The construction and validation of a spatail test, using diagrammatic material based on projections and sections of solid objects

An important development in mental testing has been the construction of tests for measuring the ability to obtain,and utilise, visual spatial imagery. These spatial tests have proved valuable in predicting subsequent success in such spheres as engineering apprenticeships, technical drawing and woodwork. They have also been employed successfully i n selection for secondary schools. Although a limited number of such tests already existed, it was felt that a new test based on three-dimensionalmaterial, and particularly projections and sections of this material, could prove of value. Two hundred possible test items, of thirteen types, were therefore prepared and "tried-out" on a representative sample of school children. An item analysis of the resulting dataprovided indices of Facility and Discrimination which were used to select the one hundred most suitable items. The selected items were then organised into a revised draft which was inserted into the selection examination for the entire ten-year-old population of a city. This large- scale trial, as well as showing that the test and instructions are suitable for the age group, provided information from which tables for converting raw scores to standardised scores were constructed; enabled a second, confirmatory item analysis to be made; showing a significant difference in mean scores for boys and girls, a recognised property of spatial tests; and provided the following figures: Range: 1 - 99 Mean: 42.1 Standard Deviation: 20.745 Reliability: 0.9642 In an investigation with 85 boys the test correlated more highly with a recognised spatial test than with a verbal test, and was a better predictor of success in metalwork than was the verbal test. Extended validation, notably a four year follow-up of the 85 boys, and a factor-analysis are required before it can be certain that the test is truly "spatial" with the uses associated with such tests

The role of alkane coordination in C–H bond cleavage at a Pt(II) center

The rates of CFormula H bond activation for various alkanes by [(N–N)Pt(Me)(TFEd3)]+ (N Formula N = ArFormula NFormula C(Me)Formula C(Me)Formula NFormula Ar; Ar = 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl; TFE-d3 = CF3CD2OD) were studied. Both linear and cyclic alkanes give the corresponding alkene-hydride cation [(N–N)Pt(H)(alkene)]+ via (i) rate determining alkane coordination to form a CFormula H {sigma} complex, (ii) oxidative cleavage of the coordinated CFormula H bond to give a platinum(IV) alkyl-methyl-hydride intermediate, (iii) reductive coupling to generate a methane {sigma} complex, (iv) dissociation of methane, and (v) beta-H elimination to form the observed product. Second-order rate constants for cycloalkane activation (CnH2n), are proportional to the size of the ring (k ~ n). For cyclohexane, the deuterium kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD) of 1.28 (5) is consistent with the proposed rate determining alkane coordination to form a CFormula H {sigma} complex. Statistical scrambling of the five hydrogens of the Pt-methyl and the coordinated methylene unit, via rapid, reversible steps ii and iii, and interchange of geminal CFormula H bonds of the methane and cyclohexane CFormula H {sigma} adducts, is observed before loss of methane

Ibrutinib inhibits SDF1/CXCR4 mediated migration in AML

Pharmacological targeting of BTK using ibrutinib has recently shown encouraging clinical activity in a range of lymphoid malignancies. Recently we reported that ibrutinib inhibits human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blast proliferation and leukemic cell adhesion to the surrounding bone marrow stroma cells. Here we report that in human AML ibrutinib, in addition, functions to inhibit SDF1/CXCR4-mediated AML migration at concentrations achievable in vivo. It has previously been shown that SDF1/CXCR4-induced migration is dependent on activation of downstream BTK in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma. Here we show that SDF-1 induces BTK phosphorylation and downstream MAPK signalling in primary AML blast. Furthermore, we show that ibrutinib can inhibit SDF1-induced AKT and MAPK activation. These results reported here provide a molecular mechanistic rationale for clinically evaluating BTK inhibition in AML patients and suggests that in some AML patients the blasts count may initially rise in response to ibrutinib therapy, analgous to similar clinical observations in CLL

A Hadamard transform UV absorption detection for high performance liquid chromatography. Part I. Preliminary experiments

