Assessing haematological parameters and probable toxicity analysis in two coastal fish species at harbouring areas of Digha coastal belt, West Bengal, India.

Coastal ecosystems are vital for maintaining the biodiversity and human livelihoods, but they are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic pressures, including pollution from various sources. Present work intends to assess the possible threats in coastal ecosystem as well as coastal fish species, in particular, through haematological parameters caused due to exposure of environmental contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), potentially toxic metals (PTMs), etc. This study analysed the haematological parameters and probable toxicity levels in two important coastal fish species, viz., Mystus sp. and Mugil sp. widely available in Digha coastal belt. Different haematological parameters, such as WBCs (White Blood Cells), Lym (Lymphocytes), Gran (Granulocytes), Mid (Monocytes), RBCs (Red Blood Cells), HCT (Haematocrit) value, MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin), MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration), RDW- CV (Red Cells Distribution Width-Co-efficient of Variation), RDW- SD (Red Cells Distribution Width-Standard Deviation), PLT (Total Platelet Count), MPV (Mean Platelet Volume), PDW- SD (Platelet Distribution Width-Standard Deviation), PDW- CV (Platelet Distribution Width-Co-efficient of Variation), PCT (Plateletcrit), PLCR (Platelet Large Cell Ratio), PLCC (Platelet Large Cell Count) and many others were measured directly through Erba H360 Haematology Analyser, simultaneously air dried blood smear was stained by Haematoxylin-Eosin(H-E) and Giemsa stain for assessing morphometric alterations of RBCs, WBCs, platelets as well as to determine the differential counts of WBCs by observing through Leica DM2000 microscope. Evidence of several abnormalities in the erythrocyte's nucleus (ENAs) and the abundance of abnormal celled erythrocytes (ECAs), carcinoma (lymphoproliferative disorder, polycythaemia vera, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma), elevation of WBCs content, Lym %(Lymphocyte percentage), Eo(Eosinophils), monocytes, HCT and gross depletion of Ne(Neutrophils), basophils, and PLCR levels indicated a sign of major impact of contamination to two intoxicated fishes which may also affect the human being through food chain and may result into leukaemia in mammalian species, finally. However, comprehensive evaluation of the long-term impacts of the contaminants like PAHs and/or PTMs, etc., on fish populations, human health risk and coastal ecosystem is required to be addressed.

4,4'-(Anthracene-9,10-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(1-methyl-1-pyridinium) Lead Iodide C30H22N2Pb2I6: A Highly Luminescent, Chemically and Thermally Stable One-Dimensional Hybrid Iodoplumbate.

A new one-dimensional hybrid iodoplumbate, namely, 4,4'-(anthracene-9,10-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(1-methyl-1-pyridinium) lead iodide C30H22N2Pb2I6 (AEPyPbI), is reported here for the first time with its complete characterization. The material exhibits remarkable thermal stability (up to 300 °C), and it is unreactive under ambient conditions toward water and atmospheric oxygen, due to the quaternary nature of the nitrogen atoms present in the organic cation. The cation exhibits strong visible fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and when its iodide is combined with PbI2, it forms AEPyPb2I6, an efficient light-emitting material, with a photoluminescence emission intensity comparable to that of high-quality InP epilayers. The structure determination was obtained using three-dimensional electron diffraction, and the material was extensively studied by using a wide range of techniques, such as X-ray powder diffraction, diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, elemental analysis, Raman and infrared spectroscopies, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The emissive properties of the material were correlated with its electronic structure by using state-of-the-art theoretical calculations. The complex, highly conjugated electronic structure of the cation interacts strongly with that of the Pb-I network, giving rise to the peculiar optoelectronic properties of AEPyPb2I6. The material, considering its relatively easy synthesis and stability, shows promise for light-emitting and photovoltaic devices. The use of highly conjugated quaternary ammonium cations may be useful for the development of new hybrid iodoplumbates and perovskites with optoelectronic properties tailored for specific applications.

Choline Chloride Induces Growth Performance of Indian Major Carps and Air-Breathing Fish Species with an Outcome of Quality Food-Fish under a Semi-Intensive Culture System: A Biochemical Investigation.

The present study was intended to determine the possible influences of direct field application of choline chloride into pond water in addition to farm-made-aqua-feed under a semi-intensive culture system on the growth and biochemical parameters of two Indian major carps (IMCs), Catla catla (Catla) and Labeo rohita (Rahu), and two air-breathing species, Clarias batrachus (Magur) and Anabas testudineus (Koi), cultured in a ratio of 2:5:1:1 (Catla/Rahu/Magur/Koi) in three experimental ponds for a period of 90 days during the breeding season (June to August). Results were compared with control (C: fed only with farm-made-aqua-feed) and treatment (T: P1 and P2: farm-made-aqua-feed plus choline chloride into pond water directly at the rate of 350 g bigha-1 fortnightly or 350 g per 1600 square meter fortnightly). A significant increasing trend was observed in the growth parameters including total length-final (TLF), standard length-final (SLF), mean weight-final (MWF), % gain of mean total length (MTL), % gain of mean standard length (MSL), % weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) % per day, and survivability %. However, a reverse pattern was noticed in the food conversion ratio (FCR) both in IMCs and air-breathing fish species under choline supplementation. Serum biochemical responses, e.g., total protein (PRO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose (GLU), and calcium (Ca) showed significant enhancement, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), cholesterol (CHOLES), and triglycerides (Trig) showed gradual significant reduction during the breeding season under choline exposure. Treated fishes showed prevention from liver dysfunction and fatty liver formation, and increased body crude protein content. Results indicated favorable growth and yield, which may benefit fish farmers during their culture practices, and the output fish species under choline supplementation resulted in quality food-fish for human consumption.

NIR-emitting benzene-fused oligo-BODIPYs for bioimaging.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores are emerging tools for biophotonics because of their reduced scattering, increased tissue penetration and low phototoxicity. However, the library of NIR fluorophores is still limited. Here, we report the NIR fluorescence of two benzene-fused oligo-BODIPYs in their hexameric (H) and octameric (O) forms. These dyes emit bright NIR fluorescence (H: maxima 943/1075 nm, O: maxima 976/1115 nm) that can be excited in the NIR (H = 921 nm, O = 956 nm) or non-resonantly over a broad range in the visible region. The emission bands of H show a bathochromic shift and peak sharpening with increasing dye concentration. Furthermore, the emission maxima of both H and O shift up to 20 nm in solvents of different polarity. These dyes can be used as NIR ink and imaged remotely on the macroscopic level with a stand-off distance of 20 cm. We furthermore demonstrate their versatility for biophotonics by coating microscale beads and performing microrheology via NIR video particle tracking (NIR-VPT) in biopolymer (F-actin) networks. No photodamaging of the actin filaments takes place, which is typically observed for visible fluorophores and highlights the advantages of these NIR dyes.

Time-Dependent Naphthalene Toxicity in Anabas testudineus (Bloch): A Multiple Endpoint Biomarker Approach.

Polyaromatic compounds are the major, widespread contaminants in the aquatic environment. However, the adverse impacts of these compounds on blood pathophysiology (hematological profiling and serum biochemical responses) are poorly understood. As a consequence, this study was intended to evaluate the toxic effects of naphthalene, one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, on the blood pathophysiology of Anabas testudineus using multiple end-point biomarker approach. A. testudineus was exposed to short-term (1 and 5 d) and long-term (10, 15, and 21 d) naphthalene concentrations, that is, T1 (0.71 mg/L indicates 25% of LC50) and T2 (1.42 mg/L indicates 50% of LC50 value). The results disclosed significant decrease in red blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume, and platelet levels, while other blood parameters, namely, white blood cells, percent lymphocyte, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular Hb, and mean corpuscular Hb concentration showed enhanced levels under naphthalene intoxication. Results were more detrimental under T2 concentration. Cholesterol, glucose, calcium, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels gradually increased throughout the different exposure periods under T1 and T2 concentrations, while the triglyceride level gradually decreased during exposure periods. Finally, integrated biomarker responses (IBR) analysis indicated that serum biochemical parameters are more powerful than hematological parameters for determining the naphthalene-induced fish health status. Additionally, the IBR study clearly identified that long-term (>5 d) exposure was more harmful than short-term (<5 d) naphthalene exposure. So, these responses may be derived as biomarkers for monitoring naphthalene pollution in an aquatic ecosystem.

Extended Benzene-Fused Oligo-BODIPYs: In Three Steps to a Series of Large, Arc-Shaped, Near-Infrared Dyes.

We present a straightforward, three-step synthesis engaging an oligomerization and subsequent one-pot oxidation step to form fully conjugated, benzene-fused oligo-BODIPYs from simple BODIPY precursors. FeCl3 serves as an efficient, bifunctional oxidant for a (multiple) cyclization/desaturation process, applied to ethylene-bridged dimeric, trimeric and oligomeric species to transform linking ethano units into stiff benzene fusions between unsubstituted ß-positions of each BODIPY unit. The structural integrity was verified by X-ray crystallography, and all target compounds were studied in detail by photophysical, electrochemical and computational means. The main S1 excited state gradually converges to a structure-specific excitation limit, displaying a strong shift of the absorption event from about 500 nm (BODIPY monomer) to 955 nm (octamer) with attenuation coefficients up to ca. 500 000 M-1 cm-1 .

