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Abstract Positive pressure ventilators (PPV) used by 97.7% of officers of the National Fire Service in Poland, are characterized by work that is not in line with the expectations of the firefighters. In order to improve the technical and operational features of these devices, a survey was conducted among 25,000 eligible firefighters, identifying the application of these devices, problems in use and expected development directions. A total of 682 officers voluntarily completed the survey. Based on their findings, it was determined that ventilators are most often used to smoke out buildings after or during a fire. Mentioned problems when using these devices were mainly noise (78.2%), exhaust emissions (68.5%), and impediments to mobility through the device’s relatively heavy weight (40.2%). Other inconveniences were mentioned by less than 20% of firefighters. Polish firefighters expect the development of these devices mainly in terms of the above-mentioned features (noise reduction (81.7%) and reduction of the weight and size of the ventilators (about 50%)). Other expectations relate to the improvement of smoke removal in buildings: increasing the efficiency of smoke removal (46.4%) and efficiency regarding the rate of smoke removal in a building by increasing the size of the incoming airflow from the building’s surroundings (33.2%). About 15% of firefighters expect changes in the operation of the ventilator itself, that is, an increase in the effective operating time (electric ventilators) and an increase in the device’s uptime. The aim of the article is to identify the issues encountered during the operation and to indicate the expected direction of development for PPV by users. This information can be used by engineers to initiate new development work on these devices.

Abstract Positioning the positive pressure ventilator in front of the door opening affects the effectiveness of the rescue operation carried out during a fire. An important factor determining the effectiveness of the positive pressure ventilator is also the layout of the rooms within the gas exchange path and the obstacles present there. The purpose of this article is to assess the feasibility of using analyses such as large eddy simulation (LES) to verify the efficiency of mobile fans under simulation conditions, without the need for time-consuming experimentation (also for complex room volumes of buildings). The article presents a comparative analysis to assess the degree of convergence of flow parameters obtained during an experiment (in a multi-story building) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. For volumetric flow rate, convergence was achieved at levels ranging from 0.4% (for 5 m) to 11.5% (1 m), and for pressure values, the differences achieved ranged from 0.6% (5 m) to 30.1% (4 m). This paper demonstrates that the LES model can be used to perform CFD simulations in the area of assessing the performance of a positive pressure ventilator. The article also describes a test methodology for determining the flow parameters of an air stream, which can be used to perform numerical simulations.

Aim: The aim of this article is to evaluate the effect of selected positioning parameters of the fan (positioning distance and impeller angle) on the ability to pump a volumetric airflow stream through a construction object. Project and methods: Mobilne wentylatory wykorzystywane podczas działań ratowniczych stanowią ważne narzędzie pozwalające ograniczyć rozprzestrzenianie się dymu podczas pożarów wewnętrznych obiektów budowlanych. Z uwagi na charakter wykorzystania tych urządzeń, cechy warunkujące ich skuteczność działania powinny być poddane badaniom z wykorzystaniem metodyk badawczych o charakterystyce zbliżonej do ich rzeczywistych warunków stosowania. W artykule przedstawiono autorską metodę badań objętościowego strumienia przepływu powietrza. Ponadto zaprezentowane zostało stanowisko badawcze FRC (ang. flow resisting curtain) przeznaczone do wyznaczania charakterystyk przepływowych w rzeczywistych układach obiektów budowlanych. Badania przepływowe wykonano na terenie obiektu o kubaturze 282 m3 stanowiącego salę szkoleniową Centrum Naukowo- -Badawczego Ochrony Przeciwpożarowej – Państwowego Instytutu Badawczego. Methodology: Mobile fans used during rescue operations are an important tool to reduce the spread of smoke during interior fires in buildings. Due to the nature of the use of these devices, the characteristics that determine their performance should be tested using test methodologies with characteristics similar to their actual conditions of use. The article presents the author's method for studying the volumetric flow rate of air. In addition, a flow resisting curtain (FRC) test stand for determining flow characteristics in real building systems was presented. The flow tests were carried out at a facility with a volume of 282 m3, which is a training room of the Scientific and Research Centre for Fire Protection – National Research Institute. Results: As part of the performed research, the flow characteristics for the mobile fan sample were determined. The completed tests showed that the fan pumped a volumetric flow rate ranging from 2471 to 17997 m3/h. It was determined that the most favourable positioning distance of the tested fan calculated from the inlet opening to the room is 5 meters. At this distance, the highest values of volumetric flow rate were obtained for both studied slope angles – 0 and 8° (recorded values are 17298 and 17997 m3/h, respectively). Conclusions: Proper positioning of the mobile fan has a significant impact on the amount of airflow pumped through the building. The positioning parameters of the mobile unit are, respectively, the mechanism for changing the angle of the air supply and its mobility – the ability to move to another location. This article presents the results of a test of the volumetric flow characteristics of an air jet generated by a mobile fan. The test results showed that the parameters of fan positioning have a significant impact on the effectiveness of tactical mechanical ventilation during rescue operations. Observations made during the tests indicate that it is reasonable to implement requirements for the mandatory use of information boards showing the optimal positioning parameters for mobile units to achieve the highest possible expenditure. Keywords: Positive Pressure Ventilator (PPV), mobile fan, full scale experiment, open flow, air flow rate

