Facilitating Growth through Frustration: Using Genomics Research in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience.

A hallmark of the research experience is encountering difficulty and working through those challenges to achieve success. This ability is essential to being a successful scientist, but replicating such challenges in a teaching setting can be difficult. The Genomics Education Partnership (GEP) is a consortium of faculty who engage their students in a genomics Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE).

A mechanism of expansion: Arctic deciduous shrubs capitalize on warming-induced nutrient availability.

Warming-induced nutrient enrichment in the Arctic may lead to shifts in leaf-level physiological properties and processes with potential consequences for plant community dynamics and ecosystem function. To explore the physiological responses of Arctic tundra vegetation to increasing nutrient availability, we examined how a set of leaf nutrient and physiological characteristics of eight plant species (representing four plant functional groups) respond to a gradient of experimental nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment. Specifically, we examined a set of chlorophyll fluorescence measures related to photosynthetic efficiency, performance and stress, and two leaf nutrient traits (leaf %C and %N), across an experimental nutrient gradient at the Arctic Long Term Ecological Research site, located in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska.

Influence of female cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile on male courtship behavior in two hybridizing field crickets Gryllus firmus and Gryllus pennsylvanicus.

Background: The hybridizing field crickets, Gryllus firmus and Gryllus pennsylvanicus have several barriers that prevent gene flow between species. The behavioral pre-zygotic mating barrier, where males court conspecifics more intensely than heterospecifics, is important because by acting earlier in the life cycle it has the potential to prevent a larger fraction of hybridization. The mechanism behind such male mate preference is unknown.

Coagulation factor VIII: Relationship to cardiovascular disease risk and whole genome sequence and epigenome-wide analysis in African Americans.

Background: Prospective studies have suggested higher factor VIII (FVIII) levels are an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. However, limited information, including on genetic and epigenetic contributors to FVIII variation, is available specifically among African Americans (AAs), who have higher FVIII levels than Europeans.

Objectives: We measured FVIII levels in ~3400 AAs from the community-based Jackson Heart Study and assessed genetic, epigenetic, and epidemiological correlates of FVIII, as well as incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) associations.

Analyzing collective motion with machine learning and topology.

We use topological data analysis and machine learning to study a seminal model of collective motion in biology [M. R. D'Orsogna et al.

Ready, Cell, Go! Guided Movement Exercises in an Introductory Cell Biology Course.

Cells and dance are each dynamic manifestations of energy, shape, time, and space. Here we present a novel application of movement learning in cell biology education. "Ready, Cell, Go!" is a set of movement exercises for introductory cell biology students designed to teach concepts of fluidity, crowding, and chaos.

Seventeen-electron chromium(i)tricarbonyltris(phosphine) complexes supported by tris(phosphinomethyl)phenylborates.

The inaugural crystallographic characterization of chromium(i)tricarbonyltris(phosphine) radicals has been achieved. Oxidation of [PPN][Cr(CO)(PhBP)] (PhBP = [PhB(CHPPh)]) and analogous Cr(0) complexes featuring 3,5-dimethylphenyl and 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl borate substituents affords charge-neutral Cr(CO)(PhBP) zwitterions, containing the first fully characterized [Cr(CO)P] units. The stabilization affected by the intramolecular charge separation established by PhBP ligands dramatically increases the robustness of these seventeen-electron Cr(i) complexes.

Repeated Vaginal Exposures to the Common Cosmetic and Household Preservative Methylisothiazolinone Induce Persistent, Mast Cell-Dependent Genital Pain in ND4 Mice.

A history of allergies doubles the risk of vulvodynia-a chronic pain condition of unknown etiology often accompanied by increases in numbers of vulvar mast cells. We previously established the biological plausibility of this relationship in mouse models where repeated exposures to the allergens oxazolone or dinitrofluorobenzene on the labiar skin or inside the vaginal canal of ND4 Swiss Webster outbred mice led to persistent tactile sensitivity and local increases in mast cells. In these models, depletion of mast cells alleviated pain.

A Highly Stabilized Phosphonium Ylide that Forms Supramolecular Dimers in Solution and the Solid State.

This work describes the unexpected formation of an unusual phosphonium ylide when attempting the synthesis of bisphosphonium pyromellitic diimides. Spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization reveals that a combination of π-π and CH⋅⋅⋅O interactions leads to supramolecular homodimerization of the ylide both in solution and in the solid-state. Only strong acids are able to protonate the ylide, which is otherwise inert to Wittig and alkylation reactivity.

Residential proximity to greenhouse agriculture and neurobehavioral performance in Ecuadorian children.

Background: Children living near greenhouse agriculture may have an increased risk of pesticide exposure due to drift or direct contact with pesticide-treated areas. However, little is known about whether this increased potential for chronic exposure may impair their neurodevelopment.

Methods: We examined 307 children aged 4-9 years, living in agricultural communities in Ecuador (ESPINA study).

Emerging investigator series: characterization of silver and silver nanoparticle interactions with zinc finger peptides.

