Intensity Of Aggression Research Articles

Analysis of Antidepressant, Benzodiazepine Anxiolytic, and Hypnotic Use When Treating Depression, Anxiety, and Aggression in Pain Clinic Patients Treated for Neuropathic Pain.

Depression, anxiety, and aggression accompany neuropathic pain. Effective treatment of these comorbidities enhances the outcomes of pain management. Therefore, the study was designed to analyze the relationship between the intensity of depression, anxiety, and aggression and the pharmacotherapy applied in the daily practice of treating neuropathic pain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of using antidepressants (ADs), benzodiazepine anxiolytics (BDAs), and hypnotics, and the influence of administering these on the intensity of depression, anxiety, and aggression in patients diagnosed with neuropathic pain. A multi-center survey was conducted among 421 patients. An evaluation of the severity of depression, anxiety, and aggression was made using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—Modified Version (HADS-M). Among the patients treated due to neuropathic pain, ADs are used much more often than BDAs and hypnotics. Depression was well controlled, while anxiety was identified as a possible uncontrolled therapeutic problem in these patients, despite the correlation between the frequency of AD and hypnotics usage and the severity of anxiety. We also found that women show a higher level of intensity in both anxiety and depression, but this does not influence the frequency of their being administered ADs, BDAs, and hypnotics.

Respect for males amid suppression of females: Selective use of aggression and fitness correlates in the male-dominated society of hamadryas baboons

Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) are a useful model for human social evolution for multiple reasons, including their multilevel society, intense cross-sex bonds, and intermale tolerance. Their most stable social grouping, the one-male unit (OMU)—comprising a leader male, females, and sometimes follower males—is formed via successive takeovers of individual females by males. While takeovers occur via both aggressive and non-aggressive mechanisms, aggressive herding is common during and after takeovers and appears crucial in maintaining OMUs. Here we use behavioral and demographic data from Filoha, Ethiopia to examine the relationship between aggressive takeovers and fitness correlates. We found no relationship between a male's percentage of takeovers that were aggressive and his presumed number of infants sired, nor his number of females or followers. However, we did find that a leader male's average intensity of aggression toward both other males and females around the time of a takeover was negatively related to his presumed number of infants sired. In addition, a leader male's average intensity of aggression toward other males was negatively related to his maximum number of followers. Finally, leader males exhibited more intense aggression toward females in interband, compared to intraband, takeovers. Our findings suggest that (1) leader males who limit their aggression toward other males may have greater success in attracting followers, thereby increasing their fitness via enhanced defense of the OMU; (2) exceptionally aggressive takeovers may lead to lower birth rates via female reproductive suppression; and (3) the extent to which males use aggression toward females depends on the context in which the takeover occurs. Overall, these results both suggest that hamadryas males use aggression selectively and underscore the ubiquity of intermale tolerance and female suppression in the hamadryas social system. This study lends insight into the interplay between male–female and male–male social dynamics during human evolution.

Prior residency improves the performance of a habitat specialist in a degrading environment

AbstractThe effect of habitat loss on the decline of habitat specialists has been well documented in coral reef fishes, since they have a restricted habitat preference. However, the different competitive advantages of specialists and generalists can impact their performance within varying habitat conditions. The order in which species arrive into a community influences competitive outcomes; these ‘priority effects’ may modify communities within degrading resource scenarios as individuals migrate in search of higher quality resources. In this study, we investigated: how sequence and timing of arrival affects interactions between a habitat generalist and a specialist in healthy and degrading environments, and how prior residency interacts with habitat quality and species identity to affect propensity to migrate. We conducted manipulative field studies using the damselfishes Pomacentrus amboinensis, a habitat generalist, and Pomacentrus moluccensis, a live coral specialist, on live or dead coral habitats, with timing of arrival differing between early and late arrivers (residents and intruders, respectively) by 1, 3 or 24 h. Our results demonstrated that the strength of priority effects (i.e., aggression intensity) increased with increasing timing of arrival when the P. moluccensis arrived after P. amboinensis, suggesting that as the perceived value of the habitat patch increased (owing to increasing ownership duration and defence investment), the tendency to defend it increased. Propensity to migrate from dead to live coral was greater for P. moluccensis compared to P. amboinensis; however, arriving after P. amboinensis significantly reduced willingness to migrate to its preferred live coral habitat, indicating an inhibitory priority effect, directly affecting future persistence. The degree that ecological versatility and priority effects combine to modify competitive outcomes in coral reef fishes has important consequences for the persistence of specialist species in the face of environmental degradation, and has implications for predicting how our changing environment will affect fish communities.

