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This paper presents an analysis of the derecho phenomenon that occurred over Poland on August 11, 2017. The storm caused 6 fatalities, 39 injuries (Wrona et al. 2022), and some of the greatest damage in the history of Polish forestry. Our study is based on radar meteorology and measurements from the Polish POLRAD radar network, and intended for advanced meteorologists with good knowledge of radar measurements. The research used both standard and specialized radar products as well as classic and Doppler scan data. The Doppler velocity products were especially useful for showing the characteristics of the storm. The analysis was mainly based on data from two radars: Poznań and Gdańsk, but the composite maps, consisting of data from more than one radar, were also analyzed. The derecho complex developed from unorganized thunderstorm cells over SW Poland and moved toward the NE. The various stages of the evolution of the system are presented and analyzed, accounting for the formation of a SC, the development of a rear inflow jet (RIJ), the split of the entire system, and the appearance of the bow echo signature. Significant factors affecting the scale of the wind damage were: (1) the extensive mesocyclone which evolved to the mesoscale convective vortex (MCV), and (2) a strong rear flank downdraft interacting with the rear inflow jet (RIJ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying prognostic factors that are predictive of in-hospital mortality for patients in surgical units may help in identifying high-risk patients and developing an approach to reduce mortality. This study analyzed mortality predictors based on outcomes obtained from a national database of adult patients. Materials and methods: This retrospective study design collected data obtained from the National Health Fund in Poland comprised of 2,800,069 hospitalizations of adult patients in surgical wards during one calendar year. Predictors of mortality which were analyzed included: the patient's gender and age, diagnosis-related group category assigned to the hospitalization, length of the hospitalization, hospital type, admission type, and day of admission. Results: The overall mortality rate was 0.8%, and the highest rate was seen in trauma admissions (24.5%). There was an exponential growth in mortality with respect to the patient's age, and male gender was associated with a higher risk of death. Compared to elective admissions, the mortality was 6.9-fold and 15.69-fold greater for urgent and emergency admissions (p < 0.0001), respectively. Weekend or bank holiday admissions were associated with a higher risk of death than working day admissions. The "weekend" effect appears to begin on Friday. The highest mortality was observed in less than 1 day emergency cases and with a hospital stay longer than 61 days in any type of admission. Conclusion: Age, male gender, emergency admission, and admission on the weekend or a bank holiday are factors associated with greater mortality in surgical units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophyte plants e.g. reed, cattails, bulrush, can be applied to sewage sludge utilisation. One of the first facilities of this type in the Gdansk region (Northern Poland) was established in Darzlubie in 1995 and primary sludge has been utilised in reed beds there. The objective of the undertaken research was evaluating the influence of sewage sludge storage on its chemical and biological properties. A total of 5.5 m thick layer of primary, anaerobically stabilised sludge (moisture 90-96%) was loaded to the reed bed during 6 years of operation. As a consequence of dewatering and biochemical transformation, the sludge layer decreased to 30 cm. Moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents, as well as coli index, Clostridium perfringens index and the number of Ascaris lumbricoides ova were measured. Also the contents of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr and Cd) were determined in sludge samples. The study showed that sludge storage in reed beds results in dewatering and partial stabilisation. In the reed lagoons in Swarzewo and Zambrow, dewatering of secondary sludges was investigated. The results of measurements of the quality of sludge and effluent from the reed lagoon in Zambrow are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period 1973/74-1995 a prospective observation was carried out on 4420 diabetic patients (1990 males and 2430 females) aged 30-68 years, with type 2 (non-insulin dependent diabetes) of 1-10 years duration. During the 22-year period nearly 80% of the initial cohort died. The risk of death was 2-times higher in diabetes than in the samples of general population observed at the same time. The death risk from cardiovascular diseases was over 3.0 times higher than in general population. The relevant risk ratio was found over 5-times higher for coronary heart disease, which was unlike to result from the differences in death ascertainment between diabetics and the city dwellers. The all-causes ratio of death and cardiovascular diseases was the same for women and men but it was selectively higher for females than males group for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases, and for males 50% higher for atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. The highest cumulation of risk factors was observed for deaths from cardiovascular diseases, and coronary heart disease. There were risk factors typical for cardiovascular disease and typical for poor metabolic control of diabetes (hyperglycaemia, glucosuria) and presence of complications of diabetes (nephropathy).

In the period 1973/74-1995 a prospective observation was carried out on 4420 diabetic patients (1990 males and 2430 females) aged 30-68 years, with type 2 (non-insulin dependent diabetes) of 1-10 years duration. During the 22-years period nearly 80% of initial cohort died. The risk of death were 2-times higher in diabetes than in the samples of general population observed at the same time. The death risk from cardiovascular disease were over 3-times higher than in general population. The relevant risk ratio has been found over 5-times higher for coronary heart disease, which were unlike to results from the differences in death ascertainment between diabetics and the city dwellers. The all-causes ratio of death and cardiovascular diseases were the same for women and men but it was selectively higher for females then males group for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases. Among diabetic cohort the risk of death was also higher for neoplasms, especially in women.

During the follow-up 1973/74-1995 years 171 subjects with type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) (105 males and 66 females) aged 18-30 years died 31.6% (32.4% males and 30.3% females). The relative risk of mortality for all causes in the compared to the general population was 5.0 (3.5 for men and 7.5 for women). Almost 30% deaths were from renal disease, 17% from ischemic heart disease, and 3 death in women from carcinoma of breast.