早孕妇女血铅水平测查及健康教育干预效果分析

为了解深圳地区早孕妇女铅暴露水平及个体健康教育干预的效果,用原子吸收光谱法测定了1213例早孕妇女静脉血铅水平（BLL）;将BLL≥50μg／L的160例孕妇随机分为两组：A组进行一对一的健康教育干预,包括居住环境、卫生习惯、饮食习惯等;B组不进行干预,于3个月后同样方法复查BLL。结果表明,平均BLL为47斗g／L。BLL≥100μg／L者59例（4．9％）,≥50μg／L者184例（15．2％）;复查BLL下降至50μg／L以下,A组有66例（67．3％）,而B组仅有7例（11．3％）,A组干预后BLL下降的幅度和下降的例数均显著大于B组,具有统计学意义。提示早孕妇女血铅水平部分偏高,及时进行针对性的健康教育干预是必要的和有效的。     

Discovery of the serum biomarker proteins in severe preeclampsia by proteomic analysis

Preeclapsia (PE) is a severe disorder that occurs during pregnancy, leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. PE affects about 3-8% of all pregnancies. In this study, we conducted liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze serum samples depleted of the six most abundant proteins from normal and PE-affected pregnancies to profile serum proteins. A total of 237 proteins were confidently identified with <1% false discovery rate from the two groups of duplicate analysis. The expression levels of those identified proteins were compared semiquantitatively by spectral counting. To further validate the candidate proteins with a quantitative mass spectrometric method, selective reaction monitoring (SRM) and enzyme linked immune assay (ELISA) of serum samples collected from pregnant women with severe PE (n = 8) or normal pregnant women (n = 5) was conducted. α2- HS-glycoprotein (AHSG), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and α-1-microglobulin/bikunin (AMBP) and Insulin like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit (IGFBP-ALS) were confirmed to be differentially expressed in PE using SRM (P<0.05). Among these proteins, AHSG was verified by ELISA and showed a statistically significant increase in PE samples when compared to controls.     

Enantiopure nanohoops through racemic resolution of diketo[n]CPPs by chiral derivatization as precursors to DBP[n]CPPs

Strained conjugated nanohoops are attractive synthetic targets due to the bending of their π-system, which leads to intriguing optoelectronic properties, among others. By incorporating non-mirror-symmetric aromatic panels, chiral nanohoops can be obtained. We herein present a strategy to enantiopure nanohoops by racemic resolution through chiral derivatization of diketone-embedded hoops. The resulting diketo[n]CPPs (n = 6, 7) contain two stereogenic carbon atoms each and possess high fluorescence quantum yields paired with circularly polarized luminescence. These are versatile precursors to chiral dibenzo[a,e]pentalene-based nanohoops DBP[n]CPPs with antiaromatic character and ambipolar electrochemical behavior. Due to their strained structures the DBP[n]CPPs do not racemize at room temperature, which is supported by high calculated isomerization barriers. X-ray crystallographic investigations on the DBP[n]CPPs and their precursors as well as DFT calculations provide insight into the build-up of strain energy during the synthetic transformations.

Racemic resolution of diketone-embedded cycloparaphenylenes by derivatization with a chiral auxiliary provides scalable access to enantiopure hoops with chiroptical properties.     

Theoretical calculation of spectra of dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate

Dibutyl phthalate DBP and dioctyl phthalate DOP are the main components of the plasticizers. In order to investigate their molecular structure, chemical bond and spectrum, the geometrical parameters of the ground state and infrared (IR) spectrum are calculated using the density functional theory B3LYP method at the level of 6-311++G(d,p). On this basis, the first twenty-six excited states and the UV-Vis absorption spectra of DBP and DOP are studied using the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in the same fundamental group and compared with the ultraviolet absorption peak of the molecules measured with UNICO UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The two kinds of molecular spectra are then classified and compared with that in reference. The results show that the strong absorption of IR spectra of DOP and DBP are produced by C-H bending in-plane vibration and C=O telescopic vibration producing. The most absorption of UV-Vis absorption spectra appears in the end absorption belt from n to σ* transition, and the stronger absorption in the E belt of benzene electronic transition from π to π*. There are blue shift for DOP end absorption belt from n to σ* transition and red shift for DOP E absorption belt from π to π* transition relative to that of DBP. This calculation results are better in accord with the spectral data measured by UNICO ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer.     

