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The University of Plymouth conducted research on the effects of d-limonene, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, on bone cell activity. The study found that d-limonene promoted osteoblast differentiation and bone formation while inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vitro. This research suggests that d-limonene supplementation could potentially optimize bone cell activity to maintain or enhance bone mass, offering a new avenue for osteoporosis prevention and treatment. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers from the University of Plymouth conducted a qualitative study on medical student attitudes towards teamwork, competition, and collaboration in the context of healthcare. The study aimed to explore changes in students' perceptions of teamwork importance and their own development in this area. The findings suggest that enhancing transferable skills curriculum and moving away from norm referencing may positively impact students' collaboration with peers. The study was published in FEBS Open Bio and can be accessed online for further information. [Extracted from the article]

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom examined the impact of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards on the curriculum for pre-registration children's nursing programs. The study found that there were concerns about the generic nature of the programs and the lack of preparation for caring for children. The survey of 54 programs revealed that there had been a decrease in child-specific content and an emphasis on cross-field teaching methods. The findings will inform further research on the outcomes of these programs for newly qualified children's nurses. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth focused on the perceptions of medical students regarding a new international adaptive progress test. The study involved students from eight European medical schools and aimed to evaluate the acceptability of adaptive versus non-adaptive testing. Overall, participants expressed high satisfaction with the organization and delivery of remote online tests, regardless of their previous experience with progress testing. The adaptive test was seen as a good measure of personal knowledge and increased participants' motivation for study. The researchers concluded that this type of assessment has the potential to improve student performance by increasing motivation for learning. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers at the Department of Food Safety and Quality have conducted a study on the detection of Aspergillus flavus infection in pistachios. Aflatoxin contamination, which can be produced by certain species of Aspergillus, poses a serious problem for the pistachio industry. The researchers used solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by A. flavus. They identified ten VOCs that could serve as biomarkers for monitoring the growth of A. flavus on pistachios, with & alpha;,& beta;-dimethylbenzenepropanoic acid being identified as the primary early marker for detecting A. flavus infection. The research was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). [Extracted from the article]