The thesis investigates associations between the biomarkers of lead (Pb) exposure (and mercury (Hg), where applicable) and genetic variability in in vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and their newborns from Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, as well as Slovenian men of reproductive age. The research utilizes data from the Public Health …
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia, ranking as the 7th deadliest world’s disease. Over 99% of cases are triggered by unknown environmental factors. Despite decades of research, the exact cause remains elusive, and effective treatments are yet to emerge. Recent epidemiological evidence strongly links cognitive decline …
Current and especially past industrial and mining activities, including underground and open pit mining, have often resulted in soil pollution that has become a global and alarming environmental problem. Among contaminants, heavy metals and metalloids are under environmental scrutiny due to their potential toxicity, persistence, and because they can be …
Air pollution is an inevitable problem that modern society has to face today, with particulate matter (PM) being the most dangerous part of it, threatening human health and the environment. Not all PM particles, however, are equally harmful, since the dangerous potential depends on their size and chemical composition, which …
The area of risk assessment continues to be challenged by foundational issues that limit its potential to inform public health decisions. This doctoral work improves our understanding of the interaction between science and public and environmental health policy by addressing specific challenges in risk assessment within and for decision-making. The …
Due to the nature of the wireless transmission medium, wireless communications are characterised by notably larger losses of data packets than wired communications. The quality of wireless links is highly dependent on channel variations, interference and even transceiver imperfections. Such link uncertainty instigated the development of numerous techniques that can …
Recycling and reuse of waste by-products from steel industry is a common practice worldwide, which is in the last decade becoming more and more established also in Slovenia. Wastes from steel-making industry can be reused as alternative materials to successfully replace natural raw materials in asphalt mixes and in numerous …
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic metals. Its toxicity depends on the route of exposure, on its chemical form and the dose to which a person is exposed. The most susceptible population are pregnant women and children. Epidemiological studies suggest neuropsychological dysfunctions in children who were prenatally exposed …
Buildings are complex systems as external factors are linked to, and have an effect on the characteristics of a building. In this dissertation, the focus is on the connection between external factors and the building’s characteristics, which have an impact on the living conditions, durability and energy efficiency of a …
SRAM-based FPGAs have become an attractive solution for many applications where a short development time, low-cost for low-production volumes, and in-the-field-programming ability are important issues. The flexibility of SRAM-based FPGAs comes from the adoption of a configuration memory that defines the operations of the circuit that the FPGA implements. It …