Search results for: HYDROPONIC CULTIVATION
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Light-Modulated Sunscreen Mechanism in the Retina of the Human Eye
PublicationThe functioning of the human eye in the extreme range of light intensity requires a combination of the high sensitivity of photoreceptors with their photostability. Here, we identify a regulatory mechanism based on dynamic modulation of light absorption by xanthophylls in the retina, realized by reorientation of pigment molecules induced by trans–cis photoisomerization. We explore this photochemically switchable system using chromatographic...
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Prototype design and development of low-load-roof photovoltaic modules for applications in on-grid systems
PublicationFour prototypes of lightweight photovoltaic modules for applications in on-grid systems have been designed, developed, manufactured and tested for compliance with relevant IEC standards. Selected, commercially available materials characterized by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometry, scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation technique were used in frameless, adhesively-bonded sandwich-structures...
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Selected anionic and cationic surface active agents determined in river sediments – the Klodnica catchment
PublicationSurface active agents (SAAs) are specific compounds that contain hydrophilic/ hydrophobic group in their molecules named as amphiphilic structures. According to charge on the hydrophilic part of surfactants they can be classified into three main groups: anionic, cationic and non-ionic compounds. Due to the amphiphilic structure of SAAs they have specific properties (e.g. ability to adsorption at different surfaces, reduction of...
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Elucidating the impact of enzymatic modifications on the structure, properties, and applications of cellulose, chitosan, starch and their derivatives: a review
PublicationPolysaccharides, as one of the most prominent natural biopolymers, display numerous biological activities and industrial applications. Nevertheless, some polysaccharides lack biological properties or display weak biological activities. Besides, practical usages of polysaccharides still remain challenging because of their poor solubility and inappropriate hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. Hence, enzymatic or chemical modifications...
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Review of sewage sludge management: standards, regulations and analytical methods
PublicationThis article presents the most popular methods of sewage sludge management and associated unit operations and processes referring to them. The most popular methods are: Reclamation and adaptation of lands to specific needs; plant cultivation not intended for consumption or for production of food; usage in agriculture; usage in building; recovery of phosphorus, rare earth metals or fats and usage in industry; producing combustible...
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Collagen Type II—Chitosan Interactions as Dependent on Hydroxylation and Acetylation Inferred from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
PublicationChitosan–collagen blends have been widely applied in tissue engineering, joints diseases treatment, and many other biomedical fields. Understanding the affinity between chitosan and collagen type II is particularly relevant in the context of mechanical properties modulation, which is closely associated with designing biomaterials suitable for cartilage and synovial fluid regeneration. However, many structural features influence...
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A magnetic stir bar sorbent of metal organic frameworks, carbon foam decorated zinc oxide and cryogel to enrich and extract parabens and bisphenols from food samples
PublicationA porous composite magnetic stir bar adsorbent was fabricated for the extraction and enrichment of parabens and bisphenols from selected beverage samples. The adsorbent comprised a metal organic framework, carbon foam decorated zinc oxide and magnetic nanoparticles embedded in polyvinyl alcohol cryogel. The porous composite stir bar adsorbent could adsorb parabens and bisphenols via hydrogen bonding, π-π and hydrophobic interactions....
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Localization and Orientation of Xanthophylls in a Lipid Bilayer
PublicationXanthophylls (polar carotenoids) play diverse biological roles, among which are modulation of the physical properties of lipid membranes and protection of biomembranes against oxidative damage. Molecular mechanisms underlying these functions are intimately related to the localization and orientation of xanthophyll molecules in lipid membranes. In the present work, we address the problem of localization and orientation of two xanthophylls...
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Characterization of PVDF/Graphene Nanocomposite Membranes for Water Desalination with Enhanced Antifungal Activity
PublicationSeawater desalination is a worldwide concern for the sustainable production of drinking water. In this regard, membrane distillation (MD) has shown the potential for effective brine treatment. However, the lack of appropriate MD membranes limits its industrial expansion since they experience fouling and wetting issues. Therefore, hydrophobic membranes are promising candidates to successfully deal with such phenomena that are typical...
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Magnetic-dipole-to-electric-quadrupole cross-susceptibilities for relativistic hydrogenlike atoms in some low-lying discrete energy eigenstates
PublicationIn this paper we present tabulated data for magnetic-dipole-to-electric-quadrupole cross-susceptibilities (χ_{M1→E2}) for Dirac one-electron atoms with a pointlike, spinless and motionless nucleus of charge Ze. Numerical values of this susceptibility for the hydrogen atom (Z = 1) and for hydrogenic ions with 2 \leqslant Z \leqslant 137 are computed from the general analytical formula, recently derived by us (Stefanska, 2016), valid...
