No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This study tested the Adolescent Family Assessment Model, using a descriptive correlational design. The model describes the relationships between caregiving behaviors, caregiving knowledge, peer and family approval, and the outcome variable of family functioning. Social exchange theory and social learning theory guided the study. Model building procedures involved replicated testing with data from two samples: Anglo and Mexican American adolescent mothers. The subjects were 50 Anglo and 64 Mexican American adolescent mothers living in the southwest, nineteen years of age or less, who had not yet completed their high school education, and were living in the same household as their child. Family was operationalized for both the family of origin and the current family unit of the adolescent mother. Eighty-three percent (N = 94) of the sample were enrolled in teen parent programs. Four instruments were tested and used to measure the concepts: the Infant Caregiving Inventory (alpha =.93); Smilkstein's Family Apgar (alpha =.90); the Peer Approval Instrument (alpha =.73); and the Family Approval Instrument (alpha =.83). Results for Anglo mothers indicated that caregiving behavior was explained by single marital status (R² =.22). Family functioning was explained by the age of the adolescent's first child (R² =.11). The empirical Mexican American model differed from the Anglo model. Caregiving knowledge was explained by past experience caring for toddlers (R² =.14), while family functioning was explained by caregiving behavior (R² =.10). The variables function differently in Mexican American and Anglo families, reflecting the cultural value of family within the groups. Results offer direction to health care providers working with adolescent parents and for future research endeavors.

Thesis advisor: Michael Numan / This paper will review research from our laboratory dealing with the neural basis of maternal behavior in rats. Specifically, my work investigates hypothalamic interaction with the mesolimbic dopamine system and the regulation of maternal responsiveness. Recent evidence has shown that increased dopamine activity in the nucleus accumbens, a major terminus of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, results in a facilitation of maternal behavior in female rats who have been partially primed by hormones. However, the way in which dopamine and hormones act on these neural circuits is unclear. We hypothesize that one of these hormones, estradiol, acts on the MPOA and mesolimbic dopamine system through similar intracellular mechanisms as dopamine. My research goals are twofold: (1) to discern which G-protein coupled pathway dopamine utilizes to act in the nucleus accumbens and (2) to investigate whether estradiol is having rapid effects at the cell membrane and whether these effects are mediated by G-protein coupled receptors. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Psychology. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Thesis advisor: Michael Numan / Maternal behavior is a primary social characteristic of mammals. By studying maternal behavior in rats, broader inferences can be made about the neural circuits that influence maternal behavior in other mammals, including humans. Maternal behavior of rats includes nest building, pup grooming, nursing, and pup retrieval. The projections from the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus (MPOA) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the mesolimbic dopamine system are known to regulate maternal behavior in post-partum rats. The aim of the present study was to examine how inhibition of the basolateral amygdala (BLA), an area that projects to the nucleus accumbens-ventral palldium (NA-VP) circuit of the mesolimbic dopamine system, bilaterally with muscimol (a GABA-A agonist) might interrupt the retrieval of pups by post-partum rats. Females injected with muscimol, but not those injected with saline, displayed significant deficits in retrieval behavior, suggesting that the BLA is a region important for the promotion of maternal behavior. The effects were also reversible, as all females displayed normal maternal behavior 24-hours post-injection. Follow-up studies should use asymmetric neuron-specific lesions of the BLA and the VP to show that the projections from the BLA to the VP are essential for maternal behavior. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Psychology Honors Program. / Discipline: Psychology.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de verificar a possível influência do estresse gestacional, pela indução de Lipopolissacarídeo (E. coli) sobre a relação materno filial e desempenho do cordeiro, assim como o estresse da desmama sobre o desempenho em confinamento e nas características da carcaça. A execução do experimento aconteceu de dezembro de 2013 a julho de 2014 no anexo do Laboratório de Biometeorologia e Etologia localizado no setor de caprino e ovinocultura da Prefeitura do Campus Administrativo da Universidade de São Paulo em Pirassununga-SP. Foram utilizadas 43 ovelhas multíparas, mestiças da raça Santa Inês e 55 cordeiros, crias provenientes da IATF dessas ovelhas com sêmen de macho White Dorper. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC) tendo um fatorial 3 x 2 como o esquema de distribuição dos tratamentos composto por 3 grupos durante a gestação (controle (Gc), aplicação de LPS aos 70 (±7 dias) dias de gestação (Gi) e o aos 120 (±7 dias) dias de gestação (Gf)) combinando com 2 tipos de desmama (desmama controlada (Dc) e desmama abrupta (Da)). As médias foram comparadas pelo teste F e teste t de Student (PDIFF), com um nível de significância de 5%. No primeiro experimento o objetivo foi analisar a influência do estresse, gerado pelo uso de LPS, em diferentes períodos gestacionais sobre os níveis de cortisol e temperatura retal das ovelhas, o comportamento materno filial, os níveis de cortisol logo após o parto, peso ao nascer (PN) dos cordeiros e o tempo gasto para a primeira mamada. Os animais foram delineados n os 3 grupos: Gc, Gi e Gf. Na fase intermediária da gestação, analisando o ritmo circadiano do cortisol e da TR para os tratamentos Gc e Gi pela interação entre tratamento e tempo foram observados maiores valores de cortisol e TR para Gi (P<0,05). Na fase final com a mesma interação entre tratamento e tempo, os maiores valores de cortisol e temperatura durante o ritmo circadiano foram de Gf (P<0,05). Para as avaliação do comportamento materno filial, as observações das posturas e das atividades tanto das ovelhas quando dos cordeiros, foram analisadas pela interação entre tratamento e tipo de parto (P<0,05). Também houve interação entre tratamento e o tipo de parto para o tempo a primeira mamada tendo o tratamento Gf em situação de parto duplo apresentado o maior tempo, não sendo diferente apenas do tratamento Gi também com parto duplo (P<0,05). Analisando o PN, a interação aconteceu entre tratamento e sexo com os menores valores observados para o tratamento Gf quando comparados aos demais tratamentos (P<0,05). O LPS alterou os níveis de cortisol durante o ritmo circadiano, assim como o estresse durante a gestação influenciou no comportamento materno filial. Os animais submetidos ao estresse durante o terço final da gestação apresentaram maior gasto de tempo para ingerir colostro e pesos mais leves no nascimento. No segundo experimento o objetivo foi avaliar a eficiência da desmama controlada ou abrupta em reduzir o impacto do estresse durante a gestação em relação ao desempenho de cordeiros. Foram utilizados 47 cordeiros, 22 machos e 25 fêmeas distribuídos em 6 tratamentos: GcDc, GcDa, GiDc, GiDa, GfDc e GfDa. Foram analisados os níveis de cortisol sanguíneo e a TR da desmama controlada e na comparação entre os dois tipos de desmama, peso a desmama (PD) e os dados de desempenho em confinamento pela ingestão de matéria seca (IMS), conversão alimentar (CA), eficiência alimentar (EA), ganho médio diário (GMD) e medidas pós-abate. Houve efeito fixo do estresse durante a gestação e dos dias para os níveis de cortisol durante a DC (P<0,05), para a temperatura retal foi observado efeito fixo de sexo, dia e tempo (P<0,05). No dia de entrada dos animais no confinamento houve efeito fixo de tempo (colheitas durante o dia) e tipo de desmama, com maiores valores de cortisol para a primeira colheita do dia (P<0,05) e para a desmama abrupta quando comparada com a controlada (P<0,05), neste mesmo dia para a TR foi observado efeito fixo de tempo, sendo a primeira colheita menor que as demais (P<0.05). Nas colheitas de 24 horas e 48 após a entrada dos animais no confinamento Da apresentou maior nível de cortisol do que DC (P<0,05), e feito contrario foi observado para TR. Dc apresentou maior peso a desmama que Da (P<0,05). Houve interação entre estresse na gestação e sexo para IMS e GMD, com menores valores para machos de Gf (P<0,05), não havendo diferenças significativas para CA e EA em nenhum tratamento. Nas análises pós - abate, os menores valores foram observados para Gf e Da. A desmama controlada pode reduzir os efeitos do estresse durante a gestação, melhorando o desempenho de cordeiros, assim como cordeiros machos quando desafiados na fase final da gestação são mais suscetíveis que fêmeas. / This study was developed with the objective to investigate the possible influence of gestational stress by inducing Lipopolysaccharide (E. coli) on maternal and filial relationship performance of the lamb, as well as the stress of weaning on feedlot performance and on characteristicsin housing. Running the experiment took place from December 2013 to July 2014 in the Annex to Biometeorology and Ethology Laboratory located in goat and sheep production sector of Administrative Campus Hall, Universidade de São Paulo in Pirassununga-SP. We used 43 multiparous sheep, crossbred Santa Inês and 55 lambs, calves from AIFT those sheep with male White Dorper semen. The experimental design was completely randomized having a 3 x 2 factorial as the distribution pattern of treatments consists of 3 groups during pregnancy (control (Cg), application of LPS to 70 (± 7) days of gestation (Ig) and at 120 (± 7) days of gestation (Fg)) combined with two types of weaning (controlled weaning (Cw) and abrupt weaning (Aw)). Means were compared by F test and Student\'s t test (PDIFF), with a 5% significance level. In the first experiment the objective was to analyze the influence of stress, generated by the use of LPS in different gestational periods on the levels of cortisol and body temperature of sheep, filial maternal behavior, cortisol levels immediately after parturition, birth weight (BW) of the lambs and the time spent for the first feeding. The animals were allotted in three groups: Cg, Ig and Fg. In the middle stage of pregnancy, analyzing the circadian rhythm of cortisol and RT for the treatment Cg and Ig by the interaction between treatment and time showed higher cortisol levels to Ig and RT (P<0.05). In the final stage with the same interaction between treatment and time increased cortisol and temperature values during the circadian rhythm were Fg (P<0.05). For the evaluation of filial maternal behavior, observations of the postures and activities of both the sheep when the lambs were analyzed by the interaction between treatment and type of delivery (P<0.05). There was also an interaction between treatment and the type of parturition to the time the first feeding with the Fg treatment in dual labor situation presented as long, not being different only Ig treatment also double parturition (P<0.05). Analyzing the BW, the interaction occurred between treatment and sex with the lowest values observed for Fg treatment compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). LPS altered levels of cortisol during the circadian rhythm, and stress during pregnancy the influenced filial maternal behavior. The animals subjected to stress during the final third of gestation had higher expenditure of time to ingest colostrum and lighter weights at birth. In the second experiment the objective was to evaluate the efficiency of the subsidiary or abrupt weaning to reduce the impact of stress during pregnancy in relation to the performance of lambs. We used 47 lambs, 22 male and 25 female, comprised of 6 treatments: CgCw, CgAw, IgCw, IgAw, FgCw and FgAw. Blood cortisol levels were analyzed and the TR controlled weaning and the comparison between the two types of weaning, weaning weight (WW) and performance data in confinement for dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion (FC), feed efficiency (FE), average daily gain (ADG) and post-slaughter measures. There was fixed effect of stress during pregnancy and days to cortisol levels during the Cw (P<0.05) for the rectal temperature was observed fixed effect sex, day and time (P<0.05). On receipt of the animals was fixed effect confined in time (during harvest day) and type of weaning, with higher cortisol values for the first harvest day (P<0.05) and the abrupt weaning compared with controlled (P<0.05) in the same day for the TR was observed fixed effect of time, the first harvest less than the others (P<0.05). At harvest 24 hours and 48 hours after entering of animals in the feedlot had higher cortisol levels than Cw (P<0.05) and made opposite was observed for TR. Dc showed higher weaning weight that Aw (P<0.05). There was interaction between stress during pregnancy and sex for DMI and ADG, with lower values for males of Gf (P<0.05), with no significant differences for FC and FE in any treatment. In analysis post - slaughter, the lowest values were observed for Fg and Aw. From Controlled weaning can reduce the effects of stress during pregnancy, improving the performance of lambs males, and lambs when challenged in late pregnancy are more susceptible than females.

