While global changes in gene expression are a hallmark of cardiac hypertrophy, much less is known regarding the epigenetic factors driving these changes. Local chromatin packing and gene accessibility, which governs transcriptional status, has been correlated with specific post-translational modifications on the histone tails of nucleosomes occupying these regions. However, the specific alterations in histone post-translational modifications driving gene expression changes during cardiac hypertrophy are largely unknown. To identify myocyte specific changes in histone post-translational modifications during cardiac hypertrophy we performed label-free quantitation of nuclear proteins from isolated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes exposed to the hypertrophic agonists, phenylephrine and isoproterenol. Peptide samples were analyzed on a Thermo Orbitrap Velos Pro mass spectrometer using CID & HCD fragmentation. Differential expression analysis was performed using the Progenesis LC-MS software where modified histone peptides were normalized against total protein expression. We observed multiple known and novel post-translational modifications on each of the four core histones, many of which changed in the setting of hypertrophy. To validate these findings in an animal model we performed the same analysis of histone post-translational modifications from cardiac tissue of mice under basal conditions or after pressure-overload induced hypertrophy. This study provides the first global characterization of myocyte specific changes in histone post-translational modifications in cardiac hypertrophy and highlight basic mechanisms of genomic reprogramming operative in disease.


In this paper, we investigate dynamic channel and rate selection in cognitive radio systems that exploit a large number of channels free from primary users. In such systems, transmitters may rapidly change the selected (channel, rate) pair to opportunistically learn and track the pair offering the highest throughput. We formulate the problem of sequential channel and rate selection as an online optimization problem and show its equivalence to a structured multiarmed-bandit problem. The structure stems from inherent properties of the achieved throughput as a function of the selected channel and rate. We derive fundamental performance limits satisfied by any channel and rate adaptation algorithm and propose algorithms that achieve (or approach) these limits. In turn, the proposed algorithms optimally exploit the inherent structure of the throughput. We illustrate the efficiency of our algorithms using both test-bed and simulation experiments, in both stationary and nonstationary radio environments. In stationary environments, the packet successful transmission probabilities at the various channel and rate pairs do not evolve over time, whereas in nonstationary environments, they may evolve. In practical scenarios, the proposed algorithms are able to track the best channel and rate quite accurately without the need for any explicit measurement of and feedback on the quality of the various channels.


Many structures are subjected to varying forces, moving boundaries, and other dynamic conditions. Whether part of a vehicle, building, or active energy mitigation device, data on such changes can represent useful knowledge, but also presents challenges in its collection and analysis. In systems where changes occur rapidly, assessment of the system's state within a useful time span is required to enable an appropriate response before the system's state changes further. Rapid state estimation is especially important but poses unique difficulties. In determining the state of a structural system subjected to high-rate dynamic changes, measuring the frequency response is one method that can be used to draw inferences, provided the system is adequately understood and defined. The work presented here is the result of an investigation into methods to determine the frequency response, and thus state, of a structure subjected to high-rate boundary changes in real-time. In order to facilitate development, the Air Force Research ∗Address all correspondence to this author. Laboratory created the DROPBEAR, a testbed with an oscillating beam subjected to a continuously variable boundary condition. One end of the beam is held by a stationary fixed support, while a pinned support is able to move along the beam's length. The free end of the beam structure is instrumented with acceleration, velocity, and position sensors measuring the beam's vertical axis. Direct position measurement of the pin location is also taken to provide a reference for comparison with numerical models. This work presents a numerical investigation into methods for extracting the frequency response of a structure in real-time. An FFT based method with a rolling window is used to track the frequency of a data set generated to represent the range of the DROPBEAR, and is run with multiple window lengths. The frequency precision and latency of the FFT method is analyzed in each configuration. A specialized frequency extraction technique, Delayed Comparison Error Minimization, is implemented with parameters optimized for the frequency range of interest. The performance metrics of latency and precision are analyzed Proceedings of the ASME 2020 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems SMASIS2020 September 15, 2020, Virtual, Online


Constraining numerical ice sheet models by comparison with observational data is crucial to address the interactions between cryosphere and climate at a wide range of scales. Such models are tested and refined by comparing model predictions of past ice geometries with field-based reconstructions from geological, geomorphological, and ice core data. However, for the East Antarctic Ice sheet, there is a critical gap in the empirical data necessary to reconstruct changes in ice sheet geometry in the Dronning Maud Land (DML) region. In addition, there is poor control on the regional climate history of the ice sheet margin, because ice-core locations, where detailed reconstructions of climate history exist, are located on high inland domes. This leaves numerical models ofregional glaciation history in this near-coastal area largely unconstrained. MAGIC-DML is an ongoing Swedish-US-Norwegian-German-UK collaboration with a focus on improvingice sheet models of the western DML margin by combining advances in modeling with filling critical data gaps regarding the timing and pattern of ice-surface changes. A combination of geomorphological mapping using remote sensing data, field observations, cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating, and numerical ice sheetmodeling are being used in an iterative manner to produce a comprehensive reconstruction of the glacial historyof western DML. Here, we present an overview of the project, field evidence for formerly higher ice surfaces and in-situ cosmogenic nuclide measurements from the 2016/17 expedition. Preliminary field evidence indicate that interior sectors of DML have experienced a general decrease in ice sheet thickness since the late Miocene, with potential episodes of increasing thickness in the late Pleistocene (700-300 ka, 250-75 ka). To aid in interpreting these field data, new high-resolution ice sheet model reconstructions, constraining ice sheet configurations during key episodes, are presented.


The eyes diverge under general anesthesia. The amount of divergence is predictable: there is a linear relationship between the preoperative and the anesthetized eye position. We recently reported that adjusting the amount of surgery to be done in cases deviating from this correlation significantly improved surgical results. The light optomotor reflex had not, however, been considered in making these measurements. We modified our procedure to eliminate this reflex in our next 100 patients. The measurements were not significantly different from prior studies. We confirmed the prior regression formula of Apt and Isenberg (A = 0.8P + 30) and our previously reported improvement in surgical success rate (from 47% to 88%) following intraoperative adjustment of the amount of surgery to be performed.


Laser Shock Processing (LSP) has become an advanced method for improving the mechanical properties such as hardness, residual stress and fatigue life. Nanosecond laser pulses of extreme intensity generated subsequent plasma. The rapid expansion of high pressure plasma creates a shock wave that propagates through the material, creating dislocations and inducing plastic deformation. Thus it can effectively eliminate welding residual tensile stress and improve fatigue capability of welding joints. The two kinds of welding experiment of 12Cr2Ni4A were designed to prove it. The experimental results showed that LSP has abroad application prospects in post-processing welding field.


The wide availability of signal processing and language tools to extract structured data from raw content has created a new opportunity for the processing of structured signals. In this work, we explore models for the simulation and recognition of scenarios—i.e., time sequences of structured data. For simulation, we construct two models—hidden Markov models (HMMs) and event dependency graphs. Combined, these two simulation methods allow the specification of dependencies in event ordering, simultaneous execution of multiple scenarios, and evolving networks of data. For scenario recognition, we consider the application of multi-grained HMMs. We explore, in detail, mismatch between training scenarios and simulated test scenarios. The methods are applied to terrorist scenario detection with a simulation coded by a subject matter expert.


The Brisk project has been set up to investigate the possibility of extending the expressive power of purely functional languages. The aim is to be able to build concurrent and distributed working environments completely functionally, reversing the usual situation in which functional programs are regarded as guests within a procedural environment. This paper gives an overview of the project, and the current status of the work in progress.

The Bristol Haskell System, or Brisk for short, is based on a compiler for the Haskell functional programming language which is used to provide practical support for this research, and to demonstrate its results. The compiler adds a purely deterministic form of concurrency to Haskell in order to improve support for interactive and distributed programming. This has been used, for example, to build an interface to the X window system. Features have also been added to support the dynamic loading and migration of code. This allows for a purely functional implementation of long-lived shell programs which manage files, processes and communications.


Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with various hemostatic abnormalities requiring constant search for better delicate antithrombotic management in these high-risk patients. The choice and the optimal dose of anticoagulant is important, but unclear, especially for mild COVID-19. Enoxaparin has been tested in several COVID trials with mixed results regarding hard clinical outcomes including mortality. We analyzed clinical, laboratory data and changes in platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes by scanning electron microscopy on admission and at hospital discharge in patients with confirmed COVID-19 treated with enoxaparin (n = 31) and matched healthy controls (n = 32) in a retrospective observational study. The data were triaged by enoxaparin dose comparing 40 mg/daily prophylactic enoxaparin dose (PED) with 80 mg/daily therapeutic (TED) regimens. All patients experienced mild disease, none required pulmonary support, and all survived. The impact of enoxaparin dose was prominent for platelets and erythrocytes, but less evident for leukocytes. PED was associated with significant platelet activation, diminished numbers of silent nonactive discoid cells, and increased number and size of platelet microaggregates with leukocyte involvement. In contrast, TED did not cause extra platelet activation, while circulating platelet microaggregates were smaller and lacking leukocytes in their construction. PED caused significant increase of erythrocyte-platelet aggregates formation, and numerically higher proportion of circulating echinocytes. TED was associated with significant decrease of rouleaux sludge formation compared to only some trend after PED. Changes in leukocytes were less dependent on enoxaparin dose. However, PED has been associated with enhanced aggregate formation in 7 out of 10 patients, while trap net formation has been decreased in 17 out of 21 TED patients. We conclude that over hospital stay TED was superior to PED in patients with mild COVID-19. The inability of PED to adequately protect major circulating blood cells is probably due to enhanced clearance or/and diminished bioavailability of enoxaparin during COVID. These retrospective observational small sample size data may be relevant to better understanding of the mixed results in controlled outcome-driven trials exploring optimal COVID-19 anticoagulant strategies.


Patellar instability is often missed by conventional axial views because transient subluxation of the patella essentially occurs during the first degrees of knee flexion (0 to 30 degrees), a position in which bilateral routine axial views are impossible to obtain. However, simple radiographic methods enable detection of both patellar instability and the often associated trochlear depth insufficiency. Every lateral radiograph of the knee depicts the depth of the proximal trochlear groove which is superior to 5 mm in a normal population. Upper trochlear depth insufficiency is frequently observed in the case of major patellar instability. Lateral views of the knee recorded during the first degrees of flexion (0 degrees-15 degrees) enable detection of patellar maltracking through the patellar tilt always associated with significant subluxation of the patella. Patellar maltracking may be studied dynamically by lateral fluoroscopy during progressive flexion of the knee. Unilateral 30 degrees axial radiographs with forced lateral rotation of the leg are definitely superior to conventional axial views in detecting transient patellar subluxation. These simple radiographic modalities should replace computed tomography in the search for patellar instability.


Twenty patients with various forms of lymphedema were studied by indirect lymphography. Isovist (Schering AG, Berlin) used for intradermal infusion is a new non-ionic, water-soluble, dimeric contrast media. It has following advantages: ideal iso-osmolarity, lowest physical-chemicotoxicity, and excellent tissue tolerance. Simultaneous indirect lymphography was recommended. Characteristic patterns of lymphatics were demonstrated. The newly developed Isovist allows visualization of initial lymphatics by intradermal infusion. However they are not displayed with direct lymphography unless in the presence of valvular insufficiency. It can be performed within 30 minutes. No chemical injury to lymphatics would happen so that this procedure could performed repeatedly.


[1] Temperature-time histories of rocks are often used to constrain the kinematics of tectonic events, the evolution of landforms, erosion rates, and/or amount of faulting in tectonically active areas. However, interpretations based on thermal histories are not always straightforward as they rely on several interdependent mechanisms such as heat conduction, heat advection, or the presence of transient topography that must be taken into account. Using a three-dimensional finite element code recently developed by one of the authors, we have calculated temperature-time histories to interpret an existing thermochronological data set (K-Ar and FT) complemented by new low-T thermochronometer data ((U-Th)/He and FT) from the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Combined with inversion methods (Genetic Algorithm and Neighbourhood Algorithm), the model is used to derive from the data information on the tectonomorphic development of the orogen during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. Assuming a quasi-geomorphic steady state, we can constrain the rate of tectonic horizontal advection and vertical uplift as well as the geometry of the main structural boundary, i.e., the Alpine Fault. We can also explain the along-strike geometry of the metamorphic isograds and thermochrons in relationship to surface topography. Furthermore, we show that if one assumes that the landscape has not been horizontally transported by tectonic movement, the relief on the west coast of the Southern Alps has increased. This relief increase could have been initiated at any time between 1.5 Ma and 100 ka. Any relief reduction during this period is ruled out by our modeling. Alternatively, if the landscape is advected horizontally in the direction normal to the trace of the Alpine Fault, a relief increase is not required to explain the thermochronological data.


In this contribution we report the results obtained using a newly developed self-consistent fully 3D Particle-In-Cell code for modelling of plasma-solid interaction. The model presented here involves a hollow cylindrical chamber opened to the plasma, with an external magnetic field limiting access of charged particles to the cylindrical wall. This model layout might provide more insight into processes taking place during magnetron deposition of thin films onto porous media. It is also a basis for probe diagnostics in fusion plasma research. The magnetic field is inclined with an angle of either 15° or 30° with respect to the cylindrical axis. Several different presures of the ambient neutral Ar gas are considered to model the diffusion of ions across the magnetic field in the presence of a solid surface.


Summary At present, if people with mental disorders appear before the criminal courts in Ireland, unless they are unfit for trial or not guilty by reason of insanity, the system governing their case will be the general one which applies to all criminal cases. In recent decades, a number of other common law jurisdictions have begun to set up mental health courts as a means of diverting some people with mental disorders from the criminal justice system and into more appropriate treatment. This article begins with a review of the background to mental health courts, focusing on the concept of diversion from the criminal justice system and the role of Therapeutic Jurisprudence theory as an inspiration for the establishment of mental health courts. The main features of mental health courts are identified and the features of those in existence in the United States are contrasted with those in Canada and England and Wales. Some of the main arguments against the use of these courts will be discussed, including the contentions that defendants" participation may not be truly voluntary and that their due process rights are not adequately protected.. The question of whether a mental health court should be established in Ireland is considered.


To assess the influence of footwear on injury, we prospectively studied all injured children presenting to the Emergency Department of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during February, May, July, and October 1988. Information was collected concerning the type and characteristics of footwear worn and environmental factors. Comparisons were made between those involving and those not involving loss of footing (LOF) during injury. Of the 3015 children studied, LOF occurred in 1075 (35.8%). Overall, significantly more injuries involved LOF in children whose feet were covered (n = 946, 37.0%) than in those who were barefoot (n = 129, 29.1%) at the time of injury (P less than 0.001). However, children wearing low-top sneakers had the lowest rate of LOF (24.0%) of any group. Children wearing rough-sole footwear had LOF significantly less frequently (24.2%) than those wearing smooth-sole footwear (51.8%; P less than 0.001). Rubber-sole footwear was less frequently associated with LOF (n = 488, 28.6%) than were other sole materials (n = 457, 53.8%; P less than 0.001). Our data suggest a potential injury prevention strategy involving utilization of rough-sole footwear.


After entering into 21st century, with the rapid development of science and technology, computer technology has made an extremely huge achievement. It has been integrated into all fields of industries and all fields employ gradually its unique characteristics to improve traditional skills. Computer technology is improving the system of art design, but the problems brought by the process should be fully cognized to serve art design by effectively taking advantage of if, which is important to both of them. Beginning with the features of computer technology, the thesis introduces how it plays the largest role in art design and studies a series of problems encountered by modern art design after the computer technology getting involved. For instance, designers should firstly grasp how to make use of computer design software, and once designers rely on the software too much, it is very easy for them to scrape othersÂ' designing works together aimlessly, lacking of artistry and creative imagination. Some designers are penny-wise and pound-foolish. They only pay attention to learn how to use computer software without imagination. The paper also tells apart traditional art design from computer technology and then analyzes the influences and problems of computer technology application in art design.


We discuss the impact of recent high-statistics Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider data on the determination of the gluon polarization in the proton in the context of a global QCD analysis of polarized parton distributions. We find evidence for a nonvanishing polarization of gluons in the region of momentum fraction and at the scales mostly probed by the data. Although information from low momentum fractions is presently lacking, this finding is suggestive of a significant contribution of gluon spin to the proton spin, thereby limiting the amount of orbital angular momentum required to balance the proton spin budget.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been the antithrombotic agent of choice for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) for a long time. UFH is also widely used for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, UFH has some limitations such as the need for parenteral administration and close monitoring of its anticoagulant effect. UFH is also associated with bleeding, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and osteoporosis.

EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SOURCES
Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are produced by the depolymerization of UFH. LMWHs have pharmacologic advantages over UFH: a better bioavailability after subcutaneous administration, a longer plasma half-life and a more predictable anticoagulant effect. These improved features allow once or twice daily subcutaneous injection of weight-adjusted doses of LMWHs without requiring laboratory monitoring in patients with VTE or unstable angina.

PERSPECTIVES
A number of new antithrombotic agents are currently under development. These include direct antithrombins and factor Xa inhibitors. The results of the main clinical trials with LMWHs as well as those of the studies with the new antithrombotic agents will be reviewed in this article.


