bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of the cavities on the PCB mechanical properties
Authors: Psota Boleslav , Otáhal Alexandr , Szendiuch Ivan 
Published: April 2015

Purpose
– The main aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the cavity coverage on the printed circuit boards (PCB) to the resonant frequency, acceleration and displacement.

Design/methodology/approach
– Tests were realized on four PCBs with different cavity areas. Frequency range of tests was between 10 and 2,000 Hz with 0.3 g acceleration amplitude. In addition, more simulations were performed to check different setups of the boards.

Findings
– From the calculated and measured data, it is clear that with the larger cavity area the resonance frequency drops. In case a greater number of components placed in cavities are needed on board, it is appropriate to use multiple smaller cavities than the bigger ones.

Originality/value
– Results in this paper could be very useful for PCB manufacturers and designers during designing of the new PCBs with cavities for dipped components.
The end of democracy as we knew it
Authors: Hamm Bernd 
Published: April 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to summarize the major theoretical elements in the definition of a global ruling class. It then examines how neoconservatives in the USA took power and used regime change to install US-friendly governments in other regions. A strategy of tension is used to press the American population into conformity. But the real revolution is to what extent factual politics escape any attempt to democratic control.

Design/methodology/approach
– The research relies on case studies of material already published and provides a synthesis.

Findings
– Three case studies show how far the Deep State already goes. Democracy is on the brink of survival.

Originality/value
– This paper is an original hypothesis of the potential end of democracy as we know it, supported by empirical data.
Heuristic vs formal dynamics of the wage- and price-curve model of equilibrium unemployment
Authors: Kolsrud Dag Olav , Nymoen Ragnar 
Published: April 2015

Purpose– A standard model of equilibrium unemployment consists of static equations for real-wage ambitions (wage curve) and real-wage scope (price curve), which jointly determine the NAIRU. The heuristics of the model states that unless the rate of unemployment approaches the NAIRU from any given initial value, inflation will be increasing or decreasing over time. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– The authors formalize this influential heuristic argument with the aid of a dynamic model of the wage-price spiral where the static theory’s equations are re-interpreted as attractor relationships.Findings– The authors show that NAIRU unemployment dynamics are sufficient but not necessary for inflation stabilization, and that the dynamic wage-price spiral model generally has a dynamically stable solution for any predetermined rate of unemployment. The authors also discuss a restricted version of the model that conforms to the accelerationist view that inflation increases/falls if unemployment is not at its “natural rate”.Research limitations/implications– To investigate the relevance of heuristical dynamics of influential macro models, explicit modelling of such dynamics is a necessary step.Practical implications– An important argument against social orders that represent an attempt to target unemployment at relatively low levels, is refuted by the analysis.Social implications– A high degree of employment is a main premise for a social order with equal income distribution and a drive for productivity growth.Originality/value– It is important that economics give a balanced view of the possibility of attaining inflation stability at low or moderate levels of unemployment. This offering is contributions to establish such a balance.
Shooting the goose that lays the golden egg: the case of UAE employment policy
Authors: Barnett Andy H , Malcolm Michael , Toledo Hugo 
Published: April 2015

Purpose
– This is a policy paper that analyzes the economic impact of mandated employment quotas for citizen workers among firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the nature of the efficiency losses associated with these quotas, and then explore a workable policy alternative that can achieve the same employment objectives with lower efficiency loss.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper begins with an extensive discussion of UAE labor policy, together with some data and salient features of the UAE labor market. The authors use this discussion to motivate and analyze a theoretical model of the way in which labor quotas impact firm production, input employment and efficiency. The authors then extend this model to the proposed policy alternative.

Findings
– The UAE’s labor quotas create inefficiencies on a number of fronts, including productive inefficiency, higher product prices and the possibility of reducing the number of jobs available to citizen workers. The proposed policy alternative has the potential to ameliorate these efficiency losses, while still creating jobs for citizens.

