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Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • Towards Universal Visualisation of Emotional States for Information Systems
    • Michał Wróbel
    • Agnieszka Landowska
    • Karolina Makuch
    2024

    The paper concerns affective information systems that represent and visualize human emotional states. The goal of the study was to find typical representations of discrete and dimensional emotion models in terms of color, size, speed, shape, and animation type. A total of 419 participants were asked about their preferences for emotion visualization. We found that color, speed, and size correlated with selected discrete emotion labels, while speed correlated with arousal in a dimensional model. This study is a first step towards defining a universal emotion representation for use in information systems.

  • Trace metals in skeletal calcite of echinoderms from the Barents Sea
    • Anna Iglikowska
    • Anna Piwoni-Piórewicz
    • Bartłomiej Cieślik
    • Dominika Żyłan
    • Patryk Waszczuk
    • Piotr Kukliński
    2024 CHEMOSPHERE

    This study investigates the skeletal accumulation of selected elements (Al, Ag, As, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr, Zn) in echinoderms inhabiting Barents Sea, an area impacted by human activities from northern Norway and Kola Peninsula, known sources of metal pollution. The primary aim was to have insight whether metals incorporation in the skeleton of Arctic echinoderms is regulated physiologically by the organism or influenced by abiotic environmental conditions (expressed as distance from the source of metal pollution). Metal concentrations were analysed in 17 species from four echinoderm classes: Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Crinoidea and Echinoidea. The results revealed species-specific accumulation patterns for most metals, indicating a strong biological control over metal incorporation. In crinoid Heliometra glacialis, a negative correlation between body size and skeletal concentrations of Al, Fe, Mg and Mn was observed. This correlation was ascribed to age-related metabolic traits and a likely mechanism for removing foreign metals from the skeletal calcite. The relationships between environmental factors and metal accumulation patterns were less clear. However, higher concentrations of Al, Fe, Mg, Mn and Pb were found in suspension feeders collected near glaciers, which were potential sources of suspended material. Asteroids exhibited particularly high concentrations of Cu, Fe, Cr, Hg compared to species from the other regions, suggesting that their calcified skeletons may serve as storage mechanisms to prevent toxic effects in other body parts. These observations confirm that biologically-mediated processes predominantly govern metal bioaccumulation in Arctic echinoderms.

  • Transforming urban design education through international competitions: a 20-year perspective
    • Izabela Burda
    2024 World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education

    Over the past two decades, international urban design competitions have transformed architectural education by fostering creativity and interdisciplinary learning. This article provides a 20-year perspective by focusing on five of the most prominent competitions: Europan, UIA Student Competitions, ULI Hines Student Competitions, Arturbain.fr and the Global Schindler Award. Through a comparative analysis of these competitions, the research examines their thematic focus, participation levels, educational engagement and impact on urban design education. The results show that these competitions emphasise sustainability, ecological change and shared learning among participants. An analysis of selected editions illustrates their evolution in addressing urban challenges, such as regional connectivity, public space accessibility and environmental resilience. This study highlights that participation in these competitions prepares future urban designers to address complex challenges by encouraging innovative and sustainable solutions. It also underscores the transformative role of competitions in shaping and advancing urban design education.

  • Transparent TiO2 nanotubes supporting silver sulfide for photoelectrochemical water splitting
    • Wiktoria Lipińska
    • Stefania Wolff
    • Katharina Dehm
    • Simon Hager
    • Justyna Gumieniak
    • Agnieszka Kramek
    • Ryan Crisp
    • Emerson Coy
    • Katarzyna Grochowska
    • Katarzyna Siuzdak
    2024 NANOSCALE

    Differences between photoelectrochemical and electrochemical activity were thoroughly investigated for the oxygen evolution reaction mediated by Ag2S deposited on two types of ordered titania substrates. Titanium dioxide nanotubes were fabricated by anodization of magnetron sputtered Ti films on ITO-coated glass substrates or directly from Ti foil. Further, Ag2S deposition on the nanotubes was carried out using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction, known as SILAR, with 5, 25, and 45 cycles performed. Two types of nanotubes, one on transparent the other on non-transparent substrates were compared regarding their geometry, structure, optical, and electrochemical properties. It was demonstrated that the composite of Ag2S grown on transparent nanotubes exhibits higher catalytic activity compared to Ag2S grown on the nanotubes formed on Ti foil. The results showed that transparent nanotubes after modification with Ag2S by 25 SILAR cycles exhibit ca. 3 times higher photocurrent under visible light illumination than non-transparent ones treated with the same number of cycles. Furthermore, transparent nanotubes after 45 SILAR cycles of Ag2S exhibit enhanced activity towards oxygen evolution reaction with 9.3 mA cm−2 at 1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl/0.1 M KCl which is six times higher than titania alone on Ti foil.

  • Transport Mechanism of Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) in Polyurethane Nanocomposite Hydrogel Patches—Cloisite® 30B Influence on the Drug Release and Swelling Processes
    • Justyna Strankowska
    • Małgorzata Grzywińska
    • Ewelina Łęgowska
    • Marek Józefowicz
    • Michał Strankowski
    2024 Full text Materials

    This article describes the swelling and release mechanisms of paracetamol in polyurethane nanocomposite hydrogels containing Cloisite® 30B (organically modified montmorillonite). The transport mechanism, swelling and release processes of the active substance in nanocomposite matrix were studied using gravimetric and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. Swelling and release processes depend on the amount of clay nanoparticles in these systems and the degree of crosslinking of PU/PEG/Cloisite® 30B hydrogel nanocomposites.

  • TR-Based Antenna Design with Forward FD: The Effects of Step Size on the Optimization Performance
    • Adrian Bekasiewicz
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Tom Dhaene
    • Marcin Narloch
    2024

    Numerical methods are important tools for design of modern antennas. Trust-region (TR) methods coupled with data-efficient surrogates based on finite differentiation (FD) represent a popular class of antenna design algorithms. However, TR performance is subject to FD setup, which is normally determined a priori based on rules-of-thumb. In this work, the effect of FD perturbations on the performance of TR-based design is evaluated on a case study basis concerning a total of 80 optimizations of a planar antenna structure. The obtained results demonstrate that, for the considered radiator, the performance of the final designs obtained using different FD setups may vary by as much as 18 dB (and by over 4 dB on average). At the same time, the a priori perturbations in a range between 1.5% and 3% (w.r.t. the initial design) seem to be suitable for maintaining (relatively) consistent and high-quality results.

  • Treatment of Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis with the Use of Growth Factors in Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin for Immediate Closure of Oro-Antral Communication: A Case Report
    • Paulina Adamska
    • Dorota Pylińska-Dąbrowska
    • Marcin Stasiak
    • Magdalena Kaczoruk-Wieremczuk
    • Ewa Kozłowska
    • Adam Zedler
    • Michal Studniarek
    2024 Full text INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES

    Chronic odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (COMS), a prolonged inflammation of the maxillary sinus lasting over 12 weeks, is often a result of periapical lesions, marginal periodontitis, and complications like oro-antral communication (OAC) and fistula (OAF). OAC, commonly emerging post-teeth extraction in the lateral maxilla, lacks documented treatments using advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF). This study evaluates A-PRF’s efficacy in treating COMS and immediately sealing extensive OAC. A case of a 28-year-old male with COMS linked to a periapical lesion and supernumerary molars is presented. Treatment involved extracting specific teeth while preserving adjacent ones and using A-PRF for immediate OAC closure. A-PRF, enriched with growth factors, was pivotal in healing, showcasing enhanced tissue regeneration, pain reduction, and faster recovery. The findings suggest A-PRF as an effective adjunct in treating extensive OAC and COMS, proposing its inclusion in standard treatment protocols. This study underscores A-PRF’s potential in improving outcomes for patients with COMS and related complications.

