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Introduction: Follow-up testing is recommended three months after patients initially test positive with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC). Follow-up testing adherence in the United States has been reported below one third of women, even in universally insured populations. We assessed both the positivity of CT and GC infections in female basic military trainees and the rates of follow-up testing for those who tested positive., Methods: Between January 1, 2006-December 31, 2021, female Air Force Basic Military Trainees were universally screened with urinary nucleic acid amplification testing for CT and GC. Those who tested positive were evaluated to determine demographic information as well as follow-up testing rates. Patients who were evaluated with a repeat CT/GC NAAT test within 12 months after a positive CT/GC test result were considered to have received appropriate follow-up., Results: 5,022 (5.2%) of 97,168 trainees tested positive for only-CT (4,749 (4.8%)), only GC (138 (0.1%)) or both CT/GC (135 (0.1%) during the study period. Those at increased risk of infection were those <24 years of age, Hispanic and Black individuals, high school education level, and single women. Of the 4,687 still in the military at three months after diagnosis, 3,268 (69.7%) had repeat testing within 12 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up testing by age, race, educational level, marital status, or organism causing original infection., Conclusion: Follow-up testing among female USAF basic military trainees is higher than in other universally insured populations. This study demonstrates remaining barriers to adherence to recommended guidelines., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: No authors report any conflicts of interest with this research., (Copyright © 2024 American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association. All rights reserved.)

In this retrospective cohort study of military trainees, symptomatic-only coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) arrival antigen testing decreased isolation requirements without increasing secondary cases compared to universal antigen testing. Symptomatic-only arrival antigen testing is a feasible alternative for individuals entering a congregant setting with a high risk of COVID-19 transmission., (© Cambridge University Press 2024.)

The Department of the Air Force performs universal antibody serology testing for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and hepatitis A immunoglobulin G (IgG anti-HAV) among enlisted recruits presenting to basic military training (BMT) at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)-Lackland. These results, along with previous vaccination records, if available at the time of accession, guide HBV and HAV vaccination during BMT. Data from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, in the electronic health record, MHS-GENESIS, was used for this analysis. This analysis shows a much higher prevalence of HAV antibodies compared to HBV in the trainee population at JBSA-Lackland during 2023.

Background: The burden of transfusion-transmitted infections among blood recipients remains low due to extensive pre- and post-donation screening. However, the military has the unique challenge of providing blood in austere environments with limited testing capabilities. This study evaluates the infectious etiologies of deferred blood donors at a large military blood donation center., Methods: All blood donors at the Armed Service Blood Bank Center, San Antonio, between 2017 and 2022 with positive post-donation screening for hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I/II), Zika (2018-2021), West Nile virus, Trypanosoma cruzi, Treponema pallidum, or Babesia microti (2020-2022) were evaluated. Donors were deferred based on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance., Results: Two-hundred and thirteen (213) donors met FDA criteria for deferral. T. pallidum (n = 45, 50.3 per 100,000), HCV (n = 34, 38.0 per 100,000), and HBV (n = 19, 21.2 per 100,000) were the most common pathogens among those with both positive screening and confirmatory testing. The majority of HIV (95%), Chagas (78%), HTLV-I/II (50%) deferrals were due to indeterminate confirmatory tests following initial positive screens. The majority of deferrals for HBV were for a second occurrence of a positive screen despite negative confirmatory testing., Conclusion: The rates of post-donation deferral for transfusion-transmissible infections were low in this military cohort. Our findings suggest that donor testing in deployed service members should focus on HBV, HCV, and T. pallidum and highlight the need for better diagnostics for HIV, Chagas, and HTLV-I/II., (Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

