EARLY MOTHER-INFANT RELATIONSHIPS OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MT-EMEI CHINA

Quantitative data on early mother-infant relationships in the Tibetan macaque was collected during the first 23 weeks of infant life in spring, 1987, at Mt. Emei, China. During the first week of life, infants spent 98.3% of their time in ventroventral contact with their mothers. This contact rapidly decreased to 33.8% by the 4th week and thereafter to 0.85% by the 23rd week. Nipple contact decreased relatively slowly from 89.7% to 62.9% within the first 4 weeks of infant life and to 19.8% by the 23rd week. Ventrolateral and ventrodorsal contact appeared by the 2nd week, mean-while, maternal restraining behavior appeared, and reached a peak by the 3rd week. The mother neither encouraged nor discouraged her infant's independence during 4-8th weeks. Maternal rejection of the infant was first observed when the infant was 11 weeks old and continued thereafter.

Male-infant-male interactions in Tibetan macaques

Event-sampling and scans were used for collecting data on male-infant-male triadic interactions, and their effects on member spacing respectively in a group of Macaca thibetana at Mt. Emei in 1989. The group was partially provisioned by human visitors in seasons other than winter, and could be observed closely. In addition, a stable linear male-hierarchy among five males existed for two years since the end of 1987, providing a good social condition for this topic. The triadic interactions were specific to the birth season, and recognized as three types being on a continuum functionally changing from passive ''agonistic buffering'' (4.8%) to active spatial cohesion, which resulted in a significant decline of intermale distances. Positive correlations were documented between the triad initiation rate and the number of females in consort with the males in the mating season (MS), and between the triad reception rate and the number of infants in proximity to the males in the MS when maternal care was significantly reduced. Thus the male's mating effort and kin/sexual selection may deeply be involved in the triad of this species. Considering that the two triad-species, M. sylvanus and M. thibetana, had different levels of paternity, but shared similar foraging conditions, and showed similar intensities of male-infant caretaking, the triad was very likely a byproduct of male-infant caretaking, which was probably shaped to compensate heavy maternal investment to young offspring in harsh conditions. Accordingly, the long-term arguments about the triad in M. sylvanus can be united to a model of the way in which ''male-infant caretaking'' hypothesis works ultimately, and ''regulating social relations'' hypothesis does proximately.

Hydrogen-Bonding Recognition-Induced Color Change of Gold Nanoparticles for Visual Detection of Melamine in Raw Milk and Infant Formula

The color change induced by triple hydrogen-bonding recognition between melamine and a cyanuric acid derivative grafted on the surface of gold nanoparticles can be used for reliable detection of melamine. Since such a color change can be readily seen by the naked eye, the method enables on-site and real-time detection of melamine in raw milk and infant formula even at a concentration as low as 2.5 ppb without the aid of any advanced instruments.

Sleeping sites, sleeping trees, and sleep-related behaviors of black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China

Data on sleep-related behaviors were collected for a group of central Yunnan black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, Yunnan, China from March 2005 to April 2006. Members of the group usually formed four sleeping units (adult male and juvenile, adult female with one semi-dependent black infant, adult female with one dependent yellow infant, and subadult male) spread over different sleeping trees. Individuals or units preferred specific areas to sleep; all sleeping sites were situated in primary forest, mostly (77%) between 2,200 and 2,400 m in elevation. They tended to sleep in the tallest and thickest trees with large crowns on steep slopes and near important food patches. Factors influencing sleeping site selection were (1) tree characteristics, (2) accessibility, and (3) easy escape. Few sleeping trees were used repeatedly by the same or other members of the group. The gibbons entered the sleeping trees on average 128 min before sunset and left the sleeping trees on average 33 min after sunrise. The lag between the first and last individual entering the trees was on average 17.8 min. We suggest that sleep-related behaviors are primarily adaptations to minimize the risk of being detected by predators. Sleeping trees may be chosen to make approach and attack difficult for the predator, and to provide an easy escape route in the dark. In response to cold temperatures in a higher habitat, gibbons usually sit and huddle together during the night, and in the cold season they tend to sleep on ferns and/or orchids.

SOCIAL-DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MOUNT-EMEI, CHINA

The development of infant Macaca thibetana was studied at Mount Emei, China, and compared to that of other macaque species. It was found that there are many common features in the process of infant socialization in species of the genus Macaca: mothers play an important and active role, other group members influence the infants' development to a greater or lesser extent and play is a major activity in the life of infants. Some differences were found to exist, however, between macaque species. These included differences in maternal care behaviour such as 'len', leaving time and weaning time. Paternal behaviours were also found to vary within and among species. Tibetan macaque males care for infants extensively, and they may use infants as an agonistic buffer. The natural and social environment may also influence differences between macaque species in infant development.

HORMONAL-REGULATION OF TISSUE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR AND PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR TYPE-1 IN CULTURED MONKEY SERTOLI CELLS

Sertoli cells play a central role in the control and maintenance of spermatogenesis. Isolated Sertoli cells of mouse and rat testes have been shown to secrete plasminogen activator (PA) and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in culture. In this study, we have investigated the hormonal regulation of PA and PAI-1 activities in cultured monkey Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells (5x10(5) cells/well) isolated from infant rhesus monkey testes were preincubated at 35 degrees C for 16 h in 24-well plates precoated with poly(D-lysine) (5 mu g/cm(2)) in 0.5 mi McCoy's 5a medium containing 5% of fetal calf serum and further incubated for 48 h in 0.5 mi serum-free medium with or without various hormones or other compounds, PA as well as PAI-1 activities in the conditioned media were assayed by fibrin overlay and reverse fibrin autography techniques respectively. The Sertoli cells in vitro secreted only tissue-type PA (tPA), no detectable amount of urokinase-type PA (uPA) could be observed, Monkey Sertoli cells were also capable of secreting PAI-1, Immunocytochemical studies indicated that both tPA and PAI-1 positive staining localized in the Sertoli cells, spermatids and residual bodies of the seminiferous epithelium; Northern blot analysis further confirmed the presence of both tPA and PAI-1 mRNA in monkey Sertoli cells. Addition of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) derivatives or cAMP-generating agents and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or phorbol ester (PMA) to the cell culture significantly increased tPA activity. PAI-1 activity in the culture was also enhanced by these reagents except 8-bromo-dibutyryl-cAMP, forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthin (MIX) which greatly stimulated tPA activity, whereas decreased PAI-1 activity, implying that neutralization of PAI-1 activity by tile high level of tPA in the conditioned media may occur. These data suggest that increased intracellular signals which activate protein kinase A (PKA), or protein kinase C (PKC) can modulate Sertoli cell tPA and PAI-1 activities, The concomitant induction of PA and PAI-1 by the same reagents in the Sertoli cells may reflect a finely tuned regulatory mechanism in which PAI-1 could limit the excession of the proteolysis.

