bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hospital nurses’ lived experiences of intelligent resilience: A phenomenological study
Authors: Imani Behzad , Kermanshahi Sima Mohamad Khan , Vanaki Zohreh , Kazemnejad Lili Anoshiravan 
Published: February 2018

Aim and objectivesTo explore Iranian hospital nurses’ lived experiences of intelligent resilience.BackgroundNurses do high levels of emotional work when fulfilling patients’ and their family members’ complex needs. Intelligent resilience can alleviate nurses’ stress and enhance their endurance.DesignThis study was based on the Husserlian descriptive phenomenology.MethodsA purposive sample of ten hospital nurses was drawn from hospitals affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. In‐depth semi‐structured interviews were held to collect data. The seven‐step data analysis approach proposed by Colaizzi was used for the data analysis. In this study, the adherence to consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative guidelines has been followed.ResultsThe participating hospital nurses’ lived experiences of intelligent resilience came into four main themes of patience and wisdom, reverence, situational self‐control and appealing to religiosity. Each of the four main themes included two subthemes which were having peace and wise quietness, reverence for the patients, physicians and nurses, distancing themselves from stressful situations and displacing staff who cause stress, and the nurse's trust in God as well as the patient and his family`s trust in God, respectively.ConclusionNurses with intelligent resilience are able to bring peace, reverence for others and situational self‐control to stressors thereby providing higher quality of care to their patients.Relevance to clinical practiceNurses work in unstable and stressful conditions. The findings of this study provide better understanding about the concept of nurses’ intelligent resilience and its indicators and attributes.
Prepared for surgery – Communication in nurses' preoperative consultations with patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer after a person‐centred intervention
Authors: Pettersson Monica E , Öhlén Joakim , Friberg Febe , Hydén Lars‐Christer , Wallengren Catarina , Sarenmalm Elisabeth Kenne , Carlsson Eva 
Published: February 2018

Aims and objectivesTo describe preoperative communication after a person‐centred intervention in nurses' consultations with patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.BackgroundPatients all over the world scheduled for surgery are referred to preoperative consultations with healthcare professionals. The goal is to assess the risk of perioperative complications, improving quality of care and enabling patients to be prepared for surgery and recovery. A person‐centred intervention was developed, which consisted of an interactive written patient education material and person‐centred communication.DesignAn explorative quantitative and qualitative study based on 18 audio‐taped transcriptions.MethodsEighteen patients preoperative nursing consultations at three Swedish hospitals were analysed quantitatively regarding structure: words, time, phases, questions, discursive space, and qualitatively: topics and how the person‐centred communication appeared in the consultations.ResultsThe median time for consultations was 27 min (range 13–64 min). The nurses used two‐thirds of the discursive space in the consultations with the patients. The patient education material was used as a support to structure the consultation and discuss sensitive and difficult issues. Seven topics were discussed during the consultation. Two different approaches to communication were identified: Talking with the patient versus Talking to the patient. Talking with the patient (seen as person‐centred communication) was defined as: listening to the narrative and confirming each other, raising difficult topics, seeing each other as persons, building on strengths and resources, preparing for surgery and asking open questions.ConclusionWays of communicating influence how the preoperative consultation develops. Talking with the patient could be seen as person‐centred communication in the preoperative care, and when using this approach, the intervention purpose of person‐centred communication was met.Relevance to clinical practiceEducation in person‐centred communication is important for nurses to improve their skills in performing preoperative consultations.
Genomic diversity of a nectar yeast clusters into metabolically, but not geographically, distinct lineages
Authors: Dhami Manpreet K. , Hartwig Thomas , Letten Andrew D. , Banf Michael , Fukami Tadashi 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBoth dispersal limitation and environmental sorting can affect genetic variation in populations, but their contribution remains unclear, particularly in microbes. We sought to determine the contribution of geographic distance (as a proxy for dispersal limitation) and phenotypic traits (as a proxy for environmental sorting), including morphology, metabolic ability and interspecific competitiveness, to the genotypic diversity in a nectar yeast species, Metschnikowia reukaufii. To measure genotypic diversity, we sequenced the genomes of 102 strains of M. reukaufii isolated from the floral nectar of hummingbird‐pollinated shrub, Mimulus aurantiacus, along a 200‐km coastline in California. Intraspecific genetic variation showed no detectable relationship with geographic distance, but could be grouped into three distinct lineages that correlated with metabolic ability and interspecific competitiveness. Despite ample evidence for strong competitive interactions within and among nectar yeasts, a full spectrum of the genotypic and phenotypic diversity observed across the 200‐km coastline was represented even at a scale as small as 200 m. Further, more competitive strains were not necessarily more abundant. These results suggest that dispersal limitation and environmental sorting might not fully explain intraspecific diversity in this microbe and highlight the need to also consider other ecological factors such as trade‐offs, source‐sink dynamics and niche modification.
ClpC and MecA, components of a proteolytic machine, prevent Spo0A‐P‐dependent transcription without degradation
Authors: Tanner Andrew W. , Carabetta Valerie J. , Dubnau David 
Published: February 2018

