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Search results for: LIGHT POLLUTION ABATEMENT
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Urban Lighting Research Transdisciplinary Framework—A Collaborative Process with Lighting Professionals
PublicationOver the past decades, lighting professionals have influenced the experience of the night by brightly illuminating streets, buildings, skylines, and landscapes 24/7. When this became the accepted norm, a dual perspective on night-time was shaped and the visual enjoyment of visitors after dusk was prioritized over natural nightscapes (nocturnal landscapes). During this time, researchers of artificial light at night (ALAN) observed...
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Scheelite-Type Wide-Bandgap ABO4 Compounds (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba; B = Mo and W) as Potential Photocatalysts for Water Treatment
PublicationIn the present study, alkaline-earth metal scheelite-type compounds ABO4 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba, B = Mo, W) synthesized by a hydrothermal method were systematically studied. The as-obtained photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis (BET), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DR/UV-Vis), photoluminescence, and thermoluminescence (TL)...
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Release of selected chemical elements from shale drill cuttings to aqueous solutions of different pH
PublicationThe effect of pH changes on leachability of light and heavy metals from shale drill cuttings generated from unconventional shale gas production was investigated. Cuttings, being the primary byproduct generated from drilling operations, belong to the potentially hazardous type of wastes due to presence of heavy and radioactive elements and remains of drilling fluid. In this regard, assessment of potentially dangerous components...
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Preparation and photocatalytic properties of BaZrO 3 and SrZrO 3 modified with Cu 2 O/Bi 2 O 3 quantum dots
PublicationIn this study, we report a novel method of BaZrO3 and SrZrO3 surface modification by two different types of quantum dots (QDs, Cu2O and Bi2O3), which improved the photocatalytic performance of the obtained materials under UV-Vis light irradiation. Pristine BaZrO3 and SrZrO3 were prepared by the hydrothermal method. The deposition of Cu2O- and Bi2O3-QDs was carried out by chemical reduction. The morphology of the nanoparticles was...
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Photoactivity of decahedral TiO2 loaded with bimetallic nanoparticles: Degradation pathway of phenol-1- 13 C and hydroxyl radical formation
PublicationDecahedral TiO2decorated with bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized via radiolysis and photode-position method. The effect of bimetallic surface composition (Ag Pt, Ag Au, Au Pd, Au Pt) as well asdeposition technique (simultaneous or sequential) on the photocatalytic activity in phenol degradationand efficiency of hydroxyl radicals generation under UV–vis light irradiation were investigated. Modifiedand pristine decahedral...
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Solid state versus fiber picosecond infrared lasers applied to two-photon vision tests
PublicationDevelopment of new microperimetric tools dedicated for imaging of early functional changes in the retina may help in the monitoring of various ocular diseases progression e.g. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Recently described two-photon vision may be applied to microperimetric devices. Many subjects with well-known disease history could be investigated with newly developed instrumentation that tests ability of human eye to perceive...
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Determination of total mercury in raw petrol using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry
PublicationPresence of different forms of mercury in petroleum based products may impair the proper operation of the equipment or led to poisoning of automotive catalysts. However much more important problem is environmental pollution with mercury emitted from different types of fossil fuels. Although the average mercury concentration in petroleum based products (automotive fuels) is on the level around 1 ppb, taking into account annual...
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Mobility and bioavailability of mercury in sediments of the southern Baltic sea in relation to the chemical fractions of iron: Spatial and temporal patterns
PublicationMarine sediments play a significant role as reservoirs for mercury (Hg), a bioaccumulative toxic pollutant that poses risks to human and ecosystem health. Iron (Fe) has been recognized as an influential factor in the complexation and bioavailability of Hg in sediments. However, limited studies have investigated the interactions between the chemical fractions of these elements in natural settings. This study aims to examine the...
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Corrosion monitoring as a factor increasing the safety of hydrotechnical infrastructure
PublicationWater distribution systems at KGHM S.A. are of great importance for the efficient production of copper and environmental protection. For failures leading to perforation and leakage, the corrosion processes are responsible. This paper aims to assess corrosion on the basis of the analysis of the exposure of the Hydrotechnical Plant pipelines. To this end, the system of transfer and deposition of post-flotation waste as well as the...
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Potential of Functionalized Polyolefins in a Sustainable Polymer Economy: Synthetic Strategies and Applications
PublicationPolymers play a crucial role in our modern life as no other material exists that is so versatile, moldable, and lightweight. Consequently, the demand for polymers will continue to grow with the human population, modernization, and technological developments. However, depleted fossil resources, increasing plastic waste production, ocean pollution, and related growing emission of greenhouse gases has led to a change in the way we...