In magnetic tunnel junctions based on iron oxide nanoparticles the disorder and the oxidation state of the surface spin as well as the nanoparticles functionalization play a crucial role in the magnetotransport properties. In this work, we report a systematic study of the effects of vacuum annealing on the structural, magnetic and transport properties of self-assembled ∼10 nm Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The high temperature treatment (from 573 to 873 K) decomposes the organic coating into amorphous carbon, reducing the electrical resistivity of the assemblies by 4 orders of magnitude. At the same time, the 3.Fe 2+ /(Fe 3+ +Fe 2+ ) ratio is reduced from 1.11 to 0.13 when the annealing temperature of the sample increases from 573 to 873 K, indicating an important surface oxidation. Although the 2 nm physical gap remains unchanged with the thermal treatment, a monotonous decrease of tunnel barrier width was obtained from the electron transport measurements when the annealing temperature increases, indicating an increment in the number of defects and hot-spots in the gap between the nanoparticles. This is reflected in the reduction of the spin dependent tunneling, which reduces the interparticle magnetoresistance. This work shows new insights about influence of the nanoparticle interfacial composition, as well their the spatial arrangement, on the tunnel transport of self-assemblies, and evidence the importance of optimizing the nanostructure fabrication for increasing the tunneling current without degrading the spin polarized current., (© 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Introduction: A booster dose of messenger RNA vaccine protects against severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study examined the incidence of COVID-19 booster vaccination among active-duty U.S. military servicemembers between August 2021 and January 2022, factors associated with vaccination uptake, and trends over time., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of active-duty military personnel using data from the Defense Medical Surveillance System. Participants were included if they served in the active component from August 2021 through January 2022 and were eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster dose by January 2022. Adjusted hazard ratio estimates of time to booster vaccination were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression., Results: Lower booster vaccine uptake was seen in the U.S. military (25%) than among the general U.S. population at the same time (45%). Booster vaccination increased with older age, with greater education, with higher income, among women, and among those stationed overseas; it decreased with previous COVID-19 infection and use of the Janssen vaccine. There were no significant racial or ethnic disparities in booster vaccination., Conclusions: In the absence of a compulsory vaccination policy, lower booster vaccine uptake was seen among servicemembers than among the general U.S. population, particularly among members who were younger, were male, Marines, and had a previous history of infection. Low vaccination rates not only increase the risk of acute and long-term health effects from COVID-19 among servicemembers, but they also degrade the overall readiness of the U.S. military., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Formation of oxygen-based free radicals from photochemical decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) on Mars may be a key factor in the potential survival of terrestrial-like organisms on the red planet. Martian conditions that generate reactive oxygen species involve the decomposition of H 2 O 2 at temperatures of around 278 K under relatively high doses of C-band ultraviolet radiation (UVC). This process is further amplified by the presence of iron oxides and perchlorates. Photosynthetic organisms exhibit a number of evolutionary traits that allow them to withstand both oxidative stress and UVC radiation. Here, we examine the effect of free radicals produced by the decomposition of H 2 O 2 under emulated martian conditions on the viability of Scenedesmus dimorphus , a unicellular alga that is resistant to UVC radiation and varying levels of perchlorate and H 2 O 2 , both of which are present on Mars. Identification and quantification of free radicals formed under these conditions were performed with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy. These results were correlated with the viability of S. dimorphus , and the formation of oxygen-based free radicals and survival of the alga were found to be strongly dependent on the amount of H 2 O 2 available. For H 2 O 2 amounts close to those present in the rarefied martian environment, the products of these catalytic reactions did not have a significant effect on the algal population growth curve.

In this work it is shown a precise way to optimize the heat generation in high viscosity magnetic colloids, by adjusting the Néel relaxation time in core/shell bimagnetic nanoparticles, for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) applications. To pursue this goal, Fe 3 O 4 /Zn x Co 1-x Fe 2 O 4 core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized with 8.5 nm mean core diameter, encapsulated in a shell of ∼1.1 nm of thickness, where the Zn atomic ratio (Zn/(Zn + Co) at%) changes from 33 to 68 at%. The magnetic measurements are consistent with a rigid interface coupling between the core and shell phases, where the effective magnetic anisotropy systematically decreases when the Zn concentration increases, without a significant change of the saturation magnetization. Experiments of MFH of 0.1 wt% of these particles dispersed in water, in Dulbecco modified Eagles minimal essential medium, and a high viscosity butter oil, result in a large specific loss power (SLP), up to 150 W g -1 , when the experiments are performed at 571 kHz and 200 Oe. The SLP was optimized adjusting the shell composition, showing a maximum for intermediate Zn concentration. This study shows a way to maximize the heat generation in viscous media like cytosol, for those biomedical applications that require smaller particle sizes.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are frequently used in biomedical applications due to their magnetic properties and putative chemical stability. Nevertheless, their well-known ability to mimic some features of the peroxidase enzyme activity under specific conditions of pH and temperature could lead to the formation of potentially harmful free radical species. In addition to the intrinsic enzyme-like activity of IONPs, the buffer solution is an important external factor that can alter dramatically the IONP activity because the buffer species can interact with the surface of the particles. In our study, IONP activity was evaluated in different buffering solutions under different experimental conditions and predominant free radical species were measured by electron paramagnetic resonance using the spin-trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The formation kinetics of the reactive oxygen species were studied by UV-visible spectroscopy with TMB and DAB peroxidase substrates. We found that the highest catalytic oxidation of peroxidase substrates and free radical generation were achieved in acetate buffer, while phosphate buffer inhibited the peroxidase-like activity of IONPs in a concentration dependent manner. When emulating the physiological conditions, a lower catalytic activity was observed at pH 7.4 when compared to that at pH 5.0. Also, in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), we observed an enhancement in the peroxidase substrate oxidation rate that was not accompanied by an increase in DMPO/adduct formation which could be related to a non-specific oxidation catalyzed by the chloride ion. Similar observations were found after the addition of a bicarbonate to HEPES buffer. TMB oxidation did not occur when the reaction was conducted with free iron ions from metal salts with the same concentration of the IONPs (0.33 Fe2+ and 0.66 Fe3+). However, we observed even higher catalytic activities than those when doubling the IONP concentration when they are combined with the free iron salts. These results indicate that biological buffering solutions need to be carefully considered when evaluating IONP catalytic activity and their potential toxicological effects since under physiological conditions of pH, salinity and buffering species, the peroxidase-like activity of IONPs is dramatically reduced.

