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The long-term experiment was carried out at the University of Debrecen, Institutes for Agricultural Research and Educational Farm, Debrecen Edcuational Farm and Landscape Research Institute (DTTI), Látókép Crop Production Experiment Site (47° 83, 030" N, 21° 82, 060" E, 111 m a.s.l.). The experimental area is an excellent site for field crop production, with suitable agrotechnical biological and soil conditions. The trial was established in 1983 by Prof. Dr. János Nagy and has been continued for 39 years with the same parameters, nutrient replenishment system, site, tillage and agrotechnology. The total area of the experiment is more than 1.3 ha, with 1248 plots. The climatic-meteorological conditions of the experimental area are continental and often extreme, with calcareous chernozem soil with a topsoil depth of 80-90 cm and a humus content of 2.71 Hu%. The pH of the soil is 5.76 (slightly acidic). The soil is less susceptible to acidification because the 80-90 cm deep calcareous layer is a good buffer against acidification. In terms of soil acidification, nearly 40 years of high-dosage nitrogen fertilization (300 kg/ha of active ingredient) in the experiment resulted in a pH decrease of only 0.6 units compared to the control. For this study, nitrogen doses of 0-300 kg/ha were applied at 5 different levels, with a gradual increase in nitrogen and a constant high level of phosphorus and potassium. In a micronutrient uptake effect study of nitrogen fertilisation, it was found that the concentration of zinc, the primary essential micronutrient for maize, was significantly reduced in all crop parts by increasing nitrogen dosage compared to control values. The most significant of these effects was the reduction in stalk zinc concentration in the vegetative parts of the crop, which was at least 39% in all treatments, with the greatest reduction in treatment N4 at 18.61 mg/kg. In the case of the generative parts of the plant, the zinc content of the grain yield decreased statistically in all treatments, with the greatest negative change in this case also in treatment N4, with a decrease of 39 % (9.14 mg/kg). The iron content responded positively to the increase in nitrogen fertilisation. An increasing trend was measured for all plant parts, which was significant in several cases. Significant increased iron accumulation was observed during the leaf analysis of maize under all fertiliser treatments, with the highest increase of 47 % under the treatment N5. Based on the correlation between copper content and nitrogen supply in plant parts, it was found that increasing nitrogen fertiliser treatments resulted in significant increased concentrations in both maize leaves and cobs, ranging from 5 to 56 % and 8 to 38 %, respectively. The values obtained from stem and grain yield analyses did not show significant changes in effect.

In 2021, correlation between relative chlorophyll content and yield in three maize hybrids of different genotypes was examined. The data were collected at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen located on the Hajdúság loess ridge in Hungary. The soil of the small plot field strip plot trial, which was set up in 2011, was calcareous chernozem. Apart from the control treatment (without fertilisation), N fertiliser is applied in the form of base and top dressing. The base fertiliser containing 60 and 120 kg ha-1 N of nutrient applied in spring was followed by top dressing containing +30–30 kg ha-1 N in V6 and V12 phenophases. SPAD values measured at different phenological stages of the growing season increased by an average of about 28% up to 10 leaf stage for all three hybrids. In the pre-silking period (Vn), the relative chlorophyll content decreased by 8% on average. After an average increase of 14% in the tasselling and silking period, SPAD decreased by an average of about 29% at full maturity (R6). For the different fertiliser treatments, higher N doses resulted in higher yields. In the basal fertiliser treatment, the A 60 N dose resulted in an average 34% increase in yield, and the A 120 N dose resulted in an average 94% increase in yield compared to the control. The 60 kg ha-1 N basal fertiliser (A60) increased in the V6 phenophase with an additional 30 kg ha-1 N resulted in an average yield increase of 26%. When 120 kg ha-1 N of basal fertiliser (A120) was increased by an additional 30 kg ha-1 N in the V6 phenophase, only the Merida hybrid showed a significant yield increase (7%). No further yield increase was observed when V690 and V6150 treatments were increased by an additional 30 kg ha-1 N in the V12 phenophase. The yield of the Armagnac hybrid decreased by almost 20%, the yield of Fornad by 3% and the yield of Merida by 1%.

A Közbeszerzési Értesítő Plusz jelen számában ismertetett, az Európai Unió Bírósága és a Döntőbizottság által vizsgált jogesetek nyomán született ítélet, illetve határozat az aránytalanul alacsony ellenszolgáltatással foglalkozik, az ajánlatban a tárgyi közbeszerzési eljárásban kötelezően kalkulálni rendelt költségelemekkel összefüggésben. Az EUMSZ 267. cikke alapján az előzetes döntéshozatal iránti kérelem a következő tárgyak körében került benyújtásra: Közbeszerzési szerződések odaítélése – 2014/24/EU irányelv – Munkaerőköltségek – Az említett költségeket az ajánlatban elkülönítetten fel nem tüntető ajánlattevő automatikus kizárása – Az arányosság elve.

