Determination of the local structure in metal-complexes by combining XAS and XES

Nanoscale local atomic structure determines most of unique properties of novel materials without long range order. To study its fine details one has to use both computer nanodesign and advanced experimental methods for nanodiagnostics. The status of modern theoretical analysis of the experimental x-ray absorption spectra to extract structural parameters is presented. Novel in-situ technique for nanodiagnostics - extracting of 3D structure parameters on the basis of advanced quantitative analysis of X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) - has been developed. The possibility to extract information on bond angles and bond-lengths (with accuracy up to 0.002 nm) is demonstrated and it opens new perspectives of quantitative XANES analysis as a 3D local structure probe for any type of materials without long range order in atoms positions (all nanostructured materials and free clusters belong to this class of materials). Even more possibilities are opening by using simultaneously several experimental synchrotron based techniques: XANES and XES and/or RIXS. In the framework of these approaches, the results of recent studies of local atomic structure for several types of nanostructures including nanoclusters with different types of chemical bonding, core-shell nanoneedles and thin films of dilute magnetic semiconductors, 5d-transition metal-organic complexes, Cu1+ and Cu2+ binding sites in amyloid-β peptide, Co aqua complexes in aqueous solution, nanostructured materials for hydrogen storage and nanocatalysts based on zeolites and MOF are reported. Along with the calculations of conventional XANES and XES, we show a possibility to simulate core-to-core and valence-to-core RIXS as well. Molecular orbitals (or DOS) of metal complexes can be directly related to the peaks in XES spectra in RIXS maps. This information is essential for understanding of electronic structure of metal complexes and design of novel materials

Vascular changes in diabetic retinopathy-a longitudinal study in the Nile rat.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and is a major cause of blindness, but an understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease has been hampered by a lack of accurate animal models. Here, we explore the dynamics of retinal cellular changes in the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus), a carbohydrate-sensitive model for type 2 diabetes. The early retinal changes in diabetic Nile rats included increased acellular capillaries and loss of pericytes that correlated linearly with the duration of diabetes. These vascular changes occurred in the presence of microglial infiltration but in the absence of retinal ganglion cell loss. After a prolonged duration of diabetes, the Nile rat also exhibits a spectrum of retinal lesions commonly seen in the human condition including vascular leakage, capillary non-perfusion, and neovascularization. Our longitudinal study documents a range and progression of retinal lesions in the diabetic Nile rat remarkably similar to those observed in human diabetic retinopathy, and suggests that this model will be valuable in identifying new therapeutic strategies

Relationship of methane consumption with the respiration of soil and grass-moss layers in forest ecosystems of the southern taiga in Western Siberia

The consumption of methane by some soils in the southern taiga of Western Siberia was studied by the static chamber method in the summer of 2013. The median of the specific CH4 flux through the soil was −0.05 mg C/(m2 h) for the entire set of measurements (the negative flux indicates the consumption of methane by the soil). A statistically significant (R2 = 0.81) linear relationship has been found between the specific CH4 flux to the soil and the total respiration of the soil and the grass-moss layers in the studied forest ecosystems. The quantitative theoretical explanation of this relationship is based on the plant-associated and free methanotrophy

Methods of examination and assessment of the safety of goat meat of the Zaanen breed

The purpose of the study was to develop a comprehensive system of veterinary and sanitary examination of the safety and quality of slaughter products of Zaanen goats. The studies were conducted on goats at the age of 36 months. According to the results of veterinary and sanitary examination of organs and carcasses, all experimental animals were found to be healthy. Five muscles served as the material for studying the chemical composition: the semi-webbed muscle, the biceps femur, the longest back, the biceps shoulder and intercostal muscles were studied. Organoleptic studies of meat and internal organs were carried out in accordance with the requirements of GOST 7269-79, physico-chemical studies of meat were carried out in accordance with GOST 23392-78, the mineral composition of tissues was studied on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The biological value of Zaanen goat meat was determined according to the “Methodological recommendations for the use of the express method of biological evaluation of products and feeds”. Studies have shown that to assess the safety and quality of goat cuts and carcasses as meat raw materials, anatomical characteristics and morphometric parameters of regional lymph nodes should be used: heads - mandibular, parotid and pharyngeal lateral and medial; necks - superficial and deep cervical; thoracic limbs - axillary, axillary of the first rib and superficial cervical; sternum - axillary; chest wall - superficial cervical and intercostal; lower back - lumbar; pelvic extremity - popliteal, superficial and deep inguinal; the mammary glands are supramental

