The Goddard Version of the Schubart-stumpff N-body Program

Goddard version of Schubart-Stumpff N-Body program for computation of solar system orbit

Aplicabilidad de la goniometría mediante videografía en el seguimiento de programas de flexibilidad

El objetivo del siguiente trabajo es el de evaluar los efectos de un programa específico de la mejora de la flexibilidad isquiotibial, utilizando la videografía como metodología para el cálculo del ángulo de extensión de rodilla. La muestra ha estado formada por 75 deportistas escolares con un rango de edad de entre 7 y 16 años. Los resultados nos muestran como antes de la intervención sólo un 5% de los casos era considerado flexible (ángulo<20º). Después de la intervención, el porcentaje de flexibles fue del 21% (p=0,002). No obstante, el 47% de los casos había mejorado su flexibilidad. Esta mejora estaba asociada al género (OR niños vs. niñas 3,7 (IC95% 1,04–13,16)), y a la edad (OR 0,78 por año (IC95% 0,62–0,97)), no observándose asociación con las características antropométricas. La intervención practicada fue efectiva, tanto en relación al aumento de casos considerados flexibles, como al número de casos que habían mejorado su flexibilidad. La posibilidad de mejora de la flexibilidad es mayor en los niños y disminuye con la edad. La videografía es un método objetivo para el cálculo del rango de movimiento, hace posible la comparación visual entre dos tests realizados y permite dar un feedback al deportista.The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a hamstring stretching program, using videography as the methodology to calculate knee extension range of motion. 75 scholar football players, between 7 and 16 years old, were evaluated. 5% (angle <20º) of the subjects had hamstrings flexibility limitation before the stretching program and 21% (p=0,002) of the total population had flexibility limitations after the program conclude. Nevertheless, 47% of subjects showed increases in their flexibility between first and second assessment. The improvement of flexibility is gender (OR boys vs. girls 3,7 (IC95% 1,04–13,16)) and age (OR 0,78 per year (IC95% 0,62–0,97)) correlated. No association was found with anthropometric characteristics. The stretching program was successful for the improvement of hamstrings flexibility. Boys have greater possibility to improve flexibility and it decreases in relation with age. Videography is an objective methodology to analyze range of movement, allows the visual comparison between tests and gives a feedback to the subject

Comparación entre la videografía y el método Sit and Reach para la valoración de la flexibilidad isquiotibial en deportistas escolares

Existen diferentes test para evaluar la flexibilidad articular. El objetivo de nuestro estudio era el de comparar el test de sit and reach y el de goniometría de la rodilla en extensión, mediante videografía para la valoración de la flexibilidad isquiotibial en una muestra de 139 deportistas escolares, de edades comprendidas entre los 7 y los 16 años. El coeficiente de Kappa muestra una concordancia muy débil entre las dos pruebas (0,022 (I.C. 95% -0,07 – 0,12)). Demostrando que el sit and reach no es un test válido para la evaluación de la flexibilidad isquiotibial.There are different test to evaluate flexibility of human movement. The comparison of sit and reach test and videogaphy measurement of hamstrings flexibility was the purpose of this study. 139 scholar football players, between 7 and 16 years old, were evaluated. Kappa coefficient shows little concordance between the two tests (0,022 (I.C. 95% -0,07 – 0,12)) which demonstrates that sit and reach test is not valid enough for hamstrings flexibility evaluation

Oxaliplatin plus irinotecan and leucovorin-modulated5-fluorouracil triplet regimen every other week:a dose-finding study in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies

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Multiparametric advanced research tool for meteo satellites data interfacing with space observation of ultra high energy cosmic rays

To approach the study of the cosmic rays in the energy range E > 1020 eV, the upper end of the spectrum observed to date, with a large statistical significance (103 events/year), and hence address the solution of several astrophysical and cosmological problems related to their existence and behaviour, a new generation of experiments will probably have to be conceived and realised. They will be based on the observation and measurements of cosmic rays from space. The extremely low rate of these events (∼ 1 event/(century × km2 × sr)) imposes a very large effective area to be monitored, of the order of 105 km2, as an observational requirement to meet the target statistics. The Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO)mission has been proposed as the precursor of this new generation of experiments. Its approach consists in fact in looking downwards to the Earth atmosphere by means of a large field-of-view telescope accommodated aboard an orbiting satellite. The fluorescence strike produced by a cosmic ray through the atmosphere will be recorded by the detector, which will reconstruct the kinematical and dynamical features of the primary cosmic ray. The atmosphere acts therefore as an active target for the detectable event. A strategic tool for the success of EUSO as well as for all the experiments of its category will be a correct and detailed atmospheric sounding system, in order to monitor the atmospheric parameters within the field-of-view of the telescope. Beside an on-board measurement by means of dedicated devices such an infrared camera (IR)and possibly a LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging)coupled to the main instrument, the Atmosphere Sounding will take advantage from the continuous observation of the atmospheric parameters given by the orbiting meteorological satellites. Their databases have thus to be interfaced to the experimental data and used picking-up the relevant data according to the space and time coordinates corresponding to each triggered event. The present work outlines a software module (MARVIN-Multiparametric Advanced Research tool for Visualisation In the Network) able to build-up such an interface, and shows a preliminary implementation of it, using a sample of existing satellites and ISCCP meteorological data collection. It has been developed during the phase A study of the EUSO mission but is general enough to be adapted to different missions observing the Earth atmosphere from space

A weekly regimen of cisplatin, paclitaxel and topotecan with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor support for patients with extensive disease small cell lung cancer: a phase II study

