Assessment of the Coastal Sensitivity Using the CS Index in the Gulf of Gabes Tunisia; Southern Mediterranean Coast

Assessment of the coastal degradation using the coastal sensitivity index (CSI) in the microtidal environment (Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia) shows that 78.6% of the coast is under low to moderate sensitivity. Moderate sensitivity class includes the sheltered zones and the stable sea cliffs. The highest sensitivity was recorded in sandy beaches (12.7%) where the drift actions amplify littoral fragility and flood risk.The coastal sensitivity index (CSI) is resulted from the combination of eight ranked variables: (a) geomorphology (b) coastal slope (c) hinterland topography (d) facies (e) shoreline exposure (f) shoreline changes (g) tide (h) sea-level trend. Fifty six morphodynamic cells are deduced from a strictmorphologic classification of the studied coast. Each specified cell presents a numerical pattern according to the ranked physical and structural variables. Once managed, the beaches with the highest sensitivity are immediately disturbed. Littoral disturbance is irreversible when the foredune unit is damaged but sustainable remediation of coastal areas must emphasize with the adequate planning for the environmental rehabilitation.

Mechanisms for Cardiac Troponin Increase in Arterial Hypertension

Despite the fact that cardiac troponins (cTnI and cTnT) are cardiospecific, they can be elevated in many systemic and non-cardiac physiological and pathological conditions. The diagnostic value of cTnI and cTnT significantly depends on the method of their determination. Thus, previously used low- and moderate-sensitivity immunoassays detected only serious myocardial damage and did not determine troponins in patients suffering from certain chronic pathologies. High-sensitivity troponin assays can detect minor damage to cardiac muscle cells in many pathological conditions, and troponin levels have a high predictive value. Among the early pathological conditions requiring the attention of clinicians is arterial hypertension (AH), which is also accompanied by an increase in the levels of hsTn in serum and urine. Currently, mechanisms responsible for increased levels of cardiac troponins in the blood serum and urine in hypertension are not well covered in the scientific literature. This article discusses in detail the presumptive mechanisms that cause increased levels of cTnI and cTnT in AH.

Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Tests for the Detection of Vibrio cholerae O1: An Updated Meta-Analysis

The rapid diagnosis of cholera contributes to adequate outbreak management. This meta-analysis assesses the diagnostic accuracy of cholera rapid tests (RDTs) to detect Vibrio cholerae O1. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched four databases (Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science up to 8 September 2021) for studies that evaluated cholera RDTs for the detection of V. cholerae O1 compared with either stool culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We assessed the studies’ quality using the QUADAS-2 criteria. In addition, in this update, GRADE approach was used to rate the overall certainty of the evidence. We performed a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity of cholera RDTs. Results: Overall, 20 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Studies were from Africa (n = 11), Asia (n = 7), and America (Haiti; n = 2). They evaluated eight RDTs (Crystal VC-O1, Crystal VC, Cholkit, Institut Pasteur cholera dipstick, SD Bioline, Artron, Cholera Smart O1, and Smart II Cholera O1). Using direct specimen testing, sensitivity and specificity of RDTs were 90% (95% CI, 86 to 93) and 86% (95% CI, 81 to 90), respectively. Cholera Sensitivity was higher in studies conducted in Africa [92% (95% CI, 89 to 94)] compared with Asia [82% (95% CI, 77 to 87)]. However, specificity [83% (95% CI, 71 to 91)] was lower in Africa compared with Asia [90% (95% CI, 84 to 94)]. GRADE quality of evidence was estimated as moderate. Conclusions: Against culture or PCR, current cholera RDTs have moderate sensitivity and specificity for detecting Vibrio cholerae O1.

Relationships between Pre-Stroke SARC-F Scores, Disability, and Risk of Malnutrition and Functional Outcomes after Stroke—A Prospective Cohort Study

SARC-F is a screening tool for sarcopenia; however, it has not yet been established whether SARC-F scores predict functional outcomes. Therefore, we herein investigated the relationship between SARC-F scores and functional outcomes in stroke patients. The primary outcome in the present study was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3 months after stroke. The relationship between SARC-F scores and poor functional outcomes was examined using a logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, the applicability of SARC-F scores to the assessment of poor functional outcomes was analyzed based on the area under the receiver operating curve (ROC). Eighty-one out of the 324 patients enrolled in the present study (25%) had poor functional outcomes (mRS ≥ 4). The results of the multivariate analysis revealed a correlation between SARC-F scores (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.05–1.59, p = 0.02) and poor functional outcomes. A cut-off SARC-F score ≥ 4 had low-to-moderate sensitivity (47.4%) and high specificity (87.3%). The present results suggest that the measurement of pre-stroke SARC-F scores is useful for predicting the outcomes of stroke patients.

Diagnostic value of standard and modified echocardiographic criteria for left ventricular noncompaction

Aim. To assess the diagnostic value of standard and modified ultrasound criteria for left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).Material and methods. The study included 37 patients. All patients underwent echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with any of the standard echocardiographic criteria for LVNC (Chin, Jenni, Stollberger) were included in the study. We studied modified echocardiographic criteria of LVNC in 4 and 3-chamber apical views in systole and diastole in the anterolateral (ALsist and ALdiast) and posterolateral (PLsist and PLdiast) walls with the non-compact to compact layer ratio (NC/C) >2. To assess the diagnostic value of the echocardiographic LVNC criteria, the specificity (SP) and sensitivity (SN), the likelihood ratio for positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) test results were calculated, and the operating characteristic curve (ROC) was analyzed.Results. The study included 19 women (51,4%) and 18 men (48,6%), aged 18 to 69 years. The mean age of the patients was 37,7±12,6 years. Relative to the Petersen's MRI-criterion for the Chin's criterion, SN was 55%, SP — 53% (LR+ =1,2, LR- =0,9); for the Jenni's criterion, SN — 55%, SP — 35% (LR+ =0,9, LR- =1,3); for the Stollberger's criterion, SN — 70%, SP — 18% (LR+ =0,9, LR- =1,7); for PLsyst criterion, SP — 82%, SN — 50% (LR+ =2,8, LR- =0,6). Relative to the Grothoff's MRI-criterion, which determined the LVNC mass as a percentage, for the Chin's criterion, SN was 69%, SP — 58% (LR+ =of 1,7, LR- =0,5); for the Jenni's criterion, SN — 85%, SP — 54% (LR+ =1,9, LR- =0,3); for the Stollberger's criterion, SN — 77%, SP — 25% (LR+ =1,0, LR- =0,9); for PLdiast criterion SP — 79%, SN — 62% (LR+ =3,0, LR- =0,5); for PLsyst criterion SP — 63%, SN — 84% (LR+ of 2,2, LR- =0,3); for ALdiast criterion, SP — 83%, SN — 69% (LR+ =4,1, LR- =0,4); for ALsyst criterion, SP — 71%, SN — 92% (LR+ =3,1, LR- =0,1). Relative to the Grothoff's MRI-criterion, which determined the LVNC mass index, for the Chin's criterion, SN was 59%, SP — 70% (LR+ =2,0, LR- =0,6); for the Jenni's criterion, SN — 67%, SP — 60% (LR+ =1,7, LR- =0,6); for the Stollberger's criterion SN — 78%, SP — 30% (LR+ =1,1, LR- =0,7); for the PLdiast criterion, SN — 33%, SP — 60% (LR+ =0,7, LR- =1,3); for PLsist criterion, SN — 59%, SP — 60% (LR+ =1,5, LR- =0,7); for ALdiast criterion, SN — 41%, SP — 80% (LR+ =2,0, LR- =0,7); for ALsist criterion, SN — 67%, SP — 90% (LR+ =6,7, LR- =0,4). Using ROC analysis with NC/C ratio of 2,3 for the ALsyst criterion, SN was 62%, SP — 92%; with NC/C ratio of 2,2 for PLsyst criteria in a posterolateral view in systole, SN — 62%, SP — 83%; with NC/C ratio of 2,1 for ALdiast criterion in an anterolateral view in diastole, SN — 54%, SP — 88%; with NC/C ratio of 2,1 for PLdiast criterion in a posterolateral view in diastole, SN — 46%, SP — 96%.Conclusion. Standard echocardiographic criteria are characterized by moderate sensitivity and low specificity. To improve the diagnostic accuracy of LVNC, the combined use of modified echocardiographic criteria is possible. As a screening of LVNC, using NC/C of 2,2 for the PLsist and NC/C of 2,3 for the PLsist to improve the specificity of the study should be useful.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related acute lobar intra-cerebral hemorrhage: diagnostic value of plain CT