Octahedral molybdenum cluster as a photoactive antimicrobial additive to a fluoroplastic

Finding methods that fight bacterial infection or contamination, while minimising our reliance on antibiotics is one of the most pressing needs of this century. Although the utilisation of UV-C light and strong oxidising agents, such as bleach, are still efficacious methods for eliminating bacterial surface contamination, both methods present severe health and/or environmental hazards. Materials with intrinsic photodynamic activity (i.e. a material's ability upon photoexcitation to convert molecular oxygen into reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen), which work with light within the visible photomagnetic spectrum could offer a significantly safer alternative. Here we present a new, bespoke molybdenum cluster (Bu4N)2[Mo6I8(n-C7F15COO)6], which is both efficient in the generation of singlet oxygen upon photoirradiation and compatible with the fluoropolymer (F23-L) known for its good oxygen permeability. Thus, (Bu4N)2[Mo6I8(n-C7F15COO)6]/F23-L mixtures have been solution-processed to give homogenous films of smooth and fibrous morphologies and which displayed high photoinduced antibacterial activity against four common pathogens under visible light irradiation. These materials thus have potential in applications ranging from antibacterial coatings to filtration membranes and air conditioners to prevent spread of bacterial infections

Local atomic structure around Mn ions in GaN:Mn thin films: Quantitative XANES analysis

GaN:Mn dilute magnetic semiconductors with zinc-blende type of lattice and room temperature ferromagnetism were investigated by the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) with a high accuracy approach of the multidimensional interpolation, which makes it possible to determine the nanoscale local atomic structure around Mn impurities. It is found that Mn atoms are substantially incorporated into the GaN lattice and Jahn-Teller distortion around Mn atom is observed. Our results show that symmetry changes around Mn atom influence on XANES spectrum significantly. Furthermore, the possible impact of local distortions on the magnetic properties is discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Rent-to-Own : Exotic Form of Tenure on the Swedish Market

