bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Adherence Modify the Association between FTO Genetic Variations and Obesity Phenotypes
Authors: Hosseini-Esfahani Firoozeh , Koochakpoor Gelareh , Daneshpour Maryam , Sedaghati-khayat Bahareh , Mirmiran Parvin , Azizi Fereidoun
Published: September 2017

There is increasing interest of which dietary patterns can modify the association of fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) variants with obesity. This study was aimed at investigating the interaction of the Mediterranean dietary pattern (Med Diet) with FTO polymorphisms in relation to obesity phenotypes. Subjects of this nested case-control study were selected from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study participants. Each case was individually matched with a normal weight control (n = 1254). Selected polymorphisms (rs1421085, rs1121980, rs17817449, rs8050136, rs9939973, and rs3751812) were genotyped. Genetic risk score (GRS) were calculated using the weighted method. The Mediterranean dietary score (MDS) was computed. Individuals with minor allele carriers of rs9939973, rs8050136, rs1781749, and rs3751812 had lower risk of obesity when they had higher MDS, compared to wild-type homozygote genotype carriers. The obesity risk was decreased across quartiles of MDS in participants with high GRS (OR: 1, 0.8, 0.79, 0.67) compared to individuals with low GRS (OR: 1.33, 1.06, 0.97, 1.12) (Pinteraction < 0.05). No significant interaction between the GRS and MDS on abdominal obesity was found. A higher Med Diet adherence was associated with lower obesity risk in subjects with more genetic predisposition to obesity, compared to those with lower adherence to the Med Diet and lower GRS.
The Use of Hyperimmune Chicken Reference Sera Is Not Appropriate for the Validation of Influenza Pseudotype Neutralization Assays
Authors: Ferrara Francesca , Molesti Eleonora , Scott Simon , Cattoli Giovanni , Temperton Nigel
Published: September 2017

The pseudotype particle neutralization test (pp-NT) is a next-generation serological assay employed for the sensitive study of influenza antibody responses against hemagglutinin (HA), including stalk-directed antibodies. However, a validation of this assay has yet to be performed, and this limits its use to primarily research laboratories. To identify possible serological standards to be used in optimization and validation of the pp-NT, we have evaluated the cross-reactivity of hyperimmune chicken reference antisera in this assay. Our findings show that the cross-reactivity detected by the pp-NT is only partly explained by phylogenetic relationships and protein homology between the HA subtypes analysed; further studies are necessary to understand the origin of the cross-reactivity detected, and reference standards with higher specificity should be evaluated or generated de novo for future use in pp-NT.
Predicting Oral Drug Absorption: Mini Review on Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Models
Authors: Lin Louis , Wong Harvey
Published: September 2017

Most marketed drugs are administered orally, despite the complex process of oral absorption that is difficult to predict. Oral bioavailability is dependent on the interplay between many processes that are dependent on both compound and physiological properties. Because of this complexity, computational oral physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have emerged as a tool to integrate these factors in an attempt to mechanistically capture the process of oral absorption. These models use inputs from in vitro assays to predict the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs in the human body. The most common oral PBPK models are compartmental approaches, in which the gastrointestinal tract is characterized as a series of compartments through which the drug transits. The focus of this review is on the development of oral absorption PBPK models, followed by a brief discussion of the major applications of oral PBPK models in the pharmaceutical industry.
Flavonoid Profile of the Cotton Plant, Gossypium hirsutum: A Review
Authors: Nix Aaron , Paull Cate , Colgrave Michelle
Published: September 2017

Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., is a plant fibre of significant economic importance, with seeds providing an additional source of protein in human and animal nutrition. Flavonoids play a vital role in maintaining plant health and function and much research has investigated the role of flavonoids in plant defence and plant vigour and the influence these have on cotton production. As part of ongoing research into host plant/invertebrate pest interactions, we investigated the flavonoid profile of cotton reported in published, peer-reviewed literature. Here we report 52 flavonoids representing seven classes and their reported distribution within the cotton plant. We briefly discuss the historical research of flavonoids in cotton production and propose research areas that warrant further investigation.
Quantifying Snow Cover Distribution in Semiarid Regions Combining Satellite and Terrestrial Imagery
Authors: Pimentel Rafael , Herrero Javier , Polo María
Published: September 2017

Mediterranean mountainous regions constitute a climate change hotspot where snow plays a crucial role in water resources. The characteristic snow-patched distribution over these areas makes spatial resolution the limiting factor for its correct representation. This work assesses the estimation of snow cover area and the contribution of the patchy areas to the seasonal and annual regime of the snow in a semiarid mountainous range, the Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern Spain, by means of Landsat imagery combined with terrestrial photography (TP). Two methodologies were tested: (1) difference indexes to produce binary maps; and (2) spectral mixture analysis (SMA) to obtain fractional maps; their results were validated from “ground-truth” data by means of TP in a small monitored control area. Both methods provided satisfactory results when the snow cover was above 85% of the study area; below this threshold, the use of spectral mixture analysis is clearly recommended. Mixed pixels can reach up to 40% of the area during wet and cold years, their importance being larger as altitude increases, proving the usefulness of TP for assessing the accuracy of remote data sources. Mixed pixels identification allows for determining the more vulnerable areas facing potential changes of the snow regime due to global warming and climate variability.
Secure and Lightweight Cloud-Assisted Video Reporting Protocol over 5G-Enabled Vehicular Networks
Authors: Nkenyereye Lewis , Kwon Joonho , Choi Yoon-Ho
Published: September 2017

In the vehicular networks, the real-time video reporting service is used to send the recorded videos in the vehicle to the cloud. However, when facilitating the real-time video reporting service in the vehicular networks, the usage of the fourth generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) was proved to suffer from latency while the IEEE 802.11p standard does not offer sufficient scalability for a such congested environment. To overcome those drawbacks, the fifth-generation (5G)-enabled vehicular network is considered as a promising technology for empowering the real-time video reporting service. In this paper, we note that security and privacy related issues should also be carefully addressed to boost the early adoption of 5G-enabled vehicular networks. There exist a few research works for secure video reporting service in 5G-enabled vehicular networks. However, their usage is limited because of public key certificates and expensive pairing operations. Thus, we propose a secure and lightweight protocol for cloud-assisted video reporting service in 5G-enabled vehicular networks. Compared to the conventional public key certificates, the proposed protocol achieves entities’ authorization through anonymous credential. Also, by using lightweight security primitives instead of expensive bilinear pairing operations, the proposed protocol minimizes the computational overhead. From the evaluation results, we show that the proposed protocol takes the smaller computation and communication time for the cryptographic primitives than that of the well-known Eiza-Ni-Shi protocol.
A Multi-Fluorescent DNA/Graphene Oxide Conjugate Sensor for Signature-Based Protein Discrimination
Authors: Tomita Shunsuke , Ishihara Sayaka , Kurita Ryoji
Published: September 2017

Signature-based protein sensing has recently emerged as a promising prospective alternative to conventional lock-and-key methods. However, most of the current examples require the measurement of optical signals from spatially-separated materials for the generation of signatures. Herein, we present a new approach for the construction of multi-fluorescent sensing systems with high accessibility and tunability, which allows generating protein fluorescent signatures from a single microplate well. This approach is based on conjugates between nano-graphene oxide (nGO) and three single-stranded DNAs (ssDNAs) that exhibit different sequences and fluorophores. Initially, the three fluorophore-modified ssDNAs were quenched simultaneously by binding to nGO. Subsequent addition of analyte proteins caused a partial recovery in fluorescent intensity of the individual ssDNAs. Based on this scheme, we have succeeded in acquiring fluorescence signatures unique to (i) ten proteins that differ with respect to pI and molecular weight and (ii) biochemical marker proteins in the presence of interferent human serum. Pattern-recognition methods demonstrated high levels of discrimination for this system. The high discriminatory power and simple format of this sensor system should enable an easy and fast evaluation of proteins and protein mixtures.
DISPAQ: Distributed Profitable-Area Query from Big Taxi Trip Data
Authors: Putri Fadhilah , Song Giltae , Kwon Joonho , Rao Praveen
Published: September 2017

One of the crucial problems for taxi drivers is to efficiently locate passengers in order to increase profits. The rapid advancement and ubiquitous penetration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology into transportation industries enables us to provide taxi drivers with locations that have more potential passengers (more profitable areas) by analyzing and querying taxi trip data. In this paper, we propose a query processing system, called Distributed Profitable-Area Query (DISPAQ) which efficiently identifies profitable areas by exploiting the Apache Software Foundation’s Spark framework and a MongoDB database. DISPAQ first maintains a profitable-area query index (PQ-index) by extracting area summaries and route summaries from raw taxi trip data. It then identifies candidate profitable areas by searching the PQ-index during query processing. Then, it exploits a Z-Skyline algorithm, which is an extension of skyline processing with a Z-order space filling curve, to quickly refine the candidate profitable areas. To improve the performance of distributed query processing, we also propose local Z-Skyline optimization, which reduces the number of dominant tests by distributing killer profitable areas to each cluster node. Through extensive evaluation with real datasets, we demonstrate that our DISPAQ system provides a scalable and efficient solution for processing profitable-area queries from huge amounts of big taxi trip data.
Comparison of Methods Study between a Photonic Crystal Biosensor and Certified ELISA to Measure Biomarkers of Iron Deficiency in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Peterson Ross , Wilund Kenneth , Cunningham Brian , Andrade Juan
Published: September 2017

