Developing an integrated land use planning system on reclaimed wetlands of the Hungarian Plain using economic valuation of ecosystem services

The establishment of a sustainable land use system is crucial in Hungary (SE Europe) where 30% of croplands lie on former floodplains, and 40–45% of arable lands are drought-prone. We calculated and compared the monetary value of the main wetland ecosystem services, the profitability of land use and the additional costs of grain producer system on land at risk from groundwater inundation on the Hungarian Plain. We show that orchards and forestry generate a much higher profitability in former wetlands than cropland farming. Using the replacement cost method, we prove that the reservoir capacity of restored wetlands with an ecologically optimal 0.5 m water depth could replace 2150 €ha−1 flood protection investment cost. The calculated costs of protecting land under the two highest groundwater risk categories between 1999–2005 was 37.2 €ha−1 y−1 and 14.9 €ha−1 y−1, respectively. Although the flood protection benefits of former wetlands may provide an appropriate value base for restoration per se, combined with the potential advantages of land use change from cropland to forest in former wetlands and the carbon sequestration benefit provide ‘win-win’ solutions for land users and institutional actors interested in flood prevention, environmental protection and climate mitigation

Liapunov Functions for Neural Network Models

The dynamical behaviour of continuous time recurrent neural network models is studied with emphasis on global stability of a unique equilibrium. First we show in a unified context two Liapunov functions that were introduced in the nineties by Hopfield, Grossberg, Matsouka and Forti. Then we introduce a class of networks for which the model becomes a special cooperative system with a unique globally stable steady state. Finally, we show that periodic orbits may occur when the sufficient conditions for the existence of Liapunov functions are violated

Caveolák szerepe a szürke hályog képződésében: humán szemlencse epithelsejtjeinek vizsgálata

Introduction: Caveolae are flask shaped with 50-100 nm size, non-clathrin associated invaginations of the plasmam-embrane. The main membrane protein of the structures is caveolin-1. Caveolae play an important role in numerous cellular functions including vesicular transport and cell-cycle regulation, and create platforms for classical and alternative signaling pathways. According to international studies, caveolae may influence the physiology and pathology of lens epithelial cells

Ring-shaped bifocal lens used for fluorescent self-referenced holographic imaging

We propose an alternative and simple solution to self-referenced digital holographic imaging based on a ring-shaped bifocal lens, without the need of any mirrors, polarizers or spatial light modulators. We discuss the imaging properties of the ring-shaped bifocal lens in self-referenced holography. The easy applicability of this bifocal lens is demonstrated on a realized microscope setup for volumetric observation of freely moving fluorescent objects, based on a conventional light microscope

Ungulate browsing shapes climate change impacts on forest biodiversity in Hungary

Climate change can result in a slow disappearance of forests dominated by less drought-tolerant native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and oak species (Quercus spp.) and further area expansion of more drought-tolerant non-native black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) against those species in Hungary. We assumed that the shift in plant species composition was modified by selective ungulate browsing. Thus, we investigated which woody species are selected by browsing game. We have collected data on the species composition of the understory and the browsing impact on it in five different Hungarian even-aged forests between 2003 and 2005. Based on these investigations the non-native Robinia pseudoacacialiving under more favourable climatic conditions was generally preferred (Jacobs’ selectivity index: D=0.04±0.77), while the nativeFagus sylvatica and Quercus spp. (Q. petraea, Q. robur), both more vulnerable to increasing aridity, were avoided (D=-0.37±0.11;-0.79±0.56;-0.9±0.16; respectively) among target tree species. However, economically less or not relevant species, e.g. elderberry (Sambucus spp.), blackberry (Rubus spp.) or common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) were the most preferred species (D=0.01±0.71; -0.12±0.58; -0.2±0.78, respectively). Our results imply that biodiversity conservation, i.e. maintaining or establishing a multi-species understory layer, can be a good solution to reduce the additional negative game impact on native target tree species suffering from drought. Due to preference for Robinia pseudoacaciaselective browsing can decelerate the penetration of this species into native forest habitats. We have to consider the herbivorous pressure of ungulates and their feeding preferences in planning our future multifunctional forests in the light of climate change impacts

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe

Development of the model hovercraft

This article presents the hardware requirements and the functionality of the hovercraft vehicle designed by the A-Team for the 9th "Hungarians on Mars" student competition. The article focuses on the electronic and hardware development of the vehicle as well as the design of the hovercraft controller. The article provides a detailed description of the structure of the hovercraft, and We introduce the basic mechanical model for the hovercraft. When we show the mechanical structure we collect the actuators and we would like to introduce the electric hardware which able to control these actuators. The main controller of the hovercraft is the FPGA embedded SoC (System on Chip) development board. This board provides the control signal to the electric hardware and it can move this vehicle. Finally, we introduce the own-built hovercraft created for the 9th "Hungarians on Mars"

Levegőminőség mérése és mért adatok alkalmazhatósága a városüzemeltetésben

Célunk a nemzetközi és hazai légszennyezettség súlyosságának és a csökkentésével kapcsolatos lépések és lehetőségek bemutatása és ezen célkitűzések milyen módon illeszthetőek és integrálhatóak egy város üzemeltetési folyamataihoz és azok milyen további hozzáadott értéket jelenthetnek városüzemeltetési szempontból. A publikáció első részében egy átfogó képet mutatunk be a légszennyező anyagokról, annak forrásairól és hatásairól valamint azok mérhetőségéről. A publikáció második részében a FIEK projekten keresztül a méréshez kiépítendő mérőhálózat elemeit és működési elvét mutatjuk be, valamint a mérhetőség által kinyerhető információkat és hasznosíthatóságukat a városüzemeltetésben. A mérőhálózat alkalmazására teszünk megoldási javaslatot, majd összegezzük az adatok alkalmazhatóságát a városüzemeltetésben