•Robust HDR imaging for wide baseline and large angle deviation.•One image per viewpoint.•MVHDR images without exposure time and ISO information.•Complex geometric alignment of non-linear ...cameras.•Low and backlighting.
The restoration and enhancement of multiview low dynamic range (MVLDR) images captured in low lighting conditions is a great challenge. The disparity maps are hardly reliable in practical, real-world scenarios and suffers from holes and artifacts due to large baseline and angle deviation among multiple cameras in low lighting conditions. Furthermore, multiple images with some additional information (e.g., ISO/exposure time, etc.) are required for the radiance map and poses the additional challenges of deghosting to encounter motion artifacts. In this paper, we proposed a method to reconstruct multiview high dynamic range (MVHDR) images from MVLDR images without relying on disparity maps. We detect and accurately match the feature points among the involved input views and gather the brightness information from the neighboring viewpoints to optimize an image restoration function based on input exposure gain to finally generate MVHDR images. Our method is very reliable and suitable for a wide baseline among sparse cameras. The proposed method requires only one image per viewpoint without any additional information and outperforms others.
Currently, there is no consensus on whether a standard 2-g prophylactic cefazolin dose provides sufficient antimicrobial coverage in obese surgical patients. This systematic review analysed both ...outcome and pharmacokinetic studies, aiming to determine the appropriate cefazolin dose. A systematic search was conducted using 4 databases. In total, 3 outcome and 15 pharmacokinetic studies met the inclusion criteria. All 3 outcome studies concluded that there is no need for increased dose. Also, 9 pharmacokinetic studies reached this conclusion; however, 6 pharmacokinetic studies recommended that 2-g dose is insufficient to achieve adequate plasma or tissue concentrations. The stronger body of evidence supports that 2-g dose of cefazolin is sufficient for surgery lasting up to 4 h; however, large-scale outcome studies are needed to confirm this evidence.
The aim of this study is to present the results of breaking strength tests for burnt clay bricks from various historical deposits. The native clay bricks production technique is the known method of ...brick making, particularly in South Asian countries. Numerous studies have been conducted on hand-molded formed bricks. The clay bricks that were considered for the comparative study, were made from four different clays sources. Their breaking strength was determined using for examining the maximum load at failure and the effects were investigated subsequently. The basic objective of this experimental study was to compare the breaking strength of locally fired clay bricks using a novel based completely randomized design via a single factor with four levels of clay sources representing the factors. For this purpose, 24 brick samples were made from four different clay sources while the breaking strength of each sample was measured. Pairwise comparison trials, including Duncan’s multiple range, Newman–keuls, Fisher’s least and Tukey’s tests were conducted. Based on experimental investigations, the results revealed that using analysis of variance at 95% CI, the difference in breaking strength between clay source of Hyderabad (A) and Rawalpindi (B), followed by Kohat (C) and Peshawar (D) was significant and also the difference among the means of these clay courses was significant which clearly exposed that the clay site and chemical composition has a great impression of the breaking strength of the burnt bricks.
•A total of ten derivatives were synthesized and were further characterized with TLC, FTIR, and NMR techniques.•The electronic properties and anti-Alzheimer's disease potential of the compounds ...within the active pockets of the targeted enzymes i.e., monoamine oxidase-A, monoamine oxidase-B, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively, was identified.•During in-vitro testing, it was determined that all analogs exhibited some degree of inhibitory potential, and analogs (15), (16), (19), and (26) were found to have excellent potency in inhibiting Alzheimer's disease-related enzymes.•Moreover, the most potent complexes of respective targets were found stable during molecular dynamics simulation studies.•The findings of the current study revealed that new thioureas and thiazoles analogs exhibited a reactive electronic property, which is essential for anti-cholinesterase activity.
The current research project aims to develop 3, 4-diethoxy substituted thioureas (15–20) and thiazoles (22–23, 25–26) analogs as potential anti-Alzheimer's agents. A total of ten derivatives were synthesized and were further characterized with TLC, FTIR, and NMR techniques. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular modeling were performed to evaluate the electronic properties and anti-Alzheimer's disease potential of the compounds within the active pockets of the targeted enzymes, respectively. During in-vitro testing, it was determined that all analogs exhibited some degree of inhibitory potential, and analogs (15), (16), (19), and (26) were found to have excellent potency in inhibiting Alzheimer's disease-related enzymes i.e., monoamine oxidase-A, monoamine oxidase-B, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Analog (15) demonstrated an IC50 of 1.33 ± 0.04 µM for MAO-A; (16) showed an IC50 of 1.67 ± 0.06 µM for MAO-B, (19) represented an IC50 of 0.31 ± 0.02 µM for AChE, and (26) showed an IC50 of 0.51 ± 0.01 µM for BChE. These compounds have shown a comparable potential with the reference compounds i.e., Clorgyline (for MAO-A), Deprenyl (for MAO-B) and donepezil in case of AChE and BChE, respectively. The study also established a structure-activity relationship and determined that the potency of the analogs depends on the nature, position, number, and electron-donating/-withdrawing effects of the phenyl ring substituents. The identified compounds also exhibited strong binding interactions during molecular docking investigations. Moreover, the most potent complexes of respective targets were found stable during molecular dynamics simulation studies. The findings of the current study revealed that new thioureas and thiazoles analogs exhibited a reactive electronic property, which is essential for anti-cholinesterase activity.
