Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Photoluminescent Properties of One-Dimensional Europium(III)- and Terbium(III)-Glutarate Coordination Polymers, and Their Applications for the Sensing of Fe3+ and Nitroaromatics

Acknowledgements X.C. thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 1771057 and U1804253). S.H. is grateful to Henan Normal University for a postdoctoral fellowship. Supplementary data CCDC numbers 1919755 and 1919756 for 1 and 2 respectively, contain the crystal data of this article. These data are available from Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/datarequest/cif. The supporting material of this article can be download from the journal webpage.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Synthesis and structural characterization of Dinuclear Cerium(III) and Erbium(III) complexes of Nicotinic acid or 2-Aminobenzoic acid

A cerium(III) complex, [Ce2(NA)6(H2O)4] (1) and anerbium(III) complex, [Er2(2- AMB)6(H2O)4]∙3H2O (2), where NA = nicotinic acid and 2-AMB =2-aminobenzoic acid, have been prepared and characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray crystallography. The single crystal analysis reveals that both complexes are dinuclear. In 1, the two cerium(III)ions are bridged by carboxylate groups of four nicotinate ligands. Each cerium atom in 1 is nine-coordinate and exhibits a distorted mono-capped square antiprism geometry. The Ce(III) ions are coordinated by seven oxygen atoms of the carboxylate groups and two oxygen atoms of water molecules. In 2, each Er(III) ion is eight-coordinated adopting a distorted ErO8 dodecahedral geometry. The Er(III) ions are bound to four oxygen atoms of the chelating carboxylate ligands, to one oxygen each from the two bridiging carboxylates, and two oxygen atoms of water molecules. In 2 there is an intramolecular hydrogen bond forming a six membered ring between the NH2 group and one of the carboxylate oxygens in each of the six 2-2 AMB ligands. In the crystal packing, the molecules of 1 and 2 are associated through O(or N)–H∙∙∙O and O–H∙∙∙N hydrogen bonds. In 2 the intermolecular hydrogen bonding results in a 3D supramolecular network structure

Influence of gender identity on the adoption of religious-spiritual, preventive and emotion-focused coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan

Academic research has highlighted the gendered impacts and amplifications of gender disparities of COVID-19. Traditionally, Pakistan is a patriarchal society, where it is a parenthood norm to socialize specific gender social roles. The current research asserts that these normative gender roles may influence individuals throughout their life course, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study explored the influence of gender identity in adopting different coping strategies such as religious-spiritual, preventive, emotion-focused and non-constructive coping against the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the lockdown in various areas of Pakistan, data were collected through an online questionnaire using Qualtrics. In a cross-sectional study, 955 respondents completed responses. Factors analysis and reliability analysis were run to ensure the scales’ reliability, validity and robustness for different coping strategies. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to find model fitness. For theoretical explanation, the current study used social role theory that argues that each gender benefits differently from distinct coping behaviours. The findings highlighted that women were more likely to adopt most coping strategies, with the most significant difference in religious-spiritual coping and preventative coping strategies even in the presence of control variables such as level of education, household monthly income, family structure, marital status and family size. There was no gender difference in adopting non-constructive strategies. The empirical evidence suggested that females might be at an increased risk of stress due to the burden of unbalanced household-based social norms and care responsibilities. The current research also expanded the base of coping to religious-spiritual coping, emotion-focused coping and non-constructive coping. In Pakistan, higher adoption of coping strategies among women compared to men (such as religious-spiritual coping, preventative coping, emotion-focused coping, etc.) has raised serious concerns related to increased risk of stress and emotional fatigue among females in the country due to their coping behaviours.More research is needed to develop and support women’s active and productive role within the household to promote public health and positive coping strategies for families. In Pakistan, higher adoption of coping strategies among women compared to men (such as religious-spiritual coping, preventative coping, emotion-focused coping, etc.) has raised serious concerns related to increased risk of stress and emotional fatigue among females in the country due to their coping behaviours. More research is needed to develop and support women’s active and productive role within the household to promote public health and positive coping strategies for families.</p

Synthesis of Reported and Revised Structures of Amathamide D and Synthesis of Convolutamine F, H and Lutamide A, C

Total synthesis of the published structure of amathamide D is described. Methyl 2,3,4-tribromo-5-hydroxybenzoate was selected as starting compound because it is readily accessible via acid-mediated Grob fragmentation–aromatization reaction of 1,4,5,6-tetrabromo-7,7-dimethoxybicyclo[2.2.1]­hept-5-en-2-one. The aforementioned ester was transformed into the reported structure of amathamide D through methylation of a hydroxyl group and conversion of the ester moiety to a β-aminoethyl side chain. The NMR data of the synthetic compound did not conform to the reported natural product structure possessing contiguously positioned β-aminoethyl side chain, a set of three adjacent bromines, and a methyl ether linkage on the phenyl ring. This prompted us to redefine the natural product structure by synthesizing a product whose spectral data exactly matched with the reported data of amathamide D. The convolutamine H, with completely substituted phenyl ring adorned with an extra methyl ether functional group, has also been synthesized by application of Grob fragmentation–aromatization strategy to 3-(benzyloxy)-1,4,5,6-tetrabromo-7,7-dimethoxybicyclo[2.2.1]­hept-5-en-2-one. This approach furnished directly methyl 2,3,4-tribromo-5,6-dimethoxybenzoate, which was converted straightforwardly into convolutamine H. Further, synthesis of convolutamine F and lutamide A and C is also described

Dynamic Effect of β‑Lactam Antibiotic Inactivation Due to the Inter- and Intraspecies Interaction of Drug-Resistant Microbes

The presence of β-lactamase positive microorganisms imparts a pharmacological effect on a variety of organisms that can impact drug efficacy by influencing the function or composition of bacteria. Although studies to assess dynamic intra- and interspecies communication with bacterial communities exist, the efficacy of drug treatment and quantitative assessment of multiorganism response is not well understood due to the lack of technological advances that can be used to study coculture interactions in a dynamic format. In this study, we investigate how β-lactamase positive microorganisms can neutralize the effect of β-lactam antibiotics in a dynamic format at the inter- and intraspecies level using microbial bead technology. Three interactive models for the biological compartmentalization of organisms were demonstrated to evaluate the effect of β-lactam antibiotics on coculture systems. Our model at the intraspecies level attempts to mimic the biofilm matrix more closely as a community-level feature of microorganisms, which acknowledges the impact of nondrug-resistant species in shaping the dynamic response. In particular, the results of intraspecies studies are highly supportive of the biofilm mode of bacterial growth, which can provide structural support and protect the bacteria from an assault on host or environmental factors. Our findings also indicate that β-lactamase positive bacteria can neutralize the cytotoxic effect of β-lactam antibiotics at the interspecies level when cocultured with cancer cells. Results were validated using β-lactamase positive bacteria isolated from environmental niches, which can trigger phenotypical alteration of β-lactams when cocultured with other organisms. Our compartmentalization strategy acts as an independent ecosystem and provides a new avenue for multiscale studies to assess intra- and interspecies interactions

Additional file 1 of Intimate partner violence against women in Southern Punjab, Pakistan: A phenomenological study

Additional file 1. Semi-structured interview guide of the study

Compritol®-based solid lipid nanoparticles of desvenlafaxine prepared by ultrasonication-assisted hot-melt encapsulation to modify its release

Aims: Desvenlafaxine (DES) in conventional dosage forms shows initial burst release after oral administration, leading to exaggeration of its side effects. These side effects can be overcome by a sustained-release dosage form using the chemically inert, low-melting-point lipid Compritol® 888 ATO, as it reduces initial burst release. Materials & methods: The potential of DES-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (DES-SLNs) synthesized by ultrasonication-assisted hot-melt encapsulation to modify the release of DES was investigated. Results: The entrapment efficiency of DES-SLNs was 65.90% with the in vitro release profile showing a sustained-release behavior achieving 81% cumulative release within 16 h without initial burst release. Conclusion: DES-SLNs are a potential carrier for sustained release of water-soluble antidepressant drugs such as DES.</p

The mass spectrum of quercetin and its fragmentation pattern.

The mass spectrum of quercetin and its fragmentation pattern.</p