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Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • High sensitivity voltammetric sensor of 4-nitrotoluene based on nanoflake-rich boron-doped carbon nanowall electrode for water safety
    • Paweł Rutecki
    • Michał Sobaszek
    • Anna Dettlaff
    2025 MICROCHIMICA ACTA

    This study demonstrates a highly efficient electrochemical sensing platform for 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT) detection based on nanoflake-rich boron-doped carbon nanowall (NF-BCNW) electrodes. The electrodes, fabricated using a one-step deposition process, exhibit remarkable properties, including fast charge transfer and a developed surface area. The research shows the high efficiency of 4-NT detection in laboratory-grade aqueous samples, with a low detection limit (LOD) of 10.2 nM and a high sensitivity of 10.42 ± 0.31 μA µM−1 cm−2. The practical applicability of the 4-NT sensor was also tested in an environmental sample, tap water, resulting in an LOD of 20.5 nM. The proposed electrode demonstrated considerable sensitivity for the sensing of 4-NT in the presence of various interfering ions and exhibited high stability over 380 days. These findings position the NF-BCNW electrochemical sensor as an effective tool for water safety and environmental monitoring applications.

  • Higher‐Order Gravity Waves and Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances From the Polar Vortex Jet on 11–15 January 2016: Modeling With HIAMCM‐SAMI3 and Comparison With Observations in the Thermosphere and Ionosphere
    • Sharon L. Vadas
    • David R. Themens
    • Joseph D. Huba
    • Erich Becker
    • Katrina Bossert
    • Larisa Goncharenko
    • Sophie J. Maguire
    • Cosme A. O. B. Figueiredo
    • Shuang Xu
    • V. Lynn Harvey
    • Nathaniel A. Frissell
    • Michael J. Molzen
    • Thomas J. Pisano
    • Grzegorz Nykiel
    2025 JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS

    In Vadas et al. (2024, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja032521), we modeled the atmospheric gravity waves (GWs) during 11–14 January 2016 using the HIAMCM, and found that the polar vortex jet generates medium to large-scale, higher-order GWs in the thermosphere. In this paper, we model the traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) generated by these GWs using the HIAMCM-SAMI3 and compare with ionospheric observations from ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, Incoherent Scatter Radars (ISR) and the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). We find that medium to large-scale TIDs are generated worldwide by the higher-order GWs from this event. Many of the TIDs over Europe and Asia have concentric ring/arc-like structure, and most of those over North/South America have planar wave structure and occur during the daytime. Those over North/South America propagate southward and are generated by higher-order GWs from Europe/Asia which propagate over the Arctic. These latter TIDs can be misidentified as arising from geomagnetic forcing. We find that the higher-order GWs that propagate to Africa and Brazil from Europe may aid in the formation of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) there. We find that the simulated GWs, TIDs and EPBs agree with EISCAT, PFISR, GNSS, and SuperDARN measurements. We find that the higher-order GWs are concentrated at 60 - 90 degrees N at z>= 200 km, in agreement with GOCE and CHAMP data. Thus the polar vortex jet is important for generating TIDs in the northern winter ionosphere via multi-step vertical coupling through GWs.

  • Highly Compact Dual-Band Frequency Selective Surface for Path-loss and Coverage Improvement in Millimeter-wave Advanced Wireless Applications
    • Bilal Malik
    • Shahid Khan
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2025 Full text Scientific Reports

    In this work, a compact dual-band frequency selective surface (FSS) for path-loss and coverage improvement in advanced wireless communication is showcased. The proposed FSS is a single-layer design with stable and high performance at both 24 GHz and 38 GHz operating frequencies, respectively. The design is highly compact with two wide-band reflection coefficient responses having 49.5% (14.5 – 26.4 GHz) and 66.57% (35.8 – 39.8 GHz) bandwidth respectively. To the best of the author’s knowledge, the proposed structure is the most compact design reported thus far with 0.14λ0 x 0.14λ0 electrical length at the lower cutoff frequency. With the proposed design architecture, it is easy to reconfigure the FSS. The small size of 2.95 x 2.95 mm2 enables effective operation in different communication environments. For coverage improvement and experimental validation, a 32 x 32 element array of the total footprint of 96 x 96 mm2 is fabricated and measured. The measured results demonstrate a significant coverage enhancement of up to 35 dB, for the Ku band, N257, and N260 millimeter wave (mm-wave) 5G bands. The proposed design is useful to enhance 5G mm-wave communication by tackling the fading effects or the presence of obstacles.

  • Holistic view to decarbonising cruise ships with a combination of energy saving technologies and hydrogen as fuel
    • Mia Elg
    • Bogdan Molchanov
    • Arun Krishnan
    • Annika Sandberg
    • Tomasz Hinz
    2025 Energy Conversion and Management: X

    Cruise ship decarbonisation was studied on a Mediterranean cruise profile. The analysis focused on ship energy flows, fuel consumption, carbon emissions, ship CII and EEDI. A combination of technologies for reducing ship fuel consumption was simulated before introducing hydrogen fueled machinery for the ship. The studied technologies included ultrasound antifouling, shore power, battery hybrid machinery, waste heat recovery and air lubrication. Their application on the selected operational profile led to combined fuel savings of 18,7%. When the same technologies were combined to a hydrogen machinery, the ship total energy consumption, compared to baseline was reduced by 25%. The cause of this was the synergies in the ship energy system, such as ship auxiliary powers, heat consumption and machinery efficiency. The proposed methodology of ship energy analysis is important step in starting to evaluate new fuels for ships and in preliminary technology screening prior to integrating them in the ship design.

  • Hospitality Human Capital process model in crisis management: Managing human capital and revealing employees’ hidden capabilities
    • Jagoda Goll
    • Krzysztof Zięba
    2025 Full text Tourism and Hospitality Research

    As the hospitality industry is highly human-dependent, proper Human Capital management is crucial for responding to these challenges and becoming resilient in the long-term perspective. This study aims to verify the Value-Driven Process Model of Hospitality Human Capital management in the context of Crisis Management in restaurant SMEs, which is an underresearched part of the industry. The authors adjust the model by Young et al. (2005) concerning two phases of a crisis – crisis event and post-crisis phases. Additionally, we aimed to expand the model by showing what values for businesses emerge from Human Capital management practices. As a methodology, we used semi-structured interviews conducted with restaurant owners or managers who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The obtained results were analyzed using content analysis. Our findings revealed that some managerial actions concerning Human Capital may result in quick and successful adaptation to new and unknown conditions. Moreover, we uncovered hidden and unique capabilities of restaurant employees that, if properly managed, may become a substantial additional value for businesses and enhance their competitive advantage and resilience. The study may be food for thought for all practitioners in the hospitality industry, especially in restaurant SMEs that are an under-researched part of the industry. Our findings also fill the gap concerning Human Capital and Crisis Management frameworks in hospitality. This study delivers new knowledge in the field of Human Capital management in hospitality during a crisis.

  • How can the double bias of mistakes block organizational intelligence? Gender and position analysis
    • Wioleta Kucharska
    • Marta Szeluga-Romańska
    2025 Gender in Management

    Purpose – This study aims to examine whether double bias of mistakes (DBM) jeopardizes organizational learning and intelligence.Moreover, it verifies how female and male knowledge workers affected by the DBM impact organizational intelligence building. Design/methodology/approach – The structural equation modeling method was used to analyze a large sample of 1,111 Polish knowledge workers (mixed sectors). Findings – This study exposed that women managers, unlike men, are open to learning from mistakes and sharing knowledge gained this way. Practical implications – The study results provoke the conclusion that patriarchy-dominated, less-inclusive organizations and societies will probably learn slower than inclusive ones representing gender variety, especially inmanagement boards that shape organizational culture. Originality/value – The essence of organizational success iswhat people can achieve together. So, collective, instead of individual, growth matters more. Organizational intelligence is not the sum of individual IQs but a collective ability to adapt smoothly together as a community. This pioneering study exposes that women are potentially better collective intelligence-building leaders than men.

