Muscle force is determined also by muscle relative position: isolated effects

Effects on force of changes of the position of extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) relative to surrounding tissues were investigated in rat. Connective tissue at the muscle bellies of tibialis anterior (TA), extensor hallucis longus (EHL) and EDL was left intact, to allow myofascial force transmission. The position of EDL muscle was altered, without changing EDL muscle–tendon complex length, and force exerted at proximal and distal tendons of EDL as well as summed force exerted at the distal tendons of TA and EHL muscles (TA+EHL) were measured. Proximal and distal EDL forces as well as distal TA+EHL force changed significantly on repositioning EDL muscle.\ud \ud These muscle position–force characteristics were assessed at two EDL lengths and two TA+EHL lengths. It was shown that changes of muscle force with length changes of a muscle is the result of the length changes per se, as well as of changes of relative position of parts of the muscle. It is concluded that in addition to length, muscle position relative to its surroundings co-determines isometric muscle force.\ud \ud Keywords: Intermuscular and extramuscular connective tissue; Myofascial force transmission; Rat m. extensor digitorum longus (EDL); Sarcomere length; Muscle relative positio

Customer value from acustomer perspective: acomprehensive review

The value concept is one of marketing theory's basic elements. Identifying and creating customer value (CV) - understood as value for customers - is regarded as an essential prerequisite for future company success. Nevertheless, not until quite recently has CV received much research attention. Ideas on how to conceptualize and link the concept to other constructs vary widely. The literature contains amultitude of different definitions, models, and measurement approaches. This article provides abroad overview, analysis, and critical evaluation of the different trends and approaches found to date in this research field, encompassing the development of perceived and desired customer value research, the relationships between the CV construct and other central marketing constructs, and the linkage between CV and the company interpretation of the value of the customer, like customer lifetime value (CLV). The article concludes by pointing out some of the challenges this field of research will face in the futur

Gemeinsame Agrarpolitik der EU

Die Gemeinsame Agrarpolitik gehört zu den Kernbereichen der europäischen Integration. Was waren ihre ursprünglichen Ziele und welche Auswirkungen hatte sie? Welche Reformmaßnahmen wurden durchgeführt? Wie ist die europäische Agrarpolitik innerhalb der WTO zu beurteilen? Welchen Herausforderungen muss sie sich in Zukunft stellen? --

Scaling limits of discrete optimal transport

We consider dynamical transport metrics for probability measures on discretisations of a bounded convex domain in $\mathbb{R}^d$. These metrics are natural discrete counterparts to the Kantorovich metric $\mathbb{W}_2$, defined using a Benamou-Brenier type formula. Under mild assumptions we prove an asymptotic upper bound for the discrete transport metric $\mathcal{W}_{\mathcal{T}}$ in terms of $\mathbb{W}_2$, as the size of the mesh $\mathcal{T}$ tends to $0$. However, we show that the corresponding lower bound may fail in general, even on certain one-dimensional and symmetric two-dimensional meshes. In addition, we show that the asymptotic lower bound holds under an isotropy assumption on the mesh, which turns out to be essentially necessary. This assumption is satisfied, e.g., for tilings by convex regular polygons, and it implies Gromov-Hausdorff convergence of the transport metric.Comment: 45 pages, minor updat

The effects of cultural differences on consumers' willingness to share personal information

Consumer information is an increasingly valuable resource in the digitally interconnected modern world. Globally, the number of firms collecting and exploiting consumer information to optimize their marketing efforts is increasing rapidly. The authors determine how four cultural dimensions—power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation—affect consumers’ willingness to share their personal information with firms (WTS). The authors empirically test the direct effect of national culture on WTS, as well as its moderating effect on the link between WTS and two of its key drivers, privacy concerns and perceived benefits. Drawing on regulatory focus theory, the authors develop a conceptual framework and test it using multilevel modeling on data from 15,045 consumers across 24 countries. The empirical findings demonstrate that national culture directly affects WTS and moderates the effects of both privacy concerns and perceived benefits on WTS. These results highlight the need for managers and marketers to consider international cultural differences when collecting consumer information

Viabilni i smrznuti transplantat meniska. Rana klinička i radiološka evaluacija

Aim: To perform a clinical and imaging short term evaluation of viable and frozen meniscus allografts. Methods and materials: Between 2005 and 2006, 12 meniscal allograft transplantations were performed in our institution. The study population consisted of 5 men and 7 women with a mean age of 36.4 years (range 17.1-42.5). Six patients received a viable allograft and six a deep-frozen one. All allografts were harvested from donors who died after a short disease. All patients were operated with an open surgical technique (medial or lateral arthrotomy) and soft tissue fixation with secure anterior and posterior horn fixation, performed by one senior surgeon. All patients were scored pre-operatively, at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Three questionnaires were used to score the patients clinically (KOOS, modified HSS and SF-36 questionnaire). Every patient received radiographs pre-operatively and at 6 months and 1 year. Results: Clinically, there was no difference in patient self-reported results through questionnaires or in a questionnaire based on clinical examination. There was no significant progress in joint space narrowing on weight bearing and Rosenberg view radiographs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there are no clinical significant differences between the viable and the deep frozen subgroup after two years.Cilj: Učiniti ranu kliničku i radiološku evaluaciju vijabilnog i smrznutog transplantata meniska. Metoda i materijali: Tijekom 2005. i 2006. godine, u našoj ustanovi izvedeno je 12 alotransplantacija meniska. U studiju je bilo uključeno 5 muškaraca i 7 žena, s prosječnom dobi od 36,4 godina (raspon od 17,1 do 42,5). U šest pacijenata presađen je vijabilni transplantat, u šest duboko smrznuti transplantat. Svi transplantati su dobiveni od davatelja koji su umrli nakon kratke bolesti. Svi pacijenti operirani su otvorenim kirurškim zahvatom (medijalna ili lateralna artrotomija), uz fiksaciju mekih tkiva i fiksaciju prednjeg i stražnjeg roga. Svi pacijenti su evaluirani preoperativno, te 6 tjedana, 3 mjeseca, 6 mjeseci, jednu i dvije godine nakon operacije. Za kliničku evaluaciju bolesnika korištena su tri upitnika (KOOS, adaptirani HSS i SF-36 upitnik). Svakom pacijentu je učinjena rendgenska slika preoperativno, nakon 6 mjeseci i nakon jedne godine. Rezultati: Klinički, nije bilo razlika između rezultata koje su bolesnici samostalno naveli u upitnicima i onih dobivenih temeljem kliničkog pregleda. Rendgenska slika po Rosenbergu nije pokazala značajni pomak u suženju zglobne pukotine pod opterećenjem. Zaključak: Naši rezultati ukazuju na to da nakon dvije godine ne postoje klinički značajne razlike između transplantacije vijabilnog i duboko smrznutog transplantata