1091. Fenton-like photocatalyzed degradation of dibutyl phthalate with goethite and carboxylic acidsS. Hejdai, D. Buzek, Petr Klusoň, Oliver Bajt, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Detailed investigation of photocatalyzed degradation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), an endocrine disrupter, in the presence of α-FeOOH (goethite) and different carboxylic acids is the focus of this study. To get a better insight into the efficiency of the degradation, the influence of different parameters, such as concentration of total Fe and Fe(II), dissolved oxygen, DBP concentration, pH and salinity is investigated. The reaction mechanism consists of several interrelationship steps. The first step is the chemical reaction of carboxylic acid groups of the organic acids with hydroxyl groups of the α-FeOOH and a charge transfer upon illumination generating Fe(II). The second step is the release of Fe(II) into the solution followed by H2O2 oxidation to form highly photoactive hydroxyl complex of iron(III) and ˙OH. Simultaneously, the superoxide radical O2˙− and hydroperoxyl radical is formed in acidic solutions in presence of carboxylic acids as well. This mechanism explains the genesis of different reactive species oxidizing DBP. From the variety of the studied carboxylic acids (oxalic, citric, salicylic, pyruvic, maleic, and fumaric), oxalic acid is the best Fe-ligand for the photoreductive dissolution of goethite. Concentrations of the total amount of Fe and its dissociated forms Fe(II) as well as oxygen and hydroxyl radicals play a fundamental role in efficiency of DBP degradation. The photodegradation of DBP with goethite and the use of suitable carboxylic acids under optimized reaction conditions could be an efficient process for decontamination of polluted waters. Keywords: photocatalysis, goethite, dibutyl phthalate, carboxylic acid, water treatment Published in DiRROS: 31.07.2024; Views: 355; Downloads: 274 Full text (1,42 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1092. On the occurrence of the wreckfish Polyprion americanus in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea)Nicola Bettoso, Lisa Faresi, Alessandro Felluga, Lovrenc Lipej, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: On 3rd June 2018 three juvenile specimens of Polyprion americanus were captured in the Gulf of Trieste. The wreckfish is a long-lived deep-water demersal species characterized by an extended pelagic juvenile phase. The juvenile forms are recurrently recorded in the northern Adriatic and due to data deficiency for this species, original morphometric data are shown. The occurrence of P. americanus in the Gulf of Trieste is not a typical case of thermophilic species moving northward due to Mediterranean tropicalization, rather its recurrent appearance could be investigated for specific hydrological conditions coupled to its peculiar life span.
Keywords: Polyprion americanus, morphometric data, pelagic phase, Gulf of Trieste, Adriatic Sea Published in DiRROS: 31.07.2024; Views: 314; Downloads: 196 Full text (1,06 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1093. Preliminary experiments into colonization of microorganisms from activated sludge on different types of plasticsTjaša Matjašič, Tanja Dreo, Zoran Samardžija, Oliver Bajt, Tjaša Kanduč, Tatjana Simčič, Nataša Mori, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The presence of plastics in the environment is currently one of the most pressing global environmental problems. Microorganisms start to form biofilms on plastic surfaces when they first come in contact with the biosphere; however, these interactions and processes are little understood, especially in freshwaters. This study aimed to better understand the colonization process of microorganisms from activated sludge on plastic materials exhibiting different surface characteristics. We inoculated synthetic fabric (PET), water bottles (PET), and plastic bags for packing vegetables and fruits (HDPE) with microorganisms from activated sludge. Mixtures of plastics and activated sludge, as well as the control, were incubated at 22-24°C in Bushnell Haas (BH) liquid medium and shaken at 120 rpm for two months. The mixtures were sub-sampled weekly and seeded into fresh BH medium with test plastic materials to avoid feeding microorganisms on dead biomass. The colonization was followed by measuring optical density (OD600) of liquid medium, by measurements of isotopic composition of carbon (δ13C) in untreated and treated plastic materials and, with in-specting the plastics surface with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Overall, the study confirmed differences between colonizing microorganisms on different plastic material when comparing SEM micrographs of materials from the flasks inoculated with activated sludge. The texture of the HDPE bag changed during the experiment in both, control and inoculated flasks, but it is not clear whether the observed changes were due to abiotic or biotic factors. We concluded that microorganisms from activated sludge are capable of colonizing both PET and HDPE materials, and biofilm formation is most probably influenced by the chemical composition of plastics and their surface characteristics.
