catena-Poly[[[N′-(4-cyano­benzyl­idene)nicotinohydrazide)silver(I)]-μ-N′-(4-cyano­benzyl­idene)nicotinohydrazide] hexa­fluorido­phosphate]

In the title polymer, {[Ag(C14H10N4O)2]PF6}n, each AgI ion is coordinated by two N atoms from two pyridyl rings of independent N′-(4-cyano­benzyl­idene)nicotinohydrazide ligands, and one N atom from one carbonitrile group of a symmetry-related ligand in a distorted T-shaped geometry. The ligands exhibit two modes of coordination. One acts as a bridge connecting Ag atoms to form one-dimensional chains along [01]. The other acts as a terminal monodentate ligand, coordinating to Ag through its pyridyl N atom. Two neighbouring anti­parallel chains in the crystal are connected through N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Other adjacent chains are packed via Ag⋯O inter­actions, with Ag⋯O separations of 2.876 (2) Å. In addition, PF6 − counter-anions inter­act with the hydrazone groups through N—H⋯F hydrogen bonds. The PF6 − anion is disordered over two sites, with occupancies of 0.773 (8) and 0.227 (8)

An Integrated Land Use and Transport Model to Examine Polycentric Policies of Beijing

Beijing’s fast urban growth has caused serious traffic congestion and great environmental damage. The government plans to develop sub-centres in its metropolitan area to ease the pressures associated with being a sole, centralized city service provider. This has been formalized in its recently published master plan, the ‘Beijing City Master Plan (BCMP), 2004-2020’ (BCMP), which targets the formation of the city plan up to 2020. This study develops a general land-use and transport interaction model to forecast the housing rent distribution based on the present land-use policies and examines whether the objective of decentralized multi-centres can be achieved based on a ‘business as usual’ scenario. Modelling results show that as of 2020 there will be no sub-centres formed around urban Beijing. Some zones demonstrate the potential to become sub-centres with higher rent increases than the surrounding zones. However, the distribution of these potential zones has a different spatial pattern from what the master plan anticipates. This work may well provide a modelling tool for China’s decision makers to examine land-use policies before putting them into practice

The changes and its significance of Th17 and Treg cells and related cytokines in patients with tuberculosis pleurisy

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous pleurisy is a kind of tuberculosis, it is well known that Th1 lymphocytes play a key role in the treatment of tuberculosis infection. However, latest studies show that Th17 lymphocyte may also play an important role tuberculosis infection. There is close relationship between Treg and Thl7 cells, and changes in the number or the function of the two kinds of cells may lead to diseases. The current researches on Thl7 and Treg cells maily focus on autoimmune diseases, however, reports about their role in tuberculosis are limited. In this study, we investigate the function of th17 and Treg cells and the above cytokines in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis pleurisy; by determining the expression of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral CD4 T cells and the related cytokines in patients with tuberculous compared with healthy people. RESULTS: Th17 cells in patients were higher than that in the Healthy control group, expression of Treg cells in patients were lower than that in the healthy group; IL-17, IL-23 levels in peripheral blood and hydrothorax from the patients were higher than that in the healthy group; IL-17, IL-23 and IL-6 levels in hydrothorax were higher than that in peripheral blood. There was no difference in IL-6 level in peripheral blood between the patients and healthy control; TGF- β level in peripheral blood from the healthy group was higher than that in peripheral blood and hydrothorax from the patients. And there were no differences in TGF- β level between peripheral blood and hydrothorax. Th17 cells were negatively correlated with Treg cells ,but were positive correlation with IL-17, IL-23, IL-6 levels in peripheral blood; TGF- β level was positive correlation with Treg cells in the peripheral blood, but no correlation with Th17 cells. CONCLUSION: Th17 and Treg cells may be involved in the immune pathological mechanism of tuberculous pleurisy and changes of related cytokines may be involved in the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells and inflammatory response. Thus, Th17 and Treg cells and related cytokines may be important immunopathogenesis for tuberculous pleurisy

The Intracranial Aneurysm Gene THSD1 Connects Endosome Dynamics to Nascent Focal Adhesion Assembly

Background/aims: We recently discovered that harmful variants in THSD1 (Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 1) likely cause intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a subset of both familial and sporadic patients with supporting evidence from two vertebrate models. The current study seeks to elucidate how THSD1 and patient-identified variants function molecularly in focal adhesions. Methods: Co-immunostaining and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to define THSD1 subcellular localization and interacting partners. Transient expression of patient-identified THSD1 protein variants and siRNA-mediated loss-of-function THSD1 were used to interrogate gene function in focal adhesion and cell attachment to collagen I in comparison to controls. Results: THSD1 is a novel nascent adhesion protein that co-localizes with several known markers such as FAK, talin, and vinculin, but not with mature adhesion marker zyxin. Furthermore, THSD1 forms a multimeric protein complex with FAK/talin/vinculin, wherein THSD1 promotes talin binding to FAK but not to vinculin, a key step in nascent adhesion assembly. Accordingly, THSD1 promotes mature adhesion formation and cell attachment, while its rare variants identified in aneurysm patients show compromised ability. Interestingly, THSD1 also localizes at different stages of endosomes. Clathrin-mediated but not caveolae-mediated endocytosis pathway is involved in THSD1 intracellular trafficking, which positively regulates THSD1-induced focal adhesion assembly, in contrast to the traditional role of endosomes in termination of integrin signals. Conclusions: The data suggest that THSD1 functions at the interface between endosome dynamics and nascent focal adhesion assembly that is impaired by THSD1 rare variants identified from intracranial aneurysm patients

An Accurate Virtual Signal Injection Control of MTPA for IPMSM with Fast Dynamic Response

A maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) control based on virtual signal injection for interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) with fast dynamic response is proposed in this paper. A small square wave signal is mathematically injected into current angle for accurately tracking MTPA points. The extracted derivative of elctromagnetic torque is utilized to compensate the initially set current angle to the real MTPA operation current angle. Due to the absence of bandpass and lowpass filters which are essential in the sinusoidal injected signal scheme, this method shows good dynamic response. By incorporating a modified equation for the torque after signal injection, the steady-state accuracy is also enhanced. The d- and q-axes current references are obtained through the current vector magnitude and optimal current angle instead of using the torque equation with nominal motor parameters, which guarantees the accuracy of the output torque. The proposed scheme is parameter independent and no real signal is injected to the current or voltage command. Thus, the problems of high-frequency signal injection method are avoided. A prototype is set up and experiments are carried out to verify effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control scheme

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neutral lipid accumulation in diatom following nitrogen deprivation

Abstract Background Nitrogen limitation can induce neutral lipid accumulation in microalgae, as well as inhibiting their growth. Therefore, to obtain cultures with both high biomass and high lipid contents, and explore the lipid accumulation mechanisms, we implemented nitrogen deprivation in a model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum at late exponential phase. Results Neutral lipid contents per cell subsequently increased 2.4-fold, both the number and total volume of oil bodies increased markedly, and cell density rose slightly. Transcriptional profile analyzed by RNA-Seq showed that expression levels of 1213 genes (including key carbon fixation, TCA cycle, glycerolipid metabolism and nitrogen assimilation genes) increased, with a false discovery rate cut-off of 0.001, under N deprivation. However, most light harvesting complex genes were down-regulated, extensive degradation of chloroplast membranes was observed under an electron microscope, and photosynthetic efficiency declined. Further identification of lipid classes showed that levels of MGDG and DGDG, the main lipid components of chloroplast membranes, dramatically decreased and triacylglycerol (TAG) levels significantly rose, indicating that intracellular membrane remodeling substantially contributed to the neutral lipid accumulation. Conclusions Our findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms of neutral lipid accumulation and the key genes involved in lipid metabolism in diatoms. They also provide indications of possible strategies for improving microalgal biodiesel production.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112455/1/13068_2012_Article_291.pd

Factors that contribute to trait mindfulness level among hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder

Mindfulness training among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) reduces symptoms, prevents relapse, improves prognosis, and is more efficient for those with a high level of trait mindfulness. Upon hospital admission, 126 MDD patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief, Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Rumination Response Scale (RRS). The 65 patients that scored less than the median of all subjects on the FFMQ were placed into the low mindfulness level (LML) group. The other 61 patients were placed in the high mindfulness level (HML) group. All facet scores were statistically different between the mental health assessment scores of the HML and LML groups except for RRS brooding and FFMQ nonjudgement. Trait mindfulness level exhibited a negative and bidirectional association with MDD severity primarily through the facets of description and aware actions. Trait mindfulness was also related positively with age primarily through the facets of nonreactivity and nonjudgement. Being married is positively associated with trait mindfulness levels primarily through the facet of observation and by an associated increase in perceived quality of life. Mindfulness training prior to MDD diagnosis also associates positively with trait mindfulness level. Hospitalized MDD patients should have their trait mindfulness levels characterized to predict treatment efficiency, help establish a prognosis, and identify mindfulness-related therapeutic targets

Effectiveness and safety of anti-BCMA chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of prospective clinical trials

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T cells treatment targeting B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is an emerging treatment option for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) and has demonstrated outstanding outcomes in clinical studies.Objective: The aim of this comprehensive review and meta-analysis was to summarize the effectiveness and safety of anti-BCMA CAR-T treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Our research identifies variables influencing outcome measures to provide additional evidence for CAR-T product updates, clinical trial design, and clinical treatment guidance.Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standard was followed for conducting this comprehensive review and meta-analysis, which was submitted to PROSPERO (CRD42023390037). From the inception of the study until 10 September 2022, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and WanFang databases were searched for eligible studies. Stata software (version 16.0) was used to assess effectiveness and safety outcomes.Results: Out of 875 papers, we found 21 relevant trials with 761 patients diagnosed as RRMM and were given anti-BCMA CAR-T treatment. The overall response rate (ORR) for the entire sample was 87% (95% CI: 80–93%) complete response rate (CRR) was 44% (95% CI: 34–54%). The minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate within responders was 78% (95% CI: 65–89%). The combined incidence of cytokine release syndrome was 82% (95% CI: 72–91%) and neurotoxicity was 10% (95% CI: 5%–17%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.77 months (95% CI: 7.48–10.06), the median overall survival (OS) was 18.87 months (95% CI: 17.20–20.54) and the median duration of response (DOR) was 10.32 months (95% CI: 9.34–11.31).Conclusion: According to this meta-analysis, RRMM patients who received anti-BCMA CAR-T treatment have demonstrated both effectiveness and safety. Subgroup analysis confirmed the anticipated inter-study heterogeneity and pinpointed potential factors contributing to safety and efficacy, which may help with the development of CAR-T cell studies and lead to optimized BCMA CAR-T-cell products.Systematic Review Registration:Clinicaltrials.gov, PROSPERO, CRD42023390037