bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparer le Parlement européen et le Congrès américain. Un état des lieux théorique et méthodologique
Authors: Beaussier Anne-Laure , Bendjaballah Selma
Published: April 2015

Cet article s’intéresse à la possibilité de comparer deux Assemblées considérées pour des raisons différentes comme « exceptionnelles » : le Parlement européen et le Congrès américain. Le mythe du déficit démocratique de l’Union européenne a longtemps été alimenté par des analyses soulignant la faiblesse du Parlement européen. Cette assertion est toutefois aujourd’hui moins vraie. Depuis l’Acte unique, de profonds changements ont affecté cette Assemblée. Loin de confirmer la faiblesse de cette institution, les auteurs s’intéressant à l’hémicycle strasbourgeois mettent en avant le rôle accru du PE dans le processus législatif, suite notamment à l’extension du champ de la codécision. Le Congrès américain a également longtemps été considéré comme une assemblée exceptionnelle en raison de l’étendue de ses compétences législatives. Cependant, les récentes évolutions connues par ce dernier, sous l’effet de la polarisation idéologique engagée depuis les années 1980, tendent à rapprocher ses logiques de fonctionnement des parlements européens. Ces considérations invitent à décloisonner l’étude de ces deux assemblées. La démarche suivie dans ce papier est double : elle propose d’abord une réflexion autour de l’intégration de l’une ou l’autre de ces Assemblées dans un cadre comparatif, en s’intéressant aux approches, méthodes critères mobilisés et limites. Dans un second temps, elle s’attache à étudier la possibilité d’une comparaison entre le PE et le Congrès.
Représentation démocratique et religion. Différences et convergences entre le parlement européen et la chambre des représentants américaine
Authors: Foret François
Published: April 2015

Il est fréquent d’opposer l’Europe séculière à l’Amérique religieuse. En tant qu’assemblées représentatives de la diversité culturelle et de la souveraineté démocratique, les parlements sont les meilleures illustrations des arrangements mutuels entre religion et politique. Peu de données sont disponibles sur la religion au Parlement européen, par contraste avec l’abondante littérature sur le Congrès. S’appuyant sur la première enquête de ce genre auprès des députés européens, l’article analyse ce qu’ils croient et ce qu’ils font avec ces croyances. L’objectif est de comprendre comment la religion interagit avec la représentation et la socialisation politique des députés européens, tant au sein de l’assemblée qu’en dehors. La Chambre des Représentants américaine est utilisée comme étude de cas de référence. De manière générale, il existe des différences importantes entre législateurs européens et américains principalement du fait de contextes sociaux, culturels, politiques et institutionnels bien distincts. Cependant, plusieurs logiques communes peuvent être vues à l’œuvre, suggérant que l’Union européenne n’est pas si exceptionnelle.
Detection and sampling of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) infestations
Authors: Ryall Krista
Published: April 2015

Emerald ash borer,Agrilus planipennisFairmaire (EAB) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), has caused devastating levels of mortality to ash trees (FraxinusLinnaeus, Oleaceae) in North America. Early infestations of this insect are extremely difficult to detect due to cryptic larval feeding and lack of obvious signs or symptoms of initial attack. Considerable research has been conducted to develop tools and techniques aimed towards providing early detection and delimitation of populations of this invasive species. Sampling tools and techniques include: (1) relating visual signs and symptoms to the presence of EAB infestations; (2) use of girdled trap-trees to increase captures of adults and subsequent larval densities; (3) sub-sampling protocols to detect larvae under the bark based on their within-tree distribution; (4) artificial traps baited with pheromones and/or host volatiles attractive to adult EAB; (5) biosurvellience using buprestid-hunting wasps; and (6) remote sensing techniques. Additional research modelling patterns of infestation at the landscape scale indicate very clumped or aggregated distributions, greatly increasing the difficulty of early detection across large spatial scales. Further research is still required to increase the efficacy and efficiency of early detection tools and techniques, including cost/benefit analysis of the various sampling options, increased understanding of patterns of initial infestation across the landscape, development of sampling programs for both detection and delimitation, and development of sequential sampling programs to estimate EAB density. This information will enable foresters to make informed decisions regarding management strategies against this devastating pest.
Cancer Informatics: Profiling Age-Related Epigenetic Markers of Stomach Adenocarcinoma in Young and Old Subjects
Authors: Kim Byoung-Chul , Jeong Hyoung Oh , Park Daeui , Kim Chul-Hong , Lee Eun Kyeong , Kim Dae Hyun , Im Eunok , Kim Nam Deuk , Lee Sunghoon , Yu Byung Pal , Bhak Jong , Chung Hae Young
Published: April 2015

