Epidemic rates of diabetes among Native North Americans demand novel solutions. Zhiiwaapenewin Akino'maagewin: Teaching to Prevent Diabetes was a community-based diabetes prevention program based in schools, food stores and health offices in seven First Nations in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Program interventions in these three institutions included implementation of Grades 3 and 4 healthy lifestyles curricula; stocking and labeling of healthier foods and healthy recipes cooking demonstrations and taste tests; and mass media efforts and community events held by health agencies. Qualitative and quantitative process data collected through surveys, logs and interviews assessed fidelity, dose, reach and context of the intervention to evaluate implementation and explain impact findings. School curricula implementation had moderate fidelity with 63% delivered as planned. Store activities had moderate fidelity: availability of all promoted foods was 70%, and appropriate shelf labels were posted 60% of the time. Cooking demonstrations were performed with 71% fidelity and high dose. A total of 156 posters were placed in community locations; radio, cable TV and newsletters were utilized. Interviews revealed that the program was culturally acceptable and relevant, and suggestions for improvement were made. These findings will be used to plan an expanded trial in several Native North American communities.

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The Bischof-Kohler hypothesis holds that nonhuman animals cannot anticipate a future event and take appropriate action when that event involves satisfaction of a need not currently experienced. Tests of the Bischof-Kohler hypothesis were performed with squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and rats (Rattus norvegicus). In experimental trials with both species, a nonthirsty animal had its water bottle removed and then chose between a smaller and larger quantity of food. Consumption of the food induced thirst. Choice of the smaller quantity led to the return of the water bottle sooner than choice of the larger quantity. Monkeys reversed their baseline preference for the larger quantity of food when the experimental contingencies were introduced, but rats continued to prefer the larger amount. Although the rat findings support the Bischof-Kohler hypothesis, the monkey findings challenge it.

In seven experiments, 2 squirrel monkeys were given choices between arrays of food that varied in the quantity offered. In Experiments 1-5, the monkeys were offered choices between quantities of the same food that varied in a 2:1 ratio. The squirrel monkeys failed to show the temporal myopia effect or a decrease in preference for the larger quantity as the absolute number of food items offered increased. Even when given choices of 8 versus 16 peanuts and 10 versus 20 peanuts, both monkeys significantly preferred the larger quantity. An examination of the monkeys' rates of consumption indicated that 20 peanuts were consumed over a 1- to 2-h period, with eating bouts separated by periods of nonconsumption. In Experiments 6A, 6B, and 7, food was either pilfered or replenished 15 min after an initial choice, so that choice of the smaller quantity led to more total food in the long run. These manipulations caused both monkeys to reduce choice of the larger quantity, relative to baseline choice. The results suggest that squirrel monkeys anticipated the future consequences of their choices.