Analyzing resources for self-training in animal welfare

Animal welfare, as a field, is established but still growing. Veterinarians can seek specialized board certification in Animal Welfare, but in the absence of funded residency programs many veterinarians must rely on limited online resources to teach themselves. To gauge the availability of information on topics of animal welfare, Nicolette Petervary and colleagues compiled and analyzed a database of freely available online learning resources that address topics of animal welfare. Their analysis identifies topics that are well represented and, importantly, others that are underrepresented among existing resources, and the authors suggest ways in which content providers can improve their offerings to better support the field of animal welfare.

See page 173

Improvements in the approach to cranial implants

Cranial implants are essential components of modern studies that examine neurophysiology in awake primates. Over the years, researchers have made improvements to cranial implants and the process by which they are surgically installed, but implantation still entails a high risk of major complications. Jessica Johnston and associates at the University of Pennsylvania describe some recent refinements that they have implemented to improve their procedures and reduce the risk of complications during cranial implantation. They describe the complications that arose from their original materials and protocols, and they detail how new technology and equipment improve upon previously used common methods, all with the aim to benefit both surgeons and primate subjects at their institution.

See page 180