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Repozytorium publikacji
Politechniki Gdańskiej

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  • Open-Set Speaker Identification Using Closed-Set Pretrained Embeddings
    • Michał Affek
    • Marek Tatara
    2022 Pełny tekst

    The paper proposes an approach for extending deep neural networks-based solutions to closed-set speaker identification toward the open-set problem. The idea is built on the characteristics of deep neural networks trained for the classification tasks, where there is a layer consisting of a set of deep features extracted from the analyzed inputs. By extracting this vector and performing anomaly detection against the set of known speakers, new speakers can be detected and modeled for further re-identification. The approach is tested on the basis of NeMo toolkit with SpeakerNet architecture. The algorithm is shown to be working with multiple new speakers introduced.

  • Opracowanie deskryptora nawierzchni drogowej do oceny oporu toczenia opon samochodowych
    • Sławomir Sommer
    2022 Pełny tekst

    Na początku niniejszej pracy pt. „Opracowanie deskryptora nawierzchni drogowej do oceny oporu toczenia opon samochodowych” przedstawiono zagadnienia dotyczące oporów ruchu pojazdu. Omówiono metody zarówno drogowe, jak i laboratoryjne badań oporu toczenia opon samochodowych. Zaprezentowano przykładowe wartości współczynników oporu toczenia opon na różnych rodzajach nawierzchni. Kolejno omówiono metody pomiaru tekstury nawierzchni. W dalszej części przedstawiono obowiązującą procedurę określania średniej głębokości profilu (Mean Profile Depth- MPD) wykonywaną zgodnie z normą ISO 13473-1. Przedstawiono wpływ tekstury nawierzchni na opór toczenia opon samochodowych. W pracy doktorskiej wykazano, że parametr MPD źle koreluje się ze współczynnikiem oporu toczenia opon. W celu przeprowadzenia analiz tekstur nawierzchni opracowano autorskie stanowiska badawcze: do pomiaru profilu tekstur nawierzchni oraz wykonanych na nich odcisków opon, a także do pomiaru sztywności dynamicznej bieżnika opony w warunkach penetracji przez elementy tekstury nawierzchni. Przeanalizowano szereg parametrów geometrycznych związanych z teksturą nawierzchni w aspekcie oporu toczenia. W efekcie opracowano parametr Descriptor of Pavament Texture (DPT50), który lepiej niż MPD koreluje się z oporem toczenia. W dalszej części przedstawiono model matematyczny opisujący ten parametr. W wyniku przeprowadzonych analiz opracowano wzorcową nawierzchnię, która ma posłużyć do prowadzenia normatywnych badań opon w warunkach laboratoryjnych. Na zakończenie pracy przedstawiono autorską technologię wytwarzania replik nawierzchni rzeczywistych, jak i wzorcowych przeznaczonych do pokrywania stalowych bębnów maszyn bieżnych.

  • Opracowanie technologii naprawy nieciągłości metalicznych w połączeniach spawanych, w konstrukcji podpór przednich pras filtracyjnych położonych na terenie Grupowej Oczyszczalni Ścieków Dębogórze
    • Wojciech Kiełczyński
    • Kamil Wilk
    • Maciej Kiełczyński
    2022

    Celem niniejszej pracy jest opracowanie wytycznych technologicznych, których wdrożenie pozwoli na usunięcie istniejących pęknięć, co przyczyni się do stabilizacji wymiarowej podpór oraz całej konstrukcji pras. Osiągniecie tego celu wymaga podjęcia następujących działań: - ocenę stanu technicznego naprawianego komponentu- podpór przednich trzech pras filtracyjnych, - określenie własności spawalniczych materiału naprawianego, - określenie warunków eksploatacji i wymogów dotyczących spawania, - zdeterminowanie norm i przepisów dedykowanych naprawianej konstrukcji, - opracowania zaleceń i wytycznych do opisu procedur spawalniczych, - kwalifikacji procedur – czyli oceny jakości spoin próbnych, - opracowanie procedur kontroli jakości na poszczególnych etapach realizacji naprawy, - sporządzenie dokumentacji końcowej.

  • Optimal placement of IMU sensor for the detection of children activity
    • Magdalena Madej
    • Jacek Rumiński
    2022

    In this paper an investigation to determine the optimal placement of IMU sensors for the purpose of children characteristic activity detection is presented. The article compares four different placement of two IMU sensors on human body. Ten healthy volunteers participated within the study. Data were collected firstly from two wireless 9-axial IMU sensors placed at the left and right wrists, then sensors were placed at lower back and hip (dominant hand side). Activities included jumping, rotating, walking, walking on tiptoe, running, clapping hands, standing still, sitting still and dancing. Several parameters such as mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, energy, correlations, Hjorth parameters (activity, mobility and complexity) and spectra purity index, were calculated from measured data. Data from all locations provided similar levels of accuracy in differentiate analyzed activities.

  • Optimal reshaping and stress controlling of double-layer spherical structures under vertical loadings
    • Ahmed Manguri
    • Najmadeen Saeed
    • Aram Mahmood
    • Javad Katebi
    • Robert Jankowski
    2022 Pełny tekst Archives of Civil Engineering

    Optimal reshaping and stress controlling of double-layer spherical structures under vertical loadings

  • Optimal state feedback controller for balancing cube
    • Adam Kowalczyk
    • Robert Piotrowski
    2022 Pełny tekst Journal of Automation, Mobile Robotics and Intelligent Systems - JAMRIS

    In this paper, a nonlinear balancing cube system is considered, the concept for which is based on an inverted pendulum. The main purpose of this work was the modelling and construction of a balancing cube with the synthesis of the control system. The control objectives included swing-up and stabilization of the cube on its vertex at an unstable equilibrium. Execution of the intended purpose required, first, deriving a cognitive mathematical model. It was based on the Lagrange method. Next, a mathematical model for control purposes was derived. The project of the physical model of the balancing cube was presented. A stabilization system based on a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) was developed. Moreover, a swing-up mechanism was used to bring the cube close to the upper equilibrium point. The algorithm switching condition was important to enable the correct functioning of the system. The developed control system was verified in the Matlab environment. Finally, verifying experiments and comparisons among models (mathematical and physical) were performed.

  • Optimally regularized local basis function approach to identification of time-varying systems
    • Maciej Niedźwiecki
    • Artur Gańcza
    2022 Pełny tekst

    Accurate identification of stochastic systems with fast-varying parameters is a challenging task which cannot be accomplished using model-free estimation methods, such as weighted least squares, which assume only that system coefficients can be regarded as locally constant. The current state of the art solutions are based on the assumption that system parameters can be locally approximated by a linear combination of appropriately chosen basis functions. The paper shows that when the internal correlation structure of estimated parameters is known, the tracking performance of the local basis function estimation algorithms can be further improved by means of regularization. The optimal form of the regularization matrix is derived analytically and it is shown that the best settings of the regularized algorithm can be determined in the computationally efficient way using cross-validation.

  • Optimization of biocorrosion resistance and mechanical properties of PM Ti–XAl–2Fe–3Cu alloys by response surface methodology
    • Mojtaba Najafizadeh
    • Mehran Ghasempour-Mouziraji
    • Morteza Hosseinzadeh
    • Sahar Yazdi
    • Ahmadreza Sarrafan
    • Mansoor Bozorg
    • Pasquale Cavaliere
    • Aleksandra Laska
    • Marek Szkodo
    2022 Pełny tekst JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE

    In the current study, the biocorrosion resistance and mechanical properties of the Ti–XAl–2Fe–3Cu (wt%) (X = 6, 4, 2 wt%) alloy produced by powder compact extrusion of blended elemental powders were optimized by using the response surface methodology in order to gain the best combination of processing parameters. To run the optimization process, central composite design with three equal levels of oxygen, hydrogen and aluminum was used and, by employing ANOVA, the analysis of variance was implemented. The results showed that the content of aluminum has a significant effect on the microstructure, mechanical properties, biocorrosion resistance and fracture behavior of the extruded rods. The highest aluminum content corresponds to the highest alloy strength and biocorrosion resistance. This was due to the reduction of the lamella thickness and of the material colonies as the aluminum content increases. Also, by running the experimental and optimization tests, the mechanical properties resulted 1245 MPa in yield strength and 1340 MPa in ultimate tensile strength with 0.1 lAcm-2 in corrosion current.

