DOGS THAT DETECT CANCER: PIONEERING A HEALTH. REVOLUTION.

Dogs are used for various purposes,from companion animals,to drug-detection. They are currently been trained to detect cancer,also trained to alert patients in cases of seizures or hypoglycemia. The process was highlighted by JENNY STOCKS IN MAIL ONLINE, The dogs that can detect cancer: pioneering a health revolution. Daisy the Labrador is hard at work on a project that could change your life and mine. In her smart red jacket, she wanders around a metal carousel in a small center outside Milton Keynes, sniffing at the different scents that are attached to its 12 spokes. Then she stops. She’s found what she’s looking for and looks expectantly up at her handler — she knows that when she recognizes this specific smell, she will soon get an edible reward. Wonder dog: Daisy the Labrador with Jenny Stocks who's holding new recruit Alice While Daisy enjoys the process (and her dog biscuits) her actions are more than just a game — they have huge implications for all of us. Because what this seven-year-old dog is sniffing is a selection of samples from a local hospital. And she has just located the only one that came from a cancer patient. Daisy, quite simply, is being taught to sniff out cancer. She is one of the world’s first bio-detection dogs — trained animals that may one day revolutionize medical diagnosis. We all know that dogs have far more powerful noses than humans — indeed their sense of smell is up to 100,000 times better than ours. That skill has, of course, been put to good use for decades, in the form of drug-sniffing dogs at ferry terminals and airports as well as the Army’s bomb detection canines. But, in recent years, a dedicated team of researchers has been developing what is potentially an even greater breakthrough. Earlier this year, German research discovered that dogs could sniff out lung cancer from breath samples of sufferers. The four dogs in the study learned to get it right 71 per cent of the time, far too high to be mere coincidence. Closer to home came the story of British pensioner Maureen Burns, who made headlines when her collie-cross Max started sniffing her breath and nudging her right breast — where it turned out she had a tiny cancerous tumour developing that doctors hadn’t yet picked up. New technology: The research might create new ways of detecting cancer (picture posed by model having a mammogram) A dog that can smell cancer before doctors can diagnose it? If it sounds far-fetched — a case of wishful thinking rather than genuine canine skill — then there is solid scientific theory behind it. It’s believed that cancers produce volatile chemicals that dogs can be trained to smell, which could have dramatic implications for early diagnosis of the disease. Does this mean that at some point in the future, every hospital and GP’s surgery could be equipped with a ‘sniffer dog’ to pounce on anyone who has cancer? No. For now, researchers are simply hoping to prove that if they demonstrate categorically that cancer does have a generic smell, then scientists could work towards creating a machine (known as an ‘electronic nose’) to perform the same function as a dog’s wet nose can: screening breath or urine samples to search for ‘cancer scent’ with even greater ability than specially-trained dogs. Unlike painful biopsies, this would undoubtedly make the process of diagnosis less invasive and far quicker — and more likely to be picked up earlier. As Claire Guest, a specialist in human and animal behavior and the doctor responsible for the British research into cancer sniffer-dogs says: ‘One of the largest misunderstandings we face is that people think we are trying to say that dogs are better than machines — we’re not. ‘There are already machines which act as ‘electronic noses’ that are designed to identify chemicals such as cocaine, and this is what we are trying to do with cancer. A dog's sense of smell is up to 100,000 times better than ours ‘Of course, no dog is going to be 100 per cent — but at the moment there is no machine out there that can do what the dogs are doing. Cancer detection is extremely invasive, so imagine if it could be picked up simply by a urine sample or blowing into a tube?’ Dr Guest has invited me along to spend the day at the headquarters of her trailblazing charity, Medical Detection Dogs, so that I can witness these ‘doctor dogs’ in action. Not only does the center train dogs to sniff cancer, it’s also responsible for training ‘medical alert’ dogs which live with people who have health problems. They have taught 22 dogs to recognize when a diabetic’s blood sugar gets low and alert them to stop hypoglycemia, aid by working out when an attack of sleep paralysis is about to start — and may soon be able to teach dogs to tell when someone with a severe allergy is about to have an allergic episode. This all relates to the same idea — that dogs can recognize the minutest changes in smell when certain processes happen in the human body. ‘We are only at the start of working out everything that dogs can detect,’ Dr Guest says. ‘It would seem that almost any medical event has an odor change. The clever thing is that the dogs are able to work out what the norm is, and when it changes.’ While only a small group of people (mostly diabetics) have benefited from the services of the medical alert dogs so far, it is the charity’s cancer research work that could really make a difference to millions, and I’m here to see what the fuss is all about. On arrival at the center in Buckinghamshire, I’m greeted by a pack of dogs of all shapes and sizes, scampering around on a patch of grass outside like any other beloved pets out for a walk in the sunshine. Shouldn’t life-saving dogs behave a little more seriously? Rob Harris, the training co-coordinator, assures me that this ‘down-time’ is essential. ‘This is their time to come out and refresh their noses. It’s a great place for them to run around,’ he says. The dogs don’t spend every day at the center, but usually come in two or three times a week. They either live with charity workers or full-time dog walkers — none spends its days kenneled. At present, there are ten ‘cancer dogs’ in the training program me, but they’re never all here at once. Today, it is Daisy the Labrador that will demonstrate her skills, but hurtling around her at playtime is Ozzie, an 18-month-old border collie (he has even been to Crufts), Kizzy, a three-year-old cockerspaniel, and two new recruits, Alice, a six-month-old golden retriever, and Midas, seven months old, a Hungarian Vizsla (a breed of sleek red hunting dog). Lifetime project: Dr. Claire Guest who is responsible for the British research into cancer sniffer-dogs has spent almost 20 years working with Hearing Dogs for the Deaf (pictured) Watching over them is the ‘veteran’ of the center, nine-year-old brown Cockerspaniel Tangle. He was one of the original dogs that took part in the first cancer sniffing research in the world when he was little more than a puppy in 2002. So how did it all come about? Dr Guest, it turns out, had long suspected that dogs may have cancer-detecting qualities. Having worked for almost 20 years for Hearing Dogs For The Deaf, she had come across several stories about dogs that had started to display peculiar behavior when their owners had developed early-stage cancer. ‘There seemed to be lots of anecdotal evidence — even a colleague of mine, Gill, told me about how her pet Dalmatian had started licking and sniffing a mole on her leg when she was in her 20s,’ recounts Dr Guest, ‘She couldn’t even be in the same room as the dog. ‘Eventually, she decided to go to the GP to have it removed — and a biopsy revealed it was malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.’ Dr Guest teamed up with respected surgeon Dr John Church (whose other research has involved bringing back the use of maggots for cleaning wounds) in 2002 to try to prove this phenomenon was more than just coincidence. The results of their study, in which the dogs were 56 per cent accurate, sparked interest around the world. Since then, Dr Guest has been improving methods to make the dogs more accurate (using rewards has brought about the biggest change, perhaps not surprisingly). So far, bladder cancer has been the focal point for testing, but the charity is about to launch a new trial into prostate cancer to broaden their research Time to see it in action. Daisy’s trainer Rob takes me into a white room with the metal carousel in the centre. From a cardboard box, he removes 12 plastic pots, each filled with just 0.5ml of urine. ‘The dogs work with a mix of samples donated by local hospitals,’ he says. ‘Some of the patients are healthy, some have other diseases and one has cancer.’ So far, bladder cancer has been the focal point for testing, but the charity is about to launch a new trial into prostate cancer to broaden their research. Rob knows which sample is the cancerous one — the dogs are simply learning to recognize the scent, rather than diagnosing cancer. He admits that at this stage, no one really knows what compounds in the samples the dogs are detecting — only that it must be there. ‘It’s difficult because, essentially, we are working backwards — we don’t know yet what it is that they can smell, but finding out they can smell something gets us one step closer to identifying it.’ He attaches one vial to each spoke of the carousel, which can be spun around (to avoid the clever dogs working out where the cancer sample is put each time simply by the position). With all 12 in place, Daisy enters with Dr Guest. She is fed a treat (donated Royal Canine food) and then Dr Guest calls: ‘Seek!’ Daisy weaves around the carousel, stopping for half a second at each vial to sniff before she carries on. Then she reaches the sixth position. She stops, sits and stares back at Dr Guest. Only when she hears a ‘click’ from a training device in his hand does she hurry over to her trainer for another reward. So did she get it right? Of course she did — and another four rounds show she is spot on every time. It is staggering to watch. ‘They transform as soon as their red ‘bio-detection’ coats are on — it’s like a uniform,’ says Rob. How on earth did Daisy, and the other cancer dogs, learn to do this? The first step, according to Dr Guest, is picking the right dogs. The dogs need to be very nose-driven — many dogs that live with humans become more reliant on their eyes ‘We look for highly driven dogs that enjoy hunting for the sake of it,’ she explains. ‘Working Labradors, spaniels and collies are often well-suited. 'They need to be very nose-driven — many dogs that live with humans become more reliant on their eyes.’ The dogs tend to come from rescue canters or are donated by breeders who support the charity’s work. When they first show up, often as puppies, they are put through obedience training — dogs can’t be sniffer trained until they can follow and obey voice commands. Next, they start simple scent work and problem-solving — I’m shown a training toy the centre uses which looks like a child’s wooden block game, but different treats can be hidden under the blocks for the puppy to find. After about 14 to 16 months (although they don’t put a time limit on it), the centre moves on to advanced sniffer training using urine samples and the handheld ‘clicker’ which is pressed if the dog identifies the correct cancer sample. ‘It pinpoints the exact time when the dog is doing something you like, and then you reward them afterwards,’ says Dr Guest. ‘They learn that the behavior associated with the click leads to the treat.’ To begin with, they are given ‘high reward’ treats like a piece of smelly cheese or tripe — but as they become more used to it, they move on to more simple dog biscuits and food, or even a tennis ball. These are dogs, after all. Having spent a day at the center, there’s no disputing the incredible talent of these dogs and their trainers. So will they be the key to identifying cancers earlier than any doctor can? It’s early days yet. But so far, the signs are that man’s best friend could turn out to be an even greater asset to mankind.

