Efficient Bi-Level Optimization for Recommendation Denoising

The acquisition of explicit user feedback (e.g., ratings) in real-world recommender systems is often hindered by the need for active user involvement. To mitigate this issue, implicit feedback (e.g., clicks) generated during user browsing is exploited as a viable substitute. However, implicit feedback possesses a high degree of noise, which significantly undermines recommendation quality. While many methods have been proposed to address this issue by assigning varying weights to implicit feedback, two shortcomings persist: (1) the weight calculation in these methods is iteration-independent, without considering the influence of weights in previous iterations, and (2) the weight calculation often relies on prior knowledge, which may not always be readily available or universally applicable. To overcome these two limitations, we model recommendation denoising as a bi-level optimization problem. The inner optimization aims to derive an effective model for the recommendation, as well as guiding the weight determination, thereby eliminating the need for prior knowledge. The outer optimization leverages gradients of the inner optimization and adjusts the weights in a manner considering the impact of previous weights. To efficiently solve this bi-level optimization problem, we employ a weight generator to avoid the storage of weights and a one-step gradient-matching-based loss to significantly reduce computational time. The experimental results on three benchmark datasets demonstrate that our proposed approach outperforms both state-of-the-art general and denoising recommendation models. The code is available at https://github.com/CoderWZW/BOD.Comment: 11pages, 5 figures, 6 table

Stroke genetics informs drug discovery and risk prediction across ancestries

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke — the second leading cause of death worldwide — were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry1,2. Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify association signals for stroke and its subtypes at 89 (61 new) independent loci: 60 in primary inverse-variance-weighted analyses and 29 in secondary meta-regression and multitrait analyses. On the basis of internal cross-ancestry validation and an independent follow-up in 89,084 additional cases of stroke (30% non-European) and 1,013,843 control individuals, 87% of the primary stroke risk loci and 60% of the secondary stroke risk loci were replicated (P < 0.05). Effect sizes were highly correlated across ancestries. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping, in silico mutagenesis analysis3, and transcriptome-wide and proteome-wide association analyses revealed putative causal genes (such as SH3PXD2A and FURIN) and variants (such as at GRK5 and NOS3). Using a three-pronged approach4, we provide genetic evidence for putative drug effects, highlighting F11, KLKB1, PROC, GP1BA, LAMC2 and VCAM1 as possible targets, with drugs already under investigation for stroke for F11 and PROC. A polygenic score integrating cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific stroke GWASs with vascular-risk factor GWASs (integrative polygenic scores) strongly predicted ischaemic stroke in populations of European, East Asian and African ancestry5. Stroke genetic risk scores were predictive of ischaemic stroke independent of clinical risk factors in 52,600 clinical-trial participants with cardiometabolic disease. Our results provide insights to inform biology, reveal potential drug targets and derive genetic risk prediction tools across ancestries

Extraction of New Vegetable Tanning Agent from Coriaria nepalensis Bark and Its Application in Tanning

Content: Traditional chromium tanning agents cannot conform to the requirement of sustainable and cleaner development under current leather producing. Compared with chromium tanning agents, vegetable tanning agents have been widely used in tanning process by the virtue of its non-toxicity, low pollution, biodegradability and regenerability. In this study, a novel vegetable tanning agent was extracted from the Coriaria nepalensis bark (CNB) by alkali solution. In order to optimize extraction conditions, the response surface Box-Behnken design was used in this experiment. The key factors including alkali concentration, extraction time, extraction temperature, liquid to solid ratio and extraction times. The experimental results showed that under the conditions of 0.22% sodium hydroxide concentration, 63 min extraction time, 83℃ extraction temperature and 24 liquid to solid ratio, the yield of tannins in CNB is 15%, tannins in extractives up to 50%. Afterwards, the composition and molecular mass were evaluated, we discovered that the extractives belong to hydrolyzable tannins and its molecular mass ranged from 599 to 1457 Da. Furthermore, the extractives were used in sheep garment tanning process. The results showed that the shrinking temperature of tanned leather can reach to 75 ℃. Applying the extractives to the retanning process, the shrinking temperature of retanned leather can reach to 130 ℃. Surprisingly, the color of tanned or retanned leather coincide with the requirement of light leather. Take-Away: 1 New vegetable tanning agent from Coriaria nepalensis bark. 2 The vegetable tanning agent belongs to hydrolyzable tannins and its molecular mass ranged from 599 to 1457 Da. 3 The shrinking temperature of tanned leather and retanned leather can reach to 75 ℃ and 130 ℃ respectively

