Male-female Pairs Research Articles

Scripture and Traditions: Essays on Early Judaism and Christianity in Honor of Carl R. Holladay. Edited by PATRICK GRAY and GAIL R. O'DAY.

There has been a tendency in recent years, particularly driven by publishers concerned about focus and sales, for Festschriften to be governed by a clearly defined theme, sometimes even with designated complementary contributions. The present volume is a vigorous exception, perhaps in part reflecting the interests of its honorand. Although known to many for his work on Hellenistic Judaism, Carl Holladay's writing and research covers a much broader range, including his 2005 Critical Introduction to the New Testament (Nashville), a promised commentary on Acts (NTL), co-authorship of volumes for preachers of the lectionary, and service on the editorial board of Novum Testamentum. Even so, the twenty-two essays here span a remarkable breadth, and it would seem that the contributors were given a relatively free hand, with many making no explicit attempt to establish a link with Holladay's work, or even to mention him. Although there is a brief dedicatory preface, there is no editorial overview—nor could there be. The following offers an overview and approximate grouping: a full list of contents will be easily available through relevant databases. In fact, only four essays are placed under the heading ‘Hellenistic Judaism’, each of which deals with the literary, apologetic negotiation with contemporary society (N. Clayton Croy on 3 Maccabees’ ‘trumping’ of the god Dionysius, Lester L. Grabbe on the contribution of fragmentary Jewish writings in Greek to ideas of Jewish identity, Walter T. Wilson on Philo, De Humanitate in relationship to contemporary discourse about virtue, and William Adler on apologetic attempts to date Moses and demonstrate his antiquity). Of the twelve essays headed ‘The New Testament in Context’ a number continue the serious engagement with Hellenistic Jewish sources, in some cases alongside other Greek traditions, now used for comparative (‘context’) purposes: Gregory E. Sterling on the language and models of conversion, Abraham J. Malherbe on moral traditions about old age and 1 Tim. 5:17–19, John T. Fitzgerald on corporal punishment and Prov. 3:11–12 and Heb. 12:5–6, and John B. Weaver on ‘the noble and the good’ in Luke 8:15. A number of other essays cover Lukan themes, each drawing attention to themes of Old Testament patterning or fulfilment: Scott Shauf on the theme of divine retribution, Allen Black on male–female pairings as anticipated by Joel 2:28–9 and Isaianic passages, Gail R. O’Day on characterization in Acts and scriptural citation, and David P. Moessner on the theological function of the scriptural appeals, most notably to Ps. 15, in Acts 2. To these may be added Mark Black on the messianic use of Zechariah 9–14 in Matthew and Mark. The remaining essays in this section all have a ‘community’ interest: Michael Joseph Brown on the function of the label ‘hypocrite’ in Matt. 6:1–18, Sharyn Dowd on Matt. 18:15–17 read as addressed within the church, and Steven J. Kraftchick on the way Paul encourages the Philippians to an understanding of themselves as a community. The final section of six essays is headed ‘The History of Interpretation’, a somewhat catch-all title since it ranges from an analysis of reasons for scribal changes to the Apocalypse in Codex Alexandrinus (Juan Hernández, Jr.) to a post-colonial reading of, and challenge to fundamentalism through, 2 Cor. 3:12–18 (Brad R. Braxton). Luke–Acts re-emerges in a study of the presuppositions of certain nineteenth-century commentaries on Acts (Thomas H. Olbricht) and in an analysis of the NRSV with particular attention to its sensitivity towards literary or narrative signals (Luke Timothy Johnson). Patrick Gray traces the early reception of Heb. 6:4–6 (wrongly printed as 4:4–6 on p. 338), while Holladay's primary interest resurfaces in a new form in a post-colonial analysis and contextualization of constructions of ancient Judaism in scholarship over the last century (Todd Penner). As will be evident, readers inevitably will have different favourite pieces, although, as with any volume of this nature, there will be an element of happenchance as to whether they find them. The list of contributors, their various interests, and their current locations, bear witness to the high regard in which Carl Holladay is held among colleagues and former students, and there will undoubtedly be much here to give him pleasure.

