Location of deuteron sites in the proton conducting perovskite BaZr0.50In0.50O3−y

High-resolution neutron powder diffraction data have been collected on deuterated and dried samples of the perovskite BaZr_0.5In_0.5O_2.75 at 5 K and room temperature, respectively. Inspection of Fourier nuclear density maps for the deuterated phase have allowed the deuteron position to be refined on a 12h (1/2, y, 0) crystallographic site, with y = 0.217(4) yielding a chemically reasonable OD distance of 0.92(2) Å. Evidence for anisotropy of the deuteron position is also found consistent with a 24k crystallographic site (0.56, 0.21, 0) indicative of displacements of the ion towards neighbouring oxygen ions. The presence of static oxygen disorder in both the dried and deuterated samples is apparent from the structural analyses. Raman spectra confirm short range deviations from cubic symmetry for both dried and hydrated samples.     

Design evaluation by combination of repeated evaluation technique and measurement of electrodermal activity

Consumer product design needs design evaluation for obtaining information about consumers’ preferences and liking to optimize market success. Such evaluations are usually conducted in simple single-shot studies where consumers only once have to evaluate, for instance, the attractiveness of a design. However, innovative designs often break common visual habits by combining more or less familiar parts into a new concept (Carbon and Leder in Appl Cogn Psychol 19:587–601, 2005). Thus, when design innovation is realized in a too advanced way, such designs are expected to be rejected by perceivers at first glance due to low familiarity. However, from everyday experience, we know that consumers’ liking of products often is a dynamic process, which cannot be captured by simple single-shot studies. Carbon and Leder (Appl Cogn Psychol 19:587–601, 2005) have proposed the repeated evaluation technique (RET) for measuring such dynamic effects, which we have combined here with the measurement of electrodermal activity (EDA). The EDA data demonstrated that the RET captured dynamic effects, as the EDA showed specific sensitivity for highly innovative material only after the RET had been conducted; a cross-check with the same material analyzing item-specific boredom revealed that participants were much more bored by low innovative material over time than by highly innovative material. Thus RET seems to be a valuable tool for relevant affordances of design evaluation, particularly when innovative designs have to be evaluated.     

RFID – Radio Frequency Identification

Zusammenfassung  Der Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) wurde sowohl in der wissenschaftlichen als auch in der popul?rwissenschaftlichen Literatur in der letzten Zeit viel Aufmerksamkeit einger?umt. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Technologie, mit der Objekte der Realwelt über Funkwellen identifiziert werden k?nnen.     

THE INFLUENCE OF METAL-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS ON ENHANCEMENT AND INHIBITION OF ASPHALT OXIDATION

Addition of lime to paving asphalts is known to inhibit oxidative aging of pavements. The mechanism of the action of lime in retarding oxidation is not known. In this work, an asphalt was mixed with a vanadium chelate that is known to strongly promote oxidation in asphalts. This enhancement of oxidation was largely neutralized when the mixtures were combined with hydrated lime. It is possible that lime acts by suppressing the catalytic activity of naturally occurring vanadium compounds that occur in almost all asphalts, although other mechanisms for the action of lime are also possible. The use of vanadium compounds in asphalt aging tests also is discussed.     

Dynamic behavior of an activated sludge plant

The purpose of this paper is to study how and to what extent effluent BOD₅ is related to influent BOD₅ and flow in an activated sludge process. The analysis is based on data collected hourly over a 2-week period at a Wisconsin sewage treatment plant. The methodology applied to establish a dynamic model for the system is that of Box & Jenkins (1970). With this approach, stochastic and transfer function components can be combined to form a model. The relative importance of these two components can be quantitatively assessed. A simple first-order model is able to explain the data very well. In this empirical model, which does not need flow as a predictor variable, the stochastic component is much more important than the transfer function component. Frequent return sludge control is not needed for the plant studied because it possesses remarkable inherent stability.     

Hydrolysis of cationic polyacrylamides

The alkaline hydrolysis of two acrylamide-based polyelectrolytes has been investigated. The experiments were carried out in buffered aqueous solutions in the pH range of 3.5–8.5 and in the temperature range of 22–50°C. ¹³C-NMR analysis of the hydrolysis product showed that choline chloride was the substance released upon hydrolysis. The decrease in charge density of the copolymer due to the hydrolysis was studied by polyelectrolyte titration and nitrogen analysis. The results show that the rate of hydrolysis increased with increasing pH or increasing temperature. In the hydrolysis of C-PAM 1 at 22°C and pH 6, the half-life of the cationic groups was 10 days. At pH 7 the half-life was shorter, 24 h, and at pH 8.5 the reaction was very fast with a half-life of about 0.25 h. The charged groups on C-PAM 2, the polymer with the higher charge density of the two polymers studied, have somewhat longer half lives than those on C-PAM 1. This can be explained by the structure of the polymers.     

Back to thinking mode: diaries for the management of information systems development projects

From a practical point of view, systems development methods are important sources of inspiration for the planning and establishment projects, but only to a limited extent do they support the reflections and actions of the participants. We propose the use of diaries as a supplement to conventional methods of reflection on what actually happens and what could happen during the course of a project, i.e., we propose diaries as a medium for the management of information systems development projects. This idea is based on an exploratory study carried out in co-operation with a bank and a research department, and the idea is supported by theoretical arguments from different fields. In conclusion, some practical advice on how to use diaries is given together with some questions for further investigation.     

Self-discharge of the alkaline iron electrode

The self-discharge reaction, which is a hydrogen-evolving corrosion process, where the anode reaction is identical to the first discharge step, has been studied by three different methods: H₂-evolution, polarization curves and potentiodynamic discharge. The influence of 28 additives at 30, 50 and 70°C on both discharge and self-discharge is shown. Most additives decrease both the self-discharge and discharge rates but for K₂S and hydrazinesulphate added to the electroylte. These two additives have a positive influence on the discharge process of the iron electrode.     

SURFACE MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS FOR WOOD

Experimentally determined mass transfer coefficients for wood surfaces are often much lower than theoretically and experimentally determined coefficients for other surfaces. An investigation of this is made by comparing mass transfer coefficients for water and saturated non-wood surfaces, with coefficients measured for wood surfaces. It is found that measurements on wood surfaces are usually evaluated by assuming that Fick's law describes diffusion in wood. As this is not always true, it is proposed that the mass transfer coefficients measured on wood surfaces are low because the internal mass transfer in wood is not well understood. New measurements are presented which support this conclusiou.