11. Paediatric invasive group A streptococcal infections and associations with viral infections in 15 European countries after lifting non-pharmaceutical interventions against SARS-CoV-2 : an interrupted time-series analysisLéa Lenglart, Izel Özmen, David Aguilera-Alonso, Daniel Blazquez-Gamero, Navin P. Boeddha, Emilie Pauline Buddingh, Danilo Buonsenso, Tina Plankar Srovin, Katarina Vincek, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background: After lifting non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, various countries experienced an increase in invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) infections. We aimed to characterise the paediatric outbreak across Europe and to analyse the influence of viral infections. Methods: We conducted an interrupted time-series analysis based on data from 15 European countries from the PEGASUS consortium. We assessed the evolution of the number of iGAS cases aged 1 month to 18 years between 01/01/2018 and 03/31/2024, comparing the post-NPIs period (01-04-2022 until 31-03-2024) to the baseline period (01-01-2018 until 31-03-2020). Further analyses were performed by country, clinical phenotype, age and severity, including sensitivity analyses. We then explored whether certain iGAS phenotypes correlated with trends in RSV, influenza and VZV across countries over time using Google Trends data. Findings: We included 2091 iGAS cases over the study period; 79 children (3.6%) died and 580 (27.7%) required PICU admission. We estimated an overall increase of +229.8% (95% CI (141.9-341.6)) among iGAS cases from October 2022 to March 2024, compared to the baseline period. The observed increases varied across clinical phenotypes, ranging from +62.7% (95% CI (8.3-157.9)) for osteo-articular infections to +238.7% (95% CI 75.8-464.8) for pneumonia. We observed a strong correlation between the incidence of iGAS pneumonia and RSV (Rho: 0.57, 95% CI [0.11-0.79]) and influenza (Rho 0.69, 95% CI 0.35-0.87); and between skin and soft tissue infections and VZV (Rho: 0.73, 95% CI [0.42-0.89]). Interpretation: The patterns observed across Europe during this outbreak demonstrate an association between respiratory viruses as well as VZV, and iGAS.
Ključne besede: Streptococcus pyogenes, group A streptococcus, invasive streptococcal disease, outbreak, paediatrics, viral infections, viruses, influenza, flu, RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, VZV, varicella, immunity debt, non pharmaceutical interventions
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.12.2025; Ogledov: 39; Prenosov: 16
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13. The effect of nanocrystalline microstructure on deuterium transport in displacement damaged tungstenSabina Markelj, Thomas Schwarz-Selinger, Mitja Kelemen, Esther Punzón Quijorna, Janez Zavašnik, Andreja Šestan, David Dellasega, Gabriele Alberti, Mateo Passoni, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The influence of grain boundaries (GBs) on the deuterium (D) transport and the creation of defects in nanocrystalline tungsten (W) films deposited on a W substrate was studied. Samples with three different grain sizes were produced for this purpose: a sample with a film having nanometer-size grains, a sample with hundred nanometer-grained film and a sample with micrometer-grained film. Samples were irradiated by 20 MeV W ions at 300 K to create displacement damage and exposed to 300 eV D ions at 450 K to populate the created and any pre-existing defects. The D transport and retention was assessed by measuring D depth profiles after certain exposure times by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) using a 3He ion beam. From the final D concentration in the damaged area we could determine the concentration of defects that trap hydrogen, showing that the sample with the smallest grain size had the highest D concentration and it decreases with the increase of the grain size. Therefore, in nanocrystalline tungsten irradiated at 300 K, GBs do not improve radiation resistance, which would lead to fewer defects. For the first time, we show experimentally, that D transport is faster inside the nanometer-grained sample as compared to the micrometer-grained sample, meaning that D atoms have enhanced bulk diffusion along GBs. Accidentally, the film thickness was so thin that the W irradiation reached the interface between the W film and substrate, where NRA showed enhanced retention of oxygen. At that depth, two times higher D concentration was observed compared to D concentration in the damaged area in the middle of the film indicating on defect stabilization due to the presence of oxygen.
