2025 - Publications Repository - Gdańsk University of Technology

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Publications from the year 2025

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An 8–18 GHz ultrawideband gap waveguide folded bandpass filter for radar applications
- Abdullah J. Alazemi
- Davood Zarifi
- Ali Farahbakhsh
2025 AEU-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS
The present work introduces a compact ultrawideband filter based on folded ridge gap waveguide. The design and fabrication of a ninth-order bandpass filter demonstrates its capabilities, achieving a 75 % fractional bandwidth, a return loss (RL) of 17.6 dB, and an insertion loss (IL) of 0.52 dB within the 8.22 to 18.15 GHz frequency range. The fabricated prototype shows excellent agreement between simulations and measurements. The designed filter offers reduced size and wider frequency bandwidth in comparison with similar bandpass filters based on gap waveguide and exhibits significant potential for X- and Ku-bands radar systems
An All-Metal Broadband Low SLL slot array antenna for use in 5G Sub-6 GHz networks
- Davood Zarifi
- Ali Farahbakhsh
- Michał Mrozowski
2025 Scientific Reports
This paper describes the design and implementation of an all-metal wideband cavity-backed slot array antenna specifically optimized for 5G sub-6GHz networks. The antenna is engineered to feature low sidelobe levels (SLL), which enhance signal clarity and reduce interference. The proposed antenna utilizes a novel approach, directly exciting all radiating slots through the cavity layer, thus eliminating the need for a complex and lossy power dividing network. The antenna’s performance is validated through full-wave simulations and measurements. The results demonstrate antenna’s ability to achieve wideband operation from 3.1 to 4GHz with −19 dB SLL, peak gain of 20.2 dBi, and more than 90% total efficiency. The main advantages provided by the proposed slot arrays are wide bandwidth, high radiation efficiency, high gain, low sidelobe levels. The all-metal construction ensures robust power handling, and the simplified design contributes to its low complexity. These characteristics make the antenna a promising candidate for 5G deployments.
An experimental EEG study of brain activities underlying the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response
- Ali Mohammadi
- Sahar Seifzadeh
- Fatemeh Torkamani
- Sina Salehi
2025 IBRO Neuroscience Reports
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is an audio-visual phenomenon that has recently become popular. Many people have reported experiencing a tingling-like sensation through their body while watching audio/video clips known as ASMR clips. People capable of having such experiences have also reported improved overall well-being and feeling relaxed. However, the neural activity underlying this phenomenon is not yet well-studied. The present study aims to investigate this issue using electroencephalography (EEG) employing an exploratory approach. We recorded resting-state EEGs from twelve participants before and after watching an ASMR clip and a control video clip. We divided the participants into two groups capable of experiencing ASMR tingling (ASMR group) and not capable of experiencing ASMR tingling (Non-ASMR group), by performing “Jenks Natural Breaks” clustering method on the results of a self-report questionnaire. We calculated the spectral power of EEG recording and compared the resulting values between the groups and sessions. We demonstrated a decline in the power of EEG activities in the delta frequency band in all regions of the brain and an increase in alpha activity in the occipital area of the brain and increases in beta oscillations was noted over the left fronto-temporal region of the brain among ASMR group. We did not observe similar results among the Non-ASMRs participants or among ASMRs in the control group.
