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Search results for: SPARSE MATRIX FACTORIZATION
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Effect of native air-formed oxidation on the corrosion behavior of AA7075 aluminum alloys
PublicationThe microstructure of aluminum alloys plays a key role in their corrosion resistance. In particular, the presence of intermetallic precipitates differing in the potential from the alloy matrix induces local corrosion. The study presents the effect of native air-formed oxidation on the corrosion behavior of AA 7075 aluminum alloy. Various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were used to examine the changes occurring in the...
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Geometric Algebra Model of Distributed Representations
PublicationFormalism based on GA is an alternative to distributed representation models developed so far-Smolensky's tensor product, Holographic Reduced Representations (HRR) and Binary Spatter Code (BSC). Convolutions are replaced by geometric products, interpretable in terms of geometry which seems to be the most natural language for visualization of higher concepts. This paper recalls the main ideas behind the GA model and investigates...
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Novel 5.1 Downmix Algorithm with Improved Dialogue Intelligibility
PublicationA new algorithm for 5.1 to stereo downmix is introduced, which addresses the problem of dialogue intelligibility. The algorithm utilizes proposed signal processing algorithms to enhance the intelligibility of movie dialogues, especially in difficult listening conditions or in compromised speaker setup. To account for the latter, a playback configuration utilizing a portable device, i.e. an ultrabook, is examined. The experiments...
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Efficient Finite Element Analysis of Axially Symmetrical Waveguides and Waveguide Discontinuities
PublicationA combination of the body-of-revolution and finite element methods is adopted for full-wave analysis of waveguides and waveguide discontinuities involving angular field variation. Such an approach is highly efficient and much more flexible than analytical techniques. The method is performed in two different cases: utilizing a generalized impedance matrix to determine the scattering parameters of a single waveguide section and utilizing...
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Inverse Nonlinear Eigenvalue Problem Framework for the Synthesis of Coupled-Resonator Filters With Nonresonant Nodes and Arbitrary Frequency-Variant Reactive Couplings
PublicationA novel, general circuit-level description of coupledresonator microwave filters is introduced in this article. Unlike well-established coupling-matrix models based on frequency-invariant couplings or linear frequency-variant couplings (LFVCs), a model with arbitrary reactive frequencyvariant coupling (AFVC) networks is proposed. The engineered formulation is more general than prior-art ones—with the only restriction that the coupling...
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Thermal-Resistant Polyurethane/Nanoclay Powder Coatings: Degradation Kinetics Study
PublicationIn the present study, thermal degradation kinetics of polyurethane (PU) powder coatings reinforced with organo-modified montmorillonite (OMMT) was investigated. PU nanocomposites were prepared in different concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt.% of OMMT via the extrusion method. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) illustrating uniform dispersion of OMMT nano-clay platelets in the...
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The Effect of Surface Treatment with Isocyanate and Aromatic Carbodiimide of Thermally Expanded Vermiculite Used as a Functional Filler for Polylactide-Based Composites
PublicationIn this work, thermally expanded vermiculite (TE-VMT) was surface modified and used as a filler for composites with a polylactide (PLA) matrix. Modification of vermiculite was realized by simultaneous ball milling with the presence of two PLA chain extenders, aromatic carbodiimide (KI), and 4,4’-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). In addition to analyzing the particle size of the filler subjected to processing, the efficiency...
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Diatomaceous earth as a drug-loaded carrier in a glass-ionomer cement
PublicationThe effect of a natural filler (diatomaceous earth [DE], a promising drug-delivery agent) and its content was investigated on the performance of a model glass-ionomer cement (GIC). Three sample series, differing in DE content (0, 2.5 and 5 wt%), were prepared using a commercial GIC as a matrix (3M Ketac Molar Easymix). The resultant surface microhardness and roughness, wear performance, and compressive strength of the samples were...
