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Este artigo tem como tema a adoção de soluções baseadas na natureza (SbN) na drenagem de águas pluviais em cidades da América Latina, considerando que as SbN prestam serviços ambientais e contribuem para tornar as cidades mais resilientes. Pondera que, como evidenciado pelo confronto entre a realidade do setor e o desejável para sua adoção, existem questões a enfrentar tais como a falta de visão sistêmica na estrutura governamental e a inadequação do arranjo institucional responsável pelo setor. Objetivando aprofundar a reflexão sobre a adoção de SbN, em especial do ponto de vista da ação governamental em bacias “metropolizadas”, adota-se São Paulo e Cidade do México como estudos de caso. Tal reflexão apoia-se na revisão bibliográfica sobre aspectos conceituais e sobre a difusão e assimilação do tema na América Latina, bem como no exame de documentos relacionados à adoção de SbN na drenagem urbana e na adaptação a eventos extremos nas áreas de estudo. Como resultado, além da identificação dos desafios locais, a pesquisa indica como oportunidade aberta a existência do Comitê de Bacia Hidrográfica Alto Tietê e do Consejo de Cuenca del Valle de México, os quais podem incorporar o tema de modo mais incisivo em sua pauta. Aponta ainda que aproveitar esta oportunidade trará ganhos ao processo: por um lado, pode-se valer da experiência destes arranjos com processos participativos e, por outro, com a adoção de processos de cocriação, pode-se aprimorar os procedimentos destes colegiados e, por extensão, a governança. Contudo, o cenário, embora favorável, ainda está sendo delineado.

Carotenoids contribute to a variety of physiological processes in plants, functioning also as biosynthesis precursors of ABA and strigolactones (SLs). SL biosynthesis starts with the enzymatic conversion of all-trans-β-carotene to 9-cis-β-carotene by the DWARF27 (D27) isomerase. In Arabidopsis, D27 has two closely related paralogs, D27-LIKE1 and D27-LIKE2, which were predicted to be β-carotene-isomerases. In the present study, we characterised D27-LIKE1 and identified some key aspects of its physiological and enzymatic functions in Arabidopsis. d27-like1-1 mutant does not display any strigolactone-deficient traits and exhibits a substantially higher 9-cis-violaxanthin content, which is accompanied by a slightly higher ABA level. In vitro feeding assays with recombinant D27-LIKE1 revealed that the protein exhibits affinity to all β-carotene isoforms but with an exclusive preference towards trans/cis conversions and the interconversion between 9-cis, 13-cis and 15-cis-β-carotene forms, and accepts zeaxanthin and violaxanthin as substrates. Finally, we present evidence showing that D27-LIKE1 mRNA is phloem mobile and D27-LIKE1 is an ancient isomerase with a long evolutionary history. In summary, we demonstrate that D27-LIKE1 is a carotenoid isomerase with multi-substrate specificity and has a characteristic preference towards the catalysation of cis/cis interconversion of carotenoids. Therefore, D27-LIKE1 is a potential regulator of carotenoid cis pools and, eventually, SL and ABA biosynthesis pathways.

A munka mindig is életünk része volt. Fizikai és szellemi tevékenységünk révén nyílik lehetőség társadalmi fejlődésre és a gazdaság átrendezésére (adott esetben gazdasági növekedésre). Az életen át tartó tanulás (LLL = lifelong learning) pedig – akár formális, akár informális vagy éppen non-formális – ahhoz segíti hozzá az emberiséget, hogy olyan teljesítményképes tudásra tegyen szert, amely állandó cselekvésre sarkallja. Mindemellett fontos megjegyezni, hogy a ’munka’ szláv jövevényszó (valószínűleg indoeurópai eredetű) és kín, gyötrelem, vesződség, szenvedés, erőlködés, erőfeszítés jelentésekkel bír. Az ipari forradalmakat megtestesítő folyamatos technikai, technológiai innovációk révén már szükségszerűen megjelent szempontként a monoton emberi munka, illetve az emberre ártalmas munkavégzés kiváltása gépekkel. Napjainkban pedig a munkavállalói élménynek is egyre inkább előtérbe kell kerülnie. A mesterséges intelligenciában rejlő lehetőségek között ez utóbbi is ott húzódik, hiszen e technológia alkalmazásával olyan munkakörök jöhetnek létre, ahol az emberi gondolkodás, a kreativitás, az egyediség a legfontosabb készségek, képességek. Közleményünk e témában enged elmélyedni egy kicsit. Az utóbbi néhány év (tudományos) írásművei, szakpolitikai és statisztikai dokumentumai, valamint egyéb ismeretterjesztő művek alapján reflektív gondolatok formájában felvillantja a mesterséges intelligenciának a munka világában érzékelhető lehetséges hatásait, vagyis a benne rejlő lehetőségeket és kihívásokat. Ezt sejteti a közlemény címe is, lévén hogy előnyökről és hátrányokról még nem beszélhetünk, hiszen nem kiforrott technológiáról van szó, hanem a bevezetési fázisában lévőről.

A taj hatassal van az emberre, azonban az emberi tevekenyseg hatasara a taj is valtozik/valtozhat, amely valtozasnak negativ pszichologiai, elettani hatasai is lehetnek. A kompetenciadus taj egy rendkivul „komplex ekszer” az eletunkben, hozzajarul egeszsegunk megőrzesehez, tagabb ertelemben jolletunk meghatarozoja. Jelen kozlemeny celja annak felmerese, hogy a leendő műszaki mernokok a hatas-ellenhatas mechanizmusanak ismereteben milyen erteket tulajdonitanak a tajnak/tajkepnek sajat egeszseguk vonatkozasaban, illetőleg milyen attitűd jellemzi őket a kompetenciadus tajak megőrzesenek, formalasanak folyamataban. E celkitűzes megvalositasa rovid kerdőives felmeres kereteben valosult meg 68 fő egyetemi hallgato velemenyenek feldolgozasaval. A transzdiszciplinaris felmeres eredmenyekent az egeszsegmegőrzes temakoreben a taj/tajkep fogalmahoz a nyugalom, kikapcsolodas, feltoltődes, sportolas (biciklizes, futas, turazas, seta) fogalmakat tarsitjak leginkabb a valaszadok. Az eredmenyek alapjan megallapithato tovabba, hogy a megkerdezett fiatal felnőttek koreben a jelen „elmenyvilaga” (a „technicizalt” tajak vonatkozasaban) felertekelődik, ugyanakkor a jovőbeni tajpotencialnak az egeszsegre gyakorolt hatasa miatt aggodok aranya ~70%-os. Az eredmenyek azt sugalljak, hogy a jovőben tovabbra is figyelemmel kell lenni, illetve erősiteni kell a mernokjeloltekben, hogy a tevekenyseguk soran az technologiai hataselemzesek elvegzese mellett az okologiai hataselemzesek elvegzeset se hanyagoljak el a pozitiv pszichologiai, elettani hatasokkal biro tajak kialakitasa okan. Abstract: Landscape has an effect on people, however, as a consequence of human activity, landscape changes / might change, which can also have negative psychological and physiological effects, too. Competence-rich landscape is an extremely “complex jewellery” in our lives, contributing to the preservation of our health, in a broader sense, a determinant of our well-being. The aim of this paper is to assess the value that future technical engineers approach to surrounding area/landscape by knowing the action – reaction mechanism in relation to their own health, in addition to their attitude in the process of preserving and shaping competence-rich landscapes. This objective was achieved through a short survey (analysis of the opinions of 68 university students). As a result of the transdisciplinary survey (questionnaire), the concepts of calmness, relaxation, resting, sports (cycling, running, hiking, walking) are most often associated with the definition of landscape/scenery in the topic of health preservation. The results also show that among the young adults surveyed, the present of “world experience” (in terms of “technicalized” landscapes) is appreciated, while the percentage of those worried about the impact of future landscape potential on health is approximately 70%. Based on the results, in the future, it is essential to keep paying attention, as well as to strengthen in engineer candidates that in their course of their works do not neglect ecological impact assessments besides technological impact assessments due to the creation of landscapes with positive psychological and physiological effects.

Ascorbate (Asc, vitamin C) is an essential metabolite participating in multiple physiological processes of plants, including environmental stress management and development. In this study, we acquired knowledge on the role of Asc in dark-induced leaf senescence using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism. One of the earliest effects of prolonged darkness is the inactivation of oxygen-evolving complexes (OEC) as demonstrated here by fast chlorophyll a fluorescence and thermoluminescence measurements. We found that inactivation of OEC due to prolonged darkness was attenuated in the Asc-deficient vtc2-4 mutant. On the other hand, the severe photosynthetic phenotype of a psbo1 knockout mutant, lacking the major extrinsic OEC subunit PSBO1, was further aggravated upon a 24-h dark treatment. The psbr mutant, devoid of the PSBR subunit of OEC, performed only slightly disturbed photosynthetic activity under normal growth conditions, whereas it showed a strongly diminished B thermoluminescence band upon dark treatment. We have also generated a double psbo1 vtc2 mutant, and it showed a slightly milder photosynthetic phenotype than the single psbo1 mutant. Our results, therefore, suggest that Asc leads to the inactivation of OEC in prolonged darkness by over-reducing the Mn-complex that is probably enabled by a dark-induced dissociation of the extrinsic OEC subunits. Our study is an example that Asc may negatively affect certain cellular processes and thus its concentration and localization need to be highly controlled.

Carotenoids are colourful isoprenoids that contribute to a variety of physiological processes in plants. They also function as biosynthesis precursors of abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactones (SLs). SL biosynthesis starts with the enzymatic conversion of all-trans-β-carotene to 9-cis-β-carotene by the DWARF27 (D27) isomerase. In Arabidopsis, D27 has two closely related paralogs, D27-LIKE1 and D27-LIKE2 which were predicted to be β-carotene-isomerases. Here we characterised D27-LIKE1 and identified some key aspects of its function. Arabidopsis d27-like1-1 mutant does not display any SL or karrikin-deficient traits, however, it exhibits a substantially higher 9-cis-violaxanthin content. In vitro feeding assays with recombinant D27-LIKE1 revealed that the protein exhibits affinity to all β-carotene isoforms but with an exclusive preference towards trans/cis conversions and the interconversion between 9-cis, 13-cis and 15-cis-β-carotene forms. Feeding experiments with zeaxanthin and violaxanthin isomers revealed that D27-LIKE1 accepts these xanthophylls as substrates. The remarkably higher 9-cis-violaxanthin content of the mutant is accompanied by a slightly higher ABA level. Finally, we presented evidence that D27-LIKE1 mRNA is phloem mobile and D27-LIKE1 is an ancient isomerase with long evolutionary history. In summary, we demonstrated that D27-LIKE1 is a carotenoid isomerase with multi-substrate specificity and has a characteristic preference towards the catalysation of cis/cis interconversion of carotenoids. Therefore, D27-LIKE1 is a potential regulator of carotenoid cis pools and eventually, SL and ABA biosynthesis pathways.