Background Diagnosing probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) after lobar intra-cerebral hemorrhage (l-ICH) currently relies on the MR-based modified Boston criteria (mBC). However, MRI has limited availability and the mBC have moderate sensitivity, with isolated l-ICH being classified as “possible CAA”. A recent autopsy-based study reported potential value of finger-like projections (FLP) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on acute CT. Here we assessed these markers’ performance in a cohort most of whom survived the index episode. Methods We included all patients from a prospective pathology database with non-traumatic l-ICH, admission CT and available tissue sample showing no alternative cause. CT was assessed by two blinded independent neuroradiologists. Interobserver reproducibility was almost perfect for SAH and substantial for FLP. Results Sixteen patients were eligible [age 65.8 ± 7.2 yrs; hematoma volume: 39(26, 71)mls; hematoma evacuation sample 15 patients; autopsy one patient]. MRI was available in 11 patients. ICH-related death affected six patients. Aβ40–42 immunohistochemistry revealed CAA in seven patients (44%). SAH and FLP were present in 12/16 (75%) and 10/16 (62%) patients, respectively. SAH had 100% sensitivity for CAA but low specificity; FLP had lower performance. Using either pathology or MRI as reference standard yielded essentially similar results. All patients with possible CAA on MRI but CAA on pathology had SAH. Conclusions In patients with moderate-size l-ICH who mostly survived the index event, SAH had perfect sensitivity and better performance than FLP. In addition, SAH appeared to add onto MRI in possible CAA, the clinically most relevant scenario. Studies in larger samples are however warranted.

Probing dark matter clumps, strings and domain walls with gravitational wave detectors

Gravitational wave astronomy has recently emerged as a new way to study our Universe. In this work, we survey the potential of gravitational wave interferometers to detect macroscopic astrophysical objects comprising the dark matter. Starting from the well-known case of clumps we expand to cosmic strings and domain walls. We also consider the sensitivity to measure the dark matter power spectrum on small scales. Our analysis is based on the fact that these objects, when traversing the vicinity of the detector, will exert a gravitational pull on each node of the interferometer, in turn leading to a differential acceleration and corresponding Doppler signal, that can be measured. As a prototypical example of a gravitational wave interferometer, we consider signals induced at LISA. We further extrapolate our results to gravitational wave experiments sensitive in other frequency bands, including ground-based interferometers, such as LIGO, and pulsar timing arrays, e.g. ones based on the Square Kilometer Array. Assuming moderate sensitivity improvements beyond the current designs, clumps, strings and domain walls may be within reach of these experiments.

Sensitivity and specificity of the antigen-based anterior nasal self-testing programme for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in schools, Austria, March 2021

This study evaluates the performance of the antigen-based anterior nasal screening programme implemented in all Austrian schools to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections. We combined nationwide antigen-based screening data obtained in March 2021 from 5,370 schools (Grade 1–8) with an RT-qPCR-based prospective cohort study comprising a representative sample of 244 schools. Considering a range of assumptions, only a subset of infected individuals are detected with the programme (low to moderate sensitivity) and non-infected individuals mainly tested negative (very high specificity).

Detecting Apnea/Hypopnea Events Time Location from Sound Recordings for Patients with Severe or Moderate Sleep Apnea Syndrome

The most common index for diagnosing Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) is the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), defined as the average count of apnea/hypopnea events per sleeping hour. Despite its broad use in automated systems for SAS severity estimation, researchers now focus on individual event time detection rather than the insufficient classification of the patient in SAS severity groups. Towards this direction, in this work, we aim at the detection of the exact time location of apnea/hypopnea events. We particularly examine the hypothesis of employing a standard Voice Activity Detection (VAD) algorithm to extract breathing segments during sleep and identify the respiratory events from severely altered breathing amplitude within the event. The algorithm, which is tested only in severe and moderate patients, is applied to recordings from a tracheal and an ambient microphone. It proves good sensitivity for apneas, reaching 81% and 70.4% for the two microphones, respectively, and moderate sensitivity to hypopneas—approx. 50% were identified. The algorithm also presents an adequate estimator of the Mean Apnea Duration index—defined as the average duration of the detected events—for patients with severe or moderate apnea, with mean error 1.7 s and 3.2 s for the two microphones, respectively.

Thiourea Derivatives, Simple in Structure but Efficient Enzyme Inhibitors and Mercury Sensors

In this study six unsymmetrical thiourea derivatives, 1-isobutyl-3-cyclohexylthiourea (1), 1-tert-butyl-3-cyclohexylthiourea (2), 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-cyclohexylthiourea (3), 1-(1,1-dibutyl)-3-phenylthiourea (4), 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (5) and 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-phenylthiourea (6) were obtained in the laboratory under aerobic conditions. Compounds 3 and 4 are crystalline and their structure was determined for their single crystal. Compounds 3 is monoclinic system with space group P21/n while compound 4 is trigonal, space group R3:H. Compounds (1–6) were tested for their anti-cholinesterase activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (hereafter abbreviated as, AChE and BChE, respectively). Potentials (all compounds) as sensing probes for determination of deadly toxic metal (mercury) using spectrofluorimetric technique were also investigated. Compound 3 exhibited better enzyme inhibition IC50 values of 50, and 60 µg/mL against AChE and BChE with docking score of −10.01, and −8.04 kJ/mol, respectively. The compound also showed moderate sensitivity during fluorescence studies.