Optical and structural properties of ions in crystals

1. The Atomic Position and Size of the Thallium Ions in KC1 (T1) Phosphors. W. A. Runciman and E. G. Steward, Proc.Phys.Soc., 66A, 484, 1953. • 2. Alkaline Earth Uranates of the R3MX6 Type. E. G. Steward and W. A. Runciman, Nature, 172, 75, 1953. • 3. Atomic Configurations in Luminescent Centres. W. A. Runciman, Brit.J.App.Phys.Supp. No. 4, S78, 1955. • 4. Absorption and Emission Spectra of Bismuth -Activated Phosphors. W. A. Runciman, Proc.Phys.Soc., 68A, 647, 1955. • 5. Fluorescent Centres in Uranium-Activated Sodium Fluoride. W. A. Runciman, Nature, 175, 1082, 1955. • 6. Atomic Wave Functions for Gold and Thallium. A. S. Douglas, D. R. Hartree and W. A. Runciman, Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc., a, 486, 1955. • 7. Centres Luminogens dans les Fluorures Actives a L'Uranium. W. A. Runciman, J.Phys. Radium, 17, 645, 1956. • 8. The Luminescence of Uranium-Activated Sodium Fluoride. W. A. Runciman, Proc.Roy.Soc., 237A, 39, 1956. • 9. Stark-splitting in Crystals. W. A. Runciman, Phil.Mag., (8)1, 1075, 1956. • 10. Optical Fluorescence in Non-Destructive Testing. W. A. Runciman, Brit.J. DD.Phys.Supp. No. 6, S34, 1957. • 11. Energy levels in Rare-Earth Ions. J. P. Elliott, B. R. Judd and W. A. Runciman, Proc.Roy. Soc., 240A, 509, 1957. • 12. Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra. of Ions in Crystals. W. A. Runciman, Rep.Progr.Phys., 21, 30, 1958. • 13. The Absorption Spectrum of Vanadium Corundum. M.H.L. Pryce and W. A. Runciman, Faraday Soc. Disc. No. 26, 34, 1958. • 14. A Neutron- Diffraction Study of Potassium Cobalticyanide. N. A. Curry and W. A. Runciman, Acta Cryst., 12, 674, 1959. • 15. Analysis of the Spectra of Gadolinium Salts. W. A. Runciman, J.Chem.Phys., 30, 1632, 1959. • 16. Spectra of Trivalent Praseodymium and Thulium Salts. W. A. Runciman and B. G. Wybourne, J.Chem.Phys., 31, 1149, 1959

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

A brief history of the patient safety movement in Anaesthesia

Approaches to safety began slowly. It took a century for ether to fully replace chloroform and for PIN indexing to be introduced for gas cylinders. In the 1960's Holland in Australia and Harrison in South Africa initiated longitudinal anaesthesia mortality studies and showed a decline from 1:10,000 to 1:20,000 cases for fit patients. The relative safety of anaesthesia was confirmed by a large scale medical record review in 1990. In the 1980's Cooper introduced incident monitoring and Cheney started the closed claim study. Dealing with the lessons from these was improved by the development of realistic simulation for teaching and pre-compiled responses for the management of crises. These advance underpinned the worldwide introduction of pulse oximetry, anaesthesia safety standards and check lists. Systematic improvement in drugs, equipment, techniques, infrastructure, training and the status of anaesthetists has underpinned the remarkable improvements in patient safety to date and further improvements in these areas will maintain the place of anaesthesia as a role model for patient safety.16 page(s