HOW TO LOWER OCCURRENCE OF BOAR TAINT.

Boars in the value chain have always resulted in tainted pork, which not many people can tolerate.There has been several interventions such as artificial insemination and using castrated males in the chain to reduce the taint,but the success rate has not been high,resulting in more research. Research from the Netherlands are about to publish an extensive research towards the reduction of boar taint when raising and using and entire males in the food chain.The study termed: How to lower occurrence of boar taint. The paper, to be published in the Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences (NJAS) is a summary of a comprehensive study by scientists from various disciplines, attached to the Agricultural Economic Institute (Wageningen UR), Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Vion Fresh Meat and Topigs Research Center IPG. Four themes were aimed at in the research programme: 1)Sensory evaluation of meat from entire male pigs. 2)Preventive measures to reduce boar taint prevalence.3)Accuracy of detection for boar taint.4) The relationship between farm management characteristics and levels of mounting and aggressive behaviour of boars.Using observational and experimental studies data were collected in various segments of the pork supply chain.The researchers conclude that ranking AI boars on their genomic breeding values for low boar taint resulted in a reduction in boar taint prevalence of 40%.The skatole level is lower in boars fed via a long trough than in boars fed by a single space feeder. Few eating places, restricted feeding, a low level of amino acids in the diet, insufficient water supply of the drinking system, illness of the pigs, a suboptimal climate and fear for humans were associated with a higher level of sexual and aggressive behaviour and more skin lesions. A partly open pen wall, clean pens and pigs, wider gaps of the slats, feeding by a long trough, and feeding wet by-products were associated with less sexual and aggressive behaviour and less skin lesions. Having more than 30 animals per pen was associated with a higher probability of high boar taint prevalence levels. Hygienic conditions were associated with lower boar taint prevalence levels. Assessing similarity of the rank order comparison between consumer perception and three selected boar taint detection parameters for the consumer perception attribute odour of meat resulted in the highest Kendall's W values for the human nose scores.In conclusion, boar tainted meat was rated as less pleasant by consumers compared to meat of gilts and non-tainted boar meat, indicating the need of detection as a safety net at the slaughter line. Breeding was an effective preventive measure to reduce boar taint. Farms with appropriate management, feeding and housing conditions have reduced levels of mounting and aggressive behaviour. Human nose scores were a better predictor of the rank order of consumer perception, compared to skatole levels and to androstenone levels. read more here;http://www.pigprogress.net/Growing-Finishing/Management/2016/1/Study-How-to-lower-occurrence-of-boar-taint-2740440W/

RESEARCH: Emotional fever in fish.

RESEARCH: Emotional fever in fish. A research by a team of scientists has shown that the zebra fish are sentient and as such are capable of exhibiting emotional fever. A paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes their experiments with stressing zebra fish, how the fish reacted, and why they believe it should now be added to the list of organisms labeled as sentient beings. RESEARCH: Emotional fever in fish. Earlier research has shown that mammals and birds and a species of lizard respond to stress by experiencing an increase in body temperature on the order of 1- 2 C°—a reaction that some have suggested indicates that the creature is a sentient being—one that is able to perceive or feels things, whether emotional or physically. The study was conducted by placing 72 zebra fish in a net in water that was 1 C° colder than was normal for them. They also had a control group that was left alone with no changes to their environment. RESEARCH: Emotional fever in fish. All of the fish were then transferred to a tank that had sections heated to different levels, which the fish could access freely if they wished. The team watched to see which section the fish would swim to, and noted that those fish that had been stressed spent more time in the sections that were slightly warmer than normal, than did the control fish. This caused the body temperature of the fish to rise from 2 to 4 C°, which the team claims showed the fish experienced elevated body temperatures in response to stress, demonstrating emotional fever, and therefore they should qualify as sentient beings.

LABRADOR RETRIEVER AND OBESITY GENE..

A new University of Cambridge study shows that Chubby labrador retrievers may be genetically predisposed to obesity. This research has been published in the journal Cell Metabolism,the dog – which is the most popular breed in the UK – is often considered to be "obsessed with food", say the researchers,this could be explained by the gene. 310 pet and assistance Labradors were weighed, assessed, and given a "body condition score". The team also "searched for variants of obesity-related genes" and assessed food-motivation via a diary kept by dog owners. The research found that one particular gene – POMC – was associated with obesity in the Labradors, with around one in four Labradors thought to carry the gene. It affects how the brain regulates and recognizes the feeling of hunger – meaning the dogs may carry on eating when they're full. "This is a common genetic variant in Labradors and has a significant effect on those dogs that carry it, so it is likely that this helps explain why Labradors are more prone to being overweight in comparison to other breeds," said Eleanor Raffman, lead author of the research. "People who live with Labradors often say they are obsessed by food, and that would fit with what we know about this genetic change." The team says the research may also have an impact on our understanding of human obesity. "Common genetic variants affecting the POMC gene are associated with human body weight and there are even some rare obese people who lack a very similar part of the POMC gene to the one that is missing in the dogs. So further research in these obese Labradors may not only help the well being of companion animals but also have important lessons for human health," said Stephen O'Rahilly, who also worked on the research. Obesity in dogs can cause diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a reduced lifespan as also observed in man. culled from wired.co.uk

Barking characterizes dogs as voice characterizes people.

Research on canine behavior shows that gender, age, context and individual recognition can be identified with a high percentage of success through statistical and computational methods of pattern recognition applied to their barking. The canine communication has been a research topic in ethology over the last decade. Most of the research has focused on studying how dogs are capable to understand different forms of human communication, for example by displaying gestures and human voice recognition. This joint research between CIG and UPM aimed to understand the acoustic signals obtained from dog barking when they are subjected to certain situations. This research is conducted through the development of a computational system based on statistic modeling that is able to recognize diverse characteristics of the dog . The experiments were carried out in Budapest with eight dogs -- three males and five females -- Mudi breed, from Hungary usually used as sheep-dogs. Each dog (aged between one and 10) registered 100 barks. A total of 800 barks was obtained by placing the dog in seven different situations: (a) alone, the owner tied the dog to a tree; (b) playing with a ball; (c) fighting, the human pretended to attack the dog's owner; (d) receiving their food ration; (f) in the company of a person who was foreign to the dog; and (g) to get ready to going out with the owner. Each one of the 800 barks was characterized from 29 acoustic measurements. By using the diverse computational models obtained from the collected data during the experiment, researchers were able to successfully recognize the dog's gender the 85.13% of the time while the age of the dog (recorded as young, adult and old) was classified without mistakes the 80.25% of the time. The task of identifying the situation in which the dog was it was successful the 55.50%, while the recognition (among the eight dogs participating in the study) of the Mudi breed was successful the 67.63% of the time.This study reveals the biological relevance and richness of the information in dog barking and brings new possibilities in applied research. story source; Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

Design and print your own 3-D chocolate objects.

3-D printing is a technology where a three dimensional object is created by building up successive layers of material. The technology is already used in industry to produce plastic and metal products but this is the first time the principles have been applied to chocolate. This new digital technology printer allows you to create your own designs on a computer and reproduce them physically in three dimensional form in chocolate. The project is funded as part of the Research Council UK Cross-Research Council Programme -- Digital Economy and is managed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) on behalf of ESRC, AHRC and MRC. It is being led by the University of Exeter in collaboration with the University of Brunel and software developer Delcam Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cycles. These variables then have to be integrated with the correct flow rates for the 3-D printing process. Researchers overcame these difficulties with the development of new temperature and heating control systems. Research leader Dr Liang Hao, at the University of Exeter, states that what makes this technology special is that users will be able to design and make their own products. In the long term it could be developed to help consumers custom- design many products from different materials but we've started with chocolate as it is readily available, low cost and non-hazardous. There is also no wastage as any unused or spoiled material can be eaten of course! From reproducing the shape of a child's favorite toy to a friend's face, the possibilities are endless and only limited by our creativity. Researchers hope that an online retail business will host a website for users to upload their chocolate designs for 3-D printing and delivery. Dr Hao added: "In future this kind of technology will allow people to produce and design many other products such as jewellery or household goods. Eventually we may see many mass produced products replaced by unique designs created by the customer." EPSRC Chief Executive Professor Dave Delpy said: "This is an imaginative application of two developing technologies and a good example of how creative research can be applied to create new manufacturing and retail ideas. By combining developments in engineering with the commercial potential of the digital economy we can see a glimpse into the future of new markets -- creating new jobs and, in this case, sweet business opportunities." source;Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). "Design and print your own 3-D chocolate objects.

RESEARCH: Cancer medicine from cucumbers.

RESEARCH: Cancer medicine from cucumbers. The bitter flavor in wild cucurbits -- the family that includes cucumber, pumpkin, melon, watermelon and squash -- is due to compounds called cucurbitacins. The bitter taste protects wild plants against predators. The fruit and leaves of wild cucurbits have been used in Indian and Chinese medicine for thousands of years, as emetics and purgatives and to treat liver disease. A recent study have shown that cucurbitacins can kill or suppress growth of cancer cells. RESEARCH: Cancer medicine from cucumbers. The new research by University of California - Davis published in science journal has shown that curbing this bitterness made cucumber, pumpkin and their relatives into popular foods, but the same compounds also have potential to treat cancer and diabetes.Bitterness is known to be controlled by two genetic traits, "Bi" which confers bitterness on the whole plant and "Bt," which leads to bitter fruit. This research used the latest in DNA sequencing technology to identify the exact changes in DNA associated with bitterness.The researchers were able to identify nine genes involved in making cucurbitacin, and show that the trait can be traced to two transcription factors that switch on these nine genes, in either leaves or the fruit, to produce cucurbitacin. The new research sheds more light on how domestication changed cucumber genetics to make the fruit more edible. Understanding this process open up new approaches to developing other food crops based on plants that are naturally either inedible or poor in nutrition. #cross breeding #selective breeding #biotechnology.

RESEARCH: LED lighting could have major impact on wildlife.

RESEARCH: LED lighting could have major impact on wildlife. New research by the University of Exeter and published in global change biology shows that LED street lighting can be tailored to reduce its impacts on the environment. The UK-based study found predatory spiders and beetles were drawn to grassland patches lit by LED lighting at night, but the number of species affected was markedly reduced when the lights were dimmed by 50% and switched off between midnight and 4am. LEDs made up just 9% of the global lighting market in 2011, but forecasts suggest they will account for 69% by 2020. RESEARCH: LED lighting could have major impact on wildlife. The growth of LED lighting is an issue of global concern, and the number of documented impacts on the environment is growing rapidly. The research shows that local authorities might be able to manage LED lighting in a way that reduces its environmental impacts. There is a need to establish whether this is the case for a greater variety of species. The results suggest that the growing use of LED lighting will have impacts on the abundance of predatory invertebrates, potentially leading to knock on effects for other species in grassland food-webs.

