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Gdańsk University of Technology

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  • Progress in devulcanization of waste tire rubber: Upcycling towards a circular economy
    • Zaheer ul Haq
    • Teng Ren
    • Xinyan Yue
    • Krzysztof Formela
    • Denis Rodrigue
    • Xavier Colom
    • Tony McNally
    • Dong Dawei
    • Yong Zhang
    • Shifeng Wang
    2025 Full text Express Polymer Letters

    As a complex composite material, tire rubber has always presented significant environmental and waste management concerns due to its non-biodegradability and accumulation in landfills. The devulcanization of tire rubber has emerged as a historical challenge in the field of sustainable rubber engineering since Goodyear invented cross-linking in 1839. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of waste tire recycling processes, focusing on the sources, legislation, management strategies, and utilization across different regions. It explores the multifaceted challenges of devulcanizing rubber, with a specific focus on transitioning from ground tire rubber to the concept of multi-decrosslinking: sulfur bridge breakage, rubber chain depolymerization and micro-nano sized core-shell carbon black. Ideal devulcanization has restricted the release of reinforcing fillers, resulting in devulcanized rubber mainly containing dozens of micron particles, which hinder the wide usage of devulcanized rubber. This review comprehensively assesses the current state-of-the-art techniques for tire rubber devulcanization, including physical, chemical and biological methods. It explores the intricacies of ground tire rubber as a starting material, structural evolution of ground tire rubber during the devulcanization process and the associated challenges in achieving efficient devulcanization while retaining desirable mechanical properties. Furthermore, through an in-depth analysis of recent advancements, limitations and prospects, this paper offers a complete understanding of the challenges faced in tire rubber devulcanization. Considering the technical and environmental aspects of these processes, this work contributes to multi-decrosslinking, the ongoing discourse on sustainable materials development and circular economy initiatives, which pave the way for future innovations in the field of rubber recycling.

  • Proyecto Valija, Cala Vila, Ajuntament de Lliria, P/ Major 1 , 46160 Lliria, Valencia Espana
    • Dominika Krechowicz
    2025

    Projekt "Walizka", koncepcja: prof. dr hab. Zbigniew Szot Uniwersytet Artystyczny w Poznaniu, Wydział Malarstwa i Rysunku. W projekcie wzięło udział 48 artystów z Polski oraz z Czech, Niemiec, Gruzji, Japonii. Koncepcja projektu dotyczy szeroko pojętego tematu podróży. W obecnych czasach zagrożenia COVID-19 słowo „podróż” zaczyna nabierać zupełnie innego znaczenia. Żyjąc i tworząc w izolacji od wielu miesięcy, została stworzona wspólnie autonomiczna kolekcja prac, dedykowanych tylko tej walizce, która teraz jest wysyłana w podróż. Prace i walizka stanowią nierozłączną całość. Koncepcją projektu jest zaprezentowanie prac w wybranych miejscach oraz pozostawienie swojego znaku na wieku walizki. Wystawa Proyecto Valija została zaprezentowana w Cala Vila, Ajuntament de Lliria, P/ Major 1, 46160 Lliria, Valencia w Hiszpanii. Termin realizacji: 03.02.2025 do 09.02.2025

  • Pulsed GTAW joint of P92 steel and Inconel 625: microstructure and mechanical properties
    • Sachin Sirohi
    • Amit Kumar
    • Manohar Singh
    • Dariusz Fydrych
    • Chandan Pandey
    2025 Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

    In the present work, the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties has been investigated for the dissimilar welded joint of P92 steel and Inconel 625, fabricated using the pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. Microstructural investigation revealed that the pulsed current resulted in fner equiaxed dendrites in the bulk weld metal, while columnar dendrites were observed in the weld metal near the interface. A more uniform distribution of the fne secondary phases was observed in FESEM study. The EDS study of the inter-dendritic areas showed alloying element segregation throughout the weld metal, with higher density near the interface. This segregation led to the formation of secondary phases, specifcally MC-type carbides (NbC, TiC), which was confrmed by the EDS analysis. The characterization of the interface between P92 steel and ERNiCrMo-3 fller weld revealed the presence of a fller-defcient zone, marked by features such as islands, peninsulas, and unmixed zones. Elemental difusion and segregation of Nb, Mo, and Ti at the interface were also confrmed through EDS analysis. Tensile testing demonstrated acceptable tensile properties of the welded joint at room temperature, with a tensile strength of 764±8 MPa and elongation of 33±1%, with the sample failing from the P92 base metal. Signifcant hardness variations were observed along the welded joint, with the most notable changes occurring in the P92 heat-afected zone (HAZ). A maximum hardness of 420 HV was recorded in the coarse-grained HAZ of P92, while the inter-critical HAZ of P92 showed a minimum hardness of 215 HV. In addition, considerable hardness variation was noted within the weld metal, corresponding to each welding pass as well as across the transverse direction of the welded joint. The maximum and minimum hardness values in the weld metal were 261±9 and 239±13 HV, corresponding to the center and capping passes, respectively, with an average hardness of 250 HV. The Charpy toughness test also indicated acceptable results, with an impact energy value of 176±8.5 J. The study also provides a detailed discussion on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties, highlighting how microstructural features infuence the mechanical performance of the welded joint.

  • Quality Evaluation of Small Features Fabricated by Fused Filament Fabrication Method
    • Dawid Zieliński
    • Mariusz Deja
    • Rui Zhu
    2025 Full text Materials

    The purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality of small features fabricated by the fused filament fabrication (FFF) method. The samples containing circular and square cross-sections through holes with different dimensions, lengths, and orientation angles were printed from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) filament. The adopted optical inspection method allowed us to conduct observations of individual features and their measurements. The image processing software was used to determine the accuracy of the dimensions and shape of different cross-sections. Feret’s diameters were used for the evaluation of shape accuracy by comparing them with theoretical dimensions assumed in a 3DCADmodel. Considering the relationship between the real and theoretical dimensions of different features, general empirical equations for predicting the equivalent dimensions were developed. The proposed method of the quality evaluation of small features can be easily implemented and widely applied to other features, especially internal holes with different cross-sections made using various additive manufacturing methods.

  • Quality of Consumed Energy as a Key Element in the Development of Processes of Energy Transformation in the European Union Countries
    • Beata Bieszk-Stolorz
    • Krzysztof Dmytrów
    • Michał Pietrzak
    2025 ENERGIES

    The process of energy transformation is one of the crucial elements of the process of improvement of the quality of consumed energy. The aim of the research is to assess the European Union countries in terms of the quality of their consumed energy and the speed of adaptation of this aspect of the energy transformation process. We assess the quality of consumed energy by means of the synthetic measure obtained by means of the dynamic version of the COmplex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS) method. We compare the countries with the dynamics of the energy transformation process by means of the dynamic time warping method and the hierarchical clustering. Obtained results indicate the best countries with respect to the quality of consumed energy were Malta, Austria, and Germany, and the worst ones—Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia. The process of energy transformation was evolving in the right direction—the quality of consumed energy increased. This increase was the fastest in Malta, Luxembourg, and Poland. The direction for future research is extending the set of variables to also consider other aspects of the energy transformation.

  • Quasilinear elliptic problem in anisotropic Orlicz–Sobolev space on unbounded domain
    • Karol Wroński
    2025 ANNALI DI MATEMATICA PURA ED APPLICATA

    We study a quasilinear elliptic problem $-\text{div} (\nabla \Phi(\nabla u))+V(x)N'(u)=f(u)$ with anisotropic convex function $\Phi$ on the whole $\R^n$. To prove existence of a nontrivial weak solution we use the mountain pass theorem for a functional defined on anisotropic Orlicz-Sobolev space $\WLPhispace(\R^n)$. As the domain is unbounded we need to use Lions type lemma formulated for Young functions. Our assumptions broaden the class of considered functions $\Phi$ so our result generalizes earlier analogous results proved in isotropic setting.

  • RAGN-R: A multi-subject ensemble machine-learning method for estimating mechanical properties of advanced structural materials
    • Farzin Kazemi
    • A. Ӧzyüksel Çiftçioğlu
    • Torkan Shafighfard
    • Neda Asgarkhani
    • Robert Jankowski
    2025 COMPUTERS & STRUCTURES

    The utilization of advanced structural materials, such as preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC), fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), and FRC beams has revolutionized the field of civil engineering. These materials exhibit enhanced mechanical properties compared to traditional construction materials, offering engineers unprecedented opportunities to optimize the design, construction, and performance of structures and infrastructures. This formal description elucidates the inherent mechanical properties of PAC, FRC, and FRC beams, explores their diverse applications in civil engineering projects. This research aims to propose a surrogate multi-subject ensemble machine-learning (ML) method (named RAGN-R) for estimating mechanical properties of aforementioned advanced materials. The proposed learning approach, RAGN-R, integrates Random forest, Adaptive boosting, and GradieNt boosting techniques, employing a Ridge regression framework for stacking the ensemble. For this purpose, three experimental dataset have been prepared to determine the capability of RAGN-R and the results of the study have been compared with six well-known ML models. It is noteworthy that the proposed RAGN-R has the ability of self-optimizing the hyperparameters, which facilitate the adoptability of the model with engineering problems. Moreover, three datasets have been investigated to show the ability of the RAGN-R for diverse problems. Different performance evaluation metrics have been conducted to present results and compare ML models, which confirms the highest performance of RAGN-R (i.e., 97.7% accuracy) in handling complex relationships and improving overall prediction accuracy.

  • Ranking the rankers. An analysis of science-wide author databases of standardised citation indicators
    • Marta Kuc-Czarnecka
    • Andrea Saltelli,
    2025 SCIENTOMETRICS

    In this paper, we investigate the properties of the science-wide author databases’ stand- ardised citation indicators produced since 2015 by a team of researchers led by John P. A. Ioannidis. Based on data from Scopus, the researchers published close to 200,000 of the most-cited authors across all scientific fields and ranked them using a composite indica- tor that includes six citation metrics (total citations; Hirsch h-index; coauthorship-adjusted Schreiber hm-index; the number of citations to papers as a single author; the number of citations to papers as a single or first author; and the number of citations to papers as a sin- gle, first, or last author). We look at the quality of these new rankings to suggest improve- ments. Specifically, we try to correct for correlation among variables and the deviation between the purported weights of the variables, as declared by the developers, and the effective weights based on the theory of global sensitivity analysis. We aim to ascertain if our modified measure is an improvement over the existing one by addressing the issue of redundant data due to correlated variables. Lacking a ground truth based on a ‘true’ ranking possibly supported by independent data, we content ourselves for the purpose of the present analysis with benchmarking against a best practice. Given that most practition- ers have reservations against linear aggregation approaches (Munda, Social multi-criteria evaluation for a sustainable economy, Springer, Berlin, 2008; Balinski & Laraki, Major- ity judgment: Measuring, ranking, and electing, Mass, 2011; Arrow, Social choice and individual values, Martino Fine Books, Eastford, 2012 [1951]), while those based on the method of Condorcet are considered by many as a good practice (Munda, Social multi-cri- teria evaluation for a sustainable economy, Springer, Berlin, 2008; Roy, Multicriteria meth- odology for decision aiding, Springer, Cham, 1996), we entrust of defence of our modified ranking on a pairwise comparison between linear aggregation and Condorcet

  • Rapid methods for microorganism quantification in human milk: Possibilities and evaluation
    • Katarzyna Mazur
    • Edyta Malinowska-Pańczyk
    • Izabela Drążkowska
    • Magdalena Chmara
    2025 INTERNATIONAL DAIRY JOURNAL

    This study evaluates the potential of rapid microbiological methods, traditionally used for food and environmental samples, to assess human milk (HM) quality in Human Milk Banks. Several methods, including a bioluminescence, the Micro Biological Survey (MBS) colorimetric method, triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reductase test, and flow cytometry (BacSomatic™️), were compared to the PN-EN ISO 4833–1:2013-12 reference method. Flow cytometry showed a strong correlation with the reference method for estimating bacterial counts in HM, indicating its potential as a fast alternative. Despite its speed − providing results in 10 min without pre-processing − flow cytometry showed some limitations suggesting it may not yet be suitable as a standalone tool. Other methods, such as TTC reduction test and bioluminescence, showed weaker correlations, indicating that external factors influence their accuracy, while flow cytometry is promising, further optimization is required before it can replace conventional methods.

  • RCS Enhancement of Millimeter Wave LTCC Van Atta Arrays With 3-D Printed Lenses for Chipless RFID Applications
    • Kamil Trzebiatowski
    • Weronika Kalista
    • Łukasz Kulas
    • Krzysztof Nyka
    2025 Full text IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

    In this paper, we present a new method to enhance the radar- cross section (RCS) of Van Atta arrays which can be used in chipless radio-frequency identification tags operating in millimeter wave frequency bands. Small planar Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) Van Atta arrays, that are durable and can operate in harsh environments, are combined with 3-D printed lenses to increase or modify the shape of their RCS by up to 10 dB. The lenses are uniform in one direction to maintain a wide RCS angular range of the underlying Van Atta arrays. They are manufactured using affordable 3-D printing stereolithography (SLA) process using high-performance resin. The resulting manufactured and measured Van Atta retrodirective arrays integrated with lenses exhibit measured RCS levels up to -28 dBsm at 24 GHz frequency. Moreover, the proposed approach allows LTCC Van Atta tags to be easily modified and reused by exchanging their lenses to adapt them to a new application. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time an experimental evaluation of lenses combined with Van Atta arrays has been presented. This novel technique can also be integrated with other RCS enhancement methods to further increase RCS levels.

  • Recent Research Progress in the Abrasive Machining and Finishing of Additively Manufactured Metal Parts
    • Tesfaye Mengesha Medibew
    • Dawid Zieliński
    • Sisay Workineh Agebo
    • Mariusz Deja
    2025 Full text Materials

    Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the production of complex geometrical parts with metals; however, the usual layer-by-layer deposition results in poor surface quality and unpredictable surface integrity. Abrasive machining and finishing techniques play vital roles in counteracting these challenges and qualifying AM parts for practical applications. This review aims to present recent research developments concerning the machining of additively manufactured metal parts via both conventional and nonconventional abrasive machining methods. Conventional methods such as grinding, milling, polishing, honing, and sandblasting have been widely investigated for their ability to enhance the surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and mechanical properties of AM metal components. However, the characteristic features of various AM processes, such as porosity, microstructural features, and residual stresses, can significantly influence the machinability of the produced parts. Nonconventional methods such as abrasive flow machining, electrochemical machining, magnetic abrasive finishing, and vibratory bowl finishing, on the other hand, have shown potential in addressing the difficulties associated with internal machining geometries and hard-to-machine material combinations that are typical for many AM parts. This review also highlights some challenges and future trends in the machining of AM metal parts and emphasizes that further research is required in the direction of combinations of various postprocessing techniques, machinability regarding new alloy compositions, and the integration of AI for process optimization. As the demand for high-precision AM parts grows across various industries, the advancement of abrasive machining and finishing techniques is crucial for driving the wider adoption of AM technologies.

  • „Reconnecting With Your Culture. Experiences between Poland and India" Fondazione Magnani, Universita di Pavia.Prezentacja na międzynarodowym seminarium naukowym
    • Agnieszka Kurkowska
    2025

    On Tuesday 11 March 2025, an international meeting was held at the Magnani Foundation auditorium ‘Reconnecting With Your Culture’, promoted by the architectural restoration course of the University of Pavia, chaired by Professor Olimpia Niglio, in in collaboration with the Magnani Foundation. The backdrop of the meeting was the early Romanesque Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Lomello, one of the oldest in the Apennine peninsula, celebrating this year the jubilee of the 1000th anniversary of its foundation. The international meeting, chaired by Professor Mariella Magnani, president of the Magnani Foundation and coordinated by Professor Olimpia Niglio of the University of Pavia, was attended by Professor Tsuneaki Fukui of Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan, Professor Gireesh Kumar of Banaras Hindu University in India, and Dr Eng. arch. Agnieszka Kurkowska from the Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology, all active members of the RWYC pedagogical project, who met to share the results of a programme activated in schools in their countries and important for the development of cultural diplomacy projects. The exchange also allowed for an evaluation of the pedagogical pathways and results achieved in the various schools participating in the programme. The Reconnecting With Your Culture project, activated in 2020 five years later, has already produced numerous results and international awards, attesting to the quality and value of the content that the programme proposes to strengthen local cultures and develop cultural diplomacy. Chair of Environmental Design WAPG joined in 2023 as an official project partner. The president of RWYC Poland is Dr Agnieszka Kurkowska, her deputy is M.Sc. arch. Paulina Duch-Żebrowska. Also participating in the project's activities is Dr Eng. arch. Marta Koperska-Kośmicka. The academics who spoke in Lomello stressed the importance of the ‘cultural pilgrimage’ made possible by this programme, travelling many roads and meeting many people, all committed to a common goal: education in local cultural heritage, fundamental to world peace. On the occasion of the Jubilee Year, the scholars expressed great hope that the cooperation undertaken would continue and that the role of culture as a basis for peace processes and territorial development would be increasingly promoted. The next meeting will take place in Japan during Expo Osaka 2025.

  • Recycling organic waste to biochar amended soils stabilizes Miscanthus x giganteus growth
    • Ksawery Kuligowski
    • Joanna Strycharz
    • Nicole Nawrot
    • Jacek Kluska
    • Izabela Konkol
    • Ewa Wojciechowska
    • Adam Cenian
    2025 RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS

    Six treatments including straw biochar and its blends with organic waste (a mixture of anaerobically digested model kitchen waste, stillage and its enhancement with the fish waste digestate, both solid and liquid fractions) were tested via greenhouse experiment using fast-growing and pollution-resilient Miscanthus × giganteus. The four months long tests under spring/summer conditions in northern Poland with six fertiliser loads were conducted. When only biochar was applied, the Miscanthus growth showed the maximum at 5 % v/v dose, however inhibition was noticed at 15–40 % v/v dose. Organic waste additions to biochars helped to maintain stable growth (up to 150 cm of height after 120 days) for wider range of doses. In general, treatments with organic digestates made plants less vulnerable to nutrient shortages in the soil. Calculated cumulative fresh matter yields were in ranges 11.4–59.9 Mg ha−1 after 30 days, 27.4–68.49 Mg ha−1 after 60 days, 31.4–79.9 Mg ha−1 after 90 days and 28.5–91.3 Mg ha−1 after 120 days of growth. All plants represented moderate stress as none of them reached the photochemical efficiency associated with optimal growth (0.79–0.84). The stress trends followed the plant's height trend. Total nitrogen retained in soil was up to 1.7 g N kg−1 soil. The results presented can serve as recommendations for further power plants/biorefineries concepts when tackling various streams of waste with different moisture contents.

  • Replica road pavements for rolling resistance measurements
    • Jerzy Ejsmont
    • Grzegorz Ronowski
    • Sławomir Sommer
    • Wojciech Owczarzak
    • Truls Berge
    2025 Road Materials and Pavement Design

    Due to the need to strictly control the measurements, tire manufacturers strive to conduct most of the tests indoors. This allows them to perform them regardless of weather conditions, all the yearlong. Currently, a lot of research concerns the rolling resistance of tires. These include both development activities and mandatory measurements related to the granting of environmental labels. Unfortunately, standardized tests are conducted on smooth steel drums, which has a very negative impact on the representativeness of the results. To improve the representativeness, it is necessary to ensure realistic conditions of interaction between the tire and the road by guaranteeing that the texture of the roadwheel facility drum is as close as possible to the texture of the actual road pavement. The article presents in details the technologies for making replicas of road pavements that allow for realistic conditions of interaction between the tire and the road.

  • Resonant and nonresonant excitation of waves in a planar magnetosonic flow
    • Anna Perelomova
    2025 CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS

    Forced propagation of perturbations in a magnetosonic wave are considered. The driving force may be caused by stimulated Mandelstam–Brillouin scattering of optic waves or by intense magnetosonic exciter. Some heating-cooling function which takes into account radiative cooling and unspecified heating is taken into consideration, as well as nonlinearity of a medium. Both these factors make the excitation particular. The analytical and numerical evaluations reveal that forced oscillations differ essentially from the free propagation and depend on a number of dimensionless parameters such as the ratio of speed of exciter to the eigen speed of excited wave, the ratio of speed of an excited wave to its eigen speed, and the dimensionless magnitude of an exciter. Forced excitation is resonant if speed of an exciter coincides with the eigen speed of excited wave but may give rise to the excited perturbations with the speed different from the eigen one. The preliminary evaluations may be helpful for the controlled excitation of perturbations in natural and laboratory plasma systems and indication of the parameters of an exciter.

  • Responsive and proactive market orientation and hospital financial performance: The mediating effect of service program innovativeness
    • Dariusz Dąbrowski
    • Wioletta Kukier
    • Anna Tybińkowska
    2025 Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation

    PURPOSE: The study aims to investigate the direct and indirect relationships among market orientation, service program innovativeness, and the financial performance of hospitals. Two types of market orientation – responsive and proactive – were considered, along with two dimensions of service program innovativeness: meaningfulness and novelty. METHODOLOGY: T he study gathered data through a survey conducted on a random sample of 204 Polish hospitals. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, test a conceptual model designed as a parallel two-mediator model, and validate the hypotheses. FINDINGS: The work revealed both direct and indirect effects. In terms of direct effects, the study found that implementing a responsive market orientation positively influences the meaningfulness of a hospital’s service program but has no impact on its novelty. Conversely, the implementation of a proactive market orientation has a positive influence on both the meaningfulness and novelty of the program. Furthermore, the meaningfulness and novelty of the program contribute positively to the hospital’s f inancial performance. In terms of indirect effects, the study identified mediation phenomena: a responsive market orientation positively affects a hospital’s financial performance through the meaningfulness of the service program, while a proactive market orientation enhances financial performance through the novelty of the program. IMPLICATIONS: The study contributes to the current understanding, confirming the positive impact of a proactive market orientation on innovations within the organization while contradicting the view that a responsive market orientation supports these innovations. Additionally, the results support the idea that innovations within the organization have a positive impact on its outcomes. The study also reveals specific mechanisms that influence market orientation on organizational outcomes, indicating that a responsive orientation affects a service provider’s outcomes through the meaningfulness of its service program, while a proactive orientation influences outcomes through the novelty of the program.

  • Restrained differential of a graph
    • Abel Cabrera-Martinez
    • Magda Dettlaff
    • Magdalena Lemańska
    • Juan Alberto Rodriguez-Velazquez
    2025 Full text Discussiones Mathematicae Graph Theory

    Given a graph $G=(V(G), E(G))$ and a vertex $v\in V(G)$, the {open neighbourhood} of $v$ is defined to be $N(v)=\{u\in V(G) :\, uv\in E(G)\}$. The {external neighbourhood} of a set $S\subseteq V(G)$ is defined as $S_e=\left(\cup_{v\in S}N(v)\right)\setminus S$, while the \emph{restrained external neighbourhood} of $S$ is defined as $S_r=\{v\in S_e : N(v)\cap S_e\neq \varnothing\}$. The restrained differential of a graph $G$ is defined as $\partial_r(G)=\max \{|S_r|-|S|:\, S\subseteq V(G)\}.$ In this paper, we introduce the study of the restrained differential of a graph. We show that this novel parameter is perfectly integrated into the theory of domination in graphs. We prove a Gallai-type theorem which shows that the theory of restrained differentials can be applied to develop the theory of restrained Roman domination, and we also show that the problem of finding the restrained differential of a graph is NP-hard. The relationships between the restrained differential of a graph and other types of differentials are also studied. Finally, we obtain several bounds on the restrained differential of a graph and we discuss the tightness of these bounds.