The total analytical error of a photonic crystal (PC) biosensor in the determination of ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) as biomarkers of iron deficiency anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients was evaluated against certified ELISAs. Antigens were extracted from sera of CKD patients using functionalized iron-oxide nanoparticles (fAb-IONs) followed by magnetic separation. Immuno-complexes were recognized by complementary detection Ab affixed to the PC biosensor surface, and their signals were followed using the BIND instrument. Quantification was conducted against actual protein standards. Total calculated error (TEcalc) was estimated based on systematic (SE) and random error (RE) and compared against total allowed error (TEa) based on established quality specifications. Both detection platforms showed adequate linearity, specificity, and sensitivity for biomarkers. Means, SD, and CV were similar between biomarkers for both detection platforms. Compared to ELISA, inherent imprecision was higher on the PC biosensor for ferritin, but not for sTfR. High SE or RE in the PC biosensor when measuring either biomarker resulted in TEcalc higher than the TEa. This did not influence the diagnostic ability of the PC biosensor to discriminate CKD patients with low iron stores. The performance of the PC biosensor is similar to certified ELISAs; however, optimization is required to reduce TEcalc.
Study of GNSS Loss of Lock Characteristics under Ionosphere Scintillation with GNSS Data at Weipa (Australia) During Solar Maximum Phase
Authors: Liu Yang , Fu Lianjie , Wang Jinling , Zhang Chunxi
Published: September 2017

One of the adverse impacts of scintillation on GNSS signals is the loss of lock status, which can lead to GNSS geometry and visibility reductions that compromise the accuracy and integrity of navigation performance. In this paper the loss of lock based on ionosphere scintillation in this solar maximum phase has been well investigated with respect to both temporal and spatial behaviors, based on GNSS observatory data collected at Weipa (Australia; geographic: 12.45° S, 130.95° E; geomagnetic: 21.79° S, 214.41° E) from 2011 to 2015. Experiments demonstrate that the percentage of occurrence of loss of lock events under ionosphere scintillation is closely related with solar activity and seasonal shifts. Loss of lock behaviors under ionosphere scintillation related to elevation and azimuth angles are statistically analyzed, with some distinct characteristics found. The influences of daytime scintillation and geomagnetic storms on loss of lock have also been discussed in details. The proposed work is valuable for a deeper understanding of theoretical mechanisms of—loss of lock under ionosphere scintillation in global regions, and provides a reference for GNSS applications in certain regions at Australian low latitudes.
An Alternative Use of Olive Pomace as a Wide-Ranging Bioremediation Strategy to Adsorb and Recover Disperse Orange and Disperse Red Industrial Dyes from Wastewater
Authors: Rizzi Vito , D’Agostino Francesco , Gubitosa Jennifer , Fini Paola , Petrella Andrea , Agostiano Angela , Semeraro Paola , Cosma Pinalysa
Published: September 2017

In this paper, industrial dyes, Disperse Red and Disperse Orange, were studied as model pollutants to show the excellent performance of olive pomace (OP) in sequestering and recovering these dangerous dyes from wastewater. The nature of interactions involved between dyes and OP were inferred by changing several parameters: contact time, pomace dosage, pH and temperature values. Visible spectroscopy was mainly used to obtain the percentage of the removed dyes, while SEM (scanning electron microscopy), FTIR-ATR (Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy in total attenuated reflectance), TG (thermo gravimetric) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analyses were used to carefully investigate the systems. The recovery of dyes was also obtained using glacial acetic acid, the auxiliary solvent used during the dyeing processes, enabling the recycling of both of the adsorbent material and dyes presenting a green and a wide-ranging strategic approach.
Heuristic Optimization for the Energy Management and Race Strategy of a Solar Car
Authors: Betancur Esteban , Osorio-Gómez Gilberto , Rivera Juan
Published: September 2017

Solar cars are known for their energy efficiency, and different races are designed to measure their performance under certain conditions. For these races, in addition to an efficient vehicle, a competition strategy is required to define the optimal speed, with the objective of finishing the race in the shortest possible time using the energy available. Two heuristic optimization methods are implemented to solve this problem, a convergence and performance comparison of both methods is presented. A computational model of the race is developed, including energy input, consumption and storage systems. Based on this model, the different optimization methods are tested on the optimization of the World Solar Challenge 2015 race strategy under two different environmental conditions. A suitable method for solar car racing strategy is developed with the vehicle specifications taken as an independent input to permit the simulation of different solar or electric vehicles.
Consumers’ Social Representations of Meat Safety in Two Selected Restaurants of Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Dastile Lumka , Francis Joseph , Muchenje Voster
Published: September 2017

