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Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • Przegląd aplikacji zużytych łopat turbin wiatrowych na potrzeby budownictwa infrastrukturalnego
    • Jakub Zembrzuski
    • Mikołaj Miśkiewicz
    • Agnieszka Sabik
    • Łukasz Pyrzowski
    • Jacek Chróścielewski
    • Krzysztof Wilde
    2023 Full text

    Artykuł zawiera przedstawienie aktualnego stanu wiedzy na temat recyklingu i ponownego użycia łopat wirników turbin wiatrowych na potrzeby budownictwa infrastrukturalnego. Poruszana problematyka stała się w ostatnim czasie bardzo istotna, a prognozy i statystyki pokazują, że najbliższe lata, będące jednocześnie okresem intensywnego rozwoju energetyki wiatrowej, będą jeszcze bardziej niż kiedykolwiek wymagały opracowania metody radzenia sobie z ciągle narastającą ilością odpadów, składających się z wycofanych z użytku łopat turbin wiatrowych. Autorzy zwracają uwagę na trudności związane z recyklingiem tego szczególnego typu odpadów, ale jednocześnie podkreślają znaczny potencjał zużytego elementu, związany z wykorzystaniem do jego budowy wyjątkowo wytrzymałego, a jednocześnie niebywale lekkiego materiału (FRP) oraz ze znacznymi rozpiętościami, jakie łopaty wirników turbin wiatrowych osiągają, wynoszącymi nawet ponad 80 m. W opracowaniu zaprezentowano przykłady istniejących obiektów, w konstrukcji których istotną role odgrywają łopaty turbin wiatrowych, oraz śmiałe koncepcje, pokazujące jak, wbrew pozorom, szerokie może być zastosowanie omawianych kompozytowych łopat, a także jak doskonałym polem do popisu inżynierów w tym kontekście jest właśnie budownictwo, a w szczególności branża mostowa. Wnioski płynące z przeglądu dostępnej literatury, przedstawionego pokrótce w artykule, wskazują, że temat poszukiwania efektywnego rozwiązania problemu recyklingu łopat turbin wiatrowych jest nadal aktualny, a kreatywne i nowatorskie propozycje projektantów stale poszerzają horyzonty w postrzeganiu elementów z recyklingu w konstrukcjach inżynierskich.

  • Przegląd i rola magazynów ciepła w polskich systemach ciepłowniczych
    • Tomasz Minkiewicz
    2023 Rynek Energii

    W artykule omówiono znaczenie ciepła sieciowego, opisano technologie magazynowania ciepła, rolę magazynów ciepła w systemach ciepłowniczych i przedstawiono wybrane przykłady rozwiązań wykorzystywanych w Polsce i na świecie.

  • PRZEGLĄD METOD WYMIAROWANIA PLATFORM ROBOCZYCH
    • Angelika Duszyńska
    • Remigiusz Duszyński
    2023 Full text Magazyn Autostrady

    W artykule przedstawiono wybrane zagadnienia związane z wymiarowaniem platform roboczych, umożliwiających bezpieczne prowadzenie robót geotechnicznych w gruntach słabonośnych. Omówiono dostępne metody wymiarowania (CIRIA, BRE, TWf i T-Value) umożliwiające określenie wymaganej miąższości platformy roboczej. Zwrócono uwagę na korzyści wynikające z zastosowania geosyntetyków w konstrukcji platform.

  • Przekształtnik SiC DC-DC z transformatorem macierzowym do pokładowych ładowarek baterii akumulatorów taboru 3kV DC
    • Marek Adamowicz
    • Jędrzej Pietryka
    • Zbigniew Krzemiński
    2023 Full text Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    Baterie akumulatorów pojazdów trakcyjnych zapewniają zasilanie krytycznych systemów, takich jak sterowanie i oświetlenie. Zgodnie z wymaganiami przemysłu kolejowego, pokładowa ładowarka baterii akumulatorów powinna być urządzeniem kompaktowym, wysokosprawnym, a jednocześnie wysoce niezawodnym. W referacie, do pokładowego ładowania akumulatorów pociągu zaproponowano kompaktowy przekształtnik SiC DC-DC z transformatorem macierzowym 16:1, zintegrowany z główną przetwornicą pomocniczą pociągu o konstrukcji dachowej. Cały system przetwornicy głównej ze zintegrowaną ładowarką zapewnia przetwarzanie energii z poziomu 3kV DC do poziomu 24V przy zachowaniu wysokiej sprawności.

  • Przestrzenie publiczne. Ciągłość i zmiana
    • Małgorzata Dymnicka
    2023

    Gdańskie przestrzenie publiczne mają wyjątkową historię, która pozwala widzieć miasto jako kompletne, zwarte i czytelne. W różnych okresach rozwoju stanowiły one element miejskiej tkanki oraz odpowiedź na potrzeby i aspiracje różnych grup oraz społeczności. Miarą atrakcyjności przestrzeni publicznych nie jest już tylko aspekt estetyczny, lecz czyste powietrze, odporność na różne kataklizmy, dostępność do akwenów i obszarów zielonych. Zwrot w myśleniu o przestrzeni publicznej wynika z dostrzeżenia jej roli w kształtowaniu postaw prośrodowiskowych wśród mieszkańców i użytkowników miasta. Gdańszczanie coraz częściej dają sobie prawo do współdecydowania o wielu sprawach publicznych. Można o nich powiedzieć, że stają się aktorami, którzy (współ)tworzą przestrzenie publiczne.

  • Psychological and physical components in forming preferences on urban greenery management – The case of trees
    • Daria Paniotova-maczka
    • Piotr Jabkowski
    • Piotr Matczak
    • Patrycja Przewoźna
    • Krzysztof Mączka
    • Marcin Mielewczyk
    • Adam Inglot
    2023 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY

    Public opinion is increasingly important in managing urban greenery. In this regard, this study demonstrates the importance of sociological (environmental worldviews), psychological (place attachment, perceived benefits of trees), and physical factors (type of building people live in, and urban greenery) in forming residents’ opinions on whether the municipality or landowners should decide about tree removal on private land. Logistic regression models were applied to analyze data collected through a survey (N = 199) and satellite image-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index carried out in two Polish cities to predict the likelihood of a respondent indicating whether landowners or the municipality should decide about tree removal on private land. The results revealed that, of two worldviews, Anthropocentrism and Environmentalism, the former is connected with the opinion that the landowner should decide about tree removal. Moreover, a stronger sense of place attachment strengthens this opinion. At the same time, greater recognition of cultural ecosystem services provided by trees and living in multi-family houses is related to the opinion that the municipality should decide about tree removal. The results also demonstrated that, when managing urban greenery, it is vital to consider not only the quality of greenery but also less obvious metrics that can affect tree management. Based on these findings we conclude that the participation of residents in tree management decisions requires careful consideration of social factors affecting their preferences.

  • Psychometric properties of the Bern illegitimate tasks scale using classical test and item response theories
    • Beata Basińska
    • Anna Maria Daderman
    2023 Full text Scientific Reports

    Combining a classical test theory and an item response theory (IRT), this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Bern Illegitimate Tasks Scale (BITS) by measuring two conceptually separate dimensions capturing unnecessary tasks (perceived by employees as pointless) and unreasonable tasks (perceived as unfairly or inappropriately assigned). Data collected among Polish employees in two samples (N= 965 and N= 803) were analysed. Results from the classical test theory (parallel analysis, exploratory and confrmatory factor analyses) indicated two correlated factors with four items each, confrming the theory of illegitimate tasks. This study is the frst to report item and scale functioning using IRT analysis of each of the two dimensions of BITS. All items on each dimension had acceptable discrimination and difculty parameters. Moreover, items had measurement invariance between men and women. All levels of unnecessary and unreasonable tasks were reliably captured by BITS items. Convergent and discriminant validities of both dimensions of BITS were confrmed in relation to work overload, work performance and occupational wellbeing. We conclude that BITS, in the case of the Polish version, is psychometrically suitable to use with the working population.

  • PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE POLISH VERSION OF THE GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER 7-ITEM SCALE (GAD-7) IN A NON-CLINICAL SAMPLE OF EMPLOYEES DURING PANDEMIC CRISIS
    • Beata Basińska
    • Zuzanna Kwissa-Gajewska
    2023 Full text International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

    Objectives: The COVID-19 outbreak is an example of a crisis that triggered an increase in generalized anxiety disorder. The study aims to validate the Polish version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) by Spitzer et al. among a non-clinical sample of employees and examine the invariance depending on the gender and age of working adults. Material and Methods: For assessing factor structure of the Polish version of the GAD-7, the data were collected from a sample of 821 adults employed in 4 economic sectors (health care, education, IT, public administration) during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland (April 10–May 24, 2020). Due to differences in the severity of GAD symptoms across gender and age groups, the measurement invariance in these groups was tested. Results: The results of a series of confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the unidimensionality of the GAD-7. The values of the composite reliability index and Cronbach’s α showed that it is a reliable tool. The GAD levels demonstrated strong relationships with professional burnout, psychological distress, and psychological complaints. These relationships were stronger than the relationships between these factors and job satisfaction. Construct, metric and scalar invariance across gender and age groups were documented. Women experienced more severe symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder than men. Generalized anxiety disorder affected 28% of respondents. Conclusions: This study contributes evidence of the validation of the GAD among employees and also confirms the invariance depending on gender and age. The Polish version of the GAD-7 has good psychometric properties in a group of professionals and can be recommended for research and to be used in an occupational medicine practice, especially during crisis periods associated with the risk of developing a generalized anxiety disorder.

  • PV installations and the safety of residential buildings
    • Leszek Litzbarski
    • Konrad Seklecki
    • Marek Adamowicz
    • Jacek Grochowski
    2023 Full text Inżynieria Bezpieczeństwa Obiektów Antropogenicznych

    The dynamic development of the photovoltaic industry entails threats that have a direct impact on the safety of residential buildings. Appropriate design of a PV installation can be a challenge due to the multifaceted nature of this issue. The designer should take into account issues related to the selection of electrical parameters of the installation, adapting lightning and surge protection in accordance with applicable standards, ensure the optimization of the system in terms of efficiency and fire safety and calculate the mechanical stress on the rooftop. Unfortunately, most PV installations in Poland are built without any engineering project, which is allowed by the current law. In this article, we describe the results of simulations of real mechanical loads inflicted from the installation of PV panels on flat roofs for various regions of Poland. Wealso present the results of the simulation of the thermal impact of hot-spots on the roof surface, which can be a potential source of fire. In addition, we propose changes to the regulations that may increase the safety of PV installations mounted on the roofs of residential buildings

  • Pyrolysis and Torrefaction—Thermal Treatment of Creosote-Impregnated Railroad Ties as a Method of Utilization
    • Paweł Kazimierski
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Piotr Piersa
    • Szymon Szufa
    2023 Full text Materials

    A fundamental issue of waste management and the rail transport industry is the problem of utilizing used railroad ties. Wooden railroad ties are treated with a preservative, usually creosote. Due to their high toxicity, railroad ties are considered hazardous waste and must be utilized under various directives. It is proposed to utilize the troublesome waste by using the pyrolysis and torrefaction process. The research proves that the thermal method is effective for disposing of this type of waste. Torrefaction up to 250 °C gives high efficiency of impregnation removal, while pyrolysis up to 400 °C completely neutralizes waste. A series of experiments were conducted for various final pyrolysis temperatures to determine a minimum temperature for which the obtained solid products are free from creosote. Extraction with the use of the Soxhlet technique was performed for the raw materials and the obtained solid products—chars. The oil content for liquid fraction was also examined for each sample. As a result of the thermal treatment of the waste, fuel with combustion parameters better than wood was obtained. For a high final temperature of the process, the calorific value of char is close to that of hard coal.

  • Quality 5.0: A Paradigm Shift Towards Proactive Quality Control in Industry 5.0
    • Jan Frick
    • Piotr Grudowski
    2023 Full text Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration

    Industry 5.0, the latest wave of industrial revolution, is redefining the traditional manufacturing and production landscapes by leveraging advanced technologies, promoting sustainability, and fostering a human-centric approach. An inevitable consequence of this progression is Quality 5.0, the next phase of quality control and assurance. Quality 5.0 aims to transcend the limitations of conventional quality control techniques, which are typically reactive, by adopting a proactive stance towards defect prevention and process optimization. This paper elucidates the concepts of Quality 5.0, discussing its principles, benefits, and potential challenges in the context of Industry 5.0.

  • Quality Evaluation of Speech Transmission via Two-way BPL-PLC Voice Communication System in an Underground Mine
    • Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski
    • Grzegorz Debita
    2023 Full text Archives of Acoustics

    In order to design a stable and reliable voice communication system, it is essential to know how many resources are necessary for conveying quality content. These parameters may include objective quality of service (QoS) metrics, such as: available bandwidth, bit error rate (BER), delay, latency as well as subjective quality of experience (QoE) related to user expectations. QoE is expressed as clarity of speech and the ability to interpret voice commands with adequate mean opinion score (MOS) grades. This paper describes a quality evaluation study of a two-way speech transmission system via bandwidth over power line – power line communication (BPL-PLC) technology in an operating underground mine. We investigate how different features of the available wired medium can affect end-user quality. The results of the described study include: two types of coupling (capacitive and inductive), two transmission modes (mode 1 and 11), and four language sets of speech samples (American English, British English, German, and Polish) encoded at three different bit rates (8, 16, and 24 kbps). Our findings can aid both researchers working on low-bit rate coding and compression, signal processing and speech perception, as well as professionals active in the mining and oil industry.

  • Quantumness in Diagnostics of Marine Internal Combustion Engines and Other Ship Power Plant Machines
    • Jacek Rudnicki
    • Jerzy Girtler
    2023 Full text Polish Maritime Research

    The article provides proof that the diagnostics of marine internal combustion engines and other ship power plant machines should take into account the randomness and unpredictability of certain events, such as wear, damage, the variations of mechanical and thermal loads, etc., which take place during machine operation. In the article, the energy E, like the other forms (methods) that it can be converted into (heat and work), is considered the random variable; at time t, this variable has the mean value, which is the observed value of the some statistic with an asymptotically normal distribution, irrespective of the functional form of the random variable. A proof is given that shows that the expected value estimated in the above way, considering the time t of the performance of task Z by a marine internal combustion engine or other ship power plant machine, can be used to determine the machine’s possible action (DM). When compared to the required action (DW) needed for task Z to be performed, this possible action makes it possible to formulate an operating diagnosis concerning whether the engine or machine of concern is able to perform task Z. It is assumed that an energy device of this type is able to perform a given task when the inequality DM > DW holds. Otherwise, when DM < DW, the device cannot perform the task for which it was adopted in the design and manufacturing phase, which means that it is in the incapability state, although it still can be started and convert energy into the form of heat or work.

  • Quenching of bright and dark excitons via deep states in the presence of SRH recombination in 2D monolayer materials
    • Jędrzej Szmytkowski
    2023 Full text JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER

    Two-dimensional (2D) monolayer materials are interesting systems due to an existence of optically non-active dark excitonic states. In this work, we formulate a theoretical model of an excitonic Auger process which can occur together with the trap-assisted recombination in such 2D structures. The interactions of intravalley excitons (bright and spin-dark ones) and intervalley excitons (momentum-dark ones) with deep states located in the energy midgap have been taken into account. The explanation of this process is important for the understanding of excitonic and photoelectrical processes which can coexist in 2D materials, like transition metal dichalcogenides and perovskites.

