4-氨基苯硫酚在金电极上电化学转变过程的表面增强拉曼光谱及其理论研究

采用循环伏安法和表面增强拉曼散射现场研究了酸性溶液中4-氨基苯硫酚(PATP)在金电极表面的电化学转变过程, 并结合密度泛函理论(DFT)对光谱进行了指认, 由此确定电极表面的最终产物. 研究结果表明, PATP分子在电极表面首先氧化为阳离子自由基, 该自由基与邻近的分子通过头尾相接生成二聚体4'-巯基-N-苯基苯醌二亚胺, 随后发生水解反应生成4'-巯基-N-苯基苯醌单亚胺. 用DFT在B3LYP/6-311＋G** (C, N, S, H)/ LANL2DZ (Au)水平上计算模拟4'-巯基-N-苯基苯醌二亚胺在金表面的拉曼光谱, 结果与所获得的表面拉曼光谱较好吻合, 平均相对偏差约为2.1%.     

Growth mechanism of penniform BaWO4 nanostructures in catanionic reverse micelles involving polymers

The formation of penniform BaWO4 nanostructures made of nanowires or nanobelts under the direction of a block copolymer in catanionic reverse micelles has been studied in detail. On the basis of the experimental results obtained from the BaWO4 crystallization in aqueous polymer solutions and careful transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of BaWO4 nanostructures formed in reverse micelles containing polymers, a detailed two-stage growth mechanism has been proposed for the formation of the penniform nanostructures in reverse micelles, which involves the polymer-controlled shaft formation (Stage 1) and the mixed surfactants-controlled barb growth (Stage 2). During Stage 1, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) (PEG-b-PMAA) induced the formation of c-axis-oriented shuttle-like nanocrystals and the subsequent oriented attachment of these shuttle-like nanocrystals resulted in the formation of [100]-oriented shafts with many parallel [001]-oriented pricks. During Stage 2, [001]-oriented nanowires or nanobelts grew gradually from the pricks into barbs, leading to the formation of well-defined penniform BaWO4 nanostructures with the barb morphology essentially determined by the mixing ratio r of the anionic to cationic surfactants (i.e., nanowires were formed at r=1 while nanobelts were formed at r deviating from 1). The current understanding of the growth mechanism of penniform BaWO4 nanostructures in catanionic reverse micelles involving polymers may be potentially applied for designing a new synthesis system for the controlled synthesis of other hierarchical 1D nanostructures with desired architectures.     

表面活性剂作用下谷胱甘肽单分子膜的离子门响应

将谷胱甘肽自组装在金电极表面,在表面活性剂存在下,以铁氰化钾及苯醌作为探针,用循环伏安法研究了修饰在金电极表面的谷胱甘肽单分子膜的电化学行为。实验发现在阳离子表面活性剂作用下,谷胱甘肽膜存在离子门行为,修饰电极表面的电子传输随阳离子表面活性剂浓度的增加而增加。阴离子表面活性剂对氧化还原探针在修饰电极上的电化学响应显示出一定的抑制作用。     

季铵盐型Gemini表面活性剂在金表面的吸附行为

以邻苯二酚(CC)为电化学探针, 利用循环伏安、交流阻抗等方法研究了不同阳离子Gemini表面活性剂(C16H33(CH3)2N-C4H8-N(CH3)2C16H33 (C16-C4-C16)、C12H25(CH3)2N-C4H8-N(CH3)2C12H25 (C12-C4-C12)、C8H17(CH3)2N-C4H8-N(CH3)2C8H17 (C8-C4-C8))在金电极表面的吸附性能. 结果表明, CC在KNO3溶液中可产生两对峰; 当向溶液中加入阳离子Gemini表面活性剂时, 第一对峰降低, 第二对峰升高, 峰电位差变大; 碳链长的表面活性剂对CC的氧化还原峰的影响较大. 同样, 碳链长的表面活性剂使电极界面的阻抗增大较多, 使石英晶片的频率变化较大. 根据CC的第一个氧化峰的面积随表面活性剂吸附的变化, 估测了它们的吸附模式. 发现这三种表面活性剂在金电极表面的吸附基本符合Langmuir吸附模型.     

Size-controlled synthesis and growth mechanism of monodisperse tellurium nanorods by a surfactant-assisted method

This article describes a surfactant-assisted approach to the size-controlled synthesis of uniform nanorods of trigonal tellurium (t-Te). These nanorods were grown from a colloidal dispersion of amorphous Te (a-Te) and t-Te nanoparticles at room temperature, which was first formed through the reduction of (NH4)2TeS4 by Na2SO3 in aqueous solution at 80 degrees C. Nuclei formed in the reduction process had a strong tendency to grow along the [001] direction due to the inherently anisotropic structure of t-Te. The formation of Te nanorods could be ascribed to the confined growth through the surfactant adsorbing on the surfaces of the growing Te particles. By employing various surfactants in the synthesis system, Te nanorods with well-controlled diameters and lengths could be reproducibly produced by this method. Both the diameters and lengths of nanorods decreased with the increase of the alkyl length and the polarity of the surfactants. Te nanorods could also be obtained in mixed surfactants, where the different surfactants were used to selectively control the growth rates of different crystal planes. We also observed that the as-synthesized nanorods with uniform size could be self-assembled into large-area smecticlike arrays.     

A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy study of aminothiophenol and aminothiophenol-C60 self-assembled monolayers: evolution of Raman modes with experimental parameters

P-aminothiophenol (PATP) is a well-known molecule for the preparation of self-assembled monolayers on gold via its thiol functional group. After adsorption, it has been demonstrated that this molecule is anchored to gold through its thiol group, and standing nearly upright at the surface with the amino functional group on top. This molecule has been extensively studied by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy but its exact SERS spectrum remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that it can be strongly affected by at least two experimental parameters: laser power and layer density. Those features are discussed in terms of a dimerization of the PATP molecules. The free amino group affords the adsorption of other molecules such as C(60). In this case, a complex multilayer system is formed and the question of its precise characterisation remains a key point. In this article, we demonstrate that surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with x ray photoelectron spectroscopy can bring very important information about the organization of such a self-assembled multilayer on gold. In our study, the strong evolution of Raman modes after C(60) adsorption suggests a change in the organization of aminothiophenol molecules during C(60) adsorption. These changes, also observed when the aminothiophenol layer is annealed in toluene, do not prevent the adsorption of C(60) molecules.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles by reduction of HAuCl4 under UV irradiation

Gold nanoparticles were prepared in surfactant solutions by reduction of HAuCl₄ under UV irradiation without adding extra reductants or other organic substances. The effect of the structure and the property of surfactant on the size and the optical properties of prepared gold nanoparticles were studied. It was found that the longer the alkyl chain of the surfactant, the larger gold particles are obtained. On the other hand, lengthen the geminis spacer benefits the formation of smaller gold particles. The formation of adduct micelles composed of the charged surface active portion of the surfactant molecule and the (Au^IIICl₄)⁻ ion in cationic surfactant solution serves as the gold source and favors the formation of gold particles with larger sizes. While the repulsion between the (Au^IIICl₄)⁻ ion and the negative charged surface of anionic surfactant micelle is in favor of the formation of gold nanoparticles with smaller sizes. The nonionic surfactants can also assist the formation of dispersed gold nanoparticles.     

Isothermal titration calorimetry and dynamic light scattering studies of interactions between gemini surfactants of different structure and Pluronic block copolymers

The interactions between triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), P103 and F108, EO(n)PO(m)EO(n), m=56 and n=17 and 132, respectively, and m-s-m type gemini surfactants, m=8, 10, 12, and 18, and s = 3, 6, 12, and 16, have been studied in aqueous solution using isothermal titration calorimetry and dynamic light scattering techniques. The enthalpograms of F108 as a function of surfactant concentration show one broad peak at polymer concentrations C(p) < or = 0.50 wt%, below the cmc of the copolymer at 25 degrees C. It is attributed to interactions between the surfactant and the triblock copolymer monomer. DLS results show hydrodynamic radii (R(h)) initially consistent with copolymer monomers that change to values consistent with gemini surfactant micelles as the surfactant concentration is increased. In P103 solutions at C(p) > or = 0.05 wt%, two peaks appear in the enthalpograms, and they are attributed to the interactions between the gemini surfactant and the micelle or monomer forms of the copolymer. An origin-based nonlinear fitting program was employed to deconvolute the two peaks and to obtain estimates of peak properties. An estimate of the fraction of copolymer in aggregated form was also obtained. The enthalpy change due to interactions between the surfactants and P103 aggregates is very large compared to values obtained for traditional surfactants. This suggests that extensive reorganization of copolymer aggregates and surrounding solvent occurs during the interaction. DLS results for the P103 systems containing C(p) > or = 0.05% show evidence of very large aggregates in solution, likely P103 micelle clusters. The transitions observed in the hydrodynamic radii are consistent with a breakdown of micelle clusters with addition of gemini surfactant, followed by mixed micelle formation and/or deaggregation into monomer P103. This is followed by interactions similar to those typically observed in surfactant-nonionic polymer systems. Mechanisms for the interaction and the observed structural changes are discussed.     

新形金纳米片的简单制备与生长机制

在室温(~30 ℃)条件下,氯金酸(HAuCl₄)均匀混合在粘稠的表面活性剂聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)胶体(水为溶剂)中,HAuCl₄可以被PVP还原,从而形成纳米片. 本工作中,通过调整晶体生长条件,成功合成了大量新形貌的单晶金纳米片(厚度数十纳米,尺寸为数个微米). 例如,在晶体生长初期阶段,通过引入温度变化(如降温10-20 ℃),形成的金纳米片主要是六角星形,并伴有盾状、内凹外凸的三角状、截角的、三叉的及多台阶等新形纳米片. 结合理论计算,阐明了金纳米片的生长机制：在一定条件下,金(111)晶面不仅可以沿着<110>方向生长成为常规的三角或六角纳米片,还可以沿<211>、<321>等不同方向生长成含有更高指数侧面的新形金纳米片.     

Comparative study on the interaction of DNA with three different kinds of surfactants and the formation of multilayer films

The interactions between double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and three different kinds of surfactants, i.e., cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants, were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. Multilayer films composed of DNA and surfactants were prepared at gold electrode by electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions. It was found that the cationic surfactant, CTAB, can bind to DNA by electrostatic interaction, and the electron transfer resistance of CTAB-DNA complex film increases first and then decreases with CTAB concentration. The anionic surfactant, LAS, can bind to DNA but by hydrophobic interaction, and the electron transfer resistance of the complex film keeps decreasing with LAS concentration. Nonionic surfactants can also directly bind to DNA by hydrophobic interaction. All the three different kinds of surfactants can form multilayer films with DNA on the electrode surface. The chemical structure of DNA keeps unchanged during interacting with these surfactants. The binding modes of DNA with these three different kinds of surfactants were also deduced.     

Interfacial and micellar properties of anionic azo dye-surfactant binary systems

The association of an anionic dye C.I. Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) and different types of surfactants, i.e., anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate, nonionic surfactants poly(oxyethylene) ethers (C _m POE₁₀, m = 12, 16, and 18; C₁₂POE _n , n = 4, 10, and 23), was investigated using tensiometry in a certain micellar concentration range. RO16 was shown to aggregate in water when its concentration is above the threshold value. The surface tension lowering and critical micellar concentration (CMC) values were interpreted on the same grounds as those for surfactants mixtures. The tensiometric measurements of dye-surfactant systems are carried out as a function of the molar concentration of solution at 25°C. Using Rubingh’s regular solution theory, the values of interaction parameters were found to be negative for all studied binary mixtures. These negative values indicate that there is an attractive interaction of the surfactants in mixed micelles and reflect synergistic behavior of a mixture. In all studied systems, deviations from ideal behavior were observed depending on the type of surfactant. Interaction parameters calculated using regular solution theory are changed from −2.62 to −12.43. The smallest deviation from ideal behavior is obtained for the RO16-C₁₂POE₄ mixed system; i.e., in the case when nonionic surfactant has the shortest alkyl chain and the smallest number of ethylene oxide units. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Oleate Ester-Derived Nonionic Surfactants: Synthesis and Cloud Point Behavior Studies

