scholarly journals Walking in Each Other’s Footsteps: Do Animal Trail Makers Confer Resilience against Trampling Tourists?

Environments ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Croft
Keyword(s):  
Animal Ecology ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Tourism Research ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Evolutionary View ◽  
Trail Cameras ◽  
Large Animals

Modern humans, and other hominins before them, have walked across the landscapes of most continents for many millennia. They shared these landscapes with other large animals, especially mammalian herbivores and their predators, whose footsteps defined trails through the vegetation. Most of the diversity in the wild species is now concentrated in protected areas and visited by large numbers of tourists who may walk amongst them. This review examines the literature about medium-large animal and tourist trampling impacts to uncover any marriage between animal ecology and nature-based tourism research. Methodology is comparable. Animal ecology has focused on the propagation of grazing and trampling effects from a point source (usually water). Tourism research has focused on trail structure (formal/informal, hardened, wide/narrow) and the propagation of effects (especially weeds) into the hinterland and along the trail. There is little research to substantiate an evolutionary view of trampling impacts. At least tourists venturing off formed trails may reduce impacts by following animal trails with caveats, such as risk of encounters with dangerous animals and disruption of animal behavior. This is an under-studied topic but a fertile ground for research, aided by modern tools like trail cameras and geographically enabled devices borne by tourists.

scholarly journals The environmental and ecological determinants of elevated Ross River Virus exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal landscapes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Johnson ◽  
Amy Robbins ◽  
Narayan Gyawali ◽  
Oselyne Ong ◽  
Joanne Loader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Movement ◽  
Ross River Virus ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Culex Annulirostris ◽  
Coastal Landscapes ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Virus Exposure ◽  
Elevated Exposure ◽  
The Impact

AbstractKoala populations in many areas of Australia have declined sharply in response to habitat loss, disease and the effects of climate change. Koalas may face further morbidity from endemic mosquito-borne viruses, but the impact of such viruses is currently unknown. Few seroprevalence studies in the wild exist and little is known of the determinants of exposure. Here, we exploited a large, spatially and temporally explicit koala survey to define the intensity of Ross River Virus (RRV) exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal environments in southeast Queensland, Australia. We demonstrate that RRV exposure in koalas is much higher (> 80%) than reported in other sero-surveys and that exposure is uniform across the urban coastal landscape. Uniformity in exposure is related to the presence of the major RRV mosquito vector, Culex annulirostris, and similarities in animal movement, tree use, and age-dependent increases in exposure risk. Elevated exposure ultimately appears to result from the confinement of remaining coastal koala habitat to the edges of permanent wetlands unsuitable for urban development and which produce large numbers of competent mosquito vectors. The results further illustrate that koalas and other RRV-susceptible vertebrates may serve as useful sentinels of human urban exposure in endemic areas.

scholarly journals Review: Tissue Engineering of Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts and Their In Vivo Evaluation in Large Animals and Humans

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 713
Author(s):  
Shu Fang ◽  
Ditte Gry Ellman ◽  
Ditte Caroline Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Vascular Grafts ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Large Animal Models ◽  
Graft Outcome ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Large Animals

To date, a wide range of materials, from synthetic to natural or a mixture of these, has been explored, modified, and examined as small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts (SD-TEVGs) for tissue regeneration either in vitro or in vivo. However, very limited success has been achieved due to mechanical failure, thrombogenicity or intimal hyperplasia, and improvements of the SD-TEVG design are thus required. Here, in vivo studies investigating novel and relative long (10 times of the inner diameter) SD-TEVGs in large animal models and humans are identified and discussed, with emphasis on graft outcome based on model- and graft-related conditions. Only a few types of synthetic polymer-based SD-TEVGs have been evaluated in large-animal models and reflect limited success. However, some polymers, such as polycaprolactone (PCL), show favorable biocompatibility and potential to be further modified and improved in the form of hybrid grafts. Natural polymer- and cell-secreted extracellular matrix (ECM)-based SD-TEVGs tested in large animals still fail due to a weak strength or thrombogenicity. Similarly, native ECM-based SD-TEVGs and in-vitro-developed hybrid SD-TEVGs that contain xenogeneic molecules or matrix seem related to a harmful graft outcome. In contrast, allogeneic native ECM-based SD-TEVGs, in-vitro-developed hybrid SD-TEVGs with allogeneic banked human cells or isolated autologous stem cells, and in-body tissue architecture (IBTA)-based SD-TEVGs seem to be promising for the future, since they are suitable in dimension, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and availability.

