MTA-SZTE Research Group on Artificial Intelligence
SZTE Publicatio Repozitórium - SZTE - Repository of PublicationsNot a member yet
32192 research outputs found
Sort by
Micro- and nanoplastics in granular sludge systems: mechanisms of disruption, retention, and microbial adaptation in wastewater treatment technologies
Get PDFMicroplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly recognized as disruptive agents in biological wastewater treatment systems. Granular sludge-based technologies, including aerobic granular sludge (AGS), anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS), anammox granular sludge (AxGS), and microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS), are particularly susceptible to interference by these pollutants. This review synthesizes current mechanistic insights into how MPs and NPs influence sludge stability, focusing on their effects on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), oxidative stress responses, and microbial community structure. Our analysis identifies marked system-specific vulnerabilities, with AxGS and AnGS showing heightened sensitivity to EPS loss and reactive oxygen species accumulation, whereas MBGS exhibits comparatively greater resilience. Notably, nanoplastics tend to exert more severe effects than microplastics due to their higher reactivity and deeper biofilm penetration. Among the polymers studied, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride display the most pronounced toxicity, impairing nutrient removal and microbial cohesion. In contrast, low concentrations of biodegradable plastics such as polylactic acid may stimulate EPS production and support microbial adaptation. A key contribution of this review is the comparative evaluation of granular systems within a unified framework, highlighting both shared and divergent plastic response mechanisms. In doing so, we expose critical knowledge gaps related to aged plastic behavior, combined pollutant effects, and microbial functional gene responses. We argue that addressing these gaps requires long-term, environmentally realistic studies using integrative methods such as metagenomics and metabolomics. This work provides a consolidated perspective to guide future research and system optimization in the context of plastic contamination. These insights are grounded in microbial stress-response frameworks and ecological resilience theory, providing a conceptual lens to interpret sludge system vulnerability under plastic-induced perturbations
A fakultatív polgári házasság fogalma, valamint az anyakönyvvezető és a lelkész szerepének változása a polgári és az egyházi házasságkötések esetében
No full text
The Association Between Psychosocial Stress and Perinatal Maternal Depressive Symptoms: A Case–Control Study in a Regional Medical Center in Hungary
Get PDFPerinatal depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in women. The aim of this study was to assess the association of life stressors, perceived stress, obstetric and neonatal complications, and depressive symptoms in the early postpartum period and to compare these variables in two groups of women (preterm and term deliveries). Methods: A case–control study was conducted among 300 women who gave birth in 2019 at the University of Szeged. Cases included women with preterm deliveries (<37 weeks, n = 100), and the controls included women with term deliveries (≥37 weeks, n = 200). Data were collected during postpartum hospital stays through a self-administered questionnaire (containing validated questionnaires: the Holmes–Rahe Life Stress Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) and the medical records of women and newborns. A descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression were used to identify predictors of high EPDS scores (≥10). Results: Perceived stress levels were significantly higher among cases than controls (p < 0.001). Higher perceived stress was associated with a higher risk of depression in cases (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.17–1.48, p < 0.001) and controls (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21–1.45, p < 0.001), too. Newborn complications were associated with an increased perinatal depression risk in the controls (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.05–5.91; p = 0.039) but not in the cases (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 0.79–9.85; p = 0.111). It is supposed that premature birth was stressful itself, and women with preterm babies were less sensitive to any complications occurring in their newborns compared to women with term newborns. Neither maternal age, education, nor obstetric complications predicted depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the impact of maternal perceived stress and newborns’ health status on the risk of developing depression during the early postpartum period. These results emphasize the need for ongoing screening and follow-up measures, especially for women with higher EPDS scores
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) Clinically Significantly Reduces Blood Pressure in Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Hypertension affects over 1.3 billion people globally, and inadequate therapy is reported in 80% of cases. Patients increasingly turn to complementary therapies, including hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), a traditional remedy for cardiovascular diseases. Hawthorn has long been used in folk medicine to lower blood pressure; however, its efficacy has not been fully established. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive effects and safety of hawthorn in randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, including six studies with a total of 428 participants. The trials focused on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) changes over treatment periods of 10 weeks to 6 months. Literature searches were conducted in the Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases. Studies that met the predefined PICO criteria were included. Data analysis was performed using a random-effects model, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results: Hawthorn statistically significantly decreased SBP (MD: −6.65 mmHg; 95% CI [−11.72; 1.59]) and non-significantly reduced DBP (MD: −7.19 mmHg; 95% CI [−15.17; 0.79]) after 2–6 months of treatment. Variations in dosage (250–1200 mg/day) and study protocols contributed to this heterogeneity. Conclusions: The effect of hawthorn on blood pressure is clinically significant. However, larger, well-designed trials are needed to establish optimal dosing, duration, and efficacy with greater reliability
Metamorphic and post-metamorphic evolution of the SE part of the Pannonian Basin in the Algyő–Ferencszállás crystalline high: Thermobarometric constraints on Variscan to Alpine events
Get PDFA non-canonical fungal peroxisome PTS-1 signal, SYM, and its evolutionary aspects
Get PDFProteins localized to peroxisomes, particularly those expressed under specific conditions or in low abundance, are often undetected by routine proteomics methods due to detection sensitivity limits. In silico identification and experimental validation of peroxisomal targeting signals (PTSs) offer a reliable alternative. We demonstrate that SYM, a non-canonical plant PTS-1 signal, functions similarly in Aspergillus nidulans , as GFP tagged with a SYM C-terminal tripeptide localizes to peroxisomes. One of two native A. nidulans proteins with C-terminal SYM tripeptide shows weak peroxisomal localization alongside cytoplasmic presence, indicating that only a subset of proteins with non-canonical signals access peroxisomes. In silico analysis of 1,010 fungal genomes identified diverse SYM-proteins with variable functions, suggesting that non-canonical PTS-1 signals may evolve spontaneously. Two-thirds of SYM-proteins are predicted to localize to specific intracellular compartments other than the peroxisome. We propose that despite their predicted localization, these proteins possessing SYM as a non-canonical peroxisomal signal might also have peroxisomal presence. Among SYM-proteins, pectinesterases, known plant pathogen virulence factors, were frequent. Notably, 25% of fungal pectinesterases harbor non-canonical PTS-1 signals, suggesting that partial peroxisomal localization of pectinesterases has evolved convergently. This suggests that partial peroxisomal localization may enhance protein functional flexibility, contributing to the organism’s adaptability
Serum Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Long-Term Multiple Sclerosis Activity and Progression
Get PDFHigher dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), was associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a prospective cohort study and lower risk of new lesions, relapses, and disability progression in a patient cohort. We examined whether serum levels of ALA and other PUFAs predicted MS outcomes up to 11 years after clinical onset.This prospective study was conducted among participants in the BENEFIT clinical trial, who had serum samples collected starting at randomization. Serum fatty acids were measured using gas chromatography. We evaluated the association of individual fatty acids with time to clinically definite MS (CDMS) and other measures of disease activity and progression using Cox, negative binomial, and linear regression.We followed 468 participants for 5 years, including 278 followed to year 11. At baseline, the median age was 30 years and 71% were women. Higher baseline serum ALA levels were associated with a lower risk of CDMS and relapses during follow-up. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for CDMS comparing top to bottom quartile were 0.60 (95% CI 0.39-0.95) and 0.60 (95% CI 0.37-0.98) after 5 and 11 years, respectively. The multivariable adjusted risk ratios for relapses comparing top to bottom quartile were 0.60 (95% CI 0.38-0.94) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.43-0.99) after 5 and 11 years, respectively. None of the other 35 fatty acids were associated with CDMS risk. Three fatty acids were associated with relapse rate after 5 years, but not 11 years. Higher ALA levels were associated with a slower decline in MS Functional Composite, an assessment of disability, at 5 years. The association was similar at 11 years, but the results did not retain statistical significance. Baseline ALA levels were not associated with subsequent changes in cognitive function, time to confirmed Expanded Disability Status Scale progression, new active lesions, or brain volume loss.Higher serum ALA levels were associated with a lower risk of CDMS, relapses, and disability progression in a large prospective cohort. The results were null or inconsistent for other fatty acids