A dynamic approach to teaching LSS at universities

Alongside the European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management (ESTIEM) a team of students from the University of Minho, in cooperation with a corporate partner, developed a free and scalable Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Green-Belt level course for Engineering students. Purpose: The authors aim to depict how free access to LSS Green-Belt knowledge before graduation can positively impact both engineering education and the students when in real-life projects. The purpose is not to build on existing literature, but to provide a practical teaching structure. Methodology: The authors chose to follow the hypothetico-deductive method which consists of formulating hypotheses and comparing them with real-life brought up from their personal experiences while teaching the course. Findings: This case study found a positive impact on both the students responsible for facilitating the training sessions, as well as the ones receiving practical and theoretical knowledge. With more than 60 course graduates, this model is generating positive results in growing awareness for LSS methods. Practical implications: This paper describes a practical application of a novel approach to teaching LSS in Universities along the obstacles surpassed to design it, blending it in the course curricula. It aims to foster similar implementations in other institutions. Originality: A teaching system built with students for students is scalable, low-cost, and highly engaging. Its deployment not only shows how it is possible to advance education by blending an existing LSS course structure but also how students can greatly benefit from a deeper LSS knowledge before their graduation.(undefined

Influence of exercise order on upper body maximum and submaximal strength gains in trained men

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of exercise order on one-repetition maximum (1-RM) and ten-repetition maximum (10-RM) strength gains after 6 weeks of resistance training (RT) in trained men. Sixteen men were randomly assigned into two groups based on the order of exercises performed during training sessions: a group that performed large muscle group exercises first and progressed to small muscle group exercises (LG-SM); while a second group performed the opposite sequence and started with small muscle group exercises and progressed to large muscle group exercises (SM-LG). Four sessions of RT were conducted per week; all exercises were performed for three sets of 8–12 repetitions with 1-min rest intervals between sets. Maximal and submaximal strength were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of RT with 1-RM and 10-RM testing for the bench press (BP), lat pulldown (LPD), triceps pulley extension (TE) and biceps curl (BC), respectively. Two-way ANOVA for the 1-RM and 10-RM tests indicated a significant group x time interaction. The 1-RM values significantly increased for all exercises in both groups (P\u3c0.05), but were not significantly different between groups. However, effect size (ES) data indicated that the LG-SM group exhibited a greater magnitude of gains (1-RM and 10-RM) for the BP and LPD exercises. Conversely, ES indicated that the SM-LG group exhibited a greater magnitude of gains (1-RM and 10-RM) for the TE and BC exercises. In conclusion, the results suggest that upper body movements should be prioritized and performed according to individual needs to maximize maximal and submaximal strength

EFFECTS OF REST INTERVAL LENGTH ON SMITH MACHINE BENCH PRESS PERFORMANCE AND PERCEIVED EXERTION IN TRAINED MEN

This study compared two different rest intervals (RI) between sets of resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men (M age = 24.3, SD = 3.5 yr.; M weigh t= 80.0 kg, SD = 15.3; M height = 1.75 m, SD = 0.04) performed five sets of Smith machine bench presses at 60% of one repetition maximum, either with 1.5 min. or 3 min. RI between sets. Their repetition performance, total training volume, velocity, fatigue, rating of perceived exertion, and muscular power were measured. All of these measures indicated that performance was significantly better and fatigue was significantly lower in the 3 min. RI as compared with the 1.5 min. RI, except the rating of perceived exertion which did not show a significant difference. A longer RI between sets promotes superior performance for the bench press

EFFECTS OF REST INTERVAL LENGTH ON SMITH MACHINE BENCH PRESS PERFORMANCE AND PERCEIVED EXERTION IN TRAINED MEN

This study compared two different rest intervals (RI) between sets of resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men (M age = 24.3, SD = 3.5 yr.; M weigh t= 80.0 kg, SD = 15.3; M height = 1.75 m, SD = 0.04) performed five sets of Smith machine bench presses at 60% of one repetition maximum, either with 1.5 min. or 3 min. RI between sets. Their repetition performance, total training volume, velocity, fatigue, rating of perceived exertion, and muscular power were measured. All of these measures indicated that performance was significantly better and fatigue was significantly lower in the 3 min. RI as compared with the 1.5 min. RI, except the rating of perceived exertion which did not show a significant difference. A longer RI between sets promotes superior performance for the bench press

Caracterização da deleção do gene pgk em uma cepa vacinal geneticamente modificada de Brucella abortus.

