Articles tagged with Animal Research
A study by Purdue University researchers found that pigs thrive on lipids from soybean oil, leading to improved growth performance. The study's results suggest that using concentrated energy sources like soybean oil can help counteract issues limiting growth in nursery pigs.
Researchers from Drexel University present findings on Northern Pine Snake population decline due to road mortality in New Jersey. Climate change may impact their behavior, while baby snake mazes and counting tongue flicks shed light on early life stages.
Research suggests that reallocating croplands away from fuels and animal feed can boost food availability for people by 70 percent without clearing more land. The study found that growing food exclusively for human consumption could provide enough calories to feed a few billion more people.
Researchers found that BPA exposure can dramatically inhibit egg maturation, leading to decreased maturity, increased degeneration, and spontaneous activation. This study adds to growing evidence about the impact of BPA on human health and may explain why some couples struggle with infertility.
The Entomological Society of America has elected ten new Fellows, Dr. Charles Vincent and Dr. Jeffrey G. Scott, who have made significant contributions to entomology in research, teaching, extension, or administration. The fellows will be recognized at the ESA's 61st Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas.
Bartke, a renowned gerontologist, has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding aging and longevity. His work on the growth hormone/IGF/insulin axis pathway has significantly advanced our knowledge of this complex process.
A new study found that tiny silicon crystals caused no health problems in monkeys three months after large doses were injected. The crystals, known as quantum dots, are promising for diagnostic imaging in humans due to their ability to absorb and emit light in the near-infrared spectrum.
Researchers at NYU-Poly used bio-inspired robots to study fear responses in zebrafish, finding that alcohol can modulate these reactions. The findings may lead to new methodologies for understanding anxiety and developing substances that alter emotions.
Research suggests that mothers stressed during pregnancy, especially those with a passive stress coping style, are more likely to have obese offspring. This style is typically seen in introverted personality types, whereas proactive coping styles are more common in extroverts.
Social monogamy emerged as a mating strategy due to male competition for resources. Males with limited access to food rely on monogamy to increase reproductive success.
Researchers found that Goffin cockatoos solve spatial memory tasks comparable to those of great apes and four-year-old human toddlers. The birds' performance was surprising, given the complexity of these tasks and their potential ecological implications.
Scientists at RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics implanted false memories into mice, revealing the mechanisms underlying human false memory formation. The study found that false memories can be reconstructed and activated like genuine ones, with similar brain responses.
Researchers have discovered that adenosine therapy can reduce seizures and slow the progression of epilepsy by targeting epigenetic changes in the brain. By delivering adenosine directly to the brain, scientists were able to reverse DNA hypermethylation, which is a key factor in the development of epilepsy.
A systematic review of guidelines for in vivo animal experiments identified key procedures to enhance preclinical efficacy studies. Researchers recommend prioritizing sample size calculation, randomized treatment allocation, and disease phenotype characterization to improve clinical relevance.
A new small animal model of the human norovirus has been developed, allowing researchers to study the virus and develop potential antiviral treatments. The model was created by infecting 'humanized' mice with the virus and identified macrophages as the cell type infected by the virus.
Researchers found that melatonin pre-treatment increased cell survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after transplantation into laboratory animals with stroke damage. The pre-treated MSCs showed enhanced survival under oxidative stimulation, reducing infarct volume and improving neurobehavioral outcomes.
A team from Vienna has discovered that measuring cortisol in dog hair may be a simple and painless way to diagnose Cushing's disease. The study found significantly higher levels of cortisol, corticosterone, and cortisone in the hair of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism compared to healthy controls.
Researchers from the University of Leicester show that insect limbs can move without muscles, using a close interplay of neuronal control and passive joint forces. This finding may provide engineers with new ways to improve robotic and prosthetic limb control.
Researchers found a striking degree of convergence in Anole lizard species across four Caribbean islands, with each island's species resembling those on others. The study provides evidence for the predictability of evolution over millions of years.
A new research project led by Dr. Colin E. Bishop is developing a one-shot, non-surgical method for sterilizing companion animals, with the goal of reducing pet overpopulation in shelters. The treatment involves destroying GnRH cells in the hypothalamus to induce permanent sterility.
Researchers found that chimpanzees and orangutans can recall tool-finding events from three years earlier and singular events from two weeks prior. The primates were able to distinguish between similar past events, suggesting they bind different elements of events together.
A new study reveals substantial bias in animal studies reporting, which may lead to misleading conclusions about potential treatments' effectiveness in humans. The researchers analyzed 160 meta-analyses of animal studies and found that over twice as many studies reached statistical significance than expected.
A new study from an international team of researchers found that only eight out of 160 meta-analyses of potential neurological treatments yielded statistically significant, unbiased data. The study highlights the need for more stringent requirements to assess animal studies before testing treatments in human patients.
A new article in PLOS Medicine highlights the importance of routine systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal studies. The authors argue that funding agencies should subsidize these reviews to reduce waste and duplication of animal studies, while an international register for animal studies is also recommended.
A new study reveals that the brain's representation of complex features may start earlier and be more cumulative than previously thought. Researchers analyzed nerve cell pairs in two adult macaques and found that the neuronal circuit generating pair-association was only in area TE, not in area 36.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a vaccine to protect birds against West Nile Virus (WNV), which has killed over 300 people in North America. The vaccine, made from WNV components, generated an effective immune response in birds and may also offer protection against other species.
A study of British auction markets found that buyers on behalf of abattoirs preferred purchasing larger animals with maximum meat yield, excluding ponies. The research did not support the claim that the horse meat industry targets pet ponies for slaughter.
Researchers found that bipedal jerboas' unpredictable movement allows them to forage further from their burrows, limiting competition. Bipedal and quadrupedal desert rodents occupy different niches due to differences in locomotion.
A new study finds that certain hawkmoth species produce ultrasonic sound as a defense against bats. The researchers used high-energy lamps and pre-recorded bat sounds to capture the insects' behavior, revealing a system that jams the echolocation ability of their predators.
Researchers found that young lizards' early meals significantly impact their lives, influencing dispersal, growth, and survival. A single meal also affects reproductive success two years later, highlighting the importance of fleeting moments in shaping individual and population evolution.
New research by the University of Nottingham reveals that low levels of neonicotinoid insecticide can alter honeybee gene activity, affecting their development and lifespan. The study's findings support the European Commission's temporary ban on three such pesticides.
Researchers developed a new method using radioactive carbon-14 from nuclear bomb tests to determine the age of ivory, helping to combat illegal poaching. The method has immediate applications in enforcing international trade bans and reducing demand for ivory.
A study identifies 40 countries as most poorly funded for biodiversity conservation, harboring 32% of threatened mammalian species. The researchers suggest how funding should change to achieve the UN's 2020 goals on reducing extinction.
Scientists from the Zoological Society of London reveal that Galapagos sea lion exposure to humans and pets impairs their immunity, making them more prone to starvation. The research suggests a link between human activity and the emergence of diseases in the Galapagos sea lion population.
Researchers pinpoint high conservation priority areas worldwide, revealing stark differences with existing protected zones. The study's findings highlight the need to reassess global knowledge of conservation resources to effectively protect vertebrate species.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that reported plant genetic material entering human blood may be a false positive, contradicting previous research from Nanjing University. The team used advanced techniques to detect microRNAs in macaques' blood and found highly variable results.
Common loons settle on territories very similar to their natal territories, not the best habitat for reproductive success. This finding challenges the ideal free model of habitat selection and suggests that loons may prioritize survival over breeding in familiar habitats.
Research by Evan MacLean and colleagues found that lemur group sizes positively correlate with performance on tests of social cognition. In contrast, nonsocial cognitive skills were not affected by group size. The study suggests that the evolution of complex social intelligence may be linked to larger social networks.
Research at Princeton University found that migrating ocean animals consume vast amounts of oxygen in the ocean's 'oxygen minimum zone'. This phenomenon, known as diel vertical migration (DVM), results in oxygen depletion and can be disrupted by climate change.
A new study by University of Exeter researchers found that winter feeding of wild blue tits resulted in smaller, lower-weight chicks with lower survival rates. This challenges the long-held assumption that providing extra food during winter benefits bird populations.
Researchers at RIKEN have developed a new sugar and water-based solution called SeeDB that turns tissues transparent in just three days without disrupting their shape or chemical nature. This technique enables the visualization of neuronal circuitry inside a mouse brain, revealing detailed wiring patterns and single-fiber resolution.
African birds use protected areas as stepping stones to survive amidst climate and environmental changes, according to a new study. The research found that protected areas are becoming increasingly valuable as land degradation exerts pressures elsewhere.
Researchers treated wild mice for a gut worm infection and found that treating one bug allowed other infections to flourish. The study suggests that co-existing infections can compete with each other and alter disease progression.
A study by Michigan State University found that there is a sweet spot – a group size at which the action is most effective. This sweet spot can increase and be more effective until free-riders weigh down the effort's momentum, while small groups can be powerful until individuals become overwhelmed.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute developed a system to track mouse behavior, revealing signs of leadership and a class system in groups of normal mice. In contrast, experiments with autistic-like mice showed little emergence of dominant leaders or social structures.
A new study by Henry Ford researchers reveals that a specific microRNA released by stem cells via exosomes contributes to better neurological recovery after a stroke. The study provides fundamental insight into how stem cells affect injured tissue and offers potential for developing novel treatments.
Researchers found competing input from two types of taste-sensing cells in fruit flies controls perception of salty foods. The study suggests a tug-of-war principle between attractive and repellant signals, with implications for human salt regulation and potentially leading to better salt substitutes.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed an experimental vaccine that prevents the virulent TB bacterium from invading the brain and causing TB meningitis. The new vaccine was tested in guinea pigs and showed promise in reducing brain damage and death, with higher levels of protective antibodies and interferons.
Researchers found anesthesia-induced cell death in neurons is not limited to the immature brain, but targets neurons of a certain age and maturational stage. This finding may have implications for millions of children and adults undergoing surgical anesthesia annually.
Researchers at Lund University discovered a substance that prevents atherosclerosis caused by high blood sugar levels. The substance only affects NFAT-activated cells and has no impact on the immune system. This breakthrough offers hope for a targeted treatment to address vascular damage in diabetes patients.
A recent study published in Social Science Information challenges the long-held notion that humans are separate from animals. Dominique Lestel argues that species loss has a symbolic consequence on our culture, and that every species contributes to our being and meaning.
Researchers have discovered similar brain structural abnormalities in dogs with canine compulsive disorder (CCD) as those found in humans with OCD. This study may lead to the development of new therapies for OCD and related conditions.
Researchers found that animals used to rich conditions work less hard when conditions suddenly worsen compared to those exposed to poor conditions all along. The 'contrast effect' affects how animals respond to their current situation and is driven by uncertainty.
The disappearance of large fruit-eating birds from Brazilian forests has led to smaller, less successful seeds in nearby palm trees. The study found that the absence of these birds triggered a rapid evolution of forest palms, resulting in smaller seeds.
Researchers genetically engineered mosquitoes, altering their response to odors, including human scent and insect repellent DEET. The study reveals the insects' unique attraction to humans and paves the way for understanding why they are so attracted to humans, potentially leading to new repellants.
Researchers at the University of Iowa found that pigeons can learn and solve complex string tasks using computerized touch screens. The birds demonstrated accuracy rates of up to 90% in solving various string configurations.
A new skin test called Skimune has been developed by Newcastle University to predict adverse reactions to new drugs and cosmetics. The test uses real human skin and immune cells to identify potential risks, providing a faster and more accurate alternative to animal testing.
A recent study challenges traditional views on Bechstein's bat distribution, suggesting that historical changes in its habitat rather than climate may be responsible. The research found that the species' ecological niche is narrow and flexible, with adaptable roosting and hunting habits.
In a surprise twist, female strawberry poison frogs in Costa Rica prioritize the nearest singing male over physical appearance and vocal quality. The research found that females fail to discriminate between different call rates or frequencies, instead opting for the closest speaker.
The study identifies key regions for conservation efforts, highlighting Southeast Asia, southern Africa, and Central America as top priorities. Conservationists must allocate limited resources effectively to protect the world's most unique and threatened species.