1. Protective effect of EBF transcription factor 1 (EBF1) polymorphism in sporadic and familial spontaneous preterm birth : insights from a case-control studyTea Mladenić, Jasenka Wagner, Mirta Kadivnik, Nina Pereza, Saša Ostojić, Borut Peterlin, Sanja Dević Pavlić, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This study investigated the potential role of specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes Astrotactin 1 (ASTN1), EBF Transcription Factor 1 (EBF1), Eukaryotic Elongation Factor, Selenocysteine-tRNA Specific (EEFSEC), Microtubule-Associated Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (MAST1), and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) to assess whether these genetic variants contribute to the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). A case-control study was conducted involving 573 women from Croatia and Slovenia: 248 with sporadic sPTB (positive personal and negative family history of sPTB before 37 weeks’ gestation), 44 with familial sPTB (positive personal and family history of sPTB before 37 weeks’ gestation), and 281 control women. The analysis of ASTN1 rs146756455, EBF1 rs2963463, EBF1 rs2946169, EEFSEC rs201450565, MAST1 rs188343966, and TNF-α rs1800629 SNPs was performed using TaqMan real-time PCR. p-values were Bonferroni-adjusted for multiple comparisons. EBF1 SNP rs2963463 was significantly associated with sPTB (p adj = 0.03). Women carrying the CC genotype had a 3–4-times lower risk of sPTB (p adj < 0.0001). In addition, a significant difference in the frequency of the minor C allele was observed when comparing familial sPTB cases with controls (p adj < 0.0001). All other associations were based on unadjusted p-values. The minor T allele of EBF1 SNP rs2946169 was more frequent in sPTB cases overall than in controls, especially in sporadic sPTB (p = 0.045). Similarly, the CC genotype of ASTN1 SNP rs146756455 was more frequent in sporadic sPTB cases compared to controls (p = 0.019). Finally, the TNF-α SNP rs1800629 minor A allele and AA genotype were more common in the familial sPTB group compared to sporadic sPTB and controls (p < 0.05). The EBF1 SNP rs2963463 polymorphism showed a protective effect in the pathogenesis of sPTB, particularly in women carrying the CC genotype. Moreover, EBF1 SNP rs2946169 and ASTN1 SNP rs146756455, as well as TNF-α SNP rs1800629, were associated with an increased risk of sPTB, representing suggestive potential risk factors for sporadic and familial sPTB, respectively.
Keywords: preterm birth, single-nucleotide polymorphism, gene, genetic association studies
Published in DiRROS: 10.11.2025; Views: 55; Downloads: 13
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2. Report on the Adriatic Sea and Western Mediterranean Pilot studies : Deliverable D7.1 & D7.2Saša Raicevich, Itziar Alvarez, Francesca Ronchi, Manuel Hidalgo, Marina Pulcini, Michele Giani, Elisa Giubilato, Tomaso Fortibuoni, Janja Francé, 2021, final research report Keywords: marine strategy, descriptors, pilot studies, methodology
Published in DiRROS: 23.04.2025; Views: 606; Downloads: 0
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3. The SARENA Programme: Master's degree studies in nuclear engineering combining different educational and cultural environmentsIvo Kljenak, Abdesselam Abdelouas, Manon Desmytter, Francisco Javier Elorza Tenreiro, Eduardo Gallego, Andreas Hartnack, Christoph Hartnack, Juhani Hyvärinen, Juhani Vihavainen, Iztok Tiselj, 2024, original scientific article Keywords: nuclear engineering, Master's degree studies, SARENA
Published in DiRROS: 11.04.2025; Views: 476; Downloads: 135
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4. ▫$T_{cc}^+$▫ via the plane wave approach and including diquark-antidiquark operatorsIvan Vujmilović, Sara Collins, Luka Leskovec, Emmanuel Ortiz Pacheco, M. Padmanath, Saša Prelovšek, 2024, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: tetraquark, lattice QCD studies, quark mass
Published in DiRROS: 27.03.2025; Views: 448; Downloads: 245
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5. Peer victimization and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic : disentangling between and within person effectsKatja Košir, Tina Pivec, Ana Kozina, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Peer victimization and anxiety are consistently positively correlated, though the longitudinal relationship remains inconsistent. Previous research often failed to ac count for the reciprocal relationship between traditional and cyber victimization, with limited evidence of the influence of broader societal factors. Thus, the present study aimed to longitudinally examine the relationship between victimization, cyber victimization, and anxiety within the specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic during one school year (2021/22), employing both the cross-lagged panel model and