The influence of chop location on pork loin quality

Pork longissimus muscle quality characteristics were evaluated on 109 center cut boneless loins. After 21 d aging, loins were cut into 1-inch chops and allowed to bloom for 30 minutes before visual measurements (color, marbling and firmness) and instrumental color were recorded for each chop. Overall, visual color was the lightest on the anterior and posterior ends and was the darkest from approximately 50% to 80% of the length of the loin. Marbling was the highest at the posterior end, lowest in mid-loin, then higher toward the anterior end. Loins were the softest at the anterior end and became firmer toward the posterior end. From the anterior to approximately 40- 50% of the loin length, chops became darker (lower L*), redder (higher a*), and less yellow (lower b*). Near the center of the loin, color was constant, but became lighter (higher L*) and more yellow (higher b*) at the posterior end. Chops located at 25% (anterior), 50% (middle) and 75% (posterior) of the length of each loin were collected and further analyzed. Section chops within loins had similar pH values. The chop from the anterior section contained the highest percentage of crude fat, followed by the posterior section chop, and the middle section chop contained the lowest percentage. The middle section chop contained the highest percentage of moisture. The posterior section chop had more moisture display loss than the anterior and middle section chops. The anterior section chop had more cooking loss than the posterior section chop. Chops became progressively less tender the more posterior the section location

Econometric Analysis of Financial Risk and Correlation

The contribution of this dissertation is threefold. First, econometric procedures to test for the occurence of asset price bubbles ex post and in real time are proposed. Real time monitoring procedures represent an additional tool for financial agents to gauge whether or not a bubble is building up in a financial market at the date of measurement. Second, we consider the problem of risk assessment and performance measurement. Risk assessment is essential for determining the amount of required capital. It is also important to counterbalance expected profits. The focus here lies on the economic index of riskiness proposed by Aumann and Serrano (2008). New theoretical properties of the index are established and estimation techniques are proposed. It is brought to application as a counterweight to expected returns to measure the perfomance of mutual funds and hedge funds. The last part of the dissertation is of more basic econometric interest. It addresses the issue of the validity of standard inference procedures in fixed effect panel data models. Ordinary least squares inference about model parameters can be misleading if shocks to cross-sectional units are correlated. Existing tests of cross-section error dependence aim at determining whether or not there is cross-section error correlation per se. In this dissertation, a procedure is developed that aims at testing whether there is cross-section error correlation that invalidates ordinary least squares inference

Generating Test Scenarios from NL Requirements using Retrieval-Augmented LLMs: An Industrial Study

Test scenarios are specific instances of test cases that describe actions to validate a particular software functionality. By outlining the conditions under which the software operates and the expected outcomes, test scenarios ensure that the software functionality is tested in an integrated manner. Test scenarios are crucial for systematically testing an application under various conditions, including edge cases, to identify potential issues and guarantee overall performance and reliability. Specifying test scenarios is tedious and requires a deep understanding of software functionality and the underlying domain. It further demands substantial effort and investment from already time- and budget-constrained requirements engineers and testing teams. This paper presents an automated approach (RAGTAG) for test scenario generation using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) with Large Language Models (LLMs). RAG allows the integration of specific domain knowledge with LLMs' generation capabilities. We evaluate RAGTAG on two industrial projects from Austrian Post with bilingual requirements in German and English. Our results from an interview survey conducted with four experts on five dimensions -- relevance, coverage, correctness, coherence and feasibility, affirm the potential of RAGTAG in automating test scenario generation. Specifically, our results indicate that, despite the difficult task of analyzing bilingual requirements, RAGTAG is able to produce scenarios that are well-aligned with the underlying requirements and provide coverage of different aspects of the intended functionality. The generated scenarios are easily understandable to experts and feasible for testing in the project environment. The overall correctness is deemed satisfactory; however, gaps in capturing exact action sequences and domain nuances remain, underscoring the need for domain expertise when applying LLMs

An Approach to Analyze the Intermodal Rail Transport Market in Germany

This study aims to provide a complete overview of intermodal rail connections in Germany and identify the market players involved in their operation. The lack of a comprehensive overview is attributed to the difficulty of summarizing empirical data of intermodal rail transport, combined with the many rapid changes in the dynamic open market. The study uses a dataset compiled through online research and interviews with market players. The identified market players include intermodal operators, railway carriers, terminals, and ports

I-69 Finish Line: EPS Fill Under the Interstate

This presentation will look inside the unique design, analysis, and construction of the I-69 bridge structure at SR-252, which utilized expanded polystyrene (EPS) fill. We will discuss the design constraints, geotechnical challenges, and construction methods used to complete this challenging project and keep the I-69 Finish Line project in Martinsville on track for completion

In-vivo-Analyse des Einflusses der Bisphosphonat-Applikation auf die Makrophagenpolarisierung in Weichgewebeproben von Wistarratten

SUMMARY Backgrounds Bisphosphonates (BPs) are similar in structure to inorganic pyrophosphate and have a great affinity to the bone surface due to their structure. They belong to a group of drugs that have become established for the treatment of bone metabolic diseases. Over the last ten years, studies have been published which describe, both in vitro and clinically, an antitumor effect in breast and colon cancer under BP therapy. The cause for this just mentioned fact and for the occasional side effect of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is thought to be immunomodulatory properties of BPs. In particular, macrophages could be potential target cells of BPs and trigger antitumor effects by changing their polarization state. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the BP zoledronate (ZOL) on macrophage polarization in the soft tissue of wistar rats. With this in mind, the importance of surgical intervention and the time interval to BP treatment should also be assessed. Methods In total 108 wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group 2 as well as group 4 were treated 8 times with 40 μg/kg body weight ZOL intraperitoneally (week 0-7). Group 3 and group 4 were exposed to surgical trauma (bone fracture and tooth extraction) at time point (TP) 8, i.e. 8 weeks after the start of the trial. At TPs 8, 10, 12 and 16 rats were sacrificed and the tissues of skin, lung, spleen and tongue were removed. These tissue samples were transferred into a previously digitally planned Tissue Microarray (TMA) using the TMA-Grandmaster. The TMA blocks thus created were processed into 2 μm thick tissue sections and the latter were immunohistochemically examined for the antigens CD68, CD163 and iNOS. After digitalization of these immunostains, the marker-positive cells, the negative cells and the area of the tissue sections were determined using the computer-assisted image analysis program Definiens. The large number of data tables generated in this process were converted into an evaluable master table using a Python program written specifically for this purpose. This master table was finally read into “SPSS” and statistically evaluated. These final results were displayed in graphical box plots and tables. Results A significant shift of macrophage polarization towards M1 was observed in the tissues of skin, lung and spleen of rats with previous BP application compared to the control group without BP application. This shift was observed in both operated and non-operated rats. The differences between the groups with and without BP application were not entirely clear when considering the entire skin or spleen tissue. When considering the splenic tissue (without differentiating between the tissue compartments), the differences between the groups with and without BP treatment were not signifikant. However, by dividing the groups into the different regions of interest (ROIs) red pulp and white pulp (splenic tissue) and their separate statistical evaluation, significant differences between the groups could be determined. In the skin, the already significant differences between the groups when considering the tissue without division into ROIs became even more pronounced by the division into the ROIs epithelium and subepithelium. The examination of the surgical procedure revealed a slight shift in the skin tissue towards M1, in the spleen towards M2 and in the lung no change in macrophage polarization. Furthermore, the comparison of TPs 8 and 16 led to the observation that TP 16 was associated with an increased number of M2-macrophages. This was found in the lung tissue of the groups with and without BP application, whereas in the spleen tissue only in BP- treated rats. Conclusion BP application leads to a systemic shift in macrophage polarization towards M1. This may explain impaired wound healing and the development of MRONJ (BP-associated), as well as the possible mechanism behind the observed anti-tumor effect of BPs in clinical treatment. The surgical procedure by itself has a different influence on macrophage polarisation from tissue to tissue and thus does not show a uniform systemic effect. A longer time interval between BP administration and sacrifice results in a lower M1-polarizing effect of BPs only in splenic tissue. A lower M1-polarization was also observed in the lung tissue with an increasing time interval, but this occurred in both groups with and without BP treatment and therefore could not be attributed to BP treatment. This fact therefore cannot conclusively clarify the question of the duration of BPs' effect in soft tissue. The results of this study indicate the need for further research in the field of tumor immunology in order to fully understand the mechanism of action of BPs and to be able to use them successfully in tumor treatment.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Hintergrund und Ziele Bisphosphonate (BPs) ähneln in ihrem Aufbau dem des anorganischen Pyrophosphats und besitzen durch ihre Struktur eine große Affinität zur Knochenoberfläche. Sie gehören zur Gruppe der antiresorptiven Medikamente, welche sich zur Behandlung von Knochenstoffwechselerkrankungen etabliert haben. In den letzten zehn Jahren wurden Studien veröffentlicht, die, sowohl in vitro als auch klinisch, einen antitumorösen Effekt bei Brust- und Darmkrebs unter BP-Therapie beschrieben haben. Die Ursache dafür und für die gelegentlich auftretende Nebenwirkung der medikamentenassoziierten Kiefernekrose (MRONJ) könnten immunmodulatorische Eigenschaften der BPs sein. Insbesondere Makrophagen könnten mögliche Zielzellen von BPs darstellen und durch Veränderung ihres Polarisationszustands antitumoröse Effekte auslösen. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss des BPs Zoledronat (ZOL) auf die Makrophagenpolarisation im Weichgewebe von Wistarratten zu untersuchen. Im Hinblick darauf sollte ebenfalls die Bedeutung eines operativen Eingriffes und des Zeitabstandes zur BP-Behandlung überprüft werden. Methoden Insgesamt wurden 108 Wistarratten in vier Gruppen eingeteilt. Die Gruppen 2 und 4 wurden 8-mal mit 40 μg/kg Körpergewicht ZOL intraperitoneal behandelt (Versuchswoche 0-7). Die Gruppen 3 und 4 wurden zum Zeitpunkt (ZP) 8, d. h. 8 Wochen nach Versuchsbeginn, einem operativen Trauma (Knochenfraktur und Zahnextraktion) unterzogen. Zu den ZPs 8, 10, 12 und 16 wurden Ratten geopfert und die Gewebe Haut, Lunge, Milz und Zunge entnommen. Diese Gewebeproben wurden mittels „TMA-Grandmaster“ in ein zuvor digital geplantes „Tissue Microarray“ (TMA) umgesetzt. Die so erstellten TMA-Blöcke wurden zu 2 μm dicken Gewebeschnitten weiterverarbeitet und letztere immunhistochemisch auf die Antigene CD68, CD163 und iNOS untersucht. Nach Digitalisierung dieser Immunfärbungen wurden die Marker- positiven Zellen, die negativen Zellen und die Fläche der Gewebeschnitte mit Hilfe des computergestützten Bildanalyseprogramms „Definiens“ ermittelt. Aus der dabei generierten Vielzahl an Datentabellen erfolgte, über ein eigens dafür geschriebenes Python-Programm, die Umwandlung in eine auswertbare Mastertabelle. Diese Mastertabelle wurde schließlich in SPSS eingelesen, statistisch ausgewertet und diese Auswertung in Grafiken dargestellt. Ergebnisse In den Geweben Haut, Lunge und Milz zeigte sich im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe ohne BP- Applikation eine signifikante Verschiebung der Makrophagenpolarisation in Richtung M1 bei Ratten mit vorheriger BP-Gabe. Diese Verschiebung war sowohl bei operierten als auch bei nicht operierten Ratten zu beobachten. Bei der Betrachtung des Milzgewebes (ohne Unterscheidung der Gewebekompartimente) waren die Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen mit und ohne BP-Gabe nicht signifikant. Durch die Einteilung in die verschiedenen „Regions of Interest“ (ROIs) rote Pulpa und weiße Pulpa (Milzgewebe) sowie deren separate statistische Auswertung, konnten hingegen signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen ermittelt werden. In der Haut wurden die schon signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen bei Betrachtung des Gewebes ohne Einteilung in ROIs durch die Einteilung in die ROIs Epithel und Subepithel noch ausgeprägter. Die Untersuchung des operativen Eingriffs ergab im Hautgewebe eine tendenzielle Verschiebung in Richtung M1, in der Milz eher in Richtung M2 und in der Lunge keine Veränderung der Makrophagenpolarisation. Weiterhin führte der Vergleich der ZPs 8 und 16 zu der Beobachtung, dass zum ZP 16 vermehrt M2-Makrophagen vorzufinden waren. Dies war im Lungengewebe der Gruppen mit und ohne BP-Gabe, im Milzgewebe hingegen nur bei BP-behandelten Ratten festzustellen. Schlussfolgerungen Die BP-Applikation führt zu einer systemischen Verschiebung der Makrophagenpolarisation in Richtung M1. Dies kann zum einen die beeinträchtigte Wundheilung und die Entstehung einer MRONJ (BP-assoziiert) erklären, zum anderen einen möglichen Wirkmechanismus der klinisch beobachteten antitumorösen Wirkung der BPs darstellen. Der operative Eingriff allein hat einen von Gewebe zu Gewebe unterschiedlichen Einfluss auf die Makrophagenpolarisation und zeigt somit keine einheitliche systemische Wirkung. Ein größerer Zeitabstand zwischen BP-Gabe und Opferung bewirkt nur im Milzgewebe eine geringere M1-polarisierende Wirkung der BPs. In der Lunge konnte ebenfalls mit zunehmendem Zeitabstand eine geringere M1-Polarisierung beobachtet werden, jedoch trat diese in den beiden Gruppen mit und ohne BP-Gabe auf und konnte somit nicht auf die BP- Gabe zurückgeführt werden. Diese Tatsache kann daher die Frage nach der Wirkdauer von BPs im Weichgewebe nicht abschließend klären. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen die Notwendigkeit weiterer Forschung im Bereich der Tumorimmunologie auf, um den Wirkmechanismus von BPs zunächst vollständig aufzuklären und diese dann erfolgreich in der Tumorbehandlung einsetzen zu können

Bubbling over! The behaviour of oil futures along the yield curve

Using a rational bubble framework, a future spot price bubble can be shown to induce explosive behaviour in current long maturity futures prices under particular conditions. To assess this empirically, we employ a novel test of the unit root null against a mildly explosive alternative to investigate multiple bubbles in the crude oil spot and a range of futures prices along the yield curve employing monthly and weekly data from 1995 to 2013. The results indicate that series overwhelmingly exhibit significant bubble periods ending in late 2008 even after allowing for an increase in unconditional volatility. Bubbles in the longer-dated contracts emerged as early as 2004 and are longer lasting than those in nearby and spot contracts. The bubble period was characterized by dramatic shifts in the yield curve associated with institutional spread positions that sharply increased futures prices at longer maturities. The results suggest that periods of time series disconnect between the spot and longer dated futures contracts could potentially form an input into early warning systems for macro-prudential policy

Development, Assembly and Characterization of ELIPS for ELI-NP

The field of nuclear physics is generally concerned with the study of the structure and dynamics of nuclei. ELI-NP will be able to deliver photons with energies of a few keV up to 19.5 MeV for this kind of fundamental research. The nuclei to be studied will be excited by the photons and the subsequent decay observed in the form of gamma rays in germanium detectors, which offer the highest energy resolution up to date. During the interaction of gamma radiation with matter effects occur in the germanium detectors, which increase the background in a spectrum. These can be reduced by using a combination of scintillation crystals with semiconductor diodes around the detector, as a so-called anti-Compton shield (ACS). For gamma quanta with high energies the pair production is the dominant interaction process in matter. In the case of germanium this energy lies at 8 MeV. The produced positrons escape from the material or annihilate with the electrons from the surrounding and two 511 keV gamma quanta are generated and emitted in opposite directions. This can lead generally to the case that one of those quanta, as well as both, can escape out of the detector and thus do not deposit the full energy of the primary gamma quantum. Thereby single-escape and double-escape peaks arise that make the recorded spectrum more complex. Another source of background is Compton scattering. Here, the incident photon is scattered out of the detector without having deposited all of its energy in it. To prevent this impurities, as well as to reduce the Compton background, often an ACS out of an efficient material (mostly BGO) to stop gamma quanta is built around a detector. Coincident events from HPGe detector and ACS will be neglected whereby the spectrum becomes cleaner. The present work is about the development, the assembly and the characterization of a HPGe-BGO pair spectrometer, also called ELIPS (ELI-NP Pair Spectrometer), on the gamma beam of ELI-NP in Bucharest-Magurele, Romania. The ELI-NP is an unique European research facility, which should in future provide among other things brilliant gamma radiation with high intensity up to an energy of 19.5 MeV. ELIADE is there an important instrument for the gamma-spectroscopic study of photonuclear reactions and consists of 8 HPGe-clover detectors. With the help of the pair spectrometer the efficiency of one of those detectors at high energies should be increased and hence the high-resolution gamma spectroscopy extended. The use of 64 BGO crystals makes the pair spectrometer an improved version of an ACS as it allows a more accurate determination for the position of the gamma quanta. Coincident events from, for example, two 511 keV gamma rays in two opposing BGO crystals and one double-escape energy in the HPGe detector can be considered as one coherent process and thus the full energy of the primary gamma ray can be reconstructed, but at the expense of statistics. However, the higher granularity also requires additionally smaller readout electronics to ensure the mechanical compatibility with ELIADE, for which reason MPPC arrays are used for this purpose. ELIPS can also be used as a stand-alone device. By inserting of a target instead of a HPGe detector into the spectrometer, it can be used as an intensity monitor for a gamma beam or for instance for the investigation of the pair-production cross section close to the threshold. The first experiments with the completed pair spectrometer were performed for testing purposes at the TU Darmstadt, at the institute for nuclear physics in Cologne, as well as at the institute Laue-Langevin in Grenoble. The results of these tests are presented in this work