Search

This booklet provides a reference to the quantities, units, and their symbols which are used in physical science. It is a revision of a 1969 report and takes account of the progress which has been made in obtaining international agreement on the definitions, names, and symbols for units and on the rules for the expression of relations involving numbers between physical quantities and units. The report is divided into ten parts: (1) Physical Quantities, Units, and Numerical Values; (2) Recommended Mathematical Symbols; (3) Chemical Elements, Nuclides, and Particles; (4) Quantum States; (5) Nuclear Physics; (6) Thermodynamic Results; (7) Galvanic Cells; (8) Abbreviations of Common Words and Phrases; (9) Recommended Values of Physical Constants; and (10) Bibliography. (Author/TS)

The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre is concerned with the retrieval, evaluation, synthesis, and dissemination of structural data based on diffraction methods. The source of input is almost entirely primary journals. Bibliographic information and numeric data on crystal and molecular structures are on magnetic tapes. The bibliographic file is ordered in 86 chemical classes, and by molecular formula within each class. The numeric file contains data corresponding to each entry in the bibliographic file published since January 1960. This paper discusses the Centre's publications and services including: (1) bibliographic magnetic tape service, (2) hard-copy alerting service, (3) retrospective searches, (4) manual searches, (5) numeric data magnetic tape service, and (6) computer programs. A list of the 86 chemical classes used for file ordering, information on the Protein Data Bank, and a breakdown of service charges are appended. (Author/SJ)

Presented is a compilation of eight articles relating to science teaching in England, primarily at the secondary school level. An editorial describes recent changes in sciences and science education, decreased student enrollment in science courses, and increasing emphases on scientific methods training. The articles are then presented in three categories: chemistry, physics, and physical science and education. The headings are: Chemistry for the Beginner: A Plea for Sound Chemical Education; The Sixth Form and Chemistry; Educational Theory and Neoteric Practices in Physical Science Teaching; The New Laboratory--Its Apparatus and Servicing; SI (System International) and Its Possible Effects on the Teaching of Physics in Secondary Schools; Physical Science for Girls; "Can a Study of Science Educate?"; Science in a Comprehensive School; The Schools Council Integrated Science Project; and Technological Studies in School. Curriculum development is the major concern of the last three articles. The Nuffield scheme is the focus of discussion in most articles. Included is a directory of scientific equipment manufacturers, a bibliography on recent ideas about physical science teaching, and two examples of work sheets used in comprehensive schools. (CC)

Part II of the Students' Chemical Information Project (SCIP), designed to spread the use of computer-based information services among research scientists and technologists, contains details of the project operations, statistics, results of questionnaires and research reports from liaison scientists (See LI 002 562 for Part I). Chapter I: Operation of the Scheme, discusses the objectives, data bases, selected population, liaison scientists and their training, general procedure, and production problems. Chapter II: Statistics, includes relevance in relation to size of output, amendments to profiles, group literature schemes, and the fate of references. Chapter III: Results from Questionnaires, covers the preliminary interview guide, follow-up interview guide, and the final questionnaire. Chapter IV: Research Reports, contains reports by the liaison scientists. The page location of the figures and tables used is listed. The appendices include: circular sent to all participants, cover letter for final questionnaire, example of a search profile, index headings used in the classification of profiles, compound index to profiles, technique and property index to profiles, and profile statistics and titles. (NH)

A science achievement test for the General Certificate of Education (GCE, England) was developed for students enrolled in the curriculum of the Schools Council Integrated Science Project. This document contains discussions of the testing program and a copy of the 1973 test. After an overview of the curriculum project and issues related to assessment, the development of the GCE examination is discussed. The aims of the examination and their relative importance are examined. The style of items and of the test is described, and concepts and patterns to be tested are listed. Appendices present detailed test specifications, the 1973 examination papers, and the chief examiner's report on the 1973 examination. (SD)

A description of the Nuffield approach to Chemistry for students 11-16 years of age, a discussion of the possible entry points to the materials provided for the five years of British secondary schools before the "O"-Level examination, an account of the type of examination to be expected, and estimates of the cost of introducing the program to a British school, introduce a description of the course and of the materials produced by 1968. The materials for teachers include guide books, a set of collected experiments, and descriptions of the basic and optional courses that may be taught. Pupil materials include a data book, four books of laboratory investigations, and 41 short background books. Film loops, charts, and a set of diffraction grids are also described. Addresses of publishers who distribute Nuffield materials in a number of countries are listed. (AL)

These proceedings of a 1965 conference on the teaching of science in the sixth form of English schools contain summaries of each speaker's introduction to his paper, the full text of his circulated paper, and a summary of the discussion that followed. The papers were titled the sixth form; "Structure and Properties of Matter" as a sixth form course; biology in the sixth form; engineering studies; general and special studies in science; science for the arts specialist; and sixth form curriculum and examinations. During the conference the "Structure and Properities of Matter" course was renamed "Physical Sciences." Post-scripts on the physical sciences course, on engineering studies, and on the proposal for a major/minor/general studies pattern of sixth form work have been added to provide information on subsequent thought and action in these three fields which were the most controversial topics discussed at the conference. (AL)

This Schools Council Working Paper contains the report of a working party established to review the "form, function and finance for all school science, mathematics and technology centres in the United Kingdom and to make suggestions for a possible national framework." A description of the types of existing centers used by science teachers to keep in close touch with university and industrial staffs, their financing and parent bodies, and their relationship with Local Educational Authorities preceeds the recommendation of a loose organizational framework to facilitate support from major industrial and academic organizations. Appendices list the physics, chemistry, and biology centers functioning or proposed, together with a brief outline of their functions; describe proposed local technology centers, and illustrate their functions by reference to one center; describe six centers with responsibilities beyond a single science; and summarize the school liaison activities of the Chemcial Industries Association and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. (AL)

The British Association for Commercial and Industrial Education has included in its register of annotated programed instructional materials: programs available in the United Kingdom; programs dealing with industrial and commercial training and related further education; and information as supplied by the authors or producers of programs. The areas covered are: chemistry; commercial subjects [12 subheads]; computers; electricity; electronics; engineering [13 subheads]; industrial processes and techniques [6 subheads]; management subjects [5 subheads]; mathematics [11 subheads]; physics; police procedures; sales [4 subheads]; training [2 subheads]. Also included are a subject index and a list of producers -- publishers, consultants, firms, government departments, and educational establishments. (nl)

Acknowledgements: This research was made possible through access to the data and findings generated by the 100,000 Genomes Project. The 100,000 Genomes Project is managed by Genomics England Limited (a wholly owned company of the Department of Health and Social Care). The 100,000 Genomes Project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research and National Health Service (NHS) England. The Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council have also funded research infrastructure. The 100,000 Genomes Project uses data provided by patients and collected by the National Health Service as part of their care and support. GS was performed by Illumina at Illumina Laboratory Services and was overseen by Genomics England. We thank all NHS clinicians who have contributed clinical phenotype data to the 100,000 Genomes Rare Diseases Programme and all staff at Genomics England who have contributed to the sequencing, maintenance of the research environment and assembly of the standard bioinformatic files that were required for our analyses. We thank the participants of the rare diseases program who made this research possible. We are grateful to V. Keeley for providing access to paternal DNA (ERG), F. Elmslie for inviting a patient to the clinic (ERG) and T. Jaworek for technical assistance (GPR156). D.G. was supported by the Cambridge British Heart Foundation (BHF) Centre of Research Excellence (RE/18/1/34212) and the Wellcome Collaborative (219506/Z/19/Z). V.H. was supported by an Medical Research Council (MRC)/National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Academic Research Partnership (MR/V037617/1). G.M.B. and K. Frudd were funded by BHF (PG/17/33/32990). G.M.B. and D.P. were funded by BHF (PG/20/16/35047). E.S. was supported by the Swiss Federal National Fund for Scientific Research (CRSII5_177191/1). S.M. and P.O. were supported by the MRC (MR/P011543/1) and BHF (RG/17/7/33217). K. Freson was supported by Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven Special Research Fund (BOF) (C14/19/096) and Research Foundation – Flanders (G072921N). Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders/National Institutes of Health (R01DC016295 to Z.M.A.). M.A.-O., F.I. and K.R. were supported by the King Salman Center for Disability Research (85722). E.T. was supported by the Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, the Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine and the Lowy Foundation USA., Funder: Cambridge BHF Centre of Research Excellence [RE/18/1/34212] and Wellcome Collaborative Award 219506/Z/19/Z, Funder: BHF Project grant PG/17/33/32990, Funder: Swiss National Science Foundation grant CRSII5_177191, Funder: King Salman Center for Disability Research # 85722, Funder: MRC/NIHR Clinical Academic Research Partnership MR/V037617/1, Funder: Medical Research Council grant MR/P011543/1 and British Heart Foundation grant RG/17/7/33217, Funder: NIDCD/NIH R01DC016295, Funder: BHF Project grants PG/20/16/35047 & PG/17/33/32990, Funder: KULeuven BOF grant C14/19/096, FWO grant G072921N, The genetic etiologies of more than half of rare diseases remain unknown. Standardized genome sequencing and phenotyping of large patient cohorts provide an opportunity for discovering the unknown etiologies, but this depends on efficient and powerful analytical methods. We built a compact database, the ‘Rareservoir’, containing the rare variant genotypes and phenotypes of 77,539 participants sequenced by the 100,000 Genomes Project. We then used the Bayesian genetic association method BeviMed to infer associations between genes and each of 269 rare disease classes assigned by clinicians to the participants. We identified 241 known and 19 previously unidentified associations. We validated associations with ERG, PMEPA1 and GPR156 by searching for pedigrees in other cohorts and using bioinformatic and experimental approaches. We provide evidence that (1) loss-of-function variants in the Erythroblast Transformation Specific (ETS)-family transcription factor encoding gene ERG lead to primary lymphoedema, (2) truncating variants in the last exon of transforming growth factor-β regulator PMEPA1 result in Loeys–Dietz syndrome and (3) loss-of-function variants in GPR156 give rise to recessive congenital hearing impairment. The Rareservoir provides a lightweight, flexible and portable system for synthesizing the genetic and phenotypic data required to study rare disease cohorts with tens of thousands of participants.

