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Search results for: MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY
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Characteristics of La 0.8 Sr 0.2 Ga 0.8 Mg 0.2 O 3-δ -supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells with LaCo 0.4 Ni 0.6-x Cu x O 3-δ cathodes
PublicationIn this study, micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (T-SOFCs) with extruded La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ (LSGM) electrolyte as the mechanical support and LaCo0.4Ni0.6O3-δ (LCNO) or LaCo0.4Ni0.4Cu0.2O3-δ (LCNCO) as cathodes were prepared and characterized. Partial substitution of Cu for the Ni-ion positions in the LCNO lattices was found to significantly enhance the densification and accelerate the grain growth. The porosity-corrected...
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The Taste of Waste: The Edge of Eggshell Over Calcium Carbonate in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber
PublicationRubber technology experiences a new age by the use of biowaste or natural fillers. In this regard, taking properties of reinforcing agents from biowaste fillers remains as the challenging matter. Chicken eggshell (ES) biowaste has recently been introduced to substitute calcium carbonate (CaCO3) duo to its superior properties and low price. In this work, composites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) reinforced with ES...
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Thermohydraulic maldistribution reduction in mini heat exchangers
PublicationA detailed numerical investigation has been carried out to analyze the flow maldistribution in 50 parallel 1 mm × 1 mm rectangular minichannels and 1 mm depth minigap section with rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular or concave manifolds in Z-type flow configuration. The working medium was ethanol and the mass flow rate was 5 × 10−4 kg/s. Both sections were heated from the bottom side. Heat flux of 10 000 W/m2 and 5000 W/m2 was...
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Evolution of Ag nanostructures created from thin films: UV–vis absorption and its theoretical predictions
PublicationAg-based plasmonic nanostructures were manufactured by thermal annealing of thin metallic films. Structure and morphology were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SEM images show that the formation of nanostructures is influenced by the initial layer thickness as well as the...
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Rapid multi-criterial design of microwave components with robustness analysis by means of knowledge-based surrogates
PublicationManufacturing tolerances and uncertainties concerning material parameters, e.g., operating conditions or substrate permittivity are detrimental to characteristics of microwave components. The knowledge of relations between acceptable parameter deviations (not leading to violation of design specifications) and the nominal performance (not considering uncertainties), and is therefore indispensable. This paper proposes a multi-objective...
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Study of microstress state of P91 steel using complementary mechanical Barkhausen, magnetoacoustic emission, and X-ray diffraction techniques
PublicationThe paper deals with assessment of microstress state of martensite P91 steel using three complementary techniques: mechanical Barkhausen emission, magnetoacoustic emission (MAE), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) profile analysis. Magnetic coercivity Hc and microstructure were investigated with inductive magnetometry and magnetic force microscopy (MFM), respectively. Internal stress level of P91 steel was modified by heat treatment....
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Distillery Fusel Oil as an Alternative Carbon Source for Denitrification – from Laboratory Experiments to Full-Scale Applications
PublicationIndustrial waste products may be a viable alternative to commercial external carbon sources. In this study, the properties of fusel oil (distillery waste product) were investigated in terms of temperature dependency of denitrification and acclimation period. Furthermore, results obtained during three different full-scale trials were used to verify similarities and differences with the results obtained under laboratory-scale conditions....
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The Influence of Workpiece Hardness on Plate Temperature during One Side Lapping
PublicationLapping leads to a surface with low roughness and high precision. Because of required parts accuracy tool flatness is the key to the successful machining. To avoid its excessive thermal expansion, plate temperature research was taken. The goal was to determine the correlation between the basic lapping conditions and wheel temperature. In work Bulsara et al. authors developed model to estimate the maximum and average temperature...
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Kinetic characterization of hydrogen sulfide inhibition of suspended anammox biomass from a membrane bioreactor
PublicationThe inhibition effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on anammox-enriched biomass from a laboratory membrane reactor were analyzed in a series of batch respirometric experiments. The determined half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 4.67 mg H2S-S L−1 at the constant pH = 7.0 and the total sulfide concentration varying between 1 and 15 mg TS-S L−1. In another test, the IC50 was found to be 4.25 mg H2S-S L−1 under a constant...
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Reclaimed rubber in-situ grafted with soybean oil as a novel green reactive plasticizer in SBR/silica compounds
PublicationPolymer recycling and biodegradable polymeric materials are two major routes towards the sustainable development of polymer materials which contributes to the management of waste. In this regard, an eco-friendly approach is presented wherein high reclaiming degree of ground tire rubber (GTR) was achieved by low-temperature oxidation under swollen action of soybean oil. In-situ reclaimed GTR with soybean oil was cured into reactive...
