bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ACDF versus corpectomy in octogenarians with cervical epidural abscess: early complications and outcomes with 2 years of follow-up
Authors: Lenga Pavlina , Gülec Gelo , Bajwa Awais Akbar , Issa Mohammed , Kiening Karl , Unterberg Andreas W. , Ishak Basem
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Cervical spinal epidural abscess (CSEA) is a rare condition, manifesting as rapid neurological deterioration and leading to early neurological deficits. Its management remains challenging, especially in patients older than 80 years. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical course and determine morbidity and mortality rates after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus corpectomy in octogenarians with ventrally located CSEA at two levels.

Methods

In this single-center retrospective review, we obtained the following from electronic medical records between September 2005 and December 2021: patient demographics, surgical characteristics, complications, hospital clinical course, and 90-day mortality rate. Comorbidities were assessed using the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (CCI).

Results

Over 16 years, 15 patients underwent ACDF, and 16 patients underwent corpectomy with plate fixation. Between the two groups, patients who underwent corpectomy had a significantly poorer baseline reserve (9.0 ± 2.6 vs. 10.8 ± 2.7; p = 0.004) and had a longer hospitalization period (16.4 ± 13.1 vs. 10.0 ± 5.3 days; p = 0.004) since corpectomy lasted significantly longer (229.6 ± 74.9 min vs. 123.9 ± 47.5 min; p < 0.001). Higher in-hospital and 90-day mortality and readmission rates were observed in the corpectomy group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Both surgeries significantly improved blood infection parameters and neurological status at discharge. Revision surgery due to pseudoarthrosis was required in two patients after corpectomy.

Conclusions

We showed that both ACDF and corpectomy for ventrally located CSEA can be considered as safe treatment strategies for patients aged 80 years and above. However, the surgical approach should be carefully weighed and discussed with the patients and their relatives.
Injective and Tilting Resolutions and a Kazhdan-Lusztig Theory for the General Linear and Symplectic Group
Authors: Tange Rudolf
Published: January 2023

Let k be an algebraically closed field of characteristic p > 0 and let G be a symplectic or general linear group over k. We consider induced modules for G under the assumption that p is bigger than the greatest hook length in the partitions involved. We give explicit constructions of left resolutions of induced modules by tilting modules. Furthermore, we give injective resolutions for induced modules in certain truncated categories. We show that the multiplicities of the indecomposable tilting and injective modules in these resolutions are the coefficients of certain Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomials. We also show that our truncated categories have a Kazhdan-Lusztig theory in the sense of Cline, Parshall and Scott. This builds further on work of Cox-De Visscher and Brundan-Stroppel.
Effect of Cathode-Plasma Coupling on Plasma Torch Operation Predicted by a 3D Two-Temperature Electric Arc Model
Authors: Zhukovskii Rodion , Chazelas Christophe , Rat Vincent , Vardelle Armelle , Molz Ronald J.
Published: January 2023

In a DC plasma spray torch, the plasma-forming gas is the most intensively heated and accelerated at the cathode arc attachment due to the very high electric current density at this location. A proper prediction of the cathode arc attachment is, therefore, essential for understanding the plasma jet formation and cathode operation. However, numerical studies of the cathode arc attachment mostly deal with transferred arcs or conventional plasma torches with tapered cathodes. In this study, a 3D time-dependent two-temperature model of electric arc combined with a cathode sheath model is applied to the commercial cascaded-anode plasma torch SinplexPro fitted with a wide single cathode. The model is used to investigate the effect of the cathode sheath model and bidirectional cathode-plasma coupling on the predicted cathode arc attachment and plasma flow. The model of the plasma-cathode interface takes into account the non-equilibrium space-charge sheath to establish the thermal and electric current balance at the interface. The radial profiles of cathode sheath parameters (voltage drop, electron temperature at the interface, Schottky reduction in the work function) were computed on the surface of the cathode tip and used at the cathode-plasma interface in the model of plasma torch operation. The latter is developed in the open-source CFD software Code_Saturne. It makes it possible to calculate the plasma flow fields inside and outside the plasma torch as well as the enthalpy and electromagnetic fields in the gas phase and electrodes. This study shows that the inclusion of the cathode sheath model in the two-temperature MHD model results in a higher constriction of the cathode arc attachment, more plausible cathode surface temperature distribution, more reliable prediction of the torch voltage and cooling loss, and more consistent thermal balance in the torch.
Investigation on a predetermined point of failure for stainless steel 316L pressure loaded components made by laser powder bed fusion through stress analysis and experimental testing
Authors: Ringel Björn , Schwarz David , Vu Hoang Minh , Meiniger Steffen , Schlick Georg , Seidel Christian , Oechsner Matthias
Published: January 2023

The qualification process of pressure vessels in general is subject to governmental restrictions. Thus, introducing additive manufacturing (AM) components to the market is challenging due to incomplete standardization. To increase component safety and trust, predetermined points of failure can be integrated by design using direct manufacturing methods. A predetermined point of failure using a surface notch is one option to avoid dangerous part failure (e.g. explosion) and increase safety. For implementation, a design approach with experimental proof of concept is striven to guide manufacturers and demonstrate the behavior of the material and the component as a whole. Finite element analysis is used for investigations on the influence of surface notch geometries applied to wall structures on structural stress super-elevation. Analytical strength assessment using FKM guideline and experimental validation of PBF-LB/M-manufactured specimen behavior by static axial tensile and burst testing is carried out. Fracture surface and plastic elongation evaluation using light microscopy and 3-D surface scanning clarify the material behavior. The analytical and experimental approval of an integrated predetermined point of failure for static overload is achieved without reducing the maximum burst pressure value. The integration fulfills all theoretical requirements for structural strength. All tested specimens meet the expectations regarding static strength and failure behavior. As expected, component elongation decreases using surface notches for failure provocation. Results lead to a proposed guideline for the application of an integrated predetermined point of failure by the use of a surface notch.
Part-of-Speech and Pragmatic Tagging of a Corpus of Film Dialogue: A Pilot Study
Authors: Galiano Liviana , Semeraro Alfonso
Published: January 2023

This article presents how a pilot study for automatically POS-tagging a corpus of orthographic transcriptions of film dialogues (Pavia Corpus of Film Dialogue) was dealt with and the related issues solved. The software CLAWS4, which is freely available on UCREL’s website, was used for the sake of comparability with reference corpora such as the BNC (both 1994 and 2014) and all the English corpora available on english-corpora.org (former BYU interface). The study highlights that automatic POS-tagging needs readjusting when applied to film dialogue and the accuracy of the tagging greatly benefits from the introduction of tags for pragmatic categories. This integrated approach of grammatical and pragmatic automatic tagging was realised through the writing of a Python script which post-processes the data output of CLAWS4.
The reliability of a frailty index may depend on the deficits included
Authors: Verwiel Anna Martine Petronella , Pulvermann Martin , Smit Nadine Heleen , Melis René Johannes Franciscus
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Recently, a short version of the TOPICS-MDS questionnaire, the Short Form (SF) was developed. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of two versions of a frailty index (FI) based on this SF: with or without information on present diseases included.

Methods

This was a clinical, prospective study of geriatric patients. An FI based on the TOPICS-SF items alone (SF-FI) and an FI with the disease information as additional deficits (MDS-FI) were calculated. Criterion and construct validity and reliability were assessed.

Results

95 patients were included. A strong correlation was found between SF-FI and MDS-FI scores (Pearson’s r = 0.92). Data supported four out of six hypotheses for the construct validity. However, a Bland–Altman plot and a regression analysis showed that the SF-FI was generally higher than the MDS-FI.

Conclusion

This study indicates that the reliability of the TOPICS-SF-FI depends on the presence of disease information.
A New Surface Node Method to Accurately Model the Mechanical Behavior of the Boundary in 3D State-Based Peridynamics
Authors: Scabbia Francesco , Zaccariotto Mirco , Galvanetto Ugo
Published: January 2023

Peridynamics is a non-local continuum theory capable of modeling crack initiation and propagation in solid bodies. However, the layer near the boundary of the body exhibits a stiffness fluctuation due to the so-called surface effect and the inaccurate way of imposing the boundary conditions. Moreover, in numerical models discretized using the meshfree method with uniform grid spacing, there are no nodes on the external surface of the body where the boundary conditions should be applied. Inspired by the method of the fictitious nodes with the Taylor-based extrapolation, we propose an innovative method that introduces a new type of nodes lying on the external surface of the body, i.e., the surface nodes. These nodes represent the interactions between the nodes within the body and the fictitious nodes surrounding the body, and they are used to mitigate the surface effect and properly impose the boundary conditions via the concept of force flux. Moreover, a procedure to compute the analytical solution of peridynamic problems is developed: a manufactured displacement field is prescribed and the volume and surface forces, to obtain that displacement field, are computed. The benefits of the surface node method are shown by means of several 2D and 3D quasi-static examples by comparing the numerical results with other methods with or without boundary corrections.
Integrating multiomics data accelerates elucidation of plant primary and secondary metabolic pathways
Authors: Zhu Feng , Wen Weiwei , Cheng Yunjiang , Alseekh Saleh , Fernie Alisdair R.
Published: January 2023

Plants are the most important sources of food for humans, as well as supplying many ingredients that are of great importance for human health. Developing an understanding of the functional components of plant metabolism has attracted considerable attention. The rapid development of liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, coupled with mass spectrometry, has allowed the detection and characterization of many thousands of metabolites of plant origin. Nowadays, elucidating the detailed biosynthesis and degradation pathways of these metabolites represents a major bottleneck in our understanding. Recently, the decreased cost of genome and transcriptome sequencing rendered it possible to identify the genes involving in metabolic pathways. Here, we review the recent research which integrates metabolomic with different omics methods, to comprehensively identify structural and regulatory genes of the primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Finally, we discuss other novel methods that can accelerate the process of identification of metabolic pathways and, ultimately, identify metabolite function(s).
Thermodynamic analysis of two evaporator vapor compression refrigeration system with low GWP refrigerants in automobiles
Authors: Khatoon Salma , Karimi Munawar Nawab
Published: January 2023

Due to the growing demand for refrigerators and air conditioners in automobiles, there is a need for an innovative and efficient design to achieve both refrigeration and air conditioning. To address this, the present work has evaluated a two-evaporator vapor compression system to eliminate the requirement for separate refrigeration and air conditioning units. Theoretical energy and exergy performance assessment of the same is carried out along with the variation in the condenser and evaporators temperature. Various low GWP refrigerants such as R1234yf, HFO1336mzz(Z), R513A, and R450A are compared against high GWP R134a and R452A. The results reveal that maximum exergy efficiency and COP and lowest compressor power of 31.50%, 2.47, and 6.304 kW, respectively, are obtained with HFO1336mzz(Z). After HFO1336mzz(Z), R134a shows the highest exergy efficiency and COP of 30.56% and 2.41, respectively, and the lowest compressor power of 5.61kW. HFO1336mzz(Z) exhibits the optimum performance, whereas R452A shows the worst thermodynamic performance in the system. It is also found that the performance of R450, R513A, R450A, and R1234yf is approximately equivalent to each other. Moreover, component-wise exergy destruction analyses indicate that the efficiency of the compressor needs to be improved as the maximum destruction of 61.84–56.00% occurs in the compressor while the minimum exergy destruction of 0.42–0.54% occurs in the expansion valve. This study proposes the two-evaporator system for both refrigeration and air conditioning in automobiles. It is also found that R450A, R1234yf, R513A, and HFO1336mzz(Z) can be the potential alternative to R134a.
Poetry in Sagas of Icelanders
Authors: Clunies Ross Margaret
Published: January 2023

The first full analysis of the skaldic verse appearing in the family sagas of Icelanders, considering why and how it is deployed.
The Stacked Community Engagement model: A practical model for developing community-engaged academic medical faculty
Authors: Johnston Bryan , Ruffalo Leslie , Nelson David , O’Connor Sarah , Petterson Erika , Young Staci
Published: January 2023

Introduction:

There is an increasing recognition of the benefits of sustained community engagement (CE) that accrue to academic health centers and the communities they serve. However, the success and sustainability of CE projects rely on the efforts of individual faculty, learners, and community members, for whom CE efforts are typically added to their professional and personal priorities and responsibilities. This competition for time and resources between priorities and CE can discourage academic medical faculty from participating in CE activities. The Stacked Community Engagement model is proposed to synergize or “stack” responsibilities and goals onto the scaffolding of CE projects.

Methods:

We examined the literature and expert CE practitioner opinion to identify the challenges faced by community-engaged academic faculty and the key characteristics of CE projects that successfully align and integrate with the priorities of faculty, learners, and community members. We synthesized this information to develop the conceptual Stacked CE model for developing CE academic medical faculty, then illustrated the model in heterogeneous CE programs to explore its generalizability, validity, and robustness.

Results:

The Stacked CE model, when applied to a specific nutrition education program (The Food Doctors) and outreach program (StreetLife Communities), provided a practical framework for examining the sustained success of a partnership between Medical College of Wisconsin faculty and medical students and the community.

Conclusions:

The Stacked CE model is a meaningful framework for developing community-engaged academic medical faculty. By identifying overlap and integrating CE into professional activities with intention, CE practitioners can benefit from the deeper connections and sustainability.
In or Out? Identifying the Factors Playing a Role in Covid-19 Decision Making in Turkiye
Authors: Ankara Hasan Giray , Degerli Havvana , Degerli Hakan
Published: January 2023

Objective:

The study aimed at investigating the social, demographic, and economic factors affecting Covid-19 vaccine decisions before the vaccination started in Turkey. The study also aimed to understand the attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccines.

Methods:

The study was conducted by exploiting the data of 693 individuals living in Turkey. The data was collected via a virtually applied questionnaire according to snowball sampling in late 2020 when the vaccination program had not started in Turkey yet. Multinomial logistic regression design was used to identify the factors affecting Covid-19 vaccine decisions.

Results:

It was observed that Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was notably low before the vaccination started in Turkey. Further, almost 50% of the participants were indecisive about getting vaccinated. It was identified that age, gender, educational status, and residential status, as well as occupational status, the number of dependents, smoking, and the vaccination of governmental authorities, have associations with Covid-19 vaccination decisions.

Conclusions:

Covid-19 vaccine acceptance is generally low, although it is relatively high among vulnerable groups (i.e., the elderly and smokers), and among those who are unable to isolate themselves. In addition, the vaccination of governmental authorities is remarkably effective on Covid-19 vaccine acceptance in Turkey.
MANAGING SCOTLAND’S BORDERS AFTER INDEPENDENCE AND EUROPEAN UNION ACCESSION
Authors: Hayward Katy , McEwen Nicola , Komarova Milena
Published: January 2023

Brexit has both increased the momentum towards Scottish independence and complicated what it could mean in practice, especially if Scotland rejoins the European Union (EU). EU accession would re-open the flow of goods, people, services and capital between Scotland and other EU member-states; a corollary of this, however, would be new restrictions on movement between Scotland and its non-EU neighbours. Effective border management entails a variety of ‘at the border’ and ‘behind the border’ processes. As much as these would require dedicated infrastructure and trained personnel, they would ultimately depend upon reliable data/information and good communication among myriad agencies, including on the other side of the border. Fundamentally, the nature and form of the border controls would be determined largely by the relationship that an independent Scotland had with the remainder of the UK—and, principally, on the relationship that the UK develops with the EU.
Perfectionism-related variations in error processing in a task with increased response selection complexity
Authors: Mattes André , Mück Markus , Stahl Jutta
Published: January 2023

Perfectionists strive for a flawless performance because they are intrinsically motivated to set and achieve high goals (personal standards perfectionism; PSP) and/or because they are afraid to be negatively evaluated by others (evaluative concern perfectionism; ECP). We investigated the differential relationships of these perfectionism dimensions with performance, post-response adaptation, error processing (reflected by two components of the event-related potential: error/correct negativity – Ne/c; error/correct positivity – Pe/c) and error detection. In contrast to previous studies, we employed a task with increased response selection complexity providing more room for perfectionistic dispositions to manifest themselves. Although ECP was related to indicators of increased preoccupation with errors, high-EC perfectionists made more errors than low-EC perfectionists. This observation may be explained by insufficient early error processing as indicated by a reduced Ne/c effect and a lack of post-response adaptation. PSP had a moderating effect on the relationship between ECP and early error processing. Our results provide evidence that pure-EC perfectionists may spend many of their cognitive resources on error-related contents and worrying, leaving less capacity for cognitive control and thus producing a structural lack of error processing.
CHARACTERISATION AND CHOICE OF LAW FOR KNOWING RECEIPT
Authors: Chong Adeline
Published: January 2023

Knowing receipt requires the satisfaction of disparate elements under English domestic law. Its characterisation under domestic law is also unsettled. These in turn affect the issues of characterisation and choice of law at the private international law level, as knowing receipt sits at the intersection of the laws of equity, restitution, wrongs and property. This article argues that under the common law knowing receipt ought to be considered as sui generis for choice of law purposes and governed by the law of closest connection to the claim. Where the Rome II Regulation applies, knowing receipt fits better within the tort rather than unjust enrichment category and the escape clause in Article 4(3) of the Regulation ought to apply.
THE COLONIALITY OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT LAW IN THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
Authors: Haynes Jason , Hippolyte Antonius
Published: January 2023

This article argues that although most Caribbean States have in the last 60 years ascended to statehood, colonialism continues to exist in new and variable forms. It relies upon the concept of ‘coloniality’ as advanced by Schneiderman to contend that the international investment law regime, whose history and evolution is rooted in colonialism, relentlessly pursues the economic interests of foreign investors and capital-exporting countries. It draws important connections between historic colonialism and the contemporary regime for the protection of foreign direct investment by situating the Caribbean's experience in the light of the rationales, tropes and methods arising in the past which endure in investment law's domains, as advanced by Schneiderman in his new book, Investment Law's Alibis, namely (a) profitability and privilege; (b) a discourse of improvement; (c) distrust of local self-rule; and (d) construction of legal enclaves. It is argued that each of these features of colonial rule, from a Caribbean perspective, is inscribed in the discourse and practices of the international investment law regime.
Ferric hemebin aqueous micellar and vesicular systems: state-of-the-art and challenges
Authors: Cvjetan Nemanja , Walde Peter
Published: January 2023

Ferric hemeb(= ferric protoporphyrin IX = hemin) is an important prosthetic group of different types of enzymes, including the intensively investigated and widely applied horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In HRP, hemin is present in monomeric form in a hydrophobic pocket containing among other amino acid side chains the two imidazoyl groups of His170 and His42. Both amino acids are important for the peroxidase activity of HRP as an axial ligand of hemin (proximal His170) and as an acid/base catalyst (distal His42). A key feature of the peroxidase mechanism of HRP is the initial formation of compound I under heterolytic cleavage of added hydrogen peroxide as a terminal oxidant. Investigations of free hemin dispersed in aqueous solution showed that different types of hemin dimers can form, depending on the experimental conditions, possibly resulting in hemin crystallization. Although it has been recognized already in the 1970s that hemin aggregation can be prevented in aqueous solution by using micelle-forming amphiphiles, it remains a challenge to prepare hemin-containing micellar and vesicular systems with peroxidase-like activities. Such systems are of interest as cheap HRP-mimicking catalysts for analytical and synthetic applications. Some of the key concepts on which research in this fascinating and interdisciplinary field is based are summarized, along with major accomplishments and possible directions for further improvement. A systematic analysis of the physico-chemical properties of hemin in aqueous micellar solutions and vesicular dispersions must be combined with a reliable evaluation of its catalytic activity. Future studies should show how well the molecular complexity around hemin in HRP can be mimicked by using micelles or vesicles. Because of the importance of hemebin virtually all biological systems and the fact that porphyrins and hemes can be obtained under potentially prebiotic conditions, ideas exist about the possible role of heme-containing micellar and vesicular systems in prebiotic times.
‘TIME BLOWN UP HERE AND THERE’: FORM AND RHYTHM IN HANS ABRAHAMSEN'S LET ME TELL YOU EXPLORED
Authors: Black Sebastian
Published: January 2023

