We analyze a class of models for unequal crossover (UC) of sequences containing sections with repeated units that may differ in length. In these, the probability of an 'imperfect' alignment, in which the shorter sequence has d units without a partner in the longer one, scales like qd as compared to 'perfect' alignments where all these copies are paired. The class is parameterized by this penalt...

Manual dexterity declines with increasing age, however, the way in which inter-manual asymmetry responds to aging is unclear. Our purpose was to determine the effect of age and practice on inter-manual performance asymmetry in an isometric force pinch line tracing task that varied in difficulty within segments. Thirty right-handed participants, five males and five females in each of three age g...

The covalent binding of [3H]aflatoxin B1 (AF) to liver DNA was determined, 6 h after oral administration to male rabbits. A Covalent Binding Index, CBI (mumol AF/mol DNA-P)/(mmol AF/kg b.w.) = 8,500 was found. Pretreatment of rabbits with AF coupled to bovine serum albumin in Freund's adjuvant led to the production of AF-directed antibodies. Administration of [3H]AF to such immunized rabbits re...

trial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and is associated with increased risk for mortality and stroke. The prevalence of AF is high and drastically increases with age. Therefore, a downstream therapeutic approach using antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) is insufficient, and considerable attention has been devoted to clarifying the potential role of an approach which...

The main pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation involves disruption of the annulus fibrosus (AF) caused by ageing or excessive mechanical stress and the resulting prolapse of the nucleus pulposus. Owing to the avascular nature of the IVD and lack of understanding the mechanisms that maintain the IVD, current therapies do not lead to tissue regeneration. Here we show that homeobox ...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) are common cardiac conduction disorders affecting many people. Recent studies on sporadic cases of AF/AFL showed a significant association of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2200733T with the disease, suggesting a genetic factor in the development of the disease. OBJECTIVES To determine the association of rs2200733 with AF/AFL ...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) maintenance is promoted by an atrial substrate that is suitable for the initiation and continuation of the re-entering wavelets. During the first week of AF, the atrial substrate is modified by electrical remodeling, with shortening of the atrial refractoriness and slowing of the conduction velocity. Structural remodeling is the so-called "second factor" that facilitate...

Recent studies have reported an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether AF is one of the risk factors for GERD occurrence.In this hospital-based, retrospective, case-control study, the patients were classified into 2 groups. The patients diagnosed with new AF were assigned to the AF group...

BACKGROUND Although current alcohol consumption is a risk factor for incident atrial fibrillation (AF), the more clinically relevant question may be whether alcohol cessation is associated with a reduced risk. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied participants enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) between 1987 and 1989 without prevalent AF. Past and current alcohol consump...

Atrial fibrosis is considered as the basis in the development of long-standing atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in advanced heart failure (HF), the independent role of fibrosis for AF development is less clear since HF itself leads to atrial scarring. Our study aimed to differentiate patients with AF from patients without AF in a population consisting of patients with advanced HF. Myocardial ...