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Menopausal women often face long-term estrogen treatment. G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) expressed in intestinal crypt was activated by estrogen therapy, but it was unclear whether chronic GPER activation during menopause had an effect on intestinal stem cells (ISCs). We tested the effect of chronic GPER activation on ISCs of ovariectomized (OVX) mice by injection of the selective GPER agonist G-1 for 28 days, or G-1 stimulation of organoids derived from crypts of OVX mice. G-1 up-regulated crypt depth, the number of Ki67+, bromodeoxyuridine+ cells and Olfm4+ ISCs, and the expression of ISCs marker genes (Lgr5, Olfm4 and Axin2). G-1 administration promoted organoid growth, increased the number of EdU+ cells per organoid and protein expression of Cyclin D1 and cyclin B1 in organoids. After G-1 treatment in vivo or in vitro, Paneth cell–derived Wnt3, Wnt3 effector β-catenin and Wnt target genes c-Myc and Cyclin D1 increased in ileum or organoids. Once blocking the secretion of Wnt3 from Paneth cells, the effects of G-1 on organoids growth, ISCs marker genes and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were abolished. G-1 did not affect the number of Paneth cells in ex vivo organoids, while activated Mmp7/cryptdin program in Paneth cells, promoted their maturation, and increased the expression of lysozyme protein. G-1 pretreatment in OVX mice inhibited radiation-induced ISCs proliferation injury and enhanced the resistance of mice to intestinal injury. In conclusion, chronic GPER activation prompted the Wnt3 synthesis in Paneth cells, thus increased the proliferation of ISCs via activation of Wnt3/β-catenin signaling in OVX mice.

Considering the advantages of higher-order vector vortex beams (HOVVBs) with their diverse intensity distribution of the focal field and adjustable longitudinal field component, we investigated the optical forces and torques on Rayleigh spheroidal particles induced by tightly focused HOVVBs based on the Rayleigh scattering model and dipole approximation. It was found that the maximal optical forces were obtained when the major axis of the Rayleigh spheroidal particles was parallel to the x–y plane. We achieved the three-dimensional stable trapping of Rayleigh spheroidal particles at the focus by using an HOVVB. Further analysis showed that the optical torque caused the major axis of the spheroidal particle to rotate towards the x–y plane, which is conducive to the large-scale stable trapping of Rayleigh spheroidal particles in the two-dimensional plane. Moreover, the optical torque Γx could achieve a maximum of 0.869 pN·nm at φ0 = 90° and 270°, while Γy could achieve a maximum of 0.869 pN·nm at φ0 = 0° and 180° for the case of θ0 = 30°. Our findings provide a clear strategy for extending the degrees of freedom in the control of the beam. We envision a significant role for these results in optical micro-manipulation.

Background With the improvement of therapeutic strategies from cytotoxic chemotherapy to immunotherapy, the possibility of achieving timely intervention for lung cancer has dramatically increased. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) on immunotherapy in lung cancer. Methods The RCTs evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer published up to 2021 were searched and collected from PUBMED and EMBASE by two investigators. The 2010 Consolidated Standards for Test Reports (CONSORT) statement‐based 28‐point overall quality score (OQS) and the 2001 CONSORT statement‐based 19‐point OQS was utilized for assessing the overall quality of each report. Results One hundred and fifty‐two related RCTs were retrieved in this study, including 81,931 patients. The average OQS in 2010 was 17.89 (range, 7.5–24.5). Overall, studies have sufficiently reported the eligibility criteria (143/152; 94.07%), described the scientific background (150/152; 98.7%) and discussed interventions (147/152; 96.7%). However, the RCTs did not consistently report the changes to trial after commencement (48/152; 31.6%), allocation, enrollment and assignment personnel (34/152; 22.4%), blinding (48/152; 31.6%), or randomization method (58/152; 38.2%). Conclusions The overall reporting quality of RCTs on immunotherapy in lung cancer was found to be unsatisfactory despite the fact that the CONSORT statement was issued more than a decade ago. Furthermore, there was virtual selectivity and heterogeneity in reporting some key issues in these trials. This is the first study to enlighten lung cancer researchers especially focusing on immunotherapy, and also to remind editors and peer reviewers to strengthen their due diligence., The 2010 Consolidated Standards for Test Reports (CONSORT) statement‐based 28‐point overall quality score (OQS) and the 2001 CONSORT statement‐based 19‐point OQS was utilized to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on immunotherapy in lung cancer published in PUBMED and EMBASE, demonstrating an unsatisfactory overall reporting quality, enlightening lung cancer researchers to pay more attention to CONSORT projects when designing and reporting trials, and bringing up the necessity for editors and peer reviewers to be more scrutinizing and diligent for RCTs on immunotherapy in lung cancer.

