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  • Polyurethane Glycerolysate as a Modifier of the Properties of Natural Rubber Mixtures and Vulcanizates
    • Marcin Włoch
    • Maksymilian Toruńczak
    • Janusz Datta
    2024 Pełny tekst Materials

    Chemical recycling of polyurethanes can be realized in several different ways, but the most important methods are glycolysis and glycerolysis. Both methods permit recovery of polyols (when the process is realized with the mass excess of depolymerizing agent) or substitutes of polyols, which contain urethane moieties in the main chains and terminate mainly in hydroxyl groups (when the process is realized with the mass excess of depolymerized polyurethane). Oligomeric products with urethane groups in the chemical structure can also be used as modifiers of rubber mixtures and vulcanizates. The main aim of the presented work is to study the effect of polyurethane glycerolysate on the performance of natural rubber mixtures and vulcanizates. The influence of the modifier on the vulcanization kinetics and swelling of rubber mixtures, and the thermo-mechanical and mechanical properties of rubber vulcanizates, was studied. The prepared materials were also subjected to accelerated thermal aging in air. It was found that polyurethane glycerolysate affects the vulcanization process of rubber mixtures (for example, promotes the activation of vulcanization) and acts as an antidegradant under thermoxidative conditions (higher stability of mechanical properties was observed in comparison to a reference sample without modifier). The obtained results show that chemical recycling products can be valuable modifiers of natural rubber mixtures and vulcanizates, which extends the possible applications of polyurethane chemical recycling products.

  • Polyurethane-based aerogels: Preparation, properties, and applications
    • Marcin Włoch
    2024

    Polyurethane aerogels (PUAs) are interesting materials because of their high porosity, low density, and low thermal conductivity, which result in their application as thermal insulations. PUAs are mainly synthesized using di- and polyisocyanates, diols or polyols, catalysts (tertiary amines and organometallic), and solvents (which are used as reaction medium, purifying of obtained semiproducts). Preparation procedure involves several steps, which permit to perform the transformation: sol → wet gel → aerogel. The final step of aerogels formation is mostly realized by drying using supercritical carbon dioxide. Obtained aerogels are characterized in the terms of their chemical structure, microstructure, physical and mechanical properties. The main aim of presented work was to review preparation, properties and applications of polyurethane-based aerogels.

  • POMERANIAN LANDSCAPES OF MODERNIST ZASPA. CONCEPTS OF REVITALISATION OF THE HOUSING ESTATE
    • Agnieszka Kurkowska
    2024 Pełny tekst Journal of Geography, Politics and Society

    Zaspa is a neighbourhood in Gdansk with a long locational history and numerous build-ups. It is situated in a complex landscape between the coastal strip and moraine hills. The housing estates built here in the 1970s followed the postulates of modernist urbanism, ignoring the topographical and natural specifics and the regional heritage. The result was an ergonomic but anonymous space with many current strengths and still apparent deficiencies. As part of the student projects, the topic of revitalising a housing estate was undertaken, especially as it is a global problem. Thus, the working methods can be evaluated and the advantages of these methods adaptable to further case studies can be presented. The article reports on two cycles of a course conducted at the Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology. The objectives of the work, the methods and the results are presented with reference to the scale of the global planetary crisis.

  • Pomiarowa weryfikacja efektywności pracy asynchronicznej metody jednoczesnej estymacji położenia i orientacji obiektu
    • Jarosław Sadowski
    • Olga Błaszkiewicz
    • Krzysztof Cwalina
    • Alicja Olejniczak
    • Piotr Rajchowski
    • Jacek Stefański
    2024 Przegląd Telekomunikacyjny + Wiadomości Telekomunikacyjne

    W referacie opisano wyniki pomiarowej weryfikacji efektywności pracy asynchronicznej metody lokalizowania obiektu na płaszczyźnie za pomocą sygnałów lokalizacyjnych wysyłanych jednocześnie z dwóch nadajników umieszczonych na tym obiekcie w znanej odległości od siebie.

  • Poprawa jakości klasyfikacji głębokich sieci neuronowych poprzez optymalizację ich struktury i dwuetapowy proces uczenia
    • Arkadiusz Kwasigroch
    2024 Pełny tekst

    W pracy doktorskiej podjęto problem realizacji algorytmów głębokiego uczenia w warunkach deficytu danych uczących. Głównym celem było opracowanie podejścia optymalizującego strukturę sieci neuronowej oraz zastosowanie uczeniu dwuetapowym, w celu uzyskania mniejszych struktur, zachowując przy tym dokładności. Proponowane rozwiązania poddano testom na zadaniu klasyfikacji znamion skórnych na znamiona złośliwe i łagodne. W pierwszym etapie badań dokonano analizy wpływu elementów architektury oraz metod uczenia na wyniki. Następnie, w oparciu o uzyskane wyniki, zaproponowano system automatycznego doboru struktury sieci neuronowej oparty o algorytmy ewolucyjne i modyfikacje sieci zachowujące funkcję. Zastosowanie algorytmu umożliwiło redukcję liczby parametrów o 98%, w porównaniu do popularnych sieci VGG. Kolejnym etapem badań była analiza metodami wstępnego uczenia. Przeprowadzono analizę zastosowania wstępnego uczenia w sposób samonadzorowany oraz w sposób nadzorowany. W badaniach wykazano, że połączenie tych metod przynosi lepsze wyniki niż zastosowanie tylko wstępnego uczenia w sposób nadzorowany. Ostatnim etapem badań była integracja metod doboru struktury z metodami wstępnego uczenia. Przeprowadzone badania potwierdziły, że odpowiedni dobór struktury i metody uczenia mają istotny wpływ na dokładność i efektywność modeli.

  • Porównanie działania transformatora symetryzującego (zygzak) z aktywnym energoelektronicznym symetryzatorem prądów fazowych linii niskiego napięcia
    • Marek Adamowicz
    • Zbigniew Krzemiński
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    Na potrzeby planowania sieci niskiego napięcia operatorzy systemów dystrybucyjnych (OSD) zakładają symetryczne warunki obciążenia linii. Z roku na rok, rośnie liczba rozproszonych systemów fotowoltaicznych (PV) zainstalowanych w sieciach niskiego napięcia, których większość to małe jednofazowe systemy dachowe. Dodatkowo, do niesymetrii obciążenia przyczyniają się instalowane masowo pompy ciepła i ładowane jednofazowo samochody elektryczne. Ze wzrostem liczby odbiorów jednofazowych i jednofazowej generacji rozproszonej rosną problemy OSD z zapewnieniem jakości napięcia. Symetryzacja obciążeń jest możliwa z wykorzystaniem dedykowanych urządzeń: transformatorów symetryzujących (zygzak) oraz aktywnych urządzeń energoelektronicznych. W artykule porównano działanie transformatora o uzwojeniach połączonych w zygzak oraz aktywnego symetryzatora energoelektronicznego dla różnych przypadków asymetrii obciążenia w linii nN.

  • Potencjał wdrożenia rozwiązania DSM dla gospodarstw domowych w Polsce
    • Wiktoria Stahl
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    Poniższy artykuł prezentuje potencjał realizacji rozwiązania DSM dla odbiorców końcowych jakimi są gospodarstwa domowe. W ramach analizy przeprowadzono proces ankietyzacji oraz przygotowano model ekonometryczny, uwzględniający czynniki wpływające na ilość zaoszczędzonej energii przez gospodarstwa domowe w ramach realizacji rozwiązania DSM. Przeprowadzono także symulację Monte Carlo w celu zaprognozowania potencjalnych efektów realizacji DSM w analizowanym przypadku.

