Psychopharmacology and the mystery of The Moonstone..

Contends that W. Collins's (1871 [1966]) detective novel, The Moonstone, is remarkable not only for the exploitation of psychological principles but also the recognition of these principles before their discovery by psychologists. Drug dissociation (reported by psychologists in the 1930's) is central to the novel. It is suggested that Collins was a reader of Victorian physiological and phrenological literature, a laudanum addict, and given to introspective analyses of his experiences with opium. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dimethyl ether synthesis from Victorian brown coal through gasification – Current status,and research and development needs

Victorian brown coal, one of the largest and cheapest energy sources in the world, is currently used in mine-mouth coal-fired power plants. These power plants have low efficiency and high CO₂ emission. Alternative process paths leading to electricity generation and chemical production can provide more energy efficient and environment friendly applications of brown coal. Synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from brown coal is an attractive option because of its environmentally benign properties and wide range of applications. This article first reviews the current and likely future applications of brown coal. In the latter part of the article emphasis has been given on DME, since it stands out as a suitable option from both environmental and economic point of view. Finally research needs for the development and commercialisation of DME production process from brown coal has been identified.     

The modern fear of matter: reflections on the protestantism of victorian science

ABSTRACT

Materiality is a quality of relationship rather than a thing in itself (Ding an sich). These relations vary. An inquiry into late Victorian attitudes towards materialism shows that modern science inherited a certain fear of matter from Protestantism, which identifies a number of these relationships as being at least latently religious. It allows us to specify how culturally and historically particular our understanding of matter, materiality and materialism are.     

Common Artefacts

With offices in Beijing, Mumbai and London, Serie Architects is an international practice that spans Asia. Here, co-founder and principal Christopher CM Lee looks beyond the superficial ‘exotic’ stereotypical image of ‘orientalism’ that was traditionally imposed on Asia by the West. With particular reference to Serie Architects' Tote, Mumbai, and Yan Zhenqing Museum in Linyi, China, he shifts the question of identity to what is common within the context of architectural production: what might imbue architecture with social and cultural validity? How might it be possible to attempt to create ‘common artefacts’ through the most typical elements – the ‘dominant types’.     

Through a Mediated Mirror: The Photographic Physiognomy of Dr Hugh Welch Diamond

This article explores the photographic physiognomy of Victorian asylum superintendent Hugh Welch Diamond. Through close readings of Diamond's photographs as well as commentary published by Diamond and Dr John Conolly, the author argues that Diamond expanded the meaning of the word physiognomy to include metonymic traits such as clothing and hairstyle. Diamond used physiognomy for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and he staged his photographs to maximize their efficacy for both, creating a mediated mirror through which his patients viewed themselves. Through photographic physiognomy, Diamond tried to change the nature of asylum practice, using images of his patients to nurture them to health without physical restraints.     

The Efficiency of the Victorian British Railway Network: A Counterfactual Analysis

This study of the evolution of the British railway network, 1825–1914, investigates claims that the network was over-capitalised due to excessive duplication of lines. A counterfactual network is constructed to represent the most efficient alternative network that could have been constructed given what was known at the time. Comparison of the actual and counterfactual networks suggests that the actual network was even more inefficient than is commonly alleged. The roots of this inefficiency can be traced to excessive competition between towns which national government was too weak to control. Although Parliament was in a position to regulate excessive competition between the private railway companies that built the system, competition between towns discouraged Parliament for regulating inter-company competition to an adequate degree.     

维多利亚褐煤的固结和渗透特性试验研究

维多利亚褐煤一般被认为是一种中级岩土材料(IGMs),其岩土工程性质介于常规土体和岩石之间。褐煤富含有机质,其自然结构和物理组分比较复杂。褐煤具有不同于常规软黏土的基本岩土参数,包括自然密度和相对密度低、天然含水率高、孔隙比大,渗透系数相对较低等。采用原状褐煤试样开展了标准室内固结试验,褐煤材料的固结变形曲线主要表现为:初始阶段变形明显且很快完成,初始阶段变形占比很大,在数分钟内应变可达50%,在较明显的拐点之后,后续变形相对较缓慢。标准Terzaghi固结并不能很好地适用于褐煤材料。设计开展了褐煤材料的常水头渗透试验,基于不同超静孔压消散路径采用2种方法测量了褐煤的渗透系数,试验测得的褐煤材料渗透系数值相对较小。     

Gasification kinetic modelling of Victorian brown coal chars and validity for entrained flow gasification in CO_2

The gasification kinetic modelling of two Victorian brown coal(Yallourn and Maddingley) chars and the validity for entrained flow gasification were investigated in this study. The study was conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA) at 750–1100 ℃, 30%–90% CO_2 concentration using different char particle sizes within 20–106 mm. It was found that random pore model and modified volumetric model are applicable for TGA results, but volumetric model and grain model are not. The effect of particle size under106 mm on gasification rate is very limited. Activation energies of Maddingley char and Yallourn char in CO_2 gasification are 219–220 and 197–208 k J/mol, respectively. The pre-exponential factors are in the same order of magnitude, and they increased as particle size decreased. A mathematical model was developed to predict carbon conversion over time for entrained flow gasification of Victorian brown coal chars at 1000–1400 ℃.     

The Crown Liquor Saloon,Belfast

Jane Peyton, the author of Pub Scene, raises her glass and writes a eulogy in celebration of one of Britain's finest 19th-century gin palaces: The Crown Liquor Saloon, which remained a ‘dowager’ in Belfast during the troubles. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.