Antenatal creatine supplementation reduces persistent fetal lung inflammation and oxidative stress in an ovine model of chorioamnionitis.

Background Chorioamnionitis is a common antecedent of preterm birth and induces inflammation and oxidative stress in the fetal lungs. Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the fetal lungs may improve respiratory outcomes in preterm infants. Creatine is an organic acid with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of direct fetal creatine supplementation to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in fetal lungs arising from an in utero pro-inflammatory stimulus. Methods Fetal lambs (n=51) were instrumented at 90 days gestation to receive a continuous infusion of creatine monohydrate (6 mgkg-1h-1) or saline for 17 days. Maternal chorioamnionitis was induced with intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 mg, O55:H6) or saline seven days before delivery at 110 days gestation. Tissue creatine content was assessed with capillary electrophoresis, and inflammatory markers were analyzed with Luminex Magpix and immunohistochemistry. Oxidative stress was measured as the level of protein thiol oxidation. The effects of LPS and creatine were analyzed using a 2-way ANOVA. Results Fetal creatine supplementation increased lung creatine content by 149% (PCr<0.0001) and had no adverse effects on lung morphology. LPS-exposed groups showed increased levels of interleukin-8 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (PLPS<0.0001) and increased levels of CD45+ leukocytes (PLPS<0.0001) and MPO+ (PLPS<0.0001) cells in the lung parenchyma. Creatine supplementation significantly reduced the levels of CD45+ (PCr=0.045) and MPO+ cells (PCr=0.012) in the lungs and reduced thiol oxidation in plasma (PCr<0.01) and lung tissue (PCr=0.02). Conclusion Fetal creatine supplementation reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the fetal lungs arising from chorioamnionitis.

Clinical application of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation therapy. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic use of taVNS, optimal stimulation parameters, effective sham protocols, and safety. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted. Five databases and grey literature were searched. The data extracted included stimulation parameters, adverse events (AEs), and therapeutic effects on clinical outcomes. RESULTS: 109 studies were included. taVNS was used across 21 different clinical populations, most commonly in psychiatric, cardiac, and neurological disorders. Overall, 2,214 adults received active taVNS and 1,017 received sham taVNS. Reporting of stimulation parameters was limited and inconsistent. taVNS appeared to have a favourable therapeutic effect across a wide range of clinical populations with varied parameters. Three sham protocols were reported but their effectiveness was documented in only two of the 54 sham-controlled studies. Most reported adverse events were localised to stimulation site. CONCLUSION: There is growing evidence for taVNS therapeutic effect. taVNS appears safe and tolerable. Sham protocols need evaluation. Standardised and comprehensive reporting of both stimulation parameters and adverse events is required. Two different questionnaires have been proposed to evaluate adverse events and the effectiveness of sham methods in blinding participants.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) showed therapeutic effect across a wide range of clinical populations including depression, epilepsy, and strokeThere is a preliminary indication that daily/weekly dose and overall duration of treatment are important to show therapeutic effectivenessWhen using taVNS as an intervention, the questionnaires proposed in this review should be used to evaluate blinding effectiveness and adverse events.

Non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of post-stroke aphasia: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: Aphasia is an acquired language impairment that commonly results from stroke. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) might accelerate aphasia recovery trajectories and has seen mounting popularity in recent aphasia rehabilitation research. The present review aimed to: (1) summarise all existing literature on NIBS as a post-stroke aphasia treatment; and (2) provide recommendations for future NIBS-aphasia research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Databases for published and grey literature were searched using scoping review methodology. 278 journal articles, conference abstracts/posters, and books, and 38 items of grey literature, were included for analysis. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis revealed that ipsilesional anodal transcranial direct current stimulation and contralesional 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation were the most widely used forms of NIBS, while qualitative analysis identified four key themes including: the roles of the hemispheres in aphasia recovery and their relationship with NIBS; heterogeneity of individuals but homogeneity of subpopulations; individualisation of stimulation parameters; and much remains under-explored in the NIBS-aphasia literature. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results highlighted systemic challenges across the field such as small sample sizes, inter-individual variability, lack of protocol optimisation/standardisation, and inadequate focus on aphasiology. Four key recommendations are outlined herein to guide future research and refine NIBS methods for post-stroke aphasia treatment.

A comprehensive review of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) post-stroke aphasia literature, including all study designs, was required.Review of this literature revealed that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation is the mostly commonly used type of NIBS in aphasia treatment research.Systemic challenges across the field hinder prospective translation of NIBS into aphasia practice.Aphasia rehabilitation professionals should note that further research is required before NIBS is suitable for translation into clinical practice.

Effect of harness design on the biomechanics of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).

Harnesses have become increasingly popular and whilst there are benefits to harnesses, the impact of harness design on canine biomechanics, and thus physical health and welfare is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of three popular commercially available harnesses on canine locomotion in 66 domestic dogs. Dogs were filmed moving on a loose lead over a Tekscan Strideway gait analysis system. Stride length as a proportion of limb length (calculated as distance from the elbow to the floor), body weight distribution in the front versus the hind limbs (%), and minimum and maximum apparent angles of the lateral epicondyle of humerus (LEH) and greater tubercle of humerus (GTH) during the motion cycle were measured. Except for GTH angles, there were significant differences in all the investigated metrics. Differences varied across breeds/breed types. It is recommended that, when purchasing and fitting harnesses for dogs, owners and harness fitters treat dogs on an individual basis. The impact of pulling in harness on dog gait requires investigation as dogs may experience greater restrictions when pulling than during locomotion on a loose lead.

The Impact of Visitors on Non-Primate Species in Zoos: A Quantitative Review.

Visitors are a prominent feature in the lives of zoo animals, and their presence can cause a range of impacts on zoo animals (typically classed as positive, negative or neutral impacts), commonly referred to as the 'visitor effect'. This paper quantitatively collates the literature on the visitor effect in non-primate species, investigates the types of measures used to assess impacts of visitors on animals and considers whether impacts vary across non-primate species in zoos. In total, there were 105 papers which had investigated the impact of zoo visitors on 252 non-primate species/species groups. There has been a steady increase in visitor effect research in zoos since 2012 and this body of work incorporates species from avian (28% study species), reptilian (9%), amphibian (2%), fish (4%) and invertebrate taxa (1%). However, there is still a bias towards mammalian species (56%). The response to visitors varied across taxa. Amphibians responded negatively to visitors more frequently than would be expected by chance (p < 0.05), birds responded neutrally more frequently than would be expected by chance (p < 0.05) and fish responded neutrally and 'unknown' more frequently than would be expected by chance (p < 0.05). This review highlighted a number of animal-based metrics which have been used to assess the impacts of visitors on animals, with measures used varying across taxa. Moving forwards, it is recommended that moving forwards researchers incorporate a suite of measures, incorporating those which are meaningful in terms of being representative of individual animal experiences and animal welfare, collected in a manner which should capture those metrics accurately.

Geographically skewed recruitment and COVID-19 seroprevalence estimates: a cross-sectional serosurveillance study and mathematical modelling analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Convenience sampling is an imperfect but important tool for seroprevalence studies. For COVID-19, local geographic variation in cases or vaccination can confound studies that rely on the geographically skewed recruitment inherent to convenience sampling. The objectives of this study were: (1) quantifying how geographically skewed recruitment influences SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence estimates obtained via convenience sampling and (2) developing new methods that employ Global Positioning System (GPS)-derived foot traffic data to measure and minimise bias and uncertainty due to geographically skewed recruitment. DESIGN: We used data from a local convenience-sampled seroprevalence study to map the geographic distribution of study participants' reported home locations and compared this to the geographic distribution of reported COVID-19 cases across the study catchment area. Using a numerical simulation, we quantified bias and uncertainty in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence estimates obtained using different geographically skewed recruitment scenarios. We employed GPS-derived foot traffic data to estimate the geographic distribution of participants for different recruitment locations and used this data to identify recruitment locations that minimise bias and uncertainty in resulting seroprevalence estimates. RESULTS: The geographic distribution of participants in convenience-sampled seroprevalence surveys can be strongly skewed towards individuals living near the study recruitment location. Uncertainty in seroprevalence estimates increased when neighbourhoods with higher disease burden or larger populations were undersampled. Failure to account for undersampling or oversampling across neighbourhoods also resulted in biased seroprevalence estimates. GPS-derived foot traffic data correlated with the geographic distribution of serosurveillance study participants. CONCLUSIONS: Local geographic variation in seropositivity is an important concern in SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance studies that rely on geographically skewed recruitment strategies. Using GPS-derived foot traffic data to select recruitment sites and recording participants' home locations can improve study design and interpretation.

Behaviour and Welfare Impacts of Releasing Elephants from Overnight Tethers: A Zimbabwean Case Study.