  • Potential of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Advancing Renewable Energy: Challenges and Prospects
    • Van Nhanh Nguyen Nhanh Van
    • Wiesław Tarełko
    • Sharma Prabhakar
    • Ahmed Shabana El-Shafay
    • Wei-Hsin Chen
    • Phuoc Quy Phong Nguyen
    • Nguyen Xuan Phuong
    • Tuan Anh Nguyen
    2024 ENERGY & FUELS

    Modern machine learning (ML) techniques are making inroads in every aspect of renewable energy for optimizationand model prediction. The effective utilization of ML techniques for the development and scaling up of renewable energy systemsneeds a high degree of accountability. However, most of the ML approaches currently in use are termed black box since their work isdifficult to comprehend. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is an attractive option to solve the issue of poor interoperability inblack-box methods. This review investigates the relationship between renewable energy (RE) and XAI. It emphasizes the potentialadvantages of XAI in improving the performance and efficacy of RE systems. It is realized that although the integration of XAI withRE has enormous potential to alter how energy is produced and consumed, possible hazards and barriers remain to be overcome,particularly concerning transparency, accountability, and fairness. Thus, extensive research is required to address the societal andethical implications of using XAI in RE and to create standardized data sets and evaluation metrics. In summary, this paper shows thepotential, perspectives, opportunities, and challenges of XAI application to RE system management and operation aiming to targetthe efficient energy-use goals for a more sustainable and trustworthy future.

  • Potyczki algorytmiczne, czyli Alicja i Bogdan w nowych sytuacjach
    • Marek Kubale
    • Joanna Raczek
    2024 Pismo PG

    W kolejnym odcinku serii z Alicją i Bogdanem najpierw ilustrujemy problem dominowania w grafach (kratowych): klasyczny i rzymski. Następnie ilustrujemy znany fakt, że zachłanność nie zawsze się opłaca. Pokażemy mianowicie, że algorytmy zachłanne nie gwarantują uzyskania rozwiązania optymalnego, nawet wówczas gdy problem da się rozwiązać w czasie wielomianowym.

  • Powering the Future by Iron Sulfide Type Material (FexSy) Based Electrochemical Materials for Water Splitting and Energy Storage Applications: A Review
    • Ahmad Farhan
    • Wajeeha Qayyum
    • Urooj Fatima
    • Shahid Nawaz
    • Aldona Balčiūnaitė
    • Tak H. Kim
    • Varsha Srivastava
    • John Vakros
    • Zacharias Frontistis
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2024 Pełny tekst SMALL

    Water electrolysis is among the recent alternatives for generating clean fuels (hydrogen). It is an efficient way to produce pure hydrogen at a rapid pace with no unwanted by-products. Effective and cheap water-splitting electrocatalysts with enhanced activity, specificity, and stability are currently widely studied. In this regard, noble metal-free transition metal-based catalysts are of high interest. Iron sulfide (FeS) is one of the essential electrocatalysts for water splitting because of its unique structural and electrochemical features. This article discusses the significance of FeS and its nanocomposites as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and overall water splitting. FeS and its nanocomposites have been studied also for energy storage in the form of electrode materials in supercapacitors and lithium- (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The structural and electrochemical characteristics of FeS and its nanocomposites, as well as the synthesis processes, are discussed in this work. This discussion correlates these features with the requirements for electrocatalysts in overall water splitting and its associated reactions. As a result, this study provides a road map for researchers seeking economically viable, environmentally friendly, and efficient electrochemical materials in the fields of green energy production and storage.

  • Practical Trial for Low-Energy Effective Jamming on Private Networks With 5G-NR and NB-IoT Radio Interfaces
    • Paweł Skokowski
    • Krzysztof Malon
    • Michał Kryk
    • Krzysztof Maślanka
    • Jan M. Kelner
    • Piotr Rajchowski
    • Jarosław Magiera
    2024 IEEE Access

    Fourth-generation (4G) mobile networks are successively replaced by fifth-generation (5G) ones, based on the new releases of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard. 5G generation is dedicated to civilian users and the conducted analytical work shows that it has numerous technological gaps that prevent its direct implementation in military communications systems. However, the recent armed world conflicts showed that closed or public mobile networks are willingly used by soldiers for both private and business communications, and to conduct defensive and offensive operations as well. From the military operation viewpoint, jamming both civil and military systems is one of the essential elements of electronic warfare. This paper focuses on the practical trial of low-energy and smart jamming on a 5G private network using narrowband signals, which facilitates the reduction of the available throughput, e.g. in the time division duplex - uplink (TDD-UL) by 99%, or by 82% in the frequency division duplex - downlink (FDD-DL). This type of jamming also allows for reaching up to 25 dB of energy gain comparing to barrage jamming. The authors moreover investigated jamming the Narrowband IoT radio interface using synchronized, selective jamming. The goal was to propose energy efficient methods that will allow the jammers to work longer and be mounted on a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can operate near the gNB. The generation of low-power jamming signals in the gNB vicinity successfully hinders detecting the jammer by the enemy’s electronic reconnaissance systems. The proposed solutions are compared with the test results for other types of jamming methods.

  • Praktyka wykonywania pomiarów instalacji fotowoltaicznych prowadząca do określenia rzeczywistego stanu technicznego
    • Leszek Litzbarski
    • Marek Olesz
    • Konrad Seklecki
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    Praca przedstawia zasady wykonywania pomiarów instalacji fotowoltaicznych wg normy PN-EN 62446-1. Proponowany w normie zakres podstawowy pozwala tylko na ocenę bezpieczeństwa pracy instalacji. Dopiero zakres dodatkowy umożliwia uzyskanie informacji o referencyjnych mocach zainstalowanej elektrowni, jej sprawności, a nawet jednorodności poszczególnych ogniw fotowoltaicznych. Załączone przykłady pomiarów czystych i zabrudzonych paneli wskazują na korzyści monitorowania stanu technicznego instalacji podczas ich eksploatacji.

  • Prediction of the fatigue lifetime of PUR structural elements using a combined experimental-numerical approach
    • Grzegorz Lesiuk
    • Krzysztof Junik
    • Szymon Duda
    • Tomasz Socha
    • Krzysztof Kula
    • Arkadiusz Denisiewicz
    • Daniel Medyński
    • Wojciech Macek
    • José A.F.O. Correia
    2024 Structures

    This paper presents a method for estimating the fatigue life of polyurethane elastomeric components. A rubber replacement - polyurethane of hardness 80ShA commonly used in vibration damping systems, for example, in motor vehicle suspensions, was used for the study. A metal-rubber bushing component was selected for analysis, and numerical analysis was carried out along with a fatigue model proposal based on a modification of the WangBrown model. The results obtained indicate that the description of the durability process using the proposed relationship is also possible. A constitutive model based on Ogden’s hyperelastic model was identified and verified. The proposed methodology can be used in any part analysis based on the numerical model and fatigue data. The paper also evaluates the effectiveness of other models against the proposed relationship.

  • Preeclampsia Risk Prediction Using Machine Learning Methods Trained on Synthetic Data
    • Magdalena Mazur-Milecka
    • Natalia Kowalczyk
    • Kinga Jaguszewska
    • Dorota Zamkowska
    • Dariusz Wójcik
    • Krzysztof Preis
    • Henriette Skov
    • Stefan Rahr Wagner
    • Puk Sandager
    • Milena Sobotka
    • Jacek Rumiński
    2024

    This paper describes a research study that investigates the use of machine learning algorithms on synthetic data to classify the risk of developing preeclampsia by pregnant women. Synthetic datasets were generated based on parameter distributions from three real patient studies. Four models were compared: XGBoost, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest, and Explainable Boosting Machines (EBM). The study found that the XGBoost and EBM consistently outperform the other models. An analysis of patient subsets based on their pregnancy history was also conducted, revealing that the group of patients in their first pregnancy achieved the highest prediction accuracy. Additionally, the study explored the efficacy of risk prediction based on various parameters and found that the results vary depending on the models used and the degree of class balance in the database. Finally, an additional test was performed on the dataset annotated by physicians.

  • PRE-FAILURE CONDITION AND THE METHOD OF REPAIRING GLUED TIMBER ROOF BEARS
    • Maciej Niedostatkiewicz
    • Tomasz Majewski
    2024

    Design documentation of glued-laminated timber roof girders is in many cases very general, does not contain details and design solutions, and the contractors do not have experience in the implementation of this type of structure. Design and execution errors, including those related to glued laminated timber roof girders, not only affect the safety and durability of the structure of the facility in which they were built in, but also affect the safety of its use. The aim of the article is to present the impact of the design and execution errors which cumulated after a short period of operation of the sports hall led to its exclusion from use. The article also presents the implemented method of strengthening the roof girders in question.

  • Pre-oxidation of porous ferritic Fe22Cr alloys for lifespan extension at high-temperature
    • Damian Koszelow
    • Małgorzata Makowska
    • F. Marone
    • Grzegorz Cempura
    • Matthieu Tomas
    • Jan Froitzheim
    • Sebastian Molin
    2024 Pełny tekst CORROSION SCIENCE

    Pre-oxidation of porous ferritic Fe22Cr alloys was extensively studied in this paper. Weight gain measurements and SEM analysis revealed that pre-oxidation performed at 900◦C for 40 min increased the lifespan of the alloy. A Cr evaporation study did not disclose any significant influence of the pre-oxidation process on the Cr content in the alloy. For a more detailed assessment, TEM imaging and X-ray tomography measurements of pre-oxidized samples were performed. These analyses showed that alteration in the grain and grain boundary diffusion fluxes might be the key for explaining the corrosion prevention role of pre-oxidation.

  • Preparation and properties of composite coatings, based on carbon nanotubes, for medical applications
    • Dorota Rogala-Wielgus
    • Andrzej Zieliński
    2024 Carbon Letters

    The coatings based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are increasingly developed for their applications, among others, in medicine, in particular for implants in implantology, cardiology, and neurology. The present review paper aims at a detailed demonstration of diferent preparation methods for such coatings, their performance, and relationships between deposition parameters and microstructure and material, mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological properties. The thermal and electrostatic spraying, electrophoretic and electrocathodic deposition, and laser methods are presented. Characterization of microstructure of coatings, topography, morphology, adhesion of CNTs to a substrate, mechanical behavior, corrosion resistance, wettability, cytotoxicity, bioactivity, and antibacterial protection are reviewed for diferent deposition methods and parameters. The state-of-the-art in the feld of carbon nanotubes shows a considerable number of research performed on CNTs coatings. The diferent forms of CNTs, deposition methods, parameters, and substrates were applied as process variables. The microstructures and surface homogeneity, chemical and phase compositions, mechanical properties at the micro- and nanoscale such as coating Young`s modulus and hardness, interface adhesion strength and delaminating force, open corrosion potential and corrosion current density, contact angle in wettability assessment, and bioactivity, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial efciency among biological properties were determined. The summary of so far achievements, strengths and weaknesses, and important future research necessary for clarifcation of some weak points, development of non-toxic, mechanically and chemically resistant, bioactive, and antibacterial multicomponent coatings based on functionalized CNTs are proposed.

  • Prioritising national healthcare service issues from free text feedback – A computational text analysis & predictive modelling approach
    • Adegboyega Ojo
    • Nina Rizun
    • Grace Walsh
    • Mona Isazad Mashinchi
    • Maria Venosa
    • Manohar Narayana Rao
    2024 Pełny tekst DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS

    Patient experience surveys have become a key source of evidence for supporting decision-making and continuous quality improvement within healthcare services. To harness free-text feedback collected as part of these surveys for additional insights, text analytics methods are increasingly employed when the data collected is not amenable to traditional qualitative analysis due to volume. However, while text analytics techniques offer good predictive capabilities, they have limited explanatory features often required in formal decision-making contexts, such as programme monitoring or evaluation. To overcome these limitations, this study integrates computational text and predictive modelling as part of a Computational Grounded Theory method to determine the effect of quality gaps in care dimensions and their prioritisation from free-text feedback. The feedback was collected as part of a national survey to support decisions on continuous improvement in Maternity Services in Ireland. Our approach enables (1) operationalising the service quality lexicon in the context of maternity care to explain the effect of quality gaps in care dimensions on overall satisfaction from free-text comments; and (2) extending the service quality lexicon with two organisational and political decision-making concepts: “Salience” and “Valence”, for prioritising perceived quality gaps. These methodological affordances enable the extension of service quality theory to explicitly support the prioritisation of improvement decisions which before now required additional decision frameworks. Results show that tangibles-, process-, and reliability-related care issues have the highest importance in our study context. We also find that hospital contexts partly determine the relative importance of gaps in care dimensions.

  • Problematyka mycia elementów obrabianych po operacjach docierania jednotarczowego powierzchni płaskich
    • Adam Barylski
    2024 Dozór Techniczny

    W artykule omówiono wybrane zagadnienia mycia elementów po wykończeniowej obróbce ściernej luźnym ścierniwem. Przedstawiono technikę pooperacyjnego mycia ultradźwiękowego, czasochłonność oczyszczania drobnych elementów z ceramiki technicznej oraz skuteczność mycia ręcznego i ultradźwiękowego żeliwa sferoidalnego po docieraniu.

  • Procedury diagnostyczne badania izolacji maszyn elektrycznych
    • Marek Olesz
    • Marcin Gulczyński
    • Marek Adamowicz
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    Artykuł opisuje stosowane w praktyce procedury diagnostyki off-line dla silników elektrycznych niskiego i średniego napięcia. Poza pomiarem rezystancji izolacji do eksploatacji wprowadza się metody impulsowe z dodatkową rejestracją impulsów wyładowań niezupełnych. Analiza odpowiedzi izolacji na oscylacyjne przebiegi napięcia zasadniczo poprawia możliwość wykrywania wewnętrznych uszkodzeń - w tym między zwojowych – w układzie izolacyjnym, co przedstawiono dla omówionego przypadku silnika elektrycznego średniego napięcia.

  • Progress in ATRP-derived materials for biomedical applications
    • Mohsen Khodadadiyazdi
    • Payam Zarrintaj
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Masoud Mozafari
    • Sidi A. Bencherif
    2024 PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE

    The continuing wave of technological breakthroughs and advances is critical for engineering well- defined materials, particularly biomaterials, with tailored microstructure and properties. Over the last few decades, controlled radical polymerization (CRP) has become a very promising option for the synthesis of precise polymeric materials with an unprecedented degree of control over mo lecular architecture. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), one of the most robust and efficient CRPs, has been at the forefront of the synthesis of well-defined polymers with controlled/ predetermined molecular weights, polydispersity, topology, composition, and site-specific func tionality. ATRP has been leveraged to prepare a wide range of polymers with properties tailored for a number of biomedical applications. Furthermore, ATRP can also be utilized to introduce stimuli-responsive properties into the chemical structure of polymers. Moreover, the degradation behavior of ATRP-derived polymers can be tailored by incorporating chemical bonds susceptible to hydrolysis or proteolysis. This strategy allows the design of degradable polymers for in vivo applications. This review summarizes the recent advances in ATRP for the design of functional materials and techniques implemented to advance the biomedical field, such as surface modifi cation and functionalization. Additionally, the latest applications and progress of ATRP-derived materials in various biomedical arenas such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging, and biosensing are reported. Lastly, the current limitations and future perspectives of ATRP- derived biomaterials are carefully discussed to support further improvement of their properties and performance for translatability into the clinic. Moving forward, there is a need for further development of ATRP to align with green chemistry principles. This entails exploring the use of renewable monomers, environmentally friendly and nontoxic solvents, as well as metal-free and biocompatible catalysts. Additionally, researchers should thoroughly investigate the bioactivity, biodegradation behavior, and in vivo fate of ATRP-derived polymers and polymer conjugates before considering their translation into clinical applications

  • Progress in module design for membrane distillation
    • Aamer Ali
    • Mohammad Mahdi Agha Shirazi
    • Lebea Nthunya
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Norafiqah Ismail
    • Naser Tavajohi
    • Guillermo Zaragoza
    • Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen
    2024 Pełny tekst DESALINATION

    There have been tremendous advances in membrane distillation (MD) since the concept was introduced in 1961: new membrane designs and process configurations have emerged, and its commercial viability has been evaluated in several pilot-scale studies. However, its high energy consumption has hindered its commercialization. One of the most promising ways to overcome this obstacle is to develop more energy-efficient membrane modules. The MD research community has therefore developed diverse new module configurations for hollow fiber and flat sheet membranes that increase the thermal energy efficiency of MD by minimizing thermal polarization, increasing mass transfer across the membrane, and improving heat recovery from the condensed vapor. This review summarizes the progress made in the design of hollow fiber and flat sheet membrane modules for MD applications. It begins with a brief introduction to MD and its configurations before describing developments in module fabrication and highlighting key areas where further research is needed.

