bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutrigenomic effects of germinated brown rice and its bioactives on hepatic gluconeogenic genes in type 2 diabetic rats and HEPG2 cells
Authors: Imam Mustapha Umar , Ismail Maznah
Published: January 2013

Scope

Chronic sustained hyperglycemia underlies the symptomatology and complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dietary components contribute to it. Germinated brown rice (GBR) improves glycemic control but the mechanisms involved are still the subject of debate. We now show one mechanism by which GBR lowers blood glucose.

Methods and results

Effects of GBR, brown rice, and white rice (WR) on fasting plasma glucose and selected genes were studied in type 2 diabetic rats. GBR reduced plasma glucose and weight more than metformin, while WR worsened glycemia over 4 weeks of intervention. Through nutrigenomic suppression, GBR downregulated gluconeogenic genes (Fbp1 and Pck1) in a manner similar to, but more potently than, metformin, while WR upregulated the same genes. Bioactives (gamma‐amino butyric acid, acylated steryl glycoside, oryzanol, and phenolics) were involved in GBR's downregulation of both genes. Plasma glucose, Fbp1 and Pck1 changes significantly affected the weight of rats (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The fact that GBR downregulates gluconeogenic genes similar to metformin, but produces better glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats, suggests other mechanisms are involved in GBR's antihyperglycemic properties. GBR as a staple could potentially provide enhanced glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus better than metformin.
Frequency‐dependent NMR relaxation of liquids confined inside porous media containing an increased amount of magnetic impurities
Authors: Muncaci Sergiu , Mattea Carlos , Stapf Siegfried , Ardelean Ioan
Published: January 2013

Frequency‐dependent NMR relaxation studies have been carried out on water (polar) and cyclohexane (nonpolar) molecules confined inside porous ceramics containing variable amounts of iron oxide (III). The porous ceramics were prepared by compression of powders mixed with iron oxide followed by thermal treatment. The pore size distribution was estimated using a technique based on diffusion in internal fields that exposed a narrow distribution of macropore sizes with an average pore dimension independent of iron oxide content. The relaxation dispersion curves were obtained at room temperature using a fast field cycling NMR instrument. They display an increase of the relaxation rate proportional to the iron oxide concentration. This behavior is more prominent at low Larmor frequencies and is independent of the polar character of the confined molecules. The results reported here can be fitted well with a relaxation model considering exchange between molecules in the close vicinity of the paramagnetic centers located in the surface and bulk‐like molecules inside the pores. This model allows the extraction of the transverse diffusional correlation time that can be related to the polar character of the confined molecules. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nuts and bolts of chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI
Authors: Liu Guanshu , Song Xiaolei , Chan Kannie W. Y. , McMahon Michael T.
Published: January 2013

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) has emerged as a novel MRI contrast mechanism that is well suited for molecular imaging studies. This new mechanism can be used to detect small amounts of contrast agent through the saturation of rapidly exchanging protons on these agents, allowing a wide range of applications. CEST technology has a number of indispensable features, such as the possibility of simultaneous detection of multiple ‘colors’ of agents and of changes in their environment (e.g. pH, metabolites, etc.) through MR contrast. Currently, a large number of new imaging schemes and techniques are being developed to improve the temporal resolution and specificity and to correct for the influence of B0 and B1 inhomogeneities. In this review, the techniques developed over the last decade are summarized with the different imaging strategies and post‐processing methods discussed from a practical point of view, including the description of their relative merits for the detection of CEST agents. The goal of the present work is to provide the reader with a fundamental understanding of the techniques developed, and to provide guidance to help refine future applications of this technology.

This review is organized into three main sections (‘Basics of CEST contrast’, ‘Implementation’ and ‘Post‐processing’), and also includes a brief Introduction and Summary. The ‘Basics of CEST contrast’ section contains a description of the relevant background theory for saturation transfer and frequency‐labeled transfer, and a brief discussion of methods to determine exchange rates. The ‘Implementation’ section contains a description of the practical considerations in conducting CEST MRI studies, including the choice of magnetic field, pulse sequence, saturation pulse, imaging scheme, and strategies to separate magnetization transfer and CEST. The ‘Post‐processing’ section contains a description of the typical image processing employed for B0/B1 correction, Z‐spectral interpolation, frequency‐selective detection and improvement of CEST contrast maps. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instability of styrene/polystyrene/polybutadiene/polystyrene‐b‐polybutadiene emulsions that emulate styrene polymerization in the presence of polybutadiene
Authors: Velásquez Eliezer , Oliva Haydée , Müller Alejandro J. , López Juan V. , Vega Jorge , Meira Gregorio R. , Wambach Mona
Published: January 2013

This article investigates the room temperature demixing of oil‐in‐oil emulsions containing styrene (St), polybutadiene (PB), a St‐butadiene star block copolymer (BC), and two polystyrene (PS) samples of different molecular weights and is a contribution toward a better understanding of the stability/instability of the reaction mixture in a bulk high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) process close to the phase inversion. Twelve bulk prepolymerizations of St in the presence of PB were emulated, at 10%, 15%, and 20% conversion; and with constant grafting efficiencies. All the blends contained 6% in weight of butadiene units. After stirring the blends for 24 h, the decantation demixing process was monitored along 30 days, with daily measurement of the interface levels after appearance of a clear interface. For some of the isolated phases, their unswollen morphologies were observed by transmission electron microscopy. All the isolated phases exhibited macrophase separation into homopolymer‐ and copolymer‐rich macrodomains with lamellar microdomains. The BC showed a greater affinity toward the PS‐rich phase. The separation of an independent BC‐rich phase in the blends containing the high molar mass PS and at high grafting efficiencies, modifies the idea of the graft‐ or BC molecules located at the interface of large PS‐rich and PB‐rich phases. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Sublingual Tacrolimus: A Pharmacokinetic Evaluation Pilot Study
Authors: Tsapepas Demetra , Saal Stuart , Benkert Steven , Levine Daniel , Delfin Merdie , Cremers Serge , Amann Shawn , Dadhania Darshana , Kapur Sandip , Aull Meredith
Published: January 2013

Study Objective

To evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of sublingual and oral tacrolimus in the presence and absence of a drug that interacts with tacrolimus at the intestinal level.

Design

Prospective, randomized, open‐label, parallel‐group pilot study.

Setting

Large, urban, academic medical center.

Patients

Six adults with end‐stage renal disease who were awaiting kidney transplantation; five completed the study.

Intervention

Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive tacrolimus plus a clotrimazole troche (a drug that interacts with tacrolimus at the intestinal level) or tacrolimus plus nystatin suspension. For the tacrolimus route of administration, patients first received sublingual tacrolimus for five doses; after a 2‐day washout period, they received oral tacrolimus for five doses.

Measurements and Main Results

Demographic characteristics, concomitant medications, tacrolimus dosing information, and steady‐state venous whole blood specimen values after tacrolimus administration were collected. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetics were calculated from the tacrolimus blood concentrations in samples collected at multiple time points after drug administration. The area under the concentration‐time curve from 0–6 hours for sublingual and oral tacrolimus ranged from 27.2–66 and 32.4–76 mg·hour/L, respectively, in the tacrolimus plus clotrimazole group and from 9.3–63 and 4.9–23.2 mg·hour/L, respectively, in the tacrolimus plus nystatin group. The average maximum concentration was higher during sublingual administration than during oral administration: 16.7 versus 12.9 ng/ml in the tacrolimus plus clotrimazole group and 9.5 versus 6 ng/ml in the tacrolimus plus nystatin group.

Conclusion

An oral‐to‐sublingual tacrolimus dose conversion should be evaluated on an individual basis. A 1:1 dose conversion may be appropriate in the presence of clotrimazole, whereas a 2:1 oral‐to‐sublingual conversion may be appropriate when there are no concomitantly interacting drugs. These findings should be investigated further in pharmacokinetic studies conducted in solid organ transplant recipients.
Randomized Response Estimates for the 12‐Month Prevalence of Cognitive‐Enhancing Drug Use in University Students
Authors: Dietz Pavel , Striegel Heiko , Franke Andreas G. , Lieb Klaus , Simon Perikles , Ulrich Rolf
Published: January 2013

Study Objective

To estimate the 12‐month prevalence of cognitive‐enhancing drug use.

Design

Paper‐and‐pencil questionnaire that used the randomized response technique.

Setting

University in Mainz, Germany.

Participants

A total of 2569 university students who completed the questionnaire.

Measurements and Main Results

An anonymous, specialized questionnaire that used the randomized response technique was distributed to students at the beginning of classes and was collected afterward. From the responses, we calculated the prevalence of students taking drugs only to improve their cognitive performance and not to treat underlying mental disorders such as attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder, depression, and sleep disorders. The estimated 12‐month prevalence of using cognitive‐enhancing drugs was 20%. Prevalence varied by sex (male 23.7%, female 17.0%), field of study (highest in students studying sports‐related fields, 25.4%), and semester (first semester 24.3%, beyond first semester 16.7%). To our knowledge, this is the first time that the randomized response technique has been used to survey students about cognitive‐enhancing drug use.

Conclusion

Using the randomized response technique, our questionnaire provided data that showed a high 12‐month prevalence of cognitive‐enhancing drug use in German university students. Our study suggests that other direct survey techniques have underestimated the use of these drugs. Drug prevention programs need to be established at universities to address this issue.
Prioritization of putative metabolite identifications in LC‐MS/MS experiments using a computational pipeline
Authors: Zhou Bin , Xiao Jun Feng , Ressom Habtom W.
Published: January 2013

One of the major bottle‐necks in current LC‐MS‐based metabolomic investigations is metabolite identification. An often‐used approach is to first look up metabolites from databases through peak mass, followed by verification of the obtained putative identifications using MS/MS data. However, the mass‐based search may provide inappropriate putative identifications when the observed peak is from isotopes, fragments, or adducts. In addition, a large fraction of peaks is often left with multiple putative identifications. To differentiate these putative identifications, manual verification of metabolites through comparison between biological samples and authentic compounds is necessary. However, such experiments are laborious, especially when multiple putative identifications are encountered. It is desirable to use computational approaches to obtain more reliable putative identifications and prioritize them before performing experimental verification of the metabolites. In this article, a computational pipeline is proposed to assist metabolite identification with improved metabolome coverage and prioritization capability. Multiple publicly available software tools and databases, along with in‐house developed algorithms, are utilized to fully exploit the information acquired from LC‐MS/MS experiments. The pipeline is successfully applied to identify metabolites on the basis of LC‐MS as well as MS/MS data. Using accurate masses, retention time values, MS/MS spectra, and metabolic pathways/networks, more appropriate putative identifications are retrieved and prioritized to guide subsequent metabolite verification experiments.
Reactivities of mixed organozinc and mixed organocopper reagents. Part 7. Comparison of the transfer rate of the same group in allylation of mixed and homo diorganozinc reagents
Authors: Kalkan Melike , Erdik Ender
Published: January 2013

A detailed direct kinetic study has been carried out to compare the reaction rate of transferable group, Ph in mixed phenylzinc reagents, RPhZn (R = n‐alkyl) and in homo diphenylzinc reagent, Ph2Zn in their reactions with allyl bromide in THF at 25–(−15) °C. Empirical rata law and activation parameters are consistent with a second‐order substitution reaction. The allylation rate of transferable group Ph in RPhZn (R = n‐alkyl) has been found higher than the rate of Ph group in Ph2Zn. A mechanism which accommodates the kinetic data and higher allylation rate of transferable group Ph in RPhZn than that in Ph2Zn is given. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization and microhardness of Co−W coatings electrodeposited at different pH using gluconate bath: A comparative study
Authors: Bera Parthasarathi , Seenivasan H. , Rajam K. S. , Shivakumara C. , Parida Sanjit Kumar
Published: January 2013

Electrodeposition of Co–W alloy coatings has been carried out with DC and PC using gluconate bath at different pH. These coatings are characterized for their structure, morphology and chemical composition by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Alloy coatings plated at pH8 are crystalline, whereas coatings electrodeposited at pH5 are nanocrystalline in nature. XPS studies have demonstrated that as‐deposited alloy plated at pH8 with DC contain only Co2+ and W6+ species, whereas that alloy plated at pH5 has significant amount of Co0 and W0 along with Co2+ and W6+ species. Again, Co2+ and W6+ are main species in all as‐deposited PC plated alloys in both pH. Co0 concentration increases upon successive sputtering of all alloy coatings. In contrast, mainly W6+ species is detected in the following layers of all alloys plated with PC. Alloys plated at pH5 show higher microhardness compared to their pH8 counterparts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heterogeneity of laser‐irradiated films of polyvinyl alcohol/starch blends: effect of glycerol content
Authors: Sreekumar P. A. , Al‐Harthi Mamdouh A. , Gondal M. A. , De S. K.
Published: January 2013

The present paper reports the results of studies on the effect of laser irradiation on the morphology and thermal properties of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend, with varying glycerol concentration. Differential scanning calorimeter results showed that laser irradiation increased the heat of fusion (ΔHfus), heat of crystallization (ΔHcry), temperature of melting (Tm), temperature of crystallization (Tcry) and percentage crystallinity as a function of the amount of glycerol. It is believed that breakdown of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the starch and PVA causes an increase in the blend heterogeneity. These results are corroborated with the findings from thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope images. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Congenital rubella with agenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis and total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
Authors: Cluver C. , Meyer R. , Odendaal H. , Geerts L.
Published: January 2013

Congenital rubella infection has been associated with a number of abnormalities including cardiac, central nervous system and placental complications. We present a case with multiple fetal abnormalities detected on prenatal ultrasound, and confirmed postnatally, that included a single umbilical artery, severe tricuspid regurgitation, micrognathia and agenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis. Postnatal echocardiography additionally revealed unobstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) into the coronary sinus. Placental examination showed signs of placentitis, and polymerase chain reaction on neonatal serum was positive for rubella. Following a multidisciplinary team review, it was decided to provide only supportive care, and the infant died at 6 months of age owing to a respiratory tract infection. To our knowledge, TAPVD and agenesis of the inferior cerebellar vermis have not been reported previously in association with congenital rubella infection. This case illustrates how congenital infection may present in atypical ways and stresses the importance of considering congenital infection in the differential diagnosis of fetal anomalies when multiple features are present. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Efficacy and safety of a clinical protocol for expectant management of selected women diagnosed with a tubal ectopic pregnancy
Authors: Mavrelos D. , Nicks H. , Jamil A. , Hoo W. , Jauniaux E. , Jurkovic D.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To validate the efficacy and safety of our clinical protocol for expectant management of selected women diagnosed with tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study carried out in the early pregnancy unit of a London inner‐city university teaching hospital from 1st January 2008 to 31st May 2011. All women presenting with suspected early pregnancy complications were assessed clinically and by transvaginal ultrasound. Those with a conclusive ultrasound diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy were selected for either surgical or expectant management. Selection criteria for expectant management were clinical stability with no or minimal abdominal pain, no evidence of significant hemoperitoneum on ultrasound scan, ectopic pregnancy measuring < 30 mm in mean diameter with no evidence of embryonic cardiac activity, serum β‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) < 1500 IU/L and the woman's consent. All women selected for expectant management were followed up as outpatients until the ectopic pregnancy regressed spontaneously (resolution of clinical symptoms, serum β‐hCG < 20 IU/L/negative urine pregnancy test) or surgical intervention was required. We recorded the rate of interventions, complications and length of follow‐up.

