Chd8 haploinsufficiency impacts rearing experience in C57BL/6 mice.

Mutations in CHD8 are one of the highest genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorder. Studies in mice that investigate underlying mechanisms have shown Chd8 haploinsufficient mice display some trait disruptions that mimic clinical phenotypes, although inconsistencies have been reported in some traits across different models on the same strain background. One source of variation across studies may be the impact of Chd8 haploinsufficiency on maternal-offspring interactions. While differences in maternal care as a function of Chd8 genotype have not been studied directly, a previous study showed that pup survival was reduced when reared by Chd8 heterozygous dams compared with wild-type (WT) dams, suggesting altered maternal care as a function of Chd8 genotype. Through systematic observation of the C57BL/6 strain, we first determined the impact of Chd8 haploinsufficiency in the offspring on WT maternal care frequencies across preweaning development. We next determined the impact of maternal Chd8 haploinsufficiency on pup care. Compared with litters with all WT offspring, WT dams exhibited less frequent maternal behaviors toward litters consisting of offspring with mixed Chd8 genotypes, particularly during postnatal week 1. Dam Chd8 haploinsufficiency decreased litter survival and increased active maternal care also during postnatal week 1. Determining the impact of Chd8 haploinsufficiency on early life experiences provides an important foundation for interpreting offspring outcomes and determining mechanisms that underlie heterogeneous phenotypes.

All together now: Assessing variation in maternal and nonmaternal handling of wild Colobus vellerosus infants.

Primatologists have a long-standing interest in the study of maternal care and nonmaternal handling (NH) of infants stemming from recognition that early social relationships can have enduring consequences. Though maternal care and NH often include expression of similar behaviors, they are regularly studied in isolation from each other with nonoverlapping terminology, thereby overlooking possible interplay between them and obfuscating potential developmental ramifications that ensue from trade-offs made between maternal (MH) and NH during infancy. To that end, identifying how MH and NH patterns interact and contribute to the total handling (TH) infants receive is a critical first step. We present durational handling data collected from 25 wild Colobus vellerosus infants from 2016 to 2017 and assess the relationships between TH, MH, and NH. Patterns of social affiliation are shaped in part by surrounding context, and therefore, we also assess whether NH and TH differ in their responsivity to various infant and social group characteristics. Ninety-four percent of observed handling was MH, while just 5.5% was NH. Young infants who received more MH (excluding nursing) also received more NH; there was no relationship between the two in older infants. Infants in larger groups participated in more handling of all types. Additionally, NH time was associated with infant sex and group stability. Non-nursing TH time was associated with group stability and infant cohort size. Though NH variation likely confers social-networking advantage, in this population NH is not a major contributor to TH and would not effectively replace reduced MH. The positive association between MH and NH during early infancy suggests that colobus mothers may play a mediating role in shaping infant socialization. This is a first step in elucidating how different forms of handling relate to one another in wild primates and in identifying the impact of handling on infant socialization.

Appraisal of universal health insurance and maternal health services utilization: pre- and post-context of the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional implementation in Indonesia.

Introduction: The Indonesian government introduced universal health insurance through the National Social Security System (JKN) in 2014 to enhance overall healthcare. This study compares maternal health care (MHC) service utilization before and after JKN implementation in Indonesia. Method: Using 2012 and 2017 data from Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), we conducted a two-period cross-sectional design study following the Anderson model. We assessed how the JKN policy and population characteristics influenced healthcare utilization for women aged 15-49 who had given birth in the last 5 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of the JKN policy and related factors. Result: In two waves of Indonesia DHS with 14,782 and 15,021 subjects, this study observed a significant increase in maternal healthcare service utilization post-JKN implementation. Women were more likely to have at least four antenatal care visits (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 1.17), receive skilled antenatal care (AOR = 1.49), obtain skilled birth assistance (AOR = 1.96), and access facility-based delivery (AOR = 2.45) compared with pre-JKN implementation. Conclusion: This study revealed a significant positive impact of JKN on enhancing MHS utilization. The introduction of universal health insurance coverage likely reduced financial barriers for specific demographics, resulting in increased service utilization. Our study may offer valuable insights for Asian countries with similar demographics and health insurance implementations.

