Using a large consortium of undergraduate students in an organized program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), we have undertaken a functional genomic screen in the Drosophila eye. In addition to the educational value of discovery-based learning, this article presents the first comprehensive genomewide analysis of essential genes involved in eye development. The data reveal the surprising result that the X chromosome has almost twice the frequency of essential genes involved in eye development as that found on the autosomes.

Objectives This pilot study details the use of a software tool that uses continuous impedance measurement during electrode insertion, with the eventual potential to assess and optimize electrode position and reduce insertional trauma. Study Design Software development and experimental study with human cadaveric cochleae and two live surgeries. Methods A prototype program to measure intracochlear electrode impedance and display it graphically in real time has been developed. The software was evaluated in human cadaveric temporal bones while simultaneously making real time fluoroscopic recordings, and in two live surgeries during intracochlear electrode insertion. Results Impedance changes were observed with various scalar positions, and values were consistent with those obtained using clinically available software. Using Contour Advance™ electrodes, impedance values increased after stylet removal, particularly when using the monopolar mode. Conclusion Impedance values seem systematically affected by electrode position, with higher values being associated with proximity to the cochlear wall. The new software is capable of acquiring impedance measurements during electrode insertion and this data may be useful to guide surgeons to achieve optimal and atraumatic electrode insertion, to guide robotic electrode insertion, and to provide insights about electrode position in the cochlea.

Objectives:To determine the efficacy of cochlear implantation (CI) in prelingually deafened adolescent children and to evaluate predictive variables for successful outcomes.Design: Retrospective medical record review.Participants: Children aged 10 to 17 years with prelingual hearing loss (mean length of deafness, 11.5 years) who received a unilateral CI (mean age at CI, 12.9 years).Intervention: Unilateral CI. Main Outcome Measures: Standard speech perception testing (Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant [CNC]monosyllabic word test and Hearing in Noise [HINT] sentence test) was performed preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively (year 1), and at the last follow-up/end of the study (EOS).Results: There was a highly significant improvement in speech perception scores for both HINT sentence and CNC word testing from the preoperative testing to year For editorial comment see page 93

Internal auditory canal screening MRI protocols can be performed using a 5-fold accelerated T2 SPACE sequence with compressed sensing while preserving diagnostic image quality and acceptable lesion detection rate.

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