Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Recognition of Armored Vehicles

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery is not affected by weather and allows for day-and-night observations, however it can be difficult to interpret. This work applies classical and neural network machine learning techniques to perform image classification of SAR imagery. The Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition dataset from the Air Force Research Laboratory was used, which contained 2,987 total observations of the BMP-2, BTR-70, and T-72 vehicles. Using a 75%/25% train/test split, the classical model achieved an average multi-class image recognition accuracy of 70%, while a convolutional neural network was able to achieve a 97% accuracy with lower model complexity than exists in the literature. Automated target recognition using SAR imagery can further improve situational awareness for blue forces

Analysis of Endocytic Pathways in Drosophila Cells Reveals a Conserved Role for GBF1 in Internalization via GEECs

In mammalian cells, endocytosis of the fluid phase and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) forms GEECs (GPI-AP enriched early endosomal compartments) via an Arf1- and Cdc42-mediated, dynamin independent mechanism. Here we use four different fluorescently labeled probes and several markers in combination with quantitative kinetic assays, RNA interference and high resolution imaging to delineate major endocytic routes in Drosophila cultured cells. We find that the hallmarks of the pinocytic GEEC pathway are conserved in Drosophila and identify garz, the fly ortholog of the GTP exchange factor GBF1, as a novel component of this pathway. Live confocal and TIRF imaging reveals that a fraction of GBF1 GFP dynamically associates with ABD RFP (a sensor for activated Arf1 present on nascent pinosomes). Correspondingly, a GTP exchange mutant of GBF1 has altered ABD RFP localization in the evanescent field and is impaired in fluid phase uptake. Furthermore, GBF1 activation is required for the GEEC pathway even in the presence of Brefeldin A, implying that, like Arf1, it has a role in endocytosis that is separable from its role in secretion

Mouse Hepatitis Coronavirus RNA Replication Depends on GBF1-Mediated ARF1 Activation

Coronaviruses induce in infected cells the formation of double membrane vesicles, which are the sites of RNA replication. Not much is known about the formation of these vesicles, although recent observations indicate an important role for the endoplasmic reticulum in the formation of the mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) replication complexes (RCs). We now show that MHV replication is sensitive to brefeldin A (BFA). Consistently, expression of a dominant-negative mutant of ARF1, known to mimic the action of the drug, inhibited MHV infection profoundly. Immunofluorescence analysis and quantitative electron microscopy demonstrated that BFA did not block the formation of RCs per se, but rather reduced their number. MHV RNA replication was not sensitive to BFA in MDCK cells, which are known to express the BFA-resistant guanine nucleotide exchange factor GBF1. Accordingly, individual knockdown of the Golgi-resident targets of BFA by transfection of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) showed that GBF1, but not BIG1 or BIG2, was critically involved in MHV RNA replication. ARF1, the cellular effector of GBF1, also appeared to be involved in MHV replication, as siRNAs targeting this small GTPase inhibited MHV infection significantly. Collectively, our results demonstrate that GBF1-mediated ARF1 activation is required for efficient MHV RNA replication and reveal that the early secretory pathway and MHV replication complex formation are closely connected

ADP Ribosylation Factors 1 and 4 and Group VIA Phospholipase A2 Regulate Morphology and Intraorganellar Traffic in the Endoplasmic Reticulum–Golgi Intermediate Compartment

In search of morphological determinants for the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), we found that a concerted action of Arf1, Arf4, and PLA2G6-A controls the architecture of the ERGIC by regulating tubular carriers. This is predicted to impact the rate of transport and destination of cargos in the ERGIC

Assembly, organization, and function of the COPII coat

A full mechanistic understanding of how secretory cargo proteins are exported from the endoplasmic reticulum for passage through the early secretory pathway is essential for us to comprehend how cells are organized, maintain compartment identity, as well as how they selectively secrete proteins and other macromolecules to the extracellular space. This process depends on the function of a multi-subunit complex, the COPII coat. Here we describe progress towards a full mechanistic understanding of COPII coat function, including the latest findings in this area. Much of our understanding of how COPII functions and is regulated comes from studies of yeast genetics, biochemical reconstitution and single cell microscopy. New developments arising from clinical cases and model organism biology and genetics enable us to gain far greater insight in to the role of membrane traffic in the context of a whole organism as well as during embryogenesis and development. A significant outcome of such a full understanding is to reveal how the machinery and processes of membrane trafficking through the early secretory pathway fail in disease states

The choice of development conception for energy supply in rural communes of Małopolskie province

Przedstawiono założenia do planu zaopatrzenia w ciepło dla trzech gmin wiejskich województwa małopolskiego, dla których określono bieżące zużycie energii finalnej oraz związane z nim zanieczyszczenie powietrza. Dla potrzeb planu w analizowanych gminach sformułowano kilka koncepcji rozwoju energetycznego. Przy wyborze konkretnego scenariusza rozwoju wykorzystano metody podejmowania decyzji w warunkach niepewności, które pozwoliły wyłonić scenariusz, który jest najbardziej optymalny w danych warunkach.Paper presented the brief foredesign for plaining of heat energy supply to three selected rural communes of Małopolskie province. The current consumption of final energy as well as expected air pollution were determined. As a basis for planning few development options of energy supply to surveyed communes were formulated. At the choice of actual development option the methods of decision making under uncertainty conditions were applied, what enabled to select the option optimal for given circumstances

