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Parent report data on 82 preschool children with complex neurodevelopmental disabilities including Down syndrome, dyspraxia, autism, and global developmental delay suggests communicative language use must reach a threshold level before vocabulary size becomes the best predictor of word combining. Using the Language Use Inventory and the MacArthur-Bates CDI (with sign vocabulary option), statistical modelling using regression trees and random forests suggests that, despite high linear correlations between variables, (1) pragmatic ability, particularly children's emerging ability to talk about things, themselves and others is a significantly better predictor of the earliest word combining than vocabulary size; and (2) vocabulary size becomes a better predictor of later word combining, once this pragmatic base has been established.

Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains of the serogroup O157 are foodborne pathogens associated with severe clinical disease. As antibiotics are counter-indicated for treatment of these infections, they represent prime candidates for targeted application of bacteriophages to reduce infection burden. In this study, we characterised lytic bacteriophages representing three phage genera for activity against E. coli O157 strains. The phages vb_EcoM_bov9_1 (Tequatrovirus), vb_EcoM_bov11CS3 (Vequintavirus), and vb_EcoS_bov25_1D (Dhillonvirus) showed effective lysis of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli EHEC O157:H7 strains, while also exhibiting activity against other strains of the O157 serogroup, as well as of the ‘big six’ (STEC) serogroups, albeit with lower efficiency. They had a burst size of 293, 127 and 18 per cell and a latent period of 35, 5 and 30 min, respectively. In situ challenge experiments using the O157 Sakai strain on minced beef showed a reduction by 2–3-fold when treated with phages at a 0.1 MOI (multiplicity of infection), and approximately 1 log reduction when exposed to MOI values of 10 and 100. A cocktail of the phages, applied at 10 × and 100 × MOI showed 2 to 3 log reduction when samples were treated at room temperature, and all treatments at 37 °C with 100 × MOI resulted in a 5 to 6 log reduction in cell count. Our results indicate that the phages vb_EcoM_bov9_1 and vb_EcoM_bov11CS3, which have higher burst sizes, are promising candidates for biocontrol experiments aimed at the eradication of E. coli O157 strains in animals or foodstuff.

Summary Aims The primary aim of this study was to provide normative formant frequency (F) values for male and female speakers of Australian English. The secondary aim was to examine the effects of speaker sex, age, vowel quality, and geographical location on F. Method The first three monophthong formant frequencies (F1, F2, and F3) for 244 female and 135 male speakers aged 18–60 years from a recent large-scale corpus of Australian English were analysed on a passage reading task. Results Mixed effects linear regression models suggested that speaker sex, speaker age, and vowel quality significantly predicted F1, F2, and F3 (P = 0.000). Effect sizes suggested that speaker sex and vowel quality contributed most to the variations in F1, F2, and F3 whereas speaker age and geographical location contributed a smaller amount. Conclusion Both clinicians and researchers are provided with normative F data for 18–60 year-old speakers of Australian English. Such data have increased internal and external validity relative to previous literature. F normative data for speakers of Australian English should be considered with reference to speaker sex and vowel but it may not be practically necessary to adjust for speaker age and geographical location.

Nowadays, the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is the most current and the most widely used tree species in Hungary. Due to its penetration and the wide variety of application it’s worth to examine the different mechanization options of the reforestation technologies and their costs. We provided our research in the area of Nyírerdő Nyírségi Erdészeti Zrt. According to the tests it can be said, that the cost of the reforestations with root ripping is the most favourable and the reforestation or regeneration with planting costs the most. The disadvantage of the regeneration with root ripping is, that after its multiple application it can be observed the significantly degradation of the assortment composition and of the tree utilization income.

Summary Aims The aim of this study was to provide a description of normative speaking fundamental frequency (fos) characteristics for adult speakers of Australian English. The effects of age, sex, and geographical location on fos were also examined to assess whether variations existed. Methods fos data for 244 female and 135 male speakers aged 18–60 years from a recent large-scale corpus of Australian English were analyzed on a passage reading task. Creak phonation frequencies were first separated from the modal phonation frequencies algorithmically. Descriptive statistics were then generated for modal voice. Results The mixed effects linear regression model suggested that geographical location had no effect on fos (P = 0.0677). The multiple linear regression model suggested that both sex (P = 0.000) and age (P = 0.000) significantly predicted fos. fos of the female speakers was greater than males by 76 Hz, when accounted for by age, and for every increase in age by one year, fos decreased by 0.37 Hz. Normative data on fos were therefore provided with reference to speaker sex and age only. Conclusion Both clinicians and researchers are provided with normative fos data for 18–60 year-old speakers of Australian English. These updated data have increased internal and external validity relative to previous literature. These increases were achieved by having a larger sample size, systematically sampling speakers of different age groups and geographical locations, sampling contemporary speakers of Australian English and excluding speakers with known concomitant factors that affect fos.