  • Treatment of Oroantral Communication and Fistulas with the Use of Blood-Derived Platelet-Rich Preparations Rich in Growth Factors: A Systematic Review
    • Paulina Adamska
    • Magdalena Kaczoruk-Wieremczuk
    • Dorota Pylińska-Dąbrowska
    • Marcin Stasiak
    • Michał Bartmański
    • Adam Zedler
    • Michal Studniarek
    2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES

    The formation of an oroantral communication (OAC) or fistula (OAF) is a rare complication resulting from the presence of processes in the lateral parts of the maxilla or for iatrogenic reasons. The most common causes of OAC or OAF are tooth extraction with periapical lesions. The aims of this systematic review were to assess the use of platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors in the treatment of OAC or OAF, to determine the success of treating the communication or fistula, as well as impact on postoperative complications and the course of healing. The study was performed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024570758). The inclusion criteria were as follows: at least ten patients, the presence of oroantral communication or oroantral fistula, treatment with platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors, and information regarding the response to treatment. In order to find relevant studies, international databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science Core Collection, MDPI, Wiley, and Cochrane Library were searched. The last search was performed on 31 August 2024. Seven articles were included in the systematic review. In total, platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors were used in 164 patients. Only studies in which OAC was treated and with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) met the inclusion criteria. Only PRF was used as the sole treatment method in three studies. When OAC is greater than 5 mm, platelet-derived preparations rich in growth factors should be considered adjuncts to treatment, not the sole treatment method. The success rate of OAC treatment was 90–100%. The use of blood products to close OAC may be an effective therapeutic alternative. Proper patient qualification and the use of an appropriate protocol are crucial. There is a need for future well-designed case-control or cohort studies as well as randomized controlled trials to provide the required level of evidence.

  • TRF1 and TRF2: pioneering targets in telomere-based cancer therapy
    • Anoop Kallingal
    • Radosław Krzemieniecki
    • Natalia Maciejewska
    • Wioletta Brankiewicz-Kopcinska
    • Maciej Bagiński
    2024 JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY

    This article presents an in-depth exploration of the roles of Telomere Repeat-binding Factors 1 and 2 (TRF1 and TRF2), and the shelterin complex, in the context of cancer biology. It emphasizes their emerging significance as potential biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention. Central to the shelterin complex, TRF1 and TRF2 are crucial in maintaining telomere integrity and genomic stability, their dysregulation often being a hallmark of cancerous cells. The article delves into the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of TRF1 and TRF2 across various cancer types, highlighting their sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, it reviews current strides in drug discovery targeting the shelterin complex, detailing specific compounds and their modes of action. The review candidly addresses the challenges in developing therapies aimed at the shelterin complex, including drug resistance, off-target effects, and issues in drug delivery. By synthesizing recent research findings, the article sheds light on the intricate relationship between telomere biology and cancer development. It underscores the urgency for continued research to navigate the existing challenges and fully leverage the therapeutic potential of TRF1, TRF2, and the shelterin complex in the realm of cancer treatment.

  • Triaxial compression and shear strength characteristics of twostage concrete: an experimental study
    • Farzam Omidi Moaf
    • Ali M. Rajabi
    • Hakmi S. Abdelgader
    • Marzena Kurpińska
    • G. Murali
    • Mikołaj Miśkiewicz
    2024 Scientific Reports

    The research necessity stems from the need to understand and evaluate the performance of Two- Stage Concrete (TSC) under triaxial compression conditions, as prior studies have predominantly focused on uniaxial and biaxial testing of conventional concrete (CC). This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into the triaxial compressive strength and related mechanical properties of TSC, addressing a critical gap in the existing body of literature. Three different mixtures were prepared, including one CC and two TSC variants with varying cement content. The results and behavior of these mixtures were compared to assess their performance. Findings reveal that TSC, particularly those types with finer aggregates, demonstrates superior shear strength, achieving up to 52.4 MPa under dry conditions, in contrast to the 48.38 MPa observed in CC. Furthermore, TSC exhibits remarkable stress tolerance, withstanding up to 82.04 MPa, significantly outperforming CC, which withstands only 69.61 MPa under similar conditions. This behavior can be attributed to the higher coarse aggregate content, the increased interaction and contact points between coarse aggregates, the improved bonding between them, and the inherent properties of the grout. TSC also maintains a higher modulus of elasticity and internal friction angles, indicating superior deformation behavior and shear resistance. Additionally, TSC shows greater resilience to moisture, suggesting its potential suitability for use in variable moisture environments. These properties highlight the strength of TSC for high-load applications and its suitability for infrastructure prone to environmental fluctuations.

  • Triple correlation states between in-situ tested soil parameters
    • Eligiusz Mieloszyk
    • Mariusz Wyroślak
    2024 Archives of Civil Engineering

    When testing soil parameters, the measured parameter values are only approximations of the true values. The measurand is determined based on metrological uncertainties or using statistical models for analysing data. Some parameters of the soil state present strong correlations, but others do not always provide simple correspondences. Multiple correlations between geotechnical parameters can provide a new perspective regarding the mutual relations between these parameters and may improve the fit of different soil parameters in geotechnical design procedures. Statistical modelling based on observed data generally involves a comparison between theoretical expectancies and practical surveys. Multidimensional regression models are useful for revealing the influences of several independent variables on one dependent variable. Statistical parameters and a quantitative approach can be used to define the relationships between several factors. Presented results claim that triple depended correlations may bring some corrects in relationships of soil parameters as against to double depended correlations. The differences in coefficients of determination are significant. Three variables involved stronger correlations.

  • Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconverting Liposomes: Mechanistic Insights into the Role of Membranes in Two-Dimensional TTA-UC
    • Amrutha Prabhakaran
    • Keshav Kumar Jha
    • Rengel Cane Sia
    • Ruben Arturo Arellano-Reyes
    • Nirod Kumar Sarangi
    • Mateusz Kogut
    • Julien Guthmuller
    • Jacek Czub
    • Benjamin Dietzek-Ivanšić
    • Tia E. Keyes
    2024 Full text ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

    Triplet−triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) implemented in nanoparticle assemblies is of emerging interest in biomedical applications, including in drug delivery and imaging. As it is a bimolecular process, ensuring sufficient mobility of the sensitizer and annihilator to facilitate effective collision in the nanoparticle is key. Liposomes can provide the benefits of two-dimensional confinement and condensed concentration of the sensitizer and annihilator along with superior fluidity compared to other nanoparticle assemblies. They are also biocompatible and widely applied across drug delivery modalities. However, there are relatively few liposomal TTA-UC systems reported to date, so systematic studies of the influence of the liposomal environment onTTA-UC are currently lacking. Here, we report the first example of a BODIPY-based sensitizer TTA-UC system within liposomes and use this system to study TTA-UC generation and compare the relative intensity of the anti-Stokes signal for this system as a function of liposome composition and membrane fluidity. We report for the first time on time-resolved spectroscopic studies of TTA-UC in membranes. Nanosecond transient absorption data reveal the BODIPY-perylene dyad sensitizer has a long triplet lifetime in liposome with contributions from three triplet excited states, whose lifetimes are reduced upon coinclusion of the annihilator due to triplet−triplet energy transfer, to a greater extent than in solution.This indicates triplet energy transfer between the sensitizer and the annihilator is enhanced in the membrane system. Molecular dynamics simulations of the sensitizer and annihilator TTA collision complex in the membrane confirm the co-orientation of the pair within the membrane structure and that the persistence time of the bound complex exceeds the TTA kinetics. The relative intensity of the TTA-UC output across nine liposomal systems of different lipid compositions was explored to examine the influence of membrane viscosity on upconversion (UC). UC showed the highest relative intensity for the most fluidic membranes and the weakest intensity for highly viscous membranes. Overall, our study reveals that the co-orientation of the UC pair within the membrane is crucial for effective TTA-UC and that the intensity of the TTA-UC output can be tuned in liposomes by modifying their phase and fluidity. These new insights will aid in the design of liposomal TTA-UC systems for biomedicalapplications

  • Trisity###6, festiwal sitodruku
    • Łukasz Ławrynowicz
    2024

    Festiwal Sitodruku Trisity organizowany przez MORZE przy wsparciu Akademii Sztuk Pięknych w Gdańsku to obecnie największe w Europie wydarzenie poświęcone popularyzacji sitodruku – jednej z tradycyjnych technik grafiki artystycznej zwanej również serigrafią. Zaprezentowane zostały prace 100 autorów.