Hans Abrahamsen and Paul Griffith's let me tell you has been received with unusual adulation since its premiere in 2013. This article explores the work's place within the broader context of European literature, music and art, before shifting to a consideration of the piece's subtle hybrid form and its unique rhythmic structures. Abrahamsen's great interest in close (but not exact) symmetrical relationships is considered at some length, and the influence of figures ranging from St Augustine to Joyce, Bach to Webern, Caspar David Friedrich to Per Kirkeby is also observed. Extensive conversations with the composer in recent years provide primary material, and Abrahamsen's fascination with the musical properties of time – its construction and its destruction – displayed in these conversations has informed the decision to structure the article around these twin properties of form and rhythm.
Disappearing Mermaids: Staging White Women's Mobility through Aquatic Performance at the New York Hippodrome
Authors: Stalter-Pace Sunny
Published: January 2023

The New York Hippodrome theatre brought together many different types of performance on its massive stage. Its opening production in 1905, for instance, included circus acts, a ballet, and a fictionalized Civil War battle (Fig. 1). Many of the acts focused on a key feature in the theatrical environment, a water tank beneath the apron of the stage that could be filled to a fourteen-foot depth. High divers plunged into the tank; in shows with an “ice ballet,” its water was frozen into a skating rink; for a production of HMS Pinafore, a replica ship floated in its water with Brooklyn Navy Yard sailors in the rigging. Yet one tank act repeated and was recalled more than any of the others: a phalanx of women in martial costumes who marched solemnly, row after row, into the water and disappeared.
Hepatitis B burden and population immunity in a high endemicity city – a geographically random household epidemiology study for evaluating achievability of elimination
Authors: Wong Ngai Sze , Chan Denise Pui Chung , Poon Chin Man , Chan Chin Pok , Lau Leonia Hiu Wan , Yeoh Eng-Kiong , Lee Shui Shan
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to provide reference for evaluating the achievability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination in a high endemicity city with universal neonatal vaccination in place for over 30 years. Between September 2018 and October 2020, 2085 citizens from 1143 geographically random households in Hong Kong completed a questionnaire and had blood-testing for HBV markers (anti-HBs, HBsAg, anti-HBc, HBeAg). We evaluated the epidemiology and examined factors associated with HBV exposure, vaccination and chronic diseases. The proportion of households with HBsAg positive index participants was 9.2% (95% CI 7.5%–10.9%). The age- and sex-adjusted HBsAg prevalence was 6.3% (95% CI 5.3%–7.4%), compared to >10% in those born in 1960-1970 and among non-local born citizens, and <1% in people born after introduction of neonatal vaccination. Among 155 HBsAg positive participants, 59% were aware of their infection status with 10% on treatment and 10/150 (6.7%) HBeAg positive. More than 40% (872/2064) tested negative for both HBsAg and anti-HBs, contributed by the lack of immunity in older adults and the waning immunity of vaccines. Hong Kong has remained at high-intermediate HBV endemicity state. The moderate level of anti-HBs positivity and very low treatment coverage (10%) among HBsAg positive participants pose challenges for achieving the HBV elimination target.
Scientific uncertainty — how should it be handled in relation to scientific advice regarding animal welfare issues?
Authors: Sandøe P , Forkman B , Christiansen SB
Published: January 2023

The provision of advice on animal welfare is an important part of the work of scientists in applied ethology, neurophysiology, veterinary epidemiology and other disciplines. Those who request guidance often expect advice that will help them to make progress in difficult discussions. Scientists want to live up to these expectations, but it is also important for them to clarify any scientific limitations. They are normally aware of limits to their advice, but these limits are sometimes not explicitly stated. Using the phrase broadly, we call this kind of limitation ‘scientific uncertainty’. We distinguish between the following four types of uncertainty: I) Ontological uncertainty, relating to the existence of animal feelings and other states relevant for animal welfare. 2) Conceptual uncertainty, stemming from the fact that some of the concepts used in animal welfare science are value-laden if used outside a narrow scientific context. 3) Lack of scientific evidence, stemming from a lack of scientific data on the problem in question. 4) Uncertainty about priorities, relating to the practical conclusions to be drawn in a situation with an open-ended set of ethical and other practical considerations. Scientific uncertainty is unavoidable. It is therefore essential, when giving scientific advice, to state the assumptions on which the advice is based. This makes scientific advice more objective, but also of more limited value to those who do not share the underlying assumptions.
Trade-offs between welfare, conservation, utility and economics in wildlife management — a review of conflicts, compromises and regulation
Authors: Reynolds JC
Published: January 2023

