Repozytorium publikacji - Politechnika Gdańska

Ustawienia strony

english
Repozytorium publikacji
Politechniki Gdańskiej

Pokaż publikacje z roku

Ostatnie pozycje

  • 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.

  • Quantitative loss analysis of opaque perovskite solar cells using transient and steady-state characterization
    • Katarzyna Cudo
    • Riccardo Ollearo
    • Gerwin H. Gelinck
    • Yulia Galagan
    • Damian Głowienka
    2024 Physical Review Applied

    Perovskite solar cells have emerged as a promising technology in the field of photovoltaics, owing to their notable advancements in power conversion efficiency. Recent investigations have revealed a crucial dependency of efficiency on the source of bromide within the perovskite absorption layer. To elucidate the underlying nature of traps within these solar cells, a comprehensive series of measurements was conducted under varying light intensities. Subsequently, employing an electrodynamic theoretical model, the intrinsic processes inherent to caesium and lead-based perovskite solar cells with different bromide sources were analyzed. The study reveals significant differences in transient photocurrent measurements and photocurrent-voltage characteristics among perovskites originating from different bromide sources, measured under different light intensities. Leveraging theoretical analyses on the picosecond scale, the recombination mechanism of crystal defects was meticulously described revealing the pronounced influence of capture rates on electron-hole recombination dynamics. Furthermore, the investigation substantiated the presence of a band-bending phenomenon at the interface between the hole transport layer (HTL) and perovskite, elucidating the observed transient photocurrent phenomena. The findings significantly advance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying perovskite solar cells, offering valuable insights into their performance and paving the way for enhanced efficiency and stability in future device design and optimization.

  • 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.

  • Quantum-assisted rendezvous on graphs: explicit algorithms and quantum computer simulations
    • Joshua Tucker
    • Paul Strange
    • Piotr Mironowicz
    • Jorge Quintanilla
    2024 NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

    We study quantum advantage in one-step rendezvous games on simple graphs analytically, numerically, and using noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) processors. Our protocols realise the recently discovered (Mironowicz 2023 New J. Phys. 25 013023) optimal bounds for small cycle graphs and cubic graphs. In the case of cycle graphs, we generalise the protocols to arbitrary graph size. The NISQ processor experiments realise the expected quantum advantage with high accuracy for rendezvous on the complete graph K3. In contrast, for the graph , formed by two disconnected 4-vertex complete graphs, the performance of the NISQ hardware is sub-classical, consistent with the deeper circuit and known qubit decoherence and gate error rates.

  • Quasilinear elliptic problem in anisotropic Orlicz–Sobolev space on unbounded domain
    • Karol Wroński
    2024 ANNALI DI MATEMATICA PURA ED APPLICATA

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

  • 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 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.

  • Raman Scattering versus Strain Engineering in Phosphorene Nanostructures: An Ab Initio Studies
    • Krzysztof Pyrchla
    2024 Pełny tekst

    The one-dimensional nanoribbons made from phosphorene are novel structures with great applicability potential in material science. The significant carrier mobility combined with intrinsic semiconductor properties makes them ideal for application in electronics, and they are excellent candidates for sensing material. The lack of a well–established multiscale modelling strategy for phosphorene nano optoelectronic devices is one of the issues slowing down research on its applications. This thesis is focused on the preparation of the hybrid workflow for complex modelling of the phosphorene nanoribbons and use it for studying the potential of applying phosphorene nanostructures as a mechanical nanooscillator. In the proposed design, the oscillating behaviour of phosphorene device can be traced by the changes in the Raman bands of this structures. To efficiently predict the magnitude of such change, the multi-stage, hybrid calculation workflow was constructed. The ab initio modelling was utilised to study the mechanical elasticity of the phosphorene nanoribbons with different widths and doping levels. The effect of surface oxidation and interaction with air humidity was also studied using ab initio molecular dynamics. The Raman bands shifts dependence on the strain, and the level of surface oxidation was also calculated using the ab initio method in frozen phonon approximation. The properties calculated for atomic models of nanoribbons were used to model the dynamical behaviour of the phosphorene nanoribbons. The phosphorene nanoribbons aspect ratios are very high, and because of that, the atomic models used in ab initio modelling were a few orders of magnitude smaller than the size of the ribbons. To extrapolate the properties of these models into microscopic structures, the finite element method (FEM) was implemented, and the atomic models of the ribbons were designed to be infinitesimal elements of the structures. Because of this synergic application of both quantum and classical modelling, this approach is called hybrid. The results achieved for the structures using the hybrid approach were compared with the force field calculations, presenting consistency between methods and significantly lower computational cost of hybrid modelling in comparison to whole structure force field modelling.

  • 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.

  • RCS Enhancement of Millimeter Wave LTCC Van Atta Arrays With 3-D Printed Lenses for Chipless RFID Applications
    • Kamil Trzebiatowski
    • Weronika Kalista
    • Łukasz Kulas
    • Krzysztof Nyka
    2024 IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

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

  • REALIZACJA PRÓBNIKA SYSTEMU REJESTROWANIA I MONITOROWANIA PARAMETRÓW JAKOŚCIOWYCH STOSUJĄCEGO STANDARD IPFIX
    • Sylwester Kaczmarek
    • Krzysztof Zalewski
    2024 Przegląd Telekomunikacyjny + Wiadomości Telekomunikacyjne

    Nadzór parametrów jakościowych w sieci z protokołem IP jest jedną z ważniejszych funkcji jaką musi dysponować Operator sieci telekomunikacyjnej. W pracy przedstawiono koncepcję systemu rejestracji i monitorowania przeznaczonego do realizacji tego celu. Jest to rozwiązanie pasywne stosujące rozszerzenie standardu IPFIX, które określono mianem SIPFIX. Opisano praktyczną realizację i wyniki testów Próbnika, jednego z podstawowych elementów składowych tego systemu. Wyniki potwierdziły możliwość realizacji zaproponowanego systemu.

  • Real-Time Sensor-Based Human Activity Recognition for eFitness and eHealth Platforms
    • Łukasz Czekaj
    • Mateusz Kowalewski
    • Jakub Domaszewicz
    • Robert Kitłowski
    • Mariusz Szwoch
    • Włodzisław Duch
    2024 SENSORS

    Human Activity Recognition (HAR) plays an important role in the automation of various tasks related to activity tracking in such areas as healthcare and eldercare (telerehabilitation, telemonitoring), security, ergonomics, entertainment (fitness, sports promotion, human–computer interaction, video games), and intelligent environments. This paper tackles the problem of real-time recognition and repetition counting of 12 types of exercises performed during athletic workouts. Our approach is based on the deep neural network model fed by the signal from a 9-axis motion sensor (IMU) placed on the chest. The model can be run on mobile platforms (iOS, Android). We discuss design requirements for the system and their impact on data collection protocols. We present architecture based on an encoder pretrained with contrastive learning. Compared to end-to-end training, the presented approach significantly improves the developed model’s quality in terms of accuracy (F1 score, MAPE) and robustness (false-positive rate) during background activity. We make the AIDLAB-HAR dataset publicly available to encourage further research.

  • Real-Time Skin Quality Assessment System
    • Tomasz Kocejko
    • Aleksandra Krajna
    2024

    This thesis presents a real-time skin assessment system with the main aim of detecting inflammatory acne lesions and tracking skin conditions. A facial acne lesion detection algorithm was developed, using a pre-trained YOLOv8 model for lesion detection and a Mediapipe detector for face detection. The proposed solution aims to create a system used in smart mirrors to help users self-monitor and monitor their skin condition in real time without much involvement. The work shows that it is possible to effectively detect skin changes even in a motion situation, which could be a good direction for the development of solutions based on video analytics.

  • 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 HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS WITH THE USE OF ARCHITECTURAL MEASURES
    • Rafał Janowicz
    2024 Pełny tekst

    Healthcare facilities are architectural objects designed under the strong influence of sanitary and hygienic requirements and guidelines of medical technology. During the process of planning future healthcare facilities and modernising already existing units, the need to provide safety to all their users comes as a significant aspect. In medical objects, it depends on the standard factors observed in public utility buildings. The proper architectural organisation of a medical facility, its design process and its implementation come as a way to minimise the possibility of epidemiological risk occurrence. Properly designed and implemented, a functional and spatial layout supported with advanced systems of technical installations, such as mechanical ventilation, tele-technical systems and efficient decontamination, can ensure effective functioning and sanitary and hygienic conditions that will be safe for all users.

  • 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.

