Contract Parameters Research Articles

The Reduction in Right Ventricular Longitudinal Contraction Parameters Is Not Accompanied by a Reduction in General Right Ventricular Performance During Aortic Valve Replacement: An Explorative Study

The aim of the present study was to identify whether the decrease of longitudinal parameters after cardiothoracic surgery (ie, tricuspid annular systolic plane excursion [TAPSE] and systolic excursion velocity [S']) is accompanied by a reduction in global right ventricular (RV) performance. Prospective, observational study. Single-center explorative study in a tertiary teaching hospital. The study comprised 20 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with or without coronary artery bypass grafting. During cardiac surgery, simultaneous measurements of RV function were performed with a pulmonary artery catheter and transesophageal echocardiography. TAPSE and S' were reduced significantly directly after surgery compared with the time before surgery (TAPSE from 20.8 [16.6-23.4] mm to 9.1 [5.6-15.5] mm; p < 0.001 and S' from 8.7 [7.9-10.7] cm/s to 7.2 [5.7-8.6] cm/s; p = 0.041). However, the reduction in TAPSE and S' was not accompanied by a reduction in RV performance, as assessed with the TEE-derived myocardial performance index (MPI) and pulmonary artery catheter-derived RV ejection fraction (RVEF). Both remained statistically unaltered before and after the procedure (MPI from 0.52 [0.43-0.58] to 0.50 [0.42-0.88]; p = 0.278 and RVEF from 27% [22%-32%] to 26% [22%-28%]; p = 0.294). In the direct postoperative phase, the reduction of echocardiographic parameters of longitudinal RV contractility (TAPSE and S') were not accompanied by a reduction in global RV performance, expressed as MPI and RVEF. Solely relying on a single RV parameter as a marker for global RV performance may not be adequate to assess the complex adaptation of the right ventricle to aortic valve replacement.

Strategic exits in secondary venture capital markets

The market for secondary venture capital transactions provides a way for investors to obtain liquidity if the investee start-up corporation has not yet reached sufficient maturity for an IPO. It also creates divestment opportunities for badly performing ventures that investors would rather abandon. We analyze the way in which the opportunistic behavior and liquidity constraints of venture capital funds channel deal flow into the secondary venture capital market. Such opportunistic behavior leads to the strategic exit of seed financing venture capitalists. These exits enlarge investors' opportunity set of strategies and therefore affect the deal terms with entrepreneurs. In this paper, we show that two contracts are possible in a world with financially constrained venture capital investors, staged investments, and premature divestment opportunities. Both contracts have their disadvantages. With the first, the venture capitalist will never liquidate a project, even if it is a lemon, but will instead engage in a secondary transaction. With the second contract, although lemons will be systematically abandoned, high-quality ventures may also be liquidated. Entrepreneurs need to consider these effects when aiming to maximize their benefits and must trade off the contract parameters accordingly. Our model provides guidance to entrepreneurs in this respect, helps to explain deal flow into the secondary venture capital market, and offers several empirical predictions.

Cardiomyocytes: Analysis of Temperature Response and Signal Propagation Between Dissociated Clusters Using Novel Video-Based Movement Analysis Software

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) provide a great resource for functional cell and tissue models that can be applied in heart research, pharmaceutical industry, and future regenerative medicine. During cell model experiments, precise control of environmental parameters is important. Temperature is a fundamental parameter, and the acute effect of temperature on hiPSC-CM functions has previously been studied. This paper reports on long-term, systematic temperature response studies of hiPSC-CM cultures. The studies were conducted outside an incubator in a modular cell culturing system along with a temperature sensor plate (TSP) and a new beating analysis software (CMaN -cardiomyocyte function analysis tool). Temperature sensing at the actual cell location is challenging with bulky external sensors; however, a TSP with resistive microsensors provides an effortless solution. Experimental results showed that temperature nonlinearly affects the hiPSC-CM beating frequency with a Q10 temperature coefficient of ~2.2. Both the active (contraction) and passive (relaxation) movements were influenced by temperature, and changes in the relaxation times were larger than the contraction times. However, the contraction amplitudes exhibited a greater spread of variation. We also present novel results on the visualization of hiPSC-CM contractile networking and non-invasive image-based measurement of signal propagation between dissociated CM clusters. Compared with previously reported tools, CMaN is an advanced and easy-to-use robust software. It is faster, more sensitive, computationally less expensive, and extracts six different signals of the contractile motion per process, providing at least one useful beating signal even in complex cases. The software also supports movement center detection and independent computation of the relaxation and contraction parameters.

Do the buyback contracts of undistributed stocks coordinate the supply chain?

The concept of supply chain coordination implies that it is possible to obtain an optimal result for both independent chain participants and supply chain due to participants’ coordinated actions. This paper examines the question whether a buyback contract will be coordinating or not. The authors argue that a coordinating buyback contract should have the following substantive properties: practical feasibility, collective and individual rationality. The paper off ers a mathematical defi nition of a coordinating buyback contract which highlights these properties. Entering into buyback contract process is considered as a two-step game of two players (a supplier and retailer) on the assumption that the players are risk neutral and make decisions with full information available, the market price is fixed, and the product demand is a random variable. The authors demonstrate that the buyback contract does not coordinate the chain, however, there has been obtained a non-empty set of eff ective contracts depending on the buyback price. For such contracts, the defi nition of “conditional coordination” is given to introduce the property of a supplier’s partial rationality; its existence was proved. The findings reveal that the choice of buyback price affects the allocation of profits between chain participants so the decision on its choice must be cooperative. To substantiate the nature of cooperative choice of conditionally coordinating contracts, the asymmetric Nash solution is considered. All results were obtained both in general terms and under the assumption that the product demand has uniform distribution. For the latter case, the conditionally coordinating contract parameters were found and it was justified that the conclusion of such a contract is possible only when a supplier has greater bargain power than a retailer.

Stimulating sustainability investment level of suppliers with strategic commitment to price and cost sharing in supply chain

Abstract Sustainable development is a global issue requiring supply chain members to invest in sustainable technology to protect the environment. Manufacturers can motivate suppliers to increase sustainability investment level through various types of contracts, such as price commitment and cost-sharing contracts. In this context, we consider a two-echelon sustainable supply chain with a manufacturer and a supplier. We use price commitment as basis to study several scenarios, such as centralized/decentralized decision system, pure price commitment contract, commitment to wholesale price and cost-sharing contract, and two-part tariff contract. Accordingly, we mainly discuss if these contracts can improve the sustainability investment level of suppliers and if Pareto improvement can be achieved. Results show that the pure price commitment contract can neither improve suppliers sustainability investment level nor coordinate the supply chain. By contrast, with a combination on price and sharing ratio, commitment to wholesale price with cost sharing is beneficial in enhancing suppliers sustainability investment level and can achieve the Pareto improvement in profit for supply chain members. Lastly, numerical results reveal that main contract parameters, such as basic wholesale price, sensitivity of wholesale price to sustainability investment level, and coefficient of sustainability effect, greatly influence the profits of supply chain members. The commitment to wholesale price with cost-sharing contract can likewise achieve the Pareto improvement in a certain condition.

Coordination by quantity flexibility contract in a two-echelon supply chain system: Effect of outsourcing decisions

This paper investigates a two-echelon supply chain (SC) with one product and two members, including one manufacturer and one retailer under stochastic demand. A quantity flexibility (QF) contract is applied where the retailer is allowed to update its primary order both downwards and upwards to share overstocking and overproduction risks between both channel members. In the proposed QF model, it is possible for the manufacturer to outsource production based on a reservation fee. The manufacturer's decision variable is in-house/outsource amount while the retailer decides on order quantity. Numerical experiments and sensitivity analyses have been implemented on the contract parameters. The results indicate that outsourcing a fraction of production not only increases the profit of the supply chain but can also increase each member's profit.

Digital Supply Chain through Dynamic Inventory and Smart Contracts

This paper develops a digital supply chain game, modeling marketing and operation interactions between members. The main novelty of the paper concerns a comparison between static and dynamic solutions of the supply chain game achieved when moving from traditional to digital platforms. Therefore, this study proposes centralized and decentralized versions of the game, comparing their solutions under static and dynamic settings. Moreover, it investigates the decentralized supply chain by evaluating two smart contracts: Revenue sharing and wholesale price contracts. In both cases, the firms use an artificial intelligence system to determine the optimal contract parameters. Numerical and qualitative analyses are used for comparing configurations (centralized, decentralized), settings (static, dynamic), and contract schemes (revenue sharing contract, wholesale price contract). The findings identify the conditions under which smart revenue sharing mechanisms are worth applying.

Strategic Exits in Secondary Venture Capital Markets

The market for secondary venture capital transactions provides a way for investors to obtain liquidity if the investee start-up corporation has not yet reached sufficient maturity for an IPO. It also creates divestment opportunities for badly performing ventures that investors would rather abandon. We analyze the way in which the opportunistic behavior and liquidity constraints of venture capital funds channel deal flow into the secondary venture capital market. Such opportunistic behavior leads to the strategic exit of seed financing venture capitalists. These exits enlarge investors' opportunity set of strategies and therefore affect the deal terms with entrepreneurs. In this paper, we show that two contracts are possible in a world with financially constrained venture capital investors, staged investments, and premature divestment opportunities. Both contracts have their disadvantages. With the first, the venture capitalist will never liquidate a project, even if it is a lemon, but will instead engage in a secondary transaction. With the second contract, although lemons will be systematically abandoned, high-quality ventures may also be liquidated. Entrepreneurs need to consider these effects when aiming to maximize their benefits and must trade off the contract parameters accordingly. Our model provides guidance to entrepreneurs in this respect, helps to explain deal flow into the secondary venture capital market, and offers several empirical predictions.

Effects of percutaneous neuromodulation on the mechanical characteristics of the rectus femoris and the vastus lateralis in football players: a pilot study

Abstract Background and Aims Percutaneous neuromodulation is an ultrasound-guided technique aimed at the peripheral nerve, using an acupuncture needle as an electrode for a TENS type current which has demonstrated to have positive effects for pain but not for muscle activity. Tensiomyography (TMG) is a non-invasive assessment technique, which is reliable and provides instant information on the mechanical characteristics of superficial muscles. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether percutaneous neuromodulation produces effects on muscle contraction parameters. Material and Methods A longitudinal, analytic and experimental study with a control group, comprising a sample of 11 football players in the 3rd Division, randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG = 5) and a control group (CG = 6). Athletes were assessed using tensiomyography (TMG-S2, EMF-FURLAN &amp; Co.) parameters: maximum deformation (Dm), response time (Td), contraction time (Tc), relaxation time (Tr) and time of contraction maintenance (Ts) of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL). Both legs were assessed immediately after the training session (Pre), after 10' rest period post intervention (Post1) and after 12 hours of rest on the following day (Post2). Both femoral nerves were intervened with a needle on the long axis and in a transverse section just below the same. An Electrostimulator (ITO, model ES- 160), was applied to the IG during 5' using a TENS current of 200µs, 1 Hz and with sufficient intensity to achieve a visible contraction of the quadriceps without discomfort. The channel was closed with adhesive electrodes placed medial to the ASIS. The CG received a placebo treatment with needles and electrodes placed on the same anatomical points and connected to an electrostimulator without current during 5' (Physio Invasiva device). Results On the right RF the Td decreased in the IG (pre/post2: P = 0.005) and between groups (post1: P = 0.017 and post2: P = 0.014). For Tc we found differences between the IG (pre/post2: P= 0.008) and the CG (post1/post2: P = 0.019). The left RF increased Tc in the CG (P = 0.036) and pre/post2 and Ts in the CG compared to the IG (post2: P = 0.0480.048). In the left VL Dm increased (pre/post2: P = 0.046 and post1/post2: P = 0.018), Td (pre/post2: P = 0.010) and Tc (pre/post2: P = 0.051 and post1/post2: P = 0.003) for the CG. In the IG, the right VL, both Td (P = 0.024) and Tc (P = 0.021) decreased between post1/post2. For the intragroup analysis (pre, post1 and post2) the Student's t-test was used, whereas for the intragroup analysis, the ANOVA was used (significance &gt; P 0.05). Conclusions Considering the characteristics of the sample and understanding that the decrease of TMG parameters represents an improvement in the mechanical characteristics of the muscle, the findings of this pilot study suggest that the intervention with percutaneous neuromodulation in the IG produces greater recovery and improved activation after 12 hours on the RF and VL. However, the increase of these parameters in the CG results in greater fatigue.

