Assortative mixing in close-packed spatial networks

Background In recent years, there is aroused interest in expressing complex systems as networks of interacting nodes. Using descriptors from graph theory, it has been possible to classify many diverse systems derived from social and physical sciences alike. In particular, folded proteins as examples of self-assembled complex molecules have also been investigated intensely using these tools. However, we need to develop additional measures to classify different systems, in order to dissect the underlying hierarchy. Methodology and Principal Findings In this study, a general analytical relation for the dependence of nearest neighbor degree correlations on degree is derived. Dependence of local clustering on degree is shown to be the sole determining factor of assortative versus disassortative mixing in networks. The characteristics of networks constructed from spatial atomic/molecular systems exemplified by self-organized residue networks built from folded protein structures and block copolymers, atomic clusters and well-compressed polymeric melts are studied. Distributions of statistical properties of the networks are presented. For these densely-packed systems, assortative mixing in the network construction is found to apply, and conditions are derived for a simple linear dependence. Conclusions Our analyses (i) reveal patterns that are common to close-packed clusters of atoms/molecules, (ii) identify the type of surface effects prominent in different close-packed systems, and (iii) associate fingerprints that may be used to classify networks with varying types of correlations

Sensitivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars from Turkey to bacterial speck (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato)

The susceptibility of 93 different tomato cultivars that are commonly grown in greenhouses and field in the western Mediterranean region of Turkey have been assessed for resistance to bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strains. The disease severity indexes (DSI) varied between zero and four for the tomato cultivars. Seven tomato cultivars showed hypersensitive reactions against strains of P. syringae pv. tomato carrying the avrpto1 gene. Six of these seven tomato cultivars had the PTO gene coding for resistance against bacterial speck. The PTO sequences from the tomato cultivars Atalay, Party, Petrus, Piccadilly, Prenses and Tyty had similarity of 94, 93, 94, 92, 95 and 94%, respectively, with the PTO sequence of Lycopersicon esculentum VFNT Cherry (AF220603), and had similarity of 98, 98, 96, 95, 100 and 98%, respectively, with the PTO sequence of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium Rio Grande 76R (AF220602). These findings indicate a considerable variation in bacterial speck resistance and will aid in the choice of parental lines for breeding new tomato cultivars with resistance to bacterial speck.Keywords: avrpto, Mediterranean region, polymerase chain reaction, PTOAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(15), pp. 1793-180

Effect of MDR C3435T polymorphism on Varenicline treatment in quit smoking

Despite so many global efforts, smoking still remains to be one of the most common addictions worldwide. Even though most smokers wish to quit smoking, many of them fail. In this respect, genetic variants are thought to be remarkable factors in nicotine dependence and in treatment of smoking cessation. This is a paper investigating a single variant p-glycoprotein (P-gp) polymorphisms and its effect on Varenicline efficacy in the smoking cessation. 158 smokers and 52 non-smoker healthy volunteers were included. We determined the P-gp C3435T gene polymorphisms in all subjects. Face to face interviews with smokers were performed for smoking cessation and Varenicline was given for smoking cessation. Cessation success was evaluated in the 6th month and success rates were compared according to the P-gp genotype distributions. In our study, smoking cessation rate by Varenicline was 57.0%. This rate was 55.0% in females, and 57.2% in males (p=0.85). The P-gp C3435T gene distribution was similar in control, quitters and not-quitter groups. Cessation rate was at highest point in genotype CT (62.2%) and at the lowest in TT (47.6%). It was 53.8% in genotype CC and there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.27). Our results suggest that genetic variants of P-gp C3435T did not significantly affect Varenicline treatment for smoking cessation