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Repeated measurements designs (RMDs) are mostly used in animal sciences, pharmacology, medicine, and animal husbandry, etc. But residual effects are often a serious problem in such experiments. In literature, minimal strongly balanced RMDs have been introduced to overcome this problem under low budget constraints, but these designs cannot be constructed for every number of treatments and period sizes. As an alternate, generalized strongly balanced RMDs can be preferred since they yield results close to those of strongly balanced RMDs. Here, some generators are proposed for generalized strongly balanced RMDs which possess the high efficiency of Separability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charles Darwin's enthusiasm for collecting beetles during his time as a student at the University of Cambridge is well known, and 'Darwin's beetle box' in the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge has been claimed to be his student collection. A collection of beetles at Down House is similarly thought to be Darwin's collection of British beetles, but is imprecisely dated. Here we compare the species present in the boxes with the annotations in his copy of Stephens' 'British Insects', and other notes, correspondence and specimens. There is a very close match between these sources of information and in the curation of the two boxes, the pins used and the handwritten labels, including some written by Emma Darwin. These similarities and details of correspondence lead us to conclude that most of the contents of both boxes represent the collections made by Charles Darwin in 1829–31, with the addition of one specimen provided by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1866 and two probably from Francis Darwin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study generalizations of the non-invertible duality defects present in N = 4 SU(N) SYM by studying theories with larger duality groups. We focus on 4d N = 2 theories of class S obtained by the dimensional reduction of the 6d N = (2, 0) theory of AN−1 type on a Riemann surface Σg without punctures. We discuss their non-invertible duality symmetries and provide two ways to compute their fusion algebra: either using discrete topological manipulations or a 5d TQFT description. We also introduce the concept of "rank" of a non-invertible duality symmetry and show how it can be used to (almost) completely fix the fusion algebra with little computational effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Job 40:15–24 describes a monstrous creature named Behemoth, whom ancient Jewish literature treats as a supernatural monster. In contrast, much literature of the thirteenth century and later applies a zoological approach, interpreting Behemoth as a species of animal, usually the hippopotamus in publications from 1663 onward. Since 1974, numerous advocates of the zoological approach have reinterpreted Behemoth as a dinosaur, usually a sauropod. Arguments for Behemoth as a sauropod include allegations that Job 40 describes an animal that is herbivorous, aquatic, docile, and indomitable; drinks large amounts of water; has strong bones, strong hips, a bulbous midsection, tight sinews, and a cedar-like tail; and is the largest land animal that God made. Here, I investigate the relative popularity and temporal duration of each such argument and determine which such arguments are based on sound interpretations of the Hebrew text. This investigation reveals that no argument for Behemoth as a dinosaur survives scrutiny. Several, notably including the argument that Behemoth’s tail is like a cedar, are based on misinterpretations of the Hebrew text. In contrast, all parts of the Hebrew text are consistent with the interpretation of Behemoth as a primordial, supernatural monster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fateful decision as a 15-year-old high school student, and good advice from a distinguished professor of zoology, were the catalysts that not only decided my entire career but also led me to the Journal of Comparative Physiology A, and to the myriad biological wonders that were held within its covers. In my celebration of JCPA, I look back on the formative years of my career in Australia, and the crucial role that the journal played in shaping my emerging research interests, and ultimately my entire life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data on the taxonomy and distribution of scorpions and solifuges with the aim of evaluating the current state of their fauna in eastern Transcaucasia are reported. The taxonomic list of species was compiled using the materials obtained from the available literature sources, the data of faunistic studies, and the results of studying the collection of the Azerbaijan Institute of Zoology, Baku, and the author's own collections. Updated information on the taxonomy and distribution of scorpions and solifuges in eastern Transcaucasia is presented, with two new species of scorpions and three species of solifuges having been identified. To summarize, according to the 2022 data, the Scorpiones order in the studied region is represented by five species in three genera in a single family, while the Solifugae order, by 14 species in seven genera in five families. The maps showing the localities in eastern Transcaucasia are presented for 15 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of ontogenetic age classes plays an important role in the fields of zoology, palaeontology and archaeology, where accurate age classifications of (sub)fossil remains are a crucial component for the reconstruction of past life. Textural ageing—the identification of age-related bone surface textures—provides a size-independent method for age assessment of vertebrate material. However, most of the work so far is limited to qualitative results. While qualitative approaches provide helpful insights on textural ageing patterns, they are heavily subject to observer bias and fall short of quantitative data relevant for detailed statistical analyses and cross-comparisons. Here, we present a pilot study on the application of 3D surface digital microscopy to quantify bone surface textures on the long bones of the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) using internationally verified roughness parameters. Using a standardised measuring protocol, computed roughness values show a strong correlation with qualitative descriptions of textural patterns. Overall, higher roughness values correspond to increased numbers of grooves and pits and vice versa. Most of the roughness parameters allowed distinguishing between different ontogenetic classes and closely followed the typical sigmoidal animal growth curve. Our results show that bone texture quantification is a feasible approach to identifying ontogenetic age classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mentions six rare and understudied spider species from the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. Data on two species, Clubiona saxatilis L. Koch, 1867 and Erigone cristatopalpus Simon, 1884, also represent the first records for the Ukrainian fauna. This study also confirms the presence of Zelotes similis (Kulczyński, 1887), previously known from the Ukrainian Carpathians only through W. Kulczyński's file index -- old unpublished records, stored at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw. Additionally, we provide supplementary data on the distribution and habitat preferences of Iberina montana (Blackwall, 1841), and Taranucnus beskidicus Hirna, 2018 in the Eastern Carpathians. In a separate note, the presence of Cetonana laticeps (Canestrini, 1868), an understudied element in the Ukrainian spider fauna, is mentioned and discussed. Over the last decades, this species has probably extended its range across the Transcarpathian Lowland of the Pannonian Plain and along the Vihorlat-Gutyn mountain ridge. The presented data on an urban record of Cetonana laticeps therefore provide insights into the dynamics and implications of its geographical expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the 'cynical scientist' as a figure in British animal science discourse that developed in relation to the nineteenth-century emergence of the 'sceptical scientist'. Here, efforts by scientists to demarcate their profession's territory led to religious backlash against an alleged 'divorce' of British science from Christian morality. Animal experimentation became embroiled in this controversy through antivivisectionists' conviction that animal research was symptomatic of scientific scepticism and Continental atheism's malign influence. Accusations of cynicism ultimately forced British scientists to accept legal regulation following the 1875 Royal Commission on Vivisection. British scientists were, however, able to utilise their political leverage and credibility as experts to favourably influence licensing and inspection. We suggest that efforts to silence public claims of scientific cynicism may have enabled 'cynical scientists' to remain invisible and that this was marked by privilege and power, not marginality. Nevertheless, we argue that regulation and reforms have also worked to internalise within British animal science the notion that scientific cynicism must be combatted through proper governance and internal discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship on Samuel Hearne's A Journey to the Northern Ocean (1795) has highlighted how Hearne's journey of exploration functioned to demonstrate the Hudson's Bay Company's strategic geopolitical worth, obscure the violence of its colonialist enterprise, and generate images of an empty North conducive to colonial settlement. Drawing on such scholarship, this essay attempts to nuance statements regarding Hearne's complicity in "emptying" the North by showing how the Journey establishes images of the Canadian North as neither completely barren nor fertile enough for settlement. Applying a natural-cultural contact zone perspective on Hearne's old text, I argue that the anthropocentric bias of the Journey's reception has impeded the realization that Hearne's zoological descriptions and sometimes sophisticated ecological contemplations owe much to the Denesuline who guide his travels. In part through his "beaver science", Hearne deliberately opposes prospects of further colonization based on ideas of systemic expansion of the fur trade detached from the realities of local environmental conditions. His concern regarding the anthropomorphism and uncritical use of cultural metaphors in the emerging science of zoology nevertheless causes Hearne's "beaver science" to consolidate the distinctly anthropocentric and objectifying qualities of natural science that ultimately facilitate the exploitative activities of the Hudson's Bay Company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Sinolachnus species from China, Sinolachnus rubusis Qiao & Li, sp. nov. feeding on Rubus sp. from Shaanxi and Sichuan Provinces, and Sinolachnus yunnanensis Qiao & Li, sp. nov. feeding on Elaeagnus sp. from Yunnan Province, are described and illustrated. Keys to Sinolachnus species distributed in China are presented. All examined specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies describe the sequence of morphological events that characterize spermiogenesis in birds. In this paper, the clearly observable steps of spermiogenesis are described and illustrated for the first time in a commercially important ratite, the ostrich, based on light microscopy of toluidine blue-stained plastic sections. Findings were supplemented and supported by ultrastructural observations, PNA labeling of acrosome development, and immunocytochemical labeling of isolated spermatogenic cells. Spermiogenesis in the ostrich followed the general pattern described in non-passerine birds. Eight steps were identified based on changes in nuclear shape and contents, positioning of the centriolar complex, and acrosome development. Only two steps could be recognized with certainty during development of the round spermatid which contributed to the fewer steps recorded for the ostrich compared to that described in some other bird species. The only lectin that displayed acrosome reactivity was PNA and only for the first three steps of spermiogenesis. This suggests that organizational and/or