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Programmers Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professional programmers interested in conceptual questions about software development. It's 100% free, no registration required.

In the Sun Java coding conventions document (here: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/codeconv-138413.html), it states:

"80% of the lifetime cost of a piece of software goes to maintenance"

Does anyone know where this statistic is sourced from? I don't doubt the assertion, but I can make up statistics without attribution as well and I'd like to know where this came from before I start using it as a basis for other statements.

share|improve this question
76.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot –  Steven A. Lowe Apr 12 '11 at 19:07
@Lowe, that's 76.37% or 3/5th. And the statistics never lie. –  Christopher Mahan Apr 12 '11 at 19:35
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5 Answers

from Java Code Conventions - September 12, 1997 by Sun Microsystems.

You will see this quote in the introduction of the document under

1.1 Why Have Code Conventions

  • 80% of the lifetime cost of a piece of software goes to maintenance
  • Hardly any software is maintained for it's whole life by it's original author
  • Code conventions improve the readability of the software allowing engineers to understand new code more quickly and thoroughly
  • If you ship your source code as a product, you need to make sure it is as well packaged and clean as any other product you create.

By 2011, this document is quite dated. Software and systems are being developed in a multitude of languages including and excluding Java.

However, Java is very slow and has an extremely large memory footprint compared to C/C++. When some users experience how slow Java actually runs in comparison to other languages such as PHP, C/C++, etc, they often think that something is wrong with the program. Money is then spent on trying to improve performance to no avail. For this reason I always question people's motivation to jump on the titanic and set sail. As it does not make sense to implement many programs in Java, especially where performance or memory footprint is a concern.

I have actually seen people spend more time to implement something in Java for the sake of it being a Java implementation than they would have spent implementing the same software as a bash script on Linux or in Python or C++.

I'm not saying avoid Java at all costs, but there is a right tool for the right job and there are many many more tools than Java these days.

Congratulations to Apple for finally deprecating Java.!

share|improve this answer
The OP is looking for the original source of this quote and/or statistical evidence, not rants about Java. –  Péter Török Feb 15 '11 at 9:27
This doesn't answer the question and isn't helpful at all. –  KeesDijk Feb 15 '11 at 9:27
Honest, but off topic :) –  dsimcha Apr 12 '11 at 13:06
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You have to first define what maintenance means. Usually maintenance costs in excess of 50% include enhancement as well as defect removal.

The 80% figure doesn't seem to be directly attributable to a specific study, but you can find several credible figures in the > 50% range in the studies mentioned on this page: http://users.jyu.fi/~koskinen/smcosts.htm

Table 3-7 of Applied Software Measurement, third ed. lists that of the 8200 projects studied, only 2410 were new developments. 1385 were maintenance projects, and the rest were enhancement projects. That corresponds to roughly 70% of projects that are maintaining existing code.

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Looks all the same to me, with no attribution.

  • From Oracle/Sun: http //www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/codeconventions-139411.html#16712
  • From Microsoft: http //msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms940458.aspx
  • From other: http //antelope.tigris.org/nonav/docs/manual/bk02ch01.html

Here it is claimed to be a known fact: http //zeus.cs.pacificu.edu/shereen/cs150f07/Assignments/03CodingStandards.pdf

But I am guessing it comes from here as a lot of university documents make mention of it: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=624252

Any body have easy access to IEEE papers and can check?

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Barry Boehm's Software Engineering Economics. And it's not 80% it's 50%-75%.

Chapter 30. Page 533-534.

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The 80-20 rule of thumb is very commonly invoked in many contexts, as concrete sample numbers standing in for the phrase "the large majority."

This may be just such an invocation.

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Programmers Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professional programmers interested in conceptual questions about software development. It's 100% free, no registration required.

I have three incoming projects that share a common problem:

they need to have the logic on a web system and they need a local application (e.g. point of sale) that communicates with such system through a RESTful web service.

My Solution

The solution I managed to come up with is to implement in the desktop application message queuing to store operations while the service is offline, more precisely, asynchronous message queuing. However, that is the easy part (if such is the best solution). I'm also concerned with data syncing and conflict resolution.

The main system needs to be web based since a web app is required for reports and monitoring by the stakeholders, and the web services would handle requests for several establishments.

The desktop clients (preferably thin) will be implemented with Java (more specifically Netbeans) and the web system with Symfony2. Two of the projects require hardware integration for the client, so making the desktop application with web technology (e.g. Appcelerator Titanium) could be a major pain.

My Question

  1. What is a better solution that scales, meaning maximum efficiency with minimum effort (and preferably no additional costs, like buying a backup server for local operation) ?

  2. Who else has dealt with this before? How did you solve your problem? What lessons can you share?

  3. How did you deal with synchronization?

Edit: Added a missing part to my question in point #3

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3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

I know your question is java, but I really like this message bus style architecture for this type of thing.

Basically when messages are sent they get potentially two responses. The first is from the local cache, the second comes from the server once it gets connected.

I'm pretty sure you could adapt this architecture (rhino bus and nhib) to yours (MQ and hib) pretty easily.

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Yup, I was looking exactly for that kind of message oriented architecture. The cache arguments and the last sentence in your linked convinced me. –  dukeofgaming May 28 '11 at 6:12
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Do everything locally, and sync periodically.

Here is what I would do if I was you (I'm not aware of sync framework in Java like we have in .NET).

Maintain a timestamp in the local application that will hold the last time you connected successfully.

Regardless the time you reconnect, that timestamp will be used to pull out new data, then send new orders generated locally.

You will then maintain two timestamps. One to define when the order has been created (locally or online) and one when it has been recorded by the server.

I don't recommend Message Queuing for that. I used MQ in the past for an e-commerce website that had to be connected to Navision. Everything was operated within Navision, and changes sent to the e-commerce website through MQ, including order status and everything including product descriptions, pricing, etc. New orders were sent to Navision through MQ too.

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Hmmm, I do like the idea of a push model, however I see the problem that if the computer time is changed there might be data-loss. BTW, I have the convention to have each and every record timestamped in my database designs. Why do you not recommend MQ? –  dukeofgaming May 18 '11 at 7:45
That's right, you must use time synchronized PCs and UTC, but it's pretty standard now (at least on Windows). MQ is sometimes necessary, but I think it would be too much for the kind of application you are developing. –  user2567 May 18 '11 at 7:56
Ok, so in order to prioritize reliability, it is better to rather think that the desktop app will be disconnected and thus its better to treat the desktop app as a first-class citizen, however, I'm still under the impression that MQ would be an easier replacement for a local database implementation. Also, I think making all the CRUD operations in the server implicitly has better security. What do you think about these two points?. –  dukeofgaming May 18 '11 at 9:08
@dukeofgaming: in my case, orders could be taken from any POS (also the application could be used as a order taking system and not an order processing system), including web. Everything was distributed accross the country. It was absolutely necessary for every desktop to be autonomous in case of disconnection. MQ would work in that scenario too, so I'm not against it. I just feel it is more easy to implement strong data sync between master servers and clients. Therefore, CRUD operation on the master server was not an option. –  user2567 May 18 '11 at 9:16
+1 - this is how I've seen it done in the past. I would also say that the use of uniqueidentifier (Guids) as primary keys simplifies things immensely. Doing that is one of those things that really makes your life easier down the road if you need synchronization. –  Scott Whitlock May 18 '11 at 12:38
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Or you should look at occasionally connected systems database implementations which does the grunt work of sync'ing remote clients to the server. (SQL Server has this with SQL CE to an extent, Outlook does this).

This way, you can do all your changes locally in a small footprint database (It maintains versioning/logical timestamps etc. so that you don't have to worry about PC clocks etc) and whenever you go online, you sync this with the main server.

I wouldn't go for a REST solution when the system can't be online most of the time.

share|improve this answer
Are you describing a distributed database?, can you elaborate on that? –  dukeofgaming May 23 '11 at 19:28
No - this is not a distributed db in the real world sense. A distributed db usually expects almost everything to be online as well, but the logic of replication among peers that went down applies here too. There are some desktop / device databases that have a facility to do the replication work (blogs.msdn.com/b/stevelasker/archive/2007/03/18/…) - So all you have to do is setup this device db, log your changes here and when you connect to the computer network, call sync - and that will do the data transfer to the main server for you. –  Subu Subramanian May 23 '11 at 23:08
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Welcome to the new platform of Programmer's Heaven! We apologize for the inconvenience caused, if you visited us from a broken link of the previous version. The main reason to move to a new platform is to provide more effective and collaborative experience to you all. Please feel free to experience the new platform and use its exciting features. Contact us for any issue that you need to get clarified. We are more than happy to help you.

suggest a good IDE/Framework for AJAX / php development

midixmidix Posts: 10Member
[b][red]This message was edited by midix at 2007-3-24 12:41:40[/red][/b][hr]
[b][red]This message was edited by midix at 2007-3-24 11:41:8[/red][/b][hr]
[b][red]This message was edited by midix at 2007-3-24 11:6:33[/red][/b][hr]
Hi all! I am a student yet and I am looking for a good IDE.
I am developing with php/Javascript/CSS/HTML/MySQL with Unicode.
I see that there are many framework projects for AJAX and related things but it would take much time to test them all.
I am looking for some integrated development environment which supports Unicode and has some useful features like code folding, autocomplete for most used functions and so on. Also it would be great to have a visual designer which could help me make web applications, similar to Windows application development in MS Visual Studio where I can drag elements onto a form and define event handlers.

