Abstract This article is a review of Jeff Sebo's Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves: Why Animals Matter for Pandemics, Climate Change, and Other Catastrophes. Sebo's book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of animal ethics, commendable not only for the bold and inspiring vision it offers of our potential for fostering radically improved relationships with nonhumans but also for its inclusion of serious, practical policy suggestions for achieving a new world order in which animals are treated with respect and compassion. This review critically engages with what might reasonably be considered five of Sebo's most interesting and valuable contributions to the literature and urges everyone to read this book and reflect deeply on its moral implications. Sebo is unafraid to tackle controversial questions (such as whether climate change may actually be a good thing for some animals) but also displays—and emphasizes the importance of—humility in the face of epistemic uncertainties. Through this book, Sebo stands out as a leading thinker in contemporary animal ethics whose work is sure to influence future generations grappling with the task of eliminating animal abuse in all its many forms.

Abstract This article introduces animal dignification as an ethical-philosophical lens to expand the interpretation of animal behavior in behavioral ecology. While the adaptationist framework has provided key insights into evolutionary function, it often neglects affective, cognitive, and relational dimensions of animal life. Drawing from evolutionary biology, ethology, and animal ethics, we propose a complementary perspective that views animals as sentient subjects with intrinsic value. Through conceptual analysis and illustrative case studies, we demonstrate how a dignification-centered approach enhances scientific inquiry and promotes ethical reflexivity, aligning behavioral research with a broader sense of moral responsibility toward nonhuman lives.

Abstract Jeremy Bentham's question (“Can they suffer?”), and its centralization of suffering, remains a notorious contribution to animal ethics. In this article, I begin by problematizing Peter Singer's interpretation of Bentham's question—an interpretation that remains hegemonic in contemporary animal ethics—and highlight its latent anthropocentrism. Then, I reread Bentham's question through Jacques Derrida, arguing for Derrida's interpretation's force in deconstructing anthropocentrism. Despite the advancements in animal welfare that Singer's thought has propelled, his interpretation of Bentham's question contributes to a reaffirmation of anthropocentrism/carnophallogocentrism, since the “capacity to suffer” is interpreted as a power tout court, indexing it, consequently, to several powers or capacities, resulting in a hierarchy of human and animal suffering and in a disregard for the philosophical problem of putting another animal to death. Derrida's reading of Bentham's centralization of suffering requires the affirmation of a fundamental vulnerability that amounts to a fundamental nonpower, common to all finite, mortal beings. I demonstrate that Bentham's legacy gains a revolutionary impulse, which should inform animal philosophy today, when read through Derrida, because, by decentralizing power, it questions the anthropo-carnophallogocentric subject (the human, male, powerful, carnivorous subject), thus aiding in delineating a compassionate ethical relation with other animals.

Abstract Fish are the most farmed and most killed animals on the planet yet remain largely invisible in mainstream ethical debate. This neglect is especially acute in low-and middle-income countries, where billions of fish are farmed each year under poor or unknown welfare conditions. This article argues that contemporary animal ethics has failed to adequately engage with the reality of fish suffering in these contexts and that its continued omission threatens the moral credibility and global relevance of the field. Drawing on examples from aquaculture in Egypt and Kenya, I outline why the ethical lives of aquatic animals matter—and why justice, sustainability, and development frameworks must not bypass them.

Abstract Effective animal advocates want to help animals as effectively as possible. I explore a popular way of spelling out this idea, according to which, when choosing between two actions to help animals, we should pick the one that maximizes the net aggregate welfare of animals. I argue that, if this is right, then—counterintuitively—we ought to build more confined animal feeding operations. This argument is an application of Parfit's mere addition paradox. My aim in laying out how this applies to animal ethics is to aid animal advocates wishing to examine the philosophical foundations of their advocacy.