This study was conducted at two different restaurants of Raymond Mhlaba Municipality (Alice), Eastern Cape, South Africa, to determine consumers’ social representations of meat safety. A total number of 251 people were interviewed in focus group discussions, each comprising 4–6 interviewees were conducted. Each focus group consisted of university students and staff, and members of rural communities surrounding the town of Alice. A semi-structured questionnaire comprising both closed-ended and open-ended questions was used to collect data. Consumers were concerned about the hygiene at the place of purchase and the freshness of meat. Moreover, they revealed that they were always worried about the risk of food-borne diseases. Although food-borne diseases were not cited as a significant problem, related ideas such as “washing of hands before preparation of food to minimize food-borne diseases” were important to consumers. Consumers indicated that meat safety at the abattoirs should be thoroughly managed given that “hygiene during meat processing is important to prevent the occurrence of food-borne diseases”. Consumers in both retail outlets have shown to have a limited understanding of meat safety. Thus, consumers’ social representations, perceptions, and knowledge are complex and dynamic with respect to meat safety.
Optimum Insulation Thickness for Building Exterior Walls in 32 Regions of China to Save Energy and Reduce CO2 Emissions
Authors: Yuan Jihui , Farnham Craig , Emura Kazuo
Published: September 2017

China accounts for approximately 30% of the CO2 emissions—one of the largest proportions from a single nation. Therefore, reducing the CO2 emissions in China will play a decisive role in global CO2 emissions reduction. This paper is a proposal of optimum insulation thickness (OIT) for the exterior walls of buildings in 32 regions of China to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions. The determination of the OIT for exterior walls its impact on the annual total energy cost and annual CO2 emissions per unit area of building exterior walls were calculated for 32 regions of China using the life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and degree-days (DD) method. The results indicate that the annual total energy cost decreases up to the OIT level, and increases beyond the OIT level. The annual CO2 emissions can be reduced by increasing the insulation thickness. It is predicted that the average total energy cost of 32 regions can potentially be decreased by about $5/m2-year (40%) and the average CO2 emissions of the 32 regions can potentially be reduced by about 27 kg/m2-year (63%) when the OIT is applied. It also shows it is more effective to apply the OIT for the exterior walls of buildings to save annual total energy cost and reduce annual CO2 emissions in the Severe Cold and Hot Summer & Cold Winter climatic zones rather than the other climatic zones of China.
Targeting International Food Aid Programmes: The Case of Productive Safety Net Programme in Tigray, Ethiopia
Authors: Azadi Hossein , De Rudder Fien , Vlassenroot Koen , Nega Fredu , Nyssen Jan
Published: September 2017

Ethiopia has experienced more than five major droughts in the past three decades, leading to high dependency on international food aids. Nevertheless, studies indicate that asset depletion has not been prevented; neither did food insecurity diminish. Since 2004/5, the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) has been implemented to improve food security in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Critics point out that the implementation of food aid programmes can have negative impacts as well as positive outcomes for local communities. Accordingly, this survey study aimed to analyse the distribution and allocation of food aids in the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in Tigray. Results of 479 interviews revealed that targeting different households in the PSNP has been considerably linked to socio-demographic attributes among which age and size of family were decisive factors to receive food aids. Furthermore, older households with smaller family size received more direct support. Inequality between genders was another major finding of this study. When combined with the marital status, there was also a big difference in the percentage of married or unmarried women receiving food aids. These findings could provide fundamental information for policy intervention to correct food security programmes at household level and reduce hunger. Given that, socio-demographic factors can help to identify particular and usually different requirements, vulnerabilities and coping strategies of the members of the food aid programme, so that they can be much more addressed when an emergency happens.
Application of Eco-Design and Life Cycle Assessment Standards for Environmental Impact Reduction of an Industrial Product
Authors: Navajas Alberto , Uriarte Leire , Gandía Luis
Published: September 2017

Eco-design is included within the framework of the standard for “Environmental management systems—Guidelines for incorporating Eco-design” (ISO 14006:2011). Eco-design process, as defined in standard, has six steps: (i) Specify product functions; (ii) Environmental assessment of products; (iii) Strategies of improvement; (iv) Environmental objectives; (v) Product specification; and (vi) Technical solutions. Step (ii), determination of the stage or process of the product life cycle that has the highest environmental impact; this is perhaps the most controversial step because the standard does not specify which tool should be used. This lack of specification has generated some distrust with regard to eco-design, hindering its development. In order to make a trustworthy eco-design, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) should be applied as a tool for environmental impact quantification. The main objective of this work is to apply standardised eco-design methodology for the reduction of the environmental impact of an industrial product in Spain using LCA as a tool for the environmental product assessment. LCA standardised process (ISO 14040,14044:2006) is included in the eco-design process. A glass container intended for cough syrup delivery has been selected as an industrial product to be eco-designed. Following the methodology described, the overall normalised impact decreased 35.1% when a PET container substituted a glass container. Environmental impacts have been reduced following standardised eco-design and LCA methodologies, serving as an example to industry and administration regarding how to eco-design with the confidence of obtaining reliable results.
Estimation and Healing of Coverage Hole in Hybrid Sensor Networks: A Simulation Approach
Authors: Zhang Guanglin , Qi Chengsi , Zhang Wenqian , Ren Jiajie , Wang Lin
Published: September 2017

