Search results for: HIGH SENSITIVITY
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Assessment of wastewater quality indicators for wastewater treatment influent using an advanced logistic regression model
PublicationInfluent quality indicators play a significant role in wastewater treatment plant performance due to their correlation with reactor operations and effluent quality. However, selecting a specific/best parameter indicator for predicting influent wastewater quality is one of the challenges in wastewa- ter treatment. This study, therefore, focused on determining suitable variables as influent quality indicators. For this purpose, a...
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Application of deep eutectic solvents in atomic absorption spectrometry
PublicationAtomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) is a widely applied technique for metal quantification due to its practicality, easy use and low cost. However, to improve the metrological characteristics of AAS, in particular the sensitivity and the detection limit, sample pretreatment is commonly used before the detection step itself. In consideration of the principles of Green Analytical Chemistry, new solvents are being introduced into...
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Advances in mass spectrometry for iron speciation in plants
PublicationIron is an important nutrient essential for plants and critical for human health. The state-of-the art of methods for iron speciation in cereal grains and plant fluids is critically reviewed. Particular attention is given to the latest developments in the coupling of HPLC with the parallel ICP MS and electrospray ionization (ESI) MS/MS detection, usually QTOF MS or Q-Orbitrap MS, for the identification and quantification of iron...
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Numerical assessment of ultimate strength of severe corroded stiffened plates
PublicationThe objective of this work is to investigate numerically (using the non-linear FEM and the approach stipulated by the Common Structural Rules) the severe nonuniform corrosion degradation effect on the ultimate strength of stiffened plates and compare the results to the already published experimental works. Different factors governing structural behavior of corroded stiffened plates are investigated, such as corrosion degradation level,...
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A METHOD OF TRUST MANAGEMENT IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS
PublicationThe research problem considered in this paper is how to protect wireless sensor networks (WSN) against cyber-threats by applying trust management and how to strengthen network resilience to attacks targeting the trust management mechanism itself. A new method, called WSN Cooperative Trust Management Method (WCT2M), of distributed trust management in multi-layer wireless sensor networks is proposed and its performance is evaluated....
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Objective relaxation algorithm for reliable simulation-driven size reduction of antenna structure
PublicationThis letter investigates reliable size reduction of antennas through electromagnetic-driven optimization. It is demonstrated that conventional formulation of the design task by direct footprint miniaturization with imposing constraints on electrical performance parameters may not lead to optimum results. The reason is that—in a typical antenna structure—only a few geometry parameters explicitly determine the antenna footprint,...
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Portico Farmhouses of the Vistula Delta: Architecture, Current State and Finite Element Modelling of Timber Roof Truss under Material and Cross-section Uncertainty
PublicationThe article focuses on the oldest surviving I-type portico houses located in the Vistula Delta, which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The study describes the houses’ origins, structure, details of roof structures and technical condition, and it also includes numerical modelling of a roof truss and its mechanical analysis. Numerical models of the roof trusses are defined and analysed by means of the finite element method....
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An enhanced method in predicting tensile behaviour of corroded thick steel plate specimens by using random field approach
PublicationThe present work investigates the possibility of using random field techniques in modelling the mechanical behaviour of corroded thick steel plate specimens. The nonlinear Finite Element method, employing the explicit dynamic solver, is used to analyse the mechanical properties of typical specimens. A material model considering full nonlinearity is used to evaluate the stress-strain response. The influence of major governing parameters...
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The usefulness of Toxoplasma gondii MIC1-MAG1-SAG1 chimeric antigen in the serodiagnosis of ovine toxoplasmosis
PublicationToxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which infects humans and most warm-blooded animals throughout the world. Although human toxoplasmosis in healthy adults is usually asymptomatic, a serious disease can occur in the case of congenital infection and immunocompromised individuals. Among food animals, sheep, along with goats and pigs, possess the highest incidence of T. gondii cysts in meat,...
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Ranking of ecotoxisity tests for underground water assessment using the Hasse diagram technique
PublicationThe present study deals with the novel application of the Hasse diagram technique (HDT) for the specific ranking of ecotoxicity tests capable of assessment of underground water quality. The area studied is a multi-municipal landfill in the northern Poland. The monitoring network of the landfill constitutes of 27 piezometers for underground water monitoring and two observation points at surface water courses. After sampling, chemical...
