Impact of nitrogen topdressing on the performance of wheat yield and grain protein

Yield samples of winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. varieties taken from the Nagygombos experimental site of the Szent István University in two different crop years have been evaluated. Impact of N topdressing on the performance of yield and protein was studied. In case of five high quality wheat varieties yield and protein values were examined. The results suggest that ascending doses of N topdressing, and split applications had a beneficial effect on the yield figures, the amount of protein content as well as the total protein yield of the wheat varieties examined

4D Scene Reconstruction in Multi-Target Scenarios

In this report, we introduce a complex approach on 4D reconstruction of dynamic scenarios containing multiple walking pedestrians. The input of the process is a point cloud sequence recorded by a rotating multi-beam Lidar sensor, which monitors the scene from a fixed position. The output is a geometrically reconstructed and textured scene containing moving 4D people models, which can follow in real time the trajectories of the walking pedestrians observed on the Lidar data flow. Our implemented system consists of four main steps. First, we separate foreground and background regions in each point cloud frame of the sequence by a robust probabilistic approach. Second, we perform moving pedestrian detection and tracking, so that among the point cloud regions classified as foreground, we separate the different objects, and assign the corresponding people positions to each other over the consecutive frames of the Lidar measurement sequence. Third, we geometrically reconstruct the ground, walls and further objects of the background scene, and texture the obtained models with photos taken from the scene. Fourth we insert into the scene textured 4D models of moving pedestrians which were preliminary created in a special 4D reconstruction studio. Finally, we integrate the system elements in a joint dynamic scene model and visualize the 4D scenario

Relationship between serum calcium and CA 19-9 levels in colorectal cancer

AIM: To examine the calcium metabolism of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with colorectal cancer and control patients. METHODS: Seventy newly diagnosed CRC patients were included. The healthy control group was age and gender matched (n=32). Particular attention was devoted to the relationship between serum calcium of patients, and levels of AFP, CEA, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) (that could be considered as prognostic factors). Furthermore, the Ca-sensing receptor (CaSR) gene A986S polymorphism was investigated in these patients, as well as the relationship between different CaSR genotypes and the data stated above. RESULTS: A lower level of ionized calcium (also corrected for albumin) was found in the serum of CRC patients with normal 25(OH) vitamin D levels. The ionized calcium concentration was inversely correlated with the serum level of CA 19-9. There was no difference in the distribution of CaSR genotypes, between CRC patients and general population. The genotypes did not correlate with other data examined. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, lower levels of serum calcium might be a pathogenic and prognostic factor in colorectal cancer

The role of the attrition milling on the grain size and distribution of the carbon nanotubes in YSZ powders

The aim of present work was the examination of the role of the high efficient attrition milling on the structure and grain size of ZrO2 – 8mol.% Y2O3 (YSZ) and on the distribution of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in these powder mixtures. The microstructure of YSZ/MWCNTs powder mixtures with 1, 5, 10wt.% MWCNTs was investigated. Detailed study confirmed the YSZ grain size decrease and simultaneously the non-destructive homogenization of MWCNTs in the ceramic powder mixtures. The best homogenization degree was achieved in the case of YSZ/1wt.% MWCNT powder. Raman scattering measurements were performed to investigate the atomic bonding and structural integrity of carbon nanotubes. The presence of the G and D bands in each samples at ∼1590 and ∼1355cm−1 confirmed the unaffected structural integrity of MWCNTs after the milling process. In addition to Raman measurements the high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies have shown that the structure of MWCNTs remains intact after milling. Resumen El propósito de este trabajo fue la evaluación del rol de la molienda por atrición en la estructura y tamaño de grano de ZrO2 – 8mol.% Y2O3 (YSZ) y la distribución de tubos de carbono multipared(MWCNTs) en las mencionadas mesclas mixtas pulverizadas. Se investigó la microestructura de los polvos YSZ/MWCNT. El estudio detallado confirmó la disminución del tamaño de grano YSZ y, simultáneamente, la homogeneización no destructiva de MWCNT en las mezclas cerámicas pulverizadas. El mejor grado de homogenización fue alcanzado en el caso de YSZ al 1% en peso de MWCNT. Se realizaron mediciones de dispersión Raman para investigar la unión atómica y la integridad estructural de los nanotubos de carbono. La presencia de las bandas G y D en cada muestra a ∼1590cm-1 y ∼1355cm-1, confirmó que la integridad estructural de los MWCNT, no fue afectada después del proceso de molienda. Además de las mediciones de Raman, los estudios de microscopía electrónica de transmisión de alta resolución (HRTEM) demostraron que la estructura de los MWCNT permanece intacta después de la molienda

Idegi plaszticitás és neuroprotekció lehetőségeinek kutatása triptofán metabolitokkal és származékaikkal = Neuronal plasticity and neuronal protection - research with triptophan-metabolites and conjugates

