1. |
2. Dietary habits of shooting athletes : a comparative study of Slovenian and foreign athletesTadeja Jakus, Nika Černe, Mojca Stubelj, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Purpose: Shooting is a sport in which dietary habits and the timing of meals is not often represented. The aim of this paper is to compare the dietary habits, timing of meals and training frequency of Slovenian and foreign athletes. Methods: The sample included 88 shooter athletes (35 Slovenian and 53 foreign athletes), aged 14 to 60, who participate in competitions. Data by dietary habits, diet, training and BMI were collected via a questionnaire. Results: Athletes train and compete most frequently using an air rifle. Foreign athletes train more often and spend more time training than Slovenian athletes (p < 0.001). The average BMI was 24.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2 and was higher in athletes who competed at national level (26.8 ± 5.6 kg/m2) compared to international level (23.0 ± 3.1 kg/ m2) (p = 0.022). We found a difference between the groups in lunch (p = 0.041), morning (p = 0.020) and evening (p = 0.008) snacks. Slovenian athletes reached for food during training less frequently than foreign athletes (p = 0.007). More than half of the athletes (p < 0.001). Conclusions -athletes tend to train more frequently, have better nutritional planning and eat more meals after training than their Slovenian counterparts.
Keywords: shooting, nutrition, eating behaviour
Published in DiRROS: 13.03.2025; Views: 176; Downloads: 125
 Full text (1,08 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
3. Mating behaviour and vibratory signalling in non-hearing cave crickets reflect primitive communication of EnsiferaNataša Stritih Peljhan, Andrej Čokl, 2012, original scientific article Abstract: In Ensifera, the lack of well-supported phylogeny and the focus on acoustic communication of the terminal taxa hinders understanding of the evolutionary history of their signalling behaviour and the related sensory structures. For Rhaphidophoridae, the most relic of ensiferans following morphology-based phylogenies, the signalling modes are still unknown. Together with a detailed description of their mating process, we provide evidence on vibratory signalling for the sympatric European species Troglophilus neglectus and T. cavicola. Despite their temporal shift in reproduction, the species’ behaviours differ significantly. Signalling by abdominal vibration constitutes an obligatory part of courtship in T. neglectus, while it is absent in T. cavicola. Whole-body vibration is expressed after copulation in both species. While courtship signalling appears to stimulate females for mating, the function of post-copulation signals remains unclear. Mating and signalling of both species were found to take place in most cases on bark, and less frequently on other available substrates, like moss and rock. The signals’ frequency spectra were substrate dependent, but with the dominant peak always expressed below 120 Hz. On rock, the intensity of T. neglectus courtship signals was below the species’ physiological detection range, presumably constraining the evolution of such signalling in caves. The species’ behavioural divergence appears to reflect their divergent mating habitats, in and outside caves. We propose that short-range tremulation signalling in courtship, such as is expressed by T. neglectus, represents the primitive mode and context of mechanical signalling in Ensifera. The absence of high-frequency components in the signals may be related to the absence of the crista acoustica homologue (CAH) in the vibratory tibial organ of Rhaphidophoridae. This indirectly supports the hypothesis proposing that the CAH, as an evolutionary precursor of the ear, evolved in Ensifera along the (more) complex vibratory communication, also associated with signals of higher carrier frequency.
Keywords: insects, communication (biology), animal behaviour
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 128; Downloads: 103
Full text (492,80 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
4. Coumaphos affects food transfer between workers of honeybee Apis melliferaDanilo Bevk, Jasna Kralj, Andrej Čokl, 2012, original scientific article Abstract: We investigated whether coumaphos, an organophosphate used to control the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, affects trophallaxis in honeybees. Donors were treated with coumaphos 1 h before experiments. In this, uncontaminated food was transferred from donors to recipients. The amount of food transferred was measured (a) directly by weighing food or (b) indirectly by the number of recipients that died due to insufficient trophallaxis. A large reduction in the amount of transferred food was observed when the donors received 5 μg of coumaphos 1 h prior to the experiment. High mortality was observed among the recipients that were fed by donors treated with 2 or 5 μg of coumaphos indicating insufficient food transfer. Demonstrated side effects of coumaphos on trophallaxis could reduce distribution of this systemic agent in the colony and decreases its efficacy. The described assays are feasible and could be a useful tool to test the effects of pesticides on trophallaxis.
Keywords: trophallaxis, social behaviour, food
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 164; Downloads: 120
Full text (216,60 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
5. Substrate vibrations during courtship in three Drosophila speciesValerio Mazzoni, Gianfranco Anfora, Meta Virant-Doberlet, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: While a plethora of studies have focused on the role of visual, chemical and near-field airborne signals in courtship of Drosophila fruit flies, the existence of substrate-borne vibrational signals has been almost completely overlooked. Here we describe substrate vibrations generated during courtship in three species of the D. melanogaster group, from the allegedly mute species D. suzukii, its sister species D. biarmipes, and from D. melanogaster. In all species, we recorded several types of substrate vibrations which were generated by locomotion, abdominal vibrations and most likely through the activity of thoracic wing muscles. In D. melanogaster and D. suzukii, all substrate vibrations described in intact males were also recorded in males with amputated wings. Evidence suggests that vibrational signalling may be widespread among Drosophila species, and fruit flies may provide an ideal model to study various aspects of this widespread form of animal communication.