We report a simple and effective way to control the heat generation of a magnetic colloid under alternate magnetic fields by changing the shell composition of bimagnetic core-shell Fe3O4/ZnxCo1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles. The core-shell structure constitutes a magnetically-coupled biphase system, with an effective anisotropy that can be tuned by the substitution of Co2+ by Zn2+ ions in the shell. Magnetic hyperthermia experiments of nanoparticles dispersed in hexane and butter oil showed that the magnetic relaxation is dominated by Brown relaxation mechanism in samples with higher anisotropy (i.e., larger concentration of Co within the shell) yielding high specific power absorption values in low viscosity media as hexane. Increasing the Zn concentration of the shell, diminishes the magnetic anisotropy, which results in a change to a Néel relaxation that dominates the process when the nanoparticles are dispersed in a high-viscosity medium. We demonstrate that tuning the Zn contents at the shell of these exchange-coupled core/shell nanoparticles provides a way to control the magnetic anisotropy without loss of saturation magnetization. This ability is an essential prerequisite for most biomedical applications, where high viscosities and capturing mechanisms are present.

In order to explore an alternative strategy to design exchange-biased magnetic nanostructures, bimagnetic core/shell nanoparticles have been fabricated by a thermal decomposition method and systematically studied as a function of the interface exchange coupling. The nanoparticles are constituted by a ∼3 nm antiferromagnetic (AFM) CoO core encapsulated in a ∼4 nm-thick Co 1-x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0-1) ferrimagnetic (FiM) shell. The system presents an enhancement of the coercivity (H C ) as compared to its FiM single-phase counterpart and exchange bias fields (H EB ). While H C decreases monotonically with the Zn concentration from ∼21.5 kOe for x = 0, to ∼7.1 kOe for x = 1, H EB exhibits a non-monotonous behavior being maximum, H EB ∼ 1.4 kOe, for intermediate concentrations. We found that the relationship between the AFM anisotropy energy and the exchange coupling energy can be tuned by replacing Co 2+ with Zn 2+ ions in the shell. As a consequence, the magnetization reversal mechanism of the system is changed from an AFM/FiM rigid-coupling regime to an exchange-biased regime, providing a new approach to tune the magnetic properties and to design novel hybrid nanostructures.

In this work, we present a study of the low temperature magnetic phases of polycrystalline MnCr2O4 spinel through dc magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy (FMR). Through these experiments, we determined the main characteristic temperatures: T(C) ∼ 41 K and T(H) ∼ 18 K corresponding, respectively, to the ferrimagnetic order and to the low temperature helicoidal transitions. The temperature evolution of the system is described by a phenomenological approach that considers the different terms that contribute to the free energy density. Below the Curie temperature, the FMR spectra were modeled by a cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy to the second order, with K1 and K2 anisotropy constants that define the easy magnetization axis along the <1 1 0> direction. At lower temperatures, the formation of a helicoidal phase was considered by including uniaxial anisotropy axis along the [11¯0] propagation direction of the spiral arrange, with a Ku anisotropy constant. The values obtained from the fittings at 5 K are K1 = -2.3 × 10(4) erg cm(-3), K2 = 6.4 × 10(4) erg cm(-3) and Ku = 7.5 × 10(4) erg cm(-3).

The control of the size of bimagnetic nanoparticles represents an important step toward the study of fundamental properties and the design of new nanostructured magnetic materials. We report the synthesis and the structural and magnetic characterization of bimagnetic CoO/CoFe2O4 core/shell nanoparticles. The material was fabricated by a seed-mediated growth high-temperature decomposition method with sizes in the range of 5-11 nm. We show that the core/shell morphology favours the crystallinity of the shell phase, and the reduction of the particle size leads to a remarkable increase of the magnetic hardening. When the size is reduced, the coercive field at 5 K increases from 21.5 kOe to 30.8 kOe, while the blocking temperature decreases from 388 K to 167 K. The size effects on the magnetic behaviour are described through a phenomenological model for strongly ferri-/antiferromagnetic coupled phases.

