The Bowl Championship Series: A Mathematical Review

We discuss individual components of the college football Bowl Championship Series, compare with a simple algorithm defined by random walks on a biased graph, attempt to predict whether the proposed changes will truly lead to increased BCS bowl access for non-BCS schools, and conclude by arguing that the true problem with the BCS Standings lies not in the computer algorithms, but rather in misguided addition.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Notices of the AM

A questionnaire to identify patellofemoral pain in the community: an exploration of measurement properties

Background Community-based studies of patellofemoral pain (PFP) need a questionnaire tool that discriminates between those with and those without the condition. To overcome these issues, we have designed a self-report questionnaire which aims to identify people with PFP in the community. Methods Study designs: comparative study and cross-sectional study. Study population: comparative study: PFP patients, soft-tissue injury patients and adults without knee problems. Cross-sectional study: adults attending a science festival. Intervention: comparative study participants completed the questionnaire at baseline and two weeks later. Cross-sectional study participants completed the questionnaire once. The optimal scoring system and threshold was explored using receiver operating characteristic curves, test-retest reliability using Cohen’s kappa and measurement error using Bland-Altman plots and standard error of measurement. Known-group validity was explored by comparing PFP prevalence between genders and age groups. Results Eighty-four participants were recruited to the comparative study. The receiver operating characteristic curves suggested limiting the questionnaire to the clinical features and knee pain map sections (AUC 0.97 95 % CI 0.94 to 1.00). This combination had high sensitivity and specificity (over 90 %). Measurement error was less than the mean difference between the groups. Test–retest reliability estimates suggest good agreement (N = 51, k = 0.74, 95 % CI 0.52–0.91). The cross-sectional study (N = 110) showed expected differences between genders and age groups but these were not statistically significant. Conclusion A shortened version of the questionnaire, based on clinical features and a knee pain map, has good measurement properties. Further work is needed to validate the questionnaire in community samples

The development of co-designed parent-supported cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism in adolescents with eating disorders: initial feasibility and acceptability

BACKGROUND: Perfectionism is significantly associated with symptoms of eating disorders in adolescents. Studies to date have not examined parent-supported CBT for perfectionism in eating disorders (CBT-P-ED). We co-designed the treatment and conducted a feasibility trial. METHODS: Eight parents of adolescents with eating disorders (M age = 48.75 years, 100% female) engaged in three co-design workshops to create a parent-supported CBT-P-ED self-help intervention. A further 10 parents (M age 41.8 years, 50% female) and their adolescent offspring (n = 10, M age 15.4 years, 60% female, 50% with self-reported diagnosis of anorexia nervosa) participated in a feasibility trial and provided feedback on the intervention. RESULTS: The parents who engaged in the co-design workshops suggested several areas to optimise the perfectionism intervention, including using plain language, the impact of parental perfectionism, how to engage with their adolescent in treatment and the importance of increasing eating disorder specific material. Feedback from the feasibility trial suggested that the intervention was acceptable and feasible with 100% of parents and adolescents saying it was useful, and no attrition. CONCLUSIONS: Parent-supported CBT-P-ED appears to be feasible. Future research is now required in a randomised controlled trial

Docosahexaenoic acid stability in ready-to-use therapeutic food

Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is used to treat young children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. RUTF with low and balanced linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid, plus omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), supports long-term cognitive recovery. DHA is prone to degradation due to peroxidation, possibly exacerbated by the iron inherently in RUTF. Our goals were to prepare benchtop and manufacturing scale of RUTF formulations that include DHA and measure its retention. Twenty-seven RUTF formulas with base ingredients, including oats, high oleic or commodity peanuts, and encapsulated or oil-based DHA at various levels were prepared at benchtop scale, followed by seven months of climate-controlled storage. These pilot samples had similar relative DHA retention. At the manufacturing scale, DHA was added at one of two stages in the process, either at the initial or the final mixing stage. Samples taken at preliminary or later steps show that less than 20% of DHA added at the early stages disappeared prior to packaging for any recipe tested. Overall, our data indicate that most DHA included in RUTF is retained in the final product and that DHA is best retained when added at the latest manufacturing stage

Combining navigator and optical prospective motion correction for high-quality 500 μm resolution quantitative multi-parameter mapping at 7T

PURPOSE: High-resolution quantitative multi-parameter mapping shows promise for non-invasively characterizing human brain microstructure but is limited by physiological artifacts. We implemented corrections for rigid head movement and respiration-related B0-fluctuations and evaluated them in healthy volunteers and dementia patients. METHODS: Camera-based optical prospective motion correction (PMC) and FID navigator correction were implemented in a gradient and RF-spoiled multi-echo 3D gradient echo sequence for mapping proton density (PD), longitudinal relaxation rate (R1) and effective transverse relaxation rate (R2*). We studied their effectiveness separately and in concert in young volunteers and then evaluated the navigator correction (NAVcor) with PMC in a group of elderly volunteers and dementia patients. We used spatial homogeneity within white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) and scan-rescan measures as quality metrics. RESULTS: NAVcor and PMC reduced artifacts and improved the homogeneity and reproducibility of parameter maps. In elderly participants, NAVcor improved scan-rescan reproducibility of parameter maps (coefficient of variation decreased by 14.7% and 11.9% within WM and GM respectively). Spurious inhomogeneities within WM were reduced more in the elderly than in the young cohort (by 9% vs. 2%). PMC increased regional GM/WM contrast and was especially important in the elderly cohort, which moved twice as much as the young cohort. We did not find a significant interaction between the two corrections. CONCLUSION: Navigator correction and PMC significantly improved the quality of PD, R1, and R2* maps, particularly in less compliant elderly volunteers and dementia patients

Spatial mapping of flow-induced molecular alignment in a noncrystalline biopolymer fluid using double quantum filtered (DQF) 23Na MRI

Flow-induced molecular alignment was observed experimentally in a non-liquid- crystalline bioplymeric fluid during developed tubular flow. The fluid was comprised of rigid rods of the polysaccharide xanthan and exhibited shear-thinning behavior. Without a requirement for optical transparency or the need for an added tracer, 23Na magic angle (MA) double quantum filtered (DQF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enabled the mapping of the anisotropic molecular arrangement under flow conditions. A regional net molecular alignment was found in areas of high shear values in the vicinity of the tube wall. Furthermore, the xanthan molecules resumed random orientations after the cessation of flow. The observed flow-induced molecular alignment was correlated with the rheological properties of the fluid. The work demonstrates the ability of 23Na MA DQF magnetic resonance to provide a valuable molecular-mechanical link

Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guidelines for CYP2C9 and HLA-B Genotype and Phenytoin Dosing

Phenytoin is a widely used antiepileptic drug with a narrow therapeutic index and large inter-patient variability partly due to genetic variations in CYP2C9. Furthermore, the variant allele HLA-B*15:02 is associated with an increased risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in response to phenytoin treatment. We summarize evidence from the published literature supporting these associations and provide recommendations for the use of phenytoin based on CYP2C9 and/or HLA-B genotype (also available on PharmGKB: www.pharmgkb.org)

Nontypeable haemophilus influenzae induces sustained lung oxidative stress and protease expression

© 2015 King et al. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a prevalent bacterium found in a variety of chronic respiratory diseases. The role of this bacterium in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation is not well defined. In this study we examined the effect of NTHi on two important lung inflammatory processes 1), oxidative stress and 2), protease expression. Bronchoalveolar macrophages were obtained from 121 human subjects, blood neutrophils from 15 subjects, and human-lung fibroblast and epithelial cell lines from 16 subjects. Cells were stimulated with NTHi to measure the effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and extracellular trap formation. We also measured the production of the oxidant, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in the lungs of mice infected with this bacterium. NTHi induced widespread production of 3-NT in mouse lungs. This bacterium induced significantly increased ROS production in human fibroblasts, epithelial cells, macrophages and neutrophils; with the highest levels in the phagocytic cells. In human macrophages NTHi caused a sustained, extracellular production of ROS that increased over time. The production of ROS was associated with the formation of macrophage extracellular trap-like structures which co-expressed the protease metalloproteinase-12. The formation of the macrophage extracellular trap-like structures was markedly inhibited by the addition of DNase. In this study we have demonstrated that NTHi induces lung oxidative stress with macrophage extracellular trap formation and associated protease expression. DNase inhibited the formation of extracellular traps

Harmonising data collection from osteoarthritis studies to enable stratification: recommendations on core data collection from an Arthritis Research UK clinical studies group

Objective. Treatment of OA by stratifying for commonly used and novel therapies will likely improve the range of effective therapy options and their rational deployment in this undertreated, chronic disease. In order to develop appropriate datasets for conducting post hoc analyses to inform approaches to stratification for OA, our aim was to develop recommendations on the minimum data that should be recorded at baseline in all future OA interventional and observational studies.Methods. An Arthritis Research UK study group comprised of 32 experts used a Delphi-style approach supported by a literature review of systematic reviews to come to a consensus on core data collection for OA studies.Results. Thirty-five systematic reviews were used as the basis for the consensus group discussion. For studies with a primary structural endpoint, core domains for collection were defined as BMI, age, gender, racial origin, comorbidities, baseline OA pain, pain in other joints and occupation. In addition to the items generalizable to all anatomical sites, joint-specific domains included radiographic measures, surgical history and anatomical factors, including alignment. To demonstrate clinical relevance for symptom studies, the collection of mental health score, self-efficacy and depression scales were advised in addition to the above.Conclusions. Currently it is not possible to stratify patients with OA into therapeutic groups. A list of core and optional data to be collected in all OA interventional and observational studies was developed, providing a basis for future analyses to identify predictors of progression or response to treatment