Reviews

Reviews: 1. Láng Benedek: Klaniczay Gábor – Pócs Éva (eds.): Witchcraft and Demonology in Hungary and Transylvania : Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic 2. Tamás Ildikó: Pócs Éva – Hesz Ágnes (eds.): Orvosistenektől a hortikulturális utópiáig. Tanulmányok a Kárpát-medence vonzáskörzetéből = From Gods of Medicine to Horticultural Utopias 3. Voigt Vilmos: Miskolczy Ambrus (ed.): Felvilágosodás és babonaság. Erdélyi néphiedelem-gyűjtés 1789-90-ben = Enlightenment and Superstitions. Collecting Folk Beliefs in Transylvania in 1789-1790 4. Kis-Halas Judit: Tóth G., Péter – Pakó László (eds.): Kolozsvári boszorkányperek 1564–1743 = Kolozsvár Witch Trials 1564–1743 és Tóth G., Péter – Brandl Gergely (eds.): Szegedi boszorkányperek 1726–1744 = Szeged Witch Trials 1726–1744 [összehasonlító ismertetés a két műről] 5. Tóth G. Péter: Bárth Dániel: A zombori ördögűző. Egy 18. századi ferences mentalitása = The Exorcist of Zombor: The Mentality of an Eighteenth-century Franciscan Friar 6. Vargyas Gábor: Balatonyi Judit: A gyimesi lakodalmak. Közös kultúra és különböző identitások? = Weddings in Gyimes. Common Culture, Dissimilar Identities

Néphit, vallás, mentalitás. Kéziratos és nyomtatott források, 16-19. század. Forrásfeltárás, -kiadás és kutatás = Folk belief, religion, mentality. Hand-written and printed sources, 16-19. centuries. Exploration, publication and study of sources

A kora újkor társadalmainak mentalitása, világképe, hiedelemrendszere: 1. Források feltárása, nyilvántartása és kiadása: Boszorkányperek dokumentumainak feltárása erdélyi, valamint felvidéki és magyarországi városokban: Összesen mintegy 400 új per birtokába jutottunk, kb 1500 oldal terjedelemben. A peranyag átírása, sajtó alá rendezése folyamatos: megjelent egy vármegyei és egy városi perdokumentumokat tartalmazó kötetünk. Magyarország területén használt varázskönyvek feltárása: elkészült egy kincskeresés szövegeit tartalmazó kötet. Magyarországi benedikciók és exorcizmusok kéziratos és nyomtatott forrásainak feltárása: egy kötet sajtó alatt. - A kora újkor református prédikációinak feltárása: megjelent egy babonaellenes és egy dohányzás-ellenes prédikációkat tartalmazó kötet. Kora újkori látomásszövegek feltárása és kiadása: megjelent egy 18. századi látomás-szövegeket tartalmazó kötet. 2. Kutatás folyt a következő témákban: A boszorkányüldözés historiográfiája, statisztikája, jogi háttere, társadalmi kontextusa, teológiai vonatkozásai, kezdetei és megszűnése; a mágia dekriminalizációja a magyar joggyakorlatban; a boszorkányság hiedelemrendszere; a varázskönyvek használata és használói; a prédikációk, mint az elit és népi kultúra kommunikációs csatornái; a prédikációk ördög-képzetei. E témákkal részt vettünk több fontos magyar és nemzetközi konferencián, szerveztünk is ilyenket. 12 kutató közel 100 tanulmánya illetve forráskiadványa készült el. | Mentality, world-view and belief-systems of the early modern communities: 1. Exploration, identifying and publishing sources: Exploring documents of witchcraft cases in cities in Transylvania, Slovakia and in Hungary. Altogether we have acquired the material of approximately 400 trials amounting to 1500 pages. We have continued transcribing the case material collected during the previous cycle and preparing it for print. We have published a volume containing trial material in the counties and one on that of the towns. Exploring handwritten and printed sources of benedictions and exorcisms in Hungary: a volume is in the press. Exploring Calvinist preachings of the early modern age: a volume of preachings against superstitions and another volume against smoking are published. Exploring and publishing visions-literature: we have published a book containing 18th century visions. 2. Research was carried out on the following subjects: The historiography and comprehensive statistics of witch-hunt; the legal background and social context of witch-hunt, the theological aspects, religious and clerical history of witch-hunts; the belief system of witchcraft; the use and the users of magic books; preachings as channels of communication between the elite and popular culture, concepts of the Satan in the Calvinist preachings. We have participated at several important Hungarian and international conferences, and we also organised two major and several minor conferences on these areas of research. In this area 12 researchers accomplished approximately 100 papers resp. books

Extracellular vesicles mediate radiation-induced systemic bystander signals in the bone marrow and spleen

