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Based on the analysis of the available literature, the competence of cooperation with parents can be defined as a construct of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enables speech and language therapists to collaborate successfully with parents of children in therapy. This study aims to examine how speech and language therapists from Slovenia and North Macedonia assess their knowledge and skills necessary for cooperation with parents and what their attitudes are in general regarding the involvement of parents in speech and language therapy. For the purpose of the study, a questionnaire was developed to measure the competence of cooperation between speech and language therapists and parents in a sample of 110 speech and language therapists, including 62 speech and language therapists from Slovenia and 48 from North Macedonia. The results show that there were differences between Slovenian and North Macedonian speech and language therapists in self-assessed attitudes towards parental involvement but no differences in the domain of knowledge and skills. The interaction of country and years of work experience is significant for the knowledge domain. Attitudes about cooperation with parents are not affected by years of work experience, area of work, or additional professional training; only the country where the SLTs work has an impact. The competence of collaboration between speech and language therapists and parents varies between the two countries, but there is space for improvement in each domain. The findings of this study may provide a starting point for further research on the competence of cooperation between speech and language therapists and parents.

Since plurilingual competence is crucial for effective communication, cultural understanding, cognitive development, and professional and personal growth, it should also be prioritised in education to enable the continuous development of individuals. One of the most critical aspects of achieving plurilingual competence is creating a stimulating environment that ensures that language learning and use take place in a way that appeals to all pupils. However, there is little research on pupils’ perceptions of plurilingualism and its stimulating environment at the primary level. Therefore, the study’s main aim was to investigate their perceptions, which resulted in a primarily quantitative research method. As a data collection tool an online survey with a combination of a questionnaire and Likert scales statements, which were based on the Framework of Reference for Pluralistic Approaches to Languages and Cultures, was developed. For this reason, the article concentrates on determining the level and quality of primary school pupils’ knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding languages and their associated cultures, as well as on identifying pupils’ opinions, perceptions, and motivational factors. The research study addressed pupils aged 9 to 14. The results indicate that pupils are inclined towards language learning, perceive the importance of plurilingual competence, and express confidence in speaking in foreign languages. However, pupils seem unable to assess their metalinguistic and metacultural knowledge and skills.

Izhodišča: Na podlagi prehranske obravnave in postavljene diagnoze motnja prehranjenosti ali s prehranjenostjo povezane motnje lahko oblikujemo posamezniku prilagojeni načrt prehranskih ukrepov. Ta je nujen, da vzdržujemo ali izboljšamo posameznikovo prehranjenost, pripravijo in izvajajo pa ga bolnik, njegovi bližnji in večstrokovna skupina, ki deluje v okviru različnih organizacijskih oblik ukvarjanja s klinično prehrano. Metode: Skupina 42 slovenskih strokovnjakov iz 19 slovenskih zdravstvenih ustanov je oblikovala eksplicitni terminološki dogovor. Osnovnim pojmom s področja prehranske oskrbe in organizacijskih oblik klinične prehrane smo določili slovenski termin in ustrezno terminološko definicijo, pri čemer smo izhajali tako iz strokovne literature področja kot iz jezikoslovne literature. Temelj oblikovanja terminologije so terminološke smernice Evropskega združenja za klinično prehrano in presnovo. Rezultati: V prispevku predstavljamo slovenske termine in terminološke definicije načrta prehranskih ukrepov, prehranske podpore in prehranske terapije. Opredelili smo tudi prehransko okolje, diete, paliativno prehrano in oblike hrane ter hranjenja v klinični prehrani. Opisali smo tudi možnosti za organizacijo prehranske oskrbe v zdravstvenih in negovalnih ustanovah. Zaključek: Poenoteno razumevanje osnovnih pojmov s področja prehranske terapije, prehranske podpore in organizacijskih oblik klinične prehrane je nujno za uspešno sporazumevanje med strokovnjaki, poenoteno poučevanje in razvoj ter vključitev organizacijskih oblik klinične prehrane v zdravstveni sistem.

Izhodišča: Pomembno vlogo pri prehranski obravnavi imata tako presejanje prehranske ogroženosti kot prehranski pregled, na podlagi katerega lahko postavimo diagnozo motnje prehranjenosti ali s prehranjenostjo povezane motnje. Ocena posameznikovega prehranskega stanja, ki jo pridobimo s prehransko obravnavo, je namreč ključna za načrtovanje učinkovite prehranske oskrbe. Za razvoj področja je pomembno, da so vsi termini, ki se uporabljajo pri kliničnem delu, usklajeni. Taki terminološki dokumenti v mednarodnem prostoru že obstajajo, smiselni pa so tudi za slovenščino in naše okolje. Metode: Prispevek temelji na eksplicitnem terminološkem dogovoru skupine 42 relevantnih slovenskih strokovnjakov iz 19 slovenskih ustanov. Osnova oblikovanja terminoloških smernic je terminološki dokument Evropskega združenja za klinično prehrano in presnovo, pri čemer so bili upoštevani tudi novejši izsledki klinične prehrane. Rezultati: Predstavljeni so slovenski termini in terminološke definicije s področja klinične prehrane. Opredeljeni so osnovni pojmi s področja prehranske obravnave, ki je praviloma del medicinske obravnave. Predstavljena sta pojma prehranska ogroženost in presejanje prehranske ogroženosti, ob čemer so navedeni tudi različni presejalni testi za presejanje prehranskih motenj in s prehranjenostjo povezanih stanj. Podrobno so opredeljeni tudi prehranski pregled in njegovi sestavni deli. Zaključki: Tako presejanje prehranske ogroženosti kot prehranski pregled sta bistvena za diagnostično obravnavo v okviru klinične prehrane, poenoteno razumevanje terminologije pa omogoča primerno prepoznavo patoloških stanj pri bolnikih in pripravo ustreznega načrta prehranskih ukrepov.

Izhodišča: Prehransko stanje posameznika uvrščamo med ključne dejavnike njegovega zdravja. Za učinkovito individualno in multidisciplinarno obravnavo stanj, povezanih s prehranskim stanjem posameznika, moramo dobro poznati terminologijo klinične prehrane. Ker je klinična prehrana kot medicinska stroka razvita tudi pri nas, v tujini pa so tovrstni terminološki dokumenti že na voljo, želimo tudi v Sloveniji na podlagi konsenza oblikovati enotno terminologijo. Metode: Prispevek je osnovan na podlagi eksplicitnega terminološkega dogovora. K sodelovanju smo povabili obsežno skupino relevantnih slovenskih strokovnjakov s kliničnih, predkliničnih in drugih področij, ki so povezana z dejavnostjo klinične prehrane v medicini, pri oblikovanju pa je sodeloval tudi terminolog s področja medicine. Kot izhodišče smo izbrali terminološke smernice Evropskega združenja za klinično prehrano in presnovo ter ob njih upoštevali najnovejša strokovna priporočila za posamezne pojme. Avtorji so bili v stiku prek osebnih srečanj in elektronske pošte. Pri končnem oblikovanju konsenza je sodelovalo 42 avtorjev iz 19 slovenskih ustanov. Rezultati: Predstavljamo temeljne pojme, terminološke definicije in pripadajoče slovenske termine s področja klinične prehrane. Opredelili smo osnovne motnje prehranjenosti – podhranjenost, prekomerno hranjenost, neravnovesje mikrohranil in sindrom ponovnega hranjenja. Poleg tega smo opredelili tudi s prehranjenostjo povezana stanja – sarkopenijo in krhkost. Osnovne pojme smo podprli s kliničnim kontekstom, v katerem nastopajo. Zaključki: Poenoteno razumevanje osnovnih patoloških stanj, ki jih obravnava klinična prehrana, je izhodišče za nadaljnji razvoj stroke, poleg tega pa je podlaga tudi za prehransko obravnavo in učinkovito prehransko oskrbo.

Cyanobacteria are adaptable and dominant organisms that exist in many harsh and extreme environments due to their great ecological tolerance. They produce various secondary metabolites, including cyanotoxins. While cyanobacteria are well studied in surface waters and some aerial habitats, numerous other habitats and niches remain underexplored. We collected 61 samples of: (i) biofilms from springs, (ii) aerial microbial mats from buildings and subaerial mats from caves, and (iii) water from borehole wells, caves, alkaline, saline, sulphidic, thermal, and iron springs, rivers, seas, and melted cave ice from five countries (Croatia, Georgia, Italy, Serbia, and Slovenia). We used (q)PCR to detect cyanobacteria (phycocyanin intergenic spacer—PC-IGS and cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene) and cyanotoxin genes (microcystins—mcyE, saxitoxins—sxtA, cylindrospermopsins—cyrJ), as well as amplicon sequencing and morphological observations for taxonomic identification. Cyanobacteria were detected in samples from caves, a saline spring, and an alkaline spring. While mcyE or sxtA genes were not observed in any sample, cyrJ results showed the presence of a potential cylindrospermopsin producer in a biofilm from a sulphidic spring in Slovenia. This study contributes to our understanding of cyanobacteria occurrence in diverse habitats, including rare and extreme ones, and provides relevant methodological considerations for future research in such environments.

The northern Adriatic is characterised as the coldest and most productive marine area of the Mediterranean, which is due to high nutrient levels introduced by river discharges, the largest of which is the Italian Po River (at the same time also the largest freshwater input into the Mediterranean). The northern Adriatic is a very shallow marine ecosystem with ocean current patterns that result in long retention times of plankton in the area. The northern Adriatic phytoplankton biodiversity and abundance are well-studied, through many scientific and long-term monitoring reports. These datasets were based on phytoplankton morphological traits traditionally obtained with light microscopy. The most recent comprehensive eastern Adriatic phytoplankton checklist was published more than 20 years ago and is still valuable today. Since phytoplankton taxonomy and systematics are constantly being reviewed (partly also due to new molecular methods of species identification that complement classical methodologies), checklists need to be updated and complemented. Today, metabarcoding of molecular markers gains more and more importance in biodiversity research and monitoring. Here, we report the use of high throughput sequencing methods to re-examine taxonomic richness and provide updated knowledge of phytoplankton diversity in the eastern northern Adriatic to complement the standardised light microscopy method.This study aimed to report an up-to-date list of the phytoplankton taxonomic richness and phylogenetic relationships in the eastern northern Adriatic, based on sequence variability of barcoding genes resolved with advanced molecular tools, namely metabarcoding. Here, metabarcoding is used to complement standardised light microscopy to advance conventional monitoring and research of phytoplankton communities for the purpose of assessing biodiversity and the status of the marine environments. Monthly two-year net sampling targeted six phytoplankton groups including Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) and Chrysophyceae (golden algae) belonging to Ochrophyta, Dinophyceae (dinoflagellates), Cryptophyceae (cryptophytes), Haptophyta (mostly coccolithophorids) and Chlorophyta with Prasinophyceae (prasinophytes) and Chlorophyceae (protist green algae). Generated sequence data were taxonomically assigned and redistributed in two kingdoms, five classes, 32 orders, 49 families and 67 genera. The most diverse group were dinoflagellates, comprising of 34 found genera (48.3%), following by diatoms with 23 (35.4%) and coccolithophorids with three genera (4.0%). In terms of genetic diversity, results were a bit different: a great majority of sequences with one nucleotide tolerance (ASVs, Amplicon sequence variants) assigned to species or genus level were dinoflagellates (83.8%), 13.7% diatoms and 1.6% Chlorophyta, respectively. Although many taxa have not been detected that have been considered as common in this area, metabarcoding revealed five diatoms and 20 dinoflagellate genera that were not reported in previous checklists, along with a few species from other targeted groups that have been reported previously. We here describe the first comprehensive 18S metabarcode inventory for the northern Adriatic Sea.

Background: Previous research, although scarce, has indicated that the general public is still relatively unaware of developmental language disorder (DLD), one of the most common (neuro)developmental disorders. Raising awareness would increase timely involvement in intervention procedures. Aims: To examine public awareness of DLD in the neighbouring countries of Croatia, Italy and Slovenia, as well as to assess the influence of age, gender and education level on that awareness. Also, to investigate public knowledge about the professionals who recognize DLD and to compare the awareness of DLD with that of other (neuro)developmental disorders in childhood. Methods & Procedures: A convenience sample of adults living in the countries of the Adriatic region--Croatia (N = 92), Italy (N = 105) and Slovenia (N = 90)--were asked to fill out a paper-and-pencil questionnaire (public survey) developed within the Working Group 3 of the COST Action IS1406. Responses were analysed quantitatively as a function of age, gender, education level and country using the t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Outcomes & Results: Public awareness of DLD is still unsatisfactory in all three countries. Around 70% of respondents reported having heard of DLD; however, only around 20% of Croatian, 40% of Italian and 5% of Slovenian respondents provided an adequate definition of DLD. Differences in research and clinical traditions may explain the observed variations amongst the three countries. Education level was the only variable that was significantly associated with an awareness of DLD in Croatia and Italy: there, more educated people showed a higher awareness and more correct knowledge, which was not found in the Slovenian sample. Respondents generally perceived speech and language pathologists (SLPs) as the professionals responsible for recognizing DLD. Finally, people possess the highest awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while the awareness of DLD and other (neuro)developmental disorders is equally low. Conclusions & Implications: Public awareness of DLD varies substantially among the three countries, but there is space for improvement in each of them. The findings of this study build on the existing data from the international group of collaborators, and argue for well-planned, systematic awareness-raising activities in the region.

