Birth in free-ranging howler monkeysAlouatta seniculus

This report describes two live births in the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) at Hato Masaguaral, Venezuela. Both births took place during the afternoon on a limb of a tree. An adult troop male was next to the females during delivery. Supported by the Environmental Science Program Grant to Dr. J. F.Eisenberg.     

Birth and breeding cyclicity in an outdoor living stumptail macaque (Macaca arctoides) group

Birth records were examined for a group of 56 Stumptail macaques that lived in an half-acre outdoor enclosure from 1971 to 1974. Approximate conception times for 33 offspring were calculated and two graphs, one for births and the other one for fertile matings were constructed. Although births occurred throughout the year, 48.5% or these took place between June and September with a peak in July and August (39.4%). Two secondary peaks, one between February and April (27.3%) and the other in November (12.1%) were noted. Fertile matings also took place throughout the year but 56.6% were concentrated between January and June with a peak in January and February (30.3%). A secondary peak was observed for September (12.1%). The data show that no discrete seasonality in matings and births is present forMacaca arctoides but that an unusual pattern consisting of three peaks throughout the year, for births, may be typical of the species. The data are compared with data on the taxonomically close Japanese macaque and a striking dissimilarity is found. While thefuscata macaque has discrete breeding seasonality, thearctoides macaque breeds and gives birth throughout the year and its pattern is more similar to that of the distantly related Crab-eating macaque. This work was supported by grants from Behavioral Sciences Foundation and by NSF-#GB-42235.     

Where There Is No Toilet: Water and Sanitation Environments of Domestic and Facility Births in Tanzania

Background

Inadequate water and sanitation during childbirth are likely to lead to poor maternal and newborn outcomes. This paper uses existing data sources to assess the water and sanitation (WATSAN) environment surrounding births in Tanzania in order to interrogate whether such estimates could be useful for guiding research, policy and monitoring initiatives.

Methods

We used the most recent Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to characterise the delivery location of births occurring between 2005 and 2010. Births occurring in domestic environments were characterised as WATSAN-safe if the home fulfilled international definitions of improved water and improved sanitation access. We used the 2006 Service Provision Assessment survey to characterise the WATSAN environment of facilities that conduct deliveries. We combined estimates from both surveys to describe the proportion of all births occurring in WATSAN-safe environments and conducted an equity analysis based on DHS wealth quintiles and eight geographic zones.

Results

42.9% (95% confidence interval: 41.6%–44.2%) of all births occurred in the woman''s home. Among these, only 1.5% (95% confidence interval: 1.2%–2.0%) were estimated to have taken place in WATSAN-safe conditions. 74% of all health facilities conducted deliveries. Among these, only 44% of facilities overall and 24% of facility delivery rooms were WATSAN-safe. Combining the estimates, we showed that 30.5% of all births in Tanzania took place in a WATSAN-safe environment (range of uncertainty 25%–42%). Large wealth-based inequalities existed in the proportion of births occurring in domestic environments based on wealth quintile and geographical zone.

Conclusion

Existing data sources can be useful in national monitoring and prioritisation of interventions to improve poor WATSAN environments during childbirth. However, a better conceptual understanding of potentially harmful exposures and better data are needed in order to devise and apply more empirical definitions of WATSAN-safe environments, both at home and in facilities.     

Modifications of abscisic acid level in winter oilseed rape leaves during acclimation of plants to freezing temperatures

An almost twofold increase in abscisic acid (ABA) content was observed in the leaves of winter oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus L., var. oleifera L., cv. Jantar) grown in the cold (>0°C). This ABA increase took place during the first three days of cold treatment. After 6 days of plant growth in the cold, the level of ABA started to decline or remained constant, depending on the calculation basis: dry weight or disc area units, respectively. The exposure of cold-acclimated plants to night frost (–5°C for 18 h) induced a further increase (65%) in the ABA level, which begun during the first few hours after thawing. The comparison of time courses of frost resistance increments and ABA content changes showed that modifications of ABA level in the cold-treated leaves preceded those of frost resistance, whereas in the frost-pretreated tissues the ABA increase occurred later than that of frost tolerance. Possible interrelations between ABA content, frost tolerance and tissue water potential modifications in the low temperature-affected tissues are discussed.     

