Time courses and quantitative analysis of atrial fibrillation episode number and duration after circular plus linear left atrial lesions: trigger elimination or substrate modification: early or delayed cure?

OBJECTIVES We sought to analyze the time course of atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes before and after circular plus linear left atrial ablation and the percentage of patients with complete freedom from AF after ablation by using serial seven-day electrocardiograms (ECGs). BACKGROUND The curative treatment of AF targets the pathophysiological corner stones of AF (i.e., the initiating triggers and/or the perpetuation of AF). The pathophysiological complexity of both may not result in an "all-or-nothing" response but may modify number and duration of AF episodes. METHODS In patients with highly symptomatic AF, circular plus linear ablation lesions were placed around the left and right pulmonary veins, between the two circles, and from the left circle to the mitral annulus using the electroanatomic mapping system. Repetitive continuous 7-day ECGs administered before and after catheter ablation were used for rhythm follow-up. RESULTS In 100 patients with paroxysmal (n = 80) and persistent (n = 20) AF, relative duration of time spent in AF significantly decreased over time (35 +/- 37% before ablation, 26 +/- 41% directly after ablation, and 10 +/- 22% after 12 months). Freedom from AF stepwise increased in patients with paroxysmal AF and after 12 months measured at 88% or 74% depending on whether 24-h ECG or 7-day ECG was used. Complete pulmonary vein isolation was demonstrated in <20% of the circular lesions. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in patients with AF treated with circular plus linear left atrial lesions strongly indicate that substrate modification is the main underlying pathophysiologic mechanism and that it results in a delayed cure instead of an immediate cure.

Numerical study of Anderson localization of terahertz waves in disordered waveguides

We present a numerical study of electromagnetic wave transport in disordered quasi-one-dimensional waveguides at terahertz frequencies. Finite element method calculations of terahertz wave propagation within LiNbO3 waveguides with randomly arranged air-filled circular scatterers exhibit an onset of Anderson localization at experimentally accessible length scales. Results for the average transmission as a function of waveguide length and scatterer density demonstrate a clear crossover from diffusive to localized transport regime. In addition, we find that transmission fluctuations grow dramatically when crossing into the localized regime. Our numerical results are in good quantitative agreement with theory over a wide range of experimentally accessible parameters both in the diffusive and localized regime opening the path towards experimental observation of terahertz wave localization.

Comparing the performance of hyperbolic and circular rod quadrupole mass spectrometers with applied higher order auxiliary excitation

This work applies higher order auxiliary excitation techniques to two types of quadrupole mass spectrometers (QMSs): commercial systems and spaceborne instruments. The operational settings of a circular rod geometry commercial system and an engineering test-bed for a hyperbolic rod geometry spaceborne instrument were matched, with the relative performance of each sensor characterized with and without applied excitation using isotopic measurements of Kr+. Each instrument was operated at the limit of the test electronics to determine the effect of auxiliary excitation on extending instrument capabilities. For the circular rod sensor, with applied excitation, a doubling of the mass resolution at 1% of peak transmission resulted from the elimination of the low-mass side peak tail typical of such rod geometries. The mass peak stability and ion rejection efficiency were also increased by factors of 2 and 10, respectively, with voltage scan lines passing through the center of stability islands formed from auxiliary excitation. Auxiliary excitation also resulted in factors of 6 and 2 in peak stability and ion rejection efficiency, respectively, for the hyperbolic rod sensor. These results not only have significant implications for the use of circular rod quadrupoles with applied excitation as a suitable replacement for traditional hyperbolic rod sensors, but also for extending the capabilities of existing hyperbolic rod QMSs for the next generation of spaceborne instruments and low-mass commercial systems.

Das enthüllte Preußenthum oder Deutschlands Zukunft unter Preußischer Oberherrschaft, unter welcher Gestalt sie auch eintrete : Mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die Preußische Circular-Note vom 23. Januar 1849

Boberach: Die preußische Zirkularnote für einen Engeren Bund ist ein Meisterstück der Diplomatie, aber Preußen und seinem König ist nicht zu trauen, sie würden nur ein preußisches Kaisertum mit preußischer Bürokratie aufrichten. Das preußische Großmachtstreben würde sofort die kleineren Einzelstaaten bedrohen. - Wentzke: Die Note an und für sich ist ein diplomatisches Meisterstück, indem sie die Notwendigkeit des österreichischen Kaiserstaates für Deutschland und die Ehrlichkeit der preußischen Politik hervorhebt. Leider aber hat die Vergangenheit Preußens, seine Großmachtsgelüste, zu tiefen Anlaß zum Mißtrauen gegeben. Dazu hat die Heuchelei der Reaktion unter Friedrich Wilhelm IV. den Höhepunkt erreicht. Wird Preußens König deutscher Kaiser, so wird er zunächst die kleineren Staaten vernichten und durch seine Bureaukratie das preußische Kaisertum aufrichten

Circular Nº 1

Primera circular de las XXI Jornadas de Cátedra y Carreras de Educación Especial de las Universidades Nacionales (RUEDES) y XV Jornadas Nacionales de la Red de Estudiantes de Cátedras y Carreras de Educación Especial (RECCEE). Se desarrollarán el 6,7 y 8 de septiembre de 2012 en la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina). El tema de estas Jornadas es "las relaciones entre la educación común y especial. Dilemas de una construcción socio-educativa".

Córdoba en pedazos : habitar/circular en contextos sociosegregados

La ciudad de Córdoba se ha ido constituyendo como ciudad turística/ciudad espectáculo, a través de un “embellecimiento estratégico" que la vuelve extraña a sus propios habitantes, especialmente a los de clases subalternas. Las presentes reflexiones abordan las experiencias de habitar/desplazarse por la ciudad de estos sujetos durante la última década. Partimos de una breve referencia a la forma sociohabitacional ciudad barrio como respuesta de vivienda social generada por el Gobierno Provincial que impactó fuertemente en la experiencia de los “beneficiarios" como en el perfil de la ciudad. Desde una perspectiva metodológica en clave benjaminiana orientada a “pensar en/a partir de imágenes", presentamos algunas escenas expresivas de los modos de habitar, percibir y sentirse en la ciudad, algunas imágenes que condensan ciertos estados de sentir que manifiestan los pobladores -mediante la palabra pero también mediante la forma de apropiación de la vivienda y del barrio observada-. Ponemos en juego estas imágenes con otras, producto de una encuesta realizada en las ciudades barrio. Buscamos así reconstruir algunos de los fragmentos de la urbe cordobesa tal como es vivida, pedazos que abarcan el mero espacio de la casa, y trayectos fuertemente segregados por clase.