Temperament effects on meat quality were investigated using three contemporary groups consisting of Bonsmara-sired yearling-fed (n = 31), Angus-sired calf-fed (n = 49), and Angus-sired yearling-fed (n = 48) steers. To evaluate temperament, exit velocity, pen scores, and chute scores were determined before shipment to the feedlot, and exit velocity was measured on arrival to the feedlot and after approximately 70 d on feed. Serum cortisol concentration was determined at each evaluation and before slaughter. At slaughter, pH and temperature were monitored in the M. longissimus lumborum. USDA yield and quality grade factors and CIE color space values were determined, and M. longissimus lumborum steaks were evaluated for sarcomere length, 72-h calpastatin activity, proximate composition, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) values 3, 7, 14, and 21 d postmortem. Temperament categories were based on rankings within contemporary groups at each evaluation. Temperament traits were consistent across evaluations, and values decreased (P < 0.05) in magnitude over time. Relationships between temperament traits were consistent across contemporary groups. Increasing excitability was associated with higher (P < 0.05) serum cortisol concentration. Body weight was slightly lower (P < 0.05) in cattle with excitable temperaments at all evaluations. Carcass characteristics, proximate composition, muscle color, and calpastatin activity were unaffected by temperament. Carcasses from cattle with calm temperaments had higher 0.5 h postmortem pH values than those from intermediate and excitable cattle (0.1 and 0.2 units, respectively). The Angus-sired yearling-fed steers classified as Excitable had higher (P < 0.05) WBS values than the calmer Angus-sired, yearling-fed steers. This trend was observed in the Bonsmara-sired steers, although the values were not statistically different. No differences attributable to temperament were apparent in the Angus-sired calf-fed steers. Correlations were highest between temperament values and tenderness after 21 d. Yearling-fed cattle classified as Excitable before shipment to the feedlot produced tougher (P < 0.05) steaks than those from calmer animals. At evaluations later in production, Calm steers produced tougher (P < 0.05) steaks. Tenderness did not differ across temperament categories in calf-fed steers regardless of sorting time. These data indicate temperament influences tenderness, though the mechanism is not clear.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2000. Graduate Programme in Music. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-111). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ59201.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-166). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-101). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Anxiety is common among pregnant and postpartum women. The research attention in the area of reproductive mental health has mainly focused on postpartum depression in past decades. Given the health implications of maternal anxiety on the physical and psychological well being of both mothers and their offspring, there is an urgent need to fill the current research gaps. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of antenatal and postpartum anxiety symptoms; investigate the nature and development of antenatal and postpartum anxiety; clarify the constructs of antenatal anxiety; identify demographic and psychosocial risk factors; and examine the effects of antenatal anxiety on postpartum anxiety and infant development and temperament. A prospective longitudinal design with quantitative approach was adopted in the present study. Pregnant women from two regional hospitals in Hong Kong were invited to participate in the study. They were assessed using standardized and validated psychological instruments on 5 time points including the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, 6-weeks and 6-months postpartum. A total sample of 1470 pregnant women was assessed on antenatal general anxiety and postpartum anxiety and hypothesized risk factors. A subset of 186 pregnant women was assessed on pregnancy-specific anxiety and infant temperament and development. The results showed that an appreciable proportion of pregnant women manifested general anxiety symptoms and pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. A mixed-effects model analysis for repeated measures showed that both forms of anxiety followed a U-pattern across pregnancy (p<.05 for both), with both being less prevalent in the second trimester. Findings supported that pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms and general anxiety symptoms are two distinct but inter-related forms of anxiety. Different demographic risk factors for anxiety symptoms vary across different trimesters. Self esteem and marital satisfaction were consistently associated with both general anxiety symptoms and pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms over the course of pregnancy. Regarding the impact of antenatal anxiety, general anxiety symptoms in the third trimester had the strongest association with postpartum anxiety at 6-weeks postpartum (p<.05). In general, general anxiety symptoms were more strongly associated with postpartum anxiety than pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms. After adjusting for the effects of postpartum anxiety and depression and other covariates, pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms were independent predictors for fewer infant’s falling reactivity response (p<.05), greater infant’s fear response (p<.05) and greater distress to limitations (p<.05), whereas general anxiety symptoms were independent predictors for poorer social (p<.05) and speech (p<.05) development. The present study points to the need for greater research and clinical attention to antenatal anxiety given that antenatal anxiety is a prevalent problem with changing course and has serious impacts on maternal well-being and infant development. General anxiety symptoms and pregnancy-specific anxiety symptoms reflect different pathologies with potentially different pathogeneses and different pathways to postpartum well-being and infant outcomes which deserved further investigation. The present findings contributed to the understanding of maternal anxiety and have implications for the design of effective identification, prevention and treatment of these significant clinical problems. / published_or_final_version / Psychiatry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Feed efficiency and metabolism affect profitability of the various components of the beef industry by modulating distribution and use of nutrients within cattle. Separate studies were conducted to determine the 1) repeatability of feed efficiency measurements over time as beef heifers mature into cows, and 2) whether the production and regulation of glucose in heifers is affected by temperament. The influence of temperament on glucoregulatory hormones was studied in Angus crossbred heifers and Brahman heifers whose temperament was determined at weaning. The 6 most calm and 6 most temperamental heifers of each breed were fitted with jugular cannulas. Blood was collected at cannulation and then via the cannula during a 90-min rest period. Following 90 min, dextrose was infused (0.5 mg/kg BW) and blood samples were collected at specific intervals for 3 h total. In the crossbred heifers cortisol (P = 0.0560) and glucose (P = 0.0485) concentrations during the challenge were higher in temperamental relative to calm crossbred heifers. Insulin concentrations tended (P = 0.0737) to be higher in temperamental crossbred heifers. Cortisol (P = 0.0282) and glucose (P = 0.0011) concentrations were significantly higher in temperamental Brahman heifers. Insulin concentrations tended (P = 0.0793) to be greater for calm Brahman heifers. Temperamental cattle had a greater HPA axis response, which led to greater concentrations of cortisol and glucose, possibly because the glucose was being utilized differently by the temperamental cattle. Mature Brahman cow feed efficiency data was collected over two years, on two different cohorts of cows that had previous residual feed intake data as post-weaning heifers. In 2009 and 2010, 37 and 41 cows, respectively, in their first trimester of gestation were evaluated for RFI via the Calan gate system. Cows were fed 2.6% BW for 70 d with BW recorded weekly. Cows were classified according to their RFI values as either efficient or inefficient. Heifer RFI was not correlated to mature cow RFI based on assessment of the Pearson‟s correlation coefficient (r = -0.06, P = 0.57). This study indicates that establishment of RFI in heifers may not accurately predict their feed efficiency as mature cows.

Slow weight gain in infancy is the core sign of failure to thrive. However, it is far from clear what the cause of the slow weight gain in infancy is. Failure to thrive is mostly identified late in the first year at which time it becomes problematic to ascertain its causes retrospectively. The current study was designed to investigate weight gain and behaviour in the early weeks of infancy in a prospective study. Seventy-five eight-week old infants were recruited according to their weight gain from birth to eight weeks, and classified as having slow, average or fast weight gain. Infants and their mothers were observed during two feeds. Mother-infant interaction and sucking behaviour were assessed. In addition, mothers completed questionnaires on the infant's temperament and behaviour (such as sleeping and crying), and on their own eating behaviour and adaptation to motherhood. All infants were followed up at six months and weighed again. The follow-up weight at six months allowed the identification of infants with failure to thrive as traditionally clinically defined. Six infants were identified as failing to thrive at six months, all of which had slow weight gain from birth to eight weeks. The behaviours measured through observation and the questionnaires were investigated in relation to weight gain from birth to eight weeks and six months. No significant relationship was found between weight gain and maternal adaptation, the mother's eating behaviour or infant behaviour. One sucking behaviour parameter estimate, pause length, end, was found to be significantly related to weight gain to eight weeks. This result however, was entirely attributable to the estimates of one infant. This infant had particularly poor sucking behaviour and very slow weight gain from birth to eight weeks. Infant temperament, and in particular the infant's level of fear was related to weight gain from birth to eight weeks. Infants with higher levels of fear were more likely to have slow weight gain. The length of the feed, from which the sucking behaviour was observed, was related to weight gain, with infants with long feeds being more likely to have slow weight gain.

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Thesis (M.M.)--University of Michigan, 1964.