A Közbeszerzési Értesítő Plusz jelen számában az ajánlati biztosíték jogintézményével kapcsolatos jogesetet ismertetünk, figyelemmel az ajánlati biztosíték jelentőségére, a Döntőbizottság tárgybani határozatára, és annak felülvizsgálata során nemrég meghozott bírósági ítéletre, amelyek a joggyakorlat egységét szolgálják.

A Közbeszerzési Értesítő Plusz jelen számában ismertetett határozat és a Döntőbizottság e határozatának bírósági felülvizsgálata során született bírósági ítélet a jogorvoslati kérelem érdemi vizsgálatának akadályát képező elkésettség kérdésével foglalkozik. A bíróság ítélete szerint a Döntőbizottság végzése megfelelt a Kbt.-nek, és nem fosztotta meg a felperest a jogorvoslati jogától. A jogorvoslati jog a jogszabályi követelmények betartása mellett gyakorolható, a jogvesztő jogorvoslati határidő elmulasztásának jogkövetkezményét a Döntőbizottság köteles volt levonni. A jogorvoslati üggyel érintett tárgyak: A Döntőbizottság megállapította, hogy a jogorvoslati kérelem elkésett, többszörös tudomásszerzés nem lehetséges, az érdemi elbírálásnak eljárási jogi akadálya áll fenn.

The effect of N doses on the yield and nutritional values of the Sushi (FAO 340) maize hybrid were analysed in three years (2018, 2019, and 2020). The analyses were performed at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen on calcareous chernozem soil, in a striped, small-plot, non-irrigated long-term field experiment. In the experiment, in addition to the non-fertilized treatment (A0), the N-fertilizer doses were applied as basic fertilizer and top dressing. The 60 and 120 kg N ha-1 dose (A60, A120) applied as spring basic fertilizer were followed by two phases of top-dressing in V6 (V690, V6120) and V12 (V12150, V12180) phenophases; the amounts were +30 and +30 kg N ha-1. Maize yields were affected to varying degrees by crop year. The highest yields in 2018 and 2020 were recorded in the same V6150 treatment, while in 2019 the highest yield was obtained in the A120 treatment. Increasing the N doses resulted in an increase in the protein content of the maize kernel. Depending on the fertilizer treatments and the crop year effect, the protein content of maize kernels varied between 6.2–10.2 g x 100 g-1. In all three years, the protein content was the lowest in the control treatment (A0) and the highest in the V6150 treatment. The starch content ranged from 70.7 to 77.9 g x 100 g-1 in the average of the three years. In 2020, it was significantly higher in all nutrient treatments than in the other examined two years. The highest starch content - except for 2020 (A120, 77.9 g x 100 g-1) - was recorded in the A0 treatment (74.2, 72.3 g x 100 g-1). The oil content of maize kernels varied between the values of 3.8 and 5.2 g x 100 g-1 in the average of three years. In terms of oil content, the results for 2018 and 2019 can be considered the same, while in 2020 it was significantly lower. Fertilizer treatments did not significantly affect the oil content of maize in any of the years. The fertilizer dose applied in the V12 phenological phase was not effective in terms of yield and nutritional content (protein, starch and oil content).

Processing large amounts of data provided by automated analytical equipment requires carefulness. Most mathematical and statistical methods have strict application conditions. Most of these methods are based on eigenvalue calculations and require variables to be correlated in groups. If this condition is not met, the most popular multivariate methods cannot be used. The best procedure for such testing is the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test for Sampling Adequacy. Two databases were examined using the KMO test. One of them resulted from the sweet corn measured in the scone of the study, while the other from the 1979 book of János Sváb. For both databases, MSA (measures sampling adequacy) was well below the critical value, thus they are not suitable e.g. for principal component analysis. In both databases, the values of the partial correlation coefficients were much higher than Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Often the signs of partial coefficients did not match the signs of linear correlation coefficients. One of the main reasons for this is that the correlation between the variables is non-linear. Another reason is that control variables have a non-linear effect on a given variable. In such cases, classical methods should be disregarded and expert models better suited to the problem should be chosen in order to analyse the correlation system.

A Közbeszerzési Értesítő Plusz jelen számában folytatjuk az előző számban megkezdett, az ajánlattevő szerződés teljesítéséhez szükséges alkalmasságával kapcsolatos jogesetek ismertetését. Az előző számban az Európai Unió Bírósága által e tárgyban meghozott ítéletre történt kitekintés, míg a jelen számban a Közbeszerzési Döntőbizottság két határozatát ismertetjük.

