A note on the adjacent vertex distinguishing total chromatic number of graphs

AbstractAn adjacent vertex distinguishing total coloring of a graph G is a proper total coloring of G such that any pair of adjacent vertices have different sets of colors. The minimum number of colors needed for such a total coloring of G is denoted by χa″(G). In this note, we show that χa″(G)≤2Δ for any graph G with maximum degree Δ≥3

北朝《漢書》學與北朝文學的漢代傳統

中古時期《漢書》學的發展，離不開十六國北朝時期北方地區的人們對《漢書》的闡釋、研究和利用。廣爲流行的《漢書》故事，重新構建了新時代所需要的漢代歷史，從而爲北朝《漢書》學奠定了社會基礎。在這個多民族融合的南北分裂時期，正統與華夷等觀念被不斷申明、強調，北方地區的政權紛紛向《漢書》尋求政治借鑒，《漢書》被作爲典章參考，進入實際的政治生活。北朝後期，北齊南來士人顔之推爲代表的《漢書》學研究，融合南北學術之長，是北朝《漢書》研究獲得新的學術成就。受時代影響，北朝《漢書》學對文學發展的影響同樣深遠，一方面，《漢書》學影響了北朝史傳文學的發展，崔鴻、魏收等史家皆以《漢書》爲標杆來撰史；另一方面，《漢書》學也引導了人們對漢代文學有所推崇和繼承。 The development of Han shu 漢書 (Book of the Former Han) study in medieval China cannot be separated from the interpretations, research, and appropriations of Book of the Former Han in the northern areas of the Sixteen Kingdoms and Northern Dynasties. The popular stories from Book of the Former Han reconstructed the history of the Han dynasty needed in the new era then, thus laying a social foundation for the study of Book of the Former Han in the Northern Dynasties. In this period of multi-ethnic integration, the concepts of orthodoxy and Han-Yi ( non-Han people, “barbaric”) distinction were constantly affirmed and emphasized. The regimes in the north referred to Book of the Former Han as an example of law, which allowed Book of Former Han to enter political life. In late Northern Dynasties, Book of the Former Han study, with southern scholar Yan Zhitui 顔之推 as a chief example, combined academic advancement of both north and south, demonstrating a new scholarly achievement of Book of the Former Han study in the Northern Dynasties. Under the influence of the time, Book of the Former Han study in the Northern Dynasties had a lasting impact on the literary development of the era. On the one hand, Book of the Former Han study influenced the development of historical literature of Northern Dynasties. Historians such as Cui Hong 崔鴻 and Wei Shou 魏收 compiled historiographies according to Book of the Former Han as a standard reference. On the other hand, Book of the Former Han study has also led to the praises and carrying-on of Han dynasty literature

SEC24A deficiency lowers plasma cholesterol through reduced PCSK9 secretion.

The secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells packages cargo proteins into COPII-coated vesicles for transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi. We now report that complete genetic deficiency for the COPII component SEC24A is compatible with normal survival and development in the mouse, despite the fundamental role of SEC24 in COPII vesicle formation and cargo recruitment. However, these animals exhibit markedly reduced plasma cholesterol, with mutations in Apoe and Ldlr epistatic to Sec24a, suggesting a receptor-mediated lipoprotein clearance mechanism. Consistent with these data, hepatic LDLR levels are up-regulated in SEC24A-deficient cells as a consequence of specific dependence of PCSK9, a negative regulator of LDLR, on SEC24A for efficient exit from the ER. Our findings also identify partial overlap in cargo selectivity between SEC24A and SEC24B, suggesting a previously unappreciated heterogeneity in the recruitment of secretory proteins to the COPII vesicles that extends to soluble as well as trans-membrane cargoes. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00444.001

Develop a 3D Neurological Disease Model of Human Cortical Glutamatergic Neurons Using Micropillar-Based Scaffolds

Establishing an effective three-dimensional (3D) in vitro culture system to better model human neurological diseases is desirable, since the human brain is a 3D structure. Here, we demonstrated the development of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pillar-based 3D scaffold that mimicked the 3D microenvironment of the brain. We utilized this scaffold for the growth of human cortical glutamatergic neurons that were differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells. In comparison with the 2D culture, we demonstrated that the developed 3D culture promoted the maturation of human cortical glutamatergic neurons by showing significantly more MAP2 and less Ki67 expression. Based on this 3D culture system, we further developed an in vitro disease-like model of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which showed a robust increase of glutamate-release from the neurons, in response to mechanical impacts, recapitulating the critical pathology of TBI. The increased glutamate-release from our 3D culture model was attenuated by the treatment of neural protective drugs, memantine or nimodipine. The established 3D in vitro human neural culture system and TBI-like model may be used to facilitate mechanistic studies and drug screening for neurotrauma or other neurological diseases

Exploring the molecular landscape of osteosarcoma through PTTG family genes using a detailed multi-level methodology

BackgroundOsteosarcoma (OS) poses a significant clinical challenge, necessitating a comprehensive exploration of its molecular underpinnings.MethodsThis study explored the roles of PTTG family genes (PTTG1, PTTG2, and PTTG3P) in OS, employing a multifaceted approach encompassing molecular experiments, including OS cell lines culturing, RT-qPCR, bisulfite and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and in silico experiments, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets-based validation, overall survival, gene enrichment, functional assays, and molecular docking analyses.ResultsOur findings reveal a consistent up-regulation of PTTG genes in OS cell lines, supported by RT-qPCR experiments and corroborated across various publically available expression datasets databases. Importantly, ROC curve analyses highlight their potential as diagnostic markers. Moving beyond expression profiles, we unveil the epigenetic landscape by demonstrating significant hypomethylation of CpG islands associated with PTTG genes in OS. The negative correlation between methylation status and mRNA expression emphasizes the regulatory role of promoter methylation in PTTG gene expression. Contrary to expectations, genetic mutations in PTTG genes are rare in OS, with only benign mutations observed. Moreover, functional assays also confirmed the oncogenic roles of the PTTG gene in the development of OS. Lastly, we also revealed that Calcitriol is the most appropriate drug that can be utilized to treat OS in the context of PTTG genes.ConclusionThe identification of PTTG genes as potential diagnostic markers and their association with epigenetic alterations opens new avenues for understanding OS pathogenesis and developing targeted therapies. As we navigate the complex landscape of OS, this study contributes essential insights that may pave the way for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in its management

Plant Responses to Different Grazing Intensities in the Missouri Coteau of North Dakota

Report assessing the effect that grazing intensity has on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) in the Coteau region of North Dakota; examins seed banks in areas of light grazing intensity and extreme grazing intensity