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Abstract Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT) stands out among lead‐free ferroelectric oxides under consideration to replace state‐of‐the‐art high‐sensitivity piezoelectric Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, for a range of energy conversion ceramic technologies. However, the best performances have been reported for very coarse‐grained materials, and attempts to refine microstructure below 10 µm grain size consistently result in significant property degradation. Here a comprehensive study of the grain size effects on the properties of BCZT across the micron scale is reported, down to the verge of the submicron one. Results show a distinctive early evolution of properties for grain sizes between 1 and 5 µm. For the larger sizes in this range, an opposite effect is found for the piezoelectric charge coefficient and electric field‐induced strain with respect to the very coarse‐grained material, while very good overall performance is maintained. For the lower sizes, relaxor features appear, yet materials can still be poled indicating their ferroelectric nature. This strongly resembles size effects in the Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3‐PbTiO3 system, driven by the slowing down of the relaxor to ferroelectric transition with size reduction, though kinetics seem to slow down across much larger grain sizes for BCZT. Concomitant changes in the polymorphic phase coexistence are described and discussed by synchrotron X‐ray diffraction.

Simple and cost-effective procedures for the direct integration of ferroelectric perovskite oxides into Ni structures are necessary to realize related multifunctional metallic microelectromechanical systems, such as dual-source energy harvesters. This is especially difficult in the case of lead-containing morphotropic phase boundary materials for high piezoelectric response because the two components are thermodynamically incompatible and the formation of NiOx or perovskite oxide reduction takes place depending on the processing conditions. We show here that low-temperature solution processing is an effective means to kinetically limit nickel oxidation, capable of providing BiFeO3–PbTiO3 films on Ni plates at only 500 °C. Bulk-like ferroelectric properties and a distinctive magnetoelectric response were attained. This perovskite system, not explored before on Ni, has a much larger switchable polarization than the widely studied Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, and it is shown here to present an excellent downscaling behavior of ferroelectric properties until the verge of the nanoscale.

Natural polymers such as cellulose have interesting tribo- and piezoelectric properties for paper-based energy harvesters, but their low performance in providing sufficient output power is still an impediment to a wider deployment for IoT and other low-power applications. In this study, different types of celluloses were combined with nanosized carbon fillers to investigate their effect on the enhancement of the electrical properties in the final nanogenerator devices. Cellulose pulp (CP), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were blended with carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The microstructure of the nanocomposite films was characterized by scanning electron and probe microscopies, and the electrical properties were measured macroscopically and at the local scale by piezoresponse force microscopy. The highest generated output voltage in triboelectric mode was obtained from MCC films with CNTs and CB, while the highest piezoelectric voltage was produced in CNF-CNT films. The obtained electrical responses were discussed in relation to the material properties. Analysis of the microscopic response shows that pulp has a higher local piezoelectric d33 coefficient (145 pC/N) than CNF (14 pC/N), while the macroscopic response is greatly influenced by the excitation mode and the effective orientation of the crystals relative to the mechanical stress. The increased electricity produced from cellulose nanocomposites may lead to more efficient and biodegradable nanogenerators.

Structural change at multiferroic phase boundary is anticipated to have an associated large magnetoelectric response, which yet awaits to be evidenced. Here, Fernández-Posada et al. report electric field-induced phase change for a BiFeO3–BiMnO3–PbTiO3solid solution with distinctive magnetic signature.

Herein we report on novel multiferroic core–shell nanostructures of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4)–bismuth, sodium titanate doped with barium titanate (BNT–BT0.08), prepared by a two–step wet chemical procedure, using the sol–gel technique. The fraction of CoFe2O4 was varied from 1:0.5 to 1:1.5 = BNT–BT0.08/CoFe2O4 (molar ratio). X–ray diffraction confirmed the presence of both the spinel CoFe2O4 and the perovskite Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 phases. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the diameter of the core–shell nanoparticles was between 15 and 40 nm. Transmission electron microscopy data showed two–phase composite nanostructures consisting of a BNT–BT0.08 core surrounded by a CoFe2O4 shell with an average thickness of 4–7 nm. Cole-Cole plots reveal the presence of grains and grain boundary effects in the BNT–BT0.08/CoFe2O4 composite. Moreover, the values of the dc conductivity were found to increase with the amount of CoFe2O4 semiconductive phase. Both X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Mössbauer measurements have shown no change in the valence of the Fe3+, Co2+, Bi3+ and Ti4+ cations. This study provides a detailed insight into the magnetoelectric coupling of the multiferroic BNT–BT0.08/CoFe2O4 core–shell composite potentially suitable for magnetoelectric applications.

