1. Effects of alpha-cypermethrin and difenoconazole on survival, growth and biomarkers in European green toad tadpoles (Bufotes viridis, Laurenti 1768)Bruno Bekić, Anamarija Žagar, Tatjana Simčič, Branimir Hackenberger Kutuzović, Olga Jovanović Glavaš, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: In recent decades, the decline of amphibian populations has become more pronounced and accelerated, with one of the contributing factors being the excessive use of pesticides. Alpha-cypermethrin, an insecticide, and difenoconazole, a fungicide, are widely employed pesticides globally. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the acute impact of these two pesticides on amphibians, we used European green toad (Bufotes viridis) tadpoles as our model organisms. We assessed mortality and mass as apical endpoints, and examined physiological biomarkers including electron transport system (ETS) activity, catalase activity, and carbonyl protein content. Tadpoles were exposed to varying concentrations of the two pesticides for 48 hours (0.2-10 µg/L for alpha-cypermethrin; 10-100 µg/L for difenoconazole). Our results indicate that the exposure of tadpoles to these pesticides significantly affected their physiology. Mortality was observed exclusively in tadpoles treated with difenoconazole (LC50 = 100.832 µg/L), while a decrease in mass occurred in tadpoles exposed to both pesticides. No significant differences across treatments were found for total ETS activity, catalase activity, or the presence of protein carbonyls. In conclusion, our findings suggest that alpha-cypermethrin at environmentally relevant concentrations poses a risk to European green toad tadpoles, while the effects of difenoconazole are become patent at higher concentrations than those recorded in natural aquatic environments.
Keywords: amphibia, electron transport system, pesticide exposure, toxicology, zoology, ecology
Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 12; Downloads: 8
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2. Acute myotonometric changes in the masseter and upper trapezius muscles after upper body quarter stretching and coordination exercises or chewingMarša Magdič, Miloš Kalc, Matjaž Vogrin, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Pathologies in neck and masticatory muscles affect muscle tone and biomechanical and viscoelastic properties, necessitating precise assessment for treatment. This study evaluated the impact of two guided interventions—relaxing exercises targeting the neck and masticatory muscles (“Exercise”) and heavy chewing using six chewing gums (“Chewing”)—on the masseter and upper trapezius muscles. Twelve participants (aged 19–40 years) underwent myotonometric assessment pre- and post-intervention, measuring tone, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep. The results showed significant changes in the masseter muscle after exercise, with increased stiffness (14.46%, p < 0.001) and tone (7.03%, p < 0.001) but decreased creep (−9.71%, p < 0.001) and relaxation time (−11.36%, p < 0.001). Conversely, chewing decreased stiffness (−8.82%, p < 0.001) and tone (−5.53%, p < 0.001), while it increased creep (9.68%, p < 0.001) and relaxation time (9.98%, p < 0.001). In the trapezius muscles, tone decreased after both interventions (Exercise: −7.65%, p < 0.001; Chewing: −1.06%, p = 0.003), while relaxation increased (Exercise: 1.78%, p < 0.001; Chewing: 2.82%, p < 0.001). These findings reveal the distinct effects of exercise and chewing on muscle properties, emphasising the complexity of their therapeutic potential and the need for further investigation.
Keywords: muscle tonus, relaxation, masseter muscle, trapezius muscle, intervention studies
Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 13; Downloads: 7
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3. The transformative potential of the EU’s Nature Restoration LawJerneja Penca, Mihnea Tănăsescu, 2024, other scientific articles Abstract: Restoration of nature is spreading as a practice and policy approach. The European Union (EU) has not only promoted restoration, but made it an obligation with the Nature Restoration Law. This Comment evaluates the law for its potential to achieve the needed transformation. The law is not inherently disruptive of established approaches to nature conservation that have largely failed to stop nature’s decline. However, its interpretation and implementation can become transformative by tackling root causes of nature’s decline, advancing the restoration of human relationships with nature, and incorporating democratic participation and justice. We hope to inform how legal restoration targets can be translated into concrete actions by countries within and beyond the EU.
Keywords: biodiversity loss, ecological restoration, causes of nature's decline, human-nature relation, participation and justice, EU environmental policy
Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 17; Downloads: 8
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4. Probing sodium structures and dynamics in hard carbon for Na-ion batteries using ▫$^{23}$▫Na operando solid-state NMR spectroscopyMatej Gabrijelčič, Blaž Tratnik, Gregor Kapun, Elena Tchernychova, Nataša Zabukovec Logar, Andraž Krajnc, Robert Dominko, Alen Vižintin, 2025, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 20; Downloads: 11
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6. Interpersonal relationships as coping mechanisms during bed rest : a thematic synthesis literature reviewAna Cikač, Saša Pišot, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Bed rest (BR) studies are primarily designed to investigate the effects of weightlessness on the human body, but they are also used to study the effects of physical inactivity. For this purpose, participants are typically recruited from the general population without requiring specialized training, which contrasts with the selection process for cosmonauts. The BR study environment is often characterized as highly stressful, highlighting the importance of understanding coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies among participants, as well as the role of their daily interactions. This review aims to determine whether interpersonal relationships and the concept of social connectedness (SC) have been explored within the context of BR studies. For the search strategy, the definition of exclusion criteria, and the initial screening, PRISMA 2020 statement was followed. The PEO framework was used to generate keywords, and thematic synthesis was applied for data extraction, analysis, and synthesis. An initial search did not uncover any studies examining the concept of SC in the context of BR as an environment with extreme conditions, suggesting that SC in this context has not yet been investigated. While findings of thematic synthesis indicate that interpersonal relationships play a significant role in coping with and adapting to the extreme conditions of BR studies. As results showed these relationships can have both positive and negative effects. Interpersonal relationships also serve as a crucial support mechanism among participants. Additionally, how participants make sense of their involvement in such studies remains underexplored, and further research in this area is recommended in the discussion.
Keywords: bed rest, social connectedness, interpersonal relationships, coping mechanisms, thematic synthesis, literature review, social connectedness, interpersonal relationships, coping mechanisms, thematic synthesis, literature review
Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 16; Downloads: 8
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9. The intergenerational succession of leadership in the family business : the change succession bringsBojan Dolar, Roberto Biloslavo, Erhan Aydin, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This study focuses on leadership succession in family businesses, specifically examining the first-generation succession in six Slovenian manufacturing family enterprises. The authors introduce a novel perspective to studying this process by not limiting the analysis to the incumbent (IC) - successor (SR) dyad, but also integrating the family members’ view in the research design. By employing a qualitative approach (i.e. a comparative case study that predominantly relies on interviews with all three studied groups) the authors collect rich data on attitudes, perceptions and expectations about succession in family businesses. The research highlights the crucial role of leadership succession in ensuring the longevity and sustainability of family businesses, as effective leadership transitions are vital for maintaining business continuity, preserving family values, and fostering the intergenerational transfer of both knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit. While ICs typically possess a range of attitudes towards succession— from proactive to reluctant—SRs generally approach the process with optimism and caution, driven by their personal needs and expectations. The attitudes of both ICs and SRs are influenced by contextual factors and psychosocial dynamics, which significantly affect the succession's initiation, leadership, and relational dynamics within the family.
Keywords: family business, leadership succession, succession process
Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 16; Downloads: 7
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10. Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumorsSara Orehek, Taja Železnik Ramuta, Duško Lainšček, Špela Malenšek, Martin Šala, Mojca Benčina, Roman Jerala, Iva Hafner Bratkovič, 2024, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 22; Downloads: 16
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