Neste trabalho objetiva-se expressar o gene pgk de B. abortus para a caracterização da cepa vacinal geneticamente modificada de B. abortus, 2308Δpgk, e utilização da proteína PGK em testes sorológicos

The regulator LdhR and the d-lactate dehydrogenase LdhA of Burkholderia multivorans play a role in carbon overflow and in planktonic cellular aggregates formation

This paper version is the accepted manuscript posted online 21 July 2017. It has peer-review. This publication hasn't any creative commons license associated. The deposited article version contains attached the supplementary materials within the pdf.LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTR) are the most commonly found regulators in Burkholderia cepacia complex, comprising opportunistic pathogens causing chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Despite LTTRs being global regulators of pathogenicity in several bacteria, few have been characterized in Burkholderia Here, we showed that gene ldhR of B. multivorans encoding a LTTR is co-transcribed with ldhA encoding a d-lactate dehydrogenase, and evaluate their implication in virulence traits like exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis and biofilm formation. Comparison of wild-type (WT) and its isogenic ΔldhR mutant grown in medium with 2% d-glucose revealed a negative impact on EPS biosynthesis and on cells' viability in the presence of LdhR. Loss of viability in WT cells was caused by intracellular acidification as consequence of cumulative organic acids secretion including d-lactate, this last one absent from the ΔldhR mutant supernatant. Furthermore, LdhR is implicated in the formation of planktonic cellular aggregates. WT cell aggregates reached 1000 μm after 24 hours in liquid cultures; in contrast to ΔldhR mutant aggregates that never grew more than 60 μm. Overexpression of d-lactate dehydrogenase LdhA in the ΔldhR mutant partially restored formed aggregates size, suggesting a role for fermentation inside aggregates. Similar results were obtained for surface-attached biofilms, with WT cells producing more biofilm. A systematic evaluation of planktonic aggregates in Burkholderia CF clinical isolates showed aggregates in 40 out of 74. As CF patients' lung environment is microaerophilic and bacteria are found as free aggregates/biofilms, LdhR and LdhA might have central roles in adaptation to this environment.IMPORTANCE Cystic fibrosis patients often suffer from chronic respiratory infections caused by several microorganisms. Among them are the Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria which cause progressive deterioration of lung function and, in some patients, might develop into fatal necrotizing pneumoniae with bacteremia, known as "cepacia syndrome". Burkholderia pathogenesis is multifactorial since they express several virulence factors, form biofilms, and are highly resistant to antimicrobial compounds, making their eradication from the CF patients' airways very difficult. As Burkholderia is commonly found in the CF lungs in the form of cell aggregates and biofilms, the need to investigate the mechanisms of cellular aggregation is obvious. In this study we demonstrate the importance of a d-lactate dehydrogenase and a regulator, in regulating carbon overflow, cellular aggregates and surface-attached biofilm formation. This not only enhances our understanding of Burkholderia pathogenesis, but can also lead to the development of drugs against these proteins to circumvent biofilm formation.Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Gene Expression Unit); Programa Operacional 833 Regional de Lisboa 2020 grant: (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007317); Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia grants: (PTDC/QUI-BIQ/118260/2010, UID/BIO/04565/2013, SFRH/BPD/86475/2012).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

On verbal agreement variation in European Portuguese: syntactic conditions for the 3SG/3PL alternation

