cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Greenbug (Homoptera:Aphididae) biotypes: selected by resistant cultivars or preadapted opportunists?

Future advances in wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, resistance to greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), will likely come from introduction of resistance transgenes into high-performance cultivars. First-generation resistance transgenes will be single genes that impart antibiosis traits (similar to Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins in transgenic corn, Zea mays L.). This approach to pest management is incompatible with interpretations of simulation models that predict that deployment of antibiosis resistance controlled by single genes drives the development of new, virulent pest biotypes. This dichotomy must be addressed if full advantage is to be taken of the new, powerful tools of molecular biology for plant protection against insects. In this study, the specific insect-plant interactions of green bugs on wheat and sorghum were examined to understand the relationship between the deployment of plant resistance and the development of new green bug biotypes. From this analysis, there was no relationship between the use of resistant wheat and the development of new green bug biotypes. For sorghum, with only 3 of the 11 biotypes could there be any correlation between the use of resistant hybrids and the development of new biotypes. Even with these 3 biotypes, no clear cause-and-effect relationship was established. Based on analysis of these specific insect-plant interactions, we propose that future plant resistance efforts focus on the use of the most effective resistance genes, despite past predictions of what effect these genes may have on greenbug population genetics.
Generalizing the notion of support

The goal of this paper is to show that generalizing the notion of support can be useful in extending association analysis to non-traditional types of patterns and non-binary data. To that end, we describe a framework for generalizing support that is based on the simple, but useful observation that support can be viewed as the composition of two functions: a function that evaluates the strength or presence of a pattern in each object (transaction) and a function that summarizes these evaluations with a single number. A key goal of any framework is to allow people to more easily express, explore, and communicate ideas, and hence, we illustrate how our support framework can be used to describe support for a variety of commonly used association patterns, such as frequent itemsets, general Boolean patterns, and error-tolerant itemsets. We also present two examples of the practical usefulness of generalized support. One example shows the usefulness of support functions for continuous data. Another example shows how the hyperclique pattern---an association pattern originally defined for binary data---can be extended to continuous data by generalizing a support function.
Automatic generation of C++ code from an ESCRO2 specification

ESCRO2 is a specification language for real time systems. The paper describes the capabilities of the ESCRO2 processor to generate C++ code from an ESCRO2 specification. A traffic light control system is used to illustrate the concepts. The control system is specified and the code generation process is described. Each generated portion of the specification is discussed: intervals, events, devices and stores, actions, and rules. Predefined C++ classes are identified and the generated code is described. Also, the default control mechanism (including a logical clock and the main control process) is described and an output trace for the example system is listed.
Cardiomyocyte DNA synthesis and binucleation during murine development

Cardiomyocyte DNA synthesis and binucleation indexes were determined during murine development. Cardiomyocyte DNA synthesis occurred in two temporally distinct phases. The first phase occurred during fetal life and was associated exclusively with cardiomyocyte proliferation. The second phase occurred during early neonatal life and was associated with binucleation. Collectively, these results suggest that cardiomyocyte reduplication ceases during late fetal life. Northern and Western blot analyses identified several candidate genes that were differentially expressed during the reduplicative and binucleation phases of cardiomyocyte growth.
The causes of cancelled elective surgery.

We reviewed causes of cancelled elective surgery in a community hospital. Over a 6-month period, during which 4100 operating room procedures were completed, cancellations occurred in 13% of cases scheduled for outpatient surgery, 9% of cases sched uled for admission the same day, and 17% of cases scheduled for inpatient surgery. Dental procedures had significantly higher rates of cancellation among outpatient procedures, and cardiovascular surgical procedures had significantly higher rates among in patient procedures. Chart review of cancelled inpa tient cases showed 43% due to administrative reasons with unsigned consent the most common cause. Med ical factors were responsible in the remaining cases, with reevaluation of the surgical condition and asso ciated medical illnesses equally common as reasons in this category. Appreciation of the usual reasons for cancellation can improve utilization by permitting administrators and providers to anticipate those cases in which problems might arise so that addit...
Optimal policy for labeling training samples

Confirming the labels of automatically classified patterns is generally faster than entering new labels or correcting incorrect labels. Most labels assigned by a classifier, even if trained only on relatively few pre-labeled patterns, are correct. Therefore the overall cost of human labeling can be decreased by interspersing labeling and classification. Given a parameterized model of the error rate as an inverse power law function of the size of the training set, the optimal splits can be computed rapidly. Projected savings in operator time are over 60% for a range of empirical error functions for hand-printed digit classification with ten different classifiers.
The Product of the fimI Gene Is Necessary for Escherichia coli Type 1 Pilus Biosynthesis

Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to create lesions in fimI, a gene of uncertain function located in the chromosomal gene cluster (fim) involved in Escherichia coli type 1 pilus biosynthesis. Chromosomal fimI mutations produced a piliation-negative phenotype. Complementation analysis indicated that a fimI′-kan insertion mutation and a fimI frameshift mutation produced polarity-like effects not seen with an in-frame fimI deletion mutation. Minicell analysis associated fimI with a 16.4-kDa noncytoplasmic protein product (FimI). We conclude that FimI has a required role in normal pilus biosynthesis.
EMERGENCE EVERYWHERE?! REFLECTIONS ON PHILIP CLAYTON'S MIND AND EMERGENCE

. Emergence is a powerful concept marked by great emotional, aesthetic, and intellectual appeal. It makes inroads into the understanding of the most diverse phenomena. Emergence appears to have the potential of explaining anything from the behavior of atoms, ant colonies, and traffic jams to insurance risks, human consciousness, and divine action. Philip Clayton's book Mind and Emergence (2004) offers much-needed clarification of the philosophical grounding of emergence theory. To a large extent, emergence hinges on the concept of levels and hierarchies in nature. The preferred metaphor is that of a ladder. Given the tendency of concepts like emergence to build ideology, a careful analysis of language and metaphor is called for, however. I argue that the preference for the ladder metaphor does not do justice to the differentiated relationality that is a distinct mark of emergence. This oversight may have detrimental consequences when emergence theory is transferred from natural to social and cultural processes. A hermeneutical analysis suggests that better metaphors and visualizations need to be found. As an invitation to consider alternatives, some examples of complex regular poly topes are offered.
Short- and Long-Run Determinants of Commodity Price Volatility

To explain price volatility in the U.S. agricultural, energy, and metal futures markets, we estimate a model of common and commodity-specific, high- and low-frequency factors by building on the spline-GARCH model of Engle and Rangel (2008). A better model fit results from allowing the unconditional variance to slowly change over time. Moreover, the persistence of volatility shocks is shown to be much weaker than what standard GARCH models imply. Combining the volatility results with monthly macroeconomic indicator data, we find that decomposing realized volatility into high- and low-frequency components better reveals the impact of slowly-evolving aggregate variables on price volatility. Moreover, over the period 1990--2005, most of the macroeconomic variables had similar effects within the same commodity category (e.g. grain), but their effects differed across commodity groups (e.g. grain versus livestock). Over the period 2006--2009, however, commodity-specific factors dominated common factors. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
NUCLEAR FERRITIN PROTECTS DNA FROM UV DAMAGE IN CORNEAL EPITHELIAL CELLS

Previously, we identified the heavy chain of ferritin as a developmentally regulated nuclear protein of embryonic chicken corneal epithelial cells. The nuclear ferritin is assembled into a supramol...
Sodium/calcium exchange contributes to contraction and relaxation in failed human ventricular myocytes.

Defects in myocyte contraction and relaxation are key features of human heart failure. Sodium/calcium exchanger-mediated contribution to contraction and relaxation were separated from other mechani...
Networked cloud orchestration: A GENI perspective

This paper describes the experience of developing a system for creation of distributed linked configurations of heterogeneous resources (slices) in GENI. Our work leverages a number of unique architectural solutions (distributed architecture, declarative resource specifications, unique approach to slice instantiation) which is applicable to a wider set of problems related to autonomic co-scheduling and provisioning of heterogeneous networked resources. We discuss the architecture, the resource description mechanisms and some of the algorithms used to enable our system. We conclude with an analysis of a real experiment at allocating resources from multiple providers across a very wide geographic area (spanning Massachusetts, Illinois and North Carolina) to create a single private Layer 2 network connecting virtual machines on the campus of Duke University to a sensor testbed at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Muscle Torque in Young and Older Untrained and Endurance-Trained Men

Plantar flexor torque was measured in 24 young (25 +/- 1.4 y) and older (62 +/- 2 y) untrained and endurance-trained men to test the hypothesis that age-associated declines in muscle function would be attenuated in older men who also endurance trained. Endurance-trained subjects averaged 7-9 h/wk of aerobic activity for 10-12 years. These subjects had not engaged in resistance training previously in the past 10 years. Plantar flexor torque was measured at velocities between 0 and 5.23 rads. s-1. In absolute terms, maximal isometric torque was 23% lower in older men compared to young men, regardless of their training status. On the other hand, relative measures of isometric strength (i.e., torque.muscle cross-sectional area-1 and torque.muscle volume-1) were similar in young and older men but were higher in trained than in untrained men. Isokinetic torque.muscle cross-sectional area-1 and torque.muscle volume-1 was greater at contraction velocities of 0.26-2.09 rads.s-1 for trained subjects. These data suggest that endurance training does not attenuate the age-associated loss of muscle mass or absolute strength. However, endurance training might reduce the extent of loss of relative strength because torque-muscle cross-sectional area-1 and torque.muscle volume-1 are greater in endurance-trained older men than in untrained older men.
Virtual finite-state-machine architectures for fast compilation and portability

FPGA productivity suffers from lengthy compilation times and limited portability. To address these issues, previous work introduced virtual architecture overlays that enable application portability across FPGAs and place-androute that is orders-of-magnitude faster than device vendor tools. However, those previous approaches have limited applicability due to a focus on pipelines with few control requirements. In this paper, we expand control capabilities of previous work by introducing virtual control architectures for finite state machines. The presented architectures reduce lookup-table requirements by multiple orders-of-magnitude and enable larger finite state machines used in common benchmarks.
The Short-Wavelength Spectrum of the Microwave Background

This review deals with recent determinations of the intensity of the microwave background radiation at wavelengths too short for direct observation from the ground, the short-wavelength background being defined here as that covering the spectral range from roughly 3 to 0.3 mm. The most important information in this region has been obtained directly from far-infrared telescopes carried above the lower atmosphere by rockets and balloons, and indirectly from ground­ based optical and radio observations of interstellar molecules. The essential ques­ tion to be considered-of very great interest to both cosmology and high-energy astrophysics-is whether the short-wavelength spectrum is that of a """'3°K black­ body, as direct measurements show it to be at longer wavelengths, whether as some rocket observations suggest a great deal of additional radiation exists, or whether at wavelengths shorter than about 2 mm there is indeed any radiation at aU-a possibility that cannot be entirely discounted. Space does not allow review here of the theoretical speculations based on the possible existence of a large short-wavelength flux, and it is not clear that such a review is worthwhile until the observational situation described here is clarified (see Caroff & Petrosian 1971, and Burbidge 1971 for references). The remarkable theoretical prediction of the microwave background over twenty years ago, the peculiar failure of this prediction to stimulate any obser­ vational search, and the accidental discovery of the radiation in 1965, are well reviewed elsewhere (see Alpher, Gamow & Herman 1967; Dautcourt & Wallis 1968; Partridge 1969; Field 1969; Penzias 1972), and will only be briefly sum­ marized. Gamow and his co-workers, notably Alpher and Herman, while considering the question of cosmological element production, first recognized the dominant role of hot blackbody radiation in the early expanding universe, and first realized that a highly redshifted remnant of this radiation, its blackbody character intact, might still survive (Alpher, Bethe & Gamow 1948; Gamow 1948; see Alpher, Gamow & Herman 1967 for further references). On the basis of various assump­ tions (today mostly questionable) the temperature of the radiation at the present cosmological epoch was estimated to be 5-28°K (Alpher & Herman 1949,1950,
The use of bisphosphonates in patients with breast cancer.

BackgroundBone is the most common site of breast cancer metastases. Skeletal metastases may be associated with harmful and painful events such as fractures, spinal cord compression, and hypercalcem...
Should a history of nasal symptoms be considered when estimating nasal patency

The purpose of this study was to determine if a history of certain nasal symptoms and ear, nose, throat, or lung disease should be taken into consideration when measuring patency of the nasal airway. The pressure-flow technique was used to measure nasal cross-sectional area and resistance in 249 healthy and nasally asymptomatic 16- to 82-year-old individuals. The subjects were also asked to complete a questionnaire of possible airway problems. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in minimum nasal cross-sectional area and upper airway resistance between males and females, between individuals with and without allergic rhinitis, and between smokers and nonsmokers. However, these differences were too small to be of physiological or clinical importance. Therefore, when determining nasal cross-sectional area and resistance in individuals with a history of upper or lower airway problems, measurements can be assumed to be accurate, irrespective of other factors, as long as they are made during an asymptomatic period.
Putting the Pieces Together: Using Jane Smiley's "A Thousand Acres" in Sociology of Families

SOCIOLOGISTS HAVE USED FICTION as a tool for teaching sociological theories and concepts in a wide array of courses (Cosbey 1997; Hegtvedt 1991; Hendershott and Wright 1993; Laz 1996). Fiction can play an important role in learning sociological perspectives and concepts related to families from diverse backgrounds and situations. For traditional-aged undergraduate students who may have limited life experience, reading novels about families may expose them to a greater variety of emotions and complexities in family relationships than they would have access to otherwise (Cosbey 1997). Yet where Cosbey (1997) proposed a paper assignment based on individual students' selection of one novel from a list of many, I propose that using a single novel can be a valuable pedagogical tool. One novel in particular, A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (1991), is an engaging novel that is especially useful as the final reading assignment for the class during the last days of the semester.
Study on the Effects of Local Vibration on Noradrenalin and Dopamine in Rabbit Brains

Objective To study the effects of local vibration on noradrenalin and dopamine of rabbit brain tissues,and its association with vibration-induced neuropathy.Methods Rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups and exposed to vibration at different levels for 45 days.After the test,the contents of noradrenalin and dopamine in brain tissues were measured in each group.Results Compared with the control group,the concentration of noradrenalin in all exposure groups decreased significantly(P0.01).Dopamine of high and medium exposure groups also decreased significantly(P0.01).Conclusions The NE and DA changes in brain tissue might be related to vibration-induced neuropathy.
What does psychoanalysis have to contribute to the understanding of character

