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Highlights Steel tip arrays were used as current collectors to replace planar conductors. Optimal flow and electric fields reduced barriers for electron and ion transport. Desalination performance of flow-electrode capacitive deionization is enhanced by the tip-array current collectors.

Substance use problems among the homeless population represents a major issue leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this review was to investigate the prevalence, trends and effects of substance use among the homeless population. Studies were identified through electronic searches of Google Scholar, Science Direct, Medline, Embase and Scopus between January 2007 and December 2020. Studies included were those reporting substance use and homelessness within the age range of 18–64 years old, whereas interventional and rehabilitation studies were excluded. Subsequently the extraction yielded twenty-five studies. The results showed that substance use was more prevalent in males than females and alcohol the most popular substance used among the homeless population. After 2017, however, both alcohol and new psychoactive substances (NPS) were equally a problem. This urges the need to develop research in homelessness and NPS consumption to increase awareness among health care providers, governmental agencies and academics.

Highlights A new class of γ-cyclodextrin based metal–organic framework -derived strategy was used to fabricate highly active M–N-C catalysts containing both single-atom sites and nanoparticles. The obtained Co@C-CoNC exhibits remarkable bifunctional oxygen reduction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reactions (OER) performance, which further delivered a high power density and excellent cyclic stability in rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Density functional theory calculation suggests that the mutual self-regulation of d-electron density of both Co NP and Co SAC conjointly reduce the reaction energy barriers and thus boost the ORR/OER kinetics through their fast adsorption/desorption ability of reaction intermediates.

The last decade has witnessed the emergence of new psychoactive substances that are analogues of classical drugs of abuse in order to escape the regulations surrounding the latter drugs. These drugs were of both herbal and synthetic origin and were advertised initially as ‘legal highs’; thus, they were perceived as safe by users. Hence, upon their emergence, they were not controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which contributed to their popularity and increased sales online and within street markets. In 2016, the Psychoactive Substance Act introduced a blanket ban on all new psychoactive substances except for caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. This in turn, contributed to the change in the sale of new psychoactive substances products that have been sold as concealed in different matrices, including herbal products, papers, fabrics, and textiles. Concealing drugs in paper has been very popular, especially since the drug product is of lightweight and can be sent via postal services. However, new psychoactive concealed in papers are toxic not only to the users; but also, to the person handling them (i.e. mail employees). One of the classes of new psychoactive substances that have been commonly concealed in papers and that have been linked to toxicity and hospitalization cases is synthetic cannabinoids. Therefore, there is a need to identify new psychoactive substances concealed in papers non-destructively and rapidly to prevent toxicity linked to them. Handheld Raman spectroscopy offers this advantage as it is of lightweight and carries the sample to the matrix. Therefore, this work used handheld Raman spectroscopy for identifying synthetic cannabinoids concealed in papers using Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning analytics. Synthetic cannabinoid and paper samples were measured non-destructively using a handheld Raman spectrometer equipped with a 1064 nm laser wavelength. Spectral data was exported into Matlab 2020b where machine learning analytics including identification and prediction was. The results showed that Raman spectroscopy could identify specific synthetic cannabinoids in papers that were either deposited on the surface of the paper or diffused inside the paper substrate. When machine learning analytics were applied to the Raman spectra of the papers, quantitative information was obtained regarding the amount of synthetic cannabinoid deposited on the paper surface. In summary, handheld Raman spectroscopy could identify and quantify synthetic cannabinoids on paper rapidly and non-destructively. Future work involves testing other classes of new psychoactive substance and applying deep learning analytics

The energy content of secondary batteries is often limited by the charge carriers available in the system. Here, the authors employed an anion acceptor cathode for simultaneous use of electrolyte anions and cations as effective charge carriers in solid polymer electrolytes for lithium-based batteries.

Abstract Since the discovery of graphene, the star among new materials, there has been a surge of attention focused on the monatomic and monomolecular sheets which can be obtained by exfoliation of layered compounds. Such materials are known as two-dimensional (2D) materials and offer enormous versatility and potential. The ultimate single atom, or molecule, thickness of the 2D materials sheets provides the highest surface to weight ratio of all the nanomaterials, which opens the door to the design of more sensitive and reliable chemical sensors. The variety of properties and the possibility of tuning the chemical and surface properties of the 2D materials increase their potential as selective sensors, targeting chemical species that were previously difficult to detect. The planar structure and the mechanical flexibility of the sheets allow new sensor designs and put 2D materials at the forefront of all the candidates for wearable applications. When developing sensors for alcohol, the response time is an essential factor for many industrial and forensic applications, particularly when it comes to hand-held devices. Here, we review recent developments in the applications of 2D materials in sensing alcohols along with a study on parameters that affect the sensing capabilities. The review also discusses the strategies used to develop the sensor along with their mechanisms of sensing and provides a critique of the current limitations of 2D materials-based alcohol sensors and an outlook for the future research required to overcome the challenges.

