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total: 173
Search results for: Plastic degradation
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Numerical Modelling for Prediction of Compression Index from Soil Index Properties in Jimma town, Ethiopia
PublicationIn this study, correlations are developed to predict compression index (Cc) from index parameters so that one can be able to model Jimma soils with compression index using simple laboratory tests. Undisturbed and disturbed soil samples from twelve different locations in Jimma town were collected. Laboratory tests like specific gravity, grain size analysis, Atterberg limit, and one-dimensional consolidation test for a total of twenty-four...
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The impact of training and neurotrophins on functional recovery after spinal cord transection: cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to motor improvement
PublicationBeneficial effects of locomotor training on the functional recovery after complete transection of the spinal cord indicate that in chronic spinal animals spontaneous recovery processes are enhanced and shaped by the training. The mechanisms of that use-dependent improvement are still not fully understood. This review tackles three aspects of this issue: (1) neurochemical attributes of functional improvement...
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Effect of underwater friction stir welding parameters on AA5754 alloy joints: experimental studies
PublicationThe water as a welding environment may generate serious technological and metallurgical problems but in certain cases, the physicochemical properties of water can be used effectively, e.g., to impart the specific properties of welded materials. The purpose of the work was verification of effectiveness of the water cooling of aluminium alloy AA5754 for various sets of technological parameters of underwater friction stir welding...
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Experimental and numerical study on deformed steel columns subjected to impact load during earthquakes
PublicationThe soft-storey failure is one of the most typical types of damage observed in buildings during earthquakes. The failure of an upper soft storey of a structure results in large impact load acting on the lower floors and if the resistance of the structural members of the lower storeys is not sufficient it may further lead to progressive collapse of the whole building. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the dynamic behaviour...
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FEM simulations applied to the failure analysis of RC structure under the influence of municipal sewage pressure
PublicationThe paper discusses a failure mechanism of reinforced concrete (RC) structure with steel cover that failed under the influence of municipal sewage pressure. To explain the reasons of failure, in-situ measurements, laboratory experiments and comprehensive Finite Element Method (FEM) computations were performed. Non-destructive in-situ scanning tests were carried out to determine quantity and cover thickness of embedded reinforcement...
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Towards sustainable catalyst-free biomass-based polyurethane-wood composites (PU-WC): From valorization and liquefaction to future generation of biocomposites
PublicationA substantial aspect of materials engineering lies in the responsible process of designing polymer-based materials. Due to environmental pollution, excessive consumption of natural resources, and increasing environmental awareness of society, there is a massive need for polyurethane (PU) materials with reduced environmental impact. To date, research on catalyst-free polyurethane-wood composites (PU-WC) has demonstrated a huge potential...
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Influence of Material Thickness on the Ductile Fracture of Steel Plates for Shipbuilding
PublicationIn the shipbuilding industry, the risk of brittle fractures is relatively high because some units operate in arctic or subarcticzones and use high thickness (up to 100 mm) steel plates in their structures. This risk is limited by employing certifiedmaterials with a specific impact strength, determined using the Charpy method (for a given design temperature) and byexercising control over the welding processes (technology qualification,...
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Assessment of ecotoxicity and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) emissions from food and children's toy products
PublicationThe development of new methods for identifying a broad spectrum of analytes, as well as highly selective tools to provide the most accurate information regarding the processes and relationships in the world, has been an area of interest for researchers for many years. The information obtained with these tools provides valuable data to complement existing knowledge but, above all, to identify and determine previously unknown hazards. Recently,...
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A facile structural manipulation strategy to prepare ultra-strong, super-tough, and thermally stable polylactide/nucleating agent composites
PublicationPolylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic widely used in diferent felds, but it should be adequately modifed considering high-performance applications. However, the current processes for developing PLA materials achieve high strength at the expense of toughness or ductility of the materials. Therefore, there is need to develop new strategies for generation of PLA materials with high strength, great toughness, good ductility,...
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Sustainable chemically modified poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch/poly(ε-caprolactone)/cellulose biocomposites: looking at the bulk through the surface
PublicationSustainable polymer composites (or biocomposites) based on renewable and green polymers are progressively under development in a technological paradigm shift from “just use more and more” to “convert into value-added products”. Therefore, significant efforts should focus not only on their reduced environmental impact but also on maximizing their performance and broadening their application range. Herein, the bio-based blends based...
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Troubleshooting of the determination of bisphenol A at ultra-trace levels by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry
PublicationDetermination of trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA) may cause problems mainly related to the presence of BPA in solvents (even in LC-MS grade), laboratory vessels, and plastic equipment used for sample preparation. Variable and sometimes significant amounts of BPA present in the background cause problems in obtaining good repeatability of measurements at the ultra-trace levels. Such observations (i.e., poor repeatability of results)...
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An Investigation of Polyamides Based on Isoidide-2,5-dimethyleneamine as a Green Rigid Building Block with Enhanced Reactivity
PublicationNovel, semicrystalline polyamides and copolyamides were synthesized from a new carbohydrate-based diamine, namely isoidide-2,5-dimethyleneamine (IIDMA). In combination with 1,6-hexamethylene diamine (1,6-HDA) as well as the biobased sebacic acid (SA) or brassylic acid (BrA), the desired copolyamides were obtained via melt polymerization of the nylon salts followed by a solid-state polycondensation (SSPC) process. Depending on the...
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Estimation of Stresses in a Dry Sand Layer Tested on Shaking Table
PublicationTheoretical analysis of shaking table experiments, simulating earthquake response of a dry sand layer, is presented. The aim of such experiments is to study seismic-induced compaction of soil and resulting settlements. In order to determine the soil compaction, the cyclic stresses and strains should be calculated first. These stresses are caused by the cyclic horizontal acceleration at the base of soil layer, so it is important...
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Effect of Base-Connection Strength and Ductility on the Seismic Performance of Steel Moment-Resisting Frames
PublicationColumn-base connections in steel moment-resisting frames (SMFs) in seismic regions are commonly designed to develop the capacity of adjoining column with an intent to develop a plastic hinge in the column member, rather than in the connection (i.e., a strong-base design). Recent research has shown base connections to possess high ductility, indicating that this practice may be not only expensive but also unnecessary. This suggests...
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Natural convection in symmetrically heated vertical channels
PublicationThe study describes natural convection through a vertical channel, open on four sides and bound by two isothermal walls. Both balancing and infrared experimental investigations were performed in air (Pr = 0.71) to estimate the impact of channel width s and wall-to-ambient temperature difference (tw - t∞) on natural convective heat transfer, the formation of air flow patterns and the rate of flow pattern formation. The study was...
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Fatal N-Ethylhexedrone Intoxication
PublicationN-Ethylhexedrone [2-(ethyloamino)-1-phenylhexan-1-one; α-ethylaminohexanophenone; NEH] is one of the most recent synthetic cathinones that appeared on the illegal market in late 2015. The majority of information concerning the model of consumption of NEH and its impact on the body originates only from self-reports from grey literature websites and drug forums. There are only limited data associated with the concentrations of NEH...
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Wastes from Agricultural Silage Film Recycling Line as a Potential Polymer Materials
PublicationThe recycling of plastics is currently one of the most significant industrial challenges. Due to the enormous amounts of plastic wastes generated by various industry branches, it is essential to look for potential methods for their utilization. In the presented work, we investigated the recycling potential of wastes originated from the agricultural films recycling line. Their structure and properties were analyzed, and they were...
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Possibility of thermal imaging use in studies of natural convection heat transfer on the example of an isothermal vertical plate.
PublicationA new method of infrared (IR) camera use in convective heat transfer studies has been presented. Until now, IR cameras were utilized for temperature field visualizations of flat heated surfaces of solid objects only. Because liquids and gasses do not emit radiation in the infrared range of wave lengths, detection of temperature field in the air was conducted with the use of plastic mesh, which, after heating by hot air, emits infrared...
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Functionalized polyolefins, synthesis application and industrial relevance
PublicationPolymers play a key role in our modern life full of technical advances and a continuous request for new materials with tailored properties for a low price. Their excellent mechanical properties, good processability, chemical stability and low price make polyolefins the polymers of choice for most commodity and some more specialized applications. As a result, polyolefins account for over 65% of the total world demand of plastic...
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Converting beach wrack into a resource as a challenge for the Baltic Sea (an overview)
PublicationThe paper distinguishes beach wrack, the marine generated organic part of beach cast, as a separate management object and discusses research questions related to its management and economically viable use. Based on experiences from the Baltic Sea and existing practices from countries with different management systems clear distinction between the management of natural and anthropogenic components of cast material is seen as an...
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Analysis of the influence of polystyrene microplastics and their derivatives on the DNA of human colon epithelial cells HT29 with the comet assay
PublicationWe have been using plastic for almost a century and nowadays a lot of them circulates as pollutants in the environment and still defragmenting to micro and nanoscale. The exposition through the food chain and its precise impact on human health is still not clear. In our study, we tested real food packaging after contact with food products and real thermoinsulation and environmental samples of polystyrene in different model liquids,...
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Adolfo Poma
PeopleI am the group leader of the computational modelling of biomolecules divison at the institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences in Poland. My group was hosted between 2021-2022 by International Centre for Research on Innovative Bio-based Materials (ICRI-BioM). In 2008, I got a Master degree in computational physics from the State University of Campinas, Brazil. Then I moved to Germany and under the...
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Daily diet containing canned products significantly increases serum concentrations of endocrine disruptor bisphenol A in young women
PublicationNowadays, exposure to environmental factors is considered to be one of the possible causes of several lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Particularly noteworthy are endocrine‑disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which affect the metabolism of hormones and interact with their receptors, thus exerting adverse health effects. One of the most ubiquitous EDC in daily life is bisphenol A...