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Supplementary Figure 2B from Genetic Variations in Multiple Drug Action Pathways and Survival in Advanced Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy

Supplementary Figure 1A from Genetic Variations in Multiple Drug Action Pathways and Survival in Advanced Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy

Purpose: Variations in genes related to biological activity of anticancer drugs could influence treatment responses and lung cancer prognosis. Genetic variants in four biological pathways, that is, glutathione metabolism, DNA repair, cell cycle, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were systematically investigated to examine their association with survival in advanced stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy.Experimental Design: A total of 894 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 70 genes from the four pathways were genotyped and analyzed in a 1,076-patient cohort. Association with overall survival was analyzed at SNP and whole-gene levels within all patients and major chemotherapy agent combination groups.Results: A poorer overall survival was observed in patients with genetic variations in GSS (glutathione pathway) and MAP3K1 (EGFR pathway; HR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.20–1.77 and HR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.05–1.50, respectively). In the stratified analysis on patients receiving platinum plus taxane treatment, we observed a hazardous effect on overall survival by the MAP3K1 variant (HR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.11–1.72) and a protective effect by RAF1 (HR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.50–0.82) in the EGFR pathway. In patients receiving platinum plus gemcitabine treatment, RAF1 and GPX5 (glutathione pathway) genetic variations showed protective effects on survival (HR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.38–0.77; HR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.52–0.85, respectively); in contrast, NRAS (EGFR pathway) and GPX7 (glutathione pathway) variations showed hazardous effects on overall survival (HR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.30–2.80; HR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.27–2.63, respectively). All genes that harbored these significant SNPs remained significant by whole-gene analysis.Conclusion: Common genetic variations in genes of EGFR and glutathione pathways may be associated with overall survival among patients with advanced stage NSCLC treated with platinum, taxane, and/or gemicitabine combinations. Clin Cancer Res; 17(11); 3830–40. ©2011 AACR.

Supplementary Figure 3D from Genetic Variations in Multiple Drug Action Pathways and Survival in Advanced Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy

Supplementary Tables 1-4 from Genetic Variations in Multiple Drug Action Pathways and Survival in Advanced Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy

Supplementary Figure 4A from Genetic Variations in Multiple Drug Action Pathways and Survival in Advanced Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy

Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) questionnaires allow clinicians to collect data reflecting the healthcare experience directly from the patient's perspective. PRO can be used to collect information about outcomes that matter to patients such as quality of life or satisfaction with appearance after a cosmetic procedure. That information is relevant to patients with dentofacial deformities treated with orthognathic surgery because primary outcomes for such procedures include improved occlusion and facial harmony. However, the literature is scarce regarding patient-reported cosmetic outcomes after orthognathic surgery. The aim of this study was to assess satisfaction with facial appearance following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery using the FACE-Q, a PRO instrument developed for patients undergoing facial esthetic surgery. Thirty patients presenting with Class II skeletal deformities were recruited at CHU de Quebec - Universite Laval and asked to answer a French version of the FACE-Q questionnaire focusing on orthognathic surgery relevant scales including “Satisfaction with Facial Appearance,” “Satisfaction with Lower Face and Jawline,” and “Satisfaction with Chin." Statistical analysis included Bowker's test of symmetry for the evolution of individual items and a mixed linear regression adjusting for the following covariates: difference between pre- and postoperative FACE-Q scores for each scale, age, sex, procedure, and vertical diagnosis. Results showed significantly improved FACE-Q scores for satisfaction with facial appearance (+17.42, P

Le diagnostic antenatal des anomalies de la differenciation sexuelle (ADS) tente de definir le caractere isole ou non de l’anomalie et d’en determiner l’etiologie en fonction du contexte clinique, des analyses hormonales et genetiques. L’approche diagnostique est toujours multidisciplinaire. L’hyperplasie congenitale des surrenales (HCS) est une des principales causes d’ADS chez la fille, la prise en charge prenatale des grossesses a risque est standardisee en France. Elle est basee sur la determination precoce du sexe fœtal sur serum maternel et un traitement prenatal par dexamethasone.

