How do sleepwear and bedding fibre types affect sleep quality: A systematic review.

Sleepwear and bedding materials can affect sleep quality by influencing the skin and body temperature and thermal comfort. This review systematically evaluates the impact of sleepwear or bedding of different fibre types on sleep quality. A systematic search was conducted in six data bases plus Google Scholar and manual searches. Original articles that compared human sleep quality between at least two fibre types of bedding or sleepwear were included, resulting in nine eligible articles included in the review. The fibre types included cotton, polyester, wool, and blended materials for sleepwear; cotton, duck down, goose down, polyester and wool for duvet; and linen and a combination of cotton and polyester for bedding. The interplay between fibre materials and sleep quality is complex. Blended sleepwear demonstrated potential benefits for specific populations. Wool sleepwear showed benefits for sleep onset in adults (cool conditions) and in older adults (warm conditions). Linen bedsheets improved sleep quality under warm conditions in young adults. Goose down-filled duvets increased slow-wave sleep under cool conditions in young adults. However, a systematic comparison of fibre types is challenging due to the diverse nature of the studies evaluating sleep quality. Further research employing standardised methodologies with standard fibre samples in different populations and in different temperature conditions is imperative to elucidate comprehensively the effects of fibre choices on sleep quality. Despite the limitations and heterogeneity of the included studies, this analysis offers valuable insights for individuals seeking to optimise their sleep experiences and for manufacturers developing sleep-related products.

Determinants of Perceived Comfort: Multi-Dimensional Thinking in Smart Bedding Design.

Sleep quality is an important issue of public concern. This study, combined with sensor application, aims to explore the determinants of perceived comfort when using smart bedding to provide empirical evidence for improving sleep quality. This study was conducted in a standard sleep laboratory in Quanzhou, China, from March to April of 2023. Perceived comfort was evaluated using the Subjective Lying Comfort Evaluation on a seven-point rating scale, and body pressure distribution was measured using a pressure sensor. Correlation analysis was employed to analyze the relationship between perceived comfort and body pressure, and multiple linear regression was used to identify the factors of perceived comfort. The results showed that body pressure was partially correlated with perceived comfort, and sleep posture significantly influenced perceived comfort. In addition, height, weight, and body mass index are common factors that influence comfort. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing the angular range of boards based on their comfort performance to adjust sleeping posture and equalize pressure distribution. Future research should consider aspects related to the special needs of different populations (such as height and weight), as well as whether users are elderly and whether they have particular diseases. The design optimization of the bed board division and mattress softness, based on traditional smart bedding, can improve comfort and its effectiveness in reducing health risks and enhancing health status.

Bedding as a variable affecting fasting blood glucose and vascular physiology in mice.

Rodent husbandry requires careful consideration of environmental factors that may impact colony performance and subsequent physiological studies. Of note, recent reports have suggested corncob bedding may affect a broad range of organ systems. As corncob bedding may contain digestible hemicelluloses, trace sugars, and fiber, we hypothesized that corncob bedding impacts overnight fasting blood glucose and murine vascular function. Here, we compared mice housed on corncob bedding, which were then fasted overnight on either corncob or ALPHA-dri bedding, a virgin paper pulp cellulose alternative. Male and female mice were used from two noninduced, endothelial-specific conditional knockout strains [Cadherin 5-cre/ERT2, floxed hemoglobin-α1 (Hba1fl/fl) or Cadherin 5-cre/ERT2, floxed cytochrome-B5 reductase 3 (CyB5R3fl/fl)] on a C57BL/6J genetic background. After fasting overnight, initial fasting blood glucose was measured, and mice were anesthetized with isoflurane for measurement of blood perfusion via laser speckle contrast analysis using a PeriMed PeriCam PSI NR system. After a 15-min equilibration, the mice were injected intraperitoneally with the α1-adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine (5 mg/kg), or saline, and monitored for changes in blood perfusion. After a 15-min response period, blood glucose was remeasured postprocedure. In both strains, mice fasted on corncob bedding had higher blood glucose than the pulp cellulose group. In the CyB5R3fl/fl strain, mice housed on corncob bedding displayed a significant reduction in phenylephrine-mediated change in perfusion. In the Hba1fl/fl strain, phenylephrine-induced change in perfusion was not different in the corncob group. This work suggests that corncob bedding, in part due to its ingestion by mice, could impact vascular measurements and fasting blood glucose. To promote scientific rigor and improve reproducibility, bedding type should be routinely included in published methods.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates real-time measurement of changes in perfusion to pharmacological treatment using laser speckle contrast analysis. Furthermore, this investigation revealed that fasting mice overnight on corncob bedding has differential effects on vascular function and that there was increased fasting blood glucose in mice fasted on corncob bedding compared with paper pulp cellulose bedding. This highlights the impact that bedding type can have on outcomes in vascular and metabolic research and reinforces the need for thorough and robust reporting of animal husbandry practices.

