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Cellulosic bionanocomposites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and Cuscuta reflexa: adjusting structure-properties balance for higher performance
PublikacjaDesign and manufacture of cellulosic nanocomposites with acceptable performance is in the period of a transition from fantasy to reality. Typically, cellulosic nanofillers reveal poor compatibility with polymer matrices. Thus, adjusting the balance between structure and properties of cellulosic bionanocomposites by careful selection of parent ingredients is the first priority. Herein, we incorporated Cuscuta reflexa derived cellulose...
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The role of hydrogen bonding on tuning hard-soft segments in bio-based thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane)s
PublikacjaThis work describes the preparation of bio-based thermoplastic poly(ether-urethane)s (TPU) via a prepolymer method and investigates the effect of varying the interphase hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) on physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties. This was achieved by varying the glycol type and molar ratio of [NCO]/[OH] groups used during the prepolymer chain extending step. The TPUs’ chemical structure was analyzed by Fourier...
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POM/EVA Blends with Future Utility in Fused Deposition Modeling
PublikacjaPolyoxymethylene (POM) is one of the most popular thermoplastic polymers used in the industry. Therefore, the interest in its potential applications in rapid prototyping is understandable. Nevertheless, its low dimensional stability causes the warping of 3D prints, limiting its applications. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of POM modification with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt.%) on its processing...
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Mechanical exfoliation and layer number identification of single crystal monoclinic CrCl3
PublikacjaAfter the recent finding that CrI3, displays ferromagnetic order down to its monolayer, extensive studies have followed to pursue new two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials. In this article, we report on the growth of single crystal CrCl3 in the layered monoclinic phase. The system after mechanical exfoliation exhibits stability in ambient air (the degradation occurs on a time scale at least four orders of magnitude longer than...
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Plasticity of Bead-On-Plate Welds Made with the Use of Stored Flux-Cored Wires for Offshore Applications
PublikacjaExtreme atmospheric conditions in the marine and offshore industry are harmful to engineering materials, especially to welded joints, and may cause degradation of their properties. This article presents the results of research on the plasticity of bead-on-plate welds made using two types of seamless, copper plated flux-cored wires. Before welding, spools with wire were stored for 1 month in two distinct locations with different...
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Degradation of Kinematic PPP of GNSS Stations in Central Europe Caused by Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances During the St. Patrick’s Day 2015 Geomagnetic Storm
PublikacjaIn solar cycle 24, the strongest geomagnetic storm took place on March 17, 2015, when the geomagnetic activity index was as high as -223 nT. To verify the impact that the storm had on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)’s positioning accuracy and precision, we used 30-s observations from 15 reference stations located in Central Europe. For each of them, we applied kinematic precise point positioning (PPP) using gLAB software...
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Simple empirical formula to estimate the main geomechanical parameters of preplaced aggregate concrete and conventional concrete
PublikacjaPreplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) or two-stage concrete is a specific type of concrete successfully employed in many projects including underwater concrete structures, massive concrete structures, structures made of reinforced concrete, and improvement of concrete structures. PAC is significantly different than the conventional concrete. In this type of concrete, aggregates are initially poured into the mold, the voids between...
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Curing epoxy with electrochemically synthesized Zn Fe3-O4 magnetic nanoparticles
PublikacjaCathodic electrodeposition (CED) was applied in synthesis of undoped and zinc (Zn) doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Changes in the lattice structure of nanoparticles were monitored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) supported by dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Detailed analyses explored the formation of ZnxFe3–xO4 nanoparticles with x ≈ 0.1,...
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Digits Recognition with Quadrant Photodiode and Convolutional Neural Network
PublikacjaIn this paper we have investigated the capabilities of a quadrant photodiode based gesture sensor in the recognition of digits drawn in the air. The sensor consisting of 4 active elements, 4 LEDs and a pinhole was considered as input interface for both discrete and continuous gestures. Index finger and a round pointer were used as navigating mediums for the sensor. Experiments performed with 5 volunteers...
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Towards understanding the role of peroxide initiators on compatibilization efficiency of thermoplastic elastomers highly filled with reclaimed GTR
PublikacjaThermoplastic elastomers based on recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer were highly filled with reclaimed ground tire rubber (RR). The impact of various organic peroxides (dicumyl peroxide (DCP), benzoyl peroxide (BP) and di-tert-butyl peroxide (DB)), applied as free-radical initiators, on the processing, structure and performance properties of rHDPE/SBS/RR blends was investigated....
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Experimental research on over-laminated steel sandwich panel connection to determine the form of fatigue failure
PublikacjaThe novel means of transport need to meet rising both the economic and ecologic requirements. In recent years the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced new measure of ship energy efficiency (the EEDI index), as well as new regulations regarding higher quality of fuel (so called Tier limits). It resulted in much higher interest of the technological development of ships. One of the solution having great potential is...
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Comprehensive Comparison of a Few Variants of Cluster Analysis as Data Mining Tool in Supporting Environmental Management
PublikacjaA 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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Optical and electrical properties of boron doped diamond thin conductive films deposited on fused silica glass substrates
PublikacjaThis paper presents boron-doped diamond (BDD) film as a conductive coating for optical and electronic purposes. Seeding and growth processes of thin diamond films on fused silica have been investigated. Growth processes of thin diamond films on fused silica were investigated at various boron doping level and methane admixture. Two step pre-treatment procedure of fused silica substrate was applied to achieve high seeding density....
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Analysis of bisphenols and their derivatives in infant and toddler ready-to-feed milk and powdered milk by LC MS/MS
PublikacjaReady-to-feed milk and powdered milk packed in different types of packaging lined with resin are chosen as the primary or complementary diet for infants and toddlers. An HPLC–MS/MS method was established and validated for the determination of nineteen bisphenols and their derivatives in such samples. The recoveries were from 31% to 120%, while the values of limit of detection and quantification were in the range of 0.24–0.40 and...
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Enhancing Economic Development Through ICT-Based Governance: Evidence for Developing Countries
Publikacjahis shows novel empirical evidence on how e-government solutions enhance the emergence of inclusive societies, increase institutional quality, and through that channels dynamize economic development in developing countries. With this aim we examine digital development inequalities adopting 2 core ICT indicators: mobile cellular telephony and Internet users; and gross per capita income and Human Development Index to show the level...
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Modeling the application of steel slag in stabilizing expansive soil
PublikacjaThe objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of steel slag as an additive to the engineering properties of weak clay soil. Different geotechnical laboratory tests were conducted on both stabilized and natural soils. Steel slag (SS) was added at a rate of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% to the soil. Specific gravity, grain size analysis, Atterberg limit test, compaction test, free swell, California bearing ratio (CBR),...
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INFLUENCE OF TEST CONDITIONS ON TYRE/ROAD NOISE MEASURED BY THE DRUM METHOD
PublikacjaTyre/road noise is one of the most important environmental problems related to road traffic. Nowadays a few standard procedures of tyre/road noise measurements are in use. Unfortunately, measurement conditions specified within relevant standards are very different. For example, procedure described in ISO 11819-2 used for pavement investigations requires tyre load of 3200 N and capped inflation pressure of 200 kPa. At the same time...
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Transparency of publicly available information about fiscal and monetary policy in Poland
PublikacjaResearch background: The quality of information provided by fiscal and monetary authorities are important in a democratic state. Ensuring fiscal policy transparency reduces fiscal risk and corruption and promotes public acceptance of fiscal reforms. Ensuring transparency in monetary policy allows market participants to anticipate central bank responses and take their effects into account when making investment and consumption decisions. Aim...
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Industry-level analysis of COVID-19’s impact in emerging markets – evidence from Pakistan
PublikacjaPurpose – The main purpose of this study is to evaluate COVID-19’s impact on the emerging stock markets. Design/methodology/approach – To evaluate the influence of COVID-19, this study uses a novel method of event study methodology to measure the impact of COVID-19 on emerging stock markets. The research’s sample includes a total of 79 firms from 26 industries that are included in the KSE-100 Index from the Pakistan Stock Exchange....
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Seven Different Lighting Conditions in Photogrammetric Studies of a 3D Urban Mock-Up
PublikacjaOne of the most important elements during photogrammetric studies is the appropriate lighting of the object or area under investigation. Nevertheless, the concept of “adequate lighting” is relative. Therefore, we have attempted, based on experimental proof of concept (technology readiness level—TRL3), to verify the impact of various types of lighting emitted by LED light sources for scene illumination and their direct influence...
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Application of shifted Chebyshev polynomial-based Rayleigh–Ritz method and Navier’s technique for vibration analysis of a functionally graded porous beam embedded in Kerr foundation
PublikacjaPresent study is dealt with the applicability of shifted Chebyshev polynomial based Rayleigh-Ritz method and Navier’s technique on free vibration of Functionally Graded (FG) beam with uniformly distributed porosity along the thickness of the beam. The material properties such as Young’s modulus, mass density, and Poisson’s ratio are also considered to vary along the thickness of the FG beam as per the power-law exponent model....
