bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning GAN-Based Foveated Reconstruction to Recover Perceptually Important Image Features
Authors: Surace Luca , Wernikowski Marek , Tursun Cara , Myszkowski Karol , Mantiuk Radosław , Didyk Piotr
Published: February 2023

A foveated image can be entirely reconstructed from a sparse set of samples distributed according to the retinal sensitivity of the human visual system, which rapidly decreases with increasing eccentricity. The use of generative adversarial networks (GANs) has recently been shown to be a promising solution for such a task, as they can successfully hallucinate missing image information. As in the case of other supervised learning approaches, the definition of the loss function and the training strategy heavily influence the quality of the output. In this work,we consider the problem of efficiently guiding the training of foveated reconstruction techniques such that they are more aware of the capabilities and limitations of the human visual system, and thus can reconstruct visually important image features. Our primary goal is to make the training procedure less sensitive to distortions that humans cannot detect and focus on penalizing perceptually important artifacts. Given the nature of GAN-based solutions, we focus on the sensitivity of human vision to hallucination in case of input samples with different densities. We propose psychophysical experiments, a dataset, and a procedure for training foveated image reconstruction. The proposed strategy renders the generator network flexible by penalizing only perceptually important deviations in the output. As a result, the method emphasized the recovery of perceptually important image features. We evaluated our strategy and compared it with alternative solutions by using a newly trained objective metric, a recent foveated video quality metric, and user experiments. Our evaluations revealed significant improvements in the perceived image reconstruction quality compared with the standard GAN-based training approach.
Fitting Imbalanced Uncertainties in Multi-output Time Series Forecasting
Authors: Cheng Jiezhu , Huang Kaizhu , Zheng Zibin
Published: February 2023

We focus on multi-step ahead time series forecasting with the multi-output strategy. From the perspective of multi-task learning (MTL), we recognize imbalanced uncertainties between prediction tasks of different future time steps. Unexpectedly, trained by the standard summed Mean Squared Error (MSE) loss, existing multi-output forecasting models may suffer from performance drops due to the inconsistency between the loss function and the imbalance structure. To address this problem, we reformulate each prediction task as a distinct Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) and derive a multi-level Gaussian mixture loss function to better fit imbalanced uncertainties in multi-output time series forecasting. Instead of using the two-step Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm, we apply the self-attention mechanism on the task-specific parameters to learn the correlations between different prediction tasks and generate the weight distribution for each GMM component. In this way, our method jointly optimizes the parameters of the forecasting model and the mixture model simultaneously in an end-to-end fashion, avoiding the need of two-step optimization. Experiments on three real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our multi-level Gaussian mixture loss compared to models trained with the standard summed MSE loss function. All the experimental data and source code are available at
https://github.com/smallGum/GMM-FNN
.
Pulsed-Potential Electrodeposition of Zirconium in a Molten LiCl–KCl Salt: Improvements in the Selectivity and Adhesion Strength
Authors: Cha Han Lim , Yun Jong-Il
Published: February 2023

This study demonstrates the pulsed-potential electrodeposition of reduced Zr species (ZrCl and Zr) in a molten LiCl–KCl salt. We report, for the first time, a new reduction reaction of Zr species (−1.90 V vs. Ag/AgCl 10 wt%) in molten LiCl–KCl salt, characterized by cyclic-voltammetry experiments using W and Zr electrodes. The pulsed-potential electrodeposition experiments were performed using an inert W-foil electrode in a molten ZrCl4–LiCl–KCl salt. Three cathodic-pulse potentials (−1.30, −1.60, and −1.90 V) were applied, and the chemical and structural characteristics of respective deposits were compared. The deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, we accomplished the pulsed-potential electrodeposition (>103 A/m2) of α-Zr metal with a practical ZrCl4 concentration (2.6 wt%). The results confirm that pulsed-potential electrodeposition can be employed for the selective deposition of the α-Zr metal by minimizing the co-production of ZrCl in molten LiCl–KCl salt while achieving excellent adhesion to the inert W electrode.
Electrochemical Production of Ammonia and Urea from Coreduction of Nitrite and Carbon Dioxide at Iron Phthalocyanine Electrodes and Comparison of Analytical Methods
Authors: Akther Jasmeen , Song Chaojie , Fatih Khalid , Pickup Peter G.
Published: February 2023

There is rapidly growing interest in the electrochemical reduction of both nitrite and carbon dioxide to mitigate environmental concerns and sustainably produce fuels, chemicals, and fertilizers. Ammonia and urea are key targets in this area, and have been produced simultaneously by coreduction of NO2⁻ and CO2 at a variety of electrocatalysts. The salicylate spectrophotometric method is commonly employed to quantify both products, with urea determined by difference following decomposition with urease. However, this method can be influenced by numerous interferences and matrix effects. Here the electrochemical coreduction of NO2⁻ and CO2 at iron phthalocyanine electrodes has been investigated in order to accurately determine the ammonia and urea production. Urea concentrations were determined by salicylate, diacetyl monoxime and liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry methods, while the salicylate method and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to determine ammonia. Urea was produced at low overpotentials, with a maximum faradaic yield of 5.8% at −0.047 V vs RHE, while a maximum 85% yield of ammonia occurred at −0.347 V. It is shown that the salicylate method can provide accurate ammonia and urea analyses when a standard addition method is employed, reaction conditions are carefully controlled and the accuracy of calibration slopes are verified.
Dynamic Multi-Dimensional Numerical Transport Study of Lithium-Ion Battery Active Material Microstructures for Automotive Applications
Authors: Lopata Joseph Steven , Garrick Taylor R. , Wang Fengkun , Zhang Han , Zeng Yangbing , Shimpalee Sirivatch
Published: February 2023

