Offensive and defensive bite-target topographies in attacks by lactating rats

The attacks by resident lactating Wistar rats on sexually naive conspecifics of both sexes were examined. Male and female intruders were equally attacked in terms of frequency and number of bites, but the topographies of biting seen in these encounters were different. Similarly to male-male agonistic interactions, females were attacked in a fashion which avoided bites to the head and snout (“offensive” attack), whereas males were frequently bitten on such vulnerable regions (“defensive” attack). This dichotomy in bite pattern suggests that different motivations and functions underlay maternal aggression in these situations. The defensive attack on males may be a deterrent to infanticide since only male intruders counterattack lactating females and kill their pups. The attack on females may be concerned with resource competition.     

Analysis of the targets and tactics of conspecific attack and predatory attack in northern grasshopper mice onychomys leucogaster

Comparisons of tactics of fighting between species are often difficult to make since the body targets attacked may differ. Thus it becomes difficult to assess whether differences in fighting tactics are due to species-specific differences in the tactics themselves or due to the different targets attacked. A solution to this problem is to analyse the tactics of a species that attacks different targets under different circumstances. In this way, differences in tactics can be more readily attributed to differences in targets. In this study, resident male northern grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster) were tested against intruding male conspecifics and against laboratory mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Conspecifics were mainly bitten on the lower dorsum, whereas prey were bitten and killed by bites to the nape of the neck. Therefore, it was possible to analyze the tactics of attack by grasshopper mice when attacking different body targets. For example, in order to defend the lower dorsum and the nape, both intruding conspecifics and prey adopted an upright defensive posture. Resident grasshopper mice used the lateral attack tactic to gain access to the lower flanks but not the nape. This illustrates that the lateral attack tactic is not merely a tactic suitable for overcoming the upright defense tactic, but is used in this context only when the target attacked is on the opponent's posterior dorsum. Such withinpecies comparison enables the identification of the contextual rules which govern the use of fighting tactics. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

HIV Prevention with Male Prostitutes and Patrons of Hustler Bars: Replication of an HIV Preventive Intervention

The core objectives of this study were to document the process by which a community-based organization replicated and adapted an experimentally developed intervention to its own use and to explore the effectiveness of that HIV prevention program for male prostitutes and other patrons in New York City hustler bars. The intervention model employed was based on previous research with gay men (Kelly, St. Lawrence, Diaz, et al., 1991; Kelly, St. Lawrence, Stevenson, et al., 1992) and inspired by diffusion of innovation theory (Rogers, 1995). The effects of the current intervention were assessed on a sample of 1,741 male prostitutes and bar patrons. Analyses indicated significant reductions in paid, unprotected sexual intercourse and oral sex following the intervention. Analyses further indicated that the data were partially consistent with the program's model, which specified that norms were the putative mediator of behavior change in the intervention. Also, the intervention's effects varied by bar and by participants' race/ethnicity. Data support the utility of the intervention model for an urban sample of men at high risk for HIV infection. The importance of exploring the mechanisms that underlie the intervention is discussed.     

Male Partners' Role in Latinas' Amniocentesis Decisions

There has been relatively little research on men's experiences with fetal diagnosis or their role in their female partners' decisions about whether to be tested. This issue may be of particular salience in the delivery of genetic services to Latino groups, where it is often assumed that lower rates of genetic service utilization are linked to men's refusal to allow their wives to be tested. Here we present data from a multimethod study on the use of amniocentesis by Mexican-origin women in Southern California. We focus on the role male partners played in the women's amniocentesis decisions. Contrary to expectation, we found that women made the majority of the decisions about amniocentesis, although their partners' presence at the genetic consultation where the amniocentesis was offered proved an important predictive factor in amniocentesis uptake.     

成年雄性斑胸草雀高级发声中枢鸣声控制的右侧优势

鸣禽是研究语言功能的动物模型。鸣禽端脑的高级发声中枢(high vocal center, HVC)与人类布洛卡氏区具有功能同源性。利用电损毁与声谱分析相结合的方法, 对成年雄性斑胸草雀两侧HVC分别进行电损毁, 观察HVC控制鸣声的侧别差异。结果表明, 损毁左侧HVC对长鸣和鸣曲的频域和声强特征均无显著性影响。损毁右侧HVC导致长鸣的振幅、调频、幅度调制显著减小(p < 0.05), 鸣曲的振幅、平均频率、峰频率显著减小(p < 0.05)。损毁双侧HVC后均引起鸣曲时域特征的改变, 暗示鸣曲时域特征的编码需要两侧半球鸣唱系统的整合。HVC在控制鸣声频域和声强特征上具有右侧优势, 但对鸣曲时域特征的控制需要两侧HVC的共同参与。     

