In this perspective analysis, we strive to answer the following question: how can we advance integrative biology research in the 21st century with lessons from animal science? At the University of ...Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, we share here our three lessons learned in the two decades from 2002 to 2022 that we believe could inform integrative biology, systems science, and animal science scholarship in other countries and geographies. Cultivating multiomics knowledge through a conceptual lens of integrative biology is crucial for life sciences research that can stand the test of diverse biological, clinical, and ecological contexts. Moreover, in an era of the current COVID-19 pandemic, animal nutrition and animal science, and the study of their interactions with human health (and vice versa) through integrative biology approaches hold enormous prospects and significance for systems medicine and ecosystem health.
PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to determine the incorporation of cis (c) 9, trans (t) 11-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and t10, c12-CLA into porcine erythrocytes—both isomers were ...supplemented in equal proportions. METHODS: The study group consisted of 16 piglets randomly assigned into experimental and control group. For the period of 5 weeks, the piglets from the experimental group were receiving a 1.2 % CLA supplement while the controls were supplemented with the same amount of sunflower oil. For the remaining 7 weeks, the piglets were fed without a supplement. Blood samples to evaluate incorporation of CLA into erythrocyte membranes were taken from all animals on weekly basis. RESULTS: Compared to t10, c12-CLA isomer, proportion of c9, t11-CLA isomer in the membrane of erythrocytes was higher for the whole time of the study period. After 4 weeks of feeding, it approaches the plateau. The peak value for both isomers was measured at the end of week 5, with a value of 3.24 g c9, t11-CLA/100 g of fatty acids and a 1.09 g t10, c12-CLA/100 g of fatty acids (p < 0.0001). After cessation of supplementation, the proportion of both isomers gradually decreased to be almost completely washed out—in 7 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: During supplementation with equivalent amounts of CLA isomers, their proportion in membranes of porcine erythrocytes increases with time, with higher proportion of c9, t11-CLA. CLA isomers probably differently incorporate into different cell membranes at different species which could explain its various biological functions.
Our aim was to describe our protocol for emergency percutaneous implantation of femoral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) in the catheterisation laboratory and to compare ...its effectiveness and safety with implantation in the intensive care unit and the operating room.
Our retrospective observational study enrolled 56 consecutive patients undergoing VA ECMO implantation in the catheterisation laboratory (n=23), the intensive care unit (n=8) and the operating room (n=25). Among patients undergoing catheterisation laboratory implantation, 11 patients had profound cardiogenic shock but preserved arterial pulsations, and 12 patients had refractory cardiac arrest undergoing automated mechanical chest compression. Using our fluoroscopy-guided protocol, arterial and venous cannulas were successfully implanted and the desired ECMO flow obtained in each patient. There was no vessel perforation/dissection. Moderate/severe GUSTO or BARC 3 and 5 bleeding occurred in 13%. Ipsilateral limb ischaemia occurred in one of eight patients (13%) with upfront perfusion sheath implantation, and in two of three patients (75%) in whom this strategy was not used (p=0.15). There was no infection at the site of cannula implantation. Complications related to implantation in the catheterisation laboratory were comparable to surgical implantation in the operating room and percutaneous implantation in the intensive care unit using ultrasound guidance.
Fluoroscopy-guided emergency implantation of femoral VA ECMO by an interventional cardiologist in the catheterisation laboratory is effective and safe for both patients in cardiogenic shock and those in refractory cardiac arrest.
The Europeanization of national political parties is one of the most important topic areas in the Europeanization literature. Slovenian parties have slowly started to act in the arena of the European ...Union (EU) since the 1990s, and questions regarding the degree of their Europeanization have become increasingly relevant. In light of Ladrech's conviction that the clearest types of evidence of Europeanization may be found in programme changes, we focus our research on party manifestos. By conducting a computer-assisted content analysis of 65 manifestos between 1990 and 2014, we were able to examine the presence of EU-related topics and the frequency of reference to these topics, utilizing a quantitative measure of party Europeanization. We conclude that the presence of Europe in Slovenian parliamentary party manifestos is a consequence of an incremental process that intensified with the turn of the millennium and peaked with Slovenia's accession to the EU. In addition, we observe that the interaction of variables has an important effect on the salience of Europe in manifestos, with the variables involved in a mutual feedback process, thus indicating that size, governmental status and EU party links matter. In the case of fringe parties, party family proved relevant as well.
•Inconel 625 alloy was exposed to plasma at high temperatures up to melting point.•Evolution of morphological and structural changes was determined by SEM, AES and XRD.•Depth profiling revealed ...different oxides on the surface depending on temperature.•Rich nano-structuring was observed but no nanowires appeared.•Hydrogen plasma treatment caused surface segregation of minor elements.
Initial stages of Inconel 625 superalloy (Ni60Cr30Mo10Ni4Nb1) oxidation upon short treatment with gaseous plasma at different temperatures up to about 1600K were studied. Samples were treated for different periods up to a minute by oxygen or hydrogen plasma created with a microwave discharge in the standing-wave mode at a pressure of 40Pa and a power 500W. Simultaneous heating of the samples was realized by focusing concentrated solar radiation from a 5kW solar furnace directly onto the samples. The morphological changes upon treatment were monitored using scanning electron microscopy, compositional depth profiling was performed using Auger electron spectroscopy, while structural changes were determined by X-ray diffraction. The treatment in oxygen plasma caused formation of metal oxide clusters of three dimensional crystallites initially rich in nickel oxide with the increasing chromium oxide content as the temperature was increasing. At about 1100K iron and niobium oxides prevailed on the surface causing a drop of the material emissivity at 5μm. Simultaneously the NiCr2O4 compound started growing at the interface between the oxide film and bulk alloy and the compound persisted up to temperatures close to the Inconel melting point. Intensive migration of minority alloying elements such as Fe and Ti was observed at 1600K forming mixed surface oxides of sub-micrometer dimensions. The treatment in hydrogen plasma with small admixture of water vapor did not cause much modification unless the temperature was close to the melting point. At such conditions aluminum segregated on the surface and formed well-defined Al2O3 crystals.
Slovenia Krašovec, Alenka; Krpič, Tomaž
Coalition Politics in Central Eastern Europe,
2024, 2023, Letnik:
1
Book Chapter
In the period considered, Slovenia saw several party system changes, with one of the most notable being the electoral success of several new parties. Three prime ministers (PMs) coming from these ...parties led cabinets. While many may have expected changes in coalition governance due to newcomers heading up the cabinets, such governance has not changed significantly. Still, a new strategy was implemented with the newcomers, opting for a stepping-down strategy as a mechanism of cabinet termination, instead of the dropping-out strategy of coalition partners that is a hallmark of politically experienced PMs in Slovenia. Although the economic, financial, and migration crises all had some effect on the way cabinets were formed and terminated as well as how coalitions were governed, the biggest consequences of the COVID-19 crisis in the investigated period were generally related to democratic backsliding.
Chemical composition (water, proteins, ash, intramuscular fat, cholesterol, fatty acid composition), sensory characteristics and instrumental profiles (colour and texture) of lean rabbit meat were ...investigated. It originated from animals of three different lines of SIKA genotype (A – mother line, C – father line, AC – hybrid of mother and father lines), two animal ages at slaughter (93 and 105 days) and both sexes. Rabbits were fed a commercial diet ad libitum. The boneless muscles of the back (longissimus lumborum) including muscles of abdominal wall and hind legs were sampled from thirty-six animals. On the average rabbit meat contains 71.5 % of water, 22.0 % of proteins, 1.17 % of ash, 5.4 % of intramuscular fat, 67.6 mg of cholesterol per 100 g of fresh meat, and as for fatty acid composition, 34.1 % belong to monounsaturated, 25.1 % to polyunsaturated and 40.9 % to saturated fatty acids. The P/S mass ratio (0.62), the atherogenic index (0.70), the n-6/n-3 ratio (8.1) and the cholesterol content show that the rabbit meat can and should be included into a balanced human diet. Meat of female rabbits contains more intramuscular fat and cholesterol compared to the male ones (5.7 vs. 5.2 g of intramuscular fat/100 g; p0.05; 71.5 vs. 63.7 mg of cholesterol/100 g, respectively; p0.01). Genotype line does not affect either the fatty acid profile or the content of cholesterol, but it has a significant impact on intramuscular fat (A line 5.0 g/100 g; AC line 5.9 g/100 g; C line 5.4 g/100 g; p0.05) as well as on cutting values across the fibres (Instron apparatus; A line 43 N; AC line 38 N; C line 42 N; p0.05). Meat of 105-day-old rabbits contains more intramuscular fat (5.7 vs. 5.2 g/100 g; respectively; p0.05) and shows darker and redder colour (both sensorially evaluated colour as well as instrumentally measured L* and a* values; p0.01) compared to the 93-day-old ones.
As consultants for the largest enterprises in Slovenia, we found that even though the literature lists plenty of strategic information systems planning (SISP) methods with clear theoretical merits, ...the enterprises find these methods too abstract and/or too cumbersome to use in practice. To address this issue, we developed a new approach for the measurement of SISP success that attempts to combine key predictors of SISP success from the fields of strategic information systems planning and strategic business planning in a way that would be as practical as possible for everyday use in enterprises. We hope that our method will thus enable enterprises to validly, reliably and with greater ease measure and control the outcome of the SISP process by clearly defining the SISP success predictors that need to be monitored and by identifying the stakeholders responsible for their management. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
