Filters
total: 1408
filtered: 1228
displaying 1000 best results Help
Search results for: TOUCH-LESS INTERFACE
-
Morphology, Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Properties of TiO2 Modified with Mono- and Bimetallic Copper, Platinum and Silver Nanoparticles
PublicationNoble metal nanoparticles (NMNPs) enhanced TiO2 response and extended its activity under visible light. Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 modified with noble metal nanoparticles strongly depends on the physicochemical properties of NMNPs. Among others, the differences in the size of NMNPs seems to be one of the most important factors. In this view, the effect of the metal’s nanoparticles size, type and amount on TiO2 photocatalytic...
-
Post-match recovery profile of leukocyte cell subsets among professional soccer players
PublicationThis study assessed the impact of cumulative match time on the distribution of CD45+ cell subtests in the capillary blood of professional soccer players. Twenty-two males (aged 18–30 years) took part in the 36-week study. Participants playing up to 540 in cumulative match time and less than 30 min in each single match during the observation period formed the control group. White blood cell (WBC) phenotyping and creatine kinase...
-
Interactions between polyphenolic antioxidants quercetin and naringenin dictate the distinctive redox-related chemical and biological behaviour of their mixtures
PublicationFood synergy concept is suggested to explain observations that isolated antioxidants are less bioactive than real foods containing them. However, mechanisms behind this discrepancy were hardly studied. Here, we demonstrate the profound impact of interactions between two common food flavonoids (individual: aglycones quercetin—Q and naringenin—N− or their glycosides rutin—R and naringin—N+ vs. mixed: QN− and RN+) on their electrochemical...
-
Simple Superstrate Antenna for Connectivity Improvement in Precision Farming Applications
PublicationIn this paper, a concept of a simple circularly polarized antenna with partially reflecting surface (PRS) has been adopted for precision farming applications. The investigation contains an analysis of the dependence of the antenna performance on the elements number in the PRS structure in X- and Ka-band frequencies. Especially meaningful parameters from point-to-point connectivity perspective are...
-
Investigation of the Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimum basilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus Essential Oils
PublicationThe antimicrobial activity of plant oils and extracts has been recognized for many years. In this study the activity of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimumbasilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus essential oils (EOs) distributed by Pollena Aroma (Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Poland) was investigated against a group of 183 clinical isolates of C. albicans and 76 isolates of C. glabrata. All of...
-
Caring for Children with Dravet Syndrome: Exploring the Daily Challenges of Family Caregivers
PublicationWhile Polish studies focus on the symptoms, causes and treatment of people suffering from Dravet syndrome (DS), much less is known about the situation of the family caregivers of DS children. This study was designed to explore the experiences, daily challenges and needs related to caring for DS children. An anonymous self-administered online questionnaire was developed. Thesurvey was completed by 75 family caregivers affiliated...
-
Prediction of metal deformation due to line heating; an alternative method of mechanical bending, based on artificial neural network approach
PublicationLine heating is one of the alternative methods of forming metals and this kind of forming uses the heating torch as a source of heat input. During the process, many parameters are considered like the size of the substrate, thickness, cooling method, source power intensity, the travel speed of the power source, the sequence of heating, and so on. It is important to analyze the factors affecting the...
-
Revisiting The Determination Of Cutting Power While Sawing Of Wood With Circular Saw Blades By Means Of Fracture Mechanics
PublicationIn the classical approach, energetic effects (cutting forces and cutting power) of wood sawing process are generally calculated on the basis of the specific cutting resistance, which is in the case of wood cutting the function of more or less important factors. On the other hand, cutting forces (power) could be considered from a point of view of modern fracture mechanics. Cutting forces may be employed to determine not only toughness...
-
Optical and electrical properties of ultrathin transparent nanocrystalline boron-doped diamond electrodes
PublicationThe optical properties of ultrathin (less than 100 nm) boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (B-NCD) film were investigated in a wavelength range of 200 ÷ 20000 nm. The B-NCD refractive index showed values close to that of monocrystalline diamond (n = 2.45) in a broad wavelength range (450 ÷ 4000 nm). A transmittance up to 70% and the average film thickness of 70 nm were achieved. A special cone-shaped shim was used in the deposition...
-
Unusual structural properties of water within the hydration shell of hyperactive antifreeze protein
PublicationMany hypotheses can be encountered explaining the mechanism of action of antifreeze proteins. One widespread theory postulates that the similarity of structural properties of solvation water of antifreeze proteins to ice is crucial to the antifreeze activity of these agents. In order to investigate this problem, the structural properties of solvation water of the hyperactive antifreeze protein from Choristoneura fumiferana were...
