Physical Activity in the Southern Great Plain Region of Hungary: The Role of Sociodemographics and Body Mass Index

This study explores the level of physical activity and its associations with sociodemographics and body mass index (BMI) in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary. A total of 1648 adults (Men = 572; Women = 1076) were involved in this study. Their mean age was 43.0 (SD = 15.3), and they were recruited at different face-to-face events from July 2018 to January 2019. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity, and the participants were asked different questions related to their sociodemographics (e.g., education, income) and physical attributes (e.g., height, weight). Additionally, a descriptive statistical, chi-square test was used the see the gender differences, and multinominal regression analysis was used to see the associations between gender, age, place of residence, education, income, BMI, and physical activity levels. Our analysis showed that 19.2% of the sample had a low-, 41.1% had a moderate-, and 39.7% had a high level of physical activity. Furthermore, a high and a moderate level of physical activity were associated with gender, age, residence, education, and BMI. We believe this present study helps understand the role of physical activity in health through the example of the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary, which can provide useful information for experts to increase participation in regular physical activity.

Alföldi tanyák és tanyapolitikák a múltban és a jelenben

This paper provides a historical and economical overview of the way in which scattered farmsteads in the Great Plain have evolved over time, from their rise to their decline. From the end of the 17th century to the middle of the 20th century, these scattered farmsteads played a crucial role in agricultural production. From 1949, the Hungarian Communist Party limited the opportunities for the construction of new buildings to scattered farmsteads, which lead to a sharp population decline: the share of population living on the Great Plain in scattered farmsteads declined from around 30% in 1910 to 6% in 1990. After the system change in the era of new capitalism, scattered farmsteads are no longer places for living and agricultural production only, but have other functions as well, such as rural tourism, leisure, holiday accomodation, gastronomic services, second homes as horse riding.

The influence of Buddhism upon the Chinese traditional lotus pattern

Lotus pattern is one of the traditional Chinese ornaments that dates back to the ancient times. During the rule of Wei and Jin dynasties, as well as Northern and Southern dynasties (222 – 589 AD), Buddhism has largely prevailed across the territory of the Great Plain of China. The forms, methods of expression, and meanings of the Chinese traditional ornaments that used the lotus pattern have changed under the influence of Buddhism. This article analyzes the peculiarities of synthesis of the Buddhist lotus ornament with the Chinese traditional culture, as well as the degree of impact of Buddhism upon the form, means of expression, and symbolic meaning of lotus patterns in the Chinese society. Having studied the scientific literature and research on the topic, the author analyzes he peculiarities of evolution of lotus pattern in China after the spread of Buddhism.  The key stages of the development of lotus ornament in Buddhist decoration are examined. The conclusion is made that Buddhism played a crucial role in transformation of characteristics and means of expression of the lotus ornament, as well as extensively complemented and changed the symbolic meaning of lotus in Chinese culture and people’s perception. Buddhism not only enriched the exterior and shape of the Chinese louts ornament, but made a significant contribution to its inscape.

Riparian forests production related to water supply along southern Hungarian Danube

<p>The current climatic conditions of the Hungarian Great Plain is not adequate for the forest cover. Surplus water is essential to maintain good ecological status and growth rate of forests. Moreover, in the drying climate of the Great Plain without excess water the survival of forest vegetation is  questionable.</p><p>In this study, we try to indicate the positive effect of the excess water on the growth of the trees next to the Danube in Gemenc wetland (close the southern border of Hungary). The logging data were collected from 2000 to 2009. Sampled forest compartments were clustered into two groups based on the stand position to the levee (exposed to inundation of Danube or not). The effects of the Danube are evaluated using local hydrological measurements (e.g. gauge at Mohács).</p><p>The forest growth itself is not the best indicator because it is also influenced by several other ecological variables. To control better these variables two forest stands were selected aged about 110 years. One of them is located behind a summer levee (low crown height levee), which is inundated only by the high floods. Another forest compartment is outside the main levee and never inundated. These stands are sampled to prepare dendrochronological analysis, which gives us higher time-resolution data. We hope these analyses will help us to interpret the relationship between forest growth and water<br>conditions.</p><p>This research has been supported by the Ministry of Agriculture in Hungary.</p>

Quality of Wellness Services in the North Great Plain Region

Wellness is the philosophy of life in everyday life. In a holistic sense, it is also used as a harmony of physical, mental, and spiritual abilities, basically means prevention, regeneration, relaxation, and fitness. The investigation took place between September and December 2018. Of the 166 participants, 94 were women, and 72 were men. As a result of the research, we can state that respondents are looking for relaxation and relaxation in wellness hotels. Their expectations are related to their age, place of residence, and family status.

