Assessing emotions in wild animals
A world-first holistic framework for assessing the mental and psychological wellbeing of wild animals has been developed by UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Andrea Harvey, a veterinarian and animal welfare scientist in the TD School at the University of Technology Sydney.
Molecular markers identify cell types in the testes of cat species
A science team at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Berlin, and at the University of Texas at San Antonio, USA, has now identified molecular markers for the most important cell types in the testes of domestic cats and endangered cat species. This is the prerequisite to generate male germ cells in the test tube. The research project is funded by an Einstein Junior Fellowship at the Humboldt University of Berlin and by the National Institutes of Health, USA. These findings have been published in the scientific journal "Theriogenology Wild".
Networks in the dog brain
A study on canine brain networks reveals that during mammalian brain evolution, the role of the cingulate cortex, a bilateral structure located deep in the cerebral cortex, was partly taken over by the lateral frontal lobes, which control problem-solving, task-switching, and goal-directed behavior. The study relies on a new canine resting state fMRI brain atlas, which can aid in the analysis of diseases characterized by dysfunctional integration and communication among brain areas.
Breed, age and puppyhood socialization linked to canine personality
While the breed of the dog is the most important factor related to personality, other relevant elements include age and the social environment. According to researchers from the University of Helsinki, both the breeder and the dog owner have an important role in the development of canine personality.
Cases of Sporothrix brasiliensis in cats outside Brazil
An epidemic of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as a major public health threat in Brazil starting in the 1990’s, with over 5000 human and 5000 feline cases have been reported at a single location .
How to overcome challenges in forecasting antimicrobial resistance
A group of researchers led by Sen Pei at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health discussed the utility of real-time forecasting models for antimicrobial-resistant organisms. The article appears in the peer-reviewed journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.