Kaposvar University

The g.66493737C/T polymorphism of the myostatin gene (MSTN) majorly influences muscle fiber composition and best race distance of Thoroughbreds. Thus, a better understanding of this process may lead to superior genetic exploitation for maximizing Thoroughbred athletic potential. Our objective is to investigate whether myostatin genotypes are associated with muscular development and cardiac variables of Thoroughbreds. Echocardiography and muscular ultrasonography were performed on three groups having C/C, C/T, and T/T genotypes, respectively. Each group consisted of 22 animals. Homogeneity of variance between the groups was checked by Levene's test. Multivariate analysis of variance was applied to determine differences in measured variables vs. MSTN genotypes. Fascicle length of anconeus and thickness of triceps brachii muscles showed significant differences between C/C and T/T genotypes (pFascicle-length-of-anconeus = 0.004, pthickness-of-triceps-brachii < 0.001). According to the primary outcome, there are associations between myostatin genotypes and cardiac variables. Aortic diameter at the sinus of Valsalva (end-diastole and end-systole) and aortic diameter at the valve (end-systole) indicated significant differences between C/C and T/T genotypes (paortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-diastole = 0.015, paortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-systole = 0.011, paortic-diameter-at-the-valve-end-systole = 0.014). Pearson correlation effect sizes were rFascicle-length-of-anconeus = 0.460, rthickness-of-triceps-brachii = 0.590, raortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-diastole = 0.423, raortic-diameter-at-the-sinus-of-Valsalva-end-systole = 0.450, and raortic-diameter-at-the-valve-end-systole = 0.462. C/C genotypes gave 22.1, 12.2, 6.3, 6.0, and 6.7% higher values compared to T/T genotypes, respectively. Differences regarding aortic diameter between genotype groups support the hypothesis that C/C animals have consequently increased cardiac output and aerobic capacity.

Sub-clinical mastitis (SM) is the most economically damaging yet often visually undetectable disease of dairy cows. Early detection and treatment can reduce the loss caused by the disease, thus, the continuous improvement of SM diagnostic methods is necessary. Albeit, the somatic cell count (SCC) of milk is commonly measured for diagnostic purposes, its direct determination is not widely used in everyday practice. The primary objective of our work was to investigate whether the predictive value of SM diagnostics can be improved by training artificial neural networks (ANNs) on data generated using common milking machines. The best ANN classifier had a sensitivity of 0.54 and a specificity of 0.77, which is comparable to the performance of several California Mastitis Tests (CMT) in the literature. Combining two diagnostic tests, ANN and CMT, we concluded that the positive predictive value could be up to 50% higher than the value provided by the individual CMT. While the implementation of CMT is a labor-intensive process, in milking parlors where milk or milk yield data can be measured automatically, similar to our work, SCC-gain predictions for all individuals could be obtained on a daily basis.

Background Canine morbillivirus (canine distemper virus, CDV) is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Canine distemper is a serious viral disease that affects many mammalian species, including members of the Mustelidae family. These animals have an elusive nature, which makes related virological studies extremely challenging. There is a significant knowledge gap about the evolution of their viruses and about the possible effects of these viruses to the population dynamics of the host animals. Spleen and lung tissue samples of 170 road-killed mustelids belonging to six species were collected between 1997 and 2022 throughout Hungary and tested for CDV with real-time RT-PCR. Results Three species were positive for viral RNA, 2 out of 64 Steppe polecats ( Mustela eversmanii ), 1 out of 36 European polecats ( Mustela putorius ) and 2 out of 36 stone martens ( Martes foina ); all 18 pine martens ( Martes martes ), 10 least weasels ( Mustela nivalis ) and 6 stoats ( Mustela erminea ) tested negative. The complete CDV genome was sequenced in five samples using pan-genotype CDV-specific, amplicon-based Nanopore sequencing. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, all five viral sequences were grouped to the Europe/South America 1 lineage and the distribution of one sequence among trees indicated recombination of the Hemagglutinin gene. We verified the recombination with SimPlot analysis. Conclusions This paper provides the first CDV genome sequences from Steppe polecats and additional complete genomes from European polecats and stone martens. The infected specimens of various species originated from distinct parts of the country over a long time, indicating a wide circulation of CDV among mustelids throughout Hungary. Considering the high virulence of CDV and the presence of the virus in these animals, we highlight the importance of conservation efforts for wild mustelids. In addition, we emphasize the importance of full genomic data acquisition and analysis to better understand the evolution of the virus. Since CDV is prone to recombination, specific genomic segment analyses may provide less representative evolutionary traits than using complete genome sequences.

