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Search results for: DEGRADATION
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Visible light photocatalytic activity of ionic liquid-TiO2 spheres: effect of the ionic liquid's anion structure
PublicationThe effect of the ionic liquid’s (IL) anion type ([BIMIM][X], where X= [Br], [PF6] or [OctSO4]) and content on the morphology, surface properties and photoactivity of TiO2 obtained by solvothermal method has been systematically investigated. Our results revealed that the presence of [Br], [OctSO4] anions favors formation of anatase phase, while presence of [PF6] anion causes formation of mixture of anatase and Ti(OH)PO4 phases....
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Reactive Sintering of Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) Modified by a Trans-Polyoctenamer Rubber and Curing Additives
PublicationThe proposed method of ground tire rubber (GTR) utilization involves the application of trans-polyoctenamer rubber (TOR), a commercially available waste rubber modifier. The idea was to investigate the influence of various curing additives (sulfur, N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CBS), dibenzothiazole disulfide (MBTS) and di-(2-ethyl)hexylphosphorylpolysulfide (SDT)) on curing characteristics, physico-mechanical, thermal,...
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High performance LaNi1-xCoxO3-δ (x = 0.4 to 0.7) infiltrated oxygen electrodes for reversible solid oxide cells
PublicationOxygen electrodes prepared by infiltration of yttria stabilized zirconia backbone with Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.95 barrier layer and LaNi1-xCoxO3-δ (x=0.4 to 0.7) catalyst for application in reversible solid oxide cells have been studied. The effect of temperature and Ni:Co ratio on their phase composition, microstructure and electrochemical properties are discussed. It was shown that oxygen electrodes infiltrated with LaNi0.5Co0.5O3-δ had...
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A model of damaged media used for describing the process of non-stationary creep and long-term strength of polycrystalline structural alloys
PublicationThe main laws of the processes of creep and long-term strength of polycrystalline structural alloys are considered. From the viewpoint of continuum damaged media (CDM), a mathematical model is developed that describes the processes of viscoplastic deformation and damage accumulation under creep. The problem of determining material parameters and scalar functions of the developed constitutive relations based on the results of specially...
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Novel Biodegradable Potato Starch-based Compositions as Candidates in Packaging Industry, Safe for Marine Environment
PublicationAbout 70 % of our planet’s surface is covered by seas and oceans to which even 10 million tons of waste go every year. It makes these places the largest global landfills, containing up to 90 % of plastic waste. In this article we present the results of research on novel starch-based compositions expected to be more safe for the marine environment. For these purpose biopolymers such as, thermoplastic starch (TPS), polylactide (PLA)...
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Theoretical Investigation of the Electron-Transfer Dynamics and Photodegradation Pathways in a Hydrogen-Evolving Ruthenium-Palladium Photocatalyst
PublicationTime-dependent density functional theory calcula- tions combinedwith the Marcus theory of electron transfer (ET) were app lied on the molecular photocatalys t [(tbbpy) 2 Ru(tpph z)PdC l 2 ] 2 + in order to elucidate thelight-in- duced relaxation pathways populated upon excitation in the longer wavelength range of its absorption spectrum. The computational resultsshow that after the initial excitation, metal (Ru) to ligand (tpphz)chargetransfer...
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Looking through the past: better knowledge retention for generative replay in continual learning
PublicationIn this work, we improve the generative replay in a continual learning setting to perform well on challenging scenarios. Because of the growing complexity of continual learning tasks, it is becoming more popular, to apply the generative replay technique in the feature space instead of image space. Nevertheless, such an approach does not come without limitations. In particular, we notice the degradation of the continually trained...
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Crack monitoring in concrete beams under bending using ultrasonic waves and coda wave interferometry: the effect of excitation frequency on coda
PublicationConcrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. In recent years, various non-destructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques have been investigated to improve the safety and control of the current condition of concrete structures. This study focuses on micro-crack monitoring in concrete beams. The experimental analysis was carried out on concrete elements subjected to three-point...