A parte ventral da área pré-óptica medial (MPOA) apresenta o RNAm do prépró-hormônio concentrador de melanina (ppMCH) e o MCH apenas durante a lactação, especialmente entre os dias 19º e 21º. Fibras imunorreativas ao MCH (MCH-ir) e ocitocinérgicas (OT-ir) de origem desconhecida transitam na lâmina interna da eminência mediana (MEi) e na hipófise posterior (PPit). Utilizamos ratas lactantes da linhagem Long-Evans para identificar a origem dessas fibras, caracterizar sua relação na MEi e PPit e quantificar o ppMCH e OT na PPit. A imuno-histoquímica mostrou que não há colocalização entre as fibras MCH-ir e OT-i e há uma proximidade entre suas fibras na MEi e PPit. A dupla hibridização in situ e imuno-histoquímica mostrou que os neurônios retrogradamente marcados com FG após injeção intravascular expressam o RNAm do ppMCH na MPOA e no núcleo paraventricular do hipotálamo. O Western Blotting mostrou uma maior presença do ppMCH na PPit no 19º dia de lactação. Os dados sugerem que o MCH atua no controle neuroendócrino para o término do período de lactação. / The ventral part of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) has been described as the novel harbor of the expression of prepro-melanin-concentrating hormone (ppMCH) mRNA and MCH peptide, only during the end of lactation, especially between the 19th and 21st days. MCH-ir and OT-ir fibers are described as passing in the internal layer of the median eminence (MEi). However, the origin of MCH-ir fibers and its possible relationship with the OT-ir fibers are not known. Long-Evans rats were used to identify the origin of these fibers and characterize their relationship into MEi and PPit and quantify ppMCH and OT in PPit. Immunohistochemistry showed no colocalization between MCH-ir and OT-ir fibers, but a closeness between these fibers into MEi and PPit. Using a combination of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry we have showed that neurons retrogradely labeled with FG after intravascular injection express the ppMCH mRNA into MPOA and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The Western blotting showed an increase of ppMCH in the PPit parallel with a decrease of OT-ir on the 19th day of lactation. The data suggest that MCH acts on the neuroendocrine control towards the end of the lactation period.

Duas espécies de aranhas da família Oxyopidae, Peucetia rubrolineata e P. flava, foram observadas em campo e laboratório. Durante essas observações foram coletadas informações sobre habitat (associação com plantas que possuem tricomas glandulares), inimigos naturais (ootecas parasitadas por vespas da família Ichneumonidae e neurópteros da família Mantispidae) e dieta (registro de 22 eventos de alimentação). Os dados apresentados são comparados com informações da literatura. Embora conhecidas como predadores generalistas, muitas espécies de aranhas podem manifestar preferência por determinados tipos de presa. Estudos indicam que a preferência alimentar das aranhas da família Oxyopidae pode estar relacionada a processos de estampagem, que ocorrem no início do desenvolvimento dos animais. Durante as incursões em campo, 19 fêmeas adultas da espécie P. rubrolineata foram coletadas e levadas ao laboratório para realização de experimentos de preferência alimentar. Jovens de P. rubrolineata foram submetidos a testes de escolha de presas, nos quais foram oferecidos grilos recémnascidos (Gryllus sp) e moscas de fruta (Drosophila sp). Foram realizados 3 experimentos, que combinavam 4 variáveis: tipo de presa, idade do animal (5 ou 15 dias), período de exposição às presas (5 ou 10 dias) e quantidade de presas oferecidas. Os parâmetros que se mostraram mais eficientes no estabelecimento da preferência alimentar foram início da alimentação 15 após a saída da ooteca e período de 10 dias de exposição às presas. Quando bem alimentadas, as aranhas jovens preferem como presa moscas adultas ao invés de grilos recémnascidos, mas quando em escassez de alimento, a preferência é pelo primeiro tipo de presa experimentado, configurando o efeito de primazia importante fator na determinação da estampagem. Discutemse quais os possíveis fatores responsáveis pelo estabelecimento dessas preferências, bem como as características deste aprendizado. O estabelecimento da preferência alimentar dos jovens se dá concomitante ou muito próximo do período de cuidado parental, que, nas aranhas da superfamília Lycosoidea, consiste no cuidado ativo da ooteca e dos filhotes pela fêmea até a