What a ‘cat friendly’ veterinary experience looks like

Peer-Reviewed Publication

SAGE

 

IMAGE: A SOFT HAND IS EXTENDED BY THIS VETERINARY TEAM MEMBER TO INVITE THE CAT TO INITIATE CONTACT. THIS IS A MORE CAT FRIENDLY AND RESPECTFUL APPROACH THAN IMMEDIATELY PICKING UP AND RESTRAINING THE PATIENT. view more 

CREDIT: ELLEN CAROZZA LVT, VTS (CP-FELINE)

Good feline healthcare necessitates visiting the veterinary clinic, but many components of a veterinary visit or stay may potentially result in negative experiences. The impacts can be far-reaching, including distress and prolonged recovery from illness for the cat, and, for the veterinary team, the risk of misleading clinical findings and test results, possible injury and further difficulties with handling of the cat at future visits. Mounting evidence suggests that first veterinary visits can impact a young animal for life. 

The cat’s veterinary experience includes their journey to the clinic, their interactions with team members, the social environment (other animals in the waiting and hospitalisation areas), as well as the physical environment of the clinic. These aspects are all addressed in two ‘Cat Friendly Guidelines’1,2 published jointly by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). They appear in a Cat Friendly Special Issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS) and are available, together with a suite of supporting information and resources, at bit.ly/JFMSCatFriendly.

The ‘2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques’1 and ‘2022 ISFM/AAFP Cat Friendly Veterinary Environment Guidelines’2 are directed at veterinary professionals around the world. They are authored by experts in feline clinical medicine and behaviour, who have undertaken an extensive literature review and have also drawn on valuable experience gained in the 10 years that the ISFM’s Cat Friendly Clinic (catfriendlyclinic.org) and AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice (catvets.com/cfp) programmes have been running and contributing so positively to feline health and wellbeing. To date, almost 3700 clinics and practices across 57 countries have achieved official ‘Cat Friendly’ status under the programmes.

At the heart of the new guidance – richly illustrated with images from some of these Cat Friendly Clinics and Practices – is the recognition that mental wellbeing is as equally important as physical health. The Cat Friendly Guidelines put the cat’s emotional experience at the forefront of all veterinary interactions, and integrate some new terminology: a cat’s positive emotions, which, for example, might lead them to explore the environment and seek food, treats, play and social interaction, are reframed as ‘engaging’ emotions, while the negative emotions of fear, anxiety, frustration and pain are referred to as ‘protective’ emotions. This approach will help the veterinary team to better understand the feline perspective, identify underlying stressors and establish what works to resolve the situation rather than exacerbate it.

To be truly cat friendly, all team members need an understanding of cats, not only as individuals, but as a species. Much of the characteristic behaviour of cats is derived from their wildcat ancestor, Felis silvestris lybica, in particular their natural preference to rely on themselves for protection. Familiarity, control, predictability and avoidance of threats all contribute to their perceived safety. In an unfamiliar situation, the preferred strategy for most cats is to escape. When this option is unavailable, such as in the veterinary clinic, they instead attempt to hide or to perch to monitor the environment from above.

The Cat Friendly Guidelines offer myriad practical tips for both minimising negative experiences and promoting positive experiences. ‘Thinking cat’ extends to educating the caregiver on how best to prepare the cat for their trip to the veterinary clinic, and is as fundamental as considering what the patient, with their highly tuned sensory system, will see, hear and smell during their visit to the clinic. The advice includes minimising visual stimulation – even pictures of cats and other animals can be perceived as threatening. Cats should be kept away from noisy patients and loud clinic equipment, and all human vocalisation should be soft, gentle and slow in tempo. For the majority of practices that treat dogs as well as cats, removing potentially challenging scents by sweeping up dog hair and emptying bins of strong-smelling waste, such as urine, is important, and synthetic feline pheromones can be used to help create a more reassuring environment. Importantly, adjustments to establish a more cat friendly veterinary environment need not be structural or expensive, and a range of ways of providing cat-only waiting areas and hiding and perching options in cages are suggested.

