Scientific Research Publishing

Considering the risk of SMEs, financial institutions have been cautious about the financing of SMEs. Supply chain finance, through the integration of information chain, capital chain, logistics chain, and so on, forms an internal circulation ecosystem, which is a breakthrough to solve the financing difficulties of SEMs. In the development of supply chain finance in China, the evaluation of the enterprise’s credit, collateral is basically carried out by the bank or the bank commissioned by third parties. Therefore, the main mode of supply chain finance in China is banking-oriented model. At the same time, as the most powerful leading enterprise in the supply chain, the core enterprise can help to improve the whole supply chain with the advantage of information and credit. The credit guarantee financing model, providing credit guarantee for the downstream retailers, gradually appeared. In the supply chain, only a small number of scholars consider the impact of financial constraints ...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare tumors of the GI tract and account for less than 1% of gastrointestinal tumors, but they are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually found in the stomach or small intestine, but can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and may rarely have extra-GI involvement. Its early diagnosis is important for preserving the prognosis. Microscopy and immunohistochemistry allowed classifying these tumors according to their phenotypes and prognosis. The two main markers identified were CD34, and KIT protein or CD 117. In this paper, the authors reported a case of a patient who was admitted in our university hospital for GIST discovered during the second trimester of pregnancy. She was 42 years old, in the fifth months of pregnancy. She was admitted for biliary colic pain with vomiting. On abdominal examination, they objectified a distended abdomen with uterine height of 18 cm and epigast...

Zeta potential, also known as electrokinetic potential, is one of the most relevant parameters controlling the rheological behavior of ceramic suspensions. It is the potential difference across phase boundaries between solids and liquids. Its measurement is frequently used in coagulation (aggregation) and dispersion processes in several applications, such as colloidal processing of ceramic pastes and slurries, water purification, paints and cosmetics. In this paper, the authors discussed the behavior of zeta potential versus pH, in the vicinity and away from the isoelectric point (IEP), presented by suspensions of several silica raw materials of different crystal structures and specific surface area. The chosen silica powdered raw materials for this study were two crystalline polymorphs of silica ( α -quartz and α -cristobalite), as well as vitreous silica. And it was observed that for pH values below the isoelectric point (IEP), the positive value of zeta potential of wa...

Taurine (TAU), an organic compound that is widely distributed in animal tissues, is a powerful antioxidant and regulator of intracellular calcium. It has many fundamental biological roles, such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling. Gut permeability and microvascular injury following ischaemia/reperfusion (IR) have been implicated in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ failure (MOF). Several studies have showed that treatment with TAU protects cerebral, cardiac and testicular tissue from (IR) injury. In this study, the authors also investigated the protective effect of taurine (TAU) in an experimental model of I/R-induced gut injury in rats.  Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: Control, I/R, TAU + I/R. TAU was given by gavage or intravenous injection before I/R. Ischaemia was induced by cross-clamping superior...

Studies of green behavior have awakened a growing interest, since the accelerated environmental degradation is partly attributed to a lack of such behavior. However it is not an easy task to modify consumer habits and influence the behavior of individuals. The review of literature regarding green behavior reveals preference for variables related to values or attitudes (or changes in attitudes) or external variables of the individuals, mainly the situational, that occupy a prominent position in these studies. Studies focus especially on social standards and the physical environment where specific behaviors occur, observing how these are fomented or obstructed by the conditions of the environment. This paper summarizes variables extracted from four models of green behavior in five core groups: orientation man-nature, perceived control, ecological knowledge, personal consequences and environmental consequences, which are described below, with a special focus on the Mexican individuals as...

A selected bibliographical research and a study of the outsourcing process of the logistic activities inside a large Brazilian wholesaler distributor have brought, as a main consequence, the development of an architecture for logistic organization inside the company based on models. Actually, this architecture is an interesting tool, which aims to guide companies outsourcing logistic services in designing their structure, planning and strategic management of their logistic systems. The main reason for designing such architecture was the study of this case done by the author and the new awareness that it has raised. The companies included in the study were going through a transition period, in a complex scenario, which involved a decision by the wholesaler to outsource or not its logistic activities with a logistic operator. There was a series of concerns related to this decision, specially the potential impact that it would have on the internal elements of both organizations. ...

Nerve fibers are very thin, thread-like transmission lines that carry signals between nerves and receptors in the skin, muscles, and internal organs in human body. Their official job is to conduct nerve impulses, which basically means that they are responsible for delivering signals and sensations from the nerves to various parts of the body. Commonly, people can suffer a variety of different health consequences when the fibers connecting the nerves to transmission sites break down or lose efficiency. According to some research, it has been known that the presence of nerve fibers in human endometrium is controversial and still remains unsettled. However, some recent immunocytochemical studies have shown that there was increased innervation in the endometrium from women with endometriosis and some nerve fibers in the normally cycling human endometrium. Due to this fact, in the current study, the authors detected the presence of nerve fibers in normally cycling endometrium of differ...

