Infant survival is significantly impacted by dam- and management-related factors in zoo-managed Eulemur populations.

Due to their potential impact on population growth, many studies have investigated factors affecting infant survival in mammal populations under human care. Here we used more than 30 years of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) studbook data and contraception data from the AZA Reproductive Management Center, along with logistic regression models, to investigate which factors affect infant survival in four Eulemur species managed as Species Survival Plans® in AZA. Across species, infant survival to 1 month ranged from 65% to 78%.

Low-level visual saliency does not predict change detection in natural scenes.

Saliency models of eye guidance during scene perception suggest that attention is drawn to visually conspicuous areas having high visual salience. Despite such low-level visual processes controlling the allocation of attention, higher level information gained from scene knowledge may also control eye movements. This is supported by the findings of eye-tracking studies demonstrating that scene-inconsistent objects are often fixated earlier than their consistent counterparts.

Assessment of visual-spatial deficits in patients with Parkinson's disease and closed head injuries using virtual environments.

Cognitive spatial deficits have been reliably reported in patients with Closed Head Injury (CHI), though in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) the phenomenon is disputed. CHI and non-demented PD patients were tested using a Judgement of Line Orientation Test, and two spatial tests using virtual environments (VEs). Performance on the Line Orientation and one VE test was worse in the CHI group than controls, but PD patients showed no apparent spatial deficits.

Spatial information transfer from virtual to real versions of the Kiel locomotor maze.

The Kiel locomotor maze requires participants to choose five targets from among 20 locations marked by small red lights on the floor of a dimly lit circular environment having four wall-mounted extramaze cues and two intramaze cues at floor level. In the present study, acquisition of the real task was examined in 11-year-old children following prior accurate training in a virtual version, following misleading virtual training, or following no training. The virtual version was displayed on a desk-top computer monitor.

Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency.

The causes of congenital lactic acidaemia are outlined. Isolated pyruvate carboxylase deficiency is reviewed in detail with a report of a recent case and a discussion of the biochemical consequences. Other causes of defective pyruvate carboxylation are described, particularly the combined carboxylase defects.