Prediction of shunt currents in a bipolar electrolyzer stack by difference calculus

A model for predicting shunt/leakage currents in a bipolar electrolyzer stack with dual electrolyte inlets and significant amount of gases in the outlet ports and manifold is presented. Model includes electrolyte, manifold and membrane separator as resistance components in the electric circuit analog of the stack. Activation overvoltage associated with electrodes is taken as Tafel-like. Current balance and potential balance equations are applied to the stack and difference calculus is employed to reduce the problem to a set of linear difference equations with constant coefficients. The model is validated with published results and the effect of each resistance component and number of cells on leakage currents in the stack is presented. The U.S. Goverment’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Dietary Components Affect the Plasma and Tissue Levels of Lutein in Aged Rats with Lutein Deficiency—A Repeated Gavage and Dietary Study

The aim of this study was to find out the influence of selected dietary components on plasma and tissue response of repeated micellar and dietary lutein in aged rats with lutein deficiency. In repeated (16 d) gavage study, micellar lutein was co‐ingested with either phosphatidylcholine (PC), lyso‐phosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), β‐carotene, dietary fiber or vegetable fat (3% soybean oil). In dietary study, rats were fed (4 wk) semi‐synthetic diet either with lutein + PC, lutein + dietary fiber or B. alba (lutein source) + PC. The post‐prandial plasma and tissue response of lutein was measured by HPLC. Results showed that micellar fat, PC and lysoPC significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the lutein levels in plasma (31.1%, 26.8%, and 34.9%), liver (27.4%, 29.5%, and 8.6%), and eyes (63.5%, 90.2%, and 86%) compared to the control group (group gavaged micelles with no dietary components studied). Similarly, dietary study showed an enhanced plasma, liver, and eye lutein levels by 44.8%, 24.1%, and 42.0% (lutein + PC group) and 51.7%, 39.8%, and 31.7% (B.alba + PC group), respectively compared to control. The activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma and liver of both the studies were also affected compared to control. Result reveals, that PC enhance the intestinal absorption of both micellar and dietary lutein which is either in free or bound form with food matrices in aged rats with lutein deficiency. Hence, PC at a concentration used in this study can be considered to improve the lutein bioavailability in lutein deficiency.     

Classification of growth models based on growth rates and its applications

In this paper, growth models are classified and characterised using two types of growth rates: from time t to t+1 and from time t to 2t. They are interesting in themselves but can also be used for a quick prediction of the type of growth model that is valid in a particular case. These ideas are applied on 20 data sets collected byWolfram, Chu andLu. We determine (using the above classification as well as via nonlinear regression techniques) that the power model (with exponent>1) is the best growth model for Sci-Tech online databases, but that Gompertz-S-shaped distribution is the best for social sciences and humanities online databases.One of the authors (I.K.R. Rao) is grateful to the Belgian National Science Foundation (NFWO) for financial support in the period that he was a visiting professor in LUC.     

Molecular recognition of geometrical isomers in montmorillonite

cis-alkenes are hydrogenated preferentially followed by trans-alkenes sequentially from the mixture of geometrical isomers by the montmorillonitebipyridylpalladium(II) acetate catalyst. Such molecular recognition in montmorillonite is unusual and remarkable, and forms an advanced model to enzymes.IICT Communication No. 3187.     

An analysis of Bradford multipliers and a model to explain law of scattering

In his book on “Documentation”, Bradford derived the law of scattering, based on algebric explanation with the supposition that n₁=n₂=n. n₁ and n₂ are computed based on average no. of articles per journals in the first three zones. An analysis of a small sample of 12 data sets, using t-test suggests that it is unlikely that n₁=n₂. Further an attempt has been made to identify a suitable model to explain the law of scattering; among the various models tried, log-normal fits much better than many models including the log-linear model.     

Proof of a conjecture of Moed and Garfield on authoritative references and extension to non-authoritative references

Summary In a recent paper [H. F. MOED, E. GARFIELD: In basic science the percentage of “authoritative”references decreases as bibliographies become shorter. Scientometrics 60 (3) (2004) 295-303] the authors show, experimentally, the validity of the statement in the title of their paper. In this paper we give a general informetric proof of it, under certain natural conditions. The proof is given both in the discrete and the continuous setting. An easy corollary of this result is that the fraction of non-authoritative references increases as bibliographies become shorter. This finding is supported by a set of data of the journal Information Processing and Management (2002 + 2003) with respect to the fraction of conference proceedings articles in reference lists.     

Sesame Oil and Rice Bran Oil Ameliorates Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats: Distinguishing the Role of Minor Components and Fatty Acids

Though present in small amounts, the minor constituents of dietary oils may supplement the dietary therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hence, in the present study, we assessed the effect of minor constituents from sesame oil (SO) and rice bran oil (RBO) and their fatty acids on the severity of adjuvant‐induced arthritis in experimental rats. Rats were gavaged with 1 mL of SO or RBO or groundnut oil (GNO, control) with or without its minor components for a period 15 days before and 15 days after the induction of arthritis. Oxidative stress, markers of RA, eicosanoids, cytokines, paw swelling and joint integrity were measured in experimental and control rats. Results demonstrated that native SO and RBO but not SO and RBO stripped of their minor components decreased severity of paw inflammation, oxidative stress (lipid peroxides, protein carbonyls, nitric oxide), RA markers (RF and CRP), inflammatory eicosanoids (PGE₂, LTB₄ and LTC₄) and cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, MCP‐1 and TNF‐α) compared to control rats. Native SO and RBO inhibited hydrolytic enzymes (collagenase, elastase and hyaluronidase) in the synovial tissue compared to SO and RBO without minor components. The arthritic scores assessed based on the digital and X‐ray images indicated that native oils but not those without their minor components reduced the paw swelling and bone loss. Our results indicated that minor components of SO and RBO possess a significant degree of an anti‐arthritic effect and are responsible for down regulating inflammation in the experimentally induced arthritis in rats.     

A quantitative study of Indian engineering literature

In recent years, several projects were sponsored by NISSAT of the Goverment of India to map Indian Science. As a part of it, a database (COMPENDEX) in engineering field was analysed. It has been found that engineers in India publish their articles mostly in journals; almost all of them publish in English language. They publish in a selected few journals. Only a few of the institutions are concentrated in engineering research. It has been observed that research output in applied physics, light & optics, bioengineering and information science are increasing both at the world and India level. In the area of energy technology metallurgical engineering and food technology, research output is decreasing at both levels.     

Experimental analysis of Deccan hemp oil as a new energy feedstock for compression ignition engine

This study investigates the biodiesel from Deccan hemp oil and its blends for the purpose of fuelling diesel engine. The performance and emission characteristics of Deccan hemp biodiesel are estimated and compared with diesel fuel. The experimental investigations are carried out with different blends of Deccan hemp biodiesel. Results show that brake thermal efficiency is improved significantly by 4.15% with 50 BDH when compared with diesel fuel. The Deccan hemp biodiesel reduces NO_x, HC and CO emission along with a marginal increase in CO₂ and smoke emissions with an increase in the biodiesel proportion in the diesel fuel. The improvement in heat release rates shows an increase in the combustion rate with different percentage blends of Deccan hemp biodiesel. From the engine test results, it has been established that 30–50 BDH of Deccan hemp biodiesel can be substituted for diesel.     

Methodological and conceptual questions of bibliometric standards

Bibliometric studies are mostly empirical nature and they are mostly centred arround presentation of facts and data. There are very few studies which are centred arround theoretical foundation. The facts are gathered either through surveys or from published bibliographies, indexes, data bases. Based on these facts, empirical models and principles are being developed. The normative principles and standards have to evolve from the logical analyses of the empirical models. The stage is set to integrate empirical models of bibliometrics into standards. Future, bibliometrics studies have to address this issue and reach the stage of normative principles.