Highway Crossing Rates of Wild Felids Before, During, and After Wildlife Crossing Structure Installation.

In an environment increasingly dominated by roads, wildlife crossing structures (WCS) have been installed to decrease wildlife mortality and improve habitat linkages. In South Texas, vehicle collisions have been a major mortality source for the endangered ocelot (). To mitigate threats to this species, eight WCS, along with associated fencing, were strategically placed along Farm-to-Market Road 106 (FM106), which passes through ocelot habitat.

Road mitigation structures designed for Texas ocelots: Influence of structural characteristics and environmental factors on non-target wildlife usage.

Roads negatively impact wildlife through habitat fragmentation, loss of habitat connectivity, and wildlife-vehicle collisions, thus road mitigation structures, such as wildlife crossing structures (WCS), wildlife guards (WG), and fencing are commonly used to address this issue all over the world, including in the United States. In South Texas, such structures were built or modified along a State Highway in an effort to address road mortality for the endangered ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and non-target wildlife species. The goal of this study was to examine temporal changes in wildlife interactions with WCS and WG during and after their construction and modification along a South Texas highway and to determine whether environmental factors influenced use of WCS.

Correction: Soda et al. Electrochemical Detection of Global DNA Methylation Using Biologically Assembled Polymer Beads. 2021, , 3787.

In the original publication [...

Spatial distribution and movement of Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) are capable of long-distance migrations (hundreds of kilometers) but also exhibit resident behaviors in estuarine and coastal habitats. The aim of this study was to characterize the spatial distribution of juvenile tarpon and identify migration pathways of adult tarpon in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Spatial distribution of juvenile tarpon was investigated using gillnet data collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) over the past four decades.

Exploitation of environmental DNA (eDNA) for ecotoxicological research: A critical review on eDNA metabarcoding in assessing marine pollution.

The rise in worldwide population has led to a noticeable spike in the production, consumption, and transportation of energy and food, contributing to elevated environmental pollution. Marine pollution is a significant global environmental issue with ongoing challenges, including plastic waste, oil spills, chemical pollutants, and nutrient runoff, threatening marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Pollution detection and assessment are crucial to understanding the state of marine ecosystems.

Early corticosterone increases vocal complexity in a wild parrot: An organizational role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in vocal learning?

The neuroendocrinology of vocal learning is exceptionally well known in passerine songbirds. Despite huge life history, genetic and ecological variation across passerines, song learning tends to occur as a result of rises in gonadal and non-gonadal sex steroids that shape telencephalic vocal control circuits and song. Parrots are closely related but independently evolved different cerebral circuits for vocal repertoire acquisition in both sexes that serve a broader suite of social functions and do not appear to be shaped by early androgens or estrogens; instead, parrots begin a plastic phase in vocal development at an earlier life history stage that favors the growth, maturation, and survival functions of corticosteroids.

New prospects of environmental RNA metabarcoding research in biological diversity, ecotoxicological monitoring, and detection of COVID-19: a critical review.

Ecosystems are multifaceted and complex systems and understanding their composition is crucial for the implementation of efficient conservation and management. Conventional approaches to biodiversity surveys can have limitations in detecting the complete range of species present. In contrast, the study of environmental RNA (eRNA) offers a non-invasive and comprehensive method for monitoring and evaluating biodiversity across different ecosystems.

Effects of elevated temperature on 8-OHdG expression in the American oyster (): Induction of oxidative stress biomarkers, cellular apoptosis, DNA damage and γH2AX signaling pathways.

Global temperature is increasing due to anthropogenic activities and the effects of elevated temperature on DNA lesions are not well documented in marine organisms. The American oyster ( an edible and commercially important marine mollusk) is an ideal shellfish species to study oxidative DNA lesions during heat stress. In this study, we examined the effects of elevated temperatures (24, 28, and 32 °C for one-week exposure) on heat shock protein-70 (HSP70, a biomarker of heat stress), 8‑hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a biomarker of pro-mutagenic DNA lesion), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), γ-histone family member X (γH2AX, a molecular biomarker of DNA damage), caspase-3 (CAS-3, a key enzyme of apoptotic pathway) and Bcl-2-associated X (BAX, an apoptosis regulator) protein and/or mRNA expressions in the gills of American oysters.

