Search results for: CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN
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Mathematical modelling of gasification process of sewage sludge in reactor of negative CO2 emission power plant
PublicationSewage sludge is a residue of wastewater processing that is biologically active and consists of water,organic matter, including dead and alive pathogens, as well as organic and inorganic contaminants suchas polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. Due to the nature of sewage sludge and itspossible influence on human health and wellbeing, it is a subject of various regulations. Currently,sewage sludge is considered...
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A screening of select toxic and essential elements and persistent organic pollutants in the fur of Svalbard reindeer
PublicationReindeers play an important role in the polar ecosystem, being long-lived sole vegetarians feeding on local vegetation. They can be used as a valuable bioindicator, helping us to understand contaminants’ impact on the polar terrestrial ecosystem. Still, scarce data exist from research in which polar herbivores (especially those from the European parts of the Arctic) were a major study subject for trace elements and persistent organic...
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Employment and export specialization patterns versus GDP per capita performance - unifying approach
PublicationThis paper analyses the evolution of specialization patterns along the process of economic development. The scope of the paper is twofold: first of all, it aims at understanding if the evolution of employment specialization is reflected in the same manner in trade specialisation patterns. Secondly, it explores the link between the degree of specialization on one side and cross country GDP per capita performance on the other. We...
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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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Investigation on environmental chemistry changes in the Antarctic Special Management Area (ASMA 1): King George Island, South Shetlands Islands
PublicationThe doctoral dissertation included a review of the scientific literature that resulted in the selection of the research area, type of samples and chemical species that were marked. The published series of articles contains an in-depth description of the results of chemical analyses of surface water, sediment and snow samples from the Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA 1) – King George Island. In addition, studies have been...
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Infographics in Educational Settings: A Literature Review
PublicationInfographics are visual representations of data that utilize various graphic elements, including pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs, and histograms. Educators and designers can maximize the potential of infographics as powerful educational tools by carefully addressing challenges and capitalizing on emerging technologies. However, current education systems showcase the need for development guidelines and the best practices targeted...
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From creative writing, virtual environments to nature-based solutions: linking research and education to facilitate transition from sustainable to regenerative cities
PublicationChallenges related to the climate crisis and its consequences, such as rising sea levels, urban heat islands or floods, engender pressure on architectural education. Sustainable design often inclines to regenerative one - an emerging trend focused on the restorative power of architecture. The question appears upon the tools and methods that would facilitate both students and academics to address new challenges. This article offers...
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Geodesy measurement techniques as an enrichment of archaeological research workflow
PublicationUse of geodesy techniques is widespread in different fields of science. Especially in such an emerging and dynamic branch of science as archaeology. Warsaw Institute of Archaeology, conducts many archaeological expeditions, among the others Polish-Georgian archaeological expedition in Gonio, where ancient Roman Bath has been discovered and excavated. Gonio is located in Adjara, Georgia, placed on the Black Sea coast. Fortress...
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How Can We Identify Electrophysiological iEEG Activities Associated with Cognitive Functions?
PublicationElectrophysiological activities of the brain are engaged in its various functions and give rise to a wide spectrum of low and high frequency oscillations in the intracranial EEG (iEEG) signals, commonly known as the brain waves. The iEEG spectral activities are distributed across networks of cortical and subcortical areas arranged into hierarchical processing streams. It remains a major challenge to identify these activities in...
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A comprehensive review on Ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a potential source of nutraceuticals for food formulations: Towards the polishing of gingerol and other present biomolecules
PublicationCurrently, ginger is one the most consumed plants when dealing with the treatments of various illnesses. So far, it is known that various biologically active molecules, such as gingerols, shogaols and zingerone, among others, are the main responsible for specific biological activities, opening a new window for its utilization as a nutraceutical in foods. In pioneering extraction processes, solvent extraction has been initially...
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State of the Art in Open Platforms for Collaborative Urban Design and Sharing of Resources in Districts and Cities
PublicationThis work discusses recent developments in sharing economy concepts and collaborative co-design technology platforms applied in districts and cities. These developments are being driven both by new technological advances and by increased environmental awareness. The paper begins by outlining the state of the art in smart technology platforms for collaborative urban design, highlighting a number of recent examples. The case of peer-to-peer...
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Machine learning for the management of biochar yield and properties of biomass sources for sustainable energy
PublicationBiochar is emerging as a potential solution for biomass conversion to meet the ever increasing demand for sustainable energy. Efficient management systems are needed in order to exploit fully the potential of biochar. Modern machine learning (ML) techniques, and in particular ensemble approaches and explainable AI methods, are valuable for forecasting the properties and efficiency of biochar properly. Machine-learning-based forecasts,...
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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...
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Targeting yeast topoisomerase II by imidazo and triazoloacridinone derivatives resulting in their antifungal activity
PublicationFungal pathogens are considered as serious factors for deadly diseases and are a case of medical concern. Invasive fungal infections also complicate the clinical course of COVID-19, leading to a significant increase in mortality. Furthermore, fungal strains' multidrug resistance has increased the demand for antifungals with a different mechanism of action. The present study aimed to identify antifungal compounds targeting yeast...
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Enzyme-linked carbon nanotubes as biocatalytic tools to degrade and mitigate environmental pollutants
PublicationA wide array of organic compounds have been recognized as pollutants of high concern due to their controlled or uncontrolled presence in environmental matrices. The persistent prevalence of diverse organic pollutants, including pharmaceutical compounds, phenolic compounds, synthetic dyes, and other hazardous substances, necessitates robust measures for their practical and sustainable removal from water bodies. Several bioremediation and...
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Mercury contamination, a potential threat to the globally endangered aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola
PublicationMercury (Hg) contamination is considered a global concern for humans and wildlife, and although the number of studies dealing with that issue continues to increase, some taxonomic groups such as small passerine birds are largely understudied. In this paper, concentration of mercury in the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) feathers, a globally threatened passerine species, was examined. The concentration differences between...
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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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Low-Cost Unattended Design of Miniaturized 4 × 4 Butler Matrices with Nonstandard Phase Differences
PublicationDesign of Butler matrices dedicated to Internet of Things and 5th generation (5G) mobile systems—where small size and high performance are of primary concern—is a challenging task that often exceeds capabilities of conventional techniques. Lack of appropriate, unified design approaches is a serious bottleneck for the development of Butler structures for contemporary applications. In this work, a low-cost bottom-up procedure for...
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A Strategy for Managing the Operation of Technical Infrastructure Based on the Analysis of “Bad Actors”—A Case Study of LOTOS Group S.A.
PublicationThe article covers issues related to the selection of a management strategy for the operation of technical infrastructure. It contains the approaches, methodology and a general model of the system of operation of the Maintenance Services of the LOTOS Group production company, which is an example of a large oil concern. Nowadays, an increasing aspect is put on the efficiency of individual repair processes, as well as the operation...
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In Search of Naval Beauty. Historical Study of Ship Architecture
PublicationDesigning ships is no mean achievement. In the old days, constructors focused on making their ships visually appealing, while paying scant regard to the living conditions of the crew. Such an approach reflected the state of the art in ship building at the time as well as the social order prevalent in those days. A breakthrough came no earlier than at the turn of the 19th / 20th centuries. The industrial revolution brought along...
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Recent advances on SOA formation in indoor air, fate and strategies for SOA characterization in indoor air - A review
PublicationRecent studies proves that indoor air chemistry differs in many aspects from atmospheric one. People send up to 90 % of their life indoors being exposed to pollutants present in gas, particle and solid phase. Particle phase indoor is composed of particles emitted from various sources, among which there is an indoor source – secondary chemical reactions leading to formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Lately, researchers'...
