bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of rectangular and parabolic irregularities on the propagation behavior of transverse wave in a piezoelectric layer
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Kumar Santan , Dharmender  , Mahto Shruti 
Published: July 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to theoretically analyze the propagation of Love-type wave in an irregular piezoelectric layer superimposed on an isotropic elastic substrate.Design/methodology/approachThe perturbation technique and Fourier transform have been applied for the solution procedure of the problem. The closed-form expressions of the dispersion relation have been analytically established considering different type of irregularities, namely, rectangular and parabolic for both the cases of electrically open and short conditions.FindingsThe study reveals that the phase velocity of Love-type wave is prominently influenced by wave number, size of irregularity, piezoelectric constant and dielectric constant of an irregular piezoelectric layer. Numerical simulation and graphical illustrations have been effectuated to depict the pronounced impact of aforementioned affecting parameters on the phase velocity of Love-type wave. The major highlight of the paper is the comparative study carried out for rectangular irregularity and parabolic irregularity in both electrically open and short conditions. Classical Love wave equation has been recovered for both the electrical conditions as the limiting case when both media are elastic and interface between them is regular.Practical implicationsThe consequences of the study can be utilized in the design of surface acoustic wave devices to enhance their efficiency, as the material properties and the type of irregularities present in the piezoelectric layer enable Love-type wave to propagate along the surface of the layer promoting the confinement of wave for a longer duration.Originality/valueUp to now, none of the authors have yet studied the propagation of Love waves in a piezoelectric layer overlying an isotropic substrate involving both parabolic and rectangular irregularities. Further, the comparative study of rectangular irregularity and parabolic irregularity for both the cases of electrically open and short conditions elucidating the latent characteristics is among the major highlights and reflects the novelty of the present study.
Unification proposals for fatigue crack propagation laws
Authors: Kobelev Vladimir 
Published: July 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose the new dependences of cycles to failure for a given initial crack length upon the stress amplitude in the linear fracture approach. The anticipated unified propagation function describes the infinitesimal crack-length growths per increasing number of load cycles, supposing that the load ratio remains constant over the load history. Two unification functions with different number of fitting parameters are proposed. On one hand, the closed-form analytical solutions facilitate the universal fitting of the constants of the fatigue law over all stages of fatigue. On the other hand, the closed-form solution eases the application of the fatigue law, because the solution of nonlinear differential equation turns out to be dispensable. The main advantage of the proposed functions is the possibility of having closed-form analytical solutions for the unified crack growth law. Moreover, the mean stress dependence is the immediate consequence of the proposed law. The corresponding formulas for crack length over the number of cycles are derived.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the method of representation of crack propagation functions through appropriate elementary functions is employed. The choice of the elementary functions is motivated by the phenomenological data and covers a broad region of possible parameters. With the introduced crack propagation functions, differential equations describing the crack propagation are solved rigorously.FindingsThe resulting closed-form solutions allow the evaluation of crack propagation histories on one hand, and the effects of stress ratio on crack propagation on the other hand. The explicit formulas for crack length over the number of cycles are derived.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper, linear fracture mechanics approach is assumed.Practical implicationsShortening of evaluation time for fatigue crack growth. Simplification of the computer codes due to the elimination of solution of differential equation. Standardization of experiments for crack growth.Originality/valueThis paper introduces the closed-form analytical expression for crack length over number of cycles. The new function that expresses the damage growth per cycle is also introduced. This function allows closed-form analytical solution for crack length. The solution expresses the number of cycles to failure as the function of the initial size of the crack and eliminates the solution of the nonlinear ordinary differential equation of the first order. The different common expressions, which account for the influence of the stress ratio, are immediately applicable.
Effect of corrugation on the dispersion of Love-type wave in a layer with monoclinic symmetry, overlying an initially stressed transversely isotropic half-space
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Das Amrita , Mistri Kshitish Ch. , Nimishe Shreyas , Koley Siddhartha 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of corrugation, wave number, initial stress and the heterogeneity of the media on the phase velocity of the Love-type wave. Moreover, the paper aims to have a comparative study of the presence and absence of anisotropy, heterogeneity, corrugation and initial stress in the half-space, which serve as a focal theme of the study.

Design/methodology/approach
The present paper modelled the propagation of the Love-type wave in a corrugated heterogeneous monoclinic layer lying over an initially stressed heterogeneous transversely isotropic half-space. The method of separation of variables is used to procure the dispersion relation.

Findings
The closed form of dispersion relation is obtained and found to be in well agreement to the classical Love wave equation. Neglecting the corrugation at either of the boundary surfaces, expressions of the phase velocity of the Love-type wave are deduced in closed form as special cases of the problem. It is established through the numerical computation of the obtained relation that the concerned affecting parameters have significant impact on the phase velocity of the Love-type wave. Also, a comparative study shows that the anisotropic case favours more to the phase velocity as comparison to the isotropic case.

Originality/value
Although many attempts have been made to study the effect of corrugated boundaries on reflection and refraction of seismic waves, but the effect of corrugated boundaries on the dispersion of surface wave (which are dispersive in nature) propagating through mediums pertaining various incredible features still needs to be investigated.
The impact of religiosity on corporate loans and maturity structure: evidence from China
Authors: Jia Fansheng , Zhang Yilin , Chan Kam C. , Xie Sujuan 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to examine the relation between religiosity and formal financing in the context of long- and short-term corporate loans.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses archival methodology to conduct a multiple regression analysis with the amount of long- and short-term corporate loans as the dependent variable and a measure of religiosity as the key explanatory variable.

Findings
This paper offers four findings. First, when a private firm locates in a high religiosity region, it is more likely to get more corporate loans and the amount of corporate loans is positively correlated with the extent of religiosity. Second, religiosity drives a private firm getting more (less) short-term (long-term) loans. Third, a private firm in a high religiosity region is able to incur lower interest cost associated with more short-term loans. Finally, the results are confined to Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity.

Practical implications
Overall, the findings are consistent with the notion that religiosity shapes the local culture so that individuals, some of them are borrowers and lenders, show the religious traits in the formal lending and borrowing relationship.

Originality/value
Overall, findings of this paper are consistent with the notion that religiosity shapes the local culture so that individuals, some of them being borrowers and lenders, show religious traits in the formal lending and borrowing relationship.
On the disappearance of calendar anomalies: have the currency markets become efficient?
Authors: Kumar Satish 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
This study aims to examine the presence of the day-of-the-week (DOW), January and turn-of-month (TOM) effect in 20 currency pairs against the US dollar, from January, 1995 to December, 2014.

Design/methodology/approach
Ordinary least square with GARCH (1,1) framework is used to examine the presence of DOW, January and TOM effect to test the efficiency of the currency markets. The sample period is later divided into two sub-periods of equal length, that is, from 1995 to 2004 and 2005 to 2014, to explore the time-varying behavior of the calendar anomalies. Further, the authors also use the non-parametric technique, the Kruskal–Wallis test, to provide robustness check for the results.

Findings
For the DOW effect, the results indicate that the returns on Monday and Wednesday are negative and lower than the returns on Thursday and Friday which show positive and higher returns. The returns of all the currencies are higher (lower) in January (TOM trading days) and lower (higher) during rest of the year (non-TOM trading days). However, these calendar anomalies seem to have disappeared for almost all currencies during 2005 to 2014 and indicate that the markets have achieved a higher degree of efficiency in the later part of the sample.

Practical implications
The results have important implications for both traders and investors. The findings suggest that the investors might not be able to earn excess profits by timing their positions in some particular currencies taking the advantage of DOW, January or TOM effect, which in turn indicates that the currency markets have become more efficient with time. The results might be appealing to the practitioners as well in a way that they can consider the state of financial market for financial decision-making.

Social implications
The findings of lower returns on Monday and Wednesday and high returns during Thursday and Friday for all the currencies indicate that the foreign investors can take the advantage by going short on Monday and Wednesday and long on Thursday and Friday. Similarly, the returns of all the currencies are higher (lower) in January (TOM trading days) and lower (higher) during rest of the year (non-TOM trading days). During this period, investors in the currency markets could benefit themselves by taking long (short) positions in January (TOM trading days) and short (long) positions during rest of the year (non-TOM trading days).

