Porastom osviještenosti čovjeka o negativnim učincima Sunčeva zračenja znatno se povećala proizvodnja i uporaba krema za sunčanje. Posljedica toga je akumulacija UV zaštitnih filtara, aktivnih ...sastojaka krema za sunčanje, u vodenom okolišu. Istraživanja su pokazala da su UV filtri, osobito organski filtri poput oksibenzona, oktinoksata i 4-MBC-a opasnost za čitav niz različitih organizama. Odabrana istraživanja u ovom radu usredotočena su na toksični učinak navedenih spojeva na morske i slatkovodne organizme te ukazuju na to da njihova prisutnost u vodenom okolišu rezultira inhibicijom rasta i fotosinteze, reproduktivnim i razvojnim poremećajima, izbjeljivanjem pa čak i smrću ispitivanih organizama. Anorganski UV filtri, čiji su predstavnici nanočestični oblici TiO2 i ZnO, u provedenim ispitivanjima ekotoksičnosti pokazuju slabo toksičan ili gotovo nikakav učinak na ispitivane organizme. Međutim, u istraživanjima u kojima su se pokazali slabo toksičnima, ta toksičnost nije uzrokovana samo prisutnošću nanočestica nego i stvaranjem reaktivnih vrsta kisika, što kod pojedinih organizama izaziva inhibiciju rasta, izbjeljivanje, abnormalnu embriogenezu i oksidativni stres. Daljnja istraživanja nužna su za bolje shvaćanje toksičnog učinka tih spojeva i precizniju procjenu rizika za vodeni okoliš te čitav ekosustav.
Intensive faunal mosquito research has been carried out in the area of
Slavonia and Baranya since 1988. The annulipes group comprises mosquitoes
characteristic of Palaearctic and Nearctic forests. ...Out of six mosquito species
from the annulipes group registered in Croatia, only four have been found
in Slavonia and Baranya. These are: Ochlerotatus cantans, Oc. riparius, Oc.
excrucians and Oc. annulipes. This paper sums up the results of a19-year
investigation into mosquito larvae of the annulipes group. The Oc. cantans
species is the prevalent and most numerous of all the four species discussed
in this paper. It has been registered in as many as 42 UTM quadrants, which
confirms Oc. cantans to be a regular inhabitant of all the forests in Slavonia and
Baranya. The other species are less evenly distributed, i.e. Oc. excrucians has
been registered in 24 and Oc. annulipes in 7 UTM quadrants. The characteristic
dissemination of the Oc. riparius species can be found only in the area of
Spačva, i.e. south-eastern Slavonia, comprising 11 UTM quadrants.
Aim: Hemodialysis patients present with signs of chronic systemic inflammation. Periodontitis can also trigger systemic inflammation and thus affect sarcopenia. The aim of the study was to examine ...the presence of sarcopenia and periodontitis in patients on chronic hemodialysis and see whether there is a correlation between them. Methods:The study included 53 patients on hemodialysis. Oral status and routine laboratory parameters, as well as body composition and handgrip strength, were measured. Results: 20.8% of patients had sarcopenia, while 69% had stage 4. periodontitis. No statistically significant correlation was found between sarcopenia and periodontitis, but fat mass (FM%) correlated positively with tooth loss (rho = 0.313, p = 0.027), as well as muscle fat (IMAT) (rho = 0.393, p = 0.005). Percentage of skeletal muscle in relation to body weight (wSMI) correlated negatively with tooth loss (rho = -0.393, p = 0.005), as well as the grip strength of the dominant hand (rho = -0.294, p = 0.043). Conclusion: In this pilot study, the correlation between sarcopenia and periodontitis in patients on HD 'was not determined, but a significant correlation of body composition parameters with tooth loss was found, which should be tested in a larger cohort of patients. Key words: periodontitis, sarcopenia, hemodialysis
We use the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser (KAM) theory to investigate the stability of solutions of a system of difference equations, a certain class of a generalized May's host-parasitoid model. We show ...the existence of the extinction, interior, and boundary equilibrium points and examine their stability. When the rate of increase of hosts is less than one, the zero equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable, which means that both populations are extinct. We thoroughly describe the dynamics of 1:1 non-isolated resonance fixed points and have used the KAM theory to determine the stability of interior equilibrium point. Also, we have conducted several numerical simulations to support our findings by using the software package Mathematica.
Knowledge about soil permeability is important in various scientific fields: hydrology and hydrogeology, geotechnics, environmental geotechnics, and others. Depending on the different goals that need ...to be achieved by a particular engineering project, the conditions in which the permeability coefficient is determined in terms of applied hydraulic gradients, applied stresses, type of test fluid, etc. are adjusted, as well as the required precision of its determination. In addition, the permeability coefficient is a soil property with the largest range of possible values. It can be determined through various laboratory and field methods, and by applying established empirical correlations using data on the grain-size distribution and empirical coefficients that depend on some factors, such as hydraulic radius (specific surface), curvature, porosity, etc. This paper presents the results of laboratory testing of the permeability coefficient by the constant head test and the use of a permeameter. The results were compared with the permeability coefficient obtained by applying a number of empirical correlations. Artificial samples were prepared in the laboratory by mixing different previously prepared soil fractions in order to determine the influence of particle size and soil gradation on the estimated soil permeability coefficient.