International audience; Cities of the global North are increasingly trying to green their spaces, notably by encouraging urban agriculture (UA) development in vacant spaces such as rooftops. Different strategies can be used by cities to achieve this goal. We studied Paris's international call for projects (CFP), "Les Parisculteurs", which aims to provide public and private rooftops to urban farmers. This study seeks to examine the relevance of urban rooftop farming (URF) in the city of Paris in view of its specificities and to understand the management of the CFP which is currently an innovative way to develop urban rooftop farming. We will show how this CFP tends to respond to the city of Paris's challenges regarding UA. The comprehensive analysis of this CFP is based on the results of an 11-month participatory research work: we participated in the study and the setting up of the CFP by being part of the "Assistant to the Contracting Authority" (ACA), commissioned by the City of Paris. It appears, inter alia, that this CFP lifted several barriers blocking projects installations, is a way to green the city quickly and in a cost-effective way, promotes the diversity of the projects of UA and allows the City of Paris to test technical and regulatory limits of UA on existing buildings. It was also pointed out that developing UA by providing lands on rooftops without financing the winning projects had strongly encouraged the professionalization of urban agriculture in Paris. To conclude, CFP can be a relevant way for a collectivity to encourage urban farming but it cannot be a systematic solution as it is adapted to a specific context and it carries the risk to develop projects which are disconnected from their local environment.

Objectives (1) To study the use and diagnostic value, as a complement to ultrasound, of helical computed tomography (helical CT) to differentiate normal fetuses from cases of skeletal dysplasia; (2) to define the most relevant indications for helical CT; and (3) to evaluate its diagnostic performance with respect to radiological criteria considered discriminatory. Methods This was a retrospective study from 2005 to 2008 in 67 pregnant women who underwent helical CT after 26 weeks of gestation for suspected fetal skeletal dysplasia due to fetal shortened long bones on ultrasound (≤ 10thpercentile), either alone or associated with other bone abnormalities. The results were compared with pediatric examinations in 41 cases and with fetal autopsy findings after elective termination of pregnancy in the others. Results Helical CT had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 91% and positive and negative predictive values of 90% and 83%, respectively, for diagnosis of fetal skeletal dysplasia. An etiological diagnosis that had not been suspected at ultrasound was specified in 15% of cases and diagnoses suspected at ultrasound were confirmed in 24% and discounted in 43% of cases. The prevalence of skeletal dysplasia was increased in cases of micromelia < 3rd percentile or if there was a combination of bone signs. Helical CT showed 69% sensitivity in identifying individual predefined pathological bone signs which were confirmed on fetal autopsy findings. Conclusion Helical CT is a key examination, in combination with ultrasound, in the diagnosis of fetal skeletal dysplasia from 26 weeks of gestation. It should be reserved for cases with severe micromelia below the 3rd percentile and for those with micromelia ≤ 10th percentile associated with another bone sign. A checklist of discriminatory signs is proposed. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Resume Les differentes approches d’evaluation de la personnalite se sont interessees aux conduites addictives. Pour Cloninger, en 1987 [4] , les traits de temperament consideres comme heritables et sous-tendus par des hypotheses cliniques, neurobiologiques et genetiques etaient : la recherche de nouveaute, l’evitement du danger et la dependance a la recompense. Un nouveau questionnaire a evolue a partir du questionnaire initial de Cloninger : le Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Il est compose de 226 questions. Nous avons utilise ce questionnaire, dans le service de psychiatrie du professeur Ades au CHU Louis-Mourier, sur 79 patients. Quarante-huit consultaient pour des problemes d’alcool, et 31 pour addictions comportementales (jeu pathologique, achats pathologiques, etc.). Cet instrument evalue les dimensions suivantes : la recherche de nouveaute, l’evitement du danger, la dependance a la recompense, la persistance, la determination, la cooperation et la transcendance. Nous analyserons les points communs, en termes de dimensions de personnalite, entre les dependances a l’alcool et les autres addictions de type comportemental.