Nowadays, wireless sensor network which consists of numerous tiny sensors has been widely used. One of the major challenges in such networks is how to cover the sensing area effectively and maintain longer network lifetime with limited energy simultaneously. In this paper, we study hybrid sensor network which contains both static and mobile sensors. We divide monitoring area into Delaunay Triangulation (DT) by using of Delaunay theory, estimate static sensors coverage holes, calculate the number of assistant mobile sensors and then work out the positions of assisted mobile nodes in each triangle. Next, mobile sensors will move to heal the coverage holes. Compared with the similarity methods, the algorithm HCHA we proposed is simpler, the advantages of our algorithm mainly represents in the following aspects. Firstly, it is relatively simple to estimate coverage hole based on Delaunay in our proposed algorithm. Secondly, we figure out the quantitative number range of assisted sensors those need to heal the coverage holes. Thirdly, we come up with a kind of deployment rule of assisted sensors.
Generalized Chordality, Vertex Separators and Hyperbolicity on Graphs
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Álvaro
Published: September 2017

A graph is chordal if every induced cycle has exactly three edges. A vertex separator set in a graph is a set of vertices that disconnects two vertices. A graph is δ -hyperbolic if every geodesic triangle is δ -thin. In this paper, we study the relation between vertex separator sets, certain chordality properties that generalize being chordal and the hyperbolicity of the graph. We also give a characterization of being quasi-isometric to a tree in terms of chordality and prove that this condition also characterizes being hyperbolic, when restricted to triangles, and having stable geodesics, when restricted to bigons.
The Incredible Journey of Begomoviruses in Their Whitefly Vector
Authors: Czosnek Henryk , Hariton-Shalev Aliza , Sobol Iris , Gorovits Rena , Ghanim Murad
Published: September 2017

Begomoviruses are vectored in a circulative persistent manner by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. The insect ingests viral particles with its stylets. Virions pass along the food canal and reach the esophagus and the midgut. They cross the filter chamber and the midgut into the haemolymph, translocate into the primary salivary glands and are egested with the saliva into the plant phloem. Begomoviruses have to cross several barriers and checkpoints successfully, while interacting with would-be receptors and other whitefly proteins. The bulk of the virus remains associated with the midgut and the filter chamber. In these tissues, viral genomes, mainly from the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) family, may be transcribed and may replicate. However, at the same time, virus amounts peak, and the insect autophagic response is activated, which in turn inhibits replication and induces the destruction of the virus. Some begomoviruses invade tissues outside the circulative pathway, such as ovaries and fat cells. Autophagy limits the amounts of virus associated with these organs. In this review, we discuss the different sites begomoviruses need to cross to complete a successful circular infection, the role of the coat protein in this process and the sites that balance between virus accumulation and virus destruction.
Review of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Canine Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease
Authors: Menciotti Giulio , Borgarelli Michele
Published: September 2017

The most common heart disease that affects dogs is myxomatous mitral valve disease. In this article, we review the current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this disease, and we also present some of the latest technological advancements in this field.
Twenty Years of Experience Running Calibration Baseline
Authors: Buga Arunas , Putrimas Raimundas
Published: September 2017

The authors of the paper are sharing their 20 years of experience in using Kyviškės Calibration Baseline. The Kyviškės Calibration Baseline (1320 m) is the longest calibration baseline in Lithuania. The baseline is calibrated regularly with 5–7 years period. The first time these measurements were performed in 1997 and repeated in 2001, 2007, 2008 and 2014. The same Kern Mekometer ME5000 EDM (electronic distance measurement) instrument was used for all the measurements performed. By building additional pillar aside from the baseline pillars the Kyvišk2s Baseline was converted to a triangle-shaped test field in 2000. The results confirm good stability of the baseline, which is now used for calibration of the EDM instruments, total stations and GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receivers.
Low Cost Hexacopter Autonomous Platform for Testing and Developing Photogrammetry Technologies and Intelligent Navigation Systems
Authors: Burdziakowski Paweł
Published: September 2017