Spatial Organization of Dusky-footed Woodrats (Neotoma Fuscipes)

We studied the spatial organization of dusky-footed woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes) in mixed-conifer forest of the northern Sierra Nevada, California, by radiotracking 63 adult woodrats at 2 study sites during May–October 2004–2006. Estimates of home-range and core-area size differed between study sites, but they were within the range reported elsewhere; variability in home-range size was explained in part by density. Home ranges of woodrats overlapped those of multiple neighboring woodrats, both same sex and opposite sex, suggesting that foraging areas were shared. However, core areas showed little overlap between same-sex neighbors. Woodrats occupied multiple houses and frequently moved among them, and sharing of houses (either simultaneously or nonsimultaneously) with neighboring woodrats was common but occurred mostly between male–female pairs. Females typically shared their core area and houses with 1 male, whereas males shared core areas and houses with multiple females; further, males moved more than females. Our results suggest that dusky-footed woodrats are semiterritorial, maintaining near-exclusive use of their core area and houses against same-sex conspecifics, and that the mating system likely is polygynous.

Calling and Courtship Behaviors Initiated by Male-Male Contact Via Agonistic Encounters in the CricketGryllus bimaculatus

We investigated the stridulatory courtship initiated by male-male contact after agonistic encounters and the effect of dominance status on subsequent reproductive behavior in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. When two male crickets were kept together in a small area, their dominance status was quickly established through fighting or non-fighting interactions. Approximately 10 min after pairing, most dominant males produced calling and/or courtship songs in the presence of subordinate males. This behavior appeared to be triggered by some contact chemicals on the body surface of the males. Stimulation using the forewing of a neutral male induced courtship in dominant males at a higher level compared with neutral males which were not previously paired with males. These observations suggest that the sexual motivation in dominant males increased because of previous agonistic interactions. In contrast, subordinate males remained silent. Stimulation using the male forewing induced stridulation to a lesser degree in subordinate males than in neutral males, suggesting decreased sexual motivation in subordinate males. Furthermore, only 40% of subordinate males exhibited courtship behavior under triadic conditions (dominant male, subordinate male and female) in contrast with 100% in male-female pairs. This result reveals that subordinate males, being less sexually motivated, are continuously suppressed in their courtship by intermittent attacks by the nearby dominant males. In the other triadic condition where the males were allowed to copulate, 65% of the dominant males copulated, while none of the subordinates did. These results suggest that dominant males have a greater chance to copulate and produce offspring.

Reimbursed drugs in patients with sleep-disordered breathing: A static-charge-sensitive bed study

Background Co-morbidities in men and women with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) were compared retrospectively to an age-standardized, general Finnish population. The prevalence of diseases was based on the reimbursement refunds of medications. Methods Two hundred thirty-three age- and BMI-matched male–female pairs and 368 consecutive women identified from our sleep recording database were included. Data on medication were gathered from the National Agency for Medicines and Social Insurance Institution database. Results Men with SDB had three-fold prevalence of reimbursed medication for diabetes and two-fold prevalence of reimbursed medication for chronic arrhythmia. Women with SDB had three-fold prevalence of reimbursed medication for thyroid insufficiency, and postmenopausal women had two-fold prevalence of reimbursed medication for psychosis. BMI and age did not explain prevalence of reimbursed medications for chronic arrhythmia or psychosis. In both genders with SDB, prevalence of reimbursed medications compared to the general population was two-fold for hypertension and seven-fold for asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Partial upper airway obstruction was associated with three-fold prevalence of reimbursed medication for asthma and/or COPD in both genders and 60% reduced prevalence of reimbursed medication for hypertension in females matched for age and BMI. Conclusions Co-morbidity profile differed between genders. Our results emphasize the importance of diagnosis and treatment of co-morbidities and partial upper airway obstruction.

The Drosophila TRPA channel, Painless, regulates sexual receptivity in virgin females.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels play crucial roles in sensory perception. Expression of the Drosophila painless (pain) gene, a homolog of the mammalian TRPA1/ANKTM1 gene, in the peripheral nervous system is required for avoidance behavior of noxious heat or wasabi. In this study, we report a novel role of the Pain TRP channel expressed in the nervous system in the sexual receptivity in Drosophila virgin females. Compared with wild-type females, pain mutant females copulated with wild-type males significantly earlier. Wild-type males showed comparable courtship latency and courtship index toward wild-type and pain mutant females. Therefore, the early copulation observed in wild-type male and pain mutant female pairs is the result of enhanced sexual receptivity in pain mutant females. Involvement of pain in enhanced female sexual receptivity was confirmed by rescue experiments in which expression of a pain transgene in a pain mutant background restored the female sexual receptivity to the wild-type level. Targeted expression of pain RNA interference (RNAi) in putative cholinergic or GABAergic neurons phenocopied the mutant phenotype of pain females. However, target expression of pain RNAi in dopaminergic neurons did not affect female sexual receptivity. In addition, conditional suppression of neurotransmission in putative GABAergic neurons resulted in a similar enhanced sexual receptivity. Our results suggest that Pain TRP channels expressed in cholinergic and/or GABAergic neurons are involved in female sexual receptivity.

Bones as enrichment for farmed blue foxes ( Vulpes lagopus): Interaction with the bones and preference for a cage with the bones

Animal welfare regulations (e.g. Recommendations of European Convention) state that farmed foxes need to be provided with an activity object, though the material or shape of the object is not specified. We aimed to evaluate the properties of bones as an activity object for farmed blue foxes ( Vulpes lagopus) from weaning (July) to age of six months (December). Sixteen male–female pairs of blue foxes were housed in experimental cage systems, each consisting of two traditional sized fox cages. In eight pairs there were two bones (cattle femur) in one of the cages. In the eight other pairs, no bones were available. The foxes with bones available were deprived of the bones for 10 days on two occasions. The foxes used the bones around 50 min a day (3–4% of the observations) for various oral activities, but were unable to consume the bones during the four-month experiment. The foxes interacted with the bones less in winter than in autumn, which may be attributable to one or a few of the collinear variables, i.e. the age of the foxes, habituation to the bones, soiling of the bones or the season. The availability of the bones stimulated play and prevented the development of oral stereotypic activity. The foxes tended to prefer a cage with the bones while active, but not while resting. The time spent in the bone cage and the interaction with the bones increased after both deprivations. In conclusion, bones are long-lasting activity objects, which enable various occupational activities, and therefore may enhance the welfare of blue foxes.

"Friendships" between new mothers and adult males: adaptive benefits and determinants in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus).

Close associations between adult males and lactating females and their dependent infants are not commonly described in non-monogamous mammals. However, such associations [sometimes called "friendships" (Smuts 1985)] are regularly observed in several primate species in which females mate with multiple males during the fertile period. The absence of mating exclusivity among "friends" suggests that males should invest little in infant care, raising questions about the adaptive significance of friendship bonds. Using data from genetic paternity analyses, patterns of behavior, and long-term demographic and reproductive records, we evaluated the extent to which friendships in four multi-male, multi-female yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus) groups in Amboseli, Kenya represent joint parental care of offspring or male mating effort. We found evidence that mothers and infants benefited directly from friendships; friendships provided mother-infant dyads protection from harassment from other adult and immature females. In addition, nearly half of all male friends were the genetic fathers of offspring and had been observed mating with mothers during the days of most likely conception for those offspring. In contrast, nearly all friends who were not fathers were also not observed to consort with the mother during the days of most likely conception, suggesting that friendships between mothers and non-fathers did not result from paternity confusion. Finally, we found no evidence that prior friendship increased a male's chances of mating with a female in future reproductive cycles. Our results suggest that, for many male-female pairs at Amboseli, friendships represented a form of biparental care of offspring. Males in the remaining friendship dyads may be trading protection of infants in exchange for some resources or services not yet identified. Our study is the first to find evidence that female primates gain social benefits from their early associations with adult males.

Multiple Captures of Adult Prairie Voles are Correlated with Residency Status and Genetic Parentage

Examination of extensive data from field and laboratory studies indicates that prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are socially monogamous and form pair-bonds. We used grid-trapping data from replicate populations of prairie voles living in 0.1-ha small mammal enclosures at 2 different initial densities to examine the extent to which opposite-sex adults captured together in the same live trap reflected social associations established from nest-use patterns and the probability that the pair produced offspring. Females classified as a resident at a nest that also included at least 1 resident male (male–female pairs or groups) were significantly more likely to be trapped with a male from the same social unit (64%) rather than a male from another social unit or a male wanderer (an animal not considered a resident at any nest site). On the other hand, females residing at a nest with no resident males were caught with wandering males significantly more often (84%) than with resident males from another nest. Finally, female wanderers were significantly more likely to be trapped with male wanderers (75%) than with resident males. A genetic analysis of parentage revealed that females were significantly more likely to have produced offspring with the male with which they were caught most frequently (80% of females) than to not breed with these males. None of these findings were influenced by density. Overall, the multiple-capture data were consistent with social monogamy and the relative frequency of male–female multiple captures were predictive of the likelihood of mating. However, although most females residing at nests with resident males bred with these males (84%), a similar percentage of these females also bred with at least 1 male that never resided in the same social unit as the female, suggesting that prairie voles are not genetically monogamous throughout their lives.

Genetic variation of alcohol dehydrogenase type 1C (ADH1C), alcohol consumption, and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors: Results from the IMMIDIET study

Introduction Moderate alcohol consumption is protective against cardiovascular disease (CAD). ADHs are major enzymes of alcohol metabolism. A polymorphism in the alcohol dehydrogenases 1C gene (ADH1C) was reportedly associated with the protective effect of alcohol consumption on CAD risk and risk factor levels. Aims The aim of our study was to investigate whether the association of alcohol consumption with metabolic risk factors for CAD is related to ADH1C variants. Methods IMMIDIET is a cross-sectional study of 974 healthy male–female pairs living together, randomly recruited in Belgium, Italy and England. The rs698 ADH1C polymorphism was genotyped. A 1-year recall food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate alcohol intake. Results The intake of alcohol did not vary in relation to ADH1C genotypes. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, HDL or total cholesterol, triglycerides and FVII:ag levels were positively associated with alcohol intake in men (multivariate ANOVA). Regression coefficient for alcohol and BMI or WC was progressively higher in heterozygotes and gamma 2 homozygotes as compared to gamma 1 homozygotes ( p = 0.006 and p = 0.03 for interaction, respectively). No interaction was found for other risk factors. In women, alcohol intake was positively associated with HDL, LDL and FVII:ag levels but no interaction was found between ADH1C polymorphism and any risk factor. Conclusion Regulation of ADH1C genotype on the association between alcohol consumption, BMI and WC was found in men from different European countries. In men homozygous for the gamma 2 alleles, intake of alcohol was positively associated with both BMI and WC values.

Swordfish ( Xiphias gladius, Teleostea: Xiphiidae) surface behaviour during reproductive period in the central Mediterranean Sea (southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

Swordfish in the Mediterranean Sea have been caught with harpoon since 1000 BC, when, from May to August, these animals come to the surface often in male–female pairs. At this time, swordfish exhibit a variety of swimming behaviours largely only known by fishermen targeting swordfish. Over four years from 2002 to 2005, we observed the behaviour of swordfish in surface waters from the sighting platform of a harpoon fishing boat. The behaviour of 207 swordfish pairs, 73 single females and 124 single males, were recorded. On the basis of behaviours identified by the fishing fleet, we classified a priori , the behaviour of single males, single females and pairs of swordfish across seven categories. After capture, the maturity stage of each fish was determined macrocospically and assigned to a gonadosomatic index (GSI). Both male and female of a higher GSI were more frequently observed in surface waters during June and July (analysis of variance (ANOVA) F (3,276) = 70.107; P = 0.001) and individual GSI was observed to be associated with differing behavioural grouping. The most frequent behaviours observed were: a female that swam rectilinear closely followed by the male, or two fish that swam near the surface and turn out going full circle. Both behaviours were associated with the maturity Stage IV. Our data suggest that reproductive behaviour of swordfish involve a long lasting surface courtship display with different phases influenced by gonad development.

The Use of Hoop Nets Seeded with Mature Brook Trout to Capture Conspecifics

AbstractThe brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, a native of eastern North America, is considered an invasive species in the western United States because it has been implicated in the decline of many native trout species there. Current methods for controlling brook trout are usually time‐consuming and expensive and are sometimes harmful to nontarget species. We tested a passive method of control using hoop nets to capture fish during brook trout spawning in the fall. We seeded nets with four different combinations of brook trout (a single male, three males, a male–female pair, and a single female) as well as with no fish to determine whether hoop‐net capture success was greater in nets seeded with conspecifics. Nets with a male–female pair captured 30% more brook trout than the next best treatment; the differences were significant, however, only in comparison with the catches resulting from the single‐ and multiple‐male treatments. We also found that hoop nets captured five times as many mature male brook trout as mature females. Although we were unable to conclusively identify a treatment that increases hoop‐net capture rates, hoop nets were successful in removing up to 34% of the estimated number of brook trout in the study stream, even though we did not attempt to maximize capture efficiencies. Hence, hoop netting may be helpful in reducing brook trout numbers if alternative methods of removal are undesirable.

Groups in space: Stereotypes and the spatial agency bias

We propose that spatial imagery is systematically linked to stereotypic beliefs, such that more agentic groups are envisaged to the left of less agentic groups. This spatial agency bias was tested in three studies. In Study 1, a content analysis of over 200 images of male–female pairs (including artwork, photographs, and cartoons) showed that males were over-proportionally presented to the left of females, but only for couples in which the male was perceived as more agentic. Study 2 ( N = 40) showed that people tend to draw males to the left of females, but only if they hold stereotypic beliefs that associate males with greater agency. Study 3 ( N = 61) investigated whether scanning habits due to writing direction are responsible for the spatial agency bias. We found a tendency for Italian-speakers to position agentic groups (men and young people) to the left of less agentic groups (females and old people), but a reversal in Arabic-speakers who tended to position the more agentic groups to the right. Together, our results suggest a subtle spatial bias in the representation of social groups that seems to be linked to culturally determined writing/reading habits.

Heightened responsiveness to female-initiated displays in an Australian cockatoo, the Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

[Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain why in some species, males and females coordinate their behaviour to defend a territory. The sex of the individual initiating a joint display may shed light on the function of the display, but this variable has not been systematically explored. This study investigates whether male–female pairs in a socially monogamous cockatoo, the galah, respond differently to male-initiated and female-initiated joint threat signals, and whether one sex is more likely to initiate a threat response. Solo male defense calls, solo female calls, male-initiated paired calls, and female-initiated paired calls were presented to pairs of galahs at nest cavities during the pre-breeding season. Birds responded most strongly to female-initiated call bouts, regardless of the number of stimulus birds giving vocalizations. While paired birds coordinated their approach responses to the stimuli, males tended to initiate these responses. These results suggest that the sex of the initiating bird, rather than the number of calling birds, is most relevant to galahs when assessing threat near an active cavity. This study indicates that it is critical to consider the separate roles of the male and female in a joint display in order to fully understand that display's function., Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain why in some species, males and females coordinate their behaviour to defend a territory. The sex of the individual initiating a joint display may shed light on the function of the display, but this variable has not been systematically explored. This study investigates whether male–female pairs in a socially monogamous cockatoo, the galah, respond differently to male-initiated and female-initiated joint threat signals, and whether one sex is more likely to initiate a threat response. Solo male defense calls, solo female calls, male-initiated paired calls, and female-initiated paired calls were presented to pairs of galahs at nest cavities during the pre-breeding season. Birds responded most strongly to female-initiated call bouts, regardless of the number of stimulus birds giving vocalizations. While paired birds coordinated their approach responses to the stimuli, males tended to initiate these responses. These results suggest that the sex of the initiating bird, rather than the number of calling birds, is most relevant to galahs when assessing threat near an active cavity. This study indicates that it is critical to consider the separate roles of the male and female in a joint display in order to fully understand that display's function.]

