Ferrocenyl hydroxymethylphosphines (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe[η⁵⁻C₅H₄P(CH₂OH)₂] and 1,1′-[Fe{η⁵-C₅H₄P(CH₂OH)₂}₂] and their chalcogenide derivatives

The ferrocenyl hydroxymethylphosphines FcP(CH₂OH)₂ [Fc=(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)] and 1,1′-Fc′[P(CH₂OH)₂]₂ [Fc′=Fe(η⁵⁻C₅H₄)₂] were prepared by reactions of the corresponding primary phosphines FcPH₂ and 1,1′-Fc′(PH₂)₂ with excess aqueous formaldehyde. The crystal structure of FcP(CH₂OH)₂ was determined and compared with the known ferrocenyl hydroxymethylphosphine FcCH₂P(CH₂OH)₂. The chalcogenide derivatives FcP(E)(CH₂OH)₂ and 1,1′-Fc′[P(E)(CH₂OH)₂]₂ (E=O, S, Se) were prepared and fully characterised. Crystal structure determinations on FcP(O)(CH₂OH)₂ and FcP(S)(CH₂OH)₂ were performed, and the hydrogen-bonding patterns are compared with related compounds. The sulfide shows no hydrogen-bonding involving the phosphine sulfide group, in contrast to other reported ferrocenyl hydroxymethylphosphine sulfides. The platinum complex cis-[PtCl₂{FcP(CH₂OH)₂}₂] was prepared by reaction of 2 mol equivalents of FcP(CH₂OH)₂ with [PtCl₂(1,5-cyclo-octadiene)], and was characterised by 31P-NMR spectroscopy and negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry, which gave a strong [M+Cl]⁻ ion

Expediting Permanency: Legal Representation for Foster Children in Palm Beach County

This report describes the evaluation of the Foster Children's Project (FCP) of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Florida, which provides legal representation to children who have been placed in substitute care as a result of child abuse or neglect. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impact of FCP on the nature and timing of children's permanency outcomes and juvenile court milestones. The study also identifies and describes the program elements or practices that serve to define FCP, and explores the broader impact that FCP has had on the child protective service system in Palm Beach County. Data were drawn from several sources, including juvenile court case files, child welfare administrative records, and interviews with legal and social service professionals. Children represented by FCP were found to have a significantly higher rate of exit to permanency than children not served by FCP. In the main, this difference appears to be a function of much higher rates of adoption and long-term custody among FCP children. Interestingly, the higher rates of adoption and long-term custody experienced by FCP children were not found to be offset by significantly lower rates of reunification. Together, study findings suggest that FCP's efforts to individualize children's court-approved case plans served to clarify the basis of, and thus expedite, court decisions concerning parent and agency compliance with parent's case plan requirements. The study also discusses implications for other jurisdictions seeking to expedite permanency though juvenile court reforms, including the provision of representation to children

Orbiter fuel cell performance constraints. STS/OPS Pratt Whitney fuel cells. Operating limits for mission planning

The orbiter fuel cell powerplant (FCP) performance constraints listed in the Shuttle Operational Data Book (SODB) were analyzed using the shuttle environmental control requirements evaluation tool. The effects of FCP lifetime, coolant loops, and FCP voltage output were considered. Results indicate that the FCP limits defined in the SODB are not valid

A new sighting study for the fixed concentration procedure to allow for gender differences

The fixed concentration procedure (FCP) has been proposed as an alternative to the median lethal concentration (LC50) test (organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD) test guideline [TG] 403) for the assessment of acute inhalation toxicity. The FCP tests animals of a single gender (usually females) at a number of fixed concentration levels in a sequential fashion. It begins with a sighting study that precedes the main FCP study and is used to determine the main study starting concentration. In this paper, we propose a modification to the sighting study and suggest that it should be conducted using both male and female animals, rather than just animals of a single gender. Statistical analysis demonstrates that, when females are more sensitive, the new procedure is likely to give the same classification as the original FCP, whereas, if males are more sensitive, the new procedure is much less likely to lead to incorrect classification into a less toxic category. If there is no difference in the LC50 for females and males, the new procedure is slightly more likely to classify into a more stringent class than the original FCP. Overall, these results show that the revised sighting study ensures gender differences in sensitivity do not significantly impact on the performance of the FCP, supporting its use as an alternative test method for assessing acute inhalation toxicity

Financial Consumer Protection and the Global Financial Crisis

This paper discusses the role and design of financial consumer protection (FCP), weaknesses of current FCP frameworks in light of the recent global financial crisis, policy responses to the crisis, and policy issues in FCP that remain to be addressed. The failures of financial consumer protection have been one of the detonators and amplifiers in the crisis. Policy responses during the crises have focused mainly on enhanced disclosure of pre-contractual and contractual terms and conditions of financial products, their professional and ethical distribution, and debt counseling and education programs for consumers. Most recently, more attention has been paid to the institutional design for financial consumer protection, including regulation, supervision and enforcement and access to financial education. This has been advanced by thinking about the need for a sound and safe design of future financial architecture, including benchmarks for FCP worldwide.Financial Consumer Protection, Global Financial Crisis, Business Conduct Regulation and Supervision, Financial Market Integrity

Fecal calprotectin levels in patients with non-celiac wheat sensitivity: a proof of concept

Some data suggest the existence of intestinal inflammation in patients with non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS). We aimed to verify whether fecal calprotectin (FCP), a marker of intestinal inflammation, could be used to confirm this inflammatory status and to test its diagnostic performance in differentiating NCWS from irritable bowel syndrome/functional dyspepsia (IBS/FD). We conducted a multicenter study, comparing NCWS patients, diagnosed by a double-blind placebo-controlled wheat challenge, with IBS/FD subjects. In the retrospective phase, FCP values were analyzed to define the prevalence of its positivity and its role as a NCWS diagnostic biomarker. In the prospective phase we tested the effects of a strict 6-month wheat-free diet (WFD) on FCP values. 31.3% (n = 63/201) of NCWS patients had above normal FCP values (NCWS FCP +), whereas all IBS/FD patients proved negative (P = 0.0001). FCP using a cut-off value > 41 μg/g showed a 58.6% sensitivity and a 98.0% specificity (AUC 0.755, 95% C.I. 0.702-0.837) in distinguishing NCWS from IBS/FD patients. Of the 63 NCWS FCP+, 65.1% had negative FCP values after ≥ 6 months of WFD, with a significant reduction in FCP values (P < 0.0001). All NCWS FCP- subjects still preserved negative FCP values after ≥ 6 months of WFD. Our study showed that FCP can be a useful but supplementary diagnostic marker for differentiating between NCWS and IBS/FD. Strict WFD adherence reduced FCP values, normalizing them in 65.1% of NCWS FCP + subjects. These data suggest the existence of two NCWS subgroups: NCWS FCP + characterized by a probable predominantly inflammatory/immunologic pattern and NCWS FCP- featuring non-immuno-mediated etiopathogenetic mechanisms. (Registration number NCT01762579)

Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA): Analysis of the electrical power generation/fuel cell powerplant subsystem

Results of the Independent Orbiter Assessment (IOA) of the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Critical Items List (CIL) are presented. The IOA approach features a top-down analysis of the hardware to determine failure modes, criticality, and potential critical items. To preserve independence, this analysis was accomplished without reliance upon the results contained within the NASA FMEA/CIL documentation. This report documents the independent analysis results corresponding to the Orbiter Electrical Power Generation (EPG)/Fuel Cell Powerplant (FCP) hardware. The EPG/FCP hardware is required for performing functions of electrical power generation and product water distribution in the Orbiter. Specifically, the EPG/FCP hardware consists of the following divisions: (1) Power Section Assembly (PSA); (2) Reactant Control Subsystem (RCS); (3) Thermal Control Subsystem (TCS); and (4) Water Removal Subsystem (WRS). The IOA analysis process utilized available EPG/FCP hardware drawings and schematics for defining hardware assemblies, components, and hardware items. Each level of hardware was evaluated and analyzed for possible failure modes and effects. Criticality was assigned based upon the severity of the effect for each failure mode

Management of Melana watershed using multicriteria decision making approaches

Nowadays, watershed management is very important and need to be given attention especially by government agencies because all resources between it are related. This project proposed using Multicriteria Decision Making Approach (MCDM) to identify and rank which subwatershed in Melana need to given priority by government authorities in planning their strategies or alternatives for improvement Melana catchment. Each subwatershed was ranked using Multicriteria Decision Making Approaches specifically applying Fuzzy Composite Programming (FCP) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). There were 3 selected subwatershed which were residential, light industry and heavy industry. The objective of this project i) to identify basic indicator for management of Melana watershed, ii) to rank subwatershed in Melana watershed using MCDM approaches, iii) to compare FCP and AHP technique and analyses based on selected basic indicators. The FCP and AHP structures contained 13 first-level indicators, 5 second level indicators, 3 third level indicators and the final indicators. The highest ranking subwatershed was residential with the highest ordered sequence value. The highest ranking subwatershed was also associated with the shortest distance between the fuzzy box and ideal point. The highest ordered sequences value means that subwatershed was the best in economy, water quantity and quality. The critical subwatershed was the lowest ordered sequence value which was heavy industry. In AHP, the highest priority index value was heavy industry. This subwatershed is the critical watershed which need be given attention and conservation. This study showed that FCP has a similar result with AHP

New ferrocene-derived hydroxymethylphosphines: FcP(CH₂OH)₂ [Fc=(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)] and the dppf analogue 1,1′-Fc′[P(CH₂OH)₂]₂ [Fc′=Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)₂]

Reactions of the ferrocene-phosphines FcPH₂ and 1,1′-Fc′(PH₂)₂ with excess formaldehyde gives the new hydroxymethylphosphines FcP(CH₂OH)₂ 1 and 1,1′-Fc′[P(CH₂OH)₂]₂ 2, respectively. Phosphine 1 is an air-stable crystalline solid, whereas 2 is isolated as an oil. Reaction of 1 with H₂O₂, S₈ or Se gives the chalcogenide derivatives FcP(E)(CH₂OH)₂ (E=O, S or Se), whilst reaction of 2 with S8 gives 1,1′-Fc′[P(S)(CH₂OH)₂]₂, which were fully characterised. Phosphine 1 was also characterised by an X-ray crystal structure determination