Replacing the IPv4 protocol with IPv6 on the Internet is currently one of the aims of the European Union policy. The main reason for this replacement is the effeteness of the addresses pool in the IPv4 protocol, which can cause serious complications in the evolution of the Internet and its adaptation in new areas, e.g., in next generation mobile telephony or the so called Internet of Things. Simultaneously, the addressing capabilities of the IPv6 protocol are practically unlimited and its new functionalities increase the attractiveness of its usage. The article discusses the problems connected with the IPv6 deployment on the Internet. Especially, the rules for realization of the IPv6 deployment and rules for cooperation of IPv4 with IPv6 (including cooperation tests) in network infrastructure and in applications are presented. Moreover, the European projects’ results and the activity’s directions of the national project Future Internet Engineering are discussed.

The end of IPv4 addresses is now a reality. Providers not updated to IPv6 will have to hurry up the IPv6 start in its own network. Introduction of IPv6 means not only change of main routers but also change of mentality in operators, applications’ programmers besides end users. Even when for the last years the core network is prepared for transferring IPv6 traffic, other built-in parts of the Internet limit the IPv6 start. Examples of these limitations we find in not IPv6-awareness of many applications and services. For instance, voice over IP service, which uses session initiation protocol (SIP) needs to implement IPv6 aware SIP proxies and IPv6 aware AAA (authentication, authorization and accounting) servers as well as adapting application programming interfaces to IPv6. Internet protocol television (IPTV) system includes many different hardware devices, which not always are IPv6 compatible. In this paper, we propose a global solution for integrating all the devices, these one working on IPv4 and these one working on IPv6, under the same IPTV platform. This solution allows end users to receive IPTV stream irrespective of IP protocol used. The proposed solution is particularly relevant for small IPTV systems, which, step by step, are adapting into IPv6.

Aim: The aim of the article is to indicate the essential technical and operational parameters of mobile fans and to present the proposed testing method- ologies (as well as dedicated infrastructure) allowing to confirm the indicated features. Project and methods: In many places around the world, scientists conduct tests related to the use of mechanical tactical ventilation with the use of mobile positive pressure ventilation fans. These devices are used by fire protection units, among others, for the removal of thermal decomposition products resulting from fires, posing a threat to people staying in construction facilities during events and hindering rescue operations. Achieving the expected effects through the use of mechanical tactical ventilation depends on many factors, among others, on the appropriate technical parameters and the ability to use the fan. Describing the essential features that should be characterized by the devices in question, attention in particular should be paid to: mobility, durability, reliability and effectiveness. To confirm these features, mobile fans should be tested using properly validated test methodologies. This publication presents a draft of the test program that allows to confirm the effectiveness of mobile fans, i.e. aerodynamic efficiency (flow rate), stream shape (area of the effective speed distribution), operating time, noise, weight and dimensions. Conclusions: Mobile fans used by fire protection units are an important tool supporting the effectiveness of rescue operations. However, in order for them to be used in an optimal way, it is necessary to comprehensively examine the technical parameters, and then – adequately to these parameters – to develop appropriate procedures for their use. In the context of the aforementioned testing, despite the large scientific achievements in this field, there are still areas that require improvement, with particular emphasis on standardized testing methodologies and the measurement infrastructure dedicated to them. For this reason, the authors indicated important technical and functional features that determine the effectiveness of mobile fans and recom - mended selected methods on the basis of which these features can be verified. The intention of the project is to provide rescuers with greater comfort when choosing and using the devices in question. The basis for this comfort is to be aware of the availability of equipment with confirmed functional characteristics and the possibility of referring to the developed guidelines for the proper use of fans in accordance with their parameters.