  • Optimization-Based High-Frequency Circuit Miniaturization through Implicit and Explicit Constraint Handling: Recent Advances
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Marzieh Mahrokh
    2022 Pełny tekst ENERGIES

    Miniaturization trends in high-frequency electronics have led to accommodation challenges in the integration of the corresponding components. Size reduction thereof has become a practical necessity. At the same time, the increasing performance demands imposed on electronic systems remain in conflict with component miniaturization. On the practical side, the challenges related to handling design constraints are aggravated by the high cost of system evaluation, normally requiring full-wave electromagnetic (EM) analysis. Some of these issues can be alleviated by implicit constraint handling using the penalty function approach. Yet, its performance depends on the arrangement of the penalty factors, necessitating a costly trial-and-error procedure to identify their optimum setup. A workaround is offered by the recently proposed algorithms with automatic adaptation of the penalty factors using different adjustment schemes. However, these intricate strategies require a continuous problem-dependent adaptation of the penalty function throughout the entire optimization process. Alternative methodologies have been proposed by taking an explicit approach to handle the inequality constraints, along with correc-tion-based control over equality conditions, combination of which proves to be demonstrably competitive for some miniaturization tasks. Nevertheless, optimization-based miniaturization, whether using implicit or explicit constraint handling, remains a computationally expensive task. A reliable way of reducing the aforementioned costs is the incorporation of mul-ti-resolution EM fidelity models into the miniaturization procedure. Therein, the principal op-eration is based on a simultaneous monitoring of factors such as quality of the constraint satis-faction, as well as algorithm convergence status. This paper provides an overview of the abovementioned size-reduction algorithms, in which theoretical considerations are illustrated using a number of antenna and microwave circuit case studies.

  • Optimization-Based Robustness Enhancement of Compact Microwave Component Designs with Response Feature Regression Surrogates
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Julia Kozieł
    2022 Pełny tekst KNOWLEDGE-BASED SYSTEMS

    The ability to evaluate the effects of fabrication tolerances and other types of uncertainties is a critical part of microwave design process. Improving the immunity of the device to parameter deviations is equally important, especially when the performance specifications are stringent and can barely be met even assuming a perfect manufacturing process. In the case of modern miniaturized microwave components of complex topologies, it is of paramount importance to carry out tolerance-aware design at the highest available accuracy level (i.e., with the use of full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations). Although reliable, EM-driven tolerance-aware design is extremely costly if conventional techniques are to be applied (e.g., Monte Carlo simulation). To overcome this setback, this paper proposes a simple and computationally efficient algorithm for robustness enhancement of compact microwave component designs. The objective is to increase the allowed deviations of geometry parameter values (described using the coefficients of an underlying probability distributions, e.g., the variance) so that the prescribed performance specifications are still fulfilled. The presented approach incorporates knowledge-based surrogate models, constructed using the characteristic points (response features) of EM-simulated system outputs, and utilized for low-cost prediction of the fabrication yield. The parameter vector of the microwave circuit of interest is adjusted within the trust-region (TR) framework to identify the maximum levels of deviations still ensuring 100-percent yield. The employment of TR also permits the adaptive control of design relocation and ensures convergence of the optimization process. Numerical verification of the presented methodology is carried out using three miniaturized microstrip circuits, including two equal-split couplers and a wideband filter. The major finding is that incorporating knowledge-based feature surrogates allows for achieving a significant improvement of the acceptable input tolerance levels (nearly two fold on the average) at a remarkably low cost of few dozen EM simulations.

  • Optimized Stress and Geometry Control of Spherical structures under Lateral Loadings
    • Aram Mahmood
    • Javad Katebi
    • Najmadeen Saeed
    • Ahmed Manguri
    2022

    In this paper, a numerical model of a double-layer spherical structure has been examined under lateral loadings. When the structure has been distorted due to loadings, the dislocated joints have been moved to their original positions utilizing the adjustment techniques based on the force method. Meanwhile, the members’ internal forces were kept in the desired domain. Optimization techniques were also implemented in order to minimalize the amount of actuation and the number of actuators to reduce the cost of the controlling process. The results of the work confirm that the adjustment and optimization techniques can be easily applied to spherical structures to control their shape and stress in members. The optimization and actuation were obtained from MATLAB and the results were verified by SAP2000.

  • Optymalizacja procesów biologicznych w oczyszczalni ścieków typu SBR
    • Robert Piotrowski
    2022

    Obiektem zainteresowania jest biologiczna, sekwencyjna oczyszczalnia ścieków (Sequ-encing Batch Reactor – SBR). Jest to złożony system sterowania z powodu nieliniowej dyna-miki, niepewności, wielu skal czasu, wielowymiarowości i braku wystarczającej liczby pomia-rów. Warunkiem koniecznym zachodzenia większości procesów biologicznych jest dostar-czenie bakteriom oczyszczającym ścieki, odpowiedniej ilości tlenu, za pomocą instalacji na-powietrzającej. Napowietrzanie spełnia bardzo ważną rolę w oczyszczalni ścieków. Powietrze dostarczane do oczyszczalni ścieków z jednej strony służy jako pokarm dla bakterii oczyszcza-jących ścieki, z drugiej strony pomaga w procesach mieszania ścieków. Koszty napowietrzania są wysokie i stanowią główny składnik kosztów operacyjnych w oczyszczalni ścieków, dlate-go bardzo ważne jest ich zmniejszanie, z jednoczesną poprawą jakości oczyszczania ścieków. W zakresie sterowania, w praktyce eksploatacyjnej oczyszczalni ścieków w dalszym cią-gu stosuje się proste algorytmy sterowania stężeniem tlenu oparte na regułach i regulatorach typu PI ze stałymi wartościami nastaw. Ze względu na złożoność problemu sterowania i różne punkty pracy są one niewystarczające. Wynika to z faktu, iż zapotrzebowanie na tlen, a tym samym na ilość powietrza dostarczanego przez instalację napowietrzającą, jest zmienne w cza-sie. W monografii zaprojektowano dwa nowoczesne, zaawansowanwane algorytmy stero-wania stężeniem tlenu: adaptacyjnego z nadrzędnym regulatorem regułowym i adaptacyjnego z nadrzędnym regulatorem heurystycznym. Układy regulacji oparto o pomiary stężenia tlenu, azotu amonowego i azotanów. Następnie zaproponowano i rozwiązano trzy zadania optymali-zacji procesów biologicznych. Przeprowadzono analizę symulacyjną efektywności zapropo-nowanych struktur i algorytmów optymalizacji dla różnych warunków obciążeń oczyszczalni ścieków w Swarzewie. Zaproponowane rozwiązania przyniosły znaczącą poprawę efektywno-ści oczyszczania ścieków, z równoczesną redukcją kosztów operacyjnych pracy tego złożone-go systemu przemysłowego.

  • Optymalizacja procesów prefabrykacyjnych przyszłością branży budowlanej
    • Rafał Ziółkowski
    • Marzena Kurpińska
    2022 Pełny tekst Materiały Budowlane

    Intensywny rozwój technologiczny w zakładach prefabrykacji będzie miał wpływ na: krótszy czas wznoszenia obiektów; lepszą jakość końcową obiektów uzyskiwaną dzięki wprowadzeniu automatyzacji linii produkcyjnych w zakładach prefabrykacji; ochronę środowiska przez lepsze zarządzanie surowcami; wprowadzanie nowych rozwiązań technologicznych pozwalających na produkcję m.in. smuklejszych elementów, przez co możliwe będzie uzyskanie większej powierzchni użytkowej obiektów budowlanych; zmniejszenie liczby wypadków na budowach; możliwość zmniejszenia liczby pracowników na placu budowy przez przeniesienie części pracochłonnych i czasochłonnych procesów do zakładów prefabrykacji; zmniejszenie wpływu warunków atmosferycznych na prowadzone prace na budowie. Rozwój zakładów prefabrykacji oznacza przyjęcie nowych strategii zarządzania zarówno w samych zakładach, jak i na budowach. Pozwoli to na zaspokojenie potrzeb inicjatyw co do ochrony, utrzymywania i podnoszenia wartości ludzkich oraz zasobów naturalnych, które będą potrzebne w przyszłości – zarównoważenia interesów ekonomicznych, społecznych i ekologicznych.

