Human atrial fibrillation substrate: towards a specific fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy

The atrial structure/substrate of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and clinically similar characteristics can present very differently, and also the ‘phenotype' (i.e. paroxysmal, persistent, and long standing persistent) of the arrhythmia cannot comprehensively explain these differences. It was unclear why some patients stay in paroxysmal AF for decades, whereas other patients with the same characteristics progress to persistent AF within a few months. In this review, evidence is described that AF patients without apparent structural heart disease have a chronic fibrotic bi-atrial substrate. There is also evidence from intraoperatively obtained specimen analysis, post-mortem autopsy findings, electroanatomic mapping studies, and delayed enhancement-MRI investigations that a higher mean value of fibrosis is detected in patients with persistent vs. paroxysmal AF but that the variability in the extend of fibrosis is always very high with part of paroxysmal AF patients having massive fibrosis and part of persistent AF patients showing mild fibrosis. In addition, patients undergoing ablation very early after the first AF episodes show already significant fibrosis. These data do not support a causal relationship that AF (significantly) produces fibrosis in the sense of ‘AF begets AF' instead of being a consequence of the fibrotic process. In patients with mitral stenosis, evidence for reverse atrial remodelling after commissurotomy was reported, however, in patients with ‘lone' AF, the atrial substrate progressed after successful AF elimination indicating towards the independent/progressive disease process of an underlying structural atrial disease called fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy. Other ‘conventional wisdoms' also need to be re-considered including the aetiological role of age and arterial hypertension for human structural atrial remodellin

A learning paradigm informed by knowledge of the learning self : a compendium of applied research on the Let Me Learn [Book review]

This research compendium was compiled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Let Me Learn Process®, Advanced Learning System and the US and Malta researchers who over the past two decades have conducted the researching and implementation of the Let Me Learn Process in the US, Australia, Malta and seven other EU member nations. The text was released during the International Learning Summit: Unlocking Learning Potential held in Sliema, Malta, July, 2015. It is edited by Dr. Colin Calleja, flag bearer for Let Me Learn- Malta and Europe, and Professor Christine Johnston, originator and lead researcher of Let Me Learn-USA.peer-reviewe

Apprendimento trasformativo: l’esperienza trasformativa del leader

A transformative leader is a person who inspires others to follow his or hervisionary position. Such a leader causes change in individuals and socialsystems. What follows is a narrative of a school leader whose inspirationand commitment brought about systemic change in the school he leads.Un leader trasformativo è una persona che ispira gli altri a seguire la propriaposizione visionaria. Tale leader provoca cambiamenti negli individui e neisistemi sociali. Quello che segue è il racconto di un leader di scuola, l’ispirazionee l’impegno del quale ha portato cambiamenti sistemici nella scuolache conduce

West Virginia Story: Achievement Gains from a Statewide Comprehensive Instructional Technology Program

This report describes West Virginia\u27s Basic Skills/Computer Education (BS/CE) program and connects its features to gains in student test scores that are practically and statistically significant. The program consists of three components: (1) software that focuses on the state\u27s basic skills goals in reading, language arts, and mathematics; (2) enough computers in the schools so that all students will be able to have easy and regular access to the basic skills software; and (3) professional development for teachers in the use of the software and the use of computers in general. Data were collected from all fifth graders (n=950) in 18 elementary schools selected to represent the range of variables that might influence technology use and student achievement. Survey data were also collected from 290 teachers. Results were analyzed using a model that includes access to software and computers, attitudes toward technology, and teacher training and involvement. The relationship of BS/CE to student achievement, as measured by the Stanford-9 achievement test, is examined. Findings suggest that the BS/CE program had a powerfully positive effect, especially in those schools that used it most intensively. Ten figures and tables illustrate findings. (AEF

HYDROLOGIC DRIVERS OF SOIL ORGANIC CARBON STORAGE AND STABILITY IN FRESHWATER MINERAL WETLANDS

Mineral wetlands comprise most of historic wetland loss, yet few studies focus on mineral wetland soil organic carbon (SOC). We explore SOC across continuous hydrologic gradients within and among seasonally flooded mineral wetlands. First, we quantify SOC stabilization (e.g., organo-mineral associations and aggregates) across a wetland–upland gradient. Second, we examine relationships between hydrologic regime and SOC stocks among wetlands. From wetland–upland, saturation was highly variable in the transition zone. Organo-mineral associations peaked in the transition zone while large macroaggregate SOC declined from wetland–upland. Across wetlands, indicators of drying (e.g., minimum water level and summertime recession rate) were more related to SOC than inundation duration. From wetland basin–upland, SOC stocks were significantly related to both mean water level and relative elevation. We highlight relationships between SOC and the dynamic hydrology of wetlands, emphasizing the need for research on how changing hydrologic regime may influence mineral wetland SOC

Stimmen im Neuen Hörspiel

Bei der Arbeit handelt es sich um eine detaillierte Analyse dreier Hörwerke aus dem Jahr 1969, die prägend für das "Neue Hörspiel" waren: One Two Two von Ferdinand Kriwet, Häuser von Jürgen Becker in der Realisation von Raoul Wolfgang Schnell und Alea von Paul Pörtner. Die intensive auditive Auseinandersetzung benennt und überprüft Montage-, Schnitt und Kompositionsverfahren experimenteller Hörspiele und Hörstücke. Es zeigt sich, dass jeder der drei Autoren dass Hören selbst thematisiert und bemüht ist, Hörkonventionen zu überschreiten. Die Analysen versuchen Handreichungen zu geben, sich dieser Herausforderung zu stellen

О применении кусочно-непрерывных функций к заданию функций принадлежности нечетких чисел (L-R)-типа

Предложен способ задания функций принадлежности нечетких чисел в виде кусочно-непрерывных функций, составленных из полиномов второго порядка. Приведены условия, определяющие формы представленных функций