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Search results for: environmental protection
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A survey on network resiliency methodologies against weather-based disruptions
PublicationDue to the increasing dependence on network services of our society, research has recently been concentrating on enhancing traditional protection strategies to withstand large-scale failures, as in case of disaster events. The recently-formed EU-funded RECODIS project aims at coordinating and fostering research collaboration in Europe on disaster resiliency in communication networks. In particular, the Working Group (WG) 2 of the...
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Life tests of a rotary single-stage magnetic-fluid seal for shipbuilding applications
PublicationUse of the magnetic fluid seal technology in water is much more difficult technological problem in comparisonto gas or vacuum environment. Some seals constructed up to time been are designed as hybrid, two stagesealing structures with shields or mechanical seals used as protection measures to the magnetic fluid seal.Anyway, there is always problem with immediate contact between magnetic fluid and the environmentalliquid. In the...
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Behaviour of Asymmetric Structure with Base Isolation Made of Polymeric Bearings
PublicationEarthquake-induced ground motions are the most severe and unpredictable threats to the structures all around the world. Seismic excitations cause a lot of damage in a wide variety of ways, leaving thousands of casualties in their wake. Due to randomness of earthquake occurrence, lack of visible causes and their power of destructiveness, structural engineers need to develop new technical solutions and protection systems against...
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Urban Vegetation in Air Quality Management: A Review and Policy Framework
PublicationRecent episodes of high air pollution concentration levels in many Polish cities indicate the urgent need for policy change and for the integration of various aspects of urban development into a common platform for local air quality management. In this article, the focus was placed on the prospects of improving urban air quality through proper design and protection of vegetation systems within local spatial planning strategies....
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RESEARCH ON ORGANIC COATINGS DESIGNED FOR UNDERWATER APPLICATIONS
PublicationUnderwater steel structures require periodic maintenance. In the case of vessels, anti-corrosion works are carried out in the shipyard, where very good conditions for applying organic protective coatings can be provided. Very good surface preparation can be obtained by the use of abrasive blasting. The well-prepared metal surface is free from impurities (particularly inorganic salts). Suitable conditions for the application and...
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The Method of Selecting the Interval of Functional Tests Taking into Account Economic Aspects and Legal Requirements
PublicationThe article discusses the problem of choosing the optimal frequency of functional tests, taking into account the reliability and law requirements, but also the impact of business aspects in the company. The subject of functional test interval is well described for purposes of the process industry. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the machinery safety functions with low demand mode. This is followed by a presentation of the...
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Service restoration in survivable networks under attacks
PublicationW artykule dokonano porównania jakości odtwarzania usług w przeżywalnych sieciach optycznych, uszkadzanych w wyniku awarii fizycznych oraz na skutek ataków. Przeanalizowano wariant ochrony ścieżek ('path protection') poprzez wyznaczane zawczasu ścieżki zabezpieczające. Z uwagi na NP-zupełność problemu optymalizacji doboru tras w przeżywalnych sieciach optycznych, zaproponowano efektywny algorytm heurystyczny SCNDP. Autorski symulator...
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Predicting Performance of Lightweight Concrete with Granulated Expanded Glass and Ash Aggregate by Means of Using Artificial Neural Networks
PublicationLightweight concrete (LWC) is a group of cement composites of the defined physical, mechanical, and chemical performance. The methods of designing the composition of LWC with the assumed density and compressive strength are used most commonly. The purpose of using LWC is the reduction of the structure’s weight, as well as the reduction of thermal conductivity index. The highest possible strength, durability and low thermal conductivity...
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Impedance evaluation of coatings from biobased material
PublicationThe authors propose a modification of sodium caseinate edible coating for foodstuff protection. The aim was to improve the film’s barrier properties. It was achieved by the addition of propolis, which is a natural, environmentally friendly product known from its intrinsic sealing action. In the next step, propolis-admixed sodium caseinate films were exposed to elevated temperature for 10 min. This approach was meant to improve...
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Time travel without paradoxes: Ring resonator as a universal paradigm for looped quantum evolutions
PublicationA ring resonator involves a scattering process where a part of the output is fed again into the input. The same formal structure is encountered in the problem of time travel in a neighborhood of a closed timelike curve (CTC). We know how to describe quantum optics of ring resonators, and the resulting description agrees with experiment. We can apply the same formal strategy to any looped quantum evolution, in particular to the...
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Online sound restoration system for digital library applications
PublicationAudio signal processing algorithms were introduced to the new online non-commercial service for audio restoration intended to enhance the content of digitized audio repositories. Missing or distorted audio samples are predicted using neural networks and a specific implementation of the Jannsen interpolation method based on the autoregressive model (AR) combined with the iterative restoring of missing signal samples. Since the distortion...
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Problems of varistor quality assessment during exploitation
PublicationVaristors are commonly used elements which protect power supply networks against high-voltage surges or lightning. Therefore, quality and endurance of these elements is important to avoid losses when an expensive laboratory equipment would not be protected from random overvoltages. Additionally, excessive leakage currents generate serious costs due to high energy consumption. The paper presents shortly properties of varistors that...
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Determining and verifying the safety integrity level of the safety instrumented systems with the uncertainty and security aspects
PublicationSafety and security aspects consist of two different group of functional requirements for the control and protection systems. In the paper it is proposed that the security analysis results can be used as a factor increasing or decreasing the risk level. It concerns a process of determining required safety integrity level of given safety functions. The authors propose a new approach for functional safety risk analysis. In this case...
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Optimization issues in distributed computing systems design
PublicationIn recent years, we observe a growing interest focused on distributed computing systems. Both industry and academia require increasing computational power to process and analyze large amount of data, including significant areas like analysis of medical data, earthquake, or weather forecast. Since distributed computing systems – similar to computer networks – are vulnerable to failures, survivability mechanisms are indispensable...
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Fault detection in the marine engine using a support vector data description method
PublicationFast detection and correct diagnosis of any engine condition changes are essential elements of safety andenvironmental protection. Many diagnostic algorithms significantly improve the detection of malfunctions.Studies on diagnostic methods are rarely reported and even less implemented in the marine engine industry.To fill this gap, this paper presents the Support Vector Data Description (SVDD) method as applied to thefault detection...
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Application of quartz crystal microbalance and dynamic impedance spectroscopy to the study of copper corrosion inhibitors
PublicationThe study investigates the application of Dynamic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (DEIS) and Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (EQCM) techniques to examine the corrosion inhibition of copper by Benzotriazole and Sodium Folate in a 0.1 M NaCl solution. DEIS, an advanced version of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), allows for real-time monitoring of non-stationary electrochemical systems,...
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Actual field corrosion rate of offshore structures in the Baltic Sea along depth profile from water surface to sea bed
PublicationThe paper presents the results of field electrochemical investigations on the corrosion rate of carbon steel in seawater of the Baltic Sea at the location of the Baltic Beta production rig. The measurements were conducted throughout the year in seawater at different depths from the sea surface to the sea bed (about 75 m). The results revealed corrosion aggressiveness of the seawater along the entire depth profile. There was...
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Properties of Old Concrete Built in the Former Leipziger Palace
PublicationThis research aims to determine the mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of old concrete used in the former Leipziger Palace in Wrocław, Poland. The cylindrical specimens were taken from the basement concrete walls using a concrete core borehole diamond drill machine. The determination of the durability and strength of old concrete was based on specified chosen properties of the old concrete obtained through the following...
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Effect of interconnect coating procedure on solid oxide fuel cell performance
PublicationChromium (Cr) species vaporizing from chromia-forming alloy interconnects is known as a source of degradation in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks called “cathode poisoning”. (Mn,Co)3O4 spinel coatings offer good protection against Cr evaporation during operation. In this study, Crofer 22 APU steel interconnects were electrophoretically deposited in different mediums to obtain high packing of green coating layer. The optimized...
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Application of soil nailing technique for protection and preservation historical buildings
PublicationSoil nailing is one of the recent in situ techniques used for soil improvement and in stabilizing slopes. The process of soil nailing consists of reinforcing the natural ground with relatively small steel bars or metal rods, grouted in the pre-drilled holes. This method has a wide range of applications for stabilizing deep excavations and steep slopes. Soil nailing has recently become a very common method of slope stabilisation...
