49 research outputs found

    A coordinación entre a Unidade de Atención Temperá e os centros escolares: un estudio descriptivo das vivencias dos profesionais e das familias

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    Obxectivo: O obxectivo principal deste estudo é ofrecer unha perspectiva transdisciplinar da coordinación que se vén realizando na AT por parte dos terapeutas ocupacionais e outros profesionais afíns dunha UAT, os docentes e os familiares Metodoloxía: Empregouse a metodoloxía cualitativa, dentro desta céntrase no método fenomenolóxico. Na selección dos participantes realizouse unha mostraxe teórico intencionado. Como métodos de recollida de datos se utilizáronse tres técnicas; documentais, conversacionais e observacionais. Resultados: Tras a análise dos datos obtéñense un total de 7 categorías “Contacto inicial”, “Necesidade de formalidade nas solicitudes”, “Implicación profesional e persoal”, “Necesidade de compartila información”, “Niveis de coordinación”, “O papel da familia” e “Necesidades detectadas”. Conclusións: O fin último é conseguir a plena inclusión dos nenos con discapacidade e as súas familias no entorno natural, polo que, se fai evidente a necesidade de realizar esforzos para avaliar a coordinación conseguida e realizar propostas para a súa mellora. É tamén importante potenciar a coordinación e dotar de recursos e estratexias os profesionais implicados. Isto require de cambios sobre todos os niveis; institucional, persoal e cultural.Traballo fin de grao (UDC.FCS). Terapia ocupacional. Curso 2013/201

    Metabolic and Stress Responses in Senegalese Soles (Solea senegalensis Kaup) Fed Tryptophan Supplements: E ects of Concentration and Feeding Period

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    The objective of this study was to assess the impact of di erent dietary Trp concentrations on the stress and metabolism response of juvenile Senegalese soles (Solea senegalensis). Fish (38.1 1.9 g) were fed di erent Trp-enriched feeds (0%, 1% and 2% Trp added) for two and eight days, and later exposed to air stress for three min. Samples were taken pre- and 1 h post-stress (condition). Plasma cortisol, lactate, glucose and proteins were significantly a ected by the sampling time, showing higher values at 1 h post-stress. Trp concentration in food also had significant e ects on lactate and glucose levels. However, the feeding period did not a ect these parameters. Post-stress values were higher than in the pre-stress condition for every plasma parameter, except for lactate in two days and 1% Trp treatment. Nevertheless, cortisol, glucose and lactate did not vary significantly between pre- and post-stress samplings in fish fed the 1% Trp-enriched diet for two days. The lack of variability in cortisol response was also due to the high pre-stress value, significantly superior to pre-stress control. The exposure time to Trp feeding did not significantly a ect any enzyme activity; however, Trp added and condition influenced protein-related enzyme activities. In spite of decreasing stress markers, Trp-enriched diets altered the protein metabolism

    Soil quality changes in an Iberian pyrite mine site 15 years after land reclamation

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    Reclamation of highly degraded mine lands to a sustainable environmental quality has become a major policy concern in many countries with a long mining tradition. This paper reports the soil quality status of a historical mine site _fteen years after its reclamation, using indicators of chemical reactivity, soil fertility and health, and discusses the progress and effectiveness of the implemented measures by a comparative analysis between pre- and post-reclamation conditions. Twenty composite surface samples (0–20 cm depth) were obtained for physical and chemical characterization from the open pit mine and waste disposal area, using a strati_ed random sam- pling approach. Additionally seven sites were selected to collect topsoil samples for microbiological testing. Re- sults showed that soil quality changed noticeably over the study period (2003–2018), with overall improvements in key properties, such as structural stability, cation exchange capacity, degree of base saturation, soil organic carbon, and available phosphorus. Prior to reclamation, the mine soil was unable to support vegetation due to hyperacidity coupled with elevated levels of toxic metals and nutrient de_ciencies. The combined use of sugar beet lime and composted biosolids as a low-cost, locally available, soil amendment was effective in neutralizing both active and exchangeable acidity, and reducing the mobility, plant uptake and human bioaccessibility of trace elements. The amendment addition also enhanced soil fertility, carbon storage, nutrient availability and microbial biomass (bacteria and fungi). Revegetation with Pinus pinea and Nerium oleander has proven to be a successful strategy to create a vegetative cover aesthetically pleasant and environmentally compatible with the surrounding undisturbed landscape, although further efforts should be made to monitor over time the phytotoxic and bioaccessible levels of residual metals, notably Cd, Cu and Zn. The insights gained from this land reclamation experience provide success criteria for assisting natural attenuation in other abandoned mining sites worldwide.The authors appreciate the support provided by the University of Huelva/CBUA Open Access Author Fee Fund

