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Politechniki Gdańskiej

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  • From phosphanylphosphaalkenes to coordination copper and silver polymers containing P–P bonds
    • Aleksandra Ziółkowska
    • Marta Prześniak-Welenc
    • Tomasz Kruczyński
    • Michael Gamer
    • Łukasz Ponikiewski
    2024 DALTON TRANSACTIONS

    This study was focused on the activation of the C[double bond, length as m-dash]P bond via reactions of Ph2C[double bond, length as m-dash]P-PtBu2 (1) with 1,6-hexanediol and selected dithiols (1,4-butanedithiol, 1,4-benzenedithiol and 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol). These reactions proceed according to a 1,2-addition mechanism, providing new compounds with formulas {(Ph)2(H)C-P-PtBu2}{μ2-(O-(CH2)6-O)}{tBu2P-P-C(H)(Ph)2} (2), {(Ph)2(H)C-P-PtBu2}{μ2-(S-(CH2)4-S)}{tBu2P-P-C(H)(Ph)2} (3a), {(Ph)2(H)C-P-PtBu2}{μ2-(S-C6H4-S)}{tBu2P-P-C(H)(Ph)2} (3b), and {(Ph)2(H)C-P-PtBu2}{μ2-(S-CH2-C6H4-CH2-S)}{tBu2P-P-C(H)(Ph)2} (3c). Next, the reactions of 3a and 3c with metal chlorides led to the growth of desired coordination polymers of copper(I) and silver(I). All the obtained compounds remained stable under atmospheric conditions.

  • FRP-based reinforcement coatings of steel with application prospects in ships and offshore structures: a review
    • Abu Al Hassan
    • Krzysztof Wołoszyk
    • Przemysław Krata
    2024 Ships and Offshore Structures

    Latest research on novel FRP-based anti-corrosion structural coatings (for enhancing structural capacity and strengthening the coating layer) is discussed with application prospects for ships and offshore structures. In the marine environment, structures constantly face corrosion and fatigue cracks. Combining this with high operational and wave loads, it might cause a structural collapse. Recently, polymer composites have been studied for possible reinforcement, especially for steel structures in civil engineering. It is important to assess their effectiveness and review of research on the fatigue, tensile, buckling, and debonding properties of fibre-based structural coatings is given and summarised. Most research focused on carbon fibre reinforced composites. Resins matrices other than epoxy, behaviour on corroded steel, ply orientation, and pre-stress level are still untapped adequately. Similarly, another types of fibres than carbon and their hybrids are still insufficiently examined. Although such research direction is promising, the need for future research is highlighted and given in detail.

  • Fuel price, income and road safety as determinants of the level of the population’s economic well-being in Poland
    • Oleksandr Melnychenko
    • Tetiana Osadcha
    • Tetyana Kalna-Dubinyuk
    2024 AIP Conference Proceedings

    The opportunity to travel is one of the most favorite human activities, given that on a trip a person gets new knowledge, impressions and positive emotions. Recreational trips occupy a prominent place in the concept of the economics of happiness, and the study of factors that influence decision-making regarding travel is important for forecasting the number of tourists, infrastructure development, income and expenses of businesses and authorities. Using the panel data representative of Poland, the authors concluded that the price of fuel and the level of actual income are not key factors for travelers. At the same time, the proposed model gives an error of forecasting the number of tourists less than 1% on average for the entire period of research of monthly data from January 2014 to May 2022 on the cost of fuel at gas stations, the level of population’s income, the level of inflation and the level of drivers’ decency on the road. The obtained data can be used to calculate estimates of the flow of tourists, the level of welfare and happiness of the society.

  • Fully Tunable Analog Biquadratic Filter for Low-Power Auditory Signal Processing in CMOS Technologies
    • Waldemar Jendernalik
    • Jacek Jakusz
    2024 Electronics

    A novel Gm-C structure of a second-order continuous-time filter is proposed that allows for the independent control of the filter’s natural frequency (ω0) and quality factor (Q). The structure consists of two capacitors and four transconductors. Two transconductors together with the capacitors form a lossless second-order circuit with tunable ω0. The other two transconductors form a variable gain amplifier (VGA) which realizes an adjustable loss and thereby adjustable Q. The proposed solution can be used to implement low-voltage and low-power tunable front-end filter banks for fully integrated CMOS cochlear implants and edge intelligence accelerators. An example filter bank powered by 0.5 V and consuming 40 nW of power per single filter is designed and simulated using a 180 nm CMOS process. Circuitries for the adaptive control of transistor bias at a reduced supply voltage are proposed. The ω0 and Q control circuitries are also proposed: a delay-locked loop (DLL)-based system for fine ω0 tuning and a binary-weighted current mirror for Q adjustment. The proposed solution allows for the independent regulation of ω0 and Q within the ranges of 0.25–8 kHz and 1–14, respectively, with a relative tolerance of up to 5% across a filter bank.

  • Functional similarities and differences among subunits of the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    • Brenda A. Schilke
    • Thomas Ziegelhoffer
    • Przemysław Domański
    • Jaroslaw Marszalek
    • Bartlomiej Tomiczek
    • Elizabeth Craig
    2024 Pełny tekst CELL STRESS & CHAPERONES

    Protein factors bind ribosomes near the tunnel exit, facilitating protein trafficking and folding. In eukaryotes, the heterodimeric nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is the most abundant - equimolar to ribosomes. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a minor β-type subunit (Nacβ2) in addition to abundant Nacβ1, and therefore two NAC heterodimers, α/β1 and α/β12. The additional beta NAC gene arose at the time of the whole genome duplication that occurred in the S. cerevisiae lineage. Nacβ2 has been implicated in regulating the fate of mRNA encoding ribosomal protein Rpl4 during translation via its interaction with the Caf130 subunit of the regulatory CCR4-Not complex. We found that Nacβ2 residues just C-terminal to the globular domain are required for its interaction with Caf130 and its negative effect on growth of cells lacking Acl4, the specialized chaperone for Rpl4. Substitution of these Nacβ2 residues at homologous positions in Nacβ1 results in a chimeric protein that interacts with Caf130 and slows the growth of ∆acl4 cells lacking Nacβ2. Furthermore, alteration of residues in the N-terminus of Nacβ2 or chimeric Nacβ1 previously shown to affect ribosome binding overcomes the growth defect of ∆acl4. Our results are consistent with a model in which Nacβ2’s ribosome association per se, or its precise positioning, is necessary for productive recruitment of CCR4-Not via its interaction with the Caf130 subunit to drive Rpl4 mRNA degradation.

  • Functionalized Polyolefins Produced by Post-Metallocenes; High Added Value Materials, but Can They Be Produced Efficiently?
    • Wojciech Szot
    • Debashis Chakraborty
    • Miloud Bouyahyi
    • Lidia Jasińska-Walc
    • Rob Duchateau
    2024 MACROMOLECULES

    Randomly functionalized polyolefins produced by catalysis have received increasing attention owing to their welldefined molecular structures, uniform distribution, and variety in types of functionalities. Herein, we investigate the scalability of the production of hydroxyl-functionalized propylene copolymers via a high temperature solution polymerization process using aluminum trialkyls as passivating agents. Initially, we evaluated the impact of (i) the type of passivating agent (triethylaluminum versus triisobutylaluminum) and (ii) the distance between the hydroxyl and olefin functionality within the functionalized comonomer on the catalytic activity and the functional comonomer incorporation efficiency. Both the functional comonomer’s chain length and the type of trialkylaluminum passivating agent have a profound effect on the incorporation efficiency. Subsequently, deeper insight into the origin of the catalyst poisoning by trialkylaluminum-passivated hydroxyl-functionalized comonomers reveals that catalyst deactivation solely happens after incorporation of the functional comonomer and not by coordination of the oxygen of the functional comonomers present in the reaction system. During recycling of dialkylaluminum alkenolates by means of distillation, the occurrence of carbo- and/or hydroalumination side reactions were noticed, triggered by the presence of dialkylaluminum hydrides formed by thermolysis of excess aluminum trialkyls. Exchanging aluminum trialkyls by dialkylaluminum alkoxides as scavengers solved this problem. Modeling studies revealed the impact of the higher nuclearity of trialkylaluminum-passivated hydroxyl-functionalized comonomers on their incorporation efficiency. Addition of a saturated alcohol significantly improved the incorporation efficiency of the functional comonomer, thus bringing the scalability (i.e., enhance the productivity and cost-efficiency) of the copolymerization process a step closer.

  • Fungal L-Methionine Biosynthesis Pathway Enzymes and Their Applications in Various Scientific and Commercial Fields
    • Kamila Rząd
    • Aleksandra Kuplińska
    • Iwona Gabriel
    2024 Biomolecules

    L-methionine (L-Met) is one of the nine proteinogenic amino acids essential for humans since, in human cells, there are no complete pathways for its biosynthesis from simple precursors. L-Met plays a crucial role in cellular function as it is required for proper protein synthesis, acting as an initiator. Additionally, this amino acid participates in various metabolic processes and serves as a precursor for the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), which is involved in the methylation of DNA molecules and phospholipids, as well as in maintaining genome stability. Due to its importance, fungal L-methionine biosynthesis pathway enzymes are being intensively studied. This review presents the current state of the art in terms of their cellular function, usefulness as molecular markers, antifungal targets, or industrial approaches.

  • Future opportunities for products derived from black soldier fly (BSF) treatment as animal feed and fertilizer - A systematic review
    • Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
    • Ankush Subhash Gadge
    • Muzaffar Hasan
    • Teguh Rahayu
    • Sergey Nikolaevich Povetkin
    • Ito Fernando
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    2024 Pełny tekst ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

    The pursuit of novel food products with good nutritional value for both direct and indirect human consumption is crucial. Given the nutritional benefits of insects and the sustainability of this sort of farming, using them as food for farmed animals is a promising alternative. In this regard, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is most capable of efficiently converting a wide variety of organic materials, from food waste to manure, into insect biomass generating value and closing nutrient loops as they reduce pollution and costs. Their larvae have 29% fat and 42% crude protein, yet they have more saturated fats than most insects. They don't concentrate hazards such as mycotoxins or insecticides. Although rapid development is expected, insects remain underutilized in the animal feed industry mainly due to technical, financial, and regulatory barriers. The social stigmas and legal prohibitions against eating organisms that eat waste are added to extant taboos facing insect consumption. Bridging the knowledge gap is crucial to bring together stakeholders and to better understand the opportunities and challenges of this novel industry, so as to develop guidelines on producing insects on an industrial scale to facilitate the wider use of BSF products as animal feed, and fertilizer.

  • Fuzzy logic-supported building design for low-energy consumption in urban environments
    • Munusamy Arun
    • Cristina Efremov
    • Van Bac Nguyen
    • Debabrata Barik
    • Prabhakar Sharma
    • Bhaskor Jyoti Bora
    • Jerzy Kowalski
    • Huu Cuong Le
    • Thanh Hai Truong
    • Dao Nam Cao
    2024 Pełny tekst Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

    Climate, building materials, occupancy patterns, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems all interact in complex ways, making it difficult to design low-energy buildings. Thus, innovative architectural and engineering design strategies are required to meet the worldwide need to decrease building energy usage. To improve the calculation of energy consumption of buildings, this work introduces the FCR-BCS (fuzzy clustering rule-based building control systems), which integrates fuzzy logic concepts into computational simulations. FCR-BCS can contemplate real-world uncertainties and fluctuations using linguistic factors and approximate reasoning for more precise and trustworthy results in energy-efficient building design. This method's significance rests in its potential to significantly reduce energy use, advance sustainability, and improve urban residents' quality of life; architects and engineers can thus employ FCR-BCS to enhance the efficiency of HVAC systems and insulation. The outcomes of FCR-BCS simulation assessments show that it is capable of making buildings more energy efficient. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the suggested model increases the sensitivity analysis by 99.4 %, energy efficiency analysis by 99.8 %, occupancy patterns analysis by 97.5 %, temperature profile analysis by 98.8 %, and energy consumption analysis by 99.6 % compared to other existing models.

  • Game theory-based virtual machine migration for energy sustainability in cloud data centers
    • Francisco Javier Maldonado-Carrascosa
    • Sebastián García-Galán
    • Manuel Valverde-Ibáñez
    • Tomasz Marciniak
    • Małgorzata Szczerska
    • Nicolás Ruiz-Reyes
    2024 Pełny tekst APPLIED ENERGY

    As the demand for cloud computing services increases, optimizing resource allocation and energy consumption has become a key factor in achieving sustainability in cloud environments. This paper presents a novel approach to address these challenges through an optimized virtual machine (VM) migration strategy that employs a game-theoretic approach based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) (PSO-GTA). The proposed approach leverages the collaborative and competitive dynamics of Game Theory to minimize energy consumption while using renewable energy. In this context, the game is represented by the swarm, where each player, embodied by particles, carries both competitive and cooperative elements essential to shape the collective behavior of the swarm. PSO is integrated to refine migration decisions, improving global convergence and optimizing the allocation of VMs to hosts. Through extensive simulations and performance evaluations, the proposed approach demonstrates significant improvements in resource utilization and energy efficiency, promoting sustainability in cloud computing environments. This research contributes to the development of environmentally friendly cloud computing systems, thus ensuring the delivery of energy-efficient cloud computing. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms fuzzy and genetic methods in terms of renewable energy usage. The PSO-GTA algorithm consistently outperforms Q-Learning, Pittsburgh and KASIA across three simulation scenarios with varying cloudlet dynamics, showcasing its efficiency and adaptability, and yielding improvements ranging from 0.68% to 5.32% over baseline results in nine simulations.

  • "Gdańskie panoramy z różnych perspektyw’ w ramach cyklu ‘Dojrzały smak przygody’, edycja XX dla Centrum Informacji i Edukacji Ekologicznej, wycieczka edukacyjna
    • Agnieszka Kurkowska
    2024

    Wycieczka prowadziła trasą: Gdańsk Żółty Wiadukt, Grodzisko, Biskupia Górka, Bastion Żubr, Kamienna Śluza, Długi Targ - IKM. Celem była prezentacja widoków panoramicznych z wyjaśnieniem historii ukształtowania i ufortyfikowania miasta. Wskazano współczesne modyfikacje i zwrócono uwagę na zagrożenia w niedbałym planowaniu krajobrazu miasta.

  • Gelatin-chitosan interactions in edible films and coatings doped with plant extracts for biopreservation of fresh tuna fish products: A review
    • Don Hettiarachchige Udana Eranda
    • Manat Chaijan
    • Worawan Panpipat
    • Supatra Karnjanapratum
    • Miguel A. Cerqueira
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

    The preservation of tuna fish products, which are extremely perishable seafood items, is a substantial challenge due to their instantaneous spoilage caused by microbial development and oxidative degradation. The current review explores the potential of employing chitosan-gelatin-based edible films and coatings, which are enriched with plant extracts, as a sustainable method to prolong the shelf life of tuna fish products. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the physicochemical properties of chitosan and gelatin, emphasizing the molecular interactions that underpin the formation and functionality of these biopolymer-based films and coatings. The synergistic effects of combining chitosan and gelatin are explored, particularly in terms of improving the mechanical strength, barrier properties, and bioactivity of the films. Furthermore, the application of botanical extracts, which include high levels of antioxidants and antibacterial compounds, is being investigated in terms of their capacity to augment the protective characteristics of the films. The study also emphasizes current advancements in utilizing these composite films and coatings for tuna fish products, with a specific focus on their effectiveness in preventing microbiological spoilage, decreasing lipid oxidation, and maintaining sensory qualities throughout storage. Moreover, the current investigation explores the molecular interactions associated with chitosan-gelatin packaging systems enriched with plant extracts, offering valuable insights for improving the design of edible films and coatings and suggesting future research directions to enhance their effectiveness in seafood preservation. Ultimately, the review underscores the potential of chitosan-gelatin-based films and coatings as a promising, eco-friendly alternative to conventional packaging methods, contributing to the sustainability of the seafood industry.

  • Gender as a Moderator of the Double Bias of Mistakes – Knowledge Culture and Knowledge Sharing Effects
    • Wioleta Kucharska
    • Aleksandra Kopytko
    2024 Pełny tekst

    There is no learning without mistakes. The essence of the double bias of mistakes is the contradiction between an often-declared positive attitude towards learning from mistakes, and negative experiences when mistakes occur. Financial and personal consequences, shame, and blame force desperate employees to hide their mistakes. These adverse outcomes are doubled in organizations by the common belief that managers never make mistakes, which makes the contradiction even more harmful. Double bias affected leaders select only easy tasks to secure their positions, and those who want to be promoted hide their mistakes to maintain the image of a “perfect employee.” Avoiding the risk of failure is generally not wrong as long as doing so does not block organizational growth. It has been proven that the double bias of mistakes can present a severe hurdle for organizational learning and collective intelligence building. This study explores whether the double bias of mistakes is gender-related and how it affects tacit and explicit knowledge sharing. To do so, it is based on a sample of 183 Polish knowledge workers affected by the double bias of mistakes. The analysis method was ordinary least squares regression, which was conducted with SPSS PROCESS software. Results show that the double bias of mistakes generally causes more problems for female specialists than male specialists and more for male managers than female managers. Regarding managers, male managers probably tend to focus more on control at work. In contrast, women focus on supporting learning (they accept mistakes as a source of knowledge and share knowledge gained from them). Considering current challenges relating to collective intelligence building, women seem to have the potential to be better mentors and, probably, better leaders than men. Such formulated conclusions are based on indirect inferences, so further research is necessary.

  • GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE LABOUR MARKET IN KAZAKHSTAN AND UZBEKISTAN
    • Krystyna Gomółka
    2024

    The aim of the following article is to present gender inequality in the labour market in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Gender inequality was researched by analyzing documents providing rights for women and men in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The author presented the unequal treatment of women in the labour market by examining the causes of the level of employment of women and men - contract workers, higher unemployment among women, and finally by the lower remuneration offered to women workers in both countries. The research was conducted on the basis of the analysis of statistical data available on the websites of the Kazakh and Uzbek statistical offices.

  • Generalized measurements on qubits in quantum randomness certification and expansion
    • Piotr Mironowicz
    • Marcus Gruenfeld
    • Mohamed Bourennane
    2024 Physical Review Applied

    Quantum mechanics has greatly impacted our understanding of microscopic nature. One of the key concepts of this theory is generalized measurements, which have proven useful in various quantum information processing tasks. However, despite their significance, they have not yet been shown empirically to provide an advantage in quantum randomness certification and expansion protocols. This investigation explores scenarios where generalized measurements can yield more than 1 bit of certified randomness with a single-qubit system measurement on untrusted devices and against a quantum adversary. We compare the robustness of several protocols to exhibit the advantage of exploiting generalized measurements. In our analysis of experimental data, we were able to obtain 1.21 bits of min-entropy from a measurement taken on one qubit of an entangled state. We also obtained 1.07 bits of min-entropy from an experiment with quantum state preparation and generalized measurement on a single qubit. We also provide finite data analysis for a protocol using generalized measurements and the Entropy Accumulation Theorem. Our exploration demonstrates the potential of generalized measurements to improve the certification of quantum sources of randomness and enhance the security of quantum cryptographic protocols and other areas of quantum information.

  • Genetic variations as predictors of dispositional and dyadic empathy - a couple study
    • Maria Kaźmierczak
    • Magda Rybicka
    • Paweł Syty
    2024 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    Biological drivers of empathy have been explored in an interdisciplinary manner for decades. Research that merges the psychological and genetic perspectives of empathy has recently gained interest, and more complex designs and analyses are needed. Empathy is a multidimensional construct that might be regarded both dispositionally (as a personality trait) and contextually (experienced and/or expressed in a particular relationship/situation). This study analyzed genetic variations associated with genes encoding oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, and receptors that regulate their secretion as predictors of the empathic dimensions of emotional (empathic concern and personal distress) and cognitive (perspective taking) dyadic factors of partners in heterosexual intimate relationships. Machine learning methods to capture both linear and nonlinear relationships between SNPs, RS1 and RS2 repeat polymorphisms and dimensions of empathy in couples were employed. A total of 442 individuals (221 couples) participated in this study. Empathy was measured by the Polish version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index for Couples. The MassARRAY® 4 instrument, which combines mass spectrometry with endpoint PCR, was used for genotyping all 14 genetic variations. Microsatellite fragment analysis was performed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results confirmed the significance of certain genetic alterations linked to oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin and estrogen for dispositional and dyadic empathy (mainly rs1884051, rs6311, RS1, rs4686302, and rs1042778) in couples. The effects were stronger for the prediction of emotional and dyadic empathy than for perspective taking. Separate analyses for women and men indicated different predictive effects of genes for empathy (for example, effects of rs53576 were indicated only in women), which are also experienced and expressed in couples. Different dimensions of empathy should be included when the genetic predictors of empathy are examined.

  • Geometric working volume of a satellite positive displacement machine
    • Paweł Śliwiński
    2024 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    This article describes a method for determining the geometric working volume of satellite positive displacement machines (pump and motor). The working mechanism of these machines is satellite mechanism consisting of two non-circular gears (rotor and curvature) and circular gears (satellites). Two variants of the satellite mechanism are presented. In the first mechanism, the rolling line of the rotor is a sinusoid "wrapped" around a circle. In the second mechanism, the rolling line of the rotor is a double sinusoid "wrapped" around a circle. A method for calculating the area of the working chamber as a function of the rotor rotation angle is presented, based on mathematical formulae of the rotor, the curvature and the satellite rolling lines. It has been shown that the second variant of the satellite mechanism is advantageously characterised by a larger difference between the maximum area of the working chamber and the minimum area of this chamber. New mathematical formulas have been proposed to calculate the area of the working chamber for any angle of rotation of the shaft (rotor) based on the maximum and minimum values of the area of this chamber. It was thus confirmed that the geometric working volume depends on the maximum and minimum area of a working chamber and on the height of the satellite mechanism. The analyses of the area of the working chamber were carried out both for the mechanism without gears (the area delimited by the rolling lines of the elements of the mechanism) and for the real mechanism with gears. Differences in the values of these fields were also detected.

  • Geotechnical Analysis and Stability Assessment of a Landslide Event in Gera Woreda, Ethiopia
    • Mulatu Tamiru
    • Worku Firomsa Kabeta
    • Damtew Tsige
    • Hashim Ware
    • Zeberga Tenaye
    2024 Pełny tekst Cogent Engineering

    This study investigates the geotechnical factors influencing a recent landslide event in Gera Woreda, Ethiopia. The primary objective was to identify the soil properties contributing to landslide occurrence and understand the triggering mechanisms. Field investigations, soil sampling from both affected and unaffected areas, and subsequent laboratory characterization were conducted. The analysis revealed a dominance of fine-grained soils, such as clay and silt, which are susceptible to weakening upon saturation, thereby increasing landslide susceptibility. Rainfall is identified as the primary trigger for the landslide. Numerical stability assessments using the Limit Equilibrium Method (software, SlideTM) and the Finite Element Method (software, PLAXISVR) were performed to assess the stability of the slopes. The stability analysis revealed a notable decrease in the factor of safety (FS) under rising groundwater levels. For example, the FS for Slope 1 decreased from 1.42 under dry conditions to 0.73 at a 2 m groundwater depth. Similarly, Slope 2’s FS decreased from 2.06 to 1.18 under similar conditions. These results emphasize that rainfall is the primary trigger for landslides in the area. To address this, the study proposes surface drainage systems and the planting of Vetiver grass to improve slope stability. These findings provide critical insights for developing proactive mitigation strategies to protect local communities and infrastructure from landslide hazards.

  • Glaciers: The dynamic giants of cold regions
    • Jiajia Pan
    • Tomasz Kolerski
    2024 Hydrolink

    Glaciers, often described as nature’s formidable ice giants, are essential components of the Earth's cryosphere, with profound influence on the global water cycle, energy production, and landscape stability. These massive bodies of ice, formed over centuries from accumulated snow, are not just frozen relics of the past; they are dynamic systems that play a critical role in cold region environments. As the climate changes, understanding glaciers and their multifaceted roles becomes ever more crucial, particularly in the field of cold region engineering

  • Global Digital Technology Convergence: Driving Diffusion via Network Effects
    • Ewa Lechman
    • Adam Marszk
    2024

    Since the 1970s, we have witnessed unprecedented diffusion of digital technologies in both speed and geographic coverage. These technologies are pervasive and disruptive, and lead to profound shifts and transformations in societies and economies. Many claim that emerging network externalities are the principal phenomenon driving the process of technology diffusion and determining its in-time dynamics. This book analyses the unique role network effects play in the process of digital technology diffusion. Using the time span of 1980-2022 and data from over 180 countries, the authors examines the strength and determinates of emerging network externalities in the process of digital technology diffusion across the world. Moreover, using international case studies it traces the process of technology convergence and technology convergence club formation, intending to answer whether cross-country gaps are diminishing or rather growing, and if countries form unique “clubs” within which a rapid convergence occurs.

  • Global Miniaturization of Broadband Antennas by Prescreening and Machine Learning
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Ullah Ubaid
    2024 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    The development of contemporary electronic components, particularly antennas, places significant emphasis on miniaturization. This trend is driven by the emergence of technologies such as mobile communications, the internet of things, radio-frequency identification, and implantable devices. The need for small size is accompanied by heightened demands on electrical and field properties, posing a considerable challenge for antenna design. Shrinking physical dimensions can compromise performance, making miniaturization-oriented parametric optimization a complex and heavily constrained task. Additionally, the task is multimodal due to typical parameter redundancy resulting from various topological modifications in compact antennas. Identifying truly minimum-size designs requires a global search approach, as the popular nature-inspired algorithms face challenges related to computational efficiency and the need for reliable full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulation to evaluate device’s characteristics. This study introduces an innovative machine learning procedure for cost-effective global optimization-based miniaturization of antennas. Our technique includes parameter space pre-screening and the iterative refinement of kriging surrogate models using the predicted merit function minimization as an infill criterion. Concurrently, the design task incorporates design constraints implicitly by means of penalty functions. The combination of these mechanisms demonstrates superiority over conventional techniques, including gradient search and electromagnetic-driven nature-inspired optimization. Numerical experiments conducted on four broadband antennas indicate that the proposed framework consistently yields competitive miniaturization rates across multiple algorithm runs at low costs, compared to the benchmark.

  • Global Roots and Poles Finding Algorithm on Quantum Computer
    • Jakub Buczkowski
    • Tomasz Koźmiński
    • Filip Szczepański
    • Michał Wiliński
    • Tomasz Stefański
    2024 Pełny tekst IEEE Access

    In this paper, the implementation of the global roots and poles finding algorithm for a complex-valued function of a complex variable on a quantum computer, which allows for solving general nonlinear algebraic equations, is presented. The considered function is sampled with the use of Delaunay’s triangulation on the complex plane and a phase quadrant, in which the value of the function is located, is computed on a classical computer for all of the sampling nodes. Then, if the real and imaginary parts of the function simultaneously change signs for both ends of the same edge in the mesh, then a zero of the function is located in the region around this edge. In order to detect such edges, the mesh is transformed into a one-dimensional array and the required edges, where the sign simultaneously changes for real and imaginary parts of the function, are found with the use of quantum Grover’s algorithm. If the mesh consists of P edges, the computational overhead of this operation, in terms of oracle queries, is equal to O (√ P ) on a quantum computer, instead of O ( P ) on a classical one. Finally, the existence of function zeros and poles is proved with the use of Cauchy’s argument principle on a classical computer, and the output results are computed, based on the mesh refinement, with the assumed numerical precision of computations. Our method is implemented in Python with the use of the Qiskit software development kit and its applicability is proved by quantum emulations.

  • Global value chains and inward FDI: An empirical investigation of European firms
    • Michele Imbruno
    • Rosanna Pittiglio
    • Filippo Reganati
    • Sabina Szymczak
    • Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz
    2024 WORLD ECONOMY

    This paper empirically investigates whether and how the level of GVC integration of a given market may explain the presence of foreign-owned firms. Using firm-level data from 28 European Union countries during the period 2008–2014, we provide evidence that a greater country-sector-level GVC participation, via both backward and forward linkages, exerts a positive effect on a firm's likelihood to receive FDI. These findings appear particularly strong for new EU Member States and services industries when looking at the differences across countries and sectors. Interestingly, when exploring the role of country-sector position along the GVC, we find that FDI gains from backward GVC integration are more prominent if the markets are associated with the final stages of the supply chain, whereas those from forward GVC integration are greater when the markets are associated with the initial stages, in line with the smile curve hypothesis.

  • Global value chains, wages, employment and labour production in China: A regional approach
    • Yuxin Lu
    • Edgardo Sica
    • Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz
    2024 Pełny tekst Structural Change and Economic Dynamics

    In this study we analyse the relationship of trade and global value chains (GVCs) to the labour market in 31 Chinese provinces for 25 sectors, by means of a system of structural equations. We firstly distinguish between provincial value chains (PVCs) and interprovincial value chains (PRVCs) in order to outline their distribution and evolution over time. Then, we investigate to what extent participation in GVCs, PVCs and PRVCs – along with trading in final goods and services – is associated with labour market outcomes, i.e., wages, employment and labour production. The results suggest that provinces/sectors with greater export penetration have higher employment and labour production, but lower wages. On the other hand, however, GVCs are found to impede growth in employment and labour production.

  • Globalized Parametric Optimization of Microwave Passive Components Using Simplex-Based Surrogates
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2024 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES

    Optimization-based parameter adjustment involving full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulation models is a crucial stage of present-day microwave design process. In fact, rigorous optimization is the only reliable mean permitting to simultaneously handle multiple geometry/material parameters, objectives, and constraints. Unfortunately, EM-driven design is a computationally intensive endeavor. While local tuning is usually manageable, direct global search is most often prohibitively costly. At the same time, global optimization is often required: design of compact microwave passives, multi-modal problems, circuit re-design across broad range of operating conditions, are a few examples. A popular mitigation method is to employ surrogate modeling approach. Still, constructing reliable models is impeded by the curse of dimensionality. This paper presents a novel algorithm for globalized design of microwave devices, which employs simplex-based regression models build at the level of operating parameters and performance figures of the circuit of interest. Computational efficiency of our technique stems from topological simplicity of the surrogate and its updating rules, as well as nearly-linear dependence between the circuit dimensions and its operational parameters. Furthermore, the updating rules of the regression model guarantee convergence of the optimization process. The global search capability of our technique is validated through repetitive optimization of three microstrip circuits. A perfect success rate is demonstrated along with a low (average) computational cost of just about eighty EM analyses of the circuit at hand. Numerical results are supported by experimental validation of selected designs.

