Search Results (46)

This study investigates an IPS-type Metglas/PMN-PT laminated magnetoelectric composite and its feasibility as a reciprocal mechanical magnetoelectric antenna for low-frequency transmission and reception. Finite-element simulations under quasi-static and frequency-domain conditions reveal strong magnetoelectric coupling under an optimal DC bias field, with both the direct magnetoelectric effect (DME) and converse magnetoelectric effect (CME) exhibiting pronounced resonance near 14.5 kHz, governed by the same longitudinal extensional vibration mode. Five IPS samples were fabricated and experimentally characterized. All devices showed resonant frequencies within 14.1–14.5 kHz, peak DME coefficients of 3.0 × 10⁶ to 3.9 × 10⁶ pC/Oe, and peak CME coefficients of 12.0~15.8 Oe·cm/V, confirming good fabrication consistency, transmit–receive reciprocity, and array-integration potential. The parallel IPS antenna generated a magnetic flux density of 37 nT at 1 m, and exhibited an equivalent magnetic noise of 63 fT/Hz^1/2 at 14.45 kHz. These results demonstrate that the proposed IPS structure combines high-sensitivity reception with efficient low-frequency transmission, showing strong potential for miniaturized, low-power, and long-range magnetic communication and underwater communication applications. Full article

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is frequently associated with a range of neurological, cognitive and psychological issues, presenting significant challenges to patients’ Quality of Life (QoL). Among non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, transcutaneous spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) is emerging as a potential approach for symptom management in neurological conditions. However, the effects of tsDCS on MS remain poorly explored. Thus, this preliminary study aimed to evaluate the effects of tsDCS on MS symptomatology, focusing on cognitive and psychological variables. Methods: Six patients with MS were recruited for a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind crossover study, and received anodal tsDCS or sham stimulation in two separate sessions at least one month apart. Assessment outcomes included cognitive and attentional-executive functions, depressive symptoms, and several QoL components. The tests were administered at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), one week (T2) and one month (T3) post-treatment. Results: Although protocol-by-time interactions did not reach statistical significance across all measures, protocol-independent improvements over time were observed in various QoL subscales, including Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Health, Vitality, Health Distress, and Overall QoL. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that tsDCS is a feasible and well-tolerated intervention in patients with MS, with possible implications for QoL. Given the small sample size and the exploratory nature of this study, further research is needed to clarify whether tsDCS may represent a potentially beneficial non-invasive neuromodulation approach for improving well-being in patients with MS across both physical and mental dimensions. Full article

AI data-center (DC) growth is increasingly constrained by limited deliverable electricity, interconnection capacity, and cooling demand. This study develops a boundary-consistent screening framework for waste-to-energy (WtE)-coupled AI DC cooling, treating cooling as an energy service that can be supplied through grade matching rather than solely through electricity-driven mechanical chilling. The framework translates plant-side exportable heat into corridor-level planning objects by explicitly accounting for thermal attenuation, absorption-based conversion, and parasitic electricity associated with delivery and auxiliaries. Three results structure the analysis. First, a reference-case energy-service ledger shows how a representative regulated WtE plant with municipal solid-waste throughput of 1500 t/day and lower heating value of 10 MJ/kg yields ~78.1 MWth of exportable driving heat and, at a 20 km corridor, ~53.0 MWcool of delivered cooling and ~8.0 MWe of net avoided cooling electricity after parasitic debiting. Second, the coupled system is governed by operating regimes, not a single efficiency score. Under the baseline package, full thermal coverage is maintained up to ~20.9 km, the stricter quality-adjusted criterion remains positive to ~22.9 km, and the electricity–relief criterion remains positive to ~44.7 km. Third, deployment-scale translation for a 1 GW IT campus ($u=0.70$, $L=5 \mathrm{k}$m) implies a net grid relief of ~116.9–264.4 MW across scenario packages, while the required WtE footprint ranges from roughly three to 148 equivalent representative plants, or about 0.6–40 full-load-equivalent plants at a 25% displacement target. The contribution is a siting-ready planning framework that identifies when WtE-coupled cooling remains corridor-feasible, when it becomes hybrid and marginal, and when infrastructure scale rather than thermodynamic benefit becomes the binding constraint. It is intended as a screening tool for planning and comparison, not as a project-specific hydraulic or plant-cycle design. Full article

Background/Objectives: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and it tends to remain during adulthood. It not only affects cognitive abilities and behavior but also often presents emotional disturbances and alterations in the perceived quality of life. These symptoms are primarily related to dysfunctions in the ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal network. The main objective was to evaluate the feasibility and explore the initial outcomes of an integrated protocol combining neuropsychological treatment and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Methods: This study presents a single-case experimental A-B design of a 21-year-old woman, diagnosed with predominantly inattentive ADHD, treated at the University Psychology Clinic of Loyola Andalucía University. The treatment was carried out twice a week for 5 weeks (10 sessions in total), with 20 min of anodal tDCS at F3 and cathodal tDCS at F4 (2 mA), while digital neurorehabilitation exercises and psychotherapeutic support were provided. Results: An overall significant improvement was observed in cognitive functions (p = 0.008), with clinically significant gains in cognitive flexibility, visual working memory, and planning. Mixed results were found in inhibition, with improvement in interference control but no change in response inhibition. No significant changes were observed in sustained attention, auditory working memory, or processing speed. In terms of emotional state, an overall improvement was noted (p = 0.046), particularly in depression symptoms and perceived quality of life related to physical and psychological health. However, no significant changes were observed in anxiety symptoms or in areas related to the environment and social relationships. These findings reflect pilot-level evidence of clinical change within a feasibility framework. Conclusions: The combined treatment was found to be safe and feasible, showing promising preliminary improvements in cognitive and emotional domains. As a single-case study, these results serve as hypothesis-generating evidence for future controlled trials. Full article

Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption, with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems being the primary contributor. Building management systems offer a promising solution for enhancing energy efficiency, particularly in retrofitting older or protected buildings. However, powering numerous wireless sensors required by BMS remains a logistical challenge. This study investigates the feasibility of harvesting thermal energy lost through windowpanes to power ultra-low-power IoT sensors, a concept that was not previously explored in the literature. A thermoelectric energy harvester was developed using a TEC1-12710 thermoelectric module and an EM8900 ultra-low-voltage DC-DC boost converter. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the system’s performance under various thermal conditions, with electrical energy accumulated in a 0.01 mF capacitive energy storage. In laboratory conditions, a temperature difference of ~1 °C enabled the system to generate up to 3.24 V with a power density of 3 mW/m². Field tests during winter yielded lower performance (1.43 V, 1.9 mW/m²), which was attributed to suboptimal thermal gradients and operating points. It was thus experimentally shown that windowpane heat losses can be effectively harnessed for indoor energy harvesting. While the current efficiency is limited, the approach shows promise for powering battery-free IoT devices. Full article

Background: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in conjunction with behavioural language therapy in PPA has previously been modified for variation at the group level, but not at the individual level. This pilot study used individualised tDCS targeting by identifying regions of peak atrophy in the language system. Methods: Six PPA participants (four semantic and two non-fluent variant) were randomly allocated to receive tDCS or sham stimulation. The target electrode was selected for each based on their region of peak atrophy. Participants received naming therapy, individually calibrated according to baseline naming performance. Three sets of therapy were delivered in conjunction with tDCS (1 mA) or sham stimulation within participants’ homes. The study was not powered to demonstrate efficacy but to show proof-of-concept for an individualised, home-based tDCS targeting method. Results: All participants successfully completed the protocol. In one participant the region of peak atrophy differed from that predicted by clinical syndrome. Significant gains were observed at an individual level for treated items in both groups (2/3 tDCS and 2/3 Sham). No significant changes in untreated items were observed at an individual level. Significant naming improvement in untreated items was not observed for the tDCS group and was seen at one time point only for the Sham group. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the feasibility of a novel method for selecting neurostimulation targets for PPA at the individual level. A larger study would be required to determine the long-term therapeutic efficacy of this method. Full article