Likewise, the veterinary team need to remain ‘cat focused’ during all interactions. Being aware of cats’ preferred areas of touch – particularly in the region of the facial glands, which produce the pheromones used in social bonding – helps to encourage positive emotions during the clinical examination, while simple steps, such as not leaning over or cornering the cat, and avoiding direct eye contact, help to ease anxiety. Allowing the cat to remain in the bottom of their carrier, or using towels or a high-sided cat bed to encourage a sensation of being hidden and protected, can be very beneficial. Significantly, by practising cat friendly interactions and providing a cat friendly veterinary environment, equipment that historically has been used for cat restraint, including cat bags, gauntlets and muzzles, quickly comes to be replaced by items that provide the patient with comfort, a sense of safety and choice, and positive distractions. In certain situations, the use of anti-anxiety medication is also appropriate, and the Cat Friendly Guidelines discuss protocols for strategic use prior to or during the veterinary visit.

So, what next for cats, their caregivers and the veterinary team? The concept of ‘cooperative care’ is described as being the future for ‘cat friendly’. This will require new skills to be developed and practised, both at home and in the veterinary practice, to help cats feel more relaxed and in control in medical situations where they may naturally feel fearful and/or frustrated. More immediately, each veterinary team is encouraged to look at even the smallest adjustments they can make to their own veterinary environment and interactions to improve the experience for cats and their caregivers.

For the Cat Friendly Guidelines Co-Chairs, veterinarians Ilona Rodan, Nathalie Dowgray, Samantha Taylor and Kelly St Denis, the publication of the Cat Friendly Special Issue of JFMS is a pivotal moment. ‘We’re thrilled the Cat Friendly Guidelines will be available to all veterinary professionals because they are a game changer. They will enhance feline welfare, caregiver loyalty and human safety, and mean more positive veterinary visits for all!’

References

1. Rodan I, Dowgray N, Carney HC, et al. 2022 AAFP/ISFM cat friendly veterinary interaction guidelines: approach and handling techniques. J Feline Med Surg 2022; 24: 1093–1132. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128760.
2. Taylor S, St Denis K, Collins S, et al. 2022 ISFM/AAFP cat friendly veterinary environment guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2002; 24: 1133–1163. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/ 1098612X221128763.

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JOURNAL

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

DOI

10.1177/1098612X221128760 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

2-Nov-2022

Italian researchers discover new recipe for extending shelf life of fresh pasta by 30 days

Changes to product packaging, addition of bioprotective, and antimicrobial bacteria called probiotics add 30 days to how long the popular food staple can be stored

Peer-Reviewed Publication

FRONTIERS

Pasta is serious business in Italy, with reportedly more than 300 specific forms known by some 1,300 names. There is even a 55-year-old ‘pasta law’ that governs its production and manufacture. But that doesn’t mean the beloved food staple is shut off from innovation.

Now, Italian researchers have cooked up a new process for extending the shelf life of fresh pasta by 30 days, using a novel packaging process that also involves applying bioprotective probiotic cultures to the dough. They published this new recipe for better preserving fresh pasta in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

The problem with fresh pasta

Most fresh pasta sold in stores today is produced through an industrial process that includes heat-treating the product, essentially the equivalent of pasteurization for pasta. After the pasta is ready, it is stored in something called modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), which involves removing oxygen and replacing it with other gasses within a package consisting of plastic film.

If kept refrigerated, fresh pasta has a shelf life of between 30 and 90 days. However, plenty of things can go wrong to compromise the quality of the pasta and even safety of the product. Some bacteria may survive thermal treatment and grow under the right conditions such as too much moisture.

Sometimes chemical preservatives are also used to help retain freshness. However, for consumers who prefer natural, ‘clean label’ products without artificial or synthetic ingredients, the options available to extend shelf life of fresh pasta are limited.

MAPping out a new way to store pasta

Researchers at the National Research Council (CNR), the largest public research institution in Italy, together with the University of Bari Aldo Moro, and in collaboration with the private chemical laboratory, Food Safety Lab, developed a new ‘clean-label’ method to minimize spoilage problems. First, they changed the ratio of MAP gasses and combination of plastic films used in the packaging to better control microbial growth and impermeability. Finally, they added a multi-strain probiotic mixture to inhibit the growth of bacteria.

 

The scientists then tested the new protocol using a short, thin twisted pasta type called trofie. One set of fresh pasta was manufactured and packaged conventionally. A second set was manufactured traditionally but stored in the experimental MAP. They added the bioprotective probiotic strains to a third set of fresh trofie, which was then stored in the experimental packaging.

And then the scientists waited.

After a few months – and using high-tech methods such as gene sequencing to identify microbial compositions and mass spectrometry to profile volatile organic compounds – they found that the trofie pasta treated with antimicrobial bioprotective probiotics in the experimental MAP had the best shelf life of the three experiments.

“The results demonstrate that the MAP, together with a spray-dried probiotic bioprotective cultures, acted in a synergistic way to control the microbial spoilage of fresh pasta during refrigerated storage,” said Dr Francesca De Leo, a researcher with the Institute of Biomembrane, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies at the CNR.

Fighting food waste

De Leo said that the technique developed by her team could be introduced at the industrial level, adding 30 days of shelf life compared to conventional products.

“From the consumer’s standpoint, a definite advantage of this product is the long shelf life and ease of storage,” she said. “This can be particularly important considering that consumers tend more and more to reduce the frequency of their food purchases, and consequently store as much as possible at home.”

The value of the research extends beyond finding a better way to store pasta longer, she added, by helping reduce food waste. The World Food Programme estimates that about a third of all food produced each year is squandered or lost before it can be consumed.

“Food waste and loss have a great influence on the ecological and environmental sustainability of the food system,” De Leo noted. “The adoption of innovative technological solutions for food waste prevention, such the one outlined in this study, can help offset these problems, if companies are willing to accept the challenge and innovate.”

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JOURNAL

Frontiers in Microbiology

DOI

10.3389/fmicb.2022.1003437 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Extension of the shelf-life of fresh pasta using modified atmosphere packaging and bioprotective cultures

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

2-Nov-2022

New study reveals that physical activity in the afternoon or evening is linked to reduced insulin resistance (and thus better control of blood sugar)

Peer-Reviewed Publication

DIABETOLOGIA

A new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) finds that afternoon or evening physical activity is associated with reduced insulin resistance (and thus better blood sugar control) when compared with an even distribution of physical activity through the day. Morning physical activity offered no advantages, concluded the study by Dr Jeroen van der Velde and colleagues at Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.

The current global obesity pandemic is partially the result of a lack of physical activity combined with sedentary behaviour (prolonged sitting) during the day. Such behaviour is linked to an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2D), while earlier research has found that short breaks in sedentary behaviour are associated with an improved cardiometabolic profile. This evidence is further supported by experimental studies showing that frequent interruptions of extended sitting with standing or light physical activity resulted in lower triacylglycerol levels and reduced blood glucose, indicating an improved blood sugar profile.

High fasting serum triacylglycerol levels may be linked to higher concentrations of fat in the liver, which in turn is strongly associated with insulin resistance. Previous studies have demonstrated that exercise is linked to reduced liver fat and improved insulin sensitivity.The authors hypothesised that taking breaks from sedentary behaviour may reduce liver fat, resulting in decreased insulin resistance and ultimately preventing T2D.

As well as the importance of the duration of sedentary periods, it has been argued that the timing of physical activity throughout the day may be a factor in metabolic health. In-vitro studies and research in animals have revealed daytime-dependent changes in exercise capacity as well as associated metabolic risk markers, however few such investigations have been performed in humans and their results are inconsistent. The team therefore aimed to investigate the associations of timing of physical activity and breaks in sedentary time with liver fat content and insulin resistance in a middle-aged population.

The researchers used data from the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study, a population-based prospective cohort study designed to investigate processes involved in the development of obesity-related diseases. Study participants were recruited between 2008 and 2012 with men and women living in the greater Leiden area being invited to participate if they were aged between 45 and 65 years and had a self-reported body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or higher. Invitations were also sent to all inhabitants aged between 45 and 65 years from one municipality within the region, as a reference population with a BMI representative of the general Netherlands population, resulting in a study population of 6,671 individuals.

Participants underwent a physical examination during which blood samples were taken to measure fasting and postprandial (after meal) blood glucose and insulin levels, while demographic, lifestyle and clinical information were obtained via questionnaire. They were also screened for suitability for an MRI scan, and roughly 35% of those able to undergo the procedure were randomly selected to have their liver fat content measured using this technique.

