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.

Heat requirement for the onset of the Olea europaea L. pollen season in several sites in Andalusia and the effect of the expected future climate change

Abstract: Olives are one of the largest crops in the Mediterranean region, especially in Andalusia, in southern Spain. A thermal model has been developed for forecasting the start of the olive tree pollen season at five localities in Andalusia: Cordoba, Priego, Jaen, Granada and Malaga using airborne pollen and meteorological data from 1982 to 2001. Threshold temperatures varied between 5°C and 12.5°C depending on bio-geographical characteristics. The external validity of the results was tested using the data for the year 2002 as an independent variable and it confirmed the model’s accuracy with only a few days difference from predicted values. All the localities had increasingly earlier start dates during the study period. This could confirm that olive flower phenology can be considered as a sensitive indicator of the effects of climate fluctuations in the Mediterranean area. The theoretical impact of the predicted climatic warming on the olive’s flowering phenology at the end of the century is also proposed by applying Regional Climate Model data. A general advance, from 1 to 3 weeks could be expected, although this advance will be more pronounced in mid-altitude inland areas.

Insulin- and leptin-mediated control of aquaglyceroporins in human adipocytes and hepatocytes is mediated via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascade.

Abstract: Insulin and leptin act as regulators of AQP3, AQP7, and AQP9 glycerol channels in human visceral adipocytes and hepatocytes through PI3K/Akt/mTOR-dependent mechanisms.

Developing a core collection of olive ( Olea europaea L.) based on molecular markers (DArTs, SSRs, SNPs) and agronomic traits

Abstract: Molecular markers (SSR, SNP and DArT) and agronomical traits have been used in the world’s largest olive (Olea europaea L.) germplasm collection (IFAPA, Centre Alameda del Obispo, Cordoba, Spain) to study the patterns of genetic diversity and underlying genetic structure among 361 olive accessions. In addition the marker data were used to construct a set of core collections by means of two different algorithms (MSTRAT and PowerCore) based on M (maximization) strategy. Our results confirm that the germplasm collection is a useful source of genetically diverse material. We also found that geographical origin is an important factor structuring genetic diversity in olive. Subsets of 18, 27, 36, 45 and 68 olive accessions, representing respectively 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5% and 19% of the whole germplasm collection, were selected based on the information obtained by all the data set as well as each marker type considered individually. According to our results, the core collections that represent between 19% and 10% of the total collection size could be considered as optimal to retain the bulk of the genetic diversity found in this collection. Due to its high efficiency at capturing all the alleles/traits states found in the whole collection, the core size of 68 accessions could be of special interest for genetic conservation applications in olive. The high average genetic distance and diversity and the almost equal representation of accessions from different geographical regions indicate that the core size of 36 accessions, could be the working collection for olive breeders.

What do the HIRM and S-ratio really measure in environmental magnetism?

Abstract: The “hard” isothermal remanent magnetization (HIRM) and the S-ratio are widely used in environmental magnetism to quantify the absolute and relative concentrations, respectively, of antiferromagnetic minerals (hematite and goethite) in mineral mixtures. We demonstrate that synthetic Al-substituted hematite and goethite exhibit a wide range of coercivities, which significantly influences the HIRM and S-ratio. These parameters are therefore not necessarily straightforward indicators of the absolute and relative concentrations of hematite/goethite. To circumvent this problem, we propose a new parameter (the L-ratio), which is the ratio of two remanences after alternating field (AF) demagnetization of an IRM imparted in a 1 T field with a peak AF of 100 mT and 300 mT: IRMAF@300mT/IRMAF@100mT. These parameters are easily measured using modern vibrating sample or alternating gradient magnetometers. Changes in HIRM only reflect changes in the absolute concentration of hematite and/or goethite if the L-ratio is relatively constant. Conversely, L-ratio fluctuations indicate variable coercivities that possibly reflect changes in the source of hematite/goethite. Corresponding HIRM and S-ratio variations should be interpreted with caution in such cases. The L-ratio can be determined using equivalent terms depending on available instrumentation and measurement protocols. For example, the HIRM is equivalent to IRMAF@300mT. Likewise, 0.5*(SIRM + IRM−100mT), where IRM−100mT represents the remanent magnetization obtained by first saturating the sample in a high field and then applying a back-field of −100 mT, is equivalent to IRMAF@100mT. The HIRM/[0.5*(SIRM + IRM−100mT)] ratio is therefore a suitable substitute for the L-ratio when measurements are made with a long-core magnetometer. The newly proposed L-ratio is straightforward to measure on a wide range of instruments and can provide significant new insights and reduce ambiguities associated with interpretation of two widely used parameters in environmental magnetism, the HIRM and S-ratio.

Resveratrol potently reduces prostaglandin E2 production and free radical formation in lipopolysaccharide-activated primary rat microglia

Abstract: Neuroinflammatory responses are triggered by diverse ethiologies and can provide either beneficial or harmful results. Microglial cells are the major cell type involved in neuroinflammation, releasing several mediators, which contribute to the neuronal demise in several diseases including cerebral ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. Attenuation of microglial activation has been shown to confer protection against different types of brain injury. Recent evidence suggests that resveratrol has anti-inflammatory and potent antioxidant properties. It has been also shown that resveratrol is a potent inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 activity. Previous findings have demonstrated that this compound is able to reduce neuronal injury in different models, both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to examine whether resveratrol is able to reduce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated primary rat microglia. Primary microglial cell cultures were prepared from cerebral cortices of neonatal rats. Microglial cells were stimulated with 10 ng/ml of LPS in the presence or absence of different concentrations of resveratrol (1–50 μM). After 24 h incubation, culture media were collected to measure the production of PGE2 and 8-iso-PGF2α using enzyme immunoassays. Protein levels of COX-1, COX-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) were studied by Western blotting after 24 h of incubation with LPS. Expression of mPGES-1 at the mRNA level was investigated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Our results indicate that resveratrol potently reduced LPS-induced PGE2 synthesis and the formation of 8-iso-PGF2α, a measure of free radical production. Interestingly, resveratrol dose-dependently reduced the expression (mRNA and protein) of mPGES-1, which is a key enzyme responsible for the synthesis of PGE2 by activated microglia, whereas resveratrol did not affect the expression of COX-2. Resveratrol is therefore the first known inhibitor which specifically prevents mPGES-1 expression without affecting COX-2 levels. Another important observation of the present study is that other COX-1 selective inhibitors (SC-560 and Valeroyl Salicylate) potently reduced PGE2 and 8-iso-PGF2α production by LPS-activated microglia. These findings suggest that the naturally occurring polyphenol resveratrol is able to reduce microglial activation, an effect that might help to explain its neuroprotective effects in several in vivo models of brain injury.