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OBJECTIVE Preclinical research implicates hypothalamic inflammation (HI) in obesity and type 2 diabetes pathophysiology. However, their pathophysiological relevance and potential reversibility need to be better defined. We sought to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery (BS) on radiological biomarkers of HI and the association between the severity of such radiological alterations and post-BS weight loss (WL) trajectories. The utility of cerebrospinal fluid large extracellular vesicles (CSF-lEVs) enriched for microglial and astrocyte markers in studying HI was also explored. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We included 72 individuals with obesity (20 with and 52 without type 2 diabetes) and 24 control individuals. Participants underwent lumbar puncture and 3-T MRI at baseline and 1-year post-BS. We assessed hypothalamic mean diffusivity (MD) (higher values indicate lesser microstructural integrity) and the volume of the whole and main hypothalamic subregions. CSF-lEVs enriched for glial and astrocyte markers were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS Compared with control group, the obesity and type 2 diabetes groups showed a larger volume and higher MD in the hypothalamic tubular inferior region, the area encompassing the arcuate nucleus. These radiological alterations were positively associated with baseline anthropometric and metabolic measures and improved post-BS. A larger baseline tubular inferior hypothalamic volume was independently related to lesser WL 1 and 2 years after BS. CSF-lEVs did not differ among groups and were unrelated to WL trajectories. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest HI improvement after BS and may support a role for HI in modulating the WL response to these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most frequent of the congenital errors of amino acid (AA) metabolism worldwide. It leads to the accumulation of the essential AA phenylalanine (Phe) and it is associated with severe neurological defects. The early diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease, achieved through newborn screening and low-Phe diet, has profoundly changed its clinical spectrum, resulting in normal cognitive development. We face the first generation of PKU patients perinatally diagnosed and treated who have reached adulthood, whose special needs must be addressed, including feeding through enteral nutrition (EN). However, recommendations regarding EN in PKU constitute a gap in the literature. Although protein substitutes for patients with PKU are offered in multiple forms (Phe-free L-amino acid or casein glycomacropeptide supplements), none of these commercial formulas ensures the whole provision of daily total energy and protein requirements, including a safe amount of Phe. Consequently, the combination of different products becomes necessary when artificial nutrition via tube feeding is required. Importantly, the composition of these specific formulas may result in physicochemical interactions when they are mixed with standard EN products, leading to enteral feeding tubes clogging, and also gastrointestinal concerns due to hyperosmolality. Herein, we present the first reported case of EN use in an adult patient with PKU, where the separate administration of protein substitutes and the other EN products avoided physicochemical interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare inborn error of metabolism (IEM), classified as an inherited aminoaciduria, caused by mutations in the SLC7A7 gene, leading to a defective cationic amino acid transport. The metabolic adaptations to the demands of pregnancy and delivery cause significant physiological stress, so those patients affected by IEM are at greater risk of decompensation. A 28-year-old woman with LPI had experienced 3 early miscarriages. While pregnancy was finally achieved, diverse nutritional and medical challenges emerged (food aversion, intrauterine growth restriction, bleeding risk, and preeclampsia suspicion), which put both the mother and the fetus at risk. Moreover, the patient requested a natural childbirth (epidural-free, delayed cord clamping). Although the existence of multiple safety concerns rejected this approach at first, the application of novel strategies made a successful delivery possible. This case reinforces that the woman's wish for a non-medicated, low-intervention natural birth should not be automatically discouraged because of an underlying complex metabolic condition. Achieving a successful pregnancy is conceivable thanks to the cooperation of interdisciplinary teams, but it is still important to consider the risks beforehand in order to be prepared for possible additional complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), which has a major negative impact on global health. Bariatric surgery (BS) has demonstrated a substantial improvement of obesity-related comorbidities and thus, it has emerged as a potential therapeutic tool in order to prevent end-stage renal disease. A limited number of publications to date have examined the beneficial effects and risks of BS in patients with non-advanced stages of CKD. We aimed to investigate the safety of BS in patients with CKD stages 3–4 (directly related or not to obesity) and both the metabolic/renal outcomes post-BS. A total of 57 individuals were included (n = 19 for CKD-group; n = 38 for patients with obesity, but normal eGFR [control-group]). Weight loss and obesity comorbidities resolution after BS were similar in both groups. Renal function (eGFR [CKD-EPI]) improved significantly at the 1-year follow-up: Δ10.2 (5.2–14.9) (p < 0.001) for CKD-group and Δ4.0 (−3.9–9.0) mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.043) for controls. Although this improvement tended to decrease in the 5-year follow-up, eGFR remained above its basal value for the CKD-group. Noteworthy, eGFR also improved in those patients who presented CKD not directly attributed to obesity. For patients with CKD, BS appears to be safe and effective regarding weight loss and obesity comorbidities resolution, irrespective of the main cause of CKD (related or not to obesity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the potential of biomedical microrobots in targeted drug delivery, highlighting the challenges and advancements in their design, propulsion, and navigation, with an emphasis on the use of magnetic fields and cobalt catalysts. Topics discussed include the evolution of microrobot designs inspired by microorganisms, progress in shape-changing soft materials, and considerations for regulatory approval and clinical integration.

Obesity and kidney transplantation (KTx) are closely related. Obesity increases the risk of chronic kidney disease and can be a relative contraindication for KTx. Besides, KTx recipients are predisposed to obesity and its comorbidities. Consequently, bariatric surgery (BS) emerges as a powerful therapeutic tool either before or after KTx. Since evidence regarding the best approach is still scarce, we aimed to describe renal and metabolic outcomes in a single centre with more than 15-year experience in both surgeries. Methods: A retrospective study including patients who had received a KTx either before or after BS. Usual metabolic and renal outcomes, but also new variables (as renal graft dysfunction) were collected for a minimum follow-up of 1-year post-BS. Results: A total of 11 patients were included: n = 6 (BS-post-KTx) and n = 5 (BS-pre-KTx). One patient was assessed in both groups. No differences in the main outcomes were identified, but BS-post-KTx group tended to gain more weight during the follow-up. The incidence of renal graft dysfunction was comparable (4/6 for BS-post-KTx, 3/5 for BS-pre-KTx) between groups. Conclusions: BS in patients with KTx appears to be safe and effective attending to metabolic and renal outcomes. These results seem irrespective of the time course, except for weight regain, which appears to be a common pattern in the BS-post-KTx group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the clinical findings in patients with incidental prostatic amyloidosis. Patients and methods: Retrospective search in the database of the Department of Pathology, Hospital de Bellvitge, for prostate specimens with amyloid. Congo red and immunohistochemical staining of the sections. Review of the patients' clinical charts for symptoms attributable to systemic amyloidosis. Results: Amyloid deposition in the prostate was identified and reported in 40 patients between 2001 and 2022. Median age was 76.5 years (range = 62–90 years). Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 25 patients. Only four patients had a previous diagnosis of amyloidosis. In the remaining 36 the prostate sample (31 needle biopsies, two transurethral resections (TUR), two simple prostatectomies, one radical cystectomy for bladder cancer) provided the initial diagnosis. Amyloid deposits were mainly located in the wall of small vessels and rarely in the prostatic stroma. Immunohistochemistry was available in 32 cases, 26 of which were positive for TTR. All patients showed at least one symptom indicative of systemic amyloidosis, the most frequent being hearing loss (55%), carpal tunnel syndrome (42,5%) or other osteoarticular symptoms (tendinopathies, osteoarthritis), cataracts (37.5%) and cardiac symptoms (32.5%), among others. Conclusion: The prostate is a target tissue for amyloid deposition. The incidental finding of amyloid in prostate corresponds, in the majority of cases, to previously undiagnosed systemic TTR amyloidosis in patients lacking signs of heart involvement but having mainly osteoarticular symptoms, hearing and visual impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiological agent of melioidosis in humans and animals, often occupies environmental niches and infection sites characterized by limited concentrations of oxygen. Versatile genomic features enable this pathogen to maintain its physiology and virulence under hypoxia, but the crucial regulatory networks employed to switch from oxygen dependent respiration to alternative terminal electron acceptors (TEA) like nitrate, remains poorly understood. Here, we combined a Tn5 transposon mutagenesis screen and an anaerobic growth screen to identify a two-component signal transduction system with homology to RegAB. We show that RegAB is not only essential for anaerobic growth, but also for full virulence in cell lines and a mouse infection model. Further investigations of the RegAB regulon, using a global transcriptomic approach, identified 20 additional regulators under transcriptional control of RegAB, indicating a superordinate role of RegAB in the B. pseudomallei anaerobiosis regulatory network. Of the 20 identified regulators, NarX/L and a FNR homolog were selected for further analyses and a role in adaptation to anaerobic conditions was demonstrated. Growth experiments identified nitrate and intermediates of the denitrification process as the likely signal activateing RegAB, NarX/L, and probably of the downstream regulators Dnr or NsrR homologs. While deletions of individual genes involved in the denitrification process demonstrated their important role in anaerobic fitness, they showed no effect on virulence. This further highlights the central role of RegAB as the master regulator of anaerobic metabolism in B. pseudomallei and that the complete RegAB-mediated response is required to achieve full virulence. In summary, our analysis of the RegAB-dependent modulon and its interconnected regulons revealed a key role for RegAB of B. pseudomallei in the coordination of the response to hypoxic conditions and virulence, in the environment and the host. Author summary: Oxygen often becomes a highly limiting factor within tissues, in particular during inflammation and abscesses formation, leading to hypoxic or even strictly anaerobic conditions. Consequently, B. pseudomallei, a highly neglected and difficult to treat human pathogen has to adjust its metabolism accordingly in order to survive in oxygen-restricted environments. Here, we identify key regulators of anaerobic B. pseudomallei metabolism and demonstrate the fundamental role of the RegAB redox sensing two-component signal transduction system as the master regulator of anaerobic physiology and its extensive effect on virulence. Further investigations of two RegAB-dependend redox regulators, NarL and FNR, allowed us to provide a first comprehensive insight into the complex regulatory network of anaerobic gene expression in B. pseudomallei. Integrating these results, we propose a regulatory model of gene expression under oxygen-limiting conditions in B. pseudomallei. The high level of conservation of the RegAB two-component system in the proteobacteria indicates that our findings are relevant for a broad range of bacteria including may important human and animal pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive accumulation and malfunctioning of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a major determinant of increased risk of obesity-related comorbidities. Thus, risk stratification of people living with obesity according to their amount of VAT is of clinical interest. Currently, the most common VAT measurement methods include mathematical formulae based on anthropometric dimensions, often biased by human measurement errors, bio-impedance, and image techniques such as X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) analysis, which requires specialized equipment. However, previous studies showed the possibility of classifying people living with obesity according to their VAT through blood chemical concentrations by applying machine learning techniques. In addition, most of the efforts were spent on men living with obesity while little was done for women. Therefore, this study aims to compare the performance of the multilinear regression model (MLR) in estimating VAT and six different supervised machine learning classifiers, including logistic regression (LR), support vector machine and decision tree-based models, to categorize 149 women living with obesity. For clustering, the study population was categorized into classes 0, 1, and 2 according to their VAT and the accuracy of each MLR and classification model was evaluated using DXA-data (DXAdata), blood chemical concentrations (BLDdata), and both DXAdata and BLDdata together (ALLdata). Estimation error and R 2 were computed for MLR, while receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and precision-recall curves (PR) area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the performance of every classification model. MLR models showed a poor ability to estimate VAT with mean absolute error ≥ 401.40 and R 2 ≤ 0.62 in all the datasets. The highest accuracy was found for LR with values of 0.57, 0.63, and 0.53 for ALLdata, DXAdata, and BLDdata, respectively. The ROC AUC showed a poor ability of both ALLdata and DXAdata to distinguish class 1 from classes 0 and 2 (AUC = 0.31, 0.71, and 0.85, respectively) as also confirmed by PR (AUC = 0.24, 0.57, and 0.73, respectively). However, improved performances were obtained when applying LR model to BLDdata (ROC AUC ≥ 0.61 and PR AUC ≥ 0.42), especially for class 1. These results seem to suggest that, while a direct and reliable estimation of VAT was not possible in our cohort, blood sample-derived information can robustly classify women living with obesity by machine learning-based classifiers, a fact that could benefit the clinical practice, especially in those health centres where medical imaging devices are not available. Nonetheless, these promising findings should be further validated over a larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several mutations in the gene encoding apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) have been described as a cause of familial amyloidosis. Individuals with apoAI-derived (AApoAI) amyloidosis