scholarly journals Uncontrolled Outdoor Access for Cats: An Assessment of Risks and Benefits

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M.L. Tan ◽  
Anastasia C. Stellato ◽  
Lee Niel
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Welfare Benefits ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Behavioral Needs

Uncontrolled outdoor access is associated with a number of welfare concerns for companion cats, including increased risks of disease and parasites, injury or death due to traffic, predation or ingestion of toxic substances, and getting permanently separated from their owner. In addition, cats pose a threat to local wildlife due to predatory behaviors, and can sometimes be a nuisance to human neighbors. Despite these concerns, recent estimates suggest that many owners are still providing their cats with uncontrolled outdoor access, likely because it also offers welfare benefits by allowing cats to perform natural behaviors, such as hunting, exploring, and climbing. While some have suggested that outdoor access is necessary to meet cats’ behavioral needs and to prevent related behavioral problems, others have recommended various environmental enrichment strategies that can be developed to meet these needs within an indoor environment or through supervised and controlled outdoor access. This review examines the welfare issues and benefits associated with outdoor access for cats, as well as what is currently known about peoples’ practices, knowledge, and attitudes about the provision of outdoor access for cats.

scholarly journals A novel nano-sulphur and essential oil-based room freshener

2021 ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Ashwini S. Kaware ◽  
Pramod U Ingle ◽  
Aniket K. Gade ◽  
Mahendra Rai
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Face Centered Cubic ◽  
Candida Spp ◽  
Indoor Fungi ◽  
The Face ◽  
Average Size

Introduction: Alternaria spp. and Candida spp. are the main fungal pathogen of indoor environment like house, office, classroom, etc. These may cause various diseases and infections like systemic infections, or chronic asthma in immunocompromised individuals through secretion of various toxic substances. Chemical-based commercially available room fresheners used to control the fungal load of indoor environment are not beneficial to human health. Objective: was to provide viable alternative in the form of nanoparticle-based approach for the management of air-borne fungi. Methodology: The present study primarily focuses on the isolation, microscopic and biochemical identification of indoor fungi; Azadirachta indica-mediated sulphur nanoparticles (SNPs) synthesis, their detection and characterization; and in vitro assessment of SNPs against isolated fungi present in indoor environment. Result: The isolated fungi were identified as Alternaria spp and Candida spp. The SNPs showed absorbance maxima at 291 nm. NTA analysis showed average size of 188.4 nm, and zeta potential of -4.94 mV which represented synthesis of stable SNPs. XRD pattern confirmed the face centered cubic, crystalline nature of SNPs. FTIR spectrum depicted the presence of polyhydroxyl, nitrile, keto, aromatic and carboxylic compounds which stabilized the SNPs. The antifungal assays demonstrated the significant activity of the formulated SNPs and eucalyptus oil infused air freshener. Conclusion: It can be concluded that A. indica-mediated SNPs can be applied in the formulation and manufacture of an ecofriendly air freshener for the management of indoor fungal pathogens like Alternaria spp. and Candida spp.

scholarly journals Toxic-Metabolite-Producing Bacteria and Fungus in an Indoor Environment

2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 3269-3274 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Peltola ◽  
M. A. Andersson ◽  
T. Haahtela ◽  
H. Mussalo-Rauhamaa ◽  
F. A. Rainey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Bacillus Pumilus ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Toxic Metabolite ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Bacillus Simplex ◽  
Membrane Barrier ◽  
Boar Spermatozoa

ABSTRACT Toxic-metabolite-emitting microbes were isolated from the indoor environment of a building where the occupant was suffering serious building-related ill-health symptoms. Toxic substances soluble in methanol and inhibitory to spermatozoa at <10 μg (dry weight) ml−1 were found from six bacterial isolates and one fungus. The substances from isolates of Bacillus simplexand from isolates belonging to the actinobacterial generaStreptomyces and Nocardiopsis were mitochondriotoxic. These substances dissipated the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) of boar spermatozoa. The substances from the Streptomyces isolates also swelled the mitochondria. The substances from isolates of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Bacillus pumilus damaged the cell membrane barrier function of sperm cells.

scholarly journals Environmental Complexity, but Not Stocking Density, Positively Impacts Affective States of Broiler Chickens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.G. Anderson ◽  
A.M. Campbell ◽  
A. Crump ◽  
G. Arnott ◽  
L. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Food Motivation ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Environmental Complexity ◽  
Welfare Benefits ◽  
Judgement Bias

Abstract Affective state can bias an animal’s judgement. Animals in positive affective states can interpret ambiguous cues more positively (“optimistically”) than animals in negative affective states. Thus, judgement bias tests can determine an animal’s affective state through their responses to ambiguous cues. We tested the effects of environmental complexity and stocking density on affective states of broiler chickens through a multimodal judgement bias test. Broilers were trained to approach reinforced locations signaled by one color and not to approach unreinforced locations signaled by a different color. Trained birds were tested for latencies to approach three ambiguous cues of intermediate color and location. Broilers discriminated between cues, with shorter latencies to approach ambiguous cues closest to the reinforced cue than cues closest to the unreinforced cue, validating the use of the test in this context. Broilers housed in high-complexity pens approached ambiguous cues faster than birds in low-complexity pens­–an optimistic judgement bias, suggesting the former were in a more positive affective state. Broilers from high-density pens tended to approach all cues faster than birds from low-density pens, possibly because resource competition in their home pen increased food motivation. Overall, our study suggests that environmental complexity improves broilers’ affective states, implying animal welfare benefits of environmental enrichment.

scholarly journals Valuing Regulations Affecting Addictive or Habitual Goods

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Cutler ◽  
Amber Jessup ◽  
Donald Kenkel ◽  
Martha A. Starr
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Welfare Benefits ◽  
Consumption Decisions ◽  
Health Gains ◽  
Utility Loss ◽  
Utility Cost

The analysis of regulations affecting addictive or habitual goods has drawn considerable controversy. Some studies have suggested that such regulations have only small welfare benefits, as consumers value these goods despite health benefits from quitting, while other studies suggest that information or behavioral problems make existing consumption decisions a poor guide to welfare evaluation. We examine potential utility offsets to health benefits of regulations affecting addictive or habitual goods theoretically and empirically. Our analysis focuses on individuals who consume these goods only, ignoring other social costs and benefits. Theoretically, we show the importance of several factors including: money saved in addition to health improvements; differentiating steady-state utility losses from short-term withdrawal costs; lack of utility loss for people dissuaded from starting to consume the good; and accounting for utility consequences of explicit or implicit cost increases. Our empirical analysis considers regulations that affect smoking. To measure the welfare cost of smoking cessation, we divide the population into those with more and less rational smoking behavior and use the valuation of smoking from more rational smokers to impute values of losses for less rational smokers. Our results show that the utility cost of smoking cessation is small relative to the health gains in people for whom withdrawal costs are the main utility loss of quitting, and even among people who have some ongoing loss, the utility offsets represent 20%–25% of the health gains. While marginal smokers induced to quit by regulations can be expected to have low or no steady-state loss, even this higher estimate is far below prevailing estimates of the utility cost of smoking used by the Food and Drug Administration and other analysts.

scholarly journals Effects of odors on behaviors of captive Amur leopards Panthera pardus orientalis

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuangying Yu ◽  
Zhigang Jiang ◽  
Hui Zhu ◽  
Chunwang Li ◽  
Enquan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Behavioral Repertoire ◽  
Behavioral Diversity ◽  
Panthera Pardus Orientalis

Abstract Captive environments often fail to resemble the wild environment in respects of limited space, unchanging habitat, lack of stimulus and contingency. Common animal welfare problems which occur in captive animals include low behavioral diversity, abnormal behavior and excessive inactivity. Environmental enrichment, as an effective strategy to tackle these problems and promote mental health of captive animals, has been recognized as an important principal for captive animal management. Among all the enrichment techniques, olfactory enrichment is a simple and effective method for improving the well-being of the olfactory sensitive felids. Behavioral problems were observed in six Amur leopards Panthera pardus orientalis at Beijing Zoological Garden. These were held in the older type exhibits which have now been rebuilt. These behaviors include stereotypic behavior and excessive inactivity caused by the spatially limited enclosures with low levels of stimuli. To determine the effects of predator, prey, and herb odors as potential enrichment materials for captive leopards, we conducted olfactory enrichment experiments for the leopards and tested the effects of nutmeg Myristica fragrans, feces of roe deer Capreolus capreolus and urine of Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica to test for an increase in behavioral repertoire and activity. Odors provided in this study were also believed to improve the psychological and physiological health of individuals. To standardize the method of presentation the odors were introduced to the enclosures by rubbing or spraying onto a clean towel. Our results show that the selected three odors effectively increased the behavioral diversity. Ten new behavior types were observed in the nutmeg experiment, eight in the feces of roe deer experiment and six in the tiger urine experiment. Among the three odors, cats responded to nutmeg for the longest duration, followed by tiger urine and feces of roe deer. Leopards showed more play behavior in presence of nutmeg while more investigatory behavior in presences of feces of roe deer and tiger urine. Providing novel odors increased the spatial use of the exhibit and the animal’s increased use of the logs, sleeping platforms and bars in the cages. Novel odors also significantly increased the overall activity of the leopards, but the effects were diminished in about three hours.

School Social Workers Perceptions of the Use of Functional Behavior Assessments

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973152199074
Author(s):  
Susan Elizabeth Elswick ◽  
Matthew James Cuellar
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Theoretical Orientation ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
School Social Workers ◽  
Functional Behavior ◽  
School Based ◽  
Behavioral Needs ◽  
Functional Behavior Assessments ◽  
Perceptions Of School

Purpose: Conducting functional behavior assessments (FBAs) is an important component of meeting the behavioral needs of students exhibiting significant behavioral problems. However, the practices and perceptions of school social workers (SSWs) in the use of FBAs are relatively unknown. Method: The proposed study explored the perceptions of 310 SSWs, across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Wisconsin about the processes involved in conducting an FBA. Descriptive and inferential statistics were estimated using the general linear model. Results: Findings suggest that theoretical orientation is associated with perceived usefulness of FBAs. Additionally, perceptions about the activities involved in conducting FBAs and decision-making practices varied as a function of level of competence about facilitating FBAs. Discussion: Overall, findings suggest that SSWs possess the skills needed to facilitate FBAs and face similar barriers of conducting FBAs of other school-based clinicians.

scholarly journals Persistence and Bioaccumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Soil and Aquatic Ecosystems: Syrian Frontiers in Ecology and Environment

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loai Aljerf ◽  
Nuha AlMasri
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Sustainable Water Management ◽  
Chemicals Management ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Toxic Substances Control Act

<p><em>In Syria, there are no effective chemicals management programmes including any estimation and assessment programmes to screen organic chemicals for bioaccumulation potential from regulatory and resource implications are conducted yet. An important issue of excessive organic hazardous substances exposure of inhabitants living in Barada basin (Southwest) was not investigated. Among these danger substances, </em><em>P</em><em>ersistent </em><em>O</em><em>rganic </em><em>P</em><em>ollutants (POPs) have specific properties make them possible linger in soil and water for so many years. Considering the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and enabling activities for the Stockholm convention on POPs related to the national implementation plan for Syria, the current paper presents the results of the analysis of the persistence of chemicals in surface water and ground water samples gathered from different locations in this basin. The study was conducted in 2007-2008, the biodegradability under laboratory and filed conditions were assessed, half</em><em>?</em><em>lives of priority pollutants were predicted, and data were monitored and compared. The level of POPs in a larger percentage of the samples exceeded guidelines which results a call for additional protective measures for a sustainable water management for producing clean water involving reduction strategies to mitigate the POPs concentrations in the indoor environment of Barada, and safely destroy them.</em><em></em></p>

scholarly journals Importance of Basic Research on the Causes of Feather Pecking in Relation to Welfare

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B. Fijn ◽  
F. Josef van der Staay ◽  
Vivian C. Goerlich-Jansson ◽  
Saskia S. Arndt
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Systematic Literature Search ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Behavioral Needs

Feather pecking is a prominent issue in the commercial egg industry, associated with economic losses and welfare problems. A non-systematic literature search suggests that studies on feather pecking are predominantly concerned with applied research goals. That is to say, they aim to solve or diminish the effects of this problematic behavior by orienting towards practical approaches. The strong emphasis on this research approach has skewed our knowledge of the causes of feather pecking in relation to welfare. While the need for such research is high, there is an equivalent need for basic research that has not received corresponding effort. Also, current research predominantly focuses on the negative effects on the birds being pecked, whereas too little attention is given to the possible welfare problems of the peckers. We argue that more basic research is needed for obtaining comprehensive science-based knowledge of behavioral needs and abilities of hens, in particular with respect to behavioral problems that threaten their welfare.

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