The information retrieval behavior of scientific researchers is a behavior that is affected by multiple factors such as cognition, emotion, task, and user type and has its unique cognitive characteristics. In the context of scientific research, this paper conducts research on the information retrieval behavior of scientific researchers and analyzes the three levels of user mental model “user cognition, user behavior, and user emotion.” According to the mental model construction process, define the user segmentation of basic tasks, formulate recruitment plan, set interview scope, analyze data, construct mental model, product adjustment and gap analysis, export structure seven steps, construct the mental model of scientific research workers’ information retrieval, carry out research on the information retrieval efficiency of scientific researchers, describe the user portrait based on the mental model, and put forward strategies to improve the efficiency of user information retrieval.

This paper presents a methodology for enhancing discrete choice models for managed lane travel behavior with personal trip history. We refer to this process as personalization and the enhanced model as a personalized choice model. With the objective of better understanding managed lane choices and improving the model’s prediction capability, personalization was carried out at two levels. First, we used each traveler’s habits and travel experiences before each trip for constructing a set of explanatory variables that could be used with any model structure. Second, under a logit mixture framework, the distribution of random parameters was updated with Bayesian inference according to personal trip history. The structure of the parameter distribution explicitly considered preference variations across individuals (interpersonal heterogeneity), as well as preference variations across trips performed by the same individual (intrapersonal heterogeneity). The proposed methodology is especially relevant for modeling revealed preference (RP) data from automatic vehicle identification sensors, for which limited socioeconomic characteristics of travelers are available. An empirical study was conducted on an operational managed lane corridor near Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in Texas. Available trip records over a 5-month period were utilized. A hierarchical Bayes estimator was adopted for efficient model estimation. The results suggest significant inter- and intrapersonal heterogeneity and that the proposed personalization method improves the model’s explanatory power and prediction capability. To the best of our knowledge, this paper represents the first introduction of personalization in managed lane choice behavior modeling and the first attempt to estimate intrapersonal heterogeneity with RP data.

Despite the advances in immunotherapy for cancer treatment, patients still obtain limited benefits, mostly owing to unrestrained tumour self-expansion and immune evasion that exploits immunoregulatory mechanisms. Traditionally, myeloid cells have a dominantly immunosuppressive role. However, the complicated populations of the myeloid cells and their multilateral interactions with tumour/stromal/lymphoid cells and physical abnormalities in the tumour microenvironment (TME) determine their heterogeneous functions in tumour development and immune response. Tumour-associated myeloid cells (TAMCs) include monocytes, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), dendritic cells (DCs), and granulocytes. Single-cell profiling revealed heterogeneous TAMCs composition, sub-types, and transcriptomic signatures across 15 human cancer types. We systematically reviewed the biophysical heterogeneity of TAMC composition and pro/anti-tumoral and immuno-suppressive/stimulating properties of myeloid-derived microenvironments. We also summarised comprehensive clinical strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy from three dimensions: targeting TAMCs, reversing physical abnormalities, utilising nanomedicines, and finally, put forward futuristic perspectives for scientific and clinical research.

The article titled “Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosomes for Treatment of Ischemic Stroke”, by Rucheng Liu et al., published in Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2022; 17. 10.2174/1574888X16666210812151003 has been withdrawn upon the request of the authors. The authors found that invalid references were cited. Consequently, the authors concluded that the results could not be guaranteed. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication.

Objective The role of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) remains controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to compare the clinical differences between NAT and upfront surgery in RPC. Materials and methods A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials databases. Only patients with RPC who underwent tumor resection and received adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment were enrolled. The OR or HR and 95% CIs were calculated employing fixed-effects or random-effects models. The HR and its 95% CI were extracted from each article that provided survival curve. Publication bias was estimated using funnel plots and Egger's regression test. Results In total, eleven studies were included with 9,386 patients. Of these patients, 2,508 (26.7%) received NAT. For patients with RPC, NAT resulted in an increased R0 resection rate (OR=1.89; 95% CI=1.26-2.83) and a reduced positive lymph node rate (OR=0.34; 95% CI=0.31-0.37) compared with upfront surgery. Nevertheless, patients receiving NAT did not exhibit a significantly increased overall survival (OS) time (HR=0.91; 95% CI=0.79-1.05). Conclusion In patients with RPC, R0 resection rate and positive lymph node rate after NAT were superior to those of patients with upfront surgery. The NAT group exhibited no significant effect on OS time when compared with the upfront surgery group. However, this conclusion requires more clinical evidence to improve its credibility.

