21. Monitoring of species’ genetic diversity in Europe varies greatly and overlooks potential climate change impactsPeter Pearman, Olivier Broennimann, Tsipe Aavik, Tamer Albayrak, Paulo Célio Alves, Filipos Aravanopoulos, Laura Bertola, Aleksandra Biedrzycka, Elena Bužan, Vlatka Čubrić Čurik, Katja Kavčič Sonnenschein, Marjana Westergren, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. However, genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed, it is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration due to climate change. We report an accounting of efforts to monitor population genetic diversity in Europe (genetic monitoring effort, GME), the evaluation of which can help guide future capacity building and collaboration towards areas most in need of expanded monitoring. Overlaying GME with areas where the ranges of selected species of conservation interest approach current and future climate niche limits helps identify whether GME coincides with anticipated climate change effects on biodiversity. Our analysis suggests that country area, financial resources and conservation policy influence GME, high values of which only partially match species’ joint patterns of limits to suitable climatic conditions. Populations at trailing climatic niche margins probably hold genetic diversity that is important for adaptation to changing climate. Our results illuminate the need in Europe for expanded investment in genetic monitoring across climate gradients occupied by focal species, a need arguably greatest in southeastern European countries. This need could be met in part by expanding the European Union’s Birds and Habitats Directives to fully address the conservation and monitoring of genetic diversity.
Keywords: genetics, monitoring, population genetic diversity, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 22.01.2024; Views: 215; Downloads: 92
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22. Extending BIM for air quality monitoringMichael Nicolas Mrissa, Jan Vcelak, László Hajdu, Balázs Dávid, Miklós Ferenz Krész, Jakub Michal Sandak, Anna Malgorzata Sandak, Rok Kanduti, Monika Varkonji, Anja Jutraž, Katja Malovrh Rebec, 2020, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: As we spend more than 90% of our time inside buildings, indoor environmental quality is a major concern for healthy living. Recent studies show that almost 80% of people in European countries and the United States suffer from SBS (Sick Building Syndrome), which affects physical health, productivity and psychological well-being. In this context, environmental quality monitoring provides stakeholders with crucial information about indoor living conditions, thus facilitating building management along its lifecycle, from design, construction and commissioning to usage, maintenance and end-of-life. However, currently available modelling tools for building management remain limited to static models and lack integration capacities to efficiently exploit environmental quality monitoring data. In order to overcome these limitations, we designed and implemented a generic software architecture that relies on accessible Building Information Model (BIM) attributes to add a dynamic layer that integrates environmental quality data coming from deployed sensors. Merging sensor data with BIM allows creation of a digital twin for the monitored building where live information about environmental quality enables evaluation through numerical simulation. Our solution allows accessing and displaying live sensor data, thus providing advanced functionality to the end-user and other systems in the building. In order to preserve genericity and separation of concerns, our solution stores sensor data in a separate database available through an application programming interface (API), which decouples BIM models from sensor data. Our proof-of-concept experiments were conducted with a cultural heritage building located in Bled, Slovenia. We demonstrated that it is possible to display live information regarding environmental quality (temperature, relative humidity, CO2, particle matter, light) using Revit as an example, thus enabling end-users to follow the conditions of their living environment and take appropriate measures to improve its quality
Keywords: Building Information Model, internet of things, environmental quality monitoring, healthy living
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2024; Views: 183; Downloads: 84
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23. Genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in human colorectal cancerVita Dolžan, Metka Ravnik-Glavač, Katja Breskvar, 1998, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: It was proposed that both hereaditary and environmental factors contribute to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from food or tobacco smoke can form DNA adducts and thus initiate carcinogenesis after metabolic activation via cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1). Intermediate metabolites are detoxified by conjugation with glutathione S-transferases. Our aim was to look for inherited metabolic suceptibility to CRC. We used PCR-based genotyping approach to determine the frequencies of polymorphic alleles of two cytochromes P450 (CYP2D6 and CYP1A1)and two glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1 and GSTT1) in DNA samples from 31 sporadic, 25 familial CRC cases and 73 healthy controls. The difference in frequencies of poor metabolisers due to CYP2D6 gene polymorphismwas close to the limit of statistical significance between sporadiCRC and healthy control group (lambda 2=5.52, m=2, p=0.06) despite the small sample size. The frequencies of either CYP1A1 MspI, GST M1 or GST T1 genotypes were not significantly different in both CRC cases and in controls. Although our study suggests some difference in metabolic susceptibility between sporadic and familial CRC, further studies are needed to investigate the combined effect of polymorphic genes involved in carcinogen metabolism in a larger group of patients with defined exposure to dietary carcinogens and smoking.
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2024; Views: 184; Downloads: 42
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24. Hydrogeological characterization of karst springs of the white (Proteus anguinus anguinus) and black olm (Proteus anguinus parkelj) habitat in Bela krajina (SE Slovenia)Katja Koren, Rok Brajkovič, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The springs west of Črnomelj, in SE Slovenia, are the habitat of the black (Proteus anguinus parkelj) and the white olm (Proteus anguinus anguinus). Some of these springs are also the only known habitat in the world of endemic species of black olm. A steady decline in olm populations has been observed in this area over the past decades. Owing to the rapid runoff and groundwater flow high-resolution monitoring is essential in providing better insight into the hydrogeological characterization of the catchment area of springs. Specific factors and critical parameters of water behind said olm degradation have not yet been defined. Because the olm’s environment is largely aquatic, one potential critical parameter could be the higher water temperatures (>12 °C) or higher nitrate concentration (>9.2mg/l). The six-month observation of the springs (July – December 2021) point to water temperature as a potential critical parameter since the water temperature of the springs exceeded 12 °C in months July and August. Nitrate concentrations could also be a second critical parameter in the degradation of the olm’s habitat. Maximum nitrate concentrations above 9.2mg/l throughout much of the observation period (except for Dobličica spring). Due to less agricultural activity in December in the spring catchment area and a higher dilution rate due to reduced evapotranspiration and increased effective precipitation during this time of the year, the nitrate concentrations are decreased. The results of the measured parameters of groundwater could show the hydrogeological connection between the Otovski and Pački breg springs and between Šotor, Jamnice and Dobličica. The Obršec spring has an independent catchment area. A detailed estimation of the springs catchment area is possible due to a detailed geologic map. It is necessary to determine the origin of the nitrate (nitrate isotope analysis), to quantify the threshold values of the critical parameters, to define precisely all the causes of the olm deterioration, and to make proposals for appropriate measures to limit or even stop the decline of the olm population.
Keywords: hydrogeology, olm, ecology, nitrate, monitoring
Published in DiRROS: 16.01.2024; Views: 185; Downloads: 64
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25. Microfossils from Middle Triassic beds near Mišji Dol, central SloveniaKatja Oselj, Tea Kolar-Jurkovšek, Bogdan Jurkovšek, Luka Gale, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Middle Triassic beds exposed along the road between Mišji Dol and Poljane pri Primskovem (Posavje Hills) comprise marlstone, tuff, volcaniclastic sandstone, and thin- to medium-bedded limestone and dolostone. The succession was logged and sampled for conodonts. A relatively rich conodont assemblage was determined, consisting of Budurovignathus gabrielae Kozur, Budurovignathus sp., Cratognathodus kochi (Huckriede), Gladigondolella malayensis Nogami, Gladigondolella tethydis Huckriede, Gladigondolella sp., Neogondolella balkanica Budurov & Stefanov, Neogondolella cf. excentrica Budurov & Stefanov, Neogondolella constricta (Mosher & Clark), Neogondolella cornuta Budurov & Stefanov,Neogondolella sp., Paragondolella excelsa Mosher, Paragondolella liebermani (Kovacs & Kozur), Paragondolella trammeri (K o z u r), Paragondolella cf. alpina (Kozur & Mostler), and Paragondolella sp. The assemblage correlates with the upper Anisian and lowermost Ladinian assemblages from the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Ladinian at Bagolino in the Southern Alps in northern Italy. Along with conodonts, numerous specimens of benthic foraminifera Nodobacularia? vujisici Urošević & Gaździcki were recovered from the lowermost part of the succession. Previous research on this taxon is critically evaluated.
