High-dose vitamin D supplementation is related to an improvement in serum alkaline phosphatase in COVID-19 patients; a randomized double-blinded clinical trial.

Background: The benefits and harms of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of COVID-19 have not yet been fully documented. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on liver function tests in COVID-19.

Method: This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted on 140 hospitalized patients aged > 30 years.

Gene Expression Programming Model for Tribological Behavior of Novel SiC-ZrO-Al Hybrid Composites.

In order to improve product format quality and material flexibility, variety of application, and cost-effectiveness, SiC, ZrO, and Al hybrid composites were manufactured in the research utilizing the powder metallurgy (PM) technique. A model was created to predict the tribological behavior of SiC-ZrO-Al hybrid composites using statistical data analysis and gene expression programming (GEP) based on artificial intelligence. For the purpose of examining the impact of zirconia concentration, sliding distance, and applied stress on the wear behavior of hybrid composites, a comprehensive factor design of experiments was used.

Flow analysis and hydraulic performance of denitrifying bioreactors under different carbon dosing treatments.

Denitrifying bioreactors are an effective approach for removing nitrate from a variety of non-point wastewater sources, including agricultural tile drainage. However, compared to alternate mitigation approaches such as constructed wetlands, nitrate removal in bioreactors may decline with time and low temperature, resulting in poor long-term nitrate removal rates. To address the low nitrate removal rates in bioreactors, the addition of an external carbon source has been found to be an effective method for enhancing and maintaining nitrate removal rates.

Effect of Antihypertensive Drugs on Cognition and Behavioral Symptoms of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-analysis.

Background: It has been found that there is a link between hypertension and elevated risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Herein, a meta-analysis based on Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) was used to assess the effect of antihypertensive drugs on cognition and behavioral symptoms of AD patients.

Methods: The three databases, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, were searched up to March 2020.

Associations between an MDM2 gene polymorphism and ulcerative colitis by ARMS-PCR.

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum. The abnormal lesions in the digestive system caused by ulcerative colitis and intermittent colitis are of major clinical importance. MDM2 is a phospho-protein that functions as a ubiquitin ligase for p53.

Synthesis of composite hydrogel of glutamic acid, gum tragacanth, and anionic polyacrylamide by electron beam irradiation for uranium (VI) removal from aqueous samples: Equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies.

A bio-compatible hydrogel sorbent was prepared through chemical conjugation of glutamic acid (GA) with gum tragacanth (GT) followed by mixing with anionic polyacrylamide (PAAm) and irradiating by the electron beam. The prepared composite of the hydrogel of GA-GT/PAAm was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, point zero charge (PZC) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction-(XRD). The sorption capability of the hydrogel was investigated for the removal of U(VI) from aqueous samples.

An investigation on optic nerve head involvement in Fuchs uveitis syndrome using optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography.

Purpose: To investigate optic nerve head involvement in patients with Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS).

Methods: Optic nerve head of 43 FUS eyes without clinical optic disc edema and 37 unaffected fellow eyes were evaluated using optical coherence tomography (OCT) of peripapillary retina and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and fundus fluorescein angiography.

Results: Seventy-one percent of FUS eyes showed optic nerve head hyperfluorescence.

Diagnostic Value of the Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) for Detection of Pelvic Malignancies Compared with Pathology.

Introduction: Pelvic masses are among most the common causes of patient admission into gynecology clinics and one of the most common reasons for referral to gynecologic oncology departments due to the risk of uterine or ovarian malignancies. The aim of this study is to compare the four indices of the risk of malignancy index (RMI 1-4), as a combination of menstrual status, radiological findings, and serum CA125 concentration, for discrimination of benign from malignant pelvic masses.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive and analytic study was conducted on 200 patients with pelvic mass, post-surgery, and who were referred to the oncology department in Shahid Sadoughi hospital of Yazd (Iran) between June 2007 and September 2011.

The relationship between carotid artery colour Doppler finding and cerebral oximetry.

Background: In some cases, permanent reduction in cerebral functioning affects a high percentage of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. We studied the relationship between the results of preoperative bilateral carotid artery colour Doppler sonography and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) during coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Materials And Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted with 96 candidates for off-pump CABG.

Bright light-emitting diodes based on organometal halide perovskite.

Solid-state light-emitting devices based on direct-bandgap semiconductors have, over the past two decades, been utilized as energy-efficient sources of lighting. However, fabrication of these devices typically relies on expensive high-temperature and high-vacuum processes, rendering them uneconomical for use in large-area displays. Here, we report high-brightness light-emitting diodes based on solution-processed organometal halide perovskites.

Phase-based binarization of ancient document images: model and applications.

In this paper, a phase-based binarization model for ancient document images is proposed, as well as a postprocessing method that can improve any binarization method and a ground truth generation tool. Three feature maps derived from the phase information of an input document image constitute the core of this binarization model. These features are the maximum moment of phase congruency covariance, a locally weighted mean phase angle, and a phase preserved denoised image.

Oral chloral hydrate vs. intranasal midazolam for sedation during computerized tomography.

We conducted this single blind randomized clinical trial to compare the efficacy and safety of oral chloral hydrate and intranasal midazolam for induction of sedation for computerized tomography scan of brain in children. Participants aged 1-10 years (n=60) were randomized to receive 100 mg/kg chloral hydrate orally with intra nasal normal saline OR intranasal midazolam 0.2 mg/kg with oral normal saline.

A variational approach to degraded document enhancement.

The goal of this paper is to correct bleed-through in degraded documents using a variational approach. The variational model is adapted using an estimated background according to the availability of the verso side of the document image. Furthermore, for the latter case, a more advanced model based on a global control, the flow field, is introduced.

Electrochemical impedance study of the polymerization of pyrrole on high surface area carbon electrodes.

Polymerization of pyrrole on a Vulcan XC-72 carbon black coated glassy carbon electrode was performed using potentiodynamic and galvanostatic regimes in an aqueous solution of 0.5 M pyrrole and 0.5 M NaClO(4).

Linear transmission properties of a vertically stacked multiring resonator with a defect.

The linear characteristics of a vertically stacked multiring resonator (VMR) that can support a photonic bandgap with a defect located at the middle of the structure are investigated numerically. Initially, the spectral transfer characteristics of the uniform structure are studied. Then, the transmission properties of the VMR structure possessing a defect are investigated.