Clear cell renal carcinoma (CCRC) is the most frequent type of renal cell carcinomas, it accounts for approximately 2% - 3% of adult cancers It is the third most common neoplasia of the genitourinary tract, after urinary bladder and prostate tumors. RCC is known as a highly aggressive tumor with potential metastatic extension in the lymph nodes, bone, opposite kidney, lungs, liver, adrenal glands, brain, bone and other less frequent locations such as the skin. Metastatic CCRC of the skin was very rare and it may be associated with a bad prognosis. We report here in a case of a female patient aged 49 years old with CCRC who has developed cutaneous metastasis. The conclusion is that metastasis frequently occurs in RCC, with the uncommon skin site, and can imitate other dermatological diseases. It is also associated with poor prognosis. The development of this cutaneous metastasis worsens the clinical prognosis and reduces life expectancy. The new targeted therapy used in the tre...

Women find themselves working in inferior, poor income jobs, and a situation that characterizes most of female professions. The main purpose of this research is to examine gender equality and the extent of gender stereotypes in the Hebrew junior high textbooks. Studies which were made in this field in Israel have found that there is general stereotyped perception of men and women in textbooks and curricula. If educational system is considered as an upmost importance effecting element in society, it also reflects social, desirable and common values of society, as well as gender stereotypes and myths in the textbooks of all levels of learning, in early childhood, elementary school up to high school graduation, as well as in the matter of study subject. The study examines the existence of sexual stereotypes in Junior High Hebrew textbooks and the extent of gender equality between men and women. The examination is done by an analysis of the content of three seventh grade textbooks...

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in the brain’s ventricle, while the pressure of the fluid is usually normal. It is usually characterized by abnormal gait, urinary incontinence, and (potentially reversible) dementia. It is most commonly seen in older adults, but it’s not easy to diagnose exactly and to be treated. The usual treatment is surgical installation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt to drain excess CSF into the lining of the abdomen where the CSF will eventually be absorbed. To better understand its pathophysiology, in this paper, in combination with many theories that have been published in recent years and the experience of diagnosing and operating on hydrocephalus patients, the authors presented a hypothesis, a model for observable but unexplained facts, but also “progressive focusing”, a qualitative method where some experimental facts were used in an effort to understand a disease that was not...

The mobile phone (cellular phone) was developed in the 1950s, but became accessible to and popular with the general population in Norway in the 1990s. It has changed our society as well as our way of communicating. According to research data, seven out of every ten persons in Norway possess a smartphone. However, the use of mobile phones related to social media in the maternity ward is a relatively new phenomenon and has been frequently discussed in the Norwegian media. In this study, the authors conducted a study to examine aspects of communication in the maternity ward including midwives’ perceptions of parents’ use of mobile phones in order to answer the research question: Is the use of mobile phones in the maternity ward a threat to patient safety?  Two focus group interviews exploring midwives’ perceptions (n = 10) of parent’s use of mobile phones during and after the birth were conducted in January 2016. Systematic text condensation was used to analyze the data, reve...

Corn, also called Indian corn or maize, is a kind of cereal plant of the grass family (Poaceae). It is one of the most widely distributed food crops and also the primary grain used in animal feed in North America, supplying a greater energy density than smaller grains. In recent years, new earlier maturing corn hybrids are now being grown in New Brunswick (NB) , reducing the need to import corn from the United States and showing the potential to improve the sustainability of the local dairy industry. However, there is debate within the industry concerning the value and best use of the grain. So the authors conducted an experiment to determine the nutritive value and assess lactational performance of cows provided with imported dry corn, local dry corn, high moisture (HM) shelled corn and high moisture corncob meal (HMCCM). And three samples of each product were obtained. After the experiment, in sacco digestibility data were analyzed using the ANOVA procedure of Minitab 16 with ...

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. It categorizes that person as  underweight ,  normal weight ,  overweight , or  obese  based on the obtained value.  With the development of society, the prevalence of obesity has been rapidly increasing, which is a generally recognized risk factor for metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and several cancers including breast cancer, so it’s necessary to investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and different diseases. In this study, the authors evaluated the association between the body mass index (BMI) of breast cancer patients and non-cancer females of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The data of weight, height and age was obtained from the patient records of 706 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and of 20,872 non-cancer female patients who consulted the two largest hospitals in the Eas...