Abstract Machines and devices for the production, transport and segregation of products are placed in production and storage rooms. Flat conveyor and drive belts are very often used for their construction. Due to heavy loads and difficult operating conditions, these belts can catch fire and, as a result, become the main source of air contaminants harmful to human health and life. This article examines the emission level of toxic chemical compounds most often produced during the thermal decomposition and combustion of flat drive and conveyor belts. Six types of flat belts, which were made of various polymer materials, i.e., polyamide, rubber, and polyurethane, and were pyrolyzed in a tube furnace at 950 °C, were tested for emission. Using an Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy gas analyser, five gaseous products of combustion were identified, i.e., carbon mono oxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen bromide and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Chemical analysis showed that SO2 compounds and hydrogen bromide were present in only two samples. The test results indicate that gas emission concentration limits for all the tested belts were significantly exceeded. A comparative analysis of the concentration limits of V-belts described in the authors' earlier works shows that flat belts demonstrate lower emission levels of harmful compounds than V-belts. In addition, research has shown that compared to traditional rubber-based belts, belts made of modern materials exhibit no emission of hydrogen chloride compounds during thermal decomposition and combustion.

Proper positioning of the positive pressure ventilator is an important aspect of conducting rescue operations. The purpose of this article was to determine the effect of the parameter of the distance of setting up a mobile fan (distance from 1 to 7 m) on the efficiency of implemented ventilation in a multistory building. The volumetric airflow rate was determined by measuring the flow velocity at 120 measurement points on the surface of the window opening (which served as the measurement plane) of a four-story building. Two positive pressure ventilators were tested (one was a conventional fan and the second a turbo type). The obtained volumetric airflow values ranged from 8591 to 15,656 m3/h, depending on the type of unit and positioning distance, respectively. The analysis performed in the article showed that the general guidelines for the distance of mobile fan positioning that are present in the literature may be inaccurate and outdated.

Aim: The aim of the article is to identify innovative design solutions in chainsaws which are used in rescue and firefighting operations. The review concerns commercial solutions, scientific publications and patents. It enables to determine development trends of chainsaws utilised as mechanical rescue devices. Project and methods: Although chainsaw evolution analysis is available in the literature, in the greatest part it concerns only timber harvesting conditions. It lacks a review of technical solutions adapted to rescue and firefighting operations which may involve: wood impurities, the need to work on unstable ground and in limited space, the need to maintain focus in stressful and unpredictable situations. Fire protection units operations are aimed at saving people’s health and life, therefore they should be carried out with the use of machines and devices with the best properties. Conclusions: The solutions presented in the article may affect the development of rescue teams equipment, thereby increasing their efficiency and work safety. Currently, there is a trend toward the use of mobile chainsaws involving: increased durability for cutting wood with impurities, low-emission drives with limited impact on the operator, systems protecting the operator's body against the chain blade during uncontrolled and unpredictable situations, biodegradable oils for chain lubrication. It is necessary to conduct research on innovative solutions towards the usefulness of chainsaws in rescue operations.

This paper presents the measured energy losses in a draw gear with NE22, XH500, LL2, and CFG flat belts. The ranges of torque capacity, slippage occurrence, and transmission efficiency of selected drive belts are also presented. Knowing the exact values of these parameters allows the selection of the most suitable belts for different applications. In addition, belt manufacturers do not provide these data accurately, leading to machine failures and downtime. The paper describes the dependence of belt efficiency and belt slippage as a function of transmission load. Running transmissions with high slippage values are associated with a significant loss of energy and efficiency, rapid wear of the belt and pulleys, and increased operating temperature. In addition, when flat belts are under excessive load, it is common for the belt to quickly fall off the pulleys, interrupting the operation of machinery and equipment. Experiments on a test bench can accurately determine the energy loss caused by transmission belt slippage. The maximum achievable torque of the belt selected for the study, which differed in construction and materials, was around 6 Nm for LL2, XH500, and CFG and 12 Nm for NE22. Slippage reached values of 0.005 to 0.1, while efficiency ranged between 0.60 and 0.97.