  • Trisity###6, wystawa zamykająca festival
    • Łukasz Ławrynowicz
    2024

    Festiwal Sitodruku Trisity organizowany przez MORZE przy wsparciu Akademii Sztuk Pięknych w Gdańsku to obecnie największe w Europie wydarzenie poświęcone popularyzacji sitodruku – jednej z tradycyjnych technik grafiki artystycznej zwanej również serigrafią. Zaprezentowane zostały prace 100 autorów.

  • Trwałość łączeniowa i udarowa źródeł oświetlenia LED w środowiskach z występującymi zaburzeniami harmonicznymi
    • Stanisław Galla
    • Mirosław Włas
    2024 Full text Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań trwałości łączeniowej i udarowej źródeł światła LED w przypadku występowania zaburzeń harmonicznymi w napięciu zasilania. Przeprowadzone badania wskazują na znaczący wpływ odkształceń napięcia zasilania zarówno na trwałość łączeniową jak i na badania wytrzymałości udarowej przeprowadzane wg zaleceń zawartych w EN 61000-4-5.

  • Tunable emission and energy transfer of B2O3–Bi2O3–AlF3 glass system doped with Eu3+/Dy3+
    • Karolina Milewska
    • Michał Edmund Maciejewski
    • Michal Žitňan
    • José Joaquín Velázquez
    • Dušan Galusek
    • Wojciech Sadowski
    • Barbara Kościelska
    2024 JOURNAL OF LUMINESCENCE

    The structure and luminescent properties of the B2O3–Bi2O–AlF3 glass system doped with Eu3+/Dy3+ ions in different molar ratios were studied. A series of glasses were synthesized by the conventional melt quenching technique. Glass transition and crystallization temperatures were examined by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) measurements. The amorphous character of the prepared samples was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Raman and FTIR spectra were collected and deconvoluted to investigate the glass microstructure. Luminescence spectra revealed that the added rare-earth ions can be excited by a single wavelength. The emitted color can be tuned by changing the ratios of the Eu3+/Dy3+ ions and the excitation wavelength. Furthermore, the influence of the addition of AlF3 on the luminescence and decay times was investigated. In the glasses with 10 mol% AlF3 an enhancement of the emission and excitation spectra was detected. The energy transfer analysis confirms the energy transfer between Eu3+ and Dy3+ ions in the glass matrix. Additionally, the results of this study indicate that the B2O3–Bi2O–AlF3 glasses doped with Eu3+ and Dy3+ can be used as a color tunable phosphor.

  • Tuning of food wastes bioavailability as feedstock for bio-conversion processes by acoustic cavitation and SPC, SPS, or H2O2 as external oxidants
    • Zahra Askarniya
    • Lingshuai Kong
    • Chongqing Wang
    • Shirish H. Sonawane
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2024 Full text CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING

    The growing amount of food wastes makes them a suitable source for the generation of bioproducts through anaerobic digestion. Appropriate hydrolysis of the feedstock can enhance the efficiency of production of desired products. In this work, acoustic cavitation (AC) was employed as a pretreatment method to enhance hydrolysis stage by the modification of model (potato-based) food waste for increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand (CODs) and dissolved carbohydrate. For the first time high and low frequency AC was compared for this purpose. The application of sole AC at a frequency of 20 kHz for feedstock loading of 3 % has led to 125 % and 124 % increase in CODs and dissolved carbohydrates, respectively. The combination of AC with external oxidants hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium persulfate (SPS), and sodium percarbonate (SPC) was also studied. This part of the studies revealed that SPS has superior properties for increasing CODs by 258 % and dissolved carbohydrates by 240 %. On the other hand, addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as alternative reagent, leads to a 173 % increase in CODs and 155 % increase in dissolved carbohydrates. Making both ways of processing highly effective to increase the bioavailability of food wastes for further biologic processing.

  • Tuning the work function of graphite nanoparticles via edge termination
    • Michael P. Mercer
    • Arihant Bhandari
    • Chao Peng
    • Jacek Dziedzic
    • Chris-Kriton Skylaris
    • Denis Kramer
    2024 Full text PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS

    Graphite nanoparticles are important in energy materials applications such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), supercapacitors and as catalyst supports. Tuning the work function of the nanoparticles allows local control of lithiation behaviour in LIBs, and the potential of zero charge of electrocatalysts and supercapacitors. Using large scale density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we find that the surface termination of multilayer graphene nanoparticles can substantially modify the work function. Calculations in vacuum and in electrolyte show that manipulating the edge termination substantially modifies the potential not only around the edge, but also on the basal plane. Termination with hydrogen or oxygen completely reverses the potential distribution surrounding the basal plane and edges. The trends can be explained based on the work function differences of the edges dependent on termination, and that of the basal plane. Electronic equilibration between different surfaces at the nanoscale allows manipulation of the work function. We demonstrate a link between the area of the graphite basal plane via changing the nanoparticle size, and the work function. We expect that these insights can be utilised for local control of electrochemical functions of graphite nanoparticles prepared under oxidising or reducing conditions.

  • Tutoring rówieśniczy jako skuteczna metoda wspierania procesu uczenia się
    • Agnieszka Bartłomiejczyk
    • Brygida Mielewska
    2024 Zeszyty Naukowe Wydziału Elektrotechniki i Automatyki Politechniki Gdańskiej

    W artykule przedstawione zostały zarówno teoretyczne podstawy, jak i praktyczne zastosowania efektywnej formy wsparcia dydaktycznego jaką jest tutoring rówieśniczy. Analizie poddane zostały zajęcia realizowane w ramach tutoringu rówieśniczego na Wydziale Fizyki Technicznej i Matematyki Stosowanej Politechniki Gdańskiej. Analiza obejmuje ocenę efektywności tych zajęć, zaangażowanie studentów oraz ich satysfakcję z procesu nauki. Omówione zostały również wnioski i rekomendacje dotyczące dalszego rozwijania programów tutoringowych, które mogą przyczynić się do poprawy jakości kształcenia na poziomie akademickim.

  • Two-Dimensional CrCl3-Layered Trihalide Nanoflake Sensor for the Detection of Humidity, NO2, and H2
    • Valentina Paolucci
    • Dario Mastrippolito
    • Vittorio Ricci
    • Hanna Świątek
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    • Luca Ottaviano
    • Carlo Cantalini
    2024 ACS Applied Nano Materials

    This study demonstrates that few-layer two-dimensional (2D) CrCl3 transition-metal trihalides (TMTHs; MX3, where M = Ti, V, Cr, Mo, Fe, Ru, and X = Cl, Br, or I) exhibit promising capabilities as chemoresistive sensors for humidity and NO2, H2, and NH3 gases, representing suitable 2D interfaces for gas-sensing applications. Liquid-phase-exfoliated 2D-CrCl3 flakes spin-coated over interdigital substrates exhibit higher chemical stability than CrI3 and VI3 with an excellent reproducible and long-term stable electrical response at an operating temperature (OT) of 100 °C in dry/wet air environments. Results show that with an increase/decrease in resistance, 2D-CrCl3 exhibits p-type responses to NO2 (400 ppb to 1 ppm) and H2O (10−80% relative humidity (RH) at 25 °C), H2 (10−250 ppm), and NH3 (10−250 ppm) oxidizing/reducing gases, respectively. The humidity cross-response of 2D-CrCl3 to NO2 reveals that an environment with 40% RH improves the relative responses and limits of detection of exfoliated CrCl3. The humidity- and gas-sensing response mechanism of 2D-CrCl3 sensor explains its reversal in resistance from an ionic (OT = 25 °C) to an electronic conduction regime (OT = 100 °C) under humid air conditions. These findings provide insights and possibilities for using 2D-CrCl3 TMTHs as humidity- and gas-sensing interfaces.