There is growing demand for rapid, nondestructive detection of trace-level bioactive molecules including medicines, toxins, biomolecules, and single cells, in a variety of disciplines. In recent years, surface-enhanced Raman scattering has been increasingly applied for such purposes, and this area of research is rapidly growing. Of particular interest is the detection of such compounds in dried saliva spots (DSS) and dried blood spots (DBS), often in medical scenarios, such as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and disease diagnosis. Such samples are usually analyzed using hyphenated chromatography techniques, which are costly and time consuming. Here we present for the first time a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy protocol for the detection of the common antidepressant amitriptyline (AMT) on DBS and DSS using a test substrate modified with silver nanoparticles. The validated protocol is rapid and non-destructive, with a detection limit of 95 ppb, and linear range between 100 ppb and 1.75 ppm on the SERS substrate, which covers the therapeutic window of AMT in biological fluids.

RATIONALE: Cardiac biomarkers are used to distinguish acute dyspnea due to left-heart dysfunction from that of pulmonary origin. However, they have not been assessed in the specific setting of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), where they might be released without left-heart impairment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of troponin T and of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the diagnosis of AECOPD associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. METHODS: Both biomarkers were measured in 148 consecutive patients on intensive care unit admission for AECOPD. A panel of physicians adjudicated blindly the cause of AECOPD to be unlikely, possibly associated, or definitely associated with LV dysfunction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The final diagnosis was AECOPD definitely associated with acute left-heart dysfunction in 31.1%, possibly associated with LV dysfunction in 13.5%, and probably not associated with LV dysfunction in 55.4%. Both NT-proBNP and troponin T levels were significantly different among the three groups. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was greater for NT-proBNP (0.95 vs. 0.67). A cutoff of 1,000 pg/ml was accurate to rule out left-heart involvement in AECOPD (sensitivity, 94%; negative predictive value, 94%; negative likelihood ratio, 0.08). A cutoff of 2,500 pg/ml had the best operating characteristics to rule in the diagnosis (positive likelihood ratio, 5.16). Left-heart involvement in AECOPD was the only variable independently associated with increased secretion of NT-proBNP (odds ratio, 74; 95% confidence interval, 15-375; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP and troponin T are useful in excluding AECOPD associated with left ventricular dysfunction. NT-proBNP was the more accurate of the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Importance: Abdominal pregnancy is a rare and potentially fatal variant of ectopic pregnancy, presenting unique clinical challenges. This report discusses an unusual case of abdominal pregnancy associated with uterine and high rectal perforations, complications that are rarely reported in clinical practice., Case Presentation: We report a case involving a 31-year-old woman from a rural area, with a psychiatric history, presenting severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. Initial investigations revealed a hemopneumoperitoneum and a fetal skeleton in the pelvic area by CT, leading to a diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy. Surgical findings included a nonviable fetus, approximately 5 months gestational age, and perforations in both the rectum and the posterior uterine wall., Clinical Discussion: The patient underwent extensive surgery, including placental dissection, anterior rectal resection, Hartmann's colostomy, hysterorrhaphy, and drainage of the peritoneal cavity. The complexity of managing abdominal pregnancy, especially with additional complications such as organ perforations, poses significant surgical challenges. This case emphasizes the need to consider abdominal pregnancy in differential diagnoses of abdominal pain in women, due to the risk of misdiagnosis and complex surgical requirements., Conclusion: This case highlights the critical importance of prompt diagnosis and comprehensive care in managing rare and life-threatening presentations of abdominal pregnancy. It underscores the need to increase awareness among clinicians for timely intervention and provides information on the complexities of surgical management in cases with additional organ perforations., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Over the past 3 decades, the diversity of ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds worldwide, particularly in countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has led to an increase in the number of intercountry conflicts and terrorist attacks, sometimes involving chemical and biological agents. This warrants moving toward a collaborative approach to strengthening preparedness in the region. In disaster medicine, artificial intelligence techniques have been increasingly utilized to allow a thorough analysis by revealing unseen patterns. In this study, the authors used text mining and machine learning techniques to analyze open-ended feedback from multidisciplinary experts in disaster medicine regarding the MENA region's preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks. Open-ended feedback from 29 international experts in disaster medicine, selected based on their organizational roles and contributions to the academic field, was collected using a modified interview method between October and December 2022. Machine learning clustering algorithms, natural language processing, and sentiment analysis were used to analyze the data gathered using R language accessed through the RStudio environment. Findings revealed negative and fearful sentiments about a lack of accessibility to preparedness information, as well as positive sentiments toward CBRN preparedness concepts raised by the modified interview method. The artificial intelligence analysis techniques revealed a common consensus among experts about the importance of having accessible and effective plans and improved health sector preparedness in MENA, especially for potential chemical and biological incidents. Findings from this study can inform policymakers in the region to converge their efforts to build collaborative initiatives to strengthen CBRN preparedness capabilities in the healthcare sector.