Alnus andBetula pollen content in the atmosphere of santiago de Compostela, North-Western Spain (1993–1995)

The present study analyzes the behaviour ofAlnus andBetula pollen in the atmosphere of the town of Santiago de Compostela (N.W. Spain) from January 1993 to December 1995. The main pollination period of both taxa is identified for each sampling year, which, in the case ofAlnus, took place in January and February and, forBetula, during April.Alnus andBetula pollen are found in very high quantities in the atmosphere of Santiago de Compostela, representing 5% and 12% respectively of the total annual pollen that was counted. We studied the correlation between pollen content each year for both taxa and the main meterological parameters (average, maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation and hours of sunshine). Finally, we analyzed the diurnal behaviour model for each taxon. ForAlnus, the maximum concentrations were found around 20:00 h, while, in the case ofBetula, the main pollen concentration took place between 15:00 h and 20:00 h in 1993 and 1994, and at 00:00 h in 1995.     

Maturation and rejuvenation of Coriandrum sativum shoot clones during micropropagation

Three clones of Coriandrum sativum L. shoots were obtained from three seedlings and micropropagated alternately on modified MS media containing kinetin only and kinetin plus indolyl-3-acetic acid (IAA). During the first 9 months of culture the shoots possessed the juvenile phenotype after which a sharp transition to mature phenotype occurred. In 15–17 months this was followed by shoot necrosis and decrease in number of shoots in the clones, leading to death of the clones.Conditions of in vitro culture tripled the length of the juvenile period. Mature phase of the shoots was stable in that no reversion to the juvenile phase was observed. Partial rejuvenation of mature shoots took place owing to formation of adventitious shoots in the callus formed at the shoot base. However maturation of such rejuvenated adventitious shoots took place much more rapidly in comparison with micropropagated juvenile shoots derived from seedlings. Reduction of the morphogenic potential of the mature shoots after 15–17 months of subculturing, an increase in number of abnormal shoots and shoot necrosis indicated physiological ageing of the clones.Data presented in the paper provide evidence of the clone ageing phenomenon during prolonged subculture in vitro.     

In vitro leaching of two sclerophyllous fynbos plants

In vivo leaching is described for dried leaf litter of Berzelia lanuginosa (Bruniaceae) and dried stem material of Elegia thyrsifera (Restionaceae), two species of sclerophyllous fynbos (Cape macchia) plants. The process in B. lanuginosa was characterised by darkening of the water owing to the release of humic substances, which were quantified as polyphenols using the Folin-Ciocalteau reaction. Very little leaching or colouration of the water took place during the immersion period of E. thyrsifera. After an initial decrease in both species, the pH of the water containing B. lanuginosa increased to slightly above the initial level. Early (< 12 h) pulses of ammonium were detected from both species and of phosphorus from B. lanuginosa, while in both species, nitrate levels began to rise only after about 48 h. Subsequent trends in nutrient releases substantiated our hypothesis that little or no decomposition (as opposed to leaching) took place during the experiment.     

Growth rate—reserve content relationship as influenced by irradiance,CO2 concentration,and temperature

The patterns of the CO₂ exchange of single vegetative bean plants were monitored during steady state exchange and after lowering the irradiance, the CO₂ concentration, or the temperature. The measured patterns were used to calculate the dynamics of the rate of synthesis of structural dry matter and of the amount of the reserve materials during the experiments. The rate of synthesis of structural dry matter was assumed to be proportional to growth respiration (total minus maintenance). The growth conversion efficiency was assumed to be independent of the treatments. The maintenance respiration coefficient was taken to be dependent only on the temperature. Change in the amounts of reserve materials was calculated as a difference between the net CO₂ input and the amount converted into new structural dry matter.During the first day of a low CO₂ uptake a substantial depletion of reserve materials took place also during light hours, since the rate of synthesis of structural dry matter lagged behind the decrease of photosynthesis. On the second day the rate of synthesis was adapted to the low CO₂ input and there occurred little change in the amount of reserve materials. There was a rapid increase in the amount of reserve materials after the irradiance was increased again or after temperature was lowered.A saturating dependence of the specific growth rate on the content of reserve materials was found to exist irrespective of the mode of changing the content of reserve materials. A hysteresis-like retardation of the specific growth rate took place after the reserve had already been exhausted for some time. During retardation a replenishment of reserve materials took place.It is suggested that adaptation processes tend to keep the content of reserve materials within a certain (probably optimal) range.     