A bio-motorhajtóanyagok előállításával és energetikai célú hasznosításával kapcsolatos kutatások fontosságát egyrészt Magyarország Megújuló Energia Hasznosítási Cselekvési Tervében foglaltak, másrészt az Európa 2020 által is hangsúlyozott intelligens és fenntartható növekedés elősegítése indokolja. Közleményünkben közölt kutatási program közvetlen célja a mikrohullámú előkezelés bio-energetikai célú felhasználási lehetőségének vizsgálata, közvetett cél az energiaellátás biztonságának megteremtése. Az eddigi tapasztalatok alapján a mikrohullámú energiaközlés előnyösen használható egyes kémiai reakciók intenzifikálása területén. Előkísérleti tapasztalataink azt mutatt ák, hogy a növényi olajok mikrohullámú térben történő átészterezése (metanolos átészterezés NaOH katalizátorral) az eljárás idejének és energiafelhasználásának csökkentését eredményezi. A mikrohullámú energiaközléssel végzett növényi alapú hajtóanyagok előállítása eltérő műveleti -, eljárás- és folyamatparaméterek mellett történt. A kísérletek eredményeként megállapítható, hogy a hagyományos átészterezés reakcióidejéhez viszonyítva a mikrohullámmal történt átészterezési reakcióidők jelentősen lecsökkentek, azonban az eljárásenergeti kai szempontú opti málásához a kezelt reakcióelegy összetételének és az összetevők dielektromos jellemzőinek további vizsgálata, illetve meghatározása is szükséges.

Photosynthetic green algae face an ever-changing environment of fluctuating light as well as unstable oxygen levels, which via the production of free radicals constantly challenges the integrity of the photosynthetic complexes. To face such challenges, a complex photosynthetic control network monitors and tightly control the membrane redox potential. Here, we show that not only that the photosynthetic control set the rate limiting step of photosynthetic linear electron flow, but also, upon its ultimate dissipation, it triggers intrinsic alternations in the activity of the photosynthetic complexes. These changes have a grave and prolonged effect on the activity of photosystem II, leading to a massive 3-fold decrease in its electron output. We came into this conclusion via studying a variety of green algae species and applying advance mass-spectrometry and diverse spectroscopic techniques. Our results shed new light on the mechanism of photosynthetic regulation, and provide new target for improving photosynthesis.

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model organism of increasing biotechnological importance, yet, the evaluation of its life cycle processes and photosynthesis on a single-cell level is largely unresolved. To facilitate the study of the relationship between morphology and photochemistry, we established microfluidics in combination with chlorophyll a fluorescence induction measurements. We developed two types of microfluidic platforms for single-cell investigations: (i) The traps of the “Tulip” device are suitable for capturing and immobilizing single cells, enabling the assessment of their photosynthesis for several hours without binding to a solid support surface. Using this “Tulip” platform, we performed high-quality non-photochemical quenching measurements and confirmed our earlier results on bulk cultures that non-photochemical quenching is higher in ascorbate-deficient mutants (Crvtc2-1) than in the wild-type. (ii) The traps of the “Pot” device were designed for capturing single cells and allowing the growth of the daughter cells within the traps. Using our most performant “Pot” device, we could demonstrate that the FV/FM parameter, an indicator of photosynthetic efficiency, varies considerably during the cell cycle. Our microfluidic devices, therefore, represent versatile platforms for the simultaneous morphological and photosynthetic investigations of C. reinhardtii on a single-cell level.

Photobiological hydrogen (H2) production is a promising renewable energy source. HydA hydrogenases of green algae are efficient but O2-sensitive and compete for electrons with CO2-fixation. Recently, we established a photoautotrophic H2 production system based on anaerobic induction, where the Calvin-Benson cycle is inactive and O2 scavenged by an absorbent. Here, we employed thin layer cultures, resulting in a three-fold increase in H2 production relative to bulk CC-124 cultures (50 µg chlorophyll/ml, 350 µmol photons m−2 s−1). Productivity was maintained when increasing the light intensity to 1000 µmol photons m-2s−1 and the cell density to 150 µg chlorophyll/ml. Remarkably, the L159I-N230Y photosystem II mutant and the pgrl1 photosystem I cyclic electron transport mutant produced 50% more H2 than CC-124, while the pgr5 mutant generated 250% more (1.2 ml H2/ml culture in six days). The photosynthetic apparatus of the pgr5 mutant and its in vitro HydA activity remained remarkably stable.

A talajtani és növénytani felvételezések helyszíne a Tihanyi-félszigeten található Belső-tó környéke, ahol 2017. júniusában négy mintaterületet jelöltünk ki. A terepbejárások alkalmával a mintaterületek talaját megmintáztuk (a helyszíni vizsgálatokat követően a minták akkreditált laboratóriumba kerültek), illetve a kijelölt területeken cönológiai vizsgálatokat is végeztünk. A terepbejárások, valamint a részletes talajtani és növénytani elemzés alapján megállapítható, hogy a mintaterületeken a megelőző tájhasználat igen erős degradációt okozott: még mindig jelen vannak a degradációra utaló taxonok. A tájhasználat-váltást követően azonban beindultak a regenerációs folyamatok. A talaj-növény vizsgálatokkal (is) bizonyítható mozaikosság egyik előnye, hogy széleskörű tájhasználatot rejt magában, ami segít a tájat legkevésbé terhelő gazdálkodási mód megválasztásában is. A Tihanyi-félszigeten sok élő és élettelen természeti érték található, amely nem csak a természetes degradációnak van kitéve, de az ember által okozott beavatkozásnak is. A korábbi talajtérképeken ábrázolt sokszínű talajtakaró jelentős részét érintette a területen folytatott legeltetés és a turizmus hatása. A kialakult talajtípusok nem maradtak meg eredeti állapotukban: a réti csernozjom talajokon (Belső-tó) tömődöttséget és a szerkezet szétesését, illetve eróziót eredményezett az emberi beavatkozás. A talajpusztulás (talajkopás) a termőréteg csökkenésével, a szerkezet romlásával, a váz-, kőzethatású és lejtőhordalék talajok arányának növekedésével járt együtt. A vizsgálatok azt igazolták, hogy a legeltetett területeken a magyar szürke szarvasmarha állomány egyedszáma a gyep fenntartása szempontjából ideális. A tájhasznosítás ugyanis abban az esetben tekinthető tájökológiai szempontból megfelelőnek, ha a tájjelleget (tájkaraktert) meghatározó ökoszisztémát, illetőleg a felszínborítást nem módosítja jelentős mértékben, a növényzetben az eredeti vegetációhoz legközelebb állót, míg a talajtani folyamatokban a természeteshez közelieket ismerhetjük fel.

