Thermal tolerance for the tropical clawed frog, Xenopus tropicalis with comments on comparative methods for amphibian studies.

Thermal tolerance data are important for identifying the potential range of non-native species following introduction and establishment. Such data are particularly important for understanding invasion risks of tropical species introduced to temperate climates and identifying whether they can survive outside tropical regions. A breeding population of the tropical clawed frog (Xenopus tropicalis) was recently discovered in west-central Florida, U.S.A. This fully aquatic species is native to the rainforest belt of west Africa and has not been documented outside its native range. Because of the lack of invasion history, data are sparse on the thermal limits for this species. We used chronic lethal and critical thermal methodologies to investigate thermal tolerance on adult stages and critical thermal methods on tadpoles. Because of our use of both chronic and critical methodologies, we also examined the literature to reveal common methods used to investigate thermal minimum and maximum temperature in amphibians, which were found to be dominated by the critical maximum. Chronic lethal temperatures for adult X. tropicalis were 9.73 °C and 36.68 °C. Critical temperatures were affected by acclimation temperature and life stage; adults were more tolerant of extreme temperatures. Based on these critical thermal data and the fact that breeding tends to occur when temperatures are suitable for survival, tadpole stages are unlikely to be affected by extreme temperatures. Instead, range expansion in Florida will likely be limited by the adult stages. Our findings indicate that the tropical clawed frog could occupy much of southern Peninsular Florida and other tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Evaluation of vascular aging on measures of cardiac function and mechanical efficiency: insights from in-silico modeling.

Introduction: This study evaluated the hypothesis that vascular aging (VA) reduces ventricular contractile function and mechanical efficiency (ME) using the left ventricular pressure-volume (PV) construct. Methods: A previously published in-silico computational model (CM) was modified to evaluate the hypothesis in two phases. In phase I, the CM included five settings of aortic compliance (CA) from normal to stiff, studied at a heart rate of 80 bpm, and phase II included the normal to stiff CA settings evaluated at 60, 100, and 140 bpm. The PV construct provided steady-state and transient data through a simulated vena caval occlusion (VCO). The steady-state data included left ventricular volumes (EDV and ESV), stroke work (SW), and VCO provided the PV area (PVA) data in addition to the three measures of contractile state (CS): end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR), dP/dtmax-EDV and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW). Finally, ME was calculated with the SW/PVA parameter. Results: In phase I, EDV and ESV increased, as did SW and PVA. The impact on the CS parameters demonstrated a small decrease in ESPVR, no change in dP/dtmax-EDV, and a large increase in PRSW. ME decreased from 71.5 to 60.8%, respectively. In phase II, at the normal and stiff CA settings, across the heart rates studied, EDV and ESV decreased, ESPVR and dP/dtmax-EDV increased and PRSW decreased. ME decreased from 76.4 to 62.6% at the normal CA and 65.8 to 53.2% at the stiff CA. Discussion: The CM generated new insights regarding how the VA process impacts the contractile state of the myocardium and ME.

Evaluation of ventricular-vascular coupling with critical care metrics: An in silico approach.

Mean arterial pressure and cardiac output provide insufficient guidance for the management of intraoperative hypotension (IOH). In silico models offer additional insights into acute changes in hemodynamic parameters that may be encountered during IOH. A computational model (CM) generated parameters quantifying ventricular-vascular coupling, and pressure-volume construct across levels of aortic compliance (CA ). We studied how a loss from normal-to-stiff CA impacts critical care metrics of hemodynamics during vascular occlusion. Pulse pressure (PP), end-systolic pressure (Pes ), arterial compliance (Art-ca), arterial elastance (Art-ea), and dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn), along mechanical efficiency (ME) were measured at five levels of CA . A loss in CA impacted all variables. During steady-state conditions, PP, Pes , and stroke work increased significantly as CA decreased. Art-ca decreased and Art-ea increased similarly; Eadyn increased and ME decreased. During a decrease in preload across all CA levels, arterial dynamics measures remained linear. The CM demonstrated that a loss in CA impacts measures of arterial dynamics during steady-state and transient conditions and the model demonstrates that critical care metrics are sensitive to changes in CA . While Art-ca and Art-ea were sensitive to changes in preload, Eadyn did not change.

Predictors of Internal Rotation after Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Objectives: Internal rotation (IR) remains unpredictable following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). This study aimed to determine if increasing IR limits range of motion in other planes, and to determine pre- and intra-operative factors associated with post-operative IR. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a single surgeon's primary rTSA with a single implant was undertaken, excluding patients with acute fracture or infection. A lesser tuberosity osteotomy (LTO) or subscapularis peel tenotomy was performed and repaired at the surgeon's discretion. One hundred sixty rTSA were included; 142 (88.8%) had documented IR both pre-operatively and at one-year follow-up. Variables were collected to determine their effect on IR at the 1-year follow-up point. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of sufficient IR. Results: Average age was 69.8 (range: 55-86) years and 55% (88/160) were female. Preoperatively, 20.4% of patients (29/142) had sufficient IR. This improved to 32.4% (46/142) one year following surgery, p<0.001). Factors associated with sufficient post-operative IR were female sex (p=0.05), decreasing body mass index (p=0.04), pre-operative IR (p=0.01), preoperative external rotation (ER) in adduction (p<0.001), radiographic evidence of LTO healing (p=0.02), increased one-year postoperative forward elevation (p<0.001), and increased one-year postoperative ER (p<0.001). Increased postoperative IR did not adversely affect forward elevation or ER. On multivariate analysis, higher preoperative IR and one-year postoperative forward elevation were independently associated with sufficient one-year postoperative IR. Conclusion: IR following rTSA continues to be modest and unpredictable. Independent predictors of sufficient post-operative internal rotation were higher preoperative IR and one-year postoperative forward elevation. In a Grammont-style rTSA system, humeral version, glenosphere lateralization, and glenosphere size do not appear to impact IR. Importantly, achieving sufficient IR does not come at the expense of other planes of motion.

Rehabilitation after Shoulder Instability Surgery.

Shoulder instability can occur in any direction and presents across a broad spectrum including traumatic dislocations, repetitive microinstability events or subluxations, and global joint laxity. The development of pain, functional decline, and articular pathologic condition is a multifaceted process that is influenced by the underlying bony morphology, biology of the surrounding soft tissue structures, dynamic coordination of the periscapular musculature, and patient factors such as age, activity level, and associated injuries. This article will focus on the younger, active patient with instability due to deficiencies in the capsulolabral complex and dynamic stabilizers.

Current Concepts in Upper-Extremity Motion Analysis: Room To Grow?

Kinematic motion analysis (KMA) is well established in the assessment of gait and lower-extremity kinematics; however, its application to upper-extremity (UE) pathology has been limited. This review provides a concise overview of information related to the KMA technology that is pertinent to the clinician. Advantages of KMA for UE assessment are discussed, along with barriers to implementation. An example of KMA used for perioperative assessment of a patient undergoing a distal humerus osteotomy for the correction of arthrogrypotic internal rotation deformity is provided to illustrate its clinical feasibility. Kinematic motion analysis has exciting potential to advance the evaluation and management of UE disorders; however, broad application will require validation and standardization of UE-specific KMA protocols in addition to decreased logistical and cost burdens.

A behaviorally anchored assessment tool for bedside teaching in the emergency department.

Evaluating a resident's development as a bedside educator in the emergency department (ED) is challenging. Teaching consults, where trainees are observed and assessed in their teaching skills, have been used to improve bedside teaching. Within emergency medicine, there are a few assessment tools to evaluate a clinician's bedside teaching, with the majority focusing on faculty. A user-friendly assessment tool adapted to the ED that emphasizes behaviorally anchored, milestone-based evaluations for residents has yet to be developed. We sought to develop such an assessment tool for evaluating residents' bedside teaching in the ED. Using a nominal-group consensus-building technique, we derived the bedside teaching assessment tool. The consensus-building panel was composed of clinician-educators with extensive experience in resident education. The teaching consult process consisted of the consultant, a faculty member with a focus in medical education, directly observing a resident's bedside teaching throughout their shift while filling out the evaluation form based on observed behaviors. A total of 35 consults were provided to 30 individual residents. The mean (±SD) scores for the 35 consults for the learning climate, content teaching, supervision, feedback and evaluation, and self-assessment were 3.84 (±0.75), 3.56 (±0.58), 3.70 (±0.60), 3.64 (±0.77), and 3.92 (±0.45), respectively. The median scores for the above domains were 4, 3.5, 4, 3.5, and 4, respectively. The tool has acceptable internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.723 (95% CI 0.469-0.839). Eleven of 13 (85%) residents who provided feedback agreed or strongly agreed that the quantitative feedback provided by the assessment tool was useful. Twelve of 13 (92%) residents found the consultation process to be unobtrusive to their clinical performance. In conclusion, this novel behaviorally anchored assessment tool for bedside teaching can serve as a useful adjunct to a teaching consult and provide useful feedback for the development of residents' bedside teaching skills.

