University of Córdoba (Spain)

About: University of Córdoba (Spain) is a education organization based out in Cordova, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 12006 authors who have published 22998 publications receiving 537842 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Córdoba (Spain) & Universidad de Córdoba.

Hemimicelles of alkyl carboxylates chemisorbed onto magnetic nanoparticles: study and application to the extraction of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples.

Abstract: In this work, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with hemimicelles of alkyl (C10−C18) carboxylates, which have traditionally been used to prepare ferrofluids for technological applications, were used for the first time to extract organic contaminants from environmental water samples. The nanoparticles were coated by following a simple, rapid procedure (30 min at 85 °C) that uses commercially available magnetite of 20−30 nm mean particle diameter. The strong chemical bonding between the surfactant and magnetite relative to the electrostatic forces involved in conventional hemimicelle-based sorbents precludes leaching of the surfactant and facilitates its reuse and the obtainment of surfactant-free extracts. Tetradecanoate hemimicelles were used here to extract carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CPAHs) prior to analysis by liquid chromatography (using a C18 Supelcosil LC-PAH column and a gradient elution program with water and acetonitrile) and fluorescence detection. The procedure involved st...

Rab18 Dynamics in Adipocytes in Relation to Lipogenesis, Lipolysis and Obesity

Abstract: Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles that coordinate lipid storage and mobilization, both processes being especially important in cells specialized in managing fat, the adipocytes. Proteomic analyses of LDs have consistently identified the small GTPase Rab18 as a component of the LD coat. However, the specific contribution of Rab18 to adipocyte function remains to be elucidated. Herein, we have analyzed Rab18 expression, intracellular localization and function in relation to the metabolic status of adipocytes. We show that Rab18 production increases during adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, our data show that insulin induces, via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), the recruitment of Rab18 to the surface of LDs. Furthermore, Rab18 overexpression increased basal lipogenesis and Rab18 silencing impaired the lipogenic response to insulin, thereby suggesting that this GTPase promotes fat accumulation in adipocytes. On the other hand, studies of the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol confirmed and extended previous evidence for the participation of Rab18 in lipolysis. Together, our data support the view that Rab18 is a common mediator of lipolysis and lipogenesis and suggests that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the link that enables Rab18 action on these two processes. Finally, we describe, for the first time, the presence of Rab18 in human adipose tissue, wherein the expression of this GTPase exhibits sex- and depot-specific differences and is correlated to obesity. Taken together, these findings indicate that Rab18 is involved in insulin-mediated lipogenesis, as well as in β-adrenergic-induced lipolysis, likely facilitating interaction of LDs with ER membranes and the exchange of lipids between these compartments. A role for Rab18 in the regulation of adipocyte biology under both normal and pathological conditions is proposed.

Applicability of Corporate Social Responsibility to Human Resources Management: Perspective from Spain

Abstract: This article analyses the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility in relation to Human Resources (HR) management. Five potential tools are defined and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Finally, the implementation of the most advanced and powerful tool in this area is studied: the SA8000 standard.