In this paper we scrutinize a case of concord variation in European Portuguese (EP) concerning third plural vs. third singular verbal agreement in the co-presence of an overt plural argument, which in the standard variety agrees with the in! ected verb. " e paper is focused on the linguistic factors that correlate with singular concord in this context. Going beyond previous proposals that emphasize the correlation between agreement variation and particular morphological and phonological factors, it is shown that the incidence of non-standard singulars in EP may be straightforwardly explained within a syntactic account. " e empirical basis for this investigation is CORDIAL-SIN, a dialect corpus of EP (600,000 words). " e evidence from this corpus leads us to discuss and reconsider the role that di# erent linguistic factors play in the manifestation of non-standard singulars. It is shown that this case of third singular agreement occurs in the investigated EP varieties in correlation with particular syntactic conditions, mainly in unaccusative-like con- $gurations. Furthermore, it is suggested that this kind of agreement variation may be ultimately ascribed to lexical variation concerning the availability and feature speci$ cation of (null) expletives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudo fenológico do germoplasma de Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf Ex Wardleworth correlacionado com elementos climáticos.

O Pilocarpus microphylus Stapf Ex Wardleworth-Rutaceae,é conhecido como jaborandi verdadeiro por apresentar elevados teores de pilocarpina em suas folhas o que motiva sua coleta intensamente. Ocorre uma relação direta entre os eventos de fenofases, como a floração e frutificação com as condições ambientais locais, sendo importante a interpretação da relação que há entre os mesmos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar as fenofases reprodutivas do Jaborandi pertencente ao Banco Ativo de Germoplasma da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, correlacionando com os elementos meteorológicos, com o intuito de indicar a época mais adequada para a coleta e utilização do material vegetal da espécie.As frequências foram registradas semanalmente no periodo de 2015 a 2019. Conforme com a atividade fenológica ambas as fenofases ocorreu em 97% dos acessos estudados. E o índice de correlação de Spearman apontou uma correlação negativa significativa entre ocorrência das fenofases e a temperatura média do ar. Ocorreram as fenofases em todos os meses do ano, indicando alta sazonalidade. Sendo registradas em Março as maiores médias, correspondendo com o momento de maior precipitação pluviométrica registrada, e os menores valores médios ocorreu em Janeiro, com temperaturas amena, para ambas as fenofases avaliadas. Sugere-se a coleta de material vegetal da espécie para uso medicinal de Julho a Fevereiro, cujo registro de número de dias que ocorrem as fenofases sofre reduções. È pertinente executar posteriores estudos de correlação da fenologia com eventos climáticos considerando individualmente o desempenho de cada acesso

Alterations in lipid transfers to HDL associated with the presence of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud We previously showed that unesterified-cholesterol transfer to high-density lipoprotein (HDL), a crucial step in cholesterol esterification and role in reverse cholesterol transport, was diminished in non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim was to investigate whether, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the occurrence of CAD was also associated with alterations in lipid transfers and other parameters of plasma lipid metabolism.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Seventy-nine T2DM with CAD and 76 T2DM without CAD, confirmed by cineangiography, paired for sex, age (40–80 years), BMI and without statin use, were studied. In vitro transfer of four lipids to HDL was performed by incubating plasma of each patient with a donor emulsion containing radioactive lipids during 1 h at 37 °C. Lipids transferred to HDL were measured after chemical precipitation of non-HDL fractions and the emulsion. Results are expressed as % of total radioactivity of each lipid in HDL.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud In T2DM + CAD, LDL-cholesterol and apo B were higher than in T2DM. T2DM + CAD also showed diminished transfer to HDL of unesterified cholesterol (T2DM + CAD = 7.6 ± 1.2; T2DM = 8.2 ± 1.5 %, p < 0.01) and of cholesteryl-esters (4.0 ± 0.6 vs 4.3 ± 0.7, p < 0.01). Unesterified cholesterol in the non-HDL serum fraction was higher in T2DM + CAD (0.93 ± 0.20 vs 0.85 ± 0.15, p = 0.02) and CETP concentration was diminished (2.1 ± 1.0 vs 2.5 ± 1.1, p = 0.02). Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity, HDL size and lipid composition were equal.\ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud Reduction in T2DM + CAD of cholesterol transfer to HDL may impair cholesterol esterification and reverse cholesterol transport and altogether with simultaneous increased plasma unesterified cholesterol may facilitate CAD development in T2DM.São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, FAPESP)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq), Brasilia, Brazi