An optimal nonlinear fractional order controller for passive/active base isolation building equipped with friction-tuned mass dampers
- Morteza Akbari
- Abbas-Ali Zamani
- Mohammad Seifi
- Bartolomeo Pantò
- Tomasz Falborski
- Robert Jankowski
2025 Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation
This paper presents an optimal nonlinear fractional-order controller (ONFOC) designed to reduce the seismic responses of tall buildings equipped with a base-isolation (BI) system and friction-tuned mass dampers (FTMDs). The parameters for the BI and FTMD systems, as well as their combinations (BI-FTMD and active BI-FTMD or ABI-FTMD), were optimized separately using a multi-objective quantum-inspired seagull optimization algorithm (MOQSOA). The seismic performances of the BI, FTMD, BI-FTMD, and ABI-FTMD systems for a 15-storey building subjected to two far-field (Loma Prieta and Landers) and two near-fields (Tabas and Northridge) earthquakes were evaluated. The results indicated that structures with BI, FTMD, BI-FTMD, and ABI-FTMD systems outperformed the uncontrolled structure in reducing structural responses during the design earthquakes (Loma Prieta and Tabas). However, under validation earthquakes (Landers and Northridge), the peak acceleration of the building with the FTMD system was worse than that of the uncontrolled structure during the near-field Northridge earthquake. To address this issue, we proposed a combination of the active BI system and the FTMD system. Time history analysis results demonstrated that for the building equipped with the ABI-FTMD system, the peak displacement, peak acceleration, and peak inter-storey drift were reduced by approximately 60%, 64%, and 78%, respectively, as compared to the uncontrolled structure.
An ultrawideband monopulse feed with slant polarization for tracking radar systems
- Davood Zarifi
- Ali Farahbakhsh
- Michał Mrozowski
2025 Scientific Reports
An ultrawideband slant-polarized monopulse feed is designed and fabricated for microwave applications. The proposed configuration features four end-launched diagonal horns allowing for the production of sum and difference channels in two principal planes. The key advantage of this proposed monopulse antenna over traditional monopulse feeds is its ability to combine the benefits of ultrawideband performance with slant polarization while maintaining acceptable side lobe level. The design is validated by fabricating a prototype of the proposed feed antenna. Measurement results are in a reasonable agreement with the simulations. The measured ratio bandwidth is 2.5:1 from 8 to 18 GHz with a peak gain of 17.92 dBi. The null depth in the difference patterns is approximately − 32 dB. Given these characteristics, the proposed monopulse feed is a suitable choice for use in commercial tracking radar systems that require wide bandwidth and slant polarization, such as those found in satellite-based applications.
Analysis of "green methanol" production from carbon dioxide acquired from negative emission power plants using CFD approach for catalytic reactor
- Sylwia Oleś
- Paweł Ziółkowski
- Dariusz Mikielewicz
2025 RENEWABLE ENERGY
The growing global demand for energy, coupled with the urgent need to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, has led to the development of innovative energy cycles such as the negative CO₂ gas power plant (nCO2PP). Carbon dioxide storage and reuse in current industries is therefore becoming an important issue. The answer to this is the process of synthesizing methanol, commonly used in many industries from captured carbon dioxide and hydrogen from electrolysis. Methanol synthesis, a key process in such systems, relies heavily on the use of catalysts, offering significant research opportunities not only in catalyst chemistry, but also in optimizing reactor design and process parameters such as temperature, feed velocity and operating pressure. In this study, the effect of process parameters, in particular pressure and velocity, on the production of green methanol from CO₂ captured in a negative cycle CO₂ power plant was investigated. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed, incorporating a user-defined function (UDF) into commercial CFD software, a novel approach in this context. Simulation results showed a methanol yield of 4–10 % at the reactor outlet, which compares favourably with existing literature, indicating the potential for further optimisation and application in industrial methanol production.
Analysis of heat transfer and AuNPs-mediated photo-thermal inactivation of E. coli at varying laser powers using single-phase CFD modeling
- Aimad Koulali
- Paweł Ziółkowski
- Piotr Radomski
- Luciano Sio De
- Zieliński Jacek
- Cristina María Nevárez Martínez
- Dariusz Mikielewicz
2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NUMERICAL METHODS FOR HEAT & FLUID FLOW
Purpose In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemics, the demand for innovative and effective methods of bacterial inactivation has become a critical area of research, providing the impetus for this study. The purpose of this research is to analyze the AuNPs-mediated photothermal inactivation of E. coli. Gold nanoparticles irradiated by laser represent a promising technique for combating bacterial infection that combines high-tech and scientific progress. The intermediate aim of the work was to present the calibration of the model with respect to the gold nanorods experiment. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of initial concentration of E. coli bacteria, the design of the chamber and the laser power on heat transfer and inactivation of E. coli bacteria. Design/methodology/approach Using the CFD simulation, the work combines three main concepts. 1. The conversion of laser light to heat has been described by a combination of three distinctive approximations: a- Discrete particle integration to take into account every nanoparticle within the system, b- Rayleigh-Drude approximation to determine the scattering and extinction coefficients and c- Lambert–Beer–Bourger law to describe the decrease in laser intensity across the AuNPs. 2. The contribution of the presence of E. coli bacteria to the thermal and fluid-dynamic fields in the microdevice was modeled by single-phase approach by determining the effective thermophysical properties of the water-bacteria mixture. 3. An approach based on a temperature threshold attained at which bacteria will be inactivated, has been used to predict bacterial response to temperature increases. Findings The comparison of the thermal fields and temporal temperature changes obtained by the CFD simulation with those obtained experimentally confirms the accuracy of the light-heat conversion model derived from the aforementioned approximations. The results show a linear relationship between maximum temperature and variation in laser power over the range studied, which is in line with previous experimental results. It was also found that the temperature inside the microchamber can exceed 55 °C only when a laser power higher than 0.8 W is used, so bacterial inactivation begins.
Analysis of Instantaneous Ship Resistance-Increase in Waves with CFD URANS
- Hamid Zeraatgar
- Mohammad Ghaemi
- Mohamad Sadeghi
2025 Polish Maritime Research
To comply with the requirements set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, recent efforts have focused on investigating the parameters that affect the increase in ship resistance, with the aim of developing effective reduction methods. This research examines both the time-varying instantaneous characteristics of a ship’s resistance in waves, referred to as resistance-increase, and the mean resistance-increase, known as added resistance, using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The accuracy of the CFD method in predicting the instantaneous resistance-increase in waves is evaluated by comparing it with the experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) method. Overall, the CFD method is found to give reasonable predictions for the amplitude of resistanceincrease; however, for waves with multiple oscillation frequencies, the CFD method predominantly captures a single frequency, called the encounter frequency, whereas the EFD method gives multiple frequencies. In addition, a parametric study of resistance-increase is conducted, which shows that the wavelength ratio significantly influences the pattern of resistance-increase, with a transition from a pure sine curve to a more irregular curve as the wavelength ratio shortens. Furthermore, with regard to the proportionality of the added resistance to the wave height, it is observed that the added resistance may be either much greater than or (sometimes) less than the square of the wave height. Finally, as the ship’s speed increases, the positive oscillation amplitude of the resistance-increase rises, while the negative amplitude tends to decrease, resulting in a significant increase in time-averaged added resistance. In summary, the wavelength ratio primarily governs both the added resistance and the resistance-increase in waves.
Analysis of the correlation between instantaneous resistance-increase in waves and ship motion for reducing fuel consumption
- Mohammad Ghaemi
- Hamid Zeraatgar
- Arash Bozorgmehr
2025 Ships and Offshore Structures
Reducing fuel consumption is crucial for greening water transport. Wind, waves and currents affect fuel usage, with wave-induced resistance being significant. Typically, added resistance is estimated as the time average of resistance increase in waves over calm water. However, this average lacks real-time utility for engine adjustments. This study analyses time-series correlations between wave-induced resistance-increase and ship motions. Experiments using a KCS model show resistance oscillations can reach up to five times calm-water values. These oscillations are the first harmonic of the encounter frequency in long waves but exhibit multiple frequencies in short waves. Their amplitude follows a nonlinear trend: small in short waves, often large in medium waves and sometimes large in long waves. No clear amplitude trend emerges with wave height. A correlation between resistance increase and pitch motion is found in medium and long waves, underscoring the need for real-time control. These findings can guide strategies to optimise fuel use.
Analysis of the Possibility of Using 3D Printing for Emergency Replacement of Damaged Elements in the Marine Industry
- Krzysztof Jasiński
- Lech Murawski
- Marcin Kluczyk
- Jarosław Wierzchowski
- Marek Chodnicki
- Krzysztof Lipiński
- Adam Szeleziński
2025 Applied Sciences-Basel
This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)/Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing for the emergency replacement of damaged components in the marine industry, focusing on mechanical properties, dynamic stiffness, and manufacturing efficiency. The authors’ research interests include the application of incremental and hybrid methods for the production of new, fully functional parts that constitute equipment for ships and yachts. The methods described in this paper can also be used to produce replacement parts in emergency conditions when there is a need for a temporary replacement of a damaged component. When testing parts made with 3D printing technology, the authors used modal analysis methods to estimate the dynamic stiffness of bracket support samples. The dynamic analysis of the tested parts was conducted using both the cavity method and the incremental method with FDM and FFF 3D printing. This study focused on determining their resonance curves. Based on these curves, the dynamic stiffness of the samples was calculated. Understanding the changes in dynamic stiffness of 3D printed parts depending on their degree of filling is one of the critical parameters from the point of view of the possibility of the safe operation of parts manufactured with this method. The results show that the dynamic stiffness of 3D printed parts depends significantly on the infill percentage. This article also presents the results of a simplified technical and economic analysis of the bracket support manufacturing samples produced by machining, incremental, and hybrid methods. The quality parameters of the geometric structure of the parts made with the manufacturing methods analyzed in this paper are also compared with each other.
Anterior prefrontal EEG theta activities indicate memory and executive functions in epilepsy patients
- Nastaran Hamedisheihani
- Jesus Garcia Salinas
- Brent Berry
- Gregory Worrell
- Michał Kucewicz
2025 Full text EPILEPSIA
Objective: Cognitive deficits are one of the most debilitating comorbidities in epilepsy and other neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, and neurodevelopmental brain disorders. Current diagnostic and therapeutic options are limited and lack objective measures of the underlying neural activities. In this study, electrophysiological biomarkers that reflect cognitive functions in clinically validated batteries were determined to aid diagnosis and treatment in specific brain regions. Methods: We employed a CANTAB battery of neuropsychological tasks probing memory and executive functions in 86 epilepsy patients undergoing clinical EEG monitoring. EEG electrode signals during performance of particular battery tasks were decomposed to identify specific frequency bands and cortical areas that differentiated patients with impaired, normal, and good standardized performance according to their age and gender. Results: The anterior prefrontal cortical EEG power in the theta frequency band was consistently lower in patients with impaired memory and executive function performance (z-score < -1). This effect was evident in all four behavioral measures of executive, visual, spatial, and working memory functions and was confined to the cortical area of all four frontal pole electrodes (Nz, Fpz, Fp1, Fp2). Significance: Theta EEG power in the anterior prefrontal cortex provides simple, accessible, and objective electrophysiological measure of memory and executive functions in epilepsy. Our results suggest a feasible clinical biomarker for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of cognitive deficits with emerging targeted neuromodulation approaches.