  • Organic solvents aggregating and shaping structural folding of protein, a case study of the protease enzyme
    • Monikaben Padariya
    • Maciej Bagiński
    • Minofar Babak
    • Umesh Kalathiya
    2022 Pełny tekst BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY

    Low solubility of reactants or products in aqueous solutions can result in the enzymatic catalytic reactions that can occur in non-aqueous solutions. In current study we investigated aqueous solutions containing different organic solvents / deep eutectic solvents (DESs) that can influence the protease enzyme's activity, structural, and thermal stabilities. Retroviral aspartic protease enzyme is responsible for the cleavage of the polypeptide pre- cursors into mature viral components, a very crucial step for virus life cycle. In molecular dynamic simulations (MDS), the complex of the protease enzyme with Darunavirwas found highly stable in urea aqueous solution compared to when with the ethylene glycol (EG) or glycerol solvents. Particularly, in different organic solvents the presence of Darunavir induced protein-protein interactions within the protease homodimer. For the systems with EG or glycerol solvents, the flap domains of the enzyme formed an “open” conformation which lead to a weak binding affinity with the drug. Conserved D25 and G27 residues among this family of the aspartic protease enzymes made a stable binding with Darunavir in the urea systems. Unfolding of the protease dimer was initiated due to self-aggregation for the EG or glycerol organic solvents, which formed an “open” conformation for the flap domains. On the contrary lack of such clustering in urea solvent, the protease showed conventional structural folding in the presence or absence of the drug molecule. These novel findings may help to better understand the protease enzymes, which could be controlled by deep eutectic solvents.

  • Organic Vapor Sensing Mechanisms by Large-Area Graphene Back-Gated Field-Effect Transistors under UV Irradiation
    • Katarzyna Drozdowska
    • Adil Rehman
    • Pavlo Sai
    • Bartłomiej Stonio
    • Aleksandra Krajewska
    • Maksym Dub
    • Jacek Kacperski
    • Grzegorz Cywiński
    • Maciej Haras
    • Sergey Rumyantsev
    • Lars Österlund
    • Janusz Smulko
    • Andrzej Kwiatkowski
    2022 Pełny tekst ACS Sensors

    The gas sensing properties of graphene back-gated field-effect transistor (GFET) sensors toward acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and chloroform vapors were investigated with the focus on unfolding possible gas detection mechanisms. The FET configuration of the sensor device enabled gate voltage tuning for enhanced measurements of changes in DC electrical characteristics. Electrical measurements were combined with a fluctuation-enhanced sensing methodology and intermittent UV irradiation. Distinctly different features in 1/f noise spectra for the organic gases measured under UV irradiation and in the dark were observed. The most intense response observed for tetrahydrofuran prompted the decomposition of the DC characteristic, revealing the photoconductive and photogating effect occurring in the graphene channel with the dominance of the latter. Our observations shed light on understanding surface processes at the interface between graphene and volatile organic compounds for graphene-based sensors in ambient conditions that yield enhanced sensitivity and selectivity.

  • Osiedle Naturia/Toruń
    • Agnieszka Błażko
    2022 Pełny tekst Architektura-Murator

    Osiedle Jar, zlokalizowane na leśnych terenach powojskowych, to niezwykle atrakcyjny i dynamicznie rozwijający się obszar budownictwa mieszkaniowego w Toruniu. W jego północnej części, w miejscu ograniczonym ulicami Strobanda, Grasera i Watzenrodego powstaje zanurzony w zieleni zespół wielorodzinnych budynków mieszkalnych autorstwa KURYŁOWICZ & ASSOCIATES - egzemplifikacja modernistycznego modelu zespołu mieszkalnego złożonego z otoczonych zielenią wolnostojących domów, z odpowiednio nasłonecznionymi i przewietrzanymi mieszkaniami różnych typów. Główną ideą projektu odwołującą się chociażby do tonącego w zieleni Hansaviertel w Berlin Mitte było takie wpisanie budynków mieszkalnych w piękne leśne otoczenie aby możliwe było zachowanie i wyeksponowanie jak największej liczby drzew i naturalnego, urozmaiconego ukształtowania terenu.

  • OVERALL SET OF BANDSAW TEETH VERSUS METHODS OF MEASUREMENTS
    • Dawid Stenka
    • Kazimierz Orłowski
    • Daniel Chuchała
    2022 Pełny tekst Trieskove a Beztrieskove Obrabanie Dreva

    This article deals with the impact of the manual methods of measurement on the overall set measurement results. It describes the results of the measurement of bandsaw teeth kerf with the use of a micrometer and a digital calliper. It is commonly known that the cutting process causes the wear of cutting tools. The wear of the cutting edge depends on the cutting conditions as well as on the mechanical properties of the processed material. One of the methods used to estimate the state of saw teeth uses kerf measurements. The overall set of teeth of the bandsaw Prime ST 0.8/1.2 by Wintersteiger, which was used in the oak wood re-saving process, was measured using a micrometer and a digital calliper. The results of different measurements were compared to estimate the accuracy and precision of those methods. It was shown that micrometer measurements were much more precise than calliper measurements. It was also noted that the kerf varied between two tooth ranges

  • Overcoming carboxylic acid inhibition by granular consortia in high-load liquefied food waste fermentation for efficient lactate accumulation
    • Xianbao Xu
    • Xia Gu
    • Tingting Ye
    • Yanbiao Liu
    • Yanan Liu
    • Gang Xue
    • Xiang Li
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2022 JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

    Granular sludge, a self-aggregating spherical biofilm, possesses better stability compared to flocculent sludge under extreme conditions. This study compared the ability of anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS) and flocculent waste activated sludge (WAS) to convert food waste (FW) into highly-valuable optically active lactic acid (LA), a central and versatile intermediate platform molecule. Different loadings (30–60 g volatile suspended solids (VSS)/L) were applied and LA was accumulated to 52.7 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L on day 7 with optical activity (OA) of 77% using granular consortia under the highest FW loading, exhibiting a 48% increase in the yield over flocculent WAS on day 6. An initially delayed utilization of carbohydrates and subsequently enhanced glycolysis occurred with AnGS, which was in line with its high accumulation of LA. Furthermore, the AnGS consortia were dominated by LA bacteria (81%), including Bacillus, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium, much higher than the WAS consortia (48%). The AnGS was more tolerant to LA inhibition, preventing cytoplasmic pH decrease (intracellular H+ in AnGS was 42% lower than in WAS) from the dissociation of carboxylic acid inside the cells. This might be due to its particular multi-layered aggregate extracellular polymeric substance structure and the enhancement of H+-transporting ATPase (increased by 120% in AnGS). This study provides a practical way to overcome carboxylic acid inhibition and increase the recovery of value-added platform molecules from organic wastes.

  • Overcoming gender bias in the digital economy. Empirical evidence for European countries
    • Ewa Lechman
    • Magdalena Popowska
    2022 Gender, Technology and Development

    This study aims to contribute to understanding the gender biases that emerge in the digital technology-related field. More specifically we concentrate on examining whether gender gaps are diminishing or are persistent in terms of women’s enrollment in technology-related programs at the tertiary level of education and for female STEM graduates. Next, this evidence is confronted with gender biases in the labor market regarding changing female and male employment in high-tech sectors; we detect whether gender gaps grow or diminish in this respect. Our data cover 29 European countries in the period 2011–2020 and are extracted from World Economic Forum reports, Eurostat, and UNESCO databases. Our methodological framework combines time trends analysis, cross-country inequalities, distributional changes, and non-parametric approximations examining relationships between variables. Our major conclusions support the view of negligibly diminishing gender inequalities in technology-related education and demonstrate increasing gender gaps regarding high-tech employment.