At the awakening of the new 5G network as the network of services, issues related to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) will become one of the key aspects for the cost-effective establishment of the 5G infrastructure. The new 5G services will meet the rigorous demand for bandwidth through the implementation of a large number of densely located base stations operating in the millimeter-wave range. Introduction of new emission sources, working in parallel with already existing 2G/3G/4G mobile technologies, raises concerns about exceeding the admissible EMF exposure limits. This paper analyzes issues and challenges related to EMF measurements in 5G technology, which are crucial for the assessment of EMF compliance with regulatory limits. We point out that the existing methodologies, dedicated to EMF measurements in 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, are not suitable for 5G. The reason is the use of new techniques, such as massive MIMO and precise beamforming together with higher frequency bands so that the existing measurement methods can lead to significantly overestimated results when they will be applied to 5G networks. Such results, in conjunction with the restrictive legislation on the EMF limits that apply in some countries, may have the negative impact on 5G network deployment, making it difficult to achieve the intended 5G network capabilities. We also propose an alternative method of EMF exposure assessment that is based on calculations and simulations and allows obtaining an accurate estimation of the EMF distribution in the 5G environment.

Since there are no legally defined testing requirements for mobile positive pressure fans, they may be tested based on methods that do not correspond to their actual operating conditions. Adequate assessment of the technical and operating conditions for this type of equipment is particularly important for equipment used in rescue operations. Such units should be characterized by efficient and reliable operation. This article investigates the influence of measurement methods of the volumetric airflow rate on the performance of a power unit. The article shows that the applied measurement method, whether it is PN-EN ISO 5801 (test conditions in a pipe duct—Method A) or other methods, i.e., ANSI/AMCA 240-15 and testing of the characteristics of the velocity profile (tests in open flow—Method B), can cause differences in the power demand of fans of from 3.2% to 4.5%. The differences in the requirements of propulsion power translate into fuel consumption and emissions of harmful exhaust gases generated by the combustion drive units (4 kW). It was also observed that fans with conventional impellers (W1) show a lower power demand when applying Method B (open flow) tests, while fans with turbo impellers (W2) show a lower power demand when Method A (duct) tests are applied. Comparative analysis of the parameters of the drive unit in the test group of fans without taking into account the measurement method can cause errors of up to about 7.7%, 6.4%, and 2.4% for the power, torque, and speed, respectively.

The household sector in Poland consumes more than 25% of final energy. At the same time, residents reported dissatisfaction with the thermal conditions during the summer months. This paper details the search for passive and energy-efficient solutions to improve thermal comfort in Polish dwellings. A five-story, multi-family building was selected for this research. Analyses were conducted in apartments located on the top two floors using EnergyPlus (for thermal calculations) and CONTAM (for air exchange calculations) simulation programs for current and future climatic conditions. The stochastic behavior of people when opening windows and automatically controlled systems supplying external air to the building was considered. Airing the apartments by opening windows increased the heating demand but reduced the number of thermal discomfort hours by over 90%. The degree of airing by opening windows depends on residents opening their windows; therefore, a mechanical supply of external air controlled by both internal and external temperatures was proposed and tested.

Beach cleaning and algae collection in the shoreline area are important for the tourism industry, mainly for aesthetic reasons, but also to protect human health. In addition, the collected material can be used in many industries such as energy, medicine, cosmetics or catering. The problem of cleaning the shoreline area concerns the need to clear land, water and the strip of shore and land onto which water is thrown from falling waves. The vast majority of available cleaning methods are adapted to cleaning beaches or waters. There is a lack of solutions and machine designs suitable for cleaning the coastal strip, which includes: land, the area of land on which the wave is thrown, shoal and deep water. This area is particularly important for tourism as it is mainly used for water bathing. Pictures from tourist areas that are exposed to intensive water contamination show that measures taken to clear the shoreline area are not very effective, as seaweed in shallow water is thrown ashore with the waves. The paper presents a review of methods for cleaning coastal waters and beaches from contamination. It also shows the author’s conceptual design adapted to clear the shoreline area and sandy beaches.