The synthesis and cloud point behavior of high oleate ester-derived nonionic surfactants are now reported. The effect of various polyethoxylate chain lengths (polyethylene glycol with 7, 11, and 16 units of ethylene oxide (EO) monomer) as the surfactant's hydrophilic head on the cloud point was investigated. The effect of varying amounts of sodium chloride and five different ionic surfactants on the cloud points of the synthesized nonionic surfactants were also presented. When the chain length of polyethoxylate increased, the cloud point of the synthesized nonionic surfactant also increased, ranging from 16°C, 43°C, and 64°C for 7, 11, and 16 EO units, respectively. Increments in sodium chloride concentration depressed the cloud point values of the synthesized nonionic surfactants linearly. The addition of ionic surfactants elevated the cloud points of the synthesized nonionic surfactant. However, in the presence of sodium chloride, the cloud point of the mixed ionic-nonionic solution was suppressed and anincrease in ionic surfactant concentration was required to elevate the cloud point. It was also found that the cloud points of synthesized surfactants can be raised up to 95°C in the presence of 4wt% NaCl solution.     

Microstructure of un-neutralized hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion latex in different surfactant solutions

At low pH conditions and in the presence of anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants, hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsions (HASE) exhibit pronounced interaction that results in the solubilization of the latex. The interaction between HASE latex and surfactant was studied using various techniques, such as light transmittance, isothermal titration calorimetry, laser light scattering, and electrophoresis. For anionic surfactant, noncooperative hydrophobic binding dominates the interaction at concentrations lower than the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) (C < CAC). However, cooperative hydrophobic binding controls the formation of mixed micelles at high surfactant concentrations (C > or = CAC), where the cloudy solution becomes clear. For cross-linked HASE latex, anionic surfactant binds only noncooperatively to the latex and causes it to swell. For cationic surfactant, electrostatic interaction occurs at very low surfactant concentrations, resulting in phase separation. With further increase in surfactant concentration, noncooperative hydrophobic and cooperative hydrophobic interactions dominate the binding at low and high surfactant concentrations, respectively. For anionic and cationic surfactant systems, the CAC is lower than the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants in water. In addition, counterion condensation plays an important role during the binding interaction between HASE latex and ionic surfactants. In the case of nonionic surfactants, free surfactant micelles are formed in solution due to their relatively low CMC values, and HASE latexes are directly solubilized into the micellar core of nonionic surfactants.     

Synergism and foaming properties in mixed nonionic/fatty acid soap surfactant systems

The synergism and foaming behavior of a mixed surfactant system consisting of a nonionic surfactant (polyethoxylated alkyl ether C(n)E(m)) and a fatty acid soap (sodium oleate) were studied. The micellar interaction parameter (the beta-parameter) was determined from the cmc following the approach of Rubingh's regular solution theory. For both the C(12)E(6)/sodium oleate and the C(14)E(6)/sodium oleate mixtures, the results indicate a fairly strong attractive interaction (negative beta-values), which were in agreement with previous data reported for other nonionic/anionic surfactant systems. The characteristics of the foam produced from the surfactants were evaluated using a glass column equipped with a series of electrodes measuring the conductance of the foam, which enabled the water content of the foam to be determined. From these measurements, since the total foam volume was almost the same for all concentrations and surfactants, we compared the amount of liquid in the foam produced under dynamic foaming and the ability of the foam to entrain the liquid after the airflow was switched-off (static foam stability). The amount of liquid in the foam 100 s after the air was switched-off followed the order NaOl > C(12)E(6) > C(14)E(6). Also, the mixtures had the same foam volumes as the pure surfactants at the same concentration. However, both mixtures had higher concentrations of liquid in the foam when the mole fraction of the nonionic surfactant in the mixed surfactant system was greater than about >0.3 in the solution.     

