Representative Survey for Evaluating Housing and Manure Handling Technologies of the Hungarian Pig Sector

In Hungary, there is a lack of information on the pig production technologies in place in the base year of 2005 and changes since then, as well as a lack of information on the number of pigs kept in different age and production categories, which makes it difficult to calculate ammonia emissions and reductions in the national inventories. Our research team conducted a representative survey of pig farms to assess housing and manure management technologies in the Hungarian pig sector in 2005 and 2015. Novel expert-based calculation methods were developed to convert farm data on pig populations into daily average numbers (DAN) of animals in different statistical categories and feeding phases. The survey resulted in a representative database of housing, manure handling, storage and manure application practices in Hungarian pig production. The data and methodology from the survey helped to develop an ammonia emission calculator and knowledge transfer tool (AGEM-S) for use by farmers.

Light-induced reversible reorganizations in closed Type II reaction centre complexes: physiological roles and physical mechanisms

The purpose of this review is to outline our understanding of the nature, mechanism and physiological significance of light-induced reversible reorganizations in closed Type II reaction centre (RC) complexes. In the so-called 'closed' state, purple bacterial RC (bRC) and photosystem II (PSII) RC complexes are incapable of generating additional stable charge separation. Yet, upon continued excitation they display well-discernible changes in their photophysical and photochemical parameters. Substantial stabilization of their charge-separated states has been thoroughly documented-uncovering light-induced reorganizations in closed RCs and revealing their physiological importance in gradually optimizing the operation of the photosynthetic machinery during the dark-to-light transition. A range of subtle light-induced conformational changes has indeed been detected experimentally in different laboratories using different bRC and PSII-containing preparations. In general, the presently available data strongly suggest similar structural dynamics of closed bRC and PSII RC complexes, and similar physical mechanisms, in which dielectric relaxation processes and structural memory effects of proteins are proposed to play important roles.

PM10 emission from crop production and agricultural soils

The emission of particulate matter from agricultural sources is a worldwide environmental issue due to health concerns.

The main factors influencing PM10 emission from crop production are the origin of particles, the physical and chemical properties of soils, meteorological conditions, and the mechanical impacts of farm operations. Several studies have been made to determine PM10 emission factors for tillage operations, but these emission factors varied depending on soil properties, especially soil texture and water content, and environmental conditions (e.g. relative humidity, and variability in wind speed and direction). This is why the use of a single emission factor for a given tillage operation is inadequate.

To estimate the yearly amount of PM10 emitted from agricultural soils and crop production, emissions originating from different sources at different temporal division must be summarized. Because 56 % of the total territory of Hungary is cropland, relatively high PM10 emission occurs from crop production and agricultural soils. If this is to be reduced, research should focus on the identification of soil and environmental properties related to PM10 emission on characteristic Hungarian soils.

Variants in the CNR1 gene predispose to headache with nausea in the presence of life stress

One of the main effects of the endocannabinoid system in the brain is stress adaptation with presynaptic endocannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 receptors) playing a major role. In the present study, we investigated whether the effect of the CB1 receptor coding CNR1 gene on migraine and its symptoms is conditional on life stress. In a cross-sectional European population (n = 2426), recruited from Manchester and Budapest, we used the ID-Migraine questionnaire for migraine screening, the Life Threatening Experiences questionnaire to measure recent negative life events (RLE), and covered the CNR1 gene with 11 SNPs. The main genetic effects and the CNR1 × RLE interaction with age and sex as covariates were tested. None of the SNPs showed main genetic effects on possible migraine or its symptoms, but 5 SNPs showed nominally significant interaction with RLE on headache with nausea using logistic regression models. The effect of rs806366 remained significant after correction for multiple testing and replicated in the subpopulations. This effect was independent from depression- and anxiety-related phenotypes. In addition, a Bayesian systems-based analysis demonstrated that in the development of headache with nausea all SNPs were more relevant with higher a posteriori probability in those who experienced recent life stress. In summary, the CNR1 gene in interaction with life stress increased the risk of headache with nausea suggesting a specific pathological mechanism to develop migraine, and indicating that a subgroup of migraine patients, who suffer from life stress triggered migraine with frequent nausea, may benefit from therapies that increase the endocannabinoid tone.

