bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PhUn Week: Bigger and Better
Authors: Rascon Jozelyn , Trujillo Elizabeth , Pena Marcelo , Pena Francisco J , Ramirez Juliana A , Melendez Gladys , Lazcano Cameron , Gurovich Alvaro N 
Published: June 2021

Physiology Understanding (PhUn) week is the American Physiological Society's K‐12 outreach program. In general, PhUn week consists of hands‐on activities and presentations, which incorporate the understanding of physiology through interactive fun. In 2017, our PhUn week activity reached 24 seventh‐grade students and they performed three activities using electronic physiology data acquisition systems (Biopac MP40). Even though previous PhUn week events were already structured, we wanted to reach more school‐grade students. Therefore, we collaborated with Tippin Elementary School in El Paso, Texas and its whole second grade (96 students) and teachers (5). Because of the larger demand, we designed 6 different activities to be performed at PhUn week: Reaction time, changes in heart rate with exercise, and electromyography activity with different exercises (Biopac MP40, previously performed) and three new activities (i.e. respiratory system, sensory system, and cardiovascular system). In addition, we recruited 14 more undergraduate students, from the Bachelors in Rehabilitation Sciences at UTEP, and trained them in the use of Biopac MP40 and the new activities. The UTEP undergraduate students that participated in PhUn week the previous year performed this training. The day of the presentation, the multipurpose room of the school was converted into a physiology activity room with six different stations (2 of each) for a total of twelve set up for the students to rotate between. The stations were the reaction time station, electromyography station, electrocardiogram station, a station where students built a working model of the diaphragm and lungs, a sensory challenge station where students searched in a bin of rice for miscellaneous objects, and finally an interactive working model of the heart. We were able to do 15‐minute rotations so all 96 second grade students were able to visit each station. The students, teachers, and other Tippin faculty, as well as UTEP students had a lot of fun and learned about physiology at the same time. We could see the excitement and effect the event left on the young students as many left excited about science, which is the main goal of PhUn week. Overall, it was a great experience that required a lot of preparation and training but was worth the impact it had on the students involved.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Using Biotensegrity to Explain the Mechanically‐Induced Lesions in Navicular Disease
Authors: Osborn Michelle L , Blas‐Machado Uriel , Kirejczyk Shannon GM , Uhl Elizabeth W 
Published: June 2021

Degenerative joint disease (DJD), the most common disease affecting humans and animals, has long been believed to result from failure of the joints from ‘wear and tear’ in which damage exceeds repair. However, models that depict the body as a machine do not adequately explain the functional musculoskeletal anatomy, in particular the role of fascia, nor do they explain why the lesions of DJD do not always correlate with pain and dysfunction. In contrast a body structured through tensegrity (integrity by tension; biotensegrity) has a seamless integration of structure and function from the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels to the whole body, and better explains how life evolved by adapting to different environments. Joints structured through tensegrity have more functional flexibility as tensegrity allows mechanical forces to be transmitted and dispersed throughout the surrounding connective tissues and counteracted by muscular contractions rather than being transmitted as compression across a joint space, which is the case in machine models. The purpose of this study was to use biotensegrity to explain the pathogenesis of tissue damage in navicular disease, a devastating form of DJD in horses. The structure of the navicular apparatus indicates it is an enthesis organ that functions through tensegrity to dissipate forces away from the osteotendinous junction between the deep digital flexor tendon and the distal phalanx. Functional analyses of 3D models reconstructed from CT scans of a horse's forelimb were used to predict where mechanical forces were most impacting the navicular enthesis organ. These models show that pronounced dorsiflexion of the foot, a posture commonly observed in horses with navicular disease, increased the mechanical forces on the deep digital flexor tendon, navicular bone, impar and collateral sesamoidean ligaments, which are all sites of tissue damage in navicular disease. Histochemical staining with Masson's trichrome and picrosirius red, confirmed evidence of mechanical stress in the target tissues as stretched collagen was prominent in the tendon, navicular bone and fibrocartilage, and the impar and collateral sesamoidean ligaments and correlated with the sites of tissue damage. The identification of widespread mechanical damage in the soft tissues of the navicular enthesis organ in affected horses confirms its function as a tensegrity structure and emphasizes the relevance of biotensegrity models in understanding the pathogenesis of DJD.Support or Funding InformationLSU SVM Charles V. Cusimano Equine Health Studies ProgramThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Groove for the Sphenoparietal Sinus: A Constant Cranial Structure in Human Gross Anatomy
Authors: Parra Jorge Eduardo Duque , Ríos John Eduardo Barco , García Juan Fernando Velez 
Published: June 2021

