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R Moral

Publications and source records attributed to R Moral.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Short-term carbon and nitrogen mineralisation in soil amended with winery and distillery organic wastes.

The aim of this work was to study the influence of the organic wastes derived from the winery and distillery industry (grape stalk (GS), grape marc (GM), wine lees (WL) and exhausted grape marc (EG)) and the soil type (clayey-loam (S1), loam (S2) and sandy textured (S3)) on different soil characteristics, especially the carbon and nitrogen mineralisation. The evolution of C mineralisation fitted a first-order kinetic for all amended soils. An initial increase was observed in the specific respiration (qCO(2)) at the beginning of the experiment. However, afterwards, the evolution in the qCO(2) was to tend towards the values of the control soil due to the pattern of the soil to recover its initial equilibrium status. The addition of these materials in the soils produced a slight increase of the inorganic nitrogen content, except in the case of GS and EG in most of the studied soils. The use of GS as amendment produced an inhibition in the N mineralisation in the three types of soils studied. Organic matter mineralisation was probably influenced by soil type, the sandy soil favouring more the N and C mineralisation processes than the clayey-loam and loam soils.

Carbon↗
PubMed2006

Are the olive oil and other dietary lipids related to cancer? Experimental evidence.

There is a wealth of evidence supporting the relationship between dietary lipids and cancer, particularly those of the breast, colon and rectum and prostate. The main support comes from the international correlational studies and, especially, from experimental ones. The evidence from human analytical studies is less consistent because of several conflicting findings, probably due to methodological issues. Experimentally, it has been clearly demonstrated that quantity and type of dietary lipids as well as the particular critical phases of the carcinogenesis in which they act, are the essential factors in this relationship. Thus, whereas high dietary intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), primarily LA, and saturated fat has tumor-enhancing effects, long chain n-3 PUFA, CLA and GLA have inhibitory effects. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), mainly OA, present in high quantities in olive oil, seem to be protective although some inconsistent results have been reported. Bioactive compounds of virgin olive oil may also account for the protective effect of this oil, which is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. Experimental studies have also provided evidence of several putative mechanisms of action of dietary lipids on cancer. Lipids can influence the hormonal status, modify cell membranes structure and function, cell signalling transduction pathways and gene expression, and modulate the function of the immune system. Although further studies are needed to evaluate and verify these mechanisms in humans, based on the multiple ways dietary lipids can act, they may have an important influence on tumorigenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Use of composted sewage sludge in growth media for broccoli.

In this study, the use of composted sewage sludge (CSS) as a binary component with peat (P) in growth media for a horticultural crop, broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Botryti cv. Marathon), was evaluated. Four treatments were established, based on the addition of increasing quantities of composted sewage sludge to peat (0%, 15%, 30% and 50%, v/v). Physical, physico-chemical and chemical analyses of the different mixtures of CSS and P were made. Plant growth, biomass production and macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg), micronutrient (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn) and heavy metal (Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr) contents of plants were determined. The addition of CSS to P increased plant nutrient and heavy metal contents of plants and electrical conductivity (EC) and bulk density values of the substrates. The use of CSS did not affect the germination rate, even at 50% compost. For broccoli growth, the highest yield was obtained with the medium prepared by mixing the peat with 30% of compost; however, the mixture with the most sewage sludge compost (50%) had the greatest contents of macro and micronutrients.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Characterisation of the organic matter pool in manures.

In this research, different types of animal manure were evaluated with respect to organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (C(ot)), total N (N(t)), C(ot)/N(t) ratio, water-soluble organic carbon (C(w)), organic N (N(org)), carbohydrates, C(w)/N(org) ratio, humic acid-like carbon (C(ha)), fulvic acid-like carbon (C(fa)), humification index ((C(ha)/C(ot))x100) (HI) and the C(ha)/C(fa) and NH(4)(+)-N/NO(3)(-)-N ratios. In comparison with the limits set by the Spanish legislation for organic fertilisers, most of the manures had high OM contents, moderate N(org) concentrations (except in the case of the chicken and pig manures where this parameter was high) and C(ot)/N(t) ratios above the value stated in the legislation. The study of the different fractions of organic matter showed that the horse, pig and rabbit manures had the greatest content of C(ot). However, the fraction of easily-biodegradable organic compounds (C(w)) was significantly higher in the horse, goat and chicken manures. The study also showed that, in most cases, the percentage of fulvic acid-like C was greater than that of the humic acid-like C, indicating that the organic matter of these wastes is not completely humified. Values of HI ((C(ha)/C(ot))x100) and C(ha)/C(fa) ratio in the studied manures were not significantly different. Regarding the parameters related to the organic matter stability such as C(w), carbohydrates and the C(ot)/N(t), C(w)/N(org) and NH(4)(+)-N/NO(3)(-)-N ratios, it has been determined that the organic matter of these materials was not completely stabilised. The heterogeneity in OM composition of the studied manures did not allow the formulation of simple equations for evaluation of the composition of these wastes from easily-determined parameters.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Co phytoavailability for tomato in amended calcareous soils.

A plot study was conducted to assess changes in Co phytoavailability for a tomato cultivar grown on an agricultural soil (a Calcic Petrocalcid) amended with sewage sludge, under controlled conditions in South-eastern Spain. The experiment consisted of three main treatment blocks: (A) without organic fertilisation, (B) with addition of 60 tha(-1) and (C) 120 tha(-1) of sewage sludge. For each block (A, B, and C), four levels of Co (0, 50, 100 and 200 mgkg(-1)) were added, as CoCl2. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, DTPA (0.005 M plus triethanolamine), ammonium acetate (1 N at pH 7), and water extractable fractions of the soils were analysed for all the plots. The time dependent Co accumulation in different parts (roots, stems, leaves, and fruits) of the tomato plants was studied. Soil Co seemed to be mainly in non-available forms, according to the low concentrations found in the water and ammonium acetate extracts, compared to DTPA. The gradient of Co accumulation in tomato plants was root > leaf > stem + branches > fruit, with a concentration in the edible parts ranging between 4 and 25 mg kg(-1). The organic amendment enhanced the plant extraction of Co, this effect being more significant with time. Plant extraction efficiency decreased with increasing Co concentration in the soils. Co in fruit showed the best correlation with all the Co extraction pools in the soil.

Calcium↗
PubMed2005

Uses of winery and distillery effluents in agriculture: characterisation of nutrient and hazardous components.

Twenty-one samples of winery and distillery effluents were collected from different Spanish winery and distillery industries. Electrical conductivity, pH, redox potential, density, organic charge (chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total, volatile and suspended solids, oxidisable organic C and polyphenols) and contents of plant nutrients and heavy metals were analysed. The aim of this work was to study the composition of these effluents and to find relationships which would make it possible to use easily determined parameters to estimate their composition. The winery wastewater (WW) and vinasse (V) showed an acidic pH, a high organic load and notable polyphenol, macronutrient, micronutrient and heavy metal contents. Some of these properties are not compatible with agricultural requirements; therefore, conditioning treatment of these liquid wastes is necessary to produce a safe, stable and easily manageable end product. Generally, in both effluent types, significant correlations were found between easily analysable parameters, such as suspended, volatile and total solids, pH, electrical conductivity, density and redox potential, and most of the parameters studied. The linear regression equations obtained permitted an immediate characterisation of the WW and V samples using these parameters.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

Estimation of nutrient values of pig slurries in Southeast Spain using easily determined properties.

The contents of available nutrients in pig slurries are not easy to quantify in situ without laboratory facilities, but chemical analyses using standard laboratory methods also take time and are costly and not practical for most farms. Thus, when animal slurries are applied to land, their fertiliser potential is often unknown. In addition, in the last years, the changes in the management of industrial piggeries has changed the nature of the pig slurries vg. decrease of the dry matter content, and consequently the methods and equations used for estimating the nutrient contents in these residues must be checked. In our study, slurry samples were collected from the storage tanks of 36 commercial farms in Southeast Spain. Samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), redox potential (RP), specific density (D), total solids (TS), sedimentable solids (SS), biological oxygen demand (BOD(5)), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TKN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), organic nitrogen (ON), and total contents of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Relationships between major nutrient levels of pig slurries and a range of physical and chemical properties were investigated. We also analysed the variability of pig slurries according to the production stage. TKN, AN and K were closely related to EC. The P content in slurries was related more closely to solids-derived parameters such as D. The use of multiple properties to estimate nutrient contents in pig slurries, especially for AN and K, seemed unnecessary due to the limited improvement achieved with an additional property. Therefore, electrical conductivity seemed to be the most appropriate single, easily determined parameter for estimation of total and ammonium nitrogen and potassium in pig slurries, with more than 83% of the variance explained. P seemed to be the worst key nutrient for estimation using any easily determined parameter.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Nitrogen mineralisation potential in calcareous soils amended with sewage sludge.

Mineralisation of organic N is an important consideration when determining the annual amount of sewage sludge to be applied to agricultural soils. The mineralisation of sludge organic N was studied in two different textured soils (clayey and sandy soil) treated with aerobic and anaerobic sludge at two different rates (30 and 50 g sludge kg(-1) soil). The mineralisation of sludge organic N was determined during 20 weeks incubation period by analysis of inorganic N produced by a non-leached procedure. Sludge organic N mineralisation was influenced by soil type, organic N mineralisation being greater in the sandy soil (from 30% to 41%) than in the clayey soil (from 13% to 24%). Mineralisation rates decreased rapidly the first two weeks, followed by a slower decrease with time. Although total mineralisation increased with sludge addition rate, net mineralisation decreased with sludge addition rate, probably due to denitrificaton losses. The aerobically treated sludge gave higher mineralisation rates than the anaerobically treated one. The values of N0 and k for treated soils varied depending on the type of sludge and soil.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed2002

Assessing changes in Cd phytoavailability to tomato in amended calcareous soils.

A plot study was conducted to assess changes in Cd phytoavailability to a tomato cultivar in an agricultural soil in Southeastern Spain amended in two different ways (A and B), under controlled conditions. The experimental soil corresponded to a fine-loamy carbonatic thermic Calcidic Haploxeroll (Soil Survey Staff, Keys to Soil Taxonomy, eighth ed., USDA, Washington, 1998). (A) Soil was amended with a single application of sewage sludge from a municipal source that had a total Cd concentration of 0.5 mg kg(-1) at a rate that represented a final average concentration in the mixture of soil and sludge of less than 50 microg Cd kg(-1). (B) The amendment consisted of the addition of a mineral fertiliser with the same amount of NPK as in the sewage sludge application. The final levels of Cd were supposed to be negligible. A plot series without amendments was also performed (C). DTPA plus triethanolamine, and ammonium acetate extractable fractions in soils were analysed for all the plots. The time-dependent Cd accumulation in different parts of the tomato plants was studied by means of a Cd salt treatment. For each block (A-C) four levels of Cd (0, 3, 30, and 100 mg kg(-1)) were added as CdCl2. There was a significant increase in plant Cd after the initial cropping. Tomato stems, leaves and fruits were analysed separately for Cd determination. Differential Cd distribution and accumulation in tomato parts was detected.

Biological Availability↗
PubMed2001

Reclamation of a burned forest soil with municipal waste compost: macronutrient dynamic and improved vegetation cover recovery.

The reclamation of burned soils in Mediterranean environments is of paramount importance in order to increase the levels of soil protection and minimise erosion and soil loss. The changes produced in the content of total organic carbon (TOC), N (Kjeldahl) and available P, K, Ca and Mg by the addition of different doses of a municipal solid waste compost to a burned soil were evaluated during one year. The effect of organic amendment on the improvement in the vegetation cover after one year was also evaluated. The organic amendment, particularly at a high dose, increased the TOC and N-Kjeldahl content of the soil in a closely related way. The levels of available K in soil were also enhanced by the organic amendment. Although the effects on all three parameters tended to decrease with time, their values in the amended soils were higher than in the control soil, which clearly indicates the improvement in the chemical quality of the soil brought about by the organic amendment. The available P content did not seem to be influenced by organic treatment, while available Mg levels were higher than in the control during the first 4 months following organic amendment. The application of compost to the burned soil improved its fertility and favoured rapid vegetal recovery, thus minimising the risk of soil erosion.

Biomass↗
PubMed1999

Teicoplanin pharmacokinetics in critically ill paediatric patients.

Twenty-one critically ill children aged between 7 days and 12 years were treated with teicoplanin (three loading dosages of 10 mg/kg at 12 h intervals, followed by a maintenance dosage of 10 mg/kg/day). Serum teicoplanin concentrations were monitored by HPLC. Mean concentrations in plasma 30 min after drug administration were 20 +/- 16.1 mg/L. The volume of distribution was 0.30 L/kg and the terminal half-life was 17.41 h. Only 11% of trough values were >10 mg/L (established as desirable values). In critically ill children a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day does not assure serum trough values >10 mg/L.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

Surfactant treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prospectively the efficacy of surfactant in acute respiratory distress syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty patients, 1 month to 16 years of age, diagnosed with an acute pulmonary disease with severe hypoxaemia (PaO2/FiO2 < 100) (13 with systemic or pulmonary disease and seven with cardiac disease) were treated with one to six doses of 50-200 mg/kg of porcine surfactant administered directly into the trachea. The surfactant was considered to be effective when the PaO2/FiO2 improved by > 20%. RESULTS: After initial surfactant administration the PaO2/FiO2 increased significantly in patients with systemic or pulmonary disease from 68 to 111, and the oxygenation index (OI) diminished significantly from 36.9 to 27.1. The PaO2/FiO2 and OI did not improve in children with cardiac disease. The improvement of the patients who survived was greater than that of those who died. CONCLUSIONS: Surfactant moderately improves oxygenation in some children with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to pulmonary or systemic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Transpyloric enteral feeding in critically ill children.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is important in childhood because the child has a lower energy reserve than the adult and a higher demand for calories because of ongoing growth. In this study, the utility of transpyloric enteral feeding (TEF) in critically ill children was evaluated. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive study was made in a pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary pediatric center of 41 critically ill children, 30 after surgical procedures and 11 with nonsurgical illness, aged 8 days to 12 years, who received transpyloric enteral feeding with 8- or 10-Fr weighted feeding tubes. Analysis was made of tolerance and complications (vomiting, abdominal distension, excessive gastric residual, diarrhea, and pulmonary aspiration) of TEF. RESULTS: The mean duration of TEF was 19.5 +/- 26.8 days (range, 1-120 days). The administration of sedative agents or inotropic drugs did not alter toleration of TEF. Eight of 12 patients treated with continuous infusion of vecuronium tolerated TEF without complications. Eleven gastrointestinal complications occurred in 10 patients, abdominal distension and excessive gastric residual in 7 (17%), and diarrhea in 4 (9.7%). In 7 patients gastrointestinal complications improved, with decreasing use or transitory interruption of TEF, but in 4 patients (9.7%), TEF had to be withdrawn. Gastrointestinal complications were more frequent in postsurgical than in nonsurgical patients (p < 0.001). No patients suffered from pulmonary aspiration, and the incidence of pulmonary infection and hepatic dysfunction diminished during TEF. CONCLUSIONS: Transpyloric enteral feeding is a good method of nutritional support in critically ill children and can be used in patients treated with neuromuscular blocking agents. The frequency and severity of complications and the risks of pulmonary infection and hepatic dysfunction related to TEF are low.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Pediatric basic and advanced life support courses: first experience in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the efficiency of the first experience in pediatric basic and advanced life support courses in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we have given two pediatric basic life support (PBLS) courses of 8 h each to 52 school teachers and ambulance drivers, and 10 30-h pediatric advanced life support (PALS) courses to 276 health professionals, 62 nurses and 214 physicians (80 pediatricians, 57 pediatric, anesthesiology and intensive care medicine residents, 10 general physicians and 52 emergency physicians). We developed the courses according to the guidelines for pediatric life support from the European Resuscitation Council. We performed an initial and final theoretical written test, continuous practical evaluation and a written survey about the quality of the course. RESULTS: on PBLS courses, only 12% of practitioners answered at least 80% of the questions in the initial theory test correctly, compared with 77% in the final test (P < 0.001). All the students acquired skills in basic pediatric resuscitation. In the PALS courses, only 30% of practitioners answered at least 75% of the questions in the initial test correctly (35% of physicians and 12% of nurses, P < 0.01); this percentage increased to 95.6% in the final test (96% of physicians and 93.5% of nurses, P < 0.05). Of students, 95% acquired skills in advanced pediatric resuscitation. All students and teachers considered the theoretical and practical formation received adequate. CONCLUSIONS: basic and advanced pediatric life support courses are a useful educational method for the general population, health professionals, physicians and nurses in theoretical and practical pediatric resuscitation.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1993

Purification and structure of xyloglucan in pine hypocotyls.

Xyloglucan was purified from water-soluble hemicelluloses extracted with 24% KOH from pine cell walls using ion-exchange chromatography and iodine precipitation. Linkage analysis showed that pine xyloglucan was highly substituted with 80% of the glucosyl residues substituted at position 6. The presence of terminal-fucosyl residues in pine xyloglucan confirm that the primary cell walls of gymnosperms are more closely related to those of dicots than to graminaceous monocot cell walls.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Continuous venovenous renal replacement therapy using a conventional infusion pump.

To evaluate continuous venovenous hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration with a conventional infusion pump in a pediatric sized animal model. Fourteen Maryland pigs weighing 8 to 13 kg were used. A conventional infusion pump (IVAC 571), with a flow of 900 ml/h and a pediatric hemofilter of 0.22 m2 were used. Ringer's solution was used for both the dialysate and the replacement fluid. Each experiment included 1 hour of hemofiltration and 1 hour of hemodiafiltration. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, pH, Na, K, Cl, and hematocrit were measured every 30 minutes. Mean ultrafiltrate flow was 249.7 +/- 100.3 ml/hr, 240.5 +/- 109.5 ml/hr with hemofiltration and 271 +/- 101.1 ml/hr with hemodiafiltration, the differences not being significant. No significant changes were seen in heart rate, blood pressure, hematocrit, electrolytes, or pH. Pressure in the circuit rose from 107.7 +/- 70.3 mm Hg at the beginning of the experiment to 234.2 +/- 118.1 mm Hg after 2 hours (p < 0.05). The technique was well tolerated by all the pigs. Continuous venovenous hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration with a conventional infusion pump is a possible alternative to conventional methods of extrarenal replacement therapy in neonates and infants.

Animals↗