Animal-to-robot social attachment: initial requisites in a gallinaceous bird.

Animal-Robot Interaction experiments have demonstrated their usefulness to understand the social behaviour of a growing number of animal species. In order to study the mechanisms of social influences (from parents and peers) on behavioural development, we design an experimental setup where young quail chicks, after hatching, continuously live with autonomous mobile robots in mixed triadic groups of two chicks and one robot. As precocial birds are subject to imprinting, we compare groups where chicks meet the robot as their very first social partner, on their first day after hatching (R chicks), with groups where chicks meet a real conspecific first (C chicks), and the robot later (on the second day after hatching). We measured the behavioural synchronization between chicks and robot over three days. Afterwards, we directly tested the existence of a possible social bond between animal and robot, by performing separation-reunion behavioural tests. R chicks were more synchronized with the robot in their daily feeding-resting activities than C chicks. Moreover, R chicks emitted numerous distress calls when separated from the robot, even in the presence of another chick, whereas C chicks emitted calls only when separated from the other chick. Whether the observed chick-robot attachment bond reflects filial, or sibling-imprinting of chicks towards the robot remains unclear, as the latter process is not fully understood in natural familial groups. Still, these results reveal the necessary initial conditions for stable, cohesive mixed groups of chicks and robots, a promising tool to experiment on the long-term dynamics of social behaviour.

[Operation to promote use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) in French Guiana in 2006: design, implementation and results]. / Promotion des moustiquaires pré-imprégnées à longue durée d'action en Guyane (2006-2008): conception, mise en place et résultats.

In 2006, the Regional Health Office (DSDS) in French Guiana undertook a major operation involving importation and distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN/ITN). In collaboration with the WHO, a Vietnamese manufacturer of LLINs suited to the requirements of French Guiana was sourced. With the help of a dynamic local importer and dealer, a sales network was developed through chemist shops located all over French Guiana. This network provided wide coverage since these outlets can be found in all large communities. The selling price ranged from 15 to 23 euros depending on the model, i.e., hammock or bed size. In addition, LLINs were distributed within the framework of two special programs. First they are given to women giving birth in French Guiana and undergoing medical surveillance as part of the Mother and Child Protection program by public healthcare system. Second they are distributed in case of natural disaster or other events that could lead to an increased risk of vector-borne outbreaks. Thanks to this operation, a total of 13,882 LLINs were delivered in French Guiana from July 2006 to December 2008. This milestone operation in the fight against malaria was made possible thanks to funding granted on a one-time basis after the outbreak of dengue in 2005-2006. The structure of this operation and its survival will depend on the continued goodwill and determination of a small group of local partners who created this successful distribution campaign with no specific guidance or program from the national authorities.