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Determination of time dependence of coated metal electrical and electrochemical parameters during exposure using principal component analysis
PublicationThe use of the principal component analysis (PCA) permits the complex and quantitative analysis of the time dependence of electrical and electrochemical parameters of coated metal obtained by fitting impedance data. So far, changes in electrical and electrochemical parameters during exposure were analyzed independently. In this way, some of the information contained in the relationship between changes in parameters over time are...
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Modelling Wetland Growing Season Rainfall Interception Losses Based on Maximum Canopy Storage Measurements
PublicationThis study estimates rainfall interception losses from natural wetland ecosystems based on maximum canopy storage measurements. Rainfall interception losses play an important role in water balance, which is crucial in wetlands, and has not yet been thoroughly studied in relation to this type of ecosystem. Maximum canopy storage was measured using the weight method. Based on these measurements, daily values of interception losses...
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Magnetic deep eutectic solvents – Fundamentals and applications
PublicationMagnetic deep eutectic solvents (MDES), a relatively new subclass of conventional deep eutectic solvents (DES) containing additional paramagnetic components in their structure. MDES exhibit a strong response toward external magnetic fields, thus they can improve many industrial and analytical applications. In addition, this new group of solvents present unique physicochemical properties that can be easily tuned by selecting the...
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Comprehensive Comparison of a Few Variants of Cluster Analysis as Data Mining Tool in Supporting Environmental Management
PublicationA few variants of hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) as tool of assessment of multidimensional similarity in environmental dataset are compared. The dataset consisted of analytical results of determination of metals (Na, K, Ca, Sc, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Hf and Th) in ambient air dried and kept alive, by the means of hydroponics, moss baskets collected in 12 locations on the area of Tricity (Poland)....
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Sea spray as a secondary source of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants? - Conclusions from a comparison of seven fresh snowfall events in 2019 and 2021
PublicationSecondary sources of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) gain in importance worldwide as primary sources decline. In this work, we aim to determine whether sea spray may be a secondary source of chlorinated POPs to the terrestrial Arctic, since a similar mechanism was proposed there only for the more water-soluble POPs. To this end, we have determined polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides concentrations in fresh...
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Are the short cationic lipopeptides bacterial membrane disruptors? Structure-Activity Relationship and molecular dynamic evaluation
PublicationShort cationic lipopeptides are amphiphilic molecules that exhibit antimicrobial activity mainly against Grampositives. These compounds bind to bacterial membranes and disrupt their integrity. Here we examine the structure-activity relation (SAR) of lysine-based lipopeptides, with a prospect to rationally design more active compounds. The presented study aims to explain how antimicrobial activity of lipopeptides is affected by...
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Understanding the interactions between protein stabilizers and the peptide bond through the analysis of the volumetric and compressibility properties for the model systems
PublicationThis work confirms our earlier supposition, that volumetric and acoustic parameters for simple model proposed by us are directly related to stabilizing/destabilizing effect of osmolytes on proteins structure. The apparent molar volumes, V and the apparent molar isentropic compressions, KS,, of glycine and N,N,N –trimethylglycine (betaine) were determined from densities and speed of sound measurements in aqueous solution of N-methylacetamide...
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Chemical surface etching methods for ground tire rubber as sustainable approach for environmentally-friendly composites development– a review
PublicationGround tire rubber (GTR) has been used as a sustainable low-cost modifier in various composites. However, due to the hydrophobic nature of GTR, it is in compatible with most matrices and results in deterioration in both mechanical and physical properties of composites. This necessitates pre-modification of the powdered rubber to improve the interfacial bonding at the rubber-matric interface. The most common GTR modification research...
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Evaluation of the Influence of Farming Practices and Land Use on Groundwater Resources in a Coastal Multi-Aquifer System in Puck Region (Northern Poland)
PublicationThis study focuses on the modeling of groundwater flow and nitrate transport in a multi-aquifer hydrosystem in northern Poland, adjacent to Puck Bay (Baltic sea). The main goal was to investigate how changes in land use and farming practices may affect groundwater recharge and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to the sea and the associated N-NO3 fluxes. An integrated modelling approach has been developed, which couples the...
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Emulsifying blends based on natural fats for eco-design of O/W emulsions
PublicationEmulsifier blends are most often used to stabilize and modulate the properties of cosmetic and pharmaceutical emulsions, such as skin care or application-related consistency. However, the rational design of such emulsifier blends is often not well understood, especially when their ingredients are natural raw materials. This study aimed to analyze the influence of natural fatty ingredients selected as emulsifiers on the emulsion...
