Development and comparison of various rod-shaped mini-RE compositions based on Ag/AgCl for potentiometric applications

Several fundamentally similar, miniaturized solid-state reference electrode designs, their fabrication and comparison was described in this article. All electrodes were based on Ag/AgCl as their reference element. The best electrode...

Social influence and external feedback control in humans

This article aimed to describe social influence by elucidating the cognitive, affective, and motivational processes present when an individual is confronted with an influence attempt. We hypothesized that these processes are part of a feedback loop system in an individual, which entails a situation (input), a goal state (reference), a comparator, a selection mechanism, a feedback predictor, and an action (output). Each element can become the target of social influence. We aimed to classify/explain different social influences by how these elements are targeted. Trying to persuade another person with strong arguments (i.e., the “central route,” according to the Elaboration Likelihood Model) denotes targeting the goal state of the affected individual; coercion targets the selection mechanism; and violence targets action. Summarizing, the present framework aims to categorize, order, and explain phenomena in social influence research using a feedback loop framework focusing on the influenced individual.

Approximate Atomic Green Functions

In atomic and many-particle physics, Green functions often occur as propagators to formally represent the (integration over the) complete spectrum of the underlying Hamiltonian. However, while these functions are very crucial to describing many second- and higher-order perturbation processes, they have hardly been considered and classified for complex atoms. Here, we show how relativistic (many-electron) Green functions can be approximated and systematically improved for few- and many-electron atoms and ions. The representation of these functions is based on classes of virtual excitations, or so-called excitation schemes, with regard to given bound-state reference configurations, and by applying a multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock expansion of all atomic states involved. A first implementation of these approximate Green functions has been realized in the framework of Jac, the Jena Atomic Calculator, and will facilitate the study of various multi-photon and/or multiple electron (emission) processes.

A Paper-Based Potentiometric Platform for Determination of Water Hardness

A novel paper-based potentiometric platform for the simple and fast monitoring of water hardness is presented. First, potentiometric ion-selective electrodes for calcium and magnesium printed on a paper substrate were built and optimized. These sensors, which display near-Nernstian sensitivity, were used for the determination of the concentration of these cations and the calculation of the water hardness. Second, the incorporation of a solid-state reference electrode allowed building an integrated paper-based potentiometric cell for the determination of the hardness of artificial and real samples (mineral waters). The validation of the results shows good ability to predict hardness in the conventional scale. Truly decentralized measurements were demonstrated by integration of a miniaturized instrument and dedicated software in a portable device. The measurements were able to be performed in just under two minutes, including a two-point calibration. Since the method is simple to use and cost-effective, it can be implemented in domestic and industrial settings.

Studies of Indium Tin Oxide-Based Sensing Electrodes in Potentiometric Zirconia Solid Electrolyte Gas Sensors

A zirconia-based potentiometric solid electrolyte gas sensor with internal solid state reference was used to study the response behavior of platinum cermet and indium tin oxide sensing electrodes. Target gases included both oxygen and carbon monoxide in nitrogen-based sample gas mixtures. It was found that with the indium tin oxide sensing electrode, the low-temperature behavior is mainly a result of incomplete equilibration due to contaminations of the electrode surface. On the other hand, some of these contaminant species have been identified as being pivotal for the higher carbon monoxide sensitivity of the indium tin oxide sensing electrode as compared to platinum cermet electrodes.