A highly topical set of perovskite oxides are high-sensitivity piezoelectric ones, among which Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 at the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between ferroelectric rhombohedral and tetragonal polymorphic phases is reckoned a case study. Piezoelectric ceramics are used in a wide range of mature, electromechanical transduction technologies like piezoelectric sensors, actuators and ultrasound generation, to name only a few examples, and more recently for demonstrating novel applications like magnetoelectric composites. In this case, piezoelectric perovskites are combined with magnetostrictive materials to provide magnetoelectricity as a product property of the piezoelectricity and piezomagnetism of the component phases. Interfaces play a key issue, for they control the mechanical coupling between the piezoresponsive phases. We present here main results of our investigation on the suitability of the high sensitivity MPB piezoelectric perovskite BiScO3–PbTiO3 in combination with ferrimagnetic spinel oxides for magnetoelectric composites. Emphasis has been put on the processing at low temperature to control reactions and interdiffusion between the two oxides. The role of the grain size effects is extensively addressed.

Emotion plays a significant role in our reasoning even without awareness, perhaps especially for individuals who have difficulties tolerating strong, negative emotions. Opportunity for reflection may help such individuals decide when emotions should influence reasoning. Two studies attempted to clarify the relationships among reasoning, emotions, and emotion tolerance (measured with the Affect Intolerance Scale). The first examined the effect of affect intolerance on a reasoning task. Participants were asked to determine whether conclusions logically followed from both emotional and neutral if-then statements. Emotion had a small effect on performance on the reasoning task, unmoderated by affect intolerance. The second study examined whether reflection on emotional responses impacts performance on the same reasoning task. Participants asked to reflect on their emotions performed more poorly on the reasoning task than participants asked to reflect on the task's cognitive aspects. People who endorse greater affect tolerance performed better in the cognitive reflection condition than the emotional reflection condition. People with less tolerance performed the same in both conditions. Overall, these studies support previous findings that emotion can negatively impact performance on reasoning tasks but suggest a more complex relationship for affect intolerance.

The mental experiences of animals are what characterises their welfare status. The Five Domains Model for assessing welfare aligns with the understanding that physical and mental states are linked. Following measurement of indicators within each of the four physical/functional Domains (1. Nutrition; 2. Physical environment; 3. Health; and 4. Behavioural interactions), the anticipated negative or positive affective consequences (mental experiences) are cautiously inferred and assigned to Domain 5. Those inferences derive credibility from validated knowledge of the underlying systems of physiology, neurophysiology, neuroethology and affective neuroscience. Any indicators used for assessing welfare need to be scientifically validated. This requires, firstly, evidence of the links between a measurable/observable indicator and the physical/functional impact (in Domains 1 to 4), and secondly, a demonstrable relationship between the physical/functional impact and the mental experience it is inferred the indicators reflect (in Domain five). This review refers to indicators of physical/functional states in Domains 1 to 4, which have been shown to be measurable in free-roaming wild horses, and then evaluates the scientific evidence linking them to inferred mental experiences in Domain 5. This is the first time that the scientific evidence validating a comprehensive range of welfare indicators has been synthesised in this way. Inserting these indicators into the Five Domains Model enables transparently justifiable assessment and grading of welfare status in free-roaming horses.