Bostadspriserna har ökat signifikant under en lång period nu och på senare tid har en upplevd bostadsbrist blivit alltmer påtaglig. Medan prisutvecklingen har varit goda nyheter för många ägare har det samtidigt skapat en allt högre inträdesbarriär för förstagångsköparna, speciellt kombinerat med kreditrestriktionerna införda under 2010-talet. För att lösa detta problem har konceptet hyrköp introducerats i Sverige och det är denna studies syfte att undersöka dess egenskaper och potential. Hyrköp möjliggör för privatpersoner att skjuta upp delar eller hela förvärvet av en bostad till en avtalad tidpunkt eller intervall i framtiden och hyra fram till dess. Att äga är ekonomiskt fördelaktigt på längre sikt men i fall där intressenten inte har möjlighet att förvärva bostaden genom konventionell överlåtelse kan hyrköp appliceras. Medan det är grundtanken har många anpassningar av hyrköp utvecklats både i Sverige och utomlands. Därför är ett av målen med detta arbete att analysera och komma fram till hur en effektiv hyrköpsmodell bör vara utformad. En annan anledning till varför hyrköp är viktigt att undersöka är att det är ett nytt fenomen på den svenska bostadsmarknaden. Unik lagstiftning för hyrköp existerar inte, verksamheten befinner sig fortfarande på relativt småskalig nivå och den svenska forskningen inom området är begränsad. Metodiken för detta arbete har anpassats efter dessa förutsättningar och inneburit att fokus legat på det kvalitativa genom framför allt intervjuer med relevanta aktörer i Sverige, både inom den privata och politiska sfären. I och med att hyrköp är mer etablerat i andra länder har utövare i dessa också bidragit till arbetet. Genom att undersöka hyrköp och intervjua aktörerna som ligger bakom hyrköpsverksamheten i Sverige och sedan sätta det i dagens kontext har flera slutsatser kunnat dras. En analys av resultaten tyder på att receptet för en framgångsrik variant av hyrköp är att vara enhetlig, enkel för konsumenten att ta till sig och framför allt noggrant anpassad efter köparnas förutsättningar för sparande. Analys av resultaten indikerar dock starkt på att hyrköp i dagsläget har begränsningar i rollen som lösning till bostadsbristen för förstagångsköpare. Hyrköp som ett initiativ från de privata aktörerna kombinerat med justeringar bland kreditrestriktionerna från statligt håll framstår som ett mer effektivt tillvägagångssätt att sänka inträdeströskeln till bostadsmarknaden till en acceptabel nivå.The housing prices have experienced a steady and significant incline during a long period and in recent times the housing shortage has turned into quite a tangible issue in the major Swedish cities. While the house price increase has made many wealthier, it has simultaneously caused an ever-rising threshold for first time home buyers, particularly when compounded with the credit regulations implemented during the last decade. With the intent of solving this issue, the concept Rent-to-Own has been introduced to Sweden and it is the purpose of this dissertation to investigate it’s properties and gauge it’s potential. Rent-to-Own allows individuals to partially or completely postpone their acquisition of a home until a predetermined interval or point in time while renting until then. Owning is financially more advantageous than renting in the mid- to long-term and it is in cases where a conventional outright purchase is not possible that Rent-to-Own is applicable. While this is the core notion, a number of adaptations have been developed both in Sweden and abroad. It is hence one of the objectives of this paper to deduce how an effective Rent-to-Own agreement should be structured. An additional reason for the relevance of this study is the fact that Rent-to-Own is a new and unfamiliar concept in Sweden. The current capacity is relatively low, specific regulations do not yet exist and Swedish research regarding the subject is finite. The methods employed for this paper have been adjusted based on these circumstances which has led to focus on a qualitative approach, primarily interviews with relevant parties, both in the private and political sphere. Considering that Rent-to-Own is a better-established matter abroad, information from providers of Rent-to-Own housing in such countries has complemented this work to a significant degree. Investigating the different forms of Rent-to-Own and interviewing real estate developers providing such acquisition options in Sweden has led to several conclusions. An analysis of the results implies that a successful variation of Rent-to-Own is uniform, comprehendible and most importantly adapted regarding the buyers’ saving capabilities. The results do also strongly indicate that Rent-to-Own in it’s current state is limited in it’s role as a mitigant of the housing shortage for first time home buyers. However, Rent-to-Own as an initiative by the corporations and companies combined with adjustments in credit regulations by the government resembles a more effective effort in lowering the entry barrier to the housing market to an adequate level