While character is an indispensable term in psychoanalytic discourse, it is not primarily a psychoanalytic term. The psychoanalytic theories of neurosis and development are built around the idea of the "complementary series." While psychoanalysis has powerful theories about the "accidental" complement, it only recognizes the "constitutional" complement, and psychoanalysis has nothing to say about it. Current research may shed more light on this latter component and also provide the data for future psychoanalytic theorizing about character and personality.
Effectiveness of the Bacteriological Analytical Manual culture method for the recovery of Shigella sonnei from selected foods.

The relative retention of the indigenous morphological, biochemical, and serological characteristics by Shigella sonnei was tested under various storage conditions (room temperature, refrigeration, freezing at -20 degrees C and at -70 degrees C, and lyophilization). The use of a selective (desoxycholate citrate) agar rather than a nonselective (brain heart infusion) agar gave a lower conversion rate of smooth to rough colonies, and the percentage of rough colonies derived from cultures stored for prolonged periods increased under all conditions. With respect to biochemical characteristics, there were no major differences in the reactions of smooth vs rough variants. For serological characteristics, smooth variants agglutinated more readily in homologous antisera than did rough variants. S. sonnei populations maintained at -70 degrees C with glycerol remained reasonably stable and were used in recovery studies. Up to six foods (potato salad, chicken salad, cooked salad shrimp, lettuce, raw ground beef, and raw oysters) were inoculated with unstressed, chill-stressed, or freeze-stressed S. sonnei cells. Test portions (25 g) were inoculated with serial 10-fold dilutions of culture and subsequently analyzed by the culture method described in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual. It was found that the method was relatively ineffective for the recovery of S. sonnei from raw ground beef and raw oysters.
Review of Korsgaard's The Sources of Normativity

The Sources of Normativity derives from the 1992 Tanner Lectures and Seminar in Cambridge, England. It consists of a brief introduction by Onora O'Neill, a “Prologue” and four lectures by Christine Korsgaard, separate discussions of these lectures by G. A. Cohen, Raymond Geuss, Thomas Nagel, and Bernard Williams, and a concluding “Reply” by Korsgaard. It is a major work of the first importance. We have beliefs and intentions, and we perform actions. In each case we make ought judgments that purport to say what to believe, what to intend, what to do. In making claims on what we believe, intend, or do such judgments are normative , and we can ask what the source, the justification, of this normativity is. Morality, in particular, makes normative claims – sometimes quite demanding – on (at least) what we intend and do. We can ask what the grounds are for the normativity of such moral demands. Korsgaard's main question – which she labels “the normative question” (10) – is this last question about the “claims morality makes on us.” (10). But her answer involves a general approach to grounds for normative claims on what we intend and do. Her answer – which she sees as Kantian, and notes (99n) has similarities to views of Harry Frankfurt – is that the basic ground of practical normativity is “the reflective structure” of our minds (100). We – normal, mature human beings – have the capacity to be reflectively aware of the desires and inclinations that tend to move us to intention and action.
Target Detection and Tracking in Big Surveillance Video Data

The big video data information has become widely used in many application areas such as video monitoring. Moving object detection and tracking is one of the most important and difficult problems. This paper puts forward an improved background difference method for moving target area, realizes the motion detection and uses an improved centroid tracking method for target tracking. In our solution, the parallel processing mechanism and powerful computing capability of FPGA platform is applied to improve processing speed and performance of the system. Altera FPGA is chosen as the master control chip, and Qsys setup test system is involved. After multiple tests, the system processes size 320 × 240 RGB image at 30 frames per second, achieving the moving target monitoring and real-time tracking, and the accuracy is above 90 %. This design increases the reliability of the detection and tracking system on the basis of ensuring the running speed.
Not All Image the Same: Institutional Antecedents and Brand Implication of Country Image

The effect of distance on a consumer’s perception of a foreign country is yet to be concluded. Although country image, or country of origin, has been a hot topic in the fields of international business and marketing for several decades, scant attention has been paid to its institutional antecedents. By introducing institutional distance as an antecedent of country image, this paper differentiate the three dimensions of country image and find that technological country image is negatively related to institutional distance, that economical country image is not related to institutional distance, and that political distance is positively related to institutional distance. The same patterns of results are seen in three dimensions relationships with brand recognition. Beyond these interesting findings, we further discuss the conditional effect of global identity and product involvement on the relationship between institutional distance and country image. Both global identity and product involvement are found to negatively moderate the magnitude of institutional distance’s effect on country image. Further discussion and research direction are provided.
PGC‐1α4 gene expression is suppressed by the IL‐6—MEK—ERK 1/2 MAPK signalling axis and altered by resistance exercise, obesity and muscle injury

