AVES POLYOMAVIRUS 1 IN ARA CHLOROPTERA AND ECLECTUS RORATUS WITH DISCLOSURE OF FULL GENOMIC SEQUENCES

Aves polyomavirus 1 (APyV) is the causative agent of acute disease in birds and causes high mortality rates in nestlings. Infections have been reported worldwide in a significant number of caged bird species, such as parrots, caiques, budgerigars, lovebirds, and macaws. However, the number of complete viral sequences available in public databases is scarce, especially those with associated clinical histories. In this study, the clinical, pathological, epidemiological, and molecular characteristics of 2 APyV strains detected in Portugal are described. In the autumn of 2015, a 2-month-old female green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera) from a small breeder died with signs of dehydration, weight loss, and depression, raising the suspicion of polyomavirus infection. Histopathological analysis revealed lesions compatible with APyV infection, and the presence of polyomavirus in several organs was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. From the cohabitants tested (n = 14), 1 eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus), which was more than 1-year-old, was also APyV DNA-positive. The full genomic sequences of the 2 strains were obtained and found identical, suggesting a single introduction in the premises and the occurrence of subsequent infections by the same virus. When compared with sequences of other APyVs available in public databases, high nucleotide similarity percentages were obtained, confirming the close genetic relationship among polyomaviruses worldwide. Interestingly, strain APV7, detected in a white-bellied parrot in 2008 in Japan, was the closest strain to those isolated in this report. Attempts to isolate the virus in eggs and cell lines failed. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by the Bayesian method to determine the phylogenetic classification of the macaw and parrot strains. Both clustered into group V, together with other strains from different bird species with no host or spatial-temporal relationships being observed.     

Vegetative and geomorphic complexity at tributary junctions on the Colorado and Dolores Rivers: a blueprint for riparian restoration

Context

Habitat complexity in rivers is linked to dynamic fluvial conditions acting at various spatial scales. On regulated rivers in the western United States, tributaries are regions of high energy and disturbance, providing important resource inputs for riparian ecosystems.

Objectives

This study investigated spatial patterns and extents of tributary influence on riparian habitat complexity in the near channel zone along regulated reaches of the Colorado (>?200 km) and Dolores Rivers (~?300 km) in the western United States. Because tributary confluences are regions of increased dynamism, we hypothesized that: (1) geomorphic and land cover complexity would be greatest close to tributary junctions and decrease with distance from tributaries; and (2) patterns in complexity would vary across different sized spatial units.

Methods

Using a combination of remote sensing and spatial analysis, we classified fluvial features and land cover classes to investigate patterns longitudinally at 10-, 25-, and 100-m spatial units in the near channel zone of two regulated rivers.

Results

Using change point analysis and randomization tests, we detected shifts in riparian habitat complexity closer to tributary junctions. Patterns varied across 10-, 25-, and 100-m spatial units in the near channel zone, with significance (p?≤?0.05) recorded for 10- and 25-m spatial units.

Conclusions

Tributary junctions deliver critical resource inputs on regulated systems, providing for increased geomorphic and land cover diversity upstream and downstream of tributaries. We found that patterns of response were non-linear and discontinuous, varying across spatial units and potentially influenced by the degree of mainstem flow regulation.

     

Effects of Drying Processing Conditions on the Quality of Uncooked and Cooked Pasta Made Up of Nonconventional Raw Material

Drying process plays a fundamental role in pasta making. The greatest number of studies have been focused on the optimization of drying conditions for semolina pasta, and the obtained results have been applied in a similar way on pasta made up of nonconventional raw materials without considering a processing optimization. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of different drying treatments (low, medium, and high temperature) on the quality of uncooked and cooked soft wheat pasta enriched with oat flour. Results of total organic matter and dried residue showed no significant difference between samples dried by medium and high temperature treatments. Moreover, these last samples showed a slight improvement in cooking quality over samples dried at low temperature (total organic matter results were 1.31 versus 1.66 g/100 g of dried pasta). This study revealed that the improvement of cooking quality of pasta enriched with oat flour did not require the application of high drying temperature (>80°C) that involves a considerable consumption of energy and could favor the development of a Maillard reaction, decreasing quality characteristics of this kind of product.     