A further random subsample of 955 participants were given a combined accelerometer and heart rate monitor to wear for four consecutive days and nights to monitor movement and activity. Measurements of acceleration and heart rate were used to estimate physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE, measured in kJ/kg/day), which in turn allowed the team to determine time spent at different activity intensities. These were expressed as metabolic equivalents of task (MET) - a ratio of PAEE during an activity relative to that while resting (and a standard method for measuring physical activity). Sedentary periods (excluding sleep) were defined as being ≤1.5 MET, while a break in sedentary time was indicated by a spell of activity with accelerations >0.75 m/s2 (as such accelerations have been established by previous research as an accurate indicator of breaking up sedentary time). An intensity of more than 1.5 MET up to 3 MET was defined as light physical activity (LPA), with still higher intensities classed as MVPA.

The day was divided into three blocks: morning (06:00-12:00); afternoon (12:00-18:00); and evening (18:00-24:00), with the proportion of total daily MVPA occurring in each revealing the most active period. If the share of MVPA in each block differed from the others by less than 5%, then it was classified as being an even distribution of activity throughout the day.

This study is based on analysis of results obtained from those 775 participants for whom complete data sets were available. The group were 42% male and 58% female, had an average age of 56 years and average BMI of 26.2 kg/m2. After adjusting for variables such as age, sex, ethnicity and total body fat, the researchers observed that higher total PAEE and particularly MVPA were associated with both reduced liver fat content and reduced insulin resistance. An association was also found between insulin resistance and the timing of MVPA during the day: performing MVPA in the afternoon or evening was linked to reduced insulin resistance, by 18% and 25% respectively, compared to an even distribution of activity throughout the day, even after adjustment for total amount of MVPA. There was no significant difference in insulin resistance between morning activity and activity spread evenly over the day.

Neither the amount of sedentary time nor the number of breaks in sedentary behaviour were found to have any favourable association with liver fat content or insulin resistance. The authors suggest: “It could be that in our study the intensity of the activity during the breaks was too light to cause metabolic responses. Most daily activities are of light intensity and because we did not observe an association between LPA and insulin resistance, this may also explain the lack of an association between breaks and insulin resistance.”

Timing of physical activity is a relatively unexplored field in human biology and the mechanisms underlying the potential benefits of timing of physical activity remain unclear. Earlier studies have shown that metabolic responses to high-intensity exercise differed based on the time of day the exercise was performed. In addition, muscular strength as well as the metabolic function of skeletal muscle cells show a peak in the late afternoon, suggesting that being most active during this period may result in a more pronounced metabolic response than activity earlier in the day.

The researchers conclude “in addition to the total amount of daily MVPA, timing of MVPA during the day was associated with reduced insulin resistance: performing most MVPA in the afternoon or evening was associated with up to 25% reduced insulin resistance compared with an even distribution of MVPA during the day. These results suggest that timing of physical activity throughout the day is relevant for the beneficial effects of physical activity on inulin sensitivity. Further studies should assess whether timing of physical activity is indeed important for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.”

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JOURNAL

Diabetologia

ARTICLE TITLE

Timing of physical activity in relation to liver fat content and insulin resistance

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

1-Nov-2022

Poor quality sleep may be linked to heightened risk of irreversible sight loss (glaucoma)

Findings underscore need for sleep therapy in those at risk + eye checks in poor sleepers

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

Poor quality sleep, including too much or too little shut eye, daytime sleepiness, and snoring, may be linked to a heightened risk of developing irreversible sight loss (glaucoma), suggests a large UK Biobank study published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

The findings underscore the need for sleep therapy in people at high risk of the disease as well as eye checks among those with chronic sleep disorders to check for early signs of glaucoma, conclude the researchers.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and will likely affect an estimated 112 million people worldwide by 2040.  

Characterised by progressive loss of light sensitive cells in the eye and optic nerve damage, its causes and contributory factors are still poorly understood. But if left untreated, glaucoma can progress to irreversible blindness. 

While population screening may not be cost effective, targeted screening of high-risk groups might be, suggest the researchers. And previously published research suggests that sleep disorders may be an important risk factor.

To explore these issues further, the researchers set out to ascertain the risk of glaucoma among people with different sleep behaviours: insomnia; too much or too little sleep; night or morning chronotypes (‘owls’ or ‘larks’); daytime sleepiness; and snoring. 