Ključne besede: grain boundaries, deuterium, tungsten, transport, displacement damage
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.12.2025; Ogledov: 45; Prenosov: 37
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14. Ethical considerations and multidisciplinary care for pediatric patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome : a narrative review with a systematic searchMojca Železnik, Urh Grošelj, Petja Fister, 2025, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Background: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) was a fatal congenital heart defect (CHD) until the 1980s. Introduction of the Norwood procedure and subsequent Fontan operation significantly improved survival by creating a single-ventricle circulation. Due to the high mortality associated with the Norwood operation, neonatal orthotopic heart transplantation emerged as an alternative, despite challenges such as lifelong immunosuppressive treatment and uncertain longevity of transplanted hearts. Methods: A narrative review with a systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, following PRISMA guidelines and included studies of ethical and medical considerations, decision-making, counseling and treatment planning in children with HLHS. In addition, we manually screened reference lists to identify further relevant literature. We aimed to explore: how do ethical considerations and decision-making processes influence the management and outcomes of fetuses and neonates with HLHS and their families across prenatal, postnatal, and long-term care? Results: Of the 115 studies, 56 met the inclusion criteria. Early diagnosis through prenatal fetal ultrasound has markedly improved survival rates by enabling better parental awareness, counseling, and decision-making. Managing HLHS requires urgent, extensive, and costly medical interventions, with outcomes influenced by the healthcare system's expertise, the experience of cardiologists and surgeons, ethical, legal, and religious considerations of the parents and medical team. The prenatal phase is crucial for optimal management, with advanced fetal ultrasound facilitating early detection. Postnatal care involves a multidisciplinary approach, including stage palliation physiology/surgery tailored to each patient. Despite surgical advancements, HLHS patients face higher morbidity and mortality rates than other patients with CHDs, with long-term survival and quality of life remaining key concerns. Ethical considerations play a significant role in the management of HLHS, encompassing the autonomy of families, the best medical interests of the child, societal, and cultural factors. Decision-making must balance full disclosure with sensitivity to parents' values and beliefs. Conclusions: Management of HLHS involves multidisciplinary approach with complex medical and ethical considerations, but the current literature lacks high-quality studies or consensus guidelines on ethical decision-making. Therefore, the influence of ethical considerations on clinical management and patient care remains unclear, highlighting the need for further research.
Ključne besede: hypoplastic left heart syndrome, congenital heart defect, prenatal diagnosis, neonatal care, palliative surgery, medical ethic, multidisciplinary care, decision making
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.12.2025; Ogledov: 31; Prenosov: 18
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15. Deuterium retention and transport in ion-irradiated tungsten exposed to deuterium atoms : role of grain boundariesSabina Markelj, Janez Zavašnik, Andreja Šestan, Thomas Schwarz-Selinger, Mitja Kelemen, Esther Punzón Quijorna, Gabriele Alberti, Mateo Passoni, David Dellasega, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The influence of grain boundaries on deuterium (D) retention and transport was investigated in nanocrystalline tungsten (W) by exposing the samples to sub eV D atoms. Thin tungsten films with nanometer-sized grains were produced by pulsed laser deposition on tungsten substrates. Their grain size was increased up to one micrometer by thermal annealing in vacuum up to 1223 K. Irradiation damage was created by 20 MeV W ions at 290 K. The transmission electron microscopy analysis showed one order of magnitude larger dislocation density in nanometer-grained samples compared with the larger-grained samples. The samples were after W irradiation exposed to 0.3 eV D atoms at 600 K. D retention and D depth profiles were measured by nuclear reaction analysis. In the as-deposited nanometer-grained samples, D populated the damaged region more than three times faster than in the samples with larger grains, indicating that grain-boundaries increase D transport through the material. The concentration of defects was assessed by the final D concentration in the samples. The sample with a smallest grain size showed slightly larger D concentration in the irradiated area, but the difference in the D concentration is not substantial between different-grained samples. A large D concentration in the non-irradiated nanometer-grained sample was measured which is an indication for a high defect density in the initial material. From our observations, it can be postulated that the nanocrystalline microstructure did not substantially influence the generation of irradiation-induced defects by defect annihilation at grain boundaries.
Ključne besede: deuterium, tungsten, grain boundaries, transport, displacement damage, retention
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.12.2025; Ogledov: 53; Prenosov: 29
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16. Unveiling the radiation-induced defect production and damage evolution in tungsten using multi-energy Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channeling configurationSabina Markelj, Janez Zavašnik, Esther Punzón Quijorna, Andreja Šestan, Mitja Kelemen, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Radiation-induced defect production in tungsten was studied by a combination of experimental and simulation methods. The analysis of structural defects was performed using multi-energy Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channeling configuration (multi-energy C-RBS). To create different microstructures, (111) tungsten (W) single crystals were irradiated with W ions at two different doses (0.02 and 0.2 dpa) at 290 K. Detailed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of the samples revealed the presence of dislocation lines and loops of different sizes. The RBSADEC code was used to simulate the measured C-RBS spectra, recorded with four different He beam energies along the <111> direction. For the first time for tungsten, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of overlapping cascades were used as input. The well-known method of randomly displaced atoms (RDA) was applied for comparison. RDA does not provide a satisfactory understanding of the nature of the induced defect structure. With MD, a very good agreement between the simulated and experimental spectra was obtained for the sample prepared at a lower dose, despite the fact that the absolute defect densities are two orders of magnitude higher than those found with TEM. A discrepancy is observed for the high-dose-irradiated sample, which is ascribed to the presence of extended defects such as dislocation lines, which are clearly observed by TEM, but cannot be formed in finite size MD cells. RBSADEC with MD cells as input can describe correctly the response of the RBS signal with analysing beam energy while RDA as input gives the wrong trend.
Ključne besede: tungsten, defects, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channeling configuration, displacement damage, molecular dynamic simulations, transmission electron microscopy
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.12.2025; Ogledov: 54; Prenosov: 29
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17. ElectroKitty : a Python tool for modeling electrochemical data including non-langmuir adsorptionOžbej Vodeb, Pedro Farinazzo Bergamo Dias Martins, Dušan Strmčnik, Nejc Hodnik, Miran Gaberšček, 2025, drugi znanstveni članki Ključne besede: electrochemistry, computer modelling, simulation, electrochemistry voltammetry, data analysis
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.12.2025; Ogledov: 34; Prenosov: 18
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18. Influence of near-surface helium on the deuterium retention and uptake in tungstenSabina Markelj, Thomas Schwarz-Selinger, Andreja Šestan, Janez Zavašnik, Mitja Kelemen, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The effect of near-surface helium (He) on deuterium (D) retention and uptake into the bulk of tungsten (W) was investigated. To quantify the He influence on D uptake, He was implanted close to the surface with 3 keV energy at different fluences and different temperatures. 20 MeV W irradiation was performed at room temperature after He implantation to create defects within the first 2.3 µm. Samples were then exposed to a low flux, low energy (300 eV/D) D ion beam at 450 K. The defects created by W ions trap penetrating D and make it hence possible to quantify D transport into depth below the He layer using 3He nuclear reaction analysis. Elastic recoil detection analysis enabled us to measure the D and He concentration depth profiles near the surface. Results show that D gets preferentially retained where He is implanted with D concentrations up to 10 at.%. At the same time D uptake beyond the He zone is reduced by a factor of 15 compared to a He-free W sample.
Ključne besede: deuterium retention, displacement damage
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 11.12.2025; Ogledov: 73; Prenosov: 38
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20. Microstructural analysis of tungsten single crystals irradiated by MeV W ions : the effect of irradiation dose and temperatureJanez Zavašnik, Andreja Šestan, Thomas Schwarz-Selinger, Esther Punzón Quijorna, Mitja Kelemen, Jan Predrag, Sabina Markelj, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: We investigated the microstructural evolution of W(111) single crystals under high-energy self-ion irradiation at 290 K and 800 K, using complementary characterization techniques, including Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in channelling regime (RBS-C), Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), and Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). Irradiation with MeV W ions allowed for controlled defect formation, with dose and temperature significantly affecting defect type and distribution. At 290 K, interstitial defects evolved from dislocation loops at low doses (0.02 dpa) to dislocation networks at higher doses (0.2 dpa). In contrast, at 800 K, lower dislocation densities were observed, with nm-sized dots and isolated lines forming at 0.02 dpa and developing into longer dislocation lines (~30 nm) at 0.2 dpa. RBS-C spectra support these findings, showing a trend of increasing dislocation density with dose but decreasing with temperature. PAS analyses revealed mono-vacancies and small vacancy clusters (V2–V4) at 290 K, coalescing into larger clusters (V25–V50) at 800 K. NRA measurements indicated greater deuterium retention at 290 K than at 800 K, consistent with lower vacancy mobility at the lower temperature. Combined TEM, RBS-C, PAS, and NRA observations highlight increased vacancy mobility and defect recombination with temperature, forming larger vacancy clusters at 800 K. This comprehensive study provides quantitative insights into defect formation and evolution in W single crystals, presenting a comparative analysis of defect distributions across multiple techniques and revealing temperature-dependent mechanisms of microstructural change.
Ključne besede: heavy-ion irradiation, structural defects
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 11.12.2025; Ogledov: 80; Prenosov: 38
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