  • Properties of some fruit wines
    • Kim Mo Young
    • Martyna Lubinska-Szczygeł
    • Martin Polovka
    • Bianka Tobolkova
    • Pitipong Thobunluepop
    • Yong Seo Park
    • Kyung Sik Ham
    • Yang Kyun Park
    • Seong Gook Kang
    • Dinorah Barasch
    • Alina Nemirovski
    • Shela Gorinstein
    2024 EUROPEAN FOOD RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

    Recently wereported about theconsumption of redwines fromgrapes, havingseveral health properties. Thereare different types of wines that originated fromgrapesand other fruits. In the present study fruit wines frompersimmon, kiwifruit and pomegranatewereinvestigated and compared for theirantioxidant ability, usingcupricion reducingantioxidant capacity (CUPRAC)and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)assays. To thefruit wines wereapplied thesamemethods of investigation as to thetraditional ones madefromgrapes. Theresults showed the highest antioxidant activity of pomegranate, followed by kiwifruit and persimmonwines. Fourier transforminfrared (FTIR)spectroscopy was used in order to correlatetheseresults. Theinteraction of wine bioactivecompounds with themain serumproteins in the humanmetabolism, such as human serumalbumin (HSA), globulin (GL),and fibrinogen (FB), showed that pomegranatewine possesses higher quenchingproperties than kiwifruit and persimmonwines. All determined fluorescenceindices havea direct correlationwith the bioactivity of polyphenolsand not with thecontent ofalcohol. We hypothesizethat theresults of theinteraction ofmain human serumproteins with bioactivecompounds of wines can beadditional predictors

  • Proposed concept for the development of residential floating facilities
    • Emilia Miszewska
    • Maciej Niedostatkiewicz
    • Radosław Wiśniewski
    2024 Pełny tekst Inżynieria Bezpieczeństwa Obiektów Antropogenicznych

    Currently, a dynamic growth of interest in residential buildings located on the water can be observed in Poland. However, the lack of legal regulations, the increase in society's affluence and overpopulation in city centers lead to reflection on the development strategy that should be implemented for maritime construction. The publication presents a proposal of four development strategy concepts: aggressive, conservative, competitive and defensive, developed for floating homes (FHs) based on the authors' own research. The strategy concept that, in the authors' opinion, should be implemented was indicated using the TOWS-SWOT analysis. A detailed analysis revealed that the strategy that obtained the highest result in the study was the aggressive strategy

  • Proteases immobilized on nanomaterials for biocatalytic, environmental and biomedical applications: Advantages and drawbacks
    • Muhammad Bilal
    • Sarmad Ahmad Qamar
    • Diego Carballares
    • Ángel Berenguer-Murcia
    • Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente
    2024 Pełny tekst BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES

    Proteases have gained significant scientific and industrial interest due to their unique biocatalytic characteristics and broad-spectrum applications in different industries. The development of robust nanobiocatalytic systems by attaching proteases onto various nanostructured materials as fascinating and novel nanocarriers has demonstrated exceptional biocatalytic performance, substantial stability, and ease of recyclability over multiple reaction cycles under different chemical and physical conditions. Proteases immobilized on nanocarriers may be much more resistant to denaturation caused by extreme temperatures or pH values, detergents, organic solvents, and other protein denaturants than free enzymes. Immobilized proteases may present a lower inhibition. The use of non-porous materials in the immobilization prevents diffusion and steric hindrances during the binding of the substrate to the active sites of enzymes compared to immobilization onto porous materials; when using very large or solid substrates, orientation of the enzyme must always be adequate. The advantages and problems of the immobilization of proteases on nanoparticles are discussed in this review. The continuous and batch reactor operations of nanocarrier-immobilized proteases have been successfully investigated for a variety of applications in the leather, detergent, biomedical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Information about immobilized proteases on various nanocarriers and nanomaterials has been systematically compiled here. Furthermore, different industrial applications of immobilized proteases have also been highlighted in this review.

  • Przedawaryjny stan techniczny estakady suwnicy pomostowej o udźwigu 20 ton po wieloletnim okresie użytkowania
    • Tomasz Majewski
    • Maciej Niedostatkiewicz
    2024

    W artykule opisano stan przedawaryjny konstrukcji nośnej estakady suwnicy pomostowej, po 49 latach jej eksploatacji. Estakada suwnicy nie stwarzała bezpośredniego zagrożenia bezpieczeństwa konstrukcji oraz bezpieczeństwa użytkowania, jednak z uwagi na wieloletni okres eksploatacji, który w praktyce inżynierskiej przyjmowany jest domyślnie jako projektowany okres trwałości, konieczne było wykonanie kompleksowej i szczegółowej kontroli jej stanu technicznego suwnicy oraz szczegółowej oceny stanu technicznego wszystkich jej elementów konstrukcyjnych pod kątem dopuszczenia jej do dalszej eksploatacji. W artykule opisano zaproponowane i zrealizowane rozwiązania, których celem było doprowadzenia przedmiotowej estakady do właściwego stanu technicznego, umożliwiającego dalszą bezpieczną eksploatacje suwnicy pomostowej jako urządzenia.

  • Przegląd metod wyznaczania parcia mieszanki betonowej na deskowanie
    • Andrzej Ambroziak
    2024 Przegląd Budowlany

    W pracy poruszono tematykę wyznaczania parcia mieszanki betonowej na deskowanie. Zebrano i opisano wybrane cztery modele stosowane do wyznaczania rozkładu ciśnienia poziomego świeżej mieszanki betonowej oddziaływującej na deskowanie. Dokonano krótkiego przeglądu literatury z zakresu omawianej tematyki parcia mieszanki betonowej na deskowanie.

  • Przekształtnik DC-DC 24V/12kV z transformatorem macierzowym do ładowarek kondensatorów wysokonapięciowych HVCC
    • Marek Adamowicz
    • Jędrzej Pietryka
    • Zbigniew Krzemiński
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    W artykule przedstawiono projekt i wykonanie kompaktowej, przenośnej wysokonapięciowej ładowarki kondensatorów 12kV, 1kJ/s, zasilanej z baterii akumulatorów 24V. Podstawowym wyzwaniem zaprojektowania przekształtnika o tak wysokiej przekładni transformatora jest minimalizacja indukcyjności rozproszenia transformatora, która wpływa na ograniczenie mocy przenoszonej przez transformator, a tym samym uniemożliwia regulację prądu i napięcia strony wtórnej przekształtnika. Przekształtnik DC-DC ładowarki wykorzystuje transformator macierzowy wysokiej częstotliwości o wspólnym uzwojeniu pierwotnym i 16 uzwojeniach wtórnych, z których 14 jest połączonych z mostkami prostowniczymi, a dwa stanowią uzwojenia pomocnicze. Szeregowo połączone wyjścia mostków prostowniczych tworzą wysokonapięciowe wyjście ładowarki.