The purpose of our study is to identify epigenetic markers that are differently expressed in the stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) condition. Based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we were able to detect an age-related difference in methylation patterns and changes in gene and miRNA expression levels in young ( n = 14) and old ( n = 70) STAD subjects. Our analysis identified 323 upregulated and 653 downregulated genes in old STAD subjects. We also found 76 miRNAs with age-related expression patterns and 113 differentially methylated genes (DMGs), respectively. Our further analysis revealed that significant upregulated genes ( n = 35) were assigned to the cell cycle, while the muscle system process ( n = 27) and cell adhesion-related genes ( n = 57) were downregulated. In addition, by comparing gene and miRNA expression with methylation change, we identified that three upregulated genes ( ELF3, IL1β, and MMP13) known to be involved in inflammatory responses and cell growth were significantly hypomethylated in the promoter region. We further detected target candidates for age-related, downregulated miRNAs (hsa-mir-124-3, hsa-mir-204, and hsa-mir-125b-2) in old STAD subjects. This is the first report of the results from a study exploring age-related epigenetic biomarkers of STAD using high-throughput data and provides evidence for a complex clinicopathological condition expressed by the age-related STAD progression.
Rotors in Khovanov Homology
Authors: MacColl Joseph
Published: April 2015

Anstee, Przytycki, and Rolfsen introduced the idea of rotants, pairs of links related by a generalised form of link mutation. We exhibit infinitely many pairs of rotants that can be distinguished by Khovanov homology, but not by the Jones polynomial
Analysis of actinic flux profiles measured from an ozonesonde balloon
Authors: Wang P. , Allaart M. , Knap W. H. , Stammes P.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. A green light sensor has been developed at KNMI to measure actinic flux profiles using an ozonesonde balloon. In total, 63 launches with ascending and descending profiles were performed between 2006 and 2010. The measured uncalibrated actinic flux profiles are analysed using the Doubling–Adding KNMI (DAK) radiative transfer model. Values of the cloud optical thickness (COT) along the flight track were taken from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) Cloud Physical Properties (CPP) product. The impact of clouds on the actinic flux profile is evaluated on the basis of the cloud modification factor (CMF) at the cloud top and cloud base, which is the ratio between the actinic fluxes for cloudy and clear-sky scenes. The impact of clouds on the actinic flux is clearly detected: the largest enhancement occurs at the cloud top due to multiple scattering. The actinic flux decreases almost linearly from cloud top to cloud base. Above the cloud top the actinic flux also increases compared to clear-sky scenes. We find that clouds can increase the actinic flux to 2.3 times the clear-sky value at cloud top and decrease it to about 0.05 at cloud base. The relationship between CMF and COT agrees well with DAK simulations, except for a few outliers. Good agreement is found between the DAK-simulated actinic flux profiles and the observations for single-layer clouds in fully overcast scenes. The instrument is suitable for operational balloon measurements because of its simplicity and low cost. It is worth further developing the instrument and launching it together with atmospheric chemistry composition sensors.
The role of ice nuclei recycling in the maintenance of cloud ice in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus
Authors: Solomon A. , Feingold G. , Shupe M. D.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. This study investigates the maintenance of cloud ice production in Arctic mixed phase stratocumulus in large-eddy simulations that include a prognostic ice nuclei (IN) formulation and a diurnal cycle. Balances derived from a mixed-layer model and phase analyses are used to provide insight into buffering mechanisms that maintain ice in these cloud systems. We find that for the case under investigation, IN recycling through subcloud sublimation considerably prolongs ice production over a multi-day integration. This effective source of IN to the cloud dominates over mixing sources from above or below the cloud-driven mixed layer. Competing feedbacks between dynamical mixing and recycling are found to slow the rate of ice lost from the mixed layer when a diurnal cycle is simulated. The results of this study have important implications for maintaining phase partitioning of cloud ice and liquid that determine the radiative forcing of Arctic mixed-phase clouds.
Brief Communication: On the rapid and efficient monitoring results dissemination in landslide emergency scenarios: the Mont de La Saxe case study
Authors: Giordan D. , Manconi A. , Allasia P. , Bertolo D.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Straightforward communication of monitoring results is of major importance in emergency scenarios relevant to large slope instabilities. Here we describe the communication strategy developed for the Mont de La Saxe case study, a large rockslide threatening La Palud and Entrèves hamlets in the Courmayeur municipality (Aosta Valley, Italy). Starting from the definition of actions and needs of the Landslide Management Team, including scientists, technicians, civil protection operators, decision makers, and politicians, we show that sharing and disseminating ad hoc information simplifies the understanding of the landslide evolution, as well as the correct communication of the level of criticality.
Doorvoer counterfeit strafbaar; koerswijziging van het strafrecht
Authors: Alberto A.C.
Published: April 2015

Doorvoer counterfeit strafbaar; koerswijziging van het strafrecht

Curaçao en Aruba spelen een belangrijke rol als spil voor doorvoer van goederen tussen Europa, Azië en de Verenigde Staten. Derhalve is het van belang dat er goede handhaving plaatsvindt op de havens van Curaçao en Aruba. De vele voorvallen van doorvoer van counterfeit heeft geresulteerd in een intensief onderzoek welke geleid heeft tot de ontdekking van de wijziging van het Wetboek van Strafrecht. Deze zorgt ervoor dat de merkhouders meer bescherming toekomt op Curaçao en Aruba dan voorheen. Met alleen de wijziging alleen zijn we er nog niet maar het opent wel mogelijkheden.
Ancient Shellfish Mariculture on the Northwest Coast of North America
Authors: Lepofsky Dana , Smith Nicole F. , Cardinal Nathan , Harper John , Morris Mary , (Elroy White) Gitla , Bouchard Randy , Kennedy Dorothy I.D. , Salomon Anne K. , Puckett Michelle , Rowell Kirsten
Published: April 2015

