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The title compound, [RuCl2(C10H14)(C14H15OP)], is an RuII complex in which an η6-p-cymene ligand, two chloride anions and the P atom of an ethoxydiphenylphosphane ligand form a piano-stool coordination environment about the central RuII atom.

The design of a headspace pressure-monitoring reactor for measuring the uptake/evolution of gas in gas–liquid chemical transformations is described. The reactor features a parallel setup with ten-reactor cells, each featuring a low working volume of 0.2–2 ml, a pressure capacity from 0 to 150 PSIa, and a high sensitivity pressure transducer. The reactor cells are composed of commercially available disposable thick-walled glassware and compact monolithic weld assemblies. The software interface controls the reactor temperature while monitoring pressure in each of the parallel reactor cells. Reactions are easy to set up and yield high-density gas uptake/evolution data. This instrument is especially well suited to acquire quantitative time-course data for reactions with small quantities of gas consumed or produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether alterations in the phosphorylation status of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in the heart may be protective in the setting of ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. DESIGN: In-vitro heart function and biochemical research study. SETTING: University basic science laboratory. INTERVENTIONS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-350 g. Isolated rat hearts were perfused at constant pressure either aerobically for 75 min or subjected to 20 min of global, no-flow ischaemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart mechanical function, MMP-2 activity and troponin I levels. RESULTS: The serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA) improved the recovery of mechanical function compared with control IR hearts and prevented the loss of troponin I. OA significantly reduced protein phosphatase 2A, but not protein phosphatase 1, activity in perfused hearts. IR stimulated the activation and release of MMP-2 into the coronary effluent in the first 2 min of reperfusion. This was accompanied by a decrease in the remaining activity and protein level of MMP-2 in heart tissue determined at the end of the reperfusion. OA did not alter the IR-stimulated release of MMP-2 into the coronary effluent, but reduced the decrease in MMP-2 in reperfused hearts. The immunoprecipitation of heart homogenates using anti-phosphoserine antibody showed that MMP-2 is phosphorylated. The dephosphorylation of MMP-2 by alkaline phosphatase treatment of homogenates prepared from IR hearts treated with OA significantly increased MMP-2 activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the phosphorylation status of MMP-2 is important in its contribution to myocardial IR injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed whether a simple, readily implemented four-symptom somatic screen would be able to effectively identify current posttraumatic stress symptoms in victimized populations.Methods: The sample consisted of 622 Somali community-dwelling refugees who fled widespread violence and trauma occurring in East Africa during 1990-1992. Data were collected during 2000-2003 and included demographic characteristics, number of types of torture and nontorture trauma experienced earlier in Africa, and current self-rated posttraumatic stress symptoms, as measured by the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL). The sample was also assessed with the HADStress screen, which was developed for this study, to determine whether the screen was effective in detecting current posttraumatic stress symptoms. The HADStress screen assessed for the presence of four somatic symptoms: Headaches, Appetite change, Dizziness, and Sleep problems. All items were given equal weight. Possible scores on the screen range from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating more somatic symptoms.Results: Univariate analysis showed that persons who experienced more types of trauma (both torture and nontorture trauma) and persons who had higher PCL scores (indicating more current posttraumatic stress symptoms) had significantly higher HADStress scores. Negative binomial regression analysis showed that PCL scores were the most effective variable in predicting HADStress scores. On the Tukey-B post hoc analysis, a HADStress score of 0 or 1 was associated with a mean PCL score of less than 30, a score of 2 was associated with a mean PCL score of 40.28, and a score of 4 was associated with a mean PCL score of 51.07 (suggesting that over 50% of this group would have active posttraumatic stress disorder).Conclusions: A score of 2 or higher on the HADStress scale among refugees warrants additional evaluation for posttraumatic stress symptoms in clinical settings. For communitywide efforts at early recognition and treatment, a cutoff score of 4 may be more practical and cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome. These tumours can be very small and therefore difficult to identify. Current localization techniques include CT, MRI and radioisotope scanning, but in a proportion of cases the NET remains occult. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, is a relatively new imaging modality that is increasingly used to detect and monitor lesions with high metabolic activity. We report on the use of PET scanning in the evaluation of the ectopic ACTH syndrome. Patients Three patients with ectopic ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome with varying difficulty in NET localization are included in the report. Measurement Positron emission tomography scanning using 18flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) identifies tissue with high metabolic activity. 18FDG-PET scanning was used in each of these patients and the imaging is presented along with biochemical data. Results In each case the NET was easily identified using 18FDG-PET, aiding clinical decision making and therapeutic outcome. A cure was identified by clinical resolution of symptoms and undetectable ACTH levels postsurgery. Conclusions 18FDG-PET assisted in localizing small metabolically active NETs, suggesting this imaging modality may have a useful role in identifying NET causing Cushing's syndrome as a result of ectopic ACTH production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of providing in-home adjunctive and supportive services to persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families via a Web site. DESIGN: Nineteen families were provided with access to the Web site intervention for 6 months. Those who needed it were provided with a computer and Internet service in their homes. PARTICIPANTS: Adult women who were the significant others of adult males with moderate-to-severe TBI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Value and ease of use of the Web site. Each participant's usage of the Web site was automatically tracked including each page visited, time of day, and time spent on the page. RESULTS: Female significant others found the Web site to be valuable and easy to use, and used it throughout the 6-month period. The on-line support group was the most used and valued module. CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers will use Web-based interventions to help meet their needs for social support, information, and guidance following the return home of persons with TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of three doses of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain NP51 and a combination treatment of strains NP51 and NP45 on prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle. Three hundred steers were assigned randomly to 60 pens (five steers per pen) and received one of five treatments: (i) control, no added direct-fed microbial; (ii) HNP51, high dose of NP51 at 109 CFU per steer daily; (iii) MNP51, NP51 at 108 CFU per-steer daily; (iv) LNP51, low dose of NP51 at 107 CFU per steer daily; and (v) NP51+45, NP51 at 109 CFU per steer daily and NP45 at l06 CFU per steer daily. All direct-fed microbial treatments included Propionibacterium freudenreichii at 109 CFU per steer. Individual rectal fecal samples were collected on arrival and every 28 days throughout the feeding period. Fecal and hide samples were collected on the day of harvest. Samples were analyzed for presence of E. coli O157 using immunomagnetic separation methods. Cattle receiving HNP51, MNP51, and LNP51 had a lower prevalence (P < 0.01) of E. coli O157 throughout the feeding period compared with the controls, and the dose response for NP51 was a linear decrease in prevalence with increasing dose (P < 0.01). No decrease in prevalence for cattle receiving the combination NP51+45 was detected compared with controls (P = 0.15). E. coli O157 prevalences averaged across collection times were 23.9, 10.5, 9.9, 6.8, and 17.3% for cattle in the control, LNP51, MNP51, HNP51, and NP51+45 groups, respectively. Least squares mean estimates of fecal prevalence at harvest of E. coli O157 were 31.7, 12.5, 17.4, 8.2, and 41.6% among cattle in the control, LNP51, MNP51, HNP51, and NP51+45 groups, respectively. Least squares mean estimates of the percentage of positive hide samples at harvest were 8.7, 5.9, 4.8, 3.4, and 8.6% among cattle in the control, LNP51, MNP51, HNP51, and NP51+45 groups, respectively. The greatest decrease in E. coli O157 carriage was achieved using NP51 at 109 CFU per steer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a system dynamics (SD) approach for the analysis of the demand amplification problem, also known as the bullwhip effect, which has been studied fairly extensively in the literature. The construction of an SD model is reported using a part of a supermarket chain system in the UK as an example. Based on the model, the causes of the dynamic behaviour of the system and the sources of amplification from the downstream to the upstream of the chain are investigated. The impact of information delays, demand forecasting and information sharing on the performance of the multi-echelon supply chain is analysed. Some implementation issues are also addressed based on the simulation analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test whether a thyroxyl-insulin analog with restricted access to receptor sites in peripheral tissues displays relative hepatoselectivity in humans.Research Design and Methods: Five normal human subjects received a subcutaneous bolus injection of either N(alphaBl) L-thyroxyl-insulin (Bl-T4-Ins) or NPH insulin in random order. Insulin kinetics, relative effects on hepatic glucose production, and peripheral glucose uptake were studied using euglycemic clamp and stable isotope [D-6,6-(2)H2]glucose) dilution techniques. Blood samples were taken for the determination of total immunoreactive insulin/analog concentrations and for liquid chromatography to assess the protein binding of the analog in the circulation.Results: After subcutaneous administration, Bl-T4-Ins was well tolerated and rapidly absorbed. The analog had a long serum half-life and was highly protein bound (approximately 86%). Its duration of action, as judged by the duration of infusion of exogenous glucose to maintain euglycemia, was similar to that of NPH insulin. The effect of the analogs on hepatic glucose production was similar to that of NPH insulin, indicating equivalent hepatic potency. The analog demonstrated less effect on peripheral glucose uptake than NPH insulin (P = 0.025), had no effect on metabolic clearance rate of glucose, and exhibited a reduced capacity to inhibit lipolysis (P < 0.05).Conclusions: When injected subcutaneously into normal human subjects, Bl-T4-Ins is well tolerated, quickly absorbed, and highly protein bound, resulting in a long plasma halflife. This analog appears to have a hepatoselective action, and, therefore, has the potential to provide more physiological insulin action than the insulin preparations currently used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]