Locations In Hungary Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of XGBoost and Neural Network Models for Predicting Some Tomato Fruit Quality Traits from Environmental and Meteorological Data.

The tomato as a raw material for processing is globally important and is pivotal in dietary and agronomic research due to its nutritional, economic, and health significance. This study explored the potential of machine learning (ML) for predicting tomato quality, utilizing data from 48 cultivars and 28 locations in Hungary over 5 seasons. It focused on °Brix, lycopene content, and colour (a/b ratio) using extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and artificial neural network (ANN) models. The results revealed that XGBoost consistently outperformed ANN, achieving high accuracy in predicting °Brix (R² = 0.98, RMSE = 0.07) and lycopene content (R² = 0.87, RMSE = 0.61), and excelling in colour prediction (a/b ratio) with a R² of 0.93 and RMSE of 0.03. ANN lagged behind particularly in colour prediction, showing a negative R² value of -0.35. Shapley additive explanation's (SHAP) summary plot analysis indicated that both models are effective in predicting °Brix and lycopene content in tomatoes, highlighting different aspects of the data. SHAP analysis highlighted the models' efficiency (especially in °Brix and lycopene predictions) and underscored the significant influence of cultivar choice and environmental factors like climate and soil. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting and fine-tuning the appropriate ML model for enhancing precision agriculture, underlining XGBoost's superiority in handling complex agronomic data for quality assessment.

Powdery mildew of ash trees caused by the non-native Erysiphe salmonii in Hungary

AbstractFraxinus ornus and F. excelsior are naturally occurring woodland trees and widely cultivated ornamental plants in Hungary. Leaves with powdery mildew symptoms observed unusually on adaxial side of leaves of F. ornus and F. excelsior were collected from two locations in Hungary. We identified the causing fungi based on their morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Numerous chasmothecia were found on a part of the samples, which were spherical, 83–120 µm in diameter, and the apices of the appendages uncinated or spirally curved. Anamorphs were characterized by conidiophores developing conidia singly, and by hyphae with lobed appressoria, characteristic of Erysiphe spp. The internal transcribed spacer region of the nrDNA was amplified, and the BLAST searches showed 100% similarity with Erysiphe salmonii sequences in GenBank. In the phylogenetic analysis the sequences of the Hungarian samples grouped in one clade with the sequences of other E. salmonii specimens collected in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. This is the first report of the non-native E. salmonii causing powdery mildew on Fraxinus sp. in Hungary.

Cold tolerance of the invasive oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata

Abstract The North American oak lace bug (OLB), Corythucha arcuata, is an invasive species in Europe and a serious threat to oak‐dominated forests. Survival at low temperatures is one major factor determining the spread of invasive insects. Thus, we studied key traits, that is, cold‐tolerance strategy, supercooling points (SCP) and chilling‐related mortality, of overwintering adults to assess their potential to withstand harsh winters. Samples for SCP measurements were collected once a month from November 2020 until March 2021 at three different locations in Hungary; specimens for chilling experiments were sampled in November 2020, January 2021 and March 2021. SCPs of overwintering adults ranged from −29.68 to −7.49 °C, with only moderate variation among months; C. arcuata is a freeze‐avoidant species. Mortality rates of adults exposed to two sub‐zero temperatures above the SCP (−3 and −5 °C) for 1, 2 and 3 weeks ranged between 0% and 69.1%, suggesting that OLB has a moderate risk to die from chilling injuries. Exposure time and sampling date affected mortality, with lowest survival rates after 3 weeks, collected in March 2021.

Diddensiella parasantjacobensis f.a., sp. nov., a yeast species from forest habitats.

Six conspecific yeast strains, representing an undescribed species, were isolated from rotten wood collected in different locations in Hungary and Germany and an additional one from fungal fruiting body in Taiwan. The seven strains share identical nucleotide sequences in the D1/D2 domain of the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. The Hungarian and Taiwanese isolates share identical internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences as well, while the two German isolates differ from them merely by three substitutions and four indels in this region. The investigated strains are very closely related to Diddensiella santjacobensis. Along their LSU D1/D2 domain they differ only by one substitution from the type strain of D. santjacobensis. However, in the ITS region of Hungarian and Taiwanese strains we detected 3.5 % divergence (nine substitutions and nine indels) between the undescribed species and D. santjacobensis, while the German strains differed by 13 substitutions and nine indels from D. santjacobensis. This ITS sequence divergence has raised the possibility that the strains investigated in this study may represent a different species from D. santjacobensis. This hypothesis was supported by comparisons of partial translation elongation factor 1-α (EF-1α) and cytochrome oxidase II (COX II) gene sequences. While no difference and 1-2 substitutions among the partial EF-1α and COX II gene sequences of the strains of the undescribed species, respectively, were detected; the undescribed species differ by about 4 % (36 substitutions) and 10 % (50-51 substitutions) from D. santjacobensis in these regions. Parsimony network analysis of the partial COX II gene sequences also separated the investigated strains from the type strain of D. santjacobensis. In this paper we propose Diddensiella parasantjacobensis f.a., sp. nov. (holotype: NCAIM Y.02121; isotypes: CBS 17819, DSM 114156) to accommodate the above-noted strains.

Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe.

Reports on adult Hyalomma ticks in certain regions of the Carpathian Basin date back to the 19th century. These ticks were thought to emerge from nymphs dropping from birds, then molting to adults. Although the role of migratory birds in carrying ticks of this genus is known from all parts of Europe, in most countries no contemporaneous multiregional surveillance of bird-associated ticks was reported which could allow the recognition of hotspots in this context. From 38 passeriform bird species 956 ixodid ticks were collected at seven locations in Hungary. Tick species were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n = 598), Ixodes frontalis (n = 18), Ixodes lividus (n = 6), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 321), and D. reticulatus (n = 1). All 12 Hyalomma sp. ticks (11 engorged nymphs and 1 unengorged larva) were identified as H. rufipes based on three mitochondrial markers. This species was only found in the Transdanubian region and along its southeastern border. The Common Blackbird and the European Robin were the two main hosts of I. ricinus and I. frontalis, whereas H. concinna was almost exclusively collected form long-distance migrants. The predominant hosts of H. rufipes were reed-associated bird species, the Sedge Warbler and the Bearded Reedling, both in their nesting period. This study provides ornithological explanation for the regional, century-long presence of adult Hyalomma ticks under continental climate in the Transdanubian Region of the Carpathian Basin. More importantly, the autochthonous occurrence of a H. rufipes population was revealed for the first time in Europe, based on the following observations: (1) the bird species infested with H. rufipes are not known to migrate during their nesting period; (2) one larva was not yet engorged; (3) the larva and the nymphs must have belonged to different local generations; and (4) all H. rufipes found in the relevant location were identical in their haplotypes based on three maternally inherited mitochondrial markers, probably reflecting founder effect. This study also demonstrated regional and temporal differences in tick species carried by birds.

Development Process of Workplace Mobility Planning in Three Pilot Locations

A prospective way to make transportation more sustainable is changing the commuters’ travel behavior, which can be realized by creating mobility plans for institutions. A new approach related to workplace mobility planning is developed in three pilot locations in Hungary. As a first step, a roadmap is established including current situation analysis as well as collecting potential measures, setting up a mobility team, and developing pilot actions. The paper presents the planning process taking several aspects, such as commitment, vision, stakeholders’ involvement, situation analysis, measure implementation, and recommendations, into account. In the process, several stakeholders are involved to provide useful inputs through online surveys, personal interviews, and focus group meetings. The pilot development process covers three institutions in three locations with such specific parameters as the size of the city, the number of employees, location, and accessibility. As a result, it is seen that most measures aim at cycling infrastructure development, bike fleet introduction, and electric charger deployment. The proposed process is easily transferable and applicable in any location and any institution. The results not only support the commuters but show a potential to serve long-term societal goals, as well.

Unusual early peaks of airborne ragweed (Ambrosia L.) pollen in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region.

Early peaks of airborne ragweed (Ambrosia L.) pollen concentrations were observed at several monitoring stations in Hungary in June 2017 and 2018, onemonth before the usual start of the pollen season at the end of July. Backward trajectories were calculated to simulate potential sources of pollen collected at different locations in the Pannonian Biogeographical Region. In a collaboration between aerobiological and phenological networks, a nationwide campaign was conducted to collect field data of ragweed blooming. During field surveys, ragweed plants having extremely early blooming were found most abundantly in a rural site near Vaja (North-East Hungary) and other locations in Hungary. Field observations matched with source areas identified by trajectory analyses; i.e., early-flowering ragweed plants were found at some of these locations. Although similar peaks of airborne pollen concentrations were not detected in other years (e.g., 2016, 2019-2021), alarming results suggest the possibility of expanding seasons of ragweed allergy.

