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Agriculture is the largest water consumer, with 70% of global water withdrawals being used for irrigation. Water scarcity issues are being exacerbated by drought and population increases, making efficient water resource management in agricultural production increasingly important. The objective of this article is to evaluate the use of short-term weather forecasts for agricultural drought prediction. A crop-specific, linear regression drought analysis technique was used in this study. This study takes place in the upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) in west Texas. Five variables associated with agricultural drought (precipitation, temperature, biomass production, soil moisture depletion, and transpiration) were scaled and used to estimate cotton yields. The yield percentiles were used as a drought index. Precipitation and temperature were forecasted with a two-week lead time using probable scenarios based on historical data. The other three variables were estimated using the SWAT model. Forecasts were generated for each week of the growing season from 2010 through 2013. Four statistics were used to evaluate model performance, including the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (NSE), the coefficient of determination (R²), and two error indices, the percent bias (PBIAS) and the RMSE-observations standard deviation ratio (RSR). Comparing the variables using the forecasted weather data to those using the observed weather data revealed that four of the five performed satisfactorily. Temperature performed the best statistically, with an NSE of 0.85 and PBIAS of 9.4%. Precipitation (NSE = 0.51, PBIAS = -34%), cumulative biomass (NSE = 0.69, PBIAS = -38%), and transpiration (NSE = 0.53, PBIAS = 11%) also performed well. However, the soil moisture depletion forecasts (NSE = 0.28, PBIAS = 11%) were unsatisfactory. The forecasted cotton yield trends (NSE = 0.72, PBIAS = -12%) and drought index (NSE = 0.76, PBIAS = -13%) both performed satisfactorily, indicating that this forecasting method may be used for decision making related to agricultural water management, including irrigation timing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevailing definition of drought is low moisture conditions over a period of time; however, no single definition exists for drought. The numerous drought definitions and classifications have led to many indices that attempt to quantify drought. Most of these indices rely on a single variable, such as precipitation or soil moisture, and do not consider crop-specific information such as threshold values, which cause crop stress when exceeded. An example of a crop threshold is the soil moisture value below which the crop experiences stress. The goal of this study was to provide a new methodology to quantify drought for a specific crop at a specific location, allowing water management decisions on a crop-specific basis. This was achieved by scaling and combining five factors: precipitation, temperature, biomass production, soil moisture, and transpiration. The scaled temperature and soil moisture are calculated using crop-specific stress thresholds, whereas the scaled precipitation is calculated by using location-specific normal values. Transpiration stress is a crop and location specific value that is calculated by comparing the actual transpiration to the daily maximum transpiration. The biomass production is also a crop and location specific value that uses the normal values for linear scaling. The variables are combined with multiple linear regression models that estimate crop yields. A single model is created for each week of the growing season using the variable or variables that are significant for that week. The predicted yield deciles indicate the yield trend based on crop water stress and are therefore used as the crop-specific drought index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An estimated 70% to 80% of water resources are used for agricultural production. Irrigation helps maintain adequate soil moisture for crops; however, drought can impact both the amount of water required for production and crop yields. Different crops are affected by moisture conditions in different ways, as some can handle lower moisture conditions better than others. There are many drought indices that quantify low-moisture conditions, but they are not crop-specific and therefore do not quantify moisture stress for a given crop. The goal of this study was to evaluate a crop-specific drought index by determining the index's ability to reflect yield trends due to moisture conditions. The drought index is a weekly index that uses five variables: precipitation, temperature, biomass production, soil moisture, and transpiration. This article presents a case study that examines the effectiveness of the crop-specific drought index