Preliminarno priopćenje o morfometrijskim razlikama između dviju populacija Podarcis muralis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) i Podarcis muralis maculiventris (Werner 1891) u Sloveniji

The aim of this preliminary study is to evaluate some differences between two populations of Podarcis muralis muralis and Podarcis muralis maculiventris living in Slovenia using some biometric and meristic characters. Forty-eight specimens from Žovnek (Central Slovenia, 46°16\u27 N, 15°10\u27 E) and 24 specimens from Lucija (Slovenian Istria, 45°30\u27 N, 13°36\u27 E) were included in a statistical analysis. The values of body dimensions of both sexes differ significantly between the two localities. Specimens from Lucija are bigger with a longer pileus. According to the results of this preliminary study on some characters of the external morphology, the classification of Slovenian populations of wall lizard into two subspecies seems justified.Cilj ove preliminarne studije bila je procjena nekih razlika među dvjema populacijama Podarcis muralis muralis i Podarcis muralis maculiventris u Sloveniji koristeći neke biometričke i numeričke značajke. U statističku analizu je uključeno 48 primjeraka iz Žovneka (središnja Slovenija, 46°16\u27 N, 15°10\u27 E) i 24 primjerka iz Lucije (slovenski dio Istre, 45°30\u27 N, 13°36\u27 E). Vrijednosti dimenzija tijela oba spola u ta dva lokaliteta značajno se razlikuju. Primjerci iz Lucije su veći i s dužim pileusom. Prema rezultatima ove preliminarne studije o nekim značajkama vanjske morfologije čini se opravdanom klasifikacija slovenskih populacija krške gušterice u dvije podvrste

A Coot (Fulica atra) eating waterfowl droppings

El febrer de 1996 es va observar una fotja a l'embassament de Vrbje (vall de la Baixa Savinja, Eslovènia) menjant excrements d'aus aquàtiques, probablement de cigne mut o oques. Aquest comportament alimentari inusual podria estar relacionat amb la duresa de l'hivern i la dificultat de trobar menjar que els ocells haurien tingut durant aquest any en aquesta zona

Egg size of the Blackbird (Turdus merula) in Slovenia

Es compara la mida de l'ou de la merla entre hàbitats urbans i rurals a Eslovènia. En general, les dimensions de l'ou van ser similars a les dades d'altres treballs. No es va trobar variació significant en la llargada, amplada i volum dels ous entre els hàbitats urbans i rurals. No obstant això, la forma de l'ou va diferir de manera significativa entre localitats: a l'hàbitat rural la longitud i amplada de l'ou va tendir a créixer conjuntament mentre que això no va ocórrer a l'hàbitat urbà. Addicionalment, la forma de l'ou es va correlacionar negativament i significativa amb la longitud de l'ou en àrees urbanes però no a les rurals

Legionella pneumophila strain 130b evades macrophage cell death independent of the effector SidF in the absence of flagellin

International audienceThe human pathogen Legionella pneumophila must evade host cell death signaling to enable replication in lung macrophages and to cause disease. After bacterial growth, however, L. pneumophila is thought to induce apoptosis during egress from macrophages. The bacterial effector protein, SidF, has been shown to control host cell survival and death by inhibiting pro-apoptotic BNIP3 and BCL-RAMBO signaling. Using live-cell imaging to follow the L. pneumophila-macrophage interaction, we now demonstrate that L. pneumophila evades host cell apoptosis independent of SidF. In the absence of SidF, L. pneumophila was able to replicate, cause loss of mitochondria membrane potential, kill macrophages, and establish infections in lungs of mice. Consistent with this, deletion of BNIP3 and BCL-RAMBO did not affect intracellular L. pneumophila replication, macrophage death rates, and in vivo bacterial virulence. Abrogating mitochondrial cell death by genetic deletion of the effectors of intrinsic apoptosis, BAX, and BAK, or the regulator of mitochondrial permeability transition pore formation, cyclophilin-D, did not affect bacterial growth or the initial killing of macrophages. Loss of BAX and BAK only marginally limited the ability of L. pneumophila to efficiently kill all macrophages over extended periods. L. pneumophila induced killing of macrophages was delayed in the absence of capsase-11 mediated pyroptosis. Together, our data demonstrate that L. pneumophila evades host cell death responses independently of SidF during replication and can induce pyroptosis to kill macrophages in a timely manner

Criminal Law - Juvenile Delinquency Proceeding - Right to Trial by Jury

The New York Court of Appeals has overruled the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, which held that the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments require a jury trial in a Family Court Proceeding charging one with being a juvenile delinquent based on an act which if committed by an adult would constitute a felony and thus entitle him to a jury trial. In Re D., 313 N.Y.S.2d 704, 27 N.Y.2d 90 (1970)

Legionella pneumophila strain 130b possesses a unique combination of type IV secretion systems and novel Dot/Icm secretion system effector proteins

Legionella pneumophila is a ubiquitous inhabitant of environmental water reservoirs. The bacteria infect a wide variety of protozoa and, after accidental inhalation, human alveolar macrophages, which can lead to severe pneumonia. The capability to thrive in phagocytic hosts is dependent on the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system (T4SS), which translocates multiple effector proteins into the host cell. In this study, we determined the draft genome sequence of L. pneumophila strain 130b (Wadsworth). We found that the 130b genome encodes a unique set of T4SSs, namely, the Dot/Icm T4SS, a Trb-1-like T4SS, and two Lvh T4SS gene clusters. Sequence analysis substantiated that a core set of 107 Dot/Icm T4SS effectors was conserved among the sequenced L. pneumophila strains Philadelphia-1, Lens, Paris, Corby, Alcoy, and 130b. We also identified new effector candidates and validated the translocation of 10 novel Dot/Icm T4SS effectors that are not present in L. pneumophila strain Philadelphia-1. We examined the prevalence of the new effector genes among 87 environmental and clinical L. pneumophila isolates. Five of the new effectors were identified in 34 to 62% of the isolates, while less than 15% of the strains tested positive for the other five genes. Collectively, our data show that the core set of conserved Dot/Icm T4SS effector proteins is supplemented by a variable repertoire of accessory effectors that may partly account for differences in the virulences and prevalences of particular L. pneumophila strains. Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

Sensory Evaluation of Dry Persimmons of the Tipo (Diospyros kaki L. f.) Variety

The study carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences of the University of Maribor aimed to evaluate the attractiveness of dried persimmon fruit depending on the method of preparing the fruit for drying. The methods varied in terms of the ripeness of the fruit, the thickness and shape of the slices, the presence of seeds (in fertilised fruits) and the presence of peel. Sensory evaluation was performed by students and staff, using a hedonic scale, where evaluators evaluated the appearance (shape and colour) and taste (sugar-acid ratio, texture, tartness, presence of fruit peel, and general impression) of the fruit. Dried unfertilized persimmons, with the presence of peel, cut into 3 mm thick slices, were given the highest score for overall attractiveness. In terms of taste, unfertilised, peeled persimmon slices scored the highest. Considering all parameters, the results showed that unfertilised persimmons were more suitable for drying and that the presence of the peel was not a disturbing factor for consumers.Vpliv priprave plodov na senzorično oceno suhih kakijev sorte \u27Tipo\u27 (Diospyros kaki L.). Raziskava, izvedena na Fakulteti za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede Univerze v Mariboru, temelji na preizkušanju potencialne všečnosti suhega kakija glede na različne oblike priprave plodov na sušenje. Ta se je razlikovala glede na umedenost plodov, debelino in obliko rezin ter pristnost kožice. Senzorično vrednotenje vzorcev je bilo izvedeno med študenti in zaposlenimi z uporabo hedonske lestvice, kjer so preskuševalci ocenili všečnost parametrov videza (oblika in barva) in okusa (razmerje med sladkorjem in kislino, tekstura, trpkost, prisotnost lupine – le pri enem obravnavanju in skupni vtis) vzorcev. Najvišjo oceno za videz je prejel vzorec, pripravljen iz neoplojenega in olupljenega kakija, narezanega na rezine debeline 3 mm. Z najvišjimi ocenami pri parametrih okusa pa je izstopal neoplojen olupljen krhelj. Ocene kažejo, da so oplojeni kakiji manj primerni za sušenje, saj so pri vseh spremljanih parametrih ocenjeni z najnižjimi ocenami, medtem ko prisotnost kožice ni moteča

The algebra of derivations of quasi-modular forms from mirror symmetry

We study moduli spaces of mirror non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds enhanced with choices of differential forms. The differential forms are elements of the middle dimensional cohomology whose variation is described by a variation of mixed Hodge structures which is equipped with a flat Gauss-Manin connection. We construct graded differential rings of special functions on these moduli spaces and show that they contain rings of quasi-modular forms. We show that the algebra of derivations of quasi-modular forms can be obtained from the Gauss--Manin connection contracted with vector fields on the enhanced moduli spaces. We provide examples for this construction given by the mirrors of the canonical bundles of $\mathbb{P}^2$ and $\mathbb{F}_2$.Comment: 26 page

Family Planning: Legal Regulations And Practice in Slovenia

Family planning allows individuals to achieve their desired number of children, and to control the timing of their pregnancies. This can be accomplished through contraception, with reducing the need for abortion, and infertility treatments. Pregnancy and childbirth are related to maternal mortality, which can be reduced with the prevention of unintended pregnancies. Access to contraception and safe abortion is crucial. At the 1968 International Conference on Human Rights in Teheran, family planning was declared a basic human right. In 1974, Yugoslavia was the first country in the world declaring the constitutional right to freedom of choice in childbearing. The safety of artificial pregnancy termination has been greatly enhanced by the improvements of vacuum aspiration technique, developed by Slovenian doctors in 1964. In Slovenia, abortion rates are constantly decreasing since 1980 due to available contraception and established contraceptive service. The history of family planning in Slovenia and actual situation are presented

MRI evaluation of tibial tunnel wall cortical bone formation after platelet-rich plasma applied during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Background. After anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, formation of cortical sclerotic bone encircling the femoral and tibial tunnel is a part of intratunnel graft healing. During the physiological cascades of soft tissue healing and bone growth, cellular and hormonal factors play an important role. The purpose of this study was to noninvasively but quantitatively assess the effect of intraoperatively applied platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the formation of cortical bone encircling the tibial tunnel. Patients and methods. In fifty patients, standard arthroscopic ACL reconstructions were performed. The PRP group (n = 25) received a local application of PRP while the control group (n = 25) did not receive PRP. The proximal tibial tunnel was examined by MRI in the paraxial plane where the portion of the tibial tunnel wall circumference consisting of sclerotic cortical bone was assessed with testing occurring at one, two and a half and six months after surgery. Results. At one month after surgery, differences between the groups in the amount of cortical sclerotic bone encircling the tunnel were not significant (p = 0.928). At two and a half months, the sclerotic portion of the tunnel wall in the PRP group (36.2%) was significantly larger than in the control (22.5%) group (p = 0.004). At six months, the portion of sclerotic bone in the PRP group (67.1%) was also significantly larger than in the control (53.5%) group (p = 0.003). Conclusions. Enhanced cortical bone formation encircling the tibial tunnel at 2.5 and 6 months after ACL graft reconstruction results from locally applied platelet-rich plasma