bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Behavioral economics and social marketing campaign increases selection and consumption of school lunch garden bar Items among elementary school students (1019.19)
Authors: Andre Joshua , Wolff Cindy , Goto Keiko , Bianco Stephanie , Frigaard Martin , Hansen Garth , Riley Rachel , St. Cin Sheila 
Published: June 2021

The current study assessed the effects of behavioral economics (BE) and social marketing (SM) on the selection and consumption of garden bar fruits and vegetables in elementary school students. A quasi‐experimental study evaluated the immediate and lasting effects of BE and SM on student selection and consumption of garden bar items. The BE component provided verbal prompts to take fruits and vegetables and increased availability of garden bar favorites. SM posters acted as reminders and guided selection of garden bar items. Two intervention levels were implemented: BE + SM (n=168) and SM only (n=275), and these were compared to a control (n=205). Selection and consumption were recorded using digital images of student lunch trays. Observations occurred at pre intervention, post, and follow‐up. Mixed ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Pre‐to‐post changes in fruit selection and consumption, as well as vegetable selection, were significantly higher among BE + SM students compared to control students. Those pre‐to‐post changes remained at follow‐up. Although vegetable selection significantly increased pre to post among SM students, the change did not remain at follow‐up. A positive, but not significant, pre‐to‐follow‐up change in vegetable consumption was observed among the intervention groups. Together BE and SM appear to foster lasting effects on student selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables.Grant Funding Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Candy vs. snacks: parent and child discussions of characteristics that define candy and snack foods (1022.4)
Authors: Bleser Julia , Rollins Brandi , Birch Leann 
Published: June 2021

Despite an increasing focus on the intake of snack foods, not much research has studied variations in parents’ and children’s definitions, categorizations, and conceptualizations of candy and other snack foods. Focus groups with parents (n=35) and structured interviews with children aged 5‐8 (n=38) were conducted to examine their views and perceptions around candy and other snack foods. Parents and their children also completed a card sort task with 39 images of snack foods and candies, in which they were asked to group similar foods together. Food groupings were analyzed in Syncaps (Syntagam Ltd., UK) using hierarchical clustering. Results for the card sort tasks revealed that both parents and children separated foods traditionally viewed as candy (e.g. chocolate, lollipops) from other snack foods (cookies, chips, and natural snacks), and often grouped the candies into categories labeled “chocolate” or “candy”. When asked for characteristics that define candy in relation to other snack foods, parents tended to say that candy was less healthy, had artificial coloring and flavoring, had higher sugar content and sweetness, or had chewy, hard, or crunchy textures; data from children revealed both similarities and differences from their parents’ views on candy. Candy is considered qualitatively distinct from other snack foods by parents and children based on its nutritional and compositional characteristics. These findings suggest the need to separate candy from snack foods in diet assessment tools to better capture candy and snack consumption.Grant Funding Source: USDA 2011‐67001‐30117 Childhood Obesity Prevention Training Program
Prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency among pregnant adolescents (1024.10)
Authors: Lee Sunmin , Guillet Ronnie , Cooper Elizabeth , Westerman Mark , Orlando Mark , Pressman Eva , O'Brien Kimberly 
Published: June 2021

Pregnant adolescents may be at high risk for anemia and iron deficiency (ID) yet few data are available in this group. Longitudinal changes in iron (Fe) status and anemia were assessed in 255 pregnant adolescents (蠄 18 y) and associations between Fe status indices and hepcidin and inflammatory markers were examined (蠅 12 weeks gestation until term). Maternal serum was obtained during pregnancy (26.0 ± 3.3 weeks) and at delivery (39.8 ± 1.3 weeks) for assessment of TfR, ferritin, total body iron, hepcidin, EPO, CRP, IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α. Hemoglobin data were abstracted from the medical records. Prevalence of anemia increased significantly across gestation (4‐6% in 1st and 2nd trimester), 18% (3rd trimester) and 27% (at delivery). Iron deficiency (TfR > 8.5 mg/L) at delivery was double that observed during gestation (7% vs. 14%, p = 0.04). Significantly higher levels of hepcidin (p < 0.05) and cytokines (p < 0.05) were found at delivery compared to measures during pregnancy, which confounded interpretation of serum ferritin at delivery. Of all indicators examined, EPO showed the most robust correlations with all other Fe status indicators, suggesting its utility to indicate low Fe status and increased erythropoietic activity at any time point across gestation including delivery. Early and targeted screening and monitoring of Fe status is warranted to prevent maternal anemia and provide optimal maternal Fe in support of fetal development. Supported by USDA 2005‐35200; 2008‐01857.Grant Funding Source: USDA 2005‐35200; 2008‐01857
Development of instructions and tape measure to improve accuracy of parental report of preschool height (1024.5)
Authors: Martin‐Biggers Jennifer , Yorkin Meredith , Lozada Carolina , Alleman Gayle A , Hongu Nobuku , Worobey John , Byrd‐Bredbenner Carol 
Published: June 2021

