Dipicolinato complexes of cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) with thiamine dications

Cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) dipicolinato complexes having thiamine dication with compositions [HT][CoL₂]·5H₂O (1), [HT][CuL₂]·5H₂O (2) and [HT][ZnL₂]·5H₂O (3) (L = dipicolinato anion, T = thiamine cation) are synthesized, characterized by X-ray diffraction and other spectroscopic techniques. The thiamine part in these complexes exists as divalent cations. The second protonation of thiamine takes place at the less crowded nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring. These complexes are stabilized by electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions of -N⁺-H and -COO⁻ groups along with crystallized water molecules. The complexes are stable in solution as determined by ¹H NMR and visible study. The complex 1 has two medicinal components which can be easily separated by controlling pH in aqueous medium. It gets decomposed on treatment with sodium hydroxide at pH > 8 to form neutral complex {[Na₂(μ-H₂O)₃(H₂O)₃][CoL₂]·H₂O}₂.     

Coordinated cations in dipicolinato complexes of divalent metal ions

Several salts of alkali, alkaline earth metal and organic ammonium cations of a complex anion [ML₂]²⁻ {Where L = dipicolinato dianion, M = copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II)} are prepared. The coordination effect of [ML₂]²⁻ with the cations such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and organic cations namely diammonium cation of 1,5-pentanediamine, diammonium cation of 1,8-octyldiamine, mono ammonium cation of 4-aminobenzylamine are studied by determining their X-ray crystal structures. Depending on the nature of cations, four different types of structures are obtained. When calcium is the cation a polymeric structure with calcium ions bridging the [ML₂]²⁻ is observed. The salts having sodium and potassium cations form polymeric chain like structures by oxo and aqua bridges. In the case of magnesium, the hydrated form of magnesium cations coordinates to [ML₂]²⁻. The organic ammonium salts of [ML₂]²⁻ have the structural features of conventional ionic complexes. These salts easily exchange cations. The organic ammonium salts of [ML₂]²⁻ decomposes to give the corresponding metal oxides at relatively low temperature range 300-450 °C.     

Novel mononuclear η-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes of platinum group metals bearing pyrazolylpyridazine ligands: Syntheses and spectral studies

Condensation of 3,6-dichloropyridazine with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole in 1:1 ratio yielded one side substituted pyrazolylpyridazine ligand 3-chloro-6-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)pyridazine (L) while condensation of 3,6-dichloropyridazine with substituted pyrazoles in 1:2 ratio yielded both side substituted pyrazolylpyridazine ligands such as 3,6-bis(pyrazolyl)pyridazine (L1), 3,6-bis(3-methylpyrazolyl)pyridazine (L2) and 3,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)pyridazine (L3). A new series of cationic mononuclear complexes of the type [(η⁵-Cp)M_a(L)(PPh₃)]PF₆, [(η⁵-Cp*)M_b(L)Cl]PF₆, [(η⁵-Cp*)Ru(L′)(PPh₃)]PF₆ and [(η⁵-Cp*)M_b(L′)Cl]⁺ (where M_a = Ru, Os; M_b = Rh, Ir and L′ = L1, L2, L3) bearing pyrazolylpyridazine and η⁵-cyclopentadienyl ligands are reported. The complexes have been completely characterized by spectral studies. The molecular structures of representative complexes have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Development and Validation of the 34-Item Disability Screening Questionnaire (DSQ-34) for Use in Low and Middle Income Countries Epidemiological and Development Surveys

Background

Although 80% of persons with disabilities live in low and middle-income countries, there is still a lack of comprehensive, cross-culturally validated tools to identify persons facing activity limitations and functioning difficulties in these settings. In absence of such a tool, disability estimates vary considerably according to the methodology used, and policies are based on unreliable estimates.

Methods and Findings

The Disability Screening Questionnaire composed of 27 items (DSQ-27) was initially designed by a group of international experts in survey development and disability in Afghanistan for a national survey. Items were selected based on major domains of activity limitations and functioning difficulties linked to an impairment as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Face, content and construct validity, as well as sensitivity and specificity were examined. Based on the results obtained, the tool was subsequently refined and expanded to 34 items, tested and validated in Darfur, Sudan. Internal consistency for the total DSQ-34 using a raw and standardized Cronbach’s Alpha and within each domain using a standardized Cronbach’s Alpha was examined in the Asian context (India and Nepal). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factoring (PAF) evaluated the lowest number of factors to account for the common variance among the questions in the screen. Test-retest reliability was determined by calculating intraclass correlation (ICC) and inter-rater reliability by calculating the kappa statistic; results were checked using Bland-Altman plots. The DSQ-34 was further tested for standard error of measurement (SEM) and for the minimum detectable change (MDC). Good internal consistency was indicated by Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.83/0.82 for India and 0.76/0.78 for Nepal. We confirmed our assumption for EFA using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling well above the accepted cutoff of 0.40 for India (0.82) and Nepal (0.82). The criteria for Bartlett’s test of sphericity were also met for both India (< .001) and Nepal (< .001). Estimates of reliability from the two countries reached acceptable levels of ICC of 0.75 (p<0.001) for India of 0.77 for Nepal (p<0.001) and good strength of agreement for weighted kappa (respectively 0.77 and 0.79). The SEM/MDC was 0.80/2.22 for India and 0.96/2.66 for Nepal indicating a smaller amount of measurement error in the screen.

Conclusions

In Nepal and India, the DSQ-34 shows strong psychometric properties that indicate that it effectively discriminates between persons with and without disabilities. This instrument can be used in association with other instruments for the purpose of comparing health outcomes of persons with and without disabilities in LMICs.     

Statistically optimized production and characterization of vanillin from creosol using newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis> P27

The current research study deals with the screening of a potent vanillin-producing microorganism among 96 isolated strains. Biochemical characterization and molecular identification confirmed that the isolated strain belongs to the Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, so it was denoted as Klebsiella pneumoniae P27. The optimization of medium components for the enhanced production of vanillin was carried out using two-stage statistical experimental designs, in which the significant medium components for vanillin production were screened using a Plackett-Burman experimental design. And the optimal levels of those noteworthy factors were determined by using central composite design. The statistical optimization of medium components resulted in increases in vanillin production and vanillyl alcohol oxidase activity of 2.05-fold and 3.055-fold, respectively. The highest vanillin production (30.88 mg/L) and vanillyl alcohol oxidase activity (0.044 U/mL) was observed after 16 h of incubation in the presence of 0.26 mL/L creosol, 8.06 g/L yeast extract and 2.77 g/L NH₄NO₃ in the production medium. The optimally produced vanillin was extracted and confirmed using FTIR and LCMS spectral analysis. The results of the current study support a statistical process optimization approach as a potential technique for the enhanced production of vanillin from creosol by using newly isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae P27 bacterial strain.     

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles obtained from charcoal via green methods and their application for sensing Fe3+ in an aqueous medium

Two green methods (microwave and hydrothermal) were employed for the preparation of water dispersible fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from activated charcoal. Microwave and hydrothermally synthesized carbon nanoparticles, (MW‐CNPs) and (HT‐CNPs), respectively were characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. A detailed study of their fluorescence characteristics was made. MW‐CNPs and HT‐CNPs were tested for metal ion selectivity in aqueous medium. MW‐CNPs showed selectivity for Fe³⁺ among the tested metal ions and important studies such as for interference, linear range and limit of detection were carried out. The application of MW‐CNPs for detection of Fe³⁺ in water was demonstrated.