  • Overview of Approaches for Compensating Inherent Metamaterials Losses
    • Bashar Esmail
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Stanisław Szczepański
    • Huda Majid
    2022 Pełny tekst IEEE Access

    Metamaterials are synthetic composite structures with extraordinary electromagnetic properties not readily accessible in ordinary materials. These media attracted massive attention due to their exotic characteristics. However, several issues have been encountered, such as the narrow bandwidth and inherent losses that restrict the spectrum and the variety of their applications. The losses have become the principal limiting factor when employing metamaterials in real-world applications. Consequently, overcoming them is crucially important and of practical necessity. This paper discusses the practical applications of metamaterials in constructing functional devices and the effects of the losses on such devices. In more depth, it reviews the available approaches for reducing the metamaterial losses developed over the last two decades in the light of available literature. These approaches include the utilization of the principles of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), geometric tailoring of the metamaterial structures, and embedding gain materials. Further, computational optimization techniques, such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA), are also discussed to design low-loss metamaterials. The EIT-like metamaterial and the including of gain materials are systematic and universal approaches exhibiting low loss approaching zero. In contrast, the other two are not systematic and universal approaches.

  • Overview of Knowledge Management in Occupational Safety, Health, and Ergonomics
    • Syed Imran
    • Edward Szczerbicki
    • Cesar Sanin
    2022

    Occupational safety, health, and ergonomics (OSHE) are strategic pillars of contemporary organizations. In order to provide safer workplace, it is vital to manage the organizational knowledge, so that effective decision making along with absolute compliance to standards can be executed. The critical challenge for OSHE in modern industry is management of existing individual knowledge (experience), structure knowledge, and organizational knowledge in the vast domains of practical applications. This paper firstly investigates the requirements for effective knowledge management (KM) in OSHE, secondly it reviews the present knowledge models and finally proposes a new knowledge model in OSHE. The proposed model is based on a technique called set of experience knowledge structure (SOEKS); it is not only capable of knowledge creation, distribution, elaboration, and consolidation but also possesses features to review and reflect decisions taken in past.

  • Overview of Metamaterials-Integrated Antennas for Beam Manipulation Applications: The Two Decades of Progress
    • Bashar Esmail
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Łukasz Gołuński
    • Huda Majid
    • Rusan Kumar Barik
    2022 Pełny tekst IEEE Access

    Metamaterials (MMs) are synthetic composite structures with superior properties not found in naturally occurring materials. MMs have gained massive attention over the last two decades because of their extraordinary properties, such as negative permittivity and permeability. These materials enable many applications in communication subsystems, especially in the field of antenna design, to enhance gain, bandwidth, and efficiency, reduce the size, and deflect the radiation pattern. The demand for beam-deflection antennas is significant in modern wireless communication research studies due to their importance in enhancing service quality, system security, avoiding interference, and economizing power. The MM structures are usually included in the vicinity of the radiating element or incorporated in the antenna substrate for controlling the radiation pattern. This review study provides an introduction to MMs, focusing on their electromagnetic properties, classification, and design approaches. Furthermore, a detailed study of using the MMs to manipulate the radiation is carried out, where different properties such as the positive/negative refractive index, epsilon-near-zero (ENZ), and mu near-zero (MNZ) are employed to achieve a beam-deflection antenna. Reconfigurable MMs are also loaded to the antenna to achieve multi-directional beam deflection with negligible effect on the antenna's physical size. Moreover, the gradient-index (GRIN) based on MMs is used to obtain high deflection angles with minor effects on other antenna properties.

  • Overview of planar antenna loading metamaterials for gain performance enhancement: the two decades of progress
    • Bashar Esmail
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Stanisław Szczepański
    2022 Pełny tekst IEEE Access

    Metamaterials (MTMs) are artificially engineered materials with unique electromagnetic properties not occurring in natural materials. MTMs have gained considerable attention owing to their exotic electromagnetic characteristics such as negative permittivity and permeability, thereby a negative refraction index. These extraordinary properties enable many practical applications such as super-lenses, and cloaking technology, and are used to design different electromagnetic devices like filters, polarization converters, sensors, and absorbers. Advances in MTMs have made new application fields to emerge in communication subsystems, especially in the field of antennas. MTMs are usually arranged in front or above the radiating element, or incorporated in the same substrate to improve the performance of planar antennas, in terms of improving directivity, gain, bandwidth, and efficiency, reducing the size and mutual coupling, and deflecting the radiation characteristics. High gain antennas are demanded in modern wireless communication systems. Their importance is in improving the signal strength by reducing the interference and alleviating the free space path loss. This review paper provides a brief introduction to MTMs, with the focus on their operating principles. Furthermore, a detailed study of antenna gain enhancement based on the various properties of MTMs is carried out. MTMs with low values of constitutive parameters; zero-index material (ZIM), low-index material (LIM), epsilon-near-zero (ENZ), and mu-near-zero (MNZ) are discussed in detail in the context of their capability to enhance the gain of a broad class of planar antennas. The low impedance property and lensing property, which is achieved by three different characteristics: high refractive index (HRI), gradient refractive index (GRIN), and negative refractive index (NRI) materials, are loaded to planar antennas for gain enhancement. The scope of this review has been limited to antennas that were experimentally validated in the respective source papers.

  • Oznakowanie robót drogowych – studium przypadków
    • Natalia Konkel
    • Joanna Wachnicka
    2022 Drogownictwo

    W artykule przedstawiono zagadnienia związane ze sposobami oznaczania stref robót drogowych oraz stanem technicznym zastosowanych znaków pionowych i urządzeń bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego. Wpływ na bezpieczeństwo, oprócz nieodpowiedniego umiejscowienia oznakowania, ma również jego odblaskowość oraz czytelność. Omawiane niespełnienie wymagań przedmiotowych cech wynika z nienależytego dbania o zapewnienie właściwych parametrów i stanu technicznego używanych znaków pionowych i urządzeń bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego do oznakowania tymczasowych organizacji ruchu oraz w całym okresie ich stosowania. W głównej części artykułu opisano inwentaryzację istniejącego oznakowania na drogach w czasie prowadzenia prac budowlanych oraz przeprowadzono analizę zastosowanej organizacji ruchu, stanu technicznego znaków drogowych i wpływu tych elementów na bezpieczeństwo użytkowników ruchu drogowego.

  • Paired domination versus domination and packing number in graphs
    • Magda Dettlaff
    • Didem Gözüpek
    • Joanna Raczek
    2022 Pełny tekst JOURNAL OF COMBINATORIAL OPTIMIZATION

    Given a graph G = (V(G), E(G)), the size of a minimum dominating set, minimum paired dominating set, and a minimum total dominating set of a graph G are denoted by γ (G), γpr(G), and γt(G), respectively. For a positive integer k, a k-packing in G is a set S ⊆ V(G) such that for every pair of distinct vertices u and v in S, the distance between u and v is at least k + 1. The k-packing number is the order of a largest kpacking and is denoted by ρk (G). It is well known that γpr(G) ≤ 2γ (G). In this paper, we prove that it is NP-hard to determine whether γpr(G) = 2γ (G) even for bipartite graphs. We provide a simple characterization of trees with γpr(G) = 2γ (G), implying a polynomial-time recognition algorithm. We also prove that even for a bipartite graph, it is NP-hard to determine whether γpr(G) = γt(G). We finally prove that it is both NP-hard to determine whether γpr(G) = 2ρ4(G) and whether γpr(G) = 2ρ3(G).

  • Participatory co-design approach for Greencoin educational tool shaping urban green behaviors.
    • Ewa Duda
    • Helena Anacka
    • Jolanta Kowal
    • Hanna Obracht-Prondzynska
    2022 Pełny tekst

    Our main goal is to prepare assumptions of the Greencoin (GC) cybernetic system, implying pro-ecological attitudes and behavior of city residents. We used qualitative methods, including a literature review and action research -workshops attended by academics, representatives of private and business sectors, urban movements, municipal institutions’ partners, and residents. Our results defined functionalities of the GC, identified main climate challenges, and confronted city’s possibilities and expectations of its residents. Application modules were proposed to help shape pro-ecological attitudes and behaviors of city residents. The modules include educational solutions fitting into the circular economy, and metabolic approach, enabling broader inclusion in the community. Our studies contribute to and fill the gap in the stream of research and knowledge on implementations in the co-creation of application solutions that promote pro-environmental attitudes and behavior.

  • Particle Swarm Optimization Based Optimal Design of Six-Phase Induction Motor for Electric Propulsion of Submarines
    • Lelisa Wogi
    • Amruth Thelkar
    • Tesfabirhan Tahiro
    • Tadele Ayana
    • Shabana Urooj
    • Samia Larguech
    2022 Pełny tekst ENERGIES

    Abstract: Recent research reveals that multi-phase motors in electric propulsion systems are highly recommended due to their improved reliability and efficiency over traditional three phase motors. This research presented a comparison of optimal model design of a six phase squirrel cage induction motor (IM) for electric propulsion by using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). A six phase squirrel cage induction motor is designed and simulated by ANSYS Motor-CAD. In order to find the best fit method, simulation results are compared and applied to the motors for electric propulsion, considering the influence of design upon the motor performance. The six-phase squirrel cage induction motor is more energy efficient, reliable and cost effective for the electric propulsion compared to the conventional three phase motor. In this study, first the initial parameters of the six phase squirrel cage induction motor have been determined and then these parameters have been compared with optimized values by Genetic Algorithm (GA) and PSO optimization. The motor designed is optimized using efficiency and power losses as the fitness function. The six phase squirrel cage induction motor is designed using ANSYS Motor-CAD and the simulation results were also presented along with two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry. The result shows that the weight and power loss are reduced to 161 kg and 0.9359 Kw respectively, while the efficiency and power factor are increased to 0.95 and 0.87 respectively when PSO is used. This shows that the result is promising.

  • Pedestrian detection in low-resolution thermal images
    • Aleksandra Górska
    • Patrycja Guzal
    • Iga Namiotko
    • Jacek Rumiński
    • Martyna Włoszczyńska
    • Jacek Rumiński
    2022

    Over one million people die in car accidents worldwide each year. A solution that will be able to reduce situations in which pedestrian safety is at risk has been sought for a long time. One of the techniques for detecting pedestrians on the road is the use of artificial intelligence in connection with thermal imaging. The purpose of this work was to design a system to assist the safety of people and car intelligence with the use of automatic detection of pedestrians in low-resolution thermal image sequences. The data acquisition system was designed and used to collect thermal images for the needs of training of machine learning methods. The created new dataset consists of 9178 annotated, low-resolution images of pedestrians in different traffic conditions. Several deep, object detection models were adapted and trained using the new dataset together with public datasets. The best model turned out to be the adapted Faster R-CNN ResNet50 FPN (Faster Region-based Convolutional, Neural Networks Residual network50, Feature Pyramid Network) model with mean Average Precision (mAP) equal to 94.00%. It was also shown that the use of transfer learning based on the features learned from the RGB images results in mAP greater than 85.00% for all investigated algorithms. The designed system finds practical application in increasing road safety through the potential use of autonomous cars and city monitoring.

  • Pedestrian Safety at Midblock Crossings on Dual Carriageway Roads in Polish Cities
    • Piotr Szagała
    • Andrzej Brzeziński
    • Mariusz Kieć
    • Marcin Budzyński
    • Joanna Wachnicka
    • Sylwia Pazdan
    2022 Pełny tekst Sustainability

    Road crossings across two or more lanes in one direction are particularly dangerous due to limited sight distance and high vehicle speeds. To improve their safety, road authorities should provide safety treatments. These may include additional measures to reduce speed and narrow the road cross-section and the introduction of active pedestrian crossings. Equipped with flashing lights activated automatically when a pedestrian is detected, the crossings are painted red and have an anti-skid surface on approaches. The article presents an analysis of road user behaviour at pedestrian crossings on dual carriageways with a varying provision of road safety measures in some Polish cities. It also evaluates the effectiveness of the measures over time. The study was conducted before, immediately after and one year after the additional signage was introduced. The evaluation is based on how vehicle speeds changed before the pedestrian crossing, how pedestrians behaved versus the vehicle and their readiness to cross the street. The number of conflicts on selected crossings was also evaluated. The safety treatments under analysis were found to be less effective than the traditional pedestrian safety measures such as speed cushions or roads narrowed to one lane. This suggests that if used on dual carriageways the measures should only be temporary and should ultimately be replaced with traffic lights or a grade separated solution (a footbridge or tunnel) on exits from urban areas. No clear-cut conclusions about pedestrian safety can be drawn based on the traffic conflicts in question. The article is divided into the following sections: introduction with a review of the literature on pedestrian and driver behaviour studies at pedestrian crossings, including midblock crossings and dual carriageways; a description of the research method and test sites, the results, discussion of the results and conclusion.

  • Performance Analysis of Machine Learning Methods with Class Imbalance Problem in Android Malware Detection
    • Abimbola G. Akintola
    • Abdullateef O. Balogun
    • Hammed Mojeed
    • Fatima Usman-Hamza
    • Shakirat A. Salihu
    • Kayode S. Adewole
    • Ghaniyyat B. Balogun
    • Peter O. Sadiku
    2022 Pełny tekst International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies

    Due to the exponential rise of mobile technology, a slew of new mobile security concerns has surfaced recently. To address the hazards connected with malware, many approaches have been developed. Signature-based detection is the most widely used approach for detecting Android malware. This approach has the disadvantage of being unable to identify unknown malware. As a result of this issue, machine learning (ML) for detecting malware apps was created. Conventional ML methods are concerned with increasing classification accuracy. However, the standard classification method performs poorly in recognizing malware applications due to the unbalanced real-world datasets. In this study, an empirical analysis of the detection performance of ML methods in the presence of class imbalance is conducted. Specifically, eleven (11) ML methods with diverse computational complexities were investigated. Also, the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) and random undersampling (RUS) are deployed to address the class imbalance in the Android malware datasets. The experimented ML methods are tested using the Malgenome and Drebin Android malware datasets that contain features gathered from both static and dynamic malware approaches. According to the experimental findings, the performance of each experimented ML method varies across the datasets. Moreover, the presence of class imbalance deteriorated the performance of the ML methods as their performances were amplified with the deployment of data sampling methods (SMOTE and RUS) used to alleviate the class imbalance problem. Besides, ML models with SMOTE technique are superior to ML models based on the RUS method. It is therefore recommended to address the inherent class imbalance problem in Android Malware detection

  • Performance Analysis of the OpenCL Environment on Mobile Platforms
    • Przemysław Falkowski-Gilski
    • Maciej Plewka
    2022

    Today’s smartphones have more and more features that so far were only assigned to personal computers. Every year these devices are composed of better and more efficient components. Everything indicates that modern smartphones are replacing ordinary computers in various activities. High computing power is required for tasks such as image processing, speech recognition and object detection. This paper analyses the performance of the OpenCL (Open Compute Language) environment on mobile devices, which is a library dedicated to high-speed parallel computing. This paper examines how smartphones can access a library that, as it turned out, is not officially supported on the Android platform, and briefly describes the evaluated library. As a part of the study, this API (Application Programming Interface) was tested in the context of the achieved computing power, memory flow rate, speed of matrix multiplication and the possibility of processing the image from the camera in real-time. The obta ined results were presented in graphical format, described and commented. We also provide an insight on applications that use this API for teaching deep neural networks, image processing, etc.

  • Performance Assessment of Using Docker for Selected MPI Applications in a Parallel Environment Based on Commodity Hardware
    • Tomasz Kononowicz
    • Paweł Czarnul
    2022 Pełny tekst Applied Sciences-Basel

    In the paper, we perform detailed performance analysis of three parallel MPI applications run in a parallel environment based on commodity hardware, using Docker and bare-metal configurations. The testbed applications are representative of the most typical parallel processing paradigms: master–slave, geometric Single Program Multiple Data (SPMD) as well as divide-and-conquer and feature characteristic computational and communication schemes. We perform analysis selecting best configurations considering various optimization flags for the applications and best execution times and speed-ups in terms of the number of nodes and overhead of the virtualized environment. We have concluded that for the configurations giving the shortest execution times the overheads of Docker versus bare-metal for the applications are as follows: 7.59% for master–slave run using 64 processes (number of physical cores), 15.30% for geometric SPMD run using 128 processes (number of logical cores) and 13.29% for divide-and-conquer run using 256 processes. Finally, we compare results obtained using gcc V9 and V7 compiler versions.

  • Performance evaluation and model-based optimization of the mainstream deammonification in an integrated fixed-film activated sludge reactor
    • Mohammad Javad Mehrani
    • Mohammad Azari
    • Burkhard Teichgraber
    • Peter Jagemann
    • Jens Schoth
    • Martin Denecke
    • Jacek Mąkinia
    2022 Pełny tekst BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY

    This study aimed to model and optimize mainstream deammonification in an integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) pilot plant under natural seasonal temperature variations. The effect of gradually decreasing temperature on the performance was evaluated during a winter season and a transition period to summer conditions, and the correlation of the performance parameters was investigated using principal component analysis (PCA). The optimization of intermittent aeration in the long-term (30 days) dynamic conditions with on/ off ratio and dissolved oxygen (DO) set-point control was used to maximize the N-removal rate (NRR) and Nremoval efficiency (NRE). Optimization results (DO set-point of 0.2–0.25 mgO2/L, and on/off ratio of 0.05)

  • Performance Evaluation of a Multidomain IMS/NGN Network Including Service and Transport Stratum
    • Sylwester Kaczmarek
    • Maciej Sac
    2022 Pełny tekst Applied Sciences-Basel

    The Next Generation Network (NGN) architecture was proposed for delivering various multimedia services with guaranteed quality. For this reason, the elements of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) concept (an important part of 4G/5G/6G mobile networks) are used in its service stratum. This paper presents comprehensive research on how the parameters of an IMS/NGN network and traffic sources influence mean Call Set-up Delay (E(CSD)) and mean Call Disengagement Delay (E(CDD)), a subset of standardized call processing performance (CPP) parameters, which are significant for both network users and operators. The investigations were performed using our analytical traffic model of a multidomain IMS/NGN network with Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology applied in its transport stratum, which provides transport resources for the services requested by users. The performed experiments allow grouping network and traffic source parameters into three categories based on the strength of their effect on E(CSD) and E(CDD). These categories reflect the significance of particular parameters for the network operator and designer (most important, less important and insignificant).

  • Performance of electrochemical immunoassays for clinical diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 based on selective nucleocapsid N protein detection: Boron-doped diamond, gold and glassy carbon evaluation
    • Wioleta Białobrzeska
    • Mateusz Ficek
    • Bartłomiej Dec
    • Silvio Osella
    • Bartosz Trzaskowski
    • Andres Jaramillo-Botero
    • Mattia Pierpaoli
    • Michał Rycewicz
    • Yanina Dashkevich
    • Tomasz Łęga
    • Natalia Malinowska
    • Zofia Cebula
    • Daniel Bigus
    • Daniel Firganek
    • Ewelina Bięga
    • Karolina Dziąbowska
    • Mateusz Brodowski
    • Marcin Kowalski
    • Mirosława Panasiuk
    • Beata Gromadzka
    • Sabina Żołędowska
    • Dawid Nidzworski
    • Krzysztof Pyrć
    • William A. Goddard III
    • Robert Bogdanowicz
    2022 Pełny tekst BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS

    The 21st century has already brought us a plethora of new threats related to viruses that emerge in humans after zoonotic transmission or drastically change their geographic distribution or prevalence. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first spotted at the end of 2019 to rapidly spread in southwest Asia and later cause a global pandemic, which paralyzes the world since then. We have designed novel immunosensors targeting conserved protein sequences of the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 based on lab-produced and purified anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies that are densely grafted onto various surfaces (diamond/gold/glassy carbon). Titration of antibodies shows very strong reactions up to 1:72 900 dilution. Next, we showed the mechanism of interactions of our immunoassay with nucleocapsid N protein revealing molecular recognition by impedimetric measurements supported by hybrid modeling results with both density functional theory and molecular dynamics methods. Biosensors allowed for a fast (in less than 10 min) detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus with a limit of detection from 0.227 ng/ml through 0.334 ng/ml to 0.362 ng/ml for glassy carbon, boron-doped diamond, and gold surfaces, respectively. For all tested surfaces, we obtained a wide linear range of concentrations from 4.4 ng/ml to 4.4 pg/ml. Furthermore, our sensor leads to a highly specific response to SARS-CoV-2 clinical samples versus other upper respiratory tract viruses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, or Epstein-Barr virus. All clinical samples were tested simultaneously on biosensors and real-time polymerase chain reactions.

  • Performance of Vector-valued Intensity Measures for Estimating Residual Drift of Steel MRFs with Viscous Dampers
    • Benyamin Mohebi
    • Farzin Kazemi
    • Neda Asgarkhani
    • Pinar Ghasemnezhadsani
    • Anahita Mohebi
    2022 Pełny tekst International Journal of Structural and Civil Engineering Research

    Viscous Dampers (VDs) are widely used as passive energy dissipation system for improving seismic performance levels especially in retrofitting of buildings. Residual Inter-story Drift Ratio (R-IDR) is another important factor that specifies the condition of building after earthquake. The values of R-IDR illustrates the possibility of retrofitting and repairing of a building. Therefore, this study aims to explore the vector-valued Intensity Measures (IMs) for predicting the R-IDR of two group of steel Moment-Resisting Frames (MRFs) with and without implementing VDs. Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) was performed with considering RIDR using OpenSees software. Efficiency and sufficiency have been quantified for 18 vector-valued IMs with respect to the Residual Interstory Drift Ratio (R-IDR). Results showed that two vector-valued IMs of (Sa(T1), SaRatioM-D) and (Sa(T1), IM-D) had lower σlnSaRD|IM2 values in the R-IDR of 0.002, 0.005, 0.01, and 0.02, and they had higher FR in the mean dispersion, (σlnSaRD|IM2)avg, compared to other IMs. In addition, two vector-valued IMs of (Sa(T1), SaRatioM-D) and (Sa(T1), IM-D) achieved p-values higher than 0.05 with respect to seismic ground motion features of M, R, and Vs30, and can be used as optimal vector-valued IMs.

  • Performance-Driven Inverse/Forward Modeling of Antennas in Variable-Thickness Domains
    • Sławomir Kozieł
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    2022

    Design of contemporary antenna systems is a challenging endeavor. The difficulties are partially rooted in stringent specifications imposed on both electrical and field characteristics, demands concerning various functionalities, but also constraints imposed upon the physical size of the radiators. Furthermore, conducting the design process at the level of full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations, otherwise dictated by reliability, entails considerable computational expenses. This is particularly troublesome for the procedures involving repetitive EM analyses, e.g., parametric optimization. Utilization of fast surrogate models as a way of mitigating this issue has been fostered in the recent literature. Notwithstanding, construction of reliable surrogates is hindered by highly nonlinear antenna responses and even more by the utility requirements: design-ready models are to be valid over wide ranges of operating conditions and geometry parameters. Recently proposed performance-driven modeling, especially the nested kriging framework, addresses these difficulties by confining the surrogate model domain to a region that encapsulates the designs being optimum with respect to the relevant figures of interest. The result is a dramatic reduction of the number of training samples needed to render a usable model.

  • Performance-driven yield optimization of high-frequency structures by kriging surrogates
    • Anna Pietrenko-Dąbrowska
    • Paulina Kozieł
    2022 Pełny tekst Applied Sciences-Basel

    Uncertainty quantification is an important aspect of engineering design, as manufacturing toler-ances may affect the characteristics of the structure. Therefore, quantification of these effects is in-dispensable for adequate assessment of the design quality. Toward this end, statistical analysis is performed, for reliability reasons, using full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations. Still, the computational expenditures associated with EM-driven statistical analysis often turn out to be unendurable. Recently, a performance-driven modeling technique has been proposed that may be employed for uncertainty quantification purposes, and enable circumventing the aforementioned difficulties. Capitalizing on this idea, this paper discusses a procedure for fast and simple surro-gate-based yield optimization of high-frequency structures. The main concept of the approach is a tailored definition of the surrogate domain, which is based on a couple of pre-optimized designs that reflect the directions featuring maximum variability of the circuit responses with respect to its dimensions. A compact size of such a domain allows for constructing an accurate metamodel therein using moderate numbers of training samples, and subsequently employ it to enhance the yield. The implementation details are dedicated to a particular type of device. Results obtained for a ring-slot antenna and a miniaturized rat-race coupler imply that the cost of yield optimization process can be reduced to few dozens of EM analyses.