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Evaluation of mercury content in combustible tobacco products by employing cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy and considering the moisture content: a comprehensive study
PublicationPlants are mainly made up of water, which constitutes between 80 and 90% of their weight. Moisture factor comes across as one of the most important in tobacco products. Rapid determination of moisture content in tobacco products comes at neces- sity in any tobacco management plants (before and after production). Therefore, the concern has been raised in this study to evaluate the moisture content in four kinds of combustible tobacco...
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Rola przekształceń styku lądu i wody w procesach rewitalizacji
PublicationArtykuł poświęcony jest zweryfikowaniu roli, jaką pełnią przekształcenia granic miedzy lądem i wodą w procesach rewitalizacji. Analizując szereg tego typu działań, w szczególności dotyczących transformacji obszarów poprzemysłowych, można zauważyć, że w ostatnim czasie charakterystyczne dla nich stają się modyfikacje planów obszarów wodnych i form ich granic. Jak okazuje się, działania takie mają nie tylko znaczenie kompozycyjne...
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SZTUKA WIZUALNA W OBIEKTACH MEDYCZNYCH = VISUAL ARTS IN MEDICAL FACILITIES
PublicationWspółczesna architektura obiektów służby zdrowia podlega dynamicznym przeobrażeniom formalnym wynikającym zarówno z rozwoju technologii medycznych, zmian zachodzących w podejściu wobec pacjenta. Narastający w naukach medycznych kierunek holistyczny ustawia pacjenta jako użytkownika w trzech wymiarach: biologicznym, społecznym i psychologicznym. Stąd pojawiające się w procesie projektowym dotyczącym szpitali czy przychodni nowe...
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POLDER AND CITY: SUSTAINING WATER LANDSCAPES ON AN URBAN EDGE
PublicationThe question investigated in this paper is how to maintain the environmental quality of the polder landscape encompassing the city in the condition of urban pressure on this landscape. On the basis of theoretical approaches, historical surveys and introductory study models new ideas are tested on the case study of Gdansk, a city located in the Vistula River delta in northern Poland. Research shows that the city was created as a...
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Shielded HMSIW-based frequency-tunable self-quadruplexing antenna using different solid/liquid dielectrics
PublicationThis article proposes a frequency-tunable self-quadruplexing antenna based on a shielded half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (S-HMSIW). In order to reduce the size of the HMSIW cavity resonator and to obtain quad-band characteristics, a modied E-shaped slot is engraved on the top of the metal. The experimental validation is carried out after analyzing the data using a circuit model. Flexibility of each resonant frequency is...
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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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User-assisted methodology targeted for building structure interpretable QSPR models for boosting CO2 capture with ionic liquids
PublicationTask-specific ionic liquid (IL) is an emerging class of compounds that may be environmentally friendly. Properly selected, these compounds may be green alternative to amine solutions and can replace them in post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO2) capture processes on an industrial scale. However, owing to the vast diversity of ions and their possible combinations, laboratory research is time consuming and expensive. Therefore, computational...
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Closing the loop: Upcycling secondary waste materials into nanoarchitectured carbon composites for the electrochemical degradation of pharmaceuticals
PublicationIn this study, we demonstrated the application of electrochemical oxidation as a safer and cleaner technology for minimizing the impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters, simultaneously mediated by upcycled secondary waste materials (SWMs)-derived electrodes, to further reduce their environmental impact. The modularity, scalability, ease of operation and reliability make electrochemical oxidation an ideal process for the destruction...
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Reliable EM-driven size reduction of antenna structures by means of adaptive penalty factors
PublicationMiniaturization has become of paramount importance in the design of modern antenna systems. In particular, compact size is essential for emerging application areas such as internet of things, wearable and implantable devices, 5G technology, or medical imaging. On the other hand, reduction of physical dimensions generally has a detrimental effect on antenna performance. From the perspective of numerical optimization, miniaturization...
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Selected aspects of two-phase flow studies using different visualization techniques in minichannels
PublicationThe subject of the study is to present the possibility of the use of visualization techniques in the researches on two-phase flows, carried out by the authors for many years. These works included as follows: heat transfer during the flow boiling, boiling crises and condensation in flow. The issue of the heat transfer intensification during the flow boiling through the channels of small diameters was analyzed. All this work focused...
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Embodying Intelligence in Autonomous Systems with the Use of Cognitive Psychology and Motivation Theories
PublicationThe article discusses, on a certain level of abstraction and generalization, a coherent anthropological approach to the issue of controlling autonomous robots or agents. A contemporary idea can be based on appropriate modeling of the human mind using the available psychological knowledge. One of the main reasons for developing such projects is the lack of available and effective top-down approaches resulting from the known research...
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Experimental study on the effectiveness of polymer dampers in reduction of structural vibrations
PublicationVibrations of civil engineering structures, generated by dynamic loads, may be very dangerous to the structures themselves as well as may have significant influence on human perception and comfort. A number of different methods have been proposed in order to minimize such situations. This concern newly designed structures as well as those which dynamic properties have to be modified due to problems with excessive vibrations. One...
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Effect of wet Hydrogen Sulfide on Carbon Steels Degradation in Refinery Based on Case Study
PublicationMaterial degradation caused by wet hydrogen sulfide (Wet H2S) is one of the major issues in refineries. Carbon steel is the main construction material used in refineries and is subjected not only to thickness loss but the hydrogen is the major concern. H2S leads to high atomic hydrogen penetration in steel which causes degradation in the form of blistering and/or cracking (HIC/SOHIC) and stress cracking in the area of welds and...
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Diagnosis of Damage in a Steel Tank with Self-Supported Roof through Numerical Analysis
PublicationThe safety of civil engineering structures is one of the most important issues of building industry. That is why the assessment of the damage-involved structural response has recently become of major concern to engineers. Among a number of different approaches to diagnosis of damage, the method of measuring the changes in natural frequencies is considered to be one of the most effective indicators of global damage. From the practical...
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Experimental study on effectiveness of polymer dampers in reduction of structural vibrations
PublicationVibrations of civil engineering structures, generated by dynamic loads, may be very dangerous to the structures themselves as well as may have significant influence on human perception and comfort. A number of different methods have been proposed in order to minimize such situations. This concern newly designed structures as well as those which dynamic properties have to be modified due to problems with excessive vibrations. One...
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House dust as a source of analytical information on concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) - first approach
PublicationPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are best recognized as flame retardants, were in 2001, by virtue of Stockholm Convention, listed in a group of Persistent Organic Compounds (POPs). Increasing concentration levels of PBDEs, reported in human tissues (e.g., blood, serum, breast milk, etc.) haverecently caught worldwide concern due to their potential tendency to disrupt thyroid hormones, neurobehavioral deficits and endocrine...
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Frequently updated noise threat maps created with use of supercomputing grid
PublicationAn innovative supercomputing grid services devoted to noise threat evaluation were presented. The services described in this paper concern two issues, first is related to the noise mapping, while the second one focuses on assessment of the noise dose and its influence on the human hearing system. The discussed services were developed within the PL-Grid Plus Infrastructure which accumulates Polish academic supercomputer centers....
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Embodying Intelligence in Autonomous and Robotic Systems with the Use of Cognitive Psychology and Motivation Theories
PublicationThe article discusses, on a certain level of abstraction and generalization, a coherent anthropological approach to the issue of controlling autonomous robots or agents. A contemporary idea can be based on appropriate modeling of the human mind using the available psychological knowledge. One of the main reasons for developing such projects is the lack of available and effective top-down approaches resulting from the known research...
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Mobile Security: Threats and Best Practices
PublicationCommunicating mobile security threats and best practices has become a central objective due to the ongoing discovery of new vulnerabilities of mobile devices. To cope with this overarching issue, the goal of this paper is to identify and analyze existing threats and best practices in the domain of mobile security. To this extent, we conducted a literature review based on a set of keywords. The obtained results concern recognizable...
