Proline-Selective Electrochemiluminescence Detecting a Single Amino Acid Variation Between A1 and A2 β-Casein Containing Milks.

The proline amino acid and prolyl residues of peptides/proteins confer unique biological and biochemical properties that motivates the development of proline-selective analysis. The study focuses on one specific class of problem, the detection of single amino acid variants involving proline, and reports a Pro-selective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method. To develop this method, the A1-/A2- variants of milk's β-casein protein are investigated because it is a well-established example and abundant samples are readily available.

Utilizing Invasive Coronary Functional Testing in a Coronary Microvascular and Vasomotor Dysfunction Program: Methods and Considerations.

Background: Coronary microvascular and vasomotor dysfunction (CMVD) is associated with a threefold increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and is the primary mechanism responsible for angina/ischemia in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA/INOCA). Proper assessment for CMVD is vital to provide targeted treatment and improve patient outcomes. Invasive coronary functional testing (ICFT) is the "gold standard," for CMVD assessment and can be used to diagnose all endotypes.

Developing a Women's Heart Center With a Specialization in Coronary Microvascular and Vasomotor Dysfunction: If You Build It, They Will Come.

Background: Women's Heart Centers (WHC) are comprehensive, multidisciplinary care centers designed to close the existing gap in women's cardiovascular care. The WHC at The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute (TCH-WHC) in Cincinnati, Ohio was established in October of 2020, and is a specialized coronary microvascular and vasomotor dysfunction (CMVD) program.

Methods: The TCH-WHC focuses its efforts across five pillars: patient care, research, education, community outreach and advocacy, and grants and philanthropy.

Are there gender differences in promotion-prevention self-regulatory focus?

The purpose of this research is to examine gender differences in promotion/prevention self-regulatory focus, a dispositional motivational orientation with major implications for human functioning. First, a review of literature using social cognitive theory as a framework suggests that, driven by socialization processes, (1) women may on average be more prevention focused than men - meaning more vigilant to maintain a secure status quo, whereas (2) men may on average be more promotion focused than women - meaning more eager to advance to a better situation than their status quo. Second, we provide data to examine these possible gender differences in self-regulatory focus with secondary analyses of (a) our own existing data on dispositional regulatory focus and of (b) a large scale, representative panel study (LISS Survey).

Does encouraging mastery goals benefit performance in a scoring exercise? It may depend on chronic self-adopted achievement goals.

Introduction: Mastery goals (aims to learn or attain skill) have traditionally been portrayed in achievement-motivation literature as the optimal goal for ensuring objective performance and well-being outcomes (relative to performance goals - aims to outperform others). This portrayal often yielded the recommendation that those in applied settings, such as coaches, managers, and teachers, should encourage those whom they lead to pursue mastery goals. We put this assertion to a test by examining whether the effect of situationally induced goals depends on the goals that individuals personally self-adopt.

Prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder in parents whose infants have single ventricle heart disease.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in parents of infants with CHD, contributing to psychological distress with detrimental effects on family functioning and well-being. We sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in parents whose infants underwent staged palliation for single ventricle heart disease.

Materials And Methods: A large longitudinal multi-centre cohort study evaluated 215 mothers and fathers for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder at three timepoints, including post-Norwood, post-Stage II, and a final study timepoint when the child reached approximately 16 months of age, using the self-report questionnaire Impact of Event Scale - Revised.

The Relationship of Family Factors to Psychosocial Outcomes in Children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at 6 Years of Age.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the relationships between family factors and outcomes for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

Study Design: This cross-sectional study was ancillary to the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Extension Study to examine family factors including parental mental health, quality of life (QOL), family resources, function and management, and their relationships to child psychosocial outcomes (adaptive behavior, internalizing and externalizing behaviors and health-related quality of life [HRQOL]) at 6 years of age.

Results: Participants were parents (115 mothers, 71 fathers) of children with HLHS.

First Direct Detection Constraints on Planck-Scale Mass Dark Matter with Multiple-Scatter Signatures Using the DEAP-3600 Detector.

Dark matter with Planck-scale mass (≃10^{19}  GeV/c^{2}) arises in well-motivated theories and could be produced by several cosmological mechanisms. A search for multiscatter signals from supermassive dark matter was performed with a blind analysis of data collected over a 813 d live time with DEAP-3600, a 3.3 t single-phase liquid argon-based detector at SNOLAB.

Pulse-shape discrimination against low-energy Ar-39 beta decays in liquid argon with 4.5 tonne-years of DEAP-3600 data.

The DEAP-3600 detector searches for the scintillation signal from dark matter particles scattering on a 3.3 tonne liquid argon target. The largest background comes from beta decays and is suppressed using pulse-shape discrimination (PSD).

Recruitment, retention, and adherence in a clinical trial: The Pediatric Heart Network's Marfan Trial experience.

Background/aims: The Pediatric Heart Network Marfan Trial was a randomized trial comparing atenolol versus losartan on aortic root dilation in 608 children and young adults with Marfan syndrome. Barriers to enrollment included a limited pool of eligible participants, restrictive entry criteria, and a diverse age range that required pediatric and adult expertise. Retention was complicated by a 3-year commitment to a complex study and medication regimen.

Variation in care for children undergoing the Fontan operation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background: The Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial randomised neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome to a shunt strategy but otherwise retained standard of care. We aimed to describe centre-level practice variation at Fontan completion.

Methods: Centre-level data are reported as median or median frequency across all centres and range of medians or frequencies across centres.

Results of the FUEL Trial.

Background: The Fontan operation creates a total cavopulmonary connection, a circulation in which the importance of pulmonary vascular resistance is magnified. Over time, this circulation leads to deterioration of cardiovascular efficiency associated with a decline in exercise performance. Rigorous clinical trials aimed at improving physiology and guiding pharmacotherapy are lacking.

Lessons learned in the use of clinical registry data in a multi-centre prospective study: the Pediatric Heart Network Residual Lesion Score Study.

Background: Using existing data from clinical registries to support clinical trials and other prospective studies has the potential to improve research efficiency. However, little has been reported about staff experiences and lessons learned from implementation of this method in pediatric cardiology.

Objectives: We describe the process of using existing registry data in the Pediatric Heart Network Residual Lesion Score Study, report stakeholders' perspectives, and provide recommendations to guide future studies using this methodology.

Room for advancement: The regulatory fit of bottom-rank intermediate feedback.

This research tests the hypothesis that promotion-focused individuals experience regulatory fit from bottom rank, intermediate performance-feedback. Prior research suggests promotion-focused individuals experience fit in high ranks (power). Bottom ranks may appear psychologically opposite to high power, which might lead one to expect that promotion-focused individuals experience fit at top ranks.

First Results from the DEAP-3600 Dark Matter Search with Argon at SNOLAB.

This Letter reports the first results of a direct dark matter search with the DEAP-3600 single-phase liquid argon (LAr) detector. The experiment was performed 2 km underground at SNOLAB (Sudbury, Canada) utilizing a large target mass, with the LAr target contained in a spherical acrylic vessel of 3600 kg capacity. The LAr is viewed by an array of PMTs, which would register scintillation light produced by rare nuclear recoil signals induced by dark matter particle scattering.

Design and rationale of the Fontan Udenafil Exercise Longitudinal (FUEL) trial.

The Fontan operation creates a circulation characterized by elevated central venous pressure and low cardiac output. Over time, these characteristics result in a predictable and persistent decline in exercise performance that is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. A medical therapy that targets the abnormalities of the Fontan circulation might, therefore, be associated with improved outcomes.

Results of a phase I/II multi-center investigation of udenafil in adolescents after fontan palliation.

Background: The Fontan operation results in a circulation that is dependent on low pulmonary vascular resistance to maintain an adequate cardiac output. Medical therapies that lower pulmonary vascular resistance may augment cardiac output and improve long-term outcomes.

Objectives: This phase I/II clinical trial conducted by the Pediatric Heart Network was designed to evaluate short-term safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary efficacy of udenafil in adolescents following Fontan.

Imagining Success: Multiple Achievement Goals and the Effectiveness of Imagery.

Imagery (richly imagining carrying out a task successfully) is a popular performance-enhancement tool in many domains. This experiment sought to test whether pursuing two goals (vs. one) benefits performance after an imagery exercise.

No difference in effectiveness between focused and radial shockwave therapy for treating patellar tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of focused shockwave therapy (FSWT) and radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) for treating patellar tendinopathy.

Methods: Patients were randomized into two groups. One group received three sessions of FSWT, and the other group received three sessions of RSWT.

Transfer of information on palliative home care during the out-of-hours period.

Background: Continuity of end-of-life care for patients receiving palliative care is an important challenge for out-of-hours services in general practice.

Aim: To investigate how frequent information is transferred on patients receiving palliative care from GPs to the out-of-hours services, to explore the perceptions of GP's on this information transfer and to study the relation between information transfer and the used GP information systems.

Methods: This is a mixed-method design study.

Clinical evaluation of lymphocyte sub-populations and oxygen radical production in sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-derived parameters of interstitial lung disease and clinical and lung function parameters in 34 patients with sarcoidosis and 23 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). BAL findings of healthy individuals served as controls. Cell content and differentiation of BAL fluid were determined.