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Lake Tisza is a lowland reservoir with an area of 127 km² in the middle of the Carpathian Basin established in the 1970s. Among its original functions, in addition to flood control, it was expected to irrigate a larger agricultural area and increase water freight transport. Today, buffering of extreme water conditions, nature conservation and recreation have become the main profiles. The diverse hydroecological features and mosaic landscape structure of the lake allow for versatile nature conservation and utilization in tourism. This differentiated use is in line with the worldwide trend of favouring locations with multiple leisure activities in close proximity to each other. Lake Tisza offers fishing, swimming, sailing, canoeing, nature observation boating and cycling opportunities, but due to its status as a Ramsar bird conservation site, it is also a valuable destination for ornithologists. In the course of our research, we examined the current spatial pattern of these activities and the possible arrangement of expedient further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with end-stage lung disease are commonly managed with extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a bridge to lung transplantation. A pumpless artificial lung (MLung) is a portable alternative to ECLS and it allows for ambulation. Both ECLS and pumpless artificial lungs require systemic anticoagulation which is associated with hemorrhagic complications. We tested the MLung with a novel Nitric Oxide (NO) Surface Anticoagulation (NOSA) system, to provide local anticoagulation for 72 h of support in a pediatric-size ovine model. Four mini sheep underwent thoracotomy and cannulation of the pulmonary artery (inflow) and left atrium (outflow), recovered and were monitored for 72hr. The circuit tubing and connectors were coated with the combination of an NO donor (diazeniumdiolated dibutylhexanediamine; DBHD-N 2 O 2) and argatroban. The animals were connected to the MLung and 100 ppm of NO was added to the sweep gas. Systemic hemodynamics, blood chemistry, blood gases, and methemoglobin were collected. Mean device flow was 836 ± 121 mL/min. Device outlet saturation was 97 ± 4%. Pressure drop across the lung was 3.5 ± 1.5 mmHg and resistance was 4.3 ± 1.7 mmHg/L/min. Activated clotting time averaged 170 ± 45s. Methemoglobin was 2.9 ± 0.8%. Platelets declined from 590 ± 101 at baseline to 160 ± 90 at 72 h. NO flux (x10-10 mol/min/cm2) of the NOSA circuit averaged 2.8 ± 0.6 (before study) and 1.9 ± 0.1 (72 h) and across the MLung 18 ± 3 NO flux was delivered. The MLung is a more portable form of ECLS that demonstrates effective gas exchange for 72 h without hemodynamic changes. Additionally, the NOSA system successfully maintained local anticoagulation without evidence of systemic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The genus Miniopterus is a monophyletic assemblage of many species characterized by remarkably conservative morphology. The number of recognized species has more than doubled over the last two decades, mainly with newly recognized Afrotropical and Malagasy species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) revealed a monophyletic clade of Miniopterus from Sri Lanka and southern India that is distinct from the other known taxa of this genus. The mean uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence among the three gene sequences of this new Miniopterus lineage was 0.83% (range 0.4–1.2%) and between this and other sampled taxa was 12.7% (range 8.5–15.9%). This lineage was also distinctive in craniodental morphometrics and hence it is herein described as a new species. The newly described species is easily distinguished by its external and cranial dimensions from its smaller (M. pusillus) and larger (M. magnater) congeners in India and Sri Lanka. It is also somewhat smaller than M. fuliginosus in both external and cranial dimensions. This is the first description of a new Miniopterus species from Asia in six decades and from India and Sri Lanka in eight decades. Our study highlights the importance of using both genetic and morphometric analyses in taxonomic studies on South Asian bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world economy at the end of 2019 had a strong impact on the significant economic issues at global and national level. This paper presents how this phenomenon has influenced price dynamics. This article proposes a comparative study between 2019 and 2020 regarding the change in the inflation rate in Romania, as well as the causes that led to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial lungs have the potential to serve as a bridge to transplantation or recovery for children with end-stage lung disease dependent on extracorporeal life support, but such devices currently require systemic anticoagulation. We describe our experience using the novel Nitric Oxide (NO) Surface Anticoagulation (NOSA) system—an NO-releasing circuit with NO in the sweep gas—with the Pediatric MLung—a low-resistance, pumpless artificial lung. NO flux testing: MLungs (n = 4) were tested using veno-venous extracorporeal life support in a sheep under anesthesia with blood flow set to 0.5 and 1 L/min and sweep gas blended with 100 ppm NO at 1, 2, and 4 L/min. NO and NO 2 were measured in the sweep and exhaust gas to calculate NO flux across the MLung membrane. Pumpless implants: Sheep (20–100 kg, n = 3) underwent thoracotomy and cannulation via the pulmonary artery (device inflow) and left atrium (device outflow) using cannulae and circuit components coated with an NO donor (diazeniumdiolated dibutylhexanediamine; DBHD-N 2 O 2) and argatroban. Animals were