Search

The paper discusses Radu Muntean 2021 film, Întregalde focusing on the representation of rural landscapes and the encounter between different social classes. The film marks multiple displacements within the director’s oeuvre, epitomized as “the chronicler” of the middle class in contemporary Romanian cinema. The spatial displacement from middle class urban spaces towards mountain and rural areas and the shift from the distant picturesqueness of landscape to the experience of landscape as dwelling, as inhabited and sensed environment mediated through textural images enables unsettling embodied, affective encounters both with the natural environment and between different social classes. In this way, the film addresses the question of class differences and lays bare the socio-economic inequalities between the urban middle class and the countryside without reducing rural characters to clichéd figurants in a picturesque or sombre countryside decorum. The film’s critical reflection on a form of occasional humanitarian aid and middle class philanthropy does not relativize the concept of charity, altruism and help but rather points to the growing gap of social inequalities (and the crisis of care) in the context of contemporary capitalism.1

Abstract Molecular data storage is becoming a viable alternative to traditional information storage systems. Here, we propose a method where the presence or absence of a given molecule in a mixture of compounds represents a bit of information. As a novel approach, direct analysis in real time (DART) ionization mass spectrometry is used to recover and decode the information stored at the molecular level. Nicotinic acid derivatives were synthesized and used as the ‘bit compounds’. Their volatility and ease of ionization make these molecules especially suitable for DART-MS detection. The application of DART-MS as a method with an ambient ionization technique, enables the re-reading of digital chemical codes embedded in the material of ordinary objects. Our method is designed to store and read back short pieces of digital information, up to several hundred bits. These codes can have the function of barcodes or QR codes, as shown in our proof-of-principle applications. First, modelling a QR code as a link to our university's website, three solutions were prepared, each representing 22 bits. Proceeding further, the bit compounds were incorporated into a polymer matrix that is suitable for 3D printing, and a toy ship was created with a hidden barcode. In addition, decoding software was developed to process the DART-MS spectra. The nicotinic acid components representing the bits dominated the DART-MS spectra and error-free decoding was achieved.

Abstract Background Data harmonisation is essential in real-world data (RWD) research projects based on hospital information systems databases, as coding systems differ between countries. The Hungarian hospital information systems and the national claims database use internationally known diagnosis codes, but data on medical procedures are recorded using national codes. There is no simple or standard solution for mapping the national codes to a standard coding system. Our aim was to map the Hungarian procedure codes (OENO) to SNOMED CT as part of the European Health Data Evidence Network (EHDEN) project. Methods We recruited 25 professionals from different specialties to manually map the procedure codes used between 2011 and 2021. A mapping protocol and training material were developed, results were regularly revised, and the challenges of mapping were recorded. Approximately 7% of the codes were mapped by more people in different specialties for validation purposes. Results We mapped 4661 OENO codes to standard vocabularies, mostly SNOMED CT. We categorized the challenges into three main areas: semantic, matching, and methodological. Semantic refers to the occasionally unclear meaning of the OENO codes, matching to the different granularity and purpose of the OENO and SNOMED CT vocabularies. Lastly, methodological challenges were used to describe issues related to the design of the above-mentioned two vocabularies. Conclusions The challenges and solutions presented here may help other researchers to design their process to map their national codes to standard vocabularies in order to achieve greater consistency in mapping results. Moreover, we believe that our work will allow for better use of RWD collected in Hungary in international research collaborations.

Abstract Isomerization Metathesis (ISOMET) reaction is an emerging tool for “open loop” chemical recycling of polyethylene to propylene. Novel, latent N‐Alkyl substituted Cyclic(Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene (CAAC)–ruthenium catalysts (5a‐Ru, 3b‐Ru – 6c‐Ru) are developed rendering “inverted” chemical structure while showing enhanced ISOMET activity in combination with (RuHCl)(CO)(PPh3)3 (RuH) double bond isomerization co‐catalyst. Systematic investigations reveal that the steric hindrance of the substituents on nitrogen and carbon atom adjacent to carbene moiety in the CAAC ligand have significantly improved the catalytic activity and robustness. In contrast to the NHC‐Ru and CAAC‐Ru catalyst systems known so far, these systems show higher isomerization metathesis (ISOMET) activity (TON: 7400) on the model compound 1‐octadecene at as low as 3.0 bar optimized pressure, using technical grade (3.0) ethylene. The propylene content formed in the gas phase can reach up to 20% by volume.

A well-known insect phenomenon is colour polymorphism, from which the species hopes to gain some ecological advantage. Herbivores adapt to the colours of their environment to reduce their chances of becoming prey, while predators use camouflage colours to succeed in hiding from prey. The larvae of the cosmopolitan, highly invasive cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hbn., Lep.: Noctuidae) also benefit from this morphological polymorphism. Their fully-developed larvae can take on various colours when feeding on foliage. Our study aimed to determine the host plant-related colour adaptation of H. armigera larvae collected from different plant organs using different spectral analysis methods. Our studies, based on colour analysis of photographic images, showed that the colour of fully-developed larvae of the species is highly correlated with the colour of the damaged nutrient plant. The dominant colours of the larvae show a high similarity with the colours of the consumed host plant parts. The RGB-based analysis confirmed that larval colours are clustered according to the host plant’s organs and are mainly located in the yellow and green regions of the visible light spectrum. All these results confirm the extraordinary adaptive capabilities of this invasive species, which, among other things, verify its worldwide distribution.

