THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE NATIONAL LABORATORIES IN MATERIALS RESEARCH

The role of the National Laboratories is summarized from the era of post World War II to the present time. The U.S. federal government policy for the National Laboratories and its influence on their materials science infrastructure is reviewed with respect to .determining overall research strategies, various initiatives to interact with industry (especially in recent years),building facilities that serve the nation, and developing leading edge research in the materials sciences. Despite reductions in support for research in the U.S. in recent years, and uncertainties regarding the specific policies for Research &Development (R&D) in the U.S., there are strong roles for materials research at the National Laboratories. These roles will be centered on the abilities of the National Laboratories to field multidisciplinary teams, the use of unique cutting edge facilities, a focus on areas of strength within each of the labs,increased teaming and partnerships, and the selection of motivated research areas. It is hoped that such teaming opportunities will include new alliances with China, in a manner similar, perhaps, to those recently achieved between the U.S. and other countries.

Resurgence of measles virus infection in an eliminated country, Sri Lanka

Objective:To describe the situation of measles in Sri Lanka from May to November,2023 and to define the role of virology laboratory towards case confirmation and epidemiological and genetic characterization of the outbreak.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed all samples tested for measles from 1st of May to 30th of November,2023 at National Measles Rubella Laboratory,Sri Lanka.According to the World Health Organization(WHO)algorithm,serum and oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs were tested with WHO recommended kits for anti-measles IgM and measles virus specific RNA,respectively.Selected RNA positive samples were sequenced at reference laboratory,India.Analysis of sequencing data and construction of phylogenetic tree were carried out at National Measles Rubella Laboratory.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results:Of the total 1132 serum samples and 497 oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs from 1326 patients,657(49.5%)patients were confirmed as measles by anti-measles IgM,measles virus specific RNA or both.Males(55.6%,n=365)and the age group from>20 to≤30 years(33.0%,n=217)predominated positive patients.All provinces reported measles positive cases.All samples sequenced(100%,n=42)were genotype D8 with 95.2%(n=40)bearing Victoria.Australia origin.Conclusions:We described resurgence of measles in an eliminated country,confirming the genotype to be D8,one of the two genotypes currently circulating globally.Further,the study strongly convinced the importance of a strengthened virological surveillance system in an eliminated country,despite its eliminated status.

Lab Director and Division Directors,Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy

Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy （DNL）, based mainly in Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics （DICP）, Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS）, is looking for outstanding candidates for DNL director and directors for its nine research divisions： optimized utilization of fossil energy, low carbon catalysis and engineering, energy saving ＆ energy environment, fuel cell ＆ energy storage, hydrogen energy, biomass energy, solar energy, maritime renewable energy, basic ＆ strategic studies on energy, and service center for energy researches. More details about DICP can be found at http：//www.dicp.ac.cn/.

National Laboratory of Acoustics at CAS

Approved by the State Planning Commission in 1989, the National Laboratory of Acoustics (NLA) was officially set up at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1990. Since then, NLA has been open to the scientists from home and abroad. The director of NLA is Prof. Zhang Renbe, a CAS member and member of the International Commission on Acoustics (ICA). The chairman of the NLA Academic Committee is Prof. Hou Ziqiang.

Identification of mutation in a candidate gene for hereditary multiple exostoses type Ⅱ

Objectives To identify possible mutations in our previously cloned candidate gene for hereditary multiple exostoses type Ⅱ (EXT2) in affected members of EXT families so as to confirm that it is the disease causing gene. Methods The mutation was detected first by single strand conformational polymorphism(SSCP) of all coding exons of the candidate gene and then by sequencing analysis. Results After analyzing 37 patients from 20 Chinese EXT families by SSCP and DNA sequencing analysis, one 2 bp insertion mutation was identified in this candidate gene in affected members of an EXT family. This mutation resulted in the frameshift and generated a truncated gene product consisting of 105 amino acids. Conclusions The identification of the mutation in the candidate gene indicates that this novel gene is responsible for EXT2 (one of the disease causing gene of EXT).