Indices and quality indicators of groundwaters and surfacewaters of eastern Croatia

Indeks kakvoće vode analizira skupinu točno definiranih parametara kojima se opisuje kakvoća vode određenog područja, sa svrhom olakšavanja upravljanja vodnim resursima, i smanjivanja javno-zdravstvenih problema uzrokovanih lošom zdravstvenom ispravnošću vode. Ova doktorska disertacija napravljena je s ciljem klasifikacije i ocjene kakvoće sirovih podzemnih i površinskih voda istočne Hrvatske. Uzorci vode su prikupljani na 40 crpilišta podzemnih voda koje se koriste u javnoj vodoopskrbi, tijekom četverogodišnjeg razdoblja (2010. - 2013.) i na dva mjerna profila na rijekama Dravi i Dunavu (2010. - 2013.). Dobiveni rezultati pokazali su kako kakvoća podzemnih voda varira s geografskim položajem, a parametri koji imaju najveći štetni utjecaj po ljudsko zdravlje su arsen, mangan i željezo te se preporuča prerada vode prije uporabe za piće. Multivarijantnom analizom utvrđeno je kako se podzemne vode mogu grupirati u sedam klastera koji su i prirodno povezani. Vrijednosti koeficijenata kakvoće vode LSI, RSI i PSI ukazuju na to kako su ispitivane vode stabilne sa slabo izraženom tendencijom taloženja kamenca ili slabo korozivnih svojstava. U ovoj disertaciji su korištena četiri već korištena indeksa kakvoće vode za ocjenu površinskih i podzemnih voda promatranog područja. Indeks (WQIIHR) modifikacija je postojećeg i u svijetu prihvaćenog (WQIIN) na temelju provedene multivarijantne analize. Metodologija je zasnovana na definiciji WQI, a pri izračunu su korištene srednje vrijednosti 16 pokazatelja: pH, mutnoća, ukupna tvrdoća, kalcij, magnezij, bikarbonati, kloridi, TDS, fluoridi, nitrati, sulfati, mangan, natrij, fosfati, arsen, željezo. Na temelju izračuna indeksa kakvoće vode WQIIHR izrađena je karta pomoću koje se može lakše protumačiti i donijeti odluke u vezi s upravljanjem vodnim resursima. Indeks kakvoće vode WQIIHR, modificiran za promatrano područje bolje opisuje i obuhvaća nepovoljne utjecaje na kakvoću vode, u odnosu na ostale indekse, čime je ocjena stroža.Water quality index analyzes group of defined chemical parameters used to describe water quality of certain geographic area, with a purpose of management of water resources and reducing health problems resulting from poor water quality. This doctoral thesis has been made with a purpose of classification and evaluation of raw water quality of ground and surface waters. Samples were collected during 4 years (2010 - 2013) on 40 locations used for public supply for groundwater, and 2 measuring sites for surface water in the same time period. The results showed that groundwater quality varies according to spatial distribution, and that the most toxic parameters are arsenic, manganese and iron, so it is advisable for water to be processed before distribution. Results of multivariate analysis showed that sites can be grouped in seven clusters. Values of LSI, RSI and PSI point to the fact that analyzed waters tend to have slight tendency for scaling, or are slight corrosive. With a purpose of classifying ground and surface waters analyzed in this thesis, four already published water quality indices were used, while one is modification od WQIIN, based on the results of multivariate analysis. Used methodology is based on WQI, and for determination average values of 16 parameters were used: pH, turbidity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates, chlorides, TDS, fluorides, nitrates, sulfates, manganese, sodium, phosphates, arsenic and iron. Based on calculations of WQIIHR, it is possible to make a map that can help to assess and provide easier interpretation of water resources management. Water quality index WQIIHR, which has been modified for this region can describe adverse effects of water quality in much better way than other indices, which provides stricter evaluation

Monitoring of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) in groundwater of Eastern Croatia