While there is increasing recognition among archaeologists of the extent to which non-agricultural societies have managed their terrestrial ecosystems, the traditional management of marine ecosystems has largely been ignored. In this paper, we bring together Indigenous ecological knowledge, coastal geomorphological observations, and archaeological data to document how Northwest Coast First Nations cultivated clams to maintain and increase productivity. We focus on “clam gardens,” walled intertidal terraces constructed to increase bivalve habitat and productivity. Our survey and excavations of clam gardens in four locations in British Columbia provide insights into the ecological and social context, morphology, construction, and first reported ages of these features. These data demonstrate the extent of traditional maricultural systems among coastal First Nations and, coupled with previously collected information on terrestrial management, challenge us to broaden our definition of “forager” as applied to Northwest Coast peoples. This study also highlights the value of combining diverse kinds of knowledge, including archaeological data, to understand the social and ecological contexts of traditional management systems.
Redating Fell's Cave, Chile and the Chronological Placement of the Fishtail Projectile Point
Authors: Waters Michael R. , Amorosi Thomas , Stafford Thomas W.
Published: April 2015

Fell's Cave lies near the Magellan Straits of South America's Southern Cone. This was the first site to provide evidence of a late Pleistocene occupation of South America, and it is the site where the Fishtail projectile point type was defined. Previous radiocarbon ages from Fell's Cave on charcoal samples from three hearths in the late Pleistocene artifact-bearing levels yielded dates ranging from ca. 11,000 to 10,100 radiocarbon years before present. New radiocarbon dates on curated charcoal samples from these same hearths yield revised ages of ca. 10,800 to 10,400 radiocarbon years before present. These new dates from Fell's Cave agree well with ages from other South American sites in the Southern Cone with Fishtail points and show that the Fishtail projectile point was made from ca. 10,850 to 10,300 radiocarbon years before present or ca. 12,800 to 12,100 calibrated years before present.
Training requirements for agro-food industry in Portugal
Authors: D. Gaspar Pedro , Pinheiro Rita , Domingues Claudia , Almeida Celestino , Paiva Teresa , D. Pereira Carlos , Vaz Velho Manuela
Published: April 2015

Agro-food companies are aware that the technical and soft skills of their employees directly influence business performance and, consequently, improving those skills will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their companies. This paper presents the main results of the AgriTraining project “Training requirements for the agro-food industry”. Activities in pursuit of the objectives of this project involved: (1) analysis of the training needs in the agro-food industry in Portugal; (2) analysis of the training provision and the training organizations; (3) analysis of market trends; (4) definition of a training strategy; and (5) adjustment and development of training strategies for the agro-food sector. This last activity comprised the development of training curricula, suitable for the food sector as a whole and adjusted for the specific needs of some traditional industries, in order to promote the development and competitiveness of the agro-food industry in Portugal. Such training curricula aimed to promote the uptake of innovative technologies and methodologies, increase the ability of agro-food industries to invest and take risks, and enable adoption of European Community standards for production and marketing. Gaps in training supply were identified and the training provision was updated according to the needs of the agro-food companies. It was determined that companies need and demand knowledge and innovation to increase their competitive position for internationalization purposes. It was possible to define a training strategy based on market-orientation for agro-food differentiation. 
Effects of cohesion on the structural and mechanical evolution of fold and thrust belts and contractional wedges: Discrete element simulations
Authors: Morgan Julia K.
Published: April 2015

Particle‐based numerical simulations of cohesive contractional wedges can yield important perspectives on the formation and evolution of fold and thrust belts, offering particular insights into the mechanical evolution of the systems. Results of several discrete element method simulations are presented here, demonstrating the stress and strain evolution of systems with different initial cohesive strengths. Particle assemblages consolidated under gravity, and bonded to impart cohesion, are pushed from the left at a constant velocity above a weak, unbonded décollement surface. Internal thrusting causes horizontal shortening and vertical thickening, forming wedge geometries. The mean wedge taper is similar for all simulations, consistent with their similar residual and basal sliding friction values. In all examples presented here, both forethrusts and back thrusts occur, but forethrusts accommodate most of the shortening. Fault spacing and offset increase with increasing cohesion. Significant tectonic volume strain also occurs, with the greatest incremental volume strain occurring just outboard of the deformation front. This diffuse shortening serves to strengthen the unfaulted domain in front of the deformed wedge, preconditioning these materials for brittle (dilative) failure. The reach of this volumetric strain and extent of décollement slip increase with cohesive strength, defining the extent of stress transmission. Stress paths for elements tracked through the simulations demonstrate systematic variations in shear stress in response to episodes of both décollement slip and thrust fault activity, providing a direct explanation for stress fluctuations during convergence.
Heterogeneous warming of Northern Hemisphere surface temperatures over the last 1200 years
Authors: Tingley Martin P. , Huybers Peter
Published: April 2015