  • Typology, current state and non-destructive testing of timber roof trusses of historic churches in the West Vistula Delta, Poland
    • Tomasz Zybała
    • Monika Zielińska
    • Magdalena Rucka
    • Jarosław Przewłócki
    • Karol Grębowski
    2024 Full text Heritage Science

    This paper presents the current state of conservation of historic roof churches located in the Żuławy of Gdańsk (Poland). It also describes the architecture of these temples, the region itself and old carpentry techniques for constructing roof trusses. Interdisciplinary tests were carried out in six churches. The geometry of the load bearing structures, the moisture content and the carpentry technique were specified. The field survey also included visual inspections and non-destructive testing of timber structural elements of the roof constructions. The ground penetrating radar and ultrasonic testing methods were used to assess the structure and extent of the damage to the timber elements. The interdisciplinary research presented in this article is important in the planning of historic buildings conservation works and it might be applied to other timber structures.

  • UAV measurements and AI-driven algorithms fusion for real estate good governance principles support
    • Paweł Tysiąc
    • Artur Janowski
    • Marek Walacik
    2024 International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation

    The paper introduces an original method for effective spatial data processing, particularly important for land administration and real estate governance. This approach integrates Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data acquisition and processing with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geometric Transformation algorithms. The results reveal that: (1) while the separate applications of YOLO and Hough Transform algorithms achieve building detection rates up to 77% and 83%, respectively, (2) a novel methodology is proposed to combine spatial data and assess their quality of the detected buildings by comparing the generated building polygons with existing cadastral maps. The evaluation uses a polygon-based comparison approach, which computes metrics such as Precision, Recall, F1-Score, and Accuracy based on the spatial relationships between predicted and reference building contours, (3) the weighted model showed about 7 % improvement in accuracy compared to cadastral data. This innovative approach substantially improves spatial data processing, aiding in implementing principles for real estate good governance and offering a valuable asset for various land administration applications.

  • UAV-Based Hyperspectral Ultraviolet-Visible Interpolated Reflectance Images for Remote Sensing of Leaf Area Index
    • Tomasz Berezowski
    • Marcin Kulawiak
    • Marek Kulawiak
    2024 IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing

    Despite its relation to a number of environmental parameters, ultraviolet (UV) reflectance is rarely used in remote sensing. In this study, we investigate the applicability of UV-vis reflectance for vegetation monitoring with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). We measure point reflectance over the study area using a UAV-borne spectrometer, project the points onto the Earth's surface, and interpolate them to obtain continuous reflectance images. We use the leaf area index (LAI) to demonstrate the applicability of UV reflectance for vegetation monitoring. Our results show that the UAV reflectance images match the Sentinel-2 reflectance. Our validation shows that the inclusion of UV reflectance to the visible reflectance in LAI models leads to the r2 increase of up to 29.2% and RMSE decrease of up to 18.9% in comparison to the LAI models using visible reflectance only. We have shown that measurement of UV reflectance is feasible in the 320–400 nm range using UAV remote sensing and that hyperspectral UV-vis reflectance imaging is useful for vegetation monitoring. Moreover, the obtained results lead us to believe that improvement of our measurement system, or conducting the experiments in a different location should make it possible to measure the reflectance at a wavelength of 290 nm. Finally, we discuss other potential applications of UV in remote sensing.

  • UE ETS: an in-depth descriptive analysis.
    • Helena Anacka
    • Claudia Nardone
    2024

    The European Emission Trading System (EU ETS) plays a pivotal role in the EU’s strategy to address climate change, serving as a fundamental instrument for cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, it inaugurated the word’s first major carbon market and it continues to the largest one. Chapter 1 provides an in-depth examination of the EU ETS, spanning from its inception in 2005 to 2020. After providing a descriptive analysis of emission from stationary installation by year, country, and sector, market dynamics is analyzed. This analysis encompasses transaction frequency and volumes traded annually, as well as a breakdown by type of account and month. The study places special emphasis on Italian firms, comparing trading and non-trading entities, firms engaged solely in buying or purchasing, and those involved in both buying and purchasing activities. Additionally, the analysis distinguishes between inter-firm and intra-firm trades within the market.

  • Ulgi podatkowe w sektorze MŚP - wyniki badań
    • Piotr Kasprzak
    2024

    Niniejsza książka powstała na podstawie rozprawy doktorskiej autora, której podstawowe cele obejmowały zbadanie i określenie, czy i w jakim stopniu preferencje podatkowe w postaci ulg i zwolnień są wykorzystywane przez przedsiębiorców należących do sektora MŚP. Celem poznawczym niniejszej pracy jest uporządkowanie wiedzy na temat stymulacyjnej funkcji podatków realizowanej poprzez system ulg i zwolnień. Badanie składało się z czterech etapów – badania pilotażowego w postaci sondażu ankietowego i wywiadów uzupełniających, zasadniczego badania ankietowego oraz drugiej tury wywiadów. Metoda sondażu diagnostycznego została wykorzystana przy zbieraniu danych pierwotnych wśród przedsiębiorstw sektora MŚP. Instrumentem pomiaru był opracowany przez autora kwestionariusz ankiety. Celem było przebadanie przedsiębiorstw spełniających definicję UE w zakresie mikro-, małych i średnich podmiotów, posiadających siedzibę na terytorium RP, podatników podatku dochodowego (CIT lub PIT), z różnych branż i sektorów Analiza wyników przeprowadzonych badań pozwoliła dokonać oceny wykorzystania ulg i zwolnień przez mikro-, małe i średnie przedsiębiorstwa. Wyniki badań pokazują, że system obowiązujących w Polsce preferencji podatkowych nie jest idealny. Ponadto, ze względu na wielokierunkowy zakres oddziaływania instrumentów podatkowych, ocena poszczególnych wdrożonych do systemu podatkowego rozwiązań jest zagadnieniem wielce skomplikowanym, a jednoznaczna ocena skuteczności oddziaływania – niejednokrotnie niemożliwa.

  • Ultra-Compact Self-Quadruplexing Microfluidically Frequency Reconfigurable Slot Antenna Using Half-Mode SIW
    • Rusan Kumar Barik
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2024 AEU-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS

    In this brief, the design of an ultra-compact self-quadruplexing frequency reconfigurable antenna (SQFRA) utilizing a half-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (HMSIW) and microfluidic channels is discussed. Four HMSIW cavities fed by four microstrip lines and slots are used to construct a highly compact antenna. The microstrip feedings to the HMSIW cavities are applied in such a way that the proposed antenna exhibits self-quadruplexing properties with good isolation. The working principle is explained by employing surface current densities, and an equivalent circuit model. In order to achieve frequency tunability, two or three empty sockets associated with each HMSIW cavity are drilled from the bottom plane and filled with dielectric fluids. The effect of height and locations of fluidic channels are discussed in detail. To validate the proposed tunability, a prototype of SQFTA is fabricated and demonstrated. The fabricated antenna provides frequency ranges of 16.46%, 17.84%, 11.99%, and 14.94% at the first, second, third, and fourth frequency bands, respectively. The SQFTA exhibits a small footprint of 0.084λg2, which makes it the most compact self-quadruplexing tunable antenna in the open literature. Furthermore, the fabricated antenna features high isolation greater than 24.7dB, and realized gain greater than 3.55 dBi at all the operating frequencies.

  • Ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS) of cerium oxide-based compound
    • Ahsanul Kabir
    • Bartłomiej Lemieszek
    • Jakub Karczewski
    • Emanuele De Bona
    • Maxim Varenik
    • Sebastian Molin
    • Mattia Biesuz
    2024 Full text Open Ceramics

    Ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS) is an innovative sintering technique that can densify ceramics in a few seconds, dramatically reducing the carbon footprint and firing costs. In this work, the feasibility of applying UHS in Gd-doped ceria (GDC) and GDC-Er-stabilized bismuth oxide (ESB) composite powders was investigated. At high UHS currents (22-24 A), a fully dense GDC sample with a large grain size was obtained. Nonetheless, most of the GDC pellets exhibited micro/macro cracks, which were reduced by lowering the sample thickness. Moreover, the GDC-ESB composite sample exhibits no cracks or fragmentation at all, thanks to ESB as a sintering aid. This type of sample was further characterized from an electrochemical and electromechanical point of view. The GDC-ESB material displays an ionic conductivity value of ~1.5 x 10−2 S/cm at 600 °C and frequency-stable (0.1-350 Hz) room temperature electrostriction strain coefficient of ~10−18 (m/V)2.

