O propósito do presente estudo foi obter evidências de validade e reprodutibilidade dos limiares de variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) durante a corrida. Dezenove sujeitos homens, saudáveis e praticantes de corrida (30,4 ± 4,1 anos; 175,9 ± 6,4 cm; 74,3 ± 8,5 kg) foram submetidos a um teste progressivo máximo em esteira rolante com velocidade inicial 5 km.h-1 e incrementos de 1 km.h-1 a cada 3 minutos (1% de inclinação constante) até exaustão voluntária. Todos os indivíduos realizaram o reteste em um intervalo de tempo entre 48 horas e uma semana. Foram realizadas as medidas das trocas gasosas, do lactato sanguíneo e da VFC (plotagem de Poincaré). Os limiares aeróbio (LAe) e anaeróbio (LAn) foram determinados pelos limares de lactato, ventilatórios e da VFC. Para a comparação entre os métodos foi uitlizada ANOVA para medidas repetidas, acompanhada de teste de post hoc de Bonferroni. A reprodutibilidade das variáveis analisadas foram verificadas pela plotagem de Bland-Altman e pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI). Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que a velocidade correspondente ao segundo e terceiro modelos utilizados para se determinar o LA pela VFC não eram significativamente diferentes (p > 0,05) do primeiro limiar de lactato e ventilatório. Em relação ao LAn, não foram observadas diferenças significativas nas velocidades correspondentes ao LAn detectado pelos diferentes métodos (p > 0,05). Os valores do CCI estavam entre 0,69 a 0,80 (p < 0,001). Conclui-se que o LAe e o LAn podem ser identificados pela análise da VFC, desde que se utilize os procedimentos empregados na presente investigação / The aim of the present study was to obtain evidences of validity and reliability of the thresholds of heart rate variability (HRV). Nineteen male subjects, healthy and runners (30,4 ± 4,1 years; 175,9 ± 6,4 cm; 74,3 ± 8,5 kg) performed a progressive maximal test on a treadmill with initial velocity 5 km.h-1 e increases of 1 km.h-1 every 3 minutes (1% slope) until voluntary exhaustion. All subjects performed the retest at an interval of time between 48 hours and one week. It was measured gas exchange, blood lactate and heart rate variability (Poincaré plot). The aerobic threshold (AT) and anaerobic (AnT) were determined by lactate, ventilatory and heart rate variability. ANOVA for repeated measures and post-hoc test of Bonferroni was used to compare the methods. To analyze the reproducibility of the variables were used the Bland- Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The results of this study show that the velocity at the second and third models employed to determine the AT by HRV were not significantly different (p > 0.05) of the first lactate threshold and ventilatory. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the velocities corresponding to AnT detected by different methods (p> 0.05). The ICC values were between 0.69 to 0.80 (p < 0.001). We conclude that the AT and the AnT can be estimated by HRV analysis, since it utilizes the procedures employed in this study

Public procurement below the lowest threshold This thesis describes and analyses the legal regulations and practice in the Czech public procurement below the lowest threshold. In particular, it focuses on the principles governing the procedures, i.e. transparency, proportionality, equality and non-discrimination. The first chapter deals with the purpose of the Czech Public Procurement Act, the concept and development of the legal regulation of public procurement below the lowest threshold emphasising the financial limits of the contract's value, which separates these public contracts from other procedures. The second chapter deals with the principles that apply to public procurement which represent the source for the regulation of public procurement below the lowest threshold. The law does not define their precise meaning, leaving it to the case law, decisions of the public authorities and opinions of the experts. These principles are necessarily conncected to the principles of financial management known as the 3E. The third chapter focuses on the procedure of contracting authorities during the public procurement. Since contracting authorities may, with certain restrictions, create their own rules for the procedure, the chapter contains examples and evaluation of these regulations of the individual...

and keywords Abstract The diploma thesis deals with the development of social work with clients in low-threshold facilities for children and youth in Prague. The diploma thesis contains a theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part is describing low-thershold facilities for children and youth (further LFCY), streetwork social work with children and youth, the LFCY's target group from the perspective of developmental psychology and also describes work with the clients of LFCY. The practical part is dedicated to the preparation, planning, and implementation of research, analysis, interviews interpretation, the outcomes of research and discussion. The research survey is qualitatively oriented and focuses on identifying changes in social work in LFCY, the target group of LFCY, and seeks to reveal the further development of LFCY. Semistruktured interviews with LFCY social workers in Prague, were used for data collection. The aim of the research is to find out the changes and development of social work with LFCY's clients in Prague during the last five years. Keywords Czech Association Streetwork, children and youth, low-threshold facilities for children and youth, low-threshold, social work, outreach social work (streetwork).

This study investigated the effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric free acid (HMBFA) on the onset of neuromuscular fatigue in healthy young men and women. Thirty-seven subjects (22 men and 15 women; mean ± SD age = 22.8 ± 3.4yrs) completed an incremental cycle ergometer test (GXT) to exhaustion. During the GXT, electromyography (EMG) signals from the right vastus lateralis were recorded to determine the power output at the onset of neuromuscular fatigue (PWCFT), and peak wattage was used to assign individual training loads. After baseline testing (PRE), subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (C, n = 9), training with placebo (P, n = 14), or training with supplementation (S, n = 14). Subjects assigned to P and S completed 12 HIIT sessions over 4 weeks while subjects assigned to C were asked to maintain their normal diet and activity patterns. After 4 weeks, subjects returned for post-testing (POST). The PWCFT values (W) were determined using a DMAX method. The EMG amplitude root mean square (µVrms) values were used to generate a third-order polynomial regression (3PR) representing the increase in µVrms versus time of the GXT. The onset of fatigue (TF) was defined as the x-value (time, s) of the point on the 3PR that measured the maximal perpendicular distance from the line between the first and last data points. TF was used to estimate PWCFT according to the equation: PWCFT = PO + a · (n/N), where PO is the power output of the stage in which TF occurred, a is the increment in power output between GXT stages (25W), n is the difference (s) between TF and the beginning of the stage during which TF occurred, and N is the duration of a stage (120s). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to identify group × time interaction for PWCFT. If a significant interaction occurred, one-way factorial ANOVAs were used. Fisher's least significant difference post hoc comparisons were performed between groups. If a significant main effect occurred, dependent samples t-tests with Bonferroni corrections (p = [0.05/3] = 0.017) were performed across time for each group. The two-way ANOVA resulted in a significant interaction (F = 6.69, p = 0.004). Follow-up analysis with one-way ANOVA resulted in no difference among groups at PRE (F = 0.87, p = 0.43), however a significant difference was shown for POST values (F = 5.46, p = 0.009). Post-hoc analysis among POST values showed significant differences between S and both P (p = 0.034) and C (p = 0.003). No differences (p = 0.226) were noted between P and C. Paired samples t-tests detected significant changes following HIIT for S (p < 0.001) and P (p = 0.016), but no change in C (p = 0.473). Results of this study indicate that HIIT was effective in delaying the onset of fatigue, but supplementation with HMBFA in conjunction with HIIT was more effective than HIIT alone. An increase in PWCFT represents an increase in the maximal power output an individual can sustain without eliciting fatigue. Therefore, HIIT can be used to improve performance in both endurance activities as well as intermittent sports. In addition, HMBFA supplementation is a simple method that can be used to maximize the benefits of HIIT. Acknowledgments: Metabolic Technologies, Inc. provided the supplement and funding for this study.

This thesis investigates applying the semiparametric method Peaks-Over-Threshold on data generated from a Monte Carlo simulation when estimating the financial risk measures Value-at-Risk and Expected Shortfall. The goal is to achieve a faster convergence than a Monte Carlo simulation when assessing extreme events that symbolise the worst outcomes of a financial portfolio. Achieving a faster convergence will enable a reduction of iterations in the Monte Carlo simulation, thus enabling a more efficient way of estimating risk measures for the portfolio manager.  The financial portfolio consists of US life insurance policies offered on the secondary market, gathered by our partner RessCapital. The method is evaluated on three different portfolios with different defining characteristics.  In Part I an analysis of selecting an optimal threshold is made. The accuracy and precision of Peaks-Over-Threshold is compared to the Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations, using a simulation of 100,000 iterations as the reference value. Depending on the risk measure and the percentile of interest, different optimal thresholds are selected.  Part II presents the result with the optimal thresholds from Part I. One can conclude that Peaks-Over-Threshold performed significantly better than a Monte Carlo simulation for Value-at-Risk with 10,000 iterations. The results for Expected Shortfall did not achieve a clear improvement in terms of precision, but it did show improvement in terms of accuracy.  Value-at-Risk and Expected Shortfall at the 99.5th percentile achieved a greater error reduction than at the 99th. The result therefore aligned well with theory, as the more "rare" event considered, the better the Peaks-Over-Threshold method performed.  In conclusion, the method of applying Peaks-Over-Threshold can be proven useful when looking to reduce the number of iterations since it do increase the convergence of a Monte Carlo simulation. The result is however dependent on the rarity of the event of interest, and the level of precision/accuracy required. / Det här examensarbetet tillämpar metoden Peaks-Over-Threshold på data genererat från en Monte Carlo simulering för att estimera de finansiella riskmåtten Value-at-Risk och Expected Shortfall. Målet med arbetet är att uppnå en snabbare konvergens jämfört med en Monte Carlo simulering när intresset är s.k. extrema händelser som symboliserar de värsta utfallen för en finansiell portfölj. Uppnås en snabbare konvergens kan antalet iterationer i simuleringen minskas, vilket möjliggör ett mer effektivt sätt att estimera riskmåtten för portföljförvaltaren.  Den finansiella portföljen består av amerikanska livförsäkringskontrakt som har erbjudits på andrahandsmarknaden, insamlat av vår partner RessCapital. Metoden utvärderas på tre olika portföljer med olika karaktär.  I Del I så utförs en analys för att välja en optimal tröskel för Peaks-Over-Threshold. Noggrannheten och precisionen för Peaks-Over-Threshold jämförs med en Monte Carlo simulering med 10,000 iterationer, där en Monte Carlo simulering med 100,000 iterationer används som referensvärde. Beroende på riskmått samt vilken percentil som är av intresse så väljs olika trösklar.  I Del II presenteras resultaten med de "optimalt" valda trösklarna från Del I. Peaks-over-Threshold påvisade signifikant bättre resultat för Value-at-Risk jämfört med Monte Carlo simuleringen med 10,000 iterationer. Resultaten för Expected Shortfall påvisade inte en signifikant förbättring sett till precision, men visade förbättring sett till noggrannhet.  För både Value-at-Risk och Expected Shortfall uppnådde Peaks-Over-Threshold en större felminskning vid 99.5:e percentilen jämfört med den 99:e. Resultaten var därför i linje med de teoretiska förväntningarna då en högre percentil motsvarar ett extremare event.  Sammanfattningsvis så kan metoden Peaks-Over-Threshold vara användbar när det kommer till att minska antalet iterationer i en Monte Carlo simulering då resultatet visade att Peaks-Over-Threshold appliceringen accelererar Monte Carlon simuleringens konvergens. Resultatet är dock starkt beroende av det undersökta eventets sannolikhet, samt precision- och noggrannhetskravet.

[pt] Para garantir que um componente estrutural resistirá ao longo de sua campanha operacional às trincas que podem não ter sido detectadas durante a última inspeção, é preciso estudar a tolerância aos defeitos nos componentes estruturais. As trincas longas podem ser modeladas por conceitos tradicionais da Mecânica da Fratura, mas as trincas curtas, em especial aquelas que partem de entalhes, não podem. O comportamento destas trincas curtas é modelado a partir do conceito do seu tamanho característico a0, proposto por El Haddad, Topper e Smith, que concilia o limite de iniciação de uma trinca por fadiga com o limiar de propagação das trincas longas. Para obtenção deste parâmetro, o limite de fadiga SL da liga de Al 6351-T6 é estimado por termografia e verificado extrapolando sua curva eN medida por procedimentos normalizados para uma vida útil muito longa. O limiar de propagação das trincas longas DeltaKth é medido através de ensaios padronizados. Por último, tamanhos de trincas em corpos de prova de geometrias diferentes são previstos por aproximações analíticas a partir dos campos de tensões à frente dos entalhes Sigma y(x)/Sigma n por Inglis e Creager e Paris. / [en] To guarantee the structural integrity of a component during its operational life, it is necessary to study the tolerances to defects. Long cracks may be modeled by traditional concepts of Fracture Mechanics, but short cracks, especially those that start from notches, cannot. The behavior of these short cracks is modeled on the concept of characteristic size a0, presented by El Haddad, Topper and Smith, which reconciles the initiation limit of a fatigue crack with the propagation threshold of the long crack. To obtain this parameter, the fatigue limit SL is estimated by thermography, and thereafter, the result of the Al 6351-T6 alloy, presented in this work, is verified by extrapolating its eN curve measured by standard procedures for a very long service life. The propagation threshold of long cracks Kth is measured by the standard test. Finally, crack sizes in specimens for different geometries are predicted by analytical approximations from the stress fields ahead of the notches by Inglis and Creager and Paris.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit sind physiologische und anatomische Auswirkungen einer Lärmexposition auf subcortikale Strukturen des zentralen auditorischen Systems zu unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten posttraumatisch untersucht worden. Dabei sollte zwischen akuten (TTS-Gruppe) und langfristigen Effekten (PTS-Gruppe) unterschieden werden. Normalhörende Mäuse wurden für 3 Stunden mit einem Bandrauschen (5-20 kHz) bei 115 dB SPL beschallt und mittels Hirnstammaudiometrie der Hörverlust bestimmt. In der TTS- und der PTS-Gruppe lag im Vergleich zur Kontrolle eine signifikante Hörschwellenverschiebung mit einem höheren Hörverlust in der TTS-Gruppe vor. Zur Untersuchung zentraler Veränderungen wurden neuronale Spontanaktivitäten mittels Einzelzellableitungen im Hirnschnitt ermittelt. Weiterhin sind histologisch die Zelldichten in den Versuchsgruppen bestimmt worden. Außerdem wurde ein manganverstärktes MRT durchgeführt, um die calciumabhängige Aktivität darzustellen. Die untersuchten auditorischen Strukturen waren der Nucleus cochlearis (CN), der inferiore Colliculus (IC) und der mediale Kniehöckers (MGB). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass es einen Unterschied in den akuten und langfristigen Auswirkungen einer Lärmexposition gibt. In der TTS-Gruppe sind ausschließlich die Kerngebiete des CN im Hirnstamm betroffen, was auf direkte Einwirkungen der Lärmexposition hindeutet und akute toxische Exzitation im Gewebe auslösen kann. In der PTS-Gruppe treten physiologische und anatomische Veränderung in höheren Strukturen der Hörbahn auf. Dabei kann es sich sowohl um späte direkte Lärmauswirkungen als auch um plastische Veränderungen handeln, die durch die lärminduzierte Deprivation ausgelöst wurden. Einerseits kommt es zu einem dramatischen Zellverlust in den untersuchten Gebieten. Zum anderen steigt die calciumabhängige Aktivität in einigen Strukturen stark an. Dies kann sowohl durch veränderte neuronale Aktivitätsmuster, aber auch durch plastische und neurodegenerative Prozesse bedingt sein. / In the present study, noise-induced physiological and anatomical changes in subcortical structures of the central auditory system were investigated at different posttraumatic stages. Thus, it should be distinguished between acute (TTS group) and long-term (PTS group) effects of noise damage. Normal hearing mice were exposed to a band noise (5-20 kHz) for 3 hours at 115 dB SPL. Auditory brainstem responses were measured to determine the produced hearing loss. A significant threshold shift was detectable in the TTS as well as in the PTS group. This effect was greater in TTS animals. To investigate central changes, neuronal spontaneous activities were recorded from single units in brain slices. Further, cell densities were determined by histological techniques. In addition, calcium dependent activity was measured using manganese enhanced MRI. Investigations were carried out in central auditory structures of the cochlear nucleus (CN), the inferior colliculus (IC) and the medial geniculate body (MGB). The results demonstrate a difference in acute and long-term effects of noise exposure. In the TTS group, only the CN in the brainstem was affected, indicating a direct noise impact leading to acute excitotoxicity. In the PTS group, physiological and anatomical changes could also be observed in higher structures of the auditory pathway. The effects can be related to long-lasting noise damage as well as neural plasticity caused by deprivation of auditory input. The results show a dramatic cell loss within the investigated structures. Further, there is an increase in calcium dependent activity in several auditory brain regions which can be caused by changes in neuronal activity patterns, neuroplasticity and neurodegenerative processes.