A protocol for screening potentially invasive non-native species using Weed Risk Assessment-type decision-support tools.

There is increasing use worldwide of electronic decision-support tools to identify potentially invasive non-native species so as to inform policy and management decisions aimed at preventing or mitigating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of biological invasions. This study reviews the analytical approaches used to calibrate scores generated by the Weed Risk Assessment and subsequent adaptations thereof and provides a protocol for: (i) the identification of the assessor(s) who will carry out the screenings; (ii) the definition of the risk assessment area; (iii) the criteria for selection of the species for screening; and (iv) the a priori categorisation of the species into invasive or non-invasive necessary to compute the thresholds by which to distinguish between high-risk and medium-risk non-native species. This analytical approach represents an evidence-based and statistically robust means with which to inform decision-makers and stakeholders about policy and management of potentially invasive species and is expected to serve as a general reference of forthcoming screening applications of Weed Risk Assessment-type toolkits.

Structure-activity relationship studies of allosteric inhibitors of EYA2 tyrosine phosphatase.

Human eyes absent (EYA) proteins possess Tyr phosphatase activity, which is critical for numerous cancer and metastasis promoting activities, making it an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this work, we demonstrate that the inhibitor-bound form of EYA2 does not favour binding to Mg2+ , which is indispensable for the Tyr phosphatase activity. We further describe characterization and optimization of this class of allosteric inhibitors. A series of analogues were synthesized to improve potency of the inhibitors and to elucidate structure-activity relationships. Two co-crystal structures confirm the binding modes of this class of inhibitors. Our medicinal chemical, structural, biochemical, and biophysical studies provide insight into the molecular interactions of EYA2 with these allosteric inhibitors. The compounds derived from this study are useful for exploring the function of the Tyr phosphatase activity of EYA2 in normal and cancerous cells and serve as reference compounds for screening or developing allosteric phosphatase inhibitors. Finally, the co-crystal structures reported in this study will aid in structure-based drug discovery against EYA2.

Fragment-based lead discovery of indazole-based compounds as AXL kinase inhibitors.

AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. It is upregulated in a variety of cancers and its overexpression is associated with poor disease prognosis and acquired drug resistance. Utilizing a fragment-based lead discovery approach, a new indazole-based AXL inhibitor was obtained. The indazole fragment hit 11, identified through a high concentration biochemical screen, was expeditiously improved to fragment 24 by screening our in-house expanded library of fragments (ELF) collection. Subsequent fragment optimization guided by docking studies provided potent inhibitor 54 with moderate exposure levels in mice. X-ray crystal structure of analog 50 complexed with the I650M mutated kinase domain of Mer revealed the key binding interactions for the scaffold. The good potency coupled with reasonable kinase selectivity, moderate in vivo exposure levels, and availability of structural information for the series makes it a suitable starting point for further optimization efforts.

Tele-Operative Low-Cost Robotic Lung Ultrasound Scanning Platform for Triage of COVID-19 Patients.

Novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic of epic proportions, and global response to prepare health systems worldwide is of utmost importance. 2-dimensional (2D) lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a rapid, noninvasive imaging tool for diagnosing COVID-19 infected patients. Concerns surrounding LUS include the disparity of infected patients and healthcare providers, and importantly, the requirement for substantial physical contact between the patient and operator, increasing the risk of transmission. New variants of COVID-19 will continue to emerge; therefore, mitigation of the virus's spread is of paramount importance. A tele-operative robotic ultrasound platform capable of performing LUS in COVID-19 infected patients may be of significant benefit, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The authors address the issues mentioned above surrounding the use of LUS in COVID-19 infected patients and the potential for extension of this technology in a resource-limited environment. Additionally, first-time application, feasibility, and safety were validated in healthy subjects. Preliminary results demonstrate that our platform allows for the successful acquisition and application of robotic LUS in humans.

