Complementary-relationship-based evapotranspiration mapping (cremap) technique for Hungary

Monthly areal evapotranspiration (ET) rates for 2000-2008 are mapped for Hungary at a spatial scale of about 1-km with the help of MODIS daytime land surface temperature as well as sunshine duration, air temperature and humidity data. Mapping is achieved by a linear transformation of the MODIS daytime land surface temperature values employing the complementary relationship of evaporation. Validation of the ET rates has been performed with the help of eddy-covariance measurements. The calibration-free CREMAP method is very simple, easy to implement, requires minimal data and works accurately when conditions for the complementary relationship are met. The resulting maps testify that the spatial structure of ET is much more intricate than what has been captured in previous generalized ET maps

Complementary-relationship-based evapotranspiration mapping (cremap) technique for Hungary

Abstract Monthly areal evapotranspiration (ET) rates for [2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008] are mapped for Hungary at a spatial scale of about 1-km with the help of MODIS daytime land surface temperature as well as sunshine duration, air temperature and humidity data. Mapping is achieved by a linear transformation of the MODIS daytime land surface temperature values employing the complementary relationship of evaporation. Validation of the ET rates has been performed with the help of eddy-covariance measurements. The calibration-free CREMAP method is very simple, easy to implement, requires minimal data and works accurately when conditions for the complementary relationship are met. The resulting maps testify that the spatial structure of ET is much more intricate than what has been captured in previous generalized ET maps. Acknowledgement This work is connected to the scientific program of the "Development of quality-oriented and harmonized R+D+I strategy and functional model at BME" project

Távérzékelésen alapuló párolgás-számító algoritmus a turbulens hő és légnedvesség 2-D kapcsolt transzport egyenletéből = Remote-sensing-based areal evaporation algorithm from the coupled 2-D turbulent heat and vapor transport equations

Egy MODIS műholdképeken alapuló térben osztott párolgás-becslési és térképezési eljárást fejlesztettünk ki és teszteltünk a 2000-2009-es időszakra. A módszert egész Magyarország (és más régiókra is) területére nagy sikerrel alkalmaztuk, egészen 0,95-ös r-négyzet értékkel. Korábbi, jelentősen generalizált párolgási térképek így a módszerrel kapott térképekkel lecserélhetők. Jelenleg a módszer adja a legpontosabb és legrészletesebb párolgási térképeket Magyarország területére, ami nagy jelentőségű jövőbeni vízgazdálkodási tervek kidolgozásakor. | A new, evapotranspiration (ET) mapping technique has been worked out for Hungary, using MODIS data. The method was applied over the entire area of Hungary (and other regions as well) with great success for the 2000-2009 period with r-squared values up to 0.95. Earlier, largely generalized ET maps thus can be replaced by the present ET estimates, which therefore provide the most accurate and detailed ET values yet for Hungary. The results may prove invaluable in future water resources management and allocation plans

A 2022. decemberi hidegbetörés és korábbi, néhány hasonló extrém téli időjárási helyzet az USA-ban

A 2022-es év legnagyobb havas helyzete az Elliott névre keresztelt ciklonhoz kapcsolódott [H1]. Elliott országhatárokon átívelő vihar volt, amely Kanadában és az USA északi államaiban pusztított 2022 decemberében. A viharciklonhoz kapcsolódóan északnyugat felől fagyos levegő árasztotta el az említett térséget, melynek következtében sok helyen negatív hőmérsékleti rekordok dőltek meg a hónap utolsó dekádjában. A rendkívüli hideg, az intenzív havazás és a viharos szél együttese tette különlegessé ezt az időjárási eseményt, amely számos emberéletet követelt, és rég nem látott méretű anyagi károkat okozott. Jelen tanulmány a szélsőséges időjárási helyzet kialakulásának körülményeit és lefolyását mutatja be, illetve áttekinti az USA-ra lecsapó, hasonló történelmi téli viharokat

The long term preservation of an 18th century gene bank heritage

The allée is one of the oldest instruments and forms of landscape architecture, which has often been used from the Antiquity for the expression of visual and functional relationships, for the delimitation of space, or for the pictorial creation of movement. The several hundred years old allées of the late baroque age, which still live among us as the witnesses of bygone times, represent a special value throughout Europe. The longevity and the respectable size as such bestow a certain value upon the trees. However, the allées also stand for a garden art, landscape, culture historical and natural value, which in a summarized way are called cultural heritage. Furthermore, the gene pool of the proven longevous, high tolerance tree specimens is a natural and genetic heritage of scientific signification. The age of the trees and allées is finite. Even with a careful and professional care, the renewal is inevitable, which, beyond technical problems of landscape architecture might raise many scientific, nature conservation, yes, esthetical and ethical questions. This is why there is no universal methodology, but there are aspects and examination procedures of general validity with the help of which a renewal can be prepared. The renewal concept of the lime tree allée in Nagycenk aims at the protection and the transmission of the value-ensemble embodied in the allée. One part of the value-ensemble is the spiritual, cultural heritage, the extraordinary value of the landscape-scaled, landscape architectural creation planted and taken care of by the Széchenyis. On the other hand the two and a half centuries old trees represent an inestimable botanical and genetic wealth. Its transmission and preservation is a scientifically important program coming up to the Széchenyi heritage. After the registration of the originally planted old trees, the complete nursery material of the “Széchenyi limes” necessary for the replanting can be produced by vegetative propagation. The gradual replacement of the stand with its own propagation material, by the carefully raised nursery trees of the same age can be a model for the gene-authentic renewal method – a novelty even at an international level

