Graphs with Diameter n−en-e Minimizing the Spectral Radius

The spectral radius $\rho(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the largest eigenvalue of its adjacency matrix $A(G)$. For a fixed integer $e\ge 1$, let $G^{min}_{n,n-e}$ be a graph with minimal spectral radius among all connected graphs on $n$ vertices with diameter $n-e$. Let $P_{n_1,n_2,...,n_t,p}^{m_1,m_2,...,m_t}$ be a tree obtained from a path of $p$ vertices ($0 \sim 1 \sim 2 \sim ... \sim (p-1)$) by linking one pendant path $P_{n_i}$ at $m_i$ for each $i\in\{1,2,...,t\}$. For $e=1,2,3,4,5$, $G^{min}_{n,n-e}$ were determined in the literature. Cioab\v{a}-van Dam-Koolen-Lee \cite{CDK} conjectured for fixed $e\geq 6$, $G^{min}_{n,n-e}$ is in the family ${\cal P}_{n,e}=\{P_{2,1,...1,2,n-e+1}^{2,m_2,...,m_{e-4},n-e-2}\mid 2<m_2<...<m_{e-4}<n-e-2\}$. For $e=6,7$, they conjectured $G^{min}_{n,n-6}=P^{2,\lceil\frac{D-1}{2}\rceil,D-2}_{2,1,2,n-5}$ and $G^{min}_{n,n-7}=P^{2,\lfloor\frac{D+2}{3}\rfloor,D- \lfloor\frac{D+2}{3}\rfloor, D-2}_{2,1,1,2,n-6}$. In this paper, we settle their three conjectures positively. We also determine $G^{min}_{n,n-8}$ in this paper

Ginsenoside induces apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer cells by regulation of reactive oxygen species and activation of MAPK pathway

Purpose: To study the influence of ginsenoside on apoptosis, cell cycle and autophagy in gastric carcinoma (GC), and its effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Methods: Human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 was randomly divided into the following groups: control, 100 μM ginsenoside (Rg5), 150 μM Rg5, and 200 μM Rg5 groups. Western blot assay was used to determine the expressions of autophagy-associated protein 12 (Atg12), Beclin-1, lc3b II, cycle-related protein, phosphated mitotic cyclin 25 homologous protein C (p-cdc25c), cyclin B1, and MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins. Results: There was significantly higher apoptosis in Rg5-treated BGC-823 cells than in untreated cells. Relative protein levels of Beclin-1, Atg5, Atg12, and lc3b II in BGC-823 cells in Rg5 groups were significantly and concentration-dependently up-regulated, relative to the corresponding expression levels in untreated cells. There were markedly up-regulated proteins of p-cdc25c, cyclin B1 and p-cdc2 in Rg5-exposed BGC-823 cells than in untreated cells, while CDC2 protein expression was significantly and concentration-dependently lower than that of control group (p &lt; 0.05). Rg5 treatment resulted in marked and concentration-dependent increases in ROS levels in BGC-823 cells, relative to control cells (p &lt; 0.05), whereas the expression levels of p-p38, p-JNK and p-ERK were significantly higher in Rg5-exposed cells than in unexposed cells (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Ginsenoside induces apoptosis, autophagy and cycle interruption in GC cells by regulating ROS production and activating MAPK pathway. Therefore, ginsenoside may be a promising agent for the management of gastric cancer. However, there is a need to conduct in vivo studies on the compound

Albumin Binding Function: The Potential Earliest Indicator for Liver Function Damage

Background. Currently there is no indicator that can evaluate actual liver lesion for early stages of viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cirrhosis. Aim of this study was to investigate if albumin binding function could better reflect liver function in these liver diseases. Methods. An observational study was performed on 193 patients with early NAFLD, viral hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis patients were separated according to Child-Pugh score into A, B, and C subgroup. Albumin metal ion binding capacity (Ischemia-modified albumin transformed, IMAT) and fatty acid binding capacity (total binding sites, TBS) were detected. Results. Both IMAT and TBS were significantly decreased in patients with NAFLD and early hepatitis. In hepatitis group, they declined prior to changes of liver enzymes. IMAT was significantly higher in cirrhosis Child-Pugh class A group than hepatitis patients and decreased in Child-Pugh class B and class C patients. Both IMAT/albumin and TBS/albumin decreased significantly in hepatitis and NAFLD group patients. Conclusions. This is the first study to discover changes of albumin metal ion and fatty acid binding capacities prior to conventional biomarkers for liver damage in early stage of liver diseases. They may become potential earliest sensitive indicators for liver function evaluation

Variants in MME are associated with autosomal-recessive distal hereditary motor neuropathy

© 2019 The Authors. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc on behalf of American Neurological Association. Objective: To identify a new genetic cause in patients segregating distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) with an autosomal recessive pattern. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was conducted in two siblings and was combined with segregation analysis. Additionally, 83 unrelated dHMN patients with unknown genetic cause were screened. RNA analysis was performed using blood lymphocytes and HEK293 cells transfected with mutant plasmids. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis was applied to the nerve tissue. The enzymatic activities of mutant proteins were measured in the cultured cells to verify the pathogenicity of variants. Results: The clinical features of the patients showed late-onset phenotype of distal motor neuropathy without sensory involvement. We identified that compound heterozygous variants of c.1342C\u27T and c.2071_2072delGCinsTT in the membrane metalloendopeptidase (MME) gene co-segregated with the phenotype in a dHMN family. In an additional group of 83 patients with dHMN, compound heterozygous variants of c.1416+2T\u27C and c.2027C\u27T in MME were identified in one patient. The splice site variant c.1416+2T\u27C results in skipping of exon 13. The stop variant c.1342C\u27T induces mRNA degradation via nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Transcript levels of MME in the lymphocytes showed no significant differences between the patients and controls. We also identified that MME variants were associated with mild decrease in protein expression in the sural nerve and significant impairments of enzymatic activity. Interpretation: Variants in the MME gene were associated with not only a Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy phenotype but also with an autosomal-recessive dHMN phenotype. Loss of function may play a role in the pathogenesis of dHMN

Axiomatizing multi-prize nested lottery contests: A complete and strict ranking perspective

10.1016/j.jebo.2015.04.010Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization116127-14

Theories and applications of electrical quantum benchmarks

The voltage unit and the resistance unit are the basic units in electrical metering. The Josephson voltage standard and the quantized Hall resistance standard have replaced the physical reference that was maintained by standard batteries and standard resistors. This paper investigates the working principle of voltage quantum reference, resistance quantum reference and current quantum reference. Furthermore, the applications of these new electrical References are discussed. This study provides theoretical support for the development of electricity value transfer methods

Current assessment of weight, dietary and physical activity behaviors among middle and high school students in shanghai, china—a 2019 cross-sectional study

Poor nutrition or insufficient physical activity (PA) are risk factors for obesity and chronic diseases. This 2019 cross-sectional study from the school health survey examined the dietary and PA behaviors of Chinese adolescents. A total of 12,860 adolescents aged 11–18 participated through multistage and stratified cluster random sampling. A questionnaire collected data on weight, PA, sedentary lifestyle, and eating habits. Unhealthy behaviors were identified and summed up for each behavior. Participants were then classified into high and low amounts of risk behaviors. Weight status was defined using Body Mass Index (BMI) cutoff points for Chinese individuals aged 6–18. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess effects of lifestyle behaviors on weight status. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 22.3% among all participants (30.6% in boys, 13.2% in girls). Females engaged in more risk physical activities (4.12 vs. 3.80, p \u3c 0.05), while males engaged in more risk dietary activities (2.20 vs. 2.02, p \u3c 0.05). Higher number of risk dietary, PA, and sedentary behaviors were all significantly correlated with higher BMI (dietary: r = 0.064; PA: r = 0.099; sedentary: r = 0.161; p \u3c 0.001 for all) and body weight (dietary: r = 0.124; PA: r = 0.128; sedentary: r = 0.222; p \u3c 0.001 for all). Risk sedentary behaviors was a significant risk factor for overweight/obesity (Adjusted Odds Ratio AOR = 1.30, 95% Confidence Interval CI 1.11–1.52). Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors remain a concern among Chinese adolescents. These results provide an update on the factors contributing to overweight/obesity among adolescents and call for efforts to address obesity among adolescents

Body Weight, Weight Self-Perception, Weight Teasing and Their Association with Health Behaviors among Chinese Adolescents-The Shanghai Youth Health Behavior Survey

Weight-related status has been associated with the physical and psychological health of adolescents. This cross-sectional study evaluated three different kinds of weight-related statuses (Body Mass Index (BMI), weight self-perception and weight teasing from others) among Chinese adolescents and identified their associations with health risk behaviors (lack of healthy dietary behavior, unhealthy dietary behavior, binge eating behavior, lack of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB) and sleep disturbance). A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 10,070 students aged 11-18 years old from schools in Shanghai. Self-reported questionnaires were collected, weight-related statuses were divided into three categories and six specific health risk behaviors were classified into two groups: positive or negative. Overall, 27.82% of the adolescents were classified as being overweight and obese (35.61% of boys and 18.21% of girls), 43.45% perceived themselves as too heavy and 30.46% experienced weight teasing in the past. Among overweight or obese participants, 50.55% have been teased about their weight, and 77.48% perceived themselves as too heavy. Weight perception and weight teasing were significantly associated with health risk behaviors rather than the actual body weight status based on BMI, especially regarding binge eating behavior (body weight status (BMI): \u3e 0.05, underweight perception: OR = 1.18, 95%CI 1.03-1.34; weight teasing for more than once a year: OR = 2.00, 95%CI 1.76-2.27). In addition, weight perception and weight teasing were significantly associated with health risk behaviors, mainly in normal and overweight/obese groups but not in underweight groups. Weight teasing and weight self-perception play an independent and stronger role than actual body weight in the health behaviors of adolescents. This calls for more attention and intervention to reduce peer bullying and stigmas on weight among adolescents