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Search results for: KERATIN HYDROLYSATES
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Road texture influence on tyre rolling resistance
PublicationTyre performance, one of the critical factors for vehicle users, is strongly related to theroad surface characteristics, most notably to the pavement texture. Phenomena that occur at the tyre/road interface affect tyre friction (skid resistance), rolling resistance, tyre wear and tyre/road noise. This article deals with relationship between surface texture and rolling resistance of light and heavy vehicle tyres. Mean profile depth...
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Integration of protein tethering in a rapid and label-free SERS screening platform for drugs of abuse
PublicationSurface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a promising technique for the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of molecular species such as drugs of abuse in biofluids. Yet, it remains a significant challenge to create a viable screening tool for multiple drug classes, owing to the lack of affinity of certain species for the SERS substrate and to the matrix interference in complex media. Here we report a protein tethering...
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Systems of General Grants for Local Governments in Selected EU Countries Against the Background of the General Theory of Fiscal Policy
PublicationFiscal policy, including its expenditure aspect, is often discussed and analysed from a variety of angles in the literature on public finances, undoubtedly due to the major importance of this topic. However, not all areas of the expenditure part of fiscal policy have been subjected to in-depth analysis. One of the less discussed tools of fiscal policy consists of general purpose transfers, which are a certain type of expenditure...
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Attitudes towards Collaboration in Multicultural Teams in the opinion of Polish and Chinese Students
PublicationThe main goal of this paper is to present results of research that addresses the issue of attitudes towards working in both multicultural and single culture teams among Polish and Chinese students. The relationship between those attitudes and factors that includes individual experiences of research participants as well as characteristics of team tasks was analyzed. The research was conducted with students of one Polish and one...
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Memory and Imagination: Artwork as a Form of Testimony
PublicationAs the generation of witnesses is passing away and the testimonies of Shoah survivors are replaced by an inherited, culturally constructed memory - post-memory – art becomes a meaningful landmark in the landscape of memory. Although the narration of history - being the researchers’ discourse rather than an objective view - has been considered to a certain extent fictitious, the difference between real and fictional, between remembering...
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Linear and nonlinear impedance in iron oxide glasses containing alkaline ions and alkali free
PublicationThe linear and nonlinear impedance spectra of oxide glasses were measured in the frequency range of 1 mHz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range of 153K to 483K. Two groups of iron oxide glass samples were prepared, the first one containing alkaline ions and the second one without alkali. In the first group, compositions of glasses were as follows: (in %mol) 50% SiO2 , 25% PbO, 15% Fe2O3 and 15% one of alkaline oxides: Na2O, K2O,...
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Road safety performance indicators and their explanatory value: A critical view based on the experience of Central European countries
PublicationCounts of road crashes and their victims represent essential information for road safety practitioners allowing them to analyse their spatial and temporal aspects. However, they cannot provide details on the factors causing road crashes. As a result, various road safety performance indicators (RSPIs) were introduced, making it possible to gather information on the effectiveness of interventions on road safety in given areas. However,...
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Influence of geometrical and operational parameters on tooth wear in the working mechanism of a satellite motor
PublicationThis article describes the phenomena affecting the wear of the rotor of the working mechanism in a hydraulic satellite motor. The basic geometrical relationships that allow the calculation of the coordinates of the points of contact between the satellite and the rotor and the curvature are presented. A method for calculating the number of contacts of the satellite teeth with the rotor teeth and of the satellite teeth with the curvature...
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Influence of Selected Warm Mix Asphalt Additives on Cracking Susceptibility of Asphalt Mixtures
PublicationWarm mix asphalt (WMA) has been widely accepted as a future asphalt paving technology. Besides clear advantages, there are still some concerns regarding durability and long-term performance of pavements made with this type of asphalt mixtures. One of the most important issues is low temperature behaviour of WMA because certain additives used for temperature reduction can aect bitumen properties. This paper presents the evaluation...
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Civil liability for artificial intelligence products versus the sustainable development of CEECs: which institutions matter?
PublicationThe aim of this paper is to conduct a meta-analysis of the EU and CEECs civil liability institutions in order to find out if they are ready for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) race. Particular focus is placed on ascertaining whether civil liability institutions such as the Product Liability Directive (EU) or civil codes (CEECs) will protect consumers and entrepreneurs, as well as ensure undistorted competition. In line with the...
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Mitigating Traffic Remapping Attacks in Autonomous Multi-hop Wireless Networks
PublicationMultihop wireless networks with autonomous nodes are susceptible to selfish traffic remapping attacks (TRAs). Nodes launching TRAs leverage the underlying channel access function to receive an unduly high Quality of Service (QoS) for packet flows traversing source-to-destination routes. TRAs are easy to execute, impossible to prevent, difficult to detect, and harmful to the QoS of honest nodes. Recognizing the need for providing...
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How green are ionic liquids? – A multicriteria decision analysis approach
PublicationDue to various desirable physicochemical properties, ionic liquids (ILs) are still gaining in popularity. ILs have been recurrently considered green solvents. However, environmental, health and safety assessments of ILs have raised certain doubts about their benignness, and their greenness status is currently unclear. To clarify the situation on their greenness, we perform a comprehensive assessment of more than 300 commercially...
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A literature survey of the influence of preform reheating and stretch blow moulding with hot mould process parameters on the properties of PET containers – part 2.
PublicationThe hot fill process is an inexpensive conventional filling technology for high-acidity products (pH < 4.5). It allows certain drinks (sensitive beverages such as fruit and vegetable juices, nectars, soft drinks, vitaminised water) to be stored at ambient temperature without the need for chemical preservatives. The primary feature of the bottles used in the hot fill process is their temperature stability, i.e. the ability to retain...
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A literature survey of the influence of preform reheating and stretch blow molding with hot mold process parameters on the properties of PET containers. Part I.
PublicationThe hot fill process is an inexpensive conventional filling technology for high-acidity products (pH < 4.5). It allows certain drinks (sensitive beverages such as fruit and vegetable juices, nectars, soft drinks, vitaminized water) to be stored at ambient temperature without the need for chemical preservatives. The primary feature of the bottles used in the hot fill process is their temperature stability, i.e. the ability to retain...
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Disaster-Resilient Routing Schemes for Regional Failures
PublicationLarge-scale natural disasters can have a profound effect on the telecommunication services in the affected geographical area. Hence, it is important to develop routing approaches that may help in circumventing damaged regional areas of a network. This prompted the development of geographically diverse routing schemes and also of disaster-risk aware routing schemes. A minimum-cost geodiverse routing, where a minimum geographical...
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The impact of the AC922 Architecture on Performance of Deep Neural Network Training
PublicationPractical deep learning applications require more and more computing power. New computing architectures emerge, specifically designed for the artificial intelligence applications, including the IBM Power System AC922. In this paper we confront an AC922 (8335-GTG) server equipped with 4 NVIDIA Volta V100 GPUs with selected deep neural network training applications, including four convolutional and one recurrent model. We report...
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The effect of external load on ultrasonic wave attenuation in steel bars under bending stresses
PublicationThe stress state in deformed solids has a significant impact on the attenuation of an ultrasonic wave propagating through the medium. Measuring a signal with certain attenuation characteristics can therefore provide useful diagnostic information about the stress state in the structure. In this work, basic principles behind a novel attenuation-based diagnostic framework are introduced. An experimental study on steel bars under three-point...
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COMPARISON OF NOISE EMISSION OF HCT AND CLASSIC VEHICLE COMBINATIONS FOR TIMBER TRANSPORTATION IN SWEDEN
PublicationBy means of a special simulation tool, the noise emission of a high-capacity heavy vehicle (11 axles) was compared to that of a classic heavy vehicle (a truck-dolly-semitrailer with 8 axles). The two cases are designated “Extended vehicle” versus “Classic vehicle” in this study, having total lengths of 34 and 25 m, respectively. The Classic vehicle represents the most common articulated heavy vehicle configuration for transport...
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Methodology for Text Classification using Manually Created Corpora-based Sentiment Dictionary
PublicationThis paper presents the methodology of Textual Content Classification, which is based on a combination of algorithms: preliminary formation of a contextual framework for the texts in particular problem area; manual creation of the Hierarchical Sentiment Dictionary (HSD) on the basis of a topically-oriented Corpus; tonality texts recognition via using HSD for analysing the documents as a collection of topically completed fragments...
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Stochastic optimisation algorithm for optimisation of controller parameters for control of dissolved oxygen in wastewater treatment plant
PublicationWastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are very important facilities for mankind. They enable the removal and neutralisation of man-made pollutants. Therefore, it is important for wastewater treatment plants to operate as efficiently as possible so that the level of pollutants in the treated wastewater meets specific requirements. This paper concerns the design of a hierarchical nonlinear adaptive control system for dissolved oxygen...
