bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Influences of Bisphenol F Exposure in Population‐based Heterogeneous Stock Rats
Authors: Wagner Valerie A , Clark Karen C , Velez‐Bermudez Miriam , Wang Kai , Carrillo‐Saenz Leslie , Dai Susie , Solberg Woods Leah C , Lehmler Hans , Kwitek Anne E 
Published: June 2021

Bisphenol F (BPF) is marketed as a ‘safe’ substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor associated with obesity and heart disease (i.e. cardiometabolic disease), in manufacturing polycarbonates and in common consumer products (e.g. food packaging). BPF's environmental presence is growing rapidly and is detected in over 85% of U.S. adults and children. There is evidence of individual variation in bisphenol levels, suggesting that genetic variation or gene x environment (GxE) interactions influence risk of cardiometabolic disease due to bisphenol exposure.Characterizing the cardiometabolic effects of BPF in either humans or an animal model has not been performed, and the health risks associated with BPF exposure are vastly unknown. Traditional in vivo toxicity studies are performed in genetically undefined, outbred rats or genetically homogeneous, inbred mice, leading to conflicting results possibly due to GxE interactions. The N/NIH Heterogeneous Stock (HS) rats are a genetically heterogeneous rat population that is amenable to genetic study. The overall hypothesis of this project is that BPF‐induced cardiometabolic disease is based on underlying genetic susceptibility which can be identified using the HS rat model.The goal of this pilot project was to determine if BPF exposure influences growth and adiposity in HS rats. Weanling littermate pairs of male HS rats were randomly selected for exposure to either vehicle (0.1% Ethanol) or 1.125 mg/L BPF in 0.1% Ethanol (average dose 154 μg BPF/kg body weight/day) for five weeks in drinking water. Cardiometabolic measures, tissues, urine, and feces were taken.Our studies determined BPF treatment in HS rats significantly increases body growth (Table 1). Heritability estimates of gain in body weight at eight weeks of age were 0.90±0.13 for vehicle‐treated males and 0.67±0.25 for BPF‐treated males (median±SEM). BPF treatment alters body composition seen in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements by increasing % fat and decreasing % lean, mirroring the increase in gonadal white adipose tissue (GWAT) mass and the significant increase in perirenal white adipose tissue (PWAT) mass in BPF‐treated males at eight weeks of age (Table 1). Our data suggest that BPF treatment increases body growth and adiposity, which are risk factors for cardiometabolic disease. Future studies will determine if the response to BPF is genetically regulated.Support or Funding InformationUniversity of Iowa Environmental Health Sciences Research Center (NIH P30 ES005605); National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Training Grant T32GM008629, PI Daniel Eberl.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Revitalization of a Dental Physiology Course Using Active and Online Learning
Authors: Metz Cynthia J , Metz Michael J 
Published: June 2021

In the Health Sciences, many programs are undergoing significant revisions to improve student learning. Over the past 5 years, A Dental Physiology course at the University of Louisville has been revitalized to include modern active and online learning strategies. A new learning modality was added each year, and the effectiveness of these strategies was assessed via the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.Year 1: In engaging lectures, also referred to as broken or interactive lectures, students are given short periods of lecture, followed by “breaks” that can consist of minute papers, problem sets, brainstorming sessions, or open discussion. Over 125 active learning modules were developed and the use of engaging lectures led to higher averages on unit exams compared to traditional didactic lectures (8.6% higher, p<.05, n=120). Furthermore, students demonstrated an improved long‐term retention of information via higher scores on the comprehensive final exam (22.9% higher, p<.05).Year 2: Online modules were produced in order to help students review basic physiological concepts prior to lecture. Students exhibited a significant increase in post‐test scores with the use of online review modules (46% increase, p<.0001). Eight videos have been developed with over 1.5 hours of instructional information.Year 3: A YouTube channel was created to provide students with solutions for difficult physiology problems. Using a SmartBoard, problem solutions were recorded in order to help students determine how to appropriately approach problems in a systematic fashion. The channel contains more than 30 videos, with over 400,000 views.Year 4: Team‐based Learning (TBL) modules were implemented into the course. In TBLs, students take a quiz individually and then retake the quiz in small groups, given time to discuss each of the questions. Following this discussion, students then complete another individual quiz over similar content. TBLs improved student scores on the post‐test quizzes (10% increase, p<.05). Five TBLs are now utilized in the course.Year 5: A series of Clinical Scenario videos were created, which showcase the physiological basis of medical emergencies in the dental office. The videos resulted in a significant increase in exam performance on clinical application questions (6.2% increase, p<.05).While each of these pedagogies has been shown to be individually effective, the creation of an extensive teaching toolbox has resulted in significant gains for the course as a whole. The teaching evaluations have been extremely positive and the faculty have received several awards during this time. The results of these studies demonstrate that methodical implementation of modern teaching methods can revitalize existing courses in the Health Sciences and improve student perceptions and comprehension.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
From the Community to the Laboratory: Field Research to Advance Student Learning
Authors: Guerrier Richardson , Doherty Cathleen , Smith L. Cody , Pivnick Elyse , Aleksunes Lauren , Buckley Brian , Laskin Debra 
Published: June 2021

Fieldwork is an integral component of learning science, but is often overlooked while performing laboratory research. During the summer, a community outreach project for undergraduate students to learn about exposure to heave metals was developed. Together with 12 undergraduate students and faculty who are members of the Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, we selected and visited four sampling sites in Trenton, NJ, a community that has long industry history and concerns regarding the consequences of heavy metal contamination. The purpose of this Frontiers in Physiology Research Teacher activity was to evaluate soil and street dust levels of lead (Pb), which affects the central nervous system and may lead to development delays in children. Four teams of students, postdocs, teachers (high school and middle school) and a member of Isles, Inc., a New Jersey based community development and environmental organization collected street dust and soil at a former smelter, an abandoned park and children playground. Each team kept field notes on sample characteristics and drew maps of each sample location with proximity to roads, schools, and public parks. Upon return to the laboratory, samples of street dust and soil were dissolved in acids, vented, centrifuged, and microwaved to extract heavy metals. ICP‐MS analysis revealed widespread elevated Pb levels (>125 ppm) above naturally occurring levels (~10–50 ppm) throughout the study region. Mean Pb levels in soil were 155 ppm (range: 19–566 ppm, n=24) and dust, 125 ppm (range: 14–533 ppm, n=22). The highest levels of Pb (>500 ppm) were observed in in land around the former Magic Marker/Philco Battery site. Participants rated the activity highly (mean rating = 4.0, SD 0.6) on a Likert scale of 1–5. Overall, fieldwork provides an opportunity for students and teachers to participate in relevant research and assist a community.Support or Funding InformationSupported by the APS, SOT Intern Program, R25ES020721, P30ES005022, and T32007148This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A Visual and Intuitive Comparison of Experimental Designs in the Health Sciences
Authors: Hummel Ruth M 
Published: June 2021

Many students and practitioners struggle to understand experimental designs and their implications in appropriate modeling. Full factorial designs and hierarchical designs are commonly used, but less commonly well‐understood. Then, when a full factorial design is not an option due to limited time or resources, how do you choose between potential reduced designs? What are the implications from various design choices on what you can learn from your experiment? How will the analysis change when the design is changed? If you find additional resources after the experiment is run, how do you most effectively augment the original design?In this talk, we will explore some visualizations of experimental designs that can help students to explore these questions and grasp the experimental design options much more intuitively than in the traditional treatment of these topics. We will discuss the need to have a sense of the variability you anticipate in your experiment, and how this translates to simulations of the power and sample size relationship and comparisons of power over various design options.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Engagement and Higher Order Skill Proficiency of First and Second Year Medical Students: A Comparison between IUSM's Legacy and Reformed Curricula
Authors: Francis Brandon K , Hopper Mari K 
Published: June 2021

A large, multicampus, public medical school underwent curricular renewal emphasizing a student‐centered approach with 50% of all course contact time devoted to active learning. Determining the impact of active learning on student engagement and higher order skill (HOS) proficiency was the primary aim of this study. The study compared levels of engagement and HOS between 1) students participating in the legacy curriculum (LC) to those in the renewed curriculum (RC); 2) students in their first year (MS1) of medical school to their second year (MS2). Engagement was determined using a validated Survey of Student Engagement (Ahlfeldt, 2005). HOS proficiency was assessed using the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA+), professionally developed and validated by the Council for Aid to Education (https://cae.org/flagship‐assessments‐cla‐cwra/cla/). Results indicated that MS1 students in the RC demonstrated significantly higher engagement than LC students (39.0±7.0 vs 36.3±5.3), and continued to increase engagement significantly from MS1 to MS2 (40.8±5.3). However, there were no differences in HOS proficiency when comparing RC to LC, or MS1 to MS2. Interestingly, RC MS1 students in the lowest HOS quartile (1688.8±53.1) demonstrated significantly increased HOS when re‐tested during MS2 (1809.5±86.8). This phenomenon was not seen in LC students. Implementation of RC resulted in higher levels of student engagement than LC, but no differences in HOS were found. These results may be explained by a “ceiling” effect present in this group of highly developed learners.Support or Funding InformationNAThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
The Improvisation of Flipped Teaching Methodology and Student Performance
Authors: Ruholl Hannah Olivia , Fentem Andrea , Gopalan Chaya 
Published: June 2021

Flipped teaching (FT) has gained educators' attention in recent years as a promising teaching strategy designed to increase student engagement in the classroom. We compared two modes of FT with that of traditional (lecture style) teaching (TT) in an undergraduate course titled Biology of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (KIN412). Scores from major exams were compared between four teaching formats: a TT format, a FT format with three in‐class sessions per week (FT3X), a FT format with two in‐class sessions and one session as dedicated preparation time (FT1X), and FT1X but with a focus on retrieval practice (FT1X‐RP). The average exam grade in the TT was 70.13 percent, 74.89 percent in FT3X, 75.37 percent in FT1X, and 74.45 percent in FT1X‐RP. Students reported that FT3X was difficult for them due to the increased time demand. All three flipped teaching approaches were significantly better than the traditional face‐to‐face teaching.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Experimental and Mathematical Modeling of Intracellular Calcium Dynamics for Anticancer Effects Evaluation in Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Chang Yan , Funk Marah , Lafci Mehtap , Stephenson Elizabeth , Kojouharov Hristo , Chen Benito , Pan Zui 
Published: June 2021

Targeting dysregulated Ca2+ signaling in cancer cells is an emerging chemotherapy approach. This group previously reported that store‐operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) blocker, such as RP4010, could effectively inhibit intracellular Ca2+ oscillations and cell proliferation in esophageal cancer, a leading cancer worldwide with low 5‐year survival rate. While many current clinical chemotherapy drugs, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can induce intracellular Ca2+ release, it is not known whether combination of SOCE blockers and TKIs could achieve better chemotherapy effects. The present study employed both experimental and mathematical models to evaluate the effect of RP4010 and TKI (Afatinib) on intracellular Ca2+ oscillation periods in KYSE‐150 cells, an esophageal cancer cell line. The intracellular Ca2+ oscillation period in KYSE‐150 cells was measured as ~32.8 sec; both Afatinib and RP4010 could reduce intracellular Ca2+ and prolong the period in a dose‐dependent manner. Using a modified canonical model with variables of SOCE channel and IP3 receptor affected by RP4010 and Afatinib receptively, the intracellular Ca2+ oscillation dynamics were simulated. The theoretical data of the combined implementations of drugs also fitted well with experimental data. Both results demonstrated a synergetic effect of RP4010 and Afatinib on inhibiting intracellular Ca2+ oscillation period, which was further confirmed by cell proliferation analysis. This study suggests that experimental and mathematical modeling of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics could be used as a rapid and cost‐effective tool for evaluation of combined chemotherapy drugs.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Mathematical Modelling of Uterine Natural Killer Intracellular Mechanisms in Pregnancy
Authors: Ismail Nurul Izza , Nickerson David , Clark Alys 
Published: June 2021

Pregnancy success is critically dependent on remodelling of maternal uterine arteries (spiral arteries) by placental cells (trophoblasts). There is strong evidence that this process is modulated by immune cells, specifically uterine natural killer (uNK) cells. Natural killer (NK) cell action on aberrant cells by secretion of cytotoxins is locally inhibited during pregnancy to promote implantation. The mother's 'tolerant' response to invading trophoblasts may be key to a successful pregnancy, but this immune tolerance is incompletely understood. We hypothesize that differential expression of key activation and inhibition receptors in uNK compared with peripheral natural killer cells (pNK) may play an important role in this process.This study employs mathematical modelling to investigate the downstream effects of NK cells' activation and inhibition receptors after stimulation by various levels of ligands. Our model is based on a comprehensive qualitative description of the intracellular signalling pathways leading to chemokine and cytotoxin release from pNKs obtained from the KEGG database (https://www.genome.jp/kegg‐bin/show_pathway?hsa04650). From this qualitative description we built a novel quantitative model, reusing existing curated models where possible and implementing new models as needed. This approach was enabled through the availability of these models in standard formats in publicly accessible repositories. This is the first model to incorporate a comprehensive description of the pathways between activation and inhibition receptors and the secretion of IFNγ, TNFα and GM‐CSF cytokines, which aims to predict pNK function with the necessary detail to match existing literature data.We then used our model to investigate whether changes in relative receptor expression between pNK and uNK can be sufficient to change cell behaviour as expected in pregnancy. The model reveals the relative importance of different reactions for molecules in the NK intracellular pathways on secretion of IFNγ, TNFα and GM‐CSF cytokines for both types of NK cells. This model provides important steps toward understanding how differential receptor expression between these two classes of NK cells impacts their function. In particular, we demonstrate model predictions of how the increased expression of receptors for human leukocyte antigens (HLA‐C, ‐E, and ‐G) and decreased expression of receptors typically expressed by pNK (e.g. ITG, NKG2D and KIR3) contribute to altered cytokine secretion in uNKs. Ultimately, this new knowledge will help us to define the interaction between placental trophoblast and uNKs in humans.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Influence of heart failure on biomechanical properties during left ventricular passive diastolic filling
Authors: Yin Zhongjie , Huo Yunlong 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveHeart failure (HF) results in changes of the function of left ventricular (LV) which can be reflected by the variation of the biomechanical properties, such as fiber stress and strain. Finite element (FE) method is often seen as an effective way to analysis biomechanical properties of the heart. Our requirement is to build an accurate patient‐specific LV FE model and analyze its biomechanical behavior.MethodSix patients from Peking University First Hospital are divided in two groups, infarcted (n=3) and normal (n=3). All these patients are scanned by the magnetic resonance (MR). Three‐dimensional LV geometries are segmented from cardiac MR images at end‐diastolic from their hearts. By developing non‐linear finite element model as well as the algorithm based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient tensor, we find the unloaded configuration with zero pressure. To determine regional stress and strain distributions in ventricular myocardium, transversely isotropic constitutive law is taken. To better describe different stiffness of LV with HF, it is divided into three regions, respectively called infarcted region, border zone and remote region. For three patients with HF, the stress scaling coefficient of constitutive law at the infarcted region is defined to be ten times stiffer than two other areas while the stiffness of the whole LV remains the same for three normal patients.ResultsAs can be shown from Fig. 1, fiber stresses of three infracted patients are 8.748±5.733kPa, 9.488±6.566kPa, 6.170±5.622kPa, compared with 2.722±1.596kPa, 1.929±1.122kPa, 1.918±1.175kPa of three normal patients. As can be shown from Fig. 2, fiber strains of three infracted patients are 0.424±0.028, 0.422±0.025, 0.431±0.028, compared with 0.439±0.018, 0.447±0.018, 0.447±0.017 of three normal patients.ConclusionsFiber stresses of infracted group are significantly higher than the normal one while there are no obvious distinctions of the figure of fiber strain between two groups.Support or Funding InformationThis research is supported in part by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Institution (China) Grant JCYJ20160427170536358 (Y Huo).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
An investigation on mechanical property differences of arteries based on structure and morphology analysis of collagen fibers
Authors: Cao Minglu , Huo Yunlong 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveThe structure and morphology of collagen fibers greatly influence the mechanical property of arteries. Cyosection immunofluorescence represents a powerful technique for the direct observation of the structure and morphology of the collagen fibers. The objective of this work is to investigate the mechanical property variation of arteries between elderly and young rats, and to get insight of the mechanical property differences based on the structure and morphology of the collagen fibers using cyosection immunofluorescence method.MethodFemoral, iliac, carotid and abdominal arteries were obtained from 4 pairs of healthy Sprague Dawley rats with the maturity of 8 weeks (young) and 8 months (elderly). The mechanical properties of the obtained arteries were investigated based on the cross‐section morphology. The structure and morphology of the collagen fibers were evidently observed using cyosection immunofluorescence method.ResultsThe abdominal artery segments exhibited greater orientation difference between elderly and young groups compared with those of carotid and femoral arteries. It was observed that elderly rats showed thicker and higher content ratio collagen fibers of abdominal aorta compared with young group using cyosection immunofluorescence method. In addition, the abdominal aorta collagen fiber angle frequency distribution in the median layer exhibited a broad peak (young group: 0°–30°; elderly group: 17°–49°, P value<0.05), while it showed more uniform distribution ranging from −90° to 90° in femoral and carotid arteries.ConclusionsThe abdominal artery in elderly rats shows distinguished variation in the mechanical property compared with young rats in terms of the angle distribution and fiber width than those of femoral artery, carotid artery, and iliac artery. Consequently, this finding reveals the morphological growth and aging laws of arteries to understand microstructure‐based constitutive model in the vascular remodeling and disease.Support or Funding InformationThis research is supported in part by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Institution (China) Grant JCYJ20160427170536358 (Y Huo).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.