Stimulated by informal conversations at the XVII International Small Angle Scattering (SAS) conference (Traverse City, 2017), an international team of experts undertook a round-robin exercise to produce a large dataset from proteins under standard solution conditions. These data were used to generate consensus SAS profiles for xylose isomerase, urate oxidase, xylanase, lysozyme and ribonuclease A. Here, we apply a new protocol using maximum likelihood with a larger number of the contributed datasets to generate improved consensus profiles. We investigate the fits of these profiles to predicted profiles from atomic coordinates that incorporate different models to account for the contribution to the scattering of water molecules of hydration surrounding proteins in solution. Programs using an implicit, shell-type hydration layer generally optimize fits to experimental data with the aid of two parameters that adjust the volume of the bulk solvent excluded by the protein and the contrast of the hydration layer. For these models, we found the error-weighted residual differences between the model and the experiment generally reflected the subsidiary maxima and minima in the consensus profiles that are determined by the size of the protein plus the hydration layer. By comparison, all-atom solute and solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are without the benefit of adjustable parameters and, nonetheless, they yielded at least equally good fits with residual differences that are less reflective of the structure in the consensus profile. Further, where MD simulations accounted for the precise solvent composition of the experiment, specifically the inclusion of ions, the modelled radius of gyration values were significantly closer to the experiment. The power of adjustable parameters to mask real differences between a model and the structure present in solution is demonstrated by the results for the conformationally dynamic ribonuclease A and calculations with pseudo-experimental data. This study shows that, while methods invoking an implicit hydration layer have the unequivocal advantage of speed, care is needed to understand the influence of the adjustable parameters. All-atom solute and solvent MD simulations are slower but are less susceptible to false positives, and can account for thermal fluctuations in atomic positions, and more accurately represent the water molecules of hydration that contribute to the scattering profile.

In the folded state, biomolecules exchange between multiple conformational states crucial for their function. However, most structural models derived from experiments and computational predictions only encode a single state. To represent biomolecules accurately, we must move towards modeling and predicting structural ensembles. Information about structural ensembles exists within experimental data from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. Although new tools are available to detect conformational and compositional heterogeneity within these ensembles, the legacy PDB data structure does not robustly encapsulate this complexity. We propose modifications to the macromolecular crystallographic information file (mmCIF) to improve the representation and interrelation of conformational and compositional heterogeneity. These modifications will enable the capture of macromolecular ensembles in a human and machine-interpretable way, potentially catalyzing breakthroughs for ensemble–function predictions, analogous to the achievements of AlphaFold with single-structure prediction.

A series of events underscoring the significant advancements in micro-crystallization and in vivo crystallography were held during the 26th IUCr Congress in Melbourne, positioning microcrystallography as a pivotal field within structural biology. Through collaborative discussions and the sharing of innovative methodologies, these sessions outlined frontier approaches in macromolecular crystallography. This review provides an overview of this rapidly moving field in light of the rich dialogues and forward-thinking proposals explored during the congress workshop and microsymposium. These advances in microcrystallography shed light on the potential to reshape current research paradigms and enhance our comprehension of biological mechanisms at the molecular scale.

Regolith draws intensive research attention because of its importance as the basis for fabricating materials for future human space exploration. Martian regolith is predicted to consist of defect-rich crystal structures due to long-term space weathering. The present report focuses on the structural differences between defect-rich and defect-poor forsterite (Mg2SiO4) – one of the major phases in Martian regolith. In this work, forsterites were synthesized using reverse strike co-precipitation and high-energy ball milling (BM). Subsequent post-processing was also carried out using BM to enhance the defects. The crystal structures of the samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and total scattering using Cu and synchrotron radiation followed by Rietveld refinement and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, respectively. The structural models were deduced by density functional theory assisted PDF refinements, describing both long-range and short-range order caused by defects. The Raman spectral features of the synthetic forsterites complement the ab initio simulation for an in-depth understanding of the associated structural defects.

Density functional theory methods are applied to crystal structures and stabilities of phases from the aleksite homologous series, PbnBi4Te4Sn+2 (n = homologue number). The seven phases investigated correspond to n = 0 (tetradymite), 2 (aleksite-21R and -42R), 4 (saddlebackite-9H and -18H), 6 (unnamed Pb6Bi4Te4S8), 8 (unnamed Pb8Bi4Te4S10), 10 (hitachiite) and 12 (unnamed Pb12Bi4Te4S14). These seven phases correspond to nine single- or double-module structures, each comprising an odd number of atom layers, 5, 7, (5.9), 9, (7.11), 11, 13, 15 and 17, expressed by the formula: S(MpXp+1)·L(Mp+1Xp+2), where M = Pb, Bi and X = Te, S, p ≥ 2, and S and L = number of short and long modules, respectively. Relaxed structures show a and c values within 1.5% of experimental data; a and the interlayer distance dsub decrease with increasing PbS content. Variable Pb—S bond lengths contrast with constant Pb—S bond lengths in galena. All phases are n-fold superstructures of a rhombohedral subcell with c/3 = dsub*. Electron diffraction patterns show two brightest reflections at the centre of dsub*, described by the modulation vector qF = (i/N) · dsub*, i = S + L. A second modulation vector, q = γ · csub*, shows a decrease in γ, from 1.8 to 1.588, across the n = 0 to n = 12 interval. The linear relationship between γ and dsub allows the prediction of any theoretical phases beyond the studied compositional range. The upper PbS-rich limit of the series is postulated as n = 398 (Pb398Bi4Te4S400), a phase with dsub (1.726 Å) identical to that of trigonal PbS within experimental error. The aleksite series is a prime example of mixed layer compounds built with accretional homology principles.

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients is a key technique in the confirmation of molecular connectivity, including absolute stereochemistry, as well as the solid-state form. However, accessing single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis of an active pharmaceutical ingredient can be experimentally laborious, especially considering the potential for multiple solid-state forms (solvates, hydrates and polymorphs). In recent years, methods for the exploration of experimental crystallization space of small molecules have undergone a `step-change', resulting in new high-throughput techniques becoming available. Here, the application of high-throughput encapsulated nanodroplet crystallization to a series of six di­hydro­pyridines, calcium channel blockers used in the treatment of hypertension related diseases, is described. This approach allowed 288 individual crystallization experiments to be performed in parallel on each molecule, resulting in rapid access to crystals and subsequent crystal structures for all six di­hydro­pyridines, as well as revealing a new solvate polymorph of nifedipine (1,4-dioxane solvate) and the first known solvate of nimodipine (DMSO solvate). This work further demonstrates the power of modern high-throughput crystallization methods in the exploration of the solid-state landscape of active pharmaceutical ingredients to facilitate crystal form discovery and structural analysis by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

The compression behavior of [Rb(18-crown-6)][SbCl6] crystal under pressure up to 2.16 (3) GPa was investigated in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) using a mixture of pentane–iso­pentane (1:4) as the pressure-transmitting fluid. The compound crystallizes in trigonal space group R3 and no phase transition was observed in the indicated pressure range. The low value of pressure bulk modulus [9.1 (5) GPa] found in this crystal is a characteristic of soft materials with predominant dispersive and electrostatic interaction forces. The nonlinear relationship between unit-cell parameters under high pressure is attributed to the influence of reduced intermolecular H⋯Cl contacts under pressure over 0.73 GPa. It also explains the high compression efficiency of [Rb(18-crown-6)][SbCl6] crystals at relatively low pressures, resulting in a significant shift of the Rb atom to the center of the crown ether cavity. At pressures above 0.9 GPa, steric repulsion forces begin to play a remarkable role, since an increasing number of interatomic H⋯Cl and H⋯H contacts become shorter than the sum of their van der Waals (vdW) radii. Below 0.9 GPa, both unit-cell parameter dependences (P–a and P–c) exhibit hysteresis upon pressure release, demonstrating their influence on the disordered model of Rb atoms. The void reduction under pressure also demonstrates two linear sections with the inflection point at 0.9 GPa. Compression of the crystal is accompanied by a significant decrease in the volume of the voids, leading to the rapid approach of Rb atoms to the center of the crown ether cavity. For the Rb atom to penetrate into the center of the crown ether cavity in [Rb(18-crown-6)][SbCl6], it is necessary to apply a pressure of about 2.5 GPa to disrupt the balance of atomic forces in the crystal. This sample serves as a compression model demonstrating the influence of both attractive and repulsive forces on the change in unit-cell parameters under pressure.

Thio­phosgene is one of the principal C=S building blocks in synthetic chemistry. At room temperature, thio­phosgene is a red liquid. While its properties in the liquid and gaseous states are well known, a comprehensive characterization of thio­phosgene in its solid state is presented here. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that thio­phosgene forms a supercooled melt before rapidly crystallizing. Its melting point is 231.85 K (−41.3 °C). At 80 K, thio­phosgene crystallizes in space group P63/m [No. 174, a = b = 5.9645 (2), c = 6.2835 (3) Å, V = 193.59 (2) Å3]. The molecule shows a distinct rotational disorder: all S and Cl positions are of mixed occupancy and the disorder does not resolve at temperatures as low as 10 K, as was shown by neutron powder diffraction. Infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering spectra were collected and assigned with the aid of quantum chemical calculations. A larger ordered structural model allowed for better agreement between the measured and calculated spectra, further indicating that disorder is an inherent feature of solid-state thio­phosgene.

We report the synthesis and structures of two transition-metal complexes involving 2-(2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)benzimidazole (2hpbi – a ligand of inter­est for its photoluminescent applications), with cobalt, namely, bis­[μ-2-(1H-1,3-benzo­diazol-2-yl)phenolato]bis­[ethanol(thio­cyanato)­cobalt(II)], [Co2(C13H9N2O)2(NCS)2(C2H6O)2], (1), and manganese, namely, bis­[μ-2-(1H-1,3-benzo­diazol-2-yl)phenolato]bis­{[2-(1H-1,3-benzo­diazol-2-yl)phenolato](thio­cyanato)­mang­an­ese(III)} dihydrate, [Mn2(C13H9N2O)4(NCS)2]·2H2O, (2). These structures are two recent examples of a fruitful collaboration between researchers at the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination Organique/Organic Coordination Chemistry Laboratory (LCCO), University of Dakar, Senegal and the National Crystallography Service (NCS), School of Chemistry, University Southampton, UK. This productive partnership was forged through meeting at Pan-African Conferences on Crystallography and quickly grew as the plans for the AfCA (African Crystallographic Association) developed. This article therefore also showcases this productive partnership, in celebration of the IUCr's 75 year anniversary and the recent inclusion of AfCA as a Regional Associate of the IUCr.

The mol­ecular and crystal structure of a discrete [Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-Rpz)12]2− (R = H; pz = pyrazolate anion, C3H3N2−) cluster with an unprecedented, perfectly cubic arrangement of its eight Ni centers is reported, along with its lower-symmetry alkyl-functionalized (R = methyl and n-oct­yl) derivatives. Crystals of the latter two were obtained with two identical counter-ions (Bu4N+), whereas the crystal of the complex with the parent pyrazole ligand has one Me4N+ and one Bu4N+ counter-ion. The methyl derivative incorporates 1,2-di­chloro­ethane solvent mol­ecules in its crystal structure, whereas the other two are solvent-free. The compounds are tetra­butyl­aza­nium tetra­methyl­aza­nium hexa-μ4-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-pyrazolato-hexa­hedro-octa­nickel, (C16H36N)(C4H12N)[Ni8(C3H3N2)12(OH)6] or (Bu4N)(Me4N)[Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-pz)12] (1), bis­(tetra­butyl­aza­nium) hexa-μ4-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-(4-methyl­pyrazolato)-hexa­hedro-octa­nickel 1,2-di­chloro­ethane 7.196-solvate, (C16H36N)2[Ni8(C4H5N2)12(OH)6]·7.196C2H4Cl2 or (Bu4N)2[Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-Mepz)12]·7.196(ClCH2CH2Cl) (2), and bis­(tetra­butyl­aza­nium) hexa-μ4-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-(4-octylpyrazolato)-hexa­hedro-octa­nickel, (C16H36N)2[Ni8(C11H19N2)12(OH)6] or (Bu4N)2[Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-nOctpz)12] (3). All counter-ions are disordered (with the exception of one Bu4N+ in 3). Some of the octyl chains of 3 (the crystal is twinned by non-merohedry) are also disordered. Various structural features are discussed and contrasted with those of other known [Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-Rpz)12]2− complexes, including extended three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks. In all three structures, the Ni8 units are lined up in columns.

The title compound, [Co(C3H4N2)(C30H30N10)](BF4)2, is a five-coordinate CoII complex based on the neutral ligands tris­[(1-benzyl­triazol-4-yl)meth­yl]amine (tbta) and imidazole. It exhibits a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry in which the equatorial positions are occupied by the three N-atom donors from the triazole rings of the tripodal tbta ligand. The apical amine N-atom donor of tbta and the N-atom donor of the imidazole ligand occupy the axial positions of the coordination sphere. Two tetra­fluoro­borate anions provide charge balance in the crystal.

The title compound, C12H16N2O, is a hy­droxy-substituted mono­amine alkaloid, and the primary metabolite of the naturally occurring psychedelic compound psilocybin. Crystalline forms of psilocin are known, but their characterization by single-crystal structure analysis is limited. Herein, two anhydrous polymorphic forms (I and II) of psilocin are described. The crystal structure of polymorphic Form I, in space group P21/c, was first reported in 1974. Along with the redeterm­ination to modern standards and unambiguous location of the acidic H atom and variable-temperature single-crystal unit-cell determinations for Form I, the Form II polymorph of the title compound, which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, is described for the first time. The psilocin mol­ecules are present in both forms in their phenol–amine tautomeric forms (not resolved in the 1974 report). The mol­ecules in Forms I and II, however, feature different conformations of their N,N-dimethyl ethyl­ene substituent, with the N—C—C—C link in Form I being trans and in Form II being gauche, allowing the latter to bend back to the hydroxyl group of the same mol­ecule, leading to the formation of a strong intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl moiety and ethyl­amino-nitro­gen group. In the extended structure of Form II, the mol­ecules form one-dimensional strands through N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds from the indole group to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl moiety of an adjacent mol­ecule. Form II exhibits whole-mol­ecule disorder due to a pseudo-mirror operation, with an occupancy ratio of 0.689 (5):0.311 (5) for the two components. In contrast, Form I does not feature intra­molecular hydrogen bonds but forms a layered structure through inter­molecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds.

Three organoplatinum(II) complexes bearing natural aryl­olefin and quinoline derivatives, namely, [4-meth­oxy-5-(2-meth­oxy-2-oxoeth­oxy)-2-(prop-2-en-1-yl)phen­yl](quinolin-8-olato)platinum(II), [Pt(C13H15O4)(C9H6NO)], (I), [4-meth­oxy-5-(2-oxo-2-propoxyeth­oxy)-2-(prop-2-en-1-yl)phen­yl](quinoline-2-carboxy­l­ato)platinum(II), [Pt(C15H19O4)(C10H6NO2)], (II), and chlorido­[4-meth­oxy-5-(2-oxo-2-propoxyeth­oxy)-2-(prop-2-en-1-yl)phen­yl](quinoline)­plat­inum(II), [Pt(C15H19O4)Cl(C9H7N)], (III), were synthesized and structurally characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the cyclo­platinated aryl­olefin coordinates with PtII via the carbon atom of the phenyl ring and the C=Colefinic group. The deprotonated 8-hy­droxy­quinoline (C9H6NO) and quinoline-2-carb­oxy­lic acid (C10H6NO2) coordinate with the PtII atom via the N and O atoms in complexes (I) and (II) while the quinoline (C9H7N) coordinates via the N atom in (III). Moreover, the coordinating N atom in complexes (I)–(III) is in the cis position compared to the C=Colefinic group. The crystal packing is characterized by C—H⋯π, C—H⋯O [for (II) and (III)], C—H⋯Cl [for (III) and π–π [for (I)] inter­actions.