connected to the MLung with 100 ppm NO in the sweep gas under anesthesia for 24 h with no systemic anticoagulation after cannulation. NO flux testing: NO flux averaged 3.4 ± 1.0 flux units (x10−10 mol/cm2/min) (human vascular endothelium: 0.5–4 flux units). Pumpless implants: 3 sheep survived 24 h with patent circuits. MLung blood flow was 716 ± 227 mL/min. Outlet oxygen saturation was 98.3 ± 2.6%. Activated clotting time was 151±24 s. Platelet count declined from 334,333 ± 112,225 to 123,667 ± 7,637 over 24 h. Plasma free hemoglobin and leukocyte and platelet activation did not significantly change. The NOSA system provides NO flux across a gas-exchange membrane of a pumpless artificial lung at a similar rate as native vascular endothelium and achieves effective local anticoagulation of an artificial lung circuit for 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a preliminary study was made to test the effect of host plant (maize, Zea mays) management on corn leaf aphid endosymbiotic bacterial diversity. A series of field assessments were run by collecting natural populations of corn leaf aphids from both traditionally managed (low-input) fields grown under high agricultural and natural landscape diversity and high-input agricultural fields with fertilizers, grown in monoculture under low natural landscape diversity. Bacterial total DNA sequencing was performed on an Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 259,878 high-quality bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences were obtained from the samples. In total, 213 bacterial genera were identified. A high abundance of primary symbionts (Buchnera sp.) and secondary symbionts (uncultured members of the family Enterobacteriaceae) were detected in all aphid samples. Other bacterial genera (Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Salipaludibacillus, Pantoea, Sphingomonas, and uncultured members of "Candidatus Moranbacteria" and "Candidatus, Falkowbacteria") were recorded, mostly from aphids collected from conventionally managed (high input) fields. The overall effect of high input treatment was such that 28% of the corn leaf aphid bacterial community distribution was affected. In contrast, low bacterial diversity was observed in corn leaf aphid populations from traditionally managed (low input) fields. These findings reveal the role of external environmental factors in governing the endosymbiotic bacterial community of aphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-toothed pipistrelle (Hypsugo dolichodon) was recently described as a new bat species based on four specimens from Laos and Vietnam. During investigations of taxa in the Vespertilionini tribe, we noted that specimens reported as Falsistrellus affinis (recently transferred to genus Hypsugo) from Myanmar and Cambodia have mtDNA sequences and craniodental characteristics similar to H. dolichodon and different from genuine H. affinis. Mitochondrial homogeneity within H. dolichodon was also apparent as there was no nucleotide difference between the widely distributed Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese specimens in CO1 or Cytb genes. Although ecological data are scarce, H. dolichodon appears to be a cave-dweller which would suggest that conservation measures are a priority because tropical caves are under high pressure from human use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape character assessment is built on the Landscape Convention of the Council of Europe, which considers landscape as an area perceived by man, formed by the interactions of man and nature. According to the exemplary British practice of landscape character assessment, the particular combination and the unique composition of landscape elements have to be taken into account rather than the specific features independently. Its primary concern is that the whole is more than the sum of the parts. Landscape character assessment results in the identification of landscape character types and landscape character areas. Identifying the character types and character areas happens at more hierarchy level (national, regional, micro-regional and local level). Defining the boundaries, the characteristics, and the main factors contributing to the formation of the character should be a value-free description of the given state. The following stage of the assessment is the landscape evaluation. Making a judgement on the actual state involves locals in a participatory process, and it is the preparatory phase of formulating the landscape quality objectives. In Hungary, the first landscape character assessment, covering the entire area of the country, was carried out between 2017 and 2021. Four micro-regional case studies complemented the nationwide research. The present paper gives a brief overview of the methods used at the national level, including the feedback from the micro-regional assessment, and summarises the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the Romanians' attitude regarding the impact of cell phones on human health and on the environment. We conclude how dependent Romanians' are on mobile phones, they willing to buy the latest technical innovations, very few being those who prefer classic phones. It is surprising that in a civilized society there are still consumers who throw used mobile phones in the trash, without being aware of the danger of this gesture on the environment. It is needed the involvement of the government and of various civic organizations to increase the education level of the population, to have a more sustainable environmental behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), distributed from Europe and Northeast Africa through the temperate regions