Acoustic overexposure, such as listening to loud music too often, results in noise-induced hearing loss. The pathologies of this prevalent sensory disorder begin within the ear at synapses of the primary auditory receptors, their postsynaptic partners and their supporting cells. The extent of noise-induced damage, however, is determined by overstimulation of primary auditory receptors, upstream of where the pathologies manifest. A systematic characterization of the electrophysiological function of the upstream primary auditory receptors is warranted to understand how noise exposure impacts on downstream targets, where the pathologies of hearing loss begin. Here, we used the experimentally-accessible locust ear (male, Schistocerca gregaria) to characterize a decrease in the auditory receptor's ability to respond to sound after noise exposure. Surprisingly, after noise exposure, the electrophysiological properties of the auditory receptors remain unchanged, despite a decrease in the ability to transduce sound. This auditory deficit stems from changes in a specialized receptor lymph that bathes the auditory receptors, revealing striking parallels with the mammalian auditory system.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Noise exposure is the largest preventable cause of hearing loss. It is the auditory receptors that bear the initial brunt of excessive acoustic stimulation, because they must convert excessive sound-induced movements into electrical signals, but remain functional afterward. Here we use the accessible ear of an invertebrate to, for the first time in any animal, characterize changes in auditory receptors after noise overexposure. We find that their decreased ability to transduce sound into electrical signals is, most probably, due to changes in supporting (scolopale) cells that maintain the ionic composition of the ear. An emerging doctrine in hearing research is that vertebrate primary auditory receptors are surprisingly robust, something that we show rings true for invertebrate ears too.

Neural plasticity due to hearing loss results in tonotopic map changes. Several studies have suggested a relation between hearing loss-induced tonotopic reorganization and tinnitus. This large fMRI study on humans was intended to clarify the relations between hearing loss, tinnitus, and tonotopic reorganization. To determine the differential effect of hearing loss and tinnitus, both male and female participants with bilateral high-frequency hearing loss, with and without tinnitus, and a control group were included. In a total of 90 participants, bilateral cortical responses to sound stimulation were measured with loudness-matched pure-tone stimuli (0.25-8 kHz). In the bilateral auditory cortices, the high-frequency sound-evoked activation level was higher in both hearing-impaired participant groups, compared with the control group. This was most prominent in the hearing loss group without tinnitus. Similarly, the tonotopic maps for the hearing loss without tinnitus group were significantly different from the controls, whereas the maps of those with tinnitus were not. These results show that higher response amplitudes and map reorganization are a characteristic of hearing loss, not of tinnitus. Both tonotopic maps and response amplitudes of tinnitus participants appear intermediate to the controls and hearing loss without tinnitus group. This observation suggests a connection between tinnitus and an incomplete form of central compensation to hearing loss, rather than excessive adaptation. One implication of this may be that treatments for tinnitus shift their focus toward enhancing the cortical plasticity, instead of reversing it.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Tinnitus, a common and potentially devastating condition, is the presence of a "phantom" sound that often accompanies hearing loss. Hearing loss is known to induce plastic changes in cortical and subcortical areas. Although plasticity is a valuable trait that allows the human brain to rewire and recover from injury and sensory deprivation, it can lead to tinnitus as an unwanted side effect. In this large fMRI study, we provide evidence that tinnitus is related to a more conservative form of reorganization than in hearing loss without tinnitus. This result contrasts with the previous notion that tinnitus is related to excessive reorganization. As a consequence, treatments for tinnitus may need to enhance the cortical plasticity, rather than reverse it.

FAO and its partners have launched an initiative aimed at cutting food waste across the Asia-Pacific region. Save Food Asia-Pacific Campaign targets losses both straight after harvest and between the market and people’s plates. FAO estimates that reducing global food waste by just one quarter would be sufficient to feed the 870 million people suffering from chronic hunger in the world. [...]

Whether we categorize uneaten food as “lost” or “wasted” depends on where it goes out of the food supply chain. Imagine how everything we eat travels across a food supply chain, a complex journey that stretches from farm to table. Studies show that an astounding 1/3 of all the food we produce for human consumption never actually reaches our plates. Most [...]

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has moved online due to the novel coronavirus pandemic

The solitary species is hard to spot on camera, and they're the only canine that lives in the Amazon rainforest

View these vivid illustrations by Japanese artist Kōkichi Tsunoi of the varieties of trees presented to the United States in 1912

Every year Washingtonians are treated to a feast for the eyes as ornamental cherry trees bloom across the city, most prominently by the Tidal Basin. As cherry blossom season approaches, we would like to share information about two related resources that we hope will offer some inspiration for those near and far: a selected set […]

FSI Briefs No 3, April 2020. In response to the 2007-09 Great Financial Crisis (GFC), accounting standard setters introduced a new methodology to value loans based on expected credit losses (ECL). The previous approach, based on incurred losses, was viewed as procyclical and inconsistent with prudential objectives. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, several prudential authorities and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), introduced a series of measures to clarify how banks should consider various public and private debt relief programmes in their ECL estimates and in their calculation of regulatory capital. These measures are intended to incentivise banks to continue supporting the real economy, while reducing pressure on banks' ECL provisions, earnings and regulatory capital. Supervisory initiatives that provide capital relief should be augmented by severe constraints on the payment of dividends, bonuses and share buybacks. These joint actions will simultaneously expand banks' lending capacity and enhance their ability to absorb losses. Prudential authorities face difficult trade-offs as they confront the most severe economic crisis in modern times. Encouraging the use of flexibility in applicable accounting standards, while preserving market trust and transparency in the reported financial statements of banks, will be key in fostering both economic and financial stability.

BIS Bulletin No 9, April 2020. By allowing banks to run down some of their buffers, policymakers are sending a strong signal about their resolve to lessen the economic fallout from the pandemic. Such prudential measures complement the main policy levers: monetary and fiscal instruments. To avoid a reduction in credit to the real economy, authorities need to ensure that banks have the capacity and willingness to make use of the flexibility afforded by the buffer release. Payout restrictions on banks and risk-sharing between banks and the public sector will be key. For banks to continue playing a positive role in the supply of funding during the recovery, they should maintain usable buffers for a long period, as losses from a severe recession will take time to materialise.

Our ongoing celebration of the Library of Congress National Book Festival continues with historian Michael Beschloss discussing “Presidents of War” on the Main Stage at the 2019 Festival.

Boris Schlossberg, BK Asset Management

Boris Schlossberg, BK Asset Management

Boris Schlossberg, BK Asset Management

The Kevin Koe curling team has split with second Colton Flasch after being eliminated from the recent men's national championship in Kingston, Ont., in a tiebreaker game. Flasch joined the foursome in 2018.

YESTERDAY would have been your birthday. January 24. Six months older than me for six months, I’d remind you. Normally I would have spent the weeks between Christmas and now trying to think of something original to buy you. And then, at the last moment, I’d just buy you another book.

Macroglossia is a clinical feature of several disorders and a common reason for additional diagnostic investigations during infancy. Limited research has been done on the evaluation of macroglossia when other features are not suggestive of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

All patients with apparently isolated macroglossia should have at least initial evaluation with abdominal ultrasounds and molecular studies for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome before a final diagnosis is given. Other common diagnoses included isolated macroglossia, chromosomal abnormalities, hypothyroidism, and mucopolysaccharidoses. (Read the full article)

Studies have linked bullying with BMI, with overweight and obese youth vulnerable to bullying and its negative psychological and health consequences. However, there has been little comprehensive assessment of weight-based victimization, especially in weight loss treatment–seeking samples of youth.

WBV is prevalent in treatment-seeking youth, who report victimization from peers (92%), friends (70%), parents (37%), and teachers (27%). Providers should discuss WBV in their assessment and treatment of pediatric patients who are overweight or obese. (Read the full article)

The incidence of permanent hearing loss doubles between birth and school age. Otoacoustic emissions screening has been used successfully in early childhood educational settings to identify children with losses not found through newborn screening.

Using otoacoustic emissions to screen the hearing of young children during routine health care visits is feasible and can lead to the identification of permanent hearing loss overlooked by providers relying solely on subjective methods. (Read the full article)

Exclusively breastfed newborns lose weight daily in the first few days after birth. The amount of weight lost varies substantially between newborns, with higher amounts of weight loss increasing risk for morbidity.

This study presents nomograms demonstrating percentiles for weight loss by delivery mode for those who are exclusively breastfed. The nomograms have potential to be used for early identification of neonates on a trajectory for greater weight loss and related morbidities. (Read the full article)

High bilirubin levels are associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Exchange transfusions are recommended when bilirubin levels reach certain thresholds. However, the relative and excess risks of hearing loss in infants with bilirubin levels at/above exchange transfusion thresholds are unknown.

In this Northern California population of term and late preterm infants, elevated bilirubin levels were not associated with an increased risk of sensorineural hearing loss unless the levels were at least 10 mg/dL above exchange transfusion thresholds. (Read the full article)

Summer programs that use multimedia may improve student literacy, numeracy, phonics skills, and math vocabulary, according to a study released by WestEd, a nonprofit education research organization. The report examines the Electric Company's Summer Learning Program, which is sponsored by the Sesame

β-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus limits treatment options. Stp1 and Stk1, a serine-threonine phosphatase and kinase respectively, mediate serine-threonine kinase (STK) signaling. Loss of function point mutations in stp1 were detected among laboratory passaged, β-lactam resistant S. aureus strains lacking mecA and blaZ, the major determinants of β-lactam resistance in the bacteria. Loss of Stp1 function facilitates β-lactam resistance of the bacteria.

The rand strengthened against the greenback as it peaked at a session high of R18.30 before it was recorded trading 1.41% firmer at R18.32/$ at 17.00

Christine Yoshinaga-Itano
Nov 1, 1998; 102:1161-1171
ARTICLES

A Bangladeshi girl experiences a series of terrible losses, yet through local care she learns a skill that brings hope for the future.

Prasa estimates revenue losses for the year of R757 million, due to the impact of the lockdown.

Bank Audi proposed using government assets as collateral to offset the losses of the Central Bank and commercial banks that were the result of lending to the state.

As retail prices of petroleum products are mapped with international rates, the steep fall of global crude prices in Q4FY20 meant that by the time refiners sold their products after processing crude, retail rates had fallen.

"ArcelorMittal recorded a net loss for quarter 1, 2020 of USD 1.1 billion... as compared to a net loss for quarter 4, 2019 of USD 1.9 billion and a net income for quarter 1, 2019 of USD 0.4 billion," the company said. 

Once tax liability is calculated, you may claim a deduction of TDS/ taxes paid on such rental income, to arrive at net tax demand due.

The pile-up of harvested or un-harvested perishables may have caused farmers a loss of around Rs 15,000 crore. Market arrivals of fruits and vegetables have sharply fallen since the imposition of the lockdown.

As the lockdown in China was lifted from the beginning of April 2020 onwards, spinners there have been scaling up operations.

Revenues from operations for the third quarter rose 4.28% y-o-y to Rs6,574.82 crore on account of contribution from newly-acquired companies during the quarter.

Saudi government dollar bonds posted losses in early trade Monday as investors absorbed the finance minister's comments that the country would take strict and painful measures to deal with the economic impact of the pandemic.

A business glossary improves data quality – one of the top five ways it makes analytics better.

The post Top 5 ways business glossaries make analytics better appeared first on The Data Roundtable.

The earlier forecast, which was shared with the government in March 2020, had put tourism's economic value at risk at around Rs 5 lakh crore, FAITH said in a statement.

The chipmaking sector saw another bout of selling in Asia, wiping at least $11.2 billion in market value, as weak forecasts from Nvidia and Applied Materials added to the latest signals that demand for servers, personal computers and mobile is falling.

The private sector lender had reported a net profit of Rs? 1,505.06 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year.

While big tech has shouldered the load, the Nasdaq Composite is also home to 700 health-care and biotechnology companies that have stoked investor interest as they search for ways to treat the coronavirus.

The total balance sheet size as on March 31, 2020 was Rs 25,303 crore, up 25.6% from Rs 20,146 crore on March 31, 2019.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon as the Indians prepared to take on the Robert Morris Eagles for Haskell Football's Home Opener. This would be the second time the Indians would take on the Illinois team. The Indians lost in their first match-up against the Eagles in 2011, which would play a recognizable tune in 2012.

Haskell loses in head to head battle in fourth set on September 24, 2019. 

Haskell Volleyball has a tough day in Lamoni, IA. 

In late February, Hawaiian Electric Companies announced that they have achieved a consolidated 27 percent renewable portfolio standard in 2018, even with the loss of Hawaii Island’s geothermal resource for most of the year following the Kilauea volcanic eruption. Hawaii has a goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.