Extraction of New Vegetable Tanning Agent from Coriaria nepalensis Bark and Its Application in Tanning

Content: Traditional chromium tanning agents cannot conform to the requirement of sustainable and cleaner development under current leather producing. Compared with chromium tanning agents, vegetable tanning agents have been widely used in tanning process by the virtue of its non-toxicity, low pollution, biodegradability and regenerability. In this study, a novel vegetable tanning agent was extracted from the Coriaria nepalensis bark (CNB) by alkali solution. In order to optimize extraction conditions, the response surface Box-Behnken design was used in this experiment. The key factors including alkali concentration, extraction time, extraction temperature, liquid to solid ratio and extraction times. The experimental results showed that under the conditions of 0.22% sodium hydroxide concentration, 63 min extraction time, 83℃ extraction temperature and 24 liquid to solid ratio, the yield of tannins in CNB is 15%, tannins in extractives up to 50%. Afterwards, the composition and molecular mass were evaluated, we discovered that the extractives belong to hydrolyzable tannins and its molecular mass ranged from 599 to 1457 Da. Furthermore, the extractives were used in sheep garment tanning process. The results showed that the shrinking temperature of tanned leather can reach to 75 ℃. Applying the extractives to the retanning process, the shrinking temperature of retanned leather can reach to 130 ℃. Surprisingly, the color of tanned or retanned leather coincide with the requirement of light leather. Take-Away: 1 New vegetable tanning agent from Coriaria nepalensis bark. 2 The vegetable tanning agent belongs to hydrolyzable tannins and its molecular mass ranged from 599 to 1457 Da. 3 The shrinking temperature of tanned leather and retanned leather can reach to 75 ℃ and 130 ℃ respectively

Extraction of New Vegetable Tanning Agent from Coriaria nepalensis Bark and Its Application in Tanning

Content: Traditional chromium tanning agents cannot conform to the requirement of sustainable and cleaner development under current leather producing. Compared with chromium tanning agents, vegetable tanning agents have been widely used in tanning process by the virtue of its non-toxicity, low pollution, biodegradability and regenerability. In this study, a novel vegetable tanning agent was extracted from the Coriaria nepalensis bark (CNB) by alkali solution. In order to optimize extraction conditions, the response surface Box-Behnken design was used in this experiment. The key factors including alkali concentration, extraction time, extraction temperature, liquid to solid ratio and extraction times. The experimental results showed that under the conditions of 0.22% sodium hydroxide concentration, 63 min extraction time, 83℃ extraction temperature and 24 liquid to solid ratio, the yield of tannins in CNB is 15%, tannins in extractives up to 50%. Afterwards, the composition and molecular mass were evaluated, we discovered that the extractives belong to hydrolyzable tannins and its molecular mass ranged from 599 to 1457 Da. Furthermore, the extractives were used in sheep garment tanning process. The results showed that the shrinking temperature of tanned leather can reach to 75 ℃. Applying the extractives to the retanning process, the shrinking temperature of retanned leather can reach to 130 ℃. Surprisingly, the color of tanned or retanned leather coincide with the requirement of light leather. Take-Away: 1 New vegetable tanning agent from Coriaria nepalensis bark. 2 The vegetable tanning agent belongs to hydrolyzable tannins and its molecular mass ranged from 599 to 1457 Da. 3 The shrinking temperature of tanned leather and retanned leather can reach to 75 ℃ and 130 ℃ respectively