Assessing the Association Between Hoof Thermography and Hoof Doppler Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Lameness in Horses

The objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between hoof surface temperature and ultrasonographic measurements of digital blood vessels in horses and to evaluate the measurements' potential as predictors for clinical lameness. Twelve 3-year-old American Quarter Horses, 6 geldings and 6 mares, with average initial body weight of 459 ± 31 kg were used. On days 0, 30, 60, and 90 of the study, horses were weighed and subjected to clinical lameness examinations. Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure diameter of the medial palmar artery in the distal left forelimb and velocity of blood flow through that artery, starting at 60 minutes after morning feeding and repeated at 30-minute intervals. Temperature measurements on the hoof were collected at 15-minute intervals beginning 75 minutes after feeding, using a digital thermographic camera. A series of bivariate linear mixed models were fitted to estimate the correlation between Doppler and temperature measurements. The within-horse and between-horse correlations between hoof surface temperature and velocity of blood flow in the distal limb through the medial palmar artery was estimated at 0.40 (P > .50) and 0.99 (P < .001), respectively. These results indicate that at the horse level, the correlation between hoof temperature and velocity of blood flow in the distal limb was very high but that the within-horse correlation was not significantly different from 0. Velocity of blood flow at 60 minutes after feeding improved model fit to the lameness data, so it was included as a model predictor for lameness.     

Regulation of protein degradation pathways by amino acids and insulin in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs

Background： The rapid gain in lean mass in neonates requires greater rates of protein synthesis than degradation. We previously delineated the molecular mechanisms by which insulin and amino acids, especially leucine, modulate skeletal muscle protein synthesis and how this changes with development. In the current study, we identified mechanisms involved in protein degradation regulation. In experiment 1,6- and 26-d-old pigs were studied during 1） euinsulinemic-euglycemic-euaminoacidemic, 2） euinsulinemic-euglycemiohyperaminoacidemic, and 3） hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic-euaminoacidemic clamps for 2 h. In experiment 2, 5-d-old pigs were studied during 1） euinsulinemic-euglycemic-euaminoacidemic-euleucinemic, 2） euinsulinemic-euglycemic-hypoaminoacidemic- hyperleucinemic, and 3） euinsulinemic-euglycemic-euaminoacidemic-hyperleucinemic clamps for 24 h. We determined in muscle indices of ubiquitin-proteasome, i.e., atrogin-1 （MAFbx） and muscle RING-finger protein-1 （MuRF1） and autophagy-lysosome systems, i.e., unc51-1ike kinase 1 （UKL1）, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 （LC3）, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 （Lamp-2）. For comparison, we measured ribosomal protein 56 （rpS6） and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E （elF4E） activation, components of translation initiation. Results： Abundance of atrogin-1, but not MuRF1, was greater in 26- than 6-d-old pigs and was not affected by insulin, amino acids, or leucine. Abundance of ULK1 and LC3 was higher in younger pigs and not affected by treatment. The LC3-11/LC3-1 ratio was reduced and ULK1 phosphorylation increased by insulin, amino acids, and leucine. These responses were more profound in younger pigs. Abundance of Lamp-2 was not affected by treatment or development. Abundance of elF4E, but not rpS6, was higher in 6- than 26-d-old-pigs but unaffected by treatment. Phosphorylation of elF4E was not affected by treatment, however, insulin, amino acids, and leucine stimulated rpS6 phosphorylation, and the response     

Population assessment and potential functional roles of native mussels in the Upper Mississippi River

• 1. Despite a heightened global concern for native mussels, fundamental research on mussel ecology in large rivers is lacking. These gaps in knowledge about where mussels occur, and why, are limiting habitat restoration activities.
• 2. Large‐scale systematic surveys for native mussels in three reaches of the Upper Mississippi River documented mussel communities composed of 16–23 species and ranging from 2.9–4.5 live mussels m^?2 that were actively recruiting new cohorts into their populations (87–100% of the species were found as juveniles ?5 years old). Estimates of mean tissue biomass and production in these reaches ranged from 2.1–3.1 g C m^?2 and 0.4–0.6 g C m^?2 year^?1, respectively.
• 3. Mussels filtered a significant amount of water (range, 0.05–0.07 m³ m^?2 d^?1) over a 480 km reach of the Upper Mississippi River – amounting to a filtration rate of 53.1 million m³ day^?1. The filtration rate of mussels as a percentage of river discharge ranged from 0.5–1.4% at high flows (5% exceedance), from 1.5–4.4% at moderate flows (50% exceedance) and from 4.4–12.2% during low flows (95% exceedance).
• 4. Collectively, these data suggest that native mussels play an integral role in this ecosystem by sequestering suspended materials that can be used by other benthic organisms. Published in 2011 by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

