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Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) provides an indirect measure of the physiological state and growth of the maize ear by reconstructing the distribution of electrical impedance. However, the two-dimensional (2D) EIT within the electrode plane finds it challenging to comprehensively represent the spatial distribution of conductivity of the intact maize ear, including the husk, kernels, and cob. Therefore, an effective method for 3D conductivity reconstruction is necessary. In practical applications, fluctuations in the contact impedance of the maize ear occur, particularly with the increase in the number of grids and computational workload during the reconstruction of 3D spatial conductivity. These fluctuations may accentuate the ill-conditioning and nonlinearity of the EIT. To address these challenges, we introduce RFNetEIT, a novel computational framework specifically tailored for the absolute imaging of the three-dimensional electrical impedance of maize ear. This strategy transforms the reconstruction of 3D electrical conductivity into a regression process. Initially, a feature map is extracted from measured boundary voltage via a data reconstruction module, thereby enhancing the correlation among different dimensions. Subsequently, a nonlinear mapping model of the 3D spatial distribution of the boundary voltage and conductivity is established, utilizing the residual network. The performance of the proposed framework is assessed through numerical simulation experiments, acrylic model experiments, and maize ear experiments. Our experimental results indicate that our method yields superior reconstruction performance in terms of root-mean-square error (RMSE), correlation coefficient (CC), structural similarity index (SSIM), and inverse problem-solving time (IPST). Furthermore, the reconstruction experiments on maize ears demonstrate that the method can effectively reconstruct the 3D conductivity distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the first case with cerebellar herniation into the internal acoustic canal in incomplete partition type I anomaly. Cerebellar herniation into the internal acoustic canal is very rare with only a few cases reported in the literature. Although it is a rare clinical situation, cerebellar herniation into the internal acoustic canal may be seen in patients with incomplete partition type I. We presented magnetic resonance imaging findings of a 3-year-old girl with a history of meningitis, middle ear effusion, and bilateral congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral incomplete partition type I malformation and an additional flocculus herniation into the right internal acoustic canal. In the presented case, predisposition to cerebrospinal fluid leak in incomplete partition type I anomaly may be the reason for cerebellar herniation into internal acoustic canal. Also, possible increased intracranial pressure due to meningitis may be a contributing factor.

ObjectiveTinnitus is defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. We propose the hypothesis that migraine can cause exacerbation of tinnitus in some patients.MethodsEnglish literature from PubMed has been reviewed.ResultsStudies have reported a high prevalence of cochlear symptoms in patients with migraine headaches and up to 45% of tinnitus patients have been shown to concomitantly suffer from migraine. Both conditions are thought to stem from central nervous system disturbances, involving disruption of the auditory and trigeminal nerve pathways. One proposed mechanism of this association is the modulation of sound sensitivity by trigeminal nerve activation of the auditory cortex during migraine attacks, resulting in tinnitus fluctuation in some patients. Increased brain and inner ear vascular permeability resulting from trigeminal nerve inflammation, can also cause observed headache and auditory symptoms. Tinnitus and migraine also share a number of symptom triggers including stress, sleep disturbances, and dietary factors. These shared features may help explain promising results of migraine therapies for the treatment of tinnitus.ConclusionGiven the complex association between tinnitus and migraine, further investigation is needed to identify the underlying mechanisms and determine the optimal treatment strategies for managing migraine-related tinnitus patients.

In the present study we investigated the localization of glucocorticoid receptors (GCR) in the human inner ear using immunohistochemistry. Celloidin-embedded cochlear sections of patients with normal hearing (n = 5), patients diagnosed with MD (n = 5), and noise induced hearing loss (n = 5) were immunostained using GCR rabbit affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies and secondary fluorescent or HRP labeled antibodies. Digital fluorescent images were acquired using a light sheet laser confocal microscope. In celloidin-embedded sections GCR-IF was present in the cell nuclei of hair cells and supporting cells of the organ of Corti. GCR-IF was detected in cell nuclei of the Reisners membrane. GCR-IF was seen in cell nuclei of the stria vascularis and the spiral ligament. GCR-IF was found in the spiral ganglia cell nuclei, however, spiral ganglia neurons showed no GCR-IF. Although GCRs were found in most cell nuclei of the cochlea, the intensity of IF was differential among the different cell types being more intense in supporting cells than in sensory hair cells. The differential expression of GCR receptors found in the human cochlea may help to understand the site of action of glucocorticoids in different ear diseases.

Adenylyl cyclase 6 (AC6) synthesizes second messenger cAMP in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. In cochlear hair cells, AC6 distribution relies on an adhesion GPCR, ADGRV1, which is associated with Usher syndrome (USH), a condition of combined hearing and vision loss. ADGRV1 is a component of the USH type 2 (USH2) protein complex in hair cells and photoreceptors. However, the role of AC6 in the inner ear and retina has not been explored. Here, we found that AC6 distribution in hair cells depends on the USH2 protein complex integrity. Several known AC6 regulators and effectors, which were previously reported to participate in ADGRV1 signaling in vitro, are localized to the stereociliary compartments that overlap with AC6 distribution in hair cells. In young AC6 knockout (Adcy6-/-) mice, the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, but not Akt kinase, is altered in cochleas, while both kinases are normal in vestibular organs. Adult Adcy6-/- mice however exhibit normal hearing function. AC6 is expressed in mouse retinas but rarely in photoreceptors. Adcy6-/- mice have slightly enhanced photopic but normal scotopic vision. Therefore, AC6 may participate in the ADGRV1 signaling in hair cells but AC6 is not essential for cochlear and retinal development and maintenance.

In the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse model, oxidative stress leads to premature senescence and age-related hearing impairment (ARHI). CMS121 inhibits oxytosis/ferroptosis by targeting fatty acid synthase. The aim of our study was to determine whether CMS121 is protective against ARHI in SAMP8 mice. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were used to assess baseline hearing in sixteen 4-week-old female SAMP8 mice, which were divided into two cohorts. The control group was fed a vehicle diet, while the experimental group was fed a diet containing CMS121. ABRs were measured until 13 weeks of age. Cochlear immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the number of paired ribbon-receptor synapses per inner hair cell (IHC). Descriptive statistics are provided with mean ± SEM. Two-sample t-tests were performed to compare hearing thresholds and paired synapse count across the two groups, with alpha = 0.05. Baseline hearing thresholds in the control group were statistically similar to those of the CMS121 group. At 13 weeks of age, the control group had significantly worse hearing thresholds at 12 kHz (56.5 vs. 39.8, p = 0.044) and 16 kHz (64.8 vs. 43.8, p = 0.040) compared to the CMS121 group. Immunohistochemistry showed a significantly lower synapse count per IHC in the control group (15.7) compared to the CMS121 group (18.4), p = 0.014. Our study shows a significant reduction in ABR threshold shifts and increased preservation of IHC ribbon synapses in the mid-range frequencies among mice treated with CMS121 compared to untreated mice.

Without conscious thought, listeners link events in the world to sounds they hear. We study one surprising example: Adults can judge the temperature of water simply from hearing it being poured. We test the development of the ability to hear water temperature, with the goal of informing developmental theories regarding the origins and cognitive bases of nuanced sound source judgments. We first confirmed that adults accurately distinguished the sounds of hot and cold water (pre-registered Experiments. 1, 2; total N = 384), even though many were unaware or uncertain of this ability. By contrast, children showed protracted development of this skill over the course of middle childhood (Experiments. 2, 3; total N = 178). In spite of accurately identifying other sounds and hot/cold images, older children (7-11 years) but not younger children (3-6 years) reliably distinguished the sounds of hot and cold water. Accuracy increased with age; 11-year old's performance was similar to adults. Adults also showed individual differences in accuracy that were predicted by their amount of prior relevant experience (Experiment 1). Experience may similarly play a role in children's performance; differences in auditory sensitivity and multimodal integration may also contribute to young children's failures. The ability to hear water temperature develops slowly over childhood, such that nuanced auditory information that is easily and quickly accessible to adults is not available to guide young children's behavior. HIGHLIGHTS: Adults can make nuanced judgments from sound, including accurately judging the temperature of water from the sound of it being poured. Children showed protracted development of this skill over the course of middle childhood, such that 7-11-year-olds reliably succeeded while 3-6-year-olds performed at chance. Developmental changes may be due to experience (adults with greater relevant experience showed higher accuracy) and the development of multimodal integration and auditory sensitivity. Young children may not detect subtle auditory information that adults easily perceive.

Background: Studies indicate that 6% to 20% of feline patients have at least one dermatopathy. Hypothesis/Objective: This retrospective study aimed to provide comprehensive information about the types of skin diseases, diagnosis methods, treatments and follow‐up data in a hospital population of domestic cats in Iran. Animals/Materials and Methods: The present survey of clinical observations was conducted on the medical records of 1825 individual cats brought to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Iran) over a 12‐year period (2009–2020). Results: Feline dermatoses accounted for 154 (8.43%) of the 1,825 cats examined during the study period. The most prevalent dermatological manifestations in the studied population of 154 were erythema, macules, papules and/or pustules (36; 23.37%), alopecia (18; 11.68%) and erosive/ulcerative lesions (17; 11.03%). Specific dermatological diagnoses made were the following (in descending order, of 154): dermatophytosis (34; 22.07%), subcutaneous abscesses (16; 10.38%), atopic skin syndrome/environmental allergies (20; 10.38%), external parasites (15; 9.74%), otitis (10; 6.49%), flea infestation (6; 3.89%), food allergy (4; 2.59%) and primary pyoderma (2; 1.29%). Most lesions were observed in the head/face of cats (41 of 154; 26.62%) and their ears (39; 25.32%). Following treatment, 86 of 154 cats (69.35%) had complete remissions, 17 cats faced recurrent dermatoses and the owners of 21 cats were not satisfied. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: The prevalence of dermatoses among this cohort of Iranian cats is similar to that in other parts of the world. However, a noticeable difference was detected in the most prevalent dermatoses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the characteristics and outcomes of feline dermatological conditions in Iran. Background – Studies indicate that 6%–20% of feline patients have at least one dermatopathy. Objective – This retrospective study aimed to provide comprehensive information about the types of skin diseases, diagnosis methods, treatments and follow‐up data in a hospital population of domestic cats in Iran. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance – The prevalence of dermatoses among this cohort of Iranian cats is similar to that in other parts of the world. However, a noticeable difference was detected in the most prevalent dermatoses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the characteristics and outcomes of feline dermatological conditions in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are various reports of hidradenoma of cartilaginous part of external auricular canal (ear), but the documented evidence of occurrence of hidradenoma of pinna is seldom available in world literature, hence we report one such case. The patient was a 45-year female with a lump in the region of the posterior aspect of the pinna of the right ear for the past 6 months. No history of pain except for serous discharge from the lump. FNAC of the lump showed histological feature of hidradenoma. Wide surgical excision of the lump was done under local anaesthesia and sent for histopathological examination. HPE confirmed the diagnosis of Hidradenoma. She is on follow up, till date no sign of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilomatricoma is a benign adnexal neoplasm that has been associated with malignancy transformation. Yet, it is not considered as pre-malignant lesion. It is divided into pediatrics type and adult type on the age of occurrence and based on stage of presentation it can described as early and late. We hereby report a 16-year-old female patient with Early-Stage Pediatric Type Pilomatricoma of the Auricle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses bird-related eye injuries at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, from 2006 to 2022. The Australian magpie is known for aggressively swooping at perceived threats during breeding season, leading to conflicts with humans. The study found that bird-related eye injuries were rarely reported in the literature, with only 38 manuscripts describing such injuries in detail. However, at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, 687 patients were diagnosed with bird-related eye injuries during the study period. The most frequently identified bird species causing these injuries were magpies, followed by magpie-larks and domestic chickens. The study also noted seasonal trends in bird-related eye injuries, with peaks in May-July and October. The authors suggest that safety campaigns should begin earlier in the year to address these injuries. [Extracted from the article]

Over the course of a lifetime, the risk of experiencing multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity) increases, necessitating complex healthcare regimens. Healthcare that manages these requirements in an integrated way has been shown to be more effective than services that address specific diseases individually. One such chronic condition that often accompanies ageing is hearing loss and related symptoms, such as tinnitus. Hearing loss is not only highly prevalent in older adults but is also a leading cause of disability. Accumulating evidence demonstrates an interplay between auditory function and other aspects of health. For example, poorer cardiometabolic health profiles have been shown to increase the risk of hearing loss, which has been attributed to microvascular disruptions and neural degeneration. Additionally, hearing loss itself is associated with significantly increased odds of falling and is a potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Such evidence warrants consideration of new possibilities-a new horizon-for hearing care to develop a holistic, person-centred approach that promotes the overall health and wellbeing of the individual, as well as for audiology to be part of an interdisciplinary healthcare service. To achieve this holistic goal, audiologists and other hearing healthcare professionals should be aware of the range of conditions associated with hearing loss and be ready to make health promoting recommendations and referrals to the appropriate health practitioners. Likewise, healthcare professionals not trained in audiology should be mindful of their patients' hearing status, screening for hearing loss or referring them to a hearing specialist as required.

To obtain combined behavioural and electrophysiological measures of pitch perception, we presented harmonic complexes, bandpass filtered to contain only high-numbered harmonics, to normal-hearing listeners. These stimuli resemble bandlimited pulse trains and convey pitch using a purely temporal code. A core set of conditions consisted of six stimuli with baseline pulse rates of 94, 188 and 280 pps, filtered into a HIGH (3365-4755 Hz) or VHIGH (7800-10,800 Hz) region, alternating with a 36% higher pulse rate. Brainstem and cortical processing were measured using the frequency following response (FFR) and auditory change complex (ACC), respectively. Behavioural rate change difference limens (DLs) were measured by requiring participants to discriminate between a stimulus that changed rate twice (up-down or down-up) during its 750-ms presentation from a constant-rate pulse train. FFRs revealed robust brainstem phase locking whose amplitude decreased with increasing rate. Moderate-sized but reliable ACCs were obtained in response to changes in purely temporal pitch and, like the psychophysical DLs, did not depend consistently on the direction of rate change or on the pulse rate for baseline rates between 94 and 280 pps. ACCs were larger and DLs lower for stimuli in the HIGH than in the VHGH region. We argue that the ACC may be a useful surrogate for behavioural measures of rate discrimination, both for normal-hearing listeners and for cochlear-implant users. We also showed that rate DLs increased markedly when the baseline rate was reduced to 48 pps, and compared the behavioural and electrophysiological findings to recent cat data obtained with similar stimuli and methods.

Introduction:Accumulated and compacted ear wax or cerumen can cause conductive hearing loss, discomfort and vertigo, and infection. This study investigates the effect of Carbamide peroxide (CP) compared with Phenol glycerin (PG) ear drops on cerumen.Materials and Methods:This experimental study investigated the effect of PG and CP ear drops on cerumen in ex vivo and in vivo phases. In the ex vivo phase cerumen degredation was scored following PG and CP treatments. In the in vivo phase, 29 patients with bilateral cerumen impaction were randomly entered the study. PG and CP were applied 3 times a day (each time 5 drops) for 4 days by patients. After treatments, the time of cerumen removal was measured.Results:Instant changes showing degredation of cerumen (grade 1) was evident when it was exposed to CP, on the other hand degredation changes (grade 1) in cerumen treated with PG was only evident after 20 min incubation at 37 oC, while grade 3 degredation was evident in cerumen treated with CP after the same time incubation. Although the time needed for removal of cerumen was lower in CP treatment (54.10±31.77) compared to PG treatment (67.10±35.54), the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion:Based on the literature and our results, carbamide peroxide is suggested as a proper treatment for patients with EAC obstruction caused by cerumen compaction, because not only it is significantly effective in cerumen degredation, but also no side effects have been reported.

ABSTRACT Parasitic otitis in cattle is normally caused by nematodes of the genus Rhabditis spp. and is a common problem in Gir breed. Parasitic otitis can cause premature culling and even death of animals. Despite its importance, there is no effective standardized treatment protocol for this condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate two treatments for parasitic otitis caused by Rhabditis spp. in Gir cattle. The external left ear of the animals was washed with 2% boricated alcohol, while the right ear received topical application of Triclorfon, allantoin and zinc oxide paste. The treatments were performed weekly in the first month and monthly over the next two months. Monthly, the ears of all animals were washed under pressure with a physiological solution before treatment. The recovered solution was analyzed, and the number of nematodes counted. Neither treatment was effective in reducing the number of nematodes recovered or the otitis score, but weekly treatment seemed more promising, independent of the drug used.

Background & Aims: Headache has been a common problem for humans since ancient times. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ear, nose, and throat diseases in patients with headache. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we reviewed medical records of 100 patients presenting with headache to the ENT clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia, Iran, between 2019 and 2021. The type of headache (primary or secondary) was diagnosed based on medical history, clinical examinations, and paraclinical examinations (CT scan) and completion of a checklist for each patient. Chi-square and independent t-tests were used to analyze data. The p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of 100 patients, 58 (58%) had primary headaches with a mean age of 1.72 ± 4.77 years, and 42 (42%) had secondary headaches with a mean age of 5.57 ± 1.43 years (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the type of headache and location of pain in patients except for the back of the head and the top of the head (p < 0.05). Of the 58 patients with primary headaches, 26 (44.8%), and of the 42 patients with secondary headaches, 10 (23.8%) woke up from sleep due to headache (p < 0.03). Of the 58 patients with primary headaches, 38 (65.5%), and of the 42 patients with secondary headaches, 12 (28.6%) had their headache worsened by light and noise (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Of all patients, 42% had secondary headaches, which most commonly had symptoms of sinus pain. These patients were treated by an otolaryngologist. Patients with non-sinus headaches were referred to a neurologist.

Background/objectiveTo compare functional hearing and tinnitus outcomes in treated large (~ 3 cm) vestibular schwannoma (VS) and posterior fossa meningioma cohorts, and construct willingness-to-accept profiles for an experimental brain implant to treat unilateral hearing loss.MethodsA two-way MANOVA model with two independent variables (tumor type; time from treatment) and three dependent variables (hearing effort of tumor ear; abbreviated Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ12); Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)) was used to analyze data from VS (N = 32) and meningioma (N = 50) patients who were treated at a tertiary care center between 2010 and 2020. A query to probe acceptance of experimental treatment for hearing loss relative to expected benefit was used to construct willingness-to-accept profiles.ResultsTumor type was statistically significant on the combined dependent variables analysis (F[3, 76] = 19.172, p  2 years) (p ≤ .017). At the 60% speech understanding level, 77% of respondents would accept an experimental brain implant.ConclusionHearing outcome is better for posterior fossa meningioma compared to VS. Most patients with hearing loss in the tumor ear would consider a brain implant if the benefit level would be comparable to a cochlear implant.Level of evidence2.

Mitochondria are highly dynamic multifaceted organelles with various functions including cellular energy metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, calcium homeostasis, and apoptosis. Because of these diverse functions, mitochondria are key regulators of cell survival and death, and their dysfunction is implicated in numerous diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Huntington's Disease. One of the most common neurodegenerative disorders is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). SNHL primarily originates from the degenerative changes in the cochlea, which is the auditory portion of the inner ear. Many cochlear cells contain an abundance of mitochondria and are metabolically highly active, rendering them susceptible to mitochondrial dysfunction. Indeed, the causal role of mitochondrial dysfunction in SNHL progression is well established, and therefore, targeted for treatment. In this review, we aim to compile the emerging findings in the literature indicating the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the progression of sensorineural hearing loss and highlight potential therapeutics targeting mitochondrial dysfunction for hearing loss treatment.

Importance: In a patient-centered field such as plastic surgery, patient-reported satisfaction can measure the success and value of surgery, since it is not uncommon for patient and surgeon assessments to differ. Currently, there is no standard for evaluating patient-reported satisfaction postauricular reconstruction. Objective: To systematically review the literature regarding patient-reported satisfaction postauricular reconstruction in microtia patients. Evidence Review: The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed. Studies documenting patient-reported satisfaction postauricular reconstruction in microtia patients were included. All techniques for ear reconstruction have been included in this review. Findings: Nineteen studies utilizing autologous reconstruction technique, comprising 3694 patients, met inclusion criteria. No standardized patient satisfaction assessment was used throughout the studies, indicating criteria variability to measure outcomes. Auricular substructure analysis highlighted lower patient satisfaction with the tragus and antitragus compared with the upper units. In addition, satisfaction depended on patient perception, not on a low surgical complication rate. Conclusions: There is a clear need to incorporate a standardized validated surgery-specific questionnaire related to patient satisfaction in the auricular reconstruction protocol.

Migraine headaches frequently coexist with vestibular symptoms such as vertigo, motion sickness, and gait instability. Migraine-related vasospasm can also damage the inner ear, which results in symptoms such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss and resultant tinnitus. The pathophysiology of these symptoms is not yet fully understood, and despite their prevalence, there is no universally approved management. This review summarizes the data on complementary and integrative medicine in treating patients with migrainous ear disorders.

Due to the limited capacity of mammals to regenerate complex tissues, researchers have worked to understand the mechanisms of tissue regeneration in organisms that maintain that capacity. One example is the MRL/MpJ mouse strain with unique regenerative capacity in ear pinnae that is absent from other strains, such as the common C57BL/6 strain. The MRL/MpJ mouse has also been associated with an autoimmune phenotype even in the absence of the mutant Fas gene described in its parent strain MRL/lpr. Due to these findings, the differences between the responses of MRL/MpJ versus C57BL/6 strain are evaluated in volumetric muscle injury and subsequent material implantation. One salient feature of the MRL/MpJ response to injury is robust adipogenesis within the muscle. This is associated with a decrease in M2‐like polarization in response to biologically derived extracellular matrix scaffolds. In pro‐fibrotic materials, such as polyethylene, there are fewer foreign body giant cells in the MRL/MpJ mice. As there are reports of both positive and negative influences of adipose tissue and adipogenesis on wound healing, this model can provide an important lens to investigate the interplay between stem cells, adipose tissue, and immune responses in trauma and material implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on autonomic responses to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and osteopathic manipulative techniques have been equivocal, partly due to inconsistent interpretation of heart rate variability (HRV). We developed a mechanistic framework for the interpretation of HRV based on a model of sinus node automaticity that considers autonomic effects on Phase 3 repolarization and Phase 4 depolarization of the sinoatrial action potential. The model was applied to HRV parameters calculated from ECG recordings (healthy adult humans, both genders) before (30 min), during (15 min), and after (30 min) a time control intervention (rest, n = 23), taVNS (10 Hz, 300 μs, 1–2 mA, cymba concha, left ear, n = 12), or occipitoatlantal decompression (OA‐D, n = 14). The experimental protocol was repeated on 3 consecutive days. The model simulation revealed that low frequency (LF) HRV best predicts sympathetic tone when calculated from heart rate time series, while high frequency (HF) HRV best predicts parasympathetic tone when calculated from heart period time series. Applying our model to the HRV responses to taVNS and OA‐D, revealed that taVNS increases cardiac parasympathetic tone, while OA‐D elicits a mild decrease in cardiac sympathetic tone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new spleenwort species, Asplenium guodanum, was found and described from Danxia landform region in Guangdong, China. The new species has close resemblance to A. subcrenatum Ching ex S.H.Wu in morphology, but can be distinguished by having plants small, stipes and rachises not covered with fibrous scales, relatively fewer pairs of pinnae, pinnae short, pinna margin weakly biserrate, pinna apex acute and lower pinnae obviously reduced. Phylogenetic analyses, based on six plastid markers (atpB, rbcL, rps4 & rps4-trnS and trnL & trnL-F) of the new species and its relatives, support a close relationship between A. guodanum and A. subcrenatum. Only one population with no more than 50 individuals were found and, therefore, it is recommended to be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN Red List Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impatiens beipanjiangensis Jian Xu & H. F. Hu (Balsaminaceae), a new species of Impatiens subg. Clavicarpa discovered in Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated in this study along with its molecular phylogenetic analysis. I. beipanjiangensis is similar to I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis and I. clavigera in morphology, but I. tubulosa has the closest relationship to it. However, there are various ways in which the new species can be easily distinguished from these four species: Inferior nodes swollen rhizoid, pale green and with hooked outer sepals, longer lateral united petals, subovate auricle, deeper lower sepal and shorter spur that is reflexed towards the lower sepal. Furthermore, I. beipanjiangensis is distinguished from other Impatiens species, based on morphological, micromorphological and palynological evidence and molecular data (PP 0.967). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of bat species have developed remarkable echolocation ability, especially for the laryngeally echolocating bats along with high-frequency hearing. Adaptive evolution has been widely detected for the cochleae in the laryngeally echolocating bats, however, limited understanding for the brain which is the central to echolocation signal processing in the auditory perception system, the laryngeally echolocating bats brain may also undergo adaptive changes. Result: In order to uncover the molecular adaptations related with high-frequency hearing in the brain of laryngeally echolocating bats, the genes expressed in the brain of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (CF bat) and Myotis pilosus (FM bat) were both detected and also compared. A total of 346,891 genes were detected and the signal transduction mechanisms were annotated by the most abundant genes, followed by the transcription. In hence, there were 3,088 DEGs were found between the two bat brains, with 1,426 highly expressed in the brain of R. ferrumequinum, which were significantly enriched in the neuron and neurodevelopmental processes. Moreover, we found a key candidate hearing gene, ADCY1, playing an important role in the R. ferrumequinum brain and undergoing adaptive evolution in CF bats. Conclusions: Our study provides a new insight to the molecular bases of high-frequency hearing in two laryngeally echolocating bats brain and revealed different nervous system activities during auditory perception in the brain of CF bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Oral cavity bacteria are the most frequent etiology of brain abscess. Yet, data on the clinical presentation and outcome are scarce. Methods We performed a nationwide, population-based study comprising all adults (aged ≥18 years) with brain abscess due to oral cavity bacteria in Denmark from 2007 through 2020. Prognostic factors for unfavorable outcome (Glasgow outcome scale, 1–4) were examined using modified Poisson regression to compute adjusted relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Among 287 identified patients, the median age was 58 years (interquartile range, 47–66), and 96 of 287 (33%) were female. Preexisting functional impairment was absent or mild in 253 of 280 (90%), and risk factors for brain abscess included immunocompromise in 95 of 287 (33%), dental infection in 68 of 287 (24%), and ear–nose–throat infection in 33 of 287 (12%). Overall, a neurological deficit was present in 246 of 276 (86%) and in combination with headache and fever in 64 of 287 (22%). Identified microorganisms were primarily the Streptococcus anginosus group, Fusobacterium , Actinomyces , and Aggregatibacter spp. and 117 of 287 (41%) were polymicrobial. Unfavorable outcome occurred in 92 of 246 (37%) at 6 months after discharge and was associated with antibiotics before neurosurgery (RR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.53–7.04), rupture (RR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.34–2.65), and immunocompromise (RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.29–2.51), but not with specific targeted antibiotic regimens. Identified dental infection was associated with favorable prognosis (RR, 0.58; 95% CI,.36–.93). Conclusions Brain abscess due to oral cavity bacteria often occurred in previously healthy individuals without predisposing dental infections. Important risk factors for unfavorable outcome were rupture and immunocompromise. However, outcome was not associated with specific antibiotic regimens supporting carbapenem-sparing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preserved communication abilities promote healthy ageing. To this end, the age-typical loss of sensory acuity might in part be compensated for by an individual's preserved attentional neural filtering. Is such a compensatory brain-behaviour link longitudinally stable? Can it predict individual change in listening behaviour? We here show that individual listening behaviour and neural filtering ability follow largely independent developmental trajectories modelling electroencephalographic and behavioural data of N = 105 ageing individuals (39-82 y). First, despite the expected decline in hearing-threshold-derived sensory acuity, listening-task performance proved stable over 2 y. Second, neural filtering and behaviour were correlated only within each separate measurement timepoint (T1, T2). Longitudinally, however, our results raise caution on attention-guided neural filtering metrics as predictors of individual trajectories in listening behaviour: neither neural filtering at T1 nor its 2-year change could predict individual 2-year behavioural change, under a combination of modelling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extrusion of electrodes outside the cochlea and tip fold overs may lead to suboptimal outcomes in cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Intraoperative measures such as Trans-Impedance Matrix (TIM) measurements may enable clinicians to identify electrode malposition and direct surgeons to correctly place the electrode array during surgery. Objectives: To assess the current literature on the effectiveness of TIM measurements in identifying extracochlear electrodes and tip fold overs. Methods: A scoping review of studies on TIM-based measurements were carried out using the Databases-Medline/PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library following PRISMA guidelines. Eleven full texts articles met the inclusion criteria. Only human studies pertaining to TIM as a tool used in CI were included in the review. Further, patient characteristics, electrode design, and TIM measurement outcomes were reported. Results: TIM measurements were available for 550 implanted ears with the subjects age ranged between 9 months to 89 years. Abnormal TIM measurements were reported for 6.55% (36). Tip fold over was detected in 3.64% (20) of the cases, extracochlear electrodes in 1.45% (8), and 1.45% (8) were reported as buckling. Slim-modiolar electrode array designs were more common (54.71%) than pre-curved (23.34%) or lateral wall (21.95%) electrode array. Abnormal cochlear anatomy was reported for five ears (0.89%), with normal cochlear anatomy for all other patients. Conclusion: TIM measurement is a promising tool for the intraoperative detection of electrode malposition. TIM measurement has a potential to replace intraoperative imaging in future. Though, TIM measurement is in its early stages of clinical utility, intuitive normative data sets coupled with standardised criteria for detection of abnormal electrode positioning would enhance its sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language comprehension involves integrating low-level sensory inputs into a hierarchy of increasingly high-level features. Prior work studied brain representations of different levels of the language hierarchy, but has not determined whether these brain representations are shared between written and spoken language. To address this issue, we analyze fMRI BOLD data that were recorded while participants read and listened to the same narratives in each modality. Levels of the language hierarchy are operationalized as timescales, where each timescale refers to a set of spectral components of a language stimulus. Voxelwise encoding models are used to determine where different timescales are represented across the cerebral cortex, for each modality separately. These models reveal that between the two modalities timescale representations are organized similarly across the cortical surface. Our results suggest that, after low-level sensory processing, language integration proceeds similarly regardless of stimulus modality. An fMRI study of English language comprehension suggests that cortical representations of language timescales are organized in the same way during reading and listening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]