Development of Measures for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma: Introduction to the Special Supplement on Stigma Measurement Tools.

People who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) often experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives. Qualitative research describing their lived experiences has provided useful, in-depth insights into the pervasiveness of stigma. Quantitative measures could facilitate further investigation of the scope of this phenomenon. Thus, under the auspices of the Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss, we developed and preliminarily validated survey measures of different types of stigma related to d/Deafness and hearing loss in the United States (a high-income country) and Ghana (a lower-middle income country). In this introductory article, we first present working definitions of the different types of stigma; an overview of what is known about stigma in the context of hearing loss; and the motivation underlying the development of measures that capture different types of stigma from the perspectives of different key groups. We then describe the mixed-methods exploratory sequential approach used to develop the stigma measures for several key groups: people who are d/DHH, parents of children who are d/DHH, care partners of people who are d/DHH, healthcare providers, and the general population. The subsequent manuscripts in this special supplement of Ear and Hearing describe the psychometric validation of the various stigma scales developed using these methods.

Regulating nanoscale directional heat transfer with Janus nanoparticles.

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) with heterogeneous compositions or interfacial properties can exhibit directional heating upon external excitation with optical or magnetic energy. This directional heating may be harnessed for new nanotechnology and biomedical applications. However, it remains unclear how the JNP properties (size, interface) and laser excitation method (pulsed vs. continuous) regulate the directional heating. Here, we developed a numerical framework to analyze the asymmetric thermal transport in JNP heating under photothermal stimulation. We found that JNP-induced temperature contrast, defined as the ratio of temperature increase on the opposite sides in the surrounding medium, is highest for smaller JNPs and when a low thermal resistance coating covers a minor fraction of JNP surface. Notably, we discovered up to 20-fold enhancement of the temperature contrast based on thermal confinement under pulsed heating compared with continuous heating. This work brings new insights to maximize the asymmetric thermal responses for JNP heating.

Signal execution modes emerge in biochemical reaction networks calibrated to experimental data.

Mathematical models of biomolecular networks are commonly used to study cellular processes; however, their usefulness to explain and predict dynamic behaviors is often questioned due to the unclear relationship between parameter uncertainty and network dynamics. In this work, we introduce PyDyNo (Python dynamic analysis of biochemical networks), a non-equilibrium reaction-flux based analysis to identify dominant reaction paths within a biochemical reaction network calibrated to experimental data. We first show, in a simplified apoptosis execution model, that despite the thousands of parameter vectors with equally good fits to experimental data, our framework identifies the dynamic differences between these parameter sets and outputs three dominant execution modes, which exhibit varying sensitivity to perturbations. We then apply our methodology to JAK2/STAT5 network in colony-forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) cells and provide previously unrecognized mechanistic explanation for the survival responses of CFU-E cell population that would have been impossible to deduce with traditional protein-concentration based analyses.

Towards universal access: A review of global efforts in ear and hearing care.

Hearing loss affects 1.6 billion people worldwide and disproportionately affects those in low- and middle-income countries. Despite being largely preventable or treatable, ear and hearing conditions result in significant and lifelong morbidity such as delayed language development, reduced educational attainment, and diminished social well-being. There is a need to augment prevention, early identification, treatment, and rehabilitation for these conditions. Expanded access to hearing screening, growth of the hearing health workforce, and innovations in ear and hearing care delivery systems are among the changes that are needed. To that end, the World Health Organization has prioritized ear and hearing care as a component of Universal Health Coverage, and recent publications have advanced the priority for ear and hearing care. Efforts are underway at the national levels around the world, as evidenced by countries like Zambia and Nigeria that have integrated ear and hearing care within national health strategies. While significant strides have been made in improving access, a critical need remains for additional research, advocacy, and intervention to ensure that no one is left behind in the goal to achieve universal access to ear and hearing care.

