A silicic ignimbrite flare-up episode occurred in the Pannonian Basin during the Miocene, coeval with the synextensional period in the region. It produced important correlation horizons in the regional stratigraphy; however, they lacked precise and accurate geochronology. Here, we used U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS and ID-TIMS) and (U-Th)/He dating of zircons to determine the eruption ages of the youngest stage of this volcanic activity and constrain the longevity of the magma storage in crustal reservoirs. Reliability of the U-Pb data is supported by (U-Th)/He zircon dating and magnetostratigraphic constraints. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 2 counter clockwise block rotation and the beginning of a new deformation phase, which structurally characterised the onset of the youngest volcanic and sedimentary phase.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases comprise a spectrum of interrelated diseases including partial mole, complete mole and gestational choriocarcinoma. Using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT ± PCR) analysis, we identi®ed higher levels of DOC-2/hDab2 expression in the normal trophoblast cells in culture than in choriocarcinoma cell lines. Subsequent study using immunohistochemistry showed high levels of DOC-2/hDab2 protein expression in normal trophoblast tissues but signi®cantly lower levels of expression in gestational trophoblastic disease tissues, particularly in complete mole and choriocarcinoma. When DOC-2/hDab2 was transfected into the choriocarcinoma cell lines, Jar, JEG and BeWo, the stable transfectants showed signi®cantly reduced growth rate in culture. These data suggest that down regulation of DOC-2/hDab2 may play an important role in the development of gestational trophoblastic diseases.

Ciomadul is the youngest volcanic system in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region recording eruptive activity from ca. 1 Ma to 30 ka. Based on combined zircon U-Th and (U-Th)/He geochronology, Ciomadul volcanism is divided into two main eruptive periods: Old Ciomadul (1 Ma-300 ka; OCEP) and Young Ciomadul Eruptive Period (160-30 ka; YCEP). OCEP activity comprises Eruptive Epochs 1-3, whereas new ages for eight lava domes and four pyroclastic units belonging to the YCEP lead to its further subdivision into two eruptive epochs: Eruptive Epochs 4 and 5. The extrusion of most of the lava domes occurred between 160 and 90 ka (Eruptive Epoch 4) during three eruptive episodes at ca. 155 ka, 135 ka and 95 ka (Eruptive Episodes 4/1, 4/ 2 and 4/3, respectively) along a NE-SW lineament, which is perpendicular to the regional NW-SE trend of the Călimani-Gurghiu-Harghita volcanic chain. Eruptive Epoch 5 occurred after a ca. 40 kyr of quiescence at ca. 55-30 ka, and is mainly characterized by explosive eruptions with a minor lava dome building activity. All of the dated pyroclastic outcrops, together with the lava dome of Piscul Pietros, belong to the older Eruptive Episode 5/1, with an eruption age of 55-45 ka. The eruption centers of Eruptive Epoch 5 are located at the junction of the conjugated NW-SE and NE-SW lineaments defined by the older eruptive centers. The whole-rock geochemistry of all studied samples is fairly homogeneous (SiO 2 = 63-69 wt%, K 2 O = 3-4 wt%). It also overlaps with the composition of the lava domes of the Old Ciomadul Eruptive Period, implying a monotonous geochemical characteristic for the past 1 Myr. The eruption rates for the Ciomadul volcanism were determined based on the erupted lava dome volume calculations, supplemented with the eruption ages. The activity peaked during the Eruptive Epoch 4 (160-90 ka), having an eruption rate of 0.1 km 3 /kyr. In comparison, these values are 0.05 km 3 /kyr for the YCEP (160-30 ka) and 0.01 km 3 /kyr for the overall Ciomadul volcanism (1 Ma-30 ka). Based on the geochemical characteristics, the quiescence periods and the lifetime of the complex, as well as the relatively small amount of erupted material, this volcanic system can be placed in a subduction-related post-collisional geodynamic setting, which shows strong chemical similarities to continental arc volcanism. The commonly found long repose times between the active phases suggest that the nature of a volcano cannot be understood solely based on the elapsed time since the last eruption. Instead, comprehensive geochronology, coupled with the understanding of the magma storage behavior could be a base of hazard assessment for volcanic fields, where the last eruptions occurred several 10's of thousand years ago and therefore they are not considered as potentially active.