Anticancer drugs targeting topoisomerase II for antifungal treatment
- Kavya Kondaka
- Kamila Rząd
- Natalia Maciejewska
- Iwona Gabriel
2025 Full text Scientific Reports
Fungal topoisomerase II (TopoII) has been identified as essential for viability. Thus, our research aimed to investigate the potential of fungal TopoII as a novel target for antifungal chemotherapy. We conducted studies on eleventh antitumor compounds targeting human topoisomerase II, either approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or currently under clinical trials to evaluate their potential for use in other therapeutic applications. While most of the compounds we analyzed are potent inhibitors of yeast TopoII, only a few exhibited antifungal activity. Idarubicin emerged as the most potent compound effectively inhibiting the growth of five reference fungal strains as well as clinical Candida glabrata fluconazole-resistant cells. Antifungal activity of this compound corresponded with its very high yeast TopoII inhibitory effectiveness. Additionally, idarubicin ability to be effectively accumulated into fungal cells is crucial for yeast TopoII targeting. Idarubicin, epirubicin, and bisantrene appeared to be even more effective inhibitors of yeast enzyme than its human counterpart. In fungal cells idarubicin exhibited a multifaceted mechanisms of action, including nuclear DNA fragmentation, disruption of mitochondrial network architecture and mitochondrial DNA aggregation as well as oxidative stress induction. Our results indicate that fungal topoisomerase II targeting is worth considering in antifungal treatment and the reported drugs may serve as a starting point for the reinnovation of a new molecule
Applications of nanosorbents in dispersive solid phase extraction/microextraction approaches for monitoring of synthetic dyes in various types of samples: A review
- Wajid Ali Khan
- Pakorn Varanusupakul
- Hameed Haq
- Muhammad Balal Arain
- Grzegorz Boczkaj
2025 MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
Nanosorbents are frequently used in analytical chemistry for their various applications, including extraction and microextraction of synthetic dyes. Synthetic dyes pose a threat to living organisms, particularly humans, due to their worldwide use in a variety of industries. The removal and quantification of synthetic dyes from various matrices is becoming increasingly important. The use of nanosorbents in dispersive solid phase extraction/microextraction (DSPE/DSPME) based approaches are considered the most sensitive and effective techniques for the preconcentration of synthetic dyes due to its high sample clean-up capability, low usage of solvents, high enrichment (preconcentration) factors assuring low detection limits (LOD) of the overall analytical procedures. This review describes widely used nanosorbents, their key properties, and sorption capability, as well as progress and challenges in popular DSPE/DSPME methods and their types, including magnetic solid phase extraction/microextraction (MSPE/MSPME), dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-µ-SPE), and ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid phase extraction/microextraction (UA-DSPE/UA-DSPME) for extraction and quantification of dyes. Nanomaterials synthesis methods are typically divided into bottom-up and top-down methods. Bottom-up techniques include hydrothermal, sol–gel, laser pyrolysis, sonochemical, chemical reduction, inert gas condensation (IGC), co-precipitation, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Hydrothermal and CVD are the most commonly used. These methods have several advantages, including low cost, the ability to synthesize with a more controlled design, and the release of low waste. However, suffers from ensuring reproducibility and large-scale production. Top-down techniques involve reducing the size of the bulk material to create nanomaterials. The top-down approaches include electrospinning, laser ablation, etching, mechanical milling, thermal decomposition, and sputtering. The analytical instrumental technique is used to perform the final quantitative analysis step in these microextraction-based methods. The most common analytical instruments used with these sorbent-based microextraction techniques are UV–visible spectrophotometers, HPLC with UV/DAD , and LC-MS. Among the available methods, dedicated procedures for analysis of popular dyes such as Sudan dyes, sunset yellow, malachite green, methylene blue, crystal violet, tartrazine, and azo dye were developed.
Assessing Metal Distribution in Diverse Incineration Ashes: Implications for Sustainable Waste Management in Case of Different Incineration Facilities
- Bartłomiej Cieślik
- Joachim Emeka Arikibe
2025 WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
Incineration contributes about 10% of metals emission in Europe and leaching of metals from reuse or landfilling of incineration products remains a global concern. Thus, evaluating metal distribution in incineration residues is critical. The present study highlights the distribution of selected metals, Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Fe, Cr, Al, Cu, and Pb, in incineration ashes in relation to incinerator capacities/sizes. Al was most distributed and Cd the least. Statistical evaluation with 2-factor ANOVA revealed significant variations (F > Fcrit, α = 0.05) were observed except in fluidised bed (FB) residues for Zn and Co. Also, except Co for samples of similar features from one location, and Pb in FB residues with no significant difference (p > 0.05), other metals varied statistically (p < 0.05). The degree of contamination (mCd), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) revealed all matrices had PLI > 1. Igeo revealed moderate to strong accumulation of Zn and Cu in all matrices except in 3 matrices for Cu while IMSW-BA showed strong Pb accumulation. Al, Mn and Fe showed low enrichment in all matrices except in 2 matrices for Cu. Zn and Pb were extremely enriched in IMSWA-BA. PERI placed FB-Gd and FB-Lz as ecologically low-risk, IMSW-BA and IMSW-APC as considerable ecological risk and other matrices were ecologically moderate risk. The study found that the content of metals in the incineration residues requires more sustainable ways of management and disposal of incineration products in Poland and elsewhere.
ASSESSMENT OF THE GREENNESS OF MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMERS USED IN SAMPLE PREPARATION
- Mariusz Marć
- Atnonio Martin-Esteban
2025 Full text Advances in Sample Preparation
It is now widely accepted that the incorporation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) into sample preparation techniques has enabled unprecedented selectivity performance of analytical methods for the determination of a wide range of analytes in biological, food and environmental samples. However, according to the Principles of Green Chemistry and the subsequent Principles of Green Sample Preparation, it is clear that MIPs are far from being considered green materials, both due to the common harmful reagents and the experimental conditions used for their synthesis. Accordingly, new greener routes for MIP synthesis have been proposed in recent years. However, although the titles of some of the published papers include terms such as 'green MIP' or 'sustainable MIP', such improved properties have only been assessed intuitively and it is therefore unclear whether such claimed green or sustainable MIPs are actually so. Therefore, in the present review, published papers using apparently green MIPs in sample preparation were evaluated using the recently developed metric tool AGREEMIP. Such a tool is based on the assessment of 12 criteria related to the greenness of the different reagents used, energy requirements and other aspects of MIP synthesis procedures. The final values of performed AGREEMIP assessment ranged from 0.28 to 0.80. The scores obtained after the AGREEMIP assessment clearly show that, although slight improvements have been achieved in terms of greenness, there is an abuse of the use of green-related terms and further development is needed. In this context, some guidelines for greening MIPs are provided.
Assessment of Toxicity Associated with Inhalation of Potentially Toxic Elements Present in Combustible Tobacco Products: Cigars, Pipe Tobacco, Bidis and Cigarettes - an Evaluation of Risk Assessment Issues
- Paweł Hać
- Satoki Okabayashi
- Motohiro Tsuboi
- Bartłomiej Cieślik
- Piotr Konieczka
2025 TOXICOLOGY
Smoking-related diseases represent a substantial global health challenge, particularly given the direct inhalation of smoke into the vulnerable respiratory system. This method of consumption presents a challenge in classifying smoking in terms of exposure to toxins, in comparison to other forms of environmental contamination, such as food or air pollution. Combustible tobacco products (CTPs), including cigars, pipe tobaccos, bidis, and cigarettes, are therefore among the most toxic materials with a wide range of adverse health effects. The majority of studies on toxic elements in CTPs concentrate on cigarettes, with other forms of tobacco receiving comparatively little attention. Furthermore, there is currently no established methodology for estimating consumer exposure to these elements regarding smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to estimate the exposure of consumers to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in various CTPs, utilising a model adapted from food chemistry but considering air pollution exposure levels and the distinctive characteristics of smoking. The findings indicate that the inhalation of smoke from less than 0.5 g of tobacco can deliver hazardous doses of elements, such as Ni (noncancer risk) or As (carcinogenic risk). This suggests that inhalation of toxic elements in cigarette smoke significantly contributes to tobacco-related health risks.
