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1142. Xylem growth cessation in stems and branches of European beech and silver birch : influences of temperature and droughtLorène Julia Marchand, Jožica Gričar, Peter Prislan, Inge Dox, Melanie S. Verlinden, Omar Flores, Matteo Campioli, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Introduction: Assessing wood growth phenology over multiple years is essential for understanding the environmental drivers of forest growth and improving large-scale predictions of the carbon cycle. Xylogenesis methods facilitate the assessment of the timing and rate of xylem cell wall thickening, the primary sink of carbon in wood. In angiosperm trees, where wood anatomy is complex, significantly less is known about the factors controlling growth cessation in autumn due to indirect, sinteracting, and lag effects, in contrast to growth resumption in spring. Furthermore, both branch and stem growth must be considered to account for the total aboveground phenology. Methods: In this study, we focused on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and silver birch (Betula pendula) in a mild temperate region (Northern Belgium). We examined the progress of cell wall thickening in autumn and the seasonal timing of xylem growth cessation for these species’ stems over five years and for their branches over one year in mature trees. In addition, we investigated the same variables in the stems and branches of potted saplings for two years and for oak (Quercus robur) and aspen (Populus tremula) saplings over one year. Results: Our results demonstrate a considerable variation in the progression and cessation of wood growth, with differences of up to a month and a half in growth cessation (early September to late October), predominantly driven by climatic variables. Early cessation of xylem growth in stems was strongly associated with high temperatures in April and August, elevated vapour pressure deficit, and severe soil drought in August. The progression of cell wall thickening in late summer was generally synchronized between branches and stems for every species. However, branches sustained a higher percentage of growth (approximately 2 weeks) in early autumn during non-drought years. Discussion: These findings provide valuable insights for refining models of forest growth and carbon storage, enabling a more comprehensive representation that encompasses the entire tree under different climatic scenarios.
Ključne besede: phenology, cambium, cell wall thickening, hardwood species, atmospheric drought
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 315; Prenosov: 154
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1143. |
1144. Silver binding dichotomy for 7-deazaadenine/thymine : preference for Watson–Crick pairing over homobase interactions in DNACarmen López-Chamorro, Antonio Pérez-Romero, Alicia Domínguez-Martín, Uroš Javornik, Oscar Palacios, Janez Plavec, Miguel A. Galindo, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: DNA strands modified with 7-deazaadenine (X) and 7-deazaguanine (Y) have shown promise in forming silver-DNA assemblies while maintaining canonical Watson–Crick base pairing, highlighting the compatibility of silver binding with standard DNA structures. However, critical questions remain regarding the binding preferences of AgI ions to sequences containing 7-deazapurine bases, particularly the prevalence of silver-modified Watson–Crick base pairs versus alternative homobase pair arrangements. To address this, we examined the binding of AgI to complementary X-T sequences, demonstrating a strong preference for canonical X-AgI-T pairing over homoleptic X-AgI-X or T-AgI-T pairs. Additionally, we report the discovery of a novel metallized DNA duplex featuring continuous X-AgI-X homobase pairs, whose structural analysis at the monomeric level, using model base 9-propyl-7-deazaadenine (pX) and AgI salts, reveals a unique silver-binding pattern through the Watson–Crick face. These findings not only advance our understanding of silver-mediated DNA architectures using 7-deazapurines but also provide a foundation for the rational design of sophisticated metal-DNA nanostructures with tailored properties, opening new avenues for the development of functional DNA-based materials.
Ključne besede: crystal structure, genetics, ions, silver, solution chemistry
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 380; Prenosov: 168
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1145. Application of the HIDRA2 deep-learning model for sea level forecasting along the Estonian coast of the Baltic SeaAmirhossein Barzandeh, Matjaž Ličer, Marko Rus, Matej Kristan, Ilja Maljutenko, Jüri Elken, Priidik Lagemaa, Rivo Uiboupin, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Sea level predictions, typically derived from 3D hydrodynamic models, are computationally intensive and subject to uncertainties stemming from physical representation and inaccuracies in initial or boundary conditions. As a complementary alternative, data-driven machine learning models provide a computationally efficient solution with comparable accuracy. This study employs the deep-learning model HIDRA2 to forecast hourly sea levels at five coastal stations along the Estonian coastline of the Baltic Sea, evaluating its performance across various forecast lead times. Compared to the regional NEMOBAL and subregional NEMOEST hydrodynamic models, HIDRA2 frequently outperforms both, particularly in terms of overall forecast skill. While HIDRA2 shows limitations in resolving high-frequency sea level variability above (6h) 1, it effectively reproduces energy in lower-frequency bands below (18h) 1. Errors tend to average out over longer time windows encompassing multiple seiche periods, enabling HIDRA2 to surpass the overall performance of the NEMO models. These findings underscore HIDRA2’s potential as a robust, efficient, and reliable tool for operational sea level forecasting and coastal management in the eastern Baltic Sea region.
