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Az elmúlt évtizedben, de különösen az utóbbi években a magyar ipar is számos kihívással nézett szembe, amelyek közül az egyik legfontosabb az Ipar 4.0 technológiák terjedése. A szakirodalmi tapasztalatok szerint ezt számos tényező befolyásolja. A tanulmányban azt vizsgáljuk evolúciós gazdaságföldrajzi megközelítésben, hogy milyen összefüggések vannak az eltérő technológiai intenzitású feldolgozóipari ágazatok területi koncentrációja és az Ipar 4.0 technológiák térbeli mintázata között a negyedik ipari forradalom elején. Különböző adatbázisok és indikátorok felhasználásával, amelyek a digitális infrastruktúrára és a társadalmi, gazdasági fejlettségre vonatkoztak, korreláció- és klaszterelemzést végeztünk megyei szinten. Megállapítottuk, hogy az Ipar 4.0 technológiák alkalmazása, és ezáltal a digitalizáció elsősorban azokban a térségekben előrehaladottabb, ahol a magas- és közepesen magas technológiai intenzitású ágazatok koncentrálódnak. A 2014–2019. között időszak, amely a negyedik ipari forradalom kezdeti szakaszának is tekinthető, egyik fontos trendje, hogy a feldolgozóiparban nőtt az alacsonyabb technológiai szintű ágazatok koncentrációja, ami viszont kevésbé kedvez a digitális technológiák alkalmazásának. Az Ipar 4.0-hoz kötődő technológiák térbeli megoszlása látványosan tükrözi a digitális megosztottságot az ország északi és déli fele között, mivel a fejlettebb és jelentősebb feldolgozóipari koncentrációval rendelkező északi országrészben sokkal markánsabb az előfordulásuk.

Over the last decades, as a consequence of wastewater discharges and other anthropogenic sources, severe nitrate (NO 3 - ) pollution has developed in municipal environment causing global concern. Thus, eliminating the potential sources of pollution is one of the major challenges of the twenty-first century, whereby sanitation services are essential for ensuring public health and environmental protection. In the present study, long-term monitoring (2011-2022) of shallow groundwater NO 3 - contamination in municipal environment was carried following the construction of the sewerage network (2014) in the light of the pre-sewerage situation. Our primary aim was to assess the long-term effects of sewerage on nitrate NO 3 - levels in the shallow groundwater and evaluate the efficiency of these sanitation measures over time. Based on the results, significant pollution of the shallow groundwater in the municipality was identified. During the pre-sewer period, NO 3 - concentrations exceeded the 50 mg/L limit in the majority of monitoring wells significantly, upper quartile values ranged between 341 and 623 mg/L respectively. Using Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI) and interpolated NO 3 - pollution maps, marked spatial north-south differences were detected. In order to verify the presence of wastewater discharges in the monitoring wells, the isotopic ratio shifts (δ) for 18 O and D( 2 H) were determined, confirming municipal wastewater effluent. Variations in NO 3 - /Cl - molar ratios suggest also contamination from anthropogenic sources, including septic tank effluent from households and the extensive use of manure. Data series of 7 years (2015-2022) after the investment indicate marked positive changes by the appearance of decreasing trends in NO 3 - values confirmed by Wilcoxon signed rank test and ANOVA. By comparing the pre- and post-sewerage conditions, the mean NO 3 - value decreased from 289.7 to 175.6 mg/L, with an increasing number of monitoring wells with concentrations below the limit. Our results emphasise the critical role of sanitation investments, while also indicating that the decontamination processes occur at a notably slow pace. Detailed, long-term monitoring is therefore essential to ensure accurate follow-up of the ongoing changes. The results can provide information for local citizens and authorities to improve groundwater management tools in the region., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Investigations of the quality of life (QoL) of young people have shown that psychological and behavioral problems are associated with lower subjective well-being. The QoL ratings of children and adolescents based on self-reports and proxy reports are significantly different. The aim of the present study was to examine youth self-reported and parent proxy-reported QoL and investigate the effects of age, gender and psychological/behavioral symptoms on the QoL reports of youth. We hypothesized that self-reported emotional and anxiety problems influence self-reported QoL, while proxy-reported behavioral problems influence proxy reports of QoL., Methods: The sample consisted of 284 parent-child pairs. Youths were between the ages of 11 and 18 years, the mean age was 14.3 (SD 2.1) years, and 35.6% were males. The Inventory of Life Quality (ILK) scale was used to measure QoL, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess psychological and behavioral problems., Results: Males had higher self-reported QoL than females, and younger children had better QoL than older children. Emotional peer problems and hyperactivity reported by youth and hyperactivity and conduct problems reported by parents predicted youth self-rated ILK. Only parent-reported psychological/behavioral problems predicted proxy-rated ILK., Conclusion: The evaluation of QoL of children and adolescents should involve both self and proxy reports in order to capture the effects of various psychological/behavioral symptoms and the perspectives of both youth and parents., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive autoimmune disorder that mainly affects the skin. There are other clinical manifestations as renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal tract involvements. Based on the skin involvement there are two subtypes of SSc, as limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc) which involves the acral part of the body and diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) resulting in significant skin thickening of the body. Despite of the extensive research the pathomechanism is not fully clarified, how Ssc develops, moreover identifying biomarkers to predict the clinical outcome and prognosis still remains challenging. Circulating biomarkers can be crucial to define the diagnosis, to predict the prognosis and monitor the clinical course. However, only some patients are responsive to the therapy in SSc, and there is a need to reach the ideal therapy for any individual to prevent or slow down the progression in early stages of the disease. In this narrative review, our purpose was to summarize the potential biomarkers in Ssc, describe their role in the diagnosis, pathomechanism, clinical course, organ manifestations, as well as the response to the therapy. Biomarkers assessment aids in the evaluation of disease progression, and disease outcome., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The evaluation, visualization of environmental data from long-term monitoring, and making them accessible in a processed form in user-friendly interfaces on the Internet are important tasks of our time. The pollution of groundwater resources in settlements is a global phenomenon, the mitigation of which requires a number of environmental measures. In this study, water quality changes following the construction of a sewerage network were examined in the course of long-term monitoring between 2013 and 2022, during which 40 municipal groundwater wells were regularly sampled. Classifying the monitoring data into pollution categories based on water quality index (WQI) and degree of contamination index (Cd), a high degree of contamination was found in the period before the installation of the sewerage network (2014), as the majority of the wells were classified as contaminated and heavily contaminated. In the monitoring period following the installation of the sewerage network, a significant positive change was found in the case of most of the water chemical parameters tested (EC, NH 4 + , NO 2 - , NO 3 - , PO 4 3- ). Based on interpolated maps, it was found that an increasing part of the area shows satisfactory or good water quality. This was confirmed by the discriminant analysis as well, as it is possible to determine with an accuracy of 80.4% whether the given sample originates from the period before or after the installation of the sewerage network based on the given water chemical parameters. However, 8 years after setting up the sewerage network, the concentration of inorganic nitrogen forms and organic matter remains high, indicating that the accumulated pollutants in the area are still present. To understand the dynamics of purification processes, additional, long-term monitoring is necessary. Making these data available to members of the society can contribute to appropriate environmental measures and strategies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background/Objectives: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe organ manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of our retrospective cohort study was to compare the clinical characteristics, therapy, survival, causes of death, and prognostic factors of LN and non-LN lupus patients. Moreover, we compared a wide spectrum of clinical data of LN patients diagnosed before and since 2005 to determine any changes in disease course and outcomes. Methods: We assessed the clinical and laboratory data of 384 SLE patients, out of whom, 127 patients were diagnosed with LN between 1990 and 2020. Results: Based on our observations, discoid LE, subacute cutaneous LE, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis were more common in non-LN patients, while anemia and anti-RNP positivity were more frequent in LN patients. Development of LN did not affect survival rates; male sex and presence of APS were negative prognostic parameters in the non-LN group while achieving remission was a positive prognostic factor in both groups. Death caused by sepsis was more prevalent in the LN group. Serositis and neurological manifestations occurred less frequently in LN patients diagnosed after 2005. The use of mycophenolate mofetil became more common, and the cumulative corticosteroid dose decreased. The SLICC Damage Index score also decreased. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the disease course has changed in recent years, and the main therapeutic goal in both SLE and lupus nephritis should be to achieve remission because this significantly improves long-term prognosis and patient survival.

