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Reproductive Efficiency in Dairy Cows: Change in Trends!
Published in Juan Carlos Gardón, Katy Satué, Biotechnologies Applied to Animal Reproduction, 2020
Ana Heras-Molina, José Luis Pesantez Pacheco, Susana Astiz
In order to help animals cope with stressors in their surroundings, prevent frustration and increase the fulfillment of behavioral needs, the enrichment of the environment can be done (Mandel et al., 2016). Environmental enrichment is defined as an improvement in the biological functioning of confined animals, resulting from modifications to their environment. Biological functions are referred as increase fitness in a direct or indirect way, as well as correlation of both (that would be health). Thus, by environmental enrichment, lifetime reproductive success can be improved (Newberry, 1995).
Nutrient Metabolism and Fetal Brain Development
Published in Emilio Herrera, Robert H. Knopp, Perinatal Biochemistry, 2020
George E. Shambaugh, Boyd E. Metzger, James A. Radosevich
Developments of the mammalian brain progresses by an orchestrated series of events characterized in discrete regions by an increase in cell number and cell size. Earlier concepts defining a vulnerable period during a selflimited phase of hyperplastic growth has been modified since cell multiplication has been shown to continue as long as growth continues. Nutrition deficit in the mother does not usually affect development of the large neurons in the cerebral cortex or cerebellum; rather, it primarily affects: (1) the cells providing the supporting matrix of small intemeurons and neuroglia; (2) the dendrites and their entrance into synaptic zone; and (3) the migration of cells during differentiation. Knowledge concerning the relation of growth factors to these processes and the effect of altered levels of these growth factors, their stimulation by specific amino acids, and the relationship of growth factors and their binding proteins is incomplete at the present time. Further, many of the changes in brain development during altered nutrition can be considerably improved by environmental enrichment.
Small Animal Handling, Care, and Anesthesia
Published in George C. Kagadis, Nancy L. Ford, Dimitrios N. Karnabatidis, George K. Loudos, Handbook of Small Animal Imaging, 2018
Enrichment or environmental enrichment is the addition of objects or alterations in an animal’s environment that allows an animal to display species-specific behaviors. For example, group housing rodents would be considered an environmental enrichment as it allows for conspecific grooming. Other standard enrichments in rodent environments may include nesting, group housing, hiding spaces/devices, climbing devices, foraging devices, or food treats. Enrichment, while often not standardized or well defined, does have the potential to produce positive or negative effects on many types of research (Bayne 2005). Little is known about the effects of standard enrichments such as nesting on imaging outcomes. However, for example, nesting has a significant impact on body temperature (Gaskill et al. 2012), which may be critical for physiological homeostasis and survival post-anesthesia/imaging. Enrichment should always be a study component and should be evaluated prior to its use.
Behavioral intervention approaches for people with disorders of consciousness: a scoping review
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2022
Giulio E. Lancioni, Nirbhay N. Singh, Mark F. O’Reilly, Jeff Sigafoos, Lorenzo Desideri
Fourth, research may want to carry out systematic comparisons of the different intervention approaches available for people with minimally conscious state. These comparisons would require to be carefully designed, probably via randomized controlled trials, and would have to identify a number of measures on which to base the evaluation of the intervention benefits and a possible/final synthesis (e.g., meta-analysis) of the evidence available [92–94]. Fifth, new studies may also focus on investigating the role of technology in supporting some of the multiple stimulation procedures. Technology could be seen as a means to ensure environmental enrichment (e.g., virtual reality [67]) or as a means to enable the patient to control environmental stimulation events through simple responses [95,96].
Feasibility of a home-based environmental enrichment paradigm to enhance purposeful activities in adults with traumatic brain injury: a case series
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2022
Devina S. Kumar, James C. Galloway
The study describes environmental enrichment as a lifestyle choice to promote brain and body health through actual environmental complexities, goal-oriented activities, exercise, social interactions, and participation. A 6-month intervention-based study wherein daily activities are safely practiced at least four times per week, for thirty minutes in the house harness. Family activities would range from household tasks such as cooking or washing dishes to outdoor activities such as grocery shopping. The multi-directional house harness would provide the physical support similar to the physical support’s aka enrichment used in animal studies. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to evaluate (1) safety and feasibility of a six-month EE program, (2) influence on clinical measures, and (3) compare subject and caregiver step activity over time.
Akkermansia muciniphila and environmental enrichment reverse cognitive impairment associated with high-fat high-cholesterol consumption in rats
Published in Gut Microbes, 2021
Sara G. Higarza, Silvia Arboleya, Jorge L. Arias, Miguel Gueimonde, Natalia Arias
Environmental enrichment (EE) has been described as motor and sensorial stimulation that is able to modulate the physical and cognitive status.23 Moreover, EE has been found to have brain repairing therapeutic effects in several neuropsychiatric diseases.22–24 Our results revealed that the HFHC group presented cognitive deficits, which are in line with previous studies where impaired cognitive function has been associated with high-fat diet consumption and alterations of gut microbiota.31,32 Specifically, novel object recognition impairment was restored by EE, in accordance with de Souza et al.33 Our data extend these findings, demonstrating that spatial working memory alterations, which we have previously described,3 were also improved by EE. The effect of EE on the HFHC group was accompanied by decreased levels of brain metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, and perirhinal cortex. Moreover, other brain regions, such as the thalamus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus, showed the same pattern. The prefrontal cortex sends projections to the perirhinal and entorhinal cortices34 and is in reciprocal connection with the striatum35 and the thalamus.36 This network supports spatial working memory and novel object recognition abilities.34,36–38 Therefore, any improvement in this network will be reflected in an improvement in both behavioral tasks, as we demonstrated.