Nursing Faculty Shortage: Nurses\u27 Perceptions as a Key to Administrative Solutions

The nursing faculty shortage is well documented. Higher education administrators turn away qualified student applicants because of the lack of qualified nursing faculty. Furthermore, they find recruitment and retention of qualified nursing faculty a challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of the nursing faculty role, causes of the faculty shortage, and solutions to the shortage as perceived by: 1) nurses currently in a faculty role and 2) nurses with a master’s degree who were not employed in a full-time faculty position. A qualitative study using the phenomenological method was undertaken. Two groups of nurses were interviewed. The faculty group was eight nurses teaching full-time selected from faculty teaching in schools of nursing in West Virginia. The service group was eight nurses with masters’ degrees in nursing but not in a faculty position selected from nurses licensed in West Virginia. In interviews, participants were asked to describe their current position, perceptions of the nursing faculty role, causes of the shortage, and solutions to the shortage. Participants believed the causes of the shortage included low salaries, lack of nurses with advanced degrees, nurses without training in teaching, and other career options. Their solutions included presenting a positive image of the nursing faculty role, supporting doctoral education, utilizing nurses with masters’ degrees, mentoring new faculty, and networking with nurses in service positions. Those in both groups described a passion for nursing and teaching and viewed themselves as educators. The positive aspects of the faculty role were relationships with the students, watching students develop into nurses, relationships with colleagues, and flexible schedules. Nursing administrators will continue to be challenged with recruiting and retaining qualified nursing faculty. This study found that nurses in both faculty and service settings enjoyed teaching but they selected their positions based on cost-benefit analyses. In other words, for these participants, the costs of pursuing faculty positions are unduly high considering the perceived benefits

Flow cytometric investigations on Pelargonium × crispum: an estimation of nuclear DNA contents with two different internal standards

Sieben Pelargonium × crispum Sorten, vier Zuchtklone und die Art P. crispum wurden mit der Durchflusszytometrie untersucht. Für die Bestimmung der DNA-Gehalte wurden die zwei internen Standards Tomate ‘Stupické’ (2C-Wert = 1.96 pg) und Blumenkohl ‘Korso’ (2C-Wert = 1.31 pg) verwendet. Wie erwartet, unterschieden sich die 2C-Werte der untersuchten diploiden Genotypen signifikant von denen der tetraploiden. Insgesamt variierten die 2C-Werte zwischen 0.97 und 2.18 pg DNA und bildeten drei signifikant unterschiedliche Gruppen. Die ermittelten DNA-Gehalte waren unabhängig vom verwendeten Standard mit einer Ausnahme: der DNA-Gehalt der Art P. crispum gemessen mit ‘Korso‘ unterschied sich signifikant vom DNA-Gehalt, der mit ‘Stupické’ bestimmt wurde. Die Standards ‘Stupické’ und ‘Korso’ sind für durchflusszytometrische Untersuchungen von Genotypen mit 2C-Werten < 1.8 pg wie Diploide der Sektion Pelar­gonium gleichermaßen geeignet. Jedoch ist die Tomate ‘Stupické’ ein ungeeigneter Standard für Geno­typen mit 2C-Werten von ca. 2 pg, weil sich die Positionen der 2C-Werte der Probe und des Standards überlappen.Seven Pelargonium × crispum cultivars, four breeding clones and the species P. crispum were analysed by flow cytometry. Tomato ‘Stupické’ (2C value = 1.96 pg) and cauliflower ‘Korso’ (2C value = 1.31 pg) were used as inter­nal standards to estimate the DNA content of the samples. As expected, the 2C values of the investigated diploid and tetraploid genotypes discriminated significantly. Overall, the mean 2C values ranged from 0.97 to 2.18 pg DNA and formed three significantly different groups. The estimation of the DNA content of the cultivars and breeding clones was independent of the standard used with one exception; for P. crispum the estim­ated DNA contents differed significantly. The standards ‘Stupické’ and ‘Korso’ are equally appropriate for flow cyto­metric investigation of genotypes with 2C values < 1.8 pg like diploid genotypes of the section Pelargonium. Tomato ‘Stupické’ is a rather impractical standard for geno­types with 2C values of about 2 pg, due to the overlapping positions of the 2C values of sample and standard

Biotechnological tools for improvement of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L. complex), valuable medicinal and vegetable plants in Kenya

