Changes In Patterns Research Articles

Automatic for the (tax) people: information sharing and cross-border investment in tax havens

Summary This paper examines the impact of international automatic exchange of information (AEOI) treaties on cross-border investments in tax havens. Using a restricted version of the BIS Locational Banking Statistics, we find that AEOIs significantly reduced cross-border deposits. A sectoral breakdown assessment reveals that households were the key driving force behind this contraction. However, we also document evidence of households’ deposits shifting to non-AEOI haven countries and larger deposits by non-bank financial institutions between tax haven countries, suggesting an increased use of shell corporation networks since AEOI introduction. Extending the analysis to portfolio and direct investment, we observe that changes in investment patterns vis-à-vis tax havens are consistent with a significant impact of AEOI treaties on these forms of cross-border investment.

Estimation of dynamic Origin–Destination matrices in a railway transportation network integrating ticket sales and passenger count data

Accurately estimating Origin–Destination matrices is a pressing challenge in transportation management and urban planning. However, traditional methods like travel surveys have limitations in availability and comprehensiveness, which have been further exacerbated by the recent changes in mobility patterns induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this issue, we focused on the Trenord railway network in Lombardy, Italy, and developed an innovative pipeline to integrate ticket and subscription sales and Automated Passenger Counting data using the Iterative Proportional Fitting algorithm. By effectively navigating the complexities of diverse and incomplete data sources, our approach showcases adaptability across various transportation contexts. Our research offers a valuable tool for operators, policymakers, and researchers, bridging the gap between data availability and the need for precise OD matrices. Additionally, we emphasise the potential of dynamic OD matrices and showcase methods for detecting anomalies in mobility trends, interpreting them in the context of events from the last months of 2022.

Spontaneous termination of ventricular tachycardia in the human heart.

Understanding the spatiotemporal location of the spontaneous termination of ventricular tachycardia (VT) may provide new insights for ablation. To test the hypothesis that spontaneous VT termination most frequently occurs at the VT exit due to source-sink mismatch and to characterize electrophysiological properties of the sites termination during VT and with extra-stimulus technique. Retrospective analysis of intraoperative mapping studies of nine patients with ischemic cardiopathy or repaired tetralogy of Fallot. Simultaneous endocardial and epicardial mapping was performed in both ventricles using a custom mapping array during VT. Electrogram (EGM) characteristics before and at the moment of termination were analyzed including: cycle length oscillations, EGM heterogeneity and a variation in the systolic/diastolic path. The decrements to extra stimulus were analysed for termination sites and other diastolic sites. Nine VTs in seven patients demonstrated spontaneous VT termination. Seven VTs (77.8%) spontaneously terminated in the final third of the systolic interval, one (11.1%) in early diastole and one (11.1%) in mid diastole. Cycle length oscillations (prolongation, shortening, and no change) were seen in equal frequency. Four VTs (44.4%) showed alternans in the local EGM at the site of termination and this was more prevalent than alternans at other sites in the diastolic pathway (p < .001). Only one-third of VTs showed a change in activation pattern before termination. There was no difference based on etiology. During substrate characterization with extra-stimulus pacing, sites of spontaneous termination showed greater decrement than other sites of the VT circuit during pacing (43.5 ± 14.5 ms vs. 31.2 ± 31.2 ms; p = .003). The entrance zone rather than the exit is the commonest site for the spontaneous termination of VT in the human heart. These sites tend to demonstrate EGM alternans during VT and greater decrement during extrastimulus pacing. These findings may help guide future studies into improving the success of VT ablation.

CEEMDAN-RIME–Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Short-Term Wind Speed Prediction for Wind Farms Incorporating Multi-Head Self-Attention Mechanism

Accurate wind speed prediction is extremely critical to the stable operation of power systems. To enhance the prediction accuracy, we propose a new approach that integrates bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) with fully adaptive noise ensemble empirical modal decomposition (CEEMDAN), the RIME optimization algorithm (RIME), and a multi-head self-attention mechanism (MHSA). First, the historical data of wind farms are decomposed via CEEMDAN to extract the change patterns and features on different time scales, and different subsequences are obtained. Then, the parameters of the BiLSTM model are optimized using the frost ice optimization algorithm, and each subsequence is input into the neural network model containing the MHSA for prediction. Finally, the predicted values of each component are weighted and reconstructed to obtain the predicted values of wind speed time series. According to the experimental results, the method can predict the short-term wind speeds of wind farms more accurately. We verified the effectiveness of the method by comparing it with different models.