Background The literature suggests that farmers’ work involves a number of operational difficulties. Although alternative food networks address the majority of their problems, they can potentially generate new hardships. The aim of this study is to examine the situational and engagement-related work difficulties associated with the everyday world of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farmers. Methods This study used the health psychology approach, namely interpretive phenomenology, to understand the social determinants of farmers’ working lives in CSA and to explore mental health challenges within the practices of local sustainable farming. To collect data, semi-structured, in-person interviews were conducted with CSA farmers in Hungary. Results Our study shows that new modes of consumer-producer connectivity create novel situations and issues which farmers are forced to address. Three personal experiential themes emerge from the data to describe CSA farmers’ work difficulties: (1) Conflicted autonomy; (2) The pressure of boxes; (3) Social overload. The difficulties for CSA farmers seem to be rooted in the economic characteristics of alternative agriculture where farmers organize food production for the satisfaction of consumer needs. In addition, structural conditions require several different CSA farmer roles, which could even be conflicting. Conclusion This study provides participants’ perspectives on the health and wellbeing costs of sustainable farming. Newer producer-consumer connections require both time and experience and involve extra effort or skills, but farmers often lack these abilities. The results show how perceptions of work processes relate to the general framework of CSA, which necessitates a distinct strategy for farm management.

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has unprecedentedly affected consumer behaviour. This paper reflects on changes in food consumption, buying, and training (working out) habits using a representative sample of 1000 Hungarian consumers and identifies consumer segments with unique needs based on personal sources of motivation. The widely known Schwartz Portrait Value Questionnaire was used to characterize individual value profiles. Employing k-medians clustering, three clusters were identified. “Business-as-usual People” managed to maintain their daily routines. The frequency of buying local food decreased the least among them. The sedentary lifestyle of the next cluster, “Inactive savers”, appears to have been accompanied by a lower level of food intake. Accordingly, this group was possibly less subject to the negative impacts of obesity, but more in need of psychological support to avoid devastating mental health outcomes. The third cluster initially appeared to encompass “Couch Potatoes” based on their COVID-induced lifestyles. However, the analysis of the value portraits of the latter showed that they were not couch potatoes at all, but rather active and proactive “Stay-at-home Businesspeople” who may benefit from guidance regarding how to manage the increase in housekeeping and childcare, and how to become more physically active in the home environment. The results are valuable from both a scientific and practical perspectives.

Applied methods and materials to support regional planning vary; planners update their analytical frameworks based on the newly available data. Development goals, priorities and strategies need to be based on available (local) resources, which are identified as either comparative advantages or uniform development goals at a certain planning level. This paper presents a novel analytical framework for the Rural Development Programme of the South Transdanubian Region (Hungary) for the period of 2021-2027. Descriptive, cross tabulations and indicators of spatial autocorrelation were applied to the number of projects supported under the Rural Development sub-measures in 2014-2020. Large variation was observed in the LEADER development areas, and we confirmed that the pull effect of the regional centres is unclear. The results warn on the location-determined peripheries in the region. Agriculture oriented, even small settlements are better acceptors of rural development funds than other clusters of resource availability.