The relationship between the mean and spatial variability of Northern Hemisphere surface temperature anomalies over the last 1200 years is examined using instrumental and proxy records. Nonparametric statistical tests applied to 14 well‐studied, annually resolved proxy records identify two centuries roughly spanning the Medieval Climate Anomaly as characterized by increased spatial variability relative to the preinstrumental baseline climate, whereas two centuries spanning the Little Ice Age are characterized by decreased spatial variability. Analysis of the instrumental record similarly indicates that the late and middle twentieth century warm intervals are generally associated with increased spatial variability. In both proxy and instrumental records an overall relationship between the first two moments is identified as a weak but significant positive correlation between time series of the spatial mean and spatial standard deviation of temperature anomalies, indicating that warm and cold anomalies are respectively associated with increased and reduced spatial variability. Insomuch as these historical patterns of relatively heterogeneous warming as compared with cooling hold, they suggest that future warming will feature increased regional variability.
Ecosystem CO2 and CH4 exchange in a mixed tundra and a fen within a hydrologically diverse Arctic landscape: 2. Modeled impacts of climate change
Authors: Grant R. F.
Published: April 2015

Climate change will have important effects on arctic productivity and greenhouse gas exchange. These changes were projected by the model ecosys under an Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A2 scenario over the 21st century for a landscape including an upland tundra and a lowland fen at Daring Lake, NWT. Rising temperatures and precipitation caused increases in active layer depths (ALD) and eventual formation of taliks, particularly in the fen, which were attributed to heat advection from warmer and more intense precipitation and downslope flow. These changes raised net primary productivity from more rapid N mineralization and uptake, driven by more rapid heterotrophic respiration and increasing deciduous versus evergreen plant functional types. Consequently, gains in net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of 29 and 10 g C m−2 yr−1 were modeled in the tundra and fen after 90 years. However, CH4 emissions modeled from the fen rose sharply from direct effects of increasing soil temperatures and greater ALD on fermenter and methanogenic populations and from indirect effects of increasing sedge growth, which hastened transfer of CH4 through porous roots to the atmosphere. After 90 years, landscape CH4 emissions increased from 1.1 to 5.2 g C m−2 yr−1 while landscape NEP increased from 34 to 46 g C m−2 yr−1. Positive feedback to radiative forcing from increases in CH4 emissions more than offset negative feedback from increases in NEP. This feedback was largely attributed to rises in CH4 emission caused by heat advection from increasing precipitation, the impacts of which require greater attention in arctic climate change studies.
Probing Defect‐Induced Midgap States in MoS2 Through Graphene–MoS2 Heterostructures
Authors: Han Yu , Wu Zefei , Xu Shuigang , Chen Xiaolong , Wang Lin , Wang Yang , Xiong Wei , Han Tianyi , Ye Weiguang , Lin Jiangxiazi , Cai Yuan , Ho Kin Ming , He Yuheng , Su Dangsheng , Wang Ning
Published: April 2015

Crystalline defects in MoS2 may induce midgap states, resulting in low carrier mobility. These midgap states are usually difficult to probe by conventional transport measurement. The quantum capacitance of single‐layer graphene is sensitive to defect‐induced states near the Dirac point, at which the density of states is extremely low. It is reported that the hexagonal‐boron nitride/graphene/MoS2 sandwich structure facilitates the exploration of the properties of those midgap states in MoS2. Comparative results of the quantum capacitance of pristine graphene indicate the presence of several midgap states with distinct features. Some of these states donate electrons while some states lead to localization of electrons. It is believed that these midgap states originate from intrinsic point defects such as sulfur vacancies, which have a significant impact on the property of the MoS2/graphene interface. They are responsible for the contact problems of metal/MoS­2 interfaces.
Large Strain in Relaxor/Ferroelectric Composite Lead‐Free Piezoceramics
Authors: Zhang Haibo , Groh Claudia , Zhang Qi , Jo Wook , Webber Kyle G. , Rödel Jürgen
Published: April 2015

A lead‐free relaxor (RE)/ferroelectric (FE) 0–3 composite was developed with a large strain that resulted from the electric‐field‐induced ergodic relaxor‐to‐ferroelectric phase transition at a relatively low operational field of 4 kV mm−1. The composite comprised of 70 vol% 0.91Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–0.06BaTiO3–0.03AgNbO3 RE matrix and 30 vol% 0.93Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–0.07BaTiO3 FE seed shows a normalized strain, , of 824 pm V−1 at room temperature. In order to explore the underlying mechanism of this composite effect, two multilayer ceramics with alternating RE and FE layers are also prepared, one with the layers parallel (polarization‐coupled multilayer) and the other with the layers perpendicular (strain‐coupled multilayer) to the electroded surfaces. It is found that in addition to polarization coupling, the strain coupling effect also plays a critical role in the reduction of the RE–FE phase transition field. The switching dynamics is highlighted with time‐dependent piezoforce microscopy in the vicinity of the FE/RE interface.
Seven‐year safety and efficacy with velaglucerase alfa for treatment‐naïve adult patients with type 1 Gaucher disease
Authors: Zimran Ari , Wang Nan , Ogg Carol , Crombez Eric , Cohn Gabriel M. , Elstein Deborah
Published: April 2015

