Zagreb Area Research Articles

Temporal Activity and Distribution of the Invasive Mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus in the Zagreb Area, Croatia

Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus are invasive mosquito species that are causing great public concern. Aedes albopictus have successfully spread in Croatia, established in both the coastal and continental parts of the country, while Aedes japonicus is invading temperate climate areas. The invasive Aedes species are particularly attracted to the black plastic water containers and flower vases in cemeteries where they oviposit their eggs. Therefore, monitoring of this species was carried out in 12 cemeteries in Zagreb, using ovitraps with masonite strips as a substrate for oviposition. The monitoring was carried out from 2017 to 2020. The traps were inspected and the substrate was replaced every two weeks. This study showed that these two invasive species were present and very abundant in the cemeteries. In the case of Ae. albopictus, a higher population density and a greater number of occupied cemeteries were detected. This species was identified in all 12 cemeteries. Aedes albopictus was identified as the dominant species at all study sites. The spread of Ae. japonicus increased during 2018 in comparison to the previous year. Although this species was present in approximately 9% of the ovitraps, the observed population remained consistent throughout the course of the study. The findings indicate that cemeteries can be considered as significant public health hotspots, as the invasive Aedes mosquitoes tend to develop and reproduce in such environments. Consequently, the mosquito population of these two invasive species may only be reduced by applying integrated mosquito management measures, focused on the education of citizens.

Relation between air and soil pollution based on statistical analysis and interpolation of Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb): Case study of Zagreb, Croatia

Purpose. This paper focuses on the comparison of Ni and Pb concentrations in air and soil pollution in the Zagreb area. Due to the very limited amount of publicly available data from soil analysis samples, 2016 and 2019 were chosen as the best possible indicators of related changes in metal concentrations in soil and air. Methods. Testing the normality of Ni and Pb concentrations in the total deposited matter (TDM) confirmed the feasibility of using two parametric statistical tools – the Pearson correlation coefficient and the t-test. The Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation method was selected as the best approach for a small number of measurements. Findings. The insufficient amount of data is the main shortcoming for urban health policy in a large area like Zagreb. The small number of air measurement stations and especially soil sampling sites cannot lead to any reliable conclusions about urban pollutants, their activity over time and direct links to soil toxic degradation based on statistical or geological methods and analyses. However, there is no doubt that urban pollution sources fill the soil with accumulated toxic elements such as Ni and Pb, especially in suburban areas located along the paths of the dominant wind directions. Originality. This is an original research that for the first time statistically analyzes and maps publicly available air and soil pollution data for the period 2016-2019. Practical implications. This research is a necessary step in determining the future planning of air and soil measurement stations in the Zagreb urban area.

Potential establishment of a dry port as the multimodal logistic center in Croatia

Following the footsteps of European Union, Croatian national development strategy tends to address environmental effects of the transport sector and encourage development of multimodal transport. Aim of this paper is to present the potential possibilities for Croatia to achieve European and national transport development goals, by providing an overview of container traffic in Croatia, and existing transport development projects. For Croatia to meet the increasing demand in freight transport, and to position itself effectively in European market, as well as to comply European and national sustainable development policies, development of intermodal transport infrastructure is an imperative. Seaport Rijeka is located on exquisite geo-traffic position in the EU TEN-T network, and with increasing demand and lack of possibilities to expand, the dry port establishment has already been proposed as a solution for Seaport Rijeka to modernize and expand its business. As a result, the links between dry port establishment initiative and transport development projects in Croatia, are presented and elaborated. Paper proposes a concept of potential establishment of dry port as a multimodal logistic center in Croatia, in Zagreb area, with the review of its advantages.

NATURAL BUILDING STONE IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF THE ZAGREB CATHEDRAL

Natural stone has been used since the dawn of civilization as a construction material for buildings that are historical and cultural buildings and monuments. The Zagreb Cathedral is an example of such a historical and cultural building and data regarding the extraction of stone for its construction and reconstruction is scientifically underestimated. Based on a review of previously published literature and an investigation on the current state of the sites where stone for construction was previously quarried, this paper presents a systematic overview of challenges regarding stone material that will be faced in the restoration of the Cathedral after the 2020 earthquakes. The autochthonous stone varieties used for the Cathedral, namely lithothamnium limestone, litavac, calcareous sandstone, and vinicite were determined. The description of the locations where they were quarried was emphasized, and the suitability of these sites for re-quarrying the stone blocks during reconstruction after the 2020 earthquake was investigated. In addition, the Cathedral was renovated in the meantime with travertine imported from Italy, which, although it is not of domestic origin, represents an integral part of the Cathedral and whose characteristics must be taken into account in the planning of the current reconstruction of the Cathedral. To preserve the cultural memory of quarrying in the Zagreb area, emphasis is given to the importance of preserving and showing old visual representations of the quarries.

A Song about the Horrible Ptuj Plague or How the Slovenian Electronic Archives Contributes to Historical Research

On the example of the Virtual Archival Reading room and free access to digitized manuscripts from the Historical Archives in Ptuj, which are located in the Slovenian Electronic Archive (e-ARH.si), the experience of the historian (PhD student) is presented when determining the authenticity and credibility of archival sources whose content influenced the setting of the hypothesis in the article about the plague epidemic in the Zagreb area in 1682-1682. The aforementioned digitized material is compared with relevant sources in the Digital Library of Slovenia, an egdotic analysis is carried out and the importance of a free and holistic approach to digitized material in discovering the historical context and building a complete historical story is presented.

Reception of the Zagreb Traditional Wooden House in the Brick Residential Architecture of Zagreb’s Opatovina and Upper Town in the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries

During the foundation period of Zagreb’s Gradec and Opatovina, a specific architectural type of wooden single-storey residential house emerged, the so-called purgerska hiža, based on the traditional wooden architecture of the wider Zagreb area, which has been defined, for the first time in this paper, as the Zagreb traditional wooden house. Features of this house type can be recognised in brick residential houses from the 18th century onwards, both in Opatovina and Gradec, and they became a staple piece of architecture commissioned by the economically less powerful and less educated. This paper describes the prominent features of this architectural type, as well as the specificities of a more elaborate type of two-storey house that developed therefrom. Here it is shown that this type continued in the brick form long into the 19th century, and that certain features occasionally cropped up even in the 20th century. All Upper Town and Opatovina houses that can be subsumed under this type have been identified in this paper, as well as houses derived from that type, which can be considered its modifications, and they have been analysed in order to determine where the influences on this type of architecture had come from, adopting a new thesis on Zagreb as a border zone that was influenced by two ethnographic regions: Turopolje and Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Transportation-geographical analysis of the public transportation system: a case study of the Sesvete District and the municipalities of Gornja Stubica and Marija Bistrica

Public transportation is a fundamental societal service that directly affects spatial development. In order to ensure a high level of functionality and sustainability of the public transport system, as well as even spatial development, a good planning framework for its development is a necessity. This paper analyses the distribution and functional characteristics of the public transportation system in the northeastern part of the Zagreb Urban Agglomeration: the Sesvete district and the neighbouring municipalities of Gornja Stubica and Marija Bistrica in Krapina-Zagorje County. The goal of this paper has two parts: to analyse the public bus and train transportation systems in the study area, using relevant traffic, demographic, and functional data; and to create a typology of public transport quality of the settlements of the research area. Based on the results of the analysis, potential measures to aid the development of public transport in the study area, as well as their potential impact for the entire area of Zagreb, have been detailed in the discussion section. The results of the analysis indicate that public transport is more available and of better quality in the southern part of the study area and in Sesvete and the smaller settlements surrounding it, but it is less frequent and less available throughout the majority of settlements in Gornja Stubica and Marija Bistrica.

