1. Load testing of the first stress ribbon bridge in SloveniaĐorđe Đukić, Doron Hekič, Mirko Kosič, Rok Vezočnik, Andrej Anžlin, Andrej Štrukelj, Marjan Pipenbaher, Tomaž Weingerl, 2024, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Povzetek: Paper presents selected results of the diagnostic load testing of a newly-built footbridge in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. The bridge is significant as the first bridge in Slovenia being built with the stress ribbon technology. The diagnostic load testing took place in March 2023 and comprised of three-stage static load testing, dynamic testing with a light truck driving over artificial obstacles, and measurement of ambient vibrations. The consistency between the actual response of the bridge and the response of the finite element (FE) model, used in the design, was evaluated by comparing vertical displacements from the static load testing, natural frequencies and mode shapes. The comparison of the results indicates a satisfactory agreement between the measurements and the response of the FE model, confirming the appropriateness of the employed FE model. Ključne besede: bridge, bridge response measurements, stress ribon, load test Objavljeno v DiRROS: 14.08.2024; Ogledov: 16; Prenosov: 56
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2. Hepatic alterations in a BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism and improvement using melatonin via mitigation oxidative stress, inflammation and ferroptosisRita Rezzani, Marzia Gianò, Daniela Pinto, Fabio Rinaldi, Cornelis J. F. van Noorden, Gaia Favero, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated neurodevelopmental disorder, and its etiology is not well understood. It is known that genetic and nongenetic factors determine alterations in several organs, such as the liver, in individuals with this disorder. The aims of the present study were to analyze morphological and biological alterations in the liver of an autistic mouse model, BTBR T + Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, and to identify therapeutic strategies for alleviating hepatic impairments using melatonin administration. We studied hepatic cytoarchitecture, oxidative stress, inflammation and ferroptosis in BTBR mice and used C57BL6/J mice as healthy control subjects. The mice were divided into four groups and then treated and not treated with melatonin, respectively. BTBR mice showed (a) a retarded development of livers and (b) iron accumulation and elevated oxidative stress and inflammation. We demonstrated that the expression of ferroptosis markers, the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (NFR2), was upregulated, and the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) was downregulated in BTBR mice. Then, we evaluated the effects of melatonin on the hepatic alterations of BTBR mice; melatonin has a positive effect on liver cytoarchitecture and metabolic functions.
Ključne besede: autism spectrum disorder, liver, oxidative stress, inflammation, ferroptosis Objavljeno v DiRROS: 07.08.2024; Ogledov: 101; Prenosov: 91
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3. Organelles and phytohormones : a network of interactions in plant stress responsesAndras Bittner, Agata Cieśla, Kristina Gruden, Tjaša Lukan, Sakil Mahmud, Markus Teige, Ute Vothknecht, Bernhard Wurzinger, 2022, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Phytohormones are major signaling components that contribute to nearly all aspects of plant life. They constitute an interconnected communication network to fine-tune growth and development in response to the ever-changing environment. To this end, they have to coordinate with other signaling components, such as reactive oxygen species and calcium signals. On the one hand, the two endosymbiotic organelles, plastids and mitochondria, control various aspects of phytohormone signaling and harbor important steps of hormone precursor biosynthesis. On the other hand, phytohormones have feedback actions on organellar functions. In addition, organelles and phytohormones often act in parallel in a coordinated matter to regulate cellular functions. Therefore, linking organelle functions with increasing knowledge of phytohormone biosynthesis, perception, and signaling will reveal new aspects of plant stress tolerance. In this review, we highlight recent work on organelle–phytohormone interactions focusing on the major stress-related hormones abscisic acid, jasmonates, salicylic acid, and ethylene. Ključne besede: abscisic acid (ABA), chloroplast, ethylene, mitochondria, jasmonates, plant organelles, phytohormones, salicylic acid (SA), plastids, stress signaling, retrograde signaling Objavljeno v DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Ogledov: 90; Prenosov: 113
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4. Intertwined roles of reactive oxygen species and salicylic acid signaling are crucial for the plant response to biotic stressTjaša Lukan, Anna Coll Rius, 2022, pregledni znanstveni članek Povzetek: One of the earliest hallmarks of plant immune response is production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different subcellular compartments, which regulate plant immunity. A suitable equilibrium, which is crucial to prevent ROS overaccumulation leading to oxidative stress, is maintained by salicylic acid (SA), a chief regulator of ROS. However, ROS not only act downstream of SA signaling, but are also proposed to be a central component of a self-amplifying loop that regulates SA signaling as well as the interaction balance between different phytohormones. The exact role of this crosstalk, the position where SA interferes with ROS signaling and ROS interferes with SA signaling and the outcome of this regulation, depend on the origin of ROS but also on the pathosystem. The precise spatiotemporal regulation of organelle-specific ROS and SA levels determine the effectiveness of pathogen arrest and is therefore crucial for a successful immune response. However, the regulatory interplay behind still remains poorly understood, as up until now, the role of organelle-specific ROS and SA in hypersensitive response (HR)-conferred resistance has mostly been studied by altering the level of a single component. In order to address these aspects, a sophisticated combination of research methods for monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of key players and transcriptional activity in plants is needed and will most probably consist of biosensors and precision transcriptomics. Ključne besede: plant immune response, reactive oxygen species, ROS, salicylic acid, programmed cell death, biotic stress, biotechnology Objavljeno v DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Ogledov: 112; Prenosov: 58
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5. In vitro corrosion-fatigue behaviour of rare-earth containing magnesium WE43 in sterile complex cell culture mediumJulia Nachtsheim, Songyun Ma, Jaka Burja, Alexander Köppl, Jan-Marten Seitz, Bernd Markert, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Rare-earth containing magnesium alloys are promising biomedical materials for a new generation of biodegradable orthopaedic implant systems due to their excellent biocompatibility, mechanical and biodegradation properties. However, chemo-mechanical interactions in aggressive physiological corrosion environments result in rapid degradation and early loss of mechanical integrity, limiting its broader application for orthopaedic implants. To date, only few studies have assessed the corrosion-fatigue behaviour of medical-grade magnesium alloys in an organic physiological corrosion environment, especially under sterile test conditions. In the present work, the corrosion-fatigue behaviour of fine-grained medical-grade magnesium alloy WE43MEO was systematically analysed under in vitro conditions using an organic physiological fluid DMEM. The experimental results showed that the fatigue strength of the alloy is nearly unaffected by a 1-day precorrosion, while a 7-day precorrosion resulted in a significant deterioration of mechanical integrity. In corrosion-fatigue experiments, the fatigue life was considerably reduced by interactions between corrosion and fatigue damages. The SEM analysis revealed that the mixed mode of intergranular and transgranular fracture in the crack propagation zone transits to intergranular cracking dominant mode under the corrosion-fatigue conditions due to hydrogen embrittlement. Ključne besede: corrosion-fatigue behaviour, stress corrosion mechanisms, biodegradable magnesium alloys, WE43, DMEM Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.08.2024; Ogledov: 161; Prenosov: 113
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6. Insertion of a specific fungal 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphatase motif into a plant homologue improves halotoleranceand drought tolerance of plantsMeti Buh Gašparič, Metka Lenassi, Cene Gostinčar, Ana Rotter, Ana Plemenitaš, Nina Gunde-Cimerman, Kristina Gruden, Jana Žel, 2013, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Soil salinity and drought are among the most serious agricultural and environmental problems of today. Therefore, investigations of plant resistance to abiotic stress have received a lot of attention in recent years. In this study, we identified the complete coding sequence of a 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphatase protein, ApHal2, from the halotolerant yeast Aureobasidium pullulans. Expression of the ApHAL2 gene in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae hal2 mutant complemented the mutant auxotrophy for methionine, and rescued the growth of the hal2 mutant in media with high NaCl concentrations. A 21-amino-acids-long region of the ApHal2 enzyme was inserted into the Arabidopsis thaliana homologue of Hal2, the SAL1 phosphatase. The inserted sequence included the META motif, which has previously been implicated in increased sodium tolerance of the Hal2 homologue from a related fungal species. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing this modified SAL1 (mSAL1) showed improved halotolerance and drought tolerance. In a medium with an elevated salt concentration, mSAL1-expressing plants were twice as likely to have roots in a higher length category in comparison with the wild-type Arabidopsis and with plants overexpressing the native SAL1, and had 5% to 10% larger leaf surface area under moderate and severe salt stress, respectively. Similarly, after moderate drought exposure, the mSAL1-expressing plants showed 14% increased dry weight after revitalisation, with no increase in dry weight of the wild-type plants. With severe drought, plants overexpressing native SAL1 had the worst rehydration success, consistent with the recently proposed role of SAL1 in severe drought. This was not observed for plants expressing mSAL1. Therefore, the presence of this fungal META motif sequence is beneficial under conditions of increased salinity and moderate drought, and shows no drawbacks for plant survival under severe drought. This demonstrates that adaptations of extremotolerant fungi should be considered as a valuable resource for improving stress-tolerance in plant breeding in the future. Ključne besede: soil salinity and drought, plant resistance, abiotic stress Objavljeno v DiRROS: 02.08.2024; Ogledov: 151; Prenosov: 138
