Investigation of Photo-Absorption and Current-Voltage Properties of Liquid Extracts from Fruits for Organic Solar Cells Application

In this research work, the optical absorption and photo-current characteristics of black grape, strawberry and orange solutions were investigated. The solutions were extracted from fresh fruits and UV-V is spectrophotometer was utilized to record the absorption spectra of the samples. Besides, the photo-current properties were investigated via current-voltage characteristics of the fruit solutions under illumination. The results showed that energy gaps of the fruits are located within the visible spectrum. Energy gap of 1.84eV was found for the black grape, 2.11eV for strawberry and 3.10eV for the orange solution. The broad absorption spectra for black grape and strawberry have proved the fruits capability to harvest solar energy. Additionally, the enhanced photo-current activity of the fruit solutions under light suggested their potential application for the organic and/or dyes solar cell

Hypo-and Hyperphosphatemia at Admission as Independent Factors in the Mortality of COVID-19 Patients: Findings from a Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Electrolyte imbalances are common in COVID-19 infection and are associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized patients. Objectives: This study examined whether serum phosphate imbalances at admission are associated with mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this registry-based single-center retrospective cohort study, 1349 inpatients with COVID-19 were included from March 2020 to March 2021 in an academic hospital in Ilam (southwest Iran). The Cox proportional hazard (PH) regression model was ap-plied to the data set of COVID-19. Results: The in-hospital median survival time for patients with low, normal, and high serum phosphate levels was 14, 25, and 8 days, respectively. In a multivariate model, adjusted for the other variables, patients with hypophosphatemia (adjusted hazard ratio HR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.15-5.58; P = 0.02) and hyperphosphatemia (adjusted HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.00-3.14; P = 0.05) had an increased mortality hazard compared with those who had normal levels of serum phosphate. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a strong effect of hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatemia with increased in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Intensive medical care and more attention must be paid to COVID-19 patients with serum phosphate imbalances at admission. © 2022, International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy for catheter ablation in adults with arrhythmias

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:. The objective of this review is to systematically compare the efficacy and harms of interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy for catheter ablation (CA) in adults with arrhythmias. Copyright © 2019 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Studying the mechanism and kinetics of fuel desulfurization using CexOy/NiOx piezo-catalysts as a new low-temperature method

Abstract In order to advance desulfurization technology, a new method for excellent oxidative desulfurization of fuel at room temperature will be of paramount importance. As a novel desulfurization method, we developed piezo-catalysts that do not require adding any oxidants and can be performed at room temperature. A microwave method was used to prepare CeO2/Ce2O3/NiOx nanocomposites. Model and real fuel desulfurization rates were examined as a function of synthesis parameters, such as microwave power and time, and operation conditions, such as pH and ultrasonic power. The results showed that CeO2/Ce2O3/NiOx nanocomposites demonstrated outstanding piezo-desulfurization at room temperature for both model and real fuels. Furthermore, CeO2/Ce2O3/NiOx nanocomposites exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining 79% of their piezo-catalytic activity even after 17 repetitions for desulfurization of real fuel. An investigation of the mechanism of sulfur oxidation revealed that superoxide radicals and holes played a major role. Additionally, the kinetic study revealed that sulfur removal by piezo-catalyst follows a second-order reaction kinetic model

Clinical Implications of MiR128, Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene Abnormalities and Their Association with T2D

Type 2 DM (T2D) results from the interaction of the genetic and environmental risk factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), and MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are involved in important physiological processes. Gene variations in VEGF, ACE and MiRNA genes are associated with diseases. In this study we investigated the associations of the VEGF-2578 C/A (rs699947), VEGF-2549 insertion/deletion (I/D), and ACE I/D rs4646994 and Mir128a (rs11888095) gene variations with T2D using the amplification refractory mutation system PCR (ARMS-PCR) and mutation specific PCR (MSP). We screened 122 T2D cases and 126 healthy controls (HCs) for the rs699947, and 133 T2D cases and 133 HCs for the VEGF I/D polymorphism. For the ACE I/D we screened 152 cases and 150 HCs, and we screened 129 cases and 112 HCs for the Mir128a (rs11888095). The results showed that the CA genotype of the VEGF rs699947 and D allele of the VEGF I/D polymorphisms were associated with T2D with OR =2.01, p-value = 0.011, and OR = 2.42, p-value = 0.010, respectively. The result indicated the D allele of the ACE ID was protective against T2D with OR = 0.10, p-value = 0.0001, whereas the TC genotype and the T allele of the Mir128a (rs11888095) were associated with increased risk to T2D with OR = 3.16, p-value = 0.0001, and OR = 1.68, p-value = 0.01, respectively. We conclude that the VEGF (rs699947), VEGF I/D and Mir128a (rs11888095) are potential risk loci for T2D, and that the D allele of the ACE ID polymorphism may be protective against T2D. These results help in identification and stratification for the individuals that at risk for T2D. However, future well-designed studies in different populations and with larger sample sizes are required. Moreover, studies to examine the effects of these polymorphisms on VEGF and ACE proteins are recommended

The fear of COVID-19 scale: Its structure and measurement invariance across 48 countries

COVID-19 has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trustworthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely-used Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48 countries (N = 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19S has a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons