Relationship between the female attendance pattern and pup growth rate in the South American sea lion (Carnivora)

Changes in the duration and frequency of foraging trips by female otariids may result in changes in the duration and frequency of lactation bouts and hence influence pup growth rate, unless females modify milk energy density and/or the total amount of milk delivered depending on the trip duration. To test this hypothesis on South American sea lions, we measured two attendance pattern components (foraging trip and haul-out duration) and three diving behaviour components of nursing females (dive time, bottom time and number of dives per h) at two different rookeries in Uruguay and Argentina, the composition and energy density of their milk, and the growth rate of their pups. Female foraging trip and haul-out durations depended on pup sex and weight, whereas milk energy density depended on female body mass and foraging trip durations. By contrast, the three dive variables were independent of female body mass or pup sex. Pup growth was also independent of the foraging trip and haul-out duration, with pup sex as the only significant variable. This suggests that individual differences in female foraging behaviour play a minor role in determining pup growth rates during the first three weeks after birth.

Morbidity Pattern among Geriatric Population in a Rural Area of West Bengal: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Aging is associated with gradual accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage resulting in different types of morbidities in geriatric population especially in rural areas in India where health infrastructure is insufficient. Aim: To assess socio-demographic profile and morbidity pattern of geriatric population in Memari-I block of East Burdwan district, West Bengal. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 436 rural geriatric population from October to December 2020 at Memari-I block in West Bengal and multistage proportionate population sampling was done. Data was collected through house-to-house survey by pretested predesigned structured schedule and data analysed with help of International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: Among the 436 study population, 263 (60.3%) were male and 272 (62.4%) were in the age group of 60-69 years. Out of total, 156 (35.7%) had pallor, 428 (98.2%) had Gastrointestinal (GI) and 403 (92.4%) had musculo-skeletal problems. Hypertension was found in 110 (41.8%) males and 124 (71.7%) females and diabetes were found in 30 (11.4%) males and 53 (30.6%) females. Diabetes and hypertension were significantly associated with age group (60-69 years), gender (female), Body Mass Index (BMI) (obese), and dependency on others. Conclusion: Geriatric population from the Memari block suffer from multiple co-morbidities, predominantly musculoskeletal disorders, GI disorder, hypertension and ophthalmic disorders. A significant number of study population were underweight and belonged to lower socio-economic group. Diabetes and hypertension showed significant association with age group (60-69 years), gender (female), BMI (obese) and dependency on others.

Sex-specific body mass ageing trajectories in adult Asian elephants

Sex-specific life-histories are thought to shape senescence patterns differently for males and females. In species with marked sexual dimorphism and where one sex is undergoing stronger intrasexual competition, it is expected that this sex ages earlier or quicker. Here, we utilise a unique, longitudinal dataset of a semi-captive population of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to describe the body mass ageing trajectories in this species with marked sexual dimorphism in size and lifespan, with males being larger and living shorter. Our results show sex-specific ageing trajectories: males gained weight throughout their life, at a diminishing rate until natural death. In contrast, adult female body mass did not change significantly with age until an abrupt decline during the last year of life. Our study shows that sex-specific life-histories shape ageing patterns contrary to those predicted by classical theory and expands the previously described diversity of ageing dynamics.

Effects of moderate sleep restriction during 8-week calorie restriction on lipoprotein particles and glucose metabolism

Study Objectives This study examined how glucose, glucose regulatory hormones, insulin sensitivity, and lipoprotein subclass particle concentrations and sizes change with sleep restriction during weight loss elicited by calorie restriction. Methods Overweight or obese adults were randomized into an 8-week calorie restriction intervention alone (CR, n = 12; 75% female; body mass index = 31.4 ± 2.9 kg/m2) or combined with sleep restriction (CR+SR, n = 16; 75% female; body mass index = 34.5 ± 3.1 kg/m2). Participants in both groups were given the same instructions to reduce calorie intake. Those in the CR+SR group were instructed to reduce their habitual time-in-bed by 30–90 minutes 5 days each week with 2 ad libitum sleep days. Fasting venous blood samples were collected at pre- and post-intervention. Results Differential changes were found between the two groups (p = 0.028 for group × time interaction) in glucagon concentration, which decreased in the CR group (p = 0.016) but did not change in CR+SR group. Although changes in mean HDL particle (HDL-P) size and visfatin concentration were not statistically different between groups (p = 0.066 and 0.066 for group×time interaction, respectively), mean HDL-P size decreased only in the CR+SR group (Cohen’s d = 0.50, p = 0.022); visfatin concentrations did not change significantly in either group but appeared to decrease in the CR group (Cohen’s d = 0.67, p = 0.170) but not in the CR+SR group (Cohen’s d = 0.43, p = 0.225). Conclusion These results suggest that moderate sleep restriction, despite the presence of periodic ad libitum sleep, influences lipoprotein subclass particles and glucose regulation in individuals undergoing calorie restriction. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02413866, Weight Outlooks by Restriction of Diet and Sleep)

First evidence for a latitudinal body mass effect in extant Crocodylia and the relationships of their reproductive characters

Relationships between distribution patterns and body size have been documented in many endothermic taxa. However, the evidence for these trends in ectotherms generally is equivocal, and there have been no studies of effects in crocodylians specifically. Here, we examine the relationship between latitudinal distribution and body mass in 20 extant species of crocodylians, as well as the relationships between seven important reproductive variables. Using phylogenetically independent contrasts to inform generalized linear models, we provide the first evidence of a latitudinal effect on adult female body mass in crocodylians. In addition, we explore the relationships between reproductive variables including egg mass, hatchling mass and clutch size. We report no correlation between egg mass and clutch size, upholding previously reported within-species trends. We also find no evidence of a correlation between measures of latitudinal range and incubation temperature, contrasting with the trends found in turtles.