An Apgar scoring system for routine assessment of newborn puppy viability and short-term survival prognosis

The Apgar scoring system is an easy and reliable method for evaluating both human and animal neonates. However, its use is not widespread in veterinary medicine. The current study assessed a modified Apgar scoring system for routine evaluation of newborn puppies. Heart rate, respiratory effort, reflex irritability, motility, and mucus color have been evaluated in the score. Specifically, we used 5 min after birth Apgar score to assess newborn viability and short-term survival prognosis, as well as related characteristics, in 193 puppies from 42 litters, 65 born by spontaneous delivery, 66 by assisted delivery, and 62 by cesarean section. The percentage of puppies that were dead 2 h after birth was higher in the 4 to 6 Apgar score group versus that in the 7 to 10 score group (P < 0.01) and in the 0 to 3 score group versus that in the 7 to 10 score group (P < 0.0001). Delivery method did not affect survival. There was a marked reduction in the number of puppies searching for the mammary gland in the 0 to 3 and 4 to 6 Apgar score groups compared with that in the 7 to 10 score group (P < 0.0001); there was a difference between the 0 to 3 and the 4 to 6 score groups as well (P < 0.05). Suckling/swallowing reflexes were present in fewer puppies in the 0 to 3 and 4 to 6 score groups compared with that in the 7 to 10 group (P < 0.0001), with no significant differences between the 0 to 3 and the 4 to 6 score groups.     

Vertical distribution and pools of microbial residues in tropical forest soils formed from distinct parent materials

The contribution of soil microbial residues to stable carbon pools may be of particular importance in the tropics where carbon residence times are short and any available carbon is rapidly utilized. In this study we investigated the vertical distribution of microbially-derived amino sugars in two tropical forests on contrasting meta-sedimentary and serpentinite parent materials in the lowlands of Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. Despite their similar climate, vegetative cover, and general microbial community structure, the two soils were chemically and physically distinct. We found that both parent material and depth significantly influenced the pool sizes of microbial residues in the two soils. In particular, the soil derived from sedimentary parent material had greater amino sugar contents, glucosamine to galactosamine ratios, and percentage of total soil carbon that is amino sugar derived, than the soil derived from serpentinite substrate. We speculate that residue stabilization was linked to soil iron oxide content, with significant difference in amino sugars contribution to total soil carbon at depth in the serpentinite-derived soil versus that derived from sedimentary parent material. Based on observed patterns of amino sugar content and relative abundance we suggest that near the surface of both soils vegetation and litter input determines the composition and quantity of microbial residues. With increasing depth the influence of vegetation declines and production and stabilization of microbial amino sugars becomes driven by soil matrix characteristics. These differences in stabilization mechanism and carbon dynamics with depth may be particularly critical in deep weathered tropical soils.     

Linking temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition to its molecular structure,accessibility, and microbial physiology

Temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition may have a significant impact on global warming. Enzyme‐kinetic hypothesis suggests that decomposition of low‐quality substrate (recalcitrant molecular structure) requires higher activation energy and thus has greater temperature sensitivity than that of high‐quality, labile substrate. Supporting evidence, however, relies largely on indirect indices of substrate quality. Furthermore, the enzyme‐substrate reactions that drive decomposition may be regulated by microbial physiology and/or constrained by protective effects of soil mineral matrix. We thus tested the kinetic hypothesis by directly assessing the carbon molecular structure of low‐density fraction (LF) which represents readily accessible, mineral‐free SOM pool. Using five mineral soil samples of contrasting SOM concentrations, we conducted 30‐days incubations (15, 25, and 35 °C) to measure microbial respiration and quantified easily soluble C as well as microbial biomass C pools before and after the incubations. Carbon structure of LFs (<1.6 and 1.6–1.8 g cm^?3) and bulk soil was measured by solid‐state ¹³C‐NMR. Decomposition Q₁₀ was significantly correlated with the abundance of aromatic plus alkyl‐C relative to O‐alkyl‐C groups in LFs but not in bulk soil fraction or with the indirect C quality indices based on microbial respiration or biomass. The warming did not significantly change the concentration of biomass C or the three types of soluble C despite two‐ to three‐fold increase in respiration. Thus, enhanced microbial maintenance respiration (reduced C‐use efficiency) especially in the soils rich in recalcitrant LF might lead to the apparent equilibrium between SOM solubilization and microbial C uptake. Our results showed physical fractionation coupled with direct assessment of molecular structure as an effective approach and supported the enzyme‐kinetic interpretation of widely observed C quality‐temperature relationship for short‐term decomposition. Factors controlling long‐term decomposition Q₁₀ are more complex due to protective effect of mineral matrix and thus remain as a central question.     

A new genus of metalmark moths (Lepidoptera,Choreutidae) with Afrotropical and Australasian?distribution

Niveas Rota, new genus, and its two new species, N. agassizi Rota, new species, and N. kone Rota, new species, are described and illustrated. Niveas is assigned to the subfamily Choreutinae based on morphological and molecular data. Niveas agassizi is currently known only from Kenya and only from female specimens. Niveas kone has been found on the Solomon Islands and in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In PNG, larvae of this species have been reared from several species of Ficus (Moraceae). The two species are superficially quite dissimilar from each other. However, they share features in wing pattern and venation, as well as female genitalia, and the molecular data strongly support the monophyly of Niveas.     

Functional and Structural Characterization of Neutralizing Epitopes of Measles Virus Hemagglutinin Protein

Effective vaccination programs have dramatically reduced the number of measles-related deaths globally. Although all the available data suggest that measles eradication is biologically feasible, a structural and biochemical basis for the single serotype nature of measles virus (MV) remains to be provided. The hemagglutinin (H) protein, which binds to two discrete proteinaceous receptors, is the major neutralizing target. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognizing distinct epitopes on the H protein were characterized using recombinant MVs encoding the H gene from different MV genotypes. The effects of various mutations on neutralization by MAbs and virus fitness were also analyzed, identifying the location of five epitopes on the H protein structure. Our data in the present study demonstrated that the H protein of MV possesses at least two conserved effective neutralizing epitopes. One, which is a previously recognized epitope, is located near the receptor-binding site (RBS), and thus MAbs that recognize this epitope blocked the receptor binding of the H protein, whereas the other epitope is located at the position distant from the RBS. Thus, a MAb that recognizes this epitope did not inhibit the receptor binding of the H protein, rather interfered with the hemagglutinin-fusion (H-F) interaction. This epitope was suggested to play a key role for formation of a higher order of an H-F protein oligomeric structure. Our data also identified one nonconserved effective neutralizing epitope. The epitope has been masked by an N-linked sugar modification in some genotype MV strains. These data would contribute to our understanding of the antigenicity of MV and support the global elimination program of measles.     

Ocular Tropism of Respiratory Viruses

SUMMARY

Respiratory viruses (including adenovirus, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, and rhinovirus) cause a broad spectrum of disease in humans, ranging from mild influenza-like symptoms to acute respiratory failure. While species D adenoviruses and subtype H7 influenza viruses are known to possess an ocular tropism, documented human ocular disease has been reported following infection with all principal respiratory viruses. In this review, we describe the anatomical proximity and cellular receptor distribution between ocular and respiratory tissues. All major respiratory viruses and their association with human ocular disease are discussed. Research utilizing in vitro and in vivo models to study the ability of respiratory viruses to use the eye as a portal of entry as well as a primary site of virus replication is highlighted. Identification of shared receptor-binding preferences, host responses, and laboratory modeling protocols among these viruses provides a needed bridge between clinical and laboratory studies of virus tropism.     

Repeatable inter‐individual variation in the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate

Assessing whether trait variations among individuals are consistent over time and among environmental conditions is crucial to understand evolutionary responses to new selective pressures such as climate change. According to the universal thermal dependence hypothesis, thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate should not vary strongly and consistently among organisms, implying limited evolutionary response for metabolic traits under climate change. However, this hypothesis has been rarely tested at an individual level, leaving a gap in our understanding of climate change impacts on metabolic responses and their potential evolution. Using the amphipod Gammarus fossarum, we investigated the variability and repeatability of individual metabolic thermal reaction norms over time. We found large variations in both the thermal sensitivity (i.e. slope) and expression level (i.e. intercept) of individual metabolic reaction norms. Moreover, differences among individuals were consistent over time, and therefore repeatable. Inter‐individual variations in body mass resulted in a high repeatability of metabolic expression level but had no significant effect on the repeatability of thermal sensitivity. Overall, our results highlight that inter‐individual variability and repeatability of thermal reaction norms can be substantial. We conclude that these consistent differences among individuals should not be overlooked when apprehending the ecological and evolutionary effects of climate change.