Multifactorial analysis of affinity-mass spectrometry data from serum protein samples: A strategy to distinguish patients with preeclampsia from matching control individuals

A multifactorial differential analysis of serum proteins using mass spectrometry distinguished samples from pregnant women with severe early-onset preeclampsia (n = 11) from those of control individuals with uneventful pregnancies (n = 13). Serum proteins were fractionated by either their affinities to reversed-phase material coated magnetic beads or by fractionated precipitation. The on-average most abundant ion signals were observed at m/z 9390, 9103, and 8886. The best differentiating ion signals between the two sample groups were found at m/z 13,715, 13,834, and 13,891. The normalized intensities of these ion signals were on-average lower in the preeclampsia group than in the control group. The six ion signal intensities enabled sorting of the individual spectra with high accuracy. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that a protein band migrating just above the 14 kDa marker band contained transthyretin (P02766; Mr (avg.): 13,761). Densitometric analysis of the transthyretin bands showed lower intensities in the preeclampsia samples with respect to those of the controls. Nephelometric analysis of the serum samples determined the mean concentration of transthyretin in the preeclampsia group were lower (0.16 mg/mL; range: 0.13 to 0.20; SD: 0.03) than that in the control group (0.19 mg/mL; range: 0.14 to 0.22; SD: 0.02), substantiating the role of transthyretin concentration differences in the comparison of the two groups. Altogether, our findings support the theory of preeclampsia being a heterogeneous disorder that might be sub-classified by a defined proteome signature in maternal blood using multifactorial analysis of affinity-fractionated serum samples.     

Spectroscopic properties of some mixed ligand copper(II) complexes of N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and ethanediamine and its alkylated derivatives

IR, EPR and electronic spectral studies have been made on a series of complexes with general formula [M(dien)L](BØ₄)₂nH₂O (M = Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), dien = N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine, L = ethanediamine (en), Me₄en, Et₂en, Me = methyl, Et = ethyl, BØ₄ = tetraphenylborate, n = 0 or 2] taking copper(II) as a magnetic probe in polycrystalline and solution forms to obtain stereochemical information. A five-coordinate square-based pyramidal (SBP) geometry with CuN₃N′₂ moiety having moderately covalent metal-ligand σ-bonds is found to exist in unalkylated mixed ligand complexes. Among alkylated complexes [Cu/Cd(dien)(Me₄en)](BØ₄)₂ is found to possess two species having tetrahedral and SBP with trigonal bipyramidal distortion geometries unlike the other alkylated complexes which have indicated the presence of one species having SBP coordination geometry with varying degrees of trigonal bipyramidal distortions and metal-ligand σ-bond strengths. EPR studies in dilute dmf and pyridine solutions of copper(II) complexes indicated the presence of solute-solvent interaction.     

Monte Carlo simulation study of the effect of chain tacticity on demixing of polyethylene/polypropylene blends

