Current state-of-the-art quantum optimization algorithms require representing the original problem as a binary optimization problem, which is then converted into an equivalent cost Hamiltonian suitable for the quantum device. Implementing each term of the cost Hamiltonian separately often results in high redundancy, significantly increasing the resources required. Instead, we propose to design classical programs for computing the objective function and certifying the constraints, and later compile them to quantum circuits, eliminating the reliance on the binary optimization problem representation. This results in a new variant of the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), which we name the Program-based QAOA (Prog-QAOA). We exploit this idea for optimization tasks like the Travelling Salesman Problem and Max-K-Cut and obtain circuits that are near-optimal with respect to all relevant cost measures, e.g., number of qubits, gates, and circuit depth. While we demonstrate the power of Prog-QAOA only for a particular set of paradigmatic problems, our approach is conveniently applicable to generic optimization problems.
Students at all levels of education are increasingly relying on generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to complete assignments and achieve higher exam scores. However, it remains unclear how this reliance affects their motivation, their genuine understanding of the material, and the extent to which it substitutes for the process of knowledge acquisition. To investigate the impact of generative AI on learning outcomes, an experiment was conducted at Corvinus University of Budapest. In an operations research class, students were randomly assigned into two groups: one was permitted to use AI tools during classes and examinations, while the other was not. To ensure fairness, a compensation mechanism was introduced: students in the lower-performing group received point adjustments until the average performance of the two groups was equalized. Despite the organizers' best efforts to explain the design and to create equal opportunities for all participants, many students perceived the experiment as a major disruption. Although the experiment was approved by every relevant university authority -- including the Ethics Board, the Head of Department, the Program Director, and the Student Council -- students escalated their concerns to the media and eventually to the State Secretary for Higher Education of Hungary. As a result, the experiment had to be substantially revised before completion: on the final exam the test group was merged with the control group. Still, the data allowed us to draw decisive conclusions regarding the students' learning habits. Uncontrolled use of AI tools leads to disengaged students and low understanding of material. The extreme reactions of the students proved even more revealing than the data collected: generative AI tools have already become indispensable for students, raising fundamental questions about the validity of their learning process.
Supply chain networks (SCN) form the structural backbone of any society. They constitute the societal metabolism that literally produces everything for everybody by coordinating practically every single person on the planet. SCNs are by no means static but undergo permanent change through the entry and exit of firms and the re-arrangement of supply relations. Here we use a unique dataset to explore the temporal evolution of firms and their supplier-buyer relations of a national SCN. Monthly reported value added tax data from Hungary from 2014 to 2022 allows us to reconstruct the entire economy with 711,248 companies and 38,644,400 connections, covering practically every re-structuring event of an entire economy at firm-level resolution. We find that per year about 25\% of firms exit the SCN while 28\% new ones enter. On average, 55\% of all supply-links present in one year will not be present in the next. We report the half-life time of supply-links to be 13 months. New links attach super-preferentially to firms with a probability, $p(i)\propto k_i^{1.08}$, with $k_i$ firm $i$'s number of supply-connections. We calibrate a simple statistical network generation model that reproduces the stylized characteristics of the dominant Hungarian SCN. The model not only reproduces local network features such as in- and out-degree distributions, assortativity and clustering structure, but also captures realistic systemic risk profiles. We discuss the present model in how rewiring dynamics of the economy is essential for quantifying its resilience and to estimate shock propagation.
Arega Getaneh Abate, Xiaobing Zhang, Xiufeng Liu
et al.
