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The harvesting and trade of species for use in traditional medicine, or muthi, is predominantly illegal, unregulated, and likely unsustainable, representing a major conservation challenge. In South Africa, vulture populations have declined considerably in recent decades, but evidence shows a consistent use of vultures by traditional health practitioners. However, less is understood about the key factors that underpin the hunting of these birds. We evaluated aspects of the illegal hunting and trade of vultures in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with local hunters and muthi traders. A mixed-method sampling design was used, and data were analysed using the thematic analysis approach. The results revealed that vultures were hunted mainly by local men aged 24–40 years. The vultures were obtained using multiple techniques, but poison (38%) and firearms (31%) were the preferred methods. Vultures were hunted upon request and traded through local networks comprising hunters, traditional health practitioners and muthi traders. Carcasses were sold directly to traditional health practitioners, but some were destined for the local market. Prices for the whole carcass ranged from ZAR500 (US$29) to ZAR2 000 (US$116). Perceptions held by respondents concerning the hunting and trade of vultures alluded to the difficulty of obtaining birds. This was attributed to vultures' conservation status and the risk of being found in the possession of a vulture or any of its by-products. Live vultures were reportedly hard to find as they mostly inhabited protected areas, and their low numbers were also highlighted as an exacerbating factor. The use of vultures in African traditional medicine is a well-established practice; however, presently, this threatens the long-term persistence of vultures in the wild. Intricate socio-economic influences are at play, and addressing these may facilitate positive conservation outcomes for vultures and other target species in northern KwaZulu-Natal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore Bahnar perspectives on the agency of plants and forest, and human–forest relations in Vietnam. The Bahnar are among Vietnam's 54 recognized ethnic minority peoples 1 , many of whom live in proximity to the forest, gather its resources, and regard it as a spiritual abode in their cosmology. The Bahnar (Ba Na) people who inhabit the Central Highlands and are the main focus of this article have traditionally relied on the forest for subsistence, practising swidden cultivation, hunting birds and mammals, and gathering plants. Their forest knowledge is transmitted primarily orally; through the lexicon, everyday discourses, stories, and songs. It is acquired through participation in forest-related activities and informal learning of arts such as vernacular architecture, basketry, canoe-building, and textiles. The Bahnar see spirits in things in nature with which they have a connection or routine interactions (stones, streams, and trees) but not in everything. The Bahnar spiritual connection with the forest also guides their husbandry of increasingly scarce forest resources, such as rattan used in basketry, and large trees needed to make canoes. Certain plants and trees are protected by taboos, and certain parts of the forest are considered sacred, inhabited by gods and spirits, and not to be touched. Forests possess animacy for the Bahnar in that they are sensitive and responsive to a wide range of human behaviours, and must be treated with respect and care. This human–forest–spirit relationship is the primary lens through which the Bahnar perceive nature, and guides their daily interactions with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds employ rapid pitch-up motions close to the ground for different purposes: perching birds use this motion to decelerate and come to a complete stop while hunting birds, such as bald eagles, employ it to catch prey and swiftly fly away. Motivated by these observations, our study investigates how natural flyers accomplish diverse flying objectives by rapidly pitching their wings while decelerating near ground. We conducted experimental and analytical investigations focusing on rapidly pitching plates during deceleration in close proximity to the ground to explore the impact of ground proximity on the unsteady dynamics. Initially, we executed synchronous pitch-up motion, where both pitching and deceleration have the same motion duration, at different ground heights. Experimental results demonstrate that as the pitching wing approaches the ground, the instantaneous lift increases by approximately $38\,\%$ compared with a far-from-ground case, while the initial peak drag force remains relatively unchanged. Our analytical model conforms to this trend, predicting an increase in lift force as the wing approaches the ground, indicating enhanced added mass and circulatory lift force due to the ground effect. Next, we examined asynchronous pitch-up motion cases, where rapid pitching motions were initiated at different stages of deceleration. The results reveal that initiating the wing pitch early in the deceleration leads to the formation of larger counter-rotating vortices at the early stage of the manoeuvre. These vortices generate stronger dipole jets that orient backward in the later stages of the manoeuvre after impinging with the ground surface, which hunting birds utilize to accelerate after catching prey. Conversely, when the wing pitch is delayed, smaller vortices form, but their growth is postponed until late in the manoeuvre. This delayed vortex growth produces lift and drag force at the end phase of the manoeuvre that facilitates a smooth landing or perching. Thus, through strategic tuning of a rapid pitch-up motion with deceleration, natural flyers, such as birds, achieve diverse flying objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The concept of Farr(ah) (Khvarenah) is very fundamental in the kingdom of ancient Iran and these kings received legitimacy from it. Farr was a royal and divine attribute, glossed as kayānī, kayī, shāhī, shāhanšāhī, īzadī. Muḥammad ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī mentions this concept in the Sasanian history. In this article, the concept of Farah in the kingdom of Khosrow Parviz in Ṭabarī's history is examined. al-Ṭabarī is a great jurist, theologian, commentator and historian who, in addition to the famous history book "Tārīkh al-Rusul wa al-Mulūk", wrote a famous and important commentary on the Qur'an, which was very influential among Muslim commentators. This research can lead to a deeper understanding of some of Ṭabarī's views in his interpretation