James Simon - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by James Simon

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Apr 27, 2023

Frontiers in Nutrition

IntroductionNutrition security continues to worsen in sub-Saharan Africa. Current research is lim... more IntroductionNutrition security continues to worsen in sub-Saharan Africa. Current research is limited on how seasonality may influence the impact of nutrition, culinary, and production interventions on food security, diet quality, and consumption of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIV); a culturally accepted source of micro-and-macronutrients that are easily produced due to their adaptation to the local environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the programmatic impact of AIV interventions on nutrition security among smallholder farmers.MethodsIn a randomized control trial, five target counties in Western Kenya were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: (1) control; (2) production intervention (PI); (3) nutrition and culinary intervention (NCI); and (4) NCI and PI (NCI/PI). After the counties were randomly assigned to a treatment, 503 smallholder farmers (18–65 years) were selected from participatory farmer groups. The PI consisted of five agricultural production...

Frontiers in Plant Science

Plant based natural products have been widely used as antibacterial and insect repellent agents g... more Plant based natural products have been widely used as antibacterial and insect repellent agents globally. Because of growing resistance in bacterial plant pathogens and urban pests to current methods of control, combined with the long- and short-term negative impact of certain chemical controls in humans, non-target organisms, and the environment, finding alternative methods is necessary to prevent and/or mitigate losses caused by these pathogens and pests. The antibacterial and insect repellent activities of essential oils of novel cultivars of catnip (Nepeta cataria L. cv. CR9) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L. cv. Pierre) rich in the terpenes nepetalactone and carvacrol, respectively, were evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay and petri dish repellency assay. The essential oils exhibit moderate to high antibacterial activity against three plant pathogens, Pseudomonas cichorii, Pseudomonas syringae and Xanthomonas perforans of economic interest and the individual essential ...

Frontiers in Plant Science

IntroductionCatnip (Nepeta cataria L.) produces volatile iridoid terpenes, mainly nepetalactones,... more IntroductionCatnip (Nepeta cataria L.) produces volatile iridoid terpenes, mainly nepetalactones, with strong repellent activity against species of arthropods with commercial and medical importance. Recently, new catnip cultivars CR3 and CR9 have been developed, both characterized by producing copious amounts of nepetalactones. Due to its perennial nature, multiple harvests can be obtained from this specialty crop and the effects of such practice on the phytochemical profile of the plants are not extensively studied.MethodsIn this study we assessed the productivity of biomass, chemical composition of the essential oil and polyphenol accumulation of new catnip cultivars CR3 and CR9 and their hybrid, CR9×CR3, across four successive harvests. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was obtained via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Individual polyphenols were quantified by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography- diode-array det...

Frontiers in Communication

Collaborating scientists and storytellers successfully built a university-based science-in-action... more Collaborating scientists and storytellers successfully built a university-based science-in-action video storytelling model to test the research question: Can university scientists increase their relatability and public engagement through science-in-action video storytelling? Developed over 14 years, this science storytelling model produced more than a dozen high-visibility narratives that translated science to the public and featured scientists, primarily environmental and climate scientists, who are described in audience surveys as relatable people. This collaborative model, based on long-term trusting partnerships between scientists and video storytellers, documented scientists as they conducted their research and together created narratives intended to humanize scientists as authentic people on journeys of discovery. Unlike traditional documentary filmmaking or journalism, the participatory nature of this translational science model involved scientists in the shared making of nar...

Molecules

Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) is of scientific interest largely due to the production of nepetalacto... more Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) is of scientific interest largely due to the production of nepetalactones, volatile iridoid terpenes with strong arthropod repellent activity. However, the plant can also produce other bioactive volatile iridoids, such as nepetalic acid (NA), nepetalactam (NT) and dihydronepetalactone (DHNL) that have not been studied extensively. Germplasm studies on plants that can produce such compounds are scarce. The present study evaluated the chemical diversity of catnip genotypes with a focus on NA, NT and DHNL. A total of 34 genotypes were harvested at different times over two years. The ethanolic extract of the plants was screened for iridoids by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. CR9 × CR3 genotype had the highest value for biomass yield, while cultivar CR9 had the highest value for accumulated NA. Genotype UK.2 had the highest value for accumulated NT yield and CR5 had the highest value for accumulated DHNL. Overal...

Frontiers in Nutrition

Methods for a dissolution study by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole... more Methods for a dissolution study by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ/MS) analysis of grape polyphenol dietary supplements, namely, grape seed extract (GSE) and resveratrol (RSV) capsules, were developed following the guidance of United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <2040>. Two dissolution media, 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (pH 1.2) and 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6), were evaluated with dissolution apparatus (USP 1), 100 rpm rotation speed, and 900 ml dissolution medium volume. Dissolution profiling was performed over 120 min. Major phenolic compounds of gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2 were quantitated to obtain the dissolution profile of GSE capsules, and trans-RSV was used for RSV capsules. Results indicated that the released trans-RSV for RSV capsules in both of the dissolution media meets the USP standards, and that for the GSE capsules, all the four marker compounds passed the dissolution test in the...

The usage of natural products is becoming an increasingly common consumer phenomenon due to incre... more The usage of natural products is becoming an increasingly common consumer phenomenon due to increasing health consciousness, and because of their naturalness, and medicinal qualities of the products. African countries are very rich with natural products resources and supplies. The continent's rich botanical heritage offers an excellent opportunity to diversify away from other traditional exports. Europe and the USA are particularly promising markets for natural products. Thus, it is advantageous to examine development of natural products exporting as alternative or complimentary economic opportunities for many African people, especially those in the rural areas. This paper has explores both factors which promote and which act as obstacles to the natural products market, specifically in the retail and wholesale portions of the value chain in Ghana and Rwanda.