Keywords: animal communication, ethology, animal behaviour
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 146; Downloads: 101
Full text (509,57 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
6. The role of signals of different modalities in initiating vibratory communication in Nezara viridulaVera Zgonik, Andrej Čokl, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Signals of different modalities are involved in the behaviour of the green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Pentatomidae, Heteroptera). Long range attraction is mediated by male pheromones, resulting in aggregation of bugs on the same plant where vibratory signals, vision and various chemical signals become important. Both males and females sing spontaneously. When both are on the plant, males start vibratory communication as often as females. Females induce the exchange of vibratory signals spontaneously or triggered by the male pheromone while males initiate the duet either spontaneously or after seeing the female. Males and females sing spontaneously and respond to signals of different modalities more often in the daylight than in the dark. Long lasting autonomous emission of the female calling song is present when triggered by the male pheromone and males respond to female calling predominantly by the emission of the courtship song.
Keywords: mating behaviour, animal communication, vibrations, green stink bug
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 157; Downloads: 163
Full text (724,98 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
7. A synthesis of evidence for policy from behavioural science during COVID-19 : analysisKai Ruggeri, Friederike Stock, S. Alexander Haslam, Valerio Capraro, Žan Lep, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Scientifc evidence regularly guides policy decisions1 , with behavioural science increasingly part of this process2 . In April 2020, an infuential paper3 proposed 19 policy recommendations (‘claims’) detailing how evidence from behavioural science could contribute to eforts to reduce impacts and end the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we assess 747 pandemic-related research articles that empirically investigated those claims. We report the scale of evidence and whether evidence supports them to indicate applicability for policymaking. Two independent teams, involving 72 reviewers, found evidence for 18 of 19 claims, with both teams fnding evidence supporting 16 (89 %) of those 18 claims. The strongest evidence supported claims that anticipated culture, polarization and misinformation would be associated with policy efectiveness. Claims suggesting trusted leaders and positive social norms increased adherence to behavioural interventions also had strong empirical support, as did appealing to social consensus or bipartisan agreement. Targeted language in messaging yielded mixed efects and there were no efects for highlighting individual benefts or protecting others. No available evidence existed to assess any distinct diferences in efects between using the terms ‘physical distancing’ and ‘social distancing’. Analysis of 463 papers containing data showed generally large samples; 418 involved human participants with a mean of 16,848 (median of 1,699). That statistical power underscored improved suitability of behavioural science research for informing policy decisions. Furthermore, by implementing a standardized approach to evidence selection and synthesis, we amplify broader implications for advancing scientifc evidence in policy formulation and prioritization.
Keywords: psychology, behaviour, trusted leaders, adherence to behavioural interventions, covid-19, pandemic
Published in DiRROS: 27.01.2025; Views: 204; Downloads: 100
Full text (4,67 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
8. Characterisation of ground thermal and thermo-mechanical behaviour for shallow geothermal energy applicationsAna Vieira, Maria Alberdi-Pegola, Paul Christodoulides, Saqib Javed, Fleur Loveridge, Frederic Nguyen, Francesco Cecinato, João Maranha, Georgios Florides, Iulia Prodan, Gust Van Lysebetten, Elsa Ramalhosa, Diana Salciarini, Aleksandar Georgiev, Sandrine Rosin-Paumier, Rumen Popov, Stanislav Lenart, Søren Erbs Poulsen, Georgia Radioti, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Increasing use of the ground as a thermal reservoir is expected in the near future. Shallow geothermal energy (SGE) systems have proved to be sustainable alternative solutions for buildings and infrastructure conditioning in many areas across the globe in the past decades. Recently novel solutions, including energy geostructures, where SGE systems are coupled with foundation heat exchangers, have also been developed. The performance of these systems is dependent on a series of factors, among which the thermal properties of the soil play a major role. The purpose of this paper is to present, in an integrated manner, the main methods and procedures to assess ground thermal properties for SGE systems and to carry out a critical review of the methods. In particular, laboratory testing through either steady-state or transient methods are discussed and a new synthesis comparing results for different techniques is presented. In situ testing including all variations of the thermal response test is presented in detail, including a first comparison between new and traditional approaches. The issue of different scales between laboratory and in situ measurements is then analysed in detail. Finally, the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of soil is introduced and discussed. These coupled processes are important for confirming the structural integrity of energy geostructures, but routine methods for parameter determination are still lacking.
Keywords: hallow geotehermal systems, soil thermal behaviour, laboratory testing, in situ testing, thermo-mechanical behaviour
Published in DiRROS: 14.08.2024; Views: 547; Downloads: 351
Full text (9,30 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
9. Manipulating behaviour with substrate-borne vibrations - potential for insect pest controlJernej Polajnar, Anna Eriksson, Andrea Lucchi, Gianfranco Anfora, Meta Virant-Doberlet, Valerio Mazzoni, 2015, review article Abstract: This review presents an overview of the potential use of substrate-borne vibrations for the purpose of achieving insect pest control in the context of integrated pest management. Although the importance of mechanical vibrations in the life of insects has been fairly well established, the effect of substrate-borne vibrations has historically been understudied, in contrast to sound sensu stricto. Consequently, the idea of using substrate-borne vibrations for pest control is still in its infancy. This review therefore focuses on the theoretical background, using it to highlight potential applications in a field environment, and lists the few preliminary studies that have been or are being performed. Conceptual similarities to the use of sound, as well as limitations inherent in this approach, are also noted. © 2014 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Keywords: insects, behaviour, pest control, substrate-borne vibrations
Published in DiRROS: 06.08.2024; Views: 525; Downloads: 681
Full text (876,47 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
10. 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, original scientific article Abstract: 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.
Keywords: corrosion-fatigue behaviour, stress corrosion mechanisms, biodegradable magnesium alloys, WE43, DMEM
Published in DiRROS: 02.08.2024; Views: 593; Downloads: 391
Full text (11,47 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