The World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki is in the process of being revised. The following amendments are recommended to be incorporated in pursuit of the common goal of promoting health for all. 1. Data-driven research that facilitates broad informed consent and dynamic consent, assuring participant’s rights, and the sharing of individual participant data (IPD) and research results to promote open science and generate social value. 2. Risk minimisation in a placebo-controlled study and post-trial access to the best-proven interventions for all who need them. 3. A future-oriented research framework for co-creation with all the relevant stakeholders.

After decades of development, neonicotinoids were widely used in Hungarian sugar beet production and seeds included thiamethoxam treatment by 2019 increasing protection against early spring pests. In Hungary, neonicotides’ influence on bee health led to their removal of emergency authorization. In the absence of thiamethoxam in 2020, experience showed that multiple treatments were needed to protect beet from pests early spring pests. Repeated applications of mostly pyrethroids have proved suitable; however, in sugar beet, this has resulted in a multiple increase in environmental stress and honey bee mortality, as well as increased input values. The aim of this work is to explore the current state of production and collect new alternative options for applying effectively in Hungarian sugar beet production technology, against early spring pests.

Introduction: The 21-gene analysis (OncotypeDX) is validated test for pT1-3, pN0-1 with hormone receptor (HR) positive and normal expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) breast cancer (BC) to determine the aggressiveness of the disease based on the calculation of Recurrence Score (RS).Methods: In this retrospective study the authors correlated pathological characteristics and Recurrence Score (RS) by traditional statistical methods and Observed Oriented Modeling (OOM) in a realistic cohort of BC patients.Results: OncotypeDX tests were performed in 94 tumour specimens of 90 BC patients. >83% of node-negative (pN0) and >72% of node-positive (pN1) cases could avoid chemotherapy. For pN0 cases, non-parametric correlation and tests demonstrated significant association in eight types of characteristics [progesterone receptor (PR) expression, Ki-67 value, Ki-67 group, PR group, grade, estrogen receptor (ER) expression, Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) and Clinical Risk]. For pN1 cases, parametric correlation and tests showed significant association in six characteristic types (number of positive nodes, ER and PR expression, PR group, Ki-67 group and NPI). Based on OOM for pN0 cases, significant associations were established in three characteristics (Ki-67 group, grade and NPI group). For pN1 cases OOM found significant associations in seven characteristics (PR group, PNI, LVI, Ki-67 group, grade, NPI group and number of positive nodes).Conclusion: First in oncology, OOM was applied, which found some other significant characteristics associated with RS than traditional statistical methods. There were few patients, where no clinical associations were found between characteristics and RS contrary to statistically significant differences. Therefore, the results of these statistical analyses can be neither applied for individual cases nor able to provide the bases for screening patients, i.e., whether they need for OncotypeDX testing or not. OncotypeDX still provides a personalised approach in BC.

The World Health Organization highlights the urgent need to address the global threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Efficient and rapid detection of bacterial response to antibiotics and their virulence state is crucial for the effective treatment of bacterial infections. However, current methods for investigating bacterial antibiotic response and metabolic state are time-consuming and lack accuracy. To address these limitations, we propose a novel method for classifying bacterial virulence based on statistical analysis of nanomotion recordings. We demonstrated the method by classifying living Bordetella pertussis bacteria in the virulent or avirulence phase, and dead bacteria, based on their cellular nanomotion signal. Our method offers significant advantages over current approaches, as it is faster and more accurate. Additionally, its versatility allows for the analysis of cellular nanomotion in various applications beyond bacterial virulence classification.

We present a novel optical nanomotion-based rapid antibiotic and antifungal susceptibility test. The technique consisted of studying the effects of antibiotics or antifungals on the nanometric scale displacements of bacteria or yeasts to assess their sensitivity or resistance to drugs. The technique relies on a traditional optical microscope, a video camera, and custom-made image analysis software. It provides reliable results in a time frame of 2–4 h and can be applied to motile, non-motile, fast, and slowly growing microorganisms. Due to its extreme simplicity and low cost, the technique can be easily implemented in laboratories and medical centers in developing countries.

Understanding the structure-property relationship is of paramount importance for tailoring copolymers for specific applications. Poly(N-acryloylmorpholine)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNAM-b-PNIPAM) diblock copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with varying Mn and composition, providing the basis for deducing structure-property relationships. The chemical structure of the copolymers was analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS). A novel and efficient mass spectrum processing methodology was developed for the detailed analysis of polymers/copolymers that greatly expands the upper mass limit of the time-of-flight (TOF) analyzers in the linear mode up to 20,000 Da. Our method “makes visible” the mass peaks of the individual copolymer species and their isotopologues providing effective and fast automatized analysis. The self-assembly property of the thermoresponsive PNAM-b-PNIPAM diblocks in aqueous solutions was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments, and quantified by determining the incipient temperature of the phase transition. For rapid evaluation, an artificial neural network (ANN) was created to explore the hidden relationships between the structural information obtained by our novel mass analysis method and the properties as well as to predict the self-assembly behavior of the copolymers.