Owing to its intricate pathophysiology, cerebral stroke is a serious medical condition caused by interruption or obstruction of blood supply (blockage of vasculature) to the brain tissues which ...results in diminished supply of essential nutrients and oxygen (hypoxia) and ultimate necrosis of neuronal tissues. A prompt risks assessment and immediate rational therapeutic plan with proficient neuroprotection play critically important role in the effective management of this neuronal emergency. Various conventional medications are being used for treatment of acute ischemic cerebral stroke but fibrinolytic agents, alone or in combination with other agents are considered the mainstay. These clot-busting agents effectively restore blood supply (reperfusion) to ischemic regions of the brain; however, their clinical significance is hampered due to various factors such as short plasma half-life, limited distribution to brain tissues due to the presence of highly efficient physiological barrier, blood brain barrier (BBB), and lacking of target-specific delivery to the ischemic brain regions. To alleviate these issues, various types of nanomedicines such as polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, nanoemulsion, micelles and dendrimers have been designed and evaluated. The implication of these newer therapies (nanomedicines) have revolutionized the therapeutic outcomes by improving the plasma half-life, permeation across BBB, efficient distribution to ischemic cerebral tissues and neuroprotection. Furthermore, the adaptation of some diverse techniques including PEGylation, tethering of targeting ligands on the surfaces of nanomedicines, and pH responsive features have also been pondered. The implication of these emerging adaptations have shown remarkable potential in maximizing the targeting efficiency of drugs to ischemic brain tissues, simultaneous delivery of drugs and imaging agents (for early prognosis as well as monitoring of therapy), and therapeutic outcomes such as long-term neuroprotection.
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•Cerebral stroke is a serious medical emergency caused by obstruction of middle cerebral artery which leads to ischemia and hypoxia.•Various conventional reperfusion therapies are being used; however, reperfusion injury remains a colossal challenge.•Nanotechnology-aided developments have shown grandeur success in the treatment of cerebral stroke while mitigating reperfusion injury.•Nanomedicines improved pharmacokinetic profile, specific targetability and therapeutic efficacy of anti-stroke drugs.
Health and the environment are complex components of the countries, influenced by several factors, especially transport, and economics. Thus, this paper assesses the role of transportation and ...economic complexity in the environment and public health for the Organization for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) countries from 2001 to 2020. This study also focuses on the relationship between transport and economic complexity with environmental and healthcare expenditures. Precisely, transport and economic activities stimulate healthcare expenditures through multiple channels. The current study employs the STIRPAT model to investigate the association with transportation, economic complexity, transport–carbon intensity, and healthcare expenditure. Besides, the current research confirms the plausible cross-sectional dependency across countries, and it adopts a second-generation technique. Analytical findings suggest that transportation-carbon intensity is positively and significantly associated with healthcare expenditures. Healthcare and transport–household expenditures increase transport–carbon intensity (TCI) by 75% and 45%, respectively, in the long run. In the contrast, TCI and transport–household expenditures have also a remarkable impact on healthcare expenditures and are estimated approximately 95% in the long run. Moreover, economic growth also upsurges TCI and healthcare expenditures through multiple economic activities. Besides, transport–household expenditures (THE) drastically impact transport–carbon intensity and healthcare expenditures (HEX) through passenger traffic (PTF). Diagnostic upshots unveil that the joint effect of THE and PTF increases TCI and HEX by 4 and 3%, respectively. Finally, findings recommend some policy implications and future research directions for the countries based on empirical outcomes. Countries should regulate economic activities to reduce transport carbon emissions.
Background/Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be one of the most important viral pathogens in humans. Surface (S) protein is the major HBV antigen that mediates virus attachment and entry and ...determines the virus subtype. Mutations in S gene, particularly in the "a" determinant, can influence virus detection by ELISA and may generate escape mutants. Since no records have documented the S gene mutations in HBV strains circulating in Saudi Arabia, the current study was designed to study sequence variation of S gene in strains circulating in Saudi Arabia and its correlation with clinical and risk factors. Patients and Methods: A total of 123 HBV-infected patients were recruited for this study. Clinical and biochemical parameters, serological markers, and viral load were determined in all patients. The entire S gene sequence of samples with viral load exceeding 2000 IU/mL was retrieved and exploited in sequence and phylogenetic analysis.
Results: A total of 48 mutations (21 unique) were recorded in viral strains in Saudi Arabia, among which 24 (11 unique) changed their respective amino acids. Two amino acid changes were recorded in "a" determinant, including F130L and S135F with no evidence of the vaccine escape mutant G145R in any of the samples. No specific relationship was recognized between the mutation/amino acid change record of HBsAg in strains in Saudi Arabia and clinical or laboratory data. Phylogenetic analysis categorized HBV viral strains in Saudi Arabia as members of subgenotypes D1 and D3. Conclusion: The present report is the first that describes mutation analysis of HBsAg in strains in Saudi Arabia on both nucleotide and amino acid levels. Different substitutions, particularly in major hydrophilic region, may have a potential influence on disease diagnosis, vaccination strategy, and antiviral chemotherapy.
The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a pH sensitive, biodegradable, interpenetrating polymeric network (IPNs) for colon specific delivery of sulfasalazine in ulcerative colitis. It ...also entailed in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations to optimize colon targeting efficiency, improve drug accumulation at the target site, and ameliorate the off-target effects of chemotherapy. Pectin was grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and methacrylic acid (MAA) by free radical polymerization. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the development of stable pectin-g-(PEG-co-MAA) hydrogels. The swelling and release studies exhibited that the hydrogels were capable of releasing drug specifically at colonic pH (pH 7.4). The toxicological potential of polymers, monomers and hydrogel was investigated using the Balb/c animal model, that confirmed the safety of the hydrogels. In vitro degradation of the hydrogel was evaluated using pectinase enzyme in various simulated fluids and the results showed that the hydrogels were susceptible to biodegradation by the natural microflora of the colon. In-vivo study was performed using Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) rat model proved the hydrogels to be effective in the management of UC.
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