Social learning of nut-cracking behavior in East African sanctuary-living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii).

Nut cracking is restricted to communities of wild chimpanzees living in West Africa, suggesting it is an example of a socially transmitted tradition. Detailed study of the acquisition of nut cracking in wild chimpanzees is consistent with this conclusion. However, only 2, small-scale experiments have been carried out in captivity to explore the role of social transmission in the acquisition of this behavior. The study presented here does this with a comparatively larger, statistically viable sample of 11 sanctuary-living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), permitting both between- and within-subjects experimental manipulations. Results confirmed that nut cracking can be acquired in a matter of days by social learning, but only in chimpanzees 3 to 4 years old and older. Direct comparisons are made with a study carried out in the wild, revealing striking similarities in developmental profiles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recognizing Impossible Object Relations: Intuitions About Support in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Using looking-time measures, the authors examined untrained chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) ability to distinguish between adequate and inadequate support. In 3 experiments, the chimpanzees' sensitivity to different support relations between 2 objects was assessed. In each experiment, the chimpanzees saw a possible and an impossible test event, presented as digital video clips. Looking times in the 3 experiments suggest that chimpanzees use amount of contact between 2 objects, but not type of contact, to distinguish between adequate and inadequate support relations. These results indicate that chimpanzees have some intuition about support phenomena but their sensitivity to relational object properties may differ from that of human infants (Homo sapiens) in this domain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Naive chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) observation of experienced conspecifics in a tool-using task.

The authors investigated the occurrence of naive chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) spontaneous observation of experienced conspecifics during a tool-use task entailing honey fishing. The chimpanzees were presented with 20 kinds of "tools" of which 12 kinds were usable. Six pairs of naive and experienced chimpanzees were brought to this honey-fishing situation. A total of 40 observation episodes occurred between the naive and experienced groups, 34 of which were from naive toward experienced individuals. Naive chimpanzees never observed their partners after their own success but did so after their own failure or before their first attempts. In addition, there were 10 cases in which naive individuals used the left-over tools of the experienced ones. Two factors for the transmission of tool use were clearly evident in this study: (a) spontaneous observation of an appropriate behavioral sequence and (b) enhanced environmental cues made by skilled individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Imitation of intentional manipulatory actions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

In this study, the authors investigated the understanding of other's actions in 5 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). A human demonstrated an attempt to open different containers. Each container required a different motor pattern to open it. Along with the container, a 2nd object was made available. After a free play period in which the chimpanzees' natural behaviors toward the objects were recorded, the authors tested the following 2 phases: The demonstrator (a) tried but failed to open and (b) opened the container successfully, with 1 of 2 alternative strategies, either using an "irrelevant tool" or by hand. The chimpanzees did not reproduce the demonstrator's motor patterns precisely but did reproduce the demonstrated strategies in both phases. These results suggest that chimpanzees anticipate the intentions of others by perceiving the directionality and causality of object(s) as available cues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Retained common bile duct stones after endoscopic sphincterotomy: temporary and longterm treatment with biliary stenting

Basket extraction after endoscopic sphincterotomy failed to clear the bile ducts immediately in 85 (30%) of 283 consecutive patients with common bile duct stones. Temporary biliary drainage was established by the insertion of a single 7 Fr double pigtail stent before further planned endoscopic attempts at stone removal. In 84 patients (21 male: 63 female, mean age 77 years) this measure relieved biliary obstruction, mean serum bilirubin falling from 101 to 18 umol/l by the time of the second endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Six patients died from non-biliary causes with temporary stents in situ. Common bile duct stone extraction was achieved endoscopically in 50 of the remaining 79 patients after a mean of 4.3 months (range 1-12), 34 (68%) requiring only one further procedure. Three patients were referred for biliary surgery. Single stents were also effective for longterm biliary drainage in the remaining 26 elderly patients with unextractable stones. The main biliary complication of stenting was 13 episodes of cholangitis but all except one responded to medical treatment and early stent exchange. If common bile duct stones remain after endoscopic sphincterotomy, a single 7 Fr double pigtail stent is effective and safe for temporary biliary drainage before further endoscopic attempts at duct clearance and for longterm biliary drainage especially in the old and frail.     