of the Qur'an. Ṭabarī's history is the first Islamic and Iranian source that narrated the concept of Farr. Ṭabarī was fully aware of "Farr" in ancient Iran, and it can be investigated that this concept may have been transferred by him to Islamic teachings. The data collection method of this research is library and the method of content and text analysis was used. Concepts related to Farrah in the kingdom of Khosrow Parviz according to Ṭabarī's narration include: mountain, wind, elephant, falcon, breaking the Arch of Ctesiphon and dam of the Tigris, Derafsh Kaviani, cane, cloth handkerchief, royal ornament and luxury, crown, wisdom, courage, quince, luck and prophecy. Methods: Method: The data collection method of this research is library and the method of this writing is based on a descriptive-analytical approach and in some cases the hermeneutic method of the Arabic text of Tabarī is used. Results: The History of "Tārīkh al-Rusul wa al-Mulūk", known as Tārīkh al-Tabarī, is one of the oldest and most important historical books in Islam. This book was written in Arabic by Muhammad ibn Jarīr al-Tabari, a prominent historian and commentator who passed away in 310 AH (Hijri calendar). He mentioned the concept of "Farr (Khvarenah)" in his historical writings before the famous Iranian poet Ferdowsi, the author of the Shahnameh. In the section on the history of Iran before Islam, he repeatedly references the concept of Farr(ah) and its signs. This issue has not yet received attention from researchers. Notably, he specifically uses the Arabic word "Bahā' " to refer to Farr(ah). This article exclusively examines the concept of Farr(ah) and its signs in the context of the life of Khosrow Parviz Sasanian. Al-Tabarī points to natural phenomena such as mountains, water, wind, hunting bird, elephant, and quince fruit. In addition, he mentions material objects created by humans such as the Tāq Kasrā, the Derafsh Kāvīyan, the staff, the handkerchief, and curtains, as well as ornaments. He also describes human inner qualities such as bravery, wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, and the final concept is that of "Bakht" (fortune). All the mentioned manifestations of Farr(ah) are noted as symbols of Farr(ah) in various sources and books. Conclusions: This article demonstrates that al-Tabari was aware of the concept of Farr(ah) in ancient Iran. Furthermore, he was the first to mention the concept of "Khalīfa Allāh" (God's vicegerent) in his famous Quranic commentary regarding verse 30 of Surah Baqarah. It seems that al-Tabari's interpretation of this verse was influenced by the concept of Farr(ah) from ancient Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting has a long tradition in human evolutionary history and remains a common leisure activity or an important source of food. Herein, we first briefly review the literature on the demographic consequences of hunting and associated analytical methods. We then address the question of potential selective hunting and its possible genetic/evolutionary consequences. Birds have historically been popular models for demographic studies, and the huge amount of census and ringing data accumulated over the last century has paved the way for research about the demographic effects of harvesting. By contrast, the literature on the evolutionary consequences of harvesting is dominated by studies on mammals (especially ungulates) and fish. In these taxa, individuals selected for harvest often have particular traits such as large body size or extravagant secondary sexual characters (e.g. antlers, horns, etc.). Our review shows that targeting individuals according to such genetically heritable traits can exert strong selective pressures and alter the evolutionary trajectory of populations for these or correlated traits. Studies focusing on the evolutionary consequences of hunting in birds are extremely rare, likely because birds within populations appear much more similar, and do not display individual differences to the same extent as many mammals and fishes. Nevertheless, even without conscious choice by hunters, there remains the potential for selection through hunting in birds, for example by genetically inherited traits such as personality or pace‐of‐life. We emphasise that because so many bird species experience high hunting pressure, the possible selective effect of harvest in birds and its evolutionary consequences deserves far more attention, and that hunting may be one major driver of bird evolutionary trajectories that should be carefully considered in wildlife management schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying numbers of birds released for shooting is an important step towards understanding the ecological consequences of releasing. For Mallard, this has become urgent with the recent rise of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). By adapting a previous approach to generating UK-level estimates of numbers of huntable birds shot using the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's National Gamebag Census (Aebischer NJ (2019) Fifty-year trends in UK hunting bags of birds and mammals, and calibrated estimation of national bag size, using GWCT's National Gamebag Census. Eur J Wildl Res 65:64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-019-1299-x), the number of Mallards released annually in the UK rose from 870,000 in 2004 to 1.3 million in 2022. Mallards were shot at just over half of NGC sites; of those a fifth released Mallards for shooting, accounting for 87% of the total Mallard bag in 2022. In that year, mean release size was 792 (median 300) and mean release density was 1.39 birds/ha (median 0.52). One fifth of release sites released over 1000 birds each, mostly in southern England and Scotland, corresponding to just 2% of UK shoots. The low percentage combined with low dispersal of released Mallards suggests that scope for them to spread disease is limited, and that any spread is more likely to occur by infection from and transmission to wild birds on passage than from dispersed released ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of facial expressions in mammals provided great advances in the identification of their emotions and then in the comprehension of their sentience. So far, this area of research has excluded birds. With a naturalist approach, we analysed facial blushing and feather displays in domestic fowl. Hens were filmed in situations contrasting in emotional valence and arousal level: situations known to indicate calm states (positive valence / low arousal), have rewarding effects (positive valence / high arousal) or induce fear-related behaviour (negative valence / high arousal). Head feather