scholarly journals Significance of Group Composition for the Welfare of Pastured Horses

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir ◽  
Hans Haraldsson
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Peer Groups ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Breeding Groups ◽  
Young Horses ◽  
Icelandic Horses

We explore how herd composition and management factors correlate with frequencies of social interactions in horse groups. Since the welfare of horses correlates with low aggression levels and social contact opportunities, information of this kind is important. The data are a collection of records of social interactions of 426 Icelandic horses in 20 groups of at least eight horses. The complexities and limitations of the data prohibit useful statistical modelling so the results are presented descriptively. Interesting and informative patterns emerge which can be of use both in management and in future studies. Of special interest are the low levels of agonistic behaviours in breeding groups where one stallion was present. The horses were less agonistic when in groups with young foals and where group membership was stable. Unfamiliar yearlings in peer groups were especially aggressive. Allogrooming was most frequent in groups with relatively more young horses and in unstable and small groups. Interestingly, the horses allogroomed more if they had few preferred allogrooming partners. The findings show that composition (age/sex) and stability of groups are of great importance with respect to aggression levels and opportunities for establishing bonds.

35 Social Contact Mode and 15-Year Episodic Memory Trajectories in Older Adults with and Without Hearing Loss: the Elsa Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i7-i11
Author(s):  
S Rafnsson ◽  
A Maharani ◽  
G Tampubolon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Contact Mode

Abstract Introduction Frequent social contact benefits cognition in later life although evidence is lacking on the potential importance of the modes chosen by older adults for interacting with others in their social network. Method 11,513 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) provided baseline information on hearing status and social contact mode and frequency of use. Multilevel growth curve models compared episodic memory (immediate and delayed recall) at baseline and long-term in participants who interacted frequently (offline only or offline and online combined), compared to infrequently, with others in their social network. Results Frequent offline (β = 0.29; p < 0.05) and combined offline and online (β = 0.76; p < 0.001) social interactions predicted better episodic memory after adjustment for multiple confounding factors. We observed positive long-term influences of combined offline and online interactions on memory in participants without hearing loss (β = 0.48, p = 0.001) but not of strictly offline interactions (β = 0.00, p = 0.970). In those with impaired hearing, long-term memory was positively influenced by both modes of engagement (offline only: β = 0.93, p < 0.001; combined online and offline: β = 1.47, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Conclusion Supplementing conventional social interactions with online communication modes may help older adults, especially those living with hearing loss, sustain, and benefit cognitively from, personal relationships.

Toys and Materials as Setting Events on the Social Interaction of Preschool Children

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 49-66
Author(s):  
Mark Carter ◽  
Catherine A. O’Gorman‐Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Setting Events ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Apply Research

This review examined the effects of toys and materials as setting events on social interactions of preschool children. A total of 11 studies were examined and the findings suggested an association with particular types of toys and materials and increases in social interaction. There are, however, several methodological weaknesses that need to be addressed in future studies. In particular, future studies need to make more extensive use of experimental rather than observational research designs, provide functional descriptions of extant social skills of participants, apply research designs that allow idiosyncratic responses to intervention to be examined and consider the effects of manipulation of effects of toys and materials in relation to age. With regard to studies involving children with special needs, a number of features of existing research, including small group sizes, unusual ratios of children with disabilities compared to typically developing children and atypical play areas, limit conclusions that can be drawn from the present data. Future research will need to address these issues and examine more typical preschool settings in order to clarify the role of toys and materials in encouraging positive social interactions between young children with disabilities and their regular peers.

scholarly journals Interdisciplinary challenges for elucidating human olfactory attractiveness

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1800) ◽  
pp. 20190268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Ferdenzi ◽  
Stéphane Richard Ortegón ◽  
Sylvain Delplanque ◽  
Nicolas Baldovini ◽  
Moustafa Bensafi
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Chemical Communication ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
The Body ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Face ◽  
Behavioural Sciences

Many species use chemicals to communicate. In humans, there is increasing evidence that chemicals conveyed by the body are extremely important in interpersonal relationships. However, many aspects of chemical communication remain to be explored to fully understand this function in humans. The aim of this article is to identify relevant challenges in this field, with a focus on human attractiveness in the context of reproduction, and to put forward roadmaps for future studies that will hopefully extend to a wider range of social interactions. The first challenge consists in not being limited to body (mal)odours from the axilla. Preliminary data on how the odour of the face and head is perceived are presented. Second, there is a crucial need to increase our knowledge of the chemical bases of human chemical communication. Third, cross-cultural approaches must not be overlooked, because they have a major input in understanding the universal and culture-specific aspects of chemical communication. Fourth, the influence of specific cultural practices such as contraceptive and fragrance use is likely to be prominent and, therefore, needs to be well described. The fifth and last challenge for research projects in this field is the integration of different disciplines such as behavioural sciences, social sciences, neurosciences and microbiology. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Olfactory communication in humans’.

Observed Social Interaction Patterns in Adolescents with and without Craniofacial Conditions

1997 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 380-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Kapp-Simon ◽  
Dennis E. Mcguire
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Cleft Lip And Palate ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Type Frequency ◽  
Social Interaction Skills

Objective: This study examined social interactions of adolescents in a natural environment (school lunch room) to determine if there were identifiable differences in social behavior between children with and without craniofacial conditions (CFC). Design: This was an observational study comparing social interaction skills of children with CFC to peers without craniofacial conditions. Setting: The observations were conducted in the respective school lunch rooms of the adolescents with CFC. Participants: Clinical subjects were 13 adolescents (4 male) with various craniofacial conditions (5 cleft lip and palate) and 12 (4 male) peers without CFC present in the same lunch room. Main Outcome Measures: An unknown observer obtained 45 minutes of structured observational data on subject initiations, responses, nondirected comments, and extended conversations over two to three lunch room periods. Data was coded on the Epson HX-20 for type, frequency, and duration of social contact. Specific measures included: subject initiations and responses, peer initiations and responses, conversations events, and nondirected comments. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between CFC and comparison subjects (CS) on each social interaction variable measured. CS initiated more contacts, received positive responses more frequently, and engaged in longer conversations than CFC subjects ([F (1,24) = 14.1, p <.01; F (1,24) = 61.2, p <.001; F (1,24) = 5.50, p <.05]. CS were approached by and responded appropriately to peers more often [F (1,24) = 28.1, p <.001; F (1,24) = 43.2, p <.001]. Subjects with CFC were more likely to produce nondirected comments (N = 7, x = 0, p < .01). Conclusions: A significant number of children with CFC behaved differently than their peers in a natural, daily occurring situation. They were often at the periphery of the group, observers rather than participants in conversation.

scholarly journals The Sociomicrobiology of Antivirulence Drug Resistance: a Proof of Concept

mBio ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Mellbye ◽  
Martin Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cooperative Behaviors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Virulence Factor Production ◽  
Proof Of Principle

ABSTRACTAntivirulence drugs disarm rather than kill pathogens and are thought to alleviate the problem of resistance, although there is no evidence to support this notion. Quorum sensing (QS) often controls cooperative virulence factor production and is therefore an attractive antivirulence target, for which inhibitors (QSI) have been developed. We designed a proof-of-principle experiment to investigate the impact of bacterial social interactions on the evolution of QSI resistance. We coculturedPseudomonas aeruginosaQS-deficient mutants with small proportions of the QS-proficient wild type, which in the absence of QSI mimic QSI-sensitive and -resistant variants, respectively. We employed two different QS-dependent nutrients that are degraded by extracellular (public) and cell-associated (private) enzymes. QS mutants (QSI-sensitive mimics) behaved as social cheaters that delayed population growth and prevented enrichment of wild-type cooperators (QSI-resistant mimics) only when nutrient acquisition was public, suggesting that QSI resistance would not spread. This highlights the potential for antivirulence strategies that target cooperative behaviors and provides a conceptual framework for future studies.

scholarly journals The Behaviour of Stallions in a Semiferal Herd in Iceland: Time Budgets, Home Ranges, and Interactions

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hrefna Sigurjonsdottir ◽  
Anna G. Thorhallsdottir ◽  
Helga M. Hafthorsdottir ◽  
Sandra M. Granquist
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
The Other ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Time Budgets ◽  
Low Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Young Horses ◽  
Large Groups ◽  
Icelandic Horses ◽  
Horse Owners

A permanent herd of Icelandic horses with four stallions and their harems was studied for a total of 316 hours in a large pasture (215 ha) in May 2007 in Iceland. Interactions between stallions of different harems and other aspects of the horses' behaviour were studied. One stallion and nine horses were introduced into the pasture prior to the study to examine the reactions of the resident stallions to a newcomer. The stallions spent significantly less time grazing than other horses and were more vigilant. Home ranges overlapped, but harems never mixed. The stallions prevented interactions between members of different harems indirectly by herding. Generally, interactions between resident stallions were nonviolent. However, encounters with the introduced stallion were more aggressive and more frequent than between the other stallions. Here, we show that four harems can share the same enclosure peacefully. The social network seems to keep aggression at a low level both within the harems and the herd as a whole. We encourage horse owners to consider the feasibility of keeping their horses in large groups because of low aggression and because such a strategy gives the young horses good opportunities to develop normally, both physically and socially.

scholarly journals Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aura Raulo ◽  
Bryony Allen ◽  
Tanya Troitsky ◽  
Arild Husby ◽  
Josh A Firth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Wild Mice ◽  
Passive Tracking

AbstractThe mammalian gut teems with beneficial microbes, yet how hosts acquire these symbionts remains poorly understood. Research in primates suggests that microbes can be picked up via social contact, but the role of social interactions in non-group-living species remains unexplored. Here, we use a passive tracking system to collect high resolution spatiotemporal activity data from wild mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Social network analysis revealed social association strength to be the strongest predictor of microbiota similarity among individuals, controlling for factors including spatial proximity and kinship, which had far smaller or nonsignificant effects. This social effect was limited to interactions involving males (male-male and male-female), implicating sex-dependent behaviours as driving processes. Social network position also predicted microbiota richness, with well-connected hub individuals having the most diverse microbiotas. Overall, these findings suggest social contact provides a key transmission pathway for gut symbionts even in relatively asocial mammals, that strongly shapes the adult gut microbiota. This work underlines the potential for individuals to pick up beneficial symbionts as well as pathogens from social interactions.

scholarly journals Synchronising institutions and value systems: a model of opinion dynamics mediated by proportional representation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Segovia-Martín ◽  
Monica Tamariz
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
Proportional Representation ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Opinion Aggregation ◽  
Local Coordination ◽  
Institutional Influence ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Impact

Individuals increasingly participate in online platforms where they copy, share and form they opinions. Social interactions in these platforms are mediated by digital institutions, which dictate algorithms that in turn affect how users form and evolve their opinions. In this work, we examine the conditions under which convergence on shared opinions can be obtained in a social network where connected agents repeatedly update their normalised cardinal preferences (i.e. value systems) under the influence of a non-constant reflexive signal (i.e. institution) that aggregates populations' information using a proportional representation rule. We analyse the impact of institutions that aggregate (i) expressed opinions (i.e. opinion-aggregation institutions), and (ii) cardinal preferences (i.e. value-aggregation institutions). We find that, in certain regions of the parameter space, moderate institutional influence can lead to moderate consensus and strong institutional influence can lead to polarisation. In our randomised network, local coordination alone in the total absence of institutions does not lead to convergence on shared opinions, but very low levels of institutional influence are sufficient to generate a feedback loop that favours global conventions. We also show that opinion-aggregation may act as a catalyst for value change and convergence. When applied to digital institutions, we show that the best mechanism to avoid extremism is to increase the initial diversity of the value systems in the population.

scholarly journals The role of state feelings of loneliness in the situational regulation of social affiliative behavior: Exploring the regulatory relations within a multilevel framework

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252775
Author(s):  
Andreas Reissmann ◽  
Ewelina Stollberg ◽  
Joachim Hauser ◽  
Ivo Kaunzinger ◽  
Klaus W. Lange
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Affiliative Behavior ◽  
Social Affiliation ◽  
Quadratic Effects

Previous empirical evidence suggests that the engagement in social interactions across different everyday contexts occurs in a manner highly responsive to a person’s social affiliation needs. As has been shown repeatedly, social engagement (as well as disengagement) can be predicted from earlier situational need states, implying that homeostatic principles underlie a person’s social affiliative behaviors. However, little is known about the role of emotion in these regulative processes. For this reason, the present exploratory study investigated the predictive role of state feelings of loneliness in subsequent engagement in social interaction. Since loneliness is conceptually associated with both the need to reaffiliate as well as self-protecting tendencies potentially hindering engagement in social contact, the study investigated the possibility of both increases and decreases in social contacts resulting from state feelings of loneliness. Adopting an experience sampling methodology (ESM), a sample of 65 participants was recruited from a local university and was followed for 14 days. Subjects were prompted several times a day to rate their feeling states and the quantity of social interactions, using a fixed interval assessment schedule. Statistical analyses using multilevel analysis indicated that state feelings of loneliness had complex quadratic effects upon subsequent social interaction, leading to both increases and decreases in subsequent social interaction. Moreover, these effects were contingent upon previous engagement in social interaction, implying spillover effects across social contexts that are conditionally mediated by feelings of loneliness. These findings clearly imply an important, albeit complex role of state feelings of loneliness in the regulation of social affiliation, both as a predictor and a consequence of social interaction. These exploratory findings are discussed against the background of methodological and conceptual limitations, and several recommendations for future studies are made.

scholarly journals Sex, Love, or War? A Representation of 20 Years of Research on the Social Interactions of Animals

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather M. Hill ◽  
Stephanie Artz ◽  
Melanie Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
Observational Research ◽  
Research Setting ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Different Types

To navigate through a social world, animals may form temporary or long-term associations with others, recognize kin and discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics, protect themselves and their resources, fight and compete for the best mates, and produce offspring that require various forms of care. The purpose of the current paper was to summarize the publication trends of research investigating animal social interactions over the last 20 years. We selected 8 journals for their diverse representation of animal taxa and examined the number of published articles representing research on affiliative, agonistic, and sexual social interactions. Out of 18,993 published articles, social interactions (N = 4,273) were studied 5.5% to 30.8% of the published articles per journal between 1993-2013. Agonistic social interactions (43%) were the most frequently published topic with affiliative social interactions representing less than a third (30%) of the articles and sexual social interactions accounting for the remaining articles (27%). Mammalian social interactions were investigated the most (38.5%) with invertebrate (22%) and avian (21%) social interactions following closely behind. Observational research and experimental research designs were divided almost equally across different social interactions except for affiliative interactions. Social interactions were studied most often in laboratory settings (45%), then semi-natural field settings (32.5%), and less often in natural habitats (19%). Interestingly, the rates of the different types of social interactions, certain taxa, type of research study, and research setting remained relatively consistent across the 20 year period. Some fluctuations occurred in the frequency of specific topics and taxa within various years; however, research on mate choice, parental care, environmental influences, and group composition was consistently conducted across the years. While many aspects of social interactions in a broad range of taxa have been studied, there are many areas that are still sparse and in need of additional research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document