bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between psychosocial indicators and adoption of farm and garden activities and local produce in early childcare
Authors: Wickham Catherine , Cohen Nancy L. , Violette Catherine 
Published: June 2021

Farm to Preschool Programs link farmers with early childcare centers (ECC) to increase local fruits and vegetables (LFV) used. To target nutrition and food safety education, it is important to identify factors related to adoption of farm and garden (FG) activities and LFV use in ECCs. An online survey was sent to 600 random ECC in MA and NH, with 118 educator (E) responses. Psychosocial factors related to LFV (benefits, barriers, self‐efficacy) were rated 1–5. FG activities and % of produce served as LFV were self‐reported, and related to psychosocial factors. Half of E did not know if FV were local and of those that did know, over half reported < 25% LFV. Most E perceived benefits of LFV and few barriers; however >;40% E perceived that LFV are too expensive. Overall self‐efficacy was low, with only 21% of E agreeing that they can get most of the LFV they want all year. About half of the sites had taken children on farm field trips and planted a garden; over 30% had used LFV in snacks or taste tests; few had invited a farmer to the ECC or held a harvest festival or farmers market. Perceived benefits and self‐efficacy were related to % of LFV served. Fewer barriers and higher benefits were related to more classroom FG activities. Nutrition education should thus address ways to increase perceived benefits, decrease barriers and improve self‐efficacy to LFV. Food safety education should address issues of FG visits, gardens, snacks and tasting LFV.Grant Funding Source: This project is supported by The National Integrated Food Safety Initiative (NIFSI) Competitive Grant Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Award 2011–51110‐30996.
Food insecurity in early life and BMI z‐score change among children from 2 to 15 years
Authors: Demment Margaret Mochon , Olson Christine M. 
Published: June 2021

Food insecurity disproportionately affects children and families at highest risk for obesity. Initially perceived as separate health problems, there is growing concern that food insecurity and obesity are related. Longitudinal studies that examine the relationship food insecurity and weight status in children have found contradicting and inconclusive results. We hypothesized that the timing and transitions in food insecurity have different consequences for risk of developing obesity. Longitudinal data from a rural New York State birth cohort (n=517) were used to determine whether the rate of change in BMI z‐score in childhood, 2 to 15 years, differ by exposure food insecurity at birth and 2 years of age. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the rate of change in BMI z‐score during childhood. We found that food‐insecure children compared to food‐secure children, were smaller in early childhood. Due to a greater rate of change in BMI, by the time food‐insecure children reach 15 years of age they had higher BMI z‐scores. We provide evidence that children who experience food insecurity early in life have higher rates of change in BMI compared to food‐secure children, putting them at greater risk for overweight and obesity in adolescence. Our findings provide new insight into why longitudinal studies in early childhood have been inconclusive.Grant Funding Source: Support for this project was provided by a Dissertation Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its national program Active Living Research (ALR). Support for this student is provided in part by USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship Competitive Grant No. 2008–38420‐04825 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The data on biological and early life risk come from a NIH‐funded study No. HD 29549, “Biosocial Influences on Postpartum Weight Retention.”
Parenting Picky Eaters: Strategies to Get Preschool Children to Eat Previously Rejected Foods (PRF)
Authors: Antono Amanda C. , Goodell L. Suzanne , Daniel Joylyn C. , Walker Samantha L. , Johnson Susan L. , Power Thomas G. , Hughes Sheryl O. 
Published: June 2021

Food neophobia affects a child's willingness to try new foods and can result in children consuming less diverse diets. Researchers conducted 17 focus groups (total participants = 103) to identify the strategies that parents use to get their preschool children to eat previously rejected foods (PRF). These focus groups targeted low‐income African American and Hispanic parents with young children (ages 3–5 years) in Texas, Colorado, and Washington. Using principles of grounded theory to analyze transcripts, researchers determined that parents most often intentionally decided not to purchase or serve PRF to their children. However, when parents did elect to serve PRF to their children, they employed strategies including serving the PRF in an alternative style (e.g. steaming instead of serving raw), adding an ingredient to the PRF (e.g. ranch dressing, cheese, sugar, or ketchup), involving children in the food preparation process, “tricking” the child to eat the PRF (e.g. telling the child that fish is chicken), and requiring the child to eat PRF. Results from this study will be used to create an intervention to help parents get their preschool children to eat PRF. Future investigations should focus on uncovering factors that motivate parents to repeatedly offer their children PRF, a key step in overcoming food neophobia.Grant Funding Source: USDA Grant No. 2011–68001‐30009; USDA/ARS Cooperative Agreement No. 58–6250‐0–008
S‐adenosylmethionine Lowers Inflammatory Response in Human Monocytic Cells (THP‐1) and Alters DNA Methylation
Authors: Pfalzer Anna C , Choi Sang‐Woon , Park Lara K , Bottiglieri Teodoro , Lamon‐Fava Stefania 
Published: June 2021

S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM), the unique methyl donor in DNA methylation, has been shown to lower inflammation. To assess whether epigenetic mechanisms mediate this effect, THP‐1 cells were differentiated into macrophages and treated with 0 μmol/L, 500 μmol/L(low), or 1000 μmol/L (high) SAM for 24‐hours, followed by stimulation with LPS. TNFα and IL‐10 expression levels were measured using RT‐PCR. Cellular SAM and S‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a metabolite of SAM, were measured by LC/MS/MS. DNA methylation was measured using LC/MS/MS and microarrays.Relative to 0 μmol/L SAM, treatment with low SAM caused a significant decrease in TNFα expression (−45%, p<0.05) and increase in IL‐10 expression (+77%, p<0.05). Treatment with high SAM yielded no significant additional benefits. Relative to 0 μmol/L SAM, low SAM treatment increased cellular SAM concentrations 2‐fold (56 nmol/mg vs 90 nmol/mg) without changes in SAH. Treatment with high SAM increased cellular SAM 6‐fold (330 nmol/mg) and SAH 4‐fold (2.1 nmol/mg vs 9.2 nmol/mg) relative to control. Genomic DNA methylation was significantly increased from 4.5% to 4.8% (p<0.05) only by treatment with low SAM. Microarrays identified 765 differentially methylated regions.SAM exerts significant anti‐inflammatory effects through modulation of gene expression, possibly mediated by DNA methylation.Funded by USDA ARS contract#1950–51000‐072 and by Pharmavite LLCGrant Funding Source: USDA ARS contract #1950–51000‐072 and Pharmavite LLC
Dietary sulforaphane elicits off‐target effects at loci coding for long terminal repeats in lymphocytes from healthy adults and in IMR‐90 fibroblast cultures, possibly impairing genome stability
Authors: Baier Scott R , Zbasnik Richard , Schlegel Vicki , Zempleni Janos 
Published: June 2021

Previous studies suggest that sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate in cruciferous vegetables, inhibits histone deacetylases (HDACs), thereby activating the tumor suppressor genes p21 and Bax and decreasing cancer risk. We posit that HDAC‐dependent effects of SFN are not specific for tumor suppressor genes. We tested the hypothesis that SFN elicits undesirable off‐target effects through the activation of repressed loci such as long terminal repeats (LTRs). De‐repression of LTRs impairs genome stability. We tested our hypothesis in broccoli sprout feeding studies in adults using a randomized crossover design and in SFN supplementation studies in human IMR‐90 fibroblast cultures. The mean abundance of LTR mRNA was 36% greater in SFN‐supplemented (2.0 μM SFN) fibroblast cultures compared with low dose SFN (0.5 μM) and SFN‐free controls (as per qRT‐PCR; P=0.03; one‐way ANOVA). The same dose‐response pattern was seen for the mean LTR mRNA abundance in lymphocytes in human feeding studies: 472% (102 g sprouts), 157% (68 g sprouts), and 100% (no sprouts)(0.06<P<0.19). We conclude that effects of SFN on gene activity are not specific for tumor suppressor genes and propose that caution needs to be exercised when recommending supplementation with high doses of SFN. It is unknown whether off‐target effects of SFN outweigh the beneficial effects of SFN.Grant Funding Source: ARD Hatch, NIFA, and NIH
Epigenetic synergies between methyl donors and biotin in gene repression are mediated by holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS)
Authors: Xue Jing , Wijeratne Subhashinee S.K. , Zempleni Janos 
Published: June 2021