Spatiotemporal Characterizations of Spontaneously Beating Cardiomyocytes with Adaptive Reference Digital Image Correlation

We developed an Adaptive Reference-Digital Image Correlation (AR-DIC) method that enables unbiased and accurate mechanics measurements of moving biological tissue samples. We applied the AR-DIC analysis to a spontaneously beating cardiomyocyte (CM) tissue, and could provide correct quantifications of tissue displacement and strain for the beating CMs utilizing physiologically-relevant, sarcomere displacement length-based contraction criteria. The data were further synthesized into novel spatiotemporal parameters of CM contraction to account for the CM beating homogeneity, synchronicity, and propagation as holistic measures of functional myocardial tissue development. Our AR-DIC analyses may thus provide advanced non-invasive characterization tools for assessing the development of spontaneously contracting CMs, suggesting an applicability in myocardial regenerative medicine.

Enhanced structural maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes under a controlled microenvironment in a microfluidic system

The lack of a fully developed human cardiac model in vitro hampers the progress of many biomedical research fields including pharmacology, developmental biology, and disease modeling. Currently, available methods may only differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into immature cardiomyocytes. To achieve cardiomyocyte maturation, appropriate modulation of cellular microenvironment is needed. This study aims to optimize a microfluidic system that enhances maturation of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) through cyclic pulsatile hemodynamic forces. Human iPSC-CMs cultured in the microfluidic system show increased alignment and contractility and appear more rod-like shaped with increased cell size and increased sarcomere length when compared to static cultures. Increased complexity and density of the mitochondrial network in iPSC-CMs cultured in the microfluidic system are in line with expression of mitochondrial marker genes MT-CO1 and OPA1. Moreover, the optimized microfluidic system is capable of stably maintaining controlled oxygen levels and inducing hypoxia, revealed by increased expression of HIF1α and EGLN2 as well as changes in contraction parameters in iPSC-CMs. In summary, this microfluidic system boosts the structural maturation of iPSC-CM culture and could serve as an advanced in vitro cardiac model for biomedical research in the future. Statement of SignificanceThe availability of in vitro human cardiomyocytes generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) opens the possibility to develop human in vitro heart models for disease modeling and drug testing. However, iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes remain structurally and functionally immature, which hinders their application. In this manuscript, we present an optimized and complete microfluidic system that enhances maturation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes through physiological cyclic pulsatile hemodynamic forces. Furthermore, we improved our microfluidic system by using a closed microfluidic recirculation and oxygen exchangers to achieve and maintain low oxygen in the culture chambers, which is suitable for mimicking the hypoxic condition and studying the pathophysiological mechanisms of human diseases in vitro. In the future, a variety of technologies including 3D tissue engineering could be integrated into our system, which may greatly extend the use of iPSC-derived cardiac models in drug development and disease modeling.