Objective: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells, serving as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway by pathogen-derived DNA induces type I interferon responses and promotes CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cell activity. This study aimed to establish a protocol for generating immature DCs from murine bone marrow, optimize their maturation in vitro with a STING agonist, and evaluate their ability to prime naïve T cells for potential use in cancer immunotherapy. Methods: Bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 mice were differentiated into immature DCs under growth factor–supplemented conditions. Maturation was induced using a STING agonist and B16 tumor-derived DNA. Naïve CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were isolated via magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and co-cultured with the stimulated DCs. Culture conditions were optimized to enhance DC maturation efficiency, and T cell proliferation was assessed following co-culture. Results: Optimization of the culture system markedly increased the yield of mature DCs. Importantly, co-culture of STING agonist-stimulated DCs with naïve T cells resulted in strong CD8⁺ T cell proliferation, indicating effective priming. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the feasibility of generating functional DCs in vitro and highlight their capacity to prime T cells through STING pathway activation. This proof-of-concept supports the development of DC-based platforms as a promising strategy for novel cancer immunotherapies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dendritic cell vaccines are a promising cancer immunotherapy. AV-OVA-1 is a patient-specific vaccine consisting of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with autologous tumor antigens (ATA) from a lysate of irradiated self-renewing cells enriched for tumor-initiating cells (TICs). A multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 2 trial was designed to determine manufacturing feasibility, safety, and efficacy. Methods: Patients had newly diagnosed stage 3 or 4 ovarian cancer. Short-term cell cultures were established from freshly resected tumor specimens. Patients were screened for randomization seven months after initial diagnosis, after completing neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. Eligibility included a successful cell culture, cryopreservation of sufficient monocyte numbers for differentiation into DCs, and good performance status. Patients were stratified by whether they had persistent disease; then, they were randomized 2:1 to AV-OVA-1 or autologous monocytes (MC). Cryopreserved doses of AV-OVA-1 and MC were thawed and admixed with granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor just before subcutaneous injections at weeks 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24. Results: Study accrual was terminated early during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Manufacturing success rates for TICs, monocyte intermediate products, and AV-OVA-1 were 70/72 (97.2%) and 47/50 (94.0%), and 29/30 (96.7%), respectively. A total of 29 participants were treated with AV-OVA-1 and 15 with MC. Patients received an average of 7.4 injections. Adverse-event frequencies were similar in both arms, mild to moderate in severity, and self-limited. T-cell immune responses increased only after AV-OVA-1. There were no survival differences in this underpowered study. Conclusions: AV-OVA-1 was manufactured reliably and injections were well tolerated. Full article

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects ~1 in 36 children and is increasingly studied as a candidate for non-invasive neuromodulation. Two of the most widely applied modalities are quantitative EEG (QEEG)-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), both targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). While both have shown promise, questions remain regarding their relative clinical profiles and scalability. Objective: To conduct a within-cohort reanalysis of QEEG-guided rTMS outcomes in paediatric ASD and to contextualise these findings alongside published reports of home-supervised tDCS. Methods: Individual participant data (n = 56, ages 6–17) from a prospective rTMS cohort were reanalysed, focusing on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), Repetitive Behavior Scale–Revised (RBS-R), and QEEG biomarkers. Findings were then situated within a narrative synthesis of published paediatric tDCS trials, which consistently report caregiver-supervised feasibility but did not provide raw, baseline-adjusted data suitable for reanalysis. Results: rTMS was associated with large within-cohort improvements (Hedges’ g ≈ 1.0–1.6), including an 11-point reduction in SRS-2 T-scores, a 12-point reduction in ABC totals, and robust QEEG normalisation (β/γ suppression, α enhancement). Published tDCS studies report moderate, clinically meaningful improvements in social communication, executive functioning, and regulation (Cohen’s d ≈ 0.4–0.6), with excellent adherence and no serious adverse events. Conclusions: rTMS produced robust behavioural and neurophysiological improvements within its cohort, while published tDCS trials demonstrate moderate, feasible benefits in home settings. Because of incomplete baseline data and protocol differences, no direct statistical comparison was possible. These findings suggest complementary roles: rTMS as a high-intensity clinic-based intervention, and tDCS as a scalable, family-centred option. A stepped-care framework that combines both modalities should be considered hypothesis-generating only and requires validation in harmonised, randomised controlled trials. Full article

Background/Objectives: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss, muscle weakness, and respiratory dysfunction, often culminating in ventilatory failure. Evidence suggests that High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) may modulate motor cortical excitability and potentially influence motor and respiratory function in ALS. This study aims to evaluate the effects of home-based HD-tDCS applied over the primary diaphragmatic motor cortex on respiratory parameters and disease progression in individuals with ALS. Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Eligible participants (aged 18–80, both sexes, diagnosed with ALS) will be randomized into an active HD-tDCS group (gTDCS) or a sham group (gSham). The intervention consists of 30 min daily HD-tDCS sessions (3 mA) applied for two weeks (5 days/week), using a 4 × 1 ring configuration targeting the diaphragmatic motor cortex. Sham stimulation includes an identical setup but only delivers ramp currents (30 s) with a minimal ongoing current (0.1 mA). Results: Pre-, intra-, and post-intervention evaluations will include measures of cortical excitability, cerebral and tissue perfusion, surface electromyography, respiratory and pulmonary function, fatigue, sleep quality, pain, motor performance, dyspnea, quality of life, and adverse effects. All procedures will be conducted at participants’ homes with appropriate safety monitoring. Conclusions: This study will investigate the effects of HD-tDCS on respiratory and motor function in ALS and explore the feasibility of a home-based neuromodulation intervention. The outcomes may provide insight into non-pharmacological strategies for respiratory management in ALS. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fatigue and cognitive impairment are common issues for People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS), affecting over 80% and 40–65%, respectively. The relationship between these two debilitating conditions is complex, with cognitive deficits exacerbating fatigue and vice versa. This study investigates the effects of a multimodal intervention combining cognitive rehabilitation and neuromodulation to alleviate fatigue and enhance cognitive performance in PwMS. Methods: The research employed multiple baselines across the subjects in a Single-Case Experimental Design (mbSCED) with a cohort of three PwMS diagnosed with Relapsing–Remitting MS. The intervention protocol consisted of a baseline phase followed by a four-week treatment involving transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training using RehaCom^® software (version 6.9.0). Fatigue levels were measured using the modified Fatigue Impact Scale (mFIS), while cognitive performance was evaluated through standardized neuropsychological assessments. Results: The multimodal protocol exhibited high feasibility and acceptability, with no dropouts. Individual responsiveness outcomes varied, with two PwMS showing significant decreases in fatigue and improvements in cognitive performance, particularly in the trained domains. Their motor performance and quality of life also improved, suggesting that the treatment had indirect beneficial effects. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence for the potential benefits of integrating neuromodulation and cognitive rehabilitation as a personalized therapeutic strategy for managing fatigue and cognitive impairments in MS. Further research is needed to delineate the specific contributions of each intervention component and establish standardized protocols for clinical implementation. The insights gained may lead to more effective, tailored treatment options for PwMS. Full article

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate cortical excitability in a polarity-specific manner, yet identical protocols often produce inconsistent outcomes across sessions or individuals. This narrative review proposes that much of this variability arises from the brain’s intrinsic temporal landscape. Integrating evidence from chronobiology, sleep research, and non-invasive brain stimulation, we argue that tDCS produces reliable, polarity-specific after-effects only within a circadian–homeostatic “window of efficacy”. On the circadian (Process C) axis, intrinsic alertness, membrane depolarisation, and glutamatergic gain rise in the late biological morning and early evening, whereas pre-dawn phases are marked by reduced excitability and heightened inhibition. On the homeostatic (Process S) axis, consolidated sleep renormalises synaptic weights, widening the capacity for further potentiation, whereas prolonged wakefulness saturates plasticity and can even reverse the usual anodal/cathodal polarity rules. Human stimulation studies mirror this two-process fingerprint: sleep deprivation abolishes anodal long-term-potentiation-like effects and converts cathodal inhibition into facilitation, while stimulating at each participant’s chronotype-aligned (phase-aligned) peak time amplifies and prolongs after-effects even under equal sleep pressure. From these observations we derive practical recommendations: (i) schedule excitatory tDCS after restorative sleep and near the individual wake-maintenance zone; (ii) avoid sessions at high sleep pressure or circadian troughs; (iii) log melatonin phase, chronotype, recent sleep and, where feasible, core temperature; and (iv) consider mild pre-heating or time-restricted feeding as physiological primers. By viewing Borbély’s two-process model and allied metabolic clocks as adjustable knobs for plasticity engineering, this review provides a conceptual scaffold for personalised, time-sensitive tDCS protocols that could improve reproducibility in research and therapeutic gain in the clinic. Full article

