Márton Kiss

Drosophila type IV collagen mutation associates with immune system activation and intestinal dysfunction.

The basal lamina (BM) contains numerous components with a predominance of type IV collagens. Clinical manifestations associated with mutations of the human COL4A1 gene include perinatal cerebral hemorrhage and porencephaly, hereditary angiopathy, nephropathy, aneurysms and muscle cramps (HANAC), ocular dysgenesis, myopathy, Walker–Warburg syndrome and systemic tissue degeneration. In Drosophila, the phenotype associated with dominant temperature sensitive mutations of col4a1 include severe myopathy resulting from massive degradation of striated muscle fibers, and in the gut, degeneration of circular visceral muscle cells and epithelial cells following detachment from the BM. In order to determine the consequences of altered BMfunctions due to aberrant COL4A1 protein, we have carried out a series of tests using Drosophila DTS-L3 mutants from our allelic series of col4a1 mutations with confirmed degeneration of various cell types and lowest survival rate among the col4a1 mutant lines at restrictive temperature. Results demonstrated epithelial cell degeneration in the gut, shortened gut, enlarged midgut with multiple diverticulae, intestinal dysfunction and shortened life span. Midgut immunohistochemistry analyses confirmed altered expression and distribution of BM components integrin PSI and PSII alpha subunits, laminin gamma 1, and COL4A1 both in larvae and adults. Global gene expression analysis revealed activation of the effector AMP genes of the primary innate immune system including Metchnikowin, Diptericin, Diptericin B, and edin that preceded morphological changes. Attacin::GFP midgut expression pattern further supported these changes. An increase in ROS production and changes in gut bacterial flora were also noted and may have further enhanced an immune response. The phenotypic features of Drosophila col4a1 mutants confirmed an essential role for type IV collagen in maintaining epithelial integrity, gut morphology and intestinal function and suggest that aberrant structure and function of the COL4A1 protein may also be a significant factor in modulating immunity.

The role of ecosystem services in climate and air quality in urban areas: Evaluating carbon sequestration and air pollution removal by street and park trees in Szeged (Hungary)

Abstract The evaluation of ecosystem services can provide essential help in incorporatating the multifunctionality of urban ecosystems in planning and management processes. Two important regulating services of urban trees, carbon sequestration and air pollution removal, are evaluated in this article for different types of tree stands (streets, parks) in the city centre of Szeged (Hungary). The necessary calculations were carried out by an adaptation of the targeted model (i-Tree Eco), based on a large complete tree inventory dataset. The analyses revealed the main tendencies in differences between tree species considering the tree condition, which affects the service-providing capacity to a high degree. The effects of differences in tree management on the chosen ecosystem services were investigated by comparing two pairs of tree alleys. Based on our observations, clear cuts and complete tree alley changes are not advisable from an ecosystem service point of view.

A Manually Annotated Corpus of Pharmaceutical Patents

The language of patent claims differs from ordinary language to a great extent, which results in the fact that tools especially adapted to patent language are needed in patent processing. In order to evaluate these tools, manually annotated patent corpora are necessary. Thus, we constructed a corpus of English language pharmaceutical patents belonging to the class A61K, on which several layers of manual annotation (such as named entities, keys, NucleusNPs, quantitative expressions, heads and complements, perdurants) were carried out and on which tools for patent processing can be evaluated.

Genetic dissection of anterior segment dysgenesis caused by a Col4a1 mutation in mouse

ABSTRACT Ocular anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) describes a spectrum of clinically and genetically heterogeneous congenital disorders affecting anterior structures that often lead to impaired vision. More importantly, 50-75% of patients with ASD develop early onset and aggressive glaucoma. Although several genes have been implicated in the etiology of ASD, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Type IV collagen alpha 1 (COL4A1) is an extracellular matrix protein and a critical component of nearly all basement membranes. COL4A1 mutations cause multi-system disorders in patients, including ASD (congenital cataracts, Axenfeld-Riegers anomaly, Peters anomaly and microphthalmia) and congenital or juvenile glaucoma. Here, we use a conditional Col4a1 mutation in mice to determine the location and timing of pathogenic events underlying COL4A1-related ocular dysgenesis. Our results suggest that selective expression of the Col4a1 mutation in neural crest cells and their derivatives is not sufficient to cause ocular dysgenesis and that selective expression of the Col4a1 mutation in vascular endothelial cells can lead to mild ASD and optic nerve hypoplasia but only on a sensitized background. In contrast, lens-specific expression of the conditional Col4a1 mutant allele led to cataracts, mild ASD and optic nerve hypoplasia, and age-related intraocular pressure dysregulation and optic nerve damage. Finally, ubiquitous expression of the conditional Col4a1 mutation at distinct developmental stages suggests that pathogenesis takes place before E12.5. Our results show that the lens and possibly vasculature play important roles in Col4a1-related ASD and that the pathogenic events occur at mid-embryogenesis in mice, during early stages of ocular development. Summary: Key pathogenic events in anterior segment dysgenesis, a congenital ocular disease with complex etiology, are recapitulated in a mouse model of Col4a1-related ASD.