Automatic Cleaning of Time Series Data in Rural Internet of Things Ecosystems That Use Nomadic Gateways
- Jerzy Dembski
- Agata Kołakowska
- Bogdan Wiszniewski
2025 Full text SENSORS
A serious limitation to the deployment of IoT solutions in rural areas may be the lack of available telecommunications infrastructure enabling the continuous collection of measurement data. A nomadic computing system, using a UAV carrying an on-board gateway, can handle this; it leads, however, to a number of technical challenges. One is the intermittent collection of data from ground sensors governed by weather conditions for the UAV measurement missions. Therefore, each sensor should be equipped with software that allows for the cleaning of collected data before transmission to the fly-over nomadic gateway from erroneous, misleading, or otherwise redundant data—to minimize their volume and fit them in the limited transmission window. This task, however, may be a barrier for end devices constrained in several ways, such as limited energy reserve, insufficient computational capability of their MCUs, and short transmission range of their RAT modules. In this paper, a comprehensive approach to these problems is proposed, which enables the implementation of an anomaly detector in time series data with low computational demand. The proposed solution uses the analysis of the physics of the measured signals and is based on a simple anomaly model whose parameters can be optimized using popular AI techniques. It was validated during a full 10-month vegetation period in a real Rural IoT system deployed by Gdańsk Tech.
Badania wpływu wielkości mikroziaren ściernych w paście na intensywność docierania wybranych materiałów
- Adam Barylski
2025 Inżynieria Materiałowa
Przedstawiono wyniki badań intensywności docierania próbek płaskich z miedzi beztlenowej i tellurowej oraz stali konstrukcyjnej 40H. Badano wpływ okresowego dawkowania elektrokorundowej pasty ściernej i wielkości mikroziaren ściernych oraz nacisku jednostkowego na ubytek masowy docieranych elementów.
Beyond Finance: Enhancing Support for New Technology Start-up Founders
- Paweł Ziemiański
- Katarzyna Stankiewicz
- Jan Wyrwiński
- Sylwiusz Retowski
- Bartosz Lipnicki
2025 IEEE Access
The article addresses a gap in the literature by examining the stressors and challenges specific to new technology start-up founders, an under-researched group of entrepreneurs operating at the intersection of innovation and business. The study’s novelty lies in applying the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model to the venture capitalist-founder relationship, highlighting the importance of balancing high job demands with adequate resources to enhance entrepreneurial well-being and success. Using a qualitative research design, the conducted study involved semi-structured interviews with 22 technology start-up founders across Europe to explore their unique challenges, demands, and support needs. The data were analyzed using template analysis, revealing three core challenges: managing the development of their technology-driven companies, maintaining mental and physical health, and achieving work-life balance. Based on these findings, the authors propose a novel, tailored support system for technology founders, incorporating mentorship, mental health resources, and strategies for maintaining work-life balance. This system is designed to meet the unique needs of technology entrepreneurs, with a focus on confidentiality, proven effectiveness, and flexibility. Venture capitalists are encouraged to implement such systems to alleviate the pressures on technology start-up founders and foster the sustainability and success of their ventures.
Beyond the field: How pesticide drift endangers biodiversity
- Saeed S. Albaseer
- Veerle L.B. Jaspers
- Luisa Orsini
- Penny Vlahos
- Hussein Al-Hazmi
- Henner Hollert
2025 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Airborne pesticide drift poses a substantial environmental threat in agriculture, affecting ecosystems far from the application sites. This process, in which up to 25% of applied pesticides are carried by air currents, can transport chemicals over hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. Drift rates peak during the summer months, reaching as high as 60%, and are influenced by various factors, including wind speed, temperature, humidity, and soil type. Pesticide volatilization is a significant concern, occurring 25 times more frequently than surface runoff. Under certain conditions, it can result in chemical losses of compounds like metolachlor and atrazine that are up to 150 times higher. These drifting pesticides have profound impacts on biodiversity, harming non-target plants, insects, fungi, and other organisms both near application sites and in distant ecosystems. Pesticide drift has been linked to over 50% reductions in wild plant diversity within 500 m of fields, reducing floral resources for pollinators. Despite growing evidence of these effects, the long-term consequences of airborne pesticides on biodiversity remain poorly understood, especially in complex field conditions with multiple pesticide applications. Addressing this requires urgent measures, such as improved meteorological tracking during applications, adoption of biopesticides, and integrated pest management strategies. This review highlights the pressing need for research to quantify airborne pesticides' ecological impacts, advocating for sustainable practices to mitigate environmental damage.