Medium-sized Groups Research Articles

Focal Scleral Nodules: Retrospective Case Series and Novel Insight.

The objective of this study was to add to the limited literature of Focal Scleral Nodule (FSN). This study was a single-centre, retrospective, observational case series performed at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (United Kingdom). Nineteen eyes from nineteen patients over a thirteen year period (January 2011 to January 2024) were included. The principal observations were taken from patient demographic data, fundal and autofluorescence imaging, and OCT-EDI imaging. Most patients with FSN were female, with median age of 47 years and median visual acuity of 20/20 Snellen. FSN were yellow, yellow-white, orange or orange halo in appearance. Median horizontal length of a FSN was 2.02mm (range 0.34mm-4.79mm) and median thickness was 417μm (range 272μm-803μm). The choroid above the FSN was thinned in 9 and absent in 10 cases. Most FSN appeared hyper-autofluorescent on autofluorescence imaging. Extramacular FSN appeared directly inferiorly to the optic disc in 7, infero-temporally in 5, supero-nasally in 2, and supero-temporally in 5 cases. Seven patients demonstrated FSN within the macula, and 2 of these had subretinal fluid. Further investigation revealed one of these patients with subretinal fluid had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) at the same area as the FSN. This study analysed FSN lesions of a medium-sized group over a large timeframe. It provides more data in the literature for an uncommon ophthalmic lesion. Furthermore, the study described the first known case in the literature of FSN with PCV in the same area. This finding highlights a potential new complication of the condition.

A Study on Diet Composition and Feeding Habits of Sphyraena putnamae Jordan & Seale, 1905 from the Northern Arabian Sea

The food and feeding habits of the Sphyraena putnamae (n=381) ranging from 16 to 99 cm were investigated the Karachi coast, the Northern Arabian Sea, Pakistan. S. putnamae consumed various prey items, which were divided into three categories: teleosts, molluscs, and crustaceans. Molluscs and crustaceans were the second preferred food component rather than teleost. The major constituents of the teleost group on basis of their ascendancy, were identified to be (dorosomatids; sciaenids; leiognathids; platycephalids; engraulids; carangids; bregmacerotids; nemipterids; scombrids; and synodontids). The empty stomach ratio and stomach fullness index did not differ significantly between the sexes and size classes. The stomach fullness index of juvenile barracudas (16-29 cm in length) was significantly higher as compared to adults in the medium (30-55 cm) and large (56-99 cm) size groups. Additionally, an analysis of dietary preferences revealed that small (juvenile) barracudas (16-29 cm) primarily consumed crustaceans, while medium-sized individuals (30-55 cm) preferred mollusks, and large individuals (56-99 cm) favoured teleost. The present study provides detailed information on the feeding ecology of the S. putnamae, for the first time from the Pakistan coast that will be useful for understanding trophodynamics of species developing effective management and conservation measures, ensuring the species' long-term viability.

Resource Use Efficiency and Constraints Faced by Potato Growers in Kannauj District of Uttar Pradesh, India

In the present paper, an attempt has been made to examine Potato cultivation in different categories of farmers in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. Primary data was collect through personal interview by pre-structured and pre-tested schedule; the data was collect for the agricultural year 2022-23. A sample size of 100 farmers, marginal (61) Small (29) Medium (10) were interviewed form 5 village of Kannauj block in Kannauj district select the farmers by using the proportionate allocation method, with the data analysis, the result found that average holding size 0.84, 1.84 and 3.91 ha. in respect of marginal small and medium farm, respectively. In the case of potato, returns to scale of marginal, small and medium size group of farms were 0.8989, 0.8525 and 0.8280, respectively. Returns to scale in all three categories of the farms were found less than unity. It indicates the production of potato is characterized by decreasing returns to scale on each farm situation. Another factor of production i.e. manure and fertilizer was found significantly associated with dependent variable at 1% level probability in all farm situation. The problem related with hired human labour and technical knowledge was notice at I and II rank by the sample farmers (i.e. Unavailability of machines and tractor and Lack of improved varieties).