  • Reflective practice as a basis for building a sustainable public space: the case of Kartuzy
    • Justyna Martyniuk-Pęczek
    • Grzegorz Pęczek
    2024 Urban Design International

    Recent decades have been characterized by dynamic changes in the urban design process in post-transition countries such as Poland. Numerous activities have focused on upgrading the urban environment. The transformation that drives change also requires some new skills, which are described in the theory of reflective practice: observation, experience, and reflection. The goal of this paper is to build a descriptive scheme of the urban design process based on the reflective practice approach. The case of Kartuzy was chosen as the authors of this paper actively participated in this town’s 10-year redevelopment process, which can be seen as an experimental approach. The experience gathered allowed them to generate results on the issue of reflective practice, both in the sphere of practical skills and the theoretical results of research. One of the main conclusions is that knowledge exchange, observing the influence of actions of participants, and experiencing various types of interactions in the process of spatial development all drive reflection, which is a crucial element for taking another step in improving the quality of the urban design process. This paper contributes to a discussion on using reflective practice in the context of the development of public spaces towards making them more sustainable.

  • 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.

  • Rekurencyjny algorytm detekcji sygnału
    • Bartosz Bossy
    • Grzegorz Fotyga
    • Aleksander Nowak
    • Paweł Żykowski
    2024 Przegląd Telekomunikacyjny + Wiadomości Telekomunikacyjne

    W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono nowy rekurencyjny algorytm detekcji sygnału, bazując na analizie częstotliwościowo czasowej. Algorytm przetestowano dla szerokiej gamy rzeczywistych sygnałów zarejestrowanych z wykorzystaniem stanowiska pomiarowego. Wyniki pokazują, że zaproponowany algorytm bardzo dobrze wykrywa sygnał użyteczny, a w dodatku jest skalowany. Ponadto w obecnej postaci detekcja zajmuje dwukrotność czasu trwania sygnału, a możliwe jest zmniejszenie jej czasu poprzez m.in. zrównoleglenie obliczeń.

  • Relationship between GIX, SIDX, and ROTI ionospheric indices and GNSS precise positioning results under geomagnetic storms
    • Grzegorz Nykiel
    • Juan Andrés Cahuasquí
    • Mohammed Mainul Hoque
    • Norbert Jakowski
    2024 Pełny tekst GPS SOLUTIONS

    Ionospheric indices give information about ionospheric perturbations, which may cause absorption, diffraction, refraction, and scattering of radio signals, including those from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Therefore, there may be a relationship between index values and GNSS positioning results. A thorough understanding of ionospheric indices and their relationship to positioning results can help monitor and forecast the reliability and accuracy of GNSS positioning and support the precision and safety of life applications. In this study, we present the relationship between three indices: Gradient Ionosphere indeX (GIX), Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance indeX (SIDX), and Rate of Total electron content Index (ROTI) in relation to precise positioning results. We used two approaches: precise point positioning (PPP) and relative positioning for long baselines. We focus on GNSS stations located in Europe for two selected geomagnetic storms: March 17, 2015, and May 22, 2015. Our results show that in the case of PPP, positioning degradation occurred mainly at high latitudes and was mostly caused by rapid small-scale changes in ionospheric electron content represented by SIDX and ROTI. We also showed a significant correlation between cycle slips of GNSS signals and ROTI (0.88). The most significant degradations for relative positioning for low and medium latitudes were associated with large spatial gradients reflected by the GIX.

  • Removal of nitrogen from wastewater: Unsolved problems and possible solutions with partial denitrification/anammox systems
    • Joanna Majtacz
    • Hussein Al-Hazmi
    • Xianbao Xu
    • Grzegorz Piechota
    • Xiang Li
    • Gopalakrishnan Kumar
    • Tejraj M. Aminabhavi
    • Mohammad Saeb
    • Michael Badawi
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2024 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