Velaglucerase alfa is a human β‐glucocerebrosidase approved for Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) treatment. This report summarizes the 7‐year experience of the now‐completed phase I/II and extension studies of adult GD1 patients who received velaglucerase alfa. Ten patients who completed the 9‐month, phase I/II study entered the extension trial TKT025EXT, of which eight completed this study. Doses were reduced after a cumulative treatment period of 15 to 18 months. Although all patients experienced ≥1 adverse event, no patient withdrew due to a drug‐related adverse event or required premedication. No patient developed anti‐drug antibodies, compliance remained high (median 98%), and seven of eight eligible patients transitioned to home infusions under supervision by healthcare professionals. Statistically significant improvements were observed for efficacy parameters: mean percentage changes from baseline (95% confidence intervals) were 18% (12%, 24%) for hemoglobin concentration, 115% (66%, 164%) for platelet counts, and −42% (−53%, −31%) and −78% (−94%, −62%) for liver and spleen volumes, respectively. Improvements were also observed for secondary endpoints chitotriosidase and CCL18 levels and exploratory endpoints (bone mineral density [BMD], bone marrow burden [BMB] scores). Normalization to near‐normalization of individuals' hemoglobin concentrations, platelet counts, liver volumes, and BMB scores was observed, and there were marked improvements in spleen volumes, biomarkers, and BMD. TKT025EXT represents the longest, prospective clinical trial for GD1 treatment to date and suggests that, despite dose reduction within 18 months of initiating therapy, velaglucerase alfa was generally well tolerated and was associated with marked improvement, including near normalization and/or normalization of key GD1 disease parameters. Am. J. Hematol. 90:577–583, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. American Journal of Hematology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Importance of a multidisciplinary approach and monitoring in fetal warfarin syndrome
Authors: Silveira Daniélle B. , da Rosa Ernani B. , de Mattos Vinicius F. , Goetze Thayse B. , Sleifer Pricila , Santa Maria Fernanda D. , Rosa Rosana C. M. , Rosa Rafael F. M. , Zen Paulo R. G.
Published: April 2015

Warfarin is a synthetic oral anticoagulant that crosses the placenta and can lead to a number of congenital abnormalities known as fetal warfarin syndrome. Our aim is to report on the follow‐up from birth to age 8 years of a patient with fetal warfarin syndrome. He presented significant respiratory dysfunction, as well as dental and speech and language complications. The patient was the second child of a mother who took warfarin during pregnancy due to a metallic heart valve. The patient had respiratory dysfunction at birth. On physical examination, he had a hypoplastic nose, pectus excavatum, and clubbing of the fingers. Nasal fibrobronchoscopy showed upper airway obstruction due to narrowing of the nasal cavities. He underwent surgical correction with Max Pereira graft, zetaplasty, and osteotomies for the piriform aperture. At dental evaluation, he had caries and delayed eruption of the upper incisors. Speech and language assessment revealed high palate, mouth breathing, little nasal patency, and shortened upper lip. Auditory long latency and cognitive‐related potential to auditory stimuli demonstrated functional changes in the cortical auditory pathways. We believe that the frequency of certain findings observed in our patient may be higher in fetal warfarin syndrome than is appreciated, since a significant number result in abortions, stillbirths, or children evaluated in the first year of life without a follow‐up. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach and long‐term monitoring of these patients may be necessary. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of allergic rhinitis on quality of life after adenotonsillectomy for pediatric sleep‐disordered breathing
Authors: Kim Dong‐Kyu , Han Doo Hee
Published: April 2015

Background

Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is an undisputed major contributor to the development of pediatric sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB). However, some children with SDB have experienced a worsening of quality of life (QOL) after adenotonsillectomy. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors of deteriorating QOL after adenotonsillectomy.

Methods

This was an observational cohort study at a single institute and consisted of 70 children with SDB who underwent adenotonsillectomy. The QOL was evaluated using the 18‐item quality‐of‐life survey for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA‐18) prior to surgery (S1), and at 1 month (S2), 6 months (S3), and 12 months (S4) postoperatively. Deterioration of QOL was defined as an increase in total scores of S3 and/or S4 by more than 25% of those on S2. Patients were categorized into rhinitis/nonrhinitis and atopy/non‐atopy using the nasal symptom questionnaire and skin‐prick test, respectively.

Results

The mean total scores of S2 and S4 were significantly lower than those of S1 (p < 0.001); however, some patients (n = 27, 38.6%) experienced an increase in scores. Patients with worsened QOL showed higher total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels (p = 0.034) and complained of a rhinitis symptom more frequently (p = 0.039). Children with atopy were more likely to experience deterioration of QOL than those without (p = 0.004). In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that allergic rhinitis (AR) was a predictor for deterioration of QOL.

Conclusion

This study suggests that AR may be a risk factor for deterioration of long‐term QOL after adenotonsillectomy. Therefore, preoperative evaluation and proper management of AR might be considered in pediatric SDB.
Intelligence quotient improves after antiepileptic drug withdrawal following pediatric epilepsy surgery
Authors: Boshuisen Kim , van Schooneveld Monique M. J. , Uiterwaal Cuno S. P. M. , Cross J. Helen , Harrison Sue , Polster Tilman , Daehn Marion , Djimjadi Sarina , Yalnizoglu Dilek , Turanli Guzide , Sassen Robert , Hoppe Christian , Kuczaty Stefan , Barba Carmen , Kahane Philippe , Schubert‐Bast Susanne , Reuner Gitta , Bast Thomas , Strobl Karl , Mayer Hans , de Saint‐Martin Anne , Seegmuller Caroline , Laurent Agathe , Arzimanoglou Alexis , Braun Kees P. J. ,   for the TimeToStop cognitive outcome study group
Published: April 2015

Objective

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have cognitive side effects that, particularly in children, may affect intellectual functioning. With the TimeToStop (TTS) study, we showed that timing of AED withdrawal does not majorly influence long‐term seizure outcomes. We now aimed to evaluate the effect of AED withdrawal on postoperative intelligence quotient (IQ), and change in IQ (delta IQ) following pediatric epilepsy surgery.

