1. Depth of SCUBA diving affects cardiac autonomic nervous systemMarina Vulić, Branislav Milovanovic, Ante Obad, Duška Glavaš, Igor Glavičič, Damir Zubac, Maja Valic, Zoran Valić, 2024, review article Abstract: The present study investigated the influence of SCUBA dives with compressed air at depths of 10 and 20 m on ECG-derived HRV parameters in apparently healthy individuals. We hypothesized that cardiac sympathetic activity (measured by HRV parameters) adapts proportionally to diving depth, and that both time- and frequency-domain parameters are sensitive enough to track changes in cardiac ANS function during diving activities and subsequently during the recovery period. Eleven healthy middle-aged recreational divers (nine men and two women, age 43 ± 8, all nonsmokers) volunteered to participate in the present study. The participants (all open-circuit divers) were equipped with dry suits and ECG Holter devices and were later randomly assigned to dive pairs and depths (10 m vs. 20 m), and each participant served as his or her own control. No interaction effects (diving depth x time epoch) were found for the most commonly used HRV markers. More precisely, in response to two different diving protocols, a significant post hoc effect of time was observed for HR and SDNN, as these parameters transiently decreased during the dives and returned to baseline after ascent (p < 0.001). The ULF, VLF (p < 0.003), TP, and LF parameters decreased significantly during the dives, while HF significantly increased (p < 0.003). SCUBA diving apparently challenges the cardiac ANS, even in healthy individuals. The observed changes reveal possible underwater methods of influencing the parasympathetic activity of the heart depending on the depth of the dive. These results identify autonomic nervous system markers to track the cardiovascular risk related to diving and point to the possibility of tracking cardiovascular system benefits during underwater activities in selected patients
Keywords: autonomic nervous system, diving, parasympathicus, cardiovascular risk
Published in DiRROS: 09.04.2024; Views: 76; Downloads: 32
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2. Fast and accurate multiplex identification and quantification of seven genetically modified soybean lines using six-color digital PCRAlexandra Bogožalec Košir, Sabine Muller, Jana Žel, Mojca Milavec, Allison C. Mallory, David Dobnik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) presents challenges to GMO testing laboratories and policymakers. Traditional methods, like quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), face limitations in quantifying the increasing number of GMOs in a single sample. Digital PCR (dPCR), specifically multiplexing, offers a solution by enabling simultaneous quantification of multiple GMO targets. This study explores the use of the Naica six-color Crystal dPCR platform for quantifying five GM soybean lines within a single six-plex assay. Two four-color assays were also developed for added flexibility. These assays demonstrated high specificity, sensitivity (limit of detection or LOD < 25 copies per reaction) and precision (bias to an estimated copy number concentration <15%). Additionally, two approaches for the optimization of data analysis were implemented. By applying a limit-of-blank (LOB) correction, the limit of quantification (LOQ) and LOD could be more precisely determined. Pooling of reactions additionally lowered the LOD, with a two- to eight-fold increase in sensitivity. Real-life samples from routine testing were used to confirm the assays’ applicability for quantifying GM soybean lines in complex samples. This study showcases the potential of the six-color Crystal dPCR platform to revolutionize GMO testing, facilitating comprehensive analysis of GMOs in complex samples.
Keywords: digital PCR, dPCR, quantification, multiplexing, genetically modified organisms, 6-color system, virus diagnostics, virology
Published in DiRROS: 29.03.2024; Views: 116; Downloads: 48
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3. Keep it simple : improving the ex situ culture of Cystoseira s.l. to restore macroalgal forestsAna Lokovšek, Valentina Pitacco, Domen Trkov, Leon Lojze Zamuda, Annalisa Falace, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Brown algae from genus Cystoseira s.l. form dense underwater forests that represent the most productive areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the combined effects of global and local stressors such as climate change, urbanization, and herbivore outbreaks, there has been a severe decline in brown algal forests in the Mediterranean Sea. Natural recovery of depleted sites is unlikely due to the low dispersal capacity of these species, and efficient techniques to restore such habitats are needed. In this context, the aims of our study were (1) to improve and simplify the current ex situ laboratory protocol for the cultivation of Gongolaria barbata by testing the feasibility of some cost-effective and time-efficient techniques on two donor sites of G. barbata and (2) to evaluate the survival and growth of young thalli during the laboratory phase and during the most critical five months after out-planting. Specifically, the following ex situ cultivation methods were tested: (A) cultivation on clay tiles in mesocosms with culture water prepared by three different procedures (a) filtered seawater with a 0.22 μm filter membrane, (b) filtered seawater with a 0.7 μm filter membrane (GF), and (c) UV-sterilized water, and (B) cultivation on clay tiles in open laboratory systems. After two weeks, all thalli were fixed to plastic lantern net baskets suspended at a depth of 2 m in the coastal sea (hybrid method), and the algal success was monitored in relation to the different donor sites and cultivation protocol. The satisfactory results of this study indicate that UV-sterilized water is suitable for the cultivation of G. barbata in mesocosm, which significantly reduces the cost of the laboratory phase. This opens the possibility of numerous and frequent algal cultures during the reproductive period of the species. Additionally, if the young thalli remain in the lantern net baskets for an extended period of several months, they can grow significantly in the marine environment without being exposed to pressure from herbivorous fish.