Pathomechanisms of Monoallelic variants in TTN causing skeletal muscle disease.

Pathogenic variants in the titin gene (TTN) are known to cause a wide range of cardiac and musculoskeletal disorders, with skeletal myopathy mostly attributed to biallelic variants. We identified monoallelic truncating variants (TTNtv), splice site or internal deletions in TTN in probands with mild, progressive axial and proximal weakness, with dilated cardiomyopathy frequently developing with age. These variants segregated in an autosomal dominant pattern in 7 out of 8 studied families. We investigated the impact of these variants on mRNA, protein levels, and skeletal muscle structure and function. Results reveal that nonsense-mediated decay likely prevents accumulation of harmful truncated protein in skeletal muscle in patients with TTNtvs. Splice variants and an out-of-frame deletion induce aberrant exon skipping, while an in-frame deletion produces shortened titin with intact N- and C-termini, resulting in disrupted sarcomeric structure. All variant types were associated with genome-wide changes in splicing patterns, which represent a hallmark of disease progression. Lastly, RNA-seq studies revealed that GDF11, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is upregulated in diseased tissue, indicating that it might be a useful therapeutic target in skeletal muscle titinopathies.

Cluster Analysis of the Recent Interdecadal Variation in the Tripole Landfall Pattern of Tropical Cyclones in East Asia

Abstract Along the East Asian coast, the interdecadal variation in tropical cyclone (TC) landfall activities in the early 2010s shows a tripole change pattern characterized by significantly increased (decreased) TC landfalls to the north of 30°N and to the south of 20°N (between 20° and 30°N). The increased TC landfalls in the East Asian subregion north to 30°N mean greater TC damage in the most populous regions, including southeastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, since the early 2010s. The present work uses an objective clustering technique to analyze the internal dynamical causes of this interdecadal variation. The increased TC landfall activities in the East Asian subregion north of 30°N are attributed to the increase in TCs with a northwestward-moving track (cluster defined as C1), whereas the increased TC landfall activities to the south of 20°N and the decrease between 20° and 30°N are mainly due to the southward shift of TCs with a westward-moving track (cluster defined as C2). This work focuses on different TC track groups (C1 and C2) based on daily data, showing that the interdecadal changes in the synoptic-scale monsoon trough and subtropical high provide important environment for different groups of TCs. The ascending phase of the PDO with significant warming over the central Pacific favors the interdecadal tripole changes in TC landfalls.

ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR PENDORONG PERUBAHAN POLA SPASIAL TERHADAP DRAINASE PERKOTAAN DI KECAMATAN DENPASAR BARAT

Changes in spatial patterns, especially the transformation of land from green open spaces to built-up areas, have caused various impacts on the environment and urban drainage systems. This study analyzes the driving factors of spatial pattern change on urban drainage in West Denpasar District, with a special focus on Padangsambian Kelod Village and Pemecutan Kelod Village. This study aims to identify and understand the factors that contribute to changes in the drainage system in the region. The research methods used include collecting spatial data through satellite imagery and thematic maps, field surveys for direct observation, and interviews with residents and related stakeholders. The collected data was then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively to identify spatial change patterns and their driving factors. The results show that the change in spatial patterns towards urban drainage in West Denpasar District is driven by several main factors, including rapid population growth, intensive infrastructure development, and land use change from agricultural to residential and commercial. These factors have led to increased surface runoff, decreased drainage capacity, and increased flood risk in the region. This study concludes that a more integrated and sustainable drainage management approach is needed to overcome the challenges posed by changes in spatial patterns. The recommendations submitted include increasing drainage capacity, implementing environmentally friendly development practices, and increasing public awareness about the importance of maintaining urban drainage systems.

Institutional dynamics in inner city parking policy: a history of the Perth Parking Policy

ABSTRACT This paper presents a historical analysis of the Perth Parking Policy (PPP) and associated parking levy, exploring the institutional dynamics in inner-city car parking policy. The analysis draws on a range of archival material and interviews to identify four periods of the policy's history, each characterised by distinct dynamics in institutional logic and patterns of change. Since its introduction in 1999, the core institution of the PPP has endured, withstanding external threats such as COVID-19 and internal dynamics within the policy design. Proposed changes to the policy at the end of historical period investigated here point to the further influence of political dynamics in the PPPs future. The analysis reveals various institutional logics influencing the PPP’s history, highlighting the complex sets of relationships that shape parking policy in inner city areas.

