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Transparent ionic conductive elastomers with high mechanical strength and strong tensile properties were successfully prepared by “one-step” UV irradiation polymerization for strain sensors.

Janus-type ionic conductive gels with single-sided adhesiveness were successfully prepared by “one-step” UV irradiation polymerization for strain/pressure sensors.

Background Currently, botulinum toxin A (BTA) is mainly used in the treatment of muscle spasms and in cosmetic procedures, and its cosmetic indications are expanding rapidly. There have been sporadic reports focused on the preoperative usage of BTA complementing plastic surgery. We briefly summarize the current experience of BTA complementing plastic surgery in China based on clinical experience. Methods We reported a brief review of the preoperative use of BTA as an accessory to plastic surgery (blepharoplasty, chin augmentation, mandibular angle ostectomy, rhinoplasty, hyaluronic acid fillers injection for wrinkle reduction) based on previous studies and our experience. Results Preoperative treatment with BTA in plastic surgery helps surgeons operate and results in better cosmetic results. Conclusions Preoperative BTA treatment can reduce the occurrence of surgical complications as well as improve the surgical results in some plastic surgeries. The procedure is suitable for clinical application and worth promoting.

Ionic liquids (ILs) with wide electrochemical windows are increasingly used as electrolytes to improve the energy density of graphene-based supercapacitors. However, due to irreversible agglomeration during the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and less compatibility between the IL electrolyte and RGO, RGO-based electrode materials in an IL electrolyte usually exhibit poor electrochemical properties. To address these issues, we chose an ionic liquid with a similar structure to the electrolyte as a modifier and fabricated reduced graphene oxide composites modified with the chosen ionic liquid (RGO–IL) by a hydrothermal method. The integration of ILs with RGO could prevent the aggregation and restacking of GO layers and improve the compatibility between the RGO–IL electrode and IL electrolyte. The symmetrical supercapacitor assembled using the obtained RGO–IL2 electrode material showed an outstanding energy density (50.19 W h kg−1 at 0.75 kW kg−1) and excellent cycle performance (87.23% retention of the original value after 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1) in the IL electrolyte. These superior performances make RGO–IL composites one of the apposite choices of electrode materials for supercapacitors.

We demonstrate a Ge electro-absorption modulator (EAM) in L band with a 3 dB electro-optical bandwidth beyond 67 GHz at −3 V bias voltage. The Eye diagram measurement shows a data rate of over 80 Gbps for non-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK) modulation at a voltage swing of 2.3 Vpp and the wavelength of 1605 nm. Through the comparison of multi-device results, it is proved that the introduction of the annealing process after CMP can increase the mean static extinction ratio of the EAM from 7.27 dB to 11.83 dB, which confirms the manufacturability of the device. The dynamic power consumption of the device is 6.348 fJ/bit. The performance of our device is comprehensive. The Ge EAM device also has excellent performance as a photodetector (PD) in the C and L communication bands. The responsivity of the device is 1.04 A/W at the wavelength of 1610 nm, resulting in ∼0.87 mW of static power consumption at −3 V bias voltage under 0.28 mW of optical input and the 3 dB opto-electric bandwidth of the devices are beyond 43 GHz at −3 V bias.

Nipple hypertrophy is a common aesthetic issue for Asian women. Thus, methods to correct this problem are needed. Several nipple reduction procedures have been reported, but all have shortcomings. In this article, we propose a new method to reduce both the height and diameter of the nipple without affecting its function. Sixteen female patients, between the ages of 24–41 years, underwent a new nipple reduction method in our department between May 17, 2010, and May 5, 2014. Three crescent-shaped lines were drawn from the top of the side wall of the nipple, extending to the areola. This design reduces both the diameter and height of the nipple with minimal tissue manipulation. Before surgery, the mean diameter and height of the nipple were 15.9 ± 2.7 and 18.3 ± 3.1 mm, respectively, with the patient in the supine position. Immediately after surgery, the mean diameter and height of the nipple were 9.1 ± 1.7 and 7.9 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. No major complications, such as nipple necrosis, infection, delayed wound healing, or loss of sensation, were noted. This new surgical technique allows the creation of a new nipple of the desired height and diameter with excellent aesthetic results and without significant complications. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The present study aimed to determine the expression of microRNA (miRNA or miR)-145 in hypertrophic scars at the tissue and cellular levels, and to investigate its biological functions and mechanism of action. A total of 36 patients who were diagnosed with hypertrophic scar were included in the present study. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of miR-145 in tissues and fibroblasts. Primary fibroblasts were transfected with negative control miRNA, miR-145 mimics or inhibitor. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was performed to determine the level of proliferation of fibroblasts. Flow cytometry was employed for cell cycles determination and apoptosis in fibroblasts. A Matrigel assay was used to evaluate the invasion ability of fibroblasts. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of the transcription factor SOX-9 (SOX-9) protein in fibroblasts. Rescue experiments were performed to examine the effect of SOX-9 on the regulation of fibroblasts by miR-145. The dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the direct interaction between SOX-9 and miR-145. The expression of miR-145 was reduced in hypertrophic tissues and fibroblasts. Overexpression of miR-145 inhibited the proliferation, G1/S phase transition and invasion of fibroblasts, and promoted the apoptosis of fibroblasts. In addition, overexpression of miR-145 inhibited SOX-9 protein expression. By contrast, the expression of SOX-9 reversed the effects of miR-145 on the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and invasion of fibroblasts. The miR-145 seed region was able to bind with the 3'-untranslated region of the SOX-9 mRNA to regulate its expression. The present study demonstrated that miR-145 expression is reduced in hypertrophic scar tissues and negatively associated with SOX-9 expression. In addition, miR-145 inhibits the proliferation, cell cycle and invasion, and promotes the apoptosis of fibroblasts by down-regulating the expression of SOX-9. The current study provides a potential target for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hypertrophic scars.

Summary Background Techniques based on three planes of implant placement, including the subglandular (SG), subpectoral (SP), and subfascial (SF) planes, are used for breast augmentation. The placement that offers the greatest balance of risks and benefits is unclear. This study presents a systematic review with a Bayesian network meta-analysis to compare different implant placement techniques for augmentation mammaplasty. Methods A systematic literature search was performed. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) for capsular contractures, hematomas, seromas, infections, reoperation rates, rippling, nipple numbness, mal-placements, ruptures, and asymmetry among the different interventions. Muscle movement events and satisfaction rates were also evaluated. Results A total of 19 studies (25,744 cases) were included. SG placement significantly increased the incidence of capsular contractures (SP vs. SG: OR 0.42; 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.28-0.63; SF vs. SG: OR 0.41; 95% CrI 0.17-0.97), hematomas (SF vs. SG: OR 0.22; 95% CrI 0.06-0.63), and seromas (SF vs. SG: OR 0.04; 95% CrI 0.00-0.81) compared to other placement techniques. Muscle movement only occurred in the SP group, but it did not increase the risk of subsequent mal-placements, asymmetries, or ruptures. Most patients were highly satisfied with their surgical results. Comparisons did not show significant differences in the remaining results. Conclusions Our evidence suggests that SG placement increases the risk of capsular contractures, hematomas, and seromas. The SP and SF planes were safe and effective for controlling total complication rates and achieving high satisfaction rates; however, the long-term benefits of the SF technique require further research.

Aims Transmembrane 4 L six family member 1 (TM4SF1) is a small plasma membrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in cancers. However, the role of TM4SF1 that plays in keloids remains unknown. We investigated the expression, function and the microRNA (miRNA) regulatory network of TM4SF1 in keloids. Main methods Small interfering RNAs and lentivirus were used to alter the expression of TM4SF1 in fibroblasts. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were applied to determine the miRNA targets. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, qRT-PCR, wound healing assays, Transwell assays, cell count kit-8 assays and flow cytometry were also employed in this study. Key findings TM4SF1 was frequently upregulated in human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) compared with human normal skin fibroblasts (HSFs). The downregulation of TM4SF1 significantly inhibited proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis in HKFs. Furthermore, si-TM4SF1 inhibited the AKT/ERK signaling. Meanwhile, the upregulation of TM4SF1 promoted proliferation, migration and the activation of AKT/ERK signaling in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1). Moreover, TM4SF1 can be regulated by miRNAs, which have been validated to play important roles in keloids by posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. After screening, we found miR-1-3p and miR-214-5p targeted TM4SF1, inhibited TM4SF1 expression, cell proliferation, migration, and induced apoptosis in HKFs. And the level of miR-1-3p and miR-214-5p were found lower in HKFs than in HSFs. Significance Our study demonstrates a novel regulatory mechanism by which miR-1-3p, miR-214-5p, and TM4SF1 are involved in proliferation, cell motility, and apoptosis, suggesting that they may be potential targets in therapies for keloids.

An ionic liquid-modified reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (RGO-IL/PANI) composite was synthesized successfully. The ionic liquid enlarged the interlayer distance of RGO sheets and acted as a PANI dopant to improve the orderly establishment of PANI. The supercapacitor based on RGO-IL/PANI presented outstanding energy density (24.1 W h kg-1 at 501 W kg-1), good cycling stability (91.5% capacity retention after 1000 cycles) and excellent flexibility. The results demonstrated the significant potential application of the obtained RGO-IL/PANI composite as a flexible electrode for high-performance energy storage devices.

Real estate belongs to capital intensive industry. Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have weak financing abilities because they are difficult to access to capital due to various reasons. This paper focuses to find factors of affecting SME financing abilities and analyze reasons of SMEs financing difficulties. Based on related financing theories and domestic and foreign research, this paper uses linear regression model to find out these factors. This paper selects real estate enterprises listed on the small and medium-sized plate in China as study sample and observes their financing strategies for last decade. This study explains how these factors influence real estate SME financing abilities and their choices of financing strategies. It helps improve financing abilities of real estate SMEs, to compete with well-funded large enterprises. It has positive significance on financing management of real estate SMEs.

In general, the width of the lower face is determined by four parts: the mandible, the masseter muscle, the buccal fat pad, and the subcutaneous fat. In this article, we introduce a modified surgical method to reshape the outline of round faces that have no significant overgrowth or eversion of the lower jawbone.The procedure includes dissection of the masseter muscle and partial lipectomy of the buccal fat pad through the same intraoral small incision.The patients were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome of both the profile and frontal view. Follow-up of more than 6 months shows no prospective complications.This method yields an optimal aesthetic result in patients who have a round face without significant overgrowth or eversion of the lower jawbone.This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .