Aspergillus flavus pangenome (AflaPan) uncovers novel aflatoxin and secondary metabolite associated gene clusters.

BACKGROUND: Aspergillus flavus is an important agricultural and food safety threat due to its production of carcinogenic aflatoxins. It has high level of genetic diversity that is adapted to various environments. Recently, we reported two reference genomes of A. flavus isolates, AF13 (MAT1-2 and highly aflatoxigenic isolate) and NRRL3357 (MAT1-1 and moderate aflatoxin producer). Where, an insertion of 310 kb in AF13 included an aflatoxin producing gene bZIP transcription factor, named atfC. Observations of significant genomic variants between these isolates of contrasting phenotypes prompted an investigation into variation among other agricultural isolates of A. flavus with the goal of discovering novel genes potentially associated with aflatoxin production regulation. Present study was designed with three main objectives: (1) collection of large number of A. flavus isolates from diverse sources including maize plants and field soils; (2) whole genome sequencing of collected isolates and development of a pangenome; and (3) pangenome-wide association study (Pan-GWAS) to identify novel secondary metabolite cluster genes. RESULTS: Pangenome analysis of 346 A. flavus isolates identified a total of 17,855 unique orthologous gene clusters, with mere 41% (7,315) core genes and 59% (10,540) accessory genes indicating accumulation of high genomic diversity during domestication. 5,994 orthologous gene clusters in accessory genome not annotated in either the A. flavus AF13 or NRRL3357 reference genomes. Pan-genome wide association analysis of the genomic variations identified 391 significant associated pan-genes associated with aflatoxin production. Interestingly, most of the significantly associated pan-genes (94%; 369 associations) belonged to accessory genome indicating that genome expansion has resulted in the incorporation of new genes associated with aflatoxin and other secondary metabolites. CONCLUSION: In summary, this study provides complete pangenome framework for the species of Aspergillus flavus along with associated genes for pathogen survival and aflatoxin production. The large accessory genome indicated large genome diversity in the species A. flavus, however AflaPan is a closed pangenome represents optimum diversity of species A. flavus. Most importantly, the newly identified aflatoxin producing gene clusters will be a new source for seeking aflatoxin mitigation strategies and needs new attention in research.

Quantum Spectral Analysis by Continuous Measurement of Landau-Zener Transitions.

We demonstrate the simultaneous estimation of signal frequency and amplitude by a single quantum sensor in a single experimental shot. Sweeping the qubit splitting linearly across a span of frequencies induces a nonadiabatic Landau-Zener transition as the qubit crosses resonance. The signal frequency determines the time of the transition, and the amplitude its extent. Continuous weak measurement of this unitary evolution informs a parameter estimator retrieving precision measurements of frequency and amplitude. Implemented on radio-frequency-dressed ultracold atoms read out by a Faraday spin-light interface, we sense a magnetic signal with estimated sensitivities to amplitude of 11 pT/sqrt[Hz], frequency 0.026 Hz/Hz^{3/2}, and phase 0.084 rad/sqrt[Hz], in a single 300 ms sweep from 7 to 13 kHz. The protocol realizes a swept-sine quantum spectrum analyzer, potentially sensing hundreds or thousands of channels with a single quantum sensor.

High-dimensional multivariate autoregressive model estimation of human electrophysiological data using fMRI priors.

Multivariate autoregressive (MVAR) model estimation enables assessment of causal interactions in brain networks. However, accurately estimating MVAR models for high-dimensional electrophysiological recordings is challenging due to the extensive data requirements. Hence, the applicability of MVAR models for study of brain behavior over hundreds of recording sites has been very limited. Prior work has focused on different strategies for selecting a subset of important MVAR coefficients in the model to reduce the data requirements of conventional least-squares estimation algorithms. Here we propose incorporating prior information, such as resting state functional connectivity derived from functional magnetic resonance imaging, into MVAR model estimation using a weighted group least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularization strategy. The proposed approach is shown to reduce data requirements by a factor of two relative to the recently proposed group LASSO method of Endemann et al (Neuroimage 254:119057, 2022) while resulting in models that are both more parsimonious and more accurate. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated using simulation studies of physiologically realistic MVAR models derived from intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data. The robustness of the approach to deviations between the conditions under which the prior information and iEEG data is obtained is illustrated using models from data collected in different sleep stages. This approach allows accurate effective connectivity analyses over short time scales, facilitating investigations of causal interactions in the brain underlying perception and cognition during rapid transitions in behavioral state.

