This memorandum surveys the empirical literature about the effects and determinants of clusters. It finds that clusters generally lead to more innovations, knowledge spillovers, faster diffusion of technologies and knowledge, and competitive advantages. The presence of a skilled labour force is the most important determinant for clusters. Other important factors for the existence of clusters ar...

this study aimed to observe the protective effects of sufentanil pretreatment on rat cerebral injury during cardiopulmonary bypass (cpb) and to explore the underlying mechanism. twenty-four male adult sprague dawley (sd) rats were divided into 4 groups. then, the rat cpb model was established. a 14g trocar was inserted into the atrium dextrum. for rats in s1 and s5 groups, sufentanil (1 µg•kg-1...

This note presents a new model, called GAMMA, which is an intertemporal applied general equilibrium model of the Dutch economy. The GAMMA model draws upon CPB’s generational accounting (GA) model, but extends it in several ways in order to account for important economic behavioural effects. In particular, the GAMMA model adds to the GA model a household sector, a firm sector and a pension fund ...

Background: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are at increased risk of bleeding due to multifactorial coagulopathies. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the changes in platelet count and function during and after surgery as well as determining the association of the platelet dysfunction with bleeding and transfusion requirements in these patients.    Methods: A total o...

Despite advances in surgical, anesthetic, and neuroprotective strategies, cerebral injury after cardiac surgery remains a significant source of post-operative morbidity and is responsible for an increasing proportion of peri-operative deaths. Technological advancements have allowed cardiac surgery to be performed on a progressively older and sicker population who, in turn, are at increased risk...

surgery, is a potent stimulant to the release of endogenous catecholamines. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that CPB results in myocardial P-adrenergic receptor (PAR) desensitization. Methods and Results. We obtained canine transmyocardial left ventricular biopsies before, during (155 minutes), and after CPB (pre-CPB, CPB, and post-CPB, respectively) and determined PAR density, proportion of f1...

Background—Cardioplegia and cardiopulmonary bypass (CP/CPB) leads to an increase in circulating progenitor cells. The role of stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1 ), a key regulator of progenitor cell mobilization, and other cytokines in this process is not clear. Methods and Results—Peripheral blood (n 24), atrial and skeletal tissue (n 6) samples were taken from patients undergoing CP/CPB before (...

BACKGROUND Cardioplegia and cardiopulmonary bypass (CP/CPB) leads to an increase in circulating progenitor cells. The role of stromal-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha), a key regulator of progenitor cell mobilization, and other cytokines in this process is not clear. METHODS AND RESULTS Peripheral blood (n=24), atrial and skeletal tissue (n=6) samples were taken from patients undergoing CP/C...

BACKGROUND Acute lung injury (ALI) induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB, CPB-ALI) is a common and serious complication after cardiac surgery. And infants and young children are more prone to CPB-ALI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perioperative changes of plasma gelsolin (pGSN) in patients below 3 years of age with cardiac surgeries and CPB, and determine whether pGSN are as...