Abstract The outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of developing antiviral surface coatings that are capable of repelling pathogens and neutralizing them through self‐sanitizing properties. In this study, a novel coating design based on few‐layer graphene (FLG) is proposed and silver‐decorated micro copper flakes (CuMF) that exhibit both antibacterial and antiviral properties. The role of sacrificial anode surfaces and intrinsic graphene defects in enhancing the release of metal ions from CuMF embedded in water‐based binders is investigated. In silico analysis is conducted to better understand the molecular interactions of pathogen‐repelling species with bacterial or bacteriophage proteins. The results show that the optimal amount of CuMF/FLG in the coating leads to a significant reduction in bacterial growth, with reductions of 3.17 and 9.81 log for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. The same coating also showed high antiviral efficacy, reducing bacteriophage phi6 by 5.53 log. The antiviral efficiency of the coating is find to be doubled compared to either micro copper flakes or few‐layer graphene alone. This novel coating design is versatile and can be applied to various substrates, such as personal protective clothing and face masks, to provide biocidal activity against both bacterial and viral pathogens.

Poljes are flat closed karst depressions prone to regular flooding. The floods can be several meters high, last for months and damage significantly human infrastructures. To predict the maximum level reached, the polje water balance needs to be implemented. This technique encounters the difficulty that important part of the inflow and outflow flowing through many poljes is ungauged, as it is challenging to measure accurately the numerous springs and ponors activating temporarily with the rise of water level. This work aims to see whether this problem can be handled and the polje water balance reconstituted. To do so, a typical Dinaric polje is equipped with several water level stations installed over its surface and in the nearby water active caves. Combining a 1*1m digital elevation model of the polje surface with water levels and inflow records of the main two springs allowed assessing the variation of flooded volume and reconstructing the water balance. The highest total inflow values reached during the observed period were of about 140-150 m3/s, with up to a third of it being ungauged. In addition, the effect of a large estavelles group on the polje inflow and outflow could be identified, and helped to characterize the outflow, with values comprised between 65 and 75 m3/s. Finally, intense rainfall over the polje flooded surface showed to be a temporary important source of inflow. The values found by the water balance analysis have been used as input and calibration data in a numerical model reproducing the flood dynamics in the polje and its surrounding aquifer. Results validated both polje water balance and conceptual hydrogeological model. They justify the significance of combining water level measurements with a digital elevation model to monitor the floods. The method can be applied to other poljes flooding in a complex way of superposed input and output signals. Finally, the places to be equipped in priority if the polje has no measurement network or if available funding is limited are discussed.

The article compares key normative and judicial responses to the 2015–2016 “refugee crisis” in Slovenia and Austria. It does so by comparing the asylum statistics, the main changes to the legislation reflecting populist reactions to the “refugee crisis,” and judicial responses to these changes and reactions. The qualitative legal analysis is based on examples of the most important changes and responses. The article considers the populistic context of these changes, as discussed by some political scientists, who demonstrate that with the crisis, a new wave of populism—“the populist Othering of migrants”—emerged.

Abstract Extracellular vesicle‐bound DNA (evDNA) is an understudied extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo, particularly in cancer‐unrelated research. Although evDNA has been detected in urine, little is known about its characteristics, localization, and biomarker potential for kidney pathologies. To address this, we enriched EVs from urine of well‐characterized kidney transplant recipients undergoing allograft biopsy, characterized their evDNA and its association to allograft injury. The SEC‐based method enriched pure EVs from urine of kidney transplant recipients, regardless of the allograft injury. Urinary evDNA represented up to 29.2 ± 8% (mean ± SD) of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) and correlated with cfDNA in several characteristics but was less fragmented (P

Microclimatic monitoring (air T, air pressure, CO2, ventilation, humidity, methane, and radon) in selected show caves in Slovenia has been a continuous process for more than 10 years, a process that aims to supervise the use of the caves for tourism in the sense of sustainable environmental management. After the cataclysmic eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano on 15 January 2022, global propagation of ionospheric disturbances was reported worldwide as barometric pressure changes and seismic noise events. Weather stations in Slovenia reported 2–4 hPa changes in atmospheric pressure 16 h after the eruption at 20:30 CET (19:30 UTC). Changes in atmospheric pressure were also detected at 15 air monitoring sites in 3 different caves (20–120 m below the surface), at 8 water monitoring sites in 4 different caves (1–10 m below the water surface), and on the surface (4 air and 2 water monitoring sites), where we identified a small but significant increase in atmospheric pressure of T fell during this global event induced by a far-field volcanic eruption. Cave CO2, methane, and radon measurements did not show significant changes related to the eruption. This is the first evidence of atmospheric pressure changes due to the HTHH volcano eruption in karst caves and waters.

Increasing research demonstrates the potential of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) as a biomarker for monitoring the health of various solid organ transplants. Several methods have been proposed for cfDNA analysis, including real-time PCR, digital PCR, and next generation sequencing-based approaches. We sought to revise the droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)-based approach to quantify relative dd-cfDNA in plasma from kidney transplant (KTx) patients using a novel pilot set of assays targeting single nucleotide polymorphisms that have a very high potential to distinguish cfDNA from two individuals. The assays are capable of accurate quantification of down to 0.1% minor allele content when analyzing 165 ng of human DNA. We found no significant differences in the yield of extracted cfDNA using the three different commercial kits tested. More cfDNA was extracted from the plasma of KTx patients than from healthy volunteers, especially early after transplantation. The median level of donor-derived minor alleles in KTx samples was 0.35%. We found that ddPCR using the evaluated assays within specific range is suitable for analysis of KTx patients' plasma but recommend prior genotyping of donor DNA and performing reliable preamplification of cfDNA.

Slovenija sodi med hitro starajoče se države, kar zahteva prilagoditve družbe na različnih področjih. Eno izmed njih je skrb za starejše, ki zaradi težav, povezanih s staranjem, potrebujejo vrsto storitev in pomoči. Del potrebne pomoči lahko pokrijejo formalne storitve (kot je osebna pomoč na domu), zelo pomembni pa so tudi neformalni viri socialne opore (sorodniki, prijatelji, sosedi). Raziskave kažejo, da ima del starejših razmeroma zadostno socialno oporo, obstaja pa tudi nezanemarljiv delež starejših s šibko socialno oporo ali brez virov neformalne socialne opore. Ti so lahko še posebej ranljivi v okoliščinah, kot je pandemija koronavirusa SARS-CoV-2. Tako članek naslavlja značilnosti omrežij socialne opore starejših, ki živijo doma, v času popolnega zaprtja javnega življenja v prvem valu pandemije, in sicer na podlagi podatkov, zbranih v okviru spletnega panela JazVem. Gre za verjetnostni vzorec 605 oseb, starejših od 64 let. V raziskavi so bile merjene čustvena in instrumentalna opora, opora v smislu neformalnega druženja, pa tudi elementi formalne opore in različne značilnosti omrežij. V vzorcu je bila dobra desetina starostnikov z omejenimi viri socialne opore. To so starostniki, ki niso navedli nobenega vira socialne opore, in starostniki s samo oddaljenimi viri socialne opore. Na število in dostopnost virov socialne opore v času pandemije vplivata spol in velikost gospodinjstva starostnika.

Slovenska priporočila za obravnavo bolnikov z kronično odpovedjo prebavil so povzeta so po smernicah Evropskega združenja za klinično prehrano in metabolizem (angl. ESPEN; European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism) in prilagojena slovenskim izkušnjah zdravljenja odpovedi prebavil. Pretežni del bolnikov z odpovedjo prebavil predstavljajo bolniki s sindromom kratkega črevesa (SKČ), zato je poudarek priporočil na diagnostiki, obravnavi in zdravljenju bolnikov s SKČ. Namen priporočil je vzpostavitev bolj učinkovite prepoznave in obravnave bolnikov z odpovedjo ter vzpostavitvi temeljnih strokovnih izhodišč za zdravljenje teh bolnikov v Sloveniji. Dejavnost zdravljenja kronične odpovedi prebavil z parenteralno prehrano na domu pri odrasli pacientih je bila v Sloveniji formalno vzpostavljena leta 2008, v 13 letih smo zdravili več kot 230 pacientov, v začetku leta 2021 je v 2 centrih (OI Ljubljana, UKC Ljubljana) v zdravljenje vključeno 95 odraslih bolnikov. Pred 6 leti Smo paciente v programu zdravljenja odpovedi prebavil v okviru OI LjubljanA vključili v evropski register premljanja bolnikov na Parenteralni prehrani na domu (PPD), v okviru ESPEN.

Population ageing requires society to adjust by ensuring additional types of services and assistance for elderly people. These may be provided by either organized services and sources of informal social support. The latter are especially important since a lack of social support is associated with a lower level of psychological and physical well-being. During the Covid-19 pandemic, social support for the elderly has proven to be even more crucial, also due to physical distancing. Therefore, this study aims to identify and describe the various types of personal social support networks available to the elderly population during the pandemic. To this end, a survey of Slovenians older than 64 years was conducted from April 25 to May 4, 2020 on a probability web-panel-based sample (n = 605). The ego networks were clustered by a hierarchical clustering approach for symbolic data. Clustering was performed for different types of social support (socializing, instrumental support, emotional support) and different characteristics of the social support networks (i.e., type of relationship, number of contacts, geographical distance). The results show that most of the elderly population in Slovenia has a satisfactory social support network, while the share of those without any (accessible) source of social support is significant. The results are particularly valuable for sustainable care policy planning, crisis intervention planning as well as any future waves of the coronavirus.

Karst aquifers are abundant, but vulnerable water resources. Therefore, a deeper understanding of possible mechanisms that determine the properties of karst springs is crucial. In this work, we present an example of Unica Spring and Malni Spring, the two main outlets of a large karst system in the Notranjska karst region, Slovenia. Although the two springs share same catchment area, the flow distribution between them shows an interesting behaviour: At low-flow conditions, Malni Spring is the main outlet, while Unica spring receives almost no water. During high water events, discharge of Malni Spring stays limited and Unica Spring becomes the main outlet. We relate these observations to the local geometry of the channels and breakdowns in the remote part of the Planinska Jama (Planina Cave), called Mysterious Lake. There, waters from Rakov Škocjan and Javorniki aquifer merge and further diverge to both springs. At low water conditions, the outflow towards the Unica Spring is restricted by the breakdown, so that most of the inflow is directed towards the Malni Spring. With increasing recharge, the level in Mysterious Lake rises until the water starts to flow over the breakdown along a system of large channels (Rak Branch of Planinska Jama) to the Unica Spring. The breakdown level keeps the hydraulic head and the flow towards Malni Spring limited. To verify this scenario, a hydraulic conduit model was made based on the known and predicted channels, and inflows calculated from the historical data of discharge measurements at related springs and ponors. An inversion procedure was used to obtain a satisfactory fit to the observed discharge data and to constrain the selected model parameters. The model accurately reproduced the observed discharge behaviour under low- and high-flow conditions.

Escherichia coli, one of the primary intestinal commensal bacteria in humans and endothermic animals, is commonly considered an indicator of faecal pollution. E. coli strains were isolated from karst rivers under different hydrological conditions, from footpaths in tourist caves and from bat guano. Isolates were tested for phenotypic resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline and trimethoprim. The highest percentage of antimicrobial resistant E. coli was found in karst waters, followed by those from surface swabs and from bat guano. Several isolates from rivers and swabs exhibited multidrug-resistant phenotype. Environmental conditions impact the populations of E. coli; a positive correlation between dissolved oxygen and E. coli counts, and a negative correlation between conductivity and E. coli concentrations have been observed for karst rivers. Malenščica (Slovenia), a drinking water resource with an extensive catchment area, contained a relative high percentage of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli strains. None of the isolates from bat guano was resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline. Future monitoring of bats should consider a regular follow-up of indicative microbial disease indicators in fresh guano. Regular cleansing of tourist footpaths in caves and disinfection barriers at the cave entrances reduce the concentration and transmission of E. coli significantly. A future, more detailed, study on characterization of additional E. coli isolates is needed to reveal their pathogeneicity, mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, mobile genetic elements, and gene transfer frequencies to other members of the karst microbiome.

