Filters
total: 493
Search results for: Control measures
-
End-of-life management of single-use baby diapers: Analysis of technical, health and environment aspects
PublicationSingle-use baby diapers belongs to an important group of products used in the parenting journey because of their high performance and convenience. Single-use baby diapers are normally thrown away after one-time use, resulting in a waste management problem. The goal of this paper was to better understand main environmental concerns of different types of diapers and address how to reduce them, with a special consideration of waste...
-
Optimized Hydrodynamic Vortex Separator
PublicationThe invention discloses an optimized hydrodynamic vortex separator which comprises an outer cylinder (1), an inner cylinder (2), a sludge hopper (3), an inlet (4), an outlet (5) and a conical structure (7), wherein the outer cylinder (1) is the boundary of the outer wall of the separator; wherein the inner cylinder (2) is arranged in an inner cavity of the outer cylinder (1); the sludge hopper (3)is taken as the bottom of the...
-
Conditions controlling atmospheric pollutant deposition via snowpack
PublicationSolid precipitation represents a potentially important addition to other measures of deposition. However, an accurate estimate of snowfall amount and pollutant loading is not a trivial matter. There are obvious distinctions between regular precipitation collection and snowpack sampling that represent the cumulative chemistry of bulk deposition. The main goal is to show the most important processes and factors that may influence...
-
„Space, architecture and infrastructure “in-between cities”.
PublicationThe article presents contemporary city problems, like division of the city, infrastructural barriers, empty spaces, chaotic development, cuting-off areas, threatening the city image and functioning. These problems can be best observed in the areas in-between cities. One of the main questions for urban planners and architects seems thus to be: how to connect the city spaces instead of creating the barriers, how to create the areas...
-
EXAMINING INFLUENCE OF VIDEO FRAMERATE AND AUDIO/VIDEO SYNCHRONIZATION ON AUDIO-VISUAL SPEECH RECOGNITION ACCURACY
PublicationThe problem of video framerate and audio/video synchronization in audio-visual speech recognition is considered. The visual features are added to the acoustic parameters in order to improve the accuracy of speech recognition in noisy conditions. The Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients are used on the acoustic side whereas Active Appearance Model features are extracted from the image. The feature fusion approach is employed. The...
-
Timed rolling and rising tests in Duchenne muscular dystrophy ambulant boys: a feasibility study
PublicationBACKGROUND: Functional activities are extensively used in motor assessments of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The role of timed items has been reported as an early prognostic factor for disease progression. However, there are two functional activities that are not widely assessed in clinical practice among Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: rolling and bed rising. This study aimed to investigate whether the 360-degree...
-
Integrated information and prediction Web Service WaterPUCK General concept
PublicationIn this paper, general concept of a new method as ‘Integrated information and prediction Web Service WaterPUCK’ for investigation influence of agricultural holdings and land-use structures on coastal waters of the southern Baltic Sea is presented. WaterPUCK Service is focused on determination of the current and future environmental status of the surface water and groundwater located in the Puck District (Poland) and its impact...
-
FEM analysis of composite materials failure in nonlinear six field shell theory
PublicationThe monography deals with the problem of failure initiation in thin laminated composites. Known techniques of laminate structures modelling are briefly characterised. Eventually, shell based approach is chosen for the purpose of the description of the composite structures behaviour, as it predicts their deformation and states of stress effectively in a global sense. The nonlinear six parameter shell theory (6p theory) with asymmetric...
-
Towards Digital Anti-Corruption Typology for Public Service Delivery
PublicationDigital anti-corruption refers to a family of digital technology tools that are used to fight corruption. Many such tools have not performed well in practice due to their non-alignment with forms of corruption they are supposed to fight against and persistence of corruption-enabling conditions. The aim of this paper is to contribute to filling this gap by offering a typology of digital anti-corruption in public service delivery...
-
Mind the Gender Wage Gap – the Impact of Trade and Competition on Sectoral Wage Difference
PublicationThis article examines differences between women’s and men’s wages in 18 selected OECD countries in the period 1970-2005. The study is based on 12 manufacturing sector- and skill-specific sets of panel data on the gender wage gap. We apply a system GMM estimator to the extended version of the conditional gender wage gap convergence equation, controlling for sector concentration and industry-specific measures of openness using a...