  • How IT Professionals Perceive Artificial Intelligence Myths
    • Inés López-Baldominos
    • Vera Pospelova
    • Ana Castillo-Martínez
    • Luis Fernández-Sanz
    • Aleksandra Revina
    • Nina Rizun
    2025 Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been recently attracting a lot of attention despite its long history. A good part of its presence in media and non-technical conversations is linked to existing myths and fears about its effects on humans and society. Literature has already analyzed how this type of information influences the general public and non-technical professionals but not how IT professionals react to AI myths. This article shows the results of a survey to a wide and varied sample of European IT professionals offering first insights on their perception of AI myths

  • Hydrogel membranes in organ-on-a-chip devices: A review
    • Przemysław Gnatowski
    • Maryam Ansariaghmiuni
    • Edyta Piłat
    • Maryam Poostchi
    • Justyna Kucińska-Lipka
    • Mohsen Khodadadiyazdi
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Milad Ashrafizadeh
    • Fatemeh Mottaghitalab
    • Mehdi Farokhi
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Tomasz Baczek
    • Chu Chen
    • Qiang Luo
    2025 Full text COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES

    Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices represent advanced in vitro models enabling to mimic the human tissue architecture function and physiology, providing a promising alternative to the traditional animal testing methods. These devices combine the microfluidics with soft materials, specifically hydrogel membranes (HMs) for mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) and biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Hydrogels are ideal biomaterials for OoC systems because of their tunable properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and microscale self-assembly. The integration of HMs with OoC devices provides an effective way to develop dynamic, biologically relevant environments for supporting living cells targeted at drug discovery, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. Recent advancements in fabrication technologies such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), photolithography, and bioprinting have additionally advanced development of such systems. This review aims to outline the role of HMs in OoC platforms, highlighting their material properties, self-assembly behavior, and also challenges associated with their fabrication. Additionally, we visualize and discuss the latest progress made in utilizing HMs for applications in tissue engineering, drug development, and biosensing, with a focus on their interface dynamics and structural self-organization. The future perspective on OoC technology has also been patterned in order to provide a broader image on integration of OoC and HMs with personalized medicine and advanced drug delivery systems.

  • Impact of clinical factors on accuracy of ovarian cancer detection via platelet RNA profiling
    • Maksym Jopek
    • Michał Sieczczyński
    • Krzysztof Pastuszak
    • Sylwia Łapińska-Szumczyk
    • Jacek Jassem
    • Anna Żaczek
    • Matthew T. Rondina
    • Anna Supernat
    2025 Blood Advances

    Ovarian cancer (OC) presents a diagnostic challenge, often resulting in poor patient outcomes. Platelet RNA sequencing, which reflects host response to disease, shows promise for earlier OC detection. This study examines the impact of sex, age, platelet count, and the training on cancer types other than OC on classification accuracy achieved in the previous platelet-alone training data set. A total of 339 samples from healthy donors and 1396 samples from patients with cancer, spanning 18 cancer types (including 135 OC cases) were analyzed. Logistic regression was applied to verify our classifiers’ performance and interpretability. Models were tested at 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity levels. Incorporating patient age as an additional feature along with gene expression increased sensitivity from 68.6% to 72.6%. Models trained on data from both sexes and on female-only data achieved a sensitivity of 68.6% and 74.5%, respectively. Training solely on OC data reduced late-stage sensitivity from 69.1% to 44.1% but increased early-stage sensitivity from 66.7% to 69.7%. This study highlights the potential of platelet RNA profiling for OC detection and the importance of clinical variables in refining classification accuracy. Incorporating age with gene expression data may enhance OC diagnostic accuracy. The inclusion of male samples deteriorates classifier performance. Data from diverse cancer types improves advanced cancer detection but negatively affects early-stage diagnosis.

  • Impact of free water on strain rate response of concrete in compression with a fully coupled DEM/CFD approach
    • Marek Krzaczek
    • Andrzej Tejchman-Konarzewski
    • Michał Nitka
    2025 Computational Particle Mechanics

    W tym artykule zbadano wpływ zawartości wody na dynamiczne zachowanie betonu w stanie jednokierunkowego ściskania w mezoskali. Przeprowadzono obszerne dwuwymiarowe (2D) badania dynamiczne wpływu wolnej wody na dynamiczną wytrzymałość i pękanie betonu o niskiej porowatości. Dogłębnie zbadano wpływ szybkości odkształcania, nasycenia płynem i lepkości płynu. Zachowanie betonu w pełni i częściowo nasyconego płynem symulowano przy użyciu mezoskopowego modelu hydromechanicznego w skali porów opartego na unikalnym, w pełni sprzężonym podejściu DEM-CFD. Aby wygenerować ruch płynu, model zawierał sieć kanałów w ciągłym obszarze między dyskretnymi elementami. W częściowo mokrym betonie zaproponowano dwufazowy laminarny przepływ płynu (powietrza i wody) w porach i rysach. Aby dokładnie śledzić zawartość cieczy/gazu, uwzględniono położenie i objętość porów i rys. Na próbkach uproszczonej sferycznej mezostruktury, która imitowała beton zarówno w warunkach suchych, jak i mokrych, przeprowadzono szereg dynamicznych symulacji numerycznych z różnymi szybkościami odkształceń. Fragmentacja cząstek została pominięta. Dynamiczna wytrzymałość na ściskanie wzrastała wraz ze szybkością odkształceń, nasyceniem płynu i lepkością płynu. Ciśnienie płynu w porach spowalniało proces pękania z powodu zamknięcia płynu w porach, co skutkowało zwiększoną wytrzymałością betonu.

  • Impact of postharvest processing on the health benefits of durian-derived products
    • Pitipong Thobunluepop
    • Dejian Huang
    • Alma Leticia Martinez-Ayala
    • Emilia Ramos
    • Rosario Maribel Robles-sánchez
    • Martyna Lubinska-Szczygeł
    • Rajamohamed Beema Shafreen
    • Adamo Rombolà Domenico
    • Aviva Ezra
    • Emmanuelle Merquiol
    • Svetlana Glikin
    • Shela Gorinstein
    2025 FOOD CHEMISTRY

    Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is a seasonal fruit with a short harvesting period, requiring postharvest processing such as cutting, peeling, freeze-drying, cooking, and frying to enhance its shelf life and nutritional quality. In this study, fresh Monthong durian (MTD), MTD Sticks, MTD Cake, and MTD Chips were analyzed for polyphenols, phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids and thermal stability. Antioxidant activity was assessed using Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity and DPPH radical scavenger methods. Fourier transform infrared spectra characterized the functional groups in extracts, while protein stability was evaluated by electrophoresis. Polyphenols' interaction with human serum proteins showed varied binding affinities, influenced by glycation, particularly in diabetic conditions. MTD had the highest phenolic content, followed by MTD Sticks, Cake, and Chips. This study proposes that durian products, abundant in polyphenols and produced without added sugar during postharvest processing, could serve as functional foods, potentially supporting the management of glycation-related disorders such as diabetes.

  • Impact of thermal and humidity conditions on structural epoxy adhesives during medium-term exposure
    • Marcin Kujawa
    • Piotr Paczos
    • Łukasz Smakosz
    • Adam Piasecki
    • Faizullah Jan
    • Karol Winkelmann
    • Violetta Konopińska-Zmysłowska
    • Victor Eremeyev
    2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADHESION AND ADHESIVES

    An experimental program was undertaken to evaluate the performance characteristics, strengths and limitations of two commercially available two-component structural epoxy resin adhesives under varying thermal and humidity conditions, focusing on their performance in scenarios relevant to engineering applications. The following adhesives were selected for investigation, 3M Scotch DP490 and DP125 Gray. In practice, DP490, a high-rigidity epoxy, is primarily used for bonding small, unpainted metal parts, as well as metal to glass, ceramics, and stone. DP125 Gray, on the other hand, is a more flexible system, typically used for bonding metal to glass, glass to plastic, and painted or powder-coated metals. The selected adhesives were subjected to elevated temperatures (40◦C, 60◦C, 80◦C), hygrothermal conditioning (24h →4h 40◦C/90%RH; 8h -20◦C; 8h 70◦C/90%RH; 4h 20◦C/60%RH) and freeze-thaw cycles (24h →16h -20◦C; 8h 20◦C/45%RH). A medium-term exposure period was adopted to more accurately simulate real-world service conditions (7, 14, 28 days). The experimental characterization of these adhesives was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (chemical composition, fracture surface analysis), standard tensile tests (Young’s modulus, tensile strength), and Shore hardness tests. SEM analysis showed that both adhesives’ chemical compositions remained unchanged after environmental exposure, moreover DP125 Gray was found to contain harmful fluorine. DP490 lost elasticity at high temperatures but gained tensile strength at lower temperatures, while DP125 Gray showed improved elasticity, strength, and Shore hardness with higher temperatures. Unfortunately, both adhesives degraded at high humidity. The research described in this paper is part of a broader research program related to the application of bonding in the manufacturing of complex thin-walled profiles.

  • Implementation of Time-Averaged Restraints with UNRES Coarse-Grained Model of Polypeptide Chains
    • Nguyen Truong Co
    • Cezary Czaplewski
    • Emilia Lubecka
    • Adam Liwo
    2025 Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation

    Time-averaged restraints from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements have been implemented in the UNRES coarse-grained model of polypeptide chains in order to develop a tool for data-assisted modeling of the conformational ensembles of multistate proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), many of which are essential in cell biology. A numerically stable variant of molecular dynamics with time-averaged restraints has been introduced, in which the total energy is conserved in sections of a trajectory in microcanonical runs, the bath temperature is maintained in canonical runs, and the time-average-restraint-force components are scaled up with the length of the memory window so that the restraints affect the simulated structures. The new approach restores the conformational ensembles used to generate ensemble-averaged distances, as demonstrated with synthetic restraints. The approach results in a better fitting of the ensemble- averaged interproton distances to those determined experimentally for multistate proteins and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions, which puts it at an advantage over all-atom approaches with regard to the determination of the conformational ensembles of proteins with diffuse structures, owing to a faster and more robust conformational search.

  • Implementing an Analytical Model to Elucidate the Impacts of Nanostructure Size and Topology of Morphologically Diverse Zinc Oxide on Gas Sensing
    • Sanju Gupta
    • Haiyang Zou
    2025 Full text Chemosensors

    The development of state-of-the-art gas sensors based on metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) to monitor hazardous and greenhouse gas (e.g., methane, CH4, and carbon dioxide, CO2) has been significantly advanced. Moreover, the morphological and topographical structures of MOSs have significantly influenced the gas sensors by means of surface catalytic activities. This work examines the impact of morphological and topological networked assembly of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures, including microparticles and nanoparticles (0D), nanowires and nanorods (1D), nanodisks (2D), and hierarchical networks of tetrapods (3D). Gas sensors consisting of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (ZnO–NR) and topologically interconnected tetrapods (T–ZnO) of varying diameter and arm thickness synthesized using aqueous phase deposition and flame transport method on interdigitated Pt electrodes are evaluated for methane detection. Smaller-diameter nanorods and tetrapod arms (nanowire-like), having higher surface-to-volume ratios with reasonable porosity, exhibit improved sensing behavior. Interestingly, when the nanorods’ diameter and interconnected tetrapod arm thickness were comparable to the width of the depletion layer, a significant increase in sensitivity (from 2 to 30) and reduction in response/recovery time (from 58 s to 5.9 s) resulted, ascribed to rapid desorption of analyte species. Additionally, nanoparticles surface-catalyzed with Pd (~50 nm) accelerated gas sensing and lowered operating temperature (from 200 ◦C to 50 ◦C) when combined with UV photoactivation. We modeled the experimental findings using a modified general formula for ZnO methane sensors derived from the catalytic chemical reaction between methane molecules and oxygen ions and considered the structural surface-to-volume ratios (S/V) and electronic depletion region width (Ld) applicable to other gas sensors (e.g., SnO2, TiO2, MoO3, and WO3). Finally, the effects of UV light excitation reducing detection temperature help to break through the bottleneck of ZnO-based materials as energy-saving chemiresistors and promote applications relevant to environmental and industrial harmful gas detection.

  • Implementing fermentation technology for comprehensive valorisation of seafood processing by-products: A critical review on recovering valuable nutrients and enhancing utilisation
    • Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
    • Dhanya Lakshmikanth
    • Chiranjiv Pradhan
    • Zahra Farajinejad
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Abhilash Sasidharan
    2025 Full text CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION

    Fermentation technology is a biorefining tool that has been used in various industrial processes to recover valuable nutrients from different side streams. One promising application of this technique is in the reclamation of nutritional components from seafood side streams. Seafood processing generates significant amounts of waste, including heads, shells, and other side streams. These side streams contain high quantities of valued nutritional components that can be extracted using fermentation technology. The fermentation technology engages the application of microorganisms to convert the side stream into valuable products like biofuels, enzymes, and animal feed. Natural polymers such as chitin and chitosan have various purposes in the food, medicinal, and agricultural industry. Another example is the fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from seafood side streams. FPHs are protein-rich powders which could be used in animal nutrition and nutraceutical industry. The resulting hydrolysate is further filtered and dried resulting in a FPH powder. Fermentation technology holds great possibility in the recovery of valuable nutrients from seafood side streams. The process can help reduce waste and generate new value-added products from what would otherwise be considered a waste product. With further research and development, fermentation technology can become a key tool in the biorefining industry.

  • In Silico Functional Annotation and Structural Characterization of Hypothetical Proteins in Bacillus paralicheniformis and Bacillus subtilis Isolated from Honey
    • Ahmer Hafeez
    • Subrahmanyam Sappati
    • Radosław Krzemieniecki
    • Randy Worobo
    • Piotr Szweda
    2025 ACS Omega

    Bacillus species are ubiquitous and survive in competitive microbial communities under adverse environmental conditions. Bacillus paralicheniformis and Bacillus subtilis obtained from honey revealed a significant proportion of proteins within their genomes as uncharacterized hypothetical proteins (HPs). A total of 1007 HP sequences were evaluated, resulting in the successful annotation of 56 HPs by assigning specific functions to them. A systematic in silico approach, integrating a range of bioinformatics tools and databases to annotate functions, characterize physicochemical properties, determine subcellular localization, and study protein−protein interactions, was used. Homology and de novo models were generated for the HPs, coupled with iterative remodeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. HPs having significant roles in sporulation, biofilm formation, motility, ion transportation, regulation of metabolic processes, DNA repair, replication, and transcription were identified. Classical MD simulations of globular and transducer membrane proteins, along with postprocessing analyses, refined our structural predictions and provided deeper insights into the stability and functional dynamics of the protein structures under physiological conditions. Moreover, we observed a correlation between the percentage of α helix, β sheet, and coil structures in globular proteins and transducer membrane proteins. The integration of iterative loop modeling, MD simulations, and Dictionary of Secondary Structure in Proteins analysis further validated our predicted models and facilitated the identification of regions critical for protein function, thereby enhancing the overall reliability and robustness of our functional annotations. Furthermore, annotation of these hypothetical proteins aids in identifying novel proteins within bacterial cells, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of bacterial cell biology and their use for biotechnological purposes.

  • Incorporation of doxorubicin into plant-derived nanovesicles: process monitoring and activity assessment
    • Aleksandra Steć
    • Monika Targońska
    • Shishir Jaikishan
    • Rui Chen
    • Piotr Mucha
    • Grzegorz S. Czyrski
    • Jacek Jasiecki
    • Agata Płoska
    • Andrea Heinz
    • Susanne K. Wiedmer
    • Leszek Kalinowski
    • Krzysztof Waleron
    • Bartosz Wielgomas
    • Szymon Dziomba
    2025 Full text DRUG DELIVERY

    Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an experimental class of drug carriers. Alternative sources of EVs are currently being explored to overcome limitations related to their manufacturing from mesenchymal stem cells. In this work, Citrus limon-derived EVs were tested as carriers for the widely used chemotherapeutic drug – doxorubicin (DOX). Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and nanoplasmonic sensing (NPS) were developed for the quality control of DOX–EV preparations. It was found that the CE method enables simultaneous detection of free and incorporated DOX and allows assessing the stability of the preparations and the drug leakage. NPS, on the other hand, demonstrated that DOX is accumulated in the interfacial region of the carrier. The activity of DOX-loaded EVs was tested on HeLa (cervical cancer cells) and HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) cell lines. It was found that DOX incorporation into plant-derived EVs virtually does not affect the drug’s cytotoxicity to HeLa cells but significantly decreases DOX activity against HEK293T cell line.