  • Głębokie uczenie do korekcji fazy sygnałów GMSK w rzeczywistym środowisku wewnątrzbudynkowym
    • Alicja Olejniczak
    • Jarosław Sadowski
    2024 Przegląd Telekomunikacyjny + Wiadomości Telekomunikacyjne

    Niniejszy artykuł prezentuje zastosowanie modelu głębokiej sieci neuronowej do estymacji średniego odchylenia fazy sygnałów odebranych i jest elementem badań obejmujących szersze zagadnienie, jakim jest odbiór sygnałów GMSK wspomagany uczeniem maszynowym. Analiza pozwoliła potwierdzić wysoką skuteczność sieci neuronowej, a wyniki obejmowały kanały ETU i EPA oraz dane pomiarowe zebrane w rzeczywistym środowisku wewnątrz- budynkowym. Rozwiązanie porównano z klasycznymi metodami estymacji średniego odchylenia fazy.

  • Going all in or spreading your bet: a configurational perspective on open innovation interaction channels in production sectors
    • Marita McPhillips
    • Silke Tegtmeier
    • Tatjana Nikitina
    2024 Pełny tekst Production Engineering Archives

    Using different interaction channels within open innovation partnerships holds the potential to enhance the chance of success in production sectors. However, our comprehension of how open innovation partnerships are affected by varying combinations of interaction channels, and how this corelates with their level of open innovation output, remains limited. There are discrepancies in the current literature regarding the individual and combined effects of open innovation interaction channels. Our study aims to resolve these inconsistencies by using a configurational perspective, which allows for the identifi- cation of multiple successful pathways. Employing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to a dataset of European open innovation partnerships in production sectors, we uncover specific combinations of interaction channels that explain high levels of innovation outcomes. Subse- quently, we distinguish between two successful pathways. Notably, we observe that the relationship between interaction channels is causally complex, high engagement in open innovation may not guar- antee favorable innovation outcomes. This finding highlights the intricate causal dynamics at play. Thus, our study is a significant step toward reconciling the disparate perspectives in the literature concerning the impact of interaction channels on open innovation output.

  • Gordon Decomposition of the Magnetizability of a Dirac One-Electron Atom in an Arbitrary Discrete Energy State
    • Patrycja Stefańska
    2024 Atoms

    We present analytical derivation of formulas for diamagnetic and paramagnetic contributions to magnetizabilities of relativistic hydrogenlike atoms being in an arbitrary discrete energy eigenstate.

  • Government in the metaverse: Requirements and suitability for providing digital public services
    • Martin Lnenicka
    • Nina Rizun
    • Charalampos Harris Alexopoulos
    • Marijn Janssen
    2024 TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE

    Digital government comprises all means to enable governments to interact with their constituents digitally. The metaverse provides a virtual reality environment where various activities can be carried out without physically visiting the places of interest, including the public authorities. Yet, how governments can use the metaverse is unknown. This paper aims to extend the understanding of the metaverse architecture requirements and their suitability for digital public services provision. We used the systematic literature review, experts' assessment using the Delphi method, and quantitative analysis to attain this goal. Our research contributes to the literature by eliciting the structure and composition of the functional and non-functional requirements. The contributions include (1) identification and classification of 50 functional and 16 non-functional metaverse-related architecture requirements, (2) determination and relevancy of 15 most important functional and 6 non-functional requirements for digital public services provision, and (3) suitability assessment of the 21 services recommended for provision in the EU's metaverse platform with the highest potential to attract users. These findings show that governments pose unique requirements on the metaverse. Not all types of services are suitable for providing in the metaverse. Those focused on empowering citizens and helping them to develop are most important

  • Granulometric characterization of Arctic driftwood sawdust from frame sawing process
    • Daniel Chuchała
    • Tomasz Rogoziński
    • Kazimierz Orłowski
    • Marta Pędzik
    • Luďka Hanincova
    • Olafur Eggertsson
    2024 Pełny tekst INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS

    Arctic driftwood can be used as an alternative source of wood as construction timber and furniture material, especially in Iceland and Greenland. The use of Arctic driftwood can help in the fight against climate change, by developing land reforestation processes and reducing the volume harvested wood from forests and sustainability of harvesting processes. In this paper the results of an analysis of the effect of long-term residence of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and larch wood (Larix sibirica L.) stay in Arctic ice and seawater on the granulation of wood sawdust and the distribution of fine wood dust particles during the frame sawing process are presented. The distribution of wood chips and dust was analysed using sieve and laser diffraction methods. The results confirmed that Arctic driftwood, compared to normal wood for both analysed species, generate slightly more fine wood dust particles during the frame sawing process, which can be harmful to human health. However, these differences are not significant, indicating that the same dust extraction systems can be used for both sawing processes.

  • Graphene oxide aerogels for adsorptive separation of aromatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkanes
    • Maksymilian Plata Gryl
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Emilia Gontarek-Castro
    • Alan Miralrio
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2024 Pełny tekst CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Efficient separation of benzene and cyclohexane has critical importance for production of commodity chemicals, and is one of the most challenging separations in the industry. Physisorption by recyclable, porous solids has a significant potential in substituting energy-intensive azeotropic or extractive distillation methods. Reduced graphene oxide aerogels (rGOAs) are emerging materials holding great promise for connecting unique properties of 2D graphene with ordinary 3D materials. The benzene/cyclohexane separation on rGOAs self-assembled by the chemical reduction with l-ascorbic acid, sodium bisulphite and (for the first time) sodium dithionite was studied by dynamic gas adsorption methods, and the adsorption performance was analysed in relation to aerogels physicochemical properties. The aerogel reduced with sodium dithionite (rGOA_DTN) had the highest reduction degree and specific surface area (461.2 m2g-1), with the highest contribution of mesopores. It was also the sample with the uppermost uptake of benzene and cyclohexane. The binary component adsorption on rGOA_DTN resulted in the selectivity of the adsorption of benzene over cyclohexane of 2.1. Adsorption-desorption studies demonstrated the excellent thermal stability of the adsorbent in the long-run operation. Because the adsorption capacity did not correlate with the mesopores but with macropores surface area, the selectivity of the adsorption was attributed to the different physicochemical structure of aerogels surface. The benzene molecule interacted strongly by specific C-H···π interactions, while the cyclohexane molecule was excluded from the surface of aerogels because of its shape/size. Results demonstrated that rGOAs can be a versatile and flexible platform for adsorptive gas-phase hydrocarbons separation.

  • Graphene-based Silicone rubber Nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterization, and Properties
    • P. S. Sarath
    2024 Pełny tekst

    This study aims to understand better the mechanical, thermal, and tribological behavior of silicone rubber nanocomposites. Graphite, exfoliated graphite, reduced graphene oxide, ionic liquid modified graphene oxide, silane-modified graphene oxide, fumed silica, and other fillers were used in this study. Adding graphene-based fillers to the silicone rubber matrix substantially improves the nanocomposite's mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties. The DMA and DSC analyses confirmed the improved polymer filler contact in the composite. When compared to the neat silicone rubber, the inclusion of graphite (20 phr) reduces the friction coefficient (40%) and the specific wear rate of QM significantly (50 percent). The modified Hummers process synthesized graphene oxide, and FT-IR, XRD, Raman, and XPS studies were performed to validate GO reduction. XRD, AFM, SEM, and TEM studies were used to investigate the dispersion and interaction of the filler in the polymer matrix. The tribological tests were conducted utilizing an ASTM G99-05 pin-on-disc tribometer to examine the effect of operating variables such as applied load, sliding velocity, and temperature. A single-layer graphene film functionalizes the polymer composite surface in the microstructure of graphene composites. Nanocomposites have a better filler distribution, according to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, such as tensile strength and hardness, as well as the electrical and thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity, thermal degradation, and dielectric properties, are improved when compared to pure silicone rubber, which can be attributed to the improved distribution of the nanofillers. The composite's worn surface morphology exhibits a smooth surface, indicating that the presence of fillers significantly reduced metal contact. The wear mechanism involves the formation of a lubricant film on the counter surface, which prevents the asperities from touching the composite surface. As a result, the friction coefficient and specific wear rate are reduced. In addition to having high permeability and strong temperature resistance, silicone rubber also has outstanding age resistance and electrical insulation. As a result, it is frequently utilised in a variety of industries, including automotive, textiles, electronics, medical field, sealants, hard ware and food storage.

  • Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets decorated with HAp@Bi2S3 core–shell nanorods: Dual S-scheme 1D/2D heterojunction for environmental and hydrogen production solutions
    • Mohammad Chahkandi
    • Mahboobeh Zargazi
    • Khadijeh Boland Ghiasabadi
    • Jin Suk Chung
    • Mohsen Khodadadi Yazdi
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Mehdi Baghayeri
    2024 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    By combining different semiconductors, scientists have developed innovative materials capable of converting solar energy into useful forms of energy or driving chemical reactions that clean up pollutants. These materials offer a promising path to combat global environmental and energy challenges. In this study, HAp@Bi2S3 core–shell structures were synthesized using a facile microemulsion technique, and then loaded onto graphitic carbon nitride via a hydrothermal method to create an advanced HAp@Bi2S3/g-C3N4 dual S-scheme heterojunction. The engineered heterojunction exhibited enhanced hydrogen production and visible light photocatalytic oxidation of metronidazole. The improved photocatalytic efficiency was attributed to the core–shell structure of HAp@Bi2S3 along with the formation of a dual S-scheme heterojunction in HAp@Bi2S3/g-C3N4. As a result, the novel dual S-scheme HAp@Bi2S3/g-C3N4 heterojunction demonstrated a significantly higher hydrogen production rate, ca. 20 times higher than that of hydroxyapatite (HAp), 11 times higher than Bi2S3, and 5 times higher than the HAp@Bi2S3. This research introduces a novel approach to crafting dual S-scheme heterojunctions based on Bi2S3, which enables swift electron transfer across heterojunction interfaces, thereby enlarged possibility windows to sustainable hydrogen production and wastewater remediation technologies.

  • Graphitic carbon nitride/bismuth-based Z-scheme heterojunctions for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products — a review
    • Ayesha Javaid
    • Muhammad Imran
    • Manoj P Rayaroth
    • Xun Sun
    • Chongqing Wang
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Malwina Momotko
    2024 Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering

    Z-scheme heterojunction in recent years is one of the most promising approaches in photocatalytic materials in solar light region for various environmental applications, including the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Integrating g-C3N4 and Bi-based semiconductors via Z-scheme is highly effective in providing efficient flow of charge carriers along with suitable redox sites. The g-C3N4/Bi-based photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal, co-precipitation, co-calcination, solvothermal polycondensation, or ion exchange/photoreduction. Environmental pollutants, such as tetracycline, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, cefixime, and carbamazepine, were degraded with efficiency exceeding 90%. The major reactive species identified in those Z-schemes were superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and electron-holes pair. Best processes revealed economically feasible with 700–800 kWh/m3 of electric energy per order (EEO). For solar light–driven processes, energy can be named as ‘free’ (sunlight), but EEO allows to compare new developments. In future studies, process economic aspect, effectiveness in case of real effluents, including high-salinity conditions and evaluation of photocatalysts stability, and metals leaching should be addressed.

  • Graphs with isolation number equal to one third of the order
    • Magdalena Lemańska
    • Merce Mora
    • Maria Jose Souto Salorio
    2024 DISCRETE MATHEMATICS

    A set D of vertices of a graph G is isolating if the set of vertices not in D and with no neighbor in D is independent. The isolation number of G, denoted by \iota(G) , is the minimum cardinality of an isolating set of G. It is known that \iota(G) \leq n/3 , if G is a connected graph of order n, , distinct from C_5 . The main result of this work is the characterisation of unicyclic and block graphs of order n with isolating number equal to n/3 . Moreover, we provide a family of general graphs attaining this upper bound on the isolation number.

  • Green adsorbents and solvents in food analysis
    • Hameed Haq
    • Muhammad Shahzeb Khan
    • Muhammad Jahangir Khan
    • Muhammad Balal Arain
    2024

    Green analytical chemistry aims to minimize the negative impact of analytical procedures on the environment and human health. This can be achieved through the use of non-toxic and environmentally friendly reagents. Classical green solvents include water, ethanol, acetone, and supercritical fluids. Water has been used for the extraction of water-soluble compounds (sugars, amino acids). Ethanol and acetone have been used for the extraction of lipids and pigments, flavors and preparation of extracts for chromatographic analysis. Supercritical fluids have been used as a solvent in food analysis for the extraction of lipids, pigments, flavors and caffeine. In this chapter, new types of green solvents and their applications for food analysis have been described in detail. The description is given for new green solvents, for example, deep eutectic solvents (DESs), molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), ionic liquids, and supra molecular solvents. The application of these green solvents has been described in detail. The advantages and disadvantages associated with these green solvents have also been described in detail. In this chapter, we have summarized four types of green solvents and adsorbents as listed below molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), deep eutectic solvents (DESs), ionic liquids (ILs) and supramolecular solvents (SMs). Among the selected green solvents, ionic liquids (IL) have been extensively used for food analysis. The properties of IL can be adjusted by changing the composition of IL. Application of ionic liquids for metal analysis in foods has critically discussed. Deep eutectic solvents are a new class of green designer solvents with tunable properties and can be synthesized simply by mixing hydrogen bond donors (HBD) and hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA). Applications of DESs have been discussed in detail with special emphasis on the analysis of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and polar organic compounds. Molecularly imprinted polymer (IMPs) is an advanced class of greed adsorbent used for food analysis. A new class of green solvents “supramolecular solvents” has been discussed with special emphasis on supramolecular-deep eutectic solvents.

  • Green and sustainable hydrogels based on quaternized chitosan to enhance wound healing
    • Fatemeh Mottaghitalab
    • Mohsen Khodadadiyazdi
    • Mohammad Reza Saeb
    • Tomasz Bączek
    • Mehdi Farokhi
    2024 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Hydrogel-based biomaterials applied as wound dressings provide the wound with a moist environment, which facilitates tissue regeneration through granulation and re-epithelialization. The inherent flexibility and adjustable architecture of hydrogels enables incorporation of cells, antimicrobial drugs, growth factors, and bioactive compounds, which leads to expediting wound contraction and enhancing the regeneration process. The utilization of natural polysaccharides, particularly chitosan, as a green and one of the most sustainable biomaterials among renewable resources, has been widely practised in wound healing because of its promising cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, the challenge of limited solubility of chitosan at neutral or basic media (pH ≥ 6.5) has been pinpointed. The exploration of quaternary chitosan hydrogels was a big step to combat its low solubility through the contribution of a quaternary ammonium group that improves the hydrophilicity and additionally brings about antibacterial activity over a wide range of pH. This review summarizes the latest progress in using hydrogel dressings based on quaternized chitosan for wound regeneration, encompassing various aspects such as hemostasis, antibacterial activity, antioxidant properties, and overall wound healing efficacy. Furthermore, the present review addresses the existing challenges and proposes possible solutions to enlarge development avenues in pursue of optimizing wound regeneration performance of quaternized chitosan-based hydrogels in prospect.