in determining moisture stress to crops by comparing the drought index with annual yield values. The site chosen for this study was the upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) in west Texas because it is prone to drought. Cotton is one of the most widely grown row crops in this region and was therefore used in this study. A hydrologic and crop model, the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was used to determine the biomass production, soil moisture, and transpiration. Observed precipitation and temperature data were also used both in the SWAT model and in the drought index. A multiple linear regression model was created for each week of the growing season because each variable is important during different weeks of the growing season. For example, in the UCRB, soil moisture was found to be more important during the beginning of the growing season, while biomass production was found to be more important during the end of the growing season. Ultimately, the drought index was found to be a good indicator of moisture-related yield conditions, with an R2 of 0.67. This index can be used to assess moisture stress to agricultural crops and aid in management decisions related to irrigation timing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is one of the major crops cultivated in the Texas Rolling Plains region, and it is a major contributor to the regional economy. Cotton cultivation in this region is facing severe challenges due to an increase in the frequency of droughts and a projected decrease in rainfall in the future. Development and evaluation of deficit irrigation strategies for this region could potentially conserve water while maintaining cotton yields. In this study, the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) Cropping System Model (CSM) CROPGRO-Cotton was extensively tested and then used for evaluating various deficit irrigation strategies for this region. The model inputs were obtained from field experiments conducted at Chillicothe, Texas, during four growing seasons: 2008-2010 and 2012. The model was first calibrated using the data from a 100% evapotranspiration (ET) replacement irrigation scheduling experiment conducted in 2012 and then validated on three other irrigation scheduling treatments (75% ET replacement, soil moisture based, and tensiometer based) conducted in the same year. The model was further evaluated using the data from cotton tillage and irrigation experiments conducted in an adjacent field during 2008-2010. The model calibration, validation, and evaluation results were satisfactory except under dry conditions (0% ET replacement and 33% ET replacement). Simulated maximum seed cotton yields under normal and dry weather conditions were achieved at 100% and 110% ET replacement, respectively. Percentage decrease in seed cotton yield was marginal (3.5% to 8.8%) when the amount of irrigation water applied was decreased from 100% to 66% ET replacement under normal rainfall conditions. However, under less than normal rainfall (drier) conditions, the percentage decrease in seed cotton yield was substantial (about 17.5%) when the irrigation strategy was switched from 100% to 70% ET replacement. The simulations demonstrate that adopting deficit irrigation practices under normal weather conditions can conserve water without adversely affecting seed cotton yields. However, under dry conditions, there is a risk of increased yield loss, and therefore producers should consider that risk when adopting deficit irrigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile pyrolysis units have the potential to greatly simplify feedstock logistics by moving pyrolysis equipment to the feedstock production fields to produce bio-oil. The concept is to use mobile pyrolysis units to convert low-density biomass to high-density bio-oil to minimize feedstock transportation costs. A recently published GIS program was used to assess feedstock availability for mobile pyrolysis units in the North Central (NC) region using GIS databases. The feed- stocks chosen for this study were corn stover, energy sorghum, and switchgrass. The GIS program identified optimum locations for mobile pyrolysis stations based on feedstock availability and calculated the routes and distances between the optimum pyrolysis stations. The GIS program utilized a harvest grid concept with the mobile pyrolysis unit located in the center of a square grid cell. It was assumed that the mobile pyrolysis units would move on discrete time steps of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months (stationary). The harvest grid sizes ranged from 2.4 to 9.6 km for corn stover, from 5.0 to 23.0 km for energy sorghum, and from 3.3 to 12.0 km for switchgrass, depending on move times. In the NC region, the distances required to move the mobile pyrolysis unit from one location to the next varied from 2.1 to 138.7 km for