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Introduction The study aims to explore the utility of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism as a potential biomarker in Indian bipolar disorder patients and its correlation with clinical characteristics. Objectives Genotyping Val66Met in BDNF gene Exploring its association with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods 150 consenting BD patients and matched controls were recruited using a case-control study design. BD severity was assessed using Young’s mania rating scale and the Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) scale. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was identified through real-time PCR after DNA extraction. Data was tested for normal distribution. Genotype frequencies between two groups were compared and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium assumptions were tested using Chi-Square tests. Clinical-genotypic associations were explored using the Kruskal-Wallis test and confirmed using hierarchical regression. Results Our sample had more males (60%) than females (40%) with mean age of 35.05 years. Most patients had established bipolar disorder and were severely ill (CGI: 38.75, YMRS). Val66Met SNP genotype frequency differed significantly between cases and controls. Val66Val genotype and Val allele were higher in cases. Results consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Table 1. Genotype frequencies of BDNF (rs6265) in cases and controls GENOTYPE CC CT TT CASES 94(62.6%) 47(31.3%) 9(6%) CONTROL 71(47.3%) 69(46%) 10(6.6%) CHI-SQUARE- 7.431 DF(Degree of freedom) - 2 p-value- 0.024 Table 2. Dominant genotype frequencies in cases and controls DOMINANT GENOTYPE CC CT+TT CASES 94(62.6%) 56(37.3%) CONTROLS 71(47.3%) 79(52.6) CHI-SQUARE-7.125 DF(Degree of freedom)-1 p-value-0.007 Table 3. Allelic frequencies of BDNF (rs6265) in BD cases and healthy controls ALLELIC VARIATION C T CASES 235(78.3%) 65(21.6%) CONTROLS 211(70.3%) 89(29.6%) CHI-SQUARE-5.032 DF(Degree of freedom)-1 p-value- 0.024 Conclusions Our study found that Val66Val genotype and Val allele were higher in cases and could be a potential biomarker for bipolar disorder (BD), which is consistent with previous research conducted on the European population. However, further investigations are required to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its impact on BD, including its association with serum BDNF levels, treatment outcomes, and a more diverse study population. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Pb(Fe0.5-xScxNb0.5)O3 [(PFSN) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)] multiferroic relaxors were synthesized and the temperature dependence of phonon modes across ferroelectric to paraelectric transition was studied. With varying Sc content from x = 0 to 0.25 the structure remains monoclinic and with further addition (x = 0.3 - 0.5) the structure transforms into rhombohedral symmetry. Structural refinement studies showed that the change in crystal structure from monoclinic to rhombohedral symmetry involves a volume increment of 34-36%. Associated changes in the tolerance factor (1.024 ≤ t ≤ 0.976) and bond angles were observed. Structure assisted B′-B″ cation ordering was confirmed through the superlattice reflections in selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of Pb(Sc0.5Nb0.5)O3 (x = 0.5). Cation ordering is also evident from the evolution of Pb-O phonon mode in Raman spectra of compositions with rhombohedral symmetry (x ≥ 0.3). The high temperature Raman scattering studies show that the B-localized mode [F1u, ∼250 cm−1] and BO6 octahedral rotational mode [F1g, ∼200 cm−1], both originating from polar nano regions (PNRs) behave like coupled phonon modes in rhombohedral symmetry. However, in monoclinic symmetry they behave independently across the transition. Softening of B localized mode across the transition followed by the hardening for all compositions confirms the diffusive nature of the ferroelectric transformation. The presence of correlation between the B localized and BO6 rotational modes introduces a weak relaxor feature for systems with rhombohedral symmetry in PFSN ceramics, which was confirmed from the macroscopic dielectric studies.

A new synthetic approach was followed for the preparation of mesoporous titania, where polyethylene glycol-400, a water soluble polymer was employed as hydrolysis retarding agent. Mesoporous titania was characterized by low angle XRD, N2 adsorption, transmission electron microscope and thermal analysis, which confirm the formation of mesophase and also the thermal stability of the prepared material.

The organic-inorganic nanocomposites were synthesized by sol-gel techniques. The constructed film renders photochromism, which can be tuned by choosing suitable polyoxometalates (POM). The molybdenum POMs show better photochromism than the tungsten POMs, which is well correlated with the first reduction potentials and band gap of the POM.

Hydrogen storage by carbon materials is a topic of current interest. In order to exploit fullerenes as one of the new forms of carbon for hydrogen storage, it is shown that an activator for hydrogen is necessary in the fullerene network. Even though one can generate stoichiometric hydrides the formation of such hydrides have to be established. In this present study we have examined what type of species on carbon surfaces may be able to activate hydrogen molecule and lead to hydride formation. The Density Functional Theory calculations have been carried out on some typical model systems wherein the fullerene molecule is substituted in the network with heteroatoms like N, P and S and the reduction in the dissociation energy of hydrogen molecule is considered as a measure of the ability to hydride the carbon materials. On the basis of the reduction in the dissociation energy for the hydrogen molecule it was shown that heteroatom substitution in the fullerene net work may be suitable for the activation and dissociation of hydrogen molecule.

