Habits and attitudes toward writing affect the publication output of environmental biology trainees

Publications are the mainstay of academic success, yet scientific writing requires consistent feedback and practice to build and maintain skills. In this study, we surveyed 342 environmental biology trainees (i.e., graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) about their writing habits. Our objective was to explore whether trainee writing habits align with suggestions from scientific writing guide books and articles, and how individual habits and attitudes may impact writing output. We found that the majority of respondents (>65%) felt negatively about writing and publishing, and few adhered to established advice such as scheduling writing time, setting attainable goals, or joining a writing accountability group. Our results show that trainees who dedicated more hours to writing each week and individually tracked their writing progress had more first-author publications. In particular, graduate students who regularly scheduled writing time during the week and participated in writing groups also had more first-author publications. Conversely, trainees who felt negatively about writing, wrote mainly before deadlines, and relied on “check-ins” with advisors or writing groups to monitor writing progress had fewer first-author publications. We describe ways that individuals, advisors, and institutions could improve trainee writing habits and assist them in developing more positive attitudes toward writing to ultimately help trainees achieve their writing goals

MrkH, a Novel c-di-GMP-Dependent Transcriptional Activator, Controls Klebsiella pneumoniae Biofilm Formation by Regulating Type 3 Fimbriae Expression

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly amongst hospitalized individuals. The principle mechanism for pathogenesis in hospital environments involves the formation of biofilms, primarily on implanted medical devices. In this study, we constructed a transposon mutant library in a clinical isolate, K. pneumoniae AJ218, to identify the genes and pathways implicated in biofilm formation. Three mutants severely defective in biofilm formation contained insertions within the mrkABCDF genes encoding the main structural subunit and assembly machinery for type 3 fimbriae. Two other mutants carried insertions within the yfiN and mrkJ genes, which encode GGDEF domain- and EAL domain-containing c-di-GMP turnover enzymes, respectively. The remaining two isolates contained insertions that inactivated the mrkH and mrkI genes, which encode for novel proteins with a c-di-GMP-binding PilZ domain and a LuxR-type transcriptional regulator, respectively. Biochemical and functional assays indicated that the effects of these factors on biofilm formation accompany concomitant changes in type 3 fimbriae expression. We mapped the transcriptional start site of mrkA, demonstrated that MrkH directly activates transcription of the mrkA promoter and showed that MrkH binds strongly to the mrkA regulatory region only in the presence of c-di-GMP. Furthermore, a point mutation in the putative c-di-GMP-binding domain of MrkH completely abolished its function as a transcriptional activator. In vivo analysis of the yfiN and mrkJ genes strongly indicated their c-di-GMP-specific function as diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase, respectively. In addition, in vitro assays showed that purified MrkJ protein has strong c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity. These results demonstrate for the first time that c-di-GMP can function as an effector to stimulate the activity of a transcriptional activator, and explain how type 3 fimbriae expression is coordinated with other gene expression programs in K. pneumoniae to promote biofilm formation to implanted medical devices

Long-term risk prediction after major lower limb amputation: 1-year results of the PERCEIVE study

Background: Decision-making when considering major lower limb amputation is complex and requires individualized outcome estimation. It is unknown how accurate healthcare professionals or relevant outcome prediction tools are at predicting outcomes at 1-year after major lower limb amputation. Methods: An international, multicentre prospective observational study evaluating healthcare professional accuracy in predicting outcomes 1 year after major lower limb amputation and evaluation of relevant outcome prediction tools identified in a systematic search of the literature was undertaken. Observed outcomes at 1 year were compared with: healthcare professionals' preoperative predictions of death (surgeons and anaesthetists), major lower limb amputation revision (surgeons) and ambulation (surgeons, specialist physiotherapists and vascular nurse practitioners); and probabilities calculated from relevant outcome prediction tools. Results: A total of 537 patients and 2244 healthcare professional predictions of outcomes were included. Surgeons and anaesthetists had acceptable discrimination (C-statistic = 0.715), calibration and overall performance (Brier score = 0.200) when predicting 1-year death, but performed worse when predicting major lower limb amputation revision and ambulation (C-statistics = 0.627 and 0.662 respectively). Healthcare professionals overestimated the death and major lower limb amputation revision risks. Consultants outperformed trainees, especially when predicting ambulation. Allied healthcare professionals marginally outperformed surgeons in predicting ambulation. Two outcome prediction tools (C-statistics = 0.755 and 0.717, Brier scores = 0.158 and 0.178) outperformed healthcare professionals' discrimination, calibration and overall performance in predicting death. Two outcome prediction tools for ambulation (C-statistics = 0.688 and 0.667) marginally outperformed healthcare professionals. Conclusion: There is uncertainty in predicting 1-year outcomes following major lower limb amputation. Different professional groups performed comparably in this study. Two outcome prediction tools for death and two for ambulation outperformed healthcare professionals and may support shared decision-making