Delivery at an inadequate level of maternal care is associated with severe maternal morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Implementing levels of maternal care is one strategy proposed to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The levels of maternal care framework outline individual medical and obstetrical comorbidities, along with hospital resources required for individuals with these different comorbidities to deliver safely. The overall goal is to match individuals to hospitals so that all birthing people get appropriate resources and personnel during delivery to reduce maternal morbidity. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between delivery in a hospital with an inappropriate level of maternal care and the risk of experiencing severe maternal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: The 40 birthing hospitals in Massachusetts were surveyed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Levels of Care Assessment Tool. We linked individual delivery hospitalizations from the Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal Data System to hospital-level data from the Levels of Care Assessment Tool surveys. Level of maternal care guidelines were used to outline 16 high-risk conditions warranting delivery at hospitals with resources beyond those considered basic (level I) obstetrical care. We then used the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned levels to determine if delivery occurred at a hospital that had the resources to meet an individual's needs (ie, if a patient received risk-appropriate care). We conducted our analyses in 2 stages. First, multivariable logistic regression models predicted if an individual delivered in a hospital that did not have the resources for their risk condition. The main explanatory variable of interest was if the hospital self-assessed their level of maternal care to be higher than the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned level. We then used logistic regression to examine the association between delivery at an inappropriate level hospital and the presence of severe maternal morbidity at delivery. RESULTS: Among 64,441 deliveries in Massachusetts from January 1 to December 31, 2019, 33.2% (21,415/64,441) had 1 or more of the 16 high-risk conditions that require delivery at a center designated as a level I or higher. Of the 21,415 individuals with a high-risk condition, 13% (2793/21,415), equating to 4% (2793/64,441) of the entire sample, delivered at an inappropriate level of maternal care. Birthing individuals with high-risk conditions who delivered at a hospital with an inappropriate level had elevated odds (adjusted odds ratio, 3.34; 95% confidence interval, 2.24-4.96) of experiencing severe maternal morbidity after adjusting for patient comorbidities, demographics, average hospital severe maternal morbidity rate, hospital level of maternal care, and geographic region. CONCLUSION: Birthing people who delivered in a hospital with risk-inappropriate resources were substantially more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity. Delivery in a hospital with a discrepancy in their self-assessment and the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned level substantially predicted delivery in a hospital with an inappropriate level of maternal care, suggesting inadequate knowledge of hospitals' resources and capabilities. Our data demonstrate the potential for the levels of maternal care paradigm to decrease severe maternal morbidity while highlighting the need for robust implementation and education to ensure everyone receives risk-appropriate care.

Sister predatory mites collectively protect their eggs against predators.

Group-living animals sometimes cooperatively protect their offspring against predators. This behavior is observed in a wide range of taxa but, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of its occurrence in arthropods that are not eusocial. Adult female predatory mites Gynaeseius liturivorus protect their eggs against egg predators, the predatory mite species Neoseiulus californicus. In the field, several adult female G. liturivorus were often found on the same plant structures such as folded leaves. We tested whether these females might protect their eggs cooperatively, focusing on kinship between the females. When two adult female G. liturivorus were kept in the absence of egg predators, their reproduction was not affected by their kinship. The presence of egg predators reduced the number of G. liturivorus eggs. However, reproduction of two G. liturivorus sisters was higher than that of two non-sisters. Together, sisters guarded the oviposition site longer than non-sisters. We further tested if non-sisters increased egg guarding by having developed together from eggs to adults and found no such effect. Although it remains unclear how adult female G. liturivorus recognize conspecifics as kin or sisters, our results suggest that G. liturivorus sisters reduced predation on their offspring by cooperatively guarding their eggs.

A qualitative descriptive training needs analysis of midwives perceived continuous professional development in providing intranatal respectful maternal care.

