Finding biomarkers of experience in animals

At a time when there is a growing public interest in animal welfare,it is critical to have objective means to assess the way that an animal experiences a situation.Objectivity is critical to ensure appropriate animal welfare outcomes.Existing behavioural,physiological,and neurobiological indicators that are used to assess animal welfare can verify the absence of extremely negative outcomes.But welfare is more than an absence of negative outcomes and an appropriate indicator should reflect the full spectrum of experience of an animal,from negative to positive.In this review,we draw from the knowledge of human biomedical science to propose a list of candidate biological markers(biomarkers)that should reflect the experiential state of non-human animals.The proposed biomarkers can be classified on their main function as endocrine,oxidative stress,non-coding molecular,and thermobiological markers.We also discuss practical challenges that must be addressed before any of these biomarkers can become useful to assess the experience of an animal in real-life.

Musical Instrument Exhibition Boosts Integration of Digital Technology and Musical Instrument Industry

On June 27,the 31st China International Exhibition on Music was held at the China International Exhibition Center(Chaoyang Hall).The exhibition area reached 35,000 square meters and attracted more than 40,000 visitors from both home and abroad during the four-day exhibition.As a mega musical exhibition in China,the 31st China International Exhibition on Music integrates musical instrument exhibitions and displays,forums and lectures,instrumental music performances,competitions,communications,music education and so on.

Exhibition of Works by Liu Kaiqu and Sculptors Who Studied in France

In celebration of the 6Oth anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties,the"Exhibition of Works by Liu Kaiqu and Sculptors Who Studied in France",an exhibition commemorating the 120th anniversary of Liu Kaiqu's birth,kicked off at the National Art Museumof China(NAMOC)from April 7 to June 30.As a part of the"Series Exhibitions of NAMOC on Revitalizing Classics",this exhibition displayed LiuKaiqu's sculptures,calligraphy andpaintings collectedby NAMOC,as well as the sculptures of famous sculptors Zhou Qingding,Hua Tianyou,Cheng Manshu and Wang Linyi,who studied in France in the first half of the 2Oth century,totaling more than 140 pieces(sets).

The "Garden of Emeralds" Exhibition:Interview with Dr. EloÏse Gaillou,Director and Curator of the Mineralogy Museum of l'école des Mines de Paris(Mines Paris-PSL)

From May 25 to October 7,2024,L’éCOLE China,School of Jewelry Arts(supported by Van Cleef & Arpels) presents the "Garden of Emeralds" exhibition in its Shanghai campus.As part of the "Discover the Gemstones" series,the exhibition gives pride to this green precious mineral and explores its history in many regions of the world,from Asia to Europe including the Middle East.Gathering both raw stones and pieces of jewelry from museum collections and private lenders,it addresses the topic through the three main pillars of L’éCOLE:gemmology,savoir-faire and the history of jewelry.

LANTING Chinese Calligraphy Culture Salon Calligraphy Exhibition and Workshop Held in Mexico City

On April 20,the LANTING Chinese Calligraphy Culture Salon Calligraphy Exhibition and Workshop,jointly organized by China Cultural Center in Mexico and the Carranza Museum,was held in Mexico City.The exhibition presents works copied and created by calligraphers such as Fang Fang,Qiu Xiaoqi,Jiang Yan,Shi Yongxin,Wang Hexuan,Dong Jie,Yan Da and Yan Kan,as well as the calligraphy works of Mexican calligraphy enthusiast Miriam and other friends.

‘Silk Road Artists’Rendezvous’ Exhibition

The"Silk Road Artists'Rendezvous"exhibition kicked off in Mengqi Town,Yuhang District,Hangzhou,where 152 artworks of 84 artists from 83 countries are on show.As a key sideline event of the Liangzhu Forum,the exhibition is hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China,People's Government of Zhejiang Province,and China International Culture Association(CiCA),and organized by the Bureau of International Exchanges and Cooperation of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China,Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee,Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism,Hangzhou Municipal Government,and China Academy of Art(CAA)on December 3,2023 in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province,China.

Beauty in the Gathering:Exhibition of Precious Collection from Art Museums Around China

"Beauty in the Gathering:Exhibition of Precious Collection from Art Museums around China"opens at the National Art Museum of China(NAMOC)on February 1 and lasts until April 1.The exhibition provides a glimpse of the great variety of art collected by 15 museums,and distinctive features that vary from region to region,which has witnessed the further prosperity and development of the art museum industry since the new era.The exhibition showcases over 500 pieces of traditional Chinese painting,oil painting,printmaking,watercolor painting,lacquer painting,sculpture,folk art,mixed media art,calligraphy and other collections provided by these museums.

Ink Splendor and Cultural Context Exhibition of Selected Ancient Paintings Collected by Jilin Provincial Museum

Continuing the theme of"ink Splendor and Cultural Context"to celebrate the 6Oth anniversary of the founding of the National Art Museum of China(NAMOC),the Exhibition of Selected Ancient Paintings Collectedby Jilin Provincial Museum was recently unveiled at NAMOC.

To change a bit of the world,BIFT and MUJI hold a joint sustainable exhibition

On June 27th,the exhibition of the results of the sustainable practice course co-organized by Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (hereafter referred to as BIFT) and MUJI opened in the Open MUJI area of its flagship store in Beijing.The slogan of the exhibition,"We have a dream,to CHANGE a bit of the World",demonstrates both sides'concepts of promoting sustainable fashion to the society.

Exhibition Global interest in ITM 2024 Exhibition

Bringing together the world's leading textile technology leaders in Istanbul,ITM 2024 Exhibition has achieved a great success by hosting thousands of visitors from 94 countries.Professional visitors and investors from countries such as Sri Lanka,Uruguay,Peru,Trinidad and Tobago,Rwanda,Mauritius,Mongolia,Tuvalu,Singapore,Rwanda,Mauritius,Mongolia,Tuvalu,Singapore once again demonstrated the global attraction power of the exhibition.

Sustainable art exhibition RETURN visualizes wool's biodegradable properties

In early April,The Woolmark Company,the authoritative wool textiles organization,presented RETURN,a sustainable art exhibition at R130,a buyer shop during Shanghai Fashion Week,where three pieces of naturally degraded wool fabrics were on display for the first time in China.The exhibition visualised the biodegradation process of this natural fabric,leading people to experience the natural charm of wool through art and natural beauty.

A Train Adventure of Wild Animals

An empty goods train was speedingthrough a jungle. Up front, in the engire,was the driver and at the back, in the lastcompartment, was the guard, Apart fromthem, the entire train was empty.A goods train carries goods like logs ofwood, or boxes of chocolate and even carsand jeeps. But this train had been carryingcoal, After unloading all the coal, the emptytrain was going back to get more coal.

U.PhyloMaker: An R package that can generate large phylogenetic trees for plants and animals

The previously released packages of the PhyloMaker series(i.e.S.PhyloMaker,V.PhyloMaker,and V.PhyloMaker2) have been broadly used to generate phylogenetic trees for ecological and biogeographical studies.Although these packages can be used to generate phylogenetic trees for any groups of plants and animals for which megatrees are available,they focus on generating phylogenetic trees for plants based on the megatrees provided by the packages.How to use these packages to generate phylogenetic trees based on other megatrees is not straightforward.Here,we present a new tool,which is called ‘U.PhyloMaker’,and a simple R script that can be used to easily generate large phylogenetic trees for both plants and animals at a relatively fast speed.

A review of the pangenome:how it affects our understanding of genomic variation,selection and breeding in domestic animals?

As large-scale genomic studies have progressed,it has been revealed that a single reference genome pattern cannot represent genetic diversity at the species level.While domestic animals tend to have complex routes of origin and migration,suggesting a possible omission of some population-specific sequences in the current reference genome.Conversely,the pangenome is a collection of all DNA sequences of a species that contains sequences shared by all individuals(core genome)and is also able to display sequence information unique to each individual(variable genome).The progress of pangenome research in humans,plants and domestic animals has proved that the missing genetic components and the identification of large structural variants(SVs)can be explored through pangenomic studies.Many individual specific sequences have been shown to be related to biological adaptability,phenotype and important economic traits.The maturity of technologies and methods such as third-generation sequencing,Tel-omere-to-telomere genomes,graphic genomes,and reference-free assembly will further promote the development of pangenome.In the future,pangenome combined with long-read data and multi-omics will help to resolve large SVs and their relationship with the main economic traits of interest in domesticated animals,providing better insights into animal domestication,evolution and breeding.In this review,we mainly discuss how pangenome analysis reveals genetic variations in domestic animals(sheep,cattle,pigs,chickens)and their impacts on phenotypes and how this can contribute to the understanding of species diversity.Additionally,we also go through potential issues and the future perspectives of pangenome research in livestock and poultry.

“Blind men and an elephant”:The need for animals in research,drug safety studies,and understanding civilizational diseases

Animal-based research and drug safety studies are essential to understanding the mysteries of nature and the long-term survival of humans.Due to the rapid increase in the global human population,conflict-and economically driven human migration,tourism-related activities,densely populated metropolitan areas,and local policies,humans will be affected by a multitude of novel disease-causing microorganisms and civilizational diseases.Despite disparities among countries,recent and planned changes in regulations concerning animal research and drug safety studies could have detrimental effects on both the animal research community and nations lacking sufficient social support systems.Based on existing scientific literature,I argue that we need animal research encompassing aspects such as animal development,behavior,drug safety studies,and for the understanding of future civilizational diseases.Depending on the nature of the research questions and local challenges,a suitable animal model organism should be made mandatory.

Effects of mesenchymal stem cell on dopaminergic neurons,motor and memory functions in animal models of Parkinson's disease:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Parkinson’s disease is chara cterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars com pacta,and although restoring striatal dopamine levels may improve symptoms,no treatment can cure or reve rse the disease itself.Stem cell therapy has a regenerative effect and is being actively studied as a candidate for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.Mesenchymal stem cells are considered a promising option due to fewer ethical concerns,a lower risk of immune rejection,and a lower risk of teratogenicity.We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells and their derivatives on motor function,memory,and preservation of dopamine rgic neurons in a Parkinson’s disease animal model.We searched bibliographic databases(PubMed/MEDLINE,Embase,CENTRAL,Scopus,and Web of Science)to identify articles and included only pee r-reviewed in vivo interve ntional animal studies published in any language through J une 28,2023.The study utilized the random-effect model to estimate the 95%confidence intervals(CI)of the standard mean differences(SMD)between the treatment and control groups.We use the systematic review center for laboratory animal expe rimentation’s risk of bias tool and the collaborative approach to meta-analysis and review of animal studies checklist for study quality assessment.A total of 33studies with data from 840 Parkinson’s disease model animals were included in the meta-analysis.Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells significantly improved motor function as assessed by the amphetamine-induced rotational test.Among the stem cell types,the bone marrow MSCs with neurotrophic factor group showed la rgest effect size(SMD[95%CI]=-6.21[-9.50 to-2.93],P=0.0001,I^(2)=0.0%).The stem cell treatment group had significantly more tyrosine hydroxylase positive dopamine rgic neurons in the striatum([95%CI]=1.04[0.59 to 1.49],P=0.0001,I^(2)=65.1%)and substantia nigra(SMD[95%CI]=1.38[0.89 to 1.87],P=0.0001,I^(2)=75.3%),indicating a protective effect on dopaminergic neurons.Subgroup analysis of the amphetamine-induced rotation test showed a significant reduction only in the intracranial-striatum route(SMD[95%CI]=-2.59[-3.25 to-1.94],P=0.0001,I^(2)=74.4%).The memory test showed significant improvement only in the intravenous route(SMD[95%CI]=4.80[1.84 to 7.76],P=0.027,I^(2)=79.6%).Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to positively impact motor function and memory function and protect dopaminergic neurons in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease.Further research is required to determine the optimal stem cell types,modifications,transplanted cell numbe rs,and delivery methods for these protocols.

Immunobiology of COVID-19: Mechanistic and therapeutic insights from animal models

The distribution of the immune system throughout the body complicates in vitro assessments of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)immunobiology,often resulting in a lack of reproducibility when extrapolated to the whole organism.Consequently,developing animal models is imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the pathology and immunology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection.This review summarizes current progress related to COVID-19 animal models,including non-human primates(NHPs),mice,and hamsters,with a focus on their roles in exploring the mechanisms of immunopathology,immune protection,and long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection,as well as their application in immunoprevention and immunotherapy of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Differences among these animal models and their specific applications are also highlighted,as no single model can fully encapsulate all aspects of COVID-19.To effectively address the challenges posed by COVID-19,it is essential to select appropriate animal models that can accurately replicate both fatal and non-fatal infections with varying courses and severities.Optimizing animal model libraries and associated research tools is key to resolving the global COVID-19 pandemic,serving as a robust resource for future emerging infectious diseases.

Genetically modified pigs:Emerging animal models for hereditary hearing loss

Hereditary hearing loss(HHL),a genetic disorder that impairs auditory function,significantly affects quality of life and incurs substantial economic losses for society.To investigate the underlying causes of HHL and evaluate therapeutic outcomes,appropriate animal models are necessary.Pigs have been extensively used as valuable large animal models in biomedical research.In this review,we highlight the advantages of pig models in terms of ear anatomy,inner ear morphology,and electrophysiological characteristics,as well as recent advancements in the development of distinct genetically modified porcine models of hearing loss.Additionally,we discuss the prospects,challenges,and recommendations regarding the use pig models in HHL research.Overall,this review provides insights and perspectives for future studies on HHL using porcine models.

Large animal models for Huntington's disease research

Huntington'sdisease(HD)isahereditary neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently no effectivetreatmentavailable.Consequently,the development of appropriate disease models is critical to thoroughly investigate disease progression.The genetic basis of HD involves the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin(HTT)gene,leading to the expansion of a polyglutamine repeat in the HTT protein.Mutant HTT carrying the expanded polyglutamine repeat undergoes misfolding and forms aggregates in the brain,which precipitate selective neuronal loss in specific brain regions.Animal models play an important role in elucidating the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as HD and in identifying potential therapeutic targets.Due to the marked species differences between rodents and larger animals,substantial efforts have been directed toward establishing large animal models for HD research.These models are pivotal for advancing the discovery of novel therapeutic targets,enhancing effective drug delivery methods,and improving treatment outcomes.We have explored the advantages of utilizing large animal models,particularly pigs,in previous reviews.Since then,however,significant progress has been made in developing more sophisticated animal models that faithfully replicate the typical pathology of HD.In the current review,we provide a comprehensive overview of large animal models of HD,incorporating recent findings regarding the establishment of HD knock-in(KI)pigs and their genetic therapy.We also explore the utilization of large animal models in HD research,with a focus on sheep,non-human primates(NHPs),and pigs.Our objective is to provide valuable insights into the application of these large animal models for the investigation and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Knee osteoarthritis:A review of animal models and intervention of traditional Chinese medicine

Background:Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)characterized by degeneration of knee cartilage and subsequent bone hyperplasia is a prevalent joint condition primarily affecting aging adults.The pathophysiology of KOA remains poorly understood,as it involves complex mechanisms that result in the same outcome.Consequently,researchers are interested in studying KOA and require appropriate animal models for basic research.Chinese herbal compounds,which consist of multiple herbs with diverse pharmacological properties,possess characteristics such as multicomponent,multipathway,and multitarget effects.The potential benefits in the treatment of KOA continue to attract attention.Purpose:This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages,limitations,and specific considerations in selecting different species and methods for KOA animal models.This will help researchers make informed decisions when choosing an animal model.Methods:Online academic databases(e.g.,PubMed,Google Scholar,Web of Science,and CNKI)were searched using the search terms“knee osteoarthritis,”“animal models,”“traditional Chinese medicine,”and their combinations,primarily including KOA studies published from 2010 to 2023.Results:Based on literature retrieval,this review provides a comprehensive overview of the methods of establishing KOA animal models;introduces the current status of advantages and disadvantages of various animal models,including mice,rats,rabbits,dogs,and sheep/goats;and presents the current status of methods used to establish KOA animal models.Conclusion:This study provides a review of the animal models used in recent KOA research,discusses the common modeling methods,and emphasizes the role of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the treatment of KOA.