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Duality of spaces and the origin of integral reflection conditions

The reciprocal of a non-primitive unit cell is not a unit cell and the basis vectors do not correspond to cell lengths.




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Animations, videos and 3D models for teaching space-group symmetry

Animations, videos and 3D models have been designed to visualize the effects of symmetry operators on selected cases of crystal structures, pointing out the relationship with the diagrams published in International Tables for Crystallography, Vol. A.




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Sheet-on-sheet fixed target data collection devices for serial crystallography at synchrotron and XFEL sources

Fixed targets (`chips') offer efficient, high-throughput microcrystal delivery for serial crystallography at synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). Within this family, sheet-on-sheet (SOS) chips offer noteworthy advantages in cost, adaptability, universality and ease of crystal loading. We describe our latest generation of SOS devices, which are now in active use at both synchrotrons and XFELs.




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Laboratory X-ray powder micro-diffraction in the research of painted artworks

This review summarizes the methodological aspects of laboratory X-ray powder micro-diffraction and demonstrates the assets of the method in the research of painted artworks for evaluation of their provenance or diagnosing their degradation.




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The smearing function for a multi-slit very small angle neutron scattering instrument

This study validates the feasibility of applying a smearing method for the multi-slit very small angle neutron scattering instrument (MS-VSANS) at the China Spallation Neutron Source. Through analysis limited to a vertical range of 8 mm, the study demonstrates consistency between the predicted smearing function and experimental data, marking a significant milestone in utilizing real data from such instruments.




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Mapping domain structures near a grain boundary in a lead zirconate titanate ferroelectric film using X-ray nanodiffraction

Direct measurements have been taken of nanoscale domain structure in ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate around a grain boundary. Characterizing the evolution of this structure under an electric field is critical for predicting dielectric and piezoelectric response.




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Optimizing crucible geometry to improve the quality of AlN crystals by the physical vapor transport method

The growth quality of AlN single crystals was improved by optimizing the crucible structure for Al vapor transport with the help of finite element simulation.




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Grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering at high pressure (HP-GISANS): a soft matter feasibility study on grafted brush films

We present a demonstration of high-pressure grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering for soft matter thin films. The results suggest changes in water reorganization at different pressures.




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A micro-beamstop with transmission detection by fluorescence for scanning-beam synchrotron scattering beamlines

The correct determination of X-ray transmission at X-ray nanoprobes equipped with small beamstops for small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering collection is an unsolved problem with huge implications for data correction pipelines. We present a cost-effective solution to detect the transmission via the X-ray fluorescence of the beamstop with an avalanche photodiode.




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Integrating machine learning interatomic potentials with hybrid reverse Monte Carlo structure refinements in RMCProfile

New software capabilities in RMCProfile allow researchers to study the structure of materials by combining machine learning interatomic potentials and reverse Monte Carlo.




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Improving the reliability of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements of anisotropic precipitates in metallic alloys using sample rotation

Rotations of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering samples during acquisition are shown to give a drastic improvement in the reliability of the characterization of anisotropic precipitates in metallic alloys.




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Understanding secondary order parameters in perovskites with tilted octahedra

A symmetry guide for the secondary structural degrees of freedom and related physical properties generated by tilts of BX6 octahedra in perovskites is proposed.




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Multi-scale and time-resolved structure analysis of relaxor ferroelectric crystals under an electric field

The electric field responses of the average and local lattice strains and polar nanoregions of relaxor ferroelectric PMN-30PT single crystals were revealed by multi-scale and time-resolved X-ray diffraction under DC and AC electric fields.




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AnACor2.0: a GPU-accelerated open-source software package for analytical absorption corrections in X-ray crystallography

AnACor2.0 significantly accelerates the calculation of analytical absorption corrections in long-wavelength crystallography, achieving up to 175× speed improvements. This enhancement is achieved through innovative sampling techniques, bisection and gridding methods, and optimized CUDA implementations, ensuring efficient and accurate results.