They drew on 409,053 participants in the UK Biobank, all of whom were aged between 40 and 69 in 2006-10 when recruited, and who had provided details of their sleep behaviours.

Sleep duration was defined as normal (7 to less than 9 hours/day) and as too little or too much, outside this range. Chronotype was defined according to whether the person described themselves as more of a morning lark or night owl. 

Insomnia severity—trouble falling asleep at night or frequent waking—was classified as never/sometimes or usually, whereas subjective daytime sleepiness was categorised as never/rarely, sometimes, or frequent. 

Background information on potentially influential factors was retrieved from the questionnaires filled in at recruitment: age (average 57), sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, lifestyle, weight (BMI), and residential area level of deprivation.

Medical records and death registration data were used to track the health and survival of all the participants until a first diagnosis of glaucoma (hospital admission), death, emigration, or the end of the monitoring period (31 March 2021), whichever came first.

During an average monitoring period of just over 10.5 years, 8690 cases of glaucoma were identified.

Those with glaucoma tended to be older and more likely to be male, an ever smoker, and to have high blood pressure or diabetes than those who weren’t diagnosed with the disease.

With the exception of chronotype, the other four sleep patterns/behaviours were all associated with varying degrees of heightened glaucoma risk.

Short or long sleep duration was associated with an 8% heightened risk; insomnia 12%; snoring 4%; and frequent daytime sleepiness (20%).

And compared with those with a healthy sleep pattern, snorers and those who experienced daytime sleepiness were 10% more likely to have glaucoma, while insomniacs and those with a short/long sleep duration pattern were 13% more likely to have it.

The results were similar when categorised by different types of glaucoma.

This is an observational study, and as such, can’t establish cause. The study relied on self report rather than objective measurement and reflected one point in time only, acknowledge the researchers. Glaucoma might itself influence sleep patterns, rather than the other way round, they add.

But there are potentially plausible biological explanations for the associations found between sleep disturbance and glaucoma, say the researchers. 

The internal pressure of the eye, a key factor in the development of glaucoma, rises when a person is lying down and when sleep hormones are out of kilter, as occurs in insomnia, explain the researchers. 

Depression and anxiety, which often go hand in hand with insomnia, may also increase the internal eye pressure, possibly because of dysregulated cortisol production, they suggest.

Similarly, repetitive or prolonged episodes of low levels of cellular oxygen, caused by sleep apnoea (sudden stopping of breathing during sleep), might cause direct damage to the optic nerve, it has been suggested. 

“As sleep behaviours are modifiable, these findings underscore the necessity of sleep intervention for individuals at high risk of glaucoma and potential ophthalmologic screening among individuals with chronic sleep problems to help prevent glaucoma,” conclude the researchers.

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JOURNAL

BMJ Open

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063676 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Association of sleep behaviour and pattern with the risk of glaucoma: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

1-Nov-2022

The Platypus—God's Little Joke—May Be Killed Off by River Dams

Pandora Dewan - Yesterday 

Platypus populations in Australia are becoming increasingly isolated as their habitats are fragmented by human-made dams. As a result, the long-term survival of this distinctive species is falling under threat.

A report in 2020 estimated that the area occupied by the beloved platypus has shrunk by at least 22 percent over the past 30 years. The species has recently been classed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because of its declining populations.

Large dams, over 30 feet high, pose a major threat to freshwater species, like platypuses, by limiting their migration and altering seasonal flow patterns. In a study, published by the journal Nature Communications Biology, Luis Mijangos and colleagues used DNA analysis to study the impact of dam construction on platypus populations.

"In our study, we use genetic differentiation to give us an idea of whether platypuses are able to get around dams," Mijangos told Newsweek. "We found that genetic differentiation between groups above and below dams were much higher than genetic differentiation between populations in rivers without dams and that this genetic differentiation was increasing linearly across time.

"These results suggest that almost no, or no, platypuses have passed around the dams since they were built, so now we can be more certain that dams are likely impassable barriers for platypuses."

This fragmentation poses a serious threat to the long-term survival of the species. "When there is no connectivity between populations...the ability to recolonise available habitat or migrate to areas with more suitable conditions is restricted," Mijangos said. "Fragmentation also simultaneously reduces both local population size and gene flow, each of which is expected to lead to increased inbreeding and reduction of the genetic variation necessary for adaptation."