  • Permeability of Waterfronts—Contemporary Approach in Designing Urban Blue Spaces
    • Anastasiia Dubinina
    • Aleksandra Wawrzyńska
    • Karolina Krośnicka
    2022 Pełny tekst Sustainability

    The constant struggle with rising sea levels and flood hazards has resulted in the change of the paradigm in shaping urban waterfronts towards increasing their permeability and creation of urban blue spaces. The aim of the paper was to indicate a new approach in designing public spaces at the sea–land interface by presenting a comparative study of the design solutions used in case of the four selected case studies: the Sea Organs in Zadar (Croatia), Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo (Norway), the Coastal Public Sauna in Helsinki (Finland) and Tel Aviv’s Central Promenade (Israel). The studied examples take into account the permeability of waterfronts (understood as a feature of the edge between water–land consisting of being soft and permeable). The authors decided to use the case study method as the main approach, analyzing such elements as: the site’s location and urban context, features of urban and architectural design (with usage of graphic methods and a qualitative description), and the land–water edge type (defined according the existing typologies). The study proved, that in recent years the designers have started to replace the vertical quay walls, which create a “rigid” water–land border, with multi-level solutions having a high degree of permeability for water.

  • Personal Branding in the Knowledge Economy: The Inter-relationship between Corporate and Employee Brands
    • Wioleta Kucharska
    2022 Pełny tekst

    https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003178248/personal-branding-knowledge-economy-wioleta-kucharska

  • Perspektywa jakości w szkolnictwie wyższym. O modelu QualHE
    • Piotr Grudowski
    2022

    Oddawana do rąk Czytelników monografia wnosi wkład w wypełnianie wspomnianej luki, przede wszystkim poprzez: • przedstawienie szerokiego kontekstu ogólnoświatowego dyskursu dotyczącego kategorii jakości w szkolnictwie wyższym w ujęciu teoriopoznawczym i w wynikach badań empirycznych; • określenie potencjału i uwarunkowań aplikacyjnych dotyczących takich koncepcji jak TQM Lean Management, Six Sigma czy Lean Six Sigma; • przedstawienie aktualnych trendów w zarządzaniu usługami publicznymi jako zbioru impulsów do zmian oraz tła dla projakościowej transformacji uczelni; • wskazanie możliwości wykorzystania opracowanych przez ISO najnowszych normatywnych systemów zarządzania; • zaakcentowanie roli kultury jakości jako elementu determinującego powodzenie wszelkich inicjatyw związanych z doskonaleniem procesów uczelni; • przedstawienie wyników kompleksowych badań interesariuszy polskiego systemu szkolnictwa wyższego na temat całokształtu projakościowych regulacji i zmian w uczelniach; • odniesienie perspektyw i wyzwań dotyczących zmian w szkolnictwie wyższym do koncepcji Przemysłu 4.0 i Jakości 4.0. Zaproponowany w książce oryginalny model systemu zarządzania jakością na uczelni – QualHE – odnosi się do wymienionych elementów, pokazując ich wzajemne relacje i dynamiczny charakter. Książka jest adresowana do badaczy zainteresowanych funkcjonowaniem systemów szkolnictwa wyższego, uczelni i poszczególnych jednostek organizacyjnych oraz kierunkami ich modernizacji. Powinna też spotkać się z zainteresowaniem praktyków – przedstawicieli kadry kierowniczej oraz pracowników działów jakości, coraz powszechniej tworzonych w strukturach uczelni. Może także stanowić kompendium wiedzy i inspirację do identyfikacji działań związanych z doskonaleniem organizacji dla osób reprezentujących różne grupy interesariuszy szkół wyższych, np. studentów, absolwentów, pracowników uczelni czy pracodawców.

  • Pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern in Admiralty Bay as a result of untreated wastewater discharge: Status and possible environmental consequences
    • Małgorzata Szopińska
    • Joanna Potapowicz
    • Katarzyna Jankowska
    • Aneta Łuczkiewicz
    • Ola Svahn
    • Erland Björklund
    • Christina Nannou
    • Dimitra Lambropoulou
    • Żaneta Polkowska
    2022 Pełny tekst SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    Considering how the impact of human activity in Antarctica is growing, the aim of this study was to conduct the first assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), other emerging contaminants (ECs), and antibiotic resistance genes present in the western shore of the Admiralty Bay region of King George Island. In total, more than 170 substances were evaluated to assess the potential environmental risks they pose to the study area. The major evaluated source of pollutants in this study is discharged untreated wastewater. The highest PPCP concentrations in wastewater were found for naproxen (2653 ngL˗1), diclofenac (747 ngL˗1), ketoconazole (760 ngL˗1), ibuprofen (477 ngL˗1) and acetaminophen (332 ngL˗1). Moreover, the concentrations of benzotriazole (6340 ngL˗1) and caffeine (3310 ngL˗1) were also high. The Risk Quotient values indicate that azole antifungals (ketoconazole), anti-inflammatories (diclofenac, ibuprofen) and stimulants (caffeine) are the main groups responsible for the highest toxic burden. In addition, antibiotic resistance genes integrons (int 1) and sulphonamide resistance genes (sul 1–2) were detected in wastewater and seawater. These results indicate that regular monitoring of PPCPs and other ECs is of great importance in this environment. Additionally, the following mitigation strategies are suggested: (1) to create a centralised record of the medications prescribed and consumed in situ (to improve knowledge of potential contaminants without analysis); (2) to use more environmentally friendly substitutes both for pharmaceuticals and personal care products when possible (limiting consumption at the source); and (3) to apply advanced systems for wastewater treatment before discharge to the recipient (end-of-pipe technologies as a final barrier).

  • Phosphinoborinium cation: a synthon for cationic B-P bond systems
    • Kinga Kaniewska-Laskowska
    • Katarzyna Klimsiak
    • Natalia Szynkiewicz
    • Jarosław Chojnacki
    • Rafał Grubba
    2022 Pełny tekst CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS

    Herein, we report access to phosphinoborinium cations via heterolytic cleavage of the boron-bromide bond in bromophosphinoborane. The product of the reaction was isolated as a dimeric dication possessing a planar P2B2 core. Activation of C-H and C-P bonds in the dication led to formation of the borinium-phosphaborene adduct. Reactivity studies revealed that title cation exhibits ambiphilic properties and intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair features.

  • Phosphinophosphoranes: Mixed-Valent Phosphorus Compounds with Ambiphilic Properties
    • Natalia Szynkiewicz
    • Jarosław Chojnacki
    • Rafał Grubba
    2022 Pełny tekst INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

    Herein, we present a simple synthesis of mixed-valent phosphinophosphoranes bearing three- and five-coordinate phosphorus centers. Compounds with phosphorus–phosphorus bonds were synthesized via a reaction of lithium phosphides RR′PLi with cat2PCl (cat = catecholate), whereas derivatives with methylene-linked phosphorus centers were obtained via a reaction of phosphanylmethanides RR′CH2Li with cat2PCl. The presence of accessible lone-pair electrons on the P-phosphanyl atom of phosphinophosphoranes during the reaction of the title compounds with H3B·SMe2, where phosphinophosphorane-borane adducts were formed quantitatively, was confirmed. Furthermore, the Lewis basic and Lewis acidic properties of the phosphinophosphoranes in reactions with phenyl isothiocyanate were tested. Depending on the structure of the starting phosphinophosphorane, phosphinophosphorylation of PhNCS or formation of a five-membered zwitterionic adduct was observed. The structures of the isolated compounds were unambiguously determined by heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Moreover, by applying density functional theory calculations, we compared the Lewis basicity and nucleophilicity of diversified trivalent P-centers.

