Who Supports Breastfeeding Mothers?

Breastfeeding is one important form of maternal investment that is influenced by support from kin and non-kin. This paper investigates who provides support for breastfeeding mothers and their children, what type of support they provide, and how support impacts breastfeeding duration. The data were derived from a survey of 594 American mothers and were analyzed using quantitative methods, including Cox regression. Analyses indicate that mothers receive significant support, particularly from spouses and maternal grandmothers. More frequent breastfeeding discussions with La Leche League and maternal grandfathers were associated with longer duration, whereas discussions with physicians were associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. Results indicate that consulting others specifically about breastfeeding may influence breastfeeding decisions. The results are consistent with the idea that social support may influence breastfeeding duration and that some types of support are more influential than others. Furthermore, support persons should be educated about breastfeeding to prevent early weaning.     

Who needs countryside sports?

Countryside sports have never been more fiercely debated than they are today, though it is easy to get lost in the headlines. If conservation (at no cost to the taxpayer) and hunting are integrally linked, might we be shooting ourselves in the foot when we aim to eliminate countryside sports?     

Who owns the data?

About ten years ago, a group of scientists began to argue that it was unfair to ask other scientists to pay to read the results of research that had been publicly funded.     

Who is Who? Non-invasive Methods to Individually Sex and Mark Altricial Chicks

Many experiments require early determination of offspring''s sex as well as early marking of newborns for individual recognition. According to animal welfare guidelines, non-invasive techniques should be preferred whenever applicable. In our group, we work on different species of song birds in the lab and in the field, and we successfully apply non-invasive methods to sex and individually mark chicks. This paper presents a comprehensive non-invasive tool-box. Sexing birds prior to the expression of secondary sexual traits requires the collection of DNA-bearing material for PCR. We established a quick and easy method to sex birds of any age (post hatching) by extracting DNA from buccal swabs. Results can be obtained within 3 hours. For individual marking chick''s down feathers are trimmed in specific patterns allowing fast identification within the hatching order. This set of methods is easily applicable in a standard equipped lab and especially suitable for working in the field as no special equipment is required for sampling and storage. Handling of chicks is minimized and marking and sexing techniques are non-invasive thereby supporting the RRR-principle of animal welfare guidelines.     

Who cares for the protons?

It is tempting to use standard protonation states for the analysis of protein-ligand interactions. Two different pK(a) calculation methods, PROPKA (protein pK(a)) and MCCE (multi conformation continuum electrostatics), were applied to challenge this convenient behavior. As data basis, we selected five recently approved drugs for which structural information of the protein-drug complex is available. We analyzed the pK(a) calculations in terms of a measure termed BIPS (binary protonation states) recently introduced by us. Both methods agree in detecting the majority of the sites with atypical BIPS values. However, when using only one method, some of the atypcial BIPS value would have been missed. Therefore, we recommend using both methods to set such an interpretation on a solid basis.     

Who was... Harry Champion?

From insect collecting on the Surrey heaths, to forest management in Northern India, the rarefied atmosphere of Oxford University and the challenges of international consultancy, Harry Champion's life was rarely dull. As a schoolboy, he had declared his wish to travel widely and discover new species of plant and animal, though he probably never anticipated how far he would travel or how many species he would find.     

Who speaks for the dispossessed?

This commentary articulates three perspectives on race in America: economic determinism, institutionalism and a field-theoretic approach. It argues that William Julius Wilson's masterwork, The Declining Significance of Race, was informed by the first and anticipated the latter two. Wilson's most profound and enduring legacy is his unwavering concern for the dispossessed.     

Who was... Frank Buckland?

Frank Buckland introduced salmon and trout to Australia. He was also one of the most popular writers on natural history in the 19th century and this interest, particularly in fish farming, rapidly overtook his work as a doctor.