CO2 decomposition with oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite

An oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite (Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_3.92) was synthesized and its reactivity to reduce CO₂ gas into carbon was studied at 300°C. The oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite was obtained by flowing H₂ gas through Mn(II) ferrite with a nearly stoichiometric composition of Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_4.00 at 300° C. The lattice constant of the oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite (0.8505nm) is larger than that of the Mn(II) ferrite with a nearly stoichiometric composition (0.8498nm). The chemical composition of the Mn(II) ferrite changed from Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_4.00 to Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_3.92 during the H₂ reduction process, indicating that the oxygen is deficient in the spinel structure of the Mn(II) ferrite. This was confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The efficiency of CO₂ decomposition into carbon at 300°C with the oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite was much lower by about 10⁵ than that of oxygen-deficient magnetite. This is considered to be due to the difference in electron conductivity between Mn(II) ferrite and magnetite, which determines the reductivity for CO₂ into carbon by donation of an electron at the adsorption site.     

Review of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth edition.

This article discusses the Stanford-Binet, Fourth Edition (1986). Psychologists using it for the first time may be surprised to discover that the test resembles a new test more than a revision of the old instrument. Differences between this edition and earlier versions are noted. For example, reliance on age levels is gone from the new test. Other changes in test format are discussed. Also noted are problems the test presents for the examiner. For example, instructions and scoring guidelines are sometimes inadequate. The article reviews the adequacy of the technical manual, standardization of the test, the internal consistency reliability of this Fourth Edition, and its validity. The reviewers suggest that practitioners may wish to become well-acquainted with the new Stanford-Binet so that its use might be an option for them, but they should not give the test a superior rating just because of its name. Given the hefty cost of the instrument and the time needed to master it, potential users with limited budgets and limited time may well find that their evaluation needs can be adequately filled by using another test of cognitive ability already in their possession. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the accurate calibration of an electrochemical oxygen meter in the 10−7 bar range

A method for the accurate standardization of an electrochemical oxygen meter, in the 10^–6-10^–7 bar range is described. The method is based on the use of an electrochemical oxygen leak and a chemical getter pump. In this manner problems connected with traces of hydrogen, originating from the pyrolysis of water, and traces of oxygen of unknown origin are overcome.     

A parameter for defining the energetic efficiency of the cathodic process at high temperature,high current density electrolysis of steam

The electrocatalytic activity for the cathodic reduction of steam at high temperature on metals and oxides at the interface with zirconia base electrolytes have been comparatively analysed. Except the case of the urania-yttria solid solution at temperatures higher than 1273 K, all the cathodic layers investigated up to now showed two different behaviours depending on the current density. At low current density the polarization curves follow Tafel's law. Above certain values of the c.d., which depend on temperature, the applied potential showed a linear relationship with a slope corresponding to the a.c. impedance, thus indicating in such conditions the overall cathodic reaction takes place without any additional overvoltage. This behaviour suggests the introduction of a simple parameter defining the highest possible energetic yield that can be obtained by any individual cathodic material under high current density conditions.     

Application of the LP-DP approach to Andong and Imha parallel reservoirs,Korea

This paper presents an application of a previously developed linear programming-dynamic programming (LP-DP) methodology to the operation of Andong and Imha parallel reservoirs in South Korea. The model allows for multioptimization of power generation and municipal, industrial, and irrigation water use. It is shown that the annual average energy and the annual average water supply generated from the joint operation of the two parallel reservoirs by the LD-DP approach is 15.2 and 1.7% more than the contracted power production and water supply respectively.     

Complete genome structure of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic organisms capable of oxygen-producing photosynthesis similar to that in eukaryotic algae and plants, and because of this, they have been used as model organisms for the study of the mechanism and regulation of oxygen-producing photosynthesis. To understand the entire genetic system in cyanobacteria, the nucleotide sequence of the entire genome of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 has been determined. The total length of the circular genome is 3,573,470 bp, with a GC content of 47.7%. A total of 3,168 potential protein coding genes were assigned. Of these, 145 (4.6%) were identical to reported genes, and 1,259 (39.6%) and 342 (10.8%) showed similarity to reported and hypothetical genes, respectively. The remaining 1,422 (45.0%) showed no apparent similarity to any genes registered in the databases. Classification of the genes by their biological function and comparison of the gene complement with those of other organisms have revealed a variety of features of the genetic information characteristic of a photoautotrophic organism. The sequence data, as well as other information on the Synechocystis genome, is presented in CyanoBase on WWW [http:/(/)www.kazusa.or.jp/cyano/].