Short rotation coppices (SRC) can produce large amount of dendromass in a short time. From an energetic point of view, one of the most important challenges are the outstanding amount of ash content, which is primarily generated due to the high bark content of the thin shoots. Our research was carried out for measuring bark content of four species/clones performed in three different vegetation years. The experimental plantation is located in the northwestern part of Hungary. The results show that the bark content strongly depends on the applied harvest frequency and tree species. Based on the measurements, the Robinia pseudoacacia and the Salix alba species have the largest bark content in the first year but the value can be reduced by around 50% by using longer harvest rotation. Having analyzed the whole stem, the bark percentage of the Populus x euramericana clones increased from 5.5% to 33.7% from the cutting height to the tip. The minimum value was at the diameter class of 24-28 mm. In the case of Robinia pseudoacacia the bark content ranges only between 3.0% and 20.0%.

Objective: To compare the disinfecting efficacy of the sodium hypochlorite irrigation by root canal preparation with stainless steel hand files, taper 0.02 and nickel-titanium Mtwo files with taper 0.04-0.06. Study Design: 40 extracted human teeth were sterilized, and then inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212). After 6 day incubation time the root canals were prepared by hand with K-files (n=20) and by engine-driven Mtwo files (VDW, Munich, Germany) (n=20). Irrigation was carried out with 2.5% NaOCl in both cases. Samples were taken and determined in colony forming units (CFU) from the root canals before and after the preparation with instruments #25 and #35. Results: Significant reduction in bacterial count was determined after filing at both groups. The number of bacteria kept on decreasing with the extension of apical preparation diameter. There was no significant difference between the preparation sizes in the bacterial counts after hand or engine-driven instrumentation at the same apical size. Statistical analysis was carried out with Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test and independent sample t-test. Conclusions: Significant reduction in CFU was achieved after the root canal preparation completed with 2.5% NaOCl irrigation, both with stainless steel hand or nickel-titanium rotary files. The root canal remained slightly infected after chemo mechanical preparation in both groups. Key words:Chemomechanical preparation, root canal disinfection, nickel-titanium, conicity, greater taper, apical size.

In addition to the environmental reasons, growing energy demand, running out of fossil fuel supplies, and the expected increase in gas prices, all indicate that we must change in our power supply. We should be increase the renewable energies 14.65 %, up to 2020. The opportunity among the renewable energies available in Hungary largely lies in the utilization of biomass. This compressed energy has come into the purview of Europe and our country too. The EU market is ideal for wood pellet production. In Hungary, due to the characteristics of its agricultural industry, large amounts of herbaceous biomass are available. Straw and various agricultural by-products can be used as the raw materials for agripellets. Common complications of the various by-products used in pellet production are the ability to store and manage them, in addition to their combustion. Therefore, it is important to create pellets that will reduce the energy put into transportation and improve the combustion parameters. Despite the fact that we have the herbaceous raw material base, the agripellet production is only slowly developing in our country. One reason for this is that while we have various agripellet combustion furnaces and boilers, these systems are relatively expensive. In addition, due to the high ash content of herbaceous plants, it cannot be burned in wood pellet boilers. Furthermore, furnaces in the market are relatively few. However, Austria and a number of EU countries are helping with subsidies for the initial investment to make the changeover to pellet heating. In our studies, we dealt with the biodiesel production generated from the by-product of rapeseed stalk. After the grinding process, we produced rapeseed stalk pellets with a small pellet-making machine. Studies show that we can obtain a lot of energy from the rapeseed stalk. The location of the examination took place in T&T Technik Ltd. in Szentes. They are producing agripellets from different agricultural by-products. In the future, I would like to expand on energy balance research in the area of agripellet production.

Acute-onset cerebrovascular diseases are connected to a number of immunological changes. Here, we summarize immune responses participating in the evolution of atherosclerotic plaques and poststroke local immune responses in the injured CNS as well as in the systemic circulation. Ischemic injury of the CNS alters the balanced neuroimmune modulation resulting in CIDS, the central nervous system injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome. Due to the immunodepression and reduced pro-inflammatory immune responses, the susceptibility for infection is increased; indeed, poststroke infection plays a major role in stroke-related mortality. On the other hand, CIDS may protect against damaging autoimmune responses elicited by exposed CNS antigens. Investigation of immune responses related to ischemic stroke may result in novel therapies indicated by an increasing number of experimental and clinical trials altering poststroke immune responses and preventing infections.

As an indirect consequence of climate change, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the energy utilization of agricultural by-products will be increasingly emphasized in the future. Hungary has a large potential of agricultural residues of which is a big part could be used for energy purposes. Common feature of this by-products is that thay are originally difficult to handle and they have a small bulk density. Pellet production is one possible way to utilization, however the high ash content and low ash melting point cause problems in pellet burner equipments. Mixtures of different plant residues (wheat straw, rape seed stem, sunflower husk) and agripellets have different energetic and mechanical properties. Besides high ash content and low ash softening temperature, mechanical properties can also significantly affect the quality of pellets as well as the efficiency of firing. There were also significant differences in diameter, length, bulk density and mechanical durability of pellets.