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Objective: The livestock handler attitude and their handling of animals is crucial for improving animal welfare standards, minimizing stress, improving productivity and meat quality. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of training livestock handlers on behavioral, physiological, and hormonal responses during preslaughter handling in goats. Methods: A total of 6 handlers were divided into trained (trained in basic animal handling practices, animal behavior, and animal welfare), contact trained (not trained directly but interacted and saw the working of trained handlers), and untrained groups (no formal training). The handling experiment was conducted on 18 male goats by following a crossover design. The goats were moved from lairage to slaughter point by trained, contact-trained, and untrained handlers. Various behavioral, physiological, and hormonal parameters were recorded at the lairage before handling and at the slaughter point after handling the goats. Results: The training of livestock handlers had a significant effect on behavioral, physiological, and hormonal responses in goats. The goats handled by untrained and contacttrained handlers were recorded with intense vocalization, significant (p<0.05) increase in heart rate and blood glucose, and catecholamines (adrenaline and nor-adrenaline), thereby indicating stress and poor animal welfare. The trained handlers were observed to use visual interactions (waving of hands or objects, blocking, hand raising, etc), and lower stress responses were recorded in the goats handled by this group. Conclusion: The present study highlights the importance of training to livestock handlers in improving animal welfare and minimizing stress in goats during pre-slaughter stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring glucocorticoids such as cortisol is a useful tool for exploring relationships among behavior, physiology, and well‐being in primates. As cortisol circulates in blood, it moves into biological matrices such as hair, urine, feces, and saliva. Saliva sampling is a simple, noninvasive method to measure cortisol that can be easily implemented by training animals to voluntarily provide samples. The temporal lag between elevation of cortisol in the blood and elevation of cortisol in saliva likely varies by species and must be characterized to identify appropriate sampling regimens. In the present study we characterized the time course of cortisol changes in saliva following an acute psychological stressor in captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella). We trained eight free‐moving female tufted capuchin monkeys to voluntarily produce clean saliva samples. We exposed them to the acute stressor of a veterinary catch net and observed behavior pre and post exposure. We collected salivary samples immediately pre exposure (0 min) and 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 min after exposure. Salivary cortisol was quantified using a Salimetrics kit. Behavioral and cortisol measures were compared within individuals to a control condition in which no stressor was presented. Capuchins showed a clear behavioral response to the stressor by demonstrating increased freezing and pacing, decreased feed foraging, nonsocial play, and scratching, and decreased willingness to provide saliva samples after stressor presentation. After stressor presentation, average salivary cortisol began to increase at 30 min and continued to increase through the 120 min sample period. There was individual variation in absolute cortisol levels, the timing of the cortisol increase, and the timing of the peak. Our results suggest that no single time‐point can be reliably used to evaluate salivary cortisol response to an acute stressor across individuals, and instead we recommend the collection of a prolonged time series. Research Highlights: Capuchins showed a clear behavioral response to an acute stressor, decreasing feed foraging, nonsocial play, scratching, and willingness to provide saliva samples, and increasing freezing behavior.Average salivary cortisol began to increase 30 min after stressor presentation and continued to increase over 120 min, with individual variation in absolute cortisol levels and the timing of increase and peak.Salivary cortisol detects capuchin responses to acute stressors, but no single time‐point can be reliably used to compare the response across individuals; instead we recommend the collection of a prolonged time series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique that requires the participant to be completely motionless. To date, MRI in awake and unrestrained animals has only been achieved with humans and dogs. For other species, alternative techniques such as anesthesia, restraint and/or sedation have been necessary. Anatomical and functional MRI studies with sheep have only been conducted under general anesthesia. This ensures the absence of movement and allows relatively long MRI experiments but it removes the non-invasive nature of the MRI technique (i.e., IV injections, intubation). Anesthesia can also be detrimental to health, disrupt neurovascular coupling, and does not permit the study of higher-level cognition. Here, we present a proof-of-concept that sheep can be trained to perform a series of tasks, enabling them to voluntarily participate in MRI sessions without anesthesia or restraint. We describe a step-by-step training protocol based on positive reinforcement (food and praise) that could be used as a basis for future neuroimaging research in sheep. This protocol details the two successive phases required for sheep to successfully achieve MRI acquisitions of their brain. By providing structural brain MRI images from six out of ten sheep, we demonstrate the feasibility of our training protocol. This innovative training protocol paves the way for the possibility of conducting animal welfare-friendly functional MRI studies with sheep to investigate ovine cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nonhuman primates (NHPs) on infectious disease studies can be challenging to manage both clinically and behaviorally. These animals may develop significant clinical signs as well as stress-related problems. Not only does this negatively affect the welfare of the animals, but it can also impact the validity of scientific outcomes. Thus, while collaboration between the veterinary and behavioral teams is critical to maximize animal welfare and research outcomes in any study, it is especially true in infectious disease work. In this review, we discuss some refinements to promote the psychological well-being and resiliency and to enhance the overall health of NHPs on infectious disease studies, which can help improve welfare and, in turn, scientific outcomes. Providing optimal clinical and behavioral care is a key component of promoting animal welfare for macaques and other nonhuman primates (NHPs) in research. This overlap between critical areas of management is particularly important for NHPs on infectious disease protocols, which often have unique challenges. For example, traditionally these NHPs were often housed alone, which can have behavioral and clinical consequences. However, in the past decade or so, considerable effort has been directed at modifying procedures in an effort to improve animal welfare for this group of NHPs. In this review, we examine some refinements that can positively impact the clinical and behavioral management of macaques on infectious disease studies, including increased social housing and the use of positive reinforcement techniques to train animals to cooperate with procedures such as daily injections or awake blood draws. We also discuss ways to facilitate the implementation of these refinements, as well as to identify logistical considerations for their implementation. Finally, we look to the future and consider what more we can do to improve the welfare of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to observe the prevailing buffalo calf rearing practices and mortality patterns in the operational area of Dairy Vigyan Kendra (DVK), Vejalpur, Gujarat, India. Methods: Using the simple random sampling method, 240 buffalo owners from 24 villages of 6 talukas from the operational area of Dairy Vigyan Kendra were selected. The data were collected based on the interview schedule. Result: The majority of buffalo owners had not adopted the different management practices viz., provision of milk replacer, calf starter, mineral mixture, salt, deworming agent at every month up to six months and vaccine. An overall buffalo calf mortality was observed 24.26% in the study area. There was a higher mortality rate in male calves (45.00%) than female buffalo calves (14.58%) because of negligence towards the male calf. The mortality rate observed was higher during the first three months of age (90.98%) and during winter (45.08%). A negative and significant relationship was observed between some important calf rearing practices like colostrum feeding time, providing milk replacer, calf starter, concentrate feed, mineral mixture, dewormer and vaccines to calves with female buffalo calf mortality. Participation in various animal husbandry training programs and adoption of scientific management practices to large herd size farms will be helpful to reduce female buffalo calf mortality rate at the field level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rearing animals in captivity for conservation translocation is a complex undertaking that demands interdisciplinary management tactics. The maladapted behaviors that captive animals can develop create unique problems for wildlife managers seeking to release these animals into the wild. Often, released captive animals show decreased survival due to predation and their inability to display appropriate anti-predator, vigilance, and risk-analysis behaviors. Additionally, released animals may have poor foraging skills, further increasing their vulnerability to predation. Often conservation translocation programs use anti-predator training to ameliorate these maladapted behaviors before release but find mixed results in behavioral responses. The behavioral scope of analyzing the effect of anti-predator trainings is frequently narrow; the effect of this training on an animal's risk-analysis competency, or ability to assess the predation risk of a foraging patch and subsequently adjust its behavior, remains unstudied. Using a captive-reared passerine species, the American robin (Turdus migratorius) (46 individuals), we applied an experimental giving up density test (GUD) to analyze the effect of anti-predator training on the robins' vigilance/risk-analysis behaviors, patch choice, and the GUD of food left behind after one foraging session. Robins moved and foraged freely between 3 foraging patches of differing predation risk before and after a hawk silhouette was presented for 1 min. Results indicate that after anti-predator training, robins displayed increased vigilance across most foraging patches and better foraging efficiency (higher vigilance and latency to forage with simultaneous lower GUD) in the safest patch. These results can have positive survival implications post-release, however, more research on this training is needed because anti-predator training has the potential to elicit indiscriminate increased vigilance to the detriment of foraging gains. Further research is required to standardize GUD's application in translocation programs with multigenerational captive-bred animals to fully comprehend its effectiveness in identifying and correcting maladaptive behaviors. GUD tests combined with behavioral analysis should be used by conservation translocation managers to examine the need for anti-predator and foraging trainings, the effects of trainings, and a group's suitability for release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Macaw and parrot populations are declining because of a combination of habitat loss and capture for the illegal trade. As a result, IUCN Red List data suggest many are candidates for captive-based conservation efforts. Unfortunately, when captive-raised parrots are released, many fly off and get lost in the landscape or get killed by predators, making it difficult to establish new populations. Previous research suggests that pet parrots trained using free flight methods can form good flocks in flight, avoid predators, and navigate well, all skills that should help them survive in the wild. Here, we conduct a small-scale, proof-of-concept study using free flight methods and three already trained adults in the release of six captive-bred Blue-and-yellow Macaws in southeastern Brazil. All six released birds stayed together and remained near the release site, avoided predators, learned to feed themselves, and survived without supplemental feeding for over one year. One bird was captured and briefly held by local people but was recovered and rereleased and is doing well. This work suggests that free flight training can help captive-raised parrots survive release into the wild and make it easier to establish new populations of parrots and macaws in areas where they have gone extinct. As habitat loss and other threats accelerate, ecological restoration and reintroduction science are becoming progressively more important. The psittacines are among the most endangered bird groups and are prime candidates for restoration through reintroduction. Unfortunately, post-release survival of captive-raised animals is often quite low because, in part, of high predation rates, low site fidelity, poor flight ability, and low flock cohesion. Current best practices in parrot release hold the birds in captivity for a year or more and include distinct methods to address each of these challenges. Here, we conduct a small-scale, proof-of-concept study using free flight methods and human-socialized trained adult birds to hand raise and release a group of six fledgling Blue-and-yellow Macaws in their historical range in southeastern Brazil. All six released birds showed strong flock cohesion and fidelity to the release site, avoided predation, and survived without supplemental feeding for over one year. One bird was captured by local people but was recovered and rereleased and it has reintegrated into the group and is still alive and doing well. The human-socialized trained adult birds modeled both desirable behaviors (flocking, foraging, reacting to predators) and undesirable behaviors and they were returned to captivity before the conclusion of this study. Our study suggests that free flight training has great potential to help captive-raised young attain a broad array of vital skills needed for survival post-release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: People with tobacco addiction have deficits in cognition, in particular deficits in attention. It is not clear however, whether deficits are a cause or a consequence, or both, of chronic nicotine use. Here we set out a series of experiments in rats to address this question and, more specifically, to assess the effects of exposure to and withdrawal from chronic nicotine self-administration on attentional performance. Methods: Animals were trained in a 5-choice serial reaction time task to probe individual attentional performance and, then, were given access to a fixed versus increasing dose of intravenous nicotine for self-administration, a differential dose procedure known to induce two between-session patterns of nicotine intake: a stable versus escalation pattern. Attentional performance was measured daily before, during and also 24-h after chronic access to the differential dose procedure of nicotine self-administration. Conclusions: We found that pre-existing individual variation in attentional performance predicts individual vulnerability to develop escalation of nicotine intake. Moreover, while chronic nicotine self-administration increases attention, withdrawal from nicotine intake escalation induces attentional deficits, a withdrawal effect that is dose-dependently reversed by acute nicotine. Together, these results suggest that pre-existing individual variation in attentional performance predicts individual vulnerability to develop escalation of nicotine intake, and that part of the motivation for using nicotine during escalation might be to alleviate withdrawal-induced attentional deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As habitat loss and other threats accelerate, ecological restoration and reintroduction science are becoming progressively more important. The psittacines are among the most endangered bird groups and are prime candidates for restoration through reintroduction. Unfortunately, post-release survival of captive-raised animals is often quite low because, in part, of high predation rates, low site fidelity, poor flight ability, and low flock cohesion. Current best practices in parrot release hold the birds in captivity for a year or more and include distinct methods to address each of these challenges. Here, we conduct a small-scale, proof-of-concept study using free flight methods and human-socialized trained adult birds to hand raise and release a group of six fledgling Blue-and-yellow Macaws in their historical range in southeastern Brazil. All six released birds showed strong flock cohesion and fidelity to the release site, avoided predation, and survived without supplemental feeding for over one year. One bird was captured by local people but was recovered and rereleased and it has reintegrated into the group and is still alive and doing well. The human-socialized trained adult birds modeled both desirable behaviors (flocking, foraging, reacting to predators) and undesirable behaviors and they were returned to captivity before the conclusion of this study. Our study suggests that free flight training has great potential to help captive-raised young attain a broad array of vital skills needed for survival post-release.

Learning new skills requires neuroplasticity. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) during sensory and motor events can increase neuroplasticity in networks related to these events and might therefore serve to facilitate learning on sensory and motor tasks. We tested if VNS could broadly improve learning on a wide variety of tasks across different skill domains in healthy, female adult rats. VNS was paired with presentation of stimuli or on successful trials during training, strategies known to facilitate plasticity and improve recovery in models of neurological disorders. VNS failed to improve either rate of learning or performance for any of the tested tasks, which included skilled forelimb motor control, speech sound discrimination, and paired-associates learning. These results contrast recent findings from multiple labs which found VNS pairing during training produced learning enhancements across motor, auditory, and cognitive domains. We speculate that these contrasting results may be explained by key differences in task designs, training timelines and animal handling approaches, and that while VNS may be able to facilitate rapid and early learning processes in healthy subjects, it does not broadly enhance learning for difficult tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity may be drivers of advanced cognitive skills among primates. Therefore, we assessed the ability of 12 black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), a highly frugivorous platyrrhine primate with strong fission-fusion dynamics, to succeed in a serial visual reversal learning task. Using a two-alternative choice paradigm we first trained the animals to reliably choose a rewarded visual stimulus over a non-rewarded one. Upon reaching a pre-set learning criterion we then switched the reward values of the two stimuli and assessed if and how quickly the animals learned to reverse their choices, again to a pre-set learning criterion. This stimulus reversal procedure was then continued for a total of 80 sessions of 10 trials each. We found that the spider monkeys quickly learned to reliably discriminate between two simultaneously presented visual stimuli, that they succeeded in a visual reversal learning task, and that they displayed an increase in learning speed across consecutive reversals, suggesting that they are capable of serial reversal learning-set formation with visual cues. The fastest-learning individual completed five reversals within the 80 sessions. The spider monkeys outperformed most other primate and nonprimate mammal species tested so far on this type of cognitive task, including chimpanzees, with regard to their learning speed in both the initial learning task and in the first reversal task, suggesting a high degree of behavioral flexibility and inhibitory control. Our findings support the notion that socio-ecological factors such as dietary specialization and social complexity foster advanced cognitive skills in primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for strengthening national capacities for disease prevention, preparedness, and response is increasingly becoming urgent. Central to this is strengthening existing systems and workforce capacity for disease surveillance and disease outbreak response. This study aimed to evaluate the national capacity and needs of veterinary services in Vietnam in animal disease surveillance and outbreak investigation skills. A cross-sectional, convergent, mixed-methods study was conducted between November 2020 and April 2021. An online questionnaire was administered to government field veterinarians, followed by descriptive and multivariable analyses to understand field capacity, specifically levels of experience in outbreak investigation and animal health surveillance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with various stakeholders in veterinary services and interview transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed. Qualitative results were used to contextualize quantitative findings from the survey. Overall, 178 field veterinary staff completed the online survey, and 25 stakeholders were interviewed. Eighty percent of respondents reported a high priority for further training in both animal disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Training and competence were more limited at the district and commune levels, highlighting a gap in capacity at the subnational level. Reasons included a lack of in-depth training opportunities, limited access to resources and high staff turnover. Respondents who completed postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology or Field Epidemiology Training Programs were more likely to have higher levels of experience in animal health surveillance and outbreak investigation. This study identified gaps in knowledge and adoption of practices most often related to local-level or less experienced veterinary staff with limited training opportunities in epidemiology. Findings inform the prioritization of training and planning activities to further enhance the national capacity of veterinary services in Vietnam. Underlying explanations for existing gaps in capacity include inequities in skill development and training opportunities across levels of veterinary staff, gaps in the chain of command and unequal funding across provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop phonosurgery skills, surgical training of the actual larynx is essential. In our institution, the Japanese deer (Cervus Nippon aplodontids) larynx is used in phonosurgery training. This study aimed to examine the similarities and differences between the Japanese deer and human larynx and to demonstrate their utility in vocal surgery practice. A comparative study was conducted using 30 Japanese deer larynges and 51 human donor larynges, evaluating the overall framework, dimensions, and angle of the thyroid cartilage, vocal cord length, and location of the arytenoid cartilage muscular process. The changes and movements of the vocal folds during contraction and relaxation of each internal laryngeal muscle were also visually analyzed. The larynx size of Japanese deer is intermediate between that of human males and females. The adduction and abduction of the vocal folds induced by contraction of the posterior and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles, as well as the extension of the vocal folds induced by contraction of the cricothyroid muscle, behaved in the same manner as in the human larynx. The morphology of the Japanese deer larynx is similar to that of the human larynx, making it suitable for use in dissection and surgical practice. Owing to the recent animal damage problem and the popularity of gibier cuisine, large quantities of Japanese deer larynx are available at low prices. We believe that the Japanese deer larynx is the most appropriate animal for phonosurgery training so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an ethnomethodological approach, we examine a particular case of a dog and its handler learning the ‘lean’ command. In this scene of instruction, we come upon a place where the uses of a word are taught to both dog and human. Revisiting Vicki Hearne’s influential book on animal training, we reflect on animals in conversation with their trainers, and the interconnected problems of understanding and of a dog’s specific rights. We describe the establishing of a new command as a body position, location and duration. The opening and closing of a door, as part of learning the new command, poses a puzzle of both instruction and rights for the dog as pupil. Our findings begin to contribute to the ‘missing what’ of dog training and question the limits of animal geographies in relation to the ethics in, and of, training and education with animals. In addition, we show how animal geographers can learn from and describe the public availability of intersubjective practices. Specifically, we describe the witnessable organisation of learning new commands, as part of which, we acknowledge and are attentive to the dog’s work, thereby contributing to studies of animal training, cross-species communication and classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of medical devices and surgical robot systems, animal models are often used for evaluation, necessitating accurate organ segmentation. Deep learning‐based image segmentation provides a solution for automatic and precise organ segmentation. However, a significant challenge in this approach arises from the limited availability of training data for animal models. In contrast, human medical image datasets are readily available. To address this imbalance, this study proposes a fine‐tuning approach that combines a limited set of animal model images with a comprehensive human image dataset. Various postprocessing algorithms were applied to ensure that the segmentation results met the positioning requirements for the evaluation of a medical robot under development. As one of the target applications, magnetic resonance images were used to determine the position of the dog's prostate, which was then used to determine the target location of the robot under development. The MSD TASK5 dataset was used as the human dataset for pretraining, which involved a modified U‐Net network. Ninety‐nine pretrained backbone networks were tested as encoders for U‐Net. The cross‐training validation was performed using the selected network backbone. The highest accuracy, with an IoU score of 0.949, was achieved using the independent validation set from the MSD TASK5 human dataset. Subsequently, fine‐tuning was performed using a small set of dog prostate images, resulting in the highest accuracy of an IoU score of 0.961 across different cross‐validation groups. The processed results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach for accurate prostate segmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Through 20 years as an animal rescue responder and 15 years of providing training to large animal veterinary professionals, I am satisfied that the thought of being in charge of a civil emergency is, in the main, a daunting idea for a vet and one not relished by many. However, there often remains some confusion about legal responsibility when vets are involved in an incident with other agencies, and where the emergency falls out of a routine context. Aim of the article: The aim of this article is to explain how emergency services view animal incidents, how national models are used to manage incidents and to outline the developing role of veterinarians within structured emergency response frameworks. This should help prepare veterinarians for a developing role in civil protection and risk mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual illusions have been studied in many non-human species, spanning a wide range of biological and methodological variables. While early reviews have proved useful in providing an overview of the field, they have not been accompanied by quantitative analysis to systematically evaluate the contribution of biological and methodological moderators on the proportion of illusory choice. In the current meta-analytical study, we confirm that geometrical visual illusion perception is a general phenomenon among non-human animals. Additionally, we found that studies testing birds report stronger illusion perception compared to other classes, as do those on animals with lateral-positioned eyes compared to animals with forward-facing eyes. In terms of methodological choices, we found a positive correlation between the number of trials during training or testing and the effect sizes, while studies with larger samples report smaller effect sizes. Despite studies that trained animals with artificial stimuli showing larger effect sizes compared with those using spontaneous testing with naturalistic stimuli, like food, we found more recent studies prefer spontaneous choice over training. We discuss the challenges and bottlenecks in this area of study, which, if addressed, could lead to more successful advances in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way horses are trained has implications for equine welfare and training success, yet little is known about the factors that influence horse-owners’ choice of training approach (TA). Limited understanding in area will likely hinder the development and dissemination of evidence-based training advice to owners. Consequently, this study aims to identify demographic and attitudinal factors that influence horse-owner TA selection. A 22-question online survey collected information from 1,593 horse-owners about their demographics, equestrian activities, goals and beliefs. Participants rated how likely they were to use six different horse TAs on a five-point scale. Multinomial regression analysis and Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to identify factors associated with their likelihood of using each TA. Several factors were associated with reported TA use, including age, gender identity, goals, activities, industry role and whether they had training in animal behavior. Beliefs about equine sentience, cognitive ability and whether science should inform horse training correlated with likelihood of applying aversives. This study provides insight for further research and development of educational strategies to reduce the use of training approaches that may compromise equine welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal Animals, which focuses on the welfare, ethics, and behavior of animals in zoos and aquariums. The authors emphasize the importance of continually improving animal welfare in these settings through transparent and scientifically rigorous research. They acknowledge the diversity of philosophical views on keeping animals in captivity and highlight the role of zoos and aquariums in conservation efforts. The papers in this issue cover a range of topics, including the ethics and legal concerns of zoo and aquarium species, strategies for improving animal welfare, and the need to critically evaluate data on controversial topics. The authors stress the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration to advance animal welfare in these settings. [Extracted from the article]