compositional changes may occur in the acrosome during development and merits further investigation. Immunological labeling provided additional evidence to support the finding of previous studies that the tip of the nucleus in the ostrich is shaped by the forming acrosome and not by the microtubular manchette. To our knowledge, this is the first complete description of spermiogenesis in ostrich and one of few in any avian species. In addition to comparative reproduction and animal science, this work has implications for evolutionary biology as the reported germ cell features provide a bridge between reptile and ratite-avian spermatogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species belonging to the kinabaluensis group of the trachelid genus Utivarachna Kishida, 1940 are reported from China and Vietnam: U. linyejiei sp. nov. (♂♀), U. tamdao sp. nov. (♂♀), and U. zhengguoi sp. nov. (♂♀). Type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China and the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN) in Hanoi, Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their recent paper, Hansen Wheat et al. (Ecology and Evolution, 2022, 12, e9299) claimed that hand raised 23‐week‐old wolves showed the same attachment behaviour towards their handler in the Strange Situation Test (SST) (Determinants of infant behavior, 1969, 4, 111) as dogs. At first glance, their results seem to contradict previous findings that domestication caused a unique change in social‐affiliative behaviours in dogs (Animal Behaviour, 2005, 70, 1367). We argue that no persuading evidence was presented to claim that "wolves can show attachment behaviours towards humans comparable to those of dogs". When dealing with a behaviour system (Child Development, 1977, 48, 1184), the subjects' behaviour must meet consistent criteria (Behavioural and Brain Science, 1978, 3, 417), and a few behavioural preferences should not be used to claim the presence of an attachment system, especially, if the experiment violates basic assumptions of the original test. We believe the intriguing scientific question is whether the dog‐owner relationship is qualitatively different from what could be observed in the wolf‐hand raiser relation. Assessing all available data, our answer is still yes; dogs are unique in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many educators out of their traditional settings and into web-based learning environments. Zoos were no different, and throughout the pandemic they strived to reach their supporters using different approaches. By adapting quickly and using outreach activities and online learning, zoos continued to serve society through the pandemic. This study examined whether an in-person educational interaction with zoological specimens can enhance cognitive learning and increase primary-level students' attitudes towards animals and science. Additionally, attention was drawn to the effectiveness of online learning methods for young pupils. A total of 165 paired questionnaires from primary-level students in three schools were analysed. Findings indicate significant positive increases in attitude but not in learning achievements. Thus, zoological specimens can be utilised for enhancing scientific attitudes in primary-level students. The effect of a face-to-face lesson on learning compared with online methods was positive but the difference was not statistically significant. This, taken together with a significant positive effect of a face-to-face lesson on attitude improvements, is sufficient to determine the importance of a traditional learning environment for students of this educational level. Additionally, gender differences relating to scientific attitudes and understanding are not apparent at primary level but this may become more apparent at secondary level. This research may be used for further investigations into the relationship between age, gender, and scientific learning. It may also be used to support studies examining the effectiveness of zoo outreach programs in schools versus zoo visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sciarids (Diptera, Sciaridae) are small, mostly dark-colored insects whose larvae usually develop in decaying remains of plants that are penetrated by fungal hyphae. Typical habitats for sciarids are shady forests and wet meadows, but some species can migrate from natural biotopes to anthropogenic ecosystems and live as synanthropes. The genus Sciara Meigen, 1803 is an original genus of the Sciaridae family and includes 55 valid Sciara species in the world fauna. Sciara species play an important role as detritivores, facilitating the decomposition of decaying wood and leaf litter in biotopes. In the paper, the diversity of Sciara in Ukraine is analyzed with some remarks on their ecology, phenology and distribution. On the territory of Ukraine during the field seasons 2015–2022, we collected eight Sciara species—S. analis Schiner, 1864, S. flavimana Zetterstedt, 1851, S. hebes (Loew, 1869), S. helvola Winnertz, 1867, S. hemerobioides (Scopoli, 1763), S. humeralis Zetterstedt, 1851, S. incerta Winnertz, 1867 and S. ruficauda Meigen, 1818. All specimens are kept in the collections of the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine (SIZK). According to the results of our research, the four species S. flavimana, S. hebes, S. helvola and S. incerta are being registered for the first time in Ukraine. New localities are given for S. analis, S. hemerobioides, S. humeralis and S. ruficauda. The distribution, morphological peculiarities, ecology and phenology of registered species are also briefly discussed. A key to 12 European Sciara species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the antitumor response induced by certain inorganic nanoparticles, including needle-shaped hydroxyapatite (n-nHA), granule-shaped hydroxyapatite, and silicon dioxide. These nanoparticles effectively impair tumor progression by triggering the formation of multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) and promoting macrophage fusion, leading to extensive depletion of tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment, thus suppressing tumor growth and metastasis.