PSX-3 Transcriptional response to an alternative diet on liver, muscle, and rumen of beef cattle

Abstract Feed cost represents a major economic determinant within cattle production, amounting to an estimated 75% of the total variable costs. Consequently, comprehensive approaches such as optimizing feed utilization through alternative feed sources, alongside the selection of feed-efficient animals, are of great significance. Here, we investigate the effect of two diets, traditional corn-grain fed and alternative by-product based, on 14 phenotypes related to feed, methane emission and production efficiency and on multi-tissue transcriptomics data from liver, muscle, and rumen wall, derived from Nellore bulls (n = 52), 26 on each diet. To this end, diets were contrasted at the level of phenotype, gene expression, and gene-phenotype network connectivity. As regards the phenotypic level, at a P-value &amp;lt; 0.05, significant differences were found in favor of the alternative diet for average daily weight gain at finishing, dry matter intake at finishing, methane emission, carcass yield and subcutaneous fat thickness at the rib-eye muscle area. In terms of the transcriptional level of the 14,776 genes expressed across the examined tissues, we found 487, 484, and 499 genes differentially expressed due to diet in liver, muscle, and rumen, respectively (P-value &amp;lt; 0.01). To explore differentially connected phenotypes across both diet-based networks, we focused on the phenotypes with the largest change in average number of connections within diets and tissues, namely methane emission and carcass yield, highlighting, in particular, gene expression changes involving SREBF2, and revealing the largest differential connectivity in rumen and muscle, respectively. Similarly, from examination of differentially connected genes across diets, the top-ranked most differentially connected regulators within each tissue were MEOX1, PTTG1, and BASP1 in liver, muscle, and rumen, respectively. Changes in gene co-expression patterns suggest activation or suppression of specific biological processes and pathways in response to dietary interventions, consequently impacting the phenotype. The identification of genes that respond differently to diets and their associated phenotypic effects serves as a crucial steppingstone for further investigations, aiming to build upon our discoveries. Ultimately, such advancements hold the promise of improving animal welfare, productivity, and sustainability in livestock farming.

Comparative impacts of energy, climate, and economic policy uncertainties on renewable energy

The ongoing adjustment and fluctuation of energy, climate, and economic policies leads to potential policy uncertainty. The potential uncertainty arising from these policies has a wide range of effects on renewable energy technology, leading to changes in investment decisions or consumption patterns. Hence, given the worldwide shift towards sustainable technologies, it is critical to assess how these policy uncertainties will affect renewable power. Given this backdrop, this study delves into the impact of energy policy uncertainty, climate policy uncertainty, economic policy uncertainty, and government effectiveness on renewable energy in the United States. The cross-quantilogram (CQ) methodology is employed by using monthly data from 2002 to 2022. The outcomes reveal that energy policy uncertainty effectively promotes renewable energy in the short run, whereas it serves as a barrier to the adoption of renewables in the long run. Economic policy uncertainty reduces renewable energy consumption in the short run, but it increases in the long run. Moreover, climate policy uncertainty accelerates the transition to low-carbon energy sources. Finally, government effectiveness is a significant supportive element of the energy transition towards renewables.

The Temporal Change in Ionised Calcium, Parathyroid Hormone and Bone Metabolism Following Ingestion of a Plant-Sourced Marine Mineral + Protein Isolate in Healthy Young Adults

Background: An increase in plant-sourced (PS) nutrient intake is promoted in support of a sustainable diet. PS dietary minerals and proteins have bioactive properties that can affect bone health and the risk of fracture. Methods: In a group randomised, cross-over design, this study evaluated the post-ingestion temporal pattern of change in arterialised ionised calcium (iCa), parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) and procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) for 4 h following ingestion of a novel supplement (SUPP) containing a PS marine multi-mineral + PS protein isolate. A diurnally matched intake of mineral water was used as a control (CON). Results: Compared to baseline, the change in iCa concentration was 0.022 (95% CI, 0.006 to 0.038, p = 0.011) mmol/l greater in SUPP than CON, resulting in a −4.214 (95% CI, −8.244 to −0.183, p = 0.042) pg/mL mean reduction in PTH, a −0.64 (95% CI, −0.199 to −0.008, p = 0.029) ng/mL decrease in the biomarker of bone resorption, CTX, and no change in the biomarker of bone formation, P1NP. Conclusions: When used as a dietary supplement, or incorporated into a food matrix, the promotion of PS marine multi-mineral and PS protein isolates may contribute to a more sustainable diet and overall bone health.

A district-level building electricity use profile simulation model based on probability distribution inferences

District-level building energy systems play a significant role in urban energy networks in the future. Understanding the key distributive features of district electricity use profiles is essential for the optimal planning and design of energy networks. Due to the diversity of building electricity use characteristics, the district-level electricity use profile exhibits a prominent “peak staggering effect.” Current physics-based and statistical models cannot fully represent realistic distributions and the uncertainties of district profiles. Thus, it is critical to quantitatively investigate the changing patterns and distributive features of electricity use profiles at various district levels. This paper proposes a novel approach for district building electricity use profile simulation. Probability distribution inference methods integrating Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM)/lognorm distribution fitting, singular value decomposition (SVD)-based feature transformation, and distribution addition theorems have been proposed to generate the feature parameters of electricity use profiles at various district scales, thus generating simulated district electricity use profiles. The performance of the proposed model was validated using engineering-informed metrics, including peak demands, load duration curves, and standard deviations of the load parameters. The results of the case study suggest that the average relative error of the 99 % peak demand is reduced from 17.60 % in the baseline model to 3.48 % in the proposed model, the average relative error of the duration of 2Qm reduced from 40.82 % in the baseline model to 0.99 % in the proposed model, and the average relative error of the standard deviation of load parameters was reduced from >100 % in the baseline model to <35 % in the proposed model. The results indicate a better quantification of district electricity use distributions and uncertainties, providing practical tools to support the capacity design and optimization of integrated district energy systems.

A correlation analysis between passively assessed gait initiation signal data and brain tumours progress

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to diagnosing and monitoring the progress of brain tumours.However, it is costly, not easily accessible, and requires frequent visits to specialised health centres. Method: This study explores the use of passively assessed gait initiation signal data (GISD) as a potential alternative to MRI. We evaluated three hypotheses: (1) Certain features extracted from GISD are more sensitive in identifying brain tumours; (2) Changes in GISD patterns are correlated with brain tumour progression; and (3) The locations of brain tumours are correlated with GISD features. Data from healthy individualsin the UK Biobank (N=240 x 7 days) were used to establish a baseline for signal analysis. Then, we assessed the sensitivity of 28 features extracted from GISD to differentiate this healthy population and brain tumours patients (BrainWear project, N=49 x 9 months). Results: Statistical tests revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in subsets of GISD-extracted features between healthy individuals and cancer patients. Classification models achieved a maximum accuracy of 77 % in distinguishing between these two groups. However, the identification of tumour location was less accurate (33 % − 65 %), particularly for certain regions (e.g., right temporal). We also found evidence of correlation between GISD patterns and tumours progression and treatments. Conclusions: Passive GISD analysis shows promise as a complementary tool to MRI in diagnosing brain tumours. However, our small patient cohort and limited evaluation period highlight the need for larger studies to generalise these findings and derive more reliable clinical implications.

Physiological resilience of intertidal chitons in a persistent upwelling coastal region

Current climate projections for mid-latitude regions globally indicate an intensification of wind-driven coastal upwelling due to warming conditions. The dynamics of mid-latitude coastal upwelling are marked by environmental variability across temporal scales, which affect key physiological processes in marine calcifying organisms and can impact their large-scale distribution patterns. In this context, marine invertebrates often exhibit phenotypic plasticity, enabling them to adapt to environmental change. In this study, we examined the physiological performance (i.e., metabolism, Thermal Performance Curves, and biomass and calcification rates) of individuals of the intertidal mollusk Chiton granosus, a chiton found from northern Peru to Cape Horn (5° to 55°S). Our spatial study design indicated a pattern of contrasting conditions among locations. The Talcaruca site, characterized by persistent upwelling and serving as a biogeographic break, exhibited lower pH and carbonate saturation states, along with higher pCO2, compared to the sites located to the north and south of this location (Huasco and Los Molles, respectively). In agreement with the spatial pattern in carbonate system parameters, long-term temperature records showed lower temperatures that changed faster over synoptic scales (1–15 days) at Talcaruca, in contrast to the more stable conditions at the sites outside the break. Physiological performance traits from individuals from the Talcaruca population exhibited higher values and more significant variability, along with significantly broader and greater warming tolerance than chitons from the Huasco and Los Molles populations. Moreover, marked changes in local abundance patterns over three years suggested population-level responses to the challenging environmental conditions at the biogeographic break. Thus, C. granosus from the Talcaruca upwelling zone represents a local population with wide tolerance ranges that may be capable of withstanding future upwelling intensification on the Southern Eastern Pacific coast and likely serving as a source of propagules for less adapted populations.

Abnormal circadian rhythms exacerbate dilated cardiomyopathy by reducing the ventricular mechanical strength.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has etiological and pathophysiological heterogeneity. Abnormal circadian rhythm (ACR) is related to the development of DCM in animal models, but exploration based on clinical samples is lacking. Sleep apnea (SA) is the most common disease related to ACR, and we chose SA as the study object to explore ACR-DCM. We included a derivation cohort (n =105) and a validation cohort (n = 65). DCM patients were divided into SA and without SA group. RT-qPCR was used to determine the change of rhythm gene expression pattern of heart samples from different timepoints. We used single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to explore the abnormal transcriptional patterns in the ACR group, and we verified the findings by pathological staining, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Rev-erbα/β knockout (KO) mice analysis. DCM patients with SA showed decreased amplitude of rhythm gene expression. SA group showed more severe dilation of left heart chambers. From snRNA-seq, ACR-DCM lost the morning transcriptional patterns, detailly, actin cytoskeleton organization of cardiomyocytes (CMs) disrupted and hypertrophy aggravated, and the proportion of activated fibroblasts (Fibs) decreased with the reduction of fibrotic area ratio. The results of pathological staining, mechanical experiments, and transcriptional feature of Rev-erbα/β KO mice supported the above findings. Compared with the non-SA group, left ventricular (LV) wall dilation was more severe and the structural strength was lower in DCM patients with SA, and phenotypic changes in CM and Fib were involved in this process. ACR-DCM was histopathologically characterized by a structurally weak ventricular wall.

Climate changes at mine closure: a systematic review

This systematic review addresses the implications of climate change on mine closure processes, aiming to identify, analyze, and synthesize recent literature on how climate change influences the rehabilitation of mined areas, environmental risks, the safety of remaining structures, and the long-term sustainability of closure projects. Through a methodology of selecting scientific articles, articles published between 2020 and 2024 found in the Capes/CAfe database were analyzed. The analysis covered the climatic impacts on increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns in relation to soil erosion, water management, and revegetation in mine closure processes. The results highlight challenges and opportunities arising from extreme weather events, which compromise the stability of mine structures, and the noted absence of Emergency Action Plans for dealing with extreme events, which hinders decision-making and the implementation of control measures. Recommendations include the development of adaptive practices and the incorporation of advanced environmental monitoring to mitigate risks and promote sustainability in mine closure, as well as being essential to increase environmental resilience.

Characterizing within-person variance in, and menstrual cycle associations with, event-related potentials associated with positive and negative valence systems: The reward positivity and the error-related negativity

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are widely employed as measures of transdiagnostic cognitive processes that are thought to underlie various clinical disorders (Hajcak et al., 2019). Despite their prevalent use as individual difference measures, the effects of within-person processes, such as the human menstrual cycle, on a broad range of ERPs are poorly understood. The present study leveraged a within-subject design to characterize between- and within-person variance in ERPs as well as effects of the menstrual cycle in two frequently studied ERPs associated with positive and negative valence systems underlying psychopathology—the Reward Positivity (RewP) and the Error- Related Negativity (ERN). Seventy-one naturally-cycling participants completed repeated EEG and ecological momentary assessments of positive and negative affect in the menstrual cycle's early follicular, periovulatory, and mid-luteal phases. We examined the mean degree of change between cycle phases in both ERPs, the between-person variability in the degree of change in both ERPs, and whether an individual’s degree of cyclical change in these ERPs show coherence with their degree of cyclical change in positive and negative affect recorded across the cycle. Results revealed no significant changes in positive and negative affect across the cycle and rather small changes in ERP amplitudes. Significant random slopes in our model revealed larger individual differences in trajectories of change in ERP amplitudes and affect, in agreement with prior evidence of heterogeneity in dimensional hormone sensitivity. Additionally, state-variance in these ERPs correlated with positive and negative affect changes across the cycle, suggesting that cycle-mediated ERP changes may have relevance for affect and behavior. Finally, exploratory latent class growth mixture modeling revealed subgroups of individuals that display disparate patterns of change in ERPs that should be further investigated.

Bleached Coral Supports High Diversity and Heterogeneity of Bacterial Communities: Following the Rule of the ‘Anna Karenina Principle’

Coral-associated bacteria are sensitive to the health status of coral and proven biomarker(s) of the coral bleaching. However, whether coral specificity or health status play a key role when coral-associated bacteria responding to coral bleaching is not known. Therefore, the bacterial communities of five species of healthy and bleached corals, Acropora millepora, Favites abdita, Galaxea fascicularis, Dipsastraea speciosa and Pocillopora damicornis, were collected along the coast of Sanya, South China Sea and targeted for associated bacterial studies. The relative abundance of the dominant class Gammaproteobacteria tended to be higher in healthy corals, while Alphaproteobacteria were more abundant in bleached corals. Dominant genus Achromobacter demonstrated higher relative abundance in healthy corals (0.675) than in bleached corals (0.151). Most of the bleached corals had high α diversity, β dispersion, heterogeneity and complexity of the co-occurrence network of bacterial communities, which support the ‘Anna Karenina Principle (AKP)’ of diverse in threatened objects and conserved in healthy ones. The bacterial communities in the bleached corals were mostly involved in the selection process, and communities in the healthy corals were involved in the undominated process, which is obtained based on the null model test of β nearest-taxon-index (βNTI) and Bray–Curtis-based Raup–Crick (RCBray). This evidence further confirmed the AKP and revealed that the bacterial communities in the bleached corals were driven by deterministic factors. These findings provide valuable insights into the connection between bacterial and coral status, and the application of the AKP in the changing patterns of bacterial communities during coral bleaching.

A - 131 Patterns of Functional Decline in Alzheimer Biomarker-Positive Vs. Negative Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Objective To contrast longitudinal patterns of functional decline between groups of cognitively impaired individuals with or without biomarker support for Alzheimer’s disease (ad). Method We requested data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center on individuals who underwent serial evaluation with the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) and those for whom cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for ad were available. By cross-referencing the two datasets, we identified 570 subjects, 71 of whom were biomarker positive and 499 biomarker negative. Item-level FAQ item-level scores were then entered as predictor variables into lagged mixed-effects regression models with a single FAQ item as the dependent variable in each model (one model for each of the ten FAQ items). Coefficients for statistically significant predictors of follow-up FAQ items were plotted as arcs on a directed graph, with one vertex for each of the ten FAQ items. We repeated this process for biomarker positive and negative individuals and created a map depicting effect size differences, i.e., biomarker positive minus biomarker-negative regression coefficients (Δ = β + − β-) for statistically significant arcs (α = 0.05). Results Twelve out of 21 arcs that were significant in the biomarker-positive individuals were significant only for this group. The largest effect size difference was STOVE → STOVE (Δ = 0.233). Twenty of 29 arcs that were significant in the biomarker-negative individuals were significant only for this group. The largest effect size difference was GAMES → GAMES (Δ = −0.168). Conclusion ad biomarker status modulated the patterns of longitudinal functional change in this sample.

Comparative Histopathologic Analysis of Inner Ear Damage in Meningitis: Otogenic Versus Meningogenic Routes.

To distinguish the patterns of inner ear changes between meningogenic and otogenic routes in meningitis cases. Our hypothesis is that pinpointing distinct patterns linked to each route could aid in the development of diagnostic strategies and targeted therapies. Temporal bones (TBs) from patients with a history of meningitis and histopathological evidence of labyrinthitis were divided into two groups (otogenic and meningogenic). Inner ear histopathological examination was performed to identify qualitative and semi-quantitative changes. This assessment encompassed inflammation patterns, indications of early ossification, hair cell loss, and alterations in the lateral wall, round window membrane, cochlear aqueduct and vestibular aqueduct. Thirty-six TBs were included in the study (otogenic, 21; meningogenic, 15). Generalized labyrinthitis was more common in otogenic cases (100% vs. 53%, p < 0.001). Early signs of cochlear ossification were exclusively observed in otogenic cases (9 TBs). The spiral ligament of otogenic cases has shown a uniform loss of fibrocytes across all cochlear turns, while meningogenic cases showed more severe loss in the apical turn. Otogenic cases exhibited a higher prevalence of severe inflammation of the cochlear aqueduct and endolymphatic sac. Meningogenic cases showed more severe loss of vestibular hair cells in the otolithic organs. Otogenic cases displayed a higher prevalence of changes in the spiral ligament and signs of early ossification, whereas meningogenic cases were associated with a higher degree of vestibular damage. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering the infection route and its implications for timely diagnosis and development of pathology-oriented treatment strategies. NA Laryngoscope, 2024.