Automatic determination of abnormal animal activities can be helpful for the timely detection of signs of health and welfare problems. Usually, this problem is addressed as a classification problem, which typically requires manual annotation of behaviors. This manual annotation can introduce noise into the data and may not always be possible. This motivated us to address the problem as a time-series forecasting problem in which the activity of an animal can be predicted. In this work, different machine learning techniques were tested to obtain activity patterns for Iberian pigs. In particular, we propose a novel stacking ensemble learning approach that combines base learners with meta-learners to obtain the final predictive model. Results confirm the superior performance of the proposed method relative to the other tested strategies. We also explored the possibility of using predictive models trained on an animal to predict the activity of different animals on the same farm. As expected, the predictive performance degrades in this case, but it remains acceptable. The proposed method could be integrated into a monitoring system that may have the potential to transform the way farm animals are monitored, improving their health and welfare conditions, for example, by allowing the early detection of a possible health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Play behaviour can act as an indicator of positive animal welfare. Previous attempts to predict play behaviour in farmed calves are limited because of the classification methods used, which lead to overestimation, and the short time periods that calves are observed. The study aimed to automatically classify and quantify play behaviour in farmed calves using location data from ultra-wide band sensors and to investigate factors associated with play behaviour. Location data were collected from 46 calves in three cohorts for a period of 18 weeks. Behavioural observations from video footage were merged with location data to obtain a total of 101.36 h of labelled data. An AdaBoost ensemble learning algorithm was implemented to classify play behaviour. To account for overestimation, generally seen in low-prevalence behaviours, an adjusted count technique was applied to the outputs of the classifier. Two generalized linear mixed models were fitted to investigate factors (e.g. age, health) associated with duration of play and number of play instances per day. Our algorithm identified play behaviour with > 94% accuracy when evaluated on the test set with no animals used for training, and 16% overestimation, which was computed based on the predicted number of samples of play versus the number of samples labelled as play on the test set. The instances and duration of play behaviour per day significantly decreased with age and sickness, whilst play behaviour significantly increased during and after weaning. The instances of play also significantly decreased as mean temperature increased. We suggest that the quantification method that we used could be used to detect and monitor other low prevalence behaviours (e.g. social grooming) from location data, including indicators of positive welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In scientific research, there are various fields that require the simultaneous sampling of tissue and marking of mice shortly after birth. One approach is the amputation of the distal phalanx, a method that not only provides a lasting mark but also allows for the use of the removed tissue for early genotyping. While the use of this method is a topic of ongoing debate, it remains one of the safest and most widely employed techniques in current practice. The key lies in practical experience, ensuring the correct application of the method. To enhance and optimize this process, we have developed a 3D dummy specifically designed for training individuals in the precise amputation of the distal phalanx in 5-day-old mouse pups. In a recent seminar, we sought to evaluate the effectiveness of training on this innovative model and assess its appropriateness for the task at hand. The development of realistic dummies for training the distal phalanx amputation (DPA) technique in mouse pups is a promising alternative to reduce and replace animals in training for research and teaching. To test this, we obtained micro-CT data from postnatal day-five mouse pups, meticulously segmented them, and converted them into a 3D mesh format suitable for 3D printing. Once the dummy was printed, it was evaluated during actual training courses in two different groups: in the first group, users received no dummies to train the DPA, and in the second group, users were trained with three dummies. To assess the effectiveness of the dummy, we conducted a survey followed by an expert veterinarian evaluation. Our results showed that DPA is a complex procedure, and it is commonly poorly performed. When implementing the dummies, users who were not provided with dummies to practice only had an 8.3% success rate in DPA, while users provided with three dummies had a 45.5% success rate, respectively. Despite additional research being needed, our dummy offered improved practical training by providing a safe and effective alternative in line with ethical considerations while demonstrating the feasibility of using 3D printing technology to promote the 3Rs in experimental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol can cause alcohol use disorder (AUD), but its pharmacological mechanisms are not fully understood. Inhibiting the reverse mode activity of the sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX) can reduce the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures, suggesting that NCX could play a role in controlling alcohol consumption. Here, we investigated how two potent inhibitors of NCX reverse mode activity, SN-6 (NCX1) and KB-R7943 (NCX3), affect voluntary alcohol consumption in adult male and female rats using the intermittent alcohol access two-bottle choice paradigm. Initially, animals were trained to drink 7.5% ethanol and water for four weeks before administering SN-6 and KB-R7934. Afterward, their alcohol intake, preference, and water intake were recorded 2 and 24 h after exposure to water and 7.5% ethanol. SN-6 significantly reduced alcohol consumption by 48% in male and 36% in female rats without affecting their water intake. Additionally, SN-6 significantly reduced alcohol preference in females by 27%. However, KB-R7943 reduced alcohol consumption by 42% in female rats and did not affect alcohol preference or water intake. These findings suggest that alcohol exposure increased NCX reverse activity, and targeting NCX1 could be an effective strategy for reducing alcohol consumption in subjects susceptible to withdrawal seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The perception of animal abuse is closely linked to each society. Because of its culture, Spain is among the European Union countries with the highest records of animal abuse. The Canary Islands, where this study was carried out, also has very high rates of intentional poisoning of wildlife and abandonment of pets. Care and responsibility towards animals is trained from childhood onwards and is strongly influenced by demographic and social factors. In the current investigation, our aim was to examine the perception of animal abuse among adolescents and to disclose the role of the main social and demographic factors on the perception of animal welfare. To accomplish this objective, we conducted a comprehensive survey targeting individuals aged 14–18 years. We found that males who also had hunting relatives had the least sensitivity to animal abuse. Animal welfare is inherited in each society, shaped by the surrounding environment and upbringing of each individual. This influence becomes particularly significant during adolescence. Due to its cultural context, Spain is among the European Union nations with the highest number of cases of animal abuse. The Canary Islands, the scenario of this study, show the highest rates of intentional poisoning of wildlife and pets' abandonment. The aim of the present study was to explore the perception of animal welfare among adolescents, studying the influence of the main socio-demographic factors that may condition it. A validated questionnaire on animal abuse was used and distributed to adolescents aged 14–18 years in two public study centers. Animal abuse rates were correlated with socio-demographic variables. In total, 302 subjects answered the questionnaire. The perception of animal welfare was influenced by socio-demographic variables, gender being the most important. The demographic profile of the least responsive adolescent to animal abuse was a male engaged in sports, not owning a dog, and hailing from a family involved in hunting. Awareness should be raised at an early age, promoting artistic activities, encouraging contact with animals and sporting practices that do not generate a lack of empathy for animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Zoos are home to a diverse range of species, including those in need of conservation. Given the high