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Fact-checking information (FCI) serves in the fight against the infodemic and as an information service that helps people use their discretion in judging information in a post-truth era. Therefore, we investigated personal factors influencing users' decisions in using and sharing COVID-19-related FCI in South Korea. The study took three steps to build hypotheses and collect data: a theoretical approach; an empirical approach through in-depth interviews; and an online survey amongst 304 information users who reside in Korea. More strictly, the interview data were analyzed through content analysis, and the online survey data were statistically analyzed using a SPSS 25.0 program. In conclusion, the study revealed that previous political FCI user research ignored health belief variables (health consciousness, perceived severity, and perceived susceptibility), which also influenced FCI usage. Moreover, critical prosuming literacy, a key predictor of sharing and disseminating misinformation, has a strong causal relationship with FCI seeking and sharing. The findings expand the notion of fact-checking from a type of journalism to "information" and "information services" and suggest that fact-checking has the potential to become an expanded information service in which experts in broader areas can participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of GnRH agonist with add-back therapy versus dienogest treatment for preventing pelvic pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. Methods: Sixty-four reproductive-aged women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis received post-operative medical treatment with either GnRH agonist plus 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate ( n = 28) or dienogest ( n = 36) for 6 months. The pre- to post-treatment changes in pain were assessed using a visual analogue scale, and changes in quality-of-life and menopausal symptoms were measured by questionnaire. Results: Visual analogue scale pain score decreased significantly for both treatments with no significant differences between groups. Neither physical, psychological, social, and environmental components of quality-of-life nor menopausal rating scale score were significantly different between the two groups. Bone mineral density at the lumbar spine declined significantly in both treatment groups (−2.5 % for GnRH agonist plus add-back and −2.3 % for dienogest), with no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: GnRH agonist and add-back therapy using 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate are as effective and tolerable as dienogest for the prevention of pelvic pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of GnRH agonist with add-back therapy versus dienogest treatment for preventing pelvic pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.Methods: Sixty-four reproductive-aged women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis received post-operative medical treatment with either GnRH agonist plus 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate (n = 28) or dienogest (n = 36) for 6 months. The pre- to post-treatment changes in pain were assessed using a visual analogue scale, and changes in quality-of-life and menopausal symptoms were measured by questionnaire.Results: Visual analogue scale pain score decreased significantly for both treatments with no significant differences between groups. Neither physical, psychological, social, and environmental components of quality-of-life nor menopausal rating scale score were significantly different between the two groups. Bone mineral density at the lumbar spine declined significantly in both treatment groups (-2.5 % for GnRH agonist plus add-back and -2.3 % for dienogest), with no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion: GnRH agonist and add-back therapy using 17β-estradiol and norethisterone acetate are as effective and tolerable as dienogest for the prevention of pelvic pain recurrence after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion:This study shows that, in cochlear implantation (CI) surgery, pre-operative caloric test results are not correlated with post-operative outcomes of dizziness or speech perception. Objectives:To determine the role of pre-operative caloric tests in CI. Methods:The records of 95 patients who underwent unilateral CI were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into four groups according to caloric response. Forty-six patients with normal caloric responses were classified as Group A, 19 patients who underwent CI in the ear with worse caloric responses as Group B, 18 patients with bilateral loss of caloric responses as Group C, and 12 patients who underwent CI in the ear with better caloric responses as Group D. Speech performance and post-operative dizziness were compared between the four groups. Speech perception was determined by evaluating consonant-vowel phoneme detection, closed-set word and open-set mono-syllabic and bi-syllabic word identification, and sentence comprehension test scores. Results:The speech perception and aided pure-tone average (PTA) test results at 3 and 6 months and at 1, 2, and 3 years after implantation were not significantly different between Groups A, B, C, and D (p > 0.05). Eight patients (8.4%) reported post-operative dizziness, but there was no significant difference between the four groups (p = 0.627). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study presents the preliminary findings from research on the Everyday Life Information Seeking behaviours of Korean government officials in their 50s. The main objectives of this study were to characterize the daily life of baby boomers waiting for retirement by understanding their basic information use contexts, and to also identify a range of information seeking and search behaviours. Sixteen people, aged between 50 and 56, participated in this study. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed from four perspectives: 1) information seeking environments; 2) personal context of information seeking; 3) patterns of information searching; 4) recognition of discontinuation of information seeking. The qualitative findings indicate that the participants preferred to use physical materials and their existing social networks as information sources. The study participants generally held unfavourable or uncomfortable views of libraries as their source of information to satisfy their information needs. Nevertheless, the participants expected that libraries, acting as information centres, would be another useful place for their lives if libraries continue to transform. Finally, the study reveals the relationship among environment, context, and interaction with respect to personal information-seeking behaviours based on the analysis. This study should serve as strategic implications for library practitioners to develop the information services and the corresponding library management process in accordance to the potential and powerful evolving user group in a future aged society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP-binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1) is a key plasma membrane protein required for the efflux of cellular cholesterol to extracellular acceptors, particularly to apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). This process is essential to maintain cholesterol homeostasis in the body. The detailed molecular mechanisms, however, are still insufficiently understood. Also, the molecular identity of ABCA1, i.e., channel, pump, or flippase, remains unknown. In this study we analyzed extracellular ATP levels in the medium of ABCA1-expressing BHK cells and RAW macrophages and compared them to the medium of nonexpressing cells. We found that extracellular ATP concentrations are significantly elevated when cells express ABCA1. Importantly, a dysfunctional ABCA1 mutant (A937V), when expressed similarly as wild-type ABCA1, is unable to raise extracellular ATP concentration, which suggests a casual relationship between functional ABCA1 and elevated extracellular ATP. To explore the physiological role of extracellular ATP, we analyzed ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux under conditions where extracellular ATP levels were modulated. We found that increasing extracellular ATP within the physiological range, i.e., <μM, promotes cholesterol efflux to apoA-I. On the other hand, removing extracellular ATP, either by adding apyrase to the medium or by expressing a plasma membrane-bound ectonucleotidase, CD39, abolishes cholesterol efflux to apoA-I. On the basis of these results, we conclude that, through direct or indirect mechanisms, ABCA1 functions to raise ATP levels in the medium. This elevated extracellular ATP is required for ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux to apoA-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the employment information needs and information behaviour of North Korean refugees in South Korea. Also cited are the provisions that public libraries should consider to provide employment-related information refugees, the importance of information on the refugees' survival and social inclusion, and the use of content analysis in the study.

Studies ways of improving detection of Vibrio vulnificus in Octopus variabilis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Strain and culture conditions; Amplifications of PCR; Test sample preparation; Growth conditions; Efficiency in DNA extraction; Sensitivity for detection.

Objective: To evaluate the results of repeat pelvic ultrasonography before surgery in patients with suspicion of benign ovarian tumor.Methods: A retrospective study included premenopausal women who were scheduled to undergo surgery for a benign-appearing ovarian mass and who had repeat ultrasonography on the day before surgery at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011, to check for any change in the mass. Ultrasonography findings and final histology were evaluated by medical record review.Results: Of 1854 women studied, regression of mass was detected before surgery for 27 patients, and 105 patients had histologically proven functional cysts; considered together, 132 patients had functional cysts, and the remaining 1722 women had benign ovarian tumors. Evaluation of the findings of initial ultrasonography revealed that mean size (P=0.008) and proportion of bilateral cysts (P<0.001) were lower in the presence of functional cysts than benign tumors. Additionally, an anechoic pattern was more common among regressed functional cysts than among histologically proven functional cysts (P<0.001). In total, 105 (5.7%) patients required surgery for a functional cyst despite repeat ultrasonography.Conclusion: Repeating ultrasonography prior to surgery may have only a limited ability to prevent unnecessary surgeries for functional cysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Introduction: b As treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), minimally invasive liver resection is increasing. In study, we compared perioperative outcomes, pathologic findings, and long-term oncologic outcomes of planned surgery and unplanned conversion in minimally invasive liver resection for hepatocellular cancer. B Result: b Of the 307 patients who underwent minimally invasive liver resection, 21(6.8%) patients proceeded unplanned open conversion during surgery. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction. This study aims to investigate the selection of information sources and to identify factors associated with the resource selection of undergraduate students for academic search tasks. Also, user perceptions of some factors, such as credibility, usefulness, accessibility and familiarity, were examined to classify resources by their characteristics. Method.A self-generated diary method was employed with 233 undergraduate students in achieving their academic search tasks. Analysis. The collected diary data were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. A qualitative analysis was used to explore factors influencing resource selection, while a quantitative analysis was used for investigating the characteristics of resources. Results.This study reaffirmed recent information usage trends that online sources are preferred by university students in their academic searches. This study identified twenty nine factors in four different dimensions, including information type, resource feature, search strategy, and interaction with others. Moreover, perceptions of users were investigated quantitatively focusing on usefulness, credibility, accessibility, familiarity with source, satisfaction, and intention of continuous use. Conclusions.Multiple factors are influencing the resource selection of undergraduate students and those factors vary in different types of sources in academic search tasks. The findings of the study suggest some insights in how to guide undergraduates to choose better information resources for their academic search tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N‐nitrosamines, widespread contaminants, can be formed from precursors in food including nitrites and amines. The effects of six cooking methods (roasting, stir frying/griddling, frying, blanching, boiling, and others) were investigated in terms of the concentrations of seven N‐nitrosamines including N‐nitrosodimethylamine, N‐nitrosomethylethylamine, N‐nitrosodiethylamine, N‐nitrosodibutylamine, N‐nitrosopiperidine, N‐nitrosopyrrolidine, and N‐nitrosomorpholine in Total Diet Study samples. In conclusion, N‐nitrosodimethylamine, N‐nitrosodiethylamine, and N‐nitrosopyrrolidine increased during boiling (5.26, 1.42, and 1.31 μg/kg each, p <.05), N‐nitrosodiethylamine contents increased in blanching, roasting induced N‐nitrosodimethylamine increases, and microwave heating increased N‐nitrosodiethylamine concentration (0.25, 1.73, and 0.15 μg/kg each, p <.05). Overall, N‐nitrosodimethylamine was the most frequently detected N‐nitrosamine (51.0%), boiling produced the most N‐nitrosamine, and N‐nitrosamines were found most frequently in fish samples. Based on the results, we recommend avoiding boiling or discarding boiled water to reduce risk from the food‐borne N‐nitrosamines. This research could improve our understanding of N‐nitrosamine changes by cooking in wide ranges of food products. Practical applications: N‐nitrosamines can increase during boiling, blanching, roasting, and microwave heating. Boiling fish and cooking with seasoning might cause significant increases in N‐nitrosamines. Because N‐nitrosamines are not good for humans, cooking methods and food ingredients should be considered carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are contaminants in proteinaceous foods produced by cooking at high temperatures. This study was the first assessment of exposure to HCAs using the Korean total diet study. Twelve HCAs were analysed in 1,232 pooled samples using six isotope-labelled internal standards and HPLC-MS/MS. The daily intake of HCAs in the Korean population was estimated based on the concentration of HCAs in the total diet study samples and individual food consumption data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among HCAs, the intake of β-carbolines, such as harman and norharman, was the highest, followed by the intake of PhIP. The primary sources of HCA intake were meat, fish, shellfish, and beverages, including alcohol. The margin of exposure to PhIP was 2,349,000 at the average level and 373,000 at the 95th percentile in the Korean population. The estimated daily intake of all HCAs in the Korean population was considered safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries are facing the need to closely examine the effectiveness of current organizational functions in response to rapid changes in technology and the information environment. The purpose of this study is to explore the functions and issues of the academic library organization in South Korea based on the librarians' perceptions. We conducted a literature review about the changes in the role of academic libraries and organizational functions. In-depth interviews with 19 librarians and a content analysis of those interviews were conducted. As a result, we identified organizational characteristics pertaining to 1) internal functions of the library, such as communication, leadership, motivation, and team system, and 2) external functions, such as collaboration with external administrative departments, and utilization of personal networks. We also discovered mutual relationships among the functions. In particular, leader's support is important to continuously motivate librarians and increase the effectiveness of the team system, resulting in a positive effect on the reputation of the academic library. This study contributes to the academic library literature by comprehensively and empirically exploring functions affecting the services of academic libraries. • Leadership impacts the effectiveness of academic libraries' team system and collaboration with other departments. • Leadership, effective communication, and collaboration are the imperatives that motivate academic librarians. • The university administration's recognition of academic libraries' role influences resource allocation and library functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term hearing loss in postlingually deaf (PD) adults may lead to brain structural changes that affect the outcomes of cochlear implantation. We studied 94 PD patients who underwent cochlear implantation and 37 patients who were MRI‐scanned within 2 weeks after the onset of sudden hearing loss and expected with minimal brain structural changes in relation to deafness. Compared with those with sudden hearing loss, we found lower gray matter (GM) probabilities in bilateral thalami, superior, middle, inferior temporal cortices as well as the central cortical regions corresponding to the movement and sensation of the lips, tongue, and larynx in the PD group. Among these brain areas, the GM in the middle temporal cortex showed negative correlation with disease duration, whereas the other areas displayed positive correlations. Left superior, middle temporal cortical, and bilateral thalamic GMs were the most accurate predictors of post‐cochlear implantation word recognition scores (mean absolute error [MAE] = 10.1, r =.82), which was superior to clinical variables used (MAE: 12.1, p <.05). Using the combined brain morphological and clinical features, we achieved the best prediction of the outcome (MAE: 8.51, r =.90). Our findings suggest that the cross‐modal plasticity allowing the superior temporal cortex and thalamus to process other modal sensory inputs reverses the initially lower volume when deafness becomes persistent. The middle temporal cortex processing higher‐level language comprehension shows persistent negative correlations with disease duration, suggesting this area's association with degraded speech comprehensions due to long‐term deafness. Morphological features combined with clinical variables might play a key role in predicting outcomes of cochlear implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) plays a principal role in the regulation of oxidative stress by modulating the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate pool and is expected to be associated with metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it is unclear whether hyperglycemia increases G6PD activity levels in DM because suitable assays for quantifying the activity in a high-throughput manner are lacking. Using liquid droplet arrays tailored to analyze tissue lysates, we performed G6PD activity profiling in eight tissues of normal and diabetic mice: brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, spleen, and thyroid. Diabetic mice exhibited significantly higher G6PD activities in the kidney, liver, spleen, and thyroid than normal mice; no significant difference was found in the brain, heart, lung, or muscle. We also performed G6PD expression profiling in the eight tissues using Western blot analysis. Diabetic mice showed significantly elevated G6PD expression levels in the kidney, lung, spleen, and thyroid compared with normal mice; no significant difference was found in the brain, heart, liver, or muscle. An analysis of G6PD activity-expression profiles demonstrated tissue-specific changes in response to hyperglycemia. Thus, our approach would be helpful for understanding the role of G6PD in tissue-based pathogenesis of diabetic complications. • We performed G6PD activity and expression profiling in eight tissues of normal and diabetic mice. • G6PD activity profiling was performed using liquid droplet arrays and Western blot tailored to analyze tissue lysates. • We found the tissue-specific changes of G6PD activity-expression profiles in response to diabetes. • Thus, our approach is useful for investigating the role of G6PD in tissue-based pathogenesis of diabetic complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are potent mutagens generated by the high temperatures of the cooking process. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate analytical methods for HCAs determination using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in seven food matrices: corn oil, milk, 20% ethanol, pork, flat fish, sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida), and radish. Six isotopically labelled internal standards were used for quantitation, and Chem Elut and Oasis hydrphilic-liphophilic balance cartridges were applied for sample preparation to remove interferences. Calibration curves showed good linearity (R2 > 0.99) in all matrices. The ranges of the method detection limit and method quantitation limit were 0.009–2.35 ng g−1 and 0.025–7.13 ng g−1, respectively. The recoveries ranged from 67.5% to 119.6%. The coefficients of variation ranged from 0.3% to 15.1% for intra-day and ranged from 0.8% to 19.1% for inter-day. The methods were applied to 24 total diet study samples for HCAs quantitation. These results indicate that the established methods are reliable for determining HCAs in various foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To satisfy an increasing demand for dietary protein, the poultry industry has employed genetic selection to increase the growth rate of broilers by over 400% in the past 50 years. Although modern broilers reach a marketable weight of ~ 2 kg in a short span of 35 days, a speed twice as fast as a broiler 50 years ago, the expedited growth has been associated with several negative detrimental consequences. Aside from heart and musculoskeletal problems, which are direct consequences of additional weight, the immune response is also thought to be altered in modern broilers. Results: Given that identifying the underlying genetic basis responsible for a less sensitive innate immune response would be economically beneficial for poultry breeding, we decided to compare the genomes of two unselected meat control strains that are representative of broilers from 1957 and 1978, and a current commercial broiler line. Through analysis of genetic variants, we developed a custom prioritization strategy to identify genes and pathways that have accumulated genetic changes and are biologically relevant to immune response and growth performance. Our results highlight two genes, TLR3 and PLIN3, with genetic variants that are predicted to enhance growth performance at the expense of immune function. Conclusions: Placing these new genomes in the context of other chicken lines, reveal genetic changes that have specifically arisen in selective breeding programs that were implemented in the last 50 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pseudomonas syringae acetyltransferase HopZ1a is delivered into host cells by the type III secretion system to promote bacterial growth. However, in the model plant host Arabidopsis thaliana, HopZ1a activity results in an effector-triggered immune response (ETI) that limits bacterial proliferation. HopZ1a-triggered immunity requires the nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat domain (NLR) protein, ZAR1, and the pseudokinase, ZED1. Here we demonstrate that HopZ1a can acetylate members of a family of ‘receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases’ (RLCK family VII; also known as PBS1-like kinases, or PBLs) and promote their interaction with ZED1 and ZAR1 to form a ZAR1-ZED1-PBL ternary complex. Interactions between ZED1 and PBL kinases are determined by the pseudokinase features of ZED1, and mutants designed to restore ZED1 kinase motifs can (1) bind to PBLs, (2) recruit ZAR1, and (3) trigger ZAR1-dependent immunity in planta, all independently of HopZ1a. A ZED1 mutant that mimics acetylation by HopZ1a also triggers immunity in planta, providing evidence that effector-induced perturbations of ZED1 also activate ZAR1. Overall, our results suggest that interactions between these two RLCK families are promoted by perturbations of structural features that distinguish active from inactive kinase domain conformations. We propose that effector-induced interactions between ZED1/ZRK pseudokinases (RLCK family XII) and PBL kinases (RLCK family VII) provide a sensitive mechanism for detecting perturbations of either kinase family to activate ZAR1-mediated ETI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies have shown an association between thyroid disorders and breast cancer. Among them, diffusely increased thyroid uptake of F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) has been associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. There is little or no information regarding the relationship between treatment of breast cancer and the development of new diffuse thyroid F-18 FDG uptake. Here, we report the frequency of this occurrence and some of the factors associated with it. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) database and identified 290 women who had underwent PET-CTs both before and after breast surgery. Of these, 246 were enrolled in this study and 44 were excluded, because before breast surgery they had either a history of prior thyroid disorders including thyroid cancer or abnormal serum free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone, or other malignancies. Tests for serum antithyroid antibodies were not available before thyroid surgery in all patients. There were 62 patients who did have antithyroid antibody tests before surgery and 27 were positive. They were not excluded from the study. Results: Diffuse thyroidal uptake on PET-CT developed in 23 (9.3%) patients during the follow-up period (median=21.1 months; range=3.1-47.3 months). Age (≥55 years; hazard ratio [HR]=0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03-0.65; p=0.012), bilaterality of breast cancer (HR=3.87; 95% CI: 1.02-14.62; p=0.046), and postsurgical radiotherapy (HR=3.06; 95% CI: 1.03-9.16; p=0.045) showed independent association with new thyroid FDG uptake in multivariate analysis. All patients with thyroid FDG uptake met at least one of some criteria related to chronic thyroditis (positive for antithyroid antibodies or cytology findings or ultrasonography findings of Hashimoto's thyroiditis) and were associated with development of hypothyroidism (52.2% vs. 4.5% in patients without uptake; p<0.001). Conclusions: Radiotherapy in breast cancer may be an independent predictive factor for the development of new diffuse thyroidal uptake in PET-CT associated with thyroid dysfunction during follow-up. The development of diffuse F-18 FDG uptake is a marker for thyroid abnormalities. Younger women who have radiotherapy after surgery for breast cancer, in particular, are candidates for close follow-up of their thyroid function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In HiRes 120 sound processing, the spectral bands are created by precisely varying the proportion of current delivered simultaneously to adjacent electrodes through active current steering. The purpose of this study was to examine performance of native Korean speakers with HiRes 120. Eleven adults with postlinguial hearing loss participated in the study. The difference between baseline and three-month HiRes 120 performance was significant for all tests (p < 0.05). For monosyllabic words, eight subjects obtained higher scores with HiRes 120. For the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), ten subjects obtained higher scores with standard HiRes. These results show Korean speakers exhibit improved speech understanding in quiet and in noise with HiRes 120. All subjects preferred the new HiRes 120 sound processing option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given our aging society and the prevalence of age-related hearing loss that often develops during adulthood, hearing loss is a common public health issue affecting almost all older adults. Moderate-to-moderately severe hearing loss can usually be corrected with hearing aids; however, severe-to-profound hearing loss often requires a cochlear implant (CI). However, post-operative CI results vary, and the performance of the previous prediction models is limited, indicating that a new approach is needed. For postlingually deaf adults (n de120) who received CI with full insertion, we predicted CI outcomes using a Random-Forest Regression (RFR) model and investigated the effect of preoperative factors on CI outcomes. Postoperative word recognition scores (WRS) served as the dependent variable to predict. Predictors included duration of deafness (DoD), age at CI operation (ageCI), duration of hearing-aid use (DoHA), preoperative hearing threshold and sentence recognition score. Prediction accuracy was evaluated using mean absolute error (MAE) and Pearson's correlation coefficient r between the true WRS and predicted WRS. The fitting using a linear model resulted in prediction of WRS with r = 0.7 and MAE = 15.6 ± 9. RFR outperformed the linear model (r = 0.96, MAE = 6.1 ± 4.7, p < 0.00001). Cross-hospital data validation showed reliable performance using RFR (r = 0.91, MAE = 9.6 ± 5.2). The contribution of DoD to prediction was the highest (MAE increase when omitted: 14.8), followed by ageCI (8.9) and DoHA (7.5). After CI, patients with DoD < 10 years presented better WRSs and smaller variations (p < 0.01) than those with longer DoD. Better WRS was also explained by younger age at CI and longer-term DoHA. Machine learning demonstrated a robust prediction performance for CI outcomes in postlingually deaf adults across different institutes, providing a reference value for counseling patients considering CI. Health care providers should be aware that the patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss who cannot have benefit from hearing aids need to proceed with CI as soon as possible and should continue using hearing aids until after CI operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]