The body as a reflection of relations with others.

Corporeality is an important element of the self structure. Tattoos have been associated with self-esteem, identity diffusion, and aggression.PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Convicted modified (n = 78; 78.8%) and non-modified men (n = 21; 21.2%) completed the following research tools: the Aggression Severity Scale from the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), the Group Identification Scale, the Identity Fusion Scale, a measure of identity fusion, and an agency scale. Body modifications were a weak predictor (5%) of aggression intensity among male prisoners. About 20% of the study participants, regardless of having a body modification, presented aggression characterized by severe personality pathology. Nowadays, body modifications should not be treated as an indicator of severe psychopathology and more aggressive relations with others, including among convicted men. In prisoners who presented high levels of aggression, identity diffusion was observed and treated as a form of adaptation, characteristic for borderline personality integration.

Hierarchical development of dominance through the winner-loser effect and socio-spatial structure.

In many groups of animals the dominance hierarchy is linear. What mechanisms underlie this linearity of the dominance hierarchy is under debate. Linearity is often attributed to cognitively sophisticated processes, such as transitive inference and eavesdropping. An alternative explanation is that it develops via the winner-loser effect. This effect implies that after a fight has been decided the winner is more likely to win again, and the loser is more likely to lose again. Although it has been shown that dominance hierarchies may develop via the winner-loser effect, the degree of linearity of such hierarchies is unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether a similar degree of linearity, like in real animals, may emerge as a consequence of the winner-loser effect and the socio-spatial structure of group members. For this purpose, we use the model DomWorld, in which agents group and compete and the outcome of conflicts is self-reinforcing. Here dominance hierarchies are shown to emerge. We analyse the dominance hierarchy, behavioural dynamics and network triad motifs in the model using analytical methods from a previous study on dominance in real hens. We show that when one parameter, representing the intensity of aggression, was set high in the model DomWorld, it reproduced many patterns of hierarchical development typical of groups of hens, such as its high linearity. When omitting from the model the winner-loser effect or spatial location of individuals, this resemblance decreased markedly. We conclude that the combination of the spatial structure and the winner-loser effect provide a plausible alternative for hierarchical linearity to processes that are cognitively more sophisticated. Further research should determine whether the winner-loser effect and spatial structure of group members also explains the characteristics of hierarchical development in other species with a different dominance style than hens.

Do differences in the availability of anthropogenic food resources influence the observed levels of agonistic behaviour in Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala)?

ABSTRACT The Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) is a cooperative honeyeater living in social groups throughout south-east Australia that displays high levels of interspecific aggression and reduces avifaunal biodiversity in areas it occupies. Human-induced habitat changes have also potentially increased the availability of high-quality habitat and food resources available for Noisy Miners, which may in turn affect activity budgets and the duration or intensity of aggression displayed by Miners towards other species. To quantify the impact of differences in the potential availability of anthropogenic food resources on Noisy Miner aggression levels, we presented taxidermy models from three different categories of bird species (food competitors, non-food competitors and potential predators) and quantified observed aggression in three separate habitats: natural areas with very limited additional anthropogenic food resources, gardens that provided supplementary resources such as nectar-rich ornamental plants, and cafés that provided access to human food items. As predicted, Noisy Miners exhibited agonistic behaviours for a significantly longer period in the habitats with anthropogenic food resources, namely gardens and cafés in comparison to natural areas. The type of model presented also impacted Miner response, with: (1) greater numbers of Miners mobbing predator rather than competitor models, (2) Miners mobbing predator models for longer periods than competitors, and (3) a greater probability of Miners physically contacting competitor models. These findings demonstrate that additional resources have the ability to impact time budgets of species and, for hyperaggressive birds such as Noisy Miners, can impact biodiversity in more nuanced ways than previously quantified.

Sex Differences in Hierarchical Stability in a Formation of a Mixed-sex Group of Rhesus Macaques.

Forming groups of captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) is a common management practice. New formations of unfamiliar macaques can be costly, with high levels of trauma, particularly as intense aggression is used to establish a dominance hierarchy. Combining previous subgroups into one new group may be beneficial, as some individuals already have established dominance relationships. We tested this hypothesis by forming a new mixed-sex group of rhesus macaques that combined an established group of females with an established group of males. Prior to the mixed-sex group formation, both the female and male hierarchies had been stable for 3 y; after mixed-sex group formation these hierarchies were maintained by the females and were initially maintained by the males for 3 wks. However, the temporary hospitalization (due to a laceration caused by aggression) of the alpha male destabilized the male hierarchy. Age and weight then predicted male rank. Temporary hospitalizations resulted in rank changes for the males, evidenced by reversals in subordination signals. This study indicates that using established groups of familiar individuals may maintain female hierarchical stability in a mixedsex group formation, but further research is needed to understand how to maintain and predict male hierarchical stability to reduce trauma. Improved knowledge of hierarchical stability would be invaluable to managers of large rhesus macaque groups and would help improve the welfare of captive rhesus macaques.

"БИТВА НАРАТИВІВ" У СУЧАСНОМУ МЕДІАПРОСТОРІ УКРАЇНИ

The paper explores strategic communications in Ukraine's media space. Strategic communications as a system of multi-vector interaction with society have proven to be connected with a range of relevant and socially important issues, acting as the most effective technology in building the information defence amid intense hybrid aggression and ensuring the country's cognitive resilience. Typical anti-Ukrainian narratives undermine the main political reference points and affect the society's cognitive stability. The analysis of narrative realizations confirms that anti-Ukrainian narratives belong to post-truth. These narratives reflect the chaotization of world image: irrationality, emotionality, evaluation, expressiveness, and persuasiveness replace objectivity and rationality. The study determines the main features of strategic narratives and establishes the grand narrative in the strategic communications system. The paper claims a "battle of narratives" representing a struggle of different behavioural models exists in Ukraine's media space. All anti-Ukrainian narratives undermine the central Ukrainian narrative (or grand narrative), the identity narrative, while the majority of pro-Ukrainian narratives promote the idea of the Ukrainian people as a nation. An effective strategic narrative inevitably engenders a counter-narrative that aims at deconstructing or delegitimizing the previous narrative's (or its variants') effect on the target audience. A counter-narrative creation mechanism does not entail symmetry; its objective is to reprogram the call to action and block the recipients' motivational potential.

Agresivitas Pelaporan Keuangan, Pertumbuhan Penjualan, Intensitas Modal, dan Agresivitas Pajak: Kepemilikan Intitusional Sebagai Variabel Moderasi

Purpose: This study aims to prove the financial reporting aggressiveness, sales growth, and capital intensity towards tax aggressiveness with institutional ownership as moderating variable.Method: The analysis method study used is multiplier inear regression, data were analyzed using Moderated regression (MRA), and data tool test using SPSS software. The population study are focusing on manufacturing companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange in the period 2016-2019. The sampling method by purposive sampling of 112 samples. The data obtained from the website of Indonesia Stock Exchange (www.idx.co.id).Finding: The results showed that the financial reporting aggressiveness had a positive effect on tax aggressiveness, sales growth had a positive effect on tax aggressiveness, capital intensity growth had a negative effect on tax aggressiveness, institutional ownership as the moderating variable weakened the influence of aggressive financial reporting on tax aggressiveness, institutional ownership as the moderating variable strengthened the influence of sales growth, and capital intensity on tax aggressiveness.Novelty: This study used is Cash Effective Tax Rate (CETR) to measure tax aggressiveness and the addition of moderating variables.

58.4 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY REVIEW AND SAFETY PLANNING FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER YOUTH WITH IMPULSIVE AGGRESSION

Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often referred for mood dysregulation, aggression, and other maladaptive behaviors. Safety concerns create urgency for safe and effective pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions. When comorbid conditions (eg, intellectual disability, mood disorders, psychosis, and ADHD) are present, pharmacological interventions are often complex and complicated by parental fears, medication interactions, and side effects. Participants will: 1) review research on pharmacological interventions that may reduce frequency and intensity of acute agitation, self-injurious behaviors, irritability, and impulsive aggression in youth with ASD; 2) learn strategies to manage safety during outpatient visits with youth with ASD; and 3) learn prescribing options when treating patients with ASD and co-occurring conditions that may be complicating the presentation. Therapeutic strategies to target maladaptive behaviors will be presented. Evidence from a PubMed review of literature to manage irritability and impulsive aggression in ASD will be reviewed. Strong evidence supports the use of atypical antipsychotics for severe irritability and aggression in ASD. However, there are limited randomized, placebo-controlled trials in other areas of impairment for ASD. Evidence for pharmacological interventions used to treat comorbid conditions (anxiety, bipolar disorder, mood instability, and ADHD) in this population will be presented. Limited evidence for novel agents (N-acetylcysteine, D-cycloserine, arbaclofen, cannabidiol oil, and naltrexone) will also be reviewed. Attendees will review recent literature on pharmacologic interventions to address mood dysregulation and impulsive aggression in youth with ASD. They will learn to develop a rational treatment plan based on treating the most serious presenting symptoms. As rates of ASD diagnosis continue to increase, it is essential for clinicians to be aware of current research to provide appropriate pharmacologic interventions. Caregiver stress for youth with ASD can be diminished when there is decreased frequency and intensity of aggression, mood dysregulation, and other maladaptive behaviors.

An Exploratory Study to Assess the Aggression and Loneliness amongst College Going Indian Youth

The present study aims to assess aggression and loneliness amongst college going Indian youth. An ex-post facto design was employed. Data was collected from first year undergraduate college going students n=103) which included both males (n1=42) and females (n2=61) from various regions of India. The participants’ responses were recorded on two scales, Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory (Novaco, 2003) for assessing the cognitive, behavioral, physiological, regulatory aspects of aggression and situation-specific anger intensity, and Revised UCLA (Russel, Peplau and Cutrona,1980) for estimating the level of loneliness using google forms. A correlational method was used to compute the degree and direction of relationship between the two variables of aggression and loneliness. A moderate, significant and inverse relationship was obtained for loneliness with anger, anger regulation and provocation for females. While, for males a moderate, significant and inverse relationship was estimated for loneliness with anger and provocation. A test for significance (t-test) was employed to assess the significance of the means obtained for females and males. The results obtained indicated a significant gender difference on the dimension of anger regulation. The results obtained also showed a significant difference in anger intensity on provocation for females and males. Substantiating the obtained results with researches, it was inferred that difference may be attributed to gender role orientation and prevailing culture-specific norms. The present study has numerous limitations such as lack of generalizability due to limited representativeness and small sample size. Future implications of the study may include initiating aggression management interventions for the participants who have scored high on aggression.

The Cause of all Humanity

Abstract After years of uneasy interactions between successive administrations of the United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC) — ranging from apathy to indifference to tacit utilitarian engagement behind the scenes — the administration of President Donald Trump unleashed the most intense aggression against the Court, marked by direct coercive measures against the Court’s officials. This followed relentless prior threats of such actions and promises to do more harm. Since other international institutions including the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the Human Rights Council have also been on the receiving end of rough treatment from Mr Trump, it is evident that the experience of the ICC under his administration was not entirely unique, although the particular circumstances may have been so. The new administration of Mr Biden has signalled an intention to reset US foreign policy — and has started this process — by reversing the more aggressive aspects of Mr Trump’s stance. In relation to the ICC, this change should go beyond merely reversing Mr Trump’s coercive measures. It should include positive support for the Court, given America’s leading role in inspiring its creation and the Court’s raison d’être which remains the cause of all humanity.

Cortisol and Oxytocin Could Predict Covert Aggression in Some Psychotic Patients.

Background: The covert or indirect type of aggression has a risk of converting in violent acts and, considering that, it is very important to identify it in order to apply effective preventive measures. In cases of psychotic patients, the risk of becoming violent is harder to predict, as even neuter stimuli may be perceived as threat and trigger aggression. Treating all the psychiatric patients as potential aggressive subjects is not the best preventive measure as only a few of them are aggressive and this measure may further enhance the stigma on mentally ill patients. There is a current need for better understanding of covert aggression and to find objective measures, such as biological markers, that could be indicative of potential violent behavior. In this work, we try to investigate the role of cortisol and oxytocin as potential biomarkers of aggression in patients with psychosis. Material and Methods: We analyzed the level of peripheral oxytocin (pg/mL) and cortisol level (ng/mL) in 28 psychotic patients (they were not on psychotropic treatment at the moment of admission and those with substance abuse or personality disorder were excluded from the study) and correlated it with the intensity of aggression reported by the patient (overt and covert type) using the Overt Covert Aggression Inventory and the level of observed aggression of the patient in the past 7 days (rated by the health care provider) using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale. Results: We found that psychotic patients with a higher level of covert aggression had a lower level of cortisol (61.05 ± 8.04 ng/mL vs. 216.33 ± 12.6.9 ng/mL, p ˂ 0.01) and a higher level of oxytocin (102.87 ± 39.26 vs. 70.01 ± 25.07, p = 0.01) when compared with patients with a lower level of covert aggression. Furthermore, we observed significant negative correlation between cortisol and covert aggression (r = −0.676, p < 0.001) and between oxytocin and covert type of aggression (r = 0.382, p = 0.04). Moreover, we found that a lower level of cortisol together with a higher level of oxytocin are significant predictors of a style of internalized manifestation of aggression, with the predictive model explaining 55% of the variant of the internalized manifestation of aggression (F (2.25) = 17.6, p < 0.001, β = 0.35, R2 = 55.2). We did not find significant correlations between cortisol and overt aggression, and neither between oxytocin and overt aggression. Positive correlations were also found between the overt type of self-reported aggression and overt aggression reported by the rater (r = 0.459, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The importance of a predictive model in understanding covert aggression is imperative and the results of our study show that oxytocin and cortisol warrant to be further investigated in establishing a definitive predictive model for covert aggression.

Wild geladas (Theropithecus gelada) in crops\u2014more than in pasture areas\u2014reduce aggression and affiliation

Human–primate interfaces are expanding and, despite recent studies on primates from peri-urban environments, little research exists on the impact of agriculture and/or pasture areas on primate social behavior and health. We assessed how crop/pasture areas potentially alter social behavior and health of wild geladas (Theropithecus gelada) frequenting the unprotected area of Kundi (Ethiopia). We predicted that compared to pasture areas, crop areas (i) would be more challenging for geladas (prediction 1) and (ii) would have a greater impact on both aggressive and affiliative behavior, by reducing grooming time and enhancing competition (prediction 2). During January–May 2019 and December 2019–February 2020, we collected data (via scan, focal animal sampling, and video analyses) on direct human disturbance, external signs of pathologies and social behavior of 140 individuals from 14 one-male units and two all-male units. Animals experienced the highest level of human disturbance in crop areas (in line with prediction 1). Individuals from the groups preferentially frequenting crop areas showed the highest prevalence of external signs of pathologies consistent with chemical and biological contamination (alopecia/abnormally swollen parts). We collected 48 fecal samples. Samples from frequent crop users contained the highest rates of parasitic elements/gram (egg/larva/oocyst/cyst) from Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, a parasite common in human settlements of the Amhara region. In crop areas, subjects spent less time grooming but engaged in lower rates of intense aggression (in partial agreement with prediction 2). We speculate that the reduction in social behavior may be a tactic adopted by geladas to minimize the likelihood of detection and maximize food intake while foraging in crops.

Reproductive males are effective at managing conflict in captive Sulawesi crested macaques (Macaca nigra).

Group size, density, and composition significantly influence the expression of agonism and, as demography is frequently manipulated in captivity, natural mechanisms of conflict management may be disrupted. Here, we examine how changes to the social and physical environment of a captive group of Sulawesi crested macaques, Macaca nigra, influenced mechanisms of conflict management. The initial group was comprised of females, juveniles, and castrated males; under a series of management interventions, the group was moved to a new enclosure, 75% of the castrated adult males were removed, 67% of the females were contracepted, a novel, intact male was introduced, and the group was allowed access to an outdoor enclosure. Despite a decreasing trend in aggression following the changes to the social group, we found no significant differences in aggression or intervention behavior in the 5-week periods immediately following changes to the social group, apart from a significant decrease in aggression following the introduction of the novel male. This decrease in the frequency of aggression was still evident 10 weeks after the interventions occurred, and was coupled with a decrease in the intensity of aggression. Moreover, the intensity of aggression as well as the frequency of aggression and intervention were significantly lower under low-density conditions. Our results highlight how management changes to the social and physical environment can influence aggressive behavior, albeit following a period of acclimation. We discuss the relative impacts of social group composition, social density, and individual reproductive status on the management of conflict behavior in a captive setting.

PENGARUH PROFITABILITS, LIKUIDITAS DAN CAPITAL INTENSITY TERHADAP AGRESIVITAS PAJAK

Tax aggressiveness is actions taken by companies with the aim of reducing the payment of tax burdens throught tax avoidance or tax evasion. This research was conducted to examine the effect of Profitability, Liquidity, and Capital Intensity on Tax Aggresiveness in basic industrial and chemical manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) with the observation time of the 2015-2019 period. The population of this research is 61 companies with 15 companies that have fulfilled the criteria as samples. The profitability variable in this study can be measured using ROA (Return On Assets), the liquidity variable is measured using CR (Current Ratio), capital intensity is measured by dividing total net fixed assets by total company assets, and for tax aggressiveness it can be measured using CETR (Cahs Effectif Tax Rate). The results in this study are that profitability has a negative and significant effect on tax aggressiveness, liquisity has a positive and significant effect on tax aggressiveness and capital intensity has no effect on tax aggressiveness.

A community context for aggression? Multi-species audience effects on territorial aggression in two species of Paridae.

Territorial aggression in birds is widely observed and is commonly linked to sex, age, body size, physiology, seasonal cues, food resource, urbanization, and a variety of social contexts including conspecific audience effects. However, little is known about the heterospecific audience effects on territorial aggression.Here, we address an emerging idea that heterospecific audience effects may be pervasive influences in the social lives of free‐living birds. We tested the hypothesis that the composition, number, and relative body size of heterospecific audiences observing an aggressive contest will influence the response probability and intensity of aggression displayed.We subjected two Paridae species, tufted titmouse (TUTI, Baeolophus bicolor) and Carolina chickadee (CACH, Poecile carolinensis), to playbacks of aggressive calls during a breeding season in north‐central Florida. At widely spaced playback sites (N = 134) in woodland habitats, we characterized the makeup of heterospecific audiences, aggression type (intra vs. interspecific territoriality), local population density, and various environmental factors (tree density, wind speed, and noise level) that are likely to influence territorial aggression.We found that the presence of heterospecific audiences increased TUTI aggression levels and that both parids were more likely to respond to playback stimuli when their audiences had higher heterospecific diversity (more heterospecific individuals and species). We also found TUTI were more likely to respond when CACH were present but not vice versa.In conclusion, we found evidence that heterospecific audiences significantly influenced the metrics of territorial aggression of free‐living animals and we suggest that the definition of audience effects on the behavior of free‐living animals be expanded to incorporate heterospecific audiences.

Tourist Behavior Predicts Reactions of Macaques (Macaca fascicularis and M. nemestrina) at Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah, Malaysia

Conservationists continue to grapple with the practical risks that accompany ecotourism initiatives, where access to threatened ecosystems is exchanged for financial support for both protected areas and local communities. One of the most practical ways to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of an increasing number of visitors is to identify problematic human behaviors and attempt to limit them through education or staff intervention. We observed the behavior of both visitors and macaques in a hybrid group (Macaca fascicularis × M. nemestrina) at Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Center in Sabah, Malaysia over a period of 10 months to better understand patterns in tourist-directed aggression. We witnessed 307 encounters between macaques and tourists but intense aggression was absent. Overall rates of minor visitor-directed aggression were low, with only 0.71 bouts observed per hour. Eye contact between tourists and macaques was associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing minor human-directed aggression, such as an open mouth threat. Taking a picture, however, was associated with reduced odds of experiencing aggression from the macaques. Tourists were not able to provision the animals, which may help explain the lower rates of intense aggression compared to those at other tourist sites. Although improved education signs and staff supervision could further reduce visitor-directed aggression at Sepilok, these results are promising because they highlight the role that relatively simple policies (such as those that forbid provisioning by tourists) can play in reducing unwanted behavior by both humans and nonhuman primates at ecotourism locations.

Modeling social styles in macaque societies applied to a semi-free-ranging group of Macaca tonkeana

The covariation hypothesis (Thierry 2004) describes conflict management and variations in social structure observed in macaque societies and arranges these species in four dominance styles or grades ranging from egalitarian to despotic. Using an agent-based model (i.e., A-KinGDom), we obtained a set of measurements to quantitatively define the four social styles in captive or semi-free-ranging conditions. Results showed that intensity of aggression was an important parameter involved in the emergence of dominance styles and its level was critical to defining grade 2 (i.e., the second of the two despotic grades described in macaques). In our simulations, grade 2 only appeared using high-intensity aggression values that reflected the phylogenetic origin of despotic grades. Moreover, comparison between simulation results and the data obtained on a semi-free ranging group of Macaca tonkeana (classified as grade 4, or egalitarian) showed the presence of traits close to despotic societies (for example, an increase of gradient of hierarchy or a decrease of reconciliation behaviors). These results both support assigning grade 4 to this macaque species according to its phylogenetic origins and indicate the presence of intra-group variability in semi-free ranging groups of macaques, which in turn yields valuable information of their current social structure and facilitate the handling of these groups. We have developed an agent-based model that drives the emergence of social styles in macaque societies. The results of our simulations suggest that social style in macaques is an emergent behavior and that agent-based models are a good tool for exploring emergent behaviors in silico. Moreover, these models can be used to assess hypotheses on social structure in macaque in semi-free-ranging conditions and report useful knowledge about specific techniques for group handling.

Mixing aggression intensity is associated with age at first service and floor type during gestation, with implications for sow reproductive performance

Aggression resulting from mixing to establish a dominance hierarchy is a major welfare concern for group-housed sows. The associated stress can negatively impact aspects of reproductive performance. Objectives of this study were to investigate associations between 1) age at first service (AFS) and mixing aggression intensity in first parity sows, 2) mixing aggression intensity and reproductive performance within and between parity one and parity two, and 3) mixing aggression intensity, floor type during gestation and reproductive performance. Gilts (n =160, hereafter referred to as sows) were mixed into stable groups of eight unfamiliar individuals approximately 4 days after artificial insemination, housed on fully slatted concrete (CON; n =80) floor uncovered or covered with rubber slat mats (RUB; n =80), and followed through two parities. Skin lesions (SLMIX; a proxy for the intensity of mixing aggression), were scored post mixing in each parity according to severity (0=no lesions to 5=severe lesions) on five body regions (ear, neck, hindquarter, rump, and belly) on the left and right sides, and at the tail/anogenital region. Total SLMIX score was calculated for each sow. Data on reproductive performance traits were acquired retrospectively from farm records for both parities. Two analyses were performed: 1) data from each parity were analysed separately and 2) SLMIX score in parity one was used to predict reproductive performance in parity two. Lower AFS was associated with a lower SLMIX score in parity one (P =0.031). There was no association between SLMIX score and reproductive performance in parity one, while sows with higher SLMIX score in parity two had a higher proportion of piglets dead during lactation (P =0.027) and a longer cycle length (P =0.003) in parity two. Sows with higher SLMIX scores in parity one had more non-productive days (P <0.001) in parity two. Concrete sows had a higher SLMIX score than RUB sows in parity one (P =0.015), but not in parity two. In addition, CON sows had a higher proportion of piglets born dead (P =0.013) compared with RUB sows in parity two. Mixing aggression has a negative influence on reproductive performance within parities, and it may also have a long-term negative carry-over effect on reproductive performance in subsequent parities. Serving gilts at younger ages could help to minimize the intensity of aggression at mixing, while housing on rubber flooring has beneficial implications for their reproductive performance.