Persistence of coliform bacteria in spring water microcosms

Planina Papuk, geološki vrijedno područje Republike Hrvatske, u svojim šumama skriva brojne prirodne izvore. Kako bi odredili kvalitetu odabrane izvorske vode, proveli smo istraživanje u kojem smo određivali prisustvo koliformnih bakterija kao glavnih indikatora zagađenja vode. Također, ispitivali smo mogućnost preživljavanja namjerno dodanih koliforma u mikrokozmose s kvarcnim pijeskom u laboratorijskim uvjetima. Nakon prikupljanja i analiziranja uzoraka s četiri odabrana izvora (Jankovac, Kokočak (Vučenović), Muška voda i Žervanjska) rezultati su pokazali kako voda s izvora Kokočak (Vučenović) nije prikladna za piće zbog povećanog ukupnog broja mikroorganizama te koliformnih bakterija, dok su se ostala ispitana izvorišta pokazala prikladna za ljudsku upotrebu. Nadalje, izvor Muška voda pokazao se kao izvor s najvećom kvalitetom vode, kako zbog ispitivanih parametara, tako i zbog nemogućnosti preživljavanja inokuliranih koliforma koji su u mikrokozmosima s ostalih izvora perzistirali. Kako bi potvrdili rezultate, ponovili smo istraživanje na izvoru Muška voda te su isti ovoga puta pokazali mogućnost perzistencije inokuliranih koliforma kao i veći porast aerobnih mezofilnih bakterija u mikrokozmičkim uvjetima.Mount Papuk is a geologically valuable area of the Republic of Croatia, with numerous natural springs hidden in its forests. In order to determine the quality of selected spring water, we carried out an investigation where we were determining the presence of coliform bacteria as the main indicators of water pollution. Additionally, we examined the survival possibility of deliberately added coliforms into the microcosms with quartz sand in laboratory conditions. After collecting and analysing samples from four selected springs (Jankovac, Kokočak (Vučenović), Muška voda and Žervanjska), the results showed that water from the spring Kokočak (Vučenović) was unsuitable for drinking due to increased total number of microorganisms and coliform bacteria, whereas the other tested springs were shown as suitable for human use. Furthermore, the spring Muška voda proved to be the spring with the highest quality of water, both with respect to tested parameters and survival inability of inoculated coliforms that persisted in the microcosms of the other springs. In order to verify the results, we repeated the investigation of the spring Muška voda. This time, the persistence of inoculated coliforms, including a larger increase in aerobic mesophilic bacteria in microcosmic condition, proved possible

What Associates Charles Bonnet Syndrome with Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition related to patients with visual loss due to age related macular degeneration or glaucoma that are having complex visual hallucinations. The CBS was first described by Swiss physician Charles Bonnet in 1760. Affected patients, who are otherwise mentally healthy people with significant visual loss, have vivid, complex recurrent visual hallucinations (VHs). One characteristic of these hallucinations is that they usually are »Lilliputian hallucinations« as patients experience micropsia (hallucinations in which the characters or objects are distorted and much smaller than normal). The prevalence of Charles Bonnet Syndrome has been reported to be between 10% and 40%; a recent Australian study has found the prevalence to be 17.5%. The high incidence of non-reported CBS is thought to be as a result of patient’s fear to report the symptoms as they could be labeled as mentally insane since those type of visual hallucinations could be found in variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as drug or alcohol abuse (delirium tremens), Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS), psychosis, schizophrenia, dementia, narcolepsy, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, brain tumors, migraine, as well as, in long term sleep deprivation. VHs can also be presented as the initial sign of the Epstein-Barr virus infection in infectious mononucleosis. Patients who suffer from CBS usually possess insight into the unreality of their visual experiences, which are commonly pleasant but may sometimes cause distress. The hallucinations consist of well-defined, organized, and clear images over which the subject has little control. It is believed that they represent release phenomena due to deafferentiation of the visual association areas of the cerebral cortex, leading to a form of phantom vision. Cognitive defects, social isolation, and sensory deprivation have also been implicated in the etiology of this condition. This study was conducted on 350 patients diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and shows incidence of CBS in 13% of patients with AMD. Furthermore, we have found higher incidence of CBS in patients with massive loss of vision in peripheral visual field which is not age related

Zapažanja poljoprivrednika o utjecaju prekomjerne kiše praćene poplavama na poljoprivredna zemljišta u Hrvatskoj