    Abstract Nitrate (NO3−) is more stable than ammonia (NH4+) and nitrite (NO2−) among the majority of emerging pollutants in wastewater that can harm the ecosystem by depleting oxygen and water quality, thereby posing environmental and human health risks. Despite anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) being a common method for nitrogen (N) removal from wastewater, it leaves behind residual NO3− of around 11 %. Maintaining the stability of N removal in the mainstream of wastewater (50–60 mg/L) is challenging due to the lack of intrinsic factors that suppress nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and the accumulation of NO3−. Recently, partial denitrification/anammox (PD/A) has been recognized as a useful approach to eliminate NO3− and NH4+ from the sidestream (≥500 mg/L of N) and mainstream wastewater simultaneously. This review explores the complexities of sustaining stability in PD/A systems, including managing fluctuating NH4 + and NO3– levels while keeping a COD/N ratio of ≤ 3 to facilitate optimal NO2− production for the anammox. This review discusses the significance of temperature, pH, free ammonia, and free nitrous acid levels for optimal total N removal efficiency and PD/A stability in the long term. Strategies used for initiating and restoring the PD/A systems include optimized inoculum selection, granular sludge seeding, stepwise acclimation, bioaugmentation, unique substance incorporation, and innovative system design. Additionally, various strategies aim to enhance the stability by modifying the substance composition, introducing inorganic carbon and NO3−, incorporating heavy metals, embedding the biomass in gel carriers, adding microalgae, and adjusting hydraulic and solids retention time. These solutions aim to address the challenges to improve stability in the PD/A process. Future research roadmaps and supporting portfolios should address advancements and emerging technologies tackling the ongoing challenges in PD/A systems. These developments emphasize the significance of wastewater treatment for sustainable water availability to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (UN SDG 6) established in 2015.

  • Removal of phenolic inhibitor compounds from hydrolysates and post-fermentation broths by using a Hydrophobic Magnetic Deep Eutectic Solvent
    • Zhila Honarmandrad
    • Karolina Kucharska
    • Massoud Kaykhaii
    • Jacek Gębicki
    2024 Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

    Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural (FF), hydroquinone (HQ), and vanillin (VAN) are among the main inhibitors generated during most of biomass pre-treatments prior to fermentation processes. They are recognized as toxic to several fermentative microorganisms and therefore cause a decrease in biohydrogen or biofuel production (after hydrolysis). Moreover, if they are released into aqueous solutions (after fermentation), they can be detrimental to the ecosystem. In this research, a new method for removing these inhibitor compounds from the broth after hydrolysis and fermentation is proposed. A hydrophobic magnetic deep eutectic solvent (HMDES), based on menthol: nonanoic acid in a mole ratio of 2:1 was prepared and magnetized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and applied for effective sorption and removal of these inhibitors from the broth after fermentation and for biomass hydrolysates. Parameters affecting sorption, such as pH, volume of the inhibitors, initial concentration of inhibitors, volume of HMDES, temperature, stirring speed, and contact time, were studied and optimized. Under optimum conditions, the removal efficiency for HQ, HMF, FF, and VAN was obtained as 92.97, 86.72, 82.86 and 95.12% for the model samples. In addition, the removal efficiency of real samples after hydrolysis and fermentation for HQ, HMF, FF and VAN were higher than 83.3, 71.42, 69.99 and 76.80%, respectively. The studies on HMDES regeneration revealed that the removal efficiency remained constant even after undergoing 13 cycles of regeneration. The mechanism of inhibitor removal suggests that hydrogen bonding or van der Waals interactions may serve as the predominant factor influencing the extraction process.

  • Removal of selected sulfonamides and sulfonamide resistance genes from wastewater in full-scale constructed wetlands
    • Ewa Felis
    • Adam Sochacki
    • Sylwia Bajkacz
    • Aneta Łuczkiewicz
    • Krzysztof Józwiakowski
    • Joan García
    • Jan Vymazal
    2024 SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    Sulfonamides are high-consumption antibiotics that reach the aquatic environment. The threat related to their presence in wastewater and the environment is not only associated with their antibacterial properties, but also with risk of the spread of drug resistance in bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of eight commonly used sulfonamides, sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1–3) and integrase genes intI1–3 in five full-scale constructed wetlands (CWs) differing in design (including hybrid systems) and in the source of wastewater (agricultural drainage, domestic sewage/surface runoff, and animal runs runoff in a zoo). The CWs were located in low-urbanized areas in Poland and in Czechia. No sulfonamides were detected in the CW treating agricultural tile drainage water. In the other four systems, four sulfonamide compounds were detected. Sulfamethoxazole exhibited the highest concentration in those four CWs and its highest was 12,603.23 ± 1000.66 ng/L in a CW treating a mixture of domestic sewage and surface runoff. Despite the high removal efficiencies of sulfamethoxazole in the tested CWs (86 %–99 %), it was still detected in the treated wastewater. The sul1 genes occurred in all samples of raw and treated wastewater and their abundance did not change significantly after the treatment process and it was, predominantly, at the level 105 gene copies numbers/mL. Noteworthy, sul2 genes were only found in the influents, and sul3 were not detected. The sulfonamides can be removed in CWs, but their elimination is not complete. However, hybrid CWs treating sewage were superior in decreasing the relative abundance of genes and the concentration of SMX. CWs may play a role in the dissemination of sulfonamide resistance genes of the sul1 type and other determinants of drug resistance, such as the intI1 gene, in the environment, however, the magnitude of this phenomenon is a matter of further research.

  • Renewable energy transition in Europe in the context of renewable energy transition processes in the world. A review
    • Bartłomiej Igliński
    • Urszula Kiełkowska
    • Krzysztof Mazurek
    • Sebsstian Drużyński
    • Michał Pietrzak
    • Gopalakrishnan Kumar
    • Ashokkumar Veeramuthu
    • Mateusz Skrzatek
    • Marek Zinecker
    • Grzegorz Piechota
    2024 Heliyon

    Both the global and European energy sectors have been undergoing a deep transition for several years, associated with a reduction in the overall share of conventional coal-based energy in favor of new technologies, especially energy from renewable sources (RES). This transition is moving from centralized production towards distributed technologies and from providing only energy to end users towards combining innovative products and services with it. Electricity consumers are becoming prosumers connected to the grid and generating an increasing amount of energy. The original goal of decision-makers was to stop global warming and improve air quality. After Russia’s aggression of Ukraine in 2022, the EU transition efforts accelerated, and concerns about the climate were joined by issues related to energy security. After the painful experiences of the last several months, Europe wants to become independent from energy raw materials and their unstable suppliers as soon as possible, securing markets against price fluctuations, blackmail and unfair practices of some sellers. The aim of the article is to describe the current situation of energy and heat production from RES in selected countries in the aspect of contemporary energy transition (ET) processes. The achievement of the goal made it possible to present the European RES market in 2022, discuss the actions taken by European countries towards decarbonization and propose recommendations for the further development of the renewable energy market. The ET in Europe has been going on for over a dozen years, although there are countries, such as Norway, that use almost 100 % of renewable energy, as well as those that still largely use conventional fuels, such as Poland. In European countries, the energy mix of renewable energy, energy storage and green hydrogen should be developed. Green hydrogen produced in the electrolysis process from surplus renewable energy is an energy carrier with versatile applications both in the energy sector and in European industry.

  • Reply to Comment on ‘Nanodiamond incorporated human liver mimicking phantoms: prospective calibration medium of magnetic resonance imaging’
    • Paweł Wierzba
    • Anna Sękowska-Namiotko
    • Agnieszka Sabisz
    • Monika Kosowska
    • Lina Jing
    • Robert Bogdanowicz
    • Małgorzata Szczerska
    2024 MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

    Dependence of the spin–lattice (T1) relaxation times on the nanodiamond concentration in human liver phantoms is discussed. Factors affecting stability and and reproducibility of these phantoms are presented. The need for comparative measurements on multiple MRI scanners for better understanding of potential variations in the obtained imaging data is emphasised.

  • Research of chitosan coatings deposited by electrophoretic deposition method at various voltage and time parameters
    • Klaudia Malisz
    • Beata Świeczko-Żurek
    • Olive Jean-marc
    • Gilles Pecastaings
    • Alina Sionkowska
    • Aleksandra Laska
    • Grzegorz Gajowiec
    2024 MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

    The aim of this research is to estimate the electrophoretic deposition main parameters, such as voltage and time duration, that will provide optimal characteristics of the surface layer. Chitosan coatings were synthesized on biomedical Ti13Zr13Nb alloys at 20 V and 30 V and with deposit times of 2min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min. Evaluation of the coating was performed by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), drop shape analyzer and nanoscratch tester. Homogeneous and continuous coatings are obtained for 2 min and 5 min, regardless of the voltage. Defects in form of bubbles are observed only for 20 V during 10 min, 20 V during 15 min, and 30 V during 10 min. All of the coatings show hydrophilic behavior. The critical loads for delamination range are between 100 mN and 300 mN. It is concluded, that the optimal coating for orthopedic implants is obtained at 20 V, 5 min, because of homogeneity, a contact angle supporting osseointegration and the best adhesion. The optimal one for implant in contact with blood is obtained at 20 V, 2 min, because it is homogenous and shows the lowest hydrophilicity, which should limit the thrombogenicity of the coating.

