Situational Method Engineering (SME) addresses the need for custom-built software development methodologies that are tailored to fit specific project situations. A process pattern is a description of a recurring development process fragment that can be used as a generic model or a building block for engineering development processes. Software development process patterns are extensively used in...

The main goal of this research was to compare the in vitro release rates of nano- and microcapsules of Silybum marianum extract (SME) in animal simulated gastric and intestinal medium conditions. The extract was encapsulated within sodium alginate carriers using emulsification/internal gelation method. Particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI) and morphology of...

Though without any vital significance in the economic literature and the media smalland medium-sized enterprises (SME) represent the sector of real economic power and the largest employer both in Germany and Europe. The official statistics are self-explaining (IfM Bonn 2005, DSGV 2005): • More than 3.3 million SME exist in Germany at present. • These enterprises provide about 70 per cent of the...

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of standardized extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SME) on gene and protein expression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related factors in activated human hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and in mice with steatohepatitis induced by a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet. Male C57BL/6J mice were placed on an MCD or control diet for 8 weeks and ...

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are acknowledged worldwide as the drivers of socio-economic development due to their important role in GDP growth, new job creation and entrepreneurship. Despite the immense impact of the most severe economic crisis modern world has witnessed on the SME sector, number of scholarly studies focusing on the investigation of the performance factors of the S...

The application of silicalite for improvement of enzyme adsorption on new stainless steel electrodes is reported. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized by two methods: cross-linking by glutaraldehyde (GOx-GA) and cross-linking by glutaraldehyde along with GOx adsorption on silicalite-modified electrode (SME) (GOx-SME-GA). The GOx-SME-GA biosensors were characterized by a four- to fivefold highe...

It is now commonly agreed that a healthy industrial structure requires enterprises of all sizes play complementary roles in an economy, SMEs as well as their larger counterparts (Marshall, 1890). Much attention has been paid to the development of SME sector as well as the corresponding policies. A number of experts were invited to contribute to the PECC project, "The Policy Environment for the ...

The sensitive dependence on initial conditions (SDIC) associated with nonlinear models imposes limitations on the models’ predictive power. We draw attention to an additional limitation than has been under-appreciated, namely structural model error (SME). A model has SME if the model-dynamics differ from the dynamics in the target system. If a nonlinear model has only the slightest SME, then it...

BACKGROUND Low postprandial blood glucose is associated with low risk of metabolic diseases. A meal's ability to diminish the glucose response to carbohydrates eaten during the following meal is known as the "second-meal effect" (SME). The reduced glycemia elicited by low-glycemic-index (LGI) foods consumed during the first meal has been suggested as the main mechanism for SME. However, LGI foo...

This EIF Working Paper takes a holistic approach to investigate SME financing patterns in Europe by performing a cluster analysis including 12,726 SMEs in 28 European countries. The results reveal that SME financing in Europe is not homogenous but that different financing patterns exist. The cluster analysis identifies six distinct SME financing types: mixed-financed SMEs, statesubsidised SMEs,...