Template condensation on Mn(II) of 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde-1,3-dioxime (H3hmbd) with 3-(acrylamidophenyl)boronic acid [3-aba(OH)2] and 3-(methacrylamidophenyl)boronic acid [3-mba(OH)2], afforded two boron-capped cage metal complexes containing reactive apical unsaturated groups, writing as {MnII2(hmbd)3[3-aba(OH)2]2}·Et3NH·H2O (1), {MnII2(hmbd)3[3-mba(OH)2]2}·Et3NH·2CH3OH (2). Two Co(II) cage metal complexes, namely {CoII2(hmbd)3[3-aba(OH)2]2}·Et3NH·H2O (3), {CoII2(hmbd)3[3-mba(OH)2]2}·Et3NH·2CH3OH (4), have been synthesized. The molecular structures of complex 1–4 were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectra, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical property was analyzed by cyclic voltammetry. Every complex is composed of the BIIIMnIIMnIIBIII unit which has one negative charge counterbalanced by a protonated triethylamine ion. The four complexes are three dimensional cage structures with the terminal acylamino groups. The supramolecular networks are obtained by the non-covalent bonds between complexes, which are affected by the terminal substituents.

In the paper, hydrothermal carbon spheres (HTCs) are functionalized by the 3-aminobenzeneboronic acid (3-APBA) as a fluorescence sensor. The modification carbon spheres (3-APBA-HTCs) have shown excellent selectivity and sensitivity for efficient determination of L-tryptophan (L-Trp). The fluorescence sensor can selectively achieve the “On–Off” switchable functionality for L-Trp at an extremely low detection limit of 0.50 × 10− 5 mol/L.

Organic phosphonic acids and organic phosphonic acid esters have been of much interest due to their applications in the fields of medicine, agriculture and industrial chemistry. Boronic acids can act as synthetic intermediates and building blocks and are used in sensing, protein manipulation, therapeutics, biological labelling and separation. The additional introduction of an aminophosphonic acid group into a boronic acid may give new opportunities for application. To study the structure of such multifunctional compounds, we prepared two new derivatives which can be easily converted to the corresponding phosphonic acids. In the title compounds, {4-[(butylamino)(diethoxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl}boronic acid monohydrate, C15H27BNO5P·H2O, (I), and {4-[(diethoxyphosphoryl)(4-nitroanilino)methyl]phenyl}boronic acid, C17H22BN2O7P, (II), three different substituents are attached to a central C—H group, namely 4-boronophenyl, diethoxyphosphoryl and amine. Compound (I) crystallizes as a monohydrate and OB—H...N hydrogen bonds link neighbouring molecules into chains along the [001] direction. The solvent water molecule connects two such chains running in opposite directions. Compound (II) crystallizes as an ansolvate and classical hydrogen bonds result in a layer structure in the (001) plane.

In this paper, four benzazaborole type receptors were synthesized by a one-pot reaction of between 2-formylphenylboronic acid and a primary amine in the presence of diethyl phosphite and tested as fluorescent receptors for iodide. All compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, MS, UV and FL techniques. The crystal structures of three of these compounds were obtained by X-ray crystallographic study. These receptors exhibit strong fluorescence intensity in a phosphate buffer solution and their fluorescence can be quenched with added iodide. Under optimized conditions, the newly synthesized fluorescent sensor can selectively detect iodide ion. A linear response in the Stern-Volmer plot within a total concentration range of 0.02 mM to 0.1 mM was observed, indicating a highly efficient fluorescent quenching as a result of the interaction between iodide and the benzazaborole receptors. Interestingly, when an ozone (O3) atmosphere was introduced to the solid powder containing the receptor quenched by iodide, the fluorescence intensity of the system could be partially restored. Theoretical calculations based on DFT were carried out for the complex of receptor 2 and iodide in order to understand the effect of the receptor-bound-iodide anion on the emission spectra of the receptor.

Summary Research shows a higher incidence of colorectal cancer in men. However, the molecular mechanisms for this gender disparity remain unknown. We report the roles of androgen in proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells via targeting of the androgen receptor (AR) on intestinal stromal cells by negatively regulating BMP signaling. Orchidectomy (ORX) or the AR antagonist promotes expansion of intestinal epithelium but suppresses intestinal stem cell (ISC) proliferation. Conversely, the AR agonist inhibits ISC differentiation but augments proliferation in ovariectomized mice. Mechanistically, activation of the AR increases expression of BMP antagonists but lowers expression of BMP4 and Wnt antagonists in primary stromal cells, which promotes intestinal organoid growth. Interestingly, the BMP pathway inhibitor LDN-193189 reverses the ORX-induced effects. Our results highlight that stromal cells constitute the intestinal stem cell niche and provide a possible explanation for higher incidence rates of colorectal cancer in men., Highlights • Androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in intestinal stromal cells • Androgen regulates the renewal and differentiation of intestinal epithelial stem cells • Androgen regulates expression of BMP-related signal secretion in intestinal stromal cells • Selective inhibition of the BMP pathway reverses orchidectomy-induced effects, In this article, D. Chen, J. Li, and colleagues show that androgen promotes proliferation and inhibits differentiation of intestinal epithelial stem cells in mouse models. Mechanistically, they prove that activation of the androgen receptor regulates BMP-related signal secretion in intestinal stromal cells.

The paper presents a toll pricing methodology using a dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) system. This methodology relies on the DTA system’s capability to understand and predict traffic conditions, thus enhanced online calibration methodologies are applied to the DTA system, featuring a heuristic technique to calibrate supply parameters online. Improved offline calibration techniques are developed to apply toll pricing in a real network consisting of managed lanes and general purpose lanes. The online calibration methodologies are tested using real data from this network, and the results find the DTA system able to estimate and predict traffic flow and speed with satisfactory accuracy under congestion. Toll pricing is formulated as an optimization problem to maximize toll revenue, subject to network conditions and tolling regulations. Travelers are assumed to make route choice based on offline calibrated discrete choice models. Toll optimization is applied in a closed-loop evaluation framework where a microscopic simulator is used to mimic the real network. Online calibration of the DTA system is enabled to ensure good optimization performance. Toll optimization is tested under multiple experimental scenarios, and the methodology is found able to increase toll revenue compared with the condition when online calibration is not available. It should be noted that the toll rates and revenues presented in this paper are obtained in a simulation environment based on the calibration and optimization algorithms, and as the work is ongoing these results are far from being a recommendation to operators of managed lanes.

A magnetic hybrid material (Fe3O4-COOH/HKUST-1) was easily synthesized via a two-step simple solvothermal method. Through adding sodium acrylate directly into the synthesis of Fe3O4 spheres, the surface has more carboxyl groups. It is notable that the reactions proceed without use of organic surfactants. The magnetic hybrid material was characterized using various techniques. The magnetic hybrid material has a high specific surface area (430.15 m2 g−1) and excellent magnetism (23.65 emu g−1). It is an efficient adsorbent for removing organic dyes like methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. It also can be easily recovered from liquid media using an external magnetic field. Adsorption experiment shows the magnetic hybrid material possesses a high adsorption capacity (118.6 mg g−1), and has high adsorption efficiency (94.3%) after five adsorption cycles with ethanol (0.2% HCl) as eluent. The sorption kinetics and isotherm analysis indicate these sorption processes are better fitted to the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir equations. Thermodynamic study shows the sorption processes are spontaneous and endothermic.

The syntheses and structural determination of Gd(III) and Ho(III) complexes with nitrilotriacetic acids (Nta) were reported in this paper. Their structures and compositions were determined and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses, elemental analyses, and IR spectra. The first protonated Nta complex was found. Structural analyses indicate that the structure greatly changes, while an alternative Nta ligand was protonated in the ((Py)2[GdIII(HNta)(Nta)(H2O)] · 5H2O complex and the(NH4)3[HoIII(Nta)2] complex crystallized as a centrosymmetric structure. By contrast, it is further confirmed that the coordination number and coordinate structure of all trivalent rare-earth metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acids mainly depend on the ionic radii and electronic configuration of the central metal ions and their countercations.