the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. The study included 1766 stu dents (58.5% females; Mage= 15.33; SD = 1.20) from lower- and upper-secondary schools in Slovenia who participated in three time-points with approximately 8 weeks apart, with T1 occurring before school closures, T2 during school closures (which lasted 17–21 weeks), and T3 after school closures. Findings revealed that the relationship between anxiety and victimization changed across the school year. The results of the cross-lagged panel model indicated that traditional victimization in T1 positively predicted anxiety in T2, and anxiety in T2 positively predicted traditional victimization in T3. Cyber victimization at T2 predicted lower anxiety at T3. The results of the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model showed that t the within-person level, students experiencing more cyber victimization than ex pected reported greater subsequent victimization, especially after school closures. The study provides insights into the dynamics of the relationship between peer victimization and anxiety during a specific period of school closure. The findings do not fully align with any single theoretical model, highlighting the complexity of these interactions in the pandemic context. This study underscores the need to con sider broader socio-environmental factors in understanding the relationship between peer relationships and psychosocial outcomes.
Keywords: victimization, cyber victimization, enxiety, middle adolescents, longitudinal studies, school closure
Published in DiRROS: 20.03.2025; Views: 591; Downloads: 250
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6. One (financial well-being) model fits all? : testing the multidimensional subjective financial well-being scale across nine countriesAngela Sorgente, Žan Lep, Maja Zupančič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: A multidimensional model of emerging adults’ subjective financial well-being was proposed (Sorgente and Lanz, Int Journal of Behavioral Development, 43(5), 466–478 2019). The authors also developed a 5-factor scale (the Multidimensional Subjective Financial Well-being Scale, MSFWBS) intending to measure this construct in the European context. To date, data using this instrument have been collected in nine countries: Austria, Canada, Finland, India, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey. In the current study, data from these countries were analysed to test the validity of this model internationally. In particular, using an international sample of 4,475 emerging adults, we collected the following kinds of validity evidence for the MSFWBS: score structure, reliability, generalizability, convergent, and criterion-related evidence. Findings suggest that the MSFWBS (1) yields valid and reliable scores, and (2) works well in individualistic and economically developed countries, producing comparable scores. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.
Keywords: psychology, finance, well being, cross cultural studies, test reliability, test validity, emerging adulthood, Multidimensional subjective financial well-being scale for emerging adults MSFWBS, Satisfaction with life scale SWLS
Published in DiRROS: 27.01.2025; Views: 508; Downloads: 286
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7. Acute myotonometric changes in the masseter and upper trapezius muscles after upper body quarter stretching and coordination exercises or chewingMarša Magdič, Miloš Kalc, Matjaž Vogrin, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Pathologies in neck and masticatory muscles affect muscle tone and biomechanical and viscoelastic properties, necessitating precise assessment for treatment. This study evaluated the impact of two guided interventions—relaxing exercises targeting the neck and masticatory muscles (“Exercise”) and heavy chewing using six chewing gums (“Chewing”)—on the masseter and upper trapezius muscles. Twelve participants (aged 19–40 years) underwent myotonometric assessment pre- and post-intervention, measuring tone, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep. The results showed significant changes in the masseter muscle after exercise, with increased stiffness (14.46%, p < 0.001) and tone (7.03%, p < 0.001) but decreased creep (−9.71%, p < 0.001) and relaxation time (−11.36%, p < 0.001). Conversely, chewing decreased stiffness (−8.82%, p < 0.001) and tone (−5.53%, p < 0.001), while it increased creep (9.68%, p < 0.001) and relaxation time (9.98%, p < 0.001). In the trapezius muscles, tone decreased after both interventions (Exercise: −7.65%, p < 0.001; Chewing: −1.06%, p = 0.003), while relaxation increased (Exercise: 1.78%, p < 0.001; Chewing: 2.82%, p < 0.001). These findings reveal the distinct effects of exercise and chewing on muscle properties, emphasising the complexity of their therapeutic potential and the need for further investigation.
