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Enabling cross-sectoral transformation for coastal climate adaptation in Europe
No full textCoastal areas in Europe are of immense value – not only to their residents but also to communities further inland. At the same time, they are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The current pace of coastal climate adaptation remains slow, constrained by underfunding and the fragmented, sectoral nature of many initiatives. This calls for radically new yet practical approaches. In this perspective, a group of European researchers from diverse disciplines explores what cross-sectoral transformation could mean in the context of coastal climate adaptation. Drawing on expertise in environmental science, spatial planning, law, ecology, health, and tourism, we propose four directions for interdisciplinary research to enable such transformation: (1) developing dynamic and holistic understandings of climate impacts and adaptation responses(2) establishing shared adaptation objectives and priorities across sectors(3) promoting ecosystem-based developmentand (4) adapting legal and institutional systems to support integration and flexibility. We invite scholars and practitioners to engage with these interdependent directions to advance adaptation efforts for European coasts
Global Citizenship Education and English Learning through Picturebooks in Multilingual Settings
No full textHuman-Computer Interaction in Slovenia
No full textThis paper presents a retrospective and trend analysis of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research in Slovenia, with a focus on publications from national Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) conference venues between 2014 and 2024. Drawing on a dataset of 84 papers authored by 138 distinct contributors, we examine the evolution of research topics, author participation, and institutional involvement over time. The results show a relatively stable number of accepted papers per year, accompanied by fluctuations in author diversity, with 2022 marking a peak in community engagement. The analysis highlights both the persistence of core Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) themes—such as usability, interaction design, and visualization—and the gradual inclusion of emerging areas, including immersive technologies and data-driven design. By situating local contributions within broader international developments, the study provides an overview of the Slovenian Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) landscape, identifies patterns of collaboration and dissemination, and relects on challenges and opportunities for strengthening the community in the future
The health-economic burden of hip and knee periprosthetic joint infections in Europe
No full textAims Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) pose significant challenges to patients and healthcare systems worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the health-economic burden of reimbursement payment in Europe for PJIs following primary hip and knee arthroplasty. Methods The calculation was based on health-economic modelling using data on primary hip and knee arthroplasties for the year 2019 from the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) and published infection rates to estimate the total number of hip and knee PJIs in 30 European countries. Revision procedures were stratified into: 1) debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR)2) one-stage exchangeand 3) two-stage revision procedures. The cases were then multiplied by the respective healthcare system reimbursement payments. Payment data were acquired from a survey of 13 countries (Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK) and extrapolated for the remaining countries. Results In 2019, a total of 2,048,778 primary total joint replacements were performed (total hip arthroplasty (THA) = 1,147,316 and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) = 901,462), with an estimated 20,416 cases of PJIs (11,131 hip and 9,285 knee) in Europe. This results in an estimated total reimbursement burden of €346,262,026 for European healthcare systems. The breakdown for hip PJI reimbursement was €197,230,953 (€9,751,962 for DAIR procedures, €45,135,894 for one-stage revisions, and €142,343,097 for two-stage revisions). For knee PJIs, the analysis yielded a total reimbursement of €149,031,073 (€9,335,075 for DAIR procedures, €48,058,479 for one-stage revisions, and €91,637,518 for two-stage revisions). Conclusion This is the first study to evaluate the health-economic burden of PJIs in Europe, revealing a substantial impact on healthcare systems with an estimated case load of 20,414 cases and overall reimbursement of €346,262,026 for primary THAs and TKAs performed in 2019
Detection and characterization of Sindbis virus genotype IV in mosquitoes from Slovenia
No full textMosquitoes play a crucial role as vectors of disease pathogens and are among the most socioeconomically important animals in the world. Medically important arboviruses include the Sindbis virus (SINV), which causes chills, skin rashes, and joint pain. Endemic in northern Europe, SINV has been increasingly detected in central Europe. The main objectives of this study were to monitor and screen mosquitoes for the presence of SINV. We included samples of mosquitoes collected throughout the years at different locations in Slovenia. The mosquitoes were first identified and then pooled according to species, sex, date of sampling, and location. Nucleic acid (NA) was isolated from these pools, and the target segment of the SINV genome was amplified using molecular methods. We performed detailed phylogenetic analyses of the SINV-positive mosquito pools. From 2020 to 2024, we monitored mosquitoes at 226 locations in Slovenia and collected 112,001 samples, which were identified and grouped into 11,595 pools. Using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found SINV RNA in five pools of Culex modestus mosquitoes collected in two regions of northeastern Slovenia in August 2022 and in July, August, and September 2024. The SINV discovered in Slovenia (SINV-SLO) was classified as Genotype IV. We designed a primer scheme for the whole-genome amplification of SINV based on the alignment of the available SINV-IV sequences and performed molecular characterization of the sequences. Our findings revealed that SINV-SLO is closely related to the SINV strains identified in Russia, Azerbaijan, and China. In Europe, it is Genotype I that is most frequently detected and causes epidemics, whereas Genotype IV, which was detected in Slovenia, has not yet been associated with disease outbreaks
Reusing timber for a circular, low-carbon future
No full textLoad-bearing timber is usually not reused in a second structural application after its first service life, not due to proven inadequacy, but largely because prevailing standards recognize only first-use material. When buildings are dismantled, the recovered timber is typically routed toward energy recovery, re- or down-cycling, or disposal, while functionally equivalent components for new construction are manufactured from newly harvested logs. The current regulatory framework favors virgin timber, even where reused elements could technically perform the same structural functions. Therefore, one of the primary barriers to structural timber reuse is the absence of codified pathways for qualification, certification, and market acceptance