Analysis of utilisation of renewable energies as heat sources for heat pumps in building sector in Poland

In this paper the emphasis is put on identification the problem how different renewable sources can be effectively used as heat sources for heat pumps in Poland. Main data of: ambient air, solar radiation, soil, ground and surface water are presented. Recommendations for heating systems with a heat pump are given.     

The influence of temperature on interactions and structures in semisolid fats

The strength of fat crystal networks in oil increases at elevated temperatures due to increased adhesion between partially melted crystal surfaces. This strong adhesion, in combination with low oil viscosity (weak hydrodynamic force), is the reason for extensive fat crystal flocculation at elevated temperatures. The crystal flocs likely sinter, dramatically increasing the thickness of semisolid fats. Crystal growth also occurs. The described temperature-induced crystal changes may be suppressed by a controlled sintering process at low temperature. Emulsifiers, such as sorbitan esters of tristearate, also suppress the temperature-induced changes. Fat crystals can be used as thickeners or gelling agents for triglyceride oils in various applications. It is possible to direct the thickening to a specific temperature, and to control the degree of thickening, by choice of fat phase composition, additives, tempering conditions, and crystallization technique.     

Motivating developer performance to improve project outcomes in a high maturity organization

In this paper we discuss the impact software developer performance has on project outcomes. Project performance remains unreliable in the software industry with many compromised software systems reported in the press. We investigate the impact that developer performance has on aspects of project success and explore how developer performance is motivated. We present interview, focus group and questionnaire data collected from a team of developers working in a software organization that has been assessed at CMM level 5. Our main findings are that developers value technical skills in their colleagues, but appreciate these especially when supplemented with good human skills. Software developers with a proactive, flexible, adaptable approach who are prepared to share knowledge and follow good practice are said to be the best developers. Motivators for these developers are pay and benefits, recognition and opportunities for achievement in their work. Overall, we found that technical competence, interpersonal skills and adherence to good practices are thought to have the biggest impact on software project success.

CoMFA methodology in structure-activity analysis of hexahydro- and octahydropyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine derivatives based on affinity towards 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and alpha1-adrenergic receptors

Structural features of the pyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine derivatives with arylpiperazine moiety and their affinities towards 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and alpha1-adrenergic receptors were analyzed using the CoMFA procedure. On the basis of 3D-QSAR models for the 5-HT2A and alpha1-adrenergic receptors, four compounds with expected better affinity/selectivity were proposed and synthesized. The affinities obtained confirm experimentally the usefulness of CoMFA models. Our results suggest that active conformations adopted by the studied molecules when interacting with the receptors are neutral instead of the protonated ones.     

Validation of spoken language resources: an overview of basic aspects

Spoken language resources (SLRs) are essential for both research and application development. In this article we clarify the concept of SLR validation. We define validation and how it differs from evaluation. Further, relevant principles of SLR validation are outlined. We argue that the best way to validate SLRs is to implement validation throughout SLR production and have it carried out by an external and experienced institute. We address which tasks should be carried out by the validation institute, and which not. Further, we list the basic issues that validation criteria for SLR should address. A standard validation protocol is shown, illustrating how validation can prove its value throughout the production phase in terms of pre-validation, full validation and pre-release validation.

A necessary condition of viability for fractional differential equations with initialization

In this paper, viability results for nonlinear fractional differential equations with the Riemann-Liouville derivative are proved. We give a necessary condition for fractional viability of a locally closed set with respect to a nonlinear function.     

The individual borrowers recognition: Single and ensemble trees

Banks provide a financial intermediary service by channeling funds efficiently between borrowers and lenders. Bank lending is subject to credit risk when loans are not paid back on a timely basis or are in default. The ability or possessing a methodology to evaluate the creditworthiness of a borrower is therefore crucial to managing the bank’s risk management and profitability.The aim of the paper is dichotomous classification of the individual borrowers to the groups of creditworthy or non-creditworthy clients. The recognition of borrowers is provided applying single and aggregated classification trees.Classification trees are a powerful alternative to the more traditional statistical models. This model has the advantage of being able to detect non-linear relationships and showing a good performance in presence of qualitative information as it happens in the creditworthiness evaluation of individual borrowers. As a result, they are widely used as base classifiers for ensemble methods.Aggregated classification trees are constructed employing two ensemble methods: Adaboost and bagging. AdaBoost constructs its base classifiers in sequence, updating a distribution over the training examples to create each base classifier. Bagging combines the individual classifiers built in bootstrap replicates of the training set.The research is conducted employing actual data regarding the individual borrowers that got a mortgage credit in one of the commercial banks that operate in Poland. Each of the clients is described by 11 variables. The grouping variable informs if the client pays off the credit regularly due to the credit agreement or he is back in loan redemption. Diagnostic variables describe the clients in terms of demographic features and characterize the credits that are to be paid back (i.e. value and currency of the credit, credit rate, etc.).     

How proximity matters in interactive learning and innovation: a study of the Venetian glass industry

Drawing on the literature on proximity within industrial agglomerations, the authors develop a model to explain how social, cognitive and personal proximity influences interactive learning and innovation in industrial districts. A qualitative study of the Murano glassmaking district shows that interactive learning in an industrial district occurs on both horizontal and vertical dimensions, along which proximity plays different roles. Horizontal learning takes place through social and cognitive proximity and personal distance. Vertical learning occurs through personal proximity and social and cognitive distance. This study contributes to the literature on the proximity within industrial districts by highlighting the role of personal proximity, which is largely unexplored. This paper also considers the coevolution between the proximity dimensions and provides empirical evidence of two mechanisms of coevolution: a compensation mechanism between social and cognitive proximity and a substitution mechanism between personal proximity, and cognitive and social proximities.     

New melamine–formaldehyde–ketone polymers. II. Dissolution of melamine in reactive solvents prepared from cyclohexanone

Reactive solvents of melamine were prepared from cyclohexanone and excess of formaldehyde in the presence of triethylamine catalyst. The solubility of melamine in the solvents was evaluated and the mechanism of dissolution explained on the basis of ¹H‐NMR and IR spectroscopy. Attempts to cure the melamine solutions resulted in melamine–formaldehyde–cyclohexanone polymers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 77–85, 2005     

Activities of amine and phenolic antioxidants and their changes in broad beans (Vicia faba) after freezing and steam cooking

Antioxidant properties and changes in the levels of active compounds in fresh and processed broad beans were determined in the study. Activity of extracted substances was much higher against ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) than towards DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals. Phenolics extracted with 70% acetone were also more active comparing to amine compounds obtained with water both in experiments applying radicals and during oxidation of linoleic acid. Steam cooking and freezing had a negative influence on the content of polyphenols and in consequence on their activity. Cooking fresh broad beans decreased the content of those compounds by 16% and freezing – by over 30%, while cooking frozen material resulted in a much lower further decrease (2–8%). Processes applied on fresh material reduced the activity against ABTS^•+ to a smaller extent (cooking by 11% and freezing by around 20%), while cooking frozen beans caused a further decrease by 10–17%.