Syntheses and structure determination of the YIII complexes with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H4edta) and trans-1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (H4cydta) are reported. The crystal and molecular structures of the complexes, as well as their molecular formulas and compositions, were determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses, NMR, IR, thermogravimetric measurements, and elementary analyses. The crystal of the Na[YIII(edta)(H2O)3]·5H2O complex belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system and space group Fdd2. The crystal data are as follows: a = 19.355(5) A, b = 35.431(11) A, c = 12.122(3) A, V = 8313(4) A3, Z = 16, M = 544.23, Dc = 1.739 g·cm−3, µ = 2.908 mm−1 and F(000) = 4480. The final R and Rw are 0.0483 and 0.1172 for 3284 (I > 2σ(I)) unique reflections, R and Rw are 0.0678 and 0.1440 for all 8499 reflections, respectively. The YIIIN2O7 part in the [YIII(edta)(H2O)3]− complex anion has a pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic nine-coordinate structure, in which the six coordinated atoms (two N and four O) from the edta ligand and three water molecules are coordinated to the central YIII ion directly. The crystal of the Na[YIII(cydta)(H2O)2]·5H2O complex belongs to the triclinic crystal system and $$P\bar 1$$ space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 8.405(2) A, b = 9.970(2) A, c = 14.763(4) A, α = 88.538(4)°, β = 76.193(4)°, γ = 88.100(4)°, V = 1200.6(5) A 3, Z = 2, M = 580.31, Dc = 1.605 g·cm−3, µ = 2.519 mm−1 and F(000) = 600. The final R and Rw are 0.0381 and 0.0911 for 4198 (I > 2σ(I)) unique reflections, R and Rw are 0.0530 and 0.1041 for all 6186 reflections, respectively. The YIIIN2O6 part in the [YIII(cydta)(H2O)2]− complex anion has a pseudo square antiprismatic eight-coordinate structure in which the six coordinated atoms (two N and four O) from the cydta ligand and two water molecules are coordinated to the central YIII ion directly.

The crystal and molecular structures of the K[EuIII(Edta)(H2O)3] ⋅ 3.5H2O (I) (H4Edta = ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and K4[Eu2III(HTtha)2] ⋅ 13.5H2O (II) (H6Ttha = triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid) complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The crystal of I belongs to orthorhombic crystal system and Fdd2 space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 1.9849(6)nm, b = 3.5598(11)nm, c = 1.2222(4)nm, V = 8.636(5)nm3, Z = 16, M = 596.37, ρ(calcd) = 1.835g/cm3, µ= 3.166mm−1, and F (000) = 4752. The final R and wR values are 0.0269 and 0.0692 for 2936 (I > 2.0 σ(I)) reflections and 0.0317 and 0.0708 for all 7284 unique reflections, respectively. The [EuIII(Edta)(H2O)3]− complex anion has a nine-coordination pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic structure in which the nine coordinated atom are two N and seven O atoms (four from one Edta ligand and three water molecules). The crystal of II belongs to monoclinic system and P21/n space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 1.1337(3)nm, b = 2.5753(6)nm, c = 2.2138(6) nm, β= 102.871(5)°, V = 6.301(3) nm3, Z = 4, M = 1682.33, ρ(calcd) = 1.773g/cm3, e = 2.339mm−1, and F(000) = 3404. The final R and wR are 0.0514 and 0.0906 for 11144 (I> 2.0σ(I)) reflections and 0.0976 and 0.1068 for all 26 048 unique reflections, respectively. The whole complex molecule is composed of two close parts in which every one has a nine-coordination structure as a distorted monocapped square antiprism. The Ttha ligand in the [Eu2III(HTtha)2]4− complex anion coordinates to one central Eu 3+ ion with three N atoms and four O atoms and to the other Eu3+ ion with two O atoms.

Syntheses and structure determination of TbIII and ErIII complexes with nitrilotriacetic acids (nta) are reported. Their crystal and molecular structures, molecular formulas, and compositions were determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses and elementary analyses, respectively. The crystal of the (NH4)3[TbIII(nta)2(H2O)]·4H2O complex belongs to the monoclinic crystal system and C2/c space group. Crystal data are as follows: a = 16.357(8) A, b = 8.552(4) A, c = 17.390(9) A, β = 104.748(7)°, V = 2352.6(19) A3, Z = 4, Mr = 675.32, Dc = 1.932 g·cm−3, μ = 3.112 mm−1, and F(000) = 1368. The final R and Rw are 0.0220 and 0.0494 for 2357 (I > 2σ(I)) unique reflections, R and Rw are 0.0266 and 0.0510 for all 5613 reflections, respectively. The TbIIIN2O7 moiety in the [TbIII(nta)2(H2O)]3− complex anion has a pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic nine-coordinate structure, in which the eight coordinate atoms (two N and six O) are from two nta ligands and the water molecule is coordinated to the central TbIII ion directly as the ninth coordinate atom. The crystal of the (NH4)3[ErIII(nta)2] complex belongs to the trigonal crystal system and R-3c space group. Crystal data are as follows: a = 7.9181(16) A, b = 7.9181(16) A, c = 54.27(2) A, γ = 120°, V = 2946.7(14) A3, Z = 6, Mr = 597.61, Dc = 2.021 g·cm−3, μ = 4.345 mm−1, and F(000) = 1770. The final R and Rw are 0.0295 and 0.0673 for 677 (I > 2σ(I)) unique reflections, R and Rw are 0.0366 and 0.0700 for all 4827 reflections, respectively. The ErIIIN2O6 part in the [ErIII(nta)2]3− complex anion is an eight-coordinate structure with a pseudo-dicapped octahedron, in which the eight coordinate atoms (two N and six O) are from two nta ligands.

The crystal and molecular structures of the (NH4)[EuIII(Edta)(H2O)3] · H2O (I); Edta4– is an ethylenediaminetetraacetate anion) and (NH4)3[EuIII(Ttha)] · 5H2O (II); Ttha6– is a triethylenetetraminehexaacetate anion) complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The crystal of complex I is orthorhombic with Fdd2 space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 1.9505(8) nm, b = 3.5445(14) nm, c = 1.2442(5) nm, V = 8.602(6) nm3, Z = 16, M = 531.29, p = 1.579 g cm–3, μ = 2.970 mm–1, and F(OOO) = 3924. The final R and wR values are 0.0378 and 0.1030 for 2799 (I > 2.0σ(I)) unique reflections, and 0.0495 and 0.1072 for all 6237 reflections, respectively. The nine-coordinated [EuIII(Edta)(H2O)3]– complex anion has a pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic structure in which the nine coordinated atoms, two N and four O are from one Edta ligand and three O atoms from water molecules. The crystal of complex II is monoclinic with P21/c space group. The crystal data are as follows: a = 1.0387(3) nm, b = 1.2737(4) nm, c = 2.3031(7) nm, β = 90.870(5)°, V = 3.047(2) nm3, Z = 4, M = 784.58, C 51.83, H 4.32, N 115.12. ρ = 1.710 g cm–3, μ = 2.143 mm–1 and F(000) = 1608. The final R and wR are 0.0400 and 0.0720 for 5909 (I > 2.0σ(I)) unique reflections, and 0.0747 and 0.0799 for all 13825 reflections, respectively. The nine-coordinated [EuIII(Ttha)]3– complex anion has a pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic structure in which the Ttha acts as an ninedentate ligand with four N atoms of amino groups and five O atoms of carboxylic groups actually, in addition, there is a non-coordinated free carboxylic group in the structure.

The crystal and molecular structures of the [PrIII(nta)(H2O)2]·H2O (nta = nitrilotriacetic acids), K3[GdIII(nta)2(H2O)]·6H2O, and K3[YbIII(nta)2]·5H2O complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses. In [PrIII(nta)(H2O)2]·H2O, the PrIIINO8 part forms a nine-coordinate pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic structure in which one N and three O atoms are from one nta ligand in the same molecule, three O atoms from another nta ligand in the neighboring molecule and two O atoms from two coordinate water molecules. In K3[GdIII(nta)2(H2O)]·6H2O, the [GdIII(nta)2(H2O)3- complex anion has a nine-coordinate pseudo-monocapped square antiprismatic structure in which each nta acts as a tetradentate ligand with one N atom of the amino group and three O atoms of the carboxylic groups. In K3[YbIII(nta)2]·5H2O, each nta also acts as a tetradentate ligand with one N atom of amino group and three O atoms of the carboxylic groups, but the [YbIII(nta)2 3- complex anion has an eight-coordinate structure with a distorted square antiprismatic prism. All the results including those for [TmIII(nta)(H2O)2]·2H2O confirm the inferences on the coordinate structures and coordination numbers of rare earth metal complexes with the nta ligand.

With the development of engineering education, industry-institute co-operation has now become the value orientation for both the enterprises and the institutes in the new circumstances, and “strategic alliances” is becoming more and more important as the rational choice for both sides. From three major aspects: cultivating objective, educational policies and co-operation strategy, this article analyses the present situation and evaluates the intensity of the implementation of industry-institute co-operation in schools of software and higher vocational education. This work can provide reference to the reform of industry-institute co-operation in various educational patterns, and contribute to the development of engineering education in China as well.