We have studied the magnetic behaviour of half-doped manganite Y0.5Ca0.5MnO3 in an extended range of temperatures by means of magnetic susceptibility, χ(T), and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. At high temperature the system crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure. The resistivity value, ρ ≃ 0.05 Ω cm at 500 K, indicates a metallic behaviour, while the Curie-Weiss dependence of χ(T) and the thermal evolution of the ESR parameters are very well described by a model that considers a system conformed by localized Mn(4+) cores, [Formula: see text], and itinerant, eg, electrons. The strong coupling between t2g and eg electrons results in an enhanced Curie constant and an FM Curie-Weiss temperature that overcomes the AFM interactions between the [Formula: see text] cores. A transition to a more distorted phase is observed at T ≈ 500 K and signatures of localization of the eg electrons appear in the χ(T) behaviour below 300 K. A new Curie-Weiss regime is observed, where the Curie-constant value is consistent with dimer formation. Based on mean-field calculations, the dimer formation is predicted as a function of the interaction strength between the t2g and eg electrons.

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Serum albumin contamination of cells cultured in vitro significantly impedes the mass spectrometric analysis of proteins secreted by the cells. Here we report a novel washing and culturing technique for rat vascular endothelial cells that considerably reduces the concentration of the commonly used additive for cell culture, bovine serum albumin (BSA), in the secretome of these cells. Cells are rinsed stringently and cultured for 24 h in serum-free media without appreciably impeding cell growth or viability. The percentage of BSA scans identified by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in stringently rinsed cells (average 13.2%) was significantly lower than either the moderately rinsed or no rinse cell treatments (average 35.2% and 45.2% respectively). Furthermore, the stringent wash treatment allowed the confident identification of a larger portion of the secretome of rat endothelial cells by LC-MS/MS.

Morin is an antioxidant and anticancer flavonoid, extracted from natural sources, that may exert beneficial effects for several pathologies. Despite this, the administration of morin represents a challenge due to its low aqueous solubility. Mesoporous silica materials have emerged as biocompatible tools for drug delivery, as their pore size can be modulated for maximum surface area to volume ratio. In this contribution, we evaluate the ability of iron-modified mesoporous materials, for morin loading and controlled delivery. The SBA-15 and MCM-41 sieves were synthesized and modified with iron (metal content 4.02 and 6.27 % wt, respectivily). Characterization by transmission electron microscopy, XRD and UV-Vis revealed adequate pore size and agglomerates of very small metallic nanospecies (nanoclusters), without larger iron oxide nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra confirmed the presence of silanol groups in the solid hosts, which can interact with different groups present in morin molecules. SBA-15 materials were more efficient in terms of morin loading capacity (LC) due to their larger pore diameter. LC was more than 35% for SBA-15 materials when adsorptions studies were carried out with 9 mg of drug. Antioxidant activity were assayed by using DPPH test. Free iron materials presented a significate improvement as antioxidants after morin incorporation, reaching a scavenging activity of almost a 90%. On the other hand, in iron modified mesoporous materials, the presence of morin did not affect the scavenging activity. The results could be related with the formation of a complex between the flavonoid and the iron. Finally, biosafety studies using normal epithelial cells revealed that neither the loaded nor the unloaded materials exerted toxicity, even at doses of 1 mg/ml. These findings expand knowledge about mesoporous materials as suitable carriers of flavonoids with the aim of improving therapies for a wide range of pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the threats posed by jihadist online propaganda, multiple countering violent extremism (CVE) campaigns were carried out with the goal of offering counter and alternative narratives able to contrast those of terrorist organizations. Although there is growing literature on the topic of how to build an effective CVE program, there is a lack of knowledge about how to evaluate a CVE online campaign. Drawing from recent research in the health domain and in the CVE field, I present a new evaluation approach that entails through a comparative analysis of multiple CVE campaigns and a qualitative inquiry focused on the case study #heartofdarkness (#hod). To achieve this, two combined methods were adopted: a revised version of the Message Sensation Value index used in antismoking campaigns analyses to measure the videos' appeal, and a set of focus groups aimed at collecting feedback on the videos' storytelling with a sample target of at-risk youths and expert stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of food safety poses a significant threat to human health. The colorimetric sensing method offers a highly sensitive response, visualization, and easy operation, making it highly promising for applications in the field of bioanalysis. Fe 3 O 4 nanomaterials not only possess the advantages of a straightforward preparation method, customizable functionalities, and facile surface modification, but also exhibit excellent peroxidase activity. The colorimetric biosensor based on a Fe 3 O 4 nanozyme is highly sensitive and has a low detection limit, making it widely recognized in the field of food safety detection. The review provides a summary of synthesis methods for Fe 3 O 4 nanozymes and discusses the effects of different synthesis methods on their structures. Additionally, the catalytic mechanism of the Fe 3 O 4 nanozyme and the influence of particle size, structure, pH, metal doping, and surface modifications on the peroxide activity are analyzed. Finally, we introduce the application of colorimetric sensors based on Fe 3 O 4 nanozymes in detecting antioxidants, heavy metal ions, pesticides, antibiotics, foodborne pathogen toxins, and other food additives and contaminants. This review is expected to provide reference and inspiration for future research on food safety detection through colorimetric sensors based on Fe 3 O 4 nanozymes., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Since ages, catalysts have played a pivotal role in accelerating the production and lowering the cost of a plethora of industrially important commodities. The latest in the scenario are nanocatalysts, which offer a wide array of advantages ranging from improved reaction rates to higher rates of recyclability. However, factors such as stability and support systems must be fine-tuned to achieve maximum efficiency. In accordance with the principle of sustainability, green synthesis methods have propelled the development of a range of nanocatalysts that can be applied in various domains, such as the food industry and biofuel production. Simultaneously, heterogeneous catalysis is gaining more attention globally, primarily due to the ease of recoverability of the nanocatalysts and in this context, magnetically retrievable nanocatalysts are indeed a boon for the green synthesis and sustainable production. Nanocomposites combining plasmonic and catalytic components with noble metal nanoparticles (Au and Ag) and doped semiconductor nanostructures have gained interest in recent years owing to their utility in multiple sectors by virtue of their ability to convert sunlight to chemical energy. The current review describes some methods for the synthesis of such nanocatalysts and their applications in diverse domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on physical fitness are unclear, and the impact of vaccination on that relationship is uncertain. Methods We compared survey responses in a 1-year study of US military service members with (n = 1923) and without (n = 1591) a history of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We fit Poisson regression models to estimate the association between history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and fitness impairment, adjusting for time since infection, demographics, and baseline health. Results The participants in this analysis were primarily young adults aged 18–39 years (75%), and 71.5% were male. Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to report difficulty exercising (38.7% vs 18.4%; P <.01), difficulty performing daily activities (30.4% vs 12.7%; P <.01), and decreased fitness test (FT) scores (42.7% vs 26.2%; P <.01) than those without a history of infection. SARS-CoV-2-infected participants were at higher risk of these outcomes after adjusting for other factors (unvaccinated: exercising: adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 3.99; 95% CI, 3.36–4.73; activities: aRR, 5.02; 95% CI, 4.09–6.16; FT affected: aRR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.19–2.98). Among SARS-CoV-2-positive participants, full vaccination before infection was associated with a lower risk of post-COVID-19 fitness impairment (fully vaccinated: exercise: aRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70–0.95; activities: aRR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.64–0.91; FT: aRR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76–1.00; boosted: exercise: aRR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.51–0.74; activities: aRR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.41–0.65; FT: aRR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.49–0.70). Conclusions In this study of generally young, healthy military service members, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with lower self-reported fitness and exercise capacity; vaccination and boosting were associated with lower risk of self-reported fitness loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report bifunctional molybdenum‐doped nickel sulfide on nickel foam (Mo‐NiSx/NF) for magnetic field‐enhanced overall water splitting under alkaline conditions. Proper doping of Mo can lead to optimization of the electronic structure of NiSx, which accelerates the dissociation of H2O and the adsorption of OH− in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) processes, respectively. In addition, the magnetically active Mo‐NiSx/NF can further enhance the HER and OER activity under an applied magnetic field due to the magnetoresistance effect and the ferromagnetic (FM) exchange‐field penetration effect. As a result, Mo‐NiSx/NF requires low overpotentials of 307 mV at 50 mA cm−2 (for OER) and 136 mV at 10 mA cm−2 (for HER) under a magnetic field of 10000 G. Furthermore, the electrolytic cell constructed by the bifunctional Mo‐NiSx/NFs as both the cathode and the anode shows a low cell voltage of 1.594 V at 10 mA cm−2 with optimal stability over 60 h under the magnetic field. Simultaneous enhancement of the HER and OER processes by an external magnetic field through rational design of electrocatalysts might be promising for overall water splitting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hospital records of 1687 psychiatric patients were rated for the presence of assaultive or other fear-inducing behaviors associated with the reasons for their hospital admissions. Data analyses indicated that significant associations existed between these behaviors and sex, race/ethnicity, diagnosis, previous admissions, referral source for hospitalization, legal status at admission, and legal status at discharge. No associations were found for age, education, marital status, employment status, number of days hospitalized during the index hospitalization, and referral at discharge. A comparison of these results with the results of studies by other investigators led to the conclusion that clinical variables appear to have a more consistent relation to violent behavior than demographic variables. Future research examining for the correlates of violent behavior in psychiatric patients may be more productive by focusing on the type and degree of patients' psychopathologies rather than on patients' demographic characteristics.