Aim PGC-1α4 is a novel regulator of muscle hypertrophy, however, there is limited understanding of the regulation of its expression and role in many (patho)physiologic conditions. Therefore, our purpose was to elicit signaling mechanisms regulating gene expression of Pgc1α4 and examine its response to (patho)physiologic stimuli associated with altered muscle mass. Methods IL-6 knockout mice and pharmacological experiments in C2C12 myocytes were used to identify regulation of Pgc1α4 transcription. To examine Pgc1α4 gene expression in (patho)physiologic conditions Obese and Lean Zucker rats with/without resistance exercise (RE), aging mice and muscle regeneration from injury were examined. Results In IL-6 knockout mice, Pgc1α4 mRNA was ~7-fold greater than wildtype. In C2C12 cells, Pgc1α4 mRNA was suppressed ~70% by IL-6. Suppression of Pgc1α4 by IL-6 was prevented by MEK–ERK–MAPK inhibition. RE led to ~260% greater Pgc1α4 mRNA content in lean rats. However, obese Zucker rats exhibited ~270% greater Pgc1α4 mRNA than lean, sedentary with no further augmentation by RE. No difference was seen in IL-6 mRNA or ERK-MAPK phosphorylation in Zucker rats. Aged mice demonstrated ~50% lower Pgc1α4 mRNA and ~5-fold greater ERK-MAPK phosphorylation than young despite unchanged Il-6 mRNA. During muscle regeneration, Pgc1α4 content is ~30% and IL-6 mRNA >3-fold of uninjured controls 3d following injury; at 5d, Pgc1α4 was >2-fold greater in injured mice with no difference in IL-6 mRNA. Conclusion Our findings reveal a novel mechanism suppressing Pgc1α4 gene expression via IL-6–ERK-MAPK and suggest this signaling axis may inhibit Pgc1α4 in some, but not all, (patho)physiologic conditions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
HIV signaling through CD4 and CCR5 activates Rho family GTPases that are required for optimal infection of primary CD4+ T cells

HIV-1 hijacks host cell machinery to ensure successful replication, including cytoskeletal components for intracellular trafficking, nucleoproteins for pre-integration complex import, and the ESCRT pathway for assembly and budding. It is widely appreciated that cellular post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein activity within cells; however, little is known about how PTMs influence HIV replication. Previously, we reported that blocking deacetylation of tubulin using histone deacetylase inhibitors promoted the kinetics and efficiency of early post-entry viral events. To uncover additional PTMs that modulate entry and early post-entry stages in HIV infection, we employed a flow cytometric approach to assess a panel of small molecule inhibitors on viral fusion and LTR promoter-driven gene expression. While viral fusion was not significantly affected, early post-entry viral events were modulated by drugs targeting multiple processes including histone deacetylation, methylation, and bromodomain inhibition. Most notably, we observed that inhibitors of the Rho GTPase family of cytoskeletal regulators—including RhoA, Cdc42, and Rho-associated kinase signaling pathways—significantly reduced viral infection. Using phosphoproteomics and a biochemical GTPase activation assay, we found that virion-induced signaling via CD4 and CCR5 activated Rho family GTPases including Rac1 and Cdc42 and led to widespread modification of GTPase signaling-associated factors. Together, these data demonstrate that HIV signaling activates members of the Rho GTPase family of cytoskeletal regulators that are required for optimal HIV infection of primary CD4+ T cells.
“Won't Someone Think of the Children?”: Reproductive Futurism and Same-Sex Marriage in US Courts, 2003-2015

In this article, I analyze the state and federal court cases that established same-sex marriage rights in the USA, from Massachusetts in 2003 to the Supreme Court in 2015. Using content analysis, I examine the legal rhetorics deployed in favor of and against same-sex marriage, focusing on how courts interpreted both sides’ appeals to children’s wellbeing. Such appeals represent a political tactic Lee Edelman (2004) terms “reproductive futurism.” Four child-focused arguments routinely appear in these cases: opponents claim that (1) heterosexual marriage provides an optimal environment for childrearing and (2) marriage is designed to incentivize commitment for sexually irresponsible straight couples via procreative channeling; proponents respond that (3) gay and lesbian couples are just as good as straight couples at raising children and (4) gay marriage bans harm same-sex couples’ children by making them second-class citizens. I argue that the latter “children first” positions emerged—in both proponents’ arguments and court rulings—as a response to opponents’ claims and to the structural constraints of the legal system. This narrowed line of argumentation simultaneously paved the way to legal victory while also limiting the rulings’ usefulness for advancing LGBT rights beyond marriage.
Location Analysis: Developments on the Horizon

Location analysis represents a fundamental component of regional science. It concerns the organization or arrangement of goods, resources, services, activities or movements in space. Location analysis has been widely used to describe/understand certain spatial configurations or to prescribe the best/optimal locations for service provision, resource management, business decisions, etc. Building on the pioneering work of Christaller, von Thunen, Losch, Weber and Hotelling, location analysis has engaged researchers and analysts both theoretically and empirically, and continues to be relevant and influential in regional science, geography, planning, and economics. This chapter provides a review of location analysis and representative models and applications. We highlight recent developments in modeling frameworks contributing to the increased visibility and relevance of location analysis across a wide range of fields. We conclude with anticipated research directions and potential challenges associated with big spatial data and other emerging applications.
TBCRC 022: Phase II trial of neratinib + capecitabine for patients (Pts) with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+) breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM).

1005Background: Evidence-based treatments (tx) for metastatic, HER2+ BCBM are limited. We previously found a central nervous system (CNS) objective response rate (ORR) of 8% (95% CI 2-22%) for the irreversible, EGFR/HER2-targeted kinase inhibitor, neratinib. To enhance CNS activity, we evaluated the combination of neratinib + capecitabine in a subsequent cohort, and report results here. Methods: Pts with measurable BCBM (≥ 1 cm in longest dimension) and no prior lapatinib or capecitabine were eligible. All but 3 had CNS progression after local CNS tx. During 21 day cycles, pts received capecitabine 750 mg/m2 twice daily x 14 days followed by 7 days off + neratinib 240 mg orally once daily. Loperamide prophylaxis (16 mg total daily) was recommended during cycle 1. Brain MRI and non-CNS imaging were repeated every 2 cycles until 18 wks, then every 3 cycles. The primary endpoint was composite CNS ORR, requiring all of the following: ≥50% reduction in volumetric sum of target CNS lesions (central review, VORR...
A cross‐sectional analysis of executive function in Down syndrome from 2 to 35 years

Background Previous research has indicated a unique profile of executive function (EF) in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). However, there is a paucity of research on EF in adults with DS. This study aimed to gain a broader understanding of strengths and weaknesses in EF in DS from 2 to 35 years. Method Parents of 112 individuals with DS between 2 and 35 years participated in this study. Parents either completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function – for individuals 6+ years – or the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function Preschool Version – for children 2–5 years. Results Results suggest not only overall difficulties but also patterns of strength and weakness within EF for individuals with DS. For the 2 to 5-year-old group, emotional control and shift were relative strengths, planning/organisation and inhibit were intermediate skills, and working memory was a relative weakness. For the 6 to 18-year-old group, emotional control and organisation of materials were relative strengths, inhibit and initiate were intermediate skills, and working memory, monitor, planning/organisation, and shift were relative weaknesses. Most abilities were consistent from 2 to 18 years, except shift, which decreased in preadolescence before beginning to recover in adolescence. Across the full age range (2–35 years), composite scores indicated quadratic trends in inhibit, working memory, and planning/organisation, and a cubic trend in shift, with EF abilities generally declining in middle childhood before recovering in adulthood. Conclusions This study extends previous research on EF in DS by providing an initial description of EF profiles across the lifespan. More longitudinal and behavioural research is needed to further characterise the development of EF in DS.
Structural barriers in access to medical marijuana in the USA—a systematic review protocol

There are 43 state medical marijuana programs in the USA, yet limited evidence is available on the demographic characteristics of the patient population accessing these programs. Moreover, insights into the social and structural barriers that inform patients’ success in accessing medical marijuana are limited. A current gap in the scientific literature exists regarding generalizable data on the social, cultural, and structural mechanisms that hinder access to medical marijuana among qualifying patients. The goal of this systematic review, therefore, is to identify the aforementioned mechanisms that inform disparities in access to medical marijuana in the USA. This scoping review protocol outlines the proposed study design for the systematic review and evaluation of peer-reviewed scientific literature on structural barriers to medical marijuana access. The protocol follows the guidelines set forth by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) checklist. The overarching goal of this study is to rigorously evaluate the existing peer-reviewed data on access to medical marijuana in the USA. Income, ethnic background, stigma, and physician preferences have been posited as the primary structural barriers influencing medical marijuana patient population demographics in the USA. Identification of structural barriers to accessing medical marijuana provides a framework for future policies and programs. Evidence-based policies and programs for increasing medical marijuana access help minimize the disparity of access among qualifying patients.
COMPETENCIAS QUE DESARROLLA UNA ENFERMERA EN ETAPA PRINCIPIANTE AVANZADA EN UNA UNIDAD DE CUIDADO INTENSIVO. COMPETENCES DEVELOPED BY AN ADVANCED BEGINNER STAGE NURSE IN AN INTENSIVE UNIT CARE