  • Ultrahigh Quantum Efficiency Near-Infrared-II Emission Achieved by Cr3+ Clusters to Ni2+ Energy Transfer
    • Chih-Yu Chang
    • Ming-Hsuan Huang
    • Kuan-Chun Chen
    • Wen-Tse Huang
    • Mikołaj Kamiński
    • Natalia Majewska
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    • Jia-Hao Chen
    • Ding-Hua Cherng
    • Kuang-Mao Lu
    • Wei Kong Pang
    • Vanessa K. Peterson
    • Sebastian Mahlik
    • Grzegorz Leniec
    • Ru-Shi Liu
    2024 CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS

    Increasing demand for near-infrared-II (NIR-II) light sources requires improved NIR-II phosphors. We present a series of phosphors codoped with Cr3+ and Ni2+ that possess NIRII emission with an unprecedented internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 97.4%. Our study reveals an energy transfer mechanism involving clusters of Cr3+ where luminescent centers are closely matched in energy and where the Ni2+ emission intensity can be tuned through sintering temperature. The profound electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies disclose the interaction between Cr3+ clusters and Cr3+−Ni2+ pairs, further proving the cause of such a high IQE and the significance of Cr3+ clusters. This work provides promising pathways for the development of NIR-II light-emitting diodes with outstanding efficiency by suggesting a new energy transfer source of Cr3+.

  • Ultra-Miniaturized HMSIW Cavity-Backed Reconfigurable Antenna Diplexer Employing Dielectric Fluids with Wide Frequency Tuning Range
    • Rusan Kumar Barik
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2024 Full text Scientific Reports

    This communication presents an ultra-miniaturized two-way frequency tunable antenna diplexer based on cavity-backed slots and dielectric fluids. The proposed antenna utilizes two half-mode substrate-integrated rectangular cavities loaded with slots and fluidic pockets. The conventional size reduction is achieved by employing half-mode cavities, whereas ultra-miniaturization is obtained by applying the slots, which provides additional capacitive loading. As the cavities are of unequal sizes, a weak cross-coupling path is created between the ports to obtain high isolation (>30 dB). The isolation is further enhanced by loading the slots. Two mechanisms are analyzed to tune the frequency bands individually or simultaneously. Firstly, the width of the slots can be altered to tune the frequency bands. However, this method involves modification of the physical dimensions of the antenna. Secondly, fluidic vias are created on the bottom plane of the cavities. These can be filled with various dielectric liquids to achieve frequency reconfigurability without altering the physical dimensions of the antenna. To demonstrate the concepts considered, the prototype of the proposed antenna was fabricated and experimentally validated. The structure has a footprint of 0.045λg2 and an isolation exceeding 33.4 dB. The operating frequencies are tunable in the range from 3.08 to 3.84 GHz (lower band) and from 4.97 to 6.33 GHz (upper band) by varying the dimensions of the slots whereas the operating frequencies are reconfigurable in the range from 2.74 to 3.38 GHz (lower band) and from 4.54 to 5.58 GHz (upper band), by employing microfluidic approach. As a result, the working frequencies may be varied in the range from 2.74 to 3.84 GHz (lower band) and from 4.54 to 6.33 GHz (upper band), making this antenna diplexer a competitive candidate for several communication systems. The cross-polarization levels, front-to-back ratio, and realized gain are greater than 19 dB, 18 dB, and 2. dBi, respectively. Excellent consistency is observed between full-wave simulation results and the measurement data.

  • Ultra-Wideband Vivaldi Antenna with an Integrated Noise-Rejecting Parasitic Notch Filter for Online Partial Discharge Detection
    • Sayed Mohammad Kameli
    • Shady S. Refaat
    • Haitham Abu-Rub
    • Ahmad Darwish
    • Ali Ghrayeb
    • Marek Olesz
    2024 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT

    Power transformers and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) play crucial roles in electrical power grids. However, they may suffer from degradation of insulation material due to wear and tear, leading to their imminent failure. Partial discharges (PDs) are an initial sign of insulation materials degradation which emit signals spanning various physical domains, including electromagnetic. PDs are temporally narrow, high-frequency, stochastic radiation sources. The Ultra-Wideband Vivaldi Antenna is the key element for the detection of PDs in power transformers and gas-insulated switchgear. However, they may be subject to different interference environments due to external sources of telecommunication radiation noise occupying the 2.4 GHz – 2.5 GHz band. Noise mixing with PD signals is challenging to resolve, especially for external sensors. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals from mobile devices easily overshadow faint PD signals. Band-reject frequency filters may be attached to the antenna, often at the detriment of the insertion loss. The integrated filter does not require any additional post-processing, making it less computationally demanding for smaller processors used in practice. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth degrade the PD signal, necessitating an integrated analog notch filter for noise removal. Therefore, an external ultra-wideband (UWB) Vivaldi antenna with an integrated noise-rejecting parasitic notch filter is designed, fabricated, and tested to detect PDs in electrical assets such as transformers, power cables, and GIS, with GIS being the focus in the experimental validation in this study. A comparative study of the proposed antenna is presented. This paper proposed an antenna that is designed to provide coverage of 95.516% of the 0.226 GHz – 3.506 GHz frequency band, with an average return loss of -16.04 dB and a peak gain of 5.5 in the working band, excluding the notched band. The peak return loss in the 2.4 GHz – 2.5 GHz rejection band is -2.68 dB, with an average attenuation of -35.74 dB. This wide coverage is demonstrated in this paper using simulation and experimentally.

  • Unbounded quantum advantage in communication complexity measured by distinguishability
    • Anubhav Chaturvedi
    • Manna Satyaki
    • Debashis Saha
    2024 Full text Physical Review Research

    Communication complexity is a fundamental aspect of information science, concerned with the amount of communication required to solve a problem distributed among multiple parties. The standard quantification of one-way communication complexity relies on the minimal dimension of the communicated systems. In this paper, we measure the communication complexity of a task by the minimal distinguishability required to accomplish it, while leaving the dimension of the communicated systems unconstrained. Distinguishability is defined as the maximum probability of correctly guessing the sender's input from the message, quantifying the message's distinctiveness relative to the sender's input. This measure becomes especially relevant when maintaining the confidentiality of the sender's input is essential. After establishing the generic framework, we focus on three relevant families of communication complexity tasks—the random access codes, equality problems defined by graphs, and the pair-distinguishability tasks. We derive general lower bounds on the minimal classical distinguishability as a function of the success metric of these tasks. We demonstrate that quantum communication outperforms classical communication presenting explicit protocols and utilizing semidefinite programming methods. In particular, we demonstrate unbounded quantum advantage for random access codes and Hadamard graph-based equality problems. Specifically, we show that the classical-to-quantum ratio of minimal distinguishability required to achieve the same success metric escalates polynomially and exponentially with the complexity of these tasks, reaching arbitrarily large values.

  • Under the Fire of Disinformation. Attitudes Towards Fake News in the Ukrainian Frozen War
    • Jan Kreft
    • Monika Boguszewicz-kreft
    • Daria Hliebova
    2024 Journalism Practice

    In this article, we examine individual attitudes towards fake news in the extreme conditions of a propaganda war, taking into account the complex regional social and historical conditions. For this purpose, within the mobile boundary zone during frozen war in Ukraine, we conducted qualitative research among representatives of generations X and Z (high school teachers and students). Being accustomed to fake news turned out to be common for our interlocutors, whereas the main generational differences regarded the perception of the primary sources of fake news and trust in the media, and, first and foremost, the ways of verifying information, where we demonstrated unique strategies of behavior, such as ignoring fake news (1) and relying on official websites (2), which were accompanied by the common for “normal” conditions checking information in other Internet sources (3) and the verification information from other users (4).