SummaryIn Bacillus subtilis, a proteolytic machine composed of MecA, ClpC and ClpP degrades the transcription factor ComK, controlling its accumulation during growth. MecA also inhibits sporulation and biofilm formation by down‐regulating spoIIG and sinI, genes that are dependent for their transcription on the phosphorylated protein Spo0A‐P. Additionally, MecA has been shown to interact in vitro with Spo0A. Although the inhibitory effect on transcription requires MecA's binding partner ClpC, inhibition is not accompanied by the degradation of Spo0A, pointing to a previously unsuspected regulatory mechanism involving these proteins. Here, we further investigate the MecA and ClpC effects on Spo0A‐P‐dependent transcription. We show that MecA inhibits the transcription of several Spo0A‐P activated genes, but fails to de‐repress several Spo0A‐P repressed promoters. This demonstrates that MecA and ClpC do not act by preventing the binding of Spo0A‐P to its target promoters. Consistent with this, MecA by itself has no effect in vitro on the transcription from PspoIIG while the addition of both MecA and ClpC has a strong inhibitory effect. A complex of MecA and ClpC likely binds to Spo0A‐P on its target promoters, preventing the activation of transcription. Thus, components of a degradative machine have been harnessed to directly repress transcription.
‘Forgotten Europeans’: transnational minority activism in the age of European integration
Authors: Smith David J. , Germane Marina , Housden Martyn 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis article examines transnational activism by coalitions of national minorities in Europe from the early 20th century to the present, setting this within the broader ‘security versus democracy dilemma’ that continues to surround international discussions on minority rights. Specifically, we analyse two organisations – the European Nationalities Congress (1925–1938) and the Federal Union of European Nationalities (1949–) – which, while linked, have never been subject to a detailed comparison based on primary sources. In so far as comparisons do exist, they present these bodies in highly negative terms, as mere fronts for inherently particularistic nationalisms that threaten political stability, state integrity and peace. Our more in‐depth analysis provides a fresh and more nuanced perspective: it shows that, in both cases, concepts of European integration and ‘unity in diversity’ have provided the motivating goals and frameworks for transnational movements advocating common rights for all minorities and seeking positive interaction with the interstate world.
Eudicots from severely phosphorus‐impoverished environments preferentially allocate phosphorus to their mesophyll
Authors: Guilherme Pereira Caio , Clode Peta L. , Oliveira Rafael S. , Lambers Hans 
Published: February 2018

Summary

Plants allocate nutrients to specific leaf cell types, with commelinoid monocots preferentially allocating phosphorus (P) to the mesophyll and calcium (Ca) to the epidermis, whereas the opposite is thought to occur in eudicots. However, Proteaceae from severely P‐impoverished habitats present the same P‐allocation pattern as monocots. This raises the question of whether preferential P allocation to mesophyll cells is a phylogenetically conserved trait, exclusive to commelinoid monocots and a few Proteaceae, or a trait that has evolved multiple times to allow plants to cope with very low soil P availability.

We analysed the P‐allocation patterns of 16 species from 10 genera, eight families and six orders within three major clades of eudicots across different P‐impoverished environments in Australia and Brazil, using elemental X‐ray mapping to quantitatively determine leaf cell‐specific nutrient concentrations.

Many of the analysed species showed P‐allocation patterns that differed substantially from that expected for eudicots. Instead, P‐allocation patterns were strongly associated with the P availability in the natural habitat of the species, suggesting a convergent evolution of P‐allocation patterns at the cellular level, with P limitation as selective pressure and without a consistent P‐allocation pattern within eudicots.

Here, we show that most eudicots from severely P‐impoverished environments preferentially allocated P to their mesophyll. We surmise that this preferential P allocation to photosynthetically active cells might contribute to the very high photosynthetic P‐use efficiency of species adapted to P‐impoverished habitats.
Inoculum potential of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia depends on isolate and host plant
Authors: Taylor A. , Coventry E. , Handy C. , West J. S. , Young C. S. , Clarkson J. P. 
Published: February 2018

