Individual Repertoires Research Articles

The politics of codeswitching and language choice

Using data from ethnographic studies of the use of French and English in Ontario and Quebec (Canada) in a variety of settings (hospital, factory, school, etc.) over the period 1978–1990, I discuss language choice as a political strategy, especially as a strategy of ethnic mobilisation. More broadly, I argue that codeswitching must be understood in terms of individual communicative repertoires and community speech economies, particularly as these are tied to a political economic analysis of the relationship between the availability and use of linguistic varieties, on the one hand, and the production and distribution of symbolic and material resources on the other.

Limiting dilution analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to human immunodeficiency virus gag antigens in infected persons: in vitro quantitation of effector cell populations with p17 and p24 specificities.

The presence of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to the gag antigens of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been described in infected populations. We found that the majority of this immune response as measured in bulk CTL assays of unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is directed against the p24 component of the p55 gag precursor protein. Using limiting dilution analysis of this effector cell population we confirm that the majority of activated gag-specific CTL circulating in the PBMC of infected hemophilic patients are directed at p24 determinants and are present at frequencies of 1/36,000 to 1/86,000 lymphocytes. By performing in vitro stimulation after limiting dilution, the precursor population of gag-specific CTL are characterized and quantitated. HIV gag-specific CTL precursors are identified at frequencies of 1/1700 to 1/17,000 lymphocytes and are made up of cells with both p17 and p24 specificities. No HIV gag-specific CTL precursor cells are identified in the PBMC of HIV-uninfected individuals. These studies demonstrate that CTL directed at both p17 and p24 determinants make up the cellular immune repertoire in HIV-infected individuals but that only the p24-specific CTL are routinely found in an activated state in the circulation.

Personality and coping style as influences on alcohol intake and cigarette smoking during pregnancy

To determine if personality and coping style are central determinants of drinking and smoking at risk to fetal health during pregnancy. A sample of 99 women recently confined at a Sydney obstetric hospital received a semi-structured interview and completed a number of questionnaires. Alcohol and cigarette consumption over designated intervals since conception were assessed by interview. Questionnaires assessed maternal anxiety and postnatal depression, as well as coping strategies and personality characteristics such as impulsiveness. After confirmation of pregnancy, two-thirds of those previously drinking ceased while only one-third of those who had been smokers then abstained, with intake levels showing a similar pattern of a relatively greater decrease in alcohol than cigarette consumption over the course of the pregnancy. Personality and coping style differences were not demonstrated between the following contrasting groups: (a) smokers v. non-smokers prior to confirmation of pregnancy; (b) on-going drinkers v. relative abstainers during pregnancy; and (c) excessive smokers and drinkers before pregnancy v. all other subjects. Comparison of drinkers and non-drinkers before pregnancy suggested less "mature" coping styles for the latter, an unexpected finding. There was little support for the hypothesis that drinking and smoking at risk to health (before and during pregnancy) are determined by the individual's personality and general coping repertoires.

Species-Specificity and Mimicry in Bird Song: Are They Paradoxes? a Reevaluation of Song Mimicry in the European Starling

The possible structural relation between species-specificity and interspecific mimicry has been investigated in European starling's song. Mimicries have been recorded in several populations in Europe and in New Zealand. Previous studies of starling's song have shown that two basic categories, one composed of simple and loud songs (whistles), the other of long quiet and complex songs (warbles) can be recognized in the repertoires of all male starlings. Mimicries can be found in both contexts: in a loud and isolated way or included in warbling sequences. In Europe, about a third of the whistles are mimicries in an individual repertoire. Within a colony, the types of mimicries are individual-specific, but the same loud mimicries can be heard in different colonies. The loud mimicries are characterized by a high homogeneity amongst populations: half of those recorded in different countries in Europe correspond to the same 4 models (blackbird, little owl, buzzard, oriole). This does not reflect the abundance of the species in the environment and suggests a very strong selectivity. Results are totally different for the warbling in which most mimicries are unique to one starling and mainly reflect the sound environment. Little overlap is found between warbled and loud mimicries. Both in Europe and New Zealand, loud mimicries tend to have a simple whistled structure whereas the warbled ones most often include trills and several varied notes. Structural relations could be found between the species-specific whistled themes and the types of loud mimicries. Similarly quiet mimicries are included in the characteristic organization of warbling. Therefore it is suggested that the starling possesses two types of templates in its species-specific song which are reflected in its mimicries with quite different degrees of selectivity. These two categories of mimicries may have evolved for functional reasons that are linked to the corresponding functions of the species-specific songs themselves.