Resume La prise en charge specialisee de personnes souffrant d’achats compulsifs est plutot rare en France ; pourtant, on trouve depuis l’antiquite des descriptions de personnes affectes de cette pathologie dans la litterature. Dans ce travail nous presentons differentes definitions des achats pathologiques, les caracteristiques des acheteurs compulsifs, les instruments d’evaluation de ce trouble et la comorbidite. Pour finir, nous exposerons les differentes seances de notre programme de prise en charge d’orientation cognitivo-comportementale.

Aging process is characterized by difficulties in ensuring balance control, especially in conditions of reduced or conflicting sensory information, leading to an increased risk of falling. Conversely, the practise of physical activities (PA) has been recognized as a good approach to improve the quality of balance control. This study aimed to investigate the influence of current and/or past PA on balance-related neurosensorial organization in older adults on the maintenance of the upright stance, especially during sensory conflicting situations. Postural control was evaluated by means of the Sensory Organization Test on 130 healthy noninstitutionalized volunteers aged over 65, split into four groups according to the presence or absence of PA before or after retirement. Subjects who practised PA for a long time (Gr1) and subjects who started PA after retirement (Gr2) displayed the best postural performances and better managed sensory conflicting situations compared to subjects who had stopped PA for many years (Gr3) and subjects who had never practised PA (Gr4). Multiple regression analyses revealed that current PA was the major determinant for postural parameters during sensorial conflict compared to age, gender, body mass index and past PA. Regular PA, even when started late in life, allows appropriate reorganization of the different components of postural control during sensory conflicting situations. Indeed, active subjects were more able to compensate for suppressed or perturbed sensory information by an increased usage of another referential and so to correct their posture by adopting a more appropriate balance strategy. Thus, PA counteracts the age-related decline of postural control and could consequently reduce the risk of falling.

Cette etude presente l'evolution de la prevalence du surpoids et de l'obesite entre 1991 et 2000 chez 59 709 enfants qui ont beneficie d'un bilan de sante dans un centre de medecine preventive de Lorraine. Le poids et la taille ont ete mesures et le calcul de l'IMC a permis d'etablir le statut ponderal selon les seuils et la population de references de l'IOTF en fonction de l'âge. Le surpoids et l'obesite des garcons ont augmente regulierement, passant respectivement de 4,5 % et 1,4 % en 1991, a 9,4 % et 3 % en 2000. Pour les filles, le surpoids augmente de 6,6 % en 1991 a 12,5 % en 2000, et l'obesite de 2 % a 4,3 %. L'augmentation de l'obesite peut etre consideree comme lineaire de 0,16 % par an chez les garcons et de 0,22 % par an chez les filles. Selon une analyse de regression logistique les cofacteurs sont le sexe (OR = 1,27 pour les filles), l'âge, le lieu de residence, l'absence de petit dejeuner (OR = 1,79), un temps de sommeil reduit (OR = 1,43) et la pratique d'un sport en club qui a un effet protecteur (OR = 0,75).

Arterial stiffness assessed by the pulse wave velocity (PWV), a non-invasive and reproducible method, predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main determinants of arterial stiffness are well established in younger and middle-aged populations, but much less in the elderly. The aim of this study was to describe the determinants of arterial stiffness in elderly apparently healthy subjects. The study included 221 voluntary subjects born before 1944 (mean age 67.4+/-5.0 years), who had a standard health check-up at the 'Centre de Medecine Preventive' of Nancy. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring the carotid-femoral PWV with the PulsePen automatic device. Clinical and biological parameters were evaluated at the same day. Measurements were valid and analysed in 207 subjects (94 women). Mean PWV was 9.39+/-2.64 m/s. Men showed higher PWV values than women (9.99+/-2.56 vs 8.66+/-2.56, P