Do labor productivity, industrial agglomeration, and urbanization coexist in cluster space? To examine this question, we used multiple methodologies. Density-based cluster mapping is used to create the cluster space, simultaneous equation in each cluster to verify the co-existence of agglomeration, LP, and urbanization and, Kohonen self-organizing maps to insightful analyses of these clusters. This article used 18-year county-based data from 2001 to 2018 and analyzes the cluster space in Hungary. Three things emerge out from this study: first, there are seven clusters in space; second, in all seven cluster agglomeration, LP, and urbanization are significantly co-exist and there is bidirectional causality among them; and third, Hungarian manufacturing regions can be classified into two phases of clusters. The manufacturing industrial structure in Hungary is group-specific where one group is in a declining phase and another is in the reindustrialization phase.

Aim: To assess the tendencies of radiation oncologists (ROs) in adjusting radiotherapy treatments (RTH) according to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status of patients during the early severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2) pandemic in Europe. Material and methods: An electronic survey was sent to 79 academic RTH departments across Europe. Only one respondent per institution was included. Respondents were asked how they would adjust RTH treatments based on COVID-19 status for more common cancers during the first wave of the pandemic. Respondents were also asked to report the number of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) units and the number of new cases referred to their department. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted focusing on different cancers. Results: The overall response rate to the survey was 30.38% (24 institutions from 13 European countries). There was a wide range of different institutions regarding the number of patients, radiation oncologists, and facilities. A large proportion of respondents supported adjustment of RTH treatment (delay or switch to a shorter fractionation) for COVID-19-negative patients during the first wave of the pandemic only for early breast cancer (20% delay, 42.3% shorter), prostate cancer (53.6% delay, 21.4% shorter), and benign brain tumours (32% delay, 12% shorter). For COVID-19-negative patients with other cancers, most respondents recommended the standard RTH treatment. For COVID-19-positive patients, most respondents favoured a delay in RTH treatment or a shorter fractionation, regardless of cancer type and stage. Conclusion: The patient's COVID status significantly influenced the decision to undergo RTH treatment, regardless of the type and aggressiveness of cancer.

Why do foreign firms and domestic firms face different hindering factors in a group of the same structural economies and business environment created by the same macroeconomic variables? This study addresses the essential question of the impact of a sound business environment in attracting or deterring foreign direct investment (FDI). This research utilizes the firm‐level World Enterprises Survey (WES) data and employed the parametric and non‐parametric methodology. The binary logistic regression and decision tree have been used to analyze the business environment. The author examines how macroeconomic factors influence the FDI investment decision. It was found that the two models perform very similarly in terms of predicting the business obstacle. Results of this study show that the trade regulation is the area of concern for a sound business environment that is identified by both methods in this study. Countries with stronger contract enforcement and more efficient international trade regulations create a pleasant business environment to attract more FDI.

Banks are leveraging on innovation to address the major concerns of their employees including improvements in service delivery, operational efficiency, and enhancing the speed of transactions. The purpose for this study was to explore the mediating role of job performance and job satisfaction in the relationship between service innovation and organisational performance. Data for the study was obtained from 250 bank employees in Ghana through structured questionnaire. The PLS-SEM was the main analytical tool used to analyse the research findings. Findings from this study revealed a positive and significant relationship between service innovation and organizational performance. Additionally, the study revealed that employee job satisfaction and productivity positively influence organisational performance. The study further revealed a mediation possibility for job satisfaction and employee productivity in the relationship between service innovation and organisational performance. The implications as well as the theoretical contributions of this study are discussed.

According to the SRES A1B climate change scenario, by the end of the 21st century temperature in Poland will increase by 2-4°C, no increase in precipitation totals is predicted. This will rise crop irrigation needs and necessity to develop irrigation systems. Due to increase in temperature and needs of sustainable agriculture development some changes in crop growing structure will occur. An increase interest in high protein crops cultivation has been noted last years and further extension of these acreage is foreseen. Identifying the future water needs of these plants is crucial for planning and implementing sustainable agricultural production. In the study, the impact of projected air temperature changes on soybean water needs, one of the most valuable high-protein crops, in 2021-2050 in the Kuyavia region in Poland was analysed. The calculations based on meteorological data collected in 1981-2010 were considered as the reference period. Potential evapotranspiration was adopted as a measure of crop water requirements. The potential evapotranspiration was estimated using the Penman-Monteith method and crop coefficient. Based on these estimations, it was found that in the forecast years the soybean water needs will increase by 5% in the growing period (from 21 April to 10 September), and by 8% in June-August. The highest monthly soybean water needs increase (by 15%) may occur in August. The predicted climate changes and the increase in the arable crops water requirements, may contribute to an increase in the irrigated area in the Kuyavia region and necessity of rational management of water resources.