And of course - freeware or open source.
And easy enough for a beginner (I mean - at least as easy as MS Visual Studio or Borland C++ Builder).

I am curious about Eclipse and PDT

will it be good for me?
or maybe Aptana ? or Morfik ? or AJAX JoyiStar WebShop ?
really confused.

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1.  Classification of Thyroid Nodules Using a Resonance-Frequency–Based Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy: A Preliminary Assessment
Thyroid  2013;23(7):854-862.
Ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy are considered the most effective approaches for both identifying and classifying thyroid nodules. However, despite continuing improvements in scanner technology and refinements in ultrasound/cytological classification guidelines, indeterminate findings still lead to diagnostic lobectomy under general anesthesia. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of applying a modified noninvasive electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) approach to classifying thyroid nodules.
To increase nodule classification sensitivity, we developed a new EIS-based model that introduces an optimized inductance component, which increases the measured signal-to-noise ratio of capacitance variation in and about thyroid nodules. Our model then measures the change of resonance frequency when the positive reactance of the system inductor cancels out the negative reactance of the nodule capacitance in a multi-frequency electrical signal scan. The system is termed “resonance-frequency–based electrical impedance spectroscopy” (REIS). A portable REIS system with multiple probes was assembled and preliminarily tested in our clinical facility. From an ongoing prospective study, an initial data set of 160 REIS examinations including 27 verified cancer cases was used. From the data set, a number of EIS signal features was extracted and analyzed. A multi-feature–based Bayesian Belief Network was built to classify the detected thyroid nodules. A receiver operating characteristic data analysis method was applied to evaluate classification performance.
The results showed that (i) the median resonance frequency measured by the probe nearest to malignant nodules was in general lower than that measured in benign cases, and (ii) the median descending slope of EIS signal sweep curves computed from cancer cases was larger than that computed from benign cases. The Bayesian Belief Network yielded a classification performance as measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.794 [with a 95% confidence interval of 0.709–0.863].
The study demonstrates that noninvasive measurement of REIS signal features may potentially provide useful supplementary information to assist in classifying between malignant and benign thyroid nodules. Such an approach may ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of unnecessary thyroid surgeries.
PMCID: PMC3704105  PMID: 23259723
2.  Umbilical cord blood expansion with nicotinamide provides long-term multilineage engraftment
The Journal of Clinical Investigation  2014;124(7):3121-3128.
BACKGROUND. Delayed hematopoietic recovery is a major drawback of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation. Transplantation of ex vivo–expanded UCB shortens time to hematopoietic recovery, but long-term, robust engraftment by the expanded unit has yet to be demonstrated. We tested the hypothesis that a UCB-derived cell product consisting of stem cells expanded for 21 days in the presence of nicotinamide and a noncultured T cell fraction (NiCord) can accelerate hematopoietic recovery and provide long-term engraftment.
METHODS. In a phase I trial, 11 adults with hematologic malignancies received myeloablative bone marrow conditioning followed by transplantation with NiCord and a second unmanipulated UCB unit. Safety, hematopoietic recovery, and donor engraftment were assessed and compared with historical controls.
RESULTS. No adverse events were attributable to the infusion of NiCord. Complete or partial neutrophil and T cell engraftment derived from NiCord was observed in 8 patients, and NiCord engraftment remained stable in all patients, with a median follow-up of 21 months. Two patients achieved long-term engraftment with the unmanipulated unit. Patients transplanted with NiCord achieved earlier median neutrophil recovery (13 vs. 25 days, P < 0.001) compared with that seen in historical controls. The 1-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 82% and 73%, respectively.
CONCLUSION. UCB-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells expanded in the presence of nicotinamide and transplanted with a T cell–containing fraction contain both short-term and long-term repopulating cells. The results justify further study of NiCord transplantation as a single UCB graft. If long-term safety is confirmed, NiCord has the potential to broaden accessibility and reduce the toxicity of UCB transplantation.
FUNDING. Gamida Cell Ltd.
PMCID: PMC4071379  PMID: 24911148
3.  Outcomes and costs of autologous stem cell mobilization with chemotherapy plus G-CSF versus G-CSF alone
Bone marrow transplantation  2013;48(11):10.1038/bmt.2013.80.
Chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (C+G) and G-CSF alone are two of the most common methods of mobilizing CD34+ cells for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). In order to compare and determine real-world outcomes and costs of these strategies, we performed a retrospective study of 226 consecutive patients at 11 medical centers (64 lymphoma, 162 multiple myeloma), of whom 55% and 66% received C+G. Patients with C+G collected more CD34+ cells/day than G-CSF alone (lymphoma: average 5.51x106 cells/kg on day 1 vs. 2.92x106 cells/kg, p=0.0231; myeloma: 4.16x106 cells/kg vs. 3.69x106 cells/kg, p<0.00001) and required fewer days of apheresis (lymphoma: average 2.11 days vs. 2.96, p=0.012; myeloma: 2.02 vs. 2.83 days, p=0.0015), though nearly all patients ultimately reached the goal of 2x106 cells/kg. With the exception of higher rates of febrile neutropenia in myeloma patients with C+G (17% vs. 2%, p<0.05), toxicities and other outcomes were similar. Mobilization with C+G cost significantly more (lymphoma: median $10,300 vs. $7,300, p<0.0001; myeloma: $8,800 vs. $5,600, p<0.0001), though re-mobilization adds $6,700 for drugs alone. Our results suggest that while both C+G and G-CSF alone are effective mobilization strategies, C+G may be more cost-effective for patients at high risk of insufficient mobilization.
PMCID: PMC3797171  PMID: 23749109
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Mobilization; Chemo-mobilization; G-CSF; Lymphoma; Multiple myeloma
4.  Non-invasive neuromodulation to improve gait in chronic multiple sclerosis: a randomized double blind controlled pilot trial
This study sought to examine the effect of targeted physical therapy with and without cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), on the walking ability of people with MS who exhibited a dysfunctional gait. We hypothesized that subjects who received electrical stimulation would have greater improvement than those who had a control device after a 14-week intervention. Gait disturbance is a common problem for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Current management may include exercise, pharmacology, functional electrical stimulation, compensatory strategies, use of assistive devices, and implanted electrical devices. We have developed an effective rehabilitative strategy using neuromodulation of the cranial nerves via electrical stimulation of the tongue to enhance the plasticity of the brain.
The study is a within-subject blinded randomized control design. Twenty chronic MS subjects with an identified gait disturbance were assigned to either an active or control group. Both groups completed a 14-week intervention program using a standardized combination of exercise and a device that provided electrical stimulation to the tongue. Those in the active group received electrical stimulation on the tongue that they could perceive. Those in the control group used a device that did not provide a physiologically significant stimulus and was not perceivable. Subjects were assessed with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI).
The DGI scores improved for both groups. There were significant between-group differences, with the active group showing statistically greater improvement than the control group mean.
People with MS demonstrated improved gait with CN-NINM training in a pilot randomized controlled trial. This study suggests that tongue-based neurostimulation may amplify the benefits of exercise for improving gait in people with chronic MS.
PMCID: PMC4017705  PMID: 24885412
Multiple sclerosis; Neuromodulation; Balance; Gait; Tongue; Neurostimulation; Non-invasive; Electrical stimulation
5.  Evidence of a role for SNCA in impulse control in humans
Neurogenetics  2013;15(1):77-78.
PMCID: PMC3969776  PMID: 24196876
6.  Effects of Alcohol on Tests of Executive Functioning in Men and Women: A Dose Response Examination
Alcohol has been shown to affect performance on tasks associated with executive functioning. However, studies in this area have generally been limited to a single dose or gender or have used small sample sizes. The purpose of this study was to provide a more nuanced and systematic examination of alcohol's effects on commonly used tests of executive functioning at multiple dosages in both men and women. Research volunteers (91 women and 94 men) were randomly assigned to one of four drink conditions (alcohol doses associated with target blood alcohol concentrations of .000%, .050%, .075% and .100%). Participants then completed three tasks comprising two domains of executive functioning: two set shifting tasks, the Trail Making Test and a computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, and a response inhibition task, the GoStop Impulsivity Paradigm. Impaired performance on set shifting tasks was found at the .100% and .075% dosages, but alcohol intoxication did not impair performance on the GoStop. No gender effects emerged. Thus, alcohol negatively affects set shifting at moderately high levels of intoxication in both men and women, likely due to alcohol's interference with prefrontal cortex function. Although it is well-established that alcohol negatively affects response inhibition as measured by auditory stop-signal tasks, alcohol does not appear to exert a negative effect on response inhibition as measured by the GoStop, a visual stop-signal task.
PMCID: PMC3968820  PMID: 20939644
7.  Safety and Preliminary Efficacy Analysis of the mTOR Inhibitor Ridaforolimus in Patients With Taxane-Treated, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Clinical genitourinary cancer  2012;10(4):232-238.