Accurate height measurements are essential to calculating BMI. An iterative process was used to develop materials to improve the accuracy with which parents in an obesity‐prevention program measured and reported child height. Phase A used brief, written, stepwise instructions that were cognitively tested, operationalized by parents using equipment provided by researchers, and refined using parent feedback and researcher observations after each of 3 testing rounds (n=6,13,5). Researcher and parent child height measurements did not differ significantly in Round 1 & 2 (mean difference within +0.18”+0.58SD). Round 3 revealed instructions were too difficult for parents with less formal education. Phase B used a brief narrated video that was tested and refined over a series of 4 rounds (n=9,13,5,5; 56% had high school or less; 44% had some college). Common errors were not verifying TM straightness, hanging TM over a baseboard, not removing child shoes, not having child breath in‐out before taking measurements, and misreading fractions. The TM was revised to label each ¼” mark. The video was refined and retested until differences between researcher and parent measurements were within +0.38”+0.48SD in the last testing round. Compared to written instructions, parents rated the video as clearer (4.88±0.34 vs 4.5±0.75SD) and felt the video would improve their child height measurements (4.98±0.09SD vs 4.09±1.16SD).Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Grant Number 2011‐68001‐30170
High vitamin D and calcium intakes increase bone mineral content in diet‐induced obesity (1029.3)
Authors: Song Qingming , Sergeev Igor 
Published: June 2021

Obesity can be detrimental to health of the growing bone, including an increased risk of bone fractures, because it is often associated with low vitamin D and calcium status. In this study, we determined effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone mineral content and blood biomarkers of Ca2+, vitamin D and bone metabolism in diet‐induced obese mice. Four‐week‐old male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 10 weeks either a high fat (HF) diet (60% energy from fat) or HF diets containing 1.2% Ca, 10000 IU/kg vitamin D3 and their combination. The results obtained demonstrated that high Ca and vitamin D intakes increase bone Ca and P content and have no effect on bone collagen (hydroxyproline) content, as compared with the HF diet group. High vitamin D3 intake significantly increased plasma concentrations of Ca2+, 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D and decreased concentration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and osteocalcin in HF diet‐fed mice. High Ca intake suppressed PTH but also increased plasma Ca2+. These findings suggest that the vitamin D and Ca supplementation improves bone status in obesity by increasing bone mineralization and, probably, suppressing bone resorption via PTH/1,25(OH)2D axis.Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA 2009‐35200‐05008 and SD00H325 to I.N.S..
Differentiation effect on monolayer integrity and inflammatory response in Caco2 cells in vitro (1034.11)
Authors: Racicot Kenneth , Tanzer Elyse , Chen C‐Y. Oliver 
Published: June 2021

Intestinal mucosa models using Caco‐2 cells have been utilized extensively to evaluate bioavailability of nutrients, drugs and mechanisms of inflammation and innate immune responses. However, data is absent on whether Caco‐2 differentiation will affect inflammatory and immune responses in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of cell differentiation on innate immune responses when stimulated with a pro‐inflammatory cytokine, IL‐1β and the resulting effect on monolayer integrity and permeability. Caco‐2 monolayers were established in a Transwell® system, and stimulated with 100ug/ml IL‐1β for 72h at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28d post‐seeding. Monolayer integrity, determined by Transepithelial electrical resistance, showed maximum resistance at 21d, fluorescent dextran permeability at a minimum by 21d, and differentiation assessed by alkaline phosphatase expression maximum by 21d. Inflammatory cytokine panel via flow cytometry confirmed production of inflammatory cytokine IL‐8. Production of hBD‐1, determined via ELISA, increased significantly more than hBD‐2 and in parallel to differentiation over 28 d with an additional inducible effect due to IL‐1β stimulation. In conclusion, hBD‐1, not hBD‐2, appears to be predominant expressed antimicrobial peptide in Caco‐2 differentiated cells.Grant Funding Source: Dept. of the Army (DA) and USDA
Development of GC‐MS method for quantification of phenolic acids after in vitro fecal fermentation (1044.4)
Authors: Quirós‐Sauceda Ana , Clark Miles , Racicot Kenneth , Polasky Daniel , González‐Aguilar Gustavo , Blumberg Jeffrey , Chen C‐Y. 
Published: June 2021

