International Institute of
Achieving Sustainable Medical Practices through Foreign Direct Investment
Thompson, Laura; Dames, Devaughn (United States)
ABSTRACT:
This study intends to evaluate the processes used in a Medical
Practice in the USA, while assessing the current financial
structure in efforts to propose a new model using Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI). The study will use attributes from
Globalization (Information Access, Information Capture and
Information Sharing), and 3 classifications of accountability
(personal, organizational, and financial) to examine intentions
towards ethical decision making.
Alternative Method to Resolve an EPLS Problem Incorporating Overtime Feature
Chiu, Yuan-Shyi P.; Chiu, Singa Wang; Wu, Cheng-Sian; Jhan, Jia-Hang (Taiwan)
ABSTRACT:
An economic production lot size (EPLS) problem incorporating overtime feature [1] was explored using the mathematical modeling to derive total system cost function and the differential calculus to prove convexity on cost function, and then determine the most EPLS solution to the problem. This paper uses an algebraic approach instead of differential calculus in [1] to resolve the problem and demonstrate that the optimal lot size solution is also obtainable by the use of alternative method. The proposed straightforward algebraic derivation provides production managers or practitioners in the field with a means of effectively solve such a specific EPLS problem without the needs to refer to differential calculus.
Behavior of Cell Cultured on Micro Striped Pattern after Stimulation of Excess Gravity
Tamura, Takuya; Hino, Haruka; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The behavior of a single cell cultured on the micro striped pattern has been observed after stimulation of the excess gravity in vitro. The lines of parallel micro quadrangular ridges (0.7 μm height, 3 μmwidth, and 3 μminterval) are made on the surface of the plate as the scaffold to make orientation of each cell. Variation is made about the angle between the longitudinal direction of the ridge and the direction of the excess gravity: 0 degree, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees. To apply the excess gravitational force field (50 G, or 100 G) to the cells, the plate was set in the tube in a conventional centrifugal machine placed in an incubator. The contour of each cell at the time lapse images was traced for 24 hours and approximated to ellipse to analyze the angle between the longitudinal axis of the cell and the direction of the excess gravity, after the excess gravitational stimulation for 5 hours. The experiment shows that the longitudinal axis of C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line) tends to align to the direction of the excess gravity, and returns to the direction of longitudinal direction of micro pattern after stopping of the excess gravity.
Behavior of Cell in Uniform Shear Flow Field between Rotating Cone and Stationary Plate
Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Sugimoto, Hiromi; Hino, Haruka (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The behavior of biological cell in the uniform shear flow between the rotating cone and the stationary plate has been observed in vitro. The cone and plate device is mounted on the stage of an inverted phase contrast microscope to observe cells adhered on the plate under the shear flow. The deformation and the migration of cells during exposure to the shear flow for 24 hours were traced at the time lapse images. Two kinds of cells were used in the test: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line), and HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). The experimental results show that HUVEC tends to migrate to the downstream at the shear stress of 1 Pa. C2C12 tends to tilt to the perpendicular direction of the flow for 18 hours between 1 Pa and 2 Pa. HUVEC tends to be rounded at the shear stress of 2 Pa. The behavior of each isolated cell in the shear flow field has been able to be observed quantitatively by the cone and plate device in vitro.
Blockchain: Next Generation Supply Chain Security for Energy Infrastructure and NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Compliance
Mylrea, Michael; Gourisetti, Sri Nikhil Gupta (United States)
ABSTRACT:
The U.S. power grid is a complex system of systems that requires a secure, reliable and trustworthy global supply chain. This is especially true for the grid’s increasing number of networked energy delivery system (EDS) and industrial control systems (ICS) and associated vendors, distributers, integrators and end users. Grid modernization has increased the use of “smart” energy devices that network, digitize, automate and increasingly converge the cyber-physical energy supply chain. In this Energy Internet of Things (EIoT) environment there is an increasing number of both critical cyber assets as well as data speed and size requirements, creating new cyber supply chain security and NERC CIP compliance challenges for utilities, regulators and vendors. On July 21, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 829 directing the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to address cyber security supply chain risk management for ICS hardware, software, and computing and networking services associated with Bulk Electric System (BES) operations. In realization of these goals, improvements are needed in in the process and technology to better identify, monitor, audit, realize compliance goals and secure EIoT environments. This paper explores how blockchain technology presents a disruptive solution to facilitate NERC CIP compliance and increase the security of the BES supply chain through a cryptographically signed distributed ledger that provides increased data provenance, attribution and auditability.
Building Leadership and Innovation Capacity through the Coaching Support Programme: A Case Study
Rosha, Angelina; Lace, Natalja (Latvia)
ABSTRACT:
The article presents the development of the coaching support programme for leadership and innovation capability improvement. The programme is designed in the context of a five-stage organisational life cycle theory. The article focuses on the building the theoretical background based on the analysis of the literature. The present article briefly reports on the key findings of the literature review which constitute the principals of the coaching support programme and focuses on the consistency of the applied forms and types of coaching with the life cycle stages and the typical components of coaching process. The research is based on a case study method. A case of the programme implementation describes the model of the programme delivery and the preliminary stage of the programme in the organization which operates in wholesale business and runs a direct sales model
Creation of Support Ecosystem for Innovative Fast Growing Companies
Tomanič Vidovič, Maja (Slovenia)
ABSTRACT:
Creation of support network for SMEs, including start - ups and scale - ups »SUPPORT NETWORK FOR 3S« with partner institutions can be a useful model and tool to faciliate inovative entreprenurial spirit in different economic environments. The initiative stems from the European Commission's needs and guidelines to strengthen partnerships between "policymakers" and other national financial promotional institutions to support entrepreneurship, as countries from individual geographically and strategically linked European regions need to connect in finding synergy effects in supporting SMEs, start up ecosystems and support innovation systems for fast-growing companies.
Slovene Enterprise Fund (SEF) is a public financial fund and a national promotional financial intermediary, which offers favourable financial incentives for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), start-up and scale ups - hight tech fast growing innovative companies (3S) in Slovenia to help them develop and grow. SEF offers a wide range of financial incentives for each development phase in the life cycle of the company, such as grants for startups, seed capital, venture capital, microcredits and guarantees for bank loans. SEF also presents a strong element in Support network for 3S in Slovenia and has created a successful partnerships with other partners such as policy makers, financial partners, support organisations and services and research and education organizations.
But for the future success of different EU regions it is crucial to create a support network not only on the national level but also a support network on the inter - regional level. This kind of network should represent the cooperation and partnership among the partner support institutions and this partnership should also influence the cooperation among companies (3S - SMEs, startups and scaleups) from the connected region.
Design of Scaffold with Taper-Striped Pattern to Observe Durotactic Migration of Cell
Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Sugimoto, Kenta; Takahashi, Yusuke (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The scaffold with the taper-striped pattern has been designed to observe durotactic migration of a biological cell. The surface of the scaffold with the micro taper-striped (0.05 mm < width < 0.2 mm) pattern was made by the photolithography technique. The variation of hardness of the surface of the band has been made of the materials alternately: polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and epoxy based negative photoresist material (SU-8). C2C12 (mouse myoblast) was seeded on the micro pattern, and incubated for 48 hours in the medium. The projected area of each cell was traced in each band at the microscopic images, and the total area was compared between bands of two kinds of materials. The experimental result shows that each cell tends to migrate to the area of the band of SU-8. The experimental system is effective to investigate durotaxis of cells in vitro.
Design of Surface Electrode for Measurement of Electric Impedance of Arrangement of Cells Oriented on Micro Striped Pattern
Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Hino, Haruka; Yamamoto, Toshihiro; Tamura, Takuya; Abe, Kazuyuki (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The surface electrode has been designed for measurement of the electric impedance of biological cells oriented on the micro striped pattern in vitro. Several parallel lines of micro rectangular grooves (1 μm depth, 3 μm width, and 3 μm interval) have been made between a pair of the surface titanium electrodes at the surface of the scaffold of glass by the photolithography technique. Two types of arrangements of lines are designed at the micro ridges: parallel, and perpendicular to the electric line of force. Variation has also been made on the shape of surface electrodes (thickness; 0.2 μm): I-shape and T-shape. Two kinds of cells were alternatively cultured on the micro-patterned scaffold: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line), and 3T3-L1 (mouse fat precursor cells). The electric impedance between electrodes was measured for 24 hours with the sinusoidal electric waves (frequency, 1 kHz < f < 1 MHz; amplitude, V = ±0.05 V,). The experiment shows that the impedance is higher at the arrangement of myoblasts oriented in perpendicular position than that in parallel position to the electric line of force, and that the impedance increases with the number of adhered cells.
Development of a Procedure for Bioremediation Treatment of Underground Waters and Soils Polluted by Petroleum
Jovančićević, Branimir *; Beškoski, Vladimir *; Miletić, Srdjan *; Gojgić-Cvijović, Gordana *; Schwarzbauer, Jan **; Vrvić, Miroslav * (* Serbia, ** Germany)
ABSTRACT:
Crude oil as a raw material, and all its refined products that are used as fuel, is a highly complex mixture of a large number of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and various nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen compounds (NSO compounds). On the other hand, there are some new inorganic and organic
compounds formed during the usage of the refined products. It can be easily concluded that they are very serious environmental pollutants. The man has a duty and responsibility to clean the contaminated segments of the environment
by petroleum and return them to the form in which they were before pollution. In this sense, remediation procedures are undertaken. Microbial bioremediation procedure (i.e. bioremediation), is justifiably considered the most efficient remediation procedure. This paper will present research aimed at optimizing the conditions for bioremediation of various segments of the environment (in the
first place of underground waters and soils) contaminated with oil-type pollutants. This research covers a ten-year long pathway starting from the laboratory experiments, through ex situ processes, then in situ conditions and finally to practical application.
Dielectrophoretic Movement of Cell around Surface Electrodes in Flow Channel
Takahashi, Yusuke; Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Watanabe, Manabu; Hasegawa, Daisuke (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
A micro flow channel with the surface electrodes has been designed to detect the dielectrophoretic movement of a biological cell. The surface electrodes of titanium (thickness of 200 nm) were made along the edges of the flow channel by the photolithography technique. At the one of the edge, the tip angle of the triangle shape of the surface electrode is 0.26 rad. The other flat edge is the reference electrode. The rectangular cyclic electric stimulation (0.01 ms, or 0.001 ms of period) was applied between the surface electrodes. The suspension of C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line originated with cross-striated muscle of C3H mouse) was introduced to the flow channel, and the flow rate was controlled by the pressure head between the inlet and the outlet. The experiment shows that the velocity of the cell is accelerated along the electric field during the flow through the flow channel.
Digital Economy Ecosystem and its Elements
Ivanova, Irina; Sceulovs, Deniss (Latvia)
ABSTRACT:
Digital business innovation is moving towards business ecosystems generate by driving enhancing interconnection, making it easy and quick to connect each unit of it. Business ecosystems opening access to the capabilities, resources and talent on a global scale that sets the stage for innovation. Which talented, skills, knowledges entrepreneurs should have considering the needs of development digital companies’ development? The aim of this article represents review of scientific literature is therefore to analyze the key elements impacted to create ecosystem of digital economy whereas e-commerce growth. The factors that are the driving force behind the digital company's success in the digital economy. The results of the literature review require the definition of the digital economy concept. For the digital business, the focus will be on the development of knowledge, while creating a global information infrastructure, as well as networking enchanted development of ICT business. The study examines the main elements and their characteristics, which are based on knowledge, innovation and the ability to transform, agility. The interaction of identifying elements is refined with the concept of the digital economy ecosystem.
Education and Qualitative Research: Frequency Algorithms and the Arabic Teaching Materials
Redkin, Oleg; Bernikova, Olga (Russian Federation)
ABSTRACT:
Modern universities are both centers of education and research, i.e. their mission is to build up high skilled specialists from the one hand and to discover and disseminate knowledge from the other. While the availability of highly skilled specialists is one of the preconditions of every sophisticated scholar research, in its turn, the effectiveness of the teaching process greatly depends on the use and application of the scholar investigations results and technologies often developed in the next door department or lab at the same University. The above mentioned issue is also true when talking about the humanities in general and foreign languages acquisition in particular. The traditional attitudes to the development of textbooks, vocabularies, reference grammar books, etc., often ignore objective data and the results of scholar researches and, as a rule, are based on subjective assessments of the instructors. Meanwhile, implementation of the results of scholar linguistic researches in the teaching process would add to its effectiveness and raise its standards. Thus the authors of the current research have developed algorithms of frequency ranking of words on the basis of the computer analysis of large volumes of graphic texts (including ca. 1 mln. units) and compiled a list of the most frequently used words in Arabic. As a result it allowed using the most frequent vocabulary to compile textbooks, grammar and reading tests, dictionaries, etc. The principle of the implementation of the most frequent lexical units from this list is widely used in the process of teaching of Arabic at St. Petersburg State University, for example in building bilingual dictionaries, on-line course of the Arabic language, teaching books and tests as well.
Effect of Flow on 3T3-L1 Oriented by Stripe Pattern of Micro Ridges
Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Hino, Haruka; Okuzumi, Shingo; Endo, Yuji (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The effect of shear flow on an oriented cell has been studied by the flow channel with the micro striped pattern of ridge lines on the surface of the scaffold in vitro. The lines of parallel micro quadrangular prism ridges (0.001 mm height, 0.003 mm width, and 0.003 mm interval) are made by the photolithography technique on the lower surface of the channel as the scaffold to make orientation of each cell. Variations are made about the angle between the longitudinal direction of the ridge and the direction of the flow: 0, 45, 90 degrees. The flow rate of < 24 cm3/hour is controlled by a syringe pump to make variation of the wall shear stress of < 2 Pa. The movement of each cell of 3T3-L1 (mouse fat precursor cells) adhered on the micro pattern was analyzed at the time lapse images for 10 hours: 2 hours (before the flow stimulation), 4 hours (during flow stimulation), and 4 hours (after stopping the flow stimulation). The experimental results show that both the migration and the deformation of each cell along the micro ridges are restricted by the wall shear stress higher than 1 Pa.
GRR Analysis and its Graphical and Numerical Outputs
Cepova, Lenka; Kovacikova, Andrea; Sadilek, Marek; Cep, Robert (Czech Republic)
ABSTRACT:
The submitted article is dedicated to GRR study (AIAG, MSA approach) and its numerical and graphical evaluation. The article is devoted to the importance of graphical as well as numerical outputs by GRR analysis. There is done an experiment which examine the measured data by numerical and graphical (range chart) tool and clearly shows that making decision making about the measurement system only by numerical or only by graphical results can get us a wrong system evaluation.
How do Venture Capital Funds Support Value Addition to Portfolio Companies? Case of Latvia
Matisone, Anita *; Lace, Natalja *; Danilchenko, Alexei V. ** (* Latvia, ** Belarus)
ABSTRACT:
The paper presents the results of a study on value adding assistance (VAA) provided by Latvian venture capital Funds (VCFs) to their portfolio companies. There are very few studies regarding venture capital (VC) in Latvia and no papers have focused on the value-adding activities of Latvian VCFs. Previous research on VC in general suggests that the small size of VC funds and dependency on public resources (as is the in case in Latvia) are limiting factors that decrease the amount of time VCF managers devote to their portfolio companies. As part of the study, the researchers conducted a survey of currently active VCF managers. It revealed an additional factor restricting the non-financial impact of VCF managers on their portfolio companies in Latvia. The unwillingness and fear of Latvian entrepreneurs to let VCFs acquire equity in their companies very often results in the recourse to mezzanine funding instead. Mezzanine loans decrease the motivation as well as the rights of VCF managers to provide value adding assistance to portfolio companies.
