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Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • Activated Tungsten Inert Gas Weld Characteristics of P91 Joint for Advanced Ultra Supercritical Power Plant Applications
    • Vishwa Bhanu
    • Dariusz Fydrych
    • Shailesh M. Pandey
    • Ankur Gupta
    • Chandan Pandey
    2023 JOURNAL OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND PERFORMANCE

    Activated Tungsten Inert Gas (A-TIG) welding, a variant of tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, was used for welding P91. In Generation IV power plants, P91 welds are prone to premature failure due to the presence and formation of brittle phases and creep at high temperatures. When performing A-TIG welding, the flux composition plays a role in the reversal of the Marangoni flow in the weld pool, which ultimately determines the level of penetration achieved. A-TIG gave a complete penetration of 8 mm in the P91 weld. The weldment exhibited non-uniform growth of microstructures with varying grain sizes and precipitates, resulting in variation in mechanical properties. The weld fusion zone (WFZ) had a martensitic structure. The standard flat tensile test specimens were found to fail in the base metal and the fine-grain heat affected zone (FGHAZ) region. The sub-size flat tensile test specimen gave a high strength of 863 ± 10 MPa, failing in the WFZ. The high temperature tensile test specimens had the tensile strength of 512 ± 10 MPa (at 450 °C) and 469 ± 10 MPa (at 450 °C). In both the high temperature tensile test specimens, failure occurred in the base metal region. The impact toughness was recorded at 76 ± 15 Joules due to the presence of untempered martensite in the AW state, and in the PWHT state, the impact toughness increased up to 98 ± 15 Joules. In the AW state, the coarse grain heat affected zone (CGHAZ) region was observed with a maximum microhardness of 450 ± 5 HV and WFZ 460 ± 5 HV. The post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was successfully performed to temper the martensite and impart some ductility to the weld. The A-TIG weld had sufficient benchmark strength, and the study successfully concluded its aim.

  • Activation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor (mGlu2) and Muscarinic Receptors (M1, M4, and M5), Alone or in Combination, and Its Impact on the Acquisition and Retention of Learning in the Morris Water Maze, NMDA Expression and cGMP Synthesis
    • Joanna M. Wierońska
    • Paulina Cieślik
    • Grzegorz Burnat
    • Leszek Kalinowski
    2023 Full text Biomolecules

    The Morris water maze (MWM) is regarded as one of the most popular tests for detecting spatial memory in rodents. Long-term potentiation and cGMP synthesis seem to be among the crucial factors involved in this type of learning. Muscarinic (M1, M4, and M5 receptors) and metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are important targets in the search for antipsychotic drugs with the potency to treat cognitive disabilities associated with the disorder. Here, we show that muscarinic receptor activators (VU0357017, VU0152100, and VU0238429) and an mGlu2 receptor activator, LY487379, dose-dependently prevented the development of cognitive disorders as a result of MK-801 administration in the MWM. The dose-ranges of the compounds were as follows: VU0357017, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg; VU0152100, 0.05, 0.25, and 1 mg/kg; VU0238429, 1, 5, and 20 mg/kg; and LY487379, 0.5, 3, and 5 mg/kg. The co-administration of LY487379 with each of the individual muscarinic receptor ligands showed no synergistic effect, which contradicts the results obtained earlier in the novel object recognition (NOR) test. MWMlearning resulted in increased cGMP synthesis, both in the cortex and hippocampi, when compared to that in intact animals, which was prevented by MK-801 administration. The investigated compounds at the highest doses reversed this MK-801-induced effect. Neither the procedure nor the treatment resulted in changes in GluN2B-NMDA expression.

  • Active Control of Highly Autocorrelated Machinery Noise in Multivariate Nonminimum Phase Systems
    • Michał Meller
    • Adam Lasota
    2023 Full text CIRCUITS SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING

    In this paper, a novel multivariate active noise control scheme, designed to attenuate disturbances with high autocorrelation characteristics and preserve background signals, is proposed. The algorithm belongs to the class of feedback controllers and, unlike the popular feedforward FX-LMS approach, does not require availability of a reference signal. The proposed approach draws its inspiration from the iterative learning control and repetitive mode control methods, and employs a modified inverse model learning law. The classical inverse model learning law is well known to offer fast convergence and high steady-state performance, provided that the secondary path is minimum phase and well known. The proposed modified inverse model learning law employs a spectral factorization trick, which allows one to use the method with nonminimum phase plants of arbitrary order. Moreover, our scheme includes a controller bandwidth limiting mechanism that can be used to tune the disturbance rejection bandwidth and to improve the closed-loop robustness to errors in the model of the secondary path. The algorithm’s behavior and performance are verified with computer simulations that demonstrate suppression of electrical transformer noise and include realistic models of the secondary path. The results show high-level selective attenuation and fast convergence.

  • Adapting education to a changing climate: preparing architecture students for climate-resilient design
    • Izabela Burda
    • Jakub Kołodziejczak
    2023 Full text World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education

    In this article, the authors explore the connection between climate change and the fields of architecture and urban planning. With the increasing frequency of flooding and extreme weather events, the built environment is confronting challenges in terms of sustainability and resilience. To meet these problems, it is necessary to prepare various specialists to assume responsibility for making future decisions. The authors of this article examine whether students in the Faculty of Architecture at Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland, are well-prepared for the posed challenges. For that purpose, a survey was undertaken to gather the students’ viewpoints on the roles of architecture and urban planning in addressing climate change and their expectations concerning the coverage of this topic in their studies. The authors also analyse the methods used in the architectural education that facilitate an understanding of the interaction between climate change and the evolving urban landscape. Furthermore, they indicate the issues that should be incorporated into the curriculum to enhance students’ ability to create under changing climatic conditions.

  • Adaptive Dynamical Systems Modelling of Transformational Organizational Change with Focus on Organizational Culture and Organizational Learning
    • Lars Rass
    • Jan Treur
    • Wioleta Kucharska
    • Anna Monika Wiewiora
    2023 Full text Cognitive Systems Research

    Transformative Organizational Change becomes more and more significant both practically and academically, especially in the context of organizational culture and learning. However computational modeling and a formalization of organizational change and learning processes are still largely unexplored. This paper aims to provide an adaptive network model of transformative organizational change and translate a selection of organizational learning and change processes into computationally modeled processes. Additionally, it sets out to connect the dynamic systems view of organizations to self-modelling network models. The creation of the model and the implemented mechanisms of organizational processes are based on extrapolations of an extensive literature study and grounded in related work in this field, and then applied to a specified hospital-related case scenario in the context of safety culture. The model was evaluated by running several simulations and variations thereof. The results of these were investigated by qualitative analysis and comparison to expected emergent behaviour based on related available academic literature. The simulations performed confirmed the occurrence of an organizational transformational change towards a constant learning culture by offering repeated and effective learning and changes to organizational processes. Observations about various interplays and effects of the mechanism have been made, and they exposed that acceptance of mistakes as a part of learning culture facilitates transformational change and may foster sustainable change in the long run. . Further, the model confirmed that the self-modelling network model approach applies to a dynamic systems view of organizations and a systems perspective of organizational change. The created model offers the basis for the further creation of self-modelling network models within the field of transformative organizational change and the translated mechanisms of this model can further be extracted and reused in a forthcoming academic exploration of this field.

  • Adaptive stochastic and hybrid nonlinear optimization algorithms for improving the effectiveness of the biological processes at WWTP
    • Robert Piotrowski
    • Krzysztof Milewski
    • Bartosz Maciąg
    2023 BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Wastewater treatment plays an important factor in the modern world. Insufficient treatment may result in environmental pollution which can further lead to disasters and diseases. However, processes that take place inside wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are highly complex in nature, therefore it is difficult to design an efficient, optimal control system. The problem regarding biochemical reactions inside Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) is analyzed in this paper and the optimization problem is defined. Next, chosen optimization methods including both deterministic and metaheuristic algorithms are carefully described. Series of simulation experiments are conducted based on a verified model of SBR from Swarzewo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) - Northern Poland. The proposed optimal control system allowed to increase the efficiency, improve the quality of outflow (reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), total nitrogen (Ntot) and total phosphorus (Ptot)) and reduce wastewater treatment costs.

