Model of Multi-branch Trees for Efficient Resource Allocation

Although exploring the principles of resource allocation is still important in many fields, little is known about appropriate methods for optimal resource allocation thus far. This is because we should consider many issues including opposing interests between many types of stakeholders. Here, we develop a new allocation method to resolve budget conflicts. To do so, we consider two points—minimizing assessment costs and satisfying allocational efficiency. In our method, an evaluator's assessment is restricted to one's own projects in one's own department, and both an executive's and mid-level executives' assessments are also restricted to each representative project in each branch or department they manage. At the same time, we develop a calculation method to integrate such assessments by using a multi-branch tree structure, where a set of leaf nodes represents projects and a set of non-leaf nodes represents either directors or executives. Our method is incentive-compatible because no director has any incentive to make fallacious assessments

Natural Supersymmetry and b -> s gamma constraints

We investigate constraints from the observed branching ratio for b -> s gamma and fine-tuning in the framework of natural supersymmetry. The natural supersymmetry requires the large trilinear coupling of the stop sector, light higgsinos (a small mu parameter) and light stops, in order to reduce the fine-tuning in the Higgs sector while avoiding the LEP constraint. It is found that in such a scenario 5% (10%) level of fine-tuning is inevitable due to the b -> s gamma constraint even if the messenger scale is as low as 10^5 GeV (10^4 GeV), provided that the gaugino masses satisfy the GUT relation.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures; version to be published in PL

Characterization of a gene cluster for sialoglycoconjugate utilization in Bacteroides fragilis

Recent analysis of the whole genome sequence of Bacteroides fragilis revealed extensive duplication of polysaccharide utilization genes in this anaerobe. Here we analyzed a unique 27-kb gene cluster (sgu) comprised of the 13 sialoglycoconjugates-utilization genes, which include the sialidase gene (nanH1) in B. fragilis strain YCH46. The genes were tightly organized and transcribed polycistronically. Comparative PCR scanning demonstrated that the sgu locus was conserved among the Bacteroides strains tested. Based on the transcriptional profiles generated by reverse transcriptase PCR, the sgu locus can be classified into at least three regulatory units : 1) sialic acid- or sialooligosaccharide-inducible genes, 2) constitutively expressed genes that can be down-regulated by catabolite repression, and 3) constitutively expressed genes. In vitro comparison of the growth of a sgu locus deletion mutant (SGUM172941) with a wild type strain indicates that this locus is necessary for B. fragilis to efficiently utilize mucin as a carbon source. Furthermore, SGUM172941 was defective in colonization of the intestines of germfree mice under competitive conditions. These data indicate that the sgu locus in B. fragilis plays a crucial role in the utilization of host-derived sialoglycoconjugates and the stable colonization of this anaerobe in the human gut

Simultaneous detection of Bacteroides fragilis group species by leuB -directed PCR

Bacteroides species, saccharolytic Gram-negative obligate anaerobes, are frequently isolated from human infections such as peritonitis, abscesses and bacteremia. Among the species in the genus Bacteroides, thespecies called “B. fragilis group” areparticularly involved inhuman infections andaremedically important because they account for a major part of anaerobic isolates from clinical specimens. The purpose of this study was to develop PCR primers that specifically and simultaneously amplify theβ-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase gene leuB in B. fragilis group species. We determined partial nucleotide sequences of leuB genes and compared them in seventeen strains of nine B. fragilis group species, and the regions that are conserved among Bacteroides strains but different from other species were used as a B. fragilis group-specific PCR primer set, BacLBF-BacLBR. Specificity tests of the primer set using 52 phenotypically characterized strains and 75 isolates from rat feces showed only one case each of false-positive and falsenegative. The detection limit of the leuB-directed PCR using BacLBF and BacLBR was 3.9×103colony-forming units. These results indicate that leuB amplification using BacLBF and BacLBR is a useful tool for rapid diagnosis of Bacteriodes infection and for rapid differential diagnosis of anaerobic infections

