Counting Independent Sets and Colorings on Random Regular Bipartite Graphs

We give a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme (FPTAS) to count the number of independent sets on almost every Delta-regular bipartite graph if Delta >= 53. In the weighted case, for all sufficiently large integers Delta and weight parameters lambda = Omega~ (1/(Delta)), we also obtain an FPTAS on almost every Delta-regular bipartite graph. Our technique is based on the recent work of Jenssen, Keevash and Perkins (SODA, 2019) and we also apply it to confirm an open question raised there: For all q >= 3 and sufficiently large integers Delta=Delta(q), there is an FPTAS to count the number of q-colorings on almost every Delta-regular bipartite graph

Periodic Radio Variability in NRAO 530: Phase Dispersion Minimization Analysis

In this paper, a periodicity analysis of the radio light curves of the blazar NRAO 530 at 14.5, 8.0, and 4.8 GHz is presented employing an improved Phase Dispersion Minimization (PDM) technique. The result, which shows two persistent periodic components of $\sim 6$ and $\sim 10$ years at all three frequencies, is consistent with the results obtained with the Lomb-Scargle periodogram and weighted wavelet Z-transform algorithms. The reliability of the derived periodicities is confirmed by the Monte Carlo numerical simulations which show a high statistical confidence. (Quasi-)Periodic fluctuations of the radio luminosity of NRAO 530 might be associated with the oscillations of the accretion disk triggered by hydrodynamic instabilities of the accreted flow. \keywords{methods: statistical -- galaxies: active -- galaxies: quasar: individual: NRAO 530}Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted by RA

Nonstationary two-stage multisplitting methods for symmetric positive definite matrices

AbstractNonstationary synchronous two-stage multisplitting methods for the solution of the symmetric positive definite linear system of equations are considered. The convergence properties of these methods are studied. Relaxed variants are also discussed. The main tool for the construction of the two-stage multisplitting and related theoretical investigation is the diagonally compensated reduction (cf. [1])

A biophysical elucidation for less toxicity of Agglutinin than Abrin-a from the Seeds of Abrus Precatorius in consequence of crystal structure

X-ray crystal structure determination of agglutinin from abrus precatorius in Taiwan is presented. The crystal structure of agglutinin, a type II ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) from the seeds of Abrus precatorius in Taiwan, has been determined from a novel crystalline form by the molecular replacement method using the coordinates of abrin-a as the template. The structure has space group P41212 with Z = 8, and been refined at 2.6 Å to R-factor of 20.4%. The root-mean-square deviations of bond lengths and angles from the standard values are 0.009 Å and 1.3°. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures of agglutinin have been described and compared with those of abrin-a to a certain extent. In subsequent docking research, we found that Asn200 of abrin-a may form a critical hydrogen bond with G4323 of 28SRNA, while corresponding Pro199 of agglutinin is a kink hydrophobic residue bound with the cleft in a more compact complementary relationship. This may explain the lower toxicity of agglutinin than abrin-a, despite of similarity in secondary structure and the activity cleft of two RIPs

Protective effect of vanillin in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in neonatal rats via attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation

Purpose: To evaluate the antidiabetic activity of vanillin in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in 2-day old male pups by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of STZ (90 mg/kg). The pups were then randomly assigned to four groups: control group which received citrate buffer only in place of STZ; negative control group, i.e., diabetic group; and vanillin-treated groups which received vanillin (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) continuously from the 6th week of age to the 10th week. The antidiabetic effect of vanillin was determined by measuring the serum levels of insulin, triglycerides and glucose in the diabetic rats. Oral glucose tolerance, kidney and liver function tests were also performed at the end of the protocol. Moreover, the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in liver tissues, and histopathological changes in pancreatic tissues were assessed.Results: Vanillin treatment significantly decreased serum glucose and triglyceride levels and increased the level of insulin, when compared to the negative control group. There was higher insulin sensitivity in the vanillin-treated group than in the negative control group. In addition, vanillin improved liver and renal functions in STZ-induced diabetic neonatal rats. Hepatic oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, as well as histopathological changes in pancreas were attenuated by vanillin treatment.Conclusion: These results reveal that vanillin attenuates hyperglycemia in STZ-induced neonatal diabetic rat model by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. There, further studies are required to develop the anti-diabetic potentials of vanillin for clinical applications.Keywords: Vanillin, Streptozotocin, Diabetes, Oxidative stress, Insulin, Neonata

Increased oral lichen planus in a chronic hepatitis patient associated with elevated transaminase levels before and after interferon/ribavirin therapy

Background/purposeOral lichen planus (OLP) is the most frequent oral lesion found in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of OLP among chronic hepatitis C patients, to clarify the role of HCV in the pathogenesis of OLP, and to assess its relationship to transaminase levels.Materials and methodsTwo groups of subjects were studied; 277 hepatitis C patients were examined for OLP (Group 1) and 5273 outpatients seeking dental care within 1 year were used as a control (Group 2) to determine the prevalence of OLP in the general population. The dental and hepatic records were collected and analyzed.ResultsThe prevalences of OLP were 4.7% (n = 13) in Group 1 and 2.0% (n = 104) in Group 2 and significantly differed (P = 0.002). All 13 OLP cases occurred in hepatitis C patients who had experienced elevated alanine transaminase levels of > 80 IU/L within the 2 previous years, regardless of whether they were treated with interferon-ribavirin combination therapy or not. There was a strong association between elevated transaminase levels and the development of HCV-related OLP lesions (P = 0.014). Of the 13 OLP patients, two were in the group with a sustained virologic response (SVR) to HCV therapy, two were in the group without an SVR, and nine were in the non-therapy group. The incidence of OLP in hepatitis C patients did not significantly differ between those who showed an SVR to HCV therapy and those who did not respond or did not receive therapy (P = 0.560).ConclusionWe concluded that: (1) elevation of transaminase levels is associated with the detection of HCV-related OLP, and (2) HCV-related OLP can remain unchanged for years after an SVR to HCV therapy. The findings revealed that the role of HCV in OLP pathogenesis is due to host factors induced by HCV rather than a direct cytopathic effect of HCV