Molecular principles underlying dual RNA specificity in the Drosophila SNF protein

The first RNA recognition motif of the Drosophila SNF protein is an example of an RNA binding protein with multi-specificity. It binds different RNA hairpin loops in spliceosomal U1 or U2 small nuclear RNAs, and only in the latter case requires the auxiliary U2A′ protein. Here we investigate its functions by crystal structures of SNF alone and bound to U1 stem-loop II, U2A′ or U2 stem-loop IV and U2A′, SNF dynamics from NMR spectroscopy, and structure-guided mutagenesis in binding studies. We find that different loop-closing base pairs and a nucleotide exchange at the tips of the loops contribute to differential SNF affinity for the RNAs. U2A′ immobilizes SNF and RNA residues to restore U2 stem-loop IV binding affinity, while U1 stem-loop II binding does not require such adjustments. Our findings show how U2A′ can modulate RNA specificity of SNF without changing SNF conformation or relying on direct RNA contacts

The Role of Partnerships in Achieving the Vision: Tracking and Assessing Community Engagement

This presentation was given at the Virginia Association for Management Analysis and Planning in Richmond, Virginia on October 20, 2016

Building Community-Engagement Infrastructure at Warp Speed: Leveraging Enterprise Data and Partnerships

This was presented at the pre-conference workshop on November 16, 2015 at the annual meeting of IARSLCE in Boston, Massachusetts

Exploring the Use of a Pilot Anchor Framework to Measure VCU\u27S Impact on the Region

Presentated at IARSLCE on November 18, 2015

Beyond Plants: The Ultra-Processing of Global Diets Is Harming the Health of People, Places, and Planet

Global food systems are a central issue for personal and planetary health in the Anthropocene. One aspect of major concern is the dramatic global spread of ultra-processed convenience foods in the last 75 years, which is linked with the rising human burden of disease and growing sustainability and environmental health challenges. However, there are also calls to radically transform global food systems, from animal to plant-derived protein sources, which may have unintended consequences. Commercial entities have moved toward this “great plant transition” with vigor. Whether motivated by profit or genuine environmental concern, this effort has facilitated the emergence of novel ultra-processed “plant-based” commercial products devoid of nutrients and fiber, and sometimes inclusive of high sugar, industrial fats, and synthetic additives. These and other ingredients combined into “plant-based” foods are often assumed to be healthy and lower in calorie content. However, the available evidence indicates that many of these products can potentially compromise health at all scales—of people, places, and planet. In this viewpoint, we summarize and reflect on the evidence and discussions presented at the Nova Network planetary health meeting on the “Future of Food”, which had a particular focus on the encroachment of ultra-processed foods into the global food supply, including the plant-sourced animal protein alternatives (and the collective of ingredients therein) that are finding their way into global fast-food chains. We contend that while there has been much uncritical media attention given to the environmental impact of protein and macronutrient sources—meat vs. novel soy/pea protein burgers, etc.—the impact of the heavy industrial processing on both human and environmental health is significant but often overlooked, including effects on cognition and mental health. This calls for a more nuanced discourse that considers these complexities and refocuses priorities and value systems towards mutualistic solutions, with co-benefits for individuals, local communities, and global ecology.publishedVersio

Artificial Nightlight Alters the Predator–Prey Dynamics of an Apex Carnivore

Artificial nightlight is increasingly recognized as an important environmental disturbance that influences the habitats and fitness of numerous species. However, its effects on wide‐ranging vertebrates and their interactions remain unclear. Light pollution has the potential to amplify land‐use change, and as such, answering the question of how this sensory stimulant affects behavior and habitat use of species valued for their ecological roles and economic impacts is critical for conservation and land‐use planning. Here, we combined satellite‐derived estimates of light pollution, with GPS‐data from cougars Puma concolor (n = 56), mule deer Odocoileus hemionus (n = 263) and locations of cougar‐killed deer (n = 1562 carcasses), to assess the effects of light exposure on mammal behavior and predator–prey relationships across wildland–urban gradients in the southwestern United States. Our results indicate that deer used the anthropogenic environments to access forage and were more active at night than their wildland conspecifics. Despite higher nightlight levels, cougars killed deer at the wildland–urban interface, but hunted them in the relatively darkest locations. Light had the greatest effect of all covariates on where cougars killed deer at the wildland–urban interface. Both species exhibited functional responses to light pollution at fine scales; individual cougars and deer with less light exposure increasingly avoided illuminated areas when exposed to greater radiance, whereas deer living in the wildland–urban interface selected elevated light levels. We conclude that integrating estimates of light pollution into ecological studies provides crucial insights into how the dynamic human footprint can alter animal behavior and ecosystem function across spatial scales

The Excitotoxin Elimination Diet: A Novel Dietary Intervention for those with Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by multiple symptoms including severe fatigue, headache, muscle pain, cognitive dysfunction, and paresthesias. Up to 81% of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the effect of a 4-week excitotoxin additive free diet on symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and then further, to use a randomized double blind crossover challenge to determine: 2) whether FM symptoms would return more frequently when subjects were challenged with MSG as compared to placebo, and 3) whether IBS symptoms returned upon MSG challenge more frequently than placebo. Subjects were recruited from the Portland, OR area, and attended a 2-hour group diet training session and individual clinic appointment before starting a one-month excitotoxin additive free diet. At the end of the month, subjects reporting greater than 30% symptom improvement went onto a 2-week double blind crossover challenge period where they were randomized to receive either MSG in juice for 3 days or placebo for 3 days. The following week they received whatever they did not receive the first week. Eighty-four percent of those who finished the diet reported >30% symptom improvement and pre-post diet analysis demonstrated highly significant difference scores for all major outcome measures. Total symptom scores (11.4, p<0.0001), fibromyalgia impact questionnaire-revised scores (FIQR) (22, p<0.0001), and IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire scores (11, p<0.0001) were all significantly reduced, as were visual analog pain (VAS) change scores for FM (5.4, p<0.0001) and IBS (4.6, p<0.0001). Challenge results demonstrated that diet responders got significantly worse when challenged with MSG as compared to placebo in most measures (total symptom score, p<0.02; FIQR, p<0.03; and IBS-QOL, p<0.05). VAS for IBS and FM both worsened, but to a lesser degree (mean change of 2.1 (p<0.19) and 2.5 (p<0.07) respectively). The majority of responders were still following the diet at 2 months post study which suggests feasibility and benefit. Results suggest that the excitotoxin additive free dietary intervention may provide significant symptom relief equal to or greater than current pharmacological strategies for fibromyalgia patients with IBS

Alvin Weekend Sun-Advertiser

Weekly newspaper from Alvin, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising

The Alvin Sun

Weekly newspaper from Alvin, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising