Search results for: distillation residue
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Enzymatic cross-linking of β-lactoglobulin in solution and at air–water interface: Structural constraints
PublicationEffective and controlled use of cross-linking enzymes in structure engineering of food systems depends on characterization of the favorable conditions for enzyme-substrate complex and the limiting factors for the desired modification. In this respect, we analyzed the susceptibility of bovine β-lactoglobulin (BLG) to enzymatic cross-linking by Trichoderma reesei tyrosinase (TrTyr) and transglutaminase (TG). Changes in BLG molecular...
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A new cold-adapted beta-D-galactosidase from the Antarctic Arthrobacter sp. 32c - gene cloning, overexpression, purification and properties
PublicationThe development of a new cold-active β-D-galactosidases and microorganisms that efficiently ferment lactose is of high biotechnological interest, particularly for lactose removal in milk and dairy products at low temperatures and for cheese whey bioremediation processes with simultaneous bio-ethanol production. In this article, we present a new β-D-galactosidase as a candidate to be applied in the above mentioned biotechnological...
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Comparative molecular dynamics study of dimeric and monomeric forms of HIV-1 protease in ligand bound and unbound state
PublicationHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease (HIV-1 PR) is a viral-encoded enzyme that forms a homodimer. HIV-1 PR is essential for replication and assembly of the virus and inactivation of HIV-1 PR enzyme causes production of immature, noninfectious viral particles and thus HIV-1 PR is an attractive target in anti-AIDS drug design. In our current work, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) calculations (500 ns) for two different...
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Intramolecular Proton Transfer in the Radical Anion of Cytidine Monophosphate Sheds Light on the Sensitivities of Dry vs Wet DNA to Electron Attachment-Induced Damage
PublicationSingle-strand breaks (SSBs) induced via electron attachment were previously observed in dry DNA under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV), while hydrated electrons were found not able to induce this DNA damage in an aqueous solution. To explain these findings, crossed electron-molecular beam (CEMB) and anion photoelectron spectroscopy (aPES) experiments coupled to density functional theory (DFT) modeling were used to demonstrate the fundamental...
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The Distribution of Glucosinolates in Different Phenotypes of Lepidium peruvianum and Their Role as Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors—In Silico and In Vitro Studies
PublicationThe aim of the study was to present the fingerprint of different Lepidium peruvianum tu- ber extracts showing glucosinolates-containing substances possibly playing an important role in preventinting dementia and other memory disorders. Different phenotypes of Lepidium peruvianum (Brassicaceae) tubers were analysed for their glucosinolate profile using a liquid chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometer (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS platform)....
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Maturity Mismatch in the Polish Banking System and its Impact on the Economy
PublicationIn the article maturity mismatch in the Polish banking system is estimated based on the publicly available data. Then the impact on the economy is discussed. Based on Polish central bank’s data it may be estimated that between 1996 and 2012 the maturity gap increased significantly – average residual maturity of assets exceeds 6 years in 2012 (less than 2 years in 1996), while that of liabilities remains below 1 year. The gap...
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On Alternative Approaches to Design of Corporate Feeds for Low-Sidelobe Microstrip Linear Arrays
PublicationTwo design approaches, illustrated by simulations and measurements, aiming at a systematic computer-aided design of printed circuit feeds for low-sidelobe microstrip antenna arrays are described. The novelty of these approaches resides in identification of the optimal feed architectures with subsequent simulation-based optimization of the feed and array aperture dimensions. In this work, we consider microstrip corporate feeds realizing...
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Prototype of electrochemical sensor for measurements of volatile organic compounds in gases
PublicationThe paper presents a laboratory prototype of an electrochemical sensor for measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gases, utilizing ionic liquids and commercial screen printed electrodes by DropSens. The following ionic liquids have been tested as the electrolyte and redox reaction environment: 1-butyl, 3-methylimidazolium dicyanoamide ([BMIM][N(CN)2]), 1-octyl, 3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([OMIM][BF4]),...
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Methods of Assessment of Metal Contamination in Bottom Sediments (Case Study: Straszyn Lake, Poland)
PublicationThe concentrations of six metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd) were investigated in bottom sediments of Straszyn Lake (North Poland). This study was designed to determine a total content of metals and to assess their mobility and bioavailability. The sequential extraction was used to fractionate metals into five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe–Mn oxides, bound to organic matter, and residual. The evaluation...
