Given a passage with a context and an answer, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.

Context: To investigate the possibility of using a modified reverse transfer function (RTF) measurement intraoperatively during surgery of a new transcutaneous bone conduction hearing implant to evaluate the status of the device.', 'Tests were performed on a cadaver skull (preclinically) and two conductive hearing loss patients implanted with a new transcutaneous bone conduction implant. During intraoperative activation, the RTF was measured using a microphone attached perpendicularly and directly to the skin in the middle section of the forehead.', 'The RTF could be measured for all frequencies from 500 to 6, 000 Hz.
Answer: The usage of an intraoperative RTF measurement may be a good method to verify the mechanical coupling of the bone conduction floating mass transducer and to test the functional integrity of the implant in an objective way.
Do intraoperative measurement for a new transcutaneous bone conduction hearing implant?

Context: Nagashima-type palmoplantar keratosis (NPPK) is a distinct autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by diffuse transgressive palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK). Very recently, putative loss-of-function mutations in SERPINB7, which encodes a member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily and is abundantly expressed in the epidermis, have been identified as a cause of NPPK.', 'To confirm further the role of SERPINB7 mutations in the pathogenesis of NPPK.', 'We analysed 10 Japanese families with NPPK using Sanger and/or whole-exome sequencing.', 'We identified one novel and three recurrent null mutations in SERPINB7. In all the families, the NPPK trait was inherited in an autosomal recessive manner; in one of the families, there was pseudodominant inheritance, which had not been described in NPPK.
Answer: These data clearly provide further evidence that NPPK is caused by loss-of-function mutations in SERPINB7.
Does highly prevalent SERPINB7 founder mutation cause pseudodominant inheritance pattern in Nagashima-type palmoplantar keratosis?

Context: Somatic cells in vitro have a finite life expectancy before entering a state of senescence, but it is unclear whether this state occurs in vivo in kidney development, growth, and aging. We previously showed that human kidney cortex displays telomere shortening with age. In this study, we compared the structural and functional changes in rat kidney with age to phenomena associated with cellular senescence in vitro.', 'We assessed the changes in Fischer 344 rat kidneys from age 1 to 9 months to define growth and development and from age 9 to 24 months to define aging.', 'Rat kidney telomeres were approximately 35 to 40 kb long and did not shorten significantly. Expression of mRNA for p16INK4a, a characteristic senescence gene in vitro, was undetectable in most young rats but rose 27 fold during growth and a further 72-fold during aging. p16INK4a protein was localized to the nucleus and increased with age. p16INK4a mRNA also increased in other tissues. Lipofuscin and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase increased in epithelium with growth and aging and their occurrence was significantly associated with each other. Lipofuscin was particularly found in atrophic nephrons.
Answer: We conclude that cell senescence occurs in both growth and aging in rat kidney and may contribute to the age-related pathology. These changes are not due to telomere shortening, but may reflect cumulative environmental stress.

Does cell senescence in rat kidneys in vivo increase with growth and age despite lack of telomere shortening?