The Effect of Rearing and Adult Environment on HPA Axis Responsivity and Plumage Condition in Laying Hens.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity is influenced by early life experience and also modified by the environment an individual experiences as an adult. Because laying hens are transferred from rearing to laying farms at 16-18 weeks of age, they are well suited to study the interaction effect between early (rearing) and adult (laying) environments on physiology and behaviour. In the European Union, there is a move towards cage-free systems for laying hens, but globally, the majority of layers are kept in conventional or furnished cages.

Comb size, shape complexity and laterality of laying hens reared in environments varying in resource choice.

The comb is an ornament involved in signalling condition in domestic fowl. We hypothesised that comb size, comb shape complexity (i.e.

Harnessing Van der Waals CrPS and Surface Oxides for Nonmonotonic Preset Field Induced Exchange Bias in FeGeTe.

Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are an attractive platform for studying exchange bias due to their defect-free and atomically flat interfaces. Chromium thiophosphate (CrPS), an antiferromagnetic material, possesses uncompensated magnetic spins in a single layer, rendering it a promising candidate for exploring exchange bias phenomena. Recent findings have highlighted that naturally oxidized vdW ferromagnetic FeGeTe exhibits exchange bias, attributed to the antiferromagnetic coupling of its ultrathin surface oxide layer (O-FGT) with the underlying unoxidized FeGeTe.

TEM sample preparation of lithographically patterned permalloy nanostructures on silicon nitride membranes.

We have prepared ferromagnetic nanostructures intended for the investigation of high-frequency magnetization dynamics in permalloy (Py) nanodisks using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) and electron holography. Py nanodisks were fabricated on thin silicon nitride (SiN) membranes using three different fabrication methods: lift-off, ion beam etching (IBE), and stencil lithography. They were further analyzed using different instruments, including scanning electron microscopy, LTEM, and electron holography.

Additive manufacturing of alloys with programmable microstructure and properties.

In metallurgy, mechanical deformation is essential to engineer the microstructure of metals and to tailor their mechanical properties. However, this practice is inapplicable to near-net-shape metal parts produced by additive manufacturing (AM), since it would irremediably compromise their carefully designed geometries. In this work, we show how to circumvent this limitation by controlling the dislocation density and thermal stability of a steel alloy produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology.

Oxytocin levels and self-reported anxiety during interactions between humans and cows.

Introduction: Positive social interactions with farm animals may have therapeutic benefits on humans by increasing brain oxytocin secretion, as inferred from circulating oxytocin levels. The aim of this observational study was to investigate acute changes in human plasma oxytocin levels and state anxiety associated with interactions with dairy cows.

Methods: Data were collected from 18 healthy female nursing students who performed stroking and brushing of an unfamiliar cow for 15 min.

Stabilizing effects of Ag doping on structure and thermal stability of FeN thin films.

In this work, we investigated the effect of Ag doping (2-20 at.%) on the phase formation of iron mononitride (FeN) thin films. Together with deposition of FeN using reactive dc magnetron sputtering, Ag was also co-sputtered at various doping levels between 2-20 at.

The Effect of LPS and Ketoprofen on Cytokines, Brain Monoamines, and Social Behavior in Group-Housed Pigs.

Poor health is a risk factor for damaging behaviors, but the mechanisms behind this link are unknown. Injection of pigs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can be used to model aspects of poor health. Recent studies have shown that LPS-injected pigs perform more tail- and ear-directed behavior compared to saline-injected pigs and suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in these behaviors.

Slow-growing broilers are healthier and express more behavioural indicators of positive welfare.

Broiler chicken welfare is under increasing scrutiny due to welfare concerns regarding growth rate and stocking density. This farm-based study explored broiler welfare in four conditions representing commercial systems varying in breed and planned maximum stocking density: (1) Breed A, 30 kg/m; (2) Breed B, 30 kg/m; (3) Breed B, 34 kg/m; (4) Breed C, 34 kg/m. Breeds A and B were 'slow-growing' breeds (< 50 g/day), and Breed C was a widely used 'fast-growing' breed.

Magnetoimpedance of Epitaxial YFeO (001) Thin Film in Low-Frequency Regime.

The atomically flat interface of the YFeO (YIG) thin film and the GdGaO (GGG) substrate plays a vital role in obtaining the magnetization dynamics of YIG below and above the anisotropy field. Here, magnetoimpedance (MI) is used to investigate the magnetization dynamics in fully epitaxial 45 nm YIG thin films grown on the GGG (001) substrates using a copper strip coil in the MHz-GHz frequency region. The resistance () and reactance (), which are components of impedance (), allow us to probe the absorptive and dispersive components of the dynamic permeability, whereas a conventional spectrometer only measures the field derivative of the power absorbed.

Effect of ear acupuncture on pregnancy-related pain in the lower back and posterior pelvic girdle: A multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Ear acupuncture carried out in primary care by trained midwives, with no specialist training in acupuncture, may be effective in alleviating pregnancy-related lower back and/or posterior pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of ear acupuncture associated with standard obstetric care, in the primary-care setting, on LBPGP experienced by pregnant women.

Material And Methods: This four-group, multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted at 18 public primary care centers in three regions in Spain, with the participation of 220 pregnant women at 24-36 weeks of gestation, aged 18 years or more, diagnosed with pregnancy-related LBPGP and who had not previously received ear acupuncture.

On-farm broiler chicken welfare assessment using transect sampling reflects environmental inputs and production outcomes.

To evaluate the utility of transect sampling for assessing animal welfare in large chicken flocks, we quantified relationships between environmental inputs, welfare problems detected using transect sampling, and production outcomes. We hypothesised that environmental inputs including environmental complexity (i.e.

Search Behavior in Goat () Kids From Mothers Kept at Different Animal Densities Throughout Pregnancy.

Individual differences in cognitive performance are often reported but factors related to variation within species are rarely addressed. Goats have been subjects of many cognitive studies recently but without focus on individual variation. Among others, factors such as prenatal stress and sex of the individual have been proposed as possible explanations for individual variation in cognitive skills.

Effects of environmental enrichment on activity and lameness in commercial broiler production.

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of commercially applied environmental enrichments on behavior and lameness in broilers. Two consecutive flocks of broilers were observed at 16 days and 30 days of age to investigate differences between enriched (peat, bales of lucerne hay, and elevated platforms) and control birds with regards to behavioral activities and lameness. More running (p < .

Using network analysis to study behavioural phenotypes: an example using domestic dogs.

Phenotypic integration describes the complex interrelationships between organismal traits, traditionally focusing on morphology. Recently, research has sought to represent behavioural phenotypes as composed of quasi-independent latent traits. Concurrently, psychologists have opposed latent variable interpretations of human behaviour, proposing instead a network perspective envisaging interrelationships between behaviours as emerging from causal dependencies.

Acupuncture treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Shoulder pain or omalgia is one of the main types of osteoarticular pain that can be observed in every-day clinical practice, frequently causing significant functional impairment. The most common cause of shoulder pain is impingement syndrome.

Objective: To decrease the intensity of short- and mid-term pain in the injured shoulder by means of acupuncture.

Acupuncture for fibromyalgia in primary care: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of an individualised acupuncture protocol for patients with fibromyalgia.

Methods: Randomised controlled multicentre trial, blinded to participants and to data analysts. Conducted in three primary care centres in southern Spain.

Density-Dependent Spacing Behaviour and Activity Budget in Pregnant, Domestic Goats (Capra hircus).

Very little is known about the spacing behaviour in social groups of domestic goats (Capra hircus) in the farm environment. In this experiment, we studied interindividual distances, movement patterns and activity budgets in pregnant goats housed at three different densities. Norwegian dairy goats were kept in stable social groups of six animals throughout pregnancy at 1, 2 or 3 m2 per individual and their spacing behaviours (i.

Cost effectiveness of using moxibustion to correct non-vertex presentation.

Aims: To analyse the cost effectiveness of using the moxibustion technique to correct non-vertex presentation and to reduce the number of caesarean sections performed at term.

Method: A deterministic model of decision analysis has been developed to analyse the cost of treatment in which heat is applied by moxibustion (the combustion of Artemisia vulgaris) at acupuncture point BL67 for pregnant women with non-vertex fetal position at 33-35 weeks' gestation. This approach was compared with conventional treatment recommendations based on the knee-chest posture technique.

Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3) negatively regulates environmentally-induced autoimmunity.

Environmental factors including drugs, mineral oils and heavy metals such as lead, gold and mercury are triggers of autoimmune diseases in animal models or even in occupationally exposed humans. After exposure to subtoxic levels of mercury (Hg), genetically susceptible strains of mice develop an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of highly specific anti-nucleolar autoantibodies, hyperglobulinemia and nephritis. However, mice can be tolerized to the disease by a single low dose administration of Hg.

Auricular acupuncture for primary care treatment of low back pain and posterior pelvic pain in pregnancy: study protocol for a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: About 45% of all pregnant women suffer low back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP). This study seeks to evaluate the effect of auricular acupuncture on LBPGP compared with placebo auricular acupuncture and with standard obstetric care in the field of primary health care.

Methods And Design: This study will be a four-parallel-arm, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

The effects of prenatal stocking densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat (Capra hircus) kids.

Prenatal stress (stress experienced by a pregnant mother) and its effects on offspring have been comprehensively studied but relatively little research has been done on how prenatal social stress affects farm animals such as goats. Here, we use the operational description of 'stress' as "physical or perceived threats to homeostasis." The aim of this study was to investigate the prenatal effects of different herd densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat kids.

Efficacy and safety of auriculopressure for primary care patients with chronic non-specific spinal pain: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Chronic uncomplicated musculoskeletal pain in the spine (cervical, thoracic or lumbar) is highly prevalent and may severely limit the daily activities of those affected by it.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with auriculopressure applied to patients with non-specific spinal pain.

Methods: A multicentre randomised controlled trial with two parallel arms (true auriculopressure (TAP) and placebo auriculopressure (PAP)) was performed.

Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with human directed social behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris).

The oxytocin system has a crucial role in human sociality; several results prove that polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene are related to complex social behaviors in humans. Dogs' parallel evolution with humans and their adaptation to the human environment has made them a useful species to model human social interactions. Previous research indicates that dogs are eligible models for behavioral genetic research, as well.

Challenges to free will: transgenerational epigenetic information, unconscious processes, and vanishing twin syndrome.

Here, we present various research results and thoughts with the intention of challenging notions about free choice. Namely, we describe the concept of transgenerational transmission of epigenetic information and discuss its non-conscious effects on cognitive abilities, behavioral and emotional patterns, and responses with regard to one's life and decisions, and the impact these have on the concept of free will. In addition, we discuss the essential role of unconscious mechanisms in human decision processes.