BACKGROUND: The Vietnam midwifery report acknowledges that while health services are available in Vietnam, there is growing need to increase levels of respectful maternal care provided to women in labour. OBJECTIVE: In conjunction with newborns Vietnam charity, our objective was to assess the perceived continuous professional development needs of midwives working in Vietnam to inform development of an intranatal respectful maternal care education resource. METHOD: A qualitative exploratory descriptive method was used to conduct a training needs analysis, which identified perceived education requirements of midwives in Vietnam in relation to providing respectful maternal care. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of midwives (n = 49) participated in the study. DATA-COLLECTION: Eight on-line focus groups were carried out in four hospitals (maternity units) across Vietnam using WebEx, with the interview schedule informed by the World Health Organization guide for delivering intrapartum care for a positive birth experience. DATA-ANALYSIS: Data were transcribed into English and analysed using the 6-steps of thematic analysis outlined by Braun and Clark. FINDINGS: Three themes and 9 sub-themes were developed from the data. The first theme addressed aspects that contribute towards creating a positive birth experience; the second theme observed barriers to changing practice; and the third theme noted that there are a variety of preferred teaching methods. CONCLUSIONS: In response to the training needs analysis, a respectful maternal care education resource has been designed to transform selected areas of intranatal care in Vietnam. Integrating the respectful maternal care educational resource into midwives' continuous professional development in Vietnam is intended to increase women's rights to have safe childbirth, which accommodates choice and control, and promotes a positive birth experience. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Post-completion and evaluation, we hope that the intranatal respectful maternal care educational resource will be rolled out to all practising midwives in Vietnam.

Unraveling reproductive and maternal health challenges of women living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant public health concern worldwide. Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) have the additional and unique need to seek sexual and reproductive health services. WLHA's maternal health journeys can be shaped by the cultural norms and resources that exist in their society. This study sought to understand if and how WLHA's family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood experiences could be influenced by the patriarchal culture, gender roles, and HIV stigma in Vietnam, specifically. METHODS: Between December 2021 and March 2022, 30 WLHA with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and childbirth experiences were interviewed in Hanoi, Vietnam. These semi-structured interviews covered topics including HIV stigma, gender norms, pregnancy experiences, and child-rearing challenges. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using ATLAS.ti. RESULTS: Qualitative analyses of participant quotes revealed how limited information on one's health prospects and reproductive options posed a significant challenge to family planning. Societal and familial expectations as well as economic circumstances also influenced reproductive decision-making. WLHA often encountered substandard healthcare during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Stigma and lack of provider attentiveness resulted in cases where women were denied pain relief and other medical services. Communication breakdowns resulted in failure to administer antiretroviral therapy for newborns. Motherhood for WLHA was shadowed by concerns for not only their own health, but also the wellbeing of their children, as HIV stigma affected their children at school and in society as well. Many WLHA highlighted the constructive or destructive role that family members could play in their childbirth decision-making and care-giving experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study underscores the complex ways that cultural expectations, family support, and stigma in healthcare impact WLHA. Efforts to educate and engage families and healthcare providers are warranted to better understand and address the needs of WLHA, ultimately improving their reproductive and maternal health.

HIV-related stigma and discrimination have consequential impacts on health and quality of life for women living with HIV (WLHA). WLHA in Vietnam must navigate the additional challenges of a traditionally patriarchal and hierarchical society. Women typically face less educational and occupational opportunities and are often expected to defer to expectations of family and virtue. Stigma among family members, friends, employers, and healthcare providers poses a significant challenge to WLHA autonomy, especially as it relates to their reproductive health decision-making and maternal health experiences. This study aims to better understand the experiences of WLHA throughout family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood. The findings will hopefully shed light on strategies to empower WLHA and to combat HIV- and gender-based stigma not only in Vietnam, but also globally.

Antenatal care inequalities in South Korea: An analysis of health insurance claims data (2013-2022) in a high-resource, high-use country.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to explore inequalities in antenatal care (ANC) in South Korea. Based on the guidelines of the WHO, we categorized less than eight visits to an obstetrical facility as insufficient ANC. We examined ANC inequalities associated with age, disability, nationality, income, and geographic accessibility. METHODS: We extracted delivery event claimed from 2013 to 2022 from the National Health Insurance Service database. By tracing back 270 days from the delivery date, we counted the number of antenatal visits for each childbirth and calculated the proportion of women with insufficient ANC and assessed both absolute and relative inequalities for each population group. The logistic regression analysis for both underuse and overuse of ANC were conducted. RESULTS: Out of 3 416 517 childbirths, 104 109 women (3.0%) had fewer than eight ANC visits. Although the average number of ANC visits reached 18.7 in 2022, significant inequalities persisted across different population groups. The insufficient ANC rate was 28.1% for teenage women, 6.4% for disabled women, 10.7% for non-Korean women, and 15.2% for dependents of medical aid households. Women with low income and those living in obstetric care underserved areas also exhibited higher ANC insufficiency. From 2021 to 2022, sufficiency in ANC decreased for teenage, disabled, and non-Korean women, highlighting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Antenatal care inequalities are evident in South Korea's well-resourced health system. There is a need for further investigation into these disparities and the qualitative aspects of maternity care services.