Results

During the study period 339/11 520 (2.9% (95% CI, 2.59–3.21%)) women were diagnosed with tubal ectopic pregnancy. Six women opted to participate in an ongoing randomized controlled trial and were excluded from further analysis. One hundred and sixty‐five (49.5% (95% CI, 44.2–55.0%)) of the 333 remaining women met the criteria for expectant management; 146/333 (43.8% (95% CI, 38.5–49.1%)) of them opted for expectant management and 104/333 (31.2% (95% CI, 26.2–36.2%)) of all tubal ectopics resolved without requiring any intervention. All women with failed expectant management were treated by laparoscopic salpingectomy/salpingotomy and none of them required a blood transfusion.

Conclusion

Our clinical protocol for expectant management of tubal ectopic pregnancies eliminates the need for medical or surgical treatment in more than a third of women diagnosed with tubal ectopic pregnancy with a minimum risk of adverse outcome. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Postnatal maternal deprivation and pubertal stress have additive effects on dopamine D2 receptor and CaMKII beta expression in the striatum
Authors: Novak Gabriela , Fan Theresa , O'Dowd Brian F. , George Susan R.
Published: January 2013

The goal of this study was to determine whether two stressors commonly used to model aspects of neuropsychiatric disease in rats have an additive effect on striatal dopamine type 2 receptor (D2R) expression, a key player in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disease.

Animals subjected to early postnatal stress show alterations in function of the dopaminergic system thought to be mediated by stress‐induced glucocorticoid release. Subsequent stress during puberty is known to further impact the dopaminergic system and result in dopaminergic hyperactivity analogous to schizophrenia.

We exposed rats to maternal deprivation (MD) during the second postnatal week, a time of active striatal development. A subset of these animals were then subjected to pubertal stress induced by immobilization. Both procedures are know to induce glucocorticoid release.

At the conclusion of the MD protocol, we observed upregulation in the expression of D2R and of dopamine‐ and cAMP‐regulated phosphoprotein 32‐KD (DARPP‐32; PPP1R1B), but not of D1R, calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II beta (CaMKIIβ), CaMKIIα or neurokinin B (NKB).

Animals exposed to pubertal stress showed upregulation in expression of both D2R and CaMKIIβ. Furthermore, rats previously exposed to MD showed a much greater upregulation in CaMKIIβ expression, than animals only exposed to pubertal stress. These results support the two‐hit hypothesis, indicating that such stressors have an additive effect. The main targets appear to be the D2R and the CaMKIIβ, the latter being an important member of the DR signalling pathway, both of which are associated with schizophrenia.
Social structure, social coalitions and party choice in Hungary
Authors: Knutsen Oddbjørn
Published: January 2013

This article examines the relationship between social structure and party choice in Hungary on the basis of a survey from 2009 (N = 2980). The following structural variables are examined: ascriptive variables (age and gender), territorial variables (region and urban-rural residence), social class variables (education, social class and household income), sector employment and religious variables (religious denomination, church attendance and self-declared religiosity).

The analysis shows that age and territorial variables are the most important sociostructural variables for explaining party support in Hungary. The role of religious and class variables is considerably smaller in this respect.

The two largest parties, Fidesz and the Socialist Party, are first and foremost anchored in different generations and in territorial variables although different degrees of religiosity also has significant effect on support for these parties. The impact of the religious variables is, however, low. The class variables have the opposite impact on the two largest parties from what we should expect according to traditional class voting. Fidesz gets strongest support from the working class and the lower educated strata while the Socialist Party gets strongest support from the service class. The two largest parties are foremost social coalitions of very different social groups. The explanatory power of social structure on party choice is low in Hungary. This is also confirmed from comparative studies.
Roman Board Games. II
Authors: Austin R. G.
Published: January 2013

It is now time to deal with the much-discussed and much-abused passage of Isidore, Orig. xviii. 60 ff. The account begins: ‘De Tabula. Alea, id est lusus tabulae, inventa a Graecis …; tabula luditur pyrgo, calculis tesserisque.’ After explaining the meaning of pyrgus (dice-box), calculi, and tesserae, Isidore continues with a section entitled De Figuris Aleae, a description of the board; then follow the names of the throws, remarks on the best way of throwing, and a description of the movement of pieces; the account ends with the statement that owing to its immoral tendencies the game was forbidden by law. Now, if this passage is read as a whole and without bias, it is clear that Isidore is giving a methodical account of one particular game, which he calls ‘Alea’ or ‘Tabula’.
Government Policies and the Industrialization of Russia
Authors: Kahan Arcadius
Published: January 2013