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Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Poly(Lactic Acid) Blends Compatibilized by Peroxide Initiators: Comparison of Two Strategies
PublikacjaPoly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends were compatibilized by reactive blending and by copolymers formed during reaction in the solution. The reactive blending of PCL/PLA was performed using di-(2-tert-butyl-peroxyisopropyl)benzene (BIB) or dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as radical initiator. PCL-g-PLA copolymers were prepared using 1.0 wt. % of DCP or BIB via reaction in solution, which was investigated through...
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MRI assessment of ectopic fat accumulation in pancreas, liver and skeletal muscle in patients with obesity, overweight and normal BMI in correlation with the presence of central obesity and metabolic syndrome
PublikacjaPurpose: Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30 kg/m2, is a serious health problem, which can be called an epidemic on a global scale and is one of the most important causes of preventable death. The aim of this study was to assess ectopic fat accumulation in pancreas, liver and skeletal muscle in patients with obesity, overweight and normal BMI in correlation with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Patients and methods:...
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Corporate social responsibility and forward default risk mediated by financial performance and goodwill
PublikacjaIn today’s business environment, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an increasingly significant factor for firms. This study is driven by the motivation to add to the current literature by investigating the mediating elements that explain the relationship between CSR and forward default risk. In this paper, we attempt to identify the important mediators and give a more comprehensive explanation of this connection...
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Ground lemon and stevia leaves as renewable functional fillers with antioxidant activity for high-density polyethylene composites
PublikacjaThe development of new sustainable material solutions in the processing of thermoplastic polymers concerns both the application of biopolymers and the use of valorized plant derivatives as fillers and modifiers of petrochemical polymers. Herein, the possibility of using unprocessed raw parts of two commonly used in the food industry leaves, i.e., lemon (LL) and stevia (ST), as active and functional fillers for high-density polyethylene...
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Chained machine learning model for predicting load capacity and ductility of steel fiber–reinforced concrete beams
PublikacjaOne of the main issues associated with steel fiber–reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams is the ability to anticipate their flexural response. With a comprehensive grid search, several stacked models (i.e., chained, parallel) consisting of various machine learning (ML) algorithms and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were developed to predict the flexural response of SFRC beams. The flexural performance of SFRC beams under bending was...
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Chlorine-free extraction and structural characterization of cellulose nanofibers from waste husk of millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
PublikacjaThis study aims to extract cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from a sustainable source, i.e. millet husk, which is an agro-waste worthy of consideration. Pre-treatments such as mercerisation, steam explosion, and peroxide bleaching (chlorine-free) were applied for the removal of non-cellulosic components. The bleached millet husk pulp was subjected to acid hydrolysis (5% oxalic acid) followed by homogenization to extract CNFs. The extracted...
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Optimum shapes and dimensions of rubber bumpers in order to reduce structural pounding during seismic excitations
PublikacjaLarge displacement of structures observed during seismic excitations may lead to collisions between two adjacent, insufficiently-separated buildings and may result in major damages of both of them. In many building codes, appropriate equations or approximately recommended distances between structures in order to avoid pounding hazard have been introduced. Unfortunately, further, more detailed considerations show that safety situation...
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Insights into Stoichiometry Adjustments Governing the Performance of Flexible Foamed Polyurethane/Ground Tire Rubber Composites
PublikacjaPolyurethanes (PU) are widely applied in the industry due to their tunable performance adjusted by changes in the isocyanate index—stoichiometric balance between isocyanate and hydroxyl groups. This balance is affected by the incorporation of modifiers of fillers into the PU matrix and is especially crucial for PU foams due to the additional role of isocyanates—foaming of the material. Despite the awareness of the issue underlined...
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Implementation of the Concept of Flexicurity in the Selected Countries of Central Eastern Europe
PublikacjaThe CEE countries have to create their own flexicurity policies which would take into account the employment policy guidelines, cultural traditions and socio-economic development. The aim of this article is to examine and evaluate the implementation of the flexicurity concept on the basis of the adopted set of composite indicators. The study covers 9 countries of the CEE region, and the research period covers the years 2007 and 2013....
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Application of discrete wavelet transform in seismic nonlinear analysis of soil–structure interaction problems
PublikacjaSimulation of soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects is a time-consuming and costly process. However, ignoring the influence of SSI on structural response may lead to inaccurate results, especially in the case of seismic nonlinear analysis. In this paper, wavelet transform methodology has been utilized for investigation of the seismic response of soil-structure systems. For this purpose, different storey outrigger braced buildings...
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Hidden Champions of Poland
PublikacjaPoland is a country with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The hidden champions’ performance has been closely related to political and economic changes: the fall of communism in 1989 and the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy. This led to the emergence of small private businesses focused on the domestic market. The accession to the European Union in 2004 created new perspectives for the hidden champions’...
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Genetic Algorithm Approach for Gains Selection of Induction Machine Extended Speed Observer
PublikacjaThe subject of this paper is gains selection of an extended induction machine speed observer. A high number of gains makes manual gains selection difficult and due to nonlinear equations of the observer, well-known methods of gains selection for linear systems cannot be applied. A method based on genetic algorithms has been proposed instead. Such an approach requires multiple fitness function calls; therefore, using a quality index...
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Developing the Urban Blue-Green Infrastructure as a Tool for Urban Air Quality Management
PublikacjaUrban structure is an important factor that shapes the process of urban ventilation and pollution dispersion. With proper planning of the urban spatial layout, city breathability can be effectively regulated, contributing to urban air quality improvement. This paper investigates the development and current management of urban systems of green and open spaces in four Polish cities: Gda ´nsk, Warsaw, Pozna ´n and Wrocław, with a...
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Spatial variability of throughfall in a stand of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with deciduous admixture as influenced by canopy cover and stem distance
PublikacjaVegetation cover affects the amount of precipitation, its chemical composition and its spatial distribution, and this may have implications for the distribution of water, nutrients and contaminants in the subsurface soil layer. The aim of this study was a detailed diagnosis of the spatio-temporal variability in the amount of throughfall (TF) and its chemical components in a 72-year-old pine stand with an admixture of oak and birch....
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Thermoplastic starch nanocomposites using cellulose-rich Chrysopogon zizanioides nanofibers
PublikacjaGreen thermoplastic starch (TPS) nanocomposite films aided by cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from Chrysopogon zizanioides roots were developed and characterized. When compared to other lignocellulosic fibers, Chrysopogon zizanioides roots revealed exceptionally high cellulose content (~48%). CNFs were separated using an environmentally friendly acid isolation technique that included three stages: (i) alkali treatment; (ii) bleaching;...
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Biomechanics of Lumbar Spine Injury in Road Barrier Collision–Finite Element Study
PublikacjaLiterature and field data from CIREN database have shown that lumbar spine injuries occur during car crashes. There are multiple hypotheses regarding how they occur; however, there is no biomechanical explanation for these injuries during collisions with road safety barriers (RSBs). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the mechanics of vertebral fractures during car collisions with concrete RSBs. The finite...
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The influence of atmospheric circulation on the occurrence of dry and wet periods in Central Poland in 1954–2018
PublikacjaThis work presents the influence of atmospheric circulation on the occurrence of dry and wet periods in the central Polish region of Kujawy. The material on which the authors relied encompassed monthly totals of precipitation obtained from 10 weather stations in the period 1954–2018. Both dry and wet periods have been identified on the basis of monthly values of the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI). Additionally, the calendar...
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Exergy and Energy Analyses of Microwave Dryer for Cantaloupe Slice and Prediction of Thermodynamic Parameters Using ANN and ANFIS Algorithms
PublikacjaThe study targeted towards drying of cantaloupe slices with various thicknesses in a microwave dryer. The experiments were carried out at three microwave powers of 180, 360, and 540 W and three thicknesses of 2, 4, and 6 mm for cantaloupe drying, and the weight variations were determined. Artificial neural networks (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) were exploited to investigate energy and exergy indices of...
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Super-resolved Thermal Imagery for High-accuracy Facial Areas Detection and Analysis
PublikacjaIn this study, we evaluate various Convolutional Neural Networks based Super-Resolution (SR) models to improve facial areas detection in thermal images. In particular, we analyze the influence of selected spatiotemporal properties of thermal image sequences on detection accuracy. For this purpose, a thermal face database was acquired for 40 volunteers. Contrary to most of existing thermal databases of faces, we publish our dataset...
