Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of Three-toed Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina triunguis (Reptilia: Testudines), from Arkansas and Oklahoma

We collected 50 three-toed box turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) from 9 counties of Arkansas and 4 counties of Oklahoma, and examined their feces for coccidial parasites. Nine of 24 (38%) turtles from Arkansas and 8 of 26 (31%) from Oklahoma were found to be passing oocysts of Eimeria ornata. This represents two new geographic distributional records for this coccidian. Measurements of individual isolates of E. ornate as well as morphological characteristics are provided with comparison to its original description and to another Terrapene coccidian, Eimeria carri. In addition, we noted an adelid pseudoparasite being passed by a single T. c. triunguis from Oklahoma that likely represents a parasite of arthropods

Vertebrate Natural History Notes from Arkansas, 2017

Because meaningful observations of natural history are not always part of larger studies, important pieces of information often are unreported. Small details, however, can fills gaps in understanding and also lead to interesting questions about ecological relationships or environmental change. We have compiled recent observations of foods, reproduction, record size, parasites, and distribution of 30 species of fishes, new records of distribution and parasites of 2 species of amphibians, and new records of distribution, parasites, reproduction and anomalies of 11 species of mammals

Whole genome transcript profiling from fingerstick blood samples: a comparison and feasibility study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whole genome gene expression profiling has revolutionized research in the past decade especially with the advent of microarrays. Recently, there have been significant improvements in whole blood RNA isolation techniques which, through stabilization of RNA at the time of sample collection, avoid bias and artifacts introduced during sample handling. Despite these improvements, current human whole blood RNA stabilization/isolation kits are limited by the requirement of a venous blood sample of at least 2.5 mL. While fingerstick blood collection has been used for many different assays, there has yet to be a kit developed to isolate high quality RNA for use in gene expression studies from such small human samples. The clinical and field testing advantages of obtaining reliable and reproducible gene expression data from a fingerstick are many; it is less invasive, time saving, more mobile, and eliminates the need of a trained phlebotomist. Furthermore, this method could also be employed in small animal studies, i.e. mice, where larger sample collections often require sacrificing the animal. In this study, we offer a rapid and simple method to extract sufficient amounts of high quality total RNA from approximately 70 μl of whole blood collected via a fingerstick using a modified protocol of the commercially available Qiagen PAXgene RNA Blood Kit.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From two sets of fingerstick collections, about 70 uL whole blood collected via finger lancet and capillary tube, we recovered an average of 252.6 ng total RNA with an average RIN of 9.3. The post-amplification yields for 50 ng of total RNA averaged at 7.0 ug cDNA. The cDNA hybridized to Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChips had an average % Present call of 52.5%. Both fingerstick collections were highly correlated with r²values ranging from 0.94 to 0.97. Similarly both fingerstick collections were highly correlated to the venous collection with r²values ranging from 0.88 to 0.96 for fingerstick collection 1 and 0.94 to 0.96 for fingerstick collection 2.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our comparisons of RNA quality and gene expression data of the fingerstick method with traditionally processed sample workflows demonstrate excellent RNA quality from the capillary collection as well as very high correlations of gene expression data.</p

Racial and ethnic disparities in pelvic floor disorder awareness

Objectives: Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) affect the quality of life for many women and can be a significant cause of distress. With the United States’ aging population, PFD are becoming increasingly prevalent. Previous population based studies identified both differences in prevalence and baseline knowledge of PFD by race and ethnicity. These prior studies assessing PFD knowledge were limited to single geographical areas or institutions. We aim to conduct a multicenter study across the United States to better understand the baseline knowledge and perceptions of PFD and its variance across different races and ethnicities. Our goal is to provide data that will help deliver culturally competent information to patients. Materials and Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study involving six sites. Upon initial presentation to a urogynecology clinic, patients were evaluated with the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire along with additional questions aimed to assess differences in PFD descriptive language, barriers to care, and attitude towards PFD. Surveys were distributed at participating institutions from October 2019 to February 2021. Statistical analyses were performed with Fisher\u27s exact test and Chi-square test, using p \u3c0.05 for statistical significance. Results: A total of 287 women completed the survey, with 27 excluded due to omission of race and or ethnicity responses. Respondents identified their ethnicity as Hispanic (21.8%) and race as White (70.5%), African American (AA) (19.2%), and Other Women of Color (OWOC) (10.3%). Overall, the mean percent correct for the urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) sub-scores were 61.2 ± 28.2 and 60.5 ± 28.2, respectively. AA and OWOC had lower scores compared to White respondents in both UI (AA 60.7 ± 30.1; OWOC 46.8 ± 31.2; W 63.5 ± 26.5; p = 0.018) and POP (AA 55.5 ±30.1; OWOC 48.9 ± 31.0; W 64 ± 26.2; p = 0.011). Hispanic women scored lower in both UI (43.9 ± 29.8 vs 66.5 ± 25.3, p \u3c0.001) and POP (46.2 ± 28.4 vs 66.5 ± 25.3, p\u3c0.001) when compared to non-Hispanic respondents. AA and OWOC had decreased knowledge of POP language compared to White respondents (32.3 ± 30.8 % correct vs 35.4 ± 33.6 % correct vs 50.4 ± 32.9 % correct, p \u3c0.001). This was similar for Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic respondents (33.3 ± 31.2 % correct vs 40.1 ± 32.5 % correct, p\u3c0.001). Responses to UI and POP misconception questions were not different by race or ethnicity. Conclusion: This is the first multicenter, cross-sectional survey of a diverse patient population assessing knowledge and perception of PFD. We observed differences between baseline knowledge and language proficiency of PFD amongst AA, White, and OWOC, as well as between Hispanic and non-Hispanic women. This suggests the presence of racial disparities in women pursuing urogynecologic care and highlights the importance of delivering culturally sensitive information to educate women of diverse backgrounds

Time evolution and observables in constrained systems

The discussion is limited to first-class parametrized systems, where the definition of time evolution and observables is not trivial, and to finite dimensional systems in order that technicalities do not obscure the conceptual framework. The existence of reasonable true, or physical, degrees of freedom is rigorously defined and called {\em local reducibility}. A proof is given that any locally reducible system admits a complete set of perennials. For locally reducible systems, the most general construction of time evolution in the Schroedinger and Heisenberg form that uses only geometry of the phase space is described. The time shifts are not required to be 1symmetries. A relation between perennials and observables of the Schroedinger or Heisenberg type results: such observables can be identified with certain classes of perennials and the structure of the classes depends on the time evolution. The time evolution between two non-global transversal surfaces is studied. The problem is posed and solved within the framework of the ordinary quantum mechanics. The resulting non-unitarity is different from that known in the field theory (Hawking effect): state norms need not be preserved so that the system can be lost during the evolution of this kind.Comment: 31 pages, Latex fil

Hematozoan Parasites (Apicomplexa, Kinetoplastida) of Seven Arkansas Reptiles (Testudines, Ophidia)

Little is known concerning the hematozoan parasites of Arkansas reptiles. Although there are previous reports in the state of these intraerythrocytic parasites infecting various reptiles, additional research is sorely needed. Here, we attempt to augment that void by providing additional hosts infected by these apicomplexans, including the first report of a trypomastigote of a Trypanosoma sp. from an Arkansas turtle