Within the southern African elephant tourism industry, chaining or tethering elephants is still a relatively routine practice, despite the known negative impacts. Cited reasons for chaining include fear of aggressive interactions between elephants when handlers are absent, or a general increase in expression of aggressive behaviours (both to other elephants and to their human handlers). In Zimbabwe, concerns expressed include the danger of elephants escaping and entering human-inhabited areas. Four male semi-captive elephants at a Zimbabwe tourist facility were taken off overnight (~12 h) tethers and were placed in small pens ('bomas'), approximate sizes from 110 m2 to 310 m2), as part of a strategy to improve elephant welfare. Behavioural data were collected from overnight videos from December 2019 to March 2020, between 18:00 to 06:00, using focal, instantaneous sampling (5-min interval). Data were collected for three nights at three time periods: (i) Tethered; (ii) approximately four weeks post-release; (iii) approximately eight weeks post-release. Behavioural change over these time points was analysed using general linear models with quasibinomial error structures. Behavioural changes indicative of improved welfare were observed following these management changes, and no significant increases in aggression were observed either between elephants, or towards their human handlers. Proportion of time engaging in lying rest was higher in the first month after release from tethering (mean ± SD, 50 ± 14%) than when elephants were tethered (20 ± 18%) (p < 0.05). Additionally, although not statistically significant, stereotypies were reduced when elephants were no longer tethered (4 ± 6% observations tethered compared to 2 ± 2% off tethers), and positive social behaviour also increased (1 ± 1% on tethers, 2 ± 2% off tethers), with the greatest improvements seen in the pair-housed elephants. To improve elephant welfare in southern African tourism facilities we strongly advocate that less restrictive management practices which enable greater choice and freedom of movement overnight are implemented.

The Impact of COVID-19 Zoo Closures on Behavioural and Physiological Parameters of Welfare in Primates.

Primates are some of the most cognitively advanced species held in zoos, and their interactions with visitors are complex. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to understand the impact of zoo visitors on animals, in comparison to "empty zoos". This study sought to understand the impact of facility closures and subsequent reopenings on behavioural and physiological parameters of welfare in four primate species housed in the UK: bonobos (Pan paniscus) (n = 8), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) (n = 11), and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) (n = 6) held at Twycross Zoo (TZ); and olive baboons (Papio anubis) (n = 192) held at Knowsley Safari (KS). Behavioural data were collected from April-September 2020 (KS) and November 2020-January 2021 (TZ). Faecal samples were collected during morning checks from October-November (TZ) and July-November 2020 (KS). Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) were measured using ELISA kits. Statistical analysis for behavioural observations was undertaken using general linear models. Enclosure usage was assessed using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests as appropriate. Bonobos and gorillas spent less time alone when facilities were open to the public (p = 0.004, p = 0.02 respectively). Gorillas spent less time resting when the facility was open to the public (p = 0.04), and chimpanzees engaged in more feeding (p = 0.02) and engagement with enrichment (p = 0.03) when the zoo was open to the public than when it was closed. Olive baboons performed less sexual and dominance behaviour and approached visitor cars more frequently when the safari park was opened to the public than they did the ranger's vehicle during closure periods. There were no significant changes in physiological parameters for any of the study species. The results suggest variable impacts of the zoo closures on zoo-housed primates. We recommend future work that seeks to understand the impact of individual-level differences on "visitor effects" and that differences between animal experiences in zoos and safari parks are further explored in a range of species.

Correction: Williams et al. Kinetics and Kinematics of Working Trials Dogs: The Impact of Long Jump Length on Peak Vertical Landing Force and Joint Angulation. Animals 2021, 11, 2804.

The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...].

Observed Maternal Coping Socialization and Child Internalizing Symptoms: The Roles of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Peer Stress.

Empirical evidence relying primarily on questionnaire reports indicates parent coping socialization messages play an important role in children's psychological functioning. The present study utilized a multi-informant, multi-method design to build on previous coping socialization research in childhood and adolescence. A novel coding system was developed to measure observed parental socialization of coping messages from observations of a discussion-based peer stress task. Questionnaires and direct observations were obtained from mothers with and without a history of depression (N = 116; 50% with a history of depression) and their children (9 to 15 years). Observed maternal coping socialization messages were not significantly correlated with mother or child reports of child internalizing symptoms in bivariate analyses. However, in multiple linear regression analyses, current maternal depressive symptoms and children's level of peer stress emerged as significant moderators of the association between observed maternal coping socialization messages and children's internalizing symptoms. The conceptual and methodological contributions of the current study are discussed, limitations and strengths are noted, and implications for future research are outlined.

Kinetics and Kinematics of Working Trials Dogs: The Impact of Long Jump Length on Peak Vertical Landing Force and Joint Angulation.