frequently manifest with liver, kidney, laryngeal, skin and myocardial involvement. Although primary hypogonadism (PH) is considered almost pathognomonic of this disease, until now, primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) has not been described as a common clinical feature. Here, we report the first kindred with AApoAI amyloidosis in which PAI is well-documented. All family members with the Leu60_Phe71delins60Val_61Thr heterozygous mutation who were regularly followed-up at our centre were considered. Nineteen individuals had the confirmed APOA1 deletion/insertion mutation, with detailed medical records available in 11 cases. Of these, 6 had PAI and 3 (all males) had PH. Among them, one 47-year-old man, not previously diagnosed with PAI, developed adrenal crisis after liver transplantation, precipitated by an opportunistic infection. Transplantation due to organ failure, which necessitates use of immunosuppressive medication such as corticosteroids, is frequently required during the course of hereditary amyloidosis. Consequently, PAI can remain masked, being discovered only when an adrenal crisis develops. Therefore, according to the present evidence, patients with AApoAI amyloidosis should be submitted to regular testing of corticotrophin and cortisol levels in order to avoid delaying corticosteroid replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically investigated the sensitivity of the phobic attention system by measuring event-related potentials (ERPs) in spider-phobic and non-phobic volunteers in a context where spider and neutral pictures were presented (phobic threat condition) and in contexts where no phobic but unpleasant and neutral or only neutral pictures were displayed (phobia-irrelevant conditions). In a between-group study, participants were assigned to phobia-irrelevant conditions either before or after the exposure to spider pictures (pre-exposure vs post-exposure participants). Additionally, each picture was preceded by a fixation cross presented in one of three different colors that were informative about the category of an upcoming picture. In the phobic threat condition, spider-phobic participants showed a larger P1 than controls for all pictures and signal cues. Moreover, individuals with spider phobia who were sensitized by the exposure to phobic stimuli (i.e. post-exposure participants) responded with an increased P1 also in phobia-irrelevant conditions. In contrast, no group differences between spider-phobic and non-phobic individuals were observed in the P1-amplitudes during viewing of phobia-irrelevant stimuli in the pre-exposure group. In addition, cues signaling neutral pictures elicited decreased stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN) compared with cues signaling emotional pictures. Moreover, emotional pictures and cues signaling emotional pictures evoked larger early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potential (LPP) than neutral stimuli. Spider phobics showed greater selective attention effects than controls for phobia-relevant pictures (increased EPN and LPP) and cues (increased LPP and SPN). Increased sensitization of the attention system observed in spider-phobic individuals might facilitate fear conditioning and promote generalization of fear playing an important role in the maintenance of anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: This study aimed to test how expectations and anxiety sensitivity influence respiratory and autonomic responses to caffeine. Objectives: The current study investigated the effects of expected vs. unexpected caffeine ingestion in a group of persons prone to the anxiety-provoking effect of caffeine (high anxiety sensitive persons, that is, persons scoring at least one SD above the mean on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (Peterson and Reiss )) as compared to low-anxious controls. Methods: Autonomic arousal (heart rate, skin conductance level), respiratory responding (expired CO, minute ventilation), and subjective report were assessed in high and low anxiety sensitive participants immediately after beverage consumption and at absorption peak (30 min post-consumption) in four separate sessions during which either coffee (expectation of caffeine) or bitter lemon soda (no expectation of caffeine) was crossed with 4 mg/kg caffeine vs. no drug. Results: High and low anxiety sensitive persons showed comparable autonomic arousal and symptom reports to caffeine which was modulated by expectation, i.e., greater for coffee. Respiratory responding (CO decrease, minute ventilation increase) was more accentuated when caffeine was both expected and administered in the low anxiety sensitive group but more accentuated when caffeine was unexpectedly administered in the high anxiety sensitive group. Autonomic arousal and respiratory effects were observable within a few minutes after caffeine administration and were most pronounced at maximum absorption. Conclusions: The results highlight the modulating role of expectancies in respiratory responding to caffeine in low vs. high anxiety sensitive persons and might have important implications for the better understanding of unexpected panic attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blink reflex component of the startle response is potentiated during processing of exteroceptive unpleasant stimuli. In contrast, blink magnitudes are often inhibited during interoceptive challenges. We measured respiration, blink magnitudes, and the P3 component to the acoustic startle probes in 34 participants while breathing against a mild resistance (mask-with-tubing) compared to breathing with no mask. Breathing through a mask with tubing resulted in increased inspiratory resistance as indicated by increased flow rate and tidal volume, a compensatory breathing pattern. Blink magnitudes to probes presented during the mask-with-tubing condition were inhibited compared to no-mask. Likewise, the probe P3 component was smaller during breathing through a mild resistance. These data suggest that startle inhibition during interoceptive challenges might be due to a shift in attention towards the mildly unpleasant interoceptive stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Few studies examined characteristics of initial fearful spells (FS) or panic attacks (PA) and their relation to DSM-IV PA and panic disorder (PD). Methods: A community sample of adolescents and young adults (N=3021) was followed up in 4 waves (T0–T3) over up to 10 years. FS, PA, and PD were assessed at each wave using the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. Characteristics of the initial FS/PA including perceived reasons/triggers, appraisal, duration, and behavioral/emotional consequences of the initial FS/PA were retrospectively assessed at T1 and T2 in those reporting the experience of lifetime FS or PA at these waves (N=363). Multinomial logistic regressions adjusted for sex and age were used to reveal associations of initial FS/PA characteristics (aggregated data from T1 and T2) with PA only (N=88) and PD (N=62; lifetime incidences cumulated across assessment waves) (reference group: No PA/PD). Results: Alcohol consumption, drugs/medication, and physical illness as perceived reasons for the initial FS/PA were associated with PA-only (OR 2.46−5.44), while feelings of depression, feelings of anxiety, and having always been anxious/nervous as perceived reasons for the initial FS/PA, appraising the initial FS/PA as terrible and long-term irritating/burdensome, subsequent feelings of depression, subsequent avoidance, and subsequent consumption of medication, alcohol, or drugs were associated with PD (OR 2.64−4.15). A longer duration until “feeling okay again” was associated with both PA-only (OR=1.29 per category) and PD (OR=1.63). Limitations: Initial FS/PA characteristics were necessarily assessed retrospectively by self-report only. Thus, our data might be subject to recall/evaluation biases. Aggregated data were used