Accelerometry-derived exercise dose (intensity × duration) was assessed throughout a competitive basketball season. Nine elite basketballers wore accelerometers during a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo-IR1) and during three two-week blocks of training that represented phases of the season defined as easy, medium, and hard based on difficulty of match schedule. Exercise dose was determined using accumulated impulse (accelerometry-derived average net force × duration). Relative exercise intensity was quantified using linear relationships between average net force and oxygen consumption during the Yo-Yo-IR1. Time spent in different intensity zones was computed. Influences of match schedule difficulty and playing position were evaluated. Exercise dose reduced for recovery and pre-match tapering sessions during the medium match schedule. Exercise dose did not vary during the hard match schedule. Exercise dose was not different between playing positions. The majority of activity during training was spent performing sedentary behaviour or very light intensity activity (64.3 ± 6.1%). Front-court players performed a greater proportion of very light intensity activity (mean difference: 6.8 ± 2.8%), whereas back-court players performed more supramaximal intensity activity (mean difference: 4.5 ± 1.0%). No positional differences existed in the proportion of time in all other intensity zones. Objective evaluation of exercise dose might allow coaches to better prescribe and monitor the demands of basketball training.

As a modern way of thinking lean methodology uses tools that are directed towards the continuous improvement of the functioning of the system with continuous perfection. Lean production (LP) means less work in the workplace, less manufacturing space, less investment, less time and fewer tools and supplies. The methodology is designed so that it is planned and managed in stages, necessary for the realization of the objectives defined production system. Lean companies are primarily focused on growth, increase profitability and customer value, but also increase productivity, improve the quality of products and processes, as well as the delivery systems are also important elements for improving business efficiency. This paper will present the methodology of implementation of lean concepts for improving productivity in manufacturing companies.

As a modern way of thinking lean methodology uses tools that are directed towards the continuous improvement of the functioning of the system with continuous perfection. Lean production (LP) means less work in the workplace, less manufacturing space, less investment, less time and fewer tools and supplies. The methodology is designed so that it is planned and managed in stages, necessary for the realization of the objectives defined production system. Lean companies are primarily focused on growth, increase profitability and customer value, but also increase productivity, improve the quality of products and processes, as well as the delivery systems are also important elements for improving business efficiency. This paper will present the methodology of implementation of lean concepts for improving productivity in manufacturing companies.

Background: Patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) can be evaluated for myocardial viability by examining reverse redistribution of Thallium-201 (201TI) through cardiac scintigraphy. There is limited knowledge about association of a reverse redistribution with favorable cardiac outcomes. In this study, we hypothesized that higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), lower myocardial necrosis, fewer ischemic events, and less angina will be associated with reverse redistribution of 201TI imaging. Methods: Adult patients with stable CAD included in this study underwent exercise-redistribution Thallium single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and were followed for one year. LVEF and regional wall motion abnormalities were evaluated with echocardiography, exercise duration by bicycle testing, and myocardial ischemia and viability by Thallium SPECT. Results: We studied 159 patients (87 men, 72 women, median age 60 years, range: 38-84) with well-developed collaterals. Those with reverse redistribution on SPECT (n = 61, 38.3%) had significantly better exercise tolerance (⩾85%; P < .001). Subjects with reverse redistribution had better LVEF (P < .001), wall motion parameters (P < .001), a lower degree of myocardial necrosis (P < .05), less angina during follow-up (P = .02), and fewer ischemic events whether treated with OMT or PCI (P < .001). Conclusions: Reverse redistribution of 201Tl on scintigraphic images is a predictor of myocardial viability. Evidence from our study suggests that optimally treated chronic CAD patients with reverse redistribution may have lower likelihood of future adverse cardiovascular events and better prognosis.

Businesses often use mobile text messages (SMS) as a cost effective and universal way of communicating concise information to their customers. Today, these messages are usually sent via SMS brokers, which forward them further to the next stakeholder, typically the various mobile operators, and then the messages eventually reach the intended recipients. Infoflex Connect AB delivers an SMS gateway application to the brokers with the main responsibility of reliable message delivery within set quality thresholds. However, the protocols used for SMS communication are not designed for reliability and thus messages may be lost. In this position paper we deduce requirements for a new protocol for routing messages through the SMS gateway application running at a set of broker nodes, in order to increase the reliability. The requirements cover important topics for the required communication protocol such as event ordering, message handling and system membership. The specification of such requirements sets the foundation for the forthcoming design and implementation of such a protocol and its evaluation.

