Students as ecologists: Strategies for successful mentorship of undergraduate researchers

Guiding undergraduates through the ecological research process can be incredibly rewarding and present opportunities to break down barriers to inclusion and diversity in scientific disciplines. At the same time, mentoring undergraduate researchers is a complicated process that requires time and flexibility. While many academics receive extensive guidance on how to be successful in research endeavors, we pay much less attention to training in mentorship and working collaboratively with undergraduate students. This paper seeks to provide a framework for successfully collaborating with undergraduates including initial recruitment, development of a contract, fostering student ownership of research projects, and submission of a polished manuscript.While institutions worldwide encourage undergraduate research and publication, little training and professional development are provided to potential mentors. Our paper fills a critical gap in knowledge and provides a framework for academic mentors of all career stages to successfully guide students from question to publication.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149365/1/ece35090_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149365/2/ece35090.pd

Prevention of cervical cancer in women with ASCUS in the Brazilian Unified National Health System: cost-effectiveness of the molecular biology method for HPV detection Prevenção de câncer de colo uterino em pacientes com ASCUS no Sistema Único de Saúde: custo-efetividade de método de biologia molecular para HPV

This study aimed to assess the performance of PCR as a means of detecting HPV 16/18 compared to the single probe-based PCR for detecting high-risk HPV, and evaluate these methods for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in follow-ups for ASCUS testing. It also compares the costs of cytology, PCR methods, colposcopy and biopsy in the Brazilian Unified National Health System. Of the 81 patients with ASCUS, 41 (50.6%) tested positive for HPV 16/18 in PCR testing and 47 (58.02%) tested positive for high-risk HPV with single probe-based PCR testing. The negative predictive value was 93.75% for HPV 16/18 PCR and 100% for single probe-based PCR in cases that progressed to high-grade CIN. The annual costs of patient referral were the following: R$2,144.52 for referral of patients with ASCUS cytology for colposcopy; R$6,307.44 for referral of patients with ASCUS cytology and PCR positive for HPV 16/18 or colposcopy; R$3,691.80 for referral of patients with ASCUS cytology with single probe-based PCR positive for high-risk HPV. Therefore, cost per user can be reduced by performing single probe-based PCR for high-risk HPV on patients with ASCUS.<br>Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar o desempenho do PCR para detecção de HPV 16/18 versus PCR sonda única para a detecção de HPV de alto risco, avaliar estes métodos na detecção de neoplasia intraepitelial cervical (NIC) no seguimento de ASCUS, e comparar os custos de citologia, métodos de PCR, colposcopia e biópsia no Sistema Único de Saúde. Das 81 pacientes com ASCUS, 41 (50,6$2.144,52, R$6.307,44 e R$3.691,80, respectivamente. Considerando eventual redução dos custos para utilização em grandes quantidades, este método poderia ser realizado em ASCUS

Influence of metal ions on bioremediation activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2

The aim of this paper was to describe the effect of various metal ions on the activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2. We also compared activity of different dioxygenases isolated from this strain, in the presence of metal ions, after induction by various aromatic compounds. S. maltophilia KB2 degraded 13 mM 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, 10 mM benzoic acid and 12 mM phenol within 24 h of incubation. In the presence of dihydroxybenzoate and benzoate, the activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase was observed. Although Fe(3+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Co(2+), Al(3+), Cd(2+), Ni(2+) and Mn(2+) ions caused 20–80 % inhibition of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activity, the above-mentioned metal ions (with the exception of Ni(2+)) inhibited catechol 1,2-dioxygenase to a lesser extent or even activate the enzyme. Retaining activity of at least one of three dioxygenases from strain KB2 in the presence of metal ions makes it an ideal bacterium for bioremediation of contaminated areas

Synthesis, x-ray structural determination, and magnetic susceptibility, mössbauer, and EPR studies of (Ph4P)Fe2(Cat)4(H2O) 2·6H2O, a catecholato-bridged dimer of iron(III)

Reaction of Fe(OH) with 2 equiv of catechol (Cat) and 1 equiv of NaOH in aqueous solution produces violet crystals (monoclinic unit cell, space group Cc/c, with a = 22.544(9) Å, b = 12.949(6) Å, c = 22.459(9) Å, β= 91.10(3)°, V = 6555(5) Å, Z = 4, and R = 0.039) of (PhP)[Fe(Cat)(H O)]·6HO. X-ray crystallography reveals that the complex consists of an anionic binuclear iron(III) core in which each iron is coordinated by six oxygen atoms with the two FeO octahedra sharing a common edge. The complex is centrosymmetric with an inversion center in the middle of the FeO core. The Fe⋯Fe distance is 3.272(1) Å, and the bridging Fe-O(1)-Fe angle is 106.2°. Bridging catechol ligands are coplanar, and the nonbridging catechol ligands and coordinated water molecules are located trans to the FeO plane. Infrared spectra of (PhP)[Fe(Cat)(H O)]· 6HO show characteristic C-O stretching frequencies at 1475 and 1432 cm, and the absorption spectrum in dimethyl sulfoxide is dominated by an intense broad peak at 18 350 cm (ε = 3430 M cm). Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data show that the two iron(III) sites are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J = -9.7 cm, g = 2.00, p(%monomer) = 5.2%). X- and Q-band EPR spectra are interpreted in terms of the strong exchange limit, and the resonances arise from an S = 1 spin multiplet (g = 1.95 ±0.01, |D| = 0.052 ± 0.003 cm, |E| = 0.013 ± 0.001 cm, and E/D = 0.25) and an S = 2 spin multiplet (g = 1.93 ± 0.02, |D| = 0.041 ± 0.002 cm, |E| = 0.0102 ± 0.0005 cm, and E/D = 0.25). Mössbauer spectra of the complex at 4.2 K in zero applied magnetic field were fitted with a single quadrupole split doublet with an isomer shift of 0.556 mm s and a quadrupole splitting of 0.898 mm s