The molecular origin of the demixing behavior for 50: 50 (wt/wt) polyethylene/polypropylene (PE/PP) with different tacticity of PP at the melts (473 K) was investigated by Monte Carlo simulation of coarse-grained polymer model. Isotactic (iPP), atactic (aPP) and syndiotactic (sPP) polypropylenes were used for blending with PE. Coarse-graining polymer chains were represented by 50 beads, corresponding to C₁₀₀H₂₀₂ and C₁₅₀H₃₀₂ for PE and PP, respectively. The simulation was performed on a high coordination lattice incorporating short-range intramolecular interactions from the Rotational Isomeric State (RIS) model and long-range intermolecular interactions Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential function of ethane and propane units. Chain dimensions, the characteristic ratio (C _n ) and self-diffusion coefficient (D) of PE in the blends are sensitive to the stereochemistry of PP chains. Compared with neat PE melts, PE dimension was relatively unchanged in PE/iPP and PE/aPP blends but slightly decreased in PE/sPP blends. PP dimension was increased in PE/iPP and PE/aPP mixture but decreased in PE/sPP blend in comparison with neat PP melts. In addition, diffusion of PE and PP chains in PE/PP mixture was decreased and increased, respectively, compared to the pure melts. Interchain pair correlation functions were used to detect the immiscibility of the blends. The tendency of demixing of PE/aPP and PE/iPP blends were weaker than that of PE/sPP blend.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and urease inhibitory activity of cooper(II) complexes with schiff bases

A new end-to-end thiocyanato-bridged polynuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu(CP)(μ_1,3-NCS)] _n · nMeOH (I), and a new mononuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu(MP)(ONO₂)(OH₂)] (II) (CP = 4-chloro-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylimino)methyl]phenolate, MP = 5-methoxy-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethylimino)methyl]phenolate), were prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal of I is orthorhombic: space group Pbca, a = 10.6161(16) Å, b = 16.340(3) Å, c = 18.840(3) Å, V = 3268.0(9) ų, Z = 8. The crystal of II is triclinic: space group P $ \bar 1 $ , a = 7.5645(2), b = 8.9811(2), c = 11.9412(3) Å, α = 74.4610(10)°, β = 80.5040(10)°, γ = 71.0940(10)°, V = 736.71(3) ų, Z = 2. The Cu atoms in the complexes are in square-pyramidal coordination. The biological test shows that both complexes have strong urease inhibitory activity.     

Separation and Identification of Microplastics in Digestive System of Bivalves

A pretreatment method was established for separating microplastics from digestive system of bivalve sample. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics was carried out by micro-Fourier transformed infrared (μ-FT-IR) spectroscope and Stereo microscope. The method was applied to analyze the microplastics in the digestive system in Chlamys farreri and Mytilus galloprovincialis. The results showed that the digestion system of using 10% KOH had high digestion efficiency. With this digestion system, the recoveries of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ranged from 96.7% to 98.6%, with relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 3) of ≤ 3.19%. We collected Chlamys farreri from local markets (n = 50) and Mytilus galloprovincialis from both local markets (n = 50) and wild environments (n = 15) in Qingdao, China. The results showed that microplastics were found in over 80% of the individuals purchased from the market and 40% of the wild collected individuals. The average abundance of microplastics in Chlamys farreri purchased from different markets varied between 5.2 and 19.4 items/individual or between 3.2 and 7.1 items g^?1 (wet weight of digestive system), while in Mytilus galloprovincialis, the numbers varied between 1.9 and 9.6 items/individual or between 2.0 and 12.8 items g^?1. Farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) contained more microplastics (average 1.9 items per individual, 3.17 items g^?1) than wild mussels (average 0.53 items individual, 2.0 items g^?1). Three shapes of microplastics, including fibers, fragments and granules were separated from the samples above. Among which, fibrous microplastics, being the most dominant ones, took up 84.11% of total microplastics. The average size of fibrous microplastics ((0.66 ± 0.70) mm) was larger than that of the other two shapes of microplastics. The number of microplastics decreased with increasing microplastic sizes. Microplastics of less than 500 μm coming from different markets were in the range of 26% to 84%. And it was found that the most common polymer component in the samples was cellophane (CP), followed by polypropylene (PP). The method has some advantages such as simplicity, high efficiency, and low damage to the microplastics in the sample, and can be used to detect and analyze microplastics in seafood.     