costs involved in caring for their residents and satisfying their commitments to educating the public, zoos rely on patronage from visitors. Zoos, therefore, need to understand how visitors think and feel about the well-being of the animals in their collections. If visitors perceive zoos as spaces where animals are unhappy, they will be less likely to visit. This qualitative study documented and assessed visitor experiences of and responses to training activities provided for the resident herd of African elephants at Zoo Tampa, Florida, USA. Surveys were conducted with visitors following their attendance at elephant training and enrichment sessions, and they focused on ascertaining visitor perceptions of elephant emotions, care, and welfare. These surveys revealed that visitors perceived that the elephants involved in the encounters were happy, content, calm, comfortable, engaged, excited, good, playful, and safe (among other emotional descriptors) and that they experienced good welfare. Responses also gave insight into why visitors felt this was the case and identified aspects that visitors did not like or that they felt could be improved. The research provides zoos with insight into the impact that animal–caregiver interactions can have on visitors' perceptions, and it offers a model that could be applied across the sector. Zoos strive to provide excellent welfare for resident animals, including those belonging to endangered species involved in captive breeding programs while addressing visitors' concerns regarding the ethics of captivity. Zoos also rely on income and support from visitors to provide exceptional care for their animal residents. It is essential, therefore, that zoos consider how visitors perceive their animals' well-being, including physical and psychological welfare. This pragmatic, qualitative research explores the aspects of training-focused enrichment activities provided for a resident herd of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) that visitors liked/disliked, and it assesses perceptions of the animals' emotions and welfare. Data were collected via surveys following live encounters at Zoo Tampa, Florida (USA). Reflexive Thematic Analysis generated key themes related to visitors' most/least-liked aspects of the encounters, including proximity, elephant–caregiver relationships (ECRs), educational content, and teaching/learning opportunities for the elephants themselves. Participants in the research perceived the elephants as happy, content, calm, comfortable, engaged, excited, good, playful, and safe (among other emotional descriptors) and as having excellent welfare. Expressions of dislike referred to visitors' inability to have contact with the elephants, such as via touching or feeding. While focused on one case-study zoo and a charismatic species, this study nonetheless provides zoos with insight into the impact that animal–caregiver interactions can have on visitors' perceptions, and it offers a model that could be applied to other species and at other zoological institutions. These visitor experiences and visitor perceptions of animal welfare drive future visitor actions, including support for zoos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: "How do animals perceive the world, and what are they thinking about?" To approach these questions, a method where animals face a touch screen and work on various visual tasks was used. There have not been many studies conducted on cetaceans (e.g., dolphins and whales) because the presence of water makes it difficult to use the electronic devices needed to study them. In this study, we aimed to train one captive killer whale to perform visual tasks using a monitor through an underwater window as if a touch panel were used. We started the training using real objects, which were then converted to photographs. Finally, we confirmed that the killer whale became able to perform the task even in monitor presentation. The successful use of this method suggests the possibility of conducting more detailed research on killer whale cognitive abilities, and further comparisons between terrestrial animals could be conducted in the future. This method is also expected to contribute to animal welfare, and it could also be used to propose new exhibitions to introduce the cognitive abilities of animals in zoos and aquariums. Matching-to-sample tasks have been a useful method in visual cognitive studies on non-human animals. The use of touch panels in matching-to-sample tasks has contributed to cognitive studies on terrestrial animals; however, there has been a difficulty in using these devices underwater, which is one of the factors that has slowed the progress of visual studies on underwater animals. Cetaceans (e.g., dolphins and whales) are highly adapted to underwater environments, and further studies on their cognitive abilities are needed to advance our understanding of the interactions between environmental factors and the evolution of cognitive abilities. In this study, we aimed to develop a new experimental method in which a captive killer whale performed a matching-to-sample task using a monitor shown through an underwater window as if a touch panel were used. In order to confirm the usefulness of this method, one simple experiment on mirror image discrimination was conducted, and the pairs with mirror images were shown to be more difficult to identify than the pairs with other normal images. The advantages of using this method include (1) simplicity in the devices and stimuli used in the experiments, (2) appropriate and rigorous experimental control, (3) the possibility of increasing the number of individuals to be tested and interspecies comparisons, and (4) contributions to animal welfare. The use of this method solves some of the problems in previous visual cognitive studies on cetaceans, and it suggests the further possibility of future comparative cognitive studies. It is also expected to contribute to animal welfare in terms of cognitive enrichment, and it could help with the proposal of new exhibition methods in zoos and aquariums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a major public health concern. The dynorphin (DYN)/κ-opioid receptor (KOP) system is involved in actions of alcohol, particularly its withdrawal-associated negative affective states. This study tested the ability of LY2444296, a selective, short-acting, KOP antagonist, to decrease alcohol self-administration in dependent male and female Wistar rats at 8 h abstinence. Animals were trained to orally self-administer 10% alcohol (30 min/day for 21 sessions) and were made dependent via chronic intermittent alcohol vapor exposure for 6 weeks or exposed to air (nondependent). After 6 weeks, the effect of LY2444296 (0, 3, and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) was tested on alcohol self-administration at 8 h of abstinence. A separate cohort of rats was prepared in parallel, and their somatic withdrawal signs and alcohol self-administration were measured after LY2444296 administration at 8 h, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks abstinence. LY2444296 at 3 and 10 mg/kg significantly reduced physical signs of withdrawal in dependent rats at 8 h abstinence, only. Furthermore, 3 and 10 mg/kg selectively decreased alcohol self-administration in dependent rats at only 8 h abstinence. These results highlight the DYN/KOP system in actions of alcohol during acute abstinence, suggesting KOP antagonism could be beneficial for mitigating acute withdrawal signs and, in turn, significantly reduce excessive alcohol consumption associated with AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) could improve accuracy and reproducibility of echocardiographic measurements in dogs. Hypothesis: A neural network can be trained to measure echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) linear dimensions in dogs. Animals: Training dataset: 1398 frames from 461 canine echocardiograms from a single specialist center. Validation: 50 additional echocardiograms from the same center. Methods: Training dataset: a right parasternal 4‐chamber long axis frame from each study, labeled by 1 of 18 echocardiographers, marking anterior and posterior points of the septum and free wall. Validation Dataset: End‐diastolic and end‐systolic frames from 50 studies, annotated twice (blindly) by 13 experts, producing 26 measurements of each site from each frame. The neural network also made these measurements. We quantified its accuracy as the deviation from the expert consensus, using the individual‐expert deviation from consensus as context for acceptable variation. The deviation of the AI measurement away from the expert consensus was assessed on each individual frame and compared with the root‐mean‐square‐variation of the individual expert opinions away from that consensus. Results: For the septum in end‐diastole, individual expert opinions deviated by 0.12 cm from the consensus, while the AI deviated by 0.11 cm (P =.61). For LVD, the corresponding values were 0.20 cm for experts and 0.13 cm for AI (P =.65); for the free wall, experts 0.20 cm, AI 0.13 cm (P <.01). In end‐systole, there were no differences between individual expert and AI performances. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: An artificial intelligence network can be trained to adequately measure linear LV dimensions, with performance indistinguishable from that of experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present report was to develop and validate a simple, sensitive, and selective analytical method for the determination of methamphetamine in an odor-adsorbent material (gauze) which was used to improve and standardize the training method used for drug-detection animals. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed using a Spherisorb ODS2 C18 column (200 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm), with a mobile phase consisting of a 0.25% methanol/triethylamine aqueous solution (V:V = 20:80), the pH of which was adjusted to 3.1 using glacial acetic acid, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The column temperature was 25 °C, and the detection of the analytes was performed at a wavelength of 260 nm. Methamphetamine showed good linearity (R2 = 0.9999) in the range of 4.2~83.2 mg/mL. The stability of the test material was good over 24 h. The precision of the method was good, with an average spiked recovery of 86.2% and an RSD of 2.9%. The methamphetamine content in the gauze sample was determined to be 7.8 ± 2.2 μg/sample. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was optimized and validated for the determination of methamphetamine in adsorbent materials (gauze). Validation data in terms of specificity, linearity, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification, reproducibility, precision, stability, and recovery indicated that the method is suitable for the routine analysis of methamphetamine in adsorbent materials (gauze) and provided a basis for training drug-detection animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Contemporary best practices for working with exhibit animals in zoological facilities incorporate behavioral research, theories on operant learning, animal welfare principles, and practical experience to provide animals with largely positive experiences when interacting with their caretakers and their environment. These best practices must be more fully implemented to increase ambassador animal welfare based on taxonomic and individual animal characteristics, experience with present and past caretakers, and ambassador program objectives. This implementation requires training staff to modify animal behavior using the most positive and least intrusive interactions possible. We rigorously consider how to apply best practices to meet ambassador program objectives and animal welfare needs by ensuring appropriate institutional support, the selection of the most suitable animals for the program's objectives, and the creation of an environment where animals recognize that they can choose whether to interact with humans and participate in programs, as well as exert control over their environment. Our synthesis provides a framework showing how staff can continually assess and address the behavioral response of ambassador animals to their environment—along with their interactions with humans during and outside of program usage—with the goal of meeting our most current and evolved criteria for ensuring high animal welfare. There is an ethical need to document and develop best practices for meeting ambassador animals' welfare needs within the context of meeting zoo and aquarium program objectives. This is because ambassador animals experience direct and frequent contact with humans. This paper rigorously synthesizes behavioral research and theory, contemporary practices, and personal experiences to offer key concepts that can be applied to meet ambassador animal welfare needs. These key concepts include addressing an animal's recognition of choice and control, the use of the most positive and least intrusive effective interventions when training animals to participate in programming, and an overall reduction in aversive strategy use. Our model for increasing ambassador animal welfare focuses on seven main areas of concern, including the following: choosing the most suitable animal for the program; choosing the human with the right skills and knowledge for the program; using the most positive, least intrusive, effective training methods; developing a strong trusting relationship between trainer and animal; developing a comprehensive enrichment program; the need for institutional support; and creating opportunities for animals to practice species-appropriate behaviors. Our model will provide guidelines for improved ambassador animal welfare that can be refined with future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study examined effects of resistance training (RT) and resveratrol (RES) alone and together on acrylamide (AC)-induced memory impairment in rats. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups: (1) Control group which received normal saline intraperitoneally (ip) daily for 8 weeks; (2) Scopolamine (SCO) group which received SCO (1 mg/kg/day, ip) for 8 weeks; (3) AC group which received AC (5 mg/kg/day, ip) for 8 weeks; (4) AC + RT group which received AC (5 mg/kg/day, ip) for 8 weeks and performed RT (5 days a week for 8 weeks); (5) AC + RES group which received AC (5 mg/kg/day, ip) and RES (1 mg/kg/day, ip) for 8 weeks; and (6) AC + RT + RES group which received AC (5 mg/kg/day, ip) and RES (1 mg/kg/day, ip) for 8 weeks and performed RT (5 days a week for 8 weeks). On day 53, animal training began in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and 24 hr after the last training, the probe test was performed. Results: RT and RES alone did not significantly affect escape latency or traveled distance increased by AC. However, concomitant RES and RT treatment significantly reduced these parameters compared to the AC group. Co-treatment with RES and RT also significantly increased the time spent in the target quadrant compared to the AC group. Lipid peroxidation was reduced in the AC+RES and AC+RT+RES groups compared to the AC group. Conclusion: It seems that daily co-treatment with RES and RT for 8 weeks ameliorates the memory-impairing effects of AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a relatively new surgical technique, the learning curve of en bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) in ex vivo models remains unaddressed. This study aimed to explore the learning curve of ERBT in an ex vivo porcine model. Methods: In this prospective study, eight endoscopists without prior experience in ERBT were divided into two groups: junior endoscopists, with less than 100 transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) procedure experience, and senior endoscopists, with at least 100 TURBT procedure experience. Each endoscopist performed 30 ERBT procedures on artificial lesions in an ex vivo porcine bladder model. The procedure time, perforation, en bloc resection status, and absence of detrusor muscle (DM) were recorded. The inflection points were identified using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. Procedure results were compared between the two phases and two groups. Results: In all, 240 artificial lesions were successfully resected using ERBT. The CUSUM regression line indicated the inflection point at the 16th procedure for the junior endoscopists and at the 13th procedure for the senior endoscopists. In both groups, the procedure time, perforation, piecemeal resection, and DM absence rates were significantly lower in the consolidation phase than in the initial phase. The procedure time for the senior endoscopists was lower than for the junior endoscopists in both phases. Conclusions: ERBT performance improved significantly after reaching the inflection point of the learning curve in the ex vivo model. We recommend a minimum of 16 ERBT procedures in ex vivo models for urologists with less than 100 TURBT experience and a minimum of 13 procedures for those with at least 100 TURBT experience before advancing to live animal training or supervised clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anesthetic skills are usually learned through continuous supervision by experienced trainers who observe, advise and challenge students. Current educational techniques rely less on live animal training and include the use of simulations and models for teaching and assessment of surgical and anesthetic skills. Objective: To evaluate the development of anesthetic skills of veterinary students having different levels of previous experience using simulation. An additional aim was to evaluate the impact of the simulation training on students with no anesthesia experience. Study design: Single group periinterventional and postinterventional study. Methods: Initial and final anesthesia simulation training recording were obtained from 53 randomly selected veterinary students. Seven faculty members blinded to previous student anesthesia experience reviewed the simulation recording and scored student performance using a rubric, results were recorded and analyzed. Results: All students participating in an anesthesia and surgery course reached higher proficiency levels on fundamental anesthesia skills regardless of their previous amount of experience with anesthesia. Simulation based learning positively influenced the final score in veterinary students having no previous anesthesia training, suggesting that it is possible for veterinary students to achieve a level of competence in anesthesia skills with simulation-based training. Main limitations: Sample size, group simulation, multiple reviewers bias. Conclusion: Students having no experience with clinical anesthesia demonstrated remarkable improvement in their skills, achieving a score that was similar to students having extensive prior clinical anesthesia experience. Despite this clear improvement students having no prior clinical anesthesia experience required more time to complete all anesthesia tasks and may require more training sessions to acquire the speed demonstrated by peers who had significant prior clinical anesthesia experience. Overall, all participants reached a higher proficiency level performing fundamental anesthesia skills at the end of the course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): This study aimed to evaluate the effects of voluntary exercise as an anti-inflammatory intervention on the pulmonary levels of inflammatory cytokines in type 2 diabetic male rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=7), including control (Col), diabetic (Dia), voluntary exercise (Exe), and diabetic with voluntary exercise (Dia+Exe). Diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet (4 weeks) and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg), and animals did training on the running wheel for 10 weeks as voluntary exercise. Finally, the rats were euthanized and the lung tissues were sampled for the evaluation of the levels of pulmonary interleukin (IL)-10, IL-11, and TNF-a using ELISA, and the protein levels of Nrf-2 and NF-κB using western blotting and tissue histopathological analysis. Results: Diabetes reduced the IL-10, IL-11, and Nrf2 levels (P<0.001 to P<0.01) and increased the levels of TNF-a and NF-κB compared to the Col group (P<0.001). Lung tissue levels of IL-10, IL-11, and Nrf2 in the Dia+Exe group enhanced compared to the Dia group (P<0.001 to P<0.05), however; the TNF-a and NF-κB levels decreased (P<0.001). The level of pulmonary Nrf2 in the Dia+Exe