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Six cropping populations, three variety mixtures and one diversity population were developed from winter wheat varieties and studied for physical, compositional and end-use quality traits for three years (2011–2013) under different European climatic and management conditions in order to study the stability of these traits resulted by the genetic diversity. The beneficial compositional and nutritional properties of the populations were assessed, while variation and stability of the traits were analysed statistically. No significant differences were found among the populations in low-input and organic management farming systems in the physical, compositional and processing properties, but there was a difference in the stability of these traits. Most of the populations showed higher stability than the control wheat variety, and populations developed earlier had higher stability than those developed later. Furthermore, some populations were found to be especially unstable for some traits at certain sites (mostly at Austrian, Swiss and UK organic sites). Protein content of the populations was high (13.0–14.7%) without significant difference among them, but there was significant variation in their gluten content (28–36%) and arabinoxylan content (14.6–20.3 mg/g). The most outstanding population for both protein and arabinoxylan content was a Hungarian cropping population named ELIT-CCP. It was concluded that the diversity found in the mixtures and CCPs have stabilizing effect on the quality parameters, but a higher stability was observed under low-input than under organic conditions. These results could be beneficial not only for breeders but also for the consumers in the long run.

Aims. We study the variable star content of the globular cluster M53to compute the physical parameters of the constituting stars and the distance of the cluster.

Aims.Due to the importance of accurate Fourier parameters, we devise a method that is more appropriate for deriving these parameters for low-quality data than the traditional Fourier fitting.

Aims.By using the full span of multicolor data on a representative sample of first overtone RR Lyrae stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), we revisit the problem of the incidence rate of the amplitude/phase-modulated (Blazhko) stars.

With the aid of the All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) database on the Galactic field, we compare the iron abundances of fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars derived from the Fourier parameters with those obtained from low-dispersion spectroscopy. We show from a set of 79 stars, distinct from the original calibrating sample of the Fourier method and selected without quality control, that almost all discrepant estimates are the results of some defects or peculiarities either in the photometry or in the spectroscopy. Omitting objects deviating by more than 0.4 dex, the remaining subsample of 64 stars yields Fourier abundances that fit the spectroscopic ones with $\sigma=0.20$dex. Other, more stringent selection criteria and different Fourier decompositions lead to smaller subsamples and concomitant better agreement, down to $\sigma=0.16$dex. Except perhaps for two variables among the 163 stars, comprised of the ASAS variables and those of the original calibrating set of the Fourier method, all discrepant values can be accounted for by observational noise and insufficient data coverage. We suggest that the agreement can be further improved when new, more accurate spectroscopic data become available for a test with the best photometric data. As a by-product of this analysis, we also compute revised periods and select Blazhko variables.

We study the statistical characteristics of a box-fitting algorithm to analyze stellar photometric time series in the search for periodic transits by extrasolar planets. The algorithm searches for signals characterized by a periodic alternation between two discrete levels, with much less time spent at the lower level. We present numerical as well as analytical results to predict the possible detection significance at various signal parameters. It is shown that the crucial parameter is the effective signal-to-noise ratio – the expected depth of the transit divided by the standard deviation of the measured photometric average within the transit. When this parameter exceeds the value of 6 we can expect a significant detection of the transit. We show that the box-fitting algorithm performs better than other methods available in the astronomical literature, especially for low signal-to-noise ratios.

Frequency analysis of more than 300 stars of the ogledatabase on Sculptor galaxy has led to the discovery of 18 double-mode RR Lyrae (RRd) variables. This yields a 20% incidence rate for double-mode pulsation among the variables previously classified as first overtone RR Lyrae stars in this galaxy. Most of the RRd stars cover the period range of $0\fd47< P_0< 0\fd49$but there are two stars with longer periods of ${\approx} 0\fd54$. All variables fit well in the pattern of the $P_0\rightarrow P_1/P_0$diagram, spanned by the RRd stars of the Galactic globular clusters and those of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). It follows from our previous investigations that the luminosities and masses of the RRd stars in Galactic globular clusters and in the LMC are almost independent of metallicity. By assuming that the Sculptor RRd variables also obey this rule, with the aid of the pulsation equations we estimate their metallicities. For most of the stars we get ${\rm [Fe/H]}\approx-1.5$, which is the same value as that obtained from a semi-empirical method for the average metallicity of the fundamental mode (RRab) stars. Two RRd stars have considerably lower metallicities, but even those are within the range corresponding to the RRab stars. The narrower metallicity range of the RRd stars is in agreement with their observed luminosity range, which is about three times smaller than that of the RRab stars.

Our former study on the empirical relations between the Fourier parameters of the light curves of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars and their basic stellar parameters has been extended to considerably larger data sets. The most significant contribution to the absolute magnitude MVcomes from the period Pand from the first Fourier amplitude A1, but there are statistically significant contributions also from additional higher order components, most importantly from A3and in a lesser degree from the Fourier phase $\varphi_{51}$. When different colors are combined in reddening-free quantities, we obtain basically period-luminosity-color relations. Due to the $\log T_{\rm eff}(B-V,\log g,{\rm [Fe/H]})$relation from stellar atmosphere models, we would expect some dependence also on $\varphi_{31}$. Unfortunately, the data are still not extensive and accurate enough to decipher clearly the small effect of this Fourier phase. However, with the aid of more accurate multicolor data on field variables, we show that this Fourier phase should be present either in $V-I$or in $B-V$or in both. From the standard deviations of the various regressions, an upper limit can be obtained on the overall inhomogeneity of the reddening in the individual clusters. This yields $\sigma_{E(B-V)}\la 0.012$mag, which also implies an average minimum observational error of $\sigma_V\ga 0.018$mag.