The effectiveness of incorporating an audience response system (ARS) in improving the learning environment and student performance was assessed in a didactic biomedical science course at a large US dental school. Instructors and students were surveyed for their experiences of using Top Hat-based ARS in a multi-disciplinary biomedical science course. Average exam scores and grade distribution for challenging sections on immunology and developmental biology were compared before and after incorporating ARS. Pearson's chi-squared test, likelihood ratio test, Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test using beta regression model were used to assess statistical significance (p < 0.05). Student survey results with 78% (82/105) response rate, indicated that incorporating ARS improved student engagement, reinforced lecture material, and prepared them better for exams (p < 0.0001). Sixty seven percent of student respondents recommended continued integration of ARS questions in lectures (p < 0.0001). Although faculty survey data (n = 5, 100% response rate) were not statistically significant, the majority of faculty agreed that real-time feedback through ARS allowed them to appropriately pace lecture delivery and restructure forthcoming material. The average exam scores and grade distribution for challenging sections showed modest improvement after incorporation of ARS (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between final course grades and ARS grades for participation or correctness. Incorporating the ARS in a multi-disciplinary biomedical science course is perceived by faculty and students as an effective instructional approach that improves the learning environment, teaching strategies, and student performance., (© 2024 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)

Background: Depression has been shown to have adverse effects on blood pressure (BP) and is associated with high blood pressure variability (BPV). In turn, high short-term BPV has been related to eventual cardiovascular risk. But it is not clear how early in adulthood the detrimental effects of depression on BPV may be discerned, if being at high risk for depression also compromises BPV, and whether the clinical features of depression moderate its adverse effects. We investigated these three issues among young adults using an office-like setting. Methods: In total, 218 subjects with a history of childhood-onset major depressive episodes (probands), 206 never-depressed full biological siblings of the probands (high-risk siblings), and 166 emotionally healthy unrelated controls received a psychiatric evaluation and three standardized-sitting BP measurements 5 min apart. Short-term BPV was defined as the maximum difference between measures (range) for each case. The statistical methods included analyses of variance/covariance, chi-square tests, and multiple regression. Results: Systolic and diastolic BP decreased over consecutive measurements ( p < 0.001). After controlling for age, the probands, siblings, and controls did not differ significantly in terms of BPV. However, the number of lifetime depressive episodes did predict the diastolic BP range ( p = 0.005): probands with the highest number of depressive episodes had the largest short-term diastolic BPV. Conclusions: On a group level, the adverse effects on BPV of having experienced or being at high risk for depression are not yet evident during young adulthood. However, the number of major depressive episodes, which is an index of lifetime depression burden, predicts higher BPV. Thus, BPV monitoring for young adults with clinical depression histories could be part of an early intervention program to reduce the risk of eventual cardiovascular disease.