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The Substantial Improvement of Amphotericin B Selective Toxicity Upon Modification of Mycosamine with Bulky Substituents
PublikacjaAbstract: Background: It is assumed that the unfavorable selective toxicity of an antifungal drug Amphotericin B (AmB) can be improved upon chemical modification of the antibiotic molecule. Objective: The aim of this study was verification of the hypothesis that introduction of bulky substituents at the amino sugar moiety of the antibiotic may result in diminishment of mammalian vitro toxicity of thus prepared AmB derivatives. Methods:...
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Organic Acids and Polyphenols Determination in Polish Wines by Ultrasound-Assisted Solvent Extraction of Porous Membrane-Packed Liquid Samples
PublikacjaIn the near future, Poland is going to have more and more favorable conditions for viticulture. Organic acids and polyphenols are among the most commonly analyzed compounds due to their beneficial properties for human health and their importance in the winemaking process. In this work, a new technique involving ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction of porous membrane-packed liquid samples (UASE-PMLS) was for the first time described...
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Unconditionally blue: Curing epoxy with polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface-functionalized Zn Fe3-O4 magnetic nanoparticles
PublikacjaNanoparticles govern early (chemical-controlled) and late (diffusion-controlled) stages of epoxy crosslinking, respectively. Surface functionalization of nanoparticles with macromolecules was recognized as an effective route to compensate for inadequate diffusion-controlled crosslinking. However, the effect of bulk composition amended with cations having catalytic effect towards epoxy ring opening has remained hitherto undescribed....
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Adipokine and cytokine levels in non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI)
PublikacjaDue to the fact that overweight or obesity is accompanied by hormonally active adrenal tumors: Cushing Syndrome-(CS) and Subclinical Cushing Syndrome (SCS), it is of high interest the correlation between different adipokines and cytokines secreted by adipose tissue, with metabolic disorders and hormonal activity in this group. Even in non-functioning adrenal incidentalomas (NFAI) elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic...
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Coupling of Blood Pressure and Subarachnoid Space Oscillations at Cardiac Frequency Evoked by Handgrip and Cold Tests: A Bispectral Analysis
PublikacjaThe aim of the study was to assess blood pressure–subarachnoid space (BP–SAS) width coupling properties using time–frequency bispectral analysis based on wavelet transforms during handgrip and cold tests. The experiments were performed on a group of 16 healthy subjects (F/M; 7/9) of the mean age 27.2 ± 6.8 years and body mass index of 23.8 ± 4.1 kg/m². The sequence of challenges was first handgrip and then cold test. The handgrip...
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Medical-Grade PCL Based Polyurethane System for FDM 3D Printing—Characterization and Fabrication
PublikacjaThe widespread use of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies in medicine has contributed to the increased demand for 3D printing materials. In addition, new printing materials that are appearing in the industry do not provide a detailed material characterization. In this paper, we present the synthesis and characterization of polycaprolactone (PCL) based medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethanes, which are suitable for forming...
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Monitoring of odors emitted from stabilized dewatered sludge subjected to aging using proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry
PublikacjaOne of the potential emission sources of odorous compounds from wastewater treatment plants is sludge processing. The odorous compounds released from dewatered sludge can result in odor nuisance. This study concerns the use of flux hood chamber combined with proton transfer reaction—time of flight—mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) technique for periodical monitoring of odorous compounds emitted from aged, stabilized dewatered sludge samples...
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Import Intensity of Production, Tasks and Wages: Microlevel Evidence for Poland.
PublikacjaObjective: This article relates to recent literature on labour market consequences of production fragmentation within Global Value Chains, analysed in the presence of workers’ heterogeneity and differences in the task content of jobs. The main aim is to assess if there is a relationship between wages of Polish workers and the degree of Polish production dependence on imported inputs. Research Design & Methods: Using microdata from...
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Factors determining accumulation of bisphenol A and alkylphenols at a low trophic level as exemplified by mussels Mytilus trossulus
PublikacjaThe aim of the study was to investigate abiotic and biotic factors influencing the accumulation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA), 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and 4- nonylphenol (NP) in mussels Mytilus trossulus from the Gulf of Gdansk (Southern Baltic). The key abiotic factor influencing BPA, OP and NP accumulation in mussels is their hydrophilicity/lipophilicity, which affects their main assimilation...
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On the Handling of Outliers in the GNSS Time Series by Means of the Noise and Probability Analysis
PublikacjaThe data pre-analysis plays a significant role in the noise determination. The most important issue is to find an optimum criterion for outliers removal, since their existence can affect any further analysis. The noises in the GNSS time series are characterized by spectral index and amplitudes that can be determined with a few different methods. In this research, the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) was used. The noise amplitudes...