Changes in the physicochemical properties of transferrin upon chemical derivatization with ceramides

The interaction of native and derivatized transferrin with lecithin, cholesterol and their mixtures was studied using monomolecular layers of phospholipids. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters corresponding to these interactions: the mixing excess free energy, interaction energy, and interaction parameter were also calculated.The ability of these two proteins to insert into monolayers was studied working at constant area.The formation of aggregates or secondary structures in solution was determined by the fluorescence and polarization values of ANS (anilinonaphthalene sulfonate), measured at different protein/ANS relationships.Abbreviations TF Transferrin - DTF derivatized transferrin - PC lecithin - CHOL cholesterol - CER ceramides - ANS anilinonaphthalene sulfonate - TNBS trinitro benzenesulfonate method     

Genetic algorithms: A robust scheme for geometry optimizations and global minimum structure problems

A Genetic Algorithm for Geometry Optimizations (GALGO) program has been developed to study the efficiency of this method of finding global minimum structures. Using a semiempirical tight-binding potential, the behavior of different genetic algorithm (GA) operators has been tested for the linear chain isomer of a C₈ cluster. An optimum set of parameters for the GA operators is proposed for this problem and afterward is used to obtain the global minimum structure of rare-gas atomic clusters of up to 13 atoms using the 12–6 Lennard-Jones interatomic pair potential. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction method for determining 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in musts by means of polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene fibres

A method for determining 2-methoxypyrazine, 3-methyl-, 3-ethyl-, 3-isopropyl-, 3-sec.-butyl- and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in musts is described. It involves headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and determination by capillary gas chromatography using nitrogen–phosphorous detection. Pyrazines were satisfactorily separated under isothermal conditions, and quantification was carried out using 3-isopropyl-2-ethoxypyrazine as the internal standard. Ionic strength, time and temperature were studied in order to make SPME as efficient as possible. The developed method enabled detection limits at the 0.1 ng l⁻¹ levels for some of the analytes. The method was successfully applied to identify and quantify different 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in experimental musts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Their evolution during the ripening was also monitored.     

Interaction between the antibacterial compound,oleuropein, and model membranes

Oleuropein, a secoiridoid glycoside extracted from the olive tree, Olea europaea L., has been described as showing antibacterial properties. However, the exact mechanism of these antimicrobial properties is not yet well understood. In the present study, we have studied the interaction of oleuropein with phosphatidylglycerol (PG) as a model membrane for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (Gram-positive bacteria) and phosphatidylethanolamine and Escherichia coli (E. coli) lipid extract as a model membrane for E. coli (Gram-negative bacteria). The study has been carried out using monolayers as model membranes and using kinetics at constant area and compression isotherms with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) observations. The results show that oleuropein interacts in higher extent with PG monolayers, which is related with its stronger antibacterial effect against Gram-positive bacteria. The effects on the membrane are probably produced at the cell surface because oleuropein did not form stable mixed monolayers with the lipids assayed at the air/water interface.     

Analytical properties of the isomeric oximes derivated from the 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone: I. Synthesis,separation by thin-layer chromatography,and qualitative behavior

The synthesis, characteristics, isomer separation by TLC, and reactions with inorganic ions of syn- and anti-2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone oxime are described.     

Neutron powder diffraction study of A2BeF4 (A=K, Rb, Cs): Structure refinement and analysis of background

The crystal structure of potassium, rubidium and caesium fluoroberyllates have been re-examined by neutron powder diffraction at room temperature and at 1.5 K. Previously, their structures, obtained from X-ray data, were described in the Pn2₁a space group. However, the results obtained from Rietveld refinements, using powder neutron diffraction, at both temperatures, indicated that all structures are orthorhombic with space group Pnma. The known phase transition at high temperature is probably related to the appearance of a hexagonal pseudo-symmetry instead of the elimination of the mirror plane between the above mentioned orthorhombic space groups. A possible phase transition, at very low temperature, was discarded considering the stereochemical criteria concerning the structural stability of A₂BX₄ compounds. This was confirmed by thermal analysis. On the other hand, a modulated background has been detected in all samples during the refinements. This is compatible with the presence of an amorphous phase, coexisting with the crystalline phase, or with a disordered component within the main crystalline phase. Instead of using a polynomial function, the background was modelled by Fourier filtering improving the fit for all patterns. The radial distribution function (RDF) was obtained from the analysis of the calculated background and compared with the RDF from the average crystal structure. The advantages of neutron with respect to X-ray diffraction were evidenced for this type of compound with β-K₂SO₄-type structure.     

Skin Constituents as Cosmetic Ingredients. Part II: A Study of Bio‐Mimetic Monoglycerides Behavior at the Squalene‐Water Interface by the “Pendant Drop” Method in a Dynamic Mode

This work aims at presenting the viscoelastic behavior of bio‐mimetic monoglycerides used as emulsifier in a mixture made of two non‐miscible liquids, squalene and water. The measurement of the interfacial tension, carried out by the “pendant drop” method in “dynamic” mode, made it possible to characterize these amphiphilic molecules according to the value of their elastic modulus, ?, as well as their relaxation time, τ_R.

The analysis of these parameters, as well as those developed in the previous publication [L. Blasco et al. (2006) Skin constituents as cosmetic ingredients. Part I: A Study of bio‐mimetic monoglyceride behavior at the squalene‐water interface by the “pendant drop” method in a static mode. J. Dispers. Sci. Technol., 27(6).] shows that the hydrocarbon chain structure, such as its length, the presence of one or more unsaturations, hydroxyl function, affects the behavior of surfactant molecules at the squalene/water interface.     

Dianions of Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids in Synthesis. Synthesis of Juvocimene I

Juvocimene I is prepared by a non ambiguous synthesis based on the regioselective alkylation of 4-methylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid, and Wittig olefination of the aldehyde corresponding to the alkylated acid.     

GEVA: geometric variability-based approaches for identifying patterns in data

This paper, arising from population studies, develops clustering algorithms for identifying patterns in data. Based on the concept of geometric variability, we have developed one polythetic-divisive and three agglomerative algorithms. The effectiveness of these procedures is shown by relating them to classical clustering algorithms. They are very general since they do not impose constraints on the type of data, so they are applicable to general (economics, ecological, genetics...) studies. Our major contributions include a rigorous formulation for novel clustering algorithms, and the discovery of new relationship between geometric variability and clustering. Finally, these novel procedures give a theoretical frame with an intuitive interpretation to some classical clustering methods to be applied with any type of data, including mixed data. These approaches are illustrated with real data on Drosophila chromosomal inversions.