Without evidence for an organic framework, biological and biochemical processes observed during amelogenesis provided limited information on how extracellular matrix proteins control the development of the complex fibrous architecture of human enamel. Over a decade ago, amelogenin nanoribbons were first observed from recombinant proteins during in vitro mineralization experiments in our laboratory

We show that it is possible to induce a defined secondary structure in de novo designed peptides upon electrostatic attachment to negatively charged lipid bilayer vesicles without partitioning of the peptides into the membrane, and that the secondary structure can be varied via small changes in the primary amino acid sequence of the peptides. The peptides have a random-coil conformation in solutio

We have analysed hydrogen exchange at amide groups to characterise the energy landscape of the 72 amino acid residue protein MerP. From the guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) dependence of exchange in the pre-transitional region we have determined free energy values of exchange (ΔGHX) and corresponding m-values for individual amide protons. Detailed analysis of the exchange patterns indicates that fo

The role of proteins as the mediators of the interaction between engineered materials (biomaterials) and living systems has long been appreciated, but the subtleties and complexities introduced by changing surface curvature are only beginning to be understood. Thus, in implant devices, where the biomaterial is presented as a flat surface, a very limited range of proteins bind to the material, thes

PurposeWear of ceramic orthopedic devices generates nanoparticles in vivo that may present a different biological character from the monolithic ceramic from which they are formed. The current work investigated protein adsorption from human plasma on alumina nanoparticles and monolithic samples representative of both wear particles and the ceramic components as implanted.Materials and MethodsA phys

Nanoparticles in a biological fluid (plasma, or otherwise) associate with a range of biopolymers, especially proteins, organized into the “protein corona” that is associated with the nanoparticle and continuously exchanging with the proteins in the environment. Methodologies to determine the corona and to understand its dependence on nanomaterial properties are likely to become important in bionan

Nanoparticles can be used to purify proteins from plasma. We report here the purification of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) with high specificity from human plasma using copolymeric nanoparticles. We present an optimized protocol using 50:50 NiPAM:BAM copolymer nanoparticles with thermo-responsive properties as an affinity resin. Repeated pelleting and washing of nanoparticle-captured apoA-I is achie

The global increase in species richness toward the tropics across continents and taxonomic groups, referred to as the latitudinal diversity gradient, stimulated the formulation of many hypotheses to explain the underlying mechanisms of this pattern. We evaluate several of these hypotheses to explain spatial diversity patterns in a butterfly family, the Nymphalidae, by assessing the contributions o

Urbanization is gaining force globally, which challenges biodiversity, and it has recently also emerged as an agent of evolutionary change. Seasonal phenology and life cycle regulation are essential processes that urbanization is likely to alter through both the urban heat island effect (UHI) and artificial light at night (ALAN). However, how UHI and ALAN affect the evolution of seasonal adaptatio

A numerical scheme is presented for the solution of Fredholm second-kind boundary integral equations with right-hand sides that are singular at a finite set of boundary points. The boundaries themselves may be non-smooth. The scheme, which builds on recursively compressed inverse preconditioning (RCIP), is universal as it is independent of the nature of the singularities. Strong right-hand-side si

The emergence of COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, arguably none more so than for older people. In Sweden, the majority of COVID-19-related fatalities have been among people aged ⩾70 years, many of whom were receiving health and social care services. The pandemic has illuminated aspects within the care continuum requiring evaluative research, such as decision-making processes, the stru

As more people are surviving cardiac arrest, focus needs to shift towards improving neurological outcomes and quality of life in survivors. Brain injury after resuscitation, a common sequela following cardiac arrest, ranges in severity from mild impairment to devastating brain injury and brainstem death. Effective strategies to minimise brain injury after resuscitation include early intervention w

PURPOSE: Recent studies demonstrated reduced cardiovascular (CV) risk with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, yet the underlying mechanism remains undetermined. The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal changes over time in established CV related proteins among men treated with GnRH agonists vs GnRH antagonist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a proteomics analysis

Climate during the Last Interglacial period (LIG, Marine Isotope Stage 5e) was on average warmer than the present, with a higher global sea level but also more unstable conditions. Today, the Baltic Sea interacts strongly with conditions in the North Atlantic region, and this interaction was likely even stronger during the LIG. We here present a reconstruction of seawater conditions during the LIG

The human forebrain has expanded in size and complexity compared to chimpanzees despite limited changes in protein-coding genes, suggesting that gene expression regulation is an important driver of brain evolution. Here, we identify a KRAB-ZFP transcription factor, ZNF558, that is expressed in human but not chimpanzee forebrain neural progenitor cells. ZNF558 evolved as a suppressor of LINE-1 tran

Introduction: Patients with low rectal cancer are at risk for lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM). Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is used to eradicate LLNM in the West, whereas in Japan the addition of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) to total mesorectal excision (TME) is performed. A systematic review was conducted to assess incidence, location, risk factors and diagnosis of LLNM and la

Is China beating the US and EU through its pragmatic approach towards cooperation under the “Belt and Road” Initiative (“一带一路”倡议) (BRI)? Despite the advent of the US’ “Build Back Better World” (B3W) and the EU’s “Connecting Europe Globally” (CEG), evidence from Sri Lanka suggests that some countries still look to China for support due to the ‘no-strings-attached’ nature of its investments. The sta