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The shortage of efficient, low-cost storage depots inhibits the large-scale adoption of volatile-by-nature, renewable sources of energy (RSEs). In this paper, we outline how to utilize prosumer-owned hydro plants of a few to several kW as a distributed, short-term energy storage solution that is deployable with little investment and a low operational expenditure. The proposed solution is a system of interconnected hydro depots with an active water-flow control algorithm that reduces the grid's load variability and benefits prosumers. According to the tests conducted, prosumer revenue grows from several percent to over 30 percent, depending on weather conditions, in comparison to the free-flow case. In turn, the cushioning effect of the distributed energy buffer balances the fluctuations introduced by other RSEs, e.g., photovoltaic- or wind-based ones. Hence, while benefitting the involved parties, it also facilitates the inclusion of RSEs within the power distribution system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents recent investigations of beach run-up phenomena at the Coastal Research Station of the Institute of Hydro-Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences at Lubiatowo, Poland. The local beach is typical of open-sea coasts of the south Baltic Sea, featuring multiple longshore bars that form predominantly dissipative systems. Measurements were taken to verify the existing formulas for the run-up height, bearing in mind that they had been derived for entirely different, oceanic conditions. The results indicate that these formulations can be adapted to south Baltic Sea conditions. This however, will require significantly larger data sets, which we intend to obtain in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confusion on a somatic basis is a dangerous problem mainly related with aging of the population. Data says that consciousness disorders concern 10-15% of patients in general wards, and up to 50% of patients admitted to geriatric wards. The persistence of the symptoms of confusion results in increase of agitation, disorganization, fear, which increases the risk of self-injuries of patients, it causes the need for parenteral feeding and hydratation, as well as maintaining water balance, and also disturbs cooperation, worsening the course and prognosis of the primary disease. It is believed that consciousness disorders are one of the most difficult diagnostic problems and the most difficult therapy problem among psychotic disorders. So far in Poland there have been no screening evaluation tools to assess the occurrence of confusion on the somatic basis. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Polish translation of the widely used scale to assess consciousness disorders, intended also for middle personnel of health care - Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Numerous studies over 16 years established the position of CAM as an exceptionally effective standardized diagnostic test, specifying the sensitivity of 94-100%, specificity from 90-95%, positive predictive value of 91-94%, negative predictive value of 90-100%. The questionnaire and instructions of its interpretation have been translated by doctors with active help from the original creators of CAM. Further studies are required in order to validate and determine the effectiveness of the newly formed diagnostic tool.