• Title/Summary/Keyword: Behavioral sciences

Search Result 541, Processing Time 0.031 seconds

Behavioral characteristics of Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steers at different growth stages and seasons

  • Kim, Na Yeon;Kim, Seong Jin;Jang, Se Young;Oh, Mi Rae;Tang, Yu Jiao;Seong, Hye Jin;Yun, Yeong Sik;Moon, Sang Ho
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.30 no.10
    • /
    • pp.1486-1494
    • /
    • 2017
  • Objective: This research analyzed behavioral characteristics of Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steers during each season and growth stage to enable measurement of the animals' welfare level for precision livestock farming. Methods: A hundred-eight beef steers were divided into three equal groups at a Hanwoo farm according to their growth stage: growing stage (GS), 8 months; early-fattening stage (EFS), 19 months; and late-fattening stage (LFS), 30 months. Twelve behavioral categories were continuously recorded for 13 day-time hours in each four seasons with three replications. Results: Time spent standing was found to be significantly longer in summer at all growth stages (p<0.05). Hanwoos at the GS spent significantly longer standing time in spring and summer than those at the EFS and LFS (p<0.05). Lying time in summer was the shortest for all growth stages (p<0.05). Steers at the LFS spent significantly longer lying time than that at the GS (p<0.05) in summer. For GS and EFS, time spent eating in spring and autumn were longer than in summer and winter (p<0.05). Eating time was the longest for the GS in spring, autumn, and winter, excluding for the LFS in winter (p<0.05). Regarding ruminating, steers at the LFS spent significantly shorter time than those at other stages in all seasons (p<0.05). GS and EFS steers showed the longest walking time in summer compared with other seasons (p<0.05). At GS and LFS, drinking time in summer was the longest of all seasons (p<0.05). Sleeping time was significantly shorter in summer compared with the other seasons (p<0.05). Self-grooming time was the longest in winter for all growth stages (p<0.05). Conclusion: Steers were found to have more variable behavioral patterns during summer and the GS and less active behaviors during the LFS, thus extra care seems necessary during the GS, LFS, and summer period.

This Type of Diet affected of One-Person Households is also on the Selection of Catering Properties and Behavior Intention (1인 가구 형태의 식생활유형이 외식선택속성과 행동의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Jang, Yong-Hyun;Lee, Bo Soon;Lee, Jong-Ho
    • Culinary science and hospitality research
    • /
    • v.22 no.5
    • /
    • pp.25-36
    • /
    • 2016
  • This study examined the factors that affect the relationship between single-person households, food related life style, restaurant selection attributes, and behavioral intention. In order to perform statistical analyses required in the study, SPSS 18.0 Statistical Program was employed for frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlations, and regression analysis. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that four factors regarding food related life style were extracted from all measurements with a KMO of 0.716 and a total cumulative variance of 64.437%, With regard to restaurant selection attributes, one factor was extracted with a total cumulative variance of 75.372% and a KMO score of 0.739. One factor for behavioral intention was extracted that accounted for a total cumulative variance of 61.312% and a KMO score of 0.666. All factors were significant to .000 and the correlation between variables was significant. Thus, based on the results, the main research hypotheses regarding the relationships among food related life style restaurant selection attributes, and behavioral intention were adopted.

Behavioral Aspects of Captive Alpine Musk Deer during Non-mating Season: Gender Differences and Monthly Patterns

  • Meng, Xiuxiang;Zhao, Changjie;Hui, Cenyi;Luan, Xiaofeng
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
    • /
    • v.24 no.5
    • /
    • pp.707-712
    • /
    • 2011
  • The objective of the present study was to determine gender-related and month-related behavioral differences in captive alpine musk deer. The study was conducted at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF) of Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province of western China. The integrated method of focal sampling and all occurrence recording was utilized to quantify the behavioural patterns of 45 captive alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus) during non-mating season (from August $1^{st}$ to October $25^{th}$), and the behavioural durations of 12 behavioural patterns such as standing-gazing were recorded. The behavioural modes were compared to explore the potential differences between females and males, and the monthly behavioural modes for males and females were analyzed. Our results showed that the captive female deer in XMDF could compensate the energy lost in pregnancy, parturition and lactation through improving its ingestive efficiency. In order to be more sensitive to the changing environment, females expressed more standing-gazing (SG: $67.38{\pm}12.69\;s$) and moving (MO; $27.41{\pm}5.02\;s$), but less bedding (BE: $42.32{\pm}11.35\;s$) than male deer (SG: $56.43{\pm}9.19\;s$; MO: $19.23{\pm}4.64\;s$; BE: $96.14{\pm}15.71\;s$). Furthermore, females perform more affinitive interaction (AI: $7.89{\pm}4.81\;s$) but less ano-genital sniffing (AS: $0.24{\pm}0.13\;s$) and agonistic behaviour (CI: $0.57{\pm}0.26\;s$) than males (AI: $1.45{\pm}1.09\;s$; AS: $0.45{\pm}0.29\;s$; CI: $1.42{\pm}0.67\;s$). The females expressed ingestion more in October ($132.31{\pm}27.47\;s$) than in August ($28.80{\pm}18.44\;s$) and September ($45.1{\pm}10.84\;s$), and the males performed Ano-genital sniffing (AS: $1.79{\pm}1.14\;s$) and self-directed behaviour (SD: $12.61{\pm}5.03\;s$) significantly more in October than in August (AS: 0 s; SD: $0.62{\pm}0.17\;s$) and September (AS: $0.02{\pm}0.01\;s$; SD: $0.17{\pm}0.15\;s$). Moreover, male musk deer increased the intension of ano-genital sniffing, agonistic behaviour and tail rubbing behaviour, which were related to sexual activities.

Factors influencing farmed fish traders' intention to use improved fish post-harvest technologies in Kenya: application of technology acceptance model

  • Jimmy Brian Mboya;Kevin Odhiambo Obiero;Maureen Jepkorir Cheserek;Kevin Okoth Ouko;Erick Ochieng Ogello;Nicholas Otieno Outa;Elizabeth Akinyi Nyauchi;Domitila Ndinda Kyule;Jonathan Mbonge Munguti
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
    • /
    • v.26 no.2
    • /
    • pp.105-116
    • /
    • 2023
  • Improved fish post-harvest technologies (IFPT) have been promoted as more efficient methods of fish processing, preservation, and value addition than the traditional methods prevalent in developing countries. The adoption rates, however, do not appear to be convincing. The purpose of this study was to determine the socio-demographic and psychological factors that influence intention of Kenyan farmed fish traders to use IFPT. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used to properly explain the impact of TAM constructs such as perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and attitude (ATT), as well as socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, education level and fish trading experience on traders' intention to use the technologies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data using a semi-structured questionnaire from 146 traders in Busia, Siaya and Kakamega counties. At a significance level of p = 0.05, a linear regression model was used to examine the socio-demographic and psychological determinants of the traders' behavioral intention to use the improved technologies. The regression analysis revealed that PU (β = 0.443; p = 0.000), PEOU (β = 0.364; p = 0.000) and ATT (β = 0.615; p = 0.000) influence traders' intention to use IFPT, with ATT having the highest influence on intention. However, the traders' socio-demographic characteristics have no effect on their intention to use the technologies, as the coefficients for gender (β = 0.148; p = 0.096), age (β = 0.016; p = 0.882), level of education (β = -0.135; p = 0.141) and fish trading experience (β = 0.017; p = 0.869) are all insignificant. These findings show that the traders intend to use IFPT and will use them when it is in their best economic interests.

Effects of Topical Tamoxifen on Wound Healing of Burned Skin in Rats

  • Mehrvarz, Shaban;Ebrahimi, Ali;Sahraei, Hedayat;Bagheri, Mohammad Hasan;Fazili, Sima;Manoochehry, Shahram;Rasouli, Hamid Reza
    • Archives of Plastic Surgery
    • /
    • v.44 no.5
    • /
    • pp.378-383
    • /
    • 2017
  • Background This study aimed to assess the effects of the topical application of tamoxifen on wound healing of burned skin in Wistar rats by evaluating 3 healing characteristics: fibrotic tissue thickness (FTT), scar surface area (SSA), and angiogenesis in the healed scar tissue. Methods Eighteen male Wistar rats were used in this study. A third-degree burn wound was made on the shaved animals' back, measuring $2{\times}2{\times}2cm$. In the first group, a 2% tamoxifen ointment was applied to the wound twice daily for 8 weeks. The second group received a placebo ointment during the same period. The third group did not receive any treatment and served as the control group. Results The median (interquartile range=[Q1, Q3]) FTT was 1.35 (1.15, 1.62) mm, 1.00 (0.95, 1.02) mm, and 1.25 (0.8, 1.5) mm in the control, tamoxifen, and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.069). However, the FTT in the tamoxifen group was less than in the placebo and control groups. The median angiogenesis was 3.5 (3.00, 6.25), 8.00 (6.75, 9.25), and 7.00 (5.50, 8.25) vessels per high-power field for the control, tamoxifen, and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.067). However, the median angiogenesis was higher in the tamoxifen group than in the control group. No significant difference was observed in the mean SSA between the tamoxifen group and the control group (P=0.990). Conclusions Local application of tamoxifen increased angiogenesis and decreased the FTT, with no change in the SSA in burned skin areas. These effects are expected to expedite the wound healing process, reducing contracture and preventing hypertrophic scar and keloid formation.

Association of UCP2 Polymorphisms with Type 2 Diabetes in Korean Subjects

  • Kim, Su-Won;Yoo, Min
    • Biomedical Science Letters
    • /
    • v.14 no.4
    • /
    • pp.239-242
    • /
    • 2008
  • Obesity results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Uncoupling proteins (UCP) are members of the larger family of mitochondrial anion carrier proteins (MACP). UCP separates oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis with energy dissipated as heat, also referred to as the mitochondrial proton leak. UCP facilitates the transfer of anions from the inner to the outer mitochondrial membrane and the return transfer of protons from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Therefore, we investigated the genotype for the G>A polymorphism at the position -866 of UCP2 gene in Koreans and compared genotype of patients with control group. 50 patients (Male 22, Female 28), who previously underwent type 2 diabetcs (T2DM) and 30 controls (Male 14, Female 16) participated in this study. There was a weak significant association between -866 G>A polymorphism in UCP2 gene and T2DM. The present study shows that UCP2 -866 G>A polymorphism may not be associated with the pathogenesis of T2DM as opposed to the previous reports in other countries. Further studies with larger population may be needed for the development of diagnostic methods at genetic level such as DNA chip.

  • PDF

[$Zn^{2+}$ Modulates the Responses of Rat Dorsal Horn Neuron to C-Fiber Stimulation and Excitatory Amino Acids

  • Ahn, Chang-Hoon;Shin, Hong-Kee;Kim, Jin-Hyuk
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
    • /
    • v.4 no.6
    • /
    • pp.455-461
    • /
    • 2000
  • Zinc contained in the neurons of central nervous system is activity-dependently released and then attenuates NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate)-induced neurotoxicity while augmenting non-NMDA-induced neurodegeneration. Zinc also has been reported to produce antinociceptive action on the inflammation- and nerve injury-induced hyperalgesia in the behavioral test. In this study, we investigated the effects of zinc on the responses of dorsal horn cells to NMDA, kainate and graded electrical stimulation of C-fibers. In the majority of WDR cells (70.6%), zinc current-dependently inhibited WDR cell responses to NMDA and in the remaining cells, produced biphasic responses; excitation followed by inhibition. Zinc augmented the responses of WDR cells to iontophoretical application of kainate. The dominant effect of $Zn^{2+}$ on the responses of WDR cells to C-fiber stimulation was excitatory, but inhibition, excitation-inhibition and no change of the responses to C-fiber stimulation were induced. $Ca^{2+}-EDTA$ antagonized the excitatory or inhibitory effects of $Zn^{2+}$ on the WDR cell responses. These experimental findings suggest that $Zn^{2+}$ modulates the transmission of sensory information in the rat spinal cord.

  • PDF

Application of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to the Study of Brain Function in Humans and Animal Models

  • Kim, Hak Yeong;Seo, Kain;Jeon, Hong Jin;Lee, Unjoo;Lee, Hyosang
    • Molecules and Cells
    • /
    • v.40 no.8
    • /
    • pp.523-532
    • /
    • 2017
  • Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique that indirectly assesses neuronal activity by measuring changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in tissues using near-infrared light. fNIRS has been used not only to investigate cortical activity in healthy human subjects and animals but also to reveal abnormalities in brain function in patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders and in animals that exhibit disease conditions. Because of its safety, quietness, resistance to motion artifacts, and portability, fNIRS has become a tool to complement conventional imaging techniques in measuring hemodynamic responses while a subject performs diverse cognitive and behavioral tasks in test settings that are more ecologically relevant and involve social interaction. In this review, we introduce the basic principles of fNIRS and discuss the application of this technique in human and animal studies.

Two combined amino acids promote sleep activity in caffeine-induced sleepless model systems

  • Hong, Ki-Bae;Park, Yooheon;Suh, Hyung Joo
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
    • /
    • v.12 no.3
    • /
    • pp.208-214
    • /
    • 2018
  • BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and sleep-promoting effects of combined ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) using caffeine-induced sleepless fruit flies, ICR mice, and Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Video-tracking analysis was applied to investigate behavioral changes of Drosophila melanogaster. Pentobarbital-induced sleep test and electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns were used for analysis of sleep latency, duration, and quantity and quality of sleep in vertebrate models. RESULTS: Administration of combined GABA/5-HTP could significantly reverse the caffeine induced total distance of flies (P < 0.001). Also, individually administered and combined GABA/5-HTP significantly increased the total sleeping time in the caffeine-induced sleepless ICR mice (P < 0.001). In the caffeine-induced sleepless SD-rats, combined GABA/5-HTP showed significant differences in sleep quality between individual amino acid administrations (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we identified inhibitory effects of combined GABA/5-HTP in locomotor activity, sleep quantity and quality in caffeine-induced sleepless models, indicating that combined GABA/5-HTP may be effective in patients with insomnia by providing sufficient sleep.

Market Segmentation of Rural Healing Tourists (농촌 치유관광객 시장세분화 연구)

  • Kim, Kyung-Hee;Hwang, Dae Yong;Lee, Hye Young
    • Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
    • /
    • v.28 no.1
    • /
    • pp.13-23
    • /
    • 2021
  • This study aims to examine the market segmentation of rural healing tourists. A two-stage cluster method was used to segment the market of rural healing tourists, and the difference in satisfaction by segmented market was identified. In this study, a total of 433 cases were used for analysis. A total of four clusters of rural healing tourists were derived based on the purpose of visit and involvement with rural healing tourism. The names of each cluster were determined as 'high involvement, daily escape purpose type', 'high involvement, stress relief purpose type', 'low involvement, daily escape purpose type', and 'high involvement, exotic experience purpose type.' Each groups were found to have significant differences according to educational level, purpose of visit, companion, and expenditure. The satisfaction and the behavioral intention of rural healing tourists was highest in the group of 'high involvement, stress relief purpose type.' The results of this study suggest that the characteristics and satisfaction of rural healing tourists were differ according to the segmented group. This study suggests useful information for target marketing strategies for each segmented market according to the characteristics of rural healing tourists.