  • Reusable Biosensor for Easy RNA Detection from Unfiltered Saliva
    • Paweł Wityk
    • Agata Terebieniec
    • Robert Nowak
    • Jacek Łubiński
    • Martyna Mroczyńska-Szeląg
    • Tomasz Wityk
    • Dorota Kostrzewa-Nowak,
    2025 SENSORS

    Biosensors are transforming point-of-care diagnostics by simplifying the detection process and enabling rapid, accurate testing. This study introduces a novel, reusable biosensor designed for direct viral RNA detection from unfiltered saliva, targeting SARS-CoV-2. Unlike conventional methods requiring filtration, our biosensor leverages a unique electrode design that prevents interference from saliva debris, allowing precise measurements. The biosensor is based on electrochemical principles, employing oligonucleotide probes immobilized on a hydrophobic-coated electrode, which prevents air bubbles and salt crystal formation. During validation, the biosensor demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, accurately identifying SARS-CoV-2 in saliva samples without false positives or negatives. Cross-validation with RT-qPCR, the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnostics, confirmed the reliability of our device. The biosensor’s performance was tested on 60 participants, yielding 12 true positive results and 48 true negatives, aligning perfectly with RT-qPCR outcomes. This reusable, easy-to-use biosensor offers significant potential for point-of-care applications in various healthcare settings, providing a fast, efficient, and cost-effective method for detecting viral infections such as COVID-19. Its robust design, minimal sample preparation requirements, and multiple-use capability mark a significant advancement in biosensing technology.

  • Ribes nigrum leaf extract downregulates proinflammatory gene expression and regulates redox balance in microglial cells
    • Alvard Minasyan
    • Vivien Pires
    • Catherine Gondcaille
    • Mikayel Ginovyan
    • Marika Mróz
    • Stéphane Savary
    • Mustapha Cherkaoui-malki
    • Barbara Kusznierewicz
    • Agnieszka Bartoszek-Pączkowska
    • Pierre Andreoletti
    • Naira Sahakyan
    2025 BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

    Background: This study focuses on the investigation of the antioxidant and anti- inflammatory activities of alcohol extracts from Ribes nigrum leaves on murine BV-2 microglial Wt and Acyl-CoA oxidase 1 deficient (Acox1−/−) cell line models, useful for the investigation of some neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: The extract chemical composition was analyzed via LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. Various assays, including DPPH, MTT, and H2DCFDA, were used to assess the extract’s antioxidant capacity, cell viability, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Immunoblotting and RT-qPCR techniques were employed to measure protein expression and gene transcription in treated cells. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism, with significance determined at p < 0.05. Results: Investigations showed the presence of phenolic compounds in this extract, among which flavan-3-ols, flavonols, furanocoumarins, hydroxycinnamates were major components, which are known for their biological activity in various test systems. The MTT test revealed a concentration of 0.125 mg/mL of R. nigrum extract as the highest non-toxic. The investigated extract showed high antioxidant activity in chemical-based tests. The antioxidant potential of the R. nigrum leaf extract was furtherly explored using the BV-2 microglial cell line models. Moreover, the extract was found to alter the activity of the main antioxidant enzyme, catalase and fatty acid oxidation enzyme, Acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) as well as the expression of appropriate genes in Wt and Acox1−/− BV-2 microglial cells such as Cat, iNos, Il-1β, Tnf-α, and Abcd1. In Wt cells, after the 24-hour treatment with R. nigrum leaf extract, ACOX1 activity was downregulated, meanwhile the catalase activity remains unchanged. Further treatment led to the downregulation of catalase and the upregulation of ACOX1 activity. However, in Acox1−/− cells, which represent a model of oxidative stress, an increase in catalase activity was observed only after 48 h of treatment. It was also observed the reduced ROS and NO formation in cells, showing the pronounced antioxidant capacity of R. nigrum extract in the investigated cell-models. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the protective effects of R. nigrum leaf extracts on BV-2 microglial cells by reducing oxidative and nitrosative stress, decreasing pro-inflammatory gene expression, and normalizing peroxisomal.

  • Room vs. Body Temperature to Evaluate Electrical Interface Parameters of State-Of-The-Art PEDOT : PSS-Based Electrodes
    • Karolina Cysewska
    2025 ChemElectroChem

    In this work, the effect of the simulated body fluid temperature on the electrical interface parameters of the state-of-the-art PEDOT-PSS electrode was studied. PEDOT-PSS was synthesized by electrodeposition on graphite and gold-coated-graphite electrodes. All electrochemical measurements were performed in phosphate-buffered saline aqueous solution (pH 7.4) at room temperature (25 °C) and body temperature (37 °C). The results of the work confirmed that the modification of the carbon or metallic electrode with conducting polymer PEDOT : PSS significantly reduced the interfacial impedance and improved charge storage capacity and current injection limit due to its high electroactive surface area, roughness and porosity compared to the bare substrates. The work showed that solution temperature is a critical factor that can influence the electrical interface parameters of electrodes for neural stimulation. Understanding and controlling these temperature-dependent effects are essential for ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficacy of neural stimulation applications in both research and clinical settings.

  • Secondary Structure in Free and Assisted Modeling of Proteins with the Coarse-Grained UNRES Force Field
    • Emilia Lubecka
    • Cezary Czaplewski
    • Adam Sieradzan
    • Agnieszka Lipska
    • Lukasz Dziadek
    • Adam Liwo
    2025

    Secondary structure is a solid scaffold on which the three-dimensional structure of a protein is built. Therefore, care must be taken to reproduce the secondary structure as accurately as possible in the simulations of protein systems. In this chapter, we summarize the physics-based energy terms that govern secondary-structure formation, the auxiliary restraints on secondary structure derived from bioinformatics and from the experimental data, and the role of those in the modeling of protein structures, dynamics, and thermodynamics with the physics-based coarse-grained UNRES force field. Examples illustrating the methodology discussed and further directions of development are presented.

  • Self-Isolation in MIMO Array Using Mode Diversity
    • Manzoor Elahi
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Leifsson Leifur
    2025 Full text IEEE Access

    A new isolation technique is proposed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) microstrip patch antenna (MPA) arrays utilizing mode’s diversity. Typically, similar modes are excited in each element of the MIMO array. However, the proposed MIMO array uses two elements of different sizes excited in distinct modes at the same frequency. It is found that the TM01 mode excited in one MPA, a hybrid mode (TM03+TM21) is induced in the coupled MPA, while exciting the TM03 mode in another patch induces a quasi-TM11 mode in the coupled MPA. Both induced modes exhibit weak fields at the feeding points, reducing the mutual coupling between the two patch antennas without requiring extra decoupling structure. Additionally, the induced modes create null in the broadside direction, reducing cross-polarization (x-pol) levels. An isolation level over 50 dB is achieved in 1 × 2 MIMO array at 5.8 GHz. The design is adaptable to larger array. Therefore, to validate the design technique, a 1 × 4 array is simulated, fabricated and measured, showing 30–45 dB isolation among the ports in the passband. Moreover, the design features a x-pol around -40 dB in broadside direction in both E- and H-planes ensure effective polarization diversity. The technique is applied to a MIMO dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) array, demonstrating excellent isolation and radiation pattern performance. Furthermore, the technique is versatile and can be applied to various MIMO configurations. Therefore, simulations have been performed for 2×4 MPA array, validating effective isolation in both the E- and H-planes. This approach also optimizes space utilization, allowing for the inclusion of additional patch elements to form hybrid-coupled MIMO MPAs within confined spaces.

  • Separation of Simultaneous Speakers with Acoustic Vector Sensor
    • Józef Kotus
    • Grzegorz Szwoch
    2025 SENSORS

    This paper presents a method of sound source separation in live audio signals, based on sound intensity analysis. Sound pressure signals recorded with an acoustic vector sensor are analyzed, and the spectral distribution of sound intensity in two dimensions is calculated. Spectral components of the analyzed signal are selected based on the calculated source direction, which leads to a spatial filtration of the sound. The experiments were performed with test signals convolved with impulse responses of a real sensor, recorded for a varying sound source position. The experiments evaluated the proposed method’s ability to separate sound sources, depending on their position, spectral content, and signal-to-noise ratio, especially when multiple sources are active at the same time. The obtained results are presented and discussed. The proposed algorithm provided signal-to-distortion ratio (SDR) values 10–12 dB, and Short-Time Objective Intelligibility Measure (STOI) values in the range 0.86–0.94, an increase by 0.15–0.30 compared with the unprocessed speech signal. The proposed method is intended for applications in automated speech recognition systems, speaker diarization, and separation in the concurrent speech scenarios, using a small acoustic sensor.