Three new 1H-indole derivatives, namely, 2-(bromo­meth­yl)-3-methyl-1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indole, C16H14BrNO2S, (I), 2-[(E)-2-(2-bromo-5-meth­oxy­phen­yl)ethen­yl]-3-methyl-1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indole, C24H20BrNO3S, (II), and 2-[(E)-2-(2-bromo­phen­yl)ethen­yl]-3-methyl-1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indole, C23H18BrNO2S, (III), exhibit nearly orthogonal orientations of their indole ring systems and sulfonyl-bound phenyl rings. Such conformations are favourable for inter­molecular bonding involving sets of slipped π–π inter­actions between the indole systems and mutual C—H⋯π hydrogen bonds, with the generation of two-dimensional monoperiodic patterns. The latter are found in all three structures, in the form of supra­molecular columns with every pair of successive mol­ecules related by inversion. The crystal packing of the compounds is additionally stabilized by weaker slipped π–π inter­actions between the outer phenyl rings (in II and III) and by weak C—H⋯O, C—H⋯Br and C—H⋯π hydrogen bonds. The structural significance of the different kinds of inter­actions agree with the results of a Hirshfeld surface analysis and the calculated inter­action energies. In particular, the largest inter­action energies (up to −60.8 kJ mol−1) are associated with pairing of anti­parallel indole systems, while the energetics of weak hydrogen bonds and phenyl π–π inter­actions are comparable and account for 13–34 kJ mol−1.

The reaction of CoBr2, KNCSe and 2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide (C6H7NO) in ethanol leads to the formation of crystals of [Co(NCSe)2(C6H7NO)3] (1) and [Co(NCSe)2(C6H7NO)4] (2) from the same reaction mixture. The asymmetric unit of 1 is built up of one CoII cation, two NCSe− iso­seleno­cyanate anions and three 2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide coligands, with all atoms located on general positions. The asymmetric unit of 2 consists of two cobalt cations, four iso­seleno­canate anions and eight 2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide coligands in general positions, because two crystallographically independent complexes are present. In compound 1, the CoII cations are fivefold coordinated to two terminally N-bonded anionic ligands and three 2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide coligands within a slightly distorted trigonal–bipyramidal coordination, forming discrete complexes with the O atoms occupying the equatorial sites. In compound 2, each of the two complexes is coordinated to two terminally N-bonded iso­seleno­cyanate anions and four 2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide coligands within a slightly distorted cis-CoN2O4 octa­hedral coordination geometry. In the crystal structures of 1 and 2, the complexes are linked by weak C—H⋯Se and C—H⋯O contacts. Powder X-ray diffraction reveals that neither of the two compounds were obtained as a pure crystalline phase.

The crystal structures of 2-[1'-(carb­oxy­meth­yl)-4,4'-bi­pyridine-1,1'-diium-1-yl]acetate tetra­fluoro­borate, C14H13N2O4+·BF4− or (Hbcbpy)(BF4), and neutral 1,1'-bis­(carboxyl­atometh­yl)-4,4'-bi­pyridine-1,1'-diium (bcbpy), C14H20N2O8, are reported. The asymmetric unit of the (Hbcbpy)(BF4) consists of a Hbcbpy+ monocation, a BF4− anion, and one-half of a water mol­ecule. The BF4− anion is disordered. Two pyridinium rings of the Hbcbpy+ monocation are twisted at a torsion angle of 30.3 (2)° with respect to each other. The Hbcbpy monocation contains a carb­oxy­lic acid group and a deprotonated carboxyl­ate group. Both groups exhibit both a long and a short C—O bond. The cations are linked by inter­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions between the carb­oxy­lic acid and the deprotonated carboxyl­ate group to give one-dimensional zigzag chains. The asymmetric unit of the neutral bcbpy consists of one-half of the bcbpy and two water mol­ecules. In contrast to the Hbcbpy+ monocation, the neutral bcbpy mol­ecule contains two pyridinium rings that are coplanar with each other and a carboxyl­ate group with similar C—O bond lengths. The mol­ecules are connected by inter­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions between water mol­ecules and carboxyl­ate groups, forming a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network.

The crystal structures of 4-benzyl-1H-pyrazole (C10H10N2, 1) and 3,5-di­amino-4-benzyl-1H-pyrazole (C10H12N4, 2) were measured at 150 K. Although its different conformers and atropenanti­omers easily inter­convert in solution by annular tautomerism and/or rotation of the benzyl substituent around the C(pyrazole)—C(CH2) single bond (as revealed by 1H NMR spectroscopy), 1 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group P21. Within its crystal structure, the pyrazole and phenyl aromatic moieties are organized into alternating bilayers. Both pyrazole and phenyl layers consist of aromatic rings stacked into columns in two orthogonal directions. Within the pyrazole layer, the pyrazole rings form parallel catemers by N—H⋯N hydrogen bonding. Compound 2 adopts a similar bilayer structure, albeit in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c, with pyrazole N—H protons as donors in N—H⋯π hydrogen bonds with neighboring pyrazole rings, and NH2 protons as donors in N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds with adjacent pyrazoles and other NH2 moieties. The crystal structures and supra­molecular features of 1 and 2 are contrasted with the two known structures of their analogs, 3,5-dimethyl-4-benzyl-1H-pyrazole and 3,5-diphenyl-4-benzyl-1H-pyrazole.

Two new [1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]methanamine derivatives, namely, N-(3-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-N-{[1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]meth­yl}acetamide, C24H22N2O4S, (I), and N-(2,5-di­meth­oxy­phen­yl)-N-{[1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]meth­yl}benzene­sulfonamide, C29H26N2O6S2, (II), reveal a nearly orthogonal orientation of their indole ring systems and sulfonyl-bound phenyl rings. The sulfonyl moieties adopt the anti-periplanar conformation. For both compounds, the crystal packing is dominated by C—H⋯O bonding [C⋯O = 3.312 (4)–3.788 (8) Å], with the structure of II exhibiting a larger number, but weaker bonds of this type. Slipped π–π inter­actions of anti­parallel indole systems are specific for I, whereas the structure of II delivers two kinds of C—H⋯π inter­actions at both axial sides of the indole moiety. These findings agree with the results of Hirshfeld surface analysis. The primary contributions to the surface areas are associated with the contacts involving H atoms. Although II manifests a larger fraction of the O⋯H/H⋯O contacts (25.8 versus 22.4%), most of them are relatively distal and agree with the corresponding van der Waals separations.

The di­hydro­imidazole ring in the title mol­ecule, C20H20N2O3S, is slightly distorted and the lone pair on the tri-coordinate nitro­gen atom is involved in intra-ring π bonding. The methyl­sulfanyl substituent lies nearly in the plane of the five-membered ring while the ester substituent is rotated well out of that plane. In the crystal, C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds form inversion dimers, which are connected along the a- and c-axis directions by additional C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the ac plane. The major contributors to the Hirshfeld surface are C⋯H/H⋯C, O⋯H/H⋯O and S⋯H/H⋯S contacts at 20.5%, 14.7% and 4.9%, respectively.

Two new phenyl­sulfonyl­indole derivatives, namely, N-{[3-bromo-1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]meth­yl}-N-(4-bromo-3-meth­oxy­phen­yl)benzene­sulfonamide, C28H22Br2N2O5S2, (I), and N,N-bis­{[3-bromo-1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)-1H-indol-2-yl]meth­yl}benzene­sulfonamide, C36H27Br2N3O6S3, (II), reveal the impact of intra­molecular π–π inter­actions of the indole moieties as a factor not only governing the conformation of N,N-bis­(1H-indol-2-yl)meth­yl)amines, but also significantly influencing the crystal patterns. For I, the crystal packing is dominated by C—H⋯π and π–π bonding, with a particular significance of mutual indole–indole inter­actions. In the case of II, the mol­ecules adopt short intra­molecular π–π inter­actions between two nearly parallel indole ring systems [with the centroids of their pyrrole rings separated by 3.267 (2) Å] accompanied by a set of forced Br⋯O contacts. This provides suppression of similar inter­actions between the mol­ecules, while the importance of weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonding to the packing naturally increases. Short contacts of the latter type [C⋯O = 3.389 (6) Å] assemble pairs of mol­ecules into centrosymmetric dimers with a cyclic R22(13) ring motif. These findings are consistent with the results of a Hirshfeld surface analysis and together they suggest a tool for modulating the supra­molecular behavior of phenyl­sulfonyl­ated indoles.

A slit-less wavelength-dispersive spectrometer design using a single-bounce monocapillary that aligns the sample on the Rowland circle, enhancing photon throughput and maintaining resolution. The compact design supports flexibility and reconfiguration in facilities without complex beamline infrastructure, significantly improving detection efficiency.

Recently, we introduced the liquid application method for time-resolved analyses (LAMA). The time-consuming cleaning cycles required for the substrate solution exchange and storage of the sensitive droplet-dispenser nozzles present practical challenges. In this work, a dispenser cleaning system for the semi-automated cleaning of the piezo-actuator-driven picolitre-droplet dispensers required for LAMA is introduced to streamline typical workflows.

Fluctuation X-ray scattering (FXS) offers a complementary approach for nano- and bioparticle imaging with an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL), by extracting structural information from correlations in scattered XFEL pulses. Here a workflow is presented for single-particle structure determination using FXS. The workflow includes procedures for extracting the rotational invariants from FXS patterns, performing structure reconstructions via iterative phasing of the invariants, and aligning and averaging multiple reconstructions. The reconstruction pipeline is implemented in the open-source software xFrame and its functionality is demonstrated on several simulated structures.

In addressing the challenges faced by laboratories and universities with limited (or no) cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) infrastructure, the ESRF, in collaboration with the Grenoble Institute for Structural Biology (IBS), has implemented the cryo-EM Solution-to-Structure (SOS) pipeline. This inclusive process, spanning grid preparation to high-resolution data collection, covers single-particle analysis and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). Accessible through a rolling access route, proposals undergo scientific merit and technical feasibility evaluations. Stringent feasibility criteria demand robust evidence of sample homogeneity. Two distinct entry points are offered: users can either submit purified protein samples for comprehensive processing or initiate the pipeline with already vitrified cryo-EM grids. The SOS pipeline integrates negative stain imaging (exclusive to protein samples) as a first quality step, followed by cryo-EM grid preparation, grid screening and preliminary data collection for single-particle analysis, or only the first two steps for cryo-ET. In both cases, if the screening steps are successfully completed, high-resolution data collection will be carried out using a Titan Krios microscope equipped with a latest-generation direct electron counting detector coupled to an energy filter. The SOS pipeline thus emerges as a comprehensive and efficient solution, further democratizing access to cryo-EM research.

Scintillator-based ZnS:Ag/6LiF neutron detectors have been under development at ISIS for more than three decades. Continuous research and development aim to improve detector capabilities, achieve better performance and meet the increasingly demanding requirements set by neutron instruments. As part of this program, a high-efficiency 2D position-sensitive scintillator detector with wavelength-shifting fibres has been developed for neutron-diffraction applications. The detector consists of a double scintillator-fibre layer to improve detection efficiency. Each layer is made up of two orthogonal fibre planes placed between two ZnS:Ag/6LiF scintillator screens. Thin reflective foils are attached to the front and back scintillators of each layer to minimize light cross-talk between layers. The detector has an active area of 192 × 192 mm with a square pixel size of 3 × 3 mm. As part of the development process of the double-layer detector, a single-layer detector was built, together with a prototype detector in which the two layers of the detector could be read out separately. Efficiency calculations and measurements of all three detectors are discussed. The novel double-layer detector has been installed and tested on the SXD diffractometer at ISIS. The detector performance is compared with the current scintillator detectors employed on SXD by studying reference crystal samples. More than a factor of 3 improvement in efficiency is achieved with the double-layer wavelength-shifting-fibre detector. Software routines for further optimizations in spatial resolution and uniformity of response have been implemented and tested for 2D detectors. The methods and results are discussed in this manuscript.

The influence of various combinations of residual stress, composition and grain interaction gradients in polycrystalline materials with cubic symmetry on energy-dispersive X-ray stress analysis is theoretically investigated. For the evaluation of the simulated sin2ψ distributions, two different strategies are compared with regard to their suitability for separating the individual gradients. It is shown that the separation of depth gradients of the strain-free lattice parameter a0(z) from residual stress gradients σ(z) is only possible if the data analysis is carried out in section planes parallel to the surface. The impact of a surface layer z* that is characterized by a direction-dependent grain interaction model in contrast to the volume of the material is quantified by comparing a ferritic and an austenitic steel, which feature different elastic anisotropy. It is shown to be of minor influence on the resulting residual stress depth profiles if the data evaluation is restricted to reflections hkl with orientation factors Γhkl close to the model-independent orientation Γ*. Finally, a method is proposed that allows the thickness of the anisotropic surface layer z* to be estimated on the basis of an optimization procedure.

Small-angle scattering (SAS) is a key experimental technique for analyzing nanoscale structures in various materials. In SAS data analysis, selecting an appropriate mathematical model for the scattering intensity is critical, as it generates a hypothesis of the structure of the experimental sample. Traditional model selection methods either rely on qualitative approaches or are prone to overfitting. This paper introduces an analytical method that applies Bayesian model selection to SAS measurement data, enabling a quantitative evaluation of the validity of mathematical models. The performance of the method is assessed through numerical experiments using artificial data for multicomponent spherical materials, demonstrating that this proposed analysis approach yields highly accurate and interpretable results. The ability of the method to analyze a range of mixing ratios and particle size ratios for mixed components is also discussed, along with its precision in model evaluation by the degree of fitting. The proposed method effectively facilitates quantitative analysis of nanoscale sample structures in SAS, which has traditionally been challenging, and is expected to contribute significantly to advancements in a wide range of fields.

With the emergence of ultrafast X-ray sources, interest in following fast processes in small molecules and macromolecules has increased. Most of the current research into ultrafast structural dynamics of macromolecules uses X-ray free-electron lasers. In parallel, small-scale laboratory-based laser-driven ultrafast X-ray sources are emerging. Continuous development of these sources is underway, and as a result many exciting applications are being reported. However, because of their low flux, such sources are not commonly used to study the structural dynamics of macromolecules. This article examines the feasibility of time-resolved powder diffraction of macromolecular microcrystals using a laboratory-scale laser-driven ultrafast X-ray source.

Ptychography is a powerful computational imaging technique with microscopic imaging capability and adaptability to various specimens. To obtain an imaging result, it requires a phase-retrieval algorithm whose performance directly determines the imaging quality. Recently, deep neural network (DNN)-based phase retrieval has been proposed to improve the imaging quality from the ordinary model-based iterative algorithms. However, the DNN-based methods have some limitations because of the sensitivity to changes in experimental conditions and the difficulty of collecting enough measured specimen images for training the DNN. To overcome these limitations, a ptychographic phase-retrieval algorithm that combines model-based and DNN-based approaches is proposed. This method exploits a DNN-based denoiser to assist an iterative algorithm like ePIE in finding better reconstruction images. This combination of DNN and iterative algorithms allows the measurement model to be explicitly incorporated into the DNN-based approach, improving its robustness to changes in experimental conditions. Furthermore, to circumvent the difficulty of collecting the training data, it is proposed that the DNN-based denoiser be trained without using actual measured specimen images but using a formula-driven supervised approach that systemically generates synthetic images. In experiments using simulation based on a hard X-ray ptychographic measurement system, the imaging capability of the proposed method was evaluated by comparing it with ePIE and rPIE. These results demonstrated that the proposed method was able to reconstruct higher-spatial-resolution images with half the number of iterations required by ePIE and rPIE, even for data with low illumination intensity. Also, the proposed method was shown to be robust to its hyperparameters. In addition, the proposed method was applied to ptychographic datasets of a Simens star chart and ink toner particles measured at SPring-8 BL24XU, which confirmed that it can successfully reconstruct images from measurement scans with a lower overlap ratio of the illumination regions than is required by ePIE and rPIE.

The first Federation of European Biochemical Societies Advanced Course on macromolecular crystallization was launched in the Czech Republic in October 2004. Over the past two decades, the course has developed into a distinguished event, attracting students, early career postdoctoral researchers and lecturers. The course topics include protein purification, characterization and crystallization, covering the latest advances in the field of structural biology. The many hands-on practical exercises enable a close interaction between students and teachers and offer the opportunity for students to crystallize their own proteins. The course has a broad and lasting impact on the scientific community as participants return to their home laboratories and act as nuclei by communicating and implementing their newly acquired knowledge and skills.

Energy-dispersive Laue diffraction (EDLD) is a powerful method to obtain position-resolved texture information in inhomogeneous biological samples without the need for sample rotation. This study employs EDLD texture scanning to investigate the impact of two salivary peptides, statherin (STN) and histatin-1 (HTN) 21 N-terminal peptides (STN21 and HTN21), on the crystallographic structure of dental enamel. These proteins are known to play crucial roles in dental caries progression. Three healthy incisors were randomly assigned to three groups: artificially demineralized, demineralized after HTN21 peptide pre-treatment and demineralized after STN21 peptide pre-treatment. To understand the micro-scale structure of the enamel, each specimen was scanned from the enamel surface to a depth of 250 µm using microbeam EDLD. Via the use of a white beam and a pixelated detector, where each pixel functions as a spectrometer, pole figures were obtained in a single exposure at each measurement point. The results revealed distinct orientations of hydroxyapatite crystallites and notable texture variation in the peptide-treated demineralized samples compared with the demineralized control. Specifically, the peptide-treated demineralized samples exhibited up to three orientation populations, in contrast to the demineralized control which displayed only a single orientation population. The texture index of the demineralized control (2.00 ± 0.21) was found to be lower than that of either the STN21 (2.32 ± 0.20) or the HTN21 (2.90 ± 0.46) treated samples. Hence, texture scanning with EDLD gives new insights into dental enamel crystallite orientation and links the present understanding of enamel demineralization to the underlying crystalline texture. For the first time, the feasibility of EDLD texture measurements for quantitative texture evaluation in demineralized dental enamel samples is demonstrated.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered significant attention in recent years owing to their exceptional properties. Understanding the intricate relationship between the structure of a material and its properties is crucial for guiding the synthesis and application of these materials. (Scanning) Transmission electron microscopy (S)TEM imaging stands out as a powerful tool for structural characterization at the nanoscale, capable of detailing both periodic and aperiodic local structures. However, the high electron-beam sensitivity of MOFs presents substantial challenges in their structural characterization using (S)TEM. This paper summarizes the latest advancements in low-dose high-resolution (S)TEM imaging technology and its application in MOF material characterization. It covers aspects such as framework structure, defects, and surface and interface analysis, along with the distribution of guest molecules within MOFs. This review also discusses emerging technologies like electron ptychography and outlines several prospective research directions in this field.

Here, a recently commissioned five-analyzer Johann spectrometer at the Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline (8-ID) at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) is presented. Designed for hard X-ray photon-in/photon-out spectroscopy, the spectrometer achieves a resolution in the 0.5–2 eV range, depending on the element and/or emission line, providing detailed insights into the local electronic and geometric structure of materials. It serves a diverse user community, including fields such as physical, chemical, biological, environmental and materials sciences. This article details the mechanical design, alignment procedures and data-acquisition scheme of the spectrometer, with a particular focus on the continuous asynchronous data-acquisition approach that significantly enhances experimental efficiency.

Geological samples are inherently multi-scale. Understanding their bulk physical and chemical properties requires characterization down to the nano-scale. A powerful technique to study the three-dimensional microstructure is X-ray tomography, but it lacks information about the chemistry of samples. To develop a methodology for measuring the multi-scale 3D microstructure of geological samples, correlative X-ray micro- and nanotomography were performed on two rocks followed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis. The study was performed in five steps: (i) micro X-ray tomography was performed on rock sample cores, (ii) samples for nanotomography were prepared using laser milling, (iii) nanotomography was performed on the milled sub-samples, (iv) samples were mounted and polished for SEM analysis and (v) SEM imaging and compositional mapping was performed on micro and nanotomography samples for complimentary information. Correlative study performed on samples of serpentine and basalt revealed multiscale 3D structures involving both solid mineral phases and pore networks. Significant differences in the volume fraction of pores and mineral phases were also observed dependent on the imaging spatial resolution employed. This highlights the necessity for the application of such a multiscale approach for the characterization of complex aggregates such as rocks. Information acquired from the chemical mapping of different phases was also helpful in segmentation of phases that did not exhibit significant contrast in X-ray imaging. Adoption of the protocol used in this study can be broadly applied to 3D imaging studies being performed at the Advanced Light Source and other user facilities.

Italy-based unicorn Satispay has announced...

Source: Darren Aftahi 11/06/2024

Roth MKM analyst Darren Aftahi, in a research report published on November 5, 2024, maintained a Buy rating on Terawulf Inc. (WULF:NASDAQ) with a price target of US$7.50. The report follows TeraWulf's October production update and insights into its HPC capacity expansion plans.

Aftahi highlighted the company's HPC capacity development, stating, "WULF gained better insight into its supply chain for delivering ~72.5MW of HPC capacity by 2Q25, with the potential to generate ~US$90M in annualized revenue with US$60M+ in profit (exit run rate). Its 2.5MW concept building is now complete, and its 20MW facility is on schedule for 1Q25."

Regarding October's production metrics, the analyst noted, "WULF mined 150 BTC in October, up 7% m/m on a comparable basis to only Lake Mariner in September (140 BTC). The ending hash rate is now 8.1 EH/s (vs. 10) from the removal of Nautilus." He added that "machine efficiency is now 22 J/TH vs. the prior combined rate of ~24.6 J/TH."

The analyst observed operational improvements, commenting, "Avg. operating hash rate was ~6.8 or ~84%, slightly ahead of prior months (although reported in aggregate). Part of this is being driven by the accelerated replacement of older miners at Lake Mariner."

The report noted that upon reinstallation of damaged miners at Lake Mariner, the hash rate would increase to approximately 8.7 EH/s, though power cost per BTC increased about 5% month over month.

