Thermal analysis of the architecture of old and new houses at Ghadames

The study suggests improvements in the design of new houses to conserve energy and enhance indoor thermal comfort. Summer temperature records show that a new house has an average indoor temperature of 35°C with the ambient average 31°C. The traditional house in the old city recorded 28°C for the same period. Winter temperatures in both types of houses were similar (12°C) when not occupied. Architectural features of the two houses were compared to identify those responsible for difference in the thermal performance. Larger exposed surface and window areas, higher overall heat transfer coefficient and weaker thermal coupling with the ground for the new houses seems to contribute to their inferior thermal performance.     

Calculation of the molar volume of liquid hydrocarbons

Equations are proposed for calculating the molar volume of liquid hydrocarbons used in production of surfactants. With such data, it will be possible to calculate most of the physicochemical properties of these hydrocarbons to solve many process problems. __________ Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 6, pp. 39–41, Novemmber–December, 2006.     

Phonological priming in the lexical decision task: regularity effects are not necessary evidence for assembly

The contribution of assembled phonology in reading English was examined in the lexical decision task by comparing two markers: regularity effects and phonological priming. Strategic control was assessed by manipulating the phonological lexicality of the foils: Experiment 1 used legal nonwords, whereas Experiment 2 used pseudohomophones. Replicating existing findings, null regularity effects were obtained in the presence of legal nonwords. Modest regularity effects, in accuracy only, were observed with pseudohomophone foils. In contrast, phonological priming effects emerged in each of the experiments, regardless of the presence of regularity effects. Assembled phonology thus constrains reading under conditions that strongly discourage its use. However, regularity effects are not necessary evidence for its presence. The dissociation of regularity and phonological priming effects is discussed in terms of the two-cycles model.