Thermodynamic properties of quantum models based on the complex unitary Cayley-Klein groups

In this work, the goal is to reach the thermodynamics properties produced by a family of the integrable Hamiltonians of the unitary groups of rank one in the Cayley-Klein space. In fact, this makes it possible through the general commutator relations between their generators of the desired Cayley-Klein group under investigation. On the other hand, by converting the coordinates to the Euler parameterization, the metric obtained from the Casimir is rewritten in terms of these coordinates, which is equal to the same the Lagrangian of the geodesic motion of the corresponding space. By matching coordinates, Lagrangian is written in terms of canonical momenta, and so the Hamiltonian can be obtained in two forms: one for a free particle and another for an involved particle with the integral potential. Hence, by solving the Hamiltonian of each of the two states in a different way(NU and SUSY QM methods), the quantum model for its corresponding system is shown in terms of the contraction parameter (κ1). Finally, with finding eigenvalues for each of these two systems, their thermodynamic properties are discussed with changing two parameters λ and δ, respectively. In our study, one can only see a phase transition in the heat capacity diagram at critical point τ0. In other words, it can be stated that a phase transition of the second type possible occurs for free particle in high temperature. Also, other results are reported in the end.

The Effect of Ivabradine on the Human Atrial Myocardial Contractility in an In Vitro Study.

Purpose Ivabradine has emerged as a new antiarrhythmic agent that could compete with the traditional ones, such as beta-blockers. This experimental study aims to ascertain whether ivabradine directly interferes with the myocardial contractility in an in vitro environment. Methods Myocardial tissues from the right atrial appendages of patients undergoing cardiac surgery were dissected to obtain 40 specimens from 20 patients (length: 3 mm), which were exposed to electrical impulses at a frequency of 75 bpm for 30 min to reach a steady state. Specimens were then categorised into four groups (each including five patients). The first group was the control, whereas the second, third, and fourth were treated with 60 nM, 200 nM, and 2 μM ivabradine, respectively. We assessed five different contraction parameters before and after a 15 min treatment and calculated their relative changes, which were then compared to the control group. Results Ivabradine has affected the force of contraction significantly in vitro (p=0.009). However, force of contraction decreased in both the control group (93.5 ± 4.7%) and the second group (94.1 ± 4.5%, p=0.8) and force of contraction remained unchanged in the third group (101.0 ± 4.1%, p=0.24) and increased significantly in the fourth group (108.9 ± 11.6%, p=0.008). There was no change in other contraction parameters, such as passive tension force (97.1 ± 5.1%, p=0.368), duration of contraction (99.1 ± 4.3%, p=0.816), time to peak (96.6 ± 3.0%, p=0.536), and time to relaxation (101.2 ± 7.0%, p=0.564). Conclusions Ivabradine did not interfere with the contractile behaviour of human atrial tissue when it was used in therapeutic dosages in vitro. However, it increased the contractility slightly, when it was used in supratherapeutic dosage.

Option values of quantity flexibility in nuclear fuel long-term contracts: an application of the least squares Monte Carlo

ABSTRACTOne of the important features in uranium contracts is that the quantity flexibility option is included in long-term contracts, so that buyer has the flexibility to increase or decrease the quantity purchase and adjust the delivery month depending on the market conditions. While it is important to address the value of the flexibility in the contracts, the literature on the contract valuation in uranium markets is scant. In this paper, we evaluate the quantity flexibility in the context of Korean long-term uranium contracts. Specifically, we adapt the least squares Monte Carlo method to simulate the contract value while incorporating the characteristics of option structure and the dynamics of uranium prices. Our simulation results show that the quantity flexibility can play an important role in uranium long-term contracts. The results are also robust to the choice of basis functions, which implies that the method we applied in this paper could provide correct valuation of long-term contracts. Moreover, our results provide some policy implications related to first, the KHNP’s strategy to mix of long-term and spot-market uranium contracts, and second, correct valuation of contract parameters when negotiations take place.

