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Eco-friendly modification of bitumen: The effects of rubber wastes and castor oil on the microstructure, processability and properties
PublikacjaThe bitumen industry in the European Union is facing several difficulties, including rising demand, unstable oil supply, rising prices for synthetic polymer modifiers, and a focus on lowering carbon footprint. Bitumen modification with crumb rubber (CR) is one of the most promising solution to these challenges. However, CR-modified bitumen have poor processability and low storage stability. To overcome these flaws we are introducing...
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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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Role of Fungi in Biodegradation of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids by Activated Sewage Sludge
PublikacjaIonic liquids (ILs), due to their specific properties, can play the role of persistent water contaminants. Fungi manifest the ability to decompose hardy degradable compounds, showing potential in the biodegradation of ILs, which has been studied extensively on sewage sludge; however, attention was drawn mainly to bacterial and not fungal species. The aim of the research was to determine the significance of fungi in ILs’ biodegradation...
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Intensification of catechin extraction from the bark of Syzygium cumini using ultrasonication: Optimization, characterization, degradation analysis and kinetic studies
PublikacjaCatechin is a prominent polyphenolic component that possesses various medicinal properties. Present work communicates the intensification and optimization of catechin extraction from the bark of Syzygium cumini tree using stirred reactor, soxhlet, ultrasonic bath, and ultrasonic horn technique. The optimization of several parameters such as type of solvent, solid to solvent ratio (1:100 w/v), speed of agitation (300 RPM), extraction...
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Optimum number of actuators to minimize the cross-sectional area of prestressable cable and truss structures
PublikacjaThis paper describes a new computational method for determining the optimum number of actuators to design the optimal and economic cross-sectional area of pin-jointed assemblies based on the conventional force method. The most active members are selected to be prestressed to redistribute stress in the whole structure, resulting in regulating the internal force of bars that face high stress. Reducing stress in critical members allows...
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Novel Versatile Topologies and Design Optimization of Wide-Bandstop Frequency Selective Surfaces for X-Band, Ku-Band and Millimeter-Wave Applications
PublikacjaNovel designs of frequency selective surface (FSS) are presented for wideband applications in X, Ku and mmWave (millimeter Wave) bands. Two identical metallic layers of FSS are imprinted on both sides of the RO4003 substrate. The geometry parameters are optimized to maximize the bandstop at the specified in-band maximum transmission level of –10 dB; satisfaction of the latter condition is enforced through appropriate formulation...
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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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Cellulose and its derivatives, coffee grounds, and cross-linked, β-cyclodextrin in the race for the highest sorption capacity of cationic dyes in accordance with the principles of sustainable development
PublikacjaIn this study, seven different materials were analyzed and includes coffee grounds (CG), two types of cellulose (CGC and CC), two types of modified cellulose (CT and CTCD), and cross-linked β-cyclodextrin (CD-1 and CD-2) were tested as adsorbents for the removal of dyes from the wastewater. The composition, morphology, and presence of functional groups in the obtained sorption materials were characterized by elemental analysis,...
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Tolerance Optimization of Antenna Structures by Means of Response Feature Surrogates
PublikacjaFabrication tolerances and other types of uncertainties, e.g., the lack of precise knowledge of material parameters, have detrimental effects on electrical and field performance of antenna systems. In the case of input characteristics these are particularly noticeable for narrow- and multi-band antennas where deviations of geometry parameters from their nominal values lead to frequency shifts of the operating frequency bands. Improving...
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Cathodic Protection System of the Spiral Classifier at the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Ore Concentration Plant—Case Study of Commissioning and Control of Operating Parameters
PublikacjaThe project involved designing, constructing and commissioning a cathodic protection system for a selected spiral classifier operating at the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Ore Concentration Plant (O/ZWR). The authors developed a concept and assumptions regarding the corrosion protection of a large industrial device using a cathodic protection system with an external power source. Pre-project studies included conducting a trial polarization...
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Physicochemical Properties and Application of Silica-Doped Biochar Composites as Efficient Sorbents of Copper from Tap Water
PublikacjaThis article concerns research on new sorption materials based on silica-doped activated carbon. A two-stage synthesis involved pyrolysis of plant material impregnated in a water glass solution , followed by hydrothermal activation of the pyrolysate in KOH solution. The resulting composite can be used as a sorbent in drinking water filters. The proposed method of synthesis enables the design of materials with a surface area...