Keywords: gojenje ex situ, obnova habitata, izboljšanje metodologije, gozdički rjavih alg, ex situ cultivation, mesocosm, open system, method improvement, brown algal forests restoration
Published in DiRROS: 29.03.2024; Views: 117; Downloads: 59
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4. The LANDSUPPORT geospatial decision support system (S-DSS) vision : operational tools to implement sustainability policies in land planning and managementFabio Terribile, Marco Acutis, Antonella Agrillo, Erlisiana Anzalone, Sayed Azam-Ali, Marialaura Bancheri, Peter Baumann, Barbara Birli, Antonello Bonfante, Marco Botta, Mitja Ferlan, Jernej Jevšenak, Primož Simončič, Mitja Skudnik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Nowadays, there is contrasting evidence between the ongoing continuing and widespread environmental degradation and the many means to implement environmental sustainability actions starting from good policies (e.g. EU New Green Deal, CAP), powerful technologies (e.g. new satellites, drones, IoT sensors), large databases and large stakeholder engagement (e.g. EIP-AGRI, living labs). Here, we argue that to tackle the above contrasting issues dealing with land degradation, it is very much required to develop and use friendly and freely available web-based operational tools to support both the implementation of environmental and agriculture policies and enable to take positive environmental sustainability actions by all stakeholders. Our solution is the S-DSS LANDSUPPORT platform, consisting of a free web-based smart Geospatial CyberInfrastructure containing 15 macro-tools (and more than 100 elementary tools), co-designed with different types of stakeholders and their different needs, dealing with sustainability in agriculture, forestry and spatial planning. LANDSUPPORT condenses many features into one system, the main ones of which were (i) Web-GIS facilities, connection with (ii) satellite data, (iii) Earth Critical Zone data and (iv) climate datasets including climate change and weather forecast data, (v) data cube technology enabling us to read/write when dealing with very large datasets (e.g. daily climatic data obtained in real time for any region in Europe), (vi) a large set of static and dynamic modelling engines (e.g. crop growth, water balance, rural integrity, etc.) allowing uncertainty analysis and what if modelling and (vii) HPC (both CPU and GPU) to run simulation modelling ‘on-the-fly’ in real time. Two case studies (a third case is reported in the Supplementary materials), with their results and stats, covering different regions and spatial extents and using three distinct operational tools all connected to lower land degradation processes (Crop growth, Machine Learning Forest Simulator and GeOC), are featured in this paper to highlight the platform's functioning. Landsupport is used by a large community of stakeholders and will remain operational, open and free long after the project ends. This position is rooted in the evidence showing that we need to leave these tools as open as possible and engage as much as possible with a large community of users to protect soils and land.
Keywords: land degradation, land management, soil, spatial decision support system, sustainability
Published in DiRROS: 13.11.2023; Views: 374; Downloads: 170
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6. Impact of Open-Loop Systems on Groundwater Temperature in NE SloveniaSimona Adrinek, Mitja Janža, Mihael Brenčič, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: To achieve sustainable and efficient use of shallow geothermal resources, it is important to understand the heat transfer in the subsurface of the planned geothermal system. In the City Municipality of Murska Sobota, NE Slovenia, the use of geothermal open-loop systems has increased in recent years. Their high spatial density raises the question of possible mutual interference between the systems. By compiling geological, hydrogeological, and thermal data, obtained from the monitoring network, fieldwork, and knowledge of regional hydrogeological conditions, we have developed a transient groundwater flow and heat transfer model to evaluate the impact of the open-loop systems on the subsurface and surrounding systems. The transient simulation showed that the thermal state in the observed area is restored over the summer, when the systems are not in operation. Also, the systems do not have significant mutual interference that would affect their efficiency. However, as interest in installing new systems in the area increases, simulations of the thermal plumes of new geothermal systems are needed to ensure sustainable and efficient use of shallow geothermal energy in the future.
Keywords: geothermal energy, open-loop system, groundwater heat pump, intergranular aquifer, numerical modelling, thermal plume
Published in DiRROS: 19.09.2023; Views: 381; Downloads: 101
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7. Quality-assurance of heat-flow data: the new structure and evaluation scheme of the IHFC Global Heat Flow DatabaseSven Fuchs, Ben Norden, Florian Neumann, Norbert Kaul, Akiko Tanaka, Ilmo T. Kukkonen, Christophe Pascal, Rodolfo Christiansen, Gianluca Gola, Dušan Rajver, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Since 1963, the International Heat Flow Commission has been fostering the compilation of the Global Heat Flow Database to provide reliable heat-flow data. Over time, techniques and methodologies evolved, calling for a reorganization of the database structure and for a reassessment of stored heat-flow data. Here, we provide the results of a collaborative, community-driven approach to set-up a new, quality-approved global heat-flow database. We present background information on how heat-flow is determined and how this important thermal parameter could be systematically evaluated. The latter requires appropriate documentation of metadata to allow the application of a consistent evaluation scheme. The knowledge of basic data (name and coordinates of the site, depth range of temperature measurements, etc.), details on temperature and thermal-conductivity data and possible perturbing effects need to be given. The proposed heat-flow quality evaluation scheme can discriminate between different quality aspects affecting heat flow: numerical uncertainties, methodological uncertainties, and environmental effects. The resulting quality codes allow the evaluation of every stored heat-flow data entry. If mandatory basic data are missing, the entry is marked accordingly. In cases where more than one heat-flow determination is presented for one specific site, and all of them are considered for the site, the poorest evaluation score is inherited to the site level. The required data and the proposed scheme are presented in this paper. Due to the requirements of the newly developed evaluation scheme, the database structure as presented in 2021 has been updated and is available in the appendix of this paper. The new quality scheme will allow a comprehensible evaluation of the stored heat-flow data for the first time.
Keywords: heat-flow density, quality scheme, thermal geophysics, global heat flow database (GHFD), thermal parameter, data information system, International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC)
Published in DiRROS: 09.08.2023; Views: 329; Downloads: 127
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8. The influence of flexible sound insulation layers on the seismic performance of cross laminated timber wallsBoris Azinović, Tomaž Pazlar, Meta Kržan, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental campaign investigating the seismic behaviour of full-size cross laminated timber (CLT) wall systems with sound-insulated shear-tension angle brackets. The main aim of the study was to investigate the influence of more and less flexible soundproofing bedding under the CLT wall. The paper shows a comparison of lateral load-bearing capacity, displacement capacity, ductility and stiffness obtained from racking tests on uninsulated specimens and specimens with various types of bedding insulation and levels of vertical load. Moreover, an analytical procedure to estimate the lateral load-displacement response of CLT walls with bedding insulation is proposed. This model is verified by direct comparison to the experimentally determined lateral load-displacement backbone curves. The results show that the elastomeric bedding does not have a significant effect on the bearing capacity of the wall system tested, but it reduces the stiffness and increases the displacement capacity. Due to the large decrease in stiffness, the insulation causes an overall reduction in ductility. The analytical estimation proposed was able to capture the reduction in lateral stiffness and adequately predict the load-bearing capacity.
Keywords: CLT wall system, insulated angle bracket, elastomer sound insulation, racking tests, lateral load-bearing capacity, stiffness, open access
Published in DiRROS: 26.06.2023; Views: 273; Downloads: 221
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9. Seismic activity in the Celje Basin (Slovenia) in Roman times—archaeoseismological evidence from CeleiaMiklós Kázmér, Petra Jamšek Rupnik, Krzysztof Gaidzik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Searching for unknown earthquakes in Slovenia in the first millennium, we performed archaeoseismological analysis of Roman settlements. The Mesto pod mestom museum in Celje exhibits a paved Roman road, which suffered severe deformation. Built on fine gravel and sand from the Savinja River, the road displays a bulge and trench, pop-up structures, and pavement slabs tilted up to 40°. The city wall was built over the deformed road in Late Roman times, supported by a foundation containing recycled material (spolia) from public buildings, including an emperor’s statue. We hypothesize that a severe earthquake hit the town before 350 AD, causing widespread destruction. Seismic-induced liquefaction caused differential subsidence, deforming the road. One of the nearby faults from the strike-slip Periadriatic fault system was the seismic source of this event.
Keywords: paleoseismology, Periadriatic fault system, active tectonics, Southern Alps, Pannonian Basin, Dinarides
Published in DiRROS: 14.02.2023; Views: 474; Downloads: 156
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