The communion of believers.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, 2017.This thesis is written in the spirit of a Kairos document. It is intended both as a challenge to and also an opportunity for Christians to find a way to speak in a unified voice to name, confront and address the injustices both in Christianity and the world. It is meant to provoke conversation and action. It does not assert that it is the final or even the complete word. It is offered as another voice in an important, on-going conversation and looks forward to valuable input and feedback from readers. This paper is not an attempt to solve or mediate the various theological issues that separate Christians. It will seek, however, to offer a new way of envisioning the spiritual link/relatedness among believers that can help Christians within their diverse communities to recognize more clearly and more urgently, their collective identity as the Body of Christ in the world. My proposal offers three planks, as it were, that together are capable of forming/building a bridge (zone of agreement) among and between different Christians and Christian Churches. For the purposes of this paper, three Christian Churches (the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church [U.S.A.] or PCUSA, and the United Methodist [U.S.A.] Church) serve as examples. Each plank represents one of these converging and intersecting ideas: the biblical call for the disciples of Jesus to be one (John 17:11, 20-23; Eph. 4:1-6), the ethical obligations of discipleship (Mt. 22:37-40, 25:31-46), and the articulation of a new understanding of spiritual relatedness among Christians based on the "communion of saints" that I term the communion of believers. The purpose of this bridge is to focus energy and to create synergy among Christians that can help them answer this question for themselves and for the world: Who is my neighbor? I contend that it is the failure to answer this question adequately, consistently, and in one collaborative voice that has hindered the effectiveness of Christians in their efforts, not only to address the injustices of our churches and our world, but in credibly proclaiming the message of the Gospel. I met with small groups from each of these Churches to dialogue about the communion of believers. I used surveys, questionnaires, and interviews to solicit input from a range of Catholic, Presbyterian, and United Methodist preachers, including those whose congregants were part of the discussion groups. The primary audiences for this thesis are Christian congregations and their leaders. Although my discussion is limited to three different Christian Churches, my hope is that the fruits of my research may prove valuable for Christians of all traditions

Matthew White ... [et al.]

This report provides a benchmark for the conservation status of botanical values in the southern, predominantly arid part of the Northern Territory. It will have many and varied uses, providing information about conservation values to land holders and managers as well as government departments and conservation groups.Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Volume 1 : Significant vascular plants -- Volume 2 : Significant site

Towards a new stable state: Equitably assessing trainee writing productivity post-COVID-19

The current academic ‘ecosystem’ prioritizes publications and has remained in this stable state despite increasing calls for change. Although writing is a strong determinant of academic success, certain groups may experience publishing barriers that may be amplified by disruptive events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we surveyed 342 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to assess (1) how identity predicted publishing outputs and (2) how the pandemic influenced feelings of writing productivity based on identity. We show that there were differential publication totals across identities. Respondents reported feeling less productive and motivated during the pandemic, despite having more time to write. BIPOC graduate students reported being the most negatively impacted. Since the pandemic disproportionately affected historically excluded groups, we urge the academic ‘ecosystem’ to transition away from an overemphasis on publication outputs and reach a new, more equitable stable state that evaluates accomplishments more holistically