Negotiating values for the science curriculum: The need for dialogue and compromise

Recently, a Curriculum Framework has been developed and mandated for implementation in all school systems— government, Catholic and independent— in Western Australia (WA). A statement of core shared values is a significant part of the Framework. The curriculum is divided into eight learning area statements, science being one of these. The Science Learning Area Statement, with its roots in the Australian Education Council (1994) statement on science, includes a definition of science and a rationale for teaching it in schools; major outcome statements concerned with working scientifically and developing conceptual understandings; principles for science learning, teaching and assessment; and sections about science as it relates to different phases of schooling, and how science can be integrated into other areas of the curriculum. Thirty two core shared values have been espoused as integral to the Cirriculum Framework. These values have been clustered into five main statements: a pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to achievement of potential; self acceptance and respect for self; respect and concern for others and their rights; social and civic responsibility; and environmental responsibility. One of the main tasks for us as writers of the Science Learning Area Statement was to explicate the core shared values into a description of the science curriculum. This article documents, from our point of view, the process by which a mandated set of core shared values were incorporated into a statement describing the curriculum in the science learning area. The process was under the direction of a Science Learning Area Committee. At several points, conflict, or potential conflict, about the interpretation of the core shared values in relation to science in the classroom was resolved by negotiation amongst ourselves in the first instance, the Science Learning Area Committee, and the Values Consultative Group. While the central narrative in this paper is about our journey through the process, there are the antecedent themes relating to how and why the core shared values were developed and subsequently mandated. The arising tensions, as yet unexplored, relate to how, or even whether, the values might be explicated in science classrooms. In reflecting on these tensions, we provide a re-analysis of some of the issues in school science, which of course are not new. We believe that science as taught in classrooms cannot be value-free, even when teachers believe otherwise

μ2-Iodido-bis­{dimeth­yl[methyl­bis(quinolin-8-yl)silanyl-κ3 N,Si,N′]platinum(IV)} tetra­kis(penta­fluoro­phen­yl)borate dichloro­methane 0.66-solvate

The title complex, [Pt2(CH3)4(C19H15N2Si)2I][B(C6F5)4]·0.66CH2Cl2, resulted from an attempt to synthesize a stable five-coordinate platinum species via ligand abstraction of a six-coordinate platinum precursor. However, dimerization occurred after ligand abstraction, thereby yielding the compound described in this study. The cation is a dinuclear PtIV organometallic complex, in which the metal centers are bridged by an I− anion. Both metal centers display a coordination geometry close to octa­hedral, including cis-arranged quinoline ligands connected by Si atoms, which form Pt—Si bonds, two cis-methyl groups, and the bridging I− anion. In the crystal structure, voids between cations and anions are partially filled with an average of 0.66 mol­ecules of dichloro­methane solvent

Opioid and Non-Opioid Prescribing Rates for Ankle Fractures in Emergency Departments across the United States between 2006 and 2015

This presentation describes the percentage of patients prescribed a controlled and non-controlled medication in an United States Emergency Department for a diagnosed ankle fracture

SCFAs strongly stimulate PYY production in human enteroendocrine cells.

Peptide-YY (PYY) and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) play important roles in the regulation of food intake and insulin secretion, and are of translational interest in the field of obesity and diabetes. PYY production is highest in enteroendocrine cells located in the distal intestine, mirroring the sites where high concentrations of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced by gut microbiota. We show here that propionate and butyrate strongly increased expression of PYY but not GCG in human cell line and intestinal primary culture models. The effect was predominantly attributable to the histone deacetylase inhibitory activity of SCFA and minor, but significant contributions of FFA2 (GPR43). Consistent with the SCFA-dependent elevation of PYY gene expression, we also observed increased basal and stimulated PYY hormone secretion. Interestingly, the transcriptional stimulation of PYY was specific to human-derived cell models and not reproduced in murine primary cultures. This is likely due to substantial differences in PYY gene structure between mouse and human. In summary, this study revealed a strong regulation of PYY production by SCFA that was evident in humans but not mice, and suggests that high fibre diets elevate plasma concentrations of the anorexigenic hormone PYY, both by targeting gene expression and hormone secretion

The glacial geomorphology of the western cordilleran ice sheet and Ahklun ice cap, Southern Alaska