In protected areas (e.g. geoparks, UNESCO sites), 13 the identification of the different aspects of geoheritage site 14 values is part of a holistic concept of protection, education 15 and sustainable development. In the past years, significant 16 progress has been achieved in the volcano tourism in 17 Hungary as shown by the acceptance of two geoparks as mem-18 bers of Global Geoparks Network. They are the Bakony-19 Balaton Geopark and the Novohrad-Nograd Geopark, which 20 involves also the old village of Hollókő UNESCO cultural 21 heritage site. These geoparks as well as the recently (2013) 22 opened Kemenes Volcano Park used primarily the volcanolog-23 ical natural values in their application, and these play still an 24 important role to attract the visitors. The Tokaj Wine Region 25 (TWR) Historic Cultural Landscape (inscribed on the World 26 Heritage List in 2002 as a cultural site) is also characterized 27 by high geodiversity due to complex volcanic settings (andes-28 ite-dacite composite cones, silicic pyroclastites, lava domes, 29 hydrothermal activity) and specialized viticultural land use of the cultural landscape. While the area of the Bakony-Balaton Geopark is situated in a well-known region and has a long tradition in tourism with a lot of innovation, the Tokaj wine region needs a significant effort to introduce their volcanic geoheritage values into the tourism market. The systematic inventory and assessment of the geoheritage elements are essential steps in different scales of geoconservation and establishment of the priorities in site management. This inventory work emphasizes the relationship between the sites at different scales and highlights the interaction between eroded volcanic relief and human activity. The inventory classifies the objects in two main geosite categories: (a) volcanic edifices resulting from denudation and inversion of the relief and (b) geodiversity sites connected to land use traditions of the cultural landscape. The assessment evaluates the scientific, cultural/historical, aesthetic and socioeconomic values and helps to define priorities in site management. The recently suggested 900 km long, cross-Hungary volcano route starts at the TWR and involves additional 50 planned stations all along the country. They represent various volcanological phenomena from silicic ignimbrite sheets through andesitic stratocones to basaltic volcanic fields. These meet significant historic, cultural, gastronomic tourism attractions to support the promotion of volcanic geoheritage.

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Two distinct Permian volcanic epochs were revealed in the Pannonian Basin (eastern Central Europe) by U-Pb zircon geochronology: an older one (~ 281 Ma, Cisuralian) in the ALCAPA Mega-unit (Central Transdanubia, Hungary) and a younger volcanic episode (~ 267-260 Ma, Guadalupian) in the Tisza Mega-unit (Southern Transdanubia and the eastern Pannonian Basin, Hungary). The former is represented by dacitic subvolcanic rocks (dykes) and lavas, while the latter is dominantly by crystal-rich rhyolitic-rhyodacitic/dacitic ignimbrites and subordinate rhyodacitic/dacitic lavas. Whole-rock (major and trace element) geochemical data and zircon U-Pb ages suggest close relationship between the samples of Central Transdanubia and volcanic rocks of the Northern Veporic Unit (Western Carpathians, Slovakia), both being part of the ALCAPA Mega-unit. Such correlation was also revealed between the Permian felsic volcanic rocks of the Apuseni Mts (Romania) and the observed samples of Southern Transdanubia and the eastern Pannonian Basin that are parts of the Tisza Mega-unit. The older volcanic rocks (~ 281-265 Ma) could be linked to post-orogenic tectonic movements, however, the youngest samples (~ 260 Ma, eastern Pannonian Basin, Tisza Mega-unit) could be formed in the extensional setting succeeding the post-collisional environment. On the whole, the observed Permian magmatic rocks show significant similarity with those of the Western Carpathians.

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Cultural landscapes were developed as a result of continuous interaction between nature and human culture. During their evolution, the geodiversity was also considerably influenced by human activities. Recently, geoheritage studies have become more sensitive towards man-made cultural landmarks. In this paper, we explore a methodology to compile a regional inventory for a historic mountainous cultural landscape with remarkable geological, volcanological, and mining heritage in Tokaj Mts, (NE Hungary). The databases of the natural and cultural heritage contribute to the extension of regional inventories with a large number of geodiversity-related records. The specific selection procedure with a combination of GIS and fieldwork assessment resulted in the final list of potential sites. The applied three stage classification forms a basis for territorial analysis. The selected 60 geosites of 700 km 2 represents well the geological history of the study area, while another 160 geodiversity and geocultural sites emphasize further enhancement of natural and cultural diversity. The functional classification referring to the physical nature of the sites was useful to define specific conservation management priorities. The thematic grouping of the sites defined new interpretation possibilities for geotourism and geoeducation taking into account volcanological, geomorphological, and mining heritage values.