Mechanism Of Contraction Research Articles

Secure semantic search using deep learning in a blockchain-assisted multi-user setting

Deep learning-based semantic search (DLSS) aims to bridge the gap between experts and non-experts in search. Experts can create precise queries due to their prior knowledge, while non-experts struggle with specific terms and concepts, making their queries less precise. Cloud infrastructure offers a practical and scalable platform for data owners to upload their data, making it accessible to intended data users. However, the contemporary single-owner/single-user (S/S) approach to DLSS schemes falls short of effectively leveraging the inherent multi-user capabilities of cloud infrastructure. Furthermore, most of these schemes delegate the dissemination of secret keys to a single trust point within the mutual distrust scenario in cloud infrastructure. This paper proposes a Secure Semantic Search using Deep Learning in a Blockchain-Assisted Multi-User Setting (S3DBMS)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$(S^3DBMS)$$\\end{document}. Specifically, the seamless integration of attribute-based encryption with transfer learning allows the construction of DLSS in multi-owner/multi-user (M/M) settings. Further, blockchain’s smart contract mechanism allows a multi-attribute authority consensus-based generation of user private keys and system-wide global parameters in a mutual distrust M/M scenario. Finally, our scheme achieves privacy requirements and offers improved security and accuracy.

Mefenamic Acid Reduces the Contractility of Isolated Uterine Smooth Muscle of Rat

Objective: Mefenamic acid is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used for the treatment of pain and inflammation. The drug is indicated in patients with mild to moderate pain and inflammatory diseases, usually toothache, painful menstruation, muscle or joint pains and postpartum pain. There are not enough studies showing the effectiveness of this drug, which is significantly effective in gynecological pains, on the uterine contraction and relaxation mechanism. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of mefenamic acid on the uterine contraction and relaxation mechanism. Materials and Methods: In the study, seven female intact Sprague-Dawley rats in the diestrus period were used. Longitudinal myometrium sections of 1.2 cm length, 2 mm width and 1 mm thickness from animals were suspended in an isolated organ bath containing crebs solution. After the regulation period, mefenamic acid was administered at a dose of 300 μM. Contractile changes were monitored using an isometric transducer. Before and after the application, the area under the curve (AUC), frequency and peak to peak (p-p) values were normalized as % change. Statistical analyzes of the data were performed with the Paired Sample T test in SPSS 22.0 program. Results: Mefenamic acid caused a statistically significant decrease in the p-p, AUC and frequency values of spontaneous uterine contractions at 300 μM dose (p<0.001). Conclusion: Mefenamic acid has an inhibitory effect on uterine contractions. This drug, which is widely used in the clinic for menstrual pain caused by abnormal uterine contractions, especially in young women, may show its analgesic effect by inhibiting uterine contractions.

Profile of interstitial cells of Cajal in a murine model of chagasic megacolon.

Disorders of gastrointestinal motility are the major physiologic problem in chagasic megacolon. The contraction mechanism is complex and controlled by different cell types such as enteric neurons, smooth muscle, telocytes, and an important pacemaker of the intestine, the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). The role of ICCs in the progression of acute and chronic Chagas disease remains unclear. In the present work, we investigate the aspects of ICCs in a long-term model of Chagas disease that mimics the pathological aspects of human megacolon. Different subsets of ICCs isolated from Auerbach's myenteric plexuses and muscle layers of control and Trypanosoma cruzi infected animals were determined by analysis of CD117, CD44, and CD34 expression by flow cytometer. Compared with the respective controls, the results showed a reduced frequency of mature ICCs in the acute phase and three months after infection. These results demonstrate for the first time the phenotypic distribution of ICCs associated with functional dysfunction in a murine model of chagasic megacolon. This murine model proved valuable for studying the profile of ICCs as an integrative system in the gut and as a platform for understanding the mechanism of chagasic megacolon development.