Photo of a platypus wrapped in a towel. Platypus populations are becoming increasingly fragmented due to the construction of man-made river dams. Gilad Bino© Gilad Bino

In the face of habitat disruption, pollution, climate change and predation by invasive species, the ability to adapt to new environments is becoming more important than ever before. However, to be able to adapt, a species needs to have a diverse, well-mixed gene pool. When populations become fragmented, this genetic mixing becomes harder to achieve.

The platypus has previously been described as "God's little joke" due to its unusual combination of features: while it has fur and produces milk like a mammal, it also lays eggs and has a bill and webbed feet like a duck; the male platypus produces venom from spurs on its hind legs which, while lethal, may have potential as a treatment for diabetes; its coat glows green under UV light and it uses electroreception to find food underwater.

"Platypuses are arguably the most irreplaceable mammal," Mijangos said.

The study's authors have recommended the introduction of strategies to promote platypus population mixing, such as developing "platypus-ways" to help the animals climb over dams. Water quality and riverbank restoration will also be important, and further research will be required to gain a better understanding of the breeding requirements of this unique species.

Platypus populations impacted by large river dams are more vulnerable to threats

by University of New South Wales

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The platypus is possibly the most irreplaceable mammal existing today. They have a unique combination of characteristics, including egg-laying despite being mammals, venomous spurs in males, electroreception for locating prey, biofluorescent fur, multiple sex chromosomes, and the longest evolutionary history in mammals.

Platypuses are a threatened species in some Australian states and their conservation is of concern more broadly, due to known decline in their populations.

A new study published in Communications Biology examined the genetic makeup of platypuses in free-flowing and nearby rivers with large dams in New South Wales. These included the free-flowing Ovens River, along with the dammed Mitta Mitta River, and the free-flowing Tenterfield Creek, along with the nearby Severn River regulated by a large dam.

The study found that large dams are significant barriers to platypus movements. This was reflected in greater genetic differentiation between platypuses above and below large dams compared to rivers without dams. Importantly, this genetic differentiation increased over time since the dam was built, reflecting the long-term impacts of the dam.

"We extracted the DNA from the blood collected by our Platypus Conservation Initiative researchers at UNSW. By using thousands of molecular markers, we were able to identify a strong signal indicating that genetic differentiation increased rapidly between platypuses below and above these large dams," said lead author Dr. Luis Mijangos, a former UNSW Ph.D. student who is now at the University of Canberra.

Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the UNSW Center for Ecosystem Science and one of the paper's authors, said, "This is a profound result with significant implications for platypus conservation.

"We've long suspected that prey can restrict platypus movements, but this is the 'smoking gun.' These animals just can't get around big dams."

This movement restriction of platypuses separated by large dams means there is limited or no gene flow between groups, making these separate populations increasingly vulnerable to threats. There is increased possibility of inbreeding depression, loss of adaptive genetic variation, failure to recolonize areas where local extinctions have occurred, and failure to disperse to areas with more suitable conditions.

"We know that platypuses are declining in many parts of their range in eastern Australia, affected by many threats. This study identifies one of the main threats to this iconic species," said Dr. Gilad Bino, leader of the Platypus Conservation Initiative at UNSW Sydney and another author of the study.

"There is still much we don't know about the ecology of the platypus, but given its international status as a monotreme, it is increasingly vital that we understand and manage the threats to this unique species."

The authors recommend that water conservation and management planning should consider alternative approaches to large dams. These could include storing water in off-river reservoirs and implementing strategies to reduce the effects of dams, such as the artificial relocation of individual platypuses between groups above and below dams, or the construction of passage structures that increase dispersal.

More information: Luis Mijangos, Fragmentation by major dams and implications for the future viability of platypus populations, Communications Biology (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04038-9. www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-04038-9

Journal information: Communications Biology 

Provided by University of New South Wales 

Changes to river flows are having a 'damming' impact on platypuses

DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY

Uganda's Museveni vows no national lockdown as Ebola cases rise

Fri, November 4, 2022


Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday reiterated his refusal to impose a nationwide Covid-like lockdown to contain the spread of Ebola despite a worrying increase in cases.

Since the health ministry first declared an Ebola outbreak in the central district of Mubende, the disease has spread across the East African nation, including to the capital Kampala.

But Museveni ruled out any plans for a nationwide lockdown, instead urging citizens to "be more vigilant" and observe measures put in place to control the spread of Ebola.

"There will be NO LOCKDOWN. Therefore, people should go ahead and concentrate on their work without any worry," he said on Twitter.

The death toll from the highly contagious disease currently stands at 49, according to the Ugandan government.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said the country had registered over 150 confirmed and probable cases, including 64 fatalities.

Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, with common symptoms being fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea.

Outbreaks are difficult to contain, especially in urban environments.

People who are infected do not become contagious until symptoms appear, which is after an incubation period of between two and 21 days.

The outbreak was declared on September 20, and eight days later Museveni declared any nationwide lockdown was "not necessary."

In October, however, he imposed a lockdown on two districts, Mubende and Kassanda, setting a dusk-to-dawn curfew, banning travel and closing markets, bars and churches for 21 days.

He also ordered the police to arrest anyone infected with Ebola who refused to isolate.

WHO on Wednesday warned that there was a high risk of Ebola spreading further and called on neighbouring countries to boost their preparedness.

Uganda's last recorded fatality from a previous Ebola outbreak was in 2019.

The particular strain now circulating in Uganda is known as the Sudan Ebola virus, for which there is currently no vaccine, although there are several candidate vaccines heading towards clinical trials.

The worst Ebola epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 killed more than 11,300 people.

gm-ho/amu/ri

The renaissance of the world's largest pipe organ

Andréa BAMBINO
Fri, 4 November 2022 


You've never felt Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor quite like this: in Atlantic City, the largest organ in the world is coming back to life.

The pipe organ in the New Jersey city's Boardwalk Hall was constructed in the 1920s, during the seaside resort area's golden age.

But the instrument suffered the wrath of a hurricane in 1944, and wear and tear after years of quasi-abandonment for a while left it unusable. Now, through private donations and careful restoration, it is coming back to ear-pleasing functionality.

From near the stage the antique wooden cabinet looks tiny, but inside it includes a record seven keyboards and rows of keys and pedals that control the pipes, only two-thirds of which are currently in working order.

"It's an experience that's hard to really describe," said Dylan David Shaw, a 23-year-old organist.

"Every conceivable sound of the orchestra that you can think of is available at your fingertips: strings and woodwinds, orchestral trumpets, flutes," Shaw said. "Anything you can possibly think of: percussions, glockenspiel, even a full grand piano in one of the side chambers."

He added: "It's a magical experience."


The history of the instrument, which was constructed by the Midmer-Losh Organ Company, goes hand in hand with that of Boardwalk Hall itself.

The imposing arena facing the ocean has been the site of Miss America competitions, the 1964 Democratic convention, and boxer Mike Tyson fights.

The organ was built "to fill this enormous space with music," said organ curator Nathan Bryson, who called the "enormous instrument" the "precursor of surround sound."

- 50 percent playable -

The pipe organ has a stunning 33,112 pipes, the most in the world, in wooden rooms accessible by a narrow staircase and ladders.

By comparison, the famous Grand Organ of Notre Dame in Paris has fewer than 8,000 pipes.

When the organist plays "The Star-Spangled Banner," listeners feel almost as if their bodies are vibrating with the notes of the US national anthem.

While Atlantic City holds the record for most pipes, just an hour's drive away in Philadelphia stands the "Wanamaker," the world's largest organ in working order that's inside a Macy's department store.

Since 2004 a historic organ restoration committee entirely financed through donations has been working to return Atlantic City's organ to its full sonic power.

Behind the stage, Dean Norbeck, a retired electrical engineer, patiently mounts small magnets on a board, which conduct air in the pipes to produce sound.

Some repairs are easy to identify, but "sometimes it can be tricky to figure out why the pipes are not playing," Bryson said, and "where the point of failure is along the way."

For organist Shaw, the instrument is "over 50 percent playable."