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Marine traffic risk modelling – an innovative approach and a case study
PublicationThis paper presents a model to analyse the risk of two common marine accidents: collision and grounding. Attention is focused on oil tankers since they pose the highest environmental risks. A case study in selected areas of the Gulf of Finland in ice-free conditions is presented. The model utilizes a formula for risk calculation that considers both the probability of an unwanted event and its consequences. The model can be decomposed...
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Determination of stepped plate thickness distribution using guided waves and compressed sensing approach
PublicationGuided waves recently have attracted significant interest as a very promising research area. The signals registered by a specially designed sensor network are processed to assess the state of the tested structure. Despite the constant development of novel damage detection algorithms employing guided waves, the phenomenon of wave propagation still needs detailed recognizing and understanding for the further progress of non-destructive...
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Beyond quid pro quo: good soldiers and characteristics of their helping behaviours
PublicationPurpose – Good soldiers are people who engage in citizenship behaviours “to do good” instead of “to look good”. The purpose of this article is to explore the motivations behind and the specific characteristics of behaviours of the good soldiers in the context of work using social exchange theory (SET) as a theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach – 47 dyadic interviews with 94 individuals from three organisations...
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Activity of Patents in Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Production in the Context of Passenger Car Fleet in the V4 Countries
PublicationThe hydrogen market in the world today is capable ovule and em-pirical evidence on activity of patents in fuel cells and hydrogen production islimited so far. Patent applications in zero-emission mobility in the aspect of fuelcells include: DAFC/DMFC&DMFC, PEMFC, SOFC, AFC, PAFC. As for thepatents relating to the hydrogen production, they concern low carbon, electrol-ysis and inorganic. The purpose of the study was to investigate...
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Managing Unemployment under COVID-19 Conditions (States of Emergency or Crisis)
PublicationRising unemployment is one of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries. This, in turn, has forcedpolicymakers to respond immediately with policy tools to minimize unemployment. The purpose of our study is to contribute toempirical knowledge by looking at activities of 40 local government units to counteract unemployment in the cross-border regionon the Polish side. In doing this, our study contributes to the...
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Quantumness in Diagnostics of Marine Internal Combustion Engines and Other Ship Power Plant Machines
PublicationThe article provides proof that the diagnostics of marine internal combustion engines and other ship power plant machines should take into account the randomness and unpredictability of certain events, such as wear, damage, the variations of mechanical and thermal loads, etc., which take place during machine operation. In the article, the energy E, like the other forms (methods) that it can be converted into (heat and work), is...
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Environmental characteristics of a tundra river system in Svalbard. Part 2: Chemical stress factors
PublicationBacterial communities in the Arctic environment are subject to multiple stress factors, including contaminants, although typically their concentrations are small. The Arctic contamination research has focused on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) because they are bioaccumulative, resistant to degradation and toxic for all organisms. Pollutants have entered the Arctic predominantly by atmospheric and oceanic long-range transport,...
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A mixture of cellulose production waste with municipal sewage as new material for an ecological management of wastes
PublicationChemical contaminants present in cellulose production waste and municipal sewage sludge condition the necessity to treat these wastes before they are introduced into the environment. Environmental use of the these wastes appears to be justified owing to the content of organic substances as well as the considerable fertilising value. The aim of the study was to assess chemical composition and ecotoxicity of cellulose production...
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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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Synthesis, characteristics, and photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles stabilized on the stone surface for degradation of metronidazole from aqueous solution
PublicationAbstract Background: The presence of antibiotics such as metronidazole in wastewater even at low concentrations requires searching for a suitable process such as advanced oxidation process (AOP) to reduce the level of pollutants to a standard level in water. Methods: In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal method using zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) as a precursor, then, stabilized on stone and was used...