Abstract Several Eurydema species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are considered as pests, however, reports on their chemical ecology are scarce. In the current study we focused on Eurydema ornata (Linnaeus) a pentatomid pest of several brassicaceous crops. Since the species is known to feed preferably on generative parts of plants, a series of floral and green leaf volatiles were tested by electroantennography and compounds eliciting remarkable responses were also tested in the field. Three compounds elicited the most outstanding responses from antennae of E. ornata: allyl isothiocyanate, phenylacetaldehyde and ± linalool. Field experiments were conducted in Hungary between 2017 and 2021 to test the potential attractive effects of the compounds. Three Eurydema species were caught in the experiments E. ornata, E. oleracea (Linnaeus) and E. ventralis Kolenati. In the experiments combinations containing allyl isothiocyanate attracted both males and females of E. ornata. The compound was also attractive on its own, in a positive, dose-dependent manner. When presented alone, neither phenylacetaldehyde nor ± linalool was attractive to the species, furthermore, addition of these compounds to allyl isothiocyanate did not affect attraction considerably. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of field attration of an Eurydema species to a semiochemical and one of the few reports on trapping of a pentatomid species with a synthetic plant volatile in the field. Perspectives regarding research and potential practical applications are discussed in the paper.

Abstract Travertines, which precipitate from high temperature water saturated with calcium carbonate, are generally considered to be dominated by physico-chemical and microbial precipitates. Here, as an additional influence on organomineral formation, metagenomic data and microscopic analyses clearly demonstrate that highly diverse viral, bacterial and archaeal communities occur in the biofilms associated with several modern classic travertine sites in Europe and Asia, along with virus-like particles. Metagenomic analysis reveals that bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) containing icosahedral capsids and belonging to the Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae families are the most abundant of all viral strains, although the bacteriophage distribution does vary across the sampling sites. Icosahedral shapes of capsids are also the most frequently observed under the microscope, occurring as non-mineralized through to mineralized viruses and virus-like particles. Viruses are initially mineralized by Ca-Si amorphous precipitates with subordinate Mg and Al contents; these then alter to nanospheroids composed of Ca carbonate with minor silicate 80–300 nm in diameter. Understanding the roles of bacteriophages in modern carbonate-saturated settings and related organomineralization processes is critical for their broader inclusion in the geological record and ecosystem models.

Recent freshwater tufa precipitation and its parent water were investigated at Szalajka valley, Sebesvíz and Dobrica Spring (Bükk Mts., Hungary). The aim of the study is to analyse the carbon isotope dynamics of freshwater tufa precipitated in karstic streams between the spring water and the first significant tufa barrage using field measurements, water chemistry, and carbon isotope analysis. A further aim was to examine the fossil tufa precipitations in recently active areas and their neighbourhood to determine their age using the 14C method. Based on the 3H content the water samples are relatively young (

Abstract Background Several meta-analyses demonstrated the efficacy of unilateral High-Frequency Left-sided (HFL) repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); however, results are contradictory due to heterogeneity of the included studies. Methods A systematic literature review (SLR) of English language articles published since 2000 was performed in March 2022 on PubMed and Scopus databases. Empirical evidence on the relative efficacy of rTMS treatment compared with standard pharmacotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) were extracted. Random effects models were used to assess the effects of rTMS on response and remission rates. Results 19 randomized double-blinded sham-controlled studies were included for quantitative analysis for response (n = 854 patients) and 9 studies for remission (n = 551 patients). The risk ratio (RR) for response and remission are 2.25 and 2.78, respectively for patients after two treatment failures using rTMS as add-on treatment compared to standard pharmacotherapy. Cochrane’s Q test showed no significant heterogeneity. No publication bias was detected. Conclusions rTMS is significantly more effective than sham rTMS in TRD in response and remission outcomes and may be beneficial as an adjunctive treatment in patients with MDD after two treatment failures. This finding is consistent with previous meta-analyses; however, the effect size was smaller than in the formerly published literature.

In the first part of this study, the electrochemical polymerization of two compounds, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 2′,6′-dihydroxyacetophenone, was compared in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent on platinum and glassy carbon electrodes. The voltammograms obtained showed remarkable differences between the two monomers and between the two electrode materials. The acetophenone derivative formed electropolymer remnants at the electrodes, while in the case of the benzoic acid derivative, practically no passivation occurred, and the scanning electron microscopic results reinforced this. A few stackings adsorbed only after electropolymerization from a highly concentrated solution of dihydroxybenzoic acid. As a modifying layer on the platinum and glassy carbon electrodes, the prepared films from 2′,6′-dihydroxyacetophenone were tested for tributylamine in acetonitrile and in an aqueous solution of a redox-active compound, hydroquinone, during the stirring of the solution. More stable amperometric current signals could be reached with modified platinum than with glassy carbon, and the significant influence of the organic washing liquid after deposition was established via the study of noise level. In this respect, acetone was the best choice. The amperometric signals with the modified platinum obtained upon the addition of aliquots of the stock solution resulted in a 3.29 μM detection limit.