Mother-infant postnatal experience and its association with maternal emotion and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a partial lockdown in Malaysia known as Movement-Controlled-Order (MCO), which has affected primary care management and social life norms. Thus, psychological health is a concern for mothers, particularly during the postpartum period. This study aimed to determine factors associated with maternal emotional experiences and coping during the pandemic. METHODOLOGY: Mothers of infants aged < 18 months (n = 1449) in Malaysia completed an online survey during MCO (July 2020 to February 2021). The survey comprised questions on sociodemographics, pandemic livelihood impact, maternal experiences, and emotions. RESULTS: More than one-third of mothers expressed feeling worried (54.7%), annoyed (48.1%), and tired (42.2%) to some or a high extent. Mothers who were younger (p = .001), more educated (p = .001), faced difficulty paying rent (p = .002), and whose husbands were unemployed (p < .001) expressed higher negative emotions. In contrast, mothers who received enough support for health (p = .001) and breastfeeding (p = .008), had infants sleep less (p = .042) and had more time to focus on health (p < .001) expressed better emotions. Higher coping was expressed among mothers with a higher household income (p = .004), had more time to focus on their health (p = .010), received additional breastfeeding support (p = 0.039), and practised traditional postpartum care (p < .001). In contrast, difficulty paying for essentials (p = .023) was associated with negative coping. CONCLUSION: Maternal emotional experiences were significantly associated with sociodemographic characteristics, livelihood impact, postnatal experiences, and infant behaviours. Postpartum mental health screening is recommended to prevent severe distress, especially in first-time mothers. Coping interventions for mothers at risk may include comprehensive support and maternity care.

Consented maternal care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth at public health institutions in South Wollo Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia 2022.

Introduction: Informed consent in healthcare services is a legal, ethical, and professional requirement on the part of all treating health providers and providing person-centered care. The methods of requesting consent during childbirth have not been extensively studied. In Ethiopia, there is not at all a single study done. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine associated factors among mothers who gave birth at health institutions in the South Wollo Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia in 2022. Methods: Mothers who gave birth at South Wollo Zone public health institutions, from 01 March to 30 April 2022 participated in a multi-center institutional-based cross-sectional study design. Systematic random sampling was used to select 423 study participants. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection, and the data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. The level of significance was determined using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Result: The study had 416 participants in total, with a response rate of 98.3%. Out of the 416 respondents interviewed, 67.1% of the women received consented care. The age group of 30-34, complications during childbirth, intended pregnancy, merchant, and primary and referral hospital were significantly associated with consented care. Conclusion: The level of non-consented care during delivery was high compared with other literature reflecting substantial mistreatment. Therefore, stakeholders should strengthen monitoring and assessment systems to prevent abuse, and further study is required to look for practical ways to make improvements. Key elements of consented care have also been included in Basic and Emergency Obstetric Care training sessions and given to health providers.

Two Adverse Early Life Events Induce Differential Changes in Brain CRH and Serotonin Systems in Rats along with Hyperphagia and Depression.

BACKGROUND: Different types of stress inflicted in early stages of life elevate the risk, among adult animals and humans, to develop disturbed emotional-associated behaviors, such as hyperphagia or depression. Early-life stressed (ELS) adults present hyperactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is a risk factor associated with mood disorders. However, the prevalence of hyperphagia (17%) and depression (50%) is variable among adults that experienced ELS, suggesting that the nature, intensity, and chronicity of the stress determines the specific behavioral alteration that those individuals develop. METHODS: We analyzed corticosterone serum levels, Crh, GR, Crhr1 genes expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, amygdala, and hippocampus due to their regulatory role on HPA axis in adult rats that experienced maternal separation (MS) or limited nesting material (LNM) stress; as well as the serotonergic system activity in the same regions given its association with the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) pathway functioning and with the hyperphagia and depression development. RESULTS: Alterations in dams' maternal care provoked an unresponsive or hyper-responsive HPA axis function to an acute stress in MS and LNM adults, respectively. The differential changes in amygdala and hippocampal CRH system seemed compensating alterations to the hypothalamic desensitized glucocorticoids receptor (GR) in MS or hypersensitive in LNM. However, both adult animals developed hyperphagia and depression-like behavior when subjected to the forced-swimming test, which helps to understand that both hypo and hypercortisolemic patients present those disorders. CONCLUSION: Different ELS types induce neuroendocrine, brain CRH and 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT) systems' alterations that may interact converging to develop similar maladaptive behaviors.

Influence of the Physical Environment on Maternal Care for Culturally Diverse Women: A Narrative Review.

OBJECTIVES: This narrative literature review aims to develop a framework that can be used to understand, study, and design maternal care environments that support the needs of women from diverse racial and ethnic groups. BACKGROUND: Childbirth and the beginning of life hold particular significance across many cultures. People's cultural orientation and experiences influence their preferences within healthcare settings. Research suggests that culturally sensitive care can help improve the experiences and outcomes and reduce maternal health disparities for women from diverse cultures. At the same time, the physical environment of the birth setting influences the birthing experience and maternal outcomes such as the progression of labor, the use of interventions, and the type of birth. METHODS: The review synthesizes articles from three categories: (a) physical environment of birthing facilities, (b) physical environment and culturally sensitive care, and (c) physical environment and culturally sensitive birthing facilities. RESULTS: Fifty-five articles were identified as relevant to this review. The critical environmental design features identified in these articles were categorized into different spatial scales: community, facility, and room levels. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies focus on maternal or culturally sensitive care settings outside the United States. Since the maternal care environment is an important aspect of their culturally sensitive care experience, further studies exploring the needs and perspectives of racially and ethnically diverse women within maternal care settings in the United States are necessary. Such research can help future healthcare designers contribute toward addressing the ongoing maternal health crisis within the country.

m-Aminophenylacetylene induces maternal care in a predatory spider.

Maternal care is critically important for the survival of offspring in various animals. Spiders in the family Lycosidae are known for their hunting ability and maternal care behaviors. Predation on newly hatched spiderlings (pulli) by mother spiders decreases when they come into contact, and they carry the pulli on their dorsal surface. However, the factors inducing maternal care in lycosid spiders have not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated maternal care in Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae, Lycosidae) females. We proposed that the physical interaction between pulli and mother spiders induces maternal care via m-aminophenylacetylene (m-A), a novel regulator of maternal care. The presence of pulli on the dorsal abdomen of non-mother spiders suppressed pulli predation and increased the pulli-carrying rate, and the absence of pulli on the mother spiders increased pulli predation and decreased the pulli-carrying rate. The compound m-A was abundant in mother spiders, and it could be induced in non-mother spiders when they carried pulli. The topical application of m-A to non-mother spiders and m-A injection decreased pulli predation and increased the pulli-carrying rate, respectively; these findings indicate that m-A in both internal tissues and the integument is required for the induction of maternal care behavior, and the interaction between pulli and females induces the production of m-A. In-depth study of the regulatory mechanism of maternal care will enhance our understanding of spider biology and behavior.

Incubation as a driver of maternal effects: Temperature influences levels of yolk maternally derived 5α-dihydrotestosterone.

In birds, maternal hormones deposited into eggs in response to environmental stimuli can impact offspring phenotype. Although less studied, environmental conditions can also influence females' incubation behavior, which might play a role in regulating embryo exposure to maternal hormones through changes in incubation temperature that affect the activity of the enzymes responsible for converting testosterone (T) to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estradiol. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the initial T content of the yolk and incubation temperature determine exposure to T metabolites during early embryo development. In the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), we experimentally manipulated yolk T and incubation temperature (38° C versus 36° C) and analyzed DHT and estradiol titers on day four of incubation. We found that eggs with experimentally increased T and those incubated at 36° C showed higher DHT concentration in egg yolk (with no synergistic effect of the two treatments). Estradiol titers were not affected by T manipulation or incubation temperature. Our study suggests that incubation temperature influences DHT titers and may act as an understudied source of maternal influence on offspring phenotype.

Maternal healthcare seeking and determinants of adequate antenatal care and institutional childbirth among Indian tribes: A cross-sectional study from nine districts.

OBJECTIVE: To report the utilisation of maternal healthcare services and factors associated with adequate antenatal care and institutional childbirths among mothers in the tribal communities from nine districts in India. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from 2636 tribal women who had a childbirth experience in the past 12 months. Socio-demographic, maternal healthcare services and health system-related details were collected. Multiple logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with adequate antenatal care (receiving at least four antenatal care visits, the first visit being in the first trimester and receiving a minimum of 100 iron-folic acid tablets) and institutional childbirth (mother giving birth in a health facility). RESULTS: Only 23% of the mothers received adequate antenatal care. 82% were institutional childbirths. The logistic regression revealed that particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), those lacking all-weather roads, and women of advanced age were at risk of inadequate antenatal care. Mother's education, health worker's home visits during pregnancy and reception of advice on antenatal care were significantly associated with the reception of adequate antenatal care. Having all-weather roads, and education of the mother and head of the household were positively associated with institutional childbirths, whereas PVTGs, children of birth order three or above, and working mothers were more likely to give childbirth at home. CONCLUSION: PVTGs are at risk of foregoing adequate antenatal care and are more likely to give childbirth at home. Having all-weather roads is a strong correlate of adequate maternal care. Outreach activities by the health workers are to be strengthened as they are positively and significantly associated with the reception of adequate antenatal care. Investing in education and other social determinants and addressing certain socio-cultural practices is important to improve maternal health.

Across ages and places: Unpredictability of maternal sensory signals and child internalizing behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Patterns of sensory inputs early in life play an integral role in shaping the maturation of neural circuits, including those implicated in emotion and cognition. In both experimental animal models and observational human research, unpredictable sensory signals have been linked to aberrant developmental outcomes, including poor memory and effortful control. These findings suggest that sensitivity to unpredictable sensory signals is conserved across species and sculpts the developing brain. The current study provides a novel investigation of unpredictable maternal sensory signals in early life and child internalizing behaviors. We tested these associations in three independent cohorts to probe the generalizability of associations across continents and cultures. METHOD: The three prospective longitudinal cohorts were based in Orange, USA (n = 163, 47.2 % female, Mage = 1 year); Turku, Finland (n = 239, 44.8 % female, Mage = 5 years); and Irvine, USA (n = 129, 43.4 % female, Mage = 9.6 years). Unpredictability of maternal sensory signals was quantified during free-play interactions. Child internalizing behaviors were measured via parent report (Orange & Turku) and child self-report (Irvine). RESULTS: Early life exposure to unpredictable maternal sensory signals was associated with greater child fearfulness/anxiety in all three cohorts, above and beyond maternal sensitivity and sociodemographic factors. The association between unpredictable maternal sensory signals and child sadness/depression was relatively weaker and did not reach traditional thresholds for statistical significance. LIMITATIONS: The correlational design limits our ability to make causal inferences. CONCLUSIONS: Findings across the three diverse cohorts suggest that unpredictable maternal signals early in life shape the development of internalizing behaviors, particularly fearfulness and anxiety.

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) neonates use broadband calls to communicate with their mothers.

Infant call structure should have evolved to elicit maximum maternal attention and investment. Neonates of giant pandas produce three types of vocalizations reported to be vitally important in the context of mother-infant communications. However, how cubs, 0-15 days old, communicate with their mothers to elicit maternal care remains unknown. We analyzed 12 different call parameters of 3475 squawks, 1355 squalls, and 491 croaks from 11 captive giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) neonates from age 0 to 15 days. In playback experiments, we also tested whether mothers could detect ultrasound. Our results show that neonates use broadband calls with ultrasonic frequencies up to 65 kHz to convey information about their physiological needs and to attract maternal care. In playback experiments, we tested if mothers reacted differently to broadband calls (BBC) than to artificially altered calls that included only frequencies <20 kHz (AUDC) or calls that included only frequencies >20 kHz (USC). Playback confirmed that, although adult females responded significantly less often to USC, BBC than to or AUDC, they could detect USC, BBC and generally made appropriate behavioral responses, indicating a potential benefit for neonates to utilize ultrasonic and broadband frequencies. Our findings provide a new insight into mother-infant communication in giant pandas and will be helpful for reducing the mortality of cubs, younger than 1 month old, in captivity.