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Influence of rhamnolipids and ionic cross-linking conditions on the mechanical properties of alginate hydrogels as a model bacterial biofilm
PublicationThe literature indicates the existence of a relationship between rhamnolipids and bacterial biofilm, as well as the ability of selected bacteria to produce rhamnolipids and alginate. However, the influence of biosurfactant molecules on the mechanical properties of biofilms are still not fully understood. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of rhamnolipids concentration, CaCl2 concentration, and ionic cross-linking...
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Multi-stage magnetic-fluid seals for operating in water - life test procedure, test stand and research results
PublicationThe edge criteria for magnetic-fluid seals durability research are critical for the seal'stechnological usefulness. The magnetic fluid seal technology in water is much moredifficult technological problem in comparison to gas or vacuum environment. There isalways problem with immediate contact between magnetic fluid and the environmentaluninspected liquids. In the paper are presented ways of experiments definitions carried outwith...
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Detection and removal of priority substances and emerging pollutants from stormwater: case study of the Kołobrzeska collector, Gdańsk, Poland
PublicationProgressive urban development affects environmental balance and disrupts the hydrologic cycle, in which rainfall plays a significant role. Since rainwater is considered a valuable resource of the environment, many technical solutions are implemented that enable effective rainwater management. On the other hand, stormwater runoff from urban areas contains numerous (also toxic) substances, and therefore should be properly treated....
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Membrane distillation assisting food production processes of thermally sensitive food liquid items: a review
PublicationPhysical separation technologies have become important tool for processing in the current food manufacturing industries, especially for the products containing bioactive compounds thanks to their health benefits in costumers. As for the processing of bioactive food ingredients implies the implementation of integrated systems oriented to their separation, fractionation, and recovery. In this field, membrane distillation (MD), which...
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Magnetic signature reproduction of ferromagnetic ships at arbitrary geographical position, direction and depth using a multi-dipole model
PublicationThe reproduction of magnetic signatures is an important issue concerning the safety of ship traffic, as well as the identification and classification of vessels. Moreover, military applications of magnetic signatures and their reproduction refer to the activation or protection against activation of magnetic naval mines. Previous works on this subject focused on recording and replicating the signatures under the same conditions...
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Forest management
e-Learning CoursesThe last ice age ended in Scandinavia about 15 000 years ago. The land was gradually occupied by present tree species. Human settlement followed the vegetation. The first forest uses were hunting and gathering. Animal husbandry and forest grazing came later. Shifting cultivation was a wide spread form of agriculture, especially in Sweden and Finland. Wood was first used for domestic purposes and for construction, In the 18th century,...
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Dielectric properties of modified graphene oxide filled polyurethane nanocomposites and its correlation with rheology
PublicationThis study aims at investigating the dynamic mechanical, dielectric and rheological properties of reinforced polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites containing hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) and/or hydrophobic modified graphene oxide (mGO) sheets. The organic modification of GO was performed with 4,4′-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and the samples were prepared by solvent mixing. We found that addition of mGO provides a more...
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Effect of urea and glycine betaine on the hydration sphere of model molecules for the surface features of proteins
PublicationWater properties may significantly affect protein stability. Osmolytes are compounds that intrinsically affect water in many different ways and thus can influence proteins with this type of indirect mechanism. In this study, we characterize water properties in ternary solutions: model–water–osmolyte, with two model molecules: N-methylacetamide (NMA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and two osmolytes: glycine betaine (TMG)and urea....
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Effect of Functionalization of Reduced Graphene Oxide Coatings with Nitrogen and Sulfur Groups on Their Anti-Corrosion Properties
PublicationElectrophoretic production of anticorrosion carbonaceous coatings on copper could be successfully performed by anodic oxidation of negatively charged graphene platelets suspended in an aqueous solution. The various platelets were synthesized by Hummer’s method followed by a hydrothermal reduction in the presence of NH4SCN which was expected to substitute some parts of graphene structure with nitrogen and sulfur groups. X-ray photoelectron...
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The protective properties of graphene oxide coatings functionalized with phosphorus atoms.
PublicationRecently, electrophoretically deposited graphene oxide coatings are commonly applied as an anti-corrosion layer. However, improper adjustment of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) parameters as well as the hydrophilic nature of graphene oxide contribute to the formation of defects in the coatings and the increase in the wetting properties, respectively, and thus lead to a reduction of protective properties. The growth of wetting...
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Application of g-C3N4/ZnO nanocomposites for fabrication of anti-fouling polymer membranes with dye and protein rejection superiority
PublicationPolysulfone (PSf) membranes are privileged for water and wastewater treatment, but because of their hydrophobic nature, they suffer from fouling, which lowers their performance and lifetime. In this work, g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/ZnO nanomaterials were synthesized via a hydrothermal method to modify the PSf membrane for effective dye separation and reduction of organic fouling. Since g-C3N4/ZnO possesses –OH and –NH reactive groups, g-C3N4/ZnO/PSf...
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Predicting Value of Binding Constants of Organic Ligands to Beta-Cyclodextrin: Application of MARSplines and Descriptors Encoded in SMILES String
PublicationThe quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSPR) model was formulated to quantify values of the binding constant (lnK) of a series of ligands to beta–cyclodextrin (β-CD). For this purpose, the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSplines) methodology was adopted with molecular descriptors derived from the simplified molecular input line entry specification (SMILES) strings. This approach allows discovery of regression...
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Dimeric structure of the N-terminal domain of PriB protein from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis solved ab initio
PublicationPriB is one of the components of the bacterial primosome, which catalyzes the reactivation of stalled replication forks at sites of DNA damage. The N-terminal domain of the PriB protein from the thermophilic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis (TtePriB) was expressed and its crystal structure was solved at the atomic resolution of 1.09 Å by direct methods. The protein chain, which encompasses the first 104 residues of the...
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Combination of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction and vortex assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the extraction and analysis of ochratoxin A in dried fruit samples: Central composite design optimization
PublicationThis paper presents a new analytical procedure based on combination of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) and vortex-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (VA-DLLME) for the accurate and reliable determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in dried fruit samples. To enable selective extraction of the OTA, six hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (hDESs) were prepared and tested as extraction solvents. Optimization of...
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The supramolecular organization of self-assembling chlorosomal bacteriochlorophyll c, d, or e mimics
PublicationBacteriochlorophylls (BChls) c, d, and e are the main light-harvesting pigments of green photosynthetic bacteria that self-assemble into nanostructures within the chlorosomes forming the most efficient antennas of photosynthetic organisms. All previous models of the chlorosomal antennae, which are quite controversially discussed because no single crystals could be grown so far from these organelles, involve a strong hydrogen-bonding...
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Effect of Nanohydroxyapatite on Silk Fibroin–Chitosan Interactions—Molecular Dynamics Study
PublicationFibroin–chitosan composites, especially those containing nanohydroxyapatite, show potential for bone tissue regeneration. The physicochemical properties of these biocomposites depend on the compatibility between their components. In this study, the intermolecular interactions of fibroin and chitosan were analyzed using a molecular dynamics approach. Two types of systems were investigated: one containing acetic acid and the other...
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Effect of Chitosan Deacetylation on Its Affinity to Type III Collagen: A Molecular Dynamics Study
PublicationThe ability to form strong intermolecular interactions by linear glucosamine polysaccharides with collagen is strictly related to their nonlinear dynamic behavior and hence bio-lubricating features. Type III collagen plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration, and its presence in the articular cartilage affects its bio-technical features. In this study, the molecular dynamics methodology was applied to evaluate the effect of...
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The Synergistic Microbiological Effects of Industrial Produced Packaging Polyethylene Films Incorporated with Zinc Nanoparticles
PublicationZinc compounds in polyolefin films regulate the transmission of UV-VIS radiation, affect mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity. According to hypothesis, the use of zinc- containing masterbatches in polyethylene films (PE) with different chemical nature—hydrophilic zinc oxide (ZO) and hydrophobic zinc stearate (ZS)—can cause a synergistic effect, especially due to their antimicrobial properties. PE films obtained on an...
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Dia- and paramagnetic contributions to magnetizabilities of relativistic hydrogenlike atoms in some low-lying discrete energy eigenstates
PublicationIn this paper we present tabulated data for relative diamagnetic and paramagentic contributions to the magnetizability ($\chi$) of the relativistic hydrogenlike atoms with a pointlike, motionless and spinless nucleus of charge $Ze$. Utilizing general analytical formulas for the diamagnetic ($\chi_{d}$) and paramagnetic ($\chi_{p}$) components of $\chi$, recently derived by us [P. Stefa{\'n}ska, 2020] with the aid of the Gordon...
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The Interaction of Heptakis (2,6-di-O-Methyl)-β-Cyclodextrin with Mianserin Hydrochloride and Its Influence on the Drug Toxicity
PublicationOne tetracyclic antidepressant, mianserin hydrochloride (MIA), has quite significant side effects on a patients’ health. Cyclodextrins, which are most commonly used to reduce the undesirable features of contained drugs within their hydrophobic interior, also have the potential to alter the toxic behavior of the drug. The present paper contains investigations and the characteristics of interaction mechanisms for MIA and the heptakis...
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Hydration of amino acids: FTIR spectra and molecular dynamics studies
PublicationThe hydration of selected amino acids, alanine, glycine, proline, valine, isoleucine and phenylalanine, has been studied in aqueous solutions by means of FTIR spectra of HDO isotopically diluted in H2O. The difference spectra procedure and the chemometric method have been applied to remove the contribution of bulk water and thus to separate the spectra of solute-affected HDO. To support interpretation of obtained spectral results,...
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Regulated Assembly of LPS, Its Structural Alterations and Cellular Response to LPS Defects
PublicationDistinguishing feature of the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is its asymmetry due to the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer leaflet of the OM and phospholipids in the inner leaflet. Recent studies have revealed the existence of regulatory controls that ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids, both of which are essential for bacterial viability. LPS provides the essential permeability...
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Transport properties of microemulsions with ionic liquid apolar domains as a function of ionic liquid content
PublicationThe specific conductivity, dynamic viscosity and apparent diffusion coefficient of each of four aqueous ionic liquid microemulsions (IL-MEs) were measured as a function of ionic liquid (IL) content. The investigated systems were composed of water, hydrophobic ILs (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate or bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide) and the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 or its mixture with cosurfactant (butanol)....
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Spectroscopic Optical Coherence Tomography for Thin Layer and Foil Measurements
PublicationThe main goal of this research was to assess if it is possible to evaluate the thickness of thin layers (both thin films on the surface and thin layers below the surface of the tested object) and foils using optical coherence tomography (OCT) for thickness assessment under the resolution of the standard commercially available OCT measurement system. In the proposed solution, light backscattered from the evaluated thin layer has...
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Chemically reduced graphene oxide based aerogels - Insight on the surface and textural functionalities dependent on handling the synthesis factors
PublicationEfficient adjusting of reduced graphene oxide aerogels properties requires information about experimental factor-aerogel property relationship. In this work, the reduced graphene oxide aerogels surface and textural functionalities in relation to precursor concentration, gelation time and hydrogel freezing temperature were studied in detail, with the use of dynamic adsorption method of gaseous organic probes and experimental design....
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Membrane-SPME the best 'green' sample preparation technique for the gas chromatographic determination polar organic pollutants in polar media
PublicationOne of the most popular technique for sample preparation, which fulfill requirements of green analytical chemistry, is solid phase microextraction (SPME). Because of the undoubted advantages of SPME technique, solvent-free character of the extraction process and the enormous potential in analytical practice, a series of studies has been undertaken to develop new technical solutions, where improving the sensitivity and the extraction...
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Chromatographic behavior of a new hybrid type RP material containing silica bonded 1,3-alternate 25,27-bis-[cyanopropyloxy]-26,28-bis-[3-propyloxy]-calix[4]arene
PublicationA novel 1,3-alternate 25,27-bis-[cyanopropyloxy]-26,28-bis-[3-propyloxy]-calix[4]arene-bonded silica gel stationary phase (CalixPrCN) was prepared and it's structure was confirmed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The CalixPrCN phase was characterized in terms of their surface coverage, hydrophobic selectivity, aromatic selectivity, shape selectivity, hydrogen bonding capacity, residue metal content, and silanol...
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Human serum interactions with phenolic and aroma substances of Kaffir(Citrus hystrix) and Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) juices
PublicationTo understand the therapeutic application of polyphenols extracted from Kaffir (PolKaf) and Key (PolKey) limesdifferent analytical methods were applied. Based on quantitative analysis by two dimensional gas chromato-graphy (GC×GC) and time of flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) it can be observed that the biggest differencesin the contents of selected terpenes of Kaffir and Key limes occur in chemical compounds such as limonene, citraland...
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Carbon nanowalls: A new versatile graphene based interface for laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry detection of small compounds in real samples.
PublicationCarbon nanowalls, vertically aligned graphene nanosheets, attract attention owing to their tunable band-gap, high conductivity, high mechanical robustness, high optical absorbance and other remarkable properties. In this paper, we report for the first time, the use of hydrophobic boron-doped carbon nanowalls (CNWs) for laser desorption/ionization of small compounds and their subsequent detection by mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). The...
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Structure and water uptake in BaLnCo2O6−δ (Ln =La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy)
PublicationThe structure of BaLnCo2O6-δ (Ln =La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy) was studied by the means of synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction, neutron powder diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), while water uptake properties were analysed with the use of thermogravimetry (TG) and water adsorption isotherms. The structure refinement revealed that the dominant phase in all compositions was orthorhombic with an ordering...