-
Methods of trend removal in electrochemical noise data – overview
PublicationIn this paper we shall review popular methods of trend removal from electrochemical noise time records. The basic principles of operation of the six most popular methods are explained. The proposed methods are: high - pass filtering, Moving Average Removal, polynomial detrending, wavelet detrending, Empirical Mode Decomposition and Variational Mode Decomposition. Estimation of trend removal quality...
-
Relevance of the EU Structural Funds’ Allocation to the Needs of Combating Air Pollution in Poland. Analysis of the Operational Programmes of Regions Threatened With Critical Air Pollution from Distributed Energy Sources
PublicationRecent years, the European Environmental Agency, has been reporting air quality parameters in Poland, as the poorest among all the EU countries. Despite of adoption of the EU legislation on energy efficiency and energy performance of buildings, existing legal solutions occur insufficient in reducing air pollution in Polish regions. Lack of an effective schemes supporting complex thermal renovation of buildings, exchange of inefficient...
-
A method of Functional Test interval selection with regards to Machinery and Economical aspects
PublicationThis paper discusses the problem of choosing the optimal frequency of functional test, including the reliability calculations and production efficiency, but also the effect of company risk management. The proof test as a part of the functional test interval is well described for the process industry. Unfortunately, this situation is not the case for the machinery safety functions with low demand mode. Afterwards, it is presented...
-
Estimation of Failure Initiation in Laminated Composites by means of Nonlinear Six-Field Shell Theory and FEM
PublicationThe monography deals with the problem of failure initiation in thin laminated composites. Known techniques of laminate structures modelling are briefly characterised. Eventually, shell based approach is chosen for the purpose of the description of the composite structures behaviour, as it predicts their deformation and states of stress effectively in a global sense. The nonlinear six parameter shell theory (6p theory) with asymmetric...
-
ROSANNE Project: New Procedure for Noise Characterisation of Road Surfaces in Europe
PublicationROSANNE is a collaborative project in the 7th EU Framework Programme which aims at harmonising measurement methods for skid resistance, noise emission and rolling resistance of road pavements as a preparation for standardization. The project started in November 2013 and is developing and improving standards in the field of working group CEN/TC 227/WG 5. Regarding the influence of the pavement on the road traffic noise emission,...
-
Computing algebraic transfer entropy and coupling directions via transcripts
PublicationMost random processes studied in nonlinear time series analysis take values on sets endowed with a group structure, e.g., the real and rational numbers, and the integers. This fact allows to associate with each pair of group elements a third element, called their transcript, which is defined as the product of the second element in the pair times the first one. The transfer entropy of two such processes is called algebraic transfer...
-
''Povery islands'' - a study on poverty concentration across nations
PublicationPoverty problems, its definition and measurement aspects, constitute a broadly identified discussion. However, there are some widely recognized poverty definitions and statistics, but the detailed overview still remains not clearly visible. There are many economies where the poverty problems lie in the very centre of policy makers` strategies. Also there exist many international statistic databases where some poverty data are reviled....
-
Contour Analysis of Bleeding Regions in Endoscopic Images
PublicationThis paper investigates the problem of detecting bleeding regions in images acquired from endoscopic examinations of gastrointestinal tract. The purpose is to identify the characteristic features of bleeding areas' contours in order to develop an accurate method for discriminating between true bleeding regions and missed detections, which could lead to a significant reduction of the false alarm rate of existing blood-detection...
-
Improving depth maps of plants by using a set of five cameras
PublicationObtaining high-quality depth maps and disparity maps with the use of a stereo camera is a challenging task for some kinds of objects. The quality of these maps can be improved by taking advantage of a larger number of cameras. The research on the usage of a set of five cameras to obtain disparity maps is presented. The set consists of a central camera and four side cameras. An algorithm for making disparity maps called multiple...
-
EXAMINING INFLUENCE OF VIDEO FRAMERATE AND AUDIO/VIDEO SYNCHRONIZATION ON AUDIO-VISUAL SPEECH RECOGNITION ACCURACY
PublicationThe problem of video framerate and audio/video synchronization in audio-visual speech recogni-tion is considered. The visual features are added to the acoustic parameters in order to improve the accuracy of speech recognition in noisy conditions. The Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients are used on the acoustic side whereas Active Appearance Model features are extracted from the image. The feature fusion approach is employed. The...
-
Introducing a Computational Method to Retrofit Damaged Buildings under Seismic Mainshock-Aftershock Sequence
PublicationRetrofitting damaged buildings is a challenge for engineers, since commercial software does not have the ability to consider the local damages and deformed shape of a building resulting from the mainshock record of an earthquake before applying the aftershock record. In this research, a computational method for retrofitting of damaged buildings under seismic mainshock-aftershock sequences is proposed, and proposed computational...
-
Cytokine IL6, but not IL-1β, TNF-α and NF-κB is increased in paediatric cancer patients
PublicationCytokines are responsible for maintaining homeostasis as cell growth, differentiation, migration and apoptosis mediators. They play a pivotal role in immune responses to inflammatory reactions. In oncological diseases, the cross-talk between cells of the immunological system and cells of the tumour microenvironment is led by cytokines. Also, the overproduction of cytokines may change the tumour microenvironment and stimulate tumour...
-
Persistent homology as a new method of the assessment of heart rate variability
PublicationHeart rate variability (hrv) is a physiological phenomenon of the variation in the length of the time interval between consecutive heartbeats. In many cases it could be an indicator of the development of pathological states. The classical approach to the analysis of hrv includes time domain methods and frequency domain methods. However, attempts are still being made to define new and more effective hrv assessment tools. Persistent...
-
Predicting Ice Phenomena in a River Using the Artificial Neural Network and Extreme Gradient Boosting
PublicationForecasting ice phenomena in river systems is of great importance because these phenomena are a fundamental part of the hydrological regime. Due to the stochasticity of ice phenomena, their prediction is a difficult process, especially when data sets are sparse or incomplete. In this study, two machine learning models—Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLPNN) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)—were developed to predict...
-
Flow cytometric approach to evaluate the impact of hydro-technical concrete compounds’ release to the freshwater microbiome
PublicationThe aim of this research was to test the potential of applying a flow cytometric procedure to evaluate the impact of concrete compounds’ release to the freshwater microbiome. Cells from the collected samples were stained with a fluorogenic redox indicator dye that measures the redox potential of microbial cells. This novel approach was combined with the assessment of microorganisms’ penetration into the internal structures of concrete...
-
Quantitative assessment of the influence of tensile softening of concrete in beams under bending by numerical simulations with XFEM and cohesive cracks
PublicationResults of the numerical simulations of the size effect phenomenon for concrete in comparison with experimental data are presented. In-plane geometrically similar notched and unnotched beams under three-point bending are analyzed. EXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) with a cohesive softening law is used. Comprehensive parametric study with the respect to the tensile strength and the initial fracture energy is performed. Sensitivity...
-
Maxillary sinus aeration analysis using computational fluid dynamics
PublicationThe maxillary sinus aeration using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method based on individual adult patients’ computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed. The analysis was based on CT images of 4 patients: one with normal nose anatomy and three with nasal septal deviation (NSD) and concha bullosa (CB). The CFD simulation was performed using the Reynolds-Average Simulation approach and turbulence closure based on linear...
-
Distinguishing of cocrystals from simple eutectic mixtures: phenolic acids as potential pharmaceutical coformers
PublicationThe multiparameter model comprising 1D and 2D QSPR/QSAR descriptors was proposed and validated for phenolic acid binary systems. This approach is based on the optimization of regression coefficients for maximization of the percentage of true positives in the pool of systems comprising either simple binary eutectics or cocrystals. The training set consisted of 58 eutectics and 168 cocrystals. The solid dispersions collection used...
-
A comprehensive review of open data platforms, prevalent technologies, and functionalities
PublicationOpen data can play a crucial role in different sectors of the world,such as government, science, research, technology, culture, andfinance. There are several necessary measures that every organiza-tion needs to consider before opening data. There are three majorsteps to opening the data: (1) Preparation stage, and (2) launchingthe open data initiative (3) In this case, the feedback mechanismstudy such as expand and sustain stage,...
-
Employment and export specialization patterns versus GDP per capita performance - unifying approach
PublicationThis paper analyses the evolution of specialization patterns along the process of economic development. The scope of the paper is twofold: first of all, it aims at understanding if the evolution of employment specialization is reflected in the same manner in trade specialisation patterns. Secondly, it explores the link between the degree of specialization on one side and cross country GDP per capita performance on the other. We...
-
Subjective tests for gathering knowledge for applying color grading to video clips automatically
PublicationThe analysis of film music concerning caused emotions may allow for a more accurate adaptation of the color of the film in the context of color grading. Therefore, this paper aims to gather knowledge on the correlation between the applied color palette to a video clip, music associated with a particular shot, and emotions evoked. For that purpose, subjective tests are prepared in which several video clips are presented with or...
-
Determination of COD Fractionation as a Key Factor for Appropriate Modelling and Monitoring of Activated Sludge Processes
PublicationAn operation of wastewater treatment plant is usually controlled by global parameters such as flow, solids retention time, sludge age, concentration of ammonia and dissolved oxygen, etc. It is considered that, together with the chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD and BOD), those parameters indirectly exhibit the effectiveness of activated sludge processes. Especially the BOD indicate the amount of organic pollution that...
-
Experiences and Challenges in Fatality Reduction on Polish Roads
PublicationAccording to the UN, road safety is the key to achieving sustainable development goals, yet the complexity of how road accidents happen makes this a difficult challenge leaving many countries struggling with the problem. For years, Poland has infamously been one of the EU’s top countries for road-accident fatality rates. Despite that, it has made significant progress in the last thirty years with a fatality reduction of more than...
-
Assessing Highway Travel Time Reliability using Probe Vehicle Data
PublicationProbe vehicle data (also known as “floating car data”) can be used to analyze travel time reliability of an existing road corridor in order to determine where, when, and how often traffic congestion occurs at particular road segments. The aim of the study is to find the best reliability performance measures for assessing congestion frequency and severity based on probe data. Pilot surveys conducted on A2 motorway in Poland confirm...
-
Process layout planning and optimised product range selection in manufacture of wooden construction sets
PublicationThis paper introduces a systematic deterministic framework for planning and the analysis of facility layouts aimed at manufacturing a variety of parts, as components of specific end products. The essence of the proposed approach lies in the decomposition of a traditional job-shop into layout modules of generic material flow patterns, that inherently yields improved efficiency of the entire system. It entails the use of a relevant...
-
Modelling Of Commercial Websites. A New Perspective On Usability And Customer Relation
PublicationFrom an economic point of view, a critical aspect of online services is their ability to retain customers. The aim of presented study was the use of a layered model VIPR (Visual - Interaction - Process - Relation ) for commercial services online. The indicator of trust and establishing lasting relationships were assessment achieved from experienced users of commercial online services (n = 207), obtained by means of Web Credibility...
-
Geographic Information System for Flood Hazard Analysis and Early Warning Using Numerical Weather Predictions
PublicationFloods are a phenomenon which causes significant losses of lives as well as property damage, which in turn severely impact the local economy. The nature of a flooding has been well researched, and several methods of flood hazard simulation have been established over the last decades. The current legislation in the European Union requires the Member States to create, maintain and update flood risk and hazard maps, as well as identify...
-
Protection of Pedestrians as the Key Action for Implementing - Poland’s Vision Zero
PublicationWHO reports show that pedestrians account for 10 to 70% of total road crash fatalities. In Poland, pedestrians also represent a significant road safety problem. For many years, pedestrian collisions have accounted for approx. 30% of total road crashes with more than 30% of pedestrians killed. Therefore, pedestrian safety has been one of Poland’s main objectives in its road safety programs implemented over the past 20 years. The...
-
Automated hearing loss type classification based on pure tone audiometry data
PublicationHearing problems are commonly diagnosed with the use of tonal audiometry, which measures a patient’s hearing threshold in both air and bone conduction at various frequencies. Results of audiometry tests, usually represented graphically in the form of an audiogram, need to be interpreted by a professional audiologist in order to determine the exact type of hearing loss and administer proper treatment. However, the small number of...
-
Changes in the structure of Armenia’s labour resources between 1993 and 2020
PublicationThe article characterises the structure of Armenia’s labour resources in the period between1993 and 2020. It aims to assess the changes on the Armenian labour market by means of a deductive analysis of historical data and observation of changes in the structure of resources based on generally available macroeconomic data. The authors evaluate these processes against the background of demographic and economic changes, by presenting...