scholarly journals The Habituation Process in Two Groups of Wild Moor Macaques (Macaca maura)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Hernández Tienda ◽  
Bonaventura Majolo ◽  
Teresa Romero ◽  
Risma Illa Maulany ◽  
Putu Oka Ngakan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Minimum Distance ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Neutral Group ◽  
Moor Macaques ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
High Standards

AbstractWhen studying animal behavior in the wild, some behaviors may require observation from a relatively short distance. In these cases, habituation is commonly used to ensure that animals do not perceive researchers as a direct threat and do not alter their behavior in their presence. However, habituation can have significant effects on the welfare and conservation of the animals. Studying how nonhuman primates react to the process of habituation can help to identify the factors that affect habituation and implement habituation protocols that allow other researchers to speed up the process while maintaining high standards of health and safety for both animals and researchers. In this study, we systematically described the habituation of two groups of wild moor macaques (Macaca maura), an Endangered endemic species of Sulawesi Island (Indonesia), to assess the factors that facilitate habituation and reduce impact on animal behavior during this process. During 7 months, we conducted behavioral observations for more than 7,872 encounters and an average of 120 days to monitor how macaque behavior toward researchers changed through time in the two groups under different conditions. We found that both study groups (N = 56, N = 41) became more tolerant to the presence of researchers during the course of the habituation, with occurrence of neutral group responses increasing, and minimum distance to researchers and occurrence of fearful group responses decreasing through time. These changes in behavior were predominant when macaques were in trees, with better visibility conditions, when researchers maintained a longer minimum distance to macaques and, unexpectedly, by the presence of more than one researcher. By identifying these factors, we contribute to designing habituation protocols that decrease the likelihood of fearful responses and might reduce the stress experienced during this process.

scholarly journals The Geometric Framework for Nutrition: New Insights Into How What We Eat Affects How We Age

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 845-845
Author(s):  
Alan Cohen ◽  
David Raubenheimer
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Caloric Restriction ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Geometric Framework ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Nutritional Needs ◽  
Biology Of Aging

Abstract The geometric framework for nutrition (GFN) is an approach to understanding the effect of nutrition considering multiple nutrients simultaneously. Originally developed in experimental studies of insects to model how nutritional needs evolve depending on ecological context, and since extended to many taxa including non-human primates in the wild, the technique is increasingly applied to understand human health and aging. Here, we invite four varied talks showcasing the flexibility and potential of this approach from the basic biology of aging to observational human studies and clinical trials. D. Raubenheimer will give an overview of the method, its history, and its applications in aging and human health. D. Wahl will present results showing how GFN can help develop diets that recapitulate caloric restriction and its effects on brain aging. S. Das will show how GFN can be used to improve the feasibility of caloric restriction in humans without compromising its effects. Finally, A. Cohen will present results showing how GFN can be deployed in an epidemiological context and used to characterize complex interactions among large numbers of nutrients in determining health. Together, these results show that a simplistic conception of nutrition as calories is far from sufficient to understand its effects on health and aging. Evolution has shaped the nutritional needs of each species for its environment, with appropriate levels of flexibility. GFN provides an approach to capture the relevant nuance, with the results presented at this symposium but scratching the surface. Nutrition Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

scholarly journals Large Animal Models of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: A Review of Immune Strategies to Improve Allograft Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham J. Matar ◽  
Rebecca L. Crepeau ◽  
Gerhard S. Mundinger ◽  
Curtis L. Cetrulo ◽  
Radbeh Torabi
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Solid Organ Transplantation ◽  
Tolerance Induction ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
Large Animal Models ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
And Function ◽  
Made In

Over the past twenty years, significant technical strides have been made in the area of vascularized composite tissue allotransplantation (VCA). As in solid organ transplantation, the allogeneic immune response remains a significant barrier to long-term VCA survival and function. Strategies to overcome acute and chronic rejection, minimize immunosuppression and prolong VCA survival have important clinical implications. Historically, large animals have provided a valuable model for testing the clinical translatability of immune modulating approaches in transplantation, including tolerance induction, co-stimulation blockade, cellular therapies, and ex vivo perfusion. Recently, significant advancements have been made in these arenas utilizing large animal VCA models. In this comprehensive review, we highlight recent immune strategies undertaken to improve VCA outcomes with a focus on relevant preclinical large animal models.

scholarly journals A systematic evaluation on reporting quality of modern studies on pulmonary heart valve implantation in large animals

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-445
Author(s):  
Marcelle Uiterwijk ◽  
Annemijn Vis ◽  
Iris de Brouwer ◽  
Debora van Urk ◽  
Jolanda Kluin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Valve ◽  
Heart Valves ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Large Animal Model ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Large Animals

Abstract OBJECTIVES Before new heart valves can be implanted safely in humans, animal experiments have to be performed. These animal experiments have to be clearly designed, analysed and reported to assess the accuracy and importance of the findings. We aimed to provide an overview of the reporting and methodological quality of preclinical heart valve research. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search on biological and mechanical pulmonary valve implantations in large animals. We used the Animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines to score the quality of reporting in each article. We compared the scores before and after the introduction of the ARRIVE guidelines (2010). RESULTS We screened 348 articles, of which 31 articles were included. The included articles reported a mean of 54.7% adequately scored ARRIVE items (95% confidence interval 52.2–57.3%). We did not identify a difference in reporting quality (54.7% vs 54.8%) between articles published before and after 2010. We found an unclear (lack of description) risk of selection bias, performance bias and detection bias. CONCLUSIONS The reporting quality of studies that implanted bioprosthetic or mechanical valves in the pulmonary position in the large animal model is not on the desired level. The introduction of the ARRIVE guidelines in 2010 did not improve the reporting quality in this field of research. Hereby, we want to emphasize the importance of clearly describing the methods and transparently reporting the results in animal experiments. This is of great importance for the safe translation of new heart valves to the clinic. Clinical trial registration number PROSPERO (CRD42019147895).

scholarly journals Intratracheal aerosolization of viral vectors to newborn pig airways

BioTechniques ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 235-239
Author(s):  
Ashley L Cooney ◽  
Patrick L Sinn
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Endotracheal Tube ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Large Animal Models ◽  
Airway Diseases ◽  
Efficient Delivery ◽  
Large Animals

Gene therapy for airway diseases requires efficient delivery of nucleic acids to the airways. In small animal models, gene delivery reagents are commonly delivered as a bolus dose. However, large animal models are often more relevant for the transition from preclinical studies to human trials. Aerosolizing viral vectors to the lungs of large animals can maximize anatomical distribution. Here, we describe a technique for aerosolization of viral vectors to the airways of newborn pigs. Briefly, a pig is anesthetized and intubated with an endotracheal tube, and a microsprayer is passed through the endotracheal tube. A fine mist is then sprayed into the distal trachea. Widespread and uniform distribution of transgene expression is critical for developing successful lung gene therapy treatments.

scholarly journals A Novel Approach to Drug Delivery for Hepatities C Virus (HCV) for High Immune Responses

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
W. T. Chen ◽  
C. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Azomethine Ylides ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Testing Environment ◽  
Large Animal Models ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Large Animals

Hepatities C Virus (HCV) is a significant health problem worldwide due to the lack of effective vaccines. HCV plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine represents a promising means to induce a Th1-biased cell-mediated response which tends to be associated with HCV clearance. However, the immune responses induced by naked pDNA vaccine in large animals as well as in humans are usually too weak to show sufficient protection against new infections. Therefore, it is interesting to look for new ways to deliver HCV pDNA vaccine. In this research, carbon nanotube (CNT) is used as a carrier to deliver the pDNA vaccine of HCV to induce high immune responses, because CNT has some excellent properties such as high strength and good biocompatibility. One of the key approaches to make this idea work is to treat CNT so that it can bind with HCV pDNA with good stability. An approach called 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides was modified. We analyzed the complex of f-CNTs combined with pDNA vaccines expressing HCV E2 protein by using Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) or Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay in vitro. The result showed that the CNT approach can induce stronger protective immune responses than the needle delivery of naked pDNA vaccine. We have also found an optimal way to treat CNT in light of the highest immune response in the same testing environment. The success of this research will warrant testing HCV vaccine in large animal models and human clinical trials.

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