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Deposition and Electrical and Structural Properties of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 Thin Films for Application in High-Temperature Electrochemical Cells
PublicationLow-temperature deposition of electroceramic thin films allows the construction of new devices and their integration with existing large-scale fabrication methods. Developing a suitable low-cost deposition method is important to further advance the development of microdevices. In this work, we deposited a 1-lm-thick La0.6Sr0.4CoO3d (LSC) perovskite with high electrical conductivity on sapphire substrates at 400C and analyzed its...
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Analysis of IMS/NGN Call Processing Performance Using Phase-Type Distributions Based on Experimental Histograms
PublicationThe paper describes our further research done with the proposed analytical and simulation traffic models of the Next Generation Network (NGN), which is standardized for delivering multimedia services with strict quality and includes elements of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The aim of our models of a single IMS/NGN domain is to evaluate two standardized call processing performance parameters, which appropriate values are very...
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The effects of different aeration modes on ammonia removal from sludge digester liquors in the nitritation–anammox proces
PublicationThe aim of this study was to determine the impact of continuous and intermittent aeration on the rate of ammonia removal in the combined nitritation–anammox process. This process was run in two parallel sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), with a working volume V = 10 L, treating sludge digester liquors from the Gdansk (Poland) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The ammonia oxidizing bacteria were cultivated from activated sludge...
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Freshening of salinized groundwater in Gdańsk Quaternary aquifer
PublicationThe main Quaternary aquifer in the Gdańsk region connects directly with salt waters of the Martwa Wisła River and the Gulf of Gdańsk. This aquifer has been used for many years by large municipal and industrial intakes located on the marine lowlands, with maximum output 6236 m3 /h in 1985. Owing to an intensive exploitation, groundwater in the area of the Old Gdańsk has been salinized by intrusion of salt water from the Martwa Wisła...
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A few steps more towards NPT bound entanglement
PublicationIn this paper, existence of bound entangled states with nonpositive partial transpose (NPT) is considered. As one knows, existence of such states would in particular imply nonadditivity of distillable entanglement. Moreover, it would rule out a simple mathematical description of the set of distillable states. The particular state, known to be 1-copy nondistillable and supposed to be bound entangled, is considered. The problem of...
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Effect of alkyl sulfate on the phase behavior of microemulsions stabilized with monoacylglycerols
PublicationIn this study the effect of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS) and oils (hydrocarbons: C12-C16) on the formation and phase behavior of the systems of oil/monoacylglycerols (MAG):SDS/propylene glycol/water has been investigated. The effects of the surfactant mixture on the phase behavior and the concentrationof water or oil in the systems were studied at three temperatures (50, 55, 60 C). Electrical conductivity...
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Design of a Shape-Memory-Alloy-Based Carangiform Robotic Fishtail with Improved Forward Thrust
PublicationShape memory alloys (SMAs) have become the most common choice for the development of mini- and micro-type soft bio-inspired robots due to their high power-to-weight ratio, ability to be installed and operated in limited space, silent and vibration-free operation, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance properties. Moreover, SMA spring-type actuators are used for developing different continuum robots, exhibiting high degrees...
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Effect of Vascular Lumen Reduction on the Performance and Energy Consumption of an Innovative Implantable LVAD
PublicationThis paper presents the results of a study on the effect of vascular lumen reduction on the performance of an innovative implantable LVAD (left ventricular assist device). It details the pressures in the individual cardiac chambers as a function of device frequency. In addition, mass flow rates and energy consumption of the device are examined, varying with lumen reduction and operating frequency. While the lumen reduction of the...
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An improvement of body surface area formulas using the 3D scanning technique
PublicationObjectives: Body surface area (BSA) is one of the major parameters used in several medical fields. However, there are concerns raised about its usefulness, mostly due to the ambiguity of its estimation. Material and Methods: Authors have conducted a voluntary study to investigate BSA distribution and estimation in a group of 179 adult people of various sex, age, and physique. Here, there is provided an extended analysis of the...
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Combining Computational Fluid Dynamics with a Biokinetic Model for Predicting Ammonia and Phosphate Behavior in Aeration Tanks
PublicationThe aim of this study was to use computational fluid dynamics for predicting the behavior of reactive pollutants (ammonia and phosphate) in the aerobic zone of the bioreactor located at the Wschod wastewater treatment plant in Gdansk, Poland. The one-dimensional advection-dispersion equation was combined with simple biokinetic models incorporating the Monod-type expressions as source terms for the two pollutants. The problem was...