Poznavanje koeficijenta propusnosti tla važno je u različitim znanstvenim područjima: hidrologiji i hidrogeologiji, geotehnici, geotehničkome inženjerstvu okoliša i drugim. S obzirom na različite ...ciljeve koje treba postići određenim inženjerskih zahvatom, prilagođavaju se uvjeti u kojima se laboratorijski određuje koeficijent propusnosti tla poput veličine hidrauličkoga gradijenta, primijenjenih naprezanja, vrste ispitnoga fluida i slično, a prilagođava se i potrebna preciznost njegove odredbe. Osim toga, koeficijent propusnosti svojstvo je tla koje ima najveći raspon mogućih vrijednosti. Moguće ga je odrediti različitim laboratorijskim i terenskim metodama te primjenom poznatih empirijskih korelacija uz korištenje podataka o granulometrijskome sastavu porozne sredine. U ovome radu prikazani su rezultati laboratorijskih ispitivanja koeficijenta propusnosti metodom sa stalnom razlikom potencijala i korištenjem permeametra te su uspoređeni s koeficijentom propusnosti dobivenim upotrebom većega broja empirijskih korelacija. Korišteni su uzorci pripremljeni u laboratoriju miješanjem različitih prethodno pripremljenih frakcija tla, kako bi se mogao utvrditi utjecaj graduiranosti tla i veličine čestica na koeficijent propusnosti tla. U radu je pokazano kako se ne može dobiti dovoljno pouzdan koeficijent propusnosti tla samo korištenjem empirijskih korelacija. Iako je područje primjene određene korelacijske veze bilo zadovoljeno, izračunani koeficijenti propusnosti u nekim slučajevima znatno su se razlikovali od onih izmjerenih u laboratoriju. Svaka od gore navedenih metoda ima svoje prednosti i nedostatke te je tek upotrebom dviju ili više metoda moguće dobiti projektni parameter tla koji je dovoljno pouzdan.
This study aimed to explore morphology changes in the kidneys of
(
mice, as well as expression patterns of reelin, NOTCH2, LC3B, and cleaved caspase3 (CASP3) proteins, as potential determinants of ...normal kidney formation and function. We assumed that
functional inactivation may cause disorder in a wide spectrum of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). Animals were sacrificed at postnatal days P4, P11, and P14. Paraffin-embedded kidney tissues were sectioned and analyzed by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. Kidney specimens were examined by bright-field, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and t-tests. We noticed that
kidneys were smaller in size with a reduced diameter of nephron segments and thinner cortex. TEM microphotographs revealed foot process effacement in the glomeruli (G) of
mice, whereas aberrations in the structure of proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and distal convoluted tubules (DCT) were not observed. A significant increase in reelin expression, NOTCH2, LC3B and cleaved CASP3 proteins was observed in the glomeruli of
mice. Renal hypoplasia in conjunction with foot process effacement and elevation in the expression of examined proteins in the glomeruli revealed CAKUT phenotype and loss of functional kidney tissue of
Minimally processed and refrigerated vegetables can be contaminated with
Listeria
species bacteria including
Listeria monocytogenes
due to extensive handling during processing or by cross ...contamination from the processing environment. The objective of this study was to examine the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat minimally processed and refrigerated vegetables from supermarkets in Osijek, Croatia. 100 samples of ready-to-eat vegetables collected from different supermarkets in Osijek, Croatia, were analyzed for presence of
Listeria
species and
Listeria monocytogenes
. The collected samples were cut iceberg lettuces (24 samples), other leafy vegetables (11 samples), delicatessen salads (23 samples), cabbage salads (19 samples), salads from mixed (17 samples) and root vegetables (6 samples).
Listeria
species was found in 20 samples (20 %) and
Listeria monocytogenes
was detected in only 1 sample (1 %) of cut red cabbage (less than 100 CFU/g). According to Croatian and EU microbiological criteria these results are satisfactory. However, the presence of
Listeria
species and
Listeria monocytogenes
indicates poor hygiene quality. The study showed that these products are often improperly labeled, since 24 % of analyzed samples lacked information about shelf life, and 60 % of samples lacked information about storage conditions. With regard to these facts, cold chain abruption with extended use after expiration date is a probable scenario. Therefore, the microbiological risk for consumers of ready-to-eat minimally processed and refrigerated vegetables is not completely eliminated.
Studies have addressed the impact of chronic diseases and their treatment on quality of life (Qol), but the relative impact of different chronic conditions on patients' level of subjective ...functioning is mostly unknown. Stigma is associated with poor Qol in various chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life of people suffering from schizophrenia with the quality of life of patients with psoriasis and physical disabilities.
Study was conducted on a sample of 88 persons suffering from schizophrenia, 60 persons with physical disabilities and 57 persons with psoriasis. All three groups completed The Scale of Life-Quality assessment.
Persons suffering from schizophrenia were less satisfied with their education level and social life. They were less satisfied with life if continued the same as present than persons with physical disabilities and people suffering from psoriasis. However, persons suffering from schizophrenia have higher expectations for the future than persons with physical disabilities and people suffering from psoriasis.
Our results show lower quality of life in the group of patients with schizophrenia in comparisons with group with physical disabilities and psoriasis, which indicates that it is necessary, not only to make the treatment of schizophrenia more successful, but also to improve the process of rehabilitation and social reintegration in order to increase the quality of life of people with schizophrenia.
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