Solanum nigrum complex is a group of plant species used as indigenous vegetables but also as traditional medicinal plants in Kenya and other parts of the world. In Kenya, just like in most African countries, both the unripe fruits and leaves are used to cure different ailments. This vegetable is said to improve the CD4 count in HIV patients and all HIV patients are encouraged to take it as part of their diet. Despite that high value, African nightshade is a neglected crop. Up to now the farmers exploit traditional landraces and accessions. For development of improved African S. nigrum varieties, knowledge is necessary about the genetic structure of the local African nightshade accessions. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was performed to discriminate accessions from the Western region of Kenya. Production of haploid plants of the S. nigrum complex and subsequent chromsome doubling is a promising tool to obtain pure inbred lines in a short time. Therefore, in this study, anthers of S. nigrum were cultivated in vitro. It was observed that the microspores underwent the first divisions and calluses were formed

Spontaneous polyploidisation of interspecific and intersectional Pelargonium hybrids during embryo rescue

Modern Pelargonium crispum hybrids (section Pelargonium) show low genetic and phenotypic variation due to the domestication effect. Species of the sections Cortusina, Ligularia, and Pelargonium are potential breeding partners at the diploid level (2n = 2x = 22). Five P. × crispum cultivars were used as seed parents and pollinated with one genotype of P. grandiflorum (section Pelargonium) and three genotypes of P. fulgidum (section Ligularia). In both combinations, embryo rescue was necessary. Embryos were rescued and cultured on Murashige &amp; Skoog medium supplemented with phytohormones. After callus and adventitious shoot regeneration 15 viable interspecific hybrids were obtained from crossbreeding with P. grandiflorum and 11 intersectional hybrids from crossings with P. fulgidum, respectively. The hybrids were cultivated in the greenhouse until flowering. Their hybrid character was evident due to the intermediate morphological traits. Molecular investigations using dp-RAPD analysis confirmed this. Within the F1 population P. × crispum with P. grandiflorum three hybrids and after crossing with P. fulgidum one hybrid possessed larger flowers and fully developed anthers, respectively. Their ploidy level was confirmed as tetraploid using flow cytometry. Therefore, a spontaneous polyploidisation occurred during in vitro regeneration. The tetraploid F1 hybrids are fertile and could be used for further breeding

Mutagenesis and polyploidization for creation of new genetic variability of Hydrangea macrophylla

Für die Erweiterung der Zuchtmethodik bei Hydrangea macrophylla gelangten Methoden der induzierten Mutagenese und Polyploidisierung zur Anwendung. Für die Mutagenese wurden In-vitro-Nodienexplantate der Sorte Blaumeise mit Röntgenstrahlung mit den Dosen 5, 10, 15, 20 und 30&nbsp;Gy behandelt. Die letale Dosis von 50% lag zwischen 20 und 30&nbsp;Gy. Nach Gewächshausüberführung zeigten die bestrahlten Pflanzen veränderte Merkmale wie Wuchsdepressionen, deformierte Blütenstände und schwarze Stiele. Die Polyploidisierung wurde ebenfalls in vitro an Nodienexplantaten durchgeführt. Ausgangsmaterial waren die diploiden Sorten Adria und Libelle sowie die triploiden Sorten Blaumeise und Nachtigall. Kolchizin und Trifluralin dienten als chemische Agenzien zur Hemmung der Mitose. Nach Kolchizinbehandlung wurden nur vier Ploidiechimären gefunden. Trifluralin war weitaus effektiver. Bereits eine Konzentration von 0,001% Trifluralin induzierte die Bildung polyploidisierter Pflanzen. Hexaploide Pflanzen der Sorten Blaumeise und Nachtigall zeigten eine sehr starke Wuchsdepres­sion und Blattdeformierungen, die Blütenbildung war gestört. Dagegen waren tetraploide Pflanzen der Sorten Adria und Libelle attraktiv wie ihre diploiden Ausgangsformen. Die Flowzytometrie ermöglichte eine schnelle Feststellung des Ploidieniveaus und nach Fluoreszenz-in-situ-Hybridisierung mit Gensequenzen der 5S und 18/25S rDNA erfolgte die Bestimmung der Karyo­typen. Beide ribosomale Gensequenzen waren jeweils nur ein Mal im haploiden Genom auf unterschiedlichen Chromosomen lokalisiert. Die Bedeutung der Methoden Mutagenese und Polyploidisierung zur Schaffung von Prebreeding-Material wird diskutiert. Insbesondere der Einsatz von tetraploiden Hortensien im Zuchtprozess scheint ein aussichtsreicher Beitrag zur Erweiterung des bestehenden Sortenspektrums zu sein. &nbsp; &nbsp;The suitability of induced mutagenesis and polyploidization of Hydrangea macrophylla to be incorporated in breeding programs was investigated. For mutagenesis nodal explants in vitro of variety Blaumeise were irra­diated with X-rays (5, 10, 20 and 30&nbsp;Gy). The lethal dose of 50% was between 20 and 30&nbsp;Gy. Irradiated plants were transferred to the greenhouse. New phenotypic traits like dwarfism, deformed leaves or black stems were observed. Polyploidization was carried out on nodal explants in vitro, too. Plant material was from the diploid varieties Adria and Libelle as well as from the triploid varieties Blaumeise and Nachtigall. For mitosis inhibition colchicine and trifluralin were used. After treatment with colchicine only four ploidy chimeric plants were found. The effectiveness of trifluralin was much better. Already after treatment with 0.001% trifluralin polyploidized plants were received. Hexaploid plants showed a strong dwarfism and deformed leaves. By contrast, tetraploid plants were attractive like the diploid origins. The flow cytometry enabled rapid ploidy estimation and after the fluorescence in situ hybridization with gene sequences of 5S and 18/25S rDNA the karyotypes were characterized. Each ribosomal DNA sequence used was localized one time on the haploid genome on different chromosomes. The relevance of mutagenesis and polyploidization for creation of pre-breeding material will be discussed. Especially the utilization of tetraploid hydrangeas seems to be a useful tool for the development of new hydrangea varieties. &nbsp; &nbsp