Originality/value
The author provides a pioneer study on the presence of calendar anomalies (DOW, TOM and the January effect) across a wide range of currencies using 20 years of data from January 1995 to December 2014. To the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has examined the presence of January effect in the currency market; therefore, the author provides the first study in which January effect in a number of currencies is investigated.
Organization Capital and the Cost of Equity Financing in Medium‐Sized Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Attig Najah , El Ghoul Sadok 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe examine the effects of organization capital—evident in management quality practices—on firms’ implied cost of equity. We show that superior management practices decrease firms’ cost of equity capital. This novel finding, robust to a battery of sensitivity analyses and to endogeneity bias, highlights the importance of superior management practices in improving firms’ financing conditions. In sum, this study demonstrates that the quality of management practices maps onto firms’ financing conditions, stressing the value relevance of intangible assets.
Beauty and the beast: how a bat utilizes forests shaped by outbreaks of an insect pest
Authors: Kortmann M. , Hurst J. , Brinkmann R. , Heurich M. , Silveyra González R. , Müller J. , Thorn S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe consequences of different management strategies following natural disturbances are a matter of global concern. In former production forests around the Northern Hemisphere, the abandonment of intervention, such as removal of dead wood, after outbreaks of bark beetles has been increasingly promoted to regain more natural conditions. However, many focal species of conservation, such as the barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus, do not primarily depend on dead wood but might respond indirectly to disturbance‐induced changes of forest structural attributes. We investigated the response of B. barbastellus foraging activity and roost selection by combining acoustic surveys, radio telemetry, and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to characterize B. barbastellus habitat use on different scales. B. barbastellus foraging activity increased with increasing canopy opening. Maternity colonies were recorded exclusively in trees killed by bark beetles. Bats preferred roost trees with a higher volume (m3 ha−1) of live trees in the surrounding, and trees with on average larger diameters than nearby control trees. Our results revealed that outbreaks of bark beetles result in forest structural attributes that are suitable habitat for B. barbastellus. Salvage logging, i.e., the removal of beetle‐affected trees, generally deteriorates the positive effects of bark‐beetle outbreaks on the foraging and roosting habitat of B. barbastellus. We recommend maintaining snags of large diameter if salvage logging is mandatory.
Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Left Ventricular Failure in Beta‐Thalassemia: A Multivariate Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Dimou Niki L. , Pantavou Katerina G. , Bagos Pantelis G. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryApolipoprotein E (ApoE) is potentially a genetic risk factor for the development of left ventricular failure (LVF), the main cause of death in beta‐thalassemia homozygotes. In the present study, we synthesize the results of independent studies examining the effect ofApoEon LVF development in thalassemic patients through a meta‐analytic approach. However, all studies report more than one outcome, as patients are classified into three groups according to the severity of the symptoms and the genetic polymorphism. Thus, a multivariate meta‐analytic method that addresses simultaneously multiple exposures and multiple comparison groups was developed. Four individual studies were included in the meta‐analysis involving 613 beta‐thalassemic patients and 664 controls. The proposed method that takes into account the correlation of log odds ratios (log(ORs)), revealed a statistically significant overall association (P‐value  =  0.009), mainly attributed to the contrast ofE4versusE3allele for patients with evidence (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.19, 4.53) or patients with clinical and echocardiographic findings (OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.78, 6.26) of LVF. This study suggests thatE4is a genetic risk factor for LVF in beta‐thalassemia major. The presented multivariate approach can be applied in several fields of research.
Medical and non‐medical expenditure for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in China: a multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Liao Xian‐Zhen , Shi Ju‐Fang , Liu Jing‐Shi , Huang Hui‐Yao , Guo Lan‐Wei , Zhu Xin‐Yu , Xiao Hai‐Fan , Wang Le , Bai Ya‐Na , Liu Guo‐Xiang , Mao A‐Yan , Ren Jian‐Song , Sun Xiao‐Jie , Mai Ling , Liu Yu‐Qin , Song Bing‐Bing , Gong Ji‐Yong , Zhou Jin‐Yi , Du Ling‐Bing , Zhou Qi , Cao Rong , Zhu Lin , Ren Ying , Lou Pei‐An , Lan Li , Sun Xiao‐Hua , Qi Xiao , Wang Yuan‐Zheng , Zhang Kai , He Jie , Dai Min ,   Health Economic Evaluation Working Group, Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC)
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimWe aimed to assess economic burden of breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment in China through a multicenter cross‐sectional study, and to obtain theoretical evidence for policy‐making.MethodsThis survey was conducted in 37 hospital centers across 13 provinces in China from September 2012 to December 2014. We collected information on the subject characteristics. We then assessed the medical and non‐medical expenditure for BC diagnosis and treatment, factors influencing the average case expense, variations between medical and non‐medical expenditure at different clinical stages, economic impact of overall expenditure in newly diagnosed course after reimbursement to the patient's family, composition of non‐medical expenditure and time loss for the patient and family.ResultsAmong 2746 women with BC (72.6% were admitted to specialized hospitals), the overall average expenditure was US $8450 (medical expenditure: $7527; non‐medical expenditure: $922). Significant differences were found among the overall expenditure in the four clinical stages (P < 0.0001); the expenditure was higher in stages III and IV than that in stages I and II, whereas the stage IV was the highest (P < 0.0001). Moreover, a higher self‐reported predicted reimbursement ratio was associated with a less economic impact on the patient's family, and the average time lost was estimated as $1529.ConclusionsEarly detection and treatment of breast cancer might be effective for decreasing the economic burden, because costs escalate as the degree of malignancy increases.
