Research in development: the approach of AAS

The CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) is pursuing a Research in Development approach that emphasizes the importance of embedding research in the development context. Reflecting this emphasis the six elements of this approach are a commitment to people and place, participatory action research, gender transformative research, learning and networking, partnerships, and capacity building. It is through the careful pursuit of these six elements that we believe that the program will achieve the development outcomes we aspire to, and do so at scale

Structural variation, dynamics, and catalytic application of palladium(II) complexes of di-N-heterocyclic carbene-amine ligands

A series of palladium(II) complexes incorporating di-NHC-amine ligands has been prepared and their structural, dynamic and catalytic behaviour investigated. The complexes [trans-(k(2)-(CN)-C-tBu(Bn)CN(Bn)C-tBu)PdCl2] (12) and [trans-(kappa(2)-(CN)-C-Mes(H)C-Mes)PdCl2] (13) do not exhibit interaction between the amine nitrogen and palladium atom respectively. NMR spectroscopy between - 40 and 25 degrees C shows that the di-NHC-amine ligand is flexible expressing C-s symmetry and for 13 rotation of the mesityl groups is prevented. In the related C-1 complex [(kappa(3)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)C-tBu)PdCl][CI] (14) coordination of NHC moieties and amine nitrogen atom is observed between -40 and 25 degrees C. Reaction between 12 - 14 and two equivalents of AgBF4 in acetonitrile gives the analogous complexes [trans-(kappa(2)-(CN)-C-tBu(Bn)C-tBu)PdCl2] (12) and [trans-(kappa(CN)-C-2Mes(H)C-Mes)PdCl2] (13) do not exhibit interaction between the amine nitrogen and palladium atom respectively. NMR spectroscopy between -40 ans 25 degrees C shows the di-NHC-amine ligand is flexible expressing C-s symmetry and for 13 rotation of the mesityl groups is prevented. In the related C-1 complex [kappa(3)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)C-tBu)PdCI][CI] (14) coordination of NHC moieties and amine nitrogen atom is observed between -40 and 25 degrees C.Reaction between 12-14 and two equivalents of AgBF4 in acetonitrile gives the analogous complexes [trans-(kappa(2)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)(CPd)-Pd-tBu(MeCN)(2)][BF4](2) (15), [trans-(kappa(CN)-C-2Mes(H)C-Mes)Pd(MeCN)(2)[BF4](2 (16)) and [(kappa(3)-(CN)-C-tBu(H)C-tBu)Pd(MeCN)][BF4](2) (17) indicating that ligand structure determines amine coordination. The single crystal X-ray structures of 12, 17 and two ligand imidazolium salt precursors C-tBu(H)N(Bn)C(H) (tBu)][CI](2) (2) and [C-tBu(H) N(H)C(H)(tBu)][BPh4](2) (4) have been determined. Complexes 12-14 and 15-17 have been shown to be active precatalysts for Heck and hydroamination reactions respectively

Code optimisation for the NZTAB Pascal compiler

The aim of this project was optimisation of the code produced by the NZTAB Pascal compiler. This compiler is used for almost all the code in the TAB's nationwide betting system. The desire to improve the performance of the code was prompted by two reasons: * Certain heavily-used parts of the code are presently written in assembler for efficiency. For maintainability, it would be better to have all code written in Pascal. * The performance of the betting system is significantly affected by certain system control functions. The TAB wished to pursue the adding of an optimisation stage to the compiler so that performance might be improved in that way. The task of this project, then, was to consider the problem of adding optimisation to the TAB compiler, assessing possible optimisation techniques, and implementing the best of these. There are several aspects to this project and the structure of this report reflects that. This does not mean, however, that each aspect represents a chronological phase. The first section deals with the problem and with the constraints placed on possible optimisation methods. Section two briefly presents various kinds of optimisations that are often done and reviews the main methods available for doing them. In section three there is an analysis of the nature of the code currently produced by the TAB compiler and the implications of this for optimisation. Fourthly, various optimisation strategies that were considered are presented with their problems and advantages. Section five deals with two strategies for which some implementation was done, with the problems that arise in their implementation, and with their potential benefits. Finally, in section six, some questions are posed that are relevant to if and how the project should proceed and some recommendations are given. Naturally, the ideal result of such a project would have been the completion of an optimiser that performed sufficiently well for the earlier goals to be realised: this has not been achieved. One should remember though that this project can viewed in two ways. In one way it can be seen as being required to add some form of optimisation to a Pascal compiler. At the other level, however, it can be seen as ryeeding to provide optimisation that is sufficient for the goals given at the start of this introduction, and that is obtained in a way that is acceptable to the TAB environment. This latter goal is far more difficult but it is towards this goal that the efforts of this project have been directed

Carbon nitride as a ligand: edge-site coordination of ReCl(CO)(3)-fragments to g-C3N4

IR spectroscopy and model structural studies show binding of ReCl(CO)3-fragments to carbon nitride (g-C3N4) occurs via κ2 N,N′ bidentate coordination

Using theory of change to achieve impact in AAS

The CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework sets out four system level outcomes (SLOs), namely: reducing rural poverty, improving food security, improving nutrition and health and sustainable management of natural resources. In pursuit of these objectives the CGIAR has developed a set of sixteen CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs), each of which is expected to make specific contributions to a range of intermediate development outcomes (IDOs) linked to the SLOs. As part of this work the CRPs are developing impact pathways and theories of change designed to explain how the programs will achieve IDOs. The purpose of the present paper is to explain the approach that the CRP on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) is taking to using these programmatic tools to help achieve impact

From working in the wheat field to managing wheat: women innovators in Nepal

This article presents research conducted in Nepal’s Terai plains in 2014-15 showing that women are innovating in wheat to the extent that wheat farming is experiencing a shift from feminization of agricultural labor towards women taking control over decision making. Processes accounting for this include male out-migration, non-governmental organizations working on promoting women’s equality that has developed women’s confidence, individual support from extension agents, and strong cooperation between women to foster each other’s “innovation journeys.

Children and Virtual Reality: Emerging Possibilities and Challenges

Virtual Reality is fast becoming a reality, with estimates that over 200m headsets will have been sold by 2020, and the market value for VR hardware and software reaching well over $20bn by then. Key players in the market currently include PlayStation with PSVR, Facebook with Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard and Daydream, Mattel with Viewmaster, and many other brands investing in content production for various audiences. One of those audiences is young people and children. “Children and Virtual Reality” is a collaboration between Dubit, Turner, WEARVR and the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action DigiLitEY. Dubit, Turner and WEARVR are companies that specialise in digital, TV and VR content, with an interest in developing best practices around VR and children. DigiLitEY is a five year (2013-2017) academic network that focuses on existing and emerging communicative technologies for young children. This includes wearable technologies, 3D printers, robots, augmented reality, toys and games and relevant aspects of the Internet of Things. This report brings together industry research into the effects of VR on 8 to 12 year olds, and ideas that arose from a COST funded Think Tank to explore what the research findings might mean for the use of VR by under 8s

The tylosin resistance gene tlrB of Streptomyces fradiae encodes a methyltransferase that targets G748 in 23S rRNA

Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Material