Chaos Kept at Bay is also Ill People’s Hope
If disease is chaos, the mathematical methods of resolving irregular processes within the body support the healing process. Two mathematicians of the Bolyai Institute, University of Szeged (SZTE) are able to tame chaos.
“Some behaviours determined by simple rules, which nevertheless appear to be complex, irregular and random may occur in many areas, such as in the atmosphere, in the flow of liquids, but even in the movements of certain heavenly bodies as well as in our bodies: a behaviour that we call chaotic dynamics. A more thorough understanding of chaos has been the subject of intensive mathematical research since the second half of the last century,” started his explanation Gergely Röst, mathematician.
Gergely Röst, an associate professor at the Bolyai Institute, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, who currently works at Oxford University, researches interdisciplinary life and health sciences based on mathematical methods. He published an article with Gábor Kiss, his colleague from Szeged, who returned from Bristol University in 2014, in an interdisciplinary journal Chaos in the beginning of 2018, which answers the question of how chaos can be kept at bay.
“The Mackey-Glass equation presented in 1977 is used for the mathematical description of physiological regulatory processes, which also reveals the chaotic behaviour behind various bodily abnormalities. Various variants of the equation have successfully been used for different purposes, among others to better understand and treat various types of abnormalities of the hematopoietic system, the cardiovascular system and the nervous system. This is one of the key elements of more complex models in several cases,” explains Gergely Röst.
In many cases, chaotic behaviour is undesirable, so it is important to understand ways to tame the chaos. The gist of the Röst-Kiss idea is to force all solutions into a special domain of the phase space where chaotic behaviour cannot occur. This way, they have succeeded in transforming chaotic behaviour into regular periodic motion or equilibrium with several different mechanisms.
“If the parameters that cause irregularities are changed in the right way, the whole system can be made regular. This can also help us understand and treat abnormal changes in the body,” describes Gábor Kiss the practical importance of the mathematical method.
Text: Ilona Újszászi
Photo: SZEM
SZTE Experience
Olney Rodrigues - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My name is Olney Rodrigues de Oliveira and I am from Brazil. I am currently pursuing my PhD studies in the Doctoral School of Education at SZTE. I chose the University of Szeged because it’s one of the best universities in Europe, especially in the field of education. I personally love Szeged because it is safe and I love the architecture, the cultural events, the local Market Mars Tér and so many other beautiful destinations. For my studies I wanted to have an excellent university in a good quality life city and Szeged offers me that. It’s neither too big nor too small, I can ride my bike to go to my classes and practically everything is within a walking distance. I would advise the prospective students to enjoy the city during their stay, the cultural and historical events, know other international students and make a lot of friends, visit other cities in Hungary and make good memories. I am pretty sure that you will be proud of this priceless experience. Before coming to Hungary I worked several years as a teacher. I love the academic environment, the libraries, relationship with students and the feeling to be involved in the acquisition of new knowledge. That is why I plan to be part of a University as a professor as well as to keep researching in different aspects of the process of education. I am so thankful to be here and I believe that the Universe brought me to Szeged because the city and the University are the experience that I need in my life now.
Dianne - Faculty of Science and Informatics
I am a PhD student and a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder from the Philippines. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Environmental Science and I happen to be in my 3rd year of studies. I chose University of Szeged because its one of the top ranked research university in Hungary known for its good reputation in the fields of health and natural sciences. Coming from the Philippines with a warm climate, I had huge preference of Szeged for my studies, the city having the most rays of sunshine and considered to be the warmest place in Hungary. I would advise all the prospective students to join University of Szeged’s diverse and vibrant community! Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone, try to find and establish your niche in a new place like what I did. I didn’t regret coming to Szeged as it continuously provides me an enabling learning environment for various reasons, has affordable cost of living, very safe and calm university town, organized transport system, beautiful and clean surroundings with the very sightly Tisza River which adds to its appeal, and also holds many festivals throughout the year. After graduation, I am planning to go back to my home institution and continue my teaching duties at the University of the Philippines Los Baños
