Effect of the electrolyte composition on In and Ag–In alloy electrodeposition from cyanide electrolytes

A procedure for preparation of clear and stable indium cyanide electrolytes, containing indium salt, d(+)-Glucose and KCN is proposed. NMR investigations revealed that the formation of a complicated indium complex in which the products of the disintegration of d(+)-Glucose in the KCN-solution are closely situated to the indium ion ensures the clearness of the electrolyte. The effect of nitrate, chloride and sulphate ions on the electrochemical processes of indium and silver–indium alloy electrodeposition is studied by cyclic voltammetry. During alloy electrodeposition under galvanostatic conditions unique spatio–temporal structures are observed on the cathodic surface.     

On Reduction Systems Equivalent to the Non-associative Lambek Calculus with the Empty String

The article concludes a series of results on cut-rule axiomatizabilityof the Lambek calculus. It is proved that the non-associativeproduct-free Lambek calculus with the empty string (NL₀) isnot finitely axiomatizable if the only rule of inference admittedis Lambek's cut rule. The proof makes use of the (infinitely)cut-rule axiomatized calculus NC designed by the author exactlyfor that purpose.     

Cut-Rule Axiomatization of the Syntactic Calculus NL0

An axiomatics of the product-free syntactic calculus L ofLambek has been presented whose only rule is the cut rule. It was alsoproved that there is no finite axiomatics of that kind. The proofs weresubsequently simplified. Analogous results for the nonassociativevariant NL of L were obtained by Kandulski. InLambek's original version of the calculus, sequent antecedents arerequired to be nonempty. By removing this restriction, we obtain theextensions L ₀ and NL ₀ ofL and NL, respectively. Later, the finiteaxiomatization problem for L ₀ andNL ₀ was partially solved, viz., for formulas withoutleft (or, equivalently, right) division and an (infinite) cut-ruleaxiomatics for the whole of L ₀ has been given. Thepresent paper yields an analogous axiomatics forNL ₀. Like in the author's previous work, the notionof rank of an axiom is introduced which, although inessentialfor the results given below, may be useful for the expectednonfinite-axiomatizability proof.     

Effects of nickel foam dimensions on catalytic activity of supported Co–Mn–B nanocomposites for hydrogen generation from stabilized borohydride solutions

In the present work, the catalytic activity of electrodeposited Co–Mn–B nanocomposites towards controllable hydrolysis of sodium borohydride was studied. Deposition was performed on two types of Ni-foam (RECEMAT Int.) with different pore size, specific surface area and thickness. Higher deposit loading, as well as bigger real surface area, was obtained with foam samples possessing bigger pore size. The catalyst deposited on bigger pore foam promoted hydrogen generation with higher rates than the other one when contacted with a base-stabilized NaBH₄ solution. The same activation energy value, however, was determined for both supported catalysts. On the base of the obtained results, it may be concluded that the geometric factor plays predominant role for the catalytic activity of studied catalysts.     

Comparison of the Adomian decomposition method and the variational iteration method in solving the moving boundary problem

In this paper, a comparison between two methods: the Adomian decomposition method and the variational iteration method, used for solving the moving boundary problem, is presented. Both of the methods consist in constructing the appropriate iterative or recurrence formulas, on the basis of the equation considered and additional conditions, enabling one to determine the successive elements of a series or sequence approximating the function sought. The precision and speed of convergence of the procedures compared are verified with an example.     

Effect of electrolysis conditions on the deposition of silver–bismuth alloys

The electrochemical deposition and dissolution of silver, bismuth and silver–bismuth alloy from a cyanide–tartrate electrolyte were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry. The influence of the electrolyte composition on the electrochemical reactions is discussed. The deposition potentials of the two metals could be maintained close to each other by means of appropriate complex forming agents, leading to their codeposition. Silver deposition is the predominant reaction in the electrolyte studied and the bismuth content in the coating increases with increased current density. The dissolution potentials of the two metals are quite distinct; they differ by more than 0.5 V. In the presence of a free complex forming agent, both the deposition and the dissolution potentials of silver can be shifted in the negative direction. Depending on the type and amount of the complex forming agent, they can become more negative than the deposition and dissolution potentials of bismuth. Predominant deposition of bismuth is realized in this case and the codeposition of silver is enhanced at higher current densities. By varying the amount of the complex forming agent, silver–bismuth coatings of any desired composition can be obtained.     