A Közbeszerzési Értesítő Plusz jelen számában ismertetett, az Európai Bíróság által meghozott ítélet az ajánlati felhívásban a közbeszerzési eljárás eredményeként megkötendő szerződés teljesítéséhez szükséges alkalmassági követelménnyel foglalkozik. Az ítéletben az Európai Bíróság a közbeszerzésre vonatkozó anyagi jogi európai uniós irányelv egyenlő és megkülönböztetésmentes alkalmassági feltétel előírására vonatkozó követelményét értelmezte, amely szerint ha valamely gazdasági szereplő rendelkezik a letelepedésének helye szerinti tagállam által felvett nyilvántartásba vétellel vagy kiadott engedéllyel, az egy másik tagállamban lefolytatott közbeszerzési eljárás keretében olyan vélelemnek minősül, amely alkalmas arra, hogy ez utóbbi tagállamban élelmiszer‑ellátási és- forgalmazási tevékenységet folytasson. Az Európai Bíróság az ismertetett előzetes döntéshozatali eljárásában az észt nemzeti szerv jogi aktusának érvényességéről hozott döntést, és úgy találta, hogy az észt szerv határozata a belső piac egyik alapjogát, a szolgáltatásnyújtás szabadságát korlátozza.

In the growing season of 2019, we analysed stress resulting from climatic factors on maize hybrids of different genotypes, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the physiological responses of each hybrid, which might support the elaboration of a cost-effective irrigation plan. Our experiments were carried out at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen on calcareous chernozem soil in a small-plot long-term field trial with strip plot design. In the scope of the experiment, N-fertilizer doses were applied as basic fertilizer and top-dressing in addition to the non-fertilized (control) treatment. The 60 and 120 kg N/ha doses applied as basic fertilizers in the spring were followed by top-dressing in the V6 phenophase with a +30 kg N/ha dose. Measurements were carried out with the involvement of the Renfor early (FAO 320) and Fornad (FAO 420) late maturity hybrids- The stomata of the plants became more and more closed with the progression of the phenological phases; their stomatal conductance decreased. However, the hybrids responded differently to environmental stress. In the case of the Renfor hybrid, the highest conductance (669 mmol/m2-s) was recorded in the V12 phenophase with the 150 kg N/ha treatment. The stomata were more open due to the high turgor pressure, allowing plants to evaporate properly. The plant was in its worst physiological condition on 2nd July, at the time of the appearance of the last leaf in the case of the 120 kg N dose (224 mmol/m2-s). The value measured in the V12 phenophase has already shown that the stomata were closing due to the self-regulating system of the plant. It would have been necessary to dispense irrigation water following the measurement. This confirms the finding that water stress can be prevented by measuring stomatal conductance. In the case of the Fornad hybrid, stomatal conductance was the highest on 12th June (630 mmol/m2-s) in the 90 kg N/ha treatment and it was the lowest (183 mmol/m2-s) in VT (emergence of the last leaf) phenophase in the 60 kg N/ha treatment. In this case, the appropriate time for applying irrigation water would have been early July, when the conditions for the plants were still adequate. Subsequently, the stomata began to close due to a reduction of the water resources available to them. There was a significant correlation between soil moisture and stomatal conductance, as well as between temperature and stomatal conductance.

The impact of the climatic factors of crop year on the relative chlorophyll content of maize was examined for three years. The examinations were carried out on the Látókép Experiment Site of the University of Debrecen on calcareous chernozem soil in a small-plot, non-irrigated long-term field experiment with strip plot design. In addition to a non-fertilised (control) treatment, nitrogen (N) fertiliser doses were applied as base and top dressing. The 60 and 120 kg N ha-1 base dressing doses were followed by two top dressing doses at the V6 and V12 phenophases. Averaged over the different fertiliser treatments, SPAD readings increased in all three years as the growing season progressed. The highes SPAD value increase was observed in the average crop year (2017) at the V12 phenophase (11.8), which further increased at the R1 phenophas, by 3,7. No significant Spad value difference was observed between the average (2017) and the dry year (2018) at the V6 growth phase. However, in the wet crop year (2016), the V690 treatment provided the statistically highest relative chlorophyll content (46.8). At the V12 phenophase, the base dressing dose of 120 kg N ha-1+30 kg N ha-1 (V6150) showed to be successful in two years (2016 and 2018), while in 2017, the base dressing dose of A60 was successful. The impact of crop year on relative chlorophyll content can be clearly shown at the R1 growth stage. In all three years, the significantly highest relative chlorophyll content could be achieved at different nutrient levels: A60 in 2016, V6150 in 2017 and V690. In a wet year (2016), higher yield could be achieved as a result of the 60 kg N ha-1 base dressing and 30 kg N ha-1 at the V6 growth stage (V690) as top dressing in comparison with 2017 and 2018, when higher fertiliser dose (120 kg N ha-1 base dressing and 30 kg N ha-1top dressing at the V6 growth stage) was needed to achieve a significant yield surplus. Altogether, averaged over the different treatments, the highest yield (12.48 t ha-1) was observed in the wet year, when the relative chlorophyll content was also the highest (50.6).