Low-cost solutions for autonomous aerial platforms are being intensively developed and used within geodetic community. Unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming very popular and widely used for photogrammetry and remote sensing applications. Today’s market offers an affordable price components for unmanned solution with significant quality and accuracy growth. Every year market offers a new solutions for autonomous platforms with better technical specifications. Commercial drones for amateurs are widely offered and presents a quality and accuracy not available in past few years. In this paper an autonomous open source low cost haxacopter system for photogrammetry and intelligent navigation technologies evaluation is being presented. The system was designed and assembled for technologies testing and for educational purposes. The drone is based only on open source hardware and software. All components are based on open source and commercial of the shelf products. That approach to the drones construction provides a many capabilities to test, implement and execute new algorithms, solutions and tasks. Providing basic configuration tools system enables students to safely perform elementary setup and testing. An advanced configurations system tool and open source structure enables to execute advanced scientific test and research. Paper presents results of designed process, system configuration and specification, technical issues that was being solved during test flights and practical research results.
Accuracy of a Low-cost Autonomous Hexacopter Platforms Navigation Module for a Photogrammetric and Environmental Measurements
Authors: Burdziakowski Paweł , Bobkowska Katarzyna
Published: September 2017

A photogrammetry and environmental measurements from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are a low-cost alternative for a traditional aerial photogrammetry. A commercial off-the-shelf products (COTS) offers a variety of cheap components that a suitable to be used on board a UAV. In this paper a low-cost navigation module based on Ublox NEO-M8N GPS and Pixhawk flight controller have been described, as a main extrinsic parameters source for aerial photogrammetry, mounted on autonomous hexacopter platform. An accuracy of navigation data logged during the drone flight by a flight controllers navigation module has been compared with geodetic reference measurement. A man controlled flight modes has been tested during a drones loitering above designated point. Due to the situation that, a variety of active electronic, radio transmitters, navigation, inertial and magnetic sensors, are to be placed on a relatively small hexarotor platform with high current power system, overall interference between electronics have to be considered. Paper presents results of navigation module fine tuning process and some technical issues solved during research, that caused an accuracy improvement and interference diminishing. Detailed results are presented and concluded as for the accuracy of navigation based on cheap GPS module is satisfied for execution an autonomous photogrammetry and environmental tasks.
Evaluation of the Possibilities to use the Photogrammetric Method to Determine the Course of Boundaries of Cadastral Parcels during the Modernization of the Cadastre
Authors: Buśko Małgorzata
Published: September 2017

In Poland, there are still many cadastral districts with the outdated database of the real estate cadastre. The situation which is particularly unfavorable occurs in southern Poland, on the territory of the former Austrian cadastre. This study presents a procedure for the comprehensive modernization of the real estate cadastre, carried out in numerous cadastral districts in the years 2014–2015, as part of the national project: Development of an Integrated Real Estate Information System. The modernization of the cadastre carried out in Gorlice district, province of Malopolska, served as an example to analyze the difficulties associated with the transformation of the analog materials and cadastral documents contained in the geodetic and cartographic documentation center database, often dating back to the times of the Austrian partition, into cadastral data in the electronic form, valuable in terms of accuracy and quality. The article presents the stages of determining the course of parcel boundaries, performed with the use of modern photogrammetric method. This method significantly accelerates the works related to the modernization, however, it is not flawless. Nevertheless, this is the method of the future, which definitely shortens the task performance time. The conclusions which were formulated therefrom can accelerate and streamline the modernization process of the cadastre using photogrammetric measurements to determine the course of boundaries of the cadastral parcels in the subsequent modernizations of the cadastre, as planned in Poland.
Updated Land Use in the Modernization of the Cadastre – Analysis of the Surveying and Legal Procedures and the Financial Consequences
Authors: Buśko Małgorzata
Published: September 2017

Land uses are features of the cadastral database. When carrying out the modernization of the cadastre, their update is necessary, according to the Regulation on the register of land and buildings, applicable in Poland. The Regulation sets out the principles for assigning land use categories to given land. The manner of land use carries specific consequences for the owner, namely, it is the determinant of the tax rate which, together with the surface area of the land, results in a specified amount of annual tax liabilities. For this reason, defining the type and extent of land use in the real estate cadastre raises intense feelings. Here, the affairs of land owners, who wish to incur the lowest possible costs associated with the possessed property, and of the municipality – the beneficiary of the property tax, are in contradiction. The article presents the procedure for updating land uses during the modernization of the cadastre. According to the Regulation on the register of land and buildings, a digital description of the contour of land use may be drawn up, based on the results of field measurements, digitization of the analog map or the processed aerial photographs. In the project, which is the basis of this article, the sources of information on the land uses included the cadastral map in the analog form as well as surveying and cartographic materials from individual surveying tasks. However, the content of the current orthophotomap, prepared for the modernization of the cadastre, and the data from the field surveys were of the greatest importance.
Modernization of the Register of Land and Buildings with Reference to Entering Buildings into the Real Estate Cadastre in Poland
Authors: Buśko Małgorzata
Published: September 2017

Nowadays, it is frequently the case that the database of the real estate cadastre in Poland is not supplied with the record data on buildings. This study presents the issues related to the comprehensive modernization of the register of land and buildings, especially in the aspect of entering the buildings located in the areas of the modernized cadastral districts, into the database of the real estate cadastre. The real estate cadastre should provide a reference base for other public records, the data contained in the cadastre should be the basis, for example, for official statistics, real estate management and register of farms, or tax records. The analysis of this procedure was based on the data derived from the modernization of the register of land and buildings carried out in eleven cadastral units of Gorlice district, province of Malopolska, as part of the national project: Development of an Integrated Real Estate Information System – (ZSIN) – Stage I. In this project, the data for the preparation of the digital description of the contour of a building were captured largely based on high-precision aerial imagery which, having been developed on the stereoscopic model, supplied the digital database of the real estate cadastre. A serious problem, which hinders the maintenance of the database of the real estate cadastre in Poland updated, are the frequent amendments to the applicable laws. The Regulation on the register of land and buildings, according to which the cadastral database has been built in Poland since 2001, was extensively amended in 2013 and in 2015. This makes it difficult to obtain uniform data of the buildings in Poland.
Optimization of a Grid of Candidates in the Search Procedure of the MAFA Method
Authors: Cellmer Slawomir , Nowel Krzysztof , Kwasniak Dawid
Published: September 2017

Precise, carrier phase-based positioning requires a search procedure for “fixed solution” i.e. a solution, that takes into account the integer nature of ambiguities. In the classical approach (the Lambda method) the search for a fixed solution is conducted in the ambiguity domain. The computational load in this case depends on a number of satellites (the dimension of an ambiguity space amounts to: the number of satellites minus one). Conversely, in the MAFA method the search procedure is conducted in the coordinate-domain, (i.e. in three-dimensional space). It considerably reduces the computational load. In the article the search procedure in the coordinate domain is described. The technique of forming the optimized grid of candidates is presented, and the results of the tests are presented and analyzed.
Low Cost Methods Used to Create 3D Models
Authors: Chmurzyńska Agnieszka , Hejbudzka Karolina , Dumalski Andrzej
Published: September 2017

During the last years the softwares and applications that can produce 3D models using low-cost methods have become very popular. What is more, they can be successfully competitive with the classical methods. The most wellknown and applied technology used to create 3D models has been laser scanning so far. However it is still expensive because of the price of the device and software. That is why the universality and accessibility of this method is very limited. Hence, the new low cost methods of obtaining the data needed to generate 3D models appeare on the market and creating 3D models have become much easier and accessible to a wider group of people. Because of their advantages they can be competitive with the laser scanning. One of the methods uses digital photos to create 3D models. Available software allows us to create a model and object geometry. Also very popular in the gaming environment device – Kinect Sensor can be successfully used as a different method to create 3D models. This article presents basic issues of 3D modelling and application of various devices, which are commonly used in our life and they can be used to generate a 3D model as well. Their results are compared with the model derived from the laser scanning. The acquired results with graphic presentations and possible ways of applications are also presented in this paper.
The Performance of Agricultural Land Management Work in the Context of Needs, Illustrated with an Example of Agricultural Land Consolidations
Authors: Dudzińska Małgorzata
Published: September 2017

In the situation where Poland has been a member of the European Union since 2004, agricultural land consolidation has been co-financed with EU funds. This has resulted in an increase in the number of carried out land consolidations throughout Poland. Co-financing of this consolidation work has also introduced the need for a different understanding of the essence of agricultural land consolidation. According to Dacko (see Dacko 2006), the main goal of land consolidation should be to improve the quality of rural life, and not only to increase agricultural production. Land consolidation measures should be initiated to revive the countryside by encouraging continuous economic and political development of the local community, while protecting and rationally managing natural resources. The local community should participate democratically in land consolidation and in defining new forms of land use that make the most of the local potential. Currently in Poland, the choice of a location for the implementation of consolidation work not only depends on the farm land layout and land fragmentation also on the farmers who apply for the implementation of consolidation work in the particular area. Social acceptance is the key prerequisite for successful land consolidation. This fact has resulted in the agricultural land consolidation taking place not only in the areas in which the needs determined on the basis of the farm land layout and land fragmentation are most unfavorable. The paper comparatively analyses the determined needs as regards consolidation work in Poland, and the implementation of this work since 2004. The research employed the following methods: analysis and synthesis of the literature, field inventory, and research from the group of spatial-statistical approaches. The study area covered Poland, and in particular the selected region.
A Case Study of Public Real Estate Management in Chosen Countries
Authors: Gross Marta , Źróbek Ryszard
Published: September 2017

