Structure formation in sugar containing pectin gels – Influence of Ca2+ on the gelation of low-methoxylated pectin at acidic pH

A new method for the examination of the pectin gelation process is presented as a complementation of the most common determination of the gelling point (cross-over of G′ and G″) from oscillation measurements. It is based on the first derivation dG′/dt from oscillation measurements (named as structuring velocity), and defines an initial as well as a critical structuring temperature. These allow an exact determination of the start of structure formation and description of the structuring process also in gels with pre-gelation that showed no clear GP. Moreover, phases and mechanisms of gelation can be identified and structure developing rates can be calculated. The application of this method on the gelation of low-methoxylated pectin at pH 3 and 30% saccharose with different contents of Ca2+ was tested. The results show differences as well as similarities between the GP and the newly defined structuring parameters that could be partly explained by varying structuring mechanisms at different Ca-content. The initial structuring process started probably with ionic interactions (egg-box junction zones and random crosslinks) via Ca-bridges as well as hydrophobic interactions at temperatures ≥ 60 °C, it was nearly completed around 40 °C. Hydrophilic interactions (below 50 °C) and inter-dimer aggregations (below 25 °C) perhaps dominated the gelation during further cooling. In dependence on the Ca-content, two to three phases could be identified during the structuring process. The properties of the gels after cooling were tested by oscillation measurements as well as the USA-sag method. With increasing calcium content the elastic behaviour of the gels increased but they became also more and more brittle

Pemanfaatan Smartphone sebagai Media Pembelajaran Mandiri pada Anak di Kabupaten Kupang

The purpose of this study was to determine and to describe the use of smartphones as an independent learning media fo High School Students in Manusak Village, Kupang Regency. The informants of this study consisted of students who used smartphones as a media for independent learning. Research data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The research data were analyzed using qualitative analysis techniques moving in a circle, namely data reduction, data display, and drawing conlusions. The study indicated that the benefits of smartphone as learning media for students were to increase students’ knowledge, as a source of entertainment for students who feel bored while studying. Besides, its impact on students were it can divert students’ thoughts and attention, lack of social interaction between students, student cheating oftem occurs in learning (copy and paste from internet)

Water Auditing: The first step to effective effluent management on dairy farms in South West Western Australia: An approach of Zero Waste Discharge on a dairy farm in Boyanup, Western Australia

This project investigates the possibility of achieving zero waste discharge on a dairy farm in south west Western Australia. The current best practices for dairy farm effluent treatment were assessed in a literature review and a water audit and a nutrient balance were conducted on a specific farm in Boyanup, W. A. with 500 cattle. The finding was 52 L/cow per milking of water were used, which is higher than the industry benchmark. Nutrients were leaking into groundwater table at six meters depth at low concentrations. Four different options were assessed in a techno-economic options assessment: i) no action to be taken; ii) installing a pond for effluent storage; iii) installing a tank for effluent storage, and iv) recycling effluent after primary treatment for dairy yard wash combined with construction of a roof on the yard for additional rainwater catchment and reduction of heat stress on cows. The paper concludes that a hybrid option incorporating effluent recycling for yard wash by installation of flood wash tanks, construction of a pond for storage during wet seasons, and the erection of a roof on the yard for additional rainwater catchment and reduction of heat stress on cows. This final recommendation was designed to achieve zero waste discharge and showed further benefits such as an increase in milk production and a reduction of labour. The installation cost for the proposed overall system was estimated at $170,000 with a payback period of 6.2 years

Machine Learning Methods for Fuzzy Pattern Tree Induction

This thesis elaborates on a novel approach to fuzzy machine learning, that is, the combination of machine learning methods with mathematical tools for modeling and information processing based on fuzzy logic. More specifically, the thesis is devoted to so-called fuzzy pattern trees, a model class that has recently been introduced for representing dependencies between input and output variables in supervised learning tasks, such as classification and regression. Due to its hierarchical, modular structure and the use of different types of (nonlinear) aggregation operators, a fuzzy pattern tree has the ability to represent such dependencies in a very exible and compact way, thereby offering a reasonable balance between accuracy and model transparency. The focus of the thesis is on novel algorithms for pattern tree induction, i.e., for learning fuzzy pattern trees from observed data. In total, three new algorithms are introduced and compared to an existing method for the data-driven construction of pattern trees. While the first two algorithms are mainly geared toward an improvement of predictive accuracy, the last one focuses on eficiency aspects and seeks to make the learning process faster. The description and discussion of each algorithm is complemented with theoretical analyses and empirical studies in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed solutions

The productive utilisation of child support grants in Benoni

This treatise investigated the productive utilisation of child support grants (CSGs) with particular reference to Benoni town. The South African government introduced the CSG, which replaced the old maintenance grant in 1998. The aim of the CSG is to cater for the needs of vulnerable children living in South Africa such as education, basic health, food, shelter and protection. Since its introduction, CSG has been able to reach millions of vulnerable children in South Africa. Despite this success, the grant is still fraught with administrative inefficiencies and fraudulent activities committed by some CSG recipients. The researcher’s findings exposed the inappropriate and wasteful expenditure associated with the grant usage, by recipients of CSG. The researcher discovered that some mothers use grant money to buy alcohol and beauty products for themselves instead of the child’s needs. The reason associated to this wasteful expenditure was that the child is kept under the care of the grandmother who takes good care of the child, thus giving the mother the opportunity to use the grant she collects as she wishes. The main aim of this investigation was to find out how CSGs can be effectively and efficiently utilised by parents and guardians in Benoni and to make recommendations for better usage. The study also examined the effects of CSGs on children in Benoni and whether they are beneficial or not. The qualitative method of research was used and the study was descriptive in nature. Questionnaires were distributed to state officials and interviews conducted with CSG recipients. The findings from this research revealed that some of the respondents use the money to buy alcohol and beauty product for themselves instead of the child’s needs, making the implementation of CSGs ineffective and inefficient. This shows that there is a misuse of state funds by recipients of CSGs whereas there are millions of vulnerable children out there who do not have access to this cash transfer. The department of social security is encouraged to ensure effective and efficient utilisation of CSGs by recipients through state officials

Public Debt Management between Discipline and Creativity: Accounting for Energy Performance Contracts in Germany

The determination of government debt levels is a complex multilayered process subjected to constant reform. In the aftermath of the 2007-8 financial crisis, a twofold reform trend has emerged. On the one hand, the European Commission demands and supports stronger harmonization of national accounts, thereby eliminating loopholes for creative accounting practices such as public-private partnerships or swap deals, which increase government debt levels in many cases. On the other hand, the European Commission demands and supports new forms of ‘creative financing’ such as Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), a specific form of public-private partnership designed to meet climate change investment goals. Adopting a lens of French Conventionalism, we highlight conflicts within statistic and accounting frameworks and their moral-political trajectories. We derive insights into these broader conflicts by examining the concrete case of national statistics and public sector accounting practices in the German EPC field