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Frequency-Variant Double-Zero Single-Pole Reactive Coupling Networks for Coupled-Resonator Microwave Bandpass Filters
PublicationIn this work, a family of frequency-variant reactive coupling (FVRC) networks is introduced and discussed as new building blocks for the synthesis of coupled-resonator bandpass filters with real or complex transmission zeros (TZs). The FVRC is a type of nonideal frequency-dependent inverter that has nonzero elements on the diagonal of the impedance matrix, along with a nonlinear frequency-variation profile of its transimpedance...
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Microcrystalline Cellulose Management in the Production of Poly(ether-urethane)s- Structure, Morphology, and Thermal Characteristic
PublicationIn response to the demand of polymer industry for reducing the use of synthetic chemicals, eco-friendly materials are investigated. In the presented study, bio-based poly(ether-urethane)s were prepared by using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and polyether polyol and 1,3-propanediol derived from corn sugar. A step towards sustainability was taken by incorporating bio-based compounds and cellulose, consequently, bio-waste are utilized...
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Processing, mechanical and thermal behavior assessments of polycaprolactone/agricultural wastes biocomposites
PublicationIn this paper, brewer’s spent grain (BSG) was applied as potential lignocellulose biofiller in biocompos-ites based on polycaprolactone (PCL). The PCL/BSG biocomposites filled with varying content of biofillerswere prepared via low-temperature melt-compounding. These conditions allow limiting thermal degra-dation of used biofillers during processing. The influence of biofiller content (ranging from 25 to 200parts by weight on 100...
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Accelerated Gradient-Based Optimization of Antenna Structures Using Multi-Fidelity Simulations and Convergence-Based Model Management Scheme
PublicationThe importance of numerical optimization has been steadily growing in the design of contemporary antenna structures. The primary reason is the increasing complexity of antenna topologies, [ a typically large number of adjustable parameters that have to be simultaneously tuned. Design closure is no longer possible using traditional methods, including theoretical models or supervised parameter sweeping. To ensure reliability, optimization...
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Low-Cost Design Optimization of Microwave Passives Using Multi-Fidelity EM Simulations and Selective Broyden Updates
PublicationGeometry parameters of contemporary microwave passives have to be carefully tuned in the final stages of their design process to ensure the best possible performance. For reliability reasons, the tuning has to be to be carried out at the level of full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations. This is because traditional modeling methods are incapable of quantifying certain phenomena that may affect operation and performance of these...
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Storm petrels as indicators of pelagic seabird exposure to chemical elements in the Antarctic marine ecosystem
PublicationData on trace element bioavailability in the south-polar marine ecosystem is still scarce, compared to that relating to temperate zones. Seabirds can be used as indicators of ecosystem health and sentinels of environmental pollution, constituting a link between marine and terrestrial environments. Here, we analysed the concentration of 17 elements (with special emphasis on mercury, Hg) in feathers of adults and chicks of two pelagic...
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Sum-over-state expressions including second-order Herzberg–Teller effects for the calculation of absorption and resonance Raman intensities
PublicationThe sum-over-state expressions are derived to calculate the second-order Herzberg–Teller (HT) effects in absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies. These effects depend on the second derivatives of the transition dipole moment with respect to the vibrational coordinates. The method is applied to the molecule of 1,3-butadiene using density functional theory calculations. It is found that the second-order HT effects are significant...
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Study of the Effect of Filling Thermoplastic Medical Polyurethane with PVA, PLA or Diatomite on the Relaxation Times Distributions of 1H NMR
PublicationIn this work, to characterize the mobility of diferent sections of the macromole‑ cules of polyurethane (PUR), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polylactic acid (PLA), as well as the density of crosslinks of the polymer chains when using fllers, we used the distributions of spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times for the protons. It is shown that the rigidity of the thermoplastic polymers depends on the sizes of the granules of...
