The objectives of this study were to assess concentrations of a selection of nine essential and possibly-essential TEs in adipose tissue samples from an adult cohort and to explore their socio-demographic, dietary, and lifestyle determinants. Trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, V, and Zn) were analyzed in adipose tissue. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, diet, and health status by face-to-face interview. All TEs were detected in all samples with the exception of Se (53.50%). Iron, zinc, and copper showed the highest concentrations (42.60 mg/Kg, 9.80 mg/Kg, and 0.68 mg/Kg, respectively). Diet was the main predictor of Cr, Fe, Mo, and Se concentrations. Body mass index was negatively associated with all TEs except for Mn and V. Age showed a borderline-significant positive correlation with Cu. Residence in a rural or semi-rural area was associated with increased Co, Cr, Fe, Mo, Mn, V and Zn concentrations and with ß coefficients ranging from 0.196 to 0.544 (p ( 0.05). Furthermore, individuals with higher educational level showed increased Cr, Co, Fe and V concentrations. This is the first report on the distribution of these TEs in adipose tissue and on their determinants in a human cohort and might serve as an initial step in the elucidation of their clinical relevance.
F.22 Improvement to existing health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 2436199We describe a new theory of tectonic faulting and earthquakes in the Earth’s crust, which is partially based on the Cosserat continuum theory. The new theory takes into account rotations of blocks of rocks between the fault planes, and allows for further steps in the development of earthquakes forecasting methods.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 44691501For the understanding of provenience of archeological stone artefacts a detailed knowledge on known and potential ancient quariess is essential. This is particularly valid for limestone terrains, where solely in single quarry a great spectrum of different litotypes can be obtained or very similar litotypes can be quarried from different locations. The latter is particularly problematic. The article provides a comprehensive geological study of potential Roman quarry from the village of Staje near Ig, where 40 meters thick succession of Lower Jurassic shallow-marine limestone was studied including detailed sedimentological, biostatigraphic and geostructural investigations. Article represents the first publication from the wide study of known and potential ancient limestone quarries in Slovenia that will serve as a base for further analysis of antique natural stone.
F.27 Contribution to preserving/protecting natural and cultural heritage
COBISS.SI-ID: 1410654The article presents the main results of the identification and documentation of underwater archaeological sites in the open sea north-west of Piran, conducted by archaeologists from the Underwater Archaeology Institute in conjunction with experts from the National Institute of Biology’s Marine Biology Station in Piran over two days in August 2018 under the aegis of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia. Notable among the archaeological results of the operation in 2018 is the identification via bathygraphic survey of the anomaly designated EŠD 29403 as the wreck of a large vessel which, on the basis of the documented dimensions and structural characteristics of the skeleton and planking, radiometric dating and the use of malleable brass sheathing on the outside of the hull, combined with the absence of identifiable finds of a military nature, may be defined as the wreck of a two-masted merchant vessel between 24 and 36 m long, presumed to have sunk in the middle or second half of the nineteenth century. A further indication that this was a vessel built for seagoing or long-distance coastwise voyages (possibly a brig, a schooner brig or a large two-masted schooner) from the end of the age of wooden sailing ships is provided by the dimensions of the bolts used to fasten the main hull elements. The proposed dating is also supported by the sheave of a rigging block made of guaiacum wood (Guaiacum spp.) and fitted with a pressed graphite bearing, the use of which became widespread in the mid-nineteenth century. The combination of materials from which the sheave – discovered a few metres from the wreck – was made could indicate that the vessel, or at least part of its rigging, originated in the shipbuilding centres of England or on the eastern US seaboard.
F.27 Contribution to preserving/protecting natural and cultural heritage
COBISS.SI-ID: 71177570High-resolution geophysical methods have been used to study the Holocene transgression in the Gulf of Trieste. We used these methods, mostly the sub-bottom sonar, to correlate the acoustic and sedimentary facies of various Late Quaternary deposits. We also used high-resolution acustic and seismic profiling of seabed sediments of the Gulf of Trieste to study the tectonic activity, to determine the thickness of the Holocene marine sediments and to determine the sound velocity through Late Quaternary deposits. Our results show that in the Gulf of Trieste, terrestrial, transgressive and marine sediments can be differentiated on the basis of their acoustic facies. The sedimentary environment of terrestrial sediments can be determined from geophysical and sedimentological data. Dating results show that fluvial sedimentation in the study area persisted at least until the Younger Dryas and that deposition of transgressive sediments took place in the Early Holocene. While we did not find direct indicators of tectonic activity, we did consider Late Pleistocene fluvial channels as geomorphic indicators of tectonic activity. These indicators do not correlate with the measured vertical motion rates on the Slovenian coastline, which indicates that the recent vertical motion is not expressed in the sedimentary record. Instead, the recent vertical movement rates may result from surface deformation above a locked thrust. The thickness of Holocene marine sediments in the Gulf of Trieste is variable, but generally the thickness decreases away from the coast, where the thickest successions are located. Holocene marine sediments in the Slovenian part of the Gulf of Trieste are usually thicker than 5 meters.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 1548638