position as well as skin redness of comb, wattles, ear lobes and cheeks varied across these situations. Skin of all four areas was less red in situations with low arousal compared to situations with higher arousal. Furthermore, skin redness of the cheeks and ear lobes also varied depending on the valence of the situation: redness was higher in situations with negative valence compared to situations with positive valence. Feather position also varied with the situations. Feather fluffing was mostly observed in positively valenced situations, except when hens were eating. We conclude that hens have facial displays that reveal their emotions and that blushing is not exclusive to humans. This opens a promising way to explore the emotional lives of birds, which is a critical step when trying to improve poultry welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In recent decades, the use of plastic has increased exponentially. If discarded improperly, plastic waste can harm the environment and biodiversity. Under the influence of solar UV radiation, wind, currents, and other natural factors, plastic breaks down into small particles known as microplastics (MPs, <5 mm in one dimension) or nanoplastics (NPs, <100 nm). These tiny particles, which are characterized by various forms such as fragments, sheets, filaments, foam, granules, and pellets, have become a major factor in environmental pollution. Birds play an important role in the global trophic network system and are widely used as indicators of biodiversity, pollution, and environmental change. The present study aims to investigate the number of microplastics bioaccumulated in specimens of Song Thrushes (Turdus philomelos), which are migratory birds wintering in Apulia, Italy. The specimens (n = 360) were hunted in the Bari countryside and donated for research purposes by hunters. Plastic debris was detected in the stomachs of 129 and 128 birds shot in December and January. The majority of ingested MPs were fibers, followed by films, fragments, and pellets. As for color, among all the MPs found, 31.75% were red, 30.13% were black, and 25.91% were blue, while the other colors were less represented. The high contamination of thrushes confirmed the ubiquity of MPs in terrestrial ecosystems. The term microplastics (MPs) describes a heterogeneous mixture of particles that can vary in size, color, and shape. Once released into the environment, MPs have various toxicological and physical effects on wildlife. The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a migratory species, staying in Italy in late autumn and winter. The aim of this study is to assess, quantify, and characterize the presence of microplastics in Song Thrushes hunted in the Apulia region of Italy. The birds (n = 360) were hunted in the Bari countryside and donated for research purposes by hunters. MPs were classified in relation to their shape in fibers, films, fragments, and pellets; then, they were divided according to their color and the length of the particles was measured. Nikon image analysis software was applied to the litter size measurements. Of the total of 360 birds, MPs were detected in the stomachs of 129 birds shot in December and 128 birds shot in January. The majority of ingested MPs were fibers that were observed in all contaminated birds. Film fragments were observed in every contaminated specimen. Among all the MPs found, 31.75% were red, 30.13% were black, and 25.91% were blue, while the other colors were less represented. This study provides the first analysis of MPs bioaccumulation in Song Thrushes wintering in the Apulia region, and the high contamination of thrushes confirmed the ubiquity of MPs in terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting in 2015, the widespread prevalence of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS) has led to considerable financial losses within China’s poultry farming industry. In this study, pathogenicity assessments, whole-genome sequencing, and analyses were conducted on 10 new isolates of the novel genotype FAdV-4 during a HHS outbreak in Guangxi Province, China, from 2019 to 2020. The results indicated that strains GX2019-010 to GX2019-013 and GX2019-015 to GX2019-018 were highly virulent, while strain GX2020-019 exhibited moderate virulence. Strain GX2019-014 was characterized as a wild-type strain with low virulence, displaying no pathogenic effects when 0.5 mL containing 106 TCID50 virus was inoculated into the muscle of specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens at 4 weeks of age, while 107 TCID50 and 108 TCID50 resulted in mortality rates of 80 and 100%, respectively. The whole genomes of strains GX2019-010 to GX2019-013, GX2019-015 to GX2019-018, and GX2020-019 showed high homology with other Chinese newly emerging highly pathogenic FAdV-4 strains, whereas GX2019- 014 was closer to nonmutant strains and shared the same residues with known nonpathogenic strains (B1-7, KR5, and ON1) at positions 219AA and 380AA of the Fiber-2 protein. Our work enriches the research on prevalent strains of FAdV-4 in China, expands the knowledge on the virulence diversity of the novel genotype FAdV-4, and provides valuable reference material for further investigations into the key virulence-associated genetic loci of FAdV-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted on the blood cells of thirty domestic fowls, guinea fowls and pigeons. Ten birds were taken from each species. Basophils in all the three species were positive for mucopolysaccharides. The reactivity in guinea fowls was strong, moderate in pigeons and weak in domestic fowls. Heterophils showed strong reactivity in guinea fowls, moderate in pigeons and weakest reaction in fowls for glycogen when stained with PAS stain. Eosinophils of guinea fowls showed strongest and moderate reactivity in fowls, while weakest reactivity was observed in pigeons when blood smears were stained with Sudan Black B stain. Leucocytes showed negative reaction for mucopolysaccharide, glycogen and lipid in domestic fowls, guinea fowls and pigeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is highly pathogenic to broilers aged 3 to 5 weeks and has caused considerable economic loss in the poultry industry worldwide. FAdV-4 is the causative agent of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS) or hydropericardium syndrome (HPS). The virus targets mainly the liver, and HPS symptoms are observed in infected chickens. This disease was first reported in Pakistan but has now spread worldwide, and over time, various deletions in the FAdV genome and mutations in its major structural proteins have been detected. This review provides detailed information about FAdV-4 genome organization, physiological features, epidemiology, coinfection with other viruses, and host immune suppression. Moreover, we investigated the role and functions of important structural proteins in FAdV-4 pathogenesis. Finally, the potential regulatory effects of FAdV-4 infection on ncRNAs are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fowl adenovirus-4 is a causative agent of hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HHS) in chickens and has been frequently reported from many countries. Fowl adenoviruses cause severe disease and mortality in broiler and layer breeders in Azerbaijan. Therefore, in this study, pathological lesions and the dissemination of fowl adenovirus-4 into the visceral organs of infected birds were investigated as well as molecular characterisation of detected strains. For this, liver, heart and spleen from 20 necropsied chickens originated from a broiler breeder flock and a layer breeder flock were embeded on the FTA cards and the samples were analysed for adenovirus-DNA by PCR and sequencing. Results: The findings of necropsy in both broiler and layer breeder chickens were similar, and the liver was severely effected showing hepatitis, and the heart with hydropericardium lesions. The kidneys were swollen with haemorrhages and small white foci on the surface of the spleens were noted. Intestinal congestion and ecchymotic hemorrhages were also observed in some birds. Fowl adenovirus-4-DNA was detected by PCR in all collected organs of 20 birds. The sequence analysis revealed that fowl adenovirus-4 present in Azerbaijan and close similarity of the hexon genes of the adenoviruses existing in the Middle East, North America, far east and Indian subcontinent were determined by phylogenetic analysis. However, sequence diversity was detected from the adenovirus strains circulating in Europe, North and South America. Conclusions: This study indicates the impact of fowl adenovirus-4 on the poultry health and production, and improved disease control and prevention strategies are necessary to reduce the HHS disease in chickens in Azerbaijan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It's a promising way to address the global freshwater crisis and energy shortage through solar‐driven devices with evaporate, degrade, and generate electricity at the same time. Low‐efficient light‐thermal conversions for multi‐usage limit application. This paper presents a low‐cost melamine foam/TiO2/carbon black/bismuth (MF/TiO2/CB/Bi) composite with excellent activity to simultaneously process photothermal water evaporation, pollutant degradation, and thermoelectric output, namely‚ shooting three birds with one stone. Under 1 sunlight light intensity, the water evaporation rate reach 4.235 kg m−2 h−1, and the maximum electric power output of a single module is 0.733 W m−2. Meanwhile, Rhodamine B (RhB) solution with 4.0 × 10−4 mol L−1 can be almost degraded within 60 min. Excellent performance benefits from the enhanced adsorption by chemicals, 3D structure for accepting more incident light, and hydrophilic group reducing evaporation enthalpy. Combined with the simulation and experiment, the relationship between heat distribution and thicknesses is studied. When less than 1.98 cm, the lateral temperature is higher than the ambient temperature, thus additional energy cannot be obtained. This work provides a facile and novel method for the construction of photothermal conversion materials with multi‐functional, as a new and useful attempt to solve the shortage of fresh water and electric energy, as well as environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fowl aviadenovirus (FAdV) is a member of the Aviadenovirus genus within the Adenoviridae family. FAdVs are divided into five species based on genomic differences: Fowl aviadenovirus A to Fowl aviadenovirus E (FAdV-A to FAdV-E). They are classified into twelve serotypes (FAdV-1 to FAdV-8a and FAdV-8b to FAdV-11) through cross-neutralization tests. FAdVs are mainly associated with hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome (HHS), adenoviral gizzard erosion (AGE), and inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). The serotypes commonly involved in IBH are FAdV-2, FAdV-11, FAdV-8a, and FAdV-8b. IBH causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry, mainly due to high mortality, reduced productivity, and immunosuppression. This is the first case report on IBH in Chile caused—according to post-mortem findings, molecular analysis, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis—by FAdV-11. Since the serotype had not previously been reported in Chile, continued monitoring of IBH cases is required to determine the serotype of the circulating FAdVs and adapt preventative vaccination programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fowlpox is a re-emerging and economically significant viral disease in poultry. Fowlpox is a complex virus contains a double-strand DNA genome of approximately 300 kb and largest among all pox viruses. In the present study, a clinical case of fowlpox virus (FPV) infection was investigated and a Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) assay was developed for confirmatory diagnosis of fowl pox and quantification of viral load. Clinical sample was collected from infected bird reared in the organized poultry farm management system and the viral infection was confirmed using conventional PCR amplification of the P4b gene of fowl pox virus. Following that, a single-step SYBR green based Real-Time PCR assay was developed by targeting the same gene of fowlpox virus. The fowl pox viral load in the infected bird was found to be 7.33 ± 0.044 (Log Mean ± SD). The lower detection limit achieved was 134 copies per microliter (µL) with a corresponding threshold cycle (Ct) value of 32.59. Thus, the single-step SYBR green based RT-PCR assay targeting the P4b gene of fowl pox virus reported in this study was highly sensitive, specific and reproducible for the detection and quantitation of fowl pox virus nucleic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the study consists in legal issues related to hunting wild birds, discussed by Roman classical jurists. The analysis of the sources reveals that the main problem they had to deal with was finding a right balance between the traditional, originating from the ius gentium freedom of hunting with the increasing economic importance of breeding wild birds and, accordingly, the economic interests of rich landowners who tended to reserve the exclusive right for catching wild birds on their lands for themselves. As the consequence of this increasing contrast between the principle of law and the economic reality, wild birds kept in aviaries were deemed to be the property of the owner, as well as those who once tamed were subjected to their control. The jurists also created a concept of animus revertendi which applied to such animals as pigeons and peacocks, whose large-scale breeding involved allowing them to fly away temporarily from the owner. One of the remedies was also ius prohibendi which allowed the owner of the land to prevent entering his land by birders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Analysis of zinc and copper levels in the tissues of wild animals, including mallard ducks, is important for assessing the degree of contamination of the environment with these elements. This problem is worth addressing with regard to the safety of consumers of game meat. It was concluded from the study that the Leszno hunting district is more polluted than the Siedlce hunting district. The significantly higher average zinc and copper concentrations in the liver of mallards harvested in this hunting district may have been influenced by fertilization of crop fields with fertilizers containing these elements and by extraction of ore containing zinc and copper minerals. Statistically significant differences were also shown in the average level of copper in the leg muscles of males compared to females. The research material included selected muscles and liver of mallard ducks obtained in two research areas. A total of 28 mallards were obtained for the study—six males and six females from the Siedlce hunting district and eight males and eight females from the Leszno hunting district. Zinc and copper concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). It was concluded from the study that the Leszno hunting district is more polluted than the Siedlce hunting district. Among the examined tissues of mallard ducks from both hunting districts, the highest content of zinc and copper was found in the liver. In this organ, birds shot in the Leszno hunting district were characterized by a significantly higher content of these elements compared to birds shot in the Siedlce hunting area. The significantly higher average zinc and copper concentrations in the liver of mallards harvested in this hunting district may have been influenced by fertilization of crop fields in this area with fertilizers containing these elements and by extraction of ore containing zinc and copper minerals in the Legnica-Głogów Copper District. This is an important problem with regard to the safety of consumers of game meat. It was shown that the tissues of male mallards were characterized by higher average levels of zinc and copper than those of females, but the differences were statistically significant only in the case of the average copper content in the leg muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have described the muscle anatomy of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus), a commonly used animal in developmental experiments. However, some major differences in terminology existed among studies, making it difficult to precisely discuss the muscle homologies between domestic fowl and other animals. In this study, the innervations of shoulder girdle muscles in five sides of the domestic fowl were elucidated and the homology of the shoulder girdle muscles between domestic fowl and other tetrapods was discussed using terminology that conforms to Nomina Anatomica Avium (1993). Unlike previous descriptions, the supracoracoideus, being developed in domestic fowl, is thought to have a different muscular origin from the deltoid muscle. The coracobrachialis cranialis, coracobrachialis caudalis and coracobrachialis muscles, previously described as the coracobrachialis muscle group, had different innervations; the coracobrachialis cranialis should be grouped with the deltoid muscles, and the coracobrachialis caudalis appears to belong to the pectoral muscle group. I propose that the subcoracoscapularis in domestic fowl, keeping the reptilian form, is divided into the subcoracoideus and subscapularis muscles. Based on the innervation, the subscapularis in domestic fowl is homologous with the subscapularis in reptiles and a major part of the subscapularis in mammals. Unlike the descriptions in previous studies, the scapulohumeralis cranialis and caudalis in the domestic fowl in this study, being innervated by the common branch, were found to have a close relationship with the subcoracoscapularis muscle. Based on the observations in this study, a new classification of the shoulder girdle muscles in domestic fowl is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Zn‐metal anode for Zn ion battery (ZIB) suffers from multiple catastrophic issues (severe corrosion reaction, concomitant hydrogen evolution, and dendrite growth) that are always intricate and are inevitably interactional, setting up critical obstacle for application of ZIB. Herein, a multifunctional sieve (MS) consisting of inorganic nanolayers and organic molecule layers is proposed to solve these issues synchronously based on its trifunctional roles (accelerating Zn2+, repelling H2O, and binding OH). As a prototype, porous nano‐architecture MS composed of steric acid molecule layer and TiO2 nanosheets (derived from MXene) (SA@TiO2‐MS) is deliberately created on the surface of zinc anodes (Zn@SA@TiO2‐MS) employing in situ self‐assembly strategy. Theoretical calculations together with proof‐of‐experiment prove that SA@TiO2‐MS can alleviate the growth of Zn dendrites, mitigate hydrogen evolution, relieve corrosion reaction, via the acceleration of the Zn2+ diffusion, the repelling of H2O with hydrophobic SA layer, as well as the bonding of OH with TiO2 layer. As a result, Zn@SA@TiO2‐MS||Zn@SA@TiO2‐MS symmetric cell achieves a lifespan up to 1100 h at 5 mA cm−2. In addition, the full‐cell by pairing carbon‐cloth@MnO2 with Zn@SA@TiO2‐MS delivered capacity retention of 70.3% after 2000 cycles. This work proposes fundamentally a more comprehensive approach to balance the issues faced by Zn‐metal anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was designed to investigate the postnatal development of the ovary in the Uttara fowl chicken and was conducted on 54 apparently healthy female birds divided into different age groups, namely Day 1 and Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 with six birds each. During postnatal development, the left ovary gradually increased in size and complexity. The segmentation of the ovary started by 4 weeks, follicular eruption by 8 weeks, small liquor follicles (1–5 mm) appeared by 16 weeks, pre‐hierarchical follicles by 20 weeks and hierarchical follicles by 24 weeks of age. The cortex was distinctly differentiated from the medulla in the early stage of ovarian development. However, the division between cortex and medulla was gradually obscured with age (transitional stage) and distinction was completely lost in the mature ovary. The different stages of follicular development in the chicken ovary were classified as primordial, primary, growing at Stage I, II and III stromal follicles besides pre‐hierarchical and hierarchical surface follicles. The primordial and primary follicles showed cytoplasmic sudanophilic substances, especially in the Balbiani's yolk body, indicating the presence of lipids (Sudan Black B) with no activity for neutral polysaccharides (periodic acid Schiff method). It was observed that apoptotic changes may affect any stage of developing follicle resulting in arrested growth and atrophy. An early form of follicular atresia was the fate of the growth‐arrested primordial and primary follicles, whereas the glandular form of atresia was commonly observed in growing follicles arrested at Stages I and II. The scanning electron micrographs unveiled the follicles as hollow oval structures with a follicular lumen lined by the perivitelline membrane (glycoprotein membrane) having lacunae giving a honeycomb‐like appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural aspects motivate the creation of wild birds as pets, a common practice in the Amazon. The curió species (Sporophilaangolensis) stands out as one of the most kept as pets in the North of Brazil, mainly due to its ability after training to be used to hunt other free-ranging birds. Individuals of the species that, when vocalizing, manage to attract other birds and develop the ability to capture other birds, are called curiós-preseiros in the Amazon region. Breeders of curiós-preseiros began to use the species for hunting and also in championships, where the bird that demonstrates the best performance such as speed and dexterity when seizing the opponent wins the dispute. This study aimed to obtain information about the relationship between humans and curió by breeders of the species and describe how curió-preseiro competitions take place in an Amazonian setting. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with curió breeders from the municipalities of Altamira and Brazil Novo, southwest of Pará, where breeding and championships using the species are traditional. Qualitative data were discussed through content analysis. 20 people were interviewed, most of them men (90%). As a result, we describe how the hunting championships take place, which take place through videos of the moment of capture, shared in specific groups on social media, where the sale prices of champion birds reach up to R$30,000. Thus, we provide relevant information on cultural and social aspects regarding the creation of the species in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal bird hunting in and around the Fereydunkenar International Wetland in Iran has a long history but one with serious ecological consequences. Such hunting has involved the mass killing of critically endangered species – such as Siberian cranes, white-headed ducks, geese, lapwings and wintering raptors – and has caused damage to regional ecosystems. The outcome has been described by conservationists and regional news commentators as a "bird genocide." This study addresses some of the significant problems created by the illegal bird market of Fereydunkenar and explores the reasons for both the actors' participation and the market's resilience. The paper draws on original fieldwork – data from qualitative, in-depth interviews with 21 participants actively involved in this bird market. Actors provided various justifications and explanations for their activities, such as food and income, the ineffectiveness of formal controls alongside the supportiveness of informal social norms, and the ability to create an enterprise and attract capital based on simple commodification of nature. The case study illuminates how a traditional practice and a narrowly-focused set of behaviors persist despite the impact of related cascade effects causing harm to ecosystems that push some species to the edge of extinction. The paper therefore serves as an interdisciplinary contribution to green criminology and conservation criminology, as well as to ecological sciences, more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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FADV has caused high economic losses in poultry industry in Egypt in the last few years. The study aimed to detect and genetically characterize the fowl adenovirus (FAdV) species prevalent in Egyptian commercial broiler chicken flocks during 2023. The 63 suspected samples were collected from Egyptian broiler chickens from 5 governorates during 2023. The molecular characterization was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the positive samples was isolated in primary chicken embryo liver (CEL) cells. The genetic characterization of 8 selected samples represented different governorates by sequencing of loop 1 (L1) of the hexon gene. Clinically, the poultry suffered from depression, watery diarrhea, and ascites and decreased body weight with a mortality rate of 10-30%. The post-mortem inspection showed liver was pale, enlarged with petechial haemorrhage. 27 out of 63 samples (42.8%) were positive by PCR. The molecular charctersation of the L1 hexon gene's revealed that the FADV (from Eg-ANY1-2023 to EG-ANY4-2023) genetically charcterized as FADV-D 2/11 strains, the FADV-EG-ANY5-2023 to FADV-EG-ANY8-2023 genetically characterized as FADV E/8a and FADV E/8b. By mutation analysis, the strains in our study related to FADV-E/8a (FADVEG- ANY5, ANY6) had R171K in the HVR4 and strain related to 8b (FADV-EG-ANY7, ANY8) had S95N in the HVR2 and A91T between HVR1 and HVR2 compared to other reference strains. Thus, these findings demonstrate that many mutated virus genotypes are circulating in commercial chicken flocks. Further research is needed to study the pathogencity of these strains and implement control measures and vaccine production to prevent economic loss in the poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egypt's poultry industry has been adversely impacted by multiple outbreaks of inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hepatitis hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in recent years, resulting in significant economic losses. So, this research aimed to identify and characterize IBH and HPS in broiler and broiler breeders' flocks across the country for three years (2020-2022). Clinical cases of fowl adenovirus (FAdVs) infection in 835 flocks (10,000-20,000 birds in each flock) were investigated from 11 Egyptian provinces for identifying and genotyping FAdVs. The examined flocks showed variant symptoms of diarrhea, anemia, and general weakness. An enlarged, yellowish, and friable liver with necrotic foci was observed at necropsy, along with hydropericardium effusions, an enlarged, mottled spleen, enteritis, severe pancreatitis, and an inflamed bursa. DNA extracted from suspected isolates was analyzed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing targeting the loop L1 of the hexon gene. The sequences were analyzed using BLAST and compared to adenovirus available in the GenBank database NCBI. FAdVs were detected in 22.4% (146/650) of broiler flock samples and 32.9% (61/185) of broiler breeders' flocks. Additionally, the hexon gene was subjected to phylogenetic analysis, which revealed that FAdVs can be classified into four genotypes. (FAdVs B-E) were detected from 34 represented samples (n= 34), 1 out of 34 FAdV-B, 3 out of 34 FAdV-C, 22 out of 34 FAdV-D, and 8 out of 34 FAdV-E (4 with 8a and 4 with 8b), FAdV-D was the most predominant. This investigation revealed the existence of infectious FADVs of various genotypes, and it is critical to design an effective vaccination program and comprehensive epidemic prevention in both broiler and broiler breeders' flocks in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jungle fowl (Gallus gallus) is a tropical bird with important hereditary and phenotypical traits like disease resistance and resistance to harsh conditions and can often survive with scanty diet. However, as commercial chicken breeds replace them, their population is dwindling, which poses a significant threat to fowl genetic resources. There is minimal information on the variety of Indian poultry, mainly native chicken from Northeast India. As a result, the record of the fowl's genetic diversity is essential for its preservation and formulation of conservation strategies. The current study sought to identify indigenous chicken, Kaunayen (Gallus gallus domesticus), from Manipur using barcoding based on DNA sequences. A total of 5 CO1 DNA barcodes from several indigenous chickens were sequenced and compared to the previous data of diverse taxa of Phasianidae using the conventional methodology and were recognized as Gallus gallus. The Phasianid birds that were researched were accurately classified into their appropriate species. There is a minuscule genomic difference between G. gallus and G. varius (1.2%) and the highest between Arborophila rufipectus and Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (22.5%). The phylogenetic relationship established on the NJ tree revealed a coherent gathering of indigenous fowl with G. gallus and unique to all other species studied, showing their taxonomic classification. Nonetheless, the investigation offered a genetic identity tag for indigenous chicken for the first time. It will be a potential guide for identifying distinctive and genetically unique poultry sequences for later requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present study demonstrates the role of intensive poultry production in the rise of fowl adenovirus (FAdV), similar to what occurred for several multifactorial viral diseases of livestock. Although effective in limiting viral circulation, the applied control strategies, likely shaped its evolution. In fact, after the development and application of FAdV vaccines, an increase in evolutionary rate was observed and several sites and regions of the Hexon protein were proven under a significant pervasive or episodic diversifying selection, especially those exposed on the viral surface and target of the host response. The notion that FAdV has increased in relevance in the last years could thus be a misleading perception related to an increased diagnostic capability and awareness of the topic. Alternatively, a limited number of flocks could be more severely affected because of the waning population immunity. Further efforts should be devoted to the acquisition of more molecular data on other geographic regions and FAdV species, also to assess the representativeness of the present results on a broader scale. Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs, species FAdV-A/-E) are responsible for several clinical syndromes reported with increasing frequency in poultry farms in the last decades. In the present study, a phylodynamic analysis was performed on a group of FAdV-D Hexon sequences with adequate available metadata. The obtained results demonstrated the long-term circulation of this species, at least several decades before the first identification of the disease. After a period of progressive increase, the viral population showed a high-level circulation from approximately the 1960s to the beginning of the new millennium, mirroring the expansion of intensive poultry production and animal trade. At the same time, strain migration occurred mainly from Europe to other continents, although other among-continent connections were estimated. Thereafter, the viral population declined progressively, likely due to the improved control measures, potentially including the development and application of FAdV vaccines. An increase in the viral evolutionary rate featured this phase. A role of vaccine-induced immunity in shaping viral evolution could thus be hypothesized. Accordingly, several sites of the Hexon, especially those targeted by the host response were proven under a significant pervasive or episodic diversifying selection. The present study results demonstrate the role of intensive poultry production and market globalization in the rise of FAdV. The applied control strategies, on the other hand, were effective in limiting viral circulation and shaping its evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread occurrence of fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4)-induced hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) has led to significant economic losses for the poultry industry. A sensitive, accurate, and practical FAdV-4 diagnostic approach is urgently required to limit the incidence of the disease. In the present study, a practical method for detecting FAdV-4 was developed using the CRISPR/Cas13a system and recombinase-aided amplification. The approach was based on 37°C isothermal detection with visible results being achieved. The detection limit of the target gene with this approach was only 101 copies/μl, making it very sensitive and specific. Clinical samples fared well when tested with the Cas13a detection method. For identifying FAdV-4, this novel detection approach was found to be sensitive, specific, and effective. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS First study using the CRISPR/Cas13a-based lateral flow detection assay for FAdV-4 detection. The results can be observed by the naked eye. The developed assay could provide an alternative tool for detection of FAdV-4 with minimal equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoroquinolones are commonly used in poultry breeding. Few studies have evaluated the causes of serious drug residues in black‐boned silky fowl until enrofloxacin has been banned in black‐boned silky fowl breeding in the Chinese Veterinary Commission of Chinese Veterinary Pharmacopoeia (2020). However, similarly structured fluoroquinolones have not been studied in black‐boned silky fowl. In this study, the elimination of tissue residues of danofloxacin (DAN) and difloxacin (DIF) was studied in four tissues of black‐boned silky fowl. The specific administration methods were 100 mg/L of DIF aqueous solution for free drinking for 5 days and 50 mg/L of DAN aqueous solution for free drinking for 3 days. Based on the experiment, the withdrawal times of 44 days for muscle, 95 days for skin + fat, 3 days for liver, and 44 days for kidney of DAN were acquired, of 43 days for muscle, 61 days for skin + fat, 0 days for liver, and 38 days for kidney of DIF were acquired, which showed that DIF and DAN should be used with caution for application in black‐boned silky fowl. In vitro experiments showed that black‐boned silky fowl tissues had stronger adsorption capacity to DAN and DIF than yellow chicken tissues (especially in skin + fat), and melanin has a strong adsorption effect on DAN and DIF, which is an important reason for the high residual concentrations of fluoroquinolone in black‐boned silky fowl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting and illegal bird killing are major concerns for avian conservation globally. Unsustainable bird hunting in wetland habitats, particularly those located along important flyways, has contributed to avifauna defaunation and species endangerment. Since wetlands are primary habitats for migratory birds and are associated with anthropogenic landscapes, a comprehensive understanding of bird harvesting, and its drivers is fundamental to reduce threats to current avifauna. In this study, we examined the distribution of illegal bird hunting and its socioecological drivers in the Indawgyi wetland ecosystem in Myanmar by integrating data from bird surveys, household surveys, and market surveys. We found that illegal bird hunting using nets, traps, and poisonous substances is prevalent in areas close to water and during the migration season. People who had negative attitudes toward avian species were more likely to engage in bird hunting, primarily because of the conflicts between bird conservation and crop production. Socioeconomic needs were not the major driving factors of bird killing. We therefore suggest sustainable management interventions promoting coexistence by integrating bird conservation and agricultural production, accompanied by increasing awareness to improve avian conservation in an internationally important wetland in Myanmar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor reproductive performance of most local Chinese chickens limits the economic benefits and output of related enterprises. As an excellent local breed in China, Taihe black-bone silky fowl is in urgent need of our development and utilization. In this study, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the ovaries of Taihe black-bone silky fowls at the peak egg-laying period (PP) and nesting period (NP) to reveal the molecular mechanisms affecting reproductive performance. In the transcriptome, we identified five key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may affect the reproductive performance of Taihe black-bone silky fowl: BCHE, CCL5, SMOC1, CYTL1, and SCIN, as well as three important pathways: the extracellular region, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. In the metabolome, we predicted three important ovarian significantly differential metabolites (SDMs): LPC 20:4, Bisphenol A, and Cortisol. By integration analysis of transcriptome and metabolome, we identified three important metabolite-gene pairs: "LPC 20:4-BCHE", "Bisphenol A-SMOC1", and "Cortisol-SCIN". In summary, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanism of egg production in Taihe black-bone silky fowl and provides a scientific basis for improving the reproductive performance of Chinese local chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the birth of the exploitative sockenlappssystemet (the 'Parish Lapp' system) in central Sweden during the early eighteenth century. Based on a foundation of control and eviction instituted in earlier laws, the 1720s saw a forceful rise in royal concern over the existence of nomadic Sámi in central Sweden. His Majesty King Fredrik I specifically expressed fear of damage to the resources of the forests through Sámi hunting, especially bird hunting. The period between 1720 and 1730 saw King Fredrik corresponding with the Royal Council, the county governors, and some groups of Sámi agents. The council sought to evict the Sámi and move them or have them move to the lappmarker. The Sámi agents claimed birth right and asserted that Sámi in central Sweden had no relationship to either the land or the Sámi in the northern part of the realm. This paper uses a historical anthropological perspective, based on a wide set of sources, including historical archaeology, history, and ethnography, in order to paint a bigger picture of the conflicted situation that led to the founding of the unique system of forced indenture: the so-called Parish Lapp system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fowl glioma-inducing virus prototype (FGVp) and its variants, which belong to avian leukosis virus subgroup A (ALV-A), induce cardiomyocyte abnormalities and gliomas in chickens. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these myocardial changes remain unclear, and ALV-induced tumorigenesis, which is caused by proviral insertional mutagenesis, does not explain the early development of cardiac changes in infected chickens. We established a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to measure ALV-A proviral loads in the brains and hearts of FGV-infected Japanese bantam chickens and compared these results with morphologic lesions. Four of 22 bantams had both gliomas and cardiac lesions. Hearts with cardiac lesions had a higher proviral load (10.3 ± 2.7 proviral copies/nucleus) than those without cardiac lesions (0.4 ± 0.4), suggesting that the proviral load in hearts is correlated with the frequency of myocardial changes. Our qPCR method may be useful in the study of ALV-induced cardiomyocyte abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]