Early life stress impairs synaptic pruning in the developing hippocampus.

Early life adversity impairs normal hippocampal function and connectivity in various mammalian species, including humans and rodents. According to the 'cumulative model' the number of early adversities can be summed up to determine the risk for developing psychopathology later in life. In contrast, the 'dimensional model' argues that 'Deprivation' and 'Threat' impact different developmental processes that should not be added in determining clinical outcomes. Here we examine these predictions in male and female mice exposed to a single adversity - limited bedding (LB) - versus mice exposed to multiple adversities - unpredictable postnatal stress (UPS) - focusing on microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in the developing hippocampus. Exposure to both LB and UPS reduced the ramification of microglia, impaired their ability to phagocytose synaptic material in vivo and ex vivo, and decreased expression of TREM2. Abnormal phagocytic activity was associated with increased spine density in CA1 pyramidal neurons that was seen in 17-day-old groups and persisted in peri-pubescent 29-day-old LB and UPS mice. Exposure to LB caused more severe impairment in microglial ramification and synaptic engulfment compared to UPS, outcomes that were accompanied by a UPS-specific increase in the expression of several genes implicated in synaptic pruning. We propose that despite being a single stressor, LB represents a more severe form of early deprivation, and that appropriate levels of hippocampal stimulation during the second and third weeks of life are necessary to support normal microglial ramification and synaptic pruning. Further, impaired synaptic pruning during this critical period of hippocampal development contributes to the abnormal hippocampal function and connectivity seen in UPS and LB later in life.

Use of coffee husks - comparison of pellet bedding quality, performance features, and some welfare indicators of broiler chickens.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to evaluate the influence of wheat straw and different coffee husk (CHs) levels in pellet bedding on its quality, broiler chickens' performance, meat quality, and welfare indicators. In total, 200 Ross 308 chickens were divided into 4 groups: C - control with wheat straw pellet; CH10 - pellet with 10% CHs, CH25 - pellet with 25% CHs, and CH50 - pellet with 50% CHs. During 42 days of rearing, each bedding's physicochemical features were analyzed. The production results were controlled, and the footpad dermatitis, hock burns, and feather quality were assessed. From chosen birds, carcass composition was analyzed, as well as the qualitative features (color, water-holding capacity, drip loss) and breaking bone strength. RESULTS: The bedding material and rearing days influenced the content of dry matter, crude fiber, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, NDF, ADF, and pH. The results were inconclusive. The increasing trends in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content were noticed at the end of rearing. Strong coefficient determination in bedding features was found (0.580 - 0.986). The pellet with CHs had no adverse effect on the growth performance of broilers. In the CH50 group, a lower fat percentage was found. A beneficial effect on water-holding capacity was noticed in leg muscles from CH10 and pectoral muscles from CH25. A significant decrease was found in footpad dermatitis incidence in groups CH25 and CH50. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that CHs reuse in broilers as the pellet bedding material is possible due to the beneficial effect on some meat quality features and no adverse effect on the performance of broiler chickens. The positive impact on lower foot pad dermatitis incidence indicated the possibility of using CHs in pellet bedding.

A short-term comparison of wheat straw and poplar wood chips used as litter in tiestalls on hygiene, milk, and behavior of lactating dairy cows.

