Some reactions of thiohydrazides and related compounds

Imperial Users onl

Assessing quality and productivity in selected printing organizations in Iowa using the Malcolm Baldrige quality framework

The problem addressed by this study was to investigate differences in the status of quality and productivity practices as perceived by upper management, middle management and workers in printing organizations with varying lengths of quality implementation. A review of literature revealed that printing organizations have not so far used the Malcolm Baldrige quality framework to assess the effectiveness of quality and productivity practices. The purpose of the study was to compare the perceptions of upper management, middle management and workers in printing organizations with varying lengths of quality implementation toward the seven criteria as defined in the Malcolm Baldrige quality framework;The study used a split plot factorial design and included as variables: job classification (upper management, middle management and workers), length of company-wide quality implementation, and the seven criteria as defined in the Baldrige framework. A 49 item survey instrument was developed by the researcher and validated by a knowledgeable panel. The instrument was pilot tested and administered to management and workers in eight printing organizations in Iowa adopting the Deming Philosophy; A high degree of reliability was obtained for the instrument. The perceptions were recorded towards the seven Baldrige criteria: leadership, information and analysis, strategic quality planning, human resource utilization, quality assurance, quality results, and customer satisfaction;The findings of the study revealed that the Baldrige framework for measuring quality and productivity in printing organizations were significantly influenced by job classification and length of company-wide quality implementation. A significant interaction was obtained between upper management, middle management and workers and the seven Baldrige criteria. Organizations with six months, between six to 24 months, and more than 24 months of quality implementation, and the perceptions of the Baldrige criteria showed significant interaction. Upper management, middle management and workers had significantly lower perceptions for three of the seven Baldrige criteria in comparison to the Baldrige weightings. In addition, all three company-wide implementation levels had significantly lower perceptions for three of the seven Baldrige criteria in comparison to the Baldrige weightings;The researcher proposes identifying the phenomena of interaction in the study. These phenomena could be sociological and psychological in nature which may impact and explain the interactions. The researcher acknowledges the need for future research to include different geographical areas, focus on larger printing organizations, different TQM implementation systems and the use of variables such as technical training and workplace literacy skills to improve perceptions toward quality and productivity

Change in knee flexor torque after fatiguing exercise identifies previous hamstring injury in football players

Muscular fatigue and interlimb strength asymmetry are factors known to influence hamstring injury risk; however, limb‐specific exacerbation of knee flexor (hamstrings) torque production after fatiguing exercise has previously been ignored. To investigate changes in muscular force production before and after sport‐specific (repeated‐sprint) and non‐specific (knee extension‐flexion) fatiguing exercise, and explore the sensitivity and specificity of isokinetic endurance (ie, muscle‐specific) and single‐leg vertical jump (ie, whole limb) tests to identify previous hamstring injury. Twenty Western Australia State League footballers with previous unilateral hamstring injury and 20 players without participated. Peak concentric knee extensor and flexor (180°∙s−1) torques were assessed throughout an isokinetic endurance test, which was then repeated alongside a single‐leg vertical jump test before and after maximal repeated‐sprint exercise. Greater reductions in isokinetic knee flexor torque (−16%) and the concentric hamstring:quadriceps peak torque ratio (−15%) were observed after repeated‐sprint running only in the injured (kicking) leg and only in the previously injured subjects. Changes in (1) peak knee flexor torque after repeated‐sprint exercise, and (2) the decline in knee flexor torque during the isokinetic endurance test measured after repeated‐sprint exercise, correctly identified the injured legs (N = 20) within the cohort (N = 80) with 100% specificity and sensitivity. Decreases in peak knee flexor torque and the knee flexor torque during an isokinetic endurance test after repeated‐sprint exercise identified previous hamstring injury with 100% accuracy. Changes in knee flexor torque, but not SLVJ, should be tested to determine its prospective ability to predict hamstring injury in competitive football players

Reliability and validity of maximal mean and critical speed and metabolic power in Australian youth soccer players

© 2020 Cameron Lord, Anthony J. Blazevich, Chris R. Abbiss, Fadi Ma\u27ayah, published by Sciendo 2020. The reliability and validity of maximal mean speed (MMS), maximal mean metabolic power (MMPmet), critical speed (CS) and critical metabolic power (CPmet) were examined throughout the 2016-2017 soccer National Youth League competitions. Global positioning system (GPS) data were collected from 20 sub-elite soccer players during a battery of maximal running tests and four home matches. A symmetric moving average algorithm was applied to the instantaneous velocity data using specific time windows (1, 5, 10, 60, 300 and 600 s) and peak values were identified. Additionally, CS and CP¬met values calculated from match data were compared to CS and CPmet values determined from previously validated field tests to assess the validity of match values. Intra-class correlation (one-way random absolute agreement) scores ranged from 0.577 to 0.902 for speed, and from 0.701 to 0.863 for metabolic power values. Coefficients of variation (CV) ranged from good to moderate for speed (4-6%) and metabolic power (4-8%). Only CS and CPmet values were significantly correlated (r = 0.842; 0.700) and not statistically different (p = 0.066; 0.271) to values obtained in a shuttle-running critical test. While the present findings identified match-derived MMS, MMPmet, CS and CPmet to be reliable, only CS and CPmet derived from match play were validated to a CS field test that required changes in speed and direction rather than continuous running. This suggests that both maximal mean and critical speed and metabolic power analyses could be alternatives to absolute distance and speed in the assessment of match running performance during competitive matches

Sensus communis. Esej o wolności dowcipu i humoru – część pierwsza

Przełożyła Monika Michałowic

Delayed Impairment of Postural, Physical, and Muscular Functions Following Downhill Compared to Level Walking in Older People

Transient symptoms of muscle damage emanating from unaccustomed eccentric exercise can adversely affect muscle function and potentially increase the risk of falling for several days. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to investigate the shorter- and longer-lasting temporal characteristics of muscle fatigue and damage induced by level (i.e., concentrically biased contractions) or downhill (i.e., eccentrically biased contractions) walking on postural, physical, and muscular functions in older people. Nineteen participants were matched in pairs for sex, age and self-selected walking speed and allocated to a level (n = 10, age = 72.3 ± 2.9 years) or downhill (n = 9, age = 72.1 ± 2.2 years) walking group. Postural sway, muscle torque and power, physical function (5× and 60 s sit-to-stand; STS), and mobility (Timed-Up-and-Go; TUG) were evaluated at baseline (pre-exercise), 1 min, 15 min, 30 min, 24 h, and 48 h after 30 min of level (0% gradient) or downhill (−10% gradient) walking on a treadmill. Following downhill walking, postural sway (+66 to 256%), TUG (+29%), 60 s STS (+29%), five times STS (−25%) and concentric power (−33%) did not change at 1–30 min post exercise, but were significantly different (p 0.05). These findings have established for the first time distinct impairment profiles between concentric and eccentric exercise. Muscle damage emanating from eccentrically biased exercise can lead to muscle weakness, postural instability and impaired physical function persisting for several days, possibly endangering older adult’s safety during activities of daily living by increasing the risk of falls

Biogenic methane in shale gas and coal bed methane : a review of current knowledge and gaps

Biogenic CH4 generation has been observed in many shallow, low temperature shale gas basins and coal seams. The depletion of conventional resources and the increasing demand of natural gas for human consumption have spurred the development of so-called unconventional gas resources such as shale gas (SG) and coal-bed methane (CBM). Such unconventional systems represent the opportunity for the stimulation of biogenic CH4 generation. Biogenic CH4 in shale and coal is produced by anaerobic biodegradation of organic matter (OM): methanogenic Archaea represent only the final step of biogenic CH4 generation. Several communities of microorganisms are involved in the initial breakdown of complex geopolymers and the production of intermediate compounds used by methanogens. There are several key knowledge gaps on biogenic CH4 production in unconventional gas systems, such as the exact fraction of bioavailable OM, the microbial communities involved and how they can be stimulated to enhance microbial methanogenesis. Progress on biodegradation studies, isotopic signatures, as well as DNA analyses and proteomics could help unravel interactions within the syntrophic community involved in the methanogenic biodegradation of OM. Questions also remain regarding the environmental impact of unconventional gas production, such as water quality and the mobility of toxic metals and radionuclides. The answers to these questions might have implications for both recovery practices and a sustainable development of unconventional resources. This review summarises the current knowledge regarding biogenic CH4 in SG and CBM: from the nature of the rocks to the producing microbial community and the indicators of biogenic CH4, illustrating how these two environments show remarkably similar opportunities for the stimulation of biogenic CH4 generation

Importance of Spin-Orbit Interaction for the Electron Spin Relaxation in Organic Semiconductors

Despite the great interest organic spintronics has recently attracted, there is only a partial understanding of the fundamental physics behind electron spin relaxation in organic semiconductors. Mechanisms based on hyperfine interaction have been demonstrated, but the role of the spin-orbit interaction remains elusive. Here, we report muon spin spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements on two series of molecular semiconductors in which the strength of the spin-orbit interaction has been systematically modified with a targeted chemical substitution of different atoms at a particular molecular site. We find that the spin-orbit interaction is a significant source of electron spin relaxation in these materials