Copper(11) complex of a tridentate N-Donor ligand with unexpected Cu-H interaction

The new pyridineâamine ligand, meophdpa (bis(dipyridylmethyl)-4-methoxyaniline) was synthesised and reacted with copper(II) perchlorate. The X-ray crystal structure of the resulting complex revealed a monomeric copper(II) site, with the copper bound to the three ligand nitrogens in a relatively unusual meridional fashion, as well as a chloride and a water molecule. The sixth coordination site was, unexpectedly, occupied by a phenyl ring hydrogen atom. Graphical abstract A new pyridineâamine ligand has been prepared and its reaction with copper perchlorate characterised. An interesting phenyl-HâCu interaction was observed

Using Technology to Increase Physical Activity in Health Profession Students

Health profession students may need help establishing and maintaining positive health behaviors when they are in college. This study explored the effectiveness of text messaging as an innovative method for promoting an increase in daily physical activity. A convenience sample (N = 134) was recruited from students at a college of Health and Human Services in Michigan. The participants were randomized into an intervention or control group (n = 67 each). The intervention group received daily affective text messages encouraging more physical activity by taking more steps. The control group received only messages reminding them to report their number of steps. All of the participants received a pedometer, completed a demographics and daily habits questionnaire, and completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in their number of daily steps. However, the most inactive participants had a significant increase in steps during the study period. Health profession students’ lifestyle behaviors have consequences, as they become caregivers in our dynamic, demanding health-care system. For those with the greatest need for physical activity, encouraging such activity via text messaging may improve their ability to care for themselves and their clients

Mapping Selective Inhibition of the Cancer-Related Carbonic Anhydrase IX Using Structure-Activity Relationships of Glucosyl-Based Sulfamates

Inhibition of human carbonic anhydrase IX (hCA IX) has shown to be therapeutically advantageous for treating many types of highly aggressive cancers. However, designing selective inhibitors for hCA IX has been difficult due to its high structural homology and sequence similarity with off-target hCAs. Recently, the use of glucosyl sulfamate inhibitors has shown promise as selective inhibitors for hCA IX. In this study, we present five X-ray crystal structures, determined to a resolution of 1.7 Å or better, of both hCA II (a ubiquitous CA) and an engineered hCA IX-mimic in complex with selected glucosyl sulfamates and structurally rationalize mechanisms for hCA IX selectivity. Results from this study have allowed us, for the first time, to empirically “map” key interactions of the hCA IX active site in order to establish parameters needed to design novel hCA IX selective inhibitors.No Full Tex

Building a framework for process-oriented evaluation of Regional Climate Outlook Forums

In many regions around the world, Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) provide seasonal climate information and forecasts to decision-makers at regional and national levels. Despite having two decades of experience, the forums have not been systematically monitored or evaluated. To address this gap, and to better inform nascent and widespread efforts in climate services, the authors propose a process-oriented evaluation framework derived from literature on decision support and climate communication around the production and use of scientific information.The authors apply this framework to a case study of the Caribbean RCOF (CariCOF), where they have been engaged in a collaborative effort to integrate climate information and decision processes to enhance regional climate resilience. The authors’ examination of the CariCOF shows an evolution toward the use of more advanced and more diverse climate products, as well as greater awareness of user feedback. It also reveals shortfalls of the CariCOF, including a lack of diverse stakeholder participation, a need for better understanding of best practices to tailor information, undeveloped market research of climate products, insufficient experimentation and vetting of communication mechanisms, and the absence of a way to steward a diverse network of regional actors. The authors’ analysis also provides insight that allowed for improvements in the climate services framework to include mechanisms to respond to changing needs and conditions. The authors’ process-oriented framework can serve as a starting point for evaluating RCOFs and other organizations charged with the provision of climate services

Linocin and OmpW Are Involved In Attachment Of The Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Pathogen Burkholderia Cepacia Complex To Lung Epithelial Cells and Protect Mice Against Infection

Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) causes chronic opportunistic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) resulting in a gradual lung function decline and, ultimately, patient death. Bcc is a complex of eighteen species and is rarely eradicated once a patient is colonised, therefore vaccination may represent a better therapeutic option. We developed a new proteomics approach to identify bacterial proteins that are involved in attachment of Bcc to lung epithelial cells. Fourteen proteins were reproducibly identified by 2-DE from four Bcc strains, representative of two Bcc species: B. cenocepacia, the most virulent and B. multivorans, the most frequently acquired. Seven proteins were identified in both species, but only two were common to all four strains, Linocin and OmpW. Both proteins were selected based previously published data on these proteins in other species. The E. coli strains expressing recombinant Linocin and OmpW showed enhanced attachment (4.2- and 3.9-fold) to lung cells, compared to control, confirming that both proteins are involved in host cell attachment. Immunoproteomic analysis using serum from Bcc colonised CF patients confirmed that both proteins elicit potent humoral responses in vivo. Mice immunised with either recombinant Linocin or OmpW were protected from B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans challenge. Both antigens induced potent antigen-specific antibody responses and stimulated strong cytokine responses. In conclusion, our approach identified adhesins that induced excellent protection against two Bcc species and are promising vaccine candidates for a multi-subunit vaccine. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of our proteomics approach to identify potent antigens against other difficult pathogens

Does owning a pet protect older people against loneliness?

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Pet ownership is thought to make a positive contribution to health, health behaviours and the general well-being of older people. More specifically pet ownership is often proposed as a solution to the problem of loneliness in later life and specific 'pet based' interventions have been developed to combat loneliness. However the evidence to support this relationship is slim and it is assumed that pet ownership is a protection against loneliness rather than a response to loneliness. The aim of this paper is to examine the association between pet ownership and loneliness by exploring if pet ownership is a response to, or protection against, loneliness using Waves 0-5 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)

Neuronal interactions between mentalizing and action systems during indirect request processing

Human communication relies on the ability to process linguistic structure and to map words and utterances onto our environment. Furthermore, as what we communicate is often not directly encoded in our language (e.g., in the case of irony, jokes, or indirect requests), we need to extract additional cues to infer the beliefs and desires of our conversational partners. Although the functional interplay between language and the ability to mentalize has been discussed in theoretical accounts in the past, the neurobiological underpinnings of these dynamics are currently not well understood. Here, we address this issue using functional imaging (fMRI). Participants listened to question-reply dialogues. In these dialogues, a reply is interpreted as a direct reply, an indirect reply, or a request for action, depending on the question. We show that inferring meaning from indirect replies engages parts of the mentalizing network (mPFC) while requests for action also activate the cortical motor system (IPL). Subsequent connectivity analysis using Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) revealed that this pattern of activation is best explained by an increase in effective connectivity from the mentalizing network (mPFC) to the action system (IPL). These results are an important step towards a more integrative understanding of the neurobiological basis of indirect speech processing

How managed a market? Modes of commissioning in England and Germany

Background: In quasi-markets governance over healthcare providers is mediated by commissioners. Different commissioners apply different combinations of six methods of control (’media of power’) for exercising governance: managerial performance, negotiation, discursive control, incentives, competition and juridical control. This paper compares how English and German healthcare commissioners do so. Methods: Systematic comparison of observational national-level case studies in terms of six media of power, using data from multiple sources. Results: The comparison exposes and contrasts two basic generic modes of commissioning: 1. Surrogate planning (English NHS), in which a negotiated order involving micro-commissioning, provider competition, financial incentives and penalties are the dominant media of commissioner power over providers. 2. Case-mix commissioning (Germany), in which managerial performance, an ‘episode based’ negotiated order and juridical controls appear the dominant media of commissioner power. Conclusions: Governments do not necessarily maximise commissioners’ power over providers by implementing as many media of power as possible because these media interact, some complementing and others inhibiting each other. In particular, patient choice of provider inhibits commissioners’ use of provider competition as a means of control