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Load path sensitivity and multiaxial fatigue life prediction of metals under non-proportional loadings
PublicationEngineering components often operate under complex loadings, in which the variable amplitude multiaxial stresses are raised by geometric discontinuities including holes, grooves, fillets and shoulders, etc. Besides, the non-proportional loading will lead to the rotation of maximum principal stress/strain and additional fatigue damage of structural elements in service. Consequently, the multiaxial and non-proportional loading have...
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Study on some of the strength properties of soft clay stabilized with plastic waste strips
PublicationIt is well known that if plastic wastes are not well managed, it has a negative impact on the environment as well as on human health. In this study, recycling plastic waste in form of strips for stabilizing weak subgrade soil is proposed. For this purpose, a weak clay soil sample was mixed with 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% of plastic strips by weight of soil, and the experimental results were compared to the control soil sample with 0%...
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Magnetoelectric, spectroscopic, optical and elastic properties of Co-doped BaTiO3 ceramics
Publicationhe BaTiO3 perovskite is widely used in the electronic technology due to its dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties and is a well-known base for obtaining a promising multifunctional material. In this paper we report the extensive studies on the Co-doped BaTiO3 ceramics for the wide range cobalt content. Full structural characterization of studied samples in a 20–450 K range was provided. The results of research...
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Performance tuning of chitosan-based membranes by protonated 2-Pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid-sulfolane DES for effective water/ethanol separation by pervaporation
PublicationToday, the applicability of deep eutectic solvents (DES) in various fields, including membrane science and technology, is extensively investigated. In pioneering works, we have implemented different DES as a component of chitosan (CS)-based flat membranes for pervaporation (PV) separation. Herein, we present a new protonated (by sulphuric acid) 2-Pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid: sulfolane DES, as a green additive for its chemical...
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Effects of thermal history on the performance of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with Sm0.2Ce0.8O2-δ electrolyte and LiNi0.81Co0.15Al0.04O2 electrodes
PublicationIn this study, low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with an ∼560 μm thick Sm0.2Ce0.8O2−δ (SDC) electrolyte and ∼890 μm thick LiNi0.81Co0.15Al0.04O2−δ (NCAL) electrodes are constructed and characterized under three experimental conditions. The cell with an NCAL cathode pre-reduced under an H2 atmosphere at 550 °C presents the best electrochemical performance. This is ascribed to facts that the reduction reaction generating Ni–Co...
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Machine learning-based prediction of residual drift and seismic risk assessment of steel moment-resisting frames considering soil-structure interaction
PublicationNowadays, due to improvements in seismic codes and computational devices, retrofitting buildings is an important topic, in which, permanent deformation of buildings, known as Residual Interstory Drift Ratio (RIDR), plays a crucial role. To provide an accurate yet reliable prediction model, 32 improved Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were considered using the Python software to investigate the best method for estimating Maximum...
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General concept of reduction process for big data obtained by interferometric methods
PublicationInterferometric sonar systems apply the phase content of the sonar signal to measure the angle of a wave front returned from the seafloor or from a target. It collect a big data – datasets that are so large or complex that traditional data processing application software is inadequate to deal with them. The recording a large number of data is associated with the difficulty of their efficient use. So data have to be reduced. The main...
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Synergy between AgInS2 quantum dots and ZnO nanopyramids for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and phenol degradation
PublicationDespite the unique properties of single semiconductor nanomaterials and quantum dots, poor photocatalytic activity has characterized them and the fabrication of nanocomposites has become necessary to enhance their photocatalytic performance. Thus, AgInS2 quantum dots (AIS QDs, 4.0±1.6 nm), have been successfully prepared and loaded onto ZnO nanopyramids (ZnO NPy). The effect of the nominal amount of AIS QDs decorating ZnO NPy on...
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Paenibacillus alvei MP1 as a Producer of the Proteinaceous Compound with Activity against Important Human Pathogens, Including Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes
PublicationAn emerging need for new classes of antibiotics is, on the one hand, evident as antimicrobial resistance continues to rise. On the other hand, the awareness of the pros and cons of chemically synthesized compounds’ extensive use leads to a search for new metabolites in already known reservoirs. Previous research showed that Paenibacillus strain (P. alvei MP1) recovered from a buckwheat honey sample presented a wide spectrum of...
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Could thermal imaging supplement surface electromyography measurements for skeletal muscles?
PublicationAbstract—(1) Background: The aim of this study is to present the results of experiments in which surface electromyography (sEMG) and thermal imaging were used to assess muscle activation during gait and to verify the hypothesis that there is a relationship in the case of low fatigue level between sEMG measured muscle activation, assessed in the frequency domain, and thermal factors calculated as minimum, maximum, kurtosis, mean,...