Roth MKM's valuation methodology is based on an EBITDA multiple approach. Aftahi explained, "We apply a ~24x multiple to our projected FY25 adj. EBITDA of ~US$120M to arrive at our price target of US$7.50."

The analyst outlined several risk factors, including Bitcoin price volatility, regulatory changes, unproven new business segments, capital requirements, weather impacts, competition, power contracts, and reliance on third-party suppliers.

In conclusion, Roth MKM's maintenance of their Buy rating and US$7.50 price target reflects confidence in TeraWulf's operational execution and growth potential in both Bitcoin mining and HPC capacity. The share price at the time of the report of US$5.98 represents a potential return of approximately 25.4% to the analyst's target price.

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Disclosures for Roth MKM, TeraWulf Inc., November 5, 2024

Regulation Analyst Certification ("Reg AC"): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

Disclosures: Within the last twelve months, ROTH Capital Partners, or an affiliate to ROTH Capital Partners, has received compensation for investment banking services from TeraWulf, Inc.. Shares of TeraWulf, Inc. may be subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission's Penny Stock Rules, which may set forth sales practice requirements for certain low-priced securities.

Not Covered [NC]: ROTH Capital does not publish research or have an opinion about this security. ROTH Capital Partners, LLC expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking or other business relationships with the covered companies mentioned in this report in the next three months. The material, information and facts discussed in this report other than the information regarding ROTH Capital Partners, LLC and its affiliates, are from sources believed to be reliable, but are in no way guaranteed to be complete or accurate. This report should not be used as a complete analysis of the company, industry or security discussed in the report. Additional information is available upon request. This is not, however, an offer or solicitation of the securities discussed. Any opinions or estimates in this report are subject to change without notice. An investment in the stock may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Additionally, an investment in the stock may involve a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. No part of this report may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of ROTH. Copyright 2024. Member: FINRA/SIPC.

( Companies Mentioned: WULF:NASDAQ, )

In this Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 file photo, Paris Barclay attends the LA Premiere Screening of "Sons Of Anarchy" at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles. A new guild study says that women and minorities were largely shut out of the ranks of TV directors again last season. In a Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 statement, Directors Guild President Barclay said it can be "shockingly difficult" to persuade those who control industry hiring to make even small improvements.; Credit: Paul A. Hebert/Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP

A new guild study says women and minorities were largely shut out of the ranks of TV directors again last season.

The Directors Guild of America report released Wednesday said employers have made no significant improvement in diversity hiring for TV series in the last four years.

According to the study, white males directed the vast majority of the 3,500 cable, broadcast and high-budget online episodes made for the 2013-14 season.

The same holds true for the three previous years, according to guild findings.

In a statement, Directors Guild President Paris Barclay said it can be "shockingly difficult" to persuade those who control industry hiring to make even small improvements.

The general equation of the δ direct methods is established and applied in its difference form to the definition of one of the two residuals that constitute the SMAR phasing algorithm. These two residuals use the absolute value of ρ and/or the zero conversion of negative Fourier ripples (≥50% of the unit-cell volume). Alternatively, when solved for ρ, the general equation provides a simple derivation of the already known δM tangent formula.

Source: Streetwise Reports 10/31/2024

American Salars Lithium Inc. (USLI:CSE; USLIF:OTC; Z3P:FWB; A3E2NY:WKN) announced it has signed a mineral claims purchase agreement with an arm's length vendor to acquire 100% of the Lac Simard South Project in Quebec.

The more than 3,600-hectare project covers 64 claim blocks contiguous to projects owned by Sayona Mining Ltd. and Refined Metals Corp.'s Lac Simard property that sampled 2.1% lithium (4.52% lithium oxide or Li2O) and 5.88% tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), the company said.

"This is the company's entry point into Quebec with the intention of building a strategic portfolio of hard rock lithium projects to complement our lithium brine assets," Director and Chief Executive Officer R. Nick Horsley said. "The company's long-term belief in a lithium price rebound is steadfast and now is the time to build a multi-jurisdictional lithium company."

The Lac Simard South project is about 80 kilometers southwest of Sayona’s Authier lithium project and spans the townships of Beauneville, Clérion, Delbreuil, and ChabertIt, and is accessible by gravel road off Route 117 near the municipality of Cadillac, American Salars said.

"The claims in the eastern sector are accessible by a network of logging roads; the southern and western sectors are accessible by boat or all-terrain vehicle and has very little overburden," the company said in a release.

American Salars said it will begin planning for a work program to identify targets and test areas at the project, which is in an "active lithium exploration, production, and processing region of mining-friendly Quebec."

Located nearby is Sayona's Abitibi Hub — made up of its North American, Authier, and Tansim lithium projects — which boasts a "staggering aggregate measured and indicated resource of 111 million tonnes grading 1.14% lithium, the largest lithium resource in Quebec," American Salars said.

The company also noted the lithium hub's accessibility provides relatively lower exploration costs than James Bay, and the area has a fully operating lithium concentrator and a planned lithium carbonate/hydroxide conversion plant.

Additional Projects Being Reviewed, Co. Says

Under the agreement, American Salars is acquiring a 100% interest in the Lac Simard South project by issuing 50,000 common shares to the vendor, Quartier Mineral Ltd of Quebec.

The company said additional lithium projects are still being reviewed and will be subject to further disclosure once due diligence is completed and any deals are completed.

"Our primary objective remains the acquisition of low-cost lithium brine assets in Argentina while expanding our existing NI 43-101 lithium brine resources," Horsley has said. "We believe that Quebec-based hard rock lithium assets can now be acquired at deeply discounted prices and advanced with critical mineral flow through financing incentives in anticipation of the next lithium rally."

Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote that the entire "San Emidio Desert basin is a highly prospective lithium exploration zone."

The company's existing portfolio of lithium deposits includes two NI 43-101-compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimates (MREs) consisting of 457,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at the Candela 2 Lithium Brine Project and a shared MRE at the Pocitos 1 Lithium Brine Project consisting of 760,000 tonnes LCE. The Pocitos MRE is shared with the neighboring Pocitos 2 property, which is not under contract or owned by American Salars, but the company noted that none of the drilling that makes up a partial basis for the MRE took place on the Pocitos 2 block. Both brine projects are located in Salta Province, Argentina.

Major mining company Rio Tino recently invested in Argentina by acquiring Argentina lithium producer Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7 billion, making the company the world's third-largest lithium producer.

American Salars also recently released assay results from soil samples collected during its Phase 1 exploration program at its 100%-owned Black Rock South lithium project close to Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada. Out of 38 samples, 33 recorded lithium concentration of more than 100 parts per million (ppm) or higher, the company said. The highest grade was 180.5 ppm with an average grade of 131 ppm across the 33 samples of the surface of the property.

'Basing Process' Underway for Commodity

Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote that the entire "San Emidio Desert basin is a highly prospective lithium exploration zone."*

"After a massive speculative runup in 2020 and especially in 2021, the lithium price fell victim to a severe bear market that ran from mid-2022 through the end of 2023," Maund wrote. "By the end of last year, this bear market had exhausted itself, and a basing process began that has continued up to the present."

Black Rock South is also 215 miles northwest of the United States' only producing lithium mine, the Silver Peak lithium brine mine owned by Albermarle.

The Catalyst: Experts Predict Recovery

Lithium is critical in the energy transition for its use in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other application and is also used in electronics, medicine, and other industries.

While prices have slumped this year after EV sales didn't hit predicted marks, many experts believe the market will recover.

According to a report by Grand View Research, market size for the metal was estimated at US$31.75 billion last year and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% from this year through 2030.

"The automotive application segment is expected to witness substantial growth, driven by stringent regulations imposed by government bodies on ICE automakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles," researchers at Grand View said. "This has shifted the interest of automakers toward producing EVs, which is anticipated to benefit the demand for lithium and related products."

