1771. Insights into chemopreventive effects of rosmarinic acid against aflatoxin B1-induced genotoxic effectsVeronika Furlan, Matjaž Novak, Martina Štampar, Alja Štern, Bojana Žegura, Urban Bren, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: In this study, the chemopreventive effects of rosmarinic acid (RA), a major phenolic acid of the plant Rosmarinus officinalis L., against the carcinogenic naturally occurring mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were investigated using both in silico and in vitro approaches. The in silico investigation of the chemical reactions between rosmarinic acid and the carcinogenic metabolite of AFB1, aflatoxin B1 exo-8,9-epoxide (AFBO), was conducted by activation free energies calculations with DFT functionals M11-L and MN12-L, in conjunction with the 6-311++G(d,p) flexible basis set and implicit solvation model density (SMD), according to a newly developed quantum mechanics-based protocol for the evaluation of carcinogen scavenging activity (QM-CSA). Following the computational analyses, the chemoprotective effects of RA were further studied in vitro in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells by analyzing its influence on AFB1-induced genotoxicity using a comet assay, γH2AX, and p-H3, while its impact on cell proliferation and cell cycle modulation was assessed using flow cytometry. Our computational results revealed that the activation free energy required for the reaction of RA with AFBO (14.86 kcal/mol) is significantly lower than the activation free energy for the competing reaction of AFBO with guanine (16.88 kcal/mol), which indicates that RA acts as an efficient natural scavenger of AFBO, potentially preventing AFB1-specific DNA adduct formation. The chemoprotective activity of RA was confirmed through in vitro experiments, which demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in AFB1-induced single- and double-strand breaks in HepG2 cells exposed to a mixture of AFB1 and RA at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, RA reversed the AFB1-induced reduction in cell proliferation.
Keywords: rosmarinic acid, aflatoxin B1, chemopreventive effects, antigenotoxic effects, density functional theory, chemical carcinogen scavenger, toxicology
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 510; Downloads: 408
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1772. Biocarbon from olive pomace residue as a sulfur host for carbonate-based lithium-sulfur batteriesFrancisco J. Garcia Soriano, Fernando Cometto, Sofia Raviolo, Tim Šlosar, Elena Tchernychova, Boštjan Genorio, Robert Dominko, Victoria Bracamonte, Alen Vižintin, 2025, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 442; Downloads: 264
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1773. Titanium oxynitride-supported Ru nanoparticles as exceptional electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reactionMilutin Smiljanić, Marjan Bele, Luka Pavko, Armin Hrnjić, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Lazar Bijelić, Ana Rebeka Kamšek, Mejrema Nuhanović, Aleš Marsel, Lea Gašparič, Anton Kokalj, Nejc Hodnik, 2025, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 532; Downloads: 276
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1774. ≠An ≠insight into the diet of the bull ray, Aetomylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) in the Northern Adriatic SeaLovrenc Lipej, Riccardo Battistella, Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: This study provides baseline information on the feeding habits of the bull ray, Aetomylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817), in the Gulf of Venezia. Among 1557 prey items isolated from the stomachs of bull ray specimens, gastropods represented the overwhelming majority (93.8%). Within gastropods, Aporrhais pespelecani was the dominant species, followed by Gibbula magus and Bolinus brandaris – all characteristic elements of the biocoenosis of the muddy detritic bottom. We observed differences in prey structure between juveniles and adults, as well as sexes. Among fishes that proved to be particularly important in terms of biomass, the majority of prey items consisted of small pelagic fish, including pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus sp.). This paper contributes new data on the feeding ecology of a lesser known and critically endangered batoid species.
Keywords: myliobatids, feeding ecology, nursery, Gulf of Venice, batoids, endangered species, marine biology
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 528; Downloads: 263
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1775. Seagrasses : ≠a ≠promising source of bioactive compounds for human health applicationsMartina Orlando-Bonaca, Artur Bonaca, Ana Rotter, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Seagrasses are unique marine flowering plants that provide critical ecological services and can serve as valuable reservoirs of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. This review explores the bioactive metabolites found in four seagrass species native to European marine waters: Cymodocea nodosa, Posidonia oceanica, Zostera marina, and Nanozostera noltei. These species exhibit diverse chemical properties, including antioxidants, antimicrobials, and anti-inflammatory agents, making them promising candidates for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications. Despite their promising applications in biotechnology, their full potential remains underexplored due to research and technological limitations. Future studies should focus on optimizing extraction methods, exploring synergistic interactions, and ensuring sustainable utilization of these valuable marine resources.
