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This paper presents PowerModelsADA, an open-source framework for solving Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problems using Alternating Distributed Algorithms (ADA). PowerModelsADA provides a framework to test, verify, and benchmark both existing and new ADAs. This paper demonstrates use cases for PowerModelsADA and validates its implementation with multiple OPF formulations., Comment: This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessible

This is a protocol for a scoping review which seeks to explore the various aspects of a female's life that are impacted as a result of her partner's prostate cancer diagnosis and survival.

Partners in Prostate Cancer: An exploration of the effects of prostate cancer on female partners of men living with and beyond the condition

Metastatic melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer and the leading cause of skin cancer deaths. For patients with stage three and four melanomas, an adjuvant therapy known as Vemurafenib is used as a first line therapy for all patients whose tumour harbours a BRAF mutation. This treatment is an inhibitor of the mutant BRAF oncoprotein and prevents the constitutive activation of the RAS-RAFMEK-ERK signalling cascade. This treatment allows remarkable clinical success, but BRAF inhibitor resistance invariably develops, however previous studies showed that acquisition of BRAF inhibitor resistance causes increased dependence on glutamine. Therefore, in this study I investigated the use of the clinically relevant glutaminase inhibitor, CB839 in mutant BRAF melanoma. I demonstrated that glutaminase inhibition selectively reduces growth of cells in vitro and tumours in vivo under long term BRAF inhibition. However, I found that the presence of BRAF inhibition itself sensitizes some of these models to glutaminase inhibition. BRAF inhibitor resistant cells under BRAF inhibition in vitro had reduced generation of glutamine derived glutamate. In addition, BRAF inhibition in vivo resulted in decreased transcription of genes encoding for glycolytic enzymes and transporters. These transcriptional changes were associated with decreased pyruvate and ATP/AMP ratio when BRAF inhibition was coupled with glutaminase inhibition. In vitro, glutaminase inhibition caused decreased the production of glutamine derived aspartate, which was shown to be essential for the growth of these cells. In vivo, tumour aspartate levels were decreased by glutaminase inhibition, but unexpectedly increased by BRAF inhibition, demonstrating that aspartate levels obtained under CB839 treatment do not limit the growth of melanoma xenografts. Further investigation in vivo revealed that BRAF inhibition causes metabolic rewiring, increasing the tumour levels of glutamine and decreasing those of citrulline. Furthermore, BRAF inhibition increased the tumour expression of argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), and decreased the levels of systemic ammonia, suggesting that BRAF inhibition may affect the activity of the urea cycle. In vivo, an untargeted metabolomic approach found several metabolic features whose levels were altered by combined CB839 and PLX4032 treatment. Further studies to confirm their identities and their role in the antitumour effect of CB839 and PLX4032 treatment may yield useful insights into the use of the combination of these two clinically relevant treatments.

Invasive flora species can positively and negatively impact the pollination rates of native flora. Previous studies established that the plant pollinator networks within invaded systems are highly complex and variable, and can be influenced by the proximity and abundance of invasive species. In this study, we aimed to understand if the proximity, abundance, and removal of invasive Hirschfeldia incana positively or negatively affected the pollination rate of two native coastal scrub species, Eriogonum fasciculatum and Eriophyllum staechadifolium. We found that the removal of invasive Hirschfeldia incana can have a short-term positive effect on the pollinator visitation rates of native flora, while the effects of proximity and abundance remain variable. Knowing more about these variable changes and the positive effect of invasive species removal on pollination has implications for the restoration and management of invaded ecosystems., CEC Research, Vol. 6, Issue 2

Additional file 1. Supplementary file with expanded description of statisical models, supplementary figures, and supplementary tables.

Our objective was to describe, for the first time in an English-speaking Caribbean country, the contribution of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to nutrients linked to non-communicable disease. Using a cross-sectional study design, dietary data were collected from two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Recorded food items were then classified according to their degree of processing by the NOVA system. The present study took place in Barbados (2012-13). A representative population-based sample of 364 adult Barbadians (161 males and 203 females) aged 25-64 years participated in the study. UPFs represented 40⋅5 % (838 kcal/d; 95 % CI 791, 885) of mean energy intake. Sugar-sweetened beverages made the largest contribution to energy within the UPF category. Younger persons (25-44 years) consumed a significantly higher proportion of calories from UPF (NOVA group 4) compared with older persons (45-64 years). The mean energy shares of UPF ranged from 22⋅0 to 58⋅9 % for those in the lowest tertile to highest tertile. Within each tertile, the energy contribution was significantly higher in the younger age group (25-44 years) compared with the older (45-64 years). One-quarter of persons consume ≥50 % of their daily calories from UPF, this being significantly higher in younger persons. The ultra-processed diet fraction contained about six times the mean of free sugars and about 0⋅8 times the dietary fibre of the non-ultra-processed fraction (NOVA groups 1-3). Targeted interventions to decrease the consumption of UPF especially in younger persons is thus of high priority to improve the diet quality of Barbadians.

Supplementary methods and results. (DOCX 45 kb)

Harris, Rachel C. M. S., Purdue University, December 2014. Postural Control in Infants at Low and High Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Major Professor: Laura J. Claxton. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder more commonly known for deficits in social and communication skills. More recently, aspects of motor development have been shown to be delayed in children with ASD, including deficits in their postural control abilities. Children with ASD have difficulty integrating information from their sensory systems to help control their balance. Infants at risk for ASD and infants who are later diagnosed with ASD have delays in acquiring their postural motor milestones. Whereas postural control differences have been documented in children with ASD as young as 5 years of age; it remains unknown whether infants at low and high risk will exhibit differing postural control abilities. The current study focused on examining postural control abilities in infants at low and high risk by measuring postural sway using center of pressure trajectory. We investigated sitting postural control in 12 9-month-olds (8 low risk, 4 high risk) and 19 12-month-old infants (14 low risk, 5 high risk) during two different somatosensory conditions: sitting on a solid surface and sitting on a foam surface. Four measures of postural sway were calculated for each age group: sway range in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions, sway variance (AP and ML), sway velocity, and sway area. Overall, regardless of risk, both age groups had more center of pressure movement while sitting on a compliant foam surface. Nine-month-old infants had significantly larger sway variance in the AP direction. In addition, 9-month-old infants had a marginally significantly larger ML sway variance and sway area when sitting on the foam surface as compared to the solid surface. Similarly, regardless of risk, 12-month-old infants swayed significantly faster when sitting on the foam surface and had marginally significant larger range of sway (AP and ML), larger ML variance, and a greater area of sway while sitting on the foam surface. Interestingly, there was only a main effect of risk for the 9-month-old infants, not for the 12-month-old infants. Regardless of surface, 9- month-old infants at high risk had a significantly larger AP sway variance and a marginally significant larger AP sway range as compared to the infants at low risk. For the area of sway measure, there was a marginally significant interaction, such that while sitting on the solid surface, infants at high risk exhibited a greater area of sway than the low risk infants. However, there was no difference in the area of sway between the two risk groups while sitting on the foam surface. The findings contribute to our understanding of the development of the postural control system of infants at high risk.

Traducido del inglés. Adaptado por el Departamento de Defiencia Auditiva del Centro Nacional de Recursos para la Educación Especial Guía dirigida a los profesores que deseen introducir en sus programaciones contenidos acerca de la sordera. Su propósito es proporcionar actividades, sugerencias e ideas para trabajar el tema y facilitar la comunicación y la interacción entre sordos y oyentes, especialmente en las escuelas en las que ámbos forman parte de la comunidad educativa. Contiene temas de discusión, hojas de información, hojas de actividades para los alumnos, ideas para murales y para actividades en el aula, pequeñas obras de teatro y sugerencias sobre cómo emplear todos estos elementos. Ministerio Educación CIDE Biblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; biblioteca@mecd.es ESP

Funder: Robinson College, University of Cambridge, Funder: Medical Research Council; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265, Funder: British Heart Foundation; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000274, Funder: UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence, Funder: Economic and Social Research Council; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269, Funder: Cancer Research UK; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000289, Funder: Wellcome Trust; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100004440, Funder: Yates Unilever Fund, Funder: The Ministry of Health of the Government of Barbados, Funder: National Institute for Health Research; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272, Funder: Gates Cambridge PhD Scholarship, Funder: Smuts Memorial Fund, University of Cambridge; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000710, Funder: Global Food Security Fund, Funder: Luca D’Agliano Scholarship, Objective: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented widely. We aimed to use a pre-existing nutritional survey data to inform SSB tax design by assessing: (1) baseline consumption of SSBs and SSB-derived free sugars, (2) the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars that would be covered by a tax and (3) the extent to which a tax would differentiate between high-sugar SSBs and low-sugar SSBs. We evaluated these three considerations using pre-existing nutritional survey data in a developing economy setting. Methods: We used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Barbados (2012–2013, prior to SSB tax implementation). Data were available on 334 adults (25–64 years) who completed two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. We estimated the prevalence of SSB consumption and its contribution to total energy intake, overall and stratified by taxable status. We assessed the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars subject to the tax and identified the consumption-weighted sugar concentration of SSBs, stratified by taxable status. Findings: Accounting for sampling probability, 88.8% of adults (95% CI 85.1 to 92.5) reported SSB consumption, with a geometric mean of 2.4 servings/day (±2 SD, 0.6, 9.2) among SSB consumers. Sixty percent (95% CI 54.6 to 65.4) of SSB-derived free sugars would be subject to the tax. The tax did not clearly differentiate between high-sugar beverages and low-sugar beverages. Conclusion: Given high SSB consumption, targeting SSBs was a sensible strategy in this setting. A substantial percentage of free sugars from SSBs were not covered by the tax, reducing possible health benefits. The considerations proposed here may help policymakers to design more effective SSB taxes.

The Caribbean island of Barbados has a high burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dietary habits were last described in 2005. A representative population-based sample (n = 363, aged 25-64 years) provided two nonconsecutive 24-hr dietary recalls in this cross-sectional study. Mean daily nutrient intakes were compared with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Subgroup differences by age, sex, and educational level were examined using logistic regression. High sugar intakes exist for both sexes with 24% (95% CIs 18.9, 30.0) consuming less than the recommended

The Caribbean island of Barbados has a high burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dietary habits were last described in 2005. A representative population-based sample (n = 363, aged 25-64 years) provided two nonconsecutive 24-hr dietary recalls in this cross-sectional study. Mean daily nutrient intakes were compared with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Subgroup differences by age, sex, and educational level were examined using logistic regression. High sugar intakes exist for both sexes with 24% (95% CIs 18.9, 30.0) consuming less than the recommended

OBJECTIVE: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes have been implemented widely. We aimed to use a pre-existing nutritional survey data to inform SSB tax design by assessing: (1) baseline consumption of SSBs and SSB-derived free sugars, (2) the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars that would be covered by a tax and (3) the extent to which a tax would differentiate between high-sugar SSBs and low-sugar SSBs. We evaluated these three considerations using pre-existing nutritional survey data in a developing economy setting. METHODS: We used data from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Barbados (2012-2013, prior to SSB tax implementation). Data were available on 334 adults (25-64 years) who completed two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. We estimated the prevalence of SSB consumption and its contribution to total energy intake, overall and stratified by taxable status. We assessed the percentage of SSB-derived free sugars subject to the tax and identified the consumption-weighted sugar concentration of SSBs, stratified by taxable status. FINDINGS: Accounting for sampling probability, 88.8% of adults (95% CI 85.1 to 92.5) reported SSB consumption, with a geometric mean of 2.4 servings/day (±2 SD, 0.6, 9.2) among SSB consumers. Sixty percent (95% CI 54.6 to 65.4) of SSB-derived free sugars would be subject to the tax. The tax did not clearly differentiate between high-sugar beverages and low-sugar beverages. CONCLUSION: Given high SSB consumption, targeting SSBs was a sensible strategy in this setting. A substantial percentage of free sugars from SSBs were not covered by the tax, reducing possible health benefits. The considerations proposed here may help policymakers to design more effective SSB taxes.