Thermal decomposition of doped calcium hydroxide for chemical energy storage

Thermal decomposition of Ca(OH)₂ with and without additives has been experimentally investigated for its application as a thermochemical energy storage system. The homogeneous reaction model gives a satisfactory fit for the kinetic data on pure and Ni(OH)₂---, Zn(OH)₂--- and Al(OH)₃---doped Ca(OH)₂ and the order of reaction is 0.76 in all cases except for the Al(OH)₃-doped sample for which the decomposition is zero order. These additives are shown not only to enhance the reaction rate but also to reduce the decomposition temperature significantly. Some models for solid decomposition reactions, and possible mechanisms in the decomposition of solids containing additives, are also discussed.     

PV promotion in developing countries by World Bank and other international organisations

This paper describes the PV potential and the various PV market barriers in developing countries and then presents the activities initiated by the World Bank group, other international financial institutions and country donors in promoting PV projects in developing countries.     

The effects of data model representation method on task performance

Data models are frequently created with little thought about their layout. Our research examined how data models organized in a columnar fashion compared to equivalent data models which did not, by improving novice designer's performance in error detection, comprehension, and query construction.     

A future for timber-concrete composites?

In countries where timber is readily available, can it be used to advantage with concrete as a composite structural unit? Research, still in its early stages at the Department of Building Science, University of Singapore, suggests that shallow composite beams of this kind have considerably enhanced strength.     

Influence of variable permeability on the dispersion of a chemically reacting solute in porous media

In this paper in the first part, the influence of variable permeability on the two MHD basic flows in porous media is studied numerically. It is seen that the variable permeability due to random packing causes the hydromagnetic channelling in both the flows. Further, it is also observed that the flow in both the cases is retarded for any increase in the magnetic parameter.

In the second part, the influence of variable permeability and the effects of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions on the dispersion of a solute in the above two basic flows are investigated. In the case of diffusion with a first order homogeneous reaction, in both the flows, the variation of permeability increases the effective dispersion coefficient while it decreases with increase in the magnetic parameter. In the case of diffusion combined with homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions, the variation in permeability again increases the effective dispersion coefficient while with increase in magnetic parameter causes a decrease in the effective dispersion coefficient. Several earlier results follow as particular cases of the present study.     

Composition of the caecal microflora, faecal bile acids and serum proteins of rats fed turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and its alcoholic extract

Wistar strain albino rats were fed turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) powder (100 mg rat⁻¹ day⁻¹) and its alcoholic extract (20 mg rat⁻¹ day⁻¹). The caecal contents were analysed after 3 months and 2 years. Colony counts of lactobacilli and total aerobes were decreased and of coliforms, total anaerobes and Clostridium perfringens were increased in the caecal contents of rats fed turmeric and its alcoholic extract for 3 months. A similar trend was also observed after 2 years feeding, except that the coliform count apparently decreased. Concomitantly faecal deoxycholic acid was increased and serum globulins were decreased as compared to those of rats fed a control diet.     

Cognitive deficits in docosahexaenoic acid-deficient rats.

This study investigated the influence of brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) deficiency on simple and complex olfactory-based learning and memory in 2nd generation (F2) adult male rats. Rats raised and maintained on either an n-3-adequate or an n-3-deficient diet were tested for acquisition of an olfactory learning set and an olfactory memory task, and for motivation to obtain a water reward. Despite a 76% decrease in brain DHA, n-3-deficient rats were able to acquire most simple 2-odor discrimination tasks but were deficient in the acquisition of a 20-problem olfactory learning set. This deficit could not be attributed to changes in sensory capacity but, instead, appeared to represent a deficit in higher order learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)