For most of the African countries agriculture still remains the mainstay of the economies supplyi... more For most of the African countries agriculture still remains the mainstay of the economies supplying both food and incomes via marketable surpluses. However, many odds against agriculture such low productivity, poor prices, and drought among others make it unsustainable. Results thus far show that such dependence has contributed little to neither economic development nor growth. Still many of its people living on and from agriculture remain poor, and are susceptible to hunger and malnutrition. Additionally, their over reliance on a few traditional exports such coffee, tea, and cocoa etc., products whose world prices keep declining has not helped either. At most this is futile response to raising incomes of its people, let alone spur any meaningful development. Agricultural may still contribute to development, if the countries could diversify from traditional products to the untapped areas. The continent's rich botanical heritage offers an excellent opportunity to diversify away f...

Scientific Reports, 2021

The gut microbiota’s metabolome is composed of bioactive metabolites that confer disease resilien... more The gut microbiota’s metabolome is composed of bioactive metabolites that confer disease resilience. Probiotics’ therapeutic potential hinges on their metabolome altering ability; however, characterizing probiotics’ metabolic activity remains a formidable task. In order to solve this problem, an artificial model of the human gastrointestinal tract is introduced coined the ABIOME (A Bioreactor Imitation of the Microbiota Environment) and used to predict probiotic formulations’ metabolic activity and hence therapeutic potential with machine learning tools. The ABIOME is a modular yet dynamic system with real-time monitoring of gastrointestinal conditions that support complex cultures representative of the human microbiota and its metabolome. The fecal-inoculated ABIOME was supplemented with a polyphenol-rich prebiotic and combinations of novel probiotics that altered the output of bioactive metabolites previously shown to invoke anti-inflammatory effects. To dissect the synergistic in...

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2021

Translational Psychiatry, 2020

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability, and there is an urgent need for... more Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability, and there is an urgent need for new therapeutics. Stress-mediated induction of pro-inflammation in the periphery contributes to depression-like behaviors both in humans and in experimental models. Inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Our studies demonstrated that metabolism of flavanol rich cocoa preparation (FRP) led to the accumulation of select phenolic acids that may contribute to its anti-inflammatory activity. Using a repeated social defeat stress (RSDS) model of depression, we showed that oral administration of FRP attenuates susceptibility to RSDS-mediated depression, supporting the further development of FRP as a novel therapeutic for the treatment of stress disorders and anxiety in humans.

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2020

ObjectivesRaspberry ketone (RK) is the primary aroma compound in red raspberries and a dietary su... more ObjectivesRaspberry ketone (RK) is the primary aroma compound in red raspberries and a dietary supplement for weight loss. This work aims to 1) compare RK bioavailability in male versus female, normal‐weight versus obese mice; 2) characterize RK metabolic pathways.MethodsStudy 1: C57BL/6J male and female mice fed a low‐fat diet (LFD; 10% fat) receive a single oral gavage dose of RK (200 mg kg−1). Blood, brain, and white adipose tissue (WAT) are collected over 12 h. Study 2: Male mice are fed a LFD or high‐fat diet (45% fat) for 8 weeks before RK dosing. Samples collected are analyzed by UPLC‐MS/MS for RK and its metabolites.ResultsRK is rapidly absorbed (Tmax ≈ 15 min), and bioconverted into diverse metabolites in mice. Total bioavailability (AUC0–12 h) is slightly lower in females than males (566 vs 675 nmol mL−1 min−1). Total bioavailability in obese mice is almost doubled that of control mice (1197 vs 679 nmol mL−1 min−1), while peaking times and elimination half‐lives are delaye...

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2018

HortScience, 2010

Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora belbahrii, is a new disease of basil (Ocimum spp.) in the Uni... more Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora belbahrii, is a new disease of basil (Ocimum spp.) in the United States. In 2009, different basil species, cultivars, and advanced breeding lines of sweet basil (30 in total) were evaluated for susceptibility to basil downy mildew in field trials in southern and northern New Jersey. Popular commercial sweet basil cultivars such as Martina, Nufar, and Poppy Joe were among the most susceptible to downy mildew. Symptoms and sporulation of P. belhahrii on Ocimum ×citriodorum and O. americanum cultivars were present but far less than on most O. basilicum cultivars evaluated. The cultivars Spice, Blue Spice, and Blue Spice Fil were the least susceptible to basil downy mildew with no visible symptoms. Similar results were observed in both field trials. This is the first report of potential resistance in Ocimum spp. to basil downy mildew. Observations from this study show that the development of resistant cultivars may be possible. Selection criteria such...

Journal of health, population, and nutrition, Jun 5, 2017

The prevalence of undernutrition is decreasing in many parts of the developing world, but challen... more The prevalence of undernutrition is decreasing in many parts of the developing world, but challenges remain in many countries. The objective of this study was to determine factors influencing childhood nutrition status in Kenya and Zambia. The objective of this study is to determine factors associated with temporal changes in childhood nutritional status in two countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data from national demographic and health surveys from the World Bank for Kenya (1998-2009) and Zambia (1996-2014) were used to select the youngest child of each household with complete data for all variables studied. Multiple linear regression analyses were used for data from 2902 and 11,335 children from Kenya and Zambia, respectively, in each year to determine the relationship between social and economic factors and measures of nutritional status, including wasting, stunting, and overweight. There was a decreased prevalence of stunting (35% in Kenya and 40% in Zambia), while the prevalence ...