Investigation of Causes of Scrap Occurrence in Thread Cutting on Steel Sleeves for Motorcar Industry

This paper studies causes of scrap occurrence, wear and breakage of cutters during thread cutting of steel sleeves poured in Al die castings of motor car engine components. It was concluded that the reason for occurrence of problems with thread cutting of sleeves most probably should be attributed to the fact whether hardness value reaches 200 HB or over 250 HB. The most probable reason for over wear and consequently to breakage of cutters and scrap occurrence, although castings display top quality, lies in the fact that the internal diameter of sleeves frequently falls down under minimally allowed tolerances for threaded sleeves

Primjena genetičkih algoritma kod problema raspoređivanja tehnoloških operacija

The basic enterprise task is to satisfy customer requirements: due date, price and quality. Based on experiences from engineers practice of work in Croatian enterprises it could be concluded that enterprises are not able to fulfil obligations to the customer in a way of due dates. One of the basic reasons lies in inappropriate scheduling model that has not had possibility to make plan variants. The paper shows how genetic algorithm could be successfully applied in scheduling model to solve the problem of plan variant. As a basic selection in the paper 3-tournament steady-state selection has been applied.Danas je osnovni zadatak poduzeća zadovoljiti kupčeva zahtjeve u pogledu roka isporuke, cijene i kvalitete. Na osnovi iskustava inženjerske prakse iz hrvatskih proizvodnih poduzeća može se zaključiti kako poduzeća nisu u mogućnosti ispuniti obveze prema krajnjem kupcu u pogledu roka isporuke. Jedan od osnovnih razloga za takva odstupanja leži u neadekvatnom modelu raspoređivanja koji nemaju mogućnost izrade varijanti planova. U radu je prikazana mogućnost primjene genetičkog algoritma kod problema raspoređivanja tehnoloških operacija u svrhu dobivanje viševarijantnog raspoređivanja. Primijenjeni genetički algoritam baziran je na 3-turnirskoj eliminacijskoj selekciji bez duplikata

The Development of the Croatian Competency Framework for Pharmacists

OBJECTIVE: To adjust and validate the Global Competency Framework (GbCF) to be relevant for Croatian community and hospital pharmacists. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in three steps: translation, consensus development, and validation by an expert panel and public consultation. Panel members were representatives from community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, regulatory and professional bodies, academia, and industry. RESULTS: The adapted framework consists of 96 behavioral statements organized in four clusters: Pharmaceutical Public Health, Pharmaceutical Care, Organization and Management, and Personal and Professional Competencies. When mapped against the 100 statements listed in the GbCF, 27 matched, 39 were revised, 30 were introduced, and 24 were excluded from the original framework. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptation and validation proved that GbCF is adaptable to local needs, the Croatian Competency Framework that emerged from it being an example. Key amendments were made within Organization and Management and Pharmaceutical Care clusters, demonstrating that these issues can be country specific

From functional food to medicinal product: Systematic approach in analysis of polyphenolics from propolis and wine

In the last decade we have been working on standardization of propolis extract and determination of active constituents of wine those are rich in polyphenolics and have nutritional as well as therapeutic value. Here we are summarizing our results and providing overview on systematic approach how to analyse natural products rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids

A case of severe lead encephalopathy in the adult treated with complexing agent

Opisan je tok i liječenje teške olovne encefalopatije odraslog bolesnika, popraćene vrlo teškom kaheksijom i kvadriplegijom. Pojava simptoma i tok bolesti potpuno su odgovarali klasičnim opisima encefalopatije (kolike, klijenuti, encefalopatija). Liječenje poduzeto visokim dozama kompleksona EDTA pokazalo se vrlo uspješnimThe course and treatment of severe lead encephalopathy in an adult, accompanied with cachexia and quadriplegia, are described. The appearance of symptoms and the course of disease were in accord with the classical picture of encephalopathy (colics, paralysis, encephalopathy). Treatment with large doses of the complexing agent EDTA proved very successful

Primjena neuronskih mreža u planiranju održavanja metalurške opreme

Maintenance of metallurgical equipment is very complex and demanding job. Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) is used for complex and significant equipment. The paper shows element selection that will be used in CBM planning as a location on which will be applied neural network. The paper presents few different neural network algorithms that have been used for different prediction problems and review of achieved results. Data structure that has been used in researching problem is part of Information System and its Equipment Maintenance subsystem that was developed for enterprise Aluminij d.d. Mostar.Održavanje metalurških postrojenja predstavlja složen i zahtjevan posao. Strategija održavanja po stanju predstavlja strategiju koja se primjenjuje za složeniju i značajniju opremu. U radu se daje jedan od pristupa odabira elementa za koji se provodi istraživanje s ciljem primjene neuronskih mreža u planiranju održavanja po stanju. Istraživano je nekoliko različitih algoritama neuronskih mreža za rješavanje problema predikcije, te se u radu daje pregled ostvarenih rezultata istraživanja. Kao pretpostavka za istraživanje korišteni su podaci iz podsustava održavanja postrojenja Informacijskog sustava razvijenog za potrebe poduzeća Aluminij d.d. Mostar

