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Aim of the study: The aim of study was to determine the level and influence of fatigue and general stress levels among emergency department staff. Material and methods: Team research in a group of 119 people employed in three Hospital Rescue Departments in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The Fatigue Assessment Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 standardised research scales and the author's questionnaire for subjective assessment of the quality of performed operations were used. The method of diagnostic survey and estimation was used in the work. Results: The research was carried out among 119 people actively working in Emergency Departments in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Sixty-seven of them are nurses, 38 of whom are paramedics and 14 are doctors. The results indicate a direct correlation between stress levels and fatigue among hospital staff. The correlation between sex and type of work carried out was also presented. In subjective evaluation of the quality of medical service provided, the relationship between patient and staff and work satisfaction was high among employees. Conclusions: The fatigue levels of test subjects were on an average level. The age and type of work done by them had no direct effect on the fatigue levels. The stress level in the tested group was also on an average level. The highest level was presented by women (nurses' group), a lower level was presented by paramedics, and the lowest by doctors. The respondents who highly rated services undertaken and were satisfied with their work presented a lower level of stress and fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a general method for identity the security risk factor for alarm signal transmission systems (ASTS), which are used in monitoring buildings and critical infrastructure. The security of the transmission of alarm signals to an alarm receiving center (ARC) is a property of the process, which is associated witch performing of tasks and functions, human factor, hardware and environment components. The process of transmitting alarm signals should be characterized by minimizing risk of external and internal interception/distortion or deformation of transmitted signals and in ideal case signals should be encrypted and integrity checked. Determining the security risk indicator for ASTS will allow optimal organization of electronic security systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a method for determining the security risk indicator for electronic systems that are used to secure field command posts (FCP). Security of FCP of army groupings is a property of the process they carry out which is related to the tasks and functions performed, the human, hardware and environment components. Determining the security risk indicator for FCPs with different organizational structures will allow optimal organization of integrated electronic security systems, including: selection of these devices, their configuration, project implementation and optimal implementation of technical structures, which should also take into account reliability and operational aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses issues regarding electromagnetic interference generated unintentionally by transport telematics systems and electronic security systems (ESS) located within a railway area. These systems should operate correctly, since they ensure the safety of both vehicles and passengers. The electronic devices they use are exposed to electromagnetic interference that may lead to incorrect ESS functioning. In order to determine the impact of electromagnetic interference on ESS, the authors measured unintentional low-frequency electromagnetic field generated by MV—15 and 30 kV—power lines. This enabled determining the areas with maximum values of electromagnetic interference. The next stage of the research was to develop an ESS operating process model that takes into account the impact of unintentionally generated electromagnetic interference on the operating process. Introducing the electromagnetic interference impact coefficient enables a rational selection of solutions aimed at protecting against electromagnetic interference through the application of technical and organizational measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents issues regarding the impact of operating conditions on the functional reliability of representative fire alarm systems (FASs) in selected critical infrastructure buildings (CIB). FAS should operate correctly under variable environmental conditions. FASs ensure the safety of people and CIB. Operational measurements for 10 representative systems were conducted in order to determine the impact of environmental conditions on FAS reliability. Selected operational indices were also determined. The next stage involved developing two models of representative FASs and the availability, pre-ageing time and operating process security indices. Determining operational indices is a rational selection of FAS technical and organizational solutions that enables the reliability level to be increased. Identifying the course of the FAS operating process security hazard changes in individual system lines, particularly at the initial operation stage, enables people that supervise the operation to affect operating parameters on an ongoing basis. The article is structured in the following order: issue analysis, FAS power supply in CIB, operational test results, selected FAS operating process models, determination of operational and security indices, and conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Difficult-to-heal injuries are an increasing problem for today's healthcare systems. Patients claim that limitations in self-care, lack of specialised knowledge, absence of support from others perceived subjectively, and low self-esteem are the most common factors affecting the quality of their lives. Pain, exudation, and unpleasant smell increase medical treatment expenses and have a destructive influence on patients' functionality in terms of complications and frequent hospitalization. Aim of the research: Assessment of selected determinants conditioning the functioning of patients qualified for the Comprehensive Treatment of Chronic Wounds Program (KLRP-1). Material and methods: Thirty-one adults meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for the program. A prospective-observational study with the use of estimation and observation methods was conducted on the basis of the developed research protocol containing wound assessment tools, gathering data concerning pain perception, the functioning of patients in everyday life, and their subjective opinions of their life. The study was conducted during the first and the last visit of patients to the Surgery Clinic of Podkarpackie voivodeship, which implements protocols of Ambulatory Specialised Care (pl. AOS) and of the Comprehensive Chronic Wound Treatment Programme (KLRP-1). Results: The most common negative symptoms were excessive exudation (83.9%), pain (77.3%), and unpleasant smell (3.2%). In spite of the self-care capabilities declared by patients, most of them were not able to treat their wounds independently and needed the help of other persons (96.8%). The more intense the pain, the lower the subjective assessment of quality of life. Conclusions: Wound aetiology, degree of damage, or self-care ability do not affect the everyday physical functionality in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. By means of an X-ray diffractometer, it is possible to very precisely determine the composition of examined stones while identifying each kind of crystal. The objective of this paper is to make an in vitro assessment of the crystalline composition of urinary stones obtained during surgeries or those spontaneously excreted by the patients treated in the I and II Clinic of Urology of the Medical University in Lódź. Material and method. The research was conducted with the use of X-ray diffractometers: Dron - 1 or D 5000 Siemens. One hundred eighty-eight urinary stones obtained from patients treated in the clinics were examined. Results. The following crystals were found in the examined urinary stones: whewellite occurs in 97 (51.6%) stones, weddellite in 45 (23.9%), struvite in 82 (43.6%), apatite in 70 (37.2%), newberyite in 40 (21.2%), brushite in 34 (18.1%), bobierrite in 14 (7.4%), vitlokite in 7 (3.7%), uric acid in 12 (6.4%), ammonium acid urate in 1 (0.5%), calcium carbonate in 3 (1.6%), cystine and other sporadically occurring crystals were found in 0.6% to 1% of cases. Stones made of pure calcium oxalate constituted 18.1%. Oxalic stones with the additive of other crystals, although not containing any struvite, were found in 20.2% of cases, which in total makes 38% of the analyzed stones. Pure struvite stones constituted 5.3% and the ones with the additive of other phosphate crystals - 27.7%, which makes 33.0% in total. Uric acid stones constituted 5.3%, whereas with the additive of other crystals - 1.1%, which makes 6.4% in total. Cystine stones were found in 0.6% of cases. Mixed stones containing all kinds of crystals constituted 22.0%. Conclusions. Diffractometric studies allow very precise determination of the composition of urinary stones. While using the crystalline structure as a criterion for dividing urinary stones, one cannot create any homogenous groups. On the basis of the conducted research, we divided urinary stones into oxalic, phosphate, uric acid, cystine, and mixed ones, the latter containing all possible kinds of crystals. The largest group is made of mixed stones, which constitute 55% of the deposits and combine infected stones without calcium oxalate and stones that are a mixture of struvite and calcium oxalate as well as other crystals. Another numerous group is made of oxalic stones - 38.3% of cases. Uric acid stones (6.4%) and cystine stones (0.6%) are less frequent. Based on the observations conducted it can be concluded that along with the increase in the number of crystals contained in a uric stone, the number of uric acid deposits decreases and the number of stones made of phosphate and mixed oxalic and phosphate crystals, often with the additive of struvite, grows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]