Topics associated with the chemical sciences form a significant part of the curriculum in science at the primary school level in the U.K. In this methodology paper, we demonstrate how a wide range of research articles associated with the chemical sciences can be disseminated to an elementary school audience and how children can carry out investigations associated with cutting-edge research in the classroom.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAll learners have a contribution to make to the development of the Chemical Sciences, be that in novel ways to teach, and their perspectives and contexts, but also in research, both in chemical education and the wider Chemical Sciences. Through four case studies, this paper explores interactions with diverse groups and how this has altered perspectives on both teaching and research. The case studies include work with visually impaired adults, a project bringing together First Peoples in Australia with academics to explore old ways (traditional science) and new ways (modern approaches), primary (elementary) school perspectives on teaching science, and a project in South Africa to connect university and township communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple proteins are proteolytically shed from the membrane, including the amyloid precursor protein (APP) involved in Alzheimer's disease, the blood pressure regulating angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), the low affinity IgE receptor CD23, and the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The inhibitory effect of a range of hydroxamic acid-based compounds on the secretases involved in cleaving and releasing these four proteins has been examined to build up a structure-activity relationship. Compounds have been identified that can discriminate between TNF-alpha convertase and the other three secretases (compound 15), between the shedding of CD23 and the shedding of APP and ACE (compound 21), and between the secretases and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (compound 22).
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