Originality/value
– Labor quotas for citizen workers are a unique brand of labor regulation that has largely escaped economic analysis. Understanding their implications is informative in the context of labor market regulation generally, and particularly for countries with large expatriate labor forces that struggle to provide job opportunities for citizens.
Does Living Alone Confer a Higher Risk of Hospitalisation?
Authors: Mu Chunzhou , Kecmanovic Milica , Hall Jane 
Published: April 2015

The rise in one‐person households is a worldwide trend. This means that informal care is less available, particularly for elderly people, with important implications for health‐care utilisation and health expenditure. This paper uses a two‐part model to examine the relationship between living alone and hospitalisations in Australia in terms of both the likelihood and the length of hospitalisation. The results show living alone increases the probability of hospitalisation by 2.9 percentage points and length of stay by 3.8 days for people aged 45 and above. Further analysis indicates that these impacts depend on the length of living alone. Additionally, the probability and the length of hospitalisation vary depending on whether the cause of living alone is separation/divorce, widowhood or never having married.
Perceptions of Risk among Households in Two Australian Coastal Communities
Authors: ELRICK‐BARR CARMEN E. , SMITH TIMOTHY F. , THOMSEN DANA C. , PRESTON BENJAMIN L. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThere is limited knowledge of risk perceptions in coastal communities despite their vulnerability to a range of risks including the impacts of climate change. A survey of 400 households in two Australian coastal communities, combined with semi‐structured interviews, provides insight into household perceptions of the relative importance of climatic and non‐climatic risks and the subsequent risk priorities that may inform household adaptive action. In contrast to previous research, the results demonstrated that geographic location and household characteristics might not affect perceptions of vulnerability to environmental hazards. However, past experience was a significant influence, raising the priority of environmental concerns. Overall, the results highlight the priority concerns of coastal households (from finance, to health and environment) and suggest to increase the profile of climate issues in coastal communities climate change strategies need to better demonstrate links between climate vulnerability and other household concerns. Furthermore, promoting generic capacities in isolation from understanding the context in which households construe climate risks is unlikely to yield the changes required to decrease the vulnerability of coastal communities.
Management of oral anticoagulation in the surgical patient
Authors: Latona Jilani , Rahman Atifur 
Published: April 2015

AbstractNew oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have recently emerged as an alternative for vitamin K antagonists and are now widely available. Although there is good evidence for their roles in the appropriate clinical settings, so far no reversal agent is currently available. Likewise, there is no readily available laboratory test to quantify drug levels but coagulation assays may provide qualitative information about the presence of some NOACs. We aim to review the current literature regarding the optimal management of oral anticoagulation in the perioperative setting.
Effects of medical co‐morbidities on severe maternal morbidities in China: a multicenter clinic register study
Authors: Tan Jing , Liu Xing‐Hui , Yu Chuan , Chen Meng , Chen Xiao‐Fan , Sun Xin , Li You‐Ping 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the incidence of severe maternal morbidities (SMM) in China and explore effects of medical co‐morbidities on SMM.DesignProactive multicenter clinic register collaboration.SettingData on all deliveries at eight hospitals in Sichuan province, China, collected from 1 January 2009 to 12 December 2010.Population33 993 delivering women and 34 547 live births.MethodsWe defined SMM as a combination indicator of severe maternal complications, critical interventions, admission to the intensive care unit and maternal near‐miss instances. We randomly selected 80% of the data from the entire database to build a logistic regression model. The remaining 20% were used to test the predictive power of the model.Main outcome measuresSMM incidence, adjusted odds ratios (aORs), and area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsSevere maternal morbidities incidence was 43.4/1000 live births [confidence interval (CI) 41.24–45.56]. Fifteen variables were independent contributors to the model. Seven medical co‐morbidities significantly affected the occurrence of SMM, including iron‐deficiency anemia (aOR 3.07, CI 2.47–3.83) and other hematological diseases (aOR 5.82, CI 3.50–9.69), hepatitis‐B virus infection (aOR 1.48, CI 1.12–1.97) and other hepatic diseases (aOR 3.81, CI 1.61–9.04), cardiopathy (aOR 3.59, CI 2.62–4.93), hypertension (aOR 5.23, CI 4.06–6.75), and respiratory diseases (aOR 2.10, CI 1.25–3.52). The area under the ROC curve was 0.8127.ConclusionsThe incidence of SMM was typical of a low resource area. There is a need to identify medical co‐morbidities and to adopt prophylactic measures and interventions.
Tissue Engineering Strategies as Tools for Personalized Meningioma Treatment
Authors: Ferroni Letizia , Della Puppa Alessandro , D'Avella Domenico , Isola Maurizio , Scienza Renato , Gardin Chiara , Zavan Barbara 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPharmacogenomics, the science of how genetic makeup influences an individual's reaction to drugs, is an innovative tool for providing critical insights into how a patient will respond to a particular treatment. In the present work, we constructed cancer‐like tissues to be used as tools for determining the most effective drug for an individual patient. Using tissue engineering strategies, we generated two different solid tumor‐like tissues in vitro, a neuronal tumor (meningioma) and a nonmelanoma skin cancer. Samples were tested by both histological and genetic approaches (using a comparative genomic hybridization array, and the relativeWorldHealthOrganization classification of the samples was compared with the results obtained by the molecular analyses. Our data confirmed the ability of the cells to maintain their phenotype in three‐dimensional scaffolds as well as the strong relationship between chromosomal alterations and histological malignancy grades. We then validated the in vitro construction of tumor‐like tissues as a potential tool for developing personalized drug treatments.
Impact of Pulsatility and Flow Rates on Hemodynamic Energy Transmission in an Adult Extracorporeal Life Support System
Authors: Wolfe Rachel , Strother Ashton , Wang Shigang , Kunselman Allen R. , Ündar Akif 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis study investigated the total hemodynamic energy (THE) and surplus hemodynamic energy transmission (SHE) of a novel adult extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system with nonpulsatile and pulsatile settings and varying pulsatility to define the most effective setting for this circuit. The circuit consisted of an i‐cor diagonal pump (Xenios AG, Heilbronn, Germany), an XLung membrane oxygenator (Xenios AG), an 18 Fr Medos femoral arterial cannula (Xenios AG), a 23/25 Fr Estech RAP femoral venous cannula (San Ramon, CA, USA), 3/8 in ID × 140 cm arterial tubing, and 3/8 in ID × 160 cm venous tubing. Priming was done with lactated Ringer's solution and packed red blood cells (HCT 36%). The trials were conducted at flow rates 1–4 L/min (1 L/min increments) under nonpulsatile and pulsatile mode, with differential speed values 1000–4000 rpm (1000 rpm increments) at 36°. The pseudo patient's mean arterial pressure was kept at 100 mm Hg using a Hoffman clamp during all trials. Real‐time flow and pressure data were collected using a custom‐based data acquisition system. Mean pressures across the circuit increased with increasing flow rates, but increased insignificantly with increasing differential speed values. Mean pressure did not change significantly between pulsatile and nonpulsatile modes. Pulsatile flow created more THE than nonpulsatile flow at the preoxygenator site (P < 0.01). Of the different components of the circuit, the arterial cannula created the greatest THE loss. THE loss across the circuit ranged from 24.8 to 71.3%. Still, under pulsatile mode, more THE was delivered to the pseudo patient at low flow rates. No SHE was created with nonpulsatile flow, but SHE was created with pulsatile flow, and increased with increasing differential speed values. At lower flow rates (1–2 L/min), the arterial cannula contributed the most to SHE loss, but at higher flow rates the arterial tubing created the most SHE loss. The circuit pressure drop values across all flow rates were 33.1–246.5 mm Hg, and were slightly higher under pulsatile mode than nonpulsatile mode. The i‐cor diagonal pump creates satisfactory pulsatile and nonpulsatile flows, and can easily change the pulsatile amplitude and energy transmission. The attributes of the XLung membrane oxygenator include low resistance, low energy loss, and low pressure drops at all flow rates and differential speed values. The arterial cannula created the highest pressure drop of all components of the circuit. Pulsatile flow improved the transmission of hemodynamic energy to the pseudo patient without significantly affecting the pressure drops across the circuit.
Accounting for uncertainty in confounder and effect modifier selection when estimating average causal effects in generalized linear models
Authors: Wang Chi , Dominici Francesca , Parmigiani Giovanni , Zigler Corwin Matthew 
Published: April 2015

SummaryConfounder selection and adjustment are essential elements of assessing the causal effect of an exposure or treatment in observational studies. Building upon work by Wang et al. (2012, Biometrics 68, 661–671) and Lefebvre et al. (2014, Statistics in Medicine 33, 2797–2813), we propose and evaluate a Bayesian method to estimate average causal effects in studies with a large number of potential confounders, relatively few observations, likely interactions between confounders and the exposure of interest, and uncertainty on which confounders and interaction terms should be included. Our method is applicable across all exposures and outcomes that can be handled through generalized linear models. In this general setting, estimation of the average causal effect is different from estimation of the exposure coefficient in the outcome model due to noncollapsibility. We implement a Bayesian bootstrap procedure to integrate over the distribution of potential confounders and to estimate the causal effect. Our method permits estimation of both the overall population causal effect and effects in specified subpopulations, providing clear characterization of heterogeneous exposure effects that may vary considerably across different covariate profiles. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method performs well in small sample size situations with 100–150 observations and 50 covariates. The method is applied to data on 15,060 US Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor between 2000 and 2009 to evaluate whether surgery reduces hospital readmissions within 30 days of diagnosis.
Targeting of the Hedgehog pathway in myeloid malignancies: still a worthy chase?
Authors: Khan Alesia A. , Harrison Claire N. , McLornan Donal P. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryDeregulated Hedgehog (Hh) signalling activity may be associated with a broad range of cancer types and hence has become an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Although initial haematological interest focused on the therapeutic targeting of this pathway in chronic myeloid leukaemia), small molecule inhibitors targeting the Hh pathway are now being tested in a range of other myeloid disorders, including myelofibrosis, myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukaemia. In this review we will evaluate the rationale for targeting of the Hh pathway in myeloid diseases and discuss the novel agents that have entered the clinical arena. We will discuss pre‐clinical models, emerging clinical trial data, and suggest how these targeted therapies may address current unmet medical needs. Finally, we will explore potential limitations of these therapies due to the emergence of secondary resistance mechanisms and speculate on future developments within this arena.
Differential gene expression analysis in early and late erythroid progenitor cells in β‐thalassaemia
Authors: Forster Luke , McCooke John , Bellgard Matthew , Joske David , Finlayson Jill , Ghassemifar Reza 
Published: April 2015

Summaryβ‐ thalassaemia is a disorder of globin gene synthesis resulting in reduced or absent production of the β‐globin chain in red blood cells. In this study, haematopoietic stem cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of six transfusion dependent β‐thalassaemia patients and six healthy controls. Following 7 and 14 d in culture, early‐ and late‐ erythroblasts were isolated and purified. No morphological difference in maturation was observed following 7 d in culture, while a delayed maturation was observed in the patient group after 14 d. Following RNA isolation and linear amplification, gene expression analyses were performed using microarray technology. The generated data were analysed by two methods: the BRB‐ArrayTools platform and the Bioconductor platform using bead level data. Following 7 d culture, there was no difference in gene expression between the control and patient groups. Following 14 d culture, 384 differentially expressed genes were identified by either analysis. A subset of 90 genes was selected and the results were confirmed by Quantitative‐Real‐Time‐polymerase chain reaction. Pathways shown to be significantly altered in the patient group include apoptosis, MAPKinase and the nuclear factor‐κB pathway.
Rapamycin impairs HPD‐induced beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis
Authors: Chang Geng‐Ruei , Chiu Yi‐Shin , Wu Ying‐Ying , Lin Yu‐Chi , Hou Po‐Hsun , Mao Frank Chiahung 
Published: April 2015

