An automated platform for simultaneous, longitudinal analysis of engineered neuromuscular tissues for applications in neurotoxin potency testing by Jacob W. Fleming, Molly C. McCloskey, Kevin Gray, David R. Nash, Vincent Leung, Christos Michas, Shawn M. Luttrell, Christopher Cavanaugh, Julie Mathieu, Shawn Mcquire, Mark Bothwell, David L. Mack, Nicholas A. Geisse, Alec S.T. Smith

“…We present a turnkey iPSC-based model of the NMJ employing channelrhodopsin-2 expression within the motor neuron (MN) population driving muscle contraction in response to blue light. MNs co-cultured with engineered skeletal muscle tissues produced twitch forces of 34.7 ± 22.7 µN in response to blue light, with a response fidelity > 92 %. …”
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Projected distribution patterns of Alpinia officinarum in China under future climate scenarios: insights from optimized Maxent and Biomod2 models by Yong Kang, Yong Kang, Fei Lin, Junmei Yin, Junmei Yin, Yongjie Han, Min Zhu, Yuhua Guo, Fenling Tang, Yamei Li

“…Through Multivariate environmental similarity surface (MESS) and most dissimilar variable (MoD) analyses revealed that increased climate variability under high emission scenarios, especially in ssp585, led to large-scale habitat contraction due to rising temperatures and unstable precipitation patterns. …”
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Coupling analysis of multi-systems urbanization: Evidence from China by Junqiang Luo, Weijing Ma, Shuang An, Zining Zhang, Yanchuan Fu, Hejun Huang, Genying Chang

“…Low-coordination cities are mainly found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the border areas of Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei, the Hetao area of the Yellow River Basin, the agricultural regions of the Huanghuaihai Plain, and the southeastern hilly and mountainous areas. (2) The degree of uneven urbanization development initially expands and then contracts, with intra-regional imbalances following the pattern: “Eastern Coastal Area > Northeast Area > Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Area > Northern Coastal Area > Middle Reaches of the Yellow River Area > Southwest Area > Southern Coastal Area > Northwest Area.” (3) The coupling and coordinated development of urbanization is closely related to the economic foundation and production energy usage. …”
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Duckweed: a starch-hyperaccumulating plant under cultivation with a combination of nutrient limitation and elevated CO2 by Ling Guo, Ling Guo, Yang Fang, Songhu Wang, Yao Xiao, Yanqiang Ding, Yanling Jin, Xueping Tian, Anping Du, Zhihua Liao, Kaize He, Shuang Chen, Yonggui Zhao, Li Tan, Zhuolin Yi, Yuqing Che, Lanchai Chen, Jinmeng Li, Leyi Zhao, Peng Zhang, Zhengbiao Gu, Fangyuan Zhang, Yan Hong, Qing Zhang, Hai Zhao

“…In this study, we integrated whole-genome sequencing, epigenomics, transcriptomics, enzyme activity, and composition variation to elucidate the mechanisms of efficient starch accumulation in duckweed in terms of starch accumulation and carbon partitioning, regulation of the expression of genes in the starch metabolic pathway, and sucrose biosynthesis and transportation.Results and discussionAlthough Landoltia punctata exhibits dramatic gene family contraction, its starch content and productivity reached 72.2% (dry basis) and 10.4 g m-2 d-1, respectively, in 10 days, equivalent to a yield of 38.0 t ha-1 y-1, under nutrient limitation treatment with elevated CO2 levels. …”
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Neuromuscular electrical stimulation training induces myonuclear accretion and hypertrophy in mice without overt signs of muscle damage and regeneration by Aurélie Fessard, Aliki Zavoriti, Natacha Boyer, Jules Guillemaud, Masoud Rahmati, Peggy Del Carmine, Christelle Gobet, Bénédicte Chazaud, Julien Gondin