Glioblastoma Margin as a Diffusion Barrier Revealed by Photoactivation of Plasmonic Nanovesicles.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most complex and lethal primary brain cancer. Adequate drug diffusion and penetration are essential for treating GBM, but how the spatial heterogeneity in GBM impacts drug diffusion and transport is poorly understood. Herein, we report a new method, photoactivation of plasmonic nanovesicles (PANO), to measure molecular diffusion in the extracellular space of GBM. By examining three genetically engineered GBM mouse models that recapitulate key clinical features including the angiogenic core and diffuse infiltration, we found that the tumor margin has the lowest diffusion coefficient (highest tortuosity) compared with the tumor core and surrounding brain tissue. Analysis of the cellular composition shows that tortuosity in the GBM is strongly correlated with neuronal loss and astrocyte activation. Our all-optical measurement reveals the heterogeneous GBM microenvironment and highlights the tumor margin as a diffusion barrier for drug transport in the brain, with implications for therapeutic delivery.

Priorities for hearing loss prevention and estimates of global cause-specific burdens of hearing loss: a systematic rapid review.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss affects approximately 1·6 billion individuals worldwide. Many cases are preventable. We aimed to estimate the annual number of new hearing loss cases that could be attributed to meningitis, otitis media, congenital rubella syndrome, cytomegalovirus, and ototoxic medications, specifically aminoglycosides, platinum-based chemotherapeutics, and antimalarials. METHODS: We used a targeted and a rapid systematic literature review to calculate yearly global incidences of each cause of hearing loss. We estimated the prevalence of hearing loss for each presumed cause. For each cause, we calculated the global number of yearly hearing loss cases associated with the exposure by multiplying the estimated exposed population by the prevalence of hearing loss associated with the exposure, accounting for mortality when warranted. FINDINGS: An estimated 257·3 million people per year are exposed to these preventable causes of hearing loss, leading to an estimated 33·8 million new cases of hearing loss worldwide per year. Most hearing loss cases were among those with exposure to ototoxic medications (19·6 million [range 12·6 million-27·9 million] from short-course aminoglycoside therapy and 12·3 million from antimalarials). We estimated that 818 000 cases of hearing loss were caused by otitis media, 346 000 by meningitis, 114 000 by cytomegalovirus, and 59 000 by congenital rubella syndrome. INTERPRETATION: The global burden of preventable hearing loss is large. Hearing loss that is attributable to disease sequelae or ototoxic medications contributes substantially to the global burden of hearing loss. Prevention of these conditions should be a global health priority. FUNDING: The US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the US National Institute on Aging.

Apport de l'IRM multimodale dans la prise en charge des tumeurs encéphaliques chez l'adulte à Abidjan / Contribution of multimodal MRI in the management of brain tumors in adults in Abidjan

Dans le monde, le nombre de nouveaux cas de tumeurs encéphaliques était de 14 millions en 2014 avec environ 8 millions de personnes décédées. Objectif: déterminer l'efficacité diagnostique de l'IRM multimodale dans la prise en charge des tumeurs encéphaliques dans notre contexte. Matériels et Méthodes: Etude rétrospective à visée descriptive, multicentrique sur une période de 2 ans allant de février 2017 à mars 2019, dans 2 services de radiologie et 2 services de Neurochirurgie, à Abidjan. Nous nous sommes intéressés àtous les patients ayant réalisé une IRM multimodale pour suspicion d'un processus tumoral encéphalique, et qui ont eu une exérèse chirurgicale suivie d'un examen anatomopathologique de la pièce opératoire. Les examens d'IRM multimodale encéphaliques ont été réalisés selon un protocole standard sur des appareils de 1,5 Tesla, et lus par des radiologues séniors. Nous avons confronté les résultats anatomopathologiques aux diagnostics posés à l'imagerie IRM multimodale.Résultats: Ont été retenu 18 dossiers. On notait une prédominance masculine avec un sex-ratio de 1,57. L'âge moyen était de 42,8 ans avec des extrêmes de 20ans et 61ans et un écart type de 10,75.La corrélation diagnostique entre l'examen anatomopathologique et l'IRM a été de6 sur 7 cas, 4 sur 5 cas, 2 sur 2 cas, 2 sur 2 cas et 1 sur 1 cas respectivement pour le méningiome, le gliome, les métastases, l'adénome hypophysaire, le lymphome cérébral primitif.Conclusion:Les tumeurs encéphaliques dans notre étude, étaient variéeset concernaient la population jeune. Les motifs d'erreur diagnostique étaient essentiellement en rapport avec la variété de présentations des tumeurs à l'IRM et l'expérience récente de nos radiologues sur l'utilisation efficace des séquences avancées.

Worldwide, the number of new cases of brain tumors was 14 million in 2014 with approximately 8 million people dying.Objective: determine the diagnostic effectiveness of multimodal MRI in the management of brain tumors in our context.Methods: Retrospective study with a descriptive aim, multicenter over a period of 2 years from February 2017 to March 2019, in 2 radiology departments and 2 neurosurgery departments, in Abidjan. We were interested in all patients who had a multimodal MRI for suspicion of a brain tumor process, and who had a surgical excision followed by an pathological examination of the surgical specimen. The multimodal brain MRI examinations were carried out according to a standard protocol on 1.5 Tesla devices, and read by seniorradiologists. We compared the pathological results with the diagnoses made on multimodal MRI imaging.Results:18 files were retained. There was a male predominance with a sex ratio of 1.57. The average age was 42.8 years with extremes of 20 and 61 years and a standard deviation of 10.75. The diagnostic correlation between the pathological examination and MRI was 6 out of 7 cases, 4 out of 5 cases, 2 out of 2 cases, 2 out of 2 cases and 1 out of 1 case respectively for meningioma, glioma, metastases, pituitary adenoma, primary cerebral lymphoma.Conclusion: The brain tumors in our study were varied and concerned the young population. The reasons for diagnostic error were mainly related to the variety of tumor presentations on MRI and the recent experience of our radiologists on the effective use of advanced sequences.

Glioblastoma Margin as a Diffusion Barrier Revealed by Photoactivation of Plasmonic Nanovesicles.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most complex and lethal adult primary brain cancer. Adequate drug diffusion and penetration are essential for treating GBM, but how the spatial heterogeneity in GBM impacts drug diffusion and transport is poorly understood. Herein, we report a new method, photoactivation of plasmonic nanovesicles (PANO), to measure molecular diffusion in the extracellular space of GBM. By examining three genetically engineered GBM mouse models that recapitulate key clinical features including angiogenic core and diffuse infiltration, we found that the tumor margin has the lowest diffusion coefficient (highest tortuosity) compared with the tumor core and surrounding brain tissue. Analysis of the cellular composition shows that the tortuosity in the GBM is strongly correlated with neuronal loss and astrocyte activation. Our all-optical measurement reveals the heterogeneous GBM microenvironment and highlights the tumor margin as a diffusion barrier for drug transport in the brain, with implications for therapeutic delivery.

Efficacy of stored grain insecticides against 2 pest beetles in rough rice.

Insecticidal grain protectants can provide control of pest insects during grain storage, but studies which directly compare the efficacy of insecticides in rough rice are few. We examined methoprene, deltamethrin, commercial formulations of methoprene + deltamethrin, ß-cyfluthrin, and diatomaceous earth applied to rough rice over a 6-month period for control of lesser grain borers, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), and rice weevils, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). We found that methoprene, deltamethrin, or a combination of the 2 were the most effective controls of both beetles in 22.7-liter metal containers. Damage mass and beetle mass in methoprene-treated rice were reduced by 38% and 55%, respectively, when compared to the nontreated control. Similarly, the mixture of deltamethrin and methoprene reduced damage mass by 32% and total beetle mass by 45% below that of the nontreated control. Deltamethrin reduced total beetle mass by 38% relative to the nontreated rice. In vial assays, only the combination of deltamethrin and methoprene provided control of R. dominica. Diatomaceous earth had the greatest impact upon S. oryzae, but it did not affect R. dominica. Based on these results, a commercial formulation of deltamethrin and methoprene is likely to provide the best overall control of stored grain beetles, though diatomaceous earth may be effective when use of chemical insecticides is undesirable or when S. oryzae is the sole pest present.