Prevalence of renal stones in a population-based study with dietary calcium, oxalate, and medication exposures

Little is known about the epidemiology of renal stones, in spite of the relative frequency of this painful condition. This population-based study examined reported renal stone diagnosis in 1,309 women aged 20-92 years to determine whether renal stones are associated with 1) food or water exposures or 2) lower bone mineral density and an increased likelihood of fractures. Results indicated a renal stone prevalence of 3.4%. The average age at diagnosis was 42 years. Renal stone formation was not associated with community of residence, hypertension, bone mineral density, fractures, high-oxalate food consumption, or ascorbic acid from food supplements. Women with renal stones consumed almost 250 mg/day less dietary calcium (p < 0.01) than did women without stones and had a lower energy intake (p < 0.04). The authors' findings do not support the hypothesis that increased dietary calcium is associated with a greater prevalence of renal stones, nor do they identify renal stones as a risk factor for low bone mineral density. Furthermore, lack of other identifiable environmental correlates and the relatively young age at initial diagnosis suggest that genetic components of renal stone formation need further study.     

Spontaneous classification in action by a human-enculturated and language-reared bonoboo (Pan paniscus) and common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

The authors investigated the formal features of spontaneous manipulations used by 1 bonobo (Pan paniscus) and 2 common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to classify objects in action. Chimpanzees' manipulations were evenly split between serial, one-at-a-time acts on 1 object and parallel, two-at-a-time acts on 2 or 3 objects. Chimpanzees systematically combined their manipulations into routines to generate class-consistent categories of objects. Their routines featured much reproduction of the same manipulations, planful acts that anticipated follow-up manipulations, and manipulations that were reciprocal to each other to accomplish an end. In all these respects, chimpanzees' manipulations were similar to those of 2-year-old human infants. In others they differed. Chimpanzees' routines were mainly based on a linear integration of manipulations. Classifying in action was only infrequently produced by hierarchically integrated routines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do chimpanzees seek explanations? Preliminary comparative investigations.

Notes that considerable effort has been devoted to understanding whether chimpanzees reason about unobservable variables as explanations for observable events. With respect to physical causality, these investigations have explored chimpanzees' understanding of gravity, force, mass, shape, and so on. With respect to social causality, this research has focused on the question of whether they reason about mental states such as emotions, desires, and beliefs. The studies reported here explored whether the chimpanzee's natural motivation for object exploration is modulated by a cognitive system that seeks explanations for unexpected events. The authors confronted both 7 chimpanzees and a total of 66 young children (aged 3–5 yrs) with simple tasks which occasionally could not be made to work. Their reactions were coded to determine if they appeared to be searching for an apparent cause (or explanation) of the task failure. The results of these preliminary studies point to both similarities and differences in how young children and chimpanzees react to such circumstances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors influencing young chimpanzees' (Pan troglodytes) recognition of attention.

By 2? years of age, human infants appear to understand how others are connected to the external world through the mental state of attention and also appear to understand the specific role that the eyes play in deploying this attention. Previous research with chimpanzees suggests that, although they track the gaze of others, they may simultaneously be unaware of the underlying state of attention behind gaze. In a series of 3 experiments, the investigators systematically explored how the presence of eyes, direct eye contact, and head orientation and movement affected young chimpanzees' choice of 2 experimenters from whom to request food. The results indicate that young chimpanzees may be selectively attracted to other organisms making direct eye contact with them or engaged in postures or movements that indicate attention, even though they may not appreciate the underlying mentalistic significance of these behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Frequent nut consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in women: prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between nut consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in a cohort of women from the Nurses' Health Study. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nurses' Health Study. SUBJECTS: 86 016 women from 34 to 59 years of age without previously diagnosed coronary heart disease, stroke, or cancer at baseline in 1980. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Major coronary heart disease including non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease. RESULTS: 1255 major coronary disease events (861 cases of non-fatal myocardial infarction and 394 cases of fatal coronary heart disease) occurred during 14 years of follow up. After adjusting for age, smoking, and other known risk factors for coronary heart disease, women who ate more than five units of nuts (one unit equivalent to 1 oz of nuts) a week (frequent consumption) had a significantly lower risk of total coronary heart disease (relative risk 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.47 to 0.89, P for trend=0.0009) than women who never ate nuts or who ate less than one unit a month (rare consumption). The magnitude of risk reduction was similar for both fatal coronary heart disease (0.61, 0.35 to 1.05, P for trend=0.007) and non-fatal myocardial infarction (0.68, 0.47 to 1.00, P for trend=0.04). Further adjustment for intakes of dietary fats, fibre, vegetables, and fruits did not alter these results. The inverse association persisted in subgroups stratified by levels of smoking,use of alcohol, use of multivitamin and vitamin E supplements, body mass index, exercise, and intake of vegetables or fruits. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a reduced risk of both fatal coronary heart disease and non-fatal myocardial infarction. These data, and those from other epidemiological and clinical studies, support a role for nuts in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.     