The Effect of Blood Contained in the Samples on the Metabolomic Profile of Mouse Brain Tissue: A Study by NMR Spectroscopy

(1) Recently, metabolic profiling of the tissue in the native state or extracts of its metabolites has become increasingly important in the field of metabolomics. An important factor, in this case, is the presence of blood in a tissue sample, which can potentially lead to a change in the concentration of tissue metabolites and, as a result, distortion of experimental data and their interpretation. (2) In this paper, the metabolomic profiling based on NMR spectroscopy was performed to determine the effect of blood contained in the studied samples of brain tissue on their metabolomic profile. We used 13 male laboratory CD-1^® IGS mice for this study. The animals were divided into two groups. The first group of animals (n = 7) was subjected to the perfusion procedure, and the second group of animals (n = 6) was not perfused. The brain tissues of the animals were homogenized, and the metabolite fraction was extracted with a water/methanol/chloroform solution. Samples were studied by high-frequency ¹H-NMR spectroscopy with subsequent statistical data analysis. The group comparison was performed with the use of the Student’s test. We identified 36 metabolites in the brain tissue with the use of NMR spectroscopy. (3) For the major set of studied metabolites, no significant differences were found in the brain tissue metabolite concentrations in the native state and after the blood removal procedure. (4) Thus, it was shown that the presence of blood does not have a significant effect on the metabolomic profile of the brain in animals without pathologies.     

Elucidating the structure of carbon nanoparticles by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

A fast and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was developed for the separation and structural elucidation of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNP). The CNP was synthesised from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of citric acid (CA) and 1,2-ethylenediamine (EDA). By using UPLC separation, the CNP product was well separated into ten fractions within 4.0 min. Based on high-accuracy MS and MS/MS analyses, the CNP species were revealed to display six kinds of chemical formulas, including (C₁₀H₂₀N₄O₅)_n, (C₈H₁₂N₂O₅)_n, (C₁₆H₂₂N₄O₉)_n, (C₆H₈O₇)_n, (C₁₄H₁₈N₂O₁₁)_n, and (C₁₄H₁₆N₂O₁₀)_n. In particular, our study revealed for the first time that the CNP species exist as supramolecular clusters with their individual monomers units linked together through non-covalent bonding forces. These findings clearly indicated the usefulness of UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS in identifying the chemical composition of CNP product. It is anticipated that our proposed methodology can be applied to study the structure-property relationships of CNP, facilitating in the production of CNP with desirable spectral features.     

Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Combined Oral Contraceptives Users and Is Positively Associated with High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

Information concerning the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in young healthy women predisposing eventually to future diseases is scarce. We investigated the relationship of oxidative stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in fertile-age women by oral combined contraceptive (OC) use. Caucasian Italian healthy non-obese women (n = 290; 100 OC-users; 190 non-OC-users; mean age 23.2 ± 4.7 years) were analyzed. Blood hydroperoxides, as oxidative stress biomarkers, were assessed by Free Oxygen Radical Test (FORT). Serum hsCRP was determined by an ultra-sensitive method (hsCRP). Markedly elevated oxidative stress (≥400 FORT Units) was found in 77.0% of OC-users and 1.6% of non-OC-users, odds ratio (OR) = 209, 95% CI = 60.9–715.4, p < 0.001. Elevated hsCRP levels ≥ 2.0 mg/L, considered risky for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), were found in 41.0% of OC-users and 9.5% of non-OC-users, OR = 6.6, 95%CI 3.5–12.4, p < 0.001. Hydroperoxides were strongly positively correlated to hsCRP in all women (r_s = 0.622, p < 0.001), in OC-users (r_s = 0.442, p < 0.001), and in non-OC-users (r_s = 0.426, p < 0.001). Women with hydroperoxides ≥ 400 FORT Units were eight times as likely to have hsCRP ≥ 2 mg/L. In non-OC-users only, hydroperoxides values were positively correlated with weight and body mass index, but negatively correlated with red meat, fish and chocolate consumption. Our research is the first finding a strong positive correlation of serum hydroperoxides with hsCRP, a marker of low-grade chronic inflammation, in young healthy women. Further research is needed to elucidate the potential role of these two biomarkers in OC-use associated side-effects, like thromboembolism and other CVDs.     

