The Scientific Council of the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) has announced great news this week. Here are eight outstanding achievements of our researchers who have made their mark in different fields of research in the past year, either through scientific papers or patents.

Research outputs in the form of articles are those with first or lead-corresponding authorship, which include A” publications and articles with an impact factor greater than 8. According to the evaluation of the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS), an international or European patent is also one of the outstanding achievements.

Congratulations to all the researchers! We look forward to their future success in 2024.

Original scientific article

1. ŽIBRET, Lea, WISNIEWSKI, Wolfgang, HORVAT, Barbara, BOŽIČ, Mojca, GREGORC, Boštjan, DUCMAN, Vilma. Clay rich river sediments calcined into precursors for alkali activated materials. Applied clay science. [Print ed.]. Mar. 2023, vol. 234, [article no.] 106848, pp. 1-10, illustr. ISSN 0169-1317. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169131723000352?via%3Dihub, DOI: 10.1016/j.clay.2023.106848. [COBISS .SI-ID 141839875].
   Category: 1A1 (A”)
2. HREN, Miha, (author, corresponding author), KOSEC, Tadeja, LEGAT, Andraž. Characterization of steel corrosion processes in various blended cements by means of coupled multi-electrode arrays. Cement and concrete research. [Print ed.]. Jun. 2023, vol. 168, [article no.] 107134, pp. 1-12, illustr. ISSN 0008-8846. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008884623000467, DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2023.107134. [COBISS .SI-ID 144372483].
   Category: 1A1 (A”)
3. KRŽAN, Meta, BOSILJKOV, Vlatko. Compression and in-plane seismic behaviour of ashlar three-leaf stone masonry walls. International journal of architectural heritage : conservation, analysis and restoration. [Print ed.]. 2023, vol. 17, iss. 6, p. 829-845, illustr. ISSN 1558-3058. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15583058.2021.1992532, https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=133047, DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2021.1992532. [COBISS .SI-ID 84124931].
   Category: 1A1 (A”)
4. KRŽAN, Meta, BOSILJKOV, Vlatko. In-plane seismic behaviour of ashlar three-leaf stone masonry walls : verifying performance limits. International journal of architectural heritage : conservation, analysis and restoration. [Print ed.]. 2023, vol. 17, iss. 5, p. 693-706, illustr. ISSN 1558-3058. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15583058.2021.1963504, DOI: 10.1080/15583058.2021.1963504. [COBISS .SI-ID 76435971].
   Category: 1A1 (A”)
5. MARROT, Laetitia Sarah Jennifer, ZOUARI, Mariem, SCHWARZKOPF, Matthew, DEVALLANCE, David Brian. Sustainable biocarbon/tung oil coatings with hydrophobic and UV-shielding properties for outdoor wood substrates. Progress in organic coatings. [Online ed.]. Apr. 2023, vol. 177, [article no.] 107428, pp. 1-10, illustr. ISSN 1873-331X. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300944023000243?via%3Dihub, DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2023.107428. [COBISS .SI-ID 140658435].
   Category: 1A1 (A”)
6. ŠKRLEP, Luka¹, KOSEC, Tadeja, FINŠGAR, Matjaž, SEVER ŠKAPIN, Andrijana, ŠVARA FABJAN,^Erika1 (author, corresponding author). Properties of the fluoroacrylate and methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane applied to a layer of Cu2O on bronze as either single or multi-component coatings. Progress in organic coatings. [Online ed.]. Apr. 2023, vol. 177, [article no.] 107440, pp. 1-10, illustr. ISSN 1873-331X. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030094402300036X?via%3Dihub, DOI: 10.1016/j.porgcoat.2023.107440. [COBISS .SI-ID 140722179]. ¹shared first authorship
   Category: 1A1 (A”)
7. ILENIČ, Anja, MAUKO PRANJIĆ, Alenka, ZUPANČIČ, Nina, MILAČIČ, Radmila, ŠČANČAR, Janez. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure assessment among active daily commuters to induce behaviour change to reduce air pollution. Science of the total environment. [Online ed.]. Dec. 2023, [article no.] 164123, pp. 1-38. ISSN 1879-1026. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723077471?via%3Dihub, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169117. [COBISS .SI-ID 177134851].
   Category: 1A1 (A”)

Patent

8. PONDELAK, Andreja, SEVER ŠKAPIN, Andrijana, KNEZ, Nataša, REPIČ, Rožle, ŠKRLEP, Luka, PAZLAR, Tomaž, KNEZ, Friderik, LEGAT, Andraž. A process of wood mineralization using acetoacetate solutions to improve the essential properties of wood = Verfahren zur Holzmineralisierung unter Verwendung von Acetoacetatlösungen zur Verbesserung der Wesentlichen Eigenschaften von Holz = Procédé de minéralisation du bois faisant appel à des solutions d’acétoacétate pour améliorer les propriétés essentielles du bois : European patent specification EP 3 934 869 B1, 2023-07-12. Munich: European Patent Office, 2023. [24] pp., tables. https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/076528002/publication/EP3934869B1?q=pn%3DEP3934869B1. [COBISS .SI-ID 2514791] Patent family: EP3934869A1, 2022-01-12; P-201900260, 2019-12-24; SI25943A, 2021-06-30; SI25944A, 2021-06-30; WO2021133262A1, 2021-07-01
   Category: 2E (A”).