PPARγ drives mitochondrial stress signaling and the loss of atrial cardiomyocytes in newborn mice exposed to hyperoxia.

Diastolic dysfunction is increasingly common in preterm infants exposed to supplemental oxygen (hyperoxia). Previous studies in neonatal mice showed hyperoxia suppresses fatty acid synthesis genes required for proliferation and survival of atrial cardiomyocytes. The loss of atrial cardiomyocytes creates a hypoplastic left atrium that inappropriately fills the left ventricle during diastole.

Effect of epiretinal electrical stimulation on the glial cells in a rabbit retinal eyecup model.

Introduction: We examined how pulse train electrical stimulation of the inner surface of the rabbit retina effected the resident glial cells. We used a rabbit retinal eyecup preparation model, transparent stimulus electrodes, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The endfeet of Müller glia processes line the inner limiting membrane (ILM).

Identification of novel NRF2-dependent genes as regulators of lead and arsenic toxicity in neural progenitor cells.

Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are prevalent metal contaminants in the environment. Exposures to these metals are associated with impaired neuronal functions and adverse effects on neurodevelopment in children. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Pb and As impair neuronal functions remain poorly understood.

Effect of direct voltage induction by low-frequency security systems on neurostimulator lead.

Low-frequency (LF) security systems, such as antitheft electronic article surveillance (EAS) gates emit strong magnetic fields that could potentially interfere with neurostimulator operation. Some patients reported pain and shocking sensations near EAS gates, even after they turned off their pulse generator. To investigate the direct voltage induction of EAS systems on neurostimulator leads, we evaluated voltages induced by two EAS systems (14 kHz continuous wave or 58 kHz pulsed) on a 40 cm sacral neurostimulator lead formed in a circular loop attached to a pulse generator that was turned off.

Fast and slow light-induced changes in murine outer retina optical coherence tomography: complementary high spatial resolution functional biomarkers.

Fast (seconds) and slow (minutes to hours) optical coherence tomography (OCT) responses to light stimulation have been developed to probe outer retinal function with higher spatial resolution than the classical full-field electroretinogram (ERG). However, the relationships between functional information revealed by OCT and ERG are largely unexplored. In this study, we directly compared the fast and slow OCT responses with the ERG.

Neonatal Hyperoxia Activates Activating Transcription Factor 4 to Stimulate Folate Metabolism and Alveolar Epithelial Type 2 Cell Proliferation.

Oxygen supplementation in preterm infants disrupts alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cell proliferation through poorly understood mechanisms. Here, newborn mice are used to understand how hyperoxia stimulates an early aberrant wave of AT2 cell proliferation that occurs between Postnatal Days (PNDs) 0 and 4. RNA-sequencing analysis of AT2 cells isolated from PND4 mice revealed hyperoxia stimulates expression of mitochondrial-specific methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 and other genes involved in mitochondrial one-carbon coupled folate metabolism and serine synthesis.

Annual Research Review: The contributions of the RDoC research framework on understanding the neurodevelopmental origins, progression and treatment of mental illnesses.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) proposed the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative as an alternate way to organize research of mental illnesses, by looking at dimensions of functioning rather than being tied to categorical diagnoses. This paper briefly discusses the motivation for and organization of RDoC, and then explores the NIMH portfolio and recent work to monitor the utility and progress that RDoC has afforded developmental research. To examine how RDoC has influenced the NIMH developmental research portfolio over the last decade, we employed a natural language processing algorithm to identify the number of developmental science grants classified as incorporating an RDoC approach.

Time and cost of administering COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in the United States.

In early 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. In response, two novel messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines: mRNA-1273 (Moderna) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) were rapidly developed. A thorough understanding of the differences in workflow requirements between the two vaccines may lead to improved efficiencies and reduced economic burden, both of which are crucial for streamlining vaccine deployment and minimizing wastage.

Coordination of endothelial cell positioning and fate specification by the epicardium.

The organization of an integrated coronary vasculature requires the specification of immature endothelial cells (ECs) into arterial and venous fates based on their localization within the heart. It remains unclear how spatial information controls EC identity and behavior. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing at key developmental timepoints to interrogate cellular contributions to coronary vessel patterning and maturation.

Functional regulation of an outer retina hyporeflective band on optical coherence tomography images.

Human and animal retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) images show a hyporeflective band (HB) between the photoreceptor tip and retinal pigment epithelium layers whose mechanisms are unclear. In mice, HB magnitude and the external limiting membrane-retinal pigment epithelium (ELM-RPE) thickness appear to be dependent on light exposure, which is known to alter photoreceptor mitochondria respiration. Here, we test the hypothesis that these two OCT biomarkers are linked to metabolic activity of the retina.

Translating Research-Funded Mobile Produce Market Trials Into Sustained Public Health Programs : Food on the Move.

Food on the Move is an ongoing mobile produce market program in Rhode Island whose operations evolved from previous mobile market programs evaluated by 2 research studies: (1) one on Fresh to You, a prospective cohort study evaluating markets at community sites serving low-income families; and (2) one on Live Well, Viva Bien, a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating markets and complementary nutrition interventions at public housing sites. The 2 studies spanned more than a decade and demonstrated the effect of mobile produce markets on access to, affordability of, and consumption of fruit and vegetables in low-income communities in Rhode Island. When grant funding ended in 2016, academic and community partners continued the mobile market program as Food on the Move.

The impact of financial incentives on SNAP transactions at mobile produce markets.

Background: Offering financial incentives promotes increases in fruit and vegetable purchases in farmers' markets and supermarkets. Yet, little is understood about whether food-insecure adults purchase more fruits and vegetables as a result of receiving financial incentives in mobile produce market settings.

Methods: In 2018-2019, Food on the Move provided a 50% discount to customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase fruit and vegetables from 16 market locations in Rhode Island (n = 412 market occasions).

Neonatal hyperoxia inhibits proliferation and survival of atrial cardiomyocytes by suppressing fatty acid synthesis.

Preterm birth increases the risk for pulmonary hypertension and heart failure in adulthood. Oxygen therapy can damage the immature cardiopulmonary system and may be partially responsible for the cardiovascular disease in adults born preterm. We previously showed that exposing newborn mice to hyperoxia causes pulmonary hypertension by 1 year of age that is preceded by a poorly understood loss of pulmonary vein cardiomyocyte proliferation.

The microglia response to electrical overstimulation of the retina imaged under a transparent stimulus electrode.

We investigated using the morphological response of retinal microglia as indicators of tissue damage from electrical overstimulation by imaging them through an optically transparent stimulus electrode.To track the microglia, we used a transgenic mouse where the microglia expressed a water soluble green fluorescent protein. The clear stimulus electrode was placed epiretinally on the inner limiting membrane and the microglia layers were imaged using time-lapse confocal microscopy.

Rod and Cone Coupling Modulates Photopic ERG Responses in the Mouse Retina.

Light adaptation changes both the sensitivity and maximum amplitude (R) of the mouse photopic electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave. Using the ERG, we examined how modulation of gap junctional coupling between rod and cones alters the light-adapted ERG. To measure changes, a b-wave light adaptation enhancement factor (LAEF), was defined as the ratio of R after 15 min light adaptation to R recorded at the onset of an adapting light.

Effectiveness of mobile produce markets in increasing access and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income seniors.

Objective: Mobile produce markets (MPM) offering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentive programmes have the potential to provide accessible and affordable fruits and vegetables (FV) to populations at risk of food insecurity. The objective of this study is to characterise the customer base of an MPM and describe their participation at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors.

Design: In 2018, customers from an MPM in Rhode Island (RI) participated in a cross-sectional survey (n 330; 68 % response rate), which measured dietary patterns, food security and food shopping behaviours.

Neonatal hyperoxia enhances age-dependent expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors in mice.

The severity of COVID-19 lung disease is higher in the elderly and people with pre-existing co-morbidities. People who were born preterm may be at greater risk for COVID-19 because their early exposure to oxygen at birth increases their risk of being hospitalized when infected with RSV and other respiratory viruses. Our prior studies in mice showed how high levels of oxygen (hyperoxia) between postnatal days 0-4 increases the severity of influenza A virus infections by reducing the number of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells.

Of Promise and Penalties: How Student Racial-Cultural Markers Shape Teacher Perceptions.

Scholars document considerable disparities in teacher perceptions of students, yet absent from this literature is an examination of how race, ethnicity, and immigration status intersect to influence teacher ratings. This study extends previous research by examining variation in teachers' ratings of academic ability across four conventional racial/ethnic groups as well as thirteen racialized subgroups. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, we find that black first-graders receive lower ratings in language and literacy, a pattern that holds for both black Americans and black immigrants.

Gendered styles of student-faculty interaction among college students.

Scholars have examined gender differences in many areas of college life, but we know little about how men and women may interact differently with faculty-an activity with strong links to student outcomes. Using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, I investigate whether men and women demonstrate different styles of interaction with faculty. I find that women are more likely than men to engage frequently in instrumental interactions, such as emailing and discussing course logistics with faculty.

Neonatal hyperoxia depletes pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes in adult mice via mitochondrial oxidation.

Supplemental oxygen given to preterm infants has been associated with permanently altering postnatal lung development. Now that these individuals are reaching adulthood, there is growing concern that early life oxygen exposure may also promote cardiovascular disease through poorly understood mechanisms. We previously reported that adult mice exposed to 100% oxygen between postnatal days 0 and 4 develop pulmonary hypertension, defined pathologically by capillary rarefaction, dilation of arterioles and veins, cardiac failure, and a reduced lifespan.