Carbon Sequestration of Different Types of Floodplain Forests in the Maros River Valley (Hungary)

Carbon sequestration is one of the most important ecosystem services of forested landscapes. They have an outstanding role in climate change mitigation, and, as a quantifiable service, carbon sequestration can be incorporated in decision-making processes. Floodplain forests should have an outstanding role in fulfilling green infrastructure development goals. These ecosystems are characterized by a number of land use conflicts, between the local actors with different interests (forestry, water management and nature conservation ). Ecosystem service assessments can help to resolve such environmental management issues. Our work was carried out with a targeted model (CO2Fix3.2.), with the aim to compare the potential of the main forest types of the area (native and non-native willow-poplar stands, managed and non-managed hardwood forests). Calculations were based on a combined dataset of detailed forest structure measurements and the management plans provided by the local forestry directorate. The biggest amount of carbon is stored in hardwood forests with long rotation cycle and in the unmanaged forest reserve. The carbon content of the soil and the wood products should also be taken into account in these complex environmental systems. These types of results can form a basis for incorporating ecosystem services in decision-making, e.g. through payments for ecosystem services schemes.

Investigation Of Tree Stands Of Public Spaces In Szeged

Abstract In urban areas vegetation (especially woody vegetation) is of utmost importance, since it affects the ecological conditions of the city. Urban trees play an important role in improving urban climate both at the local (city, district) and the micro-level (e.g. in public squares). Establishing and maintaining advanced and detailed information systems necessary for the management of urban tree stands is an important task of environmental and climate-conscious city management. Despite that, few of the Hungarian municipalities have a regularly updated tree database. The city of Szeged started efficient green space management in autumn 2013, when we started the creation of a detailed and up-to-date tree register for the public areas, which has been continuously expanded ever since. The survey of the present study covers the period of the growing season, from late spring to early autumn of 2013. All the trees are included in the survey and quite a number of data are recorded for each individual (e.g. species, age, size parameters, exact location, health status, etc.). The recorded data are paper-based, however they are included in a GIS-based green space inventory software, Greenformatic, where coordinates are associated to each object, while information on the state of the tree, its location and handling can be found in the attribute table. The trees included are mostly concentrated in the inner city of Szeged, but the surveys will gradually cover ever larger areas of the city. The results highlight the fact that the structural attributes of the different species’ populations are formed by the integrated effect of the species’ urban tolerance and planting policies of the past decades. The current database already allows highly complex analysis, which contributes to the well-being of city residents.

Passive cooling potential of alley trees and their impact on indoor comfort

The significance of vegetable shading is, that it can minimize the risk of overheating and also the negative effects of urban heat island. The aim of the paper is to analyze more precisely the shading effect of alley trees, and their impact on indoor comfort. The shading efficiency of trees is a species-specific attribute, because of the varying crown structure and leaf density. The analyses aimed the quantification of the transmissivity of characteristic individuals of three frequently planted species. On the base of measured data the cooling load of the buildings and the risk of summer overheating are calculated.

Potential of Vegetation in Improving Indoor Thermal Comfort and Natural Ventilation

According to the EPBD (2010) whilst improving the thermal performance of buildings good or at least tolerable thermal comfort conditions must be provided. But better thermal insulation and more airtight buildings increase the risk of summer overheating which makes mechanical cooling inevitable. This idea has been verified by the tendency of the last decade, when people were willing to install and use more frequently air conditioning devices during the summer heatwaves – increasing their energy consumption and electricity bills at the same time. We cannot neglect the importance of studies triggering an efficient way to minimise the cooling load of residential buildings by obstructing solar radiation. The usage of plants in front of transparent surfaces of the façade can avoid indoor overheating. Deciduous plants obstruct buildings’ solar access so that the microclimate around the building is improved too. The use of Green Infrastructure in different levels of planning processes, which would provide sustainable solutions for urban management, is also prescribed in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020. Of course in order to investigate the actual effect of trees on indoor thermal comfort we should take into consideration a list of other factors: such as orientation the type and thermal properties of the windows / transparent structures used, and the thermal transmittance values and heat storage capacity of the building. If we have taken into consideration the mentioned factors during simulation we can prove the effectiveness of vegetation for each case. Simulations are made on the base of transparency measurements carried out during the summer of 2014. The shading efficiency of trees is a species-specific attribute because of the varying crown structure and leaf density. Our analyses aimed at the quantification of the transmissivity of characteristic individuals of three frequently planted species (Celtis occidentalis, Sophora japonica, Tilia cordata). The measured data were the amount of transmitted shortwave radiation, compared with a measurement point under unobstructed sunlight. In preliminary studies we have shown that depending on species – a tree in front of the façade can decrease the solar gain on internal horizontal surface up to ~18-30 per cents. As the tree obstructs the solar access of the wall and that of transparent surfaces, a difference in indoor comfort is to be observed too.