Small congestion embedding of graphs into hypercubes

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科知能情報・数理金沢大学工学部We consider the problem of embedding graphs into hypercubes with minimal congestion. Kim and Lai showed that for a given N-vertex graph G and a hypercube it is NP-complete to determine whether G is embeddable in the hypercube with unit congestion, but G can be embedded with unit congestion in a hypercube of dimension 6[log N] if the maximum degree of a vertex in G is no more than 6[log N]. Bhatt et al. showed that every N-vertex binary tree can be embedded in a hypercube of dimension [log N] with O(1) congestion. In this paper, we extend the results above and show the following : (1) Every N-vertex graph G can be embedded with unit congestion in a hypercube of dimension 2[log N] if the maximum degree of a vertex in G is no more than 2[log N], and (2) every N-vertex binary tree can be embedded in a hypercube of dimension [log N] with congestion at most 5. The former answers a question posed by Kim and Lai. The latter is the first result that shows a simple embedding of a binary tree into an optimal-sized hypercube with an explicit small congestion of 5. This partially answers a question posed by Bhatt et al. The embeddings proposed here are quite simple and can be constructed in polynomial time. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Networks 33: 71-77, 1999

Cloning and functional characterization of a fructan 1-exohydrolase (1-FEH) in edible burdock (Arctium lappa L.)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We have previously reported on the variation of total fructooligosaccharides (FOS), total inulooligosaccharides (IOS) and inulin in the roots of burdock stored at different temperatures. During storage at 0°C, an increase of FOS as a result of the hydrolysis of inulin was observed. Moreover, we suggested that an increase of IOS would likely be due to the synthesis of the IOS by fructosyltransfer from 1-kestose to accumulated fructose and elongated fructose oligomers which can act as acceptors for fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT). However, enzymes such as inulinase or fructan 1-exohydorolase (1-FEH) involved in inulin degradation in burdock roots are still not known. Here, we report the isolation and functional analysis of a gene encoding burdock 1-FEH.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A cDNA, named <it>aleh1</it>, was obtained by the RACE method following PCR with degenerate primers designed based on amino-acid sequences of FEHs from other plants. The <it>aleh1 </it>encoded a polypeptide of 581 amino acids. The relative molecular mass and isoelectric point (<it>pI</it>) of the deduced polypeptide were calculated to be 65,666 and 4.86. A recombinant protein of <it>aleh1 </it>was produced in <it>Pichia pastoris</it>, and was purified by ion exchange chromatography with DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, hydrophobic chromatography with Toyopearl HW55S and gel filtration chromatography with Toyopearl HW55S. Purified recombinant protein showed hydrolyzing activity against β-2, 1 type fructans such as 1-kestose, nystose, fructosylnystose and inulin. On the other hand, sucrose, neokestose, 6-kestose and high DP levan were poor substrates.</p> <p>The purified recombinant protein released fructose from sugars extracted from burdock roots. These results indicated that <it>aleh1 </it>encoded 1-FEH.</p

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with acute myocardial infarction

AbstractOBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We also examined the involvement of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which are a possible source of VEGF in AMI.BACKGROUNDVEGF is a potent endothelial cell–specific mitogen and could affect the outcome of AMI.METHODSThirty patients with AMI were used for this study. Serum and PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 after the onset of AMI. PBMCs were cultured at a density of 5 × 106cells/ml for 24 h. VEGF levels in serum and the culture media were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a specific anti-human VEGF antibody.RESULTSSerum VEGF levels elevated gradually after the onset of AMI and reached a peak on day 14. VEGF levels in the culture medium of PBMCs after incubation for 24 h (PBMC-VEGF) were maximally elevated 7 days after the onset. Maximum serum VEGF levels showed significant positive correlations with maximum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (r = +0.70, p < 0.001), but maximum PBMC-VEGF levels did not correlate with maximum CPK levels. Patients showing improvement in left ventricular systolic function during the course of AMI showed significantly higher PBMC-VEGF levels than patients without improvement.CONCLUSIONSThe extent of myocardial damage contributes to the elevation of serum VEGF levels in AMI. VEGF produced by PBMCs may play an important role in the improvement of left ventricular function by promoting angiogenesis and reendothelialization after AMI

Identification of Autoantibodies against TRPM1 in Patients with Paraneoplastic Retinopathy Associated with ON Bipolar Cell Dysfunction

Background: Paraneoplastic retinopathy (PR), including cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) and melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR), is a progressive retinal disease caused by antibodies generated against neoplasms not associated with the eye. While several autoantibodies against retinal antigens have been identified, there has been no known autoantibody reacting specifically against bipolar cell antigens in the sera of patients with PR. We previously reported that the transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 1 (TRPM1) is specifically expressed in retinal ON bipolar cells and functions as a component of ON bipolar cell transduction channels. In addition, this and other groups have reported that human TRPM1 mutations are associated with the complete form of congenital stationary night blindness. The purpose of the current study is to investigate whether there are autoantibodies against TRPM1 in the sera of PR patients exhibiting ON bipolar cell dysfunction. Methodology/Principal Findings: We performed Western blot analysis to identify an autoantibody against TRPM1 in the serum of a patient with lung CAR. The electroretinograms of this patient showed a severely reduced ON response wit

Suppressor T cell Inducing Factor from a Human Macrophage Like Cell Line-U 937

U 987, a human histiocytic lymphoma cell line, spontaneously produces a factor(M-SF) which inhibits blastogenic responses of lymphocytes and Interleukin 2(IL-2) activated killer(IAK) induction from human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). We investigated the mechanism of the suppressor action and the physicochemical character of the M-SF. Suppressive activity of U 937 culture supernatant was absorbed with human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. When the M-SF pretreated T cells were added, the mitogenic response of fresh allogeneic or autologus PBL to phytohaemagglutinin(PHA), Concanavalin A(Con A) and pokeweed mitogen(PWM) were suppressed. In addition, IL-2 activated killer activity was suppressed when the M-SF pretreated T cells were present in the induction phase of IAK. These suppressions were mediated by soluble factors produced by M-SF treated T lymphocytes. These results suggest that the pretreatment of T lymphocytes with M-SF resulted in the induction of suppressor T lymphocytes. M-SF also inhibited the protein kinase activity associated with T cell membrane. The intensity of phosphorylated T cell membrane proteins with the molecular weights of 110, 94, 42, 38 and 34 killodaltons on SDS PAGE were decreased. Dephosphorylation of these proteins may be related to the functional alteration of T lymphocytes. CPG-10 Gel permeation and hydrophobic interaction column chromatographic analysis revealed that the M-SF was an extremely hydrophobic sialoprotein of which approximate molecular weight was 10,000 daltons

構造研究に基づく南海トラフ（西部）地震発生帯のプレート形状および速度構造の3次元モデル

Great interplate earthquakes have repeatedly occurred in pairs along the Nankai Trough. In order to reduce a great deal of damage to coastal area from both strong ground motion and tsunami generation, it is necessary to understand rupture synchronization and segmentation of the Nankai megathrust earthquake. For a precise estimate of the rupture zone of the Nankai megathrust event based on the knowledge of realistic earthquake cycles and variations of magnitude, it is important to know the geometry and property of the plate boundary of the subduction seismogenic zone. To improve a physical model of the Nankai Trough seismogenic zone, the large-scale high-resolution wide-angle and reflection (MCS) seismic studies, and long-term observation have been conducted since 2008. Marine active source seismic data have been acquired along grid two-dimensional profiles having the total length of ~800km per year. A three-dimensional seismic tomography using active and passive seismic data observed both land and ocean bottom stations have been also performed. This study is part of 'Research concerning Interaction Between the Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes' funded by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. The seismic survey was conducted off the Tokai area including the onshore survey across the eastern Kii Peninsula in 2012, the final year of this project. Compiling those studies provides a three-dimensional plate geometry and velocity structure models of the western Nankai Trough at the moment. Although their reliability and resolution should be evaluated, these models can be applied to a numerical simulation to examine if the observed rupture zone of the historical event can be reproduced. We will also try to construct more fine-scale model for the entire Nankai Trough area.SSS31-P15ポスター要旨 / 日本地球惑星科学連合2013年大会（2013年5月19日～5月24日, 幕張メッセ国際会議場） / 日本惑星科学連合の許諾に基づき本文ファイルを掲載http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/kairei/kr10-11/ehttp://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/kairei/kr11-09/