Due to Jakob von Uexküll's umwelt theory, the Institute for Umwelt Research at the University of Hamburg, that was founded in 1928, was a unique institution worldwide for holistic research into animal behaviour and perception. However, Uexküll's vitalistic-teleological approach and his uncompromising anti-Darwinian stance increasingly isolated him. When the closure of his institute was imminent as part of his statutory retirement in 1935, Uexküll ingratiated himself with the National Socialists in a letter to the Reich Minister for Science, Education, and Culture, which serves as a starting point for the article's detailed discussion of his relationship to National Socialism. Since umwelt theory could be used for the training of guide dogs and other animals useful for military purposes, the institute survived. Still, finding a suitable successor to Uexküll proved difficult because hardly anyone among the German zoologists believed Friedrich Brock, Uexküll's preferred candidate, would live up to Uexküll's originality. The most important opponent to Brock's appointment was Berthold Klatt, professor of zoology at the University of Hamburg, who did not expect any significant progress in zoology from Uexküll's umwelt theory. After Brock's death in 1958, the sworn circle of supporters of Uexküll's umwelt theory tried in vain to push through a successor from their ranks. At the instigation of Curt Kosswig, Klatt's successor in the Chair of Zoology, Franz Sauer succeeded Brock in 1959. However, a polemical article written by Gösta von Uexküll provoked a scandal, in the wake of which Sauer resigned. In 1960 the Institute for Umwelt Research became a department of the Zoological Institute, existing in the lecture timetables until 1966. Thus, the fate of Uexküll's research institution depended mainly on external and personal factors or, to speak in Uexküllian terms, on the umwelten of the protagonists and antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global understanding of selenium (Se) in plant biology mainly comes from the fields of medicine and animal science, while the research on Se in plant biology in the field of plant science lags behind. This paper summarized the physiological functions of Se in plants. These studies indicate that Se can promote plant seed development and growth and plant photosynthesis, increase plant economic yield and quality, and enhance plant antioxidant capacity and resistance to stress. However, its effects have a "dual" character, and its concentration or dosage range is very narrow. At appropriate concentrations, Se has an important impact on the physiological processes of plants and is a beneficial element for many plants to maintain health and good growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study published in Integrative Zoology examined the relationship between brain size and nest complexity in birds. The study found that larger brain size was correlated with more complex nests, while smaller body mass was correlated with less complex nests. The researchers also found that brain size in birds is related to various life-history traits and strategies, such as prey capture technique, immune defense, urbanization, and mating strategies. Additionally, the study identified some issues with the classification of nest complexity and suggested considering the diversity of nest materials and knitting in future studies. Overall, this research provides valuable evidence of the role of avian cognition in the evolution of nest complexity. [Extracted from the article]

Spider specimens were collected by using aspirator, sweep net, and pitfall traps from Kelkit Valley, located in Central Anatolia and Black Sea regions between April and November in 2019-2021. A total of 203 species belonging to 131 genera in 31 families were recorded from the study area. All identified species are new records for the study area. All specimens were labelled and preserved as museum material in Arachnology Museum of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to propose a bio-inspired morphological classification for soft robots based on an extended review process. The morphology of living beings that inspire soft robotics was analyzed; we found coincidences between animal kingdom morphological structures and soft robot structures. A classification is proposed and depicted through experiments. Additionally, many soft robot platforms present in the literature are classified using it. This classification allows for order and coherence in the area of soft robotics and provides enough freedom to expand soft robotics research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In analyzing the discussion of fish in Homilia in hexaemeron 7, this article attempts to shed light on the source that Basil of Caesarea used in his exposition of Gen 1:20. It will first critically review the old (but widely accepted) thesis of Jean Levie that Basil's knowledge of natural history comes solely from an Aristotelian epitome. In rejecting this view, this paper will argue that Basil's materials, in fact, draw on a more complex tradition than simply being directly extracted from Aristotle's work. In the second part, four sources that are adduced in relation to Homilia in hexaemeron 7, namely Pliny, Aelian, Oppian, and Plutarch will be examined. By analyzing the similarities and differences between Basil and these sources, I will demonstrate that Oppian's Halieutica is the most likely source that Basil consulted and used as a framework for composing the examples of fish in Homilia in hexaemeron 7,3–6, despite the apparent similarities among the four sources. I will also propose ways of interpreting the apparent similarities between Basil and the three other sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the nematodes were identified as I Sheraphelenchus i sp., they were picked up individually using stainless-steel insect pins (Insect pin No. 00, Shiga Kontyu), and transferred to new MEA previously inoculated with I Pestalotiopsis i sp., which has been used as I S. sucus i food in the laboratory (Kanzaki, 2021). Keywords: distribution; geographical variation; new locality; phylogeny EN distribution geographical variation new locality phylogeny 713 716 4 07/06/23 20230601 NES 230601 The nematode genus I Sheraphelenchus i Nickle, 1970 (Tylenchomorpha: Aphelenchoididae) currently contains five species and most have been isolated from rotten plant material, especially fruit, vegetables and sap, I i.e. i , organic matter that is relatively carbohydrate-rich and fermented, and insects associated with these environments (Kanzaki, 2021). Of the five species, I Sheraphelenchus sucus i Kanzaki & Tanaka, 2013 has been found in Ibaraki (Kanzaki & Tanaka, 2013) and Kyoto (Kanzaki, 2021), Japan. [Extracted from the article]

