Multifractal analysis to study break points in temperature data sets.

Since the last century, the air surface temperature has increased at a global scale, showing trends and inhomogeneities that vary from place to place. Many statistical methods can be used to analyze whether or not an inhomogeneity or break point exists in a meteorological data series, and even to detect the time of the break. Sometimes, there is no agreement in the year at which the inhomogeneity occurs detected by different tests. The scale invariance of a process can be studied through its multifractal properties that can be related to the existence of break points in it. In this work, the multifractal properties of monthly temperature data series are used to test what is the right break point year in those situations at which different dates are found by two different tests: the Pettitt and the Standard Normal Homogeneity tests. The comparison of the fractal dimension function Dq and the multifractal spectrum obtained by the box counting method for both the original data sets and for those obtained by splitting the original into two considering the break point years was made. When different multifractal functions and parameters were obtained, a break point was confirmed. Whereas, if equal values appeared, the break point year was discarded. These results let to select the most suitable test to be applied to detect inhomogeneities in a certain data set that will be very useful for climate change studies.

Multifractal analysis of diurnal temperature range over Southern Spain using validated datasets.

Multifractal properties of diurnal temperature range (DTR) have been analyzed in this work, using validated data of maximum and minimum temperature from 197 weather stations in Southern Spain (Andalusia region). DTR is a crucial factor to characterize the regional climate, providing more information than the average daily temperature. Apart from climate change studies, one of the most important applications of DTR in Agrometeorology is as an input variable in the solar radiation or reference evapotranspiration estimation models based on the temperature. With the aim of obtaining a detailed information for different time scales, different multifractal approaches have been applied. Different quality control methods such as range/limits or persistence tests were previously applied in order to detect incorrect and anomalous values, being discarded in the subsequent analysis. The DTR scaling of moments has been analyzed and the moment scaling exponent function K(q) has been obtained, finding some differences between weather stations. In addition, multifractal dimension (D1) and multifractal degree (MD) were also estimated, revealing differences at coastal and inland locations that show heterogeneity across the region, including its multifractal nature and its invariance for a range of scales. The nonlinear characterization carried out in this work improves the understanding of DTR as an indicator of climate changes, and it can have a very positive impact on the calibration of regional models for estimating solar radiation or reference evapotranspiration based on the temperature. This multifractal characterization can be used to group stations with similar nonlinear dynamics, regardless of their geographical features, in such a way that more accurate coefficients than conventional ones are used.

Multifractal analysis of validated wind speed time series.

Multifractal properties of 30 min wind data series recorded at six locations in Cadiz (Southern Spain) have been studied in this work with the aim of obtaining detailed information for a range of time scales. Wind speed records have been validated, applying various quality control tests as a pre-requisite before their use, improving the reliability of the results due to the identification of incorrect values which have been discarded in the analysis. The scaling of the wind speed moments has been analysed and empirical moments scaling exponent functions K(q) have been obtained. Although the same critical moment (qcrit) has been obtained for all the places, some differences appear in other multifractal parameters like γmax and the value of K(0). These differences have been related to the presence of extreme events and zero data values in the data series analysed, respectively.

Diseño de un instrumento para la evaluación de patrones básicos de movilidad para adultos con lesión de neurona motora superior - UAM 2002 / Design of a tool to evaluate the mobility basic patterns in adults with upper motoneuron lesion - UAM 2002

El objetivo de este estudio fue diseñar un instrumento para la evaluación de patrones básicos de movilidad, para adultos con lesión de neurona motora superior, y evaluarlo en sus requisitos de validez y confiabilidad. Se diseñó un instrumento con veinte patrones de movimiento en diferentes posiciones y una escala de valoración de 0 a 5 con sus respectivos indicadores. Este instrumento se aplicó por una sola vez a veinte pacientes adultos con lesión de neurona motora superior (hemiplejía o hemiparesia espástica), con un rango de edad de 15 a 80 años y una media de 48 años. Cada una de las evaluaciones se filmó en videocinta para su posterior análisis. Para su validación y confiabilidad se contó con la colaboración de diez estudiantes de fisioterapia de octavo y noveno semestre y diez docentes fisioterapeutas del Programa de Fisioterapia de la Universidad Autónoma de Manizales (Colombia). Cada uno de los evaluadores diligenció veinte instrumentos de evaluación correspondientes a los veinte pacientes. Para las pruebas de confiabilidad se aplicó el Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclase (C.C.I.) a cada patrón de movimiento y al resultado final (promedio de las pruebas evaluadas), sobre la base de los 400 instrumentos diligenciados. Para la validez de contenido se utilizó un cuestionario con diez preguntas, las cuales cada evaluador calificó en una escala de 1 a 10; a cada aspecto evaluado se le obtuvo la media y el coeficiente de variación. El instrumento diseñado resultó confiable: el C.C.I para el resultado final fue de 0,95 (p = 0,0000) y para los patrones de movimiento osciló entre 0,74 y 0,94 (p = 0,0000). Igualmente resultó válido pues el promedio de todos los aspectos encuestados fue de 94 con una coeficiente de variación de 5,6; el promedio de los aspectos indagados osciló entre 8,9 y 9,9

The aim of this study is to design a tool to evaluate the mobility basic patterns in adults with upper motoneuron lesion, with reference to validity and reliability. An instrument based upon twenty motion patterns in different positions and a 0-to-5 assessment scale with its corresponding indicators was designed. This instrument was applied, just one time, to twenty adults displaying an upper motoneuron lesion (hemiplegia or spastic hemiparesis), with ages ranging from 15 to 80 years and a mean of 48 years. Every assessment session was videotaped for further analysis. We counted on the collaboration of ten Physical Therapy students of eighth and ninth academic semesters and ten Physical Therapist Professors of the program of Physical Therapy at Autonoma University of Manizales, (Colombia), to determine the validity and reliability of the tests. Every assessor processed twenty evaluation forms corresponding to the twenty subjects. In the reliability tests, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (I.C.C.) was applied to every motion pattern and to the final outcome (average of tests administered), on the basis of 400 forms that were processed. A questionnaire with ten questions, which were graded individually from 1 to 10 by each assessor, was used for content validity. The mean and the variance coefficient were estimated for every aspect assessed. The instrument designed was reliable: the I.C.C. for the final outcome was 0.95 (p = 0.0000) and for the motion patterns it ranged between 0.74 and 0.94 (p = 0.0000). It was equally valid as the average of all aspects assessed was 94 with a variance coefficient of 5.6; the average of the aspects inquired ranged between 8.9 and 9.9

Four-week oral toxicity studies of the new quinolone antibacterial agent cetefloxacin tosylate in rats and marmoset monkeys.

Four-week oral toxicity studies with cetefloxacin tosylate ((-)-7[3-(R)-amino-2-(S)-methyl-1-azetidinyl]-1-(2,4- difluorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-6-fluoro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid tosylate, CAS 141725-88-4 (base), E-4868.Ts) a new quinolone antibacterial agent, were performed in Sprague-Dawley rats and marmoset monkeys at doses of 100, 450, 2000 mg/kg/d and 25, 50, 125, 300 mg/kg/d, respectively. In rats, due to its toxicity the high dose was decreased to 1000 mg/kg/d after 3 days of treatment. Mortality was recorded among high dose rats receiving 2000 or 1000 mg/kg/d. Rats receiving dosages of 450 or 2000/1000 mg/kg/d showed less activated mandibular lymph nodes, cortical lymphocyte depletion of mandibular and/or mesenteric lymph nodes, atrophy of the white pulp of the spleen, cortical atrophy of thymus and thymic apoptosis. Enlarged caeca, increased water consumption and variations in plasma electrolyte levels were observed in animals receiving these dosages and in male rats receiving 100 mg/kg/d. Low neutrophil counts were observed in rats receiving dosages of 100 or 450 mg/kg/d, and increased alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase plasma levels and slightly decreased plasma protein levels in females receiving 450 or 2000/1000 mg/kg/d. Marmosets receiving dosages of 50 mg/kg/d and above displayed several clinical signs which included emesis, diarrhoea, ptosis, occasional episodes of under- and overactivity, and excessive scratching activity. Skin reddening was observed during the first week of treatment in marmosets receiving 300 mg/kg/d. On the basis of the results obtained it can be concluded that the non-toxic doses of E-4868. Ts after 4-week oral administration in rats and marmoset monkeys were 100 and 25 mg/kg/d, respectively.

Effect of a polymeric surfactant on electron transport in HL-60 cells.

To assess the effect of a polymeric surfactant, Pluronic P-105 on the activity of electron transport chains in the mitochondria of HL-60 cells, the bioreduction rates of two membrane-localized lipophilic spin probes, 16-doxylstearic acid methyl ester (16-DSME) and 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DS), were studied. In addition, the effect of Pluronic on the bioreduction rate of the DNA-intercalating spin-labeled anthracyclin drug, Ruboxyl (Rb) was evaluated. For 16-DSME, the bioreduction kinetics was zero order with regard to the nitroxide concentration, indicating that the rate was controlled by the concentration of the reducing enzyme(s), which depends on the activity of the electron transport chains. The introduction of Pluronic at concentrations higher than 0.01% resulted in the decrease of the 16-DSME bioreduction rate. The data suggested that short-term cell incubation with Pluronic resulted in reduced activity of the electron transport chains in the mitochondria of HL-60 cells. This was corroborated by the results of an MTT assay. For 5-DS, the bioreduction kinetics was first order in the absence of Pluronic, but did not follow any simple kinetic law after a short-term cell incubation with Pluronic. For Rb, the degree of nitroxide bioreduction dropped progressively with increasing Pluronic concentration. Thus, incubating cells with polymeric surfactants modulates the intracellular energy metabolism, which can affect the rates of energy-dependent intracellular processes.