Background: Pheochromocytomas produce excess catecholamines that can result in intraoperative hemodynamic instability. Centers have reported variations in intraoperative hemodynamics with the retroperitoneoscopic versus the laparoscopic transperitoneal approach to adrenalectomies. When the retroperitoneoscopic approach was initiated for pheochromocytomas at our institution, the perception was of improved intraoperative hemodynamics, hypothesizing that increased retroperitoneoscopic insufflation pressures caused decreased venous return and less fluctuation in circulating catecholamines. The purpose of this study was to examine if a difference in intraoperative hemodynamics exists between a size-matched cohort of laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic pheochromocytoma patients., Methods: Unilateral adrenalectomies for pheochromocytoma performed via laparoscopic transperitoneal or retroperitoneoscopic approaches from 2015 to 2021 were identified from a surgical database. As larger tumors often underwent a laparoscopic transperitoneal approach, cases were matched 1:1 by tumor size. All patients received phenoxybenzamine. Groups were compared by patient characteristics, preoperative blockade, intraoperative hemodynamics and management, and early postoperative outcomes., Results: There were 13 laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy cases matched to 13 retroperitoneoscopic cases according to tumor size. Both groups (laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic) were similar for age (53 years), body mass index (28.5 vs 29.7), sex (69% female), and side (8 vs 7 right). There was no difference in preoperative 24-hour urine metanephrines/normetanephrines (9.9/8.0 vs 2.4/5.7 μmol/day). The phenoxybenzamine dose was similar in both groups (112 vs 114 mg/24 hours), as were baseline heart rate, blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure. There was no difference in any intraoperative hemodynamic parameters or vasoactive interventions. Operative time, length of stay, and 30-day emergency visits were similar between groups., Conclusion: This matched cohort study did not find a difference in intraoperative hemodynamics between laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy approaches for pheochromocytoma in appropriately selected and blocked patients., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The conserved two-component XMAP215/TACC modulator of microtubule stability is required in multiple animal phyla for acentrosomal spindle assembly during oocyte meiotic cell division. In C. elegans, XMAP215/zyg-9 and TACC/tac-1 mutant oocytes exhibit multiple and indistinguishable oocyte spindle assembly defects beginning early in meiosis I. To determine if these defects represent one or more early requirements with additional later and indirect consequences, or multiple temporally distinct and more direct requirements, we have used live cell imaging and fast-acting temperature-sensitive zyg-9 and tac-1 alleles to dissect their requirements at high temporal resolution. Temperature upshift and downshift experiments indicate that the ZYG-9/TAC-1 complex has multiple temporally distinct and separable requirements throughout oocyte meiotic cell division. First, we show that during prometaphase ZYG-9 and TAC-1 promote the coalescence of early pole foci into a bipolar structure, stabilizing pole foci as they grow and limiting their growth rate, with these requirements being independent of an earlier defect in microtubule organization that occurs upon nuclear envelope breakdown. Second, during metaphase, ZYG-9 and TAC-1 maintain spindle bipolarity by suppressing ectopic pole formation. Third, we show that ZYG-9 and TAC-1 also are required for spindle assembly during meiosis II, independently of their meiosis I requirements. The metaphase pole stability requirement appears to be important for maintaining chromosome congression, and we discuss how negative regulation of microtubule stability by ZYG-9/TAC-1 during oocyte meiotic cell division might account for the observed defects in spindle pole coalescence and stability., Competing Interests: No competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Harvey et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

A detailed understanding of what is usual for a species under optimal conditions is critical for identifying and interpreting different features of body function that have known impacts on animal welfare and its assessment. When applying the Five Domains Model to assess animal welfare, the key starting point is therefore to acquire extensive species-specific knowledge relevant to each of the four physical/functional Domains of the Model. These Domains, 1 to 4, address areas where objective information is evaluated and collated. They are: (1) Nutrition; (2) Physical environment; (3) Health; and (4) Behavioural interactions. It is on the basis of this detailed knowledge that cautious inferences can then be made about welfare-relevant mental experiences animals may have, aligned with Domain 5, Mental State. However, this review is focused entirely on the first four Domains in order to provide a novel holistic framework to collate the multidisciplinary knowledge of horses required for undertaking comprehensive welfare assessments. Thus, inferring the potential mental experiences aligned with Domain 5, the final step in model-based welfare assessments, is not considered here. Finally, providing extensive information on free-roaming horses enables a better understanding of the impacts of human interventions on the welfare of horses in both free-roaming and domestic situations.

The One Welfare concept is proposed to guide humans in the ethical treatment of non-human animals, each other and the environment. One Welfare was conceptualized for veterinarians but could be a foundational concept through which to promote the ethical treatment of animals that are outside of direct human care and responsibility. However, wild-living animals raise additional ethical conundrums because of their multifarious values and roles, and relationships that humans have with them. At an open facilitated forum, the 2018 Robert Dixon Memorial Animal Welfare Symposium, a panel of five experts from different fields shared their perspectives on "loving and hating animals in the wild" and responded to unscripted questions from the audience. The Symposium's objectives were to elucidate views on the ethical treatment of the native and invasive animals of Australia and to identify some of the resultant dilemmas facing conservationists, educators, veterinarians and society. Here, we document the presented views and case studies and synthesize common themes in a One Welfare framework. Additionally, we identified points of contention that can guide further discourse. With this guide in place, the identification and discussion of those disparate views was a first step toward practical resolutions on how to manage wild-living Australian fauna ethically. We concluded that there was great utility in the One Welfare approach for any discourse about wild animal welfare. It requires attention to each element of the triple bottom line and ensures that advocacy for one party does not vanquish the voices from other sectors. We argue that, by facilitating a focus on the ecology in the context of wild animal issues, One Welfare is more useful in this context than the veterinary context for which it was originally developed.

We previously developed a Ten-Stage Protocol for scientifically assessing the welfare of individual free-roaming wild animals using the Five Domains Model. The protocol includes developing methods for measuring or observing welfare indices. In this study, we assessed the use of remote camera traps to evaluate an extensive range of welfare indicators in individual free-roaming wild horses. Still images and videos were collected and analysed to assess whether horses could be detected and identified individually, which welfare indicators could be reliably evaluated, and whether behaviour could be quantitatively assessed. Remote camera trapping was successful in detecting and identifying horses (75% on still images and 72% on video observation events), across a range of habitats including woodlands where horses could not be directly observed. Twelve indicators of welfare across the Five Domains were assessed with equal frequency on both still images and video, with those most frequently assessable being body condition score (73% and 79% of observation events, respectively), body posture (76% for both), coat condition (42% and 52%, respectively), and whether or not the horse was sweating excessively (42% and 45%, respectively). An additional five indicators could only be assessed on video; those most frequently observable being presence or absence of weakness (66%), qualitative behavioural assessment (60%), presence or absence of shivering (51%), and gait at walk (50%). Specific behaviours were identified in 93% of still images and 84% of video events, and proportions of time different behaviours were captured could be calculated. Most social behaviours were rarely observed, but close spatial proximity to other horses, as an indicator of social bonds, was recorded in 36% of still images, and 29% of video observation events. This is the first study that describes detailed methodology for these purposes. The results of this study can also form the basis of application to other species, which could contribute significantly to advancing the field of wild animal welfare.

Morphogenesis involves coordinated cell migrations and cell shape changes that generate tissues and organs, and organize the body plan. Cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton are important for executing morphogenesis, but their regulation remains poorly understood. As genes required for embryonic morphogenesis may have earlier roles in development, temperature-sensitive embryonic-lethal mutations are useful tools for investigating this process. From a collection of ∼200 such Caenorhabditis elegans mutants, we have identified 17 that have highly penetrant embryonic morphogenesis defects after upshifts from the permissive to the restrictive temperature, just prior to the cell shape changes that mediate elongation of the ovoid embryo into a vermiform larva. Using whole genome sequencing, we identified the causal mutations in seven affected genes. These include three genes that have roles in producing the extracellular matrix, which is known to affect the morphogenesis of epithelial tissues in multicellular organisms: the rib-1 and rib-2 genes encode glycosyltransferases, and the emb-9 gene encodes a collagen subunit. We also used live imaging to characterize epidermal cell shape dynamics in one mutant, or1219ts, and observed cell elongation defects during dorsal intercalation and ventral enclosure that may be responsible for the body elongation defects. These results indicate that our screen has identified factors that influence morphogenesis and provides a platform for advancing our understanding of this fundamental biological process., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Genetics Society of America.)

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) include such disorders as compulsive hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting, and cheek biting, which can lead to significant psychosocial impairment (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). As such, social concerns (i.e., concerns about how others view their behavior or affected body sites) are common in these individuals, and may significantly associate with BFRB symptomology (Snorrason et al., 2012). Currently, there are no measures to adequately assess social concerns specific to BFRBs. To this end, we developed a new self-report measure called the Social Concerns in Individuals with BFRBs (SCIB) that aimed to assess these concerns using two independent samples of individuals reporting elevated BFRB symptoms. Results showed that the overall level of social concerns reported on the SCIB significantly explained the variance in hair pulling and skin picking symptom severity even after controlling for the influence of other general social concern and emotional distress measures. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided psychometric evidence for the two-factor structure of the SCIB: (1) Concern about Physical Unattractiveness and (2) Concern about Social Disapproval, which were found to assess distinguishable aspects of BFRB-relevant social concerns. Overall, the findings suggest that the SCIB is a useful measure that can be used to evaluate social concerns in those with BFRB disorders., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether Australian cat owners are effectively meeting their cats' environmental needs and to identify areas of deficiency that may have an impact on the cats' health and welfare., Methods: An online survey investigating lifestyle factors and provision of environmental resources was distributed to Australian cat owners., Results: In total, 12,010 respondents, representing cat-owning households, completed the survey. Altogether, 45.5% were single-cat households and 54.5% were multi-cat households, with a mean number of two cats per household. In total, 46.3% of households contained indoor cats, 51.8% contained indoor-outdoor cats and 1.8% had mostly outdoor cats. Dry food was the predominant food type in 59% of households and few respondents fed their cats in a manner that stimulates natural predatory behaviours. Altogether, 17.1% of households reported cats with urinary problems such as haematuria or urethral obstruction, and 19.8% reported inappropriate urination outside of the litter tray. The incidence of urinary problems was found to be significantly increased in multi-cat households, those with a low number of litter trays, less frequent cleaning of the trays of faeces and the use of crystal type litter. The veterinary clinic was the most common place to obtain advice about feeding and toileting management., Conclusions and Relevance: An increased number of Australian households now contain multiple cats that live restricted or indoor lifestyles. Despite the majority of respondents claiming to have a lot of knowledge about cats and obtaining veterinary advice, deficiencies were identified in toileting facilities and feeding practices, which raises significant welfare concerns. Urinary tract disorders are an important cause of morbidity, mortality and relinquishment and its presence was associated with inadequate toileting facilities. Ongoing education of cat owners and an increased effort by veterinarians to include basic husbandry in preventative care consultations is critical to improving the welfare of pet cats.

Pathological skin picking (excoriation) is a relatively common disorder. Although it has been hypothesized to share a similar pathophysiological basis as other obsessive-compulsive (OC) spectrum disorders, to date, little work has specifically examined the precise neurobiological mechanisms involved in excoriation. Disruption in functional circuits involving the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) and supplementary motor area (SMA) may be particularly relevant to skin-picking pathology as these regions have been implicated in other OC-spectrum disorders for their roles in response inhibition and voluntary motor action, respectively. To this end, the present study examined the associations between skin-picking symptom severity and resting-state functional connectivity of the rIFG and bilateral SMA. Participants endorsing elevated symptoms of excoriation completed a self-report measure of symptom severity and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Results indicated that symptom severity was associated with weaker connectivity between the SMA and clusters within the orbitofrontal cortex and angular gyrus. Contrary to hypotheses, there were no effects of symptom severity on functional connectivity of the rIFG. Overall, these findings suggest that skin-picking symptom severity may be associated with disruption in higher-order motor networks contributing to deficits in top-down regulation of motor behavior., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest (AAH, AMH, TM, HL, CLL).

Knowledge of the welfare status of wild animals is vital for informing debates about the ways in which we interact with wild animals and their habitats. Currently, there is no published information about how to scientifically assess the welfare of free-roaming wild animals during their normal day-to-day lives. Using free-roaming horses as an example, we describe a ten-stage protocol for systematically and scientifically assessing the welfare of individual non-captive wild animals. The protocol starts by emphasising the importance of readers having an understanding of animal welfare in a conservation context and also of the Five Domains Model for assessing welfare. It goes on to detail what species-specific information is required to assess welfare, how to identify measurable and observable indicators of animals' physical states and how to identify which individuals are being assessed. Further, it addresses how to select appropriate methods for measuring/observing physical indicators of welfare, the scientific validation of these indicators and then the grading of animals' welfare states, along with assigning a confidence score. Finally, grading future welfare risks and how these can guide management decisions is discussed. Applying this ten-stage protocol will enable biologists to scientifically assess the welfare of wild animals and should lead to significant advances in the field of wild animal welfare., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Although the point-of-care cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay (LFA) has revolutionized the diagnosis of cryptococcosis in human patients, to date there has been no large-scale examination of this test in animals. We therefore assessed the LFA in cats, dogs and koalas suspected of having cryptococcosis. In sum, 528 serum specimens (129 from cats, 108 from dogs, 291 from koalas) were tested using the LFA and one of two commercially available latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination test (LCAT) kits. The LCAT is a proven and well-accepted method in veterinary patients and therefore taken as the "gold standard" against which the LFA was compared. The LFA achieved a sensitivity of 92%, 100%, and 98% in cats, dogs, and koalas, respectively, with corresponding negative predictive values of 94%, 100%, and 98%. The specificity of the LFA was 81%, 84%, and 62% for cats, dogs, and koalas, respectively, with corresponding positive predictive values of 76%, 48%, and 69%. These findings suggest the most appropriate role for the LFA is as a screening test to rule out a diagnosis of cryptococcosis in cats, dogs, and koalas. Point-of-care accessibility makes it equally suited for use in the field and as a cage-side test in veterinary hospitals. The suboptimal specificity of the LFA makes it less suited to definitive confirmation of cryptococcosis in animals; therefore, all LFA-positive test results should be confirmed by LCAT testing. The discrepancy between these observations and the high specificity of the LFA in humans may reflect differences in the host-pathogen interactions amongst the species., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

The purpose of the study was to examine the characteristics of Internet memes created and disseminated by proponents and opponents of vaccinations. A quantitative content analysis was performed on 234 pro- and antivaccine memes culled from the vaccination fan pages with the greatest number of followers on Facebook. Coding variables included whether the meme was pro- or antivaccine, percentage of factually incorrect claims, mention of the out-group, persuasive appeals (emotion, fear, and rationality), degree of sarcasm, and number of reactions and shares. The most prevalent themes concerned vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine injury/safety/autism, and conspiracy theories. Independent t tests indicated that provaccination memes were more likely to use sarcasm whereas antivaccination memes were more likely to contain emotion and fear appeals and inaccurate claims. The percentage veracity of the claims in each meme was fact-checked using authoritative scientific sources. A path analysis applying structural equation modeling revealed that memes containing characteristics that were antivaccine (vs. provaccine), appealed to emotion, and appealed to rationality significantly contributed to greater likelihood of social media reactions and shares. Additional analysis determined that both pro- and antivaccination memes tended to contain more gist than verbatim information, and both groups did not significantly differ on this gist-to-verbatim variable. Findings offer insights to understand the persuasion tactics that provaccine and antivaccine groups apply in memes to persuade others via social media. Understanding these techniques will enable the development of health communication strategies to combat false and damaging vaccine information disseminated on the Internet.

Background: Heart disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cats, but there is limited evidence of the benefit of any medication., Hypothesis: The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril would delay the time to treatment failure in cats with heart disease of various etiologies., Animals: One hundred fifty-one client-owned cats., Methods: Cats with heart disease, confirmed by echocardiography, with or without clinical signs of congestive heart failure, were recruited between 2002 and 2005 and randomized to benazepril or placebo in a prospective, multicenter, parallel-group, blinded clinical trial. Benazepril (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) or placebo was administered PO once daily for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint was treatment failure. Analyses were conducted separately for all-cause treatment failure (main analysis) and heart disease-related treatment failure (supportive analysis)., Results: No benefit of benazepril versus placebo was detected for time to all-cause treatment failure (P = .42) or time to treatment failure related to heart disease (P = .21). Hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) from multivariate analysis for benazepril compared with placebo were 1.00 (0.57-1.74) for all-cause failure, and 0.99 (0.50-1.94) for forward selection and 0.93 (0.48-1.81) for bidirectional selection models for heart disease-related failure. There were no significant differences between groups over time after administration of the test articles in left atrium diameter, left ventricle wall thickness, quality of life scores, adverse events, or plasma biochemistry or hematology variables., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Benazepril was tolerated well in cats with heart disease, but no evidence of benefit was detected., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)

Sk-2 is a meiotic drive element that was discovered in wild populations of Neurospora fungi over 40 years ago. While early studies quickly determined that Sk-2 transmits itself through sexual reproduction in a biased manner via spore killing, the genetic factors responsible for this phenomenon have remained mostly unknown. Here, we identify and characterize rfk-1 , a gene required for Sk-2 -based spore killing. The rfk-1 gene contains four exons, three introns, and two stop codons, the first of which undergoes RNA editing to a tryptophan codon during sexual development. Translation of an unedited rfk-1 transcript in vegetative tissue is expected to produce a 102-amino acid protein, whereas translation of an edited rfk-1 transcript in sexual tissue is expected to produce a protein with 130 amino acids. These findings indicate that unedited and edited rfk-1 transcripts exist and that these transcripts could have different roles with respect to the mechanism of meiotic drive by spore killing. Regardless of RNA editing, spore killing only succeeds if rfk-1 transcripts avoid silencing caused by a genome defense process called meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA (MSUD). We show that rfk-1 's MSUD avoidance mechanism is linked to the genomic landscape surrounding the rfk-1 gene, which is located near the Sk-2 border on the right arm of chromosome III. In addition to demonstrating that the location of rfk-1 is critical to spore-killing success, our results add to accumulating evidence that MSUD helps protect Neurospora genomes from complex meiotic drive elements., (Copyright © 2019 by the Genetics Society of America.)

Australia has over 400,000 wild horses, the largest wild equid population in the world, scattered across a range of different habitats. We hypothesised that wild horse populations unexposed to anthelmintics would have a high prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris infections. Verminous endarteritis and colic due to migrating S. vulgaris larvae is now absent or unreported in domestic horses in Australia, yet wild horses may pose a risk for its re-emergence. A total of 289 faecal egg counts (FECs) were performed across six remote wild horse populations in south-east Australia, of varying densities, herd sizes and habitats. Total strongyle egg counts ranged from 50 to 3740 eggs per gram (EPG, mean 1443) and 89% (257/289) of faecal samples had > 500 EPG, classifying them as 'high level shedders'. There were significant differences in mean total strongyle FECs between different locations, habitats and population densities. Occurrence of S. vulgaris was not predictable based on FECs of total strongyle eggs or small (<90 μm) strongyle eggs. A high prevalence of S. vulgaris DNA in faecal samples was demonstrated across all six populations, with an overall predicted prevalence of 96.7%. This finding is important, because of the ample opportunity for transmission to domestic horses. The high prevalence of S. vulgaris suggests vigilance is required when adopting wild horses, or when domestic horses graze in environments inhabited by wild horses. Appropriate veterinary advise is required to minimize disease risk due to S. vulgaris . Monitoring horses for S. vulgaris using larval culture or qPCR remains prudent. Gastrointestinal parasites in wild horse populations may also serve as parasite refugia, thus contributing to integrated parasite management when facing emerging anthelmintic resistance.

The most common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is contamination fear. Feelings of contamination can be provoked through contact with a physical contaminant, referred to as contact contamination (CC), as well as in the absence of one, referred to as mental contamination (MC). Prior research indicates that CC and MC are distinct, and MC may interfere with treatment for CC. However, no study to date has examined how MC may be associated with responses to physical contaminants and treatment response for CC. This study examined the relationships between CC and MC in a sample of individuals with elevated contamination symptoms (N = 88), half of whom met diagnostic criteria for OCD. Participants engaged in three sessions of exposure and response prevention (ERP) for CC and completed self-report measures and behavioral tasks assessing CC and MC at pretreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up. As hypothesized, at pretreatment, MC was positively associated with reactivity to physical contaminants, even after participants washed their hands. ERP for CC was associated with unique changes in CC and MC across self-report and behavioral measures, and greater pretreatment MC predicted greater posttreatment CC, though this effect was evident in only one of two CC measures. Additionally, specificity analyses indicated changes in MC were independent of changes in disgust propensity, a related construct. Pretreatment disgust propensity also predicted treatment outcome, though the addition of pretreatment disgust propensity as a covariate reduced the relationship between pretreatment MC and posttreatment CC to nonsignificance. Results suggest MC plays an important role in the manifestation and treatment of CC symptoms and may represent a manifestation of disgust proneness. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Distress tolerance (DT) is a transdiagnostic construct linked to multiple psychiatric disorders. We conducted three studies using different methods to investigate the relationship between DT and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Study 1 found a significant relationship between low DT and more severe BDD symptoms in an adult community sample (N=81). In Study 2, we found a similar relationship between lower DT and greater BDD symptoms in a student sample (N=192). Furthermore, we found a unique relationship between greater BDD symptoms and lower self-reported tolerance of anger and sadness mood induction tasks. Greater BDD symptoms were not significantly associated with lower self-reported tolerance of a fear mood induction task. In Study 3, a clinical sample of individuals with BDD (N=40) reported lower DT than a sample of healthy controls (N=36). Findings suggest that low DT is a broad vulnerability factor related to BDD., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

High trait anger is associated with more severe alcohol use problems, and alcohol has been found to facilitate aggressive behavior among individuals with high trait anger. Treatments focused on a sample with alcohol use disorder with elevated anger could reduce alcohol use problems, as well as violence and aggression. We sought to examine the efficacy of interpretation bias modification for hostility (IBM-H) in a sample with high trait anger and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Fifty-eight individuals with AUD and elevated trait anger were randomly assigned to eight web-based sessions (two per week) of IBM-H or a healthy video control condition (HVC). Measures of interpretation bias, anger, and alcohol use were administered at pre- and post-treatment and at one-month follow-up. IBM-H led to greater improvements in interpretation bias compared to HVC at post and follow-up. IBM-H also led to greater reductions in trait anger than HVC, though this was an indirect effect mediated by changes in interpretation bias. Further, IBM-H led to lower anger expression than HVC; this was a direct (non-mediated) effect. Lastly, both conditions reported decreases in alcohol use and consequences following treatment, though there were no significant differences between them. These findings provide initial support for the utility of IBM-H as a brief non-confrontational intervention for AUD with elevated trait anger. Limitations and future research directions are discussed., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives This study sought to evaluate how Australian veterinarians approach management and monitoring of feline hyperthyroidism and compare these results with a similar survey recently performed in the UK. Methods An invitation to complete an online survey was sent to veterinarians in all states and territories of Australia. The survey comprised questions relating to management of hyperthyroidism, use of antithyroid drugs vs radioiodine treatment vs surgical thyroidectomy, in addition to demographic information for respondents. Results A total of 546 clinicians completed the survey. The most commonly preferred treatments for long-term management of feline hyperthyroidism were antithyroid medications (305/546; 56%) and radioiodine (210/546; 38%), with substantially more respondents selecting radioiodine when cost was removed as a consideration (425/546; 78%). However, most respondents had treated or referred few cases for radioiodine (median 2). Most veterinarians (500/546; 92%) used antithyroid medications either long term or prior to definitive treatment of hyperthyroidism. For medical management, 45% (244/546) of veterinarians used twice-daily carbimazole. Half of respondents (274/546) aimed to maintain the total thyroxine concentration anywhere within the laboratory reference interval in hyperthyroid cats without chronic kidney disease. Blood pressure monitoring was uncommon. Surgical thyroidectomy was rarely performed. Conclusions and relevance Radioiodine was more frequently preferred by Australian veterinarians compared with those in the UK, likely associated with greater availability, reduced cost and shorter hospitalisation times in this jurisdiction, although antithyroid medications were the most frequently used treatment modality. Barriers remain to its utilisation, however, including perceived cost, misconceptions with regard to expected success rate and accessibility. Recent changes to recommendations on the management and monitoring of hyperthyroid cats do not appear to have been widely adopted by veterinarians at this time.

Case Series Summary: The aim of this retrospective case series was to describe seven cases where cats with primary lung tumours were presented because of metastases to extra-pulmonary sites ('feline lung-digit syndrome'). Specifically, we wanted to emphasise less typical case descriptions where tumour emboli resulted in lesions developing in the musculature (including the muscles of the head), skin or distal aorta., Relevance and Novel Information: The cases are presented to increase clinical awareness of this entity in feline practice, especially when characteristic combinations of clinical signs are present. When clinicians have a high index of suspicion for these presentations, radiology (thorax and digits) or ultrasound (distal aorta), combined with collection of fine needle aspirate specimens for cytology, are usually sufficient to secure a definitive diagnosis. Novel information in this series includes CT and MRI findings from some cases. Typically, needle aspiration or biopsy targeting the skin, digits and lesions in musculature is far easier compared with sampling the primary tumour site in the lungs. The differential diagnosis and investigation of multiple digital lesions is also considered., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Disgust is thought to play a prominent role in multiple anxiety disorders and fears, including spider phobia, though little attention has been given to specific treatment strategies that may be effective for multiple disgust-based fears., Aims: In the present study, we evaluated contamination-focused exposure as a potential transdiagnostic treatment strategy for disgust-based fears in a spider fearful sample., Method: Women with significant spider fear were randomized to three 30-minute sessions of exposure therapy involving repeated contact with a dirt mixture (n=17) or a waitlist control condition (n=17). Assessments of spider fear and disgust were administered at baseline and at one-week posttreatment., Results: At high (but not low) levels of pretreatment disgust propensity, exposure led to lower in vivo spider fear and perceived danger than waitlist, though exposure had no effects on spider-related disgust. Similar effects of exposure on spider fear were found at high levels of pretreatment spider-related disgust. Exposure also reduced fear and danger perceptions, but not disgust, related to a separate contamination assessment (touching a toilet). No effects of treatment were found on self-report measures of spider fear or disgust propensity., Conclusions: These findings suggest contamination-focused exposure therapy may be an effective transdiagnostic treatment strategy for individuals with elevated disgust propensity. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of age and inferred prior vaccination history on the persistence of vaccine-induced antibody against rabies in horses. DESIGN Serologic response evaluation. ANIMALS 48 horses with an undocumented vaccination history. PROCEDURES Horses were vaccinated against rabies once. Blood samples were collected prior to vaccination, 3 to 7 weeks after vaccination, and at 6-month intervals for 2 to 3 years. Serum rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (RVNA) values were measured. An RVNA value of ≥ 0.5 U/mL was used to define a predicted protective immune response on the basis of World Health Organization recommendations for humans. Values were compared between horses < 20 and ≥ 20 years of age and between horses inferred to have been previously vaccinated and those inferred to be immunologically naïve. RESULTS A protective RVNA value (≥ 0.5 U/mL) was maintained for 2 to 3 years in horses inferred to have been previously vaccinated on the basis of prevaccination RVNA values. No significant difference was evident in response to rabies vaccination or duration of protective RVNA values between horses < 20 and ≥ 20 years of age. Seven horses were poor responders to vaccination. Significant differences were identified between horses inferred to have been previously vaccinated and horses inferred to be naïve prior to the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A rabies vaccination interval > 1 year may be appropriate for previously vaccinated horses but not for horses vaccinated only once. Additional research is required to confirm this finding and characterize the optimal primary dose series for rabies vaccination.