The principles and design of a Hadamard transform UV absorbance detector for liquid chromatography are outlined, and some spectra of aromatic compounds passing through its flow cell are presented. This approach could be valuable in providing a low-cost multi-wavelength detection method for liquid chromatography

Pollinators, “mustard oil” volatiles, and fruit production in flowers of the dioecious tree Drypetes natalensis (Putranjivaceae)

The Putranjivaceae is an enigmatic family, notable for being the only lineage outside the Capparales to possess the glucosinolate biochemical pathway, which forms the basis of an induced chemical defense system against herbivores (the “ mustard oil bomb ” ). We investigated the pollination biology and fl oral scent chemistry of Drypetes natalensis (Putranjivaceae), a dioecious subcanopy tree with fl owers borne on the stem (caulifl ory). Flowering male trees were more abundant than female ones and produced about 10-fold more fl owers. Flowers of both sexes produce copious amounts of nectar on disc-like nectaries accessible to short-tongued insects. The main fl ower visitors observed were cetoniid beetles, bees, and vespid wasps. Pollen load analysis indicated that these insects exhibit a high degree of fi delity to D. natalensis fl owers. Insects effectively transfer pollen from male to female plants resulting in about 31% of female fl owers developing fruits with viable seeds. Cetoniid beetles showed signifi cant orientation toward the scent of D. natalensis fl owers in a Y-maze olfactometer. The scents of male and female fl owers are similar in chemical composition and dominated by fatty acid derivatives and isothiocyanates from the glucosinolate pathway. The apparent constitutive emission of isothiocyanates raises interesting new questions about their functional role in flowers

Magnetodielectric coupling in Mn3O4

We have investigated the dielectric anomalies associated with spin ordering transitions in the tetragonal spinel Mn$_3$O$_4$, using thermodynamic, magnetic, and dielectric measurements. We find that two of the three magnetic ordering transitions in Mn$_3$O$_4$ lead to decreases in the temperature dependent dielectric constant at zero applied field. Applying a magnetic field to the polycrystalline sample leaves these two dielectric anomalies practically unchanged, but leads to an increase in the dielectric constant at the intermediate spin-ordering transition. We discuss possible origins for this magnetodielectric behavior in terms of spin-phonon coupling. Band structure calculations suggest that in its ferrimagnetic state, Mn$_3$O$_4$ corresponds to a semiconductor with no orbital degeneracy due to strong Jahn-Teller distortion.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Technology-delivered undergraduate medical education involving patients and carers: A rapid systematic review

Background: Involving patients and carers in medical education centralises their voice in healthcare and supports students to develop key professional and person-centred skills. Medical schools are increasingly using technology to deliver educational activities. No review currently exists to establish the variety of technologies and their uses in undergraduate medical education when patients and/or carers are involved. / Methods: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and medRxiv were searched in October 2020 and reference lists of key articles were hand searched. Eligible studies reported technology-assisted education, in any setting, involving authentic patients and/or carers. Studies in foreign languages, or describing actors or non-authentic patients were excluded. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Levels of patient involvement were assessed using Towle et al (2010) taxonomy. / Results: Twenty studies were included. The majority involved patients and/or carers via pre-recorded videos or online scenarios, with no student-interaction. Four studies evaluated remote consultations using telehealth technology, involving real-time interactions with authentic patients. Technology-supported teaching sessions involving patients and/or carers were found to be acceptable to students, educationally valuable (to students and educators), and enhanced student engagement, patient-centred attitudes, knowledge of specific patient groups, and communication and clinical skills. Two studies describing real-time remote interactions with authentic patients indicated potential barriers for students (reduced ability to build relationship with patients and examine them), educators (reduced ability to build rapport with students) and patients (issues with using or accessing telehealth). / Conclusions: No studies directly measured the perspective of patients or carers involved in technology-delivered medical education. Future research should establish barriers and facilitators to patients and carers taking up a role in medical students education when technology is used, and evaluate PPI activities at Levels 3 and above as described by Towle et al taxonomy