Study of the heavy metal content of floodplain soils along the upper Tisza River by sequential BCR extraction in Hungary

In this study PTEs, [potentially toxic elements (Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn)] were investigated in the upper layer of floodplain soils that occurred as a result of accident in the area of two mine tailings in Northwestern Romania. A large amount of sediment was deposited on the soil of floodplains along the Hungarian section of River Tisza, which could represent a threat to the environment. Floodplain soil samples were collected from four locations in Hungary from an area of the river stretching to about 250 km. BCR (Bureau Communautaire de Référence) sequential extraction method was used to analyze both post-flood and present samples. Most of the analyzed elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were found in the residual fraction, but there is a notable soluble amount in hydroxylammonium chloride extractable fraction. The results allow a comparison of the changes that have taken place over time, in addition to serving as a basis for further studies.

Yield and Yield Components of White Lupine Under Different Ecological Conditions

White lupine (Lupinus albus L.), with its favorable agrotechnical specifications, is a very important legume. Its water demand is relatively low, yet fluctuations in water amount and/or distribution during its life cycle might influence its performance. An experiment was carried out at 3 locations in Hungary; “Debrecen”, “Jobbágyi” and “Nyalka” in 2020 to investigate certain yield components performance; namely pod number plant-1, seed number plant-1, seed weight plant-1 and 1000-seed weight, as well as the final seed yield of white lupine (cv. Nelly). In addition, the average seed size (calculated as a percentage from the final seed yield) was also calculated. Soil was slightly alkaline in “Nyalka”, whereas it was acidic in the other 2 locations. Precipitation was higher in “Debrecen” from April to July. Results showed that “Debrecen” location had significantly higher pod number plant-1, seed number plant-1 and seed weight plant-1, leading to significantly higher seed yield compared to “Jobbágyi” and “Nyalka” locations. Seed yield was strongly-positively correlated with most of the seed component traits. In addition, “Debrecen” location had the highest average of bigger seeds (over 9 mm) and the lowest average of smaller seeds (between 3.5 – 9 mm). It could be concluded that white lupine performance in the study areas is highly associated with both the precipitation amount and distribution throughout the plant’s vegetative period, as well as with the soil pH. More thorough studies concerning potential enhancements in white lupine’s growth and yield with the availability of specific nourishers might be an additional database enrichment, especially with the lack of such data in the studied areas

Monitoring of three Hoplocampa sawfly species in plum orchards

Abstract Three sawfly species (Hoplocampa minuta, Hoplocampa flava, Hoplocampa fulviicornis) have been monitored in plum orchards during the flowering period in three consecutive years at three different locations in Hungary using chromotropic white sticky traps. Black and yellow sawflies (H. minuta and H. flava) are one of the most important pests in plum orchards, however plum-fruit sawfly (Hoplocampa fulvicornis) has not yet been documented from plum orchards in Hungary. In almost all locations and years, H. minuta was the most dominant species, except in Cegléd, 2014, where H. flava was the most abundant one. In terms of sex ratio, in all three species, more males than females were caught in the traps except in 2016 at Érd, where more H. flava females flew into the traps.

Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830): A new alien planthopper species established in Hungary (Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Acanaloniidae)

Abstract Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830), the first representative of the Nearctic planthopper family Acanaloniidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea), introduced to Europe, is reported for the first time from multiple locations in Hungary. Diagnosis, detailed illustration of male genitalia and notes on ecology are provided along with the distributional records.

Origins of Multidimensional Class Locations in Hungary

Origins of Multidimensional Class Locations in Hungary

Infection of papaya (Carica papaya) by four powdery mildew fungi

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is an important fruit crop in many tropical and subtropical countries. Powdery mildew commonly affects this host, causing premature leaf loss, reduced yields and poor fruit quality. At least fifteen different fungi have been identified as the causal agents of papaya powdery mildew. Powdery mildew symptoms were detected on potted papaya plants growing in two locations in Hungary. This study aimed to identify the causal agents. Morphology of powdery mildew samples was examined, and sequences of two loci were used for molecular taxonomic identifications. Only anamophs were detected in all samples, and four morphological types were distinguished. Most samples had Pseudoidium anamorphs, while some were of the Fibroidium anamorph. Based on morphology and molecular taxonomy, the Fibroidium anamorph  was identified as Podosphaera xanthii. The Pseudoidium anamorphs corresponded to three different Erysiphe species: E. cruciferarum, E. necator and an unidentified Erysiphe sp., for which molecular phylogenetic analyses showed it belonged to an unresolved species complex of E. malvae, E. heraclei and E. betae. Infectivity of P. xanthii and E. necator on papaya was verified with cross inoculations. A review of previous records of powdery mildew fungi infecting papaya is also provided. Podosphaera xanthii was known to infect, and E. cruciferarum was suspected to infect Carica papaya, while E. necator was recorded on this host only once previously. No powdery mildew fungus belonging to the E. malvae/E. heraclei/E. betae species complex is known to infect papaya or any other plants in the Caricaceae, so the unidentified Erysiphe sp. is a new record on papaya and the Caricaceae. This study indicates host range expansion of this powdery mildew fungus onto papaya.

