Interaction of left ventricular relaxation and filling during early diastole in human subjects

Seventeen patients with coronary artery disease were studied with cineangiography and simultaneous tip manometry at resting heart rate and maximal tachycardia induced by atrial pacing. During early diastole, defined as the interval from the opening of the mitral valve to the point of minimal left ventricular pressure, 20 percent of total ventricular filling took place at resting heart rate, but 62 percent occurred during tachycardia. Minimal pressure was significantly correlated with the time const

Chiral properties of domain-wall fermions from eigenvalues of 4 dimensional Wilson-Dirac operator

We investigate chiral properties of the domain-wall fermion (DWF) system by using the four-dimensional hermitian Wilson-Dirac operator. We first derive a formula which connects a chiral symmetry breaking term in the five dimensional DWF Ward-Takahashi identity with the four dimensional Wilson-Dirac operator, and simplify the formula in terms of only the eigenvalues of the operator, using an ansatz for the form of the eigenvectors. For a given distribution of the eigenvalues, we then discuss the behavior of the chiral symmetry breaking term as a function of the fifth dimensional length. We finally argue the chiral property of the DWF formulation in the limit of the infinite fifth dimensional length, in connection with spectra of the hermitian Wilson-Dirac operator in the infinite volume limit as well as in the finite volume.Comment: Added a reference and modified the acknowledgmen

Conformal collider physics: Energy and charge correlations

We study observables in a conformal field theory which are very closely related to the ones used to describe hadronic events at colliders. We focus on the correlation functions of the energies deposited on calorimeters placed at a large distance from the collision. We consider initial states produced by an operator insertion and we study some general properties of the energy correlation functions for conformal field theories. We argue that the small angle singularities of energy correlation functions are controlled by the twist of non-local light-ray operators with a definite spin. We relate the charge two point function to a particular moment of the parton distribution functions appearing in deep inelastic scattering. The one point energy correlation functions are characterized by a few numbers. For ${\cal N}=1$ superconformal theories the one point function for states created by the R-current or the stress tensor are determined by the two parameters $a$ and $c$ characterizing the conformal anomaly. Demanding that the measured energies are positive we get bounds on $a/c$. We also give a prescription for computing the energy and charge correlation functions in theories that have a gravity dual. The prescription amounts to probing the falling string state as it crosses the $AdS$ horizon with gravitational shock waves. In the leading, two derivative, gravity approximation the energy is uniformly distributed on the sphere at infinity, with no fluctuations. We compute the stringy corrections and we show that they lead to small, non-gaussian, fluctuations in the energy distribution. Corrections to the one point functions or antenna patterns are related to higher derivative corrections in the bulk.Comment: 73 pages, 8 figures; v2: minor changes and added references; v3: more references adde

Aboveground biomass of a "campina" ecosystem in Roraima, Northern of Brazilian Amazonia

The aboveground biomass of a "campina" ecosystem was estimated in Roraima, in the northern portion of Brazilian Amazonia. The biomass was determined from a phytosociological inventory (1 ha) and distributed between two categories: (1) grassy-woody, composed of "herbs+lichens" (Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Cladonia spp), Bromeliaceae, seedlings, fine and coarse litter and, (2) woody, composed of trees and bushes. The grassy-woody category was estimated by the direct method (cutting and weighing) in 10 1-m² plots, taking advantage of transects of the inventory. The category woody was estimated by the indirect method cutting 98 individuals of different species and diameters. A model was generated to express the relationship among total dry above-ground biomass (kg), base circumference (cm) and total height (m) for the individuals in this category. The equation was applied to the 3,966 ind.ha-1 observed in the inventory. The total biomass was estimated at 15.91 t.ha-1, of which 2.20 ± 0.23 t.ha-1 (13.8%) was in the grassy-woody category and 13.70 ± 7.13 t.ha-1 (86.2%) in woody category. The tree species with the highest biomass was Humiria balsamifera (Aubl.) St. Hill. (8.43 t.ha-1), followed by Pagamea guianensis Aubl. (1.14 t.ha-1). These results are important for refining the calculations of greenhouse-gas emissions from burning and decomposition of above-ground biomass in "campina" ecosystems in the Amazon region.Foi estimada a biomassa (viva + morta) acima do solo de um ecossistema de "campina" localizado em Roraima, norte da Amazônia brasileira. A biomassa foi determinada a partir de um inventário fitossociológico (1 ha amostral) e distribuída em dois estratos(1) gramíneo-lenhoso, composto de "ervas + liquens" (Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Cladonia spp), Bromeliaceae, plântulas, "litter" fino e grosso e, (2) arbóreo-arbustivo, composto por árvores e arbustos. O estrato gramíneo-lenhoso foi estimado pelo método direto (corte e pesagem) através de 10 quadras de 1m², aproveitando os transectos do inventário. O estrato arbóreo-arbustivo foi estimado pelo método indireto com o corte de 98 indivíduos de diferentes espécies e diâmetros. Foi gerado um modelo para expressar a relação entre a biomassa seca total (kg), a circunferência de base (cm) e a altura total (m) para os indivíduos deste estrato. A equação foi aplicada nos 3.966 indivíduos.ha-1 observados no inventário. A biomassa total foi estimada em 15,91 t.ha-1, sendo 2,20 ± 0,23 t.ha-1 (13,8%) do estrato gramíneo-lenhoso e 13,70 ± 7,13 t.ha-1 (86,2%) do arbóreo-arbustivo. A espécie arbórea de maior biomassa foi Humiria balsamifera (Aubl.) St. Hill. (8,43 t.ha-1), seguida de Pagamea guianensis Aubl. (1,14 t.ha-1). Estes resultados são importantes para refinar os cálculos de emissão de gases do efeito estufa pela queima e decomposição da biomassa acima do solo em ecossistemas de campinas na Amazônia

