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Abstract In this paper, we examine children’s ethnic discrimination in access to sport. We conducted two field experiments to test whether Roma applicants get greater rejection rates when applying to sport clubs and whether this rate is higher in case Roma applicants have a lower-class background. Basketball, volleyball, and soccer coaches were contacted by e-mail using Roma and non-Roma sounding names, requesting to participate in a trial practice. Previous findings show persistent discrimination of Roma people in Central and Eastern Europe in the labor and housing market and in access to various public services. Our findings in the field of sport in Hungary show that there is significant ethnic discrimination only when a stereotype about Roma people being lower class is activated. Further, gender was found to have a significant effect, with higher positive response rates for mothers applying for a trial session for a daughter, than for a son, regardless of their ethnicity. Our findings suggest a prevailing intersection of class and ethnicity, though our data does not allow for the separation of these two effects. These differences are discussed to better understand the role of intersectionality in discrimination within sport.

Abstract Students’ dropout of Computer Science (CS) education is a crucial issue. This study aims to investigate one of the aspects which can help to retain our students. It is vital to examine CS education on the challenge of competence transition within the BSc curriculum from faculty perspectives. Teachers’ expectations about students’ skills and knowledge are important to understand because they influence learning outcomes and teaching methodologies. Acquiring hard skills and professional skills has outstanding significance in preparing students for their future careers. This study uses Q-methodology to identify the different viewpoints on the skills necessary to obtain a CS degree. Teachers from CS bachelor’s programmes at a large European university participated in the study and shared their opinions. The participants were asked to rank the statements along a spectrum of “the most important skill” to “unimportant skill” (containing hard skills as well as soft skills). Factor analysis revealed five factors that are key components to obtaining a degree in CS: 1. analytical and technical skills, 2. teamwork and self-study experience, 3. group programming experience, 4. communication and problem-solving skills, 5. mathematical foundations and process modelling ability. This exploratory study applied a new research instrument and approach to incorporate teachers’ perspectives into research and practice. These findings could help administrators develop new curricula in order to increase students’ retention. We confirmed the need for acquiring professional skills and highlighted the need for designing new programmes which can improve students’ soft skills to prepare them for work in the IT field.

In this paper, we examine children's ethnic discrimination in access to sport. We conducted two field experiments to test whether Roma applicants get greater rejection rates when applying to sport clubs and whether this rate is higher in case Roma applicants have a lower-class background. Basketball, volleyball, and soccer coaches were contacted by e-mail using Roma and non-Roma sounding names, requesting to participate in a trial practice. Previous findings show persistent discrimination of Roma people in Central and Eastern Europe in the labor and housing market and in access to various public services. Our findings in the field of sport in Hungary show that there is significant ethnic discrimination only when a stereotype about Roma people being lower class is activated. Further, gender was found to have a significant effect, with higher positive response rates for mothers applying for a trial session for a daughter, than for a son, regardless of their ethnicity. Our findings suggest a prevailing intersection of class and ethnicity, though our data does not allow for the separation of these two effects. These differences are discussed to better understand the role of intersectionality in discrimination within sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters that predict postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and are based on recent understanding of the pathomechanism of idiopathic full thickness macular hole (iFTMH) formation and closure. Methods: A retrospective consecutive case series of patients who had macular hole (MH) surgery at our institution between 2016 and 2022 was performed. 32 eyes of 30 patients were selected with at least 12 months of follow-up, closed MH and good quality OCT at each visit. Univariate correlation analysis, multiple logistic regression with forward stepwise selection, and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) were used to identify the best predictors for postoperative BCVA at 6 and 12 months (M), and final (≥ 12 M) visits, and a new OCT index was created. Abilities of best models/indices to predict < 0.30 logMAR (> 20/40) BCVA were compared to macular hole index (MHI) using the area under the receiver operating curve (AU-ROC) analysis. Results: Statistical analysis revealed base diameter (B) (6 M), preoperative BCVA and B (12 M) and smaller ELM-GCL distance (A), and B (final visit) as predictors for postoperative BCVA. AU-ROC analysis indicated greatest AUC at 6 M for MHI and B (0.797, p = 0.004 and 0.836 p = 0.001, respectively) and for the new A/B index at 12 M and final visit (0.844, p = 0.002 and 0.913, p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Our study suggests that MHI and B can be useful predictors of short term BCVA while the new A/B index that incorporates OCT parameters indicating potential preoperative photoreceptor damage may be a good predictor for long term postoperative BCVA. Our findings support the theory that initial hole formation mechanisms and photoreceptor damage define visual prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is accompanied by an increased prevalence of degenerative conditions, including those affecting ocular health, which significantly impact quality of life and increase the burden on healthcare systems. Among these, retinal aging is of particular concern due to its direct link to vision impairment, a leading cause of disability in the elderly. Vision loss in the aging population is associated with heightened risks of cognitive decline, social isolation, and morbidity. This study addresses the critical gap in our understanding of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical exercise, that may mitigate retinal aging and its related pathologies. We investigated the effects of different exercise regimens—voluntary (recreational-type) and forced (high-intensity)—on the retinal health of aging Wistar rats (18-month-old), serving as a model for studying the translational potential of exercise interventions in humans. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a young control (3-month-old) for baseline comparison, an aged sedentary control, an aged group engaging in voluntary exercise via a running wheel in their cage, and an aged group subjected to forced exercise on a treadmill for six sessions of 20 min each per week. After a 6-month experimental period, we assessed retinal function via electroretinography (ERG), measured retinal thickness histologically, and analyzed protein expression changes relevant to oxidative stress, inflammation, and anti-aging mechanisms. Our findings reveal that voluntary exercise positively impacts retinal function and morphology, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation markers while enhancing anti-aging protein expression. In contrast, forced exercise showed diminished benefits. These insights underscore the importance of exercise intensity and preference in preserving retinal health during aging. The study highlights the potential of recreational physical activity as a non-invasive strategy to counteract retinal aging, advocating for further research into exercise regimens as preventative therapies for age-related ocular degenerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The inclusion of minor and pseudo-cereals enhances the nutritional quality of a gluten-free diet. Yet, affordability determines practical implementation. Environmental concerns should also be considered as moving towards a more sustainable diet. How do these aspects of sustainability manifest themselves in a special diet, such as gluten-free? Methods: An international pilot survey among practicing dietitians was conducted during the Congress of The European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD, Budapest, 2023). Respondents marked their recommendation for eight gluten-free