Natrij je kation koji ima jedinstven utjecaj na tlo. Ovisno o svojoj koncentraciji, može uzrokovati štetne fizikalno-kemijske promjene u strukturi tla, što rezultira raspršenjem čestica i smanjenjem brzine infiltracije vode i zraka u tlo. Zajedno s kalcijem definira alkalitet i salinitet tla što znatno utječe na rast biljke i njenu mogućnost upijanja vlage iz tla. Višak natrija u odnosu na kalcij i magnezij u tlu dovodi do oštećenja u strukturi glinastih tala, te dolazi do bubrenja čestica čime se mijenja hidraulički kapacitet tla. Ovakva tla nalaze se u disperznom stanju, ljepljiva su, stvaraju koru i zadržavaju vodu, a sušenjem postaju vrlo teška. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati ispitivanja koeficijenta SAR (engl. Sodium adsorption ratio), tj. omjera koncentracije natrija (štetni element) i koncentracije kalcija i magnezija (korisni elementi). Iako se prilikom izračuna ovog koeficijenta ne uzimaju u obzir promjene koncentracija kalcija u vodi uslijed promjena topljivosti zbog taloženja ili otapanja tijekom navodnjavanja, SAR se smatra prihatljiv za ocjenu većine voda koje se koriste za navodnjavanje. Praćenje stanja je obavljeno tijekom pet godina na 40 lokacija istočne Hrvatske, na kojima je prikupljana neprerađena podzemna voda.Sodium is cation with the unique effect on the soil. Depending on its concentration it can cause detrimental physicochemical effects on soil structure, which results in particle dispersing and the reduction of water and air infiltration in soil.When combined with calcium, it effects alcalinity and salinity of thesoil, effecting plant growth and its water apsorption. The excess of sodium in regard to calcium and magnesium in the soil, leads to breakdown of clay soils structure and particle swelling which changes hydraulic capacity of the soil. These soils are disperged, sticky, create a crust and retain water, and upon drying become very hard. In this paper the results of monitoring of SAR (Sodium adsorption ratio), i.e. ratio of sodium (detrimental element) to the combination of calcium and magnesium (beneficial elements), are presented. Although the calculation of this ratio does not take into account changes in the concentration of calcium in the water due to changes in solubility due to precipitation or dissolution during irrigation, SAR is considered acceptable indicator for the assessment of most of the water used for irrigation. Monitoring was carried out over the period of five years at 40 different locations in Eastern Croatia, and collected groundwater was not processed

Review of nanomaterials in dentistry: interactions with the oral microenvironment, clinical applications, hazards, and benefits.

Interest in the use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) as either nanomedicines or dental materials/devices in clinical dentistry is growing. This review aims to detail the ultrafine structure, chemical composition, and reactivity of dental tissues in the context of interactions with ENMs, including the saliva, pellicle layer, and oral biofilm; then describes the applications of ENMs in dentistry in context with beneficial clinical outcomes versus potential risks. The flow rate and quality of saliva are likely to influence the behavior of ENMs in the oral cavity, but how the protein corona formed on the ENMs will alter bioavailability, or interact with the structure and proteins of the pellicle layer, as well as microbes in the biofilm, remains unclear. The tooth enamel is a dense crystalline structure that is likely to act as a barrier to ENM penetration, but underlying dentinal tubules are not. Consequently, ENMs may be used to strengthen dentine or regenerate pulp tissue. ENMs have dental applications as antibacterials for infection control, as nanofillers to improve the mechanical and bioactive properties of restoration materials, and as novel coatings on dental implants. Dentifrices and some related personal care products are already available for oral health applications. Overall, the clinical benefits generally outweigh the hazards of using ENMs in the oral cavity, and the latter should not prevent the responsible innovation of nanotechnology in dentistry. However, the clinical safety regulations for dental materials have not been specifically updated for ENMs, and some guidance on occupational health for practitioners is also needed. Knowledge gaps for future research include the formation of protein corona in the oral cavity, ENM diffusion through clinically relevant biofilms, and mechanistic investigations on how ENMs strengthen the tooth structure

Water for all : Proceedings of the 7th international scientific and professional conference Water for all

The 7th International Scientific and Professional Conference Water for all is organized to honour the World Water Day by the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG), Danube Parks, Croatian Food Agency, Croatian Water, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Faculty of Civil Engineering Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Chemistry, Nature Park “Kopački rit”, Osijek- Baranja County, Public Health Institute of the Osijek- Baranja County and „Vodovod-Osijek“ -water supply company in Osijek. The topic of World Water Day 2017 was "Wastewater" emphasizing the importance and influence of wastewater treatments on global environment. The international scientific and professional conference Water for all is a gathering of scientists and experts in the field of water management, including chemists, biologists, civil and agriculture engineers, with a goal to remind people about the significance of fresh water and to promote an interdisciplinary approach and sustainability for fresh water resource management. The Conference has been held since 2011. About 300 scientists and engineers submitted 95 abstracts to the 7th International Scientific and Professional Conference Water for all, out of which 33 was presented orally and 62 as posters. 47 full papers were accepted by the Scientific Committee. 38 full papers became the part of the this Proceedings while 9 papers were accepted for publication in Croatian Journal of Food Science and Technology and Electronic Journal of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Osijek - e-GFOS

Indices and quality indicators of groundwaters and surfacewaters of eastern Croatia