Contract coordination optimization of a multi-power supplier-single dominant grid supply chain in hybrid electricity market

Purpose In the hybrid electricity market, renewable energy power generator faces the uncertainty of power market demand and the randomness of the renewable energy generation output. In order to improve the grid-connected quantity of green power, the purpose of this paper is to design the pricing mechanism for renewable energy power generator with revenue-sharing contract in a two-stage “multi-single” electricity supply chain which contains a single dominant power retailer and two kinds of power suppliers providing different power energy species. Design/methodology/approach Considering the dual uncertainties of renewable energy power output and power market demand, the authors design the full-cooperative contract decision-making model, wholesale price contract decision-making model and revenue-sharing contract decision-making model to compare and optimize grid-connected pricing in order to maximize profit of different parties in power supply chain. Then, this paper performs a numerical simulation, discusses the existence of the equilibrium analytical solutions to satisfy the supply chain coordination conditions and analyzes the optimal contract parameters’ variation characteristics and their interaction relationship. Findings The authors find that the expected profits of the parties in the hybrid power supply chain are concave about their decision variables in each decision-making mode. The revenue-sharing contract can realize the Pareto improvement for all parties’ interest of the supply chain, and promote the grid-connected quantity of green power effectively. The grid-connected price will reduce with the increase of revenue-sharing ratio, and this impact will be greater on the renewable energy power. The greater the competition intensity in power supply side, the smaller the revenue-sharing ratio from power purchaser. And for the same rangeability of competition intensity, the revenue-sharing ratio reduction of thermal power is less than that of the green power. The more the government subsidizing green power supplier, the smaller the retailer sharing revenue to it. Practical implications Facing with the dual uncertainties of green power output and market demand and the competition of thermal power in hybrid electricity market, this study can provide a path to solve the problem of renewable energy power grid-connecting. The results can help green power become competitive in hybrid power market under loose regulations. And this paper suggests that the government subsidy policy should be more tactical in order to implement a revenue-sharing contract of the power supply chain. Originality/value This paper studies the renewable energy electricity grid-connected pricing under the uncertainty of power supply and market demand, and compares different contract decision-making strategies in order to achieve the power supply chain coordination. The paper also analyzes the competition between thermal power and renewable energy power in hybrid electricity market.

Supply Chain Coordination with a Risk-Averse Retailer and a Combined Buy-Back and Revenue Sharing Contract

This paper investigates the ability of a combined buy-back (BB) and revenue sharing (RS) contract to improve the efficiency of a supply chain involving a risk-neutral supplier and a risk-averse retailer facing stochastic demand. We show that the combined contract can coordinate the supply chain under mild conditions. Further, the effects of risk aversion and contract parameters on the agents’ decision-making are analyzed when the retailer’s risk aversion is modeled by the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) criterion. In contrast to individual BB and RS contracts, the combined contract is able to mitigate the effect of risk-aversion and allow the supplier to obtain higher expected profit. Moreover, situations exist where the combined contract can coordinate the supply chain when neither the BB nor the RS contract can coordinate it. Numerical experiments conducted further confirm the analytical results derived.

Crowdfunding via Revenue-Sharing Contracts

Problem definition: We analyze a new model of crowdfunding recently introduced by Bolstr, Localstake, and Startwise. A platform acts as a matchmaker between a firm needing funds and a crowd of investors willing to provide capital. After the firm is funded, it pays back the investors using revenue-sharing contracts, with a prespecified investment multiple (investors will receive [Formula: see text] dollars for every dollar invested) and a revenue-sharing proportion, over an investment horizon of uncertain duration. Academic/practical relevance: We analyze the revenue-sharing contract approach to crowdfunding, and we assist the firm to determine its optimal contract parameters to maximize its expected net present value (NPV) subject to investor participation constraints and platform fees. Methodology: A natural multiperiod formulation for the firm’s problem results in an intractable stochastic optimization model, which we approximate using a deterministic model. In the approximation model, we use a cash buffer for dealing with cash flow uncertainties; we are able to solve the approximation model analytically. Results: Parametrized on real data from Bolstr campaigns, our approximation solutions give an NPV in the stochastic problem that is within 0.2% of the simulation-based optimal NPV for all levels of cash flow uncertainty. We compare revenue-sharing contracts with equity crowdfunding and observe that the former result in higher NPVs and comparable bankruptcy probabilities. We also compare revenue-sharing contracts with fixed rate loans and find that, for most cases considered, revenue-sharing contracts provide a higher NPV and a lower probability of bankruptcy than a fixed rate loan. We also show that these benefits are more significant for firms with higher levels of cash flow uncertainty. Managerial implications: Revenue-sharing contracts are a novel approach to crowdfunding, and we show that are superior to other financing models.

