Atrial fibrillation occurs in 5-40% patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Atrial fibrillation increases mortality and morbidity in the post-operative period. We sought to conduct a comprehensive review of literature focusing on pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention and treatment of post coronary artery bypass graft atrial fibrillation.

Pretreatment with irbesartan tends to have a significant protective effect against the occurrence of AF during the post-operative period in patients undergoing CABG.

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The automotive industry is facing the challenge of fuel economy. Many factors contribute to fuel economy. Vehicle weight is a significant factor. One approach to vehicle weight reduction is the use of lightweight materials such as aluminum. The replacement of steel by aluminum requires a cross-section that is three times greater due to the low specific strength (strength to weight ratio) of aluminum, which makes it approximately equal in weight and rigidity to steel but of three times the cost. Thus, its use is limited in mass-production vehicles. New aluminum metal matrix composites (At-MMC) can be processed to the higher strength associated with steels and this reduces its thickness. The high specific strength, stiffness and the flexibility in design of fiber reinforced composite structural members enhanced their automotive applications. The objective of this work is to develop a model and analyze new fiber reinforced aluminum plates to meet the requirements for automotive applications.

Recently the evaluation of articulated vehicles dynamic performance has been the focus of a significant research effort, where most of the tractors and semitrailers are manufactured separately each in a different place. However, the suitable combinations between them represent a major problem, especially in the military field where the payloads are characterized by unconventional weights and dimensions. The objective of this paper is to investigate the scientific basis for evaluation of the controllability and stability limits of such combinations. In order to achieve this goal, a theoretical analysis, computer simulation and field measurements have been carried out. In the theoretical analysis, the dynamic performance measures of articulated vehicles have been discussed and analyzed. In the computer simulation, the validated models developed by UMTRI (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute) have been used to evaluate these dynamic performance measures. In order to show the applicability of using these computer tools, a practical case is considered for an existing tractor-semitrailer combination used in the Egyptian army. The possible field measurements are done to obtain the needed input data. Other data are considered either from the manufacturer manuals, or by estimation using the published empirical methods. The practical case study shows the applicability of using this technology in the national scale.

and 24 hours after the procedure. ST resolution was estimated at 90 minutes in the worst lead.RESULTS 82 patients (70 males, 12 females) with a mean age of 56,9 AE 12,7 years were evaluated. The results showed significant reduction in both Qtc (mean 460.81 AE 26.17 ms vs 439.19 AE 18.43 ms ; p < 0,001) and Qtd (mean 60.68 AE 7.57 ms vs 35.78 AE 10.25 ms; p < 0,001) before and 24 hours after primary PCI while no significant difference was noticed in the Qtc (460.81 AE 26.17 vs 454.39 AE 35.89 ; p ¼ 0.19) and Qtd (60.68 AE 7.57 vs 59.17 AE 7.54; p ¼ 0.20) before and 90 minutes after the procedure.Preprocedural QTd values were similar in patients with and without ST resolution (67 AE 5.77 vs 62 AE 7.53; p ¼ 0.10). 24h after PPCI QTd decreased only in patients with ST resolution (34.61 AE 9.04 vs 58.5 AE 4.12; p <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ST resolution was an independent predictor of QTd after successful recanalization (standardized regression coefficient ¼ -0.684; p ¼ 0.004).CONCLUSIONS In addition to a successful opening of the culprit artery, myocardial reperfusion must be achieved to improve electrical stability and reduce repolarization heterogeneity. Recovery of myocardial electrical homogeneity is not immediate and begins 24 hours after revascularization as assessed by QTc and QTd.

In recent years, there has been a great interest worldwide in the development of Autonomous Ground Vehicle System (AGVS) technologies due to their potential in civil and military applications.