Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) distribution in Slovenian forests

We analysed the characteristics of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) occurrence and distribution in Slovenia using databases of the Slovenian Forest Service (SFS). Silver fir is the third most widely distributed tree species in Slovenia, occurring in approximately 40 % of total forest area, but abundantly in less than 10 %. Its share in total growing stock varies between separate forest management regions. It is more abundant in the Dinaric and part of the Pre-alpine phytogeographic regions. The highest share in total growing stock reaches at altitudes between 800 m and 1000 m above sea level, forests with silver fir cover the most extensive surface in the altitude belt from 1000 to 1200 m. Silver fir occurs abundantly in 11 syntaxes. Between them, silver fir-beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum TREG. 57, syn.: Omphalodo-Fagetum (TREG.57 corr. PUNC.80) MAR et al. 93) strongly prevail, followed by fir forests with fern (Dryopterido-Abietetum KOŠ.65, syn.: Galio rotundifolii-Abietetum BARTSCH.40). Silver fir diameter distribution considerably varies between separate forest management regions. The regions with the highest share of silver fir (Postojna, Kočevje) dominate also in having large diameter silver fir trees, whereas in other regions (e.g. Nazarje, Kranj, Maribor) small diameter silver fir trees are prevalent. Ddevelopmental stage structure shows that in forest stands with silver fir there is a higher share of timber phase, stands in regeneration, youth stands and selective forests. Considering regeneration we can conclude, that more intensive decreasing trend in silver fir share is expected in the Ddinaric phytogeographic region than in northern parts of Slovenia. Successful regeneration due to lower red deer population and balanced stem diameter structure with higher proportion of small diameter trees promise easier conservation of silver fir in northern parts

Razširjenost jelke (Abies alba Mill.) v slovenskih gozdovih

We analysed the characteristics of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) occurrence and distribution in Slovenia using databases of the Slovenian Forest Service (SFS). Silver fir is the third most widely distributed tree species in Slovenia, occurring in approximately 40 % of total forest area, but abundantly in less than 10 %. Its share in total growing stock varies between separate forest management regions. It is more abundant in the Dinaric and part of the Pre-alpine phytogeographic regions. The highest share in total growing stock reaches at altitudes between 800 m and 1000 m above sea level, forests with silver fir cover the most extensive surface in the altitude belt from 1000 to 1200 m. Silver fir occurs abundantly in 11 syntaxes. Between them, silver fir-beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum TREG. 57, syn.: Omphalodo-Fagetum (TREG.57 corr. PUNC.80) MAR et al. 93) strongly prevail, followed by fir forests with fern (Dryopterido-Abietetum KOŠ.65, syn.: Galio rotundifolii-Abietetum BARTSCH.40). Silver fir diameter distribution considerably varies between separate forest management regions. The regions with the highest share of silver fir (Postojna, Kočevje) dominate also in having large diameter silver fir trees, whereas in other regions (e.g. Nazarje, Kranj, Maribor) small diameter silver fir trees are prevalent. Ddevelopmental stage structure shows that in forest stands with silver fir there is a higher share of timber phase, stands in regeneration, youth stands and selective forests. Considering regeneration we can conclude, that more intensive decreasing trend in silver fir share is expected in the Ddinaric phytogeographic region than in northern parts of Slovenia. Successful regeneration due to lower red deer population and balanced stem diameter structure with higher proportion of small diameter trees promise easier conservation of silver fir in northern parts.S podatki o gozdnih fondih Slovenije 2003 Zavoda za gozdove Slovenije smo analizirali značilnosti pojavljanja in razširjenosti jelke v Sloveniji. Jelka je tretja najpogostejša drevesna vrsta v Sloveniji, pojavlja se na kakih 40 % površine gozdov, obilneje pa na manj kot 10 %. Njen delež po gozdnogospodarskih območjih močno variira, obilneje se pojavlja na dinarskem in delu predalpskega fitogeografskega območja. Nnajvišji delež v lesni zalogi doseže v gozdovih na nadmorski višini 800-1000 m, površinsko pa so gozdovi z jelko najbolj razširjeni v nadmorskem pasu 1000-1200 m. Jelka se obilneje pojavlja v 11 sintaksonih. Močno prevladujejo dinarska jelova bukovja, tem sledijo jelovja s praprotmi. Debelinska struktura jelke je med območji zelo različna. Območja z najvišjim deležem jelke (Postojnsko, Kočevsko) zbujajo pozornost tudi glede debelega lesa, nasprotno je v drugih območjih (Nazarje, Kranj, Maribor) razmeroma velik delež tankega drevja jelke. V sestojih z jelko je spremenjenost drevesne sestave v povprečju manjša kot na celotni površini gozdov. Struktura gozdov z jelko po razvojnih fazah kaže, da je v primerjavi z vsemi gozdovi tu več debeljakov, pomlajencev, prebiralnega gozda in mladovja. Upoštevajoč pomlajevanje lahko zaključimo, da se v dinarskem delu na splošno nakazuje bolj izrazit trend zmanjševanja deleža jelke v gozdovih kot v severnih območjih (Maribor, Nazarje). Uspešnejše pomlajevanje zaradi manj jelenjadi, ugodnejša debelinska struktura z relativno večjim deležem tanjšega drevja jelke obeta verjetno uspešnejše ohranjanje jelke v teh gozdovih