Resume Propos. – La prevalence de l'hypertension arterielle augmente avec l'âge, atteignant plus de 50 % chez les sujets âges de plus de 60 ans. L'elevation de la pression arterielle systolique est un risque indiscutable d'evenement cardiovasculaire. Methodes. – Dans le cadre de l'etude des facteurs de risque et de leur prise en charge dans une population de sujets âges, autonomes, habitant leur domicile, nous avons analyse le profil tensionnel et le traitement des personnes âgees de plus de 60 ans ayant beneficie d'un examen periodique de sante adapte aux besoins des consultants « senior ». Resultats. – Cet examen a concerne, entre avril et decembre 2003, 1638 personnes d'âge moyen 68 ans (± 5,7) : 815 hommes et 823 femmes. Quarante pour cent avaient une pression arterielle systolique (PAS) superieure ou egale a 140 mmHg (44 % des hommes, 36 % des femmes), 6 % (8 % des hommes, 4 % des femmes) une pression arterielle diastolique (PAD) superieure ou egale a 90 mmHg. Un traitement antihypertenseur etait suivi par 31 % des hommes et 26 % des femmes. Sur 473 sujets traites, 50 % etaient controles pour la PAS et la PAD (cette proportion etant differente selon le sexe : 58 % des femmes et 43 % des hommes), 42 % etaient non controles pour la PAS alors qu'ils l'etaient pour la PAD, 7 % n'etaient pas controles pour la PAS et la PAD, et seuls trois sujets ( Conclusion. – Ces resultats, combines aux donnees de la litterature sur le role preponderant de la PAS par rapport a la PAD dans le risque cardiovasculaire chez le sujet âge, soulignent la necessite d'une meilleure prise en charge de l'hypertension arterielle systolique chez les personnes âgees.

Resume A partir de l’exemple d’un patient joueur pathologique, nous montrerons comment les techniques motivationnelles et une prise en charge cognitivo-comportementale ont permis d’atteindre les objectifs therapeutiques en termes de reduction du comportement de jeu.

Objective To investigate the contribution of volume contrast imaging (VCI) in assessing the fetal uterus in normally developed female fetuses. Methods The pelvis of 38 normal female fetuses was examined at 20–22 and 32–34 weeks' gestation using both conventional two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound and VCI on the same transverse or oblique longitudinal view of the fetal pelvis. Two experienced sonographers evaluated the ability of both techniques to image the fetal uterus. Results were compared by kappa index to evaluate the interobserver variability. Results A clear picture of the fetal uterus was obtained in 50% and 82–87% of the cases at 20–22 weeks' gestation and in 80–85% and 95–100% of the cases at 32–34 weeks' gestation using conventional 2D ultrasound and VCI, respectively. There was moderate to good agreement of uterus visualization between the two observers, with kappa values ranging from 0.43 to 0.65. The lower level of agreement was obtained for conventional 2D ultrasound during the second trimester. Conclusions Our results suggest that VCI may be successfully applied to prenatal ultrasonography of the fetal pelvis anatomy. By enhancing the contrast between the intrapelvic organs, VCI provides a clearer picture of the fetal uterus. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Resume Le concept de dependance a Internet ainsi que son usage pathologique sont entres dans le vocabulaire medical en 1995. Depuis, la realite clinique de ce concept est de moins en moins discutee, surtout avec les criteres d’addictions comportementales proposes par Goodman. Apres un bref apercu des definitions et des classifications des differentes formes de dependance liees a l’Internet (virtualite, jeux, cyber-sexe…), et des moyens d’evaluation, nous aborderons les pathologies souvent associees, surtout les troubles bipolaires et autres dependances. Nous finirons avec une description de differents programmes de prise en charge de type cognitivo-comportemental pour ces patients.

Self-image is a central problem in alcoholism. Most theories about the relationships between the self-image of alcoholics and their behaviour have been derived from -clinical observations rather than empirical research. Most observations have pointed out that alcoholics are prone to underevaluation of themselves and that low self-image is the basis of much of the problem drinker's behaviour. All the research on self-image has concluded that alcoholics have a lower self-image than non-alcoholics. Some empirical research has been conducted on the self-image of alcoholics; it has, however, been carried out only a few times, restricted to small samples, and concerned with a limited number of aspects of self-image. Moreover, most of these studies are not recent, and it seems that this area of research is not well covered. Even though the hypothesis of a bad self-image in alcoholics was validated by various older studies, the representation of alcoholism has since changed. Because of this evolution, the ways in which the disease has been viewed have changed. One can question to what extent changes in society can influence the self-image of alcoholics. This question seems all the more pertinent for alcoholic women, given the evolution of the female condition since the Seventies. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the self-image of alcoholics and non-alcoholics, and to compare the self-image of male and female alcoholics. Our hypotheses are that: 1) the self-image of an alcoholic is more negative than that of a non-alcoholic, and that: 2) female alcoholics have a more negative self-image than male alcoholics. Two groups of 30 subjects each were made up: a group of alcoholics recruited in an alcohol-dependency unit and a group of non-alcoholics recruited in a public place. The comparison of socio-demographic data between the alcoholic group and the control group does not show a significant difference except for age and level of schooling. The average age of the control group is younger than that of the alcoholic group. The level of schooling of the control group is higher than that of the alcoholic group. These differences can be explained by the mode of recruitment of the participants. The significant differences between the alcoholic men and women are at the level of the number of Years of alcoholism, the age at which the disorder began and the number of detoxification episodes. These differences are probably due to cultural background. Indeed, the age at which alcoholism begins is later in women and they consult more quickly than men. The two groups were assessed using the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Self Esteem Inventory. Other tests were used to control factors capable of influencing self-image (depression, socio-demographic data). The results show that the alcoholics have a more negative self-image than the control group. The alcoholics perceived themselves significantly less favourably on the identity (what I am), self-satisfaction (how I feel about myself), and behaviour (what I do) scores than did those in the control group. The alcoholics also saw themselves in a significantly more negative light than did those in the control group on the scores relating to physical self (body, health.), moral-ethical self (moral worth), personal self (evaluation of personality), family self (adequacy and value as a family member) and social self (adequacy and worth in interaction with others). The self-criticism subscale provided further evidence that the alcoholics were more open and self-critical than were those in the control group. Female alcoholics had a lower self-image than male alcoholics, but not in every aspect. There was a significant difference between the scores of alcoholic women and alcoholic men, for three of the subscales measured by the Tennessee Self Concept Scale: "general self-image", "personal self" and "self-criticism". The alcoholic women perceived themselves more negatively when it came to "self-satisfaction", "personal self" and "social self". They were however more positive than the men in the sectors of "identity", "behaviour", "physical self", "moral-ethical self", and "family self". The alcoholic men were more openly self-critical than the alcoholic women. Our results confirm the conclusions of empirical studies and of clinical observations. Alcoholics see themselves as generally inadequate and unworthy of respect. The changes in representations of this disease seem to have influenced the alcoholic's self-image, but it remains however very negative. The alcoholics'negative self-image is generalised and not specific to personality and behaviour. The -representation of alcoholism seems to have contributed to an improvement in the self-esteem and self-image of alcoholics, and in particular of female alcoholics. Even if the self-image of alcoholic women remains more negative than that of alcoholic men, it tends to bring back the self-image of alcoholic women to a level close to that of the men.

BACKGROUND The aim of this prospective study was to determine the target concentration (CPRED) curves for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion in children. METHODS The CPRED of propofol required for insertion of the LMA was determined in 72 unpremedicated children, aged 3-10 years, ASA physical status I. CPRED was reached in 2 min according to a sequential allocation. LMA insertion was then performed by an experienced anaesthetist who was unaware of the concentration. Insertion conditions were noted as satisfactory (jaw relaxed, no coughing, gagging, swallowing or laryngeal spasm, minimal limb movement), excellent (no movement at all) or unacceptable if otherwise. RESULTS The CPRED50 and CPRED90 were 7.86 microg.ml(-l)[95% confidence interval (CI) 6.46-9.26] and 10.71 microg.ml(-l) (95% CI 9.31-12.12), respectively, in the satisfactory group and 10.86 microg.ml(-l) (95% CI 10.14-11.57) and 13.71 microg.ml(-l) (95% CI 12.99-14.42) in the excellent group when calculations were based on Kataria's pharmacokinetics. These figures were increased 1.5-fold when calculations were based on Marsh's pharmacokinetics. With Schuttler's pharmacokinetics, CPRED50 were 4.62 microg.ml(-l) and 13.66 microg.ml(-l) for satisfactory and excellent groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The target-controlled infusion technique for anaesthesia induction and insertion of the LMA was a safe and effective technique in our study.