Blood Biochemical and Erythrocytic Morpho-pathological Consequences of Naphthalene Intoxication in Indian Teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch).

Anabas testudineus (Bloch) was exposed to 0.71 mg/L and 1.42 mg/L (25 and 50% of LC50 value respectively) naphthalene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), for 21 days. Blood biochemical parameters and erythrocytic morphological alterations were assessed to describe the naphthalene toxicity. Biochemical analysis showed a significant increase in glutamic pyruvic transaminase, GPT (576.7 ± 11.79 and 608.9 ± 12.08 U/L, respectively) and alkaline phosphatase, ALP (12.9 ± 0.69 and 13.4 ±â€¯0.64 U/L, respectively) activities under two doses compared with control. Protein and albumin (ALB) content in blood decreased significantly, in comparison with control value in the tune of 22.67 ±â€¯1.04 and 23.97 ±â€¯1.24 g/dl, respectively and 10.7 ±â€¯0.79 and 11.1 ±â€¯0.67 g/dl, respectively. Erythrocytes showed varied symptomatic morphological changes under naphthalene exposure, which included severe denaturation, swelling in cells, appearance of sickle and tear drop cells, and cellular vacuolation. In particularly, the changes were more prominent under higher naphthalene exposure. Following the results, it has been able to establish that GPT, ALP, protein and ALB, and the morphological manifestations of erythrocytes would be good tools of biomarker in monitoring toxicological paradigm, especially to naphthalene exposure in aquatic bodies.

Time dependent ultrastructural alterations on the skin, eye, barbel and fins of the spawn of Clarias batrachus (Linn. 1758) exposed to UV-B radiation.

Present study highlighted the ultramicroscopic (SEM) alterations of the skin, eye, barbel, and fins of spawn of an air-breathing teleost (Clarias batrachus, Linn. 1758) induced by UV-B radiation (280-320 nm) at a dose (@4.07 × 10-20J/photon/m2) under the time-frame of 5, 10 and 15 min/d in the laboratory condition for the periods of 5 and 10 days. Limnological parameters revealed no significant changes throughout the period of experimentation which were measured by PCS Testr 35 Multi-Parameter. Morphometric analysis revealed that during the extended exposure period of 10 days the spawn size and weight were reduced as analysed through Specific Growth Rate (SGR). SGR values in terms of weight for 5 and 10 days under 3 time-frames were 17.12%, 12.52%, 11.46% and 9.09%, 6.43%, 6.09% respectively, which revealed a declined trend along with the exposure days. In the skin of C. batrachus, the compact regular orientation of the stratified epithelial cells and mucous cells became distorted and the microridges and double-ridged structures showed destruction and fragmentations. The body striations and microfolds became shrinked and swollen and finally degenerated to form a mass. The distribution of mucous cells throughout the epidermis was disorganised and releasing secretory contents on the surface through small pores. Appearance of huge quantity of biogenic semi-hexagonal plate like crystals (guanine platelets) on the skin surface of the body was the most significant observations during UV-B radiation. In the developmental phases the eyeball showed shrinkage loosing normal regular concave structure and to become a dome-shaped one. The supportive connective infoldings became loosened. The choroid coat displayed deformities and the iris deformed the pupil. The fibroblast on the epithelium and melanocytes depicted dispersed arrangement. The pairs of ventral barbels near the mouth depicted the presence of taste buds that became severely damaged exposing the sensory as well as neuroepithelial cells. Compact regular arrangement of the SECs was completely destroyed leaving long and deep channels inbetween them; the disintegrated concentric MRs also showed a mass.

Synthesis of 2-Aryl Naphthoquinones by the Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Involving an NHC-Catalyzed endo-Stetter Reaction.

An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed intramolecular Stetter reaction proceeding via the endo-fashion was the key step for the transition-metal-free and mild cross-dehydrogenative coupling of 2-cinnamoyl benzaldehydes allowing for the synthesis of 2-aryl naphthoquinones. In this transformation, the carbene generated from the triazolium salt using Na2CO3 catalyzes the intramolecular Stetter reaction, which was followed by air oxidation to reinstall the C-C double bond.

Oxidative NHC Catalysis for the Generation of Imidoyl Azoliums: Synthesis of Benzoxazoles.