The present study was aimed at defining the antitumour activity of the cisplatin-paclitaxel-topotecan (CPT) weekly administration with G-CSF support in chemo-naive SCLC patients with extensive disease (ED-SCLC). Chemonaive ED-SCLC patients received cisplatin 40 mg/m2, paclitaxel 85 mg/m2, and topotecan 2.25 mg/m2weekly, with G-CSF (5 μg/kg days 3–5) support, for a maximum of 12 weeks. 37 patients were treated, for a total of 348 cycles delivered. 8 complete responses (22%) and 22 partial responses (59%) were recorded, giving an 81% [95% CI = 65–92%] ORR. At a 13-month (range, 4–26) median follow-up, median progression-free and overall survival were 8 months and 12.5 months, with 1-year and 2-year projected survivals of 55% and 21%, respectively. No toxic deaths occurred. Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 6 and 3 patients, respectively. Only one case of neutropenic sepsis was recorded, while haemorrhagic thrombocytopenia was never observed. Diarrhoea, paraesthesias and fatigue were the main nonhaematologic toxicities being severe in 6, 2 and 10 patients, respectively. The weekly CPT combination with G-CSF support represents a well tolerated therapeutic approach in chemo-naive ED-SCLC patients. The activity rate seems at least similar to that achievable with the standard front-line approaches. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Life Science on the International Space Station Using the Next Generation of Cargo Vehicles

With the retirement of the Space Shuttle and the transition of the International Space Station (ISS) from assembly to full laboratory capabilities, the opportunity to perform life science research in space has increased dramatically, while the operational considerations associated with transportation of the experiments has changed dramatically. US researchers have allocations on the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). In addition, the International Space Station (ISS) Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) contract will provide consumables and payloads to and from the ISS via the unmanned SpaceX (offers launch and return capabilities) and Orbital (offers only launch capabilities) resupply vehicles. Early requirements drove the capabilities of the vehicle providers; however, many other engineering considerations affect the actual design and operations plans. To better enable the use of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory, ground and on-orbit facility development can augment the vehicle capabilities to better support needs for cell biology, animal research, and conditioned sample return. NASA Life scientists with experience launching research on the space shuttle can find the trades between the capabilities of the many different vehicles to be confusing. In this presentation we will summarize vehicle and associated ground processing capabilities as well as key concepts of operations for different types of life sciences research being launched in the cargo vehicles. We will provide the latest status of vehicle capabilities and support hardware and facilities development being made to enable the broadest implementation of life sciences research on the ISS

Patients with aortic stenosis exhibit early improved endothelial function following transcatheter aortic valve replacement: The eFAST study

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) exhibit systemic endothelial dysfunction, which can be associated with myocardial ischaemia in absence of obstructive coronary disease. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is used to treat severe AS in patients with high or prohibitive surgical risk. However, it remains unknown whether endothelial function recovers post-TAVR. We therefore sought to assess the early and late changes in flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of endothelial function, following TAVR. METHODS: Patients undergoing TAVR for severe AS had ultrasound assessment of brachial endothelial-independent and -dependent FMD. Measurements were performed pre-TAVR, at early follow-up (<48 h post-TAVR) and late follow-up (4-6 weeks post-TAVR). RESULTS: 27 patients (mean age 82.0 ± 7.0; 33.3% female) were recruited; 37.0% had diabetes mellitus and 59.3% had hypertension. Brachial artery FMD increased from 4.2 ± 1.6% (pre-TAVR) to 9.7 ± 3.5% at early follow-up (p < 0.0001). At late follow-up, improvement compared with early follow-up was sustained (8.7 ± 1.9%, p = 0.27). Resting brachial arterial flow velocities decreased significantly at late follow-up (11.24 ± 5.16 vs. 7.73 ± 2.79 cm/s, p = 0.003). Concordantly, at late follow-up, there was decrease in resting wall shear stress (WSS; 14.8 ± 7.8 vs. 10.6 ± 4.8dyne/cm2, p = 0.01), peak WSS (73.1 ± 34.1 vs. 58.8 ± 27.8dyne/cm2, p = 0.03) and cumulative WSS (3543 ± 1852 vs. 2504 ± 1089dyne·s/cm2, p = 0.002). Additionally, a favourable inverse correlation between cumulative WSS and FMD was restored at late follow-up (r = -0.21 vs. r = 0.49). CONCLUSION: Endothelial function in patients with AS improves early post-TAVR and this improvement is sustained. This likely occurs as a result of improved arterial haemodynamics, leading to lower localised WSS and release of vasoactive mediators that may also alleviate myocardial ischaemia

Metastatic colorectal cancer: integrating irinotecan into combination and sequential chemotherapy

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Sensory Tricks Are Associated with Higher Sleep-Related Quality of Life in Cervical Dystonia

Background: Sensory tricks are compensatory gestures that cervical dystonia (CD) patients use to reduce abnormal neck posture and movements. Although sensory tricks are common in CD, little is known about whether trick efficacy changes over time or has effect on quality of life. Methods: We analyzed clinical data and video recordings from 188 patients with isolated CD. We calculated the duration of CD and assessed the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scales and the Cervical Dystonia Impact Profile (CDIP-58). Results: A longer duration of CD corresponded to a less effective sensory trick (r(187) = 0.1901, p = 0.009). Patients who demonstrated more effective sensory tricks reported higher sleep-related quality of life than patients with less effective sensory tricks (r(187) = 0.1680, p = 0.0212). There were no significant relationships between the effectiveness of a sensory trick and the other aspects of quality of life as measured by the CDIP-58. Discussion: Patients who have had CD longer had less effective sensory tricks consistent with patients’ verbal reports of previously having a trick that no longer works. Patients should be apprised of a wide variety of sensory tricks because their previous tricks may lose efficacy over time and because more effective tricks are associated with higher sleep-related quality of life