AGRIBUSINESS : How a startup kicked off with popcorn business to raise money for cancer research.

AGRIBUSINESS : How a startup kicked off with popcorn business to raise money for cancer research. When Her Mother Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer, She Started a Popcorn Company to Raise Money for Research.There was only so much waiting around Lauren Mariel could do after she received the devastating news that her mother had been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. "Through the first two weeks of treatments, I'm sitting there and I'm like, 'What am I doing?'" she said of that time in 2013. "I know she appreciates it, but I'm doing nothing for my mom or women who every single day are diagnosed with breast cancer." AGRIBUSINESS : How a startup kicked off with popcorn business to raise money for cancer research. Mariel's solution? Start a business. At a young age, Mariel's mother taught her and her sisters how to make popcorn, which quickly became a family favorite. Mariel figured that'd she'd just make some popcorn, slap a label on a bag and raise some money for cancer research and other causes. But this modest endeavor took off, and now Mariel's popcorn brand Live Love Pop can be found in more than 10,000 U.S. and Canada stores, with sales doubling year over year, she said. A portion of sales from each of Live Love Pop's six flavors are donated to different causes.

RESEARCH:Fasting ramps up human metabolism.

RESEARCH:Fasting ramps up human metabolism. Research uncovers previously unknown effects of fasting, including notably increased metabolic activity and possible anti-aging effects. Fasting may help people lose weight, but new research suggests going without food may also boost human metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and help reverse some effects of aging. Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and Kyoto University identified 30 previously-unreported substances whose quantity increases during fasting and indicate a variety of health benefits. The study, published January 29, 2019 in Scientific Reports, presents an analysis of whole human blood, plasma, and red blood cells drawn from four fasting individuals. The researchers monitored changing levels of metabolites -- substances formed during the chemical processes that grant organisms energy and allow them to grow. The results revealed 44 metabolites, including 30 that were previously unrecognized, that increased universally among subjects between 1.5- to 60-fold within just 58 hours of fasting. Research, agribusiness, fasting, lose weight.

RESEARCH: HOW TO USE ZOBO LEAVES AS SOYA BEAN ALTERNATIVE IN BROILER FEED.

RESEARCH: HOW TO USE ZOBO LEAVES AS SOYA BEAN ALTERNATIVE IN BROILER FEED. Hibiscus sabdariffa commonly referred to as ( ZOBO LEAVES), has various uses and several benefits in man and animals. Its referred to as sobo leaves and has found usefulness in treatment of hypertension, weight control, ant-inflammatory agent, diuretic and as a soothing tea. The leaves are also boiled,flavored and served as a refreshing drink,the leaves can also be used for preparation of jams,jellies and wine. The fiber from the plant have been used to make ropes as a substitute for jute bags. The leaves are known to be a good source of iron,calcium, niacin,vitamin C B vitamins,, carotene as well as manganese. The sobo leaves also contain protein,phosphorus,fat and fiber making it a perfect nutritional meal.Its this nutritional benefit that has been tapped in the poultry industry to reduce cost of production without reducing growth and carcass size of birds by replacing soyabean meal with sobo leaves. RESEARCH: HOW TO USE ZOBO LEAVES AS SOYA BEAN ALTERNATIVE IN BROILER FEED. The research was carried out by Kwari, I. D. and Igwebuike, J. U. of the Department of Animal Science,University of Maiduguri Nigeria, with Diarra, S. S. of the Department of Animal Health and Production Yobe State College of Agriculture, Gujba, Damaturu, Nigeria. The team worked on growth performance and carcass measurement of broilers fed with Hibiscus sabdariffa leaves, and documented their results ; The growth performance and carcass measurements of broiler chickens fed with different levels of raw sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal replacing soyabean meal as the major protein source were investigated in a 63-day. One hundred and fifty day-old Anak-2000 broiler chicks were individually weighed and allotted to five experimental diets in which raw sorrel seed meal (RSSM) replaced soyabean meal at 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The diets and clean drinking water were offered ad libitum throughout the period of the experiment. The results of the study showed among others that final live weight and daily feed intake were depressed above 50% level of soyabean meal replacement with raw sorrel seed meal in the diets. Raw sorrel seed meal can therefore replace soyabean meal up to 50% without adverse effect on broiler performance. The abdominal fat yield was markedly reduced on the RSSM-diets compared to the control. Read full research ;journal of environmental issues and agriculture in developing countries,volume 2 numbers 2 and 3,2010.

Spread of diseases in farmed animals shown using social media analysis.

The Spread of diseases in farmed animals can be shown using social network analysis according to a research published in the PLOS. 

Researchers have shown that looking at movements of operators and vehicles between farms in the same way we look at contacts in social networks can help explain the spread of dangerous infectious diseases of livestock, such as foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza. This research can contribute to the development of more accurate tools for predicting the spread of livestock diseases and may help implement more effective biosecurity measures in farms.

This research, published in PLOS Computational Biology, can contribute to the development of more accurate tools for predicting the spread of livestock diseases and may help implement more effective biosecurity measures in farms. The research showed that the network of contacts originated from on-farm visits by veterinarians in dairy farms of Northern Italy displays hidden features that cannot be detected by simply looking at the frequency of visits and unveils patterns of infection otherwise unexplained. 

The authors discovered that veterinarians' movements produce an unexpectedly large number of potentially infectious contacts between farms that can quickly spread dangerous livestock diseases. The research, made possible by the availability of high-resolution data in space and time on veterinarian movements in the study area, shed light on the actual significance of operator movements in disease spread, a still poorly understood topic due to the highly diverse and complex nature of such movements and to privacy issues in data collection. 

 The researchers compared the role of veterinarian movements on diseases spread with those of animal exchange between farms, which is recognized as the most effective transmission route for livestock infectious diseases. 

 They found that co-occurrence of operator movements and animal exchanges is synergistic, largely amplifying the potential for disease propagation. The study shows how multilayer network analysis substantially improves the way diseases spread can be described, thus contributing to their control.

13 Cannabis Medical Research Projects to be Funded by Israel..

13 Cannabis Medical Research Projects to be Funded by Israel. Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will be financing a collection of cannabis biochemistry and medical projects, The Times of Israel reports. The Agriculture Ministry, in collection with the Health Ministry, has reportedly allocated 8 million shekels ($2.1 million) to fund the selected projects. Israel has long established itself as a global leader in medical cannabis research. Israeli scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam was one of the first researchers to identify the cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the 1960s and pediatric neurologist Dr. Adi Eran just last month obtained permits to study medicinal cannabis’ effects on autistic children and adults. This is the first time, however, the government has financially backed that Israeli research projects. The Health Ministry had published a call for research proposals and eventually selected 13 projects to receive funding. Seven of the studies will investigate biochemistry and medicine, including the potential therapeutic effects of cannabis on visual function, colon cancer, and multiple sclerosis, as well as the detection and characterization of new materials in medical cannabis strains. Other projects will explore cannabis’ effect on metabolic syndrome, its possible use to inhibit the development of harmful bacteria, and its potential ability to prevent organ rejection following transplants. The six remaining projects will be aimed at improving cannabis cultivation practices. The studies will explore methods for combating diseases and pests, planting and reproducing cannabis, and developing irrigation and fertilization technologies. Other projects will work at establishing a national genetic database for strains of medicinal cannabis and genetic engineering. continue

RESEARCH : SEAWEEDS AS ANIMAL FEED RESULTS IN EGGS AND BEEF OF BETTER QUALITY.

RESEARCH : SEAWEEDS AS ANIMAL FEED RESULTS IN EGGS AND BEEF OF BETTER QUALITY. Seaweeds can have a pre biotic effect in pig diets and improve egg quality in laying hens. However, high amounts of seaweed in the diet can have an opposite effect. The inclusion rate is therefore important. A report Published in Animal Feed Science and Technology termed : Seaweeds for livestock diets . The nutritive value of seaweeds for ruminants varies widely. It depends on the species, on the composition of the algae (protein, minerals, polysaccharides, phlorotannins) and also on the adaptation of the animal to this particular feed. RESEARCH : SEAWEEDS AS ANIMAL FEED RESULTS IN EGGS AND BEEF OF BETTER QUALITY. A study in the laboratory with rumen fluid from seaweed-fed sheep showed that organic matter digestibility of brown and red seaweeds was very high for brown algae L. digitata, S. latissima and Alaria esculenta species (94%, 97% and 81% respectively) and red algae P.palmata (81%), but was low for other brown seaweeds such as A. nodosum, Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus (33%, 15% and 26% respectively. RESEARCH : SEAWEEDS AS ANIMAL FEED RESULTS IN EGGS AND BEEF OF BETTER QUALITY. In a comparison of brown algae M. pyrifera and Sargassum species, the in situ DM degradability of the former was found to be low (50%) but higher than that of the latter (29%). Crude protein of these seaweeds was found to be rumen-undegradable in situ, but the in vitro trypsic digestibility of their proteins was high, which could make brown algae a good source of protein for ruminants despite their low protein content. RESEARCH : SEAWEEDS AS ANIMAL FEED RESULTS IN EGGS AND BEEF OF BETTER QUALITY. The brown seaweed A. nodosum meal has been shown to increase growth performance in broilers. It didn't matter in which form it was included in the diet (boiled, raw or autoclaved). In another study with green seaweed Enteromorpha prolifera, it was shown that inclusion rate ranging from 2% to 4% provided the best nutrient availability and high apparent metabolisable energy in broilers. This may be attributed to a high level of amylase in the duodenum. It had a positive effect on feed intake, feed conversion ratio and average daily gain while reducing abdominal and subcutaneous fat thickness, thus improving breast meat. Brown seaweed Sargassum species from the Red Sea shore fed to laying hens during 20–30 weeks at 1–12% dietary level had no deleterious effect on body weight, egg weight, egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg quality. Sargassum dentifolium fed raw, boiled or autoclaved at levels of 3% or 6%, was beneficial to egg quality. Green seaweed E. prolifera included at 1–3% resulted in improved egg production and quality: it increased weight, shell thickness, and yolk colour and reduced cholesterol in yolk. It also resulted in a lower E. coli load in faeces, , suggesting better animal health.

Cold plasma proving to be hottest new food safety treatment.

Cold plasma proving to be hottest new food safety treatment. Described as a “purple blow torch” by food safety scientists, cold plasma treatment can kill 99.9 percent of norovirus on blueberries without damaging the delicate fruit, giving a food safety boost to the so-called superfood. cold plasma blueberry researchBrendan Niemira, a microbiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, PA, and a team of scientists already demonstrated that cold plasma (CP) can kill pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli on blueberries. The researchers, led by Alison Lacombe, focused on blueberries with their latest project because of the increasing popularity of the fruit in recent years, attributed to its antioxidants and other nutritional benefits. They also considered the manner in which the blue fruit is grown, packed, shipped and consumed. Blueberries are susceptible to contamination by biological hazards from pre-harvest to post-harvest stages and are most commonly consumed raw, according to the research results set for publication in the May 2017 edition of the journal Food Microbiology. “Human norovirus is one of the most common etiological agents that contaminates food and causes food borne illness.” Another factor making blueberries prime for the research is the fragile nature of berries in general. They also have some of the shortest shelf lives in the produce aisle, adding pressure to move them through the harvest and packing process as quickly as possible. The cold plasma treatment tested by the USDA researchers, more than 99.9 percent of the two viruses being studied died after two minutes or less.The process of creating plasma, which is considered the fourth state of matter after solids, liquids and gases, is created by breaking apart gas molecules and making a plume of charged electrons and ions, according to ScienceMag.org. The problem with using it as a sanitizing step is that the creation process generates heat, which is even more damaging to delicate fruits such as blueberries. Niemira and the other scientists found by simply injecting room-temperature air into the treatment chamber the heat problem was eliminated.These results demonstrate that CP viral inactivation does not rely on thermal inactivation, and is therefore nonthermal in nature,” Niemira wrote in the research report. “Currently, the preventative measures for viral outbreaks in the food supply chain primarily rely on good agricultural practices, chemical washes and increased awareness on good hygienic practices in food handling areas. However, few optimized nonthermal intervention processes are available for fresh and fresh-cut produce… “Cold plasma is an emerging nonthermal technology that offers the advantage of being chemical- and water-free, in addition to being able to operate openly and continuously at atmospheric pressure.” Additional research is needed before the CP treatment will be available for commercial-sized operations, but the researchers reported the variety of benefits it provides should make it an affordable tool for the food industry. The researchers say their purple blow torches require only one-fifth the power needed to run a hair dryer. Niemira told ScienceMag.org his team is already working to scale up the approach: “We’re making it bigger, we’re making it faster, we’re making it more efficient.” There is also evidence that CP treatment can extend shelf life by slowing spoilage rates.more

Heriot-Watt University Researchers Win $3.3 Million Grant to 3D Print Smart Rocks to Capture Data on Underground Oil and CO2.

In order to secure our water, food and energy supplies while being able to maintain the safe extraction of oil and gas from underground oilfields, we need to have a better understanding of the layer of porous rocks in the subsurface. Specifically, the way that liquids and gases manage to travel through them, and how captured carbon dioxide (CO2) could be stored underground. Unfortunately the conditions of this subsurface material vary widely depending on the type of rock, the temperatures and the pressures that occur deep under the ground. Beyond the complexity of replicating specific environmental conditions, direct dynamic observations at the pore level are virtually impossible in a lab setting. According to Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, holder of the Robert M Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University , the problem is that the rocks are unable to tell us what’s happening to them. However Maroto-Valer and her team of researchers think that they have come up with a way to communicate with these subsurface rocks, the team wants to make their own rocks that are capable of communicating with us. Their research was promising enough that the team received a prestigious European Research Council Advanced Award so they can continue to pursue their research into developing 3D printed “smart rocks” capable of giving the team an inside look of what’s happening deep underground. Maroto-Valer and her team will use a 3D printing process to produce their own porous rocks that will include multiple micro sensors embedded inside of them. The sensors will be able to transmit data directly to the research team, including detailed information about what actually happens to liquids and gases deep underground. The 3D printed smart rocks will be capable of providing information on the subsurface conditions and environment at a microscopic level, which is simply not possible to reproduce using traditional laboratory methods. This fundamental knowledge at such a tiny scale will feed hugely into our understanding of such processes at the large scale and enable us to maximize the success of industries from oil extraction to water safety and the storage of captured CO2. The grant that Maroto-Valer and her team won was awarded by the “Excellent Science” pillar of Horizon 2020, the European Union’s research and innovation program focusing on enabling senior researchers to pursue their most promising ideas. read more at 3dprint.com

RESEARCH : VITAMIN D LINKED TO INCREASE FERTILITY IN ANIMALS.

RESEARCH : VITAMIN D LINKED TO INCREASE FERTILITY IN ANIMALS. High levels of vitamin D are linked to improved fertility and reproductive success. Science Daily reports that the study, carried out on a remote Hebridean island, adds to growing evidence that vitamin D - known as the sunshine vitamin - is associated with reproductive health. Experts hope that further studies will help to determine the relevance of the results for other mammals, including people. RESEARCH : VITAMIN D LINKED TO INCREASE FERTILITY IN ANIMALS. Scientists from the University of Edinburgh found that Soay sheep with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood at the end of the summer went on to have more lambs in the following spring. The study offers the first evidence that an animal's vitamin D status is associated with an evolutionary advantage. RESEARCH : VITAMIN D LINKED TO INCREASE FERTILITY IN ANIMALS. Dr Richard Mellanby, Head of Small Animal Medicine at the University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, who led the research, said: "Our study is the first to link vitamin D status and reproductive success in a wild animal population.

RESEARCH: Maternal malaria during pregnancy causes cognitive defects in the offspring.

RESEARCH: Maternal malaria during pregnancy causes cognitive defects in the offspring. Maternal malaria during pregnancy causes cognitive defects in the offspring. Over half of all pregnant women world-wide are at risk for malaria, but little is known about possible consequences for the neurodevelopment of children exposed to malaria in pregnancy. A new study reports a causal link between prenatal exposure to malaria and subsequent neurocognitive impairment in offspring in a mouse model of experimental malaria in pregnancy. The research also identifies some of the molecular mechanisms involved. RESEARCH: Maternal malaria during pregnancy causes cognitive defects in the offspring. In this study, the researchers examined neurocognitive function in mice of normal birth weight that had been exposed to--but not themselves infected with--malaria in the uterus (both low birth weight and fetal malaria might also affect neurodevelopment, and were therefore eliminated as possible complicating factors). RESEARCH: Maternal malaria during pregnancy causes cognitive defects in the offspring. The researchers found that young mice that had been exposed to malaria in pregnancy have impaired learning and memory and show depressive-like behavior that persists to adulthood. These neurocognitive impairments are associated with decreased tissue levels of major neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine) in specific regions of the brain. Pushing the technology by imaging blood vessels in the uterus, the researchers also saw changes in neurovascular development in the brain of malaria-exposed mouse fetuses.

Abattoirs: Coronavirus can spread over 8m at cutting floor in slaughter houses.

Abattoirs: Coronavirus can spread over 8m at cutting floor in slaughter houses. Circumstances at a cutting floor can help SARS-CoV-2 spread over distances over 8 metres. That has become clear in a case study about the first wave of Covid-19 outbreaks in May, at Germany’s largest slaughterhouse, owned by Tönnies.

 The study also showed that all infections during this first wave of Covid-19 outbreaks originated with just one employee. It occurred because a slaughterhouse employee got in touch with employees of an infected plant of a different packer, Westcrown, located in Dissen. Thirdly, employee housing did not play a major role in that first wave, which occurred in late May.

 In mid-June a second wave followed, which caused the meatpacker to close its doors for almost a month. The research was carried out by a joint study of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, the University Medical Center Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf and the Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology.

 The study showed that the virus most likely spread from 1 single employee who was working on the cutting floor for beef. This employee indicated that together with a colleague, he had been in touch with employees of the sow cutting floor at Westcrown in Dissen, Lower Saxony. He did so after Covid-19 had been detected in that plant.

 The Tönnies employee did not demonstrate any clinical signs of the virus and the contact with Westcrown employees was not considered to be a high-risk contact, which is why the employee continued to show up at work. At 3 days after the meeting, the employee was tested and one day later a positive result followed, for both the employee as well as the colleague. Both then had to go into quarantine.

 The researchers also zoomed in on the routes the virus took from this one employee to the other employees within Tönnies. From that research, it emerged that most colleagues within an 8m radius around the infected colleague had also tested positive.

In the study it was therefore concluded that virus particles can be transmitted over longer distances under the conditions of a cutting floor. Professor Adam Grundhoff, co-author of the research, said, “Our results indicate that the conditions during cutting enhance the aerosol transfer of SARS-CoV-2 particles over longer distances,think of the lower temperature and a limited input of fresh air in combination with heavy manual labour.

 It is very likely that these factors in general play a crucial role in outbreaks all over the world in meat or fish processing companies. Obviously, under those conditions, a distance of 1.5 to 3 metres are insufficient to prevent transmission.”

 There is a need to improve physical distancing in the slaughter houses as well as use better protective equipment to enhance safety.

Meat processing companies such as Cargill are protecting workers by provision of face shields, barriers between work stations, hair nets, boots and lots more.

The use of face shields in slaughter houses is a welcome development alongside maintaining required distance as well as use of hand sanitizers or washing hands with soap and water.

 More on research here

New research agenda to accelerate malaria elimination, eradication.

New research agenda to accelerate malaria elimination, eradication. Over 180 scientists, malaria program managers and policy makers from around the world have come together through a consultative process to update the research agenda for malaria elimination and eradication, first produced in 2011. The outcome is a series of seven 'malERA Refresh' papers. This forward-looking research and development agenda should help accelerate progress towards a malaria-free world.The aim of this exercise, coordinated by the Malaria Eradication Scientific Alliance (MESA) with headquarters at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), was to define a forward-looking research and development agenda that will accelerate progress towards malaria elimination and global eradication. A world free of malaria would present enormous benefits in terms of health, equity and economy. The WHO has set ambitious goals for reducing the burden of malaria, and 21 countries have been identified as having the potential to eliminate local transmission of malaria by 2020.