Ранні маркери гострої доксорубіциніндукованої кардіотоксичності та механізми її розвитку

Arrhythmias and congestive heart failure, which pose the greatest risk of toxic cardiomyopathy, are the clinically limiting side effects of doxorubicin, the main highly active anticancer agent. The difficulty of early diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and timely detection of cardiac dysfunction associated with chemotherapy remains a significant medical problem. The aim of our study was to identify early signs of acute doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in adult rats by assessing ECG changes and biochemical parameters. Acute cardiotoxicity was modelled by short-term intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin at a total dose of 15 mg/kg. On the 5th day of the experiment, visual fluctuations of electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms, duration and amplitude of the main teeth and intervals, as well as heart rate (HR) in the control and experimental groups of rats were studied to determine early ECG signs of cardiotoxicity. The most significant ECG changes were a doubling of the QT interval duration and significant ST-segment elevation in the rats of the experimental group. In experiments on isolated aortic rings, we demonstrated doxorubicin-induced disruption of both vascular relaxation and contraction mechanisms. The endothelium-dependent relaxation of vascular preparations of animals after administration of doxorubicin to acetylcholine (0.1 μmol/l) was 47% less than in the control group. The vascular ring contractions in rats under the influence of norepinephrine (10 μmol/l) were 59% lower than in control rats. After doxorubicin administration, oxidative stress developed against the background of cardiovascular disorders. Thus, the content of diene conjugates and malondialdehyde increased by 4 and 2.5 times, respectively. At the same time, in isolated cardiac mitochondria, the activity of inducible NO synthase increased 3.7-fold with a simultaneous significant 4.8-fold inhibition of constitutive NO synthase. An increase in the content of acute-phase biochemical parameters that are markers of damage, namely alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine phosphokinase myocardial fraction (CPK MB) by 2.2, 1.4 and 1.5 times, respectively, was detected. Thus, the acute cardiotoxic effect of doxorubicin results in changes in the systolic-diastolic function of the left ventricle of the heart and its conduction, automaticity and contractility, as well as impaired relaxation and contraction of isolated preparations of the aorta against the background of increased activity of inducible and decreased constitutive NO synthesis, accompanied by oxidative stress and increased content of biochemical markers of myocardial damage.

Цифровизация строительства объектов ТЭК

The advent of new technologies and the evolving economic landscape have prompted a need to rethink the existing regulatory framework governing market players. Digitalization forces to create new legal mechanisms for regulating emerging economic relations. These include the development of normative legal acts that strike a balance between ensuring the public interest and business development, the introduction of new institutions or the modernization of existing ones, and the broad integration of various spheres of social life. The current legal framework presents shortcomings that create difficulties in introducing new technologies into the economy. This article will examine the existing legal issues of surrounding the use of new technologies in the construction of fuel and energy infrastructure facilities. It will focus on the legal nature of BIMmodeling, tort liability in the application of technologies in the construction/design process, and the problems of widespread introduction of smart contracts in construction activities. In preparing this scientific article, we relied on normative legal acts regulating the introduction of new technologies in economic activity, a small amount of judicial practice reflecting the current attitude of the judicial system to the legal regulation of new technologies, developed concepts reflecting the main areas of activity in the development of digitalization, and news portals. The following scientific methods were employed in the research process: analysis, comparison, description, interpretation, synthesis, abstraction, and analogy. This paper presents the current discussions on the mentioned problems of digitalization in the construction of facilities of the fuel and energy complex. It addresses the need/absence of the need for detailed legal regulation, the legal nature of the ‘liability’ of objects of digitalization, and gaps in the current legislation in terms of regulating the mechanism of smart contracts. The existing legal regulation issues surrounding digitalization in the construction of facilities of the fuel and energy complex, as outlined in this article, require a comprehensive solution that strikes a balance between economic development and effective legal regulation.

