Connecting the spots: Understanding cheetah reproduction to improve assisted breeding and population management.

The North American cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) population serves as both an insurance population for their rapidly decreasing wild cohorts as well as a research population to understand the unique biology of this species. This review focus on the complexity of the female cheetah reproductive system and the recent advances that have been made towards understanding basic biology and reproductive function, and application of assisted breeding technologies to enhance reproduction and maintain genetic diversity of this species in human care. Cheetah females are non-seasonal breeders that exhibit lengthy periods of anestrus that are not associated with age, environment, or reproductive potential. It is possible to collect good quality oocytes, that support fertilisation and successful early embryonic development, regardless of female age (from 2 to 12 yr old). However, the prevalence of uterine pathologies increases with age and prevents middle to advanced age females from establishing pregnancy. Pregnancy can be diagnosed in non-sedated cheetah females via ultrasonography (first month), steroid hormone analysis (second/third month) or radiography (third month). Fecal biomarkers, such as Immunoglobulin J, show great promise for diagnosing pregnancy at an early stage as well as other physiological states. Several decades of basic research have led to efficient management of natural breeding and recent successes in assisted reproduction.

Using the theory of normative social behavior to understand compliance with a smoke-free law in a middle-income country.

Smoke-free laws, which ban smoking in public venues, can be effective in protecting public health, but it has been difficult to achieve compliance with these laws in low- and middle-income countries. This study was conducted to understand the social norms around public smoking and learn how to improve compliance in Bogor, the first Indonesian city to pass a comprehensive smoke-free law. Eleven stratified focus groups were conducted (n = 89). Data were analyzed using the theory of normative social behavior, which posits that the influence of descriptive norms (perceptions about what other people do) on behavior is moderated by injunctive norms (perceptions about what one is expected to do), outcome expectations and group identity. The findings showed that participants perceived smoking in public to be common for men (descriptive norm). Public smoking is acceptable except in places with air conditioning and around children or pregnant women (injunctive norms). Men smoke without penalty of social or legal sanctions (outcome expectations) and may feel affiliation with other smokers (group identity). Together, these factors support public smoking and inhibit compliance with the smoke-free law. Theory-based communication and policy remedies are suggested that may bolster compliance with Bogor's smoke-free law given the current pro-smoking norms.