POJEDINA OBILJEŽJA KVALITETE ŽIVOTA OSOBA S DUŠEVNIM SMETNJAMA – PERSPEKTIVA KORISNIKA USLUGE CASE MANAGEMENTA I OSOBA SMJEŠTENIH U DOM ZA ODRASLE

SOME ASPECTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES – PERSPECTIVE OF CASE MANAGEMENT USERS AND PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES ABSTRACT This paper presents two perspectives of people with mental disabilities on their perception of quality of life. Main aim of this paper was to develop a deeper knowledge about certain aspects of quality of life of people with mental health disabilities from the perspective of case management users and people in mental health facilities in the geographical area of Zagreb. Aspects of quality of life that we were interested in were: general health (physical and mental), social and environmental aspects (focusing on social transfers mostly). For this purpose, qualitative research approach was selected and data was collected through semi-structured interviews on the total sample of 8 users. Participants of this study were persons in direct contact with mental health facility »Dom za odrasle – Zagreb«. The mentioned mental health facility is providing case management program for their users, and therefore we had four participants from a case management group and four participants that were accommodated in the mental health facility. The results showed significant differences in social functioning, perception of mental health, as well as in environmental domain on behalf of case management users. Physical health is perceived better in mental health facilities. Key words: quality of life; people with mental disabilities; case management; metal health facilities; social work

The relationship between biodiversity and the biomass of grasslands in the Zagreb area (NW Croatia)

Research into the floristic and ecological characteristics of grasslands in the Zagreb area was conducted in June and July 2020. Eight localities were processed, each containing two 1m2 plots. The floristic composition of each quadrat was analysed and the presence of two vegetation communities, Festuco-Brometea and Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, was determined. Although indigenous taxa dominate, two invasive plants: Echinocystis lobata (Michx.) Torr. et A. Gray and Erigeron annuus (L.) Desf. have been recorded. Based on the functional traits of taxa, the functional diversity of plots was calculated and compared with the number of taxa and the weight of plant biomass collected within the plots. Functional diversity values ranged from 1.121 to 2.060 and dry biomass from 251.4 to 586.8 g m-2 per quadrat. Correlation analyses linked a decrease in the number of taxa and functional diversity with an increase in biomass and specific leaf area. Functional diversity is positively correlated with the number of taxa, plant dry matter content and leaf dry matter content. It is necessary to conduct this type of research in other grassland communities in Croatia to obtain more detailed insights into the relations of these parameters.

Impact of North Atlantic Oscillation and drought conditions on summer urban heat load ‐ a case study for Zagreb

AbstractFrequent heat waves in the latest decade have drawn attention due to large mortality and economic losses. Urban areas are in additional danger of extreme heat due to the well‐known urban heat island (UHI) phenomena. Here, we investigate the effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in modifying urban heat in Zagreb, Croatia. Both winter (wNAO) and summer (sNAO) NAO components are analysed in terms of indirect (lagged) and direct effects on the urban heat load. The strongest increase in heat load was found when positive wNAO was followed by negative sNAO, while the opposite situation led to the strongest decrease. Situations with the same wNAO and sNAO polarity resulted in much weaker amplitude of changes due to opposing effects on climate parameters over investigated area. These findings were confirmed using ground measurements from meteorological station, as well as an urban climate model. However, not only changes in the total heat load, but also differences regarding UHI intensity are detected. It is found that soil moisture, at least partially, drives such behaviour. The combination of positive wNAO followed by negative sNAO leads to a longer drier and warmer conditions over the Zagreb area and vice versa. Hence, in situations with an extended drier period the increase in heat load over green areas is found to be stronger compared to the densely built‐up regions resulting in lower spatial gradient. This was confirmed by additional modelling experiments where the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) was used to analyse the effect of drought conditions on UHI. These findings are additionally confirmed using satellite land surface temperature data. The potential applicability of this study includes UHI mitigation by irrigation of green urban areas in situations when seasonal forecasts indicate that warmer and drier conditions are expected.

Genocidal Killings of Romanies in the Broader Area of Zagreb during World War II, 1941–1945

Romanies lived in the area of Zagreb from the second half of the 14th century onwards and were integrated into its society. Their history in the area at hand was marked by the anti-Gypsy policy that often included repressive assimilation and forced sedimentarisation. This was particularly noticeable during World War II, when the Ustasha authorities persecuted the Romany population. Their genocidal policy in the area of Zagreb encompassed the Romanies’ deportation to the Jasenovac concentration camp, where the majority of them were killed.