The effects of receiving diet roughage inclusion on performance, health, and serum metabolite characteristics of newly received beef calves.

Current dogma suggests increased dietary roughage may improve calf health at the expense of performance during receiving. In experiment 1, the effects of increasing dietary roughage on performance and clinical health of high-risk heifers was evaluated over a 56-d receiving period. Heifers (n = 589; initial body weight; BW = 230 ±â€…33 kg) were sourced from Oklahoma livestock auctions from April through October of 2019. Heifers were randomly assigned to pens, which were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Diets contained either: 1) 15% roughage (R15), 2) 30% roughage (R30), or 3) 45% roughage (R45) in the form of prairie hay. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test for linear and quadratic responses among experimental treatments. There was a linear decrease in overall average daily gain (ADG; P ≤ 0.0001) with increasing roughage inclusion which resulted in a linear decrease (P ≤ 0.0001) in heifer final BW. A linear increase (P ≤ 0.01) was observed for overall dry matter intake (DMI), and overall gain:feed (G:F) decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.0001) as dietary roughage concentration increased. A quadratic response to decreasing roughage was observed (P = 0.02) for the percent of calves treated three times for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). No other responses (P ≥ 0.11) were detected in animal health variables. In experiment 2, Angus steers (n = 12) and heifers (n = 6; BW = 272 ±â€…28 kg) were acquired from a single ranch in Oklahoma to evaluate the same experimental dietary treatments on serum metabolite concentrations. Animals were randomly assigned to experimental treatments, with animal serving as the experimental unit in experiment 2. Statistical models for serum metabolites in experiment 2 were analyzed using repeated measures with the effects of treatment, time, and treatment × time. In experiment 2, there were tendencies for treatment × time interactions for blood urea nitrogen (BUN; P = 0.07) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA; P = 0.06) concentrations. No metabolites were affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.11), while all metabolites were impacted by time (P ≤ 0.02). In summary, growth performance was improved in calves as dietary roughage concentration decreased with minimal impacts on health and serum metabolites. These results suggest that diets containing as little as 15% roughage can be used during receiving to improve calf performance without compromising calf health when fibrous byproducts are included in the diet.

Calves severely affected by bovine respiratory disease have reduced protection against histone toxicity and exhibit lower complement activity.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the greatest challenge facing the beef industry. Calves affected by BRD can manifest illness ranging from subclinical infection to acute death. In pathologies similar to BRD, extracellular histones have been implicated as major contributors to lung tissue damage. Histones are basic proteins responsible for DNA organization in cell nuclei, however when released extracellularly during cell injury or via neutrophil activation they become cytotoxic. Cattle suffering severe cases of BRD demonstrate reduced capacity to protect against the cytotoxic effects of histones, however, the protective mechanism(s) of serum remain(s) unknown. Therefore, the objective was to identify components within serum that contribute to protection against histone toxicity. Serum proteins from animals considered protective (P; N = 4) and nonprotective (NP; N = 4) against the toxic effects of histones were precipitated by the addition and incubation of exogenous histones. Proteins that interact with histones from both groups were isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified via label free "shotgun" proteomics. Sixteen candidate proteins increased by ≥2-fold change in P vs. NP animals were identified, with several associated with the complement system. A subsequent study was conducted to evaluate complement system activity and serum protective capacity against exogenous histones in feedlot heifers. Serum samples were collected from 118 heifer calves (BW at arrival = 229 ±â€…2.4 kg) at feedlot arrival. Animals were retrospectively assigned to groups consisting of: calves not requiring treatment with antibiotics for BRD (CONT; N = 80), calves treated once (1TRT; N = 21), calves treated twice (2TRT; N = 5), calves treated thrice (3TRT; N = 3), or calves that died from BRD within 1 wk of entering the feedlot (DA; N = 9). Serum from DA animals was less protective than CONT (P = 0.0005) animals against histone toxicity. Complement activity of DA animals was reduced compared to CONT (P = 0.0044) animals. Additionally, the use of both assays as a ratio resulted in increased ability to detect DA animals. Results suggest that cattle predisposed to severe cases of respiratory disease may have impaired complement activity presumably contributing to reduced protective capacity against histone toxicity.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the leading cause of feedlot calf sickness and death. In respiratory disease affecting humans and mice, major tissue damage is caused by release of histones. Histones are proteins found in the nucleus of cells that condense DNA, however, cells that become damaged release histones extracellularly. Research has shown that calves with severe cases of BRD are less able to protect against the toxic effects of histones residing outside of the cell. It is speculated that components within the blood may interact with histones and confer protection from histone toxicity. This study evaluated serum from protective and nonprotective cattle against histone toxicity and identified 16 proteins that were elevated in protective animals. Several proteins were associated with the complement system of the innate immune system. To evaluate immune complement activity and protective capacity against histone toxicity, serum was collected from heifers at feedlot arrival. Calves suffering from a severe case of BRD demonstrated reduced capacity to protect against histone toxicity. Complement activity of calves severely affected with BRD was reduced as well. Results suggest that cattle susceptible to severe cases of BRD may have impaired complement activity likely contributing to reduced protective capacity against histone toxicity.