Iron is a mineral that’s necessary for life. Essentially, it is responsible for carrying oxygen in your red blood cells and transmitting nerve impulses. And it is necessary for growth, development, normal cellular functioning, and synthesis of some hormones and connective tissue. Commonly, not having enough iron in the body leads to anemia. According to research, it has been found that a man needs an average daily intake pf 7 mg of iron and a woman 11 mg; and a normal diet will generally provide all that is needed. As for babies, they usually get needed iron from breast milk for the first 6 months. At around 6 months, they will need iron-rich complementary foods as well as breast milk. Based on the important roles of iron in human bodies, the authors in this study determined the concentration of iron in baby weaning food and powder milk available in Iran.  The concentration of iron in four brands of powder milk and baby food (based on rice and based on wheat) was analyzed...

The influence of physical activity on motor and cognitive performance has been approved in several studies. However, it is still unclear which functions are affected, and why. It also remains unknown what type of physical training is best suitable. The present study focuses on special movement aspects based on the Brain Gym® program. Four groups of subjects (n = 64) participated in two experiments with pre-post intervention design. In experiment 1, two groups of subjects were exposed to a sensorimotor adaptation study design by executing center out pointing movements under distorted visual feedback conditions with their dominant and non-dominant arm to test for intermanual transfer (IMT) as pre- and posttest. The intervention in both groups consisted of specified movement exercises with the right and left extremities: participants of Experimental group executed movements crossing the body midline and participants of Control group movements without crossing the body midline. Results sh...

The functional reach test (FRT) (Duncan et al., 1990) is a simple test for balance assessment in which the maximal forward reach distance is measured. FRT scores are useful for screening fall risk of the elderly with a cutoff point subtracted 15 cm from a standard value as well as for balance assessment (Duncan et al., 1990). It was reported that the FRT has good intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities and correlates with gait velocity, tandem gait, and single-limb stance (Whitney, Poole, & Cass, 1998). In this study, we hypothesized that the FR test score would improve with short-term stretching and increased joint flexibility. The functional reach test has been commonly used as a clinical test measuring the limit of stability (margin of stability) and was reported to have high reliability and validity as a balance test (Duncan et al., 1990). However, participant’s flexibility, particularly range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder and/or hip joints, may largely influence the r...

Supply chain management (SCM) is defined as a set of approaches used to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, and stores so that products are produced and distributed at the right quantities, to the right locations, and at the right time, in order to minimize overall costs while meeting service level requirements. SCM also pertains to the set of actions and decisions that attempt to synchronize demand and supply with in-process inventories, in order to ensure on-time delivery of product commitments to customers, and optimize the overall manufacturing operations from start to end. In this paper we develop a framework for the key components of the supply chain of the semiconductor manufacturing process, including front-end (fab) operations and backend (assembly/test) operations. Within this framework we consider the conversion from wafers to units. Then we propose a QP formulation for the profit maximizing objective function with flexible demand ranges per prod...

The aim of this paper is to conduct market segmentation of Arab banks and suggest a model to classify them into cohesive segments on the basis of their financial ratios as a guideline for future consolidation. Twelve financial ratios taken from Bankscope Database have been retrieved for 92 Arab banks for the year 2015. In view of the sensitivity of multivariate analysis to the normality assumption, it was decided to use the common log transformation. Factor analysis is used as a data reduction technique to find twelve financial ratios. Cluster analysis is then used to separate the 92 Arab banks into five different performance groups (segments). Multi-discriminant statistical analysis is used to answer the question: can a combination of financial ratios be used to predict bank’s group membership? Findings of the study show that multidiscriminant analysis reveals that coverage ratio, profitability and efficiency separate the groups more widely than other financial ratios. The classifica...

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis or stenosing tendovaginitis, is a common disorder characterized by catching, snapping or locking of the involved finger flexor tendon. It occurs when inflammation narrows the space within the sheath that surrounds the tendon in the affected finger. And if the trigger finger is severe, the finger may become locked in a bent position. Commonly, IT is difficult to straighten out without pulling on it by the other hand. Based on research, it has been found that it can be treated by non-surgical management, such as activity modification, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and corticosteroid injection. Due to corticosteroid injection can be delivered via two techniques: palmar and midaxial approaches, the authors in this paper compared the accuracy of these two approaches for delivery of corticosteroids into the flexor tendon sheath in a cadaver model. In the experiment, a total of 50 injections were performed, 25 via m...

In financing activities, information asymmetry between SMEs and investors is widespread. SMEs own relatively complete information about their future profitability. Whereas, the investors are often difficult to fully grasp the future profitability of SMEs, which means that they have incomplete information (Gao, 2011). This paper analyzes SMEs’ financing problem from two perspectives: dynamic game of complete information and dynamic game of incomplete information. On the basis of the above analysis, it tries to identify the main reasons and viable solutions to change the status quo in SME financing. The financial system must be established and improved in enterprises to ensure financial information is truthful, accurate and complete, enhance the transparency of financial information. A good image should be established by means of passing real and complete information to the bank through effective way. From long-term perspective, cooperative relationship between banks and enterprises...