  • Understanding the Dominant Physics Mechanisms on the p-i-n Perovskite Solar Cells Fabricated by Scalable Slot-Die Coating Process in Ambient Air
    • Damian Głowienka
    • Shih-Han Huang
    • Pei-Huan Lee
    • Feng-Yu Tsai
    • Wei-Fang Su
    2024 Full text Solar RRL

    Perovskite solar cells (PSC) are emerging technologies that have shown continuous improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. However, a very important aspect that has been seldom considered is the reproducibility of PCE of PSC devices. It is possible to achieve PCE from 10.21% to 17.05% using scalable slot-die-coating technique. However, a spatial distribution of performance is clearly observed for device samples on a 4 × 4 cm substrate. The relatively low PCE is mainly coming from the losses of electrical mechanism. To have in-depth understanding of the losses, the dominant loss analysis techniques including numerical simulations are used to explore the mechanism. In the results, it is indicated that a part of efficiency decrease is due to the increase of bulk defect density which linearly changes with the quality of the perovskite layer and related to recombination process. However, extremely high-charge-carrier transportation losses are found at the HTL/perovskite interface that are related to the Fermi-level pinning mechanism for low-efficiency device. The result of physics insight of perovskite solar cells leads to a strategy, where chemical passivation technique is used to achieve the PCE from 13.81% to 18.07% for the batch of devices with good reproducibility.

  • Understanding the Ukrainian Migrants Challenges in the EU: A Topic Modeling Approach
    • Nina Khairova
    • Nina Rizun
    • Charalampos Harris Alexopoulos
    • Magdalena Ciesielska
    • Arsenii Lukashevskyi
    • Ivan Redozub
    2024 Full text

    Confronted with the aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Europe faces one of the most important humanitarian challenges - the migration of war refugees from Ukraine, most of them women with children and the elderly. Both international institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations, but also national governments and, above all, local governments, which are the main providers of services and resources for refugees, are taking a number of measures to meet the needs. The extraordinary nature and extensive humanitarian needs pose exceptional challenges for both governments and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as civil society. The European countries adopted distinct reception procedures to accommodate war refugees in their territories. The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of war refugees from Ukraine and gain an understanding of how they vary across selected European countries. Using a text analytics approach such as BERTopic topic modeling, we analyzed text messages published on Telegram channels from February 2022 to September 2023, revealing 12 challenges facing Ukrainian migrants. Furthermore, our study delves into these challenges distribution across 6 major European countries with significant migrant populations, providing insights into regional differences. Additionally, temporal changes in 8 narrative themes in discussions of Ukrainian migration, extracted from official government websites, were examined. Together, this research contributes (1) to demonstrating how analytics-driven methodology can potentially be used to extract in-depth knowledge from textual data freely available on social media; and (2) to a deeper understanding of the various issues affecting the adaptation of Ukrainian migrants in European countries. The study also provides recommendations to improve programs and policies to better support the successful integration of Ukrainian migrants in host countries

  • Underwater Electrochemical Offshore Tests of a Paint Coating Applied in Water on the Legs of an Oil Production Platform
    • Juliusz Orlikowski
    • Krzysztof Żakowski
    • Michał Szociński
    • Piotr Igliński
    • Agata Jazdzewska
    • Łukasz Gaweł
    2024 Materials

    This paper presents the methodology developed for underwater measurements using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique, aimed at determining the resistance of an epoxy coating applied in seawater to the legs of an oil production platform. Performing such underwater tests in an offshore environment was technically challenging. The results of measurements obtained on the platform were confronted with comparative results obtained in the laboratory, where the properties of the coating applied in water collected from the Baltic Sea (thickness, hardness, adhesion, and electrical resistance) were examined. This made it possible to conclude about the correctness of the paint coating application by divers on the legs of the platform. The single-layer epoxy coating applied by brush to the platform legs had a resistance above 10 kΩ·cm2 and thus met the assumed minimum resistance of the protective coating cooperating with cathodic protection as the anti-corrosion protection system of the platform legs. The synergy of these two technologies ensures full protection of offshore structures against corrosion. Measurements of the potential of the platform legs confirmed this. Before painting, the potential value at a depth of 0–15 m was 310 ÷ 320 mV versus the zinc reference electrode, while after painting the potential value decreased to 220 ÷ 240 mV, which means that the effect of full cathodic protection was achieved and the platform legs were protected from corrosion. The developed methodology for underwater EIS measurements on the high seas can be applied to any underwater metal structure to assess the quality of protective coatings.

  • Unequally-Spaced Slot Strategy for Radiation Null Reduction in Single SIW-Embedded Antenna Element
    • Meha Agrawal
    • Ravi Yadav
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    2024 Full text Scientific Reports

    The incorporation of higher-order modes (HOMs) can substantially augment the antenna gain and bandwidth, but this improvement is typically accompanied by compromised radiation performance including radiation nulls and higher side lobe levels. In this study, an inventive strategy is introduced to reduce the radiation nulls and the side lobe levels of a single antenna element by positioning multiple slots of the radiating element at unequal spacing. Dual hybrid HOMs are analyzed inside a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW)-based cavity to design a wide band, enhanced gain dual-polarized antenna. The radiating element of the antenna is designed with multiple slots positioned at unequal spacing but symmetrical along the origin. This methodology provides three-fold advantages: a reduction of side lobes, an adjustment of phase center, and a significant reduction of radiation nulls. The antenna has been fabricated, and experimentally validated. The antenna exhibits a reduction in radiation null to –0.5 dB, a phase adjustment of the main lobe to 0°, and a reduction in side lobe level from -14.4 dB (N = 2, equal spacing) and –15.5 dB (N = 4, equal spacing) a maximum of -19.7 dB (N = 4, unequal spacing) at 12.35 GHz in the phi-0 plane. Excellent agreement between measured and simulated results corroborates the efficacy of the proposed approach. The significant improvement in the radiation performance of the single-element antenna design sets the antenna design apart from the state-of-the-art solutions.

  • Uniwersalne uchwyty obróbkowe wykorzystujące siły magnetyczne
    • Adam Barylski
    2024 Projektowanie i Konstrukcje Inżynierskie

    Przedstawiono współczesne konstrukcje uniwersalnych uchwytów przedmiotowych wykorzystujące do zamocowania przedmiotów obrabianych siły magnetyczne. Analizowano uchwyty magnetyczne i elektromagnetyczne w technologia obróbki wiórowej i ściernej oraz w technikach spawalniczych.

  • Unlocking the electrochemical performance of glassy carbon electrodes by surface engineered, sustainable chitosan membranes
    • Agata Smułka
    • Mateusz Cieślik
    • Adrian Olejnik
    • Artur Zieliński
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Tadeusz Ossowski
    2024 Full text BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY

    Chitosan coatings, derived from crustacean shell waste, possess inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability, rendering them suitable for various biomedical and environmental applications, including electrochemical biosensing. Its amine and hydroxyl functional groups offer abundant sites for chemical modifications to boost the charge transfer kinetics and provide excellent adhesion, enabling the construction of robust electrode-coating interfaces for electroanalysis. This study explores the role of electrostatically-driven chemical interactions and crosslinking density originating from different chitosan (Cs) and glutaraldehyde (Ga) concentrations in this aspect. Studying anionic ([Fe(CN)6]3−/4−), neutral (FcDM0/+), and cationic ([Ru(NH3)6]2+/3+) redox probes highlights the influence of Coulombic interactions with chitosan chains containing positively-charged pathways, calculated by DFT analysis. Our study reveals how a proper Ch-to-Ga ratio has a superior influence on the cross-linking efficacy and resultant charge transfer kinetics, which is primarily boosted by up to 20× analyte preconcentration increase, due to electrostatically-driven migration of negatively charged ferrocyanide ions toward positively charged chitosan hydrogel. Notably the surface engineering approach allows for a two-orders of magnitude enhancement in [Fe(CN)6]4− limit of detection, from 0.1 µM for bare GCE down to even 0.2 nM upon an adequate hydrogel modification.