Rent-to-Own : Exotic Form of Tenure on the Swedish Market

Bostadspriserna har ökat signifikant under en lång period nu och på senare tid har en upplevd bostadsbrist blivit alltmer påtaglig. Medan prisutvecklingen har varit goda nyheter för många ägare har det samtidigt skapat en allt högre inträdesbarriär för förstagångsköparna, speciellt kombinerat med kreditrestriktionerna införda under 2010-talet. För att lösa detta problem har konceptet hyrköp introducerats i Sverige och det är denna studies syfte att undersöka dess egenskaper och potential. Hyrköp möjliggör för privatpersoner att skjuta upp delar eller hela förvärvet av en bostad till en avtalad tidpunkt eller intervall i framtiden och hyra fram till dess. Att äga är ekonomiskt fördelaktigt på längre sikt men i fall där intressenten inte har möjlighet att förvärva bostaden genom konventionell överlåtelse kan hyrköp appliceras. Medan det är grundtanken har många anpassningar av hyrköp utvecklats både i Sverige och utomlands. Därför är ett av målen med detta arbete att analysera och komma fram till hur en effektiv hyrköpsmodell bör vara utformad. En annan anledning till varför hyrköp är viktigt att undersöka är att det är ett nytt fenomen på den svenska bostadsmarknaden. Unik lagstiftning för hyrköp existerar inte, verksamheten befinner sig fortfarande på relativt småskalig nivå och den svenska forskningen inom området är begränsad. Metodiken för detta arbete har anpassats efter dessa förutsättningar och inneburit att fokus legat på det kvalitativa genom framför allt intervjuer med relevanta aktörer i Sverige, både inom den privata och politiska sfären. I och med att hyrköp är mer etablerat i andra länder har utövare i dessa också bidragit till arbetet. Genom att undersöka hyrköp och intervjua aktörerna som ligger bakom hyrköpsverksamheten i Sverige och sedan sätta det i dagens kontext har flera slutsatser kunnat dras. En analys av resultaten tyder på att receptet för en framgångsrik variant av hyrköp är att vara enhetlig, enkel för konsumenten att ta till sig och framför allt noggrant anpassad efter köparnas förutsättningar för sparande. Analys av resultaten indikerar dock starkt på att hyrköp i dagsläget har begränsningar i rollen som lösning till bostadsbristen för förstagångsköpare. Hyrköp som ett initiativ från de privata aktörerna kombinerat med justeringar bland kreditrestriktionerna från statligt håll framstår som ett mer effektivt tillvägagångssätt att sänka inträdeströskeln till bostadsmarknaden till en acceptabel nivå.The housing prices have experienced a steady and significant incline during a long period and in recent times the housing shortage has turned into quite a tangible issue in the major Swedish cities. While the house price increase has made many wealthier, it has simultaneously caused an ever-rising threshold for first time home buyers, particularly when compounded with the credit regulations implemented during the last decade. With the intent of solving this issue, the concept Rent-to-Own has been introduced to Sweden and it is the purpose of this dissertation to investigate it’s properties and gauge it’s potential. Rent-to-Own allows individuals to partially or completely postpone their acquisition of a home until a predetermined interval or point in time while renting until then. Owning is financially more advantageous than renting in the mid- to long-term and it is in cases where a conventional outright purchase is not possible that Rent-to-Own is applicable. While this is the core notion, a number of adaptations have been developed both in Sweden and abroad. It is hence one of the objectives of this paper to deduce how an effective Rent-to-Own agreement should be structured. An additional reason for the relevance of this study is the fact that Rent-to-Own is a new and unfamiliar concept in Sweden. The current capacity is relatively low, specific regulations do not yet exist and Swedish research regarding the subject is finite. The methods employed for this paper have been adjusted based on these circumstances which has led to focus on a qualitative approach, primarily interviews with relevant parties, both in the private and political sphere. Considering that Rent-to-Own is a better-established matter abroad, information from providers of Rent-to-Own housing in such countries has complemented this work to a significant degree. Investigating the different forms of Rent-to-Own and interviewing real estate developers providing such acquisition options in Sweden has led to several conclusions. An analysis of the results implies that a successful variation of Rent-to-Own is uniform, comprehendible and most importantly adapted regarding the buyers’ saving capabilities. The results do also strongly indicate that Rent-to-Own in it’s current state is limited in it’s role as a mitigant of the housing shortage for first time home buyers. However, Rent-to-Own as an initiative by the corporations and companies combined with adjustments in credit regulations by the government resembles a more effective effort in lowering the entry barrier to the housing market to an adequate level