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This study focuses on the problem of assessing inter-observer reliability (IOR) in the case of dichotomous categorical animal-based welfare indicators and the presence of two observers. Based on observations obtained from Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) project surveys conducted on nine dairy goat farms, and using udder asymmetry as an indicator, we compared the performance of the most popular agreement indexes available in the literature: Scott’s
Mauro Giammarino; Silvana Mattiello; Monica Battini; Piero Quatto; Luca Battaglini; Ana Vieira; George Stilwell; Manuela Renna. Evaluation of Inter-Observer Reliability of Animal Welfare Indicators: Which Is the Best Index to Use? Animals 2021, 11, 1445 .
AMA StyleMauro Giammarino, Silvana Mattiello, Monica Battini, Piero Quatto, Luca Battaglini, Ana Vieira, George Stilwell, Manuela Renna. Evaluation of Inter-Observer Reliability of Animal Welfare Indicators: Which Is the Best Index to Use? Animals. 2021; 11 (5):1445.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMauro Giammarino; Silvana Mattiello; Monica Battini; Piero Quatto; Luca Battaglini; Ana Vieira; George Stilwell; Manuela Renna. 2021. "Evaluation of Inter-Observer Reliability of Animal Welfare Indicators: Which Is the Best Index to Use?" Animals 11, no. 5: 1445.
This work presents a dataset of cat vocalizations focusing on the meows emitted in three different contexts: brushing, isolation in an unfamiliar environment, and waiting for food. The dataset contains vocalizations produced by 21 cats belonging to two breeds, namely Maine Coon and European Shorthair. Sounds have been recorded using low-cost devices easily available on the marketplace, and the data acquired are representative of real-world cases both in terms of audio quality and acoustic conditions. The dataset is open-access, released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, and it can be retrieved from the Zenodo web repository.
Luca A. Ludovico; Stavros Ntalampiras; Giorgio Presti; Simona Cannas; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello. CatMeows: A Publicly-Available Dataset of Cat Vocalizations. Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XV 2021, 230 -243.
AMA StyleLuca A. Ludovico, Stavros Ntalampiras, Giorgio Presti, Simona Cannas, Monica Battini, Silvana Mattiello. CatMeows: A Publicly-Available Dataset of Cat Vocalizations. Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XV. 2021; ():230-243.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca A. Ludovico; Stavros Ntalampiras; Giorgio Presti; Simona Cannas; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello. 2021. "CatMeows: A Publicly-Available Dataset of Cat Vocalizations." Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XV , no. : 230-243.
The present study aims to understand the influence of a reduced amount of straw litter on goats’ lying comfort and hygienic characteristics of milk and straw. Lying behaviour (frequency, lying posture, location and social context) of 24 Alpine goats subjected to two different straw treatments (Regular: 2 kg/straw/head + 1 kg straw/head/day, n = 12; Scarce: 1 kg straw/head + 0.5 kg straw/head/day, n = 12) was observed from video recordings using a scan sampling method at 15-min scan intervals in March 2017. Moreover, straw and milk samples were submitted to microbiological analysis for the detection of total bacteria (SPC) and Enterobacteriaceae count. No significant differences in the duration of lying were observed between treatments, except at the beginning of the experimental period (Day 1: Regular: 26.0%; Scarce: 20.3% of scans; p < .05). In both treatments lying behaviour followed the normal lying patterns for goats, with a preference for sternal lying (99.4% of scans), in contact with a pen wall (78.2% of scans) and not in contact with other goats (alone: 79.7% of scans). Milk and straw SPC and Enterobacteriaceae count were not affected by the treatment. This preliminary study suggests the possibility to reduce the amount of straw as bedding material in goat farms, without affecting animal welfare and microbiological characteristics of milk and straw litter. However, further studies are required to confirm these results under different climatic conditions.
Stefania Celozzi; Silvana Mattiello; Monica Battini; Maddalena Zucali; Lisa Pirovano; Clara Albano; Milena Brasca; Luciana Bava. Effect of a reduced amount of straw bedding on goats’ comfort and hygienic characteristics of milk and straw. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2021, 20, 995 -1001.
AMA StyleStefania Celozzi, Silvana Mattiello, Monica Battini, Maddalena Zucali, Lisa Pirovano, Clara Albano, Milena Brasca, Luciana Bava. Effect of a reduced amount of straw bedding on goats’ comfort and hygienic characteristics of milk and straw. Italian Journal of Animal Science. 2021; 20 (1):995-1001.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefania Celozzi; Silvana Mattiello; Monica Battini; Maddalena Zucali; Lisa Pirovano; Clara Albano; Milena Brasca; Luciana Bava. 2021. "Effect of a reduced amount of straw bedding on goats’ comfort and hygienic characteristics of milk and straw." Italian Journal of Animal Science 20, no. 1: 995-1001.