Integrating electric mobility, including electric vehicles (EVs), electric trucks (ETs), and renewable energy sources (RES) with the power grid is paramount for decarbonization, efficiency, and stability. A critical gap remains, however: existing smart-grid and e-mobility cost-benefit analysis (CBA) approaches do not yet provide a unified framework for appraising AI-driven operational digital platforms (ODPs) that jointly coordinate EV/ET charging, renewable generation, and grid operations across sectoral and national boundaries. This paper develops a seven-step CBA framework tailored to this class of platform. The framework maps each layer of a multi-layered AI architecture to traceable, monetizable benefit streams-panning economic efficiency, grid reliability, and environmental externalities--while explicitly accounting for AI-specific capital and operational expenditures that conventional appraisals omit. Applied to a ten-year, three-country deployment across Austria, Hungary, and Slovenia, the analysis indicates a robust positive investment case under the modeled assumptions, confirmed through scenario sensitivity analysis, one-way parameter ranking, and probabilistic simulation. Benefit composition and country-level drivers differ systematically across national contexts, yet the economic rationale is preserved in each, reflecting the framework's adaptability to heterogeneous electrification trajectories. The findings indicate the economic viability of AI-driven digital platforms for cross-sectoral energy--mobility integration and highlight the critical role of ODPs in advancing decarbonization in the mobility--power nexus. To that end, they have direct implications for the design and appraisal of digital infrastructure investments under the EU's Fit for 55 and REPowerEU programmes.
The Hungarian Myocardial Infarction Registry (HUMIR) is a comprehensive database, covering 190,230 infarction events in 170,337 patients. In 2024, the National Health Insurance Fund Management Centre financed treatment for 14,555 infarctions, of which 86.3% (13,728 events) were included in the HUMIR. 46.7% of the registered events were STEMI, and 53.3% were NSTEMI diagnoses. In both types of infarction, most patients were male (64% vs. 61%). Patients treated for NSTEMI were older than those treated with a STEMI diagnosis (64.4 vs. 69.1 years). PCI was performed in 86.2% of STEMI patients and 64.7% of NSTEMI patients. The procedures were performed through radial access (95%) and almost exclusively involved the implantation of drug-eluting stents (96%). The median total ischemic time (from the onset of symptoms to the opening of the vessel) in the STEMI patient group was 4 hours and 30 minutes. In 60.2% of NSTEMI patients who underwent PCI, the procedure was performed within 24 hours. The 30-day mortality of STEMI/NSTEMI patients who underwent PCI was 10.3% and 6%, respectively. When examined by the catheterisation center, significant differences were in the frequency of PCI treatment, platelet aggregation inhibitor treatment, and 30-day mortality. The HUMIR participates in the EuroHeart program, and the research entitled Investigation of the effects of atmospheric and air pollution parameters on the development of myocardial infarction. In 2024, we created an interactive query interface on the HUMIR website, allowing external interested parties to learn about basic epidemiological data. HUMIR has continuously monitored the data on the domestic care of patients with infarction since 2014, and the program's effectiveness has been proven in domestic and international forums.
Szilvia Kugler, Eszter Dalma Pálinkás, Béla Merkely
et al.
At high altitude, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air is lower than at sea level. During acclimatization, the body adapts to this condition through respiratory, circulatory, renal, and hematological processes.
The reduced alveolar partial oxygen pressure causes vasoconstriction of the small intrapulmonary arteries. A significant increase in pulmonary artery pressure has been documented in individuals traveling from sea level to high altitudes, which occasionally results in mild right ventricular dilatation or dysfunction. Rapid ascent to high altitude predisposes to high-altitude pulmonary edema due to significant hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and elevated pulmonary capillary pressure. It can be prevented by ascending slowly and avoiding intense physical activity during the first days of acclimatization. The most effective treatment is rapid descend to a lower altitude.
Among high-altitude natives, hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension may decrease, but echocardiographic signs of right ventricular dysfunction are usually present. If adaptation to hypoxia is insufficient, chronic mountain sickness may develop, which is associated with severe hypoxemia, significantly elevated hemoglobin concentration, and often significant pulmonary hypertension. The latter can lead to right heart failure. The most effective treatment for chronic mountain sickness is to move to lower altitude.
Heart rate and cardiac output increase in acute high altitude exposure, but stroke volume decreases. Left ventricular systolic function increases, and the diastolic function is also altered, namely, the role of atrial contraction becomes more pronounced. Systemic blood pressure increases with acute high altitude exposure.
In cases of cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias), exposure to high altitude may be safe in compensated, asymptomatic cases, up to a limited altitude and with prior medical advice. Travel to high altitudes is contraindicated in cases of low-threshold angina, heart failure with significant symptoms, pulmonary hypertension, and a risk of malignant arrhythmias.
Szandra Schwarcz, Petra Nyerges, Tímea Ingrid Bíró
et al.
The microbiome is capable of modulating the bioavailability of chemotherapy drugs, mainly due to metabolizing these agents. Multiple cytostatic bacterial metabolites were recently identified that have cytostatic effects on cancer cells. In this study, we addressed the question of whether a set of cytostatic bacterial metabolites (cadaverine, indolepropionic acid and indoxylsulfate) can interfere with the cytostatic effects of the chemotherapy agents used in the management of breast cancer (doxorubicin, gemcitabine, irinotecan, methotrexate, rucaparib, 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel). The chemotherapy drugs were applied in a wide concentration range to which a bacterial metabolite was added in a concentration within its serum reference range, and the effects on cell proliferation were assessed. There was no interference between gemcitabine, irinotecan, methotrexate or rucaparib and the bacterial metabolites. Nevertheless, cadaverine and indolepropionic acid modulated the Hill coefficient of the inhibitory curve of doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil. Changes to the Hill coefficient implicate alterations to the kinetics of the binding of the chemotherapy agents to their targets. These effects have an unpredictable significance from the clinical or pharmacological perspective. Importantly, indolepropionic acid decreased the IC<sub>50</sub> value of paclitaxel, which is a potentially advantageous combination.
This article examines foreign direct investment (FDI) as an indicator of economic integration, focusing on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the two decades they have been EU members. Although CEE countries have remained on the EU’s periphery and struggled with development gaps, they have attracted substantial FDI, especially in the first decade after accession, fuelling the growth of outward FDI and integration into global value chains. Despite CEE economies like Slovenia and Hungary having seen differences in their use of FDI, such investment and European integration will remain central to the region’s economic development, even amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Ting Miao, Pathairat Pastpipatkul, Xinhua Liu
et al.
This study employs the stochastic frontier model (SFM) to analyze trade potential and efficiency in wheat and maize among Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2002 to 2021, encompassing 45 countries for wheat trade and 55 for maize trade. The empirical findings reveal that economic development level, population growth, government efficiency, political stability, and regulatory quality are critical determinants of trade efficiency. Notably, World Trade Organization (WTO) membership exhibits a negative correlation with trade efficiency, potentially reflecting challenges in rule implementation and opportunity utilization among member states. In the context of maize trade, increased arable land area is inversely associated with efficiency, suggesting potential issues in managing large-scale agricultural regions or optimizing land use. The BRI’s impact on trade efficiency varies across countries, with Turkey and Hungary showing improved wheat trade efficiency, while Ethiopia and Georgia experienced declines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, effective disease management strategies and diversified trade mechanisms significantly influenced trade efficiency. Furthermore, the study reveals that larger economies do not necessarily outperform small and medium-sized economies in terms of trade potential. These findings contribute significantly to the literature on agricultural trade and offer valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of enhancing government efficiency, political stability, and regulatory quality in the context of regional economic development initiatives such as the BRI. This research underscores the need for tailored approaches to trade policy and agricultural management, considering the unique characteristics and challenges faced by different economies along BRI.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Food processing and manufacture
Alejandra P. Garza, Lorena Morton, Éva Pállinger
et al.
