Application of an induced fluorometry-based method in algal growth inhibition tests

Aquatic ecosystems are strongly exposed to various micropollutants from agricultural origin. The harmful effect can be expressed directly on aquatic organisms and indirectly through the food chain. The use of ecotoxicity assays mainly in aquatic environments, and corresponding water quality assessment are undoubtedly important. Project Aquafluosense was designed to develop instrument prototypes of a fluorescence-based setup for in situ measurement of algal biomass and for application of flurescence in ecotoxicity assays. Fluorescence-based determination of algal density was validated by conventional methods and signals obtained by the fluorometer correlated well with the conventional methods for algal density determination. The applicability of the fluorometer developed was demonstrated in ecotoxicity assays using the herbicide active ingredient isoxaflutole in neat and formulated forms

Chlorophyll fluorescence instrumentation for a rapid, in situ measurement of algal density

In the project reported, we are developing an instrument for measuring algal density based on the detection of chlorophyll fluorescence. Following the adjustment of several parameters defined during preliminary analyses, measurements were made on different concentrations of model green and blue algal cultures. Fluorescent signal intensities measured by the prototypes of the fluorometer module were compared to values determined by other, widely used methods for estimation of algal density (i.e. Bürker chamber cell counting, optical density measurement and chlorophyll-a measurement with ethanol extraction method). Fluorometer results correlated well with the other methods, resulting high correlation coefficients (R2>0.9%). Limits of detection and limits of quantification showed a decreasing trend during the development phases resulting in a highly sensitive instrument

E-learning tananyagok hatékonyságának vizsgálata: A tanulók kognitív sajátosságainak és az online környezetoktatás-módszertanának az összefüggései

AbsztraktA pandémia alatti és utáni oktatási helyzetben az online környezetben történő tanulás hatékonyságának és ered-ményességének a növelésére az elvárásokkal arányosan fokozottabb figyelem irányult. A tanulási környezetekfunkcionalitásának technikai továbbfejlesztése helyett a tanuló sajátosságaihoz igazított, részben adaptív kurzus-felületek fejlesztésével kapcsolatban mai napig nagyon kevés kísérleti jellegű kutatási eredmény áll rendelkezé-sünkre. A tanulók kognitív és affektív sajátosságai (motiváció, fáradtság, munkaterhelés, rekacióidő, fizikai álla-pot, mentális állapot) és a tanulási környezetben tapasztalt tanulási tevékenységük (képernyőre fókuszálás, szem-mozgások elemzése, tanulási aktivitás) és teljesítményük összefüggésrendszerének jobb megismerésével hatéko-nyabb és a célcsoporthoz jobban igazodó kurzusfelületek fejleszthetők. A kognitív tesztekre, szemmozgásköve-tésre, tevékenységelemzésre, megfigyelésre, illetve interjúra épített adatgyűjtéssel végzett kismintás kutatásunkalapján egyértelmű tendenciákra következtethettünk. A tanulócsoportok közötti különbségek mellett a rövid vi-deófilmek, az oktatói hitelesség biztosítása, rövidebb írásos dokumentumok, illetve nagyobb számú gyakorló tel-jesítménytesztek a preferáltabb részei a hatékony online tanulási környezeteknek.Kulcsszavak:digitális tananyag; online kurzusfelület;tanulási hatékonyság; tanulói sajátosságokAbstractDuring and after the pandemic, greater emphasis was placed on improving the efficiency and effectiveness oflearning in the online environment in proportion to expectations. We still have very few experimental researchresults regarding the development of partially adaptive course interfaces adapted to the student's characteristics,rather than the technical advancement of the functionality of learning environments. Course interfaces that aremore effective and better adapted to the target group can be developed by better understanding the correlation4 Pannon Digitális Pedagógia (ISSN 2786-2445) 2. évf. (2022). 2. sz. DOI: 10.56665/PADIPE.2022.2.1system between students' cognitive and affective characteristics (motivation, fatigue, workload, reaction time,physical state, mental state) and their learning activities experienced in the learning environment (focusing on thescreen, eye movement analysis, learning activity) and their performance. We were able to formulate clear conclu-sions from our small-sample research, which included data collection based on cognitive tests, eye movementtracking, activity analysis, observation, and interviews. Short video films, ensuring instructor credibility, shorterwritten documents, and a greater number of practice performance tests are preferred components of effective onlinelearning environments, in addition to differences between student groups.Keywords: digital curriculum; online course interface; learning efficiency; student characteristi

Enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay for monitoring the herbicide active ingredient glyphosate in water

Within a modular water quality assessment fluorimeter instrument family, a newly developed enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay has been utilized for the quantitative analytical measurement of the herbicide active ingredient glyphosate in surface water. The developed 96- well microplate-based competitive immunoassay with fluorescence detection provides a 2.5- fold lower limit of detection (LOD = 0.09 ng/mL) in the investigated concentration range of glyphosate (0–100 ng/mL) compared to the detection of visual absorbance signals. Additionally, fluorescence detection resulted in a wider dynamic range for glyphosate measurement. Matrix effect was not observed for the undiluted surface water samples, and cross-reaction was not detected between glyphosate and its main metabolite (Naminomethylphosphonic acid) and structurally similar compounds. The method allows rapid monitoring of glyphosate as a ubiquitous water contaminant of agricultural origin that can affect, due to its global use, both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

Pilot study on applying various research methodologies to investigate the effectiveness of e-learning materials

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on higher education. Students were required to adopt a more independent way of learning, and instructors had to redesign courses to fit the digital space. Increasingly frequent e-learning research provides substantial support for the expansion of online education. The aim of this article is to investigate the effectiveness of e-learning materials among university students using a variety of research methodologies (Groningen Sleep Quality Scale, psychomotor vigilance task, verbal fluency and digit span tests, NASA Task Load indeX and eye tracking). In a pilot study conducted in a laboratory environment, 15 participants were divided into three groups and assigned to study from prepared course pages using content-equivalent e-learning materials. The results demonstrated that the applied research methodologies were appropriate for investigating the issue, allowing the pilot study to reveal a set of criteria encompassing the preferences of students for course structures and e-learning materials

Comparative evaluation of veterinary active ingredients and formulations

Chemical substances used in various fields of agriculture (e.g., veterinary medicine or crop protection) represent relevant environmental loads, and their residues, metabolites and decomposition products possibly occur in wastewater and can easily reach surface water. Adjuvants (e.g., surfactants) and other co-formulants used in veterinary medicine, feed additives, as well as in pesticide formulations have long been classified as inactive ingredients (AIs) in the aspects of the required main biological effect of the pharmaceutical or pesticide product. In wastewater management the application of the advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are in the focus of interest due to their high efficiency in the removal of persistent organic pollutants and pharmaceutical residues. To compare the toxicity of various AIs and formulations used in veterinary medicine, acute toxicity tests were performed on Daphnia magna. Additionally, effects of the presence of H2O2 due to AOP on the toxicity of 0.1 mmol dm–3 sulphamethoxazole (SMX) solutions oxidised during gamma irradiation (1 kGy, 2.5 kGy) were assessed. Ecotoxicological evaluation of the treated SMX solutions was carried out using three test organisms (Vibrio fischeri, Pseudokircheriella subcapitata, D. magna). Results showed significant differences in the individual acute toxicity of various veterinary AIs and formulations on D. magna. SMX and trimethoprim (TRI) were the least toxic investigated AIs; their evaluated EC50 values were 98.06±58.67 and 93.06±33.17 mg L-1 respectively. The most toxic AI was sulphaguanidine (SGD) (EC50 = 1,79±0.34 mg L-1 Significant differences were observed in the toxicity of the investigated veterinary drugs containing SMX and TRI. Their formulated veterinary pharmaceutical product SUMETROLIM was more toxic on D. magna (EC50 = 106.17±54.86 mg L-1 ) compared to the COTRIUM-E. Combined toxicity was the highest when SMX and TRI were investigated together in SUMETROLIM equivalent concentrations compared to the formulated veterinary products. The untreated SMX solution resulted in 5±1% inhibition on V. fischeri, while higher, 30±2% inhibitions were detected in irradiated solutions due to the presence of H2O2. H2O2 showed significantly high inhibition on the investigated test organisms. By the reduction of H2O2 concentrations, decreased inhibition was observed on V. fischeri and P. subcapitata. The evaluated EC50 for V. fischeri, P. subcapitata and D. magna were 0.349, 0.251 and 0.064 mmol dm–3 , respectively