Sensors for human health and performance monitoring require biological recognition elements (BREs) at device interfaces for the detection of key molecular biomarkers that are measurable biological state indicators. BREs, including peptides, antibodies, and nucleic acids, bind to biomarkers in the vicinity of the sensor surface to create a signal proportional to the biomarker concentration. The discovery of BREs with the required sensitivity and selectivity to bind biomarkers at low concentrations remains a fundamental challenge. In this study, we describe an in-silico approach to evolve higher sensitivity peptide-based BREs for the detection of cardiac event marker protein troponin I (cTnI) from a previously identified BRE as the parental affinity peptide. The P2 affinity peptide, evolved using our in-silico method, was found to have ∼16-fold higher affinity compared to the parent BRE and ∼10 fM (0.23 pg/mL) limit of detection. The approach described here can be applied towards designing BREs for other biomarkers for human health monitoring.

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The causes of free-living chelonian mortality events are often unknown because of infrequent recovery of remains and rapid postmortem decomposition. This study describes a technique to harvest bone marrow and detect frog virus 3-like ranavirus (FV3) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in skeletonized eastern box turtles ( Terrapene carolina carolina) ( N = 87), and assesses agreement with concurrent perimortem samples ( N = 14). FV3 was detected in bone marrow samples from 12 turtle shells (14%). Three of 14 turtles had detectable FV3 loads in both bone marrow and perimortem samples, two turtles had detectable FV3 in bone marrow only, and nine turtles tested FV3 negative in both bone marrow and concurrent perimortem samples. There was substantial agreement between FV3 testing of bone marrow and other tissues ( κ = 0.658). Harvesting bone marrow from shells is easily performed and can serve as a means for biologists and wildlife veterinarians to improve postmortem surveillance for systemically distributed pathogens, including FV3.

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he following 'trialogue' comprises an edited exchange between journalist and researcher Claire Butkus and CJ and Susanna, two female porn site operators. Spellings and punctuations are as in the original communications. CJ and Susanna contacted Convergence after receiving a forwarded copy of the call for papers for this issue. Their views and professional experience provides a fresh input into a field of research and discussion usually dominated by writers who adopt a distanced and/or 'disinterested' approach to the phenomenon of online pornography and the pleasures and opportunities it offers. Claire: Why did you become interested in participating in this 'Internet and Sexuality' issue of Convergence? Susanna: Over time our 4women marketing community has often engaged in discussions about many aspects of porn and women. We often point out articles to each other that were written about our area of the net or about how women like or dislike porn/erotica and there is so much misinformation published by people that, to all of our knowledge, have never marketed to women.