Using the rescaled range analysis for the study of hydrological records: The river Ter as an example

Water discharges into the Ter river have a strong influence on the water chemistry and on the dynamics of benthic cornmunities. For this reason, the temporal pattems followed by monthly runoff from 1 954 to 1 988 have been studied. From a statistical point of view, discharges show a very regular seasonal cycle, but in practice, climatic events introduce a source of variability on runoffs. To determine whether the series of 420 monthly discharges fluctuates with sorne regularity or at random, a rescaled range analilsis was made. The persistence (H) of the series of discharges was measured by the equation R / S = (T / 2) . In fact, H is a measure of the existence of clear trends or periodicities in the records of persistent stocastic processes. An additional measure of the persistence was obtained by means of the relationship D = 2 - H, where D is the local fractal dimensiono For comparative reasons, a random series of the same length, mean and standard deviation was generated and analysed in the same way as the Ter discharges were. The results were H = 0.68 and D = 1 .38 and H = 0.44 and D = 1 .52, for the Ter data and for the random series respectively. These results show that the simulated series is a case of ordinary Brownian motion while the Ter discharges series has an intermediate value of persistence. Because of the value of H in the Ter series, there are periods whose values were estimated by the autocorrelation function and the periodogram of the series. The results show the existence of short fluctuations of 3, 6 and 12 months deterrnining the seasonality of the annual cycle, and large fluctuations with periods of 5.5, 8.6, 1 0.1 and 11.7 months which can be considered an expression of cycles of circa 7 and 1 1 years.Water discharges into the Ter river have a strong influence on the water chemistry and on the dynamics of benthic cornmunities. For this reason, the temporal pattems followed by monthly runoff from 1 954 to 1 988 have been studied. From a statistical point of view, discharges show a very regular seasonal cycle, but in practice, climatic events introduce a source of variability on runoffs. To determine whether the series of 420 monthly discharges fluctuates with sorne regularity or at random, a rescaled range analilsis was made. The persistence (H) of the series of discharges was measured by the equation R / S = (T / 2) . In fact, H is a measure of the existence of clear trends or periodicities in the records of persistent stocastic processes. An additional measure of the persistence was obtained by means of the relationship D = 2 - H, where D is the local fractal dimensiono For comparative reasons, a random series of the same length, mean and standard deviation was generated and analysed in the same way as the Ter discharges were. The results were H = 0.68 and D = 1 .38 and H = 0.44 and D = 1 .52, for the Ter data and for the random series respectively. These results show that the simulated series is a case of ordinary Brownian motion while the Ter discharges series has an intermediate value of persistence. Because of the value of H in the Ter series, there are periods whose values were estimated by the autocorrelation function and the periodogram of the series. The results show the existence of short fluctuations of 3, 6 and 12 months deterrnining the seasonality of the annual cycle, and large fluctuations with periods of 5.5, 8.6, 1 0.1 and 11.7 months which can be considered an expression of cycles of circa 7 and 1 1 years

Dimensió lúdica i jocs motrius a les rondalles mallorquines = Recreational dimension and motor function games in tales from Majorca

En aquest estudi es rastreja l'esperit lúdic d'una selecció de rondalles mallorquines seguint la perspectiva de l'homo ludens de Johan Huizinga. Ens servim de les aportacions de Roger Callois per analitzar les tipologies d'elements lúdics que hi trobem i de les habilitats bàsiques de la motricitat apuntades per Georges Hébert. D'aquesta manera es farà una relació entre les rondalles mallorquines i els jocs motrius que hi podem extreure. Pretén ser una eina per organitzar grans jocs ludomotrius i per a la tasca del professorat d'educació física amb vocació interdisciplinària, així com una revalorització de l'homo ludens malmès per la modernitat.This study traces the recreational spirit of a selection of tales from Majorca following the perspective of the homo ludens of Johan Huizinga. We avail ourselves of the contributions of Roger Callois to analyse the typologies of recreational elements that we find in them and the basic motor function skills indicated by Georges Hébert. A relationship is thus established between the tales from Majorca and the motor function games we can extract from them. It aims to be a tool to organise major recreational motor function games and for the work of the physical education teachers with an interdisciplinary vocation, as well as a reappraisal of the homo ludens ruined by modernity