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Technical Limitations in Merging Secular and Sacred Functions in Monumental Churches
PublicationThe abandonment of churches and their adaptation for secular purposes is a current subject in Europe and worldwide. Most cases involve objects that were desacralized and then rebuilt as a whole object for alternative functions. Thus far, the merging of secular and sacred functions in one monumental Catholic church has not raised any issues. The paper describes the case of St. Catherine’s Church in Gdansk, Poland, where sacred function...
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Improved Performance of 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate at Steel/HCl Interface by Iodide Ions
PublicationThe corrosion and corrosion inhibition of St37 steel in 0.1 M HCl solution by 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMITFB) and the effect of addition of KI on the inhibitive performance of EMITFB have been examined by electrochemical [electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, and dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS)] and surface examination [scanning electron microscope (SEM)...
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Innovative Urban Blue Space Design in a Changing Climate: Transition Models in the Baltic Sea Region
PublicationWaterfront areas in cities are subject to constant changes. The desire to integrate the transformed waterside areas with the urban fabric involves shaping high-quality public spaces related to water, which are often referred to as urban blue spaces (UBS). The aim of the research was to examine the transformation processes of urban waterfront areas in the Baltic Sea Region and identify emerging transition models and types of blue...
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Facilitating free travel in the Schengen area—A position paper by the European Association for Biometrics
PublicationDue to migration, terror-threats and the viral pandemic, various EU member states have re-established internal border control or even closed their borders. European Association for Biometrics (EAB), a non-profit organisation, solicited the views of its members on ways which biometric technologies and services may be used to help with re-establishing open borders within the Schengen area while at the same time mitigating any adverse...
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Trees as a solar control measure for southern-oriented street frontages. Analysis of a selected street model for a humid continental climate
PublicationThe present study is aimed at the analysis of possibilities for shading southern frontage of street oriented along the E-W axis by the single row of trees, parallel to the southern elevations. The effectiveness of solar control shading was tested depending on the geometric relationships between trees and buildings. Numerical simulation analyses were conducted in Rhinoceros® program for the street located in humid continental climate...
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Comparative Analysis of Developed Rainfall Intensity–Duration–Frequency Curves for Erbil with Other Iraqi Urban Areas
PublicationRainfall Intensity–Duration–Frequency (IDF) relationships are widely used in water infrastructure design and construction. IDF curves represent the relationship between rainfall intensity, duration, and frequency, and are obtained by analyzing observed data. These relationships are critical for the safe design of flood protection structures, storm sewers, culverts, bridges, etc. In this study, the IDF curves and empirical IDF formulas...
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Enhancing Availability for Critical Services
PublicationTraditional approaches to provide classes of resilient service take the physical network availability as an input and then deploy redundancy and restoration techniques at various layers, often without full knowledge of mappings between layers. This makes it hard (and often inefficient) to ensure the high availability required by critical services which are typically a small fraction of the total traffic. Here, the innovative technique...
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Prototype of an opto-capacitive probe for non-invasive sensing cerebrospinal fluid circulation
PublicationIn brain studies, the function of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) awakes growing interest, particularly related to studies of the glymphatic system in the brain, which is connected with the complex system of lymphatic vessels responsible for cleaning the tissues. The CSF is a clear, colourless liquid including water (H2O) approximately with a concentration of 99 %. In addition, it contains electrolytes, amino acids, glucose, and...
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Toward Fast Calculation of Communication Paths for Resilient Routing
PublicationUtilization of alternate communication paths is a common technique to provide protection of transmission against failures of network nodes/links. However, a noticeable delay is encountered when calculating the relevant sets of disjoint paths using the available algorithms (e.g., using Bhandari’s approach). This, in turn, may have a serious impact on the ability of a network to serve dynamic demands...
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The influence of plant protection by effective microorganisms on the content of bioactive phytochemicals in apples
PublicationThe phytochemicals of two apple cultivars (Yellow Transparent and Early Geneva) protected in two ways, conventionally with chemical pesticides or by effective microorganisms (EM), were compared. Two types of components were determined: lipids synthesised constitutively and generated via inducible pathways polyphenols along with antioxidant activity and profiles. The antioxidant activities assessed with ABTS, DPPH and Folin–Ciocalteu...
