Factors affecting mutual grooming and play behaviour in a group of domestic horses (Equus caballus)

2006 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 193-197
Author(s):  
M. Hannan ◽  
I. Draganova ◽  
L. Dumbell

Horses are a gregarious species with strong social bonds between individuals and when under free-ranging conditions, form family bands or herds (Tyler, 1979; Wells and Goldschmidt-Rothschild, 1979). Each herd contains small bands of roughly 3 adult horses (1 stallion, 2-3 mares) plus their most recent offspring (Linklater et al., 1999). There are also bachelor groups composed of males that are either too young for their own harems, or can no longer defend the harems they once had (Waring, 1983). As horses live in groups they have evolved a complex behaviour repertoire in order to communicate. Mutual grooming and play are two such behaviours that have been widely studied in both domestic and feral horses, however the results from studies on their influencing factors have been contradictory. Mutual grooming has the obvious function of coat care and parasite removal; moreover, it has also been implicated in forming and maintaining bonds between horses in a herd (Waring, 1983).

1999 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. W. Valentino ◽  
E. M. Gaughan ◽  
D. R. Biller ◽  
R. H. Raub ◽  
J. D. Lillich

The purpose of the study is to document the prevalence of articular surface osteochondrosis lesions in feral horses. Eighty yearling feral horses were used. Radiographic images of the left stifle, both tarsocrural, metatarsophalangeal, metacarpophalangeal joints were taken. Radiographs were examined for the presence of osteochondral fragmentation and abnormal outline of subchondral bone suggestive of osteochondrosis. The prevalence of each lesion was calculated for each joint as well as for overall prevalence within the group, the latter being 6.25%. Typical osteochondrosis lesions were found within the tarsocrural and metatarsophalangeal joints. Based on the difference in prevalence of osteochondrosis between feral and certain domestic horses, management practices and perhaps genetic base may have a greater influence on the development of the disease in horses than trauma alone.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 502
Author(s):  
Junior Corneille Fingu-Mabola ◽  
Frédéric Francis

Aphids are responsible for the spread of more than half of the known phytovirus species. Virus transmission within the plant–aphid–phytovirus pathosystem depends on vector mobility which allows the aphid to reach its host plant and on vector efficiency in terms of ability to transmit phytoviruses. However, several other factors can influence the phytoviruses transmission process and have significant epidemiological consequences. In this review, we aimed to analyse the aphid behaviours and influencing factors affecting phytovirus spread. We discussed the impact of vector host-seeking and dispersal behaviours mostly involved in aphid-born phytovirus spread but also the effect of feeding behaviours and life history traits involved in plant–aphid–phytovirus relationships on vector performances. We also noted that these behaviours are influenced by factors inherent to the interactions between pathosystem components (mode of transmission of phytoviruses, vector efficiency, plant resistance, …) and several biological, biochemical, chemical or physical factors related to the environment of these pathosystem components, most of them being manipulated as means to control vector-borne diseases in the crop fields.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Gong ◽  
Aikmu Bilixzi ◽  
Xinmei Wang ◽  
Yanli Lu ◽  
Li Wan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It’s necessary to investigate the serum β-trophin and endostatin (ES) level and its influencing factors in patients with newly diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods Newly diagnosed PCOS patients treated in our hospital were selected, and healthy women who took physical examination during the same period as healthy controls. We detected and compared the related serum indicators between two groups, Pearson correlation were conducted to identify the factors associated with β-trophin and ES, and the influencing factors of β-trophin and ES were analyzed by logistic regression. Results A total of 62 PCOS patients and 65 healthy controls were included. The BMI, WHI, LH, FSH, TT, FAI, FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL, ES in PCOS patients were significantly higher than that of healthy controls, while the SHBG and HDL in PCOS patients were significantly lower than that of healthy controls (all p < 0.05). β-trophin was closely associated with BMI (r = 0.427), WHR (r = 0.504), FBG (r = 0.385), TG (r = 0.405) and LDL (r = 0.302, all p < 0.05), and ES was closely associated with BMI (r = 0.358), WHR (r = 0.421), FBG (r = 0.343), TC (r = 0.319), TG (r = 0.404, all p < 0.05). TG, BMI, WHR and FBG were the main factors affecting the serum β-trophin levels (all p < 0.05). FBG, TC and BMI were the main factors affecting the serum ES levels (all p < 0.05). The TG, β-trophin, ES level in PCOS patients with insulin resistance (IR) were significantly higher than that of those without IR (all p < 0.05). Conclusion Increased β-trophin is closely associated with increased ES in patients with PCOS, which may be the useful indicators for the management of PCOS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 01012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Pan ◽  
Caijia Lei ◽  
Wei Jia ◽  
Hui Gao ◽  
Binghua Fang

Regarding analysis of load characteristics of a power grid, there are multiple factors that influence the variation of load characteristics. Among these factors, the influence of different ones on the change of load characteristic is somewhat different, thus the degree of influence of various factors needs to be quantified to distinguish the main and minor factors of load characteristics. Based on this, the grey relational analysis in the grey system theory is employed as the basis of mathematical model in this paper. Firstly, the main factors affecting the load characteristics of a power grid are analysed. Then, the principle of quantitative analysis of the influencing factors by using grey relational grade is introduced. Lastly, the load of Guangzhou power grid is selected as the research object, thereby the main factor of temperature affecting the load characteristics is quantitatively analysed, such that the correlation between temperature and load is established. In this paper, by investigating the influencing factors and the degree of influence of load characteristics, the law of load characteristics changes can be effectively revealed, which is of great significance for power system planning and dispatching operation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 734-737 ◽  
pp. 1200-1203
Author(s):  
Shu Qiang Liu ◽  
Ji Cheng Zhang ◽  
Jin Cheng Xu

During polymer flooding, certain amount of polymer would be lost. Polymer retention causes sweep volume expanding on one side, it also causes polymer loss on the other. Therefore, it is a very important topic to study the influencing factors of polymer retention. There are many factors affecting polymer retention process. This paper mainly studied the influence from dynamic factors such as polymer solution concentration, injection rate, injection time, injected pv number. This paper investigated the influence of these factors on polymer retention process, and optimized these factors to minimize polymer loss in reservoir.


Behaviour ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 875-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica S. Dunayer ◽  
Carol M. Berman

Throughout the primate order, individuals are highly motivated to handle infants that are not their own. Given the differing and often conflicting interests of the various participants in handling interactions (handler, infant, and mother), most functional hypotheses are specific to particular handling roles. Here we explore one hypothesis that may apply to all participants, but that has received relatively little attention: that handling may facilitate the formation and maintenance of social bonds. Using free-ranging rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago, we examine the relationship between infant handling in the early weeks and the strength and diversity of infant social bonds months later, when infant relationships were more independent from those of their mothers. Our results largely confirm the influence of several social characteristics (kinship, rank, sex, and age) in governing handling interactions. They also provide the first evidence that early handling is associated with later social bonds that are stronger than expected based on these social characteristics. However, the enhancement of bonds is largely confined to related handlers; frequent unrelated handlers did not generally go on to form strong bonds with infants. This suggests that kinship may be a sort of prerequisite to the enhancement of social bonds via handling. Given the adaptive benefits of strong social bonds among adult primates, future research should investigate whether early infant handling may have longer term fitness effects.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Kefena Effa ◽  
Sonia Rosenbom ◽  
Jianlin Han ◽  
Tadelle Dessie ◽  
Albano Beja-Pereira

Matrilineal genetic diversity and relationship were investigated among eight morphologically identified native Ethiopian horse populations using polymorphisms in 46 mtDNA D-loop sequences (454 base pairs). The horse populations identified were Abyssinian, Bale, Borana, Horro, Kafa, Kundido feral horses, Ogaden and Selale. Mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences were characterized by 15 variable sites that defined five different haplotypes. All genetic diversity estimates, including Reynolds’ linearized genetic distance, genetic differentiation (FST) and nucleotide sequence divergence (DA), revealed a low genetic differentiation in native Ethiopian horse populations. However, Kundido feral and Borana domestic horses were slightly diverged from the rest of the Ethiopian horse populations. We also tried to shed some light on the matrilineal genetic root of native Ethiopian horses from a network constructed by combining newly generated haplotypes and reference haplotypes deposited in the GenBank for Eurasian type Turkish Anatolian horses that were used as a genetic conduit between Eurasian and African horse populations. Ninety-two haplotypes were generated from the combined Ethio-Eurasian mtDNA D-loop sequences. A network reconstructed from the combined haplotypes using Median-Joining algorithm showed that haplotypes generated from native Ethiopian horses formed separate clusters. The present result encourages further investigation of the genetic origin of native African horses by retrieving additional mtDNA sequences deposited in the GenBank for African and Eurasian type horses.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puma Sundaresan ◽  
Martin R. Stockler ◽  
Christopher G. Milross

Objectives Optimal radiation therapy (RT) utilisation rates (RURs) have been defined for various cancer indications through extensive work in Australia and overseas. These benchmarks remain unrealised. The gap between optimal RUR and actual RUR has been attributed to inadequacies in ‘RT access’. We aimed to develop a conceptual framework for the consideration of ‘RT access’ by examining the literature for existing constructs and translating it to the context of RT services. We further aimed to use this framework to identify and examine factors influencing ‘RT access’. Methods Existing models of health care access were reviewed and used to develop a multi-dimensional conceptual framework for ‘RT access’. A review of the literature was then conducted to identify factors reported to affect RT access and utilisation. The electronic databases searched, the host platform and date range of the databases searched were Ovid MEDLINE, 1946 to October 2014 and PsycINFOvia OvidSP,1806 to October 2014. Results The framework developed demonstrates that ‘RT access’ encompasses opportunity for RT as well as the translation of this opportunity to RT utilisation. Opportunity for RT includes availability, affordability, adequacy (quality) and acceptability of RT services. Several factors at the consumer, referrer and RT service levels affect the translation of this opportunity for RT to actual RT utilisation. Conclusion ‘Access’ is a term that is widely used in the context of health service related research, planning and political discussions. It is a multi-faceted concept with many descriptions. We propose a conceptual framework for the consideration of ‘RT access’ so that factors affecting RT access and utilisation may be identified and examined. Understanding these factors, and quantifying them where possible, will allow objective evaluation of their impact on RT utilisation and guide implementation of strategies to modify their effects. What is known about the topic? It is well documented that the use of RT in Australia is well below evidence-based benchmarks. The shortfall in the use of RT has been attributed to problems with access to treatment services. Although considerable attention has been directed (rightly) towards addressing infrastructure needs, access to RT is more than just supply of services. There is currently no specific framework for RT access to comprehensively consider and examine other factors influencing the use of RT. The existing international literature addresses some of the influencing factors. However, there is a need for a detailed review of all actual and potential influencers of RT utilisation. What does this paper add? This paper presents a conceptual framework for the specific consideration of access to RT. A detailed review of various factors affecting access and utilisation of RT has been performed using the aforementioned conceptual framework. To our knowledge this is the first such review and hence we are confident that it adds to the existing international literature on this subject. What are the implications for practitioners? The topic of improving consumers’ access to RT is of relevance locally, in Australia, as well as internationally. We feel that the RT access framework proposed herein will be of interest and use to those involved in health services research, delivery and policy, especially those involved with the planning and delivering of cancer services. In addition to compiling evidence on the subject, the review of factors influencing RT utilisation highlights and proposes areas for future translational and implementation research in the areas of health services and treatment-related decision making.


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