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive impairment of speech and language abilities. Intensive speech and language teletherapy combined with remotely supervised, self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be suited to remove barriers to accessing potentially effective treatments, but there is only limited evidence on the feasibility of this combined approach. Methods: This pilot case series investigated the feasibility, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of a novel telerehabilitation programme combined with home-based, self-administered tDCS for people with primary progressive aphasia (pwPPA). The intervention programme was co-developed with pwPPA and their caregivers, to reflect their priorities regarding treatment content and outcomes (i.e., naming, functional communication). Results: Two pwPPA successfully completed the telerehabilitation intervention with daily naming training and communicative-pragmatic therapy paired with tDCS, over 10 consecutive workdays. Caregivers assisted in the setup of equipment required for teletherapy and home-based tDCS. Participants successfully completed the programme with a 95% completion rate. Home-based tDCS was well tolerated. Both participants showed improvements in naming and communication, suggesting preliminary efficacy of the intervention. Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility and potential benefit of a novel, easily accessible and patient-relevant telerehabilitation intervention for pwPPA, which requires confirmation in a future larger-scale exploratory trial. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic attention problems occur in approximately 25% of children after acquired brain injury (ABI). When delivered daily, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may improve attention; however, access to daily in-clinic tDCS treatment can be limited by other commitments, including concurrent therapy, school commitments, and caregiver schedules. Treatment access can be improved through home-based interventions, though these require several practical and safety considerations in a pediatric ABI population. This study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and tolerability of remotely monitored at-home tDCS during online gamified attention training in pediatric ABI. Methods: We conducted a randomized, single-blind, dose-controlled clinical trial of at home tDCS in Brisbane, Australia (10 tDCS sessions; 20 min; 1 mA or 2 mA; bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex). Participants attended our clinic at baseline for clinical assessments, fitting of the personalized tDCS headband, and training in how to use tDCS at home. All sessions were remotely supervised using live videoconferencing. We assessed the feasibility and tolerability of at-home tDCS and our customized, personalized at-home tDCS headband as primary outcomes. As secondary outcomes, we evaluated changes in functional connectivity (fc) and reaction time (RT). Results: Seventy-three participants were contacted over six months (January-June 2023) and ten were enrolled (5 males; mean age: 12.10 y [SD: 2.9]), satisfying a priori recruitment timelines (CONSORT reporting). All families successfully set up tDCS and completed attention training with excellent protocol adherence. There were no serious adverse events over the 100 total sessions. Nine participants completed all stimulation sessions (1 mA: n = 5, 2 mA: n = 4). Participants in the 2 mA group reported greater tingling, itching, and discomfort (all p < 0.05). One participant in the 1 mA group was unable to complete all sessions due to tolerability challenges; however, these challenges were resolved in the second half of the intervention by gradually increasing the stimulation duration across the 10 days alongside additional coaching and support. Conclusions: Overall, daily remotely supervised at-home tDCS in patients with pediatric ABI is safe, feasible, and tolerable. Our results support larger, sham-controlled efficacy trials and provide a foundation for the development of safe and effective at-home stimulation therapeutics that may offer targeted improvement of neurocognitive symptoms in children. Full article

Background: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe psychiatric condition characterized by pervasive emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and unstable interpersonal relationships. Affecting over 1% of the general population, BPD carries significant morbidity, frequent hospitalizations, and an increased risk of suicide. Although specialized psychotherapeutic approaches have shown efficacy, their impact is often constrained by availability, lengthy treatment durations, moderate effect sizes, and high dropout rates. Pharmacological treatments for BPD remain inadequate and are usually accompanied by adverse side effects. Objective: This narrative review seeks to explore the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a safe, cost-effective, and accessible neuromodulation intervention aimed at alleviating core BPD symptoms—namely, emotional dysregulation and impulsivity—while also addressing common comorbidities and opportunities for integration with existing therapeutic modalities. Methods: We conducted a narrative literature synthesis in accordance with the SANRA (Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles) guidelines. A PubMed/MEDLINE search was performed using keywords related to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and BPD, identifying five published randomized controlled trials on the topic. To provide a broader perspective, we also included studies from related fields examining mechanisms of action, safety and tolerability, cost-effectiveness, stimulation parameters, and clinical outcomes relevant to BPD. Results: Conventional tDCS protocols—typically involving 1–2 mA currents for 20–30 min—have demonstrated an excellent safety profile, resulting in only minimal and transient side effects without any risk of overdose or misuse, which is a key advantage for populations at high risk of suicidality. With moderately priced devices and the feasibility of home-based administration, tDCS provides a substantially more affordable alternative to both long-term pharmacotherapy and intensive psychotherapy. Neurobiologically, tDCS modulates the excitability of the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and enhances fronto-limbic connectivity, thereby strengthening top-down regulatory control over emotion and behavior. Pilot randomized controlled trials report moderate effect sizes for improvements in emotional regulation, inhibitory control, and rejection sensitivity, along with ancillary gains in executive functioning and reductions in depressive and substance-use symptoms when stimulating the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Conclusions: tDCS stimulation emerges as a safe and scalable adjunctive treatment for BPD, leveraging targeted neuromodulation to address core features and common comorbidities like depression. However, variability in current protocols and the scarcity of well-powered randomized trials underscore the pressing need for standardized methodologies, longer-term follow-up, and individualized stimulation strategies to establish enduring clinical benefits. Full article