If we were to reconstruct a blueprint of the Russian government's goals and priorities for industrial development in the late nineteenth century, it would include the following: (1) development of a network of internal transportation, (2) stabilization of the ruble in foreign exchanges through convertibility and the buildingup of an export surplus as a prerequisite for enabling the Russian government to borrow abroad, and (3) stimulation of the development of new industries in Russia and their protection in their “infancy.” Given the relative success of Russia's industrialization during the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries and the important role that the government played in this effort, there is no justification for outright rejection or condemnation of Russian government economic policies. There were, however, serious shortcomings in particular government policies, and the presumed effects that they had upon the industrialization process were not always desirable. This essay is a modest attempt to reexamine Russian government policies on the assumption that the industrialization of Russia was a continuing goal of the state policies beginning with the 1880's and one of relatively high priority. The implication of the analysis is that if some of the defects of the state's policies had been avoided, the process of industrialization in Russia would have proceeded at least at as fast a pace and the economic costs to Russian society would probably have been smaller.
Numerical analysis of monoenergetic electrons energy effect on dynamic potential profile of plasma sheath
Authors: SHARIFIAN M.
Published: January 2013

The dynamic behavior of the electric potential distribution of a plasma sheath region in the presence of monoenergetic electrons with two different values of energy, larger (fast electrons) and smaller (slow electrons) than the cathode potential energy, is examined numerically by the finite difference method. Exploring and comparing the plots of numerical computation results shows that the time evolution of the non-monotonic potential distribution heavily depends on the energy of monoenergetic electrons.
Financial Crises In Spain: Lessons From The Last 150 Years
Authors: Betrán Concha , Martín-Aceña Pablo , Pons María A.
Published: January 2013

Financial crises are not unique to current financial systems. Are crises alike? Have they become more frequent, longer lasting and more severe since the 20thcentury? What does history tell us? The objective of this paper is to study the financial crises that have occurred in Spain over the last 150 years. We consider different types of crises (banking, currency and stock market crises), together with all their possible combinations, estimate their frequency by period and measure their length and depth. The main conclusion we obtain is that Spanish crises have been more frequent than in the rest of the world and have been more severe and more complex since 1973, as the 2007 crisis is confirming.
Interactions between ants and non-myrmecochorous diaspores in a tropical wet forest in southern Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Santana Flávia Delgado , Cazetta Eliana , Delabie Jacques Hubert Charles
Published: January 2013

Interactions between ants and non-myrmecochorous diaspores occur frequently on the forest floor and the results of these interactions (e.g. diaspore cleaning or removal) will often depend on the morpho-chemical characteristics of the diaspores. We conducted two different experiments with seven plant species in the north-eastern Atlantic forest, Brazil. To evaluate whether ant interactions decrease diaspore persistence time on the forest floor, we established sample stations by placing five diaspores of each species spaced every 10 m along a transect and monitored ant interactions over a 24-h period. We also compared diaspore removal by ants and vertebrates through a paired experiment. We monitored removal of the seven plant species in treatments where ants were excluded and treatments where vertebrates were excluded. We recorded 332 ant–diaspore interactions, most resulting in ants cleaning diaspores in situ. Persistence of diaspores on the forest floor varied greatly among studied species and was less than 50% for three species. Ants also removed more diaspores than did vertebrates. Number of diaspores removed by ants was greater for small diaspores and with high lipid concentration. Ant–diaspore interactions may not always exert a positive influence on plant recruitment for diaspores with poor nutrient concentration. Consequently, ants may play a disproportionately important role as secondary dispersers in tropical forests.
Edward Schillebeeckx's Creation Theology as a Resource for Ecological Ethics
Authors: Olson-Bang Erica
Published: January 2013

As the global community becomes increasingly attuned to the disastrous consequences of our long-standing environmental prodigality, Christians and Christian theologians are cultivating theological and ethical responses to the ecological crisis with the goal of fostering life-giving understandings of creation and ecophilic lifestyles. While many theologians and ethicists have heeded this call to read the signs of the environmental times, Schillebeeckx's creation theology remains an underutilized resource for developing an ethical response to this contemporary crisis. This article seeks to offer Schillebeeckx's theology of creation as fertile soil for nurturing an ecological ethic. This article highlights Schillebeeckx's growing ecological concerns, illustrates the connection between Schillebeeckx's theology of creation and his ecological consciousness, and transposes Schillebeeckx's emerging ecological themes into the register of environmental ethics. This ecological ethics emphasizes co-creativity with God in creation, ecological asceticism, following Christ's creational praxis, and actualizing the present practice of the coming kingdom of God.
Powder X-ray data for the solid solution [(NH4)3Al1−xFex/2Crx/2(C2O4)3] ·3H2O; 0.10≤x≤0.80
Authors: Ezahri Mohamed , Coffy Georges , Mentzen Bernard F.
Published: January 2013

X-ray powder diffraction data are reported for the [(NH4)3Al1−xFex/2Crx/2(C2O4)3]·3H2O solid solution. The crystal system is triclinic with space group P1. Refined unit-cell parameters are given for the compositions x=0.10, 0.50 and 0.80.
X-ray-diffraction data of Pb2(C2O4)(NO3)2·2H2O
Authors: Choi Hee-Lack , Ishizawa Nobuo , Enomoto Naoya , Nakagawa Zenbe-e
Published: January 2013

X-ray powder-diffraction data for Pb2(C2O4)(NO3)2·2H2O were obtained. The crystal system was determined to be monoclinic. The unit-cell parameters were refined to a=10.613(2) Å, b=7.947(2) Å, c=6.189(1) Å, and β=104.48(2)°.
Rietveld analysis of plasma-sprayed PSZ coatings
Authors: Hammond L. C. , Cocking J. L.
Published: January 2013

Rietveld analysis has been successfully used to characterize plasma-sprayed PSZ coatings in a study of the structural stability of 8 wt. % Y2O3–ZrO2 powders and 23 wt. % CeO2/3 wt. % Y2O3–ZrO2, sprayed onto steel substrates. The ceramics were examined in powder form prior to spraying, as-sprayed and after a series of high-temperature soaks at temperatures relevant to those found in heat engines. The study showed that the Y2O3–ZrO2 powders consist of mixtures of the cubic (as the minor phase) and tetragonal (major phase) zirconia and the cubic zirconia polymorph, whereas the as-sprayed materials contain only the tetragonal (major phase) and monoclinic polymorphs indicating that the cubic phase has been lost by transformation. The CeO2–ZrO2 powders consist of a mixture of cubic, tetragonal (major), and monoclinic polymorphs of which the monoclinic phase disappears after plasma spraying. After extended thermal cycling, the Y2O3–ZrO2 coatings did not alter in phase composition whereas the CeO2–ZrO2 coatings became entirely tetragonal.
X-ray diffraction patterns of LuNi2B2C and YNi2B2C
Authors: Wong-Ng W. , Cava R. , Krajewski J. J. , Peck W. F.
Published: January 2013

Reference X-ray diffraction patterns for the quarternary intermetallic superconductor phases of compositions LuNi2B2C and YNi2B2C are reported. Both materials were synthesized by the arc-melting technique. The patterns of these metallic phases exhibit preferred orientation in an ordinarily pressed sample, which was minimized through special specimen preparation. The observed intensities and the calculated values for both phases agree reasonably well with each other. Both compounds were refined in the space group I4/mmm, with a=3.4647(1) Å and c=10.6330(4) Å for LuNi2B2C and a=3.5271(1) Å, c=10.5361(7) Å for YNi2B2C.
Powder diffraction data for the intermetallic compounds Co2Al5, monoclinic m-Co4Al13 and orthorhombic o-Co4Al13
Authors: Burkhardt U. , Ellner M. , Grin Yu.
Published: January 2013

A significant feature for the atomic structure of the intermetallic compounds Co2Al5 (hP28), monoclinic m-Co4Al13(mC(102-7.2) [notation according to Parthé etal. (1993)] and orthorhombic o-Co4Al13 (oP102) is the occurring of the filled pentagonal channels. Least-square refined lattice parameters as well as powder diffraction data are reported for these homeotypic phases.
Powder diffraction of SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3−α
Authors: de Vries Karel J. , Boeijsma Jaap , van de Velde George M. H.
Published: January 2013

In the preparation of ceramic SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3−α great care was taken to obtain a homogeneous, carbonate free and dense material of exactly the given composition. The material is an important high-temperature protonic conductor (HTPC). X-ray powder diffraction data are reported. The cell parameters obtained are a=6.007(2) Å, b=12.296(3) Å, c=8.588(2) Å, cell volume 634.4(1) Å3, Z=8. The space group is most probably Pnma (62) and Dx=5.806(2) g/cm3. The bending strength of the sintered dense material is 175±6 MPa.
Shifts of peak positions due to specimen geometry and beam divergence in X-ray diffractometer
Authors: Hwang Bing H.
Published: January 2013

Plane analytical geometry has been used to derive formulas of peak shifts due to specimen geometry and beam divergence of X-ray diffractometers in a Seemann–Bohlin configuration. When the attenuated diffraction below the specimen surface is not considered, peak shifts depend on Bragg angle (θ), incident beam divergence (2α), curvature radius of the specimen surface (r), and the tilt angle of the specimen (ψ). Numerical results show that at any fixed Bragg angle value, the peak shift increases with 2α whatever the combination of r and ψ values are. Moreover, at any fixed value of both Bragg angle and beam divergence, the peak shift depends directly on |ψ| and inversely on |r|. Shifts of peaks have been compared on both goniometer circle (Δ2θS) and focusing circle (Δ2θP). The results show that when ψ>0, then (Δ2θS) is less than (Δ2θP). On the contrary, when ψ<0, then (Δ2θS) is greater than (Δ2θP). Both (Δ2θS) and (Δ2θP) increase when the Bragg angle is decreased under the same fixed set of ψ, 2α, and r values. These peak shifts are so high that lattice strains may be masked at either high values of |ψ| and 2α, or small |r| values.
Crystal data for Cs2KTbCl6 and Cs2KEuCl6 by powder X-ray diffraction
Authors: Villafuerte-Castrejón M. E. , Estrada M. R. , Rosales L. , Gómez-Lara J. , Duque J. , Pomés R.
Published: January 2013

Two compounds of the elpasolite family (A2BLnX6), Cs2KTbCl6 and Cs2KEuCl6, were obtained {by evaporating to dryness a hot aqueous HCl solution of the appropriate chlorides [Morss etal., Inorg. Chem. 9, 1771 (1970)]} and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. Title compounds are isostructural with cubic Rb2NaTmCl6 and correspond to the perovskite related structure with space group Fm3m, cell parameters 11.1294(6) and 11.1618(4) Å, V=1378.5(2), and V=1390.5(1) Å3, respectively.
X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron diffraction data for BaMnSi2O6—A new phase in the system BaO–MnO–SiO2
Authors: Ivanov I. T. , Nihtianova D. D. , Georgieva I.
Published: January 2013

