Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Look-up table based Monte Carlo inverse model as a tool to discover liver tumors

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is a method that allows investigation of the chromophore composition of tissue. The objective is to explore if the composition can be used to determine whether the tissue is healthy or not. The measured diffuse reflectance is often modelled by a diffusion model. However, the diffusion model has some shortcomings, and therefore this project uses a Monte Carlo model to analyse the measured spectrum. In this thesis a look-up table based Monte Carlo inverse model is developed and compared to a diffusion model for measurements of ex vivo animal liver, in vivo human liver and measurements that investigate the effect of the probe pressure on the chromophore composition. The results show that the Monte Carlo model is a promising method, but in its present form in need of some improvements. The pressure measurements show that a higher pressure results in increased diffuse reflectance. This can be explained by the result of the MC model, but since there are only few studies in this area with contradictory results, no solid conclusions can be drawn from this study.
Identification of chromium species in tanning solutions

This paper presents results of a study on identification of the speciation forms of chromium (III) in the tanning solutions. The cation complexes of Cr(III) were isolated and purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The isolated speciation forms were identified by differential pulse polarography (DPP) and VIS spectrophotometry. The activity of the tanning preparations is determined by the specific speciation forms of Cr(III) present in the solutions and determines their toxicity in the natural environment.
Financial and Non-Financial Business Risk Perspectives – Empirical Evidence from Commercial Banks

The purpose of this paper is to have an empirical examination regarding financial and non-financial risks because of the changing environment of banking. Banks today seek to rationalize, innovate and adaptive to changing situations and status as part of business because of the competitive economy. Successful supervision of risks and their forecast ought to help in lessen failures and losses. In that aspect, this paper focuses on financial and non-financial risk management perspectives on Pakistan’s banking sector for the period 2006-2009. The paper adopts two regression models for the “controllable” variables in the data set to identify significant correlations. Size, Gearing ratio, and liquid assets found to have significantly affecting the financial risk while Size, NPLs ratio, and operating efficiency established significant relationship with the non-financial risk faced by the commercial banks. In general, results propose that banking system of Pakistan is welldiversified.
Basis-momentum in the futures curve and volatility risk

Martijn Boons† and Melissa Porras Prado‡ Abstract We introduce a commodity-return predictor related to slope and curvature of the futures curve: basis-momentum. Basis-momentum strongly outperforms benchmark characteristics in predicting spot and term premiums in the time-series and crosssection. Basis-momentum is maturity-specific, driven by roll returns, present in currencies and stock indexes, and increasing in volatility. Asset pricing tests show that a parsimonious two-factor model provides an excellent fit for the cross-section of commodities, with a large premium for basis-momentum that represents compensation for volatility risk. We argue that basis-momentum is driven by maturity-specific price pressures that materialize when increasing volatility reduces the ability of speculators to clear the market. JEL Classification Codes: G12, G13.
HOW BAKE TIME AND SUGAR INGREDIENT RATIOS AFFECT COOKIE TEXTURE

How food tastes is strongly influenced by its physical properties, such as texture and appearance. The texture of baked goods in particular can be altered by adjusting variables like sugar ingredient ratios and baking times. To examine their effect on cookie chewiness, sugar ingredient ratio and baking time were varied in two sets of cookie batches. Chewiness and springiness was measured by performing a “two bite” double compression test on the texture analyzer. An initial analysis demonstrated that baking time is a more significant variable in influencing cookie physical properties than sugar ratio. This investigation also found that a positive quadratic relationship exists between baking time and chewiness, longer baking times of 14 min result in cookie fractures during data collection, and that optimal springiness can be achieved with a baking time range of 10 to 12 minutes. These results confirm previous research in that a positive correlation exists between baking time and cookie hardness.
IFRS and the extensive use of professional judgment: Giving a voice to German concerns

In the convergence process with the development and adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as national standards, exercise of accountants‟ professional judgment has increasingly been recognized as an important and controversial topic. However, most studies have failed to explore and capture the complexity of issues regarding the exercise of professional judgment in IFRS. Moreover, no study has critically examined perceptions that the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) fails to take into account concerns about this extensive use of professional judgment in IFRS. As such, the objective of this paper is to provide in-depth insights into issues and concerns regarding the exercise of professional judgment in IFRS from a German perspective. Based on interviews with German accountants and leading accounting academics, this paper explores which factors are likely to influence professional judgment and critically evaluates to what extent factors such as national culture and managerial opportunism can hinder IFRS to achieve the aim of reliability and global comparability. Moreover, this study critically examines the perception of German accounting professionals and leading accounting academics that the IASB often fails to consider critical opinions about IFRS‟ principles and standards. We provide evidence that Anglo-American dominance and biases in international accounting as well as issues concerning language and self-assertiveness contribute to this perception of indifference in the IASB. As such, this study extends the existing accounting literature and contributes by providing deeper and sharper insights into the controversial topic of professional judgement in the convergence process.
Effect of the Micellar Electric Field on Electron-Transfer Processes. A Study of the Metal-to-Metal Charge Transfer within the Binuclear Complex Pentaammineruthenium(III)−(μ-Cyano)pentacyanoruthenium(II) in Micellar Solutions of Sodium Dodecylsulfate (SDS) and Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Chloride (CT