and strictly prospective-longitudinal studies are necessary that replicate our findings. Conclusion: Assessing initial FS/PA characteristics might be useful to identify individuals at increased risk for more severe panic pathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of the study was to contrast first panic attacks (PAs) of patients with panic disorder (PD) with vs. without agoraphobia and to explore differences between first PAs leading to the development of PD and those that remain isolated. Data were drawn from a community survey (N=2259 including 88 isolated PAs and 75 PD cases). An additional sample of 234 PD patients was recruited in a clinical setting. A standardized interview assessed the symptoms of the first PA, context of its occurrence and subsequent coping attempts. Persons who developed PD reported more severe first PAs, more medical service utilization and exposure-limiting coping attempts than those with isolated PAs. The context of the first PA did not differ between PD and isolated PAs. PD with agoraphobia was specifically associated with greater symptom severity and occurrence of first attacks in public. Future research should validate these findings using a longitudinal approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Use of active metal ions/triphenylene ligands for the fabrication of MOFs and COFs. • Conductive properties. • 2D materials. • Synthesis approaches towards control grain boundaries and crystal anisotropy. • Emerging devices. Triphenylene (TP) based materials have experienced a great expansion in the latest years. TP molecules have interesting optoelectronic properties, arising from the aromatic core, which have been exploited in functional two-dimensional (2D) Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) aside other organic polymers. In this review we summarize synthetic approaches of TP-based 2D MOFs and COFs emphasizing on the resulting morphology, crystalline domains and orientation, proven to have great impact on the properties and performance of these materials in functional devices. Specifically, we report a detailed description on the different TP-based 2D structures detailing the influence of the chemical and crystalline structure on the electronic properties, specially the in-plane and out-of-plane contribution to the electrical conductivity. Finally, we give also attention and present several examples of functional devices made out with these electronic materials with great impact in the literature as well as in future technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We investigated persons with isolated panic attacks (PA) and panic disorder (PD). [•] For the first time limited symptom attacks (LSA) were included in analyses. [•] All panic attack subtypes were associated with frequent comorbidity. [•] Odds for comorbidity increased from LSA to PA to PD. [•] The presence of agoraphobia increased comorbidity rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although respiratory symptoms are relevant for diagnosis and etiology of panic disorder, anxiety responses and breathing behavior evoked by induction of dyspnea have rarely been studied. Therefore, dyspnea sensations and affective evaluations evoked by inspiratory resistive loads of different intensities were first assessed in 23 individuals with high versus 24 participants with low anxiety sensitivity ( AS). High AS participants with high fear of suffocation rated loads of the same physical intensity as more unpleasant and reported more intense feelings of dyspnea and more respiratory and panic symptoms than low AS individuals. In the second experiment assessing physiological responses to physically comparable loads, high suffocation fear participants showed an increase in minute ventilation to compensate for fear-induced air hunger. This ventilation behavior results in increased frequency of dyspnea sensations, thus increasing fear of suffocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The composition, surface morphology and structure of CoNiReP alloy films with large Re content (up to 27at%), obtained in a citrate-glycine based electrolyte have been studied as a function of the electrodeposition technique. Direct current (DC), pulse plating (PP) and reverse pulse plating (RPP) were considered with cathodic current densities from −50mAcm−2 to −250mAcm−2. The mechanical and magnetic properties have been analyzed and the data obtained has been correlated with composition and crystallographic structure. For values of j (DC), j on (PP) and j c (RPP) below −100mAcm−2, Co-rich, P-containing deposits are obtained. Beyond these current densities, both the quantities of Ni and Re increase simultaneously at the expense of Co and P, the latter virtually falling to zero. The highest Re percentage (25–27at%) was achieved in both PP and RPP conditions at a cathodic pulse of −250mAcm−2. All the films were either entirely nanocrystalline in nature or partially amorphous. Hardness values as high as 9.2GPa have been found in PP plated Co64Ni18Re18 deposits. Besides the large hardness, the incorporation of Re in the films leads to high elastic recovery values. The magnetic character of the deposits ranges from soft to semi-hard ferromagnetic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Wireless-manipulated graphite coated nanomagnets are promising candidates for minimally invasive targeted drug delivery platforms. Iron nanowires coated with graphitic shells are synthesized by template-assisted deposition. The use of porous aluminum oxide templates enables both the batch production of nanowires by electrodeposition and their subsequent conformal encapsulation in graphite using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). High quality graphitic shells are obtained when CVD conditions are optimized using acetylene as carbon feedstock at 740 °C. Interestingly, the iron nanowires transform into iron carbide during the CVD process leading to changes in magnetic properties. The graphite coated iron nanowires are precisely manipulated against a water flow (0.1 mm/s) using a magnetic field of 350 Oe and a gradient of 50 kOe m−1 in a 5-DOF magnetic manipulation system. Our approach opens new avenues for the design and synthesis of functional graphite coated nanowires that are promising for nanorobotics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current study investigated the neural networks activated during the anticipation of potentially threatening body symptoms evoked by a guided hyperventilation task in a group of participants reporting either high or low fear of unexplained somatic sensations. 15 subjects reporting high and 14 subjects reporting low fear of somatic symptoms first learned that one of two cues predicted the occurrence of a hyperventilation task reliably producing body symptoms in all participants that were rated as more intense and unpleasant in the high fear group. During anticipation of unpleasant symptoms, high fear participants reported more intense body symptoms and showed potentiation of the startle reflex. After this learning session, participants were taken into the fMRI where the same cues either predicted the occurrence of hyperventilation or normoventilation, although the task was never performed in the scanner. During anticipation of hyperventilation all participants showed an increased activation of anterior insula/orbitofrontal cortex and rostral parts of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex/dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dACC/dmPFC). Brain activation of high compared to low fear participants differed in two ways. First, high fear participants showed an overall stronger activation of this network during threat and safe conditions indexing stronger anxious apprehension during the entire context. Second, while low fear participants no longer responded with stronger activation to the threat cue after experiencing that the hyperventilation challenge did not follow this cue, high fear participants continued to show stronger activation of the network to this cue. Activation of the rostral dACC/dmPFC was significantly correlated with reported fear of somatic symptoms. These data demonstrate that anticipation of interoceptive threat activates the same network that has been found to be active during anticipation of exteroceptive threat cues. Thus, the current paradigm might provide an innovative method to study anxious apprehension and treatment effects in patients with panic disorder. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study, dense sensor event-related potentials were measured in spider-phobic individuals and non-anxious controls during incidental encoding of phobia-relevant spider and standard neutral, unpleasant and pleasant pictures. Stimulus repetition effects were assessed by presenting each picture twice — in the first and in the second half of the session. Repeated presentation of standard pleasant, unpleasant and neutral pictures resulted in a late ERP repetition effect that was similarly pronounced in both experimental groups and for all picture categories. Moreover, relative to non-fearful controls spider-phobic individuals showed an overall greater early ERP repetition effect starting at 180ms after picture onset. At later stages of evaluative processing, repeated as compared with initial presentation of phobia-relevant spider pictures elicited reduced ERP amplitudes over centro-parietal sites (480–580ms) in spider-phobic but not in control individuals. This pattern of results indicates that in small animal phobics long lasting exposure to their feared pictures leads to an increased mobilization of the perceptual analysis system, an effect that might help to improve emotional control and/or facilitate strategic avoidance of threat resulting in a diminished evaluative threat processing. This phobia-specific processing mechanism might prevent effective stimulus processing and hinder the habituation process during treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Amicoumacin A exhibits strong antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hence we sought to uncover its mechanism of action. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of S. aureus COL in response to amicoumacin A showed alteration in transcription of genes specifying several cellular processes including cell envelope turnover, cross-membrane transport, virulence, metabolism, and general stress response. The most highly induced gene was lrgA, encoding an antiholin-like product, which is induced in cells undergoing a collapse of Dy. Consistent with the notion that LrgA modulates murein hydrolase activity, COL grown in the presence of amicoumacin A showed reduced autolysis, which was primarily caused by lower hydrolase activity. To gain further insight into the mechanism of action of amicoumacin A, a whole genome comparison of wild-type COL and amicoumacin A-resistant mutants isolated by a serial passage method was carried out. Single point mutations generating codon substitutions were uncovered in ksgA (encoding RNA dimethyltransferase), fusA (elongation factor G), dnaG (primase), lacD (tagatose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase), and SACOL0611 (a putative glycosyl transferase). The codon substitutions in EF-G that cause amicoumacin A resistance and fusidic acid resistance reside in separate domains and do not bring about cross resistance. Taken together, these results suggest that amicoumacin A might cause perturbation of the cell membrane and lead to energy dissipation. Decreased rates of cellular metabolism including protein synthesis and DNA replication in resistant strains might allow cells to compensate for membrane dysfunction and thus increase cell survivability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tailoring of the mechanical properties (e.g., hardness, Young''s modulus or wear characteristics) of Co–Ni electrodeposits has been accomplished by changing the anion (sulphate versus chloride ions) in glycine-containing solutions at 80°C, while maintaining all the other electroplating conditions unaltered. Galvanostatic deposition on metalized silicon substrates at 5–40mAcm−2 produced well adherent Co–Ni films with varying surface finish, chemical composition (50–83wt% Co), morphology and structure. The deposition from chloride salts yielded matte grey, cobalt-rich Co–Ni films with hexagonal close-packed structure and crystallite sizes around 65–85nm. Films obtained under the same electrodeposition conditions from sulphate salts were Ni-rich, displayed smoother surfaces and smaller crystallite sizes (30–40nm) belonging mainly to the face-centered cubic phase. The crystallite size played a key role on the mechanical properties of the films, while the composition and the phase percentage had little effect. It is thus demonstrated that the nature of the anion induces a large tunability both in the microstructure and mechanical properties of the deposits. In particular, the nanoindentation hardness could be varied between 1.6 and 7.1GPa, while the Young''s modulus ranged between 122 and 181GPa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ferromagnetic CoNiReP films (∼3μm in thickness) have been prepared by galvanostatic electrodeposition using direct current (DC) and reverse pulse plating (RPP) conditions. The composition, microstructure and mechanical and magnetic properties of these films strongly depend on the applied current density. The differences are particularly pronounced in the RPP-electroplated alloys, where amorphous films with 32at% Co showing soft-magnetic behavior and large hardness values (around 9GPa) are obtained at low cathodic current densities (j c), whereas fully crystalline hard-ferromagnetic CoNiReP alloys containing ∼80at% Co are produced at high j c. All DC-plated CoNiReP films exhibit crystalline microstructures with tunable grain size and texture, hard-magnetic properties (with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy) and mechanical hardness values around 7GPa. The magnetic properties of these Co-rich CoNiReP alloys are superior to those previously reported in electroless deposited Ni-rich CoNiReP. By applying suitable current densities, films with an intrinsic coercivity of 3.5kOe possessing a saturation magnetization around 800emucm−3 can be obtained from both DC and RPP deposition techniques. In addition, the films investigated in this work are thicker than electroless-plated CoNiReP alloys and can be grown in acidic pH values; thus they are suitable permanent magnetic materials for use in wirelessly actuated micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High aspect ratio Cu-rich Cu–Ni microcolumns have been fabricated on brass substrates by Localized Electrochemical Deposition using a platinum microanode with an electrical bias of 7.0V. Sulfate–citrate baths with and without the presence of saccharine as a grain-refining agent, have been used. The microcolumns are ~100μm in diameter and several hundreds of micrometers in height. The addition of saccharine to the electrolytic solution resulted in the reduction of both the porosity and the surface roughness of the Cu–Ni grains in the microcolumns. The Ni/Cu atomic ratio on the top of the microcolumns was higher than that at the bottom, indicating a composition gradient along the height of the columns. Despite their relatively low Ni content (below 35 at% in all cases), the microcolumns were weakly ferromagnetic. Nanoindentation hardness and reduced Young''s modulus were also measured. Larger values of both parameters were obtained in the columns grown in the presence of saccharine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives. To evaluate the results of implementing a classification system based on adjusted clinical groups (ACG) at a primary health care (PHC) in a Spanish population. Methods. A retrospective, cross-sectional study based on the computerized medical records of outpatients seen in 2007 by the La Roca