SRIS: Saliency-Based Region Detection and Image Segmentation of COVID-19 Infected Cases.

Noise or artifacts in an image, such as shadow artifacts, deteriorate the performance of state-of-the-art models for the segmentation of an image. In this study, a novel saliency-based region detection and image segmentation (SRIS) model is proposed to overcome the problem of image segmentation in the existence of noise and intensity inhomogeneity. Herein, a novel adaptive level-set evolution protocol based on the internal and external functions is designed to eliminate the initialization sensitivity, thereby making the proposed SRIS model robust to contour initialization.

Selection of suitable pedicle screw for degenerated cortical and cancellous bone of human lumbar spine: A finite element study.

Pedicular arthrodesis is the traditional procedure in terms of increase in the biomechanical stability with higher fixation rate. The current work aims to identify the effect of three spinal pedicle screws considering cortical and cancellous degeneracy condition. Lumbar section L2-L3 is utilized and various load and moment conditions were applied to depict the various biomechanical parameters for selection of suitable screw.

An Randomized Clinical Evaluation of the Surface Morphology of Nickel-Titanium, Beta-titanium, and Copper-Nickel-Titanium.

Aim: Variation in the surface roughness of archwires not only leads to more accumulation of plaque but also modifies the coefficient of friction. This necessitated for the present study to evaluate the surface characteristics of 0.016 × 0.

Survival With Continuous Outpatient Intravenous Inotrope Therapy in the Modern Era.

Background: To describe baseline characteristics and outcomes in the largest known registry of advanced heart failure (HF) patients receiving continuous outpatient intravenous inotrope therapy. Studies evaluating the use of outpatient inotropes for palliation or as a bridge to advanced therapies were performed before current guideline directed medical and device therapy (GDMDT). There are limited data on the modern experience using outpatient inotrope (OI) therapy.

An updated knowledge of Black seed ( Linn.): Review of phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties.

() has been used since ancient times, when a scientific concept about the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of human illnesses and alleviation of their sufferings was yet to be developed. It has a strong religious significance as it is mentioned in the religious books of Islam and Christianity. In addition to its historical and religious significance, it is also mentioned in ancient medicine.

Favorable Outcome of COVID-19 Pneumonia in a Kidney Transplant Recipient Treated with Tocilizumab.

The presentation of COVID-19 pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients is similar to that of the general population. However, in the former, it may have a worse clinical course. We report a kidney transplant patient affected by COVID-19 pneumonia whose condition worsened 9 days after the initial presentation.

Fragility of clinical trials across research fields: A synthesis of methodological reviews.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are often used to inform clinical practice and it is desirable that their results be robust. A fragility index (FI), defined as the smallest number of participants in whom an outcome change from non-event to event would turn a statistically significant result to a non-significant result, can be computed to measure robustness. We sought to determine the distribution of fragility indices across various research areas and summarized the factors associated with fragility.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone release as the initial presentation of adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone release (SIADH) is a condition defined by the unsuppressed release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the pituitary gland or nonpituitary sources or its continued action on vasopressin receptors. Of the many causes of SIADH, an important one includes tumours that secrete ADH. We describe a rare case of a patient with colonic adenocarcinoma presenting initially as SIADH.

Outcome and Complications of Frontal Sinus Stenting: A Case Presentation and Literature Review.

Introduction: Frontal sinus surgery remains challenging to manage because of its complex anatomy and narrow outflow tract. A number of studies suggest the success of frontal sinus stenting to reduce postoperative complications in endoscopic frontal sinus surgery. However, failure and complications of frontal sinus stenting may occur.

Defects in mRNA Translation in LRRK2-Mutant hiPSC-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons Lead to Dysregulated Calcium Homeostasis.

The G2019S mutation in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a common cause of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). This mutation results in dopaminergic neurodegeneration via dysregulated protein translation, although how alterations in protein synthesis contribute to neurodegeneration in human neurons is not known. Here we define the translational landscape in LRRK2-mutant dopaminergic neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) via ribosome profiling.

Chromosome 3p loss in the progression and prognosis of head and neck cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by aggressive behavior with a tendency for recurrence and metastasis. Analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data and other cohort studies suggest that the loss of the chromosomal 3p arm is a frequent genetic event observed in both human papillomavirus positive and negative HNSCC. Early molecular analyses (i.

Ecosystem-level carbon storage and its links to diversity, structural and environmental drivers in tropical forests of Western Ghats, India.

Tropical forests are rich in biodiversity with great potential for carbon (C) storage. We estimated ecosystem-level C stock using data from 70 forest plots in three major forest types: tropical dry deciduous (TDD I and TDD II), tropical semi-evergreen (TSE I and TSE II) and tropical evergreen forests (TEF I, TEF II and TEF III) of Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. The average C stock in these forests was 336.

Effectiveness of Olmesartan on Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients in India: A Real World, Retrospective, Observational Study from Electronic Medical Records.

Background: Real-world data on the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs (AHDs) in India is limited. The present study aims to provide updated evidence regarding the effectiveness of olmesartan as monotherapy or in combination with other AHDs in Indian patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: Electronic medical record data of adult patients who were diagnosed with essential hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) and were prescribed olmesartan as mono- or add-on therapy were retrospectively analyzed.

Cell ID and Timing Estimation Techniques for Underwater Acoustic Cellular Systems in High-Doppler Environments.

In an underwater acoustic cellular (UAC) system, underwater equipment or sensor nodes need to detect the identity of an underwater base station (UBS) and synchronise it with a serving UBS. It is known that, in an underwater acoustic channel, the temporal variability of the ocean coupled with the low speed of sound in water may induce a significant Doppler shift. In this paper, two different types of cell search techniques (CSTs) are proposed to detect the cell ID and correct timing of the UBS in UAC systems with a Doppler shift: CST based on linear frequency modulation with full bandwidth in the time domain (LFM-FT) and CST based on linear frequency modulation in the frequency domain (LFM-FF).

Total Pelvic Exenteration for Locally Advanced and Recurrent Rectal Cancer: Urological Outcomes and Adverse Events.

Background: Little has been reported on urological complications of total pelvic exenteration (TPE) for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer.

Objective: To assess urological reconstructive outcomes and adverse events in this setting.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A total of 104 patients underwent TPE from 2004 to 2016 in this single-centre, retrospective study.

Assessing the transparency of informed consent in feasibility and pilot studies: a single-centre quality assurance study protocol.

Introduction: Pilot/feasibility studies assess the feasibility of conducting a larger study. Although researchers ought to communicate the feasibility objectives to their participants, many research ethics guidelines do not comment on how informed consent applies to pilot studies. It is unclear whether researchers and research ethics boards clearly communicate the purpose of pilot studies to participants consenting.

An assessment of potential nutritive and medicinal properties of : a natural food legume.

belongs to the family and is ordinarily known as velvet bean, in English cowitch and Hindi Kawaanch. The restorative quality of this bean makes it an excellent component in pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications. Apart from high protein and starch content, these beans contain (l-Dopa) 3, 4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine, which exhibits several medicinal properties.

Milling Microchannels in Monel 400 Alloy by Wire EDM: An Experimental Analysis.

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the capacity of wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) to produce microchannels in the Nickel-based alloy, Monel 400. The main objective of the current study is to produce microchannels with desired/target geometry and acceptable surface quality. Square cross-sectional microchannels with dimensions of 500 × 500 µm were investigated.

Quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of the mouse cerebral cortex after ischemic stroke.

Ischemic strokes result in the death of brain tissue and a wave of downstream effects, often leading to lifelong disabilities or death. However, the underlying mechanisms of ischemic damage and repair systems remain largely unknown. In order to better understand these mechanisms, TMT-isobaric mass tagging and mass spectrometry were conducted on brain cortex extracts from mice subjected to one hour of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and after one hour of reperfusion.