A short-term study was conducted to compare the effect of using poplar wood chips (PWC) instead of wheat straw (WS) litter in dairy cows. A total of 38 lactating Holstein cows (204 ± 119 days in milk, 26.9 ± 6.5 kg of milk yield [MY]) were housed in a tiestall farm for a 10-d trial including 5 d of adaptation followed by 5 sampling days (from d 5 to 10). Cows were divided into 2 homogeneous groups: one group was bedded with WS, and the second with PWC. Both litter materials were provided in the amount of 7 kg/stall per d. Each group was composed of 3 subgroups of 6 or 7 cows; the subgroups were physically separated along the feeding line by wooden boards. During the sampling days, fecal composition, used litter composition, and bacterial count (Clostridium spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus, and total bacterial count) were analyzed by subgroup twice a day. On d 1 and from d 5 to 10, udder hygiene score and cow cleanliness score were also evaluated individually twice a day. Meanwhile MY, milk hygiene (total bacterial count [TBC], coliform bacterial count [CBC], and spore-forming units [SFU]) and quality were measured and analyzed from 9 animals per group. Moreover, individual animal behavior (body position and behavioral traits) and subgroup dry matter intake were measured on d 9 and 10. Fecal dry matter did not differ between groups, PWC had the lowest used litter moisture and N content favoring the highest clean cow frequency, but also gave rise to the greatest used litter microbial contamination. The MY, milk quality, TBC, SFU, and CBC were similar. The lying behavior frequency was similar between groups. However, the PWC group showed the lowest sleeping frequency, the highest frequency of other behaviors (including discomfort signs), and the lowest dry matter intake. However, despite this apparent reduction in cow comfort, no biologically important differences were observed in this short-term study between cows on PWC and WS in milk production or hygiene.

Dung treated by high-temperature composting is an optimal bedding material for suckling calves according to analyses of microbial composition, growth performance, health status, and behavior.

Bedding materials are important for suckling buffalo calves. Treated dung has been used as a bedding material for dairy cows but the lack of an appropriate safety assessment limits its application. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of treated dung (TD) as a bedding material for suckling calves by comparing TD with rice husk (RH) and rice straw (RS) bedding materials. The TD was prepared through high-temperature composting by Bacillus subtilis. Thirty-three newborn suckling buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis, 40.06 ± 5.79 kg) were randomly divided into 3 bedding material groups (TD, RH, and RS) and bedded with 1 of the 3 bedding materials for 60 d. We compared cost, moisture content, bacterial counts, and microbial composition of the 3 bedding materials, and investigated growth performance, health status, behavior, rumen fermentation, and blood parameters of bedded calves. The results showed that TD contained the fewest gram-negative bacteria and coliforms on d 1 and 30 and the lowest relative abundance of Staphylococcus throughout the experiment. The RH and TD bedding materials had the lowest cost. Calves in the TD and RS groups showed a higher dry matter intake, and final body weight and average daily gain in the TD and RS groups tended to be higher than in the RH group. Calves in the TD and RS groups had a lower disease incidence (diarrhea and fever), fewer antibiotic treatments, and lower fecal score than calves in the RH group. Higher contents of IgG, IgA, and IgM were observed in calves of the TD and RS groups than in calves of the RH group on d 10, indicating higher immune ability in TD and RS groups. Furthermore, TD bedding increased the butyric acid content in the calf's rumen, whereas RS bedding increased the acetate content, which might be attributed to the longer time and higher frequency of eating bedding material in the RS group. Considering all of the above indicators, we concluded that TD is the optimal bedding material for calves based on economics, bacterial count, microbial diversity, growth performance, and health status. Our findings provide a valuable reference for bedding material choice and calf farming.

The Impatiens Downy Mildew Epidemic in the United States Is Caused by New, Introgressed Lineages of Plasmopara destructor with Prominent Genotypic Diversity and High Evolutionary Potential.