Tobacco smoking is strongly linked to vascular damage contributing to the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis, as well as increasing the risk for neurodegeneration. Still, the involvement of the innate immune system in the development of vascular damage upon chronic tobacco use before the onset of clinical symptoms is not fully characterized. Our data provide evidence that a single acute exposure to tobacco elicits the secretion of extracellular vesicles expressing CD105 and CD49e from endothelial cells, granting further recognition of early preclinical biomarkers of vascular damage. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of smoking on the immune system of healthy asymptomatic chronic smokers compared to never-smokers, focusing on the innate immune system. Our data reveal a distinct immune landscape representative for early stages of vascular damage in clinically asymptomatic chronic smokers, before tobacco smoking related diseases develop. These results indicate a dysregulated immuno-vascular axis in chronic tobacco smokers that are otherwise considered as healthy individuals. The distinct alterations are characterized by increased CD36 expression by the blood monocyte subsets, neutrophilia and increased plasma IL-18 and reduced levels of IL-33, IL-10 and IL-8. Additionally, reduced levels of circulating BDNF and elevated sTREM2, which are associated with neurodegeneration, suggest a considerable impact of tobacco smoking on CNS function in clinically healthy individuals. These findings provide profound insight into the initial and ongoing effects of tobacco smoking and the potential vascular damage contributing to neurodegenerative disorders, specifically cerebrovascular dysfunction and dementia.
One of the main aims of electoral geography is to examine the spatial and socio-economic relationships of voting behaviour. Based on this, strong social cleavages were identified in the developed democracies in the 1960s, which strongly determined voting behaviour. After the regime change, these cleavages were also utilized by Hungarian electoral geographers to describe the spatiality of voting behaviour. However, a decrease in the importance of these cleavages has been reported, with the market turn of the traditional left and the strengthening of the populist right, new alignments have been created. The present study examines the spatiality of Hungarian voting behaviour and its transformation applying quantitative methods to the last three parliamentary elections. Based on our results, with the populist rhetorical change of Viktor Orbán (who is the leader of Fidesz, the governmental party since 2010) that has occurred since the migration crisis (2015), he appeals much more to disadvantaged people in the economic crisis regions (the losers of globalization), in addition to being able to retain his party’s significant rural voter base, while its support is relatively decreasing in the economically active, educated, and high-income regions.
In modern global supply chains, intermodal and multimodal distribution has become essential means of transportation. The combination of different modes of transport is the most commonly used method for distributing shipments between continents. This paper examines and measures physical events, such as shock and impact, that occur while transporting 40ft long ISO containers using multiple modes of transport. These events can directly affect the integrity of packaged products and cause damage. The study focuses on events such as transshipments and handling of containers in hubs and terminals. The impact shock levels were separately analyzed in all three-dimensional directions, namely vertical, longitudinal, and lateral. The results indicate the percentage of occurrence below a given impact level using statistical characteristics of the events that occurred. The magnitude and mean of acceleration levels, pulse duration, and velocity change are also reported.
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), Mechanics of engineering. Applied mechanics
Umberto Minora, Claudio Bosco, Stefano Iacus
et al.
This work contributes to the discussion on how innovative data can support a fast crisis response. We use operational data from Facebook to gain useful insights on where people fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion are likely to be displaced, focusing on the European Union. In this context, it is extremely important to anticipate where these people are moving so that local and national authorities can better manage challenges related to their reception and integration. By means of the Ukrainian-speaking Monthly Active Users estimates provided by Facebook advertising platform, we analyse the flows of people fleeing the country towards the European Union. At the fifth week since the beginning of the war, our results indicate an increase in the number of Ukrainian-speaking Facebook users in all the EU countries, with Poland registering the highest percentage share ($33\%$) of the overall increase, followed by Germany ($17\%$), and Czechia ($15\%$). We assess the reliability of prewar Facebook estimates by comparison with official statistics on the Ukrainian diaspora, finding a strong correlation between the two data sources (Pearson's $r=0.93$, $p<0.0001$). We then compare our results with data on arrivals in Poland and Hungary reported by the UNHCR, and we observe a similarity in their trend. In conclusion, we show how Facebook advertising data could offer timely insights on international mobility during crisis, supporting initiatives aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to the displaced people, as well as local and national authorities to better manage their reception and integration.