The metal-to-metal charge-transfer band within the binuclear complex pentaammineruthenium(III)-(μ-cyano )pentacyanoruthenium(II), a Robin-Day class II complex, was studied in solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl). The redox potentials of both ruthenium centers were also measured. From the optical and electrochemical (redox) data, both the reorganization free energy and the reaction free energy corresponding to the electron transfer were obtained. It was found that in solutions containing the anionic surfactant the relevant parameters for the electron-transfer process, that is, the free energies of reorganization and reaction, are quite similar to those corresponding to aqueous electrolyte solutions. In the case of the solutions containing the cationic surfactant, these parameters are quite different from those of the aqueous electrolyte solutions. The results are interpreted taking into account the effects of the micellar electric field on both the binuclear complex and the medium (solvent) surrounding it. These effects depend on the (average) position of the binuclear complex in relation to the micelle: in the case of cationic micelles the binuclear complex penetrates the Stern layer. When the micelles are anionic, the binuclear complex is, on the average, outside this layer, but a residual influence of the micellar field seems to be operative.
Thermal Expansion of Nickel‐Zirconia Anodes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells during Fabrication and Operation

The thermal expansion of NiO-8 mol % Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}-stabilized ZrO{sub 2} (YSZ) composites and Ni-YSZ cermets in air and hydrogen have been investigated in the temperature range from 50 to 1,000 C. The average linear thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of NiO-YSZ composites in air increased with NiO content over the entire composition range. While NiO in the composites was changed to Ni in the H{sub 2} stream, their expansions were governed by the reduction of NiO. For reduced, Ni-YSZ cermets, the TEC increases significantly with Ni content in the composition range > 60 vol% Ni. The TEC increased gradually during repeated thermal cycles between room temperature and 1,000 C. When cermets were measured in air, the Ni particles were fully oxidized to NiO above 900 C, and many cracks appeared in the samples.
Comparative X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of BiFeO3 ceramics prepared by conventional solid-state reaction and mechanical activation

The aim of this work was to prepare BiFeO3 by modified solid-state sintering and mechanical activation processes and to investigate the structure and hyperfine interactions of the material. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied as complementary methods. In the case of sintering, BiFeO3 phase was obtained from the mixture of precursors with 3 and 5 % excess of Bi2O3 during heating at 1023 K. Small amounts of impurities such as Bi2Fe4O9 and sillenite were recognized. In the case of mechanical activation, the milling of stoichiometric amounts of Bi2O3 and Fe2O3 followed by isothermal annealing at 973 K resulted in formation of the mixture of BiFeO3, Bi2Fe4O9, sillenite and hematite. After separate milling of individual Bi2O3 and Fe2O3 powders, mixing, further milling and thermal processing, the amount of desired BiFeO3 pure phase was significantly increased (from 70 to 90 %, as roughly estimated). From Mössbauer spectra, the hyperfine interaction parameters of the desired BiFeO3 compound, paramagnetic impurities of Bi2Fe4O9 and sillenite were determined. The main conclusion is that the lowest amount of impurities was obtained for BiFeO3 with 3 % excess of Bi2O3, which was sintered at 1023 K. However, in the case of mechanical activation, the pure phase formed at a temperature by 50 K lower as compared to solid-state sintering temperature. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that for both sintered and mechanically activated BiFeO3 compounds, thermal treatment at elevated temperature led to a partial eliminating of the paramagnetic impurities.
Extração e exportação de nutrientes por variedades de cana-de-açúcar cultivadas sob irrigação plena

A review of technology research supporting the Brazilian sugaralcohol sector shows that only sporadic studies with irrigated sugarcane have been developed to investigate nutritional requirements. In this context, the objective of this study was to quantify the capacity of extraction and export of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg as well as the nutritional requirement for the production of one ton of stalk per hectare (TCH) in the plant cane cycle of 11 sugarcane varieties (SP79-1011, RB813804, RB863129, RB872552, RB943365, RB72454, RB763710, SP78-4764, SP81-3250, RB867515, and RB92579) grown under full irrigation. The research was conducted under field conditions in the municipality of Carpina, PE, in the 2006/2007 growing season. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with 11 treatments and four replications. Nutrient extraction and export as well as nutritional requirements of the shoot components of the plants were evaluated 360 days after planting. The mean nutrient accumulation in shoots was 179, 25, 325, 226, and 87 kg ha-1 of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, respectively.The average export of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg via stalks of the irrigated varieties was 92, 15, 188, 187, and 66 kg ha-1; corresponding, respectively, to 51, 60, 58, 83, and 76 % of the whole nutrient amount taken up by the cane plant. The extracted nutrient amounts were highest by the following varieties: RB92579 and SP81-3250 for N; RB813804, RB863129, RB872552, RB763710, RB92579 SP78-4764, SP81-3250 and SP79-1011 for P; SP79-1011, SP81-3250, RB813804, RB872552 and RB763710 for K; RB92579 and RB863129 for Ca; and RB92579 for Mg, for which the export values in stalks were highest. For the production of one TCH, the varieties needed 0.91, 0.13, 1.71, 1.18, and 0.44 kg of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, respectively.
Intermediate moisture tropical fruit products for developing countries I. Technological data on papaya

Summary The effects of short heat (boiling temperature) treatments, consisting of ‘blanching’ in concentrated sucrose (70%) solution (I), or plain water (11); or osmotic dehydration in cold (room temperature) (111) or hot (boiling) sucrose (70%) solution (IV); and a combination of (111) following (I) or (11), on the drying behaviour of papaya, dehydrated to the intermediate moisture (IM) range, were studied. Significant increases were observed in the dry matter content of papaya treated as above (I, 111, IV or 111 following T or IT), with the obvious increase in the expected production yields and probable reduction of the heat energy needed for the drying process. The drying behaviour of papaya as a raw material for IM products, during and after the above treatments, as well as following hot-air, (cabinet) or direct-sun drying, was studied. The drying time needed for cabinet or solar drying following osmotic treatments of papaya was considerably shortened, and therefore a significant saving in the heat energy needed for drying is to be expected. The optimal treatments to achieve a considerable shortening in the drying time, without affecting negatively the quality of the 1M papaya, seemed to be syrup ‘dipping’, or a combination of water or syrup blanching and cold osmotic dehydration. The above methods can be applied in both small, non-sophisticated fruit dehydration plants (mainly solar drying), or in larger and more sophisticated ones (mainly forced hot-air drying).
Performance Enhancement of SBR Applying Real-Time Control

This paper presents the applications of a real-time oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and pH control system to enhance the system performance of a continuous-inflow sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The real-time controlled SBR showed better performances than sequential control regarding substrate removal efficiency and cost reduction. In substrate removal efficiency, good COD, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and NH+4 removals were achieved by real-time and conventional sequential controlled systems. However, the poor removal of total nitrogen caused by incomplete denitrification in the sequential controlled SBR was improved significantly to 91% by real-time control. Moreover, in contrast with sequential controlled SBR, the real-time controlled SBR can save 14–32% of aeration energy and 11–29% of reactor capacity. Observation of nitrogen compound variations showed nitrites accumulated during the aerobic phase of the real-time controlled SBR. In addition, the kinetics of nitrification and denitrification also pro.
Four Essays in Historical and Institutional Economics and Economic Development

In Chapter 1, we propose a theory to explain the poor performance of Jamaica relative to the other former British West Indian sugar colonies in the post-emancipation period (post 1834). Using empirical data from the colonial Blue Books, Parliamentary Papers and other sources, we perform an interrupted time series analysis and show that the intervention in 1866, which saw the abolishing of the Planters’ Assembly, and its replacement with Crown Colony rule, led to significantly higher levels of public investment on the island. Using sugar’s share of exports as a proxy for the strength/presence of the plantation economy, we identify and quantify the role of the plantation interest in manipulating public investment and show that this was motivated by a desire to influence wages. In Chapter 2, we propose an institutional and colonial origins approach to explaining the social and economic divergence among the former British West Indian sugar colonies. Specifically, we focus on the contrasting economic development among the five main sugar colonies, Antigua, Barbados, Saint Kitts, Guyana and Jamaica. We hypothesise that where colonial population density was high, labour supply was plentiful and West Indian planters received adequate labour for their plantations without the need for highly repressive institutions. This led to better institutions, lower levels of conflict, and a higher level of social cohesion which, we argue, facilitated better economic performance. In Chapter 3 we survey the literature concerning government intervention in the African peasant sector, paying special attention to policies concerned with labour supply during the colonial period. The survey covers several African colonies and works by various scholars. The analysis in Chpater 4 uses colonial population density, labour institutions flexibility (the average (2008-2016) ‘Flexibility’ score from the Global Competitiveness Index), and a measure of labour conflict (per capita number of days lost due to strikes and lockouts, averaged over the first twenty years of each country’s independence) to test the relationship between historical labour availability, labour conflict and the quality of labour institutions today. We find a persistent and significant positive relationship between the quality of labour institutions and colonial labour availability, and a negative relationship between conflict and the quality of institutions in 53 former tropical colonies.
Influence of Temperatures and Fermentation Behaviour of Mixed Cultures of Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Associated with Winemaking

Up to now, this has been the first study in which the influences of fermentation temperature on the yeast growth and the production of yeast-derived volatile compounds during the fermentation of Emir grape must at various temperatures were examined. The results demonstrate that the fermentation temperature plays an important role compared to all tested variables. Fermentations were completed in 6, 8 and 14 days at 12, 18 and 24°C, respectively. Increase in temperature resulted in an increase in glycerol, total acidity, acetic and tartaric acid, 2-methyl butanol, propan-1-ol, isobutanol, acetaldehyde and acetone, but in a decrease in ethanol, malic and citric acid, isoamyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, ethyl butyrate and ethyl hexanoate. Moreover, these mixed culture fermentations formed higher amounts of isoamyl acetate in comparison with pure culture of S. cerevisiae. According to chemical composition and volatile compounds the differences between obtained wines were found generally significant.
A gradual desiccation method for improving the efficiency of protein crystallization screening

In vapor diffusion protein crystallization screening, it has been reported that replacing the reservoir solution with desiccant can increase the crystallization success rate. Therefore, the desiccation method is a potentially powerful method in practical protein crystallization screening. However, this method is difficult to apply broadly because the optimal amount of desiccant for a specific screening task is unknown. Utilizing an unsuitable amount of desiccant can result in even worse screening results than would be obtained from the traditional vapor diffusion method. Here, it is shown that by employing a modified strategy, named the gradual desiccation method, the problem can be solved without knowing the optimal amount of desiccant, and the crystallization success rate can be further increased compared with the one-time desiccation method.
Effect of bacterial inoculum ratio in mixed culture for decolourization and detoxification of pulp paper mill effluent

BACKGROUND: Effluent released from industry is a mixture of various pollutants. For the degradation of complex pollutants, mixed bacterial cultures can be more effective than a single culture. This study investigated the balance of bacterial populations in a mixed culture for maximum reduction of pollutants. RESULTS: This study deals with the degradation and detoxification of pulp paper mill effluent (PPME) by three bacterial strains, i.e. Serratia marcescens, Serratia liquefaciens and Bacillus cereus in different ratios, and found that two ratios, 4:1:1 and 1:4:1, were effective for the degradation of PPME. These ratios reduced the various pollution parameters. Enzyme bioassay revealed that more enzyme was produced during degradation for the ratio 4:1:1. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the ratio 4:1:1 degraded 95% of lignin and related compounds, and chlorophenols up to 98%, whereas ratio 1:4:1 reduced lignin by 84% and chlorophenols by 58% after 7 days incubation. Degradation products were confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. A seed germination bioassay on Phaseolous mungo L. revealed that toxicity was reduced by the ratio 4:1:1. CONCLUSION: Due to variable potential of different bacteria show variation in their growth pattern at any contaminated site. This study shows that an appropriate ratio of mixed cultures is required for maximum degradation and detoxification of PPME. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Phosphorus Transformations in the Sediments of Delaware's Agricultural Drainageways: II. Effect of Reducing Conditions on Phosphorus Release

Most agricultural fields in Delaware's Inland Bays' watershed are high or excessive in P from long-term applications of poultry litter (PL) and fertilizers and many are arable only because they have been drained by large open ditches. The possible role of sediments in these ditches in P loading to the Inland Bays was assessed in laboratory studies. Sediments collected from 17 ditches ranged in biologically available P (BAP) from 5 to 1218 mg P kg ' and in soil test P from 3 to 62 mg P kg '. Sequential fractionation indicated that Al-P (0.05 N NH 4 F) and Fe-P (1.0 N NaOH) were the predominant forms of sediment inorganic P. The degree of phosphorus saturation (I)PS), defined as BAP ? PSI (P sorption index, a rapid measure of sediment P sorption capacity), averaged 46 and 37% in the top and bottom sediments, respectively. The potential for P release from sediments to drainage waters was determined by incubating all sediments under flooded, anoxic conditions for 21 d. The effects of time and temperature (7 and 35°C) on P release were determined in a separate study with six sediments incubated for 42 d. Initial P in solution was well correlated with BAP (r = 0.74***) and organic matter (r = 0.66***), while P release after 21 d was well correlated with DPS (r = 0.75***) and total Fe-oxide content (r = 0.66***). A critical sediment DPS value of 40% is proposed to target drainage ditches with higher potential to release P to overlying waters.