     

Prevalence and serotyping of Listeria monocytogenes in Portuguese live bivalve molluscs sampled in various steps along the sanitary control process

The prevalence and contamination levels of Listeria monocytogenes were investigated in live bivalve molluscs for human consumption, collected in various steps of the commercial and sanitary circuits in the North of Portugal. Samples of different species were collected per lot before and after depuration treatment in two depuration units and further, when placed in retail markets. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 4% of the samples although with very low contamination levels (less than 100 MPN g^?1). None of the environmental (non‐depurated) samples were contaminated with the food‐borne pathogen. The positive samples involved depurated and commercialized samples from two lots, one in each circuit. Two serotypes (1/2a and 3b) were detected among the isolated strains. This study demonstrated the possibility of occurrence of L. monocytogenes contamination of live bivalve molluscs along the sanitary control circuit, including at the retail market level. As L. monocytogenes grows well at refrigerated temperatures and in high salt matrixes such as seafood its presence in these products should not be overlooked.     

Studies on teleost corpuscles of Stannius: Physiological and biochemical aspects of synthesis and release of hypocalcin in trout,goldfish and eel

Hypercalcemia (induced by CaCl₂-injection or seawater exposure of the fish) reduced the hypocalcin content of corpuscles of Stannius (CS) in trout, goldfish and eel; concomitantly the synthetic activity of CS of hypercalcemic fish, as determinedin vitro, was enhanced. The monomeric forms of prohypocalcin and of hypocalcin of trout and goldfish are 32 and 28 kDA M_r glycoprotein species respectively; those of the eel are 2 kDa bigger,viz. 34 and 30 kDa respectively. Moreover, eel CS producein vitro an enigmatic 70 kDa glycoprotein with affinity for concanavalin-A. It is concluded that plasma calcium levels control storage and synthesis rates of hypocalcin in the CS.     

Environmental effects of large impacts on Mars

The martian valley networks formed near the end of the period of heavy bombardment of the inner solar system, about 3.5 billion years ago. The largest impacts produced global blankets of very hot ejecta, ranging in thickness from meters to hundreds of meters. Our simulations indicated that the ejecta warmed the surface, keeping it above the freezing point of water for periods ranging from decades to millennia, depending on impactor size, and caused shallow subsurface or polar ice to evaporate or melt. Large impacts also injected steam into the atmosphere from the craters or from water innate to the impactors. From all sources, a typical 100-, 200-, or 250-kilometers asteroid injected about 2, 9, or 16 meters, respectively, of precipitable water into the atmosphere, which eventually rained out at a rate of about 2 meters per year. The rains from a large impact formed rivers and contributed to recharging aquifers.     

Evaluation of micronized lupin seed meal as an alternative protein source in diets for gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. juveniles

A 12‐week growth trial was performed to evaluate the effect of lupin seed meal as a protein source in diets for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles. Six experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and to contain 10%, 20% and 30% of raw lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) seed meal protein or 20% and 30% lupin (L. angustifolius) seed meal processed by infrared radiation (micronized) in place of fish meal protein, the only protein source of the control diet. Fish accepted all diets well and no significant differences in feed utilization among groups were noticed during the trial. Final weight of fish fed the experimental diets was identical or higher than the control group. Final weight of fish fed diets including 20% micronized lupin protein was even significantly higher than that of fish fed the fish meal‐based control diet. Moreover, at the same dietary lupin seed meal protein inclusion levels, final weight of fish fed diets including micronized lupin was significantly higher than with raw lupin. A trend was also noticed for a decrease of final weight with the increase in lupin seed meal in the diets. At the end of the trial no significant differences in proximate whole‐body composition, hepatosomatic and visceral indices were observed among groups. It is concluded that lupin seed meal can replace up to 30% fish meal protein in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles with no negative effects on growth performance. Furthermore, micronization of lupin seeds improves its dietary value for gilthead sea bream juveniles. At the same dietary lupin inclusion levels, diets including micronized lupin seeds promote significantly higher growth rates than raw lupin seeds.