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is associated with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Thirty-nine taxane-treated CRPC patients were enrolled in a phase II trial assessing the safety and efficacy of targeted therapy with the mTOR inhibitor, Ridaforolimus (Merck & Co, Inc/ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc). Treatment with Ridaforolimus was generally well tolerated. No objective responses were observed, but some patients experienced disease stabilization. Ridaforolimus may be an option in combination therapy.
Few options are available after taxane-based therapy in men with CRPC. Genetic alterations involving the mTOR pathway have been associated with CRPC development, raising the hypothesis that blocking mTOR signaling may be an effective targeted approach to treatment.
Patients and Methods
In this open-label phase II study, the mTOR inhibitor Ridaforolimus was administered at a dose of 50 mg intravenous once weekly to 38 patients with taxane-treated CRPC. The primary end point was best overall response according to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors guidelines. Serum prostate-specific antigen levels were prospectively monitored as a biomarker for cancer activity.
No objective responses were observed, but 18 patients (47.4%) had stable disease as their best response. Based on progression-free survival analysis, median time to progression with Ridaforolimus was 28 days (95% confidence interval, 27–29). Eight patients (21.1%) had stable disease as their best overall prostate-specific antigen response. The median number of days from first to last dose was 109.5 days (range, 1–442 days). Ridaforolimus was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that observed in patients with advanced malignancies. The most common side effects were typically mild or moderate in severity.
Ridaforolimus was generally well tolerated. Treatment did not produce objective responses, but stable disease was observed in some patients with taxane-treated CRPC. Alternative treatment regimens, such as combination therapy with a taxane or in a maintenance treatment paradigm, should be considered for further evaluation in this patient population.
PMCID: PMC3963491  PMID: 22695254
Combination therapy; Disease stabilization; Phase II; Prostate-specific antigen; Targeted therapy
8.  Quantitative Proteomic profiling identifies protein correlates to EGFR kinase inhibition
Molecular cancer therapeutics  2012;11(5):1071-1081.
Clinical oncology is hampered by a lack of tools to accurately assess a patient’s response to pathway-targeted therapies. Serum and tumor cell surface proteins whose abundance, or change in abundance in response to therapy, differentiates patients responding to a therapy from patients not-responding to a therapy could be usefully incorporated into tools for monitoring response. Here we posit and then verify that proteomic discovery in in vitro tissue culture models can identify proteins with concordant in vivo behavior and further, can be a valuable approach for identifying tumor-derived serum proteins. In this study we use Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino acids in Culture (SILAC) with proteomic technologies to quantitatively analyze the gefitinib-related protein changes in a model system for sensitivity to EGFR targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We identified 3,707 intracellular proteins, 1,276 cell surface proteins, and 879 shed proteins. More than 75% of the proteins identified had quantitative information and a subset consisting of [400] proteins showed a statistically significant change in abundance following gefitinib treatment. We validated the change in expression profile in vitro and screened our panel of response markers in an in vivo isogenic resistant model and demonstrated that these were markers of gefitinib response and not simply markers of phospho-EGFR downregulation. In doing so, we also were able to identify which proteins might be useful as markers for monitoring response and which proteins might be useful as markers for a priori prediction of response.
PMCID: PMC3959865  PMID: 22411897
NSCLC; EGFR; Gefitinib; Proteomics; SILAC
9.  Mental health training experiences among Haitian healthcare workers post-earthquake 2010
International nursing review  2013;60(4):528-535.
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the large number of persons with major limb damage, amputations, shock, trauma, anxiety and depression placed a severe strain on mental health (MH) services.
This qualitative study describes the impact and acceptability of a Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) implemented in the north of Haiti after the earthquake.
A total of 113 healthcare workers (HCWs) participated in a training program designed to build local MH care capacity. The training curriculum draws on literature related to MH and the impact of the Haiti earthquake. Two focus groups were conducted with 16 HCWs; discussions centred on the personal and professional impact and acceptability of the training program.
Results demonstrated that the MHTP changed the HCWs’ perceptions about MH issues and provided them with the knowledge and skills to respond to growing community MH needs. Acceptability of the MHTP was related to the content covered, to the delivery mode of the content and to the cultural appropriateness of the program.
Disasters of different types will continue to occur and to impact MH in communities around the world. MH training will allow nurses to quickly and effectively respond to disasters. A coordinated emergency plan that is subject to frequent review, rehearsal and evaluation is also essential.
PMCID: PMC3933925  PMID: 24251943
Disaster; Earthquake; Haiti; Healthcare; Mental Health; Prevention; Training; Trauma
10.  Altered Connectivity of the Balance Processing Network After Tongue Stimulation in Balance-Impaired Individuals
Brain Connectivity  2013;3(1):87-97.
Some individuals with balance impairment have hypersensitivity of the motion-sensitive visual cortices (hMT+) compared to healthy controls. Previous work showed that electrical tongue stimulation can reduce the exaggerated postural sway induced by optic flow in this subject population and decrease the hypersensitive response of hMT+. Additionally, a region within the brainstem (BS), likely containing the vestibular and trigeminal nuclei, showed increased optic flow-induced activity after tongue stimulation. The aim of this study was to understand how the modulation induced by tongue stimulation affects the balance-processing network as a whole and how modulation of BS structures can influence cortical activity. Four volumes of interest, discovered in a general linear model analysis, constitute major contributors to the balance-processing network. These regions were entered into a dynamic causal modeling analysis to map the network and measure any connection or topology changes due to the stimulation. Balance-impaired individuals had downregulated response of the primary visual cortex (V1) to visual stimuli but upregulated modulation of the connection between V1 and hMT+ by visual motion compared to healthy controls (p≤1E–5). This upregulation was decreased to near-normal levels after stimulation. Additionally, the region within the BS showed increased response to visual motion after stimulation compared to both prestimulation and controls. Stimulation to the tongue enters the central nervous system at the BS but likely propagates to the cortex through supramodal information transfer. We present a model to explain these brain responses that utilizes an anatomically present, but functionally dormant pathway of information flow within the processing network.
PMCID: PMC3621359  PMID: 23216162
brain stem; cranial nerve disorders; neural plasticity; statistics; visual system
11.  Secondary Psychopathy, but not Primary Psychopathy, is Associated with Risky Decision-Making in Noninstitutionalized Young Adults
Although risky decision-making has been posited to contribute to the maladaptive behavior of individuals with psychopathic tendencies, the performance of psychopathic groups on a common task of risky decision-making, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT; Bechara, Damasio, Damasio, & Anderson, 1994), has been equivocal. Different aspects of psychopathy (personality traits, antisocial deviance) and/or moderating variables may help to explain these inconsistent findings. In a sample of college students (N = 129, age 18 to 27), we examined the relationship between primary and secondary psychopathic features and IGT performance. A measure of impulsivity was included to investigate its potential as a moderator. In a joint model including main effects and interactions between primary psychopathy, secondary psychopathy and impulsivity, only secondary psychopathy was significantly related to risky IGT performance, and this effect was not moderated by the other variables. This finding supports the growing literature suggesting that secondary psychopathy is a better predictor of decision-making problems than the primary psychopathic personality traits of lack of empathy and remorselessness.
PMCID: PMC3505104  PMID: 23185100
primary psychopathy; secondary psychopathy; impulsivity; risk-taking; decision-making; gambling task; noninstitutionalized
Bone marrow transplantation  2011;47(8):10.1038/bmt.2011.217.
Plerixafor, given on day 4 of G-CSF treatment is more effective than G-CSF alone in mobilizing hematopoietic progenitor cells. We tested a strategy of preemptive plerixafor use following assessment of the peak mobilization response to 5 days of G-CSF. Patients were eligible for plerixafor if, on day 5 of G-CSF, there were less than 7 circulating CD34+ cells/μl or if <1.3 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg were collected on the first day of apheresis. Plerixafor (0.24 mg/kg subcutaneous) was given on day 5 of G-CSF followed by apheresis on day 6. This was repeated for up to two additional doses of plerixafor. The primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of patients who collected at least 2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg. Twenty candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation enrolled on the trial. The circulating CD34+ cell level increased a median of 3.1 fold (range 1–8 fold) after the first dose of plerixafor and a median of 1.2 fold (range 0.3–6.5 fold) after the second dose of plerixafor. Fifteen of 20 (75%) patients achieved the primary endpoint. In conclusion, the decision to administer plerixafor can be delayed until after the peak mobilization response to G-CSF has been fully assessed.
PMCID: PMC3877677  PMID: 22080963
13.  Adult Dual Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Using Myeloablative Total Body Irradiation (1350cGy) and Fludarabine Conditioning