Urinary mercury in adults in Poland living near a chloralkali plant

We conducted a study within the framework of the interdisciplinary European Mercury Emission from Chloralkali Plants (EMECAP) project to assess exposure to mercury (Hg) and the contribution of Hg emissions from a mercury cell chloralkali plant to urinary mercury (U-Hg) in adults living near the plant. We collected data from questionnaires and first morning urine samples from 75 subjects living near the Tarnow plant in Poland and 100 subjects living in a reference area. Median U-Hg was 0.32 mug/g creatinine (microg/gC) and 0.20 microg/gC, respectively. The median U-Hg was also higher in the amalgam-free subjects living near the plant (0.26 microg/gC) than in the reference group (0.18 microg/gC), but no such association was found in a multivariate analysis. There was a statistically significant positive association between U-Hg and number of teeth with amalgams, a negative association with age and a tendency towards higher U-Hg in female subjects. In the amalgam-free subjects there were statistically significant effects of female sex and fish consumption, and a negative association with age. The additional long-term average air Hg concentration from the plant, based on EMECAP environmental measurements and modelling, was estimated to be 1-3.5 ng/m(3) for the residential study area and should have a very small effect on U-Hg. The other Hg emission sources such as coal combustion facilities located nearby should be taken into account in assessing the overall impact of air Hg on U-Hg in this area.     

A cyclic voltammetric study of ferrocyanide-thiocyanate silver electrodeposition electrolyte

The electrochemical behaviour of ferrocyanide-thiocyanate electrolytes for silver electrodeposition was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The differences in the electrolyte preparation procedure do not affect their electrochemical behaviour at identical silver concentrations. The silver electrodeposition is characterized by two cathodic current maxima and by charge transfer limitations with a preceding chemical reaction. The dissolution of the electrodeposited silver is characterized by the formation of AgCN on the electrode and further dissolution by passivation and formation of oxide products, which are reduced during the next cathodic scan. The redox processes of iron from the ferrocyanide complex on Pt- and Ag-substrates, as well as the effect of the complex forming agents like SCN^–- and CN^–- ions are shown.     

Subglottic tracheal stenosis in Wegener''s granulomatosis. Report of 3 cases]

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess whether coadministration with grapefruit juice significantly affects the pharmacokinetics of amlodipine, a dihydropyridine class calcium antagonist with slow absorption, distribution and low plasma clearance. The primary objective was to evaluate whether short exposure to grapefruit juice could affect the metabolism of amlodipine to an extent similar to that previously demonstrated for other dihydropyridines (e.g. felodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine). METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers followed a randomised, open crossover study design, comparing the effect of a single oral dose of amlodipine (5 mg) taken together with a glass of grapefruit juice (250 ml) vs water. Blood samples to determine plasma concentration were taken and blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout the study. RESULTS: When amlodipine was coadministered with grapefruit juice, Cmax was 115% and AUC(0-72 h) was 116% compared with water, but tmax was not significantly changed. There were no significant differences in BP and HR between the two treatments. A small decrease in diastolic BP, however, was observed in both treatments 4-8 h after drug administration, coinciding with Cmax, but this was normalised after 12 h. The BP reduction seen was compensated by a slight increase in HR, which remained throughout the study. CONCLUSION: An interaction between grapefruit juice and amlodipine was demonstrated. The haemodynamic data showed that a dose of 5 mg was sufficient to achieve a BP reduction in healthy subjects, but the increase in amlodipine plasma concentration seen after intake of grapefruit juice was too small to significantly affect BP or HR. The clinical significance of this food/drug interaction, however, cannot be ignored since there is considerable variation between individuals and a more extensive intake of grapefruit juice might give more pronounced effects.     

Structure and properties of electrodeposited silver–bismuth alloys

The elemental and phase compositions, the deposition rate, the structure, and some physico-mechanical properties, such as hardness, wear resistance, roughness and internal stress of electrodeposited coatings of silver–bismuth alloy have been studied. The possibility of deposition of alloy coatings of desired composition depending on the electrolysis conditions and on the composition of the electrolyte used has been demonstrated. With increase in the Bi content in the coatings, hardness and wear resistance decrease, and at Bi contents higher than 50 wt.% the wear resistance remains unchanged. The roughness of the coatings is independent of their Bi content. The alloy coatings reveal a negative (compressive) internal stress. They consist of two phases and are heterogeneous both in the bulk and in the surface layer. A clearly expressed columnar structure is observed, the columns being of different phase composition. This structure is sometimes accompanied by a lamellar structure. The simultaneous deposition of phases with different Bi content leads to self-organization phenomena and formation of wave, spiral and target structures on the electrode surface.