Although the domestic cat (Felis catus) is probably the most widespread companion animal in the world and interacts in a complex and multifaceted way with humans, the human–cat relationship and reciprocal communication have received far less attention compared, for example, to the human–dog relationship. Only a limited number of studies have considered what people understand of cats’ human-directed vocal signals during daily cat–owner interactions. The aim of the current study was to investigate to what extent adult humans recognize cat vocalizations, namely meows, emitted in three different contexts: waiting for food, isolation, and brushing. A second aim was to evaluate whether the level of human empathy toward animals and cats and the participant’s gender would positively influence the recognition of cat vocalizations. Finally, some insights on which acoustic features are relevant for the main investigation are provided as a serendipitous result. Two hundred twenty-five adult participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge of cats and to evaluate their empathy toward animals (Animal Empathy Scale). In addition, participants had to listen to six cat meows recorded in three different contexts and specify the context in which they were emitted and their emotional valence. Less than half of the participants were able to associate cats’ vocalizations with the correct context in which they were emitted; the best recognized meow was that emitted while waiting for food. Female participants and cat owners showed a higher ability to correctly classify the vocalizations emitted by cats during brushing and isolation. A high level of empathy toward cats was significantly associated with a better recognition of meows emitted during isolation. Regarding the emotional valence of meows, it emerged that cat vocalizations emitted during isolation are perceived by people as the most negative, whereas those emitted during brushing are perceived as most positive. Overall, it emerged that, although meowing is mainly a human-directed vocalization and in principle represents a useful tool for cats to communicate emotional states to their owners, humans are not particularly able to extract precise information from cats’ vocalizations and show a limited capacity of discrimination based mainly on their experience with cats and influenced by empathy toward them.
Emanuela Prato-Previde; Simona Cannas; Clara Palestrini; Sara Ingraffia; Monica Battini; Luca Andrea Ludovico; Stavros Ntalampiras; Giorgio Presti; Silvana Mattiello. What’s in a Meow? A Study on Human Classification and Interpretation of Domestic Cat Vocalizations. Animals 2020, 10, 2390 .
AMA StyleEmanuela Prato-Previde, Simona Cannas, Clara Palestrini, Sara Ingraffia, Monica Battini, Luca Andrea Ludovico, Stavros Ntalampiras, Giorgio Presti, Silvana Mattiello. What’s in a Meow? A Study on Human Classification and Interpretation of Domestic Cat Vocalizations. Animals. 2020; 10 (12):2390.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEmanuela Prato-Previde; Simona Cannas; Clara Palestrini; Sara Ingraffia; Monica Battini; Luca Andrea Ludovico; Stavros Ntalampiras; Giorgio Presti; Silvana Mattiello. 2020. "What’s in a Meow? A Study on Human Classification and Interpretation of Domestic Cat Vocalizations." Animals 10, no. 12: 2390.
Background: The effectiveness of telerehabilitation for a patient with knee osteoarthritis may depend upon the person’s adherence to intervention. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether people with knee osteoarthritis would adhere to exercise-therapy facilitated via multiple media in Brazil, a newly industrialized country. Method: This is a feasibility study, pre-post intervention. Middle aged (40-50 years) and elderly (?70 years) people with knee osteoarthritis received in-person exercise-therapy instructions on the first day, along with a booklet and DVD (videos) to take home. Participants also received six motivational phone calls throughout the 12-week treatment. Satisfaction and adherence were assessed one week after intervention with the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS), sections B and C. Preference on the method used to adhere to exercises was recorded. Conclusion: Telerehabilitation was well accepted by middle-aged and elderly Brazilians with knee osteoarthritis. The preferred media to enhance adherence, was a booklet with descriptions of the exercises, especially for the elderly cohort.
Jéssica Bianca Aily; Christian John Barton; Stela Marcia Mattiello; Danilo De Oliveira Silva; Marcos De Noronha. Telerehabilitation for Knee Osteoarthritis in Brazil: A Feasibility Study. International Journal of Telerehabilitation 2020, 12, 137 -148.
AMA StyleJéssica Bianca Aily, Christian John Barton, Stela Marcia Mattiello, Danilo De Oliveira Silva, Marcos De Noronha. Telerehabilitation for Knee Osteoarthritis in Brazil: A Feasibility Study. International Journal of Telerehabilitation. 2020; 12 (2):137-148.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJéssica Bianca Aily; Christian John Barton; Stela Marcia Mattiello; Danilo De Oliveira Silva; Marcos De Noronha. 2020. "Telerehabilitation for Knee Osteoarthritis in Brazil: A Feasibility Study." International Journal of Telerehabilitation 12, no. 2: 137-148.
To analyze if socioeconomic characteristics as lower education and lower family income are associated factors with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This cross-sectional study included 140 participants aged 40 years or older with KOA grades II and III. Based on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), four groups were identified: non-catastrophic/non-kinesiophobic (NC/NK), non-catastrophic/non-kinesiophobic (NC/K), catastrophic/non-kinesiophobic (C/NK), and catastrophic/kinesiophobic (C/K). Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). The 30-s chair stand test was performed to access physical function. Sociodemographic characteristics included age, sex, years of formal education (0 to 11 and > 11), and family income (up to 2 minimum wages and > 2). Multinomial regression analysis adjusted for age, radiographic severity, physical function, and pain intensity was used to determine the association between lower education and lower family income with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia. Only lower education was independently associated with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia (OR = 3.96 CI 95% 1.01–15.51). Lower education but not lower family income was an important associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Thus, physician and physical therapist must pay attention on this important socioeconomic characteristic while conducting the treatment, since specific strategies of approach could be necessary for those patients.
Jessica Bianca Aily; Aline Castilho de Almeida; Paula C. Ramírez; Tiago Da Silva Alexandre; Stela Marcia Mattiello. Lower education is an associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis? Clinical Rheumatology 2020, 40, 2361 -2367.
AMA StyleJessica Bianca Aily, Aline Castilho de Almeida, Paula C. Ramírez, Tiago Da Silva Alexandre, Stela Marcia Mattiello. Lower education is an associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis? Clinical Rheumatology. 2020; 40 (6):2361-2367.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJessica Bianca Aily; Aline Castilho de Almeida; Paula C. Ramírez; Tiago Da Silva Alexandre; Stela Marcia Mattiello. 2020. "Lower education is an associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis?" Clinical Rheumatology 40, no. 6: 2361-2367.
Mountain husbandry systems and their related products may directly or indirectly provide either ecosystem services (ESs) or disservices to humanity. The present study aims to evaluate the perception that a local mountain community has towards animal husbandry in the Lanzo Valleys (Piedmont, Italy) and towards the typical local dairy product, Toma di Lanzo, as well as to investigate the consumers’ habits and preferences, to detect possible positive impacts on mountain tourism. A questionnaire was delivered to 233 respondents. The perception of the impact was scored using a five-point Likert scale. The results show a very positive perception of the product Toma di Lanzo because of its origin and type of processing, with different perceptions of the local society depending on age (p < 0.01), residence (p < 0.01), and education level (p < 0.05). The respondents had a very positive awareness of the impact of mountain livestock farming in the Lanzo Valleys. The most important perceived ESs are cultural identity and maintenance of local breeds. Women, non-residents, and respondents with an intermediate education level generally had a more positive perception of ESs. There was a very low perception of disservices derived from mountain animal farming. The main perceived obstacles to the spread of benefits derived from these farming systems were the scarce presence of specific supporting politics and the low income generated by mountain farming activities. The coexistence of touristic activities and extensive livestock farming systems has to be associated with a better promotion of mountain products like Toma di Lanzo to improve the sustainability of mountain regions.
Rebecca Montrasio; Silvana Mattiello; Martina Zucaro; Dino Genovese; Luca Battaglini. The Perception of Ecosystem Services of Mountain Farming and of a Local Cheese: An Analysis for the Touristic Valorization of an Inner Alpine Area. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8017 .
AMA StyleRebecca Montrasio, Silvana Mattiello, Martina Zucaro, Dino Genovese, Luca Battaglini. The Perception of Ecosystem Services of Mountain Farming and of a Local Cheese: An Analysis for the Touristic Valorization of an Inner Alpine Area. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (19):8017.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRebecca Montrasio; Silvana Mattiello; Martina Zucaro; Dino Genovese; Luca Battaglini. 2020. "The Perception of Ecosystem Services of Mountain Farming and of a Local Cheese: An Analysis for the Touristic Valorization of an Inner Alpine Area." Sustainability 12, no. 19: 8017.
In this study, we investigated the lipid composition of fresh and semi-hard goat cheese produced in three Italian farms as well as the welfare assessment of goats reared in these farms. The fatty acid (FA) profile of cheese samples were found to be strictly related to the livestock system. Cheese collected from farms in which goats were allowed to graze and were fed diets with a higher forage/concentrate (F/C) ratio showed a FA profile represented by higher contents of health-promoting fatty acids. In the same samples, the health lipid indices showed the most favorable values. Conversely, cheese samples collected from a conventional-lowland farm, where goats were fed with higher amounts of concentrates and lower F/C ratio, presented a lower nutritional quality, characterized by the worst results for what concerns the health lipid indices. Then, we built a multivariate model able to discriminate samples coming from farms managed by a low-input system from those coming from farm managed by a high-input system. The comparison of animal welfare measurements and fatty acids data showed that a better intrinsic quality of low-input farms did not always correspond to better extrinsic quality, suggesting that the information on the livestock system is not always enough to provide consumers with complete awareness of the total product quality.
Annalaura Lopez; Mauro Vasconi; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Vittorio Maria Moretti; Federica Bellagamba. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Quality Attributes of Fresh and Semi-Hard Goat Cheese from Low- and High-Input Farming Systems. Animals 2020, 10, 1567 .
AMA StyleAnnalaura Lopez, Mauro Vasconi, Monica Battini, Silvana Mattiello, Vittorio Maria Moretti, Federica Bellagamba. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Quality Attributes of Fresh and Semi-Hard Goat Cheese from Low- and High-Input Farming Systems. Animals. 2020; 10 (9):1567.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnnalaura Lopez; Mauro Vasconi; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Vittorio Maria Moretti; Federica Bellagamba. 2020. "Intrinsic and Extrinsic Quality Attributes of Fresh and Semi-Hard Goat Cheese from Low- and High-Input Farming Systems." Animals 10, no. 9: 1567.