  • Separatory jednolite i składane docierarek tarczowych do płaszczyzn
    • Adam Barylski
    2025 Tworzywa Sztuczne w Przemyśle

    Omówiono rodzaje układów wykonawczych docierarek do obróbki powierzchni płaskich i płasko-równoległych. Podano zasady projektowania separatorów przedmiotowych dla docierarek jedno- i dwutarczowych. Omówiono stosowane materiały na separatory oraz zamieszczono przykłady konstrukcji separatorów jednolitych i modułowych.

  • Side-on phosphinoboryl platinum(ii) complexes
    • Anna Ordyszewska
    • Antoni Czaplewski
    • Tomasz Wojnowski
    • Iwona Anusiewicz
    • Jarosław Chojnacki
    • Rafał Grubba
    2025 Full text CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS

    The oxidative addition of bromo(phosphino)boranes to platinum(0) compounds enabled the formation of platinum(II) complexes with unprecedented side-on coordination of the boryl ligand. The resulting complex underwent a reaction with carbon dioxide, leading to the insertion of a CO2 molecule into the B–P bond of the phosphinoboryl ligand.

  • Silver and Silver/Sodium Bisphosphonate Salts: Rare Examples of Molecular Solid Solutions and Their Biological Activity as Dual-Action Compounds
    • Karolina Gutmańska
    • Michał Bartmański
    • Anna Ronowska
    • Marta Prześniak-Welenc
    • Piotr Szweda
    • Sebastian Demkowicz
    • Mikołaj Walter
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    • Anna Dołęga
    2025 CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN

    Bisphosphonates (BPs) are an important treatment for osteoporosis and bone metastases due to their low toxicity, high thermostability, and the ability to inhibit bone resorption. Notably, BPs like alendronate, which contain a primary amine group, exhibit potent antiresorptive and antiangiogenic properties. Recent studies have focused on enhancing the BP properties by incorporating bioactive metals to increase their therapeutic potential. Here, we describe the synthesis and physicochemical properties of new silver etidronate and alendronate salts. Our research demonstrates the potential of silver bisphosphonate complexes in promoting osteoblast viability while exhibiting significant antimicrobial activity. Moreover, silver/sodium alendronates turned out to be rare examples of molecular solid solutions that allow the adjustment of the concentration of potentially cytotoxic silver cations within the obtained compounds.

  • Simulation of energy management system using model predictive control in AC/DC microgrid
    • Kawsar Nassereddine
    • Marek Turzyński
    • Halyna Bielokha
    • Ryszard Strzelecki
    2025 Scientific Reports

    This research seeks to enhance energy management systems (EMS) within a microgrid by focusing on the importance of accurate renewable energy prediction and its strong correlation with load curtailment. Analyzing the precision of disturbance predictions, reveals that predicting one hour in advance is more effective than immediate predictions or those made several hours beforehand. Furthermore, the study investigates scheduling load curtailment to manage peak power from renewable energy sources by comparing two distinct strategies: Case 1, which implements curtailments in both morning and afternoon, and Case 2, which focuses solely on midday curtailment. The findings indicate that Case 1 effectively aligns load management with the peak output of photovoltaic (PV) energy, thereby reducing reliance on grid power and enhancing energy efficiency. In contrast, Case 2’s focus on midday curtailment results in increased energy purchases from the grid, missing the chance to leverage abundant solar energy. A key finding of this research shows that applying Case 1 for curtailment along with accurate forecasting, improves battery coordination and alleviates stress on the supercapacitor, leading to energy purchases from the grid being reduced. This interdependent relationship between precise forecasting and effective load management not only enhances the efficiency of the hybrid energy system (battery and supercapacitor), but also relies more on renewable energy sources and storage systems, thereby lowering overall energy costs, leading to a more reliable and effective energy management system.

  • Slip Compensation Technique In Five-Phase Induction Motors Drive System
    • Krzysztof Blecharz
    • Roland Ryndzionek
    • Paul Gondran
    • Imad Merzouk
    2025 Full text Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences-Technical Sciences

    The article presents a slip compensation method for traditional scalar (V/f) control of a five-phase induction motor. The proposed control method uses the possibility of injecting the third harmonic of voltage to increase the motor’s electromagnetic torque. The solution is characterized by both the simplicity of scalar control and improved speed control efficiency. The paper presents the PLECS simulation results and describes the laboratory tests that were conducted. The several scenarios were performed with dedicated and self developed algorithm in a laboratory stand using a 5-phase induction motor.

  • Sobol’ sensitivity analysis of a 1D stochastic elasto-plastic seismic wave propagation
    • Hexiang Wang
    • Fangbo Wang
    • Han Yang
    • Katarzyna Staszewska
    • Boris Jeremić
    2025 Full text SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

    A novel numerical framework for the Sobol’ sensitivity analysis of 1D stochastic elasto-plastic wave propagation is proposed and evaluated. The forward propagation of uncertain input motions through uncertain elasto-plastic soils and structures is often conducted using the finite element method (FEM) together with the Monte Carlo simulation. However, it is computationally much more efficient to use the stochastic elasto-plastic FEM (SEPFEM) instead. Hence the developed framework is based on the SEPFEM. The backward propagation of uncertainties, that is, the determination of relative influences of individual uncertain input motions and uncertain material properties on the resulting uncertain seismic wave propagation, is known as the global sensitivity analysis. A global sensitivity analysis, namely, the Sobol’ sensitivity analysis, is included in the proposed framework. Uncertain input, bedrock motions are obtained using the ground motion prediction equations of Fourier amplitude spectra and Fourier phase derivative, and they are modeled as a non-stationary random process. Stochastic elasto-plastic soil properties are represented as heterogeneous random fields. The random process and the random fields are discretized in the probabilistic space using an orthogonal Hermite polynomial chaos (PC) basis. The probabilistic system response is obtained efficiently using the Galerkin stochastic FEM. The Sobol’ sensitivity analysis is conducted for the PC-represented uncertain system response. The benefits of the presented framework to the site-specific probabilistic seismic hazard analysis are discussed. The novel approach enables to take into account the uncertainty in both, seismic load and elasto-plastic material parameters, and to assess their individual influences on the overall uncertainty in the resulting wave field accurately and efficiently. The presented framework has been implemented into Real-ESSI Simulator and, here, it is evaluated and demonstrated to be very useful for the seismic site response analysis.

  • Solvent Selection as a Key Factor in the Performance of Semitransparent Heterojunctions Composed of Hydrogenated Nanotubes and Bismuth Sulfides
    • Stefania Wolff
    • Wiktoria Lipińska
    • Justyna Gumieniak
    • Agnieszka Kramek
    • Karol Załęski
    • Emerson Coy
    • Natalia Wójcik
    • Katarzyna Siuzdak
    2025 Full text ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

    Research on titanium nanotubes modified with metal sulfides, particularly bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3), aims to create heterostructures that efficiently absorb sunlight and then separate photogenerated charge carriers, thereby enhancing the energy conversion efficiency. This study shows a key role of solvent used for sulfide and bismuth salt solutions used during successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) onto the morphology, structure, and photoresponse of the heterojunction where one element is represented by semitransparent titania nanotubes (gTiNT) and the second is Bi2S3. Using 2-methoxyethanol and methanol during SILAR, results in remarkably photoactive 3D heterostructure and recorded photocurrents were 44 times higher compared to bare titania nanotubes. Additionally, methanol- and 2-methoxyethanol-based processing allowed uniform deposition of the sulfide, which was not reached for other solvents. XPS studies not only confirm formation of bismuth sulfides but also indicate that BixTiyOz compound can arise that can affect both stability and photoactivity of the electrode material.