Objetivo: Analizar las competencias que posee una enfermera en etapa principiante avanzada que se desempena en una unidad de cuidados intensivos segun el modelo de Patricia Benner. Metodo: estudio cualitativo, fenomenologico, descriptivo. Se realiza y transcribe entrevista, obteniendo dos categorias, se analiza e interpreta la categoria que evidencia las competencias que debe poseer la enfermera principiante avanzada, la cual se triangula con el modelo de Benner. Resultados: la categoria “competencia profesional” dialoga en su totalidad con el modelo de adquisicion de habilidades, descrito por Benner en su etapa principiante avanzada. Conclusiones: El conocer mas especificamente la etapa de principiante avanzada, favorece a una mayor comprension de la profesion enfermera a este nivel, implica un saber profundo que puede ser aplicado a la practica diaria de la enfermera que se desempena en una unidad de alta complejidad, ofreciendo asi un amplio camino para trabajar y desarrollar en la enfermeria intensiva. Palabras claves : competencia profesional; enfermera; cuidados criticos; competencia clinica. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the competences held by an advanced beginner stage nurse who works in an intensive care unit according to the Patricia Benner’ model. Method: qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive study. It is carried out and transcribed interview, obtaining two categories, analyzing and interpreting the category that evidences the competences that must have the advanced beginner nurse, which triangulated with the Benner model. Results: The category "professional competence" dialogues in its entirety with the skills acquisition model described by Benner in his advanced beginner stage. Conclusions: Knowing more specifically the advanced beginner stage, favors a greater understanding of the nursing profession at this level, implies a deep knowledge that can be applied to the daily practice of the nurse who performs in a unit of high complexity, Offering a broad path to work and develop in intensive nursing. Keywords: professional competence; nurse, critical care; clinical competence; philosophy in nursing. DOI UC: 10.7764/Horiz_Enferm.28.1.27
Avoidable emergency department visits: a starting point

Objective To better characterize and understand the nature of a very conservative definition of 'avoidable' emergency department (ED) visits in the United States to provide policymakers insight into what interventions can target non-urgent ED visits. Design/setting We performed a retrospective analysis of a very conservative definition of 'avoidable' ED visits using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2005 to 2011. Participants We examined a total of 115 081 records, representing 424 million ED visits made by patients aged 18-64 years who were seen in the ED and discharged home. Main outcome measures We defined 'avoidable' as ED visits that did not require any diagnostic or screening services, procedures or medications, and were discharged home. Results In total, 3.3% (95% CI: 3.0-3.7) of all ED visits were 'avoidable.' The top five chief complaints included toothache, back pain, headache, other symptoms/problems related to psychosis and throat soreness. Alcohol abuse, dental disorders and depressive disorders were among the top three ICD-9 discharge diagnoses. Alcohol-related disorders and mood disorders accounted for 6.8% (95% CI: 5.7-8.0) of avoidable visits, and dental disorders accounted for 3.9% (95% CI: 3.0-4.8) of CCS-grouped discharge diagnoses. Conclusions A significant number of 'avoidable' ED visits were for mental health and dental conditions, which the ED is not fully equipped to treat. Our findings provide a better understanding of what policy initiatives could potentially reduce these 'avoidable' ED visits to address the gaps in our healthcare system, such as increased access to mental health and dental care.
Characterization of urinary bladder paragangliomas in patients with germline mutations.

508Background: Data on the genetic characteristics of patients with urinary bladder paragangliomas (UBPGLs) is extremely limited. The primary goal of this study is to examine the clinical character...
77 : The immune system cannot generate immunological memory during infection with the Lyme disease agent B. burgdorfer

In vertebrates including humans, mice and dogs, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) causes a chronic, non-resolving infection known as Lyme disease, which requires antibiotic treatment to clear the bacteria. Re-infections are common in endemic regions. Similarly, mice can be re-infected with the same strain of Bb, implying a lack of functional immune responses. The mechanisms underlying this lack of effective short and long-term immunity to Bb are unknown. Using a mouse model of Bb-infection we show that infection with Bb produces strong T-dependent and T-independent serum antibodies, characterized by the unusual continued presence of IgM. Remarkably, both T-dependent and T-independent antibodies disappear rapidly when infection is controlled by antibiotic treatment and Bb-specific memory B cells could not be recovered. Thus, maintenance of Bb-specific humoral responses requires ongoing infections. Histological and flow cytometric examination of germinal centers, birthplaces of long-term humoral immunity, demonstrate their induction within 2 weeks of a primary infection and the presence of germinal center follicular helper T and B cells. However, the apparent normal induction of germinal centers is followed by their rapid and global collapse in multiple lymphoid organs by day 45. To determine whether the lack of memory formation is due to the nature of the Bb-antigens or is a sign of Bb-infection-mediated immune suppression, we vaccinated mice with influenza virus during an ongoing Bb-infection. Remarkably, in Bb infected mice the early antibody response to this unrelated antigen was skewed towards increased IgM production compared to that in non-infected mice, and influenza specific IgG responses were strongly reduced. Together our data demonstrate that Bb infection suppresses the development of long-lived antibody production and immunological memory formation and indicates that Bb may achieve this by suppressing the function and/or causing the rapid and global collapse of germinal centers. Supported by NIH AI073911 and T32 AI060555.
Archaeology of the Space Age

The archaeology of the Space Age is a recent development that seemingly has an inaccessible subject matter. On the contrary, archaeologists have been making creative contributions employing diverse sources of evidence, from documenting launch pads and other facilities on military bases to interpreting satellite images of lunar sites. In addition, archaeologists have raised thorny preservation issues concerning satellites in orbit and about Apollo and other landing sites on the Moon. This chapter surveys the current state of Space-Age archaeology, highlighting the research potential of remains on the White Sands Missile Range, and offers suggestions for further research.
Blood pressure recovery to social stress in parentally bereaved and non-bereaved youths.

Abstract Objective To examine differences in blood pressure response and recovery in a sample of bereaved and non-bereaved youths during an acute stress task conducted 5 years after time of parental death. Methods One-hundred and ninety-two (n = 192) bereaved and non-bereaved offspring (ages 11–29) participated in an adaptation of the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST) 5-years after the time of parental death. Blood pressure measurements were collected before, during, and after the laboratory stress protocol. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to analyze the effects of bereavement status and course of psychiatric disorder in the 5-year period after parental death in both offspring and caregivers on blood pressure response; linear regression was used to examine these associations with blood pressure recovery. Results Although there were no differences across groups in diastolic (DBP) or systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to stress, bereaved offspring demonstrated less SBP recovery to the TSST as compared to non-bereaved offspring. A significant interaction between bereavement status and race, and a marginally significant interaction between bereavement status and sex indicated poor SBP recovery for parentally bereaved racial/ethnic minority offspring as compared to parentally bereaved Caucasian offspring, and for parentally bereaved males compared to parentally bereaved females. Conclusions Parentally bereaved youths demonstrate blood pressure response to social stress tasks similar to that of non-bereaved youths, but parentally bereaved ethnic/racial minority youths and parentally bereaved males evidence a less complete recovery from the effects of stress. The health consequences of poor blood pressure recovery in bereaved youths are discussed.
Blockchain for Supply Chain Cybersecurity, Optimization and Compliance

The U.S. power grid is a complex system of systems that requires a trustworthy, reliable, and secure global supply chain. A formidable challenge considering the increasing number of networked industrial control systems (ICS) and energy delivery systems (EDS) and growing number of intermediary distributors, vendors and integrators involved. Grid modernization has increased the use of “smart” energy devices that automate, digitize, network, and bring together the cyber-physical energy supply chain. In the current Energy Internet of Things (EIoT) environment, the growth of data speed and size requirements as well as the number of critical cyber assets has generated new North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) compliance requirements and cyber supply chain security challenges for vendors, regulators, and utilities. The issuance of Order No. 829 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) instructed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to confront cybersecurity supply chain risk management for ICS software and hardware, as well as the networking and computing services associated with Bulk Electric System (BES) operations. To meet these goals, current technology and processes must be improved to better identify, monitor, and audit vulnerable EIoT environments. This paper examines how blockchain technology can enable NERC CIP compliance as well as aid in the security of the BES supply chain through an immutable cryptographically signed distributed ledger that allows for improved data security, provenance and auditability.
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Amphiphilic Cyclic and Linear Peptides Composed of Hydrophobic and Positively-Charged Amino Acids as Antibacterial Agents.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) contain amphipathic structures and are derived from natural resources. AMPs have been found to be effective in treating the infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and thus, are potential lead compounds against ARB. AMPs’ physicochemical properties, such as cationic nature, amphiphilicity, and their size, will provide the opportunity to interact with membrane bilayers leading to damage and death of microorganisms. Herein, AMP analogs of [R4W4] were designed and synthesized by changing the hydrophobicity and cationic nature of the lead compound with other amino acids to provide insights into a structure-activity relationship against selected model Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Clinical resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used in the studies. Our results provided information about the structural requirements for optimal activity of the [R4W4] template. When tryptophan was replaced with other hydrophobic amino acids, such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, alanine, leucine, and isoleucine, the antibacterial activities were significantly reduced with MIC values of >128 µg/mL. Furthermore, a change in stereochemistry caused by d-arginine, and use of N-methyltryptophan, resulted in a two-fold reduction of antibacterial activity. It was found that the presence of tryptophan is critical for antibacterial activity, and could not be substituted with other hydrophobic residues. The study also confirmed that cyclic peptides generally showed higher antibacterial activities when compared with the corresponding linear counterparts. Furthermore, by changing tryptophan numbers in the compound while maintaining a constant number of arginine, we determined the optimal number of tryptophan residues to be four, as shown when the number of tryptophan residues increased, a decrease in activity was observed.