  • Photolysis for the Removal and Transformation of Pesticide Residues During Food Processing: A State-of-the-Art Minireview
    • Qian Xiao
    • Xiaoxu Xuan
    • Grzegorz Boczkaj
    • Joon Yong Yoon
    • Xun Sun
    2022 Pełny tekst Frontiers in Nutrition

    Pesticide residues are of great significant issue that exerted adverse effects on humans. There is a need for effective and non-toxic decontamination of pesticide residues during food processing. In this minireview, the recent advances in the degradation of pesticide residues by photolysis have been firstly described during food processing. The mechanisms of pesticide residues destruction by photolysis were discussed accordingly. Finally, applications of photolysis in the degradation of pesticide residues from beverages, fresh produce, and food rinse waste were also summarized.

  • Physical and sealing properties of BaO–Al2O3–SiO2–CaO–V2O5 glasses for solid oxide fuel cell applications
    • Sea-Fue Wang
    • Yung-Fu Hsu
    • Yi-Le Liao
    • Yuan-Jie Yang
    • Piotr Jasiński
    2022 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

    In this study, the properties of BaO–Al2O3–SiO2 (SAB) glasses incorporated with CaO and V2O5 as the network modifier and additive, respectively, are evaluated. The electrical resistivities of the glasses decrease upon the addition of CaO but increase upon increasing their V2O5 content because the V5+ species lower the ionic mobility of the glasses. The addition of V2O5 improves the wettability of the glasses on the Crofer 22 APU substrate, and thus, increases the fracture strength at the glass–Crofer 22 APU couple. Among the glasses evaluated, the SAB glass with a CaO content of 20 wt% and V2O5 content of 2 wt% (SAB-Ca20V2) present excellent sealing properties because it adheres well to both the Zr0·92Y0·08O2-δ (YSZ) and Crofer 22 APU substrates; no pores, cracks, or interfacial phases are present at the interfaces, confirming the good chemical and thermal compatibility of the glass–substrate pairs at high temperatures. After SAB-Ca20V2 is sealed on the Crofer 22 APU substrate at 850 °C, the leakage rate of the glass is low (<0.015 sccm⋅cm−1 at 800 °C for 200 h), indicating negligible deterioration of its sealing efficiency and revealing its remarkable potential for use in solid oxide fuel cell applications.

  • Physical models in the education of architectural history
    • Szymon Kowalski
    • Piotr Samól
    • Jakub Szczepański
    2022 Pełny tekst World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education

    In this article, the authors present the long tradition and common use of physical models in the process of teaching the history of architecture in higher education institutions. The research described in the article is focused on the use of physical models and mock-ups as stimulants during architectural history classes to support lectures and increase the learning capabilities of students. The authors also cover the general use of such models across the history of mankind as the main carrier of the designer’s ideas. The presence of these models in public spaces and their artistic values are also touched upon, as well as the models’ positive impact on the general sightseeing public. The findings confirmed that both physical and digital models help architecture students to visualise abstractions and space, thus increasing their learning capabilities. The broader public also benefits through the popularisation of models in public spaces.

  • Physicochemical properties of Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel coating deposited on the Crofer 22 H ferritic steel and exposed to high-temperature oxidation under thermal cycling conditions
    • Łukasz Mazur
    • Sebastian Molin
    • Jarosław Dąbek
    • Karol Durczak
    • Michał Pyzalski
    • Tomasz Brylewski
    2022 Pełny tekst JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY

    The Crofer 22 H ferritic steel substrate was coated with an Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel by means of electrophoresis. After high-temperature oxidation under thermal cycling conditions, the physicochemical properties of the obtained system were evaluated. During 48-h cycles that involved heating the samples up to temperatures of either 750 or 800 °C, the oxidation kinetics of both coated and unmodified steel approximately obeyed the parabolic rate law. The unmodified steel was oxidized at a higher rate than the system consisting of the substrate and the coating. In its bulk form, the spinel consisted entirely of the cubic phase and it exhibited high electrical conductivity. The Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 coating, on the other hand, was compact and consisted of two phases—the cubic and the tetragonal one—and it was characterized by good adhesion to the metallic substrate. After cyclic oxidation studies conducted for the two investigated temperatures (750 or 800 °C), the coat- ing was determined to provide a considerable improvement in the electrical properties of the Crofer 22 H ferritic steel, as demonstrated by the area-specific resistance values measured for the steel/coating system. The evaporation rate of chromium measured for these samples likewise indicates that the coating is capable of acting as an effective barrier against the formation of volatile compounds of chromium. The Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel can therefore be considered a suitable material for a coating on the Crofer 22 H ferritic steel, with intermediate-temperature solid oxide electrolyzer cells as the target application.

  • Physics augmented classification of fNIRS signals
    • Felipe Orihuela-Espina
    • Michelle Rojas-Cisneros
    • Samuel A. Montero-Hernández
    • Jesus Garcia Salinas
    • Bibiana Cuervo-Soto
    • Javier Herrera-Vega
    2022

    Background. Predictive classification favours performance over semantics. In traditional predictive classification pipelines, feature engineering is often oblivious to the underlying phenomena. Hypothesis. In applied domains such as functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), the exploitation of physical knowledge may improve the discriminative quality of our observation set. Aims. Give exemplary evidence that intervening the physical observation process can augment classification. Methods. We manipulate the observation process in four ways independently. First, sampling and quantization are designed to enhance class related contrast. Second, we show how selection of optical filters affects the cross-talk in turn affecting classification. Third, we regularize the inverse problem to maximize sensitivity to any gradient that would later support the classification. And fourth, we introduce a catalyst covariate during experiment design to exarcebate response differences. Results. For each of the proposed manipulations, we show that the performance of the classification exercise is altered in some way or another. Conclusions. Exploitation of physics knowledge even before acquisition can support classification alleviating otherwise blind feature engineering. This can also enhance interpretability of the classification model.

  • Phytoextraction and recovery of rare earth elements using willow (Salix spp.)
    • Muhammad Mohsin
    • Mir Md Abdus Salam
    • Nicole Nawrot
    • Daniel J Lane
    • Ewa Wojciechowska
    • Niko Kinnunen
    • Mikko Heimonen
    • Arja Tervahauta
    • Sirpa Peräniemi
    • Olli Sippula
    • Ari Pappinen
    • Suvi Kuittinen
    2022 Pełny tekst SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

    Soil and water contaminations are caused by rare earth elements (REEs) due to mining and industrial activities, that threaten the ecosystem and human health. Therefore, phytoremediation methods need to be developed to overcome this problem. To date, little research has been conducted concerning the phytoremediation potential of Salix for REEs. In this study, two Salix species (Salix myrsinifolia and Salix schwerinii) and two Salix cultivars (Klara and Karin) were hydroponically exposed to different concentrations of six–REE for 4 weeks. The treatments were: T1 (Control: tap water), T2 (La: 50 mg/L) and T3 (La 11.50 + Y 11 + Nd 10.50 + Dy 10 + Ce 12 and Tb 11.50 in mg L−1). The effects of the REE on Salix growth indicators (height, biomass, shoot diameter and root length), concentrations of REE in the produced biomass, and accumulation of REE in different parts of the Salix (stem, root, and leaf) tissues, were determined. In addition, the retention of REE in ashes following Salix combustion (800 and 1000 °C) was determined. The result indicates that with La and REE exposure, the height growth, dry biomass, shoot diameter and root length of all Salix remained equivalent to the control treatment excluding Klara, which displayed relatively higher growth in all parameters. Further, among the REE studied, the highest La concentration (8404 μg g−1 DW) and La accumulation (10,548 μg plant−1) were observed in Karin and Klara root respectively. Translocations and bioconcentration factors were discovered at <1 for all Salix, which indicates their phytostabilization potential. The total REE concentrations in bottom ashes varied between 7 and 8% with retention rates between 85 and 89%. This study demonstrates that Salix are suitable candidates for REE phytostabilization and the remediation of wastewater sites to limit metals percolating to the water layers in the ecosystem.