  • Influence of Optimization Algorithms and Computational Complexity on Concrete Compressive Strength Prediction Machine Learning Models for Concrete Mix Design
    • Patryk Ziółkowski
    2025 Materials

    The proper design of concrete mixtures is a critical task in concrete technology, where optimal strength, eco-friendliness, and production efficiency are increasingly demanded. While traditional analytical methods, such as the Three Equations Method, offer foundational approaches to mix design, they often fall short in handling the complexity of modern concrete technology. Machine learning-based models have demonstrated notable efficacy in predicting concrete compressive strength, addressing the limitations of conventional methods. This study builds on previous research by investigating not only the impact of computational complexity on the predictive performance of machine learning models but also the influence of different optimization algorithms. The study evaluates the effectiveness of three optimization techniques: the Quasi-Newton Method (QNM), the Adaptive Moment Estimation (ADAM) algorithm, and Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD). A total of forty-five deep neural network models of varying computational complexity were trained and tested using a comprehensive database of concrete mix designs and their corresponding compressive strength test results. The findings reveal a significant interaction between optimization algorithms and model complexity in enhancing prediction accuracy. Models utilizing the QNM algorithm outperformed those using the ADAM and SGD in terms of error reduction (SSE, MSE, RMSE, NSE, and ME) and increased coefficient of determination (R2). These insights contribute to the development of more accurate and efficient AI-driven methods in concrete mix design, promoting the advancement of concrete technology and the potential for future research in this domain.

  • Insight into charge carrier dynamics and interface design of {0 0 1} TiO2 coupled with TiOF2 for photocatalytic degradation of contaminants of emerging concern
    • Marta Kowalkińska
    • Nicolas Keller
    • Fernando Fresno
    • Cristophe Colbeau-Justin
    • Anna Zielińska-Jurek
    2025 APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE

    Herein, the role of titanium oxyfluoride (TiOF2) on the charge carriers generation and electron transport in the {0 0 1} TiO2/TiOF2 heterojunction photocatalysts was examined. Time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC), fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy, and DFT calculations were applied to investigate the charge carriers dynamics. These binary photocatalysts in a broad TiOF2 content were further studied in photocatalytic generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and degradation of several organic contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), namely 4-chlorophenol (4CP), myclobutanil (MCL) and carbamazepine (CBZ). Regardless of the CEC tested, it was found that the combination of highly-energetic {0 0 1} TiO2 with TiOF2 phase improved the photocatalytic activity compared to the pristine anatase. The presence of the TiOF2 phase in the heterojunction increased the interfacial charge carriers separation and enhanced the generation of •OH radicals. Maximised photocatalytic activity and TOC reduction were observed for composites with a TiOF2 content of 1.5 %–6 %, which exhibited the highest number of photogenerated charge carriers and a longer lifetime compared to those with higher TiOF2 content. DFT calculations revealed high potential barriers within the TiOF2 structure, which explains the optimum at a low level of TiOF2 amount. Finally, high photocatalytic activity was maintained in five consecutive degradation cycles.

  • International timber trade, merchants, and the business organisation of the sector: The role of Danzig and the southern ports of the Baltic Sea (1823–1913)
    • Luciano Segreto
    2025 Business History

    The aim of this work is to study the quantitative and qualitative changes that occurred in the timber trade and in its business organisation, between the early 1820s and the outbreak of the First World War, on the southern bank of the Baltic, paying special attention to Danzig. In particular, we will analyse the role of the merchants and the other social and economic actors involved, at different levels and with different functions, in the timber business: the forests’ owners, the local intermediaries, the transportation of the timber from the forests to the markets, and the workers.

  • Investigating the Effects of Ground-Transmitted Vibrations from Vehicles on Buildings and Their Occupants, with an Idea for Applying Machine Learning
    • Marta Mikielewicz
    • Anna Jakubczyk-Gałczyńska
    • Robert Jankowski
    2025 Applied Sciences-Basel

    Vibrations observed as a result of moving vehicles can potentially affect both buildings and the people inside them. The impacts of these vibrations are complex, affected by a number of parameters, like amplitude, frequency, and duration, as well as by the properties of the soil beneath. These factors together lead to various effects, from slight disruptions to significant structural damage. Occupants inside affected buildings may experience discomfort, disrupted sleep patterns, and increased stress levels due to the pervasive nature of vibrations. Low-frequency vibrations, typically ranging from 5 to 25 Hz, are of particular concern since they can exacerbate these effects by resonating with internal human organs. To effectively mitigate these issues, a comprehensive approach is required, starting with some interventions at the source. This may involve strategic choices in road construction materials and advancements in vehicle design to reduce the transmission of vibrations through the ground to the surrounding environment. Understanding the complexities of vibration dynamics is essential in urban planning, serving as a fundamental consideration in the development of modern infrastructure that prioritizes the well-being and safety of its inhabitants. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to consider artificial neural networks to assess the potential impact of traffic-induced vibrations on a building’s residents. The results of the study indicate that the proposed method of utilizing machine learning can be effectively applied for such purposes.

  • Investigating the suitability of the matched fiber Bragg grating approach for guided wave based structural health monitoring
    • Rohan Soman
    • Farzam Omidi Moaf
    • Piotr Fiborek
    • Pawel Kudela
    • Marzena Kurpińska
    2025 MEASUREMENT

    Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are thought to be ideal sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM). Amplitude based techniques such as matched filters and the edge-filtering have been proposed to fulfill the high sampling rates necessary for guided waves (GW) sensing. The current research for the first time shows the inherent robustness the matched filter technique provides to the sensing system. The matched system is realized through a FBG deployed on a low cost micrometer screw gauge which allows flexibility in matching the reflected wavelengths of the FBGs. Based on the results it is shown that, in the remote configuration the matched FBG approach is robust under changing temperature conditions. This concept has been shown analytically and experimentally. Furthermore, the approach is then extended for multiplexing of the sensors and the deployed system is used for detecting and localizing damage in the plate.

  • Investigation of bioprintable modified agar-based hydrogels with antimicrobial properties
    • Edyta Piłat
    • Przemysław Gnatowski
    • Agnieszka Kurdyn
    • Hubert Cieśliński
    • Ewa Augustin
    • Justyna Kucińska-Lipka
    2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

    Due to the numerous dangers arising from excessive use of antibiotics in treatments, researchers have been searching for natural alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Despite the popularity of plant extracts, essential oils, and their derivatives in herbal medicine, their applications in novel therapies are rather limited. This paper tries to open a new possibility for infection treatments by assessing the suitability of antimicrobial hydrogels as bioinks. Antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. coli of selected extracts and geraniol were investigated. Suitable agent was incorporated into agar-based hydrogel. Physicochemical properties of the obtained compositions were analyzed, including determination of swelling kinetics and key polymer network parameters, contact angle measurements, FTIR spectra analysis, biocompatibility assessment, antimicrobial tests and bioprintability studies. Results confirmed geraniol's superior antimicrobial activity in pure form and in hydrogels. The obtained materials showed high swelling capacity, satisfying extrusion processability, shape fidelity, and great biocompatibility in their unmodified state. Nevertheless, modification with geraniol caused a significant decrease of cell viability, which limits their usage as bioinks in current form, due to the cytotoxic effect on cells. To improve cells interactions, studies on materials with geraniol and other agents with similar mechanism should be conducted in the future.

  • Investigation of structural, thermal, and electrical properties of sodium-doped oxynitride glass-ceramics
    • Natalia Wójcik
    • Abbas Saeed Hakeem
    • Zuzanna Mielke
    • Sharafat Ali
    2025 MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

    This study aimed to investigate the influence of Na2O addition on the structural, thermal, and electrical characteristics of oxynitride glass-ceramics within the Na–K–Mg–Ca–Al–Si–O–N system. Oxynitride glass-ceramic samples were prepared via spark plasma sintering (SPS) with sodium oxide doping levels ranging from 0 wt% to 12 wt%. FESEM analysis revealed changes in sample morphology with increasing sodium content, indicating the formation of granular structures and sodium-rich clusters in the glass matrix. XRD revealed the presence of nanocrystalline phases in doped samples, primarily (Na,Ca)(Si,Al)4O8. IR spectroscopy demonstrated changes in the glass network structure due to sodium, affecting both silicate and aluminum units. Increasing sodium content led to higher crystallinity and a corresponding decrease in sample density. The thermal expansion increased notably with sodium content, attributed to the disruptive effect of sodium ions on the glass-ceramics structure, while thermal conductivity decreased also attributed to this disruption. AC conductivity increased significantly with sodium, indicating enhanced ionic conductivity, while DC conductivity was observed in doped samples at higher temperatures, with activation energies consistent with ionic conduction mechanisms. The exponent-dependent (s) parameter decreased with higher sodium content, suggesting limited ion diffusion.

