There is a substantial demand for soil amelioration in coastal saline-alkali land. Carbonizing straw is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method for producing soil amendment products. However, the effect of direct application of biochar on saline-alkali land improvement is not good or even harmful. Therefore, a new kind of humic acid magnetic biochar (HAFO) was prepared by pyrolysis, oxidation and activation, and its properties and pot experiment results were evaluated. The results showed that pyrolysis and oxidation effectively load nano-Fe 3O 4 onto biochar while reducing its particle size to the sub-micron level. In this process, the properties of biochar are improved (surface oxygen-containing functional groups, polarity, nutrient elements, etc.), making it more conducive to saline-alkali land improvement. The pot experiment showed that rice growth and development were affected by soil organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, salinity and nutrient content (p<0.05). Biochar alleviated the effects of salt stress on rice by improving soil properties, that thus promoted the growth and development of rice. The effect of biochar on the improvement of saline-alkali soil and on the growth of rice is mainly affected by its own properties, and appropriate modification methods can make better utilization of straw resources. The HAFO prepared in this study is an economical and efficient soil conditioner for saline-alkali land, which is of great significance for world food security.

Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis in a 22-Month-Old Toddler: A Rare and Uncustomary Age of Onset

A Cyanotic Dilemma: Nitrobenzene Poisoning -A Case ReportAuthors.Janmejay Kumar Singh¹, Adrian Villaroman², Jaehoon Kim³, Ghazal Majidi⁴,Diana Stefanie Rojas Torres, Mrinal Bhandari⁶, Fazeela Bibi⁷Affliations .Teerthanker Mahaveer University Medical College and Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, drjay96mle@gmail.comUniversity of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, a.villaroman409@gmail.comCatholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea, us04193@gmail.comTabriz University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran, Ghazal.majidi94@gmail.comThe Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance , California , united states, dianastefanie30@gmail.comThe Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Torrance, California, United States, bhandarimrinal03@gmail.comJinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi ,Pakistan ,fazeelabibi@hotmail.comCorresponding Author:  Ghazal Majidi ,MDEmail address:  Ghazal.majidi94@gmail.com

Understanding how prey species manage the trade-off between predation risk and resource acquisition is particularly important for advancing our knowledge of predator-prey relationships. We investigated this by studying the use of concentrated anthropogenic resources, namely supplementary feeding sites, by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) before and after grey wolf (Canis lupus) recolonisation in an area of the Eastern Italian Alps. We used camera traps to monitor roe deer visits to feeding sites, where ad libitum food was provided, before and after wolf recolonisation, in winter and spring, to control for seasonal effects. First, we compared the daily cycle of visits using circular statistics. We then used generalised linear mixed models to model the occurrence, duration of visits and tendency to congregate at feeding sites as a function of wolf presence and season. Roe deer became more diurnal after wolf recolonisation, particularly in winter, while in spring they tended to concentrate their visits around dusk and dawn. Roe deer visits to feeding sites decreased from winter to spring, but only after wolf recolonisation, while their duration was shorter in spring when wolves were absent than in any other period. Roe deer grouping at feeding sites decreased from winter to spring, especially after wolf recolonisation. These results show that roe deer have changed their resource use behaviour since the return of the wolf, adopting a range of behavioural tactics that could mitigate predation risk, while maintaining resource acquisition when more profitable. The increase in diurnality may reduce the temporal overlap with wolves’ predominantly nocturnal activity; the access to the resource-rich, but fairly exposed sites mainly occurred during the most limiting season, or with solitary visits. We call for further research to understand whether other unmeasured processes contribute to shaping the observed patterns, such as demographic decline and fine-scale behavioural adjustments (e.g. increased vigilance).

Wildlife in urban areas is often a source of conflict, with limited efforts directed toward fostering coexistence in these human-dominated landscapes. While previous research has focused on socio-demographic factors influencing perceptions of wildlife, the role of specific animal traits in shaping acceptance remains underexplored. This study, conducted in the city of Freiburg, Germany, analyzed survey respondent’s acceptance of wild mammals in their neighborhood (n = 779) influenced by animal traits derived from literature (diet and size) and field data (nocturnal activity and urban habitat preference) collected through camera traps (n = 24). Our results highlight nocturnal activity as the strongest predictor of “wildlife acceptance”. More nocturnal species (badgers, foxes, rats, wild boars, martens), were generally less accepted than more diurnal (rabbits, squirrels) and crepuscular species (deer, hares, hedgehogs). These findings suggest that the reduced visibility of nocturnal animals and associated misconceptions - such as fear of darkness - might contribute to their lower acceptance. This pattern indicates a need to address how the invisibility and perceived threat of nocturnal wildlife might exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts. Urban planners and educators can draw from this study to prioritize nature education and awareness campaigns focusing on nocturnal species. Proactively addressing misperceptions and emphasizing the ecological roles of nocturnal animals can help mitigate negative stereotypes and representations and foster coexistence in urban environments.

Abstract Background: Epizootic lymphangitis (EEL) is a persistent fungal disease affecting equines, yet effective vaccines remain scarce. The newly developed Histoplasma farciminosum ‘8ZH’ vaccine requires safety validation before going into general usage. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and haematological safety of the H. farciminosum ‘8ZH’ vaccine in foals. Study Design: A controlled, single-blinded trial was conducted using 30 clinically healthy foals, randomly divided into vaccinated (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. Methods: Foals in the vaccinated group received a 5 mL intramuscular dose of the H. farciminosum ‘8ZH’ vaccine (2 mg/mL, total 10 mg) with a booster on Day 21. Biochemical (AST, ALT, bilirubin, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol) and haematological (WBC, RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit) parameters were measured at baseline and at multiple time points over 42 days. Results: No severe adverse effects were observed. AST levels showed a transient increase on Days 14–21 (p = 0.04) before returning to baseline. WBC counts peaked on Day 14 (p = 0.03) but stabilized afterward. All measured biochemical and haematological parameters remained within physiological ranges throughout the study.Conclusions: The H. farciminosum ‘8ZH’ vaccine demonstrated a favourable safety profile in foals, with no significant biochemical or haematological disturbances. These findings support its potential integration into EEL control programs, though further long-term studies are planned. 

This paper examines the paradox of unconstitutional constitutional amendments through doctrinal, comparative, and jurisprudential analysis. It explores constitutional identity, judicial interpretations, and democratic legitimacy, revealing how courts navigate implicit limitations and constituent power. By analyzing global jurisprudence, this study offers a novel perspective on constitutional self-destruction, advancing the discourse on legal self-negation, constitutional endurance, and the boundaries of amendment power in democratic governance.

Questions: How does wildfire impact vegetation composition and diversity in Scottish blanket bogs and heathlands dominated by Calluna vulgaris? What are the recovery time scales, and which taxa are most vulnerable? Location: Blanket bog and heathland sites in Scotland, UK. Methods: We conducted a space-for-time-substitution survey of 27 wildfire sites, spanning 2-24 years since wildfire. Cover of individual plant species and lichens alongside data on soil carbon, nitrogen and pH were collected in burnt and adjacent unburnt areas, with fire severity assessed using remote sensing. Regression models were used to examine Shannon diversity, heterogeneity, and compositional dissimilarity between burnt and unburnt areas over time. Effects on community composition were assessed using CCA and NMDS. Results: Wildfire severity and habitat played crucial roles in shaping post-fire vegetation dynamics. Blanket bog and wet heathland displayed resistance to severe burning, with mild effects on vegetation composition. Dry heathland experienced stronger initial impacts but demonstrated significant recovery over time. Vegetation composition resembled adjacent unburnt areas in approximately 20-25 years following low severity fire, and higher severity fires prolonged regeneration times. We found no effect of time since fire on diversity. Sphagnum abundance showed little relationship with time since fire and may contribute to the resilience of wet moorlands to severe fire. Lichens and pleurocarpous mosses were reduced in cover, whilst graminoids and acrocarpous mosses were abundant in recently burnt areas. Conclusions: Wet moors were more resistant to severe burning whilst dry moors showed strong initial effects but exhibited recovery over time. Higher severity fires led to greater vegetation change and longer recovery times. The increased risks and consequences of wildfire under climate change may be most severely felt on dry moorland habitats. Although wet moorlands are currently resilient, ongoing management is crucial as future conditions may increase their susceptibility to fire and vegetation change.

The innovation and improvement of 5G networks has given profound benefits for the wireless users. The information is being shared consistently that increases the network traffic data. Therefore, there is a need for performance enhancement in terms of resource utilization and transmission systems. This paper makes an attempt to develop a hybrid cache-enabled 5Gs that combines the Line of Sight (LOS) and Non-Line of Sight (NLOS). The study intends to remove the interferences by improving the content delivery process. The analytical method has improved the content management with no-cache as well as cache-assisted packets. The proposed model is implemented in an NS2 simulator that executes and tests the parameters like packet delivery ratio, packet dropping ratio, end-to-end delay, throughput and the SINR analysis. It is inferred from the results that the proposed hybrid cache enabled mmwave network model has yielded a 31% increase in packet delivery, 63% increase in throughput, 30% decrease in the packet delay and 14% reduction in energy consumption as compared with the cache enabled transmission approach. Further, the SINR of the hybrid cache enabled mmwave system increased by 22% in comparison with the hybrid 5G enabled mmwave system, which proves the efficacy of the hybrid cache enabled mmwave system in minimizing the effects of noise on the output.

Since security threats in IoT-enabled smart cities may not appear clear and present to detection mechanisms, efforts have been made to use artificial intelligence methods for anomaly detection. Anomaly detection has been performed using unsupervised learning approaches (Autoencoders, GANs, One-Class SVMs) in turn, with these instances considered security threats. In addition, an element for patches and traffic redirection in real time is included in the framework. Results show that the AI detection in general has much more security resilience, decreasing possible attack vectors. This makes the integration of various features like AI, blockchain, and IDS for a solid IoT security a must. Since security threats in IoT-enabled smart cities may not appear clear and present to detection mechanisms, efforts have been made to use artificial intelligence methods for anomaly detection. Anomaly detection has been performed using unsupervised learning approaches (Autoencoders, GANs, One-Class SVMs) in turn, with these instances considered security threats. In addition, an element for patches and traffic redirection in real time is included in the framework. Results show that the AI detection in general has much more security resilience, decreasing possible attack vectors. This makes the integration of various features like AI, blockchain, and IDS for a solid IoT security a must.

The Southern Ocean significantly influences the world’s oceans and climate. The cold, dense water that forms in this region sinks around the margins of Antarctica and migrates northward into the oceans through deep western boundary currents. Thus, analyzing the changes in the thermohaline distribution of the Southern Ocean waters is essential to understanding long-term changes in other regions of the ocean. Using a machine-learning approach, we addressed the spatiotemporal distribution and transformation of two adjacent thermohaline clusters defined by the integrated vertical variations of their water column. The colder and saltier cluster, located around Antarctica (southern cluster), represents the ice-covered region. A transformation of the water column thermohaline properties equatorward was observed, which seems to be associated with the expansion of sea ice. Time series analyses revealed that the variation in the annual period is being modulated mainly by surface solar radiation (2.11 $\pm$ 0.21 months lagged), wind speed (2.87 $\pm$ 1.61 months lagged), and sea-ice cover (0.0 $\pm$ 0.69 months lagged). The area occupied by the southern cluster showed a linear increase over the study period (from 2004 to 2023) while the warmer and fresher cluster, located at the northern boundary of the southern cluster contracted. The linear trend suggests a continuous expansion of the southern cluster in the long term, transforming the waters near the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current into colder and saline waters from the surface to 1500 m depth and the Subantarctic Front becoming warmer.

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale Rosc.) holds significant culinary and medicinal value. Tissue-cultured ginger can markedly enhance rhizome yield after two years of growth. This study investigates the field performance variations and reveals the influence mechanism of root on plant morphology and yield among different ginger generations. The results indicate that the T1, T2 and T3 gingers exhibit strong genetic stability. Compared to T1 and T2 gingers, T3 ginger show superior performance in both aboveground and belowground biomass, photosynthetic capacity, yield and quality. However, anatomical analysis reveals that T3 ginger has a smaller diameter for fibrous roots and a lower cortex-to-stele thickness ratio in the fleshy roots compared to T1 and T2 gingers. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis elucidates the relationship between root development and metabolic regulation across different ginger generations. Compared to T2 roots, T3 roots exhibit significantly higher expression levels of DEGs associated with starch and sucrose metabolism, along with increased activity of starch-degrading enzymes (BAM), which ultimately influence the accumulation and conversion of starch and sucrose. Meanwhile, key enzymes activity and DEGs expression in flavonoid biosynthesis were downregulated, resulting in a significant reduction of flavonoid content in T3 roots. Furthermore, levels of ABA, TZR and SA were markedly lower in T3 roots, whereas the concentrations of IAA, JA and GA 3 were significantly higher. In conclusion, this study reveals notable differences in morphology, root development and rhizome yield across various generations of ginger. Specifically, T3 ginger exhibit superior yield and quality with weaker root development, which may be related to the dynamic regulations of starch and sucrose metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis and phytohormone levels. These findings provide valuable theoretical insights and practical recommendations for optimizing the field cultivation of tissue-cultured ginger.

The Tarim red deer (Cervus hanglu yarkandensis) is a flagship species dwelling the Euphrates Poplar (Populus euphratica) riparian forests along the Tarim River. The wild population is listed as a first-level protected species in China. At present we miss information about , it is unclear the seasonal variation of its foraging ecology in this environment dominated by interspersed Euphrates Poplar forests and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum ) crops in Shaya, Xinjiang. We used DNA metabarcoding technology to investigate the diet of the Tarim red deer in both summer and winter during 2021-2022. We targeted chloroplast gene trnL (c-h) region for plant identification. From a total of 39 fecal samples analyzed, we identified 50 plant species, In term of frequency of occurrence, main feeds were cotton (38.75%), and Euphrates Poplar (36.87%). Other plants were occasionally present: Phragmites australis (7.00%), Halimodendron halodendron (6.13%), Chenopodium album(4.67%), Glycyrrhiza inflata (3.50%), Kalidium gracile (0.28%), Glycyr-rhiza glabra (0.25%), Myricaria bracteata (0.16%), Dodartia orientalis (0.07%). Deciduous trees (36.87%) and shrubs (45.98%) represent the main food categories, followed by forbs (9.74%) and graminoids (7.11%). As expected, the Shannon and richness index, was signifi-cantly higher in summer than in winter (p < 0.05), and the dietary niche width in winter was significantly lower than in summer (p < 0.05). Overall, our results indicate that the Tarim red deer is a seasonally-adaptable mixed-feeder. This study provides essential data for a better un-derstanding of the foraging ecology of Tarim red deer. Further it provides evidences to improve its management and conservation.

Terrestrial plants evolved different mechanisms of adaptation to drought, a primary survival challenge. While shoot traits, including stomatal closure, have been the major focus in drought research, the role of the hidden organ, the root, has lately been in the limelight. Being the first organ exposed to water scarcity in the soil, the root acts as the drought sensor, relaying the signal to the aerial organs, primarily supplying the drought hormone, abscisic acid, to the shoot. This review encompasses recent genetic screens focussed on root traits, modern approaches of phenotyping root system architecture, and molecular signaling events in roots for drought tolerance. Molecular mechanisms of root responses, including gravitropism and hydropatterning, as well as the intricacies of root-to-shoot communication under drought, are enumerated. The review separately treats root adaptations in extremophytes, including extraordinary root depths and spreads, rain roots to capture moisture from the atmosphere, histomorphological root adaptations including lignification, suberization, and aerenchyma formation, determinate root development in Cactaceae, and root signaling in resurrection plants, phoenixes of the plant kingdom. The vital roles of the rhizomicrobiome in augmenting the root tolerance responses to drought from individual plants to the ecosystem level are elaborated. The review identifies gaps in drought memory research focussed on the roots, and foresees the role of upcoming single-cell omics technologies in identifying specific molecular events in different root cell types under drought. Finally, how the state-of-the-art in root stress biology can be translated into engineering root traits for crop drought tolerance is discussed.

A document by Yong Chae Jung. Click on the document to view its contents.

This study systematically investigated the fatigue property of DD6 nickel-based single crystal superalloy using in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A pioneering exploration was conducted on the coupled effects of secondary orientations ([010] and [110]) and recrystallization defects on fatigue performance, representing the first comprehensive report of this synergistic interaction. Surface recrystallization was found to significantly deteriorate fatigue resistance, with preferential crack nucleation observed at recrystallized regions. Orientation-dependent performance analysis revealed the superior fatigue durability of [110]-oriented specimens over [010]-oriented counterparts in both pristine and recrystallized conditions. Distinct slip mechanisms were identified: [010]-oriented specimens exhibited pronounced cross-slip activity, while [110]-oriented samples maintained single-slip deformation characteristics. Fatigue crack propagation in [010] orientation was governed by multi-octahedral slip system activation. Combined electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis and crystal plasticity finite element modeling (CPFEM) were employed to elucidate orientation-dependent plastic deformation mechanisms. CPFEM simulations demonstrated that [010]-oriented specimens accumulated higher cumulative shear strain (CSS) under equivalent stress condition compared to [110]-oriented samples, directly correlating with reduced fatigue life. A unified fatigue life prediction model was developed incorporating both secondary orientation effects and recrystallization defects, establishing a robust theoretical framework for evaluation of DD6 alloy under cyclic loading conditions.

Background: The relative efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoballoon ablation (CBA), and pulsed field ablation (PFA) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) remain unclear. This research seeks to assess and contrast these catheter ablation techniques. Methods: A systematic search identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared at least two of these techniques for PAF. The primary efficacy outcome was the absence of atrial arrhythmia recurrence post-ablation after the blanking period, The safety outcome involved any procedure-related complication. The secondary outcomes included procedure and fluoroscopy times. Frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses were conducted using odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Eighteen RCTs involving 3,219 PAF patients were included. RFA, CBA, and PFA showed no significant difference in rates of freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence (CBA vs. RFA: OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.22; PFA vs. RFA: 1.13, 0.80 to 1.61; PFA vs. CBA: 1.09, 0.77 to 1.56) and procedure-related complications (CBA vs. RFA: OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.82 to 2.08; PFA vs. RFA: 1.12, 0.34 to 3.64; PFA vs. CBA: 0.86, 0.26 to 2.84). PFA and CBA were associated with shorter procedure times than RFA (MD = -31.18, 95% CI: -49.74 to -12.61; MD = -24.77, 95% CI: -32.82 to -16.71, respectively), with no significant difference between PFA and CBA. Fluoroscopy times were similar across techniques. Conclusion: PFA, CBA, and RFA demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety for PAF treatment, but PFA and CBA offered shorter procedure times than RFA.

A document by Sima Shamshiri Khamene. Click on the document to view its contents.

A Rectus Sheath Hematoma Triggered by Pile Driving

Hydraulic support is an important supporting equipment in coal mining. With the continuous increase of coal mining intensity, higher requirements have been put forward for the supporting performance of hydraulic support. The hydraulic support always has a dynamic coupling state with the surrounding rock. Investigating its dynamic adaptation characteristics to surrounding rock is of great significance for improving the support performance of hydraulic supports. Therefore, the numerical analysis model of the “hydraulic support-surrounding rock” coupling system is established by taking ZZ 17000 / 33 / 72 D hydraulic support in Kouzidong Coal Mine as an example and using explicit dynamic analysis software Ls-dyna. The dynamic bearing characteristics and pressure distribution law of the four-column hydraulic support-surrounding rock coupling system under different mining heights and different bearing conditions are analyzed. Moreover, key vulnerable connection units and the four-column hydraulic support in-stability under full load conditions are clarified.

This study uses molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the defect healing mechanisms in Fe-Cr-Ni single crystal alloys under multiaxial cyclic loading. Focusing on enhancing the mechanical strength of these alloys for aerospace, automotive, nuclear, and marine applications, the research examines atomic-scale healing of preexisting defects. Triaxial cyclic loading simulations at 300K reveal that defect healing primarily occurs through dislocation cross-slip, climb, atomic diffusion, and crystalline structure recovery. The closure of voids is facilitated by dislocation tangle formation, stacking fault evolution, and extrinsic-to-intrinsic stacking fault transitions. Complete void healing is achieved by the 15 th cycle in triaxial loading, 19 th in biaxial, and 27 th in uniaxial loading. Phase transformation analysis confirms the dominance of the FCC phase, with localized HCP formations aiding structural recovery. These findings provide critical insights into atomic-scale defect healing mechanism, offering strategies to enhance fatigue resistance, structural integrity, and long-term performance of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys under cyclic loading.

Title: Consequences of Spine Imaging Associated with Guideline Nonadherence in a Pregnant Patient with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Case ReportVincent Pinkert*, Andrew Molitor, M.D., Pavithra K. Rao, Brandon M. Togioka, M.D.

False-positive dobutamine stress echocardiogram in a patient with anemiaMichael Nguyen-Truong1*♱, Kathryn Tsai1*, Muhammad Umair Rana2, Sanjay Mehta1,2, James Kumar1,21Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, USA2Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL, USA*These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.♱Correspondence should be addressed to Michael Nguyen-Truong (mnguyent@illinois.edu) and Kathryn Tsai (kctsai2@illinois.edu)Manuscript Type: Case ReportMeSH Keywords : coronary artery disease, dobutamine, stress echocardiography, anemia, preoperative careData Availability Statement: Data supporting the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.Funding Statement: The authors received no specific funding for this work.Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this case report.Ethics Approval Statement: Ethics approval was not required for this case report as it is based on a retrospective review of a single patient case and does not involve interventional research.Patient Consent Statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report in accordance with the journal’s patient consent policy.Permission to Reproduce Material from Other Sources: No copyrighted material requiring permission has been reproduced in this manuscript.Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable.

Introduction: Ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a significant risk of esophageal injury, including esophageal wall ulceration, peri-esophageal injury or life-threatening atrio-esophageal fistula (AEF). Current methods of esophageal protection are invasive, expensive and their cost-effectiveness is debatable. Standard placement of dispersive patch electrode (DPE) at patient’s back may expose the esophagus to thermal injury from radiofrequency (RF) currents. Repositioning the DPE to the anterior chest could theoretically protect the esophagus from thermal injury, however, such an approach has not yet been investigated. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed three cohorts of consecutive patients undergoing patients RFCA-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The first cohort underwent PVI performed using a multi-electrode PVAC catheter with the DPE placed either anteriorly or posteriorly. The second cohort underwent point-by-point RFCA, including mapping of pulmonary vein ostia and impedance measurements, with DPE placed anteriorly and posteriorly during impedance measurements. The third cohort underwent high-power short-duration (HPSD) PVI with an anterior DPE placement. Impedance values, procedural characteristics, and follow-up outcomes were compared across the cohorts. Results: The first cohort included 62 patients (25 females, age 60 ± 12 years). Forty of them had DPE placed posteriorly and 22 anteriorly. There were no major procedural complications. AF recurrence rates at one-year follow-up did not differ significantly between the anterior and posterior DPE groups (23% vs 43%, log-rank p = 0.074). The second cohort consisted of 12 patients (2 females, age 61 ± 10 years) undergoing point-by-point PVI. Significant impedance differences were observed between posterior and anterior DPE placements for both Erbe DPE (131±14 Ω vs 147±16 Ω, p<0.0001) and Covidien DPE (117±14 Ω vs 125±17 Ω, p=0.018). No complications were reported during a 7±5 months of follow-up. The third cohort included 83 patients (51 males, mean age 62±12 years) undergoing HPSD PVI. All pulmonary veins were successfully isolated. No AEF or esophageal injuries were reported during a mean follow-up of 7±5 months. Conclusions: Anterior position of the DPE during RFCA-based PVI is safe, feasible, non-traumatic and is not associated with any additional cost. Its potential to prevent esophageal complications should be further investigated in prospective studies.