  • Spatial allocation of nature-based solutions in the form of public green infrastructure in relation to the socio-economic district profile–a GIS-based comparative study of Gdańsk and Rome
    • Anahita Azadgar
    • Giulia Luciani
    • Lucyna Nyka
    2025 LAND USE POLICY

    With increasing environmental and climate change threats to urban areas, Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including public greenery, are becoming integral components of green infrastructure (GI) networks. These solutions provide multiple benefits in different aspects, including stormwater management, enhanced air quality and improved societal well-being, offering cost-effective and adaptable alternatives to resource-intensive and environmentally harmful grey infrastructure. However, their benefits are often unevenly distributed, resulting in patterns of environmental injustice. This article presents a GIS-based study of the spatial allocation of publicly accessible NbS (PNbS), in Gdansk, Poland, and Rome, Italy. It aims at assessing possible correlations between the socio-economic attributes of the urban districts of the two cities and the density of available PNbS in each district. Results indicate disparities in density of PNbS across different socio-economic layers, more relevant in Rome than in Gdansk, and highlight the importance of informed urban planning. The study supports concerns for fair NbS distribution, pointing to the potential exacerbation of social and economic inequalities, which puts socially vulnerable communities at higher risk of being affected by climate hazards. The results provide insights for policymakers, urging a prioritized focus on districts with crucial PNbS needs. Strategies should consider socio-economic factors to address distributive and environmental justice concerns. Overall, the study offers insights to guide urban planning toward climate-resilient and inclusive cities.

  • Spectrophotometric determination of chlorpyrifos in foodstuffs after vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction using magnetic deep eutectic solvents: Analytical greenness profile
    • Nail Altunay
    • Adil Elik
    • Hameed Haq
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2025 JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

    In this work a novel and green vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction (VA-SEEME) based on magnetic deep eutectic solvents (MDESs) was developed for the determination of chlorpyrifos in foodstuffs by UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis. MDES (trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride: MnCl2: octanoic acid) was used as the extractant, non-ionic surfactant Tween-80 was used as an extraction medium, and ethanol as the eluent solvent. In the VA-MDES-SEEME procedure, a vortex was applied for agitation, and a neodymium magnet was used to separate the MDES from the aqueous solution. Under optimized conditions, a linear dynamic range was obtained in the range of 0.3–260 µg L−1 with a detection limit of 0.09 µg L−1. The intraday and interday precisions of the method, defined as relative standard deviation, ranged from 1.3 % to 2.5 %. The recovery of the spiked sample after the VA-MDES-SEEME procedure ranged from 88±6 % to 98±1 %, and the enrichment factor was obtained as 91-fold. The VA-MDES-SEEME procedure was validated by analysis of the certified reference materials including 7507a-Green Onion and 7508a-Cabbage. The VA-MDES-SEEME procedure is based on inexpensive equipment and green chemicals and is compatible with UV-Vis spectrophotometer analysis. The green profile of the VA-MDES-SEEME procedure within the scope of the current study was calculated as 0.71 using AGREE.

  • Speech intelligibility improvement for public address systems in noisy environments based on automatic gain selection in octave bands
    • Józef Kotus
    • Grzegorz Szwoch
    2025 APPLIED ACOUSTICS

    A method of speech intelligibility improvement in public address (PA) systems installed in reverberant acoustic spaces is proposed. The method is mainly intended for systems operating in high background noise levels. The algorithm is based on the near end listening enhancement approach. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is evaluated in the octave frequency bands. Signal levels in the acoustic space are estimated using the measured impulse response of the room. Noise level is measured with the microphone, also a method of noise level estimation in presence of speech is proposed. Based on the calculated SNR values, a set of gain limits is selected, which allows for optimal utilization of the available acoustic power. Finally, gain values for the octave bands are calculated and applied to the speech signal. The overall performance of the proposed method was evaluated in a series of experiments performed in real acoustic spaces. Speech intelligibility was estimated using the STIPA index, measured with and without an additional, high-level noise source. The results indicate that the proposed method improved speech intelligibility in all tested cases, compared with the default PA system, especially in presence of a high-level background noise. The proposed method may be integrated with PA systems equipped with a digital signal processor.

  • Stabilization Method for Speed Observer of Induction Machine
    • Marcin Morawiec
    • Lelisa Wogi
    • Piotr Kołodziejek
    2025 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS

    This article proposes the speed estimation principles dedicated to the observer structures based on the machine mathematical model. The rotor speed is reconstructed based on the mathematical model of a machine by using both adaptive and nonadaptive schemes. The presented principle is generalized to the classical nonlinear system in the vector form and can be applied to induction machines. The proposed rotor speed reconstruction approach is based on an algebraic relationship, and the observer system mathematical model has the same rank as the induction machine. The speed observer structure can be unstable due to the challenge of stabilizing the sensorless control of the induction machine at low-speed, near zero speed, or in the low-speed regenerating mode of operation. As a result, the new stabilizing functions based on Lagrange identity are proposed in this work to improve the range of observer stability. The proposed approach includes newly developed stabilization mechanisms that ensure observer stability under both motoring and regenerating modes of operations at the low rotor speed and improve the observer range of stability. The Lyapunov theorem is used during the design procedure for stability purposes. The simulation and experimental studies are carried out for an induction machine adaptive and nonadaptive full-order observer. The experimental results show that stable operation of the system is obtained, and the range of observer stability is improved, especially at low-speeds and in a regenerating mode of operation, concluding that the proposed solution is suitable for use in industrial applications.

  • Strategies for feature-assisted development of topology agnostic planar antennas using variable-fidelity models
    • Adrian Bekasiewicz
    • Khadijeh Askaripour
    • Mariusz Dzwonkowski
    • Tom Dhaene
    • Ivo Couckuyt
    2025 Journal of Computational Science

    Design of antennas for contemporary applications presents a complex challenge that integrates cognitive-driven topology development with the meticulous adjustment of parameters through rigorous numerical optimization. Nevertheless, the process can be streamlined by emphasizing the automatic determination of structure geometry, potentially reducing the reliance on traditional methods that heavily rely on engineering insight in the course of antenna development. In this work, which is an extension of our conference paper [1], a specification-oriented design of topologically agnostic antennas is considered by utilizing two strategies focused on bandwidth-specific design and bandwidth-enhanced optimization. The process is embedded within a variable-fidelity framework, where the low-fidelity optimization involves classification of randomly generated topologies, followed by their local tuning using a trust-region algorithm applied to a feature-based representation of structure response. The final result is then tuned using just a handful of high-fidelity simulations. The strategies under consideration were verified on a case study basis concerning automatic generation of three radiators with varying parameters. Benchmarks of the algorithm against more standard optimization methods, as well as comparisons of the obtained topologies with respect to state-of-the-art antennas from literature have also been considered.

  • Strategies toward Green Deal implementation in the context of SCG reuse and recovery in the circular economy model
    • Jakub Drewnowski
    • Jun Xu
    • Hongyu Mao
    • Lurui Chen
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    • Joanna Szulżyk-Cieplak
    • Li Xie
    2025 Full text Desalination and Water Treatment

    The article explores the future outlook on integrating and using a resource database for the recovery and reuse of coffee industry residues, focusing on economic and environmental perspectives within the Circular Economy Model (CEM). With the continuous rise in global coffee consumption, the production of Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG) has also surged worldwide, presenting significant opportunities for resource recovery and recycling. The reuse of SCG, a solid byproduct of coffee brewing, whether at home or on an industrial scale for soluble coffee production, is the subject of the article. This review aimed to consolidate existing knowledge on SCG output, management, characterization, treatment, and various methods for resource recovery and recycling to enhance understanding of SCG. Recent approaches include biodiesel production, biochar conversion, composting, co-digestion, extraction, as well as utilization in water treatment or construction. Despite these advancements, the SCG research community remains relatively small and disconnected, lacking timely exchange of information. Therefore, the development of high value-added products within the framework of Green Deal Implementation and CEM is strongly encouraged.

