin (LRP2) is a rapidly recycling multiligand endocytic receptor primarily expressed in polarized epithelial cells. Although megalin might be involved in tumor growth and invasiveness through ...several mechanisms, its role has been understudied in the field of molecular oncology so far. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of megalin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) on disease progression. Megalin expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in 63 OSCC specimens. Data obtained were retrospectively compared with patient clinicopathological features and their survival. The proportion of megalin-expressing cells in the primary OSCC tissue was significantly associated with metastatic spreading to lymph nodes, vascular invasion and lower overall survival rate. Results obtained by the study suggest that megalin can be considered as a novel molecule involved in OSCC pathogenesis, but also useful as a potential biomarker for cancer progression.
Groundwater quality is a consequence of cumulative effects of natural and anthropogenic processes occurring in unsaturated and saturated zone, which, in certain conditions, can lead to elevated ...concentrations of chemical substances in groundwater. In this paper, the concept of determining the ambient background value of a chemical substance in groundwater was applied, because the long-term effects of human activity influence the increase in concentrations of substances in the environment. The upper limits of ranges of ambient background values were estimated for targeted chemical substances in four groundwater bodies in the Pannonian region of Croatia, according to the demands of the EU Groundwater Directive. The selected groundwater bodies are typical, according to the aquifer typology, for the Pannonian region of Croatia. Probability plot (PP), the modified Lepeltier method, as well as the simple pre-selection method, were used in this paper, depending on a number of chemical data in analysed data sets and in relation to the proportion of <limit of quantification (LOQ) values in a data set for each groundwater body. Estimates obtained by using PP and the modified Lepeltier method are comparable when data variability is low to moderate, otherwise differences between estimates are notable. These methods should not be used if the proportion of <LOQ values in a data set is higher than 30%; however, the integration of results of both methods can increase the confidence of estimation. If the proportion of <LOQ values is higher than 30%, it is recommended to use the robust pre-selection method with the adequate confidence level. For highly skewed data, the 90th percentile of the pre-selected data set is comparable with other methods and preferable over the 95th percentile. The estimates obtained for inert and mobile substances are comparable on different scales. For highly redox-sensitive substances, estimates may differ by one to two orders of magnitude, in relation to the observed heterogeneity of the aquifer systems. The critical issue in the estimation process is the determination of hydrogeological and geochemical homogeneous units within the heterogeneous aquifer system.
Nitrates are among the most common groundwater contaminants worldwide, and the same situation is present within the Zagreb aquifer. The Zagreb aquifer presents the only source of potable water for ...inhabitants of the City of Zagreb and part of Zagreb County. Isotopic composition of water (δ2H and δ18O) and nitrates (δ15N and δ18O), groundwater chemistry, and molar ratios, in combination with correlation and multivariate statistical methods, have been used for the estimation of nitrate origin. Nitrate stable isotopes excluded synthetic fertilizer as the main source of nitrate contamination. They showed insignificant influence of denitrification on nitrate concentrations but could not define the main source of nitrate contamination. The usage of molar ratios, especially NO3−/K+, helped to clarify this issue. Waste water has been defined as the main source of nitrate contamination. All results indicate that nitrogen in a large extent enters the aquifer in the form of ammonium ion, which is transformed to nitrates by the process of nitrification.
This study demonstrates an approach to estimate the background value of nitrate as a basis for better groundwater management and protection in areas under long-term human impact. The aim was to ...determine the ambient background value (ABV) of nitrate in the catchment area of the Velika Gorica well field, a hydrogeologically homogeneous area within the Zagreb aquifer. ABVs are determined using four well-known model-based objective methods (the iterative 2-σ technique, IT; the calculated distribution function, CDF; the cumulative frequency curve, CFC; and the probability plot, PP), while simultaneously testing the reliability of the results of each method. If the results are not statistically significant, data selection is performed. The results show that using data without selection can lead to statistically non-significant ABVs, but with the additional selection of data, a statistically non-significant result became a statistically significant one. In summary, all final ABVs must be statistically significant and determined using as large a data set as possible. Reducing the size of the data set is acceptable only in the case of a statistically non-significant result.
Nitrates present one of the main groundwater contaminants in the world and in the Zagreb aquifer. In order to reduce nitrate concentrations in groundwater, it is necessary to spatially define main ...nitrogen sources and areas which have the highest risk of nitrate contamination. This paper presents a map of nitrate contamination risk in the area of the Zagreb aquifer. It was constructed based on nine different layers that include natural characteristics and anthropogenic pressures. For the construction of the Main map, which has been defined as the most representative one, 15 different variations have been tested. The Main map has shown that the urban part of the City of Zagreb, especially central and eastern parts, together with the area of Jakuševec landfill and marshalling station, present areas with the highest risk of nitrate contamination, which is consistent with the results of previous research.
Natural potential sources of nitrate contamination involve decaying of organic matter, bacterial production, atmospheric deposition, and soil N. The study presents the first results of nitrate ...distribution and migration through soil horizons of the Eutric Cambisols, one of the most common soils developed in the area of the Zagreb aquifer and situated in an area without potential anthropogenic sources of nitrate (first sanitary protection zone of the Velika Gorica well field). A total of 16 parameters of soil water and 16 parameters of soil were used to conduct statistical techniques and analyse associated factors within the soil zone. The results indicate that in the deepest soil horizon, nitrogen is present mostly as nitrate due to nitrification under aerobic conditions which promote stability and the potential for nitrate transport. It was found that nitrate concentrations are the result of soil N nitrification, caused by a NO3−/Cl− molar ratio higher than 1 and the absence of precipitation isotopic signature. The results also show that within the coarse-grained Eutric Cambisols N primarily migrates to deeper parts of unsaturated zone in the form of nitrate and nitrite.
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