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PCR and real-time PCR approaches to the identification of Arthroderma otae species Microsporum canis and Microsporum audouinii/Microsporum ferrugineum
PublicationObjectives The identification of species in the Arthroderma otae complex is essential to determine the origin of infection and to eliminate the risk of transmission. Microsporum canis is a zoophilic species, whereas Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum ferrugineum are anthropophilic species. In this paper, we propose alternative methods that permit species-specific identification of both anthropophilic and zoophilic members of...
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Modeling the global atmospheric transport and deposition of mercury to the Great Lakes
PublicationMercury contamination in the Great Lakes continues to have important public health and wildlife ecotoxicology impacts, and atmospheric deposition is a significant ongoing loading pathway. The objective of this study was to estimate the amount and source-attribution for atmospheric mercury deposition to each lake, information needed to prioritize amelioration efforts. A new global, Eulerian version of the HYSPLIT-Hg model was used...
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Determination of Butyltin Species in Sea Water Samples Using Solid Phase Extraction Followed by Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PublicationReverse phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC)-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS-MS) was evaluated for the analysis of TBT using solid phase extraction as sample preparation method. TBT was extracted from acidified water samples (spiked with tripropyltin as internal standard) using reversed phase polymeric Strata-X cartridges. Analytes were eluted from cartridges using acetonitrile-water mixture and the volume...
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Frequency Guided Generalized Adaptive Notch Filtering - Tracking Analysis and Optimization
PublicationGeneralized adaptive notch filters (GANFs) are estimators of coefficients of quasi-periodically time-varying systems, encountered e.g., in RF applications when Doppler effect takes place. Current state of the art GANFs can deliver highly accurate estimates of system variations’ frequency, but underperform in terms of accuracy of system coefficient estimates. The paper proposes a novel multistage GANF with improved coefficient...
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Impact of Microphytobenthos Photosynthesis on the Characteristics of the Echo Signal from Baltic Sandy Sediments
PublicationThe understanding the influence of biological processes on the characteristics of the signals backscattered by the sea floor is crucial in the development of the hydroacoustical benthic habitat classification techniques. The impact of the microphytobenthos photosynthesis on the acoustical backscattering properties of the Atlantic sandy sediments was previously demonstrated by Holliday et al. (2004) and Wildman and Huettel (2012). To...
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Progress in non-isocyanate polyurethanes synthesized from cyclic carbonate intermediates and di- or polyamines in the context of structure–properties relationship and from an environmental point of view
PublicationCommercially, polyurethanes are produced by the reaction of diisocyanates, polyols (polyester or polyether) and low molecular weight chain extender. Toxicity, moisture sensitivity and phosgene-based synthesis of diisocyanates resulted in investigations focused on obtaining the non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs). This work presents the review of synthesis and structure–properties relationship of non-isocyanate polyurethanes obtained...
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Direct Analysis of Samples of Various Origin and Composition Using Specific Types of Mass Spectrometry
PublicationOne of the major sources of error that occur during chemical analysis utilizing the more conventional and established analytical techniques is the possibility of losing part of the analytes during the sample preparation stage. Unfortunately, this sample preparation stage is required to improve analytical sensitivity and precision. Direct techniques have helped to shorten or even bypass the sample preparation stage; and in this...
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Organic Vapor Sensing Mechanisms by Large-Area Graphene Back-Gated Field-Effect Transistors under UV Irradiation
PublicationThe gas sensing properties of graphene back-gated field-effect transistor (GFET) sensors toward acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and chloroform vapors were investigated with the focus on unfolding possible gas detection mechanisms. The FET configuration of the sensor device enabled gate voltage tuning for enhanced measurements of changes in DC electrical characteristics. Electrical measurements were combined with a fluctuation-enhanced...
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Optical-Fiber Microsphere-Based Temperature Sensors with ZnO ALD Coating—Comparative Study
PublicationThis study presents the microsphere-based fiber-optic sensor with the ZnO Atomic Layer Deposition coating thickness of 100 nm and 200 nm for temperature measurements. Metrological properties of the sensor were investigated over the temperature range from 100 °C to 300 °C, with a 10 °C step. The interferometric signal was used to monitor the integrity of the microsphere and its attachment to the connecting fiber. For the sensor...
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Transient response of oscillated carbon nanotubes with an internal and external damping
PublicationThe present works aims at modeling a viscoelastic nanobeam with simple boundary conditions at the two ends with the introduction of the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelasticity in a nonlocal strain gradient theory. The nanobeam lies on the visco-Pasternak matrix in which three characteristic parameters have a prominent role. A refined Timoshenko beam theory is here applied, which is only based on one unknown variable, in accordance with the...
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Rapid dimension scaling of compact microwave couplers with power split correction
PublicationIn this paper, a technique for rapid re-design ofcompact microwave couplers with respect to operating frequency is discussed. Our methodology involves an inverse surrogate model setup using several reference designs optimized (at the level of equivalent circuit representation of the coupler) for a set of operating frequencies within a range of interest. The surrogate establishes the relationship between the operating frequency...
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PROGRAMMABLE YANG - BASED INTERFACE IN CONTROL OF OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK
PublicationSince over a decade we observe intensive effort of research institutions and industrial consortia on extending flexibility and automation of the transport network control also known under the term network programmability. Key aspect of each programming interface is ability to evolve but also sensitivity to future modifications. As indicated in the past work in the specific context of optical transport networks an important criterion...
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Strength parameters of deltaic soils determined with CPTU, DMT and FVT
PublicationThis paper presents the results of soil investigation in soft, normally consolidated organic soil in the estuary of Vistula river. The analysis concerns clayey mud and peat layers interbedded with loose to medium-dense sands. Several Cone Penetration Tests with pore water measurement (CPTU), Dilatometer Tests (DMT) and Field Vane Tests (FVT) were performed on the testing site. The cone factor Nkt was estimated using the results...
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An evaluation and explanation of (in)efficiency in higher education institutions in Europe and the U.S. with the application of two-stage semi-parametric DEA
PublicationIn this study the technical efficiency of number of public European and American HEIs is assessed over a decade. Efficiency scores are determined using nonparametric DEA with different input-output sets and considering different frontiers: global frontier (all HEIs pooled together), regional frontier (Europe and the U.S. having their own frontiers) and country-specific ones. The external factors affecting the degree of HEI inefficiency...
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Reliable Multi-Stage Optimization of Antennas for Multiple Performance Figures in Highly-Dimensional Parameter Spaces
PublicationDesign of modern antenna structures needs to account for multiple performance figures and geometrical constraints. Fulfillment of these calls for the development of complex topologies described by a large number of parameters. EM-driven tuning of such designs is mandatory yet immensely challenging. In this letter, a new framework for multi-stage design optimization of multi-dimensional antennas with respect to several performance...
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Critical review of electronic nose and tongue instruments prospects in pharmaceutical analysis
PublicationElectronic nose (enose, EN) and electronic tongue (etongue, ET) have been designed to simulate human senses of smell and taste in the best possible way. The signals acquired from a sensor array, combined with suitable data analysis system, are the basis for holistic analysis of samples. The efficiency of these instruments, regarding classification, discrimination, detection, monitoring and analytics of samples in different types...
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Ionic liquids in extraction techniques: Determination of pesticides in food and environmental samples
PublicationThe intensive use of pesticides in agricultural practices has promoted the appearance of environmentaland public health problems. Due to that, scientists face challenges with developing simple, fast, sensitive,selective, and low-cost methods dedicated to determining pesticide residues in food and environmentalsamples. Following thefifth principle of Green Analytical Chemistry, chemists are searching for greeneralternatives for...
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A miniaturized solid-contact potentiometric multisensor platform for determination of ionic profiles in human saliva
PublicationThis paper describes a miniaturized multisensor platform (MP-ISES) consisting of electrodes: a reference one (RE) and ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for monitoring Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SCN− ions and pH in human saliva. Gold electrode surface was modified by deposition of two layers: electrosynthesized PEDOT:PSS forming an intermediate layer, and ion-selective membrane. The developed ISEs were characterized by a wide linear...
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Caffeine Inhibits Differentiation Of Lung Cancer Stem Cells By Modulating Their Respiratory Metabolism
PublicationIt is ell established that many tumor types contain a fraction of cells, with stem cell-like properties, called cancer stem cells (CSCs), that are resistant to apoptosis induced by therapeutic agents. The presence of CSCs may explain why a standard anticancer treatment, that eliminates only differentiated cancer cells, does not lead to cancer cure.We previously showed the existence of caffeine-sensitive mechanism that controls...
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A new human IgG avidity test, using mixtures of recombinant antigens (rROP1, rSAG2, rGRA6), for the diagnosis of difficult-to-identify phases of toxoplasmosis
PublicationThe preliminary diagnostic utility of two mixtures of Toxoplasma gondii recombinant antigens (rROP1+rSAG2 and rROP1+rGRA6) in IgG ELISA and IgG avidity test has been evaluated. A total of 173 serum samples from patients with toxoplasmosis and seronegative people were examined. The sensitivity of IgG ELISA for rROP1+rSAG2 and rROP1+rGRA6 was 91.1% and 76.7%, respectively, while the reactivity for sera from patients where acute toxoplasmosis...
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Impact of Cultivation Conditions, Ethylene Treatment, and Postharvest Storage on Selected Quality and Bioactivity Parameters of Kiwifruit “Hayward” Evaluated by Analytical and Chemometric Methods
PublicationOrganic, semiorganic, and conventional “Hayward” kiwifruits, treated with ethylene for 24 h and stored during 10 days, were assessed by UV spectrometry, fluorometry, and chemometrical analysis for changes in selected characteristics of quality (firmness, dry matter and soluble solid contents, pH, and acidity) and bioactivity (concentration of polyphenols via Folin-Ciocalteu and p-hydroxybenzoic acid assays). All of the monitored...
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Application of passive acoustic radar to automatic localization, tracking and classification of sound sources
PublicationA concept, practical realization and applications of the passive acoustic radar to automatic localization, tracking and classification of sound sources were presented in the paper. The device consists of a new kind of multichannel miniature sound intensity sensors and a group of digital signal processing algorithms. Contrary to active radars, it does not emit the scanning beam but after receiving surrounding sounds it provides...
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Usefulness of chest perfusion computed tomography in the diagnosis of diabetic pulmonary microangiopathy
PublicationThis paper presents the usefulness of perfusion computed tomography (pCT) in the diagnosis of diabetic pulmonary microangiopathy. Our previous works have shown that perfusion parameters are useful in the diagnosis of diabetic pulmonary microangiopathy. We are looking for such measurements and perfusion parameters that provide the most accurate diagnosis. Two types of comparison were made based on the results of clinical trials:...
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Backscattering properties of southern Baltic herring
PublicationReliable TS(L) relationship is required to improve acoustic algorithms of abundanceestimation of Baltic herring. The relationships, empirically obtained in different parts of theBaltic Sea, produce up to 8 dB – difference in the herring TS. In order to develop an accurateTS(L) relationship, it is important to analyze factors controlling the TS variability. Thepossible impact of the regional difference...
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Therapeutic intervention by the simultaneous inhibition of DNA repair and type I or type II DNA topoisomerases: one strategy, many outcomes
PublicationMany anticancer drugs reduce the integrity of DNA, forming strand breaks. This can cause mutations and cancer or cell death if the lesions are not repaired. Interestingly, DNA repair-deficient cancer cells (e.g., those with BRCA1/2 mutations) have been shown to exhibit increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. Based on this observation, a new therapeutic approach termed 'synthetic lethality' has been developed, in which radiation...
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Image Segmentation of MRI image for Brain Tumor Detection
Publicationthis research work presents a new technique for brain tumor detection by the combination of Watershed algorithm with Fuzzy K-means and Fuzzy C-means (KIFCM) clustering. The MATLAB based proposed simulation model is used to improve the computational simplicity, noise sensitivities, and accuracy rate of segmentation, detection and extraction from MR...
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Updating Finite Element Model of a Wind Turbine Blade Section Using Experimental Modal Analysis Results
PublicationThis paper presents selected results and aspects of themultidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research oriented for the experimental and numerical study of the structural dynamics of a bend-twist coupled full scale section of awind turbine blade structure.Themain goal of the conducted research is to validate finite elementmodel of themodified wind turbine blade section mounted in the flexible support structure accordingly to the...
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The effect of pre-hydrogen charging on corrosion behaviour of superduplex stainless steel welded joints
PublicationThe paper presents results of research undertaken to determine the influence of hydrogen on passivity and corrosion resistance of 2507 super duplex stainless steel welded joints. Butt welded joints were made with low heat input using flux corded arc welding (FCAW) method. Coupons of 5.0 x 5.0 mm were cut from the welded joints containing weld metal (WM), heat affected zone (HAZ) and parent metal (PM). Hydrogen was introduced...
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An electrochemical biosensor for the determination of hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in human serum
PublicationThis work describes the modification of a gold electrode to create an electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The biosensor was obtained by modifying the gold electrode with cysteamine and oligopeptide (PPLRINRHILTR). The modification steps of the gold electrode were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The conducted EIS experiments...
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Photonic sensor to detect rapid changes in CRP levels
PublicationOne of the most important biomarkers used to determine inflammation is C-reactive protein (CRP). Its level, when it is within the range that does not define inflammation, informs about the risk of cardiovascular events. If the norm is exceeded and inflammation is detected in the body, CRP level can increase 1000 times within a few hours. The type of infection can also be determined based on the level of elevated CRP. All this makes...
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A novel hierarchically-porous diamondized polyacrylonitrile sponge-like electrodes for acetaminophen electrochemical detection
PublicationA novel composite electrode material consisting of tangled fibrous polyacrylonitrile-based hierarchically-struc- tured nanocomposites has been produced by wet-spinning, carbonized and decorated with a carbon nano- architecture by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and investigated as a metal-free electrode for the enhanced electrochemical detection of acetaminophen. Surprisingly, the hierarchical fiber ar- chitecture...
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Targeting DNA Topoisomerase II in Antifungal Chemotherapy.
PublicationTopoisomerase inhibitors have been in use clinically for the treatment of several diseases for decades. Although those enzymes are significant molecular targets in antibacterial and anticancer chemotherapy very little is known about the possibilities to target fungal topoisomerase II (topo II). Raising concern for the fungal infections, lack of effective drugs and a phenomenon of multidrug resistance underlie a strong need to expand...
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NON-LINE ANALYSIS OF STIFFNESS IN COMPRESSION CONDITIONS
PublicationThe analyzes were aimed at demonstrating the influence of parameters describing the deformation of the structure on the uncertainty of critical force, and the impact of technological imperfections on stress uncertainty in compression conditions. In a linear buckling analysis, the problem is considered only for the initial, permanent state of the stiffness matrix. In the case of demonstrating the influence of initial deformations...
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Unsupervised machine-learning classification of electrophysiologically active electrodes during human cognitive task performance
PublicationIdentification of active electrodes that record task-relevant neurophysiological activity is needed for clinical and industrial applications as well as for investigating brain functions. We developed an unsupervised, fully automated approach to classify active electrodes showing event-related intracranial EEG (iEEG) responses from 115 patients performing a free recall verbal memory task. Our approach employed new interpretable...
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Artificial neural network based fatigue life assessment of friction stir welding AA2024-T351 aluminum alloy and multi-objective optimization of welding parameters
PublicationIn this paper, the fracture behavior and fatigue crack growth rate of the 2024-T351 aluminum alloy has been investigated. At first, the 2024-T351 aluminum alloys have been welded using friction stir welding procedure and the fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth rate of the CT specimens have been studied experimentally based on ASTM standards. After that, in order to predict fatigue crack growth rate and fracture toughness,...
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Femtosecond Er-doped fiber laser source tunable from 872 to 1075 nm for two-photon vision studies in humans
PublicationWe report the development of a widely-tunable femtosecond fiber laser system and its application for two-photon vision studies. The source is based on an Er-doped fiber laser with spectral shift up to 2150 nm, followed by a second harmonic generation module to generate a frequency-doubled beam tunable from 872 to 1075 nm. The source delivers sub-230 fs pulses with nearly-constant duration over the entire tuning range, with output...
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Electromagnetic Simulation with 3D FEM for Design Automation in 5G Era
PublicationElectromagnetic simulation and electronic design automation (EDA) play an important role in the design of 5G antennas and radio chips. The simulation challenges include electromagnetic effects and long simulation time and this paper focuses on simulation software based on finite-element method (FEM). The state-of-the-art EDA software using novel computational techniques based on FEM can not only accelerate numerical analysis, but...
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Modelling of Abdominal Wall Under Uncertainty of Material Properties
PublicationThe paper concerns abdominal wall modelling. The accurate prediction and simulation of abdominal wall mechanics are important in the context of optimization of ventral hernia repair. The shell Finite Element model is considered, as the one which can be used in patient-specific approach due to relatively easy geometry generation. However, there are uncertainties in this issue, e.g. related to mechanical properties since the properties...
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Experimental investigation of the weight averaging of pulse frequency modulated sensor output signal
Open Research DataThe research aims to practically verify the results of theoretical analysis and simulations of the efficiency of weight averaging of pulse frequency modulated signal. For this purpose, a suitable test stand was built, and the control software in the LabVIEW environment was prepared. Then, a series of experiments were carried out to process and analyze...
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A simple modification of PCR thermal profile applied to evade persisting contamination
PublicationThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR), one of the most commonly applied methods of diagnostics and molecular biology has a frustrating downside known as the false positive signal or contamination. Several solutions to avoid and to eliminate PCR contaminations have been worked out to date but the implementation of these solutions to laboratory practice may be laborious and time consuming. A simple approach to circumvent the problem...