Introduction and Importance: Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets immune cells and exposes infected patients to several diseases. For these reasons, HIV infection should be suspected in each situation where post-operative sepsis occurs, to afford therapy and improve the patient's prognosis., Case Presentation: We present a case of a pregnant woman at 39 weeks of gestation who missed her prenatal follow-up. She underwent an emergency caesarian section for severe abnormality in the fetal heart rate. The caesarian section was complicated by a post-partum hemorrhage (PPH). PPH was managed with uterine artery ligation and B-Lynch modified sutures., Clinical Discussion: Postoperatively, there was the succession of the following events: purulent uterine necrosis, peritonitis, and encephalitis leading to a life-saving hysterectomy. Due to the worsening of the septic condition, HIV screening was performed, after obtaining the patient's consent, and came back positive., Conclusion: The aim of this case report is to push practicians to think about HIV infection when necessary because missing the diagnosis can seriously threaten patients' health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To investigate maternal prenatal anxiety and depression in high-risk pregnancies and examine their influence on maternal-fetal attachment., Methods: We included 95 hospitalized high-risk pregnant women. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI) were used to assess the primary objective. Internal consistency and construct validity of the PAI were investigated., Results: The average age was 31 years and gestational age ranged from 26 to 41 weeks. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 20% and anxiety symptoms 39%. Cronbach alpha coefficient of the PAI Tunisian version was 0.8 and the construct validity in favour of one factor model. PAI scores correlated negatively and significatively with the HADS total score (r = - 0.218, p = 0.034) and was attributed to the depression dimension only (r = - 0.205, p = 0.046)., Conclusions for Practice: Emotional wellbeing of pregnant women especially in high-risk pregnancies should be explored in order to prevent consequences on women, their growing fetus, and prenatal attachment., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction and Importance: Gigantic borderline ovarian cancer, also known as giant borderline ovarian tumor, is a rare subtype of borderline ovarian cancer. This type of ovarian cyst can be associated to various complication, including superinfection., Case Presentation: We present the case of a 30-year-old woman who sought medical attention due to chronic abdominal pain and a rapid increase in abdominal girth over the past four months. Pelvic ultrasound and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an abdominal-pelvic mass of 27 ∗ 12 cm. The tumoral markers were elevated. During her hospitalization, she developed a fever along with abdominal pain and biological inflammatory syndrome. Surgical intervention a 30-cm-long solid cystic mass located on the right ovary, accompanied by moderate ascites. The surgical procedure included a right adnexectomy, omentectomy, and appendicectomy, with cytology performed. Postoperative antibiotics were administered, and the patient showed favorable clinical and biological progress. The anatomopathological examination confirmed a 35-cm borderline mucinous tumor with signs of infection., Clinical Discussion: Giant borderline ovarian tumor is characterized by the presence of an ovarian mass measuring at least 10 cm in diameter. Infectious complications are rare, and their clinical features usually mimic those of a peritonitis. Treatment is based on antibiotics and chirurgical removal of the tumor based on the FIGO classification along with peritoneal biopsies and cytology., Conclusion: This study explores the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of infected giant borderline ovarian tumors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Key Clinical Message: Pathologists should consider the differential diagnoses of placental chorioangioma, which encompass chorangiosis, chorangiomatosis, chorangiocarcinoma, intervillous thrombus, and placental infarct., Abstract: Chorioangiomas are rare non-trophoblastic vascular neoplasms of the placenta, occurring in approximately 1% of pregnancies. Large chorioangiomas (>4 cm) are infrequent and associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications. There are limited reports in the literature regarding uncomplicated cases of large placental chorioangiomas., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: postpartum hemorrhage is the main cause of maternal death worldwide. Uterine balloon packing has shown promising outcomes in PPH management. Nevertheless, its usage is limited in low- and middle-income countries due to associated costs. Uterine packing using gauzes presents a potentially efficient and cost-effective alternative. This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of intra-uterine packing with gauzes in managing postpartum hemorrhage., Methods: this was a retrospective study over a period of two years and six months. All patients who experienced PPH due to uterine atony during vaginal delivery, with no response to medical first-line treatment, were included. IUP using gauze was employed as a second-line intervention. The primary outcome was the success of postpartum hemorrhage management. Secondary outcomes included patient vitals, the need for blood transfusion, change in hemoglobin levels (delta Hemoglobin), and maternal morbidity (post-partum infection, Sheehan syndrome, and retained gauzes)., Results: the study included 63 patients. The mean age was 30.06 ± 5.6, the mean gravida was 2.65 ± 1.9 and the mean para was 2.12 ± 1.31. None of these patients experienced major complications following gauze insertion. Three patients underwent laparotomy and conservative surgical management was performed. Hysterectomy was not required for any participant, and no maternal deaths were recorded., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Ahmed Halouani et al.)

