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  • Characterization of GM3 Gangliosides in Human Milk throughout Lactation: Insights from the Analysis with the Use of Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
    • Weronika Hewelt-Belka
    • Michał Młynarczyk
    • Dorota Garwolińska
    • Agata Kot-Wasik
    2023 Pełny tekst JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY

    Gangliosides are complex lipids found in human milk that play important structural and biological functions. In this study, we utilized reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to evaluate the molecular distribution of GM3 in human milk samples collected at distinct lactation stages, ranging from colostrum to advanced lactation samples. Throughout lactation, GM3 d40:1 emerged as the most abundant GM3 species, except in colostrum, where GM3 d42:2 prevailed. The relative content of GM3 species containing very long N-fatty acyl (N-FA) substituents with >22 carbon atoms decreased, while the content of GM3 species containing 14:0, 18:0, 18:1, and 20:0 N-FA substituents increased in the later months of lactation. These findings highlight the divergence of GM3 profiles across the lactation period. Moreover, considerable interindividual variance was observed among the analyzed samples. The assessment of the GM3 profiles contributes to our understanding of the dynamic composition of human milk.

  • Characterizing the Scalability of Graph Convolutional Networks on Intel® PIUMA
    • Matthew Joseph Adiletta
    • Jesmin Jahan Tithi
    • Emmanouil-Ioannis Farsarakis
    • Gerasimos Gerogiannis
    • Robert Adolf
    • Robert Benke
    • Sidharth Kashyap
    • Samuel Hsia
    • Kartik Lakhotia
    • Fabrizio Petrini
    • Gu-Yeon Wei
    • David Brooks
    2023

    Large-scale Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) inference on traditional CPU/GPU systems is challenging due to a large memory footprint, sparse computational patterns, and irregular memory accesses with poor locality. Intel’s Programmable Integrated Unffied Memory Architecture (PIUMA) is designed to address these challenges for graph analytics. In this paper, a detailed characterization of GCNs is presented using the Open-Graph Benchmark (OGB) datasets to determine the viability of PIUMA as a potential solution to GCN scalability. First, the extent of sparse matrix dense matrix multiplication (SpMM) as a performance driver for GCN on CPU and GPU is explored, offering a methodology for predicting GCN behavior as a function of dataset characteristics. Second, an SpMM kernel optimized for PIUMA is described and investigated for sensitivity to system parameters including memory bandwidth, latency, and thread count. SpMM scalability on PIUMA is demonstrated, while the scalability limitations of a Xeon-optimized SpMM implementation are discussed. Finally, GCN performance is compared on PIUMA versus a Xeon CPU system and Ampere GPU system, showing impressive results on PIUMA for largescale datasets.

  • Charge density wave and crystalline electric field effects in TmNiC2
    • Marta Roman
    • Maria Fritthum
    • Berthold Stöger
    • Devashibhai T. Adroja
    • Herwig Michor
    2023 PHYSICAL REVIEW B

    Single crystals of TmNiC2 were grown by the optical floating-zone technique and were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal expansion, electrical resistivity, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Single-crystal XRD reveals the formation of a commensurate charge density wave (CDW) characterized by a CDW modulation vector q2c = (0.5, 0.5, 0.5), which is accompanied by a symmetry change from the orthorhombic space group Amm2 to the monoclinic space group Cm, i.e., to a CDW superstructure which is isostructural with that of LuNiC2 . For all transport and thermodynamic properties, anomalies related to a second order-type thermodynamic CDW phase transition are observed at around TCDW = 375 K. The large specific heat anomaly at TCDW, deltaC = 6.2 J mol−1 K−1 , together with noticeable changes in entropy and enthalpy related to the CDW transition, suggests that this point group symmetry breaking CDW phase transition affects more significant parts of the Fermi surface as compared to the incommensurate CDW transition of, e.g., SmNiC2 with no change in point group symmetry. The results on the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic state of TmNiC2 obtained by the above macroscopic techniques were complemented by microscopic studies via inelastic neutron scattering. A crystalline electric field modeling of macroscopic susceptibility and magnetic specific heat and entropy contributions as well as microscopic neutron scattering data, reveal crystal field eigenstates and eigenvalues with a ground-state doublet of the Tm-4f electrons, which is well separated by about 25 meV from exited states of the J = 6 ground-state multiplet.

  • Charge Transport in High-Entropy Oxides
    • Wojciech Skubida
    • Daniel Jaworski
    • Aleksandra Mielewczyk-Gryń
    • Sebastian Wachowski
    • Tadeusz Miruszewski
    • Kacper Cichy
    • Konrad Swierczek
    • Maria Gazda
    2023 Pełny tekst Journal of Physical Chemistry C

    This work presents the results of research on the transport properties of the high-entropy BaZr1/8Hf1/8Sn1/8Ti1/8Y1/8In1/8Sm1/8Yb1/8O3–x perovskite oxide with special focus on proton transport. The presented study is part of broader work in which we focus on multiple different chemical compositions with the cation number varying from 5 up to 12 (in B-sublattice). The presence of proton defects is analyzed with thermogravimetry, whereas the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in dry, H2O-, and D2O-containing synthetic air in the 300–800 °C temperature range enable the evaluation of the proton and deuterium conductivities. The isotope effect is observed and discussed. The obtained data allow us to establish the contribution of proton conductivity to the total one and the transport numbers for proton/deuterium conductivity. Based on the bulk and grain boundary conductivities, the potential at a grain boundary φ0, Debye length LD, and space-charge layer (SCL) thickness λ for proton defects is calculated. The potential barrier heights were found to be significantly lower than those observed for typical polycrystalline-doped barium zirconates. For the first time in the case of high-entropy oxides, the electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) studies are performed, allowing the calculation of water kinetic coefficients. The ECR in the 300–600 °C temperature range revealed a single-fold nature, which indicates a negligible component of the electronic hole conductivity in the hydrated material. The chemical diffusion coefficient of water DOH• and the chemical surface exchange coefficient of water kOH• along with their activation energies are determined. The chemical diffusion coefficient DOH• is in a range of 10(1)−8–10(1)−6 cm2 s–1, and the chemical surface exchange coefficient kOH• is in a range of 10(1)−6–10(1)−4 cm s–1.

  • ChatGPT Application vis-a-vis Open Government Data (OGD): Capabilities, Public Values, Issues and a Research Agenda
    • Euripidis Loukis
    • Stuti Saxena
    • Nina Rizun
    • Maria Ioanna Maratsi
    • Mohsan Ali
    • Charalampos Harris Alexopoulos
    2023

    As a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) application, ChatGPT holds pertinence not only for the academic, medicine, law, computing or other sectors, but also for the public sector-case in point being the Open Government Data (OGD) initiative. However, though there has been some limited (as this topic is quite new) research concerning the capabilities ChatGPT in these sectors, there has been no research about the capabilities it can provide to government concerning its wide range of functions and activities. This paper contributes to filling this gap by investigating the capabilities that the ChatGPT can provide concerning one of most recently initiated and novel, and at the same time most promising, activities of government that aims to fuel the emerging data economy and society: the opening of large amounts of government data; furthermore, we investigate the public values that can be promoted through the use of ChatGPT in the area of OGD by both the data publishers as well as their users. At the same time, we investigate the issues that the use of ChatGPT in the area of OGD can pose, which can reduce the capabilities identified as aforesaid as well as the benefits and public values that can be generated from them. For these purposes interviews with 12 experts have been conducted and their responses have been analyzed. Finally, based on our findings we have developed a research agenda concerning the exploitation of ChatGPT application in the OGD domain

  • Chemical, Aroma and Pro-Health Characteristics of Kaffir Lime Juice—The Approach Using Optimized HS-SPME-GC-TOFMS, MP-OES, 3D-FL and Physiochemical Analysis
    • Martyna Lubinska-Szczygeł
    • Żaneta Polkowska
    • Małgorzata Rutkowska
    • Shela Gorinstein
    2023 Pełny tekst INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES

    The study aimed to provide the chemical, aroma and prohealth characteristics of the kaffir lime juice. A procedure using solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography (SPME-GC-TOFMS) was optimized and validated for the determination of terpenes of kaffir lime. Main physicochemical parameters: pH, vitamin C, citric acid and °Brix were evaluated. Micro- and macro elements were determined using microwave plasma optic emission spectrometry (MP-OES). The binding of kaffir lime terpenes to human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-FL). β-Pinene and Limonene were selected as the most abundant terpenes with the concentration of 1225 ± 35 and 545 ± 16 µg/g, respectively. The values of citric acid, vitamin C, °Brix and pH were 74.74 ± 0.50 g/kg, 22.31 ± 0.53 mg/100 mL, 10.35 ± 0.70 and 2.406 ± 0.086 for, respectively. Iron, with a concentration of 16.578 ± 0.029 mg/kg, was the most abundant microelement. Among the macroelements, potassium (8121 ± 52 mg/kg) was dominant. Kaffir lime binding to HSA was higher than β-Pinene, which may indicate the therapeutic effect of the juice. Kaffir lime juice is a source of terpenes with good aromatic and bioactive properties. Fluorescence measurements confirmed its therapeutic effect. Kaffir lime juice is also a good source of citric acid with potential industrial application. The high content of minerals compared to other citruses increases its prohealth value.

