Biomolecular evidence reveals mares and long-distance imported horses sacrificed by the last pagans in temperate Europe

Horse sacrifice and deposition are enigmatic features of funerary rituals identified across prehistoric Europe that persisted in the eastern Baltic. Genetic and isotopic analysis of horses in Balt cemeteries [1st to 13th centuries CE (Common Era)] dismantle prevailing narratives that locally procured stallions were exclusively selected. Strontium isotope analysis provides direct evidence for long-distance(~300 to 1500 kilometers) maritime transport of Fennoscandian horses to the eastern Baltic in the Late Viking Age (11th to 13th centuries CE). Genetic analysis proves that horses of both sexes were sacrificed with 34% identified as mares. Results transform the understanding of selection criteria, disprove sex-based selection, and elevate prestige value as a more crucial factor. These findings also provide evidence that the continued interaction between pagans and their newly Christianized neighbors sustained the performance of funerary horse sacrifice until the medieval transition. We also present a reference 87Sr/86Sr isoscape for the southeastern Baltic, releasing the potential of future mobility studies in the region

Characteristics and selection of thermal isolation the external walls with respect heat safety

Izolacja cieplna powinna chronić obiekt przed stratami ciepła, przed jego napływem, a także stanowić materiał spełniający bezpieczeństwo i komfort cieplny. W artykule przedstawiono szczegółową analizę wybranych materiałów pochodzenia organicznego, nieorganicznego oraz z tworzyw sztucznych. Zakres pracy obejmował przeprowadzenie obliczeń, które pozwoliły wyznaczyć hierarchie użyteczności izolacji cieplnych w obiektach budowlanych, a także określić przenikanie i przewodzenie ciepła.Thermal insulation should protect property against both heat loss, before the influx, as well as provide material that meets the security and comfort. The article presents a detailed analysis of selected materials of organic origin, inorganic and plastic. The scope of work included carrying out calculations that helped determine the usefulness of hierarchies of thermal insulation in buildings, as well as the determination of diffusion and heat conduction

External measurements of the surface emissivity of steel ladles with using thermal imaging camera

W artykule przedstawiono badania poświęcone pomiarom emisyjności kadzi stalowniczych. Uzyskano dane dotyczące temperatur w wybranych punktach powierzchni płaszcza analizowanych kadzi, pochodzących z pomiaru stykowego. Dla każdej kadzi zarejestrowano termogramy. Wykazano, że wartość badanego parametru zależy istotnie od stopnia pokrycia kadzi zanieczyszczeniami. Ustalono, że emisyjność powierzchni zewnętrznych badanych kadzi stalowniczych mieści się w zakresie od 0,75 do 0,92.The article presents research performed to obtain the emission coefficient of the investigated steel ladles. The measurements were perfomed for selected points in the mantle surface of the analyzed ladle with the direct contact measurement. Thermal images were recorded for different ladles. It has been shown that the value of the examined parameter significantly depends on the degree of coverage of the ladle impurities. It was found that the emissivity of the outer surfaces of the tested steel ladles are in the range from 0.75 to 0.92