Behavioral Traits Research Articles

AN ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOURAL FINANCE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON INVESTMENT DECISION

This research delves into the fascinating realm of Behavioural Finance, exploring its significant influence on investment decision-making among residents in India's National Capital Region (NCR). By drawing on insights from relevant studies, this work seeks to uncover the intricate link between human behaviour and financial decision-making within this demographic. The study begins by examining the unique financial behaviours of investors in the region, aiming to identify the key investor profiles that shape the investment environment. As a multidisciplinary field combining elements of psychology, sociology, and finance, Behavioural Finance provides the primary framework for this exploration. The research distinguishes between its micro and macro perspectives: the detailed analysis of individual behavioural traits of investors and the broader identification of inefficiencies in the market. Recognizing the pervasive impact of behavioural biases on investment behaviours and decisions, this study offers an in-depth review of diverse research within the Behavioural Finance domain. It sheds light on how human psychology and social dynamics interact with financial decision-making, highlighting the crucial role of Behavioural Finance in contemporary financial practices. In an era where financial markets are not merely governed by rationality but are also shaped by complex human behaviours, this research offers valuable insights into the dynamics of Behavioural Finance. By illuminating the distinct investment choices, the study aims to deepen our understanding of the factors influencing these decisions, ultimately equipping investors and financial professionals with more informed decision-making strategies.

The Insiders and the Outsiders in Short Fiction: Is the Behaviour of Women and Men Determined by Living in and Living Out?

The study discusses traditional gender roles and the resulting behavior in the selected works of short fiction. These gender roles dictate that men must work outside to provide for their families while women are compelled to remain inside the house, taking care of children and doing household chores. These roles are accompanied by different stereotypical traits: Men are thought to have positive traits like rationality and bravery while women are said to possess negative traits like sentimentality and cowardice. As writers are also part of society, so we can expect to see the same gendered thinking in their creation. This research takes up five short stories and looks at the behavioral traits of male and female characters and the connection of these traits with the fact that males are outsiders and females are insiders.

Anthropogenic noise and light pollution decrease the repeatability of activity patterns and dampen expression of chronotypes in a free-living songbird

Anthropogenic environmental change is introducing a suite of novel disturbance factors, which can have wide-ranging effects on mean behavior and behavioral repeatability. For example, exposure to sensory pollutants, such as anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night (ALAN), may affect consistent and repeatable individual-level timing of daily activity, which is referred to as chronotypes. Although chronotypes have been increasingly documented in wild animal populations and may affect fitness, evidence for long-term stability across life-history stages and seasons is notably lacking. Furthermore, how multiple anthropogenic stressors may interact to erode or magnify the expression of chronotypes remains unclear. We tested for existence of chronotypes across life-history stages and seasons in suburban female great tits (Parus major), using emergence time from nest boxes in the morning as a proxy for activity onset. We then examined joint effects of noise pollution and ALAN on expression of chronotypes, and tested for effects of noise, ALAN, and weather conditions on mean emergence time. We found repeatability of daily activity patterns (emergence times) across life-history stages and seasons, providing evidence of chronotypes, as well as interactive effects of anthropogenic disturbance factors and weather conditions on population mean behavior. Furthermore, across-season repeatability of emergence times was approximately double in magnitude in low light and low noise conditions, relative to in conditions with higher light and/or noise pollution. Thus, joint exposure to these sensory pollutants tends to erode expression of chronotypes. This effect was driven by higher among-individual variance in the relatively undisturbed environment and collapse of this variance in the more disturbed environments. Decreased repeatability in environments with high disturbance levels may reduce potential for behavioral traits, such as chronotype, to be the target of selection and limit adaptability.

Dimensional and Hierarchical Assessment of American Kennel Club Breeds and Behavioral Trait Descriptions

The AKC functions as the largest and most influential dog breed registry and breed standard information source in the United States. AKC breed standards describe the breed’s overall appearance and behavior. Despite their popularity, the AKC behavioral descriptions and the traits used to quantify them have largely remained unexplored. In this study, we used eleven behavioral breed standard traits for 286 breeds collected for the official AKC source. Dog size and appearance were also evaluated. We employed pairwise correlation and factor analysis to define behavioral trait constructs and hierarchical clustering methods to evaluate the similarity of breed profiles. These methods revealed that although AKC data exhibit various individual correlations concurrent with known canine behavior, many breeds present behavioral trait constructs that do not align with the narratives presented in their standard and may be lacking crucial factors in dog behavior, as suggested by breed group clustering. Our dimensional analysis revealed three constructs, which we labeled as “Social Engagement”, “Pet Demands”, and “Vigilance”, that are very important and relevant to pet ownership. These results emphasize the importance of standardized observations when quantifying behavior and provide an overarching context regarding the strengths and weaknesses of these descriptions, allowing readers to better understand and predict their pet’s behavior.

Imaging genetics of language network functional connectivity reveals links with language-related abilities, dyslexia and handedness

Language is supported by a distributed network of brain regions with a particular contribution from the left hemisphere. A multi-level understanding of this network requires studying its genetic architecture. We used resting-state imaging data from 29,681 participants (UK Biobank) to measure connectivity between 18 left-hemisphere regions involved in multimodal sentence-level processing, as well as their right-hemisphere homotopes, and interhemispheric connections. Multivariate genome-wide association analysis of this total network, based on genetic variants with population frequencies >1%, identified 14 genomic loci, of which three were also associated with asymmetry of intrahemispheric connectivity. Polygenic dispositions to lower language-related abilities, dyslexia and left-handedness were associated with generally reduced leftward asymmetry of functional connectivity. Exome-wide association analysis based on rare, protein-altering variants (frequencies <1%) suggested 7 additional genes. These findings shed new light on genetic contributions to language network organization and related behavioural traits.

Hypothalamic connectivities and self-evaluated aggression in young adults.

The hypothalamus plays a pivotal role in supporting motivated behavior, including aggression. Previous work suggested differential roles of the medial hypothalamus (MH) and lateral hypothalamus (LH) in aggressive behaviors, but little is known about how their resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) may relate to aggression in humans. We employed the data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) and examined the rsFC's of LH and MH in 745 young adults (393 women). We also explored sex differences in the rsFC's. We processed the imaging data with published routines and evaluated the results of voxel-wise regression on aggression score, as obtained from Achenbach Adult Self Report, with a corrected threshold. The analysis revealed significant rsFC between the LH and clusters in the middle temporal and occipital gyri across all subjects and in the thalamus for men, both in negative correlation with aggression score. Slope test confirmed sex differences in the correlation between LH-thalamus rsFC and aggression score. No significant rsFC was observed for MH. These findings suggest a role of LH rsFCs and sex differences in LH-thalamus rsFC in the manifestation of aggression in humans. The findings highlight the need for further research into sex-specific neural pathways in aggression and other related behavioral traits of importance to mental health.

Women’s Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Case From Madhesh Based On Skill

This study investigates the impact of financial skills on women's entrepreneurial intentions in Madhesh Province. Specifically, it examines how cognitive skills, numerical ability, financial literacy, behavioral traits, risk tolerance, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy influence these intentions. A quantitative research design was employed using a survey with a sample of 385 female respondents, including students, job holders, and entrepreneurs. Data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed via mail and social media. The analysis utilized descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression to assess the relationships between financial skills and entrepreneurial intentions. The analysis reveals that financial literacy and behavioral traits are significant predictors of women's entrepreneurial intentions in Madhesh Province. Conversely, cognitive skills, numerical ability, risk tolerance, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy do not show a statistically significant impact. The study confirms the validity of the regression model through collinearity statistics, ensuring robust results. The findings underscore the importance of financial literacy and behavioral traits in shaping women's entrepreneurial intentions. To promote female entrepreneurship, it is recommended to focus on enhancing financial education and developing key behavioral traits. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting region-specific factors affecting women’s entrepreneurial aspirations and suggests tailored interventions for fostering female-led ventures in Madhesh Province.

Association between dopamine genes, adiposity, food addiction, and eating behavior in Chilean adult.

A frequent consumption of high sugar/fat foods can affect dopamine signaling in the brain and cause sustained stimulation of the reward system. It has been hypothesized that a hypodopaminergic trait results in an individual overeating in order to increase brain DA. Genetic variants in this route have been connected with addiction and eating behaviors. Most studies focus on a specific SNP, and few studies have used multilocus genetic scores, which quantify genetic risk on a continuum. To assess the relationship between multilocus genetic scores based on multiple gene variants in the dopaminergic pathway and measurements of anthropometry, eating behavior, food reinforcement, and food addiction (FA) in Chilean adults. We recruited 221 Chilean adults for a cross-sectional study. A standard anthropometric measurement procedure was followed and eating behavior was examined using the Three Factor Eating questionnaire (TFEQ), Food Reinforcement Value Questionnaire (FRVQ), Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and 24-h diet recall. Multilocus genetic scores were calculated using TaqMan assays (rs1800497-rs1799732-rs6277-rs4680). No differences were found in the entire sample for anthropometric measurements, by MLGS. We found that participants with a score ≥ 2.0 in the MLGS showed higher food choices on the RVFQ and lower energy intake in protein, lipids, SAFA, MUFA, PUFA, dietary cholesterol, omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in the 24-h recall (p < 0.05). Stratified by nutritional condition, the group with obesity had inferior scores on cognitive restriction, greater scores on uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, and responding to palatable food in the RVFQ. Also, in subjects with obesity, there was more food addiction in the group scoring "MLGS ≥2.0 or low dopamine signaling" (53%), compared to the group scored "MLGS <2.0 or high dopamine signaling" (23%) (p-value; 0.05). Emotional Eating scores correlated positively with MLGS in subjects with obesity. In adults with obesity, the MLGS of the dopamine pathway, reflecting hypodopaminergic signaling, was associated with greater scores on food addiction and altered eating behavior traits.

Pharmacological intervention of behavioural traits and brain histopathology of prenatal valproic acid-induced mouse model of autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the leading causes of distorted social communication, impaired speech, hyperactivity, anxiety, and stereotyped repetitive behaviour. The aetiology of ASD is complex; therefore, multiple drugs have been suggested to manage the symptoms. Studies with histamine H3 receptor (H3R) blockers and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) blockers are considered potential therapeutic agents for the management of various cognitive impairments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neuro-behavioural effects of Betahistine, an H3R antagonist, and Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor on Swiss albino mouse model of autism. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with valproic acid (VPA) on the embryonic 12.5th day to induce autism-like symptoms in their offspring. This induced autism-like symptoms persists throughout the life. After administration of different experimental doses, various locomotor tests: Open Field, Hole-Board, Hole Cross and behavioural tests by Y-Maze Spontaneous Alternation and histopathology of brain were performed and compared with the control and negative control (NC1) groups of mice. The behavioural Y-Maze test exhibits significant improvement (p <0.01) on the short term memory of the test subjects upon administration of lower dose of Betahistine along with MAO-B inhibitor Rasagiline once compared with the NC1 group (VPA-exposed mice). Furthermore, the tests showed significant reduction in locomotion in line crossing (p <0.05), rearing (p <0.001) of the Open Field Test, and the Hole Cross Test (p <0.01) with administration of higher dose of Betahistine. Both of these effects were observed upon administration of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Donepezil. Brain-histopathology showed lower neuronal loss and degeneration in the treated groups of mice in comparison with the NC1 VPA-exposed mice. Administration of Betahistine and Rasagiline ameliorates symptoms like memory deficit and hyperactivity, proving their therapeutic effects. The effects found are dose dependent. The findings suggest that H3R might be a viable target for the treatment of ASD.

Enhanced multimodal biometric access control system using chicken swarm optimization and self-organizing feature maps: a study on ear and iris recognition

Access control systems are crucial for securing sensitive data and system components by allowing authorized access while blocking unauthorized entities. Traditional unimodal biometric systems, make use of a single physiological or behavioral trait, have limitations such as susceptibility to spoofing and environmental constraints, leading to reduced reliability. This study explores an enhanced multimodal biometric access control system that combines ear and iris traits using an enhanced Self-Organizing Feature Map (SOFM) algorithm improved with Chicken Swarm Optimization (CSO). The system's performance is evaluated against traditional SOFM, with a focus on recognition accuracy and processing time. The data used to train the classifier for this study were collected from 190 individuals, encompassing a total of 2,280 images of iris, and ear traits. Preprocessing involved cropping, resizing, and grayscale conversion using histogram equalization. Feature extraction utilized Local Binary Patterns (LBP), followed by feature fusion at the feature level to create an integrated feature set. The enhanced SOFM algorithm was then applied for classification, with the CSO technique optimizing the learning rate and weight parameters for improved performance. At different thresholds, the CSO-SOFM classifier outperformed the standard SOFM classifier using metrics such as Sensitivity, Specificity, Precision, Accuracy and Recognition time.

The hydroperiod gradient drives species sorting in pace-of-life strategies but not in stressor sensitivity in Lestes damselfly larvae

Many species sort along environmental gradients, whereby species traits are predicted to shift as integrated sets of life-history, behavioural and physiological traits thereby making up a fast-to-slow pace-of-life continuum. This has also been predicted to cause species differences in stressor sensitivity along such gradients with a faster pace-of-life causing a higher sensitivity. We tested for predictable differences in pace-of-life and in stressor sensitivity for a set of four Lestes damselfly species that separate along the hydroperiod gradient. We reared in a common-garden experiment, larvae of two vernal pond specialists, L. dryas and L. barbarus, and two hydroperiod generalists, L. sponsa and L. virens, and exposed them to transient food deprivation and pesticide exposure, and monitored a set of life-history, behavioural and physiological traits both in the larvae and in the adults. Consistent with the time constraints imposed by the shorter hydroperiod of their habitat, the vernal pond specialists showed a faster pace-of-life (faster growth and development, and higher activity levels) than the hydroperiod generalists. Yet, in contrast with theory, this was not associated with a higher metabolic rate and a lower energy budget, neither with a higher oxidative damage to lipids. Both food deprivation and pesticide exposure were experienced as stressors, and species showed compensatory responses to cope with the transient food deprivation, including compensatory growth and delayed development. Nevertheless, the sensitivity to these stressors could not be predicted based on the difference in pace-of-life strategy between the vernal pond specialists and the hydroperiod generalists because of a decoupling of life-history and physiological traits. Our study indicates that while pace-of-life strategies change largely predictably along the hydroperiod gradient, these are not reliable predictors of species sensitivity to stressors. This highlights the need to consider also physiological traits to arrive at a generalizable predictive framework of species sensitivity to global change.

The impact of behavioral weight management interventions on eating behavior traits in children with overweight or obesity: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

SummaryIntroductionBehavioral weight management interventions (BWMIs) are an evidence‐based strategy for addressing childhood obesity. Targeting eating behavior traits (EBTs; individual tendencies determining food intake/occasions) could play a pivotal role in improving the effectiveness of these behavioral interventions. The present study describes a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the impact of BWMIs on eating behavior traits in children with overweight or obesity.MethodsSeven databases were searched, and eligible studies included randomized controlled trials reporting EBT outcomes following BWMIs delivered to children with overweight or obesity (&lt;18 years of age). Random effects meta‐analyses were conducted to compare EBT outcomes for intervention and control groups. Synthesis without meta‐analysis (SWiM) was applied for EBTs where meta‐analysis was not feasible.ResultsThe review identified eight trials characterizing the impact of BWMIs on 15 EBTs. Meta‐analyses of data from three trials at intervention completion and post‐intervention (average of 28 weeks [±8]) revealed positive short‐term increases in dietary restraint (SMD random effect 0.42 [95% CI 0.13, 0.70]). However, these effects were not sustained at follow‐up. Improvements in emotional eating, external eating, food responsiveness, and enjoyment of food were shown in studies which could not be pooled quantitatively.ConclusionBWMIs in children living with overweight/obesity are beneficial for the improvement of some EBTs at intervention completion including dietary restraint, emotional eating, external eating, food responsiveness, and enjoyment of food. However, this remains a relatively unexplored area and more research is needed to strengthen understanding of the multifaceted impact of child BWMIs on a comprehensive range of EBTs.

The Impact of Catastrophic Floods on Macroinvertebrate Communities in Low-Order Streams: A Study from the Apennines (Northwest Italy)

Floods are normal components of many river regimes and, as such, they exert a significant influence at the ecosystem level. In recent decades, however, climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of floods, with serious consequences for lotic biota, particularly benthic macroinvertebrates, due to their limited mobility and sensitivity to disturbance. The impact of floods varies according to different biological parameters including the characteristics of the macrobenthic communities (taxonomic composition, morphology, behaviour, and life history traits) on one hand and various nonbiological parameters such as flood intensity, artificialisation of the river bed, the presence of dams, and many other factors on the other. Understanding these dynamics is pivotal to improve the effective management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in the context of current climate change. The aim of this short communication is to evaluate the impact of a catastrophic flood on the macroinvertebrate community of a low-order Appennine stream (NW Italy). This will provide data regarding the varying impacts on different taxa and the recovery pattern of this significant component of the ecosystem.

Variations in Canine Behavioural Characteristics across Conventional Breed Clusters and Most Common Breed-Based Public Stereotypes.

Dog breeds are grouped based on scientific agreement, whether for traditional reasons or specific tasks during their domestication. Discrepancies may occur between public views of breed behaviour and actual evidence. This research aims to investigate differences in five behavioural traits (aggression towards people, aggression towards animals, fearfulness, responsiveness to training, and activity/excitability) by using the Dog Personality Questionnaire (DPQ) across six conventional groups/clusters of dog breeds (herding, hunting, guarding, companion dogs, potentially aggressive breeds, and mixed-breed dogs) and to assess hypotheses derived from common public presumptions. A cohort of 1309 dog owners sourced through diverse online platforms took part in the study. Contrary to stereotypes, the findings indicate that breeds labelled as "potentially aggressive" display lower levels of aggression compared to guarding breeds (χ2 (5) = 3.657, p = 0.041) and mixed-breeds (χ2 (5) = 3.870, p = 0.002). Additionally, mixed-breed dogs exhibited the highest levels of fearfulness among the six conventional clusters. In terms of aggression and gender, males demonstrated higher aggression levels towards both humans and animals compared to females (p = 0.001). These results challenge established assumptions and emphasise the necessity of evidence-based methodologies in the assessment of canine behaviour.

The Role of Social Determinants of Health in Self-Reported Psychological Distress among United States Adults Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.

Psychological distress, an emotional condition with symptoms of anxiety and depression, leads to impaired function, behavior, and personal traits. The current study examined the association between social determinants of health and the severity of psychological distress among adults in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using multinomial multivariable logistic regression, we analyzed data from 5106 (n = 5106) participants in the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 6. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans (AOR = 0.62, CI = 0.42-0.93) had lower odds of reporting mild psychological distress rather than no stress. Other variables associated with a higher likelihood of reporting moderate to severe psychological distress, rather than no distress, are being in the 50-64 years age group (AOR = 2.77, CI = 1.45-5.28), divorced (AOR = 2.50, CI = 1.70-3.69), and widowed (AOR = 3.78, CI = 2.15-6.64). Respondents living in an urban area had lower odds of reporting moderate to severe psychological distress (AOR = 0.56, CI = 0.39-0.80) compared to those living in rural areas. Our findings identify several risk factors for psychological distress by sociodemographic characteristics such as age, race, marital status, and urban living, providing empirical evidence for interventions in behavioral health. These findings suggest there is an utmost need for a multi-sectoral approach to address the social determinants of health associated with psychological distress post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Temperament of the dairy cow relates to her maternal behaviour in a pasture-based extended suckling system

Cow-calf rearing is gaining interest in dairy systems as an alternative to calf separation soon after birth. One commonly articulated benefit of these ‘extended suckling’ systems is that they allow expression of highly motivated maternal behaviours. The quality of maternal expression is subject to natural variation, however, and could be influenced by the temperamental characteristics of the dam. This study assessed the relationship between cow temperamental characteristics and expression of maternal behaviours in a pasture-based extended suckling system. Sixteen dairy cows (Bos taurus) underwent social isolation, novel object and novel human tests at 4 months of pregnancy. A principal components analysis (PCA) was used to determine associations between cow responses in these tests. After parturition, the cows entered an extended suckling system (half-day contact) until calves were weaned. Cow-calf interactions at pasture were video recorded for 4 consecutive hours (∼09:00 AM – 1:00 PM) at weeks 3, 6 and 9 post-partum. These data were used to calculate a maternal behaviour score for cows by subtracting the frequency of “negative” maternal behaviours (i.e., agonistic behaviour delivered to own calf, rejecting own calf suckling attempt and rejecting attempted contact by own calf) from the frequency of “positive” maternal behaviours (i.e., nursing own calf, affiliative behaviour delivered to own calf and proximity to own calf). A Pearson correlation was then used to assess the relationship between factors scores and maternal scores. Three behavioural traits were identified from the PCA: boldness, anxiety and sociability. In general, cows delivered more affiliative behaviour to their calves than to other calves and to cows and nursed their own calf more than other calves. The maternal behaviour score varied (mean ± SD, 33 ± 13.4, minimum = 9, maximum = 49). Cows with higher loadings for boldness had a lower maternal behaviour score (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between maternal behaviour score and anxiety or sociability (p > 0.05). The lower maternal behaviour score of bold cows in this study might be influenced by their prioritisation of foraging and exploration over interactions with their calves. Despite the long-standing practice of calf separation soon after birth, the current study demonstrates that maternal abilities of pasture-based dairy dams persist. We conclude that cow temperamental characteristics are related to how the cows interacted with their calves.

The effects of age on associations between pre-school children's eating behaviour traits and diet quality

Child eating behaviour traits are associated with several aspects of dietary intake of pre-school children, however the associations between child eating behaviour traits and overall dietary quality in pre-school children has not been examined. Additionally, it is unknown how these relationships vary by age. This study examines the associations between child eating behaviour traits and pre-school children's dietary quality and whether children's age moderates these associations. This study utilises cross-sectional online survey data collected from mothers (n = 1367) of pre-school aged children (2–5 years) from across Australia. The survey included a validated measure of four child eating behaviour traits and a validated measure of diet quality. Multiple linear regression assessed associations between child eating behaviour traits and dietary quality, including interactions between child eating behaviour traits and child age. The average age of the children was 3.3 years, with 50.2% reported as males. Enjoyment of food was positively associated with dietary quality (B coefficient: 2.51, p < 0.001). Food fussiness and satiety responsiveness were inversely associated with dietary quality (B coefficients: 2.59 and −2.25, respectively, p < 0.001), while food responsiveness was not related to diet quality. Child age moderated associations between food fussiness and dietary quality (B coefficient: 0.38, p = 0.025). The difference in dietary quality between lower and higher food fussiness is most pronounced among 5-year-old children. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that it is important for future interventions aiming to improve dietary quality of pre-school children to target children with lower food enjoyment, higher food fussiness or satiety responsiveness as possible ways to improve child dietary quality. Future interventions should also have a particular focus on strategies to reduce food fussiness for older preschoolers.

216 Using GPS collars and vaginal temperature sensors for characterizing rangeland usage and climatic stress in sheep

Abstract Increased climatic variability represents the most significant threat to arid rangeland production systems. We set out to describe land use behavior of rangeland sheep and associations between land use phenotypes and body weight (BW) gain via the investigation of GPS data paired with vaginal temperature sensors to characterize fitness under climatic stress. During a fortnight spanning Aug 19th to Sep 1st, 2023, we deployed 200 vaginal temperature sensors and 199 GPS collars on extensively managed Australian Merinos, and a ⅝ Merino X ⅜ Rambouillet composite line in central Nevada, totaling 200 sampled individuals. Vaginal temperature sensors were constructed by affixing Thermochron iButtons to small ruminant CIDRs depleted of progesterone. GPS collars were constructed by enclosing i-gotU GT-120B GPS units in rubber shrink tubing around large dog collars. The iButtons sampled for vaginal temperature every 10 min, and the GPS collars sampled for location every 5 min. Body weights were recorded at the beginning and end of the trial. Remotely sensed data were acquired from the USGS and climateengine.org to analyze covariates such as slope and elevation, and NDVI, and climate, respectively, and were combined with observational data to generate rasters of distance from water and shade. GPS Position was continuously modeled using the R package momentuHMM (function crwWrap) to allow for the union of simultaneous temperature and location observations. A hidden markov model was employed (function fitHMM) to delineate between active and resting observations. Estimates were more significant when modeling land use and temperature phenotypes by just “active” observations. We used a forward progressing model building function with the R package leaps (function regsubsets) to associate weight change with all land use and temperature phenotypes. Logged distance to shade (P = 0.023) and vertical distance traveled (P = 0.057) were associated with BW gain. The square root of the range in vaginal temperature was positively associated with BW gain (P = 0.045) in a simple linear regression model, suggesting that the ability to adapt to heat stress via metabolic elasticity increases fitness. This study also estimated repeatability for land use behavior and temperature traits. The repeatabilities for vertical distance traveled and distance to shade were 0.20 ± 0.03 and 0.04 ± 0.01, respectively. The repeatabilities for mean temperature and vaginal temperature range were 0.47 ± 0.03 and 0.26 ± 0.03, respectively. In conclusion, some land use traits are lowly to moderately repeatable and have significant relationships to BW gain (i.e., fitness) in rangeland settings. Temperature traits are moderately to highly repeatable and can be associated with BW gain.

206 Effects of breed type and days on trial on feeding behavior in growing goats fed a total mixed diets using GrowSafe feeding technology

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of breed and days on trial (DOT) on feeding behavior traits in two breeds of growing goats. Nineteen female goats [n = 10 Alpine; n = 9 Spanish, with average initial ages of 360 d and 352 d, and body weight (BW) of 38.8 ± 2.8 kg and 35.5 ± 3.1 kg, respectively], were randomly assigned within the breed to one of two non-adjacent pens (5 goats/pen), each equipped with GrowSafe feed bunks. A pelletized total mixed ration (TMR) was fed twice per day and goats had ad libitum access to feed, water, and mineral block throughout the 84-d trial. Feeding behavior traits, including feed intake, bunk visit frequency (BVF), head-down duration (HDD), and dry matter intake (DMI) were collected daily using the GrowSafe feeding system. A 14-d interval was used to derive feed behavior traits of individual goats at 42, 56, 70, and 84 DOT. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures model with a fixed effect of breed, DOT as a repeated measure, and breed x DOT interaction with pen as a random effect. Alpine goats had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) initial and final BW (37.6 kg and 51.7 kg, respectively) than Spanish goats (34.7 kg and 46.5 kg, respectively) although DMI (P = 0.10; 1.73 ± 0.31 and 1.39 ± 0.18 kg/d) did not differ. There was not a significant difference (P &amp;gt; 0.05) between breeds for frequency of bunk visits (21.1 vs. 18.6) and bunk duration (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Similarly, the effect of breed on DMI (27.1g/min vs. 22.8 g/min) was non-significant (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Furthermore, breed did not significantly (P &amp;gt; 0.05) affect HDD (31.3 min/d vs 31.9 min/d). However, there was a significant interaction (P &amp;lt; 0.05) between breed and DOT for HDD. In addition, significant differences (P &amp;lt; 0.05) were observed due to the length of DOT for BVD, bunk visit duration, HDD, and eating rate (g/min). Our results suggest that Spanish goats tended to visit feed bunks more frequently per day and tended to consume less feed per visit than their counterpart Alpine goats, and the feeding behaviors of goats change with age. However, further research is warranted to determine changes in the feeding behavior of goats in different production cycles.

From individual motivation to substance use initiation: A longitudinal cohort study assessing the associations between reward sensitivity and subsequent risk of substance use initiation among US adolescents

BackgroundSubstance use in youth remains a pressing problem in the United States. Existing studies have shown the importance of neuropathways responsible for affective response and reward motivation in adolescents’ substance use initiation and maintenance. However, limited observational studies have explored the relationship between aspects of behavioral motivation traits and the likelihood of substance use initiation in adolescents. In this prospective cohort study, we assessed the associations between behavioral motivation traits based on the Behavioral Inhibition and Approach Systems (BIS-BAS) Scale and substance use initiation using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. MethodIn the 9216 eligible sample population, we assessed the associations between mean Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) / Behavioral Approach System (BAS) scores measured at year 2 of the ABCD study and substance use initiation at year 3 of the ABCD study using multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for ABCD study site, sampling weights, as well as sociodemographic characteristics. ResultsWe found that higher BIS mean score was associated with higher odds of initiating substance use at year 3 (AOR=1.20, 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.40). Out of three BAS measure categories, only BAS Fun-seeking mean score was positively associated with higher odds of initiating substance use at year 3 (AOR=1.23, 95 % CI: 1.07, 1.43). ConclusionOur study showed that inhibitory and fun-seeking behavioral tendencies are associated with an increased likelihood of substance use initiation in adolescents. Our findings suggest a potential pathway linking emotional traits to early substance initiation in adolescents.