This study shows how internal and international migration either it is permanent or temporary migration influences the foreign investors’ interest first in the form of foreign capital inflow, second in the form of agglomeration of foreign investment enterprises, and third in the form of FDI disparity at the county level. Our estimates suggest socio-economic pull factors like GDP per capita, population and production is significant for FDI inflow in Great Plain and North region while in the Transdanubia region, results are varied according to the FDI regional distribution.

Recent researches suggest that functional diversity represents the response of communities to environmental alterations better than taxonomic diversity. However, there is scarce information about how the functional diversity of freshwater fishes is affected by habitat type and the dominance of non-native species. To address this question, we analysed a large database containing 15 morpho-functional traits of 61 fish species from the Pannon Biogeographic region (Hungary). Based on a fish faunistic list and relative abundance of taxa, we quantified the taxonomic and functional diversity of riverine communities for > 700 sites of six habitat types. We asked how non-native fishes affected the taxonomic and functional diversity in different river types and at the local scale (i.e. at the site level), and how the diversity measures of native fauna elements changes along the invasion gradient. Our results showed that both functional and taxonomic richness increases with habitat complexity, from small headwater streams to large rivers. Therefore taxonomic diversity served as a good proxy for functional diversity along the environmental gradient of river types. Non-natives showed considerable functional diversity relative to their species number in each habitat type. Diversity values of native fauna elements initially increased, and then showed a major decrease along the invasion gradient. River type-specific evaluations highlighted the importance of considering the proliferation of invasive species based on both taxonomic and functional diversity indices. We argue that type-specific action plans are needed in conservation management to preserve the taxonomic and functional diversity of native fishes in Hungary, but also elsewhere.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of different dietary concentrations of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the growth, feed intake, mortality, blood plasma protein content and some parameters of lipid peroxidation and the glutathione redox system of pheasant chicks in a three-week long trial. A total of 320 seven-day-old female pheasants were randomly assigned to four treatment groups ( n = 40 in each), fed with a diet artificially contaminated with OTA [control (<0.02 mg/kg), 0.88 mg/kg, 1.14 mg/kg and 1.51 mg/kg] for 21 days (up to 28 days of age). The pheasant chicks were sacrificed at early (12, 24 and 72 h) and late (7, 14 and 21 days) stages of mycotoxin exposure to check the effect of OTA. Minimal feed refusal was found in the medium- and high-dose toxin groups (–9.8 and –7.9%, respectively), and body weight gain was nearly the same in all groups. The glutathione redox system was activated mainly in the liver, confirmed by significantly increased reduced glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity during the late phase of mycotoxin exposure and at a high-dose treatment. The results suggest that pheasants have low susceptibility to OTA, and activation of the glutathione redox system has importance in this tolerance.

The purpose of the book is to present in one location a comprehensive overview of the progress of genetics in the rabbit, with a modern vision that integrates genomics to obtain a complete picture of the state of the art and of the applications in this species, defined according to the multiple uses and multi-faceted places that this species has in applied and fundamental biology. The 18 chapters cover several fields of genetics and genomics: Chapters 1 and 2 present the rabbit within the evolutionary framework, including the systematics, its domestication and an overview of the genetic resources (breeds and lines) that have been developed after domestication. Chapters 3-5 cover the rabbit genome, cytogenetics and genetic maps and immunogenetics in this species. Chapters 6-8 present the genetics and molecular genetics of coat colours, fibre traits and other morphological traits and defects. Chapters 9-13 cover the genetics of complex traits (disease resistance, growth and meat production traits, reproduction traits), reproduction technologies and genetic improvement in the meat rabbits. Chapters 14-18 present the omics vision, the biotech and biomodelling perspectives and applications of the rabbit. This book is addressed to a broad audience, including students, teachers, researchers, veterinarians and rabbit breeders.