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Visible-light-driven lanthanide-organic-frameworks modified TiO2 photocatalysts utilizing up-conversion effect
PublicationHighly efficient and quite stable composite with core-shell-like architecture reported herein, responds to the challenge of sunlight-driven photocatalysts. The Ln(ndc)/TiO2 photocatalytic system comprises active lanthanide-carboxylate coordination networks (Nd, Er, Ho, and Tm as metal ions, and 2,6-naphthalene dicar-boxylic acid as the organic linker) and inert titanium dioxide and allow to convert incompatible visible radiation...
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Cytocompatibility of stabilized black phosphorus nanosheets tailored by directly conjugated polymeric micelles for human breast cancer therapy
PublicationThe novel procedure of few-layer black phosphorus (FLBP) stabilization and functionalisation was here proposed. The cationic polymer PLL and non-ionic PEG have been involved into encapsulation of FLBP to allow sufficient time for further nanofabrication process and overcome environmental degradation. Two different spacer chemistry was designed to bind polymers to tumor-homing peptides. The efficiency of functionalisation was examined...
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Polymodal Method of Improving the Quality of Photogrammetric Images and Models
PublicationPhotogrammetry using unmanned aerial vehicles has become very popular and is already commonly used. The most frequent photogrammetry products are an orthoimage, digital terrain model and a 3D object model. When executing measurement flights, it may happen that there are unsuitable lighting conditions, and the flight itself is fast and not very stable. As a result, noise and blur appear on the images, and the images themselves can...
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Highly stable CsFAPbIBr perovskite solar cells with dominant bulk recombination at real operating temperatures
PublicationMixed-cation mixed-halide perovskite solar cells have been characterized in DC at different temperatures (from −20 °C up to 50 °C) and the time evolution of the device efficiency has been assessed using different degradation protocols (indoors and outdoors). The completely planar p–i–n structure is ITO/CuNiOx/PTAA/CsFAPbIBr/PCBM/PEI/Ag. Pristine current–voltage characteristics barely show hysteresis, at any temperature. Open circuit...
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Gelatin and gelatin/starch-based films modified with sorbitol for wound healing
PublicationGelatin-based films modified with sorbitol were produced from gelatin solution or gelatin/starch blends using a simple and low-cost solvent casting method, and subsequently, their physicochemical, mechanical, and biocompatibility properties were characterized. This work focused on developing and optimizing a biopolymeric blend to improve the pure biopolymers’ properties for potential biomedical applications such as wound dressing....
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A review: Fabrication of porous polyurethane scaffolds
PublicationThe aim of tissue engineering is the fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds that can be used for the reconstruction and regeneration of damaged or deformed tissues and organs. A wide variety of techniques have been developed to create either fibrous or porous scaffolds from polymers, metals, composite materials and ceramics. However, the most promising materials are biodegradable polymers due to their comprehensive mechanical...
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Transition Metal Oxides influence on phosphate and borate glasses structure
PublicationBorate and phosphate glasses possess many potential luminescence and optical applications. With their low melting point, they are one of the most often studied amorphous materials. In recent years these glasses, doped with transition metal oxides (TMO), gained much attention due to their tunable structural and thermal properties. Review of systems containing TMOs was presented. Additionally synthesis of binary MnO-P2O5 and MnO-B2O3...
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l-ascorbic acid modified poly(ester urethane)s as a suitable candidates for soft tissue engineering applications
PublicationIn this paper we created novel poly(ester urethane)s (PESUs) designed specifically for tissue engineering. The PESUs were derived from oligomeric α,ω-dihydroxy(ethylene-butylene adipate) (dHEBA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and aliphatic 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and modified with l-ascorbic acid to improve their biocompatibility. In addition, we determined their mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, elongation at...
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Portable Electronic Nose Based on Electrochemical Sensors for Food Quality Assessment
PublicationThe steady increase in global consumption puts a strain on agriculture and might lead to a decrease in food quality. Currently used techniques of food analysis are often labour-intensive and time-consuming and require extensive sample preparation. For that reason, there is a demand for novel methods that could be used for rapid food quality assessment. A technique based on the use of an array of chemical sensors for holistic analysis...
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Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Pt/I-TiO2 in a slurry system and supported on glass packing
PublicationHighly photoactive I/TiO2, Pt/I-TiO2 nanocomposites were obtained using a hydrothermal and wet impregnation method. The incorporation of iodine and modification with 0.05 mol% of platinum leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared to singly doped TiO2 due to the presence of impurity energy level in the structure of TiO2. X-ray diffraction, TEM microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and BET...
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The Effect of Titanium Oxyfluoride Morphology on Photocatalytic Activity of Fluorine-Doped Titanium(IV) Oxide
PublicationTitanium oxyfluoride (TiOF2) is a metastable product that can be obtained in a fluorine-rich environment. This material can also be a valuable precursor in the synthesis of titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2). However, the effect of TiOF2 morphology on the physicochemical properties of TiO2 has not been studied so far. In this work, single-phase TiOF2 was prepared by a solvothermal method. The as-synthesized samples exhibited a variety of...
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A Wideband Rotary-Joint-Free H-Plane Horn Antenna With 360° Steerable Radiation Pattern Using Gap Waveguide Technology
PublicationConsidering the limitations of electronically steerable antennas such as limited steering span, gain degradation for large steering angles, complexity, and cost, this article is focused on the design of a simple mechanically steerable H-plane horn antenna. It is shown that since there is no need for an electrical connection between the top and bottom sections of a gap waveguide (GWG), if a sectoral horn is properly designed and realized...
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Hierarchical MnO2 nanoflowers blooming on 3D nickel foam: A novel micro-macro catalyst for peroxymonosulfate activation
PublicationIn this work, birnessite-type δ-MnO2 nanoflowers were uniformly deposited on 3D nickel foam (NF) by one-step hydrothermal route for high-efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) towards degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7). High specific surface area, large pore volume and 3D hierarchical structure promotes the mass and electron transfer for great catalytic activity. Low reaction energy barrier (Ea=27.5 kJ/mol) and outstanding...
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Correlation between partial inhibition of hydrogen evolution using thiourea and catalytic activity of AB5-type hydrogen storage alloy towards borohydride electrooxidation
PublicationDirect borohydride fuel cells (DBFCs) are devices which directly convert the chemical energy stored in the borohydride ion and oxidant into electrical energy as a result of redox reactions. Unfortunately, a significant amount of fuel is lost as a result of the undesirable hydrolysis reaction. The selection of an efficient borohydride hydrolysis inhibitor requires detailed knowledge regarding the interaction mechanism between the...
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Experimental and DFT insights into an eco-friendly photocatalytic system toward environmental remediation and hydrogen generation based on AgInS2 quantum dots embedded on Bi2WO6
PublicationBismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) can work as a photocatalyst but suffers from rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) simulations revealed that the formation of a thermodynamically stable AgInS2(112)/Bi2WO6(010) heterojunction could promote charge separation and enhance the photoactivity of Bi2WO6. To confirm these theoretical predictions, a new type of photocatalysts in the form...
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Numerically efficient algorithm for compact microwave device optimization with flexible sensitivity updating scheme
PublicationAn efficient trust-region algorithm with flexible sensitivity updating management scheme for electromagnetic (EM)-driven design optimization of compact microwave components is proposed. During the optimization process, updating of selected columns of the circuit response Jacobian is performed using a rank-one Broyden formula (BF) replacing finite differentiation (FD). The FD update is omitted for directions sufficiently well aligned...
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Advantageous conditions of saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuels generation via fermentation processes
PublicationProcessing of lignocellulosic biomass includes four major unit operations: pre-treatment, hydrolysis, fermentation and product purifcation prior to biofuel generation via anaerobic digestion. The microorganisms involved in the fermentation metabolize only simple molecules, i.e., monosugars which can be obtained by carrying out the degradation of complex polymers, the main component of lignocellulosic biomass. The object of this...
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Small regulatory bacterial RNAs regulating the envelope stress response
PublicationMost bacteria encode a large repertoire of RNA-based regulatory mechanisms. Recent discoveries have revealed that the expression of many genes is controlled by a plethora of base-pairing noncoding small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), regulatory RNA-binding proteins and RNA-degrading enzymes. Some of these RNA-based regulated processes respond to stress conditions and are involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. They achieve...
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Metal dusting phenomena of 501 AISI furnace tubes in refinery fractional distillation unit
PublicationThe purpose of this investigation was to conduct the failure analysis of 501 AISI furnace tubes places before distillation column in fractional distillation unit. The investigated furnace tubes were planned to work for ten years however after just two years of exploitation <30% of the material left. The observed corrosion process had the intense and complex character. The well-adhered shiny black deposits and deep, round pits were...
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Treatment innovation using solar/UV In book: The Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater: Innovative Technologies and the Adaptation of Treatment Systems
PublicationSince ancient times, sunlight irradiation has been widely used for water purification. Apart from solar water disinfection techniques, UV irradiation is of particular interest when considering the photodegradation of various classes of emerging pollutants. Pharmaceutically active compounds are one of the largest classes of micropollutants. The main sources of these contaminants in wastewater and aqueous environments are households,...
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Evaluation of Terpene Decomposition in Kaffir Lime Juice during Storage Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and Proton Transfer Reaction–Mass Spectrometry
PublicationKaffir lime juice, often treated as production waste, can be a good source of terpenes. These compounds undergo various decomposition processes under the influence of external factors, especially during transportation and storage. In this paper, it was possible to monitor changes in the terpene profile of kaffir lime juice under different storage conditions, namely, 4 ◦C, 20 ◦C, and 35 ◦C. The identification of key decomposition...
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Investigation of the 0.4C-35Cr-45Ni-Nb Alloy after Service in High-Temperature Steam and Hydrocarbons Environment
PublicationThe paper presents the results of investigation of the 0.4C-35Cr-45Ni-Nb alloy, which operated in the cracked hydrocarbon feeds and dilution steam at 1125 C. The material originated from the pyrolytic furnace coil tubes, of which internal walls were in contact with the aforementioned medium, whereas the external walls were in contact with the flue gases. The examination included metallographic and mechanical tests on the material...
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Suppressors of lapC mutation identify new regulators of LpxC, which mediates the first committed step in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis
PublicationGram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are characterized by an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) located in the outer leaflet and phospholipids facing the inner leaflet. E. coli recruits LPS assembly proteins LapB, LapC and LapD in concert with FtsH protease to ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids. We recently reported that bacteria either lacking the periplasmic domain of...
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A simplified method to assess the impact of ship-to-ship collision on the risk of tanker ship hull girder breaking accounting for the effect of ageing
PublicationOne of the most critical structural failures is the exceedance of the ship hull girder’s ultimate strength, which may result in hull breaking, and subsequent severe consequences, including loss of life and property as well as environmental damage in case of an oil spill. A cause for such loss of structural continuity can be triggered by a collision with another vessel. In addition, the ageing mechanisms of the hull structure could...
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Modelling tunnelling-induced deformation in stiff soils with a hyperelastic–plastic anisotropic model
PublicationIn this paper, the tunnelling-induced deformation in anisotropic stiff soils is analysed using FE modelling. The influence of material description is investigated rather than an advanced simulation of the tunnelling method. A new hyperelastic– plastic model is proposed to describe the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of stiff highly overconsolidated soil. This model can reproduce the superposition of variable stress-induced anisotropy...
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High-temperature Co-electrolysis of CO2/H2O and direct methanation over Co-impregnated SOEC. Bimetallic synergy between Co and Ni
PublicationTo study the synergy between the transition metals for enhancing the electrochemical and chemical activity, a series of SOECs were modified with a small amount of Co ions, namely 1.8, 3.6, and 5.4 wt% in the reduced state. The addition of βCD into the precursor solution allowed for extremely fine dispersion of Co species across the Ni-YSZ cermet structure. The sample containing 3.6 wt% Co reached an outstanding over 2.5-times-higher...
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Modulation of carcinogen metabolizing cytochromes p450 in rat liver and kidney by cabbage and sauerkraut juices: comparison with the effects of indole-3-carbinol and phenethyl isothiocyanate
PublicationThis study investigated the effect of raw cabbage and sauerkraut juices on the activity and expression of CYP1A1, 1A2, 1B1 and 2B in Wistar rat liver and kidney. The results were compared with those of two commercially available products of glucosinolates degradation: indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). Significant differences in the effect of the cabbage juices as well as I3C and PEITC between the liver...
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Development of a compact microstrip resonant cell aimed at efficient microwave component size reduction
PublicationA comprehensive comparison of a wide collection of compact microstrip resonant cells (CMRCs) found in the extensive body of literature has been presented. The evaluation of different CMRC designs has led to the selection of the most promising CMRC geometry for the efficient miniaturisation of modern microwave components. In order to showcase the vital effectiveness of the approach, the initially selected CMRC has been notably...
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Occurrence of Surface Active Agents in the Environment
PublicationDue to the specific structure of surfactants molecules they are applied in different areas of human activity (industry, household). After using and discharging from wastewater treatment plants as effluent stream, surface active agents (SAAs) are emitted to various elements of the environment (atmosphere, waters, and solid phases), where they can undergo numerous physic-chemical processes (e.g., sorption, degradation) and freely...
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Au-RE-TiO2 nanocomposites: Surface characteristics and photoactivity
PublicationThe photocatalysts based on TiO2 co-doped with rare earth metal (RE) and gold nanoparticles have been prepared using a sol-gel method and followed by gold reduction. Specific surface areas of the modified photocatalysts were calculated by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET). Diffuse reflectance spectra of the obtained photocatalysts were recorded in a UV-Vis spectrophotometer (DRS UV-Vis). The influence of the type of rare...
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Multiple Reprocessing of Conductive PLA 3D-Printing Filament: Rheology, Morphology, Thermal and Electrochemical Properties Assessment
PublicationAdditive manufacturing technologies are gaining more and more attention, resulting in the development or modification of 3D printing techniques and dedicated materials. On the other hand, economic and ecological aspects force the industry to develop material recycling strategies. In this work, the multiple reprocessing of a commercially available PLA conductive composite with carbon black filler, dedicated to 3D printing, was investigated....
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Iron doped manganese cobaltite spinel coatings produced by electrophoretic co-deposition on interconnects for solid oxide cells: Microstructural and electrical characterization
PublicationWe report a systematic microstructural and electrical characterization of iron doped Mn–Co spinel coatings processed by electrophoretic co-deposition of Mn1.5Co1.5O4 and Fe2O3 powders on Crofer 22 APU and AISI 441 steel substrates. Iron addition to Mn–Co spinel coating leads to a reduction of the area specific resistance on both substrates, after 3200 h at 750 °C. The Fe doped Mn–Co coating both leads to a thinner oxide scale and...
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Microwave-assisted synthesis of a TiO2-CuO heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity against tetracycline
PublicationA microwave method was used for the synthesis of TiO2-CuO oxide systems. A detailed investigation was made of the effect of the molar ratio of components (TiO2:CuO=9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 1:9) on the crystalline structure and morphology. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the presence of octahedral and rod-shaped titania particles and sheet copper(II) oxide particles; moreover, HRTEM analysis indicated the presence of...
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Investigation of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Synthesized via Two Different Prepolymers
PublicationThe man aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the molecular weight of polyols, mixture of prepolymers, and [NCO]/[OH] molar ratio used during the prepolymer chain extending step on the chemical structure, thermomechanical and mechanical properties, and thermal stability of thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane)s In this work thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane)s were synthesized by using polyols with a various molecular weight,...
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Chemical Aspects of Biological Activity of Isothiocyanates and Indoles, the Products of Glucosinolate Decomposition
PublicationThere is growing evidence that cancer chemoprevention employing natural, bioactive compounds may halt or at least slow down the different stages of carcinogenesis. A particularly advantageous effect is attributed to derivatives of sulfur-organic phytochemicals, such as glucosinolates (GLs) synthesized mainly in Brassicaceae plant family. GLs are hydrolysed enzymatically to bioactive isothiocyanates (ITC) and indoles, which exhibit strong...
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Bandwidth-size design trade-offs for compact spline-parameterised patch couplers by means of electromagnetic-driven multi-objective optimisation
PublicationBroad bandwidth and small size are the key performance figures for contemporary microwave couplers. These requirements are conflicting, i.e. improvement of one generally leads to degradation of the other assuming fixed topology of the circuit at hand. From a designer's perspective, the knowledge about available design trade-offs is indispensable as it permits for tailoring the circuit for particular applications as well as comparing...
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Expedited Design Closure of Antenna Input Characteristics by Trust Region Gradient Search and Principal Component Analysis
PublicationOptimization-based parameter tuning has become an inherent part of contemporary antenna design process. For the sake of reliability, it is typically conducted at the level of full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulation models. This may incur considerable computational expenses depending on the cost of an individual EM analysis, the number of adjustable variables, the type of task (local, global, single-/multi-objective optimization),...
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Injectable poloxamer/graphene oxide hydrogels with well‐controlled mechanical and rheological properties
PublicationAlthough significant progress has been made in the design and application of injectable hydrogels for biomedical applications, concurrent control of rheological and mechanical properties of injectable hydrogels has remained as an open challenge to the researchers. In this work, we introduce and put into practice a photo‐curable poloxamer (also known as Pluronic)/graphene oxide (Plu/GO) injectable hydrogel with well‐controlled rheological...
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In situ study of a composition of outlet gases from biogas fuelled Solid Oxide Fuel Cell performed by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
PublicationThe purpose of this study was to develop a method and software based on the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for the in-situ, quantitative analysis of the composition of outlet gases from Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). The calibration procedure performed at the beginning of the experiment indicated a polynomial dependence between the concentration of a calibrating gas (CO, CO2, CH4) and the corresponding integrated absorbance in...
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High resolution X-ray diffractometry and reflectometry of semiconductor nano- and micro- structures based on X-ray refractive optics
PublicationIn this thesis proposed, discussed and studied novel synchrotron X-ray diffractometry and reflectometry methods based on a refractive optics. The experimental results obtained from the ID06 beamline at ESRF, Grenoble, France are presented and analyzed in this work to demonstrate a high angular and space resolution in addition to the opportunity to manage in situ and on operando experiments with the help of proposed X-ray optical...
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Treatment of bitumen post oxidative effluents by sulfate radicals based advanced oxidation processes (S-AOPs) under alkaline pH conditions
PublicationSulfate radicals based Advanced Oxidation Processes (S-AOPs), namely Persulfate and peroxymonosulfate, were used for the treatment of post oxidative effluents from a production of petroleum bitumens under alkaline pH. Studies on the identification and monitoring of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along with COD, BOD and sulfide ions reduction were performed. Persulfate with a ratio between the oxygen from the oxidant and...
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Some Aspects of Shear Behavior of Soft Soil–Concrete Interfaces and Its Consequences in Pile Shaft Friction Modeling
PublicationThis paper examines the stiffness degradation and interface failure load on soft soil–concrete interface. The friction behavior and its variability is investigated. The direct shear tests under constant normal load were used to establish parameters to hyperbolic interface model which provided a good approximation of the data from instrumented piles. Four instrumented piles were used to obtain reference soil–concrete interface behavior....