The study was carried out to explore the evaluation practices carried out in selected technical and vocational institutions. This is a survey study conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. It involved three hundred (300) students and one hundred and twenty (120) teaching staff. The study was guided by three (3) research questions. Data were collected using two questionnaires titled: Students' questionnaire on Evaluation methods (SQEM) and teaching staff perception questionnaire on the role of Evaluation (TSPQRE). Data collected were analysed using descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean and Standard Deviation) and Pearson moment correlation. The result of the study revealed that most of the students agreed that evaluation carried out in their institution is mostly summative evaluation where students are assessed only at the end of the semester or mid semester tests. Findings of the study also showed that teaching staff agreed that evaluation is a means of improving teaching and learning in schools and there is also a relationship between teaching staff working experience and their perception of evaluation as a means of improving teaching and learning. It was recommended that teaching staff should use different methods to evaluate their students in order to improve teaching and learning in their institutions


Extracellular levels of the brain's endogenous anticonvulsant and neuroprotectant adenosine largely depend on an astrocyte‐based adenosine cycle, comprised of ATP release, rapid degradation of ATP into adenosine, and metabolic reuptake of adenosine through equilibrative nucleoside transporters and phosphorylation by adenosine kinase (ADK). Changes in ADK expression and activity therefore rapidly translate into changes of extracellular adenosine, which exerts its potent anticonvulsive and neuroprotective effects by activation of pre‐ and postsynaptic adenosine A1 receptors. Increases in ADK increase neuronal excitability, whereas decreases in ADK render the brain resistant to seizures and injury. Importantly, ADK was found to be overexpressed and associated with astrogliosis and spontaneous seizures in rodent models of epilepsy, as well as in human specimen resected from patients with hippocampal sclerosis and temporal lobe epilepsy. Several lines of evidence indicate that overexpression of astroglial ADK and adenosine deficiency are pathological hallmarks of the epileptic brain. Consequently, adenosine augmentation therapies constitute a powerful approach for seizure prevention, which is effective in models of epilepsy that are resistant to conventional antiepileptic drugs. The adenosine kinase hypothesis of epileptogenesis suggests that adenosine dysfunction in epilepsy undergoes a biphasic response: an acute surge of adenosine that can be triggered by any type of injury might contribute to the development of astrogliosis via adenosine receptor‐dependent and ‐independent mechanisms. Astrogliosis in turn is associated with overexpression of ADK, which was shown to be sufficient to trigger spontaneous recurrent electrographic seizures. Thus, ADK emerges as a promising target for the prediction and prevention of epilepsy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Stroke in childhood is one of the most common causes of death or severe impairment worldwide, with annual incidence estimated from 1,3 to 13 cases/100.000 population. The definition of stroke consists both of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and hemorrhagic stroke. The incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in children is approximately the same, in contrast to adults, while the incidence is higher in boys than it is in girls. Risks factors for pediatric stroke differ from those for adults, with arteriopathy and infections being the most commonly risk factors, followed by cardiac diseases. Clinical presentation of stroke in childhood depends on the affected area of the brain, with focal neurological deficit being the most common presentation in older children. The existence of stroke mimics and lack of typical findings in early neuroimaging lead to delay in diagnosis and poor prognosis. The adequate therapy has improved the outcome from pediatric stroke. However, this must be instituted within 3 to 6 hours. Prognosis of pediatric stroke is generally poor, depending on underlying condition. 10% of children who have stroke die, 20% have recurrent stroke and 70% have severe deficits. Our goal should be the rapid diagnosis and therapeutic management, which can contribute to improved outcomes in pediatric stroke.


Background —Dietary animal fat and protein have been inversely associated with a risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage in ecological studies. Methods and Results —In 1980, 85 764 women in the Nurses' Health Study cohort, who were 34 to 59 years old and free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease and cancer, completed dietary questionnaires. From these questionnaires, we calculated fat and protein intake. By 1994, after 1.16 million person-years of follow-up, 690 incident strokes, including 74 intraparenchymal hemorrhages, had been documented. Multivariate-adjusted risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage was higher among women in the lowest quintile of energy-adjusted saturated fat intake than at all higher levels of intake (relative risk [RR], 2.36; 95% CI, 1.10 to 5.09;P =0.03). For trans unsaturated fat, the corresponding RR was 2.50 (95% CI, 1.35 to 4.65;P =0.004). Animal protein intake was inversely associated with risk (RR in the highest versus lowest quintiles, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.10 to 1.00;P =0.04). The excess risk associated with low saturated fat intake was observed primarily among women with a history of hypertension (RR, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.09 to 12.3;P =0.04), but such an interaction was not seen for trans unsaturated fat or animal protein. These nutrients were not related to risk of other stroke subtypes. Dietary cholesterol and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat were not related to risk of any stroke subtype. Conclusions —Low intake of saturated fat and animal protein was associated with an increased risk of intraparenchymal hemorrhage, which may help to explain the high rate of this stroke subtype in Asian countries. The increased risk with low intake of saturated fat and trans unsaturated fat is compatible with the reported association between low serum total cholesterol and risk.


Reactive magnetron sputtering technique was used to gain titanium nitride (TiN) films on W18Cr4V high-speed steel and GCr15 bearing steel substrates at low temperature. The Surface chemical composition of the films was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and the surface morphology was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, a series of experiments have been conducted to study the relationship between interfacial bonding strength and some major technological parameters, that is, substrate surface roughness, negative bias voltage, intermediate transition layer, substrate hardness, and ion etching before deposition. The experimental results have indicated that the TiN film with typical ratio of chemical metric can be deposited on substrates using reactive magnetron sputtering technique below 140°C. The AFM image has showed that the TiN film using magnetron sputtering technique was composed of densely distributed nano-grains with uniform structure. Its surface was flat and smooth. The indentation testing results have showed that the increase of surface roughness and substrate hardness improves the bonding strength of TiN / substrate significantly. Furthermore, the bonding strength of TiN / substrate can also be improved through the following methods: (1) choosing a proper intermediate transition layer; (2) adopting ion etching before deposition and (3) increasing negative bias voltage before deposition.


This is a study of how the tikinaagan (cradleboard) as an object related to pre-colonial Indigenous childcare can be metaphorically investigated as a model for traditional social frameworks that illustrate the central place and role of babies and young people within Anishinaabe families and communities. Through this, I approach the ornamentation and arrangement of a small cradleboard collected by Frank Speck in the early-twentieth century during his visit to the territory of n'Daki Menan in northeastern Ontario. By exploring the historical context in which this cradleboard was created, used, and collected I address the gaps in the early literature where the Indigenous voice and value placed on these objects were disregarded or overlooked. I argue that cradleboards, through their stylistic design and contextual power, have the ability to communicate traditional knowledge and values of parenting, family and community across generations to present day.


OBJECT
Minimally invasive lumbar discectomy is a refinement of the standard open microsurgical discectomy technique. Proponents of the minimally invasive technique suggest that it improves patient outcome, shortens hospital stay, and decreases hospital costs. Despite these claims there is little support in the literature to justify the adoption of minimally invasive discectomy over standard open microsurgical discectomy. In the present study, the authors address some of these issues by comparing the short-term outcomes in patients who underwent first time, single-level lumbar discectomy at L3-4, L4-5, or L5-S1 using either a minimally invasive percutaneous, muscle splitting approach or a standard, open, muscle-stripping microsurgical approach.

METHODS
A retrospective chart review of 172 patients who had undergone a first-time, single-level lumbar discectomy at either L3-4, L4-5, or L5-S1 was performed. Perioperative results were assessed by comparing the following parameters between patients who had undergone minimally invasive discectomy and those who received standard open microsurgical discectomy: length of stay, operative time, estimated blood loss, rate of cerebrospinal fluid leak, post-anesthesia care unit narcotic use, need for a physical therapy consultation, and need for admission to the hospital.

RESULTS
Forty-nine patients underwent minimally invasive discectomy, and 123 patients underwent open microsurgical discectomy. At baseline the groups did differ significantly with respect to age, but did not differ with respect to height, weight, sex, body mass index, level of radiculopathy, side of radiculopathy, insurance status, or type of preoperative analgesic use. No statistically significant differences were identified in operative time, rate of cerebrospinal fluid leak, or need for a physical therapy consultation. Statistically significant differences were identified in length of stay, estimated blood loss, postanesthesia care unit narcotic use, and need for admission to the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS
In this retrospective study, patients who underwent minimally invasive discectomy were found to have similar perioperative results as those who underwent open microsurgical discectomy. The differences, although statistically significant, are of modest clinical significance.


The method of daily ration reproduction was used to study the actual nutrition of 25% of male subsampling comprising 674 subjects, during the epidemiological investigation of unorganized male population in a region of Ufa. The results of the study have shown that the caloric value of their nutrition does not exceed the established standards and is diminished with age. Protein consumption meets the physiological requirements, animal proteins prevail in their structure. Carbohydrate consumption is low, mainly at the expense of starch, while the share of sugar is high. Fat consumption exceeds the values recommended, mainly at the expense of saturated fatty acids. Cholesterol consumption is excessive. The established nutrition imbalance of the main food substances has evidenced the atherogenic character of the population nutrition, prevalence of animal food products in its structure, that should be taken into consideration when measures for the prevention of coronary heart disease are elaborated.


Ground-source(Geothermal) heat pump(GSHP) systems can achieve a higher coefficient of performance than conventional air-source heat pump(ASHP) systems. However, GSHP systems are not widespread because of their expensive installation costs. The authors have developed a GSHP system that employs the cast-in-place concrete pile foundations of a building as heat exchangers in order to reduce the initial cost. In this system, eight U-tubes are arranged around the surface of a cast-in-place concrete pile foundation. The heat exchange capability of this system, subterranean temperature changes and heat pump performance were investigated in a full-scale experiment. As a result, the average values for heat rejection were 186~201 W/m(per pile, 25 W/m per pair of tubes) while cooling. The average COP of this system was 4.6 while cooling; rendering this system more effective in energy saving terms than the typical ASHP systems.