  • Investigation of the thrust generated by active isolated hydrofoils via wave-induced ship motion
    • Mohammad Sadeghi
    • Hamid Zeraatgar
    • Mohammad Ghaemi
    • Vernengo Giuliano
    2025 OCEAN ENGINEERING

    Wave Augmented Hydrofoil Technology (WAHT) aims to convert hydrofoil movement, induced by ship motion, into thrust force, and ship's resistance reduction in waves. Despite the growing interest in WAHT, a significant research gap remains in understanding the complex interactions between hydrofoil design parameters and wave-induced thrust generation. A hydrofoil attached to a ship serves dual roles; reducing the ship resistance in waves and generating thrust force. To distinguish the resistance reduction to the thrust generation, this study considers an isolated active hydrofoil without the ship's hull. This approach captures the critical interactions driven by ship motion, while allowing for a focused analysis on thrust generation. The active hydrofoil orientation is harmonically adjusted according to the flow vertical velocity that results in a suitable angle of attack. The generated thrust is studied by varying the hydrofoil rotation angle, aspect ratio, wavelength, and forward speed. The vertical velocity of KRISO Container Ship (KCS) in a range of regular waves is already available where KCS model alone (without WAHT) was simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Simulation of isolated hydrofoil reveals increase of the vertical velocity, span-to-chord ratio, and forward speed of the hydrofoil enhances thrust force. For the studied cases, a 2.5% enhancement of mean generated power relative to required power in waves is concluded.

  • Investigation on Swelling of Agar-Based Antibacterial Hydrogels for Hard-To-Heal Wound Dressings
    • Paweł Szarlej
    • Edyta Piłat
    • Przemysław Gnatowski
    • Hubert Cieśliński
    • Maciej Sienkiewicz
    • Justyna Kucińska-Lipka
    2025 CHEMMEDCHEM

    Despite a wide range of available wound treatments, hard-to-heal wounds still pose a challenge. Hydrogels are often used as dressings for these wounds, because they sustain moisture in the wound environment, supporting the natural healing process. However, it is still not fully understood how physicochemical properties of hydrogel matrix affect the drug release process. Thus, detailed swelling kinetics examination coupled with modeling is needed together with studies on drug release. In this regard, several hydrogels based on plant-derived agar and modified with amikacin were investigated. The main properties of hydrogels were examined focusing on detailed swelling kinetics. Drug release was studied as microbiological activity against E. coli and S. Epidermidis strains. The obtained hydrogels were characterized by high swelling, reaching values in range from 465 to 1300%, fitting the second order kinetics mode and exhibiting the quasi-Fickian diffusion properties. Furthermore, there was no correlation found between swelling properties and antibacterial activity against tested strains. The results confirmed that presented hydrogel materials have desirable properties for application as dressings for hard-to-heal wounds. The suggested compositions are a promising base for modification with other active substances (e.g., regenerative, anti-inflammatory) and studying the broader correlation between swelling and drug release.

  • ISO test track influence on the EU tyre label noise value
    • Truls Berge
    • Piotr Mioduszewski
    • Maciej Hałucha
    • Janusz Bohatkiewicz
    2025 APPLIED ACOUSTICS

    In 2009, the European Union (EU) introduced a directive governing the labelling of tyres, which underwent revision in 2020. This labelling system encompasses three key parameters related to tyre performance: wet grip (safety), rolling resistance (energy consumption), and external rolling noise (environmental impact). These label values serve as crucial information for customers seeking to purchase replacement tyres for their vehicles. However, the accuracy and reliability of noise measurements have been a concern. Testing conducted across various ISO-standardized tracks has revealed significant inconsistencies in noise levels, with variations of 4–5 dB between tracks. Such discrepancies directly impact the labelling process, introducing uncertainty. This paper presents results of tyre noise measurements conducted on a limited number of ISO test tracks and proposes a methodology to mitigate track-to-track variability. The study exclusively focuses on passenger car tyres. By addressing these inconsistencies, this research aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of tyre noise labelling, thereby facilitating informed consumer decision-making and promoting environmental sustainability.

  • Isolated High Step-Up Current-Fed DC-DC Converter With Low Input Current Ripple and Wide Full-Soft-Switching Capability
    • Parham Mohseni
    • Saeed Pourjafar
    • Oleksandr Matiushkin
    • Oleksandr Husev
    • Dmitri Vinnikov
    2025 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS

    This paper presents a current-fed isolated, high step-up dc-dc converter that has low voltage stress on the power switches. The suggested configuration achieves isolation between the input and output using a High-Frequency (HF) transformer. The leakage inductance of the transformer is harnessed to achieve Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) during power switch turn-on and Zero Current Switching (ZCS) for power diodes across a broad range of operation. Furthermore, within this configuration, proper modulation (Phase Shift Modulation (PSM) or PSM with Pulse Frequency Modulation (PFM) combined with PSM) between the power switches enables the primary power switches to have soft turn-off conditions. Additionally, through this modulation technique, the input inductor experiences an effective frequency that is twice that of the power switches' switching frequency, leading to a reduction in the required size of the input inductor to half. Also, the auxiliary circuit eliminates the voltage spikes across the switches significantly, which occur due to the current difference between the input inductor and the leakage inductance of the transformer. To demonstrate the performance of the converter, the theoretical analysis along with comparisons to other converters are presented. Finally, to validate the theoretical analysis, the proposed converter is constructed to handle input voltages ranging from 20-50 V and operating at constant/variable switching frequency of 100-280 kHz, resulting in an output voltage of 360 V, and a maximum output power of 400 W.

  • Isolation Improvement in MIMO Antenna with a Simple Hybrid Technique of Orthogonal and Inverse Currents
    • Manzoor Elahi
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Leifur Leifsson
    2025 AEU-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS

    This paper presents a compact high-isolation multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna developed using a hybrid approach. The proposed technique combines induced orthogonal currents and self-inverse currents to enhance the antenna's performance. Orthogonal currents are generated by strategically etching open slots on the antenna patches, while self-inverse currents are introduced by integration of annular vias. By carefully adjusting the radius and position of the annular vias and optimizing the patch geometry, the design achieves optimal resonance frequency alignment and signicantly improved isolation. The fabricated prototype exhibits an exceptional isolation of 55 dB at 5.75 GHz, accompanied by a realized gain of 6.7 dB. Measured radiation patterns in the ϕ = 0◦ and ϕ = 90◦ planes show excellent agreement with simulated results. The proposed low-prole antenna design has a substantial potential for enhancing MIMO applications in contemporary wireless communication systems.

  • Joint foreign ownership and global value chains effects on productivity: a comparison of firms from Poland and Germany
    • Sabina Szymczak
    • Aleksandra Parteka
    • Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz
    2025 Full text International Journal of Emerging Markets

    Purpose The study aims to examine the joint effects of foreign ownership (FO) and involvement in global value chains (GVCs) on the productivity performance of firms from a catching-up country (Poland) and a leader economy (Germany). Design/methodology/approach The authors use micro-level data on firms combined with several sector-level GVC participation measures. The authors investigate whether the link between productivity and the overall sectoral degree of involvement in global production structures depends on a firm's ownership. The authors verify the robustness of the obtained results by using an instrumental variables approach and weighted regression. Findings The results show that domestically owned firms are less productive than foreign ones, which is particularly true at low GVC participation levels. However, as GVC involvement increases, the FO productivity premium decreases, leading to productivity catching up between foreign and domestically owned firms. This mechanism is similar in Poland and Germany. However, in the leader country (Germany), the productivity performance of domestically owned firms is more stable along the distribution of GVC involvement. Originality/value This study contributes to the foreign direct investment (FDI)–productivity literature by comparing the catching-up and developed countries' perspectives and incorporating the productivity–GVC relationship into the FDI analysis. The authors show that the FO premium is not confined to the developing context but is also present in a leader country. Moreover, the link between productivity and the overall sectoral degree of involvement in global production structures depends on a firm's ownership.

  • Konstrukcja separatorów dla docierarek tarczowych
    • Adam Barylski
    2025 Projektowanie i Konstrukcje Inżynierskie

    Na etapie przygotowania technologicznego operacji docierania maszynowego powierzchni płaskich, płasko-równoległych i walcowych zewnętrznych koniecznym jest opracowanie i wykonanie indywidualnych separatorów przedmiotowych, które są jednocześnie elementami układów wykonawczych docierarek tarczowych. W artykule przedstawiono wytyczne do projektowania tego typu oprzyrządowania, podano stosowane materiały na separatory oraz przykłady ich konstrukcji dla docierarek jedno- i dwutarczowych.

