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The novel biomarker, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), is used clinically to predict different types of acute kidney injury (AKI) and has drawn significant attention as a urinary biomarker. However, as a secreted protein in the circulation of patients with AKI, it is unclear whether IGFBP7 acts as a key regulator in AKI progression, and if mechanisms underlying its upregulation still need to be determined. Here we found that IGFBP7 is highly expressed in the blood and urine of patients and mice with AKI, possibly via a c-Jun-dependent mechanism, and is positively correlated with kidney dysfunction. Global knockout of IGFBP7 ameliorated kidney dysfunction, inflammatory responses, and programmed cell death in murine models of cisplatin-, kidney ischemia/reperfusion-, and lipopolysaccharide-induced AKI. IGFBP7 mainly originated from kidney tubular epithelial cells. Conditional knockout of IGFBP7 from the kidney protected against AKI. By contrast, rescue of IGFBP7 expression in IGFBP7-knockout mice restored kidney damage and inflammation. IGFBP7 function was determined in vitrousing recombinant IGFBP7 protein, IGFBP7 knockdown, or overexpression. Additionally, IGFBP7 was found to bind to poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1) and inhibit its degradation by antagonizing the E3 ubiquitin ligase ring finger protein 4 (RNF4). Thus, IGFBP7 in circulation acts as a biomarker and key mediator of AKI by inhibiting RNF4/PARP1-mediated tubular injury and inflammation. Hence, over-activation of the IGFBP7/PARP1 axis represents a promising target for AKI treatment.

Background:Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling is the central mediator in renal fibrosis, yet its functional role in acute kidney injury (AKI) is not fully understood. Recent evidence showed that TGF-β/Smad3 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AKI, but its functional role and mechanism of action in cisplatin-induced AKI are unclear. Objectives:Demonstrating that Smad3 may play certain roles in cisplatin nephropathy due to its potential effect on programmed cell death and inflammation. Methods:Here, we established a cisplatin-induced AKI mouse model with Smad3 knockout mice and created stable in vitro models with Smad3 knockdown tubular epithelial cells. In addition, we tested the potential of Smad3-targeted therapy using 2 in vivo protocols – lentivirus-mediated Smad3 silencing in vivo and use of naringenin, a monomer used in traditional Chinese medicine and a natural inhibitor of Smad3. Results:Disruption of Smad3 attenuated cisplatin-induced kidney injury, inflammation, and NADPH oxidase 4-dependent oxidative stress. We found that Smad3-targeted therapy protected against loss of renal function and alleviated apoptosis, RIPK-mediated necroptosis, renal inflammation, and oxidative stress in cisplatin nephropathy. Conclusions:These findings show that Smad3 promotes cisplatin-induced AKI and Smad3-targeted therapy protects against this pathological process. These findings have substantial clinical relevance, as they suggest a therapeutic target for AKI.

A novel starfish-shaped porous Co3O4/ZnFe2O4hollow nanocomposite was fabricated for the first time by a facile and stepwise hydrothermal approach, utilizing metal–organic frameworks as precursors and sacrificial templates. The morphology evolution in the synthetic process upon reaction time and amount of raw materials were investigated in detail. The as-synthesized starfish-shaped porous Co3O4/ZnFe2O4composites were studied as an electrode material for supercapacitors showing good capacitive performances. Their specific capacitance can reach as high as 326 F g–1at 1 A g–1. The rational combination of components with different potential windows in a composite material enables a wide overall potential range resulting in the highest energy density of 82.5 Wh kg–1, significantly larger than that of the single components. Magnetic measurements show that the system presents a large coercivity and high squareness (at 1.8 K, Hc= 884 Oe and Mr/Ms= 0.52) with respect to the individual components, which may be attributed to the unique morphology of Co3O4/ZnFe2O4, as well as surface and interface exchange coupling effects. Materials with this novel design and fabrication may show promise for potential applications in electrochemical energy storage and magnetic devices.

W/TiNiNb shape memory alloy laminated composites were fabricated by vacuum hot press, forging and rolling. The microstructure, transformation behavior, mechanical behavior and damping capacity of the laminated composite were investigated by SEM, DSC, DMA and bending test, respectively. The results showed that the W layer and the TiNiNb shape memory alloy layer in the composite was about 15 μm and 5 μm, respectively. The TiNiNb alloy in the composite exhibited the reversible martensite transformation. The composite also had high damping capacity (tanδ=0.03). The three-point bending test showed various plateaus in the stress–strain curve due to delamination processes, which are suitable for enhancing the fracture toughness of the laminates. The flexure strength of the laminated composite was 1260 MPa.

The reasonably and accurately prediction of tourism highway traffic demand of tourist attractions is a key issue in regional tourist planning and road network optimization. Based on the analysis of influence factors, this paper presented a method to calculate tourist highway traffic demand of tourist attractions through the number of visiting tourism of the tourist attraction. Then we compared the predicted value with the actual survey value, and a case study of Xingkai Lake had been analyzed and attempted to validate the establishment model. The presented tourist highway traffic demand model can provide a reference for regional tourist planning and road network optimization.

Based on the virtual prototyping technology, the involute helical gears of a common single-stage reducer are taken as the research object, the friction dynamic model is established using ADAMS. Considering the influence of the contact friction during the gear meshing process, the simulation analysis is realized. The simulation analysis results are basically in conformity with that of the theoretic calculation. The variations of the relative sliding velocity, the friction coefficient and the friction force during the meshing process are researched, and the relationship between the relative sliding velocity and the friction coefficient is studied. The results show that the friction dynamics research on the involute helical gear meshing can be resolved by Virtual Prototyping Technology, which can provide a new method to study the tribological properties of the gear meshing. The method has a good prospect in practical engineering application.

By using the CFX technology in ANSYS Workbench, based on the different operation conditions, the numerical simulation of three dimension steady turbulent flow is carried on the D type mine drainage pump. The pump includes first impeller and guide vane, secondary impeller and guide vane, inlet, outlet. The results will reveals the distribution law of flow field and static pressure, and it further forecasts the performance curve of the multistage pump by means of choosing standard model and setting frozen interface. This method can provide certain theory basis for the energy saving work of the multistage pump.

China is a large ceramics, gallium arsenide semiconductor laser ceramics finish measuring instrument is convenient, automatic and accurate. It can finish the measurement of the ceramics and glass continuously. This measuring instrument has several characteristics such as miniaturizing, automatically scan, high-precision measuring, strong anti-interference, be easy to use. And, it will have broad application prospects.

Urban passenger transportation market in China now is composed by three public transportation modes, including the conventional bus, taxi and the subway (or light rail). There are both cooperation and competitive behavior existing among these three different transportation modes. This paper aims to describe how these three operators make their operational decisions in the competitive environment. A bi-level programming operational model is proposed to model urban passenger transportation operators’ decision behavior, which is based on the game theory to describe the behavioral conjectures among the management authority, different operators and passengers. The upper-level model described the management authority’ regulation on the fares of each mode, which aimed to achieve the comprehensive social objectives, indexed by the travel time cost, air pollution cost and energy consumption cost. The lower-level model described the three operators’ aiming to maximize the profit by determining the service frequency, which can reflect the operators’ cooperation and completive behavior under urban passenger transportation economic policy. A Logit model is proposed to analyze passengers’ mode choice behavior with the maximization of their travel utilities, which considers the total travel time, waiting time and total travel fare of each mode. This research will provide more evidence for urban passenger transportation development and contribute to urban passenger transportation economic policy establishment and implementation.

ABSTRACTAdenovirus serotype 3 and 7 outbreaks have occurred periodically in northern, eastern, and southern China since 1955, but there has been no report since the adenovirus serotype 7 outbreak first occurred in Hangzhou, China, in 1991. Here we explored the epidemiology and etiology of two adenovirus serotype 3 outbreaks in Hangzhou in 2011. One acute respiratory outbreak was found in Chun'an County, where a total of 371 cases were confirmed in 5 of 23 towns from 4 to 31 May 2011. The outbreak affected 18.57% (13/70) of schools and 14.49% (90/621) of classes. The incidence was 5.18% (371/7,163). The population was distributed among individuals ages 7 to 15 years. No parents or teachers were infected. Another pharyngoconjunctival fever outbreak was discovered in the Chenjinglun Swimming Center located in the Xihu District between 1 and 15 July 2011. A total of 134 cases were confirmed in 900 amateur swimmers, with an incidence of 14.89% (134/900). The ages ranged from 4 to 9 years. The two outbreaks had no severe complications or death. The viruses in 66.67% (10/15) of throat swabs from children with acute respiratory infections and 100% (10/10) of the swabs from children with pharyngoconjunctival fever were confirmed to be adenovirus serotype 3 with 100% homology by PCR. Of these samples, 60.0% (12/20) had a classical characteristic cytopathic effect, presented as grape-like clusters at 72 h after infection in HEp-2 cells. In conclusion, the acute respiratory infection and pharyngoconjunctival fever outbreak in Hangzhou were caused by the completely homologous type 3 adenovirus in subgenus B. Moreover, these outbreaks demonstrated rapid transmission rates, possibly due to close contact and droplet transmission.