Recent studies indicate that the incidence of violent or fear-inducing behavior among the mentally ill may be higher than once thought. In this study, medical record admission notes for 1,687 psychiatric patients over a four-year period were examined for indications that the patients had engaged in violent or fear-inducing behavior just prior to hospital admission. This and other studies suggest that the frequency of violent or fear-inducing behavior associated with psychiatric admissions may have stabilized in recent years. The authors also found a significantly higher level of hospital readmissions for violent patients than for other patients. As a result, they caution against assuming that the rate of violent behavior among hospital admissions accurately reflects the prevalence of violent behavior among the general population of the mentally ill.

Recently localized magnetic hyperthermia therapy is zell researched to treat cancer tumor as an independent therapy or an adjunct therapy to increase efficiency of the established radiation-, chemo-, and immuno-therapies. At the heart of the therapy is the generation of controlled heat by superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPNPs) and their biocompatibility to human tissue and blood. Colloidal SPNPs produce heat under alternate magnetic field by electron magnetic spin relaxation mechanism. Magnetic spins relax through either Néel or Brown or both the mechanism in a nanocolloid. Néel relaxation is predominant in magnetic isotropic SPNPs, and Brown relaxation is predominant in magnetic anisotropic samples. Brown relaxation leads to rotation of whole magnetic nanoparticles under magnetic field to produce heat. Brown relaxation time (τB) strongly depends on hydrodynamic volume of nanoparticles (NPs) and dispersion medium viscosity. As the generation of magnetic hyperthermia power strongly depends on relaxation time, the recent literature is reviewed to understand the effect of dispersant type on hydrodynamic volume of SPNPs and relaxation time, and medium viscosity on relaxation time in nanocolloids. It is observed that dispersants on individual SPNPs increase both colloidal stability and spin relaxation time of NPs resulting in higher specific heat power generation compared to NPs without dispersants. Different amino acids, long-chain steric dispersants, and small-chain zwitterionic surfactants anchored on similar NPs show varied magnetic hyperthermia values due to varied hydrodynamic volume. Medium viscosity also played a significant role on hyperthermia values of NPs. The above characteristics are prominent in anisotropic magnetic materials, including core–shell bimagnetic nanoparticles. This review may help researchers in the field to design and synthesize new hyperthermia materials in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-based global media efforts are rapidly expanding and have attracted a wide audience reach. Instagram, a rapidly growing photo- and video-sharing platform, however, remains understudied. To fill the gap, this study examines the audience-targeting strategies of CGTN (China Global Television Network) Instagram account about the United Nations’ institutional definition of statehood: territorial control, population control, governance, and capacity for alliances. Using topic modeling, this study reveals that CGTN Instagram, by intention or happenstance, promotes China’s relative institutional strength in relation to other countries through its targeted use of statehood-based posts across different languages. The study discusses a comparison of the divergent strategies of CGTN and RT statehood posts. Whereas RT adopts more aggressive rhetoric to showcase its military might and undermine the institutional legitimacy of rival states, CGTN adopts more celebratory means to expand its influence and promote its institutional successes. This study expands understanding of China’s global media operations, China-Russia comparative information strategy, and audience interaction on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal characteristics of ferrite nanoparticles are widely studied for magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia, while alternative materials for the melioration of heating efficiency are being explored. We present the theoretical and experimental evaluation of (Fe, FeCo) core and iron oxide shell-based nanoparticles as potential materials for improved heating efficiency. The numerical computations reveal enhanced effective specific absorption rates up to 47 and 55 nH m2 kg−1 for Fe and FeCo core–shell particles (CSPs), greater than spinel ferrites, for varying shell thicknesses in the range of 2–10 nm. The experimental evaluation of the heating characteristics for the average particle sizes of 46 (Fe) and 18 (FeCo) nm has been probed using infrared thermography. The effective magnetic anisotropy constant determined from ferromagnetic resonance is 85 kJ m−3 for the FeCo CSPs that are larger than Fe CSPs and ferrites (15–23 kJ m−3). The temperature rise of 8 K observed for the FeCo CSPs is attributed to the partial compliance with the linear response theory suggesting it as a promising candidate for magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common and debilitating long-term side effect of cancer and its treatment. While exercise has been shown to effectively reduce CRF, the underlying mechanisms are not fully clear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of a 4-month walking exercise program on fatigue severity and to explore potential underlying physiological, behavioral, and psychological mechanisms of action., Methods: We included 27 cancer survivors (59 ± 15 years, 37% female) with variable cancer diagnoses who were at least moderately fatigued and finished treatment between 6 and 36 months ago. This study with a quasi-experimental interrupted time-series design compared a 4-month walking intervention period with a 4-month control period. Measurements of fatigue and physiological, behavioral, and psychological factors were performed, supplemented with participants' perceptions on how exercise influenced their fatigue., Results: A significant and clinically relevant decrease in fatigue severity was found over time (β =  - 8.1, 95% CI =  - 12.1; - 4.2), but could not be attributed directly to the walking exercise intervention. Increases in muscle strength (β =  - 0.07, 95% CI =  - 0.12; - 0.02), physical activity (β =  - 0.1, 95% CI =  - 0.2; - 0.04), and sleep quality (β = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.3; 1.9), as well as decreases in muscle relaxation times (β = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.02; 0.16) and psychological distress (β = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.8; 1.3) were associated with reductions in fatigue severity. Resilience and physical well-being were perceived as most important constructs explaining the walking exercise effects on fatigue., Conclusion: Our findings reveal potential physiological, behavioral, and psychological mechanisms underlying the multidimensional effects of exercise on fatigue severity., Implications for Cancer Survivors: Incorporating resistance exercise and addressing resilience and physical well-being might improve the efficacy of exercise interventions for cancer survivors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

It would be helpful to achieve appropriate synthetic routes to attain larger-scale production at industrial levels of nanocomposites at low costs. In the present work, diphasic composites with core–shell nanostructures formed by La2Fe2O6/CoFe2O4 are investigated. The core–shell structure is fabricated via different preparation methods. The advantages and the demerits of the synthesis techniques are discussed. The presence of both the spinel CoFe2O4 nano ferrite and orthorhombic La2Fe2O6 perovskite phases is revealed by X-ray diffraction. XPS spectroscopy is utilized to investigate the chemical composition of the prepared samples. The hysteresis loops of the prepared samples exhibit a smooth loop that is resulted from the existence of two homogeneous magnetic phases. For the first time, it has been found that the preparation conditions have the advantage of reducing the switching field distribution value for the core–shell nanoparticles. Exchange coupled core–shell nanoparticles present a high potential to regulate the magnetic properties for numerous applications such as heavy metal removal and/or data storage devices. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of Cr III on the core–shell (S3) is higher compared to other adsorbents previously testified in the literature. The cost-effective and eco-friendly prepared core–shell samples with good metal removal capacity have great potential for commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Al doping on the NiFe2O4 phase for the enhanced magnetic properties of α-Fe2O3/NiFe2O4 composite has been reported. The crystalline quality of the samples improves significantly with increasing Al doping concentration. The formation of core–shell structure in the samples along with the reduction in shell thickness with Al doping has been evidenced through morphological characterization. All the samples show the optical band gap value of 1.7 eV that could produce higher efficiency toward the visible light absorption. All the samples show the doubly inverted structure (TN > Tc). The low saturation magnetization and high coercivity in the Al-doped samples in comparison with the un-doped sample are observed because of the paramagnetic spin configuration of Al ions and interface coupling between α-Fe2O3 and NiFe2O4 phases. The different exchange coupling in Al-modified α-Fe2O3/NiFe2O4 composite systems could be associated with the NiFe2O4 phase. The occurrence of narrow band gap, ferromagnetism, loop shift, freezing temperature and doubly inverted structure in the nanocomposite samples could be beneficial for photo-electrochemical water splitting, photo-catalyst and magnetic memory device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors in the presence of surfactants and a long-chain alcohol is a valuable method to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) because it provides good control of the final morphology and crystallinity of the magnetic material. These parameters, and consequently the magnetic properties, depend on several details of the experimental procedure of chemical synthesis. We have studied the role of the pre-decomposition step, heating the system to 373–393 K in inert gas flux, on the final composition and morphology of the system. By adding this intermediate step, we were able to produce MNPs with a Fe1-yO/Fe3O4 core–shell structure and sizes of 20–25 nm. When the same synthesis protocol was used skipping the pre-decomposition stage, monophasic MNPs of 11 nm with ferrite structure were obtained. These differences in the composition have a major effect on the resulting magnetic properties of MNPs, and are related to some by-reactions in the synthesis solution during the preparation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomwaffen Division (AWD) was an American neo-nazi extremist organization active between 2015 and 2020. Even after its disbanding, AWD's influence can be felt in the symbols and media produced by other organizations in the white power space. This paper contributes to the ongoing study of violent extremism and media by categorizing, defining, and analysing AWD's official video releases and visual/audio style. First, we explore the history and significance of AWD's video media output, noting how AWD took advantage of existing internet aesthetics to connect their messaging to its target audience. Then, we analyse AWD's official video releases, showing how they express white power ideology in ways which have continued to be influential after the group's dissolution, along with ongoing implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We investigate the local structure of nanoparticles based on cobalt ferrite core with and without a hydrothermal surface treatment of variable duration of time that promotes a coating shell by crossing information obtained from atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. Chemical titration results show that the surface layer thickness increases as the duration of the surface treatment increases. The cation distribution obtained by Rietveld refinement of NPD patterns allows splitting the core and shell structural parameters obtained from Rietveld refinement of XRD data of the samples well described in a core-shell model. We follow the local structural evolution with the surface treatment time analyzing both XANES and EXAFS regions of the absorption spectrum. As a result, we observe that the surface treatment is not energetically strong enough to provoke changes on the mean oxidation states of the cations in the spinel structure; indeed, the interatomic distances are similar to those found in bulk materials and the inversion degree remains the same after the surface treatment, in good accordance with the cation