In support of GM’s traction battery efforts, we derived and implemented a method to describe the electrochemical performance of a battery cell considering the nuances of the electrode microstructure at the anode and the cathode and the corresponding impact on the electrochemical transport in the solid and liquid phases. To assess the capability of the method, we compared model results from the microstructure framework with the commonly used continuum-level porous electrode model, commonly referred to as the pseudo-2-dimensional model, or the Newman model. The microstructure modeling framework was applied to simulate the electrochemical and transport processes within the battery cell to predict the concentration gradients, local state-of-charge distributions, reaction distributions, and the overall terminal voltage of the system. In this report, we provide a commentary on the validity and practicality of the microstructure approach to drive battery cell design.
Electrochemical Formation of Li-M-(Mʹ)-Si Phases Using Multivalent Electrolyte Salt Additives
Authors: Uppuluri Ritesh , Lapidus Saul H. , Zhang Yunya , Vaughey John T. , Dogan Fulya , Key Baris
Published: February 2023

Lithium-rich silicides (Li15Si4), formed during the electrochemical lithiation of silicon, show high reactivity with electrolyte components that contribute to capacity decay, formal lithium loss, and low coulombic efficiency. Recently, the reactivity of lithium silicides was found to be suppressed by substituting a multivalent cation (i.e. Mg, Ca) for lithium that results in the room temperature formation of a ternary Li-M-Si phase. In this study, we explored a range of multivalent electrolyte salt additives (M = Ni, Cu, La, Ce, Sr, Ba, and Ca-Mg mixed salt) in a lithium-ion cell configuration and identified a room temperature electrochemical route to the formation of new ternary and quaternary lithium silicides. Using this method, both nickel and copper salts were found to plate onto the silicon electrode surface upon lithiation. Based on refined synchrotron XRD data, multivalent cations with an ionic radius similar to Na (∼1.03 Å) or smaller can be inserted electrochemically into a formally cation-deficient Li15Si4 host lattice to form new ternary (or quartenary) phases. The electrochemical synthesis of a new quaternary Li-M-M’-Si phase represents a facile route to preparing and scaling materials isostructural to the Heusler phase and electron-precise Li14MgSi4 phase that results in enhanced cycling and calendar life performance.
A Bis(2-fluoroethyl) Carbonate as a New Electrolyte Additive for Enhancing the Long-Term Cycle Performance of Li-Metal Batteries
Authors: Han Jiwon , Park Changhee , Jin Dahee , Kim Suhwan , Dzakpasu Cyril Bubu , Lee Sunggi , Lee Yong Min
Published: February 2023

To meet the demand for high energy density, Li metal is considered a next-generation anode material owing to its high theoretical specific capacity and low electrode potential. However, conventional LiPF6-based electrolytes form a thick and porous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Li metal, resulting in poor cycle performance. One attempt to resolve these is to optimize the electrolyte composition because the Li metal reacts most actively with electrolyte. Here, bis(2-fluoroethyl) carbonate (B-FC), as a new fluorine-based linear carbonate, was added to a LiTFSI–LiBOB-based dual-salt electrolyte. To confirm the effect of B-FC on the electrochemical properties, Li || Li symmetric cells and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NMC622) || Li metal full cells with or without B-FC were evaluated. The addition of B-FC forms LiF-rich SEI and significantly reduced Li dendrite growth, leading to the thin dead Li layer formation. Furthermore, high-voltage performances of NMC622 || Li metal full cells with B-FC were effectively improved compared to the pure DSL (capacity retention of 73.1% vs. 62.4% after 300 cycles and a capacity of 117 mAh g-1 vs. 87 mAh g-1 at 21 mA cm-2). Consequently, herein, we demonstrated that the dual-salts with B-FC can stabilize the SEI even under the 4.5 V cut-off condition.
Underlying Mechanism for “Loss of Passivation” Effect of a High-Carbon Martensitic Stainless Steel Coating via Laser Cladding
Authors: Gao Shurui , Liu Hensan , Fang Xufei , Lu Wenjun , Li Shuxin , Chen Yunbo , Lu Siyuan
Published: February 2023

Recently, laser cladding (LC) technology has become a cost-effective and convenient method to protect metal substrate from corrosion by producing metal coating with high corrosion resistance. In order to fully investigate the pitting mechanism for high carbon martensitic stainless steel (HMSS) coating, the microstructure and pitting performance of high-carbon martensitic stainless steel (HMSS) samples, which were produced via laser cladding (LC) and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) were comparatively investigated via electrochemical measurements and electron microscopies. Dendritic and network connected M23C6 carbides are the main precipitates in the HMSS coating, while the M23C6 carbides in HMSS bulk are spherical or elongated in shape. Pitting resistance of the HMSS coating is dramatically deteriorated. The massive and continuously distributed dendritic M23C6 carbides could form a large-area cathode and cause the micro-galvanic corrosion of the HMSS-LC coating matrix, thus can be considered as underlying factor for the “loss of passivation (LOP)” effect of the HMSS coating.
Investigation and Determination of Electrochemical Reaction Kinetics in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Electrolyte LiTFSI in DOL/DME
Authors: Grabe Sean , Dent Matthew , Babar Shumaila , Zhang Teng , Tennison Stephen , Watts John F. , Lekakou Constantina
Published: February 2023

A major challenge in the simulation of Li-S batteries is that the electrochemical reaction parameters supplied from the fitting of 0-d or 1-d models depend on the cathode and separator microstructure, so these parameters cannot be used in the design and optimization of material microstructure. The present investigation fits the electrochemical reaction kinetics employing a continuum model taking into account the pore size distribution and tortuosity of cathode and separator in the transport of sulfur molecules and ion species (Li+ ion, electrolyte and sulfide anions) in solvated or desolvated form depending on pore size. Hence, the specified reaction kinetics parameters are independent from the material microstructure. The Li-S redox reaction model includes six redox reactions in the cathode and the lithium redox reaction at the anode. Reactions are assumed to take place in the electrolyte solution rather than in the solid phase of sulfur or lithium sulfide precipitates, where dissolution/precipitation kinetics is modeled especially for the low solubility compounds: sulfur, Li2S and Li2S2. The fitting exercise is conducted based on experimental data of a cyclic voltammetry cycle accompanied by in operando UV-vis spectroscopy. The investigated battery has electrolyte LiTFSI in DOL/DME and no electrocatalysts in any part of the cell.
Endothelial cells overexpressing CXCR1/2 are renoprotective in rats with acute kidney injury
Authors: Xing Dongqi , Hage Fadi G. , Feng Wenguang , Guo Yuanyuan , Oparil Suzanne , Sanders Paul W.
Published: February 2023

Inflammation facilitates kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Endothelial cells (ECs) that were modified to overexpress (C-X-C motif) chemokine receptor (CXCR)1/2 (CXCR1/2-ECs) were injected immediately following kidney I/R injury. The interaction of CXCR1/2-ECs, but not ECs transduced with an empty adenoviral vector, with injured kidney tissue preserved kidney function and reduced production of inflammatory markers, capillary rarefaction, and interstitial fibrosis. The study highlights a functional role for the C-X-C chemokine pathway in kidney damage following I/R injury.
The urinary proteome infers dysregulation of mitochondrial, lysosomal, and protein reabsorption processes in chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu)
Authors: Kolli Ramya T. , Gunasekara Sameera Chathuranga , Foster Matthew W. , Adduri Sitaramaraju , Strasma Anna , Wyatt Christina , Konduru Nagarjun V. , De Silva Mangala C. S. , Jayasundara Nishad
Published: February 2023

CKDu is a global health concern debilitating a number of tropical rural farming communities. In the absence of typical risk factors like diabetes and hypertension and the lack of molecular markers, it is crucial to identify potential early disease markers. Here, we detail the first urinary proteome profile to distinguish CKDu from CKD. Our data and in silico pathway analyses infer the roles of mitochondrial, lysosomal, and protein reabsorption processes in disease onset and progression.
Postoperative acute kidney injury after volatile or intravenous anesthesia: a meta-analysis
Authors: Franzén Stephanie , Frithiof Robert , Hultström Michael
Published: February 2023

This study analyzed the available literature on anesthetic modality and incidence of postoperative AKI. The meta-analysis revealed that propofol is associated with lower incidence of AKI compared with volatile anesthesia. It might therefore be considerable to use propofol anesthesia in surgeries with increased susceptibility for developing renal injuries such as cardiopulmonary bypass and major abdominal surgery.
Limited effect of over-the-counter doses of ibuprofen on mechanisms regulating muscle hypertrophy during resistance training in young adults
Authors: Lilja Mats , Moberg Marcus , Apró William , Martínez-Aranda Luis Manuel , Rundqvist Håkan , Langlet Billy , Gustafsson Thomas , Lundberg Tommy R.
Published: February 2023

Here we show that mTOR signaling, fiber size, ribosome biogenesis, satellite cell content, myonuclear accretion, and angiogenesis were not differentially affected between groups undergoing 8 wk of resistance training with concomitant anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen versus low-dose aspirin). Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 mRNA were more downregulated after acute exercise in the low-dose aspirin group than in the ibuprofen group. Taken together it appears that these established hypertrophy regulators do not explain the previously reported deleterious effects of high doses of ibuprofen on muscle hypertrophy in young adults.
Development and Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Foot Ulcers in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Lv Jing , Li Rao , Yuan Li , Huang Feng-Mei , Wang Yi , He Ting , Ye Zi-Wei
Published: February 2023

Background. The current study analyzed the status and the factors of foot ulcers in diabetic patients and developed a nomogram and web calculator for the risk prediction model of diabetic foot ulcers. Methods. This was a prospective cohort study that used cluster sampling to enroll diabetic patients in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism in a tertiary hospital in Chengdu from July 2015 to February 2020. The risk factors for diabetic foot ulcers were obtained by logistic regression analysis. Nomogram and web calculator for the risk prediction model were constructed by R software. Results. The incidence of foot ulcers was 12.4% (302/2432). Logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that BMI (OR: 1.059; 95% CI 1.021-1.099), abnormal foot skin color (OR: 1.450; 95% CI 1.011-2.080), foot arterial pulse (OR: 1.488; 95% CI: 1.242-1.778), callus (OR: 2.924; 95%: CI 2.133-4.001), and history of ulcer (OR: 3.648; 95% CI: 2.133-5.191) were risk factors for foot ulcers. The nomogram and web calculator model were developed according to risk predictors. The performance of the model was tested, and the testing data were as follows: AUC (area under curve) of the primary cohort was 0.741 (95% CI: 0.7022-0.7799), and AUC of the validation cohort was 0.787 (95% CI: 0.7342-0.8407); the Brier score of the primary cohort was 0.098, and the Brier score of the validation cohort was 0.087. Conclusions. The incidence of diabetic foot ulcers was high, especially in diabetic patients with a history of foot ulcers. This study presented a nomogram and web calculator that incorporates BMI, abnormal foot skin color, foot arterial pulse, callus, and history of foot ulcers, which can be conveniently used to facilitate the individualized prediction of diabetic foot ulcers.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Rosacea: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Wu Yunbo , Li Xiaojian , Chen Shiyu , Liu Tong , Chen Xiaomin , Zhan Ping , Qiu Guirong
Published: February 2023

Background. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) might increase the risk of rosacea; however, the relationship between IBD and rosacea is not determined. In this study, Mendelian randomization (MR) design was used to explore the potential causal association between IBD and rosacea. Methods. A two‐sample MR was explored from large‐scale genetic summary data from genome‐wide association study (GWAS), including IBD (n = 59959) and its main subtype Crohn’s disease (CD) (n = 40266) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 45975). Summarized data of rosacea (n = 1877) were obtained from different GWAS studies. Based on previous observational studies, our main analyses were conducted by the inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) method with the random‐effects model, with a complementary with the other two analyses: weighted median method and MR‐Egger approach. Results. The results of IVW methods demonstrated that genetically predicted IBD was significantly associated with rosacea (odds ratio (OR), 1.18 (95% CI, 1.05–1.32), P = 0.004). The weighted median method and MR‐Egger regression also demonstrated directionally similar results (all P < 0.05). In addition, both funnel plots and MR‐Egger intercepts indicated no directional pleiotropic effects between IBD and rosacea. CD was strongly associated with it in its subtype analysis (odds ratio (OR), 1.11 (95% CI, 1.01–1.22), P = 0.04), and UC was also causally associated with rosacea, but its statistical significance did not appear to be significant (odds ratio (OR), 1.16 (95% CI, 0.99–1.36), P = 0.07). Conclusions. Our study provided potential evidence between genetically predicted IBD and rosacea, and the degree of association of different subtypes of IBD for rosacea is different. In addition, we found that the mechanism of IBD affecting the pathogenesis of rosacea is closely related to the variation of IL23R. Blocking the IL‐23 signaling pathway might be a reasonable strategy to treat IBD and prevent rosacea. Understanding the specific relationship between IBD and rosacea provides the possibility to treat both clinically and guide the development of new drugs.
Extracellular Volume Fraction Calculated Using Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography as a Biomarker of Oxaliplatin-Induced Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome: A Preliminary Histopathological Analysis
Authors: Kai Kengo , Hamada Takeomi , Sato Yuichiro , Hiyoshi Masahide , Imamura Naoya , Yano Koichi , Ikeda Takuto , Ichihara Akiko , Ogata Shogo , Choijookhuu Narantsog , Hishikawa Yoshitaka , Hosokawa Ayumu , Nanashima Atsushi
Published: February 2023

Background. Oxaliplatin (OX)-based chemotherapy induces sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in the nontumorous liver parenchyma, which can increase the risk of liver resection due to colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). The extracellular volume (ECV) calculated from contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) has been reported to reflect the morphological change of hepatic fibrosis. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the ECV fraction as a predictive factor for OX-induced SOS. Methods. Our study included 26 patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM after OX-based chemotherapy with a preoperative dynamic CT of appropriate quality. We investigated the relationship between the pathological SOS grade and the ECV fraction. Results. Overall, 26 specimens from the patients were graded with the SOS classification of Rubbia-Brandt et al. as follows: grade 0, n = 17 (65.4%); grade 1, n = 4 (15.4%); and grade 2, n = 5 (19.2%). No specimens showed grade 3 SOS. In a univariate analysis, the ECV fraction in grade 0 SOS was significantly lower than that in grade 1 + 2 SOS (26.3 ± 3.4% vs. 30.6 ± 7.0%;

P

 = 0.025). The cutoff value and AUC value of the ECV fraction to distinguish between grades 0 and 1 + 2 were 27.5% and 0.771, respectively. Conclusions. Measurement of the ECV fraction was found to be a potential noninvasive diagnostic method for determining early-stage histopathological sinusoidal injury induced by OX-based chemotherapy.
Tumor Suppressor miR-613 Alleviates Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell via Repressing M2 Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Yang Mingjun , Zhou Wen , Xu Mingming , Han Xiao , Shi Yanyan , Shi Min , Wang Zhipeng
Published: February 2023

Background. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a crucial crux of cancer-related death, and M2 macrophage polarization facilitates NSCLC development. MicroRNA-613 (miR-613) is a tumor suppressor. This research aimed to clarify the miR-613 function in NSCLC and its impact on M2 macrophage polarization. Methods. miR-613 expressions in NSCLC tissues and cells were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR. For miR-613 function in NSCLC, cell proliferation analysis, cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, western blot, transwell, and wound-healing were conducted. Meanwhile, the miR-613 impact on M2 macrophage polarization was assessed by the NSCLC models. Results. miR-613 was lessened in NSCLC cells and tissues. It was corroborated that miR-613 overexpression retrained NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration but facilitated cell apoptosis. Moreover, miR-613 overexpression restrained NSCLC development by repressing M2 macrophage polarization. Conclusion. Tumor suppressor miR-613 ameliorated NSCLC by restraining M2 macrophage polarization.
Evaluation of the Implementation of Lean Techniques to Reduce Construction Process Waste in Real Estate Firms in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Ayfokru Fitsum , Mitikie Bahiru Bewket , Tekile Andinet Kebede
Published: February 2023

Waste in the construction industry is the loss produced by activities that generate direct or indirect costs but do not add any value. In recent years, waste in the construction industry has been the subject of several research studies around the world; however, it still continues to be a critical issue. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop an analytical hierarchical model for the implementation of lean techniques for the reduction of construction waste in real estate companies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study was conducted on seven private residential real estate companies which were actively involved in the construction sector at the time, by targeting decision-makers as respondents. Analytical hierarchical process-based questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were conducted for the collection of primary data. Thus, comparison-based surveys and data analyses were used to quantify the relative priorities for a given set of alternatives on a ratio scale based on the judgment of the construction professionals. According to the data analyses, poor material handling, poor site management, and frequent changes in the design were identified to be the three most dominant sources of construction waste. It was found that the real estate companies do not have any waste reduction strategies or practices. Furthermore, the concerned professionals have limited awareness of the lean techniques and their implementation. Based on the findings, the construction companies are recommended to give proper attention to construction waste minimization and a huge task is ahead of the policymakers for lean techniques implementation.
Topical Calcipotriol for the Treatment of Cutaneous Warts: An Assessor‐Blind Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Kazeminejad Armaghan , Bodaghi Arezoo , Hajheydari Zohreh , Moosazadeh Mahmood , Rafati Mohammadreza , Gholizadeh Nasim
Published: February 2023

Background. Cutaneous warts are common epidermal proliferations caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of topical calcipotriol for the treatment of cutaneous warts. Methods. This assessor‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial included 56 patients with cutaneous warts referred to a dermatology clinic from January 21 to March 20, 2020. Patients were randomized into two groups (n = 28). One group received calcipotriol 0.05% ointment twice a day on the lesions with a uniform thickness of 1 mm, and the other group received a placebo. The duration of treatment was twomonths, which continued for another two months if resolution did not occur. The primary outcome was complete response to treatment evaluated four months after the initiation of therapy. Secondary outcomes were the number and size of warts assessed at 1, 2, and 4 months and adverse events, including erythema, pruritus, burning sensation, and scaling. Results. Patients in both groups were comparable regarding previous treatment, underlying disease, and disease duration. However, patients in the control group were older. Also, a higher proportion of patients in the calcipotriol group were male and had warts on their palms and toes. Moreover, a higher percentage of controls had moderate disease. The mean number and the size of lesions did not differ between groups before intervention; however, both were significantly lower in the calcipotriol group than in controls at 1st, 2nd, and 4th months. In addition, complete response to treatment was significantly higher in the calcipotriol group (85.7% vs. 16%; P < 0.001). On the other hand, the frequency of adverse events was not different between groups (P = 0.352). Conclusions. Calcipotriol can be considered a safe and effective treatment option for cutaneous warts. Trial Registration: This trial is registered with IRCT20170818035762N2, available at https://www.irct.ir/trial/45716.
Effect of Extraction Period on Total Phenolics, Total Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Capacity of Ugandan Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze, Black Primary Grades and Green Tea
Authors: Murokore Biryomumaisho Justus , California Peter Vuzi , Wacoo Alex Paul , Wangalwa Rapheal , Ajayi Clement Olusoji , Gumisiriza Hannington , Masawi Agnes Nandutu
Published: February 2023

Introduction. Globally, the consumption and production of tea are on the rise because of its beneficial constituents. Scarce literature exists on the effects of extraction periods on the contents of the biologically important and protective phytochemicals such as phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidants in locally produced teas in Uganda. Aim. This study determined the effects of extraction periods on the aqueous total phenolic content (TPC) of local Camella sinensis, black primary grades and green tea, and their ecological differences, their total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacities (AOC). Methods. Samples of local tea were collected from Kigezi, Ankole, and Buganda regions, and those of green tea were purchased from a local supermarket in Uganda. Four- and 40-minute infusions were separately prepared for each sample. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride methods using garlic acid and quercetin as standards, respectively. Antioxidant content was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and ferric reducing assay power (FRAP) methods, using ascorbic acid as the standard. Results. Green tea had the highest total phenolic content both with four-minute (9.50 ± 0.25 mgGAE/g) and 40-minute (25.81 ± 1.13 mgGAE/g) extractions, followed by D1 (4.14 ± 0.33 mgGAE/g) at four minutes and PF (23.60 ± 2.37 mgGAE/g) at 40 minutes. Regionally, Kigezi (4.71 ± 0.09 and 22.13 ± 0.85 mgGAE/g) at four and 40 minutes, respectively, gave the highest TPC. In TFC, tea from Buganda (4,371 ± 0.00 μgQE/g) was the highest. In DPPH and FRAP, GT (93.82 ± 0.03%, 39.04 ± 0.02 AAEμg/mL) was the best, followed by Buganda tea (88.71 ± 0.03%, 36.99 ± 0.01 AAEµg/mL), respectively. Conclusion. Longer extraction periods increase TPC in all teas. Green tea generates approximately twice the TPC generated by black tea in four-minute infusions. Green tea gives higher TPC, DPPH, and FRAP but less TFC than some black teas and is perhaps the best in terms of protection against oxidative damage to the body.
IDO1 Activity Predicts Lung Toxicity in Patients with Unresectable Stage III NSCLC and Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Wu Linfang , Gao Yibo , Wang Daquan , Chen Yanhua , Qian Mingmin , Xu Xin , Zhang Tao , Bi Nan , Wang Luhua
Published: February 2023

Objectives. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) acts as the key rate-limiting enzyme that converts tryptophan (Trp) to kynurenine (Kyn). Its activity was primarily induced by interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which was reported to play a role in the development of acute radiation-induced pneumonitis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between IDO1 activity and radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT) in stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who were treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Materials and Methods. Systemic IDO1 activity was reflected by Kyn : Trp ratio. Plasma levels of Kyn and Trp in 113 stage III NSCLC patients were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) before the initiation of radiotherapy. Dynamic change of IDO1 activity was followed in 23 patients before, during, and after radiotherapy. We also used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) database and performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to explore how IDO1 was involved in the development of RILT. Results. 9.7% (11/113) of the whole group developed

G
3
+

(greater than or equal to Grade 3) RILT. Preradiation IDO1 activity was significantly higher in patients who developed

G
3

 + RILT than in non

G
3

 + RILT patients. (

P
=
0.029

, AUC = 0.70). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that high IDO1 activity was independently associated with the risk of

G
3

 + RILT (

P
=
0.034

). A predictive model combining both IDO1 activity and FEV1 was established for severe RILT and displayed a moderate predictive value (AUC = 0.83,

P
<
0.001

). The incidence of

G
3

 + RILT was 2.6% (1/38) in patients with an IDO activity ≤0.069 and FEV1 > 59.4%, and 50.0% (6/12) in those with an IDO activity >0.069 and FEV1 ≤ 59.4%. Of 23 patients with dynamic tracking, the IDO1 activity of postradiation was significantly lower than midradiation (

P
=
0.021

), though no significant differences among the three time points were observed (

P
=
0.070

). Bioinformatic analysis using RNA-seq data from 1014 NSCLC patients revealed that IDO mainly functioned in the inflammatory response instead of the late fibrosis process in NSCLC patients. Conclusion. High baseline IDO1 activity combined with unfavorable baseline FEV1 was predictive of severe RILT in unresectable stage III NSCLC patients. IDO1 might play a role in the acute inflammatory response. Finding effective interventions to alleviate RILT using IDO inhibitors is warranted in the future.
Treatment of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia
Authors: Beyzaee Amir Mohammad , Goldust Mohammad , Patil Anant , Ghoreishi Bahare , Ghahremanloo Tahoora , Rahmatpour Rokni Ghasem
Published: February 2023

Introduction. Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is known as a lymphocytic primary cicatricial alopecia. The main characteristic of FFA is progressive frontotemporal hairline recession. The pathogenesis of FFA is not completely understood. Destructing the stem cells of the epithelial hair follicles causes permanent hair loss and seems to be the main cause of FFA. Studies have reported significantly decreased quality of life in patients with hair loss. On the other hand, late diagnosis and treatment of FFA can decrease the success rate of the treatment. In this regard, different topical and systemic therapies have been developed to resolve the symptoms; however, only a partial response to treatment is usually achieved. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify the effectiveness of the available treatment modalities used for FFA patients and the related outcomes. Methods. On April 2022, we made a wide systematic computer‐assisted search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using “frontal fibrosing alopecia” and “treatment” keywords. We scanned 1,514 articles. All the studies concerning a therapeutic regimen for FFA were included. After removing duplicate studies, 50 studies containing the therapeutic regimen of 1,478 FFA patients were included in this review. Results. The 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitors (oral finasteride/dutasteride) were the most used medications (usually prescribed as a combination therapy with other medications). Topical corticosteroids were the second commonly used medication for the treatment of FFA. Systemic corticosteroids seem to be ineffective in improving FFA progression. Oral isotretinoin (or alitretinoin) had the most promising effect on improving facial papules of FFA patients with a 92% rate of facial papule improvement. Conclusion. In our review, intralesional corticosteroid injection and 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitors (finasteride/dutasteride) were reported as the most effective treatment modalities. Oral isotretinoin (or alitretinoin) is considered as the most promising treatment for improving facial papules in the context of FFA. However, it had minimal effects on hair regrowth or stabilization of hairline recession in FFA patients.
Knockout of Noxa with CRISPR/Cas9 Increases Host Resistance to Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Zhou Ao , Zhang Wenhua , Wang Baoxin , Dong Xia , Zhang Jing , Chen Hongbo
Published: February 2023

The influenza virus induces cellular apoptosis during viral propagation, and controlling this virus-induced apoptosis process has been shown to have significant antiviral effects. The proapoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa is a strong inducer of apoptosis that can be activated by this virus, suggesting that Noxa has the potential as an anti-influenza target. To assess the value of Noxa as an antiviral target, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to produce a Noxa-knockout cell line. We found that the knockout of Noxa resulted in a dramatic reduction in the cytopathic effect induced by the influenza virus. Moreover, Noxa knockout decreased the expression of influenza viral proteins (NP, M2, HA, and NS2). In addition, Noxa deficiency triggered a complete autophagic flux to weaken influenza virus-induced autophagosome accumulation, indicating that Noxa may be a promising antiviral target for controlling influenza virus infections.
Effect of Different Mixing Methods on Physicochemical Properties of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate: A Systematic Review
Authors: Salem Milani Amin , Radmand Faraz , Rahbani Behrad , Hadilou Mahdi , Haji Abbas Oghli Farnaz , Salehnia Fatemeh , Baseri Milad
Published: February 2023

Background. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a commonly used endodontic biomaterial. The physicochemical properties of MTA have a crucial role in designating clinical outcome, and different factors can affect these properties. Various methods have been used for mixing MTA, including manual, mechanical, and ultrasonic. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of different mixing methods on the physicochemical properties of MTA. Materials and Methods. Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to May 2022. In order to cover gray literature, the ProQuest and Google Scholar databases were also searched to detect theses and conference proceedings. For quality assessment of the included studies, we used a modified version of the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Experimental studies which had assessed at least one property of MTA and compared at least two different mixing methods of MTA were included in this study. All animal studies, reviews, case reports, and case series were excluded. Results. Fourteen studies were included. The results showed that the ultrasonic mixing method significantly improved some MTA characteristics, including microhardness, flowability, solubility, setting time, and porosity. However, the mechanical mixing method improved other properties including flowability, solubility, push-out bond strength, and hydration. The manual mixing method showed inferior results compared to other mixing methods in terms of microhardness, flowability, solubility, setting time, push-out bond strength, porosity, and hydration. Different mixing methods had a similar effect on compressive strength, sealing ability, pH and calcium ion release, volume change, film thickness, and flexural strength of MTA. Conclusion. Mechanical and ultrasonic mixing methods are superior to the manual mixing method in terms of improving physicochemical properties of MTA. No report of selection bias and varieties in methodologies were limitations of evidence.
Identification of Yield-Limiting Nutrients for Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Use Efficiency on Vertisols of Raya Kobo District, Northeastern Ethiopia
Authors: Teshome Habtemariam , Molla Eyayu , Feyisa Tesfaye
Published: February 2023

Agricultural productivity was negatively impacted by low soil fertility and uneven fertilizer application during crop cultivation in Ethiopia. Because of this, important crops frequently respond to fertilizer applications significantly below their achievable and potential yields. This study was carried out to determine the most sorghum yield-limiting nutrients in the Raya Kobo area of the Amhara Region in the 2020/21 crop season. Sorghum variety Girana-One was used as the test crop. Control, NPS, PSBZn, NPBZn, NSBZn, NPSB, NPSZn, NPSBZn, recommended NP, and NPSKBZn were treatments. Three replications of the experiment were used in a randomized complete block design. Before treatment application, a composite soil sample was collected at a depth of 0–20 cm to determine the soil’s physicochemical properties. To evaluate N and P uptakes, samples of sorghum stalk and grain were collected. SAS software was used to analyze the data. Results showed that, NPKSZnB produced a considerably greater grain yield (4620 kg·ha−1), whereas the control and N omitted plots produced the lowest grain yields (2759 kg·ha−1) and 2805 kg·ha−1, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer missing plots showed a statistically significant yield drop compared to the other plots, and there was no statistically significant yield difference between the prescribed NP plots and the potassium, sulfur, boron, or zinc omitted plots. The plots treated with NPKSZnB had the highest agronomic efficiency for N (19.7 kg grain kg−1·N) and P (10.6 kg grain kg−1 P2O5). Therefore, research and development should therefore concentrate on nitrogen to achieve the best sorghum yield for the study location. Phosphorus might also be used to keep the fertility level within the ideal range.
Silibinin Attenuates Experimental Periodontitis by Downregulation of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Li Xumin , Zhou Runqi , Han Yue , Zeng Jun , Shi Lixi , Mao Yixin , Sun Xiaoyu , Ji Yinghui , Zhang Xiaorong , Chen Yang , Jaspers Richard T. , Wu Gang , Huang Shengbin , Forouzanfar Tim
Published: February 2023

Periodontitis is an oral microbiota-induced inflammatory disease, in which inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role. Silibinin (SB), a Silybum marianum-derived compound, exhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. We adopted a rat ligature-induced periodontitis model and a lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) model to evaluate the protective effects of SB. In the in vivo model, SB reduced alveolar bone loss and apoptosis of PDLCs in the periodontal tissue. SB also maintained the expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key regulator of cellular resistance to oxidative stress, and attenuated lipid, protein, and DNA oxidative damages in the periodontal lesion area. Meanwhile, in the in vitro model, SB administration reduced the production of intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS). Furthermore, SB exerted a strong anti-inflammatory property in both in vivo and in vitro models by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) as well as nucleotide binding oligomerization domain- (NOD-) like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) and downregulating the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that SB exhibits the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties against periodontitis by downregulating the expression of NF-κB and NLRP3 and upregulating Nrf2 expression, suggesting a promising potential clinical application of SB in periodontitis.
Improved HLLL Lattice Basis Reduction Algorithm to Solve GNSS Integer Ambiguity
Authors: Li Kezhao , Tian Chendong , Jiao Yingxiang , Yue Zhe
Published: February 2023

Recently, lattice theory has been widely used for integer ambiguity resolution in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). When using lattice theory to deal with integer ambiguity, we need to reduce the correlation between lattice bases to ensure the efficiency of the solution. Lattice reduction is divided into scale reduction and basis vector exchange. The scale reduction has no direct impact on the subsequent search efficiency, while the basis vector exchange directly impacts the search efficiency. Hence, Lenstra-Lenstra-Lovász (LLL) is applied in the ambiguity resolution to improve the efficiency. And based on Householder transformation, the HLLL improved method is also used. Moreover, to improve the calculation speed further, a Pivoting Householder LLL (PHLLL) method based on Householder orthogonal transformation and rotation sorting is proposed here. The idea of PHLLL method is as follows: First, a sort matrix is introduced into the lattice basis reduction process to sort the original matrix. Then, the sorted matrix is used for Householder transformation. After transformation, it needs to be sorted again, until the diagonal elements in the matrix meet the ascending order. In addition, when using the Householder image operator for orthogonalization, the old column norm is modified to obtain a new norm, reducing the number of column norm calculations. Compared with the LLL reduction algorithm and HLLL reduction algorithm, the experimental results show that the PHLLL algorithm has higher reduction efficiency and effectiveness. The theoretical superiority of the algorithm is proved.
Comparative Analysis of the Time-Fractional Black–Scholes Option Pricing Equations (BSOPE) by the Laplace Residual Power Series Method (LRPSM)
Authors: Liaqat Muhammad Imran , Okyere Eric
Published: February 2023

The residual power series method is effective for obtaining solutions to fractional-order differential equations. However, the procedure needs the

n
−
1

ϖ

derivative of the residual function. We are all aware of the difficulty of computing the fractional derivative of a function. In this article, we considered the simple and efficient method known as the Laplace residual power series method (LRPSM) to find the analytical approximate and exact solutions of the time-fractional Black–Scholes option pricing equations (BSOPE) in the sense of the Caputo derivative. This approach combines the Laplace transform and the residual power series method. The suggested method just needs the idea of an infinite limit, so the computations required to determine the coefficients are minimal. The obtained results are compared in the sense of absolute errors against those of other approaches, such as the homotopy perturbation method, the Aboodh transform decomposition method, and the projected differential transform method. The results obtained using the provided method show strong agreement with different series solution methods, demonstrating that the suggested method is a suitable alternative tool to the methods based on He’s or Adomian polynomials.
Study on Hydraulic Characteristic of Unsteady Flow at Huangchigou Water Distribution Hub by Observing Instantaneous Water Level Based on Single-Camera and Fixed-Scale Compensation Method
Authors: Ding Weihua , Zhu Lin , Li Hu , Hou Bin , Yang Fan , Wang Xinhong
Published: February 2023

The Huangchigou Water Distribution Hub is the core water distribution structure in the Hanjiang-to-Weihe Valley Water Diversion Project. It plays a decisive role in ensuring the safety of downstream water transport, allocating water reasonably and reducing the waste of abandoned water. The study on its unsteady-flow hydraulic characteristics is of key significance in the formulation for the opening and closing rules of the hub gates. The shape of the instantaneous water surface profile is an important factor for the hydraulic characteristics of the unsteady flow in the hub. The effect of the traditional instantaneous water level measurement method is not ideal. A single-camera and fixed-scale compensation method is proposed for an instantaneous water level observation. The proposed method meets the requirement of measurement accuracy and reduces the observation cost of the model test. The unsteady-flow test of the hydraulic model in the Southern Main Tunnel of the Huangchigou Water Distribution Hub was carried out under two operating conditions when the model flow is 0.0246 m3/s. Precise data such as wave front propagation velocity and hydraulic oscillation recovery time of unsteady flows in the Southern Main Tunnel was obtained. It has an important reference value for the research and design of water transfer dispatching and gate-opening and gate-closing rules for the Huangchigou Water Distribution Hub.