The paper presents the procedure of generating geometrical features on the contours of non-circular pulleys through the selection of materials and technological parameters for easy and efficient production of these parts. Based on the models designed in the computer aided design (CAD) system, several prototype non-standard pulleys were made, which were assessed for functional characteristics and correct operation of non-linear gears. The effect of additive technology on the geometric specification of non-circular pulleys was also assessed. The results showed that thanks to the use of additive methods, the need for costly manufacturing of such wheels with subtractive methods was eliminated. Additionally, it is not necessary to design specialized cutting tools or to use conventional or numerically controlled machine tools to manufacture these wheels. The test results showed that in case of selective laser sintering (SLS) the highest accuracy of mapping (0.01 mm) of geometrical features of the surface was obtained. This result is confirmed by the assessment of the morphology of the surface of the teeth of gears made with this technique, characterized by a uniform structure of the working surface of the wheel while maintaining a high tolerance of the outer profile of gear for selective laser sintering at the level of ±0.03 mm. Research has shown that most of the additive methods used to manufacture non-circular pulleys meet the required geometrical features and due to the short production time of these pulleys, these methods also facilitate quick verification of the designed pulley geometry.

This paper proposes a two-phase algorithm for multi-criteria selection of packet forwarding in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which communicate with the control station through commercial mobile network. The selection of proper data forwarding in the two radio link: From UAV to the antenna and from the antenna to the control station, are independent but subject to constrains. The proposed approach is independent of the intra-domain forwarding, so it may be useful for a number of different scenarios of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles connectivity (e.g., a swarm of drones). In the implementation developed in this paper, the connection is served by three different mobile network operators in order to ensure reliable connectivity. The proposed algorithm makes use of Machine Learning tools that are properly trained for predicting the behavior of the link connectivity during the flight duration. The results presented in the last section validate the algorithm and the training process of the machines.

The article presents the potential impact of flat drive and transport belts on people’s safety during a fire. The analysis distinguished belts made of classically used fabric–rubber composite materials reinforced with cord and currently used multilayer polymer composites. Moreover, the products’ multilayers during the thermal decomposition and combustion can be a source of emissions for unpredictable and toxic substances with different concentrations and compositions. In the evaluation of the compared belts, a testing methodology was used to determine the toxicometric indicators (WLC50SM) on the basis of which it was possible to determine the toxicity of thermal decomposition and combustion products in agreement with the standards in force in several countries of the EU and Russia. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the registration of emissions of chemical compounds during the thermal decomposition and combustion of polymer materials at three different temperatures. Moreover, the degradation kinetics of the polymeric belts by using the thermogravimetric (TGA) technique was evaluated. Test results have shown that products of thermal decomposition resulting from the neoprene (NE22), leder leder (LL2), thermoplastic connection (TC), and extra high top cower (XH) belts can be characterized as moderately toxic or toxic. Their toxicity significantly increases with the increasing temperature of thermal decomposition or combustion, especially above 450 °C. The results showed that the belts made of several layers of polyamide can be considered the least toxic in fire conditions. The TGA results showed that NBR/PA/PA/NBR belt made with two layers of polyamide and the acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber has the highest thermal stability in comparison to other belts.

Alternative fuel within the meaning of Directive 2014/94/EU is, among others, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), characterized by a lower purchase cost and lower emissions of toxic exhaust compounds in comparison to the combustion of classic gasoline. In wood chippers, intended for chopping branches, with low-power internal combustion engines that meet the emission standards in force in 2019 in the European Union, in accordance with Regulation 2016/1628/EU, carburetor fuel supply systems are commonly used. Innovative trends in the development of these drives are: electronic fuel injection, systems supporting the adaptation of the working elements to the conditions of use and the use of alternative fuels. The first two solutions significantly affect the cost of purchasing a power unit or modernizing it. The authors of this article indicate, as a beneficial alternative, a cheap (EUR 105) possibility of modernizing the carburetor fuel supply system. It is based on a modification that will allow for the use of LPG instead of gasoline to drive the working system of the wood chipper. This article presents the results of tests on the fuel consumption of a wood chipper powered with gasoline (3.04 L h−1) and LPG (3.65 L h−1) during continuous chipping. The cost of an hour of chipping related to fuel consumption was determined, which was equal to 3.89 € h−1 while using gasoline, and 2.19 € h−1 when using LPG. The mass flow rate (0.66 t h−1) and volumetric flow rate (3.5 m3 h−1) of a wood chipper powered by a low-power (9.5 kW) internal combustion engine with spark ignition were determined. In addition, we determined the cost of producing 1 m3 of biomass from chipping freshly cut oak branches (Quercus robur L. Sp. Pl. 996 1753) with a maximum diameter of 80 mm and a humidity of 25%. The branches were selected earlier in such a way that their dimensions as as similar as possible. This amounted to EUR 1.11 for a gasoline-powered drive and EUR 0.63 for a LPG powered one. The benefits of using an alternative fuel supply system, the installation of which increases the cost of the machine by 8.4%, have been confirmed.

Branch chipping machines with low-power engines are distinguished with an intermittent operation due to a periodical supply of branches. A conventional drive speed control of these machines is not adapted to adjust the operating mode depending on frequency of material supply for shredding. This article discusses the issues related to the assessment of the application of adaptive systems similar in design to start–stop systems used in vehicles, as necessary in the driving of this type machine. During testing, an impact of a distance between a branch pile from the woodchipper, a number of operators on frequency of drive unit operating condition changes, and the mass and volume output (productivity) were considered. A percentage ratio of the active and passive (idle) operation in selected conditions of use was also determined. A low-power 9.5 kW engine-powered cylindrical-type woodchipper was used for testing. Material chopped in the chipper was freshly cut branches of oaks (Quercus L. Sp. Pl. 994. 1753) with a diameter in the largest cross-section ca. 80 mm and moisture content ca. 25%. Piles of branches were located at three different distances from the chipper, i.e., 3 m, 9 m and 15 m. Branches to the chipper were fed by one or two operators. It was demonstrated that the idle run time in tested conditions with one operator could be from 43% to 71% of the entire operating time. Frequency of operating condition changes when only one operator worked and fluctuated from ca. 6 to 2 times per minute. Increasing the number of operators from one to two had a slight impact on the frequency of operating condition changes (by ca. 7%) at the shortest distance from the chipper (3 m). However, at larger distances, the additional operator may increase the frequency of operating condition changes of the chipper by 77% for 9 m distance and 85% for 15 m distance. The mass and volumetric output of the cylindrical chipper in the most advantageous case is equal to 0.66 t/h and 3.5 m3/h, respectively. The increase of the branch pile distance from the chipper causes a drop in mass output by 32%, and volumetric output by 33.5%. The results of the tests confirmed the necessity for the development of low-power chipping machines designed for clearing operations rather than industrial production of biomass. A direction for development could be systems that adapt driving units to operating conditions, depending on a demand for the chipping process.

Both energy consumption and the ecology of mobile wood-chipping machines are important issues in forest management. One way of improving the efficiency of wood-chippers is to use innovative design solutions in drive unit control systems. This can result in a reduction in fuel consumption and quantitative exhaust gas emissions. This article presented the results of research conducted on the fuel consumption of a cylindrical wood chipper driven by a small engine. We carried out testing of the unmodified chipper (A), made two different chipper modifications (B) and (C), and tested the modified versions to achieve the indicated results. The process allowed analysis and comparison of recorded data. For this purpose, the engine was supplied with fuel in three different ways: carburetor (factory-made) (A), the injector (B), and injector with an adaptative drive control system (designed by the authors) (C). The construction of a maintenance-free and adaptive drive control system where its functioning depended on operating conditions was done following patent application P.423369. All three fuel supply systems: A, B, and C were tested experimentally in terms of fuel consumption. The research was conducted in both set exploitation conditions (idle work with high (1) and low (2) rotational speed, with a continuous chipping process (3)) and transient exploitation conditions (4) (resulting from the delivery time of wood waste). Thus, the first stage of research involved two constructions (A, B) for three different working conditions (1-3). The second stage consisted of three constructions (A-C) tested in the fourth working conditions (4). The tests showed that the injection system reduced fuel consumption by around 61% during the continuous chipping process in comparison with the carburetor system. The adaptive drive control system (C) reduced fuel consumption by 55–74% in comparison with the carburetor system (A), and by 24–60% in comparison with the injection system (B) without an adaptive drive control system. The level of energy consumption in these systems depended directly on the ratio of idle work time during the chipping process.

This article proposes thermography as a non-contact diagnostic tool for assessing drive reliability. The application of this technique during the operation of the belt transmission with a heat-welded thermoplastic polyurethane V-belt was presented. The V-belt temperature changes depending on the braking torque load at different values of the rotational speed of the active pulley, which were adopted as diagnostic characteristics. In this paper, the surface morphology of the polyurethane (PU) belts was assessed on the basis of microscopic and hardness tests. A surface roughness tester was used to evaluate the surface wear. The surface morphology and topography of the materials was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. It was found that the most favorable operating conditions occurred when the temperature values of active and passive connectors were similar and the temperature difference between them was small. The mechanical and structure results indicate that the wear of the PU belt was slight, which provided stability and operational reliability for V-belt transmission. The microscopic images lacked clear traces of cracks and scratches on the surface, which was confirmed by the SEM observations.

Preface

Mobile Cloud Networks group together mobile users and clouds containing content servers. Hence, they are an ideal framework for media content delivery. Streamswitching adaptive video players cope well with some limitations of Mobile Cloud Networks as low bandwidth and bandwidth variability in access network. Nonetheless, other limitations, as cloud congestion, are difficult to be managed by the video players. This paper presents a system for discovering fault situations at the cloud (e.g., cloud congestion) and notifying to the video player, which will take appropriate actions for saving the quality of media transmission. In proposed implementation the video application is DASH-capable and adaptation action may be both stream rate adaptation and content server adaptation. The communication between client and server uses “bidirectional” communication feature of HTTP/2 thanks to the new deployed modules running DASH over HTTP/2 in both client’s and server’s applications.

Given reports on the increased prevalence of thromboembolic incidents in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; Churg-Strauss syndrome), we investigated whether fibrin clot properties are unfavorably altered in EGPA.Ex vivo plasma fibrin clot characteristics, including clot permeability, turbidimetry and efficiency of fibrinolysis using two assays, were investigated in 34 consecutive patients with remission in EGPA according to the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 (23 female, 11 male), aged 48 (range, 21-80) years. The control group comprised 34 age- and sex- matched volunteers.Compared with controls, patients with EGPA were characterized by denser fiber clots (estimated pore size, Ks, 7.30±0.93 vs 10.14±1.07 10-9 cm2), faster fibrin polymerization (lag phase in a turbidimetric curve, 41.8±3.6 vs 47.4±2.9 s), thicker fibrin fibers (maximum absorbance, ΔAbs, 0.87±0.09 vs 0.72±0.07), higher maximum levels of D-dimer released from clots (DDmax 4.10±0.46 vs 3.54±0.35 mg/L), and prolonged clot lysis time (t50%; 9.50±1.45 vs 7.56±0.87 min); all p

Object and service identification is considered as one of the main challenges in the field of Internet of Things (IoT), which can be solved by the introduction of the so called ID (IDentifier) layer. The objective of this layer is to expose IoT objects and services offered by them, to users. Common approach for ID layer is to create it in overlay manner, on the top of existing network. This paper presents a novel architecture of the ID layer, which is characterized by embedding ID layer functionality into the network plane. Moreover, this approach takes advantage of the Name-Oriented Networking (NON) paradigm. To gain easy access to the IoT objects and services, as well as native support for multicast service, human readable ID-based unified addressing with hierarchical structure was exploited. Additionally, in-network caching of forwarded IoT data, inherited from the NON, helps to reduce total network load and supports applications during collaboration with energy-constrained sensors. Such sensors may enter sleep mode to save energy and then the network nodes can serve requests for sensing data, arrived from applications, by using data stored in nodes’ cache. The paper shows the concept of NON-based ID layer and describes functional architecture of network node paying attention on modules and mechanisms related with ID layer functionality. Primary ID layer processes, i.e., object/service registration, resolution and data forwarding are explained in detail. Moreover, the ID-aware network node was implemented on Linux-based platform and tested to check its forwarding characteristics. The tests showed the performance of the of ID network node in data plane operations, which are the more sensitive for scalability issues.