  • Structural insights into fungal and human topoisomerase II with implications for in silico antifungal drug design
    • Subrahmanyam Sappati
    • Kavya Kondaka
    • Iwona Gabriel
    • Maciej Bagiński
    2025 Scientific Reports

    Topoisomerases are essential enzymes regulating DNA supercoiling and disentanglement, critical for genomic integrity. While topoisomerase inhibitors are well-established in anticancer and antibacterial chemotherapy, their potential as antifungal agents remains underexplored or even not proofed. This study investigates structural distinctions between Saccharomyces cerevisiae topoisomerase II (ScTopoII) and human topoisomerase IIα (hTopoIIα), aiming to identify if ScTopoII can be a selective target for antifungal drug development. A comprehensive sequence analysis, extending to various fungal strains and evolutionary ancient organisms, reveals dissimilarities in the transducer and transducer linker domains of these proteins, as well as in the lysine-rich K-loop region. Molecular dynamics simulations emphasize structural differences in the K-loop, α-helix (or helix-like region), and helix supporting loop region, as well as show unique patterns in hydrophilic and hydrophobic intramolecular interactions in ScTopoII. Moreover, phylogenetic comparisons support the importance of specific regions studied. The study includes topos from different organisms, highlighting discrepancies in helix stability near the K-loop and the role of helix supporting loop region. This broad analysis provides insights into the structural basis of human and fungal enzymes presenting potential pharmacophore “hot spots” in ScTopoII which may give hope for developing selective antifungal agents.

  • Structure, performance, and photooxidative stability of Mater-Bi/brewers' spent grain composites as a function of filler thermomechanical and chemical modification
    • Aleksander Hejna
    • Mateusz Barczewski
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Olga Mysiukiewicz
    2025 INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS

    Nowadays, to provide a step towards circularity, the development of sustainable polymer composites should include the application of waste-based materials that can act not only as simple fillers, reducing the use of polymers but also as functional additives, limiting or eliminating the use of synthetic components. Herein, in the presented study, the main by-product of the brewing industry, brewers' spent grain (BSG), was applied as a functional filler for biocomposites based on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch/poly(ε-caprolactone) matrix – Mater-Bi. To enhance its stabilizing functionalities and interfacial adhesion with the matrix, BSG was subjected to thermomechanical modification in a twin-screw extruder and chemical treatment with isophorone diisocyanate. Combined treatments reduced the interfacial hydrophilicity gap, facilitating melt processing, which was expressed by even a 30 % decrease in melt viscosity. Moreover, despite the incorporation of 30 wt% of low-cost BSG filler, flexural and tensile strength were hardly affected, while moduli increased even by 174 and 139 %, respectively. In situ generation of Maillard reaction products during BSG thermomechanical treatment enhanced the thermal stability of composites in an oxidative atmosphere, shifting degradation onset even by 30 °C. The stabilizing impact was also evidenced by the hindered photooxidative degradation of biocomposites. The unfavorable changes in biocomposites' surface roughness, as well as thermal properties and stability, have been limited by the increasing temperature of BSG thermomechanical treatment. Composites developed in the presented study could be effectively applied in manufacturing disposable or multi-use products, e.g., packaging materials, food containers, or cosmetic accessories like brushes, combs, or toothbrushes.

  • Study of vibrational surface topography measurement errors of LPBF Inconel 718 alloy after shot peening process
    • Przemysław Podulka
    • Anna Rudawska
    • Wojciech Macek
    2025 MEASUREMENT

    A study of surface topography can provide valuable information on the product. Since the material finishing relies on the measured topography, the manufacturing process can be controlled by studying the roughness. The Laser Power Bed Fusion (LPBF) materials belong to the commonly used surfaces in the industry. Measuring this type of material with a contactless method can be found in many practical implementations. The white light interference method can be classified as one of the most encouraging surface topography measurement techniques in the last decade. Due to its fast application and data collection, it can be proposed for many demanding production processes. However, this measuring method is fraught with many errors, some caused by external environmental disturbances. One of them is a vibration, which can cause the occurrence of high-frequency measurement noise. This vibrational measuring noise can influence the ISO 25178 surface texture parameters significantly. It was found that the high-frequency noise distorted some surface topography parameters more than 100 %. In this study, the methodology of reduction of vibrational surface topography measurement noise was proposed using general functions and digital filters. Advantages of application of the proposed method against standardized, generally proposed S–filter were indicated. Finally, the new methodology was validated in terms of ISO 25178 surface texture parameters evaluation.

  • Sub‐Nanometer‐Scale Cu9S5 Enables Efficiently Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia
    • Chao Feng
    • Hanyang Wu
    • Jiaxin Shao
    • Qihua Huo
    • Afaq Hassan
    • Hengpan Yang
    • Qi Hu
    • Chuanxin He
    2025 Advanced Energy Materials

    The sub-nanometer is a key feature size in materials science. Unlike single-atom and nanomaterials, size effects and inter-component cooperative actions in sub-nanomaterials will effective on its performance is more significant. Here, 0.95 nm ordered arrangement Cu9S5 sub-nanowires (Cu9S5 SNWs) are synthesized through the co-assembly effect of inorganic nuclei (Cu9S5) and clusters (phosphotungstic acid-PTA), achieving a significant increase in the specific surface area of the sample and ≈100% atomic exposure rate, which is the key to its high catalytic activity. PTA clusters not only act as a “charge transfer station” to accelerate the inter-component electron transfer process, but also facilitate the dissociation of water and provide more hydrogen protons, thus dramatically facilitating the electrocatalytic process. The experimental results show that the Cu9S5 SNWs exhibited excellent nitrate reduction reaction (NO3−RR) properties. The Faraday efficiency (FE) of NO3−RR is 90.4% at the optimum potential −0.3 VRHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) and the ammonia production is as high as 0.37 mmol h−1 cm−2, which is superior to most reported electrocatalysts. In addition, the Zn-NO3− liquid-flow battery devices assembled using Cu9S5 SNWs as electrode materials show excellent application results. This work provides a reference for the design of highly efficient sub-nanoscale NO3−RR electrocatalysts.

  • Superconductivity in Ternary Mg4Pd7As6
    • Hanna Świątek
    • Sylwia Gutowska
    • Michał Winiarski
    • Bartłomiej Wiendlocha
    • Tomasz Klimczuk
    2025 Advanced Electronic Materials

    The synthesis and characterization of a new compound Mg4Pd7As6, which is found to be a superconductor with Tc = 5.45 K is reported. Powder X-ray diffraction confirms the U4Re7Si6 structure (space group Im-3m, no. 229) with the lattice parameter a = 8.2572(1) Å. Magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements indicate that it is a moderate-coupling ( = 0.72) type-II superconductor. The electronic and phonon structures are calculated, highlighting the importance of antibonding Pd–As interactions in determining the properties of this material. The calculated electron–phonon coupling parameter = 0.76 agrees very well with the experimental finding, which confirms the conventional pairing mechanism in Mg4Pd7As6 .

  • Supramolecular deep eutectic solvents in extraction processes: a review
    • Patrycja Makoś-Chełstowska
    • Edyta Słupek
    • Sophie Fourmentin
    • Jacek Gębicki
    2025 Environmental Chemistry Letters

    Solvent selection is essential for industrial and analytical extraction processes to ensure environmental safety and neutrality. Nevertheless, toxic and hazardous solvents are often used, due to their cost-effectiveness and ready availability. In green chemistry, alternative solvents such as supramolecular deep eutectic solvents are gaining attention due to their superior performance compared with traditional non-green solvents in certain applications. Here we review the use of supramolecular deep eutectic solvents as a green solvent for analytical and industrial liquid–liquid extraction processes, with focus on physicochemical properties, extraction conditions, the capacity factor, the enrichment factor, fuel desulfurization, extraction of biological active compounds, lignin valorization, and sample preparation.