of Asia to Japan, is regarded as either a single, albeit polytypic, species or as representing a complex of two species, R. ferrumequinum sensu stricto in the western part and R. nippon in the eastern part of the seemingly continuous range. To evaluate patterns of geographic variation within the complex and to determine if distinguishing morphological characters exist between R. ferrumequinum and R. nippon , we performed a comprehensive comparative study of skull morphology, combining traditional linear measurements, geometric morphometric methods, and evaluation of non-quantitative discriminant characters. We analyzed 230 specimens from 19 localities in 10 geographic regions sampled from central Europe, Iraq, Nepal, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. Our results revealed remarkable differences in skull morphology between the European-West Asian and East Asian groups; variation between these two groups was considerably larger than within-group variation. The two groups were separable by three main features: 1) the position of the anterior palatal edge in relation to the cusps of the upper first molar; 2) the position of the glenoid cavity; and 3) the robustness of the skull as expressed by the ratio of the zygomatic and mastoid widths. In line with recent molecular biological studies, we recommend recognizing R. ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774) and R. nippon Temminck, 1835 as two distinct species. Our results also revealed unique size variations in island populations of R. nippon , presumably shaped by the island rule and the founder effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfluidic artificial lungs (µALs) have the potential to improve the treatment and quality of life for patients with acute or chronic lung injury. In order to realize the full potential of this technology (including as a destination therapy), the biocompatibility of these devices needs to be improved to produce long-lasting devices that are safe for patient use with minimal or no systemic anticoagulation. Many studies exist which probe coagulation and thrombosis on polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) surfaces, and many strategies have been explored to improve surface biocompatibility. As the field of µALs is young, there are few studies which investigate biocompatibility of functioning µALs; and even fewer which were performed in vivo. Here, we use both in vitro and in vivo models to investigate two strategies to improve µAL biocompatibility: 1) a hydrophilic surface coating (polyethylene glycol, PEG) to prevent surface fouling, and 2) the addition of nitric oxide (NO) to the sweep gas to inhibit platelet activation locally within the µAL. In this study, we challenge µALs with clottable blood or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and monitor the resistance to blood flow over time. Device lifetime (the amount of time the µAL remains patent and unobstructed by clot) is used as the primary indicator of biocompatibility. This study is the first study to: 1) investigate the effect of NO release on biocompatibility in a microfluidic network; 2) combine a hydrophilic PEG coating with NO release to improve blood compatibility; and 3) perform extended in vivo biocompatibility testing of a µAL. We found that µALs challenged in vitro with PRP remained patent significantly longer when the sweep gas contained NO than without NO. In the in vivo rabbit model, neither approach alone (PEG coating nor NO sweep gas) significantly improved biocompatibility compared to controls (though with larger sample size significance may become apparent); while the combination of a PEG coating with NO sweep gas resulted in significant improvement of device lifetime. The development of microfluidic artificial lungs (µALs) can potentially have a massive impact on the treatment of patients with acute and chronic lung impairments. Before these devices can be deployed clinically, the biocompatibility of µALs must be improved and more comprehensively understood. This work explores two strategies for improving biocompatibility, a hydrophilic surface coating (polyethylene glycol) for general surface passivation and the addition of nitric oxide (NO) to the sweep gas to quell platelet and leukocyte activation. These two strategies are investigated separately and as a combined device treatment. Devices are challenged with clottable blood using in vitro testing and in vivo testing in rabbits. This is the first study to our knowledge that allows statistical comparisons of biocompatible µALs in animals, a key step towards eventual clinical use. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-eared bats of the genus Plecotus are known to occur predominantly in the Palaearctic Region, and at the margins of the Afrotropical and Indomalayan regions. In 2014, four specimens of the genus Plecotus were collected in a high altitude montane temperate forest in the Hoang Lien National Park, northern Vietnam, representing the first record of Plecotus from the Indochinese subregion, and considerably extending the southern border of the genus' distribution range. Detailed morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstructions based on the mitochondrial control region suggest that these specimens can be assigned to P. homochrous, a mountain-dwelling bat from the Himalayas. Moreover, for the first time, we provide information on the species' echolocation call and karyological characteristics. Our results also indicate that the taxonomic status of some Plecotus species recognized by previous studies is doubtful and must be revised. Although rarely encountered, Plecotus is likely to be widely distributed at the higher