Working trials is a competitive canine discipline based on work undertaken by military and police dogs. A 9 ft long jump is a key component of the discipline. Research into landing forces and joint angulation in other canine disciplines has highlighted the potential for the occurrence of soft tissue injuries, predominantly in the front limbs. There is a paucity of work into the impact of spread/long jumps on joint angulation and peak vertical force (PVF) on landing, and limited research on working trials dogs generally. This study aimed to determine whether altering the length of the long jump impacted PVF and apparent joint angulation upon landing. 21 dogs regularly competing in working trials cleared the long jump at three lengths: 9 ft (full length), 8 ft, and 7 ft. The impact of altered long jump length on the PVF, apparent shoulder and carpus angulation, and duration of landing, were analysed using general linear mixed models. There was no significant relationship between the length of the long jump and PVF or joint angulation on landing (p > 0.05). Greatest joint compression was observed on landing after clearing 9 ft. Individual variability in landing joint angulation, PVF and force distribution of the left and right front limbs on landing was observed across all three experimental lengths. We recommend further research is undertaken to examine individual variability and the effect of training and experience in working trials participants, to provide evidence-based recommendations for training people and competing dogs in this discipline.

Social Behaviour in Zoo Bachelor Groups: A Case Study of Related South American Fur Seals.

Appropriate management of social groups is one of the greatest challenges that face zoos and aquaria worldwide. To facilitate breeding programmes, particularly in polygynous species, there is a need to house surplus males in bachelor groups, yet for pinnipeds, the social impact of this management strategy is unknown. The aim of this research was to enhance understanding of sociality in South American fur seals (SAFSs), with a particular focus on social dynamics in a related bachelor group, and consider implications for evidence-based management of this species in zoos. The subjects were four related male seals housed at Bristol Zoo Gardens. Social interaction and nearest neighbour data were collected between February and July 2019. Individuals engaged in both positive and negative social interactions. Positive interactions were more frequent than negative interactions, and no excessive negative interactions were observed. Temporal dynamics were observed in social relationships, and negative interactions did not increase with the onset of the breeding season. Reciprocity in dyadic relationships was variable across the study months, and nearest neighbours were not necessarily reflective of social partners. This research highlights the importance of longitudinal monitoring of social relationships and establishment of baseline social behaviour profiles to support evidence-based species management. We advocate that this research is extended, to further develop our understanding of SAFS social needs within zoo environments, to understand the differences between single-sex and mixed-sex groups and to identify the degree to which the extensive research conducted in other polygynous species (e.g., gorillas) is applicable in the social management of South American fur seals moving forwards.

The Roots of Structural Racism in the United States and their Manifestations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the disproportionate morbidity and mortality borne by racial minorities, patients of lower socioeconomic status, and patients lacking health insurance reflect pre-existing structural inequities. Structural racism is racial discrimination rooted in history, perpetuated through policies, and manifested in disparities in healthcare, housing, education, employment, and wealth. Although these disparities exert greater impacts on health outcomes than do genetics or behavior, scientists, and policy makers are only beginning to name structural racism as a key determinant of population health and take the necessary steps to dismantle it. In radiology, structural racism impacts how imaging services are utilized. Here we review the history and policies that contribute to structural racism and predispose minority and disadvantaged communities to inferior outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to identify policy changes that could promote more equitable access to radiologic services.

Reducing Health Disparities in Radiology Through Social Determinants of Health: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the disproportionate morbidity and mortality borne by racial minorities, patients of lower socioeconomic status, and patients lacking health insurance reflect the critical role of social determinants of health, which are manifestations of entrenched structural inequities. In radiology, social determinants of health lead to disparate use of imaging services through multiple intersecting contributors, on both the provider and patient side, affecting diagnosis and treatment. Disparities on the provider side include ordering of initial or follow-up imaging studies and providing standard-of-care interventional procedures, while patient factors include differences in awareness of screening exams and confidence in the healthcare system. Disparate utilization of mammography and lung cancer screening lead to delayed diagnosis, while differential provision of minimally invasive interventional procedures contributes to differential outcomes related to treatment. Interventions designed to mitigate social determinants of health could help to equalize the healthcare system. Here we review disparities in access and health outcomes in radiology. We investigate underlying contributing factors in order to identify potential policy changes that could promote more equitable health in radiology.

Recruitment location influences bias and uncertainty in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence estimates.

The initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US was marked by limited diagnostic testing, resulting in the need for seroprevalence studies to estimate cumulative incidence and define epidemic dynamics. In lieu of systematic representational surveillance, venue-based sampling was often used to rapidly estimate a community's seroprevalence. However, biases and uncertainty due to site selection and use of convenience samples are poorly understood. Using data from a SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance study we performed in Somerville, Massachusetts, we found that the uncertainty in seroprevalence estimates depends on how well sampling intensity matches the known or expected geographic distribution of seropositive individuals in the study area. We use GPS-estimated foot traffic to measure and account for these sources of bias. Our results demonstrated that study-site selection informed by mobility patterns can markedly improve seroprevalence estimates. Such data should be used in the design and interpretation of venue-based serosurveillance studies.

