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A growing polarization of society accompanied by an erosion of the middle class is receiving increasing attention in recent German economic and social policy discussion. Our study contributes to this discussion in two ways: First, on a theoretical level we propose extended multidimensional polarization indices based on a constant elasticity of substitution (CES)-type well-being function and present a new measure to multidimensional polarization, the mean minimum polarization gap, 2DGAP. This polarization intensity measure provides transparency with regard to each single attribute, which is important for targeted policies, while at the same time respecting their interdependent relations. Second, in an empirical application, time is incorporated, in addition to the traditional income measure, as a fundamental resource for any activity. In particular, genuine personal leisure time will account for social participation in the sense of social inclusion/exclusion and Amartya Sen’s capability approach.

Instead of arbitrarily choosing the attribute parameters in the CES well-being function, the interdependent relations of time and income are evaluated by the German population. With the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and detailed time use diary data from the German Time Use Surveys (GTUSs) 1991/1992 and 2001/2002, we quantify available and extended multidimensional polarization measures as well as our new approach to measuring the polarization of the working poor and affluent in Germany.

There are three prominent empirical results: Genuine personal leisure time in addition to income is an important and significant polarization attribute. Compensation is of economic and statistical significance. The new minimum 2DGAP approach reveals that multidimensional polarization increased in the 1990s in Germany.

This chapter proposes a definition of pro-middle class growth derived from the approach of Lasso de la Vega, Urrutia, and Diez (2010) to intermediate polarization. The authors show that a sufficient condition for growth to be pro-middle class is for the growth rate of what we define as the “intermediate median income” of the whole population to be higher than that of the weighted average of the growth rates of the rich and smaller than the weighted average growth rate of the poor, the “rich” and the “poor” being respectively those with an income higher and lower than the median income. An empirical illustration based on Israeli data for the period 1995–2018 indicates that in absolute terms growth was not pro-middle class for any income type. In contrast, growth was pro-middle class in relative terms for all market incomes (individual income from salaried work, individual wage per hour worked, household economic income, total household income and total equivalized income). But growth was not pro-middle class for net income and net equivalized income, even in relative terms. These conclusions appear to be related to the combined effect of developments in labor force participation, welfare policy changes and major modifications in income tax rates. The intermediate polarization measures indicate that in general there was no pro-middle class growth except in the case of specific market income types.

The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem that the location of the initiation point cannot be measured accurately in the shallow underground space, this paper proposes a method, which is based on fusion of multidimensional vibration sensor information, to locate single shallow underground sources.

First, in this paper, using the characteristics of low multipath interference and good P-wave polarization in the near field, the adaptive covariance matrix algorithm is used to extract the polarization angle information of the P-wave and the short term averaging/long term averaging algorithm is used to extract the first break travel time information. Second, a hybrid positioning model based on travel time and polarization angle is constructed. Third, the positioning model is taken as the particle update fitness function of quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization and calculation is performed in the hybrid positioning model. Finally, the experiment verification is carried out in the field.

The experimental results show that, with root mean square error, spherical error probable and fitness value as evaluation indicators, the positioning performance of this method is better than that without speed prediction. And the positioning accuracy of this method has been improved by nearly 30%, giving all of the three tests a positioning error within 0.5 m and a fitness less than 1.

This method provides a new idea for high-precision positioning of shallow underground single source. It has a certain engineering application value in the fields of directional demolition of engineering blasting, water inrush and burst mud prediction, fuze position measurement, underground initiation point positioning of ammunition, mine blasting monitoring and so on.

The relationship between income inequality and polarization is an empirical fact: a change in equality might occur together with a change in polarization. At the same time, polarization might emerge while inequality remains constant. The outcome of this process entails relevant information on the evolution of the income distribution. We exploit the LIS database to perform a relative distribution analysis for six European countries. Our aim is describing how disposable income distributions evolved over time. The results indicate that polarization increased in all the considered countries, being the largest in the United Kingdom and the smallest in Italy. Nonetheless, in all the countries downgrading prevails over upgrading: the relevance of the middle class getting poorer is larger than the one of the middle class getting richer.

This paper aims to study the growth and properties of potentiostatic passive films formed on iron electrodes immersed in pH 8.9‐11.0 phosphate solutions.

First, passive films were grown potentiostatically on pure iron electrodes under different experimental conditions (namely the Na₂HPO₄ concentration, time and potential of polarization, solution pH and temperature). Subsequently, the properties of the resulting passive layer were evaluated by electrochemical measurements (open circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization measurements) and scanning electron microscopy.

The formation of passive films on iron electrodes immersed in weak‐alkaline phosphate solutions was found to occur in three main steps, being the Na₂HPO₄ concentration a very important parameter to promote reduction of iron dissolution. Films with protective properties could be obtained within at least 30 s of polarization at +0.50 V/SCE. The effect of the polarization potential was interpreted according to previous potentiodynamic data and the influences of solution pH and temperature follow thermodynamic laws.

In‐situ surface analytical techniques such as extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and elipsometry coupled to electrochemical measurements can elucidate more information on the film growth process, and in turn on resulting properties.

This contribution provides useful insights into the potentiostatic behaviour of iron in alkaline phosphate solutions.

Coral aggregate seawater concrete (CASC) is a new type of lightweight aggregate concrete that is becoming widely used in reef engineering. To investigate the corrosion behavior of different kinds of rebar in CASC exposed to simulated seawater for 0-270 d, the electrochemical techniques, including linear polarization resistance (LPR) technique and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), were used in the present work.

The electrochemical techniques, including LPR technique and the EIS, were used in the present work.

Based on the time-varying law of linear polarization curves, self-corrosion potential (E_corr), polarization resistance (R_p), corrosion current density (I_corr), corrosion rate (i), and the characteristics of EIS diagrams for different types of rebar in CASC, it can be found that the anti-corrosion property of them can be ranked as epoxy resin coated steel > 2205 duplex stainless steel (2205S) > 316 L stainless steel (316 L) > organic coated steel > ordinary steel. Additionally, the linear regression equation between R_p and charge transfer resistance (R_ct) was established. Finally, the EIS corrosion standard of rebar was established from the LPR corrosion standard, which provides a direct standard for the EIS technique to determine the condition of rebar in CASC.

The linear regression equation between polarization resistance and charge transfer resistance was established. And the EIS corrosion standard of rebar was established from the LPR corrosion standard, which provides a direct standard for the EIS technique to determine the condition of rebar in CASC.

The purpose of this paper is to present the temporal reflection of electromagnetic waves (EMWs) in simple polar-molecule reactions whose polarization changes with the proceeding of the reactions.

At a temporal boundary, based on the continuity of the electric displacement and magnetic induction, the reflected condition of EMWs is obtained, and the expression of the transmission and reflection coefficients in the reactions is derived. Subsequently, a one-dimensional model is used to validate the reflected condition and expression.

If the time scale of the component concentration variation is greater than the wave period, the polarization of the reactions at a temporal boundary is continuous. The reflection does not happen. On the other hand, when the time scale of the component concentration variation is smaller than the wave period, the polarization is not continuous at a temporal boundary. The impedance of the reactions at the temporal boundary changes and the reflection occurs.

The results may be helpful in disclosing the non-uniform distribution of EMWs in chemical reactions.

The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively assess the pit growth rate on AISI 304L and AISI 316 austenitic stainless steels in natural seawater and 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions through electrochemical measurements during the potentiostatic growth of pits.

A quantitative characterisation was carried out based on chronoamperometric measurements. The volume of dissolved metal per pit was calculated from the charge registered and Faraday's law, considering both, hemispherical and semi‐elliptical pit shapes and the density of the steels. Empirical growth laws for maximum pit depth as a function of polarisation time were obtained and compared with pits volumetric profile obtained from optical microscopy analysis and mechanical removal of material on both steels.

Electrochemical‐based calculations of localised metal dissolution per pit present acceptable fit with the real volume of dissolved metal on hemispherical pits.

The paper presents the quantitative relationship of the corrosion pit growth rate of stainless steels in chloride containing solution determined by chronoamperometry (electrochemical technique) through the Faraday law's, with the mechanical removal of material (pit profile) through the density of metal.

This paper aims to research the corrosion behavior of the metal under the disbonded coatings interfered with AC through electrochemical method.

The corrosion behavior of the metal under disbond coating interfered with alternate stray current (AC) was studied by electrochemical methods using the rectangular coating disbonded simulator. The obtained data from electrode potential test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization curves in simulated soil solution indicated that under the natural corrosion condition, the self-corrosion potential and the corrosion current density of the metal at different depths under disbond coating had obviously changed if there was AC interference.

The self-corrosion potential of the metal at the same depths under disbond coating shifted negatively with the rising of the AC voltage. Under the condition of cathode polarization, there was still obvious potential gradient with the extension of the deep peeling of the coating gap, and the corrosion current density of the test points was minimum, and the protection effect was best when the cathode protection potential was −1.0 V. When the metal was applied with over-protection, the corrosion rate of the metal increased as AC stray current flowing through it increased.

This paper used the rectangular aperture device to study the corrosion behavior of X80 steel under the disbonded coatings through electrochemical methods when the AC stray current interference voltage was 0V, 1V, 5V or 10V and the protection potential was 0V, −0.9V, −1.0V, −1.2V or −1.3V, respectively. There is great significance to the safe operation and long-term service of pipeline steel in soil environment.

The aim of this research was to investigate the use of aqueous extracts of nettle plant (NE) as a green corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution.

The inhibition efficiency was investigated by weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarizations, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, SEM observations and EDX analysis.

The inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in concentration of NE up to a critical concentration of 1.5×10−3 g · cm−3 where the highest inhibition efficiency of 97 percent was obtained. The adsorption of the inhibitor was spontaneous (reflected by the negative value of ΔG_ads0), supported the mechanism of physical adsorption and obeyed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The inhibition action of the extracts was independent on the storage time; it could be conserved without any specific conditions of time and temperature.

The anticorrosion effect can be better understood when the active compound in the extracts is identified and what is the inhibition efficiency of one component in the presence of another in the mixture (synergetic or antagonist effects).

Nettle is a healthy plant, without particular toxicity that can find possible applications as environmentally friendly inhibitor of mild steel used as materials in food industry.

Aqueous nettle extracts were studied for the first time as corrosion inhibitor and its anticorrosion effect was proven by standard methods.