Keywords: biofilm, plastics, SEM, isotopic composition of carbon, co-cultivation, UV sterilization Published in DiRROS: 31.07.2024; Views: 399; Downloads: 292 Full text (678,88 KB) This document has many files! More... |
1094. Setting sail for Paris 2024 : retrospective analysis ofworld-class ILCA 7 olympic sailors’ cardiorespiratory fitness (2015–2020)Damir Zubac, Zoran Valić, Vladimir Ivančev, 2024, other scientific articles Abstract: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the cardiorespiratory profile of world-class ILCA-7 sailors (n = 3, all males), through a longitudinal evaluation offering real-world data on physiological profile and exercise intensity domains. The cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed by the same researchers using the same equipment during the study. Assessments took place twice a year, aligning with major international competition preparations. Participants trained and competed at the same sailing club in Split, Croatia, under consistent supervision from the same team throughout the study, winning a total of 21 medals at major international competitions. The recorded
ranged from 51.7 ± 1.6 to 61.9 ± 3.0 mL min−1 kg−1, respectively. Similarly, peak power output varied from 352 ± 10 to 426 ± 34 W. The changes in physiological responses at the ventilatory thresholds were proportional to the changes in peak cardiorespiratory fitness capacity. Interestingly, the oxygen pulse measured in 2015 was 25 ± 1 mL O2 beat−1. Over the subsequent 6 years, the O2 pulse marginally increased and appeared to stabilize at 27 ± 1 mL O2 beat−1 in 2020, when these athletes were 32 ± 3 years old. This work offers a broader understanding of world-class Olympic sailors’ cardiorespiratory fitness, going beyond the standard assessment of peak
to incorporate an analysis of ventilatory thresholds. While a direct link between cardiorespiratory fitness and competitive success remains ambiguous, the importance of a well-rounded aerobic capacity for excellence in ILCA-7 sailing class is evident. Keywords: olypmipcs, oxygen uptake, sailing Published in DiRROS: 31.07.2024; Views: 359; Downloads: 331 Full text (569,94 KB) This document has many files! More... |
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1096. The occurrence of the jellyfish Aequorea cf. forskalea in the Adriatic Sea : comparison of historical and recent dataAlenka Malej, Davor Lučić, Natalia Bojanić, Martin Vodopivec, Paolo Paliaga, Branka Pestorić, Ivana Violić, Nastjenjka Supić, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Jellyfish are becoming an increasingly important component of studies of the global marine environment, as their frequent mass phenomena affect ecosystem performance and have economic and health consequences. Recent research has focused primarily on mass occurrences of scyphozoans and ctenophores, while less attention has been paid to hydromedusae blooms, which can also have significant impacts on the marine ecosystem with economic consequences. Like many members of the Scyphozoa and Ctenophora, Aequorea species can be numerous and form blooms. Based on surveys from 2000 to 2020 and information provided by marine professionals, we examine the (multiannual) variability, seasonality, and spatial distribution patterns of the poorly studied temperate species Aequorea cf. forskalea (Hydrozoa: Leptothecata). We hypothesized that this macrogelatinous jellyfish with a bipartite life cycle (benthic polyps and planktonic medusae) is sensitive to seasonal and long-term temperature fluctuations, particularly because temperature has been shown to play a critical role in mediating transitions in the life cycle of cnidarians. The cold-water affinity of A. cf. forskalea was confirmed by a significant negative correlation with temperature and the most frequent occurrence during the winter-spring period. For the northern Adriatic (Gulf of Trieste), sea temperature data and semi-quantitative plankton data are available for the first decade of the 20th century, allowing comparison of the historical data (1900-1911) with our current data set. Compared to historical records, the current occurrence of A. cf. forskalea differs significantly. With the warming of the northern Adriatic Sea since the beginning of the 20th century, the current phenology of A. cf. forskalea has changed, probably related to the delayed production of medusae by hydroids in autumn, the absence of medusae in this season and their less frequent occurrence in winter. Keywords: hydromedusae, blooms, long-term monitoring, multiannual variability, Mediterranean Sea Published in DiRROS: 31.07.2024; Views: 668; Downloads: 210 Full text (1,43 MB) This document has many files! More... |
