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Drought is one of the most common natural disasters, affecting ecosystems, agricultural production, and water supplies. This study presents the trend analysis of annual rainfall and the effect of climate variation in Tunisia. The paper seeks to provide up-to-date information for the better management of climate change in Tunisia. The analysis is based on monthly rainfall over 16 stations for a total period 62 years from 1958 to 2020 in Tunisia. The overall purpose of this study is to investigate the possible trend of rainfall variation as well as the effect of climatic changes on the study area. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) were employed to find long-term drought trends as well as to examine the occurrence of droughts at a longer duration. Borma and Tabarka stations have the lowest and highest extent of rainfall fluctuation with 50 and 880 mm respectively. Based on average temperature Thala and Kairouan are the coldest and warmest station in the time period of 1958–2020 with the 8.8 and 26.9 °C mean, respectively. The last ten years (2010–2020) counted as the warmest decade in the past 62 years. The mean annual rainfall varies from 200 to 900 mm for the study area. During the last decades, the time trend in rainfall has generally been in low for the southern Tunisia with an annual rainfall does not exceed 200 mm. The results of MK test for annual rainfall data revealed decreasing the trend of annual rainfall had shown non-significant decrease at all stations except at seven stations (which has a non-significant trend increase). Annual mean minimum and maximum temperatures showed increasing trend with almost same rate (0.03 °C/year) and statistically significant at 1% significant level. From the long term analysis of PET, SPI and RDI at all stations in Tunisia, it may be concluded that the annual SPI exhibited increasing trend at all station except Borma station in south but which has a non-significant trend increase. In most Tunisian regions, PET increases ranged between 0.03 and 0.52 mm annually. The north and northwestern parts of Tunisia have observed large increases in PET at rates between 0.2 and 0.52 mm year–1, in all the stations, RDI showed decreasing trend and no change trends (0.00). RDI exhibited decreasing trend in North of Tunisia. Since, non-significant positive trend showed in RDI during all stations.

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In the current investigation, two novel series of (tetrahydro)thioquinazoline-N-arylacetamides and (tetrahydro)thioquinazoline-N-arylacetohydrazides were designed, synthesized and investigated for their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The thioquinazoline-N-arylacetamide 17g as well as the tetrahydrothioquinazoline-N-arylacetohydrazides 18c and 18f showed potent antiviral activity with IC50 of 21.4, 38.45 and 26.4 µM, respectively. In addition, 18c and 18f demonstrated potential selectivity toward the SARS-CoV-2 over the host cells with SI of 10.67 and 16.04, respectively. Further evaluation of the mechanism of action of the three derivatives 17g, 18c, and 18f displayed that they can inhibit the virus at the adsorption as well as at the replication stages, in addition to their virucidal properties. In addition, 17g, 18c, and 18f demonstrated satisfactory physicochemical properties as well as drug-likeness properties to be further optimized for the discovery of novel antiviral agents. The docking simulation on Mpro binding site predicted the binding pattern of the target compounds rationalizing their differential activity based on their hydrophobic interaction and fitting in the hydrophobic S2 subsite of the binding site

Embryonal tumors of the central nervous system are neuroepithelial-derived, highly aggressive, poorly differentiated tumors. They cover a variety of tumors, such as neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and medulloepithelioma. Ependymal neoplasms can form in the supratentorial compartment, the posterior fossa, or the spinal cord at any age and include several tumor types and subtypes. This chapter aims to provide a brief knowledge on these tumors aided by twenty five questions.

Long-segment adult spinal deformity (ASD) constructs carry a high risk of mechanical complications. Pelvic fixation was introduced to improve distal construct mechanics and has since become the standard for long constructs spanning the lumbosacral junction. Pelvic fixation strategies have evolved substantially over the years. Numerous techniques now use a variety of entry points, screw trajectories, and construct configurations. We review the various strategies for pelvic fixation in ASD in a systematic review of the literature and update the techniques employed in the International Spine Study Group Complex Adult Deformity Surgery database.

