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Search results for: LIGHT POLLUTION ABATEMENT
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Remediation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soil Using Combined Ozonation and Peroxy-Acid Treatment in the Site of Abadan Oil Refinery
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Investigating the Interaction Between Streptomyces sp. and Titania/Silica Nanospheres
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Assessment of toxic and endocrine potential of substances migrating from selected toys and baby products
PublicationAnalysis of literature data shows that there is limited information about the harmful biological effects of mixture of compounds from the EDC group that are released from the surface of toys and objects intended for children and infants. One of the tools that can be used to obtain such information is appropriate bioanalytical tests. The aim of this research involved determining whether tests that use living organisms as an active...
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Do morphometric parameters and geological conditions determine chemistry of glacier surface ice? Spatial distribution of contaminants present in the surface ice of Spitsbergen glaciers (European Arctic)
PublicationAbstract The chemism of the glaciers is strongly determined by long-distance transport of chemical substances, and their wet and dry deposition on the glacier surface. This paper concerns spatial distribution of metals, ions, and dissolved organic carbon, as well as the differentiation of physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity) determined in ice surface samples collected from four Arctic glaciers during the summer...
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Seagrass vegetation and meiofauna enhance the bacterial abundance in the Baltic Sea sediments (Puck Bay)
PublicationThis study presents the first report on bacterial communities in the sediments of eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the shallow southern Baltic Sea (Puck Bay). Total bacterial cell numbers (TBNs) and bacteria biomass (BBM) assessed with the use of epifluorescence microscope and Norland’s formula were compared between bare and vegetated sediments at two localities and in two sampling summer months. Significantly higher TBNs and...
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Progressing Pollutant Elution from Snowpack and Evolution of its Physicochemical Properties During Melting Period— a Case Study From the Sudetes, Poland
PublicationMain aim of the work assumed recognition of physicochemical changes in snowpack occurring during the melting period. Properties of snow cover had been identified at two sites in Western Sudetes mountains (860 and 1228 m asl) in SW Poland since the end of January, and monitored until the disappearance of snow in late Spring. Snow pit measurements and sample collection at both sites were made followed by chemical analyses with the...
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Indoor air quality in public utility environments-a review
PublicationIndoor air quality has been the object of interest for scientists and specialists from the fields of science such as chemistry, medicine and ventilation system design. This results from a considerable number of potential factors, which may influence the quality of the broadly understood indoor air in a negative way. Poor quality of indoor air in various types of public utility buildings may significantly affect an increase in the...
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Isolation and Characterization of Phenol-Degrading Psychrotolerant Yeasts
PublicationIn this study, the potential of selected psychrotolerant yeast strains for phenol biodegradation was studied. From 39 strains isolated from soil and water samples from Rucianka peat bog, three psychrotolerant yeast strains: A011, B021 and L012 showed the ability to phenol degradation. The result shows that all three yeast strains could degrade phenol at 500 mg l-1 and 750 mg l-1 concentration, whereas strains A011 and L012 could...
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Sources and fate of microplastics in marine and beach sediments of the Southern Baltic Sea—a preliminary study
PublicationMicroplastics’ sources and fate in marine bottom and beach sediments of strongly polluted Baltic Sea have been investigated.Microplastics were extracted using sodium chloride. Their qualitative identification was conducted using micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (μFT-IR).
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Cyanides in the environment—analysis—problems and challenges
PublicationCyanide toxicity and their environmental impact are well known. Nevertheless, they are still used in the mining, galvanic and chemical industries. As a result of industrial activities, cyanides are released in various forms to all elements of the environment. In a natural environment, cyanide exists as cyanogenic glycosides in plants seeds. Too much consumption can cause unpleasant side effects. However, environmental tobacco smoke...
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The treatment of wastewater containing pharmaceuticals in microcosm constructed wetlands: the occurrence of integrons (int1–2) and associated resistance genes (sul1–3, qacEΔ1)
PublicationThe aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of sulfonamide resistance genes (sul1–3) and other genetic elements as antiseptic resistance gene (qacEΔ1) and class 1 and class 2 integrons (int1–2) in the upper layer of substrate and in the effluent of microcosm constructed wetlands (CWs) treating artificial wastewater containing diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), which is a sulfonamide antibiotic. The bacteria in the substrate...