Health-related quality of life in Croatian general population and multiple myeloma patients assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-MY20 questionnaires

Background. The impact of disease and treatment on the patient's overall well-being and functioning is a topic of growing interest in clinical research and practice. The aim of this study is to obtain reference data on quality of life of Croatian general population. Further, we aim to assess the impact of the disease and its primary systemic treatment on their health related quality of life (HrQoL) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Patients and methods. Participants for the first part of the study were randomly selected from adult Croatian population. In the clinical part of the study MM patients were included as prospectively diagnosed within two years in two major Croatian haematological centres. The EORTC QLQ-C30 in both trials and QLQ-MY20 in MM patients only were applied for HrQoL assessment. Results. Gender, age and place of residence have great impact on quality of life scores in Croatian population. The MM patients at the time of diagnosis have lower QLQ-C30 scores for global quality of life, functional and symptom scale scores, as well as single items. The type of disease followed by the choice of therapy options are important HrQoL determinants. Conclusions. The norm values available now for Croatian population will help to interpret HrQoL for clinicians and aid in planning cancer care interventions. This study identified treatment effect consistent with those from other observational studies and provided new data on HrQoL across two different treatment choices for MM patients

Suvremeni egzogeni procesi i uloga inženjerske geologije

Djelovanje egzogenih procesa najviše ovisi o klimi, nagibu zemljišta, mehaničkoj i kemijskoj otpornosti stijena te njihovoj vodopropusnosti. Egzogeni procesi predstavljaju naziv za sve procese koji izvana mijenjaju reljefne oblike nastale endogenim procesima. Erozija, korozija, abrazija, denudacija i akumulacija spadaju u tzv. suvremene egzogene procese. Oni djeluju na teren u kojem i na kojem želimo graditi. S obzirom na mjesto nastanka egzogeni procesi mogu biti padinski, fluvijalni, marinski, glacijalni, eolski i krški. Posljedice djelovanja navedenih procesa očituju se u stvaranju denudacijskih i akumulacijskih reljefnih oblika. Navedeni procesi su uglavnom trajni procesi koji rezultiraju različitim oblicima reljefa. Promjene oblika reljefa se pojavljuju djelovanjem voda tekućica, kiše, morskih valova, snijega, mraza, vjetra, vegetacije i organizama, čovjeka, kao i temperaturnih razlika. S obzirom da su navedene pojave svakodnevne naravi potrebno ih je istraživati, nadgledati, preventivno djelovati, planirati, graditi i, ukoliko je potrebno, provesti sanaciju istih. Inženjer geolog temeljem inženjersko geoloških istraživanja predviđa što sve može utjecati na neki objekt tijekom projektiranja, izgradnje i korištenja objekta