Background and PurposeRapamycin, which is used clinically to treat graft rejection, has also been proposed to have an effect on metabolic syndrome; however, very little information is available on its effects in lean animals/humans. The purpose of this study was to characterize further the effects of the continuous use of rapamycin on glucose homeostasis in lean C57BL6/J mice.Experimental ApproachMice were fed a high‐protein diet (HPD) for 12 weeks to develop a lean model and then were treated daily with rapamycin for 5 weeks while remaining on a HPD. Metabolic parameters, endocrine profiles, glucose tolerance tests, insulin sensitivity index, the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and chromium distribution were measured in vivo.Key ResultsLower body weight gain as well as a decreased caloric intake, fat pads, fatty liver scores, adipocyte size and glucose tolerance test values were observed in HPD‐fed mice compared with mice fed a high‐fat or standard diet. Despite these beneficial effects, rapamycin‐treated lean mice showed greater glucose intolerance, reduced insulin sensitivity, lower muscle GLUT4 expression and changes in chromium levels in tissues even with high insulin levels.Conclusion and ImplicationsOur findings demonstrate that continuous rapamycin administration may lead to the development of diabetes syndrome, as it was found to induce hyperglycaemia and glucose intolerance in a lean animal model.
What metrics? On the utility of measuring the performance of policy research: An illustrative case and alternative from Employment and Social Development Canada
Authors: Nason Edward , O'Neill Michael A. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThis article examines the state of performance measurement of policy research in government. The article observes that, to date, government policy research activities have seldom been the object of performance measurement, a factor we ascribe to the relative unsuitability of existing models rooted in a focus on outputs and outcomes, often at the expense of relationships and networks. In reference to the literature and the case study, the article proposes that existing performance measurement models are ill‐suited to the task of assessing policy research performance. As a result, the article proposes that a purpose‐built model may be needed to achieve this objective. Such a model, the Sphere of Influence of Research Policy model, is provided as an illustration.
Re(I) and Tc(I) Complexes for Targeting Nitric Oxide Synthase: Influence of the Chelator in the Affinity for the Enzyme
Authors: Oliveira Bruno L. , Morais Maurício , Mendes Filipa , Moreira Irina S. , Cordeiro Carlos , Fernandes Pedro A. , Ramos Maria J. , Alberto Roger , Santos Isabel , Correia João D. G. 
Published: April 2015

Aiming to design 99mTc complexes for probing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by SPECT, we synthesized conjugates (L4–L6) comprising a NOS‐recognizing moiety connected to a diamino‐propionic acid (dap) chelating unit. The conjugates led to complexes of the type fac‐[M(CO)3(ĸ3‐L)] (M = Re/99mTc; Re4/Tc4: L = L4; Re5/Tc5: L = L5; Re6/Tc6: L = L6). Enzymatic studies showed that L4 and L5, but not L6, gave complexes (Re4 and Re5) that are less potent than the conjugates. To rationalize these results, we performed docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The high affinity of L4 and L5 is due to the strong interactions between the dap chelator and polar residues of the binding cavity. These interactions are hampered by metallation resulting in complexes with lower affinity. The higher potency of Re5 compared to Re4 was assigned to the increased bulkiness of Re5 and the presence of additional anchoring groups that better fit the active site and provide more extensive contacts. In turn, Re6 is too bulky and its organometallic tail is oriented toward the peripheral pocket of iNOS, leading to loss of contacts and a lower affinity. These results were compared with our previous results obtained with analogue complexes stabilized by a pyrazolyl‐diamine chelating unit.