BackgroundThis study assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of high (80–100%) vs low (21–35%) fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) at preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) after abdominal surgery in Nigeria, India, and South Africa.
Methods
Decision-analytic models were constructed using best available evidence sourced from unbundled data of an ongoing pilot trial assessing the effectiveness of high FiO2, published literature, and a cost survey in Nigeria, India, and South Africa. Effectiveness was measured as percentage of SSIs at 30 days after surgery, a healthcare perspective was adopted, and costs were reported in US dollars ($).
Results
High FiO2 may be cost-effective (cheaper and effective). In Nigeria, the average cost for high FiO2 was $216 compared with $222 for low FiO2 leading to a −$6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −$13 to −$1) difference in costs. In India, the average cost for high FiO2 was $184 compared with $195 for low FiO2 leading to a −$11 (95% CI: −$15 to −$6) difference in costs. In South Africa, the average cost for high FiO2 was $1164 compared with $1257 for low FiO2 leading to a −$93 (95% CI: −$132 to −$65) difference in costs. The high FiO2 arm had few SSIs, 7.33% compared with 8.38% for low FiO2, leading to a −1.05 (95% CI: −1.14 to −0.90) percentage point reduction in SSIs.
Conclusion
High FiO2 could be cost-effective at preventing SSIs in the three countries but further data from large clinical trials are required to confirm this.

An in-line smartphone connected to a screen-printed selective electrode hand-held device was used to determine the concentration of distigmine bromide (DB) in its pure and dosage forms as well as its degradation kinetics by continuously measuring the change in the produced emf over time. The main objective, supported by the data presented, is to produce a highly reliable smartphone integrated selective sensor as a portable analyzer with potential high cloud connectivity combining a wide linear dynamic range, the fastest response time with the lowest limits of detection and quantitation while best integrating green analytical chemistry principles. The choice of ionophore used in this approach was guided by computation and the data obtained was compared with traditional analytical techniques. DB, for which there are no previously reported stability-indicating methods and for which four novel such methods are proposed here, was selected as a model drug for this work. At-line UV-spectrophotometry DB assay was obtained by measuring the difference between the spectra of the degradation product and the same concentration of intact drug. The degradation kinetics were studied by this method through tracking the decrease of DB absorbance and/or the increase of a generated degradation product signal over time. Off-line separation based HPLC and TLC stability-indicating methods for DB were also presented. All methods employed in this work were validated for accuracy, precision, specificity, repeatability, linearity, range, detection and quantification limits according to the ICH guidelines and were applied to the analysis of laboratory prepared mixtures as well as commercial products. While all methods proposed were shown to be highly reliable, the smartphone integrated selective sensor is highlighted as a portable analyzer with potential high cloud connectivity and was shown to combine a wide linear dynamic range, the fastest response time with the lowest limits of detection and quantitation while best integrating green analytical chemistry principles.

We present the experimental realization of plasmonic hyperdoped Si nanocrystals embedded in silica via a combination of sequential low energy ion implantation and rapid thermal annealing. We show that phosphorus dopants are incorporated into the nanocrystal cores at concentrations up to six times higher than P solid solubility in bulk Si by combining 3D mapping with atom probe tomography and analytical transmission electron microscopy. We shed light on the origin of nanocrystal growth at high P doses, which we attribute to Si recoiling atoms generated in the matrix by P implantation, which likely increase Si diffusivity and feed the Si nanocrystals. We show that dopant activation enables partial nanocrystal surface passivation that can be completed by forming gas annealing. Such surface passivation is a critical step in the formation of plasmon resonance, especially for small nanocrystals. We find that the activation rate in these small doped Si nanocrystals is the same as in bulk Si under the same doping conditions.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility associated with multiple medical and psychiatric complications. The study compared suicide, impulsivity, and depression in females with PCOS to females with other causes of infertility.

Periodontitis is the sixth most common chronic inflammatory disease, destroying the tissues supporting the teeth. There are three distinct stages in periodontitis: infection, inflammation, and tissue destruction, where each stage has its own characteristics and hence its line of treatment. Illuminating the underlying mechanisms of alveolar bone loss is vital in the treatment of periodontitis to allow for subsequent reconstruction of the periodontium. Bone cells, including osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and bone marrow stromal cells, classically were thought to control bone destruction in periodontitis. Lately, osteocytes were found to assist in inflammation-related bone remodeling besides being able to initiate physiological bone remodeling. Furthermore, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) either transplanted or homed exhibit highly immunosuppressive properties, such as preventing monocytes/hematopoietic precursor differentiation and downregulating excessive release of inflammatory cytokines. In the early stages of bone regeneration, an acute inflammatory response is critical for the recruitment of MSCs, controlling their migration, and their differentiation. Later during bone remodeling, the interaction and balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines could regulate MSC properties, resulting in either bone formation or bone resorption. This narrative review elaborates on the important interactions between inflammatory stimuli during periodontal diseases, bone cells, MSCs, and subsequent bone regeneration or bone resorption. Understanding these concepts will open up new possibilities for promoting bone regeneration and hindering bone loss caused by periodontal diseases.