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The application of environmental issues in designing urban structures – a framework for comprehensive local planning policies
PublicationThe implementation of environmental issues in planning and designing urban structures is becoming a novel approach and a common practice consistent with the paradigm of sustainable development. Maintaining environmental quality in urban areas, managing natural resources and understanding the complexity of urban systems is becoming increasingly challenging. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies for the integration of...
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SMART AND RESILIENT CITIES – NEW CHALLENGES FOR POLISH CITIES IN TERMS OF 2020 BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION.
PublicationGlobal climate change action along with energy efficiency optimizations are becoming increasingly pressing principles in terms of moving towards sustainable development. As a member of EU and UN Poland is also obliged to follow restricted rules concerning energy efficiency of buildings which come to force in 2020. To meet new goals, innovative approaches - like moving towards smart and resilient cities -may be required. Through...
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Assessment of Trace Metals Leaching During Rainfall Events from Building Rooftops with Different Types of Coverage – Case Study
PublicationRunoff water is an important medium transporting various types of pollution originating from the atmosphere and washed out from roofing materials. The study presents a quality assessment of runoff from different roofs in the context of trace metal concentrations. The analysed rooftops were covered with copper, tar paper and ceramic tile. The quality of the rain water collected at the same time satisfies the demands of the first...
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On noncausal identification of nonstationary stochastic systems
PublicationIn this paper we consider the problem of noncausal identification of nonstationary,linear stochastic systems, i.e., identification based on prerecorded input/output data. We show how several competing weighted least squares parameter smoothers, differing in memory settings, can be combined together to yield a better and more reliable smoothing algorithm. The resulting parallel estimation scheme automatically adjusts its smoothing...
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KTaO3-based nanocomposites for air treatment
PublicationA series of single semiconductors and their nanocomposites combination (such as KTaO3 + CdSe + SrTiO3; KTaO3 + CdS +WO3; KTaO3 + CdS + MoS2) were prepared using hydrothermal route. Photocatalytic activity of as-prepared nanocomposites was estimated by photocatalytic degradation of toluene in the gas phase using light-emitting diodes (LEDs, 375 nm) in four subsequent cycles. The nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron...
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A Compact and Lightweight Microwave Tilt Sensor Based on an SRR-Loaded Microstrip Line
PublicationIn this paper, the symmetry property of split ring resonators (SRRs) is exploited to develop a tilt sensor. The sensor is composed of an SRR-loaded microstrip line operating at microwave frequencies. It is shown that the depth of notch in the reflection characteristic of the microstrip is a function of the tilt angle of the SRR. Thus, it can be used for sensing inclination. The sensor benefits from very compact size and light weight....
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Wave transmission across surface interfaces in lattice structures
PublicationWithin the lattice dynamics formulation, we present an exact solution for anti-plane surface waves in a square lattice strip with a surface row of material particles of two types separated by a linear interface. The considered problem is a discrete analog of an elastic half-space with surface stresses modelled through the simplified Gurtin–Murdoch model, where we have an interfacial line separating areas with different surface...
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Recovery of Valuable Materials and Methods for Their Management When Recycling Thin-Film CdTe Photovoltaic Modules
PublicationDue to the development of new photovoltaic technologies, there is a need to research new recycling methods for these new materials. The recovery of metals from photovoltaic (PV) modules would reduce the consumption of raw materials. Therefore, the development of recycling technologies for used and damaged modules of newer generations is important for environmental reasons. The aim of the research is to shed light on the nature...
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Dual-wavelength laser polarimeter and its performance capabilities
PublicationA dual-wavelength optical polarimetric approach has been proposed as a means of elimination of the systematic errors and estimation of the optical anisotropy parameters for a single DKDP crystal. Our HAUP-related polarimeter uses two semiconductor lasers with the neighbouring wavelengths of 635 nm and 650 nm. Based on the temperature dependence analysis of small characteristic azimuths of light polarization with respect to the...
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Human Centric Lighting. The New X Factor?
PublicationWe live in challenging times, and one could even claim we’re experiencing a revolution in lighting with LED technology taking over the world. Part of this rapid change involves a concept called Human Centric Lighting (HCL). In Frankfurt this year, during Light+Building, it was the buzzword, with nearly every second manufacturer’s stand claiming they had figured out the special formula necessary to create perfect HCL illumination....
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Energy requirements for methods improving gas detection by modulating physical properties of resistive gas sensors
PublicationAbstract. One of the most important disadvantage of resistive gas sensors is their limited gas selectivity. Therefore, various methods modulating their physical properties are used to improve gas detection. These methods are usually limited to temperature modulation or UV light irradiation for the layers exhibiting photocatalytic effect. These methods cause increased energy consumption. In our study we consider how much energy...
