Solar Forcing of the Streamflow of a Continental Scale South American River

Solar forcing on climate has been reported in several studies although the evidence so far remains inconclusive. Here, we analyze the stream flow of one of the largest rivers in the world, the Parana in southeastern South America. For the last century, we find a strong correlation with the sunspot number, in multidecadal time scales, and with larger solar activity corresponding to larger stream flow. The correlation coefficient is r=0.78, significant to a 99% level. In shorter time scales we find a strong correlation with El Nino. These results are a step toward flood prediction, which might have great social and economic impacts.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, published in Physics and Review Letter

Hoteling cruise ship's power requirements for high voltage shore connection installations

The main objective of this paper is the presentation of a theoretical and quantitative study of the power requirements that any port considering to install and develop shore to ship connection systems must consider. Particularly, the current study focuses these requirements for cruise ship ports and their terminals. This paper provides theoretical and quantitative tools and ideas that can be used to estimate main design parameters such as frequency, voltage and power for high voltage shore connections. Some models and equations are developed aiming to be able to estimate, with acceptable quality, cruise ship’s power demand for hoteling services at port. On the other hand, this article is intended to assess ship's air pollution impact populated harbour areas to decide whether alternative power supply measures are feasible. Finally, the assessment model is applied at Barcelona's cruise piers and case study is discussed. As a result of that, a daily power demand curve and the consequent air pollution study at the most crowded situation in this port are obtained.Postprint (published version

NPS pollution analysis in groundwater and streams of rural watersheds in western and southeastern Pampas, Argentina

Non-point source water pollution is a key question in rural watersheds and it needs to be studied in order to prevent damages to ground and surface water quality. The main goal of this study is to analyze nutrient and chemical loads in groundwater and streams in Pampa region, Argentina. For studying groundwater loads, a set of 19 observation wells were installed in 2011, in western Buenos Aires. The wells were located at three landscape positions (upper, middle and lower hill) in seven agricultural fields and groundwater samples were monthly collected. As for surface water, two watersheds located in southeastern Buenos Aires, were chosen: Napaleofu creek Watershed (34.000 hectares) and Quequen Grande River watershed (938.000 hectares). Daily water samples were taken from the main stream from October 2011 to May 2013, at both watersheds. Water Samples collected from wells and streams, were analyzed to determine N, and chemical loads. A group of 11 herbicides and one insecticide frequently used by farmers in the watershed were chosen for the study. Nitrogen and chemical concentrations were analyzed considering rainfall events and also compared to critical limits. Preliminary results are presented from a subset of samples since remaining samples are currently being processed in laboratory. As for NO3-N concentration, most of wells presented variable concentration depending on monthly precipitation and landscape position. Considering 10 mg/L NO3-N as a standard limit, 52% of the observations exceed this value mostly related to unusual precipitations events at winter 2012. Nitrate-Nconcentration in streamflow at Quequen Grande River and Napaleofu creek were on average 5 ppm. NPS Pollution modeling is a second goal of this on-going research. SWAT validation results are also presented for one of the watersheds under study

REPORTE DE CASO: Condrosarcoma de bajo grado originado de parrilla costal en un paciente con exostosis múltiple

Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de la tercera década de la vida, con historia clínica de una tumoración pétrea en parrilla costal izquierda, de dos años de evolución, de crecimiento progresivo, con antecedentes familiares de exostosis hereditaria múltiple (EHM). Se exponen los estudios de imágenes e histopatológicos, haciendo una correlación que estableció el diagnóstico definitivo de condrosarcoma de bajo grado (grado I) originado en un osteocondroma del tipo similar a coliflor

Cartografía de susceptibilidad hídrica en el delta del río Paraná

The Paraná River delta plays a key role in the economies, water resources, agriculture and social field of the region. A water susceptibility mapping of the region could be a useful tool for the decision making in the agriculture and forestry fields. In addition to the flow forecasts, an estimation of the spatial distribution of the flooding areas according to the predicted hydrologic scenario is very important. The hydrologic scenarios range from very dry (very low water) to very humid (very high water). A water susceptibility map for the mid Paraná River delta was generated using high resolution images from 1980 to 2010 time series, which were processed and classified. This resulting information can be overlapped with the topographic maps of the region and through the geographic coordinate location a field producer or another entity could be aware of the degree of damage by water that a certain area could sufferEl delta del río Paraná es un ecosistema de alta fragilidad ambiental y muy susceptible a las inundaciones. A su vez, se caracteriza por tener una importante actividad económica, social y productiva. Disponer de una cartografía de susceptibilidad hídrica en la región es una herramienta útil para la toma de decisiones en los sectores agropecuario y forestal. Además de los pronósticos de caudales, es importante contar con una estimación de la distribución espacial de los derrames según el escenario hidrológico previsto que puede fluctuar entre muy seco (aguas muy bajas) y muy húmedo (aguas muy altas). Mediante el procesamiento y clasificación de imágenes satelitales de alta resolución correspondientes a la serie temporal 1980-2010 se generó un mapa de susceptibilidad hídrica en el tramo medio del delta Paranaense. El empleo de esta información superpuesta con las cartas topográficas de la zona permitirá al productor agropecuario, a través de la ubicación por coordenadas geográficas, tener conocimiento del grado de afectación por el agua que tendrá un área determinad

Divinas y humanas flores : primera y segunda parte

Sign.: P8, A-V8Postil·les marginals. - Errates tip. en la fol.: del f. 75 retrocedeix al f. 7

Mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care units during the season for acute lower respiratory infection: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care units during the season of acute lower respiratory infections. DESIGN: Prospective cohort of infants and children receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 12 hrs. SETTING: Sixty medical-surgical pediatric intensive care units. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients admitted to participating pediatric intensive care units during a 28-day period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 2,156 patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units, 1185 (55%) received mechanical ventilation for a median of 5 days (interquartile range 2-8). Median age was 7 months (interquartile range 2-25). Main indications for mechanical ventilation were acute respiratory failure in 78% of the patients, altered mental status in 15%, and acute on chronic pulmonary disease in 6%. Median length of stay in the pediatric intensive care units was 10 days (interquartile range 6-18). Overall mortality rate in pediatric intensive care units was 13% (95% confidence interval: 11-15) for the entire population, and 39% (95% confidence interval: 23 - 58) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Of 1150 attempts at liberation from mechanical ventilation, 62% (95% confidence interval: 60-65) used the spontaneous breathing trial, and 37% (95% confidence interval: 35-40) used gradual reduction of ventilatory support. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation was used initially in 173 patients (15%, 95% confidence interval: 13-17). CONCLUSION: In the season of acute lower respiratory infections, one of every two children admitted to pediatric intensive care units requires mechanical ventilation. Acute respiratory failure was the most common reason for mechanical ventilation. The spontaneous breathing trial was the most commonly used method for liberation from mechanical ventilation

Mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care units during the season for acute lower respiratory infection: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care units during the season of acute lower respiratory infections. DESIGN: Prospective cohort of infants and children receiving mechanical ventilation for at least 12 hrs. SETTING: Sixty medical-surgical pediatric intensive care units. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients admitted to participating pediatric intensive care units during a 28-day period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 2,156 patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units, 1185 (55%) received mechanical ventilation for a median of 5 days (interquartile range 2-8). Median age was 7 months (interquartile range 2-25). Main indications for mechanical ventilation were acute respiratory failure in 78% of the patients, altered mental status in 15%, and acute on chronic pulmonary disease in 6%. Median length of stay in the pediatric intensive care units was 10 days (interquartile range 6-18). Overall mortality rate in pediatric intensive care units was 13% (95% confidence interval: 11-15) for the entire population, and 39% (95% confidence interval: 23 - 58) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Of 1150 attempts at liberation from mechanical ventilation, 62% (95% confidence interval: 60-65) used the spontaneous breathing trial, and 37% (95% confidence interval: 35-40) used gradual reduction of ventilatory support. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation was used initially in 173 patients (15%, 95% confidence interval: 13-17). CONCLUSION: In the season of acute lower respiratory infections, one of every two children admitted to pediatric intensive care units requires mechanical ventilation. Acute respiratory failure was the most common reason for mechanical ventilation. The spontaneous breathing trial was the most commonly used method for liberation from mechanical ventilation