  • Psychophysiological strategies for enhancing performance through imagery – skin conductance level analysis in guided vs. self-produced imagery
    • Dagmara Budnik-Przybylska
    • Paweł Syty
    • Maria Kaźmierczak
    • Jacek Przybylski
    • Łukasz Doliński
    • Marta Łabuda
    • Patryk Jasik
    • Adrian Kastrau
    • Selenia di Fronso
    • Maurizio Bertollo
    2024 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    Athletes need to achieve their optimal level of arousal for peak performance. Visualization or mental rehearsal (i.e., Imagery) often helps to obtain an appropriate level of activation, which can be detected by monitoring Skin Conductance Level (SCL). However, different types of imagery could elicit different amount of physiological arousal. Therefore, this study aims: (1) to investigate differences in SCL associated with two instructional modalities of imagery (guided vs. self-produced) and six different scripts; (2) to check if SCL could differentiate respondents according to their sport expertise. Thirty participants, aged between 14 and 42 years (M = 22.93; SD = 5.24), with different sport levels took part in the study. Participants listened to each previously recorded script and then were asked to imagine the scene for a minute. During the task, SCL was monitored. We analysed the mean value, variance, slope and number of fluctuations per minute of the electrodermal signal. Unsupervised machine learning models were used for measuring the resemblance of the signal. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for distinguishing guided and self-produced imagery, and The Mann–Whitney U test was used for distinguishing results of different level athletes. We discovered that among others, self-produced imagery generates lower SCL, higher variance, and a higher number of fluctuations compared to guided imagery. Moreover, we found similarities of the SCL signal among the groups of athletes (i.e. expertise level). From a practical point of view, our findings suggest that different imagery instructional modalities can be implemented for specific purposes of mental preparation.

  • Public space as a place of rehabilitation for the elderly – a systematic literature review
    • Agnieszka Gębczyńska-Janowicz
    • Rafał Janowicz
    2024 Pełny tekst MEDYCYNA PRACY

    The phenomenon of the population’s gradual global ageing means that an increasing proportion of research is concerned with the space in which seniors function on a daily basis. They are primarily aimed at identifying elements of the built environment that need updating in the new social context. The purpose of the analyses presented in this article is to review the current scientific literature on various aspects of physical activity of people outdoors in an urbanized environment. The scope review was based on the resources of 3 scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed). The analyses concerned articles published in the last decade (2013–2023). The collected material was subjected to the PRISMA procedure (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analytics), and 29 articles were extracted for analysis. The conducted research indicated thematic scopes that are undertaken in contemporary research on physical activities of a rehabilitation nature undertaken in public space by older people (>65 years of age). The research topics described in the articles analysed dealt with elements defining the characteristics of public space that mobilise older people to be active, identified barriers preventing its use and factors popularising it. The studies analysed also identified the characteristics of public spaces according to the type of activity used by seniors for rehabilitation. The result of the review is the separation of the thematic scope of research on the activation of the elderly in the open air towards rehabilitation. The information provided may be useful for architects, urban planners and people managing urban spaces to determine design solutions that meet the needs of older people.

  • Public valuation of social impacts. The comparison between mega and non-mega sporting events
    • Krystian Zawadzki
    2024 Pełny tekst Journal of Policy Research in Tourism Leisure and Events

    The main aim of this study is to assign value to intangible effects,including social impacts, which appear when organising sportingevents of various scales in the city of Gdansk located in northernPoland. A survey was conducted to determine the city residents’willingness-to-pay (WTP) using the contingent valuation method(CVM). The average WTP values, which ranged between PLN 6.04and PLN 46.34, show that the scale of the sporting event may beimportant for the local community’s perception of such socialimpacts as well-being and urban regeneration. However,considering the costs of organising sporting events–includingthe preparation of sporting facilities–it turns out that it is easierto justify spending public funds for holding smaller events,among others, due to the possibility of organising such events inthe same place more frequently.

  • PVA-Based Films with Strontium Titanate Nanoparticles Dedicated to Wound Dressing Application
    • Beata Kaczmarek-Szczepańska
    • Lidia Zasada
    • Marcin Wekwejt
    • Maria Swiontek Brzezinska
    • Anna Michno
    • Anna Ronowska
    • Magdalena Ciesielska
    • Ganna Kovtun
    • M. Teresa Cuberes
    2024 Pełny tekst Polymers

    Bioactive materials may be applied in tissue regeneration, and an example of such materials are wound dressings, which are used to accelerate skin healing, especially after trauma. Here, we proposed a novel dressing enriched by a bioactive component. The aim of our study was to prepare and characterize poly(vinyl alcohol) films modified with strontium titanate nanoparticles. The physicochemical properties of films were studied, such as surface free energy and surface roughness, as well as the mechanical properties of materials. Moreover, different biological studies were carried out, like in vitro hemo- and cyto-compatibility, biocidal activity, and anti-biofilm formation. Also, the degradation of the materials’ utilization possibilities and enzymatic activity in compost were checked. The decrease of surface free energy, increase of roughness, and improvement of mechanical strength were found after the addition of nanoparticles. All developed films were cyto-compatible, and did not induce a hemolytic effect on the human erythrocytes. The PVA films containing the highest concentration of STO (20%) reduced the proliferation of Eschericha coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus significantly. Also, all films were characterized by surface anti-biofilm activity, as they significantly lowered the bacterial biofilm abundance and its dehydrogenase activity. The films were degraded by the compost microorganism. However, PVA with the addition of 20%STO was more difficult to degrade. Based on our results, for wound dressing application, we suggest using bioactive films based on PVA + 20%STO, as they were characterized by high antibacterial properties, favorable physicochemical characteristics, and good biocompatibility with human cells.

  • Quality control of cheese samples for the presence of natamycin preservative – A natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) based extraction coupled with HPLC
    • Hameed Haq
    • Nail Altunay
    • Mustafa Tuzen
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2024 JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

    A new protocol for the determination of natamycin – an antifungal agent used as a food preservative - in cheese samples – is described. This new method is based on a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) green extraction procedure. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for detection and quantification. NADESs with different molar ratios were evaluated for efficient and selective extraction. NADES made of thymol and nonanoic acid (1:1) revealed to be the best extracting solvent. All significant analytical parameters - pH, temperature, NADES volume, time for sonication were optimized using Plackett-Burman (PB) and central composite design (CCD) - response surface methodology (RSM). Optimum conditions for extraction were pH 7, temperature 25°C, NADES volume 4.5 mL for 20 mL sample, and sonication time 10 mins. The developed method has a satisfactory linearity of 2–80.4 mg/kg, limits of detections (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.45 and 1.45 mg/kg respectively. Under optimized conditions, the sample preparation procedure takes 12 mins. The method was found selective due to the unique and representative features of DESs. Furthermore, the extracts are analyzed by HPLC which provides a second very effective separation step, assuring the selectivity of the method. Validation of the method confirms the robustness and reproducibility of the NADES-based extraction coupled with the HPLC method demonstrating the effectiveness of NADES. The findings of this work contribute to the field of food safety and quality control, offering a novel and efficient approach to the detection of natamycin in cheese samples.

  • Quantifying inconsistencies in the Hamburg Sign Language Notation System
    • Maria Ferlin
    • Sylwia Majchrowska
    • Marta A. Plantykow
    • Alicja Kwaśniewska
    • Agnieszka Mikołajczyk-Bareła
    • Milena Olech
    • Jakub Nalepa
    2024 EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS

    The advent of machine learning (ML) has significantly advanced the recognition and translation of sign languages, bridging communication gaps for hearing-impaired communities. At the heart of these technologies is data labeling, crucial for training ML algorithms on a huge amount of consistently labeled data to achieve models that generalize well. The adoption of language-agnostic annotations is essential to connect different sign languages, as single-language databases often provide limited lexicon examples, insufficient for training robust ML algorithms. This study critically examines the Hamburg Sign Language Notation System (HamNoSys), which describes the signer’s initial position and body movements, in contrary to the meanings of glosses. Despite HamNoSys’s utility in standardizing transcriptions across various sign languages, our investigation uncovers inconsistencies within HamNoSys that may negatively impact the development of accurate and reliable ML models. By analyzing HamNoSys labels across five sign languages, we identified a lack of standardized annotation procedures and the complexities within HamNoSys that introduce biases and errors. Our findings underscore the urgent need for unified, standardized data annotation guidelines to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of sign language recognition technologies. This research highlights the importance of addressing annotation challenges and advocates for a comprehensive, diversified database to improve the generalization of ML models.

