Shortest Reconfiguration of Perfect Matchings via Alternating Cycles

Motivated by adjacency in perfect matching polytopes, we study the shortest reconfiguration problem of perfect matchings via alternating cycles. Namely, we want to find a shortest sequence of perfect matchings which transforms one given perfect matching to another given perfect matching such that the symmetric difference of each pair of consecutive perfect matchings is a single cycle. The problem is equivalent to the combinatorial shortest path problem in perfect matching polytopes. We prove that the problem is NP-hard even when a given graph is planar or bipartite, but it can be solved in polynomial time when the graph is outerplanar

Core Challenge 2022: Solver and Graph Descriptions

This paper collects all descriptions of solvers and ISR instances submitted to CoRe Challenge 2022

Charge-selective Permeability of Dermo-epidermal Junction: Tracer Studies with Cationic and Anionic Ferritins

To investigate quantitatively the charge-selective permeability of the basement membrane (BM) of the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), tracer experiments using anionic and cationic ferritins were performed on an epidermal sheet, whose lamina densa was exposed on the dermal surface; its dermis was removed with forceps after the treatment of newborn rat skin with 10 mM dithiothreitol. The lamina densa and epidermal components of the sheets were electron microscopically well preserved, and anionic sites were ultrastructurally demonstrated on both the dermal and epidermal aspects of the lamina densa in the DEJ as clusters of cationic ferritins (CF) [isoelectric point (pI) > 9.5] or polyethyleneimine particles, indicating that the epidermal sheets were suitable for study of permeability.In tracer experiments, a large number of CF (pI 8.0-9.4) passed the lamina densa and formed clusters on both aspects of the lamina densa and in the intercellular space. The number of native anionic ferritins (NF) (pI 4.1-4.6) passing it was apparently much smaller than that of CF. When the epidermal sheets were pre-treated with protamine sulfate to neutralize the negative charges in the tissue, the number of NF penetrating the lamina densa was significantly larger than the number of those in the untreated sheet.These results indicate that the BM of the DEJ plays a role in a charge-selective filtration, although it is not as selective a barrier as the glomerular basement membrane

Regulation of UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase-1 by ceramide

AbstractWe report that the expression of mRNA and the activity of UDP-glucose:ceramide (Cer) glucosyltransferase-1 (GlcT-1) of human hepatoma Huh7 and mouse melanoma B16 cells increases after treatment with bacterial sphingomyelinase or upon addition of short-chain Cer. Interestingly, however, GlcT-1 gene transcription was not increased by Cer when GlcT-1 cDNA was introduced with the CMV promoter in GlcT-1-deficient GM95 cells, suggesting that the normal promoter region of GlcT-1 gene is essential for the response. The conversion of C6-Cer to C6-GlcCer occurred much more rapidly in GlcT-1-overexpressing Huh7 cells than in mock transfectants. As a result, GlcT-1-overexpressing cells acquired a greater resistance to C6-Cer-mediated cell death

Core Challenge 2023: Solver and Graph Descriptions

This paper collects all descriptions of solvers and ISR instances submitted to CoRe Challenge 2023.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2208.02495, arXiv:2207.1395

Position-selective growth of ZnO nanowires by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Position-selective growth of ZnO nanowires was realized by utilizing a patterned soda-lime glass layer. The soda-lime glass layer contributes as the origin of nucleation sites for the growth of nanowires in economically viable ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The formation of nanowires took place with good reproducibility at relatively low substrate temperatures of 250-400 degrees C when the soda-lime glass matrix was present at the surface of substrates, and such a nitrate compound as nitric acid or nitrate salt was mixed in the precursor solutions. Based on this technique, the position-selective growth and density-controlled growth of ZnO nanowires can be performed on various types of substrate. The presence of a CaO compound in the glass matrix was revealed as an important condition to grow the nanowires. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.ArticleJOURNAL OF CRYSTAL GROWTH. 311(20):4499-4504 (2009)journal articl

Synthesis of optical quality ZnO nanowires utilizing ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

ZnO nanowires were grown by an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. The aspect ratio and size of the wire were dependent mainly on the pH value of a precursor solution and the growth temperature. By high-resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis and photoluminescence measurements, it was confirmed that the nanowires are monocrystalline with good optical quality.ArticleJOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS. 20:341-345 (2009)journal articl

PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF INTRAPERITONEALLY ADMINISTERED ETOPOSIDE AGAINST PERITONITIS CARCINOMATOSA

Etoposide is becoming important in primary and salvage therapy for ovarian cancer. In the present study, we administered etoposide (100-300 mg/subject) intraperitoneally to six patients suffering from cancerous peritonitis, particularly that resulting from ovarian cancer, to investigate the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of this drug. The peak etoposide level in the ascites was 80 μg/ml. Twelve hours after intrapertoneal administration (i. p.), more than 10 μg/ml of etoposide was still found in ascites. The serum level after administration of 100 mg i. p. reached approximately 4 μg/ml within 30 minutes, and 1 μg/ml of etoposide was still found in serum after 24 hours. The etoposide levels in ascites and serum after 300 mg i. p. were higher than those after 100 mg i. p. When the peritoneum was intact, the area under the curve (AUC) of etoposide in ascites was low (164 μg・h/ml), and the peritoneal clearance (Clp) was high. In contrast, in advanced cancerous peritonitis, the AUC in ascites was high (500 μg・h./ml) and the Clp was low. The AUC of etoposide in the ascites of patients with cancerous peritonitis was more than five-fold greater than that of patients with an intact peritoneum, while MRT (mean residence time) was 15-fold, and VRT (variance of residence time) was 300-fold greater. The AUC ratio in intact peritoneum was 4.1, and that in cancerous peritonitis ranged from 17.8 to 27.1. AUC, MRT and VRT of etoposide transported into the blood were slightly higher in advanced cases than in those with intact peritoneum. These findings indicate that intraperitoneal etoposide han not only a direct anticancer effect in the abdominal cavity but also shows effects via the vascular system of the tumor