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The effects of low boron incorporation on the structural and optical properties of BxGa1−xN/SiC epitaxial layers

The effect of boron in BxGa1−xN/SiC heteroepitaxy was established by X-ray diffraction reciprocal-space maps on symmetric 0002 and asymmetric 11 {overline 2} 4 reflections. The density of screw and edge threading dislocations was quantified in the framework of the mosaic model.




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Exploiting Friedel pairs to interpret scanning 3DXRD data from complex geological materials

A new processing technique for synchrotron scanning 3D X-ray diffraction data is introduced, utilizing symmetric Bragg reflections hkl and hkl, known as Friedel pairs. This technique is designed to tackle the difficulties associated with large, highly deformed, polyphase materials, especially geological samples.




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Towards expansion of the MATTS data bank with heavier elements: the influence of the wavefunction basis set on the multipole model derived from the wavefunction

This study examines the quality of charge density obtained by fitting the multipole model to wavefunctions in different basis sets. The complex analysis reveals that changing the basis set quality from double- to triple-zeta can notably improve the charge density related properties of a multipole model.




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Real-time analysis of liquid-jet sample-delivery stability for an X-ray free-electron laser using machine vision

This paper describes real-time statistical analysis of liquid jet images for SFX experiments at the European XFEL. This analysis forms one part of the automated jet re-alignment system for SFX experiments at the SPB/SFX instrument of European XFEL.




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Small-angle scattering and dark-field imaging for validation of a new neutron far-field interferometer

A neutron far-field interferometer is under development at NIST with the aim of enabling a multi-scale measurement combining the best of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron imaging and tomography. We use the close relationship between SANS, ultra-SANS, spin-echo SANS and dark-field imaging and measurements of monodisperse spheres as a validation metric, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each of these neutron techniques.




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PyFaults: a Python tool for stacking fault screening

Here, an open-source Python library for identifying and screening potential stacking fault models in crystalline materials with planar disorder is presented.




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Symmetry groups of the Batak basketweave patterns

The symmetry groups of the weave patterns of the baskets, trays and mats of the Batak, an indigenous community in the Philippines, are discussed in this paper. The two-way twofold weaving technique is used by the Batak, and this study points to a total of 15 layer groups found in the Batak weaves out of the 80 layer groups known in crystallography.




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Characterization and calibration of DECTRIS PILATUS3 X CdTe 2M high-Z hybrid pixel detector for high-precision powder diffraction measurements

The performance of a high-Z photon-counting detector for powder diffraction measurements at high (>50 keV) energies is characterized, and the appropriate corrections are described in order to obtain data of higher quality than have previously been obtained from 2D detectors in these energy ranges.




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Modulating phase segregation during spin-casting of fullerene-based polymer solar-cell thin films upon minor addition of a high-boiling co-solvent

Combined 100 ms resolved grazing-incidence small/wide-angle X-ray scattering and optical interferometry reveal that the additive diiodooctane can significantly double the solvent evaporation rate, thereby effectively suppressing the rapid spinodal decomposition process in the early stage of spin-coasting, favouring slow phase segregation kinetics with nucleation and growth.




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Position-independent product increase rate in a shaker mill revealed by position-resolved in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction

The position- and time-resolved monitoring of a mechanochemical reaction using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction revealed a position-independent increase rate of product in the jar of a shaker mill.




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Non-invasive nanoscale imaging of protein micro- and nanocrystals for screening crystallization conditions

The article presents a non-invasive nanoscale imaging technique that can be used in screening crystallization conditions for protein micro- and nanocrystals.




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RAPID, an ImageJ macro for indexing electron diffraction zone axis spot patterns of cubic materials

RAPID (RAtio method Pattern InDexing) is an ImageJ macro script developed for the quick determination of sample orientation and indexing of calibrated and uncalibrated zone axis aligned electron diffraction patterns from materials with a cubic crystal structure. In addition to SAED and NBED patterns, the program is also capable of handling zone axis TEM Kikuchi patterns and FFTs derived from HR(S)TEM images. The software enables users to rapidly determine whether materials are cubic, pseudo-cubic, or non-cubic, and to distinguish between P, I, and F Bravais lattices. It can also provide lattice parameters for material verification and aid in determining the camera constant of the instrument, thus making the program a convenient tool for on-site crystallographic analysis in the TEM laboratory.




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Optimal operation guidelines for direct recovery of high-purity precursor from spent lithium-ion batteries: hybrid operation model of population balance equation and data-driven classifier

This study proposes an operation optimization framework for impurity-free recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries. Using a hybrid population balance equation integrated with a data-driven condition classifier, the study firstly identifies the optimal batch and semi-batch operation conditions that significantly reduce the operation time with 100% purity of product; detailed guidelines are given for industrial applications.




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Advanced EXAFS analysis techniques applied to the L-edges of the lanthanide oxides

The L-edge EXAFS of the entire set of lanthanide oxides were collected and modeled, taking into consideration the aggregation of inequivalent absorbing sites, geometric parameterization of the crystal lattice and multielectron excitation removal.




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TOMOMAN: a software package for large-scale cryo-electron tomography data preprocessing, community data sharing and collaborative computing

Here we describe TOMOMAN (TOMOgram MANager), an extensible open-sourced software package for handling cryo-electron tomography data preprocessing. TOMOMAN streamlines interoperability between a wide range of external packages and provides tools for project sharing and archival.




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Multimodal reconstruction of TbCo thin-film structure with Bayesian analysis of polarized neutron reflectivity

For the first time, a multimodal reconstruction of a magnetic thin-film structure has been found using polarised neutron reflectivity. This has been achieved by implementing the Bayesian approach in combination with error correction based on the maximum likelihood method and instrument function optimization.




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GRASP Integrated 3D Plotter: GRIP

This article describes the implementation of GRIP as a module of GRASP, enabling the fully three-dimensional visualization and analysis of data collected on small-angle neutron scattering instruments.




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Specific radiation damage to halogenated inhibitors and ligands in protein–ligand crystal structures

This article reports an investigation into the effects of specific radiation damage to halogenated ligands in crystal structures of protein-inhibitor complexes.




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High accuracy, high resolution measurements of fluorescence in manganese using extended-range high-energy-resolution fluorescence detection

We explain analysis of RIXS, HERFD and XR-HERFD data to discover new physical processes in manganese and manganese-containing materials, by applying our new technique XR-HERFD, developed from high resolution RIXS and HERFD.




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Effect of thickness and noise on angular correlation analysis from scanning electron nanobeam diffraction of disordered carbon

The impact of sample thickness and experimental noise on angular correlation analysis from scanning electron nanobeam diffraction patterns of disordered carbon are investigated and analyzed regarding the interpretability of the analysis results.




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Variable temperature studies of tetra­pyridine­silver(I) hexa­fluoro­phosphate and tetra­pyridine­silver(I) hexa­fluoro­anti­monate

Structures of tetra­pyridine­silver(I) hexa­fluoro­phosphate and tetra­pyridine silver(I) hexa­fluoro­anti­monate are reported from data collected at 300 K and 100 K.




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The cadmium oxidotellurates(IV) Cd5(TeO3)4(NO3)2 and Cd4Te5O14

The crystal structure of Cd5(TeO3)4(NO3)2 exhibits a distinct layered arrangement, whereas Cd4Te5O14 crystallizes with a framework structure.




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Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of bis­(benzoyl­acetonato)(ethanol)dioxidouranium(VI)

In the complex, the ligand binds to the metal through an oxygen atom. The geometry of the seven-coordinate U atom is penta­gonal bipyramidal, with the uranyl O atoms in apical positions.




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Synthesis and structure of penta­kis­(2-aminopyridinium) nona­vanado(V)tellurate(VI)

In the title compound, the tellurium(VI) and vanadium(V) atoms are statistically disordered over two of the ten metal-atom sites in the unprotonated [TeV9O28]5– heteropolyanion.




