What unheralded prospect could break out in 2019? Beat reporter Gregor Chisholm answers that and more in this edition of the Inbox.

The Blue Jays officially added another veteran to their bullpen Saturday morning by signing right-hander John Axford to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. Axford hasn't received any guarantees with the short-term contract, but he is a strong candidate to make Toronto's 25-man roster and head north at the end of camp.

Donald Trump did not win the 2020 election, but asserting that he did became a prerequisite for Republicans standing for nomination to Congress or the Senate to win their primaries. An entire party became a vehicle for disinformation.1 Trump did win the 2024 presidential election, and key to that victory was building on the success of that lie. If you control enough of the information ecosystem, truth no longer matters.Another telling example: Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, are not eating cats and dogs. US vice president elect, JD Vance, the source of that claim, admitted as much even as he justified it. “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I'm going to do,” he said.2Disinformation in politics is nothing new. History is replete with claims that were fabricated to advance political aims. Although...

Endogenous reprogramming of glia into neurogenic progenitors holds great promise for neuron restoration therapies. Using lessons from regenerative species, we have developed strategies to stimulate mammalian Müller glia to regenerate neurons in vivo in the adult retina. We have demonstrated that the transcription factor Ascl1 can stimulate Müller glia neurogenesis. However, Ascl1 is only able to reprogram a subset of Müller glia into neurons. We have reported that neuroinflammation from microglia inhibits neurogenesis from Müller glia. Here we found that the peripheral immune response is a barrier to CNS regeneration. We show that monocytes from the peripheral immune system infiltrate the injured retina and negatively influence neurogenesis from Müller glia. Using CCR2 knock-out mice of both sexes, we found that preventing monocyte infiltration improves the neurogenic and proliferative capacity of Müller glia stimulated by Ascl1. Using scRNA-seq analysis, we identified a signaling axis wherein Osteopontin, a cytokine highly expressed by infiltrating immune cells is sufficient to suppress mammalian neurogenesis. This work implicates the response of the peripheral immune system as a barrier to regenerative strategies of the retina.

The prefrontal cortex is critical for decision-making across species, with its activity linked to choosing between options. Drift diffusion models (DDMs) are commonly employed to understand the neural computations underlying this behavior. Studies exploring the specific roles of regions of the rodent prefrontal cortex in controlling the decision process are limited. This study explored the role of the prelimbic cortex (PLC) in decision-making using a two-alternative forced-choice task. Rats first learned to report the location of a lateralized visual stimulus. The brightness of the stimulus indicated its reward value. Then, the rats learned to make choices between pairs of stimuli. Sex differences in learning were observed, with females responding faster and more selectively to high-value stimuli than males. DDM analysis found that males had decreased decision thresholds during initial learning, whereas females maintained a consistently higher drift rate. Pharmacological manipulations revealed that PLC inactivation reduced the decision threshold for all rats, indicating that less information was needed to make a choice in the absence of normal PLC processing. μ-Opioid receptor stimulation of the PLC had the opposite effect, raising the decision threshold and reducing bias in the decision process toward high-value stimuli. These effects were observed without any impact on the rats’ choice preferences. Our findings suggest that PLC has an inhibitory role in the decision process and regulates the amount of evidence that is required to make a choice. That is, PLC activity controls "when," but not "how," to act.

Basolateral amygdala (BLA) neurons are engaged by emotionally salient stimuli. An area of increasing interest is how BLA dynamics relate to evolving reward-seeking behavior, especially under situations of uncertainty or ambiguity. Here, we recorded the activity of individual BLA neurons in male rats across the acquisition and extinction of conditioned reward seeking. We assessed ongoing neural dynamics in a task where long reward cue presentations preceded an unpredictable, variably time reward delivery. We found that, with training, BLA neurons discriminated the CS+ and CS– cues with sustained cue-evoked activity that correlated with behavior and terminated only after reward receipt. BLA neurons were bidirectionally modulated, with a majority showing prolonged inhibition during cued reward seeking. Strikingly, population-level analyses revealed that neurons showing cue-evoked inhibitions and those showing excitations similarly represented the CS+ and behavioral state. This sustained population code rapidly extinguished in parallel with conditioned behavior. We next assessed the contribution of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a major reciprocal partner to the BLA. Inactivation of the OFC while simultaneously recording in the BLA revealed a blunting of sustained cue-evoked activity in the BLA that accompanied reduced reward seeking. Optogenetic disruption of BLA activity and OFC terminals in the BLA also reduced reward seeking. Our data indicate that the BLA represents reward-seeking states via sustained, bidirectional cue-driven neural encoding. This code is regulated by cortical input and is important for the maintenance of vigilant reward-seeking behavior.

OM teaches East London youth about the persecuted Christians in the world, as well as trains them in street ministry.

Subic Bay, Philippines :: Local volunteers share their stories and experiences on Logos Hope.

An OMer learning Turkish was encouraged when she shared the message of the gospel with a taxi driver in a city in Western Turkey.

Women caught in the sex industry find new life through Nea Zoi, a partner organisation, which reaches out to sex workers in Athens.

An OM Greece worker explains, while she is babysitting, how she helps ladies involved in human trafficking and the sex industry.

OM uses an educational programme called KidsGames to share Bible stories in a public school.

The Mena Travelling Team has their first outreach, travelling throughout the MENA region and doing whatever it takes to share the Gospel with the unreached.

How God called Andrea from Italy to leave his comfort zone during the Transform conference and his experience with OM Lifehope in the UK.

A new OM Italy team member participates in an English Scout Camp, which brings the Gospel to children and gives her new cultural insight.

Heikki drove the nearly 4,000 km from Finland to Transform in Spain on his motorcycle. A Harley-Davidson and a saxophone were useful instruments in God's hands.

A couple uses their God-given cultural and evangelistic tools, gained from years spent in the Muslim world, to reach out to Turkish Muslims.

Penang, Malaysia :: A group of youngsters come to Logos Hope for a three day youth camp.

The varied teaching styles at Teenstreet Malaysia 2016 helped teens to connect with the theme of discovering their identity.

OM Bosnia distributes Samaritan’s Purse shoebox gifts to close to 2,000 children.

Bus4Life begins its sixth year serving churches and OM teams across Central and Eastern Europe.

OM Czech Republic participates in Mission Weekend, an annual event to encourage Czech Christians to engage in missions.

The ministry of helping women involved in the sex industry aims to support those trafficked in Czech Republic by building relationships and prayer

As OM Czech Republic team members reach out to sex workers by visiting a brothel regularly, they are able to establish friendships and talk about God and His care for the women there, and offer them Christmas gifts, which touch hearts.

Three hundred people interested in sports ministry gathered in Ecuador in April for a forum organised by the Coalición Internacional del Deporte.

Santa Marta, Colombia :: Logos Hope's crew moves programmed events off the ship and on to shore.

Cartagena, Colombia :: Logos Hope partners with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in an outreach to a troubled community.

OM Belgium and OM Arts creatively connect with the local community through drawings, song, poetry and flowers.

Gujarat Titans have entrusted former India keeper-batter Parthiv Patel with the dual responsibility of serving as their assistant and batting coach in the upcoming IPL

Indian cricket team star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced a lot of criticism from fans as well as experts following their poor show in the Test series against New Zealand.

If you don't know about the role and make-up of a digital team, and how it can impact customer experience and brand success, Matt Harris of Sendwithus has the answers

Here's a collection of recent DMN content that exemplifies successful omnichannel strategies, as well as a few tips to help bring omnichannel mainstream

1. John Krasinski revealed as People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive after Benny Blanco confusion; fans are relieved  Hindustan Times
2. John Krasinski reveals wife Emily Blunt's reaction to his Sexiest Man Alive title  Hindustan Times
3. Not Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Leonardo Dicaprio, Chris Evans, or Tom Cruise, THIS actor is the sexiest  India.com
4. Actor John Krasinski Named 'Sexiest Man Alive' Of 2024 By People Magazine  NDTV
5. Is Jim from The Office really the sexiest man in the world?  The Guardian

1. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Box Office Collection Day 12: Kartik Aaryan Delivers 402% More Than His Entire Paycheck For The Horror-Comedy!  Koimoi
2. Bhushan Kumar reveals favouritism behind Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again Diwali clash: 'I even met Aj  TOI Etimes
3. Hindi video: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ami Je Tomar 3.0 full video goes viral; who won dance dare, Madhuri Dixit or Vidya Balan?  Mint
4. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 vs Singham Again box office collection day 12: Kartik Aaryan-led horror comedy, Ajay Devgn's film in neck-and-neck fight ahead of Kanguva release  Business Today
5. Kartik Aaryan smashes records with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, becomes youngest actor to join crore 200 club  Hindustan Times

1. The Guardian to no longer post on ‘toxic media platform’ X  Al Jazeera English
2. Why the Guardian is no longer posting on X  The Guardian
3. The Guardian quits X: Why this 200-year-old media giant walked away?  India TV News
4. ‘Toxic’: Leading UK media house decides to stop posting on Elon Musk-led X  Hindustan Times
5. A 200-year-old British media giant stops posting on X. Here's why  India Today

1. Modi regime sees five-fold jump in ITR filers with income above Rs 50 lakh; middle class tax burden falls  The Economic Times
2. Modi regime sees five-fold jump in ITR filers with income above Rs 50 lakh  Deccan Herald
3. Tax burden shifting to super-rich, but middle class barely growing  The Financial Express
4. Taxpayers with annual income of over ₹1 crore rose 323% to 350,000 in 10 yrs  Hindustan Times
5. More than 8 cr ITRs filed for FY 24, 74 pc in new tax regime  The Economic Times

Officials of Biñan City have been ordered to respond to a complaint filed by residents regarding a reclamation project in Laguna de Bay.

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Food and Drug Administration chief Nela Charade Puno of graft, which stemmed from a raid and closure by the FDA of a pharmacy and wellness center in Tarlac.

Vitals inquiry expert Miroslava Milenović faces heated scrutiny over qualifications and methods for her role in uncovering complex financial links

The index was designed to quantify the specific vulnerabilities faced by countries, especially small island developing states

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has defied the appeal made by her daughter—Vice President Sara Duterte—that the ex-leader be excused from the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing as it is already getting late. When the quad committee hearing on Wednesday was suspended at 9:10 p.m., Vice President Duterte approached lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., and Deputy Speaker David Suarez to discuss something. READ: Ex-President Duterte shows up at House quad comm drug war hearing After some time, Barbers asked […]...

Keep on reading: Duterte defies VP Sara’s appeal to excuse him from hearing

MANILA, Philippines — A specialist from the state weather bureau pointed to the ridge of a high pressure area located north of the country as a factor behind the recent string of tropical cyclones to strike Northern Luzon. The region saw Severe Tropical Kristine (International name: Trami) make landfall in Isabela on Oct. 24, Typhoon Marce (Yinxing) in Cagayan on Nov. 7, and Typhoon Nika (Toraji) in Aurora on Nov. 11. Further, while Super Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey) made landfall in Taiwan, the cyclone brought inclement weather over Northern Luzon until it exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Nov. […]...

Keep on reading: Pagasa explains why recent typhoons tend to only hit Northern Luzon

Opponents of the bill claimed it would have targeted pro-Palestinian organizations that facilitate aid to Gaza.

“We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere," The Guardian explained.

Hezbollah’s drones were “ultimately,” the terrorist organization’s “trump card,” despite rockets being employed as their “main weapons.”

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, published the video in multiple groups on Telegram.

Mojtaba Amani, the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to Lebanon, himself badly injured by the pager incident, justified the purchase by quoting the ‘weakness of the Lebanese state’.

• Govt objects to repeal of prison rules for PTI founder
• Imran booked in 54 cases across Punjab, LHC told

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday disposed of pre-arrest bail petitions of eight PTI activists in the case regarding an attack on the Lahore corps commander’s residence after police declared them innocent in the investigation.

ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill was hearing the bail petitions of 32 activists when a prosecutor stated that a joint investigation team (JIT), formed to probe the May 9 incidents, had exonerated eight of the petitioners for lack of evidence.

At this, the lawyer for the activists sought the court permission to withdraw their bail petitions.

The judge adjourned the bail petitions of other activists till Dec 11 and 13, asking them to join the JIT investigation.

The judge allowed the request and disposed of the petitions of Tanzila Imran, Ri­­zwana Ghazanfar, Makiya Saeed, Shah­baz Amir Ali, Farooq Ahmad, Usman Naveed, Zirk Khan and Mian Ahmad Rehman.

Sarwar Road police of Lahore had registered a case against PTI leaders and workers for attacking the Lahore corps commander house, also known as Jinnah House, on May 9 last year.

Separately, ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed adjourned the hearing of post-arrest bail petitions by the PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, in May 9 cases.

The judge directed the petitioners’ lawyers to conclude their arguments on the next hearing; otherwise, the petitions would be decided on the basis of police record.

The judge postponed the pleas of Rasheed till Nov 12, Dr Yasmin till Nov 13 & 16, and Qureshi till Nov 19.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, issued a notice to Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat on whose petition the section was set aside, seeking his response.

Prison rules

Meanwhile, a two-member division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took up the petition of the chief commissioner Islamabad against setting aside of Section 265 of the Punjab Prison Rules that prohibits political discussion during prisoner meetings with visitors.

The plea contested Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan’s verdict, which had struck down Section 265.

Advocate General Islamabad Ayaz Shaukat argued that the IHC lacked jurisdiction to intervene in Punjab’s laws and maintained that the single bench did not have the authority to nullify provisions in the Punjab Prison Rules.

Chief Justice Farooq asked, “So, you are saying that the Islamabad High Court cannot interfere in any provincial law?”

Justice Imtiaz noted that the Punjab Prison Rules are also applicable to prisoners in Isla­mabad, suggesting an overlap in jurisdiction.

The CJ inquired whether a formal notice under Section 27A was issued to the attorney general or the advocate general by the single bench, a requirement before declaring any law invalid.

While the advocate general said he had been summoned, he acknowledged that a formal notice was not issued.

Advocate General Shaukat requested the immediate suspension of the single bench’s decision, but Chief Justice Farooq scheduled a formal hearing for the next week.

Justice Farooq Haider was hearing a petition filed by Imran’s sister, Noreen Niazi, challenging the non-disclosure of the cases’ details against her brother.

Cases against Imran

Also on Tuesday, Punjab Police told the La­­­hore High Court that 54 criminal cases, in­­cluding those related to May 9, had been registered against PTI founding chairman Imran Khan in different cities of the province.

An additional advocate general presented a report on behalf of the inspector general of police, revealing that 21 cases were registered in Lahore, 19 in Rawalpindi, seven in Sheikhupura, five in Faisalabad and one each in Gujranwala and Mianwali.

The cases include attacks on the Jinnah House, Askari Tower at Liberty Roundabout, General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and office of an intelligence agency in Faisalabad. A law officer for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sought additional time to provide details of the cases, if any, against Imran Khan.

The judge allowed the request and adjourned further hearing till Nov 20.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024