Early diagnosis with rapid detection of the virus plays a key role in preventing the spread of infection and in treating patients effectively. In order to address the need for a straightforward detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection and assessment of viral spread, we developed rapid, sensitive, extraction-free one-step reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. We analyzed over 700 matched pairs of saliva and nasopharyngeal swab (NSB) specimens from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Saliva, as either an oral cavity swab or passive drool, was collected in an RNA stabilization buffer. The stabilized saliva specimens were heat-treated and directly analyzed without RNA extraction. The diagnostic sensitivity of saliva-based RT-qPCR was at least 95% in individuals with subclinical infection and outperformed RT-LAMP, which had at least 70% sensitivity when compared to NSBs analyzed with a clinical RT-qPCR test. The diagnostic sensitivity for passive drool saliva was higher than that of oral cavity swab specimens (95% and 87%, respectively). A rapid, sensitive one-step extraction-free RT-qPCR test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in passive drool saliva is operationally simple and can be easily implemented using existing testing sites, thus allowing high-throughput, rapid, and repeated testing of large populations. Furthermore, saliva testing is adequate to detect individuals in an asymptomatic screening program and can help improve voluntary screening compliance for those individuals averse to various forms of nasal collections.

One of the main challenges in the gene therapy viral vector development is to establish an optimized process for its large scale production. This requires optimization for upstream and downstream processes as well as methods that enable the step-by step analytical characterization of the virus, the results of which inform the iterative refinement of production for yield, purity and potency. The biggest problem here is a plethora of viral vector formulations, many of which interfere with analytical techniques. We took adeno-associated virus (AAV) as an example and showed benefits of combined use of molecular methods and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for viral vectors’ characterization and quantification. Results of the analyses showed that droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) performs better than quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), in terms of robustness and assay variance, and this was especially relevant for partially purified (in-process) samples. Moreover, we demonstrate the importance of sample preparation prior to PCR analysis. We evaluated viral structure, presence of aggregates and impurities with TEM analysis and found that these impacted the differences in viral titers observed by qPCR and ddPCR and could be altered by sample preparation. These results serve as a guide for the establishment of the analytical methods required to provide measures of identity and purity for AAV viral vectors.

The EU’s responses to migration challenges exceed the territory of its member states. Through externalization of border control they spill over into the countries of the Western Balkans (WB), which is crossed by one of the most important migration routes from the Middle East and Africa to the EU. While the WB countries show indifference towards migrants and consider them an “EU problem”, the latter conditions European integration with the establishment of migration management structures similar to those in the EU. The transposition of the EU acquis also increases the criminalization of migrants, which highlights the problematic role of the EU and national legislators in WB in relation to the fundamental rights of migrants.

This manuscript presents four new observations of the jellyfish Mawia benovici in the Adriatic Sea. This new species was recently identified as Pelagia benovici by Piraino et al. (2014) and then placed in the new genus Mawia by Avian et al. 2016. This species is rare and is almost exclusively observed in the Adriatic Sea. Interestingly, the majority of observations refer to males only. Few studies have addressed the issue of sex determination in Syphozoa in particular, as sex identity can only be determined at the medusa stage. Unfortunately, the rarity of M. benovici and the lack of female specimens have so far prevented indispensable laboratory studies to clarify its life cycle. Still, we tried to propose an explanation for our field observations.

One of the obstacles to detecting regional trends in jellyfish populations is the lack of a defined baseline. In the Adriatic Sea, the jellyfish fauna (Scyphozoa and Ctenophora) is poorly studied compared to other taxa. Therefore, our goal was to collect and systematize all available data and provide a baseline for future studies. Here we present phenological data and relative abundances of jellyfish based on 2010–2019 scientific surveys and a “citizen science” sighting program along the eastern Adriatic. Inter-annual variability, seasonality and spatial distribution patterns of Scyphomedusae and Ctenophore species were described and compared with existing historical literature. Mass occurrences with a clear seasonal pattern and related to the geographical location were observed for meroplanktonic Scyphomedusae Aurelia solida, Rhizostoma pulmo, and to a lesser extent Chrysaora hysoscella, Cotylorhiza tuberculata and Discomedusa lobata. Holoplanktonic Pelagia noctiluca also formed large aggregations, which were seasonally less predictable and restricted to the central and southern Adriatic. Four species of Ctenophora produced blooms limited to a few areas: Bolinopsis vitrea, Leucothea multicornis, Cestum veneris and the non-native Mnemiopsis leidyi. However, differences between Adriatic subregions have become less pronounced since 2014. Our results suggest that gelatinous organisms are assuming an increasingly important role in the Adriatic ecosystem, which may alter the balance of the food web and lead to harmful and undesirable effects.

Due to increased frequency of cyanobacterial blooms and emerging evidence of cyanotoxicity in biofilm, reliable methods for early cyanotoxin threat detection are of major importance for protection of human, animal and environmental health. To complement the current methods of risk assessment, this study aimed to evaluate selected qPCR assays for detection of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in environmental samples. In the course of one year, 25 plankton and 23 biofilm samples were collected from 15 water bodies in Slovenia. Three different analyses were performed and compared to each other; qPCR targeting mcyE, cyrJ and sxtA genes involved in cyanotoxin production, LC-MS/MS quantifying microcystin, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin concentration, and microscopic analyses identifying potentially toxic cyanobacterial taxa. qPCR analyses detected potentially toxic Microcystis in 10 lake plankton samples, and potentially toxic Planktothrix cells in 12 lake plankton and one lake biofilm sample. A positive correlation was observed between numbers of mcyE gene copies and microcystin concentrations. Potential cylindrospermopsin- and saxitoxin-producers were detected in three and seven lake biofilm samples, respectively. The study demonstrated a potential for cyanotoxin production that was left undetected by traditional methods in both plankton and biofilm samples. Thus, the qPCR method could be useful in regular monitoring of water bodies to improve risk assessment and enable timely measures.

