Ludovika University of Public Service

Global adoption of wind energy continues to increase, while improving the efficiency of turbine settings requires reliable wind speed (WS) models. The latest models rely on artificial intelligence (AI) optimizations which constructs tests on a range of novel hybrid models to examine the reliability. Gradient Boosting (GB), Random Forest (RF), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) are used in new combinations for data pre-processing. A Time Varying Filter-based Empirical Mode Decomposition (TVFEMD) model is coupled with the GB and LSTM standalone models, to create TVFEMD-GB and TVFEMD-LSTM hybrids, which are run in competition with each other. Eventually, a preferred hybrid form is established, simultaneous hybridization of TVFEMD with GB and LSTM. This study is the first to hybridize these fundamental systems, and create a TVFEMD-GB-LSTM model that can forecast WS. This study finds that the novel hybrid models exhibit superior performance to standalone GB and LSTM models, opening the pathway to alternative WS prediction techniques.

Whilst the European Union’s approach to its direct and farther away neighbourhood has been based on the EU’s regional perception of the world, China—reminiscent with its classical concentric circular worldview—initiates and operates its foreign relations on a bilateral basis, even if in some cases some formal regional fora do appear. These different approaches provide a specific overlap in Africa, where in the different sectors, they may clash or contribute to each other. The international multilateral fora (UN, EMP, FOCAC, etc.) add a specific element when they provide opportunities for a wider cooperation (such as anti-piracy and peacekeeping operations). In the following chapter, we explore the characteristics and the development of the EU and China’s regional approach to Africa, as well as the African understanding of regionalism. We aim to highlight similarities as well as important structural differences in the two entities’ relationships with African countries, institutions, and coalitions. Following this comparative case study-based analysis, our findings suggest that the different approaches of the EU and China have a variety of causal vectors, with a spectrum from the pragmatic to the political-cultural factors.

Remote mountain lakes experience accelerating ecological change worldwide due to the ongoing warming. In this study, we analyze two alpine lakes, Lake Ana (1940 m) and Lake Peleaga (2122 m), from the Retezat National Park in Romania. The sediment cores cover ~ 400 years, and our aim is to reconstruct critical transitions, the rate of ecosystem change and its driving factors. The extent of human disturbance is weak at these lakes today. Therefore, we assumed the principal role of summer warming in potential ecosystem reorganizations. For verifying this assumption, we use a multi-proxy approach including Pb²¹⁰/Cs¹³⁷ dating, chironomid, pollen, Cladocera analyses, SPDU, element concentration, organic matter, total nitrogen, C/N ratio and δ¹⁵N measurements, chord-distance-analysis (RoC) and chironomid-based temperature reconstruction. The assemblages indicated cold, oligotrophic environment and remained relatively stable despite climate change and human pressure, in contrast to assemblages studied from higher altitude (> 2300 m) lakes in the Alps. Our temperature reconstructions show warming from the 2000’s, but the results are influenced by fish introduction in the 1990s. We conclude that chironomid communities have not yet passed critical thresholds; the fauna reacted with restrained alterations, which is exceptional in the region, and highlight the importance of altitude and environmental protection.

The aim of the paper is exploring the ethical foundations and approaches to crime and punishment relying on the close moral roots of criminal law. Our further aims are to prove value-based approach to the basic concepts of criminal law. Primarily we intend to apply legal theoretical methods to perceive the relationship between criminal law and morality. Our ethical approach is based on Christian ethics relying on Greek and Jewish foundations. We seek comparison of the ethical conceptual possibilities of crime and punishment and the basic concepts of criminal law. We find out that the term crime is not used in criminal law, but it builds on this fundamentally ethical concept. The indeterministic conception of criminal guilt as the basis of blameworthiness also appears in St. Augustine’s ethics, based on Greek and Jewish legal and ethical considerations. The social necessity and proportionality of punishment is based on the foundations of Christian social teaching. Some elements of the Restoration appearing in the modern criminal law approach reflect the values of the ethics of Christian punishment. According to the Christian approach the punishment is good if the sinner comes repentant and it leads to reconcilation between commitment and victim.

