Lower Miocene Alluvial Deposits of the Pozeska Mt. (Pannonian Basin, Northern Croatia): Cycles, Megacycles and Tectonic Implications

In the area of the present Pozeska Mt. braided alluvial fans were formed during the Early Miocene above the subsiding Cretaceous-Palaeogene basement. Due to autocyclic processes, i.e. lateral migration of flows due to vertical aggradation of longitudinal bars, or migration of the main trench, small-scale fining-upward cycles were formed. The complete succession of the alluvial deposits is composed of two fining-upward megacycles, which are the consequence of allocyclic influences, i.e. the pulsating character of synsedimentary tectonics. Megacycles were developed parallel to backstepping of the front of the fault scarp towards the mountain massif, caused by normal faulting along the active margin of an extensional basin. This kind of depositional style indicates that the Sava fault operated as a normal fault at the beginning of its life during the Early Miocene, probably the Ottnangian

Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography of Miocene Deposits from the Marginal Area of Zumberak Mt. and the Samoborsko Gorje Mts. (Northwestern Croatia)

Miocene sediments rimming the Palaeozoic–Mesozoic–Palaeogene rocks, form Zumberak Mt. and the Samoborsko Gorje Mts. Spatial analysis of the setting and development of the surface Miocene stratigraphy, at the marginal areas of the Zumberak and Samoborsko Gorje Mts., allows four palaeogeographic areas to be distinguished: Zumberak, Plesivica–Sveta Jana, Samobor–Sveta Nedelja and Grdanjci. In the Miocene deposits (totaling 350 m), within the area of Zumberak, coarse-grained clastics from deltaic deposits of Pannonian age prevail. Here only, 50 m of sediments of Pliocene–Pleistocene age overlie the Miocene deposits whereas Mesozoic carbonates represent the basement. The Plesivica–Sveta Jana area is characterized by a 600 m sequence of Miocene deposits, mainly overlying Triassic dolomites, where finely-grained layers of marls and silts prevail. In this area, Miocene successions from the Badenian to the Pontian are characterized by a continuity of sedimentation with an inherited depositional environment. In the area of Samobor–Sveta Nedelja, the basement is diverse: Triassic dolomites, volcanogenic–sedimentary complex of Cretaceous age and a clastic–carbonate complex of Palaeogene age. The Miocene succession shows a regressive trend from the Badenian to the Pontian and the total thickness is estimated at 400 m. The area of Grdanjci differs considerably from the other Miocene palaeorelief. An approximately 50 m-thick series of coarse-grained clastics with coal is distinguished, of unclear stratigraphic age (Ottnangian?). Miocene sediments of the Grdanjci area are represented by both a transgressive type of conglomerates and shallow water limestones of Badenian age, with a total thickness of about 100 m. The development of the Miocene stratigraphy of the Zumberak and Samoborsko Gorje Mts. is generally correlative with that in the other parts of the Pannonian area, though it does exhibit local variations. Comparison of the Miocene palaeorelief of Zumberak Mt. with the Samoborsko Gorje Mts., together with neighbouring areas, enabled wider correlation with other parts of northern Croatia, and the more distant Western and Central Paratethys

The Sedimentological Significance and Stratigraphic Position of Coarse-Grained Red Beds (?Oligocene) of the Northwestern Margin of Mt. Pozeska Gora (North Croatia)

Coarse-grained clastic sediments of rhyolitic-granitic composition which are associated with the magmatic complex of Mt. Pozeska Gora were previously designated as granites. They are deposited in a continental environment or, more precisely, in an alluvial fan or proximal parts of a braided river system, or in rapid mountain streams during a strong rainfalls. According to their spatial relationship with respect to surrounding Upper Cretaceous granites and rhyolites and Ottnangian sediments; and considering the facies characteristics, we assume that these sediments belong to the Oligocene

Analysis of electric field and emission spectrum in the glow discharge of therapeutic plasma electrode

Gas-filled glass plasma electrodes coupled with high-frequency high-voltage generators are used in medicine and dentistry for more than a century. In recent literature, therapeutic effects of such procedure have been explained through topical bio-oxidative effects of ozone generated by the dielectric barrier discharge. The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics of electric field and optical emission spectrum generated in the treatment field by the glow discharge of the plasma electrode. Emission spectrum in red and near-infrared wavelength range (540–886 nm) and pulsed electric field (impulse frequency 1053 Hz, exponentially damped sine wave in the range of 33 kHz, duty cycle 20%) were recorded. Estimated electric field strength at 1-mm distance was in the range from 5.8 to 13.7 kV/m and between 106 and 108 V/m in the close proximity of electrode’s surface (below 0.01 mm). Recorded factors are integral constituents in the treatment field and their properties can be correlated to the known biological and therapeutic effects of photostimulation and electrostimulation. These factors present important bioactive components which could be responsible for therapeutic effects, reported in number of clinical studies, especially those which could not be explained through topical bio-oxidative effects of ozone