Espécies crípticas em Pagamea coriacea sensu lato (Rubiaceae): evidências morfológicas, ecológicas e de comportamento reprodutivo em um contexto simpátrico

In this study we explore morphological and ecological variation in sympatric populations of Pagamea coriacea s.l. - a species complex from white-sand vegetation in the Amazon. A total of 147 trees were sampled and monitored at three nearby sites in Central Amazon, Brazil. Multivariate analyses of morphology indicated two distinct groups (A and B), which also differed in bark type, each containing subgroups associated with sexual dimorphism. However, a single hermaphroditic individual was observed within group B. As expected, all pistillate plants produced fruits, but 23% of the staminate plants of group B, and 5% of group A also produced fruits. This variation suggests that the sexual systems of both groups are between dioecy and gynodioecy. There was an overlap in flowering phases between the two groups, but the pattern of floral maturation differed. Ecologically, plants of group B were found in more shaded habitats and over sandstone bedrocks, while group A was prevalent in deeper sandy soils as canopy plants. The significances of morphological and environmental differences were tested by a multivariate analysis of variance, and a canonical discriminant analysis assessed the importance of variables. The coexistence in sympatry of two discrete morphological groups in the P. coriacea s.l., with different habitat preferences and reproductive behaviors, indicates they represent distinct species.O objetivo deste estudo foi testar se o complexo de espécies Pagamea coriacea inclui múltiplas espécies, usando evidências morfológicas, ecológicas e de comportamento reprodutivo. Um total de 147 árvores foram amostradas e monitoradas em três locais próximos na Amazônia Central, Brasil. Análises multivariadas de dados morfológicos indicaram dois grupos discretos (A e B), que coincidem com diferenças no tipo de casca, cada um por sua vez com subgrupos que representam dimorfismo sexual. Contudo, um indivíduo distintamente hermafrodita foi encontrado no grupo B. Todas as plantas pistiladas produziram frutos, mas também foram observados frutos para 23% das plantas estaminadas do grupo B, e para 5% das estaminadas do grupo A. Essa variação sugere que ambos grupos possuem um sistema sexual entre dioicia e ginodioicia. Houve sobreposição das fases de floração e frutificação entre os dois grupos, mas o padrão de maturação de flores foi diferente. Quanto ao hábitat, o grupo B predominou em situações de sombra e em solos arenosos rasos sobre lajes de pedra, enquanto o grupo A ocorreu em solos arenosos mais profundos e no dossel da vegetação. A coexistência de dois grupos morfológicos discretos no complexo P. coriacea s.l., com diferenças ecológicas e de comportamento reprodutivo, indica que correspondem a duas espécies distintas

Recovery from circulatory depression after coronary artery bypass surgery

The direct traumatic effects of coronary artery bypass surgery may counter-balance the expected improvement of myocardial function in the early postoperative period. In 55 patients, the regional shortening fraction was measured over 12 months using radiopaque epicardial markers pairs implanted during surgery in the newly perfused regions. The time course of cardiothoracic ratio, heart rate and cuff blood pressure was documented. All patients were catheterized before surgery and 1 year afterwards. There is an initial depression in myocardial function lasting up to 3 months after surgery which is not directionally related to changes in loading conditions or chronotropic state, but most likely to recovery of the myocardium from periopera

Longterm follow-up after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Progression and regression of disease in native coronary circulation and bypass grafts

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Coronary artery atherosclerosis: severity of the disease, severity of angina pectoris and compromised left ventricular function

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