ObjectivesCranial venous sinuses are elements formed by dura mater, they are fixed in bony parts leaving their tracks as grooves, which can be used as recognition in morphological studies. One of these grooves, the sphenoparietal sinus groove, is not referenced in Terminologia Anatomica, so the objective is to demonstrate the existence in human skulls.MethodsSixty five human adult skulls were selected, without distinction of ethnic group or sex, in order to evaluate the existence of a bony groove for the sphenoparietal sinus. As inclusion criteria, the skulls had to have integral the anterior region of the middle cranial fossa. To establish the existence of the groove, under the lesser wing of the sphenoid was visualized and palpated endocranially.ResultsOf the 65 skulls, 63 had a bony groove related to the sphenoparietal sinus (96,92%); of these, 50 presented bilaterally (76,92%) and 13 unilaterally: 9 in the left region (13,84%) and 4 in the right (6,15%); two skull did not present the groove (3.08%).ConclusionIn Terminologia Anatomica, the groove for the sphenoparietal sinus is not described, a constant structure due to its high percentage of presence (96,92%), for which the term “groove for the sphenoparietal sinus” is proposed, which can serve as a landmark in cranial morphology.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Guillemeau: “Les oeuvres chirurgicales” (surgical works), Rouen (France) 1649
Authors: LE FLOCH‐PRIGENT Patrice Pierre , NGUYEN Juliette , GILLOT Jean Bernard 
Published: June 2021

Jacques GUILLEMEAU (1550–1612) published several books during his surgical life. He was a brilliant follower of Ambroise Paré and the surgeon of several kings of France. This late edition was a posthumous and complete one, published in the town of Rouen in 1649 by Jean VIRET and printed by Pierre MAILLE. It was an in folio with 863 pages and numerous figures: 32 copper plates = 21 anatomical ones and 11 plates of surgical instruments. There were also 18 wooden plates with foetus in utero and paediatric instruments. The exact title was “ Les oeuvres chirurgicales. Avec les portraicts et figures de toutes les parties du corps humain, & des instruments nécessaires au chirurgien...”. We studied particularly the anatomical part. The obstetrical and paediatrical parts were also famous.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Activity of LHX2‐associated cis‐Regulatory Modules During Limb Development
Authors: Roberts Kari D , Mulder Cassidy G , Shah Neera M , Watson Billy A , Pira Charmaine U , Shin Alexandra , Oberg Kerby C 
Published: June 2021

Limb development occurs along three major axes – proximal‐distal, anterior‐posterior, and dorsal‐ventral. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) secreted by the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) released from the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) are responsible for proximal‐distal and anterior‐posterior development, respectively, and maintain each other through a positive feedback loop. This reciprocal loop is critical for proper limb development. Recently, we identified LIM homeobox 2 (LHX2) as an intermediate in FGF‐mediated SHH expression. There are over 25 conserved regions of non‐coding DNA associated with the LHX2 gene locus that could serve as regulatory modules and targets of FGF signaling. We hypothesize that FGF regulates LHX2 through at least one of these potential cis regulatory modules (PCRMs). We selected 10 PCRMs with active chromatin marks in the limb and screened for their activity within the LHX2 expression domain (distal mesoderm subjacent to the AER). Each PCRM was inserted into the pTK‐GFP reporter and electroporated into the distal mesoderm of HH20‐23 chicken embryo wing buds. PCRM activity was determined 24 hours later using fluorescence microscopy. We found three of the PCRMs display activity (CRM (−19), CRM (−2), and CRM (−1)) that overlap LHX2 expression in the chicken wing bud. One CRM (−19), approximately 130 kb upstream of the LHX2 locus, is most consistent with the pattern of LHX2. Further studies are underway to determine whether these CRMs interact with the LHX2 promoter and whether FGF regulates their activity.Support or Funding InformationFunded in part by a grant from the LLU Pathology Endowment.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
MicroRNA‐29b act as mediators of lipopolysaccharide‐induced bone loss
Authors: Sul OJ , Choi Hye‐Seon 
Published: June 2021

MicroRNAs (miR) play critical roles in osteoclastogenesis, resulting in regulating bone density. Since the expression level of miR‐29b was increased in tibiae from lipopolysaccharide(LPS)‐injected mice and LPS‐induced osteoclasts (OCs). we hypothesized that LPS induces miR‐29b, which enhance OC formation, leading to excessive bone loss. Overexpression of miR‐29b increased OC survival without any change in OC differentiation, whereas inhibition of endogenous miR‐29b induced by LPS decreased it. Increased OC survival upon overexpression of miR‐29b was due to anti‐apoptotic activity evaluated by staining annexin V‐positive cells. We found that a target gene of miR‐29b is Bcl2 modifying factor (Bmf), which acts as a proapoptotic factor, and that miR‐29b binds to the 3′‐UTR of Bmf. Our data demonstrate that LPS‐induced miR‐29b increases the number of OC by enhancing OC survival through decreased BMF.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the Basic Science Research Programs (2018R1A2B6001276;2016R1A6A3A11932375 2014R1A6A1030318) of the NRF and Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project (HI18C0375) funded by the Ministry of Health.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Endogenous siRNAs are required for a learned pathogen avoidance behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Manzanet Yazmine , Salerno Nicholas , Youngman Elaine M 
Published: June 2021

The nematode C. elegansis a premier model for the study of learning and exhibits a variety behavioral plasticity phenotypes. For example, worms that are infected by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA14) early in life associate pathogen odors with infection, and learn to avoid the pathogen as adults when given a choice between PA14 and a nonpathogenic E. coli food source (OP50). This associative learning requires an increase in serotonin in the ADF chemosensory neurons, but the remaining molecular circuitry that allows learned pathogen avoidance is unknown. Based on the known role of small noncoding RNA molecules in regulating other behavioral responses in the worm, we have used a genetic approach to determine the involvement of endogenous small RNAs in pathogen avoidance behavior. Mutants that are defective in small RNA pathways were raised in an environment with both pathogenic PA14 and nonpathogenic OP50, and their pathogen avoidance behavior as adults was compared to that of wild‐type worms using a standard choice assay. For each genotype, we have completed at least three replicate choice assays of at least 71 worms each for the naïve and trained conditions. Briefly, the choice assay involves placing either trained or naïve worms in the center of a standard Nematode Growth Medium plate, and worms are allowed to choose between PA14 and OP50 food sources spotted on opposite sides of the plate. The number of worms found in the PA14 and OP50 spots is counted after an hour, and the proportion of worms on PA14 is compared between naïve and trained worms using a one‐tailed t‐test. As previously published, trained wild‐type worms (raised in the presence of pathogen) show increased avoidance of PA14 when compared with naïve worms (p=0.04369). Interestingly, mut‐7(pk204)animals, which lack a large class of small RNAs known as the endogenous siRNAs, show no change in pathogen avoidance when raised under naïve or trained conditions (p =0.86258), suggesting that endogenous siRNAs are required for learned pathogen avoidance. mut‐7is an upstream component of several functionally and genetically distinct endogenous siRNA pathways, including the 26G‐RNA and 21U RNA‐triggered pathways, the CSR‐1 pathway, and the WAGO pathway. To determine which of these pathways is specifically required for learned pathogen avoidance behavior, we are currently testing learning in mutants that disrupt individual pathways and will report on these results.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Ligand binding studies of a trimethoprim‐resistant dihydrofolate reductase by fluorine NMR
Authors: Gomez Gabriel Jose Fuente , Howell Elizabeth 
Published: June 2021

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide problem. The excessive use and misuse of antibiotics have resulted in the development of drug resistance. One example involves the antibiotic trimethoprim (TMP). TMP selectively inhibits the bacterial enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) over its human counterpart. Inhibition of DHFR results in inhibition of DNA synthesis and ultimately in cell death. Unfortunately, extensive use and dissemination of TMP over the last forty years has resulted in the development of drug resistance in the form of highly transmissible plasmids. R67 dihydrofolate reductase is a plasmid‐encoded enzyme that confer resistance to TMP. Our lab has studied how R67 DHFR works in vitro using diluted conditions. However, most proteins function inside cells under crowded and heterogeneous environment. As 19F labeled proteins in complex mixtures can be characterized by NMR, we report our initial expression and characterization of R67 DHFR. To obtain such information, we have labeled R67 DHFR with fluorine at different positions in the indole ring and showed that fluorine incorporation into R67 DHFR does not affect the structure and function of the protein. We have characterized the 19F NMR spectra of apo R67 DHFR and optimized fluorine incorporation. Furthermore, fluorinated R67 DHFR shows different signals for binding of cofactor, NADP+, and substrate, dihydrofolate (DHF). We have obtained similar dissociation constants for the cofactor and substrate of R67 DHFR by both NMR and ITC. In our next step, we will measure dissociation constants in more complex solutions. We envision using fluorinated protein to quantify the effect of osmolytes and crowders on the binding affinity of substrate and cofactor towards R67 DHFR.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Molecular modeling of the cI repressor of bacteriophage ɛ34
Authors: Goodson Richardria , McGee Lauren , Gildea Logan , Brooks Ryan , Villafane Robert , Jackson Doba 
Published: June 2021