    Impact of heavy metals in the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana and assessment of its potential use in cadmium bioremediation

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    The chlorophyte microalga Chlorella sorokiniana was tested for the bioremediation of heavy metals pollution. It was cultured with different concentrations of Cu2+, Cd2+, As (III) and As (V), showing a significant inhibition on its growth at concentrations of 500 µM Cu2+, 250 µM Cd2+, 750 µM AsO33- and 5 mM AsO43- or higher. Moreover, the consumption of ammonium was also studied, showing significant differences for concentrations higher than 1 mM of Cu2+ and As (III), and 5 mM of As (V). The determination of intracellular heavy metals concentration revealed that Chlorella sorokiniana is an outstanding Cd accumulator organism, able to accumulate 11,232 mg kg−1 of Cd, and removing 65% of initial concentration of this heavy metal. Finally, antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and enzymes involved in the production of glutamate and cysteine, such as glutamine syntethase (GS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), O-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OASTL) and NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD-IDH) were studied both at gene expression and enzymatic activity levels. These enzymes exhibited different grades of upregulation, especially in response to Cd and As stress. However, GS expression was downregulated when Chlorella sorokiniana was cultured in the presence of these heavy metals.This work was supported in part by research grants from the Euro- pean governments (INTERREG VAPOCTEP-2014-2020; 0055_ALGAR- ED_PLUS_5_E), the Operative FEDER Program-Andalucía 2014-2020, the University of Huelva (UHU-1257518), and by the European Regional Development Fund through the Agencia Estatal de Investigaci ́on grant (PID 2019-110438RB-C22

    Comparative study of the combustion, pyrolysis and gasification processes of Leucaena leucocephala: Kinetics and gases obtained

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    Leucaena leucocephala is a fast-growing leguminous biomass with great energetical and valueadded chemical compounds potential (saccharides, biogas, bio-oil, etc.). Using the thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric curves, the different trends followed by L. leucocephala during pyrolysis, 0.25 equivalence ratio (ER) of gasification, 0.50 equivalence ratio of gasification and combustion were analyzed, and the activation energies were obtained by Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM) method. Gas samples were collected through adsorption tubes during the gasification at 0.25 ER and 0.50 ER to observe the distribution of the main chemical products in this process by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and were compared with pyrolysis products. It was found that small amounts of oxygen have changes in the kinetics of the process, leading to significant decreases in the activation energy at the beginning of the degradation of components such as cellulose (from 170 to 135 kJ mol-1 at 0.25 conversion at 0.50 ER gasification). The activation energy of lignin disintegration was also reduced (342 kJ mol-1), assimilating the beginnings of gasification processes such as the Boudouard reaction. 0.50 ER gasification is potentially an interesting process to obtain quality bio-oil, since a large amount of hexane is detected (44.96%), and value-added oxygenated intermediates such as alcohols and glycols. Gasification at 0.25 ER, on the other hand, is much more similar to pyrolysis, obtaining a wide variety of short-chain compounds resulting from the disintegration of the main lignocellulosic components, especially ketones such as 1-hydroxypropan-2-one (19.48%), and notable amount of furans and anhydrosugars like d-allose (5.50%).This study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), as well as by the National Research Program Oriented to the Challenges of Society (Project PID2020-112875RB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI 10.13039/501100011033, t)he Ministry of Innovation, Science and Business of the Government of the Junta of Andalusia (Spain), the Operative Program is framed within FEDER Andalusia 2014–2020 with Project number UHU-125540, and the CEPSA Foundation Chair. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA

    Potential valorization of waste cooking oils into sustainable bio-lubricants

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    This work explores the feasibility of using waste cooking oils (WCO) as eco-lubricants. Five WCO from different food facilities were studied. Three of them were fractionated into both lighter and heavier fractions by molecular distillation. A comprehensive chemical characterization (fatty acids distribution, polar compounds and acidity) was carried out on all WCOs and their fractions, which led to set relationships with the oils’ properties (such as viscosity index, low temperature viscous flow behavior, oxidation resistance, etc.). It is worth mentioning the high viscosity index values found in waste cooking oils with both low total polar compounds and acidity level, as well as the benefit which acidity had on their fluidity at low temperature and their lubricity. Moreover, it was also noteworthy that the lighter fractions, merely constituted by free fatty acids (FFA), presented an improved oxidative resistance. The largest OOT enhancement, 12.4%, was found for the light fraction of a non-segregated oil. Moreover, a better thermal stability was shown by the heavier fractions. Finally, both fractions exhibited enhanced friction-reducing capability as compared to their parent WCO. The light fractions from a nonsegregated oil, a fast food restaurant oil and a deep-fried food establishment oil yielded wear reductions of 11.7%, 44.3% and 36.8%, respectively. Therefore, molecular distillation has been proved to be a key strategy to obtain more efficient liquid eco-lubricants.This work explores the feasibility of using waste cooking oils (WCO) as eco-lubricants. Five WCO from different food facilities were studied. Three of them were fractionated into both lighter and heavier fractions by molecular distillation. A comprehensive chemical characterization (fatty acids distribution, polar compounds and acidity) was carried out on all WCOs and their fractions, which led to set relationships with the oils’ properties (such as viscosity index, low temperature viscous flow behavior, oxidation resistance, etc.). It is worth mentioning the high viscosity index values found in waste cooking oils with both low total polar compounds and acidity level, as well as the benefit which acidity had on their fluidity at low temperature and their lubricity. Moreover, it was also noteworthy that the lighter fractions, merely constituted by free fatty acids (FFA), presented an improved oxidative resistance. The largest OOT enhancement, 12.4%, was found for the light fraction of a non-segregated oil. Moreover, a better thermal stability was shown by the heavier fractions. Finally, both fractions exhibited enhanced friction-reducing capability as compared to their parent WCO. The light fractions from a non- segregated oil, a fast food restaurant oil and a deep-fried food establishment oil yielded wear reductions of 11.7%, 44.3% and 36.8%, respectively. Therefore, molecular distillation has been proved to be a key strategy to obtain more efficient liquid eco-lubricants.This work was supported by “Programa Operativo FEDER-Andalucía 2014–2020 from "Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía” and the University of Huelva [grant numbers UHU- 1255843 and UHU-202008]. Also, the Social Innovation Chair of “Aguas de Huelva” at the University of Huelva. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA. The authors gratefully acknowledge the recollected waste cooking oil and kindly supplied by the authorized waste manager (GRU 2066) BIOLIA

    Ultrasound extraction optimization for bioactive molecules from Eucalyptus globulus leaves through antioxidant activity

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    Antioxidant products present a very high added value and are demanded in the market. The optimization of their extraction is a high-stakes matter for both economic and environmental points of view. Ultrasound extraction has been considered one of the most promising methods, so the relative importance of key parameters may have decisive economic significance. For this reason, different parameters that have influence on the extraction capacity such as ultrasound power, time, temperature, pH and % ethanol in water have been studied to know the relationships between the independent parameters and their influence on the extraction from Eucalyptus globulus leaves. An experimental Box-Behnken factorial design and subsequent analysis by neural networks have been used. The relative influence of each parameter varies according to the nature of the extracted compound. In this regard, the higher capacity of extraction of the selected antioxidant compounds by means of the variation of the operation conditions can be facilitated. For all the studied compounds, temperature has been the most important parameter for their extraction. The relative content (%) of bioactive compounds (terpenes) in the optimized Eucalyptus globulus extract has been performed by GC–MS analysis

    Optimization of bioactive compounds by ultrasound extraction and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry in fast-growing leaves

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    Fast-growing crops are of great economic importance in the production of paper pulp and energy. The commercialization of the bioactive components from underutilized parts could provide additional value to these crops. In the present study, chromatography gas coupled to mass spectrometry triple quadrupole (GC–MS/MS) and ultrasound extraction technique was used in the bioactive compounds determination in fast-growing crops leaves. Twenty-one terpenes and eight polyphenolic bioactive compounds were studied. Prior to GC–MS/MS, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) - stir bars preconcentration and trimethylsilane (TMS) derivatization steps were used for terpenes and polyphenolic compounds, respectively. Several parameters (pH, temperature, ethanol–water mixtures, ultrasound power, and ultrasound time) of the extraction step were optimized by central composite experimental design. Ethanol content, ultrasound power, and ultrasound time were the parameters that most influence the extraction efficiency of terpenes in biomass residues, while for polyphenolic compounds it was temperature and ultrasound time. The optimal ultrasound extraction conditions for terpenes were 60% ethanol, pH 4, 80 W, 40 ºC, and 15 min, whereas for polyphenolic compounds they were 60% ethanol, pH 4, 120 W, 50 ºC, and 15 min. The detection limits (LOD) were in the range of 0.200–3.02 µg kg−1 and 7.9–540 µg kg−1 for terpenes and polyphenolic compounds, respectively. The developed analytical method was applied to twelve fast-growing leaves (Leucaene (diversifolia and leucocephala), Eucalyptus (globulus and urograndis), Populus (I214 and AF2), Prosopis (alba and juliflora), Robinia, Tagasaste, Ulmus pumila, and Paulownia). Eucalyptol was the mayor terpene present in all the plants studied, while chlorogenic and quinic acid were the mayor phenolic compounds.This study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), as well as by the National Research Program Oriented to the Challenges of Society (Project PID2020-112875RB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033), and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Business of the Government of the Junta of Andalusia (Spain), the Operative Program is framed within FEDER Andalusia 2014–2020 (Project UHU-125540). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA

    Crustacean amphipods from marsh ponds: a nutritious feed resource with potential for application in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture

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    Coastal protection, nutrient cycling, erosion control, water purification, and carbon sequestration are ecosystem services provided by salt marshes. Additionally, salt ponds offer coastal breeding and a nursery habitat for fishes and they provide abundant invertebrates, such as amphipods, which are potentially useful as a resource in aquaculture. Fishmeal and fish oil are necessary food resources to support aquaculture of carnivorous species due to their omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA). Currently, aquaculture depends on limited fisheries and feed with elevated n-3 LC-PUFA levels, but the development of more sustainable food sources is necessary. Amphipods appear to be a potential high quality alternative feed resource for aquaculture. Hence, a nutritional study was carried out for several main amphipod species—Microdeutopus gryllotalpa, Monocorophium acherusicum, Gammarus insensibilis, Melita palmata and Cymadusa filosa—in terrestrial ponds in the South of Spain. These species showed high protein content (up to 40%), high n-3 PUFA and phospholipid levels, and high levels of phophatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and triacylglycerols (TAG), the latter being significantly high for M. acherusicum. M. gryllotalpa and M. acherusicum showed the highest proportion of lipids (19.15% and 18.35%, respectively). Isoleucine, glycine and alanine were the dominant amino acids in all species. In addition, amphipods collected from ponds showed low levels of heavy metals. Furthermore, the biochemical profiles of the five species of amphipods have been compared with other studied alternative prey. Therefore, pond amphipods are good candidates to be used as feed, and are proposed as a new sustainable economic resource to be used in aquaculture. G. insensibilis may be the best for intensive culture as an alternative feed resource because it shows: (1) adequate n-3 PUFA and PL composition; (2) high levels of glycine, alanine, tyrosine, isoleucine and lysine; (3) high natural densities; (4) large body size (≥1 cm), and (5) high concentration of calcium. Moreover, a combined culture of amphipods and fishes in these marsh ponds seems a promising and environmentally sustainable way to develop Integrate Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in these ecosystems.Junta de Andalucía Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa P11-RNM-704
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