西藏红拉雪山自然保护区黑白仰鼻猴 Rhinopithecus bieti 的生态与行为研究，中国及其邻近地区兽类动物地理区划数量分析

从 2002 年11 月至2005 年4 月，在西藏红拉雪山自然保护区（98°20' ~ 98°59'E，28°48' ~ 29°40'N）对小昌都黑白仰鼻猴（Rhinopithecus bieti）群（98°35'00" ~ 98°40'00"E，29°14'24" ~ 29°16'42"N）（210 只左右）的生境及其利用形式、食 性、活动时间分配、过夜树及过夜地选择、雄－婴照料和繁殖季节作了重点研究， 并对保护区内的猴群分布、种群数量、保护状态以及潜在的威胁因素等作了一般 性的考查研究。 红拉雪山自然保护区存在3 个黑白仰鼻猴群，数量至少有300 只。从北到南 分别是执娜群、小昌都群和米拉卡群，其中执娜群（29°22'，98°28'），是黑白仰 鼻猴最北分布群。猴群栖息范围中，人类的经济活动频繁。由于活动范围位于或 接近藏传佛教的神山，小昌都和执娜猴群保护最好，这两群之间存在生境走廊。 米拉卡猴群保护状态较差，主要是偷猎现象还没有杜绝。对过去20 年的农牧业 统计资料及藏族风俗习惯和民族传统综合分析发现：在红拉雪山自然保护区，尽 管人类经济活动频繁，但猴群与人类和谐共存是可能的。 小昌都猴群全年白天用49％的时间取食，20％的时间移动，18％的时间休 息，13％的时间作其他的活动。在6-8 月，猴群日间表现出明显的三个取食高峰， 两个休息高峰。在11-1 月，猴群有两个取食高峰，一个休息高峰，或者休息高 峰根本不明显（12 月）。尽管环境温度和食物组成等也会影响时间预算，但造成 这种现象的主要原因可能是白天长度的季节性变化。 小昌都猴群年家域为21.25 km2，且主要在3800 – 4250 米的针叶林中活动。 食物好的季节，猴群日移动距离长，日活动范围大；食物差的季节，则相反。秋 －冬季（10-12 月）由于取食川滇高山栎（Quercus aquifolioides），活动的海拔高 度高于其它季节；冬季（1-4 月）活动范围最低。猴群并不避免在人类间伐过的 次生针叶林中活动。小生境的使用强度与在此生境中过夜的次数有关。 小昌都猴群的食物以松萝为主。全年的食物组成：用单筒望远镜观察，松萝 82.1％，芽和叶12.1%，花、果实或种子占1.1%，无脊椎动物占0.6%，树皮、 树根、树胶，草等占4.2%；接近猴群用肉眼或双筒望远镜观察，松萝50.8％， 芽和叶28.5%，花、果实或种子占7.1%，无脊椎动物占6.5%，树皮、树根、树胶，草等占7.1%。根据动物在不同林层分布百分比整合后得到接近真实的食物 构成：松萝75.4％，芽和叶15.7%，花、果实或种子占2.9%，无脊椎动物占2.4%， 树皮、树根、树胶，草等占3.9%。猴群在夏季（6-8 月）会下地翻开小石块，取 食无脊椎动物。冬季（1-4 月）会取食至少6 种树皮和2-3 种干草。 基于避免捕食、安全、舒适、体温调节的考虑，小昌都猴群选择高大、底枝 高、底枝长以及层数多的树过夜，并在背风、阳坡和海拔低的过夜地过夜。在过 夜地的选择中，存在着阳坡和海拔高度的权衡决策。 小昌都猴群个体不同林层的分布：77.5％在树上，6.0％在灌丛，16.5％在地 上。成年雄猴和青年猴倾向于在地上活动。在地上活动时又倾向于移动，休息和 其他活动少。获得高质量的食物和避免被捕食是出现这种格局的原因。 在小昌都猴群中，婴猴受到雄猴照料时间百分比（percent time of infant care, PTIC）为17.2±3.3，其中身体接触（BC）、接近（IP）和监护（G）照料的时 间百分比分别为0.6±0.5、5.8±1.2 和10.8±3.8。G 照料的最低值和最高值分别 在8 月和3 月。雌猴总PTIC 为69.3±6.9，其中BC、IP 和G 的时间分别为42.0 ±8.6、21.6±5.3 和5.7±3.8。最低BC 和最高G 照料同时出现在3 月。对雄猴， （1）总PTIC 在能量压力高的季节明显高于能量压力低的季节；（2）G 照料PTIC 在能量压力高的季节也要比能量压力低的季节高；（3）BC 和IP 照料在两个季节 之间没有区别。对于雌猴，（1）总PTIC 在高能量压力季节要比低能量压力季节 低；（2）G 照料在高能量压力季节要比低能量压力季节高，而BC 照料在高能量 压力季节要比低能量压力季节低；（3）IP 照料在两个季节之间没有区别。这种 高强度的雄婴照料，特别是托儿所的照料方式，是由这种环境下过高的能量压力 所引起的。 小昌都群为严格季节性出生且出生季节在2 月初到3 月中旬之间，时间跨度 45 天，属脉冲型。这种格局是光周期、温度、食物等环境因子综合调控的结果。 综合以上结果我们认为小昌都群的行为和生态特点，除具备疣猴一般特点 外，还具有地点特殊性，是自然环境如光照、温度、食物供给季节变化和生物环 境如捕食压和人类活动相互作用的结果，或者可以看成是能量摄入和损耗之间以 及它们和安全之间的权衡结果，体现了猴群对极端环境的适应。

Fatty acid biosynthesis in eukaryotic photosynthetic microalgae: Identification of a microsomal delta 12 desaturase in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important components of infant and adult nutrition because they serve as structural elements of cell membranes. Fatty acid desaturases are responsible for the insertion of double bonds into pre-formed fatty acid chains in reactions that require oxygen and reducing equivalents. In this study, the genome-wide characterization of the fatty acid desaturases from seven eukaryotic photosynthetic microalgae was undertaken according to the conserved histidine-rich motifs and phylogenetic profiles. Analysis of these genomes provided insight into the origin and evolution of the pathway of fatty acid biosynthesis in eukaryotic plants. In addition, the candidate enzyme from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with the highest similarity to the microsomal Delta 12 desaturase of Chlorella vulgaris was isolated, and its function was verified by heterologous expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).