  • Adaptive Wavelet-Based Correction of Non-Anechoic Antenna Measurements
    • Adrian Bekasiewicz
    • Vorya Waladi
    • Marek Wójcikowski
    • Tom Dhaene
    2023 Full text

    Non-anechoic measurements represent an affordable alternative to evaluation of antenna performance in expensive, dedicated facilities. Due to interferences and noise from external sources of EM radiation, far-field results obtained in non-ideal conditions require additional post-processing. Conventional correction algorithms rely on manual tuning of parameters, which make them unsuitable for reliable testing of prototypes. In this work, a wavelet-based correction method with an adaptively adjusted setup has been proposed. The performance of the presented framework has been demonstrated using an electrically small monopole antenna evaluated in the non-anechoic test site (here, a regular office room). The method has been favorably compared against the existing techniques from the literature.

  • Addressing Challenges in AI-based Systems Development: A Proposal of Adapted Requirements Engineering Process
    • Kamil Jabłoński
    • Aleksander Jarzębowicz
    2023 Full text

    [Context] Present-day IT systems are more and more dependent on artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Developing AI-based systems means facing new challenges, not known for more conventional systems. Such challenges need to be identified and addressed by properly adapting the existing development and management processes. [Objective] In this paper, we focus on the requirements engineering (RE) area of IT projects and aim to propose the RE process that would be able to address at least some of the reported challenges. No proposal of such process could be found in the existing literature. [Method] We conducted a literature review using a snowballing technique to identify RE-related challenges for AI-based systems. Then, we compared several RE industry guides, selected a well-established RE process and adapted it by introducing additional practices. The additional practices were proposed as result of brainstorming and ideation process. [Results] The contributions of this paper include: a list of identified challenges, a set of additional practices to mitigate challenges and a model of the adapted RE process which integrates such practices. [Conclusions] The proposed process is available for validation activities and can be used by researchers and practitioners as a base for further adaptations of RE approaches to AI solutions.

  • Advanced fatigue and rutting characterisation of Polish asphalt mixtures based on the VECD model and viscoplastic shift model
    • Sara Spadoni
    • Lorenzo Paolo Ingrassia
    • Piotr Jaskuła
    • Francesco Canestrari
    2023 Road Materials and Pavement Design

    The advanced asphalt mixture performance-related specifications (AM-PRS) recently developed in USA can allow an optimisation of the design process of asphalt pavements thanks to the possibility to fully take into account the intrinsic material properties. In this study, four typical Polish mixtures, i.e. a Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) for wearing course, two mixtures for binder course with neat bitumen or Polymer modified Bitumen (PmB), and a mixture for asphalt base course with neat bitumen, were investigated by applying such advanced framework. The fatigue performance was studied through the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage (S-VECD) approach, whereas the rutting properties were assessed through the viscoplastic theory of the shift model. The findings were consistent with the composition of the studied mixtures, demonstrating the reliability and applicability of the AM-PRS even for typical Polish mixtures. Specifically, the high amount of soft PmB made the SMA mixture tough against fatigue cracking, but also more prone to rutting. The two binder mixtures exhibited good performance against both fatigue and rutting, and the polymer modification improved the toughness and increased the stiffness at high temperatures. The base mixture is expected to suffer fatigue cracking more than rutting, likely due to the low amount of bitumen and coarser aggregate gradation. These results can be used in the future for pavement performance predictions with FlexPAVETM software programme to ultimately optimise the design of Polish pavements.

  • Advanced numerical modelling for predicting residual compressive strength of corroded stiffened plates
    • Krzysztof Wołoszyk
    • Yordan Garbatov
    2023 Full text THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES

    An advanced methodology for predicting the residual compressive strength of corroded stiffened plates is developed here using the non-linear finite element method. The non-uniform loss of a plate thickness is accounted for on a macro-scale. In contrast, mechanical properties are changed using the constitutive model to reflect the corrosion degradation impact on a micro-scale. Three different stiffened plate thicknesses are considered, and ultimate compressive capacity is analysed for different severity of corrosion degradation. First, the deterministic analysis is performed, and numerical results are validated against the experiment. Then, the corrosion fields are modelled with the use of random fields. Different statistical characteristics of the generated random fields are investigated to identify their impact on the resulting structural behaviour. It was found that severe corrosion degradation could cause an excessive reduction of structural capacity even at 50%. Finally, the results of the present study are compared with the already studied corrosion models showing a highly non-conservative solution of the latter, where the plate thickness is reduced only due to the corrosion degradation progress.

  • Advanced Oxidation Processes for Degradation of Water Pollutants—Ambivalent Impact of Carbonate Species: A Review
    • Manoj P Rayaroth
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Olivier Aubry
    • Usha K. Aravind
    • Charuvila T. Aravindakumar
    2023 Full text Water

    Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) hold great promise in the removal of organic contaminants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in AOPs react with target pollutants to initially form several intermediate compounds that finally undergo complete mineralization. Such observations are reported, especially for laboratory-scale experiments performed in pure water. On the other hand, while considering real contaminated wastewater matrices, particularly industrial effluents, there are many co-existing ions. Carbonate ions are one of the major inorganic ions commonly existing in water resources. Hence, these ions have a significant impact on the respective water treatment processes. This review focused on the effect of carbonate ions on the degradation of pollutants in AOPs. In AOPs, carbonate radicals are formed by the scavenging reaction of the respective ions with ROS. The reactivity of these radicals towards the pollutant varies with respect to the structure and functionality. Therefore, depending on the functionalities of the contaminants, these ions show both positive and negative effects. Thus, this review aims to summarize the effects of carbonate species on the degradation of organic contaminants during AOPs and their environmental impacts. The carbonates enhanced the degradation of several emerging organic pollutants, including aniline, bisphenol A, rhodamine B, acid orange 7, naphthalene, and phenol derivatives. Carbonate presence was also revealed to have a positive contribution in cases of drug degradation, including sulfamethoxazole, propranolol, sulfamethazine, salbutamol, trimethoprim, azithromycin, naproxen, oxcarbazepine, and oxytetracycline.

  • Advanced oxidation processes for the removal of mono and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – A review
    • Manoj P Rayaroth
    • Mateusz Marchel
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2023 Full text SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    Aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) are toxic environmental contaminants presented in most of the environmental matrices. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the removal of AHs in the account of complete mineralization from various environmental matrices have been reviewed in this paper. An in-depth discussion on various AOPs for mono (BTEX) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives is presented. Most of the AOPs were effective in the removal of AHs from the aquatic environment. A comparative study on the degradation of various AHs revealed that the oxidation of the AHs is strongly dependent on the number of aromatic rings and the functional groups attached to the ring. The formation of halogenated and nitrated derivatives of AHs in the real contaminated water containing chloride, nitrite, and nitrate ions seems to be a challenge in using the AOPs in real systems. The phenolic compounds, quinone, alcohols, and aliphatic acids are the important byproducts formed during the oxidation of AHs, initiated by the attack of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on their electron-rich center. In conclusion, AOPs are the adaptable method for the removal of AHs from different environmental matrices. The persulfate-based AOPs were applied in the soil phase removal as an in situ chemical oxidation of AHs. Moreover, the combination of AOPs will be a conclusive solution to avoid or minimize unexpected or other toxic intermediate products and to obtain rapid oxidation of AHs.

  • Advanced Scalar-valued Intensity Measures for Residual Drift Prediction of SMRFs with Fluid Viscous Dampers
    • Farzin Kazemi
    • Benyamin Mohebi
    • Neda Asgarkhani
    • Atefeh Yousefi
    2023 Full text International Journal of Structural Integrity

    Maximum Residual Inter-story Drift Ratio (RIDRmax) plays an important role to specify the state of a structure after severe earthquake and the possibility of repairing the structure. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the RIDRmax of Steel Moment-Resisting Frames (SMRFs) with high reliability by employing powerful Intensity Measures (IMs). This study investigates the efficiency and sufficiency of scalar-valued IMs for predicting RIDRmax of two sets of the 3-Story, 6-Story, and 9-Story SMRFs with and without using linear Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVDs). Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) was performed with considering RIDRmax as engineering demand parameters using Opensees. Results of analysis showed that two scalar-valued IMs of IMM(α=0.5 ) and Saavg M-D had lower values of the variations of standard deviation of natural logarithm of IM of RIDRmax, σlnIMRD, which shows the efficiency of these IMs. Moreover, these scalar-valued IMs achieved higher p-values with respect to seismic ground motion features of M, R, and Vs30, which shows the sufficiency of assumed IMs. Therefore, two scalar-valued IMs of IMM(α=0.5) and Saavg M-D are proposed as optimal scalar-valued IMs for predicting the RIDRmax of SMRFs.