  • Quantum strategies for rendezvous and domination tasks on graphs with mobile agents
    • Giuseppe Viola
    • Piotr Mironowicz
    2024 Pełny tekst PHYSICAL REVIEW A

    This paper explores the application of quantum nonlocality, a renowned and unique phenomenon acknowledged as a valuable resource. Focusing on an alternative application, we demonstrate its quantum advantage for mobile agents engaged in specific distributed tasks without communication. The research addresses the significant challenge of rendezvous on graphs and introduces a distributed task for mobile agents grounded in the graph domination problem. Through an investigation across various graph scenarios, we showcase the quantum advantage. Additionally, we scrutinize deterministic strategies, highlighting their comparatively lower efficiency compared to quantum strategies. The paper concludes with a numerical analysis, providing further insights into our findings.

  • Quasi-one-dimensional exchange interactions and short-range magnetic correlations in CuTeO4
    • Zubia Hasan
    • Eli Zoghlin
    • Michał Winiarski
    • Kathryn E. Arpino
    • Thomas Halloran
    • Thao Tran
    • Tyrel McQueen
    2024 Pełny tekst PHYSICAL REVIEW B

    CuTeO4 has been proposed as a crystallographically distinct, yet electronic structure analog, of the superconducting cuprates. Here, we present a detailed characterization of the physical properties of CuTeO4 to address this proposal. Fitting of magnetic susceptibility data indicates unexpected quasi-one-dimensional, antiferromagnetic correlations at high temperature, with a nearest-neighbor Heisenberg exchange of 1=164⁢(5) K. Low-temperature heat capacity measurements reveal a sizable -linear contribution of =9.58⁢(8) mJ mol−1K−2, qualitatively consistent with expectations for a =1/2, uniform, Heisenberg spin chain. Below ≈40 K, the susceptibility shows an upturn inconsistent with quasi-one-dimensional behavior. While heat capacity measurements show no signs of magnetic order down to low-temperature, the upturn in the magnetic susceptibility coincides with the emergence of a diffuse peak (centered at | ⃗ ⁢|≈0.7 Å) in the neutron diffraction data, indicative of persistent, short-range, antiferromagnetic order with a correlation length of =10.1⁢(9) Å at =10 K. The onset of nonlinearity and hysteresis in the isothermal magnetization curves suggests the presence of a small ferromagnetic component. This persistent, short-range order is understood in the context of structural modeling of the x-ray and neutron diffraction data that show the presence of a significant density of stacking faults. No evidence for substantive dopability is observed and CuTeO4 appears, qualitatively, to have a larger band gap than predicted by density functional theory. We ascribe this finding to the inductive withdrawal effect from high-valence Te and suggest that superconductivity in copper tellurates is more likely to be found in compounds with a decreased reductive withdrawal effect from Te.

  • Quinoline-based thiazolyl-hydrazones target cancer cells through autophagy inhibition
    • Vladimir Ćurčić
    • Mateusz Olszewski
    • Natalia Maciejewska
    • Aleksandar Višnjevac
    • Tatjana Srdić-rajić
    • Vladimir Dobričić
    • Alfonso T García-sosa
    • Sanja B Kokanov
    • Jovana B. Araškov
    • Romano Silvestri
    • Roland Schüle
    • Manfred Jung
    • Milan Nikolić
    • Nenad R. Filipovići
    2024 ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE

    Heterocyclic pharmacophores such as thiazole and quinoline rings have a significant role in medicinal chemistry. They are considered privileged structures since they constitute several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for cancer treatment. Herein, we report the synthesis, in silico evaluation of the ADMET profiles, and in vitro investigation of the anticancer activity of a series of novel thiazolyl-hydrazones based on the 8-quinoline (1a-c), 2-quinoline (2a-c), and 8-hydroxy-2-quinolyl moiety (3a-c). The panel of several human cancer cell lines and the nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line HEK-293 were used to evaluate the compound-mediated in vitro anticancer activities, leading to [2-(2-(quinolyl-8-ol-2-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-thiazole (3c) as the most promising compound. The study revealed that 3c blocks the cell-cycle progression of a human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) in the S phase and induces DNA double-strand breaks. Also, our findings demonstrate that 3c accumulates in lysosomes, ultimately leading to the cell death of the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep-G2) and HCT-116 cells, by the mechanism of autophagy inhibition.

  • Rapid Surrogate-Aided Multi-Criterial Optimization of Compact Microwave Passives Employing Machine Learning and ANNs
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    2024 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES

    This article introduces an innovative method for achieving low-cost and reliable multi-objective optimization (MO) of microwave passive circuits. The technique capitalizes on the attributes of surrogate models, specifically artificial neural networks (ANNs), and multi-resolution electromagnetic (EM) analysis. We integrate the search process into a machine learning (ML) framework, where each iteration produces multiple infill points selected from the present representation of the Pareto set. This collection is formed by optimizing the ANN metamodel by means of a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. The procedure concludes upon convergence, defined as a significant similarity between the sets of non-dominated solutions acquired through consecutive iterations. Performing the majority of iterations at the low-fidelity EM simulation level enables additional computational savings. Our methodology has been showcased using two microstrip circuits. Comparative assessments against various surrogate-assisted benchmark methods demonstrate the algorithm's competitive performance in terms of computational efficiency and the quality of the Pareto set generated in the course of the optimization run.

  • Rebuilding Bailey Bridge to Bridge With Bascule Span – A Case Study
    • Andrzej Ambroziak
    • Maciej Malinowski
    • Mirosław Wałęga
    2024 Pełny tekst Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering

    The structural analysis of a road foldable prefabricated steel Bailey- type bridge located over the Tuga River in Żelichowo, Poland is performed in this paper. Interesting and untypical bridge redevelopment performed made it possible to lift the middle foldable bridge span by approximately 4.0 m concerning the existing state. The paper begins with a survey of literature carried out on the investigations of foldable Bailey-type bridge subject matter. A description of the numerical modelling of foldable prefabricated bridges is performed. The comparison of the proof load test results with the FEM numerical model results has shown very good compatibility. This paper can provide scientists, engineers, and designers the basis for structural analysis in the field of foldable Bailey-type bridge constructions and numerical simulations.

  • Recent advances in hydrogen production from biomass waste with a focus on pyrolysis and gasification
    • Van Giao Nguyen
    • Thanh Xuan Nguyen-Thi
    • Phuoc Quy Phong Nguyen
    • Viet Dung Tran
    • Ümit Ağbulut
    • Lan Huong Nguyen
    • Dhinesh Balasubramanian
    • Wiesław Tarełko
    • Suhaib A. Bandh
    • Nguyen Dang Khoa Pham
    2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

    This paper presents the results research on the optimal fuel compositions and the control parameters of the spark ignition engine fueled with syngas-biogas-hydrogen for the purpose of setting up a flexible electronic control unit for the engine working in a solar-biomass hybrid renewable energy system. In syngas-biogas-hydrogen mixture, the optimal content of hydrogen and biogas is 20% and 30%, respectively. Exceeding these thresholds, the improvement of engine performance is moderate, but the pollution emission increases strongly. The optimal advanced ignition angle is 38CA, 24CA, and 18CA for syngas, biogas, and hydrogen, respectively. With the same content of hydrogen or biogas in the mixture with syngas, the advanced ignition angle of the hydrogen-syngas blend is less than that of the syngas-biogas blend by about 4CA at the engine speed of 3000 rpm. The derating power of the engine is 30% and 23% as switching from the hydrogen and biogas fueling mode to the syngas fueling mode, respectively. However, NOx emission of the engine increase from 200 ppm (for syngas) to 2800 ppm (for biogas) and to over 6000 ppm (for hydrogen). The optimal advanced ignition angle, the optimal equivalence ratio of the syngas-biogas-hydrogen fuel mixture vary within the limits of the respective values for syngas and hydrogen. To improve the engine efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions, the loading control system of the engine should prioritize the adjustment of the fuel flow and then the adjustment of the air-fuel mixture flow.

