Isolation and Identification of Mercury-Dissolved Organic Matter Complexes in Mercury-Humic Acid Suspensions.

Rationale: The complexation with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a pivotal factor influencing transformations, transport, and bioavailability of mercury (Hg) in aquatic environments. However, identifying these complexes poses a significant challenge because of their low concentrations and the presence of coexisting ions.

Methods: In this study, mercury-dissolved organic matter (Hg-DOM) complexes were isolated through solid-phase extraction (SPE) from Hg-humic acid suspensions, and complexes were putatively identified using ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS).

Detection of Extracochlear Electrodes Using Electrical Field Imaging (EFI).

Objective: To analyze the use of electrical field imaging (EFI) in the detection of extracochlear electrodes in cochlear implants (CI).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

Characterizing localized nitrogen sensitivity of tree species and the associated influences of mediating factors.

Critical loads (CLs) are frequently used to quantify terrestrial ecosystem impacts from nitrogen (N) deposition using ecological responses such as the growth and mortality of tree species. Typically, CLs are reported as a single value, with uncertainty, for an indicator across a species' entire range. Mediating factors such as climate and soil conditions can influence species' sensitivity to N, but the magnitudes of these effects are rarely calculated explicitly.

Associated factors for parent-reported otitis media in 12-month-old infants.

Objective: To report host-related and environmental factors associated with otitis media (OM), and compare the prevalence of OM in 12-month-old infants reported by parents with that predicted from audiological assessment results.

Design: A non-randomised, cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected via a parental questionnaire during children's audiology appointment at 12 months of age.

Intraoperative Electrical Stapedius Reflex Testing to Monitor Cochlear Nerve Integrity during Simultaneous Vestibular Schwannoma Resection and Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: To compare the utility of intraoperative electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (eABR) and electrically evoked stapedial reflex testing (eSRT) for cochlear nerve integrity monitoring during simultaneous translabyrinthine resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and cochlear implantation.

Study Design: Historical cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary academic referral center.

Call to Action: Screening and Addressing Caregiver Mental Health Needs within all Pediatric Medical Subspecialty Settings as Standard of Care.

Objective: The objective of this topical review is to provide rationale for the development of standards of care to address the mental health needs of caregivers of youth with chronic and acute conditions.

Methods: In this topical review, we describe the relationship between pediatric medical conditions and caregiver mental health, the state of available screening and intervention options, standards of care in medicine, existing caregiver mental health standards in pediatric subspecialty populations, and exemplar caregiver mental health programs that were developed in response to standards. Finally, we will describe our rationale for this standard of care, provide a call to action, and describe anticipated challenges in developing and implementing such standards.

Early Hearing Outcomes and Audiological Experiences With a Novel Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant.

Objective: To review audiological experiences and early hearing outcomes from the early feasibility study of a fully implanted cochlear implant.

Study Design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

Australian University Students' Experience of Animal-Assisted Education: An Exploratory Study.

University students experience poorer mental health outcomes when compared to the general population. Poor mental health has been associated with reduced wellbeing and low academic performance, resulting in higher rates of withdrawal. Animal-assisted education is an intervention found to result in a reduction in anxiety and an increased learning engagement among primary and secondary students.

Development of an Automated Triage System for Longstanding Dizzy Patients Using Artificial Intelligence.

Objective: To report the first steps of a project to automate and optimize scheduling of multidisciplinary consultations for patients with longstanding dizziness utilizing artificial intelligence.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Quaternary referral center.

Prevalence and Pattern of Ear Disease Among Primary School Students in Samoa: Preliminary Results from ENT Clinic Outreach to Urban, Rural and Remote Settings.

To assess the prevalence and pattern of ear disease among students attending primary school in urban, rural, and remote regions of Samoa in order to develop an evidence-based national school ear and hearing health program. Retrospective clinical data review of all primary school students seen by the Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic of Samoa during school-based outreach visits from March 2022 to April 2024. A purposefully designed spreadsheet was created to extract the following information from the clinical records: school location (urban, rural, remote), gender (male, female), age (years), age category (0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15+ years), right ear diagnosis, left ear diagnosis.

Cochlear Implantation Outcomes in Patients With Sporadic Inner Ear Schwannomas With and Without Simultaneous Tumor Resection.

Objectives: Describe a single institution's cochlear implant outcomes for patients with inner ear schwannomas (IES) in the setting of various tumor management strategies (observation, surgical resection, or stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS]).

Study Design: Single-institution retrospective review.

Patients: Patients diagnosed with isolated, sporadic IES who underwent cochlear implantation (CI).

Expansion of Renuvion Application to Areas Beyond the Submental Region: Review and Experience.

Background: Minimally invasive and consistent skin redraping following liposuction remains an elusive goal. With the application of Renuvion (Apyx Medical, Clearwater, FL), helium induced cold atmospheric plasma provides coagulation, collagen contraction, and subsequent skin tightening, making this elusive goal attainable.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate energy settings, and the safety profile of Renuvion in an effort to achieve optimal cosmesis through the improvement of skin laxity.

Exploring the Relationship between Persons with Hearing Loss/Deafness and Their Hearing Dogs.

The reported positive outcomes of animal-assisted services have led to an emerging interest in many different aspects of human-animal interactions. The influence of an assistance animal is thought to encompass several psychosocial domains in the life of a person with a significant health impairment. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship between Hearing Dogs and their owners.

Detecting Hearing Loss Through Targeted Surveillance: Risk Registry and Surveillance Timeframe Recommendations.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to inform the revision of a targeted surveillance risk registry by identifying which risk factors predict postnatally identified hearing loss (PNIHL) in children who pass newborn hearing screening and to determine whether hearing surveillance beyond the age of 1 year is warranted.

Method: We used retrospective analysis of the audiological outcomes of children born in the state of Queensland, Australia, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, who passed the newborn hearing screen with risk factors.

Results: Approximately one third of children were lost to follow-up and could not be included in the analysis.

Understanding the experience of assistance dog providers supporting people with disability: an exploratory study.

Purpose: Assistance dogs can provide many health and wellbeing benefits to people with disability, however challenges remain. Assistance dog providers provide crucial support to assistance dog handlers, however limited literature exists exploring their experience working with people with disability. This study aimed to understand the experiences of assistance dog providers working in Australia.

Atmospheric reduced nitrogen: Sources, transformations, effects, and management.

Human activities have increased atmospheric emissions and deposition of oxidized and reduced forms of nitrogen, but emission control programs have largely focused on oxidized nitrogen. As a result, in many regions of the world emissions of oxidized nitrogen are decreasing while emissions of reduced nitrogen are increasing. Emissions of reduced nitrogen largely originate from livestock waste and fertilizer application, with contributions from transportation sources in urban areas.

Otolaryngology outcomes of infants with conductive hearing loss identified through universal newborn hearing screening.

Objective: Infants and children diagnosed with a conductive hearing loss (CHL) are often referred for otolaryngology assessment. Although this is also a regular occurrence for infants diagnosed with a CHL through Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS), less is known about these infants and their outcomes. Using a cohort of infants diagnosed with CHL through UNHS and referred to otolaryngology, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between specific demographic or clinical characteristics and 1) triage category 2) middle ear diagnosis and intervention and, 3) service-related factors at otolaryngology.

Trajectories of self-management and independence in youth with spina bifida: Family-related predictors of growth.

The purpose of this study was to assess family-related predictors of self-management trajectories in youth with spina bifida (SB). Participants with SB completed the Adolescent/Young Adult Self-Management and Independence Scale (AMIS II) interview across four time points. Family functioning, family-related stress, and perceived family support were assessed by multiple reporters and multiple methods.