Introduction: markers in breast cancer stem cells, such as cluster of differentiation 10 (CD10), would be correlated with invasive and metastatic potential of several types of cancer, contributing to tumor growth and metastases. In patients with breast cancer, its prognostic value is still controversial, given the discrepancy of results. The purpose of the study was to study CD10 expression in stromal cells of patients with breast cancer as well as to evaluate the prognostic value of this expression., Method: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive and prognostic study. It involved 57 patients with invasive cancer of no special type, whose data were collected in the Department of Pathological Anatomy at the Mongi Slim Hospital over a 38-month period. CD10 expression was studied immunohistochemically and interpreted by semi-quantitative scoring system based on three categories with thresholds of 10 and 30%., Results: the average age of patients was 56.4 years. Twenty-eight patients (49%) had labeled CD10 stromal, half of patients had a score of 1 (low) and the other half had 2 (high). This labeling significantly reduced recurrence-free survival (p=0.001). However, it had no influence on overall survival (p=0.84). The correlation study showed that CD10 expression in stromal cells was significantly correlated with 12 poor prognostic factors in patients with breast cancer., Conclusion: CD10 expression in stromal cells of invasive breast cancer is a poor prognostic factor, predictive of poor survival without recurrence and associated with a high invasive and metastatic potential., Competing Interests: Les auteurs ne déclarent aucun conflit d’intérêts., (Copyright: Dhouha Bacha et al.)

The severe hypertriglyceridemia during pregnancy is a rare condition. It is a problem for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic. This dyslipidemia benefit from specific and effective treatments, but it is still poorly codified. Dietary is still the essential therapeutic, but fetal extraction should also be considered if the gestational age permits. Post-partum monitoring is required but etiologic thorough is not recommended if the triglycerides rate normalizes. The major complication of hypertriglyceridemia should be actively sought because of important maternal mortality rate., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© Anissa Ben Amor et al.)

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in genes coding for chemokines may be associated with some cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of CCR2-64I and CXCL12-3'A SNPs on the susceptibility and the clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) in the Tunisian population. 170 NSCLC patients and 225 healthy controls screened by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis were enrolled. A significant association for the homozygous genotype CCR2 64I/64I with lung cancer risk was observed (P=0.004). An increased significant frequency of the -64I allele (P=0.0006) was noted in the patient's group. Clinical analysis indicated a positive association of the -64I allele among squamous cell lung carcinoma patients (P=0.003). The CCR2 mRNA extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was found highly expressed in NSCLC patients compared to controls. The same higher levels were found in patients carrying the CCR2 64I/64I genotype. No significant association was retrieved with CXCL12-3'A polymorphism. In conclusion, our results revealed that the subjects with -64I allele of CCR2-64I gene polymorphism, expressed a significantly higher risk for NSCLC risk without influence on its pathological progression., (Copyright © 2015 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are importantly involved in aneurysm formation. Since the clinical manifestations in Behçet disease (BD) include aneurysm formation among major symptoms, polymorphisms in MMP-9 might be associated with BD susceptibility. The aim of the current case-control study was to investigate the association of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MMP-9 gene: -1562 C/T, 2003 G/A (R668Q), 836 A/G (Q279R) and 1721 C/G (R574P) with BD risk in the Tunisian population. The distribution of MMP-9 gene polymorphisms was analyzed by polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for 240 BD patients and 288 controls. Our study indicated that the MMP-9 -1562 C/T polymorphism (rs3918242) was not associated with BD risk. We found a significant association of the MMP-9 2003 G/A (rs17577) with an increased susceptibility to BD. However, the MMP-9 1721 C/G polymorphism (rs2250889) had a protective role against the development of BD. Subgroup analysis based on stratification by gender revealed that the MMP-9 2003 G/A polymorphism was associated with a highly significant BD risk in women's group (G vs. A: P=0.0000001). However, the MMP-9 836 A/G polymorphism had a protective role in men's group (G vs. A: P=0.00043). The MMP-9 1721 C/G polymorphism was associated with a protective effect in both men and women groups (CG+GG vs. CC: P=0.04 and P=0.0002, respectively). The haplotype analysis did not show any association with BD risk. A significant difference in the MMP-9 serum levels were observed in the patient subgroup with ocular lesions manifestations., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Many studies reported that Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms might influence the cancer risk due to their antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and apoptotic effects. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic association of VDR polymorphisms with lung cancer risk in Tunisian population. The genotype and haplotype frequencies of four VDR polymorphisms, FokI (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232) and TaqI (rs731236) were studied using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 240 patients with lung cancer and 280 healthy controls. The distribution of genotype frequencies differed significantly between lung cancer subjects and controls (FokI P adj = 0.002; ApaI P adj = 0.013). Haplotype analyses revealed a significant association between G-A-C and A-C-T haplotypes and lung cancer risk (P corr = 0.0128, P corr = 0.008). When patients were stratified according to gender, age, and smoking, significant associations were detected with FokI and TaqI polymorphisms. We found a lack of association between BsmI, TaqI polymorphisms and lung cancer risk (P > 0.05). Only, the attributable proportion due to interaction and the synergic index for interaction between ApaI polymorphism and smoking were statistically significant (P adj = 0.74, 95 % CI = 0.38-1.20) and (P adj = 0.63, 95 % CI = 0.05-1.21), respectively. Both the additive interaction measures suggested the existence of a biological interaction between SNP ApaI, but not FokI, and smoking. The multiplicative interaction measure was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). This is the first study in Tunisia, which suggested that VDR FokI and ApaI polymorphisms might be risk factors for lung cancer development.

MycoBank, a registration system for fungi established in 2004 to capture all taxonomic novelties, acts as a coordination hub between repositories such as Index Fungorum and Fungal Names. Since January 2013, registration of fungal names is a mandatory requirement for valid publication under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants (ICN). This review explains the database innovations that have been implemented over the past few years, and discusses new features such as advanced queries, registration of typification events (MBT numbers for lecto, epi- and neotypes), the multi-lingual database interface, the nomenclature discussion forum, annotation system, and web services with links to third parties. MycoBank has also introduced novel identification services, linking DNA sequence data to numerous related databases to enable intelligent search queries. Although MycoBank fills an important void for taxon registration, challenges for the future remain to improve links between taxonomic names and DNA data, and to also introduce a formal system for naming fungi known from DNA sequence data only. To further improve the quality of MycoBank data, remote access will now allow registered mycologists to act as MycoBank curators, using Citrix software.

We report the case of a 54-year-old man, without particular pathological antecedents admitted to the emergency of the university hospital of Monastir, for right renal colic. Radiography of the urinary tract without preparation and renal echography showed bilateral renal lithiasis and a right ureteral lithiasis. The interrogation revealed concept of vomiting after which the patient felt relieved. The biological assessment objectified an hypochloremic metabolic alcalosis, an increase in the anion gap, a severe impaired renal function of obstructive origin and an hypokaliemia. The presence of the lithiasis did not explain on its own the metabolic disorders of this patient. The other investigations showed that initial pathology was an evolutionary bulb ulcer into pre-stenosis justifying treatment by omeprazole and explaining the biological disorders.