EVs and battery storage primarily will fuel future growth of the lithium market, Marin Katusa of Katusa Research wrote recently. He pointed out that all major electric vehicle batteries require lithium, about 1.55 pounds per kilowatt hour of battery capacity, on average.[OWNERSHIP_CHART-11095]

"I think the data speaks for itself that there's more growth and opportunity on the horizon," Katusa wrote.

The consensus among market analysts points to a recovery in lithium prices in the fourth quarter of 2024, Fastmarkets reported.

Ownership and Share Structure

American Salars said it has 28.8 million shares outstanding and 5.5 million warrants, according to the company.

As for insiders, the CEO Horsley owns about 1.83 million, or about 7.37%, with 4666,666 warrants. Strategic investor Hillcrest Merchant Partners owns 1 million shares or 4.03%. There are no institutional investors, and the rest is retail.

Its market cap is CA$4.79 million. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.45 and CA$0.08.

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Important Disclosures:

1. American Salars Lithium Inc.has a consulting relationship with Street Smart an affiliate of Streetwise Reports. Street Smart Clients pay a monthly consulting fee between US$8,000 and US$20,000.
2. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of American Salars Lithium Inc.
3. Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.
4. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

For additional disclosures, please click here.

* Disclosure for the quote from the Clive Maund source June 17, 2024

1. For the quote (sourced on June 17, 2024), the Company has paid Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, US$1,500.
2. Author Certification and Compensation: [Clive Maund of clivemaund.com] is being compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, for writing the article quoted. Maund received his UK Technical Analysts’ Diploma in 1989. The recommendations and opinions expressed in the article accurately reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the designated securities discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed.

Clivemaund.com Disclosures

The quoted article represents the opinion and analysis of Mr. Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks cannot be only be construed as a recommendation or solicitation to buy and sell securities.

( Companies Mentioned: USLI:CSE; USLIF:OTC; Z3P:FWB; A3E2NY:WKN, )

"Dispersion" (detail). Acrylic ink and paint on canvas. (Courtesy of Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle); Credit:

Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle's "The Evanesced" was inspired by the #SayHerName movement against police violence, as well as Los Angeles's Grim Sleeper serial killer. Hinkle depicts black women in the nude, twisting and writhing, as though they're sinking back into the canvas. Or are they reemerging from it?

Deputy Director of the California African American Museum Naima Keith says Hinkle's exhibit looks at the "historical present," the way in which history still affects us today, harkening back to slavery and Jim Crow. Keith says the main issue Hinkle is addressing is the invisibility of black women, especially those who are abused or in danger. 

Hinkle was particularly inspired by the South LA serial killer "The Grim Sleeper." He is accused of murdering over one hundred women from the 1980's onward, until being captured in 2007. Many of his victims were women of color according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"He had been killing prostitutes and runaways and drug addicted women," says Keith, noting that some saw these deaths as occupational hazards.

Most of Hinkle's subjects in the paintings and sketches in "The Evanesced" are clearly nude. This was a deliberate choice to showcase femininity, according to Keith. She says:

She’s talking about being women... There’s love, there’s joy, there’s pain. All things we experience as all women... But [nudity], I think, allows us to focus on the female form, not necessarily get caught up on what they are wearing or what they’re doing.

In the artwork, viewers can see that every face, body, and hair style is completely unique to each sketch or painting. Keith says this helps the viewer appreciate the diversity amongst women of color. She says:

You have women that are smiling. You have women that are looking at you- you know- lovingly, shyly. Not every one, not every image in the show is about negativity, disappearance, or sadness. There is a bit of celebration. There’s interaction between multiple women. That’s what makes the body of work so interesting: it’s not just seeing women of color through one lens. There’s the possibility of seeing them through, like I said, disappearance, and also the freedom to have a wide range of emotions.

There is one painting that continues to draw Naima Keith back to it. It is called "Uproot 2017" and it features a feminine figure with three exposed breasts. She says this painting speaks to her about motherhood and the connection women have with their changing bodies. Keith says:

I asked Kenyatta why she depicts women with multiple [extra] breasts and we had a conversation about being moms. Kenyatta and I are both mothers of young children... As moms, we just kinda talked about how things aren't what they used to be, in terms of where they used to be. Like I said, becoming mothers, you have this different relationship with your body in relation to someone else.

Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle's "The Evanesced" runs at the California African American Museum through June 25, 2017.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Full Text:

How do galaxies such as our Milky Way come into existence? How do they grow and change over time? The science behind galaxy formation has long been a puzzle, but a University of Arizona-led team of scientists is one step closer to finding answers, thanks to supercomputer simulations. Observing real galaxies in space can only provide snapshots in time, so researchers who study how galaxies evolve over billions of years need to use computer simulations. Traditionally, astronomers have used simulations to invent theories of galaxy formation and test them, but they have had to proceed one galaxy at a time. Peter Behroozi of the university's Steward Observatory and colleagues overcame this hurdle by generating millions of different universes on a supercomputer, each according to different physical theories for how galaxies form. The findings challenge fundamental ideas about the role dark matter plays in galaxy formation, the evolution of galaxies over time and the birth of stars. The study is the first to create self-consistent universes that are exact replicas of the real ones -- computer simulations that each represent a sizeable chunk of the actual cosmos, containing 12 million galaxies and spanning the time from 400 million years after the Big Bang to the present day. The results from the "UniverseMachine," as the authors call their approach, have helped resolve the long-standing paradox of why galaxies cease to form new stars even when they retain plenty of hydrogen gas, the raw material from which stars are forged. The research is partially funded by NSF's Division of Physics through grants to UC Santa Barbara's Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Aspen Center for Physics.

Image credit: NASA/ESA/J. Lotz and the HFF Team/STScI

The pandemic has taken a massive toll on people's mental health. But a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms what many of us are seeing and feeling in our own lives: The impact has been particularly devastating for parents and unpaid caregivers of adults.

Two-thirds of survey respondents who identified as unpaid caregivers said they experienced mental health challenges during the pandemic, such as symptoms of anxiety or depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Only one-third of people with no caregiving responsibilities reported the same symptoms.

Of the more than 10,000 survey respondents, more than 40% identified as being unpaid caregivers.

"What is striking here is just how widespread unpaid caregiving responsibilities are in the population and how much of a burden and a toll these responsibilities" are having, says Shantha Rajaratnam, a co-author of the study and a psychologist at the Turner Institute of Brain and Mental Health at Monash University in Australia.

The study also found that people who care for both children under 18 and adults — many of them part of the sandwich generation — are faring the worst, with 85% of this group experiencing adverse mental health symptoms.

"It's an extremely important study," says psychologist Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, professor emeritus at Stanford University who has researched family caregivers and their challenges.

The study is the first to document the problems caregivers have experienced during COVID-19, she notes, and underscores "the importance of paying attention to caregiver issues, caregiver mental health" and the need for education and resources to better support them.

The contrast between caregivers and others is stark

The study, part of ongoing research by The COVID-19 Outbreak Public Evaluation (COPE) Initiative, is based on surveys conducted in December 2020 and February-March 2021.

More than half of those who identified as caregivers said they had experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression, or of disorders like PTSD related to the stress and trauma of COVID-19.

A significant number of caregivers said they had contemplated suicide. Nearly 40% reported having passive suicidal thoughts, meaning "wishing that they had gone to bed and didn't wake up," says study co-author Mark Czeisler, a graduate student at Monash University and a research trainee at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

And more than 30% had seriously considered taking their own life — about five times the number of noncaregivers, the study found.

Across the board, mental health impacts have been more severe for people who care for both children and adults. Half of this group said it had seriously considered suicide in the past month.

