Hungarian Academy of Sciences

PAX6 haploinsufficiency-related congenital aniridia is frequently associated with ocular surface disease, including meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), dry eye, limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK), and inflammation. This study measured ocular surface temperature (OST) at the corneal center and four paracentral points (2 mm from center) in patients with congenital aniridia and examined factors influencing OST. Forty-five eyes from 26 aniridia patients (55.6% female; 26.29 ± 17.78 years) with PAX6 pathogenic variants and 47 eyes from 25 controls (68.1% female; 24.81 ± 4.73 years; p = 0.1639) were included. Body temperature, OSDI, and OST (TG-1000) were recorded; clinical assessment evaluated MGD, LSCD, AAK, iris malformation, epithelial defects, Salzmann nodules, glaucoma and previous ocular surgery. Body temperature and OSDI did not differ in aniridia and controls (p ≥ 0.606). LSCD was mainly Grade 2 (46.7%) or Grade 4 (40.0%), and AAK Grade 1 (33.3%) or Grade 2 (31.1%). MGD affected 51.1%, Salzmann nodules 22.2%, epithelial defects 2.2%, glaucoma 60.0%, and previous ocular surgery 35.5%. Superior OST was higher in aniridia (34.98 ± 0.55 °C vs. 34.75 ± 0.47 °C; p = 0.012). Exploratory univariate analyses identified that higher AAK grade correlated with lower inferior OST (p = 0.030), iris malformation with reduced central/paracentral OST (p ≤ 0.029), and Salzmann nodules with lower OST overall (p ≤ 0.011). However, in a multivariate model, age, Salzmann nodular degeneration, and prior ocular surgery emerged as key determinants of OST. OST may serve as a noninvasive biomarker in congenital aniridia.

The inherent fluorescent properties of anti-leukemic drugs offer unique advantages for real-time therapeutic tracking and optimization. In this study, we systematically screened the absorption and emission spectra of 82 leukemia-related compounds, identifying 28 autofluorescent drugs suitable for fluorescence-based optical concentration monitoring. Excitation and emission parameters were evaluated across various solvents (DMSO, fetal bovine serum, and culture media), revealing solvent-dependent spectral changes, intensity variations, and effect on detection limits. These 28 compounds were further assessed for cytotoxicity screening in case of drug-naive and drug-resistant K562 leukemia lymphoblast cells. By correlating their spectral properties with cytotoxic responses, our study establishes a robust framework for fluorescence-assisted drug profiling, enabling pharmacokinetic insights, resistance prediction, and informed therapeutic adjustments. These findings underscore the translational potential of fluorescence-based methodologies in supporting precision medicine for leukemia treatment.

Abstract Learning habits play a crucial role in children’s development and future progress, and teachers serve as role models in this respect. This study aims to explore teachers’ practices in supporting first graders’ learning habits and their attitudes toward the importance of these habits. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational research design was used, involving 560 Hungarian primary school teachers who helped children practice their learning habits in school contexts. A learning habit assessment inventory was administered to assess teachers’ practices for developing children’s learning habits. The instrument assesses two aspects: frequency and the perceived importance of teachers’ practices related to children’s learning habits. It was first validated with a variety of statistical analyses, and the findings showed that teachers’ actions (frequency) are closely guided by their beliefs (perceptions of importance) when creating effective learning habit practices for children. No significant differences were found in children's learning habits across teaching experiences and school contexts. However, teachers’ qualifications and their attitudes toward the importance of learning habits are significant predictors of children’s learning habit development. This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing the development of children’s learning habits and highlights the crucial role of teachers’ beliefs and qualifications.

New measurements of the β decay of Ga 64 and Ga 66 have been carried out using total absorption spectroscopy at CERN-ISOLDE. The purpose of the study was to determine whether systemic effects such as have affected previous measurements and also determine the degree of isospin mixing in these proton-rich nuclei. Our results show that the β strength distribution of Ga 64 was previously underestimated, while that of Ga 66 agrees well with previous high-resolution measurements. The results allowed us to determine the amount of isospin mixing in the 0 + → 0 + transitions to the ground states of the daughter nuclei. From the extracted log f t values, we determined the isospin mixing parameter α for the two cases. They were found to be consistent with values for similar transitions in other nuclei. Ga 64 exhibits the largest amount of isospin mixing in such nuclei. These findings improve our understanding of beta decay and have implications for nuclear structure models and medical applications of Ga 66 in PET imaging.

The Revelation Spiritual Home. The Revival of African Indigenous Spirituality (Elements in New Religious Movements) by Massimo Introvigne and Rosita Šorytė. Cambridge University Press, 2025. ePDF. 84 pp. ISBN: 9781009630405 (Hb.); 9781009630375 (Pb.); 9781009630399 (ePDF)

The Fourth Industrial Revolution integrates advanced technologies that significantly enhance organisational efficiency and productivity. While this transition has the potential to boost GDP, elevate productivity, and expand employment in developing economies, it may also intensify income inequality, displace workers, and exacerbate youth unemployment. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on the digital transformation of Human Resource Management (HRM) and its implications for youth unemployment in the Ethiopian context. It explores both the positive and adverse effects of digitalisation on HRM practices and how these shape employment prospects for young people. Findings suggest that Ethiopia’s digital economy holds vast untapped potential to increase export, raise incomes, and generate jobs – especially for the youth. However, key impediments to effective digitalisation include inadequate ICT infrastructure, low digital literacy, limited financial capacity, and a shortage of skilled professionals. In addition, weak institutional commitment, complex regulatory environment, and resistance to organisational change constrain further progress. To harness the benefits of digital transformation, policymakers should prioritise strategic initiatives focused on strengthening ICT infrastructure, enhancing the digital competencies of youth, and promoting retraining of workforce to ensure the successful integration of emerging technologies into Ethiopia’s evolving labour landscape.

The mammalian brain exhibits notable interspecies variation. Microanatomical and molecular differences in homologous neurons, those with similar locations and developmental origins across species, are best characterized in the neocortical mantle, the center of complex brain functions; however, the purpose of these differences remains unclear. We performed whole-cell microelectrode recordings along with microanatomical and molecular analyses of human fast-spiking parvalbumin (pvalb)-expressing interneurons in neocortical tissue resected during brain surgery, comparing them with similar data obtained from the mouse neocortex. The action potential (AP) firing threshold was lower in human neurons than in mouse neurons. This was due to a deficiency in low-voltage-activated inhibitory Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 potassium channels in the axon initial segment (AIS), a specialized axonal region that determines AP threshold and initiation, in human cells. In contrast, Kv1 ion channels were prominent in mouse neurons. The AIS was also moderately elongated in humans. Computational simulations of fast-spiking interneurons revealed that the human-type AIS lowers the AP threshold and shortens the time lag for AP initiation. We found that the low membrane AP firing threshold in pvalb neurons is closely linked to slow membrane potential kinetics in the soma. Thus, the human AIS supports fast in-fast out circuit function in human pvalb neurons, compensating for electrically slow somatic membrane responses. When formulating therapeutic strategies that involve fast-spiking neurons, it is crucial to take into account the molecular and functional species differences.