  • AffecTube — Chrome extension for YouTube video affective annotations
    • Daniel Kulas
    • Michał Wróbel
    2023 Full text SoftwareX

    The shortage of emotion-annotated video datasets suitable for training and validating machine learning models for facial expression-based emotion recognition stems primarily from the significant effort and cost required for manual annotation. In this paper, we present AffecTube as a comprehensive solution that leverages crowdsourcing to annotate videos directly on the YouTube platform, resulting in ready-to-use emotion-annotated datasets. AffecTube provides a low-resource environment with an intuitive interface and customizable options, making it a versatile tool applicable not only to emotion annotation, but also to various video-based behavioral annotation processes.

  • AI-powered Digital Transformation: Tools, Benefits and Challenges for Marketers – Case Study of LPP
    • Edyta Gołąb-Andrzejak
    2023 Full text

    The article aims to show the role (benefits and challenges) of AI-powered digital marketing tools for marketers in the age of digital transformation. The considerations were related to the Polish market and a case study of LPP, a Polish clothing retailer. The starting point for this study was the analysis of the literature on the concept of artificial intelligence (AI) with reference to digital marketing. In the next steps, the results of the research on the Polish market conducted by the Digital Poland Foundation and presented in the report entitled “State of Polish AI 2021” were reviewed, and an application case study of the largest Polish clothing company – LPP – was conducted. The study is of an introductory and exploratory nature. It recognises the significant role of AI in digital transformation in the context of digital marketing in the Polish market. The implementation of solutions based on artificial intelligence algorithms, such as the Google Cloud, analytical platform and data repository, e-commerce infrastructure, chatbot, Genesys PureCloud, Google Dialogflow and the AI-based function in the PSIwms Warehouse Management System in LPP’s distribution centre significantly improves the efficiency of online order processing without compromising the quality of products and order fulfilment time. By applying a case study analysis, the importance of AI-based tools in the digital transformation process, including digital marketing, in the Polish market was demonstrated. Marketers, including CMOs, were shown the benefits of applying AI-related technological solutions in the field of e-commerce optimisation and customer service.

  • Akademia Inżynierska w Polsce jako kontynuatorka tradycji przedwojennej Akademii Nauk Technicznych
    • Jerzy Barglik
    • Dariusz Świsulski
    2023

    Przedstawiono historię Akademii Nauk Technicznych i Polskiej Akademii Nauk Technicznych. Omówiono genezę i działalność Akademii Inżynierskiej w Polsce.

  • Aktualny stan wdrożenia BIM w polskich firmach budowlanych
    • Magdalena Apollo
    • Beata Grzyl
    2023 Full text Materiały Budowlane

    Celem artykułu jest określenie zakresu zastosowania technologii BIM przez inżynierów budownictwa. Wykorzystując badania ankietowe, zidentyfikowaliśmy m.in. zasadnicze bariery związane z wdrożeniem BIM. Przeprowadzone badanie potwierdziło, że stopień aplikacji technologii BIM w polskich firmach budowlanych nadal nie jest satysfakcjonujący, a jej tempo rozwoju w znacznej mierze zależy od wymagań, jakie stawiają zamawiający publiczni i inwestorzy prywatni.

  • Algorytmizacja tworzenia i dystrybucji treści medialnych a doświadczenie liminalne i zawodowa tożsamość dziennikarska
    • Jan Kreft
    2023

    W cyfrowym środowisku współczesnych mediów algorytmy mogą tworzyć tekstowe i wizualne treści dziennikarskie oraz wiele wersji tego samego artykułu z uwzględnieniem potrzeb poszczególnych odbiorców/użytkowników . Algorytmizacja dziennikarskiej pracy jest coraz chętniej wykorzystywana w zarządzaniu organizacjami mediów, a analizy danych o czytelnikach, widzach i słuchaczach decydują o podejmowanych tematach zastępując tradycyjnego dziennikarskiego „nosa” i ułatwiają reklamodawcom dostęp do odbiorców. Obecność dziennikarza w procesie powstawania i dystrybucji treści medialnej nie jest już niezbędna. Coraz powszechniejsza presja algorytmizacji dziennikarstwa skłania do badań nad zawodową tożsamością dziennikarzy i nad podejmowanymi przez nich strategiami w obliczu nowych technologii. W artykule sugeruję, że dogodną badawczą perspektywą pozwalającą uzyskać wzgląd w postawy wobec algorytmizacji tworzenia i dystrybucji dziennikarskiej treści jest koncepcja liminalności.

  • Ammonium and potassium vanadates: synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and applications
    • Małgorzata Nadolska-Dawidowska
    2023 Full text

    This doctoral thesis is devoted to the synthesis and investigation of ammonium/potassium vanadates, which constitute an interesting group of materials due to their potential applications in electrochemical devices and photocatalysis. The scope of the conducted experimental work included the synthesis of ammonium/potassium vanadates, their physicochemical characterization using various methods (spectroscopy, microscopy, thermal analysis and others), and evaluation of their use as cathode materials for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) or photocatalysts for the degradation of water contaminants. The main part of the thesis presents the conducted research and its analysis and consists of a collection of five articles [A1-A5] published in the following journals: Electrochimica Acta (IF 6.901, 100 pts. MEiN, 2020), Inorganic Chemistry (IF 5.436, 140 pts. MEiN, 2022), Materials (IF 3.057, 140 pts. MEiN, 2019), and Scientific Reports (IF 4.996, 140 pts MEiN, 2022 and 2023). This part is preceded by a brief introduction to the vanadate family, general motivation for the conducted research, and the current state of knowledge about ammonium/potassium vanadates, with special regard to their application as electrode materials for metal-ion batteries and photocatalysts. In the final section, the most significant achievements obtained within this thesis are summarized, and future research directions are presented. As part of the research, repeatable synthetic routes for uniform nanostructures of ammonium/potassium vanadates were developed. Notably, for the first time, the effect of precursor morphology and initial pressure on the hydrothermal synthesis of ammonium vanadates was studied. Furthermore, it has been proven that the obtained ammonium/potassium vanadates can be successfully used as efficient cathode materials for LIBs and as solar light-driven photocatalysts for decomposing water pollutants. In the case of the former application, hydrated vanadate compounds, i.e., (NH4)2V10O25∙nH2O and K2V6O16·nH2O were tested and described for the first time. For the latter, two new photocatalytic materials were proposed (KV3O8 and a composite based on NH4V4O10 and reduced graphene oxide). In addition, more detailed studies (kinetics and mechanism of the photocatalysis process) were presented for K2V6O16·nH2O and NH4V4O10.

  • An adaptive approach to non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of cast irons containing precipitated graphite particles with the help of magnetoacoustic emission
    • Leszek Piotrowski
    • J. Sertucha
    2023 Full text NDT & E INTERNATIONAL

    Physical properties of cast irons strongly depend on both their microstructure and the presence of casting defects. The paper analyses the possibility of application of magnetoacoustic emission (MAE) for nondestructive detection of flawed cast iron components. The investigated samples containing dross, chunky graphite and lamellar graphite were compared with the reference, flawless, spheroidal cast iron sample. The optimisation adaptive procedure was applied for sensitivity enhancement. Application of five different acoustic emission sensors and filtering band optimisation enabled finding the optimum sensor/band configuration allowing not only for flawed samples identification, but also for discerning various kinds of flaws.

