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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate reviewing and editorial decision for articles submitted to the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of reviewers' comments on 1,133 scientific articles (700 original articles, 96 literature reviews, and 337 case reports), originating from 69 countries, consecutively submitted on-line between January 1st, 2020 and December 31st, 2021. The main objective was to document the acceptance rate and decision time. Accessory objectives were to synthesize the main comments and to screen for correlations between acceptance and the main characteristics of first authors, articles and reviewers' comments. RESULTS: In total, 4.1% of submitted articles were accepted. Median decision time differed significantly (P<0.0001), at 1 month in case of refusal and 4 months in case of acceptance. Reviewers mentioned failure to adhere to the journal's authors' guide, to use the appropriate EQUATOR guidelines and to adopt the recommended P<0.005 significance threshold in 94.8%, 54.2%, and 39.9% of cases, respectively. On multivariate analysis, 3 variables significantly impacted acceptance, which increased from 1.3% to 44.6% (P<0.0001) when an appropriate EQUATOR guideline was used and from 0.3% to 57.4% (P<0.0001) when the significance threshold was set at P<0.005, and decreased from 10.5% to 1.1% (P=0.0001) when the article did not originate from a French-speaking country (member of the Francophonie organization). CONCLUSION: Adhesion to modern scientific medical writing rules increased acceptance rates for articles in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Diseases. Teaching modern scientific medical writing needs to be enhanced in otorhinolaryngology.

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Eu-doped CdS quantum dots (QDs) with the Eu dopant concentration in the range of 0.5-10% and zinc blende (ZB) structure were successfully synthesized by a wet chemical method. The fabricated Eu-doped CdS QDs exhibited emissions in the visible window approximately at 465, 590, 618 and 696 nm, which correspond to the excitonic emission of CdS QDs and the electronic transitions of the intra 4f6 configuration from the 5D0 level to 7F1, 7F2 and 7F4 levels of Eu3+ dopant ions, respectively. Judd-Ofelt theory was used to estimate the properties of ligand field and luminescence quantum efficiency of the material. The interaction mechanism and the efficiency of the energy transfer process from CdS QDs to Eu3+ ions were found by using Reisfeld's approximation formulas. The luminescence quenching of Eu3+-doped CdS QDs was studied through analysis of emission spectra and decay curves. The dominant interaction mechanism between Eu3+ ions and energy transfer parameters have been found by fitting the decay curves to the Inokuti-Hirayama model. The cross-relaxation channels leading to the luminescence quenching of Eu3+ have also been predicted.

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We investigated the effects of Mn doping on the crystal structure, phonon vibration, and magnetic properties of Bi0.88Sm0.12FeO3 ceramics. Mn doping effectively modified the rhombohedral symmetry and induced a structural transition from an R3c rhombohedral to Pnam orthorhombic structure. Magnetic measurements revealed a weak ferromagnetic behavior, which was related to the canted antiferromagnetic order of the Pnam structure. The cycloidal spin structure of the R3c phase could not be suppressed by substitution of Mn at the Fe site. Studies on the self-phase transition and electric field-induced structural transition revealed many changes in coercivity and remanent magnetization, which are believed to originate from the R3c/Pnam phase switching along with spin frustration. Observations of the field step-dependent hysteresis loop and the ferromagnetic-like hysteresis loop after poling in an electric field provided direct evidence of phase boundary (PB) ferromagnetism and magnetic coupling at the PB.

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Tunable copper doped Zn1-x Cd x S alloy quantum dots (QDs) were successfully synthesized by the wet chemical method. A one-step method is developed to synthesize doped ternary QDs which is more preferable than a two-step method. The influence of experimental parameters like the Zn/Cd ratio and Cu dopant concentration has been investigated using various spectroscopic techniques like UV-visible, photoluminescence, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The absorption and emission properties can be tuned by changing the concentration of components of the ternary QDs. The high concentration of dopant completely quenched the emission of the ternary QDs. EDX gives confirmation of the elemental composition of the synthesized samples. The obtained results suggest the successful doping of the ternary QDs. Interestingly, the study results revealed that the crystal structure (ZB and/or WZ) and the dual emission of the Cu-doped Zn1-x Cd x Se alloy QDs could be controlled by varying the dopant concentration and chemical composition of the host. Doping also leads to enhancement in emission properties and provides more stability to ternary QDs. The enhancement in the photoluminescence (PL) decay lifetime of Cu-doped ternary QDs can be advantageous for optoelectronic and biosensor applications.

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It is known that isolation of oil-degrading bacterial strains is difficult at low temperatures, and the biodegradation efficiency of oil-contaminated soil is significantly reduced in cold weather. In this study, 14 strains were isolated from oil-contaminated soil that grew well at 10°C by using a newly developed culture method. 11 of the 14 isolates were successfully cultured in mineral salts medium containing 1,500 ppm of oil components, 500 ppm each kerosene, gasoline, and diesel as carbon sources, at 10°C for 2 weeks. The oil degradation efficiencies of these 11 isolates ranged from 36% to 100%, as measured by total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation analyses. Three strains (Pseudomonas simiae G1-10O, P. taiwanensis Y1-4, and P. koreensis Gwa2) displayed complete degradation (100%), and six others (R frederiksbergensis G2-2, P arsenicoxydans Y2-1, R umsongensis Gwa3, P. migulae Gwa5, RhodococcusjialingiaeY 1-l , and R. qingshengii Y2-2) showed relatively high degradation efficiencies (> 70%). This study suggests that these isolates can be effectively utilised in thetreatment of oil-contaminated soil in landfarming, especially during winter.

