1. Comparison of the mineralogy and microstructure of EAF stainless steel slags with reference to the cooling treatmentMojca Loncnar, Ana Mladenovič, Marija Zupančič, Peter Bukovec, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: TIn the present study the differences in the mineralogical composition and microstructure of various types of EAF stainless steel (EAF S) slag with regard to the cooling treatment, the operation practice in an EAF (electric arc furnace) and environmental ageing reactions were evaluated. It was shown that the mineralogy of the investigated EAF S slags varied from one slag to another, depending on the quality of the produced stainless steel. The production process of the treated steel also has a strong influence on the mineralogy of the slags. The conditions during water cooling treatment were not sufficient to prevent the crystallization of primary mineral phases, which occurs predominantly in air-cooled EAF S slags, probably due to the high basicity of the investigated slags. However, the water cooling treatment of hot slag leads to the absence of γ-CaSiO 4 and the formation of secondary mineral phases predominantly calcite, portlandite, ettringite, calcium aluminate hydrate and calcium silicate hydrate. It has been shown that during the environmental ageing test (down-flow column test) secondary mineral phases were formed, which were the same as those formed during the water cooling treatment. Keywords: electric arc furnace stainless steel slag, cooling path, microstructure, mineralogy Published in DiRROS: 14.08.2024; Views: 42; Downloads: 69
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2. Cognitive functioning in a cohort of high-grade glioma patientsAndreja Cirila Škufca Smrdel, Anja Podlesek, Marija Skoblar Vidmar, Jana Markovič, Jana Jereb, Manja Kuzma, Uroš Smrdel, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: High grade gliomas are associated with cognitive problems. The aim of the study was to investigate cognitive functioning in a cohort of patients with high grade glioma, according to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and methyl guanine methyl transferase (MGMT) status and other clinical characteristics. The patients with the high-grade glioma treated in Slovenia in given period of time were included in study. Postoperatively they completed neuropsychological assessment consisting of Slovenian Verbal Learning Test, Slovenian Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Trail Making Test Part A and B and self-evaluation questionnaire. We analysed results (z-scores and dichotomized results) also according to IDH mutation and MGMT methylation. We examined differences between groups using T-test, Mann-Whitney U, χ2 and Kendall's Tau tests. Out of 275 patients in the cohort, we included 90. Forty-six percent of patients were unable to participate due to poor performance status and other conditions related to tumour. Patients with the IDH mutation were younger, with better performance status, larger proportions of grade III tumours and MGMT methylation. In this group cognitive functioning is significantly better in the domains of immediate recall, short delayed recall and delayed recall, and in the fields of executive functioning and recognition. There were no differences in cognitive functioning in regard to MGMT status. Grade III tumours were associated with more frequent MGMT methylation. Self-assessment proved week tool, associated only with immediate recall. We found no differences in cognitive functioning according to MGMT status, but cognition was better when IDH mutation was present. In a cohort study of patients with high-grade glioma, almost half were unable to participate in a study, which points to an overrepresentation of patients with better cognitive functioning in the research. Keywords: cognition, high grade glioma, IDH1 mutation Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 127; Downloads: 48
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3. Učinkovitost zatiranja invazivne tujerodne vrste navadne barvilnice : poraba časa in potencialne izboljšave pri negi mladjaPeter Smolnikar, Urban Žitko, Marija Kolšek, Matevž Triplat, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: V svetu invazivne tujerodne vrste rastlin (ITVR) povzročajo mnoge spremembe v okolju. Za zatiranje ITVR je znanih precej metod, primernost posamezne in posledično tudi uspešnost pa sta odvisni od vsakega primera posebej – predvsem od cilja, ki ga želimo doseči z zatiranjem. V študiji smo spremljali zatiranje navadne barvilnice v okviru nege mladja, tj. z rezjo pri tleh. Študija je potekala na objektu s površino 2,82 ha, dela so izvajali trije delavci. Cilji študije so bili ugotoviti porabo časa na površino in pridobiti manjkajoča znanja na področju izvajanja dodatnih ukrepov pri negi mladja. V povprečju so delavci za en hektar obžetve potrebovali 18,8 ure produktivnega časa. Po simulaciji študije na osemurni delavnik faktor neproduktivnega časa znaša 1,39 (σ = 0,053) in je nižji od priznanega državnega faktorja neproduktivnega časa (1,58) za sečnjo. Pri interpretaciji rezultatov je potrebna previdnost, ker so pri kratkotrajnih (manj obsežnih) študijah pogosto podcenjeni faktorji neproduktivnega časa. Teoretični izračun, ki temelji na linearni regresiji podatkov, kaže, da je za obžetev enega hektara v celoti potrebno okrog dvaindvajset ur. Kljub že tako nizkemu faktorju neproduktivnega časa je še rezerva za optimizacijo delovnega procesa, vendar so za to potrebne dolgotrajnejše in obsežnejše študije časa. Keywords: gozdarstvo, invazivne rastline, zatiranje, nega pomladka, časovna študija, Phytolacca americana Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 131; Downloads: 43
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4. Soil water dynamics and olive yield (Olea europaea L.) under different surface drip irrigation treatments in northern MediterraneanMatic Noč, Urša Pečan, Marina Pintar, Maja Podgornik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The use of modern irrigation systems and monitoring of soil water status can help improve crop performance and water use efficiency. The influence of different irrigation treatments on soil water content dynamics and olive oil yield was studied over two growing seasons using a surface drip irrigation system in an olive grove in northern Mediterranean climate. Irrigation treatments included optimal irrigation, sustained deficit irrigation (33 % of optimal irrigation), and rainfed treatment. Based on the water applied, we calculated the percentage of replenished estimated evapotranspiration (ETc*) for each treatment using the Penman-Monteith method. Soil water content dynamics were monitored with capacitive probes at five depths (10 to 50 cm). The increase in soil water content at a depth of 30 to 50 cm, which was only achieved with optimal irrigation, resulted in a significantly higher olive oil yield. In contrast, deficit irrigation, despite the addition of water, did not lead to an increase in soil water in the layers below 30 cm, so that the yield was equal to that of rainfed treatment. In irrigated olive groves, it is beneficial to monitor the water content of the soil at several depths to ensure that a sufficient amount of water has been applied.Uporaba sodobnih namakalnih sistemov ter spremljanje stanja vode v tleh lahko pripomore k izboljšanju učinkovitosti rastlinske pridelave in rabe vode. Vpliv različnih načinov namakanja na dinamiko vsebnosti vode v tleh in pri-delek oljčnega olja smo preučevali v dveh rastnih dobah z upo-rabo površinskega kapljičnega namakalnega sistema v oljčnem nasadu v severnem sredozemskem podnebju. Obravnavanja so vključevala optimalno namakanje, trajno namakanje s priman-jkljajem (33 % optimalnega namakanja) in brez namakanja. Na podlagi porabljene vode smo z uporabo metode Penman-Mon-teith izračunali odstotek nadomeščene ocenjene evapotranspi-racije (ETc*) za vsako obravnavo. Dinamiko vsebnosti vode v tleh smo spremljali s kapacitivnimi merilniki na petih globinah (od 10 do 50 cm). Povečanje vsebnosti vode v tleh na globini od 30 do 50 cm, ki je bilo doseženo le z optimalnim namakanjem, je povzročilo večji pridelek oljčnega olja. Nasprotno pa se pri namakanju s primanjkljajem kljub dodajanju vode ni povečala količina vode v tleh v plasteh pod 30 cm, zato je bil pridelek enak pridelku brez namakanja. V namakanih oljčnih nasadih je koristno spremljati vsebnost vode v tleh na več globinah, da se zagotovi, da je bila priskrbljena zadostna količina vode Keywords: diviner, evapotranspiration, irrigation management, olive, soil depths, volumetric soil water content Published in DiRROS: 17.07.2024; Views: 116; Downloads: 142
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5. The physiological impact of GFLV virus infection on grapevine water status : first observationsAnastazija Jež Krebelj, Maja Cigoj, Marija Stele, Marko Chersicola, Maruša Pompe Novak, Paolo Sivilotti, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: In a vineyard, grapevines are simultaneously exposed to combinations of several abiotic (drought, extreme temperatures, salinity) and biotic stresses (phytoplasmas, viruses, bacteria). With climate change, the incidences of drought in vine growing regions are increased and the host range of pathogens with increased chances of virulent strain development has expanded. Therefore, we studied the impact of the combination of abiotic (drought) and biotic (Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) infection) stress on physiological and molecular responses on the grapevine of cv. Schioppettino by studying the influence of drought and GFLV infection on plant water status of grapevines, on grapevine xylem vessel occlusion, and on expression patterns of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 1 (NCED1), 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 2 (NCED2), WRKY encoding transcription factor (WRKY54) and RD22-like protein (RD22) genes in grapevines. A complex response of grapevine to the combination of drought and GFLV infection was shown, including priming in the case of grapevine water status, net effect in the case of area of occluded vessels in xylem, and different types of interaction of both stresses in the case of expression of four abscisic acid-related genes. Our results showed that mild (but not severe) water stress can be better sustained by GFLV infection rather than by healthy vines. GFLV proved to improve the resilience of the plants to water stress, which is an important outcome to cope with the challenges of global warming. Keywords: grapevine, water status, virus infection, GFLV, xylem vessel occlusion, gene expression Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2024; Views: 109; Downloads: 110
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6. Combined toxic effects of BPA and its two analogues BPAP and BPC in a 3D HepG2 cell modelMartina Štampar, Tim Ravnjak, Ana-Marija Domijan, Bojana Žegura, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most commonly used substances in the manufacture ofvarious everyday products. Growing concerns about its hazardous properties, including endocrinedisruption and genotoxicity, have led to its gradual replacement by presumably safer analogues inmanufacturing plastics. The widespread use of BPA and, more recently, its analogues has increasedtheir residues in the environment. However, our knowledge of their toxicological profiles is limitedand their combined effects are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the toxic effectscaused by single bisphenols and by the combined exposure of BPA and its two analogues, BPAP andBPC, after short (24-h) and prolonged (96-h) exposure in HepG2 spheroids. The results showed thatBPA did not reduce cell viability in HepG2 spheroids after 24-h exposure. In contrast, BPAP andBPC affected cell viability in HepG2 spheroids. Both binary mixtures (BPA/BPAP and BPA/BPC)decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, but the significant difference was only observedfor the combination of BPA/BPC (both at 40μM). After 96-h exposure, none of the BPs studiedaffected cell viability in HepG2 spheroids. Only the combination of BPA/BPAP decreased cellviability in a dose-dependent manner that was significant for the combination of 4μM BPA and 4μMBPAP. None of the BPs and their binary mixtures studied affected the surface area and growth ofspheroids as measured by planimetry. In addition, all BPs and their binary mixtures studied triggeredoxidative stress, as measured by the production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde,at both exposure times. Overall, the results suggest that it is important to study the effects of BPsas single compounds. It is even more important to study the effects of combined exposures, as thecombined effects may differ from those induced by single compounds. Keywords: BP analogues, hepatic in vitro 3D cell model, combined exposure, viability, oxidative stress, toxicology Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 492; Downloads: 136
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7. Impact of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone as single and combined treatment on DNA, cell cycle and cell proliferation in HepG2 cellsAna-Marija Domijan, Klara Hercog, Martina Štampar, Goran Gajski, Marko Gerić, Marijana Sokolović, Bojana Žegura, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The study aimed to investigate toxicity and the mechanism of toxicity of two Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA). DON and ZEA were applied to HepG2 cells as single compounds and in combination at low environmentally relevant concentrations. HepG2 cells were exposed to DON (0.5, 1, and 2 µM), ZEA (5, 10, and 20 µM) or their combinations (1 µM DON + 5 µM ZEA, 1 µM DON + 10 µM ZEA and 1 µM DON + 20 µM ZEA) for 24 h and cell viability, DNA damage, cell cycle and proliferation were assessed. Both mycotoxins reduced cell viability, however, combined treatment with DON and ZEA resulted in higher reduction of cell viability. DON (1 µM) induced primary DNA damage, while DON (1 µM) in combination with higher ZEA concentrations showed antagonistic effects compared to DON alone at 1 µM. DON arrested HepG2 cells in G2 phase and significantly inhibited cell proliferation, while ZEA had no significant effect on cell cycle. The combined treatment with DON and ZEA arrested cells in G2 phase to a higher extend compared to treatment with single mycotoxins. Potentiating effect observed after DON and ZEA co-exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations indicates that in risk assessment and setting governments’ regulations, mixtures of mycotoxins should be considered. Keywords: mycotoxins, comet assay, flow cytometry, co-exposure, food monitoring Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 273; Downloads: 147