A Game-Theory-Based Contract Mechanism to Facilitate Technology Spillover in Emerging Electric Vehicle Markets

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been increasingly adopted by both developing and developed countries as an effective means to cope with energy shortage and provide environmental-friendly transportation solutions. However, due to technology gap, domestic electric vehicles (DEVs) in developing countries often cannot compete with well-established imported electric vehicles (IEVs) from developed countries. Therefore, developing countries often face the dilemma of increasing the EV adoption through more IEVs and promoting the development of DEVs. This article proposes an incentive-compatible contract mechanism to address this dilemma. Through a set of game theory models, we compare the commonly used subsidy and tariff policies against the spillover effect of a technology assistance program (TAP) and derive the optimal pricing strategies for DEVs and IEVs. The results show that the implementation of TAP can lead to a more competitive market and significantly increase social welfare. Consumers can benefit from reduced prices of both the DEVs and IEVs, while the profits of the IEVs and DEVs can be enhanced at varying degrees of technology spillover resulted from TAP. Therefore, the proposed TAP mechanism effectively complements the existing subsidy and tariff policies and provides a viable instrument for the government of developing country to reconcile the existing policy dilemma.

Erratum to “Contract Mechanism of Water Environment Regulation for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Based on Optimal Control Theory” [Journal of Water Resource and Protection Vol.16 No.7 2024

Erratum to “Contract Mechanism of Water Environment Regulation for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Based on Optimal Control Theory” [Journal of Water Resource and Protection Vol.16 No.7 2024

Dual-outward contraction-induced construction of 2D hollow carbon superstructures.

A novel dual-outward contraction mechanism is applied to construct 2D hollow carbon superstructures (HCSs) via pyrolysis of hybrid ZIF superstructures. One outward contraction stress is offered by the in situ formed thin carbon shell, while another originates from the interconnected facets of ZIF polyhedra within the ZIF superstructure.

Social contract as a tool for overcoming poverty of the working-age population: assessment of budget efficiency and directions of modernization

One of the promising instruments of social support for the population in the Russian Federation is a social contract, the feature of which is the conditional nature of social payments, requiring poor citizens to take active actions to improve their living situation (job search, vocational training, doing business). This study analyzes the Russian and foreign experience in organizing social contract instruments (the TANF program in the USA and the RSA program in France). The subject of the author's research is the effectiveness of budget expenditures of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation for the financial provision of the social contract mechanism in the context of the allocated areas of assistance. Special attention is paid to the legal support of the functioning of the social contract in terms of methods for evaluating its effectiveness and the distribution of appropriate subsidies from the federal budget. Based on the criterion proposed by the author of the relative amount of budget expenditures per citizen who has overcome the poverty threshold, an assessment of the budgetary effectiveness of various areas of assistance under the social contract is carried out. The conclusion is made about the difference in the evaluation results when using official indicators and the author's approach. Thus, official data indicate the success of the results of the social contract program, comparable with foreign analogues. The author's assessment of budgetary efficiency showed the irrational use of budgetary funds: 60% of financial resources in 2021-2022 were directed to the least effective area of assistance. Additionally, the problems in the mechanism of federal co-financing of expenditures of regional budgets for the use of the instrument are identified. The author identifies the methodological shortcomings of the current methodology for evaluating its effectiveness. Based on the identified problems, changes are proposed in the regulatory framework governing the financial mechanism for providing assistance on the basis of a social contract. These results are of high practical significance for the activities of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, as well as regional executive authorities responsible for the implementation of the social contract.

Exploring mechanochemistry of pharmaceutical cocrystals: effect of incident angle on molecular mixing during simulated indentations of two organic solids.

The solid-state reaction of the active pharmaceutical ingredient theophylline with citric acid is a well-established example of a mechanochemical reaction, leading to a model pharmaceutical cocrystal. Here, classical force field molecular dynamics was employed to investigate the molecular mixing and structural distortion that take place on the mechanically driven indentation of a citric acid nanoparticle on a slab of crystalline theophylline. Through non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, a 6 nm diameter nanoparticle of citric acid was introduced onto an open (001) surface of a theophylline crystal, varying both the angle of incidence of the nanoparticle between 15° and 90° and the indentation speed between 1 m s-1 and 16 m s-1. This theoretical study enabled the evaluation of how these two parameters promote molecular mixing and overall structural deformation upon the mechanical contraction of theophylline and citric acid, both of which are important parameters underlying mechanochemical cocrystallisation. The results show that the angle of incidence plays a key role in the molecular transfer ability between the two species and in the structural disruption of the initially spherical nanoparticles. Changing the indentation speed, however, did not lead to a discernible trend in molecular mixing, highlighting the importance of the incident angle in mechanochemical events in the context of supramolecular chemistry, such as the disruption of the crystal structure and molecular transfer between molecular crystals.

