1. Bridging biotremology and chemical ecology : a new terminologyValerio Mazzoni, Gianfranco Anfora, Reginald Bifield Cocroft, Fatouros Nina E., Meta Virant-Doberlet, 2024, review article Abstract: Living organisms use both chemical and mechanical stimuli to survive in their environment. Substrate-borne vibrations play a significant role in mediating behaviors in animals and inducing physiological responses in plants, leading to the emergence of the discipline of biotremology. Biotremology is experiencing rapid growth both in fundamental research and in applications like pest control, drawing attention from diverse audiences. As parallels with concepts and approaches in chemical ecology emerge, there is a pressing need for a shared standardized vocabulary in the area of overlap for mutual understanding. In this article, we propose an updated set of terms in biotremology rooted in chemical ecology, using the suffix ‘-done’ derived from the classic Greek word ‘δονέω’ (pronounced ‘doneo’), meaning ‘to shake’. Keywords: vibrational communication, chemical ecology, biotremology, semiophysicals, pherodones, allelodones, zoology Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 95; Downloads: 71 Full text (679,97 KB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of cyanobacterial and algal extracts-microcystin and retinoic acid contentMichal Bittner, Alja Štern, Marie Smutna, Klara Hilscherova, Bojana Žegura, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: In the last decade, it has become evident that complex mixtures of cyanobacterial bioactive substances, simultaneously present in blooms, often exert adverse effects that are different from those of pure cyanotoxins, and awareness has been raised on the importance of studying complex mixtures and chemical interactions. We aimed to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of complex extracts from laboratory cultures of cyanobacterial species from different orders (Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Aphanizomenon gracile, Microcystis aeruginosa, M. viridis, M. ichtyoblabe, Planktothrix agardhii, Limnothrix redekei) and algae (Desmodesmus quadricauda), and examine possible relationships between the observed effects and toxin and retinoic acid (RA) content in the extracts. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the extracts were studied in the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line, using the MTT assay, and the comet and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (cytome) assays, respectively. Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) was used to detect toxins (microcystins (MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR) and cylindrospermopsin) and RAs (ATRA and 9cis-RA) in the extracts. Six out of eight extracts were cytotoxic (0.04–2 mgDM/mL), and five induced DNA strand breaks at non-cytotoxic concentrations (0.2–2 mgDM/mL). The extracts with genotoxic activity also had the highest content of RAs and there was a linear association between RA content and genotoxicity, indicating their possible involvement; however further research is needed to identify and confirm the compounds involved and to elucidate possible genotoxic effects of RAs. Keywords: cyanobacteria, algae, extracts, complex mixtures, genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, retinoic acids, microcystins, cyanotoxins, chemical analysis Published in DiRROS: 19.07.2024; Views: 94; Downloads: 96 Full text (1,58 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Why are the Early Gothic murals in St. Jacob’s Church in Ormož, Slovenia, almost entirely black?Anabelle Križnar, Katja Kavkler, Sabina Dolenec, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: In St. Jacob’s parish church in Ormož, Slovenia, mural paintings from around 1350–1370 are partially conserved in the northeastern corner of the main nave. They are almost completely black, indicating a large-scale pigment degradation. They were studied as a part of a larger research project aiming to identify materials applied and their possible degradation. First, they were studied in situ, and next, extracted samples of plaster, pigments, and colour layers were analysed by optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM-EDS, and XRD. Haematite, green earth, malachite, azurite, and tenorite were identified, showing that azurite and perhaps also malachite degraded to black tenorite, probably due to their fine grinding and their application directly on the fresh plaster. The plaster is made with small and large amounts of aggregate with mostly quartz with some impurities, which makes it fragile. The original appearance of these murals was of bright blue and green colours. Keywords: mural painting, medieval painting, Gothic art, St. Jacob's Church, Ormož, Slovenia, pigments, chemical structure, colour degradation, optical microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, FTIR, XRD Published in DiRROS: 17.04.2024; Views: 247; Downloads: 249 Full text (81,04 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Investigations of chemical element distributions in soil, North Macedonia—a reviewTrajče Stafilov, Robert Šajn, Jasminka Alijagić, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This review article considers the following aspects: naturally distributed chemical elements and their enrichments, and the increased occurrence of PTEs due to anthropogenic and urban activities, as well as due to the geochemical uniqueness of certain geochemical landscapes, depending on the lithological environment. The review article is the result of many years of successful cooperation between the Geological Survey of Slovenia and the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, as well as several other institutions from North Macedonia, Russia and Romania but, also, through the voluntary and enthusiastic work of Prof. Trajče Stafilov’s PhD and Master’s students. To create the Geochemical Atlas, the territory of North Macedonia was covered with 995 sampling locations, but 16 separate areas with soil contamination were additionally sampled. The total sum of all collected soil samples was 3983 from 2449 different sampling sites in the period from 2006 to 2017. The analyses were performed at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences in Skopje, at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia, at the Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation (ICIA), Cluj-Napoca, Romania, at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia, and at Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada. The sum of all analysed soil samples in all four mentioned laboratories was 7991 from 2006 to 2017. Using advanced mathematical methods such as multivariate statistical methods (HCA, FA, PCA) and artificial neural networks–multilayer perceptron (ANN-MP), predictions were made about the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their distribution in real space. In less than two decades (2007–2023) of fruitful collaboration, a large number of scientific works have been published: 188 scientific publications, 8 geochemical atlases and 23 chapters in monographs. Keywords: chemical elements, distribution, pollution, soil, North Macedonia Published in DiRROS: 25.03.2024; Views: 413; Downloads: 212 Full text (86,55 MB) |
5. How to compute the M-polynomial of (chemical) graphsEmeric Deutsch, Sandi Klavžar, Gašper Domen Romih, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Let $G$ be a graph and let $m_{i,j}(G)$, $i,j\ge 1$, be the number of edges $uv$ of ▫$G$▫ such that $\{d_v(G), d_u(G)\} = \{i,j\}$. The M-polynomial of $G$ is $M(G;x,y) = \sum_{i\le j} m_{i,j}(G)x^iy^j$. A general method for calculating the M-polynomials for arbitrary graph families is presented. The method is further developed for the case where the vertices of a graph have degrees 2 and $p$, where $p\ge 3$, and further for such planar graphs. The method is illustrated on families of chemical graphs. Keywords: M-polynomial, chemical graph, planar graph Published in DiRROS: 18.03.2024; Views: 277; Downloads: 82 Full text (376,13 KB) |
6. Degradation and Stabilization of Polymer MaterialsBranka Mušič, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2023, other scientific articles Keywords: polymer-based materials, nano, micro, and macro composites, effects on (micro) organisms and toxicity, impact on the ecosystem, mechanisms and products of accelerated aging and degradation, physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological, analysis, biodegradability, sustainability, life cycle, renewable and recycled resources and the circular economy Published in DiRROS: 21.12.2023; Views: 502; Downloads: 165 Full text (226,05 KB) This document has many files! More... |
7. Heavy metal signature and environmental assessment of nearshore sediments: Port of Koper (Northern Adriatic Sea)Nastja Rogan Šmuc, Matej Dolenec, Sabina Dolenec, Ana Mladenovič, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Heavy metal abundance and potential environmental risks are reported for surface sediments (n = 21) from the Port of Koper area, Republic of Slovenia. The enrichment factor (EF) indicates minor enrichment in arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and zinc (Zn), moderately to severely enriched with nickel (Ni). The trace metal chemistries, in the context of sediment quality guidelines (SQG), imply adverse threshold effect concentrations (TEC) and probable effect concentrations (PEC), for Ni only. Sediment sequential leaching experiments demonstrated that the majority of heavy metals were of natural lithogenic origin and low bioavailability. The heavy metals’ potential for “Risk Assessment Code” values exhibited no or low anthropogenic environmental burden, with the exception of Mo. Keywords: port sediments, heavy metals, chemical speciation, risk assessment, Northem Adriatic Sea Published in DiRROS: 12.12.2023; Views: 342; Downloads: 183 Full text (6,88 MB) This document has many files! More... |
8. Alkali activation of metallurgical slags : reactivity, chemical behavior, and environmental assessmentIsabella Lancellotti, Federica Piccolo, Katja Traven, Mark Češnovar, Vilma Ducman, Cristina Leonelli, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) represent a promising alternative to conventional building materials and ceramics. Being produced in large amounts as aluminosilicate-rich secondary products, such as slags, they can be utilized for the formulation of AAMs. Slags are partially crystalline metallurgical residues produced during the high temperature separation of metallic and non-metallic materials in the steelmaking processes. In the present study, the electric arc furnace carbon or stainless steel slag (EAF) and secondary metallurgical slag such as ladle furnace basic slag (LS) were used as precursors in an alkali-activation process. EAF slag, with its amorphous fraction of about 56%, presented higher contents of soluble Si and Al species with respect to ladle slag R (35%). However, both are suitable to produce AAM. The leaching behavior shows that all the release values are below the regulation limit. All the bivalent ions (Ba, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) are well immobilized in a geopolymeric matrix, while amphoteric elements, such as As and Cr, show a slight increase of release with respect to the corresponding slag in alkaline and aqueous environments. In particular, for Sb and As of AAM, release still remains below the regulation limits, while Mo presents an increase of leaching values that slightly exceeds the limit for landfill non-dangerous waste. Keywords: slag, aluminosilicate materials, chemical reactivity, cold consolidation, alkali activation, leaching test, open access Published in DiRROS: 22.05.2023; Views: 472; Downloads: 249 Full text (4,49 MB) This document has many files! More... |
9. The role of oxygen in new vinification technologies of white and red winesKlemen Lisjak, 2007, doctoral dissertation Keywords: winemaking, wines, musts, chemical composition, white wines, red wines, oxygen, oxidation, pressing, hyperreduction, microoxygenation, glutathione, caftaric acid, coutaric acid, fertaric acid, hydroxycinnamates, anthocyanins, polyphenols Published in DiRROS: 06.09.2022; Views: 786; Downloads: 235 Link to full text |
10. Synoptic risk assessment of groundwater contamination from landfillsSonja Cerar, Luka Serianz, Katja Koren, Joerg Prestor, Nina Mali, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Waste management in Europe has improved in recent years, reducing the amount of waste disposed at landfills. However, there are still many landfills in the countries. It is well known that landfills that do not have measures in place to control leachate entering groundwater can contaminate groundwater long after the landfill is closed. Collecting monitoring results from all landfills allows permitting and management agencies to improve action plans. This relies on a synoptic risk assessment that allows prioritization and milestones to be set for required actions. The developed method of synoptic risk assessment is based on a conceptual model of the landfill and the results of chemical groundwater monitoring tested at 69 landfills in Slovenia. The study confirms that most landfills have a direct or indirect impact on groundwater quality. All landfills were classified into three priority classes on the basis of the synoptic risk assessment. The results show that a total of 24 landfills have a clearly pronounced impact on groundwater. A total of 31 landfills have a less pronounced impact due to the favorable natural attenuation capacity of the soil or the technically appropriate design of the landfill itself. A total of 14 landfills have a less pronounced or negligible impact on groundwater. Keywords: conceptual model, synoptic risk assessment, landfill, groundwater, chemical analysis Published in DiRROS: 19.07.2022; Views: 762; Downloads: 366 Full text (3,09 MB) This document has many files! More... |