  • Laser melting synthesis of Mg and Si3N4-doped soda-lime glass: structure and thermal analysis
    • Natalia Wójcik
    • Martyna Cieciórska
    • Hubert Sacharuk
    • Martyna Surowy
    • Katarzyna Grochowska
    • Jakub Karczewski
    • Stefania Wolff
    • Sharafat Ali
    2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

    Three series of soda-lime glasses doped with varying contents of Mg, Si3N4, or a combination of both were synthesizedusing laser melting in less than 3 min. The addition of these dopants resulted in notable changes in the structural and ther-mal properties of the glass. Both IR and Raman spectra indicated that the silicate network primarily consisted of Q3 units,with significant amounts of Q2 and Q4 units present in most samples. In the Mg-doped series, strong depolymerizationwas observed, evidenced by an increase in Q2 units and a decrease in Q4 units. Conversely, increasing the Si content led togreater polymerization, with Q2 units being replaced by Q4 units. The series containing both Mg and Si exhibited featuresinfluenced by both elements, showing increases in Q2, Q3, and Q4 units. The glass transition temperature (Tg) increased withthe addition of Mg and Si across all series. This increase was attributed to the strong cross-linking effect of Mg-O bonds andthe increased polymerization with higher glass-forming ion content. However, a decrease in glass stability was observed,particularly in Mg-containing samples, due to Mg acting as a nucleation agent and promoting crystallization of the silicatestructure. In contrast, Si did not introduce new nucleation sites, thus contributing to the structural integrity of the glassnetwork. The findings underscore the potential of laser melting as an effective method for tailoring the properties of glasses.

  • Learning from mistakes within organizations: An adaptive network-oriented model for a double bias perspective for safety and security through cyberspace
    • Wioleta Kucharska
    • Jan Treur
    • Mojgan Hosseini
    2025

    Although making mistakes is a crucial part of learning, it is still often being avoided in companies as it is considered as a shameful incident. This goes hand in hand with a mindset of a boss who dominantly believes that mistakes usually have negative consequences and therefore avoids them by only accepting simple tasks. Thus, there is no mechanism to learn from mistakes. Employees working for and being influenced by such a boss also strongly believe that mistakes usually have negative consequences but in addition they believe that the boss never makes mistakes, it is often believed that only those who never make mistakes can be bosses and hold power. That's the problem, such kinds of bosses do not learn. So, on the one hand, we have bosses who select simple tasks to be always seen as perfect. Therefore, also they believe they should avoid mistakes. On the other hand, there exists a mindset of a boss who is not limited to simple tasks, he/she accepts more complex tasks and therefore in the end has better general performance by learning from mistakes. This then also affects the mindset and actions of employees in the same direction. This chapter investigates the consequences of both attitudes for the organizations. It does so by computational analysis based on an adaptive dynamical systems modeling approach represented in a network format using the self-modeling network modeling principle.

  • Machine learning tools match physician accuracy in multilingual text annotation
    • Marta Zielonka
    • Andrzej Czyżewski
    • Dariusz Szplit
    • Beata Graff
    • Anna Szyndler
    • Mariusz Budzisz
    • Krzysztof Narkiewicz
    2025 Scientific Reports

    In the medical field, text annotation involves categorizing clinical and biomedical texts with specific medical categories, enhancing the organization and interpretation of large volumes of unstructured data. This process is crucial for developing tools such as speech recognition systems, which help medical professionals reduce their paperwork. It addresses a significant cause of burnout reported by up to 60% of medical staff. However, annotating medical texts in languages other than English poses unique challenges and necessitates using advanced models. In our research, conducted in collaboration with Gdańsk University of Technology and the Medical University of Gdańsk, we explore strategies to tackle these challenges. We evaluated the performance of various tools and models in recognizing medical terms within a comprehensive vocabulary, comparing these tools’ outcomes with annotations made by medical experts. Our study specifically examined categories such as ‘Drugs’, ‘Diseases and Symptoms’, ‘Procedures’, and ‘Other Medical Terms’, contrasting human expert annotations with the performance of popular multilingual chatbots and natural language processing (NLP) tools on translated texts. The conclusion drawn from our statistical analysis reveals that no significant differences were detected between the groups we examined. This suggests that the tools and models we tested are, on average, similarly effective—or ineffective—at recognizing medical terms as categorized by our specific criteria. Our findings highlight the challenges in bridging the gap between human and machine accuracy in medical text annotation, especially in non-English contexts, and emphasize the need for further refinement of these technologies.

  • Magnetic deep eutectic solvents for vortex-assisted liquid phase microextraction method for selective and green extraction of patulin from fruits and fruit juices
    • Hameed Ul Haq
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Nail Altunay
    2025 MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL

    In this study, a vortex assisted magnetic deep eutectic solvent based liquid phase microextraction (VA-MDES-LPME) technique was developed for the extraction of patulin prior to its determination by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis). For this purpose, the use of a magnetic deep eutectic solvent (MDES) consisting of trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride, MnCl2, and octanoic acid (molar ratio 1:2:2) was tested to perform an efficient extraction. Important experimental parameters (MDES-3 vol, pH, vortex time, and ethanol volume) were optimized using Box-Behnken Design. Under optimum conditions (MDES-3 vol 560 µL, pH 3.5, vortex time 300 s, and ethanol volume 300 µL), the limits of detection for the model solution and matrix-matched solution were 0.06 ng mL−1 and 0.37 ng mL−1, and the calibration ranges were 0.2–400 ng mL−1 and 1.2–300 ng mL−1, respectively. Furthermore, the extraction recovery was calculated to be 96.3–97.4 % with a low relative standard deviation (2.1–2.5 %). The VA-MDES-LPME technique was successfully applied for the determination of patulin from fruit and juice samples with an enrichment factor between169 and 185.

  • Matrix elements for spin-orbit couplings in KRb
    • Patryk Jasik
    • Dariusz Kędziera
    • Józef Sienkiewicz
    2025 ATOMIC DATA AND NUCLEAR DATA TABLES

    In response to the need to investigate and create a reliable dataset of spin-orbit coupling matrix elements, we have extended our recent work in which we presented results for the potential energy curves and permanent and transition dipole moments in KRb. This paper presents 190 allowed spin-orbit couplings between 30 singlet and triplet +, , and electronic states of the KRb molecule. These results are crucial for accurately interpreting spectroscopic data, especially for the deperturbation analysis challenges. 23 tables and 21 graphs present the , , and components of reported spin-orbit couplings. Using the MOLPRO code, we performed MRCI calculations using the large-core pseudopotentials and core polarization potentials with reoptimized cutoff parameters. The spin-orbit parameters of the potassium pseudopotential were deduced and optimized from scratch. The Gaussian basis sets used in our calculations were appropriately selected, augmented, and optimized. We compare some of our data with available theoretical and experimental results.

  • Measurement Technique Comparison in the Entire Fracture Surface Topography Assessment for Additively Manufactured Materials
    • Dawid Zieliński
    • Aleksandra Mirowska
    • Przemysław Podulka
    • Cho-pei Jiang
    • Wojciech Macek
    2025 Materials

    This paper focuses on comparing the three microscopic measurement techniques, confocal, focus variation, and point for focus, for the evaluation of entire fracture surface topographies. The measurements were performed using a Sensofar S Neox 3D optical profilometer and the Mitutoyo QV Apex 302 vision measuring system. The test specimens required for measuring were printed through laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology using two materials: Stainless Steel 316L and Inconel 718. The printing was performed with a printing power of 200 W, scanning speed of 800 mm/s, and layer thickness of 30 µm or 50 µm. The measurement differences were analyzed on the basis of void volume (Vv), fractal dimension (Df), and texture isotropy parameters, as well as a general view of the surface topography. The obtained results did not show a comprehensible difference between the applied measurement techniques for particular specimens. Thus, both measurement devices and three measurement techniques can be used to precisely measure the dimensions of LPBF-processed specimens with the entire fracture surface method.

