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Preterm labor, a condition associated with various risk factors such as a history of prior preterm birth (PTB) and multiple pregnancies, has recently seen an increasing focus on its potential link with dyslipidemia. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dyslipidemia in expectant mothers and the risks of PTB. We studied 6963 mothers who gave birth at the International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine in 2020, among which, 437 women had PTB. We extracted clinical and lipid data from electronic records, using multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models to explore the link between lipid concentrations (by quartiles) in pregnancy stages and PTB risk. The PTB rate was 6.3%. Early pregnancy in the PTB group showed elevated ApoA, ApoB, CHOL, LDL, and TG levels compared to controls (all P < 0.05). Late pregnancy showed no notable lipid differences. Multivariable analysis revealed elevated ApoA, TG, higher age, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2, hypertension, assisted reproductive technology and gestational diabetes as PTB risk factors (all P < 0.05). After adjustments, higher ApoA, ApoB, CHOL and TG levels correlated with increased PTB risk. Using the lowest quartile, the adjusted ORs for early pregnancy's highest quartile of ApoA, ApoB, CHOL and TG were 1.348, 1.442, 1.442 and 2.156, respectively. Our findings indicate that dyslipemia in early pregnancy, including elevated levels of ApoA, ApoB, CHOL and TG, are associated with PTB. Managing lipid abnormalities during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of PTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanjing Yunjin, a traditional Chinese silk weaving craft, is celebrated globally for its unique local characteristics and exquisite workmanship, forming an integral part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. However, with the advancement of information technology, the experiential knowledge of the Nanjing Yunjin production process is predominantly stored in text format. As a highly specialized and vertical domain, this information is not readily convert into usable data. Previous studies on a knowledge graph-based Nanjing Yunjin Question-Answering System have partially addressed this issue. However, knowledge graphs need to be constantly updated and rely on predefined entities and relationship types. Faced with ambiguous or complex natural language problems, knowledge graph information retrieval faces some challenges. Therefore, this study proposes a Nanjing Yunjin Question-Answering System that integrates Knowledge Graphs and Retrieval Augmented Generation techniques. In this system, the ROBERTA model is first utilized to vectorize Nanjing Yunjin textual information, delving deep into textual semantics to unveil its profound cultural connotations. Additionally, the FAISS vector database is employed for efficient storage and retrieval of Nanjing Yunjin information, achieving a deep semantic match between questions and answers. Ultimately, related retrieval results are fed into the Large Language Model for enhanced generation, aiming for more accurate text generation outcomes and improving the interpretability and logic of the Question-Answering System. This research merges technologies like text embedding, vectorized retrieval, and natural language generation, aiming to overcome the limitations of knowledge graphs-based Question-Answering System in terms of graph updating, dependency on predefined types, and semantic understanding. System implementation and testing have shown that the Nanjing Yunjin Intelligent Question-Answering System, constructed on the basis of Knowledge Graphs and Retrieval Augmented Generation, possesses a broader knowledge base that considers context, resolving issues of polysemy, vague language, and sentence ambiguity, and efficiently and accurately generates answers to natural language queries. This significantly facilitates the retrieval and utilization of Yunjin knowledge, providing a paradigm for constructing Question-Answering System for other intangible cultural heritages, and holds substantial theoretical and practical significance for the deep exploration and discovery of the knowledge structure of human intangible heritage, promoting cultural inheritance and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the preparation of robust and transparent poly(butenyl sorbate) (PBS) membranes (PBS-R) was studied in terms of their CO2/CH4 separation performance. The organocatalytic group transfer polymerization of butenyl sorbate was used for the synthesis of PBS with a designed molecular weight and a moderate molecular weight distribution. For the first time, facile fabrication of PBS-R was achieved through thiol-ene addition between the butenyl groups of PBS and dithiols under 365-nm ultraviolet irradiation. The mechanical properties and CO2/CH4 separation