  • An Adaptive Network Model Simulating the Effects of Different Culture Types and Leader Qualities on Mistake Handling and Organisational Learning
    • Natalie Samhran
    • Jan Treur
    • Wioleta Kucharska
    • Anna Monika Wiewiora
    2023

    This paper investigates computationally the following research hypotheses: (1) Higher flexibility and discretion in organizational culture results in better mistake management and thus better organizational learning, (2) Effective organizational learning requires a transformational leader to have both high social and formal status and consistency, and (3) Company culture and leader’s behavior must align for the best learning effects. Computational simulations of the introduced adaptive network were analyzed in different contexts varying in organization culture and leader characteristics. Statistical analysis results proved to be significant and supported the research hypotheses. Ultimately, this paper provides insight into how organizations that foster a mistake-tolerant attitude in alignment with the leader, can result in significantly better organizational learning on a team and individual level.

  • An adaptive-noise Augmented Kalman Filter approach for input-state estimation in structural dynamics
    • S. Vettori
    • E. Di Lorenzo
    • Bart Peeters
    • Marcin Łuczak
    • E. Chatzi
    2023 Full text MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING

    The establishment of a Digital Twin of an operating engineered system can increase the potency of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) tools, which are then bestowed with enhanced predictive capabilities. This is particularly relevant for wind energy infrastructures, where the definition of remaining useful life is a main driver for assessing the efficacy of these systems. In order to ensure a proper representation of the physical structure, the monitored response of the Digital Twin should match the one experienced by the actual system throughout the complete spectrum of its operational conditions. In most typical SHM configurations, it is only possible to rely on output-only measurements, acquired from finite positions within a structure, which naturally raises the challenge of recovering the full-field operational response, including unmeasured locations. This problem, also known as Virtual Sensing (VS), has been treated using different schemes, including Bayesian filtering and Modal Expansion (ME). In this paper, the Augmented Kalman Filter (AKF) is exploited to this end; a tool which allows for simultaneous full-field response and unmeasured input prediction. The common issue of Bayesian filtering relies on calibration of the filters defining parameters, namely the assumed measurement and process noise covariance levels. While the first is directly related to the accuracy of the employed physical sensors, the latter often acts as a tuning parameter for improving the reliability of the prediction. The process noise covariance adjustment is often performed in an offline fashion, either by making use of regularization methods, e.g., the L-curve method, or via trial and error. In this work, we propose a methodology for automated process noise covariance adaptation, relying on response estimates recovered by means of an improved ME approach. The method is validated on experimental data from a large scale research Wind Turbine (WT) blade made of glass fiber reinforced plastics.

  • An advanced synergy of partial denitrification-anammox for optimizing nitrogen removal from wastewater: A review
    • Hussein Al-Hazmi
    • Mojtaba Maktabifard
    • Dominika Grubba
    • Joanna Majtacz
    • Gamal K. Hassan
    • Xi Lu
    • Grzegorz Piechota
    • Giorgio Mannina
    • Charles B. Bott
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2023 BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY

    Anammox is a widely adopted process for energy-efficient removal of nitrogen from wastewater, but challenges with NOB suppression and NO3− accumulation have led to a deeper investigation of this process. To address these issues, the synergy of partial denitrification and anammox (PD-anammox) has emerged as a promising solution for sustainable nitrogen removal in wastewater. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments in the PD-anammox system, including stable performance outcomes, operational parameters, and mathematical models. The review categorizes start-up and recovery strategies for PD-anammox and examines its contributions to sustainable development goals, such as reducing N2O emissions and saving energy. Furthermore, it suggests future trends and perspectives for improving the efficiency and integration of PD-anammox into full-scale wastewater treatment system. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into optimizing PD-anammox in wastewater treatment, highlighting the potential of simultaneous processes and the importance of improving efficiency and integration into full-scale systems.

  • An advanced tool integrating failure and sensitivity analysis into novel modeling of the stormwater flood volume
    • Francesco Fatone
    • Bartosz Szeląg
    • Przemysław Kowal
    • Arthur McGarity
    • Adam Kiczko
    • Grzegorz Wałek
    • Ewa Wojciechowska
    • Michał Stachura
    • Nicolas Caradot
    2023 Full text HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES

    An innovative tool for modeling the specific flood volume was presented that can be applied to assess the need for stormwater network modernization as well as for advanced flood risk assessment. Field measurements for a catchment area in Kielce, Poland, were used to apply the model and demonstrate its usefulness. This model extends the capability of recently developed statistical and machine learning hydrodynamic models developed from multiple runs of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). The extensions enable the inclusion of (1) the characteristics of the catchment and its stormwater network, calibrated model parameters expressing catchment retention, and the capacity of the sewer system; (2) extended sensitivity analysis; and (3) risk analysis. Sensitivity coefficients of calibrated model parameters include correction coefficients for percentage area, flow path, depth of storage, and impervious area; Manning roughness coefficients for impervious areas; and Manning roughness coefficients for sewer channels. Sensitivity coefficients were determined with respect to rainfall intensity and characteristics of the catchment and stormwater network. Extended sensitivity analysis enabled an evaluation of the variability in the specific flood volume and sensitivity coefficients within a catchment, in order to identify the most vulnerable areas threatened by flooding. Thus, the model can be used to identify areas particularly susceptible to stormwater network failure and the sections of the network where corrective action should be taken to reduce the probability of system failure. The simulator developed to determine the specific flood volume represents an alternative approach to the SWMM that, unlike current approaches, can be calibrated with limited topological data availability; therefore, the aforementioned simulator incurs a lower cost due to the lower number and lower specificity of data required.

  • An air-assisted dispersive liquid phase microextraction method based on a hydrophobic magnetic deep eutectic solvent for the extraction and preconcentration of melamine from milk and milk-based products
    • Adil Elik
    • Seçkin Fesliyan
    • Nevcihan Gürsoy
    • Hameed Haq
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Nail Altunay
    2023 FOOD CHEMISTRY

    In the current research, a fast and sustainable air-assisted hydrophobic magnetic deep eutectic solvent-based dispersive liquid phase microextraction followed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry measurements was optimized for the extraction and determination of melamine in milk and milk-based products. The central composite design was applied for the optimization of factors affecting the recovery of melamine. Quantitative extraction of melamine was achieved using hydrophobic magnetic deep eutectic solvents prepared from a mixture of octanoic acid, aliquat-336, and cobalt(II) chloride. The optimum conditions for extraction were found as follows: 6 extraction cycles, pH 8.2, extraction solvent volume 260 µL, and acetone volume 125 µL. Interestingly, a centrifugation step was not required to achieve phase separation. Under the optimum conditions, melamine was determined in the linear range of 3–600 ng mL−1, the limit of detection (3Sblank/m) of 0.9 ng mL−1, and the enrichment factor of 144. The validation of the method was investigated by the analysis of reference materials. Consequently, the method was successfully applied for the analysis of melamine residues in milk and milk-based products.

  • An algorithm for selecting a machine learning method for predicting nitrous oxide emissions in municipal wastewater treatment plants
    • Bartosz Szeląg
    • Ewa Zaborowska
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2023 Journal of Water Process Engineering

    This study presents an advanced algorithm for selecting machine learning (ML) models for nitrous oxide (N2O) emission prediction in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) employing the activated sludge process. The examined ML models comprised multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), support vector machines (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGboost). The study explores the concept that involves new criteria to select the most appropriate ML model: (i) fitting the results of model prediction to the measurements taking into account the range of variability of the input data, and (ii) model verification applying a reference MCM to identify the input-output relationship using the global sensitivity analysis (GSA). Using the k-means method, it was shown that the relative errors (%e) of N2O prediction by ML models depend on the range of variability of the input data (nitrogen compounds concentration in the bioreactor compartments, influent flowrate, air flowrate). The smallest relative errors of N2O prediction (%e = 0.13 for MARS, %e = 0.12 for SVM and %e=0.10 for XGboost) were found for the concentrations: NH4-N = 24.14 mg N/L (anaerobic compartment), NO3-N = 5.40 mg N/L (aerobic compartment), and the largest (%e > 0.35) for the concentrations: NH4-N = 29.43 mg N/L (anaerobic compartment), NO3-N = 7.90 mg N/L (aerobic compartment). Calculations using the GSA method confirmed that the XGboost model was the only one that showed identical relationships between all the considered input variables and N2O emission rate. The ML model obtained in this way can be used as an alternative to the MCM for estimating N2O emission as a significant contributor to the carbon footprint of WWTPs.