A universal, scalable quantum computer will require the use of quantum error correction in order to achieve fault tolerance. The assessment and comparison of error-correcting strategies is performed by classical simulation. However, due to the prohibitive exponential scaling of general quantum circuits, simulations are restrained to specific subsets of quantum operations. This creates a gap between accuracy and efficiency which is particularly problematic when modeling noise, because most realistic noise models are not efficiently simulable on a classical computer. We have introduced extensions to the Pauli channel, the traditional error channel employed to model noise in simulations of quantum circuits. These expanded error channels are still computationally tractable to simulate, but result in more accurate approximations to realistic error channels at the single qubit level. Using the Steane [[7,1,3]] code, we have also investigated the behavior of these expanded channels at the logical error-corrected level. We have found that it depends strongly on whether the error is incoherent or coherent. In general, the Pauli channel will be an excellent approximation to incoherent channels, but an unsatisfactory one for coherent channels, especially because it severely underestimates the magnitude of the error. Finally, we also studied the honesty and accuracy of the expanded channels at the logical level. Our results suggest that these measures can be employed to generate lower and upper bounds to a quantum code's threshold under the influence of a specific error channel.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 20-23, 2003 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / One of several methods currently under investigation to increase telemetry efficiency is channel diversity selection. A spatial technique we are exploring exploits a signal quality indicator of phase demodulation to select ‘competing’ telemetry channels sourced by antenna separated by fractional wavelengths. The Advanced Range Telemetry (ARTM) program, a Centralized Test and Evaluation Improvement Program (CTEIP) research project funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), recently investigated three switching criteria for a multiple antenna system. This paper will discuss an algorithm that controls channel selection, or diversity branch selection (DBS), using a combination of the techniques investigated.

This paper offers a re-assessment of the finance-growth nexus in a framework that allows to distinguish between short-run versus long-run effects. Our dataset contains information on 45 developed and developing countries over the period 1995-2011. We make use of the integration and cointegration properties of the data, establish a cointegrating relation and derive the long-run elasticities of per capita GDP with respect to employment, the physical capital stock, and financial development. We employ these results to specify an error correction model and assess whether the years of crisis have changed the relationship between finance and growth. (author's abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series