Contextualizing Media Choice Using Genre Analysis

Value creation is increasingly organized in virtualized settings requiring effective computer-mediated communication. While media choice has been a topic of interest in Information Systems for some time, corresponding media choice theories exhibit a range of shortcomings with regard to applicability in context. Since the theories try to generalize across social contexts, their key constructs are rather abstract and underspecified with regard to application. Against this backdrop we present an approach for contextualizing media choice using genre analysis. Genre analysis aims at identifying communication patterns (genres) in social communities (e. g. teams) as a structured overview of existing team communication. By juxtaposing requirements of the identified genres and media characteristics, we are able to propose a new set of media for improving team communication. We illustrate the application of our approach with a case example

Optimising Puppy Socialisation-Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Training Programme during the Early Socialisation Period.

The socialisation period in dog puppies is one of the most important periods determining behavioural development in dogs. Here, we aimed to test the effect of providing stimulation (beyond mere exposure) early during the socialisation period (approx. 3-6 weeks) on puppies' behaviour. Each of 12 litters (83 puppies) of various breeds was divided into a treatment and a control group. Between 3-6 weeks, the treatment group received age-appropriate "challenge" exercises (carefully graded noise exposure, novel objects, and problem-solving tasks) four times per week (total 12 times). The control group spent the same time with the trainer, who cuddled or played with the puppies. In a behaviour test at 6-7 weeks, two of four principal components, "social-startle" and "response to novelty", differed significantly between the groups. Treatment puppies were bolder towards the novel object, showed a reduced startle reaction, and recovered more quickly after a loud noise. Furthermore, they accomplished the problem-solving task faster and were more persistent during problem-solving than the control group. The control group showed a higher interest in a friendly stranger. It is a possibility that increased handling experienced by the control group had beneficial effects on their sociability. No long-term effects of the treatment were found, as determined by a validated dog personality questionnaire, available for 67 dogs at the age of six months. Likely, a continuation of the treatment over a longer time period would be necessary to obtain lasting effects, since the training took place only during the first third of the socialisation period

Population density and habitat use of the Green Woodpecker Picus viridis in Donau-Auen National Park (Lower Austria)

In einer 1170 ha großen Probefläche im Nationalpark Donau- Auen (Niederösterreich) wurden Siedlungsdichten und Habitatpräferenzen des Grünspechts Picus viridis untersucht. Im Rahmen einer rationalisierten Revierkartierung zwischen Februar und April 2008 wurden 14 Reviere ermittelt (Revierdichte: 0,12 Reviere/10 ha). Basierend auf dem Vorkommen der Art in 400 m x 400 m Rastern wurde der Einfluss der vorherrschenden Baumarten, des Bestandesalters, der Länge der Waldrandgrenze sowie der Länge der Seitenarme auf das Vorkommen des Grünspechts mittels verallgemeinerter linearer Modelle analysiert. Der beste Prädiktor für das Vorkommen der Art war der Grenzlinienanteil zwischen Wald und Nicht-Wald-Bereichen. Die meisten Reviere befanden sich in Bereichen des Untersuchungsgebiets, die durch einen Damm vor Hochwasser geschützt sind. Die Harte Au wurde im Vergleich zur Weichen Au signifikant bevorzugt. Dies ist höchstwahrscheinlich mit einer besseren Nahrungsverfügbarkeit (Ameisen) in den trockeneren Gebieten zu erklären. Es konnten keine signifikanten Präferenzen für bestimmte Baumarten festgestellt werden, Hybridpappeln und Weiden (Arten der Weichen Au) wurden jedoch scheinbar gemieden, was aber wohl eher auf die weniger günstigen Bedingungen in feuchteren Lebensräumen zurückzuführen ist. Alle Reviere lagen im Waldrandbereich und beinhalteten Wiesen, Teile des Damms, aber auch landwirtschaftlich genutzte Felder. Bei fünf Revieren dürften intensiv genutzte Getreidefelder den einzigen Offenlandanteil darstellen.Population densities and habitat use of the Green Woodpecker Picus viridis were studied in a 1,170 ha study area in the Donau- Auen National Park (Lower Austria). Territory mapping (three visits) between February and April 2008 yielded a minimum of 14 territories, which corresponds to 0.12 territories/10 ha. Based on the incidence of the species in 400 m x 400 m grids, generalized linear models were constructed and the presence of the species was related to dominant tree species, tree age, length of the forest boundary and length of river sidearms. The best predictor for the presence of P. viridis was the length of the forest boundary. Most territories were located in areas protected from flooding by a dyke. Hardwood forest was significantly preferred to softwood forest. This can be explained by a better food supply (ants) in drier areas. No significant preferences for particular tree species were found; however, hybrid poplars and willows were apparently avoided, which can be attributed to less favourable conditions in wetter habitats. All territories were located at the forest’s edges and contained meadows or agricultural fields. In five territories, agricultural fields seemed to constitute the only open land

The influence of human interaction on guinea pigs: behavioral and thermographic changes during animal-assisted therapy

Guinea pigs are often involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) but there is little knowledge about the effects of human contact on guinea pigs involved in AAT. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of availability of a retreat, presence of conspecifics, prior experience with AAT, and human interaction on indicators of welfare in guinea pigs involved in AAT. Guinea pigs of both sexes and different ages (n=20) were assigned to a randomized, controlled within-subject trial with repeated measurements. Each guinea pig was tested in four settings: (I) therapy with retreat possibility with conspecifics, (II) therapy with retreat possibility without conspecifics, (III) therapy without retreat possibility, and (IV) setting without human interaction. We measured changes in eye temperature, as a proxy to infer stress levels, at 5-s intervals with a thermographic camera. All sessions were video recorded and the guinea pigs' behavior was coded using continuous recording and focal animal sampling. For the statistical analysis we used generalized linear mixed models, with therapy setting as a fixed effect and individual guinea pig as a random effect. We observed a temperature increase relative to baseline in settings (I) therapy with retreat with conspecifics present and (III) therapy without retreat. The percentage of time a guinea pig was petted was positively correlated with a rise in the eye temperature independent of the setting. Time spent eating was reduced in all therapy settings (I-III) compared to the setting without HAI (human animal interaction) (IV). In the setting with retreat (I), guinea pigs showed more active behaviors such as locomotive behavior or startling compared to the setting without retreat (III) and the setting without HAI (IV). When no retreat was available (III), they showed more passive behaviors, such as standing still or freezing compared to therapy with retreat (I). Based on our results we identified the behaviors "reduced eating", "increased startle" and "increased freezing" as indicators of an increased stress level. Petting the guinea pigs was correlated with a rise in the eye temperature and might be a factor which can cause stress. Our results support the suggestion that guinea pigs involved in AAT should have a retreat possibility, should have access to conspecifics, and should be given time to adapt to a new setting. In this way, stress might be reduced

Reinforcer effectiveness in dogs—The influence of quantity and quality

Reinforcer effectiveness refers to the reinforcer’s ability to control the subject’s target behaviour and is therefore critical to training success. Yet animals’ preferences, and the effectiveness of different rewards to function as reinforcers, are often assumed without scientific investigation. Here we explored the influence of reward quality, quantity and changes in reward value on motivation in domestic dogs. Subjects were trained to traverse a runway for a food reward. In Study 1, the quantity of food was varied (1 vs 5 pieces of dry food), while in Study 2, food quality was varied (1 piece of sausage vs 1 piece of dry food). Dogs were tested in two conditions (counterbalanced). In the unshifted condition, they received the low value reward in all of ten trials; in the shifted condition, reward value was altered (high value: trials 1–4 and 9–10; low value: trials 5–8). While preliminary preference tests had confirmed the relative value of the presumed high and low value rewards for both quantity and quality, dogs' responses in the runway task differed between the quality and quantity studies. Dogs ran significantly faster for the higher quality food compared to the lower quality food, confirming greater reinforcer effectiveness of the preferred food type. In contrast, there was no significant effect of food quantity on running speed at any stage. Higher quality rewards therefore appear to entail greater incentive motivation in dogs than a greater quantity of a lower value reward, with reward-specific habituation needing to be considered

‘Puppy Dog Eyes’ Are Associated With Eye Movements, Not Communication

The inner brow raiser is a muscle movement that increases the size of the orbital cavity, leading to the appearance of so-called ‘puppy dog eyes’. In domestic dogs, this expression was suggested to be enhanced by artificial selection and to play an important role in the dog-human relationship. Production of the inner brow raiser has been shown to be sensitive to the attentive stance of a human, suggesting a possible communicative function. However, it has not yet been examined whether it is sensitive to human presence. In the current study, we aimed to test whether the inner brow raiser differs depending on the presence or absence of an observer. We used two versions of a paradigm in an equivalent experimental setting in which dogs were trained to expect a reward; however, the presence/absence of a person in the test apparatus was varied. In the social context, a human facing the dog delivered the reward; in the non-social context, reward delivery was automatized. If the inner brow raiser has a communicative function and dogs adjust its expression to an audience, we expect it to be shown more frequently in the social context (when facing a person in the apparatus) than in the non-social context (when facing the apparatus without a person inside). The frequency of the inner brow raiser differed between the two contexts, but contrary to the prediction, it was shown more frequently in the non-social context. We further demonstrate that the inner brow raiser is strongly associated with eye movements and occurs independently in only 6% of cases. This result challenges the hypothesis that the inner brow raiser has a communicative function in dog-human interactions and suggests a lower-level explanation for its production, namely an association with eye movements

Explainable automated recognition of emotional states from canine facial expressions: the case of positive anticipation and frustration.

In animal research, automation of affective states recognition has so far mainly addressed pain in a few species. Emotional states remain uncharted territories, especially in dogs, due to the complexity of their facial morphology and expressions. This study contributes to fill this gap in two aspects. First, it is the first to address dog emotional states using a dataset obtained in a controlled experimental setting, including videos from (n = 29) Labrador Retrievers assumed to be in two experimentally induced emotional states: negative (frustration) and positive (anticipation). The dogs' facial expressions were measured using the Dogs Facial Action Coding System (DogFACS). Two different approaches are compared in relation to our aim: (1) a DogFACS-based approach with a two-step pipeline consisting of (i) a DogFACS variable detector and (ii) a positive/negative state Decision Tree classifier; (2) An approach using deep learning techniques with no intermediate representation. The approaches reach accuracy of above 71% and 89%, respectively, with the deep learning approach performing better. Secondly, this study is also the first to study explainability of AI models in the context of emotion in animals. The DogFACS-based approach provides decision trees, that is a mathematical representation which reflects previous findings by human experts in relation to certain facial expressions (DogFACS variables) being correlates of specific emotional states. The deep learning approach offers a different, visual form of explainability in the form of heatmaps reflecting regions of focus of the network's attention, which in some cases show focus clearly related to the nature of particular DogFACS variables. These heatmaps may hold the key to novel insights on the sensitivity of the network to nuanced pixel patterns reflecting information invisible to the human eye

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Genotype Affects Age-Related Changes in Plasticity in Working Memory: A Pilot Study

Objectives. Recent work suggests that a genetic variation associated with increased dopamine metabolism in the prefrontal cortex (catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met; COMT) amplifies age-related changes in working memory performance. Research on younger adults indicates that the influence of dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms on working memory performance increases when testing the cognitive limits through training. To date, this has not been studied in older adults.Method. Here we investigate the effect of COMT genotype on plasticity in working memory in a sample of 14 younger (aged 24-30 years) and 25 older (aged 60-75 years) healthy adults. Participants underwent adaptive training in the -back working memory task over 12 sessions under increasing difficulty conditions. Results. Both younger and older adults exhibited sizeable behavioral plasticity through training ( < .001), which was larger in younger as compared to older adults ( < .001). Age-related differences were qualified by an interaction with COMT genotype ( < .001), and this interaction was due to decreased behavioral plasticity in older adults carrying the Val/Val genotype, while there was no effect of genotype in younger adults.Discussion. Our findings indicate that age-related changes in plasticity in working memory are critically affected by genetic variation in prefrontal dopamine metabolism

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) grieve over the loss of a conspecific.

Behavioural reactions towards a dead conspecific have been observed rarely in wild canids and there is no documented scientific evidence of grief in pet dogs. A quantitative analysis of grief-related responses in both dogs and owners was conducted, using the validated online Mourning Dog Questionnaire. The survey was completed by 426 Italian adults who had owned at least two dogs, one of whom died while the other was still alive. This research aims to explore whether, how and what a dog may experience over the loss of a companion dog. Multiple logistic regression indicates that both a friendly or parental relationship between two dogs but also the fact that dogs used to share food and the owner's grief and anger are principal predictors of negative behavioural changes. According to dog owners' answers, the surviving dog after the death of the companion dog changed both in terms of activities ("playing", "sleeping", and "eating") and emotions (fearfulness), which occurred as a function of the quality of the relationship between the two animals. By contrast, the time the two dogs had spent together had no effect on the behaviours of surviving dog. Owner perceptions about their dog's reactions and emotions were not related to the memory or suffering of the event that tended to diminish over time. These findings indicate that a dog may show grief-related behavioural and emotional patterns when a close conspecific dies, with aspects of the latter possibly related to the owner's emotional status