Ha létezne az ’önkéntesek országa’ a világ egyik legnépesebb országa lenne a világon, hiszen közel 1 milliárd ember vesz részt valamilyen önkéntes munkában világszerte. A sportegyesületek zavartalan irányításában, működésében és a rájuk háruló feladatok végrehajtásában nélkülözhetetlen szerepet vállalnak az önkéntesek. Kutatásunk célja különböző szocio-demográfiai változók mentén megvizsgálni, hogy azok milyen mértékben járulnak hozzá az önkénteskedéshez. Elemzésünkhöz az Európai Bizottság által 2017 decemberében Európa 28 tagállamában gyűjtött adatokat használtuk (28 031 fő). 10 olyan független tényezőt vettünk alapul, amely befolyásolhatja az önkénteskedésben való részvételt. Khi-négyzet próbával megvizsgáltuk, hogy a kiválasztott változók esetében található-e kapcsolat az sportönkéntesség végzésével. Ezt követően logisztikus regressziós modellbe is beépítve mindezen változókat, megbecsültük, hogy melyik milyen mértékben járul hozzá az önkéntes tevékenységek vállalásához. A szignifikancia szint p <0,05 volt. A kétváltozós összefüggésvizsgálat eredményei alapján a nem, életkor, élettel való megelégedettség, sportolás gyakorisága, iskolai végzettség, lakóhely típusa, szociális helyzet, szociális státusz szignifikánsan befolyásolja a sportönkéntességben való részvételt (p<0,001). A többváltozós összefüggésvizsgálat alapján a demográfiai, életminőségi, sportolási, szociokulturális és szocioökonümiai változók szignifikánsan befolyásolják az önkéntességet (p<0,001). Kutatásunk igazolta, hogy a sportönkéntességben való részvételt számos tényező befolyásolja. Kutatásunk nem terjedt ki a sportönkéntesek motivációs tényezőinek vizsgálataira.
Service life of the pavement can be predicted with proper temperature estimation of the pavement structure. Asphalt mixture displays a different modulus upon temperature change due to its viscoelasticity. The purpose of this study is to estimate such a temperature. Methodology in here includes one with the solution of heat conduction theory of the asphalt, and the other one statistical method. Results show that there is not a significant difference between the results made by two different methods. As a result of the model performance, the error range between the observed value and the predicted value is within the range suggested by other studies, so it is judged that the performance of the model is good. However, the prediction accuracy in the month with the highest and lowest temperatures per year was low. It seems that follow-up actions on this part will be necessary in the future. This study is expected to be used in various ways for road management in Hungary, and it is expected to be a basic study for the construction of road meteorological information system.
This is part I of the follow-up lecture notes of the lectures given by the authors at the Three \CO" (Composability, Comprehensibility, Correctness) Winter School held in Košice, Slovakia, in January 2018, and Summer School held in Budapest, Hungary, in June 2019. In this part we explain the role of functional programming paradigm in the management of complex software systems, and how the functional programming concepts play important role in the designing such systems. Key prerequisite for implementing functional programming concepts is properly designed system structure following well defined design principles and rules. That is the main goal of this lecture to introduce students with proper system modeling. Furthermore, we also explain how new emerging technologies are designed in such a way that they enforce the development of systems that comply to the design rules inspired by the functional programming. This is extremely important in view of the current network evolution and virtualization concepts, which will require many functional programming concepts in the network services and functions, as will be discussed in part II of these lecture notes. These notes provide an introduction to the subject, with the goal of explaining the problems and the principles, methods and techniques used for their solution. The worked examples and exercises serve students as the teaching material, from which they can learn how to use design principles to model effective system structures. Here we focus on students understanding of importance of effective system structures for coordination of development and management processes that are driven by business goals and further evolution.
Péter Herczku, Duncan V. Mifsud, Sergio Ioppolo
et al.