A new phase in the system BaO–MnO–SiO2 obtained by a pyrosynthetic method has been inves- tigated using electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), X-ray powder diffraction (PDA), and trans- mission electron diffraction. The lattice parameters and possible space group of the phase with a general composition BaMnSi2O6 were determined as follows: a=13.896, b=12.261, c=10.781 Å, β=103.47°, space group P21/m, Z=12.
The adaptation of a Philips PW1050 X-ray diffractometer system to incorporate an incident beam focusing monochromator: Design, assembly and characterisation
Authors: Madsen I. C. , Hill R. J. , Stereff G.
Published: January 2013

A conventional vertical powder diffractometer has been adapted to allow the collection of high-resolution, single-wavelength diffraction data using Co, Cu or Mo radiation. The major modifications are (i) incorporation of an incident beam focusing monochromator attached to the tube shield, (ii) a variable tilt angle of the tube shield to provide a horizontal beam path through the diffractometer (for ease of alignment), (iii) mounting of the entire diffractometer on a single, very stable base-plate, with micrometer-controlled adjustment of the orientation, (iv) inclusion of a knife-edge, micrometer-controlled focusing slit, and (v) use of a range of Soller slits with acceptance angles down to 1.5° 2φ. The performance of the instrument compares favourably with conventional non-monochromated diffractometer data collected from SRM660 LaB6 and monoclinic ZrO2. In particular, the peaks are more symmetric and have narrower widths, and the peak-to-background ratio is much higher, leading to much superior resolution and profile shapes for structure solution and Rietveld refinement.
Crystal data and X-ray powder diffraction data of 2,4-diiodo-4-nitrophenol (disophenol), C6H3I2NO3. More precise X-ray powder diffraction data of p-nitrophenol, C6H5NO3
Authors: Novoa de Armas Héctor , González Hernández Rolando , Henao Martínez José Antonio , Poméz Hernández Ramón
Published: January 2013

p-nitrophenol, C6H5NO3, and disophenol, C6H3I2NO3, have been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction. The unit cell dimensions were determined from diffractometer methods, using monochromatic CuKα1 radiation, and evaluated by indexing programs. The monoclinic cell found for p-nitrophenol was a=6.159(2) Å, b=8.890(2) Å, c=11.770(2) Å, β=103.04(2)°, Z=4, space group P21 or P2l/m, Dx=1.469 Mg/m3. The monoclinic cell found for disophenol has the dimensions a=8.886(1) Å, b=14.088(2) Å, c=8.521(1) Å, β=91.11(1)°, Z=4, space group P2, P2, Pm or P2/m, Dx=2.438 Mg/m3.
X-ray powder diffraction pattern for glucopyranosylsorbitol and glucopyranosylmannitol dihydrate
Authors: Perkkalainen P. , Halttunen H. , Heikkilä H. , Pitkänen I. , Valkonen J.
Published: January 2013

X-ray powder data are given for glucopyranosylsorbitol, C12H24O11, and glucopyranosylmannitol dihydrate, C12H24O11 * 2H2O. Refined unit cell parameters for glucopyranosylsorbitol are: a=0.9124(4) nm, b=1.1336(5) nm, c=0.7232(3) nm, and β=91.23(4)° in space group P21 and those for glucopyranosylmannitol dihydrate are a=2.2579(15) nm, b=1.0016(5) nm, and c=0.7584(5) nm in space group P212121.
New data on yukonite
Authors: Ross Daphne R. , Post Jeffrey E.
Published: January 2013

A new occurrence of the poorly characterized mineral, yukonite, (Ca6.44K0.13Mg0.23)(Fe14.68Al0.36)(AsO4)9O15.78·25.5H2O, is described. New powder X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe data are provided for type material from Tagish Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada, and that from the new locality, Saalfield, Thuringen, Germany. New chemical formulae are proposed. The strongest reflections are at 14.1(100), 2.79(60), 3.25(57), 5.58(37), 2.61(20), 1.63(20), and 2.24(11) Å.
X-ray powder diffraction analysis of an organic material for nonlinear optics 3-methyl-4-methoxy-4′-nitrostilbene
Authors: Jin Zong-ming , Jin Zheng , Huang Fang
Published: January 2013

An organic nonlinear optical material, 3-methyl-4-methoxy-4′-nitrostilbene (C16H15NO3), has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Experimental values of 2θ corrected for systematic errors, relative peak intensities, values of d, and the Miller indices of 77 observed reflections with 2θ up to 82° are reported. The powder diffraction data have been evaluated, and the figures-of-merit are reported. The unit cell parameters least-squares refined from 30 non-overlapping peaks of the orthorhombic compound with a Aba2 space group are a=15.7882(3) Å, b=13.4892(4) Å, c=13.3940(2) Å, V=2852.5(4) Å3, Z=8, Dx=1.254 g/cm3. The powder diffraction results are in a agreement with those obtained from single-crystal structure data.
Indexing of incommensurate satellite reflections in X-ray powder diffraction pattern of (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (2223) phase
Authors: Li D. Y. , MacKinnon C. W.
Published: January 2013

X-ray powder diffraction data and refined unit cell parameters for the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (2223) superconducting phase, indexed using incommensurate modulation principles, are reported. Comparison of the results obtained with one- and two-component modulation wave vectors showed that the two-component modulation wave vector is superior for indexing the satellite reflections. A two-component wave vector indexing result seems likely when only the powder diffraction data are considered.
Quantitative X-ray diffraction phase analysis of airborne particulate collected by a cascade impactor sampler using the Rietveld full-pattern fitting method
Authors: Esteve Vicente , Carda Juan , Reventós María Mercedes , Amigó José María
Published: January 2013

Samples of airborne particulate were collected at the “El Ingenio” site in Castellón (Spain) using a cascade impactor sampler. Quantitative analysis of present phases in the aerosol was performed using the full-pattern fitting Rietveld method. Quantitative information was obtained from refined individual scale factors and unit-cell volumes, obtained with a Rietveld refinement program. Quartz, calcite, and gypsum were encountered as major phases, and their size distribution and concentration in the atmosphere were calculated.
X-ray powder diffraction study of the thermal behavior of barium titanium citrate hydrate
Authors: Louër D. , Criado J. M. , Dianez M. J. , Perez-Maqueda L. A.
Published: January 2013

The thermal decomposition of barium bis(citrato)oxotitanate citrate heptahydrate, a molecular precursor of BaTiO3 fine powders is studied by temperature-dependent x-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetry. A thorough investigation of the dehydration stage is presented. Three crystalline phases containing seven, three, and two water molecules, respectively, are identified from their powder diffraction pattern. The results of pattern indexing are presented and discussed in terms of parameter relationships.
Systematic crystallographic refinement of triclinic unit cells
Authors: Frevel Ludo K.
Published: January 2013

Combining the exhaustive indexing of triclinic powder diffraction patterns with a crystallographic determination of unit cell parameters from pinacoid and prism reflections yields unit cell parameters with realistic limits of error. Additionally a referee method has been developed by which the six reciprocal cell parameters of a triclinic phase are determined by solving an exhaustive set of linear simultaneous equations in six unknowns.
Standardless quantitative mineralogical analysis of rocks
Authors: Zangalis K. P.
Published: January 2013

The main difficulty in the quantitative mineral analysis of rocks is connected with the variable nature of the mineral species. In the present paper a combined method (and a corresponding computer program) is proposed, which practically overcomes this difficulty. This method is based on linear equations, which are a combination of the chemical mass-balance equations with those of the quantitative X-ray diffractometry, and can perform (completely or partly) both the quantification and the chemical characterization of the minerals on several rock samples simultaneously, demanding only easily accessible initial information, such as: (i) major element (oxide) compositions for the samples; (ii) qualitative mineral composition of the samples; (iii) X-ray intensities for one or few nonoverlapped reflections of the crystalline minerals (not necessarily of all): (iv) some characteristic data for the phases (i.e., chemical composition data), if these are accurately known. Where it is possible the minerals may be expressed via end members. The samples may contain amorphous phases and/or phases without X-ray data. From the general case some very simple partial cases are derived, demanding less initial information. This method has the following advantages over the previous ones of similar philosophy: (i) drastic reduction of the number of required samples; (ii) sufficiency of equations for any analytical problem; (iii) possibility of performing partial analysis when a complete one is impossible; (iv) possibility of using the same end member in more than one solid solution. Analysis examples are given.
Crystal structure refinement of the ferroelectric ceramic compound Sm2Bi2Ti3O12
Authors: Villafuerte-Castrejón M. E. , Alvarez-Fregoso O. , Sansores L. E. , Sànchez-Arjona A. , Duque J. , Pomés R.
Published: January 2013

Sm2Bi2Ti3O12 was synthesized by solid state reaction from Sm2O3, Bi2O3, and TiO2 in molar relation 1:1:3. Title compound is isostructural with Bi4Ti3O12. Products of the reaction were analyzed by X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal structure was refinement by the Rietveld Method. Cell parameters are: a=5.368(2), b=5.369(2), and c=32.71(2) Å, space group Fmmm. The final R value was 9.96% (Rw=13.43%).© 1998 International Center for Diffraction Data.
Semiquantitative XRD analysis with the aid of reference intensity ratio estimates
Authors: Davis Briant L.
Published: January 2013

Estimation of reference intensity ratios (ki or RIR) can be made on the basis of an atomic scattering function. Tests of regression equations for 50 compounds that predict an approximate reference intensity ratio from the easily computed scattering function have shown usefulness in multicomponent semiquantitative X-ray diffraction analysis. The method is best applied whenever only one or two minor components of a multicomponent sample have no readily measurable or calculable ki values and must be estimated. Where the difference between observed and predicted constants is large, these tests show that the ratios of true- to test-weight fractions are proportional to the corresponding ki ratios. The largest absolute errors occur whenever the ki must be predicted for components with medium weight fraction values. Estimation of ki for components of less than 10 weight percent results in only small errors in both predicted component and the other components of the sample. Where more than two components require predicted ki in a given sample, unacceptable errors for all components may result.