The soilborne fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects many important crop plants. Central to the success of this pathogen is the production of sclerotia, which enables survival in soil and constitutes the primary inoculum. This study aimed to determine how crop plant type and S. sclerotiorum isolate impact sclerotial production and germination and hence inoculum potential. Three S. sclerotiorum isolates (L6, L17, L44) were used to inoculate plants of bean, carrot, lettuce, oilseed rape (OSR) and potato, and the number and weight of sclerotia per plant quantified. Carpogenic germination of sclerotia collected from different hosts was also assessed for L6. Production of sclerotia was dependent on both crop plant type and S. sclerotiorum isolate, with OSR and lettuce supporting the greatest number (42–122) and weight (1.6–3.0 g) of sclerotia per plant. The largest sclerotia were produced on OSR (33–66 mg). The three S. sclerotiorum isolates exhibited a consistent pattern of sclerotial production irrespective of crop type; L6 produced large numbers of small sclerotia while L44 produced smaller numbers of large sclerotia, with L17 intermediate between the two. Germination rate and percentage was greatest for larger sclerotia (4.0–6.7 mm) and also varied between host plants. Combining sclerotial production data and typical field crop densities suggested that infected carrot and OSR could produce the greatest number (3944 m−2) and weight (73 g m−2) of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia, respectively, suggesting these crops potentially contribute a greater increase in inoculum. This information, once further validated in field trials, could be used to inform future crop rotation decisions.
Species transfer via topsoil translocation: lessons from two large Mediterranean restoration projects
Authors: Buisson Elise , Jaunatre Renaud , Römermann Christine , Bulot Adeline , Dutoit Thierry 
Published: February 2018

Restoration success of species‐rich grasslands is often limited by low seed dispersal. To reintroduce target species of local provenances, bulk topsoil transfer is performed by excavating soil and vegetation from donor sites and spreading these on receptor sites. Our first objective was to determine the most advantageous season for transferring topsoil in Mediterranean grasslands. The second objective was to assess which treatment—combination of season (spring or autumn) and transfer ratio (1:1 or 1:3)—performed best in restoring a Mediterranean grassland through bulk topsoil transfer after two large restoration projects. Just‐in‐time soil transfer (i.e. with no stockpiling) was implemented: (1) on a former 3 ha orchard where topsoil was spread after removing trees and leveling soil; and (2) after a 5 ha oil pipeline leak where polluted soil was removed prior to treatment (soil horizons were reconstituted). A seed bank study showed that the summer seed bank contained higher seed densities, species richness, and similarity to the reference site than the spring seed bank. Spring transfers gave better results than autumn transfers in terms of species richness and composition similarity with the reference site, while transfer ratios gave similar results. Long‐term success was not driven by season or transfer ratio but by the underlying seed bank at receptor sites: the former orchard's weed‐containing seed bank hampered topsoil transfer success. This study also suggests that restoration success cannot be deduced from seed bank studies alone, as species establishment is highly dependent on differences in growing conditions (including competition at receptor sites).
Statistical Inference and Applications of Mixture of Varying Coefficient Models
Authors: Huang Mian , Yao Weixin , Wang Shaoli , Chen Yixin 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we consider a new mixture of varying coefficient models, in which each mixture component follows a varying coefficient model and the mixing proportions and dispersion parameters are also allowed to be unknown smooth functions. We systematically study the identifiability, estimation and inference for the new mixture model. The proposed new mixture model is rather general, encompassing many mixture models as its special cases such as mixtures of linear regression models, mixtures of generalized linear models, mixtures of partially linear models and mixtures of generalized additive models, some of which are new mixture models by themselves and have not been investigated before. The new mixture of varying coefficient model is shown to be identifiable under mild conditions. We develop a local likelihood procedure and a modified expectation–maximization algorithm for the estimation of the unknown non‐parametric functions. Asymptotic normality is established for the proposed estimator. A generalized likelihood ratio test is further developed for testing whether some of the unknown functions are constants. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the proposed generalized likelihood ratio test statistics and prove that the Wilks phenomenon holds. The proposed methodology is illustrated by Monte Carlo simulations and an analysis of a CO2‐GDP data set.
A Class of Semiparametric Transformation Models for Doubly Censored Failure Time Data
Authors: Li Shuwei , Hu Tao , Wang Peijie , Sun Jianguo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractDoubly censored failure time data occur in many areas including demographical studies, epidemiology studies, medical studies and tumorigenicity experiments, and correspondingly some inference procedures have been developed in the literature (Biometrika, 91, 2004, 277; Comput. Statist. Data Anal., 57, 2013, 41; J. Comput. Graph. Statist., 13, 2004, 123). In this paper, we discuss regression analysis of such data under a class of flexible semiparametric transformation models, which includes some commonly used models for doubly censored data as special cases. For inference, the non‐parametric maximum likelihood estimation will be developed and in particular, we will present a novel expectation–maximization algorithm with the use of subject‐specific independent Poisson variables. In addition, the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established and an extensive simulation study suggests that the proposed methodology works well for practical situations. The method is applied to an AIDS study.
Tacrolimus concentration to dose ratio in solid organ transplant patients treated with fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection
Authors: Woodworth Michael H. , Kraft Colleen S. , Meredith Erika J. , Mehta Aneesh K. , Wang Tiffany , Mamo Yafet T. , Dhere Tanvi , Sitchenko Kaitlin L. , Patzer Rachel E. , Friedman‐Moraco Rachel J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is increasingly being performed for Clostridium difficile infection in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients; however, little is known about the potential pharmacokinetic or pharmacomicrobial effects this may have on tacrolimus levels. We reviewed the medical records of 10 SOT patients from September 2012‐December 2016 who were taking tacrolimus at time of FMT for recurrent C. difficile infection. We compared the differences in tacrolimus concentration/dose ratio (C/D ratio) 3 months prior to FMT vs 3 months after FMT. The mean of the differences in C/D ratio calculated as (ng/mL)/(mg/kg/d) was −17.65 (95% CI −1.25 to 0.58) (ng/mL)/(mg/kg/d), P‐value .43 by Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. The mean of the differences in C/D ratio calculated as (ng/mL)/(mg/d) was −0.33 (95% CI −1.25 to 0.58) (ng/mL)/(mg/d), P‐value .28 by Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Of these patients, 2/10 underwent allograft biopsy for allograft dysfunction in the year after FMT, with no evidence of allograft rejection on pathology. These preliminary data suggest that FMT may not predictably alter tacrolimus levels and support its safety for SOT patients however further study in randomized trials is needed.
Development of a clinical prediction rule for tuberculous meningitis in adults in Lima, Peru
Authors: Solari Lely , Soto Alonso , Van der Stuyft Patrick 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectivesDiagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TM) is a challenge in countries with a high burden of the disease and constrained resources and clinical prediction rules (CPRs) could be of assistance. We aimed at developing a CPR for diagnosis of TM in a Latin American setting with high tuberculosis incidence and a concentrated HIV epidemic.MethodsWe enrolled adult patients with clinical suspicion of TM attending two hospitals in Lima, Peru. We obtained information on potential anamnestic, clinical and laboratory predictive findings that are easy to collect and promptly available. We independently diagnosed TM according to a composite reference standard that included a series of microbiological tests. We performed bivariate analysis and constructed a logistic regression model to select the predictive findings associated with TM. With the selected predictors included in the model, we developed a score‐based CPR. We assessed its internal validity and diagnostic performance.ResultsOf 155 analysed patients, 59 (38%) had TM. The CPR we derived includes three predictors: cough for 14 days or more, 10–500 cells in CSF and adenosine deaminase ≥ 6 U/l in CSF. It classifies patients into high‐, moderate‐ or low‐score groups and has an overall area under the ROC curve of 0.87. 59% of patients were assigned to either the high‐ or the low‐score group, permitting prompt decision‐making. In patients in the high‐score group, it attains a positive likelihood ratio for TM of 10.6 and in patients with low scores, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.10. Bootstrap analysis indicated high internal validity.ConclusionThis CPR could support decision‐making in patients with clinical suspicion of TM. External validation and further assessment of its clinical impact are necessary before application in other settings.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis of lncRNA1459 alters tomato fruit ripening
Authors: Li Ran , Fu Daqi , Zhu Benzhong , Luo Yunbo , Zhu Hongliang 
Published: February 2018

SUMMARYWith the development of high‐throughput sequencing, many long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play important roles in diverse biological processes. However, the biological functions of most plant lncRNAs are still unknown. We have previously discovered a tomato ripening‐related lncRNA, lncRNA1459. Here, we cloned the full‐length lncRNA1459, giving two transcript isoforms. In addition, lncRNA1459 exhibited a specific location in the nucleus. Furthermore, in order to fully identify the function of lncRNA1459 in tomato ripening, loss‐of‐function mutants of lncRNA1459 were developed using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/‐associated protein 9 (Cas9)‐induced genome editing technology. Compared with wild‐type fruits, the tomato ripening process was significantly repressed in lncRNA1459 mutants. Ethylene production and lycopene accumulation were largely repressed in lncRNA1459 mutants. Additionally, genes related to ethylene and carotenoid biosynthesis were distinctly downregulated in lncRNA1459 mutants compared with wild‐type fruits. Moreover, expression of numerous ripening‐related genes was changed significantly when lncRNA1459 was knocked out. Expression of potential tomato ripening‐related lncRNAs was also specifically changed after knocking out lncRNA1459. Taken together, these results provide insight into the role of lncRNA1459 in tomato fruit ripening.