elevations of the Himalayan chain in southern China and the adjoining northern areas of Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Our findings strongly support the importance of the mountainous areas within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study literary texts were jointly processed by a group of disadvantaged young people under the direction of therapists. The author (and her colleagues involved in the project) added special features (lyrics, musical instruments, games) to the methods generally applied. Libraries offer an ideal location for bibliotherapy. In this case, the therapists dealt with investigating the needs of and assisting adolescents living in foster homes, who cope with a variety of problems. One of the important aims of this therapy was to awaken their ability of self-reflection and self-awareness, and, indirectly, to support their integration into society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-toothed pipistrelle (Hypsugo dolichodon) was recently described as a new bat species based on four specimens from Laos and Vietnam. During investigations of taxa in the Vespertilionini tribe, we noted that specimens reported as Falsistrellus affinis (recently transferred to genus Hypsugo) from Myanmar and Cambodia have mtDNA sequences and craniodental characteristics similar to H. dolichodon and different from genuine H. affinis. Mitochondrial homogeneity within H. dolichodon was also apparent as there was no nucleotide difference between the widely distributed Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese specimens in CO1 or Cytb genes. Although ecological data are scarce, H. dolichodon appears to be a cave-dweller which would suggest that conservation measures are a priority because tropical caves are under high pressure from human use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the classification of geographical landscapes is an important field of landscape science, an accepted method concerning how to carry it out exactly does not exist. The traditional definitions of landscape types have focused on relief, natural vegetation, and landuse, though nowadays the focus has shifted increasingly to landcover, which can be classified according to remote sensing data. The traditional school of landscape classification appeared in German and Russian geography more than a hundred years ago, as well as in other European countries with a large territiory, where practically no detailed landscape-type map existed (France for example). There is a strong incentive at the EU-level to elaborate a general landscape classification and mapping system, which would be useful when checking agricultural subsidies in the member countries. This paper presents a European survey of the methods of landscape classification in different countries, with special attention to landscape-type maps of the neighbouring countries in the Carpathian Basin. We present here a new and detailed landscape-type map of the Northern Serbian county of Vojvodina. The landscape definitions and maps on the two sides of the Hungarian border (along the entire Hungarian border) are almost completely incompatible with each other, hence it is a necessary and very urgent professional task to elaborate a general landscape-type map of the Carpathian Basin. In the field of the historical landscape classification of the Carpathian Basin the situation is better, as we have a map referring to the landscape from approximately 900 AD and another one from the period between 1200 and 1600 AD. An important conclusion of the paper is that traditional descriptions of landscape types are suitable for a general survey but not for practical purposes such as landscape planning, landscape protection, or tourism geography. For these purposes more elaborate special classification methods are a must. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to monitor changes of common hemostaseologic parameters, serum protein concentration red blood cell (RBC) indices and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in women with malignant and non-malignant gynecologic disease preoperatively and in the early postoperative period (five days). One hundred fifty-two women with a primary diagnosis of gynaecological malignancy and a matched group of women undergoing surgery for non-malignant disorders were enrolled in the study. Patients with severe comorbity or venous thrombosis events in the recent history (< six months) were excluded. Preoperatively, coagulation markers including fibrinogen- and D-Dimer-levels were statistically significantly higher, while pTTT was prolonged in all cancer patients compared to the benign tumor patients. Mean albumin/globulin ratio (A/G-R) was lower in each of the cancer types being lowest in ovarian cancer patients while RBC indices (MCH, MCV, and MCHC) were comparable with those of the benign disease group. However, ESR was significantly higher in all types of cancer compared to the controls. Postoperatively, in the cancer groups, mean values of coagulation markers increased and remained significantly higher as compared to the preoperative values until day 5. A/G-R slightly but statistically significantly dropped postoperatively, being lowest in patients with ovarian cancer. While in the cancer patients, ESR statistically significantly increased postoperatively and remained high until day 5 it remained unchanged after surgery for benign disease. The preoperative use of common routine laboratory markers may allow differentiation of dignity in patients with benign and malign gynecologic disease. Moreover, the divergence of the results postoperatively correlate with the extent of the intervention and the tumor load being