A global-scale screening of non-native aquatic organisms to identify potentially invasive species under current and future climate conditions.

The threat posed by invasive non-native species worldwide requires a global approach to identify which introduced species are likely to pose an elevated risk of impact to native species and ecosystems. To inform policy, stakeholders and management decisions on global threats to aquatic ecosystems, 195 assessors representing 120 risk assessment areas across all six inhabited continents screened 819 non-native species from 15 groups of aquatic organisms (freshwater, brackish, marine plants and animals) using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. This multi-lingual decision-support tool for the risk screening of aquatic organisms provides assessors with risk scores for a species under current and future climate change conditions that, following a statistically based calibration, permits the accurate classification of species into high-, medium- and low-risk categories under current and predicted climate conditions. The 1730 screenings undertaken encompassed wide geographical areas (regions, political entities, parts thereof, water bodies, river basins, lake drainage basins, and marine regions), which permitted thresholds to be identified for almost all aquatic organismal groups screened as well as for tropical, temperate and continental climate classes, and for tropical and temperate marine ecoregions. In total, 33 species were identified as posing a 'very high risk' of being or becoming invasive, and the scores of several of these species under current climate increased under future climate conditions, primarily due to their wide thermal tolerances. The risk thresholds determined for taxonomic groups and climate zones provide a basis against which area-specific or climate-based calibrated thresholds may be interpreted. In turn, the risk rankings help decision-makers identify which species require an immediate 'rapid' management action (e.g. eradication, control) to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts, which require a full risk assessment, and which are to be restricted or banned with regard to importation and/or sale as ornamental or aquarium/fishery enhancement.

Management of Adult Brachial Plexus Injuries.

Adult brachial plexus injuries result in profound functional deficits, debilitating pain, substantial mental health implications, and extensive economic impacts. Their initial evaluation includes a detailed physical examination, electrodiagnostic studies, advanced imaging, and patient counseling. A team-based approach, led by a peripheral nerve surgeon and including hand therapists, electrodiagnosticians, mental health experts, and pain-management specialists, is used to provide optimal longitudinal care during the lengthy recovery process. The options for the surgical management of brachial plexus injuries include exploration, neurolysis, nerve grafting, nerve transfer, free functional muscle transfer, tendon transfer, arthrodesis, and amputation. When treated within 6 months, the outcomes are favorable for the restoration of essential shoulder and elbow function. Free functional muscle transfer is a powerful tool to address elbow flexion and rudimentary grasp in both primary and delayed settings. The restoration of hand function remains a challenge for patients with complete brachial plexus injury. The purpose of this review is to summarize foundational concepts in diagnosis and management, discuss current trends and controversial topics, and address areas for future investigation.

Unstable intraguild predation causes establishment failure of a globally invasive species.

Biotic resistance is often posited, but rarely known, to be the cause of invasion failure. Competition and predation are the most frequently identified processes that may prevent or limit the establishment of nonnative species. Interactions between nonnative and native species that involve intraguild predation (IGP) are very common in nature, although theory predicts most IGP systems should be unstable and lead to extinction. If this prediction is true, the frequency of invasion failures due to IGP may be underappreciated because of their fleeting nature and, thus, studies of unstable IGP systems are lacking, despite the opportunities they offer for understanding the factors affecting their unstable dynamics. We investigated a failed invasion involving an IGP relationship. In Florida, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), a worldwide invader, fails to establish in the presence of eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). We tested whether and how resident mosquitofish cause guppy invasion failure using replicated mesocosm and aquarium trials. Both the predator and competitor components of the IGP relationship were strongly asymmetrical, with large impacts on guppies. We identified two effects, direct consumption of neonates and aggressive interference competition, that limited survival and recruitment. The highly unstable nature of this IGP relationship is the primary cause of the failure of the guppy to establish in Florida. Our study shows that the transient nature of an ephemeral IGP relationship can yield important insights into the underlying causes of invasion failure, including the role of strong biotic resistance.

Topography of transcriptionally active chromatin in glioblastoma.

Molecular profiling of the most aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma (GBM) on the basis of gene expression, DNA methylation, and genomic variations advances both cancer research and clinical diagnosis. The enhancer architectures and regulatory circuitries governing tumor-intrinsic transcriptional diversity and subtype identity are still elusive. Here, by mapping H3K27ac deposition, we analyze the active regulatory landscapes across 95 GBM biopsies, 12 normal brain tissues, and 38 cell line counterparts. Analyses of differentially regulated enhancers and super-enhancers uncovered previously unrecognized layers of intertumor heterogeneity. Integrative analysis of variant enhancer loci and transcriptome identified topographies of transcriptional enhancers and core regulatory circuitries in four molecular subtypes of primary tumors: AC1-mesenchymal, AC1-classical, AC2-proneural, and AC3-proneural. Moreover, this study reveals core oncogenic dependency on super-enhancer-driven transcriptional factors, long noncoding RNAs, and druggable targets in GBM. Through profiling of transcriptional enhancers, we provide clinically relevant insights into molecular classification, pathogenesis, and therapeutic intervention of GBM.

MNK1 and MNK2 enforce expression of E2F1, FOXM1, and WEE1 to drive soft tissue sarcoma.

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a heterogeneous disease that arises from connective tissues. Clinical outcome of patients with advanced tumors especially de-differentiated liposarcoma and uterine leiomyosarcoma remains unsatisfactory, despite intensive treatment regimens including maximal surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. MAP kinase-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 and 2 (MNK1/2) have been shown to contribute to oncogenic translation via phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). However, little is known about the role of MNK1/2 and their downstream targets in STS. In this study, we show that depletion of either MNK1 or MNK2 suppresses cell viability, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenicity of STS cells. We also identify a compelling antiproliferative efficacy of a novel, selective MNK inhibitor ETC-168. Cellular responsiveness of STS cells to ETC-168 correlates positively with that of phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6). Mirroring MNK1/2 silencing, ETC-168 treatment strongly blocks eIF4E phosphorylation and represses expression of sarcoma-driving onco-proteins including E2F1, FOXM1, and WEE1. Moreover, combination of ETC-168 and MCL1 inhibitor S63845 exerts a synergistic antiproliferative activity against STS cells. In summary, our study reveals crucial roles of MNK1/2 and their downstream targets in STS tumorigenesis. Our data encourage further clinical translation of MNK inhibitors for STS treatment.

Factors Associated With Distal Femoral Osteotomy Survivorship: Data From the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) Registry.

