141. Computerized cognitive training in the older workforce : effects on cognition, life satisfaction, and productivityZdenka Milič Žepič, Voyko Kavcic, Bruno Giordani, Uroš Marušič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background: The accelerated aging of the world’s population will lead to an increase in the number of older people in the workforce. Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) is effective in improving cognitive outcomes, but its benefits for older workers remain controversial. We investigate the real-world efficacy of CCT in the workplace, focusing on employees aged 50+ years from a public sector agency. Methods: Case managers (n = 82) were randomized to either an intervention group (24 40 min CCT sessions two times per week) or a waiting list passive control group. Cognitive ability, well-being, job satisfaction, and productivity outcome measures were collected and assessed before and after CCT or the comparable control wait time. Results: Participants undergoing CCT improved on a task of executive functioning (p = 0.04). There was a trend toward a change in work productivity after CCT (p = 0.09), with the control group showing a significant decrease (p = 0.02), while the intervention group remained stable. Conclusions: CCT during office hours has a positive effect on cognition and well-being without affecting productivity among white-collar office workers. CCT could be considered as an intervention to support the older workforce in managing the cognitive and behavioral challenges of changing workplace demands. Keywords: older employees, 50+, computerized cognitive training (CCT), productivity, well-being Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 121; Downloads: 134
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142. Adjusting the operational potential window as a tool for prolonging the durability of carbon-supported Pt-alloy nanoparticles as oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalystsTina Đukić, Leonard Moriau, Iva Klofutar, Martin Šala, Luka Pavko, Francisco Javier Gonzalez Lopez, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Andraž Pavlišič, Miha Hotko, Matija Gatalo, Nejc Hodnik, 2024, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 122; Downloads: 96
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143. Sequestration of membrane cholesterol by cholesterol-binding proteins inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry into Vero E6 cellsMagdalena Kulma, Aleksandra Šakanović, Apolonija Bedina Zavec, Simon Caserman, Neža Omersa, Gašper Šolinc, Sara Orehek, Iva Hafner Bratkovič, Urška Kuhar, Brigita Slavec, Uroš Krapež, Matjaž Ocepek, Toshihide Kobayashi, Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, Roman Jerala, Marjetka Podobnik, Gregor Anderluh, 2024, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 134; Downloads: 101
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144. First contribution to the knowledge of coralline algae distribution in the Slovenian circalittoral zone (northern Adriatic)Annalisa Falace, Sara Kaleb, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Borut Mavrič, Lovrenc Lipej, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Authors present new data on the coralline algal flora from Slovenia. They come from recent inspection of the Slovenian part of the Gulf of Trieste where peculiar communities, such as the biocoenosis of the coastal detritic bottom, the agglomeration of bioconcretions known in the area under the name of "trezze" or "tengue", and the bank of Mediterranean stony coral Cladocora caespitosa, occur. In such communities 11 coralligenous red algae were found. Five of them, Hydrolithon boreale, Lithothamnion minervae, L. philippii, L. sonderi and Neogoniolithon brassica-florida are newly recorded for Slovenia. Keywords: coralline algae, Cladocora caespitosa, circalittoral, northern Adriatic, Slovenia Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 106; Downloads: 103
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145. CD133/prominin1 is prognostic for GBM patient's survival, but inversely correlated with cysteine cathepsine' expression in gliobastoma derived spheroidsSeyed Yousef Ardebili, Irena Zajc, Boris Gole, Benito Campos, Christel Herold-Mende, Sara Drmota Prebil, Tamara Lah Turnšek, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction. CD133 is a marker for a population of glioblastoma (GBM) and normal neural stem cells (NNSC). We aimed to reveal whether the migratory potential and differentiation of these stem cells is associated with CD133 expression and with cathepsin proteases (Cats).
Materials and methods. The invasiveness of normal NNSC, GBM/CD133+ cell lines and GBM spheroids was evaluated in 3D collagen, as well as of U87-MG and normal astrocytes (NHA) grown in monolayers in 2D Matrigel. Expression of Cats B, L and S was measured at mRNA and activity levels and their relation to invasiveness, to CD133 mRNA in 26 gliomas, and to the survival of these patients.
