Observing classical nucleation theory at work by monitoring phase transitions with molecular precision.

It is widely accepted that many phase transitions do not follow nucleation pathways as envisaged by the classical nucleation theory. Many substances can traverse intermediate states before arriving at the stable phase. The apparent ubiquity of multi-step nucleation has made the inverse question relevant: does multistep nucleation always dominate single-step pathways? Here we provide an explicit example of the classical nucleation mechanism for a system known to exhibit the characteristics of multi-step nucleation. Molecular resolution atomic force microscopy imaging of the two-dimensional nucleation of the protein glucose isomerase demonstrates that the interior of subcritical clusters is in the same state as the crystalline bulk phase. Our data show that despite having all the characteristics typically associated with rich phase behaviour, glucose isomerase 2D crystals are formed classically. These observations illustrate the resurfacing importance of the classical nucleation theory by re-validating some of the key assumptions that have been recently questioned

A two-parameter extension of classical nucleation theory.

A two-variable stochastic model for diffusion-limited nucleation is developed using a formalism derived from fluctuating hydrodynamics. The model is a direct generalization of the standard classical nucleation theory (CNT). The nucleation rate and pathway are calculated in the weak-noise approximation and are shown to be in good agreement with direct numerical simulations for the weak-solution/strong-solution transition in globular proteins. We find that CNT underestimates the time needed for the formation of a critical cluster by two orders of magnitude and that this discrepancy is due to the more complex dynamics of the two variable model and not, as often is assumed, a result of errors in the estimation of the free energy barrier

Temas selectos de biomedicina en Ciencias de la Salud

trabajos de investigación en forma de capítulos individuales, los cuales abordan temas de aplicación de la nanotecnología en las ciencias odontológicas, cómo mejorar la experiencia del paciente que acude a la consulta odontológica, los efectos de la dieta en caries dental y enfermedades crónicas degenerativas como la diabetes mellitus; asimismo, la actividad física en la condición de salud y nutrición de los adolescentes, microbiología médica y diversos tópicos relacionados con la psicología de la salud, desde el comportamiento de los médicos y estudiantes de medicina con respecto a sus pacientes, hasta la relación de pareja, la salud mental laboral, la actitud de los pacientes ante la presencia de enfermedades crónico-degenerativas y la recuperación de la salud mental después del abuso sexual

Contribución al conocimiento de la flora criptogámica de Guadalajara y en especial de La Alcarria

Tesis Univ. Complutense de Madrid, 1973.ProQuestFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Purification, characterization and application of laccase from Trametes versicolor for colour and phenolic removal of olive mill wastewater in the presence of 1- hydroxybenzotriazole

Laccase forms (L1 and L2) from Trametes versicolor CCT 4521 showed a molecular mass of 66 kDa and optimum temperature around 40oC. The optimum pH (4.0 and 5.0) and Km (28.6 and 5 ìM) values usingsyringaldazine as substrate were found for L1 and L2, respectively. The enzymes were able to oxidize several compounds and were strongly inhibited by sodium azide, L-cysteine and dithiothreitol. The 75%of the N-terminal sequences were identical in both forms and similarities around 40 - 60% of laccases from wood-degrading fungi were observed. The use of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole as a mediator increased the compounds oxidized by laccases in olive mill wastewater

Antimicrobial activity of the fiber produced by “pochote” Ceiba aesculifolia subsp. parvifolia

Background: The cotton-like fiber from the fruit of Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia subsp. parvifolia) can be applied to wounds for healing purposes. As microorganisms can infect wounds and hamper the wound healing process, the aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the methanolic extract of Pochote fiber.Materials and Methods: The methanolic extract was tested against bacteria and fungi. For bacteria, the Kirby-Baüer disc diffusion and broth dilution methods were employed to determine the MIC and MBC. In addition, bactericidal kinetic curves were generated. The antifungal activity was determined by the radial diffusion method. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and the flavonoid content were determined. Bioassay guided fractionation was also performed.Results: The methanolic extract showed activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae (cc). The tested V. cholerae strains were the most sensitive strains, and exhibited a clear CFU size reduction from the bactericidal kinetic curves. The methanolic extract had activity against T. mentagrophytes and R. lilacina. The antioxidant activity (SC50= 36.42 μg/mL) was related to the total phenolic (74.4 mg eAG/g) and flavonoid content (21.982 mg (eQ)/g). The bioassay guided fractionation results suggested that the antimicrobial properties of the extract may act through synergism because the total extract had higher activity against bacteria compared to the collected fractions.Conclusion: This study scientifically validates the application of the fruit fiber from Pochote as a part of a traditional medicine approach to alleviate infections caused by bacteria and fungi.Keywords: antimicrobial, Ceiba, Bombacaceae, fruit fib

