Freezing and thawing of the land surface affects ecosystem and hydrological processes, the geotechnical properties of soil and slope stability. Currently, available datasets on land surface state lack either sufficient temporal or spatial resolution to adequately characterize the complexity of freeze/thaw transition period dynamics. Surface state changes can be detected using microwave remote s...

We demonstrated that oxidative stress plays a role in freeze-thaw-induced killing of Campylobacter coli following analysis of mutants deficient in key antioxidant functions. Superoxide anions, but not H(2)O(2), were formed during the freeze-thaw process. However, a failure to detoxify superoxide anions may lead to spontaneous disproportionation of the radicals to H(2)O(2).

Although efforts have been made to sample microorganisms from polar regions and to investigate a few of the properties that facilitate survival at freezing or subzero temperatures, soil communities that overwinter in areas exposed to alternate freezing and thawing caused by Foehn or Chinook winds have been largely overlooked. We designed and constructed a cryocycler to automatically subject soi...

These data suggest that the physiologic stress associated with two consecutive freeze-thaw processes is likely minor. Dual freeze-thaw of embryos does not appear to adversely impact delivery rate in IVF; a livebirth delivery rate of 35.7% per transfer was observed in our population.

Freeze-tolerant organisms survive internal ice formation; however, the adaptations to repeated freeze-thaw cycles are often not well investigated. Here we report how three geographically different populations of Enchytraeus albidus (Germany, Iceland and Svalbard) respond to three temperature treatments - constant thawed (0°C), constant freezing (-5°C) and fluctuating temperature (0 to -5°C) - o...

3843 ABSTRACT Freeze-tolerant organisms survive internal ice formation; however, the adaptations to repeated freeze–thaw cycles are often not well investigated. Here we report how three geographically different populations of Enchytraeus albidus (Germany, Iceland and Svalbard) respond to three temperature treatments – constant thawed (0°C), constant freezing (−5°C) and fluctuating temperature (...

Frozen soil and permafrost affect ecosystem diversity and productivity as well as global energy and water cycles. Although some space-based Radar techniques or ground-based sensors can monitor frozen soil and permafrost variations, there are some shortcomings and challenges. For the first time, we use GPS-Interferometric Reflectometry (GPS-IR) to monitor and investigate the bare soil freeze–tha...

This study was conducted to assess the physical and morphological characteristics of fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw black Bengal buck (Capra hircus) semen processed in Tris-egg yolk-citrate-fructose-glycerol (TEYCFG) extender containing 4 different concentrations (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) of egg-yolk. Ejaculates were collected once a week for eight weeks from six mature bucks (48 ejaculates) using...

Semen cryopreservation is an important procedure in the treatment of human infertility. However, the ability of spermatozoa to survive freeze/thaw processes varies between patients. Cryopreservation-induced stress may result in membrane injury with consequent loss of sperm motility and viability. We investigated the relationship between the physico-chemical state of the human sperm membranes an...

This experiment was designed to study the effect of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on cryopreservation of Hariana bull semen. For this purpose, semen ejaculates were collected from four Hariana bulls using artificial vagina at biweekly interval. The semen samples which possess more than 70% initial progressive motility and above 500 million/mL spermatozoa concentration was subsequently su...