An insect antifreeze protein from Anatolica polita enhances the cryoprotection of Xenopus laevis eggs and embryos.

Cryoprotection is of interest in many fields of research, necessitating a greater understanding of different cryoprotective agents. Antifreeze proteins have been identified that have the ability to confer cryoprotection in certain organisms. Antifreeze proteins are an evolutionary adaptation that contributes to the freeze resistance of certain fish, insects, bacteria and plants.

Changes in Cryopreserved Cell Nuclei Serve as Indicators of Processes during Freezing and Thawing.

The mechanisms underlying cell protection from cryoinjury are not yet fully understood. Recent biological studies have addressed cryopreserved cell survival but have not correlated the cryoprotection effectiveness with the impact of cryoprotectants on the most important cell structure, the nucleus, and the freeze/thaw process. We identified changes of cell nuclei states caused by different types of cryoprotectants and associate them with alterations of the freeze/thaw process in cells.

Chromatin architecture changes and DNA replication fork collapse are critical features in cryopreserved cells that are differentially controlled by cryoprotectants.

In this work, we shed new light on the highly debated issue of chromatin fragmentation in cryopreserved cells. Moreover, for the first time, we describe replicating cell-specific DNA damage and higher-order chromatin alterations after freezing and thawing. We identified DNA structural changes associated with the freeze-thaw process and correlated them with the viability of frozen and thawed cells.

Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility.

Amending soil with biochar (pyrolized biomass) is suggested as a globally applicable approach to address climate change and soil degradation by carbon sequestration, reducing soil-borne greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing soil nutrient retention. Biochar was shown to promote plant growth, especially when combined with nutrient-rich organic matter, e.g.

Theoretical and experimental study of the antifreeze protein AFP752, trehalose and dimethyl sulfoxide cryoprotection mechanism: correlation with cryopreserved cell viability.

In this work the physico-chemical properties of selected cryoprotectants (antifreeze protein TrxA-AFP752, trehalose and dimethyl sulfoxide) were correlated with their impact on the constitution of ice and influence on frozen/thawed cell viability. The freezing processes and states of investigated materials solutions were described and explained from a fundamental point of view using ab-initio modelling (molecular dynamics, DFT), Raman spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and X-Ray Diffraction. For the first time, in this work we correlated the microscopic view (modelling) with the description of the frozen solution states and put these results in the context of human skin fibroblast viability after freezing and thawing.

The effects of high concentrations of ionic liquid on GB1 protein structure and dynamics probed by high-resolution magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopy.

Ionic liquids have great potential in biological applications and biocatalysis, as some ionic liquids can stabilize proteins and enhance enzyme activity, while others have the opposite effect. However, on the molecular level, probing ionic liquid interactions with proteins, especially in solutions containing high concentration of ionic liquids, has been challenging. In the present work the C, N-enriched GB1 model protein was used to demonstrate applicability of high-resolution magic-angle-spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy to investigate ionic liquid - protein interactions.

Chirality Inversion of CdSe and CdS Quantum Dots without Changing the Stereochemistry of the Capping Ligand.

L-cysteine derivatives induce and modulate the optical activity of achiral cadmium selenide (CdSe) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots (QDs). Remarkably, N-acetyl-L-cysteine-CdSe and L-homocysteine-CdSe as well as N-acetyl-L-cysteine-CdS and L-cysteine-CdS showed "mirror-image" circular dichroism (CD) spectra regardless of the diameter of the QDs. This is an example of the inversion of the CD signal of QDs by alteration of the ligand's structure, rather than inversion of the ligand's absolute configuration.

Physical activity after total joint replacement: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To determine the level of physical activity participants are able to perform at a minimum of 1 year after primary total hip or knee replacement.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: A tertiary care arthroplasty center.

Caring for the elderly with renal failure: gastrointestinal changes.

Provision of health care to the elderly individual with renal failure can be a challenging endeavor for nephrology nurses. With the continuous steady rise in the elderly population, comes the crucial necessity to acquire knowledge regarding changes unique to this segment of the population. Likewise, health care for patients with renal failure is multifaceted and requires acquisition of specialized knowledge to deliver quality care.