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Estimating the parameter of inequality aversion on the basis of a parametric distribution of incomes
PublicationResearch background: In applied welfare economics, the constant relative inequality aversion function is routinely used as the model of a social decisionmaker’s or a society’s preferences over income distributions. This function is entirely determined by the parameter, ε, of inequality aversion. However, there is no authoritative answer to the question of what the range of ε an analyst should select for empirical work. Purpose...
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Performance-driven yield optimization of high-frequency structures by kriging surrogates
PublicationUncertainty quantification is an important aspect of engineering design, as manufacturing toler-ances may affect the characteristics of the structure. Therefore, quantification of these effects is in-dispensable for adequate assessment of the design quality. Toward this end, statistical analysis is performed, for reliability reasons, using full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations. Still, the computational expenditures associated...
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Cellulosic bionanocomposites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and Cuscuta reflexa: adjusting structure-properties balance for higher performance
PublicationDesign and manufacture of cellulosic nanocomposites with acceptable performance is in the period of a transition from fantasy to reality. Typically, cellulosic nanofillers reveal poor compatibility with polymer matrices. Thus, adjusting the balance between structure and properties of cellulosic bionanocomposites by careful selection of parent ingredients is the first priority. Herein, we incorporated Cuscuta reflexa derived cellulose...
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Determinants of the primary stability of cementless acetabular cup implants: A 3D finite element study
PublicationPrimary stability of cementless implants is crucial for the surgical success and long–term stability. However, primary stability is difficult to quantify in vivo and the biomechanical phenomena occurring during the press–fit insertion of an acetabular cup (AC) implant are still poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the cortical and trabecular bone Young's moduli Ec and Et, the interference...
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High-performance NdSrCo2O5+δ–Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-δ composite cathodes for electrolyte-supported microtubular solid oxide fuel cells
PublicationNdSrCo2O5+δ (NSCO) is a perovskite with an electrical conductivity of 1551.3 S cm−1 at 500 °C and 921.7 S cm−1 at 800 °C and has a metal-like temperature dependence. This perovskite is used as the cathode material for Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-δ (GDC)-supported microtubular solid oxide fuel cells (MT-SOFCs). The MT-SOFCs fabricated in this study consist of a bilayer anode, comprising a NiO–GDC composite layer and a NiO layer, and a NSCO–GDC...
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3D X-ray Micro-CT Analysis of Rebar Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Subjected to a Chloride-Induced Environment
PublicationThe paper presents experimental investigations of the concrete cover protective ability to coun-teract rebar corrosion in reinforced concrete cubes. To study and quantify the consequences of corrosion a reinforced concrete sample was subjected to chloride-induced environment in order to get corroded and combined with un-corroded sample. Chloride-accelerated technique can in-duce a high degree of corrosion within at a controlled...
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A measurement method for capacitive sensors based on a versatile direct sensor-to-microcontroller interface circuit
PublicationIn the paper, there is presented a new time-domain measurement method for determining the capacitance values of capacitive sensors, dedicated, among others, to capacitive relative humidity sensors. The method is based on a versatile direct sensor-to-microcontroller interface for microcontrollers with internal analog comparators (ACs) and with precision voltage reference sources, e.g. digital-to-analog converters (DACs). The reference...
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Tracing financial innovation diffusion and substitution trajectories. Recent evidence on exchange-traded funds in Japan and South Korea.
PublicationSince the rapid growth of the popularity of ETFs, the potential substitution between innovative financial products, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and traditional investment funds (open-end and closed-end funds) is recognized as one of the most-discussed issues in the financial industry. This is the first study to empirically verify and compare the diffusion and substitution of ETFs using monthly data on their assets in two selected...
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Physicochemical Properties and Application of Silica-Doped Biochar Composites as Efficient Sorbents of Copper from Tap Water
PublicationThis article concerns research on new sorption materials based on silica-doped activated carbon. A two-stage synthesis involved pyrolysis of plant material impregnated in a water glass solution , followed by hydrothermal activation of the pyrolysate in KOH solution. The resulting composite can be used as a sorbent in drinking water filters. The proposed method of synthesis enables the design of materials with a surface area...
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Mechanical Strength of MV Ship-switchgear During Fault Arc
PublicationIn the paper the analysis of pressure stressed in enclosure during fault arc inside switchgear is pre-sented as well. There is introduced the method based on determining stresses which are sum of tensile stresses (membrane) and deflection stresses. For tensile stresses nalysis the energy method, for unrestrainedly supported rectangular plate, was used. In the further part of the paper, the calculations and measurements results...
