bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans food groups associated with decreased inflammation (370.3)
Authors: El‐Abbadi Naglaa , Jacques Paul , Lin Honghuang , Rogers Gail , Troy Lisa 
Published: June 2021

Chronic systemic inflammation has been associated with cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. We previously demonstrated that diet quality, as assessed by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Adherence Index (DGAI_2010), is associated with overall inflammation status. To further explore this relationship, associations between DGA food groups and inflammation were examined among 715 male and 833 female participants of the Framingham Offspring Cohort. DGAI_2010 component scores for adherence to the recommended energy‐specific consumption of 12 food groups were determined, and an inflammation total score (IS‐pro15) was calculated from the ranked values of 15 pro‐inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, fibrinogen, IL‐6, TNFα, TNFR2, OPG, MCP‐1, P‐selectin, CD40L, ICAM, MPO, LPL A2 mass, LPL A2 activity, isocreatine and resistin). A multivariable linear regression model for IS‐pro15 was established through backward selection, and after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking and use of NSAIDS showed inverse associations between IS‐pro15 and the recommended intakes of dark green vegetables, orange and red vegetables, meat, poultry &amp; eggs, seafood and sugar (p<0.05). These suggest that specific food groups in the DGA are protective against inflammation.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIH (N01‐HC 25195, RO1 HL64753; R01 HL076784; R01 AG028321) and USDA (#58‐1950‐0‐014).
A multi‐component nutrition intervention utilizing a learner‐centered, garden‐based nutrition curriculum improves nutrition knowledge among fourth‐grade children (379.4)
Authors: Linnell J , Smith M , Scherr R , Briggs M , Nicolson Y , Spezzano T , Brian K , Hillhouse J , Zidenberg‐Cherr S 
Published: June 2021

The nutrition education and promotion component of the Shaping Healthy Choices Program (SHCP) included classroom education, garden‐based learning, and cooking demonstrations in fourth‐grade classrooms. Discovering Healthy Choices (DHC), a learner‐centered, garden‐based nutrition curriculum, was developed for SHCP. The objective of DHC is to facilitate understanding of nutrition concepts and development of critical thinking skills so youth can make evidence‐based decisions about the foods they eat. DHC supports Common Core State Standards. Cooking demonstrations were linked to DHC concepts. It was hypothesized that students participating in SHCP would have improved nutrition knowledge and critical thinking skills compared to controls. Schools meeting inclusion criteria in Northern (NC) and Central Valley California (CV) were randomly assigned to control (C) or intervention (I) groups. Pre‐ and post‐assessments included a Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire and the Test of Basic Science Process Skills (BAPS). Districts were analyzed separately. At baseline, a correlation between nutrition knowledge and BAPS was observed (Pearson’s r=0.51, p<0.01). This correlation was maintained at follow‐up. Significant improvements in nutrition knowledge were found between NCI and NCC (P<0.01) and CVI and CVC (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in BAPS between C and I groups in either district.Grant Funding Source: Supported by UCANR #11‐1018 and USDA 2011‐38420‐20082
Cellular geometry regulates traction stresses (479.4)
Authors: Oakes Patrick , Banerjee Shiladitya , Marchetti M. Cristina , Gardel Margaret 
Published: June 2021

Cells generate mechanical stresses via the action of myosin motors on the actin cytoskeleton. While the molecular origin of force generation is well understood, we currently lack an understanding of the regulation of force transmission at cellular length scales. Here we experimentally decouple the effects of substrate stiffness, focal adhesion density and cell morphology to show that the total amount of work a cell does against the substrate to which it is adhered is regulated by the cell spread area alone. Surprisingly, the number of focal adhesions and the substrate stiffness have little effect on regulating the work done on the substrate by the cell. For a given spread area, the local curvature along the cell edge regulates the distribution and magnitude of traction stresses to maintain a constant strain energy. A physical model of the adherent cell as a contractile gel under a uniform boundary tension and mechanically coupled to an elastic substrate quantitatively captures the spatial distribution and magnitude of traction stresses. With a single choice of parameters, this model accurately predicts the cell's mechanical output as a function of cell geometry.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the NSF, NIH and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
Ethanol exposure alters zebrafish morphology and development, evidence of impaired adipogenesis and adiponectin production (540.7)
Authors: Shafiei Mahnoush 
Published: June 2021