Does drug-induced litholysis still have a place in treatment of gallstones?

In past years, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has largely taken the place of conservative therapy. However, analysis of our data shows, that conventional litholytic therapy of cholesterol stones using bile acids: a) achieves a success rate of over 80%, as long as the patients are well selected prior to therapy (stones < 1 cm diameter, stone size < one fourth of gallbladder contraction of more than 50% as compared when fasting, isodensity of stones in CT) b) has a mortality rate of 0% c) has high patient compliance, because typical episodes of biliary colics and general dyspeptic complaints due to stones are reduced. Therefore, combination bile acid therapy for lysis of selected cholesterol gallbladder stones is still justified today. Particularly young women with small, suspended concrements or patients with recurrent cholesterol stones benefit by this treatment. Extracorporeal lithotripsy can be justified today only in combination with bile acid therapy. However, the number of treatable persons with gall stones is quite small (< 20% of all patients with stones), duration of therapy is three years and the recurrence rate 2-5 years after successful lysis is 25-50% (solitary stones recur less often than multiple ones). Considering a prevalence of 20% of persons with gall stones in the European Economic Community, there are 12 million patients potentially eligible for litholysis.     

Size matters: Impact of item size and quantity on array choice by chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

The authors previously reported that chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) showed a striking bias to select the larger of 2 candy arrays, despite a reversed reward contingency in which the animals received the smaller, nonselected array as a reward, except when Arabic numerals were used as stimuli. A perceptual or incentive-based interference occurred that was overcome by symbolic stimuli. The authors of the present study examined the impact of element size in choice arrays, using 1 to 5 large and small candies. Five test-sophisticated chimpanzees selected an array from the 2 presented during each trial. Their responses were not optimal, as animals generally selected arrays with larger total mass; thus, they received the smaller remaining array as a reward. When choice stimuli differed in size and quantity, element size was more heavily weighted, although choices reflected total candy mass. These results replicate previous findings showing chimpanzees' difficulties with quantity judgments under reverse reward contingencies and also show that individual item size exerts a more powerful interference effect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ureteroscopic stone removal in the distal ureter. Why change?

PURPOSE: We compared our experience with ureteroscopic stone basket manipulation under fluoroscopic guidance to ultrasound ureterolithotripsy for distal ureteral stone removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we analyzed the medical records of 981 patients with ureteral calculi between January 1994 and December 1995, of whom 483 (49%) were treated for stones in the lower ureter and constituted our study group. The decision of when to perform lithotripsy (group 2) versus a basket procedure (group 1) was based on a prospective nonrandomized study and both groups were compared historically. All 322 patients in group 1 (mean age 49 years, range 14 to 86) primarily underwent ureteroscopic stone basket manipulation using the 4-wire Segura* basket. If the calculus could not be removed with the basket and another procedure was necessary, the case was considered a failure. The 161 patients in group 2 (mean age 37 years, range 14 to 74) underwent initially ultrasound ureterolithotripsy for stone fragmentation followed or not by removal of the fragments with the basket. Stone size did not differ significantly between groups 1 (mean 0.9 cm., range 0.6 to 1.7) and 2 (mean 0.8 cm., range 0.7 to 2.0). Ureteroscopy was performed in both groups with epidural anesthesia and on an outpatient basis in the majority of cases. RESULTS: The stone-free rate after 1 procedure was 98.1 and 95.6% in group 1 and 2, respectively. For group 2 versus group 1 the operative time was longer (mean 50, range 25 to 90 versus mean 19 minutes, range 11 to 40, respectively, p < 0.001), the complication rate was greater (16.1 versus 4.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) and average hospital stay was longer (2.1 versus 0.15 day, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroscopic stone treatment with basket manipulation under fluoroscopic guidance or ultrasound ureterolithotripsy provided a high stone-free rate. However, stone removal with the basket manipulation technique should be considered the first choice for treatment of small distal ureteral calculi based on the minimal morbidity, and short operative and recovery times.     