Synthesis and crystal structure of the dinuclear cyclopalladated compounds of methyl (E)-4-(benzylideneamino)benzoate with acetato and chlorido bridge ligands: Study of their splitting reactions with pyridine

Reaction of methyl (E)-4-(benzylideneamino)benzoate C6H5CH=N(C6H4-4-CO2Me) with Pd(OAc)(2) produced the dinuclear acetato bridge ortho-cyclopalladated compound [Pd{C6H4CH=N(C6H4-4-CO2Me)-kappa C-ortho,kappa(N)}](2)(mu-OAc)(2) (1). Compounds [Pd{C6H4CH=N(C6H4-4-CO2Me)-kappa C-ortho,kappa(N)}](2)(mu-Cl)(2) (2) and [Pd {C6H4CH] N(C6H4-4-CO2Me)-kappa C-ortho,kappa(N)}(py)(X)] [3 (X = OAc); 4 (X = Cl)] were also prepared and isolated in good yields by substitution reactions. H-1 and C-13{H-1} NMR in CDCl3 solution of compounds 3 and 4 revealed that they consisted of a mixture of trans-and cis-N,N isomers. Addition of pyridine-d(5) to solutions of 1 and 2 in CDCl3 in a molar ratio pyridine-d(5)/1 or 2 approximate to 50-55 gave solutions A and B, respectively, which contained compounds 5 and 6 analogous to 3 and 4, but with pyridine-d(5) rather than pyridine in their structural formula. In these solutions, the trans-and cis-N,N geometrical isomers of compounds 5 and 6 were interconverting between them in a dynamic equilibrium. In addition, an exchange between free and coordinated pyridine-d(5) was also taking place in solutions A and B. The NMR data for solution A showed that the dynamic equilibrium between the cis-and trans-N,N isomers of compound 5 was shifted to the trans-N,N isomer. However, the NMR data for solution B suggested that in this solution the equilibrium between the cis- and trans-N,N isomers of compound 6 was shifted to the cis-N,N isomer. Interconversion between the trans- and cis-N,N isomers of compounds 5 and 6 in solutions A and B plausibly proceeded through the intermediate ionic complexes [Pd{C6H4CH] N(C6H4-4CO(2)Me)-kappa C-ortho,kappa(N)}(py-d(5))(2)]X [7 (X = OAc), 8 (X = Cl)]. Ionic complexes 7 and 8 were not observed in CDCl3 solution but were the major species in D2O solutions containing compounds 1 and 2 and pyridine-d(5) in a molar ratio pyridine-d(5)/1 or 2 approximate to 50-55. The crystal structure of the adduct 1.2(CH3COOH) and that of compound 2 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A theoretical study on the difference in free Gibbs energy in CHCl3 solution between the cis-and trans-N,N isomers of compounds 3 and 4 is also included in this work

Glycemic Index Trends and Clinical Implications: Where Are We Going?

Glycemic index (GI) is currently consideredas an alternative system thatclassifies food according to the carbohydratequality (CHO), measuring its absorption speed;meanwhile, glycemic load GL is a more recent termthat relates the quality and quantity of the CHO pergram of the usual consumption portion. Glycemic indexand glycemic load reduce the post-prandial glycemicimpact without the total restriction of CHO in thediet. Initially, GI was used only in patients with diabetes,currently it is also considered as a risk indicator inother pathologies. However, there is great controversydue to an inaccurate interpretation of the knowledgeabout the methodology used for its determination.The aim of this review is to elucidate this currentdebate and to expand the relationship between the GIand the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases;thus, highlighting new prospects for its applicability inthe dietary intervention for diabetic athletes and in theproduction of functional food designed for patients withdiabetes. There is strong evidence that this indicatorhas become an innovative system for various multidisciplinaryhealth programs