The sensitivity of 38 heart rate variability measures to the addition of artifact in human and artificial 24‐hr cardiac recordings
Authors: Stapelberg Nicolas J. C. , Neumann David L. , Shum David H. K. , McConnell Harry , Hamilton‐Craig Ian 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundArtifact is common in cardiac RR interval data derived from 24‐hr recordings and has a significant impact on heart rate variability (HRV) measures. However, the relative impact of progressively added artifact on a large group of commonly used HRV measures has not been assessed. This study compared the relative sensitivity of 38 commonly used HRV measures to artifact to determine which measures show the most change with increasing increments of artifact. A secondary aim was to ascertain whether short‐term and long‐term HRV measures, as groups, share similarities in their sensitivity to artifact.MethodsUp to 10% of artifact was added to 20 artificial RR (ARR) files and 20 human cardiac recordings, which had been assessed for artifact by a cardiac technician. The added artifact simulated deletion of RR intervals and insertion of individual short RR intervals. Thirty‐eight HRV measures were calculated for each file. Regression analysis was used to rank the HRV measures according to their sensitivity to artifact as determined by the magnitude of slope.ResultsRMSSD, SDANN, SDNN, RR triangular index and TINN, normalized power and relative power linear measures, and most nonlinear methods examined are most robust to artifact.ConclusionShort‐term time domain HRV measures are more sensitive to added artifact than long‐term measures. Absolute power frequency domain measures across all frequency bands are more sensitive than normalized and relative frequency domain measures. Most nonlinear HRV measures assessed were relatively robust to added artifact, with Poincare plot SD1 being most sensitive.
Myocardial Protective Effect of Antegrade Cardioplegic Cardiac Arrest Versus Ventricular Fibrillation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Immediate Postoperative and Mid‐Term Left Ventricular Function in Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Surgery
Authors: Kim Sang Yoon , Cho Sungkyu , Lee Ji‐Hyun , Kim Jin‐Tae , Kim Woong‐Han 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe objective of this study is to examine the myocardial protective effect of antegrade cardioplegic cardiac arrest (ACC) versus ventricular fibrillation (VF) on short‐term and mid‐term left ventricular (LV) function in right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) surgery. RVOT operations conducted from January 2006 to December 2015 were reviewed. The numbers of cases using ACC and VF were 71 and 49, respectively. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were compared between the two groups. Before and after propensity score matching, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end‐systolic/end‐diastolic diameter (LVESD/LVEDD) in echocardiography were measured immediately after operation and at mid‐term follow‐up between postoperative 6 and 24 months. There was no perioperative mortality or cerebrovascular accident. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ventricular and atrial arrhythmia. In the overall patient group, LVESD was significantly decreased in the ACC group compared to the VF group immediately after operation (−0.65 ± 3.55 mm vs. 2.99 ± 4.98 mm, P = 0.001). Mid‐term follow‐up data demonstrated that LVEF at midterm was higher in the ACC group than in the VF group (64.80% ± 7.40% vs. 60.24% ± 7.93%, P = 0.022). However, the increased amount compared to preoperative value was not statistically significant (1.94% ± 12.65% vs. −2.94% ± 9.41%, P = 0.059). After propensity score matching, the LVEF was significantly improved in the ACC group compared to the VF group at the mid‐term follow‐up (6.16% ± 6.77% vs. −5.41% ± 9.05%, P = 0.001). Multiple linear regression model demonstrated that lower preoperative LVEF, ACC rather than VF, and exclusion of RVOT reconstruction procedure were positive prognostic factors for the improvement of LVEF at mid‐term follow up. The results of this study suggest that myocardial protection using ACC is safe and may be more beneficial in LV function recovery up to the mid‐term follow‐up after pulmonary valve replacement and other RVOT procedures.
Neovascular age‐related macular degeneration is associated with cataract surgery
Authors: Ho Jau‐Der , Xirasagar Sudha , Kao Li‐Ting , Lin Herng‐Ching 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPurposeThis retrospective cohort study examines the association between cataract surgery and neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) during 5‐year follow‐up using population‐based claims data.MethodsWe analysed data sourced from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. The study included 3465 patients who had undergone cataract operations and did not have a diagnosis of AMD before or on the surgery date (study group), and 10 395 age‐ and sex‐matched comparison patients selected randomly from the remaining patients without an AMD diagnosis before the index date. We tracked the claims of each patient for a 5‐year period to identify patients with a subsequent diagnosis of neovascular AMD.ResultsThe incidence rate of neovascular AMD was 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66–1.14) per 1000 person‐years among all sampled patients, 1.60 (95% CI: 1.04–2.36) among the cataract surgery patients and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.43–0.91) among comparison patients (p < 0.001). Stratified Cox proportional analysis showed that relative to the comparison cohort, the adjusted hazard ratio for neovascular AMD during 5‐year follow‐up was 2.68 (95% CI: 1.55–4.66) for patients who had undergone cataract operation. We censored those who died during follow‐up period and adjusted for patients' monthly income, geographical location, urbanization level, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and hyperlipidaemia.ConclusionThis study demonstrated epidemiological evidence of a link between cataract surgery and neovascular AMD during a 5‐year follow‐up period.