Does rising land price promote the circulation industry development? An analysis of internet-based moderating effects

With the rapid development of the Internet, digital technology is increasingly integrating into the modern circulation system. The influence mechanisms of land prices on the development of the circulation industry are gradually transforming. Using data from 104 major cities in China from 2003 to 2021, this study uses the panel two-way fixed effects model, moderating effects model and threshold regression method to examine the mechanisms by which land prices affect the circulation industry development and the moderating role of Internet development. The results show that elevated land prices significantly stimulate the growth of the circulation industry, leading to an expansion in the circulation industry scale, optimization of its structure, and enhancement of its facilities. The findings remain robust even after addressing endogeneity concerns and conducting various robustness tests. Moreover, the impact of high land prices on the circulation industry is more pronounced in small and medium-sized cities group as well as central region cities group. Real estate investment and industrial structure upgrading are the key channels through which high land prices promote the development of the circulation industry. Additionally, Internet development has a positive moderating effect on the promotion that high land prices stimulate the development of the circulation industry. Notably, only when Internet development surpasses a certain threshold that the promotional effect of land prices on the circulation industry development be fully realized. Based on the above conclusions, the government should continue to deepen the market-oriented reform of land elements, implement precise industrial policy support for the circulation industry and promote circulation digital transformation.

The Integration of Veterinary Medicine and Behavioral Management in the Care of Captive Pigtail Macaques (Macaca nemestrina)

The Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) maintains the largest domestic breeding colony of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in the United States, with animals housed in small to medium-sized social groups. As part of the animal care plan, a programmatic framework is utilized, which integrates clinical care with socialization considerations for nonhuman primates (NHPs). This framework encompasses the following areas: (1) socialization in the clinical setting; (2) positive reinforcement training (PRT); (3) measures to ensure proper identification and medication distribution; and (4) in-group treatments. The success of this framework is demonstrated by the high socialization rate for hospitalized animals (99.5% social pairing success), with the majority of clinical cases (95%) being treated in social groups. Ultimately, this framework seeks to buffer stressors when animals require clinical care or husbandry manipulations. Taken together, the above components foster an environment that provides a comprehensive approach to NHP medical and behavioral management.

Local business capacity to scale new hybrid maize seeds: Insights from a decade of tracking sales in Mexico

The return on investments from public-sector hybrid maize breeding depends heavily on the capacities of locally owned, small- and medium-sized seed enterprises (maize SMEs) to build market share for new products. In Mexico, between 2011 and 2020, dozens of maize SMEs obtained new genetic material through a hybrid maize breeding program funded by the Mexican government and led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). To examine the maize SMEs’ ability to expand sales of new seed products, we tracked sales for 16 maize SMEs between 2014 and 2022. Our analysis captured variation in capacity by grouping the SMEs by seed sales volumes: emerging group (EG), small-sized group (SG), and medium-sized group (MG). The results showed the capacity of the MGs to launch and scale new seed products and remove older products from the market. The EGs and SGs expanded sales of new products, but also maintained production of older products, including open-pollinated varieties. However, during the observation period we detected little growth in total sales volumes across the three groups. The findings suggest that future efforts to promote local maize SMEs will benefit from a balanced approach between technology transfer and seed system development. We recommend that future seed systems investments consider: (1) support for innovation in seed-product marketing, (2) coordinated public-sector purchases that prioritize new products, and (3) innovation in product design for niche market development. These lessons may also serve future efforts to design regional-level programs in support of smallholder rainfed hybrid maize production.

Strength of Sexual Selection and Sex Roles Vary between Social Groups in a Coral Reef Cardinalfish.

AbstractThe strength and direction of sexual selection can vary among populations. However, spatial variability is rarely explored at the level of the social group. Here we investigate sexual selection and sex roles in the paternally mouthbrooding, socially monogamous, and site-attached pajama cardinalfish, Sphaeramia nematoptera. Females were larger and more aggressive and had a longer dorsal fin filament, indicating reversed sex roles. At the scale of social groups, we show that the Bateman gradient and reproductive variance depend on the sex ratio and size of groups. In small and medium-sized groups with balanced or male-biased sex ratios, Bateman gradients were steeper for females, whereas gradients were equally steep for both sexes in large groups or when the sex ratio was female biased. For both sexes, reproductive variance increased with group size and with a higher male-to-female sex ratio. In S. nematoptera, mating opportunities outside the socially monogamous pair appear to impact sexual selection. We conclude that strength and direction of sexual selection can be masked by social dynamics in group-living species when considering only population and large-scale demographic processes.

Estimation of Chemical and Mineral Composition, Structural Features, and Pre-Firing Technological Properties of Waste Coal Heaps for Ceramic Production

The relevance of the investigation and creation of a new non-traditional raw material base for wall ceramics for the south of Russia is shown in connection with the decreasing availability of traditional raw materials—loams. Characterizations of the mineral and chemical constituent rock formations of the rocks composing the dumps of coal waste heaps and enrichment plants are given. A serious constraint for the industrial development of coal wastes is the requirement for a great variety of mineral constituents. The chemical and mineralogical compositions and the pre-firing ceramic properties of the waste coal heaps are studied and presented in detail. It is mentioned that fine and thin materials contain coal in an increased amount; due to this, they cannot be considered as the main raw material for the production of wall ceramics. The materials of the medium-sized grain group (2.0–5.0 mm, sifting) can contain up to 2–3% of coal and are most often represented by a mixture of mudstones, siltstones, and sandstones, with the predominance of one or another type of rock. The granulometric composition and the content of large-grained inclusions, molding moisture, plasticity, cohesiveness, desiccation properties, and air shrinkage were studied and determined. It is concluded that the middle group of waste coal heaps in particular are of the greatest interest as a basic raw material for the production of wall ceramic products.

Economic Dynamics and Constraints of Chickpea Production in Rajasthan

The study examined the economics of chickpea production and identified constraints faced by farmers in Jaipur district. The study evaluated the cost of cultivation across different farm sizes using various cost concepts, including operational costs, fixed costs, and net income for 2020-21. The results revealed that the total cost of cultivation increased as the farm size increased. The share of operational costs towards total costs also increased with increases in farm size. The total fixed cost was maximum for medium-sized groups and minimum for marginal farm sizes. The cost of production was maximum for marginal farm sizes (Rs. 2900.97 per ha) and minimum for medium farm sizes (Rs. 2766.26 per ha). Gross return was maximum for medium farm size (Rs.65745 per ha) and minimum for marginal farm size group (Rs. 54491 per ha). The output-input ratio was 183.59 per cent in cases of medium farm size and 175.80 per cent in the case of marginal farm size. However, constraints such as labour shortages during peak cultivation periods and timely non-availability of irrigation and inputs posed challenges to chickpea production. Therefore, interventions such as improved labour management, ensuring irrigation availability, and adopting disease-resistant seeds may enhance chickpea production in the study area.

Scientific Fact and Artistic Image: Deformation of the subject field of Ukrainian theater studies in the 1920s

The limits of professional activity are determined by the circle of persons who carry it out (who), the content of the activity (production, processing or any other actions aimed at changing the object), quality criteria, technical, ethical and other norms, forms of incentives and sanctions, etc. So, for a formal or informal small or medium-sized social group, the activity of which is inseparable of the situation in which it is carried out, because, in addition to production, it involves the organization of demand and sales, communication with the world external to the group, which leads to stratification activity itself into smaller independent functions (differentiation of production, sales, etc.) and to its transformation, sometimes almost to the point of self-destruction. The heart of professional activity — its subject field or subject matter — is determined not only by the subject of production, its quality criteria and boundaries but also by invisible communications, which are very often hidden from the direct consumer, among which a key role is played by a professional network (structured professional communication carried out by members of the group regarding the subject of production) and its reference library (theoretical works, technical instructions, protocols regulating activities, etc.). During the 1920s, when in Ukraine the self-reliance of activities aimed at the production of scientific facts, therefore, new and preferably practically oriented knowledge about the theater, and the separation of this sphere from others, was fixed in terms of theater studies, there was an extremely active process of formation of the subject field, network and reference library of theater studies. A key role in these processes was played (and not only because of his own professional activity but also as a result of his position in the network) theater historian Petro Rulin, in whose activities, precisely from the point of view of the formation and deformation of the subject matter of theatre studies, its main trends of the 1920s are highlighted.

Assessing the response of marine fish communities to climate change and fishing.