-
Conservation and diversity of MutS proteins
PublicationThe homologues of MutS, mismatch repair protein, exist in all prokaryotes, with the exception of Actinobacteria, Mollicutes and part of the Archaea. Multiple alignments of 316 MutS amino acid sequences from 169 species revealed conserved residues and sequence motifs distinguishing MutS homologues. All MutS homologues show high conservation within the ATPase domain. MutS1, the homologue responsible for DNA mismatch recognition,...
-
The influence of cultivation conditions on the myrosinase activity and glucosinolate content in white cabbage
PublicationIn the process of biofumigation typically natural compounds present in Brassicaceae family are used to combat pests and protect crops. Glucosinolates, sulfur-containing secondary metabolites found in Brassica plants, are hydrolized by the enzyme myrosinase (β-thioglucosidase, EC 3.2.3.1) with the liberation of degradation products such as isothiocyanates, nitriles, thiocyanates and epithionitriles. Isothiocyanates are the most...
-
Potential reduction of traffic noise by the means of increased fleet of electric vehicles using a combination of low-noise tyres and low-noise road surfaces
PublicationIn the future, the number of zero-emission vehicles like electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (in electric mode) is expected to be a substantial part of the vehicle fleet. In Norway, such vehicles already account for approximately 20 % of all new cars sold. Since these vehicles emit negligible noise related to the power-train, the tyre/road noise is the dominating noise source. In the LEO project, tyres designed for such cars have...
-
Importance of the combined effects of dissolved oxygen and pH on optimization of nitrogen removal in anammox-enriched granular sludge
PublicationThe combined effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH on nitrogen removal were investigated in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with anammox-enriched granular sludge obtained from a nitritation/anammox system. The highest specific nitrogen removal rate (SNRR) (1.1 gN gVSS−1 d−1) was observed under non-aerated conditions, resulting in the nitrogen removal efficiency of 81.6%. Although nitrogen removal was readily...
-
Implementing Sustainable Development Goals with Digital Government – Aspiration-capacity gap
PublicationSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a commitment by all United Nations Member States to pursue development efforts, including ending poverty and hunger, promoting well-being and education, reducing inequalities, fostering peace, and protecting the planet. Member States and their governments are supposed to take ownership of the SDGs, strengthen the implementation means, and improve public governance as both the means...
-
Principles and applications of Ligation Mediated PCR methods for DNA-based typing of microbial organisms
PublicationA significant number of DNA-based techniques has been introduced into the field of microorganisms’ characterization and taxonomy. These genomic fingerprinting methods were developed to detect DNA sequence polymorphisms by using general principles, such as restriction endonuclease analysis, molecular hybridization, and PCR amplification. In recent years, some alternative techniques based on ligation of oligonucleotide adapters before...
-
Processing, physico-mechanical and thermal properties of reclaimed GTR and NBR/reclaimed GTR blends as function of various additives
PublicationIn this work, ground tire rubber (GTR) was mechano-chemically reclaimed in the presence of bitumen and various additives. During studies three types of processing and curing additives: (i) peptizer P300; (ii) vulcanization accelerator tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD) and (iii) organic peroxide di(2-tert-butyl-peroxyisopropyl)benzene (BIB1) were applied to enhance reclaiming of GTR. Reclaiming process was evaluated by oscillating...
-
Impact of overloaded vehicles on load equivalency factors and service period of flexible pavements
PublicationOverloaded vehicles occur less frequently in comparison to properly loaded vehicles but due to their greater potential to cause damage they significantly contribute to the distress of pavement structure. As the studies show, the phenomena of vehicles overloading intensifies when the control of traffic is poor and the average percentage of overloaded vehicles on analyzed roads varies from 6% to 23%. The main goal of the ar-ticle...
-
Protection and renovation of public areas in a modernist city: the case of three streets in the historic City Centre of Gdynia
PublicationThis article concerns issues related to the preservation and restoration of public space in Gdynia’s city centre, which was designed and built mainly in the 1920s and 1930s. In 2007, a major part of the city centre was entered into the register of monuments asa historic complex of urban architecture. Moreover, in 2015, the area was declared a Monument of History. Protection of a complex of urban architecture covers not only the...
-
Accurate Lightweight Calibration Methods for Mobile Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors
PublicationMonitoring air pollution is a critical step towards improving public health, particularly when it comes to identifying the primary air pollutants that can have an impact on human health. Among these pollutants, particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of up to 2.5 μ m (or PM2.5) is of particular concern, making it important to continuously and accurately monitor pollution related to PM. The emergence of mobile low-cost PM sensors...
-
Sensitive method for determination of benzoic acid in beverages and food samples using air–assisted hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction
PublicationA simple, reliable and rapid air–assisted hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (AA-HDES-DLLME) was developed for analysis of benzoic acid in various beverages and food samples. The final determination stage was performed via UV–visible spectrophotometry. The key parameters (extraction time, HDES type and volume, dispersant volume, pH and sample volume) of the AA-HDES-DLLME method were...
-
Field Calibration of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors Using Artificial Neural Networks and Affine Response Correction
PublicationDue to detrimental effects of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), its accurate monitoring is of paramount importance, especially in densely populated urban areas. However, precise measurement of PM levels requires expensive and sophisticated equipment. Although low-cost alternatives are gaining popularity, their reliability is questionable, attributed to sensitivity to environmental conditions, inherent instability, and manufacturing...
-
Neural network training with limited precision and asymmetric exponent
PublicationAlong with an extremely increasing number of mobile devices, sensors and other smart utilities, an unprecedented growth of data can be observed in today’s world. In order to address multiple challenges facing the big data domain, machine learning techniques are often leveraged for data analysis, filtering and classification. Wide usage of artificial intelligence with large amounts of data creates growing demand not only for storage...
-
Crystal structures of the DsbG disulfide isomerase reveal an unstable disulfide
PublicationDsb proteins control the formation and rearrangement of disulfide bonds during the folding of secreted and membrane proteins in bacteria. DsbG, a member of this family, has disulfide bond isomerase and chaperone activity. Here, we present two crystal structures of DsbG at 1.7- and 2.0-Angstrom resolution that are meant to represent the reduced and oxidized forms, respectively. The oxidized structure, however, reveals a mixture...
-
Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Azobenzene Derivatives Modified with an (Amino)naphthalene Moiety
PublicationThe design of two-photon absorbing azobenzene (AB) derivatives has received much attention; however, the two-photon absorption (2PA) properties of bis-conjugated azobenzene systems are relatively less explored. Here, we present the synthesis of six azobenzene derivatives and three bisazobenzenes substituted (or not) at para position(s) with one or two amino group(s). Their linear and nonlinear absorption properties are studied...
-
Uncovering the invisible barriers to women’s success
PublicationIn the area of science and higher education, as in business and politics, the job situation of women is improving, and the percentage of women on executive positions is increasing. However, there is still a serious underrepresentation of women in the highest decision-making bodies. Ladies also take part in the strategic institutional events less frequently. There are still serious disproportions in academic and management positions,...
-
Effective assessment of biopolymer-based multifunctional sorbents for the remediation of environmentally hazardous contaminants from aqueous solutions
PublicationPersistent contaminants in wastewater effluent pose a significant threat to aquatic life and are one of the most significant environmental concerns of our time. Although there are a variety of traditional methods available in wastewater treatment, including adsorption, coagulation, flocculation, ion exchange, membrane filtration, co-precipitation and solvent extraction, none of these have been found to be significantly cost-effective...
-
Niobate in silicate and phosphate glasses: Effect of glass basicity on crucible dissolution
PublicationUsing niobium crucibles for melting phosphate and silicate glasses of various modifier oxide contents, and therefore varying optical basicity (Λ), was found to result in varying dissolution rates of niobate during melting. Because of their high electronic polarizability, even small concentrations of niobates are detectable in the Raman spectra of glasses. Even less than 1 mol% Nb2O5 can be identified, as independently confirmed...
-
The Idea of Using Adhesive Bonds in Shaping of Cold-formed Thin-walled Beam-columns
PublicationThe chapter concerns the idea of using adhesive bonds in the shaping of cold-formed thin-walled beam-columns. The idea of adhesive-bonded connections is not new but is unlikely to have been used in the design and shaping of thin-walled beam-columns in civil engineering up to date. Metal bar structures, including (due to economic reasons) thin-walled structures, are the most common and effective means to build engineering superstructures/loadbearing...
-
Mass Spectrometric Identification of 13C-labeled Metabolites During anaerobic Propanoic Acid Oxidation
PublicationBiowaste digestion is a possibility to gain biogas as a renewable fuel source. However, the anaerobic food chain may be disrupted by, e.g., substrate overload or by inhibitors, leading to the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), predominantly of propanoic acid (PA). VFA Accumulation may cause a rapid pH decrease, less biogas production, or even a total inhibition. To maintain high biogas productivity or to prevent a collapse...
-
Polymer derived SiOC/Sn nanocomposites from a low-cost single source precursor as anode materials for lithium storage applications
PublicationMetal- based materials capable of lithium (Li) alloy formation are key to realization of the next generation of high-energy density anodes for Li-ion batteries, owing to their high storage capacity. Designing a good sup- porting matrix is essential for homogeneously nesting these metallic nanodomains, to effectively utilize their high capacity while tackling the volume expansion issues. Silicon oxycarbides (SiOC), obtained via...
-
Finite-difference time-domain analyses of active cloaking for electrically-large objects
PublicationInvisibility cloaking devices constitute a unique and potentially disruptive technology, but only if they can work over broad bandwidths for electrically-large objects. So far, the only known scheme that allows for broadband scattering cancellation from an electrically-large object is based on an active implementation where electric and magnetic sources are deployed over a surface surrounding the object, but whose ‘switching on’...
-
Yade-open DEM: an open-source software using a discrete element methodto simulate granular material
PublicationPurpose - YADE-OPEN DEM is an open source software based on the Discrete Element Method which uses object oriented programming techniques. The paper describes the softwarearchitecture.Design/methodology/approach - The DEM chosen uses position, orientation, velocity and angular velocity as independent variables of simulated particles which are subject to explicit leapfrog time-integration scheme (Lagrangian method). The three-dimensional...
-
Low temperature growth of diamond films on optical fibers using Linear Antenna CVD system
PublicationIt is not trivial to achieve a good quality diamond-coated fibre interface due to a large difference in the properties and composition of the diamond films (or use coating even) and the optical fibre material, i.e. fused silica. One of the biggest problems is the high temperature during the deposition which influences the optical fibre or optical fibre sensor structure (e.g. long-period gratings (LPG)). The greatest advantage of...
-
Tuning Electrochemical Performance by Microstructural Optimization of the Nanocrystalline Functional Oxygen Electrode Layer for Solid Oxide Cells
PublicationFurther development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) oxygen electrodes can be achieved through improvements in oxygen electrode design by microstructure miniaturisation alongside nanomaterials implementation. In this work, improved electrochemical performance of an La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-d (LSCF) cathode was achieved by the controlled modification of the La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-d (LSC) nanocrystalline interlayer introduced between a porous...
-
Enzyme-conjugated MXene nanocomposites for biosensing and biocatalysis acuities
PublicationEngineered two-dimensional (2-D) MXenes-based materials with tunable characteristics and multi-functionalities have brought up new paradigms in the biosensing and catalysis of chemical compounds. The profusion of electroactive functional moieties on the surface of few/multi-layer MXenes facilitates their ability to retain biomolecules such as enzymes resulting in unique dimensions for bioanalytical and biosensing applications....
-
Effects of FSW Tool Plunge Depth on Properties of an Al-Mg-Si Alloy T-Joint: Thermomechanical Modeling and Experimental Evaluation
PublicationOne of the main challenging issues in friction stir welding (FSW) of stiffened structures is maximizing skin and flange mixing. Among the various parameters in FSW that can affect the quality of mixing between skin and flange is tool plunge depth (TPD). In this research, the effects of TPD during FSW of an Al-Mg-Si alloy T-joint are investigated. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method can help understand TPD effects on FSW...
-
Machine learning-based seismic response and performance assessment of reinforced concrete buildings
PublicationComplexity and unpredictability nature of earthquakes makes them unique external loads that there is no unique formula used for the prediction of seismic responses. Hence, this research aims to implement the most well-known Machine Learning (ML) methods in Python software to propose a prediction model for seismic response and performance assessment of Reinforced Concrete Moment-Resisting Frames (RC MRFs). To prepare 92,400 data...
-
Addressing challenges of BiVO4 light-harvesting ability through vanadium precursor engineering and sub-nanoclusters deposition for peroxymonosulfate-assisted photocatalytic pharmaceuticals removal
PublicationIn this study, we present a complex approach for increasing light utilisation and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in BiVO4-based photocatalyst. This involves two key considerations: the design of the precursor for BiVO4 synthesis and interface engineering through CuOx sub-nanoclusters deposition. The designed precursor of ammonium methavanadate (NH4VO3, NHV) leads to reduction in particle size, better dispersion and improved light...
-
Effect of Aromatic System Expansion on Crystal Structures of 1,2,5-Thia- and 1,2,5-Selenadiazoles and Their Quaternary Salts: Synthesis, Structure, and Spectroscopic Properties
PublicationRational manipulation of secondary bonding interactions is a crucial factor in the construction of new chalcogenadiazole-based materials. This article reports detailed experimental studies on phenanthro[9,10-c][1,2,5]chalcogenadiazolium and 2,1,3-benzochalcogenadiazolium salts and their precursors. The compounds were synthesized, characterized employing NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. TD-DFT calculations were also performed. The influence...
-
Repeated Projectile Impact Tests on Multi-Layered FibrousCementitious Composites
PublicationThis research aims to experimentally evaluate the behaviour of multi-layered fibrous cementitious composites withintermediate Glass Fibre Meshes (GFM) under repeated projectile load. The impact load was subjected through a convexedge projectile needle at a low velocity on cylindrical specimens of three-layered fibrous cementitious composites, whichhave two different steel fibre distributions. In series A mixtures, a constant steel...
-
Temperature distribution of supercapacitors prepared by various technologies
PublicationSupercapacitors, also known by different names such as electrostatic double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) or ultra-capacitors, are electrical storage devices still in development. These devices require fast and reliable methods of assessing their state-of-health. Thermographic imaging is a method which can be applied with this aim due to its popularity, and the high negative impact of overheating on a supercapacitor’s parameters. Moreover,...
-
FLUID BED COATING OF MINITABLETS AND PELLETS WITH OPTIMIZATION OF THE PROCESS BASED ON TAGUCHI METHOD
PublicationSmall particles like pellets are coated in fluid bed systems. This method can be also feasible for minitablets but the selection of optimal process parameters is complicated. The aim of the research was to optimize the coating process for minitablets and to compare the conditions required for pellets. Minimum fluidization velocities (umf) for 2.0 and 2.5 mm minitablets and 0.7-0.8 mm or 1.0-1.25 mm pellets were determined experimentally....
-
Short-Term Price Reaction to Filing for Bankruptcy and Restructuring Proceedings—The Case of Poland
PublicationThis study aims to check market reaction to filing for bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings and to verify the short-term effect of a price reversal in the Polish market in the years 2004–2019. The research was conducted by dividing the analysed companies according to the procedure (bankruptcy and restructuring) and market (the main market and the NewConnect market). The research methodology used in the study is the event analysis...
-
Study of the Performance of DSSS UAC System Depending on the System Bandwidth and the Spreading Sequence
PublicationA signal transmitted in an Underwater Acoustic Communication (UAC) system operating in a shallow-water channel suffers from strong time dispersion due to multipath propagation. This causes the Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) observed in the received signal, which significantly limits the communication system’s reliability and transmission rate. In such propagation conditions, the Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) method is...
-
PTD4 Peptide Increases Neural Viability in an In Vitro Model of Acute Ischemic Stroke
PublicationIschemic stroke is a disturbance in cerebral blood flow caused by brain tissue ischemia and hypoxia. We optimized a multifactorial in vitro model of acute ischemic stroke using rat primary neural cultures. This model was exploited to investigate the pro-viable activity of cell-penetrating peptides: arginine-rich Tat(49–57)-NH2 (R49KKRRQRRR57-amide) and its less basic analogue, PTD4 (Y47ARAAARQARA57-amide). Our model included glucose...
-
Chemical hazard in glacial melt? The glacial system as a secondary source of POPs (in the Northern Hemisphere). A systematic review
PublicationToxicity of compounds belonging to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) iswidely known, and their re-emission from glaciers has been conclusively demonstrated. However, the harmful effects associated with such secondary emissions have yet to be thoroughly understood, especially in the spatial and temporal context, as the existing literature has a clear sampling biaswith the best recognition of sites in the European Alps. In this...
-
Hidden Champions of Poland
PublicationPoland is a country with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The hidden champions’ performance has been closely related to political and economic changes: the fall of communism in 1989 and the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy. This led to the emergence of small private businesses focused on the domestic market. The accession to the European Union in 2004 created new perspectives for the hidden champions’...
-
Relationship between conversion rate of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates/indoles and genotoxicity of individual parts of Brassica vegetables
PublicationThe studies on the characterisation of glucosinolates (GLs) and their breakdown products in Brassicaceae species focus mainly on the edible parts. However, other products, e.g., dietary supplements, may be produced also from non-edible parts such as roots or early forms of growth: seeds or sprouts. Biological activity of these products depends on quantitative and qualitative GL composition, but is also strictly determined by GL...
-
Human verbal memory encoding is hierarchically distributed in a continuous processing stream
PublicationProcessing of memory is supported by coordinated activity in a network of sensory, association, and motor brain regions. It remains a major challenge to determine where memory is encoded for later retrieval. Here we used direct intracranial brain recordings from epilepsy patients performing free recall tasks to determine the temporal pattern and anatomical distribution of verbal memory encoding across the entire human cortex. High...