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Dental-skeletal-retinal-anomaly (DSRA) is a newly described collagenopathy in Cane Corso dogs. The causative mutation has been linked with splice defects within the melanoma inhibitory activity member 3 (MIA/3) gene that codes for the TANGO1 protein. This case series presents the first dental-related radiographic and histopathological abnormalities in two dogs with genetically confirmed DSRA. The clinical, radiological, and histological features are similar to those reported for MIA3/TANGO1 splice defects previously reported in humans and knockout mice. Common clinical features of these patients include generalized opalescent discoloration of the permanent dentition (intrinsic dyschromia), enamel defects, fractured teeth, vision loss, shortened physical stature, and orthopedic abnormalities that resulted in chronic, early-onset lameness. Intraoral radiography revealed delayed dentin deposition, evidence of endodontic disease, and dental hard tissue loss in both cases. Histopathologic findings for both cases were consistent with dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI). DSRA exhibits autosomal recessive heritability and commercial diagnostic tests are now available. Clinicians should be aware of the etiopathogenesis, genetic inheritance and associated comorbidities in order to treat and counsel clients on the management of this condition. It is recommended that all breeding individuals be tested, and carriers be sterilized or omitted from the breeding population. This case study describes intraoral diagnoses, treatments, and follow-up of two DSRA-positive dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 14-year-old male intact Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) was presented for a routine annual wellness exam and comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment, during which an odontogenic cyst was incidentally diagnosed from radiographs. Prior to a second immobilization for computed tomography (CT) and surgical removal of the cyst, the tiger developed anorexia, lethargy, and reluctance to train, which were clinical signs suspected to be reflective of pain secondary to the odontogenic cyst. A CT scan of the skull revealed 2 odontogenic cyst lesions associated with teeth 204-207 and 208-209, and associated tooth root resorption, focal lysis of the maxilla, communication with the left nasal passage, thinning of the ventral margin of the left orbit and maxillary foramen, and left mandibular lymphadenopathy. Complete enucleation of each cyst wall and surgical extraction of associated teeth were performed. Histopathologic findings were consistent with an odontogenic cyst containing keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, keratin debris within the cyst lumen, and a lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate. Postoperatively, the tiger recovered uneventfully, clinical signs resolved within 2 weeks and have not recurred at the time of publication of this article. Similar keratinized odontogenic cysts are described in dogs, and there is only one other case report in a felid. This is the first known report of an odontogenic cyst in a tiger and of a keratinized odontogenic cyst in a nondomestic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores a strategy for engaging ensemble members in critical listening analysis of performances and presents opportunities for improving ensemble sound through rigorous dialogue, reflection, and attentive rehearsing. Critical listening asks ensemble members to draw on individual playing experience and knowledge to describe what they hear. Focused discussion revolves around key issues that music directors consider during daily rehearsals: tonal quality, balance, blend, articulation, accuracy of performance, interpretation, musicality, and much more. An important component of critical listening is teacher monitoring of repeated listening exercises: A short listening is immediately followed by discussion and then another short listening. Questions guide the discussion, which becomes richer and more focused as students compare/apply their musical understandings with their aural perceptions and then demonstrate with performance. Though written from the standpoint of a typical public school music ensemble rehearsal, the critical listening concepts can transfer to any musical tradition where listening skills and collective performance are emphasized.

This retrospective study reported the clinical presentation, histopathologic findings, treatment, results of clinical staging, necropsy findings, and survival times for 20 cats with oral melanoma. The median survival time was 102 days, with a one-year survival rate of 15% (n = 3). Metastatic disease was documented in 5 cases. Cats with metastatic disease, tumors within the oral cavity (in contrast to labial tumors), and those treated only palliatively after diagnosis had shorter survival times. One case was monitored from the time of presentation until euthanasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry discusses dental abnormalities in Cane Corso dogs with a newly discovered disorder called dental-skeletal-retinal anomaly (DSRA). The study focuses on two genetically verified cases of DSRA in dogs, highlighting the importance of understanding the genetic mutation and associated dental problems. While the study provides valuable insights into the oral symptoms of DSRA, further research is needed to explore the broader implications of the condition, including skeletal and retinal abnormalities, accurate diagnostic testing, and long-term management strategies. The authors acknowledge the limitations of the study's small sample size and emphasize the importance of responsible breeding practices and ethical considerations in veterinary medicine. [Extracted from the article]