group was lower than that of the Exe group while the NF-κB level increased (P<0.001). Moreover, diabetes caused histopathological changes in lung tissue which improved with exercise in the Dia+Exe group. Conclusion: These findings showed that voluntary exercise could improve diabetes-induced pulmonary complications by ameliorating inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) training is important, quantitative assessments have not been established. This study aimed to explore a novel quantitative assessment system by analyzing an electrical surgical unit (ESU). Methods: This was an ex vivo study. Step one: to identify the novel efficiency indicators, 20 endoscopists performed one ESD each, and we analyzed correlations between their resection speed and electrical status. Step two: to identify the novel precision indicators, three experts and three novices performed one ESD each, and we compared the stability of the electrical status. Step three: three novices in step two performed 19 additional ESDs, and we analyzed the learning curve using novel indicators. Results: Step one: the percentage of total activation time (AT) of ESU in the procedure time (β coefficient, 0.80; P < 0.01) and AT required for submucosal dissection (β coefficient, −0.57; P < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the resection speed. Step two: coefficient of variation of the AT per one pulse (0.16 [range, 0.13–0.17] vs. 0.26 [range, 0.20–0.41], P = 0.049) and coefficient of variation of the peak electric power per pulse during mucosal incision (0.14 [range, 0.080–0.15] vs. 0.25 [range, 0.24–0.28], P = 0.049) were significantly lower in the experts than in the novices. Regarding the learning curve, the percentage of total AT of ESU in the procedure time and AT required for submucosal dissection had a trend of improvement. Conclusion: Novel indicators identified by analyzing ESU enable quantitative assessment for endoscopist's skill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic tendon and ligament diseases are commonly encountered in both athletic humans and animals, especially horses. Distal limb diseases, including suspensory ligament (SL) pathology due to anatomical, histological, and biomechanical properties, can be considered a model for tendon and ligament pathologies in humans. The appropriate selection of therapy is often crucial in optimising the healing process. One decisive factor influencing the possibility of returning to pre-disease training levels appears to be the utilisation of physical activity, including controlled movement, during the rehabilitation process. In the pathogenesis of musculoskeletal diseases and rehabilitation, adipocytokines play diverse roles. However, it is unclear what significance they hold in horses and in specific disease entities as well as the consequences of their mutual interactions. Recent studies indicate that in the pathogenesis of diseases with varied aetiologies in humans, their value varies at different stages, resulting in a diverse response to treatment. The results of this study demonstrate lower resistin concentrations in the venous blood plasma of horses with proximal suspensory desmopathy (PSD), while higher levels were observed in regularly trained and paddocked animals. The horses investigated in this study showed higher concentrations of resistin and IL-8, particularly in paddocked horses as well as in the working group of horses. The results suggest that these concentrations, including resistin in blood plasma, may be clinically significant. This attempt to explore the aetiopathogenesis of the processes occurring in the area of the proximal attachment of the suspensory ligament may optimise the procedures for the treatment and rehabilitation of horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticipatory behavior describes the actions taken to prepare for an upcoming event. It is considered a promising tool for welfare assessment, but it is not fully applied in zoos and other facilities. This is probably due to the need to train animals, which can take a long time and make its use impractical. In this work, we tested, on a group of six dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), the effectiveness of a new technique to induce and measure anticipatory behavior without training animals. Our results show how this new methodology, which we called The Fast Technique (TFT), has been able to induce and measure anticipatory behavior toward the event studied, i.e., the play sessions with objects (PSO). Furthermore, it has produced the same result obtained with The Classical Technique (TCT), which requires a training phase. Therefore, our finding demonstrates the efficacy of a new technique that could facilitate the use of anticipatory behavior for both research and animal welfare assessment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethics of animal training procedures have seen dramatic changes in the last few decades, with a movement toward reward-based training methods. These reward-based training practices have also been directly impacted by the behavioral and animal welfare sciences, including their research outputs. In the last couple of decades, the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) model of animal training has been used to describe reward-based animal training methods. However, a number of problems were built into the creation of LIMA and continue to exist today, including (a) a lack of clarity in its terminology, (b) ambiguity in desired training approaches, and (c) a history of aversive training methods justification. An alternative approach is therefore proposed, and one that specifies (1) increasing choices by inhibiting less, (2) the importance of function, and (3) defining success as more than simply being effective. The result is the least inhibitive, functionally effective (LIFE) approach to ethical animal training methods. LIFE is discussed in terms of its connection to established terminology, behavioral principles, and training practices, as well as its ability to promote optimal welfare for the animals under our care and in our lives. • The last few decades have seen an increase in concern over the ethics and welfare of animal training practices. • Force-free, reward-based animal training methods have become a popular ethically minded choice. • The Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE) model is proposed to help guide ethical training practices. • The LIFE model emphasizes a direct connection of training practices to the behavioral and welfare sciences, as well as providing a general empirical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons in primary visual cortex (area V1) are strongly driven by both sensory stimuli and non-sensory events. However, although the representation of sensory stimuli has been well characterized, much less is known about the representation of non-sensory events. Here, we characterize the specificity and organization of non-sensory representations in rat V1 during a freely moving visual decision task. We find that single neurons encode diverse combinations of task features simultaneously and across task epochs. Despite heterogeneity at the level of single neuron response patterns, both visual and nonvisual task variables could be reliably decoded from small neural populations (5 to 40 units) throughout a trial. Interestingly, in animals trained to make an auditory decision following passive observation of a visual stimulus, some but not all task features could also be decoded from V1 activity. Our results support the view that even in V1—the earliest stage of the cortical hierarchy—bottom-up sensory information may be combined with top-down non-sensory information in a task-dependent manner. Neurons in primary visual cortex (area V1) are strongly driven by both sensory stimuli and nonsensory events. This study shows that during visual and auditory decisions, rat V1 represents multiple task features in an overlapping and distributed fashion, with some modulation by task demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers an analysis of soft skills acquisition in children through animal training programmes within the framework of a two-year Erasmus+ project. The article overviews important aspects of shaping and introducing new approaches towards the acquisition of soft skills in children through animal training programmes. In this context, children participated in research in three countries (Lithuania, Belgium and Bulgaria), in three animal-assisted educational programmes: dolphin-assisted therapy, hippotherapy, and canine therapy. The results of the narrative analysis show a significant improvement in the skills of children, improving the quality of their relationships with themselves, with others, with animals, and with the environment. This reaffirms that exposing students to authentic, hands-on experience can significantly enhance their cognitive, social and emotional development. Moreover, the article shows that the process also increased the soft skills of teachers and of external actors involved in the process, reinforcing the importance of an open schooling approach as a way of improving all society. The article contributes to empirical evidence to support the integration of experiential learning into the pedagogical realm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary society, humans interact with nonhuman animals in a number of ways, many of which involve the captivity of the nonhuman animals involved. Nonhuman animals trained for sport (sled dogs, horses trained for dressage, etc.), nonhuman animals confined for human entertainment (zoos, aquariums, circuses, etc.), and companion animals are all held captive by the human beings who interact with them. However, the moral acceptability of these forms of captivity seems to vary widely; this variance isn't only a function of the conditions of the captivity itself, but the reasons, attitudes, and intentions of the captors. Martha Nussbaum's conception of species-specific flourishing allows for what she calls 'respectful paternalism' in the case of nonhuman animals, and in this paper, we will explore (a) Nussbaum's account of 'respectful paternalism' as an aspect of justice that governs our interactions with nonhuman animals, (b) what the 'respectful' aspect of that paternalism involves