dispersão. O cuidado parental destas aranhas tem sido usado como fonte de caracteres em estudos de reconstrução filogenética e, devido à complexidade deste tipo de caráter, sua delimitação deve ser cuidadosa. Baseandose nas informações obtidas na literatura e também em observações do cuidado materno deste grupo, são propostos 4 caracteres: comportamento de cuidado com a ooteca, construção de refúgio para ooteca, abertura, pela fêmea, da ooteca para a saída dos filhotes e comportamentos de cuidado com os filhotes. Os critérios para homologia foram sequência das atividades da fêmea e estruturas construídas pela mesma durante o cuidado. A história evolutiva destes caracteres, mapeada em uma filogenia da superfamília Lycosoidea, mostra que os comportamentos de carregar a ooteca nas quelíceras, ajudar os filhotes abrindo o saco de ovos, construir um abrigo no cuidado com a ooteca e permanecer em guarda no cuidado com os filhotes apresentamse como plesiomórficos para a superfamília. Carregar os filhotes sobre a ooteca vazia é uma sinapomorfia de Trechalea, bem como carregar os filhotes no abdome é em Lycosidae. Discutemse delimitação do caráter referente à construção de teia berçário e as propostas de homologia para o cuidado materno presentes na literatura / Two species of spiders of the family Oxyopidae, Peucetia rubrolineata and P. flava, were observed in field and laboratory. During these observations we collected information on habitat (spiders associated with plants bearing glandular trichomes), natural enemies (egg sacs parasitized by Ichneumonidae wasps and Mantispidae) and diet (22 feeding events). Although spiders are known to be generalist predators, they can show preferences for certain types of prey. Studies indicate that prey preference in spiders of the family Oxyopidae may be related to imprintinglike processes, which occur early in the development of these animals. Nineteen adult females of the species P. rubrolineata were collected and taken to the laboratory for testing food preference. In the present study, two types of prey were offered to spiderlings of P. rubrolineata: newborn crickets (Gryllus sp.) and fruit flies (Drosophila sp.). The prey preference was tested using a choice test. Three trials were carried out, each one with four combined variables: type of prey (cricket or flies), animal\'s age (five or 15 days), time of exposure to prey (five or ten days) and the amount of prey offered (one or two). The parameters that have proven most effective in establishing food preferences were when feeding starting 15 days after the spiderlings had left the egg sacs and with 10 days of exposure to the prey. When wellfed, spiders prefer adult flies as prey instead of newborn crickets. However, when spiders are deprived of food, the preference is for the first prey type experienced, which constitutes the primacy effect, an important factor determining imprinting. We discuss which factors might be leeding to such preferences, as well as the what is underlining this learning. Spiderlings prey preferences are established during or close to the period of parental care. In the superfamily Lycosoidea, females actively care for the egg sac and spiderlings until dispersion. Categories of parental behavior in these spiders have been used as characters in some phylogenetic reconstruction studies. Due to the complexity of this type of character, its delimitation should be made carefully and based on studies specificaly about these behaviors. By gathering literature data and also laboratory observations of maternal care we propose 4 characters: Caring behaviors with the egg sac, construction of a silken shelter for the egg sac, help the spiderlings to emerge from egg sac and care for the spiderlings. We propose the homology based on the females behaviors and the structures built by her. The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of these characters shows that carrying the egg sac under the chelicerae, helping spiderlings to emerge from egg sac, building silken shelter for the egg sac and caring for and guarding the spiderlings until dispersion are plesiomorphic to the superfamily Lycosoidea. A synapomorphy of Trechalea sp. is to carry the spiderlings on the empty egg sacs. The same is true for Lycosidae (Aglaoctenus sp. and Lycosa erythrognatha) carrying young on the females abdomen. We discuss the delimitation of the nursery web character and the proposed homology for the maternal care presented in the literature