Kerdőives felmerest vegeztunk a Mernoki Kar negy alapszakanak nappali tagozatos hallgatoinak koreben. A felmeres reszet kepezi annak a negy evre kiterjedő felmeresnek, amelyben a Mernoki Kar hallgatoinak kompetencia es tudasigenyet kivanjuk felmerni. A felmeres celja, hogy a Szegedi Tudomanyegyetem Mernoki Kara a (gyakorlatcentrikus) kepzeseinek fejlesztesehez (melynek resze pl. az oktatas-modszertan megujitasa, illetve a tanulasi eredmeny alapu szemlelet kialakitasa) atfogo kepet kapjon a hallgatok kompetenciairol es tudasigenyeről. Abstract: We have conducted a questionnaire survey among full-time students of the Faculty of Engineering. The survey is part of a four-year long survey where the aim is to assess the competences and the future purposes of students of the Faculty. Another goal of the survey is to provide a comprehensive picture of students’ competencies and knowledge needs for the development of trainings which include the renewal of the educational methodology and the development of a learning outcome-based approach at the University of Szeged.

A bennunket korulvevő vilag rendkivuli alkalmazkodo kepesseget feltetelez (es kivan meg), amelynek azonban akkor es csakis akkor lehetunk birtokaban, ha hajlandosagot mutatunk a folyamatos megujulasra. Ugyanakkor egy megoly modernnek tűnő problemahalmaz vizsgalata sem nelkulozheti a nagy multra visszatekintő előzmenyek feltarasat. Illetve erdemes elgondolkodni azon is, hogyan kapcsolodhatnak ossze az egyes tudomanyteruletek a bonyolult problemak feltarasa soran, a problemak jellegenek megismereseben, vegső esetben pedig azok megoldasakor. A fenntarthatosag temakoreben a (műszaki) innovacio es a kornyezeti elemek, illetőleg a taj vonatkozasaban az egyik meghatarozo kapcsolodasi pont az energetika: megpedig a megujulokra alapozott energiarendszer kihivasait (kornyezeti, technologiai es tarsadalmi) illetően. A kihivasokra adando valaszok technikatol, technologiatol, digitalis kommunikaciotol, felhőinformatikatol valo erős fuggese egesz tarsadalmunkra kihatassal van: alapvető (termeszet)tudomanyos tenyek birtokaban lehetunk donteshozoi es felelős tagjai a tarsadalomnak (peldanak okaert a biztonsagos es hatekony energiaelőallitas, vagy akar az integralt kozlekedesi rendszer kialakitasa stb. teruleten). Holisztikus szemlelettel, de a teljesseg igenye nelkul, gondolatterkepre rendeztuk a temakorben felmerulő gondolatmorzsakat, es kijeloltuk a dinamikus egyensulyhoz vezető utat nehany „cselekedet” formajaban, ilyen modon ramutatva az ember es a termeszet szuksegszerű szimbiozisara. Nincs feltetlen alap vagy abszolut ervenyű elv, ugyanakkor van a mar emlitett holisztikus szemlelettel athatott mernoki tevekenyseg. Jelen kozlemeny tehat elsősorban inkabb gondolatebresztő, kitekintő, semmi esetre sem asszertorikus. The world around us assumes (and demands) extraordinary adaptability, but this can only be realized if we are ready for continuous renewal. However, even the study of a seemingly truly modern set of problems requires the exploration of long-standing historical events. It is also worth reflecting on how each discipline relates to all the others while discovering some complex problems, getting to know the nature of such problems, and ultimately solving them. In the field of sustainability, with respect to (technical) innovation, environmental elements and landscape issues, one of the key links is energetics, especially the challenges (environmental, technological and social) of a renewable energy system. The heavy dependence of responses to challenges on technology and technologies, on digital communication, as well as on cloud computing affects the whole of our society: we can be decision-makers and responsible members of society on the basis of scientific facts (for example, in the areas of safe and efficient energy production, or even the development of an integrated transport system, etc.). With a holistic view, but in a non-exhaustive may, we organized the relevant bits of thought on a “cognitive map”, and designated the path to dynamic balance in the form of a few “actions”, this way is pointing out the necessary symbiosis between humanity and nature. We have no absolute basis or an unquestioned principle, but we do have engineering work, saturated with the holistic approach mentioned above. Thus, this paper is primarily a thought-provoking, speculative writing, rather than an assertive one.

