SYNTHESIS, MOLLUSCICIDALAND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIALITIES OF IRON TRIAD MONONUCLEAR METAL COMPLEXES INCORPORATING TRIDENTATE ASYMMETRICAL SCHIFF BASE LIGANDS CONTAINING SOFT SULFUR COORDINATING ATOM

Objective: This work aimed at synthesizing tridentates asymmetrical Schiff base ligands containing sulfur atom and using them for preparing metal complexes with the iron triad metals. The prepared compounds were assayed in vitro for antimicrobial potential and in vivo molluscicidal activity. Methods: The unsymmetrical tridentate Schiff bases (SL1, SL2, and SL3) were prepared using 2-aminothiophenol as primary amine and condensed with 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, and 7-formyl-8-hydroxyquinoline. These ligands were used in preparing metal complexes with iron triad metals. The synthesized Schiff base ligands and their corresponding metal complexes were characterized and their proposed structures were confirmed using different physical and spectroscopic analytical techniques. All ligands and their corresponding metal complexes were assayed against different bacterial and fungal strains using the agar disk-diffusion technique. The molluscicidal activity was performed according to the standard reported methods as cited in the literature and by observing the toxicity and lethal dose according to the WHO guidelines. Results: The synthesized ligands behave as tridentate (NOS) ligands and form mononuclear complexes with the general formula [M(SL)2] with an octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. Metal complexes were non-electrolytic in nature. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal examination results showed weak activity of the ligands, and there was enhanced activity with the complexes. The in vivo molluscicidal activity of the tested compounds showed good activity. Conclusion: The targeted compounds were prepared successfully, characterized, and showed some biological activity but lower than the standard reference drugs

In situ acetonitrile/water mixed solvents: An ecofriendly synthesis and structure Explanations of Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes of thioxoimidazolidine

ABSTRACT. The bidentate oxoacetate derivative of 4-oxo-2-thiazolidine 4ligand (L1) synthesized by the reaction of 1-(1-(Pyridin-3-yl)ethylideneamino)-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one 3 with diethyl oxalate with both traditional and microwave irradiation methods. The metal ion complexes of mixed ligands L1 and L2 (acetonitrile) were prepared by condensation a solution mixture of Co(II) Ni(II), and Cu(ІІ) metal chloride salts with the ligands (L1 and L2) in distilled water with stirring. The complexes were characterized by the micro analysis (C, H, N), chloride content, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), molar conductivity as well as magnetic susceptibility measurement. According to the obtained data the suggested coordination geometries of these complexes were suggested as octahedral structure. All the synthesized complexes were found to be electrolyte due to the presence of chloride ions outside the coordination sphere. The antibacterial activity of the L1 ligand and their metal ion complexes have been studied by screening against various microorganisms, G+ bacteria (Bacillus subtillis, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Staphyloccoccus aurease), G-bacteria (E. coli, and Pesudomonas Sp.) and fungi (Aspergillus nigaer, and Penicillium Sp.). The metal ion complexes gave the formulae: [M(L1)(L2)2(H2O)2]Cl2where M = Co(II) Ni(II), and Cu(ІІ).                     KEY WORDS: Imidazolidine, Microwave irradiation, Transition metals complexes, Biological activity   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(2), 351-364. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i2.1

Solvent free synthesis of hydrazine carbothioamide derivatives as a precursor in the preparation of new mononuclear Mn(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes: Spectroscopic characterizations

ABSTRACT. Over the last few years considerable attention has been devoted to the study of Schiff base complexes of metal(II) containing nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur donor ligands due to their diverse biological activities. Therefore, the Schiff base thiosemicarbazone derivatives of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazine carbothioamide (HL1) and 2-(4-bromo-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazine carbothioamide (HL2) were synthesized with solvent free technique using silica gel as material support for the reaction. The structures of the precursor’s organic products confirmed with their 1H, 13C NMR, IR and microanalysis data. Six new manganese(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) complexes of HL1 and HL2 2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazinecarbothioamide derivatives with the general formulation [ML1Cl] and [ML2Cl], where M = Mn2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ were prepared and well discussed by using elemental analyses, magnetic moments, molar conductance, infrared and electronic spectral techniques. The assignments data of spectroscopic analysis confirm that the synthesized thiosemicarbazone Schiff bases of acts as a tridentate ligand as sulfur-oxygen-nitrogen donating atoms. The values of magnetic moments agreed with the data of electronic spectra which both suggested a four-coordination geometry of the synthesized complexes.                     KEY WORDS: Schiff base, Thiosemicarbazone, Manganese(II) complex, Copper(II) complex, Zinc(II) complex   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(2), 413-424. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i2.1