Vocal babbling in a wild parrot shows life history and endocrine affinities with human infants.

Prelinguistic babbling is a critical phase in infant language development and is best understood in temperate songbirds where it occurs primarily in males at reproductive maturity and is modulated by sex steroids. Parrots of both sexes are icons of tropical vocal plasticity, but vocal babbling is unreported in this group and whether the endocrine system is involved is unknown. Here we show that vocal babbling is widespread in a wild parrot population in Venezuela, ensues in both sexes during the nestling stage, occurs amidst a captive audience of mixed-aged siblings, and is modulated by corticosteroids.

An Interfacial Affinity Interaction-Based Method for Detecting HOTAIR lncRNA in Cancer Plasma Samples.

Long non-coding RNA Homeobox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is recognized as a participant in different processes of normal cell development. Aberrant overexpression of HOTAIR contributes to the initiation, growth, and invasiveness of ovarian cancer. Using the affinity interaction of target HOTAIR lncRNA sequences towards a screen-printed gold electrode (SPE-Au), herein we report on a novel, rapid and simple method to detect HOTAIR sequences.

Assessing changes in clusters of wildlife road mortalities after the construction of wildlife mitigation structures.

Collisions with vehicles can be a major threat to wildlife populations, so wildlife mitigation structures, including exclusionary fencing and wildlife crossings, are often constructed. To assess mitigation structure effectiveness, it is useful to compare wildlife road mortalities (WRMs) before, during, and after mitigation structure construction; however, differences in survey methodologies may make comparisons of counts impractical. Location-based cluster analyses provide a means to assess how WRM spatial patterns have changed over time.

Electrochemical Detection of Global DNA Methylation Using Biologically Assembled Polymer Beads.

DNA methylation is a cell-type-specific epigenetic marker that is essential for transcriptional regulation, silencing of repetitive DNA and genomic imprinting. It is also responsible for the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancers. Herein, we present a simple approach for quantifying global DNA methylation in ovarian cancer patient plasma samples based on a new class of biopolymer nanobeads.

Genetics and the Gynecologic Patient.

The field of hereditary cancer syndromes and genetic testing for patients and families is a rapidly evolving discipline, with an emphasis on cancer prevention. We review the literature regarding the most common genetic syndromes associated with gynecologic malignancies and discuss the management of these conditions. We also examine the logistic process surrounding cancer genetic testing and identify some perceived barriers.

An amplification-free method for the detection of HOTAIR long non-coding RNA.

The discovery of large transcripts of long RNAs that have limited protein coding capacity, known as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) present new concepts on RNA-mediated gene regulation. Increasing evidence suggests that large intervening ncRNAs regulate key pathways in cancer genesis and metastasis. Among the most characterized lncRNAs, homeobox (HOX) transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) acts as an oncogenic molecule in different cancer cells, and thus its expression level serves as a potential biomarker for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in several human cancers, such as breast, prostate, liver and ovarian cancer.

PCR-Free Detection of Long Non-Coding HOTAIR RNA in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines and Plasma Samples.

Long non-coding RNA HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is one of the promising biomarkers that has widely been used in determining the stages of many cancers, including ovarian cancer. In cancer diagnostics, the two key analytical challenges for detecting long non-coding RNA biomarkers are i) the low concentration levels (nM to fM range) in which they are found and ii) the analytical method where broad dynamic range is required (four to six orders of magnitude) due to the large variation in expression levels for different HOTAIR RNAs. To meet these challenges, we report on a biosensing platform for the visual (colorimetric) estimation and subsequent electrochemical quantification of ovarian-cancer-specific HOTAIR using a screen-printed gold electrode (SPE-Au).

Inexpensive, non-invasive biomarkers predict Alzheimer transition using machine learning analysis of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging (ADNI) database.

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging (ADNI) database is an expansive undertaking by government, academia, and industry to pool resources and data on subjects at various stage of symptomatic severity due to Alzheimer's disease. As expected, magnetic resonance imaging is a major component of the project. Full brain images are obtained at every 6-month visit.

Molecular characterization and expression of arginine vasotocin V1a2 receptor in Atlantic croaker brain: Potential mechanisms of its downregulation by PCB77.

The arginine vasotocin (AVT)-V1a receptor mediates critical reproductive behaviors of the nonapeptide vasotocin in the teleost brain. In this study, we report the molecular characterization of the AVT-V1a2 receptor and its messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions in the Atlantic croaker brain after exposure to the planar polychlorinated biphenyl congener 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB77). The full-length sequence of croaker AVT-V1a2 receptor complementary DNA (cDNA) is highly homologous to other teleost AVT-V1a2 receptor cDNAs.

Description of an extant salamander from the Gulf Coastal Plain of North America: The Reticulated Siren, Siren reticulata.

The salamander family Sirenidae is represented by four extant species that are restricted to North America. Sirens are abundant throughout the southern United States and are among the world's largest amphibians, yet the biology, ecology, and phylogeography of this group is poorly-known. In this study we use morphological and genetic evidence to describe a previously unrecognized species from southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle.

Best Practices for Postoperative Brain Health: Recommendations From the Fifth International Perioperative Neurotoxicity Working Group.

As part of the American Society of Anesthesiology Brain Health Initiative goal of improving perioperative brain health for older patients, over 30 experts met at the fifth International Perioperative Neurotoxicity Workshop in San Francisco, CA, in May 2016, to discuss best practices for optimizing perioperative brain health in older adults (ie, >65 years of age). The objective of this workshop was to discuss and develop consensus solutions to improve patient management and outcomes and to discuss what older adults should be told (and by whom) about postoperative brain health risks. Thus, the workshop was provider and patient oriented as well as solution focused rather than etiology focused.

Naked-eye and electrochemical detection of isothermally amplified HOTAIR long non-coding RNA.

An inexpensive, simple and rapid sensor platform capable of detecting cancer-related long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with high accuracy is of great interest in the field of molecular diagnostics. Herein, we report on the development of a new colorimetric and electrochemical assay platform for long non-coding HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) detection. Isothermal reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) was performed to amplify HOTAIR sequences from a RNA pool extracted from a designated number of ovarian cancer cells and a small cohort of plasma samples derived from patients with ovarian cancer.

Impact of analgesics on executive function and memory in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Database.

Background And Aims: Pain is common in older adults but may be undertreated in part due to concerns about medication toxicity. Analgesics may affect cognition. In this retrospective cohort study, we used the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database to examine the interaction of cognitive status and medications, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Gold-Loaded Nanoporous Ferric Oxide Nanocubes with Peroxidase-Mimicking Activity for Electrocatalytic and Colorimetric Detection of Autoantibody.

The enzyme-mimicking activity of iron oxide based nanostructures has provided a significant advantage in developing advanced molecular sensors for biomedical and environmental applications. Herein, we introduce the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-like activity of gold-loaded nanoporous ferric oxide nanocubes (Au-NPFeONC) for the development of a molecular sensor with enhanced electrocatalytic and colorimetric (naked eye) detection of autoantibodies. The results showed that Au-NPFeONC exhibits enhanced peroxidase-like activity toward the catalytic oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tertamethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of HO at room temperature (25 °C) and follows the typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

Rapid Retriage of Critically Injured Trauma Patients.

This study uses data compiled from the patient registries of 12 trauma centers in 1 region to analyze differences in outcomes for critically injured trauma patients.