Metal concentrations in razor clam Solen dactylus (Von Cosel, 1989) (Bivalvia: Solenidae), sediments and water in Golshahr coast of Bandar Abbas, Persian Gulf

In a complementary field study, the concentrations of some metals (Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Mg and Ba) were measured in clam Solen dactylus, sediments and water collected at two stations (Park-e-Qadir, 56° 20/ E, 27° 11/ and Nakhl-e-Nakhoda, 56° 23/ E, 27° 10/ N) of Bandar Abbas coastal waters of the Persian Gulf in November 2008 and February 2009 showing different contamination levels. Although there is little information on metal concentrations in macro-benthic animals in this area, this study, for the first time, reports the accumulation of some metals in S. dactylus in order to introduce this species as a bioindicator for this area. Results indicated that Mg and Fe were the two most abundant metals in clams and sediments. The maximum and minimum metal concentrations in clams belonged to Mg (3850-5040 µgg-1 dry wt) and Ag (0.30-0.40-0.58 µgg-1 dry wt), respectively. There was a significant relationship between the accumulation of metals in clams, sediment and water samples. A significant relationship between clam lengths and concentrations of Cu (positive) and Mg (negative) were observed. Our study also showed that variable metal concentrations were related to different sampling stations, seasons and their interactions as well. Bioaccumulation of metals in clams was significantly different for eight metal elements between start of the gametogenesis and ripeness stages. Our investigation indicated that the clam S. dactylus could be a useful bioindicator for Zinc

Evaluation of Morphological Traits and Oil Contents of Achillea aucheri from Different Altitudes

Yarrow (Achillea spp.) belonging to the family of Asteraceae with useful properties, such as anti-diaphoretic, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammation, anti-biotic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, Carminative and anti-oxidant effects. The present investigation assessed the morphological diversity of Achillea aucheri, which is indigenous plant from Damavand mountain of Iran. The samples were collected from five heights of Damavand and the morphological traits were studied. For estimating the percentage of essential oil, aerial parts were collected and oil was isolated by hydro distillation using Clevenger-type apparatus. The results of present study demonstrated that the highest plant height, internodes, biomass and number of leaves per node obtained at lowest altitude (3900 meters from sea level). In addition, fresh weight and dry weight of plant had the highest amount in altitude of 3900 meter from sea level. But essential oil content increased from low altitude to high altitude from 0.681% to 0.954%. Also high altitude had high significantly differences on the essential oil content. It revealed that plants in lower altitudes produce more biomass than higher altitudes, but essential oil content of plants was more in higher altitudes. It seems that a part of photosynthetic energy of plants in higher altitudes expend to produce secondary metabolites especially essential oils to overcome stress and survival in inappropriate conditions

Heterodinuclear ruthenium(II)-cobalt(III) complexes as models for a new approach to selective cancer treatment

Heterodinuclear ruthenium(ii)-cobalt(iii) complexes have been prepared as part of investigations into a new approach to selective cancer treatment. A cobalt(iii) centre bearing amine ligands, which serve as models for cytotoxic nitrogen mustard ligands, is connected by a bridging ligand to a ruthenium(ii)-polypyridyl moiety. Upon excitation of the ruthenium centre by visible light, electron transfer to the cobalt(iii) centre results in reduction to cobalt(ii) and consequent release of its ligands. We have synthesised several such structures and demonstrated their ability to release ligands upon excitation of the ruthenium centre by visible light

catena-Poly[[bis­(N-ethyl­ethylene­di­amine-κ2 N,N′)copper(II)]-μ-cyanido-κ2 N:C-[dicyanido-κ2 C-palladium(II)]-μ-cyanido-κ2 C:N]

The title compound, [CuPd(CN)4(C4H12N2)2]n, consists of one-dimensional chains. The Cu and Pd atoms are both located on centers of symmetry in an alternating array of [Cu(N-Eten)2]2+ (N-Eten = N-ethyl­ethylenediamine) and [Pd(CN)4]2− units. The Pd—C distances of 1.991 (3) and 1.992 (3) Å are inter­mediate values compared with the analogous NiII and PtII complexes [Akitsu & Einaga (2007 ▶). Inorg. Chim. Acta, 360, 497–505]. Due to Jahn–Teller effects, the axial Cu—N bond distance of 2.548 (2) Å is noticeably longer than the equatorial distances [Cu—NH2 = 2.007 (2) and Cu—NHC2H5 = 2.050 (2) Å]. There are interchain hybrogen bonds, with N(—H)⋯N = 3.099(4) Å

Sniffer dogs as a screening/diagnostic tool for COVID-19: a proof of concept study

Background: Sniffer dogs are able to detect certain chemical particles and are suggest to be capable of helping diagnose some medical conditions and complications, such as colorectal cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, and even critical states such as hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. With the global spread of COVID-19 throughout the world and the need to have a real-time screening of the population, especially in crowded places, this study aimed to investigate the applicability of sniffer dogs to carry out such a task. Methods: Firstly, three male and female dogs from German shepherd (Saray), German black (Kuzhi) and Labrador (Marco) breeds had been intensively trained throughout the classical conditioning method for 7 weeks. They were introduced to human specimens obtained from the throat and pharyngeal secretions of participants who were already reported positive or negative for SARS-COV-2 infection be RT-PCR. Each dog underwent the conditioning process for almost 1000 times. In the meantime another similar condition process was conducted on clothes and masks of COVID-19 patient using another three male and female dogs from Labrador (Lexi), Border gypsy (Sami), and Golden retriever (Zhico) breeds. In verification test for the first three dogs, 80 pharyngeal secretion samples consisting of 26 positive and 54 negative samples from different medical centers who underwent RT-PCR test were in a single-blind method. In the second verification test for the other three dogs, masks and clothes of 50 RT-PCR positive and 70 RT-PCR negative cases from different medical center were used. Results: In verification test using pharyngeal secretion, the sniffer dogs� detection capability was associated with a 65 of sensitivity and 89 of specificity and they amanged to identify 17 out of the 26 positive and 48 out of the 54 true negative samples. In the next verification test using patients� face masks and clothes, 43 out of the 50 positive samples were correctly identified by the dogs. Moreover, out of the 70 negative samples, 65 samples were correctly found to be negative. The sensitivity of this test was as high as 86 and its specificity was 92.9. In addition, the positive and negative predictive values were 89.6 and 90.3, respectively. Conclusion: Dogs are capable of being trained to identify COVID-19 cases by sniffing their odour, so they can be used as a reliable tool in limited screening. © 2021, The Author(s)

Molecular Squares, Coordination Polymers and Mononuclear Complexes Supported by 2,4-Dipyrazolyl-6H-1,3,5-triazine and 4,6-Dipyrazolylpyrimidine Ligands

The Fe[BF4]2 complex of 2,4-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-6H-1,3,5-triazine (L1) is a high-spin molecular square, [{Fe(L1)}4(μ-L1)4][BF4]8, whose crystals also contain the unusual HPzBF3 (HPz = pyrazole) adduct. Three other 2,4-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-6H-1,3,5-triazine derivatives with different pyrazole substituents (L2-L4) are unstable in the presence of first row transition ions, but form mononuclear, polymeric or molecular square complexes with silver(I). Most of these compounds involve bis-bidentate di(pyrazolyl)triazine coordination, which is unusual for that class of ligand, and the molecular squares encapsulate one or two BF4‒, ClO4‒ or SbF6‒ ions through combinations of anion...π, Ag...X and/or C‒H...X (X = O or F) interactions. Treatment of Fe[NCS]2 or Fe[NCSe]2 with 4,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-2H-pyrimidine (L5) or its 2-methyl and 2-amino derivatives L6 and L7) yields mononuclear [Fe(NCE)2L2] and/or the 1D coordination polymers catena-[Fe(NCE)2(μ-L)] (E = S or Se, L = L5-L7). Alcohol solvates of isomorphous [Fe(NCS)2L2] and [Fe(NCSe)2L2] compounds show different patterns of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, reflecting the acceptor properties of the anion ligands. These iron compounds are all high-spin, although annealing solvated crystals of [Fe(NCSe)2(L5)2] affords a new phase exhibiting an abrupt, low-temperature spin transition. Catena-[Fe(H2O)2(μ-L5)][ClO4]2 is a coordination polymer of alternating cis and trans iron centres

Hexaaquacopper(II) dinitrate: absence of Jahn–Teller distortion. Corrigendum

The identity of the metal atom in the paper by Zibaseresht & Hartshorn [Acta Cryst. (2006), E62, i19–i22] is corrected

Approaches to Photoactivated Cytotoxins

The synthesis and coordination chemistry of eleven bridging ligands, eight of which are new compounds, are described. These ligands are all based on the tridentate terpyridyl system. The other metal ion binding sites of these ligands contain pyridine/bipyridine/pyrazole rings or amine/azamacrocycles domains. In these ligands, the two metal ion binding sites are differentiated by the number of atoms in each site, the configuration of the binding site or the types of donor atom that are present. This binding site differentiation allows to use the different coordination properties of the binding sites to control the regiochemistry of the complexation, ensuring that the correct metal ion is incorporated at the correct binding site in the ligand. Many of the complexes synthesised are mono-ruthenium(II) complexes where Ru(II) ions are situated in the terpyridyl sites of the ligands. These include heteroleptic Ru(II) complexes of the type [Ru(ttp)(L)]2+, where ttp is 4'-(p-tolyl)-2,2':6',2ʺ- terpyridine, and L is the bridging ligand. Reactions of the Ru(II) complexes with a range of metal ions including Co(III) ion have been investigated. The Ru(II) complexes can be classified into three main categories depending on the type of ligands that have been employed: (1) Ru(II) complexes which can react with Co(III) ions to form heterodinuclear Ru(II)-Co(III) complexes; (2) Ru(II) complexes which react only with Ag(I) ions and no other common metal ions that we have tried; (3) Ru(II) complexes with no detectable ability to coordinate other common metal ions. Following standard cobalt chemistry, some heterodinuclear Ru(II)-Co(III) complexes of the type [(ttp)Ru(cymt)Co(X)2]3+, where X = NO2 -, Cl-, and OH-, have been successfully prepared from the corresponding Ru(II) complexes. In these heterodinuclear complexes, anions such as NO2 -, Cl-, or OH- can be readily attached to the Co(III) ions. However, attachment of a neutral species such as en ligands to the Co(III) ions in the complexes proved to be more difficult. Reactions of heterodinuclear Ru(II)-Co(III) complexes with en ligands result in removal of the cobalt ions from the complexes. This is may be a result of a significant difference in the overall charges between the complexes with anionic and the complexes with neutral ligands (3+ vs 5+). Higher overall charge of the complexes when protonable ligands such as monodentate en are present, may destabilize the complexes even more. A combination of NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography has been used to characterise the ligands and their complexes. The crystal structures of one new ligand and sixteen complexes are described