The electropolymerization of pyrrole at a CuNi electrode: corrosion protection properties

Pyrrole was successfully electropolymerized at a copper–nickel electrode in a near-neutral sodium oxalate solution containing Cu²⁺ cations to generate a homogenous and adherent polypyrrole film. The presence of the Cu²⁺ ions increased both the rate of the electropolymerization reaction and the adherence of the polymer at the CuNi interface. In the absence of these cations, oxidation of the electrode occurred generating a nickel-rich layer that was not sufficiently conducting, under the electropolymerization conditions employed, to facilitate the electron-transfer reaction and the electropolymerization of pyrrole.These films remained stable and exhibited significant corrosion protection properties in acidified and neutral 0.1 mol dm⁻³ NaCl solutions even on polarization of the electrodes to high anodic potentials.     

Contribution of listeners' approaching motion to auditory distance perception.

Of the several sources of acoustic information for distance perception, those arising from motion of the listener or sound source have received little attention. This motion-related information (recently called acoustic tau) is described, and experiments evaluating its utilization are presented. Accuracy and consistency at walking to the locations of briefly presented sounds were better when people listened while walking than while standing still. Manipulations of the sound to simulate shorter or longer target distances produced appropriate undershooting but not overshooting. The results indicate that people use motion-related acoustic information about distance to guide their locomotor actions, although they do not take full advantage of this information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diffusion with simultaneous immobilization in polymer–dye systems. I. Diffusion of the cationic dye anilana red BL in the anionically modified polyester fiber dilana

The diffusion coefficient of the cationic dye Anilana Red BL in the anionically modified polyester fiber Dilana has been calculated regarding a general diffusion-immobilization model. In the model the mobile species are distinguished from the immobilized ones. In computations of Sand's equation and experimentally determined sorption isotherm of the dye in the fiber, the rate-of-dyeing curve and the concentration profiles of the dye in the same fiber were employed. The diffusion coefficient of the mobile species of Anilana Red BL in the fiber is two orders of magnitude higher than the average diffusion coefficient obtained from Hill's equation and the apparent diffusion coefficient calculated by the Boltzmann–Matano method.     

Water quality assessment of a recently refilled reservoir: The case of Bütgenbach Reservoir, Belgium

Bütgenbach Reservoir is situated in the High Ardennes plateau in eastern Belgium (50°25′N; 6°13′E). It is used principally for flood control and for production of hydroelectric energy. It has been subjected to a previous series of studies because of its eutrophication problems and their impacts on the local economy. Bütgenbach Reservoir was emptied during spring 2004 for dam restoration, being refilled in mid‐September of the same year. Selected physicochemical and biological parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, inorganic and organic nutrients, chlorophyll‐a) were measured fortnightly during the lake's productive season (mid‐April to mid‐October 2005) at three sampling sites throughout the water column. The water quality conditions after refilling of the lake were compared to previous studies accomplished at the same sampling sites (prior to emptying the lake). The actual trophic status was mesotrophic to eutrophic, based on the combination of total phosphorous and chlorophyll‐a concentrations, as well as water transparency. Bütgenbach Reservoir generally exhibits good water quality, based on the French water quality system SEQ‐eau. A longitudinal decrease in water quality was observed from upstream to downstream, because mainly of the differences in lake bottom morphology and water residence time, and their impacts on nutrient distribution in the lake.     

Direct Methods Optimised for Solving Crystal Structure by Powder Diffraction Data: Limits,Strategies, and Prospects

The ab-initio crystal structure solution by powder diffraction data requires great efforts because of the collapse of the experimental information onto the one dimensional 2θ axis of the pattern. Different strategies will be described aiming at improving the process of extraction of the integrated intensities from the experimental pattern in order to make more straightforward the structure solution process by direct methods. Particular attention will be devoted to the EXPO program. Some of its performance will be analysed and results will be shown.     

Identification of aroma components of Spanish ‘Verdejo’ wine

Aroma components of ine resulting from fermentation of grape must from the Verdejo cultivar ere isolated by continuous liquid-liquid extraction and further fractionation on a silica gel column. One hundred and thirty-to substances, including alcohols, esters, carbonyl compounds, terpenes, acids and sulphur compounds, ere identified by using GC-MS; some had not been previously detected in ines. Data are given hich could lead to the characterisation of the Verdejo cultivar and the effect of the elaboration of young ines. The sensory contribution of some volatile compounds to the flavour of Verdejo ine is also studied.