“…Each NMES training session consisted of 80 isometric contractions delivered at ∼15% of maximal tetanic force to avoid muscle damage. …”
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BAFF and APRIL immunotherapy following Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination enhances protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in mice by Min Xie, Chen-Yu Tsai, Joshua Woo, Frank Nuritdinov, Melissa Cristaldo, Narineh M. Odjourian, Rosleine Antilus-Sainte, Maureen Dougher, Martin Gengenbacher, Martin Gengenbacher

“…Changes in cellular immune responses were accompanied by reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles and a contraction of the leukocyte population in lungs. Importantly, mice receiving BCG vaccination followed by BAFF or APRIL immunotherapy exhibited superior long-term protection against pulmonary tuberculosis relative to controls that received only BCG.ConclusionIn summary, our findings demonstrate that combining BCG vaccination with B cell targeted immunomodulatory therapies can improve long-term protection against pulmonary tuberculosis, highlighting the continued relevance and underutilized potential of BCG as a vaccine platform.…”
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Decorin, an exercise-induced secretory protein, is associated with improved prognosis in breast cancer patients but does not mediate anti-tumorigenic tissue crosstalk in mice by Marit Hjorth, Casey L. Egan, Guilherme D. Telles, Martin Pal, David Gallego-Ortega, Oliver K. Fuller, Emma D. McLennan, Ryan D. Gillis, Tae Gyu Oh, George E.O. Muscat, Surafel Tegegne, Michael S.M. Mah, Joanna Skhinas, Emma Estevez, Timothy E. Adams, Matthew J. McKay, Mark Molloy, Kevin I. Watt, Hongwei Qian, Paul Gregorevic, Thomas R. Cox, Pernille Hojman, Julie Midtgaard, Jesper F. Christensen, Martin Friedrichsen, Renato V. Iozzo, Erica K. Sloan, Brian G. Drew, Jørgen F.P. Wojtaszewski, Martin Whitham, Mark A. Febbraio

“…We identify the proteoglycan decorin as a contraction-induced secretory factor that systemically increases in patients with breast cancer immediately following exercise. …”
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An Effective Iterative Process Utilizing Transcendental Sine Functions for the Generation of Julia and Mandelbrot Sets by Khairul Habib Alam, Yumnam Rohen, Anita Tomar, Naeem Saleem, Maggie Aphane, Asima Razzaque

“…This study presents an innovative iterative method designed to approximate common fixed points of generalized contractive mappings. We provide theorems that confirm the convergence and stability of the proposed iteration scheme, further illustrated through examples and visual demonstrations. …”
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Disorders of esophageal clearance in gastroesophageal reflux disease and option of their treatment by O. A. Storonova, A. S. Trukhmanov, N. L. Dzhahaya, V. T. Ivashkin

“…At investigation of motor function decrease of amplitude and nonperistaltic waves are registered in 33,3 and 13,3% of patients respectively, esophageal spasm – in 20%, and tertiary contractions – in 36,7% of cases. In 46,7% of patients delay in clearance of the esophagus up to 9 min on average was registered [3,5; 15], all patients with erosive RE had increased clearance time (р<0,05). …”
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A Propulsion Neuroprosthesis Improves Overground Walking in Community-Dwelling Individuals After Stroke by Dabin K. Choe, Ashlyn J. Aiello, Johanna E. Spangler, Conor J. Walsh, Louis N. Awad

“…Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a common neuromotor intervention whereby electrically evoked dorsiflexor muscle contractions assist foot clearance during walking. Plantarflexor neurostimulation has recently emerged to assist and retrain gait propulsion; however, safe and effective coordination of dorsiflexor and plantarflexor neurostimulation during overground walking has been elusive, restricting propulsion neuroprostheses to harnessed treadmill walking. …”
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Safety of health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: piloting WHO framework in Iran by Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi, Mondher Letaief, Hossein Mashhadi Abdolahi, Ramin Rezapour, Ahmed Alboksmaty, Mostafa Farahbakhsh

“…Also, there is not a system in PHC to audit the application of safety measures to mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19. We recommend creating a specific system (precise and detailed) for HWs’ safety and applying safety measures in the PHC routine programs.…”
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Sex differences in ventricular-vascular interactions associated with aerobic capacity by Barbara N. Morrison, Peter M. Mittermaier, Garth R. Lester, Michael E. Bodner, Anita T. Cote

“…Further, ventricular relaxation was a significant factor in aerobic capacity in males, while in females ventricular contraction was a significant factor.…”
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Examining the Outcomes of Hybrid Coronary Revascularization in Acute STEMI Patients from 2015 to 2022 by Mozhgan Bahramian, Seyed Ali Moezi bady, Maryam Bahramian, Ahmad Amouzeshi

“…Following surgery and during hospitalization, arrhythmias were observed, including 33.3% with premature ventricular contractions, 18.1% with atrial fibrillation, and 3.1% with ventricular tachycardia. …”
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NEGATIVE INTEREST RATES: CENTRAL BANKS INITIATED AN EXPERIMENT by A. N. Burenin

“…Such new tools could be represented by futures contracts on interest rates securities.…”
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Factors Associated With Adolescents' Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intention: A Cross‐Sectional Survey by Angela Chia‐Chen Chen, ChengChing Hiya Liu, Kimberly Arcoleo, Jiying Ling, Lorraine B. Robbins

“…Adolescents who had higher perceived risk of contracting HPV (AOR = 1.89, CI 95% [1.23–2.91]; p = 0.004) and perceived more facilitators (AOR = 1.61, CI 95% [1.22–2.12]; p < 0.001) reported higher HPV vaccination intention. …”
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Indirect contacts between Danish pig farms – what are the frequencies and risk-reducing measures, and how can they be used in simulation models? by Mette Fertner, Beate Conrady, Anne Sax Røgind, Elisabeth Okholm Nielsen, Anette Boklund

“…The veterinary questionnaire resulted in 143 answers, representing the Veterinary Health Advisory Service contracts for 53% of non-hobby pig farms. The questionnaire for the pig producers resulted in 373 valid responses and a final response rate of 18%. …”
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Presidential Initiatives as a Tool to Manage U.S. Foreign Assistance Policies in the XXI Century: From George W. Bush Jr. to Joseph R. Biden by V. I. Bartenev

“…On the one hand, U.S. presidents sought to expand the room for maneuver in foreign aid programming and budgeting, which had been very limited from the very beginning due to the legal constraints and which had contracted even further because of a quick proliferation of Congressional earmarks and directives. …”
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Self-reported sexually transmitted infections and associated factors among sexually active men in East Africa: a multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health surveys by Beminate Lemma Seifu, Yohannes Mekuria Negussie, Bezawit Melak Fente, Zufan Alamrie Asmare, Angwach Abrham Asnake, Meklit Melaku Bezie, Hiwot Atlaye Asebe

“…Implementing targeted public health initiatives for men with lower education levels, as well as devising strategies to address factors that elevate the risk of STI contraction, is also crucial.…”
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Analysis of the lncRNA-Associated Competing Endogenous RNA (ceRNA) Network for Tendinopathy by Bing-Zhe Huang, Yang Jing-Jing, Xiao-Ming Dong, null Zhuan Zhong, null Xiao-Ning Liu

“…The downregulated DEmRNAs were particularly associated with muscle contraction and muscle filament, while the upregulated ones were linked to extracellular matrix organization and cell adhesion. …”
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End-to-End Security Mechanism Using Blockchain for Industrial Internet of Things by Muhammad Shahid Dildar, Adnan Shahid Khan, Irshad Ahmed Abbasi, Reema Shaheen Naseem Akhtar, Khalil Al Ruqaishi, Shakeel Ahmed Ghulam Sarwar

“…That mechanism is based on smart contracts that enforce security policies. Our framework allows for the switching of any access rule at any time, as well as it can immediately react to some suspicious behavior. …”
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