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7. Improvement of root architecture under abiotic stress through control of auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis and Brassica cropsBranka Salopek-Sondi, Stephan Pollmann, Kristina Gruden, Ralf Oelmüller, Jutta Ludwig-Müller, 2015, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Auxin plays an important role in many aspects of plant development including stress responses. Here we briefly summarize how auxin is involved in salt stress, drought (i.e. mostly osmotic stress), waterlogging and nutrient deficiency in Brassica plants. In addition, some mechanisms to control auxin levels and signaling in relation to root formation (under stress) will be reviewed. Molecular studies are mainly described for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, but we also like to demonstrate how this knowledge can be transferred to agriculturally important Brassica species, such as Brassica rapa, Brassica napus and Brassica campestris. Moreover, beneficial fungi could play a role in the adaptation response of Brassica roots to abiotic stresses. Therefore, the possible influence of Piriformospora indica will also be covered since the growth promoting response of plants colonized by P. indica is also linked to plant hormones, among them auxin. Ključne besede: auxin, root development, abiotic stress Objavljeno v DiRROS: 29.07.2024; Ogledov: 129; Prenosov: 60
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8. Stress-tolerant yeasts : opportunistic pathogenicity versus biocontrol potentialJanja Zajc, Cene Gostinčar, Anja Černoša, Nina Gunde-Cimerman, 2019, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Stress-tolerant fungi that can thrive under various environmental extremes are highly desirable for their application to biological control, as an alternative to chemicals for pest management. However, in fungi, the mechanisms of stress tolerance might also have roles in mammal opportunism. We tested five species with high biocontrol potential in agriculture (Aureobasidium pullulans, Debayomyces hansenii, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Metschnikowia fructicola, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa) and two species recognized as emerging opportunistic human pathogens (Exophiala dermatitidis, Aureobasidium melanogenum) for growth under oligotrophic conditions and at 37 °C, and for tolerance to oxidative stress, formation of biofilms, production of hydrolytic enzymes and siderophores, and use of hydrocarbons as sole carbon source. The results show large overlap between traits desirable for biocontrol and traits linked to opportunism (growth under oligotrophic conditions, production of siderophores, high oxidative stress tolerance, and specific enzyme activities). Based on existing knowledge and these data, we suggest that oligotrophism and thermotolerance together with siderophore production at 37 °C, urease activity, melanization, and biofilm production are the main traits that increase the potential for fungi to cause opportunistic infections in mammals. These traits should be carefully considered when assessing safety of potential biocontrol agents. Ključne besede: opportunistic pathogen, biocontrol agent, virulence, stress tolerance, secretome, CAZy, protease, thermotolerance, oligotrophism, melanin, siderophore, biofilm Objavljeno v DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Ogledov: 128; Prenosov: 140
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9. Functional responses in a lizard along a 3.5-km altitudinal gradientNina Guerra Serén, Rodrigo Megía-Palma, Tatjana Simčič, Miha Krofel, Fabio Maria Guarino, Catarina Pinho, Anamarija Žagar, Miguel A. Carretero, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Aim: Physiological and metabolic performance are key mediators of the functional response of species to environmental change. Few environments offer such a multifaceted array of stressors as high-altitude habitats, which differ markedly in temperature, water availability, UV radiation and oxygen pressure compared to low-altitude habitats. Species that inhabit large altitudinal gradients are thus excellent models to study how organisms respond to environmental variation. Location: Tenerife island, Canary Islands archipelago (Spain). Taxon: Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti, Lacertidae). Methods: We integrated data on age structure, thermal and hydric regulatory behaviour and four metabolic and stress-related biomarkers for an insular lizard that inhabits an extreme altitudinal range (sea level to 3700 m a.s.l.), to understand how an ectotherms' age, ecophysiology and metabolism can be affected by extreme environmental variation. Results: We found marked differences in metabolic stress markers associated with altitude (particularly in the abundance of carbonyl metabolites and relative telomere length), but without a linear pattern along the altitudinal cline. Contrary to expectations, longer telomeres and lower carbonyl content were detected at the highest altitude, suggesting reduced stress in these populations. Evaporative water loss differed between populations but did not follow a linear altitudinal gradient. Lizard age structure or thermal physiological performance did not markedly change across different altitudes. Mixed signals in life-history and thermal ecology across populations and altitude suggest complex responses to variable conditions across altitude in this species. Main Conclusions: Our integrative study of multiple functional traits demonstrated that adaptation to highly divergent environmental conditions in this lizard is potentially linked to an interplay between plasticity and local adaptation variably associated with different functional traits. Ključne besede: ecophysiology, evaporative water loss, metabolic activity, oxidative stress, preferred temperatures, relative telomere length, skeletochronology, lizard Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Ogledov: 128; Prenosov: 189
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10. 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, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: 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. Ključne besede: BP analogues, hepatic in vitro 3D cell model, combined exposure, viability, oxidative stress, toxicology Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Ogledov: 493; Prenosov: 136
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