Solubilization by different-sized surfactant mixtures

The solubilization phenomenon was investigated in mixed surfactant systems. The solubilization power of a mixed surfactant reaches its maximum at a particular temperature at each mixing ratio of surfactants. When the mole fraction of C4E1 in the total surfactant (w1 value) was varied in a water/C12E5/C4E1/decane system, the minimum mole fraction of total surfactant in the system necessary to obtain a single microemulsion phase (xi value) was almost unchanged for w1<0.3, whereas it increased remarkably for w1>0.8. The molar solubilization capacity (Cs=(1-xi)/xi) of the mixed surfactant decreased remarkably for w1<0.3, whereas it decreased gradually for w1>0.8. The result [Formula: see text] is due largely to the characteristic of the function xi(Cs)=1/(1+Cs), specifically, [Formula: see text] , where dxi/dw1=(dxi/dCs)(dCs/dw1). The partial molar solubilization capacity (Cs) of C4E1 was negative at almost all w1, but the Cs value of C12E5 went through a maximum on the addition of C4E1. Propanol (a cosurfactant) has the same effect on the solubilization phenomenon in the water/C12E6/propanol/heptane system. In the water/C12E5/C12E7/decane system, the Cs value of each surfactant did not vary greatly as the mixing ratio of surfactants was varied. The Cs and xi values were close to molar additivity for each mixing ratio.     

Voltammetric behavior of ethopropazine and the influence of sodium dodecylsulfate on its accumulation on gold electrodes

Surfactants are sometimes used to improve the accumulation of some electroactive organic compounds, but anionic surfactants have seldom been utilized for such a purpose yet. In this paper, the influence of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) on the accumulation of ethopropazine (EPZ) at a polycrystalline gold electrode has been studied. EPZ exhibits an anodic peak at about 0.67 V (vs. SCE) and a shoulder in pH 3.5 citric acid–biphthalate buffer solution. In the absence of SDS, the peak is small and ill defined, but it becomes high and well shaped when SDS is added. This results from the adsorption of EPZ in the SDS membrane, which forms spontaneously on the gold electrode surface. For both cases EPZ shows the same electrode reaction mechanism, which is similar to that of promethazine (PMZ). The influence of other factors, such as pH value, variety and concentration of buffers, other surfactants, accumulation potential and time etc has been discussed. It was found that only the anionic surfactants had an enhancement effect on the EPZ accumulation. Also, the solution should be acidic or neutral so as to maintain the interaction due to its electrostatic nature. The optimum SDS concentration for EPZ accumulation is about 0.1 mM regardless of whether or not an accumulation potential is adopted. When all the experiment conditions are optimized, the peak current of the anodic peak changes linearly with the concentration of EPZ over the range 0.4–4 M, and is thus of analytical significance.     

Mixed micelle formation and solubilization behavior toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of binary and ternary cationic-nonionic surfactant mixtures

Water solubility enhancements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), viz., naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene, by micellar solutions at 25 degrees C using two series of surfactants, each involving two cationic and one nonionic surfactant in their single as well as equimolar binary and ternary mixed states, were measured and compared. The first series was composed of three surfactants, benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (C16BzCl), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16Br), and polyoxyethylene(20)mono-n-hexadecyl ether (Brij-58) with a 16-carbon (C16) hydrophobic chain; the second series consisted of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C12Br), dodecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (C12EBr), and polyoxyethylene(4)mono-n-dodecyl ether (Brij-30) with a 12-carbon (C12) chain. Solubilization capacity has been quantified in terms of the molar solubilization ratio, the micelle-water partition coefficient, the first stepwise association constant between solubilizate monomer and vacant micelle, and the average number of solubilizate molecules per micelle, determined employing spectrophoto-, tensio-, and flourimetric techniques. Cationic surfactants exhibited lesser solubilization capacity than nonionics in each series of surfactants with higher efficiency in the C16 series compared to the C12 series. Increase in hydrophobicity of head groups of cationics by incorporation of ethyl or benzyl groups enhanced their solubilization capacity. The mixing effect of surfactants on mixed micelle formation and solubilization efficiency has been discussed in light of the regular solution approximation (RSA). Cationic-nonionic binary combinations showed better solubilization capacity than pure cationics, nonionics, or cationic-cationic mixtures, which, in general, showed increase with increased hydrophobicity of PAHs. Equimolar cationic-cationic-nonionic ternary surfactant systems showed lower solubilization efficiency than their binary cationic-nonionic counterparts but higher than cationic-cationic ones. In addition, use of RSA has been extended, with fair success, to predict partition coefficients of ternary surfactant systems using data of binary surfactants systems. Mixed surfactants may improve the performance of surfactant-enhanced remediation of soils and sediments by decreasing the applied surfactant level and thus remediation cost.     