Potential health benefits of blueberry and raspberry pomace as functional food ingredients: Dietetic intervention study on healthy women volunteers

The fruit juice industry generates pomace as a valuable by-product especially rich in polyphenols, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. In the cookies used in this study, 30% of the gluten-free flour was replaced with dried and ground blueberry and raspberry pomace, rich source of polyphenols, dietary fibers, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid. In order to examine whether the addition of blueberry and raspberry pomace in cookie formulation can have beneficial effects on certain blood parameters and anthropometric measurements, the designed cookies were tested in 20 healthy, normally fed female subjects, aged 30–50 years (41.35 ± 8.58 years) over four-week dietetic intervention study. Significant changes in the composition of fatty acids serum phospholipids, decrease in LDL-cholesterol level (20.16%), increase in adiponectin level (25.52%) and decrease in ALT and AST values were observed, thus indicating that inclusion of cookies containing blueberry and raspberry dried and ground pomace to usual diet might have positive effects on certain cardiovascular risk factors and liver function indicators

Effect of various therapeutic doses of complexing agents on clinical and laboratory symptoms of lead poisoning

Prikazani su podaci o rezultatima liječenja 19 bolesnika otrovanih olovom s kompleksonom EDTA (Na2Ca EDTA). Bolesnici su liječeni kompleksonom u dozama koje su varirale od 2,4 g pa do 24 g na dan, odnosno od ukupno 6 g pa do cca 150 g. Komplekson se davao u infuziji 5%-glukoze, a ukupna dnevna doza je uvijek dijeljena na dva jednaka dijela: jutarnju i popodnevnu. Izlučivanje olova mokraćom i kretanje nivoa olova u krvi u toku terapije različitim dozama EDTA nije potvrdilo pretpostavku o boljem terapijskom učinku većih doza kompleksona. Sudeći barem po laboratorijskim nalazima, nema potrebe da se EDTA primjenjuje u dnevnim dozama koje su veće od dosad uobičajenih {2,4-4,8 g). Što se· tiče frekvencije doziranja lijeka, dobiveni rezultati govore isto tako u prilog već objavljenim iskustvima, da je najbolje aplicirati EDTA u kurama od 2-3 dana sa stankama od 5-7 dana između pojedinih kura. U saopćenju je obrazložena zbog čega se pokušavala s primjenom velikih doza EDTA i istaknuto je kao značajno stečeno iskustvo·o odsustvu bilo kakvih toksičkih popratnih pojava u toku primijenjene terapije. Pokazalo se čak da i znakovi za postojanje bubrežnih lezija prije početka liječenja - i u uvjetima visokog doziranja lijeka - nisu sami po sebi zapreka da se poduzme liječenje s EDTA.Data are presented on the results of the treatment of 19 lead poisoned patients with the complexing agent EDTA. The preparation Mosatil forte Bayer {Na2Ca EDTA) was used. Daily doses varied from 2.4 to 24 g or from 6 to cca 150 g in total. EDT A was given to all the patients in an infusion of 5% glucose diluted from 0.24 to 2.4 g %, in relation to the amount of each dose. The total daily dose was always divided into two equal parts: a morning and an afternoon dose In the course of therapy, in addition to clinical symptoms, the following factors were analysed: elimination of lead in urine, blood lead level, the count of basophilic stippled cells, and the concentration of coproporphyrin in urine. Special attention was paid to the possible occurrence of nephrotoxic side-effects in connection with the use of complexing agents. With all the doses applied the drug produced a favourable clinical effect by diminishing the symptoms of poisoning. The data obtained on the elimination of lead in urine and the blood lead level are in accord with observations from literature, i. e. that EDT A removes from the body very quickly and that only a small part of the drug is used for the formation of chelates with lead. In view of that there is no need for EDT A to be administered in larger daily doses than those used so far (2.4-4.8 g). As to the administration schedule the results obtained also confirm the reports from literature, viz. that the best way of administering EDTA is a treatment lasting 2-3 days with intervals of 5-7 days between each treatment. The analysis of coproporphyrin in the urine and the number of basophilic stippled cells proved a valuable indicator of the therapeutical effect. The gradual introduction of unusually large doses of EDTA is explained by the favourable experience gained with such large doses in the treatment of a patient with severe lead encephalopathy. Although there is no ground for the need of a larger daily EDTA dose - at least judging by laboratory data on lead elimination and lead blood values - the experience obtained concerning the absence of any toxic side-effects in the course of the applied therapy is of great significance. Moreover, it has been proved that not even the symptoms of the existence of kidney lesions before the beginning of treatment are a contraindication for the administration of EDTA

FEED ADDITIVES INCREASE INTAKE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TANNIN- AND TERPENE-RICH SHRUBS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN MAQUIS

U šest pokusa istraživan je učinak energije (ječma), polietilen-glikola (PEG; pokus: 1 – 3), aktivnog ugljena (AU; pokus 4 – 6) i različitog broja ponuđenih vrsta grmova na hranidbene navike ovaca i koza. U prvom pokusu ovcama i kozama ponuđena su 3 grma, u drugom 2 grma i u trećem pokusu 1 grm s visokim sadržajem tanina, dok su na isti način u četvrtom pokusu ovcama i kozama ponuđena tri grma, u petom pokusu dva grma i u šestom pokusu jedan grm s visokim sadržajem terpena. U prvom pokusu, ovce prihranjivane ječmom i PEG-om više su konzumirale (P=0,002) biomase grmova Quercus ilex, Arbutus unedo i Pistacia lentiscus u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu, ali takav učinak nije utvrđen u koza. U drugom pokusu, kada su ovcama i kozama ponuđena 2 grma (Arbutus unedo i Pistacia lentiscus), dodatak ječma i PEG-a imao je pozitivan učinak (P 2 > 1 grma, a isto tako, kombinacija više različitih vrsta grmova ponuđenih životinjama pridonosi većem unosu hrane. Naši rezultati podupiru hipotezu da biološka/ biokemijska raznolikost igra važnu ulogu u izboru hrane biljojeda, te im omogućava bolje zadovoljavanje hranidbenih potreba s jedne strane i izbjegavanje trovanja fitotoksinima s druge strane.In six trials, the effect of energy (barley), polyethylene glycol (PEG; trials 1- 3), activated charcoal (Ach; trials 4 -6) and number of Mediterranean shrubs offered to sheep and goats was examined. Three shrubs with high tannin content were offered in trial 1, 2 shrubs in trial 2 and 1 shrub in trial 3, likewise 3 shrubs with a high terpene content in trial 4, 2 shrubs in trial 5 and 1 shrub in trial 6. In trial 1, sheep receiving both PEG and barley ate more (P=0.002) total shrubs (Quercus ilex, Arbutus unedo and Pistacia lentiscus) than did controls, but no such treatment effect was found for goats. In trial 2, supplemental PEG and barley had a positive effect (P 2 > 1 shrubs to animals and also combinations of more shrubs offered to animals promoted greater intake. Our findings suggest that biological/biochemical diversity plays a very important role in herbivore’s diet selection, enabling animals to better meet their nutritional needs and avoid toxicity

Combining Hypoxia and Bioreactor Hydrodynamics Boosts Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation Towards Cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for patient-specific disease modeling, drug screening and cell therapy. However, existing protocols for CM differentiation of iPSCs besides being highly dependent on the application of expensive growth factors show low reproducibility and scalability. The aim of this work was to develop a robust and scalable strategy for mass production of iPSC-derived CMs by designing a bioreactor protocol that ensures a hypoxic and mechanical environment. Murine iPSCs were cultivated as aggregates in either stirred tank or WAVE bioreactors. The effect of dissolved oxygen and mechanical forces, promoted by different hydrodynamic environments, on CM differentiation was evaluated. Combining a hypoxia culture (4 % O(2) tension) with an intermittent agitation profile in stirred tank bioreactors resulted in an improvement of about 1000-fold in CM yields when compared to normoxic (20 % O(2) tension) and continuously agitated cultures. Additionally, we showed for the first time that wave-induced agitation enables the differentiation of iPSCs towards CMs at faster kinetics and with higher yields (60 CMs/input iPSC). In an 11-day differentiation protocol, clinically relevant numbers of CMs (2.3 × 10(9) CMs/1 L) were produced, and CMs exhibited typical cardiac sarcomeric structures, calcium transients, electrophysiological profiles and drug responsiveness. This work describes significant advances towards scalable cardiomyocyte differentiation of murine iPSC, paving the way for the implementation of this strategy for mass production of their human counterparts and their use for cardiac repair and cardiovascular research. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12015-014-9533-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users