Tracer tests are rarely applied in mountainous karst aquifers due to difficult or limited basic data acquisition, problems of access and expected strong tailing effects in tracer breakthrough. They are, however, a straightforward method for learning about the characteristics of underground water flow. The main aim of this study was to better understand the processes of flow and storage in the karst aquifer and its unsaturated (vadose) zone, which is several hundreds of metres thick. A tracer test was conducted with injection from the surface into a shaft in the central part of the aquifer. The results were compared to a previous tracer test with similar injection characteristics (the same tracer, injection into shaft vs karren) but with a significantly different vadose zone thickness. For this purpose, direct information obtained through tracer breakthrough curves analysis was modified in accordance with the distance factor, normalised as a function of tracer mass injected, and expressed as a residence time distribution. A conceptual model of flow and transport duality through the karst system was elaborated: part of the tracer flows rapidly through the primary drainage channels, while the other part is predominantly characterised by prolonged retention in less permeable zones. The results obtained support the idea that the thickness of the vadose zone has a very strong influence on residence times and dispersion. The subsequent outflow of the tracer and its detection greatly depend on the meteorological conditions. Our study suggests that the greater the thickness of the vadose zone, the better its protective function. In addition, the study was also relevant from the regional perspective, in that it enabled us to identify more closely the location of the Adriatic–Black Sea watershed. Key words: karst hydrogeology, tracer test, unsaturated zone,conceptual model, groundwater flow and storage, source protection. Vplivi nezasičene cone na značilnosti toka podzemne vode in prenosa topnih snovi v gorskih kraških vodonosnikih - primer Javorniško - Snežniškega masiva (JZ Slovenija) Sledilni poskusi sodijo med metode, ki neposredno prikazujejo značilnosti toka podzemne vode. Zaradi oteženih ali omejenih dostopov do osnovnih podatkov, zahtevnosti terenskega dela in pričakovanega dolgotrajnega podaljšanja pojavljanja sledila se sledilni poskusi v gorskih kraških vodonosnikih redko izvajajo. Glavni namen te študije je bil boljše razumevanje procesov toka in skladiščenja v kraškem vodonosniku in njegovi nezasičeni (vadozni) coni, ki je lahko debela več sto metrov. Opravljen je bil sledilni poskus v osrednjem delu vodonosnika z injiciranjem v brezno. Rezultate smo primerjali s preteklim sledilnim poskusom s podobnimi lastnostmi injiciranja (enako sledilo, injiciranje v brezno oz. škraplje) toda s precejšnjo razliko v debelini vadozne cone. V ta namen so bile neposredne informacije, pridobljene z analizo sledilne krivulje, spremenjene v skladu s faktorjem razdalje, normalizirane kot funkcija količine uporabljenega sledila in izražene kot porazdelitev zadrževalnega časa. Izdelan je bil konceptualni model dvojnosti toka in prenosa topnih snovi skozi kraški sistem: del sledila se pretaka hitro skozi primarne drenažne kanale, medtem ko je za del tega značilno podaljšano zadrževanje v manj prepustnih območjih. Dobljeni rezultati podpirajo trditev, da debelina vadozne cone močno vpliva na zadrževalne čase in disperzijo. Poznejši odtok sledila in njegovo zaznavanje sta v veliki meri odvisna od meteoroloških razmer. Naša študija kaže, da je z večjo debelino vadozne cone njena zaščitna funkcija večja. Poleg tega je bila študija pomembna tudi z regionalnega vidika, saj nam je omogočila, da natančneje opredelimo jadransko-črnomorsko razvodnico. Ključne besede: kraška hidrogeologija, sledilni poskus, nezasičena cona, konceptualni model, tok in skladiščenje podzemne vode, zaščita vodnih virov.

Corporate survival increasingly depends on knowledge management, and the world of work is characterized by the phenomenon of an aging workforce. Although there is much literature on aging management, little research has been conducted on the learning of older workers. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap and identify the path of forming strategies for successful learning of both age groups. The main findings of the study show that both younger and older workers are motivated to learn. It is recognized that the internal and external factors of motivation to learn and perceived self-efficacy need to be improved, while personality dimensions are important predictors of perceived self-efficacy in learning and thus contribute indirectly to learning outcomes.

Despite accumulating evidence of the importance of the jellyfish-associated microbiome to jellyfish, its potential relevance to blue biotechnology has only recently been recognized. In this review, we emphasize the biotechnological potential of host⁻microorganism systems and focus on gelatinous zooplankton as a host for the microbiome with biotechnological potential. The basic characteristics of jellyfish-associated microbial communities, the mechanisms underlying the jellyfish-microbe relationship, and the role/function of the jellyfish-associated microbiome and its biotechnological potential are reviewed. It appears that the jellyfish-associated microbiome is discrete from the microbial community in the ambient seawater, exhibiting a certain degree of specialization with some preferences for specific jellyfish taxa and for specific jellyfish populations, life stages, and body parts. In addition, different sampling approaches and methodologies to study the phylogenetic diversity of the jellyfish-associated microbiome are described and discussed. Finally, some general conclusions are drawn from the existing literature and future research directions are highlighted on the jellyfish-associated microbiome.

Povzete so ugotovitve predhodne študije o vplivu načrtovanega avtocestnega odseka Trebnje - Hrastje na kraško vodo, ki je bila izdelana na osnovi terenskega ogleda in pregleda dosedanjih raziskav. Sledilni poskus je pokazal pretakanje vode iz Lukovškega potoka do izvira Zijala s hitrostjo 0.45 cm/s in nato do izvira Prečne, ki se pomembno obogati z vodo iz kraškega vodonosnika Suhe krajine, s hitrostjo 4.1 cm/s. Ob visokih in najvišjih vodostajih lahko pričakujemo opazno hitrejše pretakanje in z vodo tudi hiter prenos morebitnega onesnaženja. Hitrost in način odtoka padavin s površja neposredno v kraško notranjost še ni bil raziskan. Povezavo Bršljinskega z Lukovškim potokom pa glede na rezultate sledenja ocenjujemo kot vprašljivo. Results of the preliminary study of influences of the planned highway sector Trebnje - Hrastje on karst waters are summarized. The study was based on field survey and review of previous researches. Underground water flow from the stream Lukovški potok to the Zijalo spring with average velocity 0.45 cm/s and further on to the Prečna spring with velocity 4.1 cm/s was proved. This second part of flow is significantly enlarged by recharge from the karst aquifer of Suha krajina. At high and highest waters rather faster flow can be expected and at the same time also fast spreading of eventual pollution. Velocity and mode of infiltration of rain directly into the karst underground was not defined yet. Based on the results of tracing test the underground connection between the Bršljinski potok and Lukovški potok can be estimated as questionable.

Že od leta 1995 sodelujejo sodelavci IZRK ZRC SAZU na slovensko-kitajskih projektih s področja krasoslovja. V letu 1998 so rezultate raziskav objavili v knjigi “South China Karst”. Tudi v letu 1999 so raziskave opravljali v Yunnanu, in sicer v lunanskem osrednjem “shilinu” (kamnitem gozdu) kot tudi v turistično manj znanih “shilinih”. Poleg tega so spoznavali značilnosti stolpastega krasa okoli krajev Babao in Puzhehei (jugovzhodni Yunnan). From 1995 researchers from Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU are working on slovene-chinese karstological projects. In 1998 their studies were published in the book “South China Karst”. Also in the year 1999 researches took place in Yunnan, that’s in central Lunan shilin (stone forest) as well as in less touristically known shilins. Beside this they have been recognising characteristics of cone and tower karst in the regions of Babao and Puzhehei.

