Modelling the effect of sowing date on the emergence, silking and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in a moderately warm and dry production area

This research focused on accurately modelling emergence (VEEmergence) and silking (R1) dates using 5 cm deep soil temperature (ST) and how sowing date (SD) affects VEEmergence and R1 date of different maturity hybrids and which is the optimum sowing date in the changed climate. Three sowing dates were used between 4th April and 10th May. The same maize hybrids (FAO 290, FAO 350, FAO 420) were involved in the experiment between 2011–2013. The 5 cm deep soil temperature could be used for simulating the date of VEEmergence and R1 and the Percentage of Predicted Deviation (PD) was below 10%. When calculating the effective heat units (HU) at 5 cm depth, setting 6 °C as base temperature leads to better modelling. SD did not clearly affect yield since due to the influence of genotype and crop years. The FAO 290 hybrid had the lowest yield (11.534 t ha-1) and it responded sensitively to sowing date. Its highest yield (12.788 t ha-1; P < 0.05) could be obtained with SD3. FAO 350 and FAO 420 hybrids provided stable yields without any significant effect of SD. The highest yield was provided by the FAO 420 hybrid (13.494 t ha-1) with a wide SD interval (4th April – 10th May). The obtained findings help farmers in making grounded decisions to obtain high and stable yield under the changed climatic circumstances. The obtained findings help farmers in making grounded decisions to obtain high and stable yield under the changed climatic circumstances

Evaluation phenology, yield and quality of maize genotypes in drought stress and non-stress environments

Received: December 10th, 2020 ; Accepted: March 27th, 2021 ; Published: May 13th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] aim of the study is to examine the effect of agrometeorological indices (growing degree days, GDD; heliothermal unit, HTU; photothermal unit, PTU; hydrothermal unit, HYTU) on the phenology and yield (GY) of the Sushi (FAO 340) and Fornad (FAO 420) maize hybrids. Furthermore, it was also analysed how the amount of nitrogen and its application time affected the productivity and protein content (GP) of maize under drought stress (DS) and non-stress (NS) conditions. There were seven fertilizer treatments in the scope of the field experiment. Non-fertilized treatment (A0) spring basic treatment with 60 and 120 N ha-1 (A60, A120), and following the basic treatments, 30 kg N ha-1 top-dressing was applied in the V6 (V690, V6150) phenophase and then another 30 kg N ha-1 in the V12 (V12120, V12180) phenophase. Based on the GDD and PTU, length of the vegetation period of maize hybrids can be predicted. Under DS, the largest GY and GP was recorded in the same treatment for Sushi (V6150 kg N ha−1 ), and at different nutrient levels under NS: GY (A120) and GP (V6150). The highest GY of Fornad hybrid under DS was achieved with the A120 treatment while the highest GP with the V6150; in the case of NS V6150 kg N ha−1 was the most effective for both GY and GP. The + 30 kg ha-1 N fertilizer applied in the V12 phenophase did not improve GY and GP in either hybrid during the two growing seasons. The findings provide useful help for farmers to prepare for future environmental changes and to operate successfully

Effects of some agronomic practices on the quality of starch content of maize grains

Received: February 1st, 2021 ; Accepted: January 15th, 2022 ; Published: February 28th, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected] use of maize, both as main and by-product, is extremely versatile and diverse. The highest amount of carbohydrate within maize is found in the form of starch (C6H10O5)x. In terms of industrial starch, maize is the most important raw material. Fodder maize is primarily an energy source due to its high starch content, and its protein and oil content are less important. It was found that starch and protein content, which are negatively correlated with each other, are significantly affected by fertilizer doses. The experiment is located in the Hajdúság Loess Plateau, its soil is loess-based deep humus layered calcareous chernozem. The following treatments were applied in the scope of the polyfactorial experiment: Tillage: T1 = winter ploughing, T2 = strip tillage, T3 = ripping. Crop years: 2017, 2018 and 2019. Fertilization treatments: N 0 kg ha-1 P2O5 0 kg ha-1 K2O 0 kg ha-1 (control); N 80kg ha-1 P2O5 60 kg ha-1 K2O 90 kg ha-1 and N 160 kg ha-1 P2O5 60 kg ha-1 K2O 90 kg ha-1. Analysis of the nutritional component was carried out by means of a Foss Infratec TM 1241 Grain Analyser. In terms of fertilization treatments, the highest (64.42%) maize starch content was measured for the control treatment, while the lowest starch content was recorded in the case of the 160 kg N ha-1 treatment (62.62%). The analysis of the crop year effect showed that 2018 was the most favourable year for the maize starch content of the examined samples (65.76%). Of the studied years, the lowest starch content was measured in 2017 (61.78%)