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8. Retrospective analysis of treatment-naive Slovenian patients with metastatic melanoma treated with pembrolizumab : real-world experienceNežka Hribernik, Marko Boc, Janja Ocvirk, Jasna Knez Arbeiter, Tanja Mesti, Marija Ignjatović, Martina Reberšek, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Based on recent data from clinical trials, the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab prolongs survival and has a good toxicity profile in patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma. However, the question remains whether these results are transmitted into daily clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of pembrolizumab in treatment-naive patients with metastatic melanoma in everyday clinical practice in Slovenia and compare it to the results from clinical trials. Patients and methods. This observational retrospective cohort study included 138 consecutive metastatic treatment-naive melanoma patients treated with pembrolizumab at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana in Slovenia, from January 2016 to December 2018. Patient and treatment characteristics were retrospectively collected from hospital data base. Statistical data was obtained using the SPSS software version 22. Survival rate was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Observation period took place between January 2016 and the end of June 2019. Results. The estimated median overall survival (OS) was 25.1 months (95% CI, 14.6%35.6) and the median progressionfree survival (PFS) was 10.7 months (95% CI, 5.9%15.4). Among all patients, 29 (21.0%) achieved complete response, 31 (22.5%) partial response and 23 (16.7%) reached stable disease. The number of organs with metastatic involvement and the level of baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration had significant influence on survival rates. Immune-related adverse events (irAE) were reported in 88 (63%) patients, while grade 3%4 irAE occurred in 12 (8.7%). Due to toxicity, 16 (11.6%) patients discontinued the treatment. Conclusions. Our real-world data from single centre retrospective analysis of treatment-naive metastatic melanoma patients treated with pembrolizumab showed inferior median OS and similar median PFS, compared to the results from clinical trials. However, patients with normal serum levels of LDH and a small number of organs with metastatic involvement had comparable survival outcomes. Toxicity rates of pembrolizumab were quite similar. These results further support the use of pembrolizumab for metastatic treatment-naive melanoma patients. Keywords: immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, metastatic melanoma, treatment-naive Published in DiRROS: 11.07.2024; Views: 138; Downloads: 75
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9. A new perspective on the molecular dating of the stone crayfsh with an extended phylogeographic information on the speciesDavid Stanković, Katarina Zorić, Simona Đuretanović, Gorana Stamenković, Marija Ilić, Vanja Marković, Saša Marić, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Reconstructing the origin and historical
biogeography of the Austropotamobius torrentium is
hampered by insufcient phylogeographic coverage
of the Balkans and deep contradictions in previous
molecular dating. The present work extends the phylogeographic coverage to Serbia, a country crucial for
understanding the species southward dispersal. Our
analysis revealed that the Southern Balkans lineage
occurs in most of the country, the Central and southeastern Europe lineage is restricted to the southwest
and northeast of the country, while a single population in the north of the country harbors the Lika and
Dalmatia lineage, which was previously thought to be
restricted to the northern-central Dinarides. Dataset
expansion led to revised phylogenetic relationships,
which indicated that the Apuseni lineage is not nested
within Northern-central Dinarides lineages but arose
after the most basal split within Austropotamobius
torrentium. This ‘Apuseni frst’ phylogeny provides
a new perspective for molecular dating, according to
which the split between Austropotamobius pallipes
and A. torrentium took place in the Late Oligocene,
while the formation of the phyletic lineages and the
dispersal from the Dinarides to Serbia occurred in
the late Miocene and is probably associated with the
complex and protracted process of disintegration of
the Neogene freshwater lakes in southeastern Europe. Keywords: Austropotamobius torrentium, Austropotamobius bihariensis, divergence time estimation conficts, historical biogeography, neogene lakes, Serbia Published in DiRROS: 09.07.2024; Views: 153; Downloads: 119
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10. Definitive radiochemotherapy in esophageal cancer : a single institution experienceFranc Anderluh, Miha Toplak, Vaneja Velenik, Irena Oblak, Ajra Šečerov Ermenc, Ana Jeromen, Jasna But-Hadžić, Marija Skoblar Vidmar, 2019, original scientific article Keywords: radiochemotherapy, definitive radiochemotherapy, esophageal cancer Published in DiRROS: 05.07.2024; Views: 196; Downloads: 49
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