Evolution of organic aerosols in the atmosphere.

Organic aerosol (OA) particles affect climate forcing and human health, but their sources and evolution remain poorly characterized. We present a unifying model framework describing the atmospheric evolution of OA that is constrained by high-time-resolution measurements of its composition, volatility, and oxidation state. OA and OA precursor gases evolve by becoming increasingly oxidized, less volatile, and more hygroscopic, leading to the formation of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), with concentrations comparable to those of sulfate aerosol throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

Correlation of mechanical dyssynchrony with QRS duration measured by signal-averaged electrocardiography.

Background: Preimplantation left ventricular dyssynchrony is considered a prerequisite for a beneficial response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, electrical dyssynchrony estimated by QRS duration (QRSd) on ECG has not been proven to be an optimal surrogate of mechanical dyssynchrony. We evaluated the correlation of mechanical dyssynchrony with QRSd as measured by signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) in comparison with measurements based on conventional surface ECG and with onscreen measurements based on digital ECG.

Overcoming nontechnical barriers to the implementation of sustainable solutions in industry.

Maintaining sustainable practices will require a concert of efforts including industry-wide cooperation, governmental openness, and education reform.

Defibrillation threshold testing: tradition or necessity?

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have become an essential tool for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Traditionally, defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing is part of the "lege artis" ICD implantation. Taking into consideration that the absolute mortality reduction in primary prevention trials is estimated around 8% and in secondary prevention trials around 7%, it is only in these patients that an acceptable DFT is expected to affect survival.

Investigating the effects of simulated martian ultraviolet radiation on Halococcus dombrowskii and other extremely halophilic archaebacteria.

The isolation of viable extremely halophilic archaea from 250-million-year-old rock salt suggests the possibility of their long-term survival under desiccation. Since halite has been found on Mars and in meteorites, haloarchaeal survival of martian surface conditions is being explored. Halococcus dombrowskii H4 DSM 14522(T) was exposed to UV doses over a wavelength range of 200-400 nm to simulate martian UV flux.

Double transvenous left ventricular lead implantation for the maintenance of cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

This case reports about the feasibility of the transvenous implantation of a second coronary sinus lead in addition to a non-extractable old left ventricular lead for the continuation of cardiac resynchronization therapy in a 48-year old patient with severe heart failure.

Does electrogram guided substrate ablation add to the success of pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation? A prospective, randomized study.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) has emerged as a novel treatment approach. We sought to evaluate the additional effect of CFAE ablation to PVI in paroxysmal AF.

Posttraumatic stress symptoms and predicted mortality in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: results from the prospective living with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator study.

Context: Cardiac disease and treatment with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may be psychologically traumatic. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is generally overlooked in cardiac patients, and no study to date (to our knowledge) has evaluated the effect of PTSD symptoms on the prognosis in patients with ICDs.

Objective: To test whether PTSD symptoms at baseline predict long-term mortality risk in patients with ICDs.

Electrogram-guided substrate ablation with or without pulmonary vein isolation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) is a new approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy of CFAE ablation as a stand-alone strategy in patients with persistent AF and to compare it with a combined approach of CFAE ablation and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods And Results: The study included 77 consecutive patients with persistent AF who underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation of CFAE as a sole ablation procedure (CFAE group, n = 23 patients) or a combined approach of CFAE ablation and PVI (CFAE plus PVI group, n = 54 patients).

Patulin in grape must and new, still fermenting wine (Federweißer).

Extreme differences in temperature were anticipating a high mycotoxin contamination of the 2006 vintage. 96 samples of different grapes and must qualities of the producing region Mosel-Saar-Ruwer as well as Federweißer from retail sales were analyzed for patulin according to EN 14177, whereat the fermentation of the must was stopped by addition of sodium azide.

Tools and strategies for the reduction of inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have been shown to provide a survival benefit in patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death. A major problem associated with ICD therapy is the occurrence of inappropriate shocks which impair patients' quality of life and may also be arrhythmogenic. Despite recent technological advances, the incidence of inappropriate shocks remains high, thus posing a challenge that we have to meet.

PRC1 and Suv39h specify parental asymmetry at constitutive heterochromatin in early mouse embryos.