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Technological innovation and cost-benefit analysis of safety-related solutions
PublicationW rozdziale przedstawia się aktualne zagadnienia dotyczące innowacji technologicznych oraz analizę kosztów i efektów rozwiązań związanych z bezpieczeństwem na przykładzie systemów elektrycznych, elektronicznych i programowalnych elektronicznych (E/E/PE), pełniących funkcje monitorowania, sterowania i zabezpieczeń w instalacjach podwyższonego ryzyka. Podkreśla się znaczenie kryteriów związanych z bezpieczeństwem, takich jak tolerowalność...
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Functional safety in the context of risk appraisal criteria and cost-benefit analysis
PublicationRozdział przedstawia aktualne zagadnienia dotyczące analizy kosztów i efektów rozwiązań związanych z bezpieczeństwem na przykładzie systemów elektrycznych, elektronicznych i programowalnych elektronicznych (E/E/PE) pełniących funkcje sterowania i zabezpieczeń w obiektach podwyższonego ryzyka. Podkreśla się znaczenie kryteriów związanych z bezpieczeństwem, takich jak tolerowalność ryzyka (TOR) w kontekście analizy kosztów i efektów...
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Tripping of F-type RCDs for High-Frequency Residual Currents
PublicationResidual current devices (RCDs) are apparatus commonly used for protection against electric shock in low-voltage electrical installations. They protect people in the case of an earth fault or even in the case of direct contact with the live parts. However, to be effective protective devices, RCDs have to detect residual currents of various waveform shapes which appear in modern electrical installations. For this purpose, RCDs...
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MicroGal Gravity Measurements with MGS-6 Micro-g LaCoste Gravimeter
PublicationKnowing the exact number of fruit and trees helps growers to make better decisions about how to manage their production in the orchard and prevent plant diseases. The current practice of yield estimation is to manually count fruit or flowers (before harvesting), which is a very time-consuming and costly process. Moreover it’s not practical for large orchards. It also doesn’t allow to make predictions of plant development in a more...
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Incorporating Iris, Fingerprint and Face Biometric for Fraud Prevention in e-Passports Using Fuzzy Vault
PublicationA unified frame work which provides a higher security level to e-passports is proposed. This framework integrates face, iris and fingerprint images. It involves three layers of security: the first layer maps a biometric image to another biometric image which is called biostego image. Three mapping schemes are proposed: the first scheme maps single biometric image to single biostego image, the second scheme maps dual biometric images...
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Comparison of Properties of the Hybrid and Bilayer MWCNTs—Hydroxyapatite Coatings on Ti Alloy
PublicationCarbon nanotubes are proposed for reinforcement of the hydroxyapatite coatings to improve their adhesion, resistance to mechanical loads, biocompatibility, bioactivity, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial protection. So far, research has shown that all these properties are highly susceptible to the composition and microstructure of coatings. The present research is aimed at studies of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in three different...
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The effect of numerical 2D and 3D FEM element modelling on strain and stress distributions at laser weld notches in steel sandwich type panels
PublicationLike other means of transport, merchant ships face the problem of increasing requirements concerning the environment protection, which, among other issues, implies the reduction of fuel consumption by the ship. Here, the conventional approach which consists in making use of higher strength steels to decrease the mass of the ship hull can be complemented by the use of new steel structures of sandwich panel type. However, the lack...
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Ergonomic Aspects of Transport of Patient through the Operating Theatre
PublicationOne of the most crucial decisions to be made while designing and re-modernizing an operating theatre is selecting a method of transporting the patient through the hospital’s spatial arrangement. This decision, while irrelevant at first thought, implies numerous project and functional consequences. Designing an operating theatre within a hospital is related to numerous specialist requirements with an aim of minimizing the risk of...
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Rapid Characterization of the Human Breast Milk Lipidome Using a Solid-Phase Microextraction and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Approach.
PublicationHuman breast milk (HBM) is a biofluid consisting of various biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals and bioactive substances. Due to its unique and complex composition, HBM provides not only nutritional components required for the growth of the infant, but also additional protection against infections. Global insight into the composition of HBM is crucial to understanding the health benefits infants receive...
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Online sound restoration system for digital library applications.
PublicationAudio signal processing algorithms were introduced to the new online non-commercial service for audio restoration intended to enhance the content of digitized audio repositories. Missing or distorted audio samples are predicted using neural networks and a specific implementation of the Jannsen interpolation method based on the autoregressive model (AR) combined with the iterative restoring of missing signal samples. Since the distortion...
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Further Developments of the Online Sound Restoration System for Digital Library Applications
PublicationNew signal processing algorithms were introduced to the online service for audio restoration available at the web address: www.youarchive.net. Missing or distorted audio samples are estimated using a specific implementation of the Jannsen interpolation method. The algorithm is based on the autoregressive model (AR) combined with the iterative complementation of signal samples. Since the interpolation algorithm is computationally...
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Modernization and adaptation of historical interiors
PublicationModernization of the historical building's interior entails the need to take many decisions, often conflicting. Operational requirements, protection of the architectural heritage, fire-safety recommendations, construction regulations, all these aspects involve a whole set of problems that require a rational solution, respecting ambient architectural and historical value, as well as the needs arising from the planned transformation....
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ASSESSMENT OF TOXIC EFFECT AND ENDOCRINE POTENTIAL OF FOOD PACKAGES EXTRACTS
PublicationIn the scientific literature related to the widely understood issue of packaging materials designed to have contact with food there is much information on raw materials used for their production, their physiochemical properties, types and parameters. There is also a great number of publications on the management and disposal of used packaging. Unfortunately, not much attention is given to the matters concerning migration of toxic...
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The Immunogenic and Immunoprotective Activities of Recombinant Chimeric T. gondii Proteins Containing AMA1 Antigen Fragments
PublicationToxoplasmosis, one of the most common parasitoses worldwide, is potentially dangerous for individuals with a weakened immune system, but specific immunoprophylaxis intended for humans is still lacking. Thus, efforts have been made to create an efficient universal vaccine for both animals and humans to overcome the shortcomings of currently used treatment methods and protect all hosts against toxoplasmosis. The current work represents...
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GUIDED WAVES IN SHIP STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING – A FEASIBILITY STUDY
PublicationShips and offshore structures operate in a severe corrosion degradation environment and face difficulty in providing long- lasting corrosion protection. The Classification Societies recommend regular thickness measurements leading to structural component replacements, to ensure structural integrity during service life. The measurements are usually performed using ultrasonic thickness gauges and such an approach requires multiple...
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Trends in Locally Balanced Energy Systems without the Use of Fossil Fuels: A Review
PublicationIn recent years, the idea of the operation of energy systems (power systems, heating systems) has changed significantly. This paper is an overview of locally balanced energy systems without the use of fossil fuels. The paper justifies the concept of local energy balancing in a new energy system that does not use fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and crude oil), based on European Union guidelines and formal documents as well as the...
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Static Series and Shunt-series PE Voltage-quality Controllers
PublicationAs presented in the Chap. 7 static shunt power electronics (PE) voltage-quality controllers protect the utility electrical system from the unfavorable impact of customer loads. Shunt controllers, as shown in Chap. 6, are recommended mainly for mitigation of the causes of disturbances, and not their effects in distanced nodes of a power-electronics system. In the case when reduction of disturbances effects is required, which leads...
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Tripping of F-type RCDs for high-frequency residual currents
PublicationResidual current devices (RCDs) are apparatus commonly used for protection against electric shock in low-voltage electrical installations. They protect people in the case of an earth fault or even in the case of direct contact with the live parts. However, to be effective protective devices, RCDs have to detect residual currents of various waveform shapes which appear in modern electrical installations. For this purpose, RCDs are...
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The Synergistic Microbiological Effects of Industrial Produced Packaging Polyethylene Films Incorporated with Zinc Nanoparticles
PublicationZinc compounds in polyolefin films regulate the transmission of UV-VIS radiation, affect mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity. According to hypothesis, the use of zinc- containing masterbatches in polyethylene films (PE) with different chemical nature—hydrophilic zinc oxide (ZO) and hydrophobic zinc stearate (ZS)—can cause a synergistic effect, especially due to their antimicrobial properties. PE films obtained on an...
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OPTIMAL FARM SIZE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF AGRICULTURE IN THE EU: THE CASE OF WHEAT YIELDS
PublicationThe article concentrates on the relationship between the size of a farm and its efficiency in relation to wheat production in the European Union (EU). The issue is not new, however fundamental from the point of view of the agricultural policy, as the appropriate shape of the agrarian structure affects the economic rationality in agriculture and significantly improves the productivity. We analysed data for the period between 2004...