Noninvasive approach to mend the broken heart: Is “remote conditioning” a promising strategy for application in humans?

Currently, there are no satisfactory interventions to protect the heart against the detrimental effects of ischemia–reperfusion injury. Although ischemic preconditioning (PC) is the most powerful form of intrinsic cardioprotection, its application in humans is limited to planned interventions, due to its short duration and technical requirements. However, many organs/tissues are capable of producing “remote” PC (RPC) when subjected to brief bouts of ischemia–reperfusion. RPC was first described in the heart where brief ischemia in one territory led to protection in other area. Later on, RPC started to be used in patients with acute myocardial infarction, albeit with ambiguous results. It is hypothesized that the connection between the signal triggered in remote organ and protection induced in the heart can be mediated by humoral and neural pathways, as well as via systemic response to short sublethal ischemia. However, although RPC has a potentially important clinical role, our understanding of the mechanistic pathways linking the local stimulus to the remote organ remains incomplete. Nevertheless, RPC appears as a cost-effective and easily performed intervention. Elucidation of protective mechanisms activated in the remote organ may have therapeutic and diagnostic implications in the management of myocardial ischemia and lead to development of pharmacological RPC mimetics.

How Local Are Labor Markets? Evidence from a Spatial Job Search Model

This paper models the optimal search strategies of the unemployed across space to characterize local labor markets. Our methodology allows for linkages between numerous areas, while preserving tractability. We estimate that labor markets are quite local, as the attractiveness of jobs to applicants sharply decays with distance. Also, workers are discouraged from searching in areas with strong competition from other job-seekers. However, as labor markets overlap, a local stimulus or transport improvements have modest effects on local outcomes, because ripple effects in job applications dilute their impact across a series of overlapping markets. (JEL J61, J64, R23, R58)

Modeling of a non-local stimulus for bone remodeling process under cyclic load: Application to a dental implant using a bioresorbable porous material

In this paper, a numerical method based on finite elements is used to study the phenomena of resorption and growth of bone tissue and resorption of the biomaterial in the neighborhood of a dental implant fixture of the type IntraMobil Zylinder. The mechanical stimulus that drives these processes is a linear combination of strain energy and viscous dissipation. To simulate the implant, an axisymmetric model has been used from the point of view of the geometry; the material behavior is described in the poro-visco-elastic frame. The external action is represented by a load variable with sinusoidal law characterized by different frequencies. Investigated aspects are the influence of the load frequency and of the lazy zone on the remodeling process.

Mushroom body output neurons encode valence and guide memory-based action selection in Drosophila

Animals discriminate stimuli, learn their predictive value and use this knowledge to modify their behavior. In Drosophila, the mushroom body (MB) plays a key role in these processes. Sensory stimuli are sparsely represented by ∼2000 Kenyon cells, which converge onto 34 output neurons (MBONs) of 21 types. We studied the role of MBONs in several associative learning tasks and in sleep regulation, revealing the extent to which information flow is segregated into distinct channels and suggesting possible roles for the multi-layered MBON network. We also show that optogenetic activation of MBONs can, depending on cell type, induce repulsion or attraction in flies. The behavioral effects of MBON perturbation are combinatorial, suggesting that the MBON ensemble collectively represents valence. We propose that local, stimulus-specific dopaminergic modulation selectively alters the balance within the MBON network for those stimuli. Our results suggest that valence encoded by the MBON ensemble biases memory-based action selection.

Development of a Treadmill Platform for Dynamic Training with Vibratory Stimuli

The development of a method training based on vibratory stimuli was used in Russia since the 80’s. In this training a change occurs in Tonic Vibration Reflex (TVR) determining a reflex muscle contraction, originated from a local stimulus in muscle and tendon by vibration. The application of vibratory stimulus produces a state of greater neuromuscular efficiency, which increases the income of voluntary movements. The aim of this study was develop a prototype of a vibratory treadmill to assist on the walking training with the benefits of vibration. The device was adapted in Athletic Advanced Treadmill. The evaluation of the prototype was performed through comparison of reference values of ISO standards with acquired values by measuring instruments, being: strength g, frequency, amplitude, structural stability and resistance. In the statistical analysis of equipment tests was used Anova one-way and was observed a low variation of strength g and maximum amplitude was of 3mm being acceptable based on the limits of research conducted. Finally, the walking can be practiced safely and there is not displacement of equipment during implementation of the vibration.