distribution obtained by Rietveld refinement of NPD data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a concept of hybrid nanoelectronic-magnetic device made of magnetic Fe–C core–shell nanoparticles deposited onto prepatterned Si (111) substrate with basic circuitry made of metallic conductive lines. The synthesis of magnetic material and the creation of nanoelectronic prepatterned interdigitated die are reported and to prove the effectiveness in devices, their magnetotransport properties are investigated. Magnetic Fe/FeC nanoparticles, 11 nm diameter, with a core–shell structure have been prepared by laser pyrolysis. Two different layouts of prepatterned interdigitated die, have been conceived using e-beam lithography, with various geometries. A range of microscopy techniques, transmission electron, scanning and optical, were employed for morphological characterization of the as-obtained structures. Magnetic and magnetotransport characterization using SQUID magnetometry has been performed onto both the core–shell nanoparticles and onto the hybrid device obtained by depositing centrifugated and dispersed core–shell nanoparticles from liquid carrier solutions. From magnetotransport measurements, it has been revealed that the hybrid device made of Fe/FeC nanosized materials on prepatterned interdigitated die exhibit a large giant magnetoresistive (GMR) effect of about 8% at 300 K. This result is promising in view of the use of such devices as arrays of nanosensors and in spintronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Militant groups introduce a layer of complexity to existing theories of media systems. Operating as a protostate, ISIS defies the common understandings of Hallin and Mancini's four dimensions of national media systems by blurring the lines among the media, journalists, and the state. This study offers a first step toward understanding the role of content in this emerging media system by analyzing the most recurring components (photographs) during a key transitional period (Mosul battles). A mixed-methods analysis of 1,204 images that one ISIS province disseminated under immense military pressure breaks the photographic campaign into nine military and nonmilitary visual frames and identifies key visual semiotic tools that delineate among the group's militants, Iraqi forces, and civilians. The study reveals that ISIS has established an enduring, highly visual protostate media system, in which frames and semiotics serve to help sustain the system and retain meaning in online circulation. The article concludes with a discussion about how a protostate media system may be countered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hetero-nanostructures based on magnetic contrast oxides have been prepared as highly dense nanoconsolidates. Cobalt ferrite-cobalt oxide core-shell type nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by seed mediated growth in polyol and subsequently consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) at 500 °C for a few minutes while applying a uniaxial pressure of 100 MPa. It is interesting to note that the exchange bias feature observed in the core-shell NPs is reproduced in their ceramic counterparts, or even attenuated. A systematic structural characterization was then carried out to elucidate the decrease in the exchange magnetic field, involving mainly advanced X-ray diffraction, zero-field and in-field 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry, magnetic measurements and electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dugesiana is the property of Universidad de Guadalajara and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Anales del Seminario de Historia de la Filosofía is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article describes the general structure of controlled economic environments and reports the results of a series of experimentally-induced price changes on consumer behavior in one such environment. The experimental results demonstrate the suitability of controlled economic environments as laboratories for the experimental analysis of consumer behavior and add to our understanding of consumer behavior, particularly with respect to the continuing effects of temporary price changes on the composition of consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic resin/silicone hybrid composites (MPR) were prepared by a facile and low-cost method. FTIR results show that polycondensation of siloxane occurs in the presence of catalyst and water in the system, and siloxane oligomer was formed. During the curing process, the transesterification reaction between siloxane oligomer and phenolic resin (PR) makes silicon incorporated into PR. The TGA results indicate that introducing Si-O structure into PR can effectively improve the thermal stability of the resin. Compared with cured neat PR, temperatures at 5 and 10% mass loss of cured MPR can be improved by 43 and 36 °C. Its char yield at 800 °C was increased by about 9.1%. Cured MPR has been characterized by FTIR, XPS, XRD and Raman spectra to discuss the chemical state changes of silicon during pyrolysis process, as well as the effect of silicon on the char yield. On the one hand, the formation of Si-O-C structure can reduce the number of phenyl hydroxyl groups, which contributes to the reduced weight loss. On the other hand, the results indicate that Si-Ox structure was formed from the oxidation of Si-CH3 and hydrolysis of Si-O-C structures. According to Raman analyses, introducing silicone into the system cannot help to promote the formation of a more ordered structure. Additionally, the mechanical properties of cured MPR have also been improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]