Three-Echelon Supply Chain Contractual Coordination with Loss-Averse Multiple Retailer Preference

In this paper, we propose a supply chain contract model aimed to coordinate a three-echelon supply chain, which is based on the revenue-sharing allocation with loss-aversion preference. We consider a three-echelon supply chain consisting of a risk-neutral manufacturer, a risk-neutral distributor, and loss-averse multiple retailers. To address this model, we consider a shortage product produced and sold within a single period in the stochastic market. The model allows the system efficiency to be achieved as well as it will improve the profits of all supply chain members by tuning the contract parameters. We used the expected utility function to describe the loss-aversion member’s influence coefficient. The decisions of chain members under different conditions are studied by simulation analyses. The paper also analysed the relationship between different revenue-sharing coefficient combinations with multiple retailers in the supply chain system. Furthermore, the study has addressed the supply chain coordination decision bias in the centralized and decentralized systems.

Supply chain contract design considering the supplier’s asset structure and capital constraints

This paper investigates the influence of supplier’s asset structure in financing strategies on an extended supply chain with one retailer, one capital-constraint supplier, and one bank, where the retailer acts as a leader. Three financing strategies are considered: bank financing (BF), a guaranteed contract with a buy-back clause (GBB), and a guaranteed contract with a wholesale price discount clause (GWD). We find that if the supplier has an adequate asset structure, the supplier can increase profits for both sides of the supply chain. We obtain interest rates under BF and a guaranteed contract. Furthermore, the choice of the contract is related to the market environment, and we find the threshold for contract selection. Through a comparison, we show that a GWD contract is a better financing strategy under exuberant market demand. Finally, we provide concrete numerical examples to verify the impact of the supplier’s asset structure and contract parameters on the profits and financing model selection of both parties in the supply chain.

Характеристика основних біомаркерів ішемічного ураження м’язової тканини

Ішемія становить основу патогенетичних механізмів гострих і хронічних захворювань серця й судин. Найвищу смертність спричинено саме ішемічною хворобою серця. Важливу роль у відповіді на ішемічне пошкодження відіграє активація низки кіназ, які встановлюють складні зв’язки між клітинами для досягнення біологічних ефектів. Через каскад реакцій, індукований кіназами, синтезуються та виділяються в кров’яне русло різні фактори білкової природи. Найбільш вивченими є натрійуретичні пептиди, кардіальні тропоніни, кінази, різні фактори росту. Вони використовуються як діагностичні маркери ушкодження міокарда. Найбільш точними маркерами вважаються натрійуретичні пептиди та кардіальні тропоніни. Проте на сьогодні важливе використання комплексу маркерів для більш точної діагностики ішемічного ураження. Концентрація цих білкових факторів зростає вже в перші години пошкодження й залежить від його ступеня. Деякі серед наведених білкових факторів не є специфічними до серцевої тканини та впливають також на скелетну мускулатуру. Систематизація літературних даних дає змогу зрозуміти основні ланки в механізмі дії цих факторів і їх впливу на ішемізовану тканину. Виявлені особливості є актуальними для проведення подальших досліджень щодо впливу білкових факторів на параметри скорочення м’язової тканини.