Evaluating earwitness identification procedures: adapting pre-parade instructions and parade procedure.

Voice identification parades can be unreliable, as earwitness responses are error-prone. In this paper we tested performance across serial and sequential procedures, and varied pre-parade instructions, with the aim of reducing errors. The participants heard a target voice and later attempted to identify it from a parade. In Experiment 1 they were either warned that the target may or may not be present (standard warning) or encouraged to consider responding "not present" because of the associated risk of a wrongful conviction (strong warning). Strong warnings prompted a conservative criterion shift, with participants less likely to make a positive identification regardless of whether the target was present. In contrast to previous findings, we found no statistically reliable difference in accuracy between serial and sequential parades. Experiment 2 ruled out a potential confound in Experiment 1. Taken together, our results suggest that adapting pre-parade instructions provides a simple way of reducing the risk of false identifications.

We have to stand up for ourselves: Barriers to self-determination experienced by Black youth in the transition to adulthood.

Transition outcomes for Black youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities are especially dire, lagging even further behind already poor outcomes among their White peers. Self-determination is a key factor in predicting better outcomes, but it is unclear how self-determination is fostered or hindered within the transition process for Black youth and their families. This study used the DisCrit framework to analyze interview data from Black students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their parents regarding self-determination and effective transition services. Analysis resulted in four major themes: historical undertones, proxies for racial bias, spacialization of racialization, and interest convergence. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Size-Dependent Properties of Solution-Processable Conductive MOF Nanocrystals.

The diverse optical, magnetic, and electronic behaviors of most colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals emerge from materials with limited structural and elemental compositions. Conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess rich compositions with complex architectures but remain unexplored as nanocrystals, hindering their incorporation into scalable devices. Here, we report the controllable synthesis of conductive MOF nanoparticles based on Fe(1,2,3-triazolate)2. Sizes can be tuned to as small as 5.5 nm, ensuring indefinite colloidal stability. These solution-processable MOFs can be analyzed by solution-state spectroscopy and electrochemistry and cast into conductive thin films with excellent uniformity. This unprecedented analysis of MOF materials reveals a strong size dependence in optical and electronic behaviors sensitive to the intrinsic porosity and guest-host interactions of MOFs. These results provide a radical departure from typical MOF characterization, enabling insights into physical properties otherwise impossible with bulk analogues while offering a roadmap for the future of MOF nanoparticle synthesis and device fabrication.

Tuning Supercurrent in Josephson Field-Effect Transistors Using h-BN Dielectric.

Epitaxial Al-InAs heterostructures appear as a promising materials platform for exploring mesoscopic and topological superconductivity. A unique property of Josephson junction field effect transistors (JJ-FETs) fabricated on these heterostructures is the ability to tune the supercurrent using a metallic gate. Here, we report the fabrication and measurement of gate-tunable Al-InAs JJ-FETs in which the gate dielectric in contact with the InAs is produced by mechanically exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) followed by dry transfer. We discuss a versatile fabrication process that enables compatibility between layered material transfer and Al-InAs heterostructures that allows us to achieve full gate-tunability of supercurrent by using only 5 nm thick h-BN flakes. Our study shows that pristine properties of epitaxial Josephson junctions, such as product of normal resistance and critical current, IcRn, are preserved. Furthermore, complementary measurements confirm that using h-BN dielectric changes the channel density less when compared to atomic layer deposition of Al2O3.

Substrate recognition and mechanism revealed by ligand-bound polyphosphate kinase 2 structures.

Inorganic polyphosphate is a ubiquitous, linear biopolymer built of up to thousands of phosphate residues that are linked by energy-rich phosphoanhydride bonds. Polyphosphate kinases of the family 2 (PPK2) use polyphosphate to catalyze the reversible phosphorylation of nucleotide phosphates and are highly relevant as targets for new pharmaceutical compounds and as biocatalysts for cofactor regeneration. PPK2s can be classified based on their preference for nucleoside mono- or diphosphates or both. The detailed mechanism of PPK2s and the molecular basis for their substrate preference is unclear, which is mainly due to the lack of high-resolution structures with substrates or substrate analogs. Here, we report the structural analysis and comparison of a class I PPK2 (ADP-phosphorylating) and a class III PPK2 (AMP- and ADP-phosphorylating), both complexed with polyphosphate and/or nucleotide substrates. Together with complementary biochemical analyses, these define the molecular basis of nucleotide specificity and are consistent with a Mg2+ catalyzed in-line phosphoryl transfer mechanism. This mechanistic insight will guide the development of PPK2 inhibitors as potential antibacterials or genetically modified PPK2s that phosphorylate alternative substrates.

Drivers of Hospital Readmission and Early Liver Transplant after Kasai Portoenterostomy.

BACKGROUND: Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) remains the first-line operation for patients with biliary atresia (BA), but ultimately fails in up to 60% of cases. This study sought to identify factors contributing to hospital readmission and early liver transplant. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2014 was used to identify patients with BA who underwent KPE on index admission. Patient factors, hospital characteristics, and complications of BA were compared by readmission rates and rate of liver transplant within 1 y. The results were weighted for national estimates. RESULTS: Nine hundred and sixty three patients were identified. The readmission rate within 30-d was 36% (n = 346) and within 1-y was 67% (n = 647). Only 9% (n = 90) received a liver transplant within a year. The most common complications after KPE were cholangitis in 58%, decompensated cirrhosis in 54%, and recurrent jaundice in 34%. Male patients (OR 1.5, P = 0.02) with comorbid gastrointestinal anomalies (OR 2.1, P < 0.01) from lower income households (OR 4.6, P < 0.01) and early development of cirrhosis (OR 3.0, P < 0.01) were more likely to be readmitted. Liver transplant was more common in men (OR 4.0, P < 0.01) and those from lower income households (OR 5.2, P < 0.01) with decompensated cirrhosis (OR 8.6, P < 0.01), cholangitis (OR 5.0, P < 0.01), or sepsis (OR 5.7, P < 0.01) on index admission. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nationwide study to evaluate readmissions in patients with BA undergoing KPE. Although KPE is a lifesaving procedure, hospital readmission rates are high and complications are common. Cholangitis, early progression of cirrhosis, and infections are highly associated with readmission and failure of KPE.

A Comparison of sun, ovate, fs8.1 and Auxin Application on Tomato Fruit Shape and Gene Expression.

Elongated tomato fruit shape is the result of the action of the fruit shape genes possibly in coordination with the phytohormone auxin. To investigate the possible link between auxin and the fruit shape genes, a series of auxin (2,4-D) treatments were performed on the wild-type and the fruit shape near-isogenic lines (NILs) in Solanum pimpinellifolium accession LA1589 background. Morphological and histological analyses indicated that auxin application approximately 3 weeks before anthesis led to elongated pear-shaped ovaries and fruits, which was mainly attributed to the increase of ovary/fruit proximal end caused by the increase of both cell number and cell size. Fruit shape changes caused by SUN, OVATE and fs8.1 were primarily due to the alterations of cell number along different growth axes. Particularly, SUN caused elongation by extending cell number along the entire proximal-distal axis, whereas OVATE caused fruit elongation in the proximal area, which was most similar to the effect of auxin on ovary shape. Expression analysis of flower buds at different stages in fruit shape NILs indicated that SUN had a stronger impact on the transcriptome than OVATE and fs8.1. The sun NIL differentially expressed genes were enriched in several biological processes, such as lipid metabolism, ion transmembrane and actin cytoskeleton organization. Additionally, SUN also shifted the expression of the auxin-related genes, including those involved in auxin biosynthesis, homeostasis, signal transduction and polar transport, indicating that SUN may regulate ovary/fruit shape through modifying the expression of auxin-related genes very early during the formation of the ovary in the developing flower.

Low thoracic erector spinae plane block for perioperative analgesia in lumbosacral spine surgery: a case series.

PURPOSE: Severe postoperative pain following spine surgery is a significant cause of morbidity, extended length of facility stay, and marked opioid usage. The erector spinae plane (ESP) block anesthetizes the dorsal rami of spinal nerves that innervate the paraspinal muscles and bony vertebra. We describe the use of low thoracic ESP blocks as part of multimodal analgesia in lumbosacral spine surgery. CLINICAL FEATURES: We performed bilateral ESP blocks at the T10 or T12 level in six cases of lumbosacral spine surgery: three lumbar decompressions, two sacral laminoplasties, and one coccygectomy. Following induction of general anesthesia, single-injection ESP blocks were performed in three patients while bilateral continuous ESP block catheters were placed in the remaining three. All six patients had minimal postoperative pain and very low postoperative opioid requirements. There was no discernible motor or sensory block in any of the cases and no interference with intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring used in two of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The ESP block can contribute significantly to a perioperative multimodal opioid-sparing analgesic regimen and enhance recovery after lumbosacral spine surgery.

Network Analyses Reveal Shifts in Transcript Profiles and Metabolites That Accompany the Expression of SUN and an Elongated Tomato Fruit.

SUN controls elongated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) shape early in fruit development through changes in cell number along the different axes of growth. The gene encodes a member of the IQ domain family characterized by a calmodulin binding motif. To gain insights into the role of SUN in regulating organ shape, we characterized genome-wide transcriptional changes and metabolite and hormone accumulation after pollination and fertilization in wild-type and SUN fruit tissues. Pericarp, seed/placenta, and columella tissues were collected at 4, 7, and 10 d post anthesis. Pairwise comparisons between SUN and the wild type identified 3,154 significant differentially expressed genes that cluster in distinct gene regulatory networks. Gene regulatory networks that were enriched for cell division, calcium/transport, lipid/hormone, cell wall, secondary metabolism, and patterning processes contributed to profound shifts in gene expression in the different fruit tissues as a consequence of high expression of SUN. Promoter motif searches identified putative cis-elements recognized by known transcription factors and motifs related to mitotic-specific activator sequences. Hormone levels did not change dramatically, but some metabolite levels were significantly altered, namely participants in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Also, hormone and primary metabolite networks shifted in SUN compared with wild-type fruit. Our findings imply that SUN indirectly leads to changes in gene expression, most strongly those involved in cell division, cell wall, and patterning-related processes. When evaluating global coregulation in SUN fruit, the main node represented genes involved in calcium-regulated processes, suggesting that SUN and its calmodulin binding domain impact fruit shape through calcium signaling.

Vascular responsiveness determined by near-infrared spectroscopy measures of oxygen saturation.

Vascular impairments at the macro- and microcirculatory levels are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is currently the most widely used method for non-invasive assessment of vascular endothelial function. Recently, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived measures of tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) have been used to characterize the dynamic response of local tissue perfusion to a brief period of ischaemia. The purpose of the present study was to establish correlations between the reperfusion rate of StO2 and FMD. Ultrasound-derived FMD was quantified after 5 min of distal cuff occlusion of the popliteal artery in 20 healthy young men (26 ± 3 years old). Triplicate measurements of end-diastolic arterial diameter were made every 15 s after cuff release, and FMD response was calculated as the greatest percentage change in diameter from baseline (%FMD). The StO2 was measured using NIRS throughout the duration of each test. Two consecutive FMD tests were performed, separated by 30 min of rest, and were averaged for %FMD and StO2. The %FMD was significantly correlated with the reperfusion slope of StO2 after cuff release (slope 2 StO2; r = 0.63, P = 0.003). In conclusion, the present study established a correlation between slope 2 StO2 and %FMD in healthy young men. These data suggest that NIRS-derived slope 2 StO2 can be used as a measure of vascular endothelial function.

Candidate gene selection and detailed morphological evaluations of fs8.1, a quantitative trait locus controlling tomato fruit shape.

fs8.1 is a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) that controls the elongated shape of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit. In this study, we fine-mapped the locus from a 47Mb to a 3.03Mb interval on the long arm of chromosome 8. Of the 122 annotated genes found in the fs8.1 region, 51 were expressed during floral development and six were differentially expressed in anthesis-stage ovaries in fs8.1 and wild-type (WT) lines. To identify possible nucleotide polymorphisms that may underlie the fruit shape phenotype, genome sequence analyses between tomato cultivars carrying the mutant and WT allele were conducted. This led to the identification of 158 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and five small indels in the fs8.1 interval, including 31 that could be associated with changes in gene expression or function. Morphological and histological analyses showed that the effects of fs8.1 were mainly on reproductive organ elongation by increasing cell number in the proximal-distal direction. Fruit weight was also increased in fs8.1 compared with WT, which was predominantly attributed to the increased fruit length. By combining the findings from the different analyses, we consider 12 likely candidate genes to underlie fs8.1, including Solyc08g062580 encoding a pentatricopeptide repeat protein, Solyc08g061560 encoding a putative orthologue of ERECTA, which is known to control fruit morphology and inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis, Solyc08g061910 encoding a GTL2-like trihelix transcription factor, Solyc08g061930 encoding a protein that regulates cytokinin degradation, and two genes, Solyc08g062340 and Solyc08g062450, encoding 17.6kDa class II small heat-shock proteins.

World peace, to be a millionaire, and hoop dreams: adolescent wishes on health screening surveys.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to learn the wishes of young adolescents via an open-ended survey question and to determine the association of these wishes with sociodemographic variables. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of consecutive adolescents aged 11-14 years who had a well-child visit at a clinic with a diverse patient population, who completed a Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS) previsit health questionnaire, and who answered the question, "If you could have three wishes come true, what would they be?" Responses to this question were double-coded according to thematic content and whether wishes were for self, others, or both. RESULTS: Among 96 respondents, wishes for others were listed more frequently by girls than by boys (54% versus 31%; P = .02). Girls also had more family-oriented wish themes (27% versus 10%; P = .04). Boys were more likely to wish for success (17% versus 4%; P = .05). Among respondents with private insurance, 45% wished for the good for the world, with responses such as "world peace"; only 12% of respondents with Medicaid wished for the good of the world (P = .01). No statistically significant differences were identified by race/ethnicity or age. Positive future orientation themes such as career were not as prioritized as previously suggested in the literature. LIMITATIONS: The sample population derives from a single university-based clinic in North Carolina; while diverse, this population may not be representative of larger groups. CONCLUSIONS: Many wishes seemed predictable (ie, for wealth, athleticism), but occasionally wishes were poignant and original ("to have papers for my parents to pass the border"); this finding reinforces the value of listening to adolescents' wishes. Both sex and insurance status were related to wish themes. Further research should determine how knowledge of adolescents' wishes can be used to best direct individual care.

Using intentional emergence to dethrone the sage on the stage.

Intentional emergence (IE) as a pedagogy centers students in learning and calls for the educator or facilitator to take a different role. It is important for educators to mindfully regulate their presence in the classroom to allow students to notice the role of authority in leadership practice. This article provides recommendations for productive learning when authority is de-centered and learners are encouraged to take up their authority. Facilitators who reflect and consider their identities and the identities of their participants will be more prepared for what emerges in the classroom. Finally, educators center student learning by intentionally creating a safe container before giving back the work to students in meaningful ways, allowing themselves to take a backseat and observe students exercising leadership.

Face Feature Change Detection Ability in Developmental Prosopagnosia and Super-Recognisers.

In non-clinical populations, facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) may vary in their contribution to face identity perception. Changes to whole faces are easier to detect than changes to individual features, and eye changes are typically easier to detect than mouth changes, which in turn are easier to detect than nose changes. However, how this differs for people with face recognition difficulties (developmental prosopagnosia; DP) and for individuals with superior face recognition abilities (super-recognisers; SR) is not clear; although findings from previous studies have suggested differences, the nature of this difference is not understood. The aim of this study was to examine whether differences in the ability to detect feature changes in DPs and SRs were (a) quantitative, meaning that the pattern across feature changes remained the same but there was an overall upwards or downwards shift in performance, or (b) qualitative, meaning that the pattern across feature changes was different. Using a change detection task in which individual face features (eyes, nose, mouth) changed between sequentially presented faces, we found that while prosopagnosics showed a quantitative difference in performance with a downwards shift across all conditions, super-recognisers only showed qualitative differences: they were better able to detect when the face was the same and were marginally (but not non-significantly) worse at detecting when the eyes changed. Further, the only condition which distinguished between the three groups was the ability to identify when the same face was presented, with SRs being better than controls, and controls being better than DPs. Our findings suggest that, in feature-matching tasks, differences for DPs are due to them being overall worse at the task, while SRs use a qualitatively different strategy.

CRISPR-GEM: A Novel Machine Learning Model for CRISPR Genetic Target Discovery and Evaluation.

CRISPR gene editing strategies are shaping cell therapies through precise and tunable control over gene expression. However, achieving reliable therapeutic effects with improved safety and efficacy requires informed target gene selection. This depends on a thorough understanding of the involvement of target genes in gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that regulate cell phenotype and function. Machine learning models have been previously used for GRN reconstruction using RNA-seq data, but current techniques are limited to single cell types and focus mainly on transcription factors. This restriction overlooks many potential CRISPR target genes, such as those encoding extracellular matrix components, growth factors, and signaling molecules, thus limiting the applicability of these models for CRISPR strategies. To address these limitations, we have developed CRISPR-GEM, a multi-layer perceptron (MLP)-based synthetic GRN constructed to accurately predict the downstream effects of CRISPR gene editing. First, input and output nodes are identified as differentially expressed genes between defined experimental and target cell/tissue types respectively. Then, MLP training learns regulatory relationships in a black-box approach allowing accurate prediction of output gene expression using only input gene expression. Finally, CRISPR-mimetic perturbations are made to each input gene individually and the resulting model predictions are compared to those for the target group to score and assess each input gene as a CRISPR candidate. The top scoring genes provided by CRISPR-GEM therefore best modulate experimental group GRNs to motivate transcriptomic shifts towards a target group phenotype. This machine learning model is the first of its kind for predicting optimal CRISPR target genes and serves as a powerful tool for enhanced CRISPR strategies across a range of cell therapies.

Face masks and fake masks: the effect of real and superimposed masks on face matching with super-recognisers, typical observers, and algorithms.

Mask wearing has been required in various settings since the outbreak of COVID-19, and research has shown that identity judgements are difficult for faces wearing masks. To date, however, the majority of experiments on face identification with masked faces tested humans and computer algorithms using images with superimposed masks rather than images of people wearing real face coverings. In three experiments we test humans (control participants and super-recognisers) and algorithms with images showing different types of face coverings. In all experiments we tested matching concealed or unconcealed faces to an unconcealed reference image, and we found a consistent decrease in face matching accuracy with masked compared to unconcealed faces. In Experiment 1, typical human observers were most accurate at face matching with unconcealed images, and poorer for three different types of superimposed mask conditions. In Experiment 2, we tested both typical observers and super-recognisers with superimposed and real face masks, and found that performance was poorer for real compared to superimposed masks. The same pattern was observed in Experiment 3 with algorithms. Our results highlight the importance of testing both humans and algorithms with real face masks, as using only superimposed masks may underestimate their detrimental effect on face identification.

Diagnostic Power and Reproducibility of Objective Perimetry in Glaucoma.

PRCIS: An objective perimetry method provides four 30-2 style reports in 8 minutes. These comprise sensitivity and delay reports for both eyes. A combined report format shows comparable diagnostic power to two forms of automated perimetry. PURPOSE: To compare objective perimetry with two forms of standard automated perimetry (SAP) in glaucoma. METHODS: The study cohort contained 40 persons with glaucoma (PwG) and 94 normal control subjects. The PwG had both perimetric and pre-perimetric eyes. Multifocal pupillographic objective perimetry was performed with the objectiveField Analyser® (OFA®), which independently assesses the visual fields of both eyes concurrently. Its OFA30 test assessed the central ±30°, and the OFA15 test assessed the central ±15°, both providing 30-2 style reports. The OFA tests were repeated two weeks apart to assess test-retest variability (TRV). OFA was compared with Matrix and HFA-SITA fast 24-2 threshold testing. Diagnostic power was quantified as area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC). Test durations, Mean Defects and Pattern Standard Deviations of the 4 tests were compared. RESULTS: At a median of 4.09±0.02 minutes/eye the OFA tests were quicker than SAP (all P≤0.0001), 2 minutes/eye if OFA per-region sensitivities and delays are considered separately. The %AUROCs for OFA, Matrix and HFA were not significantly different, averaging 93±3% (mean±SD) in perimetric eyes, and 73±6% in pre-perimetric eyes. For moderate to severe fields OFA TRV was less than published results for SAP. OFA30 mean defects were significantly correlated between repeats (r=0.91), and with OFA15 (r=0.93, both P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: OFA provides extra functional measures in the form of per-region delays, and between-eye asymmetries. Both the OFA wide-field and macular tests provided comparable diagnostic power to SAP and better TRV in damaged eyes.