most remarkable after ovarian cancer surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its discovery, the taxonomic status of the only species of Kerivoula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Kerivoulinae) to be found on Taiwan has been confused. Previous studies have assigned this species to either Kerivoula hardwickii or K. titania, both of which occur on continental SE Asia. This uncertainty supports repeated suggestions in the literature that specimens of K. hardwickii collected and/or sampled across SE Asia are likely to represent multiple cryptic taxa. To address these issues, we combined new and existing data from the genus Kerivoula on Taiwan and continental Asia, and performed diagnostic analyses in steps. First, phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA revealed a well-supported group comprising all taxa currently recognized as K. hardwickii, together with the Taiwanese Kerivoula and Kerivoula kachinensis to the exclusion of all other congeneric species. Second, focusing on all members of this monophyletic clade (i.e., K. hardwickii complex) together with K. titania, we used multivariate statistical methods to separate taxa based on morphometric data. Our results provide strong evidence that among these bats, the Taiwanese Kerivoula is a new species that also occurs on continental Asia, for which we provide a formal description and name. In addition, we show that the subspecies K. hardwickii depressa should be elevated to species status. We discuss our findings and the caveats of this and similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to compare the health and performance of ad libitum (ADLIB) and restrictedly fed Holstein Friesian heifer calves. Calves were selected to ADLIB (n = 13) and control (n = 13) groups randomly. The period of ADLIB feeding lasted for 3 weeks after colostrum supplementation. The calves in the control group received the same milk replacer, which was supplied according to the restrained feeding schedule of the farm. There was no difference between the two groups in weight, weight gain or movement activity, furthermore in the values of glucose, albumin, total protein, BHB, AST, oxidant and antioxidant status incl. dROM, PAT and OSI. The IL8 gene had higher levels (non significant, p > 0.05) of expression in the ADLIB group during the first 20 days of life, which indicates that ADLIB feeding might potentiate a stronger immune response to environmental stress. The IGF1 gene showed increased expression in the ADLIB fed group at almost all time points, however the difference was already detected on the first day of the study, indicating the importance of individual differences even within the same breed. During the first 10 days INS expression was higher in the restricted group, followed by a shift by day 20 and after, when the ADLIB group showed a higher relative expression level. The observed values describe a trend that, although not significant (p > 0.05), would seem to indicate that ADLIB feeding might potentiate a stronger immune response to environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Joffre's pipistrelle Hypsugo joffrei is a rare and very little known vespertilionid bat previously thought to be confined to Myanmar and Vietnam in Southeast Asia. Based on recently collected material and reassessment of museum specimens, this species is being reported for the first time from India and Nepal which also significantly extends its westward geographic range beyond Myanmar. We also critically compare the type specimen of another poorly known congener from Myanmar, H. anthonyi with the present material and propose to recognize the name H. anthonyi as the junior subjective synonym of H. jojfrei. Specimens previously identified as Philetor brachypterus from South Asia were found to represent H. joffrei, as well. Consequently, the distribution range of Philetor is restricted to the Sundaic zoogeographical subregion, the Philippines, New Guinea and Bismarck Is., and the species should be omitted from the bat checklists of India and Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic enumeration is a frequently used approach in smart city applications for estimating the traffic load of the road network. Many solutions use a camera and state-of-the-art image processing technologies. As image processing is relative resource consuming, either very simple methods are used, or the processing is performed off-site, on a central computer. The approach presented in this paper employs a powerful embedded system to process the video images in real-time, so that the communication traffic is limited to the transmission of retrieved statistics. In order to fit into the limited resources and still allow vehicle size and speed measurements, special data representations and processing pipeline has to be used. This paper presents the operation principles of the sensor, followed by the corresponding evaluation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author presents a previously unknown chapter of the Italian-Hungarian relations: how had been working the Hungarian Communist Party-State's intelligence officers – in the classical sense of the word: the spies – in Italy during the first half of the 1950s. Elaborating the source materials, that become available only nowadays, he explains the structure and the activity of the secret part of the Hungarian Embassy, namely its intelligence residence, and the details of the practical realization of the purposes of the central intelligence office of Budapest. The author introduces how could the Hungarian spies incorporate into various institutions of the Italian state apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]