To compare unused phacoemulsification tips and those used different times with different techniques of cataract surgery (divide and conquer and chop), in vivo phacoemulsifications were performed with tips of different numbers of operation. These were compared with the same number of sterilized-only and unused tips with the help of an atomic force microscope. Comparison of roughness values (Sa, Sq), geometric and measurable flange length and surface was also performed (profile length %, area %). The differences between the parameters that can be measured during surgery (average ultrasound percentage, US ave %, Average Phaco Time, APT) were also analyzed. We found significant correlations between age and lens hardness (p = 0.0045), area % and APT (p = 0.03), between area % and US ave% (p = 0.03) and also between the two surgical techniques in terms of area% (p = 0.04) and US ave % (p < 0.01). Roughness increased with the number of uses. An increase in profile length% can be observed up to the twentieth operation. This can result from scratches and microscopic damages and also from abrasion and possible material additions on the surface of the needles. The divide and conquer technique causes less microscopic damage to the surface, and smaller average US energy is required during surgery., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant-derived multitarget compounds may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for multifactorial diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Artemisinin and its derivatives were indicated to beneficially modulate various aspects of AD pathology in different AD animal models through the regulation of a wide range of different cellular processes, such as energy homeostasis, apoptosis, proliferation and inflammatory pathways. In this review, we aimed to provide an up-to-date overview of the experimental evidence documenting the neuroprotective activities of artemi-sinins to underscore the potential of these already-approved drugs for treating AD also in humans and propose their consideration for carefully designed clinical trials. In particular, the benefits to the main pathological hallmarks and events in the pathological cascade throughout AD development in different animal models of AD are summarized. Moreover, dose- and context-dependent effects of artemisinins are noted.

Ensuring that companies can assess and manage their impacts on biodiversity will be crucial to solving the current biodiversity crisis, and regulatory and public pressure to disclose these impacts is increasing. Top-down intactness metrics (e.g., Mean Species Abundance) can be valuable for generating high-level or first-tier assessments of impact risk but do not provide sufficient precision or guidance for companies, regulators, or third-party assessors. New metrics based on bottom-up assessments of biodiversity (e.g., the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration metric) can accommodate spatial variation of biodiversity and provide more specific guidance for actions to avoid, reduce, remediate, and compensate for impacts and to identify positive opportunities., (© 2023 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.)

Harmful algal blooms kill fish populations worldwide, as exemplified by the haptophyte microalga Prymnesium parvum. The suspected causative agents are prymnesins, categorized as A-, B-, and C-types based on backbone carbon atoms. Impacts of P. parvum extracts and purified prymnesins were tested on the epithelial rainbow trout fish gill cell line RTgill-W1 and on the human colon epithelial cells HCEC-1CT. Cytotoxic potencies ranked A > C > B-type with concentrations spanning from low (A- and C-type) to middle (B-type) nM ranges. Although RTgill-W1 cells were about twofold more sensitive than HCEC-1CT, the cytotoxicity of prymnesins is not limited to fish gills. Both cell lines responded rapidly to prymnesins; with EC 50 values for B-types in RTgill-W1 cells of 110 ± 11 nM and 41.5 ± 0.6 nM after incubations times of 3 and 24 h. Results of fluorescence imaging and measured lytic effects suggest plasma membrane interactions. Postulating an osmotic imbalance as mechanisms of toxicity, incubations with prymnesins in media lacking either Cl - , Na + , or Ca 2+ were performed. Cl - removal reduced morphometric rearrangements observed in RTgill-W1 and cytotoxicity in HCEC-1CT cells. Ca 2+ -free medium in RTgill-W1 cells exacerbated effects on the cell nuclei. Prymnesin composition of different P. parvum strains showed that analog composition within one type scarcely influenced the cytotoxic potential, while analog type potentially dictate potency. Overall, A-type prymnesins were the most potent ones in both cell lines followed by the C-types, and lastly B-types. Disturbance of Ca 2+ and Cl - ionoregulation may be integral to prymnesin toxicity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cardiovascular complications are among the leading causes of death. Cardiovascular risk in SLE is even higher in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies or secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The aim of this retrospective, single-center study was to investigate the occurrence of antiphospholipid antibodies and non-thrombotic cardiac manifestations in 369 SLE patients. We also assessed the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients to reveal the risk factors for cardiac manifestations. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA); 258 (69.9%) patients were APA positive, and 111 (30.1%) patients were APA negative. Mitral and tricuspid insufficiency, aortic stenosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension were more common in APA-positive patients. Anticardiolipin IgG showed the strongest correlation with any non-thrombotic cardiac manifestations. Based on our results, the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS) above 8.5 is predictive of valvulopathies and ischemic heart disease, while aGAPSS above 9.5 is predictive of cardiomyopathies. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies may affect the development of cardiac manifestations in SLE. Periodic cardiological and echocardiographic screening of patients without cardiac complaints, as well as regular monitoring of antiphospholipid antibodies, have great importance during the treatment of SLE patients.