DNA of Theileria orientalis, T. equi and T. capreoli in stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans)

BackgroundFrom a veterinary-medical point of view, the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is perhaps the economically most important blood-sucking muscoid fly species (Diptera: Muscidae), owing to its worldwide occurrence, frequently high local abundance, direct harm caused to livestock, pet animals and humans, as well as its vector role. Considering the latter in the context of protozoan parasites, the stable fly is a mechanical vector of trypanosomes and Besnoitia besnoiti. However, its role as a vector of piroplasms appears to be seldom studied, despite old data suggesting mechanical transmission of babesiae by dipteran flies.MethodsIn this study 395 stable flies (and one Haematobia stimulans) were collected at a cattle farm with known history of bovine theileriosis, and at further nine, randomly chosen locations in Hungary. These flies were separated according to sex (30 of them also cut into two parts: the head with mouthparts and the thorax-abdomen), followed by individual DNA extraction, then screening for piroplasms by PCR and sequencing.ResultsIn stable flies, Theileria orientalis and T. capreoli were identified at the cattle farm and T. equi was identified in three other locations. At the cattle farm, significantly more male stable flies carried piroplasm DNA than females. There was no significant difference between the ratio of PCR-positive flies between the stable (void of cattle for at least two hours) and the pen on the pasture with cattle at the time of sampling. Among dissected flies (29 S. calcitrans and 1 H. stimulans), exclusively the thoracic-abdominal parts were PCR-positive, whereas the head and mouthparts remained negative.ConclusionsTheileria DNA is detectable in stable flies, in the case of T. orientalis at least for two hours after blood-feeding, and in the case of T. capreoli also in the absence of infected hosts (i.e. roe deer). Male flies rather than females, and thoracic-abdominal (most likely crop) contents rather than mouthparts may pose a risk of mechanical transmission. These data suggest that it is worth to study further the vector role of stable flies in the epidemiology of theilerioses, in which not the immediate, but rather the delayed type transmission seems possible.

Virulence gene profiling and ompA sequence analysis of Pasteurella multocida and their correlation with host species

This study describes the prevalence of capsule biosynthesis genes, LPS genotypes, virulence associated genes and the analysis of the outer membrane protein (ompA) sequence of Pasteurella multocida isolates (n = 180) from different locations in Hungary, from various host species, including humans. When combining capsular types with LPS genotypes, eight capsule - LPS genotype combinations were detected. A: L3 was the most dominant in bovine and porcine isolates, A: L1 in feline and human isolates, while D: L3 was the most common among strains from small ruminants. The P. multocida toxin encoding gene toxA was highly prevalent among small ruminant and porcine strains, while in human, feline and bovine isolates it could not be detected. Combination of the tested virulence associated genes (hgbA, nanH, hgbB, tbpA, pfhA, hsf1, hsf2, tadD, ptfA) classified our P. multocida isolates into 13 different virulence gene profiles (VGPs). These VGPs showed an association with host species. Analysis of the ompA sequence data confirmed this distribution by host species, which may indicate that host adaptation is taking place. The typing scheme used in this study may be useful in epidemiological investigations.

First Hungarian records of Aprostocetus eriophyes, an acariphagous chalcidoid wasp (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Aprostocetus eriophyes (Taylor, 1909) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is reported as new to the Hungarian fauna. Female specimens were reared from galls of the hazelnut big bud mite (Phytoptus avellanae Nalepa, 1889) (Phytoptidae) collected in February to April 2017 at six different locations in Hungary. Diagnosis, hosts, biology and distribution of A. eriophyes is discussed. With 3 figures.