Presence of genes for type III secretion system 2 in Vibrio mimicus strains

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vibrios, which include more than 100 species, are ubiquitous in marine and estuarine environments, and several of them e.g. <it>Vibrio cholerae</it>, <it>V. parahaemolyticus</it>, <it>V. vulnificus </it>and <it>V. mimicus</it>, are pathogens for humans. Pathogenic <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>strains possess two sets of genes for type III secretion system (T3SS), T3SS1 and T3SS2. The latter are critical for virulence of the organism and be classified into two distinct phylogroups, T3SS2α and T3SS2β, which are reportedly also found in pathogenic <it>V. cholerae </it>non-O1/non-O139 serogroup strains. However, whether T3SS2-related genes are present in other <it>Vibrio </it>species remains unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We therefore examined the distribution of the genes for T3SS2 in vibrios other than <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>by using a PCR assay targeting both T3SS2α and T3SS2β genes. Among the 32 <it>Vibrio </it>species tested in our study, several T3SS2-related genes were detected in three species, <it>V. cholerae</it>, <it>V. mimicus </it>and <it>V. hollisae</it>, and most of the essential genes for type III secretion were present in T3SS2-positive <it>V. cholerae </it>and <it>V. mimicus </it>strains. Moreover, both <it>V. mimicus </it>strains possessing T3SS2α and T3SS2β were identified. The gene organization of the T3SS2 gene clusters in <it>V. mimicus </it>strains was fundamentally similar to that of <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>and <it>V. cholerae </it>in both T3SS2α- and T3SS2β-possessing strains.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study is the first reported evidence of the presence of T3SS2 gene clusters in <it>V. mimicus </it>strains. This finding thus provides a new insight into the pathogenicity of the <it>V. mimicus </it>species.</p

Effect of Peripheral 5-HT on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Wether Sheep

In mice, peripheral 5-HT induces an increase in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin and bile acids, and a decrease in plasma triglyceride, NEFA and cholesterol concentrations. However, given the unique characteristics of the metabolism of ruminants relative to monogastric animals, the physiological role of peripheral 5-HT on glucose and lipid metabolism in sheep remains to be established. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of 5-HT on the circulating concentrations of metabolites and insulin using five 5-HT receptor (5HTR) antagonists in sheep. After fasting for 24 h, sheep were intravenously injected with 5-HT, following which-, plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride and NEFA concentrations were significantly elevated. In contrast, 5-HT did not affect the plasma cholesterol concentration, and it induced a decrease in bile acid concentrations. Increases in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations induced by 5-HT were attenuated by pre-treatment with Methysergide, a 5HTR 1, 2 and 7 antagonist. Additionally, decreased plasma bile acid concentrations induced by 5-HT were blocked by pre-treatment with Ketanserin, a 5HTR 2A antagonist. However, none of the 5HTR antagonists inhibited the increase in plasma triglyceride and NEFA levels induced by 5-HT. On the other hand, mRNA expressions of 5HTR1D and 1E were observed in the liver, pancreas and skeletal muscle. These results suggest that there are a number of differences in the physiological functions of peripheral 5-HT with respect to lipid metabolism between mice and sheep, though its effect on glucose metabolism appears to be similar between these species

当院の子宮下部筋腫合併妊娠における分娩転帰について

　子宮筋腫は年齢と共に有病率が増加する。それ故、近年における晩婚化や出産年齢の高齢化に伴い、子宮筋腫合併妊娠も増加傾向にある。比較的大きな子宮筋腫が子宮下部にある場合、経腟分娩困難と判断され帝王切開が選択される症例も少なくないと考えられる。　子宮筋腫の位置及び大きさと経腟分娩の可否について検討するため、当院の外来にて経腟分娩困難となる可能性があると判断された子宮筋腫合併妊娠で、妊娠後期に核磁気共鳴画像法(Magnetic Resonance Imaging:以下MRI)が撮影された6症例に対して後方視的に検討した。6症例中5症例で経腟分娩が可能であったが、子宮体下部後壁に長径90mmの子宮筋腫を認めた1例は、妊娠41週で予定日超過のため誘発を開始したが、分娩停止のため帝王切開による分娩となった。帝王切開の1例を他の5例と比較すると、年齢、妊娠週数、子宮筋腫の大きさに特記すべき差異を認めないが、子宮筋腫の位置がほぼ正中で、かつ子宮筋腫の下端が内子宮口よりも低位であるとの特徴を認めた。逆に、長径70〜120mmの子宮下部筋腫が存在してもその位置が正中から偏心している場合や、位置が正中でも下端が内子宮口よりも高位であれば、経腟分娩が可能であった