  • Green engineered biomaterials for bone repair and regeneration: Printing technologies and fracture analysis
    • Balbina Makurat-Kasprolewicz
    • Hossein Ipakchi
    • Pouya Rajaee
    • Agnieszka Ossowska
    • Aleksander Hejna
    • Mehdi Farokhi
    • Fatemeh Mottaghitalab
    • Małgorzata Pawlak
    • Navid Rabiee
    • Mariusz Belka
    • Tomasz Baczek
    • Mohammad Reza Saeb
    2024 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Despite the exceptional self-regeneration properties of bone, severe injuries often require additional surgical intervention such as using artificial bone constructs. These structures need to meet a number of criteria regarding their structure, performance, alongside the rate and the mechanism of erosion and fracture when implanted, for stimulating the regeneration of defected bone and, more critically providing support in the interim. Technological development in the fields of imaging and additive manufacturing enables taking a huge step forward toward preparing personalized implants with characteristics matching the requirements of the specific injury. From biomaterials point of view, greener and more sustainable biomaterials from renewable resources are on demand for bone regeneration; moreover, bone repair necessitates engineering properties and performance, e.g. mechanical properties. Currently, potential processing methods are not merely limited to 3D printing, but also include 4D and 5D printing methods, considering time, dimension, and rotational degrees of freedom. A wide varieties of the aforementioned processes and techniques enable the application of metals, their alloys, ceramics, and polymers, providing an extremely wide spectrum of possibilities for implant design. Herein, the critical aspects of green biomaterials applied in bone tissue engineering, their application in bone repair and regeneration are summarized, and novel directions in bone tissue engineering are proposed for future developments. Eventually, the latest advances in the application of green biomaterials in clinics are outlined.

  • Greening Higher Education in Europe. Institutional Transitions to Sustainable Development
    • Magdalena Popowska
    2024

    This book provides a comprehensive overview of the advances made in European higher education institutions (HEIs) over the last twenty years in response to the challenges of sustainable development. In recent years, there has been a visible shift toward sustainable development, and universities have been addressing their accountability to the public through corporate social responsibility. Greening Higher Education in Europe explores these recent developments, beginning with an introduction to sustainable development and its complexity, followed by a discussion of the regulatory and organizational context of higher education in Europe. This book goes on to examine the key pillars of sustainable development in HEIs, including education, research, and campus development, demonstrating best practices from a range of European universities including the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), Lund University (Sweden), Aalto University (Finland), and The University of Edinburgh (UK), among others. It also explores the role of HEIs in educating future leaders in sustainable development and presents a framework for understanding the values and decision-making processes of HEI leaders. It concludes by highlighting the need for a new paradigm in HEIs that promotes innovation, quality, equity, and respect for the environment.

  • Greening the Innovation Landscape: Leveraging Open Innovation Channels for Sustainable Technology Adoption
    • Marita McPhillips
    2024

    Open innovation offers a great potential for accelerating sustainable technology adoption. This study presents the diverse interaction channels of open innovation and their role in facilitating the development and integration of sustainable solutions. Through an analysis of collaboration mechanisms associated with various open innovation channels in sustainable technology adoption projects, this paper offers a comprehensive framework for partnerships to strategically execute innovation strategies geared towards furthering sustainability objectives. The findings highlight the transformative potential of different open innovation interaction channels in advancing sustainability agendas. Several collaboration mechanisms support the benefits of employing the open innovation interaction channels. By categorizing and evaluating different interaction channels conducive for sustainable solutions this study explores the interplay between open innovation processes and sustainable innovation, assesses the role of different collaboration mechanisms in driving sustainable open innovation, discusses metrics to measure the effectiveness of open innovation interactions in sustainable initiatives and provides new ideas for managers to improve sustainable innovation performance.

  • Guided wave propagation in debonding detection in CFRP-reinforced steel plate-like structures
    • Beata Zima
    • Łukasz Breńkacz
    2024 OCEAN ENGINEERING

    The present study investigates the guided wave propagation in multilayered steel specimens reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) through theoretical, numerical, and experimental means. The effectiveness of externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) relies heavily on the bonding quality between the CFRP and the substrate. Premature debonding, a prevalent and hazardous defect, can arise from suboptimal manufacturing processes, excessive loads, and unfavorable environmental conditions. This defect remains hidden and poses challenges for detection through conventional visual inspections. Therefore, this research analyzes the impact of debonding development on wave propagation signals. The paper specifically focuses on examining different transducer localizations and their influence on the monitoring process efficiency. The theoretical rationale for various transducer configurations is presented, highlighting the undeniable influence of the chosen configuration on monitoring effectiveness. Multiple transducer and damage configurations are described, and their disparities are investigated through experimental and numerical studies. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that assumptions valid for damages with regular shapes cannot be easily extended and applied to diagnostic procedures in more complex scenarios, such as debonding that develops across the entire specimen but within a limited width.

  • Halucynacje chatbotów a prawda: główne nurty debaty i ich interpretacje
    • Jan Kreft
    • Monika Boguszewicz-kreft
    • Barbara Cyrek
    2024 Pełny tekst Roczniki Nauk Społecznych

    Generatywne systemy sztucznej inteligencji (SI) są w stanie tworzyć treści medialne poprzez zastosowanie uczenia maszynowego do dużych ilości danych szkoleniowych. Te nowe dane mogą obejmować tekst (np. Bard firmy Google, LLaMa firmy Meta lub ChatGPT firmy OpenAI) oraz elementy wizualne (np. Stable Diffusion lub DALL-E OpenAI) i dźwięk (np. VALL-E firmy Micro- soft). Stopień zaawansowania tych treści może czynić je nieodróżnialnymi od twórczości człowieka. Chatboty cechują się jednak tzw. halucynacjami, które w istotnej części są nowym rodzajem dezinformacji. Celem podjętych badań jest identyfikacja głównych nurtów debaty poświęconej skutkom wykorzystania sztucznej inteligencji ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem dezinformacji z udziałem chatbotów w środowisku mediów. W badaniu przyjęto metodę badawczą systematycznego przeglądu literatury ograniczającą m.in. błąd selekcji. Interpretacja głównych nurtów debaty skłania do wniosku, że dezinformacja chatbotów w postaci ich halucynacji jest znacząca pod względem skali, jest optymalizowana i personalizowana oraz ma istotny potencjał erodowania zaufania społecznego.

  • Handlowo-techniczne bilansowanie energii w obszarach sieci dystrybucyjnej
    • Paweł Bućko
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    W artykule omówiono problemy wywołane przez rosnący udział generacji rozproszonej we współczesnych systemach elektroenergetycznych. Przedstawiono nową koncepcję rozwiązywania zagadnienia bilansowania mocy czynnej w obszarach sieci dystrybucyjnych, opartą o wykorzystanie nowych struktur organizacyjnych takich jak: klastry energii, wydzielone systemy dystrybucyjne, spółdzielnie energetyczne, wirtualne elektrownie i grupy bilansujące.

  • Hazards of a flooding event in the city of Gdansk and possible forms of preventing the phenomenon – case study
    • Roman Cieśliński
    • Michał Szydłowski
    • Izabela Chlost
    • Patrycja Mikos-Studnicka
    2024 Urban Water Journal

    The main objective is to examine the urban flood hazard in the city of Gdansk and to determine the possibilities of preventing this phenomenon. Hydrological and hydraulic modeling was used for the case study analysis of urban flood in Strzyża basin, applying the HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS systems. The result of modeling with the assumption of torrential rainfall with a duration of t = 1 h (from 35 to 58 mm) is the probability of pluvial flood occurrence divided into low probability (p = 10%), high probability (p = 1%) and catastrophic probability (p = 0.2%). The normal flow of the Strzyża stream at the mouth is 0.175 m3·s−1, while the modeling results indicate an increase in the flow depending on the assumed flood flow probability from about 41.8 m3·s−1 to 54.7 m3·s−1. In addition, the article presents the basic elements of the policy of the city of Gdańsk in the field of reducing the hazards of urban flooding.