Changes In First-Year Engineering Students\u27 Performance In Mathematics And Engineering Subjects At Different Stages Of Distance Learning

Covid pandemic was unprecedented in modern education but is not expected to be unique, therefore increased attention should be paid to accurately analyse its effects on education. Calculus is an important undergraduate mathematics course in engineering programmes, which gives the foundation for engineering subjects like mechanics or electronics. Unfortunately, recent experiences show that the performance of students admitting after the pandemic has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. This research aims to analyse the changes in performance and attitudes of first-year students in the aftermath of the pandemic. In our research, we investigated the performance and learning habits of three groups of first-year mechatronics and energy engineering students during Calculus-1 and the related Mechanics subject. The “2018 group” studied maths traditionally, whereas the “2020 group” took online education in the last months of high school and the first year of university. The “2022 group” spent two years of high school at home in remote learning (the significant 10- 11th grades, for maths competence), but received in-person education at the 1 Corresponding Author Szabolcs Berezvai [email protected] university. Learning habit and performance of the students were monitored using EduBase online educational platform. The results of both the qualitative and quantitative analysis have revealed that online education during the pandemic changed the learning habits of the group in 2020 and had only slight effects on their performance in Calculus and Statics. However, for group 2022, where the pandemic affected high-school maths studies, the performance at the university has fallen dramatically resulting in an increased drop-out rate after the first semester

Education of hand rubbing technique to prospective medical staff, employing UV-based digital imaging technology

The aim of this study was to objectively assess the hand hygiene performance of medical students. Hand rubbing technique was evaluated by employing innovative UV-light-based imaging technology, identifying patterns and trends in missed areas after applying WHO’s six-step protocol. This specially designed hand hygiene education and assessment program targeted 1,344 medical students at two distant sites in Central Europe. Students were introduced to a short video, presenting the basics of hand hygiene, and then received further demonstration from professional trainers, focusing on the correct execution of WHO’s six-step technique. To verify the acquired skill, participants rubbed their hands with UV-marked alcohol-based solution. Digital images of the hands were recorded under UV light, followed by computer evaluation and assessment. Immediate objective visual feedback was given to the participants showing missed areas on their hands. The statistical analysis of missed spots was based on retrospective expert-driven manual evaluation. Significant difference in rubbing quality was found between female and male participants [35.3% (CI 95%: 33–38%) versus 29.0% (CI 95%: 27–31%), p < 0.001], dominant and non-dominant hands [43.4% (CI 95%: 39–48%) versus 34.9% (CI 95%: 32–38%), p = 0.002], and various zones of the hands’ dorsal side. Based on the participants’ feedback and the evaluation of the infection control specialists, it can be stated that the identification of typically missed patterns and the instant visual feedback have a vital role in improving the hand hygiene technique of prospective medical staff

Quantitative 3D orientation analysis of particles and voids to differentiate hand-built pottery forming techniques using X-ray microtomography and neutron tomography

This article describes the quantitative analysis of the 3D orientation of objects (i.e. particles and voids) within pottery fabrics to differentiate two categories of pottery hand-building primary forming techniques, specifically percussion-building and coil-building, comparing the use of two independent non-destructive imaging modalities, X-ray microtomography (µ-CT) and neutron tomography (NT). For this purpose, series of experimental organic-tempered vessels and coil sections were analysed. For both imaging modalities, two separate systems were employed for quantitatively describing both the orientation of individual objects, as well as the collective preferential alignment of objects within samples, utilising respectively polar and azimuth angles within a spherical coordinate system, and projected sizes within a positive Cartesian coordinate system. While the former provided full descriptions of the orientations of objects within 3D space, the latter, through a ratio dubbed here the ‘Orientation Index’ (OI), gave a simple numerical value with which the investigated samples were differentiated according to forming technique. Both imaging modalities were able to differentiate between coil-built and percussion-built vessels with a high degree of confidence, with the strength of these findings additionally demonstrated through extensive statistical modelling using Monte Carlo simulations. Despite differences in resolution and differences in the attenuation of X-rays and neutrons, µ-CT and NT were shown to provide comparable results. The findings presented here broadly agree with earlier studies; however, the quantitative and three-dimensional nature of the results enables more subtle features to be identified, while additionally, in principle, the non-destructive nature of both imaging techniques facilitates such structural analysis without recourse to invasive sampling

Establishing a Learning Model for Correct Hand Hygiene Technique in a NICU

The ability of healthcare workers to learn proper hand hygiene has been an understudied area of research. Generally, hand hygiene skills are regarded as a key contributor to reduce critical infections and healthcare-associated infections. In a clinical setup, at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the outcome of a multi-modal training initiative was recorded, where objective feedback was provided to the staff. It was hypothesized that staff at the NICU are more sensitive towards applying increased patient safety measures. Outcomes were recorded as the ability to cover all hand surfaces with Alcohol-Based Handrub (ABHR), modelled as a time-series of measurements. The learning ability to rub in with 1.5 mL and with 3 mL was also assessed. As a secondary outcome, handrub consumption and infection numbers were recorded. It has been observed that some staff members were able to quickly learn the proper hand hygiene, even with the limited 1.5 mL, while others were not capable of acquiring the technique even with 3 mL. When analyzing the 1.5 mL group, it was deemed an insufficient ABHR amount, while with 3 mL, the critical necessity of skill training to achieve complete coverage was documented. Identifying these individuals helps the infection control staff to better focus their training efforts. The training led to a 157% increase in handrub consumption. The setting of the study did not allow to show a measurable reduction in the number of hospital infections. It has been concluded that the training method chosen by the staff greatly affects the quality of the outcomes