31. Effects of COVID-19 on cognition and mood after hospitalization and at 2-month follow-upManca Peskar, Boštjan Šimunič, Luka Šlosar, Saša Pišot, Kaja Teraž, Mladen Gasparini, Rado Pišot, Uroš Marušič, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: A plethora of evidence links SARS-CoV-2 infection with concomitant cognitive dysfunction, which often persists weeks to months after the acute stages of illness and affects executive function, attention, memory, orientation, and movement control. It remains largely unclear which conditions or factors exacerbate the recovery. In a cohort of N=37 Slovenian patients (5 females, aged M = 58, SD = 10.7 years) that were hospitalized because of COVID-19, the cognitive function and mood states were assessed immediately after discharge and 2-months later to investigate the early post-COVID recovery changes. We assessed the global Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Simple and Choice Reaction Times, executive functions (Trail-Making Test – TMT-A and TMT-B), short-term memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test – AVLT), and visuospatial memory. We monitored depressive and anxiety symptoms and applied general self-efficacy and cognitive complaints questionnaires. Our results showed a global cognitive impairment (MoCA, Z = 332.5; p = 0.012), poorer performance on executive functions (TMT-A, Z = 188; p = 0.014; and TMT-B, Z = 185; p = 0.012), verbal memory (AVLT, F = 33.4; p < 0.001), and delayed recall (AVLT7, F = 17.1; p < 0.001), and higher depressive (Z = 145; p = 0.015) and anxiety (Z = 141; p = 0.003) symptoms after hospital discharge compared to 2-month follow-up, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 may transiently impair cognitive function and adversely affect the mood. No improvement in MoCA was observed in 40.5% of the patients at follow-up, indicating possible long-term effects of COVID-19 on global cognitive performance. Medical comorbidities (p = 0.035) significantly predicted the change in MoCA score over time, while fat mass (FM, p = 0.518), Mediterranean diet index (p = .0.944), and Florida Cognitive Activities Score (p = 0.927) did not. These results suggest that the patients’ medical comorbidities at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection could importantly contribute to the acute impairment of cognitive function and stress the importance of systemic implementation of countermeasures to limit the negative consequences on public health.
Keywords: Coronavirus, recovery, acute respiratory sindrom, cognitive functions, cognitive impairment, MOCA, trail-making test
Published in DiRROS: 01.06.2023; Views: 440; Downloads: 195
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32. Exploring the protection mechanism of a combined fluoropolymer coating on sulphide patinated bronzeTadeja Kosec, Živa Novak, Erika Švara Fabjan, Luka Škrlep, Matjaž Finšgar, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: When bronze or artificially patinated bronze is exposed to an outdoor environment that contains aggressive ions such as sulphates, nitrates, and carbonates, the surface of the bronze changes its appearance due to the formation of corrosion products on the surface. Research is being conducted on versatile protective measures that can be used to protect the surface from these changes. A recently synthesised fluoropolymer-based coating with mercaptopropyl groups, i.e. a 3-component fluoropolymer coating FA-MS-SH (silane-modified poly methylmethacrylate (MS) with added mercaptopropyltrimethoxy silane (SH) and a fluoroacrylate (FA)) was explored in detail in this work where its protective mechanism on sulphide patinated bronze was investigated. Electrochemical tests were conducted on the sulphide patinated bronze with and without the 3-component coating FA-MS-SH. Furthermore, FA, MS and SH alone and various combinations and concentrations of FA-MS were studied in order to determine the protective effect and properties of each component. Colour change and contact angle measurements were also defined. FIB-SEM measurements and GCIB-XPS depth profiles were carried out to study surface bonding with the sulphide patina in detail.
A mechanism for the protection of sulphide patinated bronze was presented through the use of a multianalytical tool approach. It was shown that FA physisorbed on the patinated surface, while MS and blends of the components chemisorbed on the layer of sulphide patinated bronze, also resulting in the surface being efficiently protected from corrosion processes.