DSC measurements of blood plasma on patients with chronic pancreatitis and operable and inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Currently, the most examinations and markers are of limited diagnostic and prognostic value in chronic inflammation of the pancreas and its malignant tumorous disease. The purpose of this pilot study was to measure thermal changes of blood plasma by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method on patients with chronic pancreatitis, and with operable or inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The study involved chronic pancreatitis patients (n = 5), in whom had to perform surgery due to any complications. In malignant pancreatic cancer group, according to resectability of the tumors, patients were divided into operable (curative R0 resection, n = 11) and inoperable (palliative double bypass, n = 5) subgroups. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients preoperatively and from healthy controls (n = 5). Denaturation of plasma components was detected in Setaram Micro DSC-II calorimeter. DSC results showed decrease of T _m1 (48.8 °C) and T _m2 (61.8 °C) and increase of T _m3 (68 °C) in chronic pancreatitis group compared to healthy controls (56.2, 63.1 and 68 °C). Similar tendencies were in patients with operable (48.2, 61.5, 67.6 °C) and inoperable (48.1, 62.4, 69 °C) pancreas adenocarcinoma. Calorimetric enthalpy mildly decreased in each group except for operable group (1.3 J g^?1 ?H) compared to controls (1.2 J g^?1 ?H). This research confirmed that DSC parameters of blood plasma on patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma are clearly distinct from thermodynamical data of healthy controls. After better validation of calorimetric data, it can be a noninvasive tool for diagnostic and monitoring of pancreatic diseases.     

Preeclampsia serum-induced collagen I expression and intracellular calcium levels in arterial smooth muscle cells are mediated by the PLC-γ1 pathway

In women with preeclampsia (PE), endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction can lead to altered secretion of paracrine factors that induce peripheral vasoconstriction and proteinuria. This study examined the hypothesis that PE sera may directly or indirectly, through human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), stimulate phospholipase C-γ1-1,4,5-trisphosphate (PLC-γ1-IP₃) signaling, thereby increasing protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) activity, collagen I expression and intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_i) in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs). HUASMCs and HUVECs were cocultured with normal or PE sera before PLC-γ1 silencing. Increased PLC-γ1 and IP₃ receptor (IP₃R) phosphorylation was observed in cocultured HUASMCs stimulated with PE sera (P<0.05). In addition, PE serum significantly increased HUASMC viability and reduced their apoptosis (P<0.05); these effects were abrogated with PLC-γ1 silencing. Compared with normal sera, PE sera increased [Ca²⁺]_i in cocultured HUASMCs (P<0.05), which was inhibited by PLC-γ1 and IP₃R silencing. Finally, PE sera-induced PKC-α activity and collagen I expression was inhibited by PLC-γ1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) (P<0.05). These results suggest that vasoactive substances in the PE serum may induce deposition in the extracellular matrix through the activation of PLC-γ1, which may in turn result in thickening and hardening of the placental vascular wall, placental blood supply shortage, fetal hypoxia–ischemia and intrauterine growth retardation or intrauterine fetal death. PE sera increased [Ca²⁺]_i and induced PKC-α activation and collagen I expression in cocultured HUASMCs via the PLC-γ1 pathway.     