We report the discovery of a new transiting extrasolar planet, HAT-P-55b. The planet orbits a V= 13.207 ± 0.039 sun-like star with a mass of 1.013 ± 0.037 M?, a radius of 1.011 ± 0.036 R?, and a metallicity of -0.03 ± 0.08. The planet itself is a typical hot Jupiter with a period of 3.5852467 ± 0.0000064 days, a mass of 0.582 ± 0.056 MJand a radius of 1.182 ± 0.055 RJ. This discovery adds to the increasing sample of transiting planets with measured bulk densities, which is needed to put constraints on models of planetary structure and formation theories.

In recent years 56 accessions of Triticum timopheeviiZhuk. (2n=4x=28, AtAtGG) were characterized for the main phenotypic and resistance characters. Among these accessions 38 originated from the base species together with subspecies and varietas forms thereof, and 18 belong to the subspecies armeniacumgroup. After the evaluation of field assessment data gathered over 12 years, the most promising 11 accessions were selected for a crossability trial with cultivated einkorn. As a result of this trial, the accession with the highest seed set (Acc. No.: MVGB845) was chosen for the development of a new synthetic amphiploid using the same semi-dwarf line of diploid cultivated einkorn (Triticum monococcumL. ssp. monococcum1T-1, 2n=2x=14, AmAm) as in the crossability trial. This einkorn line was bred in Martonvásár, and has both outstanding resistance and other promising phenotypic and agronomic characters.After crossing the accession MVGB845 with 1T-1, the triploid hybrids were treated with colchicine to obtain fertile progenies with a doubled genome. The newly developed synthetic hexaploid wheat breeding stock (named Triticum timococcumKost., 2n=6x=42, AtAtGGAmAm) could ease the introgression of valuable resistance genes into bread wheat at the hexaploid level (bridge-crossing).The aim of the present research was to redevelop Triticum timococcumbased on a detailed characterization of gene bank accessions, and to introduce this new material into wheat breeding.

An important obstacle to achieve optimal glycaemic control in diabetics on intensive insulin therapy is the frequent occurrence of insulin induced hypoglycaemic events. In healthy subjects and in diabetics without autonomic neuropathy hypoglycaemia activates the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in epinephrine and glucagon release. Both hormones increase hepatic glucose production and this counterregulatory response is of key importance of glucose homeostasis. Recent research shed light on the fact that antecedent hypoglycaemic episodes play pivotal role in hypoglycaemia associated autonomic failure (HAAF). In this condition the sympatho-adrenal response to decreased blood glucose level is blunted. The existence of HAAF clearly indicates that the nervous system contributes to glucose homeostasis in a substantial manner. This review outlines the mechanisms of both peripheral and central neuronal glucose sensing and of neural pathways involved in the counterregulatory response.

HATSouth is the world's first network of automated and homogeneous telescopes that is capable of year-round 24 hr monitoring of positions over an entire hemisphere of the sky. The primary scientific goal of the network is to discover and characterize a large number of transiting extrasolar planets, reaching out to long periods and down to small planetary radii. HATSouth achieves this by monitoring extended areas on the sky, deriving high precision light curves for a large number of stars, searching for the signature of planetary transits, and confirming planetary candidates with larger telescopes. HATSouth employs six telescope units spread over three prime locations with large longitude separation in the southern hemisphere (Las Campanas Observatory, Chile; HESS site, Namibia; Siding Spring Observatory, Australia). Each of the HATSouth units holds four 0.18 m diameter f/2.8 focal ratio telescope tubes on a common mount producing an 8.2° × 8.2° field of view on the sky, imaged using four 4 K × 4 K CCD cameras and Sloan rfilters, to give a pixel scale of 3.7? pixel-1. The HATSouth network is capable of continuously monitoring 128 square arc degrees at celestial positions moderately close to the anti-solar direction. We present the technical details of the network, summarize operations, and present detailed weather statistics for the three sites. Robust operations have meant that on average each of the six HATSouth units has conducted observations on ?500 nights over a 2 years time period, yielding a total of more than 1 million science frames at a 4 minute integration time and observing ?10.65 hr day-1on average. We describe the scheme of our data transfer and reduction from raw pixel images to trend-filtered light curves and transiting planet candidates. Photometric precision reaches ?6 mmag at 4 minute cadence for the brightest non-saturated stars at r? 10.5. We present detailed transit recovery simulations to determine the expected yield of transiting planets from HATSouth. We highlight the advantages of networked operations, namely, a threefold increase in the expected number of detected planets, as compared to all telescopes operating from the same site.

Triticum monococcumrepresents an important source of useful genes and alleles that it would be desirable to use in wheat breeding programmes. The well-defined landmarks on the Amchromosomes could accelerate the targeted introgression of T. monococcumchromatin into the wheat genome.Fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) using the repetitive DNA probes pSc119.2, Afa family and pTa71 showed that the pSc119.2 probe was not suitable for the identification of Amchromosomes. In contrast, the whole set of Amchromosomes (especially chromosomes 1, 4, 5 and 7) could be discriminated based on the hybridization pattern of pTa71 and Afa family. In situhybridization with microsatellite motifs (GAA, CAG, AAC and AGG) proved that SSRs represent additional landmarks for the identification of Amchromosomes. The most promising SSR probes were the GAA and CAG motifs, which clearly discriminated the 6Amchromosome and, when used in combination with the Afa family and pTa71 probes, allowed the whole set of Amchromosomes to be reliably identified.In conclusion, fluorescence in situhybridization using the repetitive DNA probes Afa family and pTa71, combined with SSR probes, makes it possible to identify the Amchromosomes of T. monococcumand to discriminate them from Auchromosomes in the polyploid wheat background.

Cultivated einkorn (Triticum monococcumL. ssp. monococcum) is an excellent source of resistance against several wheat diseases and quality parameters. Semi-dwarf einkorn lines with good crossability were identified in order to produce Triticum turgidum× T. monococcumsynthetic amphiploids. Two combinations were used to develop the amphiploids: durum × einkorn and emmer × einkorn.After the genome duplication of F1 seeds, highly fertile amphiploids were developed. The AuBAmgenome structure of the progenies was confirmed by genomic in situhybridization (GISH).Lines derived from durum × einkorn and emmer × einkorn crosses were studied for agronomic performance, disease resistance and genetic variability. Both amphiploid combinations showed excellent resistance against certain wheat diseases (leaf rust, powdery mildew), but not against fusarium. The durum-based synthetic amphiploid lines showed a higher level of phenotypic diversity. The newly produced T. turgidum× T. monococcumsynthetic hexaploids are promising genetic resources for wheat breeding. Selected durum × einkorn lines are currently used in bread wheat improvement to transfer the useful properties of einkorn into cultivated hexaploid wheat via ‘bridge-crossing’.

The Second Military Survey of the Habsburg Empire, completed in the 19th century, can be very useful in different scientific investigations owing to its accuracy and data content. The fact, that the mapmakers used geodetic projection and the high accuracy of the survey guarantee that scientists can use these maps and the represented objects can be evaluated in retrospective studies. Among others, the hydrological information of the map sheets is valuable. The streams were drawn with very thin lines that also ascertain the high accuracy of their location, provided that the geodetic position of the sheet can be constructed with high accuracy. After geocoding these maps we noted the high accuracy of line elements.

The Second Military Survey of the Habsburg Empire, completed in the 19th century, can be very useful in different scientific investigations owing to its accuracy and data content. The fact, that the mapmakers used geodetic projection and the high accuracy of the survey guarantee that scientists can use these maps and the represented objects can be evaluated in retrospective studies. Among others, the hydrological information of the map sheets is valuable. The streams were drawn with very thin lines that also ascertain the high accuracy of their location, provided that the geodetic position of the sheet can be constructed with high accuracy. After geocoding these maps we noted the high accuracy of line elements.The goal of this paper is to verify the accuracy of the rectified map sheets of the study area in order to test the applicability of such an analysis of the represented geomorphologic features like relief and streams. In the geomorphologic investigations high geometrical accuracy is needed due to the quantitative character of measurements. The study area is located at the Austrian-Hungarian boundary, south from Kőszeg Mountains/Günser Gebirge and west from Rába River/Raab Fluss.

In order to analyse the effects of temperature (9–22 °C) and light intensity (170–576 μmol m −2s −1) on plant development two barley varieties with contrasting seasonal growth habits were included in a series of experiments consisting of controlled environment tests. The effect of constant (18 °C) and daily fluctuating (18/16 °C) temperature with a long photoperiod was also examined in a set of barley varieties including winter, facultative and spring barleys. Dicktoo with facultative growth habit was more sensitive to unfavourable conditions than Kompolti korai with winter growth habit; the flowering of Dicktoo was significantly delayed by sub-and supra-optimal temperatures and low light intensity accompanied by higher or fluctuating temperatures. The optimal temperature at flowering was also significantly lower for Dicktoo than for Kompolti korai (16.0 °C vs. 21.0 °C, respectively). Plant development was the fastest when there was no fluctuating environmental factor in the growing conditions and was significantly delayed with application of photo cycle. The addition of thermo cycle to photo cycle had an even stronger delaying effect. Facultative barleys were the most sensitive, followed by winter barleys, while spring barleys the least sensitive to the introduction of thermo cycle.

In order to analyse the effects of temperature (9–22 °C) and light intensity (170–576 µmol m-2s-1) on plant development two barley varieties with contrasting seasonal growth habits were included in a series of experiments consisting of controlled environment tests. The effect of constant (18 °C) and daily fluctuating (18/16 °C) temperature with a long photoperiod was also examined in a set of barley varieties including winter, facultative and spring barleys. Dicktoo with facultative growth habit was more sensitive to unfavourable conditions than Kompolti korai with winter growth habit; the flowering of Dicktoo was significantly delayed by sub- and supra-optimal temperatures and low light intensity accompanied by higher or fluctuating temperatures. The optimal temperature at flowering was also significantly lower for Dicktoo than for Kompolti korai (16.0 °C vs. 21.0 °C, respectively). Plant development was the fastest when there was no fluctuating environmental factor in the growing conditions and was significantly delayed with application of photo cycle. The addition of thermo cycle to photo cycle had an even stronger delaying effect. Facultative barleys were the most sensitive, followed by winter barleys, while spring barleys the least sensitive to the introduction of thermo cycle.

The purpose of this work was to further investigate the regulatory interplay between pyrophosphate:fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) and its positive effector, fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P 2), in the storage organs of cold- and drought-stressed plants. Since there is no detectable cytoplasmic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (cytFBPase) activity in the taproots of carrot plants, PFP is the only enzyme that can replace its function when stored starch is converted to transportable sucrose. The working hypothesis was that PFP is likely to be involved in the mobilisation of energy reserves and might have a special role in storage organs such as carrot taproots upon stress. Both cold and drought stress resulted in a marked increase in the endogenous Fru-2,6-P 2levels. It is suggested that the significant changes in photosynthate allocation are the direct results of the stimulation of PFP activity by elevated Fru-2,6-P 2levels. PFP stimulated by Fru-2,6-P 2operated in the gluconeogenic direction in the taproots of stressed carrot plants, whereas the glycolytic direction was dominant in the non-stressed controls. This suggests that the metabolic status determining the net activity of PFP depends on the physiological stress situation, making PFP an important sensor of environmental changes. The experimental data indicated that PFP is involved in the mobilisation of energy reserves during unfavourable environmental changes by promoting the re-synthesis of transportable sucrose in taproots.

Maligne periphere Nervenscheidentumoren (MPNST) sind maligne Tumoren, welche sich histomorphologisch von peripheren Nervenscheiden ableiten. MPNST treten sporadisch mit einer Inzidenz von etwa 0,001% und müssen selten in einer Notfallsituation operiert werden.Ein 19-jähriger, kurz vor dem Abitur stehender, sportlicher Mann wurde mit einer Lumboischialgie und Schwäche der 3. und 4 Zehe links auswärtig orthopädisch vorstellig. Mit der computertomographischen Diagnose eines 12×10×8 cm großen paravertebral/retroperitonealen Tumors wurde der Patient in unsere Klinik überwiesen. Bei unklarer Zuordnung erfolgte zunächst eine CT-gesteuerte Punktion. Bei konsekutiver Tumoreinblutung mit Hb-Abfall und progredientem peripher-sensomotorischem Defizit musste an einem Wochenende die Notfalloperation erfolgen. Hierbei wurde der Tumor interdisziplinär allgemeinchirugisch-neurochirurgisch unter Resektion der Nervenwurzel L5/S1 reseziert und im Schnellschnitt als maligner peripherer Nervenscheidentumor klassifiziert. Aufgrund der spinalen R2-Situation erfolgte die Einlage von Afterloadingsonden und Clipmarkierung des Tumorbettes mit postoperativer kombinierter perkutaner Strahlentherapie und Brachytherapie. Kurz hiernach wurde eine Relaparotomie wegen eines adhäsionsbedingten Dünndarmileus erforderlich, wonach der Patient sich rasch erholte. Aufgrund der G2-Differenzierung erfolgte im Anschluss eine Chemotherapie. Gegenwärtig absolviert der Patient eine Rehabilitationsbehandlung, worunter sich das peripher-neurologische Defizit schrittweise verbessert.Der seltene Fall eines malignen peripheren Nervenscheidentumors mit Akutsymptomatik veranschaulicht die Leistungsfähigkeit von Kliniken der Maximalversorgung, welche auch in Zeiten der Ressourcenverknappung im Gesundheitswesen aufrechterhalten wird.Malignant peripheral epineurial tumours are a group of tumours that derive histomorphologically from peripheral nerve sheaths. They occur sporadically, with an incidence of approximately 0.001%, and very rarely require emergency operation.An athletic 19-year-old man presented to an orthopaedic outpatient clinic with lumboischialgia and weakness of the third and fourth left toes. A 12×10×8-cm paravertebral/retroperitoneal tumour was diagnosed by CT, and the patient was referred to our clinic. For classification, CT-assisted puncture of the tumour was carried out. A haemorrhage into the tumour resulted from the puncture, with consequently lower Hb level and progressive peripheral sensomotoric deficits demanding emergency surgery on a weekend. On this occasion, the tumour was resected together with the L5 and S1 nerve roots through cooperation between the general surgical and neurosurgical departments and was classified as a malignant peripheral epineurial tumour in the rapid stage. Due to the spinal R2 resection, after-loading probes were inserted and the tumour bed was clip-marked. Percutaneous radiotherapy and brachytherapy followed postoperatively. Shortly afterwards, relaparotomy had to be performed due to an adhesive ileus, from which the patient recovered quickly. Chemotherapy was carried out due to a G2 tumour classification. The patient is currently undergoing rehabilitation, during which the peripheral neurological deficits are improving gradually.This rare case of a malignant peripheral epineurial tumour with acute symptoms demonstrates the ability of hospitals with maximum care facilities to maintain services even in times of financial cuts in health care services.

Abstract: Background: The most appropriate therapy for anal cancer is external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with chemotherapy (CTX). The significance of additional brachytherapy is still under evaluation. We report on our experience of combined modality therapy of anal cancer and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided high-dose rate (HDR) afterloading therapy, referring to results of a study published in 1998 by the coauthors. Methods: From 1993 to 2001, 50 patients with anal cancer were treated. After combined RCTX, HDR 2 4 Gy brachytherapy was administered based on TRUS imaging as a target. Results: In five patients (10%), tumor recurrence occurred or the tumor did not respond to therapy, and four (8%) developed distant lymph nodes or organ metastases. Five patients (10%) had to undergo salvage abdominoperineal resection because of suspected recurrence. Specific disease-related 5-year survival was 82%. Therapy-associated complications in terms of sphincter necrosis and incontinence were observed in three patients (6%). Conclusions: TRUS-guided brachytherapy permits excellent local tumor control and results in minimal treatment-related morbidity. Consequently, TRUS-guided brachytherapy may be a useful addition to current combined modality treatment regimens for anal cancer.

The early growth and tillering capacity of two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties (Dicktoo and Kompolti Korai) were investigated in a gradient growth chamber. The identification of these crop traits is important under organic agricultural conditions in the selection of new varieties for competitiveness against weeds. The results clearly demonstrate that the initial development of the two barley varieties depended considerably on the plant growth conditions. The temperature gradient was found to have the greater effect during early development, causing significant differences in all the traits at all measurement dates. The results indicate that the two varieties differ substantially for two characteristics important for organic farming. As regards tillering ability, Dicktoo appears to be the more desirable type, despite the fact that it is unable to achieve its tillering potential at higher temperatures. Under certain ecological conditions, the relative temperature insensitivity of Kompolti Korai could be an advantage. As far as early development vigour is concerned, Kompolti Korai is clearly a desirable type for organic farming, since it produced rapidly growing, robust plants in all the temperature ranges. From the point of view of organic breeding, a combination of the valuable traits of these two varieties could be the way forward.

The authors performed analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in 27 out of 109 confirmed prion disease patients between 1994 and 2004. E200K mutation was found in 17 cases. Another 10 patients, lacking PRNPanalysis, showed positive family history. The mean annual incidence (0.27/million) and proportion (25.6%) of genetic prion disease is unusually high in Hungary and might be related to the migration of ancestors from the Slovakian focus.

Abstract: Data selected from an extensive major element database of Cenozoic volcanic rocks (including calc-alkaline andesites, dacites, rhyolites, and alkali basalts) of Hungary are used to illustrate the detection and modeling of subcompositional patterns using a statistical analysis based on the assumption that relative differences between the observed values are more meaningful than absolute ones. In particular, two roughly linear compositional patterns (associated one to the alkaline basalts, the other to the calc-alkaline series) are revealed and evaluated, and it is shown how principal component analysis can be used to obtain the estimated subcomposition of their incidental intersection point.

A set of methods and tools for the knowledge-based design (KBD) of machine tools is described. This paper presents a method to capture and formalize engineering knowledge and a set of software applications for 'knowledge-based engineering' (KBE), including product data management, design processes management, design documents management and automatic rule-based geometry generation. The aim of these tools is to solve the main problems that are facing machinery companies regarding design knowledge: the long learning process for new employees, loss of collective knowledge and experience, poor management of engineering knowledge and lack of agreed company standards and procedures for design.

The purpose of this study was to search for physiological parameters that provide an early indication of the morphogenetic response of leaf disc explants to different tissue culture-level manipulations in order to design an accelerated optimisation process for this technology. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) was chosen as model in our studies, because this is still one of the most widely used species in experimental plant biology and detailed knowledge is available from its tissue culture system. Large numbers of physiological markers at the whole plant level (rates of photosynthesis and respiration) and cellular level ‘fitness’ (degree of DNA methylation) were measured together with the concentrations of the most abundant metabolites in photosynthetic carbohydrate metabolism, ATP and protein synthesis in leaf discs induced either for callus development or for shoot differentiation. As a result of the above examinations, we are able to show that the efficiency of photosynthesis, the rate of respiration and the degree of DNA methylation can be used as early markers for the changes that precede the appearance of in vitro morphogenesis. By examining these parameters, we were able to predict early ontogenesis (within 48 h) and the optimal concentrations of growth regulators needed to achieve either shoot differentiation or callus development.

Abstract Species in the genus Tomentella (Thelephoraceae) belong to the most frequent and widespread ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi found in temperate and boreal forests. Although several unidentified tomentelloid morphotypes have been presented as common members of EM communities in coniferous and broad-leaved forests, few tomentelloid EM have been identified and described in detail. In this study, ten tomentelloid EM isolates collected from Populus alba, Quercus cerris and Picea abies stands in Hungary and Germany are characterized and documented by morphological-anatomical methods using light microscopy. The investigated ectomycorrhizae belong to the same brown-black tomentelloid morphotype but form two different anatomotype groups (At I and At II). Molecular taxonomical identification was accomplished using phylogenetic analysis (neighbor joining method) of 49 Tomentella nrDNA-ITS nucleotide sequences including the 10 new and 39 GenBank sequences. The EM isolates clustered into two adjoining clades identical with the two anatomotypes. At II clustered with Tomentella stuposa while At I could not be identified to species. Based on the morphological similarity and the low genetic difference it must be a closely related taxon. A comparison of the recently known tomentelloid EM to T. stuposa is presented. Ecological questions involving abundance and host relationships are discussed.

As a consequence of the recent spread of organic crop production, there is an increasing demand on the market for foodstuffs and food raw materials of special quality. New interest is being evinced in old cereal species that have been ignored for a long period, such as einkorn and emmer. Their production is hindered, however, by the fact that no breeding has been carried out on these species for long decades, and the landraces currently available are not suited to modern cultivation conditions. The breeding of varieties with the required habit is hindered by the lack of information on the plant structure of the various landraces and on the environmental dependence and inheritance of the characters that determine plant structure. Earlier studies suggest that inhomogeneous environmental systems can be used to identify the temperature and light conditions under which the phenotypic differences responsible for plant structure are the greatest, thus allowing the inheritance of these traits to be investigated. When two emmer landraces originating from diverse climatic regions (MvGB 301 and MvGB 304) were grown in a gradient phytotron chamber, it was found that relatively higher temperatures were more suitable for pinpointing differences in plant height, as the difference between the two varieties decreased parallel to a drop in temperature. Within the temperature range investigated it is advisable to choose the taller variety as basic breeding stock for organic variety development, as its height is closer to the ideotype for organic varieties. The length of the last internode in MvGB 301 is independent of changes in temperature, indicating that the phenotype is stable for this trait. The results clearly demonstrate that it is possible to find types of emmer which are morphologically adapted to the requirements of organic farming and have a plant structure relatively little affected by the genotype × environment interaction.

In the course of gene bank research, problems frequently arise when valuable genetic materials have to be multiplied in an environment where the climatic conditions are quite different from those in its original habitat. In recently commenced experiments on the raising of emmer, the heading dates of two genotypes originating from different sources (MvGB 301 and MvGB 304) were investigated in a gradient growth chamber in the Martonvásár phytotron. This chamber allows precise information on the optimum temperature and light requirements of plants in different developmental stages to be obtained during the growth of a single generation. The data indicated that MvGB 301 headed considerably later than MvGB 304 at all temperature levels, but both varieties headed normally even at a constant very low temperature of 8°C. It was found that the light intensity had no influence on the heading dates of the two varieties.

The optimal design of a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic ( CFRP) sandwich-like structure with aluminium ( Al) webs is addressed. The material parameters are determined using tensile tests, whereafter the results of an analytical model, a numerical model and an experimental setup are compared. The analytical and numerical approximations are then used to optimize the structure in a multi-algorithm approach for minimum cost and maximum stiffness. The selected algorithm and approximation are motivated by their accuracy and computational efficiency. The CFRP plates are optimized with respect to ply arrangement, while the complete sandwich-like structure is optimized with respect to the combination of manufacturing and material cost. Design constraints on maximum deflection of the total structure, buckling of the CFRP composite plates, buckling of the Al webs, stress in the composite plates and stress in the Al stiffeners are included in the formulation. For the different phases in the optimization process, we use the recently proposed particle swarm optimization algorithm, a dynamic search technique and a continuous-discrete optimization technique .

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is a sensitive marker for pulmonary and thyroid adenocarcinomas. The aim of this work was to determine its usefulness in distinction between primary and metastatic lung adenocarcinomas. We have examined the expression of TTF-1 in 100 solitary pulmonary nodules. They included 50 stage I peripheral primary bronchial adenocarcinomas (30 men, 20 women, mean age: 60 years) and 50 metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinomas (21 men, 29 women, mean age: 57 years) of different origins, such as breast (13), colon (13), rectum (13), kidney (7), stomach (2), and thyroid gland (2). TTF-1 immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. In primary bronchial adenocarcinomas we found immunopositivity in 46/50 cases, among them 30 cases showed strong nuclear immunostaining. In four primary adenocarcinoma cases the observed immunopositivity was localized to the cytoplasm. Out of the metastatic adenocarcinomas all but the 2 thyroid cancers were negative. Both thyroid tumors showed strong immunopositivity. Our results confirm that TTF-1 immunohistochemistry is a very sensitive and highly specific method in the differential diagnosis of primary and metastatic lung adenocarcinomas and should be used in the everyday clinical practice.

We discuss the system requirements for obtaining millimagnitude photometric precision over a wide field using small-aperture, short focal length telescope systems such as those being developed by a number of research groups to search for transiting extrasolar planets. We describe a Hungarian Automated Telescope (HAT) system, which attempts to meet these requirements. The attainable precision of HAT has been significantly improved by a technique in which the telescope is made to execute small pointing steps during each exposure so as to broaden the effective point-spread function (PSF) of the system to a value more compatible with the pixel size of our CCD detector. Experiments during a preliminary survey (spring 2003) of two star fields with the HAT-5 instrument allowed us to optimize the HAT photometric precision using this method of PSF broadening; in this way we have been able to achieve a precision as good as 2 mmag on brighter stars. We briefly describe development of a network of longitudinally spaced HAT telescopes (HATNet).

The application of aminoglycoside-3?-adenyltransferase ( aadA) gene-mediated streptomycin resistance for non-lethal selection of transgenic rice resulted in plant regeneration frequencies under selection pressure as high as those in non-transformed controls without selection. Since streptomycin does not kill non-transgenic cells, and allows plant regeneration from them, a selection procedure was developed that made the visual identification of transgenic calli and regenerants possible. For callus-level selection, a vital pH indicator—Chlorophenol Red—was applied together with streptomycin, making use of the phenomenon that fast-growing cell lines lower the pH in the culture medium. Transgenic plants were selected according to their main distinctive features; their green colour (photomixotrophic assimilation), and more intense growth. At the same time, non-transgenic regenerants were bleached (heterotrophic assimilation), and growth was retarded in the presence of streptomycin and sucrose. The final efficiency of genetic transformation based on streptomycin resistance was found to be double that of transformations where the selective agent was l-phosphinothricin, and nearly three times more compared to transformations resulting in hygromycin-resistant regenerants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on producing nuclear transformed rice plants by using a non-lethal selection strategy based on the chimaeric aadA gene.

The multiplication and characterisation of genetic stocks originating under very different ecological conditions is a problem constantly encountered in gene bank research. However, the major components of the original environment, such as temperature, light and humidity, can be reproduced under artificial conditions in the phytotron. The gradient, or inhomogeneous, chamber available in the phytotron of the Agricultural Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, makes it possible to elaborate plant growth programmes optimised for the various developmental phases of each population in a single step. In this chamber gradients of two extremely important environmental factors, temperature and illumination, can be simultaneously programmed, thus allowing the optimum light × heat combinations to be identified. However, the use of complete inhomogeneity (light × heat) makes it extremely difficult to evaluate the experimental results, since biometric methods based on traditional statistics are unable to handle this situation. It is thus essential to find a method suitable for the comparative analysis of continual variables (Okada et al., 2000). The present paper reports on the first phase in the development of a plant growth programme for emmer, based on investigations made on two gene bank accessions of winter Triticum turgidumssp. dicoccon(Schrank) Thell. (MvGB 301 and MvGB 304). In the gradient chamber study the accumulation of dry biomass in three-week-old plants was investigated as a function of temperature and light intensity. The results suggest that a temperature of 10-12°C combined with low or moderate light intensity is optimum for the germination and initial development (0-4 weeks) of emmer. These conditions also induced good tillering, which is extremely important, especially for gene bank accessions where the possibility of seed multiplication and field cultivation is limited.

The relatively copper-tolerant wheat variety Chinese Spring (recipient), the copper-sensitive variety Cappelle Desprez (donor) and their substitution lines were screened for copper tolerance in a soil pot experiment under artificial growth conditions. Chromosomes 5A, 5B, 5D and 7D of Cappelle Desprez significantly decreased the copper tolerance of the recipient variety to varying extents.  By contrast, the 6B and 3D chromosomes significantly increased the copper tolerance of Chinese Spring, suggesting that a wide range of allelic differences could be expected between wheat genotypes for this character. The significant role of homologous group 5 in copper tolerance was confirmed by testing wheat-rye substitution lines. The substitution of rye chromosome 5R (5R/5A substitution line) into a wheat genetic background significantly increased the copper tolerance of the recipient wheat genotype. The results suggest that chromosomes 5R and 5A probably carry major genes or gene complexes responsible for copper tolerance, and that the copper tolerance of wheat can be improved through the substitution of a single chromosome carrying the responsible genes. At the same time, it is also possible that the effect of homologous group 5 is not specific to copper tolerance, but that the genes located on these chromosomes belong to a general stress adaptation (frost, cold, vernalisation requirements, etc.) complex, which has already been detected on this chromosome. To answer this question further studies are needed to determine the real effect of these chromosome regions and loci on copper tolerance.

In the present experiment the pollen viability of einkorn accessions of different origin was tested using four vital dyes (TTC, Baker's procedure, MTT and FDA) to determine the potential of the dyes to differentiate fresh living pollen from pollen heated for 12 hours at 80ºC (killed pollen). It was found that two of the four dyes previously employed to determine pollen viability also stained killed pollen in the case of several einkorn accessions, while FDA and MTT did not. It is thus suggested that the two latter should be used to test einkorn pollen viability, since they do not normally stain either killed or aborted pollen grains.

The growing interest in emmer cultivation has no doubt been stimulated by the increasing demand for traditional foods with an image of naturalness, especially on the organic market. The new economic situation could stimulate the breeding and production of emmer as the source of an especially valuable foodstuff. It is the task of breeders to produce emmer varieties that can survive even the hardest winter occurring in the targeted cultivation area without serious damage. The best sources to improve the winter hardiness are probably the emmer genetic resources stored in genebanks. Unfortunately no public data are available on the frost tolerance and winter hardiness of the various genebank accessions. In the present research the frost tolerance and winter hardiness of 10 winter emmer genebank accessions were studied under nursery and phytotronic conditions. The results suggest that the majority of the populations studied are frost-sensitive, and only few landraces have an acceptable level of winter hardiness and frost resistance.

Abstract: The mycorrhizal structures of the sporophyte of the strictly protected fern Botrychium virginianumwere studied by light and electron microscopy. The paper presented here is the first ultrastructural study of the mycorrhiza of the sporophyte of the genus Botrychium.The fungal colonization is restricted to two to three cell layers of the root cortex. The sometimes bifurcately ramifying hyphae form coils in the host cells. Single hypha arising from the coils penetrates into neighbouring cells and form arbuscules therein. The electron micrographs show high functional activity of the arbuscules, characterized by high glycogen‐like content in the hyphae, a thin layer of filamentous matrix material in the interface between fungus and root cell, frequent cell organelles in the cytoplasm and lack of starch in the host cells containing arbuscules. The main distinctive feature of the mycorrhizae of Botrychium virginianumis the morphology of the arbuscules, which differs not only from the common fine‐branched arbuscules, but also from the special structures reported previously from Ophioglossaceae. The robust, lobe‐like branching arbuscules most resemble arbuscule structures found in Triassic fossils.

On areas used for agriculture copper toxicity is one of the most important forms of heavy metal pollution, especially where field crops are to be grown in fields previously used as orchards or vineyards, treated for a long period with pesticides containing copper. Only varieties with good tolerance of soil with a high copper content should be grown on such areas. The selection of copper-tolerant varieties is complicated, however, by the fact that it is difficult to study copper tolerance under field conditions. Heavy metal tolerance is generally tested in hydroponic cultures, in which interfering factors can be minimised, but it is impossible to test a large number of genotypes or segregating generations using this method. Another problem in such experiments is that the conditions existing in hydroponic cultures bear little resemblance to those found in the field, so little information is obtained on the real adaptation of the varieties. The aim of the present experiments was thus to elaborate a soil-based technique suitable for determining the copper tolerance of various genotypes and allowing the simultaneous testing of a large number of genotypes under conditions approaching those found in the field. The results indicate that the copper tolerance of seedlings can be determined by growing them to an age of 2 weeks in soil containing 1000-1500 mg/kg CuSO4× 5 H2O, since genetic differences in copper tolerance could be clearly distinguished under these conditions. The copper tolerance of plants grown in copper-containing soil exhibited a close correlation with the results obtained in physiological tests in hydroponic culture.

The modified nucleotide content of the ribosomal RNAs in wheat is greatly influenced by light. The rRNAs of etiolated seedlings contain far fewer modified derivatives. The modified nucleotide composition characteristic of green plants develops gradually as a result of irradiation. In the course of the experiments changes in the state of modification of 5.8S and 18S rRNAs were examined during the greening of etiolated wheat seedlings. Three types of minor nucleotides, O2′-methyladenosine, O2′-methylguanosine and pseudouridine were found in the 5.8S rRNA of green wheat leaves, none of which was detected in etiolated wheat. The minor nucleotides appeared in the 5.8S rRNA only after 48 h irradiation. The sequences of 5.8S rDNA, TTS1, ITS2 and 18S rDNA were also determined and the presence of the hyper-modified nucleotide 1-methyl-3-(α-amino-α-carboxypropyl)-pseudouridine was detected in green wheat 18S rRNA. This minor component was not demonstrable in etiolated wheat 18S rRNA, but appeared after irradiation for 48 h.

The mycorrhizal structures of the sporophyte of the strictly protected fern Botrychium virginianum were studied by light and electron microscopy. The paper presented here is the first ultrastructural study of the mycorrhiza of the sporophyte of the genus Botrychium. The fungal colonization is restricted to two to three cell layers of the root cortex. The sometimes bifurcately ramifying hyphae form coils in the host cells. Single hypha arising from the coils penetrates into neighbouring cells and form arbuscules therein. The electron micrographs show high functional activity of the arbuscules, characterized by high glycogen-like content in the hyphae, a thin layer of filamentous matrix material in the interface between fungus and root cell, frequent cell organelles in the cytoplasm and lack of starch in the host cells containing arbuscules. The main distinctive feature of the mycorrhizae of Botrychium virginianum is the morphology of the arbuscules, which differs not only from the common fine-branched arbuscules, but also from the special structures reported previously from Ophioglossaceae. The robust, lobe-like branching arbuscules most resemble arbuscule structures found in Triassic fossils.

Activity-dependent adaptive changes in the nervous system involve structural and functional changes in the cortical circuitry. In this work the cortical function was studied by repeated recording of the somatosensory and motor potentials evoked by whisker deflections after altered sensory-motor experience in adult mice. The latencies of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were found to shorten, while their amplitudes decreased, after a behavioural challenge involving the vibrissal apparatus. Sensory deprivation achieved by whisker trimming resulted in a partial reversal of the changes observed after increased activity. The derived parameters imply that cortical information processing speeds up as a result of experience, while decreased activity has the opposite effect. The methods used throughout the experiment were minimally invasive, and thus proved to be sufficient for the long-term follow-up of cortical functions.

There is still disagreement among scientists on the exact origin of common wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum), one of the most important crops in the world. The first step in the development of the hexaploid aestivum group (ABD) may have been hybridisation between T. urartu (A), as pollinator, and a species related to the Sitopsis section of the Aegilops genus (S) as cytoplasm donor, leading to the creation of the tetraploid species T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (AB). The following step may have involved hybridisation between T. turgidum ssp. dicoccon (AB genome, cytoplasm donor), a descendant of T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides, and Ae. tauschii (D genome, pollinator), resulting in the hexaploid species T. aestivum ssp. spelta (ABD) or some other hulled type. This form may have given rise to naked types, including T. aestivum ssp. aestivum (ABD). The ancestors of the tetraploid T. timopheevii (AG) may have been the diploid T. urartu (A genome, pollinator) and Ae. speltoides (S genome, cytoplasm donor). Species in the timopheevii group developed later than those in the turgidum group, as confirmed by the fact that the G genome is practically identical to the S genome of Ae. speltoides, while the more ancient B genome has undergone divergent evolution. Hybridisation between T. timopheevii (AG, cytoplasm donor) and T. monococcum (A m, pollinator) may have resulted in the species T. zhukovskyi (AGA m). Research into the relationships between the various species is of assistance in compiling the taxonomy of wheat and in avoiding misunderstandings arising from the fact that some species are known by two or more synonymous names.

Abstract: The construction of maize genotypes with high haploid induction capacity made it possible to study the effect of colchicine on maize androgenesis in vitro. Anther cultures of three hybrids were treated with 0.02% and 0.03% colchicine for 3 days at the beginning of microspore induction. Colchicine added to the induction medium had no negative influence on the androgenic responses (anther induction, induction of structures of microspore origin and their regeneration ability) of the genotypes examined. However, significantly higher fertility was observed in plants originating from colchicine-treated microspores, especially at 0.03%. Cytological examinations showed that colchicine treatment before the first microspore division efficiently arrested mitosis and resulted in homozygous doubled-haploid microspores. Under the experimental conditions, the antimitotic drug had no later effect on the division symmetry of the microspore nucleus, and unequal divisions remained dominant. Callus formation from the induced microspores seemed to be more typical (ranging between 60–70%), but embryo frequency was increased by approximately 10%, especially at the higher colchicine concentration. These results suggest that the mechanism of colchicine action in premitotic maize microspores may differ from that previously observed in wheat.

The hormonally and behaviorally active nonapeptide oxytocin (OXT), its behaviorally active N-terminal octapeptide desglycinamide9-OXT and Z-prolyl-D-leucine, a synthetic analog of the C-terminal prolyl7-leucine8 sequence, inhibited the development both of a moderate and of a strong tolerance to morphine. N-alpha-Acetyl-(2-0-methyltyrosine)-OXT and (penicillamine1-2-0-methyltyrosine)- lysine8-vasopressin, both OXT receptor antagonists, facilitated the development of a moderate morphine tolerance. The i.c.v. injection of either antagonist prevented the effects of i.c.v. and s.c. OXT treatment on the development of tolerance. The effect of desglycinamide9-OXT, but not that of Z-prolyl-D-leucine was also prevented by N-alpha-acetyl-(2-0-methyltyrosine)-OXT. It is concluded that OXT and desglycinamide9-OXT, but not Z-prolyl-D-leucine, attenuate morphine tolerance by affecting putative oxytocinergic binding sites in the mouse brain. The fact that i.c.v. injection of the receptor antagonist also blocked the effect of s.c. OXT treatment argues in favor of the possibility that a minor proportion of s.c. OXT (or behaviorally active fragments thereof) may reach central nervous system target sites.

The accuracy of frequency determination by a least squares technique for an autoregressive spectral estimator is studied and compared with the Fourier method. Using numerical tests the probability distribution function of the peak location is calculated. The autoregressive filter order is optimized in the sense of minimum variance of the peak location. Simple sinusoidal signals with additive Gaussian noise are considered and the effect of other components is only indicated. Generally, a filter order between 1/3 and 1/2 of the total data number and a not very dense data sampling, gives the most stable spectrum. The results are numerical.