High treatment-related mortality and high graft failure rate are serious concerns in HLA-mismatched umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation with myeloablative conditioning. We conducted a prospective trial of dual UCB transplantation using modified myeloablation consisting of total body irradiation (TBI; 1350 cGy) and fludarabine (160 mg/m2). Twenty-seven patients (median age, 33 years; range, 20–58 years) with hematologic malignancies were enrolled. The median combined cryopreserved total nucleated cell (TNC) dose was 4.3 × 107/kg (range, 3.2–7.7 × 107/kg). The cumulative incidences of neutrophil (≥500/μl) and platelet (≥50,000/μl) engraftment were 80% (95% confidence interval (CI), 58–91%) and 68% (95% CI, 46–83%), respectively. Among engrafted patients, a single cord blood unit was predominant by 100 days post transplantation. A higher cryopreserved and infused TNC dose and infused CD3+ cell dose were significant factors associated with the predominant UCB unit (P = 0.032, 0.020, and 0.042, respectively). Treatment-related mortality and relapse rates at 2 years were 28% (95% CI, 12–47%) and 20% (95% CI, 7–37%), respectively. Cumulative incidences of grades II–IV and grades III–IV acute GVHD were 37% (95% CI, 20–55%) and 11% (95% CI, 3–26%), respectively, and that of chronic GVHD was 31% (95% CI, 15–49%). With a median follow-up of 23 months, overall and disease-free survival rates at 2 years were 58% (95% CI, 34–75%) and 52% (95% CI, 29–70%), respectively. This study supports the use of TBI 1350cGy/fludarabine as an alternative to conventional myeloablative conditioning for dual UCB transplantation.
PMCID: PMC3877679  PMID: 20868761
adult; dual umbilical cord blood transplantation; myeloablative; fludarabine; total body irradiation
14.  Case report: post-stroke interventional BCI rehabilitation in an individual with preexisting sensorineural disability
Therapies involving new technologies such as brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are being studied to determine their potential for interventional rehabilitation after acute events such as stroke produce lasting impairments. While studies have examined the use of BCI devices by individuals with disabilities, many such devices are intended to address a specific limitation and have been studied when this limitation or disability is present in isolation. Little is known about the therapeutic potential of these devices for individuals with multiple disabilities with an acquired impairment overlaid on a secondary long-standing disability. We describe a case in which a male patient with congenital deafness suffered a right pontine ischemic stroke, resulting in persistent weakness of his left hand and arm. This patient volunteer completed four baseline assessments beginning at 4 months after stroke onset and subsequently underwent 6 weeks of interventional rehabilitation therapy using a closed-loop neurofeedback BCI device with visual, functional electrical stimulation, and tongue stimulation feedback modalities. Additional assessments were conducted at the midpoint of therapy, upon completion of therapy, and 1 month after completing all BCI therapy. Anatomical and functional MRI scans were obtained at each assessment, along with behavioral measures including the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Clinically significant improvements in behavioral measures were noted over the course of BCI therapy, with more than 10 point gains in both the ARAT scores and scores for the SIS hand function domain. Neuroimaging during finger tapping of the impaired hand also showed changes in brain activation patterns associated with BCI therapy. This case study demonstrates the potential for individuals who have preexisting disability or possible atypical brain organization to learn to use a BCI system that may confer some rehabilitative benefit.
PMCID: PMC4067954
stroke rehabilitation; brain-computer interface; case study; disability; BCI therapy; UE motor rehabilitation; BCI-FES-TDU
15.  Immune Recovery in Adult Patients Following Myeloablative Dual Umbilical Cord Blood, Matched Sibling, and Matched Unrelated Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Immunologic reconstitution following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a critical component of successful outcome. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation in adult recipients is associated with slow and often inadequate immune recovery. We characterized the kinetics and extent of immune recovery in 95 adult recipients following a dual UCB (n=29), and matched sibling (MSD) (n=33) or unrelated donor (MUD) (n=33) transplantation. All patients were treated with myeloablative conditioning. There were no differences in the immune recovery profile of MSD and MUD recipients. Significantly lower levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were observed in UCB recipients until 6 months following transplantation. Lower levels of regulatory T-cells persisted until 1 year following transplantation. Thymopoiesis as measured by T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circle (TREC) was comparable among all recipients by 6 months following transplantation. In a subset of patients 1 year following transplantation with similar levels of circulating T-cells and TREC, there was no difference in T-cell receptor diversity. Compared to HLA-identical MSD and MUD adult HCT recipients, quantitative lymphoid recovery in UCB transplant recipients is slower in the first 3 months, but these differences disappeared by 6–12 months following transplantation.
PMCID: PMC3472115  PMID: 22698485
adult; dual umbilical cord blood transplantation; matched sibling transplantation; matched unrelated donor transplantation; immune recovery; T-cell receptor excision DNA circles (TRECs); post-thymic T-cell reconstitution
17.  Newborn TSH in children with optic nerve hypoplasia: Associations with hypothyroidism and vision
To assess in children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) whether newborn screening (NBS) thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurements can detect central hypothyroidism and whether newborn TSH or subsequent thyroidal status is associated with visual function.
A subset of patients in the registry of children with ONH at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles who were born in California was used to make a retrospective comparison of NBS TSH levels and subsequent postnatal thyroid status. Another subset of registry subjects with vision and thyroid status data at age 5 years was assessed for the relationship of vision to NBS TSH levels and ultimate thyroidal status.
A total of 135 subjects from the ONH registry were included in this study. Approximately 50% of subjects in each analysis were hypothyroid. Those diagnosed with hypothyroidism had lower median NBS TSH levels than did euthyroid subjects (3.2 vs 4.5 μIU/mL; P = 0.006) and significantly worse quantitative vision outcomes (median visual acuity, logMAR 3.0 vs 1.0; P = 0.039). Receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested an optimal NBS TSH cut-point of 3.3 μIU/mL. Serum TSH over this level (30/43) was associated with relatively better vision outcomes (median visual acuity, logMAR 1.2 vs 3.3; P = 0.04).
Children with ONH and lower NBS TSH levels are more likely to have central hypothyroidism and less likely to experience good vision than those with higher NBS TSH levels.
PMCID: PMC3481172  PMID: 23084376
18.  Selected Approaches for Rational Drug Design and High Throughput Screening to Identify Anti-Cancer Molecules
Structure-based modeling combined with rational drug design, and high throughput screening approaches offer significant potential for identifying and developing lead compounds with therapeutic potential. The present review focuses on these two approaches using explicit examples based on specific derivatives of Gossypol generated through rational design and applications of a cancer-specific-promoter derived from Progression Elevated Gene-3. The Gossypol derivative Sabutoclax (BI-97C1) displays potent anti-tumor activity against a diverse spectrum of human tumors. The model of the docked structure of Gossypol bound to Bcl-XL provided a virtual structure-activity-relationship where appropriate modifications were predicted on a rational basis. These structure-based studies led to the isolation of Sabutoclax, an optically pure isomer of Apogossypol displaying superior efficacy and reduced toxicity. These studies illustrate the power of combining structure-based modeling with rational design to predict appropriate derivatives of lead compounds to be empirically tested and evaluated for bioactivity. Another approach to cancer drug discovery utilizes a cancer-specific promoter as readouts of the transformed state. The promoter region of Progression Elevated Gene-3 is such a promoter with cancer-specific activity. The specificity of this promoter has been exploited as a means of constructing cancer terminator viruses that selectively kill cancer cells and as a systemic imaging modality that specifically visualizes in vivo cancer growth with no background from normal tissues. Screening of small molecule inhibitors that suppress the Progression Elevated Gene-3-promoter may provide relevant lead compounds for cancer therapy that can be combined with further structure-based approaches leading to the development of novel compounds for cancer therapy.
PMCID: PMC3763986  PMID: 22931411
Progression Elevated Gene-3; Sabutoclax; Apogossypol; BI-97C1; Gossypol; AP-1; PEA3; ETV4; E1AF; c-fos; c-jun; Cancer Terminator Virus
19.  DNAJB6 governs a novel regulatory loop determining Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity
The Biochemical journal  2012;444(3):573-580.
Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) is a secreted inhibitor of the Wnt signaling pathway and a critical modulator of tumor promotion and the tumor microenvironment. However, mechanisms regulating DKK1 expression are understudied. DNAJB6 is an HSP40 family member whose expression is compromised during progression of breast cancer and melanoma. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, by up-regulation of DKK1, is one of the key mechanisms by which DNAJB6 suppresses tumor, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Analysis of the DKK1 promoter to define the cis-site responsible for its up regulation by DNAJB6 revealed the presence of two binding sites for a transcriptional repressor, MSX1 (muscle segment homeobox gene). Our investigations showed that MSX1 binds the DKK1 promoter and inhibits DKK1 transcription. Interestingly, silencing DNAJB6 resulted in up-regulation of MSX1 concomitant with increased stabilization of β-catenin. ChIP studies revealed that β-catenin binds MSX1 promoter and stabilization of β-catenin elevates MSX1 transcription, indicating that β-catenin works as a transcription co-activator for MSX1. Functionally, exogenous expression of MSX1 in DNAJB6 expressing cells promotes the mesenchymal phenotype by suppression of DKK1. Thus we have identified a novel regulatory mechanism of DNAJB6 mediated DKK1 transcription up-regulation that can influence epithelial-mesenchymal transition. DKK1 is a feedback regulator of β-catenin levels. Thus our studies also define an additional negative control of this β-catenin-DKK1 feedback loop by MSX1, which may potentially contribute to excessive stabilization of β-catenin.