clinic, administered by a health services management company in La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain. The ACGs were formed according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification. The relative weight of each ACG's total average cost was calculated (in U.S. dollars) and based on these, the resources usage levels were established. The risk index (RI) and efficiency index (EI) for 2006 and the classification's explanatory power were determined. Results. A total of 8 294 patients were studied (82.7% coverage), with an average of 4.1 incidents per patient, 6.9 visits per patient, and 5.7 visits per person per year. Seven GCAs accounted for 51.0% of patients seen. The RI was 1.015, the EI was 0.975 visits, and the explanatory power of the ACG classification was 53.4% for visits and 74.8% for incidents. Conclusions. The ACG system allowed this patient population to be grouped by clinical status, which can help to, among other things, allocate resources and evaluate PHC team efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SigB is an alternative sigma factor that controls a large regulon in Staphylococcus aureus. Activation of SigB requires RsbU, a protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C)-type phosphatase. In a closely related organism, Bacillus subtilis, RsbU activity is stimulated upon interaction with RsbT, a kinase, which following an activating stimulus switches from a 25S high-molecular-weight complex, the stressosome, to the N-terminal domain of RsbU. Active RsbU dephosporylates RsbV and thereby triggers the release of SigB from its inhibitory complex with RsbW. While RsbU, RsbV, RsbW, and SigB are conserved in S. aureus, proteins similar to RsbT and the components of the stressosome are not, raising the question of how RsbU activity and hence SigB activity are controlled in S. aureus. We found that in contrast to the case in B. subtilis, the induced expression of RsbU was sufficient to stimulate SigB-dependent transcription in S. aureus. However, activation of SigB-dependent transcription following alkaline stress did not lead to a clear accumulation of SigB and its regulators RsbV and RsbW or to a change in the RsbV/RsbV-P ratio in S. aureus. When expressed in B. subtilis, the S. aureus RsbU displayed a high activity even in the absence of an inducing stimulus. This high activity could be transferred to the PP2C domain of the B. subtilis RsbU protein by a fusion to the N-terminal domain of the S. aureus RsbU. Collectively, the data suggest that the activity of the S. aureus RsbU and hence SigB may be subjected to different regulation in comparison to that in B. subtilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method is presented that enables the template assisted electrochemical deposition of tens of micrometer thick, compact and stoichiometric Bi 2 Se 3 micropillars. This is achieved by modifying the acidic electrolyte that contains 1 M HNO 3 with potassium chloride salt and introducing resting pulses during the plating process. We demonstrate the successful deposition into photoresist templates with mold diameters down to 30 µm and thicknesses up to 45 µm. Cross-sectional EDX line measurements confirm an optimal stoichiometry of Bi:Se 40:60 along the growth direction, independent of the micropillar diameter. XRD and Raman measurements after electrochemical deposition point to a primarily orthorhombic structure. To illustrate the potential of this electrochemical method for thermoelectric applications, Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of 45 µm thick orthorhombic Bi 2 Se 3 pillars with 30 and 50 µm diameter are measured for five different electrodeposition runs. An average electrical conductivity of 8.6 S/m (SD = 4.5 S/m) and a high average negative Seebeck coefficient of -162 µV/K (SD = 32 µV/K) was determined. The process presented here is highly promising for the reliable synthesis of Bi 2 Se 3 micropillars, which can be integrated in thermoelectric micro generators or sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CoNi electrodeposition in the presence of barium ferrite nanoparticles has been performed in a bath containing a cationic surfactant, in order to prepare magnetic composites. Magnetic particles did not significantly influence the metallic deposition process. The application of a magnetic field during the electrodeposition over silicon-base substrates has been also analysed. The application of a magnet attached to the silicon/seed-layer substrate inhibited the onset of the deposition process as a consequence of the hindrance of the cathode by the magnetic particles surrounding the electrode. However, once the deposition process begins, the applied magnetic field clearly favours the nanoparticles incorporation by modulating the deposition potential or current density. Barium ferrite percentage of the deposits increased at low current densities or deposition potentials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

One of the strongest and most noticeable responses of Bacillus subtilis cells to a range of stress and starvation stimuli is the dramatic induction of about 150 SigB-dependent general stress genes. The activity of SigB itself is tightly regulated by a complex signal transduction cascade with at least three main signaling pathways that respond to environmental stress, energy depletion, or low temperature. The SigB-dependent response is conserved in related gram-positive bacteria but is missing in strictly anaerobic or in some facultatively anaerobic gram-positive bacteria. It covers functions from nonspecific and multiple stress resistance to the control of virulence in pathogenic bacteria. A comprehensive understanding of this crucial stress response is essential not only for bacterial physiology but also for applied microbiology, including pathogenicity and pathogen control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CoNi–barium ferrite magnetic composites with a high percentage of micrometric particles have been prepared by electrodeposition over silicon-based substrates. A cationic surfactant synthesized in our laboratory (4-ethylazobenzene-4′-(oxyethyl)trimethylammonium iodide-AZTMAI) has been used in order to favour the inclusion of magnetic particles into the alloy deposit. This surfactant reduces during cobalt–nickel electrodeposition and it is not embedded into the deposit. Moderate surfactant concentrations (1–5gl−1), room temperature, the application of a magnetic field during the electrodeposition and a double-pulse technique favour the maximum incorporation of barium ferrite up to around 30–35wt%. Magnetic properties of composites prepared tend to hard-magnetic ones, with different magnetization curves when silicon/seed-layer/composite samples are oriented parallel or perpendicularly to the applied magnetic field. Constricted-type magnetization curves were obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A study of the incorporation of magnetic barium ferrite microparticles into a CoNi matrix by means of electrodeposition over silicon-base substrates has been performed. A cationic surfactant synthesized in our laboratory (4-ethylazobenzene-4′-(oxyethyl)trimethylammonium iodide – AZTMAI) has been selected to favour the inclusion of magnetic particles in the alloy deposit. This surfactant reduces during the cobalt–nickel electrodeposition avoiding its inclusion in the film and favours the inclusion of magnetic particles without damaging the deposits quality. The amount of ferrite incorporated during the electrodeposition increases gradually with the surfactant concentration. A moderate deposition temperature allows greater barium ferrite incorporation. Magnetic properties of CoNi–barium ferrite deposits obtained in the presence of AZTMAI are clearly different of those corresponding to pure-CoNi films obtained in the absence of surfactant. Coercivity is clearly increased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The general stress response of Bacillus subtilis and close relatives provides the cell with protection from a variety of stresses. The upstream component of the environmental stress signal transduction cascade is activated by the RsbT kinase that switches binding partners from a 25 S macromolecular complex, the stressosome, to the RsbU phosphatase. Once the RsbU phosphatase is activated by interacting with RsbT, the alternative sigma factor, σB, directs transcription of the general stress regulon. Previously, we demonstrated that the N-terminal domain of RsbU mediates the binding of RsbT. We now describe residues in N-RsbU that are crucial to this interaction by experimentation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, crystal structures of the N-RsbU mutants provide a molecular explanation for the loss of interaction. Finally, we also characterize mutants in RsbT that affect binding to both RsbU and a simplified, binary model of the stressosome and thus identify overlapping binding surfaces on the RsbT ‘switch.’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Magnetic properties of CoNi films have been drastically modified by alloy electrodeposition from solutions containing a redox cationic surfactant (4-butylazobenzene-4′-(oxyethyl)trimethylammonium iodide-AZTMAI). Electrodeposition in presence of AZTMAI allows preparing CoNi coatings evolving to hard-magnetic behaviour. A gradual increase of CoNi films coercivity accompanied by a decrease of remanence and susceptibility was observed by increasing AZTMAI concentration. CoNi electrodeposition process has been modified by the presence of AZTMAI in the bath. The redox behaviour of the cationic surfactant synthesised in our laboratory was studied in the CoNi electrolytic bath revealing that additive reduces during cobalt–nickel electrodeposition. Cobalt-rich CoNi deposits obtained in the presence of AZTMAI were uniform and compact, showing acicular morphology and hcp structure with [10.0]+[11.0] orientation. The changes in crystalline structure of deposits were the responsible of magnetic properties modification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electrodeposition of Cu–Co–Ni coatings was performed from slightly acidic citrate–sulphate solutions. Bath composition and deposition potentials were varied in order to prepare copper-rich ternary coatings with different metal percentages. Low copper (II) and high nickel (II) concentrations were necessary to attain uniform non-dendritic electrodeposits with Co+Ni percentages between 10 and 30wt%. Low magnetoresistive values were detected for as-deposited samples containing Co+Ni percentages around 25wt%, although X-ray diffractograms showed miscibility of the three metals. The annealing of the samples at different temperatures led to granular coatings with the magnetoresistive values increase, as a consequence of the ferromagnetic metals segregation from within the non-magnetic matrix. Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) technique made possible to detect changes on the magnetic response between as-deposited and annealed samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of a cationic surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) on CoNi electrodeposition process has been analysed. CoNi electrodeposition is greatly modified by the presence of the cationic surfactant in the bath. The DTAC modifies the initial stages of the deposition process and enhances the cobalt percentage in the deposits. Structure and morphology of the deposits are also modified, as the manner that magnetic properties of the electrodeposited films were affected as a consequence of the structural change. The presence of the surfactant in the bath causes changes on the CoNi structure from face-centred cubic (fcc) to close-packed hexagonal (hcp). DTAC incorporation into the deposits is a function of its concentration in the bath. Thus, it is important to be careful with the effects caused by the surfactant on deposits when it assists the particles insertion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: CoNi–barium ferrite magnetic composites have been prepared by using a chloride electroplating bath. The use of a cationic surfactant and a vigorous stirring of solution by means of a rod stirrer have been the key to assure a significant insertion of particles in the deposits. This incorporation was confirmed by chemical analysis, cross-section images and X-ray diffraction results. A maximum value of 12wt.% of barium ferrite was obtained. Anomalous codeposition of CoNi was maintained, although the cobalt percentage was enhanced by the presence of the cationic surfactant. A clear enlargement of composite coercivity was obtained as a consequence of micrometric hard magnetic particles insertion in the deposits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis, the activity of the alternative sigma factor σB is triggered upon exposure of the bacteria to environmental stress conditions or to nutrient limitation. σB activity is controlled by protein-phosphorylation-dependent interactions of anti-sigma with anti-anti-sigma factors. Under stress conditions, the phosphatase RsbU triggers release of σB and thus induces the expression of stress genes. RsbU activity is controlled by three proteins, RsbR, RsbS and RsbT which form a supramolecular complex called the stressosome. Here we review the occurrence of the genes encoding the stressosome proteins (called the RsbRST module) in a wide variety of bacteria. While this module is linked to the gene encoding σB and its direct regulators in B. subtilis and its close relatives, genes encoding two-component regulatory systems and more complex phosphorelays are clustered with the RsbRST module in bacteria as diverse as cyanobacteria, bacteroidetes, proteobacteria, and deinococci. The conservation of the RsbRST module and its clustering with different types of regulatory systems suggest that the stressosome proteins form a signal sensing and transduction unit that relays information to very different output modules. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrodeposition of Co–Ni and Co–Ni–Cu alloys was performed in a sulphate–citrate medium. Experimental electrodeposition parameters (pH, cobalt(II), nickel(II) and citrate concentrations) were varied in order to analyse their influence on the deposition. Anomalous Co–Ni codeposition occured in the citrate medium. High [Ni(II)]/[Co(II)] ratios (above 5) were suitable for the preparation of homogeneous magnetic Co-rich Co–Ni deposits of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure or face centred cubic (fcc) structure as a function of the deposition potential. The presence of very low copper(II) concentrations (&#60;10−2 moldm−3) in the nickel–cobalt bath makes it possible to incorporate copper in the deposits in amounts ranging from 5 to 60% Cu, although uniform deposits are obtained only for low copper percentages. These ternary deposits are solid solutions with fcc structure and magnetic behaviour both dependent on the deposition potential. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant environmental and health risks due to their ubiquitous presence and persistence in water systems. Herein, the efficacy of piezocatalysis using barium titanate nanoparticles under ultrasound irradiation for the degradation and defluorination of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in water is investigated. The research demonstrates a substantial 90.5% degradation and 29% defluorination of PFOS after 6 h of treatment, highlighting the potential of piezocatalysis as a promising approach for PFAS degradation. Additionally, the quantification of degradation products elucidates the transformation pathways of PFOS, suggesting a stepwise chain‐shortening mechanism. The findings underscore the importance of continued research in optimizing piezocatalytic processes and exploring synergistic approaches with other advanced oxidation methods to effectively address PFAS contamination challenges. These efforts are essential for advancing sustainable water treatment strategies and mitigating the environmental and health hazards associated with PFAS contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) emerged as versatile materials with promising potential in biomedicine. Their customizable functionalities and tunable pore structures make them valuable for various biomedical applications such as biosensing, bioimaging, antimicrobial activity, and targeted drug delivery. Despite efforts made to create nanoscale COFs (nCOFs) to enhance their interaction with biological systems, a comprehensive understanding of their inherent biological activities remains a significant challenge. In this study, a thorough investigation is conducted into the biocompatibility and anti‐neoplastic properties of two distinct imine‐based nCOFs. The approach involved an in‐depth analysis of these nCOFs through in vitro experiments with various cell types and in vivo assessments using murine models. These findings revealed significant cytotoxic effects on tumor cells. Moreover, the activation of multiple cellular death pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis is determined, supported by evidence at the molecular level. In vivo evaluations exhibited marked inhibition of tumor growth, associated with the elevated spontaneous accumulation of nCOFs in tumor tissues and the modulation of cell death‐related protein expression. The research contributes to developing a roadmap for the characterization of the intricate interactions between nCOFs and biological systems and opens new avenues for exploiting their therapeutic potential in advanced biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional light‐driven metal‐organic‐frameworks (MOFs)‐based micromotors (MOFtors) are typically constrained to two‐dimensional (2D) motion under ultraviolet or near‐infrared light and often demonstrate instability and susceptibility to ions in high‐saline environments. This limitation is particularly relevant to employing micromotors in water purification, as real wastewater is frequently coupled with high salinity. In response to these challenges, ultrastable MOFtors capable of three‐dimensional (3D) motion under a broad spectrum of light through thermophoresis and electrophoresis are successfully synthesized. The MOFtors integrated photocatalytic porphyrin MOFs (PCN‐224) with a photothermal component made of polypyrrole (PPy) by three distinct methodologies, resulting in micromotors with different motion behavior and catalytic performance. Impressively, the optimized MOFtors display exceptional maximum velocity of 1305 ± 327 µm s−1 under blue light and 2357 ± 453 µm s−1 under UV light. In harsh saline environments, these MOFtors are not only maintain high motility but also exhibit superior tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) removal efficiency of 3578 ± 510 mg g−1, coupling with sulfate radical‐based advanced oxidation processes and peroxymonosulfate. This research underscores the significant potential of highly efficient MOFtors with robust photocatalytic activity in effectively removing TCH in challenging saline conditions, representing a substantial advancement in applying MOFtors within real‐world water treatment technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial delivery of small‐scale magnetic devices such as microrobots is a key, but often overlooked, aspect for their use in clinical applications. The deployment of these devices within the dynamic environment of the human body presents significant challenges due to their dispersion caused by circulatory flows. Here, a method is introduced to effectively deliver a swarm of magnetic nanoparticles in fluidic flows. This approach integrates a magnetically navigated robotic microcatheter equipped with a reservoir for storing the magnetic nanoparticles. The microfluidic flow within the reservoir facilitates the injection of magnetic nanoparticles into the fluid stream, and a magnetic field gradient guides the swarm through the oscillatory flow to a target site. The microcatheter and reservoir are engineered to enable magnetic steering and injection of the magnetic nanoparticles. To demonstrate this approach, experiments are conducted utilizing a spinal cord phantom simulating intrathecal catheter delivery for applications in the central nervous system. These results demonstrate that the proposed microcatheter successfully concentrates nanoparticles near the desired location through the precise manipulation of magnetic field gradients, offering a promising solution for the controlled deployment of untethered magnetic micro‐/nanodevices within the complex physiological circulatory systems of the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal decomposition of iron oleate is a simple and widespread method for synthesizing monodispersed iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with well‐defined morphology. However, the complexity of the underlying mechanism makes this method rather sensitive to variations in experimental conditions, and the lack of simple techniques to monitor the reaction progress in situ usually results in poor reproducibility and time‐consuming optimizations. Here, a simple, robust, and versatile in situ marker to monitor particle formation based on a sudden change in the temperature during reflux is reported. A linear relationship between the onset of particle formation and the concentration of surfactants is unveiled, corroborating a 'chemically activated' burst nucleation mechanism. Using this linear relationship as a guide, highly uniform spherical, cubic, and star‐shaped particles between 12 and 30 nm can be obtained. This temperature marker and the derived linear relationship not only deepen the understanding of the reaction process, but also provide a powerful tool for the straightforward optimization of IONPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further developments of exposure-based therapy (EBT) require more knowledge about transfer of treatment to non-trained everyday contexts. However, little is known about transfer effects of EBT. Using a standardized EBT protocol in 275 patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia we investigated the transfer of EBT to a highly standardized context during a Behavioral Avoidance Test (BAT; being entrapped in a small and dark test chamber) and not part of the exposure sessions. Patients of a treatment group underwent the BATs before treatment (t1), after a preparatory treatment phase (t2), and after an agoraphobic exposure phase (t3) and were compared with wait-list control patients, who repeated BAT assessments across the same time period. We found stronger reductions in avoidance behavior, reported fear, and autonomic arousal during the BAT from t1 to t3 in the treatment group patients who were anxious during t1 relative to the anxious but untreated patients. Fear reduction was related to treatment outcome indicating the contribution of transfer effects to successful EBT. Interestingly, reduction varied for different fear response systems suggesting different processes to may be involved in transfer effects. Importantly, final BAT assessment still evoked residual fear in the treatment group as compared to BAT non-anxious control patients, suggesting limited transfer effects – one possible reason for the return of symptoms in new situations. • Exposure sessions during therapy lead to fear reduction in non-trained contexts. • Fear reduction varied for response systems suggesting different involved processes. • Transfer effects of exposure therapy is evident but limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study of a 56-year-old man with type 1 diabetes (T1D) managed with sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy is presented, who experienced a severe hypoglycemia episode while on a commercial flight, and he had been started on SAP therapy with predictive low-glucose suspend advanced feature.