Percutaneous transhepatic venous access has been utilised for numerous transcatheter cardiac procedures. Traditionally, a large transhepatic tract requires the placement of permanent occlusion devices or coils. We describe a successful closure using a simple technique (Surgifoam) without the need for metal hardware placement. Immediate hemostasis was achieved. No complications were encountered.

We present a newly developed 1-D numerical energy-balance and phase transition supraglacial lake model: GlacierLake. GlacierLake incorporates snowfall, in situ snow and ice melt, incoming water from the surrounding catchment, ice lid formation, basal freeze-up and thermal stratification. Snow cover and temperature are varied to test lake development through winter and the maximum lid thickness is recorded. Average wintertime temperatures of −2 to $-30^{\circ }{\rm C}$ and total snowfall of 0 to 3.45 m lead to a range of the maximum lid thickness from 1.2 to 2.8 m after ${\sim }250$ days, with snow cover exerting the dominant control. An initial ice temperature of $-15^{\circ }{\rm C}$ with simulated advection of cold ice from upstream results in 0.6 m of basal freeze-up. This suggests that lakes with water depths above 1.3 to 3.4 m (dependent on winter snowfall and temperature) upon lid formation will persist through winter. These buried lakes can provide a sizeable water store at the start of the melt season, expedite future lake formation and warm underlying ice even in winter.

The decision of whether to allow a young patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to continue to participate in sports is complex and multi-factorial. The positive physical and psychosocial impact of sports participation must be weighed against the potential adverse events associated with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Arrhythmias appear to be more prevalent in athletes and occur more frequently during physical activity or competition/practice, but there is growing evidence that device therapy is effective in athletes across a wide range of competitive sports. Failure of a device to convert a life-threatening arrhythmia, major injury from a shock, and increased lead failure have thus far not been reported in the prospective Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Sports Registry, but follow-up remains relatively short. Thoughtful consideration of disease state, arrhythmia risk, and the potential dangers of device therapy during the desired sports is imperative before allowing participation. Frank discussion with children and families regarding the possibility of shocks during sports, as well as at other times, is imperative. Ongoing and future studies will help guide these decisions.

The levoatriocardinal vein provides alternative egress from the left atrium to the systemic veins in left-sided obstructive lesions. Although rare, it has been described in association with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We report a case of hypoplastic left heart syndrome with levoatriocardinal vein and aberrant right subclavian artery where cardiac magnetic resonance imaging/angiography proved to be a valuable imaging modality for pre-operative evaluation.

Eighty-eight multiparous sows were used to evaluate whether type and timing of oil supplementation during gestation influences the incidence of low birth weight (LBW). Sows were allocated (eight per treatment) commercial sow pellets (3 kg/d; control diet) or an experimental diet consisting of control diet plus 10 % extra energy in the form of excess pellets, palm oil, olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO) or fish oil; experimental diets were fed during either the first half (G1) or second half (G2) of gestation. Growth performance and endocrine profile of LBW ( < 1·09 kg) and normal birth weight (NBW; 1·46–1·64 kg) offspring were compared. Maternal dietary supplementation altered the distribution curve for piglet birth weight. SOG1 sows had a greater proportion of LBW piglets (P < 0·05), whilst it was reduced in the OOG1 group (P < 0·05). Growth rate of LBW piglets was lower compared with their NBW siblings (P < 0·05) when dietary supplementation was offered in G2 but were similar for G1. At birth, LBW offspring of supplemented animals possessed more fat compared with the control group (P < 0·05); LBW offspring of control animals exhibited a more rapid decline in fat free mass/kg prior to weaning. Plasma metabolites and insulin concentrations were influenced by maternal diet and birth weight. In conclusion, maternal dietary supplementation altered the distribution of piglet birth weights and improved the energy status of LBW piglets. Supplementation with MUFA during G1 reduced the incidence of LBW, whereas PUFA had the reverse effect.

We describe a case of anomalous origin of the right subclavian artery from the right pulmonary artery detected by cross-sectional echocardiography in an infant with type B interruption of the aortic arch. Preoperative recognition and surgical reimplantation of the right subclavian artery are important to prevent subsequent subclavian steal syndrome.

Fetal bradycardia may herald fetal demise. This article highlights arrhythmic fetal bradycardia rather than bradycardia caused by perinatal distress. We briefly examine the embryonic conduction system's development and physiology and we review the classification, aetiology, evaluation, and approach to fetal bradycardia. Our aim is to provide the clinician with practical information about fetal bradycardia that enlightens causative conditions and aids management.

Salt-affected soil is a major problem and has led to large areas of the earth's surface being unable to support agriculture. Wheat is not tolerant to high levels of salt; however, a number of its wild relatives, in particular Thinopyrum bessarabicum Savul. and Rayss, which grows on the Black Sea shore in the Crimea, are tolerant to high levels of NaCl. Thus the introgression of genes conferring salt tolerance from Th. bessarabicum into Triticum aestivum is one way in which salt-tolerant wheat varieties can be produced. This paper reviews the progress made in developing salt-tolerant wheat carrying Th. bessarabicum genes and salt-tolerant wheat/Th. bessarabicum amphiploids.

The use of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) on human bone from early Maya burials at Cuello, Belize provides direct dating of the Preclassic population, and assists resolution of the chronological problems discussed by Andrews and Hammond (1990).

Accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) dating of animal bone from Preclassic and Postclassic contexts at the Maya site of Cuello, Belize, has demonstrated the utility of the method in a humid tropical lowland environment, and has documented a hitherto unsuspected period of Postclassic activity including architectural construction and apparent occupation.