Keywords: seagrasses, European marine waters, bioactive compounds, human health applications, pharmaceutics, nutriceutics, cosmetics, marine biology
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 533; Downloads: 245
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1776. Corrosion of sintered NdFeB permanent magnetsTerezija Poženel Kovačič, Nataša Kovačević, Ingrid Milošev, 2025, review article Abstract: The green transition to reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy sources and minimise global warming is accelerating the need for NdFeB permanent magnet materials. Sintered NdFeB magnets cover the largest segment percentage within the permanent magnet type group, with a share of over 50%. The microstructure of NdFeB magnets includes grains of the Nd1+εFe4B4 (B-rich phase), which form grain boundaries with both the Nd-rich (Nd4Fe) and matrix (Nd2Fe14B) phases. NdFeB magnets are prone to degradation in harsh environments due to the low corrosion resistance of both iron and neodymium. Consequently, magnets require corrosion protection because their magnetic properties would be jeopardised due to the degradation caused by the corrosion process. Understanding magnets’ electrochemical and corrosion properties is crucial for developing their corrosion protection and thus prolonging their smooth operation in numerous industrial applications. This review aims to present the fundamental corrosion processes on sintered NdFeB magnets, provide an overview of the contemporary magnet production processes of NdFeB magnets and their impact on the corrosion resistance, and summarise the corrosion protection of NdFeB magnets. Prospects are presented, especially regarding the use of magnets in the transportation (hybrid and electric vehicles) industry and the development of alternative types of coatings.
Keywords: sintered magnets, green transition
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 546; Downloads: 249
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1777. Hymenoptera venom immunotherapy in dogs : safety and clinical efficacyAna Rostaher, Nina Maria Fischer, Alessio Vigani, Barbara Šteblaj, Franco Martini, Salina Brem, Claude Favrot, Mitja Košnik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Insect venom allergy is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction following a bee, wasp, or ant sting. The only treatment to prevent further systemic sting reactions is venom immunotherapy (VIT), with an efficacy of up to 98% in humans. Prospective clinical data on VIT efficacy in dogs are currently lacking. In this investigation, 10 dogs with severe allergic reactions to either bee or wasp stings were treated with VIT. All dogs tolerated the therapy without adverse effects and the dogs which were re-stung tolerated the sting. This means that VIT is not only safe, but also efficacious in these patients. Furthermore, it was also shown that in addition to skin testing, two serum allergen-specific IgE tests were reliable to identify the underlying patients’ insect sensitization pattern.
Keywords: anaphylaxis, angioedema, dogs, Hymenoptera allergy, urticaria, venom immunotherapy
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 549; Downloads: 306
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1779. Mapping the path to excellence : Evaluation of the diagnostic and treatment tools for invasive fungal infections in the BalkansNikola Pantić, Aleksandra Barać, Vasilika Mano, Amela Dedeić-Ljubović, Ivan Malkodanski, Ozren Jaksić, Despoina Gkentzi, Mirjana Mitrović, Jelena Todorović, Oxana Munteanu, 2024, original scientific article Keywords: fungal infections, Balkans, laboratory capacity, antifungal treatment, diagnostic methods
Published in DiRROS: 03.07.2025; Views: 366; Downloads: 251
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1780. Current knowledge on the distribution of the poorly known echiurid species Maxmuelleria gigas (M. Müller, 1852) in the Slovenian SeaNeža Leban, Valentina Pitacco, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: In September 2024, a specimen of Maxmuelleria gigas (M. Müller, 1852) was found during a monitoring campaign in the Bay of Koper. This record is the second one of this less known macrobenthic species in the Slovenian Sea and one among few up to date reported in the Adriatic Sea, as well. Sediment mounds observed with an underwater video sledge on muddy bottom in the southern part of the Gulf of Trieste have been related to this species. The species distribution and density (47 per 100 m2) were estimated based on the quantification of the observed sediment mounds. The potential underestimation of the density and distribution of this species in the Gulf of Trieste in the past studies is discussed in relation to sampling method.
Keywords: Echiura, sediment mounds, videotransects, Northern Adriatic, marine biology
Published in DiRROS: 02.07.2025; Views: 455; Downloads: 244
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