Cell invasion from an aggregate into a surrounding extracellular matrix is an important process during development and disease, e.g., vascular network assembly or tumor progression. To describe the behavior emerging from autonomous cell motility, cell-cell adhesion and contact guidance by extracellular matrix filaments, we propose a suitably modified cellular Potts model. We consider an active cell motility process in which internal polarity is governed by a positive feedback from cell displacements, a mechanism that can result in highly persistent motion when constrained by an oriented extracellular matrix structure. The model allows to explore the interplay between haptotaxis, matrix degradation and active cell movement. We show that for certain conditions the cells are able to both invade the ECM and follow ECM tracks. Furthermore, we argue that enforcing mechanical equilibrium within a bulk cell mass is of key importance in multicellular simulations.

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The change in the level of oxytocin and cortisol was tested in the participants of hypnotic interaction in standardised laboratory sessions with healthy volunteers.Pre to posthypnosis changes of oxitocin and cortisol were related to the hypnotic susceptibility of Ss, and to relational experiences reposted by subjects and hypnotists on several paper and pencil tests (AIM, DIH, s-EMBU).Results show that the changes in oxytocin are not related to the hypnotic susceptibility, but to the relational experiences. After the hypnotic interaction, the level of oxytocin increases in the subject if the perceived harmony with the hypnotist is high (DIH), while it increases in the hypnotist if the subject has memories of less warm emotional relationship with his/her parents (s-EMBU).The results are interpreted within the social psychobiological model of hypnosis.

We report a spontaneously emerging, randomly oriented, collective streaming behavior within a monolayer culture of a human keratinocyte cell line, and explore the effect of modulating cell adhesions by perturbing the function of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. We demonstrate that decreasing cell adhesion induces narrower and more anisotropic cell streams, reminiscent of decreasing the Taylor scale of turbulent liquids. To explain our empirical findings, we propose a cell-based model that represents the dual nature of cell-cell adhesions. Spring-like connections provide mechanical stability, while a cellular Potts model formalism represents surface-tension driven attachment. By changing the relevance and persistence of mechanical links between cells, we are able to explain the experimentally observed changes in emergent flow patterns.

Question European landscapes have long been influenced by intensifying use by humans. Although habitat restoration can reverse this process, it is often limited in scope by socioeconomic constraints. Here we present a grassland restoration project that is exceptional in spatial scale in Europe. Location A total area of 760 ha of arable land was restored in the Egyek‐Pusztakócs unit (50 km2) of Hortobágy National Park, east Hungary, between 2005 and 2008. Methods Restoration targeted alkali steppes and loess grasslands by sowing seeds of either two (alkali) or three (loess) foundation grass species. In 2009, we surveyed the vegetation in restored and target grasslands and quantified the factors influencing restoration success in a space‐for‐time substitution design. Results We recorded 100 species of flowering plants, of which 37 species were non‐weed, ‘target’ species. Annual weeds dominated 1‐yr‐old fields but had decreased dramatically by the third year due to a developing perennial grass cover. Former alfalfa fields had proportionally fewer weeds than former cereal and sunflower fields. The diversity of common species and the cover of target species increased from 1‐ to 4‐yr‐old restored fields. Alkali‐restored fields had more heterogeneous vegetation and more species than loess‐restored fields. Distance to the target vegetation did not directly affect vegetation variables. There was significant spatial variability in vegetation development, possibly suggesting several local pathways of succession. Conclusions Grassland restoration was generally successful in accelerating secondary succession towards alkali steppes and loess grasslands. However, further management is necessary to counter the homogenizing effects of litter accumulation, to reduce perennial weeds and to enhance the colonization of target species. Our project provides useful practical insights into grassland restoration and in applying restoration at a number of sites within a larger area to conserve biodiversity at the landscape scale.

Suggestive techniques might be useful tools to alleviate postoperative anxiety and pain; however, strength of the evidence is weak because of possible bias in the reviewed articles. The lack of access to within-subjects data and the overlap between moderator conditions also limit the scope of the analysis. More methodologically correct studies are required with sensitivity to moderating factors and to within-subjects changes. For clinical purposes, we advise the use of hypnosis with live presentation to reduce postoperative anxiety and pain, until convincing evidence is uncovered for the effectiveness of therapeutic suggestions and recorded presentation. Pain management with adjunct suggestive interventions is mostly encouraged in minor rather than major surgeries.

Based on a detailed analysis of results we found the translated version of the HADS a reliable and valid self-assessment screening tool in medical practice.

Previous studies implicate involvement of dopaminergic systems in hypnotizability and report association with the COMT Val(158)Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs4680) demonstrating the Val/Met heterozygotes as the most hypnotizable group using the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale. This study replicates that association using an independent sample of 127 healthy Hungarian young adults and the Waterloo-Stanford Group C Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Significant association (p = .016) was found between the COMT genotypes and hypnotizability, with a clear additive effect of the Val allele: Hypnotizability scores were highest in Val/Val (5.9), intermediate in Val/Met (4.7), and lowest in Met/Met (4.1). Differences between these results and those of previous studies support recent findings suggesting an inverted-U-shaped relation between dopamine level in the prefrontal cortex and cognitive functioning. The present study replicates association of COMT Val(158)Met SNP and hypnotizability and stresses the importance of mediating factors, such as group vs. individual inductions.