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Challenges in determination of pesticides from various chemical groups in fruits and vegetables applying QuEChERS method
PublikacjaPesticides are a large group of compounds with different physical and chemical properties, which place some of them among the most toxic, environmentally stable, and mobile substances. Nevertheless, their number, use, and application are continuously expanding. A consequence of their use is the possible presence of residues in treated food products. To protect consumers from exposure to unacceptable levels of pesticides Maximum...
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The oil film parameters of the wankel engine apex seal in aspects of durability of mating elements
PublikacjaThe Wankel engine is one of only few alternatives to the reciprocating engines. The advantages such as good value of maximum engine power to its mass ratio are still present and can have great sense in selected fields of application, for example General Aviation. Nevertheless the disadvantages of the Wankel engine design have never lost its importance and still pose an obstacle to wider use of the Wankel engine. One of the main...
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The effect of nanoparticles size on photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of Ag-Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts
PublikacjaAg-Pt-modified TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using the sol–gel method. Bimetallic modified TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited improved photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation, better than monometallic Ag/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). All modified powders showed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in visible region. The photocatalysts’ characteristics by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning transmission...
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Tyre/road noise reduction by a poroelastic road surface
PublikacjaLow noise road surfaces of existing types may in favourable cases and in new conditions provide up to 7 dB of noise reduction. For higher noise reductions, innovative solutions must be sought. Poroelastic road surfaces (PERS) may be such a solution, which currently is studied in the EU project PERSUADE. This paper presents results of trials with a PERS version prefabricated by one of the project partners. Tests were made in a laboratory...
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Mechanical Strength of MV Ship-switchgear During Fault Arc
PublikacjaIn the paper the analysis of pressure stressed in enclosure during fault arc inside switchgear is pre-sented as well. There is introduced the method based on determining stresses which are sum of tensile stresses (membrane) and deflection stresses. For tensile stresses nalysis the energy method, for unrestrainedly supported rectangular plate, was used. In the further part of the paper, the calculations and measurements results...
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Strategic balance in graphs
PublikacjaFor a given graph G, a nonempty subset S contained in V ( G ) is an alliance iff for each vertex v ∈ S there are at least as many vertices from the closed neighbourhood of v in S as in V ( G ) − S. An alliance is global if it is also a dominating set of G. The alliance partition number of G was defined in Hedetniemi et al. (2004) to be the maximum number of sets in a partition of V ( G ) such that each set is an alliance. Similarly,...
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Tolerance-Aware Multi-Objective Optimization of Antennas by Means of Feature-Based Regression Surrogates
PublikacjaAssessing the immunity of antenna design to fabrication tolerances is an important consideration, especially when the manufacturing process has not been predetermined. At the same time, the antenna parameter tuning should be oriented toward improving the performance figures pertinent to both electrical (e.g., input matching) and field properties (e.g., axial ratio bandwidth) as much as possible. Identification of available trade-offs...
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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF THE RAILWAY BRIDGES IN POLAND WITH REGARDS TO HIGH-SPEED TRAINS PASSAGE ADJUSTMENT
PublikacjaThe dynamic analysis of the railway bridge in Tczew was carried out in the article as an example of such bridges adaptation suitability to handle high-speed trains. Calculations of railway bridges are greatly complicated and labor-consuming. The bridge model and a rolling stock passage simulation were developed in the SOFISTIK software. Three types of elements were used for the correct mapping of the structure in the calculation...
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A Highly Sensitive Planar Microwave Sensor for Detecting Direction and Angle of Rotation
PublikacjaThis article presents a technique based on a modified complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) to detect angular displacement and direction of rotation with high resolution and sensitivity over a wide dynamic range. The proposed microwave planar sensor takes advantage of the asymmetry of the sensor geometry and measures the angle of rotation in terms of the change in the relative phase of the reflection coefficients. The sensor...
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Using Fast Frequency Hopping Technique to Improve Reliability of Underwater Communication System
PublikacjaAcoustic underwater communication systems designed to work reliably in shallow coastal waters must overcome major limitations such as multipath propagation and the Doppler effect. These restrictions are the reason for the complexity of receivers being built, whose task is to decode a symbol on the basis of the received signal. Additional complications are caused by the low propagation speed of the acoustic wave in the water and...
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Tuning the extraction properties of ionogel-coated Solid-phase microextraction fibers based on the solvation properties of the ionic liquids
PublikacjaA silica-based network was used to immobilize ionic liquid-based ionogels and applied as a fiber coating forsolid-phase microextraction (SPME). The ionogels were prepared by a sol–gel process, using two ionic liquids,triethylsulfonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Set3][TFSI]) and 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium bis(tri-fluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C4C1Pip][TFSI]), as well as their equimolar mixture. Methyltrimethoxysilane wasused...
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A High-Arctic flow-through lake system hydrochemical changes: Revvatnet, southwestern Svalbard (years 2010–2018)
PublikacjaLake ecosystems are strongly coupled to features of their surrounding landscapes such as geomorphology, lithology, vegetation and hydrological characteristics. In the 2010–2018 summer seasons, we investigated an Arctic flow-through lake system Revvatnet, located in the vicinity of the coastal zone of Hornsund fjord in Svalbard, characterising its hydrological properties and the chemical composition of its waters. The lake system...
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Improving the Performance of a Graphite Foil/Polyaniline Electrode Material by a Thin PEDOT:PSS Layer for Application in Flexible, High Power Supercapacitors
PublikacjaIn this study, we present a novel strategy for enhancing polyaniline stability and thus obtaining an electrode material with practical application in supercapacitors. A promising (graphite foil/polyaniline/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) GF/PANI/PEDOT:PSS) electrode material was characterized and used in the construction of a symmetric supercapacitor that provides an outstanding high power density. For this...
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Dynamic Route Discovery Using Modified Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm in Wireless Ad-Hoc Visible Light Communication Network
PublikacjaIn recent times, visible light communication is an emerging technology that supports high speed data communication for wireless communication systems. However, the performance of the visible light communication system is impaired by inter symbol interference, the time dispersive nature of the channel, and nonlinear features of the light emitting diode that significantly reduces the bit error rate performance. To address these problems,...
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Flow maldistribution and its mitigation in mini heat exchangers
PublikacjaIn the present paper, a detailed numerical investigation has been carried out to analyze the flow maldistribution in 50 parallel 1 mm x 1 mm rectangular minichannels and 1 mm depth minigap section with rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular or concave mani-folds in Z-type flow configuration (16 different cases). The working medium was ethanol and the mass flow rate was 5×10-4 kg/s. Both sections was heated from the bottom side. Heat...
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The influence of crude glycerol and castor oil-based polyol on the structure and performance of rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams
PublikacjaIn this work, biopolyol obtained from two types of industrial crops’ processing products: crude glycerol and castor oil was used for preparation or rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams. Bio-based polyol was obtained via crude glycerol polymerization and further condensation of resulting polyglycerol with castor oil. Rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams were prepared at partial substitution (0–70 wt.%) of petrochemical...
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Noise Analysis of Continuous GPS Time Series of Selected EPN Stations to Investigate Variations in Stability of Monument Types
PublikacjaThe type of monument that a GPS antenna is placed on plays a significant role in noise estimation for each permanent GPS station. In this research 18 Polish permanent GPS stations that belong to the EPN (EUREF Permanent Network) were analyzed using Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE). The antennae of Polish EPN stations are placed on roofs of buildings or on concrete pillars. The analyzed data covers a period of 5 years from 2008...
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Stormwater runoff in the urbanized coastal basin of Gdańsk Urbanized basin of Gdańsk
PublikacjaAnthropopressure strongly affects the primal water cycle. Alternation of the natural basins imposes changes of drainage patterns, reduction of bioretention, infiltration and base flow. As a result the overland flow predominates and greater runoff rates flow into storm water collection systems and reservoirs. Moreover changing climatic conditions increase the frequency of rapid extreme weather events. Infrastructures of urban areas...
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Characteristics of LaCo 0.4 Ni 0.6-x Cu x O 3-δ ceramics as a cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells
PublikacjaIn this study, the effects of Cu-ion substitution on the densification, microstructure, and physical properties of LaCo0.4Ni0.6-xCuxO3-δ ceramics were investigated. The results indicate that doping with Cu ions not only enhances the densification but also promotes the grain growth of LaCo0.4Ni0.6-xCuxO3-δ ceramics. The Cu substitution at x ≤ 0.2 can suppress the formation of La4Ni3O10, while the excess Cu triggers the formation...
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Study of anticorrosion and microwave absprption properties of NiZn ferrite pigments
PublikacjaPurpose - The purpose of this paper is to report the electrochemical verification of anticorrosive properties of NiZn ferrites as pigments in protective coatings and evaluation of their microwave absorbing properties. Design/methodology/approach - Ferrites, represented by formula NixZn(1-x)Fe2O4, where x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, were synthesized using a ceramic method. The samples of ferrites were examined by X-ray diffraction...
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Antenna Optimization Using Machine Learning with Reduced-Dimensionality Surrogates
PublikacjaIn modern times, antenna design has become more demanding than ever. The escalating requirements for performance and functionality drive the development of intricately structured antennas, where parameters must be meticulously adjusted to achieve peak performance. Often, global adjustments to geometry are necessary for optimal results. However, direct manipulation of antenna responses evaluated with full-wave electromagnetic (EM)...
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Artificial Neural Networks in Forecasting the Consumer Bankruptcy Risk with Innovative Ratios
PublikacjaThis study aims to develop nine different consumer bankruptcy forecasting models with the help of three types of artificial neural networks and to verify the usefulness of new, innovative ratios for implementation in personal finance. A learning sample comprising 200 consumers, and a testing sample of 500 non-bankrupt and 500 bankrupt consumers from Poland are used. The author employed three research approaches to using the entry...
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Versatile Unsupervised Design of Antennas Using Flexible Parameterization and Computational Intelligence Methods
PublikacjaDeveloping contemporary antennas is a challenging endeavor that requires considerable engineering insight. The most laborious stage is to devise an antenna architecture that delivers the required functionalities, e.g., multiband operation. Iterative by nature (hands-on topology modifications, parametric studies, trial-and-error geometry selection), it typically takes many weeks and requires considerable engagement from a human...
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Mitigation effect of face shield to reduce SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission risk: Preliminary simulations based on computed tomography
PublikacjaWe aimed to develop a model to quantitatively assess the potential effectiveness of face shield (visor) in reducing airborne transmission risk of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 during the current COVID-19 pandemic using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The studies with and without face shield in both an infected and healthy person have been considered in indoor environment simulation. In addition to the influence...
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Seismic Response Analysis of Knee-Braced Steel Frames Using Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs)
PublikacjaShape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are known as active materials that can be widely used for structural purposes due to their flag-shape behavior under loading and reloading. Their unique characteristics provided a potential solution for civil engi-neers especially to model buildings with the capability of dissipating seismic en-ergy. In this study, the main purpose is to explore the seismic behavior of Knee-Braced Frames (KBFs) and...
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Chitosan-Based Membranes as Gentamicin Carriers for Biomedical Applications — Influence of Chitosan Molecular Weight
PublikacjaOver the past decade, much attention has been paid to chitosan as a potential drug carrier because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and antibacterial properties. The effect of various chitosan characteristics on its ability to carry different antibiotics is discussed in the literature. In this work, we evaluated the influence of the different molecular weights of this polymer on its potential as an antibacterial...
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Debonding of coin-shaped osseointegrated implants: Coupling of experimental and numerical approaches
PublikacjaWhile cementless implants are now widely used clinically, implant debonding still occur and is difficult to anticipate. Assessing the biomechanical strength of the bone–implant interface can help improving the understanding of osseointegration phenomena and thus preventing surgical failures. A dedicated and standardized implant model was considered. The samples were tested using a mode III cleavage device to assess the mechanical...
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Computationally-Efficient Statistical Design and Yield Optimization of Resonator-Based Notch Filters Using Feature-Based Surrogates
PublikacjaModern microwave devices are designed to fulfill stringent requirements pertaining to electrical performance, which requires, among others, a meticulous tuning of their geometry parameters. When moving up in frequency, physical dimensions of passive microwave circuits become smaller, making the system performance increasingly susceptible to manufacturing tolerances. In particular, inherent inaccuracy of fabrication processes affect...
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Enhancing seismic performance of buckling-restrained brace frames equipped with innovative bracing systems
PublikacjaNowadays, 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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A Low-Profile Metal-backed Dipole Loaded with Closely Coupled Arc-shaped Open Stubs for On-metal Tag Design with Wide Frequency Tuning Capability
PublikacjaThis research has presented a single-layer metal-backed dipole antenna, which consists of a feedline loaded with two pairs of closely-coupled arc-shaped open stubs, for designing a metal-mountable tag that features tuning capability over a wide range of frequency. Here, the stubs can generate sufficient inductive reactance for bringing down the tag resonant frequency tunable in both the regulated UHF RFID passbands (North American...
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Enhancing rheological muscle models with stochastic processes
PublikacjaPurpose: Biological musculoskeletal systems operate under variable conditions. Muscle stiffness, activation signals, and loads change during each movement. The presence of noise and different harmonic components in force production significantly influences the behaviour of the muscular system. Therefore, it is essential to consider these factors in numerical simulations. Methods: This study aims to develop a rheological mathematical...
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Development and experimental validation of a novel double-stage yield steel slit damper-buckling restrained brace
PublikacjaThis research is focused on the development and experimental validation of a novel double-stage yield steel slit damper-buckling restrained brace (SSD-DYB) system designed for seismic resistance of steel structures. The SSD-DYB integrates the energy dissipation capability of a steel slit damper (SSD) in its initial segment, enhancing performance in the case of lower seismic intensities levels while employing a larger segment for...
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Study on extraction and characterization of anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) starch and reinforced enset (Ensete ventricosum) fiber for the production of reinforced bioplastic film
PublikacjaPopulation expansion is causing an increase in dependence on plastic materials. The worst aspects of conventional plastics were their inability to biodegrade, their poor capacity to transmit water vapor, and their production of greenhouse gases. Usages of bioplastics are necessary for the advancement of a green economy and environment in order to eradicate these drawbacks of traditional plastics. In this study, reinforced bioplastic...
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Bi-GRU-APSO: Bi-Directional Gated Recurrent Unit with Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Sales Forecasting in Multi-Channel Retail
PublikacjaIn the present scenario, retail sales forecasting has a great significance in E-commerce companies. The precise retail sales forecasting enhances the business decision making, storage management, and product sales. Inaccurate retail sales forecasting can decrease customer satisfaction, inventory shortages, product backlog, and unsatisfied customer demands. In order to obtain a better retail sales forecasting, deep learning models...
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Valorization of paper-mill sludge laden with 2-chlorotoluene using hydroxyapatite@biochar nanocomposite to enrich methanogenic community: A techno-economic approach
PublikacjaWhile several studies have investigated the anaerobic digestion of paper-mill sludge (PMS), this technology suffers from nutrient insufficiency, inhibition by aromatic compounds, and low bio-CH4 yield. Hence, PMS was anaerobically co-digested with chicken manure (CM) and supplemented by hydroxyapatite@biochar (HAP@BC) nanocomposite for enhancing 2-chlorotoluene degradation and enriching the methanogenic archaea. Multiple continuous...
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Capacity Transforming challenges into opportunities
PublikacjaThe Urban Initiative Laboratory (UIL) aims to upgrade the smart city concept in Gdańsk by introducing the Food-Water-Energy (FWE) nexus to the city. It was agreed in the CRUNCH international consortium that projects on different scales would be implemented in the individual countries to test the Integrated Decision Supportive system platform, which would, in principle, concern urban scale. The regular urban scale was to be researched...
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Removal of diphenols using pine biochar. Kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and mechanism of uptake
PublikacjaThermal pyrolysis synthesized activated biochar from the Pinus elliottii sawdust (PS) at 600° C. The obtained activated biochar (PB600) was used for the removal of three diphenols, catechol (CAT), resorcinol (RES), and hydroquinone (HYD), which are utilized mainly in different industries. The PB600 was characterized by several analytical techniques. The BET surface area of 1473 m2.g−1 and a total pore volume of 0.707 cm3 g−1 was...
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The atlas of inequality aversion: theory and empirical evidence on 55 countries from the Luxembourg Income Study database
PublikacjaResearch background: In the distributive analysis, the constant relative inequality aversion utility function is a standard tool for ethical judgements of income distributions. The sole parameter ε of this function expresses a society’s aversion to inequality. However, the profession has not committed to the range of ε. When assessing inequality and other welfare characteristics, analysts assume an arbitrary level of ε, common...
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Influence of a Lighting Column in the Working Width of a W-Beam Barrier on TB51 Crash Test
PublikacjaRoad equipment, such as, e.g., road safety barriers and lighting columns, are subject to certification according to the EN1317 standard to be allowed for use on European roads. In engineering practice, due to the terrain conditions, there are cases where other road equipment is installed within the working width of road safety barriers. Such situations are not considered during the certification process. Hence, the aim of this...