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Crystal structures and circular dichroism of {2,2'-[(1S,2S)-1,2-di­phenyl­ethane-1,2-diylbis(nitrilophenyl­methanylyl­idene)]diphenolato}nickel(II) and its ethanol solvate

A chiral nickel(II) Schiff base complex derived from 2-hy­droxy­benzo­phenone and (1S,2S)-1,2-di­phenyl­ethyl­enedi­amine shows a λ conformation of the central di­amine chelate ring. The substituents on the C&z-dbnd;N carbon atoms significantly affect the circular dichroism spectra.




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Crystal structure and Hirshfeld-surface analysis of an etoxazole metabolite designated R13

The crystal structure of a metabolite of the insecticide/acaricide etoxazole, designated R13 is presented along with a Hirshfeld surface analysis of inter­molecular inter­actions present in the crystal structure.




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Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, DFT and mol­ecular docking studies of ethyl 5-amino-2-bromo­isonicotinate

Theoretical and experimental structural studies of the title compound were undertaken using X-ray and DFT methods. The inter­actions present in the crystal were analyzed using Hirshfeld surface and MEP surface analysis. Docking studies with a covid-19 main protease (PDB ID: 6LU7) as the target receptor indicate that the synthesized compound may be a potential candidate for pharmaceutical applications.




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Crystal structure of 1,10-phenanthrolinium violurate violuric acid penta­hydrate

The crystal structure of the co-crystal salt solvate 1,10-phenanthrolinium violurate violuric acid penta­hydrate features a tri-periodic hydrogen-bonded network with the violurate and violuric acid residues each assembled into tapes and the phenanthrolinium cations residing in channels.




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Crystal structure of AlPCl8

The crystal structure of aluminium phospho­rus chloride was determined and refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the ortho­rhom­bic space group Pbcm with the asymmetric unit comprises one Al atom, one P atom, and five Cl atoms. The structure is characterized by isolated AlCl4 and PCl4 tetra­hedra, isostructural with FePCl8 and GaPCl8.




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Crystal structure of a solvated dinuclear CuII complex derived from 3,3,3',3'-tetraethyl-1,1'-(furan-2,5-dicarbonyl)bis(thiourea)

In the title compound, [Cu2(L)2]·2CH2Cl2, the CuII ions coordinate two (S,O)-chelating aroyl­thio­urea moieties of doubly deprotonated furan-2,5-di­carbonyl­bis­(N,N-di­ethyl­thio­urea) (H2L) ligands. The coordination geometry of the metal centers is best described as a flat isosceles trapezoid with a cis arrangement of the donor atoms.




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Crystal structures of two polymorphs for fac-bromido­tricarbon­yl[4-(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)thia­zole-κ2N,N']rhenium(I)

Crystallization of the title compound from CH2Cl2/n-pentane (1:5 v/v) at room temperature gave two polymorphs, which crystallize in monoclinic (P21/c; α form) and ortho­rhom­bic (Pna21; β form) space groups. The ReI complex mol­ecules in either polymorph adopt a six-coordinate octa­hedral geometry with three facially-oriented carbonyl ligands, one bromido ligand, and two nitro­gen atoms from one chelating ligand ppt-OMe. In the crystal, both polymorph α and β form di-periodic sheet-like architectures supported by multiple hydrogen bonds.




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Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface, DFT and mol­ecular docking studies of 2-{4-[(E)-(4-acetylphen­yl)diazen­yl]phen­yl}-1-(5-bromo­thio­phen-2-yl)ethanone; a bromine⋯oxygen type contact

The title compound is a non-liquid crystal mol­ecule. The mol­ecular crystal is consolidated by C—Br⋯O&z-dbnd;C type contacts running continuously along the [001] direction.




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Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)picolinamide

The mol­ecular and crystal structure of N-(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)picolinamide were studied and Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots were generated to investigate various inter­molecular inter­actions.




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Welcoming two new Co-editors





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Crystal structure of N-terminally hexahistidine-tagged Onchocerca volvulus macrophage migration inhibitory factor-1

N-terminally hexahistidine-tagged O. volvulus macrophage migration inhibitory factor-1 has a unique jellyfish-like structure with the prototypical macrophage migration inhibitory factor trimer as the `head' and a C-terminal extension as the `tail'.