HLCS catalyzes the binding of biotin to proteins in humans. Previously, we have shown (1) that HLCS interacts physically with the methyl transferase EHMT‐1, which creates histone H3 K9 methylation (H3K9me) gene repression marks, (2) that biotinylation of EHMT‐1 strengthens interactions with HLCS, (3) that biotin depletion and HLCS knockdown cause a loss of H3K9me marks leading to de‐repression of long terminal repeats (LTRs) and to chromosomal abnormalities, and (4) that erasure of DNA methylation impairs HLCS‐dependent biotinylation events. Here, we tested the novel hypothesis that methyl donors and biotin synergize in mediating gene repression through epigenetic marks, and that HLCS contributes toward mediating these synergies. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) and limited proteolysis assays (LPA) confirmed that HLCS interacts physically with the DNA methyl transferase DNMT1 and methyl CpG binding protein MeCP2. Overexpression of HLCS in HEK293 cells caused a 200% increase of H3K9me marks in LTRs (Kruskal‐Wallis, P<0.001), judged by ChIP, and an 84% decrease in LTR mRNA (t‐test, P<0.05), judged by qRT‐PCR, compared with controls; erasure of DNA methylation by azacytidine abrogated effects of HLCS. We conclude that interactions between HLCS and chromatin proteins create epigenetic synergies between biotin and methyl donors in gene repression, thereby maintaining genome stability.Grant Funding Source: ARD Hatch, NIFA, NIH
Storage stability of provitamin A carotenoids in Biofortified yellow maize
Authors: Muzhingi Tawanda , Tang Guangwen 
Published: June 2021

Biofortification increases the micronutrient content of staple crops through plant breeding. Maize is a staple crop in Africa and Latin America where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is also a public health problem. Provitamin A carotenoids such as α‐carotene (α‐C), β‐cryptoxanthin (β‐Cr) and β‐carotene (β‐C) in Biofortified Yellow Maize (BYM) may lead to a reduction in the prevalence of VAD. However, carotenoids degrade when exposed to excessive light, moisture, and heat. It is imperative to establish the extent of post‐harvest losses of carotenoids in BYM under simulated tropical storage conditions. BYM maize was stored for 4 months at I) ‐ 80°C in the freezer, II) 4°C in the fridge, III) 25°C + 50% humidity in an incubator and IV) 20°C at room conditions. The provitamin A carotenoid contents were determined at baseline and monthly for 4 months by HPLC with a C30 column. BYM β‐C content at baseline was 15.2 ±0.6 μg/g dry wgt. At endline the β‐C content loss was 18.6, 52.7, 73.9 and 79.5% for conditions I–IV. The α‐C content loss was 23.4, 35.0, 57.0 and 63.9% for conditions I–IV. For β‐Cr, the loss was 10.6, 30.1, 46.1 and 57.6 % for conditions IIV, respectively. The provitamin A carotenoid losses in BYM are >; 45% at temperatures >; 20°C. These losses should be addressed to retain the vitamin A value of BYM over long periods of storage under tropical conditions, in order to control VAD effectively.Grant Funding Source: USDA contract # 58–1950‐0–014
Using the novel RADR mouse to visualize the effects of age and environment on DNA repair in vivo in multiple tissues
Authors: Jackson Michelle R Sukup , Rowland Elizabeth A , Kay Jennifer E , Schulte Kelly , Chow Danielle N , Belanger Crystal L , Laura Trudel J , Matsuguchi Tetsuya , Wogan Gerald N. , Erdman Susan E , Engelward Bevin P 
Published: June 2021

Homologous recombination (HR) is a DNA repair process that is critical for maintaining genomic integrity. HR is necessary for survival of vertebrate cells, but over‐ or under‐utilization of HR can lead to deleterious rearrangements and cancer. To study HR in vivo, we created the RADR (Rosa26 Direct Repeat) mouse that has enabled study of HR in a variety of tissues. The RADR mouse harbors two truncated EGFP genes integrated in the Rosa26 locus. Repair via HR at the substrate can yield a full‐length EGFP gene, resulting in a fluorescent cell. The frequency of HR can be estimated by flow cytometry or visualized in situ. The RADR mouse enables studies of DNA damage and repair in response to endogenous and exogenous factors in multiple tissues, which has never before been possible. We observed the accumulation of recombinant cells in the colon, liver and pancreas with age; this correlates with our understanding of age as a risk factor for cancer. We have also crossed the RADR mice with GPT‐Δ mice, enabling quantification of point mutations and small deletions. We crossed these mice with Rag2−/− mice allowing the study of sequence changes with enhanced innate immune response. In ongoing studies, we are investigating the impact of environmentally induced inflammation on susceptibility to large‐scale sequence rearrangements, point mutations and small deletions in multiple tissues. This work is supported by the NCI, NIEHS, NSF GRF.Grant Funding Source: NSF GRF, NCI, NIEHS
Mechanical properties of intramandibular sutures in the American alligator
Authors: Zapata Uriel , Elsey Ruth M. , Wang Qian 
Published: June 2021

The skull is a complementary combination of flat bones joined by connective suture tissues. Although brain growth produces mainly quasi‐static tension loads across the sutures, physiological loads could produce an alternate combination of tension‐compression, thus tension test looks to be the best way of estimate differences in the biomechanical behavior of sutures. We hypothesized that, [1] the mechanical properties of sutural tissue in the America alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) changed during ontogeny, and [2] there were sex‐based difference in the change during ontogeny. Modulus of elasticity (E), and maximum normal elastic stress (σy) were evaluated by using a tension test technique in three different mandibular sutures and a control group of mandibular cortical tissue. 67 specimens were removed from 15 subject (8 males and 7 females) covering three ontogenetic groups: [1] juvenile from 12–36 in. long, [2] junior adult from 37–72 in. long, and [3] senior adult from 73–96 in. long. Results demonstrated that there were no significant differences in mechanical properties between male (E=12.87 ± 15.79 MPa) and female animals (E=12.41 ± 13.55 MPa). However, there were significant differences in elastic modulus between specimens from juvenile group and specimens from adult age groups (p<0.05). In addition, there are statistical differences not only between the control group and the specimens including sutures, but also among sutural positions. In conclusion, mechanical properties are associated with physiological conditions that could affect sutural function, and some mechanical properties in mandibular sutures decrease during ontogeny, suggesting a direct effect of mineralization processes in mechanical properties.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NSF BCS‐0725183, and COLCIENCIAS (Bogotá, Colombia)
Internal Bone Structure and Orientation in the Browridge of Homo, Pan, Gorilla, Papio, and Cebus
Authors: Smith Leslie Claire Pryor , Dechow Paul C. 
Published: June 2021

Assessing the variation of the internal bone structure, anisotropy and orientation in the browridge across regions and species can aid in our understanding of craniofacial adaptation. Also, quantifying species and region specific variation may serve to improve the accuracy of finite element models. In this study, μCT was used to determine the structural properties, degree of anisotropy (DA) and primary trabecular orientation in 3 equally divided browridge regions of 8 Homo, 5 Pan, 7 Cebus, 4 Papio, and 1 Gorilla. Both bone volume fraction (BVF) and degree of anisotropy (DA) differed significantly by species (Kruskal‐Wallis Test, p<0.001 and p<0.015, respectively). Most regions across species showed orthotropy. In all species and regions, trabeculae tend to show less variability in orientation across transverse and coronal planes. Orientations in the sagittal plane instead show higher variability across individuals. The results suggest that BVF, DA and orientation of trabecular‐like bone within the supraorbital region may be reflective of feeding strategies and that characterization of subcortical structure in craniofacial regions may improve finite element models. Additional study of trabecular bone orientation within zygomatic regions is ongoing to examine how trabecular bone orientation and DA differ across the entire craniofacial region in these species.Grant Funding Source: Science Foundation Physical Anthropology HOMINID program (NSF BCS 0725141)
Novel anatomical analysis of human embryos using iodine staining and micro‐computed tomography (CT Scanning)
Authors: Spaw Alexandra , Witmer Lawrence M. 
Published: June 2021

Human developmental anatomy is central to understanding of many disease states but has been challenged by the typically destructive analysis (e.g., histology) of scarce fetal specimens. CT scanning is non‐destructive, but is usually poor at distinguishing soft tissues. Iodine potassium iodide (I2KI) staining prior to CT is a new method to enhance soft‐tissue contrast. This study is the first to study human development with iodine‐enhanced microCT. Six human embryos ranging from 6–18 weeks, will be scanned, soaked in Lugol's solution for days to months depending on size, and then rescanned. Data are analyzed in Avizo and presented as images and 3D models. Here we present a progress report based on a subset of the total sample. Iodine staining shows many distinguishable soft tissues and provides highly detailed images. Results include clear details of the developing brain, fetal heart and circulation, and gut. The contrast provided by iodine staining creates images that can be used to analyze components of fetal anatomy that can provide insight into many developmental anomalies. This initial success indicates that this technique has great promise for producing valuable visualizations of human fetal development and a better understanding of human disease. Funding for this project was provided by a grant to AS from the Ohio University Provost Undergraduate Research Fund and to LMW from NSF.Grant Funding Source: NSF
Imaging promoter activity to monitor gene expression using Intracellular Multiaptamer Genetic tag (IMAGEtag)
Authors: Ray Judhajeet , Shin Ilchung , Zhao Ming , Ilgu Muslum , Gupta Vinayak , Beasley Jonathan , Agrawal Aditi , Peng Leilei , Kraus George , Nilsen‐Hamilton Marit 
Published: June 2021

Changes in gene expression play a central role in determining the physiological activities of cells. To understand the dynamics of gene expression several techniques have been developed recently but their applicability have been limited by factors like choice of reporter and target selection. We have developed an aptamer‐based imaging system to detect changes in promoter activity in living cells and in real time. In this technology we have cloned and expressed multiple copies of aptamers in tandem (viz. tobramycin or neomycin‐B or PDC) under inducible or constitutive promoters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast cells were incubated with the respective ligands, which were conjugated to a Cy3 or a Cy5 dye. The promoter activities were then monitored by FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer), which occurred due to binding of the multiaptamers to the fluorophore labeled ligands. This technology allows the visualization of real time promoter activity from an inducible promoter like GAL1 by FLIM‐FRET, which was detected by the decrease of donor lifetime. We have been able to measure promoter activity from individual cells and found intercellular variation of gene expression upon induction. The IMAGEtag technology has the potential for application in measuring gene expression during various cellular events and for understanding it's distribution and temporal change in individual cells of the same type within multicellular or homogeneous populations.Funded by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Biological and Environmental Research
S. cerevisiae coq5 null mutants require over‐expression of Coq8 kinase for rescue by E. coli COQ5 homolog ubiE
Authors: Nguyen Theresa P.T. , Clarke Catherine F. 
Published: June 2021

Coenzyme Q (Ubiquinone or Q) is an essential lipid electron carrier in the respiratory electron chain. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, eleven genes (COQ1–9, ARH1, YAH1) are required for coenzyme Q biosynthesis, several of which encode proteins involved in a multi‐subunit complex. One of these genes, COQ5, encodes a C‐methyltransferase responsible for making the late stage intermediate demethoxy Q6 (DMQ6). COQ5 has three conserved methyltransferase motifs, and yeast point mutants within or adjacent to these motifs (coq5–2, coq5–5) lack Coq5 activity but retain steady state levels of the Coq5 polypeptide. We show that ubiE, the E. coli homolog for COQ5, is able to rescue coq5–2 and coq5–5 point mutants, but is unable able to rescue the yeast coq5Δ null mutant. However when putative kinase Coq8 is over‐expressed, ubiE is able to rescue the yeast COQ5 knockout. We demonstrate that co‐expression of COQ8 and ubiE in a coq5Δ null mutant restores Q6 levels and supports growth on non‐fermentable carbon sources. We also show the effects of complementation on the Coq multi‐subunit complex in the coq5 mutants via 2D Blue native‐PAGE. By observing the accumulation of Q intermediates in coq5 mutants, we have been able to elucidate steps within a novel Q biosynthetic pathway.Studies supported by National Science Foundation Grant 0919609.