Five new species of the spider family Araneidae Clerck, 1757 from Vietnam are described: Araneus eugenei sp. nov. (♂♀), A. ethani sp. nov. (♀), A. liami sp. nov. (♂♀), Hypsosinga ryani sp. nov. (♂♀), and H. zioni sp. nov. (♀). Diagnostic photographs of the habitus and copulatory organs are provided. Types of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Avicenna, the perfect (or complete) disposition (istiʿdād kāmil / tāmm) turns prime matter, which is potentially receptive to every form (or power, or quality), into complected matter, which is endowed with uniform quality. The latter, i.e., complexion (mizāǧ) or complexional form (ṣūra mizāǧiyya), is suitable to receive some particular form (or power, or quality) and not another. The question arises as to how matter acquires its specific complexion. Is it the result of celestial influence, or does it emerge from chemical, elemental interactions within matter? This paper tries to answer this question with textual evidence from Avicenna's natural philosophy and metaphysics. Together with soul/form, complected matter represents the other constituent of organic, living substances. The paper then attempts to determine which science is proper to its investigation. I argue that the investigation of organic matter, that is, the specific complexion characterizing the animal body (or its parts), pertains to zoology. Zoology is crucial to grounding medical practice, which operates on those specific complexions to preserve or restore health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: We report on the occurrence of parasitic quill mites of the family Syringophilidae on the well-known avian group birds-of-paradise. Our investigation resulted in the discovery of two new species of mites belonging to the subfamily Picobiinae, which has never before been recorded on birds-of-paradise. We hypothesise that the interspecific sexual behaviour of paradisaeids, which involves copulation with non-closely related host species, may have facilitated the spread of syringophilid mites between different and unrelated host species. These findings highlight the potential role of sexual behaviour in the distribution and transmission of parasitic quill mites among avian hosts. While birds-of-paradise (Passeriformes: Paradisaeidae) are a well-known group of birds, our understanding of their parasites is still limited. This study reports on parasitic quill mites of the subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), which have never before been recorded on this group of birds. The mite specimens presented in this paper were collected from birds-of-paradise that had been captured in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia in the years 1910–1911 and are now deposited in the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Munich, Germany. Two syringophilid species are described as new to science: (i) Picobia frankei sp. n. from the magnificent riflebird Lophorina magnifica, the glossy-mantled manucode Manucodia ater, and the crinkle-collared manucode Manucodia chalybatus, and (ii) Gunabopicobia garylarsoni sp. n. from the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus and the lesser bird-of-paradise Paradisaea minor. We hypothesise that the presence of both picobiine species on phylogenetically unrelated paradisaeids may be caused by the sexual behaviour of these birds, where interspecific copulations may play a role in the switching of parasites between non-closely related host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breeding of threatened species in captivity for release is a central tool in conservation biology. Given gloomy predictions for biodiversity trends in the Anthropocene, captive breeding will play an increasingly important role in preventing future extinctions. Relative to the wild, captive environments drastically alter selection pressures on animals. Phenotypic change in captive animals in response to these altered selection pressures can incur fitness costs post‐release, jeopardising their potential contribution to population recovery. We explore the ways in which captive environments can hinder the expression of wild phenotypes. We also stress that the phenotypes of captive‐bred animals differ from their wild counterparts in multiple ways that remain poorly understood. We propose five new research questions relating to the impact of captive phenotypes on reintroduction biology. With better use of monitoring and experimental reintroductions, a more robust evidence base should help inform adaptive management and minimise the phenotypic costs of captivity, improving the success of animal reintroductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy farming has been the subject of public debate on animal welfare for a number of years now. Animal welfare discussions on dairy farming often include the demand for more nature connectedness in this area. This study focuses on the divergent perspectives of consumers and scientists on the importance of more nature connectedness for animal welfare strategies in German dairy farming. Within Europe, Germany is the main producer of cow's milk and an important industry in many rural areas in Germany is dairy farming. The insights presented are based on qualitative interviews with dairy farming and livestock researchers from Germany and Austria. A key finding of this study is that we need to look more closely at the actual content of nature claims in animal welfare debates. The scientists interviewed tend to see idealized conditions in animal welfare discussions with images of nature which in fact seldom lead to improved conditions in dairy farming and, even then, only to a limited extent. The scientists interviewed rate calls for more nature connectedness in dairy farming from the nonagricultural public as anti-modern, complexity-reducing, and normative. Nevertheless, some of the scientists interviewed did have valuable insights into the nonagricultural public's criticism of dairy farming practices. These scientists argued, however, that animal welfare needs to differentiate between nature connectedness and the innate needs of cattle when it comes to animal welfare strategies. An important conclusion of the study is that more discussion formats are needed to promote the exchange of ideas between different social groups attempting to understand animal welfare in dairy farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the diversity of animal groups distributed in Brazil provides countless research opportunities, the current scenario does not follow this demand. The reasons for the disconnections range from inequality in the availability of resources for teaching and research to the focus of researchers on specific groups of animals, while others remain neglected. Training new potential Brazilian researchers interested in Zoology is essential for a greater understanding of this diversity, as well as exposing those potential new researchers to new groups and different work possibilities. Thus, the Summer Course in Zoology (in Portuguese, CVZoo) promoted by the Graduate Program in Zoology at the University of São Paulo, over the last ten years, has been seeking to contribute to this training of new researchers in the field of Zoology, as well as in updating teachers through university extension activities. In order to assess the impacts caused by CVZoo on the academic and professional training of the participants, Google forms were sent to participants in the ten editions of the course, as well as compiled information available on the Lattes Platform. Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed the profile of graduates, their expectations, and perceptions about the course. Based on these data, we demonstrate the CVZoo’s efficiency in popularizing Zoology throughout the country in contributing to the decentralization of knowledge as well as in meeting the urgent concerns of making access to knowledge more egalitarian and socially fair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove the existence of a locally dense set of real polynomial automorphisms of \mathbb C^2 displaying a wandering Fatou component; in particular this solves the problem of their existence, reported by Bedford and Smillie in 1991. These Fatou components have non-empty real trace and their statistical behavior is historic with high emergence. The proof is based on a geometric model for parameter families of surface real mappings. At a dense set of parameters, we show that the dynamics of the model displays a historic, high emergent, stable domain. We show that this model can be embedded into families of Hénon maps of explicit degree and also in an open and dense set of 5-parameter C^r-families of surface diffeomorphisms in the Newhouse domain, for every 2\le r\le \infty and r=\omega. This implies a complement of the work of Kiriki and Soma [Adv. Math. 306 (2017), pp. 524–588], a proof of the last Taken's problem in the C^{\infty } and C^\omega-case. The main difficulty is that here perturbations are done only along finite-dimensional parameter families. The proof is based on the multi-renormalization introduced by Berger [ Zoology in the Hénon family: twin babies and Milnor's swallows , 2018]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify trends and hot topics in breeding value to support researchers in finding new directions for future research in that area. The data of this study consist of 7072 academic studies on breeding value in the Web of Science database. Network visualizations and in-depth bibliometric analysis were performed on cited references, authors, countries, institutions, journals, and keywords through CiteSpace. VanRaden (2008) is the most cited work and has an essential place in the field. The most prolific writer is Ignacy Misztal. While the most productive country in breeding value studies is the United States, the People's Republic of China is an influential country that has experienced a strong citation burst in the last 3 years. The National Institute for Agricultural Research and Wageningen University are important institutions that play a critical role in connecting other institutions. Also, these two institutions have the highest centrality values. "Genomic prediction" is the outstanding sub-study field in the active clusters appearing in the analysis results. We have summarized the literature on breeding value, including publication information, country, institution, author, and journal. We can say that hot topics today are "genome-wide association", "feed efficiency", and "genomic prediction". While the studies conducted in the past years have focused on economic value and accuracy, the studies conducted in recent years have started to be studies that consider technological developments and changing world conditions such as global warming and carbon emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the competence of personnel working with laboratory animals is currently a challenge. Directive 2010/63/EU establishes that staff must have demonstrated competence before they perform unsupervised work with living animals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research into education and training in laboratory animal science, and the establishment of assessment strategies to confirm researchers' competence remains largely unaddressed. In this study, we analysed the implementation of a practical assessment strategy over three consecutive years (2018–2021) using the Objective Structured Laboratory Animal Science Exam (OSLASE) developed previously by us to assess professional competence. The interrater reliability (IRR) was determined based on the assessors' rating of candidates' performance at different OSLASE stations using weighted kappa (Kw) and percentage of agreement. Focus group interviews were conducted to access trainees' acceptability regarding the OSLASE. There was a moderate-to-good Kw for the majority of the scales' items (0.79 ± 0.20 ≤ Kw ≥ 0.45 ± 0.13). The percentages of agreement were also acceptable (≥75%) for all scale items but one. Trainees reported that the OSLASE had a positive impact on their engagement during practical training, and that it clarified the standards established for their performance and the skills that required improvement. These preliminary results illustrate how assessment strategies, such as the OSLASE, can be implemented in a manner that is useful for both assessors and trainees. Examen structuré objectif de science animale de laboratoire (OSASSE) pour assurer la compétence professionnelle des chercheurs en SAL [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Society of Zoological Sciences has established the Wildlife Diseases Research Network (WDRN) in collaboration with partners such as the Working Group on Zoonotic Disease of the International Union of Biological Sciences. The WDRN consists of various committees and aims to facilitate research, monitoring, prevention, and control of wildlife diseases worldwide. The network holds symposia, workshops, and training courses, and publishes an annual report on wildlife diseases. Integrative Zoology has published a special subsection on the state of immunity in commensal rats and the evolutionary processes of Toll-like receptors in rodents. Other articles in the issue cover topics such as sarcoptic mange in wombats, interactions between bats and bat flies, and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains in zoo animals. The goal of this publication is to promote international collaborations and address gaps in disease prevention and control for humans, domestic animals, and wild animals. [Extracted from the article]