Unabsorbed polyphenols are subject to metabolism catalyzed by colonic microbiota into a wide range of phenolic acids (PA) with implications for gut health. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable, sensitive method for quantification of PA generated from in vitro anaerobic fecal fermentation. Fecal ferment containing 2% fecal matter (w/v) were purified by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) using a Phenomenex Strata SDB‐L cartridge. PA in the resulting SPE eluate were derivatized sequentially by halogenation using 30% pentafluorobenzyl bromide and 10% diisopropylethylamine and by silylation using 10% trymethylchlorosilane in BSTFA. This 2‐step protocol diminished the impact of ambient humidity on derivatization reproducibility compared to silylation alone. SPE recovery averaged 70% for 25 quantified PA. The derivatized products were separated by a 0.25 mm x 0.25 µm GC column and determined by an Agilent GC‐MS operated in an electron ionization and SIM modes. The internal standard was 4’‐hydroxy‐3’‐methoxyacetophenone. The limit of detection ranged from 1 to 10 ng/mL and the limit of quantification from 10 to 100 ng/mL. The linearity of standard curves constructed from PA spiked into the fecal ferment was r² >0.99. The intra‐day coefficient of variation for authenticated PA standards was <9% and for standards spiked into the fecal ferment was <14%. (Funded by Department of Army, CONACYT, and USDA)Grant Funding Source: Supported by Department of Army, CONACYT, and USDA
Analysis of polymethoxyflavones effects on human colon cancer cells using Raman microscopy (1045.36)
Authors: Zhang Hua , Xiao Hang , He Lili 
Published: June 2021

Nobiletin and 5‐demethylnobiletin (5DN) are two major citrus polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) that have been shown to have anti‐cancer effects. However, their exact mode of action against cancer cells remains unclear. Raman spectroscopy is a molecular vibrational spectroscopy that can be used to noninvasively measure chemical signatures of a single cell without a chemical label. Herein, we determined the cellular response of human colon cancer HT29 cells to nobiletin and 5DN using Raman microscopy. The colon cancer cells were cultured and treated with nobiletin and 5DN for 48 hours. The cells were directly measured in culture media under the Raman microscope. Raman images of cells treated with nobiletin and 5DN showed significantly reduced protein peak intensity. Compared with 5DN, nobiletin induced greater reduction of nucleic acid peak intensity. In addition, the image of cells treated with 5DN show significant changes in the lipid profile with higher of lipid intensity and altered cell structure. These data suggested that 5DN may directly interact with cell membrane. The Raman data were in a good agreement with the flow cytometry data that showed nobiletin and 5DN caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase, respectively. Our results indicated that Raman microscopy is able to provide overall biochemical profiles of a single cell, which is very useful to provide macromolecular information complementary to flow cytometry.Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA
Superficial neuromasts as proprioceptive receptors in poeciliid fish (1050.11)
Authors: Martinez‐Rivera Noraida , Serrano‐Velez Jose , Torres‐Vazquez Irma , Rosa‐Molinar Eduardo 
Published: June 2021

The sense of position and movement of the paired and/or unpaired fins (“fin”, hereafter) is critical for executing rapid motor behavior in fishes. However, the location of the proprioceptive receptors involved in proprioception of fin movement is unknown; also unknown is whether or not afferent signals generated during fin movement are encoded to a “central body map” in the brain to reference the location of the fin in space. Here we provide results of work to describe and define the role of a mechanosensory receptor, the superficial neuromast, as a proprioceptive receptor in the male Western Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis (“Mosquitofish”, hereafter). We sought to clarify whether or not superficial neuromasts associated with the male Mosquitofish sexually dimorphic fin serve as proprioceptive receptors for the proprioception of the fin to perform synchronous‐rapid‐rhythmic (SRR) movements essential for non‐cooperative coitus. In male Mosquitofish, we found that the number and distribution of the superficial neuromasts associated with the sexually dimorphic fin were significantly different (p = 2.6704 e‐05) from those found in female Mosquitofish. Removal of superficial neuromasts from the male resulted in significant impairment of SSR movements. These results suggest that the superficial neuromasts associated with the sexually dimorphic fin in the male Mosquitofish should be considered as a proprioceptive receptor.Grant Funding Source: Research supported by NSF‐1137725
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in ganglia of the bivalve mollusc, Crassostrea virginica (1059.4)
Authors: Mathieu Sadchla , Sylvain Darlene , Walden Fatima , Catapane Edward , Carroll Margaret 
Published: June 2021

In most studied bivalves, beating rate of gill lateral cilia is controlled by a reciprocal serotonergic‐dopaminergic innervation from their cerebral ganglion (CG) and visceral ganglia (VG). GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in molluscs and other animals, but its actions have not been well studied in bivalves. We previously showed GABA inhibited actions of serotonin (HT) on increasing cilia beating when both were applied to the CG of C. virginica. We hypothesize GABA is also an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the VG of C. virginica and inhibits the excitatory HT neurons there as well. We tested this by examining effects of GABA at the VG. Cilia beating rates were measured by stroboscopic microscopy in animal preparations in which innervation of the gill by the CG was cut, but the innervation of the gill by the VG was left intact. Superfusing HT (10‐6 ‐ 10‐3M) to the VG produced a dose‐dependent increase in beating from an average basal rates of 10 beats/min to 25 beats/min. Superfusing GABA (10‐6 ‐ 10‐3M) did not alter beating. Superfusing HT in the presence of increasing concentrations of GABA resulted in a dose‐dependent blockage of the HT induced response. This study in conjunction with our previous work is showing GABA is working at both the CG and VG as an inhibitory ganglionic neurotransmitter in C. virginica to inhibit the HT neurons that innervate the gill and speed up the beating of the lateral gill cilia.Grant Funding Source: NIH‐2R25GM0600309, NYSED‐0516041071, NSF‐0622197
Hypoxic incubation alters cardiovascular response to Ang II in embryonic chickens (Gallus gallus) (1067.3)
Authors: Tate Kevin , Crossley Dane 
Published: June 2021

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) is a critical regulatory mechanism contributing to cardiovascular homeostasis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the primary peptide of the system eliciting a strong vasopressor response. While blood volume stress has been the primary perturbation used to study the RAS during vertebrate development, hypoxia has been largely ignored. We hypothesized that the RAS activity would increase and the pressor response to Ang II would be attenuated in embryonic chickens subjected to chronic hypoxic (15% O2) stress. We investigated some of the components that underlie the Ang II cardiovascular response in chicken embryos and how 15% O2 incubation alters the response. Hypoxic incubation blunted the pressor response to Ang I, and Ang II in embryonic chickens. Following alpha‐adrenergic receptor blockade, the pressor response to Ang II was blunted in the normoxic but not the hypoxic embryos. In addition following alpha‐adrenergic blockade the Ang II pressure response did not differ between the normoxic and hypoxic incubated embryos. This suggests that hypoxic incubation blunts the pressor response to Ang II possibly attributed to saturation of the alpha‐adrenergic receptors in embryonic chickens.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NSF career grant to DAC IBN IOS 084574
Potential bullfrog homologue to the chemosensitive mammalian retrotrapezoid nucleus (1092.4)
Authors: Reed Mitchell , Iceman Kimberly , Harris Michael , Taylor Barbara 
Published: June 2021