PMCID: PMC3712349  PMID: 22455953
20.  Pre-engraftment syndrome after myeloablative dual umbilical cord blood transplantation: Risk factors and response to treatment
Bone marrow transplantation  2013;48(7):926-931.
High fever and/or rash prior to neutrophil engraftment are frequently observed after umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation, and the condition is referred to as pre-engraftment syndrome (PES). Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for and treatment response to PES. Therefore, we retrospectively characterized PES in 57 consecutive engrafted patients (≥12 years old) who received myeloablative dual UCB transplantation. All patients received TBI (≥13.2Gy)-based myeloablative conditioning. Tacrolimus (n=35) or cyclosporine (n=22) combined with mycophenolate mofetil was used as GVHD prophylaxis. PES was defined as the presence of non-infectious fever (≥38.5°C) and/or rash prior to or on the day of neutrophil engraftment. The incidence (95% CI) of PES was 77% (66%–88%). The incidence of PES was significantly higher in patients who received cyclosporine as a GVHD prophylaxis than those who received tacrolimus (P<0.001), and this association was confirmed in the multivariate analysis. The occurrence of PES did not impact overall survival or tumor relapse, although it may have increased non-relapse mortality (P=0.071). The incidence of acute GHVD or treatment-related mortality was not influenced by the choice to use corticosteroids to treat PES. This study suggests that use of cyclosporine for GVHD prophylaxis increases the risk of PES following dual umbilical cord blood transplantation.
PMCID: PMC3701735  PMID: 23334274
pre-engraftment syndrome; dual umbilical cord blood transplantation; myeloablative
21.  Cellular stress stimulates nuclear localization signal (NLS) independent nuclear transport of MRJ
Experimental Cell Research  2012;318(10):1086-1093.
HSP40 family member MRJ (DNAJB6) has been in the spot light for its relevance to Huntington’s, Parkinson’s diseases, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, placental development, neural stem cells, cell cycle and malignancies such as breast cancer and melanoma. This gene has two spliced variants coding for 2 distinct proteins with significant homology. However, MRJ(L) (large variant) is predominantly localized to the nucleus whereas MRJ(S) (small variant) is predominantly cytoplasmic. Interestingly MRJ(S) translocates to the nucleus in response to heat shock. The classical heat shock proteins respond to crises (stress) by increasing the number of molecules, usually by transcriptional up-regulation. Our studies imply that a quick increase in the molar concentration of MRJ in the nuclear compartment is a novel method by which MRJ responds to stress. We found that MRJ(S) shows NLS (nuclear localization signal) independent nuclear localization in response to heat shock and hypoxia. The specificity of this response is realized due to lack of such response by MRJ(S) when challenged by other stressors, such as some cytokines or UV light. Deletion analysis has allowed us to narrow down on a 20 amino acid stretch at the C-terminal region of MRJ(S) as a potential stress sensing region. Functional studies indicated that constitutive nuclear localization of MRJ(S) promoted attributes of malignancy such as proliferation and invasiveness overall indicating distinct phenotypic characteristics of nuclear MRJ(S).
PMCID: PMC3406602  PMID: 22504047
MRJ; DnaJB6; NLS; Heat Shock
22.  Suspicious Ultrasound Characteristics Predict BRAFV600E-Positive Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Thyroid  2012;22(6):585-589.
Current American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines recommend routine cervical ultrasound (US) in thyroid nodule evaluation. Specific US characteristics can help diagnose papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of this blinded cohort study was to determine whether these specific US characteristics can also reliably detect the more aggressive variants of PTC that are often associated with the BRAFV600E mutation.
After Institutional Review Board approval, we identified a cohort of patients from January 2007 to December 2009 with histologic PTC≥1 cm who had cervical US, initial thyroid surgery, and molecular testing for BRAFV600E on fine-needle aspiration biopsy or histology. Preoperative US images were evaluated by a single radiologist, who was blinded to BRAF status, for nodule size and the presence or absence of the following suspicious US features: taller-than-wide shape, ill-defined margins, hypoechogenicity, calcifications, noncystic composition, and absent halo.
BRAF-positivity was associated with most known suspicious US findings, including taller-than-wide shape (47% vs. 7%, p<0.001), ill-defined margins (42% vs. 9%, p<0.001), hypoechogenicity (83% vs. 36%, p<0.001), micro/macrocalcifications (87% vs. 24%, p<0.001), and absent halo (85% vs. 27%, p<0.001) but was not associated with noncystic composition. When ≥3 suspicious US features were present, BRAF-positivity was predicted with a positive predictive value of 82%. The absence of suspicious US features together with negative BRAF testing predicted PTC without extrathyroidal extension or lymph node metastasis (negative predictive value 88%).
With routine preoperative cervical US and molecular testing, a trained radiologist or surgeon can improve the preoperative characterization of PTC, potentially impacting risk stratification and initial surgical management.
PMCID: PMC3358112  PMID: 22524468
23.  Metabolic Abnormalities and Viral Replication is Associated with Biomarkers of Vascular Dysfunction in HIV-Infected Children
HIV Medicine  2011;13(5):264-275.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children may be at risk for premature cardiovascular disease. We compared levels of biomarkers of vascular dysfunction among HIV-infected children with and without hyperlipidemia to HIV-exposed, uninfected children (HEU) enrolled in the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS), and determined factors associated with these biomarkers.
Prospective cohort study
Biomarkers of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1)); coagulant dysfunction (fibrinogen and P-selectin); endothelial dysfunction (soluble intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM), and E-selectin); and metabolic dysfunction (adiponectin) were measured in 226 HIV-infected and 140 HEU children. Anthropometry, body composition, lipids, glucose, insulin, HIV disease severity, and antiretroviral therapy were recorded.
The median ages were 12.3 y (HIV-infected) and 10.1 y (HEU). Body mass index (BMI) Z-scores, waist and hip circumference, and percent body fat were lower among HIV-infected. Total and non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in HIV-infected children. HIV-infected children had higher MCP-1, fibrinogen, sICAM, and sVCAM levels. In multivariable analyses in the HIV-infected children alone, BMI z-score was associated with higher CRP and fibrinogen, but lower MCP-1 and sVCAM. Unfavorable lipid profiles were positively associated with IL6, MCP1, fibrinogen, and P- and E-selectin, whereas increased HIV viral load was associated with markers of inflammation (MCP1 and CRP) and endothelial dysfunction (sICAM and sVCAM).
HIV-infected children have higher levels of biomarkers of vascular dysfunction than do HEU children. Risk factors associated with higher biomarkers include unfavorable lipid levels and active HIV replication.
PMCID: PMC3297698  PMID: 22136114
Children; HIV/AIDS; vascular dysfunction; cardiovascular risk factors; biomarkers
24.  Differential Impact of Inhibitory and Activating Killer Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors (KIR) in High Risk Patients with Myeloid and Lymphoid Malignancies Undergoing Reduced Intensity Transplantation from Haploidentical Related Donors
Bone marrow transplantation  2011;47(6):817-823.
Impact of activating (aKIR) and inhibitory (iKIR) on overall survival (OS), relapse-related mortality (RRM), and acute graft-vs.-host disease (aGVHD) were studied in 84 adults with high risk hematologic malignancies receiving reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) T-cell depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from haploidentical related donors. In this clinical model, freedom from RRM was more dependent on graft-vs-leukemia (GVL) effect. Patients were divided into myeloid (n=49) and lymphoid (n=35) malignancy groups. KIR-ligand and ligand-ligand models were studied in both directions and statistically correlated with outcome measures. In the myeloid group, OS was higher (p=0.009) and RRM lower (p=0.036) in patients missing HLA-C group2 ligand to donor inhibitory KIR. OS was higher if patients had >1 missing ligand (p=0.018). In lymphoid malignancy, missing ligand to donor KIR had no impact on OS or RRM. However, OS was longer with donor activating KIR 2DS2 (p=0.028). There was a trend toward shorter OS in recipient with KIR 2DS1, 2DS5 and 3DS1, although sample sizes are too small to provide inferential statistics. These results suggest that absence of appropriate HLA ligands in the recipient to donor iKIR may induce GVL without aGVHD in myeloid malignancy patients undergoing TCD-RIC transplants.
PMCID: PMC3629554  PMID: 22139069
KIR; Activating KIR; Inhibitory KIR; Haploidentical; Reduced Intensity Conditioning (RIC); Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)
25.  Dickkopf1: A tumor suppressor or metastasis promoter?
Dickkopf1 (DKK1), a secreted inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, is a negative regulator of bone formation. DKK1 acts as a switch that transitions prostate cancer bone metastases from osteolytic to osteoblastic and also is an active indicator of poor outcome for multiple myeloma. However, in other tumor types, DKK1 up-regulation or over-expression suppresses tumor growth. Thus, the role of DKK1 in cancer appears to be diverse. This raises a question: Could the increased levels of DKK1 still be tumor protective when observed in high levels in the serum of patients? Here, we summarize the diverse, seemingly contradicting roles of DKK1 and attempt to explain the apparent dichotomy in its activity. We propose that DKK1 is a critical secreted factor that modulates microenvironment. Based on the location and components of the microenvironment DKK1 will support different outcomes.
PMCID: PMC3253198  PMID: 21953410

Results 1-25 (156)


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It’s hard to remember that the happily married mother-of-two was once a tabloid … READ MORE

Paris Hilton Releases New Single, ‘Drunk Text’

By Radar Staff

Paris Hilton is making music again.

The socialite released her new dance single Drunk Text on Wednesday, her first major offering since her 2… READ MORE

DJ Cobra Clutches International Success

By Adam S. LevyRadar Staff Writer

Passionate, intelligent, studious and ambitious, DJ Cobra is an emerging mainstream talent, performing high-… READ MORE

The Best, Worst & Wackiest Dressed Stars Of The Week

By Leah OrnsteinRadar Style & Beauty Editor

From the red carpet of the 2012 DGA Awards and the 2012 SAG Awards to the city streets, Hollywood’s h… READ MORE

Boobiful Bombshell! Katherine Heigl Sexes Up Her Style For Paris Premi...

By Leah OrnsteinRadar Style & Beauty Editor

If you’ve got it girl, flaunt it!

Katherine Heigl is known for dressing conservatively on the red c… READ MORE


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BREAKING NEWS: Actor Corey Haim Dead Of Accidental Drug Overdose

Eighties teen idol Corey Haim has died at 38 as result of an accidental drug overdose, has learned.

PHOTOS: Corey Haim Through The Years

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department tells us that Haim was pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, California at 2:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Haim was found unresponsive at an Oakwood apartment complex in the Burbank area, police said, adding that his mother Judy was present at the time and called 911.  Four prescription bottles were found inside the apartment, which he shared with his mother.  He felt weak, got out of bed, and fell to his knees

Haim, a native Canadian, made a name for himself in the 80s with roles in films such as Lucas, The Lost Boys, License To Drive and Murphy’s Romance.

Haim’s financial problems became public in the late 90s, when he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 1997 in a Los Angeles, California court. According to court documents, the actor owed nearly $104,000 to the I.R.S., and $100,000 to the state of California for taxes and various medical expenses. At that point, most of his show biz earnings were long gone, as his fortune, per the court docs, was reduced to a 1987 BMW, $100 cash, $750 in clothing and $7,500 in residuals and royalties, and a pension plan.

PHOTOS: Celebs Who Died Young

Haim’s acting career stalled in recent years, but in 2007, he was seen in a reality show called The Two Coreys with longtime colleague and friend, Corey Feldman.

In interviews, Haim was candid about his well-publicized battle with substance abuse.

“I was working on The Lost Boys when I smoked my first joint,” he said, according to IMDb. “But a year before that, I was starting to drink beer on the set of the film Lucas. I lived in Los Angeles in the 80s, which was not the best place to be. I did cocaine for about a year and a half, then it led to crack.

Haim said he weaned himself from one addiction into another.

“I started on the downers which were a hell of a lot better than the uppers because I was a nervous wreck,” he said. “But one led to two, two led to four, four led to eight, until at the end it was about 85 a day — the doctors could not believe I was taking that much. And that was just the Valium — I’m not talking about the other pills I went through.”

Stay with for this developing story.

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Jealous, Brad? Angelina Jolie’s Super-Hot Trainer Brags About His Intimate Relationship With Pitt’s Partner In New Interview

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Splash News/Getty

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have spent several weeks apart in recent months, as she films her new movie Unbroken in Australia, and he works on Fury in the U.K. But she’s not hurting for hunky male company. Jolie hired hot blonde Aussie muscle man Luke Hines to advise her on fitness and nutrition during the shoot, and he claims they’ve already gotten very close.

“Within minutes of meeting [Angelina], she put me at ease,” Hines gushed in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

“She really is the most professional, down-to-earth person, and she’s so present when she’s with you,” he continued. “She’s not on her phone, or looking over your shoulder.”

PHOTOS: Brad Pitt Shows Off A Different Side In Interview Magazine

During one intimate tea date, he says, “She looked me in the eyes, and she said, ‘You know what kind of people I dig? I dig people who wake up every morning and ask themselves what can I do for somebody else? ‘That’s never leaving me. That sentence resonated with me on so many levels.”

“You meet so many people who are generally out for themselves,” Hines explained. “There’s nothing more refreshing than having people around that are good people.”

Do you think Pitt should be worried about Jolie spending so much time with the hunky fitness trainer and male model? Let us know in the comments!

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Linda's healthy ,low calorie but tasty dishes and desserts

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Chicken and Creamy Curry Wrap
Good 3.9/5
(182 ratings)

Chicken and a savory sauce wrapped up.

Submitted by *SPARKLEMAMA*

Carbs: 20.5g | Fat: 8.2g | Fiber: 11.1g | Protein: 32.7g | Calories: 287.2
Very Good 4.4/5
(11 ratings)

A tangy recipe to sweeten up chicken. A fabulous grill recipe.

Submitted by BUCKYCPA

Carbs: 16.3g | Fat: 4.1g | Fiber: 1g | Protein: 27.8g | Calories: 230.8
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Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 8
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 226.9
  • Total Fat: 3.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 32.5 mg
  • Sodium: 948.0 mg
  • Total Carbs: 28.0 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 7.9 g
  • Protein: 19.8 g

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Tomato Soup Chili

Submitted by: EHAMLIN3897

Number of Servings: 8

    1 lb lean ground beef
    1 can Tomato Soup
    2 cans Kidney beans
    1 can diced tomatoes
    1 packet mild chili seasoning

Makes about 8 servings.

Brown ground beef, drain. In a large pot combine Toamato Soup, one half Tomato Soup can of water, Kidney Beans, diced tomatoes, and seasoning packet with drained ground beef

Number of Servings: 8

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user EHAMLIN3897.

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  • Servings Per Recipe: 4
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 172.8
  • Total Fat: 12.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 5.2 mg
  • Sodium: 135.5 mg
  • Total Carbs: 11.5 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2.5 g
  • Protein: 4.5 g

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Chicken Ala King Lowfat

Submitted by: STARTINGOVER03

Number of Servings: 4

    2 tbsp canola oil
    2 Chcken Breast, cut into cubes
    2 carrots, diced
    2 celery, diced
    1 tbsp of onion diced
    1/2 cup peas,frozen, thawed
    2 tbsp oleo
    2tbsp flour

Put 2 oil in large skillet and heat add chicken and brown on all sides take out chicken place aside. then add carrots, celery, and onion and cook until soft push aside and add in oleo and flour to make the sauce add in 2-3 cups of chicken broth. and cook until almost thick add in skim milk and cook the add in chicken to warm and peas. cook until all hot. mean while bake your biscuits, Yummo!

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user ANEWME55.

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  • Servings Per Recipe: 2
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 626.9
  • Total Fat: 19.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 30.0 mg
  • Sodium: 1,872.5 mg
  • Total Carbs: 81.5 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 15.0 g
  • Protein: 34.7 g

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Personal Whole Wheat Pizza's

Submitted by: BEHAPPY0201

Number of Servings: 2

    Boboli Whole Wheat Mini Crust (1/2 Shell), 4 serving
    Mozzarella Cheese, part skim milk, 8 oz
    *Spaghetti/Marinara Sauce (tomato sauce), 1.50 cup

Divide sauce over two crusts - grate cheese and divide over two crust. Cook according the directions on boboli crust.

Number of Servings: 2

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  • Servings Per Recipe: 6
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 174.4
  • Total Fat: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 6.3 mg
  • Sodium: 575.7 mg
  • Total Carbs: 29.9 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g
  • Protein: 10.6 g

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Broccoli Cheese Soup

Submitted by: DEZE509

Number of Servings: 6

    1 10oz. frozen chopped broccoli
    2 carrots, shredded
    1/2 cup chopped red onion
    3 cups vegetable broth
    1 can evaporated fat free milk
    12 oz Velveeta Light, cubed

Place veggies in pot with broth and heat until veggies begin to soften and broth is boiling. Reduce heat. Add cheese and milk. Stir to combine until cheese is melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Number of Servings: 6

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user DEZE509.

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Fresh Air

Monday - Friday at 9pm on HD3
Terry Gross

Fresh Air opens the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics. Airs Monday through Friday at 9 p.m. on Red River Radio HD3 With NPR News Headlines at 9:01

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Mon April 1, 2013
Author Interviews

In Digestion: Mary Roach Explains What Happens To The Food We Eat

For all our talk about food, we don't like to think much about it after we put it in our mouths. But Mary Roach — whose latest book is Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal — did just that. Gulp takes a close look at the human digestive system, from the mouth on down, and Roach writes that she wants readers to say not, "This is gross," but instead, "I thought this would be gross, but it's really interesting. OK, and maybe a little gross."

Read more

Sat March 30, 2013
Fresh Air Weekend

Fresh Air Weekend: Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Chris Hayes And 'Room 237'

Originally published on Sat March 30, 2013 10:51 am

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell have been friends and collaborators since the 1970s. Their new album together is called Old Yellow Moon.
David McClister Nonesuch Records

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

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Fri March 29, 2013
Movie Reviews

Hunting For Secrets In 'The Shining's' Room 237

Rodney Ascher, director of the experimental documentary Room 237, leads an exploration of differing interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's classic horror film The Shining.
IFC Midnight

Awhile back, I went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to see its show on filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. It was jammed with visitors poring over his letters, eyeing the dresses worn by the spooky twins in The Shining, and posing for photos in front of the sexy-futuristic decor of the Korova Milk Bar from A Clockwork Orange.

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Fri March 29, 2013
Movie Interviews

Frank Langella: A Career 'Like A Chekhov Play'

Originally published on Fri March 29, 2013 1:03 pm

Frank Langella, who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon, stars in the film Robot & Frank, about an aging ex-burglar. He says he was drawn to the unsentimental role.
Joe Fornabaio

This interview was originally broadcast on Aug. 16, 2012.

Frank Langella's career has not been an upward trajectory of success — and he likes it that way. He's had memorable roles on stage and screen, and times when he couldn't find work, or even an agent.

Now 75, Langella tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies, he's never been hungrier to act.

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Thu March 28, 2013
Music Interviews

Emmylou Harris And Rodney Crowell: Harmonizing To That 'Old Yellow Moon'

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell have been friends and collaborators since the 1970s. Their new album together is called Old Yellow Moon.
David McClister Nonesuch Records

Emmylou Harris' first solo album, "Pieces of the Sky," was released in 1975 after the death of her singing partner, Gram Parsons. The opening track on the album is a song called "Bluebird Wine," by a then-unknown songwriter named Rodney Crowell. She recorded two more of his songs on her next album, got him to join her band in the mid-'70s and now, after an almost 40-year friendship, the two musicians have recorded an album together called Old Yellow Moon. The two talk with Terry Gross about their long, enduring careers, their friendship, their influences and singing harmony.

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Hard to Sugarcoat McNabb to Redskins as anything but Foolish Move

Believe me: I will try to convince myself otherwise.  There’s just nowhere to hide it: the Redskins aren’t getting anything substancial out of the Donovan McNabb deal.

For some people, the ability to root for someone who isn’t Jason Campbell, more specifcally, the ability to root for a player who they’ve rooted against for so long is enough on it’s own to excite them.  I can’t blame anyone who takes this perspective.  The Redskins have once again blown away every other team in contention for the title of 2010 offseason champion, and have firmly established themselves as the March-April team of the decade.  Their pop-cultual relevance is undeniable.

Prior to making this trade, the Redskins featured a competent quarterback who, to his fault, was merely the fourth best quarterback in his own division.  You’re not going to win consistently with that.  So the Redskins took it upon themselves to trade for an unwanted franchise player who comes over to Washington as: the fourth best quarterback in the division.  McNabb is more established than the man who will take his old gig, Kevin Kolb, but you didn’t need me to tell you that Philadelphia wouldn’t have pulled the trigger at this time if Kolb’s 2010 value hadn’t surpassed McNabb’s, especially considering just how much that organization loved Donovan McNabb.  They loved him enough to wait for the Redskins to up their offer, rather than take the best available deal on the table from Buffalo and Oakland.  Andy Reid and the Eagles organization did right by their old quarterback: they moved him at the right time, and they moved him to a spot where he will have ample opportuinty to show the Eagles that they were wrong.

The Eagles had soured on McNabb for a reason: his play has dropped off significantly since the days where he could buy time running and still find a Duce Staley, or a Terrell Owens, or a Donte Stallworth, or a Brian Westbrook down the field for a big gain.  The fact that the Eagles could stand to trade him within the division really tells you everything you need to know about his future value.  In the grand scheme of things, the Eagles have bigger plans than making sure McNabb won’t get his revenge on him.  So McNabb and the Skins might go into Philadelphia and win a game this year?  They don’t much care about that, as long as they finish ahead of the Redskins in the standings.

Probability says they will.  They believe they have the better quarterback (they probably do), they have the better team, the better athletes, and they have the better coach.  McNabb has the most reason to want revenge, but why should the Eagles give a crap?  If they wanted to be malicious to McNabb, he could be a Bill or a Raider already, but instead, he’s a Redskin and there’s no shame in that.

So the Redskins have acquired a player on the decline who used to be a perennial pro-bowler, until Tony Romo and Eli Manning and Drew Brees joined the conference and upped the quality of quarterback play.  Hey, Jason Campbell probably would have been a pro bowler as well, if not for that pesky competition.  McNabb represents an upgrade of sorts on what Jason Campbell brings to the table, but you have to wonder about the arrogance that’s running through Redskins Park that suggests that the extra 2 TDs or 150 yards or 2 fewer sacks/INTs that McNabb could bring this year might represent the differnce between an 8-8 team and a super bowl contender.  As far as I can tell, the long-term plan appears to be: be bold, and hope to get really lucky.  Andy Reid suggests the Redskins are a better team with Donovan this year than with Jason Campbell, and it’s hard to argue that point.  It’s also hard to argue that the Redskins are so much better off that the Eagles consider them a threat to their ability to win the division.  Mike Shanahan might fancy a squad a playoff team, but the other teams in their division aren’t worried.  After all, they all have better quarterbacks than the Redskins do.  At least the Redskins temporarily have the best backup in the NFL, which should factor into the official Offseason Champion Power Rankings in the team’s favor.

Don’t be surprised if the Redskins continue to post above average pass offense metrics with McNabb at the helm in 2010.  I would expect nothing less, seeing as the Redskins have managed to remain above average in Passing DVOA every year since 2005.  This move might have a net positive effect on developing receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, not to mention it makes Santana Moss viable once again.  Will it have a net positive impact on points?  That’s doubtful.  McNabb is not a risk-taker, by trade.  He’s second behind only Neil O’Donnell on the list for all-time lowest INT rate.  He takes a lot of sacks, probably* more than Campbell does, and fumbles about as often as you’d expect with a guy who takes as many hits as he does.  In the famous 4th & 26 playoff game vs. Green Bay, McNabb was sacked eight times, including on that series that led to the 4th & 26.  GB’s pass rush ranked 20th in ASR that year.

*Trying to adjust for OL quality is a fools game, but their sack rates are roughly equal for career.

McNabb will play to the quality of his passing offense.  According to DVOA, that’s 12th, 14th, and 17th in 2009-2007 respectively.  In Washington, you can expect a sizable downgrade in quality of that offense.  Where does that put us?  Charatably, somewhere between the 15th and 20th best passing game in the NFL.

Oh, wait, that’s where the Redskins are right now with I-forget-his-name at quarterback.

McNabb is unlikely to play a full 16 game season in Washington, as he has done so only once in the past five years, and injury is usually the most obvious sign of decline.  Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, and Drew Brees have not missed a start due to injury since 2006.  That Rivers streak has survived a torn ACL.  Campbell had made it two seasons in a row without missing a start.  That streak may continue, but not in Washington.  The injury record suggests that McNabb is not aging nearly as well as any of the above quarterbacks.  He might age as well as Tony Romo, but McNabb has a four year head start on Ol’ Faithful.  With a labor lockout looming, I am setting the over-under for Donovan McNabb games played in Washington at 12.5.  That’s not quite Michael Barrow, but it’s no Jason Taylor either.  That dude made it to 13 games (and 8 starts)!

Finally, I have to credit TheWarpath.net fourm user CRedskinsRule for his excellent, unique take on this trade when he summed it up in this sentence:

[Vinny Cerrato] would have gotten [Donovan McNabb] for a 2nd and a 6th

At the beginning of this era, this is probably the most enduring issue I have with the McNabb deal: the Redskins have been down this road before, and fans already know how this is going to end.


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Fernanda D'Agostino
Since 2009
Works in Portland, Oregon United States of America

Working in sculpture, public art, mixed media, video, and performance, Fernanda D'Agostino studied at George Washington University/The Corcoran School, earned her BS in education at the College of New Jersey, (1973) and her MFA in sculpture from the University of Montana (1984). Since 1984 D’Agostino has completed twenty-five public commissions and fifteen exhibitions, many incorporating moving images in novel ways. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. Her solo exhibitions include Traveler’s Rest, Abundance and Scarcity, Fate, Imagining the Other Side, Theater of Memory, Flight Studies and Motion Studies.
Her work has been recognized by a project grant from the NEA, state fellowships in Montana and Oregon, Regional Initiatives Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Warhol Foundation, and a Bronson Fellowship. She was selected as a Flintridge Foundation Fellow in 2001, and her 2008 video installation Motion Studies was recognized by a Lindburgh Honor Award in 2009. Her work is also included numerous publications including Lois Allan's Contemporary Art in the Northwest and in the collections of the Houston Museum of Fine Art, Reed College, The Yellowstone Art Museum and The New York Public Library Artists Book Collection.
D'Agostino has received public art commissions for the Portland TriMet Light Rail; Tacoma Link Light Rail; the Smith and Bybee Lakes Restoration project Portland; Sea Tac Airport; The Capital Area Parks and Planning Commission (Washington); The cities of San Jose, CA and Phoenix AZ; and The East Bay Regional Trail in Oakland, California. D’Agostino is a pioneer in the use of outdoor video projections in public art. “Celestial Navigations,” (2009) video projections on a monumental navigational instrument, is sited at SeaTac International Airport. Portland State University’s “Intellectual Ecosystem” was a 2010 Public Art Network National Year in Review selection for its innovative use of moving images in a public place. Video from her 2008 installation, Motion Studies, has screened at Rencontres Internationales Sciences et Cinémas, France; 809 International New Image Art Festival–China; Technarte, Spain; Madcat International Film Festival, San Francisco; EVA, London; and Mumbai International Film Festival (National Film Board of India Invitation). Her current installation “Pool” uses interactive video projections to immerse viewers in an ever changing environment of memory, thought and dreams. Video from "Pool" has been exhibited at the Greestone Gallery, UK, and in Venice, Italy as part of "Hidden and Forbidden Identities." Recently Fernanda was a visiting artist at the American Academy of Rome. She is represented by Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland.
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Motion Studies

Video from Motion Studies was screened at Festivals in eight countries.


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Letter: Today is American Diabetes Alert Day

Nearly 26 million people in the U.S. have diabetes.

Open Letter to the Editor:

Tuesday, March 27, 2012, is American Diabetes Alert Day—a “wake up” call to inform people about the seriousness of diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to deadly complications—including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation.

Nearly 26 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes—including 375,000 people in Minnesota. A quarter of those with the disease—almost 100,000 in Minnesota alone—do not know they have it. By 2050, as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes.

The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through regular physical activity, healthy eating, and by losing just 7 percent of body weight (15 pounds if you weigh 200).

We strongly urge you to take the Diabetes Risk Test and share the test with everyone you care about—friends, family members and colleagues. You can take your free Diabetes Risk Test (in English or Spanish) by visiting the American Diabetes Association website, Facebook page, or by calling 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). The Diabetes Risk Test is available year-round and includes links to information on ways you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.

The Minnesota Diabetes and Heart Health Collaborative

rob_h78 March 27, 2012 at 05:05 PM
Diabetes is just such a huge problem and while many people call it a ticking medical time-bomb waiting to explode I think that it is already exploding and that it is a process that will keep exploding for decades to come and the cost to society is going to be enormous and while I know many people are so worried about the government doing much of anything, the reality is that if something isn't done everyone will pay the price and no one will get out of this unscathed either by taxpayer dollars for Medicare, etc... or vastly increasing health care premiums for your insurance or even if you pay cash the increasing costs that providers will pass on to everyone.

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London police to go easy on kids cycling on pavements

Boris Johnson asks Met boss to relax rules following the case of the Schonrock kids

by Martin Thomas   July 13, 2010

Kid on a bike (Creative Commons Werner100359)

London Mayor Boris Johnson has asked the Met police to relax their stance on children cycling on pavements.

According to the Evening Standard, the Mayor spoke to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson following the widely reported case of the Schonrock children from Dulwich, whose parents allow them to cycle to school unaccompanied.

Oliver and Gillian Schonrock were given a warning by their children’s headmaster for allowing their eight-year-old daughter and five-year-old son to cycle the mile and a half to their school.

But Boris called the parents ‘heroes’ and now Sir Paul has given what’s been described as an ‘immediate sympathetic response’ to the Mayor’s suggestion.

Officers have no legal power to stop children under 10 from cycling on the pavement as they are below the age of criminality. But police say that when they face such a situation in future, they will take a more relaxed view — provided the children are not being a nuisance.

Commander Mark Gore, head of Safer Transport Command, said, “This is not a carte-blanche instruction for all cyclists, but recognises that learning to ride on busy roads in London can be very daunting for young children.

“By taking a common-sense approach we can provide them with an opportunity to gain experience and build confidence in a safer environment.”

Mr Schonrock, a 40-year-old manager of an e-commerce firm, told the Standard, “This is great news for any parents who want to expose their children carefully to some of the risks of the real world.”

There are some telling comments beneath the Standard article. A reader named Peter, who describes himself as living in ‘Bewildered Britain’, says, “The fact that they are on a cycle is being a nuisance enough! No respect learnt as a child and the same when they take to the road properly and eventually death from riding like they own the road and expect everyone to give way to them.”

5 user comments

Oldest firstNewest firstBest rated

"By taking a common-sense approach"

Not nearly enough of this done nowadays.

Of course children should be allowed to ride on the pavement until they are old enough to face the road.

Now all we need is specific legislation of motorists who kill or seriously injure cyclists to be introduced. We need to stop the culture of drivers thinking of cyclists as a nuisance and start thinking of them as a a serious hazard. If a driver knows he will be heavily fined, banned from driving or imprisoned for colliding with a cyclist maybe then they will pay as much attention to bikes as they do speed cameras.

posted by italiafirenze [68 posts]
13th July 2010 - 12:42

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I was under the impression that if you ride a bike with 16" wheels or smaller (bmx etc) then you are actually allowed to ride on the pavement as the bike is considered a 'toy' in a legal sense. Also, I thought that under the age of 12 individuals were already legally allowed to ride on the pavement when accompanied by an adult (on foot).

This was mentioned as part of the bikeability instructor training.

not all carbon is the same.

Jon Burrage's picture

posted by Jon Burrage [1080 posts]
13th July 2010 - 12:49

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The country's roads are daunting for anyone, including experienced adult cyclists. How the **** do police think 11 year olds are going to survive HGVs, 4x4s and white vans whooshing past a few inches from their elbows?

My son is eight and there is NO WAY he's going on any roads apart from the quietest cul-de-sacs and residential streets with speed bumps. He is taught to ride considerately on the pavement and to understand that you can't ever expect drivers to see you. I suspect the roads won't change by the time he's 11 or 12 unless a lot more drivers treat cyclists better than they do now.

The idiotic 'Peter' quoted above demonstrates the pea-sized brain of some people. Obviously beyond help. Cyclists are only asking to be respected as fellow road users, why is that so difficult? One obvious answer is a role swap - me in the 4x4 with a heavy right foot and a mobile in hand, his child pedalling so selfishly in the path of my deadly speed machine.

Simon E's picture

posted by Simon E [1888 posts]
13th July 2010 - 16:50

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Confused i thought the legal age for being able to ride a bicycle was 11 anyway so i agree whole heartedly with Mr Johnson. I live on a very busy inner London road where ADULT cyclists are always using the foot path and they dont appear to care about pedestrians, in fact cyclists seem to think padestrians are a nuisance. I have NEVER seen any cyclist stopped for riding on a pavement, going through a red light or through a zebra crossing when everything else has stopped (although i have seen news reports of it). I have 4 children who all use bicycles but want to know when adult cyclists will start having laws against them for their treatment of padestrians instead of always talking about the poor cyclists. Cyclists cannot be identified as they ride away from an accident, if they want space, let them pay some kind of fee and have a way of identifying each of them. Pedestrians are at the bottom of this food chain not cyclists.

posted by Sandam [1 posts]
14th July 2010 - 12:37

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Peter's use of grammar tells you a lot about his intelligence.

posted by OldRidgeback [2114 posts]
14th July 2010 - 14:19

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