  • Unraveling Energy Transfer and Fluorescence Quenching Dynamics in Biomolecular Complexes: A Comprehensive Study of Imiquimod-Rifampicin Interaction.
    • Sudhanshu Sharma
    • Dineshbabu Takkella
    • Abhinav Srivastava
    • Jacek Czub
    • Subrahmanyam Sappati
    • Krishna Gavvala
    2024 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS

    In nature, numerous biomolecules are implicated in charge transfer (CT) and energy transfer (ET) mechanisms crucial for fundamental processes such as photosynthesis. Unveiling these mechanisms is pertinent to multiple disciplines including chemistry, engineering and biochemistry. This letter presents a study involving two molecules forming a model system with efficient ET properties. Specifically, their complex exhibits dark quenching phenomena arising from fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the donor (imiquimod) to the acceptor (rifampicin). Supplemented by experimental findings, molecular dynamics simulations and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations conclusively validate the ET properties from the donor to the acceptor as described above

  • Unraveling the role of boron dimers in the electrical anisotropy and superconductivity in boron-doped diamond
    • Michał Sobaszek
    • Soonho Kwon
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    • Paweł P. Michałowski
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Bogdan Rutkowski
    • Dongying Wang
    • Xinwei Li
    • Marc Bockrath
    • Robert Bogdanowicz
    • William A. Goddard III
    2024 CARBON

    We use quantum mechanics (QM) to determine the states formed by B dopants in diamond. We find that isolated B sites prefer to form BB dimers and that the dimers pair up to form tetramers (BBCBB) that prefer to aggregate parallel to the (111) surface in the <110> direction, one double layer below the H-terminated surface double layer. These tetramers lead to metallic character (Mott metal Insulator Transition) with holes in the valence band near the point and electrons in the BBCBB tetramer promoted band along the X direction. Our experiments find very significant anisotropy in the superconductivity for boron-doped diamond thin films prepared with Microwave Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition using deuterium-rich plasma. This leads to much higher conductivity in the X direction than the Y direction, as predicted by the QM. This phase transition to the anomalous phase is linked with the emergence of boson quantum entanglement states behaving as a bosonic insulating state. These anisotropic superconducting properties of the diamond film might enable applications such as single-photon detectors. We expect that this formation of a dirty superconductivity state is related to the BBCBB tetramers found in our QM calculations.

  • Unresectable malignant obstructive jaundice: a 2-year experience of EUS-guided biliary drainage
    • Robert Staroń
    • Mateusz Rzucidło
    • Adam Macierzanka
    • Marcin Krawczyk
    • Krzysztof Gutkowski
    • Łukasz Krupa
    2024 BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care

    Objectives: Endoscopic biliary drainage is a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. In most cases the drainage is conducted using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage or endosonography-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) represents therapeutic options after unsuccessful ERCP. Here we report on 2 years experience in the management of patients diagnosed with malignant biliary obstruction using EUS-BD. Methods: Retrospective data were collected on patients who underwent EUS-BD due to malignant biliary obstruction at our centre between April 2016 and April 2018. Only patients who had two unsuccessful attempts of ERCP prior to EUS-BD were included. We analysed the technical success (ie, creation of anastomosis and successful placement of a stent) and complication rate of EUS-BD, and monitored changes in serum bilirubin and liver function tests after 2 days, and at least 2 weeks, following the procedure. Results: Screening of 1781 ERCP procedures performed in our department during the inclusion period led to the identification of 31 patients (18 women, age range 51–92 years, 58% with pancreatic cancer) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Hepaticogastrostomy and choledochoduodenostomy were performed in 12 and 19 patients, respectively. The technical success rate was 97% and the complication rate was 12.9%. EUS-BD resulted in a significant decrease in serum bilirubin (p<0.01). Conclusions: EUS-BD represents a reasonable therapeutic option after unsuccessful ERCP in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Possible complications have to be kept in mind and this procedure should be performed at centres experienced in ERCP and EUS.

  • Unsupervised Learning for Biomechanical Data Using Self-organising Maps, an Approach for Temporomandibular Joint Analysis
    • Mateusz Troka
    • Wiktoria Wojnicz
    • Katarzyna Szepietowska
    • Izabela Lubowiecka
    2024

    We proposed to apply a specific machine learning technique called Self-Organising Maps (SOM) to identify similarities in the performance of muscles around human temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The performance was assessed by measuring muscle activation with the use of surface electromyography (sEMG). SOM algorithm used in the study was able to find clusters of data in sEMG test results. The SOM analysis was based on processed sEMG data collected when testing subjects performing four mandibular motions: opening, closing, protrusion and retrusion. Muscle activation of four TMJ muscles (masseter right, masseter left, temporalis right and temporalis left) were used as input variables for SOM algorithm. The results of the network are presented on U-matrix maps. These maps consist of formed groupings that correspond to similarities in data points that clustered together. The clustering implies similarity in muscle activation of different subjects. The results show that it is possible to cluster medical datasets with SOM algorithm in the analysis of full jaw motions, which may support the diagnostic process.

  • Unsymmetrical Bisacridines’ Interactions with ABC Transporters and Their Cellular Impact on Colon LS 174T and Prostate DU 145 Cancer Cells
    • Monika Pawłowska
    • Jolanta Kulesza
    • Ewa Paluszkiewicz
    • Ewa Augustin
    • Zofia Mazerska
    2024 MOLECULES

    Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a process that constitutes a significant obstacle to effective anticancer therapy. Here, we examined whether unsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) are substrates for ABC transporters and can influence their expression in human colon LS 174T and prostate DU 145 cancer cells. Moreover, we investigated the cytotoxicity and the cellular response induced by UAs in these cells. The ATPase activities of MDR1, MRP1, and MRP2 were measured using vesicles prepared from insect Sf9 cells expressing particular ABC transporters. The gene expression and protein levels were analyzed using qPCR and Western blotting. The cellular effects were studied by MTT (cytotoxicity), flow cytometry (cell cycle analysis and phosphatidylserine externalization), and fluorescence microscopy. We showed that UAs are substrates for MDR1. Importantly, they did not influence remarkably the expressions of the ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCC2 genes and the levels of the MDR1 and PXR proteins in the studied cells. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity and the level of apoptosis triggered by UAs in LS 174T cells possessing higher expressions of metabolic enzymes were lower compared with DU 145 cells. These results indicate that during possible UA treatment, the occurrence of drug resistance could be limited, which could favor the use of such compounds as potential candidates for future studies.

  • Unusual dynamics and nonlinear thermal self-focusing of initially focused magnetoacoustic beams in a plasma
    • Anna Perelomova
    2024 Full text CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS

    Unusual thermal self-focusing of two-dimensional beams in plasma which axis is parallel to the equilibrium straight magnetic field is considered. The equi- librium parameters of plasma determine scenario of a beam divergence (usual or unusual) which is stronger as compared with a flow without magnetic field. Nonlinear thermal self-action of a magnetosonic beam behaves differently in the ordinary and unusual cases. Damping of wave perturbations and normal defocusing in gases leads to reduction of the magnitude of initially planar per- turbations at the axis of a beam. Additional thermal self-focusing nonspecific for gases occurs in plasma under some condition which counteracts this reduc- tion. The theory and numerical examples concern thermal self-action of initially focused (defocused) magnetosonic beam. Dynamics of perturbations in a beam is determined by dimensionless parameters responsible for diffraction, damp- ing of the wave perturbations, initial radius of a beam’s front curvature, and the ratio of viscous to thermal damping coefficients.