Understanding impacts of zoo visitors: Quantifying behavioural changes of two popular zoo species during COVID-19 closures.

Visitors are normally a prominent and constant feature in a zoo animals' environment with more than 700 million people visiting zoos and aquariums worldwide, annually. Animal-visitor interactions can be enriching and stimulating and are now considered within the Five Domains of animal welfare assessment. Zoo closures as a result of COVID-19 provided a unique opportunity to monitor the impact of abrupt and prolonged removal of visitors on two popular zoo species. Data were collected at four facilities (n = 3 slender-tailed meerkats, n = 1 African penguin) during COVID-19 zoo closures and up to one month following reopening to the public. Meerkats showed increased positive social interactions, increased alert behaviours, and reduced environmental interactions in the first month post-opening, as compared to closure periods. They also used more of their enclosures during periods of closure and spent longer than would be expected in zones furthest from visitor viewing areas when facilities reopened. African penguins showed no behavioural change between open and closure periods. Enclosure usage during both observation periods was relatively even and no differences were observed in enclosure use between open and closure periods. These results will enable an advanced understanding of the impact that people have on the behaviour of zoo animals, which has ramifications for animals used in close encounters and other 'visitor experiences' in the future. Understanding relationships between animals and people is applicable in all managed animal settings. The results from this study are of practical use in managing visitor access to animals moving forwards, including enclosure location and design, to ensure a positive visitor experience that does not negatively impact animal behaviour.

Understanding the Impact of Scale Height on the Kinetics and Kinematics of Dogs in Working Trials.

Working trials is a canine discipline that originated from police and military dog work. One aspect of working trials competition is for a dog to "scale" a 6ft high wooden wall. Concern has been raised in other canine disciplines that landing forces after traversing jumps may lead to soft tissue injuries. There is a paucity of research into the impact of scale height on peak vertical landing force (PVF) in dogs participating in working trials. The aim of this work was to determine whether an alteration in scale height impacts PVF and apparent joint angulation on landing. Twenty-one dogs who regularly competed in working trials traversed the scale at three different heights; 6ft (full height), 5.5ft and 5ft. Changes in PVF, apparent carpal and shoulder joint angulation and duration of landing were analyzed using general linear mixed models. Dogs weighing >25 kg had greater PVF at 6ft than at 5ft (p < 0.05). There was no effect of scale height on PVF in dogs <25kg. Duration of landing was longer at 5ft than 5.5ft (p < 0.001) and 6ft (p < 0.001). Apparent carpus angle on landing was smaller at 6ft than 5ft (p < 0.05) and 5.5ft (p < 0.05) for dogs <25 kg. Apparent carpus angle on landing did not differ at any height for dogs >25 kg (p > 0.05). Apparent shoulder angle was not affected by scale height for any dogs (p > 0.05). There was considerable variation in the study population, but this research indicates that when the scale height was lowered to 5.5ft dogs had reduced PVF and less compressed joint angles on landing. When the scale height was lowered to 5ft they altered their traversing style and greater compression and increased PVF was seen. Evidence-based approaches to canine working trials are important to ensure minimum impacts on physical health and welfare of participating dogs, in terms of risk of injury in both competition and training. Based on these findings it is recommended that the maximum height of the scale is reviewed for training and competitive purposes, to ensure minimal impacts on the health of competing dogs, while maintaining the level of competitive challenge.

Using Zoo Welfare Assessments to Identify Common Issues in Developing Country Zoos.

Zoo animal welfare is a high priority for many institutions worldwide, with modern zoos now ensuring that animals are housed and cared for to the highest standards. However, in countries where this knowledge is not as available or understood, standards may be lower. The aim of this research was to investigate if there were common zoo welfare concerns across developing country zoos. Wild Welfare is a charity working globally to improve welfare for zoo animals and has an independent welfare audit that is carried out before any intervention occurs. The Wild Welfare Audit, consisting of 110 questions, covering nine topics, was completed at 11 zoos in seven developing countries (Brazil, Egypt, Libya, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam) following a Likert scale score (1-3). A principal component analysis was also performed to evaluate the audit questions. The results suggest that common areas of concern were animal behaviour, positive animal mental states and human health and safety. These themes were likely due to the lack knowledge and understanding that may be linked to historical and cultural differences. This research has helped to revise the welfare audit as well as inform future intervention strategies for improving developing country zoo animal welfare.