Application of the Zero-Order Reaction Rate Model and Transition State Theory to predict porous Ti6Al4V bending strength

Porous T16Al4V samples were produced by microsphere sintering. The Zero-Order Reaction Rate Model and Transition State Theory were used to model the sintering process and to estimate the bending strength of the porous samples developed. The evolution of the surface area during the sintering process was used to obtain sintering parameters (sintering constant, activation energy, frequency factor, constant of activation and Gibbs energy of activation). These were then correlated with the bending strength in order to obtain a simple model with which to estimate the evolution of the bending strength of the samples when the sintering temperature and time are modified: sigma(y) = P + B [In (T . t) - R.T./Delta G(g)]. Although the sintering parameters were obtained only for the microsphere sizes analysed here, the strength of intermediate sizes could easily be estimated following this model. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors are grateful to the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion for supporting this study through project PET2008_0158_02. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and the Universitat Jaume I.Reig Cerdá, L.; Amigó Borrás, V.; Busquets Mataix, DJ.; Calero, JA.; Ortiz Rosales, JL. (2012). Application of the Zero-Order Reaction Rate Model and Transition State Theory to predict porous Ti6Al4V bending strength. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 32(6):1621-1626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2012.04.052S1621162632

Examining the Relationship Between Genetic Counselors’ Attitudes Toward Deaf People and the Genetic Counseling Session

Given the medical and cultural perspectives on deafness it is important to determine if genetic counselors’ attitudes toward deaf people can affect counseling sessions for deafness genes. One hundred fifty-eight genetic counselors recruited through the National Society of Genetic Counselors Listserv completed an online survey assessing attitudes toward deaf people and scenario-specific comfort levels discussing and offering genetic testing for deafness. Respondents with deaf/Deaf friends or who work in prenatal or pediatric settings had more positive attitudes toward deaf people than those without deaf/Deaf friends or those working in ‘other’ settings. More positive attitudes toward deaf people correlated with higher comfort level talking about genetic testing for the two scenarios involving culturally Deaf clients; and correlated with higher comfort level offering genetic testing to culturally Deaf clients wishing to have a deaf child. Attitudes and comfort level were not correlated in the scenarios involving hearing or non-culturally deaf clients. These results suggest that genetic counselors’ attitudes could affect information provision and the decision making process of culturally Deaf clients. Cultural sensitivity workshops in genetic counseling training programs that incorporate personal interactions with culturally Deaf individuals are recommended. Additional suggestions for fostering personal interactions are provided

[Phenotypic expression of a mutation in MEN 2A documented in a family in the western part of Sweden]. Fenotypiskt uttryck av mutation vid MEN 2A kartlagd i västsvensk familj

A missense mutation at codon 618 of the RET proto-oncogene is a rather unusual cause of multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A. We report the phenotypic expression of this specific RET mutation in a large Swedish family. The family was mapped back to the 18th century. Since 1971 the family has been included in a biochemical screening program, and since 1994 has undergone genetic screening. Twenty-seven individuals were found to have medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Eighteen were detected by screening. The incidence of pheochromocytoma (4%) and hyperparathyroidism (7%) was low. Five individuals died of MTC, but of these none had been included in the screening program. One patient underwent prophylactic thyroidectomy after positive genetic screening. MTC tumor aggressivity differed markedly between gene carriers. The screening program shows that the clinical aggressivity of MTC can be mitigated by early and adequate surgical intervention