  • Recent Advances in Polymer Nanocomposites: Unveiling the Frontier of Shape Memory and Self-Healing Properties—A Comprehensive Review
    • Huma Jamil
    • Muhammad Faizan
    • Muhammad Adeel Ahmad
    • Teofil Jesionowski
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Aldona Balčiūnaitė
    2024 Pełny tekst MOLECULES

    Shape memory and self-healing polymer nanocomposites have attracted considerable attention due to their modifiable properties and promising applications. The incorporation of nanomaterials (polypyrrole, carboxyl methyl cellulose, carbon nanotubes, titania nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, mesoporous silica) into these polymers has significantly enhanced their performance, opening up new avenues for diverse applications. The self-healing capability in polymer nanocomposites depends on several factors, including heat, quadruple hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, Diels–Alder reactions, and metal–ligand coordination, which collectively govern the interactions within the composite materials. Among possible interactions, only quadruple hydrogen bonding between composite constituents has been shown to be effective in facilitating self-healing at approximately room temperature. Conversely, thermo-responsive self-healing and shape memory polymer nanocomposites require elevated temperatures to initiate the healing and recovery processes. Thermo-responsive (TRSMPs), light-actuated, magnetically actuated, and Electrically actuated Shape Memory Polymer Nanocomposite are discussed. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of interactions involved in SMP and SHP nanocomposites and examines their behavior at both room temperature and elevated temperature conditions, along with their biomedical applications. Among many applications of SMPs, special attention has been given to biomedical (drug delivery, orthodontics, tissue engineering, orthopedics, endovascular surgery), aerospace (hinges, space deployable structures, morphing aircrafts), textile (breathable fabrics, reinforced fabrics, self-healing electromagnetic interference shielding fabrics), sensor, electrical (triboelectric nanogenerators, information energy storage devices), electronic, paint and self-healing coating, and construction material (polymer cement composites) applications.

  • Recent advances in reinforced bioplastics for food packaging – A critical review
    • Shahida Anusha Siddiqui
    • Xi Yang
    • Ram Kumar Deshmukh
    • Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad
    • Nur Alim Bahmid
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    2024 Pełny tekst INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

    Recently, diversifying the material, method, and application in food packaging has been massively developed to find more environment-friendly materials. However, the mechanical and barrier properties of the bioplastics are major hurdles to expansion in commercial realization. The compositional variation with the inclusion of different fillers could resolve the lacking performance of the bioplastic. This review summarizes the various reinforcement fillers and their effect on bioplastic development. In this review, we first discussed the status of bioplastics and their definition, advantages, and limitations regarding their performance in the food packaging application. Further, the overview of different fillers and development methods has been discussed thoroughly. The application of reinforced bioplastic for food packaging and its effect on food quality and shelf life are highlighted. The environmental issues, health concerns, and future perspectives of the reinforced bioplastic are also discussed at the end of the manuscript. Adding different fillers into the bioplastic improves physical, mechanical, barrier, and active properties, which render the required protective functions to replace conventional plastic for food packaging applications. Various fillers, such as natural and chemically synthesized, could be incorporated into the bioplastic, and their overall properties improve significantly for the food packaging application.

  • Recent advances on magnetic carbon-related materials in advanced oxidation processes of emerging pollutants degradation
    • Elvana Çako
    • Kumaravel Dinesh Gunasekaran
    • Saravanan Rajendran
    • Anna Zielińska-Jurek
    2024 Pełny tekst Water Resources and Industry

    Recently, carbon-related materials have been proposed to improve the charge separation of the photogenerated carriers in the semiconductor matrices’ and surface properties. Carbon-related materials may act as co-catalysts, enhancing the pollutants adsorption on the surface, improving the charge carriers separation and photocatalyst stability and providing more active centres for photocatalytic reactions. This review summarizes recent advances in the preparation and environmental application of carbon-related materials. The focus was set on preparation of carbon-related materials and magnetic carbon-related photocatalytic materials with the property of easy separation after the purification process in an external magnetic field and their application for degradation of emerging pollutants not susceptible to biodegradation. The present studies identify four main groups of water pollutants: pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals. Among them, pharmaceuticals and phenolic compounds represent a significant group of persistent organic pollutants. Some of the commonly used pharmaceuticals for human health, as well as disinfectants, are found in wastewater influents and effluents (after the puri- fication process) almost in the unchanged form. Their detection in trace amounts (of about a few micrograms to hundreds of nanograms per litre) and removal become difficult but important because they put at risk the reuse of treated wastewater and the sustainability of water cycle management. Concerning levels of concentrations, these compounds are classified as hazardous due to possibilities of bioaccumulation, biomagnification and toxic impact on living organisms, even in trace amounts. Up to now, various methods have been reported in the removal of pharmaceuticals and phenolic compounds from aqueous systems. This review provides coherent information for future studies in the application of carbon-related materials and magnetic carbon-related materials for the removal of active pharmaceutical ingredients and phenolic compounds. Insights on pharmaceutical and phenolic compounds photodegradation in the presence of carbon-based materials. The effect of various parameters such as water matrice, pH, natural organic matter presence, and temperature were also discussed. Finally, the economic feasibility and consideration of photocatalyst recovery capability completed the concept and discussion on magnetic carbon-related materials.

  • Recent Issues and Challenges in the Study of Inland Waters
    • Ryszard Staniszewski
    • Beata Messyasz
    • Piotr Dąbrowski
    • Paweł Burdziakowski
    • Marcin Spychała
    2024 Pełny tekst Water

    This paper addresses several important problems and methods related to studies of inland waters based on the existing scientific literature. The use of UAVs in freshwater monitoring is described, including recent contact and non-contact solutions. Due to a decline in biological diversity in many parts of the globe, the main threats are described together with a modern method for algae and cyanobacteria monitoring utilizing chlorophyll a fluorescence. Observed disturbances in the functioning of river biocenoses related to mine waters’ discharge, causing changes in the physicochemical parameters of waters and sediments, give rise to the need to develop more accurate methods for the assessment of this phenomenon. Important problems occurring in the context of microplastic detection, including the lack of unification, standardization and repeatability of the methods used, were described. In conclusion, accurate results in the monitoring of water quality parameters of inland waters can be achieved by combining modern methods and using non-contact solutions.