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Indoor air quality of everyday use spaces dedicated to specific purposes—a review
PublicationAccording to literature data, some of the main factors which significantly affect the quality of the indoor environment in residential households or apartments are human activities such as cooking, smoking, cleaning, and indoor exercising. The paper presents a literature overview related to air quality in everyday use spaces dedicated to specific purposes which are integral parts of residential buildings, such as kitchens, basements,...
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Conversion of waste biomass to designed and tailored activated chars with valuable properties for adsorption and electrochemical applications
PublicationWaste biomass, a renewable energy source, is inexpensive material that has great potential in sorp-tion and electrochemical application. The selected waste materials (corncobs, coconut shells, wal-nuts, and pistachio husks) allow to close the production cycle and enable material recycling, which are important aspects in the hierarchy of waste management. The proposed methodology for pro-duction and activation of biochars can be...
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Remediation of soils on municipal rendering plant territories using Miscanthus × giganteus
PublicationPhytoremediation, as a cost-effective, highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and green approach, gained attention to the removal of metals, including heavy metals, from contaminated soils. The toxic nature of heavy metals can have an adverse effect on human health and the ecosystem, and their removal remains a worldwide problem. Therefore, in this study, a field experiment was carried out to evaluate the potential of Miscanthus × giganteus...
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Nexus between stock markets, economic strength, R&D and environmental deterioration: new evidence from EU-27 using PNARDL approach
PublicationThis research investigates the impact of stock market indices, economic strength, and research and development expenditures on environmental deterioration in the EU-27 countries for the period 2000–2020. This study utilized linear and non-linear panel ARDL to estimate the short- and long-run effect. According to the results, the stock market indices have negative effect on environmental deterioration in the symmetric form. However,...
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An optimal designed experiment for the alkaline hydrolysis of feather keratin
PublicationFeathers, burdensome waste from the poultry industry, can be a cheap source of keratin, a protein with excellent physico- chemical, biological, and mechanical properties. Acid and alkaline hydrolyses are usually adopted for isolation of keratin from its natural resources. This study aimed at assessing the statistically significant effect of input variables in the alkaline hydrolysis of keratin from chicken feathers on the process...
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Total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) in braised and crude Boletus edulis carpophores during various developmental stages
PublicationWe collected and processed Boletus edulis (King Bolete) carpophores grouped in four batches based on their developmental stage (button stage, young—white, large—white, and large—yellow). The study aimed, for the first time, to examine the B. edulis content and effect of braising and to estimate the intake of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) from a single meal based on whole (wet) weight (ww) and dry weight (dw). In...
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Resource productivity and environmental degradation in EU-27 countries: context of material footprint
PublicationThis study explores the relationship between the resource productivity and environmental degradation in European Union-27 countries. This study tests this relationship in context of high, moderate, and low material footprint sub-samples; these samples are formed utilizing the expectation–maximization machine learning algorithm. Using the panel data set of EU-27 countries from 2000 to 2020, linear and non-linear autoregressive distributed...
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N-doped carbon nanospheres as selective fluorescent probes for mercury detection in contaminated aqueous media: chemistry, fluorescence probing, cell line patterning, and liver tissue interaction
PublicationA precise nano-scale biosensor was developed here to detect Hg2+ in aqueous media. Nitrogen-doped carbon nanospheres (NCS) created from the pyrolysis of melamine–formaldehyde resin were characterized by FESEM, XRD, Raman spectra, EDS, PL, UV–vis spectra, and N2 adsorption–desorption, and were used as a highly selective and sensitive probe for detecting Hg2+ in aqueous media. The sensitivity of NCS to Hg2+ was evaluated by photoluminescence...
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Management of ground tire rubber waste by incorporation into polyurethane-based composite foams
PublicationRapid economic growth implicated the developing multiple industry sectors, including the automotive branch, increasing waste generation since recycling and utilization methods have not been established simultaneously. A very severe threat is the generation of enormous amounts of post-consumer tires considered burdensome waste, e.g., due to the substantial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, it is essential...
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Pesticides in precipitation from an urban region in Poland (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Tricity) between 1998 and 2000.
PublicationOznaczano wybrane pestycydy chloro-, azoto- i fosforoorganiczne w próbkach opadów zbieranych w 10 punktach w rejonie Gdańska w latach 1998-2000. Do najczęściej wykrywanych pestycydów należy zaliczyć symazynę, atrazynę, propazynę, fenitrotion, chlorofenwinfos, p,p`-DDT, o,p`-DDE, o,p`-DDD. Największe stężenia występowały w okresach aplikacji preparatów. Znaczący wpływ na stężenie pestycydów miała wielkość obszarów zielonych...
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Two-photon microperimetry with picosecond pulses
PublicationTwo-photon vision is a phenomenon associated with the perception of short pulsesof near-infrared radiation (900-1200 nm) as a visible light. It is caused by the nonlinear processof two-photon absorption by visual pigments. Here we present results showing the influence ofpulse duration and repetition rate of short pulsed lasers on the visual threshold. We comparedtwo-photon sensitivity maps of the retina obtained for subjects with...
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Synthesis and hydrogen evolving catalysis of a panchromatic photochemical molecular device
PublicationA dinuclear hydrogen evolution photocatalyst [(tbbpy)2Os(tpphz)PtI2](PF6)2 (tbbpy = 4,4′-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine; tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c:2′′,3′′-h:2′′′,3′′′-j]phenazine) is synthesized in order to make use of the broader range of visible light absorption mitigated by the osmium center. In a first step, the activity of the complex for hydrogen evolution is investigated by evaluating the role of different electron donors...
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Towards Contactless, Hand Gestures-Based Control of Devices
PublicationGesture-based intuitive interactions with electronic devices can be an important part of smart home systems. In this paper, we adapt the contactless linear gesture sensor for the navigation of smart lighting system. Set of handled gestures allow to propose two methods of active light source selection, continuous dimming, and turning on and off based on discrete gestures. The average gesture recognition accuracy was 97.58% in the...
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Computer support of analysis optical spectra measurements
PublicationVerification of measurement errors has a big impact on assessment of accuracy of conducted measurements and obtained results. In many cases computer simulation results are compared with measurement results in order to evaluate measurement errors. The purpose of our research was to check the accuracy of measurements made with Fabry-Perot interferometer working in the transmission mode. In measurement setup, a 1310 nm superluminescent...
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Deep Instance Segmentation of Laboratory Animals in Thermal Images
PublicationIn this paper we focus on the role of deep instance segmentation of laboratory rodents in thermal images. Thermal imaging is very suitable to observe the behaviour of laboratory animals, especially in low light conditions. It is an non-intrusive method allowing to monitor the activity of animals and potentially observe some physiological changes expressed in dynamic thermal patterns. The analysis of the recorded sequence of thermal...
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Synthesis of N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity for 2,4-dichlorophenol degradation and H2 production
PublicationNitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) nanoparticles were prepared using a modified sol-gel method. The as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by state-of-the-art techniques for their optical, structural and morphological properties. The crystallite size, surface area and bandgap energy of reference TiO2 and N-TiO2 nanoparticles were found to be 16.1 and 10.9 nm, 83.6 and 131.8 m2 g−1 and 3.23 and 2.89 eV, respectively....
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Computer Support of Analysis of Optical Spectra Measurements
PublicationThe verification of measurement errors has a big impact on the assessment of the accuracy of conducted measurements and obtained results. In many cases, computer simulation results are compared with measurement results in order to evaluate measurement errors. The purpose of our research was to check the accuracy of measurements made with a Fabry–Perot interferometer working in the transmission mode. In the measurement setup, a...
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The Effect of Long Term Service at Elevated Temperatures on Microstructure Degradation of Austenitic Reformer Tubes
PublicationThe paper analyses the relationship between an increase of the inner diameter of tubes made of Manaurite XM cast steel and transformations occurring in their microstructure due to long-lasting operation in methane reformer. Examinations included metallographic analysis with light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microanalysis of the chemical composition of precipitates (EDX). It was indicated that there is...
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Numerical and Analytical Investigation of Aluminium Bracket Strengthening
PublicationThis paper focuses on an analytical and numerical investigation of aluminium brackets used to fasten light-weight curtain walls to building facilities. The authors propose a solution to increase the load capacity of aluminium brackets by means of additional cover plates (straps). This paper also includes a short survey of literature and material properties concerning the EN AW-6060 T6 aluminium alloy. This paper suggests an initiation...
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Politiceskaja pressa o rosijsko-ukrainskich otnoszenijach i sobytiach w Krymu = Polish press covering russian- ukrainian relations and events in Crimea
PublicationThe paper made a review of opinions expressed by the most widely read Polish newpapers on the issue of Ukraine-Russian relations and events in Crimea in the period from early December 2013 till late March 2014. The author has brought to light attitudes to the events in Ukraine perceived while having in mind preserving security of Poland in political, economic and societal aspects. The EC policy towards the Russian Federation and...
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The impact of the Tri-City Ring Road on surface water of small endorheic wetlands
PublicationThe paper presents the results of the impact of the Tri-City Ring Road on small endorheic catchment basins. Particular attention was paid to pollution discharged from the road to the surface water, as well as changes in hydrological conditions in the vicinity of the road. In the study, surface water samples were analysed in terms of their electrolytic conductivity, pH and content of major minerals. GIS was also used to study transformation...
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Smart and resilient cities- new challanges for Polish cities in terms of 2020 energy efficiency and climate action
PublicationGlobal climate change action along with energy efficiency optimizations are becoming increasingly pressing principles in terms of moving towards sustainable development. As a member of EU and UN Poland is also obliged to follow restricted rules concerning energy efficiency of buildings which come to force in 2020. To meet new goals, innovative approaches - like moving towards smart and resilient cities -may be required. Through...
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Place attachment, place identity and aesthetic appraisal of urban landscape
PublicationAs the aesthetic of the Polish cities became a topic of wider discussions, it is important to detect the potentialrole of human-place relations. Two studies (N = 185 & N = 196) were conducted to explore the relationship betweenplace attachment, place identity and appraisal of urban landscape. Satisfaction with urban aesthetic was predicted by twodimensions of place attachment (place inherited and place...
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Decrease in Photovoltaic Module Efficiency Due to Deposition of Pollutants
PublicationThe deposition of pollutants on the surface of photovoltaic (PV) modules reduce the efficiency that can be achieved in given climatic conditions. This results in the loss of energy yield obtained from the solar installation. A number of factors determine the scale of this problem. The first of these is the amount of impurities deposited, the associated amount of precipitation, and the speed and direction of the wind. A second aspect...
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Creating Acoustic Maps Employing Supercomputing Cluster
PublicationThe implemented online urban noise pollution monitoring system is presented with regard to its conceptual assumptions and technical realization. A concept of the noise source parameters dynamic assessment is introduced. The idea of noise modeling, based on noise emission characteristics and emission simulations, was developer and practically utilized in the system. Furthermore, the working system architecture and the data acquisition...
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Traffic-induced vibrations. The impact on buildings and people
PublicationTraffic-induced vibrations have recently been of major concern to engineers as one of the aspects of so called physical environmental pollution. The interest is related to the observations of serious negative effects of such kind of vibrations on buildings and their inhabitants. Traffic-induced vibrations may cause plaster cracks, structural damage and even failure and collapse of the structure. They may also be the reason of serious...
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Automatic Detection and Monitoring of Cyanobacterial Blooms in the Context of the Marine Cadastre
PublicationIn the wake of the European and global spatial data infrastructures (SDI) it is important to build information systems which use and serve thematic data in compliance with the INSPIRE Directive. In the context of hydrographic data, the Directive requires EU member states to collect and share information on maritime areas divided into regions and sub-regions, as well as coastal zone management areas. These data are part of recently...
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Miniaturized Solid Phase Extraction techniques for different kind of pollutants analysis: State of the art and future perspectives – PART 1
PublicationSolid Phase Extraction (SPE) has been practiced in a modern form for more than half a century. It was constantly developing, driven by the analysts needs. These needs are coming from the importance to select an appropriate analytical method, which should have satisfactory accuracy, precision and sensitivity. In the case of sorbent-based microextraction techniques, the choice of miniaturized variants that meet these requirements...
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Photoresponsive, amide-based derivative of embonic acid for anion recognition
PublicationThe synthesis and ion-binding properties of amide-based derivative of embonic acid andp-aminoazobenzenewere described. The new compound was characterized by X-ray structural analysis and spectroscopic methods.Ligand interacts in acetonitrile with Y-shaped anions (benzoates and acetates) and dihydrogen phosphatesforming complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry. In more polar DMSO the complexes stoichiometry changes to 2:1(L:anion). Light-inducedtranstocisisomerization...
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NOBLE METAL MODIFIED TiO2 FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC AIR PURIFICATION
PublicationTiO2 was surface modified with silver, gold, palladium and platinum ion clusters to improve its photocatalytic activity. The effect of metal content, the kind of dopant used during preparation procedure on the photoactivity were investigated. in toluene removal which was used as a model volatile organic compound. Toluene, at the concentration of about 100 ppm, was irradiated over noble metal modified TiO2 using light-emitting diodes...
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Absence of superconductivity in fluorine-doped neptunium pnictide NpFeAsO
PublicationX-ray diffraction, specific heat, magnetic susceptibility and inelastic x-ray scattering measurements on the transurarium oxypnictides NpFeAsO and NpFeAsO0.85F0.15 are presented. No superconductivity down to 2 K was observed upon fluorine doping, contrary to the structurally analogous rare-earth pnictides. No modification of the phonon density of states was observed upon doping with fluorine. We discuss our results in light of...
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Use of Daylight and Aesthetic Image of Glass Facades in Contemporary Buildings
PublicationThe paper deals with the architecture of contemporary buildings in respect to their aesthetic image created by the use of natural light. Sustainability is regarded as a principle of contemporary architecture, where daylighting is an important factor as it affects energy consumption and environmental quality of the space inside a building. Environmental awareness of architecture, however, involves a much wider and more holistic...
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PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CoFe2O4/TiO2-PANI HYBRID NANOCOMPOSITE WITH MAGNETIC AND PHOYOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY
PublicationHybrid nanocomposites consisting of inorganic component and organic conducting polymer are promising materials, which can be applied in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Titanium(IV) oxide is widely used photocatalysts due to its non-toxicity, low cost and chemical stability. The main disadvantage of TiO2 is low photocatalytic activity under visible light. Conducting polymers, also known as conjugated polymers are polymer materials...
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Surface active fatty acid ILs: Influence of the hydrophobic tail and/or theimidazolium hydroxyl functionalization on aggregates formation
PublicationNine structurally-related fatty acid ionic liquids have been prepared and their thermal behavior as well as their ability to self-assemble in water has been investigated. The thermal properties were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while the aggregation behavior was analyzed by tensiometry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), conductometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS),...
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Fabrication and Significant Photoelectrochemical Activity of Titania Nanotubes Modified with Thin Indium Tin Oxide Film
PublicationOrdered titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2NTs) modified with indium tin oxide (ITO) films were obtained via magnetron sputtering, in which ITO plate was used as a target, onto the as-anodized titania support followed by the calcination process. The morphology of fabricated material with deposited oxide was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Raman and UV–Vis spectroscopies were utilized to characterize crystalline phase...
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Donor-substituted SrTi1+xO3−δ anodes for SOFC
PublicationNonstoichiometric Nb-substituted SrTiO3 compounds were investigated in order to discuss the influence of nonstoichiometry at the sample properties in the light of recent results reported in the literature. Structural and electrical properties of samples were characterized. Investigated compounds were also applied as anodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and their reactivity with YSZ electrolyte was examined. The defect chemistry explaining...
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Surface-Plasmon-Coupled Emission of Rhodamine 110 in a Silica Nanolayer
PublicationThe first observation of strong directional surface-plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) of Rhodamine 110 in silica nanofilms deposited on silver nanolayers is reported. The preparation of the material is described in detail. The intensity of SPCE exceeds 10 times that of free space fluorescence and total linear light polarization in the SPCE ring is observed. A new experimental setup and an original data collection method is presented....
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On cooperative image denoising
PublicationIn this paper we suggest how several competing image denoising algorithms, differing in design parameters, or even in design principles, can be combined together to yield a better and more reliable denoising algorithm. The proposed fusion mechanism allows one to combine practically all kinds of noise reduction tools. It also allows one to account for the distribution of measurement noise, and in particular - to cope with heavy-tailed...
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Introduction to the ONDM 2022 special issue
PublicationThis JOCN special issue contains extended versions of selected papers presented at the 26th International Conference on Optical Network Design and Modeling (ONDM 2022), which took place 16–19 May 2022 at Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland. The topics covered by the papers represent trends in optical networking research: application of machine learning to network management, cross-layer network performance optimization,...