X-ray Spectrometry / Ezine
Journal Highlight: Global and local hard X-ray tomography of a centimeter-size tumor vessel tree
Date: Feb 13, 2012
Author:
Adaptation of local tomography data using the global data has been demonstrated using two-parameter histogram matching of the radiographs, sinogram extension, and multi-parameter cupping correction.
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Recycling platinum: An ionic liquid solution
Date: Feb 1, 2012
Author: David Bradley
Analyses using energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray diffraction have been used to investigate the electrochemical dissolution of platinum in an ionic liquid. Given the high value of platinum metal and its widespread use in catalysts and fuel cells this discovery could fulfil the growing need for an efficient way to recycle the metal.
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Journal Highlight: Disputed discovery: the beginnings of X-ray diffraction in crystals in 1912 and its repercussions
Date: Jan 16, 2012
Author:
The discovery of X-ray diffraction is reviewed from the perspective of the contemporary knowledge in 1912 about the nature of X-rays, including the disputes between the principle players.
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Editor exposed: XRD provides evidence
Date: Jan 15, 2012
Author: David Bradley
A combination of traditional X-ray crystallography and computer-based model reported in the journal Science have uncovered the structure of an important gene-editing protein.
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Close packing: Flexible boost for electronics
Date: Jan 5, 2012
Author: David Bradley
US reserchers have found that packing organic semiconductors closer together can boost the materials' electrical conductivity. X-ray diffractions studies reveal structural details that take us one step closer to more efficient solar energy panels, better television and computer screens and perhaps even flexible electronic gadgets.
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Theoretical crystal: Density functional theory reveals amino acid structure
Date: Dec 15, 2011
Author: David Bradley
Is it possible to obtain a structure using solid-state density functional theory on powder X-ray diffraction data of molecular crystals when those molecules are too large and complex for conventional refinement methods? The approach has now been applied to obtain the true crystal structure of the amino acid L-phenylalanine.
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Journal Highlight: Evaluation of the utility of handheld XRF in meteoritics
Date: Dec 12, 2011
Author:
A handheld X-ray fluorescence instrument was tested in the hot desert of Oman while searching for meteorites and also in the laboratory while doing research on meteorites. Its main applications are the identification and classification of meteorites, the quantification of terrestrial elemental contamination (Sr and Ba) and detection of Mn-rich desert varnish.
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Super, cool: Liquid, crystal
Date: Dec 1, 2011
Author: David Bradley
A team in Salt Lake City has demonstrated why water can remain in the liquid state even if it is cooled as low as 13 degrees Celsius below its normal freezing point. However, their research also suggests that it is impossible to maintain supercooled water as a liquid at below this temperature.
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Absorbing oxygen: Understanding enzymes
Date: Nov 15, 2011
Author: David Bradley
New clues as to why oxygen becomes the undoing of hydrogenase enzymes has emerged from X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies carried out at the Swiss Light Source.
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Journal Highlight: Determining the C60 molecular arrangement in thin films by means of X-ray diffraction
Date: Nov 7, 2011
Author:
Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction of a C60 thin film was used to illustrate that atomic structural information can be obtained from molecular films without further knowledge of the single-crystal structure.
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