  • Mechanical performance investigations of a post-tensioned inter-module connection in steel buildings
    • Marcin Kujawa
    • Łukasz Smakosz
    • Piotr Iwicki
    • Aleksander Perliński
    • Andrzej Tejchman-Konarzewski
    2025 Structures

    Connections in modular steel structures are critical for maintaining structural integrity and facilitating ease of installation. Traditional methods, such as on-site welding, require adherence to complex technical specifications. In contrast, post-tensioned steel bolts offer a viable alternative by potentially reducing on-site labor by up to 50 %, providing substantial strength and simplifying assembly. To accurately assess the load-carrying capacity of post-tensioned steel connections, it is essential to analyze slip and shear load. This study investigates the behavior of a post-tensioned inter-module connection. Experimental and numerical analyses were conducted to evaluate the mechanical connection’s performance under shear load. Laboratory tests on connection specimens assessed their strength and failure characteristics, while a finite element model was validated through these experiments. A satisfactory agreement between numerical simulations and experimental findings was found. A detailed numerical study examined the effect of bolt preload and wall friction coefficient on the load-carrying capacity of the connection. The higher bolt preload and higher wall friction coefficient enhanced the stiffness and shear strength of the connection. Additionally, a kinematic forcing method was used to evaluate the translational and rotational stiffnesses of a single post-tensioned modular connection. The elastic shear stiffness was also estimated from a simple analytical bolt model. Based on this solution, a connection optimization problem was formulated using selected design variables. The investigation findings offer valuable insights into the design of modular steel structures with structural connections.

  • Mechanical properties of 3D-printed polylactide and short carbon fibres reinforced polylactide laminate subjected to environmental aging
    • Angela Andrzejewska-Sroka
    • Magdalena Rucka
    2025 Advances in Science and Technology Research Journal

    In this work the mechanical characterisation of fused filament fabricated non-reinforced polylactide and polylactide reinforced with short carbon fibre laminate after environmental aging was reported. In the manufacturing process, the symmetric laminate was used to determine the influence of environmental aging of 3D printed parts. The sterilisation agents and buffered saline solution environment were used as aging factors. Also, the fracture surfaces of non-reinforced and reinforced specimens were imaged with scanning electron microscopy. It was found that short carbon fibres in general influence the higher mechanical strength of materials compared to materials without fibres. But at the same time the addition of short carbon fibre influence of significant loos of toughness when aged with sterilisation agents and buffered saline solution environment during one, six or twelve weeks. The results presented in this work are important for several reasons. The study highlights how the addition of short carbon fibres enhances the mechanical properties of polylactide (PLA), which is valuable for applications requiring increased strength and stiffness, while also addressing the impact of environmental aging, particularly in sterilization and buffered saline solution environment.This is crucial in understanding the mechanical behavior of these materials, as many PLA applications (e.g., in medical devices or marine environments) involve exposure to conditions like mentioned above. Understanding how aging affects a material's mechanical properties helps project lifetime and reliability of products.

  • Mechanistic insights and atmospheric implications of the degradation reaction of 3-methoxy-1-propanol by reaction with hydroxyl radicals and identification of the end products in the presence of O2/NO
    • Abolfazl Shiroudi
    • Theo Kurtén
    • Jacek Czub
    2025 Scientific Reports

    The study investigated the degradation of 3-methoxy-1-propanol (3M1P) by OH using the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level, with CCSD(T) single-point corrections. We focused on hydrogen atom abstraction from various alkyl groups within the molecule. The rate coefficient for 3M1P degradation was calculated from the sum of the rate coefficients corresponding to the removal of H-atoms from primary (-CH3), secondary (-CH2-), tertiary (-CH<), and alcohol (-OH) groups. The primary attack by hydroxyl radicals occurs at the hydrogen atom bonded to carbon atoms adjacent to the oxygen atom in the ether group, leading to the formation of alkyl radicals. The computed overall rate constant is 1.85×10‒11 cm3 molecule‒1 sec‒1 at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, which is consistent with the experimental value of (2.15*0.28)×10‒11 cm3 molecule‒1 sec‒1. This strong agreement confirms the reliability of the computational approach, which provides insights into the atmospheric reactivity and degradation pathways of 3M1P. The tropospheric lifetime of 3M1P is around 15 hours, indicating rapid degradation in the atmosphere, potentially contributing to photochemical smog formation. The average ozone production from 3M1P emissions is ~2.1 ppb, with estimated photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) values of 44 and 43 for north-west European and USA-urban conditions, respectively. These values indicate a moderate risk of photochemical smog production and potential harm to human health and the environment due to 3M1P emissions. Successive pathways involve the addition of molecular oxygen to the energized adducts [3M1P], forming [3M1P−O2] peroxy radicals, which primarily react with nitric oxide to produce nitrogen dioxide and the [3M1P−O] alkoxy radicals. The major degradation products include methyl formate, 3-hydroxypropyl formate, glycolaldehyde, and 3-methoxypropanal.

  • Membrane-Assisted Dark Fermentation for Integrated Biohydrogen Production and Purification: A Comprehensive Review
    • Octavio García-Depraect
    • Laura Vargas-Estrada
    • Raúl Muñoz
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    2025 Fermentation

    Abstract The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the membrane-assisted dark fermentation process for bioH2 production and purification. This review initially analyses the need for and the current state of the art in H2 production through dark fermentation, evaluating the research landscape and the maturity level of the technology. Key factors influencing the dark fermentation process are then examined, along with emerging research trends in membrane-assisted fermentative H2 production systems. This review subsequently addresses the challenges inherent to dark fermentation and explores potential opportunities to enhance H2 production efficiency. Special attention is given to membrane technology as a promising strategy for process intensification in bioH2 production and recovery. Finally, this review provides an in-depth discussion of inorganic membranes, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), and thin and ultrathin membranes, evaluating each membrane type in terms of its advantages, limitations, and purification performance. This review offers valuable insights into intensifying the dark fermentation process by leveraging membrane technology to enhance bioH2 production and purification efficiency.

  • Metal extraction using deep eutectic solvents for metal recovery and environmental remediation – A review
    • Chongqing Wang
    • Zhenxing Zhou
    • Xiuxiu Zhang
    • Hui Guo
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2025 SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

    Metal extraction has proven to be an effective solution for recovering metal resources and addressing heavy metal pollution. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are receiving great attention for metal recovery because of their high selectivity, environmentally friendly character, low melting point, good stability, and low corrosive properties. Particularly, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) and hydrophobic DESs (HDES) have been extensively studied for many applications. This paper reviews the recent progress in the application of DESs in the extraction of metals, the mechanisms of metal extraction, and the separation of metals from DES. DES extraction of metals was effective for minerals, solid wastes, and other sources such as waste lithium-ion batteries, waste circuit boards, waste permanent magnets, industrial wastes (blast furnace dust, copper converter slag, spent hydrogenation catalysts). DESs are capable of extracting metals also from contaminated wastewater and soil, solving the metal pollution issue. Effective applications were developed for recovery of boron, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, indium, lithium, lead, nickel, neodymium, palladium, samarium, and zinc. The optimum pH for extracting metals by DES is generally the highest pH at which hydroxides are not formed. Typically, DES-based processes provide above 90% (often above 97%) recovery of metals from the primary resource. Improvement of performance can be obtained by microwaves or ultrasound assisted processes. This review also summarizes and analyzes the mechanisms of metal extraction by DESs, methods for metal recovery from DESs, and the regeneration and reuse of DESs. The DES extraction mechanisms of metals include protonation, reduction, metal complexation and coordination. The methods for separating metals from DES mainly include anti-extraction, electrodeposition, displacement, and co-precipitation. The strengths and challenges in this field are also systematically analyzed.

  • Metamodel-based optimization of a high-tension cable barrier in crash tests with a large SUV
    • Dawid Bruski
    • Hongbing Fang
    2025 ENGINEERING STRUCTURES

    Road safety barriers play an important role in improving road safety. Cable barriers are one of the types of road barriers. Cable barriers have favorable collision-related properties, especially in terms of the safety of the vehicle occupants. Despite the continuous development of road barrier systems, the current European standard EN1317, which is used to evaluate the performance of road barriers, does not take into account all possible crash scenarios and all possible types of impacting vehicles. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are one of the types of vehicles that the EN1317 standard does not consider. SUVs are widely used on European roads. The work aims to optimize a high-tension 3-cable barrier system in crash tests with a large SUV. The research utilized the methods related to the design of the experiment, numerical simulations of crash tests, metamodeling, and multi-objective optimization (MOO) algorithms – WSF and NSGA-II. In the optimization, two aspects of the barrier were considered, economical and structural. The primary result of the study was the determination of four optimized designs for the cable barrier. These designs represent different trade-offs between the objective functions, offering various solutions depending on the specific engineering needs. The proposed barrier designs are characterized, among others, by a reduction in barrier mass, a reduction in the lateral deflections of the barrier, and a reduction in the number of posts that would need to be replaced after an SUV collision. The methodology used and the results achieved may be useful in the process of designing, testing, and optimizing other road safety barriers.