BACKGROUND: Malalignment of the lower extremity can lead to early functional impairment and degenerative changes. Distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) can be performed with arthroscopic surgery to correct lower extremity malalignment while addressing intra-articular abnormalities or to help patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) changes due to alignment deformities. PURPOSE: To examine survivorship after DFO and identify the predictors for failure. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, a statewide discharge database, were utilized to identify patients between the ages of 18 and 40 years who underwent DFO from 2000 to 2014. Patients with a history of lower extremity trauma, infectious arthritis, rheumatological disease, skeletal dysplasia, congenital deformities, malignancy, or concurrent arthroplasty were excluded. Failure was defined as conversion to total or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, and the identified cohort was stratified based on whether they went on to fail. Age, sex, race, diagnoses, concurrent procedures, and comorbidities were recorded for each admission. Statistically significant differences between patients who required arthroplasty and those who did not were identified using the Student t test for continuous variables and a chi-square test for categorical variables. Kaplan-Meier survivorship curves were constructed to estimate 5- and 10-year survival rates. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the risk for conversion to arthroplasty. RESULTS: A total of 420 procedures were included for analysis. Overall, 53 knees were converted to arthroplasty. The mean follow-up time was 4.8 years (range, 0.0-14.7 years). The 5-year survivorship was 90.2% (range, 85.7%-93.4%), and the 10-year survivorship was 73.2% (range, 64.7%-79.9%). The mean time to failure was 5.9 years (range, 0.4-13.9 years). Survivorship significantly decreased with increasing age (P = .004). Hypertension and a primary diagnosis of osteoarthrosis were significant risk factors for conversion to arthroplasty (odds ratio [OR], 3.12 [95% CI, 1.38-7.03]; P = .006, and OR, 2.42 [95% CI, 1.02-5.77]; P = .045, respectively), along with a primary diagnosis of traumatic arthropathy (OR, 10.19 [95% CI, 1.71-60.65]; P = .01) and a comorbid diagnosis of asthma (OR, 2.88 [95% CI, 1.23-6.78]; P = .02). Patients with Medicaid were less likely (OR, 0.11 [95% CI, 0.01-0.88]; P = .04) to undergo arthroplasty compared with patients with private insurance, while patients with workers' compensation were 3.1 times more likely (OR, 3.08 [95% CI, 1.21-7.82]; P = .02). CONCLUSION: Older age was an independent risk factor for conversion to arthroplasty after DFO in patients ≥18 years but ≤60 years. Hypertension, asthma, and a diagnosis of osteoarthrosis or traumatic arthropathy at the time of surgery were predictors associated with failure, reinforcing the need for careful patient selection. The high survivorship rate of DFO in this analysis supports this procedure as a reasonable alternative to arthroplasty in younger patients with valgus deformities about the knee and symptomatic unicompartmental OA.

Coastal restoration evaluated using dominant habitat characteristics and associated fish communities.

Increasing coastal populations and urban development have led to the loss of estuarine habitats for fish and wildlife. Specifically, a decline in complexity and heterogeneity of tidal marshes and creeks is thought to negatively impact fish communities by altering the function of nursery grounds, including predator refuge and prey resources. To offset these impacts, numerous agencies are restoring degraded habitats while also creating new ones where habitat has been lost. To improve understanding of what contributes to a successful restoration, six quarterly sampling events using two gear types to collect small- and large-bodied fishes were conducted to compare the fish community structure and habitat characteristics at three natural, three restored, and three impacted (i.e. ditched) areas along the coast of Tampa Bay, Florida. Overall, impacted sites had significantly lower small-bodied and juvenile fish diversity than natural and restored areas, while restored sites harbored a greater number of fish species than impacted sites for both large- and small-bodied fish. Habitat features such as shoreline slope differentiated impacted and restored from natural areas. Although we did not find a direct correlation, habitat heterogeneity likely played a role in structuring fish communities. These findings provide guidance for future coastal restoration or modification of existing projects. Specifically, the habitat mosaic approach of creating a geographically compact network of heterogenous habitat characteristics is likely to support fish diversity, while decreasing shoreline slope in a greater amount of area within coastal wetland restorations would more closely mimic natural areas.

Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish.

Clarias batrachus (walking catfish) is an invasive species in Florida, renowned for its air-breathing and terrestrial locomotor capabilities. However, it is unknown how this species orients in terrestrial environments. Furthermore, while anecdotal life history information is widespread for this species in its nonnative range, little of this information exists in the literature. The goals of this study were to identify sensory modalities that C. batrachus use to orient on land, and to describe the natural history of this species in its nonnative range. Fish (n = 150) were collected from around Ruskin, FL, and housed in a greenhouse, where experiments took place. Individual catfish were placed in the center of a terrestrial arena and were exposed to nine treatments: two controls, L-alanine, quinine, allyl isothiocynate, sucrose, volatile hydrogen sulphide, pond water and aluminium foil. These fish exhibited significantly positive chemotaxis toward alanine and pond water, and negative chemotaxis away from volatile hydrogen sulphide, suggesting chemoreception - both through direct contact and through the air - is important to their terrestrial orientation. Additionally, 88 people from Florida wildlife-related Facebook groups who have personal observations of C. batrachus on land were interviewed for information regarding their terrestrial natural history. These data were combined with observations from 38 YouTube videos. C. batrachus appear to emerge most frequently during or just after heavy summer rains, particularly from stormwater drains in urban areas, where they may feed on terrestrial invertebrates. By better understanding the full life history of C. batrachus, we can improve management of this species.