861. Taxonomy, phylogeny, and size evolution in the spider genus Megaraneus Lawrence, 1968 (Araneae: Araneidae)Klemen Čandek, Eva Turk, Pedro de Souza Castanheira, Kuang-Ping Yu, Matjaž Gregorič, Volker W. Framenau, Ingi Agnarsson, Matjaž Kuntner, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Among terrestrial animals, spiders exhibit the most striking examples of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) but better understanding of its evolution requires improved taxonomy and phylogeny. Many sexually dimorphic spiders lack adequate description, phylogenetic placement, and natural history observations. In South Africa, we documented the natural history of a poorly known spider, Megaraneus gabonensis (Lucas, 1858), with extreme, female-biased SSD (eSSD, female:male approximately 4:1). Here, we redescribe M. gabonensis, place Megaraneus Lawrence, 1968 phylogenetically for the first time, assess whether the observed eSSD represents an independent evolutionary origin, and test whether the macroevolutionary pattern is better explained by male dwarfism or female gigantism. The recovered phylogenetic placement of Megaraneus in the araneid ‘backobourkiines’, a clade previously considered as restricted to East Asia and Australasia, extends the range of this clade to the Afrotropics. We find that eSSD was present in the common ancestor of the ‘backobourkiines’, with further increases in female body length occurring independently in Megaraneus, Backobourkia Framenau, Dupérré, Blackledge & Vink, 2010, and the currently misplaced Parawixia dehaani (Doleschall, 1859). We conclude that the evolution of eSSD reflects a complex pattern of sex-specific size changes across spider phylogeny, but that in Megaraneus it results from female gigantism.
Keywords: sexual size dimorphism, backobourkiines, trait evolution, South Africa
Published in DiRROS: 30.09.2025; Views: 268; Downloads: 103
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862. Deregulations of DNA damage-responsive genes, genes involved in the endocrine system, in an advanced in vitro 3D zebrafish hepatic cell model after exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) and its emerging alternatives BPAF, BPAP and BPPH : version v1Alja Štern, Špela Rozman, Bojana Žegura, 2025, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: Bisphenol AF (BPAF), Bisphenol AP (BPAP), and Bisphenol PH (BPPH) are being introduced into consumer products to replace BPA and are subsequently detected in ecosystems. This study investigates the genotoxic and endocrine-disruptive potential of these emerging bisphenols using a 3D in vitro liver spheroid model derived from Danio rerio (ZFL cell line), on the transcriptional level. The selected genes targeted DNA damage response pathways (TP53, NER, BER) and endocrine-related signalling (Table 1). ZFL spheroids were prepared by a force floating method as described by Štampar et al. (2019)1. Four-day-old ZFL spheroids were exposed to BPA (50 and 200 µM), BPAF (25 and 100 µM), BPAP (25 and 100 µM), and BPPH (10 and 50 µM) for 24 (Table 2) and 96 (Table 3) hours. Following exposure, total RNA was extracted using the RNeasy® Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany). RNA quality and quantity were assessed prior to reverse transcription (Applied Biosystems, USA), followed by gene-specific preamplification (TATAA PreAmp GrandMasterMix, Tataa Biocenter, Sweden). Gene expression analysis was performed using TaqMan Gene Expression Assays (Applied Biosystems, USA) on the Fluidigm One 48.48 Dynamic Array IFC microfluidic system as described by Štern et al. (2024)2. The generated data was analysed using the Fluidigm Gene Expression Analysis Software and with a free-accessible web program, quantGenious3. The difference in gene expression greater than 1.5-fold was considered a biologically important up/downregulation (relative expression >1.5 or <0.66, respectively). Statistically significant differences were analysed using ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparison test in GraphPad Prism v9 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA).
Keywords: bisphenols, genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ZFL spheroids, gene expression, data
Published in DiRROS: 30.09.2025; Views: 258; Downloads: 152
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864. Near-surface processes of beam-sensitive materials under low energy electron irradiationIbrahim Hameli, Vasyl Shvalya, Neelakandan Marath Santhosh, Ardita Kurtishaj Hamzaj, Oleg Baranov, Uroš Cvelbar, Janez Zavašnik, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: We investigate the interactions and modifications induced by low-energy electron beam irradiation in beamsensitive materials, with crystalline gold trichloride (AuCl3) as a model system. Employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) in an operando setup, we investigated surface and bulk transformations as a function of irradiation time (0–1080 s) and accelerating voltage (1–30 kV). Irreversible structural changes were observed both on the surface and within the bulk of the AuCl3 crystal. Surface analysis revealed the formation and growth of µm-sized vertically oriented carbon nanopillars, with voltage-dependent growth dynamics governed by backscattered (BSE) and secondary electrons (SE). At the same time, the bulk of the AuCl3 decomposed under carbon pillars, forming Au nanoparticles and near-surface voids whose size and spatial distribution correlated with the energy deposition profiles. The observed morphological and chemical alterations pose a significant obstacle to accurate chemical composition analyses by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and suggest a narrow operating window for conducting reliable SEM analysis.
Keywords: beam sensitive materials, electron beam interactions, electron radiation, gold chloride, carbon deposition
Published in DiRROS: 29.09.2025; Views: 251; Downloads: 122
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866. Creative minds in action : students’ imagination and ideas in storytelling, design and problem solving tasks on the PISA testfinal research report Keywords: vzgoja in izobraževanje, kreativnost, domišljija, pripovedovanje, oblikovanje, reševanje problemov, PISA, education, kreative minds, imagination, storytelling, design, problem solving
Published in DiRROS: 29.09.2025; Views: 277; Downloads: 100
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867. Združeni proti osamljenosti : priporočila za učinkovito soočanje z osamljenostjo med starostniki v lokalni skupnostiKatja Bukovšek, Ema Nagode, Urška Napotnik, Mariša Novinc, Primož Povše, Žan Lep, 2025, professional monograph Abstract: Osamljenost med starostniki predstavlja resen in pogost problem, ki močno znižuje kakovost življenja. Aktivno udejstvovanje in vpeljava ukrepov na tem področju je pomembna predvsem zato, ker so starostniki enakovredni pripadniki družbe in imajo v njej zaradi svojih življenjskih izkušenj nepogrešljiv prispevek. Zato je ključno, da poskušamo njihovo kvaliteto življenja ohranjati na čim višji ravni. Ocenjujemo, da je primeren način uvajanja ukrepov na ravni občin oz. lokalnih skupnosti z visokim deležem starega prebivalstva. K reševanju problematike osamljenosti pri starostnikih pa bi lahko prispevali z ukrepi, kot so izobraževanje zdravstvenih delavcev, spodbujanje prostočasnih dejavnosti in druženja, podpora pri duševnem zdravju in mobilnosti ter omogočanje družabništva z živalmi. Uvedba navedenih ukprepov, podprtih z izsledki domačih in tujih raziskav, bi pomembno vplivala na zmanjšanje pojavnosti osamljenosti pri starostnikih. S tem pa ne bi izboljšali le duševnega zdravja starejših, ampak prispevali tudi k zmanjšanju možnosti za razvoj nekaterih nevrodegenerativnih bolezni, ki so z njo povezane.
Keywords: socialno vključevanje, pomoč, elektronske knjige
Published in DiRROS: 29.09.2025; Views: 207; Downloads: 95
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