  • Research on the Flicker Effect in Modern Light Sources Powered by an Electrical Network
    • Romuald Masnicki
    • Janusz Mindykowski
    • Beata Palczynska
    • Dawid Werner
    2024 ENERGIES

    Disruptions in power quality have a negative impact on many energy consumers. These include lighting, where interference manifests itself, among others, in the form of light flickering. The article presents phenomena accompanying the operation of modern light sources against the background of exemplary results of studies on the flicker of conventional light sources, such as incandescent or fluorescent lamps. The flickering effect of light generated in modern lamps can occur under stable voltage conditions in the supply network. The main subjects of the conducted research were solid-state light sources—light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, currently available on the lighting market. To assess the effects of these phenomena, it is necessary to use measures other than those traditionally used. The method used allows for the measurement of flicker resulting from both power supply disturbances and the properties of modern light sources. Using the developed measurement system, it is possible to record temporal changes in flicker coefficients resulting from, for example, changing supply voltage conditions. Due to the possibility of flickering light from sources offered by different manufacturers, as shown by research, it is advisable to carry out measurements at the place of use of the lighting.

  • Residual current devices in electric vehicles charging installations
    • Stanisław Czapp
    2024 Pełny tekst Przegląd Elektrotechniczny

    The main requirements of national regulations and international standards regarding protection against electric shock in electric vehicle charging installations are presented. The principles of using residual current devices (RCDs) in such installations are discussed. It is pointed out that RCDs are mandatory equipment for safe charging of electric vehicles. It is noted that the standards require the use of RCDs having an appropriate type of tripping, due to the fact that in the event of an earth fault in the charging circuit, a DC component of significant value may appear in the earth fault current. A new type of residual current devices for DC installations (DC-RCD) has been indicated.

  • Residual current protective device for circuits of distorted earth fault currents – concept, construction and testing
    • Hanan Tariq
    2024 Pełny tekst

    This dissertation presents behavioral and performance verification and analysis of residual current devices (RCDs), as well as a proposal for the construction of a new RCD protection. The state of the art focuses over pre-existing design of the RCD and its behavior and response to the circuits with distorted (non-sinusoidal) earth fault currents. The study highlights the loopholes of the existing design and depicts the problem of unresponsiveness of the RCD against smooth DC, very low-frequency and very high-frequency earth fault currents. For this, most commonly used types (AC, A, B and F) of RCDs were exposed to a series of testing mechanism more extensive than required by standards. Considering the type of problem a new design has been proposed in this dissertation that can outperform the existing design and can trip at even DC and at high-frequency level (40 kHz). Again, comprehensive testing was conducted to assess the newly designed RCD’s response to such abnormal earth fault current. The test results confirms its efficiency and practicality for real world applications. Hence, the conclusion is provided that this new design is capable of performing its designated function to ensure electrical safety. This new design contributes towards an advancement in the field of low-voltage electrical safety and paves a way for more sensitive RCDs. Moreover, a patent application for this new solution has been submitted to the Polish patent office.

  • Resonant and nonresonant excitation of waves in a planar magnetosonic flow
    • Anna Perelomova
    2024 CONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS

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

  • Resource constrained neural network training
    • Mariusz Pietrołaj
    • Marek Blok
    2024 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    Modern applications of neural-network-based AI solutions tend to move from datacenter backends to low-power edge devices. Environmental, computational, and power constraints are inevitable consequences of such a shift. Limiting the bit count of neural network parameters proved to be a valid technique for speeding up and increasing efficiency of the inference process. Hence, it is understandable that a similar approach is gaining momentum in the field of neural network training. In the face of growing complexity of neural network architectures, reducing resources required for preparation of new models would not only improve cost efficiency but also enable a variety of new AI applications on modern personal devices. In this work, we present a deep refinement of neural network parameters limitation with the use of the asymmetric exponent method. In addition to the previous research, we study new techniques of floating-point variables limitation, representation, and rounding. Moreover, by leveraging exponent offset, we present floating-point precision adjustments without an increase in variables’ bit count. The proposed method allowed us to train LeNet, AlexNet and ResNet-18 convolutional neural networks with a custom 8-bit floating-point representation achieving minimal or no results degradation in comparison to baseline 32-bit floating-point variables.