In eukaryotes, Suv39h H3K9 trimethyltransferases are required for pericentric heterochromatin formation and function. In early mouse preimplantation embryos, however, paternal pericentric heterochromatin lacks Suv39h-mediated H3K9me3 and downstream marks. Here we demonstrate Ezh2-independent targeting of maternally provided polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) components to paternal heterochromatin.

Acute effects and long-term outcome of pulmonary vein isolation in combination with electrogram-guided substrate ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Complex fractionated atrial electrographic (CFAE) catheter ablation is a new approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). It is unclear if acute results of this approach correspond to long-term outcome. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess acute and long-term successes of an ablation approach combining pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and ablation of CFAE areas for treatment of persistent AF.

A comparison of speciated atmospheric mercury at an urban center and an upwind rural location.

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), particulate mercury (PHg) and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) were measured every other hour at a rural location in south central Wisconsin (Devil's Lake State Park, WI, USA) between April 2003 and March 2004, and at a predominantly downwind urban site in southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI, USA) between June 2004 and May 2005. Annual averages of GEM, PHg, and RGM at the urban site were statistically higher than those measured at the rural site. Pollution roses of GEM and reactive mercury (RM; sum of PHg and RGM) at the rural and urban sites revealed the influences of point source emissions in surrounding counties that were consistent with the US EPA 1999 National Emission Inventory and the 2003-2005 US EPA Toxics Release Inventory.

[Strategies for the avoidance and treatment of complications during pacemaker implantation].

The implantation of a pacemaker is the therapy of choice for symptomatic bradyarrhythmias. The perioperative complication rate is low. This article gives an overview on possible complications, their avoidance and treatment.

[Use of the NavX navigation system in ablation of atrial fibrillation].

Catheter ablation, notably the electric isolation of pulmonary veins, has become a well-established therapeutic approach in symptomatic atrial fibrillation. The NavX navigation system has been described to facilitate pulmonary vein isolation in patients with AF. EnSite NavX (Endocardial Solutions, St.

Long-term transvenous AV-sequential pacing in a failing atriopulmonary Fontan patient.

Unlabelled: We report on a 32-year-old man with tricuspid atresia, pulmonary stenosis and hypoplastic right ventricle. He had received a Fontan-Kreutzer procedure (anastomosis between the right atrial appendage and the pulmonary artery) at the age of 14 years. At the age of 2 years, an abdominal VVI-pacemaker with an epicardial ventricular lead had been implanted because of symptomatic third degree AV-block.

Radiofrequency ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE): preferential sites of acute termination and regularization in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) have been described as a new target for ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). This prospective study evaluates the acute effects of CFAE ablation in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF and analyzes the preferential anatomic sites where these effects occur.

Methods And Results: Ablation of CFAE was performed in 66 symptomatic patients (mean age of 58 +/- 12 years) with paroxysmal (n = 36) or persistent AF (n = 30).

Late dofetilide-associated life-threatening proarrhythmia.

This report is about a 62-year old male patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for patient activated termination of atrial fibrillation who experienced dofetilide-associated ventricular tachyarrhythmias and ICD-induced ventricular fibrillation six months after the initiation of the antiarrhythmic drug therapy.

Chemical and microphysical characterization of ambient aerosols with the aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer.

The application of mass spectrometric techniques to the real-time measurement and characterization of aerosols represents a significant advance in the field of atmospheric science. This review focuses on the aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), an instrument designed and developed at Aerodyne Research, Inc. (ARI) that is the most widely used thermal vaporization AMS.

Long-term follow-up of patients supplied with single-chamber or dual-chamber cardioverter defibrillators.

Introduction: In patients who have an indication for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) a dual-chamber device is indicated in the case of concomitant significant sinus node disease or atrioventricular block. It is a matter of debate whether dual-chamber ICD may be beneficial for patients with preserved sinus and atrioventricular nodal function as data from prospective randomized trials are limited. Mid- or long-term follow-up data are unavailable.

[TEE-guided cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation without previous anticoagulation].

A total of 332 patients (mean age 65+/-10 years, 86 female) with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) of more than 48 hours duration and lack of a sufficient anticoagulation were included. After exclusion of thrombotic material in the left atrium using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) cardioversion (CV) was performed within 24 hours. At the same time oral anticoagulation (AC) (overlapping with PTT-affecting heparinisation) was started.