[T gamma-lymphoproliferative disease]

The case of a rare type of T-cell malignant lymphomas, clinically with a relatively favorable course, a T gamma-lymphoproliferative disease (T gamma-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) was presented. The cytomorphological, cytochemical, immuncytochemical and cytogenetical markers and functional tests of the peripheral blood lymphocytes from the patient were tested. The leukaemic cells with light- and electron microscopy showed the so called LGL (large granular lymphocyte) morphology with multifocal reactions of acid hydrolase enzymes. These cells also expressed IgG-Fc-receptor, CD 8 monoclonal antibody positivity and a monoclonally rearranged T-cell receptor gen expression. Functionally the patient's lymphocytes developed a blastic response to the T-cell mitogen Concanavalin A (ConA), they suppressed the immunoglobulin production of B-lymphocytes in co-cultures and had a normal NK-activity but decreased ADCC values. The patient was diagnosed by blood, bone marrow and lymph node examination and does not need any therapy. This case was published because of it's diagnostic, immunological and prognostical interests.

[Gene rearrangement in leukemia]

In this report we summarize our experiences based on the gene rearrangement study of 111 leukaemic patients of different kind. The lymphocyte DNA of the patients was studied for rearrangement of the immunoglobulin light chain constant-, the heavy chain joining- and the T cell receptor beta chain constant region. Our data have well supplemented the results of the monoclonal antibody experiments. In 33 cases the DNA study was in good agreement with the immunological data. In 42 our data helped in gave different results, immunological results. In 11 cases evaluating the DNA and immunological data indicating the necessity of further investigation. The results were inconclusive in 25 cases. As a conclusion we consider the gene rearrangement study to be useful for diagnostic purposes.

Bigenotypic and biphenotypic appearance of immunoglobulin light chains in 1 of 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma xenografts

Chromosomal analysis of three human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) xenografts revealed common extra 14q+ segment and other individual clonal markers without involvement of immunoglobulin light-chain regions. Two NHL xenografts (HT 58 and HT 130) showed restricted lambda light chain expression and deleted kappa and rearranged lambda genes. However, in HT 117 both kappa and lambda chains were present on the cell surface, and both light chain genes showed rearranged alleles. This unique phenomenon could have resulted from either disturbed regulation of isotype exclusion or from the malignant transformation of light chain 'uncommitted' B cells.

[Hygienic-bacteriological examinations in station restaurants (author's transl)]

In four station restaurants (West station, East station, South station, Kelenföld station) microbiological examinations were carried out in conjunction with the inspection of the hygienic conditions. The microflora of the washed and dried drinking glasses and plates as well as the smocks of the kitchen staff were examined. Intestinal bacteria, chromogenic bacteria and pathogenic staphylococci were found in numerous crockery samples. Therefore, it is necessary either to improve the effectiveness of the cleaning process or to prolong the drying of the crockery by heat. Numerous species, such as intestinal bacteria, chromogenic bacteria liable to cause food-decomposition were found in the kitchen staff's smocks, sometimes even in great quantities. To reliably determine the microbiological limit values for smocks and other textiles, a great number of examinations are still necessary. The smocks of the staff handling pre-cooked meals, cold meals or pastries must also be microbiologically clean.--The medical activity in the areas mentioned proved also beneficial to the training in hygiene.

The role of alkalication in formation and decomposition of myosin-ATP complex

The dependence of kinetic constants Km, V(k2) and k1 of myosin-ATPase on the species and concentration of alkali cations and on temperature was investigated. The value of Vvaries with the ionic radius of different alkali cations. The curve has a maximum at 1.33 A at the ionic radius of potassium. The detailed analysis of the cation dependence of the kinetics of the ATPose reaction shows that both formation and decomposition of the complex are affected by the cation present.