  • Heat Dissipation from the Power Cable in the Casing Pipe
    • Romuald Masnicki
    • Janusz Mindykowski
    • Beata Pałczyńska
    2024 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS

    The current carrying capacity of a power cable determines its ability to carry a specific current and is related to the efficiency of dissipation of heat generated in the cable laid in a specific environment. The studies were conducted in order to determine how the characteristics of the medium around the cable affected its temperature, and thus the ability of the cable to transmit electricity. The experimentation in the lab and real measurements of the temperature values at various locations in the casing pipe constitute the article's uniqueness. The article presents an innovative concept of a laboratory stand, designed to measure the dissipation of heat emitted by a cable in separated casing pipes with various filling materials. The assessment of heat removal is made based on the recorded distribution of temperatures and related voltage drops in individual casing pipes. It has been demonstrated for the instance under investigation that using the right fillers around the cable may reduce cable temperature, boost the cable's current carrying capability, and provide more efficient heat dissipation. Extended tests include measuring the temperature distribution in casing pipes: (i) filled partially with a heat-dissipating substance, (ii) with substances a year earlier and newly introduced into casing pipes, (iii) for extended values of the current flowing through the cable, as well as (iv) with additional measurements of voltage drops on the cable in individual segments of casing pipes. The obtained results can be used in diagnostics procedures to locate sections of the casing pipe not completely filled with the material that removes heat from the cable.

  • Heterogeneity of national accounting systems, world-class universities and financial resources: What are the links?
    • Alessandro Avenali
    • Cinzia Daraio
    • Simone Di Leo
    • Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz
    2024 Pełny tekst Journal of Informetrics

    This study investigates the relationship between university financial resources, applied accounting systems, and the place of a university in the Shanghai Ranking. We find a strong relationship between the financial resources under the control of a world-class university and the position of that university in the highest tier of the global ranking. We propose a model (available online) to predict a university’s tier in the ranking through the financial resources it employs. A critical condition for making a university a world-class university could be to provide it with a sufficiently high level of financial resources, and its efficiency could play an important leverage role. In view of the results, policymakers are challenged with a drastic choice: to increase international competition among universities, it is necessary to concentrate a huge amount of resources on a few universities that are already in the ranking. In contrast, the policy of the proportional distribution of resources does not affect international competition and may be inefficient. Furthermore, financial data are not easy to gather homogeneously for universities across countries, due to the existence of different national accounting systems. Finally, we discuss several critical issues associated with the measurement of specific accounting data of universities.

  • Hey student, are you sharing your knowledge? A cluster typology of knowledge sharing behaviours among students
    • Małgorzata Zięba
    • Susanne Durst
    • Samuel Foli
    • Martyna Gonsiorowska
    2024 International Journal of Management Education

    Knowledge Sharing (KS) is crucial for all organisations to better face current and future challenges. It is justifiable to assume that after graduation, students will have to face the coming challenges at societal and business levels, and that they will need the adequate KS skills to do so. Though the importance of KS is established, the understanding of how students pass on their knowledge is still fragmented and underdeveloped. Therefore, a deeper understanding of students’ KS behaviour is crucial to identify and promote better actions. As different patterns of behaviour are very probable among students, this study aims to identify patterns that can be used to group students according to their KS behaviour. Drawing from a dataset of 124 Business and Management students, this paper empirically conceptualises a typology of KS behaviours among this group. The typology consists of three different types of student groups that emerged from a cluster analysis: new entrants with neutral KS behaviour, undergraduate students with strong KS behaviour facilitated by social ties, and mature students who share knowledge based on the perceived self-concept. By acknowledging the heterogeneity found among Business and Management students, this paper departs from viewing students as a homogeneous group.

  • Hidden Tensor Structures
    • Marek Czachor
    2024 Pełny tekst ENTROPY

    Any single system whose space of states is given by a separable Hilbert space is automatically equipped with infinitely many hidden tensor-like structures. This includes all quantum mechanical systems as well as classical field theories and classical signal analysis. Accordingly, systems as simple as a single one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, an infinite potential well, or a classical finite-amplitude signal of finite duration can be decomposed into an arbitrary number of subsystems. The resulting structure is rich enough to enable quantum computation, violation of Bell’s inequalities, and formulation of universal quantum gates. Less standard quantum applications involve a distinction between position and hidden position. The hidden position can be accompanied by a hidden spin, even if the particle is spinless. Hidden degrees of freedom are, in many respects, analogous to modular variables. Moreover, it is shown that these hidden structures are at the roots of some well-known theoretical constructions, such as the Brandt–Greenberg multi-boson representation of creation–annihilation operators, intensively investigated in the context of higher-order or fractional-order squeezing. In the context of classical signal analysis, the discussed structures explain why it is possible to emulate a quantum computer by classical analog circuit devices

  • High Efficiency Dual-Active-Bridge Converter with Triple-Phase-Shift Control for Battery Charger of Electric Vehicles
    • Shih-hao Kuo
    • Huang-Jen Chiu
    • Che-Wei Chiang
    • Ta-Wei Huang
    • Yu-Chen Chang
    • Serafin Bachman
    • Szymon Piasecki
    • Marek Jasiński
    • Marek Turzyński
    2024 Pełny tekst ENERGIES

    An optimal modulation scheme with triple-phase-shift (TPS) control could increase the efficiency in the entire load range for a dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter under wide output voltage range conditions. Therefore, this study proposes a convergent approach to TPS mode selection, coupled with an optimal modulation scheme, ensuring the circuit’s efficiency over the entire range in the realm of a high-power and high-efficiency battery charger for electric vehicles. The convergent approach to TPS mode selection also reduces the numerous cases for small-signal analysis through general average modeling. After verifying the small-signal models under various voltage transfer ratios and load conditions to verify the stability, a converter prototype with a rated power of 15 kW is built and tested. Thus, a peak efficiency of 97.7% can be achieved.

  • High frequency oscillations in human memory and cognition: a neurophysiological substrate of engrams?
    • Michał Kucewicz
    • Jesus Garcia Salinas
    • Jan Cimbalnik
    • Gregory A. Worrell
    • Milan Brazdil
    2024 Pełny tekst Brain: A Journal of Neurology

    Despite advances in understanding the cellular and molecular processes underlying memory and cognition, and recent successful modulation of cognitive performance in brain disorders, the neurophysiological mechanisms remain underexplored. High frequency oscillations beyond the classic electroencephalogram spectrum have emerged as a potential neural correlate of fundamental cognitive processes. High frequency oscillations are detected in the human mesial temporal lobe and neocortical intracranial recordings spanning gamma/epsilon (60-150 Hz), ripple (80-250 Hz) and higher frequency ranges. Separate from other non-oscillatory activities, these brief electrophysiological oscillations of distinct duration, frequency and amplitude are thought to be generated by coordinated spiking of neuronal ensembles within volumes as small as a single cortical column. Although the exact origins, mechanisms, and physiological roles in health and disease remain elusive, they have been associated with human memory consolidation and cognitive processing. Recent studies suggest their involvement in encoding and recall of episodic memory with a possible role in the formation and reactivation of memory traces. High frequency oscillations are detected during encoding, throughout maintenance, and right before recall of remembered items, meeting a basic definition for an engram activity. The temporal coordination of high frequency oscillations reactivated across cortical and subcortical neural networks is ideally suited for integrating multimodal memory representations, which can be replayed and consolidated during states of wakefulness and sleep. High frequency oscillations have been shown to reflect coordinated bursts of neuronal assembly firing and offer a promising substrate for tracking and modulation of the hypothetical electrophysiological engram.