Current information on the composition and breed distribution of urinary stones in dogs

5706 canine urinary stones were analyzed by means of infrared spectroscopy from 1984-1996. The stones were sent in together with epidemiologic data (breed, age, sex, localisation of the stones, type of stone removal, stone frequency etc.) by more than 800 veterinarians from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. Irrespective of stone type, urinary stones were observed in almost all breeds, but small breeds like dachshound, poodle, terrier, schnauzer, and pekingese have a higher tendency to form stones. With 59.5% struvite is the most frequent stone type, followed by cystine with 15.5%. Cystine stones are becoming less frequent during the observation time, whereas the share of calcium oxalate (14.2%) and ammonium urate (6.0%) stones remains unchanged. The latter stone types are found predominantly in specific breeds. The stone formation appears predominantly at the age of 7. Male dogs form stones twice as often as female dogs. 98% of the stones were located in the lower urinary tract. About 90% of the urinary stones required surgical treatment.     

装配对典型螺栓/螺母紧固件盐雾环境腐蚀行为的影响

海军航空装备的快速发展导致飞机必将面临更为严峻的海洋大气腐蚀问题,而军用飞机紧固件的腐蚀,尤其电偶腐蚀将严重影响飞机结构的安全性水平.因此,本文采用盐雾腐蚀模拟、扫描电镜观察与分析、电化学测试分析（自腐蚀电位测试、动电位极化测试、电偶腐蚀电流测试）等试验研究方法,将航空装备常用的30CrMnSiA镀镉钝化螺栓与三种不同螺母（30CrMnSiA镀镉钝化螺母、30CrMnSiA镀锌钝化螺母和0Cr16Ni6钝化螺母）偶接装配,研究由于装配导致的电偶腐蚀效应对典型螺栓/螺母紧固件腐蚀行为的影响.结果表明,在三种不同组合装配中,30CrMnSiA镀镉钝化螺栓与0Cr16Ni6钝化螺母之间电位差最大,电偶腐蚀电流密度最高,对应螺栓电偶腐蚀敏感性评级达到E级,电偶腐蚀作用促进了镀镉钝化螺栓基体表面点蚀的扩展,腐蚀进程被加速,加速系数AF达到3.4;30CrMnSiA镀镉钝化螺栓与30CrMnSiA镀锌钝化螺母之间电偶效应则较弱,且螺母为电偶腐蚀阳极,腐蚀进程被加速,加速系数AF为1.2,电偶腐蚀敏感性评级为D级;相比上述两种组合,30CrMnSiA镀镉钝化螺栓与30CrMnSiA镀镉钝化螺母之间电偶效应最不明显,对应电偶腐蚀敏感性评级为A级.      

Long-term stone recurrence rate after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

PURPOSE: We followed patients who were stone-free after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to investigate the factors that contributed to recurrent calculi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For longer than 5 years 903 patients without residual fragments 3 months after ESWL were enrolled in this study. Plain abdominal films and/or excretory urograms were evaluated every 6 months for recurrent stones on the side of ESWL. Patients who presented with colic pain or other complaints and who were suspected of having recurrent stones were also examined. Stone recurrence rates were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. We assessed the influence of patient age; size, location, composition and configuration of the original stones, and pyuria after ESWL on stone recurrence. RESULTS: Mean followup was 25 months and stones recurred in 183 of 903 renal units (20.3%). Kaplan-Meier recurrence rates were 6.7, 28.0 and 41.8% after 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. There was a significant correlation between stone recurrence and multiple stones on one hand, and pyuria after ESWL on the other hand. Stones recurred most frequently in the lower calix. Recurrent stones were passed without intervention in 33 cases, while ESWL was repeated in 53. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the importance of long-term followup and the search for an effective prophylactic therapy to prevent recurrence.     