-
Innovative Urban Blue Space Design in a Changing Climate: Transition Models in the Baltic Sea Region
PublicationWaterfront areas in cities are subject to constant changes. The desire to integrate the transformed waterside areas with the urban fabric involves shaping high-quality public spaces related to water, which are often referred to as urban blue spaces (UBS). The aim of the research was to examine the transformation processes of urban waterfront areas in the Baltic Sea Region and identify emerging transition models and types of blue...
-
Overcoming Challenges of Virtual Scrum Teams: Lessons Learned Through an Action Research Study
PublicationAfter the COVID-19 breakout, agile teams found themselves in situations that “pure agilists” and textbooks on agile methods had preferred to ignore. Whereas agile mindsets helped them to quickly shift to remote work, mere virtualization of agile practices often proved insufficient, and several challenges emerged. This paper reports on an Action Research project carried out in Lufthansa Systems Poland with the aim of (1) revisiting...
-
Sources of inspiration in designing ecological buildings. If not Pinterest than what?
PublicationEfficiency of ecological measures for sustainable architecture depends greatly upon the moment in which it is defined as essential, and how early it can be applied during the design concept stage. The following article refers to inspiration, the initial stage of the design and means to combine it with substantial knowledge regarding ecological architecture. Means, such as computer programs...
-
Nondestructive Testing of the Miter Gates Using Various Measurement Methods
PublicationWhen any problems related to civil engineering structures appear, identifying the issue through the usage of only one measuring method is difficult. Therefore, comprehensive tests are required to identify the main source. The strains and displacement measurements, as well as modal identification, are widely used in the nondestructive testing of structures. However, measurements are usually carried out at several points and confirm...
-
Shape-Memory Polyurethane Polymers
PublicationPolyurethanes (PUs) are one of the most widely used polymers in research and industry. They can be synthesized from chemical sources and natural sources. PUs are a very useful class of polymers and exhibit many desirable properties that can be exploited in various applications. PUs are formed by the reaction between polyols and isocyanates. A wide variety of polyols and isocyanates are available for synthesis, and hence we can...
-
Subjective tests for gathering konwledge for applaying color grading to video clips automatically
PublicationThe analysis of film music concerning caused emotions may allow for a more accurate adaptation of the color of the film in the context of color grading. Therefore, this paper aims to gather knowledge on the correlation between the applied color palette to a video clip, music associated with a particular shot,and emotions evoked. For that purpose, subjective tests are prepared in which several video clips are presented with...
-
Evaluation of the significance of the effect of the active cross-sectional area of the inlet air channel on the specific enthalpy of the exhaust gas of a diesel engine using statistics F of the Fisher-Snedecor distribution
PublicationThis paper presents the application of Fisher-Snedecor distribution F statistics to assess the significance of the influence of changes in the active cross-sectional area of the inlet air channel (Adol) flow in a diesel engine on the observed diagnostic parameter determined on the basis of measurements of the quick changing exhaust gas temperature in the outlet channel, which is the specific enthalpy of the exhaust gas stream within...
-
Threats to Armenia’s Security in the National Strategy and Practice with Special Emphasis on External Security,
PublicationThe national security strategy adopted in 2007 provided a detailed definition of security and identified its threats. The key threat to the Armenian state was considered to be the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The document indicated the Collective Security Treaty Organisation main guarantor of security, with Russia being Armenia’s main partner in bilateral relations. The second position in the strategy was assigned to cooperation...
-
Comprehensive analysis of low-temperature methods for reclaiming of ground tire rubber
PublicationManagement of waste tires has become an important topic for decades. The lack of an effective method to manage the materials as mentioned above leads to illegal landfills. This problematic waste can be divided into two main categories depending on the physical condition of the waste: (i) partially used tires; (ii) end-of-life tires. While the first group can be reused or retreaded, the second group requires special measures to...
-
Improvement of glass break acoustic signal detection via application of wavelet packet decomposition
PublicationThe main subject of the authors' research are non-contact methods of glass break detection based on analysis of the acoustic signal generated during the event. This problem has essential meaning for modern cost- effective alarm systems, particularly those installed into big buildings. The main difficulties of the matter are: transient character of the signal, great number of similar sounds (false signals, mainly accidental glass...