Keywords: bronze, protection, brown patina, fluoropolymer coating
Published in DiRROS: 31.05.2023; Views: 319; Downloads: 184
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33. Properties of the fluoroacrylate and methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane applied to a layer of Cu2O on bronze as either single or multi-component coatingsLuka Škrlep, Tadeja Kosec, Matjaž Finšgar, Andrijana Sever Škapin, Erika Švara Fabjan, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Various coatings have been developed and explored to protect bronze surfaces against the uncontrolled formation of different corrosion products when exposed to outdoor environments.
In this research, the surfaces of artificially-formed oxidized bronze patinas (OB), consisting of Cu2O, were covered with either a single-component (fluoroacrylate, FA or methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, MS) or multi-component (a mixture of FA and MS, FA-MS) fluoropolymer coating and investigated. Variations in the concentration of each component in the coating were studied. Electrochemical tests were performed to determine the corrosion protection efficiency, followed by detailed surface analyses of the OBs, both uncoated and covered with single and multi-component coatings. A variety of investigative methods were used, including focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).
The coating made from a combination of FA and MS resulted in a very high protection efficiency. Despite the increased hydrophilicity of the single MS component, however, it was shown to efficiently protect the oxidized bronze surface. The FA-MS systems showed high hydrophobicity, but no improvement was measured in the efficiency of the corrosion protection when it was compared to the coating that contained 10% MS. According to XPS and ToF-SIMS imaging, the FA component of the FA-MS coating was not present only on the uppermost surface of the coating but throughout the whole coating, which could affect its corrosion protection efficiency.
Keywords: bronze, Cu2O layer on bronze, fluoropolymer coating, protection efficiency, surface spectroscopy
Published in DiRROS: 30.05.2023; Views: 322; Downloads: 171
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34. Environmental hazard of polypropylene microplastics from disposable medical masks : acute toxicity towards Daphnia magna and current knowledge on other polypropylene microplasticsAnita Jemec Kokalj, Andraž Dolar, Damjana Drobne, Marjan Marinšek, Matej Dolenec, Luka Škrlep, Gregor Strmljan, Branka Mušič, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of disposable plastics, including medical masks, which have become a necessity in our daily lives. As these are often improperly disposed of, they represent an important potential source of microplastics in the environment. We prepared microplastics from polypropylene medical masks and characterised their size, shape, organic chemical leaching, and acute toxicity to the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. The three layers of the masks were separately milled and characterised. Each of the inner frontal, middle filtering, and outer layers yielded different types of microplastics: fibres were obtained from the inner and outer layer, but irregular fragments from the middle layer. The shape of the obtained microplastics differed from the initial fibrous structure of the intact medical mask layers, which indicates that the material is deformed during cryo-milling. The chemical compositions of plastics-associated chemicals also varied between the different layers. Typically, the inner layer contained more chemicals related to antimicrobial function and flavouring. The other two layers also contained antioxidants and their degradation products, plasticisers, cross-linking agents, antistatic agents, lubricants, and non-ionic surfactants. An acute study with D. magna showed that these microplastics do not cause immobility but do physically interact with the daphnids. Further long-term studies with these microplastics are needed using a suite of test organisms. Indeed, studies with other polypropylene microplastics have shown numerous adverse effects on other organisms at concentrations that have already been reported in the environment. Further efforts should be made to investigate the environmental hazards of polypropylene microplastics from medical masks and how to handle this new source of environmental burden.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, plastics-associated chemicals, Daphnia magna, fibres, fragments, nanofibres, polypropylene microplastics, single-use plastic
Published in DiRROS: 05.05.2023; Views: 326; Downloads: 207
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35. Innovative calcium carbonate-based products to repair cracked cement mortarsMartina Zuena, Andreja Pondelak, Enrico Garbin, Matteo Panizza, Luca Nodari, Andrijana Sever Škapin, Luka Škrlep, Gilberto Artioli, Patrizia Tomasin, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The durability of Portland cement mortars is often affected by environmental factors, which can cause physicochemical and mechanical degradation processes. In this study, the performance of three products, calcium acetoacetate and calcium tetrahydrofurfuryloxide dissolved in two different solvents developed and tested as stone consolidants, was evaluated in terms of crack filling or sealing and consolidation. Realistic cracks were induced in quasibrittle cement mortar prisms using a custom-designed test rig. The effectiveness and the performance of the considered treatments, investigated on specimens, were evaluated by optical and scanning electron microscopy, colourimetry, water absorption rate, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and surface hardness measurements. Results revealed that, in the examined conditions, the products were more suitable as surface consolidants than as crack fillers.
Keywords: cement mortars, 20th century architecture conservation, calcium acetoacetate, calcium alkoxide, concrete repair, open access
Published in DiRROS: 04.05.2023; Views: 339; Downloads: 195
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36. Izbor drevesnih vrst z največjim neizkoriščenim potencialom uporabnosti lesa v luči podnebnega segrevanja in prihodnjih sprememb vrstne sestave slovenskih gozdov : Projekt REWINNUSE: Izroček št. 1.2.1Luka Krajnc, Polona Hafner, Jožica Gričar, 2022, treatise, preliminary study, study Keywords: kakovost lesa, perspektivne drevesne vrste, Quercus cerris, cer, Robinia pseudoacacia, navadna robinija, Populus sp., topol, Pinus nigra, črni bor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, navadna ameriška duglazija, Castanea sativa, pravi kostanj
Published in DiRROS: 27.03.2023; Views: 498; Downloads: 108
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38. Electrochemically-grown chloride-free ▫$Cu_2O$▫ nanocubes favorably electroreduce ▫$CO_2$▫ to methane : the interplay of appropriate electrochemical protocolStefan Popovic, Mohammed Azeezulla Nazrulla, Primož Šket, Kamal Khaja Mohaideen, Blaž Likozar, Luka Suhadolnik, Luka Pavko, Angelja Kjara Surca, Marjan Bele, Nejc Hodnik, 2023, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 14.03.2023; Views: 461; Downloads: 88
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39. Radikalna teologija kot hermenevtika nemogočega : John Caputo in dogodkovnost resniceLuka Trebežnik, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Članek se posveča delu Johna Caputa, sodobnega misleca s področja radikalne teologije. Z analizo osrednjih pojmov, ki jih je izbral za oznake svojih projektov, je proučena kontinuiteta njegove pisave in poudarjena inovativnost njegovih pristopov k postmoderni religijski misli. Prikazana je njegova miselna formacija in premišljene so nekatere izmed ključnih etap njegovega ustvarjanja, še zlasti njegovi pristopi k različnim teorijam hermenevtike in novi zasnovi pojma religije. V končni fazi je v članku poudarjena možnost prihodnjih branj in novih razumevanj Caputovega dela.
Keywords: radikalna teologija, hermenevtika, dekonstrukcija, postmoderna religija
Published in DiRROS: 01.03.2023; Views: 338; Downloads: 154
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40. The burning monk : a review of a buddhist’s self-immolation during the Vietnam warLuka Benedičič, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: This paper is a study of the self-immolation of the Mahayana Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc in 1963, Saigon. It highlights some of the reactions to this event, as well as more recent academic analyses, and contrasts them with the letter of the monk Thich Nhat Hanh who disagreed that the self-immolation was a protest or suicide. This ontological discrepancy motivated new research approaches. In order to show it as studyable, the paper thematizes it by introducing the conceptual pair of visible-invisible. It presents a discussion by Mario Blaser that addresses the field of epistemology and ontology, also commenting on some fundamental theoretical approaches such as the ontological turn and cosmopolitics. The paper argues that the invisible – for example ontological – contents of the event have been overlooked in many analyses, or oversimplified by using an objectivist or political vocabulary.
Keywords: Chinese religion, Buddhism, engaged Buddhism, politics, cosmopolitics, ontological turn, Western-centrism
Published in DiRROS: 28.02.2023; Views: 311; Downloads: 148
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