Objective We sought to investigate the interrater and intrarater reliability of ultrasound and the minimum detectable change (MDC) for the trigger points (TrPs) active in the upper trapezius (UT) muscle in individuals with shoulder pain. Methods Forty individuals with shoulder pain were investigated for the presence of active TrPs in the UT muscle by means of ultrasound for the parameters of gray scale, muscle thickness of UT muscle at rest, and contraction and area of TrPs. The intrarater reliability was performed on 2 days, and interrater reliability on the same day. For the gray scale, the reliability was evaluated using the kappa coefficient (κ), while the other parameters were measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and MDC. Results For the gray scale, the intrarater agreement was almost perfect (κ = 1.00) and the interrater agreement was substantial (κ = 0.75). The intrarater and interrater reliability were excellent for most of the parameters, except for the area of TrPs (intrarater: ICC = 0.71, substantial; interrater: ICC = 0.52, substantial). The MDC for intrarater reliability varied between 0.04 and 0.05 (SEM% between 2.4% and 38.87%), and that for interrater reliability ranged from 0.05 to 0.07 (SEM% between 3.18% and 55.10%), with a higher value for area. Conclusion Parameters such as gray scale, resting muscle thickness, and muscle contraction of the UT muscle, obtained through ultrasound, showed excellent intrarater and interrater reliability with low SEM%. The intrarater and interrater reliability for the area deserves a caveat regarding their use.
Alyssa Conte Da Silva; Jéssica Bianca Aily; Ana Beatriz Oliveira; Stela Marcia Mattiello. Interrater and Intrarater Reliability and Minimum Detectable Change of Ultrasound for Active Myofascial Trigger Points in Upper Trapezius Muscle in Individuals With Shoulder Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2020, 43, 855 -863.
AMA StyleAlyssa Conte Da Silva, Jéssica Bianca Aily, Ana Beatriz Oliveira, Stela Marcia Mattiello. Interrater and Intrarater Reliability and Minimum Detectable Change of Ultrasound for Active Myofascial Trigger Points in Upper Trapezius Muscle in Individuals With Shoulder Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2020; 43 (9):855-863.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlyssa Conte Da Silva; Jéssica Bianca Aily; Ana Beatriz Oliveira; Stela Marcia Mattiello. 2020. "Interrater and Intrarater Reliability and Minimum Detectable Change of Ultrasound for Active Myofascial Trigger Points in Upper Trapezius Muscle in Individuals With Shoulder Pain." Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 43, no. 9: 855-863.
Outdoor and extensive farming systems allow animals to behave in a natural way and are often perceived as welfare friendly. Nonetheless, the natural environment poses multiple challenges to the welfare of animals, sometimes hampering their capacity to cope. Welfare assessment in outdoor and extensive systems has been rarely investigated, and little is known about the most appropriate indicators. The aim of this review was to identify animal-based measures of welfare to apply in extensive and pasture-based systems in domestic ruminants. Through the use of a dedicated software for systematic reviews, 810 papers were screened and a total of 52 papers were retained for in-depth analysis. ABM resulting from these papers were initially divided according to the species (cattle and small ruminants, including sheep and goats) and then to four principles: comfort, behavior, feeding and health. The results showed that welfare data were collected applying different methodologies, with an increasing use of sensors in recent years. The need to herd and restrain animals for individual data collection is one of the major constraints to data collection in extensive farming systems. It is suggested that welfare assessment in outdoor/extensive farming systems is carried out by following shared procedures in order to provide evidence of the higher animal welfare claims that these products often imply compared to indoor systems.
Chiara Spigarelli; Anna Zuliani; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Stefano Bovolenta. Welfare Assessment on Pasture: A Review on Animal-Based Measures for Ruminants. Animals 2020, 10, 609 .
AMA StyleChiara Spigarelli, Anna Zuliani, Monica Battini, Silvana Mattiello, Stefano Bovolenta. Welfare Assessment on Pasture: A Review on Animal-Based Measures for Ruminants. Animals. 2020; 10 (4):609.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChiara Spigarelli; Anna Zuliani; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Stefano Bovolenta. 2020. "Welfare Assessment on Pasture: A Review on Animal-Based Measures for Ruminants." Animals 10, no. 4: 609.
Objective To systematically review current literature to determine the effectiveness of the ischemic compression (IC) technique on pain and function in individuals with shoulder pain. Methods This review was conducted according to recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Cochrane Collaboration for Systematic Reviews; a search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, SPORTDiscus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Web of Science. Randomized clinical trials and quasi-randomized clinical trials were included, and the methodological quality was evaluated through the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Results The search found 572 studies; of these, 71 were selected by title and, subsequently, 29 were selected through abstract analyses. After critical analyses, 5 studies were included. The methodological quality ranged from 4 (reasonable) to 9 (excellent) points. Pain was assessed by all studies using the visual analog scale, Global Perceived Effect scale, Numerical Rating Scale, pressure pain threshold, or Perceived Amelioration Numerical Scale. Function was evaluated by 3 studies through the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index; Neck Disability Index; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaires. The studies showed that the IC technique produces immediate and short-term positive effects for pain, and positive short-term effects for shoulder function in individuals with shoulder pain. Conclusion The IC technique seems to be beneficial for pain and shoulder function. However, caution is needed when considering this evidence owing to the limited quality of some studies, the few articles found, and the lack of standardization of the application parameters of the technique to facilitate its reproducibility.
Alyssa Conte da Silva; Marcos De Noronha; Ricardo Marcos Liberatori-Junior; Jéssica Bianca Aily; Glaucia Helena Gonçalves; Cristina Arrais-Lima; Ludmilla Maria Souza Mattos De Araújo Vieira; Stela Marcia Mattiello. The Effectiveness of Ischemic Compression Technique on Pain and Function in Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2020, 43, 234 -246.
AMA StyleAlyssa Conte da Silva, Marcos De Noronha, Ricardo Marcos Liberatori-Junior, Jéssica Bianca Aily, Glaucia Helena Gonçalves, Cristina Arrais-Lima, Ludmilla Maria Souza Mattos De Araújo Vieira, Stela Marcia Mattiello. The Effectiveness of Ischemic Compression Technique on Pain and Function in Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2020; 43 (3):234-246.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlyssa Conte da Silva; Marcos De Noronha; Ricardo Marcos Liberatori-Junior; Jéssica Bianca Aily; Glaucia Helena Gonçalves; Cristina Arrais-Lima; Ludmilla Maria Souza Mattos De Araújo Vieira; Stela Marcia Mattiello. 2020. "The Effectiveness of Ischemic Compression Technique on Pain and Function in Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review." Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 43, no. 3: 234-246.
Disbudding is a routine procedure performed in goat kids at an early age, especially the ones in the dairy industry. The procedure is mainly done to increase safety for other animals and workers in intensive dairy farms. Disbudding is a painful procedure that affects the welfare of the kids. Effective and practical pain mitigation strategies to reduce the suffering of goat kids due to disbudding have not yet been found. We studied two different pain mitigation strategies for this procedure and concluded that they were not entirely effective. Consumers are increasingly aware of animal farming practices, especially the ones that can lead to suffering and pain, such as disbudding. It is crucial that pain mitigation strategies as well as possible alternative solutions to disbudding continue to be investigated. Nowadays, most of the goat milk production in developed countries is done in intensive indoors production systems. In these systems, procedures such as disbudding are performed routinely. Disbudding is done in young goat kids and is a recognised as a painful procedure. Pain mitigation strategies have been extensively researched, but a method that is effective in mitigating pain as well as being safe and practical has not yet been found. In this paper we used three treatment groups: one control and two groups with pain mitigation strategies for cautery disbudding, one using local anaesthesia (lidocaine) and a second one using local anaesthesia (lidocaine) plus an analgesic (flunixin meglumine). The behaviour of twenty-seven goat kids was recorded for three hours after disbudding. Overall, the goat kids that received both pain mitigation treatments dedicated more time performing active and positive behaviours. Nevertheless, the incidence of behaviours related to pain and discomfort was not consistently reduced. Research is still needed to find a practical and effective pain mitigation strategy for disbudding. A solution to this challenge would improve animal welfare as well as address societal concerns linked to the suffering of farm animals.
Inês Ajuda; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Cecilia Arcuri; George Stilwell. Evaluation of Pain Mitigation Strategies in Goat Kids after Cautery Disbudding. Animals 2020, 10, 277 .
AMA StyleInês Ajuda, Monica Battini, Silvana Mattiello, Cecilia Arcuri, George Stilwell. Evaluation of Pain Mitigation Strategies in Goat Kids after Cautery Disbudding. Animals. 2020; 10 (2):277.
Chicago/Turabian StyleInês Ajuda; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Cecilia Arcuri; George Stilwell. 2020. "Evaluation of Pain Mitigation Strategies in Goat Kids after Cautery Disbudding." Animals 10, no. 2: 277.
To analyze the influence of a 14-week periodized circuit training (CT) protocol on thigh intermuscular fat and muscle quality (force per unit area of lean tissue) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Randomized controlled trial Sixty-one selected participants with KOA grades 2 and 3, 40–65 years old, and BMI < 30 kg/m2 were randomized into three groups: CT, conventional strength training (ST), and educational protocol (EP). The CT and ST protocols consisted of 14-week training protocols conducted 3 times a week. The CT group performed exercises stratified as light, moderate, and intense, arranged progressively in a circuit model. The ST group performed conventional strength exercises, and the EP group participated in lectures twice a month about healthy lifestyles. Baseline and follow-up (week 0 and week 14) evaluations were conducted for thigh intermuscular fat (computed tomography), knee extension maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), and muscle quality (knee extension MIVC/muscle mass cross-sectional area). Only the CT group presented significant reductions in thigh intermuscular fat (p = 0.003) and significantly lower values in week 14 compared with the EP (p = 0.032). Both trained groups presented significant increases in muscle mass area (p=0.002 for CT and p=0.008 for ST) and increments in knee extension MIVC (p=0,033 for CT nd p=0.019 for ST) in week 14 compared with the EP and increases in muscle quality (p = 0.004 and 0.042). It can be concluded that a 14-week periodized CT protocol attenuates thigh intermuscular fat and improves muscle quality in patients with KOA. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02761590; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02761590
Aline Castilho De Almeida; Jéssica Bianca Aily; Maria Gabriela Pedroso; Glaucia Helena Gonçalves; Jonas De Carvalho Felinto; Ricardo José Ferrari; Carlos Marcelo Pastre; Stela Mattiello. A periodized training attenuates thigh intermuscular fat and improves muscle quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis: results from a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rheumatology 2019, 39, 1265 -1275.
