6,102 research outputs found
Emprego da tecnologia supercrítica para a valorização do resíduo de semente de chia (Salvia hispanica)
Full text linkDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Alimentos, Florianópolis, 2014.A chia (Salvia hispanica) é uma planta cultivada nas Américas do Sul e Central, cuja semente é fonte de antioxidantes naturais e ácidos graxos essenciais. O presente estudo avaliou a obtenção de extratos de torta de chia, subproduto proveniente da extração do óleo de chia. Foram aplicadas as técnicas a baixa pressão como extração em Soxhlet (SOX), ultrassom (US) e maceração (MAC) utilizando etanol (EtOH), hexano (Hex) e acetato de etila (EtOAc) como solventes, a fim de comparar com o processo de extração supercrítica (ESC). As operações de ESC foram realizadas com pressões de 150 bar a 300 bar e temperaturas de 40 °C e 50 °C empregando o CO2 como solvente. Também foi realizada a aplicação de EtOH e EtOAc como cossolventes no processo de ESC em concentrações de 2,5 até 7,5 %. O processo de extração supercrítica sequencial (ESC-S) foi estudado, o qual possui duas etapas de extração, com uma despressurização rápida do sistema entre a primeira e a segunda etapa. A construção da curva cinética e modelagem matemática de processos de ESC e ESC-S foram executadas, além da estimativa de custos de manufatura da instalação de uma unidade industrial de ESC. Todos os extratos obtidos foram submetidos a análises de atividade antioxidante (método ABTS), teor de fenólicos totais (TFT), perfil de ácidos graxos e atividade antimicrobiana. Nas extrações a baixa pressão, os maiores rendimentos foram obtidos utilizando SOX com EtOH (15,4 ± 0,4 %). Nas ESC com CO2 puro, a pressão de 300 bar permitiu alcançar rendimentos de até 10,6 ± 0,2 %, na maior temperatura estudada. A utilização de cossolvente causou aumento no rendimento de extração (11,3 ± 0,1% utilizando EtOH a 7,5%). Os extratos obtidos em extrações a baixa pressão com EtOH e EtOAc obtiveram os melhores valores de TFT e atividade antioxidante. A utilização de cossolvente afetou positivamente os resultados de TFT e atividade antioxidante dos extratos de ESC. O perfil de ácidos graxos dos extratos confirmou altos teores de ácido linoleico e a-linolênico em todos os extratos testados. Extratos obtidos pelas diferentes técnicas mostraram atividade antimicrobiana contra B. cereus. A ESC-S com despressurização rápida teve efeito positivo com relação ao rendimento, onde foi atingido rendimento de 8,7 ± 0,2%, estatisticamente igual ao rendimento obtido em ESC na mesma condição, porém reduzindo o tempo de extração pela metade. A realização da segunda etapa de ESC-S utilizando EtOH 7,5% ocasionou um aumento no TFT dos extratos obtidos. O modelo que melhor se ajustou as curvas experimentais foi o modelo de Martínez et al. (2003). Segundo o modelo de Sovová (1994), para os processos de ESC e primeira etapa de ESC-S, o mecanismo de convecção foi mais representativo. Na segunda etapa de ESC-S o mecanismo de difusão também mostrou representatividade. A ESC-S quando realizada até a etapa de despressurização (ESC-Desp) mostrou ser um processo economicamente viável e lucrativo para aplicação em escala industrial, com valores de extrato competitivos com os valores de mercado, gerando extratos de alta qualidade em um menor tempo de processo.Abstract : Chia (Salvia hispanica) is a plant cultivated in South and Central America, whose the seed is a source of natural antioxidants and essential fatty acids. The present study evaluated the extracts attainment from chia seed cake, which is a byproduct from chia seed oil extraction process. It were applied low-pressure techniques, like Soxhlet extraction (SOX), ultrasound assisted extraction (US) and maceration (MAC) using ethanol (EtOH), hexane (Hex) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and as solvents with the objective of comparing with the high pressure process, performed by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). SFE were performed at pressures from 150 to 300 bar and temperatures of 40 °C and 50 °C, using CO2 as solvent. It was also performed an application of EtOH and EtOAc as cosolvents on SFE process, using concentrations from 2.5 to 7.5%. A sequential supercritical fluid extraction (S-SFE) process was studied, wich includes two steps of extraction, with a fast depressurization of the system between the first and the second step of extraction. The kinetic extraction