ABSTRACT Negative effects of anthropogenic climate change are accelerating. The threat climate change poses has prompted research into radical technological responses, including forms of solar radiation management (SRM). While there has been some consideration of the ethical challenges SRM technologies present, to date, these have almost exclusively concerned humans. Here, we take one leading form of SRM, stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), and examine the ethical questions its deployment might present for wild animals. We map this terrain by investigating two overarching ethical questions: a) whether deploying stratospheric aerosol injection should be seen as in-principle wrong from animal ethics perspectives, and b) if not, or where it is not, what ethicists need to consider to morally evaluate SAI in the context of wild animals. To address the second question, we explore existing research gaps regarding empirical information on the effects of SAI on animals, the possible impacts of SAI on animal welfare, and its potential implications for justice issues when animals are included in theories of justice.

ABSTRACT In this comment, we argue for a more structured dialogue between animal ethics and technology ethics to advance ethical discussion in both fields. The rationale for such engagement is twofold: the growing impact of technologies on animals grounds an ethical imperative, while thematic overlaps and the prospect of cross-disciplinary insight provide an intellectual incentive. To support this conversation, we reflect on factors that have kept these fields apart and highlight key themes where their concerns intersect, outlining promising entry points for a sustained conversation.

Expression of autophagy and apoptosis during orthodontic tooth movement alveolar bone remodeling in rats with varied periodontal conditions.

ABSTRACT This article explores the potential of arts-based research (ABR) to center the experiences of experimental animals and contribute to innovative forms of public engagement and animal advocacy. It does so via a historical case study that has received limited creative attention – Pavlov’s laboratory and his work with dogs. Following the creation and public exhibition of a multimedia art installation – Pavlov and the Kingdom of Dogs: A Secret History – we examine how public art can challenge anthropocentric narratives, make visible the lived experiences of experimental animals, and provoke affective and reflexive engagement among audiences. We set out a response to the relative lack of research examining audience responses to ABR, presenting an analysis of results of a qualitative survey we conducted with visitors to the exhibition. Drawing on existing literature in ABR, animal studies, and cultural activism, our novel findings strongly indicate that artistic methods can foster empathy, disrupt dominant discourses, and open space for critical dialogue around animal agency and ethics in scientific research. Our analysis of the exhibition’s reception highlights how immersive, multisensory approaches enable the complex communication of, and deeper public engagement with, the histories and ethical dimensions of animal experimentation, positioning ABR as a distinctive and powerful tool for animal advocacy.

The article examines the religio-ecological framework articulated in Ming–Qing morality books 勸善書, focusing on how animals, Ledgers of merit 功過格, and karmic 業報 are integrated into a system of moral causality. Within this framework, actions such as killing or saving animals are directly linked to karmic reward and punishment, generating a dual mechanism that combines moral technology with an ultimate logic of justice to cultivate ecological consciousness and enforce social discipline. A central contribution of the study is the articulation of a triadic analytical framework—merit–demerit ledgers, karmic narrative, and animal ethics—showing how these elements form a coherent system of measurable and actionable ethical practice. In doing so, the framework challenges a strictly human-centered worldview by foregrounding an interconnected ecological order in which humans and animals are bound together through shared moral obligations and karmic entanglements. The article further situates this religio-ecological mechanism within contemporary debates in environmental ethics and animal rights. Through comparison with modern approaches—such as anti-speciesism, animal welfare and rights discourse, and proposals for cross-species political communities—it identifies both points of convergence and structural divergence. It concludes by exploring how this historical model might be critically translated and revised for present-day conditions, proposing a “revised morality book” framework that is more publicly defensible and more amenable to institutional implementation.

Wildlife tourism is a growing industry covering a range of activities, including direct, close contact interactions (animal-visitor interactions, AVIs) with wild animals in zoos and other public access captive animal facilities. AVIs range from touching, feeding to riding or swimming with wild animals across a range of taxa. AVIs can provide benefits (to facilities, visitors, and sometimes the animals), but the potential for negative conservation and animal welfare impacts is also being increasingly recognised. To address potential concerns, the tourism industry and international zoo community have created guidelines regarding “appropriate” interactions with captive wild animals and committed to restricting the provision and sale of specific activities. Our analysis of 1224 YouTube videos collated by the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition, revealed at least 129 distinct species (of 66 families) involved in “touching/holding” (62%), riding (10%), kissing (7%), swimming/diving (6%), and other activities. Neither taxa nor activity appeared to influence video reach or popularity, but some of the most popular videos showed tourists/visitors involved in activities that contravene prevailing guidelines, restrictions, and legislation. We urge YouTube and other social media platforms to do more to support efforts to promote humane, ethical wild animal attractions within the tourism industry.

The main purpose of this study is to identify general trends in the perception of animals in the Sunni Qur’anic commentary ( tafsīr ) tradition. Animal ethics in Sunni exegetical literature is explored through an analysis of Q6:38 in which animals are described as umam like humans. A broad analysis of seventy-two commentaries demonstrates that exegetes mostly aim to minimize the psychological, social, and spiritual complexity of animals implied by the shared term umam . This is achieved by restricting the denotation of the term to predominantly external features that emphasize the outward similarity between humans and animals without affording the latter any internal complexity. There are few exceptions to this rule in the pre-modern period; the commentaries that buck the trend generally have a more rationalistic and/or Sufi orientation. Contemporary exegetes are more willing to acknowledge the psychological, social, and spiritual complexity of animals and explore the full gamut of human-animal similarities insinuated by the term umam.

ABSTRACT In recent years, the field of animal ethics has taken a political turn, with scholars arguing that sentient nonhuman animals should be included in the political sphere. This article explores two key challenges arising from this turn towards the political inclusion of animals: the Conflict Problem and the Numbers Problem. The Conflict Problem highlights the difficulty of resolving conflicts between humans and animals, and among individual animals, who often have competing interests (such as predators and prey). The Numbers Problem arises because animals vastly outnumber humans: if animals were to be fully included in political decision‐making processes, their representatives would form majorities that would likely predominate, potentially to the detriment of human interests. We assess four potential responses to these two problems: (i) discounting animal interests; (ii) revisiting principles of political inclusion; (iii) granting group‐differentiated rights; and (iv) adopting a bicameral system. Each response, we argue, involves significant ethical trade‐offs. Ultimately, we conclude that proponents of sentientist political equality may need to bite the bullet with respect to the Conflict Problem and the Numbers Problem. For those who think otherwise, we claim that the onus is on them to develop more viable solutions.

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are low-cost, wearable sensors that can estimate body segment orientation by tracking relative sensor orientations. This review aimed to synthesize and evaluate studies investigating the accuracy and reliability of IMUs in measuring shoulder kinematics for clinical application in patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Shoulder kinematics were chosen due to their importance in assessing upper extremity function, performing overhead activities, and the increasing demand for objective, accessible motion-tracking tools in clinical settings. Studies within PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar were screened for eligibility. They were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) application of inertial sensors to assess motions, (2) sensors used accelerometers and gyroscopes or similarly functioning technologies, (3) sensors applied to shoulders, (4) studies published from 2011 to 2024, (5) studies written in English, (6) studies found in peer reviewed, original research articles, (7) studies with full text available. Of 1900 articles identified in our initial literature search, 49 were included. Articles were excluded based on these criteria: (1) Reviews, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses, (2) Studies without ethical approval, (3) Animal or cadaveric studies, (4) Studies prior to 2011. A data extraction was included with key findings of each article. The Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) quality assessment tool was used to assess each article’s risk of bias. We compared outcome metrics across studies quantifying IMU accuracy and reliability, including root mean square error (RMSE) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. IMU-based shoulder kinematics exhibited a wide-range of RMSEs (<1° − 12°) and ICCs (0.32 − 0.98) depending on the motion and number of sensors used. Overall, there was a tolerable RMSE (between 5-10°; mean = 7.10 ± 3.97) and good ICC (>0.75; mean = 0.810 ± 0.145) across studies for 6.77 IMUs on average. The goal of this review was to assess the current IMU use in upper extremities, identify factors preventing clinical use, and inform future research. More IMU-based clinical studies are needed to understand shoulder pathology motor deficits. Additional validation studies are needed to demonstrate IMU efficacy when paired with other technologies.