Vanadium incorporated hexagonal mesoporous aluminophosphate characteristic of MCM-41 has been synthesized. Characterization of the catalyst has been done by using low angle XRD, N2 adsorption, UVVIS DRS, thermal analysis, XPS and ESR spectroscopy. These techniques confirm the presence of vanadium in both +4 and +5 oxidation states in the calcined material. Liquid phase partial oxidation of toluene has been carried out on V-AlPO using 70% TBHP and 30% H2O2 as oxidants. When 70% TBHP is used as an oxidant, it resulted in side chain oxidation giving rise to aldehyde/acid where as with 30% H2O2, side chain as well as ring oxidation takes place. Catalytic activity of V-AlPO has been compared with that of VMCM-48 and other vanadium containing catalytic systems. It has been observed that mesoporous V-AlPO shows higher conversion and is also selective towards side chain oxidation products. The higher conversion of V-AlPO over V-MCM-48 has been attributed to the stabilization of the active V+5/+4 species in AlPO framework as compared to silicate analogue.

The carbonization of polyphenyl acetylene in alumina matrix yields uniform, cylindrical, monodisperse carbon nanotubes with outer diameter almost equal to pore diameter of the alumina membrane used. The electrochemical characteristics reveal that the charge transfer at the composite electrode based on carbon nanotube might be higher compared to that of planar graphite, glassy carbon and composite electrode based on commercially available Vulcan XC72R carbon. Pt-Ru nanoparticles are highly dispersed inside the tube with an average particle size of 1.7 nm as revealed by HR-TEM images.

The synthesis and characterization of M-MCM-48 (M= Si, Ti, V, Cr and Mn) materials have been carried out. These systems promote hydroxylation of phenol with 30 % H2O2 and the hydroxylation activity is highest for Ti-MCM-48. Water appears to be a better solvent than acetone and acetonitrile.

In the title compound, [Cu2(C19H31N4O)(OH)(NCS)2], the molecular structure of the dinuclear complex reveals two pentacoordinated CuII ions, which are bridged by the phenolate O atom of the ligand and by an exogenous hydroxide ion. The bridging atoms occupy equatorial positions in the coordination sphere of the metal atoms and complete the equatorial coordination planes with two ligand N atoms, the apical positions being occupied by thiocyanate N atoms. The crystal structure also features π–π stacking interactions involving the benzene rings with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.764 (4)Å. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin, with a refined BASF value of 0.203 (2)

Scattered Wave SCF-Xa calculations were carried out on various Mo-containing cluster models in order to find out the possibility of molybdenum incorporation in a zeolitic framework, containing ring systems as secondary building units. Four and six membered ring clusters were found to stabilize molybdenum in their framework compared to that by linear chain models. Comparison of relative stabilization energies for corner and edge shared MoO4 moiety favoured the formation of the former one. Calculated HOMO-LUMO electronic transition for tetrahedrally coordinated molybdenum in Mo-containing ring clusters showed a shift of 15 nm from that in Mo-containing linear chain clusters. These results were compared with the experimental results obtained from UV-DRS studies on Mo-MCM-41 catalyst.

Oxidising behaviour of both simple and substituted heteropoly compounds was investigated under homogeneous conditions in the presence of H2O2 and t-BuOOH with organic sulphides and alkyl benzenes as substrates. Activity of these catalysts depends on the nature of the substrates used as well as the oxidisingВ agent employed. The mechanistic aspects of the reaction are also elucidated.

The possibility of hydrogen production by photo-catalytic decomposition of water on titania has provided the incentive for intense research. Titania is the preferred semiconductor for this process, in spite of its large band gap (~3.2 eV) that restricts its utility only in the UV region. Various sensitization methodologies have been adopted to make titania to be active in the visible region. Doping of TiO2 with nitrogen is one such method. The purpose of this presentation is to examine the state and location of nitrogen introduced in TiO2 lattice and how far the shift of optical response to visible radiation can be beneficial for the observed photo-catalysis. The specific aspects that are discussed in this article are: (i) N-doped titania surface adopts a non-native configuration, though the bulk material is still in the native configuration of pure TiO2 (ii) Though the nitrogen doped materials showed optical response in the visible region, the changes/improvements in photo-catalytic activity are only marginal in most of the cases. (iii) The exact chemical nature/state of the introduced nitrogen, and its location in titania lattice, substitutional and/or interstitial, is still unclear (iv) Is there a limit to the incorporation of nitrogen in the lattice of TiO2?

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Polyalthia longifolia leaf extract as reducing and capping agent along with D-sorbitol used to increase the stability of the nanoparticles has been reported. The reaction is carried out at two different concentrations (10−3 M and 10−4 M) of silver nitrate, and the effect of temperature on the synthesis of AgNPs is investigated by stirring at room temperature (25°C) and at 60°C. The UV-visible spectra of NPs showed a blue shift with increasing temperature at both concentrations. FT-IR analysis shows that the biomoites played an important role in the reduction of Ag+ ions and the growth of AgNPs. TEM results were utilized for the determination of the size and morphology of nanoparticles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles are found to be highly toxic against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria.