Model-based reconstruction and projections of soil moisture anomalies and crop losses in Poland

Evidence shows that soil moisture (SM) anomalies (deficits or excesses) are the key factor affecting crop yield in rain-fed agriculture. Over last decades, Poland has faced several major droughts and at least one major soil moisture excess event leading to severe crop losses. This study aims to simulate the multi-annual variability of SM anomalies in Poland, using a process-based SWAT model and to assess the effect of climate change on future extreme SM conditions, potentially affecting crop yields in Poland. A crop-specific indicator based on simulated daily soil moisture content for the critical development stages of investigated crops (winter cereals, spring cereals, potato and maize) was designed, evaluated for past conditions against empirical crop-weather indices (CWIs), and applied for studying future climate conditions. The study used an ensemble of nine bias-corrected EURO-CORDEX projections for two future horizons: 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 under two Representative Concentration Pathways: RCP4.5 and 8.5. Historical simulation results showed that SWAT was capable of capturing major SM deficit and excess episodes for different crops in Poland. For spring cereals, potato and maize, despite a large model spread, projections generally showed increase of severity of soil moisture deficits, as well as of total area affected by them. Ensemble median fraction of land with extreme soil moisture deficits, occupied by each of these crops, is projected to at least double in size. The signals of change in soil moisture excesses for potato and maize were more dependent on selection of RCP and future horizon. © 2020, The Author(s)

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

531 s.

Assessment of climate change and associated impact on selected sectors in Poland

The present paper offers a brief assessment of climate change and associated impact in Poland, based on selected results of the Polish–Norwegian CHASE-PL project. Impacts are examined in selected sectors, such as water resources, natural hazard risk reduction, environment, agriculture and health. Results of change detection in long time series of observed climate and climate impact variables in Poland are presented. Also, projections of climate variability and change are provided for time horizons of 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 for two emission scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 in comparison with control period, 1971–2000. Based on climate projections, examination of future impacts on sectors is also carried out. Selected uncertainty issues relevant to observations, understanding and projections are tackled as well

Evidence-based nanoscopic and molecular framework for excipient functionality in compressed orally disintegrating tablets

The work investigates the adhesive/cohesive molecular and physical interactions together with nanoscopic features of commonly used orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) excipients microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and D-mannitol. This helps to elucidate the underlying physico-chemical and mechanical mechanisms responsible for powder densification and optimum product functionality. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) contact mode analysis was performed to measure nano-adhesion forces and surface energies between excipient-drug particles (6-10 different particles per each pair). Moreover, surface topography images (100 nm2-10 μm2) and roughness data were acquired from AFM tapping mode. AFM data were related to ODT macro/microscopic properties obtained from SEM, FTIR, XRD, thermal analysis using DSC and TGA, disintegration testing, Heckel and tabletability profiles. The study results showed a good association between the adhesive molecular and physical forces of paired particles and the resultant densification mechanisms responsible for mechanical strength of tablets. MCC micro roughness was 3 times that of D-mannitol which explains the high hardness of MCC ODTs due to mechanical interlocking. Hydrogen bonding between MCC particles could not be established from both AFM and FTIR solid state investigation. On the contrary, D-mannitol produced fragile ODTs due to fragmentation of surface crystallites during compression attained from its weak crystal structure. Furthermore, AFM analysis has shown the presence of extensive micro fibril structures inhabiting nano pores which further supports the use of MCC as a disintegrant. Overall, excipients (and model drugs) showed mechanistic behaviour on the nano/micro scale that could be related to the functionality of materials on the macro scale. © 2014 Al-khattawi et al

Optimal choice of the number of functional units for high level synthesis of digital circuits

W pracy przedstawiono algorytm MNP (ang. minimization the number oj procesing elements) wyznaczający liczbę jednostek funkcjonalnych niezbędnych do syntezy wysokiego poziomu zadania opisanego grafem przepływu danych (DFG - ang. Data flow graph). Liczba jednostek funkcjonalnych wyznaczana przez prezentowany algorytm jest optymalna zarówno z punktu widzenia kosztów wykonania układu, jak i szybkości jego działania. Rozwiązanie tego problemu umożliwia taką realizację projektu układu cyfrowego, aby działał on z maksymalną szybkością przy minimalnej liczbie jednostek funkcjonalnych, a więc przy minimalnym koszcie wytworzenia. Zaprezentowany w pracy algorytm zaimplementowano w języku C++, a następnie zweryfikowano go przy pomocy kilkudziesięciu przykładów testowych, których wybrane wyniki przedstawiono w pracy.The paper presents an algorithm calculating the functional units' quantities necessary for high level synthesis of a task described with a data flow graph (DFG). The quantities calculated by the algorithm are optimal both with cost and latency of the designed circuit. The solution presented enables to realize a circuit characterised with the best performance possible while maintaining the minimal number of functional units used, hence minimal cost is provided. The presented algorithm was implemented with C++ language and tes