  • An automated, low-latency environment for studying the neural basis of behavior in freely moving rats
    • Maciej Jankowski
    • Ana Polterovich
    • Alex Kazakov
    • Johannes Niediek
    • Israel Nelken
    2023 Full text BMC BIOLOGY

    Background Behavior consists of the interaction between an organism and its environment, and is controlled by the brain. Brain activity varies at sub-second time scales, but behavioral measures are usually coarse (often consisting of only binary trial outcomes). Results To overcome this mismatch, we developed the Rat Interactive Foraging Facility (RIFF): a programmable interactive arena for freely moving rats with multiple feeding areas, multiple sound sources, high-resolution behavioral tracking, and simultaneous electrophysiological recordings. The paper provides detailed information about the construction of the RIFF and the software used to control it. To illustrate the flexibility of the RIFF, we describe two complex tasks implemented in the RIFF, a foraging task and a sound localization task. Rats quickly learned to obtain rewards in both tasks. Neurons in the auditory cortex as well as neurons in the auditory field in the posterior insula had sound-driven activity during behavior. Remarkably, neurons in both structures also showed sensitivity to non-auditory parameters such as location in the arena and head-to-body angle. Conclusions The RIFF provides insights into the cognitive capabilities and learning mechanisms of rats and opens the way to a better understanding of how brains control behavior. The ability to do so depends crucially on the combination of wireless electrophysiology and detailed behavioral documentation available in the RIFF.

  • An electrochemical biosensor for the determination of hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in human serum
    • Adrian Koterwa
    • Magdalena Bojko
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Krzysztof Łukaszuk
    • Kornelia Kozłowska
    • Wiktor Sieklicki
    • Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło
    • Pawel Niedzialkowski
    2023 Full text ELECTROANALYSIS

    This work describes the modification of a gold electrode to create an electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The biosensor was obtained by modifying the gold electrode with cysteamine and oligopeptide (PPLRINRHILTR). The modification steps of the gold electrode were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The conducted EIS experiments in 0.01 M PBS, pH 7.4 confirm that the biosensor exhibits sensitivity towards hCG in a range of concentrations from 1×10−12 to 1×10−7 M (0.5 mIU/mL – 50 000 mIU/mL) to solutions with a detection limit of 1. 91×10−14 M (0.0095 mIU/mL). The effectiveness of the investigated biosensor was also investigated in human serum. The EIS comparative investigations were performed in human serum containing a concentration of 1×10−12 M (0.5 mIU/mL) hCG and in human serum where the hCG was added. The obtained results indicate that the investigated biosensor is selective for the presence of hCG hormone in the human serum.

  • An experimental assessment on a diesel engine powered by blends of waste-plastic-derived pyrolysis oil with diesel
    • Katarzyna Januszewicz
    • Jacek Hunicz
    • Paweł Kazimierski
    • Arkadiusz Rybak
    • Tomasz Suchocki
    • Kamil Duda
    • Maciej Mikulski
    2023 Full text ENERGY

    The utilization of plastic solid wastes for sustainable energy production is a crucial aspect of the circular economy. This study focuses on pyrolysis as an effective method to convert this feedstock into renewable drop-in fuel. To achieve this, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of feedstock composition, pyrolysis process parameters, and the physicochemical characteristics of the resulting fuel, all correlated with engine combustion parameters. Considering this full value chain, this study provides the first unbiased and up-to-date benchmark of polypropylene and polystyrene pyrolysis oils (PPO and PSO) produced in an industrial-grade batch reactor. The pyrolysis process was optimized to achieve ultra-high liquid yield levels of 92% for PPO and 98% for PSO with minimum energy consumption. After post-processing, blending with diesel, and normative fuel analytics, combustion/emission tests involving 20 species preceded under fully controllable conditions using a stateof-the-art single-cylinder research engine. The fuel analysis results revealed significant disparities between the properties of PPO and PSO. PPO exhibited a diverse carbon structure, resulting in very low density and high volatility. On the other hand, PSO was predominantly composed of aromatics, leading to low viscosity and poor auto-ignition properties. Engine tests showed that PPO blends exhibited combustion characteristics similar to diesel, while PSO blends exhibited significant differences, particularly during the premixed combustion stage attributed to pilot injection. Following the combustion response, the addition of PPO had minimal impact on emissions, while PSO acted as an emission enhancer, resulting in over twofold increase in particulate matter at high loads. Consequently, PSO showed elevated carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions due to the higher contribution of aromatics. Ultimately, this study challenges the prevailing perception of plastic-derived fuels as “dirty”. By implementing feedstock segregation to minimize polystyrene content, it is possible to achieve a fossil substitute level of 40% while meeting all emission and safety regulations for diesel engines with a minimum economic burden.

  • An influence of molecular weight, deacetylation degree of chitosan xerogels on their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. Comparison of chitosan materials obtained using lactic acid and CO2 saturation.
    • Szymon Mania
    • Adrianna Banach-kopeć
    • Karol Staszczyk
    • Jolanta Kulesza
    • Ewa Augustin
    • Robert Tylingo
    2023 Full text CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH

    This paper presents a comparison of the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity against L929 cells of chitosan xerogels prepared by dissolving the polymer in a solution of lactic acid (LA) or carbonic acid (CO2) and then freeze-drying. There was no simple relationship between the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the samples obtained using both techniques (LA and CO2). Chitosan materials obtained by the LA method in a 1:1 dilution were characterized by the highest cytotoxicity against L929 cells (~20%). For the same diluted samples prepared using the CO2 saturation method, the viability of L929 cells was approximately 2.5 times greater. Some of the tested chitosan materials obtained by the innovative method were characterized by significantly lower antimicrobial activity, for example, reduction of E. coli bacteria for MMW-LA and MMW-CO2 samples by 6.00 and 0.75 logarithmic order, respectively. This clearly indicates that in many applications, the presence of the acid necessary to dissolve chitosan is responsible for the antimicrobial activity of the polymer solution and its products.

  • An insight into the mixed quantum mechanical-molecular dynamics simulation of a ZnII-Curcumin complex with a chosen DNA sequence that supports experimental DNA binding investigations
    • Tanmoy Saha
    • Subrahmanyam Sappati
    • Saurabh Das
    2023 Full text INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

    An important aspect of research pertaining to Curcumin (HCur) is the need to arrest its degradation in aqueous solution and in biological milieu. This may be achieved through complex formation with metal ions. For this reason, a complex of HCur was prepared with ZnII, that is not likely to be active in redox pathways, minimizing further complications. The complex is monomeric, tetrahedral, with one HCur, an acetate and a molecule of water bound to ZnII. It arrests degradation of HCur to a considerable extent that was realized by taking it in phosphate buffer and in biological milieu. The structure was obtained by DFT calculations. Stable adduct formation was identified between optimized structures of HCur and [Zn(Cur)] with DNA (PDB ID: 1BNA) through experiments validated with multiscale modeling approach. Molecular docking studies provide 2D and 3D representations of binding of HCur and [Zn(Cur)] through different non-covalent interactions with the nucleotides of the chosen DNA. Through molecular dynamics simulation, a detailed understanding of binding pattern and key structural characteristics of the generated DNA-complex was obtained following analysis by RMSD, RMSF, radius of gyration, SASA and aspects like formation of hydrogen bonds. Experimental studies provide binding constants for [Zn(Cur)] with calf thymus DNA at 25 °C that effectively helps one to realize its high affinity towards DNA. In the absence of an experimental binding study of HCur with DNA, owing to its tendency to degrade in solution, a theoretical analysis of the binding of HCur to DNA is extremely helpful. Besides, both experimental and simulated binding of [Zn(Cur)] to DNA may be considered as a case of pseudo-binding of HCur to DNA. In a way, such studies on interaction with DNA helps one to identify HCur's affinity for cellular target DNA, not realized through experiments. The entire investigation is an understanding of experimental and theoretical approaches that has been compared continuously, being particularly useful when a molecule's interaction with a biological target cannot realized experimentally.

  • An Integrated Approach to an Assessment of Bottlenecks for Navigation on Riverine Waterways
    • Marta Schoeneich
    • Michał Habel
    • Dawid Szatten
    • Damian Absalon
    • Jakub Montewka
    2023 Full text Water

    Water transport, both sea and inland, is the cheapest, least invasive, and safest option for non-standard loads; hence, it is important to increase the percentage share of inland waterway transport on the rivers of Central and Eastern Europe. Transporting cargo is particularly difficult on shallow waterways because rivers overloaded with sediment determine the vertical parameters on inland waterways. A ship’s safe manoeuvrability depends on the available water depth of the navigational area concerning the vessel’s draught. The draught is related to channel depth and sediments. The paper presents a model assessment of a new tool for studying limitations for ships carrying oversized cargo and the shallow channel bed inland waterways. Our analysis was carried out on the Vistula River lowland reach for the winter hydrological conditions. The Lower Vistula River in Poland is a clear example of a sedimentation problem. This waterway is also a zone of active sediment transport of sandy material; a massive volume of sediment reaches 1 million cubic meters per year. The results of this research could be helpful for inland transport management, risk assessment of ships entering waterways with shallow channel beds such as the Vistula River, and analysis for a new waterway project

  • An integrated geotechnical and geophysical investigation of landslide in Chira town, Ethiopia
    • Worku Firomsa Kabeta
    • Mulatu Tamiru
    • Damtew Tsige
    • Hashim Ware
    2023 Full text Heliyon

    Landslides pose a significant threat to infrastructure, property, and human lives in many regions worldwide, including Chira town in Ethiopia. This study presents an integrated geotechnical and geophysical investigation aimed at identifying the contributing factors to landslides in Chira town, Ethiopia, with a focus on a recent landslide event. The methodology employed a combination of geotechnical and geophysical techniques to comprehensively analyze the landslide problem. The geotechnical investigation involved a detailed analysis of the soil characteristics in the area, including the composition of fine-grained soil and the determination of cohesion and angle of internal friction through triaxial testing. The geophysical investigation utilized electrical resistivity tomography to assess the subsurface soil profile. The findings revealed the presence of a massive basaltic tertiary volcanic rock layer underlying a very low resistivity layer of sticky clay soil. Through this study, it was established that rainfall, soil type, land use, elevation, and proximity to streams, slopes, and aspects were the main factors contributing to the landslide, accounting for 22.03%, 18.89%, 15.75%, 15.46%, 10.87%, 9.7%, and 7.5% of the overall influence, respectively. Based on these findings, the study proposes a range of interventions to enhance resilience against landslides, including surface drainage, the implementation of appropriate land use management practices, and the introduction of vetiver vegetation. The integration of geotechnical and geophysical methodologies provided a comprehensive understanding of the landslide problem in Chira town. The proposed interventions aim to inform future land use planning, infrastructure development, and disaster risk reduction efforts in the region. By expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms driving landslides, this study offers valuable insights that can be utilized in similar regions facing comparable geotechnical and geophysical conditions.

  • An Intelligent Approach to Short-Term Wind Power Prediction Using Deep Neural Networks
    • Tacjana Niksa-Rynkiewicz
    • Piotr Stomma
    • Anna Witkowska
    • Danuta Rutkowska
    • Adam Słowik
    • Krzysztof Cpałka
    • Joanna Jaworek-Korjakowska
    • Piotr Kolendo
    2023 Full text Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing Research

    In this paper, an intelligent approach to the Short-Term Wind Power Prediction (STWPP) problem is considered, with the use of various types of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). The impact of the prediction time horizon length on accuracy, and the influence of temperature on prediction effectiveness have been analyzed. Three types of DNNs have been implemented and tested, including: CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks), GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit), and H-MLP (Hierarchical Multilayer Perceptron). The DNN architectures are part of the Deep Learning Prediction (DLP) framework that is applied in the Deep Learning Power Prediction System (DLPPS). The system is trained based on data that comes from a real wind farm. This is significant because the prediction results strongly depend on weather conditions in specific locations. The results obtained from the proposed system, for the real data, are presented and compared. The best result has been achieved for the GRU network. The key advantage of the system is a high effectiveness prediction using a minimal subset of parameters. The prediction of wind power in wind farms is very important as wind power capacity has shown a rapid increase, and has become a promising source of renewable energies.

  • An investigation of microstructural basis for corrosion behavior of Al-CNT composites fabricated by SPS
    • Omid Ekhlasiosgouei
    • Reza Ebrahimi
    • Masood Hasheminiasari
    • Sebastian Molin
    2023 DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS

    In this research effect of the addition of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as additive powder on microstructure and corrosion behavior of fabricated Al-CNT composites was studied. The aluminum powder and CNTs were mixed with high energy planetary ball-mill. It is observed that by increasing milling time, the uniformity of CNTs on aluminum matrix and consequently corrosion resistance of Al-CNT composite is increased. On the other hand, by increasing the volume percentage of CNTs, the uniformity of CNTs on aluminum matrix and corrosion resistance of fabricated Al-CNT composite is reduced. The value of polarization resistance, Rp, for fabricated composites with 2 % CNT is improved from 1.28 to 3.60 Ω/cm2 by increasing milling time. Also, the value of Rp for fabricated composites with 4 h milling time, is reduced from 3.60 to 2.76 Ω/cm2 by increasing the percentage of CNTs from 2 % up to 5 %. Moreover, Cyclic Polarization results showed that the pitting corrosion resistance improves by increasing milling time and deteriorates by increasing the percentage of CNTs. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that the corrosion mechanism of Al-CNT composites is a combination of uniform and pitting corrosion. Indeed, the CNTs act as preferred cathode regions and cause to formation of micro galvanic couples. The Al-2%CNT-4 h showed better uniformity and the highest corrosion resistance. The Al-5%CNT-2 h presented non-uniform distribution of CNTs and the lowest corrosion resistance.

  • An NO2 sensor based on WO3 thin films for automotive applications in the microwave frequency range
    • A. Paleczek
    • D. Grochala
    • K. Staszek
    • Sławomir Gruszczyński
    • Erwin Maciak
    • Zbigniew Opilski
    • Piotr Kałużyński
    • Marek Wójcikowski
    • Tuan-Vu Cao
    • Artur Rydosz
    2023 SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL

    A microwave system dedicated to the detection of nitrogen dioxide in the harsh environment of the Norway highways is proposed. An optimized transmission line type of sensor coated with a tungsten trioxide thin film that changes its electrical properties under NO2 gas exposure is developed. The sensors' response (S) is given in °/GHz and it is calculated based on wideband measurements. The advantage of wideband measurements in comparison to a single value is based on multiple measurements taken at different frequencies, which greatly suppresses noise and enables measuring low target-gas concentrations within environments of high interfering compounds. Herein, the developed system works in 1.5 GHz – 4.5 GHz, and NO2 varies in the 0–20 ppm range. The optimal thickness of the gas-sensing layer is estimated to be around 410 nm taking the advantage of the magnetron sputtering technology with the glancing angle deposition technique. The advantage of the developed sensor is the possibility to work at ambient temperature without the need to heat up the sensors. The disadvantage of the developed sensors is longer response and recovery times; however, this issue will be a subject of research in the future.