Methods

We collected IQ scores of children from the TTS cohort with both pre‐ and postoperative neuropsychological assessments (NPAs; n = 301) and analyzed whether reduction of AEDs prior to the latest NPA was related to postoperative IQ and delta IQ, using linear regression analyses. Factors previously identified as independently relating to (delta) IQ, and currently identified predictors of (delta) IQ, were considered possible confounders and used for adjustment. Additionally, we adjusted for a compound propensity score that contained previously identified determinants of timing of AED withdrawal.

Results

Mean interval to the latest NPA was 19.8 ± 18.9 months. Reduction of AEDs at the latest NPA significantly improved postoperative IQ and delta IQ (adjusted regression coefficient [RC] = 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.6–6.2, p = 0.018 and RC = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.7–7.4, p = 0.002), as did complete withdrawal (RC = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.4–8.3, p = 0.006 and RC = 5.1, 95% CI = 1.5–8.7, p = 0.006). AED reduction also predicted ≥10‐point IQ increase (p = 0.019). The higher the number of AEDs reduced, the higher was the IQ (gain) after surgery (RC = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.6–3.7, p = 0.007 and RC = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.0–4.2, p = 0.001, IQ points per AED reduced).

Interpretation

Start of AED withdrawal, number of AEDs reduced, and complete AED withdrawal were associated with improved postoperative IQ scores and gain in IQ, independent of other determinants of cognitive outcome. Ann Neurol 2015;78:104–114
Hydrogen‐Bond‐Regulated Distinct Functional‐Group Display at the Inner and Outer Wall of Vesicles
Authors: Sikder Amrita , Das Anindita , Ghosh Suhrit
Published: April 2015

A unique supramolecular strategy enables the unidirectional assembly of two bola‐shaped unsymmetric π‐amphiphiles, NDI‐1 and NDI‐2, which feature a naphthalene–diimide chromophore connected to nonionic and anionic head groups on opposite arms. The amphiphiles differ only in the location of a hydrazide group, which is placed either on the nonionic or on the anionic arm of NDI‐1 and NDI‐2, respectively. The formation of hydrogen bonds between the hydrazides, which compensates for electrostatic and steric factors, promotes unidirectional alignment and the formation of monolayer vesicles. The zeta potentials and cation‐assisted quantitative precipitation reveal negatively charged and nonionic outer surfaces for NDI‐1 and NDI‐2, respectively, indicating that hydrogen bonding also dictates the directionality of the monolayer curvature, ensuring that in both cases, the hydrazides remain at the inner wall to benefit from stronger hydrogen bonding where they are in closer proximity. This is reflected in their different abilities to inhibit α‐chymotrypsin, which possesses a positively charged surface: NDI‐1 induced an inhibition of 80 % whereas hardly any inhibition was observed with NDI‐2.
Preparation and physical properties of hyaluronic acid‐based cryogels
Authors: Ström Anna , Larsson Anette , Okay Oguz
Published: April 2015

Macroporous hydrogels based on hyaluronan (HA), a natural polysaccharide occurring in extracellular matrix, have attracted interest over many years owing to their numerous applications in the biomedical area. However, HA hydrogels produced so far suffer from low mechanical strength and slow rate of response against external stimuli, which limit their applications. Here, we prepared macroporous HA cryogels of high mechanical stability and fast responsivity from aqueous HA solutions at subzero temperatures using ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether as a crosslinking agent. HA cryogels are squeezable and no crack development was exhibited when compressed up to 80% strain. Depending on the synthesis parameters, the cryogels exhibit an elastic modulus between 0.2 and 2 kPa, and show fast swelling/deswelling behavior. The microstructure of the cryogels consists of large, interconnected pores on the order of 100 µm separated by thick pore walls, as observed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy. © 2015 The Authors Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 2015, 132, 42194.
Synthesis and curing behavior of novel multifunctional hybrid oligomers
Authors: Qian Jianhua , Liu Zuozhen , Chen Jianhui , Huang Rui , Shi Chao , Guo Weihong
Published: April 2015

Novel multifunctional hybrid vinylized epoxide oligomers (MVEOs) containing two different reactive groups were synthesized through the esterification of tetraglycidyl 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) with acrylic acid (AA) at various molar ratios. The changes of vinyl ester and epoxy groups in MVEOs were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Gel permeation chromatograph. It was found that more amount of AA in the reactant would increase the contents of vinyl ester and molecular weight. The curing behavior of MVEOs has been studied by scanning differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Two distinct exothermic peaks were observed in the MVEOs which can be attributed to the radical polymerization of vinyl ester/styrene and condensation polymerization of epoxy/MeTHPA, respectively. Two different kinds of curing programs have influenced each other which makes the exothermic peaks overlapped. The DSC scan of MVEO‐2 indicated that the radical initiated curing reaction of vinyl ester won't notably affect the curing of epoxy without MeTHPA. However, the thermal curing of vinyl ester in MVEO‐2 without MEKP/Co would be occurred with the temperature rising. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42276.
Production of a low‐cost scavenger resin to capture aldehydes and ketones in solutions
Authors: de Oliveira Alline V. B. , Kartnaller Vinicius , Pedrosa Marcelo S. P. , Cajaiba João
Published: April 2015

