GLM on basis of a quasi - poisson error structure, of age, education, marital status and ownership of dwelling regressing on the number of children born.

<p>All independent variables are significantly related to number of born children.</p

The overall SRB according to the number of children for mothers living in owned or not owned dwellings is shown.

<p>Values are mean ± SE.</p

LMM of age, type of marriage, education and ownership of dwelling (ethnicity and Uganda district as random factors) regressing on SRB.

<p>Bold marked terms represent significant positive relations to SRB.</p

LMM of age, marital status, education and ownership of dwelling (ethnicity and Uganda district as random factors) is regressed on SRB.

<p>Bold marked term represents a significant positive relation to SRB.</p

Influence of Intracellular Nitrogen Status and Dynamic Control of Central Metabolism in the Plant Symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti

Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium capable of forming an intracellular symbiosis with temperate legumes. During symbiosis S. meliloti will fix atmospheric nitrogen, which it provides to its host plant. In return for fixed nitrogen, the plant provides its microsymbiont with carbon in the form of C4-dicarboxylates. Unlike most model organisms, S. meliloti prioritizes catabolism of succinate, a phenomenon referred to as succinate-mediated catabolite repression (SMCR). SMCR is controlled by an incomplete phosphotransferase system (PTS), which, unlike carbohydrate-type PTS, is a regulatory system that is not involved in sugar transport. This work uses a biochemical approach to elucidate the signals involved in regulating PTS activity. Biochemical characterization of S. meliloti EINtr revealed that the enzyme is inhibited by glutamine, a major signal of nitrogen availability in proteobacteria. EINtr detects glutamine through its N-terminal GAF domain, a ubiquitous small molecule binding domain. In contrast to E. coli EINtr, the S. meliloti enzyme is not activated by a-ketoglutarate. The differences in EINtrregulation likely reflect the preferred carbon source of each organism, with glucose entering central metabolism through glycolysis and succinate entering through the TCA cycle, sharing a metabolic pathway with a-ketoglutarate. Phosphorylated HPr-His in S. meliloti is much less stable than E. coli P~His-HPr, and this instability is due to an arginine residue that is conserved within a-proteobacteria that only contain an incomplete PTS. Rapid phosphohydrolysis of P~His-HPr in the a-proteobacteria may be act to remove phosphate from the system to avoid oversaturation, a problem that is not faced by sugar-phosphorylating PTS. The work presented here sheds light on how the PTS of S. meliloti integrates carbon, nitrogen, and energy levels within the cell in order to regulate SMCR

Results of LMMs testing grooming rate and grooming time and their relationship to kinship, rank distance, relative rank, friendship, grooming received, co-provisioning, aggression received and season among females with low rank distance.

<p>Variables with values in bold had significant effect on grooming rate or grooming time based on CI.</p><p>Results of LMMs testing grooming rate and grooming time and their relationship to kinship, rank distance, relative rank, friendship, grooming received, co-provisioning, aggression received and season among females with low rank distance.</p

Whom to Groom and for What? Patterns of Grooming in Female Barbary Macaques <i>(Macaca sylvanus)</i>

<div><p>Grooming is one of the most conspicuous social interactions among nonhuman primates. The selection of grooming partners can provide important clues about factors relevant for the distribution of grooming within a social group. We analyzed grooming behavior among 17 semi-free ranging female Barbary macaques (<i>Macaca sylvanus</i>). We tested whether grooming is related to kinship, rank and friendship. Furthermore, we tested whether grooming is reciprocated or exchanged for rank related benefits (i.e. lower aggression and increased tolerance whilst feeding). We found that in general grooming was reciprocally exchanged, directed up the hierarchy and at the same time affected by friendship and kinship. Grooming was more frequent among individuals with higher friendship values as well as amongst related individuals. We also divided our data set on the basis of rank difference and tested if different power asymmetries between individuals affected the tendency to exchange grooming for rank related benefits and grooming reciprocation. In support of our initial hypothesis our results show that the reciprocation of grooming was a significant predictor of grooming interactions between individuals of similar rank, but not between those individuals more distantly separated in the social hierarchy. However, we did not find any evidence for grooming being exchanged for rank related benefits in either data set. Our results, together with previously published studies, illustrate the behavioral flexibility of macaques. It is clear that multiple studies of the same species are necessary to gather the data required for the solid comparative studies needed to shed light on patterns of grooming behavior in primates.</p></div

Experimental time-line for the whole experimental procedure (22 days).

<p>Experimental time-line for the whole experimental procedure (22 days).</p

Plasma fatty acids (% on total fatty acids; mean ± SEM) comparing groups, sexes, and days (pre Soc: before the social confrontation test; post Soc: after the social confrontation test).

<p>Different superscripts indicate significant differences between groups and/or sexes on days pre Soc and post Soc (<i>p</i>≤0.05).</p><p>*p≤0.05, **<i>p</i>≤0.01, <i>p</i>≤0.001 comparing single groups and/or sexes on days pre Soc and post Soc.</p><p>Plasma fatty acids (% on total fatty acids; mean ± SEM) comparing groups, sexes, and days (pre Soc: before the social confrontation test; post Soc: after the social confrontation test).</p

Effects of Diets High in Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Socially Induced Stress Responses in Guinea Pigs

<div><p>Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), such as omega-3 and omega-6 poly- and omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids are important nutrients and major components of neuronal cell membranes. They play a major role in modulating brain functions and physiology and may therefore diminish behavioral and physiological stress reactions in corroboration with decreased cortisol concentrations. Functionally, cortisol itself can modulate several behaviors and also the fatty acid metabolism in the long term. But only little is known about the behavioral and physiological influences of dietary UFAs in a social group, where individuals are regularly exposed to stressful situations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary UFAs on saliva cortisol concentrations and behavioral responses in socially confronted guinea pigs. Three groups of animals were additionally supplemented with 500 mg chia seeds (high in omega-3), walnuts (high in omega-6), or peanuts (high in omega-9) per kg bodyweight each day and compared to a control group. During social confrontation saliva cortisol concentrations significantly increased in all groups, which was accompanied by a loss in bodyweight. However, cortisol levels remained lower in the chia and walnut groups compared to controls. Additionally, the walnut group displayed significantly increased locomotion, while no differences between groups were detected in socio-positive, sexual, or aggressive behaviors. Total plasma omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids were significantly increased in the corresponding groups, due to the dietary supplementations. However, a significant decrease in plasma omega-3 and an increase in plasma n-6 fatty acids were detected in the chia group when comparing the measurements before and after social confrontation. We conclude that both omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids can diminish behavioral and physiological stress responses to the social environment, enabling individuals to cope with social stressors, but at the expense of plasma derived omega-3 fatty acids.</p></div