Extreme events have produced more rain and became more frequent in many regions around the world, and these trends will rise with the warming of the planet. The vulnerable agricultural sectors, directly dependent on the climate, is predicted to be significantly affected by climate change, with an expected decline in future crop yields. We provide data on the effects of floods, because of excessive rain, on the agricultural sector in Croatia, with emphasis on its northern Pannonian region. Data collected for the period 2015-2020 are based on a 34-question survey, conducted among farmers previously reporting on climate-related damages to their crops. With almost 80% of farmers having experienced flooding on their field plots in the last 5 years (mostly short-term flooding, i.e. waterlogging of up to seven days), it is clear that this type of investigation needs further attention. Data suggested that floods most often occurred in the plant germination phase (before the 5th leaf) representing a risk for plant damage and consequent reduction in yields. A combination of mitigation and adaptation measures could minimize water retention in the fields and reduce damage, however, our survey implied that farmers scarcely use such measures. Knowledge gained in this study represents the first step toward understanding potential negative effects of the extreme events on the fragile agricultural sector in Croatia and could help authorities in decision making with the aim to reduce the degree of uncertainty associated with climate change effects.Ekstremni vremenski događaji, između kojih su i obilne kiše, postali su sve češća pojava u mnogim dijelovima svijeta. S obzirom na to da se planet nastavlja zagrijavati, očekuje se njihovo povećanje. Predviđa se da će poljoprivredni sektor, koji izravno ovisi o klimi, pretrpjeti velike štete s očekivanim padom prinosa usjeva. Istraživanje je usmjereno na poplave koje nastaju kao posljedice obilnih kiša te njihov utjecaj na poljoprivredni sektor u Hrvatskoj, s naglaskom na njegovu sjevernu Panonsku regiju. Podaci su prikupljeni za razdoblje 2015-2020, a temelje se na anketi od 34 anonimna pitanja provedenom među poljoprivrednicima koji su prethodno prijavljivali klimatske štete na svojim usjevima. Budući da je gotovo 80% sudionika istraživanja u posljednjih 5 godina na svojim proizvodnim površinama imalo poplavu (uglavnom kratkotrajnu tj. poplavljivanje do sedam dana), jasno je da ovoj vrsti problema treba dodatno posvetiti pažnju. Podaci sugeriraju da su se poplave najčešće dogodile u fazi klijanja biljaka (prije 5. lista) što predstavlja rizik za oštećenje biljaka i posljedično smanjenje prinosa. Kombinacija mjera ublažavanja i prilagodbe mogla bi umanjiti zadržavanje vode na poljima i smanjiti štetu, međutim, istraživanje je pokazalo da poljoprivrednici rijetko koriste takve mjere. Znanje stečen u ovoj studiji predstavlja prvi korak ka razumijevanju potencijalnih negativnih učinaka ekstremnih događaja na krhki poljoprivredni sektor u Hrvatskoj i moglo bi pomoći vlastima u donošenju odluka s ciljem smanjenja posljedica takvih događaja

Response of White Cabbage (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> var. <i>capitata</i>) to Single and Repeated Short-Term Waterlogging

Climate change has a significant impact on the agricultural sector, negatively affecting plants’ growth and development, with predicted strong consequences on food availability in the future. Although we are experiencing more frequent and intense heavy rainfall events, a major contributor to field flooding, there is still not much known about the impact of these events on different crops. In this study, we investigated the effects of waterlogging on a model plant white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba), with the aim to follow its response to both single and recurrent short-term (72-h length) waterlogging, as well as to track difference in the sensitivity between plants in different growth stages (38- and 48-day-old plants). In our 22-day experiment, settled under fully controlled conditions (16 h day/8 h night, 25 °C day/20 °C night, 60–70% relative air humidity, 250 µmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic active radiation), with the aim to more comprehensively recognize consequences of waterlogging on plants, we measured changes in plants on multiple levels: (i) within its morphological traits (number and length of leaves, leaf area, and blade width), (ii) within chlorophyll fluorescence and multispectral traits (20 parameters), (iii) following the levels of plant stress parameters (salicylic acid, abscisic acid, proline, and total polyphenols), and (iv) following changes in the plants’ elemental and mineral composition. According to our results, white cabbage was shown not to be very sensitive to waterlogging, with only plants exposed to repeated waterlogging showing signs of the congestion stress. These signs, observed in the changes of molecular stress parameters salicylic and abscisic acids, were not so clearly evident at the aboveground level. We did not observe changes in the plants’ morphologies, nor their photosynthetic performance. In addition, removal of waterlogging stress resulted in complete recovery of our model plants, suggesting a prompt adaptation response of white cabbage. With the projected increased frequency of occurrence of flooding events, it will become increasingly more important to recognize crops being highly sensitive to flooding with the aim to try to adapt to the changing climate