The VI International Conference on Malaria and Other Blood Parasites of Wildlife and the III International Symposium of the Wildlife Diseases Research Network will be held in Medellín, Colombia from November 26 to 30, 2024. The conference will be hosted by the University of Antioquia's Department of Biology and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia Department of Biology. Integrative Zoology, the flagship journal of the International Society of Zoological Sciences, is planning a special issue on wildlife diseases and parasitology. Dr. Carolina Chagas from the Nature Research Centre, Lithuania and Dr. Nayden Chakarov from Bielefeld University, Germany will be the guest editors. The journal welcomes submissions related to wildlife diseases, parasitology, and One Health. The deadline for manuscript submission is December 15, 2024. [Extracted from the article]

The Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA) recently held its 60th Annual Meeting, focusing on public engagement with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in animal research. The meeting included an interactive workshop for local students aged 16-18, where they learned about LASA's mission, the regulations and licensing of animal research, and the practical application of the 3Rs. The workshop featured four workstations that addressed different aspects of animal research, including enrichment, handling techniques, experimental design, and tissue sharing. The students provided positive feedback, stating that the session was informative and helped them understand the ethics and regulation involved in animal research. The workshop aimed to challenge public perceptions of animal research and provide a platform for open discussions. [Extracted from the article]

The collection of Crustacea preserved in the Museum of Zoology "P. Doderlein" in Palermo (Italy) has been revised in the framework of the activities of the National Biodiversity Future Center. The main part of the collection is composed of Decapoda, while a smaller part includes Stomatopoda, Isopoda, Amphipoda, and Cirripedia. Overall the collection includes common species, some of which are now protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liocranid spiders from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in Yunnan, China are studied. Two new species of Oedignatha Thorell, 1881, O. dian Lu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) and O. menglun Lu & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀), are described, and the female of Jacaena menglaensis Mu & Zhang, 2020 is described for the first time. The specimens studied are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To contribute to the field of didactic planning and expand knowledge and approaches to new ways of understanding, narrating, and constituting the natural world regarding fauna, one present this investigation on teaching-learning sequences produced by preservice science and biology teachers. This article discusses teaching-learning sequences whose core activities converge towards the development of knowledge that integrate aspects of zoology, environment, and society. The main proposals, possibilities and limits based on the following themes are analyzed: anthropomorphization; traditional knowledge, aesthetics, and animal resources; zoos, collection, and animal ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education and training is essential for laboratory animal caretakers (LACs), but there are no courses available in South Africa. A national workshop was thus held to collaboratively establish the learning outcomes (LOs) for the education and training (E&T) of LACs. Eighty-five stakeholders from 30 institutions took part in small group discussions interspersed with plenary sessions to draw up the consensus LOs. One-hundred-and-twenty LOs were identified, grouped into the following three main themes and 15 topics: 1) Focus on animals (animal care and husbandry, animal ethics, animal welfare, basic biology, environment); 2) Focus on humans (administration, health and safety, lifelong learning, professionalism, psychological wellbeing); and 3) Focus on systems (biosecurity, equipment, jurisprudence, logistics, and quality management). This E&T framework provides a foundation for a career path in the laboratory animal science field. The psychological (i.e. mental and emotional) wellbeing of LACs forms a noteworthy component of the focus on humans, since working with research animals is stressful and coping mechanisms are needed in order to promote compassion satisfaction and prevent compassion fatigue and burnout. Approximately 75% of the LOs are knowledge-based, while 25% are competencies in practical skills. It is recommended that competencies should be assessed by direct observation of practical/procedural skills, where competence in a procedure or practical task is assessed against predetermined criteria. These LOs are published with the intent that they will promote animal and human wellbeing, support ethical science, maintain public confidence, and in so doing, contribute to a just and civilised society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary and para-veterinary professionals working in the animal research sector are critical to ensure scientific quality and the humane care and use of animals. However, there are few focused education and training opportunities available for these professionals in South Africa. A survey of veterinarians working in animal research, undertaken by the South African Association for Laboratory Animal Science, identified the need for more advanced education and training opportunities beyond the routine Day 1 Skills currently provided for in undergraduate education. These could be broadly categorised into knowledge and skills relating to species-specific husbandry, procedures and clinical approaches, research-related biosecurity and biosafety, and study-specific ethical and animal welfare considerations. A subsequent workshop, attended by 85 veterinary and para-veterinary professionals in the animal research sector, identified 53 life-long learning needs, each with an associated learning outcome, for this professional community. These were grouped into five overarching themes: Personal development (9); Leadership and management skills (12); Education and training skills (5); Welfare, ethics and clinical skills (20); and Regulations and quality-assurance (7). Of the 53 learning outcomes, 14 were knowledge-based, ten were competencies, and 29 both knowledge and competence. These life-long learning opportunities, if available and implemented, will address important needs of veterinary and paraveterinary professionals in the animal research sector in South Africa. This would empower these professionals, assist in improving animal and human wellbeing, support high-quality ethical science, and maintain public confidence in the sector, thus enabling a more satisfactory career environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With most of the student attrition occurring early in undergraduate educational programs (Braunstein et al. 1997) it is necessary to interest and motivate students early on. The demographics of animal science students have shifted to students with minimal background in food producing animals. This presents a unique challenge as the current student population represents a diverse array of backgrounds and prior experiences. As a result, students enroll in undergraduate animal science programs with various expectations for their undergraduate degree and a focus primarily on careers in veterinary medicine. To engage all students, interest and motivation need to be generated. This review will use motivational frameworks as outlined by the self-determination theory, expectancy value theory, and interest, to explain the impact of the proposed solutions. Active learning classroom strategies are linked to increased knowledge compared with traditional, passive classrooms (Wells et al. 2019). Active learning shifts from a traditional teaching model to a student-centered model, which transitions instructors to facilitators of learning. This review summarizes current proposed pedagogies that have been researched in animal science classrooms such as experiential learning, flipped classrooms, hands-on animal experience, undergraduate research experiences, mentorship opportunities, capstone experiences, service-learning experiences, team-based learning, and cooperative learning. The limitations of these proposed pedagogies and the future research needed are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative technological approaches are crucial to enhance naturalistic museum collections and develop information repositories of relevant interest to science, such as threatened animal taxa. In this context, museomics is an emerging discipline that provides a novel approach to the enhancement and exploitation of these collections. In the present study, the discovery of a neglected lion skeleton in the Museum of Zoology "Pietro Doderlein" of the University of Palermo (Italy) offered the opportunity to undertake a multidisciplinary project. The aims of the study consisted of the following: (i) adding useful information for museographic strategies, (ii) obtaining a new genetic data repository from a vulnerable species, (iii) strengthening public awareness of wildlife conservation, and (iv) sharing new learning material. The remains of the lion were examined with a preliminary osteological survey, then they were restored by means of 3D printing of missing skeletal fragments. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b sequence clearly indicate that the specimen belongs to the Central Africa mitochondrial clade. At the end of the study, the complete and restored skeleton was exhibited, along with all of the information and data available from this project. This study shows a useful approach for the restoration and enhancement of a museum specimen, with important opportunities for preserving biodiversity and driving specific conservation policies, but also for providing Life Science learning material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory animal science represents a challenging and controversial form of human-animal relations because its practice involves the deliberate and inadvertent harming and killing of animals. Consequently, animal research has formed the focus of intense ethical concern and regulation within the UK, in order to minimize the suffering and pain experienced by those animals whose living bodies model human diseases amongst other things. This paper draws on longitudinal ethnographic research and in-depth interviews undertaken with junior laboratory animal technicians (ATs) in UK universities between 2013 and 2015, plus insights from interviews with key stakeholders in laboratory animal welfare. In our analysis, we examine four key dimensions of care work in laboratory animal research: (i) the specific skills and sensitivities required; (ii) the role of previous experiences of animal care; (iii) the influence of institutional and affective environments and (iv) experiences of killing. We propose that different notions of care are enacted alongside, not only permitted levels of harm inflicted on research animals following research protocols, but also harms to ATs in the processes of caring and killing animals. Concluding, we argue for greater articulation of the coexistence of care and harms across debates in geography about care and human-animal relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new mymarid species Dicopomorpha heratyi Anwar & Zeya, sp. nov. and Dicopomorpha mirzai Anwar & Zeya, sp. nov., are described from Himalayan belts of Himachal Pradesh, India and also male of D. albithorax Rameshkumar & Manickavasagam is recorded and described for the first time. The type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collections, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (AAAP), the only international scientific organization in animal science representing Asia and Pacific region, showed a remarkable development since its inception in 1980. The number of member countries increased from 8 to 19 while 19 congresses were held in 11 different member countries. The AAAP also helped creating the official journal, Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences in 1988 with the title being changed to Animal Bioscience in 2021. It is an open access journal indexed by most global databases and has become one of the most respected global journals in animal science. Through scientific meetings and journal publication, the AAAP has made a tremendous contribution to the advancement of animal science and industry throughout its member countries over the last 40 years. This paper summarizes the advances in animal science in the Asia–Pacific region, together with the roles of the AAAP scientists and journals in developing animal science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]