3R Blackboard: A platform for animal and organ sharing

2022 ◽  
pp. 002367722110674
Author(s):  
Magdalena A Czubala ◽  
Eva Eilles ◽  
Andreas Staubi ◽  
Natacha Ipseiz ◽  
Michael Vogt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Laboratory Animal ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Research Teams ◽  
Animal Management ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Age And Sex

Since the embedding of the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) in national and international regulations on the use of animals, scientists have been challenged to find ways to reduce the number of animals in their research. Here, we present a digital platform, called ‘3R Backboard’, linked to a laboratory animal management system, which facilitates sharing of surplus biological materials from animals (e.g. tissues, organs and cells) to other research teams. Based on information provided, such as genotype, age and sex, other animal workers were able to indicate their interest in collecting specific tissues and to communicate with the person providing the animals. A short pilot study of this approach conducted in a limited academic environment presented strong evidence of its effectiveness and resulted in a notable reduction of the number of mice used. In addition, the use of 3R Blackboard led to resource saving, knowledge exchange and even establishment of new collaboration.

The Relationships Between Training Load, Type of Sport, and Sleep Among High-Level Adolescent Athletes

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Anis Aloulou ◽  
Francois Duforez ◽  
Damien Léger ◽  
Quentin De Larochelambert ◽  
Mathieu Nedelec
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Muscle Soreness ◽  
Total Sleep Time ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Training Load ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Adolescent Athletes ◽  
Daily Training ◽  
High Level ◽  
Age And Sex

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of sporting activities, training loads, and athletes’ characteristics on sleep among high-level adolescent athletes, in a controlled training and academic environment. Methods: A total of 128 high-level adolescent athletes (age = 15.2 [2.0] y), across 9 different sports, completed common sleep questionnaires and were monitored daily (7.3 [2.7] d) during a typical in-season training period. Sleep was analyzed using actigraphy and sleep diaries, whereas training load was evaluated using the session rating of perceived exertion, and muscle soreness and general fatigue were reported with the aid of visual analog scales. Separate linear mixed-effects models were fitted, including the athlete as a random effect and the following variables as fixed effects: the sport practiced (categorical predictor), daily training load, age, and sex. Different models were used to compare sleep variables among sports and to assess the influence of training load, age, and sex. Results: The mean total sleep time was 7.1 (0.7) hours. Swimmers presented increased sleep fragmentation, training loads, perceived muscle soreness, and general fatigue compared with athletes who engaged in other sports. Independent of any sport-specific effects, a higher daily training load induced an earlier bedtime and reduced total sleep time and perceived sleep quality, with higher sleep fragmentation. Moreover, female athletes experienced increased total sleep time and worse sleep quality in response to stress compared with those in males. Conclusion: In a controlled training and academic environment, high-level adolescent athletes did not achieve the recommended sleep duration. Impaired sleep quality and quantity could be partially explained by increased training loads.

Implementation of the Surgical Apgar Score in Laboratory Animal Science: A Showcase Pilot Study in a Porcine Model and a Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lisa Ernst ◽  
Anna Maria Kümmecke ◽  
Leonie Zieglowski ◽  
Wenjia Liu ◽  
Mareike Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Blood Loss ◽  
Abdominal Surgery ◽  
Laboratory Animal ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Animal Science ◽  
Surgical Apgar Score ◽  
Laboratory Animal Science

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In an attempt to further improve surgical outcomes, a variety of outcome prediction and risk-assessment tools have been developed for the clinical setting. Risk scores such as the surgical Apgar score (SAS) hold promise to facilitate the objective assessment of perioperative risk related to comorbidities of the patients or the individual characteristics of the surgical procedure itself. Despite the large number of scoring models in clinical surgery, only very few of these models have ever been utilized in the setting of laboratory animal science. The SAS has been validated in various clinical surgical procedures and shown to be strongly associated with postoperative morbidity. In the present study, we aimed to review the clinical evidence supporting the use of the SAS system and performed a showcase pilot trial in a large animal model as the first implementation of a porcine-adapted SAS (pSAS) in an in vivo laboratory animal science setting. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A literature review was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases. Study characteristics and results using the SAS were reported. For the in vivo study, 21 female German landrace pigs have been used either to study bleeding analogy (<i>n</i> = 9) or to apply pSAS after abdominal surgery in a kidney transplant model (<i>n</i> = 12). The SAS was calculated using 3 criteria: (1) estimated blood loss during surgery; (2) lowest mean arterial blood pressure; and (3) lowest heart rate. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The SAS has been verified to be an effective tool in numerous clinical studies of abdominal surgery, regardless of specialization confirming independence on the type of surgical field or the choice of surgery. Thresholds for blood loss assessment were species specifically adjusted to &#x3e;700 mL = score 0; 700–400 mL = score 1; 400–55 mL score 2; and &#x3c;55 mL = score 3 resulting in a species-specific pSAS for a more precise classification. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our literature review demonstrates the feasibility and excellent performance of the SAS in various clinical settings. Within this pilot study, we could demonstrate the usefulness of the modified SAS (pSAS) in a porcine kidney transplantation model. The SAS has a potential to facilitate early veterinary intervention and drive the perioperative care in large animal models exemplified in a case study using pigs. Further larger studies are warranted to validate our findings.

scholarly journals The effect of preregistration on trust in empirical research findings: results of a registered report

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 181351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarahanne M. Field ◽  
E.-J. Wagenmakers ◽  
Henk A. L. Kiers ◽  
Rink Hoekstra ◽  
Anja F. Ernst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Bayes Factors ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Questionable Research Practices ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Research Initiatives

The crisis of confidence has undermined the trust that researchers place in the findings of their peers. In order to increase trust in research, initiatives such as preregistration have been suggested, which aim to prevent various questionable research practices. As it stands, however, no empirical evidence exists that preregistration does increase perceptions of trust. The picture may be complicated by a researcher's familiarity with the author of the study, regardless of the preregistration status of the research. This registered report presents an empirical assessment of the extent to which preregistration increases the trust of 209 active academics in the reported outcomes, and how familiarity with another researcher influences that trust. Contrary to our expectations, we report ambiguous Bayes factors and conclude that we do not have strong evidence towards answering our research questions. Our findings are presented along with evidence that our manipulations were ineffective for many participants, leading to the exclusion of 68% of complete datasets, and an underpowered design as a consequence. We discuss other limitations and confounds which may explain why the findings of the study deviate from a previously conducted pilot study. We reflect on the benefits of using the registered report submission format in light of our results. The OSF page for this registered report and its pilot can be found here: http://dx.doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B3K75 .

scholarly journals Vertical contact tightness of occlusion comparison between orofacial myalgia patients and asymptomatic controls: a pilot study

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 4952-4964
Author(s):  
Kun Qi ◽  
Yi-Fei Xu ◽  
Shao-Xiong Guo ◽  
Wei Xiong ◽  
Mei-Qing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Orofacial Pain ◽  
New Method ◽  
Occlusal Contact ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Vertical Contact ◽  
Age And Sex

Objective The association between occlusal contact and orofacial pain remains unclear. The aim of this study was to detect occlusal contact tightness by using a new method and to compare differences between patients and asymptomatic controls. Methods Fifteen female patients with orofacial myalgia and fifteen age- and sex-matched asymptomatic controls were enrolled. Occlusal contacts were recorded by making bite imprints. The numbers, sizes, and distributions of the contacts were detected by making photos of bite imprints after biting. The Mann-Whitney U test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results In myalgia patients, impact contacts at the molar regions were more frequent, larger in number and area size, and were distributed more on guiding cusps, compared with impact contacts in asymptomatic controls. Conclusion Our new method revealed more prevalent and more severe impact contacts in orofacial myalgia patients, compared with asymptomatic controls.

The Contingent Negative Variation in Antisocial Behaviour: a Pilot Study of Broadmoor Patients

1978 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Fenton ◽  
P. B. C. Fenwick ◽  
W. Ferguson ◽  
C. T. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Contingent Negative Variation ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Response Variability ◽  
The Other ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mmpi Profile ◽  
Age And Sex

Using a classical click/flash paradigm, the CNV was recorded from the following three groups of subjects at Broadmoor Hospital: (1) 14 ‘psychopathic’ patients selected by use of the 4/9 MMPI profile and confirmed by independent clinical diagnosis; (2) 15 ‘non psychopathic’ patients, all psychotic and mainly schizophrenic; (3) 14 healthy staff control subjects. All three groups were matched for age and sex; the two patients groups were also matched for length of stay. Two series of 32 paired stimuli were used, separated by an interval of 30 minutes. The mean CNV voltage was significantly lower in the ‘non-psychopathic’ patients. The amplitude of the ‘psychopath's' CNV response did not differ significantly from that of the staff controls, but the response variability between the first and second series of trials was much greater in the ‘psychopathic’ patients than in the other two subject groups. The ‘psychopathic’ subjects tended to show more rapid initial development of the CNV.

scholarly journals Urine salts elucidate Early Neolithic animal management at Aşıklı Höyük, Turkey

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. eaaw0038 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Abell ◽  
J. Quade ◽  
G. Duru ◽  
S. M. Mentzer ◽  
M. C. Stiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Nitrate Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Isotope ◽  
Southwest Asia ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Chlorine Nitrate ◽  
Animal Management ◽  
Central Turkey ◽  
Mass Balance Approach ◽  
Age And Sex

The process of sheep and goat (caprine) domestication began by 9000 to 8000 BCE in Southwest Asia. The early Neolithic site at Aşıklı Höyük in central Turkey preserves early archaeological evidence of this transformation, such as culling by age and sex and use of enclosures inside the settlement. People’s strategies for managing caprines evolved at this site over a period of 1000 years, but changes in the scale of the practices are difficult to measure. Dung and midden layers at Aşıklı Höyük are highly enriched in soluble sodium, chlorine, nitrate, and nitrate-nitrogen isotope values, a pattern we attribute largely to urination by humans and animals onto the site. Here, we present an innovative mass balance approach to interpreting these unusual geochemical patterns that allows us to quantify the increase in caprine management over a ~1000-year period, an approach that should be applicable to other arid land tells.

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