1097. First records of two Cuthona species (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) in the Adriatic seaLovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Domen Trkov, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Authors are reporting on the first records of two nudibranch species of the genus Cuthona in the Slovenian part of the Adriatic Sea. In the period from September 2014 to March 2015, specimens of Cuthona genovae and C. miniostriata were found at different localities in the mediolittoral and upper infralittoral belts. The findings of both Cuthona species represent the first records in the Adriatic Sea. Published in DiRROS: 29.07.2024; Views: 310; Downloads: 130 Full text (333,77 KB) This document has many files! More... |
1098. Extraction of DNA from different sample types - a practical approach for GMO testingJana Žel, Tina Demšar, Dejan Štebih, Mojca Milavec, Kristina Gruden, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Current methods based on DNA targets for the detection, identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) involve extraction of the DNA. Different extraction procedures have been developed for the great variety of samples from food, feed, seeds and particular plant parts. This makes the operation of routine analytical laboratories complex and workloads heavy. Here we present a decision-making system, developed over many years of GMO testing on different samples, that result in the application of only a few extraction methods for the majority of samples. Developed decision-making system enables quicker and more cost effective testing of GMOs. In addition, the performance of DNA extraction resulting from the use of the selected extraction methods is presented for use in subsequent testing of GMOs by real time PCR methods. This approach can be used as a model for similar systems based on nucleic acid analysis in food, feed, seeds and plants. Keywords: extraction methods, genetically modified organisms, GMO, decision- making system (biology), GMO testing, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB Published in DiRROS: 29.07.2024; Views: 323; Downloads: 202 Full text (793,24 KB) This document has many files! More... |
1099. Patterns in invertebrate drift from an alpine karst aquifer over a one year periodMaja Opalički, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Patterns in invertebrate drift in the alpine karst Lipnik spring (Julian Alps, Slovenia) were investigated over a one year period. Monthly samplings of one permanent and two temporary springs, and one sampling of a spring brook benthos, yielded 23 Copepoda and Ostracoda species. More species (12) were found in the permanent than in the temporary springs (8 and 7), Elaphoidella phreatica (Sars, 1862) being the most frequent in all of them. No correlation was observed between precipitation and drift densities or the numbers of species in the permanent spring. In the temporary springs there were correlations between precipitation and the Shannon diversity index, equitability and changes in community composition. Conductivity of the water was the only physical parameter in the springs that correlated with precipitation. Species accumulation curves reached the asymptotes in all the springs but not for benthos. Keywords: alpine karst aquifer, groundwater, drift Published in DiRROS: 29.07.2024; Views: 338; Downloads: 195 Link to full text This document has many files! More... |
1100. Additional record of the non-indigenous copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus (Sato, 1913) in the Adriatic SeaDavor Lučić, Patricija Mozetič, Janja Francé, Petra Lučić, Lovrenc Lipej, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: The Indo-Pacific egg-carrying copepod Pseudodiaptomus marinus Sato, 1913 was recorded for the first time in the Port of Koper, Slovenia (Gulf of Trieste) in February 2015. This is the fourth finding of this species in the Mediterranean Sea, and the third for the Adriatic Sea. A rather high abundance of 73 ind. m-3 was recorded, which is considerably higher than previous findings in the Adriatic. Maritime transport is presumed to be the main cause of its introduction, primarily through ballast water release. Repeat sampling in May confirmed the presence of this copepod, indicating the possibility that the species has established a stable population in the Port of Koper. Keywords: copepods, Adriatic Sea, mesozooplankton, ballast waters Published in DiRROS: 29.07.2024; Views: 328; Downloads: 122 Full text (358,14 KB) This document has many files! More... |