The integration of an adult female gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada)

An adult female gelada baboon has been integrated into an old-established group in the zoo in Rheine, West Germany. The integration took place in three steps: sight-contact, hourly meetings with the group, continuous stay in the group. Both the agonistic and the social-positive behaviour have been observed between the new female and the group-members. The integration was very difficult and lasted more than six months. The female was not really accepted, before she had not presented to the most dominant female of the one-male unit she has joined. This presenting only took place during the last part of the observations. In contrast to the adult female, the integration of juveniles occurred very quickly and nearly without any problems.     

Uscana lariophaga, West-African egg parasitoid of the cowpea bruchid beetleCallosobruchus maculatus: photoperiod, parasitization and eclosion interactions

The diurnal pattern of parasitization and eclosion of the trichogrammatidUscana lariophaga Steffan, egg parasitoid of the cowpea bruchidCallosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) was studied for L12:D12 photoperiods. The wasp parasitized eggs throughout each 24-h period with about 70% of the parasitization taking place during the first 12 h regardless whether it was the photophase or the scotophase. More female progeny was produced when the first 12-h period was photophase instead of scotophase. Eclosion of wasps took place over a period of 4 days and occurred during the second half of the scotophase and the first half of the photophase. The number of wasps eclosed during the photophase was similar to that eclosed during the scotophase. Average development time was 8.9 days at 30°C. Male development was completed 6 to 8 h before the females, hence a higher percentage of females emerged in the later eclosion peaks. During scotophases more females eclosed than during photophases. Although the results indicate that the wasp is able to perform under dark storage conditions the effect of permanent low light intensity remains to be studied.     

Ecology, nutrition, and timing of reproductive events in an Asian primate, the Hanuman langur (Presbytis entellus)

Ecological conditions, feeding and ranging behaviour as well as physical condition of female Hanuman langurs ( Presbytis entellus ) were studied in order to analyse the major influences on the timing of reproductive events. The langurs inhabited a semi-evergreen forest dominated by Sal trees ( Skorea robusta ). The climate was dominated by the summer monsoon lasting from May to September. Availability of plant phytophases was markedly seasonal, with fruiting as well as flushing of the six main food plants during the monsoon. Feeding and ranging behaviour of the females varied with food availability and its distribution. High dietary quality was only obtained during a short period from May to July. Physical condition of the females varied in accordance with dietary quality and energy expenditure, with a good physical condition during the second half of the year. Births occurred from January until June, with most births around the energetically worst period of the year. The results indicate that, in contrast to several other non-human primates, most females of this population gave birth too early to meet the optimum lactation requirements. Complete weaning mainly took place during an energetically bad time of the year (October to December). However, it can be inferred that the reduction of suckling bouts prior to the next conception took place when high quality food was available. Conceptions were confined to the months of July to November, coinciding with the time of best physical condition. Moreover, females who conceived were in a better physical condition than those who failed to conceive, suggesting a primary influence of nutrition on the probability of conception. Seasonality and timing of births may be the result of a regular seasonal shortfall of resources influencing the ability of the females to ovulate and to conceive.     

Chromosome alterations in tissue culture cells ofAllium fistulosum

Heterochromatin behaviour and structural alterations in chromosomes of cells derived from callus culture ofAllium fistulosum have been studied.The diploid chromosome complement ofAllium fistulosum consists of 16 chromosomes with significant amount of heterochromatin mainly of telomeric nature. In eight collections of callus cells analysed, a high rate of numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities was observed. After 12 months in culture about 20% of metaphase chromosomes possessed distinct signs of mutational events.C-banded preparations revealed that many structural alterations involved regions of heterochromatin. Interchromosomal connections and chromatid fusions occurred at telomeric heterochromatin segments. Also formation of the end-to-end associations and polycentric chromosomes often took place without visible loss of telomeric heterochromatin.     

