bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of oral tactile sensitivity and masticatory performance across adulthood
Authors: Shupe Grace E. , Resmondo Zoe N. , Luckett Curtis R. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTexture perception is one of the most important factors in food acceptance, yet population‐wide differences in texture sensations are not well understood. The variation in texture perception across populations is thought to depend on oral tactile sensitivity and masticatory performance. To address this hypothesis, we aimed to measure tactile acuity with a battery of tests and quantitate the relationship to masticatory performance. The study was performed on 98 participants, in three age groups (20–25, 35–45, or over 62). Two main measures of oral sensitivity were performed: to assess bite force, subjects were asked to discriminate between foam samples of varying hardness. Second, to assess lingual sensitivity the subjects were asked to identify 3D printed shapes using their tongue, as well as identify confectionary letters. Additionally, masticatory performance was measured through assessing each participants ability to mix two‐colored chewing gum. In general, we found that sensitivity and masticatory performance in the younger age groups was superior to that of older adults. We also found a positive linear trend between bite force sensitivity and masticatory performance with younger participants, a trend not found in older participants. We found no significant relationship between age groups for bite force sensitivity and masticatory performance, suggesting that age‐related declines in bite force sensitivity are not a significant cause of altered masticatory performance. This study represents a valuable first step in showing that bite force sensitivity does not depend on age, and the minimal influence of factors such as oral sensitivity on masticatory performance.Practical applicationsIn a society that is rapidly aging, it is important to understand the subtle changes in physiology and eating behavior that are associated with aging. This study used a variety of tests oral sensitivity to better understand which aspects of oral physiology are integral for effective chewing. The information gained helps shed light on to the factors that create an effective chewing cycle. Besides moving knowledge forward, this study may help in designing food and rehabilitation programs for those with trouble chewing and swallowing, increasing their overall quality of life.
Comparison of the mitral valve morphologies of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and dogs of other breeds using 3D transthoracic echocardiography
Authors: Menciotti Giulio , Borgarelli Michele , Aherne Michael , Camacho Paula , Häggström Jens , Ljungvall Ingrid , Lahmers Sunshine M. , Abbott Jonathan A. 
Published: September 2018

BackgroundMyxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is more prevalent in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) compared to dogs of other breeds at a given age. Abnormal valvular stress is thought to contribute to the development and progression of MMVD, and a relationship exists between mitral valve (MV) morphology and stress acting on the valve.ObjectivesTo determine whether the MV morphology of healthy adult CKCSs differs from the morphology of healthy adult dogs of other breeds determined by RT‐3DTTE.AnimalsThirty‐five healthy CKCSs and 41 healthy dogs of other breeds.MethodsProspective cross‐sectional study. Dogs underwent physical examination, conventional echocardiography, and RT‐3DTTE. RT–3DTTE datasets were analyzed using dedicated software for MV morphologic analysis. Morphologic variables were compared between CKCSs and dogs of other breeds.ResultsThe MV of healthy CKCSs had a smaller annulus height (0.46 ± 0.11 vs. 0.56 ± 0.17;P= .0021), tenting height (0.26 ± 0.12 vs. 0.42 ± 0.18;P< .001), tenting area (0.42 ± 0.15 vs. 0.79 ± 0.34;P< .001), normalized tenting volume (0.09 [0.05–0.13] vs. 0.14 [0.10–0.20];P< .001), and normalized area of the posterior leaflet (0.57 ± 0.15 vs. 0.66 ± 0.18;P= .016) compared to healthy dogs of other breeds; this results in CKCSs having a flatter MV with reduced tenting, compared to the MV of other breeds.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThese morphologic features could confer a mechanical disadvantage and play a role in the predisposition of CKCSs to the early development of MMVD.
Gricean communication, language development, and animal minds
Authors: Moore Richard 
Published: September 2018

AbstractHumans alone acquire language. According to one influential school of thought, we do this because we possess a uniquely human ability to act with and attribute “Gricean” communicative intentions. A challenge for this view is that attributing communicative intent seems to require cognitive abilities that infant language learners lack. After considering a range of responses to this challenge, I argue that infant language development can be explained, because Gricean communication is cognitively less demanding than many suppose. However, a consequence of this is that abilities for Gricean communication are unlikely to be uniquely human.
Philosophy of dance and disability
Authors: Hall Joshua M. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe emerging field of the philosophy of dance, as suggested by Aili Bresnahan, increasingly recognizes the problem that (especially pre‐modern) dance has historically focused on bodily perfection, which privileges abled bodies as those that can best make and perform dance as art. One might expect that the philosophy of dance, given the critical and analytical powers of philosophy, might be helpful in illuminating and suggesting ameliorations for this tendency in dance. But this is particularly a difficult task since the analytic philosophy of dance is too young to have achieved a comprehensive treatment of dance per se, let alone to update such a treatment in line with the demands of social justice. As a step in that direction, the present article (a) summarizes dance theorists on disabled dance (as opposed to the dance of the temporarily able‐bodied, or TAB) and then applies (b) the philosophy of art and dance to disability, (c) the philosophy of disability to dance, (d) interdisciplinary disability theory to dance, and (e) my own Figuration philosophy of dance to disability, as inspired in part by John Dewey.
Gene expression and immunolocalization of low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75) in rabbit male reproductive tract during sexual maturation
Authors: Sanchez‐Rodriguez Ana , Arias‐Alvarez Maria , Rebollar Pilar G. , Bautista Jose M. , Lorenzo Pedro L. , Garcia‐Garcia Rosa M. 
Published: September 2018

ContentsThis study reports the gene expression and immunolocalization of the low‐affinity neurotrophin receptor, p75, in accessory glands (prostate and bulbourethral glands) and epididymis (caput and cauda) of male rabbits during sexual maturation. We showed that p75 was expressed in all tissues studied with similar mRNA levels during this period. However, it was differentially immunolocalized in bulbourethral glands and stereocilia of epididymis. These findings may be related with some remodeling processes in the accessory glands during sexual maturation, which could be associated with sperm maturation. The interaction of p75 with neurotrophins in rabbit male reproductive tract suggests the possible implication of this system in sexual maturation in rabbits.
Assisted reproductive techniques in mares
Authors: Hinrichs Katrin 
Published: September 2018

AbstractA wide variety of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) are available to aid in managing aspects of equine reproduction. Embryo recovery and transfer can be used to obtain more than one foal per mare per year, and to obtain foals from mares that cannot carry a foal to term. Oocyte recovery and either transfer to the oviduct of an inseminated recipient mare (oocyte transfer), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo culture can be used to obtain foals from mares with some types of subfertility, such as problems of the tubular tract. ICSI can be used to obtain foals when sperm number or quality is low. Because of its ease of use for the mare owner and efficiency, oocyte recovery and ICSI is being used in some cases for management of normally fertile mares and stallions. Oocytes can be recovered from live mares by the referring veterinarian, and shipped overnight to a laboratory for ICSI, without any decrease in oocyte or embryo viability. In case of unexpected death of a mare, ovaries or oocytes can be transported to the ICSI laboratory for production of embryos. Embryos produced both in vitro and in vivo can be biopsied to determine their genetic makeup before they are transferred. Equine embryos can be vitrified successfully; collapse of the blastocoele cavity allows efficient vitrification of expanded blastocysts. In contrast, cryopreservation of unfertilized equine oocytes still has low success. Genetics of valuable animals can be preserved via nuclear transfer (cloning) and several commercial companies offer this service clinically.
Flow cytometry analysis of spermatozoa: Is it time for flow spermetry?
Authors: Peña Fernando J. , Ortiz Rodriguez Jose M. , Gil María C. , Ortega Ferrusola Cristina 
Published: September 2018

ContentsFlow cytometry is increasingly used in research and also in clinical andrology. Recent developments in instrumentation, availability of probes and bioinformatics expand the possibilities of flow cytometry well beyond the classical two parametric analyses in use. In this paper, an overview of recent developments in flow cytometry will be presented under the perspective of the authors; aspects such a multicolor assays and computational cytometry will be discussed as well.
