Variability and changes of daily climate extremes over the core crop region of Argentina

Ponencia presentada en: XI Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Cartagena entre el 17 y el 19 de octubre de 2018.[ES]La variabilidad y los cambios en extremos climáticos afectan la región núcleo de cultivos de Argentina y pueden incrementar su vulnerabilidad ocasionando desastres sin precedentes. Este estudio investiga los cambios de largo período y la variabilidad interanual de los extremos climáticos diarios de precipitación y temperatura y evalúa en qué medida los reanálisis globales reproducen la variabilidad observada en el pasado reciente. Los datos incluyen observaciones con calidad controlada (1963-2013) y los reanálisis ERA-Interim y NCEP2 (1979-2011). Los extremos climáticos se caracterizan espacial y temporalmente con 11 índices de los propuestos por el Equipo de Expertos sobre Detección e Índices de Cambio Climático. Se aplicó un Análisis Espectral Singular para detectar los modos principales de las series temporales medias areales de los índices. Se ajustaron tendencias no-paramétricas lineales a las series temporales de cada índice para estimar la distribución espacial de los cambios medios. Los extremos de temperatura están cambiando hacia condiciones más cálidas. Los días cálidos han estado aumentando desde 1990 mientras que los días fríos han ido decreciendo. Las noches cálidas y frías muestran una señal de calentamiento significativa que parece estar estabilizándose en las últimas décadas. Los eventos de precipitación intensa aumentaron constantemente en la mayor parte de la región desde 1970. La cantidad máxima anual de precipitación en un día aumentó desde la década de 1970 hasta la del 2000, estabilizándose en años recientes. El reanálisis ERA-Interim puede reconocer los extremos de temperatura en tiempo y en espacio, mientras que el antiguo NCEP2 presenta errores sistemáticos. Ambos reanálisis reproducen la máxima precipitación anual en 5 días con grandes sesgos. Aunque se esperaría que los reanálisis agreguen información para extremos climáticos en áreas de observaciones escasas, aún deben usarse con mucha precaución y solo como complemento de las observaciones.[EN]Variability and changes in climate extremes affect the core crop region of Argentina and may increase its vulnerability leading to unprecedented disasters. This study investigates the long-term changes and interannual variability of daily temperature and precipitation climate extremes and assesses to what extent global reanalyses reproduce the observed variability in the recent past. Datasets include quality-controlled observations (1963-2013) and ERA-Interim and NCEP2 reanalyses (1979-2011). Climate extremes are characterized spatially and temporally by 11 indices proposed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices. A Singular Spectrum Analysis was applied to detect the leading modes of the area-averaged index time series. Nonparametric linear trends were fitted to each index time series to estimate the spatial distribution of mean changes. Temperature extremes are changing towards warmer conditions. Warm days has been increasing since 1990 while cold days has been decreasing. Warm and cold nights show a significant signal of warming that seems to be stabilizing in recent decades. Intense precipitation events in most of the region increased steadily since 1970. The annual maximum amount of 1-day precipitation events increased from the 1970s to the 2000s, stabilizing in recent years. The ERA-Interim reanalysis can recognize temperature extremes in time and space, while the older NCEP2 presents systematic biases. Both reanalyses reproduce the annual maximum 5-day precipitation with large biases. Although reanalyses would be expected to add information for climate extremes in areas of scarce observations, they still need to be used with great caution and only as a complement to observations.We appreciate the grant from the PRODACT 2018 of the Science and Technical Secretariat (FICH UNL). This research was carried out with support of Projects CRN3035 and CRN3095 of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), which is supported by the US National Science Foundation. UNL Project C.A.I. + D. 2016 32/180 is also acknowledged

Organisational challenges when enabling ease of access for the elderly around a large acute hospital campus