In biological systems, chemical and physical transformations of engineered silver nanomaterials (AgENMs) are mediated, in part, by proteins and other biomolecules. Metalloprotein interactions with AgENMs are also central in understanding toxicity and antimicrobial and resistance mechanisms. Despite their readily available thiolate and amine ligands, zinc finger (ZF) peptides have thus far escaped study in reaction with AgENMs and their Ag(I) oxidative dissolution product.

Early E. casseliflavus gut colonization and outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Gut dysbiosis has been associated with worse allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) outcomes. We reported an association between intrinsically vancomycin-resistant enterococci (iVRE: E. gallinarum and E.

Redox-Active Heteroacene Chromophores Derived from a Nonlinear Aromatic Diimide.

This work describes a three-step chromatography-free protocol for the synthesis of a novel organic materials building block, dichlorinated mellophanic diimide (MDI), that is shown to undergo nucleophilic substitution with a variety of disubstituted benzenes to yield a series of chromophores. Furthermore, 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted benzenes can be used to synthesize tetraimide heteropentacene derivatives endcapped by MDI motifs. The fine-tuning effects of heteroatom identity were investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic and differential pulse voltammetries, and density functional theory calculations.

Daily Sampling Reveals Personalized Diet-Microbiome Associations in Humans.

Diet is a key determinant of human gut microbiome variation. However, the fine-scale relationships between daily food choices and human gut microbiome composition remain unexplored. Here, we used multivariate methods to integrate 24-h food records and fecal shotgun metagenomes from 34 healthy human subjects collected daily over 17 days.

Muddying the waters: A political ecology of mosquito-borne disease in coastal Ecuador.

The mosquito-borne arboviral diseases dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are major public health burdens in Latin America. To analyze the socio-environmental dynamics of these diseases, we apply a political ecology of health and disease framework that is attentive to local etiological frameworks, structural sociopolitical conditions, processes of identity construction, and the contested, politicized nature of public health work. We use multiple qualitative methods to analyze perceptions and interactions with the local environment in relation to mosquito-borne disease across three small communities in Manabí Province, Ecuador.

Heterogeneity in childhood body mass trajectories in relation to prenatal phthalate exposure.

Phthalates, compounds commonly used in plastics and personal care products, have been associated with childhood obesity in cross-sectional and some longitudinal studies. Using advanced statistical methods, we characterized the heterogeneity in body mass development patterns over childhood (ages 2-14 years) and explored associations with maternal prenatal urinary concentrations of phthalates among 335 children in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) cohort study. Height and weight were measured every one to two years in this cohort, which had a high prevalence of obesity and overweight.

Tetrahydrocannabinol Reduces Hapten-Driven Mast Cell Accumulation and Persistent Tactile Sensitivity in Mouse Model of Allergen-Provoked Localized Vulvodynia.

Vulvodynia is a remarkably prevalent chronic pain condition of unknown etiology. An increase in numbers of vulvar mast cells often accompanies a clinical diagnosis of vulvodynia and a history of allergies amplifies the risk of developing this condition. We previously showed that repeated exposures to oxazolone dissolved in ethanol on the labiar skin of mice led to persistent genital sensitivity to pressure and a sustained increase in labiar mast cells.

Small intestinal microbial dysbiosis underlies symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been implicated in symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), though mechanisms remain poorly defined and treatment involves non-specific antibiotics. Here we show that SIBO based on duodenal aspirate culture reflects an overgrowth of anaerobes, does not correspond with patient symptoms, and may be a result of dietary preferences. Small intestinal microbial composition, on the other hand, is significantly altered in symptomatic patients and does not correspond with aspirate culture results.

Bacterial community structure and function distinguish gut sites in captive red-shanked doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus).

The mammalian order primates contains wide species diversity. Members of the subfamily Colobinae are unique amongst extant primates in that their gastrointestinal systems more closely resemble those of ruminants than other members of the primate order. In the growing literature surrounding nonhuman primate microbiomes, analysis of microbial communities has been limited to the hindgut, since few studies have captured data on other gut sites, including the foregut of colobine primates.

Dysbiosis patterns during re-induction/salvage versus induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia.

Acute leukemia (AL) patients undergoing intensive induction chemotherapy develop severe gut dysbiosis, placing them at heightened risk for infectious complications. Some AL patients will undergo "repeat therapy" (re-induction or salvage) due to persistent or relapsed disease. We hypothesized that prior injury to the microbiome during induction may influence dysbiosis patterns during repeat therapy.

Optimization and Validation of Efficient Models for Predicting Polythiophene Self-Assembly.

We develop an optimized force-field for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and demonstrate its utility for predicting thermodynamic self-assembly. In particular, we consider short oligomer chains, model electrostatics and solvent implicitly, and coarsely model solvent evaporation. We quantify the performance of our model to determine what the optimal system sizes are for exploring self-assembly at combinations of state variables.

The impact of conditional cash transfers on nutrition outcomes: Experimental evidence from Mexico.

In this paper, we study the effect of Progresa, a conditional cash transfer program in Mexico, on the micronutrient and macronutrient consumption levels of program participants. Overall, we find that Progresa has a complicated effect on nutrition outcomes. We find that treatment households increase their vitamin consumption by 15 percent and mineral consumption by 7 percent.