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Amateur breeding of parrots as pets has contributed to many species being found in areas where they never occurred in the wild, particularly in warmer regions, but also in the temperate climates of North America and Europe. Climate change is likely to exacerbate this process. We hypothesised that parrots occurred in the wild in the cities of Poland, especially the rose-ringed parakeet, as there are reports of breeding sites in the literature. Using information on lost, found and sighted parrots posted on social media, we have analysed the extent of parrot emergence in Poland. In a period of less than two years (from October 2018, through 2019 and from June to the end of December 2021), 2,675 parrot specimens of 49 species were found in the wild. The most frequently observed species were cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus (N = 962), budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus (N = 884) and rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri (N = 182). Parrots were most frequently observed in urban areas, in regions characterized by a higher population size, a higher income and a higher proportion of people with a university degree. Our study shows that the occurrence of parrots, especially rose-ringed parakeets in the wild, needs to be monitored as new breeding sites may appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is observed that in some money exchange operations, every n-variable mean M applied by two market analysts who are acting in different countries should be self reciprocally-conjugate. The main result says that the only homogeneous weighted quasiarithmetic mean satisfying this condition is the weighted geometric mean. In the context of invariance of the geometric mean with respect to the arithmetic-harmonic mean-type mapping, the possibility of the occurring reciprocal-conjugacy in technical sciences is commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many papers, random modulation of power electronic converters is described as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) mitigation technique, which contributes to the assurance of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of systems consisting of power electronic converters and serial transmission-based control and measuring devices. However, experimental results as well as theoretical analyses of physical phenomenon suggest that the EMI reduction is ostensible and results from the measuring procedure adopted in standards. This article presents the first known approach to compare the influence of deterministic and random modulation of transmission errors rate in serial communication systems. The comparison is based on the especially developed mathematical models, which are validated experimentally, using a simple setup with a dc/dc converter injecting a noise into the USB/RS232 converter representing a serial transmission scheme. The comparison reveals that for the studied switching frequency range from 10 kHz to 1 MHz, on average, there is no significant difference between random and deterministic modulations with respect to the probability of error rate in serial communication systems. Thus, in such systems, random modulation should not be considered as a valid EMC-assuring technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirements concerning energy performance of buildings and their internal installations, particularly HVAC systems, have been growing continuously in Poland and all over the world. The existing, traditional calculation methods following from the static heat exchange model are frequently not sufficient for a reasonable heating design of a building. Both in Poland and elsewhere in the world, methods and software are employed which allow a detailed simulation of the heating and moisture conditions in a building, and also an analysis of the performance of HVAC systems within a building. However, these systems are usually difficult in use and complex. In addition, the development of a simulation model that is sufficiently adequate to the real building requires considerable time involvement of a designer, is time–consuming and laborious. A simplification of the simulation model of a building renders it possible to reduce the costs of computer simulations. The paper analyses in detail the effect of introducing a number of different variants of the simulation model developed in Design Builder on the quality of final results obtained. The objective of this analysis is to find simplifications which allow obtaining simulation results which have an acceptable level of deviations from the detailed model, thus facilitating a quick energy performance analysis of a given building.

Expressways act as barriers to animals that block free movement in their habitats, especially when the roads are continuously fenced to prevent collisions between animals and vehicles. Various types of animal passages have been repeatedly studied in terms of their utility, albeit rather less frequently in the suburban environment. We conducted our research in a section of the fenced expressway S3 connecting two closely located cities in western Poland (Lubuskie province). Over the course of one year, we monitored four underpasses intended for small- and medium-sized animals using tracks. The underpasses were inspected weekly. Animal traces most frequently found belonged to roe deer Capreolus capreolus (20.9%), red fox Vulpes vulpes (15.1%), wild boar Sus scrofa (14%), and domestic dog Canis l. familiaris (12.4%). Surprisingly, the results of our study indicate that underpasses for small and medium mammals are also used by ungulate mammals. The use of the underpasses varied seasonally, being the highest in spring (37.9%) and the lowest in winter (10.4%). Moreover, seasonal differences in the use of passages were related to particular species/groups of animal species. We found that 22% of animals that entered the passage did not completely traverse it. People accounted for 17.1% of all stated traces in the underpasses. Stagnant water in the underpasses reduced the number of predatory mammals and wild boars using the underpasses but did not affect the activity of roe deer. These studies indicate that animal underpasses located in suburban areas are used by many species of animals despite the activity of humans and domesticated mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat wings are characterized by high endurance, and these mammals have developed a number of adaptations that protect them from falling into obstacles and potential injuries. However, in bat populations, there are individuals with visible fresh or healed injuries to the flight–enabling body parts. The aim of this research was to determine the differences in the occurrence of wing membrane damages among species of bats that differ in ecology and behavior. The study was conducted in southern and western Poland in the years 2000–2016 and included 3,525 individuals of six species: lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolopus hipposideros, Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii, Natterer’s bat Myotis nattereri, greater mouse–eared bat Myotis myotis, western barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus, and brown long–eared bat Plecotus auritus. In all, 2.9% of the bats studied showed damage to the flight–enabling body parts. Natterer’s bat was the species with the highest number of injured individuals (21.74%). The lowest number of injured individuals (0.3%) was found in the brown long–eared bat. The most frequently observed type of damage was loss of an edge of the wing membrane (29.3%). The bat species studied differed significantly in the occurrence and location of flight enabling body parts damages. Certain behavioral and ecological factors like foraging mode, foraging habitats and habitat types of bat species determine the number of wing and tail membrane damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic idea of decentralized demand response systems is not new, however, material presented in the subject matter literature is usually limited to general ideas and possible system services. In this paper, the original stochastic decentralized active demand response (DADR) system is presented in the form of an application-ready control algorithm. The results of simulation investigations have confirmed that the proposed stochastic DADR solution, because of its high dynamic response in dealing with disturbance phenomena, might be used as part of both the primary and the secondary load frequency control in electrical power systems. The applicability of the proposed algorithm for control of refrigerators has been numerically tested for various system parameters. Fulfillment of all assumed DADR system requirements concerning high dynamic, “soft” operation, fair share in service as well as minimization of degradation in comfort of use of DADR controlled devices have been confirmed in numerical evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Contemporary historical anthropology and classical archaeology are concerned not only with such fundamental issues as the origins of ancient human populations and migration routes, but also with the formation and development of inter-population relations and the mixing of gene pools as a result of inter-breeding between individuals representing different cultural units. The contribution of immigrants to the analysed autochthonous population and their effect on the gene pool of that population has proven difficult to evaluate with classical morphological methods. The burial of one individual in the studied Napole cemetery located in central Poland had the form of a chamber grave, which is typical of Scandinavian culture from that period. However, this fact cannot be interpreted as absolute proof that the individual (in the biological sense) was allochtonous. This gives rise to the question as to who was actually buried in that cemetery. The ancient DNA results indicate that one of the individuals had an mtDNA haplotype typical of Iron Age northern Europe, which suggests that he could have arrived from that area at a later period. This seems to indirectly confirm the claims of many anthropologists that the development of the early medieval Polish state was significantly and directly influenced by the Scandinavians. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reliable operation of the smart grid requires assurance of the electromagnetic compatibility of sensitive smart metering systems and power electronic converters, which introduce high-level electromagnetic interference. As it has been experimentally shown, currently available, normalized, and frequency domain tests are ineffective for the evaluation of data transmission error hazards. The mathematical time-domain model proposed in this paper enables assessment of the probability of errors occurring in a given transmission signal for known interference parameters. The validity of the model and its practical applicability have been experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the study was to evaluate chosen Hucul horses' morphometric traits with the use of point method exemplified by chosen Hucul horses' morphometric traits. The study has been conducted in 561 Hucul horses of both sexes, which were divided into 6 age groups. Each specimen underwent the measurement of the height at withers, the thorax's circumference, the metacarpus's circumference, the head's length, the neck's lateral length, the height at the sacrum, the trunk's oblique length (greater) and the pelvis's width. The obtained results were applied to statistical analysis, including the calculation of a mean arithmetic value, a minimal value, a maximal value and standard deviation, which served for the construction of an appropriate point scale. At the following stage they enabled us to perform the analysis with the use of non-nominal data represented in points. Within the parameters considered, the homogeneity of investigated material was found, which could indicate stable growth of morphometric traits. However, the tendency of metric traits for homogenous but unstable growth was also observed. Moreover, we have found that point values obtained for three-year-old horses, and to a lesser extent the ones obtained for two-year-old horses, were higher than the values calculated for the individuals qualified for the group of adult horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chiral separation of several thiobarbiturates on a tris(4-methylbenzoate) phase (Chiralcel OJ-R, 15 × 0.46 cm and Chiralcel OJ-R 15 × 0.20 cm) under reversed-phase conditions is described. The separation properties of a normal sized and a newly developed narrow-bore column were compared. The influence of buffer and organic modifiers on enantioselectvity was investigated. The three mobile phases used were water/acetonitrile (70:30,v/v), water/acetonitrile/methanol (50:25:25, v/v), and water/acetonitrile/methanol (55:15:30, v/v). Of seven thiobarbiturates investigated, five have been resolved. The values of α (1.11–1.85) and Rs (0.71–5.75) have been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers the use of an automated decentralized system, the DADR (Decentralized Active Demand Response), for reduction of peak power in the Polish Electrical Power System (EPS). This issue is especially important from the point of view of improving the efficiency and reliability of the Polish EPSfor which purpose the aim is to reduce peak power by 1 GW, which represents about 4% of typically peak power value. Among the known methods of reduction of peak loads today, the tariff programs are commonly used; however, they do not achieve the desired results. With this in mind the article includes an assessment of the possibility of using a Decentralized Active Demand Response system for activities related to the reduction of peak loads. The article discusses the principle of operation of the DADR device in cooperation with thermostatic loads (fridge-freezer), in which there is a possibility to modify their characteristics of power versus time on the supply side. Analysis of the aggregated impact of the actions of such a solution on the daily load curve is shown in the simulation results. The simulation results have showed that the use of a DADR system involving thermostatic devices (fridgefreezers) available in Poland allows for a significant reduction in peak power of about 0.37 GW (1.6% of the targeted 4%) a reduction of energy consumption at peak hours of about 0.65 GWh and a shift to the night valley. The stochastic algorithm that was used reduced peak energy consumption without any negative impact on the electrical power system (there are no power overshoot and oscillations). It has also been shown that the new formula developed by the authors allows for calculation of the amount of reduced energy for various parameters of thermostatic devices and various durations of peak power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]