A Simple and Efficient Synthesis of 12-Aryl-8,9,10,12- tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthen-11-ones by ZnO Nanoparticles Catalyzed Three Component Coupling Reaction of Aldehydes, 2-Naphthol and Dimedone

Highly effective zinc oxide nanoparticles catalyzed solvent-free synthesis of some tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthen-11-one derivatives via one-pot multi-component reaction of aldehydes, 2-naphthol and dimedone. The present approach creates a variety of biologically active heterocyclic compounds in excellent yields and short reaction times. Four new compounds are reported. The salient features of the ZnO nanoparticles are: easy preparation, cost-effective, high stability, low loading and reusability of the catalyst. The prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles were fully characterized by EDX, XRD, SEM, IR and TEM analysis.KEYWORDS: ZnO, nanoparticles, tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthen-11-one, multi-component reactions,  heterocyclic compounds

The first study of the phylogenetic relationships of three rare species of Blenniids (Fishes: Blenniidae) from Makoran Coast based on the gene sequencing of Cytochrome Oxidase 1

In order to assess the phylogenetic relationships of three rare species belonging to tribe Parablenniini was carried out, along the Coast of Oman Sea. Based on the type of habitats the specimens of Blenniid were collected from three sampling sites in the intertidal zones by Scoop and hand net in low tide and in sub-tidal zones by scuba diving and hand from 3, 6, 9, and 12m depths in September to March 2013. Totally 30 fish samples collected and deposited to the lab for further investigation. Based on the available identification keys and morphometric characters three species of Parablennius cornutus, Parabelennius pilicorn, Scartella emarginata were identified. DNA was extracted from the basal tissue of the first dorsal fin, subsequently by using a specific fish primer 700 bp of Cytochrome Oxidase C subunit 1 (CO1)was amplified in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. After comparison of Iranian Blenniid species CO1 sequence with sequence of 25 species from GenBank, was concluded that Iranian species are paraphyletically in the clade Parablenniini and sub-clads of Scartella and Parablennius. Since the relationship of Parablennius with other blenniids is the subject of many studies to resolve the conflicts and ambiguities among them we selected these genera to investigate the sister group relationship among them as well as other genera and clads. This is the first time that morphologic and molecular study of the two genera Parablennius and Scartella have been carried out in Iran

Biota-sediment accumulation factor and concentration of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, Ni, Pb and Cu) in sediments and tissues of Chiton lamyi (Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) in Chabahar Bay, Iran

Heavy metals and some organic substances which are drained into the aquatic environments and cannot be decomposed or eliminated will sink into sediments or find their way into different levels of food chain. Bioaccumulation is the process of continuous deposition and aggregation of these substances into the body tissue of living organisms. Mollusks are remarkably appropriate to be used as bio-indicators because of their motionless or almost sessile nature, relatively high abundance, selective absorption of certain ions, and worldwide distribution in marine and inland aquatic habitats. Chiton lamyi is a sedentary species from the phylum, Polyplacophora, which is usually abundant on the rocky shores and intertidal zone of marine environments. Sediment and Chiton samples were taken from four stations of Chabahar Bay in autumn 2013. After acid digestion of samples, the concentration of heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, lead and copper) were measured by the graphite furnace atomic absorption apparatus, and the bioaccumulation factor in relation to sediment was calculated. The highest concentration value was calculated as 3.28 for cadmium in the Hafte Tir station. The results of this study indicated that chitons can be used as an appropriate bio-indicator for heavy metals particularly cadmium pollution in the marine environment

Comparison of different nitrogen compounds in three different environments of the Gwatar shrimp farms complex in the Gwatar Gulf region (Baluchestan-Iran)

This study aimed to investigate the quality of effluent water of a large shrimp farming complex in Chabahar region in Sistan and Baluchestan province (Iran). Fifteen sampling stations were designated in three distinct areas of these farms; i.e. the water supply canal, the drainage canal and the receiving area of the farm effluents in Gwatar Gulf. Water samples were taken from June to December 2004 for measurement and monitoring of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia compounds. The results revealed that the shrimp farms effluents have a profound effect on the water quality and aquatic environment of the drainage canal and the Gwatar Gulf. The average concentration of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia remained considerably higher in the drainage canal and Gwatar Gulf compared to the supply canal throughout the study. The amount of these compounds increased considerably in the drainage canal during the final stages of culture period and in Gwatar Gulf at post monsoon. The results of one way analysis of variance (at P<0.01 level) showed that all physical and chemical factors except water temperature were significantly different between stations. Considering that more than 25% of the shrimp farms of this complex were active during this study the measured values of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia compounds in the effluents were at the optimum range recommended for the shrimp farms

Investigation of Microdevice Performance by Transient Heat Transfer Simulation

The present work considers transient electrothermal simulation of sub-micrometer silicon device and electron-phonon interactions in electrical and thermal fields. A coupled thermal and electrical model is developed for a silicon n n n structure consisting of the hydrodynamic equations for electron transport and energy conservation equations for phonon. The results indicate that, for one electric field the lattice temperature gradient has significant effect on the magnitude of electric current. The transient phonon temperature affects the device performance due to the change of mobility and gradient temperature of electron. At an external voltage of 0.1 V, calculations show that an increase in the junction boundary temperature by 100 °C, cause increasing the drain current by 16% at 3 picosecond and decreases it by 17% up to steady state condition

Evaluation of sperm chromatin integrity using aniline blue and toluidine blue staining in infertile and normozoospermic men

Background: Male infertility is defined as a man lost his ability to fertilize a fertile female naturally. Diagnosis of male infertility cannot be made just according to basic semen analysis. It is necessity to have specific tests for evaluation of chromatin integrity. In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the sperm chromatin quality in fertile men and infertile subgroup. Methods: Among 1386 couples, 342 men were categorized into normospermia and 1044 were infertile and they were referred to Yazd Research and Clinical Center for infertility treatment. Standard semen analysis and sperm nuclear maturity tests including aniline blue (AB) and toluidine blue (TB) staining were done. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. The p=0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean value of TB staining was significantly higher in infertile group compared to normospermic group (p=0.005). Mean of sperm normal morphology was lower in idiopathic infertile men in comparison with normozoospermic men (p= 0.001). The highest negative correlation was obtained between sperm count and AB staining. Progressive motility was negatively correlated with AB and TB staining in both groups but there was no significant difference between AB staining and progressive motility in men normospermia group. Conclusion: Sperm chromatin staining using AB and TB showed a negative association between sperm chromatin condensation with sperm count, normal morphology and progressive motility. It seems that the AB and TB test may be useful for the assessment of male fertility potential. © 2019 Avicenna Research Institute. All rights reserved

Effects of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on sperm chromatin condensation and DNA integrity

The present study was performed to investigate the relation of Chlamydia trachomatis infection to sperm chromatin/DNA integrity in a population of infertile men (male partner of infertile couples) from Iran. Blood, semen and first-void urine samples were obtained from 250 infertile men. Data were analysed with regard to the results of (i) serological analysis for specific antibodies to C. trachomatis in serum; (ii) the presence of C. trachomatis and DNA in first-void urine; and (iii) in the semen sample of the male partner, in addition to sperm analysis, four different tests (aniline blue, chromomycin A3, acridine orange and TUNEL) were used to detect sperm chromatin and DNA abnormalities. The main conclusions of the results were: (i) no evidence of C. trachomatis infection in semen samples was found; (ii) sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin studies were not correlated with C. trachomatis diagnosis; (iii) the percentage of DNA fragmentation is positively correlated with the percentage of immotile sperm but negatively with semen volume, normal morphology; and (iv) in sperm chromatin evaluations, only the percentage of chromatin protamination was related to male age

In vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of young Zingiber officinale against human breast carcinoma cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ginger is one of the most important spice crops and traditionally has been used as medicinal plant in Bangladesh. The present work is aimed to find out antioxidant and anticancer activities of two Bangladeshi ginger varieties (Fulbaria and Syedpuri) at young age grown under ambient (400 μmol/mol) and elevated (800 μmol/mol) CO₂concentrations against two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of ginger on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were determined using TBA (thiobarbituric acid) and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide] assays. Reversed-phase HPLC was used to assay flavonoids composition among Fulbaria and Syedpuri ginger varieties grown under increasing CO₂concentration from 400 to 800 μmol/mol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Antioxidant activities in both varieties found increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing CO₂concentration from 400 to 800 μmol/mol. High antioxidant activities were observed in the rhizomes of Syedpuri grown under elevated CO₂concentration. The results showed that enriched ginger extract (rhizomes) exhibited the highest anticancer activity on MCF-7 cancer cells with IC₅₀values of 34.8 and 25.7 μg/ml for Fulbaria and Syedpuri respectively. IC₅₀values for MDA-MB-231 exhibition were 32.53 and 30.20 μg/ml for rhizomes extract of Fulbaria and Syedpuri accordingly.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Fulbaria and Syedpuri possess antioxidant and anticancer properties especially when grown under elevated CO₂concentration. The use of ginger grown under elevated CO₂concentration may have potential in the treatment and prevention of cancer.</p

Understanding the relationship between pet owners and their companion animals as a key context for antimicrobial resistance-related behaviours: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Objectives: Drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are diffuse and complex including a range of interspecies behaviours between pet owners and their animals. We employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the relationship between pet owners and their companion animals in relation to AMR.Design: Cross sectional, qualitative study.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-three British pet owners, transcribed verbatim and subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).Results: Three, inter-related Superordinate themes are presented 1) ‘They’re my fur babies’: unconditional love and anthropomorphism; 2) ‘They share everything with you’: affection and transmission behaviours; and 3) ‘We would err on the side of caution’: decision making and antibiotic use’.Conclusions: Affectionate behaviors between companion animals and their owners pose a risk for AMR transmission but they are so deeply treasured that they are unlikely to be amenable to change. In contrast, the promotion of appropriate antibiotic stewardship for pet owners and vets may offer a viable pathway for intervention development, benefitting from synergies with other interventions that target prescribers