The climate-change-coupled fungal burden in crop management and the need to reduce chemical pesticide usage highlight the importance of finding sustainable ways to control Aspergillus flavus. This study examines the effectiveness of 50 Pseudomonas isolates obtained from corn rhizospheres against A. flavus in both solid and liquid co-cultures. The presence and quantity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and AFB1-related compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry analysis. Various enzymatic- or non-enzymatic mechanisms are proposed to interpret the decrease in AFB1 production, accompanied by the accumulation of biosynthetic intermediates (11-hydroxy-O-methylsterigmatocystin, aspertoxin, 11-hydroxyaspertoxin) or degradation products (the compounds C16H10O6, C16H14O5, C18H16O7, and C19H16O8). Our finding implies the upregulation or enhanced activity of fungal oxidoreductases and laccases in response to bacterial bioactive compound(s). Furthermore, non-enzymatic reactions resulted in the formation of additional degradation products due to acid accumulation in the fermented broth. Three isolates completely inhibited AFB1 or any AFB1-related compounds without significantly affecting fungal growth. These bacterial isolates supposedly block the entire pathway for AFB1 production in the fungus during interaction. Apart from identifying effective Pseudomonas isolates as potential biocontrol agents, this work lays the foundation for exploring new bacterial bioactive compounds.

Candida albicans is an emerging pathogen that poses a significant challenge due to its multidrug-resistant nature. There are two types of antifungal agents, fungicidal and fungistatic, with distinct mechanisms of action against fungal pathogens. Fungicidal agents kill fungal pathogens, whereas fungistatic agents inhibit their growth. The growth can be restored once the agent is removed and favorable conditions are established. Recognizing this difference is crucial as it influences treatment selection and infection prognosis. We present a technique based on optical nanomotion detection (ONMD) (i.e., observing the movement of the cells using an optical microscope) to discriminate rapidly between fungicidal (caspofungin) and fungistatic (fluconazole) drugs. The technique is based on the change in a yeast cell’s nanomotion as a function of time during a two-hour treatment with the antifungal of interest followed by a one-hour growth period. The cells are entrapped in microwells in a microfluidic chip, which allows a quick exchange of growth medium and antifungal agent, enabling ONMD measurements on the same individual cells before and after treatment. This procedure permits to discriminate between fungicidal and fungistatic antifungals in less than 3 h, with single-cell resolution by observing if the nanomotion recovers after removing the treatment and reintroducing growth medium (YPD), or continues to drop. The simplicity of the approach holds promise for further development into a user-friendly device for rapid antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST), potentially being implemented in hospitals and medical centers worldwide in developed and developing countries.

Histone variants leading to altered nucleosome structure, dynamics and DNA accessibility occur frequently, albeit rarely for H4. We carried out a comprehensive in silico scrutiny of fungal genomes, which revealed the presence of a novel H4 variant (H4E) in the ascomycetes, throughout the Pezizomycotina, in basal species of the Taphrinomycotina and also in the Glomeromycota. The coding cognate genes show a specific intron/exon organization, different from H4 canonical genes. H4Es diverge from canonical H4s mainly in the N- and C-terminal extensions, showing marked differences in the distribution and number of Lys and Arg residues, which may result in novel post-translational modifications. In Aspergillus nidulans (Pezizomycotina, Eurotiomycetes) the H4E variant protein level is low in mycelia. However, the encoding gene is well expressed at 37°C under nitrogen starvation. H4E localizes to the nucleus and interacts with H3, but its absence or overexpression does not result in any detectable phenotype. Deletion of only one of the of the two canonical H4 genes results in a strikingly impaired growth phenotype, which indicates that H4E cannot replace this canonical histone. Thus, an H4 variant is present throughout a whole subphylum of the ascomycetes, but with hitherto no experimentally detectable function.

With the popularity of food delivery applications in Indonesia, there is a need to promote responsible consumption habits, specifically in mitigating food waste. This study examined the influence of promotion, knowledge, and subjective norms on sustainable food waste behaviour among Generation Z individuals in Indonesia. The study involved an online survey of 561 Generation Z users of meal delivery platforms, with data analysis conducted using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) through SMART-PLS 4 software. The study contradicted that promotion and knowledge directly affect food waste reduction behaviour. Promotion can positively impact responsible food waste behaviour when mediated by price consciousness and perceived behavioural control. Knowledge requires attitude and perceived behavioural control to influence responsible food-wasting. It became apparent that subjective norms directly affected responsible food waste and were mediated by attitude. The antecedent variables examined in this study explained a 63.7% variance of sustainable behaviour towards food waste, indicating moderate explanatory power. Promotion conducted by food delivery service applications, accompanied by information and practical strategies to enhance consumers' perceived behavioural control, can increase the likelihood of sustainable food waste behaviour among Generation Z consumers, particularly price-conscious consumers. To foster positive attitudes and subjective norms towards sustainable food waste behaviour, policymakers can incentivize academic institutions, culinary businesses, and influencers to promote food waste reduction.

Abstract In the past decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted substantial interest in biomedicine. With progress in the field, we have an increasing understanding of cellular responses to EVs. In this Technical Report, we describe the direct nanoinjection of EVs into the cytoplasm of single cells of different cell lines. By using robotic fluidic force microscopy (robotic FluidFM), nanoinjection of GFP positive EVs and EV‐like particles into single live HeLa, H9c2, MDA‐MB‐231 and LCLC‐103H cells proved to be feasible. This injection platform offered the advantage of high cell selectivity and efficiency. The nanoinjected EVs were initially localized in concentrated spot‐like regions within the cytoplasm. Later, they were transported towards the periphery of the cells. Based on our proof‐of‐principle data, robotic FluidFM is suitable for targeting single living cells by EVs and may lead to information about intracellular EV cargo delivery at a single‐cell level.

Manufacturers have to adapt very quickly to the accelerating world and use specialized machines for production to meet the demands. This also means that those machines are not used as often as their mass-producing counterparts and sometimes become obsolete. In the case of foaming with injection molding, a complicated system has to be built around the machine and has to be structured in a specific way, which is not always cost-efficient. In this paper, two methods of chemical foaming of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) were performed on a regular injection molding machine. Chemical Blowing Agent (CBA) and Expandable Microsphere (EMS) were used with breathing mold technology. Injection molding parameters were modified, and specimens were produced for mechanical and morphological examinations. Properly selected parameters for foaming play an important role in retaining the mechanical strength of the product. With low switch-over volume and using the core-back method, it is possible to foam ABS using a Chemical Blowing Agent.

Abstract Background Neurofibromatosis type 1 and pseudoachondroplasia are both rare autosomal dominant disorders, caused by pathogenic mutations in NF1 and COMP genes, respectively. Both neurofibromin 1 and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) play a role in the development of the skeleton. Carrying both germline mutations has not been previously reported; however, it can affect the developing phenotype. Case presentation The index patient, an 8-year-old female presented with several skeletal and dermatologic anomalies resembling the coexistence of multiple syndromes. Her mother had dermatologic symptoms characteristic for neurofibromatosis type 1, and her father presented with distinct skeletal anomalies. NGS-based analysis revealed a heterozygous pathogenic mutation in genes NF1 and COMP in the index patient. A previously unreported heterozygous variant was detected for the NF1 gene. The sequencing of the COMP gene revealed a previously reported, pathogenic heterozygous variant that is responsible for the development of the pseudoachondroplasia phenotype. Conclusions Here, we present the case of a young female carrying pathogenic NF1 and COMP mutations, diagnosed with two distinct heritable disorders, neurofibromatosis type 1 and pseudoachondroplasia. The coincidence of two monogenic autosomal dominant disorders is rare and can pose a differential diagnostic challenge. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported co-occurrence of these syndromes.

Most beekeepers worldwide use the same combs in their hives for many years, which can result in alterations in the inner volume of the comb cells. The objective of this survey using microcomputed tomography was to reveal developmental disorders caused by this beekeeping practice. The extent of the thickening of the wall of brood cells that occurs as a result of the long-term use of the combs was determined. This alteration resulted in a reduction in the inner volume of the comb cells, which had a significant effect on the size of the pupae and possibly the health of the imagoes. The walls of the cells can be divided into two well-determined parts, which can be exactly visualized using micro-CT. In addition, the inner structure of the wall in the first part of the cell was altered by very radio dense remains of cocoons. The material in the other part of the cell is less radio dense and as previously suggested is mainly wax. The decrease in the length, surface and volume of these cells adversely affected the developing pupae, which according to previous studies results in a reduction in the production of workers, colony strength and honey yield. The extent of the reduction in the body regions of pupae was on average 4.98%. Overall, the volume of the pupae that developed in these narrow comb cells were smaller by an average of 12.22%.

The Scandinavian detective novel (or at least some of its authors) elaborates on local materials in an increasingly global or European context. From the perspective of its social relevance, the detective novel provides some of the most influential representations of Otherness. What interests us here is the place of Eastern Europe in the novels of certain Nordic Noir authors: Inger Wolf, Arne Dahl and Jo Nesbø. The dynamics between private and public, individual and collective, as well as the rich representation of different forms of mobility make it possible to build a wide variety of character identities, and to embrace both the local and the European/global.

Climate change requires the introduction of alternative crops in certain temperate areas due to the warmer and drier growing seasons. Maize, one of the most important crops, is projected to become less tolerant of a drier climate. Therefore, it is necessary to find an alternative species that is less susceptible to environmental stressors. This study compared the germination, growth vigour, and stress tolerance of maize and sorghum grow in six types of soil under three water regimes. The results indicate that sorghum germination is faster and more uniform. The most significant differences in germination rates were found in chernozem (88.9% and 72.2% for sorghum and maize, respectively) and saline solonetz (74.4% and 63.3% for sorghum and maize, respectively). Maize exhibited higher growth vigour only in three cases, i.e., under solonetz–flooding, shifting sand–drought, and brown forest floor–flooding conditions. An ANOVA showed a significant difference between sorghum and maize stress conditions due to soil conditions and water availability (p < 0.0001). Sorghum can be a suitable alternative to maize, but only in areas with hot, dry periods and in areas where the soil is not too prone to waterlogging, regardless of its quality.