Extracellular vesicles derived from endometrial human mesenchymal stem cells improve IVF outcome in an aged murine model
Authors: Marinaro Federica , Pericuesta Eva , Sánchez‐Margallo Francisco Miguel , Casado Javier G. , Álvarez Verónica , Matilla Elvira , Hernández Nuria , Blázquez Rebeca , González‐Fernández Lauro , Gutiérrez‐Adán Alfonso , Macías‐García Beatriz 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAdvanced age reduces the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) being this effect partly mediated by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger apoptosis. It has been demonstrated that extracellular vesicles derived from endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EV‐endMSCs) exert an antioxidant effect and can be used as IVF coadjutants. In this work, endMSCs were isolated from human menstrual blood (n = 4) and characterized according to multipotentiality and surface marker expression prior EV‐endMSCs isolation. Oocytes were obtained from 21 B6D2 mice (24 weeks) and coincubated with sperm from young males (8–12 weeks). Presumptive zygotes were incubated in the presence of 0, 10, 20, 40 or 80 μg/ml of EV‐endMSCs in KSOM medium. Blastocyst yield was evaluated, and 25 blastocysts per group were used for qPCR. Blastocyst rate was 29.4% in control; 45.2% for 10 μg/ml, 62.9% for 20 μg/ml, 55.5% for 40 μg/ml and 53.8% in the 80 μg/ml (n = 124–130 oocytes) being all the increases significantly different when compared against control (p < 0.05). The 20–80 μg/ml treatments decreased the expression of glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1), and the 10–40 μg/ml treatments reduced the expression of superoxide dismutase (Sod1; p < 0.05) compared to control; Bax mRNA expression did not vary. Our results suggest that the increased developmental competence of the embryos could be partly mediated by the EV‐endMSCs’ ROS scavenger activity.
Treatment of drooling with scopolamine in pediatric ICU: A case series report
Authors: Franco Juliana Bertoldi , Cacita Nadia , Freua Karina Albuquerque , Ortega Karem López , de Melo Peres Maria Paula Siqueira 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDrooling is a condition that affects patients with difficulties in swallowing, being common in patients with mental, neurological or dysphagic deficiency. This condition is difficult to diagnose, as it is often confused with sialorrhea, and in many cases we have a hyposalivation scenario. Its diagnosis is subjective, which is why scales should be used for the standardization of the evaluation of the degree of drooling before and after the proposed treatment, as the Thomas‐Stonell and Greenberg scale. It causes problems such as perioral infections, rashes, wet clothing, leading to social embarrassment, and may be a risk factor for respiratory infections caused by asymptomatic aspiration of saliva. It presents several treatments, among them the pharmacological one, that is dependent of the clinical picture of each patient that must be evaluated daily. This article refers to a series of reports of cases of children in mechanical ventilation by tracheostomy, hospitalized, with clinical diagnosis of drooling, and clinical improvement with the use of scopolamine by gastrostomy, without intercurrences during its use. The objective of this study is to show other professionals the importance of drooling management, and to expose the adopted behavior in the described cases, providing reduction of respiratory infections and improvement of the clinical and social complications resulting from drooling.
The Geography of Research on LGBTQ Life: Why sociologists should study the South, rural queers, and ordinary cities
Authors: Stone Amy L. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractOver the past 20 years, sociological research on LGBTQ people and communities has disproportionately studied coastal regions and big cities in the United States. Scholars pay the most attention to queer urban life in “great cities” like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago and understudy lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) life in the South, rural and suburban areas, and ordinary cities. This research ignores demographic evidence about where LGBTQ people live in the United States. I argue that these geographical choices—born out of convenience or theoretical purpose—shape the approach to studying queer life and the unintentional reproduction of a middle‐class, cosmopolitan universal gay subject. I chart a future path for sociology research on LGBTQ life that accounts for geography and moves beyond metronormativity.
W. E. B. DuBois for the Twenty‐First Century: On Being a Scholar‐Activist in the Digital Era
Authors: Daniels Jessie 
Published: September 2018

W. E. B. DuBois began his work as a scholar‐activist at the dawn of the twentieth century, and this article argues that his example has much to teach contemporary scholar‐activists in the twenty‐first century. In order to publish The Crisis, the magazine of the activist organization he cofounded, DuBois purchased a printing press. This meant he could own the means of his own knowledge production and foretold both the promise of what it means to be a scholar‐activist in the twenty‐first century and the limitations built into the current systems of knowledge production. DuBois was also prophetic when he identified the problem of the twentieth century as “the problem of the color line” as the focus of both his scholarship and his activism. The forms of systemic white supremacy we face today are both a continuation of a centuries‐old dimension of racism in the United States and part of an emerging media ecosystem powered by algorithms. The article explores the challenges of being digital scholar‐activists within legacy institutions. It concludes with speculation about what DuBois might do now.
Structural features of two major nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), Nor‐B1 and Nor‐B2, and chromosome‐specific rRNA gene expression in wheat
Authors: Handa Hirokazu , Kanamori Hiroyuki , Tanaka Tsuyoshi , Murata Kazuki , Kobayashi Fuminori , Robinson Stephen J. , Koh Chu S. , Pozniak Curtis J. , Sharpe Andrew G. , Paux Etienne ,   International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium, Wu Jianzhong , Nasuda Shuhei 
Published: September 2018

Summary
The reference genome sequence of wheat ‘Chinese Spring’ (CS) is now available (IWGSC RefSeq v1.0), but the core sequences defining the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) have not been characterized. We estimated that the total copy number of the rDNA units in the wheat genome is 11 160, of which 30.5%, 60.9% and 8.6% are located on Nor‐B1 (1B), Nor‐B2 (6B) and other NORs, respectively. The total length of the NORs is estimated to be 100 Mb, corresponding to approximately 10% of the unassembled portion of the genome not represented in RefSeq v1.0. Four subtypes (S1–S4) of the rDNA units were identified based on differences within the 3′ external transcribed spacer regions in Nor‐B1 and Nor‐B2, and quantitative PCR indicated locus‐specific variation in rDNA subtype contents. Expression analyses of rDNA subtypes revealed that S1 was predominantly expressed and S2 weakly expressed, in contrast to the relative abundance of rDNA subtypes in the wheat genome. These results suggest a regulation mechanism of differential rDNA expression based on sequence differences. S3 expression increased in the ditelosomic lines Dt1BL and Dt6BL, suggesting that S3 is subjected to chromosome‐mediated silencing. Structural differences were detected in the regions surrounding the NOR among homoeologous chromosomes of groups 1 and 6. The adjacent regions distal to the major NORs were expanded compared with their homoeologous counterparts, and the gene density of these expanded regions was relatively low. We provide evidence that these regions are likely to be important for autoregulation of the associated major NORs as well as silencing of minor NORs.
Immune receptor genes and pericentromeric transposons as targets of common epigenetic regulatory elements
Authors: Cambiagno Damián A. , Nota Florencia , Zavallo Diego , Rius Sebastián , Casati Paula , Asurmendi Sebastián , Alvarez María E. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryPattern recognition receptors (PRR) and nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat proteins (NLR) are major components of the plant immune system responsible for pathogen detection. To date, the transcriptional regulation of PRR/NLR genes is poorly understood. Some PRR/NLR genes are affected by epigenetic changes of neighboring transposable elements (TEs) (cis regulation). We analyzed whether these genes can also respond to changes in the epigenetic marks of distal pericentromeric TEs (trans regulation). We found that Arabidopsis tissues infected with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) initially induced the expression of pericentromeric TEs, and then repressed it by RNA‐directed DNA methylation (RdDM). The latter response was accompanied by the accumulation of small RNAs (sRNAs) mapping to the TEs. Curiously these sRNAs also mapped to distal PRR/NLR genes, which were controlled by RdDM but remained induced in the infected tissues. Then, we used non‐infected mom1 (Morpheus’ molecule 1) mutants that expressed pericentromeric TEs to test if they lose repression of PRR/NLR genes. mom1 plants activated several PRR/NLR genes that were unlinked to MOM1‐targeted TEs, and showed enhanced resistance to Pst. Remarkably, the increased defenses of mom1 were abolished when MOM1/RdDM‐mediated pericentromeric TEs silencing was re‐established. Therefore, common sRNAs could control PRR/NLR genes and distal pericentromeric TEs and preferentially silence TEs when they are activated.
Limbal squamous cell carcinoma in a Rocky Mountain Horse: Case report and investigation of genetic contribution
Authors: Knickelbein Kelly E. , Lassaline Mary E. , Bellone Rebecca R. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo document a case of limbal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a Rocky Mountain Horse stallion determined to be homozygous for the genetic risk factor (DDB2c.1013C>T) strongly associated with the disease in Haflinger and Belgian horses, and to determine the frequency of this allele in a larger population of Rocky Mountain Horses.Animals studiedOne privately owned Rocky Mountain Horse and 84 Rocky Mountain Horses screened for allelic frequency.ProceduresA complete ophthalmic examination was performed on a Rocky Mountain Horse stallion for assessment of a mass affecting the right eye. A clinical diagnosis of suspected limbalSCCwas made, and routine keratoconjunctivectomy and adjunctive strontium irradiation were performed. Genotyping for theDDB2c.1013C > T(rs1139682898) risk variant was performed utilizing an allele‐specificPCRassay onDNAisolated from whole blood and hair follicles.ResultsHistopathology confirmed the limbal mass to be consistent withSCC. The horse was genotyped as homozygous for theDDB2c.1013C >Trisk variant. The frequency of the variant allele among a population of 84 Rocky Mountain Horses was found to be 0.20.ConclusionThe Rocky Mountain Horse breed possesses theDDB2variant allele determined to be a significant risk factor for ocularSCCin the Haflinger and Belgian breeds. Genotyping additional Rocky Mountain Horses diagnosed with ocularSCCas well as confirmed healthy controls for this variant should be undertaken to determine whether a significant association exists between ocularSCCand the variant in the Rocky Mountain Horse breed.
Mitral valve prolapse and sudden cardiac death: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nalliah Chrishan J , Mahajan Rajiv , Elliott Adrian D , Haqqani Haris , Lau Dennis H , Vohra Jitendra K , Morton Joseph B , Semsarian Christopher , Marwick Thomas , Kalman Jonathan M , Sanders Prashanthan 
Published: September 2018

ObjectivesMitral valve prolapse (MVP) is commonly observed as a benign finding. However, the literature suggests that it may be associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). We performed a meta-analysis and systematic review to determine the: (1) prevalence of MVP in the general population; (2) prevalence of MVP in all SCD and unexplained SCD; (3) incidence of SCD in MVP and (4) risk factors for SCD.MethodsThe English medical literature was searched for: (1) MVP community prevalence; (2) MVP prevalence in SCD cohorts; (3) incidence SCD in MVP and (4) SCD risk factors in MVP. Thirty-four studies were identified for inclusion. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018089502).ResultsThe prevalence of MVP was 1.2% (95% CI 0.5 to 2.0) in community populations. Among SCD victims, the cause of death remained undetermined in 22.1% (95% CI 13.4 to 30.7); of these, MVP was observed in 11.7% (95% CI 5.8 to 19.1). The incidence of SCD in the MVP population was 0.14% (95% CI 0.1 to 0.3) per year. Potential risk factors for SCD include bileaflet prolapse, ventricular fibrosis complex ventricular ectopy and ST-T wave abnormalities.ConclusionThe high prevalence of MVP in cohorts of unexplained SCD despite low population prevalence provides indirect evidence of an association of MVP with SCD. The absolute number of people exposed to the risk of SCD is significant, although the incidence of life-threatening arrhythmic events in the general MVP population remains low. High-risk features include bileaflet prolapse, ventricular fibrosis, ST-T wave abnormalities and frequent complex ventricular ectopy.Trial registrationPROSPERO (CRD42018089502).