Chronology and integrated stratigraphy of the Miocene Sinj Basin (Dinaride Lake System, Croatia)

a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o In the Miocene, the intra-montane basins of the Dinaric Mountain Chain harbored a series of long-lived lakes constituting the so-called Dinaride Lake System. The thick lacustrine sedimentary records of these lakes provide an excellent opportunity to study evolution and radiation of mollusks in an isolated environment. The 500 m thick infill that accumulated in the Sinj Basin is one of the key records because of its excellent mollusk preservation. Recent studies on the depositional history, pollen assemblages and large mammals have enhanced the understanding not only of Lake Sinj, but also of the regional climatic developments and faunal migratory patterns. A reliable chronology of the development of Lake Sinj, which is crucial for global correlation of its endemic realm, was still lacking. In this paper we present a detailed time-frame for the Miocene Sinj basin based on palaeomagnetic and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar data. We conclude that deposition took place between 18.0 to 15.0 Ma, a time span that correlates with the upper Burdigalian and lower Langhian Mediterranean stages and Ottnangian, Karpatian and lowermost Badenian Paratethys stages. Furthermore, we determined the timing of several events in mollusk evolution, important for correlation across the Dinarides. An age of 15.0 Ma is attributed to the large mammals Conohyus and Gomphotherium, preserved in the upper part of the basin stratigraphy

Paleogeographic evolution of the Southern Pannonian Basin: 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the Miocene continental series of notthern Croatia

The Pannonian Basin, originating during the Early Miocene, is a large extensional basin incorporated between Alpine, Carpathian and Dinaride fold-thrust belts. Back-arc extensional tectonics triggered deposition of up to 500-m-thick continental fluvio-lacustrine deposits distributed in numerous sub-basins of the Southern Pannonian Basin. Extensive andesitic and dacitic volcanism accompanied the syn-rift deposition and caused a number of pyroclastic intercalations. Here, we analyze two volcanic ash layers located at the base and top of the continental series. The lowermost ash from Mt. Kalnik yielded an 40Ar/39Ar age of 18.07 ± 0.07 Ma. This indicates that the marine-continental transition in the Slovenia-Zagorje Basin, coinciding with the onset of rifting tectonics in the Southern Pannonian Basin, occurs roughly at the Eggenburgian/ Ottnangian boundary of the regional Paratethys time scale. This age proves the synchronicity of initial rifting in the Southern Pannonian Basin with the beginning of sedimentation in the Dinaride Lake System. Beside geodynamic evolution, the two regions also share a biotic evolutionary history: both belong to the same ecoregion, which we designate here as the Illyrian Bioprovince. The youngest volcanic ash level is sampled at the Glina and Karlovac sub-depressions, and both sites yield the same 40Ar/39Ar age of 15.91 ± 0.06 and 16.03 ± 0.06 Ma, respectively. This indicates that lacustrine sedimentation in the Southern Pannonian Basin continued at least until the earliest Badenian. The present results provide not only important bench marks on duration of initial synrift in the Pannonian Basin System, but also deliver substantial backbone data for paleogeographic reconstructions in Central and Southeastern Europe around the Early–Middle Miocene transition

New tumour entities in the 4th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck tumours: odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumours.

The latest (4th) edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck tumours has recently been published with a number of significant changes across all tumour sites. In particular, there has been a major attempt to simplify classifications and to use defining criteria which can be used globally in all situations, avoiding wherever possible the use of complex molecular techniques which may not be affordable or widely available. This review summarises the changes in Chapter 8: Odontogenic and maxillofacial bone lesions. The most significant change is the re-introduction of the classification of the odontogenic cysts, restoring this books status as the only text which classifies and defines the full range of lesions of the odontogenic tissues. The consensus group considered carefully the terminology of lesions and were concerned to ensure that the names used properly reflected the best evidence regarding the true nature of specific entities. For this reason, this new edition restores the odontogenic keratocyst and calcifying odontogenic cyst to the classification of odontogenic cysts and rejects the previous terminology (keratocystic odontogenic tumour and calcifying cystic odontogenic tumour) which were intended to suggest that they are true neoplasms. New entities which have been introduced include the sclerosing odontogenic carcinoma and primordial odontogenic tumour. In addition, some previously poorly defined lesions have been removed, including the ameloblastic fibrodentinoma, ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, which are probably developing odontomas, and the odontoameloblastoma, which is not regarded as an entity. Finally, the terminology "cemento" has been restored to cemento-ossifying fibroma and cemento-osseous dysplasias, to properly reflect that they are of odontogenic origin and are found in the tooth-bearing areas of the jaws

Environmental Geotechnics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Post COVID-19 World

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic not only created a health crisis across the world but is expected to negatively impact the global economy and societies at a scale that maybe larger than the 2008 financial crisis. Simultaneously, it has inevitably exerted many negative consequences on the geoenvironment upon which human beings depend. The current article articulates the role of environmental geotechnics to elucidate and mitigate the effects of the current pandemic. It is the belief of all authors that the COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges, but also opportunities for the development of our field. Our discipline should make full use of our professional skills and expertise to look for development opportunities from this crisis, to highlight our discipline’s irreplaceable position in the global fight against pandemics, and to contribute to the health and prosperity of our communities, so as to better serve humankind. In order to reach this goal, while taking into account the specificity of the SARS-CoV-2 and the uncertainty of its environmental effects, it is believed that more emphasis should be placed on the following research directions: pathogen-soil interactions, isolation and remediation technologies for pathogen-contaminated sites, new materials for pathogen-contaminated soil, recycling and safe disposal of medical wastes, quantification of uncertainty in geoenvironmental and epidemiological problems, emerging technologies and adaptation strategies in civil, geotechnical, and geoenvironmental infrastructure, pandemic-induced environmental risk management, and model pathogen transport and fate in geoenvironment, among others. Moreover, COVID-19 has made it clear to the environmental geotechnics community the importance of urgent international cooperation and of multidisciplinary research actions that must extend to a broad range of scientific fields, including medical and public health disciplines, in order to meet the complexities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic