Fast Estimation of the Vascular Cooling in RFA Based on Numerical Simulation

We present a novel technique to predict the outcome of an RF ablation, including the vascular cooling effect. The main idea is to separate the problem into a patient independent part, which has to be performed only once for every applicator model and generator setting, and a patient dependent part, which can be performed very fast. The patient independent part fills a look-up table of the cooling effects of blood vessels, depending on the vessel radius and the distance of the RF applicator from the vessel, using a numerical simulation of the ablation process. The patient dependent part, on the other hand, only consists of a number of table look-up processes. The paper presents this main idea, along with the required steps for its implementation. First results of the computation and the related ex-vivo evaluation are presented and discussed. The paper concludes with future extensions and improvements of the approach

Bada Bang, Bada Boom: Dispersal of fall migrating cormorants to protect sportfish on Oneida Lake, New York

The interior population of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) continues to increase. As a result, conflicts between human interests and cormorants have intensified. The impacts of nesting, roosting, and migrating cormorants include predation at aquaculture facilities, interspecific competition with rare species including common terns {Sterna hirundo), and impacts to private property. In addition, heightened public and scientific debate regarding cormorant impacts on sportfish has accelerated the need for effective, socially acceptable methods for managing local conflicts. In 1998 and 1999, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and USGS, New York Fish and Wildlife Research Cooperative collaborated on a pilot project to investigate prospective methods and strategies for reducing predation of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) by fall migrating cormorants on Oneida Lake, New York. The goal of the cooperative program was to reduce stopover time, thereby reducing predation on fish stocks by migrating cormorants. A lakewide integrated non-lethal harassment and roost management program was initiated to disperse local and migrating cormorants from September to October each year. A variety of methods were used to manage cormorants including: electronic guards, propane cannons, mylar tape, human effigies, pyrotechnics, and dispersing birds with a boat. Harassment was focused on birds loafing on the water as well as day and night roosting sites (8 day and 2 night roosts). A total of 52,840 cormorants was dispersed (in many cases individual birds were harassed multiple times) using 1,518 pyrotechnics and 649 staff hours on the lake during the 2 years of the program. Surveys documented a 61%-98% reduction of the cormorants population on Oneida Lake compared to mean counts during the same time period from 1995-1997. Estimated total annual fish consumption by cormorants was reduced by 30% in 1998. Some off-site impacts of the program were seen with increased flocks of cormorants documented on nearby lakes

Multi-method study of the Middle Pleistocene loess–palaeosol sequence of Köndringen, SW Germany

Loess–palaeosol sequences (LPSs) remain poorly investigated in the southern part of the Upper Rhine Graben but represent an important element to understand the environmental context controlling sediment dynamics in the area. A multi-method approach applied to the LPS at Köndringen reveals that its formation occurred during several glacial–interglacial cycles. Field observations, as well as colour, grain size, magnetic susceptibility, organic carbon, and carbonate content measured in three profiles at 5 cm resolution, provide detailed stratigraphical information. Only minor parts of the LPS are made up of loess sediment, whereas the major parts are polygenetic palaeosols and pedosediments of varying development that are partly intersected, testifying to a complex local geomorphic evolution. The geochronological framework is based on 10 cm resolution infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) screening combined with 18 multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL ages. The luminescence ages indicate that two polygenetic, truncated Luvisols formed during marine isotope stages (MISs) 9(–7?) and MIS 5e, whereas unaltered loess units correspond to the last glacial (MISs 5d–2) and MIS 8. The channel-like structure containing the two truncated Luvisols cuts into &gt; 2 m thick pedosediments apparently deposited during MIS 12. At the bottom of the LPS, a horizon with massive carbonate concretions (loess dolls) occurs, which may correspond to at least one older interglacial.</p

Adiposity related brain plasticity induced by bariatric surgery

Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies revealed structural-functional brain reorganization 12 months after gastric-bypass surgery, encompassing cortical and subcortical regions of all brain lobes as well as the cerebellum. Changes in the mean of cluster-wise gray/white matter density (GMD/WMD) were correlated with the individual loss of body mass index (BMI), rendering the BMI a potential marker of widespread surgery-induced brain plasticity. Here, we investigated voxel-by-voxel associations between surgery-induced changes in adiposity, metabolism and inflammation and markers of functional and structural neural plasticity. We re-visited the data of patients who underwent functional and structural MRI, 6 months (n = 27) and 12 months after surgery (n = 22), and computed voxel-wise regression analyses. Only the surgery-induced weight loss was significantly associated with brain plasticity, and this only for GMD changes. After 6 months, weight loss overlapped with altered GMD in the hypothalamus, the brain’s homeostatic control site, the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, assumed to host reward and gustatory processes, as well as abdominal representations in somatosensory cortex. After 12 months, weight loss scaled with GMD changes in right cerebellar lobule VII, involved in language-related/cognitive processes, and, by trend, with the striatum, assumed to underpin (food) reward. These findings suggest time-dependent and weight-loss related gray matter plasticity in brain regions involved in the control of eating, sensory processing and cognitive functioning

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery progressively alters radiologic measures of hypothalamic inflammation in obese patients

There is increased interest in whether bariatric surgeries such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) achieve their profound weight-lowering effects in morbidly obese individuals through the brain. Hypothalamic inflammation is a well-recognized etiologic factor in obesity pathogenesis and so represents a potential target of RYGB, but clinical evidence in support of this is limited. We therefore assessed hypothalamic T2-weighted signal intensities (T2W SI) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values, 2 validated radiologic measures of brain inflammation, in relation to BMI and fat mass, as well as circulating inflammatory (C-reactive protein; CrP) and metabolic markers in a cohort of 27 RYGB patients at baseline and 6 and 12 months after surgery. We found that RYGB progressively increased hypothalamic T2W SI values, while it progressively decreased hypothalamic FA values. Regression analyses further revealed that this could be most strongly linked to plasma CrP levels, which independently predicted hypothalamic FA values when adjusting for age, sex, fat mass, and diabetes diagnosis. These findings suggest that RYGB has a major time-dependent impact on hypothalamic inflammation status, possibly by attenuating peripheral inflammation. They also suggest that hypothalamic FA values may provide a more specific radiologic measure of hypothalamic inflammation than more commonly used T2W SI values