Use of HNO3 as the source of NO to prepare a nitric oxide complex of ruthenium

Reaction of cis-Ru(bisox)(2)Cl-2, where bisox is 4,4,4',4'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bisoxazoline, with HNO3 in 1 : 4 molar proportion in boiling water under N-2 atmosphere and subsequent addition of an excess of NaClO4 center dot H2O yields [Ru(bisox)(HL)(NO)](ClO4)(NO3) (1). HL is a hydrolysed form of bisox where one of the oxazoline rings opens up. X-Ray crystallography shows that 1 contains an octahedral RuN5O core. HL binds the metal through an imino N, an amide N and an alcoholic O atom. Reaction of cis-Ru(bisox)(2)Cl-2 with an excess of NaNO2 in water gives cis-Ru(bisox)(2)(NO2)(2) (2). On acidification by HClO4 in methanol, 2 is smoothly converted to cis-[Ru(bisox)(2)(NO2)(NO)](ClO4)(2) (3) due to equilibrium (1).

Physiological and bifidogenic effects of prebiotic supplements in infant formulae

This randomized controlled trial involving 110 healthy neonates studied physiological and bifidogenic effects of galactooligosaccharides (GOS), oligofructose and long-chain inulin (FOS) in formula. Subjects were randomized to Orafti Synergy1 (50 oligofructose: 50 FOS) 0.4g/dl or 0.8g/dl, GOS:FOS (90:10) 0.8g/dl or a standard formula according to Good Clinical Practise (GCP) guidelines. A breast-fed group was included for comparison. Outcome parameters were weight, length, intake, stool characteristics, crying, regurgitation, vomiting, adverse events and fecal bacterial population counts. Statistical analyses used non-parametric tests. During the first month of life weight, length, intake and crying increased significantly in all groups. Regurgitation and vomiting scores were low and similar. Stool frequency decreased significantly and similarly in all formula groups but was lower than in the breast-fed. All prebiotic groups maintained soft stools, only slightly harder than those of breast-fed infants. The standard group had significantly harder stools at wks 2 and 4 compared to 1 (P<0.001 & P=0.0279). The total number of fecal bacteria increased in all prebiotic groups (9.82, 9.73 and 9.91 to 10.34, 10.38 and 10.37, respectively, log10 cells/g feces, P=0.2298) and resembled more the breast-fed pattern. Numbers of lactic acid bacteria, bacteroides and clostridia were comparable. In the SYN1 0.8 g/dl and GOS:FOS groups Bifidobacterium counts were significantly higher at D14 & 28 compared to D3 and comparable to the breast-fed group. Tolerance and growth were normal. In conclusion, stool consistency and bacterial composition of infants taking SYN1 0.8 g/dl or GOS:FOS supplemented formula was closer to the breast-fed pattern. There was no risk for dehydration.

Interaction of PPARG Pro12Ala with dietary fat influences plasma lipids in subjects at cardiometabolic risk

The PPARγ2 gene SNP Pro12Ala has shown variable association with metabolic syndrome traits in healthy subjects. We investigated the effect of interaction between genotype and the ratio of polyunsaturated:saturated (P:S) fatty acid intake on plasma lipids in 367 White subjects aged 30-70 y at increased cardiometabolic risk, in the RISCK study. Interaction was determined after habitual diet at recruitment, at baseline after a 4-week high-SFA (HS) diet and after 24-week reference (HS), high-MUFA (HM) and low-fat (LF) diets. At recruitment, there were no significant associations between genotype and plasma lipids, however, P:S x genotype interaction influenced plasma total cholesterol (TC) (P=0.02), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) (P=0.002) and triglyceride (TG) (P=0.02) concentrations. At P:S ratio ≤0.33, mean TC and LDL-C concentrations in Ala12 allele carriers were significantly higher than in non-carriers (respectively P=0.003; P=0.0001). Significant trends in reduction of plasma TC (P=0.02) and TG (P=0.002) concentrations occurred with increasing P:S (respectively ≤0.33 to >0.65 and 0.34 to >0.65) in Ala12 allele carriers. There were no significant differences between carriers and non-carriers after the 4-week HS diet or 24-week interventions. Plasma TC and TG concentrations in PPARG Ala12 allele carriers decrease as P:S increases, but are not dependent on a reduction in SFA intake.

Estimating natural-ventilation potential considering both thermal comfort and IAQ issues

Natural-ventilation potential (NVP) value can provide the designers significant information to properly design and arrange natural ventilation strategy at the preliminary or conceptual stage of ventilation and building design. Based on the previous study by Yang et al. [Investigation potential of natural driving forces for ventilation in four major cities in China. Building and Environment 2005;40:739–46], we developed a revised model to estimate the potential for natural ventilation considering both thermal comfort and IAQ issues for buildings in China. It differs from the previous one by Yang et al. in two predominant aspects: (1) indoor air temperature varies synchronously with the outdoor air temperature rather than staying at a constant value as assumed by Yang et al. This would recover the real characteristic of natural ventilation, (2) thermal comfort evaluation index is integrated into the model and thus the NVP can be more reasonably predicted. By adopting the same input parameters, the NVP values are obtained and compared with the early work of Yang et al. for a single building in four representative cities which are located in different climates, i.e., Urumqi in severe cold regions, Beijing in cold regions, Shanghai in hot summer and cold winter regions and Guangzhou in hot summer and warm winter regions of China. Our outcome shows that Guangzhou has the highest and best yearly natural-ventilation potential, followed by Shanghai, Beijing and Urumqi, which is quite distinct from that of Yang et al. From the analysis, it is clear that our model evaluates the NVP values more consistently with the outdoor climate data and thus reveals the true value of NVP.

Self-licensing and financial rewards: is morality for sale?

This paper studies the impact of financially rewarding good deeds on self-licensing. We run a between-subjects experiment comprised of an adapted dictator game preceded by paid and unpaid pro-environmental tasks. We find that prefacing the dictator game with an unpaid good deed seems to establish a 'moral rectitude' which licenses subsequent selfish behaviour, whereas a paid good deed dampens this effect. Interestingly, the nature of the initial task has more of an effect on the binary option (give vs. not give) than on the amount donated.