This article introduces a class of discrete iterative algorithms that are provably convergent alternatives to belief propagation (BP) and generalized belief propagation (GBP). Our work builds on recent results by Yedidia, Freeman, and Weiss (2000), who showed that the fixed points of BP and GBP algorithms correspond to extrema of the Bethe and Kikuchi free energies, respectively. We obtain two ...

The environment of cells within solid tumors is known to be acidic relative to that in normal tissue, and the viability of tumor cells may depend on mechanisms which maintain intracellular pH (pi I,) above the extracellular pH (pH.). We have assessed therefore the toxicity in vitro of the proton ionophore carbonylcyanide-3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), since this agent has been reported to be c...

We tested the effects of various putative efflux pump inhibitors on colistin resistance in multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Addition of 10 mg/liter cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) to the test medium could significantly decrease the MICs of colistin-resistant strains. Time-kill assays showed CCCP could reverse colistin resistance and inhibit the regrowth of the resistant subpop...

Mitochondrial quality control is important for maintaining cellular and oocyte viability. In addition, aging affects mitochondrial quality in many cell types. In the present study, we examined how aging affects oocyte mitochondrial biogenesis and degeneration in response to induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Cumulus oocyte complexes were harvested from the ovaries of young (21‒45 months) and ag...

TRAIL is a TNF family member that engages apoptosis via recruitment and rapid activation of caspase-8. Oxygen-free radicals, more generally known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well recognized for playing an important role in the regulation of tumor cell apoptosis. ROS within the cells act as secondary messengers in intracellular signalling cascades therefore function as anti-tumorigenic ...

When 50 microM carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), a protonophore, was added to growth medium containing glucose at pH 7.5, Escherichia coli TK1001 (trkD1 kdpABC5) started exponential growth after 30 min; the generation time was 70 min at 37 degrees C. Strain AS1 (acrA), another strain derived from E. coli K-12, also grew in the presence of 50 microM CCCP under the same conditions...

Antibiotic resistant and biofilm forming uropathogenic Enterobacteriaceae are rising. This study was conducted to evaluate the efflux pump plasmid mediated genes in ciprofloxacin (CIP) hospital acquired Escherichia coli Klebsiella pneumoniae. Also, assess anti-biofilm action of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Uropathogenic E. K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from Mansoura ...

Potassium transport coupled to ATP hydrolysis has been reconstituted in proteoliposomes using a highly purified plasma membrane Mg2+-dependent ATPase of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The ATPase activity in the incorporated enzyme was strongly stimulated (2.2-fold) by the H+-conducting agent carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). The H+/K+ exchanger nigericin (in the presence of...

Background: Carbapenems (CAR), colistin (CST), and tigecycline (TGC) alone or in combination therapy has become the last-resort antibiotics for treating infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. However, resistance to these reserve antibiotics are increasingly being reported worldwide. Hence, the quest to find other agents that will synergistically restore the efficacy of these a...

Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is usually thought to occur only when intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) is high. We investigated whether mitochondrial Ca(2+) removal participates in shaping [Ca(2+)](i) signals in arterial smooth muscle over a low [Ca(2+)](i) range. [Ca(2+)](i) was measured using fura 2-loaded, voltage-clamped cells from rat femoral arteries. Both diazoxide and carbon...