A pályázati támogatás olyan neuroprotekciós eljárások, anyagok kidolgozását szolgálta, mely ischemiás állapotok, traumák után fellépő hiperexcitáció csökkentésével mérsékli az ilyenkor fellépő másodlagos sejtpusztulást. A triptofán egyik metabolitja a kinurénsav (KYNA), mely az NMDA receptorok természetes inhibitoraként viselkedik a NMDA receptorokhoz kapcsolódva. A KYNA azonban nem megy át a vér-agy gáton, viszont előanyaga a kinurenin (KYN) igen. Kidolgoztunk egy módszert, melyben a KYN-t (300 mg/kg, i.p.) probeneciddel (PROB, 200 mg/kg, i.p.) együtt adva, oly mértékig meg tudjuk emelni a KYNA szintet az agyban, hogy az hatékonyan képes gátolni az agyi sérüléseket követő hiperexcitációt. Ezzel a módszerrel hatékony neuroprotekciót értünk el focalis és globalis agyi ischemiában, pentylentetrazollal (PTZ) kiváltott görcstevékenységben, de még migrén modellben is. Kifejlesztettünk két további kinurénsav származékot, a glukozamin-kinurénsavat (KYNA-NH-GLUC) és az SZR-72-nek nevezett szert, melyek szintén hatékony neuroprotektív anyagok, ugyanakkor átjutnak a vér-agy gáton, tehát szisztémásan is adhatók. Kísérleti körülmények között tehát hatékony neuroprotektív eljárást dolgoztunk ki, és hatékony anyagokat állítottunk elő. Továbbá, kimutattuk a KYNA-ról, hogy Janus-arcú, mert gátló hatása mellett, amit ?M-os koncentrációban fejt ki, ennél jóval alacsonyabb koncentrációban (200-250 nM) serkentő hatású. Mindez felveti a KYNA lehetséges neuromodulátor szerepét. | The aim of this project was to develop neuroprotective agents and protocols, which are able to reduce the late neuronal death following ischemic brain attack or brain trauma. The kynurenine pathway converts tryptophan into various compounds, including L-kynurenine (KYN), which in turn can be converted into the excitatory amino acid receptor (namely NMDA receptor) antagonist kynurenic acid (KYNA). The use of KYNA as a neuroprotective agent is rather restricted, however, because KYNA has only a very limited ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. In contrast, KYN crosses this barrier more readily. We have developed a protocol in which KYN (300 mg/kg, i.p.) administration together with probenedid (PROB, 200 mg/kg, i.p.), an organic acid transport blocker, led to significant neuroprotection in both focal and global brain ischemia, in traumatic brain attack, in migraine, and led to the inhibition of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures. In addition, we have developed two kynurenic acid derivatives; glucosamine-kynurenic acid (KYNA-NH-GLUC) and SZR-72. Both of them cross the blood-brain barrier easily, and are neuroprotective agents. In addition to these experimental results, we have shown that KYNA is a Janus-faced agent, which in ?M concentration behaves as a neuroinhibitor, while in nM concentration, it stimulates the neuronal activity. This result suggests that KYNA might be play a role of a neuromodulator in the central nervoussystem

CYP24A1 inhibition facilitates the anti-tumor effect of vitamin D3 on colorectal cancer cells

AIM: The effects of vitamin D3 have been investigated on various tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). 25-hydroxyvitamin-D3-24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1), the enzyme that inactivates the active vitamin D3 metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-D3), is considered to be the main enzyme determining the biological halflife of 1,25-D3. During colorectal carcinogenesis, the expression and concentration of CYP24A1 increases significantly, suggesting that this phenomenon could be responsible for the proposed efficacy of 1,25-D3 in the treatment of CRC. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-tumor effects of vitamin D3 on the human CRC cell line Caco-2 after inhibition of the cytochrome P450 component of CYP24A1 activity. METHODS: We examined the expression of CYP24A1 mRNA and the effects of 1,25-D3 on the cell line Caco-2 after inhibition of CYP24A1. Cell viability and proliferation were determined by means of sulforhodamine-B staining and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, respectively, while cytotoxicity was estimated via the lactate dehydrogenase content of the cell culture supernatant. CYP24A1 expression was measured by realtime reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A number of tetralone compounds were synthesized to investigate their CP24A1 inhibitory activity. RESULTS: In response to 1,25-D3, CYP24A1 mRNA expression was enhanced significantly, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Caco-2 cell viability and proliferation were not influenced by the administration of 1,25-D3 alone, but were markedly reduced by coadministration of 1,25-D3 and KD-35, a CYP24A1-inhibiting tetralone. Our data suggest that the mechanism of action of co-administered KD-35 and 1,25-D3 does not involve a direct cytotoxic effect, but rather the inhibition of cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the selective inhibition of CYP24A1 by compounds such as KD-35 may be a new approach for enhancement of the anti-tumor effect of 1,25-D3 on CRC

Biominerals Added Bioresorbable Calcium Phosphate Loaded Biopolymer Composites

Nanocrystalline calcium phosphate (CP) bioceramic coatings and their combination with biopolymers are innovative types of resorbable coatings for load-bearing implants that can promote the integration of metallic implants into human bodies. The nanocrystalline, amorphous CP particles are an advantageous form of the various calcium phosphate phases since they have a faster dissolution rate than that of crystalline hydroxyapatite. Owing to the biomineral additions (Mg, Zn, Sr) in optimized concentrations, the base CP particles became more similar to the mineral phase in human bones (dCP). The effect of biomineral addition into the CaP phases was thoroughly studied. The results showed that the shape, morphology, and amorphous characteristic slightly changed in the case of biomineral addition in low concentrations. The optimized dCP particles were then incorporated into a chosen polycaprolactone (PCL) biopolymer matrix. Very thin, non-continuous, rough layers were formed on the surface of implant substrates via the spin coating method. The SEM elemental mapping proved the perfect incorporation and distribution of dCP particles into the polymer matrix. The bioresorption rate of thin films was followed by corrosion measurements over a long period of time. The corrosion results indicated a faster dissolution rate for the dCP-PCL composite compared to the dCP and CP powder layers