Non-destructive evaluation is advancing in examining the properties of fruits. Kiwi fruit stands out as one of the popular fruits globally. Due to the influence of various environmental factors and storage conditions, diligent checking and storage of this fruit are essential. Therefore, monitoring changes in its properties during storage in cold storage facilities is crucial. One nondestructive method utilised in recent years to investigate changes in fruit texture is the hyperspectral method. This study uses the support vector machine (SVM) method to assess hyperspectral method‘s effectiveness in examining property changes in four kiwi varieties during storage in addition to predicting the properties such as acidity and soluble solid content. The evaluation of the predictive machine learning model revealed an accuracy of 95% in predicting acidity and soluble solid content (SSC) changes in kiwi fruit during storage. Further, investigations found that the support vector machine method provided relatively lower accuracy and sensitivity in identifying product variety during storage, with an average accuracy ranging from about 91% to 94%. These findings suggest that integrating machine learning methods with outputs from techniques like hyperspectral imaging enhances the non-destructive detection capability of fruits. This integration transforms obtained results into practical outcomes, serving as an interface between software and hardware.

Following the adoption of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a breakthrough legislation on platform regulation and content moderation, many were awaiting the decision of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the Sanchez vs. France case. The main legal issue centred on whether the European-style safe harbour model and the accompanying ban on tracking or monitoring private users would apply. The Grand Chamber's judgment, however, has raised more questions than it has answered. In the present study, we argue that the Grand Chamber's decision in the Sanchez vs. France case represents a striking departure from previous ECtHR judgments and the principles set forth by the Court, particularly in the Delfi and Tamiz cases. We claim that as a result of the Sanchez judgment it may appear that certain individuals, such as public figures and politicians, may be subject to continuous monitoring to avoid liability for third-party comments on their social media pages.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are rapidly evolving and have already had a significant impact on military capabilities, enabling the deployment of new types of assets and tactics. At the same time, there is a need to explore how AI can help commanders make faster and possibly more accurate decisions. The topic of this publication was the exploration of the potential of cognitive AI for mission-oriented command and control. NATO uses the original, well-established term Mission Command in its doctrines, instead of which the author has used the term mission-oriented command method, which is identical in content to the one used in this article.

The use of additive solutions can be found in the civil sector, in factories and in homes. The ever-evolving technology and materials system also requires continuous scrutiny by professionals to ensure they have up-to-date information to perform their tasks. In the case of specific materials that can be used in 3D printing, continuous filament reinforcement is perhaps one of the most interesting, especially for military applications. In our paper, we explore this in detail, but with reference to a specific product line and analysing the details of a possible general military application.

Hungary’s utility sector, encompassing district heating, water services, waste management, and public transport, has experienced notable shifts from municipal to privatized ownership and back to community control between 2006 and 2022. The purpose of this study is to assess the financial performance and crisis resilience of municipally owned utility companies in Hungary between 2006 and 2022, with a particular focus on the impact of state price regulation and the role of economic cycles. The regulation was intended to ensure service affordability but imposed significant constraints on financial flexibility and investment capacity. The study targeted a sample of Hungarian local government companies, with two distinguished periods (2006–2013 and 2014–2022), examining seven different financial indicators (formulas), e.g., EBITDA, ROA,etc., with variance analysis and correlation analyses. These revealed that while companies operated effectively during periods of economic growth, the post-2020 polycrisis,characterized by challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising energy prices, exposed vulnerabilities, especially in the district heating sector. Financial indicators, including EBITDA margin and liquidity ratios, showed mixed results, with profitability improving in certain sectors but liquidity and return on assets (ROA) declining, indicating stress on short-term solvency. The paper suggests that while price regulation maintained affordability, it limited the capacity for swift adaptation during crises.To enhance resilience, the study recommends incorporating more adaptive regulatory frameworks and investing in renewable energy and operational efficiency. These changes would help municipally owned utility companies better withstand economic fluctuations and maintain service continuity, contributing to long-term financial and service stability.

Metabarcoding is a rapidly developing field for studying aquatic life and provides a promising alternative to microscopy. However, accurate assessments require that database errors and species boundaries be addressed, yet the use of only a short gene sequences in metabarcoding, may be insufficient for accurate species identification. This study examines the potential of metabarcoding in replacing traditional microscopic methods in planktic diatom identification. Phytoplankton samples were collected monthly from May 2021 to April 2022 at 13 sites on the Hungarian section of the River Danube. Environmental variables were measured, and electron microscopy and metabarcoding analyses were conducted. Both morphological and DNA analysis methods were used to study the Thalassiosirales order. Although there was some overlap in the taxa identified by both methods, there were also discrepancies, with certain taxa detected exclusively by one method. P‐distance analysis and BLAST search were used to correct misidentifications, revealing mismatches between database sequences and observed species. Phytoplankton community exhibited varying temperature and nutrients optima and tolerance ranges, which influenced their distribution patterns. During spring, diatoms—particularly Thalassiosirales—dominated the phytoplankton, with proportions decreasing in summer. Algal biomass in the Danube was highest in March, decreasing sharply by the end of summer and remaining low until the end of the growing season, the decrease relating to changes in the TN:TP ratio, which was very low in the warm water period (mostly below 10), leading to nitrogen limitation. Discrepancies between bioinformatic analysis and SEM observations revealed errors in the reference database. Our results clarify the functional group (FG) classification, which is important for both ecological status assessment and understanding of ecosystem functioning. Temperature is one of the most fundamental drivers of microbial nitrogen dynamics in rivers. Global warming is driving up the average temperature of the Danube, creating more favourable conditions for denitrification since the speed of microbial processes is higher in warm water. The increasingly common nitrogen limitation could potentially limit algal growth. Environmental factors, especially temperature and nutrient concentrations, significantly influenced the Danube's phytoplankton communities, with implications for ecosystem health and water quality assessment. Integrated approaches combining molecular techniques with traditional morphological analysis are needed for comprehensive ecological assessments, but accurate species identification and ecological status assessment require completeness in reference databases and the correction of database errors.

Shallow lakes hold significant ecological importance, serving as habitats for various species and functioning as carbon sinks. In this study we investigated contemporary and subfossil Cladocera assemblages of a mixed-use (nature protection, agriculture and recreation) shallow oxbow lake. We examined the effects of utilisation on species variations and how these utilisations can affect Cladocera species. A total of 36 species were identified, from which ten were only found in the contemporary assemblage, with 35 belonging to the subfossil assemblage. The subfossil assemblage showed consistently higher species richness and abundance. The highest number of species in both assemblages was found in the protected area, which also exhibited the highest number of individuals for the contemporary assemblage. The Mantel test indicated a weak correlation between the assemblages collected. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed a clear separation between the agriculturally utilised section and other areas based on the composition of the contemporary assemblage. Furthermore, canonical correspondence analysis identified potential associations between specific chemical and physical variables and the observed variations in species abundances. These findings highlight the impacts of utilisation types and suggest environmental factors influence Cladocera distribution and abundance.

Advances in natural language processing highlight the importance of text data preparation with machine learning. It has been reported that the traditional methods often fail to deal with the language complexity which affects model performance. Consequently, this paper proposes an approach which uses tokenization, noise reduction, and normalization to improve text quality.

It is well known that the European Convention on Human Rights aims to remedy violations of individual human rights, i.e., it is not an instrument for the protection of minorities. However, the European Court of Human Rights has the potential to protect minority communities indirectly by interpreting Convention rights in the context of non-discrimination. This judicial role cannot be overestimated since ethnic and national tensions are crucial social problems of our time that can be resolved peacefully by legal means based on a desirable European consensus. However, for this to happen, it is first necessary to identify what a minority is (conceptualization) and who belongs to a minority group (operationalization). Through the analysis of selected cases, this article shows how far the Court has gone on this path and what major elements of conceptualization and operationalization can be identified in its jurisprudence. Shortcomings and missed opportunities in the Court's reasoning will also be pointed out. With respect to conceptualization, we claim that the theoretical concept of a minority can implicitly be identified in the Strasbourg case law, with minority identity as its central element. In accordance with this, the main method of operationalization for the Court is self-identification, along with the (often explicit) acceptance of the objective criteria of minority membership.

Nowadays, outer space is becoming increasingly congested, contested and competitive. Humanity's growing dependence on outer space and experiences with the new space race have necessarily turned the attention of the international community to the safety, security and sustainability of space activities. This paper focuses on space sustainability and seeks to highlight some of its most important regulatory challenges. These challenges include the establishment of an appropriate space traffic management system, the mitigation of space debris, and the utilization of space resources. Following the overview of related problems, the paper examines the urgency and the modalities of appropriate legal regulation.

This paper analyzes whether articulated populist dichotomies or fractured populist styles attract more user engagement on social media focusing on the 2023 Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections via Twitter, considering the tweets of individual candidates and parties ( n = 4,139). Negative binomial regressions revealed that the explicit populist style, which articulates “the people” and “the harmful others” in the same message unit, predicts user engagement. The study shows that explicit populism triggers more favorites, retweets, and replies than any other populist style. Although implicit people-centrism has positive associations with retweets and replies, implicit antagonism has no effect on user engagement data.

Drawing on a Spanish representative two-wave panel survey, this study examines the role predicting the intent for paying for news of (a) a culture of free mindset, and (b) pay for news injustice. Findings suggest that both variables negatively predict citizens’ intent to pay for public affairs information. Furthermore, the study also advances the moderating role of political interest on these effects, which increases the intentions to pay for news, particularly for those who report low levels of culture of free mindset and pay for news injustice.