Group piano pedagogy at the College of Basic Education, Kuwait

The study presents an exploration of students’ and teachers’ attitudes and beliefs towards group piano pedagogy at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. A mixed-methods research design using observation, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires gathered data which was analysed to develop understanding of group piano pedagogy at CBE. This was viewed in relation to international practice through comparison with piano pedagogy for group learners in UK education contexts. The findings from the UK context suggested potential ways in which the CBE pedagogy could be developed, and the overall findings reveal challenges for teachers and learners within group piano pedagogy relating to resources, curriculum content, learner engagement and institutional provision

A Review on Cadmium and Lead Contamination: Sources, Fate, Mechanism, Health Effects and Remediation Methods

Cadmium and lead soil contamination is a widespread environmental problem that requires profound and sustainable solutions. These toxic elements can be naturally occurring on the Earth’s crust or from man-made origins. Cadmium and lead could accumulate and translocate in soil over the long term. Thus, their risk of entering the food chain is extremely elevated and their effects on the living organisms in the food web are of great concern. The main purpose of this review study is to emphasize the risk to human health of cadmium and lead as an environmental contaminant in soil and plants. Human exposure to cadmium and lead can cause severe illness; for instance, long-term exposure to cadmium can alter kidney health and cause dysfunction. Additionally, lead threatens the nervous system and causes countless diseases. Hence, the remediation of cadmium and lead from soil before they enter the food chain remains essential, and regular monitoring of their principal sources is crucially needed for a sustainable soil ecosystem

Fabrication of sulfonated polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes with an excellent antifouling performance by impregnating with polysulfopropyl acrylate coated ZnO nanoparticles

Sulfonated polyethersulfone/sulfopropyl methacrylate membranes impregnated with the polysulfopropyl acrylate coated ZnO nanoparticles were developed using a non-solvent-induced phase separation recipe. The composite membranes offered much-enhanced hydrophilicity and improved porosity, which are critical for the excellent antifouling performance and high permeate flux. By adding polysulfopropyl acrylate modified ZnO, it achieved the maximum water flux of 420 Lm−2h−1 while maintained the natural organic matter rejection rate of 99% with an excellent flux recovery ratio up to 99% in the antifouling measurement. The results display that the impregnation of ZnO nanoparticles in the sulfonated polyethersulfone membrane can effectively increase the surface hydrophilicity which is essential for reducing the irreversible fouling with improved long-term performance and excellent recyclability

Profiling estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors in colorectal cancer in relation to gender, menopausal status, clinical stage, and tumour sidedness

BackgroundAlthough estrogen (ERα/ERβ), progesterone (PGR), and androgen (AR) receptors are pathologically altered in colorectal cancer (CRC), their simultaneous expression within the same cohort of patients was not previously measured.MethodsERα/ERβ/PGR/AR proteins were measured in archived paired normal and malignant colon specimens (n =120 patients) by immunohistochemistry, and results were analyzed by gender, age (≤50 vs. ≥60 years), clinical stages (early-stage I/II vs. late-stage III/IV), and anatomical location (right; RSCs vs. left; LSCs). Effects of 17β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone alone or combined with the specific blockers of ERα (MPP dihydrochloride), ERβ (PHTPP), PGR (mifepristone), and AR (bicalutamide) on cell cycle and apoptosis were also measured in the SW480 male and HT29 female CRC cell lines. ResultsERα and AR proteins increased, whilst ERβ and PGR declined markedly in malignant specimens. Moreover, male neoplastic tissues showed highest AR expression, whilst ERβ and PGR weakest alongside ERα strongest expression was seen in cancerous tissues from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage neoplasms also revealed maximal alterations in the expression of sex steroid receptors. By tumor location, LSCs disclosed significant elevations in ERα with marked declines in PGR compared with RSCs, and ERα strongest alongside PGR weakest expression was detected in advanced LSCs from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage LSCs from females aged ≥60 years also showed weakest ERβ and strongest AR expression. In contrast, male RSC and LSC tissues exhibited equal ERβ and AR expression in all clinical stages. ERα and AR proteins also correlated positively, whereas ERβ and PGR inversely, with tumor characteristics. Concomitantly, E2 and P4 monotherapies triggered cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the SW480 and HT29 cells, and while pre-treatment with ERα-blocker enhanced the effects of E2, ERβ-blocker and PGR-blocker suppressed the E2 and P4 anti-cancer actions, respectively. In contrast, treatment with the AR-blocker induced apoptosis, whilst co-treatment with testosterone hindered the effects. ConclusionsThis study advocates that protein expression of sex steroid receptors in malignant tissues could represent prognostic markers, as well as hormonal therapy could provide an alternative strategy against CRC, and their efficacies could be dependent on gender, clinical stage, and tumor location