Male Song as a Cue for Mate Choice in the European Starling

Abstract This study had two aims. First, we looked at individual differences in song characteristics between males of the European starling, and we related song behaviour to factors such as male age, pairing date, polygyny and male breeding success. Second, we experimentally tested whether song has an effect on female mating decisions. 1. During the breeding season, male starlings sing a very long and complex song consisting of a rapid succession of large number of different song types. We observed marked differences between males in average song bout length (a song bout was defined as a period of at least five seconds of song containing no pauses larger than 1.5 seconds) and in song repertoire size. Average song bout lengths ranged from 16 to 35 seconds. The individual repertoire size ranged from 23 to 67 song types. Repertoire size and average song bout length were positively correlated. 2. Both in the field and in captivity, yearling males sang shorter average song bout lengths and had smaller repertoire sizes than older males. 3. Males singing longer average song bouts and having larger repertoire sizes attracted females for pairing before their rivals with shorter average song bouts and smaller repertoire sizes.

Bird phonology and species recognition: minimal song units are cues inducing strong reactions in male cirl buntings (Emberiza cirlus)

Cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus) songs consist of identical repetitions of the same syllable. A syllable is an arrangement of minimal acoustic units, which I call elements. A limited number of elements characterizes the different kinds of syllables found in the repertoires of individuals from different areas. The three most frequent element categories (a, b and c) represent 80% of all syllable elements. I demonstrate that minimal song units from these three categories are strong cues for species recognition because (1) songs composed of repetitions of only one of these elements (a or b or c) induced strong responses, while the repetition of a heterospecific element induced very weak responses; and (2) a song composed of the elements a, b, and c ordered at random without the usual syllable syntax induced the same reactions as a normal control song with the same elements ordered in a normal syntactical pattern. These results also demonstrated that while normal syntax is not required, normal variety appears to...

Evidence for extrathymic changes in the T cell receptor gamma/delta repertoire.

The germline repertoire of variable genes for the TCR-gamma/delta is limited. This, together with the availability of several V delta-specific and a C delta-specific mAbs, has made it possible to assess differences in the TCR-gamma/delta repertoire in man. TCR-gamma/delta cells expressing particular V gene segments have been previously shown to be localized in different anatomical sites. In this study, analysis of TCR-gamma/delta V gene segment usage performed on subjects from the time of birth through adulthood revealed striking age-related changes in the TCR-gamma/delta repertoire in peripheral blood. V delta 1+ gamma/delta T cells predominated in thymus as well as in peripheral blood at birth and then persisted as a relatively constant proportion of CD3+ PBL. However, V delta 2+ gamma/delta T cells that constitute a small proportion of the CD3+ cells in thymus and in peripheral blood at birth, then expand and account for the major population of gamma/delta T cells in PBL in adults. No parallel postnatal expansion of V delta 2+ cells in the thymus was observed, even when paired thymus-peripheral blood specimens were obtained on subjects between the ages of 3 d and 8 yr. The subset of V delta 2+ lymphocytes that was expanded in peripheral blood expressed high levels of CD45RO suggesting prior activation of these cells, consistent with the possibility that their expansion might have resulted from exposure to foreign antigens or superantigens. In contrast, V delta 1+ T cells in PBL showed no comparable increase in relative numbers and were either negative or expressed only low levels of CD45RO. Consistent with evidence for extrathymic peripheral expansion of selective TCR-gamma/delta subsets, no link between MHC haplotype and differences in the TCR-gamma/delta V gene usage between individuals was apparent, and identical twins displayed TCR-gamma/delta variable gene segment phenotypes that were strikingly different from one another. The elements that determine the TCR-gamma/delta repertoire in individuals are not known. It is possible that both thymic selection and extrathymic factors may influence the peripheral repertoire. Recently, TCR-gamma/delta+ lymphocytes have been shown to expand markedly in peripheral lymphoid tissues and infectious lesions in response to mycobacterial antigens, and a correlation between mycobacterial responses and TCR-gamma/delta V gene usage has been shown in mice. The data presented here demonstrated peripheral age-related changes in the gamma/delta repertoire and point to the importance of extrathymic expansion of specific gamma/delta subsets in generating the human TCR-gamma/delta repertoire.