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Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Propolis (EEPs) against Staphylococcal Biofilm—Microscopic Studies
PublicationStaphylococci growing in the form of biofilm exhibit high resistance to a plethora of antibiotics. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEPs) on S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 biofilm using fluorescent microscopy. Propidium iodide (PI) and SYTO 9 were used for differentiation of live and dead cells, and calcofluor white was used to stain the extracellular matrix, the self-produced extracellular...
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On Nonlinear Bending Study of a Piezo-Flexomagnetic Nanobeam Based on an Analytical-Numerical Solution
PublicationAmong various magneto-elastic phenomena, flexomagnetic (FM) coupling can be defined as a dependence between strain gradient and magnetic polarization and, contrariwise, elastic strain and magnetic field gradient. This feature is a higher-order one than piezomagnetic, which is the magnetic response to strain. At the nanoscale, where large strain gradients are expected, the FM effect is significant and could be even dominant. In...
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Low-strain sensor based on the flexible boron-doped diamond-polymer structures
PublicationA free-standing high boron-doped diamond nanosheet (BDDNS) has been fabricated for the development of a flexible BDDNS strain senor. High boron-doped diamond was initially grown on a tantalum substrate in a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition method, and was then transferred to a Kapton polymer substrate to fabricate the flexible BDDNS/Kapton device. Before performing the transfer process, the thin BDDNS’s morphology...
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Experimental and numerical investigations of ultimate strength of degradated structures
PublicationThe presented work investigates the corrosion influence on the structural behaviour of structural elements. Nine welded large-scale stiffened plates, and 30 standard small specimens have been subjected to the accelerated marine immersed conditions. After corrosion testing, the specimens have been accurately measured in terms of surface characteristics. The coupon specimens were furtherly subjected to tensile loading to develop...
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The Use of Direct Shear Test for Optimization of Interlayer Bonding Under a Poroelastic Layer
PublicationPoroelastic Road Surfaces (PERS) are characterised by porous structure with air void content of 20% or higher and stiffness almost 10 times lower than that of a standard asphalt course. Such properties enable noise reduction by up to 12 dB in comparison to SMA 11 mixture. However, the disadvantage of a poroelastic pavement is its low durability, which partially results from delamination from the lower layer. The paper aims to investigate...
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Mechanical Performance and Environmental Assessment of Sustainable Concrete Reinforced with Recycled End-of-Life Tyre Fibres
PublicationThe presented research’s main objective was to develop the solution to the global problem of using steel waste obtained during rubber recovery during the tire recycling. A detailed comparative analysis of mechanical and physical features of the concrete composite with the addition of recycled steel fibres (RSF) in relation to the steel fibre concrete commonly used for industrial floors was conducted. A study was carried out using...
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Investigation on Mode I Fracture Behavior of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites
PublicationRecent reports in the literature have shown that fber-reinforced geopolymer composites (FRGC) made with monofbers exhibit a signifcant enhancement in fracture energy. However, many aspects of the fracture performance of hybrid fberreinforced geopolymer composites (HFRGC) remain largely unexploited, and these are predominant for the structures. For the frst time, the mode I fracture energy of HFRGC is investigated. The mode I behavior...
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Trends in Locally Balanced Energy Systems without the Use of Fossil Fuels: A Review
PublicationIn recent years, the idea of the operation of energy systems (power systems, heating systems) has changed significantly. This paper is an overview of locally balanced energy systems without the use of fossil fuels. The paper justifies the concept of local energy balancing in a new energy system that does not use fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and crude oil), based on European Union guidelines and formal documents as well as the...
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Deposition and Electrical and Structural Properties of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 Thin Films for Application in High-Temperature Electrochemical Cells
PublicationLow-temperature deposition of electroceramic thin films allows the construction of new devices and their integration with existing large-scale fabrication methods. Developing a suitable low-cost deposition method is important to further advance the development of microdevices. In this work, we deposited a 1-lm-thick La0.6Sr0.4CoO3d (LSC) perovskite with high electrical conductivity on sapphire substrates at 400C and analyzed its...
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Crystal structures of aminotransferases Aro8 and Aro9 from Candida albicans and structural insights into their properties
PublicationAminotransferases catalyze reversibly the transamination reaction by a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) as a cofactor. Various aminotransferases acting on a range of substrates have been reported. Aromatic transaminases are able to catalyze the transamination reaction with both aromatic and acidic substrates. Two aminotransferases from C. albicans, Aro8p and Aro9p, have been identified recently, exhibiting...
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Satellite Image Classification Using a Hierarchical Ensemble Learning and Correlation Coefficient-Based Gravitational Search Algorithm
PublicationSatellite image classification is widely used in various real-time applications, such as the military, geospatial surveys, surveillance and environmental monitoring. Therefore, the effective classification of satellite images is required to improve classification accuracy. In this paper, the combination of Hierarchical Framework and Ensemble Learning (HFEL) and optimal feature selection is proposed for the precise identification...
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The effect of shear deformations' rotary inertia on the vibrating response of multi-physic composite beam-like actuators
PublicationIn consecutive studies on flexomagneticity (FM), this work investigates the flexomagnetic reaction of a vibrating squared multi-physic beam in finite dimensions. It is assumed that the bending and shear deformations cause rotary inertia. In the standard type of the Timoshenko beam the rotary inertia originated from shear deformations has been typically omitted. It means the rotary inertia resulting from shear deformation is a new...
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Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase with an oligoHis insert
PublicationGlucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) synthase known also as L-Glutamine: D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.16), catalyzes the first committed step in the amino sugar biosynthetic pathway in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The final product of this pathway is an activated precursor of numerous macromolecules containing amino sugars, including chitin and mannproteins in fungi, peptydoglican and lipopolysaccharides...
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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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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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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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Spatial distribution of pharmaceuticals in conventional wastewater treatment plant with Sludge Treatment Reed Beds technology
PublicationPharmaceutical residues are an emerging environmental problem. It is strongly confirmed that pharmaceuticals are present in soils and environmental waters (surface, marine and even groundwater), and that wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are the main source of pharmaceuticals in the watershed. The aim of this studywas to recognize the spatial distribution and seasonal changes of selected pharmaceuticals in conventional WWTP...
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Desensitization of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase to inhibition by UDP-GlcNAc
PublicationGlucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) synthase, known also as L-Glutamine: D-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, catalyzes the first committed step in the pathway leading to the ultimate formation of UDP-GlcNAc. The final product of this pathway is an activated precursor of numerous macromolecules containing amino sugars, including chitin and mannproteins in fungi, peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharides in bacteria, and glycoproteins...
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Structure and evolution of the 4-helix bundle domain of Zuotin, a J-domain protein co-chaperone of Hsp70
PublicationThe J-domain protein Zuotin is a multi-domain eukaryotic Hsp70 co-chaperone. Though it is primarily ribosome-associated, positioned at the exit of the 60S subunit tunnel where it promotes folding of nascent polypeptide chains, Zuotin also has off-ribosome functions. Domains of Zuotin needed for 60S association and interaction with Hsp70 are conserved in eukaryotes. However, whether the 4-helix bundle (4HB) domain is conserved remains...
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Suppressors of lapC mutation identify new regulators of LpxC, which mediates the first committed step in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis
PublicationGram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are characterized by an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) located in the outer leaflet and phospholipids facing the inner leaflet. E. coli recruits LPS assembly proteins LapB, LapC and LapD in concert with FtsH protease to ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids. We recently reported that bacteria either lacking the periplasmic domain of...
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Detection of Delamination in Laminate Wind Turbine Blades Using One-Dimensional Wavelet Analysis of Modal Responses
PublicationThis paper demonstrates the effectiveness of a nondestructive diagnostic technique used to determine the location and size of delamination in laminated coatings of wind turbine blades. This is realized based on results of numerical and experimental investigations obtained by the use of the finite element method (FEM) and laser scanning vibrometry (LSV). The proposed method is based on the one-dimensional continuous wavelet transform...
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Effect of the ex situ physical and in situ chemical modification of bacterial nanocellulose on mechanical properties in the context of its potential applications in heart valve design
PublicationBacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a promising material for heart valve prostheses. However, its low strength properties limit its applicability in cardiovascular surgery. To overcome these limitations, the mechanical properties of BNC can be improved through modifications. The aim of the research was to investigate the extent to which the mechanical properties of BNC can be altered by modifying its structure during its production...
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Nanodiamonds Doped with Manganese for Applications in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PublicationNanodiamonds (NDs) are emerging with great potential in biomedical applications like biomarking through fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), targeted drug delivery, and cancer therapy. The magnetic and optical properties of NDs could be tuned by selective doping. Therefore, we report multifunctional manganese-incorporated NDs (Mn-NDs) fabricated by Mn ion implantation. The fluorescent properties of Mn-NDs were tuned...
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Innovative Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device—Performance under Various Resistances and Operating Frequency Conditions
PublicationThis paper presents the operation of an innovative left ventricular assist device under various resistances and operating frequencies. The operating principle of the device is based on pulsatile blood flow, which is forced by a suction–discharge device pumping helium into a set of intra-cardiac balloons. In this way, the ejection fraction of the left ventricle is increased, and the mitral valve is additionally occluded. What is...
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Seismic performance evaluation of steel buckling-restrained braced frames including SMA materials
PublicationThe permanent deformation of the building after seismic excitations can be determined by the Maximum Residual Interstory Drift Ratio (MR-IDR), which may be used for measuring the damage states. Low-post yield stiffness of the steel buckling-restrained braced frame (BRBF) makes this system vulnerable to large MR-IDR after a severe earthquake event. To overcome this issue, this paper investigates the seismic limit state performances...
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Pedestrian detection in low-resolution thermal images
PublicationOver one million people die in car accidents worldwide each year. A solution that will be able to reduce situations in which pedestrian safety is at risk has been sought for a long time. One of the techniques for detecting pedestrians on the road is the use of artificial intelligence in connection with thermal imaging. The purpose of this work was to design a system to assist the safety of people and car intelligence with the use...
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Fouling mechanisms in anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch membrane bioreactor based on adapted Hermia models and main foulant characteristics
PublicationVarious derivatives of Hermia models (complete pore blocking, intermediate pore blocking, cake layer formation, and standard pore blocking) and different assessments of foulant characteristics have long been used to determine the membrane fouling mechanisms. Accordingly, this study aims to adapt Hermia models and their combination according to the operating conditions of an anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch membrane bioreactor (A/O-SBMBR)....
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Comparative 3D DEM simulations of sand–structure interfaces with similarly shaped clumps versus spheres with contact moments.
PublicationThree-dimensional simulations of a monotonic quasi-static interface behaviour between initially dense cohesionless sand and a rigid wall of different roughness during tests in a parallelly guided direct shear test under constant normal stress are presented. Numerical modelling was carried out by the discrete element method (DEM) using clumps in the form of convex non-symmetric irregularly shaped grains. The clumps had an aspect...
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MODELOWANIE TURBINY WIATROWEJ Z DWOMA PRZECIWBIEŻNIE OBRACAJĄCYMI SIĘ WIRNIKAMI
PublicationW artykule przedstawiono sposoby modelowania dwuwirnikowej turbiny wiatrowej z wykorzystaniem technik Obliczeniowej Mechaniki Płynów. Omówiono uproszczone metody modelowania Actuator Disc i Actuator Line Method oraz aspekty związane z dokładnym odwzorowaniem turbiny na siatce obliczeniowej. Zaprezentowano przykładowe wyniki obliczeń turbiny dwuwirnikowej złożonej z wirników NREL o mocy nominalnej 5 MW każdy. Do wykonania badań...
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Detection of People Swimming in Water Reservoirs with the Use of Multimodal Imaging and Machine Learning
PublicationEvery year in many countries, there are fatal unintentional drownings in different water reservoirs like swimming pools, lakes, seas, or oceans. The existing threats of this type require creating a method that could automatically supervise such places to increase the safety of bathers. This work aimed to create methods and prototype solutions for detecting people bathing in water reservoirs using a multimodal imaging system and...
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Human awareness versus Autonomous Vehicles view: comparison of reaction times during emergencies
PublicationHuman safety is one of the most critical factors when a new technology is introduced to the everyday use. It was no different in the case of Autonomous Vehicles (AV), designed to replace generally available Conventional Vehicles (CV) in the future. AV rules, from the start, focus on guaranteeing safety for passengers and other road users, and these assumptions usually work during normal traffic conditions. However, there is still...
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Evaluation of Linkers’ Influence on Peptide-Based Piezoelectric Biosensors’ Sensitivity to Aldehydes in the Gas Phase
PublicationRecent findings qualified aldehydes as potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis. One of the possibilities is to use electrochemical biosensors in point-of-care (PoC), but these need further development to overcome some limitations. Currently, the primary goal is to enhance their metrological parameters in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. Previous findings indicate that peptide OBPP4 (KLLFDSLTDLKKKMSEC-NH2) is a promising...
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Impact of inorganic ions and pH variations on toxicity and endocrine potential of selected environmentally relevant pharmaceuticals
PublicationAssessment of the impact of pharmaceutical residues on living organisms is a very complex subject. Apart from taking into account the toxicity of individual compounds, environmental factors should also be taken into account. In this paper, attempts were made to assess the impact of coexisting inorganic ions and changes in pH on the toxicity of ten selected pharmaceuticals. Two bioassays were used to measure the estrogenic and androgenic...
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Structural, magnetic and spectral properties of tetrahedral cobalt(II) silanethiolates: a variety of structures and manifestation of field-induced slow magnetic relaxation
PublicationBlue crystals of five heteroleptic cobalt(II) silanethiolates 1–5 have been obtained by the reaction of [Co{SSi (tBuO)3}2(NH3)]2 with aminopyridines and aminomethylpyridines at an appropriate molar ratio and their structural, spectral, thermal and magnetic properties have been established and described. All complexes 1–5 contain Co(II) ions in a tetrahedral CoN2S2 environment formed by (tBuO)3SiS− residues and pyridines and present...
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Subjective Quality Evaluation of Underground BPL-PLC Voice Communication System
PublicationDesigning a reliable voice transmission system is not a trivial task. Wired media, thanks to their resistance to mechanical damage, seem an ideal solution. The BPL-PLC (Broadband over Power Line – Power Line Communication) cable is resilient to electricity stoppage and partial damage of phase conductors. It maintains continuity of transmission in case of an emergency situation, including paramedic rescue operations. These features...
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Microwave radiation in the synthesis of urethane prepolymers
PublicationThis paper describes the use of microwave radiation in the synthesis of urethane prepolymers in bulk (without solvent). The prepolymers were synthesized using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and poly (ε-caprolactone) diol (PCL) at a molar ratio of 4:1. The reaction was carried out without a catalyst in the reactor with a conventional heating system (oil bath) or in the microwave reactor (MW Reactor NOVA 09) at temperatures...
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Enhancing seismic performance of buckling-restrained brace frames equipped with innovative bracing systems
PublicationNowadays, to improve the performance of conventional bracing systems, in which, buckling in the pressure loads is the main disadvantage, the buckling-restrained brace (BRB) is introduced as a solution. In this study, the performance of the BRB system was improved with innovative lateral-resisting systems of double-stage yield buckling-restrained brace (DYB), and a combination of DYB improved with shape memory alloy (SMA) materials...
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Seismic response and performance prediction of steel buckling-restrained braced frames using machine-learning methods
PublicationNowadays, Buckling-Restrained Brace Frames (BRBFs) have been used as lateral force-resisting systems for low-, to mid-rise buildings. Residual Interstory Drift (RID) of BRBFs plays a key role in deciding to retrofit buildings after seismic excitation; however, existing formulas have limitations and cannot effectively help civil engineers, e.g., FEMA P-58, which is a conservative estimation method. Therefore, there is a need to...
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Multi-objective optimization of water quality, pumps operation, and storage sizing of water distribution systems
PublicationA multi-objective methodology utilizing the Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA2) linked to EPANET for trading-off pumping costs, water quality, and tanks sizing of water distribution systems is developed and demonstrated. The model integrates variable speed pumps for modeling the pumps operation, two water quality objectives (one based on chlorine disinfectant concentrations and one on water age), and tanks sizing cost...
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Modeling and simulation of blood flow under the influence of radioactive materials having slip with MHD and nonlinear mixed convection
PublicationRadioactive materials are widely in industry, nuclear plants and medical treatments. Scientists and workers in these fields are mostly exposed to such materials, and adverse effects on blood and temperature profiles are observed. In this regard, objective of the current study is to model and simulate blood based nanofluid with three very important radioactive materials, named as Uranium dioxide (UO2), Thorium dioxide (ThO2) and...
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Emission profile of butan-2-one oxime from commercially available neutral silicone sealant
PublicationThe paper presents results of research on emission profile of butan-2-one oxime (methyl ethyl ketoxime, MEKO) released from two types of commercially available neutral silicone sealants: silicone type ‘S’ and silicone type ‘T’. To determine the emissions from silicone samples, the system consists of a stationary emission chamber, and the thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system was applied. First, the research...