Indeks kakvoće vode analizira skupinu točno definiranih parametara kojima se opisuje kakvoća vode određenog područja, sa svrhom olakšavanja upravljanja vodnim resursima, i smanjivanja javno-zdravstvenih problema uzrokovanih lošom zdravstvenom ispravnošću vode. Ova doktorska disertacija napravljena je s ciljem klasifikacije i ocjene kakvoće sirovih podzemnih i površinskih voda istočne Hrvatske. Uzorci vode su prikupljani na 40 crpilišta podzemnih voda koje se koriste u javnoj vodoopskrbi, tijekom četverogodišnjeg razdoblja (2010. - 2013.) i na dva mjerna profila na rijekama Dravi i Dunavu (2010. - 2013.). Dobiveni rezultati pokazali su kako kakvoća podzemnih voda varira s geografskim položajem, a parametri koji imaju najveći štetni utjecaj po ljudsko zdravlje su arsen, mangan i željezo te se preporuča prerada vode prije uporabe za piće. Multivarijantnom analizom utvrđeno je kako se podzemne vode mogu grupirati u sedam klastera koji su i prirodno povezani. Vrijednosti koeficijenata kakvoće vode LSI, RSI i PSI ukazuju na to kako su ispitivane vode stabilne sa slabo izraženom tendencijom taloženja kamenca ili slabo korozivnih svojstava. U ovoj disertaciji su korištena četiri već korištena indeksa kakvoće vode za ocjenu površinskih i podzemnih voda promatranog područja. Indeks (WQIIHR) modifikacija je postojećeg i u svijetu prihvaćenog (WQIIN) na temelju provedene multivarijantne analize. Metodologija je zasnovana na definiciji WQI, a pri izračunu su korištene srednje vrijednosti 16 pokazatelja: pH, mutnoća, ukupna tvrdoća, kalcij, magnezij, bikarbonati, kloridi, TDS, fluoridi, nitrati, sulfati, mangan, natrij, fosfati, arsen, željezo. Na temelju izračuna indeksa kakvoće vode WQIIHR izrađena je karta pomoću koje se može lakše protumačiti i donijeti odluke u vezi s upravljanjem vodnim resursima. Indeks kakvoće vode WQIIHR, modificiran za promatrano područje bolje opisuje i obuhvaća nepovoljne utjecaje na kakvoću vode, u odnosu na ostale indekse, čime je ocjena stroža.Water quality index analyzes group of defined chemical parameters used to describe water quality of certain geographic area, with a purpose of management of water resources and reducing health problems resulting from poor water quality. This doctoral thesis has been made with a purpose of classification and evaluation of raw water quality of ground and surface waters. Samples were collected during 4 years (2010 - 2013) on 40 locations used for public supply for groundwater, and 2 measuring sites for surface water in the same time period. The results showed that groundwater quality varies according to spatial distribution, and that the most toxic parameters are arsenic, manganese and iron, so it is advisable for water to be processed before distribution. Results of multivariate analysis showed that sites can be grouped in seven clusters. Values of LSI, RSI and PSI point to the fact that analyzed waters tend to have slight tendency for scaling, or are slight corrosive. With a purpose of classifying ground and surface waters analyzed in this thesis, four already published water quality indices were used, while one is modification od WQIIN, based on the results of multivariate analysis. Used methodology is based on WQI, and for determination average values of 16 parameters were used: pH, turbidity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates, chlorides, TDS, fluorides, nitrates, sulfates, manganese, sodium, phosphates, arsenic and iron. Based on calculations of WQIIHR, it is possible to make a map that can help to assess and provide easier interpretation of water resources management. Water quality index WQIIHR, which has been modified for this region can describe adverse effects of water quality in much better way than other indices, which provides stricter evaluation

Models of Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI) - Current Issues and Future Perspectives

BACKGROUND: Drug-induced Liver Injury (DILI) is an important cause of acute liver failure cases in the United States, and remains a common cause of withdrawal of drugs in both preclinical and clinical phases. METHODS: A structured search of bibliographic databases - Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and Medline for peer-reviewed articles on models of DILI was performed. The reference lists of relevant studies was prepared and a citation search for the included studies was carried out. In addition, the characteristics of screened studies were described. RESULTS: One hundred and six articles about the existing knowledge of appropriate models to study DILI in vitro and in vivo with special focus on hepatic cell models, variations of 3D co-cultures, animal models, databases and predictive modeling and translational biomarkers developed to understand the mechanisms and pathophysiology of DILI are described. CONCLUSION: Besides descriptions of current applications of existing modeling systems, associated advantages and limitations of each modeling system and future directions for research development are discussed as well