Impatiens downy mildew (IDM) caused by Plasmopara destructor is currently the primary constraint on the production and use of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) as bedding plants worldwide. Downy mildew has been documented since the 1880s from wild-grown Impatiens spp. but epidemic outbreaks of the disease affecting the commercially grown, ornamental I. walleriana were only reported for the first time in 2003 in the United Kingdom and in 2004 in the United States. Here, we assess the genetic diversity, level of differentiation, and population structure from 623 samples associated with current and preepidemic IDM outbreaks, by genotyping the samples with simple sequence repeat markers. P. destructor population structure following the emergence of IDM in the United States is subdivided into four genetic lineages characterized by high genetic diversity, mixed reproduction mode, inbreeding, and an excess of heterozygosity. P. destructor genotypes are significantly differentiated from preepidemic IDM samples from hosts other than I. walleriana but no geographical or temporal subdivision is evident. P. destructor samples from different Impatiens spp. show significant but very low levels of differentiation in the analysis of molecular variance test that did not hold in discriminant analysis of principal components analyses. The same was observed between samples of P. destructor and P. velutina recovered from I. walleriana. The finding of shared genotypes in samples from different countries and lack of differentiation among U.S. and Costa Rican samples indicate the occurrence of international movement of the pathogen. Our study provides the first high-resolution analysis of the diversity of P. destructor populations and the IDM epidemic that may be instrumental for disease management and breeding efforts.

Higher training loads affect sleep in endurance runners: Can a high-heat-capacity mattress topper mitigate negative effects?

This study investigates the impact of a training program on sleep among endurance runners and the benefits of chronically using a high-heat-capacity mattress topper (HMT). Twenty-one trained male athletes performed a 2-week usual training regimen, sleeping on a Low-heat-capacity Mattress Topper (LMT), followed by 2-week overload and taper periods. From overload, participants were assigned into two groups based on the mattress topper used: HMT (n = 11) or LMT (n = 10). Irrespective of the group, overload increased general stress and stress-reaction symptoms evaluated by questionnaires, with no decline in performance on a graded-exercise treadmill test, the majority of participant being "non-overreached" (n = 14). From a daily perspective, each additional 100 A.U. in training load, assessed using the session rating of perceived exertion, was associated with an impairment in subsequent sleep efficiency (ß = -0.2%; p < 0.01), wake after sleep onset (ß = +0.4 min; p < 0.05) and sleep onset latency (ß = +0.5 min; p < 0.05), which was unaffected by HMT use. Practitioners should be aware of sleep needs, especially during excessive training loads, whereas implementing individualised sleep strategies. Further studies should be conducted on potential benefits of HMT among athletes in various sleep conditions.

Effect of quilt thermal resistance on bedding system and sleep thermal comfort.

Ambient temperature and the bedding thermal resistance are two key factors affecting sleepers' thermal comfort. Six duvets with thermal resistance of 3.81, 5.12, 6.19, 7.81, 8.75 and 8.93 clo were included to investigate the effects of duvet thermal resistance on the sleep thermal comfort zone. Six males and six females were enrolled in a whole night sleep experiment, and the ambient temperature of the sleep room was adjusted to be thermally comfortable. Skin temperature, bed climate temperature and sleep stages were all acquired. Subjective evaluations including thermal perception and sleep quality were also assessed through questionnaires. The results indicated that increasing the thermal resistance of duvets widened the thermal comfort zone of ambient temperature, with the highest thermal resistance ranging from 8.2 to 17.7 °C and the lowest from 16.4 to 22.2 °C. The upper and lower temperature limits of the comfort zone did not significantly differ in their effect on sleep quality. The recommended bed climate temperature for comfortable sleep would be in the small range of 30-33 °C, and a good quality of sleep can be guaranteed in the scenario.

Cross-sectional survey of husbandry for pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in New Zealand.

AIMS: To describe basic husbandry (veterinary care, substrate and bedding, toys, frequency of cleaning) provided to guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) by a sample of owners in New Zealand. METHODS: Respondents were invited to complete a survey disseminated through the social media channels of animal interest and advocacy groups (3 September 2020 to 3 November 2020). Respondents who agreed to participate were asked a range of questions regarding the provision of husbandry to their oldest pet guinea pig. Descriptive statistics are reported here relating to husbandry, length of ownership, provision of substrate, bedding and toys, frequency of cleaning and veterinary care. RESULTS: A total of 503 responses were received, of which 329 complete responses were analysed. Of these respondents, 208/329 (63.2%) had owned guinea pigs for more than 2 years. Most owners provided a cage with a wooden base as substrate (144/321, 44.9%), bedding (308/329; 93.6%) and toys (169/329; 51.1%). Half (176/329; 53.5%) of respondents reported taking their guinea pig to a veterinarian. Just over half of the owners surveyed cleaned water (165/329; 50.1%) and food (181/329; 55.0%) bowls daily, and a third picked up droppings (109/329; 33.1%) daily. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While owners provided an array of toys, and a range of bedding and substrate types to their guinea pigs, cages were cleaned out less frequently than recommended, and it was common for guinea pig cages to be cleaned out less frequently than recommended. Future research is required to provide robust and evidence-based links between husbandry and the welfare of pet guinea pigs.

