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In this paper we study some fuzzy order in fuzzy sets based on t-norm fuzzy arithmetic. The definition of the order comes from the extension principle for interval order: a > b iff a − b > 0 and from measurement sciences. In measurement sciences the order is given by a comparator whose operation is based on empirical determination of the difference of two input signals. Fuzzy comparison based on fuzzy sets subtraction is considered as an extension of substraction operation, namely a fuzzy set B is greater than a fuzzy set A if B − A is greater than zero in fuzzy arithmetic. In the paper we show that this fuzzy order is irreflexive, transitive, asymmetric and compact, subhomothetic, Archimedean and semi-Ferrers. Our idea refers to the work of M. K. Urbański (Modeling the measurement in algebraic fuzzy structures, Warsaw 2003, in polish) and to the fundamental problems in the measurement theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents investigations of two partially damaged military dog tags. One of them is in relatively good condition while the second one is strongly damaged. Investigations focused on the better preserved military dog tag. Some of the characters were illegible. Thus the aim of the investigations was to identify the originally stamped characters using the multispectral method. The idea was to investigate objects not only in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum but also in other ranges, such as the near-infrared or the long-wave infrared spectral range. The research made use of dynamic infrared thermography, near-infrared techniques (with additional excitation by a near-infrared source) and visible techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief after receiving a complaint about citation issues. The editors solicited further independent reviews which indicated that the statements in this paper substantially overlap with the PhD thesis of Z. Furdzik [O własnościach pewnych rozkładów przestrzeni topologicznych na iloczyny kartezjańskie, 1968 (unpublished, in Polish), Institute of Mathematics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw], without proper citation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editors-in-Chief after receiving a complaint about citation issues. The editors solicited further independent reviews which indicated that the statements in this paper substantially overlap with the PhD thesis of Z. Furdzik [O własnościach pewnych rozkładów przestrzeni topologicznych na iloczyny kartezjańskie, 1968 (unpublished, in Polish), Institute of Mathematics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw], without proper citation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Comparison of the Polish and Ukrainian models of metropolis management • Delimitation of the Warsaw metropolis • Problems of the development of the Warsaw metropolis • Historical difficulties in the development of the Lviv metropolis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an experimental investigation of a solar dish concentrating system with thermal collectors, along with a numerical investigation of a solar cooling installation based on such system by means of dynamic simulation. The main aim of this study is the analysis of heat generation from the system for heating and cooling purposes, with the use of sorption chillers. A computer simulation of the dynamic operation of the proposed solar heating and cooling system was developed within TRNSYS software. The experimental data were used to validate the model of the concentrator and solar collectors. Successively, a solar heating and cooling installation for a residential application, integrating the different configurations of solar energy collecting devices and thermally driven chillers, was proposed and dynamically simulated. Flat-plate, evacuated tube and photovoltaic-thermal collectors were considered along with absorption and adsorption chiller units. In the present study, different system configurations, localities and time bases were considered to investigate the energy and economic performance of the system. The model of the solar dish and collector arrangement overestimates the produced energy by less than 5% as compared to the experimental study. The results show that the space cooling demand is matched in 23.6 and 46.2% by solar energy in Warsaw, while in Lisbon from 38.2 to 46.1%. The simple payback period of the investigated system configuration was for Warsaw between 18.1 years for the combination of flat-plate collector and absorption chiller and 27.2 year for the photovoltaic-thermal collector with adsorption chiller. • A hybrid solar heating and cooling system was investigated dynamically. • Experiments were performed on flat-plate collectors and dish concentrator set-up. • Different configurations of solar collectors and sorption chillers were investigated. • For Warsaw location, despite a good energy yield, Simple Pay Back is above 18 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, achieving social mixing through a mix of housing tenures became a central strategy in socially inclusive urban renaissance initiatives. While several studies have explored the relationship between tenure and social mix, they often treat social and affordable housing as a homogeneous segment, neglecting the diversity of housing providers and their individualized housing allocation strategies. There is limited understanding of the role of diverse housing providers in creating social mix. This paper aims to