Larch Status A

LARCH is a model that is used by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) for ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of Dutch nature policies. LARCH generates the potential habitat networks of a species. LARCH will not predict the actual distribution of a specie

Nudged to a menu position: the role of “I’m Loving It”!

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)The position of food items on supermarket shelves or dishes on restaurant menus seems to influence consumers’ choices. However, it is still unclear which position is the most favourable, respectively which factor can explain the variety of different position effects observed (e.g., centre-stage effect). We assume that this factor is based on whether or not “your love” (or your preference) for the cuisine of the restaurant (e.g., Italian) where you have dinner plays a role regarding your dish choice or not. Hence, in a computer-based study, participants had to choose dishes, appetizers, entrées and desserts from menus whose cuisine they most (e.g., Italian) or least preferred (e.g., Japanese). We found that regarding the meal type entrées, preference indeed played a role. Regarding menus from their most preferred cuisine, participants chose significantly more often entrées positioned in the centre of the menu. No such effect could be found regarding menus from their least preferred cuisine. Regarding the meal type appetizer, preference did not seem to play a role; hence, participants did, regarding both preferences, choose more appetizers positioned at the top of the menu. Regarding desserts, no effects could be found. A developed theoretical framework tries to illustrate how preference comes into play, by changing the way the dishes within a meal type are perceived, and hence modulates the different position effects observed. The framework should provide choice architects with guidelines about where they could place healthier dishes on a menu to fight the current overweight and obesity crisis

LARCH Vogels Nationaal; een expertsysteem voor het beoordelen van de ruimtelijke samenhang en de duurzaamheid van broedvogelpopulaties in Nederland

Het model LARCH is een onderdeel van het kerninstrumentarium van het Natuurplanbureau. Het model voorspelt de kans op duurzaam voorkomen van vooral diersoorten op basis van de ruimtelijke configuratie van leefgebieden en de kwaliteit daarvan. Dit rapport beschrijft het toepasbaar maken van LARCH voor 89 broedvogelsoorten in Nederland, LARCH VOGELS NATIONAAL genaamd. Ten behoeve hiervan is een speciale begroeiingstypenkaart vervaardigd. Het model maakt deel uit van de Natuurplanner van het RIVM. De Natuurplanner integreert kennis over de effecten van de zogenoemde "ver"-thema's (verdroging, verzuring, vermesting) op planten en vegetatie(structuur). Door de uitbreiding met broedvogels kan ook de kennis over versnippering worden meegenomen

In vivo geometry of the kissing stent and covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configurations in aortoiliac occlusive disease

Objectives Various configurations of kissing stent (KS) configurations exist and patency rates vary. In response the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configuration was designed to minimize mismatch and improve outcome. The aim of the current study is to compare geometrical mismatch of kissing stent with the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configuration in vivo. Methods Post-operative computed tomographic data and patient demographics from 11 covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation and 11 matched kissing stent patients were included. A free hand region of interest and ellipse fitting method were applied to determine mismatch areas and volumes. Conformation of the stents to the vessel wall was expressed using the D-ratio. Results Patients were mostly treated for Rutherford category 2 and 3 (64%) with a lesion classification of TASC C and D in 82%. Radial mismatch area and volume for the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation group was significantly lower compared to the kissing stent configuration ( P &lt; 0.05). The D-ratio did not significantly differ between groups. Measurements were performed with good intra-class correlation. There were no significant differences in the post-procedural aortoiliac anatomy. Conclusions The present study shows that radial mismatch exists in vivo and that large differences in mismatch exist, in favour of the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configuration. Future research should determine if the decreased radial mismatch results in improved local flow profiles and subsequent clinical outcome. </jats:sec

The influence of electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography reconstruction into 8 or 10 cardiac phases on cardiac-pulsatility-induced motion quantification of stent grafts in the aorta

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine to what extent aortic stent graft motion quantification is comparable between electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomography (CT) scans with reconstructions into 8 and 10 cardiac phases on CT scanners from two different vendors. Methods: An experimental setup that induces motion of an aortic stent graft, according to a predefined aortic blood pressure wave, was placed in two CT scanners of different vendors. The stent graft motion was captured using an ECG-gated CT technique and quantified using dedicated analysis algorithms. The calculated motion amplitudes and total traveled path lengths of stent segmentations were compared between scans reconstructed into 8 and 10 phases and between the scanners, after validation with sensor measurements and repeated measurements. Results: No difference in motion amplitudes in z-direction (craniocaudal direction) was observed between the reconstructions into 8 and 10 phases (0.02 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], –0.01 to 0.05 mm; P = .358). The z-amplitudes differed by 0.04 mm (95% CI, 0.01-0.07 mm; P = .003) between the different CT scanners. Path lengths differed 0.07 mm (95% CI, 0.01-to 0.13 mm; P = .013) between the reconstructions into 8 and 10 phases and 0.13 mm (95% CI, 0.06-0.17 mm; P < .001) between the different scanners. Conclusions: The motion amplitudes can accurately be compared between 8 and 10 phases and between the two scanners, without differences larger than the voxel size of 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.5 mm. Clinical motion analysis results of different ECG-gated CT scans and CT scanners can be compared up to the accuracy of the CT scan. : Clinical Relevance: This in vitro experiment showed that the motion amplitudes of stent grafts during the cardiac cycle can accurately be compared between electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (CT) scans reconstructed into either 8 or 10 phases and between scanners of different manufacturers, without differences larger than the voxel size of 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.5 mm. In other words, clinical motion analysis of stent grafts using different retrospective electrocardiogram-gated CT scans and CT scanners of different manufacturers can be compared up to the accuracy of the CT scan

Incidence and predictive factors for endograft limb patency of the fenestrated Anaconda endograft used for complex endovascular aneurysm repair

Objective: In the present study, we have described the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of treatment of limb occlusion for patients who had undergone treatment of complex thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with the fenestrated Anaconda endograft (Terumo Aortic, Inchinnan, UK). Methods: Between June 2010 and May 2018, 335 patients had undergone elective fenestrated aortic aneurysm repair at 11 participating centers using the fenestrated Anaconda endograft with a median follow-up of 14.3 months (interquartile range, 27.4 months). The primary outcome measure was freedom from limb occlusion. The secondary outcome measures were freedom from limb-related reintervention, secondary patency, and the risk factors associated with limb occlusion. Results: Of the 335 patients, 30 (9.0%) had presented with limb occlusion during follow-up with a freedom from limb occlusion rate of 98.5%, 91.2%, and 81.7% at 30 days and 1 and 5 years, respectively. In 87% of the cases, no obvious cause for limb occlusion was documented. Primary occlusion had occurred within 30 days in 36.7% and within 1 year in 80.0%. Of the 30 patients, 23 (77%) had undergone an occlusion-related reintervention and 7 (23.3%) had been treated conservatively. The freedom from limb occlusion-related reintervention at 30 days and 1 and 5 years was 97.8%, 93.2%, and 88.6%, respectively. Secondary patency was 91.3% after 1 month and 86.2% after 1 and 5 years. Female sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-8.34; P = .01) was a statistically significant predictor for limb occlusion. A greater proportion of thrombus in the aneurysm sac appeared to be protective for limb occlusion (0% vs 50%: OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.020.38; P = .00), as did iliac angulation (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00; P = .04). Conclusions: Limb occlusion remains a significant impediment of endograft durability for patients treated with the fenestrated Anaconda endograft, especially for female patients. In contrast, a high aneurysmal thrombus load and a high degree of iliac angulation appeared to be protective for limb occlusion, for which no obvious cause could be identified