  • Receptor for advanced glycation end‐products: Biological significance and imaging applications
    • Iwona T. Dobrucki
    • Angelo Miskalis
    • Michael B. Nelappana
    • Catherine C. Applegate
    • Marcin Woźniak
    • Andrzej Czerwinski
    • Leszek Kalinowski
    • Lawrence W. Dobrucki
    2024 Pełny tekst Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology

    The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE or AGER) is a transmembrane, immunoglobulin-like receptor that, due to its multiple isoform structures, binds to a diverse range of endo- and exogenous ligands. RAGE activation caused by the ligand binding initiates a cascade of complex pathways associated with producing free radicals, such as reactive nitric oxide and oxygen species, cell proliferation, and immunoinflammatory processes. The involvement of RAGE in the pathogenesis of disorders such as diabetes, inflammation, tumor progression, and endothelial dysfunction is dictated by the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) at pathologic states leading to sustained RAGE upregulation. The involvement of RAGE and its ligands in numerous pathologies and diseases makes RAGE an interesting target for therapy focused on the modulation of both RAGE expression or acti-vation and the production or exogenous administration of AGEs. Despite the known role that the RAGE/AGE axis plays in multiple disease states, there remains an urgent need to develop noninvasive, molecular imaging approaches that can accurately quantify RAGE levels in vivo that will aid in the validation of RAGE and its ligands as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

  • Reconfigurable Antennas for Trustable Things
    • Mateusz Groth
    • Mateusz Rzymowski
    • Krzysztof Nyka
    • Łukasz Kulas
    2024

    In modern applications, the Internet of Things plays a significant role in increasing the productivity, effectiveness or safety and security of people and assets. Additionally, the reliability of Internet of Things components is crucial from the application point of view, where a resilient and low-latency network is needed. This can be achieved by utilizing reconfigurable antennas to enhance the capabilities of the wireless sensor network (WSN). Additionally, reconfigurable antennas can provide extended functionalities to the Internet of Things. One such aspect of wireless sensing is localization, where objects can be identified and positioned using radio frequency (RF) signals. For this purpose, analysis of spatial diversification of signals can be used by utilizing reconfigurable antennas. This work presents a design of a reconfigurable antenna that is applicable to Internet of Things WSNs and algorithms that utilize the antenna to provide additional localization functionalities

  • Recycled rubber wastes-based polymer composites with flame retardancy and electrical conductivity: Rational design, modeling and optimization
    • Paulina Wiśniewska
    • Natalia Wójcik
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Robert Bogdanowicz
    • Henri Vahabi
    • Alireza Shadman
    • Krzysztof Formela
    • Mohammad Saeb
    2024 COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Polymer recycling techniques experience a maturity period of design and application. Rubbers comprise a high proportion of polymer wastes, highly flammable and impossible to re-melt. Polymer composites based on ground tire rubber (GTR) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) containing carbon black (CB) (1–50 phr), with variable EVA/GTR weight composition (10/90, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 90/10), and processing temperature (Low: 100 °C and High: 200 °C) were designed applying Design of Experiments (DOE) approach of Optimal Design. The properties and performance features were experimentally evaluated. The tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EB) were optimized using Desirability Function (DF) approach. A wide fluidity window (Labeled POOR, GOOD, and EXCELLENT) and mechanical properties were observed. Overall, higher values of EB were assigned to samples processed at 200 °C. Cubic regression modeling and DF optimization of TS and EB indicated unlikely that one expect a TS ≥ 3 MPa, while EB values more than 500% were likely regardless of CB content for EVA-rich composites. The electrical properties of CB/EVA/GTR samples were examined by impedance spectroscopy technique. An interesting relationship was observed between the DC conductivity and the EVA/GTR ratio and processing temperature. GTR-rich samples showed much higher conductivity than EVA-dominated samples, attributed to the presence of CB in the rubber waste, which, together with the added CB, was able to create conduction paths for the transported electrons. Higher processing temperature of 200 °C improved dispersion of the added CB, i.e. a more even distribution of the conductive phase in the matrix. The uniform and evenly dispersed domains of particles were detected by SEM images for highly CB loaded composites. Surprisingly, 50/50 EVA/GTR composites were resilient against flame, while thermally stable ones in TGA measurements were highly CB loaded ones.

  • Recycling of Industrial Waste as Soil Binding Additives—Effects on Soil Mechanical and Hydraulic Properties during Its Stabilisation before Road Construction
    • Witold Waciński
    • Ksawery Kuligowski
    • Małgorzata Olejarczyk
    • Marek Zając
    • Włodzimierz Urbaniak
    • Waldemar Cyske
    • Paweł Kazimierski
    • Robert Tylingo
    • Szymon Mania
    • Adam Cenian
    2024 Pełny tekst Materials

    To improve the in situ soil stabilization, different chemical additives are used (ion exchange compounds, additives based on H2SO4 or vinyl polymers, and organic additives using lignosul- fonates). One interesting alternative is the production of additives from various waste materials. The extensive testing of waste-based blends with soil was performed; the mechanical (unconfined compressive strength (UCS)) and hydraulic (capillary rise, water absorption, and frost resistance (FR)) soil properties were measured. The optimization process led to obtaining additive compositions ensuring high strength and sealing properties: by-pass ash from the ceramics industry, waste H2SO4, pyrolytic waxes/oils from waste mixed plastics, waste tires and HDPE, and emulsion from chewing gum waste. For sandy soil, the following additives were the most promising: emulsion from pyrolytic wax (EPW) from waste PE foil (WPEF) with the addition of waste H2SO4, pyrolytic-oil emulsion from waste tires, EPW from waste mixed plastics with the addition of “by-pass” waste ash and NaOH, EPW from WPEF with the addition of NaOH, and EPW from WPEF reaching up to 93% FR, a 79.6% 7-day UCS increase, and a 27.6% of 28-day UCS increase. For clay: EPW from WPEF with the addition of NaOH, EPW from WPEF with the addition of waste H2SO4, and solely EPW from WPEF reaching up to 7.5% FR, an 80.7% 7-day UCS increase, and a 119.1% 28-day UCS increase.

  • Reducing income inequalities through government expenditures on education. Evidence for European countries Piotr PłatkowskiORCID Icon &Ewa LechmanORCID Icon
    • Ewa Lechman
    • Piotr Płatkowski
    2024 APPLIED ECONOMICS LETTERS

    This study examines the role of government spending on education in mitigating income inequalities. The study uses dynamic panel regressions to assess the evolution of education expenditures and income inequality in the sample of 30 European countries between 1995 and 2018. Our findings show that increases in government spending on education positively affect income inequality reduction. The impact was more substantial in case of less developed economies and countries with initially higher level of income inequalities, which stands for total expenditures on education, but also expenditures allocated to secondary and tertiary education.

  • Regenarative tourism – between theory and practice
    • Anna Dziadkiewicz
    • Ewelina Sokołowska
    • Justyna Borawska-Dziadkiewicz
    2024 Pełny tekst Zeszyty Naukowe. Organizacja i Zarządzanie / Politechnika Śląska

    Purpose: The aim of this article is to present a shift in thinking in terms of implementing the systems and practices needed to transition to a regenerative approach in tourism. The article aims to provide concrete ways to change thinking and move towards a regenerative paradigm in the tourism industry. Design/methodology/approach: This viewpoint paper defines regenerative tourism and explores its principles and the possibilities for driving transformational change in tourism. It outlines what a conscious approach to regenerative tourism entails and outlines working principles for regenerative tourism. The article concludes with a discussion of new regenerative thinking and practices. Findings: Transitioning towards regenerative tourism requires a change in systems, thinking and practice. Regenerative tourism requires a change in socio-ecological awareness in terms of both awareness of the financial benefits to the tourist destination, local society, and the owners of tourist facilities. Tourism must be managed as a complex adaptive system and overcome the challenges of polarisation, which is even more acute in times of economic, political, and social crises. Regenerative tourism requires a deeply committed bottom-up approach that is destination-based, community-centred and environmentally focused. Research limitations and implications: The article presents a point of view; it is not a typical research article. Nevertheless, it provides a rich field for future research in the implementation of of regenerative tourism activities. Practical and social implications: After indicating the scientific basis of regenerative tourism, the article provides recommendations and courses of action that can be used by tourism entrepreneurs. It can also be confidently used by entrepreneurs in other industries. Originality/value: This paper is based on both the literature on the subject and the reflections and recommendations of female researchers who share their long experience from different perspectives—economics, environment, and biotechnology—both academically and from business practice. As a result, the study identifies not only recommendations but also good practices that tourism entrepreneurs can apply to run their business in a regenerative way, while taking care of society, the economy, and the environment.