  • Response Feature Technology for High-Frequency Electronics. Optimization, Modeling, and Design Automation
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2024

    This book discusses response feature technology and its applications to modeling, optimization, and computer-aided design of high-frequency structures including antenna and microwave components. By exploring the specific structure of the system outputs, feature-based approaches facilitate simulation-driven design procedures, both in terms of improving their computational efficiency and reliability. These benefits are associated with the weakly nonlinear relationship between feature point coordinates and design variables, which—in the context of optimization—leads to inherent regularization of the objective functions. The book provides an overview of the subject, a definition and extraction of characteristic points, and feature-based design problem reformulation. It also outlines a number of numerical algorithms developed to handle local, global, and multi-criterial design, surrogate modeling, as well as uncertainty quantification. The discussed frameworks are extensively illustrated using examples of real microwave and antenna structures, along with numerous design cases. Introductory material on simulation-driven design, numerical optimization, as well as behavioral and physics-based surrogate modeling is also included. The book will be useful for readers working in the area of high-frequency electronics, including microwave engineering, antenna design, microwave photonics, magnetism and especially those who utilize electromagnetic (EM) simulation models in their daily routines.

  • Response to David Steigmann’s discussion of our paper
    • Thang X. Duong
    • Mikhail Itskov
    • Roger Sauer
    2024 Pełny tekst MATHEMATICS AND MECHANICS OF SOLIDS

    We respond to David Steigmann's discussion of our paper "A general theory for anisotropic Kirchhoff-Love shells with in-plane bending of embedded fibers, Math. Mech. Solids, 28(5):1274-1317" (arXiv:2101.03122). His discussion allows us to clarify two misleading statements in our original paper, and confirm that its formulation is fully consistent with the formulation of Steigmann. We also demonstrate that some of our original statements criticized by Steigmann are not wrong.

  • Reverberation divergence in VR applications
    • Patryk Rolkowski
    • Piotr Odya
    • Bartłomiej Mróz
    2024 International Journal of Electronics and Telecommunications

    This project aimed to investigate the correlation between virtual reality (VR) imagery and ambisonic sound. With the increasing popularity of VR applications, understanding how sound is perceived in virtual environments is crucial for enhancing the immersiveness of the experience. In the experiment, participants were immersed in a virtual environment that replicated a concert hall. Their task was to assess the correspondence between sound scenes (which differed in reverberation times and their characteristics) and the observed invariant visual scene. The research was conducted using paired tests. Participants were asked to identify the sound scene they considered more closely matched the concert hall seen in the VR goggles for each pair. Each sound scene differed in the employed impulse response. All the impulse responses were recorded in real venues such as concert halls, auditoriums, churches, etc. To provide a realistic auditory experience, the sound scenes were processed using third-order ambisonics and decoded using binaural techniques with HRTFs. The virtual concert hall was generated using the Unreal Engine and was the same for all the tests. One of the major conclusions drawn from the conducted research was confirming the role of spatial sound in creating immersive VR experiences. The study demonstrated that appropriately matching spatial sound to the VR visual scene is essential for achieving complete immersion. Additionally, expectations and preferences regarding reverberation characteristics in different types of spaces were discovered. These findings have significant implications for the design of virtual environments, and understanding these aspects can contribute to improving VR technology and creating more immersive and realistic virtual experiences for users.

  • Review of Recent Advancement on Nature/Bio-inspired Antenna Designs
    • Farooq Azam
    • Syed Shah
    • Shahid Bashir
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    2024 Pełny tekst IEEE Access

    This article presents an extensive examination of antennas rooted in nature and biology, showcasing their remarkable performance across a wide spectrum of frequencies—from microwave to terahertz. The limitations of traditional antenna design have become increasingly evident in the face of burgeoning demands for novel communication technologies. Conventional analytical-equation-based approaches struggle to deliver the combined performance characteristics – encompassing bandwidth, gain, radiation pattern, and miniaturization – that emerging technologies necessitate. This has fueled an explosive interest in bio-inspired antenna designs, a paradigm shift drawing inspiration from the ingenious structural solutions found in the living and non-living world, from plant leaves to bird feathers. These bio-inspired designs offer distinct advantages such as broader bandwidth and reduced sizes, making them highly appealing alternatives to the limitations of conventional antenna designs. This review explores a diverse range of bio-inspired designs. Among them are fractal geometries, inspired by self-repeating patterns in nature, which achieve optimal performance. Numerous designs in this category draw inspiration from nature, incorporating patterns observed in snowflakes, tree branches, clouds, and butterflies. Furthermore, nano-antennas have attracted significant attention for their vast potential applications in microwave and optical frequencies, playing a pivotal role in high-resolution spectroscopy, biomedical diagnosis and sensing, quantum photonics, and solar cell applications. By examining design methodologies and potential benefits, this article highlights the transformative potential of nature-inspired antennas. The compelling advantages of bio-inspired approaches necessitate a thorough exploration of their potential, paving the way for the development of next-generation communication systems with unprecedented capabilities.

