Comparative study of total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity of conventionally and organically grown herbs

The aim of the present study was to measure the relative phenolic content in commonly available conventionally and organically grown herbs and to evaluate their antioxidant capacity. Sage (Salvia officinalis), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and peppermint (Mentha x piperita) leaves, corriander (Corriandrum sativum) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds were used in the present investigation. Total phenolic content (TPhC), measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method, and radical scavenging activity (RSA), using DPPH method were determined in infusions prepared from above mentioned herbs. TPhC ranged from 75.9 to 1126.5 gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg/l infusion and RSA – from 7.03 to 91.65%. The obtained data also showed that infusions prepared from organically grown sage, peppermint and lemon balm were slightly higher than those obtained from conventionally grown herbs

Kinetic hindrance during the initial oxidation of Pd(100) at ambient pressures

The oxidation of the Pd(100) surface at oxygen pressures in the 10^-6 to 10^3 mbar range and temperatures up to 1000 K has been studied in-situ by surface x-ray diffraction (SXRD). The results provide direct structural information on the phases present in the surface region and on the kinetics of the oxide formation. Depending on the (T,p) environmental conditions we either observe a thin sqrt(5) x sqrt(5) R27 surface oxide or the growth of a rough, poorly ordered bulk oxide film of PdO predominantly with (001) orientation. By either comparison to the surface phase diagram from first-principles atomistic thermodynamics or by explicit time-resolved measurements we identify a strong kinetic hindrance to the bulk oxide formation even at temperatures as high as 675 K.Comment: 4 pages including 4 figures, Related publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm

The 22-year cycle in the geomagnetic 27-day recurrences reflecting on the F2-layer ionization

Solar cycle variations of the amplitudes of the 27-day solar rotation period reflected in the geomagnetic activity index <i>A<sub>p</sub></i>, solar radio flux F10.7cm and critical frequency <i>fo</i>F2 for mid-latitude ionosonde station Moscow from the maximum of sunspot cycle 18 to the maximum of cycle 23 are examined. The analysis shows that there are distinct enhancements of the 27-day amplitudes for <i>fo</i>F2 and <i>A<sub>p</sub></i> in the late declining phase of each solar cycle while the amplitudes for F10.7cm decrease gradually, and the <i> fo</i>F2 and <i>A<sub>p</sub></i> amplitude peaks are much larger for even-numbered solar cycles than for the odd ones. Additionally, we found the same even-high and odd-low pattern of <i>fo</i>F2 for other mid-latitude ionosonde stations in Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This property suggests that there exists a 22-year cycle in the F2-layer variability coupled with the 22-year cycle in the 27-day recurrence of geomagnetic activity.<br><br> <b>Key words.</b> Ionosphere (mid-latitude ionosphere; ionosphere- magnetosphere interactions) – Magnetospheric physics (solar wind-magnetosphere interactions

The ATLAS Tracking Geometry Description

Track reconstruction requires a detector geometry description for the usage in track extrapolation processes and material effects integration during track finding and track fitting. Since, in general, the more realistic detector description used in full detector simulation causes an unacceptable increase of CPU time consumption when being used in track reconstruction, the reconstruction geometry is realised as a simplified description of the actual detector layout. This documents presents the data classes of the newly developed ATLAS reconstruction geometry and describes its building process for the ATLAS CSC detector layouts. Additionally a comparison of the material budget described by the reconstruction geometry with one used in full detector simulation will be presented for the Inner Detector and the Calorimeter

Construction and analysis of surface phase diagrams to describe segregation and dissolution behavior of Al and Ca in Mg alloys

Segregation and dissolution behavior of Mg alloyed with Ca and Al are studied by performing density functional theory calculations considering an extensive set of surface structures and compositions. Combining a McLean-like approach to describe disordered surface structures with ab initio surface science approaches for ordered surface structures we construct surface phase diagrams for these alloys. We utilize these diagrams to study segregation phenomena and chemical trends for surfaces in contact with a dry environment or with an aqueous electrolyte. We show that the presence of water dramatically impacts the stability and chemical composition of the considered metallic surfaces. We furthermore find that the two alloying elements behave qualitatively different: whereas Ca strongly segregates to the surface and becomes dissolved upon exposure of the surface to water, Al shows an anti-segregation behavior, i.e., it remains in Mg bulk. These findings provide an explanation for the experimentally observed increase/decrease in corrosion rates when alloying Mg with Al/Ca

Understanding the Impact of Perceived Negative Consequences on Personal Health Information Disclosure: The Case of Ghana

In developing countries increased investments in electronic health record (EHR) systems are fueling efforts to digitize personal health information (PHI). However, in countries where widespread diseases such as HIV/AIDS are heavily stigmatized, people may not want to disclose their health information fearing that digitization may lead to privacy loss and negative consequences should unintended others know about their infection. Drawing on the privacy calculus, this study will use a scenario-based survey approach to examine the impacts of particular negative consequences (i.e. emotional, economic, social consequences) alongside trust and privacy concerns on individuals’ PHI disclosure decisions in digitized settings. The results are expected to provide insights into the impact of negative consequences and yield recommendations to practice on addressing such concerns about the privacy management of people’s PH