Search results for: OCCLUSION
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Pedestrian Safety at Midblock Crossings on Dual Carriageway Roads in Polish Cities
PublicationRoad crossings across two or more lanes in one direction are particularly dangerous due to limited sight distance and high vehicle speeds. To improve their safety, road authorities should provide safety treatments. These may include additional measures to reduce speed and narrow the road cross-section and the introduction of active pedestrian crossings. Equipped with flashing lights activated automatically when a pedestrian is...
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Bio‑derived polyurethanes obtained by non‑isocyanate route using polyol‑based bis(cyclic carbonate)s—studies on thermal decomposition behavior
PublicationNon-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) constitute one of the most prospective groups of eco-friendly materials based on their phosgene-free synthesis pathway. Moreover, one of the steps of their obtaining includes the use of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), which allows for the promotion of the development of carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies. In this work, non- isocyanate polyurethanes were obtained via three-step synthesis...
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Fluorescence Imaging Using Methylene Blue Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Melanoma
PublicationIntroduction: Fluorescence imaging of sentinel node biopsy in melanoma is a novel method. Both indocyanine green (ICG) and methylene blue (MB) have fl uorescent properties. The aim of this study was to present, for the fi rst time in a clinical series of patients, the possible usage of MB as a fl uorescent dye for sentinel node biopsy during surgery for melanoma. Material and methods: Twenty patients with...
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The Business Environment of Georgia and Ukraine: Approaches to a Comparative Analysis
PublicationThe formation of a favourable business environment and the intensification of entrepreneurial activity on this basis is one of the priorities of economic policy of governments around the world. The aim of this article is to conduct a comparative analysis of some of the characteristics of the business environment of Georgia and Ukraine. The theoretical basis of the study is the understanding of the business environment as a necessary...
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Assessment of Connectivity-based Resilience to Attacks Against Multiple Nodes in SDNs
PublicationIn Software Defined Networks (SDNs), the control plane of a network is decoupled from its data plane. For scalability and robustness, the logically centralized control plane is implemented by physically placing different controllers throughout the network. The determination of the number and placement of controllers is known as the Controller Placement Problem (CPP). In the regular (i.e., failure-free) state, the control plane...
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Anticancer Properties of Amino Acid and Peptide Derivatives of Mycophenolic Acid
PublicationBackground: Although Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) is applied as prodrugs in clinic as an immunosuppressant, it also possesses anticancer activity. MPA acts as Inosine-5’-Monophosphate Dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitor, where the carboxylic group at the end of the side chain interacts with Ser 276 of the enzyme via hydrogen bonds. Therefore, MPA derivatives with other polar groups indicated high inhibition too. On the other hand, potent...
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Synthesis, characteristics, and photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles stabilized on the stone surface for degradation of metronidazole from aqueous solution
PublicationAbstract Background: The presence of antibiotics such as metronidazole in wastewater even at low concentrations requires searching for a suitable process such as advanced oxidation process (AOP) to reduce the level of pollutants to a standard level in water. Methods: In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal method using zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) as a precursor, then, stabilized on stone and was used...
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Folate/homocysteine metabolism and lung cancer risk among smokers
PublicationBackground: Folate and homocysteine are involved in DNA synthesis and methylation processes, which are deregulated during carcinogenesis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between folate/homocysteine concentrations, the functional polymorphisms of folate/homocysteine genes and lung cancer risk among cigarette smokers. Study design: The study included 132 lung cancer patients and 396 controls from...
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Development of a Peptide Derived from Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF-BB) into a Potential Drug Candidate for the Treatment of Wounds
PublicationObjective: This study evaluated the use of novel peptides derived from platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) as potential wound healing stimulants. One of the compounds (named PDGF2) was subjected for further research after cytotoxicity and proliferation assays on human skin cells. Further investigation included evaluation of: migration and chemotaxis of skin cells, immunological and allergic safety, the transcriptional analyses...
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Interactions between bioactive components determine antioxidant, cytotoxic and nutrigenomic activity of cocoa powder extract
PublicationNumerous studies have shown, rather disappointingly, that isolated bioactive phytochemicals are not as biologically effective as natural plant products. Such a discrepancy may be explained by the concept of food synergy, which was verified in this research for cocoa extract versus its major components with regard to cancer chemoprevention. The evaluation embraced the relationship between redox properties evaluated in cell-free systems...