Household Food Insecurity and Maternal-Toddler Fruit and Vegetable Dietary Concordance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether prenatal or concurrent household food insecurity influences associations between maternal and toddler fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. DESIGN: Application of a life-course framework to an analysis of a longitudinal dataset. SETTING: Early childhood obesity prevention program at a New York City public hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred and fifty-six maternal-toddler dyads self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino. VARIABLES MEASURED: Maternal and toddler FV intake was measured using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dietary measures when toddlers were aged 19 months. Household food insecurity (measured prenatally and concurrently at 19 months) was measured using the US Department of Agriculture Food Security Module. ANALYSIS: Regression analyses assessed associations between adequate maternal FV intake and toddler FV intake. Interaction terms tested whether prenatal or concurrent household food insecurity moderated this association. RESULTS: Adequate maternal FV intake was associated with increased toddler FV intake (B = 6.2 times/wk, 95% confidence interval, 2.0-10.5, P = 0.004). Prenatal household food insecurity was associated with decreased toddler FV intake (B = -6.3 times/wk, 95% confidence interval, -11.67 to -0.9, P = 0.02). There was a significant interaction between the level of maternal-toddler FV association (concordance or similarity in FV intake between mothers and toddlers) and the presence of food insecurity such that maternal-toddler FV association was greater when prenatal household food insecurity was not present (B = -11.6, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Strategies to increase FV intake across the life course could examine how the timing of household food insecurity may affect intergenerational maternal-child transmission of dietary practices.

Effects of social buffering on fear extinction in adolescent rats.

Across social species, the presence of another individual can reduce stress reactions to adverse stimuli, a phenomenon known as social buffering. The present study investigated whether social buffering influences the expression and extinction of learned fear in adolescence, a developmental period of diminished fear inhibition and increased social interaction. Quality of maternal care and degree of social investigation were examined as factors that may influence social buffering. In adolescence, male rats were fear conditioned and then given extinction training either in the presence of a same-age rat or alone. Animals were then tested alone for extinction retention. In two experiments, the presence of a conspecific robustly reduced conditioned fear responses during extinction training. Interestingly, a persistent social buffering effect was observed when the extinction and conditioning contexts had prominent differences in features (Experiment 1), but not when these contexts were relatively similar (Experiment 2). Neither quality of maternal care nor degree of social investigation predicted the effects of social buffering. These findings suggest that social buffering robustly dampens fear responses during adolescence when a peer is present and this suppression can persist, in some instances, even when the peer is absent.

Primates and disability: Behavioral flexibility and implications for resilience to environmental change.

Congenital malformations, conditions, injuries, and illness can lead to long-term physical impairment and disability in nonhuman primates. How individual primates change their behaviors flexibly to compensate for their disabilities can inform our understanding of their resilience and ability to adjust to environmental change. Here, we synthesize the literature on nonhuman primates and disability, addressing the questions: how does disability influence behavior in primates? What insights can we take from the literature to better understand and predict the capacity of primates to modify their behaviors in the face of human-induced environmental change? We conducted a systematic review of the literature on spontaneous physical impairment and disability in captive, free-ranging, and wild primates. We surveyed 2807 articles on Web of Science and Scopus and identified 114 studies that fit our predetermined inclusion criteria. Behavioral plasticity, maternal and conspecific care, and the potential for innovation of novel behaviors allow many primates with disabilities to compensate when faced with challenges that are outside the scope of usual circumstances. We also found that 60% of the publications connected primate physical impairment and disability to human activities, suggesting an entangled relationship among humans, the environment, and primate disability. Disability and physical impairments provide an opportunity to examine how primates modify their behavior when presented with challenging conditions, and their potential resilience to a changing environment.