Over the past years, polymer‐supported reagents have been extensively studied and used in various applications. One class of such reagents is called “scavengers,” which can be used to easily eliminate compounds in a solution. The present work describes the production of a resin that can be used for scavenging ketones and aldehydes using low‐cost reagents and simple reaction steps, named here Amb15‐Iso. This resin is obtained by reacting a low‐cost commercial sulfonyl resin, Amberlyst‐15, with isoniazid, a drug used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Acetone and isobutyraldehyde were used as carbonyl compound models. The reactions were monitored in‐line by ATR‐FTIR and results showed that the polarity of the solvent influences the kinetics of the production of the resin and water proved to be the fastest solvent. For the scavenging of acetone and isobutyraldehyde, two factors showed to have an impact in the amount of compounds captured: the polarity of the solvent and the solubility of water in the solvent. The capacity of scavenging acetone in water varied from 0.11 to 0.28 mmol per gram of resin, depending on the initial acetone concentration. The equilibrium of this reaction was modeled and the equilibrium constant was calculated to be 0.63 ± 0.07 L mol−1. The resin was also recycled and tested in a second round of scavenging and results showed that there was not much difference between the new resin and the recycled one, proving that the Amberlyst‐15 could be reused for a second cycle of scavenging. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42291.
Coverage for High‐Cost Specialty Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Medicare Part D
Authors: Yazdany Jinoos , Dudley R. Adams , Chen Randi , Lin Grace A. , Tseng Chien‐Wen
Published: April 2015

Objective

More than 1 in 4 Medicare beneficiaries with rheumatoid arthritis use high‐cost biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and spending for these drugs has risen sharply for Medicare Part D. Our aim was to conduct the first systematic, national investigation of how Part D plans cover biologic DMARDs and to determine patients' financial burden under current cost‐sharing structures.

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of Part D plan formularies (n = 2,737) in 50 states and Washington, DC using the January 2013 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Prescription Drug Plan Formulary and Pharmacy Network Files. We calculated the percentage of plans covering each DMARD as well as the percentage requiring prior authorization and/or coinsurance. We also compared biologic drug coverage in Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans to that in Medicare Part D stand‐alone plans.

Results

All plans covered at least 1 biologic DMARD, but the vast majority required prior authorizations (95%). Nearly all plans (81–100%) required patients to pay a coinsurance percentage (averaging 29.6% of drug costs) rather than a fixed dollar copayment. This translated into mean out‐of‐pocket costs of $2,712–$2,774 before reaching the catastrophic phase of coverage, during which beneficiaries pay 5% of drug costs. Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans covered more individual biologic DMARDs (55–100%) than did Medicare Part D stand‐alone plans (22–100%), but Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans required higher average coinsurance (31.1% versus 29.0%). In contrast, 6 of 9 nonbiologic DMARDs were covered by nearly all plans without prior authorizations at fixed copayments averaging $5–$10/month.

Conclusion

Nationally, nearly all Part D plans cover at least 1 biologic DMARD, but the vast majority require cost sharing sufficiently high to risk significant financial burden to patients.
Joint model for subsentence‐level sentiment analysis with Markov logic
Authors: Chen Ziyan , Huang Yu , Tian Jing , Liu Xiaoyan , Fu Kun , Huang Tinglei
Published: April 2015

Sentiment analysis mainly focuses on the study of one's opinions that express positive or negative sentiments. With the explosive growth of web documents, sentiment analysis is becoming a hot topic in both academic research and system design. Fine‐grained sentiment analysis is traditionally solved as a 2‐step strategy, which results in cascade errors. Although joint models, such as joint sentiment/topic and maximum entropy (MaxEnt)/latent Dirichlet allocation, are proposed to tackle this problem of sentiment analysis, they focus on the joint learning of both aspects and sentiments. Thus, they are not appropriate to solve the cascade errors for sentiment analysis at the sentence or subsentence level. In this article, we present a novel jointly fine‐grained sentiment analysis framework at the subsentence level with Markov logic. First, we divide the task into 2 separate stages (subjectivity classification and polarity classification). Then, the 2 separate stages are processed, respectively, with different feature sets, which are implemented by local formulas in Markov logic. Finally, global formulas in Markov logic are adopted to realize the interactions of the 2 separate stages. The joint inference of subjectivity and polarity helps prevent cascade errors. Experiments on a Chinese sentiment data set manifest that our joint model brings significant improvements.
A multi‐pronged investigation into the effect of glucose starvation and culture duration on fed‐batch CHO cell culture
Authors: Fan Yuzhou , Jimenez Del Val Ioscani , Müller Christian , Lund Anne Mathilde , Sen Jette Wagtberg , Rasmussen Søren Kofoed , Kontoravdi Cleo , Baycin‐Hizal Deniz , Betenbaugh Michael J. , Weilguny Dietmar , Andersen Mikael Rørdam
Published: April 2015

In this study, omics‐based analysis tools were used to explore the effect of glucose starvation and culture duration on monoclonal antibody (mAb) production in fed‐batch CHO cell culture to gain better insight into how these parameters can be controlled to ensure optimal mAb productivity and quality. Titer and N‐glycosylation of mAbs, as well as proteomic signature and metabolic status of the production cells in the culture were assessed. We found that the impact of glucose starvation on the titer and N‐glycosylation of mAbs was dependent on the degree of starvation during early stationary phase of the fed‐batch culture. Higher degree of glucose starvation reduced intracellular concentrations of UDP‐GlcNAc and UDP‐GalNAc, but increased the levels of UDP‐Glc and UDP‐Gal. Increased GlcNAc and Gal occupancy correlated well with increased degree of glucose starvation, which can be attributed to the interplay between the dilution effect associated with change in specific productivity of mAbs and the changed nucleotide sugar metabolism. Herein, we also show and discuss that increased cell culture duration negatively affect the maturation of glycans. In addition, comparative proteomics analysis of cells was conducted to observe differences in protein abundance between early growth and early stationary phases. Generally higher expression of proteins involved in regulating cellular metabolism, extracellular matrix, apoptosis, protein secretion and glycosylation was found in early stationary phase. These analyses offered a systematic view of the intrinsic properties of these cells and allowed us to explore the root causes correlating culture duration with variations in the productivity and glycosylation quality of monoclonal antibodies produced with CHO cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2172–2184. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conditions Favoring the Formation of Monomeric PtIII Derivatives in the Electrochemical Oxidation of trans‐[PtII{(p‐BrC6F4)NCH2CH2NEt2}Cl(py)]
Authors: Ojha Ruchika , Nafady Ayman , Shiddiky M. J. A. , Mason Dayna , Boas John F. , Torriero Angel A. J. , Bond Alan M. , Deacon Glen B. , Junk Peter C.
Published: April 2015

Characterization of the anticancer active compound trans‐[PtII{(p‐BrC6F4)NCH2CH2NEt2}Cl(py)] is described along with identification of electrochemical conditions that favor formation of a monomeric one‐electron‐oxidized PtIII derivative. The square‐planar organoamidoplatinum(II) compound was synthesized through a carbon dioxide elimination reaction. Structural characterization by using single‐crystal X‐Ray diffraction reveals a trans configuration with respect to donor atoms of like charges. As PtIII intermediates have been implicated in the reactions of platinum anticancer agents, electrochemical conditions favoring the formation of one‐electron‐oxidized species were sought. Transient cyclic voltammetry at fast scan rates or steady‐state rotating disc and microelectrode techniques in a range of molecular solvents and an ionic liquid confirm the existence of a well‐defined, chemically and electrochemically reversible one‐electron oxidation process that, under suitable conditions, generates a PtIII complex, which is proposed to be monomeric [PtIII{(p‐BrC6F4)NCH2CH2NEt2}Cl(py)]+. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra obtained from highly non‐coordinating dichloromethane/([Bu4N][B(C6F5)4]) solutions, frozen to liquid nitrogen temperature immediately after bulk electrolysis in a glove box, support the PtIII assignment rather than formation of a PtII cation radical. However, the voltammetric behavior is highly dependent on the timescale of the experiments, temperature, concentration of trans‐[PtII{(p‐BrC6F4)NCH2CH2NEt2}‐ Cl(py)], and the solvent/electrolyte. In the low‐polarity solvent CH2Cl2 containing the very weakly coordinating electrolyte [Bu4N][B(C6F5)4], a well‐defined reversible one‐electron oxidation process is observed on relatively long timescales, which is consistent with the stabilization of the cationic platinum(III) complex in non‐coordinating media. Bulk electrolysis of low concentrations of [Pt{(p‐BrC6F4)NCH2CH2NEt2}Cl(py)] favors the formation of monomeric [PtIII{(p‐BrC6F4)NCH2CH2NEt2}Cl(py)]+. Simulations allow the reversible potential of the PtII/PtIII process and the diffusion coefficient of [PtIII{(p‐BrC6F4)‐ NCH2CH2NEt2}Cl(py)]+ to be calculated. Reversible electrochemical behavior, giving rise to monomeric platinum(III) derivatives, is rare in the field of platinum chemistry.
Approaching ‘Kit‐Type’ Labelling with 68Ga: The DATA Chelators
Authors: Seemann Johanna , Waldron Bradley P. , Roesch Frank , Parker David
Published: April 2015

The DATA chelators are a novel class of tri‐anionic ligands based on 6‐amino‐1,4‐diazepine‐triacetic acid, which have been introduced recently for the chelation of 68Ga. Compared with macrocyclic chelators based on the cyclen scaffold (i.e., DOTA, DO3A, and DO2A derivatives), DATA chelators undergo quantitative radiolabelling more rapidly and under milder conditions. In this study, a systematic evaluation of the labelling of four DATA chelators—DATAM, DATAP, DATAPh, and DATAPPh—with 68Ga is presented. The results highlight the extraordinary potential of this new class of chelators for application in molecular imaging using 68Ga positron emission tomography (PET).