Automatic testing and assessment of neuroanatomy using a digital brain atlas: Method and development of computer‐ and mobile‐based applications

Preparation of tests and student's assessment by the instructor are time consuming. We address these two tasks in neuroanatomy education by employing a digital media application with a three‐dimensional (3D), interactive, fully segmented, and labeled brain atlas. The anatomical and vascular models in the atlas are linked to Terminologia Anatomica. Because the cerebral models are fully segmented and labeled, our approach enables automatic and random atlas‐derived generation of questions to test location and naming of cerebral structures. This is done in four steps: test individualization by the instructor, test taking by the students at their convenience, automatic student assessment by the application, and communication of the individual assessment to the instructor. A computer‐based application with an interactive 3D atlas and a preliminary mobile‐based application were developed to realize this approach. The application works in two test modes: instructor and student. In the instructor mode, the instructor customizes the test by setting the scope of testing and student performance criteria, which takes a few seconds. In the student mode, the student is tested and automatically assessed. Self‐testing is also feasible at any time and pace. Our approach is automatic both with respect to test generation and student assessment. It is also objective, rapid, and customizable. We believe that this approach is novel from computer‐based, mobile‐based, and atlas‐assisted standpoints. Anat Sci Educ 2:244–252, 2009. © 2009 American Association of Anatomists.     

Iron sulfur proteins and their synthetic analogues: Structure, reactivity and redox properties

A number of non-heme proteins contain iron-sulfur clusters as their core. The various structural types that have been characterised so far are discussed. Attempts to understand their properties and functions at a molecular level through model systems are described.     

Comparative genomics

An important hallmark of biological research is the aspect of ‘comparisons’. As the complete genome sequences of numerous organisms have become available, the emphasis in biology has shifted to comparisons at the genome level. Indeed, the last few years have witnessed an exponential rise in the number of organisms whose complete genome has been sequenced, and we are still climbing up the graph. The present article, a primer, explains how one can extract a great deal of information from such analyses that is of great value in our research. The subject of comparative genomics impinges on evolutionary biology and phylogenetic reconstructions of the tree of life, drug discovery programs, function predictions of hypothetical proteins and genes, regulatory motifs and other non-coding DNA motifs, and genome flux and dynamics. Finally the article describes how the information one can extract from a comparative analysis of genomes depends to a large extent, on the specific aspect of the genomes that is being compared and the phylogenetic distances of the organisms involved.