Madrid Region Of Spain Research Articles

The territorial dynamics of fast-growing regions: Unsustainable land use change and future policy challenges in Madrid, Spain

The Madrid region of Spain has experienced remarkable change in the configuration and use of its territory over the last 20 years, notably rapid and dispersed growth of transport networks and urban areas, accompanied by a steady decline in productive agricultural land, which has helped feed the development boom. Results of analysis of CORINE land cover data over 3 dates (1990–2000–2006) for a 77053ha study area north-west of the Spanish capital demonstrate that 8699ha (11.3%) of the total land area has been subject to change. Agricultural areas have shown significant reduction in area (down 1833ha, a 10% decline) while artificial surfaces, predominantly urban areas, have increased dramatically (up 3339ha, a 51% increase). Urban development has been intensive and poorly controlled. Investigation of these dynamics suggest serious concerns for sustainability in the territory. To move towards a more sustainable configuration, the implication of all stakeholders in the Madrid region will be required. A methodological framework is presented for implementation of sustainable development initiatives through sustainability action groups, in which integrated land use models and participatory planning activities are used to develop and test new policy initiatives.

Analysis of the presence of cardiovascular and analgesic/anti-inflammatory/antipyretic pharmaceuticals in river- and drinking-water of the Madrid Region in Spain

Interest in the presence of pharmaceuticals in wastewater, in the water of our rivers and, to a lesser extent, in our drinking water, has been growing in recent decades. Many of these substances, currently classified as “emerging pollutants”, are biologically active compounds and continuously released in effluents. As sewage treatment plants (STPs) are not adequately equipped to eliminate all of these substances completely, some are discharged directly into rivers. In Spain, as in most of its neighbouring countries, there is an elevated use of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (which are extremely prevalent among the older adult population) and anti-inflammatory medications, which are obtainable over the counter without a medical prescription. This study therefore sought to determine to what degree pharmaceuticals with the highest regional prescription and/or use rates, such as cardiovascular and analgesic/anti-inflammatory/antipyretic medications, were present in the principal rivers (Jarama, Manzanares, Guadarrama, Henares and Tagus) and tap-water samples of the Madrid Region (MR). Samples were taken downstream the discharge of 10 of the most important region’s STPs and the most frequently used drugs in the region were analysed for. Of the 24 drugs analysed, 21 were detected at concentrations ranging from 2 ng L −1 to 18 μg L −1. The highest drug concentrations corresponded to ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, atenolol, frusemide (furosemide), gemfibrozil and hydrochlorthiazide, and in most cases exceeded the amounts reported in the scientific literature. No traces of these groups of pharmaceuticals were detected in the drinking water analysed. On the basis of the high concentrations detected, we believe that an environmental surveillance system should be implemented to assess the continuous discharge of these pharmaceuticals and their possible ecotoxicological effects. At the same time, efforts to raise the awareness of the public about responsible use and the proper disposal of such substances at purpose-designated collection points should be increased. Furthermore sewage treatment processes should be suitably adapted to increase the rates of removal of these drugs.

Influence of the consumption of fruits and vegetables on the nutritional status of a group of institutionalized elderly persons in the Madrid region.

To determine the nutritional status in a group of institutionalized elderly people in the Madrid region of Spain, with respect to their consumption of fruits and vegetables. The Madrid region, Spain. Men and women 65 years of age (n=180). A dietetic study undertaken using the precise weighing method (7 consecutive days). Anthropometric and blood analysis data were also recorded. The study subjects were grouped according to whether or not they consumed the WHO/FAO-recommended amount of 400 g/day of fruits and vegetables. Mean fruit and vegetable consumption was 446.77 ± 168.80 g/day. The subjects who consumed at least 400 g/day of these foods also took in the largest total weight of food, and had the largest macronutrient, fiber, vitamin and mineral intakes. They also had higher serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations and lower plasma homocysteine concentrations than those who consumed less than the recommended 400 g/day of fruits and vegetables. The subjects who consumed at least 400 g/day of fruits and vegetables generally showed a better nutritional status. It would be advisable that the consumption of such foods be relatively increased, especially by those who currently consume less than 400 g/day.

Associations of veterinary services and farmer characteristics with the prevalences of brucellosis and border disease in small ruminants in Spain

We investigated the farm factors associated with the prevalences of brucellosis and border disease (BD) in small-ruminant herds in the Madrid region of Spain. These infections were used as models of diseases of well-known and totally unknown distribution, respectively, to assess the association between the perception of the importance of a given disease on the relative contributions of veterinary services and the farmer's attitudes to its prevention. Sera, farming-management information and data concerning veterinary assistance and farmer characteristics were collected from 60 sheep or goat herds. The overall sero-prevalence of brucellosis was 5.7% (complement fixation) and for BD was 17.9% (ELISA test). The relationship between sero-positivity and the variables in the questionnaire was assessed by multivariable analysis using random-effects logistic-normal regression. `Availability of veterinary services' was a major protective factor for brucellosis. In contrast, no association with veterinary services was observed for BD, whereas `membership in a farmers' organization' (a variable associated with good farming practice and animal care) was a protective factor. `Membership of a farmers' organisation' and two other farmer variables indicative of good husbandry (`youth' and `schooling') were associated with a lower sero-prevalence of brucellosis in univariable analysis but they did not remain significant in the multivariable model. Our observations suggest that veterinary-activity variables predominate over non-specific protective farm factors related to good husbandry in the case the disease is subject to disease surveillance. This underscores the importance of organized control programs for veterinary services to be effective in terms of animal disease prevention.

Adsorption-Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography Applied to Volatile Compounds of Madrid Region Wines

Adsorption–thermal desorption–GC was applied to analysis of some volatile compounds of wines produced in the Madrid region of Spain. By means of stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA), red, white, and rosé wines could be classified into separate groups (Arganda, Navalcarnero, and San Martı́n). The most effective variables for classifying the white wines according to their origin were: 1-hexanol, linalool, and ethyl lactate, which provided 95% correct classification. In the case of rosé wines successful classifications were obtained using the variables ethyl lactate, ethyl pelargonate, and ethyl dodecanoate. Eighty percent of red wines could be correctly classified according to their exact origin by using: 1-pentanol and heptanoic acid as variables.

Prevalence of agglutinating antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants of the Madrid region, Spain, and identification of factors influencing seropositivity by multivariate analysis.

A seroepidemiological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and goats was conducted in the Madrid region of Spain. Sera were collected from 60 herds, for which farming management information and other relevant data for their characterization were also obtained through a questionnaire. The seroprevalence was 11.8% (64 out of 541), using the modified (2-mercaptoethanol) direct agglutination technique with a 1:64 cut-off titre. The relationship between seropositivity and the variables in the questionnaire was assessed by multivariate analysis. Four variables were found to be significantly associated with seroprevalence. Two of them, the presence of cats and a previous history of abortion outbreaks in the farm, were factors known to be linked with toxoplasmosis, indicating the validity of the serological data. Seropositivity was also related to a lack of replacements in the preceding year. Proximity to other farms appeared to be a protective factor negatively associated with seropositivity, probably because it was an indicator of proximity to an urban area and the availability of local sanitary facilities.

Beziehung zwischen chemischer Struktur und Biosynthese zur Anh�ufung phenolischer Verbindungen in der Haut der Weintraube w�hrend des Reifens

The presence of benzoic acids and flavonol aglycones in the skin of grapes grown in the Madrid region of Spain during ripening was studied by HPLC. Two grape varieties, one red (Cencibel) and one white (Airén), were considered from véraison to the industrial definition of berry maturity over 3 consecutive years. Syringic, vanillic,p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, and gallic acids and the flavonol aglycones myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin were detected in both varieties, although syringic acid (detection limit 6 ng) was only recorded in the Cencibel grapes and isorhamnetin (detection limit 25 ng) was only recorded in Airén grape samples collected at around maturity. Programme 5R of the BMDP-87 statistical package was used to plot trends in the concentration of these components. The trends recorded were not linear but comprised patterns of alternating maxima and minima, and a relationship between the chemical structure of each compound and the distance between the maxima was found.