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Strain NHI-24(T) was isolated from forest soil by a polycarbonate membrane transwell plate. It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data indicated that strain NHI-24(T) is closely related to members of the genus Niabella: N. drilacis E90(T) (97.7 %), N. tibetensis 15-4(T) (96.7 %), N. aurantiaca R2A15-11(T) (96.5 %), N. hirudinis E96(T) (95.8 %), N. soli JS13-8(T) (94.7 %), N. ginsengisoli NBRC106414(T) (94.4 %), and N. yanshanensis CCBAU 05354(T) (94.2 %). Growth temperatures range widely, from 15 to 37 °C, with 30 °C as the optimum. Salt tolerance ranges from 0 to 2 %. The strain grows at pH 6.5-11.0, with an optimal range of pH 7.0-9.5. Cells produce flexirubin-type pigments, and the predominant menaquinone is MK-7. The major fatty acids of strain NHI-24(T) are iso-C15:0 (36.72 %), iso-C15:1 G (20.8 %), and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c; 15.2 %). DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NHI-24(T) and members of the genus Niabella range from 37 to 53 %. Based on these results, it is proposed that strain NHI-24(T) represents a novel species of the genus Niabella with the name Niabella thaonhiensis (= KACC 17215(T) = KEMB 9005-018(T) = JCM 18864(T)).

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Despite the abundance of bacterial species in soil, more than 99% of these species cannot be cultured by traditional techniques. In addition, the less than 1% of bacteria that can be cultured are not representative of the total phylogenetic diversity. Hence, identifying novel species and their new functions is still an important task for all microbiologists. Cultivating techniques have played an important role in identifying new species but are still low-throughput processes. This review discusses the issues surrounding cultivation, including achievements, limitations, challenges, and future directions.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate a narrow internal auditory canal (IAC) syndrome using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the auditory cortex. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a case report. The follow-up period lasted 18 months. SETTING: The study was carried out in the audiology clinic of an ear, nose, and throat department and in the department of pediatric neuroradiology at a university hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-appropriate observational audiometry, objective audiovestibular tests, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and (fMRI) of the auditory cortex were performed to analyze in detail the profound deafness of a young child. RESULTS: Audiovestibular examination demonstrated both measurable hearing and normal vestibulo-ocular reflex, and CT showed narrow IACs combined with normal labyrinths. Axial MR images completed by sagittal sections perpendicular to the IAC delineated a single nerve that was initially supposed to be the facial nerve. No cochleovestibular nerve was identified. However, fMRI performed with the patient under general anesthesia demonstrated activation of the primary auditory cortex during 1-kHz monaural stimulation on the left side. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of cochleovestibular nerve on MR studies cannot exclude connections between the inner ear and the central auditory pathways. This might be caused by a lack of spatial resolution of anatomical MR studies. The single nerve delineated within the IAC might also carry both facial and cochleovestibular fibers. Functional MRI can assess the cortical response to acoustic stimuli when aplasia of the cochleovestibular nerve is suspected. This case study illustrates a novel and atypical presentation of cochlear nerve dysplasia.

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Otoscopic examination and audiometric tests complement each other for the diagnosis of hearing loss. Objective tests measure the hearing loss at some specific frequencies. Endo- or retrocochlear origin of the deafness is identified thanks to these tests, leading to selection of the most appropriate therapeutic option. In children, behavioral assessment techniques are to be adapted to the patient's age. Information from tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions and possibly auditory brainstem responses, is used to complete the diagnosis. Language skills are also assessed in order to adapt the child's deafness management to his/her actual communication ability.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the evolution of cochleovestibular symptoms before, during, and after microvascular decompression (MVD) of the facial nerve in hemifacial spasm. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in patients with hemifacial spasm. Among our 13 patients who underwent MVD of the facial nerve from 1995 to 1997, 6 had associated cochleovestibular disorders confirmed by neurotologic tests. RESULTS: In four of these patients, a concomitant compression of the eighth and facial nerves was found at surgery. Preoperative magnetic resonance angiography studies had shown three cases of this double neurovascular compression. Intraoperative auditory brainstem response monitoring showed that interposition of Teflon between vessel and facial nerve was highly critical to the auditory function. Auditory brainstem response monitoring was used to guide the surgeon during this critical phase. Surgery improved at least one cochleovestibular symptom in each patient. CONCLUSIONS: The authors propose two pathophysiologic hypotheses. First, the concomitant facial and cochleo-vestibular symptoms may be due to a hyperactivity of both the facial and vestibular nuclei. According to theories about cryptogenic hemifacial spasm, the origin of this hyperactivity could be an ectopic excitation focus. However, the two nerves may have different sites of ectopic excitation. According to the second hypothesis, a pulsatile compression of the facial nerve may be transmitted to the eighth nerve. This could take place even if only the facial nerve is in contact with a vascular loop.

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Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blockade attenuates myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI). However, whether inhibition of fibrosis by AT1 receptor blockade influences myocardial stiffness and contractility is unknown. We measured left ventricular (LV) hemodynamics, papillary muscle function, and myocardial stiffness and fibrosis in rats randomized to losartan or placebo 1 day after MI and treated subsequently for 8 wk. Losartan decreased LV and right ventricular weights as well as mean aortic and LV systolic pressures in sham and MI rats. LV end-diastolic pressure increased after MI and was decreased with losartan. Maximal developed tension and peak rate of tension rise and decline were decreased in MI vs. sham rats. Interstitial fibrosis developed after MI and was prevented in losartan-treated MI rats. The development of abnormal myocardial stiffness after MI was prevented by losartan. After MI, AT1 receptor blockade prevents an abnormal increase in myocardial collagen content. This effect was associated with a normalization of passive myocardial stiffness.

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