Keywords: muscle tonus, relaxation, masseter muscle, trapezius muscle, intervention studies
Published in DiRROS: 07.01.2025; Views: 644; Downloads: 391
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8. In vitro hepatic 3D cell models and their application in genetic toxicology : a systematic reviewMartina Štampar, Bojana Žegura, 2024, review article Abstract: The rapid development of new chemicals and consumer products has raised concerns about their potential genotoxic effects on human health, including DNA damage leading to serious diseases. For such new chemicals and pharmaceutical products, international regulations require genotoxicity data, initially obtained through in vitro tests, followed by in vivo experiments, if needed. Traditionally, laboratory animals have been used for this purpose, however, they are costly, ethically problematic, and often unreliable due to species differences. Therefore, innovative more accurate in vitro testing approaches are rapidly being developed to replace, refine and reduce (3R) the use of animals for experimental purposes and to improve the relevance for humans in toxicology studies. One of such innovative approaches are in vitro three-dimensional (3D) cell models, which are already being highlighted as superior alternatives to the two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures that are traditionally used as in vitro models for the safety testing of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. 3D cell models provide physiologically relevant information and more predictive data for in vivo conditions. In the review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of 3D hepatic cell models, including HepG2, HepG2/C3A, HepaRG, human primary hepatocytes, and iPSC-derived hepatocytes, and their application in the field of genotoxicology. Through a detailed literature analysis, we identified 31 studies conducted between 2007 and April 2024 that used a variety of standard methods, such as the comet assay, the micronucleus assay, and the γH2AX assay, as well as new methodological approaches, including toxicogenomics, to assess the cytotoxic and genotoxic activity of chemicals, nanoparticles and natural toxins. Based on our search, we can conclude that the use of in vitro 3D cell models for genotoxicity testing has been increasing over the years and that 3D cell models have an even greater potential for future implementation and further refinement in genetic toxicology and risk assessment.
Keywords: genotoxicity, advanced 3D in vitro models, hepatic cells, spheroids, comet assay, micronucleus assay, genotoxicology, toxicological studies
Published in DiRROS: 14.11.2024; Views: 1025; Downloads: 411
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10. Time passes, healthy habits stay? : a longitudinal small sample comparison of muscle contractile properties, motor abilities and lifestyle characteristics of athletes and non-athletesSaša Pišot, Rado Pišot, Boštjan Šimunič, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: Because healthy behaviors learned early in life are more likely to be maintained during adulthood, we aimed to investigate longitudinal changes of partici-pants that were regularly involved in extracurricular sport activities (athletes; N = 7; 4 boys) and those that were not (non-athletes, N = 6; 3 boys)Methods: Participants of both groups were invited for re-assessment at the age of 27, in 2019, 12 years after they participated in a 5-year longitudinal study as adoles-cents (9–14 years of age, in the period 2001‒07). We investigated vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) contractile properties (tensiomyography), maximal running speed (photocells), anthropometric measures (bioimpedance), maximal vertical jump-ing height (squat and countermovement jumps on a ground reaction force plate), and lifestyle characteristics (GPAQ and EHIS surveys).Results: Based on Cohen’s d effect size we found that athletes have lower body mass index, higher maximal running speed, better maximal vertical jumping height, and shorter BF contraction time, not found in VL, compared to non-athletes. Further-more, athletes also exhibit healthier lifestyle characteristics such as lower sedentary time and higher daily energy expenditure than non-athletes. Athletes follow diet regi-mens consisting of more regular meals with more protein and indulge less in health-risk behavior (smoking and alcohol consumption). However, the self-perception of health and quality of life was lower in athletes than in non-athletes. Conclusion: EU regulations and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemics pre-vented us from conducting a study on a more representative sample. Nevertheless, we could confirm that regular sport participation yields better physical performance and a healthier lifestyle but could also have a negative impact on health (injuries) and quality of life.
Keywords: sport, physical exercise, motor development, healthy lifestyle, tensiomyography, longitudinal studies
Published in DiRROS: 02.03.2023; Views: 1504; Downloads: 732
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