The purpose of this article is to introduce collective musical cognition as a mode for developing diagnostic critical thinking in music at all levels of the educational continuum–kindergarten through graduate school. It defines and illustrates how collective musical cognition is influenced by relevance, dialogue, and reflection as social and educational practices in the classroom. Relevance, dialogue, and reflection - the three components of collective musical cognition–are critical social practices that transform music education pedagogy, whether practiced in the orchestral rehearsal room, the general music classroom, or the choral and band rehearsal rooms. The prevailing idea is student engagement: student engagement with the teacher; student engagement with fellow students; student engagement with and about music; and student engagement with pedagogical procedures that produce successful outcomes for students and teachers. Collective musical cognition yields an array of learning outcomes that are lasting because the pedagogy mirrors what musicians do. Collective musical cognition is a form of community learning because musical thinking and verbal thinking about music are publicly shared in class. Musical and verbal dialogues that result in collective musical cognition are democratic in nature, as we view dialogue as a catalyst to develop an atmosphere of social equality within the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creative music strategy is a dynamic and flexible seven-step model for guiding general music students through the music concepts of improvisation and composition, followed by critical reflection. These are musical behaviors that cultivate the development of our students' deeper conceptual understandings and music independence by helping them think creatively, critically, and analytically, all while they are engaged as active music makers. (Contains 3 figures and 18 notes.)

Community choirs in America furnish the primary musical setting for adult amateur singers wishing to continue their choral experiences after formal public schooling or college. Nearly 1400 community choral organizations--or those meeting the established parameters--were catalogued by ACDA for its 2007 "National Registry of Community Choirs". A 2003 Chorus America report stated that one in ten Americans sing weekly in a community-based choir. But what is a community choir in 2007? What factors determine that a choir is representative of its immediate community? Are community choirs in the twenty-first century providing for the musical needs of the adult amateur singer? This paper will contend that many community choirs are either facing a declining membership and ageing singers, or have evolved into semi-elite performance machines that are no longer characteristic of the community. It will discuss the concepts of democracy, volunteerism and community, and compare early twentieth century philosophical and social arguments on community music with current issues confronting community choral organizations. Part research, part philosophical, and part the author's personal observations of community choirs, it will contend that, in their quest for choral performance perfection, some choirs actually marginalize adult amateur singers. Furthermore, it will discuss the pivotal role of the choral conductor, who, in establishing a democratic tone for the group, can embrace and develop the true spirit of amateur singing, and provide an opportunity for lifelong musical learning and participation.

Feline cystic oral lesions are uncommon and include odontogenic cysts and cystic odontogenic tumors. Accurate diagnosis requires close collaboration between the clinician's clinical and radiographic findings and the pathologist's histologic interpretations. The odontogenic cysts identified in this series include a periapical cyst, dentigerous cysts and a type of unclassified collateral cyst that appears to be a previously undefined, distinct entity in cats (UCC). Many of the cysts (52%) were unable to be classified due to insufficient diagnostic information, which often related to the associated tooth being unavailable for evaluation. Cystic odontogenic tumors included ameloblastomas, amyloid producing ameloblastomas (APA), and feline inductive odontogenic tumors (FIOT). The purpose of this case series was to assess correlations between clinical and radiographic findings, histopathologic interpretation and signalment to identify common characteristics and provide recommendations for clinicians and pathologists to optimize diagnostic efficiency and accuracy for cystic oral lesions in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our prospective study analyzed clinical, radiographic, and histological characteristics of 102 intrinsically stained teeth. Sixty-nine dogs ranging from one to fifteen years of age were included in this study. Little more than half of the intrinsically stained teeth had no evidence of coronal injury (53.9%, 55/102). We found that most intrinsically stained teeth were histologically nonvital (87.6%, 85/97) and approximately 2/3 of these (57.7%, 56/97) had no histological endodontic or periodontal inflammation at the time of evaluation. Radiographic evidence of endodontic disease was present in 57% (58/102) of the intrinsically stained teeth. Radiographic evidence of periodontal disease was present in 48% (49/102) of intrinsically stained teeth and 28% (29/102) had radiographic evidence of tooth resorption. 18.6% (19/102) of intrinsically stained teeth were radiographically normal. Evidence of pulp necrosis was common in these intrinsically stained teeth, while only occasional teeth (12.4%, 12/97) had histologically confirmed pulpitis. All teeth with radiographic evidence of periapical lucency had pulp necrosis. Based on our histological findings, the majority of intrinsically stained teeth 87.6% are truly nonvital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-third or more of a first-year choral teacher's teaching load may involve directing choral ensembles, yet undergraduate exposure to rehearsal methods and conducting is often limited to only one or [...]

Canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA) has been reported to be the most common odontogenic tumor in dogs. This retrospective study evaluated 263 dogs with histopathologically confirmed CAA. Within this data set, CAA presents most commonly in the rostral mandible in adult large breed dogs, with golden retriever dogs being overrepresented. Patients with appropriate follow-up after curative intent surgery were evaluated to assess the effect of histopathological margin on local tumor recurrence. No local recurrence was noted in any patient. This study raises questions about what the recommended surgical margin should be for treatment of CAA. It also serves as a stimulus for discussion as to whether further treatment for CAA is required when inadequate surgical margins are obtained, or if medical surveillance would be an appropriate management recommendation. Prospective studies are necessary to answer these questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offers advice on navigating the student-teaching experience and identifying vital qualities for undergraduate music education student teachers. Role of the student-teaching experience in the development of the career as a music educator; Keys to a successful student-teaching experience.

Discusses the creation of harmony and improvisation in the choral rehearsal. Schedule of practice for choral improvisation; Ways to explore chord partials; Information on choral comping.

This article focuses on a panel discussion that was held during the Eastern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association in New York City which centered on the recruitment of singers to community choirs. One of the issues addressed in the discussion was the challenges facing the directors of community choirs in urban areas. The main themes of the discussion were the development of creative collaborations with other music and arts organizations and the establishment of new relationships with individuals and groups.

The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) and its clinical, industry and disease-foundation partners are launching open-source preclinical translational medicine studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A process for integrating remote sensing and spatial data analysis to accurately map and monitor agricultural crops and other land cover in the Lower Colorado River Basin is described. These maps were then used as input into a model that accounts for consumptive use throughout the basin. Water is an important and incredibly valuable resource in this area. International treaties and court decrees dictate water allocation to the states of Arizona, Nevada, and California, and to Mexico. Maps of the agricultural crops with a requ ired overall accuracy of 93 percent for use in the water model were generated from Landsat Thematic Mapper data four times per year. An automated signature extraction process and data exploration techniques were developed to aid in achieving these required accuracies. All maps were subjected toquantitative accuracy assessment, and error matrices were produced to evaluate overall and per-class accuracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a large global effort to sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes from patient samples to track viral evolution and inform the public health response. Millions of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences have been deposited in global public repositories. The Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network (CanCOGeN - VirusSeq), a consortium tasked with coordinating expanded sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes across Canada early in the pandemic, created the Canadian VirusSeq Data Portal, with associated data pipelines and procedures, to support these efforts. The goal of VirusSeq was to allow open access to Canadian SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and enhanced, standardized contextual data that were unavailable in other repositories and that meet FAIR standards (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable). In addition, the portal data submission pipeline contains data quality checking procedures and appropriate acknowledgement of data generators that encourages collaboration. From inception to execution, the portal was developed with a conscientious focus on strong data governance principles and practices. Extensive efforts ensured a commitment to Canadian privacy laws, data security standards, and organizational processes. This portal has been coupled with other resources, such as Viral AI, and was further leveraged by the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net) to produce a suite of continually updated analytical tools and notebooks. Here we highlight this portal (https://virusseq-dataportal.ca/), including its contextual data not available elsewhere, and the Duotang (https://covarr-net.github.io/duotang/duotang.html), a web platform that presents key genomic epidemiology and modelling analyses on circulating and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada. Duotang presents dynamic changes in variant composition of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada and by province, estimates variant growth, and displays complementary interactive visualizations, with a text overview of the current situation. The VirusSeq Data Portal and Duotang resources, alongside additional analyses and resources computed from the portal (COVID-MVP, CoVizu), are all open source and freely available. Together, they provide an updated picture of SARS-CoV-2 evolution to spur scientific discussions, inform public discourse, and support communication with and within public health authorities. They also serve as a framework for other jurisdictions interested in open, collaborative sequence data sharing and analyses.