Vertebrate breathing is controlled by a highly conserved brainstem neural network. Air breathing is generally driven by elevated CO2 in body tissues/fluids and is present in all vertebrate classes. Bullfrogs transition from water to air breathing during metamorphosis, and exhibit central CO2 sensitivity throughout development. In mammals, many sites contribute to this process, and their relative contributions vary according to CO2/pH level, arousal state, and development. Potential central CO2 sensors have been extensively investigated and described in mammals but not amphibians. The retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) lies on the medullary surface near the facial nucleus and is crucial for chemosensitivity in developing mammals. The locus coeruleus and classical “rostral” and “caudal” medullary chemosensitive regions have been identified in frogs. Furthermore, the “rostral” and “caudal” sites correspond to the locations of the mammalian RTN and Pre‐Botzinger Complex, respectively, suggesting potential homology. Immunohistochemical markers for the mammalian RTN include presence of Phox2b transcription factor and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2), and absence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the enzymatic marker of dopamine synthesis. We tested the hypothesis that a chemosensitive region homologous to the mammalian RTN is present in bullfrog. We identified this area by staining for RTN markers: presence of Phox2b and VGLUT2, and absence of TH. We describe this region in different developmental stages and identify metamorphic changes. We also assessed chemosensitivity of this region with cFos, a marker of neural activity. Establishing this as a homologous chemosensory site between amphibians and mammals provides insight into evolutionary origins of chemosensory development and function.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NSF IOS‐1022442
Leukotriene D4 dephosphorylates ASCT1 through Ca2+ dependent PKCα‐Akt pathway in intestinal epithelial cells (1095.11)
Authors: Talukder Jamilur , Wright Jaleesa 
Published: June 2021

Arachidonic acid metabolite derived via Lipoxygenase pathway, leukotriene D4 (LT) inhibits Na+‐dependent alanine cotransport (ASCT1, solute carrier, SLC1A4) in intestinal epithelial cell brush border membrane (BBM) by decreasing the affinity of cotransporter. However, the intracellular mechanism of LT mediated inhibition of ASCT1 is unknown. This study was designed to investigate the intracellular mechanism of ASCT1 inhibition by LT in enterocytes. [3H]‐Ala uptake was measured in 10 days postconfluent rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC‐6) grown on transwell plates. IEC‐6 cells were treated with different inhibitors intercepting different checkpoints of pathways for LT mediated inhibition of ASCT1 at 8 days postconfluence. LT treatment decreased ASCT1 activity and increased more than 2.5‐fold intracellular cAMP. However, protein kinase A (PKA)inhibitor did not reverse the LT mediated inhibition of ASCT1. LT increased 2‐fold cytosolic Ca2+ and PKC‐α antagonized LT effect on ASCT1 activity. In contrast, PKC‐δ and ‐θ inhibitor did not reverse LT mediated inhibition of ASCT1. Further downstream of PKC‐α pathway, tyrosine kinase (Akt) inhibitor also reversed LT mediated inhibition of ASCT1 activity. Kinetics, western blotting, and qRT‐PCR studies demonstrated that the mechanism of reversal of LT mediated inhibition of ASCT1 by Akt inhibitor was due to the restoration of affinity of the cotransporter. Immunocytochemical and dephosphorylation studies revealed that ASCT1 was dephosphorylated by LT treatment. Therefore, we conclude that LT inhibits ASCT1 activity by dephosphorylation through Ca2+‐dependent PKCα‐Akt pathway in enterocytes.Grant Funding Source: NSF
Range of hematology and biochemistry values in open‐water, captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Roatan, Honduras (1100.15)
Authors: Maiden Tracina , Pogue Connor 
Published: June 2021

There is virtually little published information regarding open‐water, captive bottlenose dolphins. Few places around the world combine these environments, allowing bottlenose dolphins to experience being captive and in the open water. The Roatan Institute for Marine Science (RIMS) in Roatan, Honduras has been open since 1989 and houses around seventeen bottlenose dolphins, with ages ranging from newborn to thirty years old. Although hematology and biochemistry values are found for either open‐water dolphin or captive dolphins, there are not any values published regarding bottlenose dolphins in an open‐water, captive environment. This study was conducted to determine the range of hematological and biochemistry values in open‐water, captive dolphins. Hematological data has been collected from 2003 until 2013 from dolphins ranging in age and lineage. The ages of the dolphins being studied were between six and twelve years old. Samples of blood were drawn from the periarterial venous rete in the fluke. The goal of this study is to produce a baseline hematological and biochemistry values for open‐water, captive bottlenose dolphins.Grant Funding Source: NSF# 1118679 Collaborative Research: Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI)