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A three-day workshop was held in Gwangmyeong, South Korea, to discuss recent advances in sea ice modeling. Researchers from South Korea, China, Australia, Canada, Belgium, France, Italy, and Norway attended the workshop. The workshop focused on four themes: emerging model technologies, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in sea ice applications, model/observation integration, and future research needs and opportunities. The use of AI techniques in sea ice research and forecasting was highlighted, including applications such as forecasting sea ice concentration and thickness, correcting biases in atmospheric boundary conditions, and detecting landfast sea ice. The workshop also emphasized the need for collaboration across geographies and highlighted the research bubbles that exist in different regions. The workshop provided a valuable forum for collaboration and knowledge sharing, and a follow-up workshop is planned for fall 2025. [Extracted from the article]

Accurate demand forecasting for new technology products is a key factor in the success of a business. We propose a way to forecasting a new product’s diffusion through technology diffusion and interest diffusion. Technology diffusion and interest diffusion are measured by the volume of patent citations and web search traffic, respectively. We apply the proposed method to forecast the sales of hybrid cars and industrial robots in the US market. The results show that that technology diffusion, as represented by patent citations, can explain long-term sales for hybrid cars and industrial robots. On the other hand, interest diffusion, as represented by web search traffic, can help to improve the predictability of market sales of hybrid cars in the short-term. However, interest diffusion is difficult to explain the sales of industrial robots due to the different market characteristics. Finding indicates our proposed model can relatively well explain the diffusion of consumer goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report on the high-frequency insertion loss behaviors of a passive device patterned on a new type of insulating layer that consists of nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) on a Si substrate. The transmission line loss and characteristics of simple capacitors were characterized by a series of RF measurements. The insertion loss of the transmission line on the hybrid insulating layer consisting of AAO and silicon dioxide (SiO2) was smaller than that on the SiO2 single insulating layer. This hybrid insulating layer approach appears to be promising for the development of integrated passive devices that require an insertion loss of the order of −0.621dB up to 20GHz. A simple MIM capacitor manufactured on the hybrid insulating layer operated very well in the RF range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conclusion: Posterior canal reconstruction using autogenous bone pate and mastoid obliteration with allogenous cancellous bone chips (ACBCs) is a useful method to eliminate cavity problems after canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy (CWDT). It is also an appropriate method to obtain adequate middle ear space for hearing gain and to apply hearing aids for patients with poor eustachian tube function after surgery. Objective: This study was performed to suggest a new technique for posterior canal reconstruction and mastoid obliteration and to evaluate the outcome of the surgery. Patients and methods: The entire posterior canal was reconstructed with autogenous bone pate, and the new isolated mastoid cavity was obliterated with ACBCs in patients who had undergone CWDT and suffered from cavity problems. Outcomes were measured by external auditory canal shape, condition of the neotympanum, hearing outcome, improvement of cavity problems, and surgical complications. Results: In 90.9%, the reconstructed canal wall maintained a cylindrical shape. The drum healed without perforation/retraction in 90.9%. The average air-bone gap value was 34.5 dB hearing level (HL) before the staged operation and 17.8 dB HL after the staged operation; 95.5% had no more cavity problems. Minor postauricular wound infection was the most common complication (13.6%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion. Our technique can decrease the formation of retraction pockets and improve hearing function. The wheel-shaped cartilage-perichondrium composite graft (Wheel CPCG) can be considered a good material for a drum graft, and it is easy to insert a ventilation tube, in case of initial drum retraction. Objective. The purpose of this study was to introduce the novel surgical technique of a Wheel CPCG with one-stage ossiculoplasty to prevent a retraction pocket and subsequent cholesteatoma after intact canal wall tympanomastoidectomy. Patients and methods. A total of 47 patients were reviewed; 43 cases were selected for audiologic testing. The results of operations were evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative hearing results and postoperative drum findings. Results. A retraction pocket was observed in three cases (6.7%). Slight protrusion of partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) and lateral healing of drum was observed in one case each, and there were two cases of postoperative infection. The number of cases with an air–bone gap (ABG)<20 dB increased from 9 (23%) cases before operation, to 20 cases (51%) after operation. The ABG average statistically decreased from 30.0 dB to 24.0 dB, and the mean air conduction thresholds decreased from a preoperative level of 47.3 dB to a level of 35.7 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: At longer periods, scattered ScS waves sometimes dominate over coda waves at large lapse times. Examining recordings of seismic envelopes at 9 IRIS seismic stations of regional earthquakes with focal depths deeper than 150 km in periods from 1 to 20 s for a wide lapse time range up to 2000 s, we found significant frequency dependence. The coda decay gradient at short periods is steeper than that at longer periods; however, the change of coda gradient associated with the ScS arrival becomes distinct as the period becomes longer. In particular, a clear offset of coda amplitude appears in central Asia for 10 and 15 s period bands. The multiple isotropic scattering process of S-waves in the heterogeneous mantle can be simply simulated by using the Monte Carlo simulation method based on the radiative transfer theory in scattering media. Assuming a two-plane-layer attenuation structure and smoothed velocity model of the PREM, we estimated the average total scattering coefficients of S-waves such as 7.52×10−4∼1.32×10−3 km−1 and 2.08×10−4∼6.23×10−4 km−1 at 4 s, and 4.51×10−4∼7.37×10−4 km−1 and 2.80×10−5∼2.71×10−4 km−1 at 10 s, for the lithosphere and the upper mantle and for the lower mantle, respectively. Our results indicate that scattering occurs mostly in the lithosphere and the upper mantle and support that medium heterogeneity spreads over the whole mantle though its scattering power is small. Strong scattering occurs beneath central Asia and Papua New Guinea, whereas the scattering beneath Italy and regions of east Russia is much weaker. The numerical calculation enables us to confirm that much stronger scattering than intrinsic attenuation causes the offset behavior with coda decay gradient change after the ScS arrival for 4 and 10 s period bands in some regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The structure and distribution of sub-glacial water directly influences Antarctic ice mass loss by reducing or enhancing basal shear stress and accelerating grounding line retreat. A common technique for detecting sub-glacial water involves analyzing the spatial variation in reflectivity from an airborne radar echo sounding (RES) survey. Basic RES analysis exploits the high dielectric contrast between water and most other substrate materials, where a reflectivity increase ≥ 15 dB is frequently correlated with the presence of sub-glacial water. There are surprisingly few additional tools to further characterize the size, shape, or extent of hydrological systems beneath large ice masses. We adapted an existing radar backscattering simulator to model RES reflections from sub-glacial water structures using the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) Multifrequency Airborne Radar Sounder with Full-phase Assessment (MARFA) instrument. Our series of hypothetical simulation cases modeled water structures from 5 to 50 m wide, surrounded by bed materials of varying roughness. We compared the relative reflectivity from rounded Röthlisberger channels and specular flat canals, showing both types of channels exhibit a positive correlation between size and reflectivity. Large (> 20 m), flat canals can increase reflectivity by more than 20 dB , while equivalent Röthlisberger channels show only modest reflectivity gains of 8–13 dB. Changes in substrate roughness may also alter observed reflectivity by 3–6 dB. All of these results indicate that a sophisticated approach to RES interpretation can be useful in constraining the size and shape of sub-glacial water features. However, a highly nuanced treatment of the geometric context is necessary. Finally, we compared simulated outputs to actual reflectivity from a single RES flight line collected over Thwaites Glacier in 2022. The flight line crosses a previously proposed Röthlisberger channel route, with an obvious bright bed reflection in the radargram. Through multiple simulations comparing various water system geometries, such as canals and sub-glacial lakes, we demonstrated the important role that topography and water geometry can play in observed RES reflectivity. From the scenarios that we tested, we concluded the bright reflector from our RES flight line cannot be a Röthlisberger channel but could be consistent with a series of flat canals or a sub-glacial lake. However, we note our simulations were not exhaustive of all possible sub-glacial water configurations. The approach outlined here has broad applicability for studying the basal environment of large glaciers. We expect to apply this technique when constraining the geometry and extent of many sub-glacial hydrologic structures in the future. Further research may also include comprehensive investigations of the impact of sub-glacial roughness, substrate heterogeneity, and computational efficiencies enabling more complex and complete simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice shelf dynamics and morphology play an important role in the stability of floating bodies of ice by driving fracturing that can lead to calving, in turn impacting the ability of the ice shelf to buttress upstream grounded ice. Following a 2016 calving event at the Nansen Ice Shelf (NIS), East Antarctica, we collected airborne and ground-based radar data to map ice thickness across the shelf. We combine these data with published satellite-derived data to examine the spatial variations in ice shelf draft, the cause and effects of ice shelf strain rates, and the possibility that a suture zone may be channelizing ocean water and altering patterns of sub-ice-shelf melt and freeze-on. We also use our datasets to assess limitations that may arise from relying on hydrostatic-balance equations applied to ice surface elevation to determine ice draft morphology. We find that the Nansen Ice Shelf has a highly variable basal morphology driven primarily by the formation of basal fractures near the onset of the ice shelf suture zone. This morphology is reflected in the ice shelf strain rates but not in the calculated hydrostatic-balance thickness, which underestimates the scale of variability at the ice shelf base. Enhanced melt rates near the ice shelf terminus and in steep regions of the channelized suture zone, along with relatively thin ice in the suture zone, appear to represent vulnerable areas in the NIS. This morphology, combined with ice dynamics, induce strain that has led to the formation of transverse fractures within the suture zone, resulting in large-scale calving events. Similar transverse fractures at other Antarctic ice shelves may also be driven by highly variable morphology, and predicting their formation and evolution could aid projections of ice shelf stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supra- and sub-glacial meltwater drainage becomes widespread in Antarctica, but its contribution to regional water masses has not been thoroughly quantified. For a better understanding of physical-chemical fractionations, we employ water isotopes (δ18O, δD) as practical tracers for hydrological researches. During the Antarctic summer expeditions (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18) conducted by Korea Polar Research Institute, we sampled seawater performed with CTD casts in the Terra Nova Bay, Western Ross Sea. Picarro L2301-i CRDS is used for water isotope analysis, and preliminary results represent that sampled glacial meltwater contains both terrestrial meltwater and fresh water from ice shelf basal melting. The relationship of δ18O and δD shows the slope value around less than 7 (P1: δD=6.74×δ18O-0.02), however, the glacial meltwater shows the value around 8 (P1:δD=7.69×δ18 O+0.41). Water isotope differentiated presenting various values relative to given salinity. The various values of water isotopes imply other differentiation factors like evaporation and sea ice formation occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding ice shelf water (ISW) structure is crucial for studying the basal melting of ice shelves. In this study, we performed large‐eddy simulation experiments to assess ISW structure and basal melt patterns under different current velocity scenarios observed in the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica. The LES results revealed that the thickness of ISW is primarily determined by the meridional velocity (perpendicular to the grounding line), while the zonal velocity influences the potential temperature and salinity of ISW. We found that a key parameter determining the basal melt rate was northward meltwater advection which originates from variances in meltwater generation. This advection, in turn, leads to the tilted isopycnals and the potential for thermohaline interleaving in a diffusive convection regime. The different slopes of isopycnals induce distinct heat fluxes, resulting in different basal melt rates far from and near the grounding line (∼0.44 and 1.59 m yr−1, respectively). Plain Language Summary: The loss of ice mass from the Antarctic ice sheet is accelerating, posing a threat to human lives through global sea level rise. Understanding ice shelf water (ISW), which refers to seawater below freezing temperature, is crucial as it directly or indirectly influences basal ice melting. However, direct observations are extremely challenging, leaving this understanding unclear. To tackle this issue, we utilized a numerical model to gain insight into