IN OTHER WOR(L)DS: FRAGMENTED AND INTEGRATED OBSERVATIONS ON GENDERED LANGUAGES, GENDERED SPACES AND LOCAL TRANSFORMATION

ABSTRACTThe build up of individual and collective linguistic repertoires is inseparable from situated practices and power relations. Place‐to‐place variations in gendered consciousness, the consciousness of gender, and female subordination cannot be pried apart from place‐to‐place variations in the language out of which gender is constituted and to which gendered practices and unequal gender relations contribute. In the course of local transformation, whereby local traditions and practices are eased out or crushed by exogenous powers, women as well as men are apt to become involved in the contestation of meanings and other forms of linguistic struggle.

Individual Life History and Song Repertoire Changes in a Colony of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

AbstractObservations were made over two years in a small colony of starlings to look at possible changes in the songs of each male, taking into account its life‐history and breeding status. Each male sings two categories of song: warbling, a long, complex and mainly individual song, and loud and simple whistles. Within the latter, some are species‐specific whereas others characterize the individual in its colony. Over two years very few changes were observed for the species‐specific whistle themes and all birds shared the same variant. But the birds changed their individual whistle types almost completely from one year to the next. Changes in warbling song may depend on age: one bird changed his repertoire of motifs completely between his first and second year of life, whereas other older males merely added some new motifs to their repertoire of the previous year. Such results show that adult starlings in the wild, even older birds (7 years old), may still be able to acquire new structures. The new elements appeared in the fall and were kept at least until the following breeding season. All songs were very stable throughout a given breeding season. Although individual repertoires increased with age, large differences in repertoire size were found in same age individuals. First data suggest that breeding status (e.g. polygyny) and repertoire size may be related.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the VX locus in human lupus

To evaluate the degree of genetic polymorphism of the V kappa repertoire in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we performed Southern blot hybridizations with human gene probes corresponding to the four human V kappa gene families. In a comparative analysis, non-lymphoid cell DNA samples from three patients with idiopathic SLE, eight subjects with susceptibility to drug-induced lupus and seven control individuals were digested with the restriction endonucleases Bam HI, Bg 1 II, Eco RI and Hind III, and hybridized sequentially to the four V kappa family-specific probes. The restriction patterns on Southern blots revealed a low degree of polymorphism of the human V kappa gene repertoires of SLE patients and control individuals. This analysis, together with previous parallel studies of the V kappa locus in lupus-prone mice, implies that autoantibody hyperproduction in lupus is not associated with major modifications in the structure or genomic organization of immunoglobulin light chain genes.

Dental Difficulties: Americans' Explanations of Periodontal Disease

Dental Difficulties: Americans' Explanations of Periodontal Disease

Song Learning in Adult Great Tits (Parus Major): Effects of Neighbours

The songs of individually marked male great tits in a nestbox population were recorded over 10 years. The number of songs sung by an individual (repertoire size) did not change with the age of the bird. However, the song types making up the repertoire (repertoire composition) showed change; such changes were the rule in our study. The songs added to repertoires were most similar to those of newly arrived neighbours, suggesting that songs were learned from them. This result suggests that the period for song learning to sing can extend throughout adult life in this species and is comparable in timing to the timing of song learning for discrimination tasks such as neighbour recognition and laboratory operant conditioning. The functional significance of this pattern of song learning is discussed.

Ontogeny of Song in Captive Duet-Singing Slate-Coloured Boubous (Laniarius Funebris). a Study in Birdsong Epigenesis

Ontogeny of song was studied in 11 L. funebris reared in captivity under different learning regimes. Song types usually were learned from conspecific tutors: Males learned from male, females from female tutors. In exceptional situations song types may be learnt from the other sex, proving an ability to produce song of both sexes. Birds reared without tutors nevertheless produced some species-typical song in generalized form, suggesting an innate predisposition for these vocalizations. Once established during the first 6-8 months of life, individual repertoires remained unchanged for years. Pair mates regularly dueted. Neither random pairings nor mate exchanges revealed repertoire alteration in mates. Neither misdeveloped nor reduced song repertoires hampered successful breeding in captivity.

THE SPECIES-REPERTOIRE OF WHISTLED SONGS IN THE EUROPEAN STARLING: SPECIES- SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIABILITY

ABSTRACT Observations of European starlings in France, Germany and Australia reveal surprising high similarities in the individual repertoires of whistled songs. The structure of the whistles enabled us to recognize a number of categories, in which some species-specific themes were found everywhere. They appear with the same general characteristics and variation ranges in all populations. There seems therefore to be a basic species-specific repertoire common to all males, who have also a number of additional individual themes which characterize each male in its colony. These individual themes show also common characteristics in the different populations. The results suggest that a mechanism has evolved which canalizes the patterns to be learned. The existence of such a universal innate species-specific repertoire has also to be related to functional aspects and to the complicated dialects found in this species.

Approach to the use of antigen non-specific immunosuppression in systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic autoimmune diseases

Optimum therapy of systemic lupus as well as the other autoimmune rheumatic diseases should be based upon pathogenetic considerations. We present an hypothesis as well as supporting data that the B-cell repertoires of individuals with both murine and human lupus initially are relatively normal. Even though there is increased antibody production, it is increased proportionally for many specificities. Later, more selective increases lead to selective representation of certain specificities characteristic of that individual. Therapy during the polyclonal phase is most likely to be effective in bringing about a sustained remission. Such therapy should be directed at preventing or interfering with the polyclonal activation. Later in disease, after particular immune responses become relatively augmented and possibly fixed, it may be necessary also to interfere directly with the specific augmented responses, especially those which are found to be inducing disease. Whereas SLE is an antibody-mediated disease with decreased DTH, other autoimmune diseases are mediated less by antibody and more by DTH. As a result, therapies for those diseases, especially those directed at the DTH, should be based upon principles other than those for SLE. More-over, there is a greater likelihood in the other diseases of antigen-specific therapy and even vaccination for prevention.

Recognition by Anti‐Fab Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis of Structure(s) Widely Distributed on Human Fab Molecules

Anti-Fab antibodies (aFABA) of restricted clonality and acidic spectrotypes were isolated from the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These aFABA reacted with multiple populations of pooled human Fab molecules, which had been charge separated by chromatofocusing techniques (CF), indicating that the structures recognized by these aFABA were present on a polyclonal population of Fab molecules. The structures were also widely distributed among the Fab repertoires of normal individuals, as well as individual autologous and heterologous RA patients. Thus, the aFABA did not appear to recognize highly restricted epitope(s), i.e. a private idiotope, limited in its expression to RA individuals. The determinants of the Fab molecules recognized by affinity purified aFABA could be defined by linear and/or conformational structures, depending upon the individual from which the aFABA were isolated. Additionally, some of the affinity purified aFABA also reacted with Fc fragments, suggesting the presence of epibody-like autoantibodies in this population. Lastly, size analysis of the circulating IgG4 aFABA complexes indicated that these autoantibodies were not complexed with intact IgG, but rather with a molecule of 40-60 kDa, further suggesting the potential for these autoantibodies to react with multiple antigens.