Urinary calculi in children: contribution of anamnesis, biological exploration and physical analysis of calculi to the etiological diagnosis

BACKGROUND: It is always of importance to define the cause of urinary calculi disease in children to prevent recurrence and possible impairing of renal function. Nevertheless, etiology is not always easy to prove and must be deduced from both clinical and biological arguments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The aim of this prospective study including 39 Tunisian children with urinary stones was to identify etiology and stone risk factors and detail the part of clinical and biological data and results of physical analysis of stones in determining the cause of the stone. RESULTS: In 31 cases among 39, clinical and biological data were not sufficient to identify clearly the stone etiology. When considering the structure and stone composition, the cause of the stone could be determined in 97.4% of the cases. An inherited disease was found responsible for the stone in 11 children, urinary tract infection in 13 cases, idiopathic hypercalciuria in nine cases and a nutritional deficiency disease in seven cases. In one case, polycystic kidney disease with metabolic risk factors could explain the stone process. No precise etiology was found in one case. Among infection stones, struvite stones could be related to urea-splitting bacteria while other calculi, containing whitlockite and protein matrix could be related to other micro-organisms. Earlier severe chronic diarrhoea episodes were noted in six among seven children presenting stones with a nucleus mainly composed of ammonium urate. CONCLUSION: Clinical data, biological data from both urine and blood of the patients and also the structure and composition of the stones are needed to identify the cause of urinary calculi. Such a procedure could provide the stone etiology in most cases.     

Factors influencing imitation of manipulatory actions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

The purpose of the study was to investigate what kind of factors determine the degree of difficulty for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) when they imitate actions. Five adult chimpanzees were instructed to perform 48 arbitrary manipulatory actions consisting of different bodily motor patterns and object directionality. Results showed that actions in which an object is directed toward another external location (another object and one's own body) were easier to perform than those that involved manipulating a single object alone. Actions involving unfamiliar motor patterns were more difficult to perform than those involving familiar motor patterns that were already present in the subject's repertoire. Error responses were characterized as perseverative repetition of previously instructed actions. These findings suggest that chimpanzees find the directionality of manipulated objects a more salient cue than details of the demonstrator's body movements performing the manipulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation complicating endocarditis and right-to-left intracardiac shunt. A case report of successful operation

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of cystinuria and cystine stone disease among families of patients with cystine stones, and to determine their distribution by age, sex and associated morbidity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 180 relatives (87 males and 93 females, mean age 43 years) descended from two brothers over four generations who live in two areas in northern Jordan. Data were collected using a questionnaire and home visits, by urinary cystine testing and radiology to detect stone, and assessing hypertension and renal impairment. RESULTS: Of the 180 subjects, 104 (58%) had a positive reaction for cystine in urine; 33 (32%) of these were younger than 15 years. Twenty members (11%) of the families had evidence of renal cystine stone disease. Hypertension and renal impairment were detected in a significant proportion of individuals with cystine stone disease. CONCLUSION: Cystinuria is a major risk factor for cystine stone formation. Family screening is valuable in detecting the cystinuric population and in assessing individuals with stones. Early recognition, treatment and counselling result in better management and prevention. The establishment of a cystine study group in our region is essential.     

Renal stones and primary hyperparathyroidism: natural history of renal stone disease after successful parathyroidectomy

The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of renal stone recurrence after successful surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Of 297 consecutive patients with surgically verified pHPT, 151 patients had had renal stone disease; a total of 113 patients were eligible for follow-up; and of these, 107 patients remained normocalcemic during follow-up and formed the study group. The number of new stones were calculated by subtracting the stones present on preoperative urograms from the number of stones on urograms after 1, 3, and 5 years and the number of stones passed or eliminated by intervention. Among 107 patients, 32 (30%) formed one to four new stones within 5 years. This recurrence rate is comparable to the expected recurrence rate in idiopathic stone formers. Primary hyperparathyroidism and renal stone disease are common. As all renal stone formers are screened for pHPT by serum calcium analysis, the two diseases might by coincidence be found in the same patients. A considerable number of patients with pHPT and renal stone disease therefore experience recurrence of their stone disease irrespective of the presence of normocalcemia after successful parathyroidectomy.