  • Surface Charge Density Spectra: Complex Analysis of the Electrical Double Layer Developed from Measurements of Hexanol Adsorption Kinetics
    • Kazimierz Darowicki
    • Anna Karólkowska
    • Szymon Wysmułek
    2025 Journal of Physical Chemistry C

    A procedure for deriving surface charge density spectra from differential capacitance data is presented in this study, providing a deeper analysis of the generated charge. A set of simulated differential capacitance spectra was determined for three types of adsorption process control: diffusion control, adsorption control, and mixed control. Based on the differential capacitance curves and spectra, surface charge density spectra were determined. Shapes characteristic of the three types of control of the adsorption process were identified. Using the Dynamic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (DEIS) technique, the kinetics of hexanol adsorption on a mercury electrode was analyzed. A change in the controlling step of the hexanol adsorption process from diffusion control to adsorption control was observed, based on the relaxation time values and differential capacitance spectra shape. Using a procedure developed on the basis of simulated data, the surface charge density spectra were determined over the entire range of investigated potentials. The developed procedure enabled the separation of the electric double layer (EDL) capacitance from the adsorption pseudocapacitance over a wide potential range. The charges associated with the EDL and generated by increasing pseudocapacitance were determined. The contribution of both charges to the total charge generated with a change in electrode potential varied with the electrode potential.

  • Sustainability, reliability, and durability of civil engineering structures
    • Agnieszka Tomaszewska
    • Jacek Szafran
    • Bettina Brune
    • Krzysztof Wilde
    2025 Full text Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences-Technical Sciences

    Considering the Bulletin Readers’ interest in civil engineering,the Special Section “Sustainability, reliability, and durability of civil engineering structures” is now presented, with papers that, by studying specific cases, fully embrace all aspects related to the topic, starting from geometry design, determination of load acting on a structure, characteristics of the material for construction purpose, characteristics of structural behaviour under a certain load, identification of structural parameters or model, safety assessment, and finally, comfort of use. Most of the papers included in this Special Section were orally presented during the 29th International Conference “Lightweight Structures in Civil Engineering”, held in December 2023 at the Gdansk University of Technology.

  • Synthesis, Structure, and Stability of Copper(II) Complexes Containing Imidazoline-Phthalazine Ligands with Potential Anticancer Activity
    • Łukasz Balewski
    • Iwona Inkielewicz-Stępniak
    • Maria Gdaniec
    • Katarzyna Turecka
    • Anna Hering
    • Anna Ordyszewska
    • Anita Kornicka
    2025 Pharmaceuticals

    Recently, there has been great interest in metallopharmaceuticals as potential anticancer agents. In this context, presented studies aim to synthesize and evaluate of two copper(II) complexes derived from phthalazine- and imidazoline-based ligands against on three human cancer cell lines: cervix epithelial cell line (HeLa), breast epithelial-like adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and triple–negative breast epithelial cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), as well as non-tumorigenic cell line (HDFa). Moreover their antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties were assessed.

  • Tailoring oxide nanoparticle exsolution in La0.5Ba0.5-yCo1-xFexO3-δ
    • Daria Balcerzak
    • Andrés López-García
    • Alfonso Carrillo
    • Maria Balaguer
    • Jose M. Serra
    • Truls Norby
    • Ragnar Strandbakke
    • Maria Gazda
    • Sebastian Wachowski
    2025 JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY

    We show that oxide nanoparticles (NPs) exsolve on La0.5Ba0.5-yCo1-xFexO3-δ (x = 0-1, y = 0 or 0.01) in oxidizing conditions. The phenomenon occurs only in Co-containing materials and depends on pO2 and pH2O pressures. Under dry conditions, the smallest NPs average about 30 nm, with 200-300 NPs/µm2 at pO2=5×10-5 atm. For pO2=1 atm, NP size increases to 100-200 nm, and population drops to a few to about 20 NPs/µm2 depending on A-site nonstoichiometry and x. In humid conditions, the smallest NPs around 50 nm, with a peak of 100 NPs/µm2 exsolve for pO2=1. Transmission electron microscopy shows that exsolved NPs in La0.5Ba0.5-yCoO3-δ are Ba-O-rich. We propose defect chemistry models, indicating that exsolution is driven by oxidation reactions forming A-site vacancies, increasing exsolved material with higher pO2. We suggest that adsorbed water under humid conditions blocks nucleation sites, altering observed trends.

  • TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF 120-YEAR-OLD RAILWAY RIVETED TRUSS BRIDGE
    • Andrzej Ambroziak
    • Maciej Malinowski
    2025 Full text Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering

    A 120-year-old railway truss bridge over the Bóbr River, Poland, is investigated in this paper from the mechanical and chemical properties of the materials by testing of old steel samples in a lab – through geodetic measurements, bathymetric measurements of the riverbed and dynamic measurements of bridge spans under service load – to the analysis of structural behaviour by finite-element modelling. The mechanical and chemical properties of the structural old steel are investigated by testing steel elements extracted from the old bridge. Structural analysis shows that the bridge is eligible for renovation or replacement for a new one due to unfulfilled today’s load requirements in terms of bearing capacity. The paper begins with a survey of chosen literature carried out on the investigation of the old steel railway bridge's subject matter. This paper can provide scientists, engineers, and designers with an experimental and structural basis in the field of old steel riveted railway truss bridges.

  • Technological Considerations of Periodic Repair Works of Concrete Industrial Floors
    • Sylwia Świątek-Żołyńska
    • Maciej Niedostatkiewicz
    2025 Full text Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports

    Concrete floors are among the elements in construction facilities whose design requires engineering experience, workmanship requires the maintenance of a technological regime, while during their operation it is necessary to conduct periodic repairs. Concrete floors are most often used as working and communication space in industrial facilities, and very often they are also a functional element in objects that are immovable monuments. Regardless of the place of installation, concrete floors require periodic maintenance works whose scope should each time be individually adapted to the current use of the object. Improper selection of maintenance work technology and incorrect application of technological solutions related to the renovation of floors can cause rapid deterioration of their technical condition, which may lead to the need to take them out of service, which in turn may result in the need to interrupt the use of the building facility, including production facilities of industrial facilities. The paper presents a collection of practical information related to conducting periodic repair work on concrete industrial floors The article is a case study and addresses specific situations related to the loss of serviceability of concrete industrial floors.

  • Technological content of export diversification—Evolution along the economic growth process
    • Aleksandra Parteka
    • Zuzanna Zarach
    • Aleksandra Kordalska
    2025 Structural Change and Economic Dynamics

    Exports from high-income countries are three times more diversified than those from low-income economies. We provide a new tech-based interpretation of the stages of diversification accompanying the economic growth paths of countries. Using the decomposition properties of the relative Theil index in a sample of 160 countries (1996–2018), we reveal that export diversification is driven mainly by changes in the variety of non-tech exports. However, the role of the technological component (technological diversification) increases as countries grow, and in high-income countries, it is responsible for more than one-third of the overall export diversification level. We examine country-specific diversification trajectories, showing that the rapid development of technological capacity drove export diversification in China or India. The technological component can explain 40 % of the perfectly diversified U.S. export structure. We show that 4IR exports embodying digital technologies play a negligible role in the diversification process due to their small measurable share in total exports.

  • Tensile behavior evaluation of two-stage concrete using an innovative model optimization approach
    • Muhammad Nasir Amin
    • Faizullah Jan
    • Kaffayatullah Khan
    • Suleman Ayub Khan
    • Muhammad Tahir Qadir
    • Marcin Kujawa
    2025 Full text REVIEWS ON ADVANCED MATERIALS SCIENCE

    Two-stage concrete (TSC) is a sustainable mate- rial produced by incorporating coarse aggregates into formwork and filling the voids with a specially formulated grout mix. The significance of this study is to improve the predictive accuracy of TSC’s tensile strength, which is essential for optimizing its use in construction applications. To achieve this objective, novel and reliable predictive models were developed using advanced machine learning algorithms, including random forest (RF) and gene expres- sion programming (GEP). The performance of these models was evaluated using important evaluation metrics, including the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error, and root mean square error (RMSE), after they were trained on a comprehensive dataset. The results suggest that the RF model outperforms the GEP model, as evi- denced by a higher R2 value of 0.94 relative to 0.91 for GEP and reduced MAE and RMSE error values. This suggests that the RF model has a superior predictive capability. Additionally, sensi- tivity analyses and SHapley Additive ExPlanation analysis revealed that the water-to-binder (W/B) ratio was the most influential input parameter, accounting for 51.01% of the pre- dictive outcomes presented in the model. This research emphasizes optimizing TSC design, enhancing material perfor- mance, and promoting sustainable, cost-effective construction.