Advancing pain research and animal welfare: focusing on the Rat Grimace Scale and reporting standards

Les comportements non-stimulés pour évaluer la douleur chez les animaux suscitent un intérêt grandissant. Un exemple est la « Rat Grimace Scale » (RGS), une échelle de douleur basée sur 4 unités d’action d’expressions faciales: resserrement orbital, aplatissement nez / joue, changements d’oreilles et vibrisses. Le potentiel de cette échelle et ses limites demeurent à déterminer. La RGS standard est laborieuse à compléter (enregistrement de vidéos et extraction manuelle des images). Par conséquent, cette thèse a évalué si l'application en temps réel était possible. En comparant les résultats obtenus en temps réel à la méthode standard, il a été constaté que les résultats étaient similaires. Ainsi, la fiabilité de la RGS en temps réel élargit grandement son applicabilité en tant qu’outil clinique et de bien-être. Toutefois, l'applicabilité de la RGS dans la douleur viscérale aiguë et chronique demeurent inexplorée. Par conséquent, cette thèse a évalué si la RGS pouvait évaluer la douleur à partir d'un modèle de colite aiguë et chronique de « dextran sulfate sodium » (DSS). Deux autres outils comportementaux (enfouissage et « Composite Behaviour Score » [CBS]) ont également été évalués. Ils ont été comparés au « Disease Activity Index » (DAI), un outil commun d'évaluation de la sévérité de la maladie. La RGS et l’enfouissage ont augmenté et diminué respectivement lorsque le DAI a augmenté. De futures études sont nécessaires pour valider le CBS. Cette étude démontre que le RGS peut évaluer la douleur viscérale et potentiellement plusieurs types de douleur. La nécessité d'une formation avant la notation RGS a également été investiguée en évaluant la fiabilité de l'évaluateur après avoir reçu une formation ou aucune formation. Il a été constaté que la formation était bénéfique pour améliorer la fiabilité en plus de réduire la variabilité alors que la notation de plusieurs images seulement ne l’était pas. En outre, les évaluateurs obtenaient des résultats fiables après une période d'inactivité. Cette étude démontre donc le besoin de former les nouveaux évaluateurs. Par ailleurs, cette thèse a également étudié si la publication des directives ARRIVE « Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments » avait entraîné une amélioration des normes de déclaration. Cette étude a montré que les normes de déclaration ne s’étaient pas améliorées de manière significative, mais aussi que les articles publiés dans des revues qui soutiennent les directives ARRIVE n’ont pas de meilleurs standards. Par conséquent, cette étude souligne la nécessité d'imposer les directives ARRIVE pour assurer une amélioration significative. Dans l'ensemble, cette thèse a démontré l'utilité de la RGS en temps réel comme outil d'évaluation clinique de la douleur viscérale chronique ainsi qu’en recherche. Elle souligne également le besoin de former les évaluateurs avant la notation RGS. Enfin, il a été démontré que les normes de déclaration restent faibles et que les directives ARRIVE doivent être imposées. Il est à espérer que ces études encourageront la progression de la recherche sur la douleur par l’amélioration des standards de déclaration ainsi que par l’utilisation de la RGS et autres comportements spontanés pour évaluer la douleur.There is growing interest in the use of non-evoked spontaneous behaviours to assess pain in animals. A tool that measures such behaviours is the Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), a validated facial expression pain scale consisting of four “action units”: orbital tightening, nose/cheek flattening, ear changes and whisker changes. The strengths and limitations of the RGS are not fully explored. One limitation of the RGS (using the standard scoring method) is its time- and labour-intensive nature (video recording and manual image extraction are required). A primary goal of my research was to evaluate the feasibility of real-time RGS scoring. To accomplish this, the standard and real-time assessment methods were compared. It was found that both scoring methods were comparable and demonstrated the utility of real-time RGS scoring. This provides evidence that the RGS may be utilised not only as a research tool, but a useful clinical and welfare tool as well. A further goal was to explore the use of the RGS in a visceral and chronic pain model. The RGS was hence tested in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis model. Two other behavioural tools (burrowing and the composite behaviour score [CBS]) were also evaluated. These behavioural tools were compared to the Disease Activity Index (DAI), a common tool assessing disease severity in colitis models. The RGS and DAI scores increased and decreased concurrently. This study demonstrates that the RGS can be applied to assess chronic visceral pain and may be used to assess the mechanisms of different pain types. The need for training prior to RGS scoring was explored by assessing the rater reliability after receiving training or no training (scoring of multiple images only). This study demonstrates that training is beneficial; training improved scoring reliability and reduced variability. This was not observed in raters who received no training. Additionally, trained raters could still score reliably four years later. Therefore, this study demonstrates the need for new raters to be trained in RGS use to improve reliability. Lastly, this thesis explores whether the publication of the ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines improved the reporting standards of animal studies. This study found that reporting standards had not improved meaningfully, and the standard of reporting was no better in papers published in journals that support the ARRIVE guidelines. Therefore, this highlights the need for the enforcement or refinement of ARRIVE guidelines to ensure meaningful improvement of reporting standards. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the utility of the RGS as a practical pain assessment tool, with real-time application and the ability to assess chronic visceral pain. It highlights the need for raters to be trained prior to RGS scoring. Lastly, it demonstrates that the implementation of reporting standards in line with the ARRIVE guidelines are low, and enforcement may be required to ensure widespread application. It is the hope that these studies will encourage the use of the RGS and other non-evoked spontaneous behavioural pain assessment tools and will improve reporting standards in medical literature that advance pain research

Combating Racial Microaggression in Higher Education: a case study of East Asian students\u27 experiences on campus space

In recent years, universities in Ontario have intensified their anti-racism efforts in response to calls for greater accountability in creating safer and more inclusive campus environments. This study investigates the experiences of East Asian students in higher education—a demographic that has traditionally been overlooked in studies of racism in education. Critical Race Theory was employed as the main theoretical framework and qualitative case study as the research methodology. Data was drawn from individual semi-structured interviews with five East Asian university students; all of whom reported having experienced various forms of racial microaggression on campus space. The findings highlight the gaps between the stated aims of institutional anti-discrimination policies and the lived realities of racialized students on campus. The themes that emerged from the data raise important questions about the social and academic experiences of East Asian students on campus. Recommendations for future directions are provided

Students’ mental health, well-being, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-national survey

During the COVID-19 pandemic, much research has been devoted to assessing mental health in a variety of populations. Students in higher education appear to be particularly vulnerable to experiencing reduced mental health. The purpose of the study was to assess whether higher education students experienced poorer mental health compared to the general population and examine the factors associated with students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-national sample of students (n = 354) and non-students (n = 3120) participated in a survey in October/November 2020. Mental health outcomes among students and non-students were compared with independent t-tests. Multiple linear regression analysis and general linear estimation were used to assess the impact of student status on mental health outcomes while adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Students reported poorer mental health than non-students. The difference in mental health between students and non-students was bigger for participants aged 30 years or older. More social media use was associated with poorer mental health outcomes. In conclusion, students had poorer mental health than the wider population. Aspects of life as a student, beyond what can be attributed to life stage, appears to increase mental health problems.publishedVersio

Report on influenza viruses received and tested by the Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in 2017

As part of its role in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne received a record total of 5866 human influenza positive samples during 2017. Viruses were analysed for their antigenic, genetic and antiviral susceptibility properties and were propagated in qualified cells and hens’ eggs for use as potential seasonal influenza vaccine virus candidates. In 2017, influenza A(H3) viruses predominated over influenza A(H1)pdm09 and B viruses, accounting for a total of 54% of all viruses analysed. The majority of A(H1)pdm09, A(H3) and influenza B viruses analysed at the Centre were found to be antigenically similar to the respective WHO recommended vaccine strains for the Southern Hemisphere in 2017. However, phylogenetic analysis indicated that the majority of circulating A(H3) viruses had undergone genetic drift relative to the WHO recommended vaccine strain for 2017. Of 3733 samples tested for susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, only two A(H1)pdm09 viruses and one A(H3) virus showed highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir, while just one A(H1)pdm09 virus showed highly reduced inhibition by zanamivir.The Melbourne WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. MXT was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship

A Student Perspective on the Effectiveness of PASS in Seminar Courses: A Mixed-Method Study

The General Education Foundation (GEF) Programme, consisting of two seminar courses, namely “In Dialogue with Humanity” and “In Dialogue with Nature,” has been a common core requirement of The Chinese University of Hong Kong since 2012. Aided by selected classics, students from all faculties engage in dialogues with their teachers and each other to reflect on what it means to have a good life, what an ideal society is, and the nature of intellectual pursuit in the sciences. Reading classics and discussing serious questions in class, however, can be challenging for some students. To help students meet these challenges, Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) were introduced in the pilot stage of GEF in 2010 and, with subsequent refinements, continue to this day. The seminar-style and interdisciplinary nature of GEF makes it an atypical case for PASS. This paper will examine and evaluate how PASS can improve student learning in seminar-style courses like GEF with a mixed-method study from a student perspective. According to evidence from online surveys and focus group interviews, PASS successfully 1) improves students’ understanding of the course content at a cognitive level, 2) assists and motivates them to prepare better for seminar discussions, effecting a behavioural change, and 3) facilitates affective learning outcomes in terms of confidence and motivation. Major challenges—including students’ misperceptions about PASS, differences in leaders’ approaches and organisational difficulties—are identified. Proposed solutions to these challenges will also be discussed

The Nexus between Labour Wages and Property Rents in the Greater China Area

Tse and Chan (2003) investigated the relationship between property sales price and the value of commuting time without accounting for the fact that property sales price is subject to the inherent limitation of containing speculative elements. A better measure to use for such a study would be the rent paid by the genuine end-user of the property. This paper examines how equilibrium rents in different locations within Greater China are determined by the time value, or the shadow wage, of an individual. Using the rental information, we provide a first estimated ratio of time values for individuals in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei. Our results show that the shadow wage ratio of the households in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei is about 2.25: 1: 1.61