Globally, marine fish communities are being altered by climate change and human disturbances. We examined data on global marine fish communities to assess changes in community-weighted mean temperature affinity (i.e., mean temperatures within geographic ranges), maximum length, and trophic levels, which, respectively, represent the physiological, morphological, and trophic characteristics of marine fish communities. Then, we explored the influence of climate change and fishing on these characteristics because of their long-term role in shaping fish communities, especially their interactive effects. We employed spatial linear mixed models to investigate their impacts on community-weighted mean trait values and on abundance of different fish lengths and trophic groups. Globally, we observed an initial increasing trend in the temperature affinity of marine fish communities, whereas the weighted mean length and trophic levels of fish communities showed a declining trend. However, these shift trends were not significant, likely due to the large variation in midlatitude communities. Fishing pressure increased fish communities' temperature affinity in regions experiencing climate warming. Furthermore, climate warming was associated with an increase in weighted mean length and trophic levels of fish communities. Low climate baseline temperature appeared to mitigate the effect of climate warming on temperature affinity and trophic levels. The effect of climate warming on the relative abundance of different trophic classes and size classes both exhibited a nonlinear pattern. The small and relatively large fish species may benefit from climate warming, whereas the medium and largest size groups may be disadvantaged. Our results highlight the urgency of establishing stepping-stone marine protected areas to facilitate the migration of fishes to habitats in a warming ocean. Moreover, reducing human disturbance is crucial to mitigate rapid tropicalization, particularly in vulnerable temperate regions.

Multi-Parameter Experimental Research on the Expansion Force Affecting Lime-Sand Piles under Preloading Pressure

Aiming at the problems that it is difficult to control the expansion force of lime-sand pile in the foundation correcting and how the upper existing structural pressure affects the expansion force of lime-sand pile, this paper adopts a new type of lime-sand pile reaction tester to carry out the experimental research on the expansion force of lime-sand pile under the influences of different pre-pressure, different mixing ratios, different heights, and different granular sizes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of the pre-pressure brought by the existing building structure on the expansion force of the lime-sand pile and the coupling effect of the pre-pressure and other influencing factors on the expansion force of the lime-sand pile through the multi-parameter test. The results show that with the increase in pre-pressure, the expansion force of the lime-sand pile shows the trend of increasing first and then decreasing when the pre-pressure is 0.88 KN, the effect is most obvious and its expansion force can be increased by 14.9%. Within a certain range, the larger the proportion of quicklime is, the lower the expansion reaction force is. The expansion force of the lime-sand pile with the ratio of lime/sand/soil of 5:4:1 is the most ideal, and its value reaches 10.2 KN, which is 10% and 15.3% higher than the rest of the two groups, respectively. Within a certain range, the effect of specimen height change on the expansion force of the lime-sand pile is almost negligible. The smaller particle size of quicklime makes its reaction speed faster, the reaction degree is more full, and the expansion force is greater. The expansion force of the small particle size group was 12.1% and 34.2% higher than that of the medium and large particle size groups, respectively.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) government suppliers involved in government green procurement (GGP)

PurposeThe objectives of this paper are twofold. First, it aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) government suppliers involved in government green procurement (GGP). Second, it examines the differences in the impact of COVID-19 between small and medium-sized groups.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a questionnaire survey that was distributed to SMEs listed in the MyHIJAU directory that supply green goods and services to the government. Of the total 394 sample respondents, 126 usable questionnaires were received, representing a usable response rate of 31.98%. Descriptive analysis of mean score, standard deviation and mean score ranking was used to analyse the overall results. A t-test analysis was carried out to examine the differences between the small and medium-sized groups of companies.FindingsThe study discovers that the SME government suppliers involved in GGP were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The top ranked impacts are that “the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened health and safety practices among the employees”, “the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced company’s turnover”, “the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the company to implement a cost reduction strategy”, “the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the company’s ability to deliver work, supplies or services to the government” and “the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the company to incur higher production costs for green products or services provided”. However, there is no significant difference between the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the small and medium-sized group of enterprises.Originality/valueThe present study is among the fewer studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular focus on SME government suppliers involved in GGP.

Data Quality of Different Modes of Supervision in Classroom Surveys

Conducting quantitative research involving adolescents demands a thoughtful approach to the question of supervision, given that each option comes with its distinct set of implications. This study reviews these implications and empirically tests whether differences in data quality can be found among three modes of standardized survey research with medium-sized groups of adolescents (12–17 years). The data basis is a quasi-experimental survey study testing different forms of digital, hybrid, or in-person supervision that took place in 2021 in secondary schools in Germany (N = 923). The aim of this study is to test how aspects of data quality—item nonresponse, interview duration, drop-out rate, and response patterns—differ between these forms of supervision. Results could help researchers surveying young people to decide (1) whether they allow confidants or other adults to be present during interviews, (2) if they can rely on teachers alone when surveying classrooms, and (3) if it is cost-efficient to send out external supervisors for classroom sessions. While drop-out rates do not differ, item non-response, interview duration, and response patterns differ significantly; students supervised at home by external interviewers answered more questions, took more time to answer, and were less likely to give potentially meaningless answers in grid questions. The implications drawn from the findings question the common approach of solely relying on teachers for survey administration without the support of external supervisors or adequate training. Recruiting respondents via schools and surveying them online in their homes during school hours has been shown to be a robust method with regard to the analyzed indicators.

Barriers to the involvement in green public procurement among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) government suppliers

PurposeThe objectives of this study are twofold. Firstly, this study aims to examine the challenges of green public procurement (GPP) involvement among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) government suppliers. Secondly, it investigates the differences in the perceived challenges between the small- and medium-sized groups of companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on the quantitative method. The questionnaire was distributed to SMEs that supply green goods or services to the government and which are listed in the MyHijau directory. Using convenience sampling, a total of 394 questionnaires were distributed and 126 usable questionnaires were received, representing a response rate of 31.98%. A descriptive analysis of the mean score, standard deviation and mean score ranking was used to analyse the overall results. The t-test analysis was carried out to examine the differences between the small- and medium-sized groups of companies.FindingsAll five categories of the barriers, i.e. financial, legal, people, knowledge and organizational challenges, are perceived as the important challenges for SMEs’ involvement in GPP. Of the five categories, “having lack of knowledgeable staff on GPP” under the category of “people” challenge is ranked as the most major barrier. In relation to the differences between the two groups of enterprises (small- and medium-sized), medium enterprises are more affected by two items under the “organization” challenge, i.e. “The company has not targeted suppliers that promote environmentally-friendly products/services” and “The company has not established a clear objective on purchase of green products and services”, as compared to the small-sized enterprises through their GPP involvement.Social implicationsBy understanding the difficulties faced by SMEs in engaging with GPP, various practical measures can be formulated to support the SME businesses in mitigating the challenges faced for their involvement with GPP, which subsequently will lead to the country’s target to reach the sustainable development goals.Originality/valueThis study extends empirical evidence on barriers or challenges that may hinder the involvement in government green procurement, with a specific focus on SME government suppliers.

안라국 국읍과 함안지역 내 정치체 변화

Tr surrounding small and medium-sized burial mound groups.

Impact of an exergame intervention on cognitive-motor functions and training experience in young team sports athletes: a non-randomized controlled trial

IntroductionTeam sports athletes need excellent perceptual-cognitive skills, particularly executive functions (EF) to strategically perform on the field. The transfer effect of cognitive training might be accomplished by the inclusion of cognitive stimuli into a physically active environment as these couplings are required in real game situations. A training approach that combines both components is exergaming. The primary objective of this study was to gain preliminary insights into the effects of exergaming on cognitive-motor functions in young team sports athletes. The secondary objective was to investigate participants' training experience and well-being over time.MethodsParticipants were assigned to the intervention or control group. In the intervention group, participants trained with the ExerCube—a mixed reality exergame. The training was planned for 10 weeks (two sessions per week à 25 min) but had to be shortened by 2 weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions. The control group had no additional training. Outcomes included a computer-based alertness test and a cognitive-motor test battery to assess different EF (flexibility, divided attention, and inhibition) via a FitLight Trainer setup.ResultsTwenty-four athletes [mean age (±SD) 15.0 ± 0.7 years], evenly split into the intervention group (N = 12; male N = 6; female N = 6; 14.7 ± 0.5 years) and the control group (N = 12; male N = 7; female N = 5; 15.3 ± 0.8 years), participated in the study. Participants in the intervention group performed on average 9.4 ± 3.3 training sessions over 8 weeks. Significant time x group interaction effects were evident for the cognitive-motor sub-tests flexibility (F = 12.176, p < 0.001, d = 1.488) and divided attention for auditive stimuli (F = 9.776, p = 0.002, d = 1.404) in favour of the intervention group. For the alertness test, a medium effect size (time x group interaction) was seen for the variability of the reaction time (F = 2.196, p = 0.138, d = 0.632) in favour of the intervention group. Training experience and well-being were consistently at medium to high levels.ConclusionThe ExerCube training yielded positive effects on concentration, flexibility, and divided attention indicating that exergaming can be an innovative training approach for team sports athletes.