Objectives: Copper filtration removes lower energy X-ray photons, which do not enhance image quality but would otherwise contribute to patient radiation dose. This study explores the use of additional copper filtration for neonatal mobile chest imaging. Methods: A controlled factorial-designed experiment was used to determine the effect of independent variables on image quality and radiation dose. These variables included: copper filtration (0 Cu, 0.1 Cu and 0.2 Cu), exposure factors, source-to-image distance and image receptor position (direct / tray). Image quality was evaluated using absolute visual grading analysis (VGA) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and entrance surface dose (ESD) was derived using an ionising chamber within the central X-ray beam. Results: VGA, CNR and ESD significantly reduced (p < 0.01) when using added copper filtration. For 0.1 Cu, the percentage reduction was much greater for ESD (60%) than for VGA (14%) and CNR (20%), respectively. When compared to the optimal combinations of parameters for incubator imaging using no copper filtration, an increase in kV and mAs when using 0.1-mm Cu resulted in better image quality at the same radiation dose (direct) or, equal image quality at reduced dose (in-tray). The use of 0.1-mm Cu for neonatal chest imaging with a corresponding increase in kV and mAs is therefore recommended. Conclusion: Using additional copper filtration significantly reduces radiation dose (at increased mAs) without a detrimental effect on image quality. Advances in knowledge: This is the first study, using an anthropomorphic phantom, to explore the use of additional Cu for digital radiography neonatal chest imaging and therefore helps inform practice to standardise and optimise this imaging examination.

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcriptionally regulates several genes involved in initiating uterine contractions. A key factor controlling NF-κB activity is its translocation to the nucleus. In myometrial smooth muscle cells (MSMCs), this translocation can be stimulated by the inflammatory molecule lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or by blocking the potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily M alpha 1 (KCNMA1 or BKCa) with paxilline (PAX). Here, we sought to determine the mechanism by which blocking BKCa causes NF-κB-p65 translocation to the nucleus in MSMCs. We show that LPS- and PAX-induced NF-κB-p65 translocation are similar in that neither depends on several mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, but both require increased intracellular calcium (Ca2+). However, the nuclear transport inhibitor wheat germ agglutinin prevented NF-κB-p65 nuclear translocation in response to LPS but not in response to PAX. Blocking BKCa located on the plasma membrane resulted in a transient NF-κB-p65 nuclear translocation that was not sufficient to induce expression of its transcriptional target, suggesting a role for intracellular BKCa. We report that BKCa also localizes to the nucleus and that blocking nuclear BKCa results in an increase in nuclear Ca2+ in MSMCs. Together, these data suggest that BKCa localized on the nuclear membrane plays a key role in regulating nuclear Ca2+ and NF-κB-p65 nuclear translocation in MSMCs.