Inleiding: In de Faculteit Geneeskunde van de Katholieke Universiteit Leuven wordt in het laatste jaar van een traditionele medische opleiding een nieuw type klinische colleges georganiseerd: de probleemoplossingsgerichte klinische colleges (PoKC’s). Er zijn twee reeksen van ongeveer zeventig colleges gedurende acht weken. Als voorbereiding bestuderen de studenten in groepen van vijf een of meer vignetten, bestaand uit een casus en halfopen vragen, waarbij ze individueel informatie opzoeken. Tijdens het college worden de oplossingen gepresenteerd en besproken onder leiding van de docent. De mening van de studenten over de PoKC’s is gepeild.

Inleiding: Een zelfinstructiepakket voor basiscommunicatievaardigheden werd aan tweedejaars studenten geneeskunde aangeboden, kort voordat ze de verpleegstage liepen.

In the offshore petroleum industry, flexible pipes, used as risers or flowlines, are made with internal and external polymer sheaths that ensure internal fluid and outer seawater integrity. These polymers exhibit permeability towards some gases which can create potential damage mechanisms (CO2 corrosion and hydrogen attack) and reduce the lifetime of the steel layers located between the internal and the external plastic sheath. These damage mechanisms are associated with water condensation, which must therefore be predicted. The following paper describes a finite element model named MOLDI(tm) used to predict diffusion of gases through layers of flexible pipe versus time. The temperature gradient in the pipe is taken into account, as permeation rates depend on temperature. It is coupled with a thermodynamic flash calculation that gives vapor and liquid phases, compositions and volumes in the annulus. Associated mathematical models and resolution methods are examined, as well as the coupling of diffusion and phase prediction. MOLDI(tm) was programmed under Matlab, with a friendly graphical user interface that helps input and output of data and results. This paper illustrates the possibilities of this software.

Resume Les soins apportes a un enfant atteint de dysplasie bronchopulmonaire sont non seulement d'ordre somatique, mais aussi d'ordre psychoaffectif afin d'assurer le developpement harmonieux de ce nouveau-ne. Toute une equipe d'infirmieres, medecins et psychologues doit veiller au confort du bebe et a son developpement affectif. Une extreme attention doit etre apportee aux parents et a la famille de ce nouveau-ne. Bien entendu les soins a visee respiratoire sont necessaires, sans oublier la surveillance digestive et nutritionnelle et l'apprentissage des tetees qui peut etre long et difficile. Les bebes qui ont tendance a se mettre en hyperextension doivent beneficier d'une kinesitherapie motrice adaptee.

One keypoint for the prediction of heat treatment residual stresses is the modelling of phase transformation kinetics and of their consequences on the thermomechanical behaviour of the material. In that paper, we focus on recent extensions of our model for calculating phase transformation kinetics in steels mainly for taking into account the chemical composition variation of the steel and the tempering/selftempering kinetics. This model is coupled to the calculation of temperature. stress and strain evolutions in a massive specimen submitted to chemical composition gradients (here carbon gradients). The consequences of the stress-phase transformation interactions on the microstructure and stress evolutions during cooling are analysed in the specific case of gaz quenching of a case hardened specimen. It is shown that the internal stresses can have a large effect on the bainitic transformation kinetics and on the stress evolutions during cooling but the effect on the residual stress state remains relatively small.

Si and Ge K-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectra of strained and relaxed ${\mathrm{Si}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$ crystalline alloys grown by molecular beam epitaxy on Si(001) substrates are reported. For alloys with less than 30% Si, fluorescence yield detection is shown to be essential to avoid distortions of the Si K-edge XAFS signal caused by the underlying Ge L-edge XAFS signal from the majority Ge species. The average first shell structure has been deduced using simultaneous fitting of all data for relaxed alloys, while imposing physically reasonable constraints. The Ge-Ge, Ge-Si, and Si-Si first-shell distances are found to vary with composition. The results are compared with other experimental results and theoretical predictions in the literature. Our results are generally consistent with other experimental studies but they differ from recent theoretical predictions based on macroscopic elastic properties in that we observe a different compositional dependence [i.e., slope of $R(x)$ lines] for the Ge-Ge and Si-Si bond lengths. The slope for the Ge-Si bond length composition line was found to be intermediate between that of Si-Si and Ge-Ge.

SummaryThe two Pelargonium species largely cultivated in Europe and northern America (Pelargonium × hortorum and Pelargonium × hederaefolium) have a complex origin. Although new cultivars are produced every year, the genetic basis and relatedness of this plant material is poorly documented. The objective of this study was to test the RAPD assay potentialities to generate polymorphic markers. RAPD patterns from 34 cultivars of Pelargonium were scored to study their genetic relationships. Statistical analysis results are in harmony with known botanical data.

(1) To study the use and diagnostic value, as a complement to ultrasound, of helical computed tomography (helical CT) to differentiate normal fetuses from cases of skeletal dysplasia; (2) to define the most relevant indications for helical CT; and (3) to evaluate its diagnostic performance with respect to radiological criteria considered discriminatory.This was a retrospective study from 2005 to 2008 in 67 pregnant women who underwent helical CT after 26 weeks of gestation for suspected fetal skeletal dysplasia due to fetal shortened long bones on ultrasound (≤ 10(th) percentile), either alone or associated with other bone abnormalities. The results were compared with pediatric examinations in 41 cases and with fetal autopsy findings after elective termination of pregnancy in the others.Helical CT had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 91% and positive and negative predictive values of 90% and 83%, respectively, for diagnosis of fetal skeletal dysplasia. An etiological diagnosis that had not been suspected at ultrasound was specified in 15% of cases and diagnoses suspected at ultrasound were confirmed in 24% and discounted in 43% of cases. The prevalence of skeletal dysplasia was increased in cases of micromelia3(rd) percentile or if there was a combination of bone signs. Helical CT showed 69% sensitivity in identifying individual predefined pathological bone signs which were confirmed on fetal autopsy findings.Helical CT is a key examination, in combination with ultrasound, in the diagnosis of fetal skeletal dysplasia from 26 weeks of gestation. It should be reserved for cases with severe micromelia below the 3(rd) percentile and for those with micromelia ≤ 10(th) percentile associated with another bone sign. A checklist of discriminatory signs is proposed.

Two molecules of the title compound, C 30 H 25 N 3 O 4 S, crystallize in the asymmetric unit. The phenyl, benzoyl and methoxyphenyl substituents point alternately up and down with respect to the dihydropyrazolo cycle (in agreement with steric effects). The conformation of the molecule is such that the thiazine cycle has an approximate plane of symmetry passing through the S atom (and the two O atoms), whereas the dihydropyrazolo cycle has a twofold axis passing between the two N atoms

The search for a valuable technique for rapid detection, after electrophoresis, of the activity of various NAD kinase isoforms possibly present in different plant materials, has revealed interesting peculiarities of this enzyme (EC 2.7.1.23; also called ATP:NAD + 2′-phosphotransferase). At first and in the unique but obligatory presence of NAD, the NAD kinase acts almost instantaneously as an oxido-reductase (probably coupled with the transformation of NAD to NADH). In the additional presence of ATP, the transformation of NAD + to NADP + reinforced such an oxido-reductase activity. Final assays testing for the specificity of the phosphoryl donor revealed that not only ATP but also GTP, G6P, and even NADP could be the substrate; the efficiencies of these phosphoryl donors varied with the different isoforms of NAD kinase, evidenced in the different seeds tested, and compared with NAD kinase from heterotrophically grown Euglena cells, and NAD kinase purified from chicken liver (from Sigma Chemical Co.).