Dissecting through the decade: a 10-year cross-sectional analysis of interprofessional experiences in the anatomy lab.

Interprofessional education (IPE) is prioritized as a critical component in preparing pre-licensure health professional students for effective teamwork and collaboration in the workplace to facilitate patient-centered care. Knowledge in anatomy is fundamental for healthcare professionals, making interprofessional anatomy education an attractive intervention for IPE and anatomy learning. Since 2009, the Education Program in Anatomy at McMaster University has offered an intensive 10-week IPE Anatomy Dissection elective to seven health professional programs annually. From 2011, students were invited to complete the Readiness for Interprofessional Scale (RIPLS) and Interprofessional Education Perception Scale (IEPS) before and after the elective. A total of 264 students from 2011 to 2020 completed RIPLS and IEPS. There were significant differences before and after the elective in students' total RIPLS scores and three of the four subscales: teamwork and collaboration, positive professional identity, and roles and responsibilities. Similarly, there were statistical differences in the total IEPS scores and two of three subscales: competency and autonomy and perceived actual cooperation. Statistically significant differences in RIPLS and IEPS total scores across several disciplines were also observed. This study demonstrates the elective's impact in improving students' IPE perceptions and attitudes, likely from the extended learning and exposure opportunity with other disciplines.

Current perspective in research and industrial applications of microbial cellulases.

The natural interactions between various bacteria, fungi, and other cellulolytic microorganisms destroy lignocellulosic polymers. The efficacy of this process is determined by the combined action of three main enzymes: endoglucanases, exo-glucanases, and ß-glucosidase. The enzyme attacks the polymeric structure's ß-1,4-linkages during the cellulose breakdown reaction. This mechanism is crucial for the environment as it recycles cellulose in the biosphere. However, there are problems with enzymatic cellulose breakdown, including complex cellulase structure, insufficient degradation efficacy, high production costs, and post-translational alterations, many of which are closely related to certain unidentified cellulase properties. These issues impede the practical use of cellulases. A developing area of research is the application of this similar paradigm for industrial objectives. Cellulase enzyme exhibits greater promise in many critical industries, including biofuel manufacture, textile smoothing and finishing, paper and pulp manufacturing, and farming. However, the study on cellulolytic enzymes must move forward in various directions, including increasing the activity of cellulase as well as designing peptides to give biocatalysts their desired attributes. This manuscript includes an overview of current research on different sources of cellulases, their production, and biochemical characterization.

Plant growth-promoting traits of culturable seed microbiome of citrus species from Purvanchal Himalaya.

Despite Northeastern India being "Treasure House of Citrus Genetic Wealth," genetic erosion of citrus diversity poses severe concern with a corresponding loss in seed microbial diversity. The seed microbiome of citrus species unique to the Purvanchal Himalaya is seldom explored for their use in sustainable orchard management. Isolation and characterization of culturable seed microbiomes of eight citrus species, namely, Citrus reticulata Blanco, C. grandis (L.) Osbeck, C. latipes Tanaka, C. megaloxycarpa Lushaigton, C. jambhiri Lush, C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck, C. macroptera Montr, and C. indica Tanaka collected from NE India were carried out. The isolates were then screened for an array of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits [indole acetic acid (IAA) production, N2 fixation, phosphate and zinc complex dissolution, siderophores, and Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) production]. The pure culture isolates of seed microbiomes were capable of dissolving insoluble Ca3(PO4)2 (1.31-4.84 µg Pi ml-1 h-1), Zn3(PO4)2 (2.44-3.16 µg Pi ml-1 h-1), AlPO4 (1.74-3.61 µg Pi ml-1 h-1), and FePO4 (1.54-4.61µg Pi ml-1 h-1), mineralized phytate (12.17-18.00 µg Pi ml-1 h-1) and produced IAA-like substances (4.8-187.29 µg ml-1 h-1). A few isolates of the seed microbiome were also able to fix nitrogen, secrete siderophore-like compounds and HCN, and dissolve ZnSO4 and ZnO. The 16S ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid (rRNA)-based taxonomic findings revealed that Bacillus was the most dominant genus among the isolates across citrus species. Isolates CG2-1, CME6-1, CME6-4, CME6-5, CME6-9, CJ7-1, CMA10-1, CI11-3, and CI11-4 were identified as promising bioinoculants for development of microbial consortium having multifaceted PGP traits for nutritional benefits of nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc, and IAA hormonal benefits to citrus crops for better fitness in acid soils.

Determinants of Learning Anatomy in an Immersive Virtual Reality Environment - A Scoping Review.

Given the decline of cadavers as anatomy teaching tools, immersive virtual reality (VR) technology has gained popularity as a potential alternative. To better understand how to maximize the educational potential of VR, this scoping review aimed to identify potential determinants of learning anatomy in an immersive VR environment. A literature search yielded 4523 studies, 25 of which were included after screening. Six common factors were derived from secondary outcomes in these papers: cognitive load, cybersickness, student perceptions, stereopsis, spatial understanding, and interactivity. Further objective research investigating the impact of these factors on anatomy examination performance is required. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-022-01701-y.

Virtual Reality Bell-Ringer: The Development and Testing of a Stereoscopic Application for Human Gross Anatomy.

As post-secondary education migrates online, developing and evaluating new avenues for assessment in anatomy is paramount. Three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology is one area with the potential to augment or even replace resource-intensive cadaver use in anatomical education. This manuscript details the development of a smartphone application, entitled "Virtual Reality Bell-Ringer (VRBR)," capable of displaying monoscopic two-dimensional (2D) or stereoscopic 3D images with the use of an inexpensive cardboard headset for use in spot examinations. Cadaveric image use, creation, and pinning processes are explained, and the source code is provided. To validate this tool, this paper compares traditional laboratory-based spot examination assessment stations against those administered using the VRBR application to test anatomical knowledge. Participants (undergraduate, n = 38; graduate, n = 13) completed three spot examinations specific to their level of study, one in each of the modalities (2D, 3D, laboratory) as well as a mental rotation test (MRT), Stereo Fly stereotest, and cybersickness survey. Repeated measures ANCOVA suggested participants performed significantly better on laboratory and 3D stations compared to 2D stations. Moderate to severe cybersickness symptoms were reported by 63% of participants in at least one category while using the VRBR application. Highest reported symptoms included: eye strain, general discomfort, difficulty focusing, and difficulty concentrating. Overall, the VRBR application is a promising tool for its portability, affordability, and accessibility. Due to reported cybersickness and other technical limitations, the use of VRBR as an alternative to cadaveric specimens presents several challenges when testing anatomy knowledge that must be addressed before widespread adoption.