The environmental impact of the feral pigeon (Columba Livia f. Domestica) in the historic city centre of Sopron

The presence of different bird species in inhabited areas is becoming increasingly common. The problem with these species is that they are more likely to spread pathogens, contaminate public and private land with their droppings, cause economic damage or even frighten the public. One of the most notable conflict species causing environmental pressures in populated areas is the feral pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica), whose populations are increasing worldwide. Adequate practices and methods are available to reduce the problem. However, their applicability and effectiveness may vary from one locality to another due to the different characteristics of the localities and the different causes of the pigeons' presence. Therefore, it is essential to think in terms of town-specific solutions, the preparation of which requires, among other things, an assessment of the temporal and spatial pattern of occurrence of the species causing the conflict, an understanding of the extent of damage and an overview of the population's level of information. In our study, we investigated the environmental pressures of the feral pigeon in the historical city centre of Sopron, using a combination of the three elements mentioned above. For this purpose, we carried out a monthly visual population assessment combined with a photographic technique at sample points for one year. We conducted a field visit to the area to draw up a damage map of the study area and a spatial localisation of existing control methods. Questionnaire surveys complemented this to assess the public's awareness of the issue. In light of the results, we drew up a map of the pigeon conflict in the city centre of Sopron and identified possible solutions

Fuzzy rendszerek és modellek elemzése és identifikációja = Analysis and identification of fuzzy systems and models

Új algoritmuscsaládot fejlesztettünk ki, a bakteriális memetikus algoritmusokat, a bakteriális evolúciós algoritmust globális, a Levenberg-Marquard algoritmust pedig lokális keresésként alkalmazva. Ez az eljárás jobb algoritmusokat eredményezett az ismert hasonló módszereknél a pontosság és a ciklusszám összefüggésében; ezt különböző referencia alkalmazások és más példák segítségével bizonyítottuk. Az alkalmazások másik csoportját a logisztika adta. Kiterjesztettük Kano minőségi modelljét fuzzy exponensekre, melyet BMA-val optimalizáltunk és megkezdtük az utazó ügynök probléma közelítő megoldásának vizsgálatát is. Megmutattuk, hogy a fuzzy szabályinterpoláció számos valós probléma megoldására alkalmas. Sikeresen foglalkoztunk komplex forgalomirányítási alkalmazásokkal, továbbá vasúti menetrend és késés miatti átütemezés kérdéskörével. Szoftverrendszert implementáltunk, mely nagyszámú fuzzy következtetési és irányítási algoritmus összehasonlítására alkalmas. Kiterjesztettük a fuzzy szignatúrákat hierarchikus struktúrákra is és a Mamdani algoritmusra is. A fuzzy szignatúrákat robotok mozgásirányítására és kommunikációjára alkalmaztuk. E robotokat szimulációs technikával és saját fejlesztésű hardver segítségével is vizsgáltuk. Új kutatási részterületet indítottunk el a fuzzy műveletek és a rajtuk alapuló fuzzy flip-floppok vizsgálatával, melyekből konnekcionista rendszereket hoztunk létre és e fuzzy neurális hálózatokat modellkonstrukcióra és approximációra alkalmaztuk. | We developed a new family of algorithms, the Bacterial Memetic Algorithms by combining the Bacterial Evolutionary Algorithm as a global search and the Levenberg-Marquard algorithm as a local search method. This approach provided better algorithms in terms of approximation accuracy and population cycles than other similar approaches in the literature, as it was evidenced by various benchmark and real life applications. Another group of successful applications is in the logistics area. We extended Kano’s quality model to fuzzy exponents, optimized by BMA, and we started to research for the approximate solution of the Traveling Salesman Problem.We showed that fuzzy rule interpolation could be deployed for a number of real application areas. We dealt with complex traffic control applications as well as with railway time table and delay triggered rescheduling problems successfully. We implemented a software for the comparison of a large number of fuzzy reasoning and control algorithms. We extended Fuzzy Signatures to both hierarchical structures and Mamdani’s algorithm. We applied Fuzzy Signatures for motion control and fuzzy communication of robots. Such robots were investigated both in simulation and hardware construction developed by ourselves. We started a new research sub-direction by analyzing fuzzy operators and fuzzy flip-flops based on them. We built connectionist systems from them and we used these fuzzy neural networks for model construction and approximation

Protective Effects of Pituitary Adenylate-Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide on Retinal Vasculature and Molecular Responses in a Rat Model of Moderate Glaucoma

Despite the high probability of glaucoma-related blindness, its cause is not fully understood and there is no efficient therapeutic strategy for neuroprotection. Vascular factors have been suggested to play an important role in glaucoma development and progression. Previously, we have proven the neuroprotective effects of pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) eye drops in an inducible, microbeads model in rats that is able to reproduce many clinically relevant features of human glaucoma. In the present study, we examined the potential protective effects of PACAP1-38 on the retinal vasculature and the molecular changes in hypoxia. Ocular hypertension was induced by injection of microbeads into the anterior chamber, while control rats received PBS. PACAP dissolved in vehicle (1 µg/drop) or vehicle treatment was started one day after the injections for four weeks three times a day. Retinal degeneration was assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and vascular and molecular changes were assessed by immunofluorescence labeling. HIF1-α and VEGF-A protein levels were measured by Western blot. OCT images proved severe retinal degeneration in the glaucomatous group, while PACAP1-38 eye drops had a retinoprotective effect. Vascular parameters were deteriorated and molecular analysis suggested hypoxic conditions in glaucoma. PACAP treatment exerted a positive effect against these alterations. In summary, PACAP could prevent the severe damage to the retina and its vasculature induced by ocular hypertension in a microbeads model

Origin and ascent history of unusually crystal-rich alkaline basaltic magmas from the western Pannonian Basin

The last eruptions of the monogenetic Bakony-Balaton Highland Volcanic Field (western Pannonian Basin, Hungary) produced unusually crystal- and xenolith-rich alkaline basalts which are unique among the alkaline basalts of the Carpathian- Pannonian Region. Similar alkaline basalts are only rarely known in other volcanic fields of the world. These special basaltic magmas fed the eruptions of two closely located volcanic centres: the Bondoró-hegy and the Füzes-tó scoria cone. Their uncommon enrichment in diverse crystals produced unique rock textures and modified original magma compositions (13.1-14.2 wt.% MgO, 459-657 ppm Cr, 455-564 ppm Ni contents). Detailed mineral-scale textural and chemical analyses revealed that the Bondoró-hegy and Füzes-tó alkaline basaltic magmas have a complex ascent history, and that most of their minerals (~30 vol.% of the rocks) represent foreign crystals derived from different levels of the underlying lithosphere. The most abundant xenocrysts, olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and spinel, were incorporated from different regions and rock types of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Megacrysts of clinopyroxene and spinel could have originated from pegmatitic veins / sills which probably represent magmas crystallized near the crust-mantle boundary. Green clinopyroxene xenocrysts could have been derived from lower crustal mafic granulites. Minerals that crystallized in situ from the alkaline basaltic melts (olivine with Cr-spinel inclusions, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, Fe-Ti oxides) are only represented by microphenocrysts and overgrowths on the foreign crystals. The vast amount of peridotitic (most common) and mafic granulitic materials indicates a highly effective interaction between the ascending magmas and wall rocks at lithospheric mantle and lower crustal levels. However, fragments from the middle and upper crust are absent from the studied basalts, suggesting a change in the style (and possibly rate) of magma ascent in the crust. These xenocryst- and xenolith-rich basalts yield divers tools for estimating magma ascent rate that is important for hazard forecasting in monogenetic volcanic fields. According to the estimated ascent rates, the Bondoró-hegy and Füzes-tó alkaline basaltic magmas could have reached the surface within hours to few days, similarly to the estimates for other eruptive centres in the Pannonian Basin which were fed by "normal" (crystal- and xenolith-poor) alkaline basalts