AMA StyleAline Castilho De Almeida, Jéssica Bianca Aily, Maria Gabriela Pedroso, Glaucia Helena Gonçalves, Jonas De Carvalho Felinto, Ricardo José Ferrari, Carlos Marcelo Pastre, Stela Mattiello. A periodized training attenuates thigh intermuscular fat and improves muscle quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis: results from a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rheumatology. 2019; 39 (4):1265-1275.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAline Castilho De Almeida; Jéssica Bianca Aily; Maria Gabriela Pedroso; Glaucia Helena Gonçalves; Jonas De Carvalho Felinto; Ricardo José Ferrari; Carlos Marcelo Pastre; Stela Mattiello. 2019. "A periodized training attenuates thigh intermuscular fat and improves muscle quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis: results from a randomized controlled trial." Clinical Rheumatology 39, no. 4: 1265-1275.
Therapeutic gait interventions for individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) should be based on understanding how movement of the individual is affected and whether different clusters of individuals, determined by clinical severity, differ. Gait indexes have been developed to synthesize the data provided by the three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis such as the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) and the Gait Profile Score (GPS) where the gait variable score (GVS) can be calculated. The objective this study was to evaluate the potential use of the GDI and GPS and MAP using data from 3D gait analysis of DMD patients. The dimension 1 score of the Motor Function Measurement defined the groups that composed the cluster analysis. Twenty patients with DMD composed 2 groups according to the cluster analysis (Cluster 1, n = 10; Cluster 2, n = 10). Three-dimensional gait analysis was conducted where GDI, GPS and GVS (pelvic tilt/obliquity; hip flexion-extension/adduction-abduction/rotation; knee flexion-extension; ankle dorsiflexion-plantarflexion, foot progression angle) were calculated. Cluster 1 group presented lower hip flexion-extension and lower pelvic obliquity when compared with Cluster 2 group (p < 0.05). There was no difference between groups for GDI, GPS total and maximum isometric muscle strength of the lower limbs (p > 0.05). This study showed that GVS could detect alterations on the parameters obtained using three-dimensional gait analysis for those DMD patients separated according to motor function regarding pelvic and hip kinematic patterns. The rehabilitation of patients with DMD is recommended from the early stages of the disease (as Cluster 1, with >MFM) with the hip joint being the therapeutic target.
Mariana Angélica De Souza; Ananda Cezarani; Elisangela Aparecida Da Silva Lizzi; Gabriela Barroso De Queiroz Davoli; Stela Márcia Mattiello; Richard Jones; Ana Cláudia Mattiello-Sverzut. The use of the gait profile score and gait variable score in individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Journal of Biomechanics 2019, 98, 109485 .
AMA StyleMariana Angélica De Souza, Ananda Cezarani, Elisangela Aparecida Da Silva Lizzi, Gabriela Barroso De Queiroz Davoli, Stela Márcia Mattiello, Richard Jones, Ana Cláudia Mattiello-Sverzut. The use of the gait profile score and gait variable score in individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Journal of Biomechanics. 2019; 98 ():109485.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMariana Angélica De Souza; Ananda Cezarani; Elisangela Aparecida Da Silva Lizzi; Gabriela Barroso De Queiroz Davoli; Stela Márcia Mattiello; Richard Jones; Ana Cláudia Mattiello-Sverzut. 2019. "The use of the gait profile score and gait variable score in individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy." Journal of Biomechanics 98, no. : 109485.
Until now, most research has focused on the development of indicators of negative welfare, and relatively few studies provide information on valid, reliable, and feasible indicators addressing positive aspects of animal welfare. However, a lack of suffering does not guarantee that animals are experiencing a positive welfare state. The aim of the present review is to identify promising valid and reliable animal-based indicators for the assessment of positive welfare that might be included in welfare assessment protocols for ruminants, and to discuss them in the light of the five domains model, highlighting possible gaps to be filled by future research. Based on the existing literature in the main databases, each indicator was evaluated in terms of its validity, reliability, and on-farm feasibility. Some valid indicators were identified, but a lot of the validity evidence is based on their absence when a negative situation is present; furthermore, only a few indicators are available in the domains of Nutrition and Health. Reliability has been seldom addressed. On-farm feasibility could be increased by developing specific sampling strategies and/or relying on the use of video- or automatic-recording devices. In conclusion, several indicators are potentially available (e.g., synchronisation of lying and feeding, coat or fleece condition, qualitative behaviour assessment), but further research is required.
Silvana Mattiello; Monica Battini; Giuseppe De Rosa; Fabio Napolitano; Cathy Dwyer. How Can We Assess Positive Welfare in Ruminants? Animals 2019, 9, 758 .
AMA StyleSilvana Mattiello, Monica Battini, Giuseppe De Rosa, Fabio Napolitano, Cathy Dwyer. How Can We Assess Positive Welfare in Ruminants? Animals. 2019; 9 (10):758.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSilvana Mattiello; Monica Battini; Giuseppe De Rosa; Fabio Napolitano; Cathy Dwyer. 2019. "How Can We Assess Positive Welfare in Ruminants?" Animals 9, no. 10: 758.
Cats employ vocalizations for communicating information, thus their sounds can carry a widerange of meanings. Concerning vocalization, an aspect of increasing relevance directly connected withthe welfare of such animals is its emotional interpretation and the recognition of the production context.To this end, this work presents a proof of concept facilitating the automatic analysis of cat vocalizationsbased on signal processing and pattern recognition techniques, aimed at demonstrating if the emissioncontext can be identified by meowing vocalizations, even if recorded in sub-optimal conditions. Werely on a dataset including vocalizations of Maine Coon and European Shorthair breeds emitted in threedifferent contexts: waiting for food, isolation in unfamiliar environment, and brushing. Towards capturing theemission context, we extract two sets of acoustic parameters, i.e., mel-frequency cepstral coefficients andtemporal modulation features. Subsequently, these are modeled using a classification scheme based ona directed acyclic graph dividing the problem space. The experiments we conducted demonstrate thesuperiority of such a scheme over a series of generative and discriminative classification solutions. Theseresults open up new perspectives for deepening our knowledge of acoustic communication betweenhumans and cats and, in general, between humans and animals.
Luca A. Ntalampiras; Luca Andrea Ludovico; Giorgio Presti; Emanuela Prato Prato Previde; Monica Battini; Simona Cannas; Clara Palestrini; Silvana Mattiello. Automatic Classification of Cat Vocalizations Emitted in Different Contexts. Animals 2019, 9, 543 .
AMA StyleLuca A. Ntalampiras, Luca Andrea Ludovico, Giorgio Presti, Emanuela Prato Prato Previde, Monica Battini, Simona Cannas, Clara Palestrini, Silvana Mattiello. Automatic Classification of Cat Vocalizations Emitted in Different Contexts. Animals. 2019; 9 (8):543.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca A. Ntalampiras; Luca Andrea Ludovico; Giorgio Presti; Emanuela Prato Prato Previde; Monica Battini; Simona Cannas; Clara Palestrini; Silvana Mattiello. 2019. "Automatic Classification of Cat Vocalizations Emitted in Different Contexts." Animals 9, no. 8: 543.
Knee osteoarthritis tends to modify the kinematics and kinetics of the sit-to-stand task. However, it is not clear whether the different degrees of knee osteoarthritis differentiate regarding these aspects. The objective was to identify if the trunk flexion, lower limb kinetics, total support moment, and individual joint contributions to the total support moment during the sit-to-stand task are different between patients with mild and moderate knee osteoarthritis. Sixty-two participants were grouped as follows: moderate knee osteoarthritis (n = 16), mild knee osteoarthritis (n = 25), and controls (n = 21). The participants performed a sit-to-stand task, which was analyzed using a 3D-motion system and a force plate. The three phases of the sit-to-stand task were analyzed. During Phase1, the moderate osteoarthritis group decreased the total support moment (P = 0.012). During Phase2, the moderate osteoarthritis group showed higher trunk flexion (P = 0.023) and lower internal hip and knee extension moments (P ≤ 0.001 and P ≤ 0.040, respectively) when compared to controls. Also in Phase2, both the mild and moderate groups used lower total support moment (P = 0.019, and P ≤ 0.001, respectively). When compared to the controls and mild osteoarthritis group, those with moderate osteoarthritis presented higher hip joint contribution to the total support moment (P ≤ 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively) as well as lower knee joint contribution (P ≤ 0.003 and P = 0,013, respectively). Those with moderate osteoarthritis showed modified sit-to-stand movement pattern. While in Phase3 a higher contribution of the hip joint to the total support moment was observed, during previous phases the individuals were able to decrease the load on the knee without influencing the lower limb load distribution.
Marina Petrella; Paula Serrão; Luiz Fernando Approbato Selistre; Giovanna Camparis Lessi; Glaucia Helena Gonçalves; Stela Márcia Mattiello. Individual joint contributions to the total support moment during the sit-to-stand task differentiate mild and moderate knee osteoarthritis. Clinical Biomechanics 2019, 70, 52 -58.
AMA StyleMarina Petrella, Paula Serrão, Luiz Fernando Approbato Selistre, Giovanna Camparis Lessi, Glaucia Helena Gonçalves, Stela Márcia Mattiello. Individual joint contributions to the total support moment during the sit-to-stand task differentiate mild and moderate knee osteoarthritis. Clinical Biomechanics. 2019; 70 ():52-58.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarina Petrella; Paula Serrão; Luiz Fernando Approbato Selistre; Giovanna Camparis Lessi; Glaucia Helena Gonçalves; Stela Márcia Mattiello. 2019. "Individual joint contributions to the total support moment during the sit-to-stand task differentiate mild and moderate knee osteoarthritis." Clinical Biomechanics 70, no. : 52-58.
The aim of the study was to perform an investigation on the concentration of 19 minerals and cortisol in red deer (Cervuselaphus) hair, a matrix that is easy to collect with non-invasive and painless sampling, able to represent an integrative values of long-term substance concentrations, and able to give useful information, also when performed on dead animals, given its extreme stability over time. In the study thirty-five animals were included, coming from two different sides of a valley in the Stelvio National Park, where official water analysis had pointed out elevated concentrations of As in one of the two orographic sides. Hair cortisol concentrations were measured using a RIA(Radio Immuno Assay), while minerals were detected using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry). Results showed a negative relationship between cortisol and some mineral concentrations (Li, Co, As, Cd, Cr and Tl) and significant differences in some mineral concentrations between park areas (Al, Co, Cu, Cd and Ni). As, Cr and cortisol differences approached statistical significance. This preliminary study represents a step forward in the study of wildlife allostatic load and a valid method for applications in wildlife management programs, in environmental studies and in public health programs.