curves of SFE and S-SFE processes were built and mathematical models adjusted the experimental data. It were also performed an estimative of manufacturing costs from installing a supercritical fluid extraction industrial unit. All extracts was submitted to antioxidant analysis (ABTS method), total phenolics content (TPC), fatty acids profile and antimicrobial analysis. Among low-pressure extraction, the highest yield was achieved using SOX with EtOH (15.4 ± 0.4 %). Among the SFE assays using pure CO2, the pressure of 300 bar allowed to achieve yields up to 10.6 ± 0.2 %, in the highest tested temperature. The use of a cosolvent caused increase in yield (11.3 ± 0.1% using EtOH 7,5%). Extracts obtained by lowpressure techniques using EtOH and EtOAc showed the best values of TPC and antioxidant activity. The using of a cosolvent affected in a positive way the results of TPC and antioxidant activity of SFE extracts. The fatty acids profile of the extracts confirmed the high content of linoleic and a-linolenic acids in all tested extracts. Extracts obtained by different techniques showed antimicrobial activity against B. cereus. SSFE process with fast depressurization caused a positive effect in yield, achieving a yield of 8.7 ± 0.2%, statiscally equal to the yield obtained by SFE using the same condition, but reducing the extraction time by half. The performance of the S-SFE second step using EtOH 7.5% caused an increase in the TPC of the obtained extracts. Martínez et al (2003) was the model which best-adjusted experimental data. According to Sovová s model (1994), in S-SFE first step and SFE processes, the convection mechanism was more representative. In the S-SFE second step, the diffusion mechanism showed to be representative. S-SFE process, when realized until the depressurization step (SFE-Desp), showed to be an economically viable and profitable process on an industrial scale application, with values of extract competitive with market values, generating high quality extracts in a shorter process time
Empirical studies on operation costs and financial performances of dialysis service providers in Taiwan
No full text本論文主要探討影響台灣血液透析服務供應商營運成本與財務績效的主要因素，全文包含兩個章節。第一章先以台灣某大型連鎖血液透析集團所提供的內部營運資料，來探討影響血液透析成本的因素（成本動因）。研究方法採用複回歸模型，應變數為總醫療變動成本，自變數則強調管理相關的成本動因，同時控制臨床治療項目、病患特性與醫療品質。實證的結果發現，血液透析的醫療成本會受到管理因素的影響，尤其是產能利用率、醫師持股率與透析中心的地理位置等三項。而其它控制變數中的臨床治療項目與病患特性，則跟過去文獻的發現相似，也對成本具有影響。此發現將有助於血液透析集團的經營者釐清什麼是重要的成本動因，得以進行有效的成本管控。同時本研究之結果，也讓透析中心瞭解病患特性的差異，將會影響到經營的利潤。最後，對於醫療與健康保險的決策者（健保局）而言，則該注意在現有的給付制度下，透析中心基於營運成本的考量，難保不會出現挑選病患的可能，因此必須建立適當的監控機制去預防這個問題。
第二章則進一步討論醫療服務品質與血液透析中心財務績效的關連性，藉由此分析掌握在現有健保給付制度下，驅動透析中心獲利的主要品質因素。關於醫療服務品質，本文同時採用主觀（利用問卷取之病患滿意度）與客觀（三項血液檢驗）兩類指標。研究樣本包含492位來自10家透析中心的病患。研究方法採用複回歸分析，除以兩類品質指標為主要之自變數外，同時包含治療項目與病患特性作為控制變數。研究結果發現，只有主觀的病患滿意度與財務績效具有顯著正向關連，而客觀的血液檢驗則與財務績效無關。因此現有給付政策下，透析中心將無誘因去提升客觀品質指標。而對透析集團的經營者來說，持續監控所屬透析心中的病患滿意度，並提供適當的行政支援，為當前管理上的重要課題。此外，在病患滿意度的不同構面中，以對醫師專業能力的滿意最能驅動財務績效，故需視為改善滿意度的最優先項目。The main purpose of the dissertation is to discuss operation costs and financial performances of dialysis service providers in Taiwan from a management accounting perspective. There are two independent chapters in the study.
Chapter 1 (pp. 5-38) analyzes factors influencing dialysis costs (i.e., cost drivers) using administrative data obtained from a large renal clinic chain in Taiwan. We use multiple linear regression analysis to examine factors that influence costs of dialysis. Specifically, the cost under investigation is total variable costs for medical treatments. We examine how cost drivers related to managerial incentives affect medical costs in dialysis by controlling for factors associated with medical treatments, patient characteristics and medical qualities. Our results indicate that treatment costs of dialysis are influenced by managerial factors such as capacity utilization rate, physicians’ shares holding rate, and location of clinics. Consistent with prior literature, cost drivers associated with medical treatments and patient characteristics also affect the medical variable costs. The findings help renal clinics identify areas important to cost control. In addition, our refined cost analysis help clinic better understand profitability resulting from differences in patient profiles. Finally, our findings suggest that health regulators should be cautious about that the dialysis providers may tend to reject costly patients and should establish appropriate monitoring mechanisms accordingly.
Chapter 2 (pp. 39-80) investigates the relationship between health service quality and financial performances of dialysis providers (i.e. renal clinics) to help dialysis providers clarify how quality drives profitability under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance. In our analysis, we employ two types of quality measures, i.e., subjective (four factors of patient satisfaction which are collected by questionnaires) and objective (three biochemical examinations) indicators. Data provided by the sample company consist of 492 patients from 10 different clinics. We use the regression analysis to examine how quality factors influence financial performance of the dialysis clinics by also controlling for other relevant variables. Our results indicate that only subjective measures are positively related to profits while objective measures are not. Thus, renal clinics may not have incentives to invest in clinical quality that bears no financial returns. Concerning financial management, the chain company should focus on patient satisfaction supervision and related administrative supports. In particular, satisfaction over the professional ability of physicians is the most critical quality factor relating to profits
The nomenclature of the lycophyte species Phlegmariurus mingcheensis Ching (Huperziaceae)
No full textIn 1982, Ren Chang Ching twice described the same lycophyte species under the names Lycopodium mingcheense (published in April; the original "minchegense" spelling being a correctable error) and Phlegmariurus mingcheensis Ching (published in May). Phlegmariurus mingcheensis cannot be taken as a combination based on Lycopodium mingcheense because in the original publication a different holotype was indicated and the name Lycopodium mingcheense was not mentioned. The correct names for this species in Huperzia, Lycopodium, and Phlegmariurus are Huperzia mingcheensis (Ching) Holub (basionym: Phlegmariurus mingcheensis), Lycopodium mingcheense Ching, and Phlegmariurus mingcheensis Ching, respectively. The recent lectotypification of the name Lycopodium mingcheense using P.S. Chiu 2069 (PE) was redundant since this specimen was clearly indicated as the holotype in Ching's original publication. The recent new name Phlegmariurus mingjoui X.C. Zhang is an illegitimate superfluous name
[[alternative]]A STUDY ON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN CHING TAIWAN (1684-1895)
No full text[[abstract]]The main purposes of the study are:
1. To understand the origin of the institutions of the elementary education in Ching Taiwan.
2. To inquire the development and changes of the institutions of elementary education in Ching Taiwan.
3. To discuss the contributions of the elementary education to the transmission of Taiwanese culture and education.
Historical method was undertaken. First-hand and second-hand ones sources were used, such as official documents, private materials, and publications.
The main findings of this study are as follows:
1. Community schools (She-sheh), charity schools (I-sheh), and private schools were the three major patterns of the institutions of the elementary education in Ching Taiwan
2. She-sheh emerged from the Yuan dynasty, I-sheh from the Song dynasty, and private school from the Han dynasty. She-sheh and I-sheh were established and sponsored by the public, but private schools did not so.
3. In Ching Taiwan, the total numbers of She-sheh were about 273, I-sheh about 83, and private schools about 1127. She-sheh played the major role before Emperor Chang-Long, but private schools took its place after Emperor Chia-Ching. As to I-sheh had much less influence than the others.
4.Compared to the formal schools, county schools and academies, private schools played a significant role in the educational development in Ching Taiwan, which importance should not be ignored any more.
[[alternative]]A Study on Hsueh- hai Academy in Ching Taiwan
No full text[[abstract]]This study is based on the political, economical and social situation in northern Taiwan in Ching Dynasty. The main purpose of this paper is to study the ebb and flow, organizational system and the effect of Hsueh-hai Academy by the local gazette, the official documents, the works of elites, the genealogy（tzu-p'u）in the Ching Dynasty and Archive of the Office of Governor-General and newspapers under the Japanese ruling.
The main findings of this study are as follows:
1. Hsueh-hai Academy was founded in reign Tao- kuang when the development of northern Taiwan had some attainments, but the people scrambled for money, were indulgent in luxurious and expensive habits, acted violently but run short of culture and education. The local officers set into action and elites donated to Hsueh-hai Academy. It has stood on Meng-chia for fifty-two years. Under the Japanese ruling, it has been changed to military dormitory, temporary office and Affiliated School of National Language School and traditional private school. Finally, Hsueh-hai Academy was bought by the Kao’s family as an ancestral temple.
2. According to the purpose and teaching content, Hsueh-hai Academy was a Academy for preparing imperial examination. Its organization tended to be bureaucratic. About the budget, its income came from official subsidy and non-governmental donations, but it’s not steady. On Campus, it was a courtyard with houses on four sides showing the Confucian spirit and ideal. The instruction of this Academy was more positive, and metaphor was used to inspire and advise students. Besides, it sponsored the students to take part in imperial examination. Chu-tzu was worshiped at Hsueh-hai Academy, which expensed most of the budget.
3. The students of Hsueh-hai Academy had contribution on culture, education, society and politics. No matter in Ching Dynasty or under the Japanese ruling, they exerted themselves to culture and education more than other aspects. Hsueh-hai Academy not only promoted dynamic social mobility but also enhanced the rate of literacy in northern Taiwan. In Taipei, the process of development that education was the same as that of economy. The farther location from Meng-chia, the fewer of Confucian scholar passed imperial examination. Hsueh-hai Academy was an important institution that cultivated the elites who changed the customs and habits in northern Taiwan.
Key words: Hsueh-hai Academy, Taiwan Academy, Meng-chia.
Solving the Author Problem of \ue2Dream of the Red Chamber\ue2 with the Writing Style Indicator
No full textThe question of whether the number of authors of \ue2Dream of the Red Chamber\ue2 is only one or not has been discussed extensively since 1750. To clarify the number of authors of the book, in this thesis, we take some ideas of previous studies and conduct experiments with machine learning classifiers with various features (word count, word frequency, sentence pattern, change points, etc.). Finally, we find that feature selection is more important than a classifier itself.
We figure out the property for revealing the nature of the writing habits of different authors, and formulating the writing style categories. We use CkipTagger of Academia Sinica in Taiwan to break words and give word-based labels, and then organize 61 kinds of words into 45 writing style categories. Our writing style categories could correctly distinguish the same type of books of different authors, but it is difficult to distinguish the same type of books of the same author. This result means that our writing style categories could correctly analyze the writing styles and distinguish the habits of different authors. In addition, to test the effectiveness of the writing style categories, we apply SVM (support vector machine) classifier and Tanimoto similarity to the experiments on the same type of books of the same author. The result shows that the writing style categories is more stable than other features. Then we perform three experiments of the same author from same books, the same author from different books, and different authors. These are carried out for 42 control group novels. Then the corresponding SVM accuracy and Tanimoto value range are obtained as the writing style indicator. Finally, we perform the same experiments on the first 80 episodes and the last 40 episodes of \ue2Dream of the Red Chamber\ue2. According to the experimental results, we conclude that the question of whether there is one or more than one authors in the entire book of \ue2Dream of the Red Chamber\ue2 is inconclusive. We cannot prove that there is only one author, and we cannot prove that there are multiple authors either.
Based on this study, we develope a web application that compares the writing style similarity of the two texts on the following website:
http://par48.cse.nsysu.edu.tw:300
The Shadow Report for the “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)” with Topics onGender Diversity Education, Sex Education, and Female Participation in Exercise and Sports
No full textThe concept of peace in the Tao Te Ching
Full text linkThis thesis represents a first attempt to analyze Lao Tzu's main method of resolving the social and political problems in Ch'un Ch'iu and Warring States Periods. Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, suggested many solutions that could bring an end to the conflicts and to the ending of the disunity of China. Examples of these include the reform or abolishment of some ancient Chinese institutions as well as new principles for the enhancement and preservation of life. All these ideas were to become crystallised in Tao Te Ch'ing, which became an important religious text. In particular, the aspect of Lao Tzu's methods for solving the social and political problems of China in the Warring States Period needs more attention. In each chapter of the Tao Te Ch'ing there was a main emphasis on peace as the main method of developing social cohesion and as a cure to all fundamental human problems. Therefore, Lao Tzu's ideas about peace and his methods of solving the problems of the Warring States period are significant and from the main focus of the thesis
Crystallization and Preliminary X-ray Diffraction Analysis of PAT, an Acetyltransferase from Sulfolobus solfataricus
No full textMapping the Discipline of the Olympic Games An Author-Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkThe authors conducted an author cocitation analysis on prominent authors writing about the Olympics during the 1990s. Author cocitation is an established bibliometric technique that can be used to measure the relative similarities of topics written about by the cited authors. This enables a visual representation of the “intellectual space” of the discipline, in this case the Olympics, to be created for the period under review. So core and peripheral research areas are identified, along with their major contributors. The representation appears as a two-dimensional cluster-enhanced map. Subject expertise was then applied to the results to place labels on the generated clusters of authors and their topics
- …
