1,417 research outputs found
Analysis of weighted networks
The connections in many networks are not merely binary entities, either
present or not, but have associated weights that record their strengths
relative to one another. Recent studies of networks have, by and large, steered
clear of such weighted networks, which are often perceived as being harder to
analyze than their unweighted counterparts. Here we point out that weighted
networks can in many cases be analyzed using a simple mapping from a weighted
network to an unweighted multigraph, allowing us to apply standard techniques
for unweighted graphs to weighted ones as well. We give a number of examples of
the method, including an algorithm for detecting community structure in
weighted networks and a new and simple proof of the max-flow/min-cut theorem.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
Inductive Construction of 2-Connected Graphs for Calculating the Virial Coefficients
In this paper we give a method for constructing systematically all simple
2-connected graphs with n vertices from the set of simple 2-connected graphs
with n-1 vertices, by means of two operations: subdivision of an edge and
addition of a vertex. The motivation of our study comes from the theory of
non-ideal gases and, more specifically, from the virial equation of state. It
is a known result of Statistical Mechanics that the coefficients in the virial
equation of state are sums over labelled 2-connected graphs. These graphs
correspond to clusters of particles. Thus, theoretically, the virial
coefficients of any order can be calculated by means of 2-connected graphs used
in the virial coefficient of the previous order. Our main result gives a method
for constructing inductively all simple 2-connected graphs, by induction on the
number of vertices. Moreover, the two operations we are using maintain the
correspondence between graphs and clusters of particles.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 3 table
Library Design in Combinatorial Chemistry by Monte Carlo Methods
Strategies for searching the space of variables in combinatorial chemistry
experiments are presented, and a random energy model of combinatorial chemistry
experiments is introduced. The search strategies, derived by analogy with the
computer modeling technique of Monte Carlo, effectively search the variable
space even in combinatorial chemistry experiments of modest size. Efficient
implementations of the library design and redesign strategies are feasible with
current experimental capabilities.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Vascularization of Microvascular Fragment Isolates from Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue of Mice
Background:
Adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments (MVF) represent effective vascularization units for tissue engineering. Most experimental studies in rodents exclusively use epididymal adipose tissue as a visceral fat source for MVF isolation. However, in future clinical practice, MVF may be rather isolated from liposuctioned subcutaneous fat tissue of patients. Therefore, we herein compared the vascularization characteristics of MVF isolates from visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue of murine origin.
Methods:
MVF isolates were generated from visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue of donor mice using two different enzymatic procedures. For in vivo analyses, the MVF isolates were seeded onto collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds and implanted into full-thickness skin defects within dorsal skinfold chambers of recipient mice.
Results:
By means of the two isolation procedures, we isolated a higher number of MVF from visceral fat tissue when compared to subcutaneous fat tissue, while their length distribution, viability and cellular composition were comparable in both groups. Intravital fluorescence microscopy as well as histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a significantly reduced vascularization of implanted scaffolds seeded with subcutaneous MVF isolates when compared to implants seeded with visceral MVF isolates. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed that this was due to high amounts of undigested connective tissue within the subcutaneous MVF isolates, which clogged the scaffold pores and prevented the interconnection of individual MVF into new microvascular networks.
Conclusion:
These findings indicate the need for improved protocols to generate connective tissue-free MVF isolates from subcutaneous fat tissue for future translational studies
Modification of Hepatic Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase Activities by N-Hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and N-Acetoxy- 2-acetyla m inofluorene
Improvement of islet transplantation by the fusion of islet cells with functional blood vessels
Pancreatic islet transplantation still represents a promising therapeutic strategy for curative treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, a limited number of organ donors and insufficient vascularization with islet engraftment failure restrict the successful transfer of this approach into clinical practice. To overcome these problems, we herein introduce a novel strategy for the generation of prevascularized islet organoids by the fusion of pancreatic islet cells with functional native microvessels. These insulin-secreting organoids exhibit a significantly higher angiogenic activity compared to freshly isolated islets, cultured islets, and non-prevascularized islet organoids. This is caused by paracrine signaling between the β-cells and the microvessels, mediated by insulin binding to its corresponding receptor on endothelial cells. In vivo, the prevascularized islet organoids are rapidly blood-perfused after transplantation by the interconnection of their autochthonous microvasculature with surrounding blood vessels. As a consequence, a lower number of islet grafts are required to restore normoglycemia in diabetic mice. Thus, prevascularized islet organoids may be used to improve the success rates of clinical islet transplantation
Myocardial effective transverse relaxation time T(2)* correlates with left ventricular wall thickness: a 7.0 T MRI study
PURPOSE: Myocardial effective relaxation time T2* is commonly regarded as a surrogate for myocardial tissue oxygenation. However, it is legitimate to assume that there are multiple factors that influence T2*. To this end, this study investigates the relationship between T2* and cardiac macromorphology given by left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and left ventricular radius, and provides interpretation of the results in the physiological context. METHODS: High spatio-temporally resolved myocardial CINE T2* mapping was performed in 10 healthy volunteers using a 7.0 Tesla (T) full-body MRI system. Ventricular septal wall thickness, left ventricular inner radius, and T2* were analyzed. Macroscopic magnetic field changes were elucidated using cardiac phase-resolved magnetic field maps. RESULTS: Ventricular septal T2* changes periodically over the cardiac cycle, increasing in systole and decreasing in diastole. Ventricular septal wall thickness and T2* showed a significant positive correlation, whereas the inner LV radius and T2* were negatively correlated. The effect of macroscopic magnetic field gradients on T2* can be considered minor in the ventricular septum. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that myocardial T2* is related to tissue blood volume fraction. Temporally resolved T2* mapping could be beneficial for myocardial tissue characterization and for understanding cardiac (patho)physiology in vivo
The combinatorics of the Baer-Specker group
Denote the integers by Z and the positive integers by N.
The groups Z^k (k a natural number) are discrete, and the classification up
to isomorphism of their (topological) subgroups is trivial. But already for the
countably infinite power Z^N of Z, the situation is different. Here the product
topology is nontrivial, and the subgroups of Z^N make a rich source of examples
of non-isomorphic topological groups. Z^N is the Baer-Specker group.
We study subgroups of the Baer-Specker group which possess group theoretic
properties analogous to properties introduced by Menger (1924), Hurewicz
(1925), Rothberger (1938), and Scheepers (1996). The studied properties were
introduced independently by Ko\v{c}inac and Okunev. We obtain purely
combinatorial characterizations of these properties, and combine them with
other techniques to solve several questions of Babinkostova, Ko\v{c}inac, and
Scheepers.Comment: To appear in IJ
Towards a Tetravalent Chemistry of Colloids
We propose coating spherical particles or droplets with anisotropic
nano-sized objects to allow micron-scale colloids to link or functionalize with
a four-fold valence, similar to the sp3 hybridized chemical bonds associated
with, e.g., carbon, silicon and germanium. Candidates for such coatings include
triblock copolymers, gemini lipids, metallic or semiconducting nanorods and
conventional liquid crystal compounds. We estimate the size of the relevant
nematic Frank constants, discuss how to obtain other valences and analyze the
thermal distortions of ground state configurations of defects on the sphere.Comment: Replaced to improve figures. 4 figures Nano Letter
CK2 Activity Mediates the Aggressive Molecular Signature of Glioblastoma Multiforme by Inducing Nerve/Glial Antigen (NG)2 Expression
Nerve/glial antigen (NG)2 expression crucially determines the aggressiveness of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Recent evidence suggests that protein kinase CK2 regulates NG2 expression.
Therefore, we investigated in the present study whether CK2 inhibition suppresses proliferation
and migration of NG2-positive GBM cells. For this purpose, CK2 activity was suppressed in the
NG2-positive cell lines A1207 and U87 by the pharmacological inhibitor CX-4945 and CRISPR/Cas9-
mediated knockout of CK2α. As shown by quantitative real-time PCR, luciferase-reporter assays,
flow cytometry and western blot, this significantly reduced NG2 gene and protein expression when
compared to vehicle-treated and wild type controls. In addition, CK2 inhibition markedly reduced
NG2-dependent A1207 and U87 cell proliferation and migration. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-
based data further revealed not only a high expression of both NG2 and CK2 in GBM but also
a positive correlation between the mRNA expression of the two proteins. Finally, we verified a
decreased NG2 expression after CX-4945 treatment in patient-derived GBM cells. These findings
indicate that the inhibition of CK2 represents a promising approach to suppress the aggressive
molecular signature of NG2-positive GBM cells. Therefore, CX-4945 may be a suitable drug for the
future treatment of NG2-positive GBM
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