Impact of bedding on Dahl salt-sensitive hypertension and renal damage.

Salt-sensitive hypertension, increases in blood pressure in response to increased salt intake, is associated with an increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and end-organ damage compared with salt-resistant hypertension. The Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rat mimics the phenotypic characteristics observed in human hypertension when rats are challenged with a high-salt diet. Our previous work demonstrated that environmental factors, such as dietary protein, alter the severity of salt sensitivity in Dahl SS rats and should be an important consideration in experimental design. The present study investigated how the bedding on which animals were maintained (wood vs. corncob) could impact the SS phenotype in the Dahl SS rat. Animals that were maintained on corncob bedding exhibited a significant attenuation in blood pressure and renal end-organ damage in response to a high-salt diet compared with animals maintained on wood bedding. This attenuation was associated with an improvement in renal function and reduction in immune cell infiltration into the kidneys of Dahl SS rats maintained on corncob bedding. These results indicate that the type of bedding impacts the SS phenotype in the Dahl SS rat and that the bedding used in experiments can be a confounding factor to consider during data interpretation and experimental design.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Results from our present study demonstrate the profound effect of animal bedding on the severity of salt-sensitive hypertension, renal damage, and inflammation in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. This study highlights the important consideration that should be given to environmental factors, namely, the type of bedding in animal facilities, in experimental design and data interpretation.

Succession, Replacement, and Modification of Chicken Litter Microbiota.

Chickens are in constant interaction with their environment, e.g., bedding and litter, and their microbiota. However, how litter microbiota develops over time and whether bedding and litter microbiota may affect the cecal microbiota is not clear. We addressed these questions using sequencing of V3/V4 variable region of 16S rRNA genes of cecal, bedding, and litter samples from broiler breeder chicken flocks for 4 months of production. Cecal, bedding, and litter samples were populated by microbiota of distinct composition. The microbiota in the bedding material did not expand in the litter. Similarly, major species from litter microbiota did not expand in the cecum. Only cecal microbiota was found in the litter forming approximately 20% of total litter microbiota. A time-dependent development of litter microbiota was observed. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Weissella jogaejeotgali were characteristic of fresh litter during the first month of production. Corynebacterium casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Lactobacillus salivarius dominated in a 2-month-old litter, Brevibacterium, Brachybacterium, and Sphingobacterium were characteristic for 3-month-old litter, and Salinococcus, Dietzia, Yaniella, and Staphylococcus lentus were common in a 4-month-old litter. Although the development was likely determined by physicochemical conditions in the litter, it might be interesting to test some of these species for active modification of litter to improve the chicken environment and welfare. IMPORTANCE Despite intimate contact, the composition of bedding, litter, and cecal microbiota differs considerably. Species characteristic for litter microbiota at different time points of chicken production were identified thus opening the possibility for active manipulation of litter microbiota.

Effects of quilts on comfortable indoor temperatures and human thermal responses during sleep.

Quilts play a vital role in the thermal comfort of sleeping people. This study aims to investigate the comfortable indoor temperatures and thermal responses when people sleep in different quilts. The experiment tested three kinds of quilts (down, silk, and polyester), and each kind of quilt involved six filling weights. Sixteen participants (eight males and eight females) conducted whole-night sleeping trials to acquire skin temperatures, bedding temperatures, and thermal perceptual responses. The lower and upper limits of air temperatures ( T lower $$ {T}_{lower} $$ and T upper $$ {T}_{upper} $$ ) for comfortable sleeping were obtained. The results indicated that thermal sensation votes were in the range from 0.1 (close to "neutral") to 1.3 (close to "slightly warm") when participants felt comfortable and preferred "no change" in thermal preference. The corresponding comfortable mean skin and bedding temperatures were 34.6 ~ 35.2°C and 31.2 ~ 32.7°C, respectively. T lower $$ {T}_{lower} $$ and T upper $$ {T}_{upper} $$ had good linear correlations with bedding insulations. For the same bedding insulation, the T lower $$ {T}_{lower} $$ and T upper $$ {T}_{upper} $$ were highest for using silk quilts, followed by down and polyester quilts. The comfort ranges of air temperatures and quilt insulations were finally determined. The findings may benefit understanding the thermal requirement of quilts and help people select and design quilts to achieve thermal comfort.