The efficiency of nitrogen stabilizer at different soil temperatures on the physiological development and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)

Received: January 29th, 2021 ; Accepted: October 8th, 2021 ; Published: October 20th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] (N) stabilizer containing nitrapyrin inhibitor is responsible for slowing the activity of Nitrosomonas sp. bacteria down which oxidize ammonium to nitrite ions, thus, N-loss resulting from nitrate leaching can be reduced. Although prior studies have shown its effectiveness in the pre-sowing application in maize, considering that it disturbs the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria which is the most intense between 25 °C and 30 °C, soil temperature may significantly influence the efficiency of nitrapyrin. Besides, nitrapyrin aims to enhance N-use efficiency in high N-demanding plants, such as maize, which demands N at the most during stalk elongation, which lays down the reason for its subsequent application. This study focuses on the efficiency of nitrapyrin at different soil temperatures and its impacts on the physiological development and productivity of maize. In a laboratory test, 10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C temperature soils were treated with nitrapyrin and change of nitrate content was monitored to observe the nitrification dynamic. Results show that as the soil temperature elevated, the inhibition efficiency increased. In a field experiment with maize, nitrapyrin was applied in 13 °C and 25 °C temperature soil. Results suggest the later treatment enhanced N-use efficiency, as, during the high N-demanding growth stage, more N-forms were available in the soil. This resulted in significantly higher relative chlorophyll concentration in the leaves and laboratory leaf analysis confirmed the prevention of N deficiency. Results of further measurements on parameters indicating biomass production such as root mass, stalk diameter, ear size, 1,000-kernel weight indicate that the nitrapyrin application should be timed later

Development of stomatal conductance of maize under moderately hot, dry production conditions

Received: January 29th, 2021 ; Accepted: November 10th, 2021 ; Published: November 12th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] field trial was conducted in Hungary, in a moderately warm, dry production area to determine the effect of single or split application of N-fertilizer on the stomatal conductance and grain yield of maize. The measurements were performed at on calcareous chernozem soil, in a strip field trial, under different weather conditions (2019 and 2020). In addition to the unfertilized control (A0) treatment, 60 (A60) and 120 kg N ha-1 (A120) applied as spring basal fertilizer were followed by two top-dressing treatments in V6 (A90) and V12 (A120) phenophases with doses of +30 and +30 kg N ha-1 , respectively. Stomatal conductance measurements were taken at V6, V12 and R1 phenological phases. It was found that stomatal conductance showed a decreasing trend with advancing phenological phases in both years, with 43.9% and 32.1% (P < 0.001; P < 0.01) decreases by the R1 phase, respectively. Application of higher doses of N fertilizer increased stomatal conductance, with the exception of the R1 phenological phase, which showed a decrease compared to the A0 treatment. The decrease in 2019 was caused by a reduction of soil moisture. Although there was sufficient water in the soil in 2020, due to the intermittent water shortages caused by but the large leaf area and rapid transpiration of the plants resulted in the stomata to close. The best fertilisation strategy was A60 and A120 kg ha-1 depending on the crop year. The study showed that the highest yield is obtained when the average stomatal conductance is around 250 mmol m-2 s -1 during the growing season

Signal Integration of IFN-I and IFN-II With TLR4 Involves Sequential Recruitment of STAT1-Complexes and NFkB to Enhance Pro-inflammatory Transcription