cereals based on five criteria, including nutritional quality, accessibility/price, and climate change. Differences were analysed using Cohran's Q and pairwise post-hoc tests (N = 38). Results: There were significant differences in the recommendation for cereals (p < 0.05 for each grain), with quinoa (89.5%), gluten-free oats (89.5%), rice (86.8%), and corn (65.8%) being the most recommended. Buckwheat (55.3%), millet (50.0%), amaranth (44.7%) and sorghum (26.3%) were less recommended. Although gluten-free oats were recommended overall, quinoa was recommended for its nutritional content, and rice and corn were recommended for accessibility/price. No cereal received a high recommendation for climate change. Conclusions: According to this pilot survey, nutritional content and accessibility/price were the most important criteria for evaluating gluten-free grains. Dietitians were willing to integrate climate change considerations into practice, but more information is needed. The recommendation for minor and pseudo-cereals contradicted the importance emphasised by the literature. Further research is needed to integrate these aspects, helping dietitians formulate recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isomeric ratios of 198 Au, 197 Hg and 195 Hg produced by α -particle induced reactions on natural platinum were investigated experimentally up to 29 MeV by using the standard stacked foil activation technique and γ -ray spectrometry. The isomeric ratios of 197 Hg and 195 Hg determined by the conventional activation cross section formula showed strong cooling time dependence. The time dependence was resolved by adjusting the isomeric transition branching ratios for the two isotopes within a simultaneous decay curve analysis framework. Our analysis suggests 94.5±0.7% and 48.9±1.8% as the isomeric transition branching ratios of 197 m Hg (24 h) and 195 m Hg (42 h), respectively. The isomeric ratios and independent production cross sections of 198 Au, 197 Hg, 195 Hg and some other Hg, Au and Pt isotopes were also measured down to 6 MeV with these corrected isomeric transition branching ratios, and compared with predictions of statistical and pre-equilibrium models by TALYS-2.0 to discuss spin cutoff parameter dependence. We found the measured isomeric ratios are better predicted if we reduce the spin cutoff parameter to half or less from that estimated with the rigid body moment of inertia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation and deduction of recommended cross section values allowing extension of the database to monitor energy and intensity parameters of charged particle beams is presented. Included are 53 charged particle (p, d, 3He, 4He) induced reactions on suited C, Al, Ti, Fe, Ni, Cu, Nb and Au targets. The new data allow more systematic simultaneous use of multiple reactions on the same target and promote the backings of electrodeposited and sedimented targets as monitoring aids. Where possible the energy range is extended to above 100 MeV. Integral yield curves over the studied energy range are derived and compared to experimentally measured yields at specific energy points. A comparison with the theoretical excitation curve prediction of the TALYS-code as available in the TENDL 2021–2023 libraries is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragment screening is a popular strategy of generating viable chemical starting points especially for challenging targets. Although fragments provide a better coverage of chemical space and they have typically higher chance of binding, their weak affinity necessitates highly sensitive biophysical assays. Here, we introduce a screening concept that combines evolutionary optimized fragment pharmacophores with the use of a photoaffinity handle that enables high hit rates by LC-MS-based detection. The sensitivity of our screening protocol was further improved by a target-conjugated photocatalyst. We have designed, synthesized, and screened 100 diazirine-tagged fragments against three benchmark and three therapeutically relevant protein targets of different tractability. Our therapeutic targets included a conventional enzyme, the first bromodomain of BRD4, a protein-protein interaction represented by the oncogenic KRasG12D protein, and the yet unliganded N-terminal domain of the STAT5B transcription factor. We have discovered several fragment hits against all three targets and identified their binding sites via enzymatic digestion, structural studies and modeling. Our results revealed that this protocol outperforms screening traditional fully functionalized and photoaffinity fragments in better exploration of the available binding sites and higher hit rates observed for even difficult targets. Fragment screening is a popular strategy for generating viable chemical starting points for drug targets, however, weak affinity to targets, as well as the exploration of the binding site, remain challenging. Here, the authors develop pharmacophore-optimized photoaffinity fragments that can effectively explore the available binding site and enable a high hit rate and better sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities affect all ecosystems, within that the grasslands have often been subject to intensive modification due to agricultural use and fragmentation. The result is a biodiversity crisis, on which detailed agri-environment schemes can help. For the compilation of perspective schemes, it is crucial to know the minimal area that can provide habitats for stable, species-rich insect assemblages in optimal land use. This research aimed to collect detailed data for phrasing patch-size centric conservation strategies on orthopteran assemblages, being an umbrella taxon, in two areas of the Pannonian Ecoregion. In narrow (radius = 25 m) and broader (r = 50, 75, 100 m) environments of the assemblages, we have searched for that habitat patch size, where the primary vegetation characteristics (cover, height, composition) affect the main features of the orthopteran assemblages and relative abundances of the species to the highest degree. According to our results, ecotype diversity of orthopteran assemblages showed the strongest correlations with average maximum grassland height and density at the finest studied scale (r = 25 m). Still, the vegetation heterogeneity significantly determines the life-form diversity of the assemblages in the larger habitat patches. Consequently, a minimum of one hectare-sized well-managed habitat patches are needed to conserve diverse, species-rich orthopteran assemblages. Specific conservation implications are adequate for preserving the main characteristics of the minimal-sized grassland patches under global warming are simulate the traditional low-intensity land use (dominated by mowing diversified both spatially and temporally). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the acute and chronic effects of intermittent and continuous Artificial Gravity (AG) on cognitive performance during 60 days of Head-down tilt bedrest (HDTBR), a well-established ground-based spaceflight analogue method. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: intermittent AG, continuous AG, and HDTBR control group without AG exposure. Task performance and electrophysiological measures of attention and working memory were investigated during Simple and Complex tasks in the Visual and the Auditory modality. Compared to baseline, faster reaction time and better accuracy was present during HDTBR regarding the Complex tasks, however, the practice effect was diminished in the three HDTBR groups compared to an ambulatory control group. Brain potentials showed a modality-specific decrease, as P3a was decreased only in the Auditory, while P3b decreased in the Visual modality. No evidence for acute or chronic AG-related cognitive impairments during HDTBR was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decoherence of point defect qubits is often governed by the electron spin-nuclear spin hyperfine interaction that can be parameterized by using ab inito calculations in principle. So far most of the theoretical works have focused on the hyperfine interaction of the closest nuclear spins, while the accuracy of the predictions for distinct nuclear spins is barely discussed. Here we demonstrate for the case of the NV center in diamond that the absolute relative error of the computed hyperfine parameters can exceed 100% using an industry standards first-principles code. To overcome this issue, we implement an alternative method and report on significantly improved hyperfine values with O (1%) relative mean error at all distances. The provided accurate hyperfine data for the NV center enables high-precision simulation of NV quantum nodes for quantum information processing and positioning of nuclear spins by comparing experimental and theoretical hyperfine data. Hyperfine interaction is the key term for utilizing individual nuclear spins in solids. This work introduces a method that yields high-accuracy hyperfine values for nuclear spins at arbitrary distances from addressable electron spins, such as the NV center in diamond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic, carcinogenic substances. On soils contaminated with PAHs, crop cultivation, animal husbandry and even the survival of microflora in the soil are greatly perturbed, depending on the degree of contamination. Most microorganisms cannot tolerate PAH-contaminated soils, however, some microbial strains can adapt to these harsh conditions and survive on contaminated soils. Analysis of the metagenomes of contaminated environmental samples may lead to discovery of PAH-degrading enzymes suitable for green biotechnology methodologies ranging from biocatalysis to pollution control. In the present study, our goal was to apply a metagenomic data search to identify efficient novel enzymes in remediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The metagenomic hits were further analyzed using a set of bioinformatics tools to select protein sequences predicted to encode well-folded soluble enzymes. Three novel enzymes (two dioxygenases and one peroxidase) were cloned and used in soil remediation microcosms experiments. The experimental design of the present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the novel enzymes on short-term PAH degradation in the soil microcosmos model. The novel enzymes were found to be efficient for degradation of naphthalene and phenanthrene. Adding the inorganic oxidant CaO2 further increased the degrading potential of the novel enzymes for anthracene and pyrene. We conclude that metagenome mining paired with bioinformatic predictions, structural modelling and functional assays constitutes a powerful approach towards novel enzymes for soil remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symplectic numerical schemes for reversible dynamical systems predict the solution reliably over large times as well, and are a good starting point for extension to schemes for simulating irreversible situations like viscoelastic wave propagation and heat conduction coupled via thermal expansion occuring in rocks, plastics, biological samples etc. Dissipation error (artificial nonpreservation of energies and amplitudes) of the numerical solution should be as small as possible since it should not be confused with the real dissipation occurring in the irreversible system. In addition, the other well-known numerical artefact, dispersion error (artificial oscillations emerging at sharp changes), should also be minimal to avoid confusion with the true wavy behavior. The continuum thermodynamical aspects (respect for balances with fluxes, systematic constitutive relationships between intensive quantities and fluxes, the second law of thermodynamics with positive definite entropy production, and the spacetime-based kinematic viewpoint) prove valuable for obtaining such extended schemes and for monitoring the solutions. Generalizing earlier works in this direction, here, we establish and investigate such a numerical scheme for one-dimensional viscoelastic wave propagation in the presence of heat conduction coupled via thermal expansion, demonstrating long-term reliability and the applicability of thermodynamics-based quantities in supervising the quality of the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on modeling and analyzing the dynamics of an autonomous unicycle. The equations of motion of the nonholonomic multibody system are derived using the Appellian approach, which enables the use of a minimum number of state variables and results in a system of low complexity. The final equations of motion consist of 8 first-order kinematic differential equations and 6 first-order dynamic differential equations. The stability of the open-loop dynamics is investigated and a PD-type controller with 3 input torques is proposed that enables the unicycle to stabilize its upright position and travel along a straight path. The performance of the closed-loop system is demonstrated via numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root dielectric response was measured on a minute scale to assess its efficiency for monitoring short-term cadmium (Cd) toxicity non-destructively. Electrical capacitance (CR), dissipation factor (DR) and electrical conductance (GR) were detected during the 24 to 168 h after Cd treatment (0, 20, 50 mg Cd2+ kg–1 substrate) in potted maize, cucumber and pea. Stress was also evaluated by measuring leaf chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm and stomatal conductance (gs) in situ, and shoot and root mass and total root length after harvest. CR showed a clear diurnal pattern, reflecting the water uptake rate, and decreased significantly in response to excessive Cd due to impeded root growth, the reduced tissue permittivity caused by accelerated lignification, and root ageing. Cd exposure markedly increased DR, indicating greater conductive energy loss due to oxidative membrane damage and enhanced electrolyte leakage. GR, which was coupled with root hydraulic conductance and varied diurnally, was increased transiently by Cd toxicity due to enhanced membrane permeability, but declined thereafter owing to stress-induced leaf senescence and transpiration loss. The time series of impedance components indicated the comparatively high Cd tolerance of the applied maize and the sensitivity of pea cultivar, which was confirmed by visible shoot symptoms, repeated physiological investigations and biomass measurements. The results demonstrated the potential of single-frequency dielectric measurements to follow certain aspects of the stress response of different species on a fine timescale without plant injury. The approach can be combined with widely used plant physiological methods and could contribute to breeding crop genotypes with improved stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the gradually formed cross-linked structure on the thermal properties and swelling behaviour of modified poly(vinyl alcohol) was investigated. To this aim, the semi-crystalline polymer was functionalized with aldehyde and amino moieties to produce polymers with dynamic imine cross-links, and, thus, with self-healing or curing ability. With increasing degree of functionalization (0.89–7.12%), denser polymer networks cross-linked by dynamic imine bonds were formed, the samples systematically developed thermoset-like properties compared to the pristine, initially thermoplastic PVA. As a result, the introduction of new moieties into the initial PVA lowered the glass transition (from 65.3 to 35.0 °C) and melting temperatures (from 194 to 161 °C), however, a new peak (Tcrd) with growing enthalpy values appeared on the DSC curves, which indicates that more and more energy must be supplied in order to break the imine cross-links formed between the introduced aldehyde and amino groups. The significant impact of the degree of functionalization and cross-linking density on the polymer structure was also clearly demonstrated: the crystallinity decreased as the abundance of the introduced moieties increased and the formation of cross-links proceeded. At the same time, the water desorption enthalpies of the samples increased, suggesting a stronger, chemically cross-linked thermoset-like polymer network compared to the thermoplastic poly(vinyl alcohol). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high mortality of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is effectively reduced by vaccination. However, the effect of vaccination on mortality among hospitalised patients is under-researched. Thus, we investigated the effect of a full primary or an additional booster vaccination on in-hospital mortality among patients hospitalised with COVID-19 during the delta wave of the pandemic. This retrospective cohort included all patients (n = 430) admitted with COVID-19 at Semmelweis University Department of Medicine and Oncology in 01/OCT/2021–15/DEC/2021. Logistic regression models were built with COVID-19-associated in-hospital/30 day-mortality as outcome with hierarchical entry of predictors of vaccination, vaccination status, measures of disease severity, and chronic comorbidities. Deceased COVID-19 patients were older and presented more frequently with cardiac complications, chronic kidney disease, and active malignancy, as well as higher levels of inflammatory markers, serum creatinine, and lower albumin compared to surviving patients (all p < 0.05). However, the rates of vaccination were similar (52–55%) in both groups. Based on the fully adjusted model, there was a linear decrease of mortality from no/incomplete vaccination (ref) through full primary (OR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.39–1.23) to booster vaccination (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13–0.72, p = 0.006). Although unadjusted mortality was similar among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, this was explained by differences in comorbidities and disease severity. In adjusted models, a full primary and especially a booster vaccination improved survival of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 during the delta wave of the pandemic. Our findings may improve the quality of patient provider discussions at the time of admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies found that regular physical activity (PA) can lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), yet its specific effects in young women have not yet been investigated. Thus, we aimed to examine whether regular physical activity reduces the number of symptoms during and after COVID-19 infection among young women aged between 18 and 34 (N = 802), in which the confounding effect of other morbidities could be excluded. The average time since infection was 23.5 months. Participants were classified into low, moderate, and high PA categories based on the reported minutes per week of moderate and vigorous PA. Using the Post-COVID-19 Case Report Form, 50 different symptoms were assessed. Although regular PA did not decrease the prevalence of COVID-19 infection and PCC but significantly reduced the number of mental and neurological symptoms both in acute COVID-19 and PCC. Importantly, the high level of PA had a greater impact on health improvements. In addition, the rate of reinfection decreased with an increased level of PA. In conclusion, a higher level of regular PA can reduce the risk of reinfection and the number of mental and neurological symptoms in PCC underlying the importance of regular PA, even in this and likely other viral disease conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Selenium (Se)-biofortified foods are able to compensate for Se deficient diets, but the proportion of different Se species varies among plant species, and the bioavailability of Se species also varies. This study aims to examine the Se species composition of four vegetables. Methods: The effect of Se-enriched irrigation water on the concentrations of Se species in the edible parts of cabbage, carrots, tomatoes and green peas grown on different soil types was investigated and quantified using HPLC-ICP-MS with either standard addition or isotope dilution. Results: Cabbage leaf and carrot root contained a high proportion (88 and 92%, respectively) of selenate (SeVI), while in tomato fruit and green pea seed selenomethionine (SeMet) was found in the highest proportion (33% and 48%, respectively), but elemental Se was also detected. The elemental Se concentration of peas was significantly higher on sandy soil (2.29 mg kg−1) than on sandy silt (1.38 mg kg−1) or silt soil (1.34 mg kg−1). In 100 g of fresh edible parts, the largest amount of Se species was found in cabbage leaves, but organic Se in the form of SeMet was the most abundant in green peas, being significantly higher than in carrots or tomatoes. Tomatoes contained a nearly three-fold ratio of organic Se to inorganic Se, the latter being mostly comprised of the elemental form, which is unusually high in vegetables. The highest rate of unknown Se species exceeded 66% in the case of peas, while the highest identification rate (> 95%) of Se could be achieved in tomato. Conclusion: Tomatoes converted the absorbed Se into organic Se in the highest ratio, while green peas had the highest amount of organic Se in fresh biomass, so biotransformation was the most effective for these vegetables without any significant biomass reduction. These vegetables may be adapted to soils with a higher Se content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research examined the ability of each treatment to recover a known quantity of particles and the impact on identifying polymer type using a microscope. By conducting extensive research on the changes induced in the chemical structures and morphologies of microplastics (MPs) there is potential for enhancing the detection and analysis of MPs by incorporating pre-treatment methods in the future. When treating environmental matrices with high organic content, chemical digestion treatment is required to get rid of microplastics and release particles. This type of treatment involves using a range of chemical agents, including acids, bases, and oxidizing agents. Unfortunately, there has been limited research into the chemical resistance of various types of microplastics to these substances. To address this issue, a study was conducted to examine the chemical resistance of four species of microplastics high-density polyethylene (HD-PE), low-density polyethylene (LD-PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), nitric acid (HNO3) and acetic acid (CH3COOH). The results showed that acidic and alkaline substances were the most destructive to microplastics, while oxidative reagents resulted in fewer changes to plastic properties. These findings provide valuable insights into the properties of MPs and their response to strong acids, bases and oxidizing agents, which can serve as a reference for future studies on MP pre-treatment. In addition, used as a guideline to update current protocols and ensure that microplastics can be treated without causing damage. Highlights: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different chemical digestion protocols, including acidic, oxidative, and alkaline reagents, on the physical and chemical properties of microplastics. Before processing and analyzing samples, it is critical to assess chemical digestion protocols to ensure that microplastics are recovered optimally. Based on the observations of different types of microplastics and methods tested, oxidative digestion at room temperature (20–23 °C) appears to be the most appropriate for digestion, but it can be destructive over an extended period. Selective processing conditions that eliminate certain materials may result in incomplete assessments of the occurrence, types, sources, and impacts of microplastics. The properties related to digestion can vary depending on the polymer type, so further research is needed on the specific polymer types relevant to each study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate (GLY), the most widely used herbicide active ingredient (AI) in the world, is frequently detected in aquatic environments where it can affect non-target organisms. Globally, more than 2000 commercial GLY-based herbicides (GBHs) are used to control weeds. Non-target organisms are exposed to complex pesticide formulations under real environmental conditions, but the co-formulants contained in GBHs are classified as so-called inert and inactive ingredients in terms of their biological effects. The main objective of this comprehensive review is to compile the results of aquatic ecotoxicological studies on the side-effects of GLY, GBHs, and their formulating agents. Based on the results demonstrated for a variety of plant and animal aquatic organisms, oxidative stress appears to be a major trigger for these adverse effects, affecting the integrity of DNA and other biochemical functions. Furthermore, there is evidence of impairment of various physiological and behavioral functions. Adverse effects of GLY and GBHs have been observed even at very low concentrations. There are also differences in the sensitivity of the aquatic organisms tested, even with similar lifestyles, habitats or identical taxa. The studies typically investigate the short-term effects of a single exposure to GLY/GBH on a single species, whilst in reality multiple applications of GBHs together with other pesticides are common during a cropping cycle. Moreover, the interactions between GLY/GBHs and other aquatic contaminants are rarely studied. Higher toxicity of GBHs compared to GLY alone has often been observed, demonstrating that co-formulants can be highly toxic on their own and markedly increase the toxicity of the GBH formulation. The possible impurities in GBHs, such as heavy metals, can cause additional problems for the environment and food safety. The widespread and massive use of GBHs leads to increased exposure and environmental hazards. In addition, the need for a revision of the risk assessment system is emphasized. According to the results of aquatic ecotoxicological studies, the current use and pollution of the aquatic environment by GLY/GBHs is highly problematic and cannot be considered environmentally sustainable. It is, therefore, necessary to at least tighten the permitted forms of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radionuclide-based diagnostics and therapy require proper selection of production nuclear reaction based on knowledge of the production excitation functions and the achievable yields completed with data on the formation of possible impurities. In the present work the existing IAEA recommended cross section data database for production of therapeutic isotopes is extended to production of the 47Sc,47Ca(47Sc), 58mCo, 71As(71Ge), 71Ge, 77Br, 77Kr(77Br), 80mBr, 103Pd, 103Pd(103mRh), 103Ru(103mRh), 105Rh, 117mSn, 119Sb, 119mTe(119Sb), 134Ce, 135La, 149gTb, 161Tb, 165Er, 165Tm(165Er), 167Tm, 197mHg, 197gHg, 198gAu, and 230Pa(230U) radioisotopes. Nearly 60 nuclear reactions are presented and discussed. The new recommended cross-section data and their uncertainties for the production of these 21 radionuclides will be available on the Web page of the IAEA Nuclear Data Section at https://nds.iaea.org/radionuclides and also at the IAEA medical portal https://nds.iaea.org/medportal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca Linnaeus, 1758) is a wide-ranged percid predator fish characterised by a great ecological value in the Eurasian freshwater and brackish ecosystems. It is also one of the most famous fish species of Lake Balaton (Hungary), where a unique (genetically separated) pikeperch stock lives. However, until now, no detailed information was available about the pikeperch population genetic structure in Lake Balaton. In the present study, the population genetic structure of the pikeperch assemblages in the lake was revealed by using microsatellite markers. Commercial fishery and angler catch data going back more than 100 years verified that the pikeperch has always been a key element of Lake Balaton's fish stock utilization. Results of genetic data analyses showed that the pikeperch in the Lake Balaton forms a metapopulation system, in which only the westward stocks show certain separation. Moreover, it seems that the exploitation and mass fish kills that happened in the 1960s and 1970s may have had only a slight impact on the population genetic structure of Balaton pikeperch stocks. The information about genetic features and utilization changes of pikeperch stocks can help to develop area-specific management plans and ensure the long-term survival of this carnivore fish species characteristic of Lake Balaton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the original nature of carnivorism among dogs and cats, nowadays these pets are increasingly fed BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food/Bone And Raw Food) diet to improve their health conditions. However, this diet may also carry health risks, such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and infection with pathogens including parasites. In our study, fecal samples of 89 pet animals kept on BARF diet were subjected to coprological examination followed by molecular analyses. Six of them shed eggs of Dicrocoelium dendriticum. This result was confirmed with PCR and sequencing, and in one case, the DNA of Fasciola hepatica was also demonstrated. In addition, oocysts of Cystoisospora canis, a Cystoisospora ohioensis-like sp. and Eimeria stiedai, as well as sporocysts of a Sarcocystis sp. were also detected. All samples were negative for Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. In conclusion, no evidence was found for the infection of BARF-fed dogs and cats with parasites that are usually associated with this diet and considered as clinico-pathological risk factors for these pets themselves (e.g., N. caninum, T. gondii). However, fluke eggs (probably originating from ruminants) and oocysts of E. stiedai (from rabbit liver in the food) were demonstrated as pseudoparasites. These species are usually not considered among parasite-associated risks of BARF-feeding, implying that other animals living near BARF-fed pets are neglected in this context. However, where intermediate hosts of D. dendriticum occur in urban areas, BARF-feeding may indirectly affect later other dogs and cats. It was also shown here that BARF-feeding may contribute to the contamination of the environment with E. stiedai oocysts, thus increasing the risks of biliary coccidiosis in nearby living pet rabbits that would otherwise not have access to oocysts of E. stiedai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic processes play an increasing role in synthetic organic chemistry which requires the access to a broad and diverse set of enzymes. Metagenome mining is a valuable and efficient way to discover novel enzymes with unique properties for biotechnological applications. Here, we report the discovery and biocatalytic characterization of six novel metagenomic opine dehydrogenases from a hot spring environment (mODHs) (EC 1.5.1.X). These enzymes catalyze the asymmetric reductive amination between an amino acid and a keto acid resulting in opines which have defined biochemical roles and represent promising building blocks for pharmaceutical applications. The newly identified enzymes exhibit unique substrate specificity and higher thermostability compared to known examples. The feature that they preferably utilize negatively charged polar amino acids is so far unprecedented for opine dehydrogenases. We have identified two spatially correlated positions in their active sites that govern this substrate specificity and demonstrated a switch of substrate preference by site-directed mutagenesis. While they still suffer from a relatively narrow substrate scope, their enhanced thermostability and the orthogonality of their substrate preference make them a valuable addition to the toolbox of enzymes for reductive aminations. Importantly, enzymatic reductive aminations with highly polar amines are very rare in the literature. Thus, the preparative-scale enzymatic production, purification, and characterization of three highly functionalized chiral secondary amines lend a special significance to our work in filling this gap. Key points: • Six new opine dehydrogenases have been discovered from a hot spring metagenome • The newly identified enzymes display a unique substrate scope • Substrate specificity is governed by two correlated active-site residues [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretically new robust filter method to estimate non-observable macroeconomic indicators. The second purpose is to apply the proposed method to estimate the Hungarian potential GDP in 2000–2021. The novelty of the proposed filter method is that — unlike papers published so far — it does not require the stability of the dynamic model, only a partial stability condition must be satisfied. Moreover, such time-dependent uncertainties and nonlinearities can arise in the model that satisfy a general quadratic constraint. An important advantage of the proposed robust filter method over the traditional Kalman filter is that no stochastic assumptions is needed that may not be valid for the problem at hand. The proposed filter method has never been applied to estimate the potential GDP. To estimate the Hungarian potential GDP, the proposed method is applied using uni-, bi- and trivariate models. Estimations up to 2021 has not been published yet for the Hungarian economy. The examined period includes both the financial world crisis and the Covid-19 crisis. The results of the different models are consistent. It turned out that the economic policy was very procyclical after 2012, and the GDP gap was still positive during and also after the Covid-19 crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pattern of arsenic (As) uptake at different developmental stages in plants and its consequent influence on the growth of plants was investigated in bean and lettuce. Further, the human health risk from the consumption of these As-laced vegetables was determined. The irrigation water was contaminated with As at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/L. The As concentration in the plant parts (root, stem, leaves, and flower/fruit) was determined in bean at the young, flowering, and fruiting stages and lettuce at the young and mature stages. At the different growth stages, As had an impact on the biomass of bean and lettuce plant parts, but none of the biomass changes were significant (p>0.05). The increase in As concentration of the irrigation water elevated the As concentration of plant parts of both plants at all growth stages, with the exception of the bean fruit. The As concentration in the developmental stages was in the order: lettuce (young>mature) and bean (fruiting>young>flowering). In lettuce, the transfer factor was higher at the young stage (0.09–0.19, in the control and 0.1 mg/L As treatment), while in bean, it was highest at the flowering stage (0.09–0.41, in all treatments). In the edible part, lettuce possessed substantially elevated As concentrations (0.30, 0.61, and 1.21 mg/kg DW) compared to bean (0.008, 0.005, and 0.022 mg/kg DW) at As treatments of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/L, respectively, and posed significant health risks at all applied As concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities around the world were closed for several months to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this crisis, a tremendous amount of effort was made to use online education to support the teaching and learning process. The COVID-19 pandemic gave us a profound insight into how online education can radically affect students and how students adapt to new challenges. The question is how switching to online education affected dropout? This study shows the results of a research project clarifying the impact of the transition to online courses on dropouts. The data analysed are from a large public university in Europe where online education was introduced in March 2020. This study compares the academic progress of students newly enroled in 2018 and 2019 using IRT modelling. The results show that (1) this period did not contribute significantly to the increase in dropout, and we managed to retain our students.