  • Quiet Quitting and its Link With Knowledge Risks in Organizations – Theoretical Insights
    • Martyna Gonsiorowska
    • Małgorzata Zięba
    2023 Full text

    Purpose: Quiet quitting has become a widely publicized concept, driven by social media in the United States and other countries in 2022. It is a term used to describe the phenomenon by which employees do the least amount of their work, just enough to meet the requirements of one’s job description (Mahand and Caldwell, 2023). The trend is spreading quickly among young workers. It can potentially harm individuals, job performance, innovativeness, and whole businesses. Moreover, this phenomenon can also pose several knowledge risks. This conceptual paper aims to identify and analyse human knowledge risks resulting from quiet quitting. Design/methodology/approach: This present study makes an update on the literature linking knowledge risks arising and quiet quitting. Originality/value: To the best knowledge of the authors, there are no publications that describe the knowledge risks arising from quiet quitting. This paper offers new insights for researchers dealing with the topic of knowledge risks in the context of human behaviours. Practical implications: The paper provides insight for each practitioner, as the issue addressed concerns the majority of incumbent employees. Especially, employers and managers should become aware of the consequences related to knowledge risks arising from quiet quitting.

  • RAGE as a Novel Biomarker for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
    • Catherine C. Applegate
    • Michael B. Nelappana
    • Elaine A. Nielsen
    • Leszek Kalinowski
    • Iwona T. Dobrucki
    • Lawrence W. Dobrucki
    2023 Full text Cancers

    The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) has been implicated in driving prostate cancer (PCa) growth, aggression, and metastasis through the fueling of chronic inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes and analyzes the current clinical and preclinical data to provide insight into the relationships among RAGE levels and PCa, cancer grade, and molecular effects. A multi-database search was used to identify original clinical and preclinical research articles examining RAGE expression in PCa. After screening and review, nine clinical and six preclinical articles were included. The associations of RAGE differentiating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or normal prostate from PCa and between tumor grades were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effect models due to study heterogeneity. The clinical meta-analysis found that RAGE expression was highly likely to be increased in PCa when compared to BPH or normal prostate (OR: 11.3; 95% CI: 4.4–29.1) and that RAGE was overexpressed in high-grade PCa when compared to low-grade PCa (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8–3.4). In addition, meta-analysis estimates of preclinical studies performed by albatross plot generation found robustly positive associations among RAGE expression/activation and PCa growth and metastatic potential. This review demonstrates that RAGE expression is strongly tied to PCa progression and can serve as an effective diagnostic target to differentiate between healthy prostate, low-grade PCa, and high-grade PCa, with potential theragnostic applications.

  • Rainwater chemistry composition in Bellsund: Sources of elements and deposition discrepancies in the coastal area (SW Spitsbergen, Svalbard)
    • Sara Lehmann-konera
    • Ruman Marek
    • Marcin Frankowski
    • Łukasz Małarzewski
    • Krzysztof Raczyński
    • Filip Pawlak
    • Kozioł Krystyna
    • Żaneta Polkowska
    2023 CHEMOSPHERE

    Discrepancies in rainfall chemistry in Bellsund were found to be influenced by the orographic barrier and related to the variability in the inflow of air masses as well as to the distance of sampling sites from the sea and thus the extent of sea spray impact. This study covers measurements of rainfall (P) and air temperature (T), physicochemical parameters (pH, specific electrolytic conductivity (SEC), major ions (Cl , NO3 , SO4 2 ) and elements (Na, Ca, Mg, K), as well as trace elements (i.a. As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Co, Pb, Ni, Zn) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in 22 rainfall samples collected in August on the Calypsostranda marine terrace and in the forefield of a landterminating glacier (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land). The comparison of chemical parameters in the samples revealed major discrepancies, including statistically significant higher rainwater pH and SEC, and the levels of Ag, As, Bi, Ca, Co, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, and V, deposited near the seashore (Calypsostranda) than in the glacier forefield. Cluster analysis (CA) showed that elements deposited in lower concentrations at the glacier forefield site came from predominately anthropogenic sources. Conversely, CA results of metals and metalloids deposited on the Calypsostranda marine terrace indicate both natural and anthropogenic sources. A correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA) permitted identifying two primary factors affecting rainfall chemistry at each of the study sites. In Calypsostranda, these were the inflow of relatively unpolluted cold air (F1 = 35.1%) and sea spray (F2 = 27.6%), while in the glacier forefield the factors were an orographic barrier (F1 = 37.3%) and the inflow of polluted warm air (F2 = 25.2%).

  • Rapid and Reliable Re-Design of Miniaturized Microwave Passives by Means of Concurrent Parameter Scaling and Intermittent Local Tuning
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    2023 Full text Scientific Reports

    Re-design of microwave passive components for the assumed operating frequencies or substrate parameters is an important yet a tedious process. It requires simultaneous tuning of relevant circuit variables, often over broad ranges thereof, to ensure satisfactory performance of the system. If the operating conditions at the available design are distant from the intended ones, local optimization is typically insufficient, whereas global search entails excessive computational expenses. The problem is aggravated for miniaturized components, typically featuring large numbers of geometry parameters. Furthermore, owing to their tightly-arranged layouts, compact structures exhibit considerable cross-coupling effects. In order to reliably evaluate electrical characteristics under such conditions full-wave electromagnetic (EM) analysis is mandatory. Needless to say, EM-driven design over broad ranges of operating frequencies is an arduous and costly endeavor. In this paper, we introduce a novel procedure for rapid and reliable re-design of microwave passives. Our methodology involves concurrent scaling of geometry parameters interleaved with local (gradient-based) tuning. The scaling stage allows for low-cost relocation of the operating frequencies of the circuit, whereas the optimization stage ensures continuous (iteration-wise) alignment of the performance figures with their target values. The presented framework is validated using several miniaturized microstrip couplers, re-designed over extended ranges of the center frequencies. For all considered structures, satisfactory designs are successfully identified despite the initial designs being distant from the targets, whereas local tuning turns out to be demonstrably inferior. Apart from its efficacy, one of the most important advantages of the proposed framework is its simplicity, and the lack of problem-dependent control parameters.

  • Rapid Antenna Optimization with Restricted Sensitivity Updates by Automated Dominant Direction Identification
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2023 KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS

    Meticulous tuning of geometry parameters turns pivotal in improving performance of antenna systems. It is more and more often realized using formal optimization methods, which is demonstrably the most efficient way of handling multiple design variables, objectives, and constraints. Although in some cases a need for launching global search arises, a typical design scenario only requires local optimization, especially when a decent initial design can be rendered using engineering experience or parametric studies. At the same time, antenna optimization is typically conducted using full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations, which entails considerable computational expenses. In this paper, we introduce a novel procedure for expedited antenna tuning. Its fundamental mechanism is to restrict the antenna response sensitivity updates to the selected dominant directions within the parameter space, determined based on the problem-specific knowledge, in particular, the estimated changes of antenna characteristics when moving across one-dimensional affine subspaces spanned by these directions. Thus, the said dominant directions affect the most the responses of the antenna structure under design as assessed using the introduced metrics. The decision making process concerning the number of directions to be used relies on quantification of the aggregated system response variability metrics. The proposed approach is demonstrated by means of several antenna structures and benchmarked against conventional trust-region algorithm, but also its accelerated versions. The results indicate considerable (up to over 60%) speedup over the reference procedure without noticeable quality degradation.

  • Rapid Design of 3D Reflectarray Antennas by Inverse Surrogate Modeling and Regularization
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Mehmet Belen
    • Alper Caliskan
    • Peyman Mahouti
    2023 Full text IEEE Access

    Reflectarrays (RAs) exhibit important advantages over conventional antenna arrays, especially in terms of realizing pencil-beam patterns without the employment of the feeding networks. Unfortunately, microstrip RA implementations feature narrow bandwidths, and are severely affected by losses. A considerably improved performance can be achieved for RAs involving grounded dielectric layers, which are also easy to manufacture using 3D printing technology. Regardless of the implementation details, a practical bottleneck of RA design is the necessity of independent adjustment of a large number of unit cells, which has to be carried out using full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulation models to ensure reliability. The associated computational costs are extraordinary. A practical workaround is the incorporation of surrogate modeling methods; however, a construction of accurate metamodel requires a large number of training data samples. This letter introduces an alternative RA design approach, where the unit cells are adjusted using an inverse surrogate model established with a small number of anchor points, pre-optimized for the reference reflection phases. To ensure solution uniqueness, the anchor point optimization involves regularization, here, based on the minimum-volume condition for the unit cell. The presented approach reduces the computational cost of RA design to a few dozens of EM analyses of the cell. Several demonstration examples are provided, along with an experimental validation of the selected RA realization.