Keywords: Dinarides, Sava Folds, Middle Triassic, upper Anisian, lower Ladinian, basin, volcaniclastics, conodonts, foraminifera
Published in DiRROS: 15.01.2024; Views: 161; Downloads: 55
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29. Influence of homogenization of alkali-activated slurry on mechanical strengthBarbara Horvat, Mark Češnovar, Katja Traven, Majda Pavlin, Katja Koenig, Vilma Ducman, 2022, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Alkali-activated materials are promising materials for the construction industry due to the accessibility of the precursors, which are mainly secondary industrial by-products, and their cost- effective and energy-efficient production. Although these materials are not new, some of the parameters in the technological process are not yet fully understood and tested. Therefore, in this paper in the means of mechanical strength, the preparation of alkali-activated pastes by using a three-roll mill homogenization method is discussed. The influence of homogenization of alkali- activated slurry has been evaluated on different waste materials (fly ash, fly ash with metakaolin, slag mixture (electric arc furnace slag and ladle slag), glass wool, waste green ceramics), which are treated with different alkali activators (NaOH, commercial sodium silicate solution, laboratory-produced alkali activators based on waste cathode- ray tube glass) with different curing regimes (60 °C and 70 °C) and different drying methods (drying at room temperature, drying at 105 °C). The viscosity of the slurry before homogenization was higher than after homogenization, the distribution of elements was more uniform and the compressive strength higher in all homogenized alkali activated materials, regardless of other parameters.
Keywords: secondary raw material, alkali activated material, foaming, homogenization, mechanical strength
Published in DiRROS: 21.12.2023; Views: 246; Downloads: 82
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30. Merjeni in izračunani fotobiološki učinki odbite svetlobe na ljudiKatja Malovrh Rebec, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Pri načrtovanju osvetlitve izračuni le delno napovejo vplive svetlobe na uporabnike prostorov. Svetloba ima namreč poleg dobro poznanih slikovnih učinkov, ki jih možgani interpretirajo na podlagi odzivov čepkov in paličic, tudi neslikovne učinke. Ti ne pripomorejo k orientaciji v prostoru, temveč sporočajo telesu ključne informacije, ki vplivajo na tvorbo hormonov. Vrh te zaznave je v modrem delu spektra vidne svetlobe. Žal delovanja teh fotoreceptorjev še ne opisujemo s parametri, ustaljenimi v praksi projektiranja, zato so vplivi na uporabnike pogosto prezrti. Dodaten izziv pomeni praksa, pri kateri svetlobne učinke preračunavamo v lukse, kar pomeni, da jih množimo s povprečnim človeškim dnevnim vidom. Tak pristop ni primeren za vrednotenje neslikovnih učinkov, ker imajo drugo akcijsko krivuljo. Izmerili smo spektralno sestavo odbitih dnevnih svetlob v modelnem prostoru, ker nas je zanimalo, kakšne razlike nastanejo v slikovni in neslikovni zaznavi, če pobarvamo stene z različnimi barvami. Modra in vijoličasta stena neslikovno stimulirata opazovalca bolj kot slikovno v obeh opazovanih smereh pogleda, oranžna v obeh primerih neslikovno vpliva manj, pri zeleni pa je bila neslikovna zaznava bolj stimulirana od slikovne pri pogledu naprej, pri pogledu v mizo pa je bilo obratno.
Keywords: svetloba, fotobiološki vpliv, spektralna sestava svetlobe, dnevna svetloba
Published in DiRROS: 21.12.2023; Views: 193; Downloads: 66
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