Database of CMOS functional units' models for circuit power reduction system

Praca dotyczy systemu do przechowywania oraz analizy informacji o modelach jednostek funkcjonalnych układów cyfrowych CMOS. Przedstawia podstawowe wymagania projektu systemu, jego projekt oraz omawia niektóre aspekty jego implementacji. System utworzono w oparciu o środowisko relacyjnych baz danych HSQLDB dostępne na zasadzie wolnego oprogramowania. Został on wybrany ze względu na wysoką wydajność oraz łatwość integracji z tworzonym system do redukcji poboru mocy cyfrowych układów CMOS. W jego implementacji zastosowano warstwę pośredniczącą ORM (Object Relational Mapping) umożliwiającą łatwe przystosowanie do współpracy z inną bazą relacyjną danych, w przypadku zmiany wymagań w trakcie eksploatacji.The paper presents the developed software system for storing and analyzing information concerning digital CMOS circuits models’. The system has been designed with application of HSQLDB relational database system being the free software. The system was chosen because of its good performance and easy integration with the designed system for digital CMOS circuits’ power reduction. The developed system uses also the ORM (Object Relational Mapping) layer which enables for easy adaptation to another relational database system, in case of requirement change during the maintenance phase

Computational time verification of heuristic algorithms forlIow power design of CMOSs circuits

W pracy zaprezentowano przeprowadzoną komputerową weryfikację czasów obliczeń piętnastu nowoutworzonych algorytmów heurystycznych dla potrzeb redukcji poboru mocy cyfrowych układów CMOS. W zrealizowanych badaniach eksperymentalnych wykorzystano ogólnodostępne przykłady testowe ISCAS, zaczerpnięte z laboratorium CBL. Uzyskane wyniki pozwalają na akceptację nowoopracowanych algorytmów redukcji poboru mocy układów CMOS z punktu widzenia ich złożoności obliczeniowej.This paper presents a computer verification of computational complexity of 15 newly elaborated heuristic algorithmsfor low power design of digital CMOS circuits. The verified algorithms were tested against a set of commonly available ISCAS benchmarks from CBL laboratory. The computational complexities of the tested heuristic algorithms were verified experimentally

Simulation verification of algorithms in Ptolemy II environment

Praca prezentuje domeny systemu PTOLEMY II, a bardziej szczegółowo przedstawiono w niej wybrane możliwości domeny Synchronous Data Flow (SDF) do weryfikacji algorytmów metodą symulacyjną. Pozytywny wynik symulacji decyduje o implementacji symulowanego algorytmu na przykład w systemach wbudowanych. Zaprezentowne rozwiązanie pozwala na szybsze uzyskanie prototypu, a także prowadzi do obniżenia kosztów projektowania.The paper presents Ptolemy II domain. Selected Synchronous Data Flow domain capabilities applicable to verification of algorithms using simulation methods are presented in detail. Positive simulation result can determine the implementation of the simulated algorithm, for example, in embedded systems. Presented solution allows to speed-up the process of creating the prototype, and leads to lowering development costs

Diversity of specialized training programs for candidates for CBRN corps officers and the training efficiency

Specialized training of candidates for officers is one of the main components affecting the preparation of an officer for taking up first duty. In the article the author presents and analyzes the structure of the specialized training for the corps of defense against weapons of mass destruction (CBRN), in force in the years 2006-2015. The evaluation of the specialized training programs shows diversification in terms of the organization of training while maintaining the consistency of training objectives. On the grounds of such an evaluation the author argues that the program multiplicity and variability may differentiate, and probably does, graduates in respect of the level of competences for the profession. That thesis constitutes the basis for conducting studies on the effectiveness of specialized training of candidates for officers of the Polish Armed Forces