corn stover, from 4.4 to 81.0 km for energy sorghum, and from 3.0 to 60.7 km for switchgrass. The distances required to transport bio-oil to the closest oil refineries ranged from 81.0 to 195.0 km for corn stover, from 365.0 to 522.0 km for energy sorghum, and from 192 to 265 km for switchgrass. Using these optimized feedstock logistics, a total of 14,825,993 barrels (2,357,144,597 L) of bio-oil could be produced by 853 mobile pyrolysis units using 25% of the corn stover in Illinois. In Nebraska, 469,287 barrels (74,610,673 L) of bio-oil could be produced by 27 mobile units using energy sorghum, and 903,812 barrels (143,694,630 L) of bio-oil could be produced by 52 mobile units using switchgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive decision-making tool was developed to optimize the use of a fleet of mobile pyrolysis units in the North Central region of the U.S. to produce bio-oil from agricultural feedstocks. The concept is to use mobile pyrolysis units to convert low-density biomass to high-density bio-oil to minimize the cost of feedstock logistics. The feedstocks evaluated in this project included corn stover, energy sorghum, and switchgrass. It was assumed that (1) energy sorghum would replace grain sorghum and (2) switchgrass would be grown on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. A Geographic Information System (GIS) program was developed to optimize the movement of mobile pyrolysis units based on an analysis of transportation networks, cropping patterns, feedstock production rates, and oil refinery locations in the North Central region. The locations of existing corn, sorghum, and CRP fields in the North Central region were obtained from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Model Builder, a utility in ArcGIS, was used to automate the GIS procedures. Network Analysis, an extension of ArcGIS, was used to find the best route to move the mobile pyrolysis units to new locations and to identify the nearest refinery to receive the bio-crude oil. The feedstock input rate for each mobile pyrolysis unit was assumed to be 40 tons/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SWAT model was used to quantify soil erosion losses in surface runoff caused by sorghum residue removal for bioenergy production in the Oso Creek watershed in Nueces County, Texas. The model simulated the removal of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the residue, and the results were compared to the NRCS tolerable soil loss limit of 11.21 tonnes ha-1 year-1 (5 tons acre-1 year-1) for the study area. The analysis found that maximum soil loss of 2.78 tonnes ha-1 (1.24 tons acre-1) occurred during the final year of a ten-year simulation in which 100% of the sorghum residue was removed. Therefore, grain sorghum residue can be completely removed from the Upper Oso Creek watershed without causing soil losses to exceed the tolerable limits of 11.21 tonnes ha-1 year-1 (5 tons acre-1 year-1). However, nutrient losses from residue removal will have to be replaced by fertilizer applications in order to maintain soil productivity. In addition, total residue removal is not recommended on an annual basis since this would deplete organic carbon levels in the soil and reduce soil quality and future productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of shrub clearing on surface and subsurface water movement in the Edwards Aquifer region were investigated using two large-scale rainfall simulation plots. Multiple replications of a large (168 mm) rainfall event were applied at an ashe juniper covered plot before and after shrub removal and at a plot with longstanding herbaceous cover. The study sites were equipped for monitoring of throughfall, stemflow, surface runoff, and soil water. Lateral subsurface flow was measured in a trench at the downhill end of each plot. The canopy plot produced high lateral subsurface flow during rainfall but no surface runoff, even for high rainfall intensities. In contrast, hydrologic response at the inter-canopy plot was dominated by rapid surface runoff Following shrub removal at the canopy plot, water movement beyond the soil layer increased due to reduced canopy interception. Soil water storage capacity at the shrub plot remained small for both conditions, with much water apparently bypassing the litter and soil layers via macropore pathways. This additional water could move off site as macropore flow or remain on site as matrix and conduit storage. Differences in surface runoff and subsurfaceflow are attributable to vegetation and geologic differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycling of manure nutrients through turfgrass sod could affect groundwater quality. The fate of nutrients in transplanted fertilizer- or manure-grown sod of Tifway bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. X C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davey) was compared with that in composted dairy manure (CDM) applied to a sprigged treatment. Leaching loss of NO3-N and dissolved P (DP) in filtrate (<0.45 μm) of leachate was compared among sodded and sprigged treatments during periods 0–50, 60–110, and 330–380 d after planting in lysimeters. In addition, recovery of N and P in turfgrass clippings and a sand medium was quantified. Maintenance applications of CDM or fertilizer P were top-dressed starting 60 d after planting. Leachate was collected and sampled over three simulated rain events during each of the three sampling periods. From 0 d to 50 d after planting, leaching loss of NO3-N from sprigged Tifway totaled 2.0 g m−2 and was 10 times greater than loss from CDM-grown or fertilizer-grown sod. In contrast, DP loss in leachate was ≤0.02 g m−2 and similar among treatments. Surface applications of CDM and fertilizer P and N increased concentration and mass of total Kjeldahl N (TKN) and soil-test P (STP) in surface or subsurface layers of the sand medium. Yet, NO3-N mass in leachate collected over three simulated rain events ranged from 0.0 to only 1.0% of applied N from 60–110 d and 330–380 d after planting. Leaching loss of NO3-N did not differ between the sodded and sprigged treatments after two topdressings of CDM. Similarly, the DP mass recovered in leachate was small (≤0.013 g m−1) and did not differ among treatments during the latter two sampling periods. The mass loss of DP in leachate was typically less than the DP mass applied through irrigation or simulated rain. Importing CDM in sod reduces NO3-N leaching loss compared to sprigged turfgrass amended with CDM, but NO3-N and DP leaching losses are similar during maintenance of CDM-grown and fertilizer-grown sod from 60–110 d to 330–380 d after transplanting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall simulation is a valuable experimental approach to study hydrologic and erosion processes. Most of the rainfall simulation studies done on arid or semi-arid rangelands have been at the small-plot scale, and rarely with water applied above the tree canopy. A new methodology for simulating rainfall above tree canopies at the hillslope scale is presented. The rainfall simulator that was developed consisted of modular components that are easily transported and installed at remote sites on rugged, brush-covered hillslopes. The simulator manifolds, which are equipped with four sprinkler heads, are supported by individual, telescoping masts that can be extended up to 11 m. The masts that support the manifolds are mounted on base plates, designed to facilitate installation on steep hillslopes, the sprinkler-head manifolds are easily installed on the masts using a quick-connect mounting bracket. The rainfall simulator is capable of simulating rainfall from 25 to 250 mm/h at a height of 11 m. The rainfall simulator was field tested on a 7 X 14 m plot with the masts set at a height of 5 m. For simulated rainfall rates of 25, 51, 76, 102, 127 and 153 mm/h, coefficients of uniformity ranged from 58% to 73%. Median raindrop diameters ranged from 1.7 to 2.4 mm, and associated kinetic energies varied from 16.8 to 25.9J/m²-mm. The rainfall simulator has performed well with minimum maintenance and proved to be a cost-effective and efficient research tool for replicating natural, above-canopy rainfall in arid and semiarid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper North Bosque River (UNBR) watershed is under a total maximum daily load (TMDL) mandate to reduce loading of soluble phosphorus (P) in impaired river segments. To address these problems, Texas A&M University researchers have developed a Best Management Practice (BMP) that removes excess nutrients from impaired watersheds through turfgrass sod. Harvest of manure-grown sod removes a thin layer of topsoil along with any residual P in this soil layer. In order to assess the impact of the turfgrass BMP on a watershed scale, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to predict water quality changes among four scenarios in the UNBR watershed. The SWAT model was modified to incorporate turfgrass harvest routines for simulation of manure and soil P export during harvest of turfgrass sod. SWAT simulations of the four BMP scenarios predicted reductions of 20% to 36% for instream P loads in the UNBR depending on manure P rate and areas allotted to sod. In addition, total N load was reduced on average by 31% and sediment load declined on average 16.7% at the watershed outlet. The SWAT model predicted up to 176 kg/ha P was removed per harvest of sod top-dressed with 100 kg manure P/ha. Export increased to 258 kg/ha of P per harvest for the manure P application rate of 200 kg/ha. Depending on the implementation scenario, simulations indicated the turfgrass BMP could export between 262 and 784 metric tons of P out of the UNBR watershed every year [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of a warm season grass (eastern gamagrass), a cool season grass (annual ryegrass) and a rotation of warm and cool season grasses in the remediation of soil freshly contaminated with trinitrotoluene (TNT) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) was evaluated. A total of 96 columns were filled with a Weswood silt loam soil that was mixed with TNT and PBB compounds to a target concentration of 10 mg of each contaminant. Chemical losses during this two-year field lysimeter experiment were similar for all experimental treatments and at all depths. Although higher microbial biomass was found in the rhizosphere soil, enumeration of soil microorganisms revealed a robust population in both the bulk and rhizosphere soils and the microbial growth was not dependent on root exudates only. Microbial degradation rates in the freshly contaminated soil were more affected by soil properties and the chemical characteristics of the contaminant than the presence of roots. The field data collected from the lysimeter experiment was used to calibrate a recently developed phytoremediation model. The phytoremediation computer model successfully simulated TNT soil concentrations in the column lysimeters. The model may be a valuable tool for the selection and optimization of phytoremediation methods at contaminated field sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pesticide aldicarb is extremely soluble in water, which causes it to be mobile in ground water. A field study was conducted to monitor the fate of aldicarb in a poorly drained soil in the North Carolina coastal plain. The research site consisted of three experimental plots with three water-table management treatments: conventional drainage, controlled drainage, and subirrigation. Surface and subsurface drainage rates were measured continuously and water-table elevations were monitored in each plot. A total of 651 soil and water samples were collected over a six-month period. Aldicarb degraded to nontoxic compounds with a half-life of approximately 7 days. The maximum aldicarb loss through drainage outflow and surface runoff was 0.02% and 0.05% of total applied aldicarb, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentiodynamic measurements are used to determine key potentials to classify certain corrosion properties. The material selection for components (e.g. shafts) in corrosive environments is widely based upon these potentiodynamic measurements. Criticism for using these potentials for component design has been expressed in literature. Potentiostatic measurements are known to represent the long term corrosive impact experienced by components in a more realistic manner but are prone to scatter. Therefore a statistical approach called staircase method was adapted to the given electrochemical problem. With using this staircase method, a reliable value for the median potential (threshold potential) can be determined. This potential defines the threshold between anodic dissolution and cathodic protection. For the first time, this newly defined potentiostatic threshold potential is offering a validated median potential value for corrosion prediction in a given corrosion system based on potentiostatic measurements. Threshold potentials for the stainless steel grades 1.4057 and 1.4542 were investigated in aerated electrolytes at 25°C with different chloride ion concentrations.

Rapid soil stabilization after construction in highway right-of-ways is important to limit erosion. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) developed methods for stabilizing constructed soils utilizing compost. Three of the methods are: compost manufactured topsoil (CMT), general-use compost (GUC), and erosion control compost (ECC). Volume- or depth-based compost amendments may promote stabilization by revegetation and thereby reduce runoff and sediment losses. The quantity of compost associated with the application rates may be a potential nonpoint source of dissolved and particulate nutrients. Runoff losses of dissolved and particulate-bound nutrients and particulate matter were observed during eight natural runoff events from soils on an 8.5% slope amended according to TxDOT specifications for CMT, GUC, and ECC. Composted dairy manure (CDM) was used to meet the specifications for the soil amendments. The addition of CDM increased soil test phosphorus (STP) and NO3-N concentrations above the critical nutrient level for Princess Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers). Although the STP and NO3-N concentrations in soil were greatest in the ECC, the ECC was most effective at reducing both runoff and particulate mass loss. The reduced runoff volume from ECC kept total mass loses similar among ECC and CMT and GUC. The benefit of using the ECC was a reduction in runoff depth and particulate loss without greater overall nutrient losses, even though the ECC utilized 262% and 584% more CDM than the CMT and GUC amendments, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Wearing-off symptoms during natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis are characterized by an increase of MS-related symptoms prior to natalizumab administration. The influence of extended interval dosing (EID) on wearing-off symptoms are important to consider, as this might cause hesitancy in initiating or continuing EID., Methods: Participants of the NEXT-MS trial, in which treatment intervals are adjusted based on drug concentrations, were divided into two groups: an extended group containing participants with at least one week of additional interval extension, and a group with a fixed interval during the trial (range 4-7 weeks). Changes in the occurrence, frequency, onset, and severity of wearing-off symptoms were evaluated., Results: 255 participants were included (extended group n = 171, fixed group n = 84). The odds on occurrence of wearing-off symptoms in the extended group did not increase after extending the treatment interval. Additional analyses for frequency, onset, and severity of wearing-off symptoms showed no changes over time. Mean decrease in natalizumab drug concentration did not influence the frequency of wearing-off symptoms., Discussion: Wearing-off symptoms were not reinforced by further extending the natalizumab interval. Wearing-off symptoms might increase in a minority of patients after EID, although our data support the view that wearing-off symptoms appear to be unrelated to the decrease in natalizumab trough drug concentrations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest A.A. Toorop: nothing to disclose. M.H.J. Wessels: nothing to disclose. L.M.Y. Gelissen: nothing to disclose. E. Hoitsma: has accepted (speaker and congress) fees from Merck Serono, Biogen Idec, Roche, and Sanofi Genzyme. E.M.P.E. Zeinstra: reports advisory boards/consultancy fees for Merck, Novartis, Genzyme and Roche. L.C. van Rooij: nothing to disclose. C.E.P. van Munster: nothing to disclose. A. Vennegoor: nothing to disclose. J.P. Mostert: nothing to disclose. B.H.A. Wokke: nothing to disclose. N.F. Kalkers: nothing to disclose. E.L.J. Hoogervorst: nothing to disclose. J.J.J. van Eijk: reports honoraria for advisory boards and/or speakers fee from Merck Serono, Biogen Idec, Sanofi Genzyme, Roche and Novartis. C.M. Roosendaal: nothing to disclose. J.J. Kragt: nothing to disclose. M. Eurelings: nothing to disclose. J. Nielsen: nothing to disclose. J. van Genugten: nothing to disclose. L.G.F. Sinnige: nothing to disclose. M.E. Kloosterziel: nothing to disclose. E.P.J. Arnoldus: nothing to disclose. G.W. van Dijk: nothing to disclose. W.H. Bouvy: nothing to disclose. E.M.M. Strijbis: nothing to disclose. B.W. van Oosten: nothing to disclose. B.A. de Jong: nothing to disclose. B.I. Lissenberg-Witte: nothing to disclose. T. Rispens received funding for research from Genmab and consultancy fees from Novartis. B.M.J. Uitdehaag: reports research support and/or consultancy fees from Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Merck Serono, Roche, and Immunic Therapeutics. J. Killestein: received research grants for multicentre investigator initiated trials DOT-MS trial, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04260711 (ZonMW) and BLOOMS trial (ZonMW and Treatmeds), ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05296161); received consulting fees for F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Biogen, Teva, Merck, Novartis and Sanofi/Genzyme (all payments to institution); reports speaker relationships with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Biogen, Immunic, Teva, Merck, Novartis and Sanofi/Genzyme (all payments to institution); adjudication committee of MS clinical trial of Immunic (payments to institution only). Z.L.E. van Kempen: nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to describe the evolution of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in neonatal encephalopathy (NE) during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and evaluate the association between aEEG parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) injury., Study Design: aEEG data of infants who underwent TH were reviewed for background, sleep wake cycling (SWC), and seizures. Conventional electroencephalography (cEEG) background was assessed from the reports. Discordance of background on aEEG and cEEG was defined if there was a difference in the severity of the background. MRI injury (total score ≥ 5) was assessed by using the Weeke scoring system., Results: A total of 46 infants were included; 23 (50%) with mild NE and 23 (50%) with moderate to severe NE. Comparing mild NE with moderate to severe NE, the initial aEEG background differed with more mild being continuous (70 vs. 52%), with fewer being discontinuous (0 vs. 22%) and flat tracing (0 vs. 4%), whereas burst suppression (4 vs. 4%) and low voltage (26 vs. 18%) did not differ. There was a notably common discordance between the background assessment on cEEG with aEEG in 82% with continuous and 40% low voltage aEEG background. MRI abnormalities were identified in four infants with mild NE and seven infants with moderate to severe NE. MRI injury was associated with aEEG seizures in infants with moderate to severe NE., Conclusion: aEEG seizures are useful to predict MRI injury in moderate to severe NE infants. There is a large discrepancy between aEEG, cEEG, and MRI in neonates treated by TH., Key Points: · MRI injury was identified in 29% of moderate NE infants and in 50% of severe NE infants.. · aEEG seizures were associated with MRI injury in the moderate to severe NE infants.. · MRI injury was identified in 16% infants with mild NE.. · Mild NE infants with normal aEEG were unlikely to have MRI injury.. · There was a large discrepancy between aEEG, cEEG, and MRI in infants treated by TH.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Bohring-Opitz syndrome (BOS) is a rare genetic condition caused by pathogenic variants in ASXL1, which is a gene involved in chromatin regulation. BOS is characterized by severe intellectual disabilities, distinctive facial features, hypertrichosis, facial nevus simplex, severe myopia, a typical posture in infancy, variable anomalies, and feeding issues. Wilms tumor has also been reported in two individuals. We report survey data from the largest known cohort of individuals with BOS with 34 participants from the ASXL Patient-Driven Registry and data on five additional individuals with notable findings. Important or novel findings include hepatoblastoma (n = 1), an additional individual with Wilms tumor, two families with a parent who is mosaic including a pair of siblings, birth weights within the normal range for the majority of participants, as well as presence of craniosynostosis and hernias. Data also include characterization of communication, motor skills, and care level including hospitalization frequency and surgical interventions. No phenotype-genotype correlation could be identified. The ASXL Registry is also presented as a crucial tool for furthering ASXL research and to support the ASXL community., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To assess the association between cerebral saturation (crSO 2 ) using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and brain injury in extremely preterm infants., Study Design: This retrospective study includes 62 infants (<28 weeks gestation) who underwent continuous NIRS monitoring in the first 5 days after birth. Median crSO 2 were compared in 12 h increments between infants with and without germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage (GM/IVH). crSO 2 was also compared by IVH severity, onset, and by grade of injury on term equivalent MRI., Results: After 48 h of life (HOL), infants with GM/IVH had significantly lower crSO 2 than those without GM/IVH in analysis adjusted for potential confounding e.g., at 49-60 HOL (69.5 (66.2, 72.8) vs. 74.7 (71.8, 77.6), p = 0.023). There were no significant differences in crSO 2 by IVH subcategory or injury severity on MRI., Conclusion: Clinical use of NIRS has the potential to identify crSO 2 patterns associated with development of GM/IVH., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Objective: The use of supplemental oxygen in premature infants is essential for survival. However, its use has been associated with unintended complications. The restricted use of oxygen is associated with increased mortality and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), whereas its liberal use is associated with increased risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Although there is no clear consensus on the acceptable oxygen saturation range, clinicians have recently become more liberal with the use of oxygen. We aim to assess (1) the national trends for ROP in very low birth weight preterm infants, and (2) the associated trends in mortality, NEC, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and length of hospital stay (LOS)., Study Design: We analyzed deidentified patient data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) from 2002 to 2017. All infants with gestational age ≤32 weeks and birth weight <1,500 g were included. Trends in ROP, severe ROP, mortality, NEC, IVH, severe IVH, and LOS were analyzed using Jonckheere-Terpstra test., Results: A total of 818,945 neonates were included in the study. The overall mortality was 16.2% and the prevalence of ROP was 17.5%. There was a significant trend for increased ROP over the years ( p  < 0.001). Severe ROP was also significantly increased ( p  < 0.001). This was associated with a significant trend for increased median LOS in survived infants ( p  < 0.001). Mortality was significantly decreased ( p  < 0.001), whereas NEC and severe NEC did not change over time ( p  = 0.222 and p  = 0.412, respectively)., Conclusion: There is a national trend for increased ROP and severe ROP over the 16 years of the study period. This trend was associated with a significant increase in the LOS in survived infants without change in NEC., Key Points: · Prevalence of ROP and severe ROP has increased in VLBW infants over the 16-year study period.. · The prevalence of NEC did not change over the same time period.. · Increased ROP and severe ROP were consistent in all three GA and BW subgroups.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is routinely provided to those with moderate or severe neonatal encephalopathy (NE). Subtle differences exist in the standardized exams used to define NE severity. We aimed to assess if an infant's TH eligibility status differed if they were evaluated using either the NICHD/Neonatal Research Network's (NICHD-NRN) or TOBY/British Association of Perinatal Medicine's (TOBY-BAPM) neurological exam., Methods: Encephalopathic infants ≥36 weeks with evidence of perinatal asphyxia and complete documentation of the neurological exam &lt;6 h of age were included. TH eligibility using the NICHD-NRN and TOBY-BAPM criteria was determined based upon the documented exams., Results: Ninety-one encephalopathic infants were included. Despite good agreement between the two exams (κ = 0.715, p &lt; 0.001), TH eligibility differed between them (p &lt; 0.001). A total of 47 infants were deemed eligible by at least one method-46 using NICHD-NRN and 35 using TOBY-BAPM. Of the 12 infants eligible per NICHD-NRN, but ineligible per TOBY-BAPM, two developed electrographic seizures and seven demonstrated hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury., Conclusions: Both the NICHD-NRN and TOBY-BAPM exams are evidence-based. Despite this, there is a significant difference in the number of infants eligible for TH depending on which exam is used. The NICHD-NRN exam identifies a greater proportion as eligible., Impact: There are subtle differences in the NICHD-NRN and TOBY-BAPM's encephalopathy exams used to determine eligibility for TH. This results in a significant difference in the proportion of infants determined to be eligible for TH depending on which encephalopathy exam is used. The NICHD-NRN encephalopathy exam identifies more infants as being eligible for TH than the TOBY-BAPM encephalopathy exam. This may result in different rates of cooling depending on which evidence-based neurological exam for evaluation of encephalopathy a center uses., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

In premature infants with an extremely low gestational age (ELGA, < 29 weeks GA), dysregulated changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) are among the major pathogenic factors leading to germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage (GM/IVH). Continuous monitoring of CBF can guide interventions to minimize the risk of brain injury, but there are no clinically standard techniques or tools for its measurement. We report the feasibility of the continuous monitoring of CBF, including measures of autoregulation, via diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) in ELGA infants using CBF variability and correlation with scalp blood flow (SBF, served as a surrogate measure of systemic perturbations). In nineteen ELGA infants (with 9 cases of GM/IVH) monitored for 6-24 h between days 2-5 of life, we found a strong correlation between CBF and SBF in severe IVH (Grade III or IV) and IVH diagnosed within 72 h of life, while CBF variability alone was not associated with IVH. The proposed method is potentially useful at the bedside for the prompt assessment of cerebral autoregulation and early identification of infants vulnerable to GM/IVH., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To evaluate the association between hypocapnia within the first 24 h of life and brain injury assessed by a detailed MRI scoring system in infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for neonatal encephalopathy (NE) stratified by the stage of NE., Study Design: This retrospective cohort study included infants who received TH for mild to severe NE., Results: 188 infants were included in the study with 48% having mild and 52% moderate-severe NE. Infants with moderate-severe NE spent more time in hypocapnia (PCO 2  ≤ 35 mmHg) and presented with more severe brain injury on MRI compared to mild cases. The MRI injury score increased by 6% for each extra hour spent in hypocapnic range in infants with moderate-severe NE. There was no association between hypocapnia and injury scores in mild cases., Conclusion: In infants with moderate-severe NE, the hours spent in hypocapnia was an independent predictor of brain injury., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)