Management of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Slovenia

V prispevku analiziramo strukturo in razvojne značilnosti sestojev z jelko, gospodarjenje in posek jelke po stirih rastiščnih skupinah (A-D) glede na gojitveno ekološke značilnosti jelke na podlagi podatkovnih zbirk Zavoda za gozdove Slovenije. V lesni zalogi jelke prevladuje srednje debelo (d=30-49 cm)in debelo drevje (d=50 cm in veè) (84,9 %). Najveè (45 %) debelih jelk je vdinarskih jelovjih in jelovih bukovjih (skupina B), razvojno najmlajsa je jelka v jelovjih s praprotmi in na drugih jelovih rastiščih na nekarbonatu (skupina C). Analiza debelinske strukture jelke in stevila dreves iz prve in druge izmere na stalnih vzorčnih ploskvah ter naraščanje povprečnega premera posekanih jelk v obdobju zadnjih 14 let nakazujejo staranje in regresijo jelke, ki sta izrazitejša v skupini B. Vraščanje jelke prek meritvenega praga je največje v skupini C (19,2/ha/10 let) in se statistično značilno razlikuje od drugih skupin. Najmanjšo vrast jelke ugotavljamo v skupini B (4,2/ha/10 let), jakost poseka jelke je tu najvišja (22,3 % LZ) z najvišjim povprečnim premerom posekanih jelk (42,5 cm) in 48 % sanitarne sečnje. Za aktivno ohranjanje jelke je pomembno predvsem zmanjšanje vpliva jelenjadi in skrbno ter diferencirano gojitveno ukrepanje z daljšimi parcialnimi pomladitvenimi dobami. Predlagamo tudi nekatere druge ukrepe.In the paper, we analysed the structure and developmental characteristics of forest stands with silver fir in Slovenia, the management and cut in four forest site strata, where silver fir occurs. We used databases from the Slovenia Forest Service. In growing stock (GS) of silver fir, large (dbh=30-49cm) and very large (d=50 cm and more) diameter trees account for 84.9 % at the national level. The highest share of very large diameter silver fir trees (45 %) is in Dinaric silver fir forests and silver fir-beech forests(B), the lowest in silver fir forests with fern and silver fir forests on non-carbonate ground (C). The dbh structure of GS, number of silver fir trees recorded from two subsequent measurements from permanent sampling plots,rising mean dbh of harvested silver fir trees all indicate general agingand regression of silver, which is typical of stratum B but not in all other strata. The ingrowth of silver fir in 10 years is highest in stratum C (19.2 trees/ha), the lowest in B (4.2 trees/ha). In the latter, cut intensity (22.3 % of GS), the mean dbh of harvested silver firs are highest, too. For active conservation of silver fir, reduction of the impact of large ungulates and differentiated silviculture with longer regeneration periods is of crucial importance. Some other measures are also suggested

Analysis of impact factors on student's decision making for rentals in housing in the municipality of Ljubljana