(2) Subjects became more achievable during online education, and students with less ability were also able to pass their exams. (3) Students who participated in online education reported lower average grade points than those who participated in on-campus education. Consequently, on-campus students could win better scholarships because of better grades than students who participated in online education. Analysing students' results could help (1) resolve management issues regarding scholarship problems and (2) administrators develop programmes to increase retention in online education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality machining is a crucial aspect of contemporary manufacturing technology due to the vast demand for precision machining for parts made from hardened tool steels and super alloys globally in the aerospace, automobile, and medical sectors. The necessity to upheave production efficiency and quality enhancement at minimum cost requires deep knowledge of this cutting process and development of machine learning-based modeling technique, adept in providing essential tools for design, planning, and incorporation in the machining processes. This research aims to develop a predictive surface roughness model and optimize its process parameters for ultra-precision hard-turning finishing operation. Ultra-precision hard-turning experiments were carried out on AISI D2 of HRC 62. The response surface method (RSM) was applied to understand the effect of process parameters on surface roughness and carry out optimization. Based on the data gained from experiments, machine learning models and algorithms were developed with support vector machine (SVM), Gaussian process relation (GPR), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and artificial neural network (ANN) for the prediction of surface roughness. The results show that all machine learning models gave excellent predictive accuracy with an average MAPE value of 7.38%. The validation tests were also statistically significant, with ANFIS and ANN having MAPE values of 9.98% and 3.43%, respectively. Additional validation tests for the models with new experimental data indicate average R, RMSE, and MAPE values of 0.78, 0.19, and 36.17%, respectively, which are satisfactory. The RSM analysis shows that the feed is the most significant factor for minimizing surface roughness Rɑ, among the process parameters, with 92% influence, and optimal cutting conditions were found to be cutting speed = 100 m/min, feed = 0.025 mm/rev, and depth of cut = 0.09 mm, respectively. This finding can be helpful in the decision-making on process parameters in the precision machining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems of cooperation have often been simplified as the choice between defection and cooperation, although in many empirical situations it is also possible to walk away from the interaction. We present the results of two lab-in-the-field experiments with a diverse pool of subjects who play optional and compulsory public goods games both with and without punishment. We find that the most important institution to foster cooperation is punishment, which is more effective in a compulsory game. In contrast to Rand and Nowak (Nat Commun 2(1):1–7, 2011), we find that loners are not responsible for anti-social punishment, which is mostly imputable to low-contributors (free-riders). Loners neither totally free-ride nor they significantly punish cooperators (or other types of players): they simply avoid all forms of participation whenever possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapidly evolving clinical data suggest that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and vaccination against COVID-19 might be associated with thyroid disturbances. However, studies remain limited among the pediatric population. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and permanence of thyroid autoimmunity (TA) and dysfunction in children after an acute infection and its potential association with vaccination. A prospective, multicenter registry analysis was performed among 458 children (mean age: 12.4 ± 3,8 years, 45.4% male) with preceding COVID-19. Patient inclusion lasted from 24th March, 2021 to 23rd March, 2022 at three pediatric outpatient facilities at Semmelweis University, Budapest. Primary outcomes were the rate of thyroid disturbances assessed by laboratory parameters (thyroid function tests, antithyroglobulin [ATG] and anti-thyroid peroxidase [ATPO] antibodies) and thyroid ultrasound. TA rate among vaccinated and unvaccinated children was determined. Children with newly diagnosed thyroid alterations were followed up for 12.7 ± 4.3 months. Six children had previous thyroid disease. Out of 452 children, 30 cases (6.6%) of newly diagnosed TA (six of them had abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels) and eight cases (1.8%) of isolated TSH elevation were observed. Ultrasound-proven autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) was 4.0%. No association was found between COVID-19 vaccination and thyroid autoimmunity (χ2(1,N = 452) = 0.138, p = 0.815). Among children with TA, 73.3% had long-lasting alterations. Conclusion: Vaccination had no effect on the prevalence of TA. Until further controlled studies state otherwise, children with preceding COVID-19 might benefit from thyroid screening. What is Known: • Numerous case reports implicate that coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 can be responsible for thyroid disturbances. • Thyroid alterations discovered during acute COVID-19 tend to cease by time and only incidental thyroid autoimmunity (TA) is diagnosed after COVID-19. In adults, no increase in vaccine-related hyper- or hypothyroidism was found. What is New: • TA rate after COVID-19 vaccination among children was not increased. TA had no role in long COVID syndrome. • We discovered a considerable rate of TA (6.6%) and ultrasound-proven autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) (4.0%) after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the majority of these alterations remained positive after 6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existentialism and existentialist thinkers enjoyed sustained interest in Hungary under communist rule. From the late 1940s to the late 1980s, this branch of "bourgeois philosophy" never ceased to generate renewed attention. However, this reception was not subsumed into the ideological orthodoxy, nor was it simply destined to fuel Marxist–Leninist criticism. Whereas Georg Lukács's polemics with existentialism in the 1940s set the agenda to embrace a highly critical reception, it was precisely Sartre's influence in the 1960s that had opened the door for a more open-minded Marxist reading of existentialist thinkers in Hungary. This paper seeks to reconstruct the intellectual motifs and contexts that underlie this uncommon development. In focusing predominantly on the period of the 1960–1980s, I am particularly interested in exploring Lukács's role in the changing attitude towards existentialism in Hungary; the controversies between various Marxist approaches dealing with existentialist thinkers and the ways which the influence of Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Camus in literary circles influenced the tenor of their philosophical reception. Through this exploration, I will seek to provide a deep insight into one of the richest intellectual landscapes of the philosophical culture in state socialist Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a novel class of Renormalization Group flows which connect multicritical versions of the two-dimensional Yang-Lee edge singularity described by the conformal