Strengthening the Legal Guarantees of Mediation Confidentiality with Contractual Mechanisms

Strengthening the Legal Guarantees of Mediation Confidentiality with Contractual Mechanisms

Роль офсетных контрактов в развитии механизмов государственно-частного партнерства

An offset contract implies a government contract that assumes the existence of counter investment obligations, both on the part of the investor and on the part of the state. The investor assumes responsibility for the creation or modernization of production on the territory of the Russian Federation, and the state, in turn, creates attractive conditions for doing business. From the meaning and content of the offset contract, it can be considered as a manifestation of the mechanism of public-private partnership, which finds its expression as a result of the interaction of the subject of the Russian Federation and the supplier-investor. Offset contracts represent a promising and beneficial mechanism for both sides of interaction, which allows us to focus on long-term cooperation, which entails the creation of new production facilities on the territory of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, as a result, jobs, and an increase in tax revenues. The urgency of a detailed study of the offset contract mechanism is conditioned by the possibility of implementing the plans of the Government of the Russian Federation to localize the production of technically complex products and increase the pace of import substitution under international sanctions. The study presents the advantages of an offset contract in comparison with other investment attraction tools and options for its adaptation in the Kursk region.
 The purpose to study the role of offset contracts in the development of public-private partnership mechanisms and summarize ideas about the future prospects of its implementation in the mechanism of attracting investment in the regions.
 Objectives: to form an idea of the concept and essence of an offset contract, to identify promising areas for the development of offset contracts, to form proposals for improving the stages of concluding an offset contract, to substantiate proposals for the further development and adaptation of this tool in the mechanism of attracting investment to the region.
 Methodology. In the process of studying the subject under consideration, such methods as analysis, synthesis, generalization, logical, as well as graphical methods of information processing were used. 
 Results. The offset contract should be considered as a mechanism for the implementation of public-private partnership, since it meets the set of features inherent in it (attracting an investor on the terms of long-term interaction, the state acts as one of the parties, there is a possibility of exceeding the limits of budget allocations). The obligations of the parties are reciprocal and imply continuous interaction throughout the implementation period. The offset contract has significant advantages for both private and public parties, however, in fact offset contracts have practically not been distributed on the territory of the subjects of the Russian Federation, which is due to the similarity of offset contracts with other mechanisms of public-private partnership.
 Conclusions. It is proposed to revise the classic procedure for concluding an offset contract, consisting of the sequential execution of stages and expand them to include assistance in site selection and assistance in the implementation of the contract with the help of tax incentives, subsidies and infrastructure development. On the example of the Kursk region, the investment component was analyzed, creating the "soil", the foundation for the development of offset contracts. We have formed proposals to stimulate the conclusion of investment contracts in the region by differentiating tax benefits for residents of the special economic zone "Third Pole" who have concluded an offset contract in the Kursk region.

Multi-energy pricing strategy for port integrated energy systems based on contract mechanism

This article studies a pricing scheme to increase the profit of ports and gas utility company (GUC), and improve social welfare. Firstly, a system model of the port integrated energy system (PIES) is established and the government green subsidy on biomass gas is considered. Secondly, a multi-stage game is formulated to characterize the interaction between the port, GUC and the government. Besides, the contract mechanism is used to improve the operation performance of the energy supply chain. Then, the equilibrium solutions of the game are obtained by the backward induction. Finally, the theoretical analysis and simulation show that the proposed pricing strategy can improve the profit of GUC, ports and government, and the proposed revenue sharing contract mechanism can coordinate the energy supply chain.

Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying U46619-Induced Contraction on Porcine Lower Esophageal Sphincter.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter (LES), resulting in the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. U46619, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor agonist, induces contractions in various smooth muscles. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of U46619 on the porcine LES. To achieve this, contractions of the clasp and sling strips of the porcine LES, induced by U46619, were measured using isometric transducers. Furthermore, the contractile mechanism of U46619 in the porcine LES was investigated by pretreating the strips with atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), tetrodotoxin (a neuronal sodium channel blocker), nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker), and Ca2+-free Krebs-Henseleit solution. Additionally, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to determine the presence of the TXA2 receptor in porcine LES. The results of this study demonstrated that U46619 caused marked concentration-dependent contractions in both porcine sling and clasp strips. The mechanism of U46619-induced contraction of the porcine LES was found to be related to calcium channels. Furthermore, the reverse transcription PCR analysis and IHC revealed that the TXA2 receptor was expressed in the clasp and sling fibers of porcine LES. Consequently, this study suggests that U46619 mediates the contraction of porcine LES through calcium channels and has potential as a therapeutic approach for treating GERD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study establishes that U46619 induces concentration-dependent contractions in porcine LES, primarily mediated by calcium channels. The presence of the TXA2 receptor in LES clasp and sling fibers is confirmed. These findings highlight U46619's potential as a GERD therapeutic by targeting calcium channels for LES contraction modulation.

Optogenetic demonstration of the involvement of SMA-negative mural cells in the regulation of cerebral blood flow.

Mural cells are critical components of the cerebral vasculature. They are categorized into three primary subsets: arteriole smooth muscle cells (aSMCs), pericytes (PCs) and venule smooth muscle cells (vSMCs). It is well known that aSMCs can directly regulate cerebral blood flow (CBF) with their own contraction and dilation mechanisms. On the other hand, the direct involvement of PCs or vSMCs in CBF regulation is controversial. This ambiguity is largely due to the lack of specifically manipulable tools to isolate their function. To address this issue, we employed a set-subtraction approach by using a combination of tTA-mediated gene induction and Cre-mediated gene excision. We developed transgenic mice expressing optical actuators, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (PAC) in smooth muscle actin (SMA)-negative mural cells that lack the machinery for SMA-mediated vasoregulation. Using these mouse models, we assessed CBF alterations in response to optical stimulation using laser Doppler techniques. Our results showed that optical stimulation induced notable CBF changes in both models. This study provides evidence for the potential regulatory role of PCs and vSMCs in cerebral hemodynamics and introduces powerful tools to specifically manipulate these cell types in vascular neurobiology.

Retracted: Research on Multiparty Payment Technology Based on Blockchain and Smart Contract Mechanism

Retracted: Research on Multiparty Payment Technology Based on Blockchain and Smart Contract Mechanism

A novel blockchain-based digital forensics framework for preserving evidence and enabling investigation in industrial Internet of Things

To address challenges in digital evidence collection and responsibility determination for industrial safety accidents involving industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) device nodes, this paper proposes a blockchain-based digital forensic scheme within the IIoT communication architecture. The scheme utilizes a decentralized blockchain storage mechanism to enable remote storage of digital forensic data. Additionally, it leverages smart contract mechanisms to facilitate efficient retrieval and tracing of related evidence chains. To enhance data security of IIoT device nodes, a token mechanism is implemented for access control. Moreover, to meet real-time evidence acquisition requirements in IIoT, an efficient batch consensus mechanism is proposed. Experimental simulations demonstrate the superiority of the novel consensus algorithm compared to the traditional Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPOS) consensus in the proposed scheme for the IIoT environment. It meets speed requirements for evidence collection, ensuring tamper-proof, non-repudiable, and permanent storage of digital forensic data. Consequently, the application of blockchain technology for judicial access and evidence storage has made significant contributions to digital forensics within the IIoT context.

Need for speed: Human fast-twitch mitochondria favor power over efficiency

ObjectiveHuman skeletal muscle consists of a mixture of slow- and fast-twitch fibers with distinct capacities for contraction mechanics, fermentation, and oxidative phosphorylation. While the divergence in mitochondrial volume favoring slow-twitch fibers is well established, data on the fiber type-specific intrinsic mitochondrial function and morphology are highly limited with existing data mainly being generated in animal models. This highlights the need for more human data on the topic. MethodsHere, we utilized THRIFTY, a rapid fiber type identification protocol to detect, sort, and pool fast- and slow-twitch fibers within 6 h of muscle biopsy sampling. Respiration of permeabilized fast- and slow-twitch fiber pools was then analyzed with high-resolution respirometry. Using standardized western blot procedures, muscle fiber pools were subsequently analyzed for control proteins and key proteins related to respiratory capacity. ResultsMaximal complex I+II respiration was 25% higher in human slow-twitch fibers compared to fast-twitch fibers. However, per mitochondrial volume, the respiratory rate of mitochondria in fast-twitch fibers was approximately 50% higher for complex I+II, which was primarily mediated through elevated complex II respiration. Furthermore, the abundance of complex II protein and proteins regulating cristae structure were disproportionally elevated in mitochondria of the fast-twitch fibers. The difference in intrinsic respiratory rate was not reflected in fatty acid–or complex I respiration. ConclusionMitochondria of human fast-twitch muscle fibers compensate for their lack of volume by substantially elevating intrinsic respiratory rate through increased reliance on complex II.

Role of Rho Kinase in Regulating Arterial Stiffness in Anesthetized Rabbits.

The effects of Rho kinase inhibitors fasudil and ripasudil on arterial stiffness were assessed using anesthetized rabbits, where the aortic β and femoral β were measured as a stiffness parameter at each arterial region. Intravenous administration of fasudil and ripasudil dose-dependently decreased blood pressure and femoral vascular resistance and increased femoral arterial blood flow, which appeared according to their in vitro potencies for Rho kinase inhibition. Both drugs increased the aortic β but decreased the femoral β at hypotensive doses. These results suggest that the inhibition of Rho kinase contributes to reducing elastic recoil in the aorta and an increase in compliance in the femoral artery. In addition, the Rho kinase-associated Ca2+-independent mechanism of arterial vascular smooth muscle contraction may be essential in the regulation of femoral arterial stiffness.

Re‑examining the mechanism of eccentric exercise‑induced skeletal muscle damage from the role of the third filament, titin (Review).

Intense and unaccustomed eccentric exercise has been extensively studied for its ability to induce muscle damage. However, the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon still requires further clarification. This knowledge gap arises from the need for explanation of the eccentric contraction through the sliding filament theory. The two-filament sarcomere model, which is consisted of thin and thick filaments, forms the basis of the sliding filament theory. The mechanisms of concentric and isometric contractions at the cellular and molecular levels are effectively described by this model. However, when relying solely on the cross-bridge swing, the sliding filament theory fails to account for specific observations, such as the stability of the descending limb of the force-length relationship curve. Recent evidence indicated that titin and the extracellular matrix (ECM) may play a protective role by interacting with the thick and thin filaments. During an eccentric contraction, titin serves as a third filament in the sarcomere, which helps regulate changes in passive force. The two-filament sarcomere model has limitations in explaining eccentric contraction, thus this compensates for those shortcomings. The present review explored the potential of replacing the two-filament sarcomere model with a three-filament sarcomere model, incorporating thin filaments, thick filaments and titin. This revised model offers a more comprehensive explanation of eccentric contraction phenomena. Furthermore, the sliding filament theory was investigated in the context of the three-filament sarcomere model. The double-layer protection mechanism, which involves increased titin stiffness and the ECM during eccentric contraction was explored. This mechanism may enhance lateral force transmission between muscle fibers and the ECM, resulting in sarcolemma and ECM shear deformation. These findings provided insight into the mechanism of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage. Considering the three-filament sarcomere model and the double-layer protection mechanism, the present review offered a more logical and comprehensive understanding of the mechanism behind eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.