Consumers’ and producers’ perceptions of markets: service levels of the most important short food supply chains in Hungary

In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in new type, direct and short supply chains (SSC) Hungary, and the markets have proved to be globalisation-resilient, keeping their market share from sales of fast-moving consumer goods. We conducted a consumer and producer survey to identify the most important expectations and experiences about markets in Hungary. We applied a service quality model (SERVQUAL) to measure the consumers’ and producers’ opinions and satisfaction of Hungarian markets. A warning result of our study is that vendors estimate their level of service above that of the consumers’ experiences which means that, in spite of the direct communication, they do not have an accurate understanding of their customers’ requirements. Our surveys also showed that there is a substantial deficiency between the services expected and experienced at markets in all dimensions (environment, service, convenience and produce) that influence the choice of retail channel. The most important dimension proved to be produce quality which should thus remain in the focus of market developments. In recent years, new trends in urban local food movements have started to emerge in Hungary which could not be detected at the time of our survey (2012). Thus we intend to extend our survey in the future to see whether these new local-alternative food movements have formed a new consumer segment for farmers’ markets in Hungary, and in what way should the market vendors modify their services to be able to ride this new trend

THE ROLE OF IgM-ENRICHED INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN IN TRANSPLANTATION

After organ transplantation, gamma globulin and intravenous immunoglobulin enriched with IgM are most frequently used in septic shock as early immune-support. If the explanted organ is infected, the transplantation, as a life-saving operation, can be performed if there is no systemic inflammation and the patient receives IgM enriched immunoglobulin prophylaxis during surgery. The period after transplantation can be divided into three parts from the infection point of view: the first month after transplantation, the first sixth months and the following six months. Infections within the first month are basically related to the surgical procedure. Because of the immunosuppressive therapy, the opportunistic and fungal infections are more common during the first sixth months. After this period, the occurrence and the type of infections are similar to that of the non-transplant population except for pulmonary infections. The latter is two to three times more frequent. This is explained by the secondary hypogammaglobulinaemia (lower blood levels of IgM and IgG) which is caused by the steroids but most of mycophenolate mofetil by inhibition of the T and B lymphocyte proliferation. Septic shock develops with a continuing fall of IgM levels. Under these circumstances additional intravenous immunoglobulin therapy with IgM can be lifesaving. Besides, immunoglobulin concentrates with IgM may also be used in the case of viral infections without prophylaxis and/or without etiological therapy such as in the case of West Nile virus infection. As a result of the increase in antibiotic resistance, the application of immunotherapy, including immunoglobulins may become the mainstream in the treatment of septic shock

The Effect of Deep Water Aqua Treadmill Training on the Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Show Jumpers

Aqua treadmill is mainly used for rehabilitation purposes, but research indicates that this equipment could be used for training as well. The few studies performed with aqua treadmill mainly followed lactate and heart rate changes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the effect of high water treadmill training on several blood parameters and on the correlations between them. Eight similarly trained Standardbred show jumper horse competing at the same level were selected with age between 6 to 11 years. The horses were subjected to a one week standardized exercise test which included normal training, training with show jumping and aqua treadmill training. The aqua treadmill training consisted of a 10 min walk (filling up, 4.5 km/h), 30 min trot (13 km/h) and 4 min walk (emptying, 4.5 km/h). Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein before aqua training, at the completion of each work bout, after drying and after one and two hour rest. Blood plasma were separated and lactate, LDH, CK, AST, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total-bilirubin and cortisol level were determined. In conclusion plasma lactate response itself does not reflect correctly the intensity of workload in high water level aqua training, therefore measurement of several blood parameters is advisable. Further studies needed to understand the relationship of metabolic processes altered due to the effect of partial water submersion

Stratégiai projektek vezetése = Leading strategic projects

Nowadays we deal with projects in several areas of our lives. Large infrastructural investments – subway, bridge, railway, or highway reconstruction, building residential communities – are completed in projects. Large enterprises start projects to develop new products, services and to introduce them to the market. Project is also one of the often used terms regarding the planning, organizing and hosting of international sport and cultural events. The culture of projects is not only spreading rapidly in the last few years among small- and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector in the member states of the European Union, but the project management methods, techniques, and related knowledge used during these projects are also of extremely importance. Nowadays we are working and living among projects. These projects have become part of the organizational strategy, and project management is an integral part of strategic management

A vallásos attitűdök, a megküzdési módok és a lelki egészség összefüggései serdülő- és fiatal felnőttkorban = The relationship between religious attitudes, coping strategies, and mental health in adolescence and young adulthood

Egyre több kutatás bizonyítja a vallás pozitív hatását a lelki egészségre nézve. A jelen vizsgálatban arra a kérdésre kerestük a választ, hogy serdülők és fiatal felnőttek esetében hogyan függ össze a vallásos attitűd a megküzdés adaptív és nem adaptív formáival, valamint hogy lehet-e közvetítő szerepe a megküzdésnek a vallásosság és lelki egészség közötti kapcsolatban. 190 budapesti középiskolás (átlagéletkoruk 16,9 év) és 213 egyetemista (átlagéletkoruk 21,4 év) töltötte ki anonim, önkitöltős kérdőívünket. Eredményeink szerint a transzcendens elfogadása mind a serdülő, mind a fiatal felnőtt mintán erős összefüggést mutat az érzelmi-adaptív megküzdés faktorával, melyben szerepel a társas támasz elfogadása/igénybevétele is. A regressziós elemzés eredményei arra utalnak, hogy az érzelmi-adaptív és a problémaközpontú megküzdés közvetítő tényezőként játszhat szerepet a vallásosság és a pozitív lelki egészség kapcsolatában. A vallásosság változása miatt azonban a vallásosság különböző aspektusai (középiskolásoknál a templomba járás gyakorisága és a transzcendens elfogadása, egyetemistáknál a vallásos kijelentések szimbolikus értelmezése) járulnak hozzá a megküzdési stratégiák választásán keresztül a jobb lelki egészséghez. | There is a growing body of evidence proving the protective effects of religion on mental health. In the present study our aim was to explore the relationship between religious attitudes and adaptive and non-adaptive coping, as well as the possible mediating role of coping in the relationship between religion and mental health in an adolescent and young adult sample. Data was gathered from 190 high-school students (mean age 16.9) and 213 university students (mean age 21.4) with the help of self-administered questionnaires. Our results show a strong relationship between the inclusion of transcendence and the factor of emotional-adaptive coping, including social support, in both age groups. Results of the regression analysis suggest that emotional-adaptive and problem-focused coping might play a mediating role in the relationship between religion and mental health. Due to the changes in religiosity, however, it is different aspects of religion (frequency of church attendance and inclusion of transcendence in high-school students, and symbolic interpretation in university students) that enhance mental health through the choice of coping strategies

Stratégiai projektek vezetése = Leading strategic projects

Nowadays we deal with projects in several areas of our lives. Large infrastructural investments – subway, bridge, railway, or highway reconstruction, building residential communities – are completed in projects. Large enterprises start projects to develop new products, services and to introduce them to the market. Project is also one of the often used terms regarding the planning, organizing and hosting of international sport and cultural events. The culture of projects is not only spreading rapidly in the last few years among small- and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector in the member states of the European Union, but the project management methods, techniques, and related knowledge used during these projects are also of extremely importance. Nowadays we are working and living among projects. These projects have become part of the organizational strategy, and project management is an integral part of strategic management