bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complex neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of histone deacetylases
Authors: Thomas Elizabeth A. , D'Mello Santosh R. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBy their ability to shatter quality of life for both patients and caregivers, neurodegenerative diseases are the most devastating of human disorders. Unfortunately, there are no effective or long‐terms treatments capable of slowing down the relentless loss of neurons in any of these diseases. One impediment is the lack of detailed knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the processes of neurodegeneration. While some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are mostly sporadic in nature, driven by both environment and genetic susceptibility, many others, including Huntington's disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, and spinal‐bulbar muscular atrophy, are genetically inherited disorders. Surprisingly, given their different roots and etiologies, both sporadic and genetic neurodegenerative disorders have been linked to disease mechanisms involving histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins, which consists of 18 family members with diverse functions. While most studies have implicated certain HDAC subtypes in promoting neurodegeneration, a substantial body of literature suggests that other HDAC proteins can preserve neuronal viability. Of particular interest, however, is the recent realization that a single HDAC subtype can have both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects. Diverse mechanisms, beyond transcriptional regulation have been linked to these effects, including deacetylation of non‐histone proteins, protein–protein interactions, post‐translational modifications of the HDAC proteins themselves and direct interactions with disease proteins. The roles of these HDACs in both sporadic and genetic neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed in the current review.
image
Reliability of a two‐colour chewing gum test to assess masticatory performance in complete denture wearers
Authors: Silva L. C. , Nogueira T. E. , Rios L. F. , Schimmel M. , Leles C. R. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryThe aim of this study was to test the reliability of a method to measure the masticatory performance of complete denture wearers employing a colour‐mixing ability test and assessment by visual and electronic colourimetric analysis. A sample of 75 subjects was selected from patients who received new conventional complete dentures. Masticatory tests were performed using a two‐colour chewing gum that was masticated for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 chewing cycles, performed in a random order. The mixing level of the two colours of the chewed gum was assessed visually by two independent raters based on a 5‐point ordinal scale. The specimens were flattened into a 1‐mm‐width wafer, scanned and saved as a two‐sided digital image. Each pair of images was submitted to an electronic colourimetric analysis to assess the level of colour mixture, measured by the circular variance of hue (VOH). Overall inter‐ and intra‐rater agreements in visual analysis were 64% and 68%, respectively (almost 99% of scores ranged within ±1 point), whilst overall weighted kappa was >0.80. A proportional increase in the level of mixture occurred with increased number of chewing cycles (P < .001). Similarly, VOH and the visual analysis were highly correlated (r = −.89; P < .001). Bland‐Altman plots revealed excellent agreement and extremely low systematic error between duplicated VOH measures. It was concluded that the two‐colour chewing gum test is a reliable method to assess the masticatory performance in complete denture wearers using both visual and electronic colourimetric analyses.
Perfume experts' perceptions of body odors: Toward a new lexicon for body odor description
Authors: Allen C. , Havlíček J. , Williams K. , Roberts S. C. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHuman axillary (armpit) odors are highly diverse and have potential to reveal a wide range of individual information. This is echoed in gas chromatography findings, which show that axillary odors are comprised of many volatile compounds. Despite this, only a small number of verbal descriptors are used when investigating the perceptual qualities of body odors. We set out to develop a lexicon that would capture these perceptual qualities in more detail, working alongside perfumers and fragrance evaluators in order to benefit from their expertise in olfactory perception and semantic labeling of odors. Four experts developed a list of 15 verbal descriptors based on an exemplar set of male and female axillary samples, and then rated 62 samples (31 men and 31 women) using these. We explored the predictive value of these ratings, finding that subsets of descriptors distinguished male from female samples, appearing to be more reliable than explicit judgments of odor sex.Practical applicationsThis lexicon was successful in discriminating sex of odor samples and could enable improved understanding of other perceptual qualities of human odor. For example, it could be possible to link specific perceptual qualities to specific cues (e.g., symmetry, masculinity) or to manipulate odors based on perceptual qualities in experimental settings, with direct practical implications for odor researchers. Furthermore, the existence of such a lexicon will allow body odors to be categorized for practical purposes. For example, such categorization will facilitate exploration of how fragrances, ingredients, or accords may interact with and complement different body odor types.
Canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations associated with intervertebral disc disease in 84 dogs
Authors: Schueler R. O. , White G. , Schueler R. L. , Steiner J. M. , Wassef A. 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo determine the differences in serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity between dogs with intervertebral disc herniation and healthy control dogs.Materials and MethodsEighty‐four client‐owned dogs with intervertebral disc herniation, diagnosed by neurologic examination and imaging, and 18 healthy control dogs. Samples of whole blood were collected within 90 minutes of admission. Serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations were measured by a commercial immunoassay and evaluated for association with intervertebral disc herniation, signalment, neurolocalisation and the preadmission administration of glucocorticosteriods or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.ResultsSerum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations were statistically increased in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation (P<0·01, n=38). A subgroup of dogs (19/38) with elevated canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations was re‐evaluated between 2 and 4 weeks later, and 15 had resolution of clinical signs and values less than 200 μg/L. Serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations were not significantly correlated with clinical gastrointestinal disease, neurolocalisation or the preadmission administration of corticosteroids or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.Clinical significanceThese results suggest that serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations are significantly elevated in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation.
Reference values and changes in infant sleep–wake behaviour during the first 12 months of life: a systematic review
Authors: Dias Cláudia C. , Figueiredo Bárbara , Rocha Magda , Field Tiffany 
Published: January 2018

SummaryThis paper is a systematic review on the reference values and changes in infant sleep–wake behaviour during the first 12 months of life. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA). Seventy‐four papers were included, and the reference values and changes in sleep–wake behaviour during the first 12 months of life were identified. Sleep duration during the 24‐h period, and day and sleep periods during the night decreased over the first 12 months of life. Night wakings and bedtime/sleep‐onset time decreased, while the longest sleep period increased at night during the first 6 months. High discrepancy was noted between studies in the reference values of sleep–wake behaviour, while more congruence was noted regarding changes, especially those occurring in the first 6 months of life. Several methodological differences were identified between studies and may partially explain inconsistencies in the results, including the assessment of different sleep–wake behaviours, the focus on specific ages or age ranges, the use of self‐report, observational or direct measures, the recruitment of small or large representative samples, and the countries where the research was conducted. These aspects should be considered in future research and caution should be taken when generalizing results from studies with diverse methodological characteristics. Nonetheless, this review identifies normative reference values and the changes occurring in infant sleep–wake behaviour, and could inform both practitioners and researchers, helping them identify infants with sleep delays or problems.
Investigation of the Role of Campylobacter Infection in Suspected Acute Polyradiculoneuritis in Dogs
Authors: Martinez‐Anton L. , Marenda M. , Firestone S.M. , Bushell R.N. , Child G. , Hamilton A.I. , Long S.N. , Le Chevoir M.A.R. 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundAcute polyradiculoneuritis (APN) is an immune‐mediated peripheral nerve disorder in dogs that shares many similarities with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) in humans, in which the bacterial pathogen Campylobacter spp. now is considered to be a major triggering agent. Little information is available concerning the relationship between APN and Campylobacter spp. in dogs.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo estimate the association between Campylobacter spp. infection and APN. Associations with additional potential risk factors also were investigated, particularly consumption of raw chicken.AnimalsTwenty‐seven client‐owned dogs suffering from suspected APN and 47 healthy dogs, client‐owned or owned by staff members.MethodsCase‐control study with incidence density‐based sampling. Fecal samples were collected from each enrolled animal to perform direct culture, DNA extraction, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Campylobacter spp. In some cases, species identification was performed by sequence analysis of the amplicon. Data were obtained from the medical records and owner questionnaires in both groups.ResultsIn cases in which the fecal sample was collected within 7 days from onset of clinical signs, APN cases were 9.4 times more likely to be positive for Campylobacter spp compared to control dogs (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant association was detected between dogs affected by APN and the consumption of raw chicken (96% of APN cases; 26% of control dogs). The most common Campylobacter spp. identified was Campylobacter upsaliensis.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceRaw chicken consumption is a risk factor in dogs for the development of APN, which potentially is mediated by infection with Campylobacter spp.
Holocene vegetation history of the Jeseníky Mts: Deepening elevational contrast in pollen assemblages since late prehistory
Authors: Dudová Lydie , Hájek Michal , Petr Libor , Jankovská Vlasta 
Published: January 2018

AbstractQuestionsHow did the vegetation of a Central European mountain region with a fragmented alpine zone develop during the Holocene? When did human land use start to alter summit grasslands? Which gradient in pollen assemblages was strongest and was it consistent through time?LocationJeseníky Mountains, Czech Republic.MethodsSixteen pollen records were subjected to DCA in order to explore patterns of compositional similarities in the fossil pollen data. Because only the last 6,000 years were recorded in the study sites from mountain summits, we restricted further analysis to this period. Twelve radiocarbon‐dated pollen records were subjected to DCCA constrained by modelled calibrated age. Responses of individual pollen types to the principal DCCA gradients were tested with GAMs.ResultsIn the DCA, Early Holocene samples were located close to recent ones due to abundant pollen of herbs, Poaceae, Betula, Pinus sylvestris type and rare pollen of climax deciduous trees. In the DCCA for the last 6,000 years, the sorting of sites along the first unconstrained axis correlated with altitude, which is a complex factor corresponding to temperature and geomorphology (flat summits vs alluvia of mountain rivulets). This elevational differentiation became more pronounced after 2,250 cal BP when summit peatlands started to contain more Vaccinium, Calluna vulgaris, Amaranthaceae, Plantago lanceolata and Rumex acetosa type pollen. In contrast, mid‐elevation pollen spectra started to contain more meadow herbs (Caltha, Potentilla type, Cirsium/Carduus). Picea pollen was surprisingly more associated with mid‐elevation than high‐elevation sites, unlike Fagus.ConclusionIncreasing contrast between summits and middle elevation alluvia seems to be a major feature of vegetation development over the last 6,000 years. While alluvial areas were encroached by Alnus–Picea forests, and later locally transformed into wet grasslands, grazing and forest burning at summits gradually increased abundance of acidophytic dwarf shrubs and peatlands, especially since the Iron Age. Human impact might facilitate beech expansion at high elevations, with Picea‐dominated forests being restricted to alluvia and around mid‐elevation basin peatlands prior to establishment of modern Picea plantations.
Largest reported groups for the Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) found in Algoa Bay, South Africa: Trends and potential drivers
Authors: Bouveroux Thibaut N. , Caputo Michelle , Froneman Pierre W. , Plön Stephanie 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis study investigates how group size of Indo‐Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) changes temporally, spatially, and/or with predominant behavior at two discreet sites along the Eastern Cape coastline of South Africa: Algoa Bay and the Wild Coast. The mean group size of bottlenose dolphins was large with an average of 52 animals. Significantly larger groups were observed in Algoa Bay ( = 60, range = 1–600) than off the Wild Coast ( = 32.9, range = 1–250). In Algoa Bay, the mean group size increased significantly over the study period, from an average 18 animals in 2008 to 76 animals in 2016. Additionally, the largest average and maximum group sizes ever reported both in South Africa and worldwide, were recorded in Algoa Bay (maximum group size = 600). Neither season nor behavior had a significant effect on mean group size at both sites. Similarly environmental variables such as the depth and substrate type also had no influence on group size. It remains unclear which ecological drivers, such as predation risk and food availability, are leading to the large groups observed in this area, and further research on abundance and distribution of both predators and prey is necessary.
Cognitive Maelstroms, Nested Negotiation Networks, and Cascading Decision Effects: Modeling and Teaching Negotiation Complexity with Systemic Multiconstituency Exercises
Authors: Bell Arvid , Mandell Brian 
Published: January 2018

Negotiation practitioners today struggle to manage complex political, economic, and cultural disputes that often involve an array of intertwined issues, parties, process choices, and consequences – both intended and unintended. To prepare next‐generation negotiators for these multifaceted challenges, negotiation instructors must keep pace with the rapidly evolving complexity of today's world. In this article, we introduce systemic multiconstituency exercises (SMCEs), a new educational tool for capturing this emerging reality and helping to close the experiential learning gap between the simulated and the non‐simulated environment.We discuss our pedagogical rationale for developing The Transition, a seventy‐two‐party SMCE inspired by the complex conflicts in Afghanistan and Central Asia and then describe our experiences conducting multiple iterations of this simulation at Harvard University. We argue that SMCEs, in which stakeholders are embedded in clusters of overlapping networks, differ from conventional multiparty exercises because of their immersive character, emergent properties, and dynamic architecture. This design allows for the creation of crucial negotiation complexity challenges within a simulated exercise context, most importantly what we call “cognitive maelstroms,” nested negotiation networks, and cascading decision effects. Because of these features, SMCEs are uniquely suited for training participants in the art of network thinking in complex negotiations. Properly designed and executed, systemic multiconstituency exercises are next‐generation teaching, training, and research platforms that carefully integrate negotiation, leadership, and decision‐making challenges.