Gene 46 of ɛ34 encodes a protein that is similar to other phage repressors. It has a C‐terminal protease domain which is about 80% identical to the repressors of phage λ (which infects E. coli), but its DNA binding N‐terminal portion is only about 50% identical to its closest known relatives in phages λ, P22, and Lex A. The N‐terminal DNA‐binding domain is homologous to the HTH_XRE family of DNA‐binding domains [1].We specifically looked at the N‐terminal domain of the cI with its homology to the HTH_XRE DNA binding proteins (also called the Cro/cI type HTH domain). To this date, 19 unique structures have been determined and are deposited into the Protein Data Bank (PDB). The HTH_XRE family of proteins has not been reviewed in the past 10 years despite the historical significance of its members as being the earliest members of the conserved class of DNA binding domains. We used the SWISS‐MODEL server to generate a series of homology models with and without DNA of to investigate how this protein interacts with its cognate DNA sequence. Presented in another, study, our bioinformatic and experimental studies have determined the 17 bp asymmetric site that interacts with the cI repressor. Our preliminary models have revealed some unique protein‐DNA contacts of the cI repressor that are not found in other homologous proteins (cI of λ, Φ11, 434, SinR, CopR, and Cro). The goal is to eventually initiate a structure‐function study and determine the three‐dimensional structure of this repressor. This project was done as a collaborative venture between two laboratories, Huntingdon College (Dr. Doba Jackson) and Alabama State University (laboratory of Dr. Robert Villafane). This project is in line with Dr. Robert Villafane's research into the Genomic analysis of bacteriophage ɛ34 of Salmonella enteric serovar Anatum.Support or Funding InformationSupport for this project was provided by Alabama State University and Huntingdon College.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Toward Understanding the Functional State of the Grb7 Protein
Authors: Koirala Rajan 
Published: June 2021

Human growth factor receptor bound protein 7 (Grb7) proteins are the family of adaptor proteins that include Grb7, Grb10 and Grb14. These proteins have a conserved topology that includes a proline rich N‐terminal domain, an RA domain, a PH domain and a C‐terminal SH2 domain. Grb7 proteins bind with activated receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) receptors through their SH2 domain to mediate downstream signal transduction events. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown the Grb7SH2 domain exists in a dimeric form and this may control the dimerization of the full‐length protein (FLGrb7). In our current studies, we show a FLGrb7 phosphorylation mimic, Y492E‐FLGrb7, results in a monomeric form of the protein, by in vitro biophysical measurements. Specifically, size exclusion and analytical ultracentrifugation results demonstrate Y492E‐FLGrb7 is essentially monomeric, while under the same conditions wild‐type Grb7 (WTFLGrb7) exists as a dimer. Further, the size and shape of these proteins were determined through dynamic light scattering measurements. These studies suggest the phosphorylation mimic Y492E‐FLGrb7 may exist in a more open, as opposed to compact globular, conformational form. We interpret the above results with a view towards understanding the functional state of Grb7 protein, and its role in controlling cell signaling pathways via interaction with its binding partners.Support or Funding InformationNIH5‐SC3‐6M116728This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Characterizing the NaK Ion Channel through Site‐Directed Mutagenesis
Authors: Luu Gina , Henzler‐Wildman Katherine 
Published: June 2021

The NaK transmembrane protein is a non‐selective bacterial cation channel permeable to Na+ and K+ ions. This channel has structural similarities to mammalian channels and our studies of NaK may provide insight into the gating of bio‐medically important channels. It is hypothesized that the N‐terminal helix of NaK fits tightly against the base of the closed channel and mutations that disrupt this interaction increase the open probability. To test the hypothesis, we mutated residues that appear to form stabilizing interactions between the N‐terminus helix and the pore. If these mutants increase the open probability, they will then increase net ion flux through the channel. We used a bacterial complementation screen with the LB2003 K+ uptake‐deficient strain of Escherichia coli to identify residues that affect net flux through NaK. We focused on mutations to the hydrophobic cluster (F24A, F28A, W18A, F92A, and F94L) connecting the M0 helix to the channel pore, and the salt bridge (R10Q) connecting the M0 to the pore domain of NaK FL. The complementation assay demonstrated that the hydrophobic cluster mutations increased complementation more than the negative control but less than the positive control, while the salt bridge mutation increased complementation as much as the positive control. Our results suggest that the salt bridge is vital to stabilizing the closed state of NaK.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.