Ethnomedical Syndromes and Treatment-Seeking Behavior among Mayan Refugees in Chiapas,Mexico

This survey investigated the prevalence of ethnomedical syndromes and examined treatments and treatment-seeking in Mayan Guatemalans living in United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) camps in Chiapas, Mexico. Methods included a rapid ethnographic assessment to refine survey methods and inform the cross-sectional survey, which also examined mental health outcomes; 183 households were approached for interview, representing an estimated 1,546 residents in five refugee camps and 93% of all households. One adult per household (N = 170) was interviewed regarding his or her health; an additional 9 adults in three surveyed households participated and were included in this analysis; of the 179 participants, 95 primary child-care providers also answered a children’s health questionnaire for their children. Results indicated that ethnomedical syndromes were common in this sample, with 59% of adults and 48.4% of children having experienced susto (fright condition) and 34.1% of adults reporting ataques de nervios (nervous attacks); both conditions were significantly associated with symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression and are mental health conditions recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Combining healthcare provider and indigenous treatments such as physician prescribed medication (65%), medicinal plants (65.7%), and limpias (spiritual cleansings) (40.6%) was reported. Most participants (86%) sought routine medical treatment from UNHCR trained health promoters in their camp. Assessing ethnomedical health is important for informing mental health programs among this population.     

Behavioral actions of alcohol: phenotypic relations from multivariate analysis of mutant mouse data

Behavioral studies on genetically diverse mice have proven powerful for determining relationships between phenotypes and have been widely used in alcohol research. Most of these studies rely on naturally occurring genetic polymorphisms among inbred strains and selected lines. Another approach is to introduce variation by engineering single-gene mutations in mice. We have tested 37 different mutant mice and their wild-type controls for a variety (31) of behaviors and have mined this data set by K-means clustering and analysis of correlations. We found a correlation between a stress-related response (activity in a novel environment) and alcohol consumption and preference for saccharin. We confirmed several relationships detected in earlier genetic studies, including positive correlation of alcohol consumption with saccharin consumption and negative correlations with conditioned taste aversion and alcohol withdrawal severity. Introduction of single-gene mutations either eliminated or greatly diminished these correlations. The three tests of alcohol consumption used (continuous two-bottle choice and two limited access tests: drinking in the dark and sustained high alcohol consumption) share a relationship with saccharin consumption, but differ from each other in their correlation networks. We suggest that alcohol consumption is controlled by multiple physiological systems where single-gene mutations can disrupt the networks of such systems.     

Distribution of affiliative behaviors among adult females within a group of wild patas monkeys in a nonmating,nonbirth season

The distribution of four affiliative behaviors (proximity within 3 m, allogrooming, contact calling, and co-night-resting) were examined in a group of wild patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) during a nonmating, nonbirth season. To a greater or lesser extent, dominance rank and kinship influenced these behaviors of the adult females. Since high-ranking females tended to exhibit some of these behaviors with high frequency, they were considered to be acting as the focus of affiliative behaviors and as the center for group cohesion. Furthermore, related adult females also tended to exhibit some of these behaviors with a high frequency toward one another, so that matrilineal kinship was also seen to be an important factor for group cohesion. In contrast, the harem male tended to exhibit these behaviors at a low frequency and/or had no affiliative partner for any of them. Thus, it appears that the social organization of the patas group is concentric, being composed of high-ranking females in the center, low-ranking females at the periphery, and the harem male at the distant periphery.     

Predictors for self‐directed aggression in Italian prisoners include externalizing behaviors,childhood trauma and the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism 5‐HTTLPR

Suicidal behavior and self‐mutilation can be regarded as the expression of self‐directed aggression and both are common in prison populations. We investigated the influence of externalizing behaviors, depressive symptoms, childhood trauma, 5‐HTTLPR variants on self‐directed aggression (N = 145) in a group of 702 male Italian prisoners. Participants were comprehensively evaluated, including for psychiatric disorders, impulsive traits, lifetime aggressive behavior [Brown‐Goodwin Lifetime History of Aggression (BGHA)], hostility, violent behavior during incarceration, depressive symptomatology [Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)], childhood trauma [Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)]. Logistic regression analysis showed false discovery rate corrected independent main effects of externalizing behaviors: BGHA (P = 0.001), violent behavior in jail (P = 0.007), extraversion (P = 0.015); HDRS (P = 0.0004), Axis I disorders (P = 0.015), CTQ (P = 0.004) and 5‐HTTLPR genotype (P = 0.02). Carriers of 5‐HTTLPR high (L_AL_A), intermediate (L_AL_G, SL_A) activity variants were more likely to have exhibited self‐directed aggression relative to the low activity (L_GL_G, SL_G, SS) variant: high/low: odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–4.68, P = 0.007; intermediate/low: OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.09–3.68, P = 0.025. The CTQ main effect was driven by physical abuse. There was no interactive effect of 5‐HTTLPR and CTQ. Secondary logistic regression analyses in (1) all suicide attempters (N = 88) and (2) all self‐mutilators (N = 104), compared with controls showed that in both groups, childhood trauma (P = 0.008–0.01), depression (P = 0.0004–0.001) were strong predictors. BGHA, violent behavior in jail predicted self‐mutilation (P = 0.002) but not suicide attempts (P = 0.1). This study was able to distinguish differing influences on self‐directed aggression between groups of closely related predictor variables within the externalizing behavioral domain. 5‐HTTLPR had an independent, variant dosage effect.     

环境温度对大天鹅越冬行为和活动区的影响

环境温度变化通过影响鸟类的行为进而使其活动区也发生变化,探讨三者之间的关联性有助于理解鸟类是如何通过行为调整以适应周围环境的变化,来满足自身的生理需求.本研究通过卫星跟踪的方法获得了在河南三门峡湿地越冬的31只大天鹅(Cygnus cygnus)详细位点数据,在ArcGIS和R语言中采用核密度估计法计算大天鹅的活动区面...     

Nature versus nurture: Structural equation modeling indicates that parental care does not mitigate consequences of poor environmental conditions in Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

How organisms respond to variation in environmental conditions and whether behavioral responses can mitigate negative consequences on growth, condition, and other fitness measures are critical to our ability to conserve populations in changing environments. Offspring development is affected by environmental conditions and parental care behavior. When adverse environmental conditions are present, parents may alter behaviors to mitigate the impacts of poor environmental conditions on offspring. We determined whether parental behavior (provisioning rates, attentiveness, and nest temperature) varied in relation to environmental conditions (e.g., food availability and ectoparasites) and whether parental behavior mitigated negative consequences of the environment on their offspring in Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis). We found that offspring on territories with lower food availability had higher hematocrit, and when bird blow flies (Protocalliphora spp.) were present, growth rates were reduced. Parents increased provisioning and nest attendance in response to increased food availability but did not alter behavior in response to parasitism by blow flies. While parents altered behavior in response to resource availability, parents were unable to override the direct effects of negative environmental conditions on offspring growth and hematocrit. Our work highlights the importance of the environment on offspring development and suggests that parents may not be able to sufficiently alter behavior to ameliorate challenging environmental conditions.     

圈养獐春夏季昼间行为时间分配及活动节律

2008 年3 ～7 月,在上海市浦东新区华夏公园进行獐重引入试点,采用瞬时扫描取样法和全事件记录法,对圈养条件下24 只獐(12 雌,12 雄)春夏季昼间行为时间分配及活动节律进行了观察。结果表明:休息是春夏季最主要的行为方式,其次是摄食和运动。獐的昼间行为具有明显的节律性,以晨昏活动为主,主要活动时间集中在06:00 ～08:00 和16:00 ～18:00。单因素方差分析(One-way ANOVA analysis)和Mann-Whitney U 检验表明,在时间分配上,春、夏季休息、站立、排遗、梳理和运动行为差异极显著;雌雄间休息、站立、反刍、梳理和警戒行为差异极显著。雌性春、夏季站立、排遗、梳理、运动和社会行为差异极显著,摄食差异显著;雄性春、夏季休息、摄食、梳理、警戒和社会行为差异极显著,站立、反刍、排遗和运动行为差异显著。本研究结果表明重引入獐的行为时间分配和活动节律与野生种群相似,动物福利得到较好满足,对下一步在上海地区的种群复壮和迁地野放等具有重要意义。     

环境丰容对笼养川金丝猴日常行为以及粪便皮质醇水平的影响

在笼养条件下,由于有限的空间和单调的笼舍结构,川金丝猴行为和生理指标发生变化,包括出现刻板行为和产生较高的粪便内应激激素。本论文旨在研究环境丰容对笼养川金丝猴日常行为以及粪便皮质醇水平的影响。于2013年8月1日至11月1日对杭州动物园内7只川金丝猴进行环境丰容后的行为观察。采用瞬时扫描法记录上午08:30-10:30和下午14:00-16：00的动物行为,并统计15种行为的发生频率。比较丰容前后每种行为的发生频率,结果表明环境丰容降低了川金丝猴的不活跃行为（P=0.021）和刻板行为（P=0.034）,增加了其活跃行为频率（P=0.018）。环境丰容后,动物表现出更多的攀爬（P = 0.012）、探究（P = 0.014）和环顾行为（P = 0.010）。粪便皮质醇激素的结果表明,除1只雄性个体激素上升外,其余6只个体的粪便皮质醇含量显著下降（P=0.028）。以上结果提示环境丰容可改善川金丝猴的福利状况。     

喙尾琵甲（鞘翅目：拟步甲科）形态记述及生物学特性观察

记述了喙尾琵甲Blaps rhynchopetera Fairmaire各虫态特征,观察了其生物学特性.实验种群1月下旬至12月上旬产卵,卵期为8～15 d;幼虫期141～213 d,共9～13龄,第9龄以后,龄期较长;蛹前期8～14 d;蛹期12～24 d.成虫羽化24～92 d后性成熟,开始交配产卵活动,成虫期超过18个月.自然种群在昆明和曲靖1年发生1～1.5代,世代重叠严重;以不同龄期幼虫和成虫越冬,越冬幼虫于次年4月上旬开始化蛹,新羽化成虫于4月下旬至12月上旬交配产卵,成虫全年都能活动、产卵.该虫为夜出型、暂栖性土壤昆虫,喜潮湿阴暗的环境.成虫具有夜出习性、防御性和群聚性.     

B型烟粉虱在甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒上的刺吸取食行为

利用刺吸电波技术（EPG）记录了B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci在甘蓝Brassica oleracea L. var. caqitata、西葫芦Cucurbita pepo L.和辣椒Capsicum annuum L.上的刺吸取食波形。结果表明,3种寄主植物的适合度为甘蓝>西葫芦>辣椒。在所观察的25头烟粉虱中,到达甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒韧皮部的个体数分别为24、19和15,其中持续吸食头数为22、10和1。在第一阶段（从刺吸开始到第一个E(pd)1出现）,烟粉虱在甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒3种植物上非刺探时间所占比例分别为9.59%、23.55%和36.97%,三者差异显著; 在第二阶段（从第一个E(pd)1出现到第一次韧皮部持续吸食）,烟粉虱在甘蓝和西葫芦上所考察的4个指标无显著差异; 在第三阶段（从第一次韧皮部持续吸食至记录结束）,烟粉虱在甘蓝上第一次韧皮部持续吸食后的刺探次数（4.73）显著低于在西葫芦上的刺探次数（13.40）。在自由状态下,烟粉虱60 min内在甘蓝、西葫芦和辣椒上留存粉虱的百分比分别为100％、88％和28％,这进一步验证了上述依据EPG记录得到的结果。