Permanent ectoparasites live in stable environments; thus, their population dynamics are mostly adapted to changes in the host life cycle. We aimed to investigate how static and dynamic traits of red-footed falcons interplay with the dynamics of their louse subpopulations during breeding and how they affect the colonisation of new hosts by lice. We sampled red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) nestlings (two breeding seasons) and adults (one breeding season) in southern Hungary. The mean abundance of Colpocephalum subzerafae and Degeeriella rufa lice on the nestlings was modelled with generalized linear mixed models using clutch size and host sex in interaction with wing length. For adults, we used wing length and the number of days after laying the first egg, both in interaction with sex. D. rufa abundances increased with the nestlings’ wing length. In one year, this trend was steeper on females. In adult birds, both louse species exhibited higher abundances on females at the beginning, but it decreased subsequently through the breeding season. Contrarily, abundances were constantly low on adult males. Apparently, D. rufa postpones transmission until nestlings develop juvenile plumage and choose the more feathered individual among siblings. The sexual difference in the observed abundance could either be caused by the different plumage, or by the females’ preference for less parasitized males. Moreover, females likely have more time to preen during the incubation period, lowering their louse burdens. Thus, sex-biased infestation levels likely arise due to parasite preferences in the nestlings and host behavioural processes in the adult falcons.

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: A colorectalis betegek perioperatív kezelésében mintegy 20 éve új multidiszciplináris gyakorlat jelent meg, az úgynevezett „gyorsított felépülést segítő program”, angol terminológiával az „Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)”. Az ERAS evidencián alapuló tevékenységsor, amely a laparoscopos műtéti technikával összekapcsolva a posztoperatív morbiditási mutatók javulását, a kórházi tartózkodás csökkenését és költséghatékony ellátást tesz lehetővé. Célkitűzés: A tatabányai megyei kórház Sebészeti Osztályán 2013-tól vezettük be a laparoscopia mellett az ERAS protokollt. A 2015–2016-os két év vonatkozásában a „hagyományos” és az ERAS szerint vezetett colorectalis perioperatív kezelési módszert hasonlítottuk össze. Betegek és módszerek: Retrospektív, egy centrumban végzett klinikai vizsgálatban a két, demográfiai és betegségjellemzők szerinti homogén betegcsoport kórházi tartózkodási idejét, a posztoperatív morbiditást, mortalitást, valamint a korai funkcionális eredményeket elemeztük. Eredmények: 130 beteget kezeltünk hagyományos, 84 beteget ERAS protokoll szerint. Az átlagos kórházi tartózkodási idő 8 és 6 nap (median) volt. A korai osztályos visszavételi arány az ERAS csoportban nem mutatkozott magasabbnak (3,1% és 1,2%). Posztoperatív morbiditásban az ERAS protokollt találtuk kedvezőbbnek (27,4% hagyományos, 8,3% ERAS), hasonlóan a mortalitási mutatók is enyhe javulást mutattak. Következtetések: Az ERAS protokoll sikeres bevezetéséről számolunk be egy megyei kórház gyakorlatában. A kedvező tapasztalatok alapján a 2017-es évtől egységes protokollként az ERAS-t minden egyes elektív colorectalis műtétes beteg esetére kiterjesztettük.

The interaction of caffeic acid and a newly synthesised cavitand derivative was investigated by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy in tetrahydrofuran–water matrix. The temperature dependence of the equilibrium constants was determined first, then the thermodynamic parameters were calculated using the van’t Hoff equation. Absorption measurements highlighted entropy-controlled formation of cavitand–caffeic acid complexes with 1:2 stoichiometry. It was proved by fluorescence measurements that caffeic acid dimerisation is followed by the formation of cavitand–caffeic acid complexes with 1:2 stoichiometry. It was also shown that both the caffeic acid dimerisation and the formation of 1:2 complexes are controlled by the entropy gain. PL signal is preferred to use for analytical application in this particular case.

van ’t Hoff plots (logarithm of the retention factor, ln k, vs. the reciprocal of absolute temperature, 1/T) are commonly used in chromatographic studies to characterize the retention mechanisms based on the determined enthalpy (ΔH∘) and entropy (ΔS∘) change of analyte adsorption. In reversed phase liquid chromatography, the thermodynamic parameters could help to understand the retention mechanism. In chiral chromatography, however, the conclusions drawn based on van ’t Hoff plots can be deceptive because several different types of adsorption sites are present on the surface of stationary phase. The influence of heterogeneity, however, cannot be studied experimentally. In this study, we employed two reversed phase columns with different retention mechanisms to show that by serially coupling the columns, the obtained thermodynamic parameters are not related to the results obtained on the respective individual columns. Furthermore, our results show that the experimental conditions – such as flow-rate or choice of instrument – will strongly influence the calculated enthalpy and entropy values.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme has been described and practiced for twenty years in the perioperative management of colorectal patients. ERAS is a complex, evidence based strategy which proved to be extremely effective when linked to laparoscopy in reducing morbidity, length of hospital stay, as well as reducing cost of colorectal service.We gradually adapted elements of ERAS protocol along with laparoscopy in the colorectal surgical treatment at a county hospital from 2013. This study reports a retrospective clinical audit of ERAS programme of two years, between 2015-2016.In this timeframe we compared clinical results of traditional and ERAS perioperative colorectal management protocols. The two groups were assessed on the basis of demographic, cancer-related parameters and clinical outcomes.Over the two years of audit we treated 130 patients under "traditional" and 84 cases according to ERAS protocol. Mean length of hospital stay was 8 and 6 days median, respectively. Earlier discharge in the ERAS group did not cause any increase in the readmission rates. Morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or more) was found to be less in ERAS group: 8,3% vs. 27,4%. ERAS programme success rate, characterized by discharge by 7th postoperative day, was over 70%, keeping well with rates of the experienced centres of ERAS.Therefore we can report a successful introduction of ERAS programme for colorectal service in a Middle-Eastern European county hospital. Based on the favourable outcome results of the retrospective audit we have extended ERAS protocol as first choice perioperative scheme for each elective colorectal case from the beginning of 2017.

Active conservation measures often entail supplementing scarce resources, such as food or nesting site to high conservation value species. We hypothesized that adequate nest material in reasonable distance is a scarce resource for Rooks breeding in open grassland habitats of Hungary. Here we show that Rooks willingly utilize large quantities of provided excess nesting material, and that this procedure may alter nest composition, and increase the number of successful pairs. Our results show that while nest height remains constant, twig diameter is significantly larger, the number of twigs used per nest is presumably smaller, and that the ratio of nests with fledglings is higher in a rookery where supplementary twigs were present. Providing twigs and branches in the vicinity of rookeries may serve as an active conservation measure to increase the number of nests in a rookery, and thus the potential number of nesting possibilities for Red-footed Falcons.

Little is known about the louse species harboured by Red-footed and Amur Falcons despite the fact that various life-history traits of these hosts make them good model species to study host-parasite interactions. We collected lice samples from fully grown Amur (n=20) and Red-footed Falcons (n=59), and from nestlings of Red-footed Falcons (n=179) in four countries: Hungary, India, Italy and South Africa. We identified 3 louse species on both host species, namely Degeeriella rufa, Colpocephalum subzerafae and Laembothrion tinnunculi. The latter species has never been found on these hosts. Comparing population parameters of lice between hosts we found significantly higher prevalence levels of D. rufa and C. subzerafae on Amur Falcons. Adult Red-footed Falcons had higher D. rufa prevalence compared to C. subzerafae. For the first time we also show inter-annual shift in prevalence and intensity levels of these species on Red-footed Falcons; in 2012 on adult hosts C. subzerafae had higher intensity levels than D. rufa, however in 2014 D. rufa had significantly higher intensity compared to C. subzerafae. In case of nestlings both louse species had significantly higher preva lence levels than in 2014. The exact causes of such inter-annual shifts are yet to be understood.

Selecting a suitable breeding habitats and a nest-site within are crucial decisions birds have to make. Free ranging solitary Kestrels may use public information derived from leftover pellets and prey remnants from previous conspecific breeding attempts to assess location quality. However, this information may also indicate potentially higher nestling ectoparasite load. In colonies where habitat quality is similar for all available nests, the only information of previous nest usage may reflect expected future parasite pressure. In this study we explored whether Kestrels, Red-footed Falcons and Jackdaws rely on nest-material consisting of pellets and prey remnants when choosing a nest in a multi species artificial colony system. We also assessed potential effects of these decisions on reproductive success. We randomly selected and cleaned half (n=102) of all available nest-boxes in each of the studied 4 colonies before the breeding season. We then monitored occupancy, egg-laying date, hatching and fledging success. In case of Red-footed Falcons, we also acquired adult age and nestling condition data. Our results show that Kestrels were more likely to breed in uncleaned nest-boxes, however, eggs laid in cleaned nest-boxes were more likely to develop into fledged nestlings. There was a weak indication that lower hatching rate was responsible for this effect, rather than increased parasite load. Nest box cleaning had no effect on measured variables in case of Red-footed Falcons and Jackdaws. Colonial breeding of Kestrels, the only species to react to nest-box cleaning, is rare and is probably a consequence of extreme nest-site shortage in our study site. We conclude that Kestrels are not adapted to interpret the information carried by pellets and prey-remnants in colony nest-boxes.

Shortage of breeding sites is an important limiting factor of bird populations. Artificial breeding platforms, nest-boxes or man-made twig nests often present solutions with remarkable results, however long-term sustainability of these populations remains to be resolved. Furthermore, the question whether the inference of results of studies conducted on birds breeding in artificial breeding sites can be generalized to other populations, still remains open. Here we present the history, and the results of a 20 year old (1995-2015) nest-box programme initiated to increase potential breeding possibilities of Red-footed Falcons in an area, where nest-site shortage was a severe limiting factor. We show how various other species (Jackdaws, Kestrels and Long-eared Owls) have utilized these resources, and present descriptive statistics on their reproductive performance. Analysing the data of a total of 1432 breeding attempts, we show that Red-footed Falcons have similar clutch sizes, and nesting success (i.e. ratio of nests with at least on fledgling), however fledging success (ratio of the number of eggs/fledged nestlings) was different in artificial nest-boxes. When we excluded closed box types from artificial nests, this difference was not apparent. In case of Kestrels (n=1626 breeding attempts) clutch size was significantly higher in artificial nests, while we found no difference in fledging or nesting success. When only comparing open boxes to natural nests, the difference in clutch size was no longer significant. We also analysed the effect of nest box design on reproductive parameters of the two species using regression trees. Inter annual effects were the most important in shaping clutch size and fledging rate of both falcon species, however we also found nest-box design effects, but only in Red-footed Falcons. In years when mean clutch size was high, these birds had lower clutch size in an older, darker nest-box type compared to an alternative design, and to open boxes. However, fledging rate in the same years was lower for both open boxes and older nest-boxes. We conclude that artificial colonies are an important and successful tool in Red-footed Falcon conservation, and that the breeding parameters measured in artificial colonies depend on nest-box design. We present correlative evidence that closed boxes have a significant positive species specific effect on reproduction, probably due to their protection against weather. We also show that birds may have a preference for a certain nest-box design, and that the breeding success in the less favoured box type may be similar to that in open nests. We recommend that future studies incorporate nest-type and nest-box design effects in all comparisons made on reproductive performance in case of Red-footed Falcons and Kestrels.

The Red-footed Falcon is a facultatively colonial species that exploits rookeries, artificial nest-box colonies and solitary corvid nests for breeding. Moreover, the remain gregarious in the post breeding period using communal roost sites prior to migration. We developed and implemented a survey protocol to allow to precisely estimate the number of breeding pairs in all three breeding types and to assess large scale spatio-temporal changes in roost site usage. Our results show that the lowest number of breeding pairs (558) was in 2006. However, in 2014 the number of pairs showed a two fold increase, mainly due to a large scale nest-box programme implemented in the past decade. We identified a total of 105 roost sites throughout the country. The number of birds peaked in the second week of September in the past 10 years. We formulate a recommendation to maintain population monitoring efficiency by reducing the frequency of full surveys to 5 years and using designated study areas to control for temporal trends in between.

Background Avian host species have different roles in the amplification and maintenance of West Nile virus (WNV), therefore identifying key taxa is vital in understanding WNV epidemics. Here, we present a comprehensive case study conducted on red-footed falcons, where host-vector, vector-virus and host-virus interactions were simultaneously studied to evaluate host species contribution to WNV circulation qualitatively. Results Mosquitoes were trapped inside red-footed falcon nest-boxes by a method originally developed for the capture of blackflies and midges. We showed that this approach is also efficient for trapping mosquitoes and that the number of trapped vectors is a function of host attraction. Brood size and nestling age had a positive effect on the number of attracted Culex pipiens individuals while the blood-feeding success rate of both dominant Culex species (Culex pipiens and Culex modestus) markedly decreased after the nestlings reached 14 days of age. Using RT-PCR, we showed that WNV was present in these mosquitoes with 4.2% (CI: 0.9–7.5%) prevalence. We did not detect WNV in any of the nestling blood samples. However, a relatively high seroprevalence (25.4% CI: 18.8–33.2%) was detected with an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Using the ELISA OD ratios as a proxy to antibody titers, we showed that older seropositive nestlings have lower antibody levels than their younger conspecifics and that hatching order negatively influences antibody levels in broods with seropositive nestlings. Conclusions Red-footed falcons in the studied system are exposed to a local sylvatic WNV circulation, and the risk of infection is higher for younger nestlings. However, the lack of individuals with viremia and the high WNV seroprevalence, indicate that either host has a very short viremic period or that a large percentage of nestlings in the population receive maternal antibodies. This latter assumption is supported by the age and hatching order dependence of antibody levels found for seropositive nestlings. Considering the temporal pattern in mosquito feeding success, maternal immunity may be effective in protecting progeny against WNV infection despite the short antibody half-life measured in various other species. We conclude that red-footed falcons seem to have low WNV host competence and are unlikely to be effective virus reservoirs in the studied region.

Climate change poses a new challenge for maize producers which calls for the re-thinking of each production technological element. Professional nutrient replenishment may represent an alternative for the mitigation of yield decrease caused by climate change by means of improving yield stability from the aspect of global food safety, as well as increasing yield and improving yield quality. In the course of a six-year (2011-2016) research, under changing climatic conditions we studied how different fertilization methods - 11 different N doses (0-300 kg ha-1) - affect the productivity of maize and protein content of grains.The experiment was carried out in Hungary (47o 33’ N, 21o 26’ E, asl: 111 m) in the long-term experiment of the University of Debrecen.

Haemorrhagic nephritis and enteritis of geese as a new disease was first described in Hungary in 1969. The authors identified the causative agent of the outbreaks occurring in 1969 as a polyomavirus by PCR in 2001. In order to study the pathogenesis of the virus, one-day-old goslings were infected with tissue homogenate that tested positive for polyomavirus by PCR. Morphological, light and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examinations have revealed that goose haemorrhagic polyomavirus replicates in the endothelial cells of the blood vessels and capillaries of diseased birds. Infection causes damage and necrosis of the endothelial cells. The virus was not observed in the parenchymal cells. Oedema and haemorrhages found throughout the body may be due to the dysfunction or functional deficiency of endothelial cells damaged by the virus.

Endocrine pancreatic tumors are rare neoplasms consisting of multipotent cells capable of secreting various bioactive substances causing characteristic clinical syndromes. Ovarian stromal hyperthecosis is characterized by varying degrees of luteinized stromal cell proliferation after sustained LH and/or human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation, clinically manifested by symptoms/signs of virilization resembling the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We report a case of ectopic bioactive LH production from a pancreatic endocrine tumor in a 33-yr-old woman with rapidly developing symptoms/signs of hyperandrogenism and markedly elevated serum androgen and LH levels leading to hyperthecosis and bilateral luteinized granulosa-thecal cell tumors of the ovaries. Although the patient was initially thought to have either severe PCOS or an LH-secreting pituitary tumor, an LH-producing pancreatic endocrine tumor bearing somatostatin receptors was demonstrated on scintigraphy with [111In]octreotide and abdominal imaging. Symptoms and signs of hyperandrogenism resolved after the resection of the tumor. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy studies confirmed LH synthesis by the tumor cell. Although extremely rare, ectopic LH production from nonpituitary endocrine tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperandrogenism, particularly when associated with highly elevated serum LH levels.

Although Turner syndrome is not uncommon, studies of the pituitary in this condition are few. We undertook a histochemical and immunohistochemical study of four cases. As expected, "gonadal failure cells" were seen, but without recognizable gonadotroph hyperplasia. No gonadotroph adenomas were encountered. Instead, three silent corticotroph microadenomas were seen; their etiology remains unexplained. The question of whether the simultaneous occurrence of Turner syndrome and silent corticotroph adenoma is causal or incidental cannot be answered on the basis of the study of our material. Because these two diseases are rare, an etiologic association has to be considered. For example, it is possible that (a) protracted stimulation of gonadotrophs leads to transdifferentiation to corticotrophs, a hypothesis supported by the fact that normal and neoplastic gonadotrophs can contain ACTH and that some corticotroph adenomas produce LH and/or alpha subunit, (b) corticotrophs develop gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors and undergo neoplastic transformation when exposed to continuous elevation of GnRH, FSH, and/or LH levels, and (c) the genetic defect in Turner syndrome promotes the formation of corticotroph adenomas.

SUMMARY We report the case of a 63-year-old man who presented with weakness, fatigue, dehydration, confusion, abdominal pain, congestive heart failure and hypercalcemia. He expired and autopsy revealed an exulcerating carcinoma of the esophagus, invading the esophageal wall and metastasizing to the lungs, skin and lymph nodes. Histology demonstrated an epithelial tumor consisting of two components with transition between the two. One component was a keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, whereas the other component consisted of pleomorphic small cells. The hypercalcemia was assumed to be due to parathyroid hormone related protein (PHRP), which was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry only in the pleomorphic small cells and not in the squamous cells. PHRP induced humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is most often associated with squamous cell carcinomas. The finding that in our case, the pleomorphic small cell component was PHRP immunopositive and the squamous cell component showed no immunoreactivity, is intriguing and remains unexplained.

A 67-year-old woman presented with clinical features of hypercortisolism in association with an invasive pituitary macroadenoma. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's disease was documented, and the resected tumor was chromophobic, weakly positive with periodic-Schiff reagent, and showed immunostaining for ACTH and beta-endorphin in a minority of adenoma cells. Both luteinizing hormone and alpha-subunit staining were also observed, but no follicle-stimulating hormone reactivity was seen. Ultrastructurally, the tumor showed typical features of a gonadotroph adenoma of female type. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that ACTH was not produced in corticotrophs, but in cells with the characteristic features of gonadotrophs. This represents the second report of a plurihormonal gonadotroph adenoma producing sufficient ACTH to result in pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease.

Pituitary carcinomas are very rare. Defined as adenohypophysial tumors that undergo craniospinal and/or systemic metastasis, most are PRL- or ACTH-producing. Their ultrastructural features, particularly relative to benign adenomas of similar functional type, have not been sufficiently explored. Eleven cases of immunohistochemically characterized pituitary carcinoma with documented cerebrospinal and/or systemic metastases were collected from various institutions and studied by transmission electron microscopy. The tumors were surgically removed from 7 women and 4 men ranging in age between 28 and 74 years (mean, 50 years). All were endocrinologically functioning. Six tumors secreted PRL; three were ACTH-producing; one each was GH/PRL- and TSH-producing. The patients with the ACTH-producing tumors had all presented with Cushing's disease and two of them had undergone adrenalectomy (Nelson syndrome). In most cases significant cellular atypia and mitotic activity were observed. In terms of morphologic features of functional differentiation, electron microscopy revealed that in 9 cases the tumor cells maintained at least some ultrastructural markers of their basic phenotype. A unique feature in 2 ACTH carcinomas was the variable admixture of smooth endoplasmic reticulum with intermediate (cytokeratin) filaments. In 2 cases, both PRL-producing carcinomas, the cell type comprising the tumor could not be identified on an ultrastructural basis alone. Ultrastructural investigation of pituitary carcinomas confirms their endocrine nature and, in most but not all cases, reveals their functional differentiation. Despite the diagnostic utility of electron microscopy in the assessment of these rare tumors, the distinction of pituitary carcinoma from pituitary adenoma cannot be firmly made on ultrastructural grounds alone.

Histologic examination revealed large ganglion cells within the posterior pituitary of an 80-year-old woman who died of myocardial infarction. Apparently fully mature, the cells were an incidental finding scattered within hyperplastic foci of pars intermedia (PI)-derived cells (basophil invasion) on histologic examination of the pituitary obtained at autopsy. Immunocytochemistry showed staining reactivity for neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, alpha subunit of the glycoprotein hormones and beta-endorphin. The presence of these ganglion cells with features similar to those of magnocellular hypothalamic neurons could be considered the result of abnormal migration during the early phase of embryonic life, or differentiation/maturation of neuroblasts, presumed to occur in the embryonic neurohypophysis. Alternatively, transdifferentiation from proliferating PI cells may explain the emergence of neurons; a hypothesis supported by the proximity and shared alpha subunit, and beta-endorphin immunoreactivities of the two cell types.

In patients with protracted primary hypothyroidism, the pituitary is enlarged due to the lack of feedback inhibition by thyroid hormone. In the present work, adenohypophysial biopsies from three women with protracted primary hypothyroidism were investigated by routine histology, immunocytochemistry, double immunostaining, immunoelectron microscopy, and combined immunocytochemistry - in situ hybridization. These methods confirmed the presence of massive thyrotroph hyperplasia and the formation of "thyroidectomy" or "thyroid deficiency" cells. A number of thyroidectomy cells were found to be immunoreactive for growth hormone (GH). Double immunostaining and immunoelectron microscopy revealed the presence of bihormonal cells containing both GH and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Immunostaining combined with in situ hybridization revealed GH immunoreactive cells expressing TSH mRNA as well as TSH immunopositive cells expressing GH mRNA. Our findings provide conclusive evidence that somatotrophs may transform to thyrotrophs. Thus, in addition to multiplication of thyrotrophs, transdifferentiation of GH cells to thyrotrophs contributes to the increase of TSH-producing cells. The presence of such bihormonal cells best termed "thyrosomatotrophs" supports the concept that adenohypophysial cells are not irreversibly committed to the production of one single hormone and that their phenotype can change in response to functional demand.