In Municipality of Ljubljana there is an extensive need for rentals, flats mostly. Seat of University of Ljubljana\ud introduces reasons for student placements in Ljubljana. Due to shortage of student dormitories, students have\ud no choice but rent from private landlords. Therefore, in the Municipality of Ljubljana there is the largest\ud demand for student accomodation. We see plenty of private investors buying and building properties for the\ud purpose of letting them out to students, but with possible risk of inability to let. By this I mean, if the investor\ud does not investigate students' requirements and impact factors, which enable them to recognise the\ud potentional tenants, there may find themselves in a position, where they may loose or receive lower income\ud from lets. The objective is to find financially able tenants.\ud In the first part I analysed advertised lettings, especially flats: analysis of data in ads, specification of impact\ud factors and its influence, and reasons why students rent. The questionnaire aims to population of students.\ud Furthermore, I gathererd information of students' opinion on the size of impact of each individual factor\ud separately. On that basis I defined hierarchy scale to determine the impact of each individual factor, why\ud students d ecide t o r ent. I was a lso t rying t o d etermine s tatistical c haracteristics o f s ample p osition o n\ud importance of each individual factor.I have come to the conclusion that many landlords make lets conditional\ud to gender, age and lifestlye or habits of potential tenants. In the second part I was seeking which impact factors\ud are more and which are less important for the student population. I have come to a wide range of different\ud positions, and as a result found the magnitude of each individual factor and what role they each play in\ud different variations of student population. Differences between positions I indicated with findings of statistical\ud characteristics, furthermore, importance of each factor between male and female students, younger and older\ud students, the ones with or without experiences in rents, and those who use cars as means of transport.\ud Statistical characteristics of student population sample were determined from a stistical analysis programme\ud SPSS

Exploring critical factors affecting sign language knowledge and motivation for sign language learning in nurses: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: In times when the term inclusion, rights of patients, and the patient as a subject in health care are used more often, the limited availability of written material or sign language interpreters at health services is still a key barrier to health services for people who are hearing-impaired. The aim of this study is to examine nurses’ knowledge of communication skills with hearing-impaired patients, their preferred methods, and the possibility of using translation services. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, and data were collected in September–October 2019. The study included 407 nursing students. A demographic data form and questions divided into three parts, namely, communication skills (six questions), communication methods (three questions), and interpretation services (five questions), were used to collect data. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: The questionnaire was administered among 424 students, and total of 407 students completed the questionnaire. Most of the respondents were female (320 [78.6%]) with 0–5 years of work experience (227 [55.8%]) in the tertiary level of healthcare (184 [45.3%]). The results showed that 326 (80.1%) of the respondents encountered a person with some form of hearing impairment during their work. Sign language was used by 56 (13.8%) of the respondents, but 74 (18.14%) nurses did not communicate when meeting with hearing-impaired patients. Two-thirds of the respondents never had the opportunity to learn sign language, and 43 (10.54%) respondents would choose an official interpreter as support. Male respondents were aware of the importance of communication with hearing-impaired patients and the use of an application for pain assessment (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed regarding the department in which the respondents work (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed insufficient knowledge and skills of nurses to communicate with hearing-impaired people

Carbohydrate Recognition by an Architecturally Complex α-N-Acetylglucosaminidase from Clostridium perfringens

CpGH89 is a large multimodular enzyme produced by the human and animal pathogen Clostridium perfringens. The catalytic activity of this exo-α-d-N-acetylglucosaminidase is directed towards a rare carbohydrate motif, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamine-α-1,4-d-galactose, which is displayed on the class III mucins deep within the gastric mucosa. In addition to the family 89 glycoside hydrolase catalytic module this enzyme has six modules that share sequence similarity to the family 32 carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM32s), suggesting the enzyme has considerable capacity to adhere to carbohydrates. Here we suggest that two of the modules, CBM32-1 and CBM32-6, are not functional as carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) and demonstrate that three of the CBMs, CBM32-3, CBM32-4, and CBM32-5, are indeed capable of binding carbohydrates. CBM32-3 and CBM32-4 have a novel binding specificity for N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamine-α-1,4-d-galactose, which thus complements the specificity of the catalytic module. The X-ray crystal structure of CBM32-4 in complex with this disaccharide reveals a mode of recognition that is based primarily on accommodation of the unique bent shape of this sugar. In contrast, as revealed by a series of X-ray crystal structures and quantitative binding studies, CBM32-5 displays the structural and functional features of galactose binding that is commonly associated with CBM family 32. The functional CBM32s that CpGH89 contains suggest the possibility for multivalent binding events and the partitioning of this enzyme to highly specific regions within the gastrointestinal tract