  • Rapid multi-criterial design of microwave components with robustness analysis by means of knowledge-based surrogates
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    2023 Full text Scientific Reports

    Manufacturing tolerances and uncertainties concerning material parameters, e.g., operating conditions or substrate permittivity are detrimental to characteristics of microwave components. The knowledge of relations between acceptable parameter deviations (not leading to violation of design specifications) and the nominal performance (not considering uncertainties), and is therefore indispensable. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization technique of microwave components with tolerance analysis. The goal is to identify a set of trade-off designs: nominal performance versus robustness (quantified by the maximum input tolerance values that allow for achieving 100-percent fabrication yield). Our approach exploits knowledge-driven regression predictors rendered using characteristic points (features) of the component’s response for a rapid evaluation of statistical performance figures, along with trust-region algorithm to enable low execution cost as well as convergence. The proposed methodology is verified with the use of three microstrip circuits, a broadband filter, and two branch-line couplers (a single- and a dual-band one). It is demonstrated that a Pareto set w.r.t. nominal performance and robustness objectives can be produced using only 40 to 60 EM simulations of the respective structure (per design). Reliability of the proposed algorithm is corroborated with the use of EM-based Monte Carlo simulation.

  • Rating by detection: an artifact detection protocol for rating EEG quality with average event duration
    • Daniel Węsierski
    • Mehrdad Rahimzadeh Rufuie
    • Olga Milczarek
    • Wojciech Ziembla
    • Paweł Ogniewski
    • Anna Kołodziejak
    • Paweł Niedbalski
    2023 Full text Journal of Neural Engineering

    Quantitative evaluation protocols are critical for the development of algorithms that remove artifacts from real EEG optimally. However, visually inspecting the real EEG to select the top-performing artifact removal pipeline is infeasible while hand-crafted EEG data allow assessing artifact removal configurations only in a simulated environment. This study proposes a novel, principled approach for quantitatively evaluating algorithmically corrected EEG without access to ground truth in real-world conditions. Our offline evaluation protocol uses a detector to score the presence of artifacts. It computes their average duration, which measures the recovered EEG's deviation from the modeled background activity with a single score. As we expect the detector to make generalization errors, we employ a generic and configurable Wiener-based artifact removal method to validate the reliability of our detection protocol. Quantitative experiments extensively compare many Wiener filters and show their consistent rankings agree with their theoretical assumptions and expectations. The rating-by-detection protocol with the average event duration (AED) measure should be of value for EEG practitioners and developers. After removing artifacts from real EEG, the protocol experimentally shows that reliable comparisons between many artifact filtering configurations are possible despite the missing ground-truth neural signals.

  • RCDs Tripping in the Range from DC to AC 50 kHz for Slowly Rising Residual Current
    • Hanan Tariq
    • Stanisław Czapp
    • Vitaly Levashenko
    2023

    The wide use of power electronic converters means that in many low-voltage systems earth fault currents containing components from DC to AC of various frequencies have to be taken into account. Due to the tendency to increase the modulation frequency in converters, components of higher frequencies may be in the order of several tens of kilohertz. Therefore, it is very important to verify the behavior of devices for protection against electric shock in the presence of earth currents with frequencies other than the nominal frequency of the network, as well as for a DC component. The paper presents the results of tests of residual current devices (RCDs), with slowly rising earth/residual current at selected frequencies within the range 1 Hz – 50 kHz, and at pure DC. Tests have shown that RCDs may not respond to certain frequencies and pure DC, which carries a risk of electric shock.

  • Reactions of cobalt(ii) chloride and cobalt(ii) acetate with hemisalen-type ligands: ligand transformation, oxidation of cobalt and complex formation. Preliminary study on the cytotoxicity of Co(ii) and Co(iii) hemisalen complexes
    • Magdalena Siedzielnik
    • Monika Pawłowska
    • Mateusz Daśko
    • Hubert Kleinschmidt
    • Anna Dołęga
    2023 Full text RSC Advances

    Several molecular cobalt(II) complexes, one Co(II) coordination polymer, and one ionic cobalt(III) complex with imine hemisalen ligands were synthesized. The hemisalen ligands were synthesized from o-vanillin (oVP) and diverse aminopyridines (compounds HL1–HL4) or aminophenol (compound HL5). It was observed that cobalt(II) chloride in dry acetonitrile catalyzes a transformation of HL1 and HL3 instead of complex formation. The conversion of these imines proceeded via self-cyclization to N-2′′-pyridyl-2,6- dioxo-9-aza-[c,g]di-2′-methoxybenzononan or its methyl derivative as the major product. The remaining reactions were performed using imines HL1–HL5 and cobalt(II) acetate Co(Ac)2 in methanol or DMSO/acetonitrile resulting in forming of a series of cobalt complexes. The following series of compounds was obtained: two similar tetrahedral molecular Co(II) complexes [Co(L1)2] and [Co(L3)2], one trinuclear, mixed-ligand Co3(Ac)2(L4)2(oVP)2, one coordination polymer {Co(L2)2}N and finally one octahedral anionic Co(III) complex [HNEt3][Co(L5)3]. The latter complex formed in a cobalt(II) acetate reaction with a hemisalen HL5 derived from oVP and 2-aminophenol. The molecular structures of all compounds were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and the cytotoxicity of Co(II) and Co(III) complexes towards cancer cell lines HCT116, HL-60, and normal cell line MRC-5 was studied.

  • Reactive imines: Addition of 2-aminopyrimidine to the imine bond and isolation of the aminal from the equilibrium mixture aminal/imine
    • Magdalena Siedzielnik
    • Andrzej Okuniewski
    • Kinga Kaniewska-Laskowska
    • Marcin Erdanowski
    • Anna Dołęga
    2023 Full text JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

    The reaction between o-vanillin and 2-aminopyrimidine leads to the formation of a single crystalline product: aminal, 1, which results from the reaction of the initially formed imine with 2-aminopyrimidine. The reaction was followed by the NMR spectroscopy. VT NMR studies prove that in solution two major species are observed: aminal and imine and their ratio depends on the time or/and temperature with the imine content increasing over time. One factor responsible for the non-typical course of the reaction between the aldehyde (o-vanillin) and 2-aminopyrimidine is the increased reactivity of the resulting imine, which easily undergoes nucleophilic addition. With the use of DFT calculations combined with experimental results we prove that the dual descriptor is the best parameter in predicting the increased reactivity of the imine bond. The calculations confirmed that the imine derived from o-vanillin and 2-aminopyrimidine is a reactive species. Another factor that determines the course of the reaction is relatively facile crystallization of aminal due to the extensive network of strong and weak hydrogen bonds. Several metal ions were tested as templating partners but no metal-imine complex could be isolated. Instead we have obtained and characterized structurally several metal ion complexes with o-vanillinate and 2-aminopyrimidine as ligands.

  • Reactivity of triphosphinoboranes towards H3B·SMe2: access to derivatives of boraphosphacycloalkanes with diverse substituents
    • Anna Ordyszewska
    • Jarosław Chojnacki
    • Rafał Grubba
    2023 Full text DALTON TRANSACTIONS

    Triphosphinoboranes activated the B–H bond in the BH3 molecule without any catalysts at room temperature. Hydroboration reactions led to boraphosphacyloalkanes with diverse structures. The outcomes of reactions depend on the size of the phosphanyl substituent on the boron atom of the parent triphosphinoborane, where derivatives of boraphosphacyclobutane and boraphosphacyclohexane were obtained. Furthermore, the precursor of triphosphinoboranes, namely bromodiphosphinoborane, also exhibited high reactivity towards H3B·SMe2, yielding bromo-substituted boraphosphacyclobutane. The obtained products were characterized by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis.