During the late Wisconsinan, Southern Alaska was covered by two large ice masses; the western arm of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and the Ahklun Mountains Ice Cap. Compared to the other ice sheets that existed during this period (e.g. the British-Irish, Laurentide and Fennoscandian ice sheets), little is known about the geomorphology they left behind. This limits our understanding of their flow pattern and retreat. Here we present systematic mapping of the glacial geomorphology of the two ice masses which existed in Southern Alaska. Due to spatially variable data availability, mapping was conducted using digital elevation models and satellite images of varying resolutions. Offshore, we map the glacial geomorphology using available bathymetric data. For the first time, we document >5000 subglacial lineations, recording ice flow direction. The distribution of moraines is presented, as well as features related to glacial meltwater drainage patterns (eskers and meltwater channels). Prominent troughs were also mapped on Alaska's continental shelf. This map provides the data required for a glacial inversion of these palaeo-ice masses

4-Phenyl­sulfon­yl-2-(p-tolyl­sulfon­yl)-1H,8H-pyrrolo­[2,3-b]indole

The title compound, C23H18N2O4S2, contains a pyrrolo group fused onto the plane of an indole ring with phenyl­sulfonyl and p-toluene­sulfonyl groups bonded to the indole and pyrrolo rings. The angles between the mean planes of the pyrrolo-indole ring and the phenyl­sulfonyl and p-toluene­sulfonyl rings are 73.7 (6) and 80.6 (0)°, respectively. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the two benzene rings is 78.7 (4)°. In the crystal, both classical N—H⋯O and non-classical C—H⋯O inter­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions are observed, as well as weak π–π inter­actions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.6258 (8) and 3.9298 (8) Å], which contribute to the stability of the packing

Novel SCN9A mutations underlying extreme pain phenotypes: unexpected electrophysiological and clinical phenotype correlations.

The importance of NaV1.7 (encoded by SCN9A) in the regulation of pain sensing is exemplified by the heterogeneity of clinical phenotypes associated with its mutation. Gain-of-function mutations are typically pain-causing and have been associated with inherited erythromelalgia (IEM) and paroxysmal extreme pain disorder (PEPD). IEM is usually caused by enhanced NaV1.7 channel activation, whereas mutations that alter steady-state fast inactivation often lead to PEPD. In contrast, nonfunctional mutations in SCN9A are known to underlie congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP). Although well documented, the correlation between SCN9A genotypes and clinical phenotypes is still unclear. Here we report three families with novel SCN9A mutations. In a multiaffected dominant family with IEM, we found the heterozygous change L245 V. Electrophysiological characterization showed that this mutation did not affect channel activation but instead resulted in incomplete fast inactivation and a small hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state slow inactivation, characteristics more commonly associated with PEPD. In two compound heterozygous CIP patients, we found mutations that still retained functionality of the channels, with two C-terminal mutations (W1775R and L1831X) exhibiting a depolarizing shift in channel activation. Two mutations (A1236E and L1831X) resulted in a hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state fast inactivation. To our knowledge, these are the first descriptions of mutations with some retained channel function causing CIP. This study emphasizes the complex genotype-phenotype correlations that exist for SCN9A and highlights the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of NaV1.7 as a critical region for channel function, potentially facilitating analgesic drug development studies.J.J.C. and A.M.H. were supported by an MRC Research Career Development fellowship. F.M.G., F.R., and E.C.E. were supported by Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowships WT088357/Z/09/Z and WT084210/Z/07/Z and MRC Grant MC_UU_12012/3. C.G.W. was supported by the Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/20/7674.short

1, 2-Bis (phenylsulfonyl)-1H-Indole as an Acceptor of Organocuprate Nucleophiles

1,2-Bis(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole is a novel example of an electron-deficient indole that undergoes nucleophilic attack at C-3. Though a variety of other organometallic nucleophiles fail to engender nucleophilic substitution, organocuprates produce 3-substituted 2-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indoles. These reactions contribute to the growing number of examples of nucleophilic addition to the indole core

Neural Excitability and Joint Laxity in Chronic Ankle Instability, Coper, and Control Groups

Neuromuscular and mechanical deficiencies are commonly studied in participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Few investigators have attempted to comprehensively consider sensorimotor and mechanical differences among people with CAI, copers who did not present with prolonged dysfunctions after an initial ankle sprain, and a healthy control group