  • Review of Segmentation Methods for Coastline Detection in SAR Images
    • Marcin Ciecholewski
    2024 Pełny tekst ARCHIVES OF COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING

    Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by airborne sensors or remote sensing satellites contain the necessary information that can be used to investigate various objects of interest on the surface of the Earth, including coastlines. The coastal zone is of great economic importance and is also very densely populated. The intensive and increasing use of coasts and changes of coastlines motivate researchers to try to assess the pace of these changes. As remote sensing develops, coastlines are detected using various image processing and analysis methods, including segmentation methods. Segmentation is to allow separating water and land areas in order to obtain contours representing the shorelines of coasts. Its result has direct impact on the accuracy of the obtained contours and is one of the most important steps in image processing. This article presents an overview of state-of-the-art segmentation methods used for detecting and extracting coastlines from SAR images, taking into account the evaluation metrics used in them. Segmentation methods can be divided into three main groups: thresholding methods, active contours, and machine learning approaches. This article presents the theoretical and practical properties of individual groups of segmentation methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and also promising research directions. This article is intended to give researchers insight into existing approaches and to help them propose new, better solutions

  • Review—Advances in Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries Utilizing Polyoxometalate-Functionalized Nanocarbon Materials
    • Samaneh Shahsavarifar
    • Morteza Rezapour
    • Mehdi Mehrpooya
    • Teofil Jesionowski
    • Rafael Luque
    2024 JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY

    Polyoxometalates (POMs) are inorganic nanoclusters that consist of oxygen and transition metals. These nanoclusters serve as excellent precursors for creating electrode materials that contain transition metals. Additionally, the interaction between POMs and carbon substrates produces positive synergistic effects. There has been considerable attention on employing POMs and carbon nanostructures (for example carbon nanotubes, graphene, and mesoporous carbon) in composite materials for diverse purposes including catalysis, transformation, storage of energy, molecular detection, and electrical detection. By combining the reactive nature of POMs with the exceptional electrical properties of carbon nanostructures, highly desirable composite features can be achieved. This review delves into the extensive use of POM/nanocarbon materials for constructing rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, providing an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of POMs and the techniques employed for binding carbon.

  • Revision of architectural design education in terms of sustainability, creativity and digitalisation
    • Karolina Życzkowska
    • Špela Hudnik
    2024 Pełny tekst Global Journal of Engineering Education

    The article explores different educational strategies in relation to architectural design courses, focusing on sustainability, creativity and digitalisation. The starting point for this research was a t-survey (t-teachers) among 40 teachers of architectural design from eight European universities, to examine different programme frames and the teachers’ attitude versus the design process. The survey findings facilitated the identification of two fundamentally contrasting programme models, one at Gdańsk University of Technology (Gdańsk Tech), Poland, and the other at Ljubljana University, Slovenia. These models were subjected to detailed comparison, along with the corresponding teaching methods, based on a proposed universal model of the design process. Finally, a fusion of approaches was proposed and implemented in an intensive workshop, called There is no Planet B, conducted at Gdańsk Tech in 2022. Results of the workshop were verified through an s-survey (s-students) conducted among 20 participants of the course, pointing to the value of performance in the development of creative skills and participatory design, and the potential of the video format for public debate on sustainability.

  • Revisiting serotonin’s role in spatial memory: A call for sensitive analytical approaches
    • Paulina Kaźmierska-Grębowska
    • Witold Żakowski
    • Dorota Myślińska
    • Ravindra Sahu
    • Maciej Jankowski
    2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY

    The serotonergic system is involved in various psychiatric and neurological conditions, with serotonergic drugs often used in treatment. These conditions frequently affect spatial memory, which can serve as a model of declarative memory due to well-known cellular components and advanced methods that track neural activity and behavior with high temporal resolution. However, most findings on serotonin's effects on spatial learning and memory come from studies lacking refined analytical techniques and modern approaches needed to uncover the underlying neuronal mechanisms. This In Focus review critically investigates available studies to identify areas for further exploration. It finds that well-established behavioral models could yield more insights with modern tracking and data analysis approaches, while the cellular aspects of spatial memory remain underexplored. The review highlights the complex role of serotonin in spatial memory, which holds the potential for better understanding and treating memory-related disorders.