  • Reaktory elektrochemiczne w przemyśle - konstrukcja i zastosowania
    • Dominika Parasińska
    • Grzegorz Skowierzak
    • Tadeusz Ossowski
    2023 Full text Wiadomości Chemiczne

    Z biegiem lat reakcje elektrochemiczne przestały być postrzegane jedynie jako eksperymenty laboratoryjne lub proste baterie. Chociaż mechanizm reakcji i budowa prostych reaktorów znana jest ludzkości już od ponad 100 lat w ostatnich latach można zauważyć największy wzrost zainteresowania tą dziedziną. Nowy stale opracowywane są lepsze projekty budowy reaktorów. Modyfikacje to nie tylko rodzaje i formy materiałów, z których wykonane są elektrody są wykonywane, ale także metody rozdzielania, postać elektrolitu czy metodę przepływu prądu. Tak szeroki zakres innowacji pozwolił na rozwój nowe, coraz ciekawsze zastosowania tych procesów. Obecność Metody elektrochemiczne można spotkać w przemyśle w procesach otrzymywania odczynniki chemiczne, metale i bardziej złożone związki, takie jak leki, a także rafinacja metali poprzez galwanizację. Ponadto w wielu przypadkach stosuje się elektrochemię przyrządy analityczne jako czujnik, na przykład przy pomiarach pH. Aspekt wykorzystanie reaktorów elektrochemicznych do celów energetycznych jako źródła energii elektrycznej generacji, która nie emituje szkodliwych substancji zanieczyszczających i nie wymaga dalszego wykorzystania paliwa kopalne również zyskują coraz większe znaczenie. Ponadto dzięki elektrolizie istnieje także możliwość wytwarzania wodoru, który oprócz wielu innych zastosowaniach, zaczyna także odgrywać coraz większą rolę jako nowe, nieszkodliwe paliwo. Nie należy również zapominać o rozwijaniu możliwości oczyszczanie ścieków z większą efektywnością niż dotychczasowe metody oczyszczania, zwłaszcza małych ilości związków. Ten artykuł ma na celu przegląd obu ostatnich opracowane metody budowy reaktorów elektrochemicznych, a także ich zakres zastosowań i możliwości dalszego rozwoju tych metod.

  • Recent advancements in molecularly imprinted polymers for the removal of heavy metal ions and dyes
    • Muhammad Khan
    • Shan E Zehra Syeda
    • Anna Skwierawska
    2023 Desalination and Water Treatment

    Contamination set off by highly toxic metal ions and dyes is a big threat to the environment and living beings. Various industries like metal plating, mining, pesticides, battery manufacturing, and dyeing release metal ions and toxic dyes directly into the water. It is necessary to remove these toxic substances from the environment. Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) got a lot of attention in the last two decades because of several advantages over conventional adsorption technologies. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are compatible with natural antibodies having the highest selectivity due to specific recognition sites for the template molecules. Selectivity is the major advantage of MIP, any targeted heavy metal ions and dyes can be separated efficiently. Various polymerization procedures can be used for the MIP preparation started by self-assembled monomers surrounding the molecules of the template because of the “monomer functional groups and template” interchange. Various studies have been made for the removal of metal ions and dyes from water and excellent results have been attained. Continuous research developments are being done for real applications of MIPs to remove toxic environmental substances that are not only harmful to humans and other organisms but also disturb the ecological balance. This review represents the development of current MIPs, advantages as well as disadvantages exhibited from various angles to complete a roadmap towards industrial and commercial use of MIPs.

  • Recent advances in 3D bioprinted tumor models for personalized medicine
    • Przemysław Gnatowski
    • Edyta Piłat
    • Justyna Kucińska-Lipka
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Michael R. Hamblin
    • Masoud Mozafari
    2023 Full text Translational Oncology

    Cancerous tumors are among the most fatal diseases worldwide, claiming nearly 10 million lives in 2020. Due to their complex and dynamic nature, modeling tumors accurately is a challenging task. Current models suffer from inadequate translation between in vitro and in vivo results, primarily due to the isotropic nature of tumors and their microenvironment's relationship. To address these limitations, hydrogel-based 3D bioprinting is emerging as a promising approach to mimic cancer development and behavior. It provides precise control over individual elements' size and distribution within the cancer microenvironment and enables the use of patient-derived tumor cells, rather than commercial lines. Consequently, hydrogel bioprinting is expected to become a state-of-the-art technique for cancer research. This manuscript presents an overview of cancer statistics, current modeling methods, and their limitations. Additionally, we highlight the significance of bioprinting, its applications in cancer modeling, and the importance of hydrogel selection. We further explore the current state of creating models for the five deadliest cancers using 3D bioprinting. Finally, we discuss current trends and future perspectives on the clinical use of cancer modeling using hydrogel bioprinting.

  • Recent advances in electrochemically surface treated titanium and its alloys for biomedical applications: A review of anodic and plasma electrolytic oxidation methods
    • Balbina Makurat-Kasprolewicz
    • Agnieszka Ossowska
    2023 Materials Today Communications

    Nowadays, titanium and its alloys are widely used materials in implantology. Nevertheless, the greatest challenge is still its appropriate surface treatment in order to induce optimal properties, which facilitates formation of a permanent bond between the implant and human tissue. The use of electrochemical treatment such as anodic oxidation or plasma electrolytic oxidation allows for the production of porous coating that mimics the bone structure and accelerates the osseointegration process. The literature shows that the morphology, thickness, crystallinity, chemical composition, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of coatings, as well as their bioactivity, strongly depend on the parameters of electrochemical processes (voltage, duration, composition and temperature of the electrolyte). The purpose of this study is to review, summarize, and analyze the latest accomplishments and trends in the development of coatings used in implantology, produced with the use of electrochemical oxidation and micro arc oxidation. Recent progress and future challenges associated with the surface modification of titanium and its alloy for biomedical applications have been discussed.

  • Recent Advances in Nanocomposite Membranes for Organic Compound Remediation from Potable Waters
    • Jose R. Aguilar Cosme
    • Roberto Castro-Muñoz
    • Vahid Vatanpour
    2023 ChemBioEng Reviews

    Water treatment is one of the main approaches for producing drinking water from contaminated water sources which is challenging due to the presence of a variety of substances requiring removal. The fabrication of nanocomposite membranes relies either on filling nanomaterials into polymeric phases before membrane fabrication, or coating of nanomaterials on the fabricated membrane surface. The removal of organic compounds from potable waters requires processes such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Since most nanomaterials display interesting organic compound uptakes from aqueous systems, nanocomposite membranes have been tested in the removal of various substances from potable waters. Currently, many membrane processes necessitate more advanced and well-designed selective barriers that may guarantee both permeation and separation efficiency. The progresses and breakthroughs on nanocomposite membranes in remediating potable waters are reported, highlighting novel composite formulations and emphasizing recent advances and outcomes in the field.

  • Recent advances of selected passive heat transfer intensification methods for phase change material-based latent heat energy storage units: A review
    • Michał Rogowski
    • Rafał Andrzejczyk
    2023 Full text INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER

    The following article overviews recent studies regarding heat transfer enhancement methods, explicitly focusing on fins and coils utilization, in phase change material-based latent heat thermal energy storage systems. It discusses the influence of various geometrical and material parameters on the melting and solidification processes, as well as the orientation of the heat transfer surface within the storage tank. Additionally, the article examines the use of a range of phase change materials regarding their melting temperature. Results show that there are research gaps regarding a few ranges of phase change materials of certain previously studied melting points. This paper's main goal was to detect possible research gaps within the phase change studies field. It should be highlighted that a vast amount of numerical studies of both finned and coiled geometries is in need of experimental verification. More than 62% of analyzed studies were performed numerically, while only 37% were performed experimentally. What is more, there were only a few studies concerning experimental investigations for melting temperatures higher than 60 °C. Furthermore, the majority of experimental as well as numerical studies were concerned only with melting phenomena. This paper also advocates for more standardized studies regarding coil geometries using non-dimensional parameters.