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Photoelectrochemical properties of BIMEVOX (ME=Cu, Zn, Mn) electrodes in contact with aqueous electrolyte
PublicationLayered oxide Bi4O2O11 and mixed oxides of bismuth, vanadium and a third metal (ME = Cu, Zn, Mn) were synthesized and characterized using XRD, Raman and SEM. The energy band gap (Eg) of samples determined using UV–VIS reflectance spectra equals to 2.46, 2.34, 2.27 and 2.18 eV for Bi4V2O11, BICUVOX (Bi2V1 − xCuxO5.5 − 3x/2), BIZNVOX (Bi2V1 − xZnxO5.5 − 3x/2) and BIMNVOX (Bi2V1 − xMnxO5.5 − x/2) (x = 0.1), respectively. Open circuit...
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Navigating the complexities of altruistic helping in Nonprofit Organizations: An analysis of Benefits, Burdens and managerial challenges
PublicationWe investigate how individuals cope with side effects of altruistic behaviour at work, i.e. genuine helping behaviour which is not part of any job description, and what role the organizational context plays in these dynamics. Employing simultaneous dyadic interviews, we show how employees of non-profit organizations cope with undesired effects of altruistic help. Our data provides evidence of unintended outcomes for the individual...
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Innovative strategies: Combining treatments for advanced wastewater purification
PublicationWater scarcity is a pressing global challenge, driving the urgent need for effective wastewater treatment solutions. With untreated wastewater extensively employed, particularly in agriculture, the significance of proper treatment becomes evident, as it presents a more practical and ecologically responsible alternative. This chapter explores the diverse treatment approaches encompassing chemical, physical, and biological methods,...
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3D Scanning of Semitransparent Amber with and without Inclusions
PublicationThis paper is concerned with making 3D scans of semitransparent ambers with and without inclusions. The paper presents results of using a variety of devices applied for this purpose. Equipment used in the experiments includes a 3D laser scanner, a structured light scanner, a stereo camera, a camera array and a tomograph. The main object used in the experiment was an amber with a fossil of a lizard. The paper shows possibilities...
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Modeling of multi-cavity Fabry-Perot optical fiber sensors
PublicationReflectance characteristics of a two-cavity extrinsic Fabry-Perot optical fiber sensor were investigated using computer modeling. Calculations were performed using a plane wave-based approach, selected for clarity of results. Based on the modeling results, it can be concluded that the two-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometer can be used to measure two different quantities, such as refractive index and temperature, independently. It...
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Effect of microstructure on mechanical properties of BA1055 bronze castings
PublicationThe article presents research results performed on aluminum bronze CuAl10Fe5Ni5 (BA1032) castings used for marine propellers. Metallographic studies were made on light microscope and a scanning electron microscope to assess quantitatively and qualitatively the alloy microstructure. It has been shown that the shape, size and distribution of the iron-rich phase precipitates in bronze microstructure significantly affect its mechanical...
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THE PROBLEM OF THE BANKING SYSTEM STABILITY IN THE LITERATURE
PublicationThe article is an overview of the literature output in the field of banking sector stability. In the literature a plethora of definitions of the term may be encountered. There is no universal definition of the term. Therefore, the article proposes a unique division of the existing explanations into the following groups: stability determined by the quality of the banking sector, stability in terms of its influence on the macroeconomic...
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Critical perspectives on media architecture: is it still possible to design projects without negatively affecting urban nighttime environments and will the future remain dynamic, bright and multi-colored?
PublicationNowadays, due to advances in electrical devices, new digital media, lighting, information and communication technologies, cities are being used 24/7. The paper discusses critical aspects of Media Architecture in the context of public spaces as well as urban nighttime environments from the perspective of a practising lighting architect. The author examines recent issues of negative design approaches and presents proposals for improving...
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Evaluation of the Greenness of Analytical Procedures
PublicationThis contributions introduces the need to develop the methods to evaluate analytical procedures in the light of green analytical chemistry. Green chemistry metrics are not applicable in analytical chemistry because they refer to the mass of product and no product with mass is generated during analytical determination. Analytical greenness evaluations are based on scoring - such as NEMI or Eco-scale or comparative analysis as it...
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Contamination of Runoff Water at Gdańsk Airport (Poland) by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
PublicationAirport runoff can contain high concentrations of various pollutants, in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the environmental levels of which have to be monitored. Airport runoff water samples, collected at the Gdańsk-Rębiechowo Airport from 2008 to 2009, were analysed for PAHs and PCBs by gas chromatography. The aromatic fractions were separated by liquid-liquid extraction...