The unfolding landscape of the congenital myasthenic syndromes
Authors: Engel Andrew G. , Shen Xin‐Ming , Selcen Duygu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractCongenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are heterogeneous disorders in which the safety margin of neuromuscular transmission is impaired by one or more specific mechanisms. Since the advent of next‐generation sequencing methods, the discovery of novel CMS targets and phenotypes has proceeded at an accelerated rate. Here, we review the current classification of CMS and describe our findings in five of these targets identified and investigated in our laboratory in the past 5 years. Defects in LRP4 hinder synaptic development and maintenance; the defects in PREPL are predicted to diminish filling of the synaptic vesicle with acetylcholine; and defects in SNAP25, Munc13‐1, and synaptotbrevin‐1 impede synaptic vesicle exocytosis.
Utility values for childhood obesity interventions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the evidence for use in economic evaluation
Authors: Brown V. , Tan E. J. , Hayes A. J. , Petrou S. , Moodie M. L. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryRigorous estimates of preference‐based utilities are important inputs into economic evaluations of childhood obesity interventions, yet no published review currently exists examining utility by weight status in paediatric populations. A comprehensive systematic literature review and meta‐analysis was therefore undertaken, pooling data on preference‐based health state utilities by weight status in children using a random‐effects model. Tests for heterogeneity were performed, and publication bias was assessed. Of 3,434 potentially relevant studies identified, 11 met our eligibility criteria. Estimates of Cohen'sdstatistic suggested a small effect of weight status on preference‐based utilities. Mean utility values were estimated as 0.85 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 0.84–0.87), 0.83 (95% UI 0.81–0.85), 0.82 (95% UI 0.79–0.84) and 0.83 (95% UI 0.80–0.86) for healthy weight, overweight, obese and overweight/obese states, respectively. Meta‐analysis of studies reporting utility values for both healthy weight and overweight/obese participants found a statistically significant weighted mean difference (0.015, 95% UI 0.003–0.026). A small but statistically significant difference was also estimated between healthy weight and overweight participants (0.011, 95% UI 0.004–0.018). Study findings suggest that paediatric‐specific benefits of obesity interventions may not be well reflected by available utility measures, potentially underestimating cost‐effectiveness if weight loss in childhood/adolescence improves health or well‐being.
Beyond pathways: genetic dissection of tocopherol content in maize kernels by combining linkage and association analyses
Authors: Wang Hong , Xu Shutu , Fan Yaming , Liu Nannan , Zhan Wei , Liu Haijun , Xiao Yingjie , Li Kun , Pan Qingchun , Li Wenqiang , Deng Min , Liu Jie , Jin Min , Yang Xiaohong , Li Jiansheng , Li Qing , Yan Jianbing 
Published: January 2018

SummaryAlthough tocopherols play an important role in plants and animals, the genetic architecture of tocopherol content in maize kernels has remained largely unknown. In this study, linkage and association analyses were conducted to examine the genetic architecture of tocopherol content in maize kernels. Forty‐one unique quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified by linkage mapping in six populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs). In addition, 32 significant loci were detected via genome‐wide association study (GWAS), 18 of which colocalized with the QTLs identified by linkage mapping. Fine mapping of a major QTL validated the accuracy of GWAS and QTL mapping results and suggested a role for nontocopherol pathway genes in the modulation of natural tocopherol variation. We provided genome‐wide evidence that genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, chlorophyll metabolism and chloroplast function may affect natural variation in tocopherols. These findings were confirmed through mutant analysis of a particular gene from the fatty acid pathway. In addition, the favourable alleles for many of the significant SNPs/QTLs represented rare alleles in natural populations. Together, our results revealed many novel genes that are potentially involved in the variation of tocopherol content in maize kernels. Pyramiding of the favourable alleles of the newly elucidated genes and the well‐known tocopherol pathway genes would greatly improve tocopherol content in maize.
Religious fictionalism
Authors: Scott Michael , Malcolm Finlay 
Published: January 2018

AbstractReligious fictionalism is the theory that it is morally and intellectually legitimate to affirm religious sentences and to engage in public and private religious practices, without believing the content of religious claims. This article discusses the main features of fictionalism, contrasts hermeneutic, and revolutionary kinds of fictionalism and explores possible historical and recent examples of religious fictionalism. Such examples are found in recent theories of faith, pragmatic approaches to religion, and mystical traditions in religious theology.
Wittgenstein and Communication Technology – A Conversation between Richard Harper and Constantine Sandis
Authors: Harper Richard , Sandis Constantine 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis paper documents a conversation between a philosopher and a human computer interaction researcher whose research has been enormously influenced by Wittgenstein. In particular, the in vivo use of categories in the design of communications and AI technologies are discussed, and how this meaning needs to evolve to allow creative design to flourish. The paper will be of interest to anyone concerned with philosophical tools in everyday action.