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Perfectly Wetting Mixtures of Surfactants from Renewable Resources: The Interaction and Synergistic Effects on Adsorption and Micellization
PublicationThis paper presents a study of the surface properties of mixtures of surfactants originating from renewable sources, i.e., alkylpolyglucoside (APG), ethoxylated fatty alcohol (AE), and sodium soap (Na soap). The main objective was to optimize the surfactant ratio which produces the highest wetting properties during the analysis of the solution of the individual surfactants, twoand three-component mixtures, and at different pH values....
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The oil film parameters of the wankel engine apex seal in aspects of durability of mating elements
PublicationThe Wankel engine is one of only few alternatives to the reciprocating engines. The advantages such as good value of maximum engine power to its mass ratio are still present and can have great sense in selected fields of application, for example General Aviation. Nevertheless the disadvantages of the Wankel engine design have never lost its importance and still pose an obstacle to wider use of the Wankel engine. One of the main...
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Developing electrochemical measurements in order to assess anti-corrosive coatings more effectively
PublicationCelem pracy było sprawdzenie powtarzalności wyników uzyskanych metodą pomiaru szumu (Electrochemical Noise method - ENM) elektrochemicznego wykonanych na powłokach organicznych w konfiguracji bez połączenia z podłożem metalowym (NOCS - No Connection to the Substrate). NOCS polega na wykonaniu pomiarów na trzech teoretycznie takich samych obszarach badanego układu. W takim układzie nie jest wymagane połączenie elektryczne z metalowym...
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Coupling of Blood Pressure and Subarachnoid Space Oscillations at Cardiac Frequency Evoked by Handgrip and Cold Tests: A Bispectral Analysis
PublicationThe aim of the study was to assess blood pressure–subarachnoid space (BP–SAS) width coupling properties using time–frequency bispectral analysis based on wavelet transforms during handgrip and cold tests. The experiments were performed on a group of 16 healthy subjects (F/M; 7/9) of the mean age 27.2 ± 6.8 years and body mass index of 23.8 ± 4.1 kg/m². The sequence of challenges was first handgrip and then cold test. The handgrip...
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The possibility of estimating the height of the ionospheric inhomogeneities based on TEC variations maps obtained from dense GPS network
PublicationA state of the ionosphere can be effectively studied using electromagnetic signals received from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Utilization of the dual frequency observations allows estimating values of the total electron content (TEC). They can be used for a number of scientific studies such as detection and monitoring of traveling ionospheric disturbances or plasma bubbles. Moreover, maps of TEC variations allow...
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Challenges in determination of pesticides from various chemical groups in fruits and vegetables applying QuEChERS method
PublicationPesticides are a large group of compounds with different physical and chemical properties, which place some of them among the most toxic, environmentally stable, and mobile substances. Nevertheless, their number, use, and application are continuously expanding. A consequence of their use is the possible presence of residues in treated food products. To protect consumers from exposure to unacceptable levels of pesticides Maximum...
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On the Handling of Outliers in the GNSS Time Series by Means of the Noise and Probability Analysis
PublicationThe data pre-analysis plays a significant role in the noise determination. The most important issue is to find an optimum criterion for outliers removal, since their existence can affect any further analysis. The noises in the GNSS time series are characterized by spectral index and amplitudes that can be determined with a few different methods. In this research, the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) was used. The noise amplitudes...
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Broadband communication solutions for maritime ITSs: Wider and faster deployment of new e-navigation services
Publicationn its initial part, the paper presents an overview of popular technologies and systems currently developed or employed in maritime communication. These solutions are used to provide both ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication for the purpose of supporting specific services, often dedicated to maritime safety and e-navigation. Utility of such communication systems have been thoroughly verified over the years and their strengths...
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The effect of nanoparticles size on photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of Ag-Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts
PublicationAg-Pt-modified TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using the sol–gel method. Bimetallic modified TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited improved photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation, better than monometallic Ag/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). All modified powders showed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in visible region. The photocatalysts’ characteristics by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning transmission...
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Recovery of Anammox Biomass at Short Hydraulic Retention Time in a MBR Reactor
PublicationThe anammox system has been consider as an economical option for treating high concentration of nitrogen and poor in biodegradable orgaednic carbon wastewaters. This process is attractive option compared with conventional nitrogen removal because it provides a significant saving in aeration and organic addition for denitrification. The anammox technology has been applied mostly for concentrated nitrogenous wastewater containing...