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of aldimines generated from 2-amino phenols and aromatic aldehydes leading to the synthesis of 2-arylbenzoxazoles under mild conditions is presented. The reaction proceeds via the generation of the aza-Breslow intermediates from imines and NHC, which under oxidative conditions form the key imidoyl azoliums and a subsequent intramolecular cyclization furnishes the product. The reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups, and the products are formed in generally good yields.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Synthesis of α-Trifluoromethyl Esters.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of α-chloro aldehydes was developed, allowing straightforward access to valuable α-trifluoromethyl ester derivatives. The unique combination of an electrophilic trifluoromethylation reagent with NHC catalysis was the key for the functionalization of a broad range of α-chloro aldehydes, and the products are formed in moderate to good yields. Investigations of the enantioselective version of this reaction afforded the enantioenriched products in moderate yields with good ee values.

Synthesis of 4-Difluoromethylquinolines by NHC-Catalyzed Umpolung of Imines.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed umpolung of aldimines for the synthesis of 4-difluoromethylquinoline derivatives is reported. In the presence of NHCs, the intramolecular cyclization of aldimines bearing a moderately electron-poor double bond due to the presence of the -CF3 group likely proceeds via the intermediacy of the aza-Breslow intermediate. The key to the success of this aza-Stetter type transformation is the NHC generated from the bicyclic triazolium salt using DBU as the base.

N-Heterocyclic-Carbene-Catalyzed Umpolung of Imines.

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis has been widely used for the umpolung of aldehydes, and recently for the umpolung of Michael acceptors. Described herein is the umpolung of aldimines catalyzed by NHCs, and the reaction likely proceeds via aza-Breslow intermediates. The NHC-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of aldimines bearing a Michael acceptor resulted in the formation of biologically important 2-(hetero)aryl indole 3-acetic-acid derivatives in moderate to good yields. The carbene generated from the bicyclic triazolium salt was found to be efficient for this transformation.

Mapping of the electronic band gap along the axis of a single InAs/InSbxAs1-x heterostructured nanowire.

Herein, we report the graded electronic band gap along the axis of individual heterostructured WZ-ZB InAs/InSb0.12As0.88 nanowires. Resonance Raman imaging has been exploited to map the axial variation in the second excitation gap energy (E1) at the high symmetry point (L point) of the Brillouin zone. We relate the origin of the observed evolution of the gap energy to the fine tuning of the alloy composition from the tip towards the interface of the nanowire. The electronic band structures of InAs, InSb and InSbxAs1-x alloy systems at x = 0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 0.875, using the all electron density functional theory code Wien2k, are reported. The measured band gap along the axis of the InAs/InSb0.12As0.88 nanowire is correlated with the calculated gap energy at the A point and the L point of the Brillouin zone for InAs and InSb0.125As0.875, respectively. We draw a one-to-one correspondence between the variation of the E1 gap and the fundamental E0 gap in the calculated electronic band structure and propose the graded fundamental gap energy across the axis of the nanowire.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed diastereoselective synthesis of ß-lactone-fused cyclopentanes using homoenolate annulation reaction.

NHC-catalyzed annulation of enals with 2-enoylpyridines or 2-enoylpyridine N-oxides leading to the diastereoselective synthesis of ß-lactone-fused cyclopentanes is reported. The reaction proceeds via the generation of homoenolate equivalent intermediates and tolerates a broad range of functional groups.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of functionalized cyclopentenes via α,ß-unsaturated acyl azoliums.

Highly enantioselective NHC-organocatalyzed synthesis of functionalized cyclopentenes proceeding via α,ß-unsaturated acyl azolium intermediates is reported. The organocascade reaction of modified enals with malonic ester derivatives having a γ-benzoyl group involves the Michael-intramolecular aldol-ß-lactonization-decarboxylation sequence to deliver cyclopentenes in good yields and excellent ee values.

Facile synthesis of γ-ketophosphonates by an intermolecular Stetter reaction onto vinylphosphonates.

The atom-economic and practical N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed Stetter reaction for the synthesis of γ-ketophosphonates by the reaction of aromatic aldehydes with vinylphosphonates is reported. The NHC derived from N-mesitylimidazolium salt (IMes) was an effective catalyst for this transformation, and the products were formed in moderate to good yields.

NHC-catalyzed reaction of enals with hydroxy chalcones: diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized coumarins.

The N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed annulation of enals with 2'-hydroxy chalcones afford cyclopentane-fused coumarin derivatives with an excellent level of diastereocontrol. The reaction tolerates a broad range of functional groups; 25 examples are given, and a preliminary mechanistic investigation is provided.