Results. The average yield of CD133+ cells from GBM samples was 9.6%. Survival of patients with higher CD133 mRNA expression was significantly shorter (p< 0.005). Invasion, associated with proteolytic degradation of matrix, was higher in normal stem cells and GBM spheroids and cells than in isolated GBM CD133+ cells. In glioma samples, there was no correlation between CD133 mRNA expression and Cat mRNAs, but there was an inverse correlation with Cat activities.
Conclusions. The study confirms CD133 as a prognostic marker for the survival of GBM patients. We demonstrated that NNSC have higher invasion potential and invade the collagen matrix in a mode different from that of GBM, initiating stem cell spheres. This result could have implications for the design of new therapeutics, including protease inhibitors that specifically target invasive tumour stem cells. Increased activity of cathepsins in CD133- cells suggests their role in the invasive behaviour of GBM. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 108; Downloads: 72
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146. SegMine workflows for semantic microarray data analysis in Orange4WSVid Podpečan, Nada Lavrač, Igor Mozetič, Petra Kralj Novak, Igor Trajkovski, Laura Langohr, Kimmo Kulovesi, Hannu Toivonen, Marko Petek, Helena Motaln, Kristina Gruden, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Background
In experimental data analysis, bioinformatics researchers increasingly rely on tools that enable the composition and reuse of scientific workflows. The utility of current bioinformatics workflow environments can be significantly increased by offering advanced data mining services as workflow components. Such services can support, for instance, knowledge discovery from diverse distributed data and knowledge sources (such as GO, KEGG, PubMed, and experimental databases). Specifically, cutting-edge data analysis approaches, such as semantic data mining, link discovery, and visualization, have not yet been made available to researchers investigating complex biological datasets.
Results
We present a new methodology, SegMine, for semantic analysis of microarray data by exploiting general biological knowledge, and a new workflow environment, Orange4WS, with integrated support for web services in which the SegMine methodology is implemented. The SegMine methodology consists of two main steps. First, the semantic subgroup discovery algorithm is used to construct elaborate rules that identify enriched gene sets. Then, a link discovery service is used for the creation and visualization of new biological hypotheses. The utility of SegMine, implemented as a set of workflows in Orange4WS, is demonstrated in two microarray data analysis applications. In the analysis of senescence in human stem cells, the use of SegMine resulted in three novel research hypotheses that could improve understanding of the underlying mechanisms of senescence and identification of candidate marker genes.
Conclusions
Compared to the available data analysis systems, SegMine offers improved hypothesis generation and data interpretation for bioinformatics in an easy-to-use integrated workflow environment. Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 122; Downloads: 90
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147. Programmed cell death occurs asymmetrically during abscission in tomatoTal Bar-Dror, Marina Dermastia, Aleš Kladnik, Magda Tušek-Žnidarič, Maruša Pompe Novak, Shimon Meir, Shaul Burd, Sonia Philosoph-Hadas, Naomi Ori, Lilian Sonego, Martin B. Dickman, Amnon Lers, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Abscission occurs specifically in the abscission zone (AZ) tissue as a natural stage of plant development. Previously, we observed delay of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaf abscission when the LX ribonuclease (LX) was inhibited. The known association between LX expression and programmed cell death (PCD) suggested involvement of PCD in abscission. In this study, hallmarks of PCD were identified in the tomato leaf and flower AZs during the late stage of abscission. These included loss of cell viability, altered nuclear morphology, DNA fragmentation, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and enzymatic activities, and expression of PCD-associated genes. Overexpression of antiapoptotic proteins resulted in retarded abscission, indicating PCD requirement. PCD, LX, and nuclease gene expression were visualized primarily in the AZ distal tissue, demonstrating an asymmetry between the two AZ sides. Asymmetric expression was observed for genes associated with cell wall hydrolysis, leading to AZ, or associated with ethylene biosynthesis, which induces abscission. These results suggest that different abscission-related processes occur asymmetrically between the AZ proximal and distal sides. Taken together, our findings identify PCD as a key mechanism that occurs asymmetrically during normal progression of abscission and suggest an important role for LX in this PCD process. Keywords: plant cell, cell death, abscission Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 101; Downloads: 70