the fundamental characteristics of ISW. We demonstrated that the direction and magnitude of ocean currents beneath the ice shelf play a significant role in determining the thickness and properties of ISW. Moreover, the key factor in basal melting was the northward movement of meltwater from intense ice melting regions near the grounding line. This movement determined the spatial distribution of ocean temperature and salinity. The horizontal gradient of ocean temperature and salinity induces mixing and horizontal intrusion. Interestingly, these mixing and intrusion phenomena occur in opposite directions, resulting in a wiggling pattern in the velocity profile. The main findings of our study will contribute to the formulation of a parameterization for basal melting, which can be incorporated into large‐scale ocean models or ice sheet dynamics models. Key Points: Direction and magnitude of ocean currents beneath an Larsen C ice shelf affect the ice shelf water thickness and propertiesNorthward meltwater advection causes 0.052°C difference of thermal drivings with different melt rates far from and near the grounding lineOcean heat intrusion to ice shelf base is induced by Ekman dynamics and thermohaline interleaving by tilted isopycnals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity has profound effects on neuronal progenitor cell growth, differentiation, and integration, but the mechanism for these effects is still ambiguous. Using a mouse model, we investigated the effects of two weeks of treadmill running on the dynamics of the size distribution and miRNA profiles of serum extracellular derivatives (EDs) using particle-sizing analysis and small RNA sequencing. We found that an increased average diameter of EDs in the running group compared with the sedentary group (p < 0.05), and 16 miRNAs were significantly altered (p < 0.05) in the running group. Furthermore, functional annotation analysis of differentially expressed miRNA-predicted target genes showed that many of these target genes are involved in the PI3K-Akt pathway. Exercise-induced serum EDs increased Neuro2A cell viability and Akt phosphorylation. We also found that expression levels of neuronal maturation markers such as Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 (MAP2ab) and Neuronal nuclei (NeuN) were increased (p < 0.05, respectively), and that inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway by LY294002 pre-treatment ameliorated their expression in Neuro2A cells. Finally, the administration of exercise-induced EDs for 3 days increased the Histone 3 phosphorylation and β-III tubulin expression in Ink/Arf null neural stem cells and progenitors (NSPCs) under each proliferation and differentiation condition. These results suggest that exercise-induced circulating EDs may mediate neuronal maturation during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the isotopic modification of ice by melting processes is important for improving the accuracy in paleoclimate reconstruction. To this end, we present results from cold room laboratory observations of changes in the isotopic ratio (D/H and 18O/16O) of ice cubes by isotopic exchange between liquid water and ice in nearly isothermal conditions. A 1-D model was fit to the isotopic results by adjusting the values of two parameters, the isotopic exchange rate constant (k r) and the fraction of ice participating in the exchange (f). We found that the rate constant for hydrogen isotopic exchange between liquid water and ice may be greater (up to 40%) than that for the oxygen isotopic exchange. The range of the rate constant obtained from four melt experiments is from 0.21 to 0.82 h–1. The model results also suggest that f decreases with the increasing wetness of the ice. This is because with increasing water saturation in ice, water may be present only in the small pores or some of the water that was exchanged with ice may be bypassed, decreasing the effective surface area over which the isotopic exchange can occur. The relationship between the two water isotopes (δ 18O vs δ D) was observed and modeled and the slope was <8, which is significantly different from the slope of the meteoric waterline. We note that these slopes were obtained without considering the sublimation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice melting beneath Antarctic ice shelves is caused by heat transfer through the ice-shelf–ocean boundary layer (IOBL). However, our understanding of the fluid dynamics and thermohaline physics of the IOBL flow is poor. In this study, we utilize a large-eddy simulation (LES) model to investigate ocean dynamics and the role of turbulence within the IOBL flow near the ice front. To simulate the varying turbulence intensities, we imposed different theoretical profiles of the velocity. Far-field ocean conditions for the melting at the ice-shelf base and freezing at the sea surface were derived based on in situ observations of temperature and salinity near the ice front of the Nansen Ice Shelf. In terms of overturning features near the ice front, we validated the LES simulation results by comparing them with the in situ observational data. In the comparison of the velocity profiles to shipborne lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler (LADCP) data, the LES-derived strength of the overturning cells is similar to that obtained from the observational data. Moreover, the vertical distribution of the simulated temperature and salinity, which were mainly determined by the positively buoyant meltwater and sea-ice formation, was also comparable to that of the observations. We conclude that the IOBL flow near the ice front and its contribution to the ocean dynamics can be realistically resolved using our proposed method. Based on validated 3D-LES results, we revealed that the main forces of ocean dynamics near the ice front are driven by positively buoyant meltwater, concentrated salinity at the sea surface, and outflowing momentum of the sub-ice-shelf plume. Moreover, in the strong-turbulence case, distinct features such as a higher basal melt rate (0.153 m yr -1), weak upwelling of the positively buoyant ice-shelf water, and a higher sea-ice formation were observed, suggesting a relatively high speed current within the IOBL because of highly turbulent mixing. The findings of this study will contribute toward a deeper understanding of the complex IOBL-flow physics and its impact on the ocean dynamics near the ice front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mt. Melbourne is a late Cenozoic intraplate volcano located ∼30 km northeast of Jang Bogo Station in Antarctica. The volcano is quiescent with fumarolic activity at the summit. To monitor volcanic activity and glacial movements near Jang Bogo Station, a seismic network was installed during the 2010–11 Antarctic summer field season. The network is maintained during the summer field season every year, and the number of stations has been increased. We used continuous seismic data recorded by the network and an Italian seismic station (TNV) at Mario Zucchelli Station to develop a 3-D P-wave velocity model for the Mt. Melbourne area based on the teleseismic P-wave tomographic method. The new 3-D model presented a relative velocity structure for the lower part of the crust and upper mantle between depths of 30 and 160 km and revealed the presence of two low-velocity anomalies beneath Mt. Melbourne and the Priestley Fault. The low-velocity anomaly beneath Mt. Melbourne may be caused by the edge flow of hot mantle material at the lithospheric step between the thick East Antarctic Craton and thin Ross Sea crust. The other low-velocity anomaly along the Priestley Fault may have been beneath Mt. Melbourne and moved to the southern tip of the Deep Freeze Range, where the crustal thickness is relatively thin. The anomaly was trapped on the fault line and laterally flowed along the fault line in the northwest direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: The earlier decompression is carried out, the better the result. However, decompression delayed a few days beyond 2 weeks after onset of facial paralysis can benefit the recovery of facial function in patients when combined with early use of steroids with or without antiviral agents. Objectives: To demonstrate the correlation between the time of decompression after the onset of facial paralysis and the facial function after surgery and elucidate the beneficial effect of decompression delayed a few days beyond the 2 week period on recovery of facial function in patients who had received early steroid treatment. Patients and methods: Between April 1994 and December 2007, 91 patients with complete facial paralysis who had received early treatment with steroid with or without antiviral agents were included in the study. An independent sample t test was used to analyze the recovery of facial function in patients receiving surgical decompression at different times after onset of paralysis and medical treatment only. Results: Functional gain according to the House-Brackman (HB) grade was 4.05±0.96 for early decompression, 3.63±0.58 for delayed decompression, 2.90±0.76 for late decompression, and 2.51±0.85 for medical treatment only. Delayed decompression significantly improved the functional outcome of patients compared with late decompression and medical treatment only ( p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Videooculography (VOG) is an eye movement measurement method used in the objective evaluation of vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VOR). An important requirement of VOG is to accurately estimate pupil center and ocular torsion, irrespective of drooping eyelids, eyelashes, corneal reflection, and blinking. Finding the accurate center of the pupil is particularly important in three-dimensional VOG, since otherwise, significant errors can occur in measuring torsional eye movement. A fast algorithm was proposed to accurately ascertain the pupil center, in spite of the complicating factors mentioned above. In this study, real-time three-dimensional VOG, which can measure horizontal, vertical, and torsional eye movements and calculate the pupil radius, was implemented using the proposed method. When the pupil radius was determined, the vertical position was measured within an error margin of less than 3%, even though only 10% of the pupil was visible. The time required to measure both three-dimensional eye movements and the pupil radius was less than 16ms. Thus, eye movements can be measured in real-time. The resolutions of horizontal, vertical, and torsional eye movement were 0.2°, 0.2°, and 0.1°, respectively, with maximum ranges of ±35°, ±25°, and ±18°. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This is the first report on the fabrication of AlGaN/GaN HFETs which has a recessed gate structure achieved by the photoelectrochemical etching technique. Optimal photoelectrochemical wet etching conditions were stabilized and applied for the device fabrication. The DC and large-signal RF performance of thus fabricated device is presented as well. The ohmic contacts fabricated on the n+-GaN layer exhibited contact resistivity of mid 10−6 Ω cm2 and resulted in a linear I–V characteristics during an operation of device. The maximum drain–source current density is approximately 174 mA mm−1 (at VGS=1 V), and the transconductance of approximately 68 mS mm−1 (at VGS=−1.1 V, VDS=6 V). The maximum frequency is measured to be approximately 31 GHz, and an RF power of 84 mW mm−1 at 1.8 GHz for a 1400-μm wide gate device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent technical advances now permit the serial culture of normal human middle ear epithelial (NHMEE) cells. However, the ciliary differentiation of these cells has not been achieved. The purpose of this study was to establish a culture system in order to differentiate serially cultured NHMEE cells into ciliated cells. If ciliated cells developed, the percentages of ciliated cells and secretory cells were measured throughout the duration of culture. We also examined the levels of mucin and lysozyme secretion and their mRNAs in a time-dependent manner. Human middle ear mucosa with a normal appearance was harvested and serially cultured after enzymatic disaggregation. These cells were cultured in an air-liquid interface (ALI) culture system for 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after confluence. Ciliogenesis usually began 16-18 days after confluence. The percentage of ciliated cells detected by means of immunohistochemical staining increased over time up to a maximum of 10.6% but the percentage of secretory cells remained stable at 40% throughout the duration of culture. By Day 14 after confluence, the amounts of mucin and lysozyme secretion, as measured by dot-blotting analysis, had increased significantly and then remained stable. The expression levels of mucin gene 5B (MUC5B), MUC8 and lysozyme increased with the duration of culture. MUC8 in particular showed a dramatic increase on Day 28 after confluence. In contrast, the level of MUC5AC mRNA peaked on Day 14 after confluence, and then decreased. In conclusion, ciliary differentiation of NHMEE cells can be induced using an ALI culture system. Our study also suggests that secretory function develops earlier than ciliogenesis, and that the expressions of MUC5B and MUC8 mRNAs increase as a function of differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2001, hundreds of thousands of hours of underwater acoustic recordings have been made throughout the Southern Ocean south of 60° S. Detailed analysis of the occurrence of marine mammal sounds in these circumpolar recordings could provide novel insights into their ecology, but manual inspection of the entirety of all recordings would be prohibitively time consuming and expensive. Automated signal processing methods have now developed to the point that they can be applied to these data in a cost-effective manner. However training and evaluating the efficacy of these automated signal processing methods still requires a representative annotated library of sounds to identify the true presence and absence of different sound types. This work presents such a library of annotated recordings for the purpose of training and evaluating automated detectors of Antarctic blue and fin whale calls. Creation of the library has focused on the annotation of a representative sample of recordings to ensure that automated algorithms can be developed and tested across a broad range of instruments, locations, environmental conditions, and years. To demonstrate the utility of the library, we characterise the performance of two automated detection algorithms that have been commonly used to detect stereotyped calls of blue and fin whales. The availability of this library will facilitate development of improved detectors for the acoustic presence of Southern Ocean blue and fin whales. It can also be expanded upon to facilitate standardization of subsequent analysis of spatiotemporal trends in call-density of these circumpolar species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 2016–2017 austral summer, the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) and the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) collaborated to perform a helicopter-based radar and laser altimeter survey of lower David Glacier with the goals of characterizing the subglacial water distribution that supports a system of active subglacial lakes and informing the site selection for a potential subglacial access drilling project. This survey overlaps with and expands upon an earlier survey of the Drygalski Ice Tongue and the David Glacier grounding zone from 2011 and 2012 to create a 5 km resolution survey extending 200 km upstream from the grounding zone. The surveyed region covers two active subglacial lakes and includes reflights of ICESat ground tracks that extend the surface elevation record in the region. This is one of the most extensive aerogeophysical surveys of an active lake system and provides higher-resolution boundary conditions and basal characterizations that will enable process studies of these features. This paper introduces a new helicopter-mounted ice-penetrating radar and laser altimetry system, notes a discrepancy between the original surface-elevation-derived lake outlines and locations of possible water collection based on basal geometry and hydraulic potential, and presents radar-based observations of basal conditions that are inconsistent with large collections of ponded water despite laser altimetry showing that the hypothesized active lakes are at a highstand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctica's Getz Ice Shelf has been rapidly thinning in recent years, producing more meltwater than any other ice shelf in the world. The influx of fresh water is known to substantially influence ocean circulation and biological productivity, but relatively little is known about the factors controlling basal melt rate or how basal melt is spatially distributed beneath the ice shelf. Also unknown is the relative importance of subglacial discharge from the grounded ice sheet in contributing to the export of fresh water from the ice shelf cavity. Here we compare the observed spatial distribution of basal melt rate to a new sub-ice-shelf bathymetry map inferred from airborne gravity surveys and to locations of subglacial discharge from the grounded ice sheet. We find that melt rates are high where bathymetric troughs provide a pathway for warm Circumpolar Deep Water to enter the ice shelf cavity and that melting is enhanced where subglacial discharge fresh water flows across the grounding line. This is the first study to address the relative importance of meltwater production of the Getz Ice Shelf from both ocean and subglacial sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Head and neck tumors are a heterogeneous group and often invade the skull base. Various radiation techniques can be used for these tumors when surgery is unavailable. This study investigated the indications for gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in benign head and neck tumors. Methods Thirty-seven lesions in 35 patients were treated with GKRS for schwannoma, juvenile nasal angiofibroma, choroidal hemangioma, and pleomorphic adenoma. The median follow-up period was 43.0 months (range, 12.2–174.1 months). Results Tumor control was achieved in 35 of 37 lesions (94.6%) at last follow-up after GKRS. Thirty-four lesions (91.9%) decreased, 1 lesion (2.7%) remained stable, and 2 lesions (5.4%) increased in size. Clinically, 15 cases (40.5%) showed improvement, 17 cases (45.9%) were stable, 1 case (2.7%) experienced deterioration, and 4 cases (10.8%) developed new symptoms. Four of the 5 cases that exhibited deterioration or new symptoms improved. Conclusions GKRS is a reasonable alternative to surgery that can effectively control tumor growth and preserve functions of the head and neck in primary, residual, or recurrent benign head and neck tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrays of hydrophones were deployed within the Bransfield Strait and Scotia Sea (Antarctic Peninsula region) from 2005 to 2009 to record ambient ocean sound at frequencies of up to 125 and 500 Hz. Icequakes, which are broadband, short duration signals derived from fracturing of large free-floating icebergs, are a prominent feature of the ocean soundscape. Icequake activity peaks during austral summer and is minimum during winter, likely following freeze-thaw cycles. Iceberg grounding and rapid disintegration also releases significant acoustic energy, equivalent to large-scale geophysical events. Overall ambient sound levels can be as much as ~10–20 dB higher in the open, deep ocean of the Scotia Sea compared to the relatively shallow Bransfield Strait. Noise levels become lowest during the austral winter, as sea-ice cover suppresses wind and wave noise. Ambient noise levels are highest during austral spring and summer, as surface noise, ice cracking and biological activity intensifies. Vocalizations of blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin (B. physalus) whales also dominate the long-term spectra records in the 15–28 and 89 Hz bands. Blue whale call energy is a maximum during austral summer-fall in the Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait when ambient noise levels are a maximum and sea-ice cover is a minimum. Fin whale vocalizations were also most common during austral summer-early fall months in both the Bransfield Strait and Scotia Sea. The hydrophone data overall do not show sustained anthropogenic sources (ships and airguns), likely due to low coastal traffic and the typically rough weather and sea conditions of the Southern Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Patients with post-lingual deafness should not be excluded from cochlear implantation (CI) on the basis of duration of deafness. We found that the prognosis was favorable in patients who developed deafness after adolescence, even in those with extremely long-term deafness. Objectives: CI is an effective treatment for post-lingual deafness. However, it remains unclear whether CI would benefit patients with extremely long-term deafness. We evaluated the auditory performance after CI of patients who had been deaf for more than 30 years. Methods: The study enrolled 81 adults with post-lingual deafness. Speech perception tests were performed preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively, and factors affecting the postoperative auditory performance were investigated. The subjects were divided into groups according to the duration of deafness and the postoperative speech perception scores were compared. Results: A marked improvement in the open-set speech perception scores (mono/disyllabic words and sentences) after implantation was seen in all groups, and no significant difference in the improvement in speech perception scores was observed among the groups. Age at onset of deafness was closely related to the postoperative performance, and patients who had lost their hearing before adolescence performed poorly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) or branchio-otic (BO) syndrome is one of the most common forms of autosomal dominant syndromic hearing loss. Mutations in EYA1, SIX1 and SIX5 genes have been associated with BOR syndrome. In this study, clinical and genetic analyses were performed in patients with BOR/BO syndrome focusing on auditory manifestations and rehabilitation. Methods: The audiologic manifestations were reviewed in 10 patients with BOR/BO syndrome. The operative findings and hearing outcome were analyzed in patients who underwent middle ear surgeries. The modality and outcome of auditory rehabilitation were evaluated. Genetic analysis was performed for EYA1, SIX1, and SIX5 genes. Results: All patients presented with mixed hearing loss. Five patients underwent middle ear surgeries without successful hearing gain. Cochlear implantation performed in two patients resulted in significant hearing improvement. Genetic analysis revealed four novel EYA1 mutations and a large deletion encompassing the EYA1 gene. Conclusions: Auditory rehabilitation in BOR/BO syndrome should be individually tailored keeping in mind the high failure rate after middle ear surgeries. Successful outcome can be expected with cochlear implantations in patients with BOR/BO syndrome who cannot benefit from hearing aids. The novel EYA1 mutations may add to the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of BOR syndrome in the East Asian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Visulization of endolymphatic hydrops has been reported using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with Meniere''s disease. However, the relationship between the endolymphatic hydrops visualized by MRI and audio-vestibular functional tests have not been sufficiently investigated, such as pure tone audiometry (PTA), electrocochleography (EcoG), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP). Methods: Here we attempted to visualize endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Meniere''s disease using 3Tesla (3T)-MRI following intratympanic gadolinium-diethylene-triamnie petaaetic acidbis (Gd-DTPA) injection and correlated the presence of hydrops with auditory testing. Following intratympanic Gd-DTPA contrast injections in 26 patients diagnosed as having definite Meniere''s disease, 3D-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence imagings were performed. The PTA, EcoG, and VEMP testing was done bilaterally. Patients had typical results of auditory testing for Meniere''s disease. Results: The 3D-FLAIR MRI clearly demonstrated endolymphatic hydrops with signal voids in the cochlea (81%) and saccule (69%) in the definite Meniere''s disease group. Auditory tests verified that the visualized cochlear hydrops (basal turn) was correlated with a high tone hearing threshold in PTA and an abnormal EcoG. Though the absence of VEMP did not correlate with vestibular hydrops on MRI, large vestibular hydrops were detected by imaging. This study demonstrates that endolymphatic hydrops could be visualized by 3D-FLAIR MRI in Meniere''s disease patients. Conclusion: Cochlea hydrops and vestibular (saccular) hydrops are readily visualized using these techniques. Hydrops, as visualized on MRI, may be a reliable means to diagnosis Meniere''s disease; this is supported by appropriate correlations with auditory vestibular functional testing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Accurate evaluation of middle ear function is a challenge especially in babies referred from newborn hearing screening programs. The aim was to assess the feasibility of tympanometry using 226- and 1000-Hz probe tones in neonates. Methods: Hearing was evaluated by transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) in 96 ears of healthy neonates in well-baby nursery. Babies with risk factors for hearing loss as identified in Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH, 1994) were excluded. Tympanograms recorded with 226 and 1000Hz probe tones were analyzed and classified. Results: Tympanograms were classified according to Method A (Jerger/Liden) and visual classification systems, Method B (adapted from Marchant et al.) and Method C (adapted from Kei et al.), without difficulty. In 72 ears with normal TEOAE, 226Hz tympanograms were classified as normal in 72 ears in Methods A and B, and 16 ears in Method C. 1000Hz tympanograms were normal in 68 ears in Method A, 72 ears in Method B and 68 ears in Method C. In 24 ears with abnormal TEOAE, 226Hz tympanograms were interpreted as normal in most ears (23 ears in Method A, 24 ears in Method B), whereas 1000Hz tympanograms were abnormal in 13 ears in Method A and 6 ears in Method B, possibly reflecting middle ear dysfunction. Conclusion: In healthy neonates without risk factors for hearing loss, 1000Hz tympanograms can be recorded and interpreted. A single-peaked tympanograms was most common in ears with normal TEOAE. In ears with abnormal TEOAE, tympanograms were classified as abnormal more frequently using 1000Hz than 226Hz. Implementation of tympanometry using 1000Hz probe tone in newborn hearing screening programs may provide valuable information regarding middle ear dysfunction that may cause transient conductive hearing loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To present the surgical outcomes of complete removal of the matrix of labyrinthine fistulas in a large series of middle ear cholesteatomas. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study. We analyzed 38 of 778 patients who were operated on for cholesteatoma and were proved to have labyrinthine fistula from 1991 to 2007. For this study, a more aggressive strategy was adopted that compromised immediate total removal of the matrix, regardless of size. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the procedure, pre and postoperative pure-tone audiometry were compared and the recurrence rate was analyzed. Relevant data from the literature using a wide array of strategies were compared with our results. Results: Only two patients suffered from postoperative hearing deterioration of bone conduction of more than 10dB HL. There was no relationship between the size of labyrinthine fistulas and postoperative hearing deterioration. Recurrence of labyrinthine fistulas was not found. Conclusions: Total removal of the cholesteatoma matrix in one step is a safe and effective method for the treatment of labyrinthine fistulas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: We evaluated outcomes and their significance of a new treatment method for horizontal canal cupulolithiasis that could be applied regardless of the side of the cupula where otoliths are attached. Methods: Consecutive 78 patients who showed persistent apogeotropic horizontal canal positional vertigo (horizontal canal cupulolithiasis) were enrolled, and they were treated with the new cupulolith repositioning maneuver. Results: Horizontal semicircular canal cupulolithiasis was alleviated in 97.4% of patients, after an average of 2.1 repetitions of the maneuver. Otoliths were suspected to be attached to the canal side of the cupula in 30 cases and the utricular side in 44 cases. Conclusion: The cupulolith repositioning maneuver is an effective method for treating horizontal canal cupulolithiasis. It may also provide an insight into the side of the cupula where otoliths are attached. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Most of the patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) experience sudden hearing deterioration, but the exact mechanism is unclear. We analyzed magnetic resonance (MR) images and the cellular components of endolymph obtained from the endolymphatic sac in patients with EVA, in order to demonstrate the cause of sudden hearing loss. Methods: A total of 25 patients (50 ears) with EVA, who had severe to profound hearing loss, were included in this retrospective clinical study. MR examinations were performed by a 3.0-T MR system using an 8-channel sensitivity-encoding head coil. We analyzed endolymphatic fluid harvested from the endolymphatic sac during cochlear implantations in four patients. Results: The area of low signal intensity in the endolymphatic sac was observed on T2-weighted MR images for 15 of 50 ears. This area was observed more frequently in patients who experienced recent sudden hearing loss (10/12, 83%) than those with stable hearing (5/38, 13%)(Fisher''s exact test, p <0.001). In addition, this area showed high signal intensity on fluid attenuated inversion recovery images. Cytologic analysis of the aspirated endolymph from the endolymphatic sac in the patients with this area revealed many erythrocytes. Conclusion: Our data suggests that hemorrhage in the endolymphatic sac could be a cause of sudden hearing deterioration in patients with EVA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Lateral line system of the zebrafish is a useful model for study of hair cell toxicity and regeneration. We found that low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) stimulated the regeneration of mechanosensory hair cells after neomycin-induced cell death in zebrafish lateral line. The aims of this study were to quantify the regenerative effects of LMWF and determine their relationship to the Notch and FGF signaling pathways. Methods: Wild-type zebrafish and three different transgenic zebrafish lines (Pou4f3::GFP, scm1::GFP, and ET20::GFP) were used. At 4.5–6 days post-fertilization, lateral line hair cells of larvae were eliminated using neomycin (500 μM). Larvae were then treated with LMWF. Neuromasts were observed using confocal microscopy. Stereocilia morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy, and the location and status of regeneration was assessed using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. Results: Hair cells damaged by neomycin treatment regenerated faster in wild-type and Pou4f3::GFP larvae treated with LMWF (50 μg/ml) than in untreated controls. LMWF also enhanced the regeneration of supporting cells in scm1::GFP and ET20::GFP larvae. Increased numbers of BrdU-labeled cells were found after LMWF treatment in neuromast regions corresponding to internal and peripheral supporting cells. The effect of LMWF was mimicked by the Notch signaling inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-1-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT), but the effects of LMWF and DAPT were not additive. Conclusion: LMWF enhances the regeneration of hair cells damaged by neomycin. The mechanism may involve the Notch signaling pathway. LMWF shows promise as a therapeutic agent for hearing and balance disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

One of the major occupational hazards of working in military service is being subjected to intense impulse noise. We analyzed the clinical presentation of acoustic traumas, induced by mass rifle gunshot noise during military training, in unprotected patients. We evaluated 189 soldiers who had otologic symptoms after rifle shooting exercises without using any hearing protection. All soldiers had been training on the K2 rifle. We took medical histories; conducted physical examinations and hearing evaluations (pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and impedence audiometry); and distributed the Newmann's Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) survey. In addition, we evaluated a normal control group of 64 subjects of similar age who had never fired a rifle. In the patient group, the most common and irritating reported symptom was tinnitus (94.2%), and the average THI score in the patient group was 39.51 ± 14.87, which was significantly higher than the control group score (0.56 ± 3.94) (p < 0.001). Average outcomes of post-exposure air conduction thresholds were 21.33 ± 13.25 dB HL in the affected ears. These levels also were significantly higher than those of the control group (9.16 ± 4.07dB HL) (p < 0.001). Hearing loss was most prominent at high frequencies. An asymmetry of hearing loss related to head position during shooting was not observed. Acoustic trauma induced by gunshot noise can cause permanent tinnitus and hearing loss. Hearing protection (bilateral earplugs) and environmental reform are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The management of the facial nerve in tumorous temporal lesions is particularly challenging due to its complex anatomic location and potential postoperative complications, including permanent facial paralysis. The most important concern regarding surgical treatment of a tumorous temporal lesion is the inevitable facial paralysis caused by nerve injury during the tumor removal, especially in patients with minimal to no preoperative facial nerve dysfunction. We describe successful four cases in which various surgical techniques were developed for the preservation of the facial nerve in treatment of intratemporal tumorous lesions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conclusion: This study demonstrates good correlation between enhanced MRI and surgical findings. Objectives: This study investigated the reliability of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to make a surgical decision on the strategy for facial nerve decompression in herpes zoster oticus, by determining the degree of correlation between contrast enhancement in MRI and the pathologic change in the facial nerve. Subjects and methods: This retrospective study of 13 patients, who underwent facial nerve decompression with herpes zoster oticus, was designed to compare gadolinium-enhanced segment of facial nerve on MRI and the pathologically changed segment confirmed by surgical exploration, grouping them by the timing of operation after onset of facial paralysis. Results: Commonly enhanced segments on MRI were the labyrinthine, intracanalicular, and geniculate ganglion, found in 84%, 69%, and 69% of all patients, respectively. The most common pathologic segment was the labyrinthine segment (92%), followed by the geniculate ganglion (84%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions. Quantitative analysis of the facial nerve on the lesion side as well as the normal side, which allowed for more accurate measurement of facial nerve enhancement in patients with facial palsy, showed statistically significant correlation with the initial severity of facial nerve inflammation, although little prognostic significance was shown. Objectives. This study investigated the clinical significance of quantitative measurement of facial nerve enhancement in patients with Bell's palsy by analyzing the enhancement pattern and correlating MRI findings with initial severity of facial palsy and clinical outcome. Subjects and methods. Facial nerve enhancement was measured quantitatively by using the region of interest on pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted images in 44 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy. The signal intensity increase on the lesion side was first compared with that of the contralateral side and then correlated with the initial degree of facial palsy and prognosis. Results. The lesion side showed significantly higher signal intensity increase compared with the normal side in all of the segments except for the mastoid segment. Signal intensity increase at the internal auditory canal and labyrinthine segments showed correlation with the initial degree of facial palsy but no significant difference was found between different prognostic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions. Polycel® is an effective material to use in ossiculoplasty. Good prognostic factors for hearing improvement after ossiculoplasty were healthy middle ear mucosa and the presence of stapes superstructure. Objective. During the last decade, the surgical use of alloplasts has become increasingly widespread among otologists. This study aimed to evaluate the hearing results after ossiculoplasty using Polycel® prosthesis. Materials and methods. We retrospectively reviewed 188 patients who underwent ossicular chain reconstruction using Polycel® prosthesis and were followed up postoperatively for more than 12 months at Severance Eye-ENT Hospital from 1998 to 2002. Postoperative hearing results were assessed by measuring the postoperative air–bone gap (ABG) and closure of the ABG. Successful postoperative ABG criteria were defined as the following three measurements: ABG of ≤10 dB, ABG of ≤20 dB, and ABG of ≤30 dB. Several prognostic factors were analyzed, including the condition of the middle ear mucosa and ossicles, the presence or absence of cholesteatoma, surgical method, and staging and revision surgery. Results. Of the 188 cases, 22 cases (11.7%) showed an ABG of ≤10 dB, 96 cases (51.1%) presented with an ABG of ≤20 dB, and 158 cases (84.0%) had an ABG of ≤30 dB. In cases with healthy middle ear mucosa and the presence of stapes superstructure, the hearing results were good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Conventional surgical approaches for tonsillar carcinomas have a great risk for developing treatment-related morbidity. To minimize this morbidity, transoral lateral oropharyngectomy (TLO) using the robotic surgical system was performed, and the efficacy and feasibility of this procedure was evaluated. TLO was performed using the da Vinci surgical robot (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA). It consists of a surgeon’s console and a manipulator cart equipped with three robotic arms. The surgeon is provided with three-dimensional magnified images from the endoscopic arm and can control two instrument arms for delicate operations from the console. Safe resection of tonsillar carcinoma was possible with the three-dimensional magnified images. When proceeding with resection of the buccopharyngeal fascia, we could prevent damage to the carotid artery, which is located posterolateral to the tonsillar fossa, since the joint at the distal part of the robotic arm can be bent freely from side to side. By using the 30° endoscope, we can achieve a better surgical view of the base of the tongue area. TLO was performed successfully in all five patients without surgical complications. The mean operating time was 44min, and an average of 19min was required for setting up the robotic system. TLO using the robotic system will be a good option for organ preservation therapy in the treatment of carcinomas of the tonsil and the tonsillar fossa in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Drygalski Ice Tongue is one of the largest ice tongues in Antarctica, extending 140 km into the Ross Sea. The ice tongue prevents the break up of sea ice within the Ross Sea and may also impact polynya formation within Terra Nova Bay to the North. We use a combination of remote sensing techniques and numerical modelling to examine the stability of the ice tongue.In 2005, iceberg B15-A collided with the tongue terminus, breaking off a large section of ice. In 2006, iceberg C-16 collided with the terminus, resulting in a total loss of 11 km in length from both calving events. These events have been captured in Landsat 7, MODIS, and ENVISAT ASAR imagery and provide an opportunity to examine pre- and post-calving properties of the ice tongue to determine how the tongue reacts after large mass loss. We use Landsat GoLIVE products from 2014 to 2017 to calculate ice strain, which we compare with the location of basal channels identified from aerial ice penetrating radar surveys and inversion of surface DEMs. We also apply feature tracking to four large crevasses using Landsat imagery from 1988 to 2017 to determine velocity along the tongue and rate of change of the frontal position. Water flux rates and subglacial channel location over the grounding line are determined by applying the Glacier Drainage System (GlaDS) model to the David Glacier catchment, which feeds into Drygalski Ice Tongue. Preliminary results suggest that there is a relationship between calving events, ice tongue velocity, and formation of new crevasses. These crevasses in turn control the location of future calving. There is also a relationship between basal channel location and ice surface strain rates, which may impact the transverse propagation distance of the marginal crevasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A part of the Southern Ocean, the Ross Sea, together with the Ross Ice Shelf and the atmosphere over the region represent a coupled system with respect to the low-frequency (with the periods longer than 1 hour) wave processes observed in the three media. We study interconnections between them using a unique combination of geophysical sensors: hydrophones measuring pressure variations on the bottom of the open ocean, seismographs measuring vertical displacements of the surface of the Ross Ice Shelf, and the Jang Bogo Dynasonde system measuring wave parameters at the altitudes of the lower thermosphere. Analysis of a year-long data sets from Ross Ice Shelf-based instruments reveals presence in their average power spectra of the peaks in the 2-11 hours period range that may be associated with the low-order resonance vibrations of the system. More harmonics of the 24 hour tide (seven) are detected by the RIS seismographs compared to the sea floor sensor (where only two are clearly visible). This may be a consequence of the RIS resonance-related broadband amplification effect predicted by our model. There are several peaks in the RIS vibration spectrum (T = 8.37, 8.23, 6.3 and 6.12 hours) that are not detected by the hydrophone and may be directly related to RIS resonances. The prominent T = 25.81 hour peak is a likely candidate for the sub-inertial RIS resonance. The periods of lower RIS resonance modes predicted by our simple model and the observed spectral peaks are in the same general band. This is the first direct observation of the resonance effects in vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf. Our results demonstrate the key role of the resonances of the Ross Ice Shelf in maintaining the wave activity in the entire coupled system. We suggest that the ocean tide is a major source of excitation of the Ross Ice Shelf's resonances. The ice shelf vibrations may also be supported by the energy transfer from wind, swell, and infragravity wave energy that couples with the ice shelf. Overlapping 6-month-long data sets reveal a significant linear correlation between the spectra of the vertical shifts of the Ross Ice Shelf and of the thermospheric waves with the periods of about 2.1, 3.7, and 11.1 hours. This result corroborates earlier lidar observations of persistent atmospheric wave activity over McMurdo. We propose a theory that quantifies the nexus between the ocean tide and the resonance vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf. It complements the theoretical model of the process of generating the atmospheric waves by the resonance vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf published by us earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]