Non-lethal biopsy is a valuable tool for gaining insight into the physiological status of fish in the wild and for predicting their subsequent behaviour and survival. However, linking the insights from biopsy to post-release behaviour relies on the assumption that the biopsy itself has no meaningful impact on post-release behaviour or survival (e.g. in animals tagged with electronic devices). This assumption is likely to be questioned by fishery managers, animal ethics committees, and other researchers. To date, there has been very little work to assess the sublethal (or lethal) effects of biopsies on fish, and no such studies have evaluated fine-scale behaviours. Here, muscle and gill tissue samples were taken (both individually and as a combined treatment) from hatchery-reared juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in captivity. Twenty-four hours after sampling, we used two behavioural assays (behaviour within a Z maze and flight initiation distance) and quantified exhaustive exercise performance to determine whether biopsies impacted behaviour or physiology when compared to non-sampled controls. We found no evidence that biopsies had any influence on exploratory and shelter-seeking behaviour in the maze, flight initiation distance, or time to exhaustion (as a proxy for swimming performance). Mortality during a 7-day monitoring period was very low (2% across treatments) and limited to fish that received either a gill biopsy or the combined biopsy treatment. This study provides empirical support for the use of non-lethal biopsy in juvenile salmonids as a means of collecting physiological data on individuals in behavioural studies and experiments.

Rigorous, statistically grounded experimental design is central to ethical and effective animal research. Foundational principles for statistically based Design of Experiments (DOE) were established over a century ago by Sir Ronald Fisher. They have since been augmented by modern computational tools that now enable researchers to implement designs that maximize scientific information and benefit while minimizing harms. However, many preclinical investigators are unfamiliar with formal DOE methods. Poorly designed experiments followed by inappropriate statistical analyses contribute to poor reproducibility, translational failure, and unnecessary animal use. This first paper in a three-part series introduces neuroscience researchers to the fundamentals of statistically based experimental design as a substitute for traditional two-group comparisons. Key components of a designed experiment are defined, along with the importance of correctly identifying experimental units to avoid pseudo-replication. Fisher's three essential design principles-randomization, replication, and blocking-are presented as nonoptional practices for controlling bias, managing variation, and ensuring valid statistical inferences. Particular emphasis is placed on probability-based random allocation, the use of validated computer-generated randomization plans, and the role of blocking in reducing nuisance variation. By embedding robust design principles early in study planning, researchers can produce reliable, reproducible, and ethically justifiable data. Subsequent papers in the series will expand on methods for controlling unwanted variation through blocking (Part 2) and outline flexible multivariable design strategies (Part 3). Worked examples and R code are included.

ABSTRACTAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease (MND) characterized by progressive degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons, along with skeletal muscles innervated by them. The identification of key molecules involved in disease pathology remains crucial for ALS, as no curative treatment is currently available. Pleiotrophin (PTN) and midkine (MK) are closely related, heparin‐binding cytokines with overlapping effects. These molecules have been shown to be neuroprotective by modulating neuroinflammation, supporting neuronal survival, growth, and differentiation, and enhancing synaptic strength and plasticity. Despite their reported neuroprotective properties, the involvement of PTN and MK signaling in ALS has not been previously investigated. In this study, we characterized the expression of the PTN/MK pathway in the lumbar spinal cords (SCs) of TDP‐43A315T mice across different disease stages. We report a significant upregulation of Ptn, Mdk, and its receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta (Ptprz1) mRNA levels at end‐stage of disease in the lumbar SC of TDP‐43A315T mice compared with age‐matched wild‐type littermates. Protein levels of PTN and MK were also upregulated at end‐stage of disease. By immunofluorescence analysis, we also observed an upregulation of the immunostaining of both cytokines in neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and pericytes‐like structures at end‐stage of disease in the SC of TDP‐43A315T mice. These findings open a new avenue to further study the potential role of the PTN/MK signaling axis in the pathogenesis of ALS.Trial Registration: Animal Ethics Committee of the Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos in Toledo (Spain): Approval No. 26/OH 2018

