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Mammalian inner ear hair cell loss leads to permanent hearing and balance dysfunction. In contrast to the cochlea, vestibular hair cells of the murine utricle have some regenerative capacity. Whether human utricular hair cells regenerate in vivo remains unknown. Here we procured live, mature utricles from organ donors (9 ears from 6 organ donors) and vestibular schwannoma patients (24 ears from 24 patients), and presented a single-cell transcriptomic atlas at unprecedented resolution. We validated marker genes using immunostaining and RNAscope in situ hybridization and described previously unknown markers of 13 sensory and non-sensory cell types. In addition, we compared and found partial overlap and correlation between transcriptomes of human and mouse hair cells and supporting cells. We further uncovered transcriptomes unique to hair cell precursors, which are validated in both organ donor and vestibular schwannoma utricles. Unexpectedly we found 14-fold more hair cell precursors in vestibular schwannoma utricles, demonstrating the existence of ongoing regeneration in humans. Lastly, supporting cell-to-hair cell trajectory analysis revealed 5 distinct patterns of dynamic gene expression and associated pathways. Our data-set constitutes a foundational resource, accessible via a web-based interface, serving to advance knowledge of the normal and diseased human inner ear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion is an undesirable phenomenon resulting in material deterioration and degradation through electrochemical or chemical reactions with the surrounding environment. Additionally, corrosion presents considerable threats in both the short and long term because of its ability to create failures, leakages, and damage to materials, equipment, and environment. Despite swift technological developments, it remains difficult to determine the degrees of corrosion due to the different textures and the edgeless boundary of corrosion surfaces. Hence, there is a need to investigate the robust corrosion detection algorithms that are suitable for all degrees of corrosion. Recently, many computer vision and image processing algorithms have been developed for corrosion prediction, assessment, and detection, such as filtering, texture, color, pixelation, image enhancement, wavelet transformation, segmentation, classification, and clustering approaches. As a result, this paper reviews and discusses the state-of-the-art computer vision and image processing methods that have been developed for corrosion detection in various applications, industries, and academic research. The challenges for corrosion detection using computer vision and image processing algorithms are also explored. Finally, recommendations for future research are also detailed.

One of the biggest problems the maritime industry is currently experiencing is corrosion, resulting in short and long-term damages. Early prediction and proper corrosion monitoring can reduce economic losses. Traditional approaches used in corrosion prediction and detection are time-consuming and challenging to execute in inaccessible areas. Due to these reasons, artificial intelligence-based algorithms have become the most popular tools for researchers. This study discusses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) methods for marine-related corrosion prediction and detection: (1) predictive maintenance approaches and (2) computer vision and image processing approaches. Furthermore, a brief description of AI is described. The outcomes of this review will bring forward new knowledge about AI and the development of prediction models which can avoid unexpected failures during corrosion detection and maintenance. Moreover, it will expand the understanding of computer vision and image processing approaches for accurately detecting corrosion in images and videos.

An offshore structural design should accurately calculate wave loads and structural responses acting on slender cylinders. The hydrodynamic drag-dominated force was always challenging, hence the hydrodynamic wave loading became a complex solution; it led to a nonlinear relation between the wave force and responses caused by the diffracted and radiated waves, which was included in Morison’s equation. For more consistency in the structural assessment, the linearised drag–inertia force was considered in model development, such as an improved version of the efficient time simulation regression (ETS-Reg) procedure that was introduced. The study aimed to improve the prediction of structural responses using the predetermined linear, polynomial, and cubic regression models. These simulations were performed focusing on high sea state conditions without wave-induced current effects. In order to evaluate the level of accuracy, the recent ETS-Reg models were compared and validated using the Monte Carlo time simulation (MCTS) method. An amended ETS-Reg model, known as the ETS-RegLR model, was also compared with the previous results obtained using the conventional ETS-Reg models (ETS-RegSE), leading to better structural response calculations.

Offshore installations must be built to resist fatigue as well as extreme forces caused by severe environmental conditions. The structural reliability analysis is the popular practise to assess a variety of natural waves determined by the long-term probability distribution of wave heights and corresponding periods on the site. In truth, however, these structures are subjected to arbitrary wave-induced forces in the open ocean. Hence, it is much more reasonable to account for the changed loading characteristics by determining the probabilistic characteristics of the random loads and outcomes responses. The key challenges are uncertainties and the non-linearity of Morison’s drag element, which results in non-Gaussian loading and response distributions. This study would analyze advances achieved to date in a comprehensive probabilistic review of offshore fixed jacket-type platforms.

The structural integrity of offshore platforms is affected by degradation issues such as subsidence. Subsidence involves large settlement areas, and it is one of the phenomena that may be experienced by offshore platforms throughout their lives. Compaction of the reservoir is caused by pressure reduction, which results in vertical movement of soils from the reservoir to the mud line. The impact of subsidence on platforms will lead to a gradually reduced wave crest to deck air gap (insufficient air gap) and cause wave-in-deck. The wave-in-deck load can cause significant damage to deck structures, and it may cause the collapse of the entire platform. This study aims to investigate the impact of wave-in-deck load on structure response for fixed offshore structure. The conventional run of pushover analysis only considers the 100-year design crest height for the ultimate collapse. The wave height at collapse is calculated using a limit state equation for the probabilistic model that may give a different result. It is crucial to ensure that the reserve strength ratio (RSR) is not overly estimated, hence giving a false impression of the value. This study is performed to quantify the wave-in-deck load effects based on the revised RSR. As part of the analysis, the Ultimate Strength for Offshore Structures (USFOS) software and wave-in-deck calculation recommended by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as practised in the industry is adopted to complete the study. As expected, the new revised RSR with the inclusion of wave-in-deck load is lower and, hence, increases the probability of failure (POF) of the platform. The accuracy and effectiveness of this method will assist the industry, especially operators, for decision making and, more specifically, in outlining the action items as part of their business risk management.

Objective: To describe the features of antecedent head trauma in patients with superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS)., Study Design: Cross-sectional survey., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Methods: An online survey was sent to 450 adult patients who underwent surgical repair for SCDS patients asking questions about the nature of internal or external traumatic events preceding symptoms., Results: One-hundred and thirty-six patients (avg. age, 51.9 years, 62.8% female) completed the survey, of which 61 (44.9%) described either preceding external head trauma (n = 35, 26%), preceding internal pressure event (n = 33, 25%), or both (8, 6%). Of those endorsing external trauma, 22 (63%) described a singular event (head hit by object (n = 8); head hit ground (n = 5); motor vehicle accident (n = 4); assault (n = 2); other (n = 3). One-third experienced loss of consciousness because of the trauma. For those describing internal pressure events (n = 33), the most common events were heavy physical exertion (9, 27%); pressure changes while flying (6, 18%); coughing, nose blowing with illness (5, 15%); childbirth (5, 15%); and self contained underwater breathing apparatus diving events (3, 9%). The interval between trauma and onset of symptoms averaged 5.6 years (SD, 10.7 years). One-third (n = 19) described onset of symptoms immediately after the external trauma or internal pressure event. Symptoms began on the side ipsilateral to the trauma in 91%. Sound- and pressure-induced vertigo/oscillopsia developed more commonly after external trauma versus internal pressure events (68% and 61% vs 44% and 32%, respectively)., Conclusion: Trauma or internal pressure-related events precede SCDS symptoms in nearly half of cases, with roughly half of preceding events being external., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objective: To examine the effect of patient age on longitudinal speech understanding outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) in bilateral hearing loss., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: Tertiary academic center., Patients: One thousand one hundred five adult patients with bilateral hearing loss receiving a unilateral CI between 1987 and 2022InterventionsNone., Main Outcome Measures: Postoperative speech recognition outcomes, including AzBio sentences, consonant-nucleus-consonant word, and Hearing in Noise Test in quiet were analyzed at short-term (<2 yr), medium-term (2-8 y), and long-term (>8 yr) term postoperative intervals., Results: Eighty-six very elderly (>80 yr), 409 elderly (65-80 yr), and 709 nonelderly (18-65 yr) patients were included. Short-term postoperative AzBio scores demonstrated similar magnitude of improvement relative to preoperative scores in the very elderly (47.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 28.9-66.4), elderly (49.0; 95% CI, 39.2-58.8), and nonelderly (47.9; 95% CI, 35.4-60.4). Scores for those older than 80 years remained stable after 2 years after implant, but in those 80 years or younger, scores continued to improve for up to 8 years (elderly: 6.2 [95% CI, 1.5-12.4]; nonelderly: 9.9 [95% CI, 2.1-17.7]) after implantation. Similar patterns were observed for consonant-nucleus-consonant word scores. Across all age cohorts, patients with preoperative Hearing in Noise Test scores between 40 and 60% had similar scores to those with preoperative scores of less than 40%, at short-term (82.4, 78.9; 95% CI, -23.1 to 10.0), medium-term (77.2, 83.9; 95% CI, -15.4 to 8.2), or long-term (73.4, 71.2; 95% CI, -18.2 to 12.2) follow-up., Conclusions: Patients older than 80 years gain significant and sustained auditory benefit after CI, including those meeting expanded Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service criteria for implantation. Patients younger than 80 years demonstrated continued improvement over longer periods than older patients, suggesting a role of central plasticity in mediating CI outcomes as a function of age., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023, Otology & Neurotology, Inc.)

Objective: To compare the evaluation of vocal fold mobility between flexible nasal laryngoscopy (FNL) and a handheld application-based translaryngeal ultrasound (TLUS) platform., Study Design: Prospective analysis included patients with unknown vocal fold mobility status who underwent FNL and TLUS., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Subjects and Methods: TLUS was performed on 23 consecutive children (<18 years old) presenting for laryngoscopy due to unknown vocal fold mobility status. After the recording of three 10-second TLUS videos as well as FNL, the study was divided into 2 parts: parental assessment of laryngeal ultrasound at the time of patient evaluation and random practitioner assessment of ultrasound videos., Results: We describe 23 patients who underwent TLUS and FNL. Ten patients (43.5%) had normal vocal fold function bilaterally, and 13 (56.5%) had either left or right vocal fold immobility. Family members and physicians correctly identified the presence and laterality of impaired vocal fold mobility in 22 of 23 cases (κ = 0.96). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of FLUS in diagnosing vocal fold immobility were 92.3%, 100%, 100%, and 90.9%, respectively. Random practitioners accurately identified the presence and laterality of vocal fold immobility under all circumstances., Conclusion: A handheld application-based ultrasound platform is both sensitive and specific in its ability to identify vocal fold motion impairment. Portable handheld TLUS has the potential to serve as a validated screening examination, even by inexperienced providers, and in specific cases may obviate the need for an invasive transnasal laryngoscopy.