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Fracture simulations in concrete beam under bending using a mesoscopic model with cohesive elements
PublicationThe main aim of this paper was to investigate a complex fracture process in a concrete beam subjected to 3-point bending test by means of the 2D meso-scale FEM with 4-node cohesive elements embedded in the initial mesh of 3-node solid elements. The material heterogeneity was taken into account by considering 3 different phases (aggregate, cement matrix, ITZs) on the basis of randomly generated internal structure of concrete and...
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Mercury in Living Organisms: Sources and Forms of Occurrence, Bioaccumulation, and Determination Methods
PublicationMercury (Hg) is a heavy metal with well-known and broadly tested toxicity. Since Hg pollution and its impacts on human health are of global concern, it has become necessary to develop analytical methodologies that will provide tools to obtain reliable analytical information about the levels of Hg in samples, which very often have a complex matrix composition. This chapter summarizes key information on Hg and its chemical forms,...
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Larmor diamagnetism and Van Vleck paramagnetism in relativistic quantumtheory: the Gordon decomposition approach
PublicationWe consider a charged Dirac particle bound in a scalar potential perturbed by a classical magnetic field derivable from a vector potential A(r). Using a procedure based on the Gordon decomposition of a field-induced current, we identify diamagnetic and paramagnetic contributions to the second-order perturbationtheory correction to the particle's energy. In contradiction to earlier findings, based on the sum-over-states approach,...
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Dynamically positioned ship steering making use of backstepping method and artificial neural networks
PublicationThe article discusses the issue of designing a dynamic ship positioning system making use of the adaptive vectorial backstepping method and RBF type arti cial neural networks. In the article, the backstepping controller is used to determine control laws and neural network weight adaptation laws. e arti cial neural network is applied at each time instant to approximate nonlinear functions containing parametric uncertainties....
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Stability of softly switched multiregional dynamic output controllers with a static antiwindup filter: A discrete-time case
PublicationThis paper addresses the problem of model-based global stability analysis of discrete-time Takagi–Sugeno multiregional dynamic output controllers with static antiwindup filters. The presented analyses are reduced to the problem of a feasibility study of the Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs), derived based on Lyapunov stability theory. Two sets of LMIs are considered candidate derived from the classical common quadratic Lyapunov...
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CMOS implementation of an analogue median filter for image processing in real time
PublicationAn analogue median filter, realised in a 0.35 μm CMOS technology, is presented in this paper. The key advantages of the filter are: high speed of image processing (50 frames per second), low-power operation (below 1.25 mW under 3.3 V supply) and relatively high accuracy of signal processing. The presented filter is a part of an integrated circuit for image processing (a vision chip), containing: a photo-sensor matrix, a set of...
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Approximate models and parameter analysis of the flow process in transmission pipelines
Publicationthe paper deals with the problem of early leak detection in transmission pipelines. First we present the derivation of state-space equations of the flow process in the pipelines. This description is then aggregated in order to obtain a principal model. Next, the problem of process model parameterization is addressed, taking into account the maximization of a model stability margin. The location of the maximum is determined using...
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Convergence of rational multistep methods of of Adams-Padé type
PublicationRational generalizations of multistep schemes, where the linear stiff part of a given problem is treated by an A-stable rational approximation, have been proposed by several authors, but a reasonable convergence analysis for stiff problems has not been provided so far. In this paper we directly relate this approach to exponential multistep methods, a subclass of the increasingly popular class of exponential integrators. This natural,...
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In Vitro Dissolution of Na-Ca-P-Oxynitrides
Publication: Sodium-calcium-phosphate based oxynitride glasses and glass-ceramics doped with Mg, Si, and Nb were studied in vitro in simulated body fluid (SBF) under static conditions. The release of ions and pH changes up to 7 days of immersion were investigated. The nitrogen incorporation into phosphate glass matrix was found to notably influence in vitro dissolution only of homogenous glasses. Increasing the nitrogen content in the samples...
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Regularized Local Basis Function Approach to Identification of Nonstationary Processes
PublicationThe problem of identification of nonstationary stochastic processes (systems or signals) is considered and a new class of identification algorithms, combining the basis functions approach with local estimation technique, is described. Unlike the classical basis function estimation schemes, the proposed regularized local basis function estimators are not used to obtain interval approximations of the parameter trajectory, but provide...
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The use of HPLC-Q-TOF-MS for comprehensive screening of drugs and psychoactive substances in hair samples and several “legal highs” products
PublicationNon-targeted screening of drugs present in herbal products, known as “legal high” drugs and in hair as a biological matrix commonly used in toxicological investigations was accomplished with the use of high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). In total, 25 and 14 therapeutical drugs and psychoactive substances/metabolites were detected in investigated hair samples...
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Nanosorbents as Materials for Extraction Processes of Environmental Contaminants and Others
PublicationThe aim of this work focuses on the application of nanomaterials (NMs) in different sorp- tive extraction techniques for the analysis of organic contaminants from environmental samples of distinct matrix compositions. Without any doubt, the integration of specific NMs such as carbona- ceous nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), silica na- noparticles, and ion-imprinted NPs with so lid-phase...
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Numerical Test for Stability Evaluation of Discrete-Time Systems
PublicationIn this paper, a new numerical test for stability evaluation of discrete-time systems is presented. It is based on modern root-finding techniques at the complex plane employing the Delaunay triangulation and Cauchy's Argument Principle. The method evaluates if a system is stable and returns possible values and multiplicities of unstable zeros of the characteristic equation. For state-space discrete-time models, the developed test...
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Structure and thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride—Carbon composites
PublicationCarbon nanotubes and amorphous carbon have been introduced into a bismuth telluride matrix (0.15 and 0.30 wt.% ratio) to investigate the influence of the carbon on the composite’s thermoelectric properties. Composites with well-dispersed additives have been obtained by sonication and ball-milling methodology. Carbon nanotubes and an amorphous carbon addition led to a decrease in electric conductivity from 1120 S/cm to 77 S/cm....
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A spice equivalent circuit for modeling the performance of dual frequency echo-sounder
PublicationThe paper presents novel network equivalent circuit of piezoceramic circular disc transducers that takes into account thickness and radial mode of vibrations. The starting point of the analysis is 4-port description of circular disc element representing the solution of wave equation set in radial and thickness directions. The approximate solution for harmonic case is represented in the form of 4x4 matrix, which is synthesised and...
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Salicylaldimine-based receptor as a material for iron(III) selective optical sensing
Publicationα,α-Bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene (L) was prepared using both conventional and microwave-assisted procedure. The compound exhibits ability to colorimetric recognition of iron(III) ions in aqueous environment, what is shown by significant color change from yellow to purple. In DMSO : water (9:1 v/v) solvent system receptor creates with iron(III) cations complexes of 2:1 stoichiometry (L:Fe3+) with stability constant (log K) 7.54±0.21....
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Nonlinear viscoelasticity in Three Dimensional filler reinforced rubber composites and nanocomposites
PublicationThis chapter describes the influence of three-dimensional nanofillers used in elastomers on the nonlinear viscoelastic properties. In particular, this part focuses and investigates the most important three-dimensional nanoparticles, which are used to produce rubber nanocomposites. The rheological and the dynamic mechanical properties of elastomeric polymers, reinforced with spherical nanoparticles, like POSS, titanium dioxide and...
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Interrelated shape memory and Payne effect in polyurethane/graphene oxide nanocomposites
PublicationWe report the fabrication of graphene oxide (GO) based polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites by a simple method of mixing and their shape memory properties at different temperatures. Both the polymer and the filler were synthesized in the laboratory by simple and easy methods – PU by pre-polymer method and GO by improved graphene oxide synthesis method. High molecular level dispersion of GO platelets within the PU matrix and thus good...