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Burnout as a State: Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Relationship Between Exhaustion and Disengagement in a 10-Day Study
PublicationBackground: Burnout has been traditionally seen as a chronic and stable state in response to prolonged stress. However, measures of momentary burnout are not well established, even though the within-person approach suggests that the symptoms of burnout may vary from day to day for the same employee. The aim of this study is to examine the daily inter- and intra-personal variability of the symptoms of burnout and the cross-lagged relationship...
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First report of seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep in Pomerania, northern Poland
PublicationIntroduction and objective. Toxoplasmosis is parasitic disease which has economic relevance for both veterinary and human medicine. In sheep, toxoplasmosis is a major cause of abortion and can thus cause reproductive problems. The current study aimed to determine the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in sheep from 13 districts of northern Poland and thereby obtain actual data about T. gondii seroprevalence in...
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Changes in gene methylation patterns in neonatal murine hearts: Implications for the regenerative potential
PublicationBackground The neonatal murine heart is able to regenerate after severe injury; this capacity however, quickly diminishes and it is lost within the first week of life. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism which plays a crucial role in development and gene expression regulation. Under investigation here are the changes in DNA methylation and gene expression patterns which accompany the loss of regenerative potential. Results The...
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Sewage sludge co-pyrolysis with agricultural/forest residues: A comparative life-cycle assessment
PublicationThis study aims to determine the sustainability and energy efficiency of co-pyrolysis scenarios as treatment processes for municipal sewage sludge through a life cycle assessment (LCA). In addition, sensitivity and energy recovery analyses are conducted to determine the possible methods for optimizing the co-pyrolysis process from a circular bioeconomy perspective. Corncob and wood residue have been selected as potential co-feed...
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The influence of different time durations of thermal processing on berries quality
PublicationBioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, tannins, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid) and the level of antioxidant activity by ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and CUPRAC of water, acetone and hexane extracts of Chilean 'Murtilla' (Ugni molinae Turcz) and 'Myrteola' berries (Myrtaceae, Myrteola nummularia (Poiret) Berg.), Chilean and Polish blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), Chilean raspberries (Rubus idaeus), and Polish black chokeberry...
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Elucidation of chemical compounds in different extracts of two Lavandula taxa and their biological potentials: Walking with versatile agents on the road from nature to functional applications
PublicationDue to their health-promoting and nutraceutical properties, lavenders are frequently employed in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Here, we focused on investigate the chemical profile of hexane, MeOH, and water extracts of leaf, flower, and root of L. pedunculata and L. stoechas and to assess their antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and antibacterial properties. The highest total polyphenolic and flavonoids contents were recorded...
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Production of fuel briquette from solid waste biomass using natural resin as a binder
PublicationAbstract Background: This research aimed to evaluate the use of natural resin as a binder for the production of fuel briquette from solid waste biomass. Methods: Proximate analyses were made for fuel briquette prepared from solid waste biomass using natural resin as a binder in comparison with using starch as a binder. Results: The results for density, percent content of moisture, percent content of volatile matter, percent content...
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Nanoparticle-assisted biohydrogen production from pretreated food industry wastewater sludge: Microbial community shifts in batch and continuous processes
PublicationBiohydrogen production from industrial waste has gained a significant attention as a sustainable energy source. In this study, the enrichment of biohydrogen production from pretreated dissolved air flotation (DAF) sludge, generated from food industry wastewater treatment plants, was investigated using SiO2@Cu-Ag dendrites cor- e–shell nanostructure (NS). The effect of NS on the changes of the microbial community and biohydrogen...
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An advanced tool integrating failure and sensitivity analysis into novel modeling of the stormwater flood volume
PublicationAn innovative tool for modeling the specific flood volume was presented that can be applied to assess the need for stormwater network modernization as well as for advanced flood risk assessment. Field measurements for a catchment area in Kielce, Poland, were used to apply the model and demonstrate its usefulness. This model extends the capability of recently developed statistical and machine learning hydrodynamic models developed...
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On a 3D material modelling of smart nanocomposite structures
PublicationSmart composites (SCs) are utilized in electro-mechanical systems such as actuators and energy harvesters. Typically, thin-walled components such as beams, plates, and shells are employed as structural elements to achieve the mechanical behavior desired in these composites. SCs exhibit various advanced properties, ranging from lower order phenomena like piezoelectricity and piezomagneticity, to higher order effects including flexoelectricity...
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Combined Single Neuron Unit Activity and Local Field Potential Oscillations in a Human Visual Recognition Memory Task
PublicationGOAL: Activities of neuronal networks range from action potential firing of individual neurons, coordinated oscillations of local neuronal assemblies, and distributed neural populations. Here, we describe recordings using hybrid electrodes, containing both micro- and clinical macroelectrodes, to simultaneously sample both large-scale network oscillations and single neuron spiking activity in the medial temporal lobe structures...
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Adipokine and cytokine levels in patients with adrenocortical cancer, subclinical Cushing's syndrome and healthy controls
PublicationIntroduction In recent years researchers have focused at hormonal activity in Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in connection with metabolic disorders and the role of adipokines and cytokines secreted by the adipose tissue. The aim of the study was to investigate levels of adipokines and cytokines in patients with: subclinical CS (SCS) – in relation to hormonal parameters of hypercortisolemia, and, adrenocortical cancer (ACC). Materials...
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Soft skills among academics: Five theoretically informed lessons for current times
PublicationRESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive examination of the role of soft skills among academics in the context of the evolving higher-education landscape. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: We use a scoping review of existing literature to discuss the importance of soft skills in academia. Through critical analysis and synthesis, we identify patterns and gaps in current knowledge and develop five...
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Laser-textured cross-hatched surface topography analysis with evaluation of high-frequency measurement noise
PublicationThe precision of surface roughness determination using ISO 25178 parameters relies on various factors that directly impact the measurement process. In industry applications, the contactless roughness measurement reduces data collection time. However, it introduces several potential errors, including those stemming from the environment. One of the main types of errors encountered during topography analysis is measurement noise,...
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The AC motor voltage and audible noise waveforms in ship’s electrical drive systems with frequency converters
Open Research DataThe presented dataset is part of research focusing on the impact of the ship's electrical drive systems with frequency converters on vibrations and the level of audible noise on ships.
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Characterization of a single-stranded DNA-binding-like Protein from Nanoarchaeum equitans - a nucleic acid binding protein with broad substrate specificity
PublicationBackground SSB (single-stranded DNA-binding) proteins play an essential role in all living cells and viruses, as they are involved in processes connected with ssDNA metabolism. There has recently been an increasing interest in SSBs, since they can be applied in molecular biology techniques and analytical methods. Nanoarchaeum equitans, the only known representative of Archaea phylum Nanoarchaeota, is a hyperthermophilic, nanosized,...
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Pial artery and subarachnoid width response to apnoea in normal humans
PublicationBackground: Little is known about intracranial pressure (ICP)-cerebral haemodynamic interplay during repetitive apnoea. A recently developed method based on near-infrared transillumination/backscattering sounding (NIR-T/BSS) noninvasively measures changes in pial artery pulsation (cc-TQ) as well as subarachnoid width (sas-TQ) in humans. Method: We tested the complex response of the pial artery and subarachnoid width to apnoea...
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B-GALACTOSIDASE ARTHROBACTER SP. 32cB - OBTAINING THE GENE SEQUENCE, CONSTRUCTION OF THE EXPRESSION SYSTEM, BIOSYNTHESIS AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ENZYME
PublicationINTRODUCTION: β-Galactosidase is an enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of O glycosidic bond in β-galactosides. Another activity of β galactosidase is a transglycosylation activity. The main industrial use of this protein is the hydrolysis of lactose in milk in a cooling conditions. Synthesis of galactooligosaccharides, which are mostly used as a prebiotics added to some foods or available as dietary supplements, is only one...
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Organic Rankine cycle as bottoming cycle to a combined Brayton and Clausius - Rankine cycle
PublicationA preliminary evaluation has been made of a possibility of bottoming of a conventional Brayton cycle cooperating with the CHP power plant with the organic Rankine cycle installation. Such solution contributes to the possibility of annual operation of that power plant, except of operation only in periods when there is a demand for the heat. Additional benefit would be the fact that an optimized backpressure steam cycle has the advantage...
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NUTRITIONAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN TROPICAL FRUITS
PublicationDuring the past two decades our international scientific group investigated in vitro the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of some cultivars of durian at various stages of ripening, mangosteen and new cultivars of snake fruit in comparison with widely used avocado, kiwifruit and mango, and in vivo their influence on laboratory animals. The main objective of the present study was to screen and compare the properties...
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The Contemporary aspects of revitalization of the buildings and the port areas
PublicationPort cities are the forefront of globalization. The continued growth of international trade of goods and services has now played a major role in shaping the economic and social world. Strategies for mutual cooperation and follow-up between countries, cities and regions are increasingly complex. On the one hand it brings profits, on the other leads to destabilization and the need for transformation and constant modernization. Port...
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Characterization of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins from the psychrophilic bacteria Desulfotalea psychrophila, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Psychrobacter arcticus, Psychrobacter cryohalolentis, Psychromonas ingrahamii, Psychroflexus torquis, and Photobacterium profundum
PublicationBackground: Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) play essential roles in DNA replication, recombination and repair in Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in SSBs, since they find numerous applications in diverse molecular biology and analytical methods. Results: We report the characterization of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins from the psychrophilic bacteria Desulfotalea...
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US not bright but right method of thyroid volume estimation even in large and substernal extended goitres. Comparison of US and three methods of CT thyroid evaluation - prospective study.ON LINE
PublicationBackground Ultrasound is nowadays a method of choice for thyroid volume assessment. However, its disadvantage is some inaccuracy, which is said to be higher in huge, especially substernally extended goitres. Aims The aim of the study was to compare the US and CT thyroid volumetric measurements: multi-observers (CT MO) and one-observer (CT OO) to CT planimetry results (CT Pl) in patients with large goitres. Materials & Methods The...
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Sensors for Rapid Detection of Environmental Toxicity in Blood of Poisoned People
PublicationRecently, the diagnosis and treatment of poisoned person can be done only in specialized centers. Furthermore, currently used clinical methods of intoxication diagnosis are not sufficient for early detection. Conventional laboratory tests based on urine and blood require professional, high skilled staff, high cost equipment as well as they are arduous and lasting analytical procedures. There is a need to elaborate relatively cheap...
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Perfusion computed tomography: 4 cmversus8 cm coverage size in subjects with chronic carotid artery stenosis
PublicationOBJECTIVE: The impact of coverage size on global cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT) and time to peak (TTP) parameters has not been investigated in patients with chronic carotid artery stenosis. METHODS: 63 patients with stenosis of >70% within a single internal carotid artery and neurological symptoms were randomly assigned to two well-matched groups. Differences in CT perfusion scan...
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Structure of solvation water around the active and inactive regions of a type III antifreeze protein and its mutants of lowered activity
PublicationWater molecules from the solvation shell of the ice-binding surface are considered important for the antifreeze proteins to perform their function properly. Herein, we discuss the problem whether the extent of changes of the mean properties of solvation water can be connected with the antifreeze activity of the protein. To this aim, the structure of solvation water of a type III antifreeze protein from Macrozoarces americanus (eel...
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The relationship between standard reduction potentials of catechins and biological activities involved in redox control
PublicationRedox homeostasis involves factors that ensure proper function of cells. The excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to oxidative stress and increased risk of oxidative damage to cellular components. In contrast, upon reductive stress, insufficient ROS abundance may result in faulty cell signalling. It may be expected that dietary antioxidants, depending on their standard reduction potentials (E°), will affect both scenarios....
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Trust Management Method for Wireless Sensor Networks
PublicationA Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a network of spatially distributed autonomous sensors to monitor physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound, pressure, etc. and to cooperatively pass their data to the main location. The first wireless network that bore any real resemblance to a modern WSN is the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), developed by the United States Military in the 1950s to detect and track Soviet...
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The overexpression of CPR and P450 3A4 in pancreatic cancer cells changes the metabolic profile and increases the cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activity of acridine antitumor agent, C-1748
PublicationDrug resistance is one of the major cause of pancreatic cancer treatment failure. Thus, it is still imperative to develop new active compounds and novel approach to improve drug efficacy. Here we present 9-amino-1-nitroacridine antitumor agent, C-1748, developed in our laboratory, as a candidate for pancreatic cancer treatment. We examined (i) the cellular response of pancreatic cancer cell lines: Panc-1, MiaPaCa-2, BxPC-3 and...
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Actions of a nitric oxide donor on prostaglandin production and angiogenic activity in the equine endometrium
PublicationNitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in prostaglandin secretion and angiogenesis in the reproductive system. In the present study, the roles of the NO donor spermine NONOate and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF; as a positive control) in prostaglandin production and angiogenic activity of equine endometria during the oestrous cycle were evaluated. In addition, the correlation between NO production...
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Procedura przygotowania próbki do oznaczania wielopierścieniowych węglowodorów aromatycznych w produktach technicznych
PublicationW pracy opisano nową metodę przygotowania próbki w celu oznaczania śladowych zawartości wielopierścieniowych węglowodorów aromatycznych (WWA) w wysokowrzących produktach naftowych. Wartości granicy oznaczalności dla badanych WWA w materiałach tego typu mieściły się w przedziale od kilkudziesięciu ng/kg do poniżej dwudziestu ug/kg. Badania wykazały, że w celu oddzielenia większości zanieczyszczeń od analitów, bez ich znaczących...
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Characterization of a cryptic plasmid pSFKW33 from Shewanella sp. 33b
PublicationA cryptic plasmid pSFKW33 from psychrotrophic bacterium Shewanella sp. 33B, an isolate from the Gulf of Gdansk (the Baltic Sea), was sequenced and characterized. It is an 8021 bpcircular molecule with 38% GC content, which shows a distinctive nucleotide sequence without homology to other known plasmids. The nucleotide sequence analysis predicts eight open reading frames. The deduced amino acid sequence of ORF-1 shared significant...
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The thermostability, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of some vegetables subjected to different durations of boiling: investigation in vitro
PublicationThis research was performed in order to compare the water and acetone extracts of raw and boiled for 10, 20, 40 and 60 min Korean lotus roots (KLR) and Polish white onion (PWO) in the contents of theirbioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and thermostability.It was found that polyphenols (mg GAE/g), flavanols (mg GAE/g), flavonoids (mg CE/g), anthocyanins (mg CGE/kg) and tannins (mg CE/g) in water extract of raw lotus roots...
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Diamond Nanofilm Normalizes Proliferation and Metabolism in Liver Cancer Cells
PublicationPurpose: Surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma can be associated with recurrence resulting from the degeneration of residual volume of the liver. The objective was to assess the possibility of using a biocompatible nanofilm, made of a colloid of diamond nanoparticles (nfND), to fill the side after tumour resection and optimize its contact with proliferating liver cells, minimizing their cancerous transformation. Methods:...
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Potential Skyrmion Host Fe(IO3)3: Connecting Stereoactive Lone-Pair Electron Effects to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction
PublicationMagnetic skyrmions, which are topologically distinct magnetic spin textures, are gaining increased attention for their unique physical properties and potential applications in spintronic devices. Here we present a design strategy for skyrmion host candidates based on combinations of magnetic spin, asymmetric building units having stereoactive lone-pair electrons, and polar lattice symmetry. To demonstrate the viability of the proposed...
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The fate and contamination of trace metals in soils exposed to a railroad used by Diesel Multiple Units: Assessment of the railroad contribution with multi-tool source tracking
PublicationSoil samples from cut slopes from lightly loaded railway lines used by Diesel Multiple Units for 5 years in Gdansk (Poland) were collected and analyzed for trace metals (TMs): Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Fe. The main aim was to assess soil enrichment, contamination status, and distribution of TMs relative to the distance from the railway track. Extensive source tracking analyses were performed using cluster analysis (CA) and the...
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GVC and wage dispersion. Firm-level evidence from employee-employer database
PublicationResearch background: Wage inequalities are still part of an interesting policy-oriented research area. Given the developments in international trade models (heterogeneity of firms) and increasing availability of micro-level data, more and more attention is paid to wage differences observed within and be-tween firms. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to address the research gap concerning limited cross-country evidence...
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A comprehensive evaluation of flexible FDM/FFF 3D printing filament as a potential material in medical application
PublicationThe use of FDM/FFF in 3D printing for medical sciences is becoming common. This is due to the high availability and decent price of both 3D printers and filaments useful for FDM/FFF. Currently, researchers' attention is focused mainly on the study of medical filaments based on PLA, PCL or their modifications. This contributes to insufficient diversity of medical-grade filaments on the market. Moreover, due to the lack of specified...
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Electrochemical simulation of metabolic reduction and conjugation reactions of unsymmetrical bisacridine antitumor agents, C-2028 and C-2053
PublicationElectrochemistry (EC) coupled with analysis techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS) has been developed as a powerful tool for drug metabolism simulation. The application of EC in metabolic studies is particularly favourable due to the low matrix contribution compared to in vitro or in vivo biological models. In this paper, the EC(/LC)/MS system was applied to simulate phase I metabolism of the representative...
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Testing Stability of Digital Filters Using Optimization Methods with Phase Analysis
PublicationIn this paper, novel methods for the evaluation of digital-filter stability are investigated. The methods are based on phase analysis of a complex function in the characteristic equation of a digital filter. It allows for evaluating stability when a characteristic equation is not based on a polynomial. The operation of these methods relies on sampling the unit circle on the complex plane and extracting the phase quadrant of a function...