Direct Nanoparticle Sensing in Liquids with Free-Space Excited Optical Whispering-Gallery-Mode Microresonators.

Whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators are amongst the most promising optical sensors for detecting bio-chemical targets. A number of laser interrogation methods have been proposed and demonstrated over the last decade, based on scattering and absorption losses or resonance splitting and shift, harnessing the high-quality factor and ultra-small volume of WGMs. Actually, regardless of the sensitivity enhancement, their practical sensing operation may be hampered by the complexity of coupling devices as well as the signalprocessing required to extract the WGM response.

Phase-locked dual-loop optical fiber gyroscope.

Fiber-optic gyroscopes (FOGs) are widespread sensors used in different fields, such as inertial sensing, navigation, positioning systems, and seismology. In particular, for applications where high bandwidth and dynamic range are necessary, such as rotational seismology, FOGs are used in closed-loop configuration. Here, we show a novel closed-loop FOG based on a dual feedback configuration.

Ponesimod as add-on treatment in patients with active relapsing multiple sclerosis under dimethyl fumarate (POINT): A phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Combining two oral therapies with different mechanisms could be an attractive treatment strategy for multiple sclerosis (MS) to increase efficacy; however, evidence of such efficacy and safety is lacking.

Objectives: The phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled POINT study evaluated efficacy and safety of ponesimod 20 mg versus placebo as an add-on therapy to ongoing dimethyl fumarate (DMF) treatment in patients with active relapsing MS despite DMF monotherapy.

Methods: Patients (18-55 years) were randomized (1:1) to ponesimod+DMF or placebo+DMF orally once-daily for ≤156 weeks.

Neural correlates of executive dysfunction in alcohol use disorder: preliminary evidence from F-FDG-PET.

Neuroimaging studies have shown that cognitive impairments in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), particularly involving executive functions, reflect widespread structural and functional brain alterations. However, these findings mostly result from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To complement previous MRI findings with a more direct measure of brain metabolism, we therefore explored the neural bases of executive impairments in AUD using FDG-PET.

Brain glucose metabolism in patients with traumatic brain injury undergoing rehabilitation: a longitudinal 18F-FDG PET study.

Background: Measuring 18F-FDG PET-detected brain glucose uptake provides reliable information on metabolic tissue abnormalities, cells dysfunction, and neurovascular changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Objectives: We aimed to study the relationship between post-traumatic brain glucose metabolism and functional outcomes in the so far unexplored field of longitudinally 18F-FDG PET-monitored patients undergoing rehabilitation after moderate-to-severe TBI.

Methods: Fourteen patients consecutively admitted to our unit in the post-acute phase after TBI underwent 18F-FDG-PET scans performed before and 6 months after inpatient rehabilitation program.