V letih 1986 in 1987 je bilo zajetih 7 serij vodnih vzorcev na 36 do 47 mestih na Babnem, Loškem in Cerkniškem polju, na Blokah in Loškem potoku za fizikalno-kemične analize, ki so pokazale na kakovostno stanje teh voda.Z apnenčastega in dolomitnega sveta, ki obdaja Babno, Loško in Cerkniško polje se steka padavinska voda v izvire, ki napajajo ponikalnice. Večina izvirnih voda označuje vsebnost nitratov pod 4 mgNO3 -/l, kloridov pod 5 mg Cl-/l in vsebnost fosfatov okoli 0.05 mg PO43-/l. Bakteriološke analize so pokazale oporečno vodo, le nekaj izvirov pa je bilo občasno neoporečnih. Znatno slabšo kakovost imajo Pudobski, Podgorski in Mežnarjev studenec s poseljenim zaledjem ter ponikalnice na ponorih, kjer smo določali do 20 mg/l nitratov in kloridov, fosfatov pa do 5 mg/l. Ponikalnice na svoji poti po kraških poljih sprejemajo onesnaženje zaradi poseljenosti in industrije. Ker pa se voda ponikalnic pojavlja zaporedno na več niže ležečih poljih, pomeni to prenos in kopičenje onesnaženja po toku navzdol, tudi v izvire, ki so zajeti za oskrbo prebivalstva s pitno vodo. In 1986 and 1987 seven series of samples were taken at 36 to 47 sampling points on Babno, Loško and Cerkniško Polje and on Bloke and at Loški potok in order to find out their physico-chemical properties and their quality. Rainwater flows from the limestone and dolomite landscape around Babno, Loško and Cerkniško polje into springs feeding the sinking streams. The nitrate level at most of the springs was below 4 mg NO3-/l and chloride below 5 mg Cl-/l; the o-phosphate level varied around the value of 0.05 mg PO4 3-/l. The bacteriological analyses of the spring waters showed that they are not of drinking quality and only few springs were seasonally of good quality. Poorer quality was found in springs with populated catchments, such as are Pudobski Izvir, Podgorski and Mežnarjev Studenec and, obviously in all the sinking waters at swallow-holes where the nitrate and chloride level was up to 20 mg/l and phosphate up to 5 mg/l. Flowing over karst poljes this water receives pollution due to habitations and industry. As the water of these sinking streams reappears downstream in several lower-lying karst poljes this results in the transport and accumulation of pollution downstream even in springs that are captured for water supply.

Podani so rezultati sledenja na območju Tianshengan-a, Lunan v provinci Yunnan na Kitajskem. Sledenje je bilo nadaljevanje raziskav pretakanja vode na tem delu krasa v sodelovanju s kitajskimi raziskovalci v okviru slovensko-kitajskega znanstvenega sodelovanja. Sledenje je bilo izvedeno septembra 1997 ob visokem vodostaju in je pokazalo 2 krat večje hitrosti v primerjavi s pretakanjem vode na tem območju ob srednjem vodostaju julija 1996. The results of water tracing in the Tianshengan region, Lunan, Yunnan province, China are given. This water tracing presents a continuation of water flow studies in this part of the karst based on Slovene-Chinese scientific co-operation. In September 1997 a water tracing test at high water level was carried out and showed greater velocities double compared to water flow in this area at medium water level in July 1996.

Sledilni poskus z injiciranjem v ponor Tržiščice (JV Slovenija) je v hidroloških pogojih upadanja pretokov od srednjih do nizkih voda pokazal koncentriran odtok v smeri Tominčevega studenca ter Javornikovega in Debeljakovega izvira ob Krki pri Dvoru. Navidezne hitrosti pretakanja so bile med 2,4 in 4,6 cm/s, povrnjena količina uranina v teh izvirih pa je bila ocenjena na 2/3 injicirane količine. Navidezna hitrost pretakanja v smeri Podpeške jame, kjer se je sledilo pojavilo manj izrazito in šele po izdatnejših padavinah, ki so nastopile po dveh mesecih stalnega upadanja pretokov, je bila 0,1 cm/s. Ugotovitve skupaj z rezultati starejših sledenj kažejo na značilno odvisnost raztekanja vode iz Tržiščice od hidroloških razmer. A tracing test with injection of uranine in the sinking stream Tržiščica (SE Slovenia) was carried out at the hydrological conditions of recession from medium to low waters. Concentrated flow towards the springs Tominčev studenec, Javornikov izvir and Debeljakov izvir near the village Dvor in the Krka valley was proved. Apparent flow velocities between 2.4 and 4.6 cm/s were obtained, and the share of recovered tracer was estimated to 2/3 of the injected amount. In the Podpeška jama cave the tracer in lower concentrations was detected only after heavy rain occurred after two months of low water. The apparent flow velocity of 0.1 cm/s was calculated. Obtained results, together with the outcomes of the previous tracing tests, indicate that hydrological conditions significantly influence the underground water flow from the Tržiščica sinking stream.

Reka Reka, s prispevno površino 422 km2 , ponika v Škocjanskih jamah, ki jih je UNESCO leta 1986 proglasil za svetovno dediščino. V sedemdesetih letih je bila Reka ena od najbolj onesnaženih rek v Sloveniji. V času visokih vod leta 1999 in 2000 smo izvedli meritve hitrosti, kalnosti, vrste fizikalnih in kemičnih parametrov ter teste strupenosti. Glavni cilji teh pionirskih meritev so bili preveriti mersko opremo v terenskih pogojih visokih voda, zbrati čimveč podatkov ter primerjati uporabnost opreme. The river Reka, with 422 square kilometres of drainage area sinks into the Škocijan Cave system, which was proclaimed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986. In the seventies, the Reka river was one of most polluted rivers in Slovenia. During floods in 1999 and 2000, experimental measurements of velocity, water level, suspended sediment transport, chemical parameters and toxicity tests were conducted. The main tasks in the first stage of the investigation: check the equipment in field conditions and test the toxicity of water in particular cross sections. In the paper, the measurements and some discussion of the results and applicability of equipment are presented.

Podani so rezultati meritev temperature, pH, specifične el. prevodnosti in raztopljenega kisika ter analiz vsebnosti nitratov, o-fosfatov, kloridov, biokemijske in kemijske potrebe po kisiku v poplavnem valu konec marca 2000, ko je pretok Reke pri Cerkvenikovem mlinu porasel s 13,2 na 112 m3 /s. Napravljena je ocena prenosa onesnaženja po merjenih komponentah in primerjava z manjšim poplavnim valom maja 1999. This article aims to offer the results of temperature, pH, specific electric conductivity and dissolved oxygen measurements as well as analyses of nitrate, o-phosphate and chloride levels and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand in a flood pulse at the end of March 2000 when the Reka discharge at Cerkvenikov mlin increased from 13.2 to 112 m3/s. An estimation of pollution transport according to measured components and comparison with a smaller flood pulse in May 1999 are given.

Podane so osnovne fi zikalno-kemične značilnosti voda v zaledju Malenščice in povezave, ki jih nakazujejo. Dolomitna voda Cerkniščice odteka predvsem v Rak v Rakovem Škocjanu, Kotliči pa kažejo na povezavo s Svinjsko jamo in Malo Karlovico. Rak na ponoru predstavlja ob zelo nizkih vodostajih pretežno vodo Kotličev s Ca/Mg okoli 3,5 in z najnižjo vrednostjo 2,2 ob najnižjih vodostajih, ko v Svinjsko jamo ponika le Cerkniščica, kar se kasneje odrazi tudi v Malenščici. Ob visokih vodostajih v ponor odteka mešanica Raka in Kotličev s Ca/Mg okoli 4. Dotok voda iz doline Pivke označuje višje razmerje Ca/Mg in večje vrednosti pokazateljev onesnaženja, medtem ko označujejo infi ltracijsko vodo iz slabo prepustnega dela Javornikov vrednosti Ca/Mg okoli 5. Zaradi zapletenosti sistema ostaja še vrsta odprtih vprašanj, ki bi jih lahko pojasnile le dodatne raziskave. Basic physico-chemical properties of waters within the area of Malenščica are given, and so are the connections that they indicate. Dolomitic water of the Cerkniščica mostly fl ows into the Rak in Rakov Škocjan valley, while Kotliči springs show the connection with Svinjska jama (cave) and Mala Karlovica. When water levels are low the Rak river at its swallowhole mostly comprises waters from Kotliči, with Ca/Mg about 3, 5 and the lowest value 2,2 when the water levels are the lowest, when only the Cerkniščica sinks into Svinjska jama; this later reflects also in the water of the Malenščica. When water levels are high, the mixture of Rak and Kotliči fl ows into the swallowhole, and Ca/Mg is about 4. The infl ux of waters from Pivka Valley is designated by higher ratio of Ca/Mg and higher values of pollution indicators, when the infi ltration water from poorly conductive part of Javorniki is designated by Ca/Mg values about 5. Due to the complexity of the system there are still some unanswered questions left which can only be answered by carrying out additional researches.

Poseben hidrološki pojav zahodnega dela kraškega masiva Javornikov so presihajoča Pivška jezera. Za celotno območje je značilna tesna povezava podzemnih in površinskih voda. V kraškem vodonosniku se vode pretakajo večinoma podzemno, ob močnejših in dolgotrajnejših padavinah pa se nivo podzemne vode dvigne in voda se na številnih mestih preliva na površje. Tako postanejo aktivni občasni kraški izviri ob reki Pivki, z vodo pa se napolnijo tudi kraške depresije in nastane večje število presihajočih kraških jezer. Nekatera se pojavljajo dokaj pogosto in imajo vodo tudi do pol leta, večinoma pa so bolj redka ali so zalita samo izjemoma v času močnejših poplav. V članku so predstavljene hidrogeološke značilnosti območja, ki se odražajo v režimu pretakanja kraške vode in načinih njenega pojavljanja na površju. A special hydrological feature of the western part of the Javorniki karst massif is the intermittent karst lakes of Pivka. For the whole area a close connection between underground and surface water is characteristic. In the karst aquifer water flows mostly underground, but after more intensive or long-lasting precipitation the water table rises and water emerges on the surface at different locations. Intermittent karst springs along the Pivka river are activated. Also karst depressions are filled with water and several intermittent karst lakes can be formed. Some of them appear very often and contain water for up to six months, but mostly they are very rare and filled up only exceptionally in the time of big floods. In the article the hydrogeological characteristics of the area are presented, which are reflected in the flow regime of karst water and in the forms of its appearance on the surface.

Potato production is one of the most important agricultural sectors, and it is challenged by various detrimental factors, including virus infections. To control losses in potato production, knowledge about the virus-plant interactions is crucial. Here, we investigated the molecular processes in potato plants as a result of Potato virus Y (PVY) infection, the most economically important potato viral pathogen. We performed an integrative study that links changes in the metabolome and gene expression in potato leaves inoculated with the mild PVYN and aggressive PVYNTN isolates, for different times through disease development. At the beginning of infection (1 day post-inoculation), virus-infected plants showed an initial decrease in the concentrations of metabolites connected to sugar and amino-acid metabolism, the TCA cycle, the GABA shunt, ROS scavangers, and phenylpropanoids, relative to the control plants. A pronounced increase in those metabolites was detected at the start of the strong viral multiplication in infected leaves. The alterations in these metabolic pathways were also seen at the gene expression level, as analysed by quantitative PCR. In addition, the systemic response in the metabolome to PVY infection was analysed. Systemic leaves showed a less-pronounced response with fewer metabolites altered, while phenylpropanoid-associated metabolites were strongly accumulated. There was a more rapid onset of accumulation of ROS scavengers in leaves inoculated with PVYN than those inoculated with PVYNTN. This appears to be related to the lower damage observed for leaves of potato infected with the milder PVYN strain, and at least partially explains the differences between the phenotypes observed.

For the adequate protection of karst springs it is important to understand the functioning of karst systems in their recharge areas. Besides tracer tests with artificial tracers, tracings with natural tracers, such as temperature, are a very useful research tool, especially in complex karst systems with various types and sources of recharge. Detailed monitoring of water levels and temperatures of the Malenščica karst spring, as well as of the intermittent Cerknica Lake and Kotliči spring in its recharge area, indicated that temperature is a good tracer in winter and summer periods, especially when the Cerknica karst polje is flooded. High or low air temperatures influence the temperature of water, which sinks at the Cerknica polje and flows rapidly through karst channels toward the springs. Detailed analysis of selected events enabled calculation of the velocity of groundwater flow toward the Malenščica spring under different hydrological conditions. The estimated values are in accordance with the velocities previously defined in this area, based on several tracer tests with artifi cial tracers. From the results, it is possible to assess the transport velocities of contaminants under different hydrological conditions. This is important information for the protection of the Malenščica spring, which is captured for the public water supply.

Within the scope of monitoring water percolation through the 100-m thick vadose zone in the area of Postojnska jama continuous measurements of precipitation were carried out on the surface, and continuous measurements of water flowandphysicalandchemicalparametersof selected water trickles were performed under the surface. Occasional samples of percolating waters were taken for the analysis of water oxygen isotope composition. An exponential model of groundwater flowwaselaborated,bymeansofwhichtheretentiontime of water in individual trickles was estimated. Modelled retention times of groundwater range from 2.5 months to over one year.