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Characterization of crystallization processes in situ is of great importance to furthering knowledge of how nucleation and growth processes direct the assembly of organic and inorganic materials in solution and, critically, understanding the influence that these processes have on the final physico‐chemical properties of the resulting solid form. With careful specification and design, as demonstrated here, it is now possible to bring combined X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, coupled to a range of fully integrated segmented and continuous flow platforms, to the laboratory environment for in situ data acquisition for timescales of the order of seconds. The facility used here (Flow‐Xl) houses a diffractometer with a micro‐focus Cu Kα rotating anode X‐ray source and a 2D hybrid photon‐counting detector, together with a Raman spectrometer with 532 and 785 nm lasers. An overview of the diffractometer and spectrometer setup is given, and current sample environments for flow crystallization are described. Commissioning experiments highlight the sensitivity of the two instruments for time‐resolved in situ data collection of samples in flow. Finally, an example case study to monitor the batch crystallization of sodium sulfate from aqueous solution, by tracking both the solute and solution phase species as a function of time, highlights the applicability of such measurements in determining the kinetics associated with crystallization processes. This work illustrates that the Flow‐Xl facility provides high‐resolution time‐resolved in situ structural phase information through diffraction data together with molecular‐scale solution data through spectroscopy, which allows crystallization mechanisms and their associated kinetics to be analysed in a laboratory setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“According to Lingaro’s analysis, the return of a product generates 5 times more CO2 than the purchase itself. Thus, the optimization of online e-commerce purchasing processes is a serious challenge not only for business, but mainly for the protection of the environment and our global health.” Presentation of textiles and clothing in e-commerce in Poland has remained unchanged since the beginning of e-commerce (the setup of Allegro auction site in the early 2000s) until now with little exceptions of new technology trends powered by EU funds. In Poland, WearFits introduces an R&D solution in the form of a virtual fitting room presented in augmented reality (AR) view to decrease returns of textile clothing bought online. It uses an avatar of human size and shape of the customer’s body for fitting the three-dimensional models in AR view. The purpose of the article is to review the state of the art of presentation of clothing textiles in e-commerce in the world and in Poland for selling textiles online and to emphasize the problem of size matching in the context of returns.

An overview of the bibliography regarding the connection of knowledge about precious metal alloys and aspects of the use of computer aided technologies to the optimization of the jewelry casting processes is presented. An analysis of the usability of selected CAx systems was made: 1) for spatial design, called Rhinoceros 6 and 2) CAE system: NovaFlow & Solid (NF&S). The authors describe own research including data acquisition and evaluation of temperature variations during solidification of the selected Au-Ag-Cu alloy, with the identification of the phase transformations of this alloy. The intensity of heat exchange was changed (cooling of specimens under ambient temperature conditions - "normal" intensity and with the furnace - very slow cooling). The problem of completing the simulation database was pointed out and analysed. Examples of simulations of casting selected jewelry (ring and signet) were given and compared with the result of the experiment realized in real conditions. It was confirmed that the optimization by combining experimental and simulation studies allows for the acquisition of new knowledge, and also facilitates the creation of new artistic designs of jewelry as well as performing the feasibility check, and then optimizing the chosen technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of an attempt to use high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to model the thermal insulation of clothing as one of the most important parameters affecting the heat balance between a human and his/her surroundings. Cotton knitted fabric applied in functional clothing for newborns and aramid woven fabric used in multilayer protective clothing for firefighters were the tested materials. The 3D models of real textiles based on micro-CT images were developed. Next, the models were applied to heat transfer simulations using the finite volume method. The usefulness of the models was experimentally verified using thermography with real textiles. The simulation results were consistent with the measurement results and confirmed the relationship between the thermal insulation and geometry of the textiles on the one hand and the physical parameters of the raw materials from which they were made on the other hand.

Chronic tinnitus is often associated with cognitive and emotional problems, such as excessive stress, sleeping disorders and relaxation, anxiety disorders. We assumed that application of real time fMRI neurofeedback helps to reduce stress and negative feelings caused by tinnitus. Haller et al. made the first attempts to treat tinnitus with rt-fMRI-neurofeedback in 2010. Based on the results of studies showing that disruption of the auditory cortex with TMS promotes noise reduction (Kleinjung et al. 2005) Haller et al. conducted an experiment on which people suffering from tinnitus have undergone therapy aimed at reducing the activity of the auditory cortex. Surveys (TFIs) carried out 2 weeks after training showed improvement in 2 out of 6 subjects. More recent studies on the effectiveness of auditory cortex deactivation training in tinnitus therapy conducted in two experimental groups including continuous and intermittent neurofeedback showed greater effectiveness (at trend level) of continuous training measured using the TFI scale immediately after training and 6 weeks later (Emmert et al. 2017). The above results indicate the limited effectiveness of tinnitus therapy by reducing the activity of the auditory cortex with rtfMRI- neurofeedback therapy. This is probably due to both the undetermined etiology of this disease and the early developmental stage of the therapy used. Recent reviews indicate the efficacy of rt-fMRI-neurofeedback in changing brain activity in targeted areas in approximately 60% of studies (Alkoby et al. 2018; Thibault et al. 2018) while behavioral changes are observed in about 40% of studies (Thibault et al. 2018), and clinical improvement of patients in 20--30% (Thibault et al. 2018). The relatively high effectiveness of modulation of brain activity using rt-fMRI-neurofeedback gives the possibility of a causal study of neuronal mechanisms in both a healthy brain and pathological conditions, and the study of the impact of the activity of various structures on improving the functioning of patients (e.g. amygdala in tinnitus [Davies'a et al. 2017]). Mechanisms of rt-fMRI-neurofeedback are particularly interesting from both a cognitive and clinical point of view. Understanding these mechanisms would make it possible to consciously modulate the activity of brain structures and their impact on the causes and symptoms of studied disorders. To this aim, by using the new possibilities resulting from the continuous development of new rt-fMRI-neurofeedback methods (training individualization, process training sessions, the use of machine learning methods) and the availability of open software (openNFT, opendecnef), we have undertaken research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of neurofeedback and the possibilities transfer of brain autoregulation skills between modalities of stimuli and feedback signals used. This work is proof of concept study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]