The total restoration will cost some $16 million, Bryson said. So far $5 million has been raised.

arb/mdo/md/tjj

‘No more snow’: Climate change spells end for French Alps ski resort

 A ski lift in the French Alpine town of Saint-Firmin was torn down at the end of October, more than 15 years after going out of use due to a lack of snow – a problem set to confront a growing number of ski resorts in the coming years as climate changes sees temperature rise. But an association that oversaw the dismantling of the ski lift hopes such sites can now be restored to their natural state, and sustainable, year-round tourism take the place of skiing.

NASA's Artemis moon mission rocket will roll out to launch pad tonight

After three failed attempts, NASA prepares to finally launch the Orion spacecraft in two weeks.

Written by Stephanie Condon, Senior Writer on Nov. 3, 2022



NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen atop the mobile launcher as it returns to the Vehicle Assembly Building from Launch Pad 39B, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.Image: NASA/Joel Kowsky

NASA is preparing for its next attempt to launch the Artemis moon mission. Beginning at 12:01am EDT on Friday, the agency will roll out the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The rollout is a major moment for the stalled Artemis mission, which now aims to launch on Nov. 14.

Also: What is the Artemis mission? Everything you need to know

The mission was initially slated to launch in late August, but the launch was scrubbed due to technical delays. A second attempt was also scrubbed due to technical issues. Then in September, NASA had to wheel the SLS back to its hangar as Hurricane Ian approached the western side of Florida's peninsula, disrupting what would have been the third launch attempt.

The Artemis program is a yearslong mission that will culminate with landing the first woman and person of color on the moon. It all starts with the Artemis I mission, which will send NASA's new rocket and spacecraft, unmanned, on a journey to orbit the moon. The purpose of the Artemis I mission is to ensure that the deep space exploration systems – the SLS and Orion spacecraft – are ready to send humans to the moon and beyond.

The November 14 liftoff is expected to take place within a 69-minute window that opens at 12:07 am EST. A launch on November 14 would result in a mission duration of about 25-and-a-half days with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, December 9.

Over the next week, NASA will be monitoring an area of low pressure in the atmosphere that could develop into a storm large enough to impact the launch.

If NASA needs to scrub the launch, its next opportunities for liftoff come on November 16 at 1:04 am and November 19 at 1:45 am. The agency would prefer a daytime launch, so it can get better visuals of the event. However, it's also running up against some deadlines.

There are a number of elements of the rocket that are on a "limited life list," NASA associate administrator Jim Free explained to reporters Thursday. Their guaranteed functionality is based on a set of assumptions that have to be re-tested after a certain period of time. The SLS boosters fall into that category.

One of the SLS rocket boosters wil have to be re-analyzed after December. 9, according to Cliff Lanham, senior vehicle operations manager for NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program. Another one will have to be re-tested after December 14.

Amazon founder Bezos, Jay-Z interested in NFL Commanders: report

Fri, November 4, 2022 


Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is interested in purchasing the NFL's Washington Commanders and music industry icon Jay-Z might join him as an investor, according to multiple US media reports.

The Washington Post and People magazine, each citing unnamed sources, said Bezos was considering a bid and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, might partner with him.

Bezos owns the Washington Post and is executive chairman of Amazon, which is in the first season of a streaming deal for Thursday night NFL games worth a reported $1 billion.

The reports come after Commanders owners Dan and Tanya Snyder said on Wednesday that they have retained a firm to "consider potential transactions" involving the club.

Bezos was not known as a bidder for the most recently sold NFL team, the Denver Broncos, who were purchased from the trust of the late owner Pat Bowlen by a group led by Walmart heir Rob Walton for $4.65 billion, a record purchase price for any North American sports franchise.

NFL owners ratified the sale in August, making Walton the NFL's richest owner, a mark Bezos would eclipse should he purchase the Commanders.

Forbes magazine lists Walton's net worth at $59.2 billion while Bezos ranks as the world's fourth-richest person at $113.2 billion.

In August, Forbes estimated the Commanders are worth $5.6 billion.

In September, Bezos attended the first NFL game in Amazon's new telecast deal at Kansas City.

Another person the Post reported is interested in the Commanders is Byron Allen, owner of Entertainment Studios, also known as Allen Media Group.

Allen, a bidder for the Broncos, would be the first Black majority owner of an NFL team.

Dan Snyder is under investigation by the House of Representatives oversight and reform committee, the NFL and attorney generals in Virginia and Washington DC regarding allegations of financial misdeeds.

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