A Radiation Tolerant Proton Detector Based on MAPbBr3 single crystal

The performance and radiation tolerance of the proton detector based on MAPbBr3 perovskite single crystal are investigated here with 3MeV protons. The detector can monitor fluence rate and dose quantificationally at a low applied bias electric field(0.01$V/{\mu}m$) within a dose range of 45 kGy. The detector can also be worked at zero bias due to the Dember effect. The dark current of the detector reduced to 20% of the initial value after being irradiated with protons to a total fluence of $7.3\times 10^{13} p/cm^2$ (1 MGy), however, it can be recovered at room temperature within hours. These results suggest that this kind of detector has a promising application in proton therapy and proton imaging etc.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

NEMO-Binding Domain Peptide Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

The aim of the present study is to investigate the protective effects and relevant mechanisms exerted by NEMO-binding domain peptide (NBD) against lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. The ALI model was induced by intratracheally administered atomized LPS (5 mg/kg) to BABL/c mice. Half an hour before LPS administration, we treated the mice with increasing concentrations of intratracheally administered NBD or saline aerosol. Two hours after LPS administration, each group of mice was sacrificed. We observed that NBD pretreatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced lung histopathological injury in a dose-dependent manner. Western blotting established that NBD pretreatment obviously attenuated LPS-induced IκB-α and NF-κBp65 activation and NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4 overexpression. Furthermore, NBD pretreatment increased SOD and T-AOC activity and decreased MDA levels in lung tissue. In addition, NBD also inhibited TNF-α and IL-1β secretion in BALF after LPS challenge. In conclusion, NBD protects against LPS-induced ALI in mice

Preparation of Mg/Nano-HA Composites by Spark Plasma Sintering Method and Evaluation of Different Milling Time Effects on Their Microhardness, Corrosion Resistance, and Biocompatibility

Herein, Mg/nano-HA composites (10 wt% nano-HA) are prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. Indeed, hydroxyapatite (HA) is used as reinforcement material in order to maintain biocompatibility and bioactivity. The influence of high energy ball milling time are considered by different methods. The study finds that an appropriate time (5 h) during high energy ball milling process effectively can eliminate the prior particle boundary (PPB). Furthermore, the Mg/nano-HA composites milled for 5 h has appropriate microhardness, stable corrosion resistant, and excellent biocompatibility, which can act as a potential candidate for orthopedic implants

Gefitinib Inhibits Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis via Alleviating the Oxidative Damage in Mice

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a life-threatening interstitial lung disease. In this study, we tried to reveal the model of action between high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and the protective role of gefitinib in pulmonary fibrosis induced by the administration of bleomycin aerosol in mice. For the mechanism study, lung tissues were harvested two weeks after modeling to detect the coexpression of HMGB1 and α-SMA by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Protein-DNA interactions were analyzed using a pulldown assay to study the relationship between HMGB1 and α-SMA. For the gefitinib treatment study, the mice were divided into three groups: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control group, PBS-treated PF group, and gefitinib-treated PF group. Gavage of gefitinib or PBS (20 mg/kg/day) was performed after bleomycin treatment for two weeks until the mice were sacrificed. Lung and blood samples were collected to assess the histological changes, oxidative stress, and expression of NOXs, HMGB1, EGFR, MAPKs, AP-1, and NF-κB to determine the curative effect and related molecular mechanisms. The results revealed the high coexpression of α-SMA and HMGB1 in some interstitial cells in the fibrotic lung. The DNA-protein pulldown analysis proved that HMGB34367 acted as a novel transcriptional factor for the α-SMA promoter and participated in the eventual development of pulmonary fibrosis. Second, gefitinib could significantly decrease lung fibrotic changes and the level of MDA and recover the T-AOC level. Meanwhile, gefitinib could also reduce the NOX1/2/4, HMGB1, p-EGFR, p-ERK, p-JNK, p-P38, p-NF-κB, p-c-Jun, and p-c-Fos expression levels in fibrotic lungs. The present study suggested that gefitinib could alleviate lung fibrosis through the HMGB1/NOXs-ROS/EGFR-MAPKs-AP-1/NF-κB signal in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis