scholarly journals Sino-Senegalese Cooperation: An Impulse to Innovative Growth Strategies for Senegalese SMEs

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 26-43
Author(s):  
Pape Alioune Diop
Keyword(s):  
Research Approach ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Competitive Strategies ◽  
Inductive Research ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Strategic Networking

Since 2005, Senegal and China have developed painstaking efforts to flourish in win-win cooperation. However, the outcome of this collaboration is still under scrutiny due to several constraints in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. This study examined how the Sino-Senegalese cooperation could be a mean for Senegalese SMEs to grow their businesses through competitive strategies. The purpose of the study was to explore practical uses of growth strategies that may enable the Senegalese SMEs to develop sustainably. We adopted an inductive research approach by using descriptive and interpretive statistical analysis methods. We explored the data using SPSS 16.0. We can summarize the findings as follows: (1) Senegalese SMEs in China face problems related to unstable government regulations; high money transaction costs and high tax rates rather than access to finance; (2) there is a high degree of informality among SMEs in Guangzhou and Yiwu despite the relatively high level of education of the SME managers; (3) they can incorporate many growth strategies in the management of their businesses concerning the idiosyncratic pitfalls we have identified in the research. The Ansoff matrix, innovative strategic moves, and strategic networking have shown to be important tools for the Senegalese SMEs operating in China to grow steadily and sustainably. A way to grasp the originality of this thesis is that many of the major works published in this field mainly focus on China’s strategy for Africa. We find less evidence in the literature for China’s presence in a resource-independent economy like Senegal. And by doing so, they barely mention the negative impacts of this cooperation, nor do they alleviate the opportunities and strategies that can be put forward for SMEs growth.

scholarly journals Implementation of Green Design Strategies by Architects in Southwest Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 431-438
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Green Design ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Southwest Nigeria ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
High Level

In proposing new structures and renovating existing ones around the globe, environmental impact is becoming a major consideration. Among architecture professionals and other stakeholders in the building industry in Nigeria and globally, it is also becoming a major discussion topic. This has therefore brought about a need for a compromise between quality buildings and environmental responsibility. One important way of achieving this compromise is the use of green design strategies which seek to reduce the negative impacts buildings have on the natural environment and the health of the building occupants, while also being economically responsible. This study aims to investigate the level of implementation of green design strategies by practising professional architects in southwest Nigeria, identifying areas for further improvement. The methodology employed centres around the pragmatic research philosophy that uses a mixed method research approach to gather and analyze data. Data collection was carried out by textual analysis of relevant literature and the use of structured questionnaires to collect data from 60 respondents made up of practising professional architects in southwest Nigeria. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis, while the quantitative data was put through inferential statistical analysis. The result is presented using a descriptive approach. The study identified various green design strategies for achieving environmental sustainability in the study area. The study also found that a high level of awareness of environmental sustainability concepts exists among practising architects in the study area and provided appropriate recommendations for encouraging the implementation of green design strategies in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Case Study of Recruitment and Selection of Employees in the Family Businesses of Tasikmalaya

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Dedi Rianto Rahadi ◽  
Pandu Cakranegara ◽  
Genoveva Claudia
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Performance Appraisal ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
The Family ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Recruitment And Selection ◽  
High Level ◽  
Relationship Factors

<p>Human resource planning within a company includes policies such as recruitment and selection, compensation, performance appraisal, career development, and training and development. Recruitment and selection process becomes the main factor to do professional human resources. The purpose of this research is to know how the concept of recruitment and selection model on family business in small and medium enterprise sector. The object of research is small and medium business in Tasikmalaya city in handicraft sector. The research method used qualitative and data collection through triangulation method where researchers examine the interrelated phenomena from different perspectives. The results showed that family emotional relationship factors often affect the recruitment and selection process of employees. Moreover, Incompetent recruitment and selection models will threaten the performance and even the existence of the company. The poor management of human resources in the family company will have negative impacts such as the outbreak of conflict, the unfavourable working situation, the development of various intrigues, and the high level of employee turnover will ultimately impact on the performance of the company.</p>

ANTICYTOKINE ACTIVITY OF THE PROTOZOA BLASTOCYSTIS SPP

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Bugero N.V. ◽  
Ilyina N.A. ◽  
Aleksandrova S.M.
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ulcer Disease ◽  
Cytokine Balance ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Blastocystis Spp ◽  
High Level ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms ◽  
High Degree

In addition to the classical pathogens, which are well understood and well identified, new pathogens with the potential to spread epidemiologically are being identified. Some of these little-known organisms are the simplest Blastocystis spp. blastocystostosis. The clinical significance of Blastocystis spp. and its pathogenicity are still under discussion. This parasite belongs to a group of single-celled eukaryotic organisms living in the colon of the human intestine. Blastocystis spp. is known to be found both in people with reduced immune status and in individuals without any clinical manifestation. It has been established that a sufficiently high degree of invasiveness is observed in persons with gastrointestinal tract diseases, dermatosis, allergic reactions, in patients with carriers of the human immunodeficiency virus, etc. Possessing persistence factors, protozoa blastocysts contribute to the inactivation of host defensive mechanisms, providing a stable anthogonistic effect. In recent years, many works have been devoted to the characteristics of the persistent properties of Blastocystis spr., however, individual properties of blastocysts, in particular, anticytokine activity (ACA), have not yet been studied. In this regard, the work studied the anticytokine activity of microorganisms isolated from healthy subjects and patients with gastrointestinal tract diseases. A high prevalence of the studied characteristic in the subjects was shown. The expression of anticytokine activity in the obtained isolates of blastocysts was the highest in the group of persons with gastric ulcer disease, which decreased in the order of duodenal ulcer, chronic cholecystitis, chronic gastritis, etc. The data obtained in this work on the high level of ACA expression in blastocyst isolates obtained from individuals with gastrointestinal diseases as compared with the control group enables to conclude that their exometabolites may influence the local cytokine balance [1], which supports the inflammatory process.

CSim 2

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-46
Author(s):  
David Sanan ◽  
Yongwang Zhao ◽  
Shang-Wei Lin ◽  
Liu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Programming Languages ◽  
Concurrent Systems ◽  
Theorem Prover ◽  
Compositional Techniques ◽  
Machine Code ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Hol Theorem Prover ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree

To make feasible and scalable the verification of large and complex concurrent systems, it is necessary the use of compositional techniques even at the highest abstraction layers. When focusing on the lowest software abstraction layers, such as the implementation or the machine code, the high level of detail of those layers makes the direct verification of properties very difficult and expensive. It is therefore essential to use techniques allowing to simplify the verification on these layers. One technique to tackle this challenge is top-down verification where by means of simulation properties verified on top layers (representing abstract specifications of a system) are propagated down to the lowest layers (that are an implementation of the top layers). There is no need to say that simulation of concurrent systems implies a greater level of complexity, and having compositional techniques to check simulation between layers is also desirable when seeking for both feasibility and scalability of the refinement verification. In this article, we present CSim 2 a (compositional) rely-guarantee-based framework for the top-down verification of complex concurrent systems in the Isabelle/HOL theorem prover. CSim 2 uses CSimpl, a language with a high degree of expressiveness designed for the specification of concurrent programs. Thanks to its expressibility, CSimpl is able to model many of the features found in real world programming languages like exceptions, assertions, and procedures. CSim 2 provides a framework for the verification of rely-guarantee properties to compositionally reason on CSimpl specifications. Focusing on top-down verification, CSim 2 provides a simulation-based framework for the preservation of CSimpl rely-guarantee properties from specifications to implementations. By using the simulation framework, properties proven on the top layers (abstract specifications) are compositionally propagated down to the lowest layers (source or machine code) in each concurrent component of the system. Finally, we show the usability of CSim 2 by running a case study over two CSimpl specifications of an Arinc-653 communication service. In this case study, we prove a complex property on a specification, and we use CSim 2 to preserve the property on lower abstraction layers.

scholarly journals Decision-making process for introduction of maternal vaccines in Kenya, 2017–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Otieno ◽  
Fauzia A. Malik ◽  
Stacy W. Nganga ◽  
Winnie N. Wairimu ◽  
Dominic O. Ouma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Maternal Immunization ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background Maternal immunization is a key strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in mothers and their newborns. Recent developments in the science and safety of maternal vaccinations have made possible development of new maternal vaccines ready for introduction in low- and middle-income countries. Decisions at the policy level remain the entry point for maternal immunization programs. We describe the policy and decision-making process in Kenya for the introduction of new vaccines, with particular emphasis on maternal vaccines, and identify opportunities to improve vaccine policy formulation and implementation process. Methods We conducted 29 formal interviews with government officials and policy makers, including high-level officials at the Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, and Ministry of Health officials at national and county levels. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. We analyzed the qualitative data using NVivo 11.0 software. Results All key informants understood the vaccine policy formulation and implementation processes, although national officials appeared more informed compared to county officials. County officials reported feeling left out of policy development. The recent health system decentralization had both positive and negative impacts on the policy process; however, the negative impacts outweighed the positive impacts. Other factors outside vaccine policy environment such as rumours, sociocultural practices, and anti-vaccine campaigns influenced the policy development and implementation process. Conclusions Public policy development process is complex and multifaceted by its nature. As Kenya prepares for introduction of other maternal vaccines, it is important that the identified policy gaps and challenges are addressed.

Addiction and schizophrenia

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Batel
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Addictive Disorders ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Dependency Type ◽  
Active Research ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
High Level ◽  
Environmental Hypothesis ◽  
High Degree

SummaryEpidemiologic studies in the general population and those based on the clinical assessment of schizophrenic populations have revealed a high degree of overlap between schizophrenia and addictive disorders. The abuse of psychoactive substances (including alcohol) throughout life is so frequent (50%) that the possibility of a specific link inevitably arises. Various hypotheses have been suggested to explain the high co-morbidity between schizophrenia and addiction: 1) The social-environmental hypothesis has been developed but studies have provided poor evidence to validate it. 2) The possible shared biological vulnerability between schizophrenia and addictions led researchers to explore common genetic determinants and study the involvement of the dopaminergic and opioid systems in the aetiology of both schizophrenia and the abuse of and dependence on psychoactive drugs. 3) Finally, the theory of self-medication suggests that schizophrenics may be attempting to counter the deficit linked to their disorders by using the substances they take or their dependency-type behaviour to cope with their emotional problems. The clinical profile of schizophrenic addicts does seem to display some distinctive features, such as the high level of depressive co-morbidity, very high nicotine and alcohol dependence, with a very poor prognosis. These patients are difficult to manage; the possibility of pharmacologic interactions between the substances they are taking and neuroleptic medication calls for prudence, and their compliance is also poor. Addictive disorders in schizophrenics are currently a topic of active research intended to lead to identifying specific treatments. The early identification of addictive disorders in schizophrenics should make it possible to limit their development and improve the prognosis.

Living in the end times: a short course addressing end of life issues for older people in an English parish church setting

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Collicutt
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
End Of Life Issues ◽  
End Times ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report a pilot study that evaluated an innovative practice in a faith community context designed to help older people live well at the end of life and prepare for death. Design/methodology/approach – A simple audit of the intervention using a contemporaneous journal kept by the author, and a follow up questionnaire completed by participants. Findings – Rich findings on the process are reported. These indicate a high degree of engagement by participants, the establishment of a high degree of group intimacy and trust, a high level of articulation of wisdom, the emergence of significant anxiety in some isolated cases, and the use made of tea and cake to manage the transition between the existentially demanding nature of the discussions and normal life. The outcome indicated very high levels of appreciation and increased confidence in relation to issues of death and dying. Practical implications – The findings of the pilot have been used to inform training of clergy in the principles of working in this area (e.g. in ways of managing group dynamics and anxiety, pacing, tuning in to archetypes and the natural symbols that people use to talk about death and dying, self-care and supervision of the programme leader/facilitator). Originality/value – The paper adds to knowledge in terms of an in depth description of processes at work in a group of older people working on spiritual and practical issues in relation to death, and offers ideas for supporting older people in this process, some of which are specific to the Christian tradition, and some of which are more widely applicable to people of all faiths and none. It gives a specific worked example of what “spiritual care” in this area might look like.

Professionals’ Views on the Comparatively Low Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Spain

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110211
Author(s):  
Arabella Castro ◽  
Marisol Lila ◽  
Enrique Gracia ◽  
Maria Wemrell
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Inductive Research ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Partner Violence Against Women

The aim of this study was to understand the reasons why Spain has one of the lowest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) in the European Union. Using a qualitative and inductive research approach, a total of five focus groups ( n = 19) and 10 unstructured interviews with key informants were conducted. Three main categories were identified as possible explanations of the relatively low prevalence of IPVAW in Spain: law and policy, social awareness, and cultural patterns. Lessons learned and implications to improve future macrolevel intervention and prevention strategies are discussed.

scholarly journals Individual synaptic vesicles mediate stimulated exocytosis from cochlear inner hair cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (50) ◽  
pp. 12811-12816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Paul Grabner ◽  
Tobias Moser
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cells ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Basolateral Membrane ◽  
Mean Amplitude ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Inner Hair Cell ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Channel Type

Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) measured from the first synapse in the mammalian auditory pathway reach a large mean amplitude with a high level of variance (CV between 0.3 and 1). This has led some to propose that each inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon-type active zone (AZ), on average, releases ∼6 synaptic vesicles (SVs) per sEPSC in a coordinated manner. If true, then the predicted change in membrane capacitance (Cm) for such multivesicular fusion events would equate to ∼300 attofarads (aF). Here, we performed cell-attached Cm measurements to directly examine the size of fusion events at the basolateral membrane of IHCs where the AZs are located. The frequency of events depended on the membrane potential and the expression of Cav1.3, the principal Ca2+-channel type of IHCs. Fusion events averaged 40 aF, which equates to a normal-sized SV with an estimated diameter of 37 nm. The calculated SV volumes showed a high degree of variance (CV > 0.6). These results indicate that SVs fused individually with the plasma membrane during spontaneous and evoked release and SV volume may contribute more variability in EPSC amplitude than previously assumed.

Genetic variability in the natural populations of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), detected by RAPD markers and by esterase isozymes

2015 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Coelho-Bortolo ◽  
C.A. Mangolin ◽  
A.S. Lapenta
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Electrophoretic Analysis ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Lasioderma Serricorne ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Dried Fruit ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree

AbstractLasioderma serricorne (F.) is a small cosmopolitan beetle regarded as a destructive pest of several stored products such as grains, flour, spices, dried fruit and tobacco. Chemical insecticides are one of the measures used against the pest. However, intensive insecticide use has resulted in the appearance of resistant insect populations. Therefore, for the elaboration of more effective control programs, it is necessary to know the biological aspects of L. serricorne. Among these aspects, the genetic variability knowledge is very important and may help in the development of new control methods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability of 11 natural populations of L. serricorne collected respectively in three and four towns in the states of Paraná and São Paulo, Brazil, using 20 primers random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and polymorphisms of esterases. These primers produced 352 polymorphic bands. Electrophoretic analysis of esterases allowed the identification of four polymorphic loci (Est-2, Est-4, Est-5 and Est-6) and 18 alleles. Results show that populations are genetically differentiated and there is a high level of genetic variability within populations. The high degree of genetic differentiation is not directly correlated to geographical distance. Thus, our data indicate that movement of infested commodities may contribute to the dissemination of L. serricorne, facilitating gene flow.

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