Given the common proposed use of wildlife tourism as a conservation tool, it is essential for conservation practice to determine the differential impacts of wildlife tourism on wildlife themselves in a manner that takes cross-cultural differences into account. With Asian elephants as a case study, this paper developed a conceptual approach (theory synthesis) that integrated the concept of symbiosis from biology, a scale of justice framework from philosophy, tourist typologies from tourism studies, and the concept of inviolate zones from conservation science. This approach case be used to determine the degree of impact different tourist types have on elephants, rendering them as either violate or inviolate “zones”. The paper employed a conceptual approach in the form of theory synthesis, which was later used as a framework from which to investigate how animal-based tourism scholars and students (19 Thai students in five groups after a teaching intervention) perceive 13 different uses of Asian elephants. Results indicate largely consistent responses by the scholars on these uses within the framework, while the consistency of student responses depended upon the type of elephant use examined. The challenges and prospects for a conceptually rigorous, multi-disciplinary evaluation of tourism’s impacts on Asian elephants and other wildlife are discussed.

Low-dose intra-articular injection of recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1β) may offer a useful model for studying early onset or subclinical joint inflammation in horses. This pilot study aimed to determine the lowest intra-articular dose of reIL-1β required to produce biochemical evidence of synovitis, and to correlate synovitis biomarkers with functional, upper-body asymmetry parameters. Saline (control) and 50, and 75 ng reIL-1β were injected into the left or right intercarpal joint of three (n = 3) horses in a three-way crossover design. Synovial fluid was collected by aseptic arthrocentesis immediately prior to reIL-1β injection (0 h), and at 6-, 12- and 24-h after injection. Synovial fluid was analyzed for inflammatory [prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) and cartilage turnover (glycosaminoglycan (GAG)] biomarkers. Prior to each arthrocentesis, subjective (AAEP score) and objective [inertial measurement unit (IMU)] gait analysis was performed. Asymmetry parameters (MinDiff and MaxDiff) were calculated using IMU data from the poll and pelvis. Mixed model analysis and Spearman correlation coefficient compared biomarker and gait biomechanics data between doses. PGE2 concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.05) at 6- and 12-h following 50 ng reIL-1β, and at all time points following 75 ng injection, without significantly affecting NO and GAG concentrations (p > 0.05). Injection of 75 ng reIL-1β significantly increased poll MinDiff at 6- and 12-h, which was positively correlated with PGE2 concentration (ρ = 0.35, p < 0.05). Findings support the utility of this lower-dose reIL-1β model for inducing a mild, transient inflammatory response, without overt functional changes, which upholds principles of ethical animal research.

Growing interest in food sustainability education aims to increase awareness of food distribution systems, environmental degradation, and the connectivity of sustainable and ethical food practices. However, recent scholarship has questioned whether such pedagogical efforts are meaningfully internalized by students or lead to sustained behavioral change. Prior studies document persistent gaps in students’ understanding of sustainability impacts and the limited effectiveness of existing instructional approaches in promoting transformative engagement. To address these concerns, the Food Ethics, Sustainability and Alternatives (FESA) course was implemented with 21 undergraduate and graduate students at Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ, USA). Course outcomes were evaluated using a mixed-methods design integrating qualitative analysis with quantitative measures informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior, to identify influences on students’ attitudes, and a Transtheoretical Model (TTM) panel survey to address progression from awareness to action, administered pre- and post-semester. Qualitative findings revealed five central themes: increased self-awareness of food system contexts, heightened attention to animal ethics, the importance of structured classroom dialogue, greater recognition of food waste, and increased openness to alternative food sources. TTM results indicated significant reductions in contemplation and preparation stages, suggesting greater readiness for change, though no significant gains were observed in action or maintenance scores. Overall, the findings suggest that while food sustainability education can positively shape student attitudes, the conversion of attitudinal shifts into sustained behavioral change remains limited by external constraints, including time pressures, economic factors, culturally embedded dietary practices, structural tensions within contemporary food systems, and perceptions of limited individual efficacy.