  • An Overview of Bidirectional EV Chargers: Empowering Traction Grid-Powered Chargers
    • Mykola Lukianov
    • Ievgen Verbitsky
    • Ryszard Strzelecki
    • Enrique Romero-Cadaval
    2023

    In recent years, the number of electric vehicles has been at least doubling year after year. As a result, today electric vehicles already account for approximately 10% of the global automotive market, which positively affects environment in urbanized areas. However, to take full advantage of the EV integration it is necessary to use renewable sources for their charging; optimally place charging stations/terminals; optimally manage charging processes, taking into account the cost and load on the power grid; use modern power electronics technologies with increased efficiency. Nonetheless, there are several problems associated with the mass introduction of charging stations. First of all, they require the installation of additional infrastructure–substations connected to urban medium-voltage lines, transformers and converters, which is costly and it is not always possible to install them in densely populated urban areas. To remedy this, public slow charging stations that use on-board EV chargers and utilize existing low voltage grids are used. Using the same low voltage grids with fast charging stations, however, is problematic, due to increased load on the network, which can reduce power quality, the life of installed grid transformers etc. To overcome this problem, many different measures are being taken. Most of them are based on optimization of EV chargers connection points and implementation of “smart” energy management systems in order to optimize charging profiles. Additionally, as a result of the continuously growing number of grid connected EVs, their batteries can also be considered as part of a smart grid. In this case, the battery of an electric car can store energy when there is excess generation (for example from renewable sources), and supply it to the grid when there is a lack of generation, realizing the functions of vehicle to grid (V2G). Further, services like vehicle to home (V2H), vehicle to load (V2L) and vehicle to industry (V2I) can be utilized, which might positively impact grid power quality. Moreover, such solutions may be especially relevant for areas that are not connected to a centralized power network or have serious problems with network stability.

  • An overview of fermentation in the food industry - looking back from a new perspective
    • Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
    • Zeki Erol
    • Jerina Rugji
    • Fulya Taşçı
    • Hatice Ahu Kahraman
    • Valeria Toppi
    • Laura Musa
    • Giacomo Di Giacinto
    • Nur Alim Bahmid
    • Mohammad Mehdizadeh
    • Roberto Castro-Muñoz
    2023 Full text Bioresources and Bioprocessing

    Fermentation is thought to be born in the Fertile Crescent, and since then, almost every culture has integrated fermented foods into their dietary habits. Originally used to preserve foods, fermentation is now applied to improve their physicochemical, sensory, nutritional, and safety attributes. Fermented dairy, alcoholic beverages like wine and beer, fermented vegetables, fruits, and meats are all highly valuable due to their increased storage stability, reduced risk of food poisoning, and enhanced flavor. Over the years, scientific research has associated the consumption of fermented products with improved health status. The fermentation process helps to break down compounds into more easily digestible forms. It also helps to reduce the amount of toxins and pathogens in food. Additionally, fermented foods contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help the body to digest food and absorb nutrients. In today’s world, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and allergies have increased. In this regard, scientific investigations have demonstrated that shifting to a diet that contains fermented foods can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. Moreover, in the last decade, there has been a growing interest in fermentation technology to valorize food waste into valuable by-products. Fermentation of various food wastes has resulted in the successful production of valuable by-products, including enzymes, pigments, and biofuels.

  • Anaerobic consortia mediate Mn(IV)-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane
    • Wenbo Liu
    • Sai Xu
    • Hongpu Ma
    • Yuanyuan Li
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    • Jun Zhai
    2023 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Manganese-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (Mn-AOM) is a major methane sink and vital to mitigating global warming. However, it is difficult for microorganisms to mediate electron transfer between the hardly dissolved CH4 and insoluble Mn(IV) minerals, leading to poor understanding of species mediating Mn-AOM. This study successfully enriched an anaerobic consortium mediating AOM driven by Mn-dependent respiratory growth, and for the first time, revealing a syntrophic pathway for Mn-AOM. The Mn-AOM occurrence was confirmed by long-term bioreactor performance and 13C-labelling batch experiment. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses demonstrated that the Candidatus Methanoperedens sp. BLZ1 was responsible for CH4 oxidation. The Luteitalea pratensis mediated extracellular electron transfer crossing S-layer of Ca. M. BLZ1 by conductive pili, and mediated microbial Mn(IV) reduction via multi-heme c-type cytochromes. This study offers an alternative syntrophic pathway for Mn-AOM by a microbial consortium instead of previously reported pathway by ANME alone. These outcomes provided new insight into migrating global climate change and manganese cycles.

  • ANALIZA CECH HYDRO-AERODYNAMICZNYCH BEZZAŁOGOWEGO POJAZDU NAWODNO-POWIETRZNEGO Z WYKORZYSTANIEM EFEKTU PRZYPOWIERZCHNIOWEGO
    • Mirosław Gerigk
    2023

    W artykule przedstawiono problematykę badań dotyczących opracowania demonstratora technologii bezzałogowego pojazdu nawodno-powietrznego z wykorzystaniem efektu przypowierzchniowego. Opisano podstawowe problemy badawcze związane z analizą cech hydro-aerodynamicznych pojazdu. Opisano przedmiot badań, bezzałogowy pojazd nawodno-powietrzny typu USV-UAV-WIG. Opisano metodę badań. Przeprowadzono wstępną analizę osiągów i zachowania się pojazdu USV-UAV-WIG w warunkach zbliżonych do rzeczywistych z wykorzystaniem metody numerycznej mechaniki płynów CFD. Podano wyniki badań. W końcowej części artykułu podano kierunki dalszych badań i wnioski końcowe z dotychczasowych badań.

  • Analiza cyklu życia
    • Anna Kuczyńska-Łażewska
    2023

    Analiza cyklu życia (LCA, ang. Life Cycle Analysis) z założenia obejmuje podejście „od kołyski aż po grób” w ocenie procesów przemysłowych i produktów. Ta wizja zaczyna się już w momencie wydobycia surowców pierwotnych w celu przetworzenia i wytworzenia produktu, a kończy, gdy wszystkie materiały zostają poddane utylizacji, recyklingowi lub składowaniu. LCA ocenia wszystkie etapy życia produktu z założeniem, że są od siebie współzależne, czyli że jedna operacja prowadzi do następnej. Umożliwia oszacowanie kompleksowego wpływu na środowisko wynikającego z każdego etapu życia produktu.

  • Analiza eksperymentalna intensyfikacji transportu ciepła w płaszczowo-rurowym wymienniku ciepła z generatorami strug gazu
    • Jan Wajs
    • Paulina Boroń
    • Krzysztof Abucewicz
    2023

    W pracy przedstawiono modelowy płaszczowo-rurowy wymiennik ciepła z generatorami strug gazu wraz z wynikami badań cieplnych. Badania eksperymentalne wykonano dla układu gaz-ciecz. Pomiary prowadzono przy stałych wartościach temperatury czynników na wlocie do wymiennika, tj. w zakresie 120-200 st.C w przypadku powietrza (czynnika grzewczego) i 18 st.C w przypadku wody (czynnika ogrzewanego). Przedstawiono zależności współczynnika przejmowania ciepła i liczby Nusselta w funkcji liczby Reynoldsa.

  • Analiza energetyczna, wilgotnościowai kosztowa budynku wykonanegow technologii CLT i technologii tradycyjnej
    • Andrzej Ossowski
    • Marcin Szczepański
    2023 Builder

    Celem analizy porównawczej było określenie wpływu zastosowania drewna klejonego krzyżowo CLT na wydajność energetyczną, bezpieczeństwo przed szkodliwym działaniem wilgoci oraz kosztu budowy budynku wielorodzinnego w porównaniu z zastosowaniem tradycyjnych metod budowlanych. Analizie poddano istniejący, czterokondygnacyjny budynek mieszkalny wykonany z elementów murowych i żelbetu, który przekształcono do technologii CLT. W ramach analizy energetycznej wykonano roczną symulację w programie IDA ICE, uzyskując zapotrzebowanie budynków w obu technologiach na energię grzewczą. Analizę wilgotnościową przeprowadzono w oprogramowaniu WUFI2D i WUFI VTT w oparciu o wskaźnik mould growth index (MGI), określający ryzyko powstawania pleśni na powierzchni poszczególnych warstw przegrody budowlanej. Analizą kosztową objęto prace obejmujące wykonanie całej konstrukcji oraz wybranych prac wykończeniowych istotnych dla analizy energetycznej i wilgotnościowej. Budynek z CLT okazał się bardziej wydajny pod kątem energetycznym od wariantu tradycyjnego. Analiza wilgotnościowa wykazała bezpieczeństwo obu typów konstrukcji przed rozwojem pleśni, choć ujawniła również większą wrażliwość wariantu CLT na wady wykonawcze. Koszt budowy okazał się czynnikiem najsilniej przemawiającym za wyborem technologii tradycyjnej przy budowie analizowanego obiektu. Koszt budowy obiektu z CLT znacznie przewyższył wynik wariantu istniejącego. Przeprowadzone porównanie prowadzi do konkluzji, że CLT jest technologią, która ma duży potencjał, by być realną alternatywą dla tradycyjnych technik wznoszenia budynków. Dużą barierą pozostaje jednak wysoki koszt zakupu materiału i ograniczona świadomość co do prawidłowego projektowania i wykonawstwa nowoczesnych konstrukcji drewnianych w Polsce.