In choosing among alternative wildlife management techniques, trade-offs between animal welfare and conservation, utility or economics are often apparent. This paper reviews the roles of science, scientists, regulators and educators in attempts to overcome this inter-dependence and to make simultaneous progress on all fronts. Illustrations are drawn in particular from trapping and pest population control. Against the real progress that can undoubtedly be made through scientific study, there is a regrettable lack of structure because of poor philosophical and logical coherence within the welfare movement.
Ethical decisions concerning animal biotechnology: what is the role of animal welfare science?
Authors: Olsson IAS , Sandøe P
Published: January 2023

Scientists recently attracted considerable public attention when they presented a featherless chicken tailored for production in hot climates. Although this chicken was actually the result of traditional breeding, it is an example of what might be achieved if targeted gene manipulation techniques become widely applied in agriculture. Through interfering directly with an animal's genome, scientists hope to be able to create animals with exactly the desired characteristics, such as lean meat or temperature tolerance. Industry and geneticists may be enthusiastic about the possibility of producing pork with polyunsaturated fatty acids or high-yielding dairy cows to be kept in tropical climates, but the European public often reacts with alarm at these prospects. A consistent pattern of the surveys conducted among members of the European public is that, of all of the potential biotechnology applications, those involving animals are the ones that people find the least acceptable. People fear a development of techniques that may get out of control, and they also have ethical concerns about humans’ right to ‘play God’ and about the welfare of the animals involved. All of these aspects seem to be relevant for an ethical discussion about animal biotechnology. Animal welfare scientists can play an important role by providing information for an animal welfare risk assessment at an early stage of research projects that involve the genetic modification of animals, and also by helping to develop guidelines for the housing and husbandry of animals with special needs. On the other hand, ethical problems remain that lie outside the area of science. In this paper we discuss the role of animal welfare science in aiding ethics decisions about animal biotechnology. We give a summary of the different ethical concerns expressed by ethicists and by the general public. Focusing on one of them, animal welfare, we give an introduction to the animal welfare implications of recent developments in reproductive and gene technologies. The importance of animal welfare aspects is discussed in relation to other ethical concerns about animal biotechnology.
Refinement of gerbil housing and husbandry in the laboratory
Authors: Waiblinger E , König B
Published: January 2023

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) are a widely used model species in parasitology and epilepsy research. Under standard laboratory housing conditions gerbils develop stereotypic digging, a behavioural abnormality, which is caused by the lack of a burrow in the laboratory cage. Here we show that gerbils reared with access to an opaque artificial burrow (nest-box with access tube) develop significantly less stereotypic digging than those reared with transparent artificial burrows. Subadult gerbils also preferred opaque artificial burrows to transparent ones. Based on these findings we developed an artificial burrow system that could be integrated into laboratory Makrolon Type IV cages to prevent the development of stereotypic digging in gerbils by addressing their behavioural needs. Faecal cortisol levels were measured as a non-invasive method of comparing stress reactions in gerbils given access to the new integrated artificial burrow system or to an equivalent transparent burrow. Behavioural differences were observed between gerbils in the two housing conditions, but faecal cortisol levels were unaffected. We conclude that simple refinement of housing is effective in improving gerbil welfare in the laboratory.
The Use of Analogous Reasoning for Assessing Discomfort in Laboratory Animals
Authors: Stafleu F R , Rivas E , Rivas T , Vorstenbosch J , Heeger F R , Beynen A C
Published: January 2023

When assessing discomfort in animals analogous reasoning is often used, namely, that the causes or symptoms of discomfort in people will also apply to animals. This practical rule of thumb can be based on an ‘analogy-postulate’. This postulate takes into account the anatomical and physiological similarities of vertebrate nervous systems and the comparability and homology in the behavioural and physiological responses to discomfort of humans and other vertebrates in similar situations. There are theoretical and practical problems with this analogous reasoning. Theoretical objections include claims that feelings do not exist, are irrelevant or that scientific knowledge is not necessary to recognize feelings. Practical problems will occur when assessing the discomfort of animals without proper knowledge of the relevant species-specific information. Nevertheless, we think that there are two equivalent sound reasons for accepting the analogy-postulate. First, there is more evidence in favour of acceptance of the postulate than of its rejection. Secondly, the negative moral consequences of erroneously rejecting the postulate are far greater than those of mistakenly accepting it.
Effects of Enrichment on Veterinary Treatment of Laboratory Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)
Authors: Schapiro S J , Bushong D
Published: January 2023

For captive primates, environmental enrichment may improve psychological well-being, as indicated by changes in the frequency of species-typical and abnormal behaviours. The effects of enrichment on physical well-being have also been examined, but little attention has been devoted to the relationship between enrichment and animal health. We therefore studied the health records of 98 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to measure the effects that enrichment and social housing manipulations had on the number of veterinary treatments and days of therapy required by the monkeys. Subjects were housed singly, in pairs and in groups. Half of the subjects in each housing condition were enriched and the others were controls. Control and enriched subjects did not differ in the number of treatments they required, but enriched subjects received longer therapies than did controls. Neither treatments nor days of therapy were frequent or randomly distributed across housing conditions; pair-housed subjects required the least treatment and therapy, whereas singly-housed subjects were treated slightly more frequently for diarrhoea-related problems, and group-housed subjects for trauma-related problems. Subject age, however, was a potential confounding factor. Because subjects were part of a specific pathogen-free breeding programme, they spent only certain ages in each housing condition. Results suggest that inanimate enrichment neither diminishes nor improves the health of young macaques, but that enriched monkeys may require longer periods of therapy than do controls. Pair housing may be an effective housing strategy from both veterinary and behavioural points of view, necessitating relatively few treatments, but providing some social enrichment opportunities.
The Effect of Cubicle and Straw Yard Housing on the Behaviour, Production and Hoof Health of Dairy Cows
Authors: Phillips C J C , Schofield S A
Published: January 2023

An experiment is described where 40 spring-calving dairy cows were allocated to be housed in a deep straw yard or a cubicle house from November to April, in order to examine the effects on behaviour, milk production and hoof health. Cows in straw yards spent longer lying down and feeding, except during oestrus when they increased their time spent standing proportionately more than cows in cubicles. In the straw yard cows spent longer in associative behaviour during oestrus and had fewer unsuccessful mounting attempts. There were no differences in milk production or composition but cows in the straw yard lost more weight after calving. Cows in the cubicles had a reduction in heel depth, which is a predisposing factor to lameness. It is concluded that a straw yard system for dairy cows allows greater opportunity to display normal behaviour, leads to better hoof health and provides acceptable levels of production.
A Study of Spatial Behaviour of Pregnant Sows Housed in Pens With Various Feeding and Dung Disposal Systems
Authors: Walker N , Kilpatrick D J
Published: January 2023

Ninety-six pregnant sows, previously penned in individual stalls, were housed in groups of four in pens containing three zones: a) four individual feeding stalls without rear gates, b) a communal sleeping kennel and c) a dunging area between the stalls and kennel. The feeding stalls were either long (2m) or short (1m) with barriers made of wire mesh. The daily allowance of 2.5kg pelleted feed per sow was presented either all at once (dump) or at the rate of approximately 100g/min by a manual system (trickle). Dung disposal systems were either a pit füled with sawdust-based compost, a slatted floor, or straw on a sloped concrete floor. There were two replicates of the 2×2×3 factorial design. The location of sows was observed from time-lapse video recordings taken at regular intervals throughout the 31 day experimental period.

Use of the three zones of the pens was influenced by feeding method, barrier length and dung disposal system. Overall the feeding stalls were used more with trickle than with dump feeding (P<0.05); more with long than with short barriers (P<0.001), and most with slatted floors and least with the straw system (P<0.001). AU these treatments had the opposite effects on the use of the communal kennel The use of the dunging area was not affected by feeding method or stall length but was greater (P<0.01) on the compost compared with the other two dung disposal systems. Throughout the experimental period the use of feeding stalls decreased (P<0.001). Orcadian use of the pen zones interacted with barrier length and dung disposal system. Kennels were used most at night in pens with straw, exceeding 54minlh with half length (1m) stalls. The lowest night-time use of kennels, around 8min/h, was found in pens with full length (2m) stalls combined with either compost or slats. Ambient temperature did not have a major influence on use of pen zones.

The occupation of stalls, especially full length stalls, indicates that offering a choice between solitary and communal areas may improve the welfare of group-housed sows.
A Study of Rehabilitated Juvenile Hedgehogs After Release Into the Wild
Authors: Morris P A , Warwick H
Published: January 2023

Many juvenile hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are ‘rehabilitated’ with little or no previous experience of life in the wild. A study is described in which twelve such animals were monitored after release in Devon. They quickly learned their way about, built nests and found them again, and interacted normally with each other and with wild conspecifics. While several showed significant weight loss, this represented only the excess accumulated in captivity. Deaths caused by a predator (badger) and motor cars suggest that captives destinedfor release should not be allowed to become tame and unwary. However, deaths are to be expected in natural circumstances and at least one third of these animals survived beyond the nine-week study, despite having no previous experience of life in the wild. This supports the belief that, although deaths are to be expected, rehabilitating hedgehogs (even naïve juveniles) is possible and worthwhile.
Causes of Body Rocking in Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes)
Authors: Spijkerman R P , Dienske H , van Hooff J A R A M , Jens W
Published: January 2023

The behavioural development of 90 chimpanzees(Pan troglodytes)was followed. Of these, 65 had been separated from their mothers to prevent casualties or, at a later age, to increase breeding success. Some showed body rocking and others did not. To obtain insight into the causes of the onset and development of body rocking, chimpanzees raised with peers, with their mother, or in a semi-natural group were compared Rocking was never observed in the semi-natural group. It was occasionally seen when with the mother. Separation from the mother soon after birth induced anxiety and rocking developed after sitting upright had developed. Rocking levels of three per cent of the time were still present at seven to nine years of age.

The most probable causes of the development of rocking are frustrating social circumstances and the inability to cope with these. Merging groups, disturbances and the introduction of a fearful object increased rocking in the individuals that had developed the habit. However, rockers reacted less to those circumstances than non-rockers, showing smaller increase in body contact and less reduction of play. This finding suggests that rocking, instead of being a bizarre reaction to unsurmountable stress, could be a behaviour that helps an individual to cope with difficulties and stress. In terms of animal welfare, rocking in chimpanzees housed in laboratory conditions is an indication of a less optimal reaction pattern to frustrating circumstances. The development of rocking may be prevented if the babies are left with the mother and in their social group. Rocking after (late) separation may be prevented when transfer takes place together with familiar peers.
Individual Variation in Response to Stressors in Farm Animals: Implications for Experimenters
Authors: Manteca X , Deag J M
Published: January 2023

Physiological and behavioural responses to stressors may affect experimental results. Since individual animals differ in their pattern of response to stressors, it is suggested that stress during experiments has the potential for increasing variability in responses to experimental treatments. Evidence supporting this is given from experiments carried out on farm animals. The main factors accounting for individual differences in response to stressors such as handling are habituation, early experiences and genetic background. Several ways of reducing stress during experiments are suggested and the need for skilful and humane handling is emphasized. It is concluded that reducing stress during experiments will have welfare benefits and may reduce the number of animals that need to be used.
Editorial
Authors: Ewbank Roger
Published: January 2023

When the Council of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare agreed to the publication of Animal Welfare, it noted that the enterprise had the potential to do much good in the animal welfare field and also to be a constant drain on the financial resources of the Federation. It decreed that after some three to five years a decision would have to be made as to the real value, to UFAW, of continuing to produce the Journal. This decision was to be based on a consideration of whether or not the Journal was practically viable - Was it producible? Did it satisfy a need? - and whether or not its production costs bore a realistic relationship to its earnings from paid subscriptions. The Journal will soon be entering its fourth publication year and the decision day therefore draws near. A strong case can be made that it is indeed producible - a look at the Contents list for this issue demonstrates that this is so. It fulfils a need: we have, for example, a whole queue of manuscripts on offer for publication and we have a modest but steady number of regular subscribers. Its long-term economic viability however, is still uncertain. It is expensive to produce and the academic and animal welfare communities have not, over the last few years, been sufficiently funded that they can readily subscribe to new journals. There is not, as yet, ‘a realistic relationship between its earnings from paid subscriptions and its production costs’. A solution to this financial imbalance has yet to be found.
Behaviour of Silver Foxes in Traditional Breeding Boxes and in Boxes With an Entrance Tunnel
Authors: Braastad B O
Published: January 2023

The periparturient behaviour of silver-fox females inside traditional and modified breeding boxes was video-recorded. The behaviour was analysed from 24 hours before parturition to 72 hours after, and in three diurnal periods. Twenty litters had the traditional simple breeding box, whereas 14 litters had a box with a narrow entrance tunnel. Compared to females in traditional boxes, females in tunnel boxes spent more time sleeping inside the box both before and after parturition, cleaning newborn cubs and grooming cubs while lying down, but less time looking out of the box. Excavation performed on the floor prior to parturition was performed equally often in both box types. The differences between box types were particularly pronounced for primiparous vixens. During the three postparturient days most differences in behaviour between box types were only found during working hours (0800-1500h). At this time females in non-tunnel boxes spent considerably less time sleeping and more time in locomotion within the box, looking out of the box, walking into or out of the box, standing partly out of the box, or staying out of the box, than females in tunnel boxes. Cub mortality was lower in tunnel boxes than in non-tunnel boxes. The results indicate that females in tunnel boxes had a more relaxed behaviour and were able to nurture their offspring more effectively. They did not watch their surroundings as frequently as females in traditional breeding boxes. Giving silver foxes a breeding box with an entrance tunnel may improve the welfare of both female and offspring.
Rabies policy: what price animal welfare?
Authors: Done J T
Published: January 2023

Sir, Presumably few people would doubt that, in addition to the financial costs and the emotional distress to their owners, there is generally an adverse effect on the welfare of pet animals cooped up in quarantine for six months or more.