RESUMEN
Microbiology education has a serious handicap - the lack of visibility of the players of the subject and their interactions - which engenders a disproportionate reliance upon multimedia teaching aids (MTAs). The International Microbiology Literacy Initiative (IMiLI) is creating educational resources in societally-relevant microbiology complemented by appropriate MTAs. However, proper guidance supporting microbiology educators in locating and selecting, or commissioning the creation of, adequate MTAs for different target audiences and learning objectives is lacking. The aims of this study were to (i) identify important considerations regarding educational/didactical standards and the design of educational multimedia and (ii) create an evidence-based guideline for selecting and appraising existing, and informing the creation of new, microbiology MTAs. This investigation is based on an exploratory, mixed-methods approach. The results of two literature reviews (covering educational and good practice multimedia design) informed the collation of a preliminary appraisal guideline for videos, animations, comics, and video games. A web-scraping approach was utilised to locate and retrieve existing exemplars of the four multimedia types and create four pertinent multimedia databases (including metadata). The preliminary guideline was piloted (and revised accordingly) by appraising quasi-random (or purposive) samples of each multimedia type. Educational multimedia experts were interviewed to discuss the findings. Finally, the guideline was updated to reflect the expert comments together with the results of the pilot appraisals. The final guideline has four components: (i) central considerations for selecting and appraising multimedia for specific audiences and educational purposes, (ii) multimedia selection tool, (iii) multimedia appraisal tools, and (iv) extensive background information as appendices linking all sections for further comprehension. Broad utilisation of the guideline has significant potential for simplifying and systematising multimedia selection/creation, leading to superior multimedia-based learning outcomes, establishing a rapid selection database (pre-appraised multimedia), reducing disparities in microbiology education and incentivising educational content creators.
Asunto(s)
Microbiología , Multimedia , Microbiología/educación , Humanos , Guías como Asunto , Enseñanza , Materiales de EnseñanzaRESUMEN
AIMS: To develop a method to detect bacteria from environmental samples that are able to metabolize lignin. METHODS AND RESULTS: A previously developed UV-vis assay method for lignin degradation activity has been developed for use as a spray assay on agar plates. Nine mesophilic strains were isolated using this method from woodland soil incubated in enrichment cultures containing wheat straw lignocellulose: four Microbacterium isolates, two Micrococcus isolates, Rhodococcus erythropolis (all Actinobacteria) and two Ochrobactrum isolates (Alphaproteobacteria). Three thermotolerant isolates were isolated from the same screening method applied at 45°C to samples of composted wheat straw from solid-state fermentation: Thermobifida fusca and two isolates related to uncharacterized species of Rhizobiales and Sphingobacterium (Bacteroidetes), the latter strain showing tenfold higher lignin degradation activity than other isolates. The isolated strains were able to depolymerize samples of size-fractionated high molecular weight and low molecular weight Kraft lignin, and produced low molecular weight metabolites oxalic acid and protocatechuic acid from incubations containing wheat straw lignocellulose. CONCLUSIONS: A new method for the isolation of bacteria able to metabolize lignin has been developed, which has been used to identify 12 bacterial isolates from environmental sources. The majority of isolates cluster into the Actinobacteria and the Alphaproteobacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Lignin-degrading bacterial strains could be used to convert lignin-containing feedstocks into renewable chemicals and to identify new bacterial lignin-degrading enzymes.
Asunto(s)
Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Bacterias/metabolismo , Lignina/metabolismo , Biodegradación Ambiental , Medios de Cultivo/metabolismo , Hidroxibenzoatos/metabolismo , Ácido Oxálico/metabolismo , Microbiología del Suelo , TriticumRESUMEN
Due to its closed ring system, 2-aminoindane is a conformationally rigid analogue of amphetamine. Internet websites offering synthetic compounds as 'research chemicals' have recently been advertising 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI), 5, 6-methylenedioxy-N-methyl-2-aminoindane (MDMAI), 5-iodo-2-aminoindane (5-IAI), and 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindane (MMAI). The chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicological aspects of this new class of psychoactive substances are reviewed, as these could become the next wave of 'legal highs'.