Assessment of ozone concentration data from the northern Zagreb area, Croatia, for the period from 2003 to 2016

A measurement station located in an urban area on the southern slope of the Medvednica Mountain (120 m a.s.l.), close to the Croatian capital Zagreb, provided data for an analysis of the photosmog in the city of Zagreb. Data for the period 2003-2016 obtained from this station and analysed in this work can also be compared with the nearby Puntijarka station (980 m a.s.l.) for which a similar analysis has already been carried out. In Puntijarka station analysis, it has been shown that there is most probably no significant change in ozone concentrations during the observed period. In this study the mean value of the annual ozone volume fractions showed a linear trend of 0.23 ppb yr-1, a growth that is in the worst case scenario among the lowest global prediction, while the seasonal (April-to-September) mean values had a trend of 0.32 ppb yr-1, which is a certain clearly observable growth. The 95-percentile values had trends of 0.009 ppb yr-1 (annual data) and -0.072 ppb yr-1 (seasonal data), respectively. Both of these values show very small changes if any at all. By using FT analysis, with the calculation of uncertainties, we have observed three prominent cycles of 169 ± 4 h (weekly cycle), 24 ± 1 h and 12 ± 1 h (diurnal cycles). Uncertainties were low which strongly indicate that the cycles are present. However, since high concentrations of ozone were observed only sporadically, ozone pollution in the northern part of Zagreb is at the present rather low. A Fourier transformation was used to analyse the data for periodic behaviour, which revealed the existence of diurnal and weekly modulations. Nevertheless, constant monitoring is important and will continue in the future as part of continuous monitoring of the ozone levels in the area.

IODINE STATUS AND THYROID FUNCTION IN LACTATING WOMEN AND INFANTS - A SURVEY IN THE ZAGREB AREA, CROATIA.

SUMMARYLactating women (LW) and infants have high dietary iodine requirements and are at risk of iodine deficiency. The aim of the study was to assess iodine status and thyroid function in LW and their breastfed infants in Zagreb, Croatia. The study included 133 LW and breastfed infant pairs. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and thyroid function parameters were measured in all subjects. In LW, breast milk iodine concentration (BMIC) was measured and iodine and salt rich food frequency questionnaire data were collected. Results of analysis indicated that 99.2% of the LW used iodized salt in household and 20.4% used iodine-containing vitamin and mineral supplements. Median (IQR) UIC was 75 µg/L (19.0-180.5 µg/L) in LW and 234 µg/L (151.0-367.5 µg/L) in infants, whereas BMIC was 121 µg/kg (87.8-170.8 µg/kg). Multivariate regression analysis revealed BMIC to be a significant predictor of infant UIC (p<0.001). Positive correlation was recorded between LW and infant thyroid function. This was the first study in Croatia demonstrating BMIC to be a reliable biomarker of iodine status during lactation and predicting iodine intake in breastfed infants. The study confirmed that mandatory salt iodization in Croatia ensured sufficient dietary iodine for LW and optimal iodine intake for breastfed infants via breast milk.

P091 Regularity of check-ups at the cystic fibrosis centre in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: At our Cystic Fibrosis Centre (CF Centre) for children and adults it is the policy to see patients at least quarterly/year and have at least 4 respiratory samples cultured. We analysed the adherence to this regime in pandemic and regular circumstances. Methods: We compared the number of check-up visits, hospitalisations and respiratory samples taken in the pre-pandemic 2019 and the pandemic year 2020. Descriptive statistics and t-test (paired two sample for means) were used. Results: The sample consists of 93 patients (40 males, 52 adults), age range 2–36 yrs, median age in 2020: 19,5 yrs. Our goal of at least 4 visits/yr was not achieved for 29/93 patients in 2019. vs. 43/93 in the pandemic year. Although some patients visited the CF Centre more frequently in the pandemic year (15/93), most of them came less often. From a total of 93 patients seen in 2019, 12 did not have a check-up in 2020. Altogether, during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020. year we noticed a convincing, statistically significant trend in declining routine check-ups, as well as hospital admissions among cystic fibrosis patients in relation to pre-pandemic 2019 year (M = 5,20 ± 3,19 vs. M = 3,87 ± 2,88;t = 4,77, p < 0.001). This phenomenon, of course, entails a reduced, also statistically significant, number of respiratory cultures performed in pandemic 2020 year (M = 4,88 ± 4,22 vs. M = 3,34 ± 3,20;t = 5,29, p < 0.001). Conclusion: We definitely observed a negative trend in follow-ups of CF patients in the pandemic year. In our case it could also be partially caused by two serious earthquakes in the Zagreb area. Avoiding hospital arrivals and dropping out of usual follow-up practice due to fear of COVID-19 contagion may be responsible for more frequent CF exacerbations and poorer outcome for our patients in the future. Whether the observed lower compliance rate during the pandemic 2020 year result in more significant threat to our patients than COVID-19 itself remains to be seen.

Brzo širenje i prva masovna pojava vrste Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) u poljoprivrednoj proizvodnji u Hrvatskoj

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys (Stal, 1855)) is an extremely polyphagous invasive insect originating from East Asia. It causes damage by feeding on fruit trees and shrubs, legumes, forest trees, and ornamental shrubs and trees. The pest has successfully established in North America and Europe and causes economic damage to agricultural production. The first discovery of H. halys in Croatia occurred in 2017 in the coastal region in Rijeka. In 2018, the pest was sporadically observed in urban areas of Sveta Nedelja, Zagreb and Vukovar, and a total of 22 specimens of H. halys were found in single and multi-family houses in eight locations. The discovery of the species in the continental part of the country is evidence of the spread of this species in Croatia. During 2019, the first mass occurrence of the pest was detected in the rural area of Zagreb (Drencec) in a soybean field. A total of 723 specimens of H. halys were identified. The average number of stink bugs per 10 plants was 14 specimens, which poses a serious threat to soybean production in the area. The very rapid spread of the pest from urban to rural areas and the establishment of its local populations is evidence of the invasive nature of the species and a warning signal for farmers in Croatia. To prevent the spread and mass occurrence of H. halys on agricultural land and to minimise possible damage to agricultural production, it is necessary to constantly monitor the pest and, if necessary, to take appropriate protective measures in agriculture.

Romi u Stupniku: primjer demografskog i socioekonomskog položaja Roma uoči Drugoga svjetskog rata

Romi u Stupniku: primjer demografskog i socioekonomskog položaja Roma uoči Drugoga svjetskog rata

Combined Space–Time Analysis of Geodetic and Geological Surveys for Evaluation of the Reliability of the Position of Points in the Geodynamic Network of the City of Zagreb

This paper describes the long-standing interdisciplinary geodynamic research for the wider Zagreb area, the most seismically active area of the continental part of the Republic of Croatia, extending over an area of around 800 km2. As a result of the research, which is based on geodetic and geological field measurements, a unique interdisciplinary movement model of the surface layers of the Earth’s crust for the project area is created. The analysis of survey data has determined the continuous tectonic activity of the wider Zagreb area. In the past 18 years, a total of 10 GPS measurement campaigns have been conducted. For each campaign, the velocities of geodynamic network points were calculated, and the cumulative velocity rate was determined from all measurement campaigns for the entire period of observations using GAMIT/GLOBK software. Displacements at individual measuring points of the network, throughout research, vary widely and depend on its location within the local geologic structural framework and regional tectonic movements. These displacements in detail represent a measurable insight into the tectonic activity of the area of research. Therefore, in this paper, special attention is given to the analysis and explanation of these variations in the displacements of the individual geodynamic points, even indicating the questionable quality of location selection for some points. In this way, we seek to explain the causes and mechanisms of such displacements. The results presented in this paper represent the preseismic area condition and further can be used in coseismic 2020 earthquake displacement analysis.

