Sensation seeking, aggression, and reckless behavior in high school students, college students, and adults.

Replicating work of Arnett, males reported more frequent Reckless Behavior than females, and 27 high school and 48 college students did not differ in scores on Sensation Seeking or Aggression. As anticipated by Arnett, the 35 adults had significantly lower Sensation Seeking and Aggression scores than the two younger groups and less Reckless Behavior as well. In contrast to Arnett, Reckless Behavior did not rise for college students, and Sensation Seeking, but not Aggression, correlated with Reckless Behavior in all samples.

Resistance status of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) from southeastern Nebraska beef cattle feedlots to selected insecticides.

The status of resistance to three insecticides (permethrin, stirofos, and methoxychlor), relative to a laboratory-susceptible colony, was evaluated in field populations of house flies, Musca domestica L., collected from two beef cattle feedlots in southeastern Nebraska. Topical application and residual exposure to treated glass surfaces were suitable methods for determining the resistance status of house flies to permethrin, stirofos, or methoxychlor. However, in most cases, residual exposure was more sensitive in resistance detection (i.e., higher resistance ratios). The field populations tested were moderately resistant to permethrin (RR = 4.9-fold and RR = 7.3-fold, for topical application and residual exposure, respectively) and extremely resistant to stirofos and methoxychlor (not accurately quantifiable because of low mortality at the highest possible concentrations or doses). Probable explanations for the resistance status of these house fly populations and implications for global feedlot fly management are discussed.

Efficacy of a 1% lambdacyhalothrin cattle Pour-on (Saber) against sucking and biting lice infesting beef cattle.

Four studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of a 1% lambdacyhalothrin pour-on (Saber Pour-on, Schering-Plough Animal Health) for control of sucking lice (Linognathus vituli, Haematopinus eurysternus, Solenopotes capillatus) and biting lice (Damalinia bovis) on beef cattle. Seventy-four mixed-breed cattle naturally infested with one or more species of lice at locations in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and North Dakota were included in the study. Pretreatment lice samples were taken and identified by genus with the exception that sucking lice were not identified by genus at the North Dakota site. In January or February, half of the cattle at each location received a single application of 1% lambdacyhalothrin pour-on at 10 ml per head for cattle weighing less than 273 kg (600 lb) or 15 ml per head for cattle weighing 273 kg or more. The other cattle at each site served as untreated controls. Lice on designated body areas were counted 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after treatment, and the sum of all lice observed on each counting area was reported for each animal. The collective efficacy 6 weeks after treatment against three species of sucking lice (L. vituli, H. eurysternus, S. capillatus) was 88.4% at the Wisconsin site, 92.0% at the North Dakota site, and 100% at the Nebraska and Oklahoma sites. The 1% lambdacyhalothrin pour-on eliminated all biting lice within 2 weeks after treatment, and no biting lice were detected 8 weeks after treatment. A single treatment of 1% lambdacyhalothrin pour-on administered when lice populations were highest (January or February) provided effective season-long control of both biting and sucking lice on cattle.

Enrichment and individual differences affect welfare indicators in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).

Enrichment aims to improve captive animals' welfare by enhancing their environments. Two of the struggles associated with measuring welfare are identifying when animals' needs are being met or surpassed and identifying how individual differences play a role in these outcomes. Using a group of related Guyanese squirrel monkeys, we studied changes in five welfare indicators under different environmental conditions. Manipulating food presentation, walkways, and toys, we created five enrichment levels ranging from just above USDA standards to considerably more complex than the animals' normal housing. At the end of each level, a novelty test was performed in which an unfamiliar woman entered the enclosure and offered food. Changes in behavior as a function of enrichment condition were analyzed using a repeated-measures MANOVA. Compared to baseline, less enrichment consistently increased negative welfare indicators (abnormal behavior, aggression, and negative responses to the novelty test), while more enrichment sometimes decreased these indicators. Positive welfare indicators were less consistently related to enrichment, but positive response to the novelty test did increase somewhat in the most enriched condition. Across conditions, rank correlations revealed that individuals had highly consistent individual differences in positive responses to novelty and somewhat consistent individual differences in rates of aggression. The goal of the enrichment and the species, sex, and individual animals to be enriched should be considered when selecting a welfare indicator, and facilities measuring animal welfare should study changes in the behavior of specific individuals to control for individual differences.

Cushing proximal symphalangism and the NOG and GDF5 genes.

Proximal symphalangism (SYM1) is an autosomal-dominant developmental disorder of joint fusion. This disorder is best known from famous historical descriptions of two large kindred: Cushing's description in 1916 of the "straight-fingered" Brown family of Virginia and Drinkwater's description in 1917 of the British Talbot family of noble blood, descended from the English war hero John Talbot, the first Earl of Shrewsbury (1388-1453). Recent genetic studies link this phenotype to expression of abnormal genes at future joint sites: too little expression of NOG, a growth antagonist, or overexpression of GDF5, a growth agonist, results in cartilage overgrowth and bony fusion. This review unites in depth the first historical accounts of SYM1 with a clinical description and reviews the current understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying what is likely the oldest dominant trait ever studied.