Significance Photosynthetic H2 production in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is catalyzed by O2-sensitive [FeFe]-hydrogenases, which accept electrons from photosynthetically reduced ferredoxin and reduce protons to H2. Since the process occurs downstream of photosystem I, the contribution of photosystem II (PSII) in H2 photoproduction has long been a subject of debate. Indeed, water oxidation by PSII results in O2 accumulation in chloroplasts, which inhibits H2 evolution. Therefore, clear evidence for direct water biophotolysis resulting in simultaneous H2 and O2 releases in algae has never been presented. This paper demonstrates that sustained H2 photoproduction in C. reinhardtii is directly linked to PSII-dependent water oxidation and brings insights into regulation of PSII activity and H2 production by CO2/HCO3– under microoxic conditions., The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is capable of photosynthetic H2 production. H2 evolution occurs under anaerobic conditions and is difficult to sustain due to 1) competition between [FeFe]-hydrogenase (H2ase), the key enzyme responsible for H2 metabolism in algae, and the Calvin–Benson–Bassham (CBB) cycle for photosynthetic reductants and 2) inactivation of H2ase by O2 coevolved in photosynthesis. Recently, we achieved sustainable H2 photoproduction by shifting algae from continuous illumination to a train of short (1 s) light pulses, interrupted by longer (9 s) dark periods. This illumination regime prevents activation of the CBB cycle and redirects photosynthetic electrons to H2ase. Employing membrane-inlet mass spectrometry and H218O, we now present clear evidence that efficient H2 photoproduction in pulse-illuminated algae depends primarily on direct water biophotolysis, where water oxidation at the donor side of photosystem II (PSII) provides electrons for the reduction of protons by H2ase downstream of photosystem I. This occurs exclusively in the absence of CO2 fixation, while with the activation of the CBB cycle by longer (8 s) light pulses the H2 photoproduction ceases and instead a slow overall H2 uptake is observed. We also demonstrate that the loss of PSII activity in DCMU-treated algae or in PSII-deficient mutant cells can be partly compensated for by the indirect (PSII-independent) H2 photoproduction pathway, but only for a short (

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background and Purpose: Among patients with a transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic strokes, those with ipsilateral atherosclerotic stenosis of cervicocranial vasculature have the highest risk of recurrent vascular events. Methods: In the double-blind THALES (The Acute Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack Treated With Ticagrelor and ASA for Prevention of Stroke and Death) trial, we randomized patients with a noncardioembolic, nonsevere ischemic stroke, or high-risk transient ischemic attack to ticagrelor (180 mg loading dose on day 1 followed by 90 mg twice daily for days 2–30) or placebo added to aspirin (300–325 mg on day 1 followed by 75–100 mg daily for days 2–30) within 24 hours of symptom onset. The present paper reports a prespecified analysis in patients with and without ipsilateral, potentially causal atherosclerotic stenosis ≥30% of cervicocranial vasculature. The primary end point was time to the occurrence of stroke or death within 30 days. Results: Of 11 016 randomized patients, 2351 (21.3%) patients had an ipsilateral atherosclerotic stenosis. After 30 days, a primary end point occurred in 92/1136 (8.1%) patients with ipsilateral stenosis randomized to ticagrelor and in 132/1215 (10.9%) randomized to placebo (hazard ratio 0.73 [95% CI, 0.56–0.96], P=0.023) resulting in a number needed to treat of 34 (95% CI, 19–171). In patients without ipsilateral stenosis, the corresponding event rate was 211/4387 (4.8%) and 230/4278 (5.4%), respectively (hazard ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.74–1.08]; P=0.23, Pinteraction=0.245). Severe bleeding occurred in 4 (0.4%) and 3 (0.2%) patients with ipsilateral atherosclerotic stenosis on ticagrelor and on placebo, respectively (P=NS), and in 24 (0.5%) and 4 (0.1%), respectively, in 8665 patients without ipsilateral stenosis (hazard ratio=5.87 [95% CI, 2.04–16.9], P=0.001). Conclusions: In this exploratory analysis comparing ticagrelor added to aspirin to aspirin alone, we found no treatment by ipsilateral atherosclerosis stenosis subgroup interaction but did identify a higher absolute risk and a greater absolute risk reduction of stroke or death at 30 days in patients with ipsilateral atherosclerosis stenosis than in those without. In this easily identified population, ticagrelor added to aspirin provided a clinically meaningful benefit with a number needed to treat of 34 (95% CI, 19–171). Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03354429.

Selenium (Se) is a natural trace element, which shifts its action in a relatively narrow concentration range from nutritional role to toxicity. Although it has been well established that in plants chloroplasts are among the primary targets, the mechanism of toxicity on photosynthesis is not well understood. Here, we compared selenate and red-allotrope elemental selenium nanoparticles (red nanoSe) in in vitro tobacco cultures to investigate their effects on the structure and functions of the photosynthetic machinery. Selenate at 10 mg/L concentration retarded plant growth; it also led to a decreased chlorophyll content, accompanied with an increase in the carotenoid-to-chlorophyll ratio. Structural examinations of the photosynthetic machinery, using electron microscopy, small-angle neutron scattering and circular dichroism spectroscopy, revealed significant perturbation in the macro-organization of the pigment-protein complexes and sizeable shrinkage in the repeat distance of granum thylakoid membranes. As shown by chlorophyll a fluorescence transient measurements, these changes in the ultrastructure were associated with a significantly diminished photosystem II activity and a reduced performance of the photosynthetic electron transport, and an enhanced capability of non-photochemical quenching. These changes in the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus explain, at least in part, the retarded growth of plantlets in the presence of 10 mg/L selenate. In contrast, red nanoSe, even at 100 mg/L and selenate at 1 mg/L, exerted no negative effect on the growth of plantlets and affected only marginally the thylakoid membrane ultrastructure and the photosynthetic functions.

Sulphur limitation may restrain cell growth and viability. In the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, sulphur limitation may induce H2 production lasting for several days, to be exploited as a renewable energy source. Sulphur limitation causes a large number of physiological changes, including the inactivation of photosystem II (PSII), leading to the establishment of hypoxia, essential for the increase in hydrogenase expression and activity. The inactivation of PSII has been long assumed to be caused by the sulphur-limited turnover of its reaction center protein, PsbA. Here we reinvestigated this issue in detail and show that i) upon transferring Chlamydomonas cells to sulphur-free media, the amount of cellular sulphur content decreases only by about 25%, ii) as demonstrated by lincomycin treatments, PsbA has a significant turnover and other photosynthetic subunits, namely RbcL and CP43, are degraded more rapidly than PsbA. On the other hand, sulphur limitation imposes oxidative stress early on, most probably involving the formation of singlet oxygen in PSII, which leads to an increase in the expression of GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase, playing an essential role in ascorbate biosynthesis. When accumulated to the millimolar concentration range, ascorbate may inactivate the oxygen-evolving complex and provide electrons to PSII albeit at a low rate. In the absence of a functional donor side and sufficient electron transport, PSII reaction centers get inactivated and degraded. We therefore demonstrate that the inactivation of PSII is a complex and multistep process, which may serve to mitigate the damaging effects of sulphur limitation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A természeti adottságokhoz alkalmazkodó tájhasználat – különös tekintettel a mezőgazdálkodásra – sokat változott az utóbbi több mint egy évszázad alatt. A mezőgazdasági hasznosítás már a századelőn sem vette figyelembe a talajtani adottságokat: az emberi beavatkozás jelentősen átalakította a Tihanyi-félsziget talajait. Ezen túlmenően jelentős mértékben megnövekedett a beépített területek aránya, és elsősorban a szántók, illetve a szőlők alatt felgyorsult a talajpusztulás. A félsziget védetté nyilvánításával a terület ökológiai adottságainak jobban megfelelő gazdálkodás kialakítására nyílt lehetőség, amely a talajadottságokhoz is jobban illeszkedő kisebb mértékű mezőgazdasági hasznosítást jelent. A természetvédelem az eredeti ökológiai helyzetnek megfelelően visszaállította a lecsapolt területek vízborítását, visszatelepítette a hajdani nagyobb kiterjedésű erdőfoltokat és gondozza a szárazgyepeket. Jelenleg a terület lakosságának a mezőgazdálkodás mellett az idegenforgalomból származik a jövedelme, azonban ez utóbbi tényező is károsít(hat)ja a félsziget védett értékeit és talajait. Eredeti, természetközeli állapotukban csak a sziklagyepek, a bokorerdők és a visszaállított lápterületek maradtak meg.

The broad presence of biogas plants – facilities using organic wastes and by-products to generate energy – now seems to warrant urgent attention to the land application of by-products (fermentation residues) from biogas plants. In Hungary, this activity can be carried out under statutory conditions, subject to official licensing. The protection provided by law is necessary because an adaptable and sustainable agriculture based on effects and interactions also requires such attention, since the most important natural resource of agriculture is soil, which, by nature, is a conditionally renewable natural resource [1] [2]. Protection of soil means primarily protection of quality: sustainable and adaptable agriculture contributes to retain the ecological functions of soil and its role in the ecosystem [3]. This publication analyses the possibilities and challenges of natural resource management by studying the agricultural use of fermentation residues from biogas plants. In order to be used in agriculture, fermentation residue should be classified according to its character and nutritional value, namely as harmless waste from non-agricultural sources. This substance may have the properties of slurry, and in certain cases it may be classified as a substance with characteristics of waste water/sewage sludge or sewage sludge compost. Main elements of the preparation of the soil protection plan: detailed laboratory tests of the fermentation residue according to standards and regulations; classification of the fermentation residue on the basis of the measured parameters and the field tests corresponding to the character of fermentation residue according to the relevant legislation. Soil protection plan is prepared by expert based on on-site investigation and laboratory reports. This is the basis of the licensing process. Land application of fermentation residues therefore requires expert analysis to ensure that the ecological functions of soil are not damaged. This, however, requires that the regulations governing the framework for the conditions of such application are carefully studied and interpreted.

Ascorbate (vitamin C) plays essential roles in stress resistance, development, signaling, hormone biosynthesis and regulation of gene expression; however, little is known about its biosynthesis in algae. In order to provide experimental proof for the operation of the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway described for higher plants and to gain more information on the regulation of ascorbate biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we targeted the VTC2 gene encoding GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase using artificial microRNAs. Ascorbate concentrations in VTC2 amiRNA lines were reduced to 10% showing that GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase plays a pivotal role in ascorbate biosynthesis. The VTC2 amiRNA lines also grow more slowly, have lower chlorophyll content, and are more susceptible to stress than the control strains. We also demonstrate that: expression of the VTC2 gene is rapidly induced by H2 O2 and 1 O2 resulting in a manifold increase in ascorbate content; in contrast to plants, there is no circadian regulation of ascorbate biosynthesis; photosynthesis is not required per se for ascorbate biosynthesis; and Chlamydomonas VTC2 lacks negative feedback regulation by ascorbate in the physiological concentration range. Our work demonstrates that ascorbate biosynthesis is also highly regulated in Chlamydomonas albeit via mechanisms distinct from those previously described in land plants.

A pálinka Magyarországon a Hungarikum Bizottság döntése értelmében 2013. márciusa óta hungarikumnak minősül. A pálinkakészítés (erjesztés és lepárlás) melléktermékeként 1 hlf alkohol előállítása során -27,5 liter cefremoslék (kierjesztési és lepárlási maradék) keletkezik, amelynek beltartalmi tulajdonságai lehetővé teszik a további - mezőgazdasági célú - hasznosítását, bizonyos feltételekkel tehát a termőföldre történő kihelyezés is megvalósítható. Kémiai tulajdonságait tekintve a cefremoslék erősen savas kémhatású, jelentős K és P tartalommal bír, továbbá a lepárlási technológiából eredően előfordulhat fémtartalom is, amely korlátozó tényező lehet a termőföldi hasznosításnál. Laboratóriumi vizsgálatok, valamint helyszíni talajvizsgálatok segítségével meghatározható az a kihelyezhető mennyiség, amely környezet- és talajvédelmi szempontból nem jelent kockázatot, ugyanakkor a növénytáplálást is szolgálja. A termőföldre történő kihelyezés korlátai a pálinkakészítés melléktermékének tekintetében tehát a cefremoslék beltartalmi mutatói, azonban problémát jelent még a késő őszi és téli tilalmi időszak, amikor pálinkakészítés még zajlik, de a cefremoslék a fagyott talajra már nem helyezhető ki.

In the summer of 2014 at the Maintenance Division of Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd. in Hungary there was an opportunity to take part in the preparatory work a new and innovative project for introduction. This is a charge-planner software support using the tests related the new fuel. The necessary calculations were completed and after obtaining the results the conclusion is that the actual 12 month operating period – the so-called campaign length – can be increased to 15 months, by using and shuffling the new fuel with higher enrichment, and by loading six fuel assemblies with gadolinium oxide into the unit. Conclusion is the new Gd-2_4.7 fuel initial expectations were met and managed to find a favorable average enrichment not only considering nuclear physics, but also economic, risk management, material structure and security points of view as well. Testing can be started in the summer of 2015, and the fuel can be loaded into Unit 3 for a test period of 365 days.

The burial mounds, living mounds, guarding and border mounds (group name is “kurgan”) have been under environmental protection in Hungary since 1996. Besides the fact that they are important elements from archeological point of view, in many cases they reserve valuable remaining parts of onetime steppes, and studying of their buried soils can provide new data to learn more about the ancient environment, flora and the soil-formation processes took place long ago. In this way it can be obtained information about the Holocene climate changes. Our research team had seized the opportunity to examine several kurgans located in the Great Hungarian Plain. Two of them – the Csípő- and Lyukas-mound – has been examined in precise details through the involvement of experts of various disciplines. Due to this cooperation we could extend our researches and knowledge on the biogenic genesis of paleosoils and paleoecology concerning our kurgan studies. Therefore we utilized biomorphic analysis besides pedological investigations. Though the differences in sampling methods were significant, but the existence of a buried, ancient, undisturbed soil profile can be stated. According to morphological description of soil that was done after the kurgan’s excavation and drillings, we conclude that both the modern and paleosoils of the kurgans belong to Chernozem type soils, formed under predominantly arid steppe vegetation. Due to this fact we assume that the ancient environment of both kurgans was similar in many points with the modern landscape. Hence instead of closed forest vegetation rather loess-steppe or semi-shaded steppe can be reconstructed as the former environment of the mounds, which was mosaicly surrounded by water and salt affected areas. These results demonstrate that in the Carpathian Basin the Holocene climate changes are characterized by rather evenness, and but not the previously assumed character changes.

Sulphur limitation may restrain cell growth and viability. In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, sulphur limitation may induce H

University of Szeged, Faculty of Engineering carried out research on behalf of Tisza Volán Company (integrated in Centre for South Great Plain Transport Plc.) which takes great care of environmental protection and sustainable management. So the fundamental objective of this research is to analyse utilization possibilities of used vegetable oils (waste frying oils derived from food production, food preparation) as fuels mixed into diesel fuel. This paper summarized the application possibilities, limitations, environmental impacts and difficulties of waste frying oils as fuels. The research points out that all action of different sizes of companies and behaviour of member of society are welcomed and they contribute to sustainable use of environment. This paper helps to expand the knowledge about the utilization of waste frying oils as fuels.

Az energia szektor klímaváltozásra gyakorolt hatása, valamint az energetikai függetlenség megteremtése komoly kihívást jelent a társadalom számára, melyet Ferenc Pápa szavai is alázattal érzékeltetnek: „Arra kérlek benneteket, hogy biztosítsátok: a javak szolgálják, ne uralják az emberiséget!” A társadalom szempontjából tehát minden olyan lépés kiemelt fontosságú és üdvözlendő, amely az energiaellátás biztonságának megteremtését szorgalmazza és ezáltal az élhető társadalom lépésenkénti és kiegyensúlyozott, fenntartható átalakítását célozza. Éppen ezért az Európai Uniós fejlesztéseknek az energetika az egyik meghatározó eleme: a potenciális energiaforrások fenntarthatósági követelményeket szem előtt tartó előállításának költséghatékonyabb módjait mind energetikai, mind pedig környezetvédelmi vonatkozásban szükséges kutatni. Közleményünk a biodízel, mint bio-motorhajtóanyag előállításának példáján keresztül érzékelteti és hangsúlyozza az alkalmazkodó mezőgazdaság és a technológiai fejlesztéseket eredményező kutatások együttes szerepét egy innovációvezérelt gazdaságban. A biodízel előállítás technológiájában, az átészterezés műveletében alkalmazott mikrohullámú energiaközlés hatékonyságjavító hatásának igazolásával és fajlagos energiafelhasználást csökkentő folyamat-optimálással a Horizont 2020 Társadalmi kihívások tématerületének célkitűzései (úgymint a települések energiaforrásainak és a társadalom energiafogyasztási mintáinak fenntarthatóvá tétele, az energiahatékony megközelítések tömeges alkalmazása stb.) megvalósításához kívánunk hozzájárulni.