Distribution of staphylococcal and mammaliicoccal species from compost-bedded pack or sand-bedded freestall dairy farms.

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to determine whether dairy cattle housing types were associated with staphylococcal and mammaliicoccal populations found on teat skin, bedding, and in bulk tank milk. Twenty herds (n = 10 sand-bedded freestall herds; n = 10 compost-bedded pack herds) were enrolled. Each herd was visited twice for sample collection, and at each visit, 5 niches were sampled, including bulk tank milk, composite teat skin swab samples collected before premilking teat preparation, composite teat skin swab samples collected after premilking teat preparation, unused fresh bedding, and used bedding. All samples were plated on Mannitol salt agar and Columbia blood agar and staphylococcal-like colonies were selected for further evaluation. Bacterial colonies were speciated using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. All species were grouped into 4 categories included host-adapted, opportunistic, environmental, and unclassified. Absolute numbers and proportions of each genus and species were calculated. Proportional data were compared between groups using Fisher's exact test. Data representing 471 staphylococcal-like organisms were analyzed. Overall, 27 different staphylococcal and mammaliicoccal species were identified. Staphylococcus chromogenes was the only species identified from all 20 farms. A total of 20 different staphylococcal-like species were identified from bulk tank milk samples with the most prevalent species being S. chromogenes, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Mammaliicoccus sciuri. Overall, more staphylococcal and mammaliicoccal isolates were identified among used bedding than unused bedding. The increased numbers of isolates within used bedding were primarily from used sand bedding samples, with 79% (76/96) of used bedding isolates being identified from sand bedding and only 20.8% (20/96) from used compost-bedded pack samples. When comparing categories found among sample types, more unclassified species were found in used sand bedding than in used compost-bedded pack samples. This finding is possibly related to the composting temperatures resulting in reduced growth or destruction of bacterial species. The prevalence of S. aureus was high in bulk tank milk for all herds, regardless of herd type, which may represent the influence of unmeasured management factors. Overall, staphylococcal and mammaliicoccal species were highly prevalent among samples from both farm types.

Comparison of microbiota of recycled manure solids and straw bedding used in dairy farms in eastern Canada.

Recycled manure solids (RMS) bedding is an alternative bedding option that is growing in popularity on Canadian dairy farms. However, the microbiological characteristics and production of RMS bedding are poorly documented under on-farm conditions in eastern Canada. This bedding could support the presence of pathogens and could have an effect on cow and human health. The aim of this study was to describe the RMS microbiota when used under dairy cows and compare it with straw bedding. Unused and used bedding from 27 RMS and 61 straw-bedded dairy farms were collected and compared using 16S amplicon sequencing, bacterial counts, and Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes detection. Microbiota composition of unused RMS and unused straw were different. After use, both bedding microbiota were similar in their bacterial composition, structure, and diversity. Unused RMS generally contained higher bacterial counts than did unused straw, except for Klebsiella spp. counts. Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were more frequently detected in unused RMS (Salmonella spp.: 11%; L. monocytogenes: 30%), than in unused straw (Salmonella spp.: 0%; L. monocytogenes: 11%). Finally, 2 RMS production systems (extraction of the liquid fraction followed by maturation in an opened or enclosed container vs. in a heap) did not influence the microbiota richness and bacteria distribution (α-diversity), but did influence the microbiota structure (ß-diversity). In conclusion, animal and human pathogens were found in greater numbers and more frequently in unused RMS than unused straw, and this could eventually affect dairy cow or human health.

Infant ultrasonic vocalizations predict adolescent social behavior in rats: Effects of early life adversity.

Early life adversity (ELA) increases risk for psychopathologies that often manifest during adolescence and involve disrupted social functioning. ELA affects development of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which plays a role in social behavior. PFC oxytocin and vasopressin are important regulators of, first, mother-infant attachment, and, later, social behavior, and are implicated in psychiatric disorders. Here, we tested whether infant social communication is predictive of PFC development and adolescent social behavior. We used the limited bedding (LB) ELA model in rats during postnatal days (P)2-14, and measured isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) at P10 to characterize differences in an early social response. Rats were tested for dyadic social interaction in adolescence (P34). Adolescent oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) and arginine-vasopressin receptor 1a mRNA were measured in the PFC. Relationships between infant USVs, adolescent behavior, and gene expression were assessed. LB-reared rats exhibited fewer USVs at P10. While social behaviors were not robustly affected by rearing, fewer total and complex-type infant USVs predicted fewer interactions in adolescence. LB increased Oxtr in both sexes but Oxtr was not directly predicted by USVs. Findings support the use of USVs as indicators of differential early life experience in rodents, toward further characterization of early factors associated with vulnerability.

Chronic early-life stress increases cognitive impulsivity and D2 immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens of adult rats.

Chronic early life stress (ECS) induced by limited bedding and nesting (LBN) material in rodents is a naturalistic stress model that mimics many of the behavioral and neural consequences of child abuse and neglect; however, the effect of ECS on adult impulsivity has never been studied. The aim of our work was to determine the effects of ECS on cognitive impulsivity and its relation to D2 immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to LBN from postnatal day 2 to 9. We evaluated dams' maternal behavior and offspring corticosterone levels. The rats' impulsive cognitive behavior was evaluated by a delay-discounting task (transitional bridge) on P70, and we evaluated D2 receptors by immunostaining. Our results indicated that ECS affected maternal behavior in the dams and increased pups' corticosterone levels at P9, but not in adults. ECS rats showed lower frequencies of choosing the delayed reinforcer and shorter latencies to cross on the delay-discounting task. In addition, ECS rats showed increased D2 immunoreactivity in the NAc when compared with controls. Our data suggest that ECS can cause impulsive behaviors in adult rats characterized by less convenient choices, likely related to an increase in D2 receptors in the NAc. These findings could contribute to our understanding of the effects of child abuse and neglect on impulsive behavior.

Evaluation of an Accelerometer-Based Device for Testing the Softness of Bedding Materials Used for Livestock.

Lying is a high priority behavior for dairy cows. As the quality of cubicles can influence their lying time, the interest in finding objective methods to assess the quality of floors has increased substantially over recent decades. This study aimed to evaluate a technical device for measuring elastic properties of floors for the application to bedding materials for cows. Ten different floor types were used: horse manure, recycled manure solids, bark mulch, sand, sawdust, and three different rubber mats. Horse manure and bark mulch were additionally tested with chopped straw as a top layer. Two devices of the same kind and two examiners were available for performing comparative measurements. Regression analyses and an ANOVA were conducted to compare the devices, examiners, and different surfaces. Most of the floors differed significantly from each other. Sawdust was the softest material, followed by sand and recycled manure solids. The agreement between the devices (Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) > 0.99, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rS) = 0.99) and examiners (CCC = 0.99, rS = 0.99) was almost perfect. These findings indicate that this device can be used as a new method for assessing the softness of bedding materials for dairy cows objectively.

Effects of Weak Bedding Plane, Fault, and Extreme Rainfall on the Landslide Event of a High Cut-Slope.

High cut-slopes are widespread in engineering constructions and often converted into landslides. Some extreme circumstances facilitate the landslide process, such as the weak bedding plane, rainfall, and faults. Therefore, this paper intends to offer insights into the influence of the weak bedding plane, extreme rainfall as well as faults on the landslide process of the high cut-slope. In this paper, the Anling landslide in Anhui Province, China, is selected as an example. Geological surveys, displacement monitoring, data analysis, as well as numerical simulation are carried out. The entire excavation construction and landslide deformation process are simulated to reveal the formation mechanism of the landslide using the finite difference code, FLAC3D. The effects of the fault on the landslide and the effectiveness of adjusting protection measures by adding piles are investigated on the basis of the finite difference analysis. According to monitoring data and numerical simulation, the weak bedding plane and extreme rainfall are considered the main factors leading to the Anling landslide. Field investigation and numerical experiments indicate that the fault shall facilitate and accelerate the landslide process. The construction of piles in a suitable position for the landslide is a reasonable and economical measure to stabilize the landslide.