ObjectiveIncreasing evidence shows that TGF-β1 is a key mediator in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and induces renal fibrosis positively by Smad3 but negatively by Smad7. However, treatment of DN by blocking the TGF-β/Smad pathway remains limited. The present study investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, Chaihuang-Yishen granule (CHYS), on DN.Research Design and MethodsProtective role of CHYS in DN was examined in an accelerated type 1 DN induced by streptozotocin in uninephrectomized Wistar rats. CHYS, at a dose of 0.56 g/kg body weight, was administered by a daily gastric gavage for 20 weeks and the therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of CHYS on diabetic kidney injury were examined.ResultsTreatment with CHYS attenuated diabetic kidney injury by significantly inhibiting 24-h proteinuria and progressive renal fibrosis including glomerulosclerotic index, tubulointerstitial fibrosis index, and upregulation of extracellular matrix (collagen I, IV, and fibronectin), despite the same levels of blood glucose. Further studies revealed that inhibition of renal fibrosis in CHYS-treated diabetic rats was associated with inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling as demonstrated by upregulation of Smad7 but downregulation of TGF-β1, TGF-β receptors, activation of Smad3, and expression of miRNA-21.ConclusionsCHYS may be a therapeutic agent for DN. CHYS attenuates DN by blocking TGF-β/Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis.

High output low pressure mercury (LPM) discharge UV lamps have been briefly introduced. In order to measure the 254 nm radiant efficiency simply and preciously, Keitz formula was used and its advantage was illustrated. The LPM lamps had outer diameter of 19 mm (T6). The buffer gases are neon (65%) and argon (35%) with total pressure 1-10 Torr (133-1333 Pa). The lamps were operated with cold spot temperatures from 20°C to 80°C and discharge current from 0.8 A to 2.0 A. The electric field, input power, 254 nm UV irradiance and irradiance of other Hg lines from 265 to 579 nm in positive column were measured. The radiant power of each wavelength can be calibrated according to the 254 nm output and the Keitz formula. It was shown that the radiant efficiency of 254 nm can reach a maximum of above 40% at cold spot temperature 45-47 °C and current 1.6 A for filling pressure less than 3 Torr. The optimal mercury vapor pressure was 1.2 to 1.4 Pa. The output percentage of other Hg lines was below 5%. With the decrease of buffer gas pressure, the 254 nm radiant efficiency increased obviously.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems need security protocols to provide confidentiality, user privacy, mutual authentication and etc. This paper analyze two of the newest RFID security protocols which proposed by Niu et al. and Fu et al. form the security viewpoint of data desynchronization attack. These two lightweight protocols were expected to proposed security protections for the RFID system and safeguard against almost all major attacks. However, we found that these two RFID security protocols were vulnerable to the attack of data desynchronization. Based on strand space model, data desynchronization attacks on these two protocols were analyzed. Furthermore, improvements to overcome the security vulnerabilities of these two protocols were given.

As a rapid developing solid state lighting, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have great potential in application of road lighting, but their performance evaluation in a long term are still lacked. In situ and laboratory measurements were conducted for the purpose of comparing the characteristic parameters and lighting performance of three kinds of street lamps: LEDs, high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps and ceramic discharge metal halide (CDM) lamps. The results of laboratory measurements in 2000 hours show the three kinds of lamps have almost the same initial luminaire efficacy, which lead to the average road illuminance is proportion to the lamp power. The results of road illuminance distribution measurements in 3000 hours show LEDs have better color rendering index, longitudinal uniformity of illuminance, and maintenance of road illuminance than HPS and CDM lamps.