minimal models M (2, 2n + 3). The absence in these models of an order parameter implies that the flows towards and between Yang-Lee edge singularities are all related to the spontaneous breaking of PT symmetry and comprise a pattern of flows in the space of PT symmetric theories consistent with the c-theorem and the counting of relevant directions. Additionally, we find that while in a part of the phase diagram the domains of unbroken and broken PT symmetry are separated by critical manifolds of class M (2, 2n + 3), other parts of the boundary between the two domains are not critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the dropout rate is crucial in the field of Computer Science (CS) higher education. In CS education it is usually the mathematically oriented subjects that are blamed for the high dropout rates. Implementing a theoretical framework into practice, we have been able to prevent 28% of our students from dropping out in the last 2 years due to our education reform. The aim of the present study is to analyse the results of the students through the curriculum of the CS program by factor analysis. Nearly 4000 first-year students' results were analysed. One of the most important steps of the education reform was that all of the lectures became compulsory to attend. Another step was the introduction of a prevention and skills-training program for every first-year student in order to develop their study skills. Our findings highlighted that as a consequence of the education reform, more students stayed until the end of the first and second semesters and try taking exams in the exam period. Analysing the subjects as factors in the CS curriculum could (1) help faculty staff introduce an education reform, and (2) help decision-makers develop prevention and promotion programs in order to develop students' study skills. The results reveal that we have managed to successfully engage first year students in the academic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the increase of cyberbullying, several intervention programmes have been created that aim at reducing cyber-victimisation and perpetration. Objective: Our study presents the effects of the STAnD anti-cyberbullying programme with peer-education both on the short and the long run among lower and upper primary school students, with a focus on the participants' cyberbullying roles. Method: The sample comprised of 536 students who participated in the intervention programme, involving 36% lower and 64% upper primary school students. Participants were measured by a self-reported questionnaire before and right after the programme, then six months later. Results: The main effect of the STAnD programme was a positive change in the participants' willingness to engage in help-seeking and their active-defending reaction, although this effect decreased after six months. The changes were larger among lower primary school students compared to upper primary school participants. Conclusion: Our results imply that long-lasting and intensive health promotion programmes are necessary to reach a long-term intervention effect. Anti-cyberbullying programmes should take into consideration participants' involvement and roles in cyberbullying. As our study was a non-randomised uncontrolled study design, thus interpretation of the effectiveness of the programme is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to discover how organic wood preservatives containing different fungicides and insecticides used to protect wood against fungal and insect pests affect the fire performance and combustion properties of wood materials commonly used in the domestic wood and construction industry. The aim of this article was to investigate the charring depth. From the point of view of the loss of load-bearing capacity of the wood, only the charring depth matters, since the reduction of the load-bearing capacity will be determined by the reduction of the cross section of the wood. We examined the effects of wood preservatives applied to undamaged samples of Scots pine and Norway spruce conditioned under normal climate conditions. The test samples underwent a second treatment application after which we examined the effect of different preservative combinations. Seven treatment mixtures were selected from the organic solvent and water-based wood preservatives available on the domestic market. The soaking experiments demonstrated that the preservative impregnation of Norway spruce differs significantly from that of Scots pine, which affected the comparability of the test results. We have experimentally investigated the moisture content, the loss of mass and we have calculated the char depth. Adhering to the MSZ 9607–1:1983 standard, the Linder method was performed to analyze the wood and wooden-based construction products used in construction. The effect of the different treatment materials was more significantly detectable when analyzing the size of the surface burn patterns. The Scots pine specimens suffered much greater surface burn than the Norway spruce specimens did, regardless of the type of preservative used. The higher body density, resin content (1–10%) and higher initial moisture content of Scots pine caused it to bend and, therefore, to burn better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear dynamics of the path-following control of passenger cars is analyzed in this paper. The effect of specific modeling aspects, such as tire deformation, steering dynamics, feedback delay and controller saturation, is considered. Possible equilibrium points and singularities in the state space are uncovered and analyzed for different vehicle model and controller designs. The equilibrium of stable path following is then analyzed in greater detail: The domains of stabilizing control gains are presented in stability charts and the basin of attraction of the equilibrium along the stable domain is approximated with the help of numerical continuation. Unsafe zones of control gains are highlighted, where the stable equilibrium is surrounded by low-amplitude unstable limit cycles. Finally, it is shown how specific modifications of the control law can remove unwanted equilibrium points and increase the basin of attraction of stable path following, resulting in safer and more reliable control of the vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-known, traditional way to extend P-wave acoustic impedance data between and beyond the well log locations is the post-stack inversion of seismic data usually available in the surroundings of the boreholes. A relatively new trend in the seismic exploration is based on the pre-stack inversion of the seismic CDP gathers providing both the P- and S-wave acoustic impedance sections (and volumes), as well as the estimated density data. This methodology is often called as simultaneous model-based inversion and can be utilized not only for hydrocarbon exploration, but it might also be a useful tool for the investigation of geothermal resources. In this study, we will compare the results of post-stack and pre-stack acoustic impedance inversions utilizing the same seismic volume. We will demonstrate and analyze the inverted attribute sections (and some of their derivatives) obtained by the pre-stack algorithm in detail. Finally, we will draw the conclusions about the lithological discrimination of the studied complex carbonate geothermal reservoir located in the pre-Cenozoic basement of the Little Hungarian Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication among COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit, but it is less frequently investigated in general internal medicine wards. We aimed to examine the incidence, the predictors of AKI, and AKI-associated mortality in a prospective cohort of non-ventilated COVID-19 patients. We aimed to describe the natural history of AKI by describing trajectories of urinary markers of hemodynamic, glomerular, and tubular injury. Methods: 141 COVID-19 patients were enrolled to the study. AKI was defined according to KDIGO guidelines. Urine and renal function parameters were followed twice a week. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of AKI and mortality. Trajectories of urinary markers were described by unadjusted linear mixed models. Results: 19.7% patients developed AKI. According to multiple logistic regression, higher urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04–2.12/1 mg/mmol) and lower serum albumin (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.94/1 g/L) were independent predictors of AKI. Mortality was 42.8% in the AKI and 8.8% in the group free from AKI (p < 0.0001). According to multiple logistic regression, older age, lower albumin, and AKI (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.24–12.21) remained independent predictors of mortality. Urinary protein-to-creatinine trajectories were diverging with decreasing values in those without incident AKI. Conclusion: We found high incidence of AKI and mortality among moderately severe, non-ventilated COVID-19 patients. Its development is predicted by higher albuminuria suggesting that the originally damaged renal structure may be more susceptible for virus-associated effects. No clear relationship was found with a prerenal mechanism, and the higher proteinuria during follow-up may point toward tubular damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid (AA) has a pivotal role in corneal wound healing via stimulating the biosynthesis of highly organized extracellular matrix components, but its rapid degradation and low corneal permeability limits its therapeutic effects. In this paper, we present the pharmacokinetic properties of a liposomal-based formulation of AA in terms of corneal permeation. Chemical stability, shelf-life, and drug release rate of lyophilized liposome (AA-LLipo) formulation was determined in comparison to free-form of AA solution using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and rapid equilibrium dialysis. In vitro transcorneal permeability was studied using a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA). Ex vivo permeation was examined on AA-LLipo-treated porcine cornea by determining the AA content on the ocular surface, in the cornea as well as in the aqueous humor using HPLC, and by Raman-mapping visualizing the AA-distribution. Our results showed that the liposomal formulation improved the chemical stability of AA, while drug release was observed with the same kinetic efficiency as from the free-form of AA solution. Both corneal-PAMPA and porcine corneal permeability studies showed that AA-LLipo markedly improved the corneal absorption kinetics of AA, thus, increasing the AA content in the cornea and aqueous humor. AA-LLipo formulation could potentially increase the bioavailability of AA in corneal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the non-unitary deformations of the two-dimensional Tricritical Ising Model obtained by coupling its two spin ℤ2 odd operators to imaginary magnetic fields. Varying the strengths of these imaginary magnetic fields and adjusting correspondingly the coupling constants of the two spin ℤ2 even fields, we establish the presence of two universality classes of infrared fixed points on the critical surface. The first class corresponds to the familiar Yang-Lee edge singularity, while the second class to its tricritical version. We argue that these two universality classes are controlled by the conformal non-unitary minimal models M (2, 5) and M (2, 7) respectively, which is supported by considerations based on PT symmetry and the corresponding extension of Zamolodchikov’s c-theorem, and also verified numerically using the truncated conformal space approach. Our results are in agreement with a previous numerical study of the lattice version of the Tricritical Ising Model [1]. We also conjecture the classes of universality corresponding to higher non-unitary multicritical points obtained by perturbing the conformal unitary models with imaginary coupling magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictions supporting risky decisions could become unreliable when outcome probabilities temporarily change, making adaptation more challenging. Therefore, this study investigated whether sensitivity to the temporal structure in outcome probabilities can develop and remain persistent in a changing decision environment. In a variant of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task with 90 balloons, outcomes (rewards or balloon bursts) were predictable in the task's first and final 30 balloons and unpredictable in the middle 30 balloons. The temporal regularity underlying the predictable outcomes differed across three experimental conditions. In the deterministic condition, a repeating three-element sequence dictated the maximum number of pumps before a balloon burst. In the probabilistic condition, a single probabilistic regularity ensured that burst probability increased as a function of pumps. In the hybrid condition, a repeating sequence of three different probabilistic regularities increased burst probabilities. In every condition, the regularity was absent in the middle 30 balloons. Participants were not informed about the presence or absence of the regularity. Sensitivity to both the deterministic and hybrid regularities emerged and influenced risk taking. Unpredictable outcomes of the middle phase did not deteriorate this sensitivity. In conclusion, humans can adapt their risky choices in a changing decision environment by exploiting the statistical structure that controls how the environment changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) protein is highly immunogenic and overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), consequently ranked as a promising target for novel immunotherapeutic strategies. Here we report our experience of a phase I/II clinical trial (NCT01051063) of a vaccination strategy based on WT1 recombinant protein (WT1-A10) together with vaccine adjuvant AS01B in five elderly AML patients (median age 69 years, range 63–75) receiving a total of 62 vaccinations (median 18, range 3–20) after standard chemotherapy. Clinical benefit was observed in three patients: one patient achieved measurable residual disease clearance during WT1 vaccination therapy, another patient maintained long-term molecular remission over 59 months after the first vaccination cycle. Interestingly, in one case, we observed a complete clonal switch at AML relapse with loss of WT1 expression, proposing suppression of the original AML clone by WT1-based vaccination therapy. Detected humoral and cellular CD4+ T cell immune responses point to efficient immune stimulation post-vaccination, complementing hints for induced conventional T cell infiltration into the bone marrow and a shift from senescent/exhausted to a more activated T cell profile. Overall, the vaccinations with WT1 recombinant protein had an acceptable safety profile and were thus well tolerated. To conclude, our data provide evidence of potential clinical efficacy of WT1 protein-based vaccination therapy in AML patients, warranting further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reptiles are frequently kept as pet animals. They are considered as important reservoirs of protozoa with veterinary-medical significance. At a reptile farm in Ireland, fecal samples were collected from 98 captive reptiles, representing 43 species of three orders (Squamata, Testudines, and Crocodylia). After DNA extraction, all samples were screened by conventional PCRs, targeting the ribosomal small subunit (SSU) RNA and alpha-tubulin genes of trichomonads and SSU RNA gene of Acanthamoeba spp. One leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was positive for a not yet reported species/genotype of the genus Monocercomonas, different from M. colubrorum. Various Acanthamoeba genotypes were detected in six reptilian species, i.e., Acanthamoeba genotype T11 in Eunectes notaeus and Heloderma suspectum/horridum; genotype T4 in Varanus exanthematicus, Chlamydosaurus kingii, and Macrochelys temminckii; and the genotype T13 in Iguana iguana. Some of these amoeba species might have clinicopathological significance in both humans and animals. Our findings highlight the importance to monitor pathogenic protozoa in pet as well as wildlife reptiles, as a source of possible infection for animals and humans living nearby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problems of cooperation are frequent among living organisms, but they are difficult to solve. Humans have been able to produce large-scale cooperation among unrelated individuals through reputation systems. A challenging puzzle, however, is how reputation can guide behavior if in most cases it is not shared publicly and is assigned to others privately. We confirm that it is difficult to obtain cooperation among agents playing the Prisoner's Dilemma when reputations are individually assigned. We propose that third-party communication (gossip) can overcome this difficulty, but only under specific conditions concerning its content, amount and persistence. We show that—in order to sustain cooperation—gossip should not only be about private evaluations of others but should also include perspective taking and exchange of information about tolerance thresholds to support cooperation. This perspective taking reputational strategy can propagate and establish cooperation in the population independent of gossip frequency and population size, under various selection mechanisms of communication partners and targets, and assumptions concerning agents' memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]