An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of ionic liquids based on a bridged dicationic moiety

A series of imidazolium and pyridinium-based bridged dicationic ionic liquids have been analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The different electronic environments of the dications have been investigated and a robust fitting model for the carbon C1s region has also been developed. The relative positions of different C1s components and N1s of dications have been determined and their complex C1s photoemission spectra produced from both aromatic and aliphatic carbon states giving photoemission peaks in the binding energy range of 289.0–283.9 eV. A contemporary fitting approach has been applied to a different set of environments which allowing comparison of the binding energies of cationic components of imidazolium and pyridinium-based dicationic ionic liquids. The experimental stoichiometry of all the carbons and nitrogens have also been calculated from XP spectra of the dicationic ionic liquids

[Bis­(diphenyl­phosphino)methane-κ2 P,P′]dichloridopalladium(II)

The title complex, [PdCl2(C25H22P2)], is a slightly distorted square-planar bis­(diphenyl­phosphino)methane cis-complex of PdCl2. The structure of a polymorph of the title compound has been described earlier, but the arrangement of the mol­ecules observed in the current structure is distinctively different from that previously reported [Steffen & Palenik (1976 ▶). Inorg. Chem. 15, 2432–2439]. The earlier report describes a structure with individual well separated mol­ecules crystallizing in space group P21/n. The polymorph described here, which is isostructrural to its Pt analogue [Babai et al. (2006 ▶). Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 632, 639–644], crystallizes in C2/c with chains of C2-symmetric mol­ecules stretching parallel to the b axis. The Pd atoms and the bis­phosphino­methane units are located on two different positions created by a non-crystallographic mirror operation with an occupancy of 0.6677 (11) for the major (PCH2P)Pd moiety. The positions of the Cl atoms of the minor moiety do coincide perfectly with those of the next mol­ecule along the chain parallel to b, and they are thus not included in the disorder. The phenyl rings also do not take part in the disorder and are common to both the major and minor moieties of the (PCH2P)PdCl2 units. Assuming no defects, mol­ecules in each chain will thus have to be oriented the same way and the effect of the disorder of the (PCH2P)Pd unit is thus a reversal in direction of the chains parallel to b. The presence of light streaks of intensity between actual Bragg peaks indicates that a somehow ordered arrangement not resolved in the Bragg diffraction data may be present (i.e. an incommensurate superstructure) rather than a random or domain arrangement of the chains

Finger-worn assistive device for detection tracking and recognition

This paper describes the design and development of the Smart Eye Assistive device. The domain of Finger-Worn assistive devices as user interfaces has only recently begun to be explored and the miniaturization of technology has enabled us to develop a device, which utilizes natural pointing gestures to connect the user with his/her surroundings. In the following paper, the development of the Smart Eye Hardware Software is presented. Utilizing off-self components, and image processing algorithms based on MATLAB image processing toolbox, scenarios where the Smart Eye can be an effective tool for day-to-day interaction, reactions from users as well as its drawbacks are discussed and a conclusion is reached, that such a finger worn device is highly viable for future development

2-[2-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)acetamido]­acetic acid

The title mol­ecule, C12H10N2O5, is non-planar with dihedral angles of 89.08 (7) and 83.21 (7)° between the phthalimide and acetamide mean planes, and the acetamide and acetic acid mean planes, respectively. In the crystal, symmetry-related mol­ecules are linked via N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming an undulating two-dimensional network. There are also a number of weak C—H⋯O inter­actions, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional arrangement

Dicyclo­hexyl­ammonium thio­cyanate

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C12H24N+·NCS−, the anions and cations are linked through N—H⋯N and N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds, resulting in a chain along the a axis

Mapping of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA primer (RAPD) on chromosome 2A of common wheat

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA primers (RAPDs) were mapped on chromosomes 2A of wheat genotypes using “Chinese Spring” nullisomic-tetrasomic lines. One particular pair of chromosome was absent and another homologous pair was present in the extra dose. Genomic DNA was isolated from two genetic stocks viz; NT1D1B and NT2A2B. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were conducted using RAPD primers GLC-07 and GLB-11. PCR amplification using primer GLC-07 produced single band of approximately 1100 bp in both the genetic stocks, indicating that the primer was annealed to a loci other than chromosome 2A. RAPD primer GLB-11 amplified a polymorphic allele of approximately 500 bp which was present in NT1D1B but was absent in NT2A2B, indicating that the locus was present on chromosome 2A of common wheat. Hence, this marker (GLB-11) can reliably be used to keep track of chromosome 2A of wheat.Key words: Wheat, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA primer (RAPD), mapping, chromosomes, homologous, genomes

catena-Poly[[triphenyl­tin(IV)]-μ2-[3-(cyclo­hexyl­carbamo­yl)propanoato-κ2 O 1:O 3]]

The Sn atom in the polymeric title compound, [Sn(C6H5)3(C10H16NO3)]n, is five-coordinated within a trans-C3O2 donor set that defines an approximate trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The carboxyl­ate ligand is monodentate and the amide O atom bridges a symmetry-related Sn atom, generating a chain along [010] with a linear topology. An intra­molecular carboxyl­ate–carbonyl N—H⋯O hydrogen bond is responsible for the curved conformation within the carboxyl­ate ligand

1-Benzoyl-3-(2,4,5-trichloro­phen­yl)thio­urea

The benzene and phenyl rings in the title compound, C14H9Cl3N2OS, form a dihedral angle of 40.98 (6)°. The mol­ecule exists in the thione form with typical thio­urea C—S [1.666 (2) Å] and C—O [1.227 (3) Å] bond lengths as well as shortened C—N bonds [1.345 (3) and 1.386 (2) Å]. An intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond stabilizes the mol­ecular conformation. In the crystal, pairs of N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into centrosymmetric dimers

Study protocol of DIVERGE, the first genetic epidemiological study of major depressive disorder in Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Globally, 80% of the burdenof major depressive disorder (MDD) pertains to low- and middle-income countries. Research into genetic and environmental risk factors has the potential to uncover disease mechanisms that may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, yet has so far been largely limited to participants with European ancestry from high-income countries. The DIVERGE study was established to help overcome this gap and investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in Pakistan. METHODS: DIVERGE aims to enrol 9000 cases and 4000 controls in hospitals across the country. Here, we provide the rationale for DIVERGE, describe the study protocol and characterise the sample using data from the first 500cases. Exploratory data analysis is performed to describe demographics, socioeconomic status, environmental risk factors, family history of mental illness and psychopathology. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Many participants had severe depression with 74% of patients who experienced multiple depressive episodes. It was a common practice to seek help for mental health struggles from faith healers and religious leaders. Socioeconomic variables reflected the local context with a large proportion of women not having access to any education and the majority of participants reporting no savings. CONCLUSION: DIVERGE is a carefully designed case-control study of MDD in Pakistan that captures diverse risk factors. As the largest genetic study in Pakistan, DIVERGE helps address the severe underrepresentation of people from South Asian countries in genetic as well as psychiatric research

Strategic crossing of biomass and harvest index—source and sink—achieves genetic gains in wheat

To accelerate genetic gains in breeding, physiological trait (PT) characterization of candidate parents can help make more strategic crosses, increasing the probability of accumulating favorable alleles compared to crossing relatively uncharacterized lines. In this study, crosses were designed to complement “source” with “sink” traits, where at least one parent was selected for favorable expression of biomass and/or radiation use efficiency—source—and the other for sink-related traits like harvest-index, kernel weight and grains per spike. Female parents were selected from among genetic resources—including landraces and products of wide-crossing (i.e. synthetic wheat)—that had been evaluated in Mexico at high yield potential or under heat stress, while elite lines were used as males. Progeny of crosses were advanced to the F4 generation within Mexico, and F4-derived F5 and F6 generations were yield tested to populate four international nurseries, targeted to high yield environments (2nd and 3rd WYCYT) for yield potential, and heat stressed environments (2nd and 4th SATYN) for climate resilience, respectively. Each nursery was grown as multi-location yield trials. Genetic gains were achieved in both temperate and hot environments, with most new PT-derived lines expressing superior yield and biomass compared to local checks at almost all international sites. Furthermore, the tendency across all four nurseries indicated either the superiority of the best new PT lines compared with the CIMMYT elite checks, or the superiority of all new PT lines as a group compared with all checks, and in some cases, both. Results support—in a realistic breeding context—the hypothesis that yield and radiation use efficiency can be increased by improving source:sink balance, and validate the feasibility of incorporating exotic germplasm into mainstream breeding efforts to accelerate genetic gains for yield potential and climate resilience