Objective: To characterize diet quality across a global cohort of people with HIV (PWH). Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Methods: Leveraging REPRIEVE data from baseline across five Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions, we analyzed participant responses to the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants questionnaire. An overall diet quality score and scores for specific diet components were generated. Higher scores indicate better diet quality. Results: Among 7736 participants (median age 50 years, 30% women, median BMI 25.8 kg/m2) overall diet quality score (max score 30) was optimal in 13% of participants and good, suboptimal or poor in 45%, 38%, and 4% of participants, respectively; saturated fat score (max score 18) was good, suboptimal, or poor in 38%, 40%, or 7% of participants, respectively. Diet quality scores differed across GBD region with the highest scores reported in the South Asia region [median 23 (21–25)] and lowest in the sub-Saharan Africa region [median 15 (12–18)]; 61% of participants in the South Asia region reported optimal diet quality compared with only 6% in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Higher atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk scores were seen with worsening diet quality. Conclusion: Among PWH eligible for primary CVD prevention, diet quality was suboptimal or poor for almost half of participants, and there were substantial variations in diet quality reported by GBD region. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02344290


The presence, responses, structures and properties of mixes happening in nature, and their engineered analogs are reasonable by the possibility of two-focus two-electron bond. These families contain either electron definite or electron rich structure obstructs from the perspective of electron structure. Electron lacking structure squares have never been found in nature, and exist just in engineered species. Boron group mixes (BCCs) make the most strongly explored group of species with electron lacking bunch. Their reality has been clarified by the aggregation of one of a kind electron insufficient bonds, which tie together three boron molecules or, in some cases, their substitutes, in groups. Pronouncedly electron lacking bunches either decide or significantly influence properties of BCCs, and their possibilities. Restorative possibilities draw in the most elevated consideration now, and numerous mixes with boron groups are orchestrated as contender for remedial employments. These mixes must go through compulsory investigations and checks, which require assortment of substance examinations, indistinguishably with different mixes. In any case, explanatory strategies don't exist for examinations of mixes with boron bunches. The bits of information from chiral detachment of BCCs demonstrate the uniqueness of some investigative properties of species with and without boron bunches, and show the nonappearance of standards for the from the earlier estimation of various diagnostic properties for mixes with and without groups. In this way, missing expository techniques can't be gotten from existing information. Scientific exploration of BCCs persuaded by their clinical possibilities is the most ideal approach to preventive disposal a few impediments, which may hamper clinical employments of mixes with boron groups. Boron compounds now have many applications in a number of fields, including Medicinal Chemistry. Although the uses of boron compounds in pharmacological science have been recognized several decades ago, surprisingly few are found in pharmaceutical drugs. The boron-containing compounds epitomize a new class for medicinal chemists to use in their drug designs. Carboranes are a class of organometallic compounds containing carbon (C), boron (B), and hydrogen (H) and are the most widely studied boron compounds in medicinal chemistry. Additionally, other boron-based compounds are of great interest, such as dodecaborate anions, metallacarboranes and metallaboranes. The boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been utilized for cancer treatment from last decade, where chemotherapy and radiation have their own shortcomings. However, the improvement in the already existing (BPA and/or BSH) localized delivery agents or new tumor-targeted compounds are required before realizing the full clinical potential of BNCT. Boron is commonly found in minute sums in the human body (in a normal individual it's not in excess of 18 mg . In any case, it can possibly be considered as facilitator in new natural exercises and can be used in pharmaceutical medication structure. Fundamentally, the boron-containing bioactive particles are of two kinds; one sort of particles contains a solitary boron molecule, while the other is as a boron group. Boron can in a split second proselyte from a trigonal planar (sp2 hybridized) structure, that is an unbiased structure, to a tetrahedral (sp3-hybridized) structure, which is an anionic structure in the single boron particle containing mixes when utilized under physiological conditions. This gives the premise to utilizing boron to structure inhibitors for catalyst catalyzed hydrolytic forms by embracing carbon-based change states [. While the boron iotas overall in the bunch mixes are utilized as opposed to an isolated or single boron particle, the one of a kind collaboration with focused proteins are conceivable principally because of their essence in confine structure
Biography:
Radim Vespalec has received equivalent to PhD from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czechoslovak Republic, Praha, in 27. He received the scientific degree from Technical University of Pardubice, and the pedagogical Assoc. Prof. Degree from Masaryk University Brno. He is Senior Scientist in the Institute of Biophysics. Web of Science reports his 80 scientific articles and also he has contributed to 3 monographs.


Reliability of a road is mandatory since damaged will impede the traffic. Destruction is caused by various factors; one of the most important factors is excess load. Overload may give the load of each axle of a vehicle exceeds the determined standard. This condition occurs in trucks exceeding the load limit. In designing the structure of a road based on the method of Directorate General of Highways Ministry of Public Works of the Republic of Indonesia, axle load calculated in equivalent-number, or known as equivalent axle load (EAL), of 8.16 tons of standard axle. Total equivalent-number over the service life is defined as cumulative equivalent standard axle load (CESA). Due to traffic volume exceeding the volume forecast or, in other words there is an excessive load of traffic, it will make CESA achieved faster than planned. This excessive load in Indonesia, however, has been  considered as a factor of environmental condition, so there is a need to introduce a correction factor for EAL as high as 20-25% in the process of designing flexible and rigid pavement so as to reduce early damage.


Around 1940 Schumpeter draws on an analysis of the U.S. footwear industry as an exemplar case to formulate his famous hypothesis about the positive relation between market concentration and innovative activity. Starting in the 1970s the value chain of U.S. footwear producers disintegrates, eventually separating the process of product innovation from manufacturing in this industry. Studies testing Schumpeter's hypothesis commonly do not account for the modularity and globalization of an industry's value chain. Schumpeter having neglected the demand side in his theorizing, we argue that the separation of product innovation and manufacturing in the U.S. footwear industry is influenced by functional satiation effects on demand. If the functional requirements of consumers are met, their willingness to pay for ever more product varieties decreases. Since the early 1970s the 'oversupply' of new product varieties and the simultaneously decreasing price level drive market growth beyond functional satiation (Frenzel Baudisch, 2006b). In this paper we argue that this simultaneous price and innovation competition separates the product innovation process from manufacturing to gain economies in both of these processes simultaneously. Discussing the consumers' motivations to buy products beyond their functional requirements offers a deeper qualitative understanding of the business practices revealed in the historical case of the U.S. footwear industry.


Satellite-based estimates of rainfall are frequently used to complement scarce networks of gauges. Understanding uncertainties is an important step, but it is often hindered by a lack of validation data or misrepresented by spatial-scale-related uncertainties, which are especially important in spatially variable regions such as mountains. This study evaluates the Integrated Multisatellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) V05B 30-min estimates for all three runs (Early, Late, Final) over the high tropical Andes. A unique dataset containing 15 rain gauges located within one IMERG grid at elevations ranging from 3800 to 4600 m provides a first evaluation opportunity in this topographical context. The evaluation was based on categorical, statistical, and graphical methods. Error dependencies on precipitation characteristics and data source of the IMERG estimate were investigated. We show that IMERG severely underdetects precipitation events, thus underestimating precipitation depths. Poor detection is partially attributable to the low-intensity nature of precipitation over the region. However, tracing the error to the data source highlights limitations in passive microwave retrievals over the full range of intensities. No IMERG run has best overall performance, emphasizing that run suitability is application specific. The impact of gauge density on performance metrics was also evaluated and showed that subdaily IMERG accuracy is overestimated by sparse networks. A minimum of six gauges was required at the 30-min increment so that performance metrics are within 0.1 points of their true scores. We provide the first comprehensive assessment of 30-min IMERG in a mountainous setting, highlighting the importance of high-density networks for accurate subdaily evaluations.


Fluorescence microscopy can be used to assess the dynamic localization and intensity of single entities in vitro or in living cells. It has been applied with aplomb to many different cellular processes and has significantly enlightened our understanding of the heterogeneity and complexity of biological systems. Recently, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy has been brought to bear on telomeres, leading to new insights into telomere spatial organization and accessibility, and into the mechanistic nuances of telomere elongation. We provide a snapshot of some of these recent advances with a focus on mammalian systems, and show how three-dimensional, time-lapse microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence shine a new light on the end of the chromosome.


Bromo volcano is one of a series of active volcanoes in Indonesia, located on the Tengger caldera, Probolinggo, East Java. Bromo volcano has increased volcanic activity in the end 2015 until early 2016. The research was conducted to determine the characteristics of volcanic tremors. The methods used to determine the characteristics of volcanic tremors are spectral analysis and cross-correlation waveform analysis. Spectrogram analysis obtained frequency value 1-8 Hz for volcanic tremor of Bromo Volcano. From the results of spectral analysis volcanic tremor, it's can be seen the value of the frequency peaks irregular means the type of spasmodic tremor. Based on the pattern of the peaks of the tremor spectral analysis using 3 stations having the same pattern and the analysis of cross-correlation waveform volcanic tremor of Bromo volcano was indicated from the same source mechanism because the correlation coefficient value is good that ranged about 0.6 – 0.8.


Purpose
This study aims to contribute to an increased understanding of intra-organizational city brand resistance by identifying and discussing different types of counter-narratives emerging from the political and administrative arenas.

Design/methodology/approach
The empirical material consists of secondary data as well as six in-depth semi-structured interviews with Danish mayors and city managers in three different municipalities in Denmark.

Findings
Intra-organizational counter-narratives differ from inter-organizational counter-narratives but resemble a number of issues known from extra-organizational resistance. Still, significant differences are found within the political arena: lack of ownership, competition for resources and political conflicts. Lack of ownership, internal competition for resources and distrust of motives play an important role within the administrative arena. Mayors are aware of the needs for continued political support for branding projects but projects are nonetheless realized despite resistance if there is a political majority for it.

Research limitations/implications
This study points to the implications of city brand resistance and counter-narratives emerging from the "inside" of the political and administrative arenas in the city, here defined as "intra-organizational counter-narratives".

Practical implications
It is suggested that politicians and municipality staff should be systematically addressed as individual and unique audiences and considered as important as citizens in the brand process.

Originality/value
So far little attention has been paid to internal stakeholders within the municipal organization and their impact on the city branding process approached from a narrative perspective.


A significant fraction of recently surveyed Ethiopian rural and urban households report income losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study estimates how large these income losses are likely to be and the consequent impact on the poverty status of households. It finds that both the poverty headcount ratio and the poverty gap could increase significantly. The ShorT-run ImpacT of The coVID-19 crISIS on poVerTy In eThIopIa 1


A computational path finding method has been developed to simulate the flow of passengers at railway transit stations. The concept of computational method is very similar to particle-laden flow. The basic procedures are as follows. Like general computational fluid dynamics, the computational domain is divided into meshes and potential values are calculated for each cell by providing boundary conditions for inlet and outlet. The path line is then calculated according to the potential value. The path line obtained is the basic moving path, but it is an algorithm that finds a new path by changing the path according to the situation. Representative situations in which passengers may change routes at railway stations are as follows. That is, there is a slow pedestrian in the direction that the pedestrian is going to move or encounter a pedestrian in the opposite direction. According to a specific rule-based system, we developed an algorithm to find the path to change, and the main factors such as walking speed, viewing angle, straightness, walking on the right, etc. were considered. The analysis results show that pedestrians do not move along the shortest paths but change their paths from time to time. Through the analysis of passenger flow, it is expected that it can be applied to the optimal structural design of railway stations and the convenient flow of passenger.


AIMS
To explore the course of recovery of consciousness and factors predicting the outcome of severe brain injury with a prolonged period of unconsciousness in children and young adults receiving a specialized rehabilitation treatment, the Early Intensive Neurorehabilitation Programme (EINP).

METHODS
A cohort of forty-four patients aged 1.6-25.5 years (M=16.0) with traumatic acquired brain injury (TBI) or non-traumatic acquired brain injury (nTBI) were examined using the Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile every two weeks, from the application for EINP until discharge. The level of consciousness was assessed with the Post-Acute Level of Consciousness Scale, and the level of disability was determined by the Disability Rating Scale. Long-term level of disability of all TBI patients (N=32) was assessed between 2.0 and 4.4 years after discharge from EINP.

RESULTS
Two-thirds of all patients recovered to consciousness. Three recovery patterns were identified: remaining in a vegetative state (VS), slow recovery of consciousness, and fast recovery of consciousness. In the long-term, 11 of the TBI patients were severely disabled, 13 were moderately disabled, and 4 were mildly disabled. All TBI patients who were in VS at discharge either had deceased, or recovered to a very severely disabled state.

CONCLUSIONS
Three recovery patterns identified in an early stage after starting EINP made it possible to predict long-term level of disability.


Abstract. Limited availability of ammonia (NH3) observations is currently a barrier for effective monitoring of the nitrogen cycle. It prevents a full understanding of the atmospheric processes in which this trace gas is involved and therefore impedes determining its related budgets. Since the end of 2007, the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) satellite has been observing NH3 from space at a high spatio-temporal resolution. This valuable data set, already used by models, still needs validation. We present here a first attempt to validate IASI-NH3 measurements using existing independent ground-based and airborne data sets. The yearly distributions reveal similar patterns between ground-based and space-borne observations and highlight the scarcity of local NH3 measurements as well as their spatial heterogeneity and lack of representativity. By comparison with monthly resolved data sets in Europe, China and Africa, we show that IASI-NH3 observations are in fair agreement, but they are characterized by a smaller variation in concentrations. The use of hourly and airborne data sets to compare with IASI individual observations allows investigations of the impact of averaging as well as the representativity of independent observations for the satellite footprint. The importance of considering the latter and the added value of densely located airborne measurements at various altitudes to validate IASI-NH3 columns are discussed. Perspectives and guidelines for future validation work on NH3 satellite observations are presented.


This thesis is an exploratory study of the way perceptions and emotions shape the agency of asylum seekers. Using Eritrean asylum seekers that travel to Italy and their perceptions of the Italian asylum system as a case study, it explores how perceptions of Italy and its asylum system shape the strategies of Eritrean asylum seekers at different stages of their migration journey. This research went some way towards developing a notion of agency that also takes into account dimensions (such as the importance of perceptions and emotions) that are sometimes overlooked in forced migration studies, thereby contributing (or so I hope) to a more informed and subtle view of asylum seekers' movements and of their interaction with their surrounding environment. My fieldwork demonstrates that perceptions and emotions play an important role in shaping asylum seeker agency, and that perceptions are heavily influenced by the circulation of rumours among migrants.
The first part of the thesis explores the way perceptions about Italy are produced and re-produced in Eritrea (thereby leading to a set of recurrent expectations), as well as the way the identity formation process happening in Eritrea has led to the emergence of peculiar characteristics that are relevant in explaining Eritrean asylum seekers' strategies for coping with the challenges of the asylum system. The second part of this project focuses on asylum journeys, and specifically on the various trajectories developed by asylum seekers, on the circulation of rumours and on the way perceptions about destination countries evolve. The last part examines the Italian asylum and reception systems and provides some examples of the strategies adopted by asylum seekers to overcome problems and obstacles; it also explores the factors that shape the agency of Eritrean asylum seekers, especially in relation to the Italian asylum system and to the rules of the Dublin Procedure.


We are presenting a hybrid MT approach in the WMT2016 Shared Translation Task for the IT-Domain. Our work consists of several translation components based on rule-based and statistical approaches that feed into an informed selection mechanism. Additions to last year's submission include a WSD component, a syntactically-enhanced component and several improvements to the rule-based component, relevant to the particular domain. We also present detailed human evaluation on the output of all translation components, focusing on particular systematic errors.


Objective: To investigate the neointima formation and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in cuff-induced vascular injury in mouse model, and to examine the effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker, olmesartan, on MCP-1 and TNF-α expression and consequently vascular remodeling.Methods: Vascular injury was induced by polyethylene cuff-placement around the mouse femoral artery. Some mice were treated with AT1 receptor blocker, olmesartan, at the dose of 3 mg*kg-1*day-1 with an osmotic minipump. Neointima formation and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were measured by morphometric analysis and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. MCP-1 and TNF-α expression was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining.Results: We observed neointima formation 14 days after cuff placement as well as VSMCs proliferation in the media and neointima. Cuff placement also induced MCP-1 and TNF-α expression in the media and neointima that the VSMCs specifically existed. Treatment of mice with olmesartan at a dose of 3 mg*kg-1*day-1, which did not influence systolic blood pressure, significantly decreased neointima formation and the proliferation of VSMCs. Olmesartan also inhibited MCP-1 and TNF-α expression in the injured arteries.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that blockade of AT1 receptor inhibits MCP-1 and TNF-α expression and thereby improves vascular remodeling.


The history of sport is considered an important site for understanding identities of place. This paper
reflects upon the chapter on sport in my book Britishness since 1870 (2004), which explored the
variety of national identities in the United Kingdom. The chapter argued that in their spare time,
people were better able to show allegiances of choice rather than those imposed by the state,
employers and other agencies. The chapter considered sports that helped formulate a sense of unity
in the British as well as areas of division. Yet the chapter was not written of my own free will. As with
sport at school, I was made to do it. The publisher (Routledge) considered a chapter on sport
necessary to the book and I gave in. Now I ask, was it the right decision? Did the chapter add
significantly to my understanding of the way in which Britishness worked since the 1870s? Or could I
have forgotten my kit and refused to play ball? The paper considers the place of sport history in wider
discussions of British history and identity.


An API 579 Level 3 assessment was performed to determine the stresses in a 2% dent in a 20-inch × 0.406-inch pipeline. The intent was to determine the stress concentration factor (SCF) in the dent with a finite element model using geometry data provided from an in-line inspection caliper run. In addition to the analytically-derived SCF, data were also evaluated from a recent experimental study involving a plain dent subjected to cyclic pressure conditions with a profile comparable to the dent in question. This sample was cycled at a stress range of 70% SMYS and failed after 10,163 cycles had been applied. Using the DOE-B mean fatigue curve, combined with the experimental fatigue life, the resulting SCF factor was derived to be 4.20. This value is within 1% of the calculated FEA-based SCF and served to confirm the technical validity of the SCF. The operator provided historical pressure data covering a 12-month period and a rainflow count analysis was performed on the data. Using this data, along with the API X′ design fatigue curve, the estimated remaining life was determined for the dent in question and conservatively estimated to be 65 years. This paper provides details on the analysis methodology and associated results, discussions on the empirically-derived SCF with its use in validating the analytical SCF, and application of the results to estimate the remaining life of the pipeline system. It is the intent of the authors to provide the pipeline industry with a systemic approach for evaluating dent severity using caliper and operating pressure history data.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


Digital surface models (DSMs) extracted from high-resolution Radarsat-2 (R2) stereo images using a new hybrid radargrammetric modeling developed at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing are evaluated over two Canadian northern and arctic study sites. Because the new hybrid model uses the full metadata of R2, it does not require any ground control point. The first study site in the north of Quebec is used for the scientific validation where accurate checked data (dGPS, lidas) is available. The second study site in the Arctic (steep relief and glaciated surfaces) is challenging for the operational evaluation of topographic mapping capabilities of R2. For the first study site, the bias and elevation linear errors with 68 percent confidence level (LE68) of R2 stero-extracted DSM compared to lidar data were computed over bare surfaces: LE90 of 3.9 m and no bias were achieved. For the second study site the comparison was performed between the R2 DEM and ICESat data. A negative 18-m bias was computed and certainly results suggests a bias in the stereo-model of R2 and thus in the metadata used in the model computation because there is few temporal variation in the data acquisition (R2 and ICESat)/ LE68 of 28 m was obtained. However, the differential melting and thinning depending of the glaciers elevations and planimetric surging of glacier tongues with less accumulation of debris and moraines, a lower LE68 of around 20 m could be expected. In addition to evaluate the potential of R2 over ice bodies, which generally have low slope relief and because the errors are strongly correlated with slopes, other statistical results of elevation differences were also computed: LE68 of 15 m was obtained over ice fields with 0–5° slopes while a little more than 20-m over less than 30° slopes was achieved.