Sand Floor for Farmed Blue Foxes: Effects on Claws, Adrenal Cortex Function, Growth and Fur Properties

Farmed blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus) are traditionally housed on mesh floors where they are unable to perform certain species-specific behaviours, such as digging, which may compromise the animals' welfare. This study describes how a possibility to use in-cage sand floor affects welfare-related variables like growth of the claws, adrenal cortex function, and fur properties in juvenile blue foxes. The foxes (N=32) were housed in male-female sibling pairs in an outdoor fur animal shed in cage systems consisting of two traditional fox cages. For the eight male-female sibling pairs of the Control group, there was a mesh floor in both cages of each cage system, whereas for the eight pairs of the Sand group there was a mesh floor in one cage and a 30–40 cm deep earth floor in the other cage. The results show that sand floor is beneficial for the wearing of the claws of foxes. Furthermore, an early experience of sand floor may have positive effects on the foxes' fur development. The results, however, also suggest that there might appear welfare problems observed as disturbed claw growth and increased adrenal cortex activation if foxes that are once provided with clean and unfrozen sand floor are not allowed to enjoy this floor all the time.

Women match men when learning a spatial skill.

Meta-analytic studies have concluded that although training improves spatial cognition in both sexes, the male advantage generally persists. However, because some studies run counter to this pattern, a closer examination of the anomaly is warranted. The authors investigated the acquisition of a basic skill (spatial selective attention) using a matched-pair two-wave longitudinal design. Participants were screened with the use of an attentional visual field task, with the objective of selecting and matching 10 male-female pairs, over a wide range (30% to 57% correct). Subsequently, 20 participants 17-23 years of age (selected from 43 screened) were trained for 10 hr (distributed over several sessions) by playing a first-person shooter video game. This genre is known to be highly effective in enhancing spatial skills. All 20 participants improved, with matched members of the male-female pairs achieving very similar gains, independent of starting level. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the learning trajectory of women is not inferior to that of men when acquiring a basic spatial skill. Training methods that develop basic spatial skills may be essential to achieve gender parity in both basic and complex spatial tasks.

シジュウカラの繁殖個体群

The breeding season of the Great Tit Parus major is divided into two periods: the early and late seasons. In the early breeding population, the number of pairs varied from 45 to 152, with an average of 102±24 SD. In comparison, the late population was smaller than the early population every year and varied from 30 to 95, with an average of 54±18 SD pairs. Half of the early breeders were adult breeders from the previous year, and most of the remaining breeders were young belonging to winter flocks in previous years. The late breeding population consisted mainly of pairs that were producing their second brood that season, and repeat breeders whose first brood had failed. The proportion of adult male and adult female pairs was higher than other pairs. Most pairs were faithful, but divorce occurred every year. The population also included some pairs that did not breed and single males. The longevity was nine years in males and seven years in females.

The reproductive status of both sexes affects the frequency of mating and the reproductive success of males in the ball roller beetle Canthon cyanellus cyanellus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

AbstractSeveral studies have shown that males assess female reproductive status and use different mechanisms to increase their reproductive success. However, a male's reproductive status can also affect its own reproductive success. In Canthon cyanellus cyanellus, a male–female pair makes several brood balls during nesting and both care for the brood balls. However, in females that are transported to the nest by males, the spermatheca is often already filled with viable sperm from other males, such that sperm competition is strong. We analyze the effect of the reproductive status of males and females on the frequency of mating during brood ball construction, as well as the reproductive success of males that nest with previously mated females. Virgin and previously mated males copulated with the same frequency before the construction of each brood ball when they nested with virgin females. However, when both types of males nested with previously mated females, the frequency of mating increased before the construction of the first brood ball. The paternity of previously mated males was significantly higher (82%) than that of virgin males (62%). Therefore, the reproductive status of both sexes of C. c. cyanellus affects the frequency of mating and the reproductive success of males.

Influence of Adult Male Size on Fecundity and Progeny Size in Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) [Coleoptera: Bruchidae

The effect of male size on fecundity and progeny size in Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) was studied under ambient laboratory conditions in Akure, Nigeria. The highest number of eggs (83.8) was laid when a big male was mated with a big female. This was followed by the 66.3 eggs laid when a big male was mated with a small female. Pairing involving a small male and a big female, and a small male and a small female produced lower numbers of eggs (40.0 and 34.4, respectively). Similarly, the highest number of progeny (57.4 adults) was produced when a big male was mated with a big female. This was followed by the progeny produced (43.4 adults) when a big male was mated with a small female. Pairing involving a small male and a big female produced 20.7 adults; comparable number for the small male and small female pair was 20.0 adults. Unmated males were observed to live longer than mated males. Daily loss in weight was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in mated than in unmated males.

Production and perception of sex differences in vocalizations of Wied's black-tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii).

Males and females from many species produce distinct acoustic variations of functionally identical call types. Social behavior may be primed by sex-specific variation in acoustic features of calls. We present a series of acoustic analyses and playback experiments as methods for investigating this subject. Acoustic parameters of phee calls produced by Wied's black-tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii) were analyzed for sex differences. Discriminant function analyses showed that calls contained sufficient acoustic variation to predict the sex of the caller. Several frequency variables differed significantly between the sexes. Natural and synthesized calls were presented to male-female pairs. Calls elicited differential behavioral responses based on the sex of the caller. Marmosets became significantly more vigilant following the playback of male phee calls (both natural and synthetic) than following female phee calls. In a second playback experiment, synthesized calls were modified by independently manipulating three parameters that were known to differ between the sexes (low-, peak-, and end-frequency). When end-frequency-modified calls were presented, responsiveness was differentiable by sex of caller but did not differ from responses to natural calls. This suggests that marmosets did not use end-frequency to determine the sex of the caller. Manipulation of peak-and low-frequency parameters eliminated the discrete behavioral responses to male and female calls. Together, these parameters may be important features that encode for the sex-specific signal. Recognition of sex by acoustic cues seems to be a multivariate process that depends on the congruency of acoustic features.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in healthy unrelated male–female pairs of European regions: the dietary habit profile in European communities with different risk of myocardial infarction – the impact of migration as a model of gene–environment interaction project

Blood pressure control is of great importance in the prevention of cardiovascular events. To determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in healthy unrelated male-female pairs of European regions. The dietary habit profile in European communities with different risk of myocardial infarction: the impact of migration as a model of gene-environment interaction (IMMIDIET) project was a cross-sectional study to investigate differences in the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and dietary habits in healthy unrelated male-female pairs married or living together in European regions. Eight hundred and two unrelated male-female pairs were randomly recruited in Abruzzo (Italy), Limburg (Belgium) and south-west London (England). Blood pressure was measured using an automated device. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mmHg or current antihypertensive treatment. Overall, 24.4% of the population was hypertensive; among them, one-third was on antihypertensive treatment, but a significant proportion (56%) was unaware of the high blood pressure levels. Men were more often hypertensive than women (29.4 vs. 19.5%, P < 0.0001). Women were more often treated than men (49.8 vs. 28.9%, P < 0.0001). Women from south-west London showed blood pressure levels lower than those from Abruzzo and Limburg (P < 0.001 for both, adjusted for age, BMI and social status). No difference among countries was found in blood pressure levels in men. The adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 20.8% in south-west London, 23.6% in Limburg and 28.87% in Abruzzo (Abruzzo vs. south-west London P = 0.005). The prevalence of antihypertensive treatment was 43.5, 42.5 and 32.1% in Abruzzo, Limburg and south-west London, respectively. Out of those treated for hypertension, 42, 43 and 47.7% in Abruzzo, Limburg and south-west London, respectively, were well controlled. In communities of healthy unrelated male-female pairs from three different European regions, more than half of hypertensive patients appeared to have blood pressure levels not at target values. Interventions are required to optimize the use and effectiveness of antihypertensive drug therapy in these patients.