Objective: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent, lymphoproliferative disease of B-cell origin that has a heterogeneous disease course with varying outcomes. Certain patients may undergo autologous stem cell transplantation. We investigated the outcome of autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with FL., Methods: Patients who received autologous stem cell transplantation at the University of Debrecen's Department of Hematology between 2004 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after transplantation of patients with FL were examined. Prognostic factors that may influence the course of the disease were chosen., Results: Data were collected from 49 patients. OS was influenced only by age, whereas PFS was affected by age and the lymphocyte/monocyte ratio. The combination of age and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio defined a patient population with a particularly unfavorable prognostic risk profile: patients over 47 years of age with a pre-transplant lymphocyte/monocyte ratio greater than or equal to 2.675., Conclusion: Age and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio were identified as useful prognostic factors for PFS in patients with FL following autologous stem cell transplantation., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Tracheal intubation is a crucial procedure performed in airway management to sustain life during various procedures. However, difficult airways can make intubation challenging, which is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. This is particularly important for children who undergo intubation where the situation is difficult. Improved airway management will decrease incidences of repeated attempts, decrease hypoxic injuries in patients, and decrease hospital stays, resulting in better clinical outcomes and reduced costs. Currently, 3D printed models based on CT scans and ultrasound-guided intubation are being used or tested for device fitting and procedure guidance to increase the success rate of intubation, but both have limitations. Maintaining a 3D printing facility can be logistically inconvenient, and it can be time consuming and expensive. Ultrasound-guided intubation can be hindered by operator dependence, limited two-dimensional visualization, and potential artifacts. In this study, we developed an augmented reality (AR) system that allows the overlay of intubation tools and internal airways, providing real-time guidance during the procedure. A child manikin was used to develop and test the AR system. Three-dimensional CT images were acquired from the manikin. Different tissues were segmented to generate the 3D models that were imported into Unity to build the holograms. Phantom experiments demonstrated the AR-guided system for potential applications in tracheal intubation guidance.

Bladder cancer cells possess unique adaptive capabilities: shaped by their environment, cells face a complex chemical mixture of metabolites and xenobiotics accompanied by physiological mechanical cues. These responses might translate into resistance to chemotherapeutical regimens and can largely rely on autophagy. Considering molecules capable of rewiring tumor plasticity, compounds of natural origin promise to offer valuable options. Fungal derived metabolites, such as bafilomycin and wortmannin are widely acknowledged as autophagy inhibitors. Here, their potential to tune bladder cancer cells´ adaptability to chemical and physical stimuli was assessed. Additionally, dietary occurring mycotoxins were also investigated, namely deoxynivalenol (DON, 0.1-10 µM) and fusaric acid (FA, 0.1-1 mM). Endowing a Janus' face behavior, DON and FA are on the one side described as toxins with detrimental health effects. Concomitantly, they are also explored experimentally for selective pharmacological applications including anticancer activities. In non-cytotoxic concentrations, bafilomycin (BAFI, 1-10 nM) and wortmannin (WORT, 1 µM) modified cell morphology and reduced cancer cell migration. Application of shear stress and inhibition of mechano-gated PIEZO channels reduced cellular sensitivity to BAFI treatment (1 nM). Similarly, for FA (0.5 mM) PIEZO1 expression and inhibition largely aligned with the modulatory potential on cancer cells motility. Additionally, this study highlighted that the activity profile of compounds with similar cytotoxic potential (e.g. co-incubation DON with BAFI or FA with WORT) can diverge substantially in the regulation of cell mechanotransduction. Considering the interdependence between tumor progression and response to mechanical cues, these data promise to provide a novel viewpoint for the study of chemoresistance and associated pathways., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)