This study explores various potential substitutes for gypsum in the production of compost for white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). During compost preparation, calcium sulfate (CaSO4) was replaced with calcium carbonate (CaCO3), ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4), and monocalcium phosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2). Complete replacement of gypsum with calcium carbonate led to a significant pH increase during the second phase of composting, adversely affecting mushroom mycelium growth. Compost parameters were observed to be similar in scenarios where calcium sulfate was supplemented with calcium carbonate in 8:2 and 6:4 ratios, both with and without the presence of ammonium sulfate, and in 3:1 and 1:1 mixtures of calcium sulfate and monocalcium phosphate, when compared to traditional gypsum-based processes. All experimental compost mixtures yielded comparable mushroom crops in cultivation trials. Notably, the 8:2 mixture of calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate demonstrated superior performance in cultivation trials relative to the 6:4 mixture. However, supplementing these mixtures with ammonium sulfate resulted in similar crop yields. Monocalcium phosphate also emerged as a promising partial gypsum substitute, showing comparable crop production in both 3:1 and 1:1 ratios to the technological optimum. The exploration of alternative calcium sources like calcium carbonate and monocalcium phosphate reflects the adaptability of the industry in response to resource availability challenges. The potential use of byproducts like ammonium sulfate from the composting process itself offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to compost formulation, underscoring its worldwide relevance.

The colour preference of the plum psyllid, Cacopsylla pruni (Hemiptera, Psyllidae), is yet poorly studied. This species is the only known vector of the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum’, the agent of European stone fruit yellows (ESFY), a devastating disease of several cultivated Prunus species in Europe. As ESFY is still uncurable, vector control, thus vector monitoring, is pivotal to protect these trees. Cacopsylla pruni is a univoltine, host-shelter-alternating species; overwintered adults migrate from conifer to wild or cultivated Prunus species (family Rosaceae) in late winter-early spring. To select the most effective colour indicating the arrivals of the immigrants, yellow, fluorescent yellow, white, red and transparent sticky traps were deployed in an apricot orchard in Hungary. The two most abundant species in sticky traps were C. pruni and C. melanoneura. Catches of white traps were significantly biased towards C. pruni as compared to C. melanoneura specimens. Moreover, white sticky traps were better at catching plum psyllids than the other colours. Attraction to white was strongest when immigrants from shelter plants kept arriving in the orchard, coinciding with the blooming principal phenophase of apricot trees. When the host flowering growth stage was over, catches of C. pruni in white traps declined sharply to the level of yellow traps that was highest during this post-blooming period. We recommended white sticky traps for promptly monitoring C. pruni in apricot orchards because it is more potent and more selective than yellow ones during the critically important early flowering interval.

Fluorometry signals indicating conformational change in an ion channel are generated by quenching amino acids and lipid effects during movement of the dye relative to the plane of the membrane.

Abstract Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 risk co-infection with Gram-positive bacteria, which severely affects their prognosis. Antimicrobial drugs with dual antiviral and antibacterial activity would be very useful in this setting. Although glycopeptide antibiotics are well-known as strong antibacterial drugs, some of them are also active against RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2. It has been shown that the antiviral and antibacterial efficacy can be enhanced by synthetic modifications. We here report the synthesis and biological evaluation of seven derivatives of teicoplanin bearing hydrophobic or superbasic side chain. All but one teicoplanin derivatives were effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication in VeroE6 cells. One lipophilic and three perfluoroalkyl conjugates showed activity against SARS-CoV-2 in human Calu-3 cells and against HCoV-229E, an endemic human coronavirus, in HEL cells. Pseudovirus entry and enzyme inhibition assays established that the teicoplanin derivatives efficiently prevent the cathepsin-mediated endosomal entry of SARS-CoV-2, with some compounds inhibiting also the TMPRSS2-mediated surface entry route. The teicoplanin derivatives showed good to excellent activity against Gram-positive bacteria resistant to all approved glycopeptide antibiotics, due to their ability to dually bind to the bacterial membrane and cell-wall. To conclude, we identified three perfluoralkyl and one monoguanidine analog of teicoplanin as dual inhibitors of Gram-positive bacteria and SARS-CoV-2.

A hazai igazságügyi orvosszakértői gyakorlat segítése, a szakértők és a jogalkalmazók tájékoztatása, továbbá az igazságügyi orvosszakértői véleményalkotás egységesítése céljából a BM Egészségügyi Szakmai Kollégium Igazságügyi Orvostan, Orvosszakértés és Biztosítási Orvostan Tagozata, az orvostudományi egyetemek igazságügyi orvostani intézetei (Debreceni Egyetem, Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Szegedi Tudományegyetem), a Nemzeti Szakértői és Kutató Központ (NSZKK) egységes módszertani ajánlást állított össze az igazságügyi orvosszakértők részére. Cél: A gépjárművezetésre hátrányosan ható szerek által előidézett befolyásoltság (bódult állapot) egységes igazságügyi orvosszakértői véleményezésének elősegítése. Módszertan: A tanulmány elkészítéséhez a szerzők megvizsgálták a hazai jogi környezetet, az irányadó joganyagot, továbbá feldolgozták a témakör releváns nemzetközi és hazai szakirodalmát. Megállapítások: A bódult állapotban elkövetett járművezetés miatt ismertté vált bűncselekmények száma az elmúlt évtizedben jelentősen megnövekedett. A szerzők vizsgálata alapján megállapítható, hogy a gyakorlatban vizsgált klinikai tünetek nem adnak megfelelő diagnosztikai támpontot a befolyásoltság fennállására. Az egyes hatóanyagok emberi szervezeten belüli lebomlására vonatkozóan egyik hatóanyagtípusnál sem áll rendelkezésre elegendő mennyiségű tudományos eredmény ahhoz, hogy a cselekményt követően biztosított mintákból a cselekmény időpontjára vonatkozó mennyiségi megállapítást lehetne tenni. Ezért a toxikológiai vizsgálati eredményekből, vagy laboratóriumi leleteken megjelölt értékből a cselekménykor fennálló hatóanyag-koncentrációra vonatkozóan a jelenlegi adatok szerint orvosszakértői módszerekkel visszaszámolás nem végezhető el. A bódult állapotot előidéző hatóanyagok esetében nem lehet a befolyásoltság pontos mértékére vonatkozóan megalapozott orvosszakértői megállapítást tenni, mert a hatás jellege egyénenként nagy különbséget mutat, továbbá a rendelkezésre álló természettudományos eredmények sem elegendőek. Az egyes hatóanyagok fogyasztásának kimutatására alkalmazott gyorstesztek csak tájékozódó vizsgálatra alkalmasak. A tesztek eredménye alapján a cselekménykori bódult állapot (befolyásoltság) fennállására vonatkozó orvosszakértői vélemény nem adható. Érték: A szerzők Magyarországon elsőként fogalmaznak meg ajánlást a bódult állapot orvosszakértői véleményezésére.

Advances in genomic research have significantly enhanced modern drug development. However, equitable benefit sharing of the results of scientific advancement has not always been achieved. This paper shows how molecular biology has modified medicines development while also leaving open significant challenges for benefit sharing. Presented here is a conceptual modeling describing the processes in genetic-related medicines development and how these are related to specific ethical considerations. The focus is on three important areas: 1) population genetics and the need for discrimination prevention; 2) pharmacogenomics and the need for inclusive governance; and 3) global health to be achieved in open science frameworks. Benefit sharing is taken as the ethical value that underlies all these aspects. The implementation of benefit sharing requires a value shift in which the outcomes of health science are not viewed simply as trade commodities but also as a “global public good”. This approach should lead to genetic science to contribute to promoting the fundamental human right to health to all members of the global community.

ABSTRACT Certain members of the order Mucorales can cause a life-threatening, often-fatal systemic infection called mucormycosis. Mucormycosis has a high mortality rate, which can reach 96 to 100% depending on the underlying condition of the patient. Mucorales species are intrinsically resistant to most antifungal agents, such as most of the azoles, which makes mucormycosis treatment challenging. The main target of azoles is the lanosterol 14α-demethylase (Erg11), which is responsible for an essential step in the biosynthesis of ergosterol, the main sterol component of the fungal membrane. Mutations in the erg11 gene can be associated with azole resistance; however, resistance can also be mediated by loss of function or mutation of other ergosterol biosynthetic enzymes, such as the sterol 24-C-methyltransferase (Erg6). The genome of Mucor lusitanicus encodes three putative erg6 genes (i.e., erg6a, erg6b, and erg6c). In this study, the role of erg6 genes in azole resistance of Mucor was analyzed by generating and analyzing knockout mutants constructed using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique. Susceptibility testing of the mutants suggested that one of the three genes, erg6b, plays a crucial role in the azole resistance of Mucor. The sterol composition of erg6b knockout mutants was significantly altered compared to that of the original strain, and it revealed the presence of at least four alternative sterol biosynthesis pathways leading to formation of ergosterol and other alternative, nontoxic sterol products. Dynamic operation of these pathways and the switching of biosynthesis from one to the other in response to azole treatment could significantly contribute to avoiding the effects of azoles by these fungi. IMPORTANCE The fungal membrane contains ergosterol instead of cholesterol, which offers a specific point of attack for the defense against pathogenic fungi. Indeed, most antifungal agents target ergosterol or its biosynthesis. Mucormycoses-causing fungi are resistant to most antifungal agents, including most of the azoles. For this reason, the drugs of choice to treat such infections are limited. The exploration of ergosterol biosynthesis is therefore of fundamental importance to understand the azole resistance of mucormycosis-causing fungi and to develop possible new control strategies. Characterization of sterol 24-C-methyltransferase demonstrated its role in the azole resistance and virulence of M. lusitanicus. Moreover, our experiments suggest that there are at least four alternative pathways for the biosynthesis of sterols in Mucor. Switching between pathways may contribute to the maintenance of azole resistance.