The purpose of the book is to present in one location a comprehensive overview of the progress of genetics in the rabbit, with a modern vision that integrates genomics to obtain a complete picture of the state of the art and of the applications in this species, defined according to the multiple uses and multi-faceted places that this species has in applied and fundamental biology. The 18 chapters cover several fields of genetics and genomics: Chapters 1 and 2 present the rabbit within the evolutionary framework, including the systematics, its domestication and an overview of the genetic resources (breeds and lines) that have been developed after domestication. Chapters 3-5 cover the rabbit genome, cytogenetics and genetic maps and immunogenetics in this species. Chapters 6-8 present the genetics and molecular genetics of coat colours, fibre traits and other morphological traits and defects. Chapters 9-13 cover the genetics of complex traits (disease resistance, growth and meat production traits, reproduction traits), reproduction technologies and genetic improvement in the meat rabbits. Chapters 14-18 present the omics vision, the biotech and biomodelling perspectives and applications of the rabbit. This book is addressed to a broad audience, including students, teachers, researchers, veterinarians and rabbit breeders.

Species range expansions and (re)colonization of landscapes variously dominated by humans occur on a global scale. Understanding such range enlargements and subsequent changes in the composition of ecological communities is important for conservation management, and the golden jackal (Canis aureus) can be considered a model species for regional and continental range expansion. Although this mesopredator has been known from the Adriatic Coast of southeastern Europe for over 500 years, the species is a recent arrival further north, including in Slovenia where jackals were first confirmed in the 1950s. Research from eastern Italy found jackals with ancestry from the Dalmatian region on the Adriatic Coast and the Pannonian region further east. We predicted similar ancestry for Slovenian jackals, and examined samples from Croatia, including Dalmatia and interior regions, Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia with 25 microsatellite markers to determine population genetic structure. We detected two distinct genetic clusters, representing the Dalmatian and Balkan-Pannonian (Pannonian) jackal populations (FST = 0.157, 95% CI: 0.112–0.209). Contrary to expectations, only few individuals in Slovenia exhibited signs of Dalmatian ancestry, and none appeared to be direct immigrants. Some results suggested a third cluster centered in northern Hungary. These divergent profiles might indicate immigration from outside the study area, and samples from regions further east are required for additional resolution. Based on our results, we hypothesize that Dalmatia has not been a substantial source for recent range expansion of the species, which has likely occurred from the east. Further investigation can help resolve the ancestry and current distribution of the Dalmatian and Pannonian populations, and the ecological relationships resulting from progressively overlapping distributions of canid species. Finally, genomic research could illuminate whether genetic variants from eastern areas might have facilitated jackal expansion into regions characterized by a colder climate, the presence of snow, and extensive forest cover; habitats seemingly avoided by the jackals occupying the Adriatic Coast and surrounding areas in southeastern Europe.

This paper explores to what extent product and marketing channel diversification contributed to the economic success of small-scale agricultural producers involved in short food supply chains after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted between April and July 2020 in four countries of the European Union-Estonia, Hungary, Portugal and Romania,-resulting in a relatively large sample of farmers (N = 421). The analysis was built on a semi-nonparametric approach. Approximately 19 percent of small-scale producers were able to increase sales during the first wave of the pandemic, although country-level variation was significant. Fruits and vegetables were by far the most popular products. The importance of specific channels varied across countries, but farm gate sales were among the most important marketing channels both before and during the first wave. The importance of channels that were based on digital resources and home delivery increased. Our evidence indicates that diversification was a strategy that paid off, both in terms of marketing channels and different product categories. However, the impact appears to be nonlinear; the initial advantage generated by diversification rapidly tapered off, either temporarily (in the case of products), or permanently (in the case of marketing channels). Later research may clarify whether these findings are generalizable in other socio-economic contexts, as well as in a non-COVID situation.