The measurement and significance of ATP pools in activated sludge treating coke oven liquors

Coke oven liquor is a toxic wastewater produced in large quantities by the Iron and Steel, and Coking Industries, and gives rise to major effluent treatment problems in those industries. Conscious of the potentially serious environmental impact of the discharge of such wastes, pollution control agencies in many countries have made progressively more stringent quality requirements for the discharge of the treated waste. The most common means of treating the waste is the activated sludge process. Problems with achieving consistently satisfactory treatment by this process have been experienced in the past. The need to improve the quality of the discharge of the treated waste prompted attempts by TOMLINS to model the process using Adenosine Triphosophnte (ATP) as a measure of biomass, but these were unsuccessful. This thesis describes work that was carried out to determine the significance of ATP in the activated sludge treatment of the waste. The use of ATP measurements in wastewater treatment were reviewed. Investigations were conducted into the ATP behaviour of the batch activated sludge treatment of two major components of the waste, phenol, and thiocyanate, and the continuous activated sludge treatment of the liquor itself, using laboratory scale apparatus. On the basis of these results equations were formulated to describe the significance of ATP as a measured activity and biomass in the treatment system. These were used as the basis for proposals to use ATP as a control parameter in the activated sludge treatment of coke oven liquor, and wastewaters in general. These had relevance both to the treatment of the waste in the reactor and to the settlement of the sludge produced in the secondary settlement stage of the treatment process.

Time-resolved Q-factor measurement and its application in performance analysis of 42.6 Gbit/s packets generated by SGDBR lasers

We demonstrate a novel time-resolved Q-factor measurement technique and demonstrate its application in the analysis of optical packet switching systems with high information spectral density. For the first time, we report the time-resolved Q-factor measurement of 42.6 Gbit/s AM-PSK and DQPSK modulated packets, which were generated by a SGDBR laser under wavelength switching. The time dependent degradation of Q-factor performance during the switching transient was analyzed and was found to be correlated with different laser switching characteristics in each case.

The measurement and decomposition of economy-wide productivity growth:Assessing the accuracy and selecting between different approaches

Productivity at the macro level is a complex concept but also arguably the most appropriate measure of economic welfare. Currently, there is limited research available on the various approaches that can be used to measure it and especially on the relative accuracy of said approaches. This thesis has two main objectives: firstly, to detail some of the most common productivity measurement approaches and assess their accuracy under a number of conditions and secondly, to present an up-to-date application of productivity measurement and provide some guidance on selecting between sometimes conflicting productivity estimates. With regards to the first objective, the thesis provides a discussion on the issues specific to macro-level productivity measurement and on the strengths and weaknesses of the three main types of approaches available, namely index-number approaches (represented by Growth Accounting), non-parametric distance functions (DEA-based Malmquist indices) and parametric production functions (COLS- and SFA-based Malmquist indices). The accuracy of these approaches is assessed through simulation analysis, which provided some interesting findings. Probably the most important were that deterministic approaches are quite accurate even when the data is moderately noisy, that no approaches were accurate when noise was more extensive, that functional form misspecification has a severe negative effect in the accuracy of the parametric approaches and finally that increased volatility in inputs and prices from one period to the next adversely affects all approaches examined. The application was based on the EU KLEMS (2008) dataset and revealed that the different approaches do in fact result in different productivity change estimates, at least for some of the countries assessed. To assist researchers in selecting between conflicting estimates, a new, three step selection framework is proposed, based on findings of simulation analyses and established diagnostics/indicators. An application of this framework is also provided, based on the EU KLEMS dataset.

Development of Database for Distributed Information Measurement and Control System

The purpose of this work is the development of database of the distributed information measurement and control system that implements methods of optical spectroscopy for plasma physics research and atomic collisions and provides remote access to information and hardware resources within the Intranet/Internet networks. The database is based on database management system Oracle9i. Client software was realized in Java language. The software was developed using Model View Controller architecture, which separates application data from graphical presentation components and input processing logic. The following graphical presentations were implemented: measurement of radiation spectra of beam and plasma objects, excitation function for non-elastic collisions of heavy particles and analysis of data acquired in preceding experiments. The graphical clients have the following functionality of the interaction with the database: browsing information on experiments of a certain type, searching for data with various criteria, and inserting the information about preceding experiments.

Connection of Network Sensors to Distributed Information Measurement and Control System for Education and Research

The development of the distributed information measurement and control system for optical spectral research of particle beam and plasma objects and the execution of laboratory works on Physics and Engineering Department of Petrozavodsk State University are described. At the hardware level the system is represented by a complex of the automated workplaces joined into computer network. The key element of the system is the communication server, which supports the multi-user mode and distributes resources among clients, monitors the system and provides secure access. Other system components are formed by equipment servers (CАМАC and GPIB servers, a server for the access to microcontrollers MCS-196 and others) and the client programs that carry out data acquisition, accumulation and processing and management of the course of the experiment as well. In this work the designed by the authors network interface is discussed. The interface provides the connection of measuring and executive devices to the distributed information measurement and control system via Ethernet. This interface allows controlling of experimental parameters by use of digital devices, monitoring of experiment parameters by polling of analog and digital sensors. The device firmware is written in assembler language and includes libraries for Ethernet-, IP-, TCP- и UDP-packets forming.

Data Protection and Packet Mode in the Distributed Information Measurement and Control System for Research in Physics

The present paper is devoted to creation of cryptographic data security and realization of the packet mode in the distributed information measurement and control system that implements methods of optical spectroscopy for plasma physics research and atomic collisions. This system gives a remote access to information and instrument resources within the Intranet/Internet networks. The system provides remote access to information and hardware resources for the natural sciences within the Intranet/Internet networks. The access to physical equipment is realized through the standard interface servers (PXI, CАМАC, and GPIB), the server providing access to Ethernet devices, and the communication server, which integrates the equipment servers into a uniform information system. The system is used to make research task in optical spectroscopy, as well as to support the process of education at the Department of Physics and Engineering of Petrozavodsk State University.

Measurement and compensation of pivot point positional error on five-axis machines

Measuring and compensating the pivot points of five-axis machine tools is always challenging and very time consuming. This paper presents a newly developed approach for automatic measurement and compensation of pivot point positional errors on five-axis machine tools. Machine rotary axis errors are measured using a circular test. This method has been tested on five-axis machine tools with swivel table configuration. Results show that up to 99% of the positional errors of the rotary axis can be compensated by using this approach.

Implementation of a machine tool performance measurement and diagnostic system and its impact on parts verification

Five axis machine tools are increasing and becoming more popular as customers demand more complex machined parts. In high value manufacturing, the importance of machine tools in producing high accuracy products is essential. High accuracy manufacturing requires producing parts in a repeatable manner and precision in compliance to the defined design specifications. The performance of the machine tools is often affected by geometrical errors due to a variety of causes including incorrect tool offsets, errors in the centres of rotation and thermal growth. As a consequence, it can be difficult to produce highly accurate parts consistently. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that machine tools are verified in terms of their geometric and positioning accuracy. When machine tools are verified in terms of their accuracy, the resulting numerical values of positional accuracy and process capability can be used to define design for verification rules and algorithms so that machined parts can be easily produced without scrap and little or no after process measurement. In this paper the benefits of machine tool verification are listed and a case study is used to demonstrate the implementation of robust machine tool performance measurement and diagnostics using a ballbar system.

Eco-efficiency measurement and material balance principle:an application in power plants Malmquist Luenberger Index

Incorporating Material Balance Principle (MBP) in industrial and agricultural performance measurement systems with pollutant factors has been on the rise in recent years. Many conventional methods of performance measurement have proven incompatible with the material flow conditions. This study will address the issue of eco-efficiency measurement adjusted for pollution, taking into account materials flow conditions and the MBP requirements, in order to provide ‘real’ measures of performance that can serve as guides when making policies. We develop a new approach by integrating slacks-based measure to enhance the Malmquist Luenberger Index by a material balance condition that reflects the conservation of matter. This model is compared with a similar model, which incorporates MBP using the trade-off approach to measure productivity and eco-efficiency trends of power plants. Results reveal similar findings for both models substantiating robustness and applicability of the proposed model in this paper.

Measurement and correlation of the solubility of telmisartan (form A) in nine different solvents from 277.85 to 338.35 K

The solubility of telmisartan (form A) in nine organic solvents (chloroform, dichloromethane, ethanol, toluene, benzene, 2-propanol, ethyl acetate, methanol and acetone) was determined by a laser monitoring technique at temperatures from 277.85 to 338.35 K. The solubility of telmisartan (form A) in all of the nine solvents increased with temperature as did the rates at which the solubility increased except in chloroform and dichloromethane. The mole fraction solubility in chloroform is higher than that in dichloromethane, which are both one order of magnitude higher than those in the other seven solvents at the experimental temperatures. The solubility data were correlated with the modified Apelblat equation and λh equations. The results show that the λh equation is in better agreement with the experimental data than the Apelblat equation. The relative root mean square deviations (σ) of the λh equation are in the range from 0.004 to 0.45 %. The dissolution enthalpies, entropies and Gibbs energies of telmisartan in these solvents were estimated by the Van’t Hoff equation and the Gibbs equation. The melting point and the fusion enthalpy of telmisartan were determined by differential scanning calorimetry.

Teljesítménymérés és döntéstámogatás az üzleti szférában = Performance measurement and decision support in business practice

Tanulmányunkban a hazai vállalatok teljesítménymérési és teljesítménymenedzsment gyakorlatát vizsgáljuk a Versenyben a világgal kutatási program adatainak felhasználásával. Célunk a döntéstámogatás hátterének vizsgálata: a vállalatok teljesítménymérési gyakorlatának jellemzése, konzisztenciájának értékelése, vizsgálva a korábbi kutatásaink során megfigyelt tendenciák további alakulását is. A vállalatvezetők által fontosnak/hasznosnak tartott, illetve rendszeresen használt információforrásokat, teljesítménymutatókat, elemzési eszközöket a korábbi kutatásainkhoz kialakított elemzési keret (orientáció, egyensúly, konzisztencia, támogató szerep) felhasználásával értékeltük. Az információs rendszer különböző tevékenységeket támogató szerepének az értékelése során a különböző területekért felelős vezetők véleményét is összevetettük, s különböző vállalatcsoportok sajátosságait is vizsgáltuk. --------- The paper analyses the performance measurement and performance management practice of Hungarian companies, based on data of the Competitiveness research program. Our goal was to evaluate the practice from the point of view of decision support, based on our previous framework, evaluating the orientation, the balance, the consistency and the supporting role of the performance measurement practice.

Koherens kockázatmérés és tőkeallokáció = Coherent risk measurement and capital allocation

Bármennyire szeretne is egy bank (vállalat, biztosító) csak az üzletre koncentrálni, nem térhet ki a pénzügyi (hitel-, piaci, operációs, egyéb) kockázatok elől, amelyeket mérnie és fedeznie kell. A teljes fedezés vagy nagyon költséges, vagy nem is lehetséges, így a csőd elkerülésre minden gazdálkodó egységnek tartania kell valamennyi kockázatmentes, likvid tőkét. Koherens kockázatmérésre van szükség: az allokált tőkének tükröznie kell a kockázatokat - azonban még akkor is felmerül elosztási probléma, ha jól tudjuk mérni azokat. A diverzifikációs hatásoknak köszönhetően egy portfólió teljes kockázata általában kisebb, mint a portfóliót alkotó alportfóliók kockázatának összege. A koherens tőkeallokáció során azzal a kérdéssel kell foglalkoznunk, hogy mennyi tőkét osszunk az alportfóliókra, vagyis hogyan osszuk el „kor­rekt” módon a diverzifikáció előnyeit. Így megkapjuk az eszközök kockázathoz való hozzájárulását. A tanulmányban játékelmélet alkalmazásával, összetett opciós példákon keresztül bemutatjuk a kockázatok következetes mérését és felosztását, felhívjuk a figyelmet a következetlenségek veszélyeire, valamint megvizsgáljuk, hogy a gyakorlatban alkalmazott kockázatmérési módszerek [különösen a kockáztatott érték (VaR)] mennyire felelnek meg az elmélet által szabott követelményeknek. ____________________ However much a bank (or company or insurance provider) concentrates only on business, it cannot avoid financial (credit, market, operational or other) risks that need to be measured and covered. Total cover is either very expensive or not even possible, so that every business unit has to hold some risk-free liquid capital to avoid insolvency. What it needs is coherent risk measurement: the capital allocated has to match the risks, but even if the risks are measured well, distribution problems can still arise. Thanks to diversification effects, the total risk of a portfolio is less than the sum of the risks of its sub-portfolios. Coherent capital allocation entails addressing the question of how much capital to divide among the sub-portfolios, or how to distribute ‘correctly’ the advantages of diversification. This yields the contribution of the assets to the risk. The study employs game theory and examples of compound options to demonstrate coherent measurement and distribution of risks. Attention is drawn to the dangers of inconsistencies. The authors examine how far the methods of risk measurement applied in practice (notably VaR—value at risk) meet the requirements set in theory.

Concept, Measurement, and Ideology of "National Competitiveness"

The author of this paper reviewing the perceptions of competitiveness reveals the origin and ambiguity of the concept of “national competitiveness” which is mostly confused with that of development of countries and competitiveness of their enterprises. He investigates the role of transnational companies and governments in shaping the world economic position of countries, presents a critique on the measurement of “national competitiveness” of countries, and heavily opposes the ideological use of the latter for justifying antisocial measures.

Mérés és értékelés a számvitelben (Measurement and evaluation in the accounting)

A cikk kiindulópontja az a tény, hogy a számvitel, azon belül is a pénzügyi beszámolás alapvető feladata döntésekhez hasznosítható információk nyújtása a vállalkozásokkal kapcsolatba kerülő érintettek számára. A gazdasági jelenségek leképezése, számviteli transzformációja során létrejövő adatok információként való hasznosításának feltétele, hogy a pénzügyi kimutatások felhasználói tisztában legyenek a leképezés mögöttes feltételezéseivel. A cikk első része a mérés általános definíciójából kiindulva mutatja be a számviteli mérés és értékelés fogalmát, ezek összefüggését, alapvető jellemzőit. Ezt követően a pénzügyi beszámolásban jelenleg érvényesülő értékelési keretrendszert vázolja fel a nemzetközi (IFRS), illetve a magyar szabályozásból kiindulva. A cikk harmadik része a szabályozás mögött meghúzódó elméleti összefüggéseket vizsgálja, kitérve a számviteli mérés és a pénzügyi teljesítmény (jövedelem) kapcsolatára, valamint bemutatja és értékeli a számviteli méréssel kapcsolatos főbb kritikákat. ____ One of the central problems of accounting theory and accounting regulation is accounting valuation, accounting as a value assignment aspect of the representation of economic phenomena. The first part of the article, setting out from the general concept of measurement, introduces the concepts of measurement and valuation as applied in accounting, describing their interconnections and basic characteristics. Following this, based on the international (IFRS) and Hungarian regulations, the paper sketches the current valuation framework used in financial reporting. The third part of the article analyses the theoretical background of the effective regulation, while also covering the connection of accounting measurement and financial performance (income), and finally it presents and evaluates the main elements of criticism concerning measurement in accounting.