  • Recent applications and future prospects of magnetic biocatalysts
    • Rafael Leandro Fernandes Melo
    • Misael Bessa Sales
    • Viviane de Castro Bizerra
    • Paulo Gonçalves de Sousa Junior
    • Antônio Luthierre Gama Cavalcante
    • Tiago Melo Freire
    • Francisco Simão Neto
    • Muhammad Bilal
    • Teofil Jesionowski
    • João Maria Soares
    • Pierre Basílio Almeida Fechine
    • José Cleiton Sousa dos Santos
    2023 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

    Magnetic biocatalysts combine magnetic properties with the catalytic activity of enzymes, achieving easy recovery and reuse in biotechnological processes. Lipases immobilized by magnetic nanoparticles dominate. This review covers an advanced bibliometric analysis and an overview of the area, elucidating research advances. Using WoS, 34,949 publications were analyzed and refined to 450. The prominent journals, countries, institutions, and authors that published the most were identified. The most cited articles showed research hotspots. The analysis of the themes and keywords identified five clusters and showed that the main field of research is associated with obtaining biofuels derived from different types of sustainable vegetable oils. The overview of magnetic biocatalysts showed that these materials are also employed in biosensors, photothermal therapy, environmental remediation, and medical applications. The industry shows a significant interest, with the number of patents increasing. Future studies should focus on immobilizing new lipases in unique materials with magnetic profiles, aiming to improve the efficiency for various biotechnological applications.

  • Recent progress in ultra-low formaldehyde emitting adhesive systems and formaldehyde scavengers in wood-based panels: a review
    • Lubos Kristak
    • Petar Antov
    • Pavlo Bekhta
    • Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis
    • Apri Heri Iswanto
    • Roman Reh
    • Jan Sedliacik
    • Viktor Savov
    • Hamid R. Taghiyari
    • Antonios N. Papadopoulos
    • Antonio Pizzi
    • Aleksander Hejna
    2023 Wood Material Science & Engineering

    Traditional wood-based panels are produced with synthetic, formaldehyde-based adhesives, commonly made from fossil-derived constituents, such as urea, phenol, melamine, etc. Along with their numerous advantages, such as chemical versatility, high reactivity and excellent adhesive performance, these adhesives are characterized by certain problems, connected with the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mostly free formaldehyde in the adhesives and the formaldehyde emission from the finished wood composites, which is carcinogenic to humans and harmful to the environment. The growing environmental concerns and stringent legislative requirements to the formaldehyde emission from wood-based panels have posed new challenges to researchers and industrial practice, related to the development of sustainable, eco-friendly wood-based panels with close-to-zero formaldehyde emission. The most common methods to reduce the formaldehyde emission from wood-based panels have been to decrease the free formaldehyde in the adhesive by modifying the adhesive (like lowering the molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea in UF resin) or by using formaldehyde scavengers, one group of scavengers being for adhesives by mixing or reacting and the second one scavengers for wood-based panels as post-treatments. Another way is to use alternative bio-based adhesives, however, there are still substantial challenges for the complete replacement of formaldehyde-based adhesives with bio-based adhesives, mainly because of their relatively low bonding strength, poor water resistance, etc. This article presents a review and analysis of the current state of research in the field of low formaldehyde emission wood adhesives and formaldehyde scavengers for manufacturing low-toxic, eco-friendly wood composites.

  • Reception of Terrestrial DAB+ and FM Radio with a Mobile Device: A Subjective Quality Evaluation
    • Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski
    2023

    Nowadays, terrestrial broadcasting enables to receive content anytime and everywhere. People can obtain information both with a portable or desktop receiver, which include pocket-sized devices as well as high-end Hi-Fi equipment, not to mention car audio systems. Numerous manufacturers include FM-compatible chipsets in a variety of user equipment (UE), including mobile phones. However, digital radio signal processing modules, such as, i.e., Digital Audio Broadcasting plus (DAB+), are not that popular. Currently, only one smartphone available on the market offers such possibilities This paper examines the reception quality of terrestrial digital DAB+ and analog FM radio with the use of a mobile device. The study was carried out on a number of broadcasts simulcasted in both standards, and involved a group of 30 listeners aged between 20–25 years old. Next, results were compared with subjective scores obtained using a high-end desktop radio receiver. The aim of this work is to determine whether small size mobile UE can offer high-quality reception, and whether a smartphone can compete with a traditional indoor receiver. Results of carried out studies may aid and inspire devices manufacturers as well as content and service providers, speeding up the whole digitization process.

  • Rectangular Waveguide Filters Based on Deformed Dual-Mode Cavity Resonators
    • Michał Baranowski
    • Łukasz Balewski
    • Adam Lamęcki
    • Michał Mrozowski
    2023

    In this paper, a novel design for rectangular waveguide filters with deformed dual-mode (DM) cavity resonators is demonstrated. The new resonant cavity shape is a result of applying shape deformation to the basic rectangular cavity to enable its dual-mode operation. Internal coupling between the two orthogonal cavity modes is realized by geometry deformation, eliminating the need for additional coupling elements. The designs are developed within the constraints of 3-D printing to allow their fabrication in one piece. In addition, the design method used results in models with smooth surfaces, which is highly desirable for high-power and low-loss applications. A deformed DM cavity is analyzed and a single cavity second-order filter is designed and presented. Finally, two types of fourth-order filters with transmission zeros are designed by combining two deformed DM cavities and their performance is verified experimentally by a 3D-printed prototype.

  • Recycling of photovoltaic modules - legal status, technology, market prospects
    • Jakub Łukasik
    • Jan Wajs
    2023 Rynek Energii

    The increase in the number of manufactured and installed photovoltaic modules and the growing concern about the insufficient supply of pure silicon imply the need to take action to develop infrastructure for recycling PV modules. The article presents a multifaceted analysis of the current state of development of the photovoltaic module recycling sector from a global and national perspective. The essence of the issue was introduced in the context of the rapid growth of the solar energy sector in recent years. Various technologies for the production of PV cells were presented, categorized according to their generations. The available methods of recycling the most popular on the market silicon crystal modules (I generation) and thin-film modules (II generation) were presented, as well as innovative techniques that are currently in the stage of laboratory research. The current legal status dedicated to recycling processes and requirements for effective waste processing are discussed. In the face of the ongoing energy transformation and forecasts on the increase in installed capacity in photovoltaics in Poland and worldwide, the prospects for the development of this market in the future have been outlined.

  • Red Kale (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. acephala L. var. sabellica) Induces Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells In Vitro
    • Kamila Rachwał
    • Iwona Niedźwiedź
    • Adam Waśko
    • Tomasz Laskowski
    • Paweł Szczeblewski
    • Wirginia Kukula-Koch
    • Magdalena Polak-Berecka
    2023 Full text MOLECULES

    This article presents the results of studies investigating the effect of red kale (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. acephala L. var. sabellica) extract on cancer cells (HT-29). The cytotoxicity of the red kale extract was assessed using MTT and LDH assays, while qRT-PCR was employed to analyze the expression of genes associated with the p53 signaling pathway to elucidate the effect of the extract on cancer cells. Furthermore, HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS was applied to identify bioactive com- pounds present in red kale. The obtained results indicated that red kale extract reduced the viability and suppressed the proliferation of HT-29 cells (the IC50 value of 60.8 μg/mL). Additionally, mRNA expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of several genes, i.e., casp9, mapk10, mapk11, fas, kat2 b, and ubd, suggesting the induction of cell apoptosis through the caspase-dependent path- way. Interestingly, the study revealed a decrease in the expression of genes including cdk2 and cdk4 encoding cell cycle-related proteins, which may lead to cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the study identified certain bioactive compounds, such as sinigrin, spirostanol, hesperetin and usam- barensine, which could potentially contribute to the apoptotic effect of red kale extracts. However, further investigations are necessary to elucidate the specific role of these individual compounds in the anti-cancer process.