Real estate management is a system. It consists of relations, procedures and processes occurring between entities and subjects at real estate market. It is helpful in proper decision-making based on information about the entities (and their needs) and the state of a property. Real estate management is different in various countries. The case study research was carried out on three chosen public real estate management systems: German, Polish and Swiss. The paper presents some basic information about public real estate management in analysed countries. The authors conducted an analysis of the systems using some indicators and geo-spatial analysis which was performed with use of GIS tools. It gives the opportunity to estimate and show differences and similarities between analysed systems. The paper shows that there is a possibility to use some international indicators to compare public real estate management systems. So there is still a need to improve these systems more and more.
Land Use Efficiency on Example of the Transformation of Rural Properties
Authors: Jasińska Elžbieta
Published: September 2017

Appropriate use of the economic potential of the property is a challenge not only for planners and local authorities, it is also important for the individual owners. The biggest changes will result from changes in local planning, mainly from the conversion of agricultural land for residential purposes. However, legislative changes were created to protect this type of land against uncontrolled rotation. The changes made in recent years, complicated, or even impossible so far used the process of buying and subsequent conversion of the property, to the needs of the real estate market premises or services. The article presents the ideas of Land Use Efficiency on the example of transformation of agricultural real estate in the property held for development. Example simulations are an empirical transformation or division of property to sell them for housing purposes. These examples illustrated in the example of land developing, for whom the lack of local development plans or plans are developed recently. For this purpose, a qualitative and quantitative approaches, including decision trees to determine the criteria for the formation of real estate prices. The author draws attention to the possibility of the development of non-urbanized areas and the potential costs and financial returns resulting therefrom.
Regionalisation of Measures Shaping the Rural Space in Agricultural Producers’ Opinions – a Case Study with Mazowieckie Voivodeship as an Example
Authors: Kocur-Bera Katarzyna
Published: September 2017

In recent years, the economic situation in rural areas has changed a lot. Poland’s accession to the European Union opened up a lot of possibilities for agricultural farms. Thanks to the implemented Union projects such as the Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 (RDP 2007–2013), the Human Capital Operational Programme 2007–2013 (HCOP 2007–2013), and the Regional Operational Programme for Mazowieckie Voivodeship 2007–2013 (ROP 2007– 2013), local authorities may apply for funding aimed at the improvement of life situation of the rural population. The aim of this paper was to provide an answer to the question: how is the influence of the RDP 2007–2013 and other Union programmes for furnishing agricultural activities perceived by owners of agricultural farms? For the analysis, statements of inhabitants of Krasne, Krzynowłoga Mała, JednoroAec and Czernice Borowe communes, obtained by direct interview using a questionnaire were chosen. The respondents unanimously stated that the Union funds obtained under the PROW 2007–2013 provided a lot of benefits. The financial support obtained for the implementation of furnishing of agricultural activities was assigned for the development of rural areas. Farmers obtained new prospects for development and modernisation of farms, which increased their competitiveness in the market. Today, the previously forgotten rural areas are developed, and ready for changes and new activities. Support for the agricultural sector is of fundamental significance to the economy of the entire country, as thanks to these investment projects Poland is competitive in the market, and the revitalised agricultural areas have become an attractive tourist destination.
Sensitivity Analysis of the Index of a Rural Municipality’s Vulnerability to Losses Resulting from Extreme Weather Events
Authors: Kocur-Bera Katarzyna
Published: September 2017

Vulnerability index describes, in the form of a numerical indicator, the vulnerability of rural areas to financial losses resulting from extreme weather events. The index can also be used for the management, planning and administration of a space. A sensitivity analysis is a technique used to determine the response of the index under study to a change to either the value or the number of variables. This technique is used within specified boundaries which depend on one or more input variables. The main aim of the study was to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the vulnerability index depending on the number of variables making up this index. Results show that the excess of features under consideration results in the distortion of the level of the index of vulnerability to financial losses resulting from extreme weather events, while the determination of vulnerability on the sole basis of the arising financial losses may lead to erroneous conclusions.
Information (Maps, Projects) Collected for Safety Space Management
Authors: Kocur-Bera Katarzyna
Published: September 2017

The main aim of the study is to analyse the maps and projects which inform us about locations at risk of extreme weather events and other hazards to the space. In the last decade, research into hazards has become an area of interest to many projects under implementation. During their implementation, a lot of information with a different scope, accuracy and scale is obtained. The projects and maps under study provide valuable information for various levels of space management and planning as well as for crisis management. For the implementation of research aims, an analysis and synthesis of the obtained materials concerning the maps and projects were used. The results indicate that the gathered information does not always fulfil the needs of local governments. In spatial planning, information should refer to a cadastral parcel or real estate; however, certain projects and maps are not accurate enough and have a rather global coverage, which makes them useless for the purposes of spatial planning. To this end, an analysis and synthesis of the obtained materials concerning the maps and projects were used.