Effects of an omega-3 fatty acid-enriched lipid emulsion on eicosanoid synthesis in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of lipid emulsions has been associated with changes in lung function and gas exchange which may be mediated by biologically active metabolites derived from arachidonic acid. The type and quantity of the lipid emulsions used could modulate this response, which is mediated by the eicosanoids. This study investigates the use of omega-3 fatty acid-enriched lipid emulsions in ARDS patients and their effects on eicosanoid values.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study carried out at the Intensive Medicine Department of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona-Spain). We studied 16 consecutive patients with ARDS and intolerance to enteral nutrition (14 men; age: 58 ± 13 years; APACHE II score 17.8 ± 2.3; Lung Injury Score: 3.1 ± 0.5; baseline PaO₂/FiO₂ratio: 149 ± 40). Patients were randomized into two groups: Group A (n = 8) received the study emulsion Lipoplus^®20%, B. Braun Medical (50% MCT, 40% LCT, 10% fish oil (FO)); Group B (n = 8) received the control emulsion Intralipid^®Fresenius Kabi (100% LCT). Lipid emulsions were administered for 12 h at a dose of 0.12 g/kg/h. We measured LTB₄, TXB₂, and 6-keto prostaglandin F_1αvalues at baseline [immediately before the administration of the lipid emulsions (T-0)], at the end of the administration (T-12) and 24 hours after the beginning of the infusion (T 24) in arterial and mixed venous blood samples.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In group A (FO) LTB₄, TXB₂, 6-keto prostaglandin F_1αlevels fell during omega-3 administration (T12). After discontinuation (T24), levels of inflammatory markers (both systemic and pulmonary) behaved erratically. In group B (LCT) all systemic and pulmonary mediators increased during lipid administration and returned to baseline levels after discontinuation, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. There was a clear interaction between the treatment in group A (fish oil) and changes in LTB₄over time.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Infusion of lipids enriched with omega-3 fatty acids produces significant short- term changes in eicosanoid values, which may be accompanied by an immunomodulatory effect.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN63673813">ISRCTN63673813</a>.</p

Effects on hemodynamics and gas exchange of omega-3 fatty acid-enriched lipid emulsion in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We investigated the effects on hemodynamics and gas exchange of a lipid emulsion enriched with omega-3 fatty acids in patients with ARDS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The design was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study in our Intensive Medicine Department of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona-Spain). We studied 16 consecutive patients with ARDS and intolerance to enteral nutrition (14 men and 2 women; mean age: 58 ± 13 years; APACHE II score: 17.8 ± 2.3; Lung Injury Score: 3.1 ± 0.5; baseline PaO₂/FiO₂ratio: 149 ± 40). Patients were randomized into 2 groups: Group A (n = 8) received the study emulsion Lipoplus^®20%, B.Braun Medical (50% MCT, 40% LCT, 10% ω-3); Group B (n = 8) received the control emulsion Intralipid^®Fresenius Kabi (100% LCT). Lipid emulsions were administered during 12 h at a dose of 0.12 g/kg/h. Measurements of the main hemodynamic and gas exchange parameters were made at baseline (immediately before administration of the lipid emulsions), every hour during the lipid infusion, at the end of administration, and six hours after the end of administration lipid infusion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No statistically significant changes were observed in the different hemodynamic values analyzed. Likewise, the gas exchange parameters did not show statistically significant differences during the study. No adverse effect attributable to the lipid emulsions was seen in the patients analyzed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The lipid emulsion enriched with omega-3 fatty acids was safe and well tolerated in short-term administration to patients with ARDS. It did not cause any significant changes in hemodynamic and gas exchange parameters.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN63673813</p