Ključne besede: sea flooding, deep learning, convolutional networks
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 365; Prenosov: 154
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1146. Influence of selected cognitive performances on musculoskeletal injury occurrence in adult male professional Slovenian PrvaLiga football players in a prospective cohort studyF. Giesche, Manca Peskar, Luka Šlosar, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Uroš Marušič, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Evidence suggests athletes with lower baseline cognitive performance are at higher risk of musculoskeletal injuries. This prospective cohort study investigates basic and executive cognitive functions in predicting injuries in 78 professional male football (soccer) players from four Slovenian f irst league teams. Data were collected during the 2018/2019 winter break, and injuries recorded in the second half of that and the 2019/2020 season. Cognitive functions assessed by computerized tests (PsyToolkit) included psychomotor vigilance (simple, choice reaction time) and visuospatial memory (Corsi-block-tapping-test), while pen-and-paper tests assessed motor speed, visual scanning, and executive functions (TMT; Delis-Kaplan-Executive-Function-System). Forty-two players sustained at least one musculoskeletal injury (9 contact injuries), 36 remained injury-free. Logistic regression analyses indicated that none of the cognitive measures significantly influenced injury occurrence (p > 0.05). However, non-significant trends were observed for the TMT ratio score (p = 0.065, OR = 1.64), reflecting cognitive flexibility, and for TMT-A (p = 0.05, OR = 0.60), reflecting visual scanning. Specifically, players with lower cognitive flexibility showed a 64% increase in the odds of sustaining an injury, while better visual scanning performance was associated with a 40% reduction in injury odds. No significant association was found between basic or executive cognitive functions and musculoskeletal injuries in professional male football players. However, a non-significant trend suggested that lower cognitive flexibility may be associated with increased injury risk. These findings underscore the need for larger studies to better clarify the role of executive functions in assessing injury risk in football.
Ključne besede: neurocognitive testing, cognitive-motor tests, sports injury, risk screening
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 289; Prenosov: 138
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1147. Determination of silver(I)-binding sites in canonical B-DNA by NMR spectroscopyTabea Lenz, Uroš Javornik, Marian Hebenbrock, Janez Plavec, Jens Müller, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The interaction of metal ions with nucleic acids was studied by determining the initial binding sites of Ag+ ions at unmodified B-DNA by NMR spectroscopy. In particular, NMR spectra were recorded of the Dickerson-Drew dodecamer sequence in the presence of different ratios of Ag+ ions to DNA. The data indicate that the coordination of the first three Ag+ ions per duplex preferentially takes place inside the B-DNA helix rather than at other possible binding sites such as the negatively charged phosphate backbone and/or the endocyclic N7 position of purine residues. Larger DNA aggregates are formed in the presence of excess Ag+ ions, as indicated by the formation of a precipitate and by significant changes in the circular dichroism spectra. As shown by a titration with chloride ions, the Ag+ ions are only loosely bound to the nucleic acids and can be released by precipitation of AgCl.
Ključne besede: biochemistry, DNA, spectroscopy, NMR
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 295; Prenosov: 116
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1148. |
1149. Morphometrics of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 in a Northern Adriatic saline marsh under environmental stressNeven Iveša, Paolo Paliaga, Matej Čief, Petra Burić, Valentina Pitacco, Moira Buršić, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean, raising concerns over its ecological and economic impacts. This study examines the morphometric characteristics and environmental influences on C. sapidus populations in the Palud-Palù swamp (western Istrian coast) from 2022 to 2024. A total of 203 specimens were analyzed for carapace width, length, depth, and body mass, alongside monthly measurements of temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, and pH. Statistical analyses (t-tests, ANOVA, PCA, and RDA) revealed pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males consistently larger than females. Interannual differences in size distribution showed larger individuals in 2022, followed by a decline in 2023 and 2024, likely due to environmental stressors (e.g., salinity, temperature, hypoxia) and increased anthropogenic pressures (e.g., trapping and illegal harvesting). RDA identified temperature, oxygen saturation, and pH as key abiotic drivers of morphometric variation. These findings suggest that while C. sapidus demonstrates physiological plasticity, enabling its persistence in estuarine environments, its growth and invasive potential may be constrained under extreme or suboptimal local conditions. This study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring and integrated management to mitigate ecological disruption in sensitive coastal ecosystems.
Ključne besede: decapods, invasive species, crustacean morphometry, length–weight relationship, population structure, size distribution
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 273; Prenosov: 127
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1150. Neurophysiological underpinnings of balance control and cognitive-motor interaction in early Parkinson’s diseaseManca Peskar, Paolo Manganotti, Uroš Marušič, Klaus Gramann, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: People with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) often compensate for impaired automatic balance control by engaging additional attentional resources for motor tasks. With disease progression, their cognitive system too becomes increasingly affected, further impairing postural stability. The interaction between cognitive and motor systems in the early disease stages, however, remains poorly investigated. The present study aimed to elucidate behavioral and neurophysiological changes in early-stage PD to identify with greater accuracy the specific disease-related discrepancies from healthy functioning on both cognitive and motor systems. Eighteen participants with PD (aged 62.9±6.6 years) and 18 healthy matched controls (aged 62.9±6.4 years) performed (i) a balancing single task in a semi-tandem stance (ST-sts), (ii) a single visual oddball task with conflicting Stroop color-word stimuli (ST-Stroop), and (iii) a dual-task (DT) combining the two single tasks. Centre of pressure displacement using a force plate and 128-channel electroencephalography (EEG) were recorded. Participants with PD exhibited reduced postural sway compared to controls, and postural sway was lower in DT as opposed to ST. Reduced sway in PD might be attributed to postural rigidity and tonic muscle activation, while in the DT, it might reflect resource conflicts. EEG analyses indicated distinct spectral activity patterns: the central midline low-frequency (δ, θ) power increased with cognitive load, centroparietal β desynchronization intensified with motor load, and parietal α desynchronization heightened during DT in both PD and control groups, underscoring specific frequency bands’ governing roles in cognitivemotor processing. Furthermore, PD participants exhibited heightened or prolonged responses in ERP components related to working memory (frontocentral P2) and conflict resolution (P300), possibly reflecting compensatory neural strategies. Overall, these findings suggest that cognitive capacities, particularly selective attention, might be more affected than sensory acuity in early PD, highlighting areas for targeted interventions.
Ključne besede: EEG, semi-tandem stance, COP (Center of pressure), Parkinson's disease, cognitive-motor dual-tasking
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 08.09.2025; Ogledov: 295; Prenosov: 140
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