Effects of feeding CLOSTAT (Bacillus subtilis PB6) on the clinical health, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers1.

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of feeding Bacillus subtilis PB6 on clinical health, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers. Bos indicus crossbred steer calves (n = 397; 342 kg initial body weight [BW]) were randomly assigned to pens by initial BW; pens (n = 24) were randomly assigned to one of two of the following experimental treatments: 1) no supplemental dietary direct-fed microbial, control (CON; n = 12 pens) or 2) 13 g/steer daily B. subtilis PB6 (CLO; CLOSTAT, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA; n = 12 pens). Steers were housed in 12.2 × 30.5 m soil-surfaced pens; pen served as the experimental unit. The percentage of cattle treated once or twice for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.27); BRD mortality also did not differ between CON and CLO (P = 0.34). During the receiving period, final BW (P = 0.97), average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.91), dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.77), and gain:feed (P = 0.79) were not different among treatments. There was a tendency (P = 0.09) for CLO-supplemented steers to be 14% more efficient from days 0 to 14 of the receiving period. Final BW, overall finishing phase ADG, and DMI did not differ by treatment (P ≥ 0.14); ADG was 0.14 kg greater for CLO than CON (P = 0.03) from days 29 to 56 of the finishing period. Gain: feed tended (P = 0.07) to be 7% greater (0.144 vs. 0.141) for CLO than CON throughout the duration of the finishing period, and 6.7% greater (P = 0.08; 0.152 for CLO vs. 0.150 for CON) for the entirety of the experiment. Carcass traits did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.31). The results of this experiment suggest that supplementing 13 g/steer daily B. subtilis PB6 may improve feed efficiency in feedlot cattle.

Mechanobiological modulation of blood-brain barrier permeability by laser stimulation of endothelial-targeted nanoparticles.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) maintains an optimal environment for brain homeostasis but excludes most therapeutics from entering the brain. Strategies that reversibly increase BBB permeability are essential for treating brain diseases and are the focus of significant preclinical and translational interest. Picosecond laser excitation of tight junction-targeted gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) generates a nanoscale mechanical perturbation and induces a graded and reversible increase in BBB permeability (OptoBBB). Here we advanced this technique by showing that targeting endothelial glycoproteins leads to >10-fold higher targeting efficiency than targeting tight junctions both in vitro and in vivo. With both tight-junction and glycoprotein targeting, we demonstrate that OptoBBB is associated with a transient elevation and propagation of Ca2+, actin polymerization, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase). These collectively activate the cytoskeleton resulting in increased paracellular permeability. The Ca2+ response involves internal Ca2+ depletion and Ca2+ influx with contributions from mechanosensitive ion channels (TRPV4, Piezo1). We provide insight into how the excitation of tight junction protein (JAM-A)-targeted and endothelial (glycocalyx)-targeted AuNPs leads to similar mechanobiological modulation of BBB permeability while targeting the glycocalyx significantly improves the nanoparticle accumulation in the brain. The results will be critical for guiding the future development of this technology for brain disease treatment.

Understanding Neuropeptide Transmission in the Brain by Optical Uncaging and Release.

Neuropeptides are abundant and essential signaling molecules in the nervous system involved in modulating neural circuits and behavior. Neuropeptides are generally released extrasynaptically and signal via volume transmission through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Although substantive functional roles of neuropeptides have been discovered, many questions on neuropeptide transmission remain poorly understood, including the local diffusion and transmission properties in the brain extracellular space. To address this challenge, intensive efforts are required to develop advanced tools for releasing and detecting neuropeptides with high spatiotemporal resolution. Because of the rapid development of biosensors and materials science, emerging tools are beginning to provide a better understanding of neuropeptide transmission. In this perspective, we summarize the fundamental advances in understanding neuropeptide transmission over the past decade, highlight the tools for releasing neuropeptides with high spatiotemporal solution in the brain, and discuss open questions and future directions in the field.

The Impact of Hearing Loss and Its Treatment on Health-Related Quality of Life Utility: a Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss significantly impacts health-related quality of life (QoL), yet the effects of current treatments on QoL utility remain uncertain. Our objective was to describe the impact of untreated and treated hearing loss on QoL utility to inform hearing healthcare policy. METHODS: We searched databases for articles published through 02/01/2021. Two independent reviewers screened for articles that reported elicitation of general QoL utility values for untreated and treated hearing loss health states. We extracted data and quality indicators from 62 studies that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Included studies predominately used observational pre/post designs (61%), evaluated unilateral cochlear implantation (65%), administered the Health Utilities Index 3 (HUI3; 71%), and were conducted in Europe and North America (84%). In general, treatment of hearing loss improved post-treatment QoL utility when measured by most methods except the Euro-QoL 5 dimension (EQ-5D). In meta-analysis, hearing aids for adult mild-to-moderate hearing loss compared to no treatment significantly improved HUI3-estimated QoL utility (3 studies; mean change=0.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07 to 0.14) but did not impact EQ-5D-estimated QoL (3 studies; mean change=0.0; 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.04). Cochlear implants improved adult QoL utility 1-year post-implantation when measured by the HUI3 (7 studies; mean change=0.17; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.23); however, pediatric VAS-estimated QoL utility was non-significant (4 studies; mean change=0.12; 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.25). The quality of included studies was limited by failure to report missingness of data and low survey response rates. Our study was limited by heterogeneous study populations and designs. FINDINGS: Treatment of hearing loss significantly improves QoL utility, and the HUI3 and VAS were most sensitive to improvements in hearing. Improved access to hearing healthcare should be prioritized. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42021253314.

Effects of Restricted Availability of Drinking Water on Blood Characteristics and Constituents in Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix Sheep from Different Regions of the USA.

Different hair sheep breeds originated from diverse climatic regions of the USA may show varying adaptability to water deprivation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of restricted availability of drinking water on blood characteristics and constituent concentrations in different breeds of hair sheep from various regions the USA. For this study, 45 Dorper (initial age = 3.7 ± 0.34 yr), 45 Katahdin (3.9 ± 0.36 yr), and 44 St. Croix (2.7 ± 0.29 yr) sheep from 45 farms in 4 regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used. Ad libitum water intake was determined during wk 2 of period one, with 75% of ad libitum water intake offered during wk 2 of period two, and 50% of ad libitum water intake offered for 5 wk (i.e., wk 5−9) in period three. Water was offered at 07:00 or 07:30 h, with blood samples collected at 08:00 and(or) 14:00 h in wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 for variables such as hemoglobin and oxygen saturation and wk 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 for concentrations of glucose and other constituents. The blood oxygen concentration at 08:00 h was 4.86, 4.93, and 5.25 mmol/L in period one and 4.89, 4.81, and 5.74 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.160; p = 0.001). Blood oxygen at 14:00 h was 4.37, 4.61, and 4.74 mmol/L in period one and 4.66, 4.81, and 5.46 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.154; p = 0.003). St. Croix were able to maintain a higher (p < 0.001) blood oxygen concentration than Dorper and Katahdin regardless of water availability. The pattern of change in blood concentrations with advancing time varied considerably among constituents. However, concentrations of glucose (55.3 and 56.2 mg/dL; SEM = 0.84), lactate (24.1 and 22.5 mg/dL; SEM = 0.79), total protein (7.08 and 7.17 g/dL; SEM = 0.0781), and albumin (2.59 and 2.65 g/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.029) were similar (p > 0.05) between periods one and three. Conversely, concentrations of cholesterol (56.2 and 69.3 mg/dL; SEM = 1.33) and triglycerides (28.6 and 34.5 mg/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.98) were greater (p < 0.05) in period three vs. 1. In conclusion, water restriction altered almost all the blood variables depending upon severity and duration of restriction, but the hair sheep breeds used from different regions of the USA, especially St. Croix, displayed considerable capacity to adapt to limited drinking water availability.

Characterization of Resistance to the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) among Sugarcane Cultivars.

Cultivar resistance is an essential management strategy for the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), in sugarcane in the USA, but resistance mechanisms are poorly understood. Resistance was evaluated among Louisiana's (USA) commercial sugarcane cultivars and experimental clones through field screenings, greenhouse trials, and a diet incorporation assay. Cultivars L 01-299 and HoCP 85-845 had the lowest borer injury levels, while HoCP 00-950 and L 12-201 were among the most heavily injured in field and greenhouse trials. The variability of results between the two field trials suggests that a genotype × environment interaction might affect the expression of resistance. Oviposition did not differ among evaluated cultivars in the greenhouse choice study. Results from the no-choice experiment showed that neonatal establishment differed among cultivars by up to 3-fold. In a diet incorporation assay, all cultivars reduced larval weight up to 86.5% and increased days to pupation by 1.8-fold relative to the diet-only control. Collectively, these results suggest that Louisiana's sugarcane breeding germplasm contains various resistance levels to E. loftini, emphasizing the importance of screening cultivars before they are released to growers. Future studies should try to determine the influence of environmental factors on resistance expression.

Curvature and temperature-dependent thermal interface conductance between nanoscale gold and water.

Plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can convert laser irradiation into thermal energy for a variety of applications. Although heat transfer through the AuNP-water interface is considered an essential part of the plasmonic heating process, there is a lack of mechanistic understanding of how interface curvature and the heating itself impact interfacial heat transfer. Here, we report atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that investigate heat transfer through nanoscale gold-water interfaces. We simulated four nanoscale gold structures under various applied heat flux values to evaluate how gold-water interface curvature and temperature affect the interfacial heat transfer. We also considered a case in which we artificially reduced wetting at the gold surfaces by tuning the gold-water interactions to determine if such a perturbation alters the curvature and temperature dependence of the gold-water interfacial heat transfer. We first confirmed that interfacial heat transfer is particularly important for small particles (diameter ≤10 nm). We found that the thermal interface conductance increases linearly with interface curvature regardless of the gold wettability, while it increases nonlinearly with the applied heat flux under normal wetting and remains constant under reduced wetting. Our analysis suggests the curvature dependence of the interface conductance coincides with changes in interfacial water adsorption, while the temperature dependence may arise from temperature-induced shifts in the distribution of water vibrational states. Our study advances the current understanding of interface thermal conductance for a broad range of applications.

The effects of varying levels of trace mineral supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, mineral balance, and antibody concentrations in feedlot cattle.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of increasing trace mineral (TM) supplementation on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, TM balance, and antibody concentrations. Commercial Angus steers (n = 240; body weight, BW = 291 kg ± 27.4) were stratified by arrival BW and source and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (12 pens/treatment; 5 steers/pen). All steers underwent a TM depletion period for a minimum of 42-d prior to the administration experimental treatments. Treatments included a negative control (CON) in which cattle received no additional TM supplementation or TM supplementation treatments in which cattle received added Co, Cu, I, Mn, Se, or Zn from inorganic TM sources at 2016 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle (NASEM) requirement levels (1X), at 2 times NASEM requirements (2X), or at 4 times NASEM requirements (4X). Selenium was included at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg for 1X, 2X, and 4X respectively, based on federal law. There was no difference in overall BW, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), or gain to feed (G:F) due to TM supplementation (CON vs. SUPP P ≥ 0.47). There was no difference in hot carcass weight, rib eye area, fat thickness, dressing percentage, marbling score, or USDA Yield Grade due to TM supplementation (CON vs. SUPP P ≥ 0.30). One steer was chosen at random from each pen to be evaluated for serum and liver TM status and antibody concentrations to common respiratory viruses. There was a treatment × day interaction for serum Co and liver Cu and Se (P < 0.0001). Serum Co was greatest for the 4X treatment from d 28 through harvest. Liver Cu was greatest for the 2X and 4X treatments from d 56 through harvest. Liver Se was greatest for 2X and 4X from d 28 through harvest. Serum Zn was greatest for the 4X treatment (P = 0.02). There was an effect of day on liver Co, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn (P ≤ 0.0001) and serum Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn (P ≤ 0.002). Concentrations for individual TM had different trends over time, however, all reported values were within normal ranges. There was an effect of time on bovine viral diarrhea virus Type 1A, bovine herpesvirus type 1, and bovine parainfluenza 3 virus antibody concentrations (P ≤ 0.0001). Supplementation of TM above NASEM requirements did not affect overall cattle performance, carcass characteristics, or antibody concentrations, but did affect the storage and circulation of certain TM.

Validation of the Decision model of the Burden of Hearing loss Across the Lifespan (DeciBHAL) in Chile, India, and Nigeria.

Background: There is no published decision model for informing hearing health care resource allocation across the lifespan in low- and middle-income countries. We sought to validate the Decision model of the Burden of Hearing loss Across the Lifespan International (DeciBHAL-I) in Chile, India, and Nigeria. Methods: DeciBHAL-I simulates bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and conductive hearing loss (CHL) acquisition, SNHL progression, and hearing loss treatment. To inform model inputs, we identified setting-specific estimates including SNHL prevalence from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies, acute otitis media (AOM) incidence and prevalence of otitis-media related CHL from a systematic review, and setting-specific pediatric and adult hearing aid use prevalence. We considered a coefficient of variance root mean square error (CV-RMSE) of ≤15% to indicate good model fit. Findings: The model-estimated prevalence of bilateral SNHL closely matched GBD estimates, (CV-RMSEs: 3.2-7.4%). Age-specific AOM incidences from DeciBHAL-I also achieved good fit (CV-RMSEs=5.0-7.5%). Model-projected chronic suppurative otitis media prevalence (1.5% in Chile, 4.9% in India, and 3.4% in Nigeria) was consistent with setting-specific estimates, and the incidence of otitis media-related CHL was calibrated to attain adequate model fit. DeciBHAL-projected adult hearing aid use in Chile (3.2-19.7% ages 65-85 years) was within the 95% confidence intervals of published estimates. Adult hearing aid prevalence from the model in India was 1.4-2.3%, and 1.1-1.3% in Nigeria, consistent with literature-based and expert estimates. Interpretation: DeciBHAL-I reasonably simulates hearing loss natural history, detection, and treatment in Chile, India, and Nigeria. Future cost-effectiveness analyses might use DeciBHAL-I to inform global hearing health policy. Funding: National Institutes of Health (3UL1-TR002553-03S3 and F30 DC019846).