This paper describes one of several projects undertaken in a large acute care hospital under the banner of 'TOPIC7' The Older Person and Improving Care. It was conducted between January and November 2008. Although driven by the Royal Adelaide Hospital Nursing Service it was undertaken within a multidisciplinary framework. Large city-based tertiary hospitals, nearly without exception, are usually large sprawling campuses having evolved over time from buildings designed and constructed for lower populations and less traffic issues. Parking facilities may or may not be available on-site. In addition, drop-off points are located on the peripheries of the campus at often congested areas. These elements present a particular challenge to the elderly patient. Aims  The purpose of this project was twofold: first, to investigate the challenges faced by older people when making their way from access points such as drop-off points and car parks through to hospital departments and second, to review potential solutions. Methods  The multidisciplinary project team used a variety of knowledge translation tools and strategies to focus on areas of concern in relation to access for the elderly. They conducted a series of audits to guide practice improvement activities. This led to a reconsideration of currently planned strategies and planning of new initiatives to improve access for the elderly. Results  The project was able to define clearly and prioritise the many challenges facing the older person trying to negotiate their way into hospital buildings and the barriers to them successfully reaching their destination in a safe and timely manner. At the beginning of the project it was apparent that a specific solution (an electric courtesy buggy) was in the process of being implemented. This intervention was reviewed in terms of consumer support and implementation feasibility. As a result of the comprehensive audit process, the 'courtesy buggy' was determined to not be the ideal solution and an alternative solution (wheelchair bank) is now being planned for implementation. Conclusions  This project highlighted the challenges of working within a large and complex organisation with multiple key stakeholders and the need for clear pathways that clinician groups can follow to avoid duplication of effort and potential implementation of suboptimal strategies.Cathy Davy, Chris Iovino, Sheila Kavanagh and Rick Wiechul

Interannual-to-multidecadal hydroclimate variability and its sectoral impacts in northeastern Argentina

This study examines the joint variability of precipitation, river streamflow and temperature over northeastern Argentina; advances the understanding of their links with global SST forcing; and discusses their impacts on water resources, agriculture and human settlements. The leading patterns of variability, and their nonlinear trends and cycles are identified by means of a principal component analysis (PCA) complemented with a singular spectrum analysis (SSA). Interannual hydroclimatic variability centers on two broad frequency bands: one of 2.5–6.5 years corresponding to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periodicities and the second of about 9 years. The higher frequencies of the precipitation variability (2.5–4 years) favored extreme events after 2000, even during moderate extreme phases of the ENSO. Minimum temperature is correlated with ENSO with a main frequency close to 3 years. Maximum temperature time series correlate well with SST variability over the South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans with a 9-year frequency. Interdecadal variability is characterized by low-frequency trends and multidecadal oscillations that have induced a transition from dryer and cooler climate to wetter and warmer decades starting in the mid-twentieth century. The Paraná River streamflow is influenced by North and South Atlantic SSTs with bidecadal periodicities. The hydroclimate variability at all timescales had significant sectoral impacts. Frequent wet events between 1970 and 2005 favored floods that affected agricultural and livestock productivity and forced population displacements. On the other hand, agricultural droughts resulted in soil moisture deficits that affected crops at critical growth stages. Hydrological droughts affected surface water resources, causing water and food scarcity and stressing the capacity for hydropower generation. Lastly, increases in minimum temperature reduced wheat and barley yields

A comparison of cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, and symptomatic therapy in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

The results of this open trial confirm that CSA is well tolerated by patients with PsA and suggest that it is more efficacious than ST or SSZ

A comparison of cyclosporine, sulfasalazine, and symptomatic therapy in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of cyclosporine (CSA) with that of symptomatic therapy (ST) alone and sulfasalazine (SSZ) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Modafinil and orexin system interactions and medico-legal considerations

Modafinil (Mo) is increasingly being used as an enhancement drug rather than for its therapeutic effects. The effects of this drug have been examined in attention deficit disorders, depression, mental fatigue, and in enhancing concentration. The drug possesses wakefulness-promoting properties which are mediated through the interaction of orexinergic system with the activated sympathetic nervous system. Mo exerts a synergistic effect on the orexin system, controls energy expenditure and strengthens the ability of the individual to exercise. Some view Mo as a drug that enhances sports performance, since it induces a prolonged wakefulness and decreasing the sense of fatigue. These characteristics being similar to conventional stimulants have allowed Mo to emerge as a novel stimulant requiring medico-legal considerations. However, more studies are needed to better understand the mid and long-term effects of the drug on user/abuser