  • Methods and Instruments | Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
    • Gunther Wittstock
    • Marius Muhle
    • Monika Wilamowska-Zawłocka
    2025

    Scanning electrochemical microscopy is based on the recording of electrolysis currents (Faradaic currents) at a microelectrode (ME) probe that is scanned over the sample. Different working modes are available to couple the electrolysis at the ME to reactions at the sample. The article explains their principles and provides examples of their application. The feedback mode, the sample-generation/tip collection mode, the redox-competition mode and the surface interrogation mode are most frequently applied to the characterization of interphases and interfaces occurring in electrochemical power sources.

  • MHD Casson flow across a stretched surface in a porous material: a numerical study
    • Sadia Irshad
    • Shah Jahan
    • Jose Mendes Machado
    • Paweł Śliwiński
    • Krzysztof Kędzia
    • Zubair Ahmed Jan
    2025 Multiscale and Multidisciplinary Modeling, Experiments and Design

    In this study, we examine the nature of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Casson flow of fluid across a stretched surface in a porous material. It studies how the behaviour of Casson fluids is affected by a number of variables, including thermal radiation, chemical processes, Joule heating, and viscosity dissipation. The Keller box strategy, based on the finite difference method (FDM), is used to tackle the complex numerical problem. Graphical representations are used to show the effects of different system parts. Comprehensive tables displaying surface transfer of mass, heat, and drag rates are given for your convenience. The study focuses on how particle motion transforms kinetic energy into heat. Increased Brownian motion leads to a higher temperature profile and a reduced concentration profile. Thicker concentration profiles are created by increased Lewis number ( ) values and rates of chemical reactions, resulting in changes in mass transfer across fluids. This in-depth investigation focuses on the complicated interactions between various variables and how they influence the Casson fluid's behaviour in the system under study.

  • Microstructure degradation and creep failure study of the dissimilar metal welded joint of heat-resistant steel and Inconel 617 alloy tested at 650 °C and applied stress range of 100–150 MPa
    • Amit Kumar
    • Krishna Guguloth
    • Shailesh M. Pandey
    • Sachin Sirohi
    • Aleksandra Świerczyńska
    • Dariusz Fydrych
    • Chandan Pandey
    2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRESSURE VESSELS AND PIPING

    The advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) power plant system is anticipated to become India's next-generation base-load power station. To adopt AUSC technology, dissimilar welded joints (DWJs) between heat-resistant steels and the nickel-based alloys, using the nickel-based fillers, will need to be implemented. However, failure of dissimilar welded joints from P92 steel base metal or the heat affected zone (HAZ) has been commonly observed under high-temperature creep conditions. In the present study, the creep rupture behaviours and rupture mechanisms of DWJ between the Ni-based alloy Inconel 617 and heat-resistant P92 steel with Inconel 617 (ERNiCrCoMo-1) filler metal were investigated. Creep tests were conducted at 650 °C in the stress range of 100–150 MPa. To examine the creep rupture behaviour of the DWJ samples, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microhardness tests were performed. Cross-sectional images of the fractured creep specimens tested under various operating conditions revealed failures originating from distinct locations, including the P92 base metal and the inter-critical heat affected zone (HAZ). The specimen tested at 650 °C/150 MPa exhibited failure originating from the P92 base metal, whereas the specimen tested at 650 °C under the stress range of 100–130 MPa showed failure from the inter-critical heat affected zone (ICHAZ). The specimens tested at 650 °C/100–130 MPa, which failed from the ICHAZ, exhibited a typical Type IV inter-granular failure. This failure mode is primarily attributed to matrix softening in HAZ, weakening of the boundaries, coarsening of the precipitates, and the evolution of intermetallic Laves phases. The specimen that failed in the stress range of 100–130 MPa exhibited a high density of microvoids in the ICHAZ, along with a few microvoids in the FGHAZ. The weld metal showed negligible degradation in microstructure, while the hardness study revealed a significant increase in hardness with an increase in rupture time, i.e., a decrease in applied stress and it was attributed to evolution of the new carbide phases in weld metal. The ICHAZ and FGHAZ confirmed the formation of fine prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs) during the welding thermal cycle, which exhibited a lower density of carbide precipitates and this played a major role in Type IV failure.

  • Międzynarodowa wystawa prac dzieci i młodzieży CONNECTIONS w Dehli w Indiach w ramach projektu Reconnecting With Your Culture (UNESCO) przy wsparciu programu Kształtowanie Przestrzeni (IARP)
    • Agnieszka Kurkowska
    2025

    Poland represented through the work of participants Poland - coordination of RWYC Poland. . Exhibition realised by Dehli Public Shool as part of an international project under the auspices of UNESCO - Reconnecting With Your Culture .

  • Mitochondrial exonuclease EXOG supports DNA integrity by the removal of single-stranded DNA flaps
    • Anna Karłowicz
    • Andrzej B. Dubiel
    • Marta Wyszkowska
    • Kazi A Hossain
    • Jacek Czub
    • Michał R. Szymański
    2025 Full text NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH

    Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is an important intermediate generated during various cellular DNA transactions, primarily during long-patch base excision repair. When displaced by DNA polymerase during strand displacement DNA synthesis, ssDNA forms 5′ overhangs (flaps) that are either cleaved by DNA nucleases or protected from degradation upon binding of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSB). Several nucleases are involved in the removal of ssDNA flaps in human mitochondria, namely the endonucleases FEN1 and DNA2, as well as the exonuclease MGME1. In this study, we show that another mitochondrial nuclease, EXOG, cleaves DNA flaps in both free and SSB-protected forms. We established that the presence of the Wing domain in EXOG structure provides additional binding site for ssDNA and 5′ flaps irrespective of monovalent salt concentration. Importantly, DNA flap cleavage by EXOG is compatible with the activity of other mitochondrial enzymes involved in DNA replication/repair, e.g. mtSSB, Pol γ, and Lig III, as we were able to reconstitute a multistep reaction of DNA synthesis, flap removal, and nick ligation. Our findings highlight the versatile role of EXOG in maintaining mitochondrial DNA integrity, expanding its DNA processing repertoire to include ssDNA flap removal.

  • Mixed, quantum-classical description of electron density transfer in the collision process
    • Paweł Wojda
    • Marta Łabuda
    • Sergey Kshevetskii
    2025 MOLECULAR PHYSICS

    In this work, we investigate an ion-atom model describing the time-dependent evolution of electron density during the collision. For a S3+- H system, numerical simulations are based on classical trajectory calculations, and the electron density behaviour is described with the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. We apply the finite difference method to obtain quantitative insights into the charge transfer dynamics, providing detailed information about the spatial and temporal evolution of the collision process. The results are given for representative examples of the collision, from eV to keV range of energies, in head-on collision as well as for different values of impact parameter. A validity and precision of the proposed model and interpretation of the particle collision in terms of eigenstates are also discussed.

  • Mobile mutual-visibility sets in graphs
    • Magdalena Lemańska
    • Magda Dettlaff
    • Juan Alberto Rodriguez-Velazquez
    • Ismael Gonzalez Yero
    2025 ARS Mathematica Contemporanea

    Given a connected graph G, the mutual-visibility number of G is the cardinality of a largest set S such that for every pair of vertices x, y ∈ S there exists a shortest x, y-path whose interior vertices are not contained in S. Assume that a robot is assigned to each vertex of the set S. At each stage, one robot can move to a neighbouring vertex. Then S is a mobile mutual-visibility set of G if there exists a sequence of moves of the robots such that all the vertices of G are visited while maintaining the mutual-visibility property at all times. The mobile mutual-visibility number of G, denoted Mobμ(G), is the cardinality of a largest mobile mutual-visibility set of G. In this paper we introduce the concept of the mobile mutual-visibility number of a graph. We begin with some basic properties of the mobile mutual-visibility number of G and its relationship with the mutual-visibility number of G. We give exact values of Mobμ(G) for particular classes of graphs, i.e. cycles, wheels, complete bipartite graphs, and block graphs (in particular trees). Moreover, we present bounds for the lexicographic product of two graphs and show characterizations of the graphs achieving the limit values of some of these bounds. As a consequence of this study, we deduce that the decision problem concerning finding the mobile mutual-visibility number is NP-hard. Finally, we focus our attention on the mobile mutual-visibility number of line graphs of complete graphs, prism graphs and strong grids of two paths.