  • Chemical Characteristics and Thermal Oxidative Stability of Novel Cold-Pressed Oil Blends: GC, LF NMR, and DSC Studies
    • Wojciech Cichocki
    • Dominik Kmiecik
    • Hanna Maria Baranowska
    • Hanna Staroszczyk
    • Agata Sommer
    • Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski
    2023 Pełny tekst Foods

    Plant oils contain a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Studies of food products have revealed a considerable disproportion in the ratio of ω6 to ω3. This article presents information on the healthful qualities of eight new oil blends that contain a beneficial proportion of ω6 to ω3 fatty acids (5:1), as well as their degradation during heating at 170 and 200 °C. The fatty acid profile was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC), content of polar compounds and polymers of triacylglycerols by liquid chromatography (LC), water content was measured by the Karl Fischer method, and oxidative stability was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF NMR) methods. The results showed that during heating, the polar fraction content increased in samples heated at both analyzed temperatures compared to unheated oils. This was mainly due to the polymerization of triacylglycerols forming dimers. In some samples that were heated, particularly those heated to 200 °C, trimers were detected, however, even with the changes that were observed, the polar fraction content of the blends did not go beyond the limit. Despite the high content of unsaturated fatty acids, the analyzed blends of oils are characterized by high oxidative stability, confirmed by thermoanalytical and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The high nutritional value as well as the oxidative stability of the developed oil blends allow them to be used in the production of food, in particular products that ensure an adequate supply of ω3 fatty acids.

  • Chemically reduced graphene oxide based aerogels - Insight on the surface and textural functionalities dependent on handling the synthesis factors
    • Maksymilian Plata Gryl
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2023 Pełny tekst COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS

    Efficient adjusting of reduced graphene oxide aerogels properties requires information about experimental factor-aerogel property relationship. In this work, the reduced graphene oxide aerogels surface and textural functionalities in relation to precursor concentration, gelation time and hydrogel freezing temperature were studied in detail, with the use of dynamic adsorption method of gaseous organic probes and experimental design. The precursor concentration and the hydrogel freezing temperature have the strongest influence on textural properties - a negative correlation with apparent surface area was observed. The highest value of 229.36 m2 g−1 was obtained for samples synthesized at the lowest concentration of precursor (2 mg mL−1) and hydrogel freezing temperature (−196 °C). Low precursor concentration promote formation of more hydrophobic aerogels. All aerogels display tendencies for dispersive, dipole-type and electron donor interactions. Moreover, a repulsion of electron lone pairs was observed, as well as shape-based selectivity (originating from porosity and surface roughness) in gas-solid adsorption process. Analysis of the free surface energy revealed that the maximum value (193.21 mJ m−2) is obtained at 7.2 mg mL−1 precursor concentration, − 104 °C hydrogel freezing temperature and 23 h gelation time. Presented findings can translate directly into reduced graphene oxide aerogels tailored for specific applications such as adsorption or catalysis.

  • Chitosan-based electrospun nanofibers for encapsulating food bioactive ingredients: A review
    • Roberto Castro Munoz
    • Mohammad Saeed Kharazmi
    • Seid Mahdi Jafari
    2023 Pełny tekst INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

    Today, society has been more aware of healthy food products and related items containing bioactive compounds, which potentially contribute to human health. Unfortunately, the long-term stability and bioactivity of biologically active compounds against environmental factors compromise their target and effective action. In this way, lab-designed vehicles, such as nanoparticles and nanofibers, provide enough properties for their preservation and suitable delivery. Here, the electrospinning technique acts as an effective pathway for fabricating and designing nanofibers for the entrapments of biomolecules, in which several biopolymers such as proteins, polysaccharides (e.g., maltodextrin, agarose, chitosan), silk, among others, can be used as a wall material. It is likely that chitosan is one of the most employed biomaterials in this field. Therefore, in this review, we reveal the latest advances (over the last 2–3 years) in designing chitosan-based electrospun nanofibers and nanocarriers for encapsulation of bioactive compounds, along with the key applications in smart food packaging as well. Key findings and relevant breakthroughs are a priority in this review to provide a cutting-edge analysis of the literature. Finally, particular attention has been paid to the most promising developments.

  • Chitosan-Based Membranes as Gentamicin Carriers for Biomedical Applications — Influence of Chitosan Molecular Weight
    • Milena Supernak
    • Balbina Makurat-Kasprolewicz
    • Beata Kaczmarek-Szczepańska
    • Anna Pałubicka
    • Monika Sakowicz-Burkiewicz
    • Anna Ronowska
    • Marcin Wekwejt
    2023 Pełny tekst Membranes

    Over the past decade, much attention has been paid to chitosan as a potential drug carrier because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and antibacterial properties. The effect of various chitosan characteristics on its ability to carry different antibiotics is discussed in the literature. In this work, we evaluated the influence of the different molecular weights of this polymer on its potential as an antibacterial membrane after adding gentamicin (1% w/w). Three types of chitosan membranes without and with antibiotic were prepared using a solvent casting process. Their microstructures were analyzed with a 4K digital microscope, and their chemical bonds were studied using FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, cytocompatibility on human osteoblasts and fibroblasts as well as antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus.) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were assessed. We observed that the membrane prepared from medium-molecular-weight chitosan exhibited the highest contact angle (85) and roughness (10.96 0.21 m) values, and its antibacterial activity was unfavorable. The maximum tensile strength and Young’s modulus of membranes improved and elongation decreased with an increase in the molecular weight of chitosan. Membranes prepared with high-molecular-weight chitosan possessed the best antibacterial activity, but mainly against S. aureus. For E. coli, is not advisable to add gentamicin to the chitosan membrane, or it is suggested to deplete its content. None of the fabricated membranes exhibited a full cytotoxic effect on osteoblastic and fibroblast cells. Based on our results, the most favorable membrane as a gentamicin carrier was obtained from high-molecular-weight chitosan.

  • Chromium (III) removal by perennial emerging macrophytes in floating treatment wetlands
    • Nicole Nawrot
    • Ewa Wojciechowska
    • Muhammad Mohsin
    • Suvi Kuittinen
    • Ari Pappinen
    • Karolina Matej-Łukowicz
    • Katarzyna Szczepańska
    • Agnieszka Cichowska
    • Muhammad Atif Irshad
    • Filip M. G. Tack
    2023 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are a sustainable solution to treat polluted water, but their role in chromium (Cr(III)) removal under neutral pH conditions remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the potential of FTWs planted with two perennial emergent macrophytes, Phragmites australis and Iris pseudacorus, to remove Cr(III) and nutrients (N and PO4-P) from water containing 7.5 mg/L TN, 1.8 mg/L PO4-P, and Cr(III) (500, 1000, and 2000 µg/L). Within 1 h of exposure, up to 96–99% of Cr was removed from the solution, indicating rapid precipitation. After 50 days, Phragmites bound 9–19% of added Cr, while Iris bound 5–22%. Both species accumulated Cr primarily in the roots (BCF > 1). Biomass production and growth development were inhibited in Cr treatments, but microscopic examination of plant roots revealed no histological changes at 500 and 1000 µg/L Cr, suggesting high resistance of the tested species. At 2000 µg/L Cr, both species exhibited disruptions in the arrangement of vessel elements in the stele and increased aerenchyma spaces in Phragmites. At the end of the experiment, 70–86% of TN and 54–90% of PO4-P were removed.

  • Chromogenic azomacrocycles with imidazole residue: Structure vs. properties
    • Błażej Galiński
    • Jarosław Chojnacki
    • Katarzyna Szwarc-Karabyka
    • Adrian Małkowski
    • Diana Sopel
    • Agnieszka Zwolińska
    • Ewa Wagner-Wysiecka
    2023 Pełny tekst DYES AND PIGMENTS

    New diazo macrocycles linked by hydrocarbon chain bearing imidazole or 4-methylimidazole residue have been synthetized with satisfactory yield (24–55%). The structure of macrocycles was confirmed by X-ray analysis and spectroscopic methods (1H NMR, MS, FTIR). Metal cation complexation studies were carried out in acetonitrile and acetonitrile-water system. It was found that azomacrocyles form triple-decker complexes with lead(II). The highest values of stability constant were found for lead(II) complexes of 21-membered derivatives. For the first time azomacrocycles bearing imidazole residue were immobilized on a porous glass. Obtained materials can act as lead(II) or copper(II) colorimetric optical sensors with color digital analysis as detection using simple portable devices.

  • Circularly Polarized Antenna Array design with the Potential of Gain-Size Trade-off and Omnidirectional Radiation for Millimeter-Wave Small Base Station Applications
    • Ullah Ubaid
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    2023 WIRELESS NETWORKS

    This paper presents the design and validation of a slot-patch-hybrid circularly polarized antenna array for 28 GHz millimeter (mm) wave (mm-wave) applications. The proposed design has a simple geometry that facilitates the fabrication process, which is otherwise a challenging task due to the sub-mm dimensions of the circuit in the mm-wave band. In the proposed structure, aperture-coupled series slot-fed array is utilized to excite the 45-degrees inclined pair of patches. The feeding array aperture is designed by printing a straight microstrip feed line with a matching stub at the open end. Further, a coupling slot is etched underneath the feed line in the conventional horizontal position, and two vertical slots are merged toward each end of the slot. For realization of the series phased array of (1×(4×2)) elements, the slots are placed half guided wavelength away extending the array network along the feedline. A pair of the radiating patches are loaded on the top of the vertical slots. To ensure excitation of the 90-degree phase-shifted orthogonal field components of equal magnitude, the loaded patches are rotated by 45-degrees in the azimuth plane. The produced circularly polarized (CP) fields are further refined by an additional diagonal radiating slot etched in the middle of the pair of radiating patches parallel to the non-radiating edges. With the combination of radiating patches and the slots, a wide axial ratio bandwidth of 27.5 GHz to 28.5 GHz, broad impedance bandwidth, a highly directional beam, and a peak realized CP gain of 15.15dBic is achieved. For realizing omnidirectional radiation pattern necessary for the base station applications, 3-dimentional hexagonal/octagonal topology is utilized in six- and eight-antenna configurations. A detailed theoretical and numerical analysis and the corresponding results shows that the adjacent beams could be merged together constructively to form omnidirectional radiation patterns. The advantage of the proposed technique is the ease of implementation without affecting the major performance figures.

  • Classification of Sea Going Vessels Properties Using SAR Satellite Images
    • Dariusz Kobiela
    • Tomasz Berezowski
    2023

    The aim of the project was to analyze the possibility of using machine learning and computer vision to identify (indicate the location) of all sea-going vessels located in the selected area of the open sea and to classify the main attributes of the vessel. The key elements of the project were to download data from the Sentinel-1 satellite [1], download data on the sea vessels [2], then automatically tag data and develop a detection and classification algorithm. The results obtained from the YOLOv7 model on the test set were Mean Average Precision (mAP@.5) = 91% and F1-score = 93% for the single-class ship detection task. When combining the task of ship detection with a ship’s length and width classification, Mean Average Precision for all classes was 40%, f1-score was 41%

  • CLEANING METHODS FOR DUST DEPOSITED ON THE FRONT COVER OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE
    • Małgorzata Rudnicka
    • Ewa Klugmann-Radziemska
    2023 Pełny tekst Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S - Chemia i Inżynieria Ekologiczna S

    Photovoltaic modules are one of the renewable energy sources with great potential for application in various regions of the world as well as for different terrain. They are, however, sensitive to external factors, affecting the overall amount of energy generated, such as solar irradiance, shading effects and any form of soil build-up on the front glass cover of solar device. The latter issue happens over a course of weeks, months and years and the exact pace is determined for a specific location. Nevertheless, dust remaining on the module surface limits the amount of solar irradiation that can reach solar cells. It then leads to a lowered maximum power and correspond to a decrease in energy yield. A way to mitigate soiling effect, outside of natural washing dependent on precipitation, is a regular debris removal. The proposed methods utilise different approaches, namely active cleaning such as manual, mechanical or electrodynamic, or passive cleaning by applying additional hydrophobic or hydrophilic coating to slow down the accumulation tempo.

  • Closed Form Constraint Equations Used to Express Frictionless Slip of Multibody Systems Attached to Finite Elements—Application to a Contact between a Double Pendulum and a Beam
    • Krzysztof Lipiński
    2023 Pełny tekst Applied Sciences-Basel

    This paper focuses on the numerical modeling of the dynamics of mechanical systems. Robots that can inspect high-voltage lines inspired this research. Their control systems must anticipate potential grab positions appropriately. We intend to formulate equations dedicated to the numerical description of the robot/cable contact. The investigated problem is not straightforward, since parts of the modeled systems are numerically inhomogeneous. They consist of multibody and finite element components. These components interact with each other only through frictionless point contact. We limit the present investigation to the mathematical modeling of these frictionless point connections. According to the model-adopted assumption, the location of the contact point is invariant in the multibody structure, but it is variable in the finite elements part. Unlike the classically used models (i.e., spring/damper models of elastic contacts), we focus on constraint equations. We present and discuss their details in this paper. Following the presence of the constraint equations, their associated Lagrange multipliers appear in the dynamics equations of the two sub-models. The main feature/result of the presently proposed method is the closed form of the coordinateportioning formulae, proposed in this paper, employed to eliminate the dependent coordinates and the constraint-associated Lagrange multipliers. To verify the applicability of the proposed elimination methodology, we test its use in a dedicated numerical example. During the test, we limit the investigation to a frictionless connection between a double pendulum and a beam. The results confirm that the proposed methodology allows us to model the investigated frictionless contact. We shall underline a vital property, that the proposed elimination method is universal, and thus one can easily extend/modify the above methodology to operate with other multibody/finite element contacts.

  • Closing the gap – the opportunity for sustainability and smart transition in the Central and East Europe countries
    • Paulina Duch-Żebrowska
    • Katarzyna Zielonko-Jung
    2023 Pełny tekst 19th Century music

    For almost half a century the countries of CEE were part of- or were remaining under the influence of- the Soviet Union what caused gaping difference in the starting line towards sustainability. Here the prefabricated concrete blocks of flats were being built at the scale unseen in the western countries. Those buildings, approximately a quarter of the residential market, are in a structurally sound condition to last another five or more decades. However, during their construction, the requirements for energy efficiency were almost nonexistent. Therefore, their refurbishment and thermal upgrades is a prerequisite, and due to sustainability, the demolition should not be considered unless it is unavoidable. This paper discusses the case of one mass housing block of flats and method to find the most efficient way to bring it to the higher energy efficiency standards using the BIM simulation technology. The chosen solution might be widely implemented due to typology. The effect of the scale (any refurbishment to one block can be performed to many others of the same type) gives the opportunity to substantially cut the energy consumption and close the huge gap between the east and west European blocks on our way to a greener future.

