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In the Slovenian language syllabus, teachers are recommended to provide a greater share of group work during class. During types of learning such as cooperative learning in smaller groups or pairs, students actively develop communicative competence. The present article presents a survey that attempted to determine whether teachers from the first to the fifth grade execute cooperative learning in language classes. The purpose of the article is to raise teachers' awareness and encourage them to design and execute cooperative learning more frequently.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, demyelinating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Medication persistence is defined as an interval between the initiation and last dose of the applied medication and presents a useful surrogate marker of a stable disease course. This observational study aimed to evaluate medication persistence and discontinuation reasons in Slovenian people with multiple sclerosis treated with dimethyl fumarate. Our retrospective cohort study evaluated people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with dimethyl fumarate as an initial monotherapy or switched from injectable disease-modifying therapy medication between 2014 and 2021. Medication dispenses were extracted from the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health Outpatient Medication Database. The medication persistence criterion was based on the treatment gap. Patients exceeding a 60-day gap were considered nonpersistent. The median time to discontinuation was assessed using survival analyses. Considering discontinuation reasons, patients were further divided into safety and inefficacy groups. Due to the high probability of adverse effects, patients exceeding a 60-day gap were included in the safety group, but definite discontinuation reason remains unknown. The impact of covariates was evaluated by Cox regression. A total of 269 patients were included (183 women, mean age 37 years). During the 7-year follow-up period, 123 (45.7%) patients discontinued treatment. The median time to discontinuation was 5.6 years. After 1, 2, and 5 years of treatment, 84%, 77%, and 57% of patients were found to be persistent, respectively. All patients older than 30 years (p = 0.0013) and among them, those in the inefficacy group (p = 0.037) were more likely to be persistent. The results of our study proved a high persistence rate among our patients. The most frequent discontinuation reason was gastrointestinal adverse effects. Medication persistence requires interventions in younger patients with an unstable disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating abundance of wild animal populations is crucial for their management and conservation. While spatial capture-recapture models are becoming increasingly common to assess the densities of elusive species, recent studies have indicated potential bias that can be introduced by unaccounted spatial variation of detectability. We used camera-trapping data collected in collaboration with local hunters from a transnational population survey of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Slovenia and Croatia, to provide the first density estimate for the threatened Eurasian lynx population in the Northern Dinaric Mountains. Population density was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.60–1.16) lynx/100 km2, which is comparable to other reintroduced Eurasian lynx populations in Europe. Furthermore, we showed that baseline detection rate was influenced by the type of site used, as well as by sex of the individual and local behavioural response. Scent-marking sites had on average a 1.6- and 2.5-times higher baseline detection rate compared to roads and other locations, respectively. Scent-marking behaviour is common for several mammals, and selecting sites that attracts the targeted species is used to increase detection rates, especially for rare and cryptic species. But we show that the use of different location types for camera trapping can bias density estimates if not homogenously distributed across the surveyed area. This highlights the importance of incorporating not only individual characteristics (e.g., sex), but also information on the type of site used in camera trapping surveys into estimates of population densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive Halyomorpha halys is a serious pest for several fruit trees, causing millions of dollars of crop damage every year across the world's major fruit-growing regions. Once established in an orchard, H. halys quickly becomes the predominant stink bug species and is a major season-long pest. Annual increases in the population size of H. halys have resulted in increased pest pressure and a growing risk of severe crop damage. Reliable monitoring is indispensable for H. halys control and management, providing comprehensive information on the seasonality of pest population dynamics, abundance, and interaction with the environment, and is essential for the successful implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to prevent crop damage. Our study followed the seasonal population dynamics of H. halys in three apple orchards in the Goriška region of western Slovenia over the period 2019–2021. Pherocon® Dual Panel Adhesive Traps (Trece Inc.) and pyramidal Rescue® Stink Bug Traps, both baited with Trécé lures (two-component H. halys aggregation pheromone + pheromone synergist), were used to monitor H. halys adults and nymphs weekly from late March to the end of November. Captures taken with both types of trap clearly describe the seasonal dynamics of H. halys, with the first occurrence of overwintering adults in April and May, and with two peak occurrences in adults, in the middle of summer and in the beginning of autumn, corresponding to the appearance of two generations per year in the study area. The growing trap captures observed during the 3-year monitoring period suggest that H. halys was only recently introduced to the area and that natural enemies have not yet been fully recruited. Pyramid traps captured significantly more adults and nymphs than clear sticky traps and provided accurate monitoring of H. halys life stages throughout the season. Regardless of the lower trap catches of adults and juveniles, clear sticky traps clearly displayed H. halys seasonal dynamics pattern. Therefore, their use is recommended as an early detection tool in areas where pests are not yet present, or in areas with small H. halys populations. Halyomorpha halys adult trap captures were higher in Šempeter orchards, within areas of great landscape diversity and a large share of urban land. The seasonal dynamics of H. halys over the 3-year period were closely related to weather conditions, with temperature and relative humidity as the major factors affecting population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, has become one of the most damaging agricultural pests worldwide. After being first detected in Europe (in Switzerland), it is now widely spread throughout the European continent and many countries in Eurasia. Since its first appearance in Slovenia in 2017, it has caused extensive damage to fruit and vegetable production. Investigating the biology and behavior in local environmental conditions is the first step towards effective pest control. Information on the number of generations per year is crucial for anticipating critical phases of pest development and for adapting control measures that target the pest's vulnerable life stages. A 3-year study (2019–2021) on the biological parameters of H. halys was performed outdoors in Nova Gorica (western Slovenia), confirming that in the sub-Mediterranean climate this pest has two overlapping generations per year. The net reproductive rates observed over the period studied indicate growing populations. The highest population growth was recorded in 2019, when the net reproductive rate of increase (R0) reached 14.84 for the summer generation and 5.64 for the overwintering generation. These findings reflect the current situation in Slovenia, where the growing populations of H. halys has been causing considerable damage to agricultural crops since 2019. In the last decade, the invasive brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, has become one of the most serious pests for agricultural crops worldwide. First detected in Europe (in Switzerland), the insect is now widely found across the European continent and many Eurasian countries. Since its first appearance in Slovenia in 2017 it has caused considerable damage to fruit and vegetable production. Understanding the biology and behavior in the local environmental conditions is of key importance for an effective pest management. Knowledge of the voltinism of the species is crucial to anticipate critical phases of pest development and for adapting control measures that target the vulnerable life stages of the pest. A 3-year study (2019–2021) of H. halys biological parameters was performed outdoors in Nova Gorica (western Slovenia), confirming that in the sub-Mediterranean climate this pest has two overlapping generations per year. The net reproductive rates observed in the studied period indicate growing populations. The highest population growth was recorded in 2019, when the net reproductive rate of increase (R0) reached 14.84 for the summer generation and 5.64 for the overwintering generation. These findings match the current situation in Slovenia, where increasing populations of H. halys and severe crop damage have been observed since 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disease-modifying therapy (DMT) dramatically influenced the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Novel medicines have been developing constantly and therapeutic strategy has changed. We aimed to analyse the development of DMT for MS in Slovenia with a special emphasis on contemporary approaches to the patient management. Materials and Methods: Prescriptions of all DMT in Slovenia from 2001-2021 were analysed as well as referrals to the Committee for MS DMT the Centre for MS in Ljubljana in the last three years (2019-2021). Results: Altogether approximately 360 patients were on DMT in 2001 and 1839 in 2021. The total number of patients on injectable therapies decreased through time while the number of patients on oral therapies increased. Dimethyl fumarate is currently the most frequently used medicine with 505 patients on the drug in 2021. The number of patients on potent medications increased from 28 (3%) in 2012 to 763 (41%) in 2021. Highly active medicines represented 52%, 62% and 69% of all DMT approvals in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Conclusions: The number of treated MS patients has been increasing steadily in Slovenia as well as the number of patients on potent DMT which proves that neurologists follow the modern concept of MS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: So far, a limited number of real-world evidence studies about the effectiveness and safety of alemtuzumab (ALM) have been published, some of them with a relatively small number of included patients. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of ALM in real-world clinical practice in two MS centers in Slovenia and Croatia. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 71 consecutive patients with relapsing–remitting MS who were treated with ALM from 2015 till 2018. The following data were collected: gender, age at disease onset, disease duration at ALM initiation, previous disease modifying therapy, number of relapses, active MRI lesions, and EDSS in the year prior to ALM initiation and every year of follow-up. Results: All patients completed the standard dosing schedule and were followed for a mean time of 3.2±1.1 years after the initiation of treatment. Complete data for the 2 years after treatment (relapses, EDSS, and MRI) were available for 48 patients, of which 14 (29.2%) achieved NEDA. Clinical NEDA was achieved in 38 out of 63 participants (60.3%). In year 1, 24 out of 57 (42.1%) patients achieved NEDA. In year 2, 26 out of 41 (63.4%) patients achieved NEDA. Lower EDSS prior to starting ALM was the only independent predictor of NEDA in a multivariable model. Adverse events occurred in 58 participants (84.1%), with no new safety signals identified. Conclusion: According to the data from our cohort of early active RRMS patients we conclude ALM efficacy remains high in the real-world clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common hazel, Turkish hazel, powdery mildew The powdery mildew consisted of white mycelium covering areas between c. 2 cm in diameter and almost entire leaf surfaces. Keywords: common hazel; Turkish hazel; powdery mildew EN common hazel Turkish hazel powdery mildew 1 2 2 03/29/23 20230101 NES 230101 An unusual powdery mildew was observed in three intensive I Corylus avellana i (common hazel) plantations in the Drava region of Slovenia in September 2020 and subsequently in numerous other plantations across Slovenia (e.g., Upper Carniola and Gorizia regions). [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Halyomorpha halys, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), is an invasive pest causing serious damage to agricultural production. Managing this pest species is challenging because of its wide host range and lack of effective control measures. Biological control of H. halys through natural enemies seems to be the most environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. Extensive knowledge of the native egg parasitoid fauna is needed prior to the introduction of a biological control program. The main purpose of the study, carried out in the Goriška region of Western Slovenia, was to detect egg parasitoid species associated with H. halys and to evaluate their impact on the pest population under local environmental conditions. High species richness was identified during the study, and five egg-parasitoids were recorded for the first time in Slovenia. The native species Anastatus bifasciatus dominated in urban and suburban areas, while the non-native Trissolcus mitsukurii prevailed in agricultural areas. Rapid recruitment of native parasitoids, the presence of an effective alien parasitoid species in the region and increasing overall parasitism rates are very encouraging results and valuable information for future activities regarding the biological control of H. halys in Slovenia. Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), native to East Asia, has become a globally invasive pest, as a serious threat to agricultural production and a notorious nuisance pest in urban areas. Considerable efforts have been made so far to develop effective pest control measures to prevent crop damage. Biological control of this invasive stink bug by egg parasitoids has proven to be the most environmentally sustainable long-term solution. Knowledge of the native egg parasitoid fauna is of key importance when implementing a biological control program. Therefore, the main objective of our study was to detect egg parasitoid species associated with H. halys in the Goriška region (Western Slovenia) and to evaluate their impact on the pest population under field conditions. In the years 2019 and 2020, around 4600 H. halys eggs were collected in the wild and more than 3400 sentinel eggs were exposed to detect parasitoids in the field. Five egg-parasitoid species emerged from H. halys eggs: Anastatus bifasciatus (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Telenomus sp., Trissolcus basalis, Trissolcus mitsukurii (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), all of them are new records for Slovenia. The native species, An. bifasciatus, dominated in urban and suburban areas, while non-native Tr. mitsukurii prevailed in agricultural areas. Overall parasitism rates of naturally laid eggs by the parasitoid species complex in 2019 and 2020 was 3.0 and 14.4%, respectively. Rapid recruitment of native parasitoids, early detection of an effective alien parasitoid species and increasing overall parasitism rates are very encouraging results, which need to be followed and verified in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]