  • Rediscovering Automatic Detection of Stuttering and Its Subclasses through Machine Learning—The Impact of Changing Deep Model Architecture and Amount of Data in the Training Set
    • Piotr Filipowicz
    • Bożena Kostek
    2023 Full text Applied Sciences-Basel

    This work deals with automatically detecting stuttering and its subclasses. An effective classification of stuttering along with its subclasses could find wide application in determining the severity of stuttering by speech therapists, preliminary patient diagnosis, and enabling communication with the previously mentioned voice assistants. The first part of this work provides an overview of examples of classical and deep learning methods used in automated stuttering classifications as well as databases and features used. Then, two classical algorithms (k-NN (k-nearest neighbor) and SVM (support vector machine) and several deep models (ConvLSTM; ResNetBiLstm; ResNet18; Wav2Vec2) are examined on the available stuttering dataset. The experiments investigate the influence of individual signal features such as Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), pitch-determining features in the signal, and various 2D speech representations on the classification results. The most successful algorithm, i.e., ResNet18, can classify speech disorders at the F1 measure of 0.93 for the general class. Additionally, deep learning shows superiority over a classical approach to stuttering disorder detection. However, due to insufficient data and the quality of the annotations, the results differ between stuttering subcategories. Observation of the impact of the number of dense layers, the amount of data in the training set, and the amount of data divided into the training and test sets on the effectiveness of stuttering event detection is provided for further use of this methodology.

  • Reduced-Cost Microwave Modeling Using Constrained Domains and Dimensionality Reduction
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Ullah Ubaid
    2023 Full text Scientific Reports

    Development of modern microwave devices largely exploits full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations. Yet, simulation-driven design may be problematic due to the incurred CPU expenses. Addressing the high-cost issues stimulated the development of surrogate modeling methods. Among them, data-driven techniques seem to be the most widespread owing to their flexibility and accessibility. Nonetheless, applicability of approximation-based modeling for real-world microwave components is hindered by a high nonlinearity of the system characteristics, dimensionality issues, and broad ranges of operating parameters the model should cover to make it practically useful. Performance-driven modeling frameworks deliver a partial mitigation of these problems through appropriate spatial orientation of the metamodel domain, which only encapsulates high-quality designs and not the entire space. Unfortunately, the initial model setup cost is high, as defining the domain requires database designs that need to be a priori acquired. This paper introduces a novel approach, where the database designs are replaced by random observables, and dimensionality of the domain is reduced using spectral analysis thereof. The major contributions of the work include implementation of the explicit dimensionality reduction of the confined surrogate model domain and introducing this concept into a complete cost-efficient framework for modeling of microwave components. Comprehensive benchmarking demonstrates excellent performance of the introduced framework, both in terms of predictive power of the rendered surrogates, their scalability properties, as well as low computational overhead associated with the model setup.

  • Reducing nighttime light exposure in the urban environment to benefit human health and society
    • Karolina Zielińska-Dąbkowska
    • Eva S. Schernhammer
    • John, P. Hanifin
    • George Brainard
    2023 SCIENCE

    Nocturnal light pollution can have profound effects on humans and other organisms. Recent research indicates that nighttime outdoor lighting is increasing rapidly. Evidence from controlled laboratory studies demonstrates that nocturnal light exposure can strain the visual system, disrupt circadian physiology, suppress melatonin secretion, and impair sleep. There is a growing body of work pointing to adverse effects of outdoor lighting on human health, including the risk of chronic diseases, but this knowledge is in a more nascent stage. In this Review, we synthesize recent research on the context-specific factors and physiology relevant to nocturnal light exposure in relation to human health and society, identify critical areas for future research, and highlight recent policy steps and recommendations for mitigating light pollution in the urban environment.

  • Reducing the Uncertainty of the Moving Object Location Measurement with the Method of Quasi-Multiple Measurement in GNSS Technology in Symmetrical Arrangement
    • Jacek Skibicki
    • Andrzej Wilk
    • Władysław Koc
    • Roksana Licow
    • Jacek Szmagliński
    • Piotr Chrostowski
    • Sławomir Judek
    • Krzysztof Karwowski
    • Sławomir Grulkowski
    2023 Full text SENSORS

    The article presents a solution to the problem of limited accuracy of dynamic measurements performed with GNSS receivers. The proposed measurement method is a response to the needs related to the assessment of the measurement uncertainty of the position of the track axis of the rail transport line. However, the problem of reducing the measurement uncertainty is universal for many different situations where high accuracy of positioning of objects is required, especially in motion. The article proposes a new method to determine object’s location using geometric constraints of a number of GNSS receivers arranged in symmetric configuration. The proposed method has been verified by comparing signals recorded by up to five GNSS receivers during stationary and dynamic measurements. The dynamic measurement was made on a tram track within the framework of a cycle of studies upon effective and efficient methods to catalogue and diagnose tracks. A detailed analysis of the results obtained with the quasi-multiple measurement method confirms remarkable reduction in their uncertainty. Their synthesis shows the usability of this method in dynamic conditions. The proposed method is expected to find application in measurements requiring high accuracy, and in case of deterioration of the signal quality from satellites by one or more of GNSS receivers due to the appearance of natural obstacles.

  • Reduction in Errors in Roughness Evaluation with an Accurate Definition of the S-L Surface
    • Przemysław Podulka
    • Wojciech Macek
    • Ricardo Branco
    • Reza Masoudi Nejad
    2023 Full text Materials

    Characterization of surface topography, roughly divided into measurement and data analysis, can be valuable in the process of validation of the tribological performance of machined parts. Surface topography, especially the roughness, can respond straightly to the machining process and, in some cases, is defined as a fingerprint of the manufacturing. When considering the high precision of surface topography studies, the definition of both S-surface and L-surface can drive many errors that influence the analysis of the accuracy of the manufacturing process. Even if precise measuring equipment (device and method) is provided but received data are processed erroneously, the precision is still lost. From that matter, the precise definition of the S-L surface can be valuable in the roughness evaluation allowing a reduction in the rejection of properly made parts. In this paper, it was proposed how to select an appropriate procedure for the removal of the L- and S- components from the raw measured data. Various types of surface topographies were considered, e.g., plateau-honed (some with burnished oil pockets), turned, milled, ground, laser-textured, ceramic, composite, and, generally, isotropic. They were measured with different (stylus and optical) methods, respectively, and parameters from the ISO 25178 standard were also taken into consideration. It was found that commonly used and available commercial software methods can be valuable and especially helpful in the precise definition of the S-L surface; respectively, its usage requires an appropriate response (knowledge) from the users.

  • Reduction of CO2 Emissions from Offshore Combined Cycle Diesel Engine-Steam Turbine Power Plant Powered by Alternative Fuels
    • Wojciech Olszewski
    • Marek Dzida
    • Van Giao Nguyen
    • Dao Nam Cao
    2023 Full text Polish Maritime Research

    Diverse forms of environmental pollution arise with the introduction of materials or energy that exert adverse effects on human health, climate patterns, ecosystems, and beyond. Rigorous emission regulations for gases resulting from fuel combustion are being enforced by the European Union and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), directed at maritime sectors to mitigate emissions of SOx, NOx, and CO2. The IMO envisions the realisation of its 2050 targets through a suite of strategies encompassing deliberate reductions in vessel speed, enhanced ship operations, improved propulsion systems, and a transition towards low and zero-emission fuels such as LNG, methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia. While the majority of vessels currently depend on heavy fuel or low-sulphur fuel oil, novel designs integrating alternative fuels are gaining prominence. Technologies like exhaust gas purification systems, LNG, and methanol are being embraced to achieve minimised emissions. This study introduces the concept of a high-power combined ship system, composed of a primary main engine, a diesel engine, and a steam turbine system, harnessing the energy contained within the flue gases of the main combustion engine. Assumptions, constraints for calculations, and a thermodynamic evaluation of the combined cycle are outlined. Additionally, the study scrutinises the utilisation of alternative fuels for ship propulsion and their potential to curtail exhaust emissions, with a specific focus on reducing CO2 output

