Regulation of T cell differentiation by the TGF-β inhibitor Smad7 and non-Smad pathways

The cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF-β) has a pivotal role in T cell differentiation. Regulation of intracellular signalling pathways during T cell differentiation has been given a great attention recently. Under certain conditions TGF-β inhibits T helper (Th1) and Th2 differentiation or induces regulatory T cell and Th17 development, mainly through the Smad-dependent signalling pathway. In addition to that, growing evidence implicates the involvement of non-Smad signalling pathways in T cell differentiation. Smad7 is the intracellular inhibitor of the canonical TGF-β signalling cascade, but its role in T cell differentiation was unknown. In order to investigate the role of Smad7 in T cell differentiation, we used mice with a T cell specific Smad7 deletion, which allowed us to study the function of Smad7 exclusively in T cells. These Smad7 conditional knockout mice show normal immune homeostasis but less activated T cells in the periphery as compared to control wild type littermates. Smad7 deletion in T cells results in decreased Th1, Th2 and increased Th17 and regulatory T cell differentiation. Smad7 shows no effect on the suppressive capacity of regulatory T cells but exerts effects on the proliferation of responder T cells when challenged with regulatory T cell suppression. Furthermore, Smad7 plays a direct role in priming Th1 differentiation which is associated with T-bet transcription. Upon blocking the canonical TGF-β-Smad signalling pathway, naive T cells differentiate into Th17 cells to a smaller extent. Using a TGF-β downstream signalling phospho-protein antibody array, we show that PI3K/AKT/mTOR and p38 MAPK signalling pathways, which are independent of the canonical TGF-β-Smad cascade, are activated at specific phosphorylation sites during Th17 differentiation. Inhibition of these pathways leads to decreased IL-17 production by Th17 cells. In essence, Smad7 is a major regulator of T cell differentiation. Besides the canonical signalling cascade of TGF-β, naïve T cells use non-Smad pathways to differentiate into the Th17 subset. Signalling through PI3K/AKT/mTOR and p38 MAPK pathways plays a crucial role in this event. This study provides insight into molecular mechanisms of T helper cell differentiation and thus helps to elucidate the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis which could eventually lead to development of new diagnostic or therapeutic procedures

Sino–Bangla Bilateral Trade (Trade Analysis and Future Development)

Association between Bangladesh and China started long time ago but it get a pace when both the countries started bilateral relationships and trading. In 2010, the leaders from two countries declared to make closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation. The bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and China has maintained a good momentum of development since 2013. This paper analyzed the effect of current trade patterns, regional scenario and trade relations between China and Bangladesh and proposed the counter measures for improving further development. It also describes the strong products and sectors of trade in between these two countries which indicates the future of development sectors too. Keywords: SINO-BANGLA trade statistics, Trade effect, Trade Developmen

CAFTA: China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, Implications on Trade and Development

Until 2013, Association of southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) is China’s third largest trading partner globally and the largest trading partner among all developing countries as well as Asian countries, while China is ASEAN’s first trading partner. Since 1990s China and ASEAN become progressively closer in bilateral trade. With the exception of 2009, due to world economic crisis, bilateral trade amount has been increasing frequently, remarkably, after 2010, when the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) established. This paper analyzed the effect of current regional scenario and trade relations between China-ASEAN and proposed the countermeasures for improving further development. Keywords: China, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA

DOES FDI PROMOTE PEACE? A Relationship Between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Global Peace

Peace is a superlative form of pleasant and harmonious atmosphere, cause happiness all over the globe. Global peace is chimerical plans of terrestrial non-violence through nations enthusiastically cooperate by means of voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance which prevents conflict between nations. Nowadays some new thesis and theories regarding promotion of global peace are on-going in the world. Not only world trade being dependent on global peace, previously, global peace and concord may be influenced and brought nearer to reality through escalating world trade unlike in the past theories where trade was a function of global peace. In this study we discuss that can peace may be the function of trade, can it be used to exterminate terrorism and develop harmony among nations. In this article, we concentrate and evaluate various studies on this issue. It is common understanding that global trade thrives well during peacetime but here we argue that global peace prosper well during enhanced global trade. We should also recognize the important role that trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) engage as a main catalyst in fabricating and procuring peace. International trade brings entities and individuals together by means of motivation and business. This interaction provides not only, mutual gain allied with business relationships but also promotes relationships and mutual understandings. Global peace and prosperity based on these foundations. In this modern age most theologists believe that "trade naturally promotes peace," In contrast, a number of economists and political scientists strongly advocate the concept that “trade leads to peace”. This article develops a critical framework concluding that higher gains from trade among two trading nations suppress the level of conflict between them. Keywords: International trade, Foreign Direct Investment, Conflict and Global peac

Microgrid Energy Management using Weather Forecasts: Case Study, Discussion and Challenges

The main objective of this study is to demonstrate the integration of weather forecasts which can lead to a significant reduction in energy costs and carbon emissions while ensuring the reliability of the microgrid operation. By serving a small area or a particular building, the incorporation of weather forecasts can considerably increase the efficiency of microgrid energy management. The planning and operation of microgrids can be greatly improved by using weather predictions, which give useful information about upcoming weather conditions. By forecasting future energy demand and supply based on meteorological conditions, Microgrid Energy Management (MEM) is utilized to optimize the energy management decisions in microgrid systems. Making better choices regarding energy generation, storage, and consumption may be aided by the incorporation of weather forecasts, which can offer a more precise and trustworthy estimate of the energy demand and supply. This strategy can result in increased energy efficiency, decreased energy prices, and decreased carbon emissions, all of which are important goals for contemporary power systems. A promising approach for raising energy effectiveness and lowering greenhouse gas emissions in contemporary power networks is MEM. The incorporation of weather forecasts into MEM can improve decision-making regarding energy management by giving a better insight of future energy demand and supply. This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of using weather forecasts in MEM through the presentation of a case example. By providing valuable information about future weather conditions, weather forecasts this review explain the Optimized Renewable Energy Integration, Improved Energy Storage Utilization, Load Shifting and Demand Response, Efficient Grid Management for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering energy cost and carbon emissions. In order to address the issues related with MEM employing weather forecasts, this study offers potential fixes for increasing the accuracy of weather forecasts and emphasizes the necessity for more research in this area

A New Data-Driven Method to Identify Violent Facial Expression

Human Facial Expressions plays an important role in identifying human actions or intention. Facial expressions can represent any specific action of any person and the pattern of violent behavior of any person strongly depends on the geographic region. Here we have designed an automated system by using a Convolutional Neural Network which can detect whether a person has any intention to commit any crime or not. Here we proposed a new method that can identify criminal intentions or violent behavior of any person before executing crimes more efficiently by using very little data on facial expressions before executing a crime or any violent tasks. Instead of using image features which is a time-consuming and faulty method we used an automated feature selector Convolutional Neural Network model which can capture exact facial expressions for training and then can predict that target facial expressions more accurately. Here we used only the facial data of a specific geographic region which can represent the violent and before-crime before-crime facial patterns of the people of the whole region.Comment: Submitted to the 1st International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Materials, and Mechatronics Systems : Submission Number:230