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Analytical studies on the environmental state of the Svalbard archipelago - critical source of information about anthropogenic global impact
PublicationThe Svalbard archipelago differs from other polar regions due to its specific environmental conditions and geographic location which make the area gather pollution from long-range transport. Due to the recent development in analytical techniques it is possible to determine the concentration of pollutants at the level present there. This paper collates and discusses the information from the literature about: pollutants present in...
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Comparison of PM10 concentration in Gdansk and London using electron microscopy
PublicationParticulate matter (PM) has been considered as one of the most dangerous elements of air pollution. Multiply analytical methods are employed to identify the composition of particles present in the air. The theoretical part of this work is a description of different research centres all over the world where particulate matter is being analyzed using various techniques. The purpose of this project is to analyze and compare particles...
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Comparison of PCBs and PAHs levels in European coastal waters using mussels from the Mytilus edulis complex as biomonitors
PublicationMussels from the Mytilus edulis complex were used as biomonitors for two groups of organic pollutants: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, congeners: 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene,...
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Mobility and biodegradability of an imidazolium based ionic liquid in soil and soil amended with waste sewage sludge
PublicationSorption on solids and biodegradation are main phenomena that can mitigate the pollution of soil and water by ionic liquids (ILs). ILs sorbed on soil particles become immobilized (temporarily or permanently) which prevents them from spreading into deeper layers of soil or groundwater but which also makes them less bioavailable. In this study we attempt to examine if amendment of soil with waste sludge has a potential to mitigate...
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Analysis of causes of crude oil tankers' disasters
PublicationW referacie przedstawiono dane statystyczne dotyczące rozlewów ropy surowej oraz opis katastrof tankowców w latach 1999-2003. Zlekceważenie problemów poprawnej eksploatacji wielokrotnie kończy się tragicznie. Z tych powodów wypełniony ropą grecki tankowiec ''Amaragos'' czy też maltańska ''Erika'' złamały się na pół i poszły na dno. Przykładów takich jest więcej. W referacie przedstawiono analizę przyczyn rozlewów olejowych według...
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Modeling the effect of electric vehicles on noise levels in the vicinity of rural road sections
PublicationNumerous European countries experience a steady increase in the share of electric (EV) and hybrid electric (HEV) vehicles in the traffic stream. These vehicles, often referred to as low- or zero-emission vehicles, significantly reduce air pollution in the road environment. They also have a positive effect on noise levels in city centers and in the surroundings of low-speed roads. Nevertheless, issues related to modeling noise from...
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Development and validation of an eco-compatible UV–Vis spectrophotometric method for the determination of Cu2+ in aqueous matrices
PublicationCu 2+ are ubiquitous ions in the ecosystem and are responsible of serious environmental pollution. Indeed, the development of sensitive methods for Cu 2+ detection is an urgent demand. In this work, we proposed a new spectrophotometric method for Cu 2+ determination in different water matrices (distilled water, drinking water, wastewater, and river water). The method employs a bio-based organic ligand namely tetrasodium iminodisuccinate...
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Recycled Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as Construction Material in Civil Engineering: A Review
PublicationIn general, the quantity of plastics of all types consumed annually all over the world has been growing in a phenomenal way. The manufacturing processes, service industries and municipal solid wastes (MSW) generate numerous waste plastic materials. The increasing awareness about the environment has tremendously contributed to the concerns related with disposal of the generated wastes. It is believed that the management of solid...
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New Trends in Sample Preparation Techniques for the Analysis of the Residues of Pharmaceuticals in Environmental Samples
PublicationPharmaceutical residues in the environment is a field of special interest due to the adverse effects to either human health or aquatic and soil environment. Pharmaceuticals have been already detected in underground, surface and wastewaters, soils, manure and sediments. The growing awareness of environmental pollution arising from human activity forces the need for their comprehensive determination. Environmental samples are complex...
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bottom sediments: Identification of sources
PublicationPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can enter the environment from various sources. They are synthetic chemicals and as such are present in the environment mainly as mixtures containing various amounts of PCB congeners. It is therefore difficult to pinpoint the source of PCB emissions into the environment and the pathways along which they migrate there. The situation is different where locating the emission sources of polycyclic aromatic...
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Enhanced cellulose extraction from agave plant (Agave americana Species) for synthesis of magnetic/cellulose nanocomposite for defluoridation of water
PublicationResearch on fluoride removal from water is currently focusing on the development of innovative materials for defluoridation water. The current study extracted and used enhanced cellulose from Agave americana species to synthesize a magnetic/cellulose nanocomposite for water defluoridation. Strong and light binary acids (H2SO4 and CH3COOH) were utilized to pretreat raw material to enhance cellulose extraction. Central composite...
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Improved degradation of etodolac in the presence of core-shell ZnFe2O4/SiO2/TiO2 magnetic photocatalyst
PublicationIn the present study, susceptibility to photocatalytic degradation of etodolac, 1,8-diethyl-1,3,4,9 – tetrahydro pyran - [3,4-b] indole-1-acetic acid, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug frequently detected in an aqueous environment, was for the first time investigated. The obtained p-type TiO2-based photocatalyst coupled with zinc ferrite nanoparticles in a core-shell structure improves the separation and recovery...
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Application of BiOClnBrm photocatalyst to cytostatic drugs removal from water; mechanism and toxicity assessment
PublicationThe photocatalytic activity of series of BiOClnBrm photocatalysts toward degradation and mineralization of the cytostatic drugs 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and imatinib mesylate (IMA) both singly and in their mixture under simulated solar and visible light irradiation has been investigated. Screening test revealed that among BiOClnBrm photocatalysts synthesized by a solvothermal method, the one with molar 1.3Cl/0.7Br ratio was the most...
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COOPERATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND EXTERNAL COMPANY IN ARCHITECTURAL INVENTORY USING INNOVATIVE MEASURING TECHNOLOGY
PublicationArchitectural inventories are the main field for using innovative technology ( remote sensing). The main purpose of using ie. Laser scanning or photogrammetry is to capture all of the important details of structure. Regarding the extents of inventory works, it may only apply to external details, such as facades, supporting structures and surroundings, whilst in terms of advanced inventory, the building's interior is also expected...
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Kinematyczne pomiary GNSS na linii kolei wąskotorowej w Koszalinie
PublicationW artykule opisano metodę kinematycznych pomiarów geodezyjnych GNSS zastosowaną dla inwentaryzacji trasy kolejowej w terenie silnie zalesionym. W badaniach wskazano możliwości wykorzystania tej metody dla inwentaryzacji układu geometrycznego trasy kolei wąskotorowej w Koszalinie. Opisano najważniejsze różnice pomiędzy koleją o rozstawie szyn 1000 mm a 1435 mm oraz przyszłościowe zagadnienie planowanej rewitalizacji tego odcinka....
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Od postawy prozdrowotnej w stoczni jachtowej do ograniczania zagrożeń na stanowisku pracy formierza-laminiarza
PublicationTematyka zdrowia i bezpieczeństwa pracowników, coraz częściej popularyzowana w świecie biznesu, nadal stanowi dość mało rozpoznany obszar działalności polskich przedsiębiorstw. Niniejszy artykuł porusza ważką kwestię promocji zdrowia w miejscu pracy jako czynnika zwiększającego efektywność pracy oraz jego wpływ na osiąganie wysokiej jakości produktu. Publikacja omawia znaczenie postawy prozdrowotnej i sposobów jej kształtowania...
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Technologie prośrodowiskowe dla budynków miejskich
PublicationWspółczesne duże miasta na całym świecie charakteryzują się dużą i wciąż rosnącą intensywnością zabudowy. Jest to tendencja utrwalona, którą pogłębia idea „miasta zwartego” jako rozwiązania dla problemu nadmiernego rozrastania terytorialnego i rozpraszania się struktury terenów miejskich. Jednocześnie realną potrzebą współczesnych miast jest poprawa jakości ich środowiska (eliminacja zanieczyszczeń, minimalizacja zjawiska miejskiej...
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The equations for interactions of polarization modes in optical fibres including the kerr effect
PublicationWe have derived coupled nonlinear Schro¨ dinger equations (CNLSE) for arbitrary polarized light propagation in a single-mode fibre employing electromagnetic field complete description. We used a basis of transverse eigenmodes with appropriate projecting; hence, the nonlinear constants depend on the waveguide geometry. Accounting for a weak nonlinearity, which is connected to the Kerr effect, we have given explicit expressions for...
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Self-assemblies of novel magnesium porphyrins mimicking natural chlorosomal bacteriochlorophylls
PublicationSelf-assembling porphyrins are promising materials to mimic natural bacteriochlorophylls c, d, or e encountered in the chlorosomes of photosynthetic bacteria. We have studied four novel magnesium porphyrins mimicking this chlorosomal antenna system. In contrast to previous articles reporting synthetic Zn-porphyrins, our studies focus on porphyrins with Mg as the central atom, which mimic more closely the natural bacteriochlorophylls....