Biochar optimizes wheat quality, yield, and nitrogen acquisition in low fertile calcareous soil treated with organic and mineral nitrogen fertilizers

Crop quality and nutrient uptake are considerably influenced by fertilizers inputs and their application rate. Biochar (BC) improves nitrogen uptake and crop productivity. However, its interaction with synthetic and organic fertilizers in calcareous soil is not fully recognized. Therefore, we inspected the role of biochar (0, 10, 20, and 30 t ha–1) in improving N uptake and quality of wheat in a calcareous soil under integrated N management (90, 120, and 150 kg N ha–1) applied each from urea, farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM) along with control) in 2 years field experiments. Application of 20 t BC along with 150 kg N ha–1 as poultry manure considerably improved wheat grain protein content (14.57%), grain (62.9%), straw (28.7%), and biological (38.4%) yield, grain, straw, and total N concentration by 14.6, 19.2, and 15.6% and their uptake by 84.6, 48.8, and 72.1%, respectively, over absolute control when averaged across the years. However, their impact was more pronounced in the 2nd year (2016–2017) after application compared to the 1st year (2015–2016). Therefore, for immediate crop benefits, it is recommended to use 20 t BC ha–1 once in 50 years for enhancing the nitrogen use efficiency of fertilizers and crop yield

Knowledge and attitude toward transcranial magnetic stimulation among rehabilitation specialists in Saudi Arabia

Research has demonstrated the benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in rehabilitation. TMS has been widely used in clinical and research settings for individuals with and without neurological dysfunctions. Therefore, understanding the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation specialists regarding TMS is crucial for its application. To our knowledge, no such studies have previously been conducted in the rehabilitation field. Therefore, this study is the first to assess rehabilitation specialists’ knowledge of and attitudes toward TMS. An observational cross-sectional study using a self-administered online survey was conducted among 102 rehabilitation specialists to assess their knowledge and attitudes regarding TMS application in rehabilitation sciences. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the knowledge and attitudes of rehabilitation specialists toward TMS and examine the impact of different factors such as gender, education level, acceptability, and practice on these outcomes. Rehabilitation specialists who participated in this study showed a limited level of general knowledge of TMS in rehabilitation (7.81 ± 6.20, 37.19%). However, a significant association between educational levels and knowledge was found. Higher knowledge scores were observed for specialists with post-graduate degrees compared to those with only a bachelor’s degree. Moreover, knowledge level, experience, and availability of TMS equipment in the workplace led to a positive attitude toward TMS among rehabilitation specialists. A low knowledge level among rehabilitation specialists was attributed to their level of education. Nevertheless, specialists showed an overall positive attitude toward TMS. Therefore, customized medical education is necessary to incorporate TMS theory and applications into neuroscience and rehabilitation courses for rehabilitation specialists as it holds significant promise as a therapeutic tool

Greenness assessment of chromatographic methods used for analysis of empagliflozin: a comparative study

The analytical chemistry community is attempting to incorporate green chemistry concepts in the development of analytical techniques to redefine analytical methods and dramatically modify the philosophy of analytical technique development. Each greenness assessment method has its own benefits and drawbacks, as well as its own procedures. The results of each greenness assessment method produce numerous deductions regarding the selection of a greenest chromatographic method on which the determination of a greenness assessment tool depends. The current study examined the greenness behavior of 26 reported chromatographic methods in the literature for the evaluation of the medicine empagliflozin using three evaluation methods: the national environmental methods index (NEMI), the eco-scale assessment (ESA), and the green analytical procedure index (GAPI). This comparative study discussed the value of using more than one greenness evaluation methods while evaluating. The findings showed that the NEMI was a less informative and misleading tool. However, the ESA provided reliable numerical assessments out of 100. Despite the GAPI being a complex assessment compared to the others, it provided a fully descriptive three-colored pictogram and a precise assessment. The findings recommended applying more than one greenness assessment tool to evaluate the greenness of methods prior to planning laboratory-based analytical methods to ensure an environment friendly process