Inferring nonlinear dynamics of cell migration.

The motility of eukaryotic cells is strongly influenced by their environment, with confined cells often developing qualitatively different motility patterns from those migrating on simple two-dimensional substrates. Recent experiments, coupled with data-driven methods to extract a cell's equation of motion, showed that cancerous MDA-MB-231 cells persistently hop in a limit cycle when placed on two-state adhesive micropatterns (two large squares connected by a narrow bridge), while they remain stationary on average in rectangular confinements. In contrast, healthy MCF10A cells migrating on the two-state micropattern are bistable, i.

Stimulation of the calcium-sensing receptor induces relaxations of rat mesenteric arteries by endothelium-dependent and -independent pathways via BK and K channels.

Stimulation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) induces both vasoconstrictions and vasorelaxations but underlying cellular processes remain unclear. This study investigates expression and effect of stimulating the CaSR by increasing external Ca concentration ([Ca ] ) on contractility of rat mesenteric arteries. Immunofluorescence studies showed expression of the CaSR in perivascular nerves, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and vascular endothelium cells.

Relationships Between Stigma, Risk Tolerance, and Buprenorphine Dispensing Intentions Among Community-Based Pharmacists: Results From a National Sample.

Background: Concerns have been raised that pharmacists sometimes act as barriers to patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) accessing buprenorphine treatment. The present research explores how community pharmacists' endorsement (vs non-endorsement) of stigmatizing beliefs about patients taking buprenorphine relate to intentions, comfort, and decisions regarding dispensing buprenorphine for OUD. In addition, we assessed attitudes toward risk in pharmacy practice as a novel correlate of dispensing intentions and decisions.

Picking winners in cell-cell collisions: Wetting, speed, and contact.

Groups of eukaryotic cells can coordinate their crawling motion to follow cues more effectively, stay together, or invade new areas. This collective cell migration depends on cell-cell interactions, which are often studied by colliding pairs of cells together. Can the outcome of these collisions be predicted? Recent experiments on trains of colliding epithelial cells suggest that cells with a smaller contact angle to the surface or larger speeds are more likely to maintain their direction ("win") upon collision.

A Parametric Multi-Agent Simulation Framework to Emulate Social Isolation During the Pandemic.

Many people worldwide have been at home for months and practicing social distancing to mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). What may have started as a single case is now in at least 180 countries. Preliminary surveys indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to feel more lonely and isolated than they did before.