Radiation-induced bystander effects refer to the induction of biological changes in cells not directly hit by radiation implying that the number of cells affected by radiation is larger than the actual number of irradiated cells. Recent in vitro studies suggest the role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in mediating radiation-induced bystander signals but in vivo investigations are still lacking. Here we report an in vivo study investigating the role of EVs in mediating radiation effects. C57BL/6 mice were total-body irradiated with X-rays (0.1, 0.25, 2 Gy), 24 hours later EVs were isolated from the bone marrow and were intravenously injected into unirradiated (so-called bystander) animals. EV-induced systemic effects were compared to radiation effects in the directly irradiated animals. Similarly to direct radiation EVs from irradiated mice induced complex DNA damage in EV-recipient animals, manifested in an increased level of chromosomal aberrations and the activation of the DNA damage response. However, while DNA damage after direct irradiation increased with the dose, EV-induced effects peaked at lower doses. A significantly reduced hematopoietic stem cell pool in the BM as well as CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte pool in the spleen was detected in mice injected with EVs isolated from animals irradiated with 2 Gy. These EV-induced alterations were comparable to changes present in the directly irradiated mice. The pool of TLR4-expressing dendritic cells was different in the directly irradiated mice, where it increased after 2 Gy and in the EV-recipient animals, where it strongly decreased in a dose-independent manner. A panel of 8 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the EVs originating from both low and high dose-irradiated mice, with a predicted involvement in pathways related to DNA damage repair, hematopoietic and immune system regulation, suggesting a direct involvement of these pathways in mediating radiation-induced systemic effects. ​ In conclusion, we proved the role of EVs in transmitting certain radiation effects, identified miRNAs carried by EVs potentially responsible for these effects and showed that the pattern of changes was often different in the directly irradiated and EV-recipient bystander mice, suggesting different mechanisms

The Role of a Key Amino Acid Position in Species-Specific Proteinaceous dUTPase Inhibition

Protein inhibitors of key DNA repair enzymes play an important role in deciphering physiological pathways responsible for genome integrity, and may also be exploited in biomedical research. The staphylococcal repressor StlSaPIbov1 protein was described to be an efficient inhibitor of dUTPase homologues showing a certain degree of species-specificity. In order to provide insight into the inhibition mechanism, in the present study we investigated the interaction of StlSaPIbov1 and Escherichia coli dUTPase. Although we observed a strong interaction of these proteins, unexpectedly the E. coli dUTPase was not inhibited. Seeking a structural explanation for this phenomenon, we identified a key amino acid position where specific mutations sensitized E. coli dUTPase to StlSaPIbov1 inhibition. We solved the three-dimensional (3D) crystal structure of such a mutant in complex with the substrate analogue dUPNPP and surprisingly found that the C-terminal arm of the enzyme, containing the P-loop-like motif was ordered in the structure. This segment was never localized before in any other E. coli dUTPase crystal structures. The 3D structure in agreement with solution phase experiments suggested that ordering of the flexible C-terminal segment upon substrate binding is a major factor in defining the sensitivity of E. coli dUTPase for StlSaPIbov1 inhibition

The certification of the activity concentration of the radionuclides 137Cs, 90Sr and 40K in wild berries: IRMM-426

This report describes the production of CRM IRMM-426, a dried bilberry material certified for the radionuclide activity concentrations of 137Cs, 90Sr and 40K. The material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009. Bilberry samples were collected in a woodland region of so-called “strontium hot spots” close to the Chernobyl reactor site. The samples were air-dried at the sampling site before transport to IRMM, where the raw material was oven-dried, cryo-milled, sieved, homogenised and bottled. The bottled material was sterilised by gamma-irradiation. Between-unit homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. The material was characterised by an intercomparison among laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Technically invalid results were removed but no outlier was eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity and instability and to characterisation. The material is intended for the assessment of method performance and quality control. As any reference material, it can also be used for control charts or validation studies. The CRM is available in amber glass jars containing about 100 g of dried bilberry powder. The minimum amount of sample to be used for analysis is 50 g for 90Sr and 18 g for 137Cs and 40K.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Certified reference materials for radionuclides in Bikini Atoll sediment (IAEA-410) and Pacific Ocean sediment (IAEA-412)

The preparation and characterization of certified reference materials (CRMs) for radionuclide content in sediments collected offshore of Bikini Atoll (IAEA-410) and in the open northwest Pacific Ocean (IAEA-412) are described and the results of the certification process are presented. The certified radionuclides include: 40K, 210Pb (210Po), 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, 232Th, 234U, 238U, 239Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am for IAEA-410 and 40K, 137Cs, 210Pb (210Po), 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, 232Th, 235U, 238U, 239Pu, 240Pu and 239+240Pu for IAEA-412. The CRMs can be used for quality assurance and quality control purposes in the analysis of radionuclides in sediments, for development and validation of analytical methods and for staff training

Low Dose Radiation Induced Transcriptional Alterations in Directly Irradiated and Bystander Fibroblast Cells

