Behavior of nursery/peer-reared and mother-reared rhesus monkeys from birth through 2 years of age

The behavior of 8 nursery/peer-reared and 16 mother-only reared rhesus macaques was observed between birth and 5 months of age, with follow-up studies conducted when the animals were 10–21 months old and living in large social groups. Nursery-reared neonates were more awake, active, and irritable than mother-only reared monkeys. From 1 to 5 months of age the nursery/peer-reared animals exhibited a greater variety of behaviors than the mother-only reared infants, which spent the majority of the time in ventral contact with mothers. As juveniles the groups were indistinguishable with the exception of more self-directed behaviors observed in the nursery/peer-reared monkeys. Both rearing conditions, by virtue of their atypicality, imposed restrictions on social development. The behavioral similarity of the juveniles while in the large social group may be a function of maturation or due to the rehabilitative effect of the large social group.     

Cortical differentiation and neurocognitive development: The parcellation conjecture

This paper reviews evidence consistent with the Parcellation Conjecture. Briefly, this conjecture states that in postnatal development cortical parcellation processes result in previously combined information processing pathways or structures becoming segregated into relatively isolated modules. Evidence consistent with the parcellation conjecture from several aspects of behavioral development are reviewed, including the development of binocular vision, cross-modal integration, and interhemispheric transfer. Predictions are made in other domains where existing evidence is unclear such as motion and color sensitivity, and somatosensory perception. Finally, we speculatively extend the notion of parcellation to more cognitive domains such as the development of priming and interference effects.     

The role of infectious agents in sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract Epidemiological factors associated with susceptibility to respiratory infections are similar to those associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Here we review the evidence that respiratory pathogens might be involved in some cases of Sudden Infact Death Syndrome in the context of factors identified in epidemiological studies of cot deaths: the age range affected; mother's smoking; respiratory viral infections; immunisation status. Both laboratory and epidimiological evidence suggests that vulnerability of infants to infectious agents depends on interactions between genetic, developmental and environmental factors that contribute to colonisation by microorganisms, the inflammatory and specific immune responses and the infants' physiological responses to inflammatory mediators. A model is proposed to explain how microorganisms might trigger a series of events resulting in some of these unexpected deaths and discusses how the present recommendations regarding child care practices might help reduce the numbers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases associated with infectious agents.     

Infant care in the spectral tarsier ( Tarsius spectrum ) Sulawesi, Indonesia

I present quantitative and qualitative data on infant caretaking behaviors collected during a preliminary field study of spectral tarsiers (Tarsius spectrum),in a northern Sulawesi rain forest. The primary goal of the study is to identify the basic pattern of infant care in this species. I studied tarsiers at Tangkoko-Dua Saudara Nature Reserve in Sulawesi, Indonesia, from May to July 1992. I observed two infants, from two groups for a total of 96 hr using focal follows. During individual focal follows, ranging from 20 min to 6 hr, I recorded behaviors at 5-min intervals. I also recorded distances of group members relative to the infant at 5-min intervals. I subsampled the data at 35-min intervals to control for statistical autocorrelation between data points. Infants were alone between 40 and 50% of the time. The two subadults were more frequently in proximity to the infant than the adult males, the nonmatemal adult female, or the mothers were. This pattern of the subadults maintaining proximity to the infant continued when the mothers were absent. These results suggest that subadults may be guarding or babysitting infants. It is also possible that subadults are not traveling as far from the sleeping site as adults do and are therefore more likely to be found in association with the infant.     

四川地区幼儿和学龄前儿童的鼻部测量

本文报告１１１６例四川地区幼儿和学龄前儿童（２－７岁）鼻部９项指标的测量均数,性差及年龄发育特点。性差：仅鼻凹鼻底距４－６．５岁等少数指标部分年龄段男女性间出现显著性划异（男＞女）。此外各项指标的绝大多数年龄段男女性间无显著性差异。年龄发育：９项测量指标中７项的生长曲线随年产长而上升,数值随年龄增大,并有１－２个发育高峰;提示鼻部发育具有阶段性;２项指标的曲线随年龄增长变化较小。４项指标男女性的曲     

Sex differences in the Ilia of a known sex and age sample of fetal and infant Skeletons

Ilia from a known sex, race, and age sample of fetal and infant skeletons from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution were evaluated for six metric and one nonmetric characters. Three indices calculated from the measurements were analyzed. The nonmetric trait was examined for fit with known sex. The three indices failed to show significant sex differences. The nonmetric trait, Auricular Surface Elevation, proved dependable (91% accurate) for the male Fetal and Six Month age groups.     

Reproductive parameters of female Japanese macaques: Thirty years data from the arashiyama troops,Japan

Over a 30-year period from 1954 to 1983, 975 live births were recorded for Japanese macaque females at the Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama, Japan. Excluding unknown birth dates, primiparous mothers gave birth to 185 infants (182 cases with age of mother known) and multiparous mothers gave birth to 723 infants (603 cases with age of mother known). The peak month of birth was May with 52.3% of the total births occurring during the period. Multiparous females who had not given birth the previous year did so earlier than multiparous females who had given birth the previous year and also earlier than primiparous females. Among the females who had given birth the previous year, females whose infant had died gave birth earlier than females who had reared an infant the previous year. The offspring sex ratio (1:0.97) was not significantly different from 1:1, and revealed no consistent association with mother's age. Age-fecundity exhibited a humped curve. The annual birth rate was low at the age of 4 years but increased thereafter, ranging between 46.7% and 69.0%, at between 5 and 19 years of age, but again decreased for females between 20 and 25 years of age. Some old females displayed clear reproductive senescence. The infant mortality within the first year of age was quite low (10.3%) and the neonatal (less than 1 month old) mortality rate accounted for 49.0% of all infant deaths. There was no significant difference between the mortality rates of male and female infants. A female's rank-class had no apparent effect on the annual birth rate, infant mortality, and offspring sex ratio. These long-term data are compared with those from other primate populations.     

分娩方式对婴儿出生后一年内肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨不同分娩方式对婴儿出生后1年内肠道菌群定植的影响。方法选取45例新生儿为研究对象,根据分娩方式分为自然分娩组(n=27)和剖宫产组(n=18)。收集婴儿出生后0(胎粪)、3、6和12个月的粪便标本,应用高通量测序技术分析肠道菌群多样性及组成。结果与自然分娩组比较,在0个月时剖宫产组婴儿粪便标本拟杆菌门的相对丰度显著降低(Z=-2.374 1,P=0.017 6)。2组研究对象中,除自然分娩组和剖宫产组0个月时婴儿粪便标本分别以埃希菌-志贺菌属和克雷伯菌属为优势菌属外,余下均以双歧杆菌属为优势菌属。相比于自然分娩组,在0个月时剖宫产组婴儿粪便标本埃希菌-志贺菌属和肠杆菌属所占比例显著降低(Z=-2.136 4,P=0.032 7;Z=-2.940 8,P=0.003 3),克雷伯菌属和罗氏菌属所占比例显著升高(Z=-2.642 4,P=0.008 2;Z=-2.299 4,P=0.021 5);6个月时罗氏菌属所占比例显著降低(Z=-2.045 0,P=0.040 9),肠球菌属所占比例显著升高(Z=-2.109 2,P=0.034 9)。结论不同分娩方式下的婴儿肠道菌群的构成存在显著差异。     

Effects of Parenteral Lipid Infusion on DNA Damage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are known to have poorly developed antioxidant system and may be at increased risk for radical damage. Previous studies have reported higher levels of lipid peroxide products in lipid emulsion used for parenteral nutrition. To examine the direct effects of parenteral lipid infusion on DNA damage in VLBW infants, we measured urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in VLBW infants before, during, and after the parenteral lipid infusion. In both the lipid-infused and lipid-free groups, urinary 8-OHdG excretion levels at 14 days old were significantly ( p <0.01) lower than those at 2 and 7 days old. However, there were no significant differences in urinary 8-OHdG excretion levels between the lipid-infused and lipid-free groups at 2, 7, and 14 days old. Our results suggest that parenteral lipid infusion does not cause oxidative DNA damage, but irrespective of the infusion DNA damage during the first week of life is enhanced when compared with 14 days after birth in VLBW infants.     

Where the Wild Things Are Now: Domestication Reconsidered

ABSTRACT

Although the occurrence of cat-caretaking of free-roaming cats is widespread, particularly so in countries with a climate suitable for cats to reproduce year-round, our knowledge of this relationship is still incomplete. People who engage in daily activities of feeding and caring for groups of free-roaming cats (cat caretakers) are known to be devoted to their cats and invest considerable resources in their care, including neutering and veterinary care. These caretakers often encounter difficulties, such as resentment by neighbors and lack of cooperation or financing by the municipal veterinary services. Despite the fundamental understanding of these caretakers' high daily commitment, and sometimes strong bond with the cats, detailed knowledge is still lacking regarding the nature of this bond, the difficulties that ensue from this daily occupation, and the relationship between the two. The purpose of this study was thus to acquire a deeper understanding, by means of an in-depth interview with cat caretakers. The study has identified, for the first time, two distinct emotional approaches that accompany extensive caretaking for free-roaming cats: emotional attachment and emotional detachment. We show how these two different responses affect both social and financial aspects in the caretakers' lives, and report on the ways in which these individuals experience cat caretaking. Our findings provide a first systematic understanding of the relationship between the level of technical caretaking (feeding, medical care, etc.) and the level of emotional involvement, and reveal the ambivalence often inherent in human–animal relations in general and the caretaker–cat bond in particular. The understanding acquired here can be put into practice to reduce the emotional and technical difficulties experienced by cat caretakers, as well as to improve free-roaming cat management efforts and cat welfare. By increasing public and municipal awareness of the possible contribution of cat caretakers to cat management, and of the emotional and technical difficulties they experience, both the caretakers and other community members can benefit.