The mammalian Hippo signaling pathway, through its effectors YAP and TAZ, coerces epithelial progenitor cell expansion for appropriate tissue development or regeneration upon damage. Its ability to drive rapid tissue growth explains why many oncogenic events frequently exploit this pathway to promote cancer phenotypes. Indeed, several tumor types including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) show genetic aberrations in the Hippo (or YAP/TAZ) regulators. Here, we uncover that while YAP is dispensable for homeostatic epidermal regeneration, it is required for BCC development. Our clonal analyses further demonstrate that the few emerging Yap‐null dysplasia have lower fitness and thus are diminished as they progress to invasive BCC. Mechanistically, YAP depletion in BCC tumors leads to effective impairment of the JNK‐JUN signaling, a well‐established tumor‐driving cascade. Importantly, in this context, YAP does not influence canonical Wnt or Hedgehog signaling. Overall, we reveal Hippo signaling as an independent promoter of BCC pathogenesis and thereby a viable target for drug‐resistant BCC.

BackgroundHepatozoon silvestris is an emerging apicomplexan parasite discovered in European wild cats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and blood samples of a domestic cat from Southern Italy in 2017. It has also been identified in Ixodes ricinus collected from a domestic cat in Wales, UK, in 2018. The clinical relevance, pathogenesis and epidemiology of this novel Hepatozoon species are not yet understood. Thus, the objective of this paper was to report and describe the first fatal case of an H. silvestris infection in a domestic cat.ResultsThe cat, which originated from Switzerland, died shortly after presenting clinical signs of lethargy, weakness and anorexia. At necropsy, no specific lesions were observed. Histopathology of the heart revealed a severe lympho-plasmacytic and histiocytic myocarditis. Mature and developing protozoal meronts morphologically compatible with Hepatozoon species were observed associated with the myocardial inflammation. No other lesions were present in any other organ evaluated, and the cat tested negative for retroviral and other immunosuppressive infectious agents. Polymerase chain reaction from the myocardium resulted in a specific amplicon of the Hepatozoon 18S rRNA gene. Sequencing and BLAST analysis revealed 100% sequence identity with H. silvestris.ConclusionsThe severity of the infection with fatal outcome in an otherwise healthy animal suggests a high virulence of H. silvestris for domestic cats. The presence of this emerging parasite in a domestic cat in Switzerland with no travel history provides further evidence for a geographical distribution throughout Europe.

Hepatozoon silvestris is an emerging apicomplexan parasite discovered in European wild cats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and blood samples of a domestic cat from Southern Italy in 2017. It has also been identified in Ixodes ricinus collected from a domestic cat in Wales, UK, in 2018. The clinical relevance, pathogenesis and epidemiology of this novel Hepatozoon species are not yet understood. Thus, the objective of this paper was to report and describe the first fatal case of an H. silvestris infection in a domestic cat. The cat, which originated from Switzerland, died shortly after presenting clinical signs of lethargy, weakness and anorexia. At necropsy, no specific lesions were observed. Histopathology of the heart revealed a severe lympho-plasmacytic and histiocytic myocarditis. Mature and developing protozoal meronts morphologically compatible with Hepatozoon species were observed associated with the myocardial inflammation. No other lesions were present in any other organ evaluated, and the cat tested negative for retroviral and other immunosuppressive infectious agents. Polymerase chain reaction from the myocardium resulted in a specific amplicon of the Hepatozoon 18S rRNA gene. Sequencing and BLAST analysis revealed 100% sequence identity with H. silvestris. The severity of the infection with fatal outcome in an otherwise healthy animal suggests a high virulence of H. silvestris for domestic cats. The presence of this emerging parasite in a domestic cat in Switzerland with no travel history provides further evidence for a geographical distribution throughout Europe.

This article presents a review of the investigation of the possibility of increasing the efficiency of existing line test solutions for troubleshooting testing for IPTV over xDSL, by the results of experimental research on real system under commercial exploitation. At the beginning of this article the main weaknesses of the existing troubleshooting testing are described. In the continuation of the article the physical layer parameters of xDSL transceiver are listed. In the reset this article provides a few specific examples of xDSL lines with their physical layer parameters of xDSL transceivers followed by analysis how they can be used for the purposes of more efficient measurement of parameters of copper pairs.

We have evaluated the kinetics of the catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 using a Pt/alumina catalyst, under conditions relevant to industrial nitric acid production: NO and steam contents up to 5% and 20%, respectively, with temperatures from 250 to 350 °C, and pressures up to 4.7 bar. The objective is to replace the current homogeneous oxidation process, which requires cooling of the process gas and a long residence time, with a more intensive heterogeneous oxidation process, allowing the heat of reaction (114 kJ/mol) to be recovered. This may give a 10% improvement in overall heat recovery and, additionally, lead to reduced capital expenditure (CAPEX) and footprint of new build plants. With world production of nitric acid of 60 million tonnes per annum, the transformation from the homogeneous oxidation of NO to a heterogeneous oxidation can lead to significant environmental benefits and cost reduction.

Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati sociodemografske prediktore socijalnih mreža na koje se mogu osloniti diplomanti prilikom traženja prvog zaposlenja – procjenama njihove velicine, snage socijalnih veza i statusa aktera u mreži. Velicina mreže definirana je kao ukupan broj ljudi s kojima je pojedinac povezan, a snaga veze kao bliskost drustvenog odnosa između pojedinca i druge osobe u mreži. Bliski prijatelji i rođaci su primjer snažnih veza, dok rijetko kontaktirani poznanici predstavljaju slabe veze koje su socijalno, emocionalno i cesto fizicki udaljene. Status aktera operacionalizira se kao obrazovni, radni i ekonomski status onih koji cine mrežu pojedinca. Istraživanje je provedeno na prigodnom uzorku od 730 diplomanata javnih fakulteta u Bosni i Hercegovini. Podaci su prikupljeni online anketom i temelje se na samoprocjenama. Utvrđeno je da socioekonomski status pojedinca predviđa njegovu procjenu vlastite socijalne mreže: prosjecna materijalna primanja pozitivan su samostalni prediktor velicine mreže, a prosjecna materijalna primanja i zaposlenost oca pozitivan prediktor statusa aktera na koje se mogu osloniti diplomanti prilikom traženja prvog zaposlenja. Istraživane socioekonomske karakteristike diplomanata objasnjavaju između 2,8% i 3,45 varijance individualnih razlika u doživljaju socijalnog kapitala. Ispitivane socioekonomske znacajke diplomanata nisu bile povezane s doživljajem snage veza koje cine socijalnu mrežu.

Abstract While bones and muscles adapt to mechanical loading, it appears that very specific types of stimuli must be applied to achieve osteogenesis. Our study assessed musculoskeletal outcomes to 30 training sessions on an Inertial Exercise Trainer (Newnan, GA). Subjects (n=13) performed workouts with their left leg, while their right served as an untreated control. Workouts entailed three 60-s sets each of knee extension, hip extension and calf press exercises, separated by 90-s rests. Before and after the 30 training sessions, subjects underwent strength tests (knee and ankle extensors of both legs), DEXA scans (hip, knee and ankles of both legs), and blood draws. After 30 training sessions 2×2 ANOVAs showed left leg peak torques rose significantly. 2×2 ANCOVAs, with bone scan area as a covariate, showed significant left leg calcaneal bone mineral content (+29%) and density (+33%) increases after 30 training sessions. A significant decline in C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, a blood marker of bone resorption, also occurred after 30 training sessions. The Inertial Exercise Trainer’s large volume of training session repetitions elicited high peak force, peak acceleration and impulses that likely provided a mechanical loading stimulus that evoked calcaneal accretion.

Metode određivanja sadržaja teških metala u prirodnim resursima kao i u industrijskim proizvodima, oduvijek su bile predmet brojnih naučnih istraživanja. Metode određivanja metalnih kationa uglavnom su bazirane na principu ″molekulskog raspoznavanja″, koje se zasniva na kompleksiranju metalnih kationa pogodnim ligandima. Efikasnost kompleksiranja uslovljena je kompatibilnošću kationa i liganda, ali i samim okolnostima, tj. medijem u kojem se odvija kompleksiranje.Jedna od tehnika koja se može primijeniti za uspješno razdvajanje i koncentriranje metalnih kationa je transportovanje kroz tečne organske membrane. Proces transporta obuhvata: ekstrakciju, difuziju i povratnu ekstrakciju metalnog kationa. Veća efikasnost kompleksiranja, (veća stabilnost kompleksa) ne mora značiti i efikasniji transport. Veoma značajan je izbor rastvarača kao membrane.U ovom radu su istražene metal-ligand interakcije, sa aspekta vrste rastvarača u kojem se odvijaju. Primjenjene su spektrometrijske (UV/VIS i AAS) tehnike, a istraživanja izvršena na ″model-sistemima″ sastavljenim od: dvovalentnih metalnih kationa (Cd, Pb), liganada               (18-kruna-6, dibenzo-18-kruna-6, TritonX-100), kontra-iona (pikratni ion), te stripping agenasa (tiosulfat). Korišteni su organski rastvarači: dihlormetan, 1,2-dihloretan, hloroform i nitrobenzen. Rezultati su pokazali da među primjenjenim rastvaračima, najveću efikasnost u ulozi tečne membrane ima dihlormetan, kako za sve ispitane metalne katione, tako i za sve primjenjene ligande. Pokazano je da fizičke osobine rastvarača određuju njegovu efikasnost, tako da dihlormetan sa vrijednošću dielektrične konstante (ε = 8.93) nižom od ostalih, kao i manjom viskoznošću (0.4) ima prednost pri izboru kod pripreme tečne membrane za transport ispitanih metalnih kationa.