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Empirical research into social vulnerability – and into strategies that allow people to persist or secure their existence – has most often concerned itself with peripheral, poorly-developed regions with a long history of shortages; frequently even ones in which a failure to solve socio-political problems over decades or even centuries, manifests itself in a permanent crisis. One such region is north–western Peru, presented in this article by the authors who have proceeded on the assumption that the socioeconomic development of the country’s mountainous areas (including Frías, the district selected for study) not only reflects a peripheral location as regards central areas of Peru and the department of Piura, but is also an outcome of the workings of political and environmental factors that do not help sustain (or in many cases even obstruct) processes of development.

This paper presents an experimental research simulator of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and supporting systems, designed at the Department of Avionics and Control, Rzeszow University of Technology. The research simulator enables hardware-in-the-loop testing of an autopilot, actuators, the ground control station and telemetry modules. Particular hardware blocks can be integrated with real-time environment with the use of a CAN data bus, Ethernet interface and a set of popular serial interfaces. Current experiments support development and hardware-in-the-loop testing of advanced flight control and navigation systems of a small UAV (taking into account both the on-board and the ground segments).

The article presents a measurement system for a micro UAV designed at the Department of Avionics and Control Systems of Rzeszów University of Technology. Since the project is based on earlier projects, e.g.[[[[1[[[1, the introduction begins with their short presentation [they are mentioned in the introduction firs. Then, the current project is discussed. The major objective of the project is to create a miniature autopilot cooperating with navigation units, data transmission units and measurement units. The system is based on Polish technological solutions. The autopilot is designed as a single unit, however the system is open and it allows you to use different elements. The system development is also possible. In-flight testing will be realized with the use of two unmanned flying platforms equipped with an electrical engine and a piston engine. The total mass of the platforms is 5 kg and 25 kg respectively. The article presents the structure of the control and navigation system and then, the structure of the measurement system. The measurement units consist of a GPS receiver, an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) and an air data computer (ADC). Similar configuration is used in other micro UAV solutions, such as Micropilot or Kestrel. Then, algorithms of the measurement system are described. Navigation is based on GPS data with a DGPS (Differential GPS) advanced module. If the measurement information is complete, GPS data are used to correct measurements from other units. The system estimates wind disturbances and calculates accelerometers errors. In the case of missing GPS signals implementation of low-cost sensors may lead to significant measurement errors, and hence navigation only by means of the INS is impossible. In such a case, navigation is realized with the use of an inertial navigation system (INS), the magnetic heading measurement and ADC. AHRS unit algorithms use quaternion algebra for attitude calculation. For correction, complementary filtering is implemented [, [. The correction signal for the attitude (pitch and roll angles) is calculated with the use of acceleration measurements. Measurements of accelerations and yaw rates are used for the correction switching mechanism, since in dynamic states signals calculated from accelerations cannot be used for correction. Heading is corrected by means of magnetic heading measurement. ADC algorithms are based on typical aerodynamic dependences.

This work discusses the application of techniques serving the purpose of prediction and detection of unfavorable man-machine interactions. Prediction criteria of Pilot Induced Oscillations (PIO) were applied during design process of experimental multi-modal fly-by-wire control system for small light aircraft. Estimated PIO susceptibility was further verified during real-time simulations and flight tests. The verification process included subjective pilot/operator expert opinions and the results obtained from the automatic detectors, used for the PIO identification in long sets of recorded data. The general idea of the detection algorithms is based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). These are being presented in this paper in a form of detection applications along with the results of the flight experiments.

The lipoprotein was prepared from the cell-rests of E. coli Kroeger 08 which were obtained after repeated extraction with trichloracetic acid. Two fractions, A (active) and B (inactive), were investigated chemically and serologically. The active fraction A was chemically different from the endotoxin; it contained a lipid and a protein component, and slight traces of galactose and mannose (or glucose). In spite of having a lipid component, fraction B was inactive biologically and almost inactive serologically. It appears from these investigations that the lipid component is not the only factor responsible for the Shwartzman phenomenon.

The investigations concerned the lipoprotein of the endotoxin of E. coli Kroeger 08; the endotoxin was prepared according to the method of Boivin u. Mesrobeanu, and the lipoprotein was isolated according to Westphal. The carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and amino sugar components were determined. Immunodiffusion was performed, use being made of the antiendotoxin immune serum, and, for the sake of comparison, other antigens: endotoxin, preformed lipopolysaccharide, and bacterial cell-rest lipoprotein. In haemagglutination use was made of the immune serum against the endotoxin and the lipopolysaccharide. The Shwartzman phenomenon was provoked in 24 rabbits, control experiments having been made with the endotoxin and lipoprotein of the cell-rest of E. coli. The lipoprotein of the endotoxin was active in the Shwartzman phenomenon, but less than the endotoxin itself; it somewhat resembles the original endotoxin in antigenic respects.