Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with significant cardiovascular complications, including stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and premature death. The presence of subtle left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is increasingly recognised in patients with AF, raising questions regarding the underlying pathophysiology and potential treatment strategies. I used advanced and multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) methods to investigate potential mechanisms that could contribute to LV dysfunction in patients with AF, controlled ventricular rate and no significant cardiovascular comorbidities (i.e., with so-called 'lone' AF). Patients were evaluated before and after catheter ablation, allowing examination of the effect of restoration of sinus rhythm and reduction in AF burden on LV structure, function, energetics, tissue characteristics, and perfusion. I demonstrated for the first time that patents with lone AF before ablation have significantly impaired ventricular energetics and a subtle reduction in LV systolic function compared to control subjects in sinus rhythm. Furthermore, there was only modest improvement (but not normalisation) in LV function following successful ablation, and myocardial energetics remained impaired despite a significant and sustained reduction in AF burden. These findings imply that lone AF may actually be the consequence (rather than the cause) of an underlying cardiomyopathy. Next, to interrogate advanced ventricular tissue characteristics (such as diffuse myocardial fibrosis) in patients with tachyarrhythmia, I developed a novel CMR method involving a systolic readout T1-mapping sequence. Methodological work in volunteers and patients with tachyarrhythmia demonstrated that this method reports clinically equivalent T1 values to the conventional diastolic readout in healthy volunteers, and was feasible in tachyarrhythmia, producing excellent quality T1 maps. When applied to the investigation of patients with AF, I demonstrated that subtle LV dysfunction in lone AF occurs in the absence of CMR evidence of diffuse myocardial fibrosis, suggesting that LV dysfunction may be reversible with appropriate and targeted therapeutic strategies initiated prior to the development of structural LV remodelling. Finally, I used quantitative perfusion imaging to determine absolute myocardial blood flow and coronary reserve in patients with AF, and determine whether microvascular coronary dysfunction could underlie impaired LV function and energetics in patients with AF. I found that myocardial perfusion is significantly reduced in patients with AF in the absence of significant epicardial coronary artery disease, both at baseline and under conditions of vasodilator stress. Lower baseline blood flow was related to reduced LV performance, and there was no significant change in perfusion after successful AF ablation. These novel findings indicate that coronary microvascular dysfunction may be an important pathophysiological mechanism in lone AF, and at least partially responsible for LV dysfunction. Overall, the findings reported in this thesis have potentially far-reaching implications for the management of patients with AF. They suggest that approaches that predominantly target rhythm control (including anti-arrhythmic medications and ablation) are insufficient to normalise the systemic and cardiometabolic phenotype in patients with AF. Further studies are needed to investigate whether novel approaches that target microvascular and energetic dysfunction in patients with AF can contribute to durable restoration of sinus rhythm and improve clinical outcomes.

abstract: Despite the vast research on language carried out by the generative linguistics of Noam Chomsky and his followers since the 1950s, for theoretical reasons (mainly their attention to the mental abstraction of language structure rather than language as a performed product), historical linguistics from the start lay outside their research interest. This study is an attempt to bridge the gap between the formalism and theoretical constructs introduced by generative grammar, whose ultimate goal is to provide not only a description but also an explanation to linguistic phenomena, and historical linguistics, which studies the evolution of language over time. This main objective is met by providing a formal account of the changes hwæðer undergoes throughout the Old English (OE) period. This seemingly inconspicuous word presents itself as a case of particular investigative interest in that it reflects the different stages proclaimed by the theoretical assumptions implemented in the study, namely the economy principles responsible for what has become known as the CP cycle: the Head Preference Principle and the Late Merge Principle, whereby pronominal hwæðer would raise to the specifier position for topicalization purposes, then after frequent use in that position, it would be base-generated there under Late Merge, until later reanalysis as the head of the Complementizer Phrase (CP) under Head Preference. Thus, I set out to classify the diverse functions of OE hwæðer by identifying and analyzing all instances as recorded in the diachronic part of the Helsinki Corpus. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the data have rendered the following results: 1) a fully satisfactory functional and chronological classification has been obtained by analyzing the data under investigation following a formal theoretical approach; and 2) a step-by-step historical analysis proves to be indispensable for understanding how language works at the abstract level from a historical point of view. This project is part of a growing body of research on language change which attempts to describe and explain the evolution of certain words as these change in form and function. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. English 2013

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Esta dissertaÃÃo de mestrado versa sobre a aÃÃo polÃtica de alguns sujeitos histÃricos que no final dos anos sessenta e inÃcio dos setenta do sÃculo passado, concluÃram que a luta armada seria o mÃtodo mais racional e viÃvel para enfrentar a ditadura civil-militar imposta ao paÃs em 1964, mesmo se tendo outras possibilidades de oposiÃÃo aos capitalistas e ao seu sistema autoritÃrio. Neste sentido, para o entendimento desta opÃÃo extremada, foram privilegiados e associados dois nichos, as leituras escritas efetivadas antes e durante o conflito bÃlico, assim como Ãs mÃltiplas vivÃncias dos guerrilheiros, da infÃncia atà os derradeiros episÃdios da contenda. Completando este quadro o trabalho ainda destaca a emergÃncia de uma Nova Esquerda marxista, num mundo, tanto ao nÃvel local e nacional, como internacional, marcado pela Ãtica da Guerra Fria. / This dissertation deals with the political action of some historical subjects than in the late sixties and early seventies of last century, concluded that armed struggle would be the most rational and feasible to address civil-military dictatorship imposed on the country 1964, even if taking other possibilities of opposition to the capitalists and their authoritarian system. In this sense, the understanding of this extreme option, members were privileged and two niches, the readings written committed before and during the armed conflict, as well as the multiple experiences of the rebels, from childhood until the ultimate episodes of strife. Completing this picture, the work also highlights the emergence of a New Left Marxist, a world both locally and nationally, and internationally, marked by the optics of the Cold War.

A pesquisa analisa periódicos produzidos por brasileiros exilados no Chile entre 1968 e 1973, com o objetivo de identificar como esses intelectuais concebiam o Brasil e a América Latina a partir das experiências do exílio e das revisões das concepções teóricas que regiam a ação dos grupos de esquerda. Foram selecionados para análise os periódicos com maior duração e circulação: o Frente Brasileño de Informaciones, publicado entre 1968 e 1973 pelo Comitê de Denúncia de Repressão no Brasil, e o Campanha, produzido a partir de 1972 pelo grupo de esquerda Fração Bolchevique. Embora apresentassem posicionamentos políticos distintos, ambos debatiam as complexas transformações do exílio e possibilitavam a troca de informações e ideias entre os grupos de brasileiros presentes no Chile, no Brasil e na Europa. Após a implantação do regime militar chileno em 1973, que obrigou os brasileiros a partirem para um novo exílio, o Campanha reapareceu em Paris e passou a apresentar artigos que evidenciavam uma grande alteração de perspectivas sobre a realidade latino-americana e sobre os projetos revolucionários discutidos e conduzidos a partir do exílio. A pesquisa também analisa a trajetória desse periódico em Paris para observar qual foi o impacto da vivência do exílio no Chile e do golpe militar de 1973 para a redefinição das concepções e estratégias de ação do grupo que o produzia. Por meio da análise dos textos e imagens dos impressos produzidos no Chile e também do Campanha após sua reorganização em 1974, almeja-se identificar quais alterações ocorreram nas diferentes abordagens sobre o exílio, o Brasil, a América Latina e a Esquerda. A pesquisa estende-se até o ano de 1979, quando os exilados começam a retornar ao Brasil, intensificando os debates sobre a redemocratização e a reinserção numa sociedade por tanto tempo imaginada e muito distante da realidade que viriam encontrar. / The research analyzes journals produced by Brazilians exiles in Chile between 1968 and 1973, aiming to identify how these intellectuals understood Brazil and Latin America according to the experiences of exile and the reviews of the theoretical concepts that guide the actions of leftist groups. Two journals that have greater duration and circulation were selected for the analysis: Frente Brasileño de Informaciones, published between 1968 and 1973 by the Comitê de Denúncia e Repressão no Brasil, and Campanha, produced in 1972 by a group denominated Fração Bolchevique. Although they presented different political positions, both debated the complex transformations from exile and made possible the exchange of information and ideas between groups of Brazilians present in Chile, Brazil and Europe. After the implementation of the Chilean military regime in 1973, which forced the Brazilian to leave for a new exile, Campanha reappeared in Paris and began to submit articles that demonstrate a significant change in perspectives on the Latin American reality and about the revolutionary projects discussed and led from exile. The survey also examines the trajectory of this journal in Paris to see how the impact of living in exile in Chile and the military coup of 1973 redefine the concepts and action strategies of the group that produced it. Through analysis of texts and images of printed materials produced in Chile and also from Campanha after its reorganization in 1974, we aim to identify what changes occurred in the different approaches on exile, Brazil, Latin America and the Left. The research extends to the year 1979, when the exiles began to return to Brazil, intensifying the debate on democratization and reintegration in society for so long imagined and far from reality that they would find.

Enligt tidigare studier värderar politiker jämlikhet och frihet olika beroende på sin politiska ideologi. Med detta som bakgrund var studiens huvudsyfte att studera eventuella skillnader mellan hur svenska politiker med olika ideologiska bakgrunder upplevde empati när en person utsattes för orättvisa samt när en person utsattes för ofrihet. En vinjettstudie genomfördes där deltagarna (n = 96) fick skatta de känslor som uppstod vid vardera situationen. Deltagarna delades upp i grupperna vänster- och högeranhängare utifrån subjektiva skattningar. Vänsteranhängare tenderade att känna mer empati än högeranhängare när en målperson utsattes för orättvisa. Ingen effekt av ideologisk tillhörighet i berättelsen om ofrihet visades. En tydlig könseffekt framgick där kvinnor både upplevde och gav upphov till mer empati än män. Att föreliggande studie inte fick något stöd angående ofrihet kan bero på flera olika anledningar, vilket tas upp i diskussionen. Vidare forskning behövs inom området empati relaterat till svensk politik där fler partier och anhängare studeras.

Haemodialysis (HD) patients have a high mortality risk and most have echocardiographic evidence of abnormal cardiac structure or function. Markers, such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), show association with adverse outcome in the general population and can aid in clinical decision making. The aim of this research was to explore the prognostic utility of established and novel two-dimensional (2DE) and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic (RT3DE) techniques in HD patients. Adult maintenance HD patients from a single tertiary nephrology centre including satellite dialysis units were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were if patients were clinically unstable, unable to consent, or if required ambulance transportation for echocardiography visits. Consented patients underwent 2DE with speckle tracking (STE), RT3DE and VicorderTm measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV) on a non-dialysis day, after the short inter-dialytic break. Clinical phenotype data, 3-month averaged blood results and dialysis prescriptions were obtained from the hospital electronic patient records. All patients screened were followed-up until death, renal transplantation, moving out of the region, or 16th November 2015. Regression analysis was used to assess the cross-sectional relationship between echocardiographic parameters. Relationship of echocardiographic parameters with outcome was assessed by Cox regression analysis. The first study explored whether patients recruited had similar characteristics and survival compared with patients who declined consent or who were excluded from the study. Patients who declined consent had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality compared with recruited patients of 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-2.52, and excluded patients had an adjusted HR of 1.30, 95% CI 0.75-2.25. Recruited patients may be a 'fitter' population and this needs to be considered when interpreting results. The second study reports that when global longitudinal strain (GLS) is combined in a multivariable model with PWV; PWV is superior to GLS in its association with mortality (adjusted HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03-1.47 versus HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.86-1.17). When this analysis was repeated in a sub-group of patients with LVH, neither GLS nor PWV were associated with mortality, whilst both were prognostically significant in a preserved LVEF sub-group (PWV: HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.4 and GLS: HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.01-1.33). Therefore GLS has different prognostic implications in different patient sub-groups. The third study explored whether tissue motion mitral annular displacement (TMAD) measured by STE may be a more useful alternative to GLS as it measures strain but is quicker and less user-dependent. TMAD was closely correlated to GLS (r=-0.614, p<0.001), but had no prognostic power for mortality (adjusted HR 1.04,95% CI 0.91-1.19). The correlation between 2DE and RT3DE determined LV mass and volume measurements and the prognostic significance of RT3DE measurements were assessed. Although there was good correlation between 2DE and RT3DE LV volume measurements, 2DE overestimated LV mass compared to RT3DE. RT3DE measures gave no added prognostic value, and there were added difficulties in obtaining adequate images for RT3DE (35% of patients who had adequate 2D images). Furthermore, although RT3DE determined LV mechanical dyssynchrony index was prolonged in HD patients compared with published general population controls, it failed to show any prognostic significance (HR 2.16, 95% CI 0.96-4.89) for mortality, but was associated with hospitalisation for heart failure (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06). These results indicate that novel measurements of sub-clinical cardiac dysfunction have the potential to aid prognostication in this high risk population. Follow-up studies exploring the longitudinal change in these parameters is ongoing.

This study examines the α-adrenergic constrictor tone varies with intensity of exercise, the effects of coronary α1-adrenergic blockade on left ventricular contractile function and regional myocardial perfusion, and compares the effects of increasing coronary blood flow by removing α1-constrictor tone.

Doctor of Education / Department of Educational Leadership / David C. Thompson / The purpose of this study was to examine selected financial implications of various mandates in the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. #107-110 popularly known as NCLB) of 2001 on Kansas public school districts. Specific mandates included accountability for student achievement, more educational choices for parents, teaching methods that produce results, emphasis on reading, emphasis on math, hiring highly qualified teachers, and teaching English to all students. Expenditures for these mandates were identified and analyzed to estimate which mandates were perceived as having the greatest financial impact on Kansas school districts’ budgets during FY 2006—the fiscal year of record for this study. A survey research design was utilized for this study. The survey instrument sought opinions about expenditure items categorized according to the selected mandates. A seven-point one-directional intensity scale was used to determine school superintendents’ attitudes toward the financial impact of selected mandates on their school districts’ budget. Data were analyzed and reported using measures of central tendency, range, inter-quartile analysis, and standard deviation. Narrative responses from respondents were also presented. Analysis of data revealed that many Kansas public schools are presently experiencing economic and political conditions that could interfere with the state’s ability to provide a quality education for all students under NCLB. Such conditions often include: (1) decreasing student enrollment, resulting in consolidation of some school districts; (2) difficulty hiring and retaining highly qualified teachers and administrators: (3) increasing numbers of superintendents with less experience in a position that has become more demanding and complex; (4) increased need to use existing funds to improve the academic performance of economically disadvantaged and special education students; and (5) having to rely on the singular standard of annual assessment of student performance in math and reading to determine accreditation success or failure.

This Masters thesis conducts an ideological critique of the way 'the global' is constructed conceptually, particularly by transformative politics and the anti/alter global left. In addition it attempts to foreground the importance of ontological inquiry as an essential component of effective ideological critique. It has four chapters(plus an intro and conclusion); The first chapter looks at the ways that globality is currently constructed conceptually, both as an object of study by academia, and as an object of intervention by the global left. The analysis and critique in this chapter will establish the need for an ontologically informed approach to globality. The second chapter explores the precise meaning of the term 'ontology' as well as some of its common misuses by social science. It will focus on examining the ways that ontology is inherently political, and can be infiltrated by ideology. The third chapter draws heavily from the work of Zizek to develop a theoretical model for understanding the ontological production of globality, and how ideology is implicated. The fourth chapter attempts to take the conclusions from the theoretical model and use them to suggest alternative approaches to globality which might better the prospects for an effective transformative `global` politics. In particular this chapter draws heavily upon the Deleuzean notion of Immanence.

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