Modeling Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Using Time-Dependent Finite Element Method.

A time-dependent electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) model is presented using the finite element method (FEM) to simulate a 2D interdigitated electrode in an aqueous NaCl electrolyte. Developed in COMSOL Multiphysics, the model incorporates ion transport, electric field distribution, Stern layer effects, and electrode sheet resistance, governed by the Poisson and Nernst-Planck equations. This model can predict the transient current response to an applied excitation voltage, which gives information about the dynamics of the electrochemical system.

Application of Cost Effective and Real-Time Resistivity Sensor to Study Early Age Concrete.

Concrete is a widely used construction material, demanding strict quality control to maintain its integrity. The durability and lifespan of concrete structures rely heavily, amongst other factors, on the characteristics of fresh and early age concrete, which are strongly dependent on the curing process. To ensure long-term durability, it is crucial to assess concrete properties throughout construction and verify compliance with design specifications.

Towards metal-organic framework based field effect chemical sensors: UiO-66-NH for nerve agent detection.

We present a highly sensitive gas detection approach for the infamous 'nerve agent' group of alkyl phosphonate compounds. Signal transduction is achieved by monitoring the work function shift of metal-organic framework UiO-66-NH coated electrodes upon exposure to ppb-level concentrations of a target simulant. Using the Kelvin probe technique, we demonstrate the potential of electrically insulating MOFs for integration in field effect devices such as ChemFETs: a three orders of magnitude improvement over previous work function-based detection of nerve agent simulants.

Are virtues national, supranational, or universal?

Many studies investigated cultural differences in values, most notably by Hofstede and Schwarz. Relatively few have focused on virtues, a related and important concept in contemporary social science. The present paper examines the similarities and differences between nations, or blocks of - culturally related - nations on the perceived importance of virtues.

Multicultural personality questionnaire: development of a short form.

This study reports on the development of the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire-Short Form among 511 participants. Using a split-sample scale validation design, Study 1 (N = 260) employed a principal component analysis and rigorous item selection criteria to extract a 40-item short form (MPQ-SF) from the original 91-item Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; van der Zee & van Oudenhoven, 2000, 2001). In Study 2 (N = 251), the MPQ-SF was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis and resulted in a reasonably good fit to the data (comparative fit index = .

Effects of country size and language similarity on international attitudes: a six-nation study.

Linguistically similar neighbouring nations that differ in size are often asymmetrical in their attitudinal relations towards each other: Citizens of smaller nations tend to see larger nations as less likeable and less similar than vice versa. We hypothesized that the smaller nations' reaction is the consequence of a threatened identity due to its relative size combined with too much similarity on a vital part of its identity, namely language. To test this hypothesis, 832 high-school students from six different ethnic/national entities (France, Germany, Austria, the French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland, the French- and Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium, and The Netherlands) completed a questionnaire on liking and similarity ratings.

Attachment styles and demographic factors as predictors of sociocultural and psychological adjustment of Eastern European immigrants in the Netherlands.

The present study examined the relationship between adult attachment styles and psychological and sociocultural adjustment of Polish, Russian, and Hungarian immigrants (N = 631) to Dutch society. In addition, it also examined the relationship between demographic factors and adjustment and compared the predictive value of attachment styles and demographic factors for immigrants' adjustment. The Attachment Style Questionnaire was used to assess respondents' attachment.

Personality, threat, and cognitive and emotional reactions to stressful intercultural situations.

The present study examined individual differences in appraisal of and affective reactions to intercultural situations. A sample of 160 students filled out the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) and participated in an experiment in which they received a description of an intercultural situation that was either high or low in potential stressfulness. Individuals with high scores on the intercultural dimensions appraised the potentially stressful situation more positively and showed more positive and less negative reactions to the situation than did individuals with low scores on the MPQ.

Congenital aural atresia. A new subclassification and surgical management.

The four surgical methods currently in use to improve hearing in patients with congenital aural atresia are (i) fenestration of the lateral semicircular canal, (ii) type III tympanoplasty, (iii) canal plasty and (iv) canal plasty with homograft tympanoplasty. Because the surgery is difficult and the functional results are not always good, the criteria for surgery are also influenced as to whether the anomaly is unilateral or bilateral and what the cosmetic goal is. When aural rehabilitation and cosmetic surgery are contemplated, co-ordinated planning by the otological and plastic surgeon is necessary to attain the best end result.