This article introduces meta-modeling hierarchies additional to the conventional meta-modeling hierarchy in a model-driven architecture. Additional hierarchies are introduced orthogonal to the conventional meta-modeling hierarchy for an appropriate correlation of information on combined hierarchies. In particular, orthogonal meta-modeling enables the grouping of models on the same conventional meta-modeling layer based on additional semantic dependencies. For the enhancement of conventional meta-modeling this paper discusses the creation of orthogonal meta-modeling hierarchies, the specification of semantic dependencies in meta-modeling hierarchies, semantic instances as well as the inheritance of semantic dependencies in meta-modeling hierarchies in general. Furthermore, the paper outlines the impact of orthogonal semantic meta-modeling on automated model transformation.


With the development of synchronized sampling technique and other advanced measurement approaches, the merging of various substation data to be used in new applications in the EMS solutions has not yet been explored adequately. This paper deals with the integration of time correlated information from Phasor Measurement Units, SCADA and non-operational data captured by other intelligent electronic devices such as protective relays and digital fault recorders, as well as their applications in alarm processing, fault location and cascading event analysis. A set of new control center visualization tools shows that the merging of PMU, operational and non-operational data could improve the effectiveness of alarm processing, accuracy of fault location and ability to detect cascades.


VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN FETUSES WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. G.M. McDaniel, L.K. Hawkins, B.T. Conger, C.A. Lemieux, and W.A. Lutin, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate left and right ventricular diastolic function in fetuses with congenital heart disease as compared to normal fetuses. Hemodynamic data were obtained from echocardiograms of 40 fetuses with right heart obstructive and nonobstructive congenital heart lesions (CHD). These data were compared to a group of 57 healthy fetuses that were matched for gestational age and heart rate. Diastolic function was assessed by analysis of inflow velocities measured from mitral and tricuspid valves. A significant increase in A waves was observed in the group with right ventricular obstructive disease compared to the normal group (0.60 0.13 vs 0.54 0.11, p = .048). The mitral valve velocity time integral (VTI) of fetuses with obstructive right ventricular disease was significantly increased (0.085 0.019 vs 0.073 0.013, p = .023). The peak right atrial filling rate, calculated from measurements at the tricuspid valve, was significantly higher in the group with right ventricular obstructive disease as compared to the control (82.2 38.5 vs 65.5 24.7, p = .024). These data show an increase in late diastolic filling in the obstructed group, which suggests that fetuses with right ventricular obstructive lesions have decreased biventricular diastolic function compared to normal fetuses. The data also demonstrate that in right obstructed fetal hearts, diastolic ventricular dysfunction occurs in both the obstructed and unobstructed ventricle.


Escherichia coli O157 is a major foodborne pathogen. The bovine gut is the primary reservoir and the organism is shed in the feces, which serves as the major source of contamination. The objectives of our research on E. coli O157 were to 1) determine prevalence and characterize presence in the rectoanal mucosa of cattle, 2) rationalize preferential prevalence in the hindgut, 3) evaluate fecal prevalence and concentration in relation to carcass contamination 4) determine the efficacy of preharvest intervention strategies to reduce fecal prevalence and/or concentration in cattle. We determined that E. coli O157 isolated from the rectoanal mucosa were similar to fecal isolates. We evaluated methods of enumeration in cattle feces to identify fecal samples with > 10 and 10 CFU of E. coli O157/g. We observed that prevalence of E. coli O157 on carcasses was correlated with high-shedders. We identified gluconic acid as a substrate which stimulates growth of E. coli O157 in fermentations with ruminal microbial or fecal microbial inocula from cattle. This may explain the preference to persist or colonize the hindgut because gluconic acid is a component of colonic mucin. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of cattle diets (two grain types and two grain processing methods), which present different amounts of fermentable starch to the hindgut, on prevalence of E. coli O157. Dry-rolled grain-based diets reduced prevalence of E. coli O157, possibly because of increased flow of starch to the hindgut. Competitive exclusion cultures of E. coli in in vitro fermentations reduced E. coli O157 in ruminal microbial inoculum, but in fecal microbial inoculum cultures were only efficacious when gluconic acid also was added. Lastly, we evaluated a vaccine which targeted the siderophore receptor/porin proteins of E. coli O157. The vaccine reduced prevalence, the total number of days cattle tested positive, and the total number of days cattle were identified as high-shedders of E. coli O157. In summary, our research adds further knowledge to the literature about E. coli O157 in the hindgut, provides methods to identify high-shedding animals, demonstrates the importance of high-shedding animals, and offers information about potential preharvest interventions. PREVALENCE, CHARACTERIZATION AND INTERVENTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 IN FINISHING CATTLE


The paper considers of regional the ways of solving systemic problems of investment activity that are relevant for developing countries, including for the Ukraine. It is specified that in the conditions of globalization of the world economy and the intensification of the use of information and communication technologies, conditions are created for the transformation of savings of households in developing countries into investment in stock markets in developed countries mainly the United States. This calls into question the feasibility of purely market conditions for the financial market of Ukraine and other developing countries. A list of effective administrative methods of state regulation of investment activity that may be used by state and regional authorities to convert household savings into investments in the domestic financial market is proposed. The attention is drawn to the necessity of applying these methods, especially at the initial stages of the intensification of state regulation of investment activity in the country, in order to create a sufficient demand for domestic stock assets. Such of the sufficient demand will allow to launch the mechanism of automatic inflow of investments both domestic and foreign, and in the future gradually switch to predominantly market-based methods of state regulation. The criterion of the level of sufficiency of demand for stock assets of the country is a positive long-term trend of stock indexes taking into account inflation, it is desirable that their growth rate exceeds the growth rate of GDP of the country. Кeywords: Investment Activity, Stock Market, Stock Index, Stock Asset, Sufficient Demand for Stock Assets, Mechanism of Automatic Inflow of Investments. JEL codes: Q12; Q14.


PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Psychiatric comorbidities are relatively frequent in people with epilepsy (PWE) occurring in one of every three patients, with a predominance of mood and anxiety disorders. Their relation with epilepsy is very complex as not only are patients with epilepsy at greater risk of developing psychiatric disorders, but also those with primary psychiatric disorders are at greater risk of developing epilepsy. The purpose of this review is to identify the implications that this bidirectional relation has on the management of the actual seizure disorder.

RECENT FINDINGS
Psychiatric comorbidities are associated with a worse response to the pharmacologic and surgical treatment of the seizure disorder. In addition, comorbid mood and anxiety disorders have been associated with a worse tolerance of antiepileptic drugs. Furthermore, the complexity between psychiatric comorbidities and epilepsy can also be appreciated in patients with treatment-resistant focal epilepsy who are treated with surgery, as some may experience a remission of presurgical mood and anxiety disorders after surgery, particularly when complete seizure freedom is achieved, whereas others experience an exacerbation in severity during the first 12 months after surgery and others may experience the development of de-novo psychiatric disorders.

SUMMARY
Psychiatric comorbidities are relatively frequent in PWE and have a bidirectional relation, the consequence of which are reflected in a worse response to the pharmacologic and surgical treatment of the seizure disorder. In addition, the variable changes of presurgical psychiatric comorbidities following epilepsy surgery may be another expression of this complex relation.


Antibiotic resistance is an important global public health problem. Human gut human microbiota is an accumulator of resistance genes potentially providing them to pathogens. It is important to develop tools for identifying the mechanisms of how resistance is transmitted between gut microbial species and pathogens. We developed MetaCherchant - an algorithm for extracting the genomic environment of antibiotic resistance genes from metagenomic data in the form of a graph. The algorithm was validated on simulated datasets and applied to new "shotgun" metagenomes of gut microbiota from patients with Helicobacter pylori who underwent antibiotic therapy. Genomic context was reconstructed for several dominant resistance genes; taxonomic annotation of the context showed the species carrying the genes. Application of MetaCherchant in differential mode produced specific graph structures suggesting the evidence of possible resistance gene transmission within a mobile element that occurred as a result of the antibiotic therapy. MetaCherchant is a promising tool giving researchers an opportunity to get an insight into dynamics of resistance transmission in vivo based on metagenomic data.


Biological vision establishes a wide variety of unrivaled benchmarks in terms of efficiency, robustness, and general performance in active visual tasks. Despite the complexity and variability of natural images, visual systems of mammals are surprisingly skilful in recognizing objects and contexts at a first glance and to efficiently drive few fixations to the most salient parts of a new unknown scene.
These capabilities demand an active and dramatic selection of information that poses a main cause for visual attention. It seams reasonable considering the huge flow of information entering the human visual system (HVS) through the retinian photoreceptors, estimated to be over 10^{10} bits/s (Anderson 2005). Bottom-up adaptive processing and perception of saliency, are thought to lie at the basis of this early behavior with such a remarkable efficiency. They appear to play an essential role in the control of human visual attention -working in cooperation with top-down control- as a number of results from a wide variety of experiments have shown.
Visual saliency is usually employed to refer measures that aim to quantify the conspicuity or distinctiveness of a visual stimulus. That is, it intends to quantify how much a stimulus stands out from the context, given its physical properties. The common representation of saliency is given in the form of a retinotopic map (the saliency map). A main -though in no way the only- source of information to understand the functioning of visual attention is the spatial distribution of human eye fixations obtained in eye-tracking experiments. Eye movements result in fixations that determine the small regions of a given image that are sensed by the fovea. Under good illumination conditions (i.e. for photopic vision), these small regions receive a much higher spatial resolution due to the much higher density of photoreceptors present in the fovea. Consequently, eye movements represent a first form of strong spatial selection of visual information. It must be noticed however that also peripheral vision is affected by attentional selection, without the need of eye-movements. This issue will be considered further along this dissertation.
Otherwise, mechanistic models of early visual processing with a biological concern are focused on the explanation of the visual receptive fields and their adaptive behavior, to local and contextual features. A main goal of these models is the formulation of early coding strategies that are biologically plausible and that are able to explain observed visual phenomena related to early vision, and particularly to contextual adaptation of perceptual and neural behavior.
The problem of measuring the saliency or distinctiveness in an image has also a great relevance in computer and machine vision, specially in the development of active systems. Indeed, bottom-up spatial attention has shown to be very useful in important visual functions like learning and recognition and many vision applications as shown in the first chapter of this thesis. Besides, the extraction of suitable low level features is of enormous importance in image analysis and computer vision. Both of these problems -low level representation and saliency- use to appear closely related in a variety of solutions. A remarkable example can be found in the most popular interest point detectors, but also in many other computer vision models.
Both concerns on the understanding of the HVS and on the development of active vision systems have fostered an important and crossdisciplinary research effort to provide improved measures of saliency. Particularly, the bioinspired modelling of saliency and its applications have seen an extraordinary and increasing amount of research efforts in the last years.
However, there is clearly a lack of models that address the relationship between the contextual data-driven adaptation observed in early visual coding and the perception of saliency. Understanding this relation is essential for the development of a computational framework of early visual coding with biological plausibility. Such a framework should formulate plausible intermediate retinotopic representations adapted to the image. These intermediate representations must be able to maintain a suitable measure of saliency, but also to match observed characteristics of early vision. Approaches to this problem are very interesting for computer vision too, as far as they may yield improved models of both adaptive low level features and saliency.
Furthermore, most models of saliency are grounded on an information theoretic foundation, without an specification of the physical sources involved, and more importantly, of the different ways in which they contribute to visual saliency. This specification, if possible, is very important since it would offer an additional constraint to understand the visual function in terms of its physical roots. As well it could yield excellent cues for the development of active vision approaches and in general for the adaptive processing and analysis of images.
With the aim of filling these gaps, this thesis provides a coherent functional approach to both early visual coding and saliency, in a biologically plausible manner. Likewise, the framework proposed is rooted in a physical interpretation involving few simple optical magnitudes. The resulting model is shown to explain a variety of visual illusions and to clearly outperform the existing state-of-the-art models of saliency using the most popular evaluation tests, including the prediction of eye fixations and the reproduction of psychophysical results.
The first pointed lack can be easily appreciated in the two typical strategies of low level representation adopted by existing models of saliency. Many of them start with multiresolution decomposition of three predefined color components, in a given color model. This is done by projecting the image color components on linear filters resembling receptive fields of cells in V1, which are usually modeled by Gabor-like and Gaussian-like functions ever since the standard model of V1 was first proposed by Hubel and Wiesel (1959, 1968). The following steps generally involve a competition and integration process that delivers a final measure of saliency, a scheme already found in early models based on the Koch and Ullman architecture of attention (1985). Otherwise, the other typical approach involves decomposition through the projection of the image on independent components of natural image patches, avoiding color components and filter parameterization beyond patch size. This proposal is based on the statistical interpretation of the standard model of V1 as the result of evolution and neural development to match the statistics of natural images (Olshausen 1996, Bell 1997).
Both of these schemes, either based on filter banks or on independent components analysis, share an important property: they always use the same portions of the feature space to represent any image. Filter bank approaches project a fixed set of color components on a fixed partition of the spectral domain. Independent components are determined from a set of training natural images and are not modified subsequently.
The described static approaches to early coding underlying most of current models of saliency do not match the behavior of the HVS. Indeed, it adapts its responses to the global and local features of each specific image. It shows short-term and contextual adaptation to contrast, to color content and to spatial structure. This adaptation takes place from photoreceptors and G cells to cortical cells and has been shown to produce overall a decorrelated representation (Barlow 1989, Rieke 2009, Kohn 2007, Clifford 2007, Schwartz 2007). Adaptive decorrelation seems thus to be a plausible neural mechanism. Not surprinsingly, many recent mechanistic models of neural cortical networks as well as models of computation by populations of neurons produce an overall decorrelated and whitened representation of the input.
From a computational point of view, there are also reasons in favor of a contextual adaptation model. Approaches that do not present such adaptation are more likely to be affected by feature biases, reducing the applicability of the corresponding measure of saliency.
Therefore, the problem of saliency appears to be closely related to the problem of selection of a low level representation as well as its adaptation. In the context of biological vision, early visual coding appears to be an unavoidable problem to tackle wether biological plausibility is claimed. Otherwise, a proper insight in early visual coding can deliver guidelines to design low level representations of images, suitable for active visual functions that migth be useful for computer and machine vision applications. Indeed, and similarly to other works in the field, the original motivation of this dissertation was born within a long-term project of developing a generic and biologically inspired framework to approach and study active vision problems.


Abstract: Cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is one of the most severe and frequent cause of cerebral palsy in children surviving preterm birth. The pathogenesis of PVL yet is not completely understood. The majority of the theories consider the necrotic foci to be hypoxic-ischemic lesions, resulting from impaired perfusion at the vascular border zones between ventriculopedal and ventriculofugal arteries, as the latter are poorly developed in preterm infants. Besides periventricular vascular anatomic factors and pressure-passive cerebral circulation the intrinsic vulnerability of cerebral white matter (a particular vulnerability of rapidly differentiating oligodendroglial cells) of preterm infants plays an important role. An alternative view focuses on the role of intrauterine infection and the fetal inflammatory response syndrome. Hypocarbia has been identified as an independent risk factor for PVL in many studies. As far as the pathogenesis of PVL is complex and likely multifactorial, the influence of hypocarbia on subsequent white matter damage is most striking in postnatal acquired and late onset cystic PVL. This review analyses clinical trials demonstrating an association between hypocarbia and PVL. Physiological studies on cerebrovascular autoregulation and animal studies presented in this review try to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.


Abstract. Sustainable management of the coastal resources requires a better understanding of the processes that drive coastline change. The coastline is a highly dynamic sea-terrestrial interface. It is affected by forcing factors such as water levels, waves, winds, and the highest and most severe changes occur during storm surges. Extreme storms are drivers responsible for rapid and sometimes dramatic changes of the coastline. The consequences of the impacts from these events entail a broad range of social, economic and natural resource considerations from threats to humans, infrastructure and habitats. This study investigates the impact of a severe storm on coastline response on a sandy multi-barred beach at the Belgian coast. Airborne LiDAR surveys acquired pre- and post-storm covering an area larger than 1 km2 were analyzed and reproducible monitoring solutions adapted to assess beach morphological changes were applied. Results indicated that the coast retreated by a maximum of 14.7 m where the embryo dunes in front of the fixed dunes were vanished and the foredune undercut. Storm surge and wave attacks were probably the most energetic there. However, the response of the coastline proxies associated with the mean high water line (MHW) and dunetoe (DuneT) was spatially variable. Based on the extracted beach features, good correlations (r>0.73) were found between coastline, berm and inner intertidal bar morphology, while it was weak with the most seaward bars covered in the surveys. This highlights the role of the upper features on the beach to protect the coastline from storm erosion by reducing wave energy. The findings are of critical importance in improving our knowledge and forecasting of coastline response to storms, and also in its translation into management practices.


Herein, poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (PETI) was synthesized via an ethylene glycol stibium/γ-AlOOH composite catalyst and a study was carried out on the structural changes of the end groups of poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate) (PETI). Based on this study, the effect of the structural changes of these end groups on the crystallization and optical properties of polyester has been discussed. Moreover, it was found that after the catalytic reaction, the γ-AlOOH and the carboxyl end groups of PETI generated terminal carboxyl aluminum coordination compounds. The composite catalyst generated alkoxy aluminum and alkoxy stibium. The strong nucleating ability of these new end group structures changed the crystallization properties of the polyester. Moreover, the optical properties of the polyester were affected and as a result, a 90.46% transmittance for PETI was observed.