  • Reduction of exceeding the guaranteed service time for external trucks at the DCT Gdańsk container terminal using a six sigma framework
    • Karol Moszyk
    • Mariusz Deja
    2023 Full text International Journal of Lean Six Sigma

    Purpose The purpose of this research was to investigate ways to reduce the average amount of exceeded guaranteed service time for external trucks at Deepwater Container Terminal Gdańsk Sp z o.o. (DCT Gdańsk) via dosing the gate activities, in particular IN-Gate entry process of trucks carrying import/export/transit containers. Design/methodology/approach A Six Sigma methodology with the DMAIC methods along with the SIPOC chart, cause and effect diagram, scatterplot, benchmark and brainstorming and finally multi-voting tool are used as analyses tools in this research. Findings Deepwater Container Terminal Gdańsk Sp z o.o. (DCT Gdańsk) reorganized and modernized the Gate Operations. Gate reorganization and modernization includes streaming line traffic at the gates, external parking lot optimization, implementation of dedicated supporting software and installation of dedicated CCTV cameras to provide 24h life view. During gates development, the external truck service times data were collected and analysed. The obtained materials concerned the measurement of the average truck turnaround time before and after the implementation of the improvements. Originality/value The proposed approach of reducing the average amount of exceeded guaranteed service time of external trucks at the container terminal is unique and relatively cheap mainly due to organisational changes with some widely available low-cost investments and can be applied on a different scale to other container terminals or to transport and logistics companies.

  • Reemission of inorganic pollution from permafrost? A freshwater hydrochemistry study in the lower Kolyma basin (North-East Siberia)
    • Danuta Szumińska
    • Kozioł Krystyna
    • Sergey R. Chalov
    • Vasilii A. Efimov
    • Marcin Frankowski
    • Sara Lehmann-konera
    • Żaneta Polkowska
    2023 LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT

    Permafrost regions are under particular pressure from climate change resulting in widespread landscape changes, which impact also freshwater chemistry. We investi- gated a snapshot of hydrochemistry in various freshwater environments in the lower Kolyma river basin (North-East Siberia, continuous permafrost zone) to explore the mobility of metals, metalloids and non-metals resulting from permafrost thaw. Partic- ular attention was focused on heavy metals as contaminants potentially released from the secondary source in the permafrozen Yedoma complex. Permafrost creeks represented the Mg-Ca-Na-HCO3-Cl-SO 4 ionic water type (with mineralisation in the range 600–800 mg L1 ), while permafrost ice and thermokarst lake waters were the HCO 3-Ca-Mg type. Multiple heavy metals (As, Cu, Co, Mn and Ni) showed much higher dissolved phase concentrations in permafrost creeks and ice than in Kolyma and its tributaries, and only in the permafrost samples and one Kolyma tributary we have detected dissolved Ti. In thermokarst lakes, several metal and metalloid dis- solved concentrations increased with water depth (Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn – in both lakes; Al, Cu, K, Sb, Sr and Pb in either lake), reaching 1370 μg L1 Cu, 4610 μg L1 Mn, and 687 μg L1 Zn in the bottom water layers. Permafrost-related waters were also enriched in dissolved phosphorus (up to 512 μg L1 in Yedoma-fed creeks). The impact of permafrost thaw on river and lake water chemistry is a complex problem which needs to be considered both in the context of legacy permafrost shrinkage and the interference of the deepening active layer with newly deposited anthropogenic contaminants.

  • Reinforcing and plasticizing effects of reclaimed rubber on the vulcanization and properties of natural rubber
    • Teng Ren
    • Pan Song
    • Weihong Yang
    • Krzysztof Formela
    • Shifeng Wang
    2023 JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

    The production of high-added value reclaimed rubber (RR) is of great signifi-cance for the sustainability of rubber industries. To green recycle waste rub-bers and broaden the application of RR, a RR material with potentialreinforcing and plasticizing effects on nature rubber (NR) composites are pre-pared by a thermo-oxidative reclamation process. The reclamation degree ofRR is controlled by adjusting the content of soybean oil. The plasticizing effectis demonstrated by the decrease of torque during vulcanization and theenhancement of elongation at break of NR/RR composites with the increasingreclamation of RR. The tensile strength of NR/RR composites is enhanced byadding the RR, and the existence of RR also improves the thermal stability andrheological properties of NR/RR composites. The formation of new bound rub-ber in NR/RR compound indicates the reinforcing ability of RR. In addition,the average particle size of RR reaches nano-scale according to scanning elec-tron microscope photographs and its dispersion in NR/RR compounds isimproved with the increasing reclamation degree of RR as shown in Payneeffect. This work demonstrates the reinforcing and plasticizing ability of theRR, which is beneficial to improving the added value of reclaimed and broad-ening its application.

  • Rekordowe liczby pierwsze
    • Marek Kubale
    2023 Pismo PG

    Problem liczb pierwszych ma długą historię sięgającą czasów starożytnych. W śród liczb całkowitych liczby pierwsze grają rolę analogiczną do pierwiastków w chemii.

  • Relationship between Chemical Structure and Biological Activity Evaluated In Vitro for Six Anthocyanidins Most Commonly Occurring in Edible Plants
    • Izabela Koss-Mikołajczyk
    • Agnieszka Bartoszek-Pączkowska
    2023 Full text MOLECULES

    Numerous studies have provided evidence that diets rich in anthocyanins show a broad spectrum of health benefits. Anthocyanins in nature are usually found in the form of glycosides. Their aglycone forms are called anthocyanidins. The chemical structure of anthocyanins is based on the flavylium cation, but they differ in the position and number of substituents. However, the bioactives and foods that contain them are frequently treated as a uniform group of compounds exhibiting the same biological activity, without paying attention to the structural differences between individual anthocyanidins. The aim of this study was to find out how structural differences impact the biological activity of the six most common dietary anthocyanidins, i.e., delphinidin (Dp), petunidin (Pt), cyanidin (Cd), malvidin (Mv), pelargonidin (Pg) and peonidin (Po). The study concentrated on redox-related phenomena and compared the following parameters: antioxidant activity (measured using various methods: spectrophotometric tests (ABTS, DPPH), ORAC assay and CAA test (cellular antioxidant activity)), the ability to inhibit growth of human colon cancer cells (HT29; determined using MTT assay), and the ability of studied compounds to protect DNA from oxidative damage (comet assay). Based on the obtained results, the relationship between the structure of studied antho- cyanidins and their biological activity was assessed. The obtained results revealed that the number and position of the hydroxyl and methoxy groups in the anthocyanidin structure strongly influenced not only the color of anthocyanidins but most of all their antioxidant and biological activities.

  • Release of Encapsulated Bioactive Compounds from Active Packaging/Coating Materials and Its Modeling: A Systematic Review
    • Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
    • Shubhra Singh
    • Nur Alim Bahmid
    • Taha Mehany
    • Douglas J. H. Shyu
    • Elham Assadpour
    • Narjes Malekjani
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Seid Mahdi Jafari
    2023 Full text Colloids and Interfaces

    The issue of achieving controlled or targeted release of bioactive compounds with specific functional properties is a complex task that requires addressing several factors, including the type of bioactive, the nature of the delivery system, and the environmental conditions during transportation and storage. This paper deals with extensive reporting for the identification of original articles using Scopus and Google Scholar based on active packaging as a novel packaging technology that controls the release of antimicrobial agents encapsulated into carriers in the food packaging systems. For evidence-based search, the studies were extracted from 2015 to 2020 and screened using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Following the review and screening of publications, 32 peer-reviewed articles were subjected to systematic analysis. The preliminary search indicated that the encapsulation of bioactives enhances their bioavailability and stability. From a theoretical viewpoint, mathematical models play an important role in understanding and predicting the release behavior of bioactives during transportation and storage, thus facilitating the development of new packaging material by a systematic approach. However, only a few studies could formulate parameters for mathematical models in order to achieve the specific release mechanism regulated for the quality and safety of foods. Therefore, this paper will cover all encapsulation approaches, active packaging, and mathematical modeling in the food industry into structural form and analyze the challenges faced by the complex nature of active packaging in real food systems.