The GABAergic effect of low doses of lorazepam on social behavior

The aim of this work was to test the antiaggressive effects of lorazepam and to determine whether these effects were mediated by benzodiazepine receptors. In a first experiment, male mice were injected with lorazepam in a range of low doses (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.6 mg/kg) or saline solution. In a second experiment, 1 mg/kg of Ro 15‐1788, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, and a saline solution were injected before the behavioral test. Results showed that 0.6 mg/kg of lorazepam was the only dose that decreased the total duration of threat (P < .01) and social investigation (P < .05) and that 1 mg/kg of Ro 15‐1788 had no effects. In the third experiment, animals received two injections: 0.6 mg/kg of lorazepam plus 1 mg/kg of Ro 15‐1788, 0.6 mg/kg of lorazepam plus saline solution, or saline solution plus saline solution. Those treated with lorazepam and saline solution spent less time digging (P < .001), threatening (P < .001), and attacking (P < .05) and more time avoiding the opponent (P < .01) or being immobile (P < .001) than the controls. Ro 15‐1788 was successful in completely antagonizing the behavior modulated by lorazepam. Aggr. Behav. 28:248–256, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

《周易参同契》的丹道易学

魏伯阳的《周易参同契》运用西汉及东汉早期的象数易学 ,通过观象、立卦、“拟诸其形容” ,使无形的不易感触的微观的运动 ,摆脱感观的局限而诉诸于形容 ,将丹道与易道结合 ,以推阐还丹之理 ,使丹术得以升华 ,同时又引导道教完成了由外丹向内丹的转化。正是《参同契》的丹术对《周易》原理的精妙运用 ,使它通过神仙方术和炼丹术的形式 ,接续了中国文化所固有的传统理念 ,承转了中国文化的慧命 ,故而使《周易参同契》在中国道教史、易学史和科技史上享有崇高的地位     

Breast Cancer in Men: A Need for Psychological Intervention

Male breast cancer is a serious issue that needs to be addressed more fully by the medical and public community. However, due to a lack of awareness and limited research on the topic, there is a general absence of knowledge concerning the psychological implications of this disease in men as well as a need for greater understanding of the medical diagnosis and treatment of male breast carcinoma. Similarly, there still remains a considerable gender difference between the awareness of female breast cancer and male breast cancer Although breast cancer in men makes up only 1% of all breast cancers reported in the United States, it is increasing in incidence. There are approximately 2000 new cases and approximately 450 deaths due to male breast cancer each year. Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in men is very similar to that described in women, however, it has been shown that men are being diagnosed at a later stage of the disease than women.     

The association of idealization and intimacy factors with condom use in gay male couples

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of idealization and three specific intimacy factors (relationship satisfaction, excitement, and closeness) to reported condom use in gay male couples. It was expected that there would be negative associations of idealization and the intimacy factors with condom use. Both members of 45 gay male couples completed a questionnaire that assessed these factors. This study found (a) idealization to have a significant negative correlation with condom use, suggesting that the more the individuals idealized each other, the less likely that condoms were used during sex; (b) a significant negative association between relationship satisfaction and condom use, implying that as the couples experienced more satisfaction within their relationships, condom use decreased; (c) a significant negative correlation between excitement and condom use, suggesting that as excitement increased, condom use decreased; and (d) no significant association between closeness and condom use.     

To Use or Not to Use: Male Partners' Perspectives on Decision Making About Prenatal Diagnosis

We conducted an exploratory, qualitative pilot study investigating the use of genetic counseling and prenatal genetic technologies between women and their male partners for two referral groups: pregnant women 35 years of age and over (AMA) at the time of delivery and pregnant women with an abnormal maternal serum triple screen (MSAFP3). The convenience sample consisted of 25 semistructured interviews and 50 observations of genetic counseling sessions. Male partners' styles of decision making and the way they viewed prenatal diagnosis decision making were examined. We defined three decision-making styles based on our interpretation of the data: (1) domain, (2) joint-delegated, and (3) saliency. The male partners also seemed to view prenatal diagnosis as either an information decision or an action decision and appeared to take a more active role in decision making when the decision was viewed as an action decision.