Linked Cross Sectional Schemes for Estimating Growth of Children

For estimation of growth, the efficiency of linked cross sectional scheme has been compared with pure longitudinal and cross sectional schemes. The relevant estimation theory has been developed and the expressions for the optimum estimators alongwith their variances have been derived. It has been observed that for estimation of growth, the linked cross-sectional scheme has been observed to be less efficient as compared to pure longitudinal scheme but more efficient than pure cross-sectional scheme.     

Longitudinal changes of dominance rank among the females of the Koshima group of Japanese monkeys

The changes of dominance rank among female Japanese monkeys of the Koshima group over a period of 29 years from 1957 were studied. The dominance rank order was relatively stable in the early population growing phase, while large scale-changes of dominance rank order occurred successively in the phase of population decrease brought about by the severe control of artificial feeding after 1972. Nevertheless, the rank order of several females of the highest status was stable. Furthermore, the reproductive success of these highest status females was high (Mori, 1979a;Watanabe et al., in prep.). Divergence of the dominance rank order fromKawamura's rules (Kawamura, 1958) was observed in the following respects: (1) Some females significantly elevated their rank depending on the leader males. (2) If mothers died when their daughters were still juveniles or nulliparous, the dominance rank of some of these offspring females was significantly lower than the mother's one. However 55% of daughters which lost their mothers at a young age inherited the mother's rank. (3) Dominance among sisters whose mother had died when at least one of the daughters was under 6 years old followed the rule of youngest ascendancy in 60% (Kawamura, 1958), and in 80% when both of the daughters were nulliparous at the mother's death. The mean rate of aggressive interactions for each female with subordinates to her was calculated by dividing the total aggressive interactions between the female in question and her subordinates by the number of subordinate females to the female in question. A female which showed a high rate of aggressive interactions with her subordinates was categorized as an “Attacker”, and a female showing a lower rate was categorized as a “Non-attacker”. Similarly, categories of “Attacked”, and “Non-attacked” were distinguished by using the rate of aggressive interactions with dominant females. Several females which were once categorized in one category in a year were repeatedly categorized in the same category over different years. The “Attacked” tended to be females of higher rank, and “Non-attackers” tended to be females of lower rank. “The second-higher-status females”, were “Attacked”, and their rank was unstable. In particular, females of lower rank within the lineage of the highest rank suffered this kind of severe status. Most of the daughters of these females showed a sharp drop of rank, and died when they were still at a young age, i.e. “the second-higher-status females” displayed low fitness. “Non-attackers” were significantly “Non-attacked”; i.e. they were females which showed a non-social attitude. Females which underwent a drop of rank tended to be “Non-attackers”. The most important factor which determined the females' rank was the memory of their dominance relations under the influence of their mother [dependent rank (Kawai, 1958)] in their early life during development. This finding corresponds well with the results in baboons obtained byWalter (1980); the target females of aggressive interactions by adolescent females were determined by the rank of the mothers when these adolescent females were born.     

Longitudinal growth of head circumference in Punjabi infants in Chandigarh (India)

One hundred and fifty four (86 male and 68 female) Punjabi infants residing in Chandigarh (India) were longitudinally measured for head circumference at monthly age intervals during first year of life. The general pattern of growth of head circumference was characterised by initial sharp rise followed by slow gain during second half of infancy. Beyond birth male infants, possessed higher and statistically significant mean values than their female counterparts. The pattern-wise similarity between growth curves plotted for Punjabi and Western infants, may be attributed to protective effects of breast feeding. Head circumference velocity showed rapid deceleration immediately after birth up to about 4 months, thereafter, it declined slowly. Sex differences in monthly growth rates were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) at a few of the age intervals during first year of life.     

达斡尔族成人的体格,体型及半个多世纪来的变化

对内蒙古自治区莫力达瓦族３５３名（男１８７,女１６６）２０－６０岁达斡尔族进行了活体观察与测量,总结了达斡尔族的体格特征和类型。并在城乡之间和与半个世纪以前同一地区达斡尔族的体质资料之间进行了比较。     

Evolution de la musculature desNéréidiens (Annélides polychètes) au cours de l'Epitoquie

Résumé Au cours de l'épitoquie des Nereidiens, les fibres musculaires longitudinales ne sont pas forméesde novo, à partir de cellules indifferenciées ou myoblastes, mais proviennent des fibres anciennes atoques. Celles-ci subissent une véritable dédifférenciation plus ou moins synchrone d'une redifférenciation. Les deux processus ne sont pas successifs mais simultanés, et une dédifférenciation complète est absente.Les premières cellules en évolution appartiennent à la couche musculaire externe; ensuite, les fibres des assises plus profondes se transforment à leur tour.Les transformations consistent en: 1) La dédifférenciation du bord interne ou coelomique de la fibre. Les structures contractiles disparaissent dans cette zone et de nombreuses particules de glycogène se différencient sans relation avec le reticulum endoplasmique ou les ribosomes. Aucun lysosome ou signe précurseur ne peuvent être observés avant la disparition des filaments contractiles et des éléments Z. 2) Le bord coelomique s'hypertrophie. Dans la région axiale de la fibre, de nombreuses mitochondries et particules et de glycogène remplacent le matériel contractile. Corrélativement, l'épaisseur des bandes A et I diminue. 3) La fibre hétéronéreidienne ou épitoque est constituée et présente deux parties: un cortex myoplasmique et une médulla sarcoplasmique, remplie de mitochondries et de glycogène. Le noyau renfermant un nucléole volumineux est situé dans une hernie sarcoplasmique latérale.

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Evolution of muscles inNereidae (Annelida polychaeta) during Epitoky. III. Dedifferentiation of the longitudinal fibres

Summary During epitoky inNereidae, the longitudinal muscle fibres are not formedde novo from undifferentiated cells or myoblasts, but arise from the old atokous fibres. These undergo a true dedifferentiation more or less synchronously with a redifferentiation. The two processes are not successive but simultaneous and there is no complete dedifferentiation.The first cells that develop are in the outside muscle layer; then the fibres of the inside layers are transformed in their turn.The transformations consist of: 1) Dedifferentiation of the edge of the inner or coelomic fibre. The contractile structures disappear in this part and numerous glycogen particles differentiate, unrelated to endoplasmic reticulum or ribosomes. No lysosomes or precursory markings are observed before the disappearance of contractile filaments and Z rods. 2) The coelomic edge becomes enlarged. In the axial region of the fibre, numerous mitochondria and and glycogen particles take the place of the contractile material. Consequently, the thickness of A and I bands decreases. 3) The heteronereid or epitokous fibre is formed and shows two parts: a myoplasmic cortex and a sarcoplasmic medulla, filled with mitochondria and glycogen. The nucleus with a voluminous nucleolus settles inside a lateral sarcoplasmic swelling.