The wellness habits of men and women in the Northern Great Plain Region

In the past decades, the harmony of body and soul was getting more and more important,the balance, the self-confidence, and the positive-being, which is supported mostly by health tourism,so this section is improving with huge steps to serve the increasing needs fluently. For the effect of the consecutive social changes, the rules of genders have also changed. At the same time changes could be realized in the consumption habits of different genders. The resource took place from September to December 2018. It happened with a questionnaire survey; we asked the customers of hotels in the Northern Great Plain Region, and the answering was optional – they do it on their own choice. We investigated the participants' data through different dimensions and look for the answer to the question along these dimensions that which specifies had the service customers.

MOTIVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES CONCEPTS IN THE TRAVEL DECISIONS OF DOMESTIC TOURISTS OF THE „HUNGARIAN GREAT PLAIN”

From the point of view of successful tourism product development and destination management it is important to identify the travel motivations that determine the expectations of the experience and hence the satisfaction. The large-scale survey among domestic tourism participants reveals ideas, knowledge and motivations as determinants of tourism consumer habits, explores the relationship between domestic travel characteristics, destination awareness and the suggestibility of travel decisions. The results obtained, especially the general openness to domestic travel. Based on the research results, the tourism-specific motivations of the destination can be identified, on which further product development and experience management methods can be based.

Data envelopment analysis for measuring performance in a competitive market

In today’s increasingly competitive markets, it is essential to be able to determine the position of a company as opposed to its competitors. Today the traditional financial ratios are most widely used to measure corporate performance, but more and more authors begin to criticize their use. It is difficult to use financial ratios as a complex measurement tool. It is crucial to use an appropriate method or tool to measure corporate performance, which can measure the company’s performance in a complex way represented by one indicator. In this study, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is used, which is one of the potential tools available. Several researchers have used the DEA method to measure corporate performance. Many authors consider DEA as a useful tool for measuring corporate performance, while others criticize it. The authors analyze the performance of retail food companies in Hungary’s Northern Great Plain region. The companies analyzed were chosen from the region investigated, and they have “food retail grocery store” as their main activity, and they had six cleared annual reports in the period 2012–2017. There was a total of 887 companies in the region examined, and 563 (63.5%) met the conditions. The analysis was made using the time-series data of companies for 2012–2017 based on their financial reports, and the authors dealt with various possibilities for extending DEA, which can support its more accurate use. Based on evaluating the retail food companies’ performance in the Northern Great Plain region, one can state that the efficiency of companies shows a very mixed picture over the years examined. The study suggests solutions to the indicated problem. The findings indicate that the application of extended DEA methods gives better results; that is, one can get better estimates of the efficiency of companies.

A társadalmi struktúra és az oktatás összefüggései a sportiskolák rendszerében

A társadalmi helyzet jelentős szerepet játszik életünkben, így a sportiskolai rendszerben is, különös tekintettel a vizsgálat fókuszában álló köznevelési típusú sportiskolákra. Ezen intézmények célja a sportkarrier támogatása mellett a tanulmányi eredményesség növelése is. Célunk a hazai köznevelési típusú sportiskolákban tanuló diákok szocio-ökonómiai státuszának felmérése. Ehhez a 2016-os Országos Kompetenciamérés 10. évfolyamos tanuló adatbázisát alkalmazva néztük meg a tanulók családi háttérindexét, majd összevetettük az egyéb típusú, nem sportiskolás diákok helyzetével. Eredményeink alapján a sportiskolákban/sporttagozattal rendelkező iskolákban és egyéb iskolákban tanuló diákok családi háttérindexének tekintetében jelentős különbség mutatható ki (p<0,001), habár hasonlóságok is mutatkoztak. Régiós szinten a sportiskolák tekintetében az észak-alföldi és közép-magyarországi régiókban voltak a legalacsonyabb, míg a közép-dunántúli régióban a legmagasabb a családi háttérindex átlaga. A nem sportiskolák esetében az észak-alföldi régióban voltak tapasztalhatóak a legalacsonyabb, míg Budapesten a legmagasabbak a családi háttérindex értékek.The role of social status is significant in our life, including the sports school system, with particular emphasis on educational sports schools which are in the focus of the study. The aim of these institutions is not only to support sports careers but also to improve academic achievement. Our aim is to investigate the socio-economic status of students learning in educational sports schools. For this reason, the National Competency Assessment of 2016 was applied, including the data of the 10th-grade students to investigate their family background index. Then, we compared these data to the characteristics of students learning in other types of schools. Based on our results, there is a significant difference in the family background index of students studying in sports schools and non-sports schools, although similarities have also been found. At the regional level, the average family background index was the lowest in the North Great Plain and Central Hungary, while it was the highest in Central-Transdanubia. In the case of non-sports schools, the family background index values were the lowest in the North Great Plain, while it was the highest in Budapest.