  • Closing the loop: Upcycling secondary waste materials into nanoarchitectured carbon composites for the electrochemical degradation of pharmaceuticals
    • Małgorzata Szopińska
    • Jacek Ryl
    • Mattia Pierpaoli
    2023 Pełny tekst CHEMOSPHERE

    In this study, we demonstrated the application of electrochemical oxidation as a safer and cleaner technology for minimizing the impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters, simultaneously mediated by upcycled secondary waste materials (SWMs)-derived electrodes, to further reduce their environmental impact. The modularity, scalability, ease of operation and reliability make electrochemical oxidation an ideal process for the destruction of emerging persistent pollutants; however, their full-scale application is hindered by energy efficiency and the potential release of toxic by-products. Thus, the answer to these issues can be found in the design of tailored multifunctional electrode material. For the first time, SWMs derived from combustion and industrial processes have been employed with the simultaneous dual function of functional fillers, in a polyacrylonitrile fibrous matrix, and as a catalyst for the growth of carbon nanofeatures over the fiber surface, to increase the surface area and charge transfer. Next, the tailored composites were employed as anodes for the electrochemical oxidation of acetaminophen, both in phosphate buffer and in a real wastewater sample. The results suggest that SWMs can substitute costly engineered fillers in carbon-based electrodes and that the absence of reaction by-products (monitored by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS), together with the low energy consumption, make the tailored fibrous composite electrodes good candidates for the development of safer and cleaner technologies with reduced environmental impact.

  • CO2 Separation Using Supported Deep Eutectic Liquid Membranes Based on 1,2-propanediol
    • Bartosz Nowosielski
    • Dorota Warmińska
    • Iwona Cichowska-Kopczyńska
    2023 Pełny tekst ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

    In this work, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) composed of choline chloride, acetylcholine chloride or tetrabutylammonium chloride, and 1,2-propanediol were used as a liquid phase for polypropylene-based supported liquid membranes (SLMs) and evaluated for the separation of carbon dioxide from CO2/N2 mixtures. Fourier transform infrared spectra were obtained to confirm DES formation, and the thermal stability of solvents was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The physicochemical properties of DESs and carbon dioxide solubility were determined in a temperature range of 293.15–313.15 K. The effects of the hydrogen bond acceptor structure and the acceptor/donor molar ratio in regard to properties and CO2 separation potential were discussed. The permeability of CO2 and N2 in DES-based SLMs was determined, and the ideal CO2/N2 selectivity was calculated. The gas permeation results of the 1,2-propanediol-based DES-based supported liquid membranes showed that the permeability of CO2 varied from 86 to 152 barrers in 293.15 K. Similarly, the ideal CO2/N2 selectivity varied from 21 to 30. The performance of DES–SLMs was compared with the competing imidazolium-based supported ionic liquid membranes and proved DES–SLMs as a promising alternative considering their green potential and comparable gas separation performance.

  • Coda wave interferometry in monitoring the fracture process of concrete beams under bending test
    • Magdalena Knak
    • Erwin Wojtczak
    • Magdalena Rucka
    2023 Pełny tekst Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences-Technical Sciences

    Early detection of damage is necessary for the safe and reliable use of civil engineering structures made of concrete. Recently, the identification of micro-cracks in concrete has become an area of growing interest, especially using wave-based techniques. In this paper, a non-destructive testing approach for the characterization of the fracture process was presented. Experimental tests were made on concrete beams subjected to mechanical degradation in a 3-point bending test. The ultrasonic waves were registered on a specimen surface by piezoelectric transducers located at several points. Then, the signals were processed taking advantage of the wave scattering due to micro-cracks disturbances. For early-stage damage detection, coda wave interferometry was used. The novelty of the work concerns the application of the complex decorrelation matrix and the moving reference trace approach for better distinguishment of sensors located at different parts of a crack zone. To enhance coda wave-based damage identification results, optical imaging of crack development was performed by digital image correlation measurement. Obtained results showed that the coda wave interferometry technique can be successfully used as a quantitative measure of changes in the structure of concrete. The results also indicated that the course of decorrelation coefficient curves enabled the identification of three stages during degradation and it depended on the location of acquisition points regarding the crack zone.

  • Codesigned Digital Tools for Social Engagement in Climate Change Mitigation
    • Hanna Obracht-prondzyńska
    • Helena Anacka
    • Kacper Radziszewski
    • Ewa Duda
    • Magdalena Walnik
    • Kacper Wereszko
    • Hanne Cecilie
    2023 Sustainability

    Digital technologies and economies can strengthen participative processes and data- and knowledge-based sustainable urban development. It can also accelerate social integration and the efforts of urban dwellers towards more resilient urban environments. Gap: Most of the tools that strengthen participatory processes were not cocreated with stakeholders. Research shows that codesigned platforms driven by new technological advances and the development of collaborative sharing economy concepts can increase climate change awareness. Still, the rise of participatory innovation technologies does not focus on enabling social engagement in climate change mitigation. Therefore, this paper addresses a research question: can a codesigned community currency stimulate bottom-up initiatives for climate change mitigation, and what is needed for such tools to succeed with the implementation of climate-responsive policies? The aim was to introduce an approach allowing us to codesign an application to encourage pro-environmental behaviors. Hence, the approach of this research was to define the concept of such a tool as a part of a cocreation process with stakeholders in a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral environment. Method: It uses design thinking enriched with case studies evaluation, workshops, UX design, low fidelity, SUS, and testbeds. Findings and value: The authors introduce the Greencoin concept and argue that the codesigned digital currency operating based on an educational application has the potential to strengthen social engagement in climate change mitigation. Beneficiaries and practical implementation: Such a tool can increase climate awareness by supporting social integration and bottom-up initiatives for climate change mitigation. It can therefore be used by local communities to strengthen their climate-responsive efforts.

  • Cognitive motivations and foundations for building intelligent decision-making systems
    • Zdzisław Kowalczuk
    • Michał Czubenko
    2023 Pełny tekst ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REVIEW

    Concepts based on psychology fit well with current research trends related to robotics and artificial intelligence. Biology-inspired cognitive architectures are extremely useful in building agents and robots, and this is one of the most important challenges of modern science. Therefore, the widely viewed and far-reaching goal of systems research and engineering is virtual agents and autonomous robots that mimic human behavior in solving known and unknown problems. The article proposes, at a high level of generality, an operational cybernetic model of the human mind, developed with the use of carefully selected ideas taken from psychological knowledge. In particular, the work combines extensive knowledge drawn from both the theory of developmental cognitive psychology and the theory of motivation. The proposed mathematically developed operating blocks create a coherent and functional decision-making system containing all the elements necessary in autonomous robotics. The ISD system is under development. There is still a long way to go to full validation. However, as shown in several articles, the basic subsystems of the ISD system, i.e. motivational and emotional, have already been positively verified in operation. The overall purpose of this article is to show a blueprint of the overall concept of the entire ISD.

  • Collision Risk-Informed Weather Routing for Sailboats
    • Marcin Życzkowski
    • Rafał Szłapczyński
    2023 Pełny tekst RELIABILITY ENGINEERING & SYSTEM SAFETY

    Selected COLREG rules, good seamanship and sheer common sense indicate that it is in a sailboat's interest to follow collision-free routes without relying on large power-driven ships to give way. Until now, however, no method has integrated a sailboat's weather routing with collision risk monitoring and collision avoidance. Therefore, a new deterministic approach to combine the above features within one method is introduced here. The proposed method is based on Dijkstra's algorithm, where edges may be temporarily removed due to the presence of other ships. This paper presents a design of the main weather routing algorithm and the collision risk monitoring part, which applies an elliptic domain generated automatically around the target and dependent on the target's length. The method has been implemented and tested in a series of computer simulations. The results are provided and discussed here. They confirm the method's effectiveness in terms of determining collision-risk-free routes, as well as its acceptable computational time. They also show how the latter can be shortened at the cost of obtaining suboptimal routes. Finally, they emphasize the importance of considering successive weather forecasts, risk monitoring and route updates.

  • Collision Strengths of Astrophysical Interest for Multiply Charged Ions
    • Stephan Fritzsche
    • Li-Guang Jiao
    • Yauan-Cheng Wang
    • Józef Sienkiewicz
    2023 Pełny tekst Atoms

    The electron impact excitation and ionization processes are crucial for modeling the spectra of different astrophysical objects, from atmospheres of late-type stars to remnants of supernovae and up to the light emission from neutron star mergers, to name just a few. Despite their signifi- cance, however, little is known quantitatively about these processes for low- and medium-impact energies of, say, Ekin . 5000 eV of the free incident electron. To further explore the role of impact excitation, we here expanded JAC, the Jena Atomic Calculator, to the computation of distorted wave collision strengths for fine-structure-resolved, as well as configuration-averaged transitions. While we excluded the formation of dielectronic resonances, these tools can be readily applied for ions with a complex shell structure and by including the major relativistic contributions to these strengths. Detailed computations of the collision strengths are shown and explained for the impact excitation of lithium- and chlorine-like ions. When compared with other, well-correlated methods, good agreement was found, and hence, these tools will support studies of effective collision strengths for a wide range of electron impact energies, levels, and ionic charge states.

  • COLOUR SYMBOLISM IN FINANCE
    • Błażej Prusak
    • Muhammad Mushafiq
    2023 Pełny tekst Financial Internet Quarterly

    Colour symbolism plays an important role in everyday life and science. The subject is interdisciplinary and receives significant attention in the literature. It is increasingly entering the field of economics and finance. The authors are the first to research the connotations and symbolism of colours in finance. The following research aims to: identify and determine the meaning of col-ours in connection with the word “finance”, determine the popularity of the use of particular colours in relation to the word “finance”, and identify the most popular subject areas in the literature related to the most commonly used colour in finance. Bibliometric and textual analyses were adopted as research methods. The main research conclusions are as follows. Of the 14 col-ours examined, only green, blue, brown, black and white showed connotations accurately portrayed in the text. Apart from the colour black, the symbolism is universal and unambiguous. For black, the symbolism is twofold, with one of the meanings going back to historical times. The dominant colour is green. The main research areas pursued under “green finance” include in-vesting in and financing environmentally friendly projects (including various types of technology), developing financial instruments to support environmentally friendly activities and supporting clean energy projects.

  • Combination of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction and vortex assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the extraction and analysis of ochratoxin A in dried fruit samples: Central composite design optimization
    • Adil Elik
    • Özlem Ablak
    • Hameed Haq
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Nail Altunay
    2023 JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

    This paper presents a new analytical procedure based on combination of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) and vortex-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (VA-DLLME) for the accurate and reliable determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in dried fruit samples. To enable selective extraction of the OTA, six hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (hDESs) were prepared and tested as extraction solvents. Optimization of DES volume, pH, NaCl amount, and mixing time affecting the efficiency of VA-DES-DLLME step was achieved by central composite design (CCD). Using optimized conditions, the working range was obtained in the range 0.4–350 ng mL−1 with an enrichment factor of 138. The limit of detection was 0.12 ng mL−1. To evaluate the accuracy of the method, the samples were analyzed with both the HLLE-VA-DES-DLLME procedure and reference method. The precision of the method was investigated by intraday/interday studies. The robustness of the method was also evaluated by making minor changes to the optimized conditions. The HLLE-VA-DES-DLLME procedure was successfully applied to dried fruit samples and quantitative recoveries were obtained (92.1–99.2%) confirming its usefulness for implementation in routine analysis of food samples.

  • Combination of terrestrial laser scanning and UAV photogrammetry for 3D modelling and degradation assessment of heritage building based on a lighting analysis: case study—St. Adalbert Church in Gdansk, Poland
    • Paweł Tysiąc
    • Anna Sieńska
    • Marta Tarnowska
    • Piotr Kędziorski
    • Marcin Jagoda
    2023 Pełny tekst Heritage Science

    The construction of the St. Adalbert Church in Gdansk dates to 1310. It is a church of rich history and great historical value, and its care is challenging. In this study, the combination of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to accurately build a 3D model of the church. Together with the collected historical inventory documentation, the historic building information model (HBIM) was generated. The AutodeskRevit® tool was used for this purpose. On the basis of the generated model, the reflection properties of the laser scanner beam and red–green–blue (RGB) images, a methodology was proposed for analysing the degradation of the church’s components. The main hypothesis of this study is based on the analysis of sunlight outside the church. In addition to the importance of the method for determining the risks of church degradation, a high-quality method for model visualization combining two photogrammetric techniques (TLS + UAV) is presented.

  • Combining MUSHRA Test and Fuzzy Logic in the Evaluation of Benefits of Using Hearing Prostheses
    • Piotr Szymański
    • Tomasz Poremski
    • Bożena Kostek
    2023 Pełny tekst Electronics

    Assessing the effectiveness of hearing aid fittings based on the benefits they provide is crucial but intricate. While objective metrics of hearing aids like gain, frequency response, and distortion are measurable, they do not directly indicate user benefits. Hearing aid performance assessment encompasses various aspects, such as compensating for hearing loss and user satisfaction. The authors suggest enhancing the widely used APHAB (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit) questionnaire by integrating it with the MUSHRA test. APHAB, a self-completed questionnaire for users, evaluates specific sound scenarios on a seven-point scale, with each point described by a letter, percentage, and description. Given the complexities, especially for older users, we propose converting the seven-point APHAB scale to a clearer 100-point MUSHRA scale using fuzzy logic rules. The paper starts with presenting the goals of the study, focused on the assessment of the benefits of hearing aid use, especially in the case of the elderly population. The introductory part includes an overview of methods for evaluating the effectiveness of hearing aid use. Then, the methodology for the data collection is presented. This is followed by a method modification that combines the MUSHRA (MUltiple Stimuli with Hidden Reference and Anchor) test and fuzzy logic processing and the commonly used hearing aid benefit assessment questionnaire, APHAB (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit). The results of such a process are examined. A summary of the findings is given in the form of fuzzy logic-based rules, followed by a short discussion. Finally, the overall conclusion and possible future directions for the method development are presented.

  • COMMENTS ON EXISTING ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE WAVE-INDUCED CYCLIC RESPONSE OF A POROUS SEABED OF INFINITE THICKNESS
    • Waldemar Magda
    2023 Pełny tekst Polish Maritime Research

    This paper deals with the wave-induced cyclic response of a porous seabed (by means of oscillating parameters: pore-fluid pressure, soil displacement components, effective normal stress and shear stress components) due to a surface sinusoidal water-wave propagating over a seabed of infinite thickness. The main existing analytical solutions to the governing problem are critically discussed, pointing out their meaningful errors and doubtful items. A phase-lag phenomena is particularly studied as an immanent part of any complex-valued analytical solutions having a cyclic nature.

  • Compact global association based adaptive routing framework for personnel behavior understanding
    • Lei Shi
    • Yimin Zhou
    • Juan Wang
    • Zuli Wang
    • Ding Chen
    • Haifeng Zhao
    • Wankou Yang
    • Edward Szczerbicki
    2023 Pełny tekst Future Generation Computer Systems-The International Journal of Grid Computing-Theory Methods and Applications

    Personnel behavior understanding under complex scenarios is a challenging task for computer vision. This paper proposes a novel Compact model, which we refer to as CGARPN that incorporates with Global Association relevance and Adaptive Routing Pose estimation Network. Our framework firstly introduces CGAN backbone to facilitate the feature representation by compressing the kernel parameter space compared with typical algorithms, effectively lowering the calculation capacity and consumption. The framework integrates the Global Association information between keypoints, and learns the correlation between high-dimensional feature parameters. ARPN introduced by our structure is established to sufficiently excavate the resembling properties of outcome concealed in the network, adaptively achieving remarkable performance by selecting compatible paths for optimization. Meanwhile, Parametric Content Similarity NMS (PCSNMS) is developed where detailed information on proposal boxes is associated. Comparative experiments (datasets on FLIC, MPII, etc.) with CNN-based counterparts have empirically demonstrated the effectiveness and competitiveness of the model in perspective of accuracy, memory consumption, and computation perplexity. Our model contributes to an efficient and feasible framework of human behavior apprehension.

  • Compact Quasi-Elliptic-Type Inline Waveguide Bandpass Filters With Nonlinear Frequency-Variant Couplings
    • Muhammad Yameen Sandhu
    • Adam Lamęcki
    • Roberto Gómez-García
    • Michał Mrozowski
    2023 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES

    This work presents the design techniques to synthesize a class of compact inline quasi-elliptic-type waveguide cavity bandpass filters based on novel nonlinear frequency-variant couplings (NFVCs). These highly dispersive frequency-variant couplings (FVCs) are realized by means of a pair of partial-height posts that are placed at the junctions between every two cavity resonators. Each NFVC produces a transmission pole in between a pair of independently adjustable transmission zeros (TZs). Although the pole is added to the overall filtering function to augment its order, the TZs can be placed at each side of the filter passband to attain sharp rejection capability and increase the stopband attenuation levels. To synthesize these filters, two coupling-routing-diagram (CRD) approaches for the NFVC are presented that either consider: 1) an arbitrary FVC (AFVC) or 2) two resonating nodes interacting with a zero-susceptance nonresonating node through constant inverters. An equivalent lumped-element circuit model associated with both CRD approaches is provided. It is demonstrated that both CRD models can be exploited for the theoretical synthesis of this type of filter, whereas the equivalent lumped-element circuit model can provide a deeper insight into the systematic dimensioning of the posts. For experimental validation purposes, three design examples are synthesized, and 10-GHz proof-of-concept filter prototypes of two of them are EM-simulated, fabricated, and characterized. The measured results agree well with the simulations and the design theory, thus verifying the concept of inline waveguide cavity filters with TZs using NFVCs.

  • Comparative Analysis of Metabolic Variations, Antioxidant Profiles and Antimicrobial Activity of Salvia hispanica (Chia) Seed, Sprout, Leaf, Flower, Root and Herb Extracts
    • Sara Motyka
    • Barbara Kusznierewicz
    • Halina Ekiert
    • Izabela Korona-Głowniak
    • Agnieszka Szopa
    2023 Pełny tekst MOLECULES

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profiles of the seeds, sprouts, leaves, flowers, roots and herb of Salvia hispanica and to demonstrate their significant contribution to antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Applied methods were: HPLC-DAD coupled with post-column derivatization with ABTS reagent, untargeted metabolomics performed by LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, and two-fold micro-dilution broth method, which involved suspending a solution of tested compounds dissolved in DMSO in Mueller–Hinton broth for bacteria or Mueller–Hinton broth with 2% glucose for fungi. Metabolomic profiling using LC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS used in this study yielded the identification and preliminary characterization of one hundred fifteen compounds. The dominant class of compounds was terpenoids (31 compounds), followed by flavonoids (21 compounds), phenolic acids and derivatives (19 compounds), organic acids (16 compounds) and others (fatty acids, sugars and unidentified compounds). The organic and phenolic acids were the most abundant classes in terms of total peak area, with distribution depending on the plant raw materials obtained from S. hispanica. The main compound among this class for all types of extracts was rosmarinic acid which was proven to be the most abundant for antioxidant potential. All tested extracts exhibited considerable antibacterial and antifungal activity. The strongest bioactivity was found in leaf extracts, which presented bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus, S. epidermidis, M. luteus and E. faecalis). The work represents the first compendium of knowledge comparing different S. hispanica plant raw materials in terms of the profile of biologically active metabolites and their contribution to antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activity.

  • Comparative analysis of numerical with optical soliton solutions of stochastic Gross–Pitaevskii equation in dispersive media
    • Muhammad Zafarullah Baber
    • Nauman Ahmed
    • Muhammad Waqas Yasin
    • Muhammad Sajid Iqbal
    • Ali Akgül
    • Muhammad Riaz
    • Muhammad Rafiq
    • Ali Raza
    2023 Pełny tekst Results in Physics

    This article deals with the stochastic Gross–Pitaevskii equation (SGPE) perturbed with multiplicative time noise. The numerical solutions of the governing model are carried out with the proposed stochastic non-standard finite difference (SNSFD) scheme. The stability of the scheme is proved by using the Von-Neumann criteria and the consistency is shown in the mean square sense. To seek exact solutions, we applied the Sardar subequation (SSE) and modified exponential rational functional (MERF) techniques. The exact solutions are constructed in the form of exponential, hyperbolic, and trigonometric forms. Finally, the comparison of the exact solutions with numerical solutions is drawn in the 3D and line plots for the different values of parameters.

  • Comparative analysis of switched reluctance motor control algorithms
    • Galina Demidova
    • Y.d. Derbikov
    • F.s. Petrikov
    • D.v. Lukichev
    • Ryszard Strzelecki
    • A. Anuchin
    2023 Pełny tekst Scientific and Technical Journal of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics

    Предмет исследования. Развитие микропроцессорной техники и силовой электроники позволило создавать недорогие и эффективные системы управления различными электромеханическими объектами, которые ранее широко не использовались из-за сложности управления. К таким устройствам можно отнести вентильно-индукторные электрические машины. Данные машины широко применяются в различных практических разработках, например, в тяговом электроприводе, в электроприводе нефтегазовых буровых установок и других направлениях. Вентильно-индукторная электрическая машина, несмотря на свои явные преимущества, является существенно нелинейным объектом, методы управления которым требуют формализации и группировки. Метод.Рассмотрены конструктивные и функциональные особенности вентильно-индукторных электрических машин, а также показаны основные методы их управления. Выполнен сравнительный анализ наиболее известных способов управления. Основные результаты. Приведены основные классические методы управления вентильно-индукторной электрической машиной: применение релейного регулятора тока с ограничением, метод регулирования углов включения/выключения и управление напряжением звена постоянного тока. Продемонстрированы переходные процессы в системе электропривода при использовании рассматриваемых методов. Показано, что путем регулирования углов включения/выключения получена возможность снижения коэффициента осцилляции вращающего момента. Практическая значимость. Выявленные особенности рассмотренных методов позволяют упростить и сократить время разработки эффективной системы управления вентильно-индукторной электрической машиной, а также уменьшить пульсации вращающего момента

  • Comparative Analysis of the Coffee and Cocoa Industry By‑Products on the Performance of Polyethylene‑Based Composites
    • Aleksander Hejna
    • Mateusz Barczewski
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Olga Mysiukiewicz
    2023 Pełny tekst Waste and Biomass Valorization

    The application of plant-based by-products from the food industry as minimally processed functional fillers for polymeric composites is an increasingly popular trend among researchers and manufacturers. While minimizing the preprocessing of lignocellulosic fillers leads to an increase in the sustainability of the overall composite and a decrease of the carbon footprint, filler modification is usually indispensable to obtaining sufficient mechanical and thermomechanical properties of a composite. The goal of the presented study was a comprehensive analysis of the structure, mechanical and thermal performance of polyethylene-based (PE) composites with spent coffee grounds (FK) and cocoa husks (KK). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed the antioxidant activity of both fillers, extending the oxidation induction time by 100% (54 min) compared to pure PE (20 min). Composites with up to 5 wt% of the filler were characterized by low porosity (0.5%) and revealed tensile strength of about 20 MPa, which is comparable with the results of unmodified PE. However, the materials' ductility was affected, reducing elongation at break and tensile toughness by two orders of magnitude. In order to quantify changes in adhesion at the interface, a comprehensive analysis of thermomechanical parameters based on dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was carried out, including the assessment of interactions on the interface of the composite caused by the increase in free volume inside composites' structure.

  • Comparative Analysis of the Coffee and Cocoa Industry By-Products on the Performance of Polyethylene-Based Composites
    • Aleksander Hejna
    • Mateusz Barczewski
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Olga Mysiukiewicz
    2023 Waste and Biomass Valorization

    The application of plant-based by-products from the food industry as minimally processed functional fillers for polymeric composites is an increasingly popular trend among researchers and manufacturers. While minimizing the preprocessing of lignocellulosic fillers leads to an increase in the sustainability of the overall composite and a decrease of the carbon footprint, filler modification is usually indispensable to obtaining sufficient mechanical and thermomechanical properties of a composite. The goal of the presented study was a comprehensive analysis of the structure, mechanical and thermal performance of polyethylene-based (PE) composites with spent coffee grounds (FK) and cocoa husks (KK). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed the antioxidant activity of both fillers, extending the oxidation induction time by 100% (54 min) compared to pure PE (20 min). Composites with up to 5 wt% of the filler were characterized by low porosity (0.5%) and revealed tensile strength of about 20 MPa, which is comparable with the results of unmodified PE. However, the materials' ductility was affected, reducing elongation at break and tensile toughness by two orders of magnitude. In order to quantify changes in adhesion at the interface, a comprehensive analysis of thermomechanical parameters based on dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was carried out, including the assessment of interactions on the interface of the composite caused by the increase in free volume inside composites' structure.