Accuracy Analysis of Point Velocities Determined by Different Software Packages and GNSS Measurement Processing Methods

The paper analyzes the geodynamic network of the City of Zagreb for periodic campaigns carried out from 2006 to 2009 which were processed by different software packages. The first computations and processing results were obtained by using the scientific software Gamit/Globk and indicate the ongoing tectonic activity of the area. In this paper, all calculations were performed by using the scientific software Bernese. Processing strategies and applied error models in the Gamit and Bernese solution are analyzed. The results of the previous analyses show the need to perform GNSS measurements at intervals of up to one year, which is necessary for understanding the mechanism of the structural frame of the wider Zagreb area. The research and analysis performed in this paper indicate certain uncertainties in determining the velocities from periodic one-year GNSS measurements. When periodic GNSS observations are analyzed at time intervals shorter than 2.5 years, annual signals can cause significant errors in determining point velocities. The accuracy of determining velocities between annual time intervals depends on a number of factors: noise level in GNSS measurements, measurement sessions quantity and applied computation strategies. Previously, the time series analysis of observations was a key procedure in the context of geodynamic and geokinematic research and the FODITS algorithm was used for the analysis. A noise analysis on the daily time series of coordinates was performed for the purpose of understanding all influences on geodynamic points. Moreover, a correlation between the time series of observations was determined in order to estimate the final velocity uncertainty error. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of the methods and procedures used to determine the coordinates and velocities of points that can be reliably used for geodynamic and geokinematic analyses and consequently, timely responses to various geophysical phenomena due to earthquakes or other natural phenomena.

Population dynamics of spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in orchards in the Zagreb area

The invasive species Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931), the spotted wing drosophila, was first recorded in Croatia in 2010. Since then, it has spread on Croatian territory but its presence has not yet been confirmed in the City of Zagreb. In this research population dynamics of D. suzukii was investigated in three orchards in Zagreb (Maksimir, Jelenovac, Zelenjak) in the period from 20th of March to 27th of November 2017. Feeding traps with apple vinegar were used for catching D. suzukii. The flight began in the period from 27th of June to 11th of July and lasted until 27th of November. The total pest catches were 874 specimens (Jelenovac 187, Maksimir 232 and Zelenjak 455). From September to November there was a continuous flight and a large increase in the number of caught flies, suggesting the presence of more overlapping generations. Besides the host plants, the development of the pest in this area is also enabled by suitable climatic conditions. The present population in the City of Zagreb County poses a danger to fruit producers in the Zagreb County. The results of this research are a contribution to better understanding of the population and the spread of the pest in Croatia.

The Zagreb (Croatia) M5.5 Earthquake on 22 March 2020

On 22 March 2020, Zagreb was struck by an M5.5 earthquake that had been expected for more than 100 years and revealed all the failures in the construction of residential buildings in the Croatian capital, especially those built in the first half of the 20th century. Because of that, extensive seismological, geological, geodetic and structural engineering surveys were conducted immediately after the main shock. This study provides descriptions of damage, specifying the building performances and their correlation with the local soil characteristics, i.e., seismic motion amplification. Co-seismic vertical ground displacement was estimated, and the most affected area is identified according to Sentinel-1 interferometric wide-swath data. Finally, preliminary 3D structural modeling of the earthquake sequence was performed, and two major faults were modeled using inverse distance weight (IDW) interpolation of the grouped hypocenters. The first-order assessment of seismic amplification (due to site conditions) in the Zagreb area for the M5.5 earthquake shows that ground motions of approximately 0.16–0.19 g were amplified at least twice. The observed co-seismic deformation (based on Sentinel-1A IW SLC images) implies an approximately 3 cm uplift of the epicentral area that covers approximately 20 km2. Based on the preliminary spatial and temporal analyses of the Zagreb 2020 earthquake sequence, the main shock and the first aftershocks evidently occurred in the subsurface of the Medvednica Mountains along a deep-seated southeast-dipping thrust fault, recognized as the primary (master) fault. The co-seismic rupture propagated along the thrust towards northwest during the first half-hour of the earthquake sequence, which can be clearly seen from the time-lapse visualization. The preliminary results strongly support one of the debated models of the active tectonic setting of the Medvednica Mountains and will contribute to a better assessment of the seismic hazard for the wider Zagreb area.