‘Learning so much…’: exploring the student perspective on the impact of attending optional LD workshops

Lack of confidence, in particular with regards to writing, study and information literacy skills (Bailey et al., 2007) has been identified as a key barrier to students’ transition, and subsequent attainment, in higher education. This is particularly relevant for students with ‘marginal learner identities’ (McIntosh and Barden, 2019, p.4), such as those with disabilities, or from minority ethnic and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Learning Development (LD) professionals are often engaged in supporting learners to negotiate such barriers, with one of the most common interventions being self-selecting, small to medium-size group workshops. This presentation explored the student perspective on the impact of attending a programme of co-curricular workshops at a UK university with a significant intake of students whose learner identities may be categorised as ‘marginal’. Whilst the core topics of the programme fall within the more established domains of LD (Gibbs, 2009), several workshops also cover related disciplinary areas (Samuels, 2013), such as information literacy and Maths and Statistics. The presentation relied on quantitative and qualitative feedback data collected via an online survey, emailed to all participants who registered for a workshop. Key impacts identified include enhanced understanding of skill or topic, improved confidence, and benefiting from a supportive environment. Main barriers to learning refer to challenges in accessing the sessions, timing in relation to student journey and approaches to delivery. Throughout the presentation, participants were invited to compare and contrast these findings to potential insights gathered in their own contexts. They were also encouraged to reflect on how these data can be used to more clearly articulate the role of LD within institutional teaching and learning strategies.

Efficacy and Safety of Microwave Ablation Assisted by Ultrasound Fusion Imaging for Primary and Secondary Liver Cancers with a Diameter of 3-7 Cm.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) assisted by ultrasound fusion imaging (FI) for primary and secondary liver cancers with a diameter of 3-7 cm. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with primary and secondary liver cancers (3-7 cm) who underwent MWA with ultrasound FI assistance in our hospital from April 2020 to May 2022. Technical success, technique efficacy, local tumor progression (LTP), major complication, intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR), and overall survival (OS) were assessed during the follow-up period. In addition, the ablation results of tumors between the medium-sized group (3.1-5.0 cm) and large-sized group (5.1-7.0 cm) were compared. 31 patients with 35 primary and secondary liver cancers were treated with MWA assisted by ultrasound FI. Complete ablation was achieved in 34 lesions with a technical success rate of 97.1%. Major complications occurred in 6.5% of patients (2/31), while no ablation-related deaths were reported. The median follow-up time of this study was 24 months (range:10 to 35 months). The technique efficacy rate was 97.1% (34/35), with LTP occurring in three lesions at a rate of 8.8% (3/34). The incidence of IDR was 38.7% (12/31) and the 2-year cumulative OS rate reached 96.7%. Moreover, there were no statistical differences in technique efficacy rate (p=0.286), LTP rate (p=0.328), major complication rate (p=0.503), IDR (p=0.857), and OS (p=0.118) between medium-sized group and large-sized group. Ultrasound FI-assisted MWA has the potential to be an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary liver cancers ranging from 3-7 cm in size.

BMax consulting moves into Southeast Asia

Research methodology The data for this case were obtained primarily through a series of in-person interviews in Penang between the authors and Pete Browning (a pseudonym) from 2017 to early 2019. The authors also consulted secondary data sources, including publicly available material on BMax and “Company B”. Case overview/synopsis This case examines a key decision, or set of decisions, in the life of a small- to medium-sized management consultancy group, namely, whether they might expand their operations in Southeast Asia, and if so, where. These key decisions came in the wake of their having already established a very modest scale presence there, with an operating base on the island of Penang just off the north western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The initial establishment of a Southeast Asian branch had been somewhat spontaneous in nature – a former colleague of one of the two managing partners in the USA was on the ground in Malaysia and available: he became the local partner in the firm. But the firm had now been eyeing expansion within the region, with three markets under particular consideration (Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand) and a further two (Vietnam and China) also seen as possible targets, though at a more peripheral level. The questions facing the decision makers were “was it time they expand beyond Malaysia?” and “if so, where?” Complexity academic level This case could be used effectively in undergraduate courses in international business. The key concepts on which the case focuses are the factors affecting market entry, particularly the choice of market and the assessment of potential attractiveness such markets offer.