The Ice Chamber for Astrophysics-Astrochemistry (ICA) is a new laboratory end-station located at the Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki) in Debrecen, Hungary. The ICA has been specifically designed for the study of the physico-chemical properties of astrophysical ice analogues and their chemical evolution when subjected to ionising radiation and thermal processing. The ICA is an ultra-high vacuum compatible chamber containing a series of IR-transparent substrates mounted in a copper holder connected to a closed-cycle cryostat capable of being cooled down to 20 K, itself mounted on a 360° rotation stage and a z-linear manipulator. Ices are deposited onto the substrates via background deposition of dosed gases. Ice structure and chemical composition are monitored by means of FTIR absorbance spectroscopy in transmission mode, although use of reflectance mode is possible by using metallic substrates. Pre-prepared ices may be processed in a variety of ways. A 2 MV Tandetron accelerator is capable of delivering a wide variety of high-energy ions into the ICA, which simulates ice processing by cosmic rays, the solar wind, or magnetospheric ions. The ICA is also equipped with an electron gun which may be used for electron impact radiolysis of ices. Thermal processing of both deposited and processed ices may be monitored by means of both FTIR spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectrometry. In this paper, we provide a detailed description of the ICA set-up, as well as an overview of preliminary results obtained and future plans.
A magánbiztonsági szektorban végzett legfrissebb, a foglalkoztatási adatokat is vizsgáló felmérés alapján a szektorban a 2019-es év végén 4300 társas, aktív vállalkozás működött hazánkban. A társas és az egyéni vállalkozásokban foglalkoztatottak száma túllépte a 60 ezer főt, több mint 88 ezer főnek van érvényes személy- és vagyonőri, illetve magánnyomozói igazolványa. A Személy-, Vagyonvédelmi és Magánnyomozói Szakmai Kamara 4499 tagot tart nyilván. A szektorban egyaránt megtalálhatók az alap-, közép- és felsőfokú végzettséggel rendelkező munkavállalók, akiket a hagyományos foglalkoztatás mellett gyakran valamelyik atipikus foglalkoztatási forma szerint alkalmaznak. Tanulmányomban több adatforrást elemzek online dokumentumelemzés, online résztvevő megfigyelés, szövegbányászat és szakértői megkérdezés módszerével annak érdekében, hogy egzakt képet tudjak adni a fontosabb pozíciók és foglalkoztatási formák vonatkozásában, illetve, hogy a hazai magánbiztonsági szektor innovációs potenciáljának fejlesztése és jövője szempontjából megalapozott összegző megállapításokat fogalmazhassak meg.
Political institutions and public administration (General)
Hisashi Hayakawa, Kristian Schlegel, Bruno P. Besser
et al.
The Maunder Minimum (1645-1715) is currently considered the only grand minimum within telescopic sunspot observations since 1610. During this epoch, the Sun was extremely quiet and unusually free from sunspots. However, despite reduced frequency, candidate aurorae were reported in the mid-European sector during this period and have been associated with occurrences of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), whereas some of them have been identified as misinterpretations. Here, we have analysed reports of candidate aurorae on 1 June 1680 with simultaneous observations in mid-Europe, and compared their descriptions with visual accounts of early modern aurorae. Most contemporary sunspot drawings from 22, 24, and 27 May 1680 have shown that this apparent sunspot may have been a source of ICMEs, which caused the reported candidate aurorae. On the other hand, its intensity estimate shows that the magnetic storm during this candidate aurora was probably within the capability of the storms derived from the corotating interaction region (CIR). Therefore, we accommodate both ICMEs and CIRs as their possible origin. This interpretation is probably applicable to the candidate aurorae in the often-cited Hungarian catalogue, on the basis of the reconstructed margin of their equatorward auroral boundary. Moreover, this catalogue itself has clarified that the considerable candidates during the MM were probably misinterpretations. Therefore, frequency of the auroral visibility in Hungary was probably lower than previously considered and agree more with the generally slow solar wind in the existing reconstructions, whereas sporadic occurrences of sunspots and coronal holes still caused occasional geomagnetic storms.