Effect of dimethylglycine and trimethylglycine (Betaine) on the response of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts to experimental Vibrio anguillarum infection

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) were fed on a control diet or experimental diets containing betaine (15 mg g^-1) or dimethylglycine (DMG, I mg g^-1 or 5 mg g^-1). After 10 weeks of feeding, resistance to infection was assessed following inoculation with Vibrio anguillarum. Total blood and differential leucocyte counts were made, and plasma lysozyme and ceruloplasmin were assayed as non-specific humoral factors. The mortality during the bacterial exposure was of the same magnitude in all feeding groups. Betaine or DMG had no effect on the 'basal' levels of plasma total protein, lysozyme or ceruloplasmin, but 3 days postinjection the lysozyme and ceruloplasmin levels were higher in the control group compared with the experimental groups. In both DMG groups, the lymphocyte response took place 1-2 weeks earlier than in the control or betaine supplemented group indicating that DMG has an immunomodulating effect on salmon.     

Somatic embryogenesis from callus cultures ofNardostachys jatamansi

Callus cultures ofNardostachys jatamansi DC, an endangered medicinal and aromatic plant, were established using petiole explants on MS medium supplemented with 16.1 µM -naphthaleneacetic acid and 1.16 µM kinetin. Embryogenesis in these callus cultures took place only upon sequential subculture of the callus on media having gradually decreasing auxin (16.1 to 1.34 µM NAA) and simultaneously increasing cytokinin (1.16 to 9.30 µM kinetin) concentrations over a period of 7 months. Somatic embryo to plantlet conversion took place on a medium containing 9.30 µM kinetin and 1.34 µM NAA.     

Epidemiology of Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Hawaii, 1986-97

BACKGROUND: The live birth prevalence of Down syndrome is approximately 10 per 10,000 live births in the United States. Down syndrome prevalence has been reported to change over time and to vary by selected demographic factors. METHODS: Data from a population-based birth defects registry in Hawaii involving 363 Down syndrome cases delivered during 1986-97 were used to calculate overall prevalence and to investigate secular trends and differences by selected demographic factors. RESULTS: The total (live birth, fetal death, and elective termination) prevalence was 14.74 per 10,000 live births and fetal deaths. The unadjusted live birth prevalence was 8.67 per 10,000 live births. The adjusted live birth (live births and proportion of elective terminations expected to have resulted in live births) prevalence was 12.59 per 10,000 live births. No significant secular trends were observed for either total prevalence (P = 0.688) or adjusted live birth prevalence (P = 0.604). The total Down syndrome prevalence per 10,000 live births was highest for Far East Asians (22.01), followed by whites (17.06), Filipinos (15.94), and Pacific Islanders (9.21). Prevalence per 10,000 births was higher in metropolitan Honolulu (18.57) than in the rest of Hawaii (14.15). After adjusting for maternal age, however, the differences within the demographic groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The live birth prevalence of Down syndrome in Hawaii during 1986-97 was lower than reported in the literature. Prevalence did not change significantly over time. Any differences in prevalence by maternal race/ethnicity and place of residence appeared to result from differences in maternal age distribution.     

The life-history,distribution, and production of Chironomus riparius and Glyptotendipes paripes in a prairie pond

C. riparius and G. paripes exhibited univoltine life-cycles in Stephenson Pond; pupation, emergence and oviposition occurred mainly during May, and both species overwintered as mature fourth instar larvae. The marjority of larval growth for both species took place during the fourth instar stage (August–October), and growth and production were very low during late May to mid July when only young instars were present. Low production occurred during an interval when sestonic chlorophyll a concentration was very low, and the high production period corresponded to the Aphanizomenon bloom (August) and the autumn diatom pulse. None of the growth and production parameters investigated were correlated with temperature at the mud-water interface. Tube structure and behavior of the larvae indicate that G. paripes larvae are filter-feeders, whereas, C. riparius larvae are deposit-feeders.     

Home births in England and Wales, 1979: perinatal mortality according to intended place of delivery.

A survey was carried out of all 8856 births occurring at home in England and Wales in 1979. Of these births, 67% had been booked for delivery at home, 21% had been booked for delivery in hospital, 3% had not been booked, and for 9% the intended place of delivery was unknown. The perinatal mortality varied almost 50-fold according to the intended place of delivery, ranging from 4.1/1000 births in those booked for delivery at home to 196.6/1000 unbooked births. Deliveries that occurred at home but had been booked for a hospital consultant unit were associated with a perinatal mortality of 67.5/1000. Births that had been booked for delivery at home included the smallest proportion of babies of low birth weight: 2.5% weighed 2500 g or less compared with 18% of those booked for consultant units and 29% of those not booked. Within these low birthweight groups there were noticeable differences in perinatal mortality; births booked to occur at home had the lowest mortality and unbooked births had the highest. Perinatal mortality among babies who weighed more than 2500 g was generally low irrespective of the intended place of delivery; the only exception was in babies whose delivery had not been booked. In all groups perinatal mortality was considerably higher in nulliparous than parous women. Women booking a delivery at home are clearly a selected group, and some may have been transferred to hospital during labour and were thus not included in the survey. Nevertheless, these data suggest that the perinatal mortality among births booked to occur at home is low, especially for parous women.     

Variations in biochemical parameters of Heterocapsa sp. and Olisthodiscus luteus grown in 12:12 light:dark cycles I. Cell cycle and nucleic acid composition

The division cycle of two phytoplankton species, Olisthodiscus luteus and Heterocapsa sp. was studied in relation to a 12:12 light:dark cycle. Batch cultures in exponential phase were sampled every three hours during 48 hours. Cell number, cellular volume and DNA and RNA concentrations were measured. Microscopic observations of the nuclei of Heterocapsa sp. were also performed. In both species, cell division took place in the dark. In Heterocapsa sp., DNA and RNA showed a similar diel variability pattern, with synthesis starting at the end of the light period, previously to mitosis and cytokinesis. In O. luteus. Major RNA synthesis occurred during darkness, and DNA was produced almost continuously. Both species presented different values and diel rhythmicity on the RNA/DNA ratios.     

Birth dynamics in Hanuman langurs,Presbytis entellus of Jodhpur,India

Ten years data on birth peak, birth rate and interbiith interval inPresbytis entellus of Jodhpur have been presented. Although Hangman langur females breed round the year, there is some concentration of births during January–March while fewer births occur during October–December. It seems that provisioning and crop raiding together may provide better feeding opportunities to breed year round. However, it remains unclear whether environmental factors allow langur females to deliver more infants during January–March. During 1984–86 the birth rate was uniform for the whole population (0.63). While there was a variation within the troops from year to year, data suggest that resident male replacements do alter birth rate. It goes down when resident males are replaced frequently. The interbirth interval ranges between 7.0 and 76.5 months (average, 16.88 months;n = 112). Abortions and still-births reduced the interbirlh interval to 7.1 months (range 7.1-21.1; average, 11.4 months;n= 8) compared to the normal inlerbirth interval following infant survive its first 4.1 months of life (range 10.7-76.5 months; average, 17.28 months;n = 86). However, infant loss under the age of 4.1 months did not reduce the interbirth interval except in two cases (range 7.0-51.8 months; average, 17.27 months;n = 18). Maternal rejection or weaning begins at about 8 months of age and lasts until infants are 12 months old. In this population, the probability of twin births was worked out to be 0.79 per 100 births.     

A comparative study of breeding seasonality and litter size in eleven taxa of captive lemurs (Lemur andVarecia)

Breeding records of 11 taxa of captive lemurs housed at the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC), North Carolina, were analyzed for differences in the timing of births, for the relationship between breeding season and photoperiod, and for differences in litter size. At DUPC there are significant differences in the timing of births among certain taxa, including differences among some subspecies of Lemur fulvus.However, changes in latitude result in changes in the timing of the breeding season. Lemurs moved to higher latitudes mate at lower light-dark ratios than on Madagascar. The data presented here are consistent with the following model: a photoperiodic cue initiating reproductive activity, presumably a light-dark threshold, precedes the actual mating season by approximately 2 months, with an intervening period of physiological and social preparation. On Madagascar, selection may have favored births that coincide with the end of dry seasons and the beginning of wet seasons, which results in lactation and weaning during times of resource abundance. Taxa from the north and east have the highest mean litter sizes; those from the west have the lowest.