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Multiple surgical methods were performed to correct the blepharoptosis. However, the recurrence of blepharoptosis is not uncommon in clinical practice. The Temporal-Fasciae-Complex Sheet (TFC sheet) was an ideal autologous material in correcting the severe blepharoptosis. In the present retrospected study, we introduced our experience in the correction of severe recurrent blepharoptosis with the technique of TFC sheet suspension, and describe the follow-up results to illustrate its effectiveness and practicality. A total of 16 patients (23 eyes) with severe recurrent blepharoptosis were enrolled in this study. All the patients were performed with temporal-fasciae-complex sheet suspension surgeries for revision> 12 months after the primary surgeries by the same treatment group. The margin-to-reflex distance 1 (MRD1), correction effect, and eyelid symmetry were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. 19 eyelids (82.6%) showed good correction results, and 5 eyelids (21.7%) showed fair correction results. The average value of preoperative-MRD1(pre-MRD1) was − 0.17 ± 0.97, and the average value of postoperative-MRD1(post-MRD1) was 4.01 ± 1.24. There was a statistically significant difference between pre-MRD1 and post-MRD1 (p < 0.0001). Good symmetry was observed in 13 patients (81.3%). All patients enrolled were satisfied with the surgical results. The Temporal-Fasciae-Complex Sheet Suspension is an effective and safe method for correcting the recurrent blepharoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat transfer oil in the organic heat carrier furnace (OHCF) is prone to deterioration and deterioration at higher operating temperatures, resulting in overheating of the furnace tube and bursting of the tube, resulting in safety accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to study and analyze the flowing heat transfer characteristics of organic heat carriers in the furnace tube. The paper takes YY(Q)W-180(15) OHCF as the research object, mainly through ANSYS CFX numerical simulation method, to analyze the influence of influencing factors: inner and outer spiral tube spacing R, oxygen content, air preheating degree T and excess air coefficient on the temperature field, velocity field and NOx concentration inside the OHCF, and found that the organic heat carrier in the oxygen concentration of 25%, air preheating The thermal efficiency of the furnace is higher and the pollutant content emitted at the exit of the furnace is lower when the oxygen concentration is 25%, the air preheating temperature is 498 K and the excess air coefficient is 1.10. Also, the smaller the inner coil spacing R1 and the outer coil spacing R2 from the furnace wall, the higher the overall furnace chamber temperature. • Optimization of furnace geometry for higher combustion efficiency and lower NOx emissions • Numerical simulation and experimental verification of the heating furnace • Compare the new tube with ordinary spiral coil tube • Study of the influence of operating parameters on the thermal efficiency of organic heat carrier furnaces [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A stacked tri-stable piezoelectric energy harvester is proposed. • Energy harvesting is achieved by a stacked structure and magnet coupling. • The bandwidth responses are explored by a novel combined solution method. • Broadband responses and low-frequency performance are verified experimentally. We present a portable, stacked and tri-stable energy harvester based on the unique geometrical structure of L-shaped beams and the nonlinearity of magnetic force to harness low-frequency and low-level excitations. In this device, multiple L-shaped piezoelectric beams are connected in a head-to-tail manner. Such a special stacked structure reduces the natural frequency of the system while realizing the series connection of multiple piezoelectric sheets in a limited space, thus improving the acquisition efficiency. Additionally, magnetic coupling endows the harvester with tri-stability and consequently enhances the bandwidth responses in low-frequency environments. The mathematical model is developed, and the static behaviors are explored by the bifurcation theory. Furthermore, the complex dynamic frequency method combined with the arc length method is conducted to investigate the dynamic responses with different parameters. Sinusoidal excitation experiments on the prototype verify the rationality of the mathematical model and the low-frequency broadband capability of the harvester. In the experiments, the designed harvester can reach a maximum output power of 1.49 mW at the low excitation amplitude of 0.4 g, and the magnet coupling significantly enhanced the electrical responses. The human motion tests demonstrate that the designed harvester has the potential to convert biomechanical energy into electrical energy for continuous powering of wireless devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the unique and diverse nonlinear characteristics, bionic structures can effectively broaden the acquisition bandwidth and improve the performance of harvesters. Inspired by dipteran flight motion, a novel bionic quad-stable piezoelectric energy harvester (BQPEH) is designed to collect low-frequency ambient vibration. The novelty of this bionic energy harvester lies in the combination of the "click" mechanism and "snap-through" motion, thus broadening the application scenarios and improving adaptability for the harvesters. A mass block and a post-buckled piezoelectric beam are connected by a rigid bar to create quadruple-well potentials. The static bifurcation analysis is performed to identify the quad-stable region in the parameter space. The dynamic responses of the system are investigated theoretically and numerically under constant and swept-frequency excitations and then verified experimentally. Broadband low-frequency and high-power energy harvesting are obtained through the inter-well motion induced by the combined nonlinearity of the BQPEH. The results indicate the potential of the bionic strategy for powering wireless devices in low-frequency environments and provide a novel concept for the innovative development of energy harvesters. • A new bionic quad-stable piezoelectric energy harvester is designed. • The harvester has a combined nonlinearity. • The quadratic stable region is determined by the static bifurcation theory. • The dynamic responses are obtained theoretically and experimentally. • The energy harvester can effectively capture low-frequency vibration energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In non-neuronal cells, glutamate is an extracellular signaling mediator. Since podocytes have glutamate-containing vesicles, we sought to determine glutamate receptor presence and action in glomerular cells. The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) 1, 5, 6, and 8 were found to be expressed in mouse brain and glomeruli; predominantly in podocytes. In two models of proteinuria (BalB/C mice with puromycin aminonucleoside- and doxorubicin-induced podocyte injury) we found that the selective mGluR1/5 agonist (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) attenuated albuminuria and improved the expression of the podocyte marker WT-1. TUNEL staining showed that the number of podocytes undergoing apoptosis was inversely correlated with the number of WT-1-positive cells in glomeruli. When podocytes were treated with DHPG in vitro, they generated cyclic AMP and activated CREB (cyclic AMP response element binding protein). The selective mGluR1/5 antagonist (RS)-1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylic acid, the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536, and RNA interference knockdown of mGluR1 or mGluR5 all prevented DHPG-induced cAMP generation and CREB activation. DHPG inhibited apoptosis and the decrease of aminonucleoside-induced mitochondrial membrane potential in podocytes but had no effect in the presence of SQ22536 with knockdown mGluR1 or mGluR5. Thus, functional mGluR1 and mGluR5 are expressed in podocytes and their activation protects against albuminuria and podocyte apoptosis, processes that are, at least in part, dependent on cAMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Several studies have related the circulating level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) to cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular (CV) events in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Studies investigating this relationship in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) are lacking. Methods: We enrolled 76 CKD patients (age, 46.7±14.3years, 39 females) and 15 controls (age, 40.1±18.5years, 6 females). Clinical parameters, blood biochemistry and echocardiographic findings were recorded, and plasma ADMA concentrations measured by high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS). Patients were prospectively followed up for a median of 15 (range, 6–24) months. Results: Plasma ADMA was significantly elevated in CKD patients compared with controls (41.56±12.76μg/mL vs 17.12±7.09μg/mL, P<0.001), and correlated with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (r=0.597, P<0.001). During follow-up, 25 patients experienced new CV events and their plasma ADMA level was significantly elevated (48.27±13.70 vs 34.91±6.38 in CV event-free patients, P<0.001). Cox regression analysis further confirmed that ADMA was an independent risk factor for CVD (HR=1.175, 95%CI[1.070–1.290], P=0.001). Conclusion: Similar to findings in ESRD patients, elevated circulating levels of ADMA may increase the risk of LVH and CV events in pre-dialysis CKD patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]