by examining what it means for a captor to limit the autonomy of a nonhuman animal respectfully and (c) implications for our interactions with nonhuman animals in sport and entertainment environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D imaging technology is becoming more prominent every day. However, more validation is needed to understand the actual benefit of 3D versus conventional 2D vision. This work quantitatively investigates whether experts benefit from 3D vision during minimally invasive fetoscopic spina bifida (fSB) repair. A superiority study was designed involving one expert team ( > 18 procedures prior) who performed six 2D and six 3D fSB repair simulations in a high-fidelity animal training model, using 3-port access. The 6D motion of the instruments was recorded. Among the motion metrics are total path length, smoothness, maximum speed, the modified Spectral Arc Length (SPARC), and Log Dimensionless Jerk (LDLJ). The primary clinical outcome is operation time (power 90%, 5% significance) using Sealed Envelope Ltd. 2012. Secondary clinical outcomes are water tightness of the repair, CO 2 insufflation volume, and OSATS score. Findings show that total path length and LDLJ are considerably different. Operation time during 3D vision was found to be significantly shorter compared to 2D vision ( 113 ± 9 vs. 149 ± 19 min; p = 0.026). These results suggest enhanced performance with 3D vision during interrupted suturing in fetoscopic SBA repair. To confirm these results, a larger-scale follow-up study involving multiple experts and novice surgeons is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study explores the use of virtual fencing technology for managing livestock distribution, focusing on nursing Brangus cows. The study investigates how these animals learn to avoid restricted areas and increase their reliance on auditory cues over time. The findings support the effectiveness of virtual fencing in controlling cow spatial behavior and highlight their ability to adapt to virtual boundaries rapidly. The research also presents a safe and efficient training protocol for implementing virtual fence systems. Virtual fencing systems have emerged as a promising technology for managing the distribution of livestock in extensive grazing environments. This study provides comprehensive documentation of the learning process involving two conditional behavioral mechanisms and the documentation of efficient, effective, and safe animal training for virtual fence applications on nursing Brangus cows. Two hypotheses were examined: (1) animals would learn to avoid restricted zones by increasing their use of containment zones within a virtual fence polygon, and (2) animals would progressively receive fewer audio-electric cues over time and increasingly rely on auditory cues for behavioral modification. Data from GPS coordinates, behavioral metrics derived from the collar data, and cueing events were analyzed to evaluate these hypotheses. The results supported hypothesis 1, revealing that virtual fence activation significantly increased the time spent in containment zones and reduced time in restricted zones compared to when the virtual fence was deactivated. Concurrently, behavioral metrics mirrored these findings, with cows adjusting their daily travel distances, exploration area, and cumulative activity counts in response to the allocation of areas with different virtual fence configurations. Hypothesis 2 was also supported by the results, with a decrease in cueing events over time and increased reliance with animals on audio cueing to avert receiving the mild electric pulse. These outcomes underscore the rapid learning capabilities of groups of nursing cows in responding to virtual fence boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary motor cortex (M1) and the dorsal striatum play a critical role in motor learning and the retention of learned behaviors. Motor representations of corticostriatal ensembles emerge during motor learning. In the coordinated reorganization of M1 and the dorsal striatum for motor learning, layer 5a (L5a) which connects M1 to the ipsilateral and contralateral dorsal striatum, should be a key layer. Although M1 L5a neurons represent movement-related activity in the late stage of learning, it is unclear whether the activity is retained as a memory engram. Here, using Tlx3-Cre male transgenic mice, we conducted two-photon calcium imaging of striatum-projecting L5a intratelencephalic (IT) neurons in forelimb M1 during late sessions of a self-initiated lever-pull task and in sessions after 6 d of nontraining following the late sessions. We found that trained male animals exhibited stable motor performance before and after the nontraining days. At the same time, we found that M1 L5a IT neurons strongly represented the well-learned forelimb movement but not uninstructed orofacial movements. A subset of M1 L5a IT neurons consistently coded the well-learned forelimb movement before and after the nontraining days. Inactivation of M1 IT neurons after learning impaired task performance when the lever was made heavier or when the target range of the pull distance was narrowed. These results suggest that a subset of M1 L5a IT neurons continuously represent skilled movement after learning and serve to fine-tune the kinematics of well-learned movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Across the last decades, animal welfare science has established that regular access to sensory, motor, and cognitive stimulation significantly improves captive animal's well-being. In primates, in particular, cognitive enrichment protocols have been crucial to alleviate boredom and, more generally, several symptoms of compromised wellbeing. Despite this, cognitive enrichment practices have not received the same level of attention as structural and social enrichment. Consequently, captive animals are usually given ample climbing or grooming opportunities but are less frequently provided with intellectual challenges. This is especially problematic for primates and other species with high cognitive abilities and demands. Following and in order to expand upon recent scientific and technological progress, we developed a multiple-choice interface for touchscreen devices tailored to rhesus macaques housed at the facility of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of the German Primate Center. The interface allows the animals to flexibly choose between three tasks on a trial-by-trial basis, allowing them to switch activities as desired. Generally, our animals showed consistent task preferences, across time of day and weekly sessions, while also displaying proficiency in doing so. We believe that with a multiple-choice approach, it is possible to increase animal wellbeing by providing captive animals more opportunities to control their own environment, simultaneously providing researchers with a reliable and scalable method for cognitive assessment and animal training. Research on the psychological and physiological well-being of captive animals has focused on investigating different types of social and structural enrichment. Consequently, cognitive enrichment has been understudied, despite the promising external validity, comparability, and applicability. As we aim to fill this gap, we developed an interactive, multiple-choice interface for cage-mounted touchscreen devices that rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) can freely interact with, from within their home enclosure at the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory of the German Primate Center. The multiple-choice interface offers interchangeable activities that animals can choose and switch between. We found that all 16 captive rhesus macaques tested consistently engaged with the multiple-choice interface across 6 weekly sessions, with 11 of them exhibiting clear task preferences, and displaying proficiency in performing the selected tasks. Our approach does not require social separation or dietary restriction and is intended to increase animals' sense of competence and agency by providing them with more control over their environment. Thanks to the high level of automation, our multiple-choice interface can be easily incorporated as a standard cognitive enrichment practice across different facilities and institutes working with captive animals, particularly non-human primates. We believe that the multiple-choice interface is a sustainable, scalable, and pragmatic protocol for enhancing cognitive well-being and animal welfare in captivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matching-to-sample tasks have been a useful method in visual cognitive studies on non-human animals. The use of touch panels in matching-to-sample tasks has contributed to cognitive studies on terrestrial animals; however, there has been a difficulty in using these devices underwater, which is one of the factors that has slowed the progress of visual studies on underwater animals. Cetaceans (e.g., dolphins and whales) are highly adapted to underwater environments, and further studies on their cognitive abilities are needed to advance our understanding of the interactions between environmental factors and the evolution of cognitive abilities. In this study, we aimed to develop a new experimental method in which a captive killer whale performed a matching-to-sample task using a monitor shown through an underwater window as if a touch panel were used. In order to confirm the usefulness of this method, one simple experiment on mirror image discrimination was conducted, and the pairs with mirror images were shown to be more difficult to identify than the pairs with other normal images. The advantages of using this method include (1) simplicity in the devices and stimuli used in the experiments, (2) appropriate and rigorous experimental control, (3) the possibility of increasing the number of individuals to be tested and interspecies comparisons, and (4) contributions to animal welfare. The use of this method solves some of the problems in previous visual cognitive studies on cetaceans, and it suggests the further possibility of future comparative cognitive studies. It is also expected to contribute to animal welfare in terms of cognitive enrichment, and it could help with the proposal of new exhibition methods in zoos and aquariums.