Predictive modeling and optimizing lactic acid recovery from co-fermentation of food waste and waste activated sludge using a modified ADM1 approach.

The recovery of lactic acid (LA) from the co-fermentation of food waste and waste activated sludge is shifting from feasibility studies to process optimization and predictive modeling. This study extends the widely used International Water Association Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) by incorporating lactic acid bacteria-mediated pathways and adjusted stoichiometry to simulate LA generation from sugars, implemented in the GPS-X simulation platform.

Degradation Characteristics of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties on the Cross-Section of a Massive Casting Made of G17Mn5 Steel.

This paper presents the changes in microstructure and mechanical properties that occurred across the wall cross-section of a massive slag ladle casting due to service conditions. The slag ladle was made of low-carbon cast steel. Based on the test results, it was shown that the working environment influenced the macro-segregation of C and S on the cross-section of the wall and, consequently, had an effect on the changes in microstructure.

Change in the Structural and Mechanical State of Heat-Resistant 15CrMoV5-10 Steel of TPP Steam Pipelines Under the Influence of Operational Factors.

The operational efficiency of the main steam pipelines at thermal power plants is reduced due to several factors, including operating temperature, pressure, service life, and the frequency of process shutdowns, which contribute to the degradation of heat-resistant steels. The study aims to identify the features of changes in the sizes of grains and carbides along their boundaries, as well as mechanical properties (hardness, strength, plasticity and fracture toughness) along the wall thickness of both pipes in the initial state and after operation with block shutdowns. Preliminary electrolytic hydrogenation of specimens (before tensile tests in air) showed even more clearly the negative consequences of operational degradation of steel.

Influence of Dissipated Energy on the Bonding Strength of Cold-Sprayed Titanium Coatings on Selected Metallic Substrates.

Modern nanoindentation equipment allows for highly precise measurements of mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modulus, generating detailed load-unload curves using advanced techniques and specialised software. In this study, titanium coatings were deposited on various metallic substrates using cold gas spraying. Before deposition, the spraying parameters (temperature, pressure, velocity, and distance) were statistically optimised using the Taguchi method, reducing the number of experiments required from 81 to 9.

Analysis of Fatigue and Residual Strength Estimation of Polymer Matrix Composites Using the Theory of the Markov Chain Method.

This paper deals with an important issue, which is the influence of failure caused by the quality of matrix post-curing on the strength of complex and difficult materials of the "new generation" such as fibre composites, particularly with a polymer matrix. In recent years, significant advances in the field of adhesive materials chemistry have led to the constant development of bonding technology. The effectiveness of bonding depends, to a large extent, on the suitable selection of the adhesive and the use of appropriate surface treatment technology.

Impact of Early-Age Curing and Environmental Conditions on Shrinkage and Microcracking in Concrete.

This study analyzed the effects of curing and maturation on the formation of shrinkage strain and destructive processes in concrete. Experimental tests were performed on commonly used concrete, class C30/37, with basalt aggregate and blast furnace cement tested: at constant temperature after water curing, at constant temperature without water curing, and under cyclically changing temperature without prior curing. Shrinkage strain was measured for 46 days with an extensometer on 150 × 150 × 600 mm specimens, and the acoustic emission (AE) method was used to monitor microcracks and processes in concrete in real time.

Effect of Synthetic Wax on the Rheological Properties of Polymer-Modified Bitumen.

The goal of this study is to evaluate how the inclusion of synthetic wax, added in 0.5% increments from 1.5% to 3.

Experimental Verification of the Model for Estimating the Corrosion Current of Reinforcement in an RC Element.

This article includes tests of the deflection and load-bearing capacity of reinforced concrete beams exposed to chloride ions. This work forms part of the verification of a newly developed model for estimating the intensity of the corrosion current of the reinforcement, which assumes the possibility of estimating the corrosion parameter based on a detailed analysis of the element deformation. The model assumes the use of the inverse problem, which is based on the analysis of deflection as a result of the partial impact of the corrosion process on the main reinforcement in the reinforced concrete element.

Impact of Zinc(II) Chloride Contamination on Bentonites: Formation of Simonkolleite and Effects on Porosity and Chemical Composition.

This study examines the formation of the clay mineral simonkolleite (Skl) in bentonites contaminated with zinc(II) chloride (ZnCl), a process that has been little documented in heterogeneous systems such as contaminated bentonites. We explain the contamination mechanisms and provide new insights into the mineralogical, structural, and physicochemical transformations occurring within these materials. The objective, explored for the first time, was to assess how the ZnCl-induced mineral phase formation influences the properties of bentonites used as sealing materials, particularly regarding changes in specific surface area and porosity.

Sustainable Increase in Thermal Resistance of Window Construction: Experimental Verification and CFD Modelling of the Air Cavity Created by a Shutter.

This study investigates, both experimentally and theoretically, the impact of incorporating window shutters on the thermal resistance of double-glazed window units, employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. The integration of shutters, whether installed internally or externally, introduces an additional air layer that significantly influences heat transfer between indoor and outdoor environments. This effect on the thermal performance of the transparent structure was analysed through experimental measurements under real operating conditions and numerical simulations involving fluid dynamics and energy equations for the air gaps, alongside heat conduction equations for the solid components.

Quantitative Analysis of Penetrating Wound Behavior Under Vacuum-Assisted Closure Therapy.

Unlabelled: Through the ages, the methods of wound dressing have been changing to obtain the best therapeutic effect. The driving force of the process is the development of knowledge and tools. One of the state-of-the-art methods is negative pressure wound therapy.

Novel Flame-Retardant Wood-Polymer Composites by Using Inorganic Mineral Huntite and Hydromagnesite: An Aspect of Application in Electrical Engineering.

In this study, a flame-retardant wood-polymer composite was produced using huntite-hydromagnesite mineral, recognized for its non- flammability properties. In this context, wood-polymer composites were produced with the co-rotating twin-screw extrusion technique, while polypropylene was applied as the composite matrix, medium density fiberboard waste and inorganic huntite-hydromagnesite mineral were used as the reinforcement material. The proportion of wood powder additives was changed to 10% and 20%, and the huntite and hydromagnesite ratio was changed to 30%, 40%, 50% and 60%.

Research on Energy Management in Forward Extrusion Processes Based on Experiment and Finite Element Method Application.

This paper advances the forward extrusion process by integrating sustainable methodologies and optimizing energy efficiency. This research investigates the impact of die geometry and elongation coefficients on energy usage and process efficiency, employing finite element method (FEM) simulations alongside empirical analysis. Artificial neural networks and experimental data were utilized to predict process energy.

Flexural Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Near-Surface Mounted (NSM) Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Strips with Additional Anchorage.

The work presents and examines a fiber anchoring system of NSM CFRP strips proposed for strengthening RC beams. The study included 11 beams: 3 unstrengthened beams, 3 beams strengthened with NSM CFRP strip without anchorage, and 5 beams strengthened with NSM CFRP strips with additional anchorage in two variants (the fiber anchor wrapped around the CFRP strip end and fan-folded on the beam surface; the fiber anchor connected with a 20 cm overlap to the strip). All beams were loaded until failure with two concentrated forces (four-point loading test).

Consistent, highly throughput and space scalable distributed architecture for layered NoSQL data store.

Maintaining strong consistency and throughput in distributed NoSQL systems is very important these days, but often impossible to achieve at the same time. Consistency problems in distributed systems result in serious consequences, e.g.

Reproducibility Challenges in Fetal Cardiac Function Analysis with 2D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography: Insights from FetalHQ.

: Functional assessment of the fetal heart remains a significant challenge in contemporary perinatology due to the absence of a universally accepted gold standard for such evaluations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of parameters derived from two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D STE) using the FetalHQ software. : We enrolled 87 pregnant women between 19 and 23 weeks of gestation who were undergoing mid-trimester screening at the Provincial Hospital Complex in Kielce.

Numerical Study of the Reinforcing Pads Geometry of Pressure Vessels.

The structural design of pressure vessels is a rather complicated engineering task and demands on using finite element method (FEM) software to recreate many issues accompanying the design process. One of them is a choice of the shape of reinforcing pads, connecting a min shell of a vessel with nozzles. The mentioned issue is very rarely taken up by researchers.

Studies on Corrosion Initiation in Reinforced Concrete Structures Using Ground-Penetrating Radar.

The present article describes an example of the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to detect early stages of reinforcement corrosion. Two series of concrete samples with reinforcing bars were tested. The first series was reference samples (without corrosion).

Methodological Basis for Reliable Evaluation of Air Void Structure Parameters Using the 2D Method.

Frost resistance of pavement concrete is closely related to air void structure. Traditionally, such a structure is assessed by measuring chord lengths according to the guidelines provided in the PN-EN 480-11 standard. In recent years, increased attention has been given to analyzing pore diameters (2D) on the surface of concrete samples.

Plasma Photocatalysis: A Novel Approach for Enhanced Air Disinfection in Centralised Ventilation Systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for sustainable and scalable air disinfection technologies in HVAC systems, addressing the limitations of energy-intensive and chemically intensive conventional methods. This study developed and evaluated a pilot experimental installation integrating plasma chemistry and photocatalysis for airborne pathogen and pollutant mitigation. The installation, designed with a modular architecture to simulate real-world HVAC dynamics, employed a bipolar plasma ioniser, a TiO photocatalytic module, and an adsorption-catalytic module for ozone abatement.

Estimation of the Spacing Factor Based on Air Pore Distribution Parameters in Air-Entrained Concrete.

Air-void characteristics are defined in the EN-480-11 test method. The primary criticism of Powers' model comes from the fact that the spacing factor is calculated with the average chord length, without taking into account the chord length distribution. The aim of this study is to determine whether an analysis of the chord length distribution can provide a more accurate estimate of the spacing factor.

Evaluation of Selected Quality Characteristics of Thin-Walled Models Manufactured Using Powder Bed Fusion Technology.

This publication presents the results of research on selected quality features of sample models made using 3D printing technology from the Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) group and a material based on aluminum powder. Two quality areas were analyzed: tensile strength and geometric surface structure. Strength tests of thin-walled models were carried out for samples with four given thicknesses of 1, 1.

Analysis of Heat Treatment of AlSi7Cu0.5Mg Alloy.

This article describes how different heat treatment methods affect the mechanical properties of AlSi7Cu0.5Mg. This article offers a new perspective on the topic of heat treatment analysis.

Seawater intrusion and infiltration modelling coupled to digital tools to avoid high saline concentrations in reclaimed water: application in coastal central Italy.

Industrial symbiosis approach was established between an industrial company and a water utility to prioritize the reuse of urban wastewater for industrial purposes. This requires low-salinity water, but this area is frequently affected by saline intrusion, thus creating water-related conflicts between the different economic activities. This study proposes a digital solution that combines dynamic simulation model (that predicts seawater intrusion and runoff) with digital tools, i.

Acoustic Waves and Their Application in Modern Fire Detection Using Artificial Vision Systems: A Review.

This paper presents information on the propagation patterns of acoustic waves and their practical application, in particular, in modern fire detection methods that use artificial vision systems and video cameras as intelligent sensors. In practice, the use of artificial intelligence allows the detection of flames in places where the use of typical sensors is impossible or severely limited. Such a system can work together with environmentally friendly acoustic flame extinguishing technology as a standalone platform, or it may cooperate with other modules, which is a new approach in the field of fire protection.