Algebrák, varietások és algoritmusok = Algebras, varieties and algorithms

A pályázat keretében három fő témakörben --- általános algebra és alkalmazásai, félcsoportelmélet és döntési problémák bonyolultsága --- nyertünk eredményeket. A kutatás jelentős része hazai, illetve külföldi kutatókkal való együttműködésben született. Kiterjesztettük Rosenberg teljességi tételét a Slupecki-klón környezetében, általánosítottuk Wiegold dichotómiatételét parallelogramma-algebrákra, és az eddig ismerteknél egyszerűbb jellemzést adtunk a kongruenciamodularitásra. Karakterizáltuk a döntések kvalitatív modellezésére szolgáló hasznossági függvényeket, és eljárást adtunk egyszerűbb függvények kompozíciójaként való előállításukra. Kiterjesztettük a McAlister-Lawson-féle elmélet egyes fedési, illetve beágyazási tételeit a lokálisan inverz félcsoportokra a majdnem faktorizálhatóság általánosításával, illetve a bal és kétoldali megszorításos félcsoportokra a W-szorzatba való beágyazhatóság jellemzésével. A homomorfizmus-problémára vonatkozó dichotómiasejtést bebizonyítottuk két különböző új algebraosztályra. Megmutattuk, hogy egy véges idempotens algebra pontosan akkor örökletesen véges relációbázisú, ha van élkifejezése. Széles algebraosztályok esetén algebrailag jellemeztük az egyenletrendszer-problémák komplexitását. Algebrai eszközökkel bizonyítottuk Valeriote egy sejtését a reflexív irányított gráfok speciális esetére, valamint igazoltuk Stahl Kneser-gráfokra vonatkozó sejtésének speciális esetét. | The results of the project belong to three areas: universal algebra and applications, semigroup theory, and complexity theory. Most of the research was carried out in international cooperation. We extended Rosenberg’s completeness theorem in the neighborhood of Slupecki’s clone, we generalized Wiegold’s dichotomy theorem to parallelogram algebras, and we found a characterization for congruence modularity which is simpler than the known criteria. We characterized utility functions which provide a tool for qualitative modelling of decision-making, and gave a procedure to express them as compositions of simpler functions. We extended some of the covering and embedding theorems of the McAlister-Lawson theory for locally inverse semigroups by generalizing almost factorizability, and for left and two-sided restriction semigroups by characterizing embeddability in W-products. We verified the constraint satisfaction problem dichotomy conjecture for two new classes of algebras. We proved that a finite idempotent algebra is inherently finitely related if and only if it has an edge term. We gave an algebraic characterization of the complexity of the problems of systems of equations for broad classes of finite algebras. Based on algebraic methods, we confirmed the Valeriote conjecture for the special case of finite reflexive digraphs, and verified a special case of the Stahl conjecture on Kneser graphs

In vivo measurement of intragastric pressure with a rubber balloon in the anesthetized rat.

The protocols described in this unit are designed to measure the intragastric pressure in anesthetized rats by a water-filled low-compliance rubber balloon. The balloon is introduced into the stomach either orally (by passing the balloon down the esophagus) or directly via a small incision of the fundus after laparotomy. The effects of both stimulatory (e.g., carbachol) and inhibitory (e.g., oxymetazoline) agents can be evaluated on the gastric tone and phasic contractions. The model allows the evaluation of dose-response curves and also the time-course of the effects. Furthermore, by combining centrally or peripherally acting agents the site of action can also be determined. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 57:21.12.1-21.12.11. (c) 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Brain neuropeptides in gastric mucosal protection.

The centrally induced gastroprotective effect of neuropeptides has been intensively studied. Besides many similarities, however, differences can also be observed in their gastroprotective actions. The gastroprotective dose-response curve proved to be either sigmoid, or bell-shaped. Additional gastrointestinal effects of neuropeptides can contribute to their mucosal protective effect. Part of the neuropeptides induces gastroprotection by peripheral administration as well. Besides vagal nerve the sympathetic nervous system may also be involved in conveying the central effect to the periphery. Better understanding of the complex mechanism of the maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity may result in the development of new strategy to enhance gastric mucosal resistance against injury

Role of cannabinoids in gastrointestinal mucosal defense and inflammation.

Modulating the activity of the endocannabinoid system influences various gastrointestinal physiological and pathophysiological processes, and cannabinoid receptors as well as regulatory enzymes responsible for the synthesis or degradation of endocannabinoids represent potential targets to reduce the development of gastrointestinal mucosal lesions, hemorrhage and inflammation. Direct activation of CB1 receptors by plant-derived, endogenous or synthetic cannabinoids effectively reduces both gastric acid secretion and gastric motor activity, and decreases the formation of gastric mucosal lesions induced by stress, pylorus ligation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or alcohol, partly by peripheral, partly by central mechanisms. Similarly, indirect activation of cannabinoid receptors through elevation of endocannabinoid levels by globally acting or peripherally restricted inhibitors of their metabolizing enzymes (FAAH, MAGL) or by inhibitors of their cellular uptake reduced the gastric mucosal lesions induced by NSAIDs in a CB1 receptor-dependent fashion. Dual inhibition of FAAH and cyclooxygenase induced protection against both NSAID-induced gastrointestinal damage and intestinal inflammation. Moreover, in intestinal inflammation direct or indirect activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors exerts also multiple beneficial effects. Namely, activation of both CB receptors was shown to ameliorate intestinal inflammation in various murine colitis models, to decrease visceral hypersensitivity and abdominal pain, as well as to reduce colitis-associated hypermotility and diarrhea. In addition, CB1 receptors suppress secretory processes and also modulate intestinal epithelial barrier functions. Thus, experimental data suggest that the endocannabinoid system represents a promising target in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, and this assumption is also confirmed by preliminary clinical studies

Gut inflammation: current update on pathophysiology, molecular mechanism and pharmacological treatment modalities

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. The two main forms of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. According to the recent concept the disease is caused by a combination of factors, including genetics, immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction and the change in microbial flora. Environmental factors, such as changes in diet, antibiotic use, smoking or improved domestic hygiene (e.g. eradication of intestinal helminths) probably contribute to the development and increased prevalence of IBD. Dysregulation of mucosal immunity in IBD causes an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines which resulted in uncontrolled intestinal inflammation. Based on extensive research over the last decade, besides the conventional therapy, there are several novel pathways and specific targets, on which focus new therapeutics. New therapeutics aim 1./ to correct genetic susceptibility by stimulating NOD2 expression, TLR3 signaling or inhibition of TLR4 pathway, 2./ to restore the immune dysregulation by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-13, IL-17, IL-18, IL-21), Th1 polarisation (IL-2, IL-12, IL-23, IFN-γ ), T-cell activation, leukocyte adhesion, as well as by immunostimulation (GM-CSF, G-CSF) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-11, IFN-β-1a), 3./ to restore mucosal barrier function and stimulate mucosal healing by different growth factors, such as GH, EGF, KGF, TGF-β, VEGF, 4./ to restore the normal bacterial flora by antibiotics, probiotics. However, in spite of these numerous potential targets, the true value and clinical significance of most of the new biologics and molecules are not clear yet