  • Unveiling the electron-induced ionization cross sections and fragmentation mechanisms of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran
    • Tomasz Wąsowicz
    • Michał Jurkowski
    • Allison Harris
    • Ivan Ljubić
    2024 Full text JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS

    The interactions of electrons with molecular systems under various conditions are essential to interdisciplinary research fields extending over the fundamental and applied sciences. In particular, investigating electron-induced ionization and dissociation of molecules may shed light on the radiation damage to living cells, the physicochemical processes in interstellar environments, and reaction mechanisms occurring in combustion or plasma. We have, therefore, studied electron-induced ionization and dissociation of the gas phase 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (DHP), a cyclic ether appearing to be a viable moiety for developing efficient clinical pharmacokinetics and revealing the mechanisms of biofuel combustion. The mass spectra in the m/z = 10–90 mass range were measured at several different energies of the ionizing electron beam using mass spectrometry. The mass spectra of DHP at the same energies were simulated using on-the-fly semi-classical molecular dynamics (MD) within the framework of the QCxMS formalism. The MD settings were suitably adjusted until a good agreement with the experimental mass spectra intensities was achieved, thus enabling a reliable assignment of cations and unraveling the plausible fragmentation channels. Based on the measurement of the absolute total ionization cross section of DHP (18.1 ± 0.9) × 10−16 cm2 at 100 eV energy, the absolute total and partial ionization cross sections of DHP were determined in the 5–140 eV electron energy. Moreover, a machine learning algorithm that was trained with measured cross sections from 25 different molecules was used to predict the total ionization cross section for DHP. Comparison of the machine learning simulation with the measured data showed acceptable agreement, similar to that achieved in past predictions of the algorithm.

  • Upward convergence patterns in chosen environmental-related SDGs
    • Marta Kuc-Czarnecka
    • Iwona Markowicz
    • Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła
    2024 Full text ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS

    Sustainable development is a challenge facing humanity. EU countries not only strive to reach their specific objectives, but they also work collaboratively towards shared goals. There is a need to balance synergies and compromises to address these objectives effectively. When discussing countries' development and people's well-being, one often focuses on socio-economic development. However, it is crucial not to overlook the environmental repercussions and the need to care for the planet. Thus, our article pays attention to the sustainable development objectives of the “planets” group. We analysed upward convergence in the scope of the “Planet” goals, i.e. the analysis of improving the results of Member States and, at the same time, reducing the differences between them. Convergence trends were examined individually for each variable and then for all variables combined (Planet). Our article fills a research gap because, to our knowledge, analyses of the trajectories of achieving individual goals in such a context have not been analysed so far. The results of our study indicate a favourable situation in the case of six out of eight examined variables. Areas in which intensification of activities is necessary for some EU countries are an increase in energy productivity and a reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions of land use. The second stage of the study concerned the development paths of individual countries. The most challenging situation concerns the variable sdg_07_20 (final energy consumption in households per capita). In this case, as many as 12 countries belong to the weak group.

  • Usability of Mobile Applications: A Consolidated Model
    • Paweł Weichbroth
    2024 Full text IEEE Access

    Mobile devices have become an integral part of the digital ecosystem, connecting people, businesses, and information around the world in ways never before possible. In particular, smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices equipped with mobile applications have changed every aspect of our lives. Today, a user can choose from nearly five million applications available for both Android and iOS operating systems. However, only 0.5 percent of applications succeed in the marketplace. Many factors contribute to their failure, including poor design, lack of value, privacy violations, and usability issues. While usability is often identified as a major concern, there seems to be no agreement between researchers and practitioners on its nature, although many models have been developed. This paper attempts to find a consensus by synthesizing the state of the art literature. More specifically, we aim to develop a consolidated, universal usability model for mobile applications, through the lens of existing human computer interaction theory. In order to achieve this goal, our study uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Overall, the research methodology consisted of two steps. First, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify, collect, and analyze current research on mobile usability. Second, we used the meta-analysis approach to quantitatively describe the extracted data and summarize the findings. The PACMAD+3 model was developed and discussed in light of the results obtained and the PACMAD model. While our model borrows seven attributes from its ancestor, the remaining three attributes were derived from the synthesis of other studies, along with three external factors adopted from the ISO 9241-11 standard. In addition, we reviewed existing definitions of usability attributes. We expect that this unified approach will lead to a better understanding of mobile usability, including all relevant attributes and factors, thus making a significant contribution to theory. On the other hand, in practice, the PACMAD+3 model can be used to translate abstract attributes into tangible terms, which is particularly useful in empirical research focused on measuring and evaluating the usability of mobile applications.

  • Usability Testing of Mobile Applications: A Methodological Framework
    • Paweł Weichbroth
    2024 Full text Applied Sciences-Basel

    Less than five percent of all mobile applications have become successful throughout 2023. The success of a new mobile application depends on a variety of factors ranging from business understanding, customer value, and perceived quality of use. In this sense, the topic of usability testing of mobile applications is relevant from the point of view of user satisfaction and acceptance. However, the current knowledge seems to be fragmented, scattered across many papers and reports, and sometimes poorly documented. This paper attempts to fill this gap by investigating the current state of knowledge by reviewing the previous literature relevant to the research topic and developing a unified view. In particular, the methodological framework is outlined and discussed, including the discourse on settings for laboratory and field studies, data collection techniques, experimental designs for mobile usability testing, and a generic research framework. Therefore, the paper contributes to both the theory and practice of human–computer interaction by providing methodological foundations for usability testing of mobile applications, paving the way for further studies in this area. Moreover, the paper provides a better understanding of the related topics, in particular shedding light on methodological foundations, key concepts, challenges, and issues, equipping readers with a comprehensive knowledge base to navigate and contribute to the advancement of the field of mobile usability.

  • Use of innovative digital laboratories to train a new generation of architects: integration of education, practice and research for digital cultural heritage
    • Justyna Borucka
    • Sandro Parrinello
    • Francesca Picchio
    • Jakub Szczepański
    2024 Global Journal of Engineering Education

    In this article, the authors outline the potential of using innovative digital laboratories to train a new generation of architects. The evolving built environment and technology continuously challenge architectural educators to take an innovative approach to better understand, preserve and protect the architectural heritage, and ensure development toward a sustainable and green economy. One of those approaches is a methodology based on the integration of education, practice and research on digital cultural heritage (CH) in the form of an alliance of laboratories as a cross-border hub for sustainable development and cultural heritage preservation. The article is focused on the case of three laboratories from Poland and Italy: DAda Lab - UNIPV, Pavia; DAB Lab - Gdańsk Tech; and DARWIN Lab - UNIFI, Florence, which, using common methods, tools and activities, combine practice and research with education of architects and engineers. Through the joint implementation of various European CH projects, the laboratories engage their resources and students in hands-on activities, providing opportunities to experiment with new tools and forms of research-oriented education.

  • User experience evaluation study on the quality of 1K, 2K, and 4K H.265/HEVC video content
    • Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski
    • Tadeus Uhl
    • Christian Hoppe
    2024 Full text Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Morskiej w Szczecinie

    Nowadays, most content creators focus on distributing rich media at the highest possible resolution. Currently, the majority of sold consoles, media players, computer hardware, as well as displays and TVs are advertised as 4K-compatible. The same trend is observed in the case of popular online streaming services and terrestrial TV broadcasts. Generally speaking, it is assumed that higher bitrates provide higher subjective judgements. In this paper, we present the results of a user experience (UX) evaluation study on the quality of video content coded and transmitted in different resolutions in the internet protocol (IP) environment. The image resolutions include 1K (1920×1080 pixels; full-HD), 2K (2560×1440 pixels; wide-QHD), and 4K (3840×2160 pixels; ultra-HD) content that are processed in the H.265/HEVC (high-efficiency video coding) format. A subjective evaluation is carried out in a laboratory consisting of 20 iMacs with a 21.5-inch 4K Retina (4096×2304 pixels) display. The group of viewers included 28 individuals aged between 21‒35 years old, comprising people with and without visual impairments. The obtained UX results are compared with previous experiments, including both objective quality of service (QoS) and subjective quality of experience (QoE), as well as the impact of down-scaling to 1K from 2K and 4K. The outcomes of this study may be of particular interest to any party interested in video content processing and distribution, as well as consumption and storage.