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Spain is one of the European countries with most environmental problems related to water scarcity and droughts. Additionally, several studies suggest trends of increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall, mainly for the Iberian Peninsula, due to climate variability and change. While Regional Climate Models (RCM) are a valuable tool for understanding climate processes, the causes and plausible impacts on variables and meteorological extremes present a wide range of associated uncertainties. The multi-model ensemble approach allows the quantification and reduction of uncertainties in the predictions. The combination of models (RCM in this case), generally increases the reliability of the predictions, although there are different weighting methodologies. In this paper, a strategy is presented for the building of non-stationary PDF (probability density functions) ensembles with the aim of evaluating the spatial pattern of future risk of drought for an area. At the same time, the uncertainty associated with the metric used in the construction of the PDF ensembles is assessed. A comparative study of methodologies based on the application of the Reliability Ensemble Averaging (REA), assessing its factors using two performance measures, on the one hand the Perkins Score Methods, on the other hand the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, is proposed. The evaluation of the sensitivity of the methodologies used in the construction of ensembles, as proposed in this paper, although without completely eliminating uncertainty, allows a better understanding of the sources and magnitude of the uncertainties involved. Despite the differences between the spatial distribution results from each metric (which can be in the order of 40 % in some areas), both approaches concluded about a plausible significant and widespread increase throughout continental Spain of the mean value of annual maximum dry spell lengths (AMDSL) between the years 1990 and 2050. Finally, the more parsimonious approach in the building of ensembles PDF, based on AMDSL in peninsular Spain, is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present some non-standard, finite-difference schemes to approximate positive solutions of a modified Fisher-KPP equation that appears in the study of population dynamics. The methods are consistent order [image omitted] , and they provide non-negative approximations for any choice of non-negative initial profile. Associated with each technique, we present an energy scheme that consistently approximates the energy of the system. The methods are validated against known analytical solutions for an initial-boundary-value problem and an initial-value problem, and a Neumann stability analysis is carried out in detail; moreover, a comparison with respect to a standard, higher-order method reveals that our methods are more stable and more accurate when positivity restrictions are to be observed. The stability of our methods - even in the presence of discontinuities - is numerically revealed after examining the propagation of Heaviside fronts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: From last March 2011 until now we have implemented in our Acute Mental Health Unit the Law 42/30-12-2010. This law regulates the existence of free-smoke places. Methods: We have collected the data of the smokers patients that began the process of detoxification. We evaluated their level of dependence (Fargestrom's test), their motivation to smoke and the abstinence syndrome intensity. At three months of their hospital discharge we measured the abstinence from smoking in these patients. Results: A total of 31 patients were assessed, 22 out of them were treated with patches of nicotine (14 men, 8 women) age range 18 -57 years; 9 out of 31 smokers patients did not use substitutive treatment (6 men, 3 women) age range 22 - 48 years. At three months, only 2 patients kept the tobacco abstinence (6.4%) and another patient more had reduced the consumption approximately to the half. Six month later only one of them kept abstinent. Conclusions: We understand the necessary promotion and the prevention of the physical health in our patients, avoiding the consumption of toxic substances as far as possible. It is crucial to improve the efficacy of the interventions aimed at to quit tobacco consumption. However, the abandon of an addiction should have a fundamentally voluntary character. The addictions in our patients are chronic and recurrent, and they should be approached from a longitudinal perspective including in its treatment plan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a case study of a two-year-old girl presented with a history of congenital hydrocephalus, macrocephaly and ulnar polydactyly on her left hand and both feet. The patient underwent neurological and ophthalmological examination which revealed normal. She was diagnosed with basal cell carcinomas (BCCs).