  • Analiza gniazda docierarek dwutarczowych do płaszczyzn - studium przypadku.
    • Adam Barylski
    2023

    Przedstawiono analizę gniazda trzech docierarek dwutarczowych do płaszczyzn. Analizowano przypadki obróbki pierścieni stalowych i krążków z ceramiki technicznej. Badano czasy główne docierania oraz składowe czasów pomocniczych w analizowanych operacjach obróbki wstępnej, dokładnej i bardzo dokładnej.

  • Analiza i badania transformatora hybrydowego z przekształtnikiem AC/DC/AC współdziałającym z przełącznikiem zaczepów
    • Wojciech Matelski
    2023 Full text

    Rozprawa dotyczy badań nad układem transformatora hybrydowego, który oprócz możliwości regulacji ciągłej napięcia za pomocą przekształtnika energoelektronicznego, posiada układ regulacji skokowej w postaci przełącznika zaczepów. Badane urządzenie przeznaczone jest do stabilizacji napięcia w dystrybucyjnej sieci niskiego napięcia. Dzięki skoordynowanej pracy układów (ciągłego i skokowego) uzyskana zostaje tzw. Wielostrefowa Regulacja Napięcia. W pracy zaproponowano 4 struktury umożliwiające ww. strategię. Dla wybranego układu przedstawiono algorytm koordynujący pracę przekształtnika i przełącznika zaczepów. W pracy rozpatrywano dwie topologie przekształtnika energoelektronicznego. Dla obu przygotowano algorytmy sterowania i przeprowadzono badania symulacyjne. Dla wybranej struktury skonstruowano i przebadano model laboratoryjny. Uzyskano dobrą zgodność wyników symulacji i eksperymentu. Istotną częścią transformatora hybrydowego jest układ BYPASS, służący do zabezpieczenia przekształtnika w sytuacjach awaryjnych oraz do zamierzonego załączenia i wyłączenia przekształtnika kompensującego napięcie obciążenia. Procedury te również opisano w rozprawie.

  • Analiza informacyjności diagnostycznej temperatury spalin wylotowych okrętowego tłokowego silnika spalinowego
    • Patrycja Puzdrowska
    2023 Full text

    W rozprawie doktorskiej zaproponowano metodykę oceny stanu technicznego silnika okrętowego w eksploatacji na podstawie pomiarów szybkozmiennej temperatury spalin wylotowych w miejscu pomiaru standardowego. Metoda ta pozwoliłaby identyfikować znane i rozpoznawalne stany niezdatności eksploatacyjnej elementów konstrukcyjnych silnika okrętowego o ograniczonej podatności kontrolnej. Rozpatrywano następujące układy funkcjonalne silnika: układ zasilania paliwem, kanał powietrza dolotowego oraz elementy konstrukcyjne ograniczające komorę spalania. Zdefiniowano trzy miary sygnału diagnostycznego: entalpię właściwą strumienia spalin wylotowych, średnią wartość międzyszczytową oraz intensywność zmian szybkozmiennej temperatury spalin. Zastosowano statystykę F rozkładu Fishera-Snedecora jako narzędzie do oceny istotności wpływu parametrów wejściowych na zdefiniowane miary diagnostyczne. Wyznaczono wartości stałej czasowej termopary metodą obliczeniową i empiryczną. Przeprowadzono eksperyment wstępny, podczas którego określono wpływ obciążenia silnika na rozpatrywane miary diagnostyczne, przy niezmienionych wartościach struktury konstrukcyjnej silnika oraz eksperyment główny, podczas którego sprawdzano wpływ zmian parametrów struktury na te same miary diagnostyczne. Zmiany parametrów struktury, które faktycznie wprowadzano do silnika badawczego odpowiadały (symulowały) stanom niesprawności technicznej najczęściej występującym w silnikach pracujących na statkach: utrata drożności kanału dolotowego powietrza (obniżone ciśnienie powietrza dolotowego), relaksacja sprężyny wtryskiwacza (obniżone ciśnienie otwarcia wtryskiwacza), nieszczelność komory spalania (obniżony stopień kompresji). Przeprowadzono analizę merytoryczną wyników badań i uznano, że teza rozprawy doktorskiej została udowodniona a założone cele poznawcze i utylitarne - osiągnięte.

  • Analiza parametryczna skuteczności stosowania zewnętrznego tłumika i wzmocnienia na ograniczenie odpowiedzi dynamicznej kładki nad kanałem Portu Praskiego w Warszawie
    • Krzysztof Żółtowski
    • Przemysław Kalitowski
    2023 Inżynieria i Budownictwo

    W artykule przedstawiono rezultaty analiz dynamicznych zespolonej, łukowej kładki dla pieszych nad kanałem Portu Praskiego w Warszawie. W odpowiedzi na negatywny wynik badań odbiorczych przeprowadzono alternatywne analizy i badania konstrukcji. W ramach prac wykonano symulacje oraz koncepcyjne związane ze zwiększeniem tłumienia za pomocą tłumików oraz modyfikacji sztywności. Analizy wykazały istotne zmniejszenie odpowiedzi dynamicznej w wyniku modyfikacji.

  • Analiza posadowienia słupa powłokowego linii elektroenergetycznej na palach Vibro z wykorzystaniem programu SOFiSTiK 3D
    • Magdalena Piotrowska
    • Paweł Więcławski
    2023 Full text Inżynieria Morska i Geotechnika

    Przy wymiarowaniu fundamentu palowego w złożonych warunkach gruntowych należy wymagać zaawansowanej analizy uwzględniającej wszystkie kombinacje sił działających na konstrukcje. W artykule znaleźć można schemat obliczeń, posadowienia fundamentu płytowego na palach Vibro pod słup powłokowy wysokiego napięcia, z wykorzystaniem programu SOFiSTiK 3D. Bazując na standardowych metodach, ale stosując nowe, alternatywne podejścia wyznacza się niezbędne parametry modelu i siły wewnętrzne w palach.

  • Analiza przykładowych odpowiedzi impulsowych kanału hydroakustycznego pomierzonych w ruchu
    • Agnieszka Czapiewska
    • Andrzej Łuksza
    • Ryszard Studański
    • Łukasz Wojewódka
    • Andrzej Żak
    2023 Full text Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    W artykule przedstawiono przykładowe wyniki i analizę pomiarów odpowiedzi impulsowej kanału hydroakustycznego zrealizowanych w ruchu na basenie modelowym Politechniki Gdańskiej.

  • ANALIZA SKUTECZNOŚCI DETEKCJI SYGNAŁÓW GMSK W KANALE Z PROPAGACJĄ WIELODROGOWĄ PRZY UŻYCIU METOD GŁĘBOKIEGO UCZENIA
    • Alicja Olejniczak
    • Krzysztof Cwalina
    • Jarosław Sadowski
    • Jacek Stefański
    2023 Przegląd Telekomunikacyjny + Wiadomości Telekomunikacyjne

    Odbiór sygnałów radiowych w środowisku wewnątrzbudynkowym jest istotnym problemem współczesnej radiokomunikacji. W celu zwiększenia skuteczności istniejących metod odbioru radiowego coraz częściej wykorzystuje się narzędzia z obszaru uczenia maszynowego. Niniejszy artykuł prezentuje analizę skuteczności głębokiej sieci neuronowej w odbiorze sygnałów GMSK w kanale z zanikami i propagacją wielodrogową. Prezentowane wyniki porównane zostały z klasycznym detektorem MLSE, a miarą skuteczności była bitowa stopa błędów.