Grey Wolf () Recolonization in Hungary: Does the Predation Risk Affect the Red Deer () Population?

The populations and distribution areas of large carnivores have declined all over the world due to extirpation and habitat alteration and degradation. However, the grey wolf () has recovered in Europe in recent decades and has been reappearing in Hungary since the 1990s. Since the dominant prey of this carnivore is the red deer () and the wild boar () in Central and Eastern Europe, we aimed to study the impact of wolves on local deer populations.

Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings.

The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a wide-ranging, long-living freshwater species with low reproductive success, mainly due to high predation pressure. We studied how habitat variables and predator communities in near-natural marshes affect the survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings. We followed the survival of artificial turtle nests placed in marshes along Lake Balaton (Hungary) in May and June as well as hatchlings (dummies) exposed in September.

Retrospective multidisciplinary analysis of human alveolar echinococcosis in Hungary using spatial epidemiology approaches.

Human alveolar echinococcosis (HAE), which is caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm, is an increasing healthcare issue in Hungary. Among the 40 known cases in the country, 25 were detected in the last five years. Our study aimed to reveal the geographically underlying risk factors associated potentially with these cases.

Viral coat proteins decrease the gene silencing activity of cognate and heterologous viral suppressors.

Plant viruses have evolved different viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) to counteract RNA silencing which is a small RNA-mediated sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism. Previous studies have already shown that the coat protein (CP) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) reduced RNA silencing suppression (RSS) activity of the VSR of CMV, the 2b protein. To demonstrate the universality of this CP-VSR interference, our study included three different viruses: CMV and peanut stunt virus (PSV) from the Bromoviridae, and plum pox virus (PPV) from the Potyviridae family.

The Potential Influence of the Presence of Mycotoxins in Human Follicular Fluid on Reproductive Outcomes.

The effect of mycotoxin exposure on follicular fluid composition and reproductive outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was investigated in this study. Twenty-five patients were included, and follicular fluid and serum samples were analysed for various mycotoxins. Principal observations:1.

Modeling the Mutation and Competition of Certain Nutrient-Producing Protocells by Means of Specific Turing Machines.

It is very important to model the behavior of protocells as basic lifelike artificial organisms more and more accurately from the level of genomes to the level of populations. A better understanding of basic protocell communities may help us in describing more complex ecological systems accurately. In this article, we propose a new comprehensive, bilevel mathematical model of a community of three protocell species (one generalist and two specialists).

Near-infrared spectroscopy for comprehensive analysis of dark chocolate composition.

Fat, sugar, theobromine, and caffeine are important compounds in chocolates that influence the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of the products. These parameters commonly are determined with conventional, time-consuming, environmentally pollutant methods. In this study, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with partial least square regression (PLSR) was used to predict the quantity of these compounds.

Rootstock and scion anatomical parameters in grafted eggplant seedlings, influencing growth and fruit production.

Background: The use of vegetable grafting has proven to be effective not only in providing stress resistance but also improving fruit yields. There have been no studies on grafted vegetables' effects on the vascular systems, specifically xylem vessels. This study tested the effects of two groups of rootstocks, Solanum spp.

The influence of post-glacial migration and hybridization on the gene pool of marginal Quercus pubescens populations in Central Europe.

Background And Aims: In Central Europe, the drought-tolerant downy oak (Quercus pubescens) is at the northern edge of its natural distribution range, often growing in small and spatially isolated populations. Here, we elucidate how the population genetic structure of Central European Q. pubescens was shaped by geographic barriers, genetic drift and introgression with the closely related sessile oak (Q.

Contrasting Patterns of Plants, Bees, Hoverflies and Spiders in Different Habitats in a Central European Agricultural Landscape.

Semi-natural grasslands and their biodiversity decline rapidly, although they are key elements of agricultural landscapes. Therefore, there is a need for the re-establishment of semi-natural grasslands in intensively managed farmlands (e.g.

The Untapped Potential of Hairy Root Cultures and Their Multiple Applications.

Plants are rich sources of specialized metabolites, such as alkaloids, terpenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, and volatile oils, which provide various health benefits including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, skin-altering, and anti-diabetic properties. However, challenges such as low and inconsistent yields, environment and geographic factors, and species-specific production of some specialized metabolites limit the supply of raw plant material for the food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, biotechnological approaches using plant in vitro systems offer an appealing alternative for the production of biologically active metabolites.

Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastic Particles on Gut Microbiota Composition and Health Status in Rabbit Livestock.

The widespread use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its entry into humans and livestock is of serious concern. In our study, we investigated the impact of PVC treatments on physiological, pathological, hormonal, and microbiota changes in female rabbits. Trend-like alterations in weight were observed in the spleen, liver, and kidney in both low (P1) and high dose (P2) PVC treatment groups.

Study on Adult Chinchilla () Preferences for Cages of Different Sizes.

The study aimed to investigate adult chinchillas' preferences when choosing between cages with different floor areas, heights, or both. The size of the cages with a larger floor area was double that of the standard-sized cages in the farms (0.25 and 0.

The Synergy of Thermal and Non-Thermal Effects in Hyperthermic Oncology.

Background: Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) is unique due to its combination of thermal and non-thermal effects.

Method: This report summarizes the literature on the effects of mEHT observed in vitro and in vivo.

Results: The thermal and electrical heterogeneity of tissues allows the radiofrequency signal to selectively target malignant tissue.

A case study of soil nematode populations under intensive cucumber monoculture in Hungary.

A 25-year-old intensive monoculture of cucumber ( 'Monolit F1') has been chosen for monitoring the effect of continuous fertilization, drip irrigation and various soil disinfection on free-living nematodes in soil. Densities, relative abundance of nematode genera, trophic groups and c-p classes, in addition, numerous nematological indices were determined besides certain soil properties. Concerning the nematological indices, all the values proved a stressed, depleted and unstable environment with degraded food web condition.

Dealing With the Complexity of Effective Population Size in Conservation Practice.

Effective population size () is one of the most important parameters in evolutionary biology, as it is linked to the long-term survival capability of species. Therefore, greatly interests conservation geneticists, but it is also very relevant to policymakers, managers, and conservation practitioners. Molecular methods to estimate rely on various assumptions, including no immigration, panmixia, random sampling, absence of spatial genetic structure, and/or mutation-drift equilibrium.

A review of Malipatilius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhyparochromidae), with a checklist of Lygaeoidea occurring in the Papuan Subregion.

The genus Malipatilius Kondorosy, 2013 is redescribed, 8 new species are described (M. batantensis sp. nov.

Field-grown tomato yield estimation using point cloud segmentation with 3D shaping and RGB pictures from a field robot and digital single lens reflex cameras.

The aim of this study was to estimate field-grown tomato yield (weight) and quantity of tomatoes using a self-developed robot and digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera pictures. The authors suggest a new approach to predicting tomato yield that is based on images taken in the field, 3D scanning, and shape. Field pictures were used for tomato segmentation to determine the ripeness of the crop.

Description of Wickerhamia europaea sp. nov. and revisitation of the ascospore number of W. fluorescens.

During the course of two independent studies, six conspecific yeast strains were recovered from flowers, soil, bird faeces and wood of different geographical origins. The six strains share identical DNA sequences in two barcoding regions, the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene-ITS2).

Efficient derivation of functional astrocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

Astrocytes are specialized glial cell types of the central nervous system (CNS) with remarkably high abundance, morphological and functional diversity. Astrocytes maintain neural metabolic support, synapse regulation, blood-brain barrier integrity and immunological homeostasis through intricate interactions with other cells, including neurons, microglia, pericytes and lymphocytes. Due to their extensive intercellular crosstalks, astrocytes are also implicated in the pathogenesis of CNS disorders, such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Smarter Pregnancy Coaching and Maternal Blood Pressure.

Introduction: Maternal lifestyle behaviors can affect blood pressure with consequences for maternal and offspring health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Smarter Pregnancy digital lifestyle coaching program on maternal blood pressure during the first trimester.

Methods: The study was conducted on data of the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort from 2010 to 2019, and analysis was completed in 2024.