Knowledge about migratory routes and highly frequented areas is a priority for sea turtle conservation, but the movement patterns of juveniles frequenting the Adriatic have not been investigated yet, although juveniles represent the bulk of populations. We tracked by satellite six juvenile and one adult female loggerhead from the north Adriatic. The results indicated that loggerhead juveniles (1) can either show a residential behaviour remaining in the Adriatic throughout the year or perform seasonal migrations to other areas, (2) can remain even in the coldest, northernmost area during winter, (3) can frequent relatively small foraging areas, (4) mostly frequent the eastern part of the Adriatic, and (5) follow preferred migratory routes along the western and eastern Adriatic coasts. The movements of the adult turtle also revealed (6) a behavioural polymorphism in Mediterranean adults, which included a lack of area Wdelity and connection between distant neritic foraging grounds.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1024481364
Border disputes between neighbouring States are a regular occurrence and have the potential to undermine relations at national, regional, local and even individual level. In this instance the conflict over Piran Bay in the Northern Adriatic Sea has led to conflict between the neighbouring States of Croatia and Slovenia. The lack of resolution of this conflict resulted in Croatia being delayed in its accession into the European Union (EU). The border dispute remains unresolved and will go to international arbitration in 2013. Yet it is unlikely that arbitration will provide a solution agreeable to all stakeholders. It is likely that residual feelings of injustice will remain, especially at local level. Analysis of the political context of the dispute and recognition of the biological importance of the region has led to opportunity to combine politics and biological conservation to establish an International Marine Peace Park (IMPP) as a potential mitigation measure to help resolve the conflict. This initiative aims to develop regional ownership over a shared marine space linking the local communities of Slovenia and Croatia that co-habit the adjacent Istrian peninsula. The area of the proposed PiranSavudrija IMPP hosts numerous habitat types and species which are representative of the region and are of international and national conservation importance. The policies and opportunities associated with EU accession provide the potential political, economic and environmental frameworks to develop a regional agency or a bi-national steering committee for the management of the area. This could allow local communities to develop equitable management and restore good relations while preserving an important regionally representative marine area.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1024479316
This is the first study to characterize the genetic variation in chamois populations in the area. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial markers to analyze the genetic variation and structure of chamois populations from different geographical areas. Specifically, we explored the influence of recent human translocations and geographical isolation on the genetic architecture of chamois populations in the assumed contact zone. These results confirm the impact of recent human management into the Velebit Mountains, which established a new contact (hybridization) zone between the subspecies R.r. rupicapra in R.r.balcanica. Therefore, future translocations must be planned carefully to avoid compromising local genetic integrity of populations.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1538361540
The work describe the molecular and morphological evaluation of Montenegro olive genotypes. The comparison of SSR profiles of Montenegro samples with those obtained from 39 other Mediterranean varieties showed a clear separation between the two groups. These results imply that Montenegro may represent a site of local hybridization and selection of very old olive varieties and that these trees deserve urgent initiatives for their preservation, evaluation and exploitation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1538481604
This study identified stable reference genes for qPCR studies of developing olive fruit from 29 selected reference gene candidates, which were further used to normalize expression data of four target genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. The analyzed data points represented 12 distinct olive fruit developmental stages. According to the results of the geNorm algorithm, the two best reference genes were TIP41-like family protein (TIP41) and TATA binding protein (TBP), while several classical reference genes proved not to be suitable. Based on the the selection of suitable candidate reference genes, four genes involved in the metabolism of fatty acids were normalized and showed distinct expression patterns associated with mesocarp development and ripening stages. The results are valuable for future research of genes that influence the synthesis and accumulation of olive fruit metabolites.
COBISS.SI-ID: 7527801
In the 6th FP EU (EVENT) we studied whether norovirus genotype frequency distributions (genotype profiles) can enhance detection of the sources of foodborne outbreaks in order to distinguish between infections from person to person and those carried by food handling workers. Comparison of strains in mussels (n = 295) and control strains collected from outbreaks in humans (n = 2858) showed two different genotypic profiles in 1) human feces and 2) source-contaminated food and bivalve mollusks; genotypes I.2 and I.4 were more frequently detected in foodborne outbreaks. Overall, approximately 21% of all outbreaks were foodborne; further analysis showed that 25% of the outbreaks reported as food handlerassociated were probably caused by source contamination of the food.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26801369
Background & aims: Sarcopenic obesity may be defined by a high fat to fat-free mass (FM/FFM) ratio. Skeletal muscle may be negatively influenced by the pro-inflammatory milieu associated with visceral fat, while the loading effect induced by a heavier body mass index (BMI) may enhance muscle anabolism. Recently, a new anthropometric measure based on waist circumference (A Body Shape Index, ABSI) was developed. In this study we have assessed the predictive power of ABSI on the FFM index (FFMI), a surrogate marker of lean mass. Methods: Standard anthropometric parameters and ABSI as well as body composition data (fat and fatfree mass determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis) were assessed in 111 female and 89 male overweight/obese subjects, with no clinically significant co-morbidities. Groups with higher- or lower-ABSI were identified according to median values of this index. Results: In women and men, ABSI did not correlate with BMI, while multiple linear regression indicated that BMI and ABSI independently predicted FFMI (multiple R: 0.72 and 0.83, respectively, P ( 0.001). Men and women with lower-ABSI exhibited significantly greater FFMI than the higher-ABSI groups for comparable values of BMI. In men, ABSI was correlated positively with C-reactive protein (CRP) and negatively with the reciprocal of insulin, an index of insulin sensitivity. FM/FFM ratio significantly (P ( 0.01) correlated with CRP in women only. Conclusions: ABSI, a recently introduced marker of abdominal adiposity, may contribute to define the risk of sarcopenia in overweight/obese individuals.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536500932
The work describes basic mechanisms which are used by human cells to cope with different harmful factors, such as DNA-damaging agents. We have combined biochemical and electron microscopy approaches with single-molecule DNA fiber analysis to show that human RecQ1 helicase is responsible for the restart of the replication fork, which was stopped because of the DNA-damage induced by a known chemotherapeutic drug, inhibitor of topoisomerase I. PAPR1 has the opposite role - it prevents replication until the DNA-damage is repaired. Coordinated activity of these two enzymes is thus crucial for the maintenance of the genomic stability of a cell.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3289423
In order to understand the risks and benefits of consuming fish and fish products, total mercury, monomethylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, selenium, n-3 fatty acids and the ratio of n-6 / n-3 fatty acids were determined in fresh and canned fish on the Slovenian market. Furthermore, mercury exposure of pregnant women was assessed by determining total mercury in hair. Based on determined total mercury, monomethylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls levels, it can be concluded that fish available on the Slovenian market do not represent a health risk and it was confirmed that fish are important source of selenium and n-3 fatty acids.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26110247
Monograph, which was coauthored by Andreja Kutnar and published by Springer, has 4 chapters. First chapter provides an introduction to contemporary timber architecture in Slovenia and sustainable development, which has lead to green building movements are introduced and supplemented by a description of current trends in creating living environments where human wellbeing is a key focus point. Furthermore, Slovenian forests are presented, including basic information about wood spices found in the forest, growing stock, ownership, and forest certification schemes are presented. A discussion of European and Slovenian legislation, which directly and indirectly affects both the wood processing industry and contemporary timber architecture. In the second, manufacturing of Slovenian primary wood products, types and amounts, and trades of primary wood products used in contemporary timber architecture are presented. The third chapter focuses on sustainable constructions, wellbeing that can be obtained with wooden construction, and on certification systems used for assessing sustainable constructions. The monograph concludes with examples of contemporary Slovenian architecture.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1536894916