“The Minor Would Hinder the Mother in Finding Employment:” Child Protection and Women’s Paid Work in Early State Socialist Hungary

This article discusses the role of child protection and residential care institutions in mediating the tension between women’s productive and reproductive responsibilities in early state socialist Hungary. At a time when increasing numbers of women entered paid work in the framework of catch-up industrialization but the socialization of care work was inadequate, these institutions substituted for missing public child care services. Relying on not only policy documents but more than six hundred children’s case files, including Romani children’s files, from three different locations in Hungary as well as interviews with former children’s home residents and personnel, the article examines the regulatory framework in which child protection institutions and caseworkers operated. It points to the differentiated forms of pressure these institutions exercised on Romani and non-Romani mothers to enter paid work between the late 1940s and the early 1950s from the intersectional perspective of gender and ethnicity. Showing that prejudice against “Gypsies” as work-shy persisted in child protection work across the systemic divide of the late 1940s, the article contributes to scholarship on state socialism and Stalinism that emphasizes the role of historical continuities. At the same time, reflecting on parental invention in using child protection as a form of child care, the article also complicates a simplistic social control approach to residential care institutions in Stalinist Hungary.

Diverted medications and new psychoactive substances—A chemical network analysis of discarded injecting paraphernalia in Hungary

BackgroundUntil about 2010, people who inject drugs (PWIDs) injected almost exclusively heroin and amphetamines in Hungary. After 2010, self-reported studies have indicated a dominance of new psychoactive substances on the drug market for injectable drugs. MethodsBetween March 2015 and February 2016, we collected used and discarded injecting paraphernalia. We utilized chemical analysis to assess and UCINet to visualize the connections between the most prevalent main substances and their respective co-occurring additional components at 7 locations in Hungary. ResultsThe samples (n=2977) contained a mean of 4.5 components (SD=3.1, range: 1–18); 422 contained only one component. We found that the most common main components were the diverted substitution medication methadone (32%) and cathinones: pentedrone (18%), mephedrone (13%), alpha-PHP (8%), and alpha-PEP (5%). While these main substances also occurred among the top co-occurring additional components, caffeine and benzoic acid (a preservative) also frequently co-occurred. ConclusionA large number of co-occurring additional components indicate either common reuse of injecting paraphernalia or the common addition of additives or both. While caffeine may indeed be an adulterant, the high prevalence of benzoic acid may be difficult to explain. The preference of methadone despite the availability of a wide array of drugs may indicate a preference for opioids during the current heroin drought and/or a true demand for opioid substitution therapy.

Nutritional features of triticale as affected by genotype, crop year, and location

Traditionally, triticale is mainly used as animal feed, the use for human utilization is still uncertain. However, in the past few decades, importance of triticale is increasing globally. Therefore, the determination of nutritionally important parameters of triticale and study of their genetic and environmental (G×E) variability have essential importance. In this study, ten hexaploid triticales along with reference wheat and rye varieties were grown at two locations in Hungary in a three-year-long experiment. Crude protein (8.6–16.3%), crude fat (0.86–1.98%), starch (57.6–65.0%), and dietary fibre values (7.5–13.7%) showed notable differences, significant genotype control were detected in all tested parameters except ash content (1.42–2.10%). The analysis of variance confirmed that crop year affected all traits, and also location had significant effect on the formation of protein and – to a lesser extent – the fibre levels. Furthermore, interactions between the effects were observed. Generally, nutritional characteristics of triticales were positioned between wheat and rye in this experiment; however, there were notable differences between the genotypes, and also the magnitudes of environmental effects were significant. Nutritional values of triticale provide a prospect for food production and human consumption.

Characterization of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale field isolates from Hungary

ABSTRACTOrnithobacterium rhinotracheale is a widely distributed rod-shaped Gram-negative bacterium that infects several avian species including chickens and turkeys. It is associated with respiratory signs, growth retardation, mortality, and reduced egg production, thus causing severe economic losses to the poultry industries. In this study, 37 field isolates of O. rhinotracheale, collected from various locations in Hungary between 1997 and 2015, were identified and characterized by the analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene sequences, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR assays with the OPG11, OPH19, and M13 primers. Most of the field isolates were serotype A, one was serotype B, and four were serotype D. One isolate could not be typed with antisera against serotypes A–E. In a phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences, the isolates formed two clusters. Thirteen distinct patterns were identified with ERIC-PCR, and the RAPD assay with the M13 primer assigned the isolates to 10 different patterns. The other two RAPD assays were unsuitable for distinguishing and grouping the isolates. Neither ERIC type nor RAPD pattern correlated with the place or year of isolation. However, the strains isolated from chickens were more heterogeneous on ERIC-PCR than the isolates recovered from turkeys. In this study, ERIC-PCR was the most discriminatory method for investigating the genetic diversity of O. rhinotracheale isolates.