Introduction Renal Doppler resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) values are potentially more sensitive at detecting renal abnormalities when compared to standard laboratory indices in patients with HIV/AIDS. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published research articles on renal Doppler indices and their correlation with laboratory indices of HIV sero-positive adult individuals. This study aimed to assess the renal function of HIV-sero-positive adults using RI and PI, and correlating these indices against laboratory values. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to April 2020. A purposive sampling method was employed and included 396 HIV sero-positive adult individuals. Sampling for the renal RI and PI was performed at the level of the inter-lober arteries, in between the medullary pyramids. An RI value above 0.70 and a PI value above 1.56 were consider abnormal. Serum creatine and urea together with evidence of proteinuria were recorded at the time of scanning. Results Forty-three (10.9%) men had an abnormal RI, 32 (8.1%) had abnormal PI, five (2.5%) had abnormal creatinine, two (1%) abnormal urea and eight (4.1%) with proteinuria. In women, 29 (7.3%) had abnormal RI, 22 (5.6%) abnormal PI, four (2%) abnormal creatinine and urea and six (3%) had proteinuria. There was a statistically significant weak positive correlation between RI and PI and serum creatinine and urea (r > 0.2, P Conclusion The proportion of patients with abnormal RI and PI was higher than the proportion of participants with abnormal serum urea, creatinine and proteinuria. Renal Doppler indices could be used be used in the early assessment of renal function in HIV sero-positive adults individuals. Implications for practice Serum creatinine and urea are routinely used to evaluate renal function in patients with HIV/AIDS. Findings from this initial study show that RI and PI could be used detecting early renal abnormalities when compared to standard laboratory values.

The nuclear receptor-related 1 protein, Nurr1, is a transcription factor critical for the development and maintenance of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, a cell population that progressively loses the ability to make dopamine and degenerates in Parkinson's disease. Recently, we demonstrated that Nurr1 binds directly to and is regulated by the endogenous dopamine metabolite 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI). Unfortunately, DHI is an unstable compound, and thus a poor tool for studying Nurr1 function. Here, we report that 5-chloroindole, an unreactive analog of DHI, binds directly to the Nurr1 ligand binding domain with micromolar affinity and stimulates the activity of Nurr1, including the transcription of genes governing the synthesis and packaging of dopamine.

Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) plays an important role in innate immunity by inducing type I interferon production upon infection with intracellular pathogens. STING activation can promote increased T-cell activation and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in antitumor immunity. Natural and synthetic cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are known to activate STING, and several synthetic CDN molecules are being investigated in the clinic using an intratumoral administration route. Here, we describe the identification of STING agonist 15a, a cyclic dinucleotide structurally diversified from natural ligands with optimized properties for systemic intravenous (iv) administration. Our studies have shown that STING activation by 15a leads to an acute innate immune response as measured by cytokine secretion and adaptive immune response via activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells, which ultimately provides robust antitumor efficacy.

Therapeutic targeting of allele-specific single nucleotide mutations in RNA is a major challenge in biology and medicine. Herein, we describe the utility of the XNAzyme X10-23 to knock down allele-specific mRNA sequences in cells. We demonstrate the value of this approach by targeting the "undruggable" mutation G12V in oncogenic KRAS. Our results demonstrate how catalytic XNAs could be employed to suppress the expression of mRNAs carrying disease-causing mutations that are difficult to target at the protein level with small molecule therapeutics.

Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) offers the opportunity to image metal- and heavy halogen-containing xenobiotics in a highly multiplexed experiment with other immunochemistry-based reagents to distinguish uptake into different tissue structures or cell types. However, in practice, many xenobiotics are not amenable to this analysis, as any compound which is not bound to the tissue matrix will delocalize during aqueous sample-processing steps required for IMC analysis. Here, we present a strategy to perform IMC experiments on a water-soluble polysarcosine-modified dendrimer drug-delivery system (S-Dends). This strategy involves two consecutive imaging acquisitions on the same tissue section using the same instrumental platform, an initial laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MSI) experiment followed by tissue staining and a standard IMC experiment. We demonstrated that settings can be found for the initial ablation step that leave sufficient residual tissue for subsequent antibody staining and visualization. This workflow results in lateral resolution for the S-Dends of 2 μm followed by imaging of metal-tagged antibodies at 1 μm.