The pandemic worsened the challenges caregivers face

Even before the pandemic, being an unpaid caregiver was stressful and associated with a higher risk of mental health issues, says Gallagher-Thompson. The COVID-19 pandemic has made things even harder.

For instance, the pandemic has taken away many formal and informal sources of support for caregivers.

That was the case for Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite. She's a Boston-based child psychiatrist and lives with her husband, her mother, her husband's father and two sons, who are 4 and 6.

Before the pandemic, her father-in-law, who has dementia, went to a day program for seniors with cognitive decline. Her mother, a survivor of breast and lung cancers, went to physical therapy twice a week, doctor appointments and met with friends.

When the pandemic hit, they lost those services and social support — at the same time Christian-Brathwaite and her husband began working from home while taking care of their sons and parents.

Life at home became much more complicated. Her sons developed behavioral problems with the transitions and stresses of the pandemic. Her mother struggled with chronic pain, and was hospitalized during the pandemic. And there were days when her father-in-law was confused, disoriented or aggressive.

"Many days I was walking around on edge waiting for something to happen because our entire setup was so very fragile and vulnerable," says Christian-Brathwaite. "It's been exhausting."

And her mental health has suffered. "I certainly was dealing with insomnia," she says. "I was short tempered. I was more irritable. I didn't have the same tolerance for things."

More support needed to help caregivers cope

The new study highlights the extent to which unpaid caregivers have struggled during the pandemic, says Gallagher-Thompson.

"There are some serious issues here that shouldn't be ignored," she says.

And yet caregivers are often ignored by the health system, which is set up to focus only on patients.

"Family members are rarely asked, 'How does this affect you? What is difficult? How can we help you? How can we support you in being able to carry out your role, your tasks, your responsibilities?'" Gallagher-Thompson says.

As the new study shows, support can make a big difference — respondents who could rely on others for help with caregiving had a lower incidence of mental health symptoms.

So it's important to educate and support caregivers. For example, physicians can start by screening their patients' caregivers for mental health symptoms and provide more resources to those who need it, says Gallagher-Thompson.

Christian-Brathwaite hopes the new study will help physicians recognize that family caregivers are just as important to consider while treating patients.

"We really need to take a step back and look at the village that's around them because our patients can't be successful without having the support from family," she says.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Moderna says recently completed studies have found its vaccine to have a neutralizing effect against all COVID-19 variants tested, including the delta variant.; Credit: Fred Tanneau/AFP via Getty Images

Studies have found that Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is effective against several variants of concern, including the delta variant, the biotech company announced.

Moderna said Tuesday that recently completed studies have found the vaccine to have a neutralizing effect against all COVID-19 variants tested, including the beta, delta, eta and kappa variants.

While still highly effective against the delta variant, the study showed the vaccine was less effective against it and certain other variants than against the original strain of the virus.

The antibody response against the delta variant was about two times weaker than against the ancestral strain of the virus.

The news echoes other findings that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are highly effective against the delta variant. A study published this month in Nature found that Pfizer's vaccine was able to neutralize variants including delta, though at somewhat reduced strength.

"These new data are encouraging and reinforce our belief that the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine should remain protective against newly detected variants," Stéphane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive officer, said in a statement. "These findings highlight the importance of continuing to vaccinate populations with an effective primary series vaccine."

The company also said it is developing a booster candidate: a 50-50 mix of its currently authorized COVID-19 vaccine and another messenger RNA vaccine it has developed.

The delta variant is spreading fast

The delta variant is the fast-moving form of the coronavirus that is now found in 96 countries, including the United States.

Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said the delta variant is "currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate COVID-19," noting that the proportion of infections being caused by the variant is doubling every two weeks.

The delta variant is now infecting at least 1 out of every 5 people who get the virus in the United States. In some sections of the country, the variant is already far more common, particularly in parts of the Midwest and West. At its current pace, the delta variant is expected to be the dominant virus in the U.S. within weeks.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease expert at the World Health Organization, called the delta variant "incredibly transmissible."

"These viruses are becoming more fit. The virus is evolving, and this is natural," she told NPR's Morning Edition. "It's more transmissible than the alpha variant, so we need to just do all we can to prevent as many infections as we can and do what we can do to reduce the spread."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

The US Supreme Court is seen in Washington, DC on July 1, 2021.; Credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court ends its spring term today with two final decisions expected to come down, one involving a pivotal voting rights case out of Arizona and the other involving so-called “dark money” and campaign finance. 

Today on AirTalk, we’ll get a summary of the arguments that each side in the two cases will be making, and we’ll look back on the Spring 2021 term overall, as the nine justices will break until the fall.

Guests:

Vikram Amar, dean and professor of law at the University of Illinois College of Law

David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that works with election officials around the country to ensure convenient and secure voting for all voters; he is the former director of the elections program at The Pew Charitable Trusts and a former senior trial attorney in the Voting Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; he tweets @beckerdavidj

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A homeless encampment is pictured at Venice Beach, on June 30, 2021 in Venice, California, where an initiative began this week offering people in homeless encampments a voluntary path to permanent housing.; Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

The majority of unhoused women across the nation — 57% according to recent data — say domestic violence is the direct cause of losing their permanent home. 

In L.A, almost 40% of women who are homeless say they’ve experienced abuse in the last 12 months.

The choice they’ve been forced to make: Stay in danger with their abusers — or escape, with nowhere to go.

“It’s like jumping from a burning building but there’s no net to catch you,” said Nikki Brown, a survivor and advocate.

There are many, complex reasons why survivors become homeless. Shame is one of them. Yet studies show that one in three women experience some form of intimate partner abuse in their lives. So why don’t we talk about it more?

“It's the greatest secret that's super common and nobody wants to admit it,” said Brown. “There are so many complicated circumstances that make it really hard to leave. And when you can't leave, that element of shame and blame is the thing that makes it so hard to talk about.”

Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about reporter Julia Paskin’s series Pushed Out, on domestic violence and homelessness in Los Angeles. Do you have an experience you want to share? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.

Guests:

Julia Paskin, KPCC producer and reporter who created the “Pushed Out” series; she tweets @JuliaPaskinInc

Amy Turk, CEO of Downtown Women’s Center, which advocates and offers services for women experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless women; she tweets @AmyFTurk

Nikki Brown, staff attorney at Community Legal Aid SoCal, where she has clients that are domestic violence survivors

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Detail of boxes with the U.S. donated Johnson & Johnson vaccine against Covid-19 at Universidad de Baja California on June 17, 2021 in Tijuana, Baja California. ; Credit: Francisco Vega/Getty Images

In our continuing series looking at the latest medical research and news on COVID-19, Larry Mantle speaks with Dr. Annabelle De St. Maurice from University of California Los Angeles/Mattel Children’s hospital.

Topics today include:

• J&J says its vaccine is effective against Delta variant

  • J&J vaccine lasts at least 8 months

• WHO says all vaccines it authorized should be recognized by reopening countries

• White House says it will miss July 4 vaccination goal

• Postpartum depression on the rise during the pandemic

• Experts believe Novavax may play a role in combating vaccine hesitancy

• Delta variant is not driving a surge in hospitalization rates in England

Guest: 

Annabelle De St. Maurice, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases and the co-chief infection prevention officer at University of California Los Angeles/Mattel Children’s hospital; she tweets @destmauricemd

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Restoration of the imperiled sagebrush biome will require tools that assist resource managers in determining which restoration practices are most effective, and when and where restoration efforts will lead to the most ecosystem recovery. New research from USGS and Colorado State University provides biome-wide insights and spatially explicit tools that can inform restoration practices. 

Adult Chinook salmon in Alaska and Canada are in trouble, and USGS WFRC scientists are in a race against the clock to find the cause behind their disappearance and a viable solution. A staple in many diets, this salmon species is considered a lifeblood of the region.