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The present study investigated the effect of 10-week matched (range of motion, volume, intensity, rest, and repetition duration) training protocols with varying muscle action duration (MAD) on maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) test at eight different knee angles and one-repetition maximum (1RM) test after in seated knee extensor machine. Forty women were allocated into one control and three training groups with varying MAD: 5C1E (5s concentric action [CON] and 1s eccentric action [ECC]), 3C3E (3s CON and 3s ECC), and 1C5E (1s CON and 5s ECC). All training groups (5C1E, 3C3E, and 1C5E) showed a greater relative response in 1RM performance than the control group (0.1 ± 3.5%, p ≤ 0.05). The 1C5E group presented greater relative increases in the 1RM performance (22.1 ± 11.6%) compared to 5C1E (13.6 ± 9.2%; p ≤ 0.05) and 3C3E (14.1 ± 5.5%, p ≤ 0.05) groups. The training groups increased the MVIC performance more than the control group (p ≤ 0.05), although there were no significant differences between the training groups. This study demonstrated that isoinertial resistance training protocols with shorter CON MAD showed greater maximum dynamic strength performance response than matched training protocols with other MAD configurations. However, the configuration of MAD did not induce angle-specificity to increase the maximum isometric strength.

The functional tests of a previously obtained continuous flow micro-cell revealed a rather low value of the sensitivity of the chronoamperometric measurements as well as a poor reliability of both fluidic and electric connections. The engineering of the micro-cell regards the improvement of the following characteristics: (1) integrating the reference electrode on the chip, (2) designing a specific pattern of the electrodes and (3) serially distributing them along the pipeline reservoir. Thus, a plug-flow device is obtained and the preliminary tests confirm its functionality together with an improved sensitivity. The use of photosensitive glass (Foturan®) for obtaining the reservoir and its vertical openings allowed an improvement of the transversal shape and thus of the fluid flow. Better connections are achieved by the development of more reliable and rigid glass fluidic connections as well as of flexible elastomer-based solderless electric connections combined with both a standard DIL40 socket and stand...

Data on nomenclature, taxonomy, morphology, geographical distribution and natural history of Somali Boidae [the three monotypic species Eryx colubrinus (Linnaeus 1758), Eryx somalicus Scortecci 1939 and Eryx borrii n. sp.], and Pythonidae [the monotypic species Python sebae (Gmelin 1788)]. KEY WORDS: Boidae, Pythonidae, Eryx, new species, Python, Somalia.

This article presents a methodology for ensuring that proper risk management techniques are included in software development projects. It reviews the key benefits of risk management and focuses on common risk management mistakes

The present paper analyses the postcranial skeleton and limb reduction in some species of the genus Chalcides Laurenti 1768. Three morphotypes are identified, related to as many adaptive zones. The first type includes the most primitive species, pentadactyls, which PASTEUR (1981) placed in two groups: Chalcides ocellatus and C. thierryi. The most primitive phalange formula is found in species of the C. ocellatus group (2–3–4-4–3/2–3-4–5-3): it differs from the plesiomorphic condition of the Squamata (2–3–4-5–3/2–3-4–5-4) due to the loss of a phalange in the fourth digit of the forelimb and fifth digit of the hindlimb. The mean number of presacral vertebrae (PV) varies from 34.8 in C. sexlineatus to 40.9 in C. ragazzii hottegi (37.1 in C. viridanus, 38.3 in C. colosii, 38.1 in C. polylepis, 38.0 in C. ragazzii ragazzii, 38.5 in C. ocellatus and 39.4 in C. hedriagai). In species of the C. thierryi group, which are more slender than the preceding ones, the mean number of PV is greater (40.8 in C. pulchellus,...

(1986). Taxonomy and phylogenetic inference. Bollettino di zoologia: Vol. 53, No. sup001, pp. 53-60.