Experimental study on methane solubilization by organic surfactant aggregates

Seeking to enhance coal mine safety, an experimental study of a kind of water-based explosion suppression medium for the absorption of mine gas was carried out. Using methane as the model gas, solubilizing experiments with different concentrations of anionic and nonionic surfactants were carried out using headspace gas chromatography for surfactants consisting of sodium fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether carboxylate (AEC), fatty acid methyl ester sulfonate (MES), fatty methyl ester ethoxylate (FMEE), hexyl d-glucoside (APG06), octyl beta-d-glucopyranoside (APG08) and n-decyl glucoside (APG10). By selecting individual surfactants, the study investigated the methane solubilization performance of water mist with binary anionic–nonionic surfactants. Furthermore, the release of methane in solution was also examined. The results show that the apparent solubility of methane in solution is linearly and positively correlated with the surfactant concentration. The methane solubilization is significantly improved by the addition of anionic–nonionic surfactants. The optimal solubilizing ratio of the anionic–nonionic surfactant varies with the solution compositions. For a fixed ratio, surfactant compositions exhibit the most distinct synergistic effect and the best performance for methane solubilization. The release of methane from mixed micelles composed of the compound solution is superior to that of a single surfactant. Through the analysis of the solubilization effect and the stability of different absorbents, it is concluded that the anionic–nonionic surfactant system shows much better capability than the other selected surfactants.     

Comment on "Determination of the critical micelle concentration of dodecylguanidine monoacetate (dodine)"

In a work published in this journal by J.P.S. Cabral and A.R.W. Smith [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 149 (1992) 27], it is reported that the 1-dodecylguanidinium acetate (dodine) exhibits first CMC at 20-30 microM and second CMC at 110-120 microM in aqueous solution at 22.5 degrees C. Such low CMCs are unusual for ionic surfactants with dodecyl chain, and is quite interesting if this is the case. Thus, we investigated the micelle formation of dodine by electrical conductivity measurements. The specific conductivity, kappa, vs concentration plot showed no evidence for micelle formation up to a few hundreds microM at 25 degrees C. The Krafft temperature of dodine was found to be approx. 52 degrees C. When conductivity measurements were made at 54 degrees C, a clear break point was observed in the kappa vs concentration plot at 9.5 mM, which must correspond to the CMC of dodine. This CMC value is quite normal for cationic surfactant with dodecyl chain.     

Mixed adsorption and surface tension prediction of nonideal ternary surfactant systems

To deal with the mixed adsorption of nonideal ternary surfactant systems, the regular solution approximation for nonideal binary surfactant systems is extended and a pseudo-binary system treatment is also proposed. With both treatments, the compositions of the mixed monolayer and the solution concentrations required to produce given surface tensions can be predicted based only on the -LogC curves of individual surfactants and the pair interaction parameters. Conversely, the surface tensions of solutions with different bulk compositions can be predicted by the surface tension equations for mixed surfactant systems. Two ternary systems: SDS/Hyamine 1622/AEO₇, composed of homogeneous surfactants, and AES/DPCl/AEO₉, composed of commercial surfactants, in the presence of excess NaCl, are examined for the applicability of the two treatments. The results show that, in general, the pseudo-binary system treatment gives better prediction than the extended regular solution approximation, and the applicability of the latter to typical anionic/cationic/nonionic nonideal ternary surfactant systems seems to depend on the combined interaction parameter, : the more it deviates from zero, the larger the prediction difference. If 0, good agreements between predicted and experimental results can be obtained and both treatments, though differently derived, are interrelated and tend to be equivalent.Poster presentation at the 14th SIS conference, June 2002, Barcelona