Spatial and Individual Variation in the Songs of the Yellow-throated Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavicollis

SummaryBruce, P.J. (1987). Spatial and individual variation in the songs of the Yellow-throated Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavicollis. Emu 88, 65–69.Two types of territorial song used by the Yellow-throated Honeyeater were examined. The breeding song, only present in the breeding season, varied little between individuals within study areas. However, between study areas there was a marked variation in the number of syllables in the song phrase and in the frequency and temporal structure of the syllables. No sharp boundaries were found between song variants. The non-breeding song, present throughout the year, exhibited no individual or spatial distinctiveness. This song type varied greatly within each individual's repertoire.

Coping strategies and panic

The current investigation examined coping repertoires of individuals who experience panic. Ninety-three subjects were divided into those with panic (n = 60), regardless of diagnosis, and those without panic (n = 33). Based upon a 27-item coping questionnaire, panic subjects reported utilization of strategies that were significantly greater in number and in frequency of use. Reliability estimates on the questionnaire were adequate. The questionnaire was factor analyzed, revealing seven factors: activity-indirect symptom focus, activity-direct symptom focus, help seeking, focus change, active struggle, self-injurious, and distraction. Panic subjects utilized more help seeking and change of focus coping techniques as compared to subjects without panic. When coping factors were examined for differences in perceived effectiveness, a self-injurious factor was found to be significantly less effective in reducing catastrophic thoughts and symptoms. A significant group x factor interaction occurred for thought reduction with panic subjects reporting greater effectiveness from help seeking. Results are discussed in terms of a re-evaluation of skill-based treatment rationales for panic given that subjects report coping strategies prior to treatment.

Rheumatoid factors from patients with rheumatoid arthritis possess private repertoires of idiotypes.

Considerable interest has focused on idiotypic cross-reactivity among antibody molecules. Cross-reactive idiotypes (Id) on monoclonal and polyclonal rheumatoid factors (RF) have been found frequently. Sufficient attention has not been directed, however, to the proportion of RF exhibiting the cross-reactivity, leaving the impression of extensive RF cross-reactivity when, in fact, this might represent a small minority of total RF molecules in a given individual. We have examined the polyclonal RF from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for cross-reactive Id in three different assays and with different Id-anti-Id systems. First, a sensitive liquid-phase radioimmunoassay was used in which panels of sera were tested for inhibition of different, idiotypically unrelated, Id-anti-Id interactions. When compared with normal sera, some of the sera from patients with RA caused minimal inhibition of Id-anti-Id interactions. None, however, caused marked inhibition of any Id-anti-Id system. Secondly, the panels of sera were also tested in a direct binding ELISA to detect partially cross-reactive Id that may not have been identified in the inhibition radioimmunoassay without differing results. Finally, results similar to the autologous Id-anti-Id inhibition assay were also found when the panels of RA sera were tested in two nonautologous Id-anti-Id systems, in which the anti-Id reacted with other than their own Id. These studies indicate that although cross-reactivity with some RF of an individual's total RF population may be seen frequently, an individual's repertoire of RF is itself private, quite diverse, and unique to that individual.

Distribution and Variability of Song Types in the Wood Thrush

AbstractCompared to the song of other oscine species, wood thrush song shows little macro-geographical variation: 1) Most song types defined for a local population are widespread over the geographical range, 2) the relative abundances of different song types are similar in samples taken from different locations, and 3) a given song type is no more variable in structure over the geographical range than within a local population. Wood thrush song also shows little microgeographical variation. The degree of song type sharing does not vary as a function of the distance between males in a local population. Song remains stable over time in a local population, as indicated by a similarity in the relative abundances of song types in samples taken 14 years apart. Regarding the distribution of song types among repertoires, 1) Different combinations of song types within repertoires occur no more or less often than expected by chance, 2) different versions of a single song type are distributed at random among repertoires, 3) large repertoires do not contain a greater proportion of rare (unclassified) songs than small repertoires, and 4) rare songs are not clustered in the repertoires of certain individuals.