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Publications - 6374

Investigations of the tick burden on passeriform, water-associated and predatory birds reveal new tick–host associations and habitat-related factors of tick infestation

Jenő Kontschán Vojtěch Brlík Boglárka Bukor Gergő Keve Andor Pitó Előd Győrig Nóra Takács Sándor Hornok

Publication Name: Parasites and Vectors

Publication Date: 2024-12-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Previous studies on the tick infestation of birds in the Carpathian Basin focused on songbirds (Passeriformes). Thus, the primary aim of the present work was to extend the scope of previous studies, i.e. to include aquatic (water-associated) bird species in a similar context, especially considering that these birds are usually long-distance migrants. Methods: Between March 2021 and August 2023, 11,919 birds representing 126 species were checked for the presence of ticks. From 352 birds belonging to 40 species, 905 ixodid ticks were collected. Tick species were identified morphologically and/or molecularly. Results: Ticks from avian hosts belonged to seven species: Ixodes ricinus (n = 448), I. frontalis (n = 31), I. festai (n = 2), I. arboricola (n = 36), I. lividus (n = 4), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 382) and Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 2). Nymphs of I. ricinus occurred with a single activity peak around March–May, whereas its larvae typically infested birds in May, June or July. By contrast, H. concinna usually had its activity maximum during the summer (nymphs in June–July, larvae later in July–August). Interestingly, two ornithophilic species, I. frontalis and I. arboricola, were most active around winter months (between October and April). A significantly lower ratio of aquatic birds was found tick-infested than songbirds. Several new tick–host associations were revealed, including I. ricinus from Greylag Goose (Anser anser) and D. reticulatus from Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). Ticks were collected for the first time in Europe from two species of predatory birds as well as from Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). Bird species typically inhabiting reedbeds were most frequently infested with H. concinna, and most ticks localized at their throat, as opposed to forest-dwelling avian hosts, on which I. ricinus predominated and ticks were more evenly distributed. Conclusions: In the evaluated region, aquatic birds appear to be less important in tick dispersal than songbirds. However, newly revealed tick-host associations in this category attest to their hitherto neglected contribution. The results suggest that the habitat type will have significant impact not only on the species composition but also on the feeding location of ticks on birds. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06229-1

Coping strategies for financial problems What factors determine financial awareness based on Hungarian data from the OECD 2022 report?

Németh Erzsébet Botond Géza Kálmán Szilárd Malatyinszki

Publication Name: Szociologiai Szemle

Publication Date: 2025-09-24

Volume: 35

Issue: 3

Page Range: 85-109

Description:

The purpose of the study is to reveal the role of demographic factors in the strategies for managing financial problems, based on the data of the OECD’s 2022 financial culture survey in Hungary. The focus of the analysis was age, gender, type of residence, income and differences between regions. The research used multivariate statistical methods such as canonical correlation analysis and Ridge regression to identify relationships between demographic factors and financial behavior. The results showed that region and age are the most significant determining factors in the choice of financial strategies, while education and income have a smaller impact. Budapest residents showed higher financial awareness and more diversified strategies, compared to the more traditional approach of rural residents. Based on the results, it is recommended to develop targeted financial education programs that take into account demographic and regional differences, thereby supporting the increase of financial stability.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.51624/SzocSzemle.18188

Measurement and simulation of vector hysteresis

Miklós Kuczmann

Publication Name: Przeglad Elektrotechniczny

Publication Date: 2011-04-26

Volume: 87

Issue: 3

Page Range: 103-106

Description:

The paper presents a rotational single sheet tester (RSST) which can be used to measure vector hysteresis characteristics inside a specimen with round shape. The measured hysteresis characteristics in the orthogonal directions presents uniaxial anisotropy. It has been handled by the Fourier expansion of the measured Everett functions. The Fourier coefficients of the unknown Everett function have been identified by the modification of a previously implemented algorithm. In the identification task linearly and circularly polarized measured data have been taken into account.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

Effect of Simulated Transport Conditions on Microbiological Properties of Bottled Natural Mineral Water

Balázs Ásványi E. Lakatos Péter Böröcz Renáta Tihanyi-Kovács F. Bánáti László Varga

Publication Name: Water Switzerland

Publication Date: 2023-05-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 9

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Bottled mineral water is distributed globally through complex supply chains, making it available far beyond its bottling plants. In low-viscosity food matrices, invisible changes may occur due to shaking. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the potential correlation between the intensity of mechanical agitation and the number of detectable microorganisms in bottled mineral water. The simulation of dynamic mechanical vibration was conducted using both time-accelerated and real-time tests. Freshly bottled natural mineral water and commercially available mineral water brands from different bottling locations and times were subjected to random vibration at three intensities as specified by the ASTM D-4169-16 standard, which simulates road transport on semi-trailer trucks. The study investigated the specific growth rate, the generation time, and the maximum cell numbers of microorganisms. The quantitative PCR (qPCR) technique was used to determine and compare the concentrations of microbes. Dynamic mechanical vibration affected the microbiome of mineral waters, influencing growth rates and generation times. In the case of waters from different bottling locations and times, the specific growth rate varied significantly for each water and for each intensity. This finding demonstrates that the microbiome composition of the water source and the interaction between microbes influence the response to mechanical impact. The time-accelerated test was shown to be suitable for analyzing the reaction of the microbiome of the tested matrix to the intensity and duration of vibration. The applied test protocol enabled the monitoring of changes in cell numbers by qPCR. All three intensities of the time-accelerated method were effective in testing the effects of real-time mechanical agitation on the microbiome.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/w15091757

Optimizing Experimental Design to Determine Friction and Wear Characteristics of Used Oil Contaminated with E20 Fuel †

András Lajos Nagy Dominika Pintér

Publication Name: Engineering Proceedings

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 79

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The aim of this paper is to develop an experiment design to determine the wear and friction parameters of an SAE 0W20-grade reference oil and an SAE 0W20-grade used oil contaminated with E20 fuel. Wear tests in a ball–disc arrangement were conducted at temperatures and loads established using Design of Experiments. A surface analysis of the wear scars was performed using a digital microscope, while the oils were investigated using a viscometer and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. Design of Experiments was further employed to develop two models using R software. For the reference oil, the developed model was only suitable for screening, while the model for the E20 fuel contaminated used oil showed a 9.8% difference between the measured and estimated coefficients of friction.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/engproc2024079057

A study on solving single stage batch process scheduling problems with an evolutionary algorithm featuring bacterial mutations

Miklós F. Hatwágner Máté Hegyháti Olivér Osz

Publication Name: Lecture Notes in Computer Science Including Subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics

Publication Date: 2018-01-01

Volume: 10841 LNAI

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 386-394

Description:

The short term scheduling of batch processes is an active research field of chemical engineering, that has been addressed by many different techniques over the last decades. These approaches, however, are unable to solve long-term scheduling problems due their size, and the vast number of discrete decisions they entail. Evolutionary algorithms already proved to be efficient for some classes of large scheduling problems, and recently, the utilization of bacterial mutations has shown promising results on other fields. In this paper, an evolutionary algorithm featuring bacterial mutation is introduced to solve a case study of a single stage product scheduling problem. The solution performance of the algorithm was compared to a method from the literature. The results indicate that the proposed approach can find the optimal solution under relatively short execution times.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91253-0_36

Hybrid Data-Fusion Model for Solar-Powered Smart Irrigation with Predictive Decision-Making

Alyaa Abdulhussein Al-Joda Ahmed Jamal Ibrahim Yasir Alabedi Zainulabdeen Khalaf Hashim Alyaa Abdulhussein Al-Joda Mustafa Razzaq Al-Jebory

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 121

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 139-144

Description:

The proposed system addresses inefficient water use in agriculture by integrating an Arduino microcontroller, sensors, and data analysis. It irrigates only when needed, using weather forecasts and soil moisture sensors to optimize water delivery. The system conserves water, improves irrigation and resource management, enhances crop productivity, and reduces environmental impact. It features a user-friendly interface for remote monitoring and control and uses a Weather Forecast API to obtain real-time and forecast data from Open Weather via the REST protocol, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rain probability. This weather data is combined with soil moisture sensor readings in a Hybrid Fusion Algorithm, which checks both current and predicted conditions to decide when to irrigate. For instance, if the soil is dry but rain is likely, the system delays irrigation to save water. If the soil is dry and no rain is expected, irrigation starts automatically. By combining soil and weather data, the system can make more informed and sustainable decisions. In tests, this approach reduced water use by 27 % and cut unnecessary operations by 18 % compared to traditional systems. The system operates on solar energy, ensuring a sustainable and self-sufficient solution. This system represents an innovative advancement in agricultural technology, supporting more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET25121024

The Holistic Model of Labour Retention: The Impact of Workplace Wellbeing Factors on Employee Retention

Gábor Szábo-Szentgróti Zsolt Sándor Kőmüves Martin Gelencsér Gábor Hollósy-Vadász

Publication Name: Administrative Sciences

Publication Date: 2023-05-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 5

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This paper explores the holistic context of workforce retention. The global labour shortages in developed countries have made employers realise that in a world of scarce resources, employee wellbeing and retention are key factors in competitiveness. The aim of the research is to create a model to identify the key determinants of employee well-being and workforce retention. A quantitative research methodology was applied, using a questionnaire with 58 validated statements, completed online by the research participants (n = 406). The PLS-SEM method was used for data analysis and inner and outer modelling. The measurement model was tested for internal consistency reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. Cronbach’s α and CR values were above the 0.7 threshold for all constructions, indicating high internal consistency of measurements. In our model, there are a total of 36 significant relationships between latent variables. Based on the research results, the effect of organizational commitment on the intention to quit was determined. If the organizational commitment within an organization changes, the intention to resign changes. Thus, critical variables affecting workforce retention (benefits, promotion, communication, nature of work, coworkers, and normative commitment) have been identified, the changing of which will affect organizational commitment. The results support that if employees perceive these factors negatively, their commitment will drastically decrease.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/admsci13050121

Role of Science Centres in the Field of Sustainability

Attila Pongracz Szabolcs Rákosi

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 109-114

Description:

Sustainable Development is hard to imagine without a responsible, smart society. Accordingly, Education and Awareness-raising are essential prerequisites for social knowledge and acceptance of Sustainability. This research examines the role of today's innovative educational and awareness-raising institutions and science centres in presenting Sustainable Development issues playfully and experientially, and thus in shaping the attitudes of upgrowing generations and adults. The research aims to investigate how and to what extent science centres in Hungary reflect in their content and operations the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) declared by the UN and Sustainability in a broader sense. A questionnaire survey was carried out by contacting 14 science centres, supplemented by an analysis of the external communication of the institutions and a telephone inquiry. The results indicate that instead of representing the diversity of SDGs, on average, only 30 % of them are presented, and science centres are highly specialised, which threatens equal access and fairness. This study is outstanding in several respects: it contributes to the development of institutions by presenting promising practices, and its academic relevance is given by the fact that research on the operation of science centres is still lacking in Hungary.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107019