Adipose tissue secretes numerous bioactive peptides (“adipocytokines”). Visceral fat mediates inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, subcutaneous fat is the principal source of adiponectin production. Adiponectin, consisting of 247 amino acids and single nucleotide polymorphisms (mutations), causes hypoadiponectinemia. Individuals with this mutation are highly susceptible for development of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, hypertention, and left ventricular hypertrophy. We hypothesize that alcohol consumption during pregnancy may alter endocrine signaling, by increasing pro‐inflammatory cytokines thus inducing fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Even low‐dose/or short duration ethanol exposure early in development can produce more subtle effects by alteration of subcutaneous fat and subsequently, decrease in adiponectin production. Zebrafish eggs (AB strain) were raised in water (control) or in 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% ethanol solution for one of 3dpf, 5 dpf, 10 dpf, 15dpf, or 20dpf. Anatomical measures including heart diameter and total body length were compared across groups. At the concentration of 2.5%, there were more abnormal physical distortions and significantly higher mortality rates than any other group.Nile Red (NR) and Oil Red O (ORO) staining was used to detect adipogenesis (visceral vs subcutaneous) fat depots. Adipogenesis during zebrafish development was altered and subcutaneous fat was depleted at 15pft after 2% alcohol exposure compared with control. The expression of an “adipogenic” transcriptional program including PPARγ, SREBP1c, CEBPα □ and pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6, IL‐8, HIF‐1α ROS, TNF‐α, and NF‐κB was altered, as evident from quantitative RT‐PCR analysis. We conclude that exposure of zebrafish larvae to ethanol during development results in modified external and internal morphological development and that the severity of these effects is due to remarkable changes in adiposity and hypoadiponectinemia.Grant Funding Source: NSF
Splicing regulation of alternative exon 23a of the neurofibromatosis type 1 pre‐mRNA by DBIRD complex (560.5)
Authors: Nguyen Hieu , Lou Hua 
Published: June 2021

Hu proteins are neuron‐enriched RNA‐binding proteins that regulate alternative splicing by binding to AU‐rich sequences of pre‐mRNAs. Recently, we showed that Hu proteins participate in epigenetic regulation of the Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) exon 23a splicing by directly interacting with HDAC2 and inhibiting its deacetylation activity to induce local histone hyperacetylation surrounding exon 23a, leading to increased local transcriptional elongation rate and decreased exon inclusion (Zhou et al., PNAS, 2011).DBIRD complex, formed by DBC1 and ZIRD, increases transcriptional elongation rate across A/T‐rich exons, promoting exon skipping. NF1 exon 23a was identified as a potential DBC1‐dependent alternative exon (Close et al., Nature, 2012). Other studies showed that DBC1 is an inhibitor of two deacetylases. These studies prompted us to propose an intriguing hypothesis that, at the NF1 transcription site, DBIRD, interacting with DNA, and Hu proteins, interacting with RNA, act in a cooperative manner to inhibit HDAC activities, leading to increased local transcriptional elongation rate to skip the NF1 exon 23a.We are using biochemical and genetic approaches to test this hypothesis. Our preliminary data showed that Hu proteins interact with DBIRD complex and that DBC1 alone and DBIRD complex significantly change the NF1 exon 23a splicing. We are currently investigating DBIRD‐ and Hu proteins‐mediated epigenetic control of splicing regulation in CNS neurons isolated from mouse brains.Grant Funding Source: NIH and DOD grants to Hua Lou and Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) support of Hieu Nguyen
Structural comparison of mutant and wild‐type acidic leucine aminopeptidase suggests the basis for secondary chaperone activity (567.11)
Authors: DuPrez Kevin , Scranton Melissa , Walling Linda , Fan Li 
Published: June 2021

The acidic leucine aminopeptidase (LAP‐A) of tomato is involved in wound signaling and insect defense. Observation of chaperone activity by LAP‐A suggests new mechanisms of defense against environmental stresses. To evaluate how this chaperone activity is facilitated, the crystal structures of wild‐type and a loss of function mutant of LAP‐A were determined to 2.20 and 2.30 Å, respectively. LAP‐A is a dimer of trimers composed of 6 bilobal monomers. Six substrate entry channels formed as a result of the hexameric structure connect in a central cavity in which all six active sites are localized. Coordination of two active‐site magnesium ions required for catalysis is facilitated by a highly conserved network of amino acid residues. Mutation of select residues within this network can result in loss of activity and/or breakdown of hexameric structure. The structure of the K354E mutant shows disruption of a loop from residue 350 through 361, resulting in the loss of intra‐subunit contacts that stabilize binding of the catalytic metal ions, thus resulting in loss of peptidase activity. These residues also provide inter‐subunit contacts at the trimerization interface, presumably stabilizing the hexameric form of the enzyme. However, breakdown of the hexamer into a tetrameric form induced by the K354E mutation results in increased chaperone activity, likely through heightened exposure of hydrophobic surfaces. These data reveal insights into the structural basis for LAP‐A's secondary function as a molecular chaperone.Grant Funding Source: Partially supported by a National Science Foundation grant (IOS 0725093) to LLW.
Probing the active site of the Rv0045c esterase from Mycobaterium tuberculosis (580.4)
Authors: Hoops Geoffrey , Johnson R 
Published: June 2021

The active site of the Rv0045c esterase from Mycobaterium tuberculosis was probed with a combination of site‐directed mutagenesis and a series of substrate analogues. The thermal stability of enzyme variants was measured using differential scanning fluorimetry with Sypro Orange dye. The catalytic efficiency of the enzyme variants was measured using fluorogenic ester substrates. Variants of active site residues confirmed a classic serine catalytic triad, as well as revealing the relative importance of several other active site residues. Two active site variants (G90A and H187A) displayed increased catalytic efficiency relative to the wild type, but the corresponding double variant lacked a synergistic activation effect. A series of other H187 variants revealed that further fine‐tuning of enzymatic activity was possible. Additionally, the relative catalytic efficiencies of the hydrolysis of a series of flourogenic ester substrates revealed structure activity relationships, in which short chain, unbranched, hydrogen bond accepting esters displayed maximal activity.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the National Science Foundation
The stops and starts of protein splicing: regulation and mechanism of non‐canonical inteins (584.1)
Authors: Mills Kenneth , Reitter Julie , Nicastri Michael , Williams Jennie , Colelli Kathryn 
Published: June 2021

Protein splicing is the post‐translational excision of an intervening polypeptide (intein) from its flanking domains (the exteins), concomitant with extein ligation. Both the Methanoculleus marisnigri (Mma) and the Pyrococcus abyssi (Pab) PolII inteins promote efficient splicing with C‐terminal Gln in place of the highly conserved Asn, which plays a central role in the third step of the mechanism. The Mma intein is regulated by disulfide bond formation, and the third step of splicing is very slow with C‐terminal Gln. The Pab intein is regulated by both temperature and disulfide bond formation. The unusual stability of the unspliced precursor of the Pab intein has allowed for structural study and analysis of the kinetics of each step of splicing in vitro. An NMR solution structure of the Pab PolII intein reveals a particularly rigid structure, a disordered loop absent in a highly similar P. horikoshii intein, and a beta‐hairpin specific to inteins from archaebacteria.Grant Funding Source: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant MCB‐124408
A roadmap for the design and implementation of preparatory or “Gateway” courses for biochemistry and molecular biology (618.21)
Authors: Canfield Jennifer , Osborn JoDi Lynn , Felder‐Sumter Takita , Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

The “Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action” report urges life science educators to prepare students for science careers by better aligning scientific instruction with practice. To this end, introductory or “gateway” courses should demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of the sciences to best prepare students for early engagement in research. We recently published a detailed description of the essential concepts that students must have from introductory chemistry, biology, math, and physics courses based on ASBMB’s national “Vision and Change” dialogues. We now expand the study to include suggestions for implementing and assessing outcomes of these foundation experiences. Effective practices include boot‐camp style remedial sessions; problem based learning approaches; facilitated transition from community colleges; and involves crafting well‐defined outcomes as means of developing critical thinking skills. Moreover, best practices in course delivery and approaches to shift the emphasis from content to process driven courses are presented. Finally, we present assessment models that may be coupled to these approaches. Collectively, the findings underscore the importance of introductory foundational concepts, skills, and allied field topics in bridging the gaps between “gateway” and advanced biochemistry and molecular biology courses. This work is supported by NSF Grant 0957205 to EB.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NSF Grant 0957205 to EB
Best practices in direct nutrition education for low‐income audiences: program design and delivery (625.2)
Authors: MacKinnon Chloe , Auld Garry , Baker Susan 
Published: June 2021

The project objective was to identify best practices in nutrition education for low‐income audiences. Best practices are evidence‐based elements or strategies that have shown effectiveness in achieving outcomes. Utilizing best practices increases stakeholder confidence that programs will be effective in helping low‐income participants make positive nutrition‐related behavior changes. A seven‐member expert panel identified best practices criteria via telephone and electronic correspondence; the criteria were confirmed via literature review. Eight criteria were identified as characteristics of effective nutrition education programs within the following areas: a strong theoretical basis, research‐based content, emphasis on goal setting, and audience‐appropriate languages, activities, recipes, and reading level. Five criteria were identified for program delivery: the use of experiential learning and enhancement items, accommodation of learning styles, inclusion of contacts of appropriate frequency and duration, and maintenance of program fidelity. Best practices criteria for program design and delivery may promote consistency and efficacy within and across low‐income nutrition education programs.Grant Funding Source: Supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture no. 2012‐48757‐20337
Telephone interviews with parents of 4th graders support nutrition education using innovative strategies for low‐income families and after‐school programs (625.5)
Authors: Cheng Feon , Smith Stephanie , Cunningham‐Sabo Leslie , Lohse Barbara 
Published: June 2021

Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids is a school‐based cooking program for 4th graders (n=415, 8 schools). To design a family component, professional phone interviews were held with their parents (n=24, 41.7 ± 5.7 y ) who represented all surveyed parents (n=85)‐white, female, high school graduates, 63% eating competent (EC), 54% normal weight. 38% used at least 1 assistance program (WIC 25%; food banks 21%; SNAP 17%). Assistance program usage was associated with greater interest in label reading (P=.022), meal planning (P=.019), and affordable meals (P=.013). Parents preferred programs on Friday (63%) or Thursday (50%) from 6‐8 PM (63%) on cooking skills, active indoor and nutrition games. Preferred participation incentives were having a child involved in activities (96%), give‐aways (83%) and being served dinner (79%). 3 topics with definite interest were easy‐to‐fix home meals, food prep with children, and affordable home meals. Families being more physically active was of greater interest than food prep. EC parents were more likely to be physically active (P=.005) and cook (P=.047). Interest in learning food prep was not associated with EC status. 21% read blogs at least weekly but most rarely commented; 13% wanted to learn more about blogs. Children did homework at home (92%), 83% used a computer; 67% of parents spent 30 min helping. Findings supported novel strategies and nutrition education in after‐school programs.Grant Funding Source: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Grant no. 2012‐68001‐19603 USDA NIFA
Curcumin and 3’ 4’didemethylnobiletin in combination synergistically inhibit cell proliferation and potentiate apoptosis in HCT116 colon cancer cells (647.37)
Authors: DiMarco‐Crook Christina , Zheng Jinkai , Song Minyue , Xiao Hang 
Published: June 2021

Curcumin and 3’, 4’ didemethylnobiletin (DDMN) a major metabolite of nobiletin, have each been shown to exhibit anti‐carcinogenic effects in various colon cancer models. However, the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of these dietary compounds in combination has yet to be explored. In this study the interaction of curcumin and DDMN was investigated in the HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Cell viability assays showed a greater inhibition of growth in cancer cells treated with the combination of curcumin and DDMN than with either treatment alone. Isobologram analysis confirmed the synergy between curcumin and DDMN in inhibiting colon cancer cell growth. Flow cytometry results revealed significant G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and extensive apoptosis induced by the combination, which were much stronger than the effects induced by the treatments with curcumin or DDMN alone. Pursuant to these findings, proteins associated with G2/M arrest and apoptosis were examined by Western Blot analysis to confirm increased expression levels of p21, p53, and C‐PARP, and decreased expression level of cdc2. Indeed, the change in expression of these proteins was much greater in response to the combination treatment of curcumin and DDMN than each compound alone. The synergy between curcumin and DDMN warrants further investigation on their combination to determine its chemopreventive potential for colorectal cancer in vivo.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIH, AICR and USDA
The presence of histamine in ganglia and tissues of the bivalve mollusc, Crassostrea virginica (656.7)
Authors: LaFleur Kisha , Harrison Jarreau , Mantone Daniel , Carroll Margaret , Catapane Edward 
Published: June 2021

Histamine (HIS), a biogenic amine, is a neurotransmitter in neurons and sensory receptors in invertebrates. HIS has rarely been reported in bivalves. Our physiology work show it involved in sensory reception in sensory‐motor integration of gill lateral cell cilia in the bivalve Mollusc, Crassostrea virginica. We hypothesize HIS is present in ganglia and tissues of C. virginica. We used HPLC to measure HIS in cerebral and visceral ganglia, and peripheral tissues using a Phenomenex Gemini 5µ C18 column, Beckman HPLC system and Jasco FP 2020 Spectrofluorometer. The mobile phase was 40/60 v/v acetonitrile/phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 6.8, 2 ml/min flow rate). Tissues were dissected, blotted dry, weighed and homogenized on ice with a Brinkman Polytron in 0.4 M HCl. Homogenates were centrifuged (4̊C, 600g, 15 min), then recentrifugation (12,000g, 15 min). Supernatants were filtered through 0.24µ filters, adjusted to pH 9.5 with NaOH, derivatized for 15 min with borate buffer (0.3 ml, pH 9.5) KCN (0.3 ml, 20 mM) and NDA (2,3‐naphthalene‐dicarboxaldehyde, 0.3 mM in methanol), injected into the HPLC and fluorescence measured (450 nM ex, 484 nM em). Results show HIS present in ng amounts in cerebral and visceral ganglia, and peripheral tissues. The study confirms HIS in the nervous system and innervated organs, including sensory tissue, and coupled with our other work shows HIS to be an endogenous biogenic amine in C. virginica.Grant Funding Source: NIH‐ 2R25GM0600309, NSF‐ 0622197, NYSESD‐ 0516041071
Zn disrupts Cd‐induced stimulation of apical choline uptake in cultured choroid plexus independent of GSH availability (685.4)
Authors: Villalobos A. , Young R , Francis Stuart S 
Published: June 2021

In cultured neonatal rat choroid plexus we showed cadmium (Cd) stimulated apical choline uptake and induced oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Zinc (Zn) supplementation disrupted Cd‐induced oxidative stress and stimulation of choline uptake. Our objectives are to further elucidate GSH regulation by Cd and Zn and determine whether GSH is critical to disruption of Cd‐induced stimulation of choline uptake by Zn. Cultured choroid plexus cells were supplemented (48 h) with 25 μM ZnCl2 in complete medium before 12‐h treatment with 0 or 500 nM CdCl2±10 μM ZnCl2 without serum. By immunoblot analysis and qRT‐PCR, we assessed induction of HO‐1, HSP70, Cu/Zn‐SOD (SOD1), metallothionein‐1 (MT‐1) and both modifier (GCLM) and catalytic subunits (GCLC) of glutamate‐cysteine ligase, the rate‐limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis. Cd induced GCLM, GCLC, MT‐1, HO‐1, and SOD1 mRNA levels by 6‐, 3‐, 16‐, 12‐ and 3‐fold; Zn supplementation attenuated induction. Cd alone increased GSH and GSSG by 2‐ and 30‐fold; Zn supplementation abated increases in each. To determine whether the effects of Zn were dependent on GSH availability, we treated cells with 100 μM buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) to inhibit GCL during Zn supplementation and subsequent 12‐h treatment with 250 nM CdCl2±10 μM ZnCl2. BSO alone or with Zn±Cd reduced GSH by 90% and increased GSSG by 15‐fold above control. In Cd‐treated cells, BSO elicited a compensatory induction of HO‐1, HSP70, SOD1, GCLM, GCLC and MT‐1 and further stimulated apical choline uptake. Zn supplementation attenuated induction of cytoprotective genes and proteins and stimulation of apical choline uptake in cells treated with Cd±BSO. Thus, Zn abates Cd‐induced oxidative stress and GSH regulation, but disrupts stimulation of choline uptake independent of GSH availability.Grant Funding Source: NSF #IOS‐1052654