Increasing Accuracy During Milling on Turn-Milling Centers
Sadílek, Marek; Cepova, Lenka; Cep, Robert (Czech Republic)
ABSTRACT:
Article describing the comparison of technology of multiaxis turning towards to cutting accuracy. Specifically it deals about the milling technology with rotary C axis and linear Y axis. Experimental part is focused on the analysis of geometrical deviations, which had appear after milling on turn-milling centers. It deals about the measuring accuracy of cutting, from the geometrical deviation of shape and position point of view. A perpendicularity, parallelism, flatness and concentricity deviations are here analyzed. Geometry deviations are results of inaccuracy of machining process and therefore has to be checked and measured. Machining accuracy is critical for the quality and performance of a mechanical product and is an important consideration for any manufacturer. The goal is to find suitable technology of turning with driving tools and at the same time increase the accuracy of cutting.
Management Aspects of Smart Manufacturing
Horváth, Dóra; Csontos, Réka Sára; Szabó, Roland Zs. (Hungary)
ABSTRACT:
In the world of future production systems, companies become increasingly interested in the application of new technologies in order to ensure long-term competitiveness and adapt to dynamically changing environmental conditions such as shortening product lifecycles, increasing diversity of variants and
ever-changing customer expectations. However, smart manufacturing poses significant challenges to the manufacturing companies not only from the technological but also from the organizational and management point of view. This paper through qualitative research aims to explore what are the driving
forces for introducing new technologies and which are the main barriers of smart manufacturing. Besides production factors, the authors found that management’s aspiration to increase control and to enable real-time performance can be significant driving forces to smart manufacturing. Furthermore, organizational resistance - and its inadequate management - which should be emphasized not only at the employee but also at the middle
management level can significantly hinder the introduction of technologies related to smart manufacturing. Finally, the authors found that the application of new digital technologies results in the transformation of management functions.
Novel Application of Immobilized Bacillus Cells for Biotreatment of Furfural-Laden Wastewater
Khudhair, Haneen A.; Ismail, Zainab Z. (Iraq)
ABSTRACT:
Immobilization of growing bacterial cells was considered as an innovative technique and very effective in dealing with major environmental challenges for bioremediation of organics-loaded wastewater. This study was undertaken to investigate the aerobic biodegradation of furfural in aqueous solution by using
immobilized Bacillus cells in spouted bed bioreactor. Bacillus cells were individually immobilized in the matrices of sodium alginate, guar-gum, and agar-agar; each was cross linked in polyvinyl alcohol. Immobilized cells exhibited efficient furfural degradation in several successive reuse batches up to 3 cycles
without losing their degradation activity which could provide economic advantages when used in industrial-scale applications. Results of batch experiments in fluidized spouted bed bioreactor demonstrated that complete removal of furfural using immobilized Bacillus cells in the first and second cycles was achieved after 450 and 480 min, respectively. The removal efficiency of furfural was 100%, 100%, and 95% for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, cycles, respectively. Unlike the free cells, the potentiality of the immobilized cells is that they could be reused without reduction in their ability to degrade hazardous furfural. Additional advantage of immobilized cells compared to free cells, is their ability to tolerate high concentrations of furfural.
Observation of Cell Passing through Single Micro Slit between Weir-Walls
Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Takahashi, Yusuke; Nakano, Yusuke; Hasegawa, Daisuke; Takiguchi, Yuki; Yasuda, Toshitaka (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The single micro slits of two kinds of width (10 μm, or 15 μm) has been designed between weir-walls to investigate the deformation of a cell passing through the slit related to the flow rate in vitro. The micro slit (0.1 mm length, and 55 μm height) was fabricated between weir-walls of polydimethylsiloxane using the micromachining technique. The single micro slit is set in the flow path (2 mm width, 55 μm height) between parallel plates. Two types of biological cells were used in the test alternatively: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell), and Hepa1-6 (mouse hepatoma cell). The suspension of cells was introduced into the slits by the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet, which was kept by the gravitational level difference of the medium (< 4 mm). The each flowing cell was observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope. The movement and the shape of the cell was analyzed at the video images by the camera at the eyepiece of the microscope. The experimental results shows that some myoblasts pass the slit at the higher deformation ratio with the higher flow rate. The experimental results show that the designed slit has capability to measure deformability of the cell.
Research Via Social Media: The Case of the Arabic Studies
Bernikova, Olga; Redkin, Oleg (Russian Federation)
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this study is to analyze effectiveness and possibility of research via Social Media (SM) in the case of the Arabic studies in general and in the Arabic linguistics in particular. SM are considered to be a kind of reflection of the current state of social development. This fact opens up new opportunities for the research activity, due to the key characteristics of SM, i.e. their dynamism and mass character. These features provide a wide range of opportunities for research in the field of sociology, history, psychology, linguistics, etc. The use of social networks in Arabic Studies has their own specifics due to a complex of historical, political and linguistic factors. In the field of the Arabic linguistics, SM allow to analyze the dynamics of the language situation in the Arab world, as well as to conduct research at different levels (syntax, semantics, etc.). SM led to the formation of a heterogeneous idiom – a mixture of Modern Standard Arabic, Arabic dialects and the English language. The language of SM has become the object of interdisciplinary research in the field of Natural Language Processing. It contributed to development of different approaches to language processing implemented in the Internet. SM can be also effectively used in education. The Social Media Language Learning is an innovative approach in teaching languages interactively, linking SM channels with language learning. Social networks present an excellent methodological material that allows listeners to immerse themselves in the real language environment, being anywhere in the world. Today the Social Media expand the horizons of research work in the broadest branches of knowledge and allow to raise issues, the solution of which previously required much more time and human resources.
Slit between Micro Machined Plates for Observation of Passing Cell: Deformation and Velocity
Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Takahashi, Yusuke; Kakishima, Keisuke; Takiguchi, Yuki (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
A micro slit between micro ridges has been used for observation of a biological cell passing through the micro slit in vitro. At the middle part of the flow channel, the slit (0.8 mm < width < 2 mm, 0.01 mm height) has been made between the micro ridges on the transparent polydimethylsiloxane plate and the glass plate by photolithography technique. Four kinds of cells were used in the test: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cells), Hepa1-6 (mouse hepatoma cells), MC3T3-E1 (mouse osteoblast precursor cell line), and Neuro-2a (mouse neural crest-derived cell line). The suspension of each kind of cells was injected to the slits. The deformation of cells passing through the micro slit was observed with an inverted phase-contrast microscope. For the reference, the passing speed of the porcine red blood cells through the slit was observed. The experimental results show that cells deform to the flat circular disk and pass through the micro slit. The passing velocity through the slit depends on the deformation ratio of the cell. The designed slit between micro ridges has capability for observation of the deformation and the passing velocity of the single cell.
Solving an Economic Production Lot Size Problem Incorporating Overtime Feature
Chiu, Singa Wang; Chiu, Yuan-Shyi Peter; Huang, Yi-Jing; Chen, Hui-Cun (Taiwan)
ABSTRACT:
With the purpose of meeting excessive demand or leveling production schedule, managers often look for overtime option to effectively expedite production process and increase capacity. Motivated by this idea, an economic production lot size (EPLS) problem incorporating overtime feature is explored. A mathematical model is developed to portray the problem, thru formulation and derivation procedure, the expected system cost function is first derived. With a help from differential calculus, we prove that the cost function is convex, and consequently, the most economic production lot size is determined. Numerical demonstration is provided for showing the applicability of the obtained result.
Sorting of Cells Using Flow Channel with Oblique Micro Grooves
Takahashi, Yusuke; Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Hori, Yoshinori; Tamura, Takuya (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
Micro grooves have been designed to sort biological cells, which flows through a micro channel in vitro. The micro groove of the rectangular shape (0.0045 mm depth, and 0.2 mm length) has been fabricated on the surface of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) disk by the photolithography technique. Variation has been made on the width (0.03 mm < w < 0.05 mm) and on the angle between the longitudinal direction of the groove and the flow direction (45 degrees, 90 degrees) of the groove. A rectangular flow channel (0.05 mm height × 2 mm width × 15 mm length) has been constructed between two transparent PDMS disks. Four kinds of cells were used in the test: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line), MC3T3-E1 (mouse osteoblast precursor cell), Hepa1-6 (mouse hepatoma cell), and Neuro-2a (mouse neural crest-derived cell).
A flow velocity of the suspension of cells was controlled by the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet. Neuro-2a often moves to the counter direction against the flow in the groove. The shift movement along the oblique groove depends on the several parameters: the diameter of cells, the
width of the groove, the velocity of the cell, and the kinds of cells.
Spatialization of Medical Care in the Private Network of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (Brazil) from 2007 to 2016
Silva, Carlos Miguel Freire; Barroso, Leônidas Conceição (Brazil)
ABSTRACT:
The spatial distribution of doctors is a subject of great value to society, since it is a factor that relates to the social welfare of the population in any locality, since they are the main providers of health services. In addition, the guarantee of universal access to health services is a worrying challenge. This work aims to contribute to minimizing the impact of the imbalance of medical distribution. For this, there were elaborated and displayed temporal cartographic information of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (RMBH), located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which demonstrate the dynamics of the organization over the last years. In this way the approach of the geography of health was used, using the tools of statistics under the optics of spatial analysis and technological support of geographic information systems. The distribution of health care has presented significant concentration in the capital, without change over the years even with the growth of the population contingent in the surrounding cities.
Supplier Selection Methodology
Dimova, Daniela; Naydenov, Petko (Bulgaria)
ABSTRACT:
The modern perspectives in all business types are shorter product life cycles, growing product complexity and variety and persistent expectations for lower prices. These conditions increase the importance of logistics as a complex system that incorporates the three major phases of the production cycle – supply of raw materials, parts and units, machining and assembly and storing and delivery. The paper aims to create a methodology and open-source software for supplier selection as part of an integrated logistics information system. The software will be used for educational purposes. It will allow the
learners to change key parts of the software and compare the results. The software module should contain methodology for choosing the important criteria for supplier selection, assignment of weight coefficients for each criterion, estimation of the weighted total assessment of each supplier and a sample testing of the methodology with the created software module.
The Challenges of Introducing the Blockchain Technology in Logistic Chains
Sturmanis, Ainis; Hudenko, Justina; Juruss, Maris (Latvia)
ABSTRACT:
Globalization trends call for changes in the paradigm of logistic chains, creating effective interrelation links among individual countries not only by physical infrastructure, but also connecting various economies, policies, cultures, technologies etc. in a smart way. This study investigates the minimization of transaction costs by using modern software technologies. The article has two aims. The first is to identify and to quantify transaction, transition and
misalignment costs (TTM). And the second is to discuss if and how these costs can be minimized by using software technologies e.g. blockchain technology (BC). Given insufficiencies in data collection, we quantified costs mostly for Latvian case regarding its forthcoming participation in the rail freight corridors. This study analyses four alternatives: without introducing BC, introducing public BC, introducing limited access BC, introducing hybrid BC.
The Equilibrium and Risk Analysis of Internet Finance under Social Networks Influence
Mi, Chuan-Min; Qian, Yuan-Yuan; Zhang, Qing (China)
ABSTRACT:
The development of the Internet finance makes the financial network become increasingly complex. Considering of the characteristics of Internet finance and relationship level, a framework including multilayer Internet financial network with investors, Internet financial intermediaries, traditional financial intermediaries and investees was proposed. Increasing relationship levels in our framework are assumed to reduce transaction costs as well as risk and to have some additional value for the decision-makers. From the perspective of cash flow, the competitive and cooperative relationships between various decision-makers were explicated, as well as their behavior and optimality conditions. We found that the decision-makers compete within a tier and cooperate between ties to optimize the whole Internet financial supernetwork. Under the Internet environment, the various decision makers face greater credit risk and operational risk, credit risk and operational risk brought about by the problem is more outstanding. The relationship level has little effect on investors' decision, but it mainly influences the behavior of Internet financial intermediaries and the traditional financial intermediaries.
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Company's Success
Schweinberger, Stefan; Sceulovs, Deniss (Latvia)
ABSTRACT:
The aim of the paper is to study the theoretical aspects of corporate governance impact factors and to evaluate the impact of corporate governance on Return on Equity and Tobin's Q in Germany and Spain. The article focusses on analyzing the development of corporate governance in Germany as well as on a description of company's success and of the investigated companies. Significant differences in the analyzed companies and in the country-specific corporate governance guidelines are highlighted. Literature review regarding previous results for the impact of corporate governance on company's success in Germany, Spain and worldwide researches has been done. Tobin's Q and Return on Equity are introduced as the most used measures to determine company's success. Furthermore, the similarities and differences in the German and Spanish Corporate Governance Codes are assessed. The impact of Board size, Board Independency, Transparency and Director's Remuneration as determents of corporate governance on Return on Equity and Tobin's Q as determents of company's success is evaluated. A non-significant positive impact of all impact variables can be shown individually and combined in Germany and Spain.
The Impact of Environmental and Social Performance on the Market Value of Shares of Czech Joint-Stock Corporations
Kocmanova, Alena; Pavlakova Docekalova, Marie; Simberova, Iveta (Czech Republic)
ABSTRACT:
The paper analyses the relationship between the social, environmental and economic performance and the firm market value as determined by the market value of shares in manufacturing companies. Empirical research has been verified according to the EU criteria in 87 joint-stock companies in the Czech Republic with more than 250 employees. Data was acquired by empirical research in the Czech Republic, which was completed in 2011-2015. The objective of the paper is to determine, on the basis of established hypotheses, whether the increased social and environmental performance increases the economic performance and the firm market value. Empirical research has shown that social performance has an impact on economic performance as well as on the market value of the share, that is, on the firm market value. Environmental performance has no significant effect on economic performance or on the market value of the share. Research results can provide investors with information that they only appreciate if social and environmental tools introduced into joint-stock companies increase economic performance while increasing the market value of the company.
Tracings of Orientation of Cell on Scaffold with Micro Striped Pattern after Stimulation of Vertical Excess Gravity
Tamura, Takuya; Hashimoto, Shigehiro; Hino, Haruka; Ito, Tsubasa; Endo, Yuji (Japan)
ABSTRACT:
The orientation of a single cell on the scaffold with the micro striped pattern after stimulation of the vertical excess gravity has been traced in vitro. The micro striped pattern (3 μm width, 3 μm interval, and 0.2 μm < height < 0.4 μm) was made on the PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) plate of the scaffold by the photolithography technique. C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line) was used in the test. To apply the normal mechanical force field (< 100 G) to the cells adhered on the scaffold of the plate, the plate was set at the bottom of the culture dish in the swing rotor in a conventional centrifugal machine placed in an incubator (310 K, 5% CO2). After the centrifugation for several (1, 2, or 5) hours, the behavior of each cell was traced at the time lapse images for 12 hours. For the control study, cells were cultured on the scaffold of PDMS with the same micro pattern. The experiments show that the orientation along the micro striped pattern is strengthened by the vertical excess gravity and the effect is maintained for several hours after stopping of the excess gravity.
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