  • Comparative Analysis of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Used in Photogrammetric Surveys
    • Mariusz Specht
    • Szymon Widźgowski
    • Andrzej Stateczny
    • Cezary Specht
    • Oktawia Lewicka
    2023 Pełny tekst TransNav - The International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation

    There are many manufacturers on the market offering various types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The multitude of drones available on the market means that the choice of a UAV for a specific application appears to be a decision problem to be solved. The aim of this article is a comparative analysis of drones used in photogrammetric surveys. The criteria for evaluating the UAVs were: availability and product support, payload (min. 5 kg), price (PLN 100,000), as well as space available for measurement modules. These are the requirements that must be met for the implementation of the INNOBAT project, the aim of which is to develop an integrated system using autonomous unmanned aerial and surface vehicles, intended for bathymetric monitoring in the coastal zone. The comparative analysis of drones was based on 27 companies producing UAV. Based on the analysis, 6 drones that met the project requirements were selected. They were: Aurelia X6 Pro, Aurelia X8 Standard LE, DroneHexa AG, FOX‐C8 XT, Hercules 10 and Zoe X4. Selected UAVs differ from each other, among others, in the number of rotors, flight duration and resistance to weather conditions. Individual characteristics of drones may have a different rank depending on their application, therefore the selection of UAVs should be made after prioritisation criteria of a given project.

  • Comparative study of a combined heat and power plant retrofitted by CO2 capture during the combustion of syngas from sewage sludge gasification versus zero-emission combustion of hydrogen produced using renewables
    • Kacper Bąk
    • Paweł Ziółkowski
    • Jacek Frost
    • Marta Drosińska-Komor
    2023 Pełny tekst INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

    With ecological requirements aimed at limiting the production of CO2, it is necessary to produce all, or most of the energy from RES. During the transformation process, ecological and highly efficient combustion power plants will be needed. The classic cycle of combined heat and power (CCGT) with green improvements will continue to be one of the most suitable technologies for this task. This article presents the modernization of the CCGT power plant in Zielona Gora in terms of possible solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and cooperation with RES producing hydrogen. Two variants of retrofit were considered: CO2 capture following the combustion of syngas obtained from gasification of sewage sludge, and emission-free hydrogen combustion in a gas turbine. Calculations were made using numerical modelling and the obtained results were validated. Avoided CO2 emissions for both solutions are shown. The proposed upgrades were compared with the basic variant and other gaseous fuels.

  • Comparative Study on Assisted Solvent Extraction Techniques for the Extraction of Biologically Active Compounds from Sideritis raeseri and Sideritis scardica
    • Marika Mróz
    • Edyta Malinowska-Pańczyk
    • Agnieszka Bartoszek-Pączkowska
    • Barbara Kusznierewicz
    2023 Pełny tekst MOLECULES

    The plants in the Sideritis genus are postulated to exhibit several important medicinal properties due to their unique chemical composition. To isolate the targeted phytochemical compounds, the selection of a suitable extraction method is of primary importance. In this work, a comparative study on the phytochemical profiles of various Sideritis raeseri and Sideritis scardica extracts has been carried out. An untargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was applied to investigate the metabolic differences between extracts obtained by conventional extraction and extractions assisted by microwaves, ultrasounds and high pressure. Additionally, the influence of extraction solvents on HPLC antioxidant profiles obtained following the derivatization of analytes with ABTS reagent was evaluated. A total of 102 metabolites have been putatively identified. The major secondary metabolites groups were classified as flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylethanoid glycosides and phenolic acids. The main antioxidants in the extracts were isoscutellarein and hypolaetin derivatives as well as verbascoside and chlorogenic acid. The results showed that 70% ethanol was the most effective extractant for different classes of phytochemicals including antioxidants. In addition, extraction supported with microwaves, ultrasounds or high pressure improved the overall recovery of metabolites by about 3 times compared to the conventional extraction method.

  • Comparative tests of the wall thickness effect of a glass-reinforced thermosetting plastic coating with a non-circular cross section in a soil-coating object for economic aspect
    • Remigiusz Gut
    • Wiktor Jasiński
    • Andrzej Duszyński
    • Aleksander Czapla
    • Mahesh Ganesapillai
    • Jakub Drewnowski
    2023 Desalination and Water Treatment

    Culvert structures made of plastics are employed extensively in the construction of new facilities as well as the renovation of existing ones. Due to the high costs of materials required for the manufacturing of these goods, the objective of this research is focused to lessen the thickness of the walls, which may, on the other hand, result in a reduction in the stiffness of the system. In the course of the testing, the structure was subjected to both vertical and horizontal displacements, and wall deformations were measured in both the central portion of the section and at the junction. The results of the tests were assessed to determine whether or not the reduction in wall thickness had an effect on the amount of deformation that occurred in the structure’s internal cross-section as well as the wall stresses. GRP pipes with reduced (optimized) wall thickness can withstand comparable loads to the ones with thicker walls, which opens up consideration about possible application of such products for sustainable development of circular economy.

  • Comparative wear test of journal sliding bearings with sintered bronze and Babbitt alloy bushes lubricated by environmentally acceptable/adapted lubricants (EAL)
    • Jacek Frost
    • Wojciech Litwin
    2023 Pełny tekst TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS

    A growing awareness of the negative effects of mineral oils on the natural environment has resulted in the introduction of new regulations related to environmental protection. One of these regulations requires the use of environmentally acceptable/adapted lubricants (EAL) to lubricate marine main shaft bearings, in place of the mineral lubricating oils that have been used for decades. Classification Societies, which supervise the technical condition of ships, record a certain number of failures each year of heavy loaded stern tube bearings lubricated with modern, environmentally friendly lubricants. The reason often given for such failures is that the operating parameters of EAL lubricants are worse than those of mineral oils. The aim of the experimental research reported here was to compare the operating parameters and wear of EAL lubricated journal sliding bearings. For this purpose, two classic mineral lubricating oils and a group of four alternative lubricants from the EAL group were selected. The tests carried out for two types of bearing bushes – sintered bronze and Babbitt – did not show significant differences in terms of operating parameters or journal and bush wear for the entire group of tested lubricants.

  • Comparing Apples and Oranges: A Mobile User Experience Study of iOS and Android Consumer Devices
    • Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski
    • Tadeus Uhl
    2023

    With the rapid development of wireless networks and the spread of broadband access around the world, the number of active mobile user devices continues to grow. Each year more and more terminals are released on the market, with the smartphone being the most popular among them. They include low-end, mid-range, and of course high-end devices, with top hardware specifications. They do vary in build quality, utilized type of material, screen size and screen technology, but the biggest differentiator relates with the CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), RAM (Random-Access Memory), as well as integrated wireless connectivity modules. Another issue is the type of installed software, particularly the OS (Operating System). Nowadays, two operating systems share approx. 90% of the mobile market, that is iOS from Apple and Android from Google. The first one is a closed environment, dedicated only to devices coming from one man ufacturer. The fragmentation and distribution of different OSs is very low. The price range of different smartphone versions is quite high for a typical user. The second one is an open environment, available on numerous devices coming from various manufacturers. Additionally, this OS may be changed or modified by any interested third-party, which would like to implement, e.g., their own GUI (Graphical User Interface), etc. The fragmentation and distribution of different OSs is very large. The price range of smartphones available on the market is vast. The question remains which option proofs better in terms of quality for the end user. One may assume that if a given solution is intended as a dedicated one, meaning that it is designed to operate on a limited number of, i.e., hardware configurations, it should prove to be more effective. The battery lifetime, stability and efficiency is expected to be high. If some solution is universal, meaning that it could operate on barely any hardware configuration, it would eventually prove to be less effective, less stable, and with a lower expected battery lifetime. This aspect would surely be an interesting hypothesis to investigate.

  • Comparison of Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 spinels doped with Ni or Fe and synthesized via wet chemistry and solid-state reaction methods, designed as potential coating materials for metallic interconnects
    • Łukasz Mazur
    • Damian Koszelow
    • Marek Zajusz
    • Marcin Łapiński
    • Maciej Bik
    • Patryk Zając
    • Anna Adamczyk
    • Paweł Rutkowski
    • Sebastian Molin
    • Tomasz Brylewski
    2023 JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY

    The influence of the method applied to synthesize Cu-Mn-O spinel was evaluated. The methods selected for the investigation were EDTA gel processes and solid-state reaction synthesis. From the obtained powders, sinters were prepared and assessed in terms of their properties as potential coating materials. Additionally, the influence of Ni and Fe dopants was evaluated. The results show that the EDTA gel processes method seems to be more suitable for spinel synthesis. This method yields spinels that exhibit electrical conductivity above the required threshold (>50 S/cm) over a temperature range of 400-850°C, and it also ensures continuous spinel matrices and high spinel content. Spinels obtained via solid-state reactions exhibit inferior properties. A higher concentration of Ni allows electrical conductivity to be improved further, while the opposite tendency is observed for Fe. Finally, it was shown that spinels obtained via EDTA gel processes are promising protective-conducting coating materials for SOEC/SOFCs steel interconnects.