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Modeling costs and benefits of the organized colorectal cancer screening programme and its potential future improvements in Hungary

Objective: The national population-based colorectal cancer screening programme in Hungary was initiated in December 2018. We aimed to evaluate the current programme and investigate the costs and benefits of potential future changes to overcome the low coverage of the target population. Methods: We performed an economic evaluation from a healthcare payer perspective using an established micro-simulation model (Microsimulation Screening Analysis-Colon). We simulated costs and benefits of screening with fecal immunochemical test in the Hungarian population aged 50–100, investigating also the impact of potential future scenarios which were assumed to increase invitation coverage: improvement of the IT platform currently used by GPs or distributing the tests through pharmacies instead of GPs. Results: The model predicted that the current screening programme could lead to 6.2% colorectal cancer mortality reduction between 2018 and 2050 compared to no screening. Even higher reductions, up to 16.6%, were estimated when tests were distributed through pharmacies and higher coverage was assumed. This change in the programme was estimated to require up to 26 million performed fecal immunochemical tests and 1 million colonoscopies for the simulated period. These future scenarios have acceptable cost-benefit ratios of €8000–€8700 per life-years gained depending on the assumed adherence of invited individuals. Conclusions: With its limitations, the curre

International Consensus Based Review and Recommendations for Minimum Reporting Standards in Research on Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Version 2020).

Given its non-invasive nature, there is increasing interest in the use of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) across basic, translational and clinical research. Contemporaneously, tVNS can be achieved by stimulating either the auricular branch or the cervical bundle of the vagus nerve, referred to as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(VNS) and transcutaneous cervical VNS, respectively. In order to advance the field in a systematic manner, studies using these technologies need to adequately report sufficient methodological detail to enable comparison of results between studies, replication of studies, as well as enhancing study participant safety. We systematically reviewed the existing tVNS literature to evaluate current reporting practices. Based on this review, and consensus among participating authors, we propose a set of minimal reporting items to guide future tVNS studies. The suggested items address specific technical aspects of the device and stimulation parameters. We also cover general recommendations including inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants, outcome parameters and the detailed reporting of side effects. Furthermore, we review strategies used to identify the optimal stimulation parameters for a given research setting and summarize ongoing developments in animal research with potential implications for the application of tVNS in humans. Finally, we discuss the potential of tVNS in future research as well as the associated challenges across several disciplines in research and clinical practice

Challenges to the surveillance of non-communicable diseases – a review of selected approaches

Background: The rising global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) necessitates the institutionalization of surveillance systems to track trends and evaluate interventions. However, NCD surveillance capacities vary across high- and low- and middle-income countries. The objective of the review was to analyse existing literature with respect to structures of health facility-based NCD surveillance systems and the lessons low- and middle-income countries can learn in setting up and running these systems. Methods: A literature review was conducted using Pub Med, Web of Knowledge and WHOLIS databases to identify citations published in English language between 1993 and 2013. In total, 20 manuscripts met inclusion criteria: 12 studies were analysed in respect to the surveillance approach, eight supporting documents in respect to general and regional challenges in NCD surveillance. Results: Eleven of the 12 studies identified were conducted in high-income countries. Five studies had a single disease focus, three a multiple NCD focus and three covered communicable as well as non-communicable diseases. Nine studies were passive assisted sentinel surveillance systems, of which six focused on the primary care level and three had additional active surveillance components, i.e., population-based surveys. The supporting documents reveal that NCD surveillance is rather limited in most low- and middle-income countries despite the increasing disease burden and its socioeconomic impact. Major barriers include institutional surveillance capacities and hence data availability. Conclusions: The review suggests that given the complex system requirements, multiple surveillance approaches are necessary to collect comprehensive information for effective NCD surveillance. Sentinel augmented facility-based surveillance, preferably supported by population-based surveys, can provide improved evidence and help budget scarce resources. Electronic supplementary material: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2570-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users