Marta Montillo; Chiara Caslini; Tanja Peric; Alberto Prandi; Paola Netto; Franco Tubaro; Luca Pedrotti; Alessandro Bianchi; Silvana Mattiello. Analysis of 19 Minerals and Cortisol in Red Deer Hair in Two Different Areas of the Stelvio National Park: A Preliminary Study. Animals 2019, 9, 492 .
AMA StyleMarta Montillo, Chiara Caslini, Tanja Peric, Alberto Prandi, Paola Netto, Franco Tubaro, Luca Pedrotti, Alessandro Bianchi, Silvana Mattiello. Analysis of 19 Minerals and Cortisol in Red Deer Hair in Two Different Areas of the Stelvio National Park: A Preliminary Study. Animals. 2019; 9 (8):492.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarta Montillo; Chiara Caslini; Tanja Peric; Alberto Prandi; Paola Netto; Franco Tubaro; Luca Pedrotti; Alessandro Bianchi; Silvana Mattiello. 2019. "Analysis of 19 Minerals and Cortisol in Red Deer Hair in Two Different Areas of the Stelvio National Park: A Preliminary Study." Animals 9, no. 8: 492.
Understanding the emotions of dairy cows is primarily important in enhancing the level of welfare and provide a better life on farm. This study explored whether eye white and ear posture can reliably contribute to interpret valence and arousal of emotions in dairy cows. The research was conducted in five Italian dairy farms. Four hundred and thirty-six photographs of cows' heads were scored (four-level), according to the eye white and ear posture during feeding, resting, pasture, and an avoidance distance test at the feeding rack (ADF test). Eye white and ear posture were significantly correlated and influenced by the context (P = 0.001). Pasture was the most relaxing context for cows (67.8% of half-closed eyes; 77.3% ears hung down or backwards). The excitement during ADF test was high, with 44.8% of eye white being clearly visible and ears directed forwards to the approaching assessor (95.5%). Housing and management mostly influenced emotions during feeding and resting (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively): where competition for feeding places and cubicles was low, the cows showed the highest percentages of half-closed eyes and ears backwards or hung down. This research supports the use of eye white and ear posture as reliable indicators of emotions in dairy cows.
Monica Battini; Anna Agostini; Silvana Mattiello. Understanding Cows' Emotions on Farm: Are Eye White and Ear Posture Reliable Indicators? Animals 2019, 9, 477 .
AMA StyleMonica Battini, Anna Agostini, Silvana Mattiello. Understanding Cows' Emotions on Farm: Are Eye White and Ear Posture Reliable Indicators? Animals. 2019; 9 (8):477.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonica Battini; Anna Agostini; Silvana Mattiello. 2019. "Understanding Cows' Emotions on Farm: Are Eye White and Ear Posture Reliable Indicators?" Animals 9, no. 8: 477.
Welfare of animals significantly depends on how stakeholders perceive their needs and behave in a way to favor production systems that promote better welfare outcomes. This study aimed at investigating stakeholders’ perception of the welfare of equines, small ruminants, and turkeys using text mining analysis. A survey composed by open-ended questions referring to different aspects of animal welfare was carried out. Text mining analysis was performed. A total of 270 surveys were filled out (horses = 122, sheep = 81, goats = 36, turkeys = 18, donkeys = 13). The respondents (41% veterinarians) came from 32 different countries. To describe welfare requirements, the words “feeding” and “water” were the most frequently used in all the species, meaning that respondents considered the welfare principle “good feeding” as the most relevant. The word “environment” was considered particularly important for turkeys, as well as the word “dry”, never mentioned for other species. Horses stakeholders also considered “exercise” and “proper training” important. Goat stakeholders’ concerns are often expressed by the word “space”, probably because goats are often intensively managed in industrialized countries. Although the sample was too small to be representative, text mining analysis seems to be a promising method to investigate stakeholders’ perception of animal welfare, as it emphasizes their real perception, without the constraints deriving by close-ended questions.
Emanuela Dalla Costa; Vito Tranquillo; Francesca Dai; Michela Minero; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Sara Barbieri; Valentina Ferrante; Lorenzo Ferrari; Adroaldo Zanella; Elisabetta Canali. Text Mining Analysis to Evaluate Stakeholders’ Perception Regarding Welfare of Equines, Small Ruminants, and Turkeys. Animals 2019, 9, 225 .
AMA StyleEmanuela Dalla Costa, Vito Tranquillo, Francesca Dai, Michela Minero, Monica Battini, Silvana Mattiello, Sara Barbieri, Valentina Ferrante, Lorenzo Ferrari, Adroaldo Zanella, Elisabetta Canali. Text Mining Analysis to Evaluate Stakeholders’ Perception Regarding Welfare of Equines, Small Ruminants, and Turkeys. Animals. 2019; 9 (5):225.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEmanuela Dalla Costa; Vito Tranquillo; Francesca Dai; Michela Minero; Monica Battini; Silvana Mattiello; Sara Barbieri; Valentina Ferrante; Lorenzo Ferrari; Adroaldo Zanella; Elisabetta Canali. 2019. "Text Mining Analysis to Evaluate Stakeholders’ Perception Regarding Welfare of Equines, Small Ruminants, and Turkeys." Animals 9, no. 5: 225.