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

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

Influencing factors of the occurrence of otters on southern and south-western catchment of Lake Balaton

The aim of the study was to test the survey method of the otter (Lutra lutra), recommended by the IUCN/OSG on the southern and south-western catchment of Lake Balaton. The survey was performed in winter. 118 out of 144 surveyed locations showed positive presence (81.9%). The otters inhabited all studied stagnant waters (n=36, including 14 sections near Lake Balaton) while it occurred rarely in watercourses (n=108 sites, positive 75.9%). Occurrence of the otters was less frequent along narrower (especially <1 m) water courses, in shallow (<30 cm) water, with declining naturality of the bank side, at pipe bridge or bridge without berm and on the locations where the intensity of the human disturbances was high. The experiences can be used for the conservation program of the otter and in the habitat management plans. With 9 figures

A Pogány-völgyi rétek Natura 2000 terület kisemlős közösségeinek vizsgálata, különös tekintettel az északi pocok (Microtus oeconomus) előfordulására

The presence of the root vole (Microtus oeconomus spp. mehelyi) as strictly protected, glacial relict species was proved by live-trapping method in the Pogány-völgyi rétek Natura 2000 area (HUDD20035). Root vole was capture on four from fourteen locations surveyed. In general small mammal communities were diverse; the numbers of captured species varied between 3 and 14 on each location. The root vole however showed rare occurrence, but were present in different microhabitats suggesting an adaptable and viable population on the Natura 2000 area studied

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

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

Twenty-three unsolved problems in hydrology (UPH) – a community perspective

This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through on-line media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focussed on process-based understanding of hydrological variability and causality at all space and time scales. Increased attention to environmental change drives a new emphasis on understanding how change propagates across interfaces within the hydrological system and across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, the expansion of the human footprint raises a new set of questions related to human interactions with nature and water cycle feedbacks in the context of complex water management problems. We hope that this reflection and synthesis of the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology will help guide research efforts for some years to come

Diet composition of a hand-reared stone marten (Martes foina) after its release and independence in a Hungarian village

Diet composition and feeding habits of a hand-reared stone marten after release in a village was examined and compared to other martens which had lived earlier in or around the same village (Fonó, Somogy county, Hungary). The food habits were investigated indirectly by analysis of stone marten scats (n = 34 individual samples) using standard wet procedure. Studies in the autumn-winter period showed that the trophic niche of the hand-reared stone marten was relatively narrow. Plants (mainly grapes, apple and blackthorn) formed the dominant component of the diet and small mammals (mainly brown rat, house mouse and wood mice species) were the primary prey type, as in the other local studies. Contrary to other stone martens from Somogy county, predation upon birds was low (%B: 2.4%), and no domestic animal remains were found in the scat samples. The hand-reared marten preyed on mainly small sized and terrestrial prey species, and used garbage as a food source