performance of the PBS-R membranes were controlled by introducing an amino-triazole functional group and regulating the length and bulkiness of the dithiol spacers during thiol-ene addition. The amino and triazole groups of the PBS-R membrane showed high affinity to CO2, thereby increasing the CO2/CH4 permselectivity from 9.18 to 10.8 and the CO2 permeability from 127 to 142 barrer. The effect of tensile strength on CO2 permeability was evaluated by preparing PBS-R membranes using dithiols with two rigid benzene rings as spacers and flexible spacers. In addition, the effect of the spacer structure on the permselectivity of PBS-R was investigated using 1,4-butanedithiol, 2,2′-oxydiethanethiol, 1,8-octanedithiol, 1,4-benzenedithiol, and 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless sensor network (WSN) location is a significant research area. In complex environments like forests, inaccurate signal intensity ranging is a major challenge. To address this issue, this paper presents a reliable WSN distance measurement-positioning algorithm for forest environments. The algorithm divides the positioning area into several sub-regions based on the discrete coefficient of the collected signal strength. Then, using the fitting method based on the signal intensity value of each sub-region, the algorithm derives the reference points of the logarithmic distance path loss model and path loss index. Finally, the algorithm locates target nodes using anchor nodes in different regions. Additionally, to enhance the positioning accuracy, weight values are assigned to the positioning result based on the discrete coefficient of the signal intensity in each sub-region. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed WSN algorithm has high precision in forest environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionalized conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) containing amino, imino, and hydrazine groups are synthesized by the Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling reaction. Notably, the porosities, thermal stabilities, and morphologies of the CMPs can be controlled by the introduction of functional groups. Here, the relationships between the functional groups and photocatalytic performance are discussed for the first time. The CMP nanowires exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance in organic pollutant degradation: the degradation rate obtained by CMP-I3 bearing naphthalene groups via an imine bond is > 99.99%, and ~ 99.71% of the degradation activity is maintained after five cycles. Notably, the excellent photocatalytic properties of CMP-I3 are imparted by the introduction of the naphthalene groups, which reduced the band gap. The improved charge-transfer activity accounts for the highest and lowest photocurrent intensity and resistance achieved, respectively. Furthermore, the photocatalytic mechanism of CMPs reveals that the superoxide anion is the main active substance in the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prognostic features in advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) patients who received first-line hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) are unknown. The purpose of our study was to develop an applicable score based on serum inflammatory-tumor biomarkers to predict the survival of advanced pCCA patients who received first-line HAIC. In total, 106 advanced pCCA patients were enrolled as the training cohort. The optimal cutoff values of baseline variables were defined by the receiver operating characteristic method or according to previous publications. According to the results of Cox regression analysis, baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 3.19, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) > 10 ng/mL, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) > 200 U/mL were identified as independent survival predictors, which were used to develop the NLCECA score (NLR, CEA, and CA19-9). When including the NLCECA score in the multivariate analysis, the NLCECA score was the only independent predictor of survival. The risk of survival decreased by 111.9% for each 1-point increase in the NLCECA score. Additionally, the NLCECA score could also predict survival in another 33 patients in the validation cohort (P < 0.001). In summary, the NLCECA score is a potential biomarker system for predicting the survival of advanced pCCA patients who received first-line HAIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, BiVO4/CuWO4 nanocomposites with S-scheme heterojunction structure were prepared firstly and the properties were analyzed by various techniques. The sonocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline (TET). Under the optimum experimental conditions of initial concentration of TET = 25 mg/L, composite ratio of BiVO4 and CuWO4 = 15%, catalyst addition = 1 g/L, ultrasonic time = 120 min, ultrasonic power = 500 W, pH = 7, the experiment results showed that BiVO4/CuWO4 sonocatalyst removed TET by 81.05 ± 2.92%. K2S2O8 was verified to enhance the sonocatalytic performance of BiVO4/CuWO4 efficiently, and the removal ratio of TET could reach 91.25 ± 1.95% within 120 min by using BiVO4/CuWO4 and K2S2O8. The free radical (ROS) quenching experiment and TA-PL technology proved that the main free radical of degradation was ·OH. The potential sonocatalytic mechanism showed that the enhanced catalytic efficiency was due to the construction of S-scheme heterojunctions, which improved electron–hole pair (e−–h+) separation efficiency and rapid kinetics. The speculated TET degradation route of TET included intermediate products was proposed and four reused experiments proved that BiVO4/CuWO4 had good recyclability. In conclusion, the prepared BiVO4/CuWO4 composites with S-type heterojunction mechanism have more possibilities in wastewater treatment, which provides a helpful guide for the synthesis and application of composite sonocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of industrialization generated an urgent requirement for the catalytic conversion of CO2 into high-value-added chemical products. Herein, a class of novel bifunctional metalloporphyrin-based hyper-crosslinked ionic polymer (ImHCP-Co) was synthesized via one-pot Friedel–Crafts alkylation and quaternization reactions. The obtained bifunctional ImHCP-Co showed a high BET surface area and sufficient CO2 adsorption capacity. Relying on the synergistic effect of the electrophilic and nucleophilic functionalities, the as-prepared ImHCP-Co showed an excellent performance in CO2 cycloaddition using epichlorohydrin as the substrate (99% conversion and 99% selectivity) and can be carried out without any solvents or cocatalysts to afford a high turnover number. Importantly, it could also convert various epoxide substrates into the corresponding cyclic carbonates and can maintain 82.5% of its catalytic ability after 5 cycles. The catalytic mechanism was systematically explained by DFT calculation and proved the cooperative effect of Co2+ centers and nucleophilic Cl− in the catalytic process. This study provides a new avenue for the design and preparation of HCP-based multifunctional catalysts used for the treatment of greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial transcription termination factor 3 (MTERF3) negatively regulates mitochondrial DNA transcription. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains elusive. Here, we investigate the expression and function of MTERF3 in HCC. MTERF3 is overexpressed in HCC tumor tissues and higher expression of MTERF3 positively correlates with poor overall survival of HCC patients. Knockdown of MTERF3 induces mitochondrial dysfunction, S-G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, resulting in cell proliferation inhibition. In contrast, overexpression of MTERF3 promotes cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. Mechanistically, mitochondrial dysfunction induced by MTERF3 knockdown promotes ROS accumulation, activating p38 MAPK signaling pathway to suppress HCC cell proliferation. In conclusion, ROS accumulation induced by MTERF3 knockdown inhibits HCC cell proliferation via p38 MAPK signaling pathway suggesting a promising target in HCC patients. Targeting mitochondrial transcription termination factor MTERF3 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibits the proliferation via activating ROS-dependent p38 MAPK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites (Cf/SiC composites) are lightweight, high strength, wear-resistant, and heat-resistant, making them widely used in aerospace and other industries. However, machining holes in Cf/SiC composites is a great challenge due to the anisotropy and high hardness of the material. In this paper, a brazed diamond grinding rod was employed to grind 1 mm diameter holes in Cf/SiC composites, and the influence of grinding parameters on grinding force, hole entrance/exit defects, and hole wall quality was investigated. In addition, the material removal mechanism of Cf/SiC composites and the wear mechanism of the diamond grinding rod were explored. The findings showed that the damage at the hole entrance and exit predominantly manifests as tearing and burring. The damage factor at the hole exit is 3.5% larger than that at the hole entrance, and the damage factor at both the hole entrance and exit reduces with the growth of spindle speed and the decrease of feed rate. In addition, the diameter errors of the hole entrances and exits are all less than 10%, and the entrance diameter is 2.9% larger than the exit. The hole wall defects include fiber fracture, silicon carbide matrix peeling, and inherent porosity, with poorer surface quality at fiber orientation angles (FOA) of 90° to 180°. The main wear mechanisms were identified as abrasive wear and the spalling of abrasive grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]