Immunoglobulin production by peripheral blood B lymphocytes in cultures containing various combinations of B and T cells was studied by a reverse hemolytic plaque forming cell assay in 21 patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 26 normal controls. Responses were markedly enhanced in controls when T cells were irradiated at 3200 rads or T cells bearing Fc receptors for IgG were removed by rosetting prior to coculture with B cells, while no such responses were observed in rheumatoids. In allogeneic cultures and T depleted cultures supplemented by normal T replacing factors, RA B lymphocytes functioned normally. These data suggest that there is an abnormality in immunoregulation that exists at the level of the T cell and that the defect involves T helper cells and/or their interaction with B lymphocytes. An increase in the ratio of T helper:suppressor (OKT4:OKT5) cells due to a reduction in suppressor cells among active RA patients was observed but did not correlate with this defect that was independent of disease activity. These data imply that functional alterations exist in vitro in circulating helper T cells from RA peripheral blood.


After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf of Mexico in August 2005, floodwaters covering New Orleans were pumped into Lake Pontchartrain as part of rehabilitation process to make the city habitable again. The long term consequences of this environmentally critical decision were left to observation. This paper examines the likely response of Lake Pontchartrain to the load of contaminants that were possibly in the flood waters via modeling several hypothetical scenarios. As a preliminary outcome, this study provides a useful tool to assess the possible extent of damage inflicted on the natural water resources of Southern Louisiana or similar environments elsewhere. An unsteady state fugacity model is developed in order to examine the environmental effects of contaminants on surface water bodies which have different physicochemical characteristics. Since the available data on the event is limited, uncertainty analysis is necessary. Thus, as a secondary outcome, the study further investigates the effects of the uncertainty in the parameters used in the model on the outcome using Monte Carlo analysis. The results indicate that Lake Pontchartrain, which was recovering from earlier assaults on its water quality, will continue for a long while on its path to recovery. Application of the derived model to three contaminants shows that the recovery time of the lake for the contaminant levels to go back down to MCL (maximum contaminant levels) values range between about a year and sixty eight years for the three contaminants considered in this study.


For the last two years, the IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) was organized in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the leading international conference was delivered in a hybrid format in Houston, Texas, 20-24 March at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Because some overseas and domestic participants in our community, including domestic, were unable to physically attend due to travel restrictions and other COVID-related concerns, the organizers made a decision to provide select recorded conference content (Plenary, Technical, and Industry Sessions) in an on-demand format for a period of time (March 28-April 29) after the conference ended in Houston on 24 March. © 2014 IEEE.


A new type of steel wire rope non-destructive testing (NDT) detector apparatus is presented. It is composed of the magnetizer and the sensor array. The magnetizer, consisting of permanent magnets and armature, is used for magnetizing the steel wire rope to saturation. The high sensitive and giant magneto-resistance (GMR) micro sensor is adopted to inspect the inner and outer flaws of the steel wire rope. Some giant magneto-resistance sensors constitute the sensor array, distributed homogeneously and symmetrically. The differential signals are picked up and outputted for the following signal interpretation. In contrast with previous detectors, the detector can attain the precise and high sensitive measurement of the flaws. In the experiments, the steel wire rope with its diameter being 11 mm is adopted, and its surface flaws are detected. The experiment results show that qualitative detection of surface defects is attained. The apparatus can also be used for the flaw test of the ferromagnetic bars.


Patients with ectodermal dysplasia or having under‐ gone cleft surgery with anodontia or hypodontia, hypo‐ plastic conical teeth and patients with severely worn dentition are difficult to treat because of the poor remaining tooth structure. These patients often exhibit loss of vertical dimension of occlusion and aesthetic problems and usually need complex prosthetic treatments. Financial constraints or other priorities often restrict one from choosing the most desirable treatment. The overlay removable denture is a covering prosthesis partially supported by natural teeth, tooth roots, or dental implants, providing an efficient alter‐ native of treatment. Clinical reports describe the various applications of overlay dentures.


Direct real estate plays an important role in our daily lives. The place of direct real estate in the portfolio of a private investor is often limited however. The paper attempts to answer the question of how large the allocation to direct real estate should be to attain an optimal risk/return portfolio. Data used for direct real estate are data of the Dutch real estate market as measured by the ROZ/IPD. Markowitz' portfolio optimization technique is used to calculate the optimal portfolios. Geltner's unsmoothing technique is applied to counter possible smoothing of direct real estate data. Historical and expected returns were used to calculate efficient frontiers and direct real estate allocations. Results of the study show that, even when unsmoothing is taken into account, the allocation to direct real estate under scenarios based on historical and expected real return is substantial for most risk/return profiles. Contrary to most private portfolio allocations to real estate, the allocation to real estate is largest in above average risk/return profiles.


The synthesis and crystal structure of the mixed-valent perfluorinated metal-organic framework (Me2NH2)[CFA-13] (Coordination Framework Augsburg University-13), (Me2NH2)[CuCu(tfpc)4] (H2-tfpc = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid) is described. The copper-containing MOF crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system within the space group P21/n (no. 14) and the unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 22.3887(19), b = 13.6888(8), c = 21.1804(13) Å, β = 90.495(3)°, V = 6491.0(8) Å3. (Me2NH2)[CFA-13] features a porous 3-D structure constructed from two types of secondary building units (SBUs). Besides novel trinuclear [Cu(pz)4]- coordination units, the network also exhibits Cu(ii) paddle-wheel SBUs. (Me2NH2)[CFA-13] is fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, photoluminescence, gas sorption measurements and pulse chemisorption experiments. M[CFA-13] (M = K+, Cs+) frameworks were prepared by postsynthetic exchange of interchannel dimethylammonium cations. Moreover, it was shown that CO molecules can be selectively bound at Cu(i) sites of [Cu(pz)4]- units, whereas Cu(ii) paddle-wheel units bind selectively NH3 molecules.


A hierarchical computational approach is introduced that combines materials screening with process optimization. This approach leads to novel materials for cost-effective CO2 capture. Zeolites are screened using shape, size, and adsorption selectivities. Next, process optimization is introduced to generate a rank-ordered list based on total cost of capture and compression. We not only select the most cost-effective materials, but we also attain the optimal process conditions while satisfying purity, recovery, and other process constraints. The top ten zeolites (AHT, NAB, MVY, ABW, AWO, WEI, VNI, TON, OFF and ITW) can capture and compress CO2 to 150 bar from a mixture of 14% CO2 and 86% N2 at less than $30 per ton of CO2 captured. Several zeolites have moderate selectivities, yet they cost-effectively capture CO2 with 90% purity and 90% recovery using a 4-step adsorption process. Such nonintuitive selection demonstrates the necessity of combining materials-centric and process-centric viewpoints.


Understanding mitochondrial biology and pathology is key to understanding the evolution of animal form and function. However, mitochondrial measurement often involves invasive, or even terminal, sampling, which can be difficult to reconcile in wild models or longitudinal studies. Non‐mammal vertebrates contain mitochondria in their red blood cells, which can be exploited for minimally invasive mitochondrial measurement. Several recent bird studies have measured mitochondrial function using isolated blood cells. Isolation adds time in the laboratory and might be associated with physiological complications. We developed and validated a protocol to measure mitochondrial respiration in bird whole blood. Endogenous respiration was comparable between isolated blood cells and whole blood. However, respiration towards oxidative phosphorylation was higher in whole blood, and whole blood mitochondria were better coupled and had higher maximum working capacity. Whole blood measurement was also more reproducible than measurement on isolated cells for all traits considered. Measurements were feasible over a 10‐fold range of sample volumes, although both small and large volumes were associated with changes to respiratory traits. The protocol was compatible with long‐term storage: after 24 h at 5°C without agitation, all respiration traits but maximum working capacity remained unchanged, the latter decreasing by 14%. Our study suggests that whole blood measurement provides faster, more reproducible, and more biologically and physiologically relevant (mitochondrial integrity) assessment of mitochondrial respiration. We recommend future studies to take a whole blood approach unless specific circumstances require the use of isolated blood cells.


The rapid development of interventional procedures for the treatment of arrhythmias in humans, especially the use of catheter ablation techniques, has renewed interest in cardiac anatomy. Effective and safer catheter based procedures have come from an improved understanding of not only the gross anatomic details of the heart, but also some architectural and histological features of various cardiac regions and their neighbouring landmarks. This article aims to provide the basic anatomic information needed to understand mapping and ablative procedures for the cardiac interventional electrophysiologist.

The correct attitudinal position and spatial relationships of the different cardiac structures should be understood. Viewed from the frontal aspect of the chest, the right ventricle (RV) is the most anteriorly situated cardiac chamber because it is located immediately behind the sternum. The cavity of the right atrium (RA) is anterior, while the left atrium (LA) is the most posteriorly situated chamber. Owing to the obliquity of the interatrial septum (IS) plane (which is at an angle of about 65° from the sagittal plane), and to the different levels of the mitral and tricuspid valve (TV) orifices, the LA is situated more posteriorly and superiorly than the RA.

The introduction of non-fluoroscopic electroanatomic mapping technologies has enabled electrophysiologists to interpret correctly the gross morphology and attitudinal position of the cardiac chambers during the course of a mapping procedure.1 Intracardiac echocardiography has also been used to visualise some endocardial structures such as the oval fossa (OF) or terminal crest (TC) and to monitor the effects of ablation. In spite of these recent developments, conventional fluoroscopy remains the essential guide during an electrophysiological study and ablation procedure. Fluoroscopic examination is performed using the frontal and oblique projections. Two or more fluoroscopic views are usually needed to define the anatomic position in the heart and to estimate more …