On this opening week of Spring Training, all 30 Major League teams have one thing in common: optimism. Here's an optimism cheat sheet for each of them.

A unique population of ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons co-transmits glutamate and GABA. However, the circuit inputs to VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ neurons are unknown, limiting our understanding of their functional capabilities. By coupling monosynaptic rabies tracing with intersectional genetic targeting in male and female mice, we found that VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ neurons received diverse brainwide inputs. The largest numbers of monosynaptic inputs to VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ neurons were from superior colliculus (SC), lateral hypothalamus (LH), midbrain reticular nucleus, and periaqueductal gray, whereas the densest inputs relative to brain region volume were from the dorsal raphe nucleus, lateral habenula, and VTA. Based on these and prior data, we hypothesized that LH and SC inputs were from glutamatergic neurons. Optical activation of glutamatergic LH neurons activated VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ neurons regardless of stimulation frequency and resulted in flee-like ambulatory behavior. In contrast, optical activation of glutamatergic SC neurons activated VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ neurons for a brief period of time at high frequency and resulted in head rotation and arrested ambulatory behavior (freezing). Stimulation of glutamatergic LH neurons, but not glutamatergic SC neurons, was associated with VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ footshock-induced activity and inhibition of LH glutamatergic neurons disrupted VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ tailshock-induced activity. We interpret these results such that inputs to VTA VGluT2+VGaT+ neurons may integrate diverse signals related to the detection and processing of motivationally salient outcomes.

The activation of autonomic and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) systems occurs interdependently with behavioral adjustments under varying environmental demands. Nevertheless, laboratory rodent studies examining the neural bases of stress responses have generally attributed increments in these systems to be monolithic, regardless of whether an active or passive coping strategy is employed. Using the shock probe defensive burying test (SPDB) to measure stress-coping features naturalistically in male and female rats, we identify a neural pathway whereby activity changes may promote distinctive response patterns of hemodynamic and HPA indices typifying active and passive coping phenotypes. Optogenetic excitation of the rostral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) input to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) decreased passive behavior (immobility), attenuated the glucocorticoid hormone response, but did not prevent arterial pressure and heart rate increases associated with rats’ active behavioral (defensive burying) engagement during the SPDB. In contrast, inhibition of the same pathway increased behavioral immobility and attenuated hemodynamic output but did not affect glucocorticoid increases. Further analyses confirmed that hemodynamic increments occurred preferentially during active behaviors and decrements during immobility epochs, whereas pathway manipulations, regardless of the directionality of effect, weakened these correlational relationships. Finally, neuroanatomical evidence indicated that the influence of the rostral mPFC->vlPAG pathway on coping response patterns is mediated predominantly through GABAergic neurons within vlPAG. These data highlight the importance of this prefrontal->midbrain connection in organizing stress-coping responses and in coordinating bodily systems with behavioral output for adaptation to aversive experiences.

The sudden appearance of a visual distractor shortly before saccade initiation can capture spatial attention and modulate the saccade trajectory in spite of the ongoing execution of the initial plan to shift gaze straight to the saccade target. To elucidate the neural correlates underlying these curved saccades, we recorded from single neurons in the frontal eye field of two male rhesus monkeys shifting gaze to a target while a distractor with the same eccentricity appeared either left or right of the target at various delays after target presentation. We found that the population level of presaccadic activity of neurons representing the distractor location encoded the direction of the saccade trajectory. Stronger activity occurred when saccades curved toward the distractor, and weaker when saccades curved away. This relationship held whether the distractor was ipsilateral or contralateral to the recorded neurons. Meanwhile, visually responsive neurons showed asymmetrical patterns of excitatory responses that varied with the location of the distractor and the duration of distractor processing relating to attentional capture and distractor inhibition. During earlier distractor processing, neurons encoded curvature toward the distractor. During later distractor processing, neurons encoded curvature away from the distractor. This was observed when saccades curved away from distractors contralateral to the recording site and when saccades curved toward distractors ipsilateral to the recording site. These findings indicate that saccadic motor planning involves dynamic push–pull hemispheric interactions producing attraction or repulsion for potential but unselected saccade targets.

Engage, OM South Africa’s bi-annual conference, provides a challenge and a channel for joining missions with OM.

Unite Nations in Cape Town (UNIC) works alongside two local universities, building friendships with the international students for God’s kingdom.

God unexpectedly provides just what a family needs.

Farm workers hear about Jesus for the first time at their compound.

A South African OMer plans to use her nursing skills to build relationships with Muslim women in the Arabian Peninsula.

Missions Discipleship Training in South Africa is not a wasted six months--it's a springboard into your calling, preparing and equipping you for the real deal.

OM has trained thousands of young people into a stronger relationship with Christ and prepared them for the mission field.

OM Russia works to bring hope to neighbours affected by HIV and AIDS.

How OM Founder George Verwer's visit to Siberia impacted local churches.

A young couple who met on the Internet answers God’s call to missions to help others find Christ using their IT and web design skills.

OM Russia leader Colin Cleaver discusses why he values the involvement of families in OM Russia’s ministry and encourages other families to consider missions.

OM Russia celebrated the 10th anniversary of the discipleship ministry.

A group of Russians participates in an OM Moldova summer outreach for children.

OM Philippines will host three training sessions this month in an effort to see sustainable, transformational and developmental ministries grow in Cebu City.

OM Ships’ vessel Logos Hope welcomes her three millionth visitor on board while in Puerto Princesa, Philippines.

OM Philippines celebrates 25 years of transforming lives and communities.

A shepherd from a Muslim background comes to Jesus thanks to a goat ministry started by OM Mozambique.

God is working to transform lives in Mozambique through the efforts of the local OM team.

Limardes Domingo, an OM worker in Mecula, Mozambique, has seen church growth over two years through God's faithful answers to prayer.

"...if they don’t believe you, you have to keep on talking and talking and talking until it gets stuck in their head," said Lansipe.

God opens doors for an international team to minister in Urfa, Turkey, an ancient city with no Christian church and only a handful of believers.

Newly married couple temporarily in Turkey uses spare time and unexpected opportunities to reach out to refugees.

God uses an OMer working amongst Kurdish refugees in Turkey to reach a whole family through one contact.

Two OMer's plan a trip out to eastern Turkey to share the gospel with the lost, as their plans keep changing along the way.

OM Turkey helps the local church to minister to the 2.6 million refugees in their country.

A small Black Country, UK, church were blessed by the efforts of five young missionaries from different parts of the world.

Dominic Notegen, a 27-year-old English Language Community Outreach student at OM Lifehope, feels called to spread the Gospel.

OM Lifehope coordinates ELCO—English Language and Community Outreach—to equip those considering serving God in missions.

OM Lake Tanganyika faces battles of faith vs. witchcraft.

The Good News II School in Mpulungu, Zambia, has grown from 20 students to over 180. Students have grown from the values they learnt.

Foundations for Farming is changing lives in Zambia by reaching out with God's truth and practical training.

Rachel's personal transformation through Jesus inspires her to serve the women in her community.

A story about 2 Albanian boys who live in Greece as immigrants with their families.

How OM is partnering with Greek churches to address the growing immigrant and trafficking situation

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

Europe short-term mission coordinators gather in Sibiu, Romania, to increase vision, gain training and share resources for greater impact in Europe.

“What a feeling it is to know you can be someone’s miracle…” shares a short-term worker after outreach with the OM Transit team in Romania.

Ten years ago, Lydia* arrived on the field as a single woman. Now married and with two kids, her method of ministry has changed entirely.

One missionary speaks about the challenges of taking someone with a different background into your home.

Driven apart by the Syrian civil war, an extended family experiences miraculous healing and dreams and believes in Jesus.

Since the Syrian war began, OM workers have served alongside locals, including Muslim background believers, to spread hope amongst desperate people.

OM workers share the Bible with Muslims in the Near East.

This month, OM Italy is pleased to host the launch of the OM Arts School of Mission at their base, Forterocca.

The coordinator of OM Italy’s anti-trafficking ministry describes the birth of the ministry through meeting a Nigerian woman forced into prostitution in Rome.

Danish students gain perspective and experience with OM Italy.

Participating in a Transform outreach to trafficked women gave OMer Erika Tello the vision of founding the OM Italy anti-trafficking ministry.