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148. Effect of poly-[alpha], [gamma], L-glutamic acid as a capping agent on morphology and oxidative stress-dependent toxicity of silver nanoparticlesMagdalena Stevanović, Branimir Kovačević, Jana Nunić, Metka Filipič, Dragan Uskoković, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Highly stable dispersions of nanosized silver particles were synthesized using a straightforward, cost-effective, and ecofriendly method. Nontoxic glucose was utilized as a reducing agent and poly- α, γ, L-glutamic acid (PGA), a naturally occurring anionic polymer, was used as a capping agent to protect the silver nanoparticles from agglomeration and render them biocompatible. Use of ammonia during synthesis was avoided. Our study clearly demonstrates how the concentration of the capping agent plays a major role in determining the dimensions, morphology, and stability, as well as toxicity of a silver colloidal solution. Hence, proper optimization is necessary to develop silver colloids of narrow size distribution. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential measurement. MTT assay results indicated good biocompatibility of the PGA-capped silver nanoparticles. Formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species was measured spectrophotometrically using 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate as a fluorescent probe, and it was shown that the PGA-capped silver nanoparticles did not induce intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species. Keywords: green synthesis, morphology, cytotoxicity Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 112; Downloads: 103
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149. Food and feeding habits of the blackspotted smooth-hound, Mustelus punctulatus (Elasmobranchii: carcharhiniformes: Triakidae), from the Northern AdriaticLovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Snežna Rešek, Mourad Cherif, Christian Capapé, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Background. The blackspotted smooth-hound, Mustelus punctulatus Risso, 1826, has been regularly caught in the northern Adriatic Sea, although a decreasing trend in its catches was observed off the coast of Slovenia within the last decade The knowledge of feeding behaviour of elasmobranch fish species, through understanding of the local food web structure, contributes to better and more efficient fish stock assessment and ecosystem modelling. This study is a first step in determining the prey consumption by the blackspotted smooth-hound in the area. Materials and methods. A total of 151 blackspotted smooth-hounds caught by commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Trieste from 4 June 2002 to 4 June 2003 were examined in this study. The stomach contents were removed, sorted and identified to the lowest possible taxon using identification keys. Preys were counted and weighed. Frequency of occurrence (F%), relative abundance (N%), the percentage by weight (W%), the Index of Relative Importance (IRI), and its standardized value (%IRI) were calculated following standard procedures. For comparing the diet between four different size classes we calculate average prey weight, dietary diversity, average meal, and trophic level for each size class. Results. A total 130 fish stomachs contained prey items. Crustaceans were the most important prey items (IRI% = 56.14), whereas cephalopods were the second mostly preyed animals (IRI% = 20.2). Teleost fish and bivalves were also found in the stomachs. The most important prey species was Solecurtus strigillatus. Larger sharks consumed larger preys. Male and female sharks consumed similar food. Juvenile individuals consumed predominantly crustaceans, while cephalopods were more important in the diet of adult individuals. The calculated trophic index (TROPH) of M. punctulatus from northern Adriatic Sea was 3.7, showing that it is a highly carnivorous species. Conclusion. This study is a first step in determining prey consumption by Mustelus punctulatus which is, despite the fact that is still common in the area, a rather poorly known species. For elucidating the role of benthic sharks in the study area the further step would be to study the diet of a closely related common smooth-hound M. mustelus. Keywords: fishes, ichthyology, Adriatic sea, Triakidae, Mustelus punctulatus, trophic level, northern Adriatic, elasmobranchii, diversity, Mustelus, Mediterranean, feeding, Adriatic Sea Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 114; Downloads: 101
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150. cis-vaccenyl acetate, a female-produced sex pheromone component of Ortholeptura valida, a longhorned beetle in the subfamily LepturinaeAnn M. Ray, Alenka Žunič Kosi, Ronald L. Alten, J. Steven McElfresh, Lawrence M. Hanks, Jocelyn G. Millar, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: We report the identification, synthesis, and field bioassays of a female-produced sex attractant pheromone component of the cerambycid beetle Ortholeptura valida (LeConte). Headspace volatiles from females contained a female-specific compound, (Z)-11-octadecen-1-yl acetate, which elicited a strong response from antennae of adult males in coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram analyses. In field bioassays, significant numbers of males were collected by traps baited with this compound. The pheromone represents a new structural class of cerambycid pheromones, and is the first pheromone identified for a cerambycid species in the subfamily Lepturinae. Keywords: sex pheromone, (Z)-11-octadecen-1-yl ac, cis-vaccenyl acetate, woodborer Published in DiRROS: 05.08.2024; Views: 115; Downloads: 73
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