Adsorption of Alkanethiols on Gold Surfaces: PM-IRRAS Study of the Influence of Terminal Functionality on Alkyl Chain Orientation

The present paper focuses on a simplified method to study the orientation and the anisotropy of two different alkanethiols self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces. The alkanethiols of interest vary only by their terminal functionalities (COOH and COOCH₃), thus allowing one to highlight the influence of these ending chemical groups on the final orientation of the adsorbed molecules. 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid [HS-(CH₂)₁₀-COOH] and the methyl-11-mercaptoundecanoate [HS-(CH₂)₁₀-COOCH₃] were grafted under adequate conditions to obtain a high grafting density on gold substrates. These latter, before and after the alkanethiol adsorption, were analyzed mainly by the polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) technique to access orientation angles, and by atomic force microscopy (AFM) to check the homogeneity of the grafted layer.

By applying an original PM-IRRAS simplified method, the results showed an orientation closer to the normal of the surface plane in the case of the acid thiol compared with the ester one, which is probably because of the lateral hydrogen bonds established between the adjacent COOH functions. This method offers a direct and simple way to quantify the orientation angles in the alkanethiol nanofilms.     

Structural Features and Transport Properties of La(Sr)Fe1-xNixO3-δ– Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-δ Nanocomposites—Advanced Materials for IT SOFC Cathodes

Mixed ionic?electronic conducting nanocomposites comprising complex oxides - perovskite (lanthanum-strontium nickelate-ferrite [LSFN]) and gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) have been prepared via ultrasonic dispersion of nanocrystalline powders of LSFN_x and GDC in organic solvent with addition of surfactant, followed by drying and sintering up to 1300°C. Their structural and surface properties have been studied by x-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) electron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy with elemental analysis, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results of impedance spectroscopy, oxygen isotope exchange, O₂ temperature-programmed desorption, weight, and conductivity relaxation experiments have revealed a strong positive effect of perovskite?fluorite nanodomain interfaces in composite on the oxygen mobility and reactivity. Testing in wet H₂/air feeds for a button-size cell with functionally graded LSFN_0.4–GDC cathode layer supported on a thin YSZ layer covering Ni/YSZ cermet has demonstrated high and stable performance, promising for the practical application in the intermediate temperature range.     

Using Fuzzy AHP to manage Intellectual Capital assets: An application to the ICT service industry

In today’s competitive business environment, Intellectual Capital (IC) management is ever more recognized as a fundamental factor in gaining competitive advantage. Actually, most firms have only a vague idea of how to manage investments in IC and what they should obtain from these investments. As a result, many companies overlook to balance IC investments, overinvesting in some IC components and neglecting other ones. Following this lead, the aim of the paper is to assess the relative importance of IC components, with respect to their contribution to the company value creation, in order to obtain guidelines for IC management and investments.We propose a model for IC evaluation by integrating Fuzzy Logic and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This Fuzzy AHP approach allows to capture and foster IC dynamics: experts and managers are greatly supported by the use of linguistic variables in the evaluation process of the company intangible assets. Finally, the application of the Fuzzy AHP methodology to a group of ICT service companies is presented.     

信号链的集成与去集成

研究了混合信号链中的每一个模块集成的可能性,重点讨论了ADC和DAC,并分析了模块功能的集成与去集成的利弊.     

I2-doped and pyrrole ring-iodinated semi-conducting oligomers of N-vinyl-3-alkyl-2-phenylpyrroles

I₂-doped and pyrrole ring-iodinated semi-conducting oligomers of N-vinyl-3-alkyl-2-phenylpyrroles have been synthesized by free-radical polymerization of the above monomers (AIBN, 2–5 wt%, 60–80 °C) and further exposure of the oligomers obtained to I₂ vapor. The parent oligomers exhibit paramagnetic and fluorescent properties and stable up to 300–370 °C.     

Sensitivity to ethanol-induced motor incoordination in 5-HT1B receptor null mutant mice is task-dependent: Implications for behavioral assessment of genetically altered mice.

Neuromuscular impairment by ethanol likely involves complex effects on balance, gait, muscle strength, and other features of motor coordination. The present experiments showed that relative sensitivity to ethanol-induced motor impairment in serotonin 1B (5-HT1B) null mutant and control mice was task dependent. We found that ethanol-treated null mutant mice made fewer missteps on a balance beam than did ethanol-treated wild-type mice, and confirmed a previous finding of their lesser ethanol sensitivity in the grid test. The genotypes did not differ in ethanol sensitivity as measured by the screen test, static dowel, fixed-speed rotarod, accelerating rotarod, grip strength, or loss of righting reflex tests. These experiments suggest that within a behavioral domain, alternative tests of function are not equivalent, so multiple assessment tools should be used to avoid misinterpretation of gene function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clients' sexually inappropriate behaviors directed toward clinicians: Conceptualization and management.

Sexually inappropriate behaviors in clinical settings are relatively common occurrences that may negatively affect the therapeutic process. For example, more than half of female psychologists have reported at least 1 incident in which a client responded in a sexually inappropriate manner. Thus, it is important for clinicians to understand inappropriate behaviors and respond in a manner that is both personally satisfying and helpful to the client. A framework for conceptualizing these behaviors is proposed, as well as components for, and examples of, therapeutic responses. Recommendations are provided for preventive measures to decrease the likelihood of inappropriate behaviors and for systemic approaches to benefit professional training in regards to these issues. Our aim is to stimulate further discussion of sexually inappropriate behaviors specifically by facilitating psychotherapists' ability to address clients' within-session sexual behavior, facilitating speculation of the antecedents of and motivations behind such behaviors, and facilitating discussion of such behaviors within supervision and, more broadly, within training programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing attendance at colorectal cancer screening: Testing the efficacy of a mailed, psychoeducational intervention in a community sample of older adults.

This article describes a trial of a psychoeducational intervention designed to modify negative attitudes toward flexible sigmoidoscopy screening and thereby increase screening attendance. The intervention materials addressed the multiple barriers shown to be associated with participation in earlier studies. Adults ages 55-64 (N=2,966), in a "harder-to-reach" group were randomized either to receive an intervention brochure or to a standard invitation group. Attitudes and expectations were assessed by questionnaire, and attendance at the clinic was recorded. Compared with controls, the intervention group had less negative attitudes, anticipated a more positive experience, and had a 3.6% higher level of attendance. These results indicate that psychoeducational interventions can provide an effective means of modifying attitudes and increasing rates of screening attendance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Misattribution of dissonance and behaviour-consistent attitude change.

Examined the prediction that people who have misattributed dissonance arousal to an external source may come to question the appropriateness of this attribution and may then be motivated to alter their attitudes. This was tested by having an experimenter discredit the plausibility of an external source after misattribution had presumably occurred. 80 female undergraduates participated in the study, with 16 of these Ss serving as controls. 64 Ss were given a pill described as having either unpleasant side effects or no side effects and then were committed to write counterattitudinal essays under high-choice conditions. Some Ss were then told that a mistake had been made and that they had actually been given the other form of the pill. As predicted, Ss who had initially been led to believe that the pill had aversive side effects but were later told that it did not manifested behavior-consistent attitude change. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)