address this gap by examining how the presence of different types of social and affordable housing providers impacts the level of social mix and the changes in social mix resulting from tenure conversions in the housing stock owned by different providers. Using population census data in 1988 and 2002 from Warsaw, Poland, from two periods characterized by different housing policies and tenures, the paper argues that social mix was primarily associated with a combination of housing tenures and property ownership, but only in 2002. The findings suggest that limitations on tenure conversions are necessary to achieve long-term social mix. In addition, there is a need for affordable housing providers to diversify and specialize in addressing changing housing needs and dynamic housing aspirations. • A 'socialist' social mix was prevalent in areas dominated by a single ownership form. • 40% of both public rentals and privately-owned units maintained social mix. • The presence of state-owned housing with a single tenure ensured social mixing after the conversion of tenures. • Privatization in cooperative housing with two tenures resulted in social upgrading. • Affordable housing providers need to specialize in order to address changing housing needs and dynamic housing aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The user experience varies according the urban context of the station. • The users felt more comfortable while using less centrally located stations. • Liveable environment around the station increased users' safety. • Legible layout of the concourse level should be a priority in architectural design. Underground spaces have emerged as a promising solution for enhancing the overall quality of life in cities by allowing for better land use, reducing noise, and improving air quality. However, the subterranean placement of non-infrastructure facilities gives rise to numerous apprehensions, predominantly concerning the experience of their users. The underground environment may evoke fears and anxieties, disrupt cognitive and physiological responses, and affect personal safety. This paper examines the extent to which the specific spatial characteristics of underground non-transfer metro stations influence the passenger experience measured by the subjective indicators of comfort and safety. The research combines survey data collected from 1400 users with spatial data obtained from space syntax analyses and field investigations of 28 underground metro stations in Warsaw, Poland. Based on the results of multiple regression analysis, a set of spatial features that affect user comfort and safety was identified. The results show that passengers' experience is shaped by several architectural characteristics of metro 'stations, as well as their accessibility and position in the city and neighbourhood. Among the most influential architectural features is the configuration of the concourse level followed by the geometry of the platform hall and the use of art elements. Based on the findings presented in the study, potential design strategies that could improve the user experience are proposed and discussed. The recommended approaches offer valuable insights for designers aiming to improve the existing metro stations and facilitate more effective designs for new underground facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Video-based safety assessment is proposed using detection of dangerous encounters. • Dangerous events are identified using vehicle speed, deceleration and min. distance. • A Dangerous Encounter Index is proposed as a surrogate safety indicator. • Crossing two lanes involves more risk than crossing one lane, given similar traffic. • Improvement of safety was observed with active signage involving blinking lights. Although the road safety situation in Poland is generally improving, the number of accidents at pedestrian crossings has not decreased in the last four years. This paper presents the results of the MOBIS research project, the aim of which was to develop surrogate safety indicators, based on detection of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts using video analysis. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic was filmed at two unsignalised pedestrian zebra crossings in Warsaw and Wrocław for over 40 days. Motion trajectories of vehicles and pedestrians were determined based on video processing. Several variables describing pedestrian-vehicle interactions were calculated, such as speed, post-encroachment time, distance between the participants, decelerations, etc. Classification of encounters was based on interactions of pedestrians and vehicles i.e. drivers yielding to pedestrians, vehicles passing just in front of, or behind pedestrians. Criteria for identification of dangerous encounters were selected with the assumption that it should be possible to automate the assessment process. The selected variables were: pedestrian-vehicle passing distance and the vehicle speed at that moment. Other criteria were used in cases of abrupt braking – deceleration exceeding 4 m/s2 and vehicle speed. A Dangerous Encounter Index is proposed as a surrogate safety indicator for pedestrian crossings. It relates the occurrence of dangerous events to exposure, defined as the number of pedestrian-vehicle encounters. The proposed index shows that crossing two lanes involves more risk than crossing one lane, given similar traffic flow. Some improvement of safety at both types of crossing was observed after active signage involving blinking lights had been introduced. The proposed method is a step towards automation of safety assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide a thorough guide on how to analyze complex energy demand forecasting models with Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) in order to build trust in their predictions and understand the model and SHAP limitations based on selected real-world use case. There are only few examples described in the literature in energy industry and they present very basic usage. This study fills the gap for the class of energy (heat, electric, gas) demand predicting models by showing step by step, top-down analysis of state-of-the-art, deep neural network model predicting total heat demand (hot water and room heating) in Warsaw District Heating Network – the largest district heating network in EU. The paper shows how SHAP can be successfully used on demand forecasting models to provide practical, easily interpretable insights on inner workings of these models which can be used to assess their reliability and plan further development. • Predictions of deep neural network models forecasting energy demand can be explained. • SHAP can be successfully used to analyze deep ANN with multiple inputs (>100). • Step by step guide on how to analyze energy demand model with SHAP is provided. • Relationships identified by ANN forecasting heat demand agree with expert knowledge. • Trust in predictions of black-box models can be build by analyzing with SHAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research based on electric field data for positive CG lightning. • Stepped leader and preliminary breakdown analysis done in spectral domain. • Spectrogram for preliminary breakdown is more complex than for return stroke. • Changing STFT parameters can reveal new features of lightning components. • PSD-based lightning identification can be implemented in lightning location systems. The main scope of this paper is spectral analysis of several uncommon preliminary events preceding positive cloud-to-ground lightning flashes. They were detected from two different dissipating thunderstorm cells passing over the Warsaw region on 30 July 2019. Three different electric field signatures of positive cloud-to-ground flashes preceded by the preliminary breakdown pulses were recorded and identified. The respective power spectrum density spectrograms were computed additionally to allow more detail analysis of such kind lightning discharge incidents in time and frequency domain. All considered single positive cloud-to-ground flashes were characterized by fast electric field pulse trains lasted in average 3.8 ± 3.7 ms and 4.7 ± 3.0 ms in the time and spectral domain respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a comparison of outdoor and indoor air pollution by means of magnetic properties of dust gathered outdoors and indoors on air filters. Outdoor dust (particulate matter smaller than 10 μm, PM10) was collected by means of a PM sampler that was placed in the yard of the building of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IG PAS), in Warsaw, Poland. Indoor dust samples were collected with the same type of PM sampler, placed inside this building. The magnetic methods were applied for the estimation of concentration and magnetic mineralogy of the magnetic particles present in PM. Magnetic measurements, such as low and high-temperature dependence of volume magnetic susceptibility κ(T), hysteresis parameters, and frequency dependence of mass magnetic susceptibility χfd show that outdoor and indoor PM contain ultra-fine-grained magnetite-like minerals, particularly in a size range < 30 nm. This pointed to the common outdoor sources of pollution intruding inside the building through windows, ventilation systems, and partly carried on dresses by people. The mass of PM10 collected outdoors is of the same range as the mass of PM10 from inside the building. The mass susceptibility of indoor filters, however, is about 1/3 of the mass susceptibility of outdoor filters. The relationship between volume susceptibility and mass indicates a relatively homogenous composition of indoor dust but a varying composition of outdoor dust, with a variable influx of nonmagnetic exogenous particles. • Magnetic susceptibility was much lower for the indoor PM than for outdoor. • Both sources contained mainly magnetite with higher concentration outdoors. • Only indoor PM showed a linear correlation between susceptibility and mass. •. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the emergence of coworking spaces (CSs) has changed not only the way workers cooperate, but also how they carry out their activities. This phenomenon, limited mainly to urban areas, has spread heterogeneously across cities. The paper focuses on the location of CSs in Barcelona, Warsaw and Utrecht, three European cities that differ in terms of the typology of creation of these workspaces. In the three analysed cities, CSs are mainly private initiatives, although in Barcelona they are developed by small entrepreneurs, while in Warsaw they are developed by large multinational CS chains. Using K-density (Kd) functions and density maps, we contribute to the empirical literature by identifying how CSs coagglomerate with the service sectors, how CSs are concentrated in core areas of each city and how these factors differ between cities, taking into account the typology of CSs. We found that the CS location and coagglomeration depend on the spatial structure of the city and its development model; therefore, policymakers should take this into account in order to implement appropriate policy measures to attract CSs • CSs agglomerate differently in cities with different levels of urban hierarchy and reveal different CSs location strategies. • The coagglomeration of CSs with Knowledge Intensive Services (KIS) and symbolic knowledge base firms has been confirmed. • Market and high tech KIS with CSs build an urban entrepreneurial ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The method of tillage effect on microbial diversity and metabolism genes. • The lack of plow cultivation resulted in Nitrospirae dominating the soil. • The abundance of Sorangium sp. in the soil is independent of plow cultivation. • Mycobacterium sp. can may be an indicator of resistance to no-till in soil. • Gemmatimonas sp. can be recommended as indicator to prolonged lack of plowing. The idea of agricultural sustainable in the EU is based on, both minimizing interference with the soil system as well as diversifying crop rotation what relates to the limited cultivation system (changed from plow to no-plowing tillage) as well as organic fertilization is often abandoned. Taking above into account, our goal was determined of the structure, composition, and metabolic profiles of soil microbiomes in various cultivation methods (under multiannual plow and no-plow cultivation) using metagenomic analysis. Having regard to the recommendations contained in EU report (European Commission et al., 2020) of the Mission board for Soil health and food, 2020 indicating the lack of microbiological indicators of "healthy soil". So, we have tried to select of microbiological indicators showing sensitivity and resistance to use the methods of soil cultivation. The research object was located on almost 100-year field experiments at the Experimental Station of the Faculty of Agriculture and Biology in Skierniewice/near Warsaw on, luvisoils dominated in the temperate climate of Central Europe. Soil microorganisms respond with changes in their abundance and taxonomic composition depending on the methods of soil cultivation. Actinobacteria were the most abundant, while Planctomycetes were the least abundant in the metagenome of soil fertilized with manure, whereas the uncultivated soil was dominated by Nitrospirae. We can recommend the following taxa, including Gemmatimonas sp. as a microbiological indicator sensitive to the long-term lack of both plow cultivation of soil and organic fertilization, and Mycobacterium sp. as a resistancivity indicator to this soil cultivation method. Sorangium sp. could be recommended as microbiological indicators which responds by reducing the quantity under effect of the organically fertilized soil, while the plow and no-plow cultivation does not affect changes in its quantity. The use of various cultivation methods changed the biochemical functions in soil metagenoms, including nitrogen and sulfur metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, and in the production of plant hormones and siderophores. Additionally, soil cultivation ways changed the response of microorganism's stresses, including oxidative stress. The conducted research indicates the necessity to conduct further research on the influence of various cultivation methods, on the diversity of the microorganism community and soil metabolism. The result of which may be the selection of appropriate microbiological indicators for determining "soil health" depending on the type of soil under cultivation located in different climatic zones, not only presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses selected problems with the estimation of environmental flows (EF) in the aspect of hydroelectric potential of rivers. The study was conducted for mountain catchments located in the upper Vistula catchment in Poland: Mszanka, Poroniec, Grajcarek, Ochotnica, and Kamienica Nawojowska. The data for calculations, in the form of observational series of daily flows in the years 1985-2014, were obtained from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management of the National Research Institute in Warsaw. Based on the data, environmental flows were calculated as 25% Mean Annual Flow (MAF), 70% Median Flow, Q 90 , 7Q10, 7Q2, and additionally with the Eflows Management Framework and Upscaling method (EMFU). The calculations made it possible to indicate the main problems related to the calculation of environmental flows using hydrological methods: selection of the appropriate characteristic flow, the method of determining guaranteed flows, selection of appropriate statistical distributions or sensitivity of environmental flows to the length of the observation series for which they are esteemed. In addition, the paper showed that the choice of method for calculating the environmental flow influences the volume of electricity production in hydroelectric plants. For watercourses not covered by specific forms of protection, the compromise between environmental protection and investment economics seems to be calculating the EF value by 25% MAF or Q 90. It was also found that it is optimal to maintain the value of EF (from the point of view of caring caring for the aquatic environment) along with choosing the economically justified options. Image 10061 • The link between the environmental flow (EF) and energy potential of rivers. • Lack of significant trends of mean annual flows (MAF) in the analysed catchments. • Sensitivity of EF values in reflect to length of hydrometric time series. • Best solution for environmental and energy production: EF as 25% MAF or Q90. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a complex analysis of heat demand forecasting methods for the Warsaw District Heating Network, which is owned by Veolia Energia Warszawa, the largest district heating network (DHN) in the European Union. The analyzed network supplies heat for both domestic and heating purposes. Therefore, summer, intermediate, and winter seasons were delineated and separately evaluated. Numerous models were utilized including models broadly recognized and used (ridge regression, autoregression with exogenous input, deep artificial neural networks), as well as previously unexplored models (combination of summer and winter linear models with the utilization of fuzzy logic). A 72 h forecast horizon is evaluated for total heat demand (the sum of all substations), as well as for groups of buildings (local models for specific city areas), and individually for the majority of substations. Models of areas use an additional input variable, namely, the results of the total heat demand forecast, and are proposed to be developed as an auxiliary information variable offered to grid operators. An artificial neural network based model achieves the best accuracy for all analyzed seasons. The intermediate seasons prove to be the most difficult to accurately forecast for and only the combination of summer and winter linear autoregresive models with utilization of a fuzzy logic reached comparable accuracy. • Heat demand for district heating network is calculated. • A 24 h horizon heat demand forecasts are proposed and evaluated. • Artificial neural network for total heat demand presents the best accuracy. • Ridge regression and fuzzy logic for network areas presents the best accuracy. • Implementation in on-line system is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents Łódź, Poland's third-largest city in terms of population, and which is a part of the urban heritage of the industrial age. At the start of the twentieth century, it was a major textile industry centre and achieved the highest population growth rate in Europe, with a scale comparable to the rapid development of American cities in this period. Prior to the First World War, Łódź was among the world's 35 largest cities. This profile presents strategies for addressing critical shrinkage by building a relationship with Warsaw as a part of a duopolis. The authors explored the processes by which Łódź enhances its competitiveness by improving its urban structure, altering its economic profile and changing its image from that of an industrial city to a cultural city. The case of Łódź demonstrates that understanding the necessity of introducing synergic layouts can be an element of building resilient city policies in Central and Eastern Europe, which has been hit by city shrinkage particularly hard. • Łódź as Poland's third-most populous city with an industrial origin. • Analysis of influence of demographic and economic change on Łódź's urban development. • Significance of the urban regeneration of the 19th-century post-industrial heritage. • Strategy studies: Duopolis Warszawa – Łódź and new image of the city as an anti-shrinkage resilience concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine topological pairs (Δ , Σ) which have computable type: if X is a computable topological space and f : Δ → X a topological embedding such that f (Δ) and f (Σ) are semicomputable sets in X , then f (Δ) is a computable set in X. It is known that (D , W) has computable type, where D is the Warsaw disc and W is the Warsaw circle. In this paper we identify a class of topological pairs which are similar to (D , W) and have computable type: we prove that (Δ , Σ) has computable type if Δ can somehow be approximated by a 2-cell whose boundary circle approximates Σ. Moreover, we examine higher-dimensional analogues of such pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to present a methodical approach for developing a hydrodynamic model of groundwater flow and transport of nitrogen compounds in the area covered by the precision farming system. The study area covers the part of the Vistula River floodplain terrace near Warsaw (Poland), in the vicinity of nature reserves: Wyspy Zawadowskie, Wyspy Świderskie and Łęgi Oborskie. The components of the water balance in the analysed area were determined using the HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance) model. In reference to the doses of mineral nitrogen used during precise fertilisation, the scenarios of the spread of nitrogen ions in the soil-water environment were detailed. The results were presented graphically in the form of hydroisohypses and isolines of nitrate and ammonium concentrations. The activity of overbank flows and the effect of the geological settings on the course of aquifer layers in the active exchange zone were taken into consideration when describing groundwater flow. This allowed us to indicate potential paths of intense nitrate migration resulting from the evolution of the fluvial environment. Moreover, "hydrogeological windows" have been identified, where contaminants can freely migrate to usable aquifer in the major groundwater basin. Unlabelled Image • Laboratory tests were conducted to determine parameters for hydrogeological modelling. • Multi-stage approaches for assessing the spread of nitrogen compounds are explained. • Remote sensing tools were applied to recognise hydrogeological windows. • Migration paths of nitrogen compounds were predicted using numerical modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]