分娩孕妇血液、胎盘与新生儿全血中铁元素含量的测定

对西宁市 3 5例分娩孕妇血液、脐血及胎盘中的铁元素含量进行了测定。结果表明 ,母血中铁元素含量低于脐血中的含量 ,并且差异具有高度显著性 (P <0 0 1 ) ;胎盘中铁的含量高于其他地区正常分娩孕妇胎盘中的含量。     

Silica microbeads capture fetal nucleated red blood cells for noninvasive prenatal testing of fetal ABO genotype

ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn (ABO-HDN), which may cause neonatal jaundice and polycythemia, or even stillbirth or neonatal death, is widespread in China. Prenatal testing for the fetal ABO blood group can reduce unnecessary concerns or ensure prompt treatment. Herein, we presented a method to employ high-density silica microbeads (SiO₂ MBs) for capturing fetal nucleated red blood cells (fnRBCs) in maternal peripheral blood, and we detected the ABO genotype of the fetus using these captured cells. We evaluated 52 patients using the SiO₂ MBs. Among 26 pregnant women with type O blood, 8 (30.8%) of the fetuses had type A blood, 5 (19.2%) had type B blood, and 13 (50%) had type O blood. SRY genes were detected in all 27 male fetuses. This study represents a simple and effective method for noninvasive prenatal detection of the fetal ABO genotype. We believe that this method has great potential for noninvasive prenatal testing of the fetal Rh blood group and other fetal diseases as well.     

16S rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis reveals differences in bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles in the urine of pregnant and non-pregnant women

Recent evidence has indicated that bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important for host–microbe communication. The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether bacteria-derived EVs are excreted via the urinary tract and to compare the composition of bacteria-derived EVs in the urine of pregnant and non-pregnant women. Seventy-three non-pregnant and seventy-four pregnant women were enrolled from Dankook University and Ewha Womans University hospitals. DNA was extracted from urine EVs after EV isolation using the differential centrifugation method. 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequencing was performed using high-throughput 454 pyrosequencing after amplification of the V1–V3 region of the 16S rDNA. The composition of 13 taxa differed significantly between the pregnant and non-pregnant women. At the genus level, Bacillus spp. EVs were more significantly enriched in the urine of the pregnant women than in that of the non-pregnant women (45.61% vs 0.12%, respectively). However, Pseudomonas spp. EVs were more dominant in non-pregnant women than in pregnant women (13.2% vs 4.09%, respectively). Regarding the compositional difference between pregnant women with normal and preterm delivery, EVs derived from Ureaplasma spp. and the family Veillonellaceae (including Megasphaera spp.) were more abundant in the urine of preterm-delivered women than in that of women with normal deliveries. Taken together, these data showed that Bacillus spp. EVs predominate in the urine of pregnant women, whereas Pseudomonas spp. EVs predominate in the urine of non-pregnant women; this suggests that Bacillus spp. EVs might have an important role in the maintenance of pregnancy.     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of selenium in blood serum and seminal fluid after protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid

The determination of selenium in body fluids by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (e.a.a.s.) suffers from severe spectral interferences from phosphate which results in overcompensation when a continuum-source background corrector is used. The separation of selenium from phosphate by protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid allows the determination of selenium in blood serum and seminal fluid by e.a.a.s. after thermal stabilization with silver, nickel or copper. The selenium concentration in seminal fluid from healthy, fertile Norwegian donors ranged from 0.09 to 1.30 μmol l^-1 with a group average of 0.44 μmol l^-1 (n = 15).     

Soft scorpionate complexes of the fourth and fifth period elements arsenic and tin

We report the synthesis and structure of arsenic (III) and tin(IV) adducts of the hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate anion (Tm^Me). Both species are found to be [E(κ³Tm^Me)₂]ⁿ⁺ anions (E=As, n=1; E=Sn, n=2). Comparisons are made between each of these species and the compounds formed with their heavier and larger group partners bismuth and lead. Due to the remarkable flexibility in the soft scorpionate ligand we were unable to form a charge-separated species analogous to that reported by Parkin for the phenyl analogue (Tm^Ph). Attempts to prepare the tin(II) adduct curiously produced the tin(IV) product [Sn(κ³Tm^Me)₂][Tm^Me]₂ even when the reaction was carried out under inert atmospheres.