bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Six Week Aerobic Exercise Intervention on the Composition of Oral and Skin Microbiota: a Pilot Study
Authors: Mailing Lucy , Allen Jacob , Niemiro Grace , Cohrs Josh , Holscher Hannah , De Lisio Michael , Woods Jeffrey 
Published: June 2021

IntroductionExercise causes numerous physiological changes that may impact microbial communities at mucosal surfaces. Previously, our lab has shown that six weeks of aerobic exercise significantly alters the composition of the human gut microbiota. In the present study, we characterized the effects of an aerobic exercise on skin and oral microbiotas.MethodsPreviously sedentary but otherwise healthy adults (n= 10) were recruited to undergo a six‐week aerobic exercise intervention. Participants performed three exercise sessions per week on a bike or treadmill, starting with 30 min at 60% HRR and progressing to 60 min at 75% HRR by week six. Skin and oral swabs were collected at baseline and after cessation of exercise training. An additional skin swab was collected after the first exercise session to measure acute changes in skin microbiota. Skin swabs were moistened with sampling buffer before swabbing the antecubital fossa. Oral swabs were taken by swabbing the center of the tongue. DNA was isolated from samples and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed.ResultsSix weeks of chronic exercise caused a significant shift in the skin microbiota (unweighted PERMANOVA p = 0.017) that was not evident after a single acute exercise bout. Oral microbial communities were not significantly different from baseline after six weeks of chronic exercise training. For both skin and oral samples, there were no significant changes in alpha diversity or species evenness with exercise, and no significant differences in relative abundance on the genus level.ConclusionA six‐week aerobic exercise intervention is sufficient to alter the skin microbiota, but not the oral microbiota. This study should be replicated with a larger sample size to confirm these preliminary findings.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Meeting the Challenges of Minorities in Higher Education: A Review of the Underrepresentation of Hispanics in Medical School
Authors: Miller Alyson Jeanine , Ynalvez Ruby A. 
Published: June 2021

Bridging the gap between Hispanics and the medical profession is critical to addressing the diversity disparities and in upholding quality healthcare to individuals of all ethnic backgrounds. The deficiency in Hispanic healthcare providers is attested by the low representation of Hispanics in medical schools across the nation. Despite current research, there is lack of research that would help develop a comprehensive approach to increase Hispanic representation in the medical profession. The objective of this study is to interpret, analyze, and integrate information about the challenges experienced by underrepresented minorities (URM) in their quest to medical school. This research seeks to answer the question: What individual‐level and sociocultural factors impede Hispanic participation and representation in medical school? To answer this question, a library research to review the literature using peer‐reviewed articles was conducted. The articles were read thoroughly, scrutinized, evaluated for their relevance, and interpreted with new understandings. The analysis of key factors contributing to low representation of minorities in higher education was done through synthesis of the pertinent information reported in previous studies. Our review showed that a key factor contributing to low representation of Hispanics in medical school was their low acceptance rate. While seemingly obvious and its proximal correlates equally obvious (i.e., low academic performance metrics such as grade point average (GPA), science GPA, and MCAT scores), the less visible and the more distal reasons relating to educational inequalities such as deficiency in resources, lower quality schools, working student status, and constrained financial means for test preparation courses and materials all conspired to deter and diminish competencies that are critical to maintaining high academic performance metrics. Other seemingly inconspicuous and distal reasons and yet adversely impacting academic performance metrics have to do with inadequate social capital such as lack of access to academic support networks, academic mentors, real‐life role models, and familial support. Combatting these hindrances requires special attention to develop outreach initiatives with primary and secondary schools to attract and better prepare underrepresented minority students. Implementation of summer programs, collaborative enrichment initiatives, and mentoring systems with the aid of medical schools as well as the primary and secondary schools are indeed needed to stimulate growth in Hispanic representation.Support or Funding InformationAct on Ideas Texas A&M International University and College of Arts and Sciences Texas A&M International UniversityThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Creativity in biomedical science education
Authors: Macaulay Janet Olwyn , Kim Alice Minji , Speed Caroline Jane 
Published: June 2021

Our students – who are our future workforce, need to develop the skills that will prepare them for the workplace of the future including creativity. Evidence of the growing recognition of the value of creativity is demonstrated by the revised cognitive category of Bloom's taxonomy in which “Create” replaced “Evaluate” as the pinnacle cognitive skill of the cognitive domain. In Australia, creativity has been incorporated into the policies of the Australian education sector. Creativity is now listed as a skill all Bachelor degree graduates should possess by the Australian Qualification Framework – supporting the importance of creative thinking. There is also published research highlighting the need to promote creative thinking in science education in particular the methods that can be used to achieve and measure creativity.As scientist, we know that science is a creative endeavor with scientists routinely taking creative approaches to discovery, problem solving and inquiry. Although there is this increased acknowledgment of the value of creativity, we were concerned that our educational programs were not offering sufficient opportunities. Students need opportunities to develop their creative capabilities but these opportunities need to be explicit to the students. Students also need to understand what creativity is.The aim of this research was to map the Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree for opportunities provided to students to develop their capacity as creative thinkers and to collect data from students of their perception of creativity in the curriculum. All units in the program were mapped for incorporation of learning activities that would develop/require creativity. This data was collected from the University unit guides and manuals. Student perspectives were collected from surveys completed by currently enrolled students across the three years of the program.The data collected from the mapping exercise showed that most units in the course including assessment activities require creativity. In many examples, the instructions and marking criteria did not explicitly mention creativity ‐ hence it was not clear to the students. The survey data indicated that the students would like the inclusion of more activities/assessment that develop creativity skills and that this should be included in the marking schemes.Based on this data we are now working to, make creativity more explicit to students and redesigning some learning and assessment activities to incorporate creativity and assessment that rewards students for their creative approaches.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Mechanism of obesity suppression by adipose tissue creatine energetics
Authors: Kazak Lawrence , Lu Gina Z. , Spiegelman Bruce M. 
Published: June 2021

The increase in obesity worldwide has led to a surge in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many cancers. The capacity of thermogenic (brown and beige) fat to dissipate chemical energy as heat offers tremendous potential to combat obesity. Exploiting thermogenesis to regulate body weight requires a precise molecular understanding of its control at the level of mitochondria.We have previously demonstrated that creatine drives energy expenditure in adipose tissue by stimulating a futile cycle of mitochondrial ATP turnover. Our recent findings show that genetic deletion of the rate‐limiting enzyme of creatine synthesis (Gatm) results in rapid‐onset obesity due to the suppression of elevated energy expenditure that occurs in response to high calorie feeding. This is paralleled by a blunted capacity for β3‐adrenergic activation of metabolic rate. Moreover, abolishing adipocyte creatine uptake, by deleting the creatine transporter (CrT), similarly impairs adrenergic thermogenesis and causes obesity. These results provide strong in vivo genetic support for a role of adipose tissue creatine metabolism in the activation of energy expenditure and the defense against diet‐induced obesity. However, the mechanism underlying creatine‐dependent thermogenesis is not fully understood.We have now identified the primary Creatine Kinase (CK) isoform that controls thermogenic respiration in brown fat. Using quantitative proteomics from purified brown adipocytes and brown adipocyte mitochondria, we find brain‐type CK (B‐CK) to be the most abundant CK in murine brown fat. Surprisingly a subset of B‐CK is targeted to mitochondria. Mitochondria from primary brown adipocytes have robust capacity for creatine‐dependent thermogenic respiration, and knockdown of B‐CK impairs this process. Notably, B‐CK is the most abundance CK isoform in purified human subcutaneous adipocytes and its expression is significantly lower in insulin‐resistant compared to insulin‐sensitive patients. Therefore, B‐CK is the first molecular handle that should result in the identification of additional components regulating creatine‐dependent thermogenesis. In addition, adipose tissue creatine energetics is correlated with healthy glucose homeostasis in humans.Support or Funding InformationCanadian Institutes of Health Research postdoctoral fellowship and NIDDK, NIH Pathway to Independence (K99/R00), K99DK114528 (to L.K.)NIH grant (DK31405) and the JPB Foundation (to B.M.S.).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A Novel Approach to Characterize Size Variance In Third Instar Larvae Following Multigenerational Dietary Modification
Authors: Arnal Gustavo , Rogers Ryan Patricia 
Published: June 2021

Mutant InR female Drosophila melanogaster flies are considered dwarfs due to reduced growth and experienced up to an 85% increase in longevity (Tatar et al. 2001) compared to yw D. melanogaster flies. For this reason, it was of interest to investigate if this growth deviance occurred in the developmental stages of the flies, specifically in the third instar larvae stage. As part of this experiment, yw and InR mutant flies were placed in vials containing food of two different sucrose concentrations, 0% and 10%. Multigenerational exposure to elevated metabolic substrate was studied for both types of flies. Size measurements were performed at regular time intervals using a self‐developed method which involves image processing with ImageJ. This approach begins by placing larvae on a high contrast surface, next to an object of known size for scaling purposes. Then a picture is taken and ran through the ImageJ macro, which prompts the user to follow three steps meant to achieve a clean outline of the larvae. ImageJ calculates the area of each outline and records it, and these are used as relative measurements of size between larvae. This method can be more efficient in time and cost than current sizing techniques which require expensive equipment, or meticulous set ups. Preliminary results show a significant growth of larvae across generations, but no significant changes in size between yw and InR mutant fly larvae, or between metabolic substrate concentrations. Results suggest that dwarfs InR female flies begin exhibiting variation in their size post metamorphosis, and a 10% increase of metabolic substrate does not impact their physical growth during development.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by funds from the Department of Sciences at Wentworth Institute of TechnologyThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Organ Reserve, Excess Metabolic Capacity, and Aging
Authors: Atamna Hani , Dhahbi Joseph 
Published: June 2021

“Organ reserve” refers to the ability of an organ to successfully recover its original metabolic homeostatic set‐points following repeated episodes of stress. Clinical evidence shows that organ reserve correlates with the ability of older adults to cope with an added workload or stress, suggesting a role in the process of aging. Although organ reserve is well documented clinically, it is not clearly defined at the molecular level. Interestingly, several metabolic pathways exhibit excess metabolic capacities (e.g., bioenergetics pathway, antioxidants system, neuroplasticity). These pathways comprise molecular components that have an excess of quantity and/or activity than that required for normal demand (e.g., mitochondrial complex IV or glycolytic enzymes). We propose that the excess in mtDNA copy number and tandem DNA repeats of telomeres are additional examples of intrinsically embedded structural components that could comprise excess capacity. These excess capacities may grant intermediary metabolism the ability to instantly cope with, or manage, added workload or stress. Therefore, excess metabolic capacities could be viewed as an innate mechanism of adaptability that substantiates organ reserve and contributes to the cellular defense systems. If metabolic excess capacities or organ reserves are impaired or exhausted, the ability of the cell to cope with stress is reduced. Under these circumstances cell senescence, transformation, or death occurs. In this presentation, we will discuss excess metabolic and structural capacities as integrated metabolic pathways in relation to organ reserve and cellular aging.Support or Funding InformationNIHAFARThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A Reevaluation of the Role of Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Protein a in Growth Factor Signaling
Authors: McDermott Mark I. , Diz Ramiro , Hur Seong , Lete Marta G. , Applebee Christopher J. , Grabon Aby , Tripathi Ashutosh , Wakelam Michael J. O. , Larijani Banafshe , Bankaitis Vytas A. 
Published: June 2021

Despite current dogma stating that phosphatidylinositol transfer protein a (PITPa) is required for growth factor signaling, little evidence has emerged supporting these claims. Data from our laboratory, gathered from multiple experimental systems, strongly dispute the current doctrine and indicate that in contrast to previous reports PITPa is dispensable for epidermal growth factor (EGF), and netrin signaling. Mouse and human cell lines lacking PITPa sense and chemotax towards EGF. Furthermore, signaling responses in these lines, including phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)P3 generation and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), downstream of EGF‐receptor (EGFR) stimulation are unimpaired. Surprisingly, human cells lacking PITPa displayed elevated Akt (Thr308) phosphorylation following EGF‐stimulation, indicating that not only is PITPa dispensable for Akt phosphorylation, but contrary to current thinking it may actually repress this pathway. PITPa dispensability for EGF‐signaling explains the striking absence of EGF‐signaling related phenotypes in PITPa nullizygous mice. We have previously reported that these animals display a complex phenotype including spinocerebellar neurodegeneration characterized by neuronal apoptosis and gliosis of cerebellum, and hindbrain. Netrin signaling through the netrin receptor (DCC) is required for axon guidance and mouse forebrain development, and is reported to require PITPa. We demonstrate that absence of PITPa does not result in structural brain derangements associated with compromise of netrin‐signaling. Moreover, the previously reported interaction between the netrin receptor (DCC) and PITPa could not be reproduced. Clearly the ‘essential’ role of PITPa in growth factor signaling must be reevaluated.Support or Funding InformationThis research was funded by NIH grant R01‐GM112591 and grant BE‐0017 from the Robert A. Welch Foundation.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Novel biosensors for an enigmatic phosphoinositide
Authors: Goulden Brady , Zewe James , Wills Rachel , Hammond Gerry 
Published: June 2021

Phosphatidylinositol (3,4)‐bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2) functions at the nexus of plasma membrane (PM) signaling and trafficking. Specifically PtdIns(3,4)P2 is produced from PtdIns4P during endocytosis or from PtdInsP3 during signaling. Elucidating the relative roles of these pathways requires the capacity to image this lipid's production with real‐time live‐cell microscopy. However, the biosensors currently employed either recognize both PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdInsP3, or have insufficient affinity to image these low abundance lipids. We therefore set out to identify PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdInsP3 probes that have high sensitivity and fidelity. Pleckstrin homology (PH) domains from Akt, Btk, ARNO, and GRP1 have been shown to recognize and bind PtdInsP3, while the C‐terminal PH domain from TAPP1 has been reported to interact with PtdIns(3,4)P2. To increase their efficacy as probes, we cloned a fluorescent protein in tandem with these PH domains as monomers, dimers, or trimers. Using TIRF and confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that our trimer TAPP1‐PH and dimer ARNO‐2G‐PH constructs are specific and sufficient for detecting PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdInsP3, respectively. In addition, we developed several chemical‐ and opto‐genetic tools to specifically manipulate these lipids in living cells. A rapamycin inducible system was used by conjugating FKBP to PI(3)K‐C2a and INPP4B (PtdIns(3,4)P2‐specific 4‐phosphatase), and a photoactivatable PtdIns3P 4‐kinase derived from Legionella pneumophila (LepB) was also used to manipulate PtdIns(3,4)P2. Collectively, the tools produced in this study provide powerful new means of understanding the spatiotemporal control of PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdInsP3 in signaling and membrane traffic.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Subcellular Distribution of Cholesterol and Sphingolipids in Rat Hepatocytes
Authors: Stieger Bruno , Steiger Julia , Jiménez Noemi , Riezman Isabelle , Riezman Howard 
Published: June 2021

Hepatocytes are central in energy and lipid homeostasis of mammals and as such are key players in maintaining and regulating serum cholesterol levels. In addition, hepatocytes produce bile, which has detergent properties and is the main product of cholesterol metabolism. The canalicular membrane is the site of bile formation and needs protective mechanisms against the detergent properties of bile. One such mechanism could be a specific lipid composition. We therefore aimed to use a targeted lipidomics approach to determine simultaneously the cholesterol and sphingolipid composition of the organelles involved in lipid synthesis in hepatocytes. Subcellular organelles were isolated from rat liver with standard methodologies and lipids were analyzed by either electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids) or gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (sterols). Our data indicate that there is a distinct difference in cholesterol and sphingolipid content in the organelle fractions. Highest cholesterol content is found in basolateral plasma membranes and in the Golgi fraction, while endoplasmic reticulum displays a low cholesterol content. A high proportion of sphingomyelin is present in basolateral plasma membranes, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and in the Golgi apparatus. Ceramide content is higher in basolateral membranes compared to organelles and the canalicular plasma membrane. Glucosylceramide levels are very low and are mostly found in Golgi fractions. Our preliminary data so far show a parallel distribution of cholesterol and sphingolipids in subcellular fractions of rat hepatocytes.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Brewster Angle Microscopy and Langmuir Monolayer Films: Construction of an Instrument and Basic Software Development for Visualization of Lipid Domains and Lipid Raft Formation
Authors: Allen Brandon C. , Sturgeon Bradley E. , Sostarecz Audra Goach 
Published: June 2021

Brewster Angle Microscopy is a useful technique for the analysis of surface characteristics of films at the air‐water interface in a Langmuir monolayer trough due to its ability to obtain images while simultaneously collecting isothermal data. It provides an effective way of visualizing lipid domains, as well as lipid aggregation to form structures such as lipid rafts. The goal of this research was to construct a relatively low‐cost Brewster Angle Microscope (BAM) using LEGO™ Mindstorms, 3D printed components, a laser, a 10x microscope objective, and a CCD camera. This BAM was then used to obtain images of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) films and DPPC/Cholesterol films during a compression analysis. At the moment, we are working on programmatically quantifying the phase differences in lipid domains, as well as the surface density and thickness of films for analysis of lipid monolayers for drug delivery applications.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.