  • Comparison of Mathematical Models of Torque Transmitted by Multi-disc Wet Clutch with Experimental Results
    • Marcin Bąk
    • Piotr Patrosz
    • Paweł Śliwiński
    • Paweł Załuski
    • Mykola Karpenko
    2023

    In this article was described the methodology for the experimental study of flows in the prototype of a satellite hydraulic motor with a rotating body. The experimental tests of the motor were carried out at a low constant rotational speed in a wide range of pressure drop in this motor. The constant rotational speed of the motor was kept by a worm gear. Based on the test results, the leakage characteristics in the flat gaps of the curvature, satellites and in the commutation unit gaps were determined. The test results also allowed to evaluate the correct operation of the commutation unit and the compensation unit of axial clearances of the curvature and satellites in the working mechanism of the motor.

  • Comparison of Selected Neural Network Models Used for Automatic Liver Tumor Segmentation
    • Dominik Kwiatkowski
    • Tomasz Dziubich
    2023

    Automatic and accurate segmentation of liver tumors is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma or metastases. However, the task remains challenging due to imprecise boundaries and significant variations in the shape, size, and location of tumors. The present study focuses on tumor segmentation as a more critical aspect from a medical perspective, compared to liver parenchyma segmentation, which is the focus of most authors in publications. In this paper, four state-of-the-art models were trained and used to compare with UNet in terms of accuracy. Two of them (namely, based on polar coordinates and Visual Image Transformer (ViT)) were adopted for the specified task. Dice similarity measure is used for the comparison. A unified baseline environment and preprocessing parameters were used. Experiments on the public LiTS dataset demonstrate that the proposed ViT based network can accurately segment liver tumors from CT images in an end-to-end manner, and it outperforms many existing methods (tumour segmentation accuracy 56%, liver parenchyma 94% Dice). The average Dice similarity measure for the considered images was found to be 75%. The obtained results seem to be clinically relevant.

  • Comparison of the Ability of Neural Network Model and Humans to Detect a Cloned Voice
    • Krzysztof Milewski
    • Szymon Zaporowski
    • Andrzej Czyżewski
    2023 Pełny tekst Electronics

    The vulnerability of the speaker identity verification system to attacks using voice cloning was examined. The research project assumed creating a model for verifying the speaker’s identity based on voice biometrics and then testing its resistance to potential attacks using voice cloning. The Deep Speaker Neural Speaker Embedding System was trained, and the Real-Time Voice Cloning system was employed based on the SV2TTS, Tacotron, WaveRNN, and GE2E neural networks. The results of attacks using voice cloning were analyzed and discussed in the context of a subjective assessment of cloned voice fidelity. Subjective test results and attempts to authenticate speakers proved that the tested biometric identity verification system might resist voice cloning attacks even if humans cannot distinguish cloned samples from original ones.

  • Comparison of the Efficiency of Hetero- and Homogeneous Catalysts in Cellulose Liquefaction
    • Paulina Kosmela
    • Paweł Kazimierski
    2023 Pełny tekst Materials

    Biomass liquefaction is a well-known and extensively described process. Hydrothermal processes are well understood and can be used in the fuel industry. The use of organic solvents can result in full-fledged products for use in the synthesis of polyurethanes. The plastics industry, including polyurethanes, is targeting new, more environmentally friendly solutions. One of these is the replacement of petrochemical polyols with compounds obtained from renewable sources. It is common in biomass liquefaction to use sulfuric acid (VI) as a catalyst. The purpose of the present study was to test the effectiveness of a heterogeneous catalyst such as Nafion ion-exchange resin on the cellulose liquefaction process. The results obtained were compared with the bio-polyols obtained in a conventional way, using a homogeneous catalyst (sulfuric acid (VI)). Depending on the catalyst used and the temperature of the process, bio-polyols characterized, among other things, by a hydroxyl number in the range of 740–400 mgKOH/g were obtained. The research provides new information on the possibility of using heterogeneous catalysts in cellulose liquefaction

  • Comparison of traditional district heating with low temperature district heating systems featuring organic Rankine cycle and heat pump
    • Jaroslaw Mikielewicz
    • Dariusz Mikielewicz
    2023 ENERGY

    Paper presents a comparison between a traditional district heating system with conventional boilers as a source of heat and electricity purchases from power utilities and a low temperature DH system incorporating the CHP with organic Rankine Cycle providing electricity and local heat pump raising the temperature of the DH fluid to the required temperature in the dwelling, meaning that both heat and electricity are produced within the system. Additionally, such “island” system may feature or not the heat pump. Comparisons are made based on the results obtained using a developed simple analytical model enabling calculations of the efficiency of respective systems. The analyses have a general character and can be used in studies of complex networks however presented in the paper simple examples show merely the fundamental capabilities of the developed tool. The objective of the heat pump in the system is to increase temperature of hot water to the required level locally at the dwelling and provide the heating in such way, contrary to the traditional system, where water heating is considered by the use of electric heaters to increase parameters of water for central heating purposes and preparation of utility hot water. Presence of the heat pump in the system allows for significantly lower temperatures of distributed in the network heat carrier.

  • Comparison of various flow maldistribution quantification methods in mini heat exchangers
    • Paweł Dąbrowski
    2023 Pełny tekst Scientific Reports

    The aim of study is to compare various flow maldistribution quantification methods, using velocity, mass flow rate, pressure, and temperature. An experimentally validated numerical study has been prepared and a heat exchanger with 34 semi-circular channels with a diameter of 3.1 mm has been tested. The minichannels were heated from the bottom with a heat flux of 50, 60, 70, and 80 kW/m2. The cases for various inlet velocities of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 m/s have been tested. It results in a total of 16 cases with various heat flux and various inlet velocities of the water. Then, for every 16 cases, the flow maldistribution coefficients, widely used in the literature, have been calculated based on the velocity, pressure, and temperature profiles. The study shows that every method gives other results of the same parameter that should define the flow distribution in the heat exchanger in the same way. Hence, the ambiguities of fluid distribution conclusions in heat exchangers that can be found in the literature may be caused by a different interpretation of the flow maldistribution coefficient. A normalized flow maldistribution coefficient that gives the same results for all thermohydraulic parameters used has been proposed.

  • Compatibility of Crude Oil Blends─Processing Issues Related to Asphaltene Precipitation, Methods of Instability Prediction─A Review
    • Krzysztof Bambinek
    • Andrzej Przyjazny
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    2023 Pełny tekst INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH

    Processing crude oil of variable composition, especially due to the need to process crude oil blends obtained from various sources, presents a tremendous process challenge. This is mainly due to the destabilization of the colloidal system manifested mostly by the precipitation of the asphaltene fraction. The precipitation of asphaltenes from crude oil is a serious problem during extraction, transport, and processing. In the latter case, engineers and scientists have spent a lot of time determining what mechanisms are conducive to the occurrence of this phenomenon. On the one hand, there was a scientific curiosity about the principles of the nanoworld (nanoscale) of asphaltene molecules that determine their stability, and on the other hand, the willingness of process engineers in refineries to maintain the equipment in the best condition and maximize plant profits. Over the years, many methods have been developed to assess the stability of asphaltenes in crude oils and their blends, starting with methodologies based on the separation of a complex mixture into basic groups of compounds with similar properties (SARA) to sophisticated numerical models on an increasingly better understanding of interactions between molecules under changing conditions. In the former case, the basic instruments available in every laboratory are used whereas in the latter case technically advanced measurement systems capable of reproducing the real conditions of crude oil processing are employed. This paper reviews the methods of determining the stability of crude oils and their blends along with a critical assessment of their effectiveness.