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Comparative wear test of journal sliding bearings with sintered bronze and Babbitt alloy bushes lubricated by environmentally acceptable/adapted lubricants (EAL)
PublicationA growing awareness of the negative effects of mineral oils on the natural environment has resulted in the introduction of new regulations related to environmental protection. One of these regulations requires the use of environmentally acceptable/adapted lubricants (EAL) to lubricate marine main shaft bearings, in place of the mineral lubricating oils that have been used for decades. Classification Societies, which supervise...
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Analysis of the effect of the seismic gap on the response of buildings experiencing pounding during earthquakes
PublicationThe aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of the seismic gap on the dynamic response of buildings experiencing earthquake-induced pounding. Three buildings have been analysed, which are 5-storey, 7-storey and 9-storey structures. Three possible pounding scenarios have been considered, which are pounding between 5-storey and 7-storey buildings, pounding between 5-storey and 9-storey buildings and pounding between 7-storey...
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Selektywne chłodzenie mózgu noworodka po niedotlenieniu okołoporodowym. Cześć 3. Hybrydowy system selektywnego chłodzenia mózgu noworodka
PublicationZapoczątkowane brakiem tlenu procesy biochemiczne mają zgubne skutki dla układu nerwowego, w szczególności rozwijającego się. Hipotermia, czyli stan oziębienia poniżej pewnych wartości temperatur, spowalnia znacznie lub całkowicie wyhamowuje poszczególne reakcje, i to leży u podstaw jej własności neuroprotekcyjnych. Powyższe twierdzenie poparte licznymi faktami naukowymi leży u podstaw koncepcji selektywnego chłodzenia mózgu i...
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Embedded system using Bluetooth Low Energy sensors for smart farming applications
PublicationThe main goal of this Bachelor of Engineering project titled Embedded system using Bluetooth Low Energy sensors for smart farming applications is to create a prototype of a system consistent with Agriculture 4.0 concept using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. Developed solution shall be easy in implementation and its main functionality shall be periodic gathering of data from environmental sensors...
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Genetic Hybrid Predictive Controller for Optimized Dissolved-Oxygen Tracking at Lower Control Level
PublicationA hierarchical two-level controller for dissolvedoxygenreference trajectory tracking in activated sludge processeshas been recently developed and successfully validated on a realwastewater treatment plant. The upper level control unit generatestrajectories of the desired airflows to be delivered by theaeration system to the aerobic zones of the biological reactor. Anonlinear model predictive control algorithm is applied to designthis...
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Nitrogen mass balance and mathematical model of a Structured- Bed Reactor (SBRRIA)
PublicationAn up-flow structured-bed reactor subjected to recirculation and intermittent aeration (SBRRIA) was operated under varying influent conditions. The influent COD/N ratio was adjusted by maintaining a stable organic loading rate (average of 1.07 kgCOD m-3 d-1) and changing the nitrogen loading rate from 0.1 to 0.4 kg N m-3. Therefore, three different COD/N ratios were tested: 9.7±1 (Scenario 1); 7.6±1 (Scenario 2) and 2.9±1 (Scenario...
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A Task-Scheduling Approach for Efficient Sparse Symmetric Matrix-Vector Multiplication on a GPU
PublicationIn this paper, a task-scheduling approach to efficiently calculating sparse symmetric matrix-vector products and designed to run on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) is presented. The main premise is that, for many sparse symmetric matrices occurring in common applications, it is possible to obtain significant reductions in memory usage and improvements in performance when the matrix is prepared in certain ways prior to computation....
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Al-Kindi’s “The Real One”: Considerations of a mathematician or of a metaphysician?
PublicationThe aim of the article is to analyze Al-Kindi’s concept of the True (Essential) One and certain additional issues, also taking into account the influence on his position from both classical philosophy and source texts of Islam. In the opening part of the article, Al-Kindi’s innovative approach to the application of mathematics in research in other areas of knowledge is discussed. In the next part,...
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Finite-element analysis of a base-isolated multi-storey steel building under seismic motions
PublicationNumerical simulation of the seismic behaviour of a multi-storey steel building, both fixed-base and base-isolated, under the 1940 El Centro earthquake was performed in this paper. The analyzed 4-storey building was decoupled from the shaking ground with the Polymeric Bearings, which can be considered a proposal of a new seismic isolation system. It consists of rectangular-shaped blocks made of a specially prepared flexible polymeric...
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Changing patterns in export of goods versus international competitiveness. A comparative analysis for Central-East European countries in the period 2000-2011.
PublicationThis paper discusses the existing links between changing patterns in the export of goods, broken down by technology-intensity, versus intrenational competitiveness. The study covers nine Central-East European (CEE) economies: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and the Slovak Republic, in the time span 2000-2011. We examine the hypothesis of a strong, positive and statistically significant...
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AN ORIGINAL APPROACH IN THE FIELD OF PREPARATION REFERENCE MATERIALS OF VOLATILE ANALYTES
PublicationStandard gas mixtures (SGM) are indispensable reference materials for ensuring the reliability of analytical work. Reference materials are an excellent tool for the quality control and assurance of analytical results. Standard gas mixtures are unique among reference materials. The rapid progress of SGM production is connected with the instability of gaseous analytes which make them difficult to obtain. The use of standards with...
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Computing algebraic transfer entropy and coupling directions via transcripts
PublicationMost random processes studied in nonlinear time series analysis take values on sets endowed with a group structure, e.g., the real and rational numbers, and the integers. This fact allows to associate with each pair of group elements a third element, called their transcript, which is defined as the product of the second element in the pair times the first one. The transfer entropy of two such processes is called algebraic transfer...
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The Effect of Fly Ash Microspheres on the Pore Structure of Concrete
PublicationThe fly ash microspheres (FAMs) formed during the mineral transformation stage in coal combustion are hollow spherical particles with a density less than water. This paper presents the results of X‐ray micro‐computed tomography and an automatic image analysis system of the porosity in the structure of hardened concrete with microspheres. Concrete mixtures with ordinary Portland cement and two substitution rates of cement by microspheres—5%...
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Application of Analytic Signal and Smooth Interpolation in Pulse Width Modulation for Conventional Matrix Converters
PublicationThe paper proposes an alternative and novel approach to the PWM duty cycles computation for Conventional Matrix Converters (CMC) fed by balanced, unbalanced or non–sinusoidal AC voltage sources. The presented solution simplifies the prototyping of direct modulation algorithms. PWM duty cycles are calculated faster by the smooth interpolation technique, using only vector coordinates, without trigonometric functions and angles. Both...
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Comparing traffic intensity estimates employing passive acoustic radar and microwave Doppler radar sensor
PublicationThe purpose of our applied research project is to develop an autonomous road sign with built-in radar devices of our design. In this paper, we show that it is possible to calibrate the acoustic vector sensor so that it can be used to measure traffic volume and count the vehicles involved in the traffic through the analysis of the noise emitted by them. Signals obtained from a Doppler radar are used as a reference source. Although...
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Evaluating the antibacterial activity of muramyl dipeptide derivatives, retro-tuftsin derivatives, and anthraquinone oligopeptides against a range of pathogenic bacteria
PublicationSearch for new and efficient antibiotic is crucial because of microbial drug resistance and problems with side effects of the administered medication. In this study, we evaluate the in vitro microbiological activity of muramyl dipeptide derivatives, retro-tuftsin derivatives (i.e., tuftsin with reversed amino acid sequences), and combinations of retro-tuftsin derivatives with substituted anthraquinones. The potency of the investigated...
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Topical delivery of pharmaceutical and cosmetic macromolecules using microemulsion systems
PublicationMicroemulsions are transparent, thermodynamically stable colloidal systems. Over the recent years, they have been increasingly investigated due to their potential as skin delivery vehicles for a wide range of drug molecules. The nanoscale particle size and the specificity of microemulsion components are the main features determining the skin permeation process. However, in order to effectively cross the skin barrier, the active...
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Wave Frequency Effects on Damage Imaging in Adhesive Joints Using Lamb Waves and RMS
PublicationStructural adhesive joints have numerous applications in many fields of industry. The gradual deterioration of adhesive material over time causes a possibility of unexpected failure and the need for non-destructive testing of existing joints. The Lamb wave propagation method is one of the most promising techniques for the damage identification of such connections. The aim of this study was experimental and numerical research on...
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Analytical Steady-State Model of the Pipeline Flow Process
PublicationThe paper addresses the issue of modeling the flow process in transmission pipelines. A base model used for numerical simulation is introduced. Under certain assumptions concerning steady state analysis, the differential equations describing the process are solved analytically for two cases: zero and nonzero inclination angle α. These equations describe a constant flow rate and a corresponding distribution of the pressure along...
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Analysis of air mass back trajectories with present and historical volcanic activity and anthropogenic compounds to infer pollution sources in the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica)
PublicationThis work analyses atmospheric transport of natural and anthropogenic pollution to the South Shetland Islands (SSI), with particular reference to the period September 2015 – August 2017. Based on data from the Global Volcanism Program database and air mass back trajectories calculated using the HySPLIT model, it was found that it is possible that in the analysed period volcanic pollution was supplied via long-range transport from...
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Structural, functional, and stability change predictions in human telomerase upon specific point mutations,
PublicationOverexpression of telomerase is one of the hallmarks of human cancer. Telomerase is important for maintaining the integrity of the ends of chromosomes, which are called telomeres. A growing number of human disease syndromes are associated with organ failure caused by mutations in telomerase (hTERT or hTR). Mutations in telomerase lead to telomere shortening by decreasing the stability of the telomerase complex, reducing its accumulation,...
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What should we know when choosing feather, blood, egg or preen oil as biological samples for contaminants detection? A non-lethal approach to bird sampling for PCBs, OCPs, PBDEs and PFASs
PublicationBirds are considered as good bio-monitors and they can provide highly valuable data about the level of contamination in their habitat. During the design of biomonitoring studies one of the first issues after choosing species is the choice of biological material. Non-lethally collected samples have recently been gaining greater attention as they offer several ethical and practical advantages. However, not all sample matrices are...
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Size effect at aggregate level in microCT scans and DEM simulation – Splitting tensile test of concrete
PublicationThe paper describes an experimental and numerical study of size effect on concrete cylindrical specimens in splitting tensile test. Own experimental campaign was performed on specimens with 5 various diameters from D = 74, 105, 150, 192 and 250 mm with hardboard loading strips (distributed load according to standard methods) scaled proportionally to the specimen diameter. The crack opening-control system was applied to obtain the...
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POLISH PUBLISHERS OPEN ACCESS POLICIES DATABASE - FUNCTIONALITIES AND ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPENNESS POLICIES
PublicationThe aim of the article is to present a base of Polish Publishers Open Access Policies as a tool supporting the scientific community in the implementation of openness policies. It is the first national platform to gather and analyze a publishing policy in the field of Open Access to Polish scientific journals. For scientists, it is a tool for searching for a Polish journal meeting certain criteria. It enables grant recipients to...
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Biological hazards in low noise, poroelastic road surfaces
PublicationDrainage pavements as well as poroelastic pavements ("PERS") are a very efficient way to decrease traffic noise by reducing tire/road noise at the source as well as noise propagation over the road surface. Many noise generating mechanisms at the tire/road interface are very much reduced by road porosity (pipe resonance, "air pumping", Helmholtz resonance and the horn effect). A well-designed porous or poroelastic road surface may...
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Numerical analysis of elastic wave propagation in unbounded structures
PublicationThe main objective of this paper is to show the effectiveness and usefulness of the concept of an absorbing layer with increasing damping (ALID) in numerical investigations of elastic wave propagation in unbounded engineering structures. This has been achieved by the authors by a careful investigation of three different types of structures characterised by gradually increasing geometrical and mathematical description complexities....
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THE COST ANALYSIS OF CORROSION PROTECTION SOLUTIONS FOR STEEL COMPONENTS IN TERMS OF THE OBJECT LIFE CYCLE COST
PublicationSteel materials, due to their numerous advantages - high availability, easiness of processing and possibility of almost any shaping are commonly applied in construction for carrying out basic carrier systems and auxiliary structures. However, the major disadvantage of this material is its high corrosion susceptibility, which depends strictly on the local conditions of the facility and the applied type of corrosion protection system....
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Determination of Selected Metals in Fruit Wines by Spectroscopic Techniques
PublicationThe determination of metals in different types of food and beverages samples has drawn significant attention due to several reasons with the most important one being the nutritional and toxic effects of these elements or their compounds. The knowledge of certain elements content in wines/fruit wines is of special interest due to their toxicity in case of excessive intake and also the effect they seem to have on the organoleptic...
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Polymer journal bearings behaviour research under limited lubrication and cooling conditions conducted on high torque test rig
PublicationPolymer journal bearings are frequently used as a water-lubricated bearings of small marine units’ propeller shafts . Choice of these bearings is based on their simple construction and relatively low purchase and maintenance costs. Although properly designed and installed water lubricated bearings may well last for over a decade, rapid wear or failure of these bearings can be observed...
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Minimizing Distribution and Data Loading Overheads in Parallel Training of DNN Acoustic Models with Frequent Parameter Averaging
PublicationIn the paper we investigate the performance of parallel deep neural network training with parameter averaging for acoustic modeling in Kaldi, a popular automatic speech recognition toolkit. We describe experiments based on training a recurrent neural network with 4 layers of 800 LSTM hidden states on a 100-hour corpora of annotated Polish speech data. We propose a MPI-based modification of the training program which minimizes the...