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Determination of Local Dye Concentration in Hybrid Porous Silica Thin Films
PublicationThe idea of determination of local dye concentration in a nanoporous matrix is proposed based on donor − acceptor energy transfer. The method was tested for a Rhodamine 110 − Rhodamine 101 system in silica and methylated silica nanolayers. Evaluation of acceptor (Rhodamine 101) local concentration was carried out by comparing the results of Monte Carlo simulation of energy transfer from donor (Rhodamine 110) to acceptor (Rhodamine...
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Thermoplastic polyurethane/(organically modified montmorillonite) nanocomposites produced by in situ polymerization
PublicationA series of polyurethane nanocomposites were synthesized from thermoplastic polyurethanes (with different hard segment ratios) and two types of organically modified montmorillonites (OMMT) - Cloisite® 10A and Cloisite® 20A. The thermal behavior was examined by non-isothermal thermogravimetry (TG, DTG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic-Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA). The results of X-ray analyses showed that...
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State of the art in sample preparation for human breast milk metabolomics—merits and limitations
PublicationHuman breast milk (HBM) contains metabolites that are diverse in chemical structure and concentration. These metabolites range from high-abundance to low-abundance compounds and from polar to nonpolar. This complex nature of HBM makes HBM samples difficult to analyze, especially in global metabolomic studies for the determination and characterization of complete sets of metabolites. In this review, the state of the art in sample...
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SIMULATIONS OF FRACTURE IN CONCRETE BEAMS UNDER BENDING USING A CONTINUUM AND DISCRETE APPROACH
PublicationThe paper describes two-dimensional meso-scale results of fracture in notched concrete beams under bending. Concrete was modelled as a random heterogeneous 4-phase material composed of aggregate particles, cement matrix, interfacial transitional zones and air voids. Within continuum mechanics, the simulations were carried out with the finite element method based on a isotropic damage constitutive model enhanced by a characteristic...
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The ONETEP linear-scaling density functional theory program
PublicationWe present an overview of the ONETEP program for linear-scaling density functional theory (DFT) calculations with large basis set (planewave) accuracy on parallel computers. The DFT energy is computed from the density matrix, which is constructed from spatially localized orbitals we call Non-orthogonal Generalized Wannier Functions (NGWFs), expressed in terms of periodic sinc (psinc) functions. During the calculation, both the...
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Determination of free tyrosine in equestrian supplements by LC–MS/MS and comparison of its quantity with total free amino acids content in view of doping control
PublicationThe reports on the probable beneficial impact of tyrosine (TYR) supplementation on performance enhancement have contributed to the growth of interest in TYR in equestrian sports field and related industries, such as the manufacture of dietary and nutritional supplements. In this study, the first attempt to the assessment of horses exposure to TYR during nutritional supplementation was demonstrated by quantification of unbound TYR...
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Structural, thermal and physico-mechanical properties of polyurethane/brewers’ spent grain composite foams modified with ground tire rubber
PublicationIn this work, brewers’ spent grain (BSG) and ground tire rubber (GTR) waste fillers were applied as low-cost reinforcement phase in rigid polyurethane foam (PUR). PUR/BSG/GTR composites were prepared by a single step method, using polyglycerol as partial substitute of commercially available petrochemical polyols. Foaming parameters, chemical structure, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability, physico-mechanical properties...
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Determination of trace levels of eleven bisphenol A analogues in human blood serum by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
PublicationChemicals showing structural or functional similarity to bisphenol A (BPA), commonly called BPA analogues, have recently drawn scientific attention due to their common industrial and commercial application as a substitute for BPA. In the European Union, the use of BPA has been severely restricted by law due to its endocrine disrupting properties. Unfortunately, it seems that all BPA analogues show comparable biological activity,...
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OCENA PRZYDATNOŚCI WIELOWYMIAROWYCH MODELI DYSKRYMINACYJNYCH DO PROGNOZOWANIA UPADŁOŚCI PRZEDSIĘBIORSTW HANDLOWYCH
PublicationCelem badań była ocena przydatności użycia modeli opartych na wielowymiarowej analizie dyskryminacyjnej do prognozowania upadłości polskich przedsiębiorstw handlowych oraz próba zwiększenia ich sprawności poprzez zmianę wartości ich punktów granicznych. Badaniu poddano modele: E. I. Altmana „B”, D. Hadasik, A. Hołdy oraz M. Hamrola, B. Czajki i M. Piechockiego. Do oceny modeli wykorzystano iloraz szans oraz macierz klasyfikacji...
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Właściwości elektryczne szkło-ceramiki zawierającej ferroelektryczną fazę BiV
PublicationKompozyty szklano - ceramiczne zawierające nanokryształy posiadają właściwości fizyczne, które nie są możliwe do uzyskania w innych materiałach. Dzięki możliwości wytworzenia szkło - ceramik posiadających kryształy o różnej wielkości (nano, mikro...) i różnorodnego typu, można w istotny sposób kontrolować właściwości elektryczne takich materiałów. Stała dielektryczna faz ferroelektrycznych jest bardzo wrażliwa na zmiany rozmiarów...
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A XAS study of a highly diluted Pt electrocatalyst operating in PEM fuel cells
PublicationWe present an X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study of a low Pt content catalyst layer(Pt loading 0.1 mg c2) operating at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC). This catalyst is based on the use of a mesoporous inorganic matrix as a support forthe catalyst Pt nanoparticles. Due to the high Pt dilution, in situ measurements of itsstructural properties by XAS are challenging and suitable experimental strategies...
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Optymalizacja procedur dyskryminacyjnych w procesie weryfikacji mówców - metodyka doboru wag parametrów = Optimization of discriminative procedures in speaker verification process - a method for selecting parameter weights
PublicationPoddano testowaniu system weryfikacji mówców, działający w sposób zależny od tekstu, oparty na parametrach cepstralnych. Wstępnie przyjęto wagi wyrównane przypisane do zdefiniowanego w ten sposób wektora wag, właściwego dla obranego systemu parametryzacyjnego. Uzyskane wyniki przedstawiono w postaci macierzy pomyłek (''confusion matrix''). Dobór wartości wektora wag odbywał się w oparciu o część treningową bazy danych przy użyciu...
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The importance and availability of marine certified reference materials
PublicationTraceability and reliable results are the two pillars of analytical methods; certified reference materials (CRMs) meet this requirement. ISO 17034:2016 credentials provide brief information on general requirements for the competence of Reference Material Producers (RMPs). The different types of CRMs have been produced in recent years for chemical analysis in food, water, soil, and sediment matrices in recent years. This review...
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The properties of reduced Bi-Ge-O glasses for thermoelectric devices
PublicationThe bismuth-germanate glasses have been investigated to examine their applicability for thermoelectric devices. In order to increase their electrical conductivity, the 25Bi2O3–75GeO2 glass samples have been reduced at 340-380°C for 10 hours in hydrogen. It has been shown that such heat treatment in H2 leads to the reduction of metal ions Bi3+ and Ge4+ into neutral atoms and the formation of metal grains both in an amorphous glass...
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Rolling Resistance And Tire/Road Noise on Rubberized Asphalt Pavement In Poland
PublicationThe paper presents results of tire/road noise and rolling resistance measurements performed on stone-matrix asphalt (SMA) that contains rubberized asphalt developed and produced by the company in Poland. Bituminous binder was modified with polymer and additive of crumb rubber. First observations of asphalt mixture with the new kind of modified bitumen used on the field section are presented. Rolling resistance of passenger car...
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Benchmarking overlapping communication and computations with multiple streams for modern GPUs
PublicationThe paper presents benchmarking a multi-stream application processing a set of input data arrays. Tests have been performed and execution times measured for various numbers of streams and various compute intensities measured as the ratio of kernel compute time and data transfer time. As such, the application and benchmarking is representative of frequently used operations such as vector weighted sum, matrix multiplication etc....