Két fajtája volt az egyetemi tanulmányi költségeknek a két világháború közötti Magyarországon, az egyik a tandíj, a másik a mellékdíj. A tandíj a 19. század közepétől része volt a magyar oktatási rendszernek és azok a hallgatók, akiknek a szülei alacsonyabb társadalmi státuszúak vagy alacsonyabb jövedelműek voltak, szociális helyzetükre való tekintettel tandíjkedvezményben, vagy tandíjmentességben részesülhettek. Ezzel szemben a mellékdíjak esetében semmilyen kedvezmény vagy mentesség nem létezett, mert ezek a díjak számos egyetemi intézmény fenntartásához szükségeltettek, mint például az egyetemi menza, az Ifjúsági Betegápolási Alap vagy az Egyetemi Tanács Rendelkezési Alapja. A mellékdíjak rendszere különbözött az egyes egyetemeken, néhány mellékdíj megegyezett, míg mások nem. Gyakran különbség volt az egyes mellékdíjak összegét illetően is. Ebben a tanulmányban végig követhetjük a mellékdíjak rendszerének változását Debrecenben a két világháború között. Minden mellékdíj bemutatásra kerül, például a menza díj, az Ifjúsági Betegápolási Alap díja, vagy a két fajta fenntartási pótdíj, melyeket a gazdasági válság hatására kellett létrehozni.

The aim of our three consecutive years (2017-2019) field trial was to obtain information as to the effect of weather conditions of the actual year as well as to assess the impact of some technological parameters such as fertilisation, the choice on the hybrid type on the yield parameters, phytosanitary conditions and mycotoxin contamination of maize. According to our results, the climatic characteristics of the years, the examined hybrid characters (FAO 310 and 490) and the fact of N-fertilisation had significant effects on yield parameters and grain moisture content. The additional N-supply did not affect the development or severity of stem rot in any of the hybrid effects. In this respect, the year effect appeared to be the decisive factor since much higher stem rot values were recorded in the plots of the longer growing season hybrids. Among the mycotoxins examined, only zearalenone and fumonisin found in the harvest were significantly influenced by the effect of the year, the length of the growing season as well as nutrient replenishment. It can be stated that the applied technological parameters have a major effect on the expression of this toxin load in maize. Dry maize stocks that have lost their water in the vegetation are predisposing factors for toxin accumulation. N-content of soil and that of plants can play a different role in mycotoxin accumulation in maize plants.

Abstract Background The cost-effectiveness of treatment strategies for patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who have not responded to two adequate treatments with antidepressants (TRD) are still unclear. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of add-on repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) compared with standard treatment. Methods A Markov-model simulated clinical events over one year from the perspective of healthcare payer. Third- and fourth-line treatment pathways (augmentation, antidepressant switch or combination, and Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT)) were defined based on medical practice guidelines. Transition probabilities were derived from a recent meta-analysis and scientific publications. Resource utilization and cost estimates were based on the patient-level database of a large university hospital. Results Incremental Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and costs were 0.053 and 785 €, respectively, corresponding to an Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) of 14,670 € per QALY. The difference in cost between standard treatment and rTMS is explained by the rTMS sessions used in acute (€660) and maintenance (€57/month) treatments, partly offset by lower hospital costs due to higher remission rates in the rTMS arm. Key parameters driving the ICER were incremental utility of remission, unit cost of rTMS treatment and remission rate. At a threshold of €22,243 add-on rTMS is a cost-effective alternative to pharmacotherapy. Evidence on long-term effectiveness is not yet available, so results are estimated for a one-year period. Conclusion Not only does rTMS treatment have beneficial clinical effects compared with drug therapy in TRD, but it also appears to offer good value-for-money, especially in centres with larger numbers of patients where unit costs can be kept low.

Weeds are responsible for a significant proportion of agricultural production losses. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) has become the dominant weed in much of the northern hemisphere over the last century and is projected to further expand northward with climate warming. Not only does it cause damage to agriculture, but it also poses a significant human health risk. With the increasing number of Ambrosia artemisiifolia, around 44 million more people will suffer from ragweed pollen-induced pollinosis in the future just in Europe. The following review provides an overview of the most important and recent research findings on the spread, morphology, life cycle, importance and damage, allelopathic effects, habitat and environmental requirements of common ragweed. These characteristics of the species may explain its success and, based on this knowledge, allow the development of methods for its control.

The exponential growth of astronomical literature poses significant challenges for researchers navigating and synthesizing general insights or even domain-specific knowledge. We present pathfinder , a machine learning framework designed to enable literature review and knowledge discovery in astronomy, focusing on semantic searching with natural language instead of syntactic searches with keywords. Utilizing state-of-the-art large language models (LLMs) and a corpus of 385,166 peer-reviewed papers from the Astrophysics Data System, pathfinder offers an innovative approach to scientific inquiry and literature exploration. Our framework couples advanced retrieval techniques with LLM-based synthesis to search astronomical literature by semantic context as a complement to currently existing methods that use keywords or citation graphs. It addresses complexities of jargon, named entities, and temporal aspects through time-based and citation-based weighting schemes. We demonstrate the tool’s versatility through case studies, showcasing its application in various research scenarios. The system’s performance is evaluated using custom benchmarks, including single-paper and multipaper tasks. Beyond literature review, pathfinder offers unique capabilities for reformatting answers in ways that are accessible to various audiences (e.g., in a different language or as simplified text), visualizing research landscapes, and tracking the impact of observatories and methodologies. This tool represents a significant advancement in applying artificial intelligence to astronomical research, aiding researchers at all career stages in navigating modern astronomy literature.