On genetic diversity in caraway: Genotyping of a large germplasm collection.

Caraway (Carum carvi) is a widespread and frequently used spice and medicinal plant with a long history of cultivation. However, due to ongoing climatic changes, the cultivation is becoming increasingly risky. To secure caraway cultivation in future, timely breeding efforts to develop adapted material are necessary. Analysis of genetic diversity can accompany this process, for instance, by revealing untapped gene pools. Here, we analyzed 137 accessions using genotyping by sequencing (GBS). Hence, we can report a broad overview of population structure and genetic diversity of caraway. Population structure was determined using a principal coordinate analysis, a Bayesian clustering analysis, phylogenetic trees and a neighbor network based on 13,155 SNPs. Genotypic data indicate a clear separation of accessions into two subpopulations, which correlates with the flowering type (annual vs. biennial). Four winter-annual accessions were closer related to biennial accessions. In an analysis of molecular variance, genetic variation between the two subpopulations was 7.84%. In addition, we estimated the genome size for 35 accessions by flow cytometry. An average genome size of 4.282 pg/2C (± 0.0096 S.E.) was estimated. Therefore, we suggest a significantly smaller genome size than stated in literature

Analysis of Hypericum accessions by DNA fingerprinting and flow cytometry

Hypericum perforatum, H. umbellatum, H. maculatum, and H. hircinum accessions originating from botanical gardens across Europe were examined by flow cytometry and molecular markers. 2C DNA content of 17 Hypericum perforatum accessions (Hp) and the H. perforatum cultivar Topaz amounted to between 1.56 pg and 1.62 pg. In four Hp accessions some individual plants were found with a DNA content corresponding to 6Cx (2.34 - 2.39 pg). All plants of accession Hp8 showed a DNA content of 6Cx (2.41 pg). In root tips of Hp plants with an average DNA amount of 1.58 pg, 32 chromosomes were detected, corresponding to 2n = 4x. This is the first ploidy and/or DNA content report for H. umbellatum, H. maculatum and H. hircinum. H. umbellatum and H. maculatum, each contained 0.76 pg DNA and 16 chromosomes were counted. The 2C DNA content of H. hircinum was 1.00 pg with the best metaphase plate revealing 32 chromosomes. Additionally, a combined marker analysis, based on inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), was conducted to gain a better understanding of diversity especially within the accessions of H. perforatum. A total of 27 (11 ISSR and 16 SRAP) markers were screened, showing 699 bands, of which 661 were polymorphic. UPGMA clustering revealed that accessions from the same geographic area tended to be more closely related, while H. maculatum was grouped separately from all H. perforatum accessions. Both methods have shown similar sensitivities in detecting the genetic diversity of the analyzed genotypes. Our results may be useful for Hypericum breeding programs and the development of effective conservation strategies

Holocentromeres can consist of merely a few megabase-sized satellite arrays

The centromere is the chromosome region where microtubules attach during cell division. In contrast to monocentric chromosomes with one centromere, holocentric species usually distribute hundreds of centromere units along the entire chromatid. We assembled the chromosome-scale reference genome and analyzed the holocentromere and (epi)genome organization of the lilioid Chionographis japonica. Remarkably, each of its holocentric chromatids consists of only 7 to 11 evenly spaced megabase-sized centromere-specific histone H3-positive units. These units contain satellite arrays of 23 and 28 bp-long monomers capable of forming palindromic structures. Like monocentric species, C. japonica forms clustered centromeres in chromocenters at interphase. In addition, the large-scale eu- and heterochromatin arrangement differs between C. japonica and other known holocentric species. Finally, using polymer simulations, we model the formation of prometaphase line-like holocentromeres from interphase centromere clusters. Our findings broaden the knowledge about centromere diversity, showing that holocentricity is not restricted to species with numerous and small centromere units