Background: Patients with minor acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack are at high risk for subsequent stroke, and more potent antiplatelet therapy in the acute setting is needed. However, the potential benefit of more intense antiplatelet therapy must be assessed in relation to the risk for major bleeding. The SOCRATES trial (Acute Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack Treated With Aspirin or Ticagrelor and Patient Outcomes) was the first trial with ticagrelor in patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in which the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor were compared with those of aspirin. The main safety objective was assessment of PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes)–defined major bleeds on treatment, with special focus on intracranial hemorrhage (ICrH). Methods: An independent adjudication committee blinded to study treatment classified bleeds according to the PLATO, TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction), and GUSTO (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries) definitions. The definitions of ICrH and major bleeding excluded cerebral microbleeds and asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformations of cerebral infarctions so that the definitions better discriminated important events in the acute stroke population. Results: A total of 13 130 of 13 199 randomized patients received at least 1 dose of study drug and were included in the safety analysis set. PLATO major bleeds occurred in 31 patients (0.5%) on ticagrelor and 38 patients (0.6%) on aspirin (hazard ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.52–1.34). The most common locations of major bleeds were intracranial and gastrointestinal. ICrH was reported in 12 patients (0.2%) on ticagrelor and 18 patients (0.3%) on aspirin. Thirteen of all 30 ICrHs (4 on ticagrelor and 9 on aspirin) were hemorrhagic strokes, and 4 (2 in each group) were symptomatic hemorrhagic transformations of brain infarctions. The ICrHs were spontaneous in 6 and 13, traumatic in 3 and 3, and procedural in 3 and 2 patients on ticagrelor and aspirin, respectively. In total, 9 fatal bleeds occurred on ticagrelor and 4 on aspirin. The composite of ICrH or fatal bleeding included 15 patients on ticagrelor and 18 on aspirin. Independently of bleeding classification, PLATO, TIMI, or GUSTO, the relative difference between treatments for major/severe bleeds was similar. Nonmajor bleeds were more common on ticagrelor. Conclusions: Antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor in patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack showed a bleeding profile similar to that of aspirin for major bleeds. There were few ICrHs. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01994720.

Production and utilization of renewable energy sources (e.g. biogas) are justified not only by energy-political, but by environmental aspects, too. It can be verified the necessity of the complex ecological aspects by biogas production experiments and its utilization tests in gas engines therefore we created a complex biogas production and utilization system, so that both the energy and the environmental goals can be achieved together. In the interest of an optimal solution it is necessary to analyze the two objective functions (the production and utilization functions) together, considering that the principle of the complex optimization focuses just on the environmental-friendly energy utilization. The centre of this system is the integrated waste-management. Its advantages are the local and global environmental results, energy production independent of external influences, as well as a near optimum solution ecologically.

Ascorbate (Asc, also called vitamin C) is of vital i mportance to the cellular functions of both animals and plants. During evolution, Asc has become one of the most abundant metabolites in seed plants; however, Asc contents in cyanobacteria, green algae and bryophytes are very low. Here we describe a sensit ive and reliable HPLC method for the quantitative determination of cellular Asc content in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is capable of photoproducing molecular hydrogen following sulphur deprivation, which results in anaerobiosis and a suppression of oxygen evolution and thus an alleviation of the inhibitory effect of oxygen on the hydrogenase. At the same time it transiently maintains a limited supply of electrons arising from photosystem II (PSII) to the hydrogenase (Melis and Happe Plant Physiol 2001; 127:740–748). In this work, using fast chl a fluorescence and P700 measurements, we show that ascorbate (Asc), a naturally occurring PSII alternative electron donor, is capable of donating electrons to PSII in heat-treated and sulphur-deprived cells and this can be significantly accelerated by supplementing the culture with 10 mM Asc. It also enhances, about three-fold, the photoproduction of hydrogen in cells subjected to sulphur deprivation as shown by gas chromatography. Similar stimulation was obtained in the presence of diphenylcarbazide (DPC), an artificial PSII electron donor. Asc and DPC also facilitated the anaerobiosis of cells, probably via super reducing the oxygen evolving complex while feeding electrons to PSII reaction centres and the linear electron transport chain, and ultimately to the hydrogenase – as shown by the significant DCMU-sensitivity of the light-induced Asc- and DPC-dependent re-reduction of P700+ and hydrogen evolution.

Previously, we showed that ascorbate (Asc), by donating electrons to photosystem II (PSII), supports a sustained electron transport activity in leaves in which the oxygen-evolving complexes were inactivated with a heat pulse (49°C, 40 s). Here, by using wild-type, Asc-overproducing, and -deficient Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants (miox4 and vtc2-3, respectively), we investigated the physiological role of Asc as PSII electron donor in heat-stressed leaves (40°C, 15 min), lacking active oxygen-evolving complexes. Chlorophyll-a fluorescence transients show that in leaves excited with trains of saturating single-turnover flashes spaced 200 ms apart, allowing continual electron donation from Asc to PSII, the reaction centers remained functional even after thousands of turnovers. Higher flash frequencies or continuous illumination (300 μmol photons m−2 s−1) gradually inactivated them, a process that appeared to be initiated by a dramatic deceleration of the electron transfer from TyrZ to P680+, followed by the complete loss of charge separation activity. These processes occurred with half-times of 1.2 and 10 min, 2.8 and 23 min, and 4.1 and 51 min in vtc2-3, the wild type, and miox4, respectively, indicating that the rate of inactivation strongly depended on the Asc content of the leaves. The recovery of PSII activity, following the degradation of PSII proteins (D1, CP43, and PsbO), in moderate light (100 μmol photons m−2 s−1, comparable to growth light), was also retarded in the Asc-deficient mutant. These data show that high Asc content of leaves contributes significantly to the ability of plants to withstand heat-stress conditions.