Koszty jednostkowe przygotowania ciepłej wody użytkowej

On the basis of technical and economic analysis the unit costs of hot water preparation were calculated for single family homes and multiplex houses, assuming the number of people from 2 to 40 at three different options of hot water consumption: 35, 45, 55 dm3/per capita. The comparative analysis used two accumulation systems for hot water preparation, i.e. a set of solar panels and a system using a gas-fired boiler. Conducted calculations have indicated the system using gas-fired boiler as the one, which in view of the assumed 15-year operating period reveals the best economic indicators, i.e. the costs of hot water preparation will be the lowest.Na podstawie analizy techniczno-ekonomicznej obliczono koszty jednostkowe przygotowania ciepłej wody użytkowej dla domów jednorodzinnych oraz wielorodzinnych, zakładając liczbę osób od 2 do 40 przy trzech wariantach zużycia ciepłej wody: 35, 45, 55 dm3/os. Do analizy porównawczej przyjęto dwa zasobnikowe systemy przygotowania ciepłej wody użytkowej, tj. system solarny oraz wykorzystujący podgrzewacz gazowy. W wyniku przeprowadzonych obliczeń wskazano na system, który w perspektywie założonego 15-letniego okresu eksploatacji cechuje się najlepszymi wskaźnikami ekonomicznymi a więc koszty przygotowania ciepłej wody użytkowej będą najniższe - jest nim system wykorzystujący gazowy podgrzewacz pojemnościowy

The effect of individual energy consumer groups on air pollution in the Kocmyrzow-Luborzyca commune

W pracy przedstawiono analizę zużycia energii finalnej oraz obliczono wielkość emisji zanieczyszczeń powietrza atmosferycznego na obszarze gminy Kocmyrzów-Luborzyca. Zapotrzebowanie na energię objęło wszystkie grupy obiektów znajdujących się na terenie gminy. Dla potrzeb pracy gminę podzielono na następujące sektory: mieszkaniowy (obejmujący gospodarstwa domowe i rolne), użyteczności publicznej (w którego skład weszły obiekty: administracji samorządowej, oświatowe, kulturalne, ośrodki zdrowia i remizy OSP) oraz uprawy pod osłonami (gdzie produkcja ogrodnicza jest prowadzona w szklarniach i podgrzewanych tunelach foliowych). Pozwoliło to na obliczenie wielkości i struktury zużycia nośników energetycznych w poszczególnych grupach odbiorców i na tej podstawie określenie jaki mają wpływ na zanieczyszczenie powietrza na terenie gminy. Na podstawie badań i obliczeń modelowych stwierdzono, iż największy wpływ na zanieczyszczenie powietrza atmosferycznego w gminie ma sektor mieszkaniowy, który jest głównym konsumentem energii finalnej. Obiekty użyteczności publicznej, dzięki przeprowadzonej modernizacji i konwersji systemów ogrzewania na gazowe, mają znikomy udział w zanieczyszczeniu powietrza.The analysis of final energy consumption and computed air pollution emission in the area of Kocmyrzów-Luborzyca commune were presented in the work. Energy demand included all groups of objects localized in the area of the commune. For the sake of presented work the commune was divided into the following sectors: housing sector (including households and farms), public facilities (including self-government, educational and cultural facilities, health centers and Volunteer Fire Brigade stations) and finally cultivation under covers (where horticultural production is conducted in greenhouses and heated plastic tunnels). It allowed for computing the amount and structure of energy carrier consumption in individual recipient groups and on this basis to determine the effects they have on air pollution in the commune area. On the basis of research and model computations it was established that housing sector, which is the main consumer of final energy, has the greatest impact upon air pollution in the commune. Public facilities, due to their modernization and conversion of heating to gas heating systems have a slight share in air pollution

Biogas energy use for the production of electricity and heat in combination in medium sewage treatment plant. Part 1. Technical analysis

Przeprowadzono analizę zużycia energii elektrycznej i ciepła oraz profil produkcji biogazu otrzymanego w procesie fermentacji osadów ściekowych w oczyszczalni ścieków w Wadowicach. Na tej podstawie dobrano moduł kogeneracyjny o mocy elektrycznej 192 kW oraz 214 kW mocy cieplnej. Poziom rocznej produkcji energii z układu kogeneracyjnego wynoszący 1060 MWh energii elektrycznej i 4246 GJ ciepła jest determinowany dostępną ilością biogazu w oczyszczalni, która wynosi 547 tys. m . Pozwoli to pokryć blisko 90% zużycia energii elektrycznej oraz 52% potrzeb cieplnych oczyszczalni.An analysis of electricity and heat consumption and biogas production profile obtained by the fermentation of sewage sludge in sewage treatment plant in Wadowice has been carried out. On this basis, the cogeneration unit of electrical power 192 kW and 214 kW thermal power has been chosen. The level of annual energy production from cogeneration system amounting to 1,060MWh of electricity and 4246 GJ of heat is determined by the available quantity of biogas in the wastewater, which amounts to 547 thousand. m . This will allow to satisfy 90% of electricity consumption and 52% of heat demand in the wastewater treatment plant

The energy characteristics of apartment buildings in the rural areas of southern Poland

Przeprowadzona analiza standardu energetycznego oparta na wskaźniku zapotrzebowania na nieodnawialną energię pierwotną EP dla reprezentatywnej grupy budynków mieszkalnych pozwoliła na określenie udziałów budynków należących do poszczególnych klas energetycznych. Zaledwie 2% budynków spełnia wymagania stawiane w Warunkach Technicznych, gdzie EP powinno wynosił ok. 150 kWh/(m rok). Średnie zapotrzebowanie na nieodnawialną energię pierwotną EP w badanych obiektach wynosi 305 kWh/(m rok).The analysis conducted on energy standard based on nonrenewable primary energy demand indicator EP for a representative group of apartment buildings allowed to determine the share of buildings in individual energy classes. Only 2% of buildings meet the requirements stated in Technical Conditions where EP should be c.a. 150 kWh (m year). Mean demand for nonrenewable primary energy EP in the investigated objectsis 305kWh/(m year)