Introduction: Formerly, we studied transcriptional alterations in primary human fibroblast cells after irradiation with 2 Gy (Kis et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 66:1506-14. 2006). We found that about 200 genes responded to radiation and the expression profile depended on individual genetic backgrounds. Thirty consensus radiation response genes answered to radiation in identical manner in all investigated cells. Now, we have investigated low dose radiation induced transcriptional responses in directly hit and bystander cells. Methods: F11 primary human fibroblasts were irradiated with different doses (10, 40, 100 and 500 mGy) of 60Co gamma radiation. To investigate radiation-induced transcriptional alterations in directly irradiated cells, RNA was isolated 2 h after irradiation. To study responses in bystander cells the culture medium was removed from the irradiated cells 2 h after irradiation and transferred to unirradiated recipient cells. RNA was isolated 2 h later and the transcriptional profile analyzed by whole genome microarrays. Results: When cells were irradiated with 500 mGy 1119 genes responded to radiation. Ten of the formerly identified consensus radiation response genes changed its transcription (CDKN1A, TP53INP1, CYP26B1, BTG2, BBC3, PPM1D, THSD1, GDF15, NM_024661, BC010544). Irradiation of F11 fibroblasts with 100 and 10 mGy altered the transcription profile of 847 and 1414 genes, respectively. When we compared the transcription profile of cells irradiated with 500 and 100 mGy 377 similar alterations were detected, among them 6 consensus radiation response genes (CDKN1A, TP53INP1, GDF15, BTG2, BBC3, NM_024661) changed its transcription in an identical manner. One hundred and twenty-four genes responded to radiation after all applied doses. In bystander cells 655 and 406 genes responded to 500 and 100 mGy irradiations, respectively on the transcription level. After irradiation with 40 and 10 mGy the number of responding genes were 152 and 619, respectively. When we compared the responses in bystander cells after irradiation with 100 and 40 mGy only 40 genes responded identically. The comparison of the transcriptional profile of 40 and 10 mGy irradiated cells detected 60 similar responses. Altogether fifteen genes responded to all doses of radiation in bystander cells. Finally, we have detected nine genes (DLGAP4, HRASLS5, TMEM167, RPL23, RPL38, PRSS36, and three hypothetical proteins) responding to all doses of radiation both in directly irradiated and bystander cells. Conclusions: By the analysis of radiation induced transcriptional alterations one might find potential biomarkers suitable to detect low dose responses

Feasibility study applied to mapping tidal effects in the Pannonian basin – An effort to check location dependencies at μGal level

This paper summarizes the main instrumental and methodological points of the tidal research which was performed in the framework of the National Scientific Research Fund Project K101603. Since the project is still running the tidal analysis results published here are only preliminary.Unmodelled tidal effects have been highlighted in some recent absolute gravity measurements carried out in the Pannonian basin resulting in a periodic modulation exceeding the typical standard deviations (±1microGal) of the drop sets. Since the most dominant source of the daily gravity variation is the bulk tidal effect, the goal of the project is to check its location dependency at μGal level. Unfortunately Hungary has had no dedicated instrumentation, so an effort was made to make the available LaCoste-Romberg spring G meters capable for continuous recording. As a reference instrument the GWR SG025 operated in the Conrad Observatory, Austria was also used and in the mean time of the project, a Scintrex CG-5 became also available. Eventually 6 instruments at 5 different locations were operated for 3–9 months mainly in co-located configuration. Although many experiments (moving mass calibrations) were done to determine the scale factors and scale functions of the instruments, the direct comparison of the tidal parameters obtained from the observations is still questionable. Therefore the ratio of the delta factors of O1 and M2 tidal constituents was investigated supposing that M2 is much more influenced by the ocean loading effect than O1. The slight detected increase of δ(O1)/δ(M2) (≈0.2%) toward east does not contradict to theory. This result has to be validated in the near future by analyzing available ocean loading models. Keywords: Gravity tide mapping, Spring gravity meters, Instrumental tests, Co-located observations, Location dependence of delta factor

Activity concentration measurements of 137Cs, 90Sr and 40K in a wild food matrix reference material (Wild Berries) CCRI(II)-S8

In 2009, the CCRI approved a supplementary comparison to be organised by the IRMM as pilot laboratory for the activity concentrations of 137Cs, 90Sr and 40K in a matrix material of dried bilberries. The organisation of this comparison and the material and measurement methods used are described. The supplementary comparison reference value (SCRV) for each of the three radionuclides are given together with the degrees of equivalence of each participating laboratory with the SCRV for the specific radionuclide. The results of this supplementary comparison allow the participating NMIs/designated institutes to declare calibration and measurement capabilities (CMCs) for the given radionuclides in a similar type of food matrix, an important aspect seen the relatively few supplementary comparisons for activity in matrix materials organised so far.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard