Toughening mechanisms of the elytra of the diabolical ironclad beetle.

Joining dissimilar materials such as plastics and metals in engineered structures remains a challenge1. Mechanical fastening, conventional welding and adhesive bonding are examples of techniques currently used for this purpose, but each of these methods presents its own set of problems2 such as formation of stress concentrators or degradation under environmental exposure, reducing strength and causing premature failure. In the biological tissues of numerous animal and plant species, efficient strategies have evolved to synthesize, construct and integrate composites that have exceptional mechanical properties3. One impressive example is found in the exoskeletal forewings (elytra) of the diabolical ironclad beetle, Phloeodes diabolicus. Lacking the ability to fly away from predators, this desert insect has extremely impact-resistant and crush-resistant elytra, produced by complex and graded interfaces. Here, using advanced microscopy, spectroscopy and in situ mechanical testing, we identify multiscale architectural designs within the exoskeleton of this beetle, and examine the resulting mechanical response and toughening mechanisms. We highlight a series of interdigitated sutures, the ellipsoidal geometry and laminated microstructure of which provide mechanical interlocking and toughening at critical strains, while avoiding catastrophic failure. These observations could be applied in developing tough, impact- and crush-resistant materials for joining dissimilar materials. We demonstrate this by creating interlocking sutures from biomimetic composites that show a considerable increase in toughness compared with a frequently used engineering joint.

Effect of monocultures and polycultures of Typha latifolia and Heliconia psittacorum on the treatment of river waters contaminated with landfill leachate/domestic wastewater in partially saturated vertical constructed wetlands.

Partially Saturated Vertical Constructed Wetlands (PSV-CWs) are novel wastewater treatment systems that work through aerobic and anaerobic conditions that favor the removal of pollutants found in high concentrations, such as rivers contaminated with domestic wastewater and landfill leachate. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of PSV-CWs using monocultures and polycultures of Typha latifolia and Heliconia psittacorum to treat river waters contaminated with leachates from open dumps and domestic wastewater. Six experimental units of PSV-CWs were used; two were planted with Typha latifolia monoculture, two with Heliconia psittacorum monoculture and two with polycultures of both plants. The results indicated better organic matter and nitrogen removal efficiencies (p < 0.05) in systems with polycultures (TSS:95%, BOD5:83%, COD:89%, TN:82% and NH4+:99%). In general, the whole system showed high average removal efficiencies (TSS:93%, BOD5:79%, COD:85%, TN:79%, NH4+:98% and TP:85%). Regarding vegetation, both species developed better in units with monocultures, being Typha latifolia the one that reached a more remarkable development. However, both species showed high resistance to the contaminated environment. These results showed higher removals than those reported in the literature with conventional Free Flow Vertical Constructed Wetlands (FFV-CWs), so PSV-CWs could be a suitable option to treat this type of effluent.

The research addresses the contamination of water resources in developing countries by landfill leachate and domestic wastewater discharges. It proposes treatment through Partially Saturated Vertical Constructed Wetlands (PSV-CWs), which, despite the limited information available, have been shown to be effective in removing pollutants in effluents with high concentrations. In addition to evaluating PSV-CWs, the study examines the impact of different types of vegetation on pollutant removal efficiency, concluding that PSV-CWs are a promising and viable option for the treatment of these effluents.

Antimicrobial activity of the Flo peptide produced in Scenedesmus acutus and Nannochloropsis oculata.

The continuous increase of bacterial pathogen resistance to conventional antibiotics has challenged the research community to develop new antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are a promising alternative to combat multidrug-resistant strains compared to conventional antibiotics because of their biocompatibility. In the present study, the Flo peptide, an AMP from the Moringa oleifera tree, was expressed in the chloroplast of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Scenedesmus acutus. The transgene insertion was verified by PCR amplification, and the homoplasmy was corroborated in spectinomycin-resistant lines. The identification and quantification of the peptide were performed using ELISA. The antimicrobial activity was studied against the Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25,922) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700,603). The inflammatory response of the total soluble proteins of transplastomic N. oculata was assessed by measuring secretion of the cytokines IL-6, IL-10, and alpha-tumor necrosis (TNF-α), and cytotoxicity was assessed. These results provide a potential strategy to produce the Flo peptide in microalgae with antibacterial activities.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Venezuela, Latin America.

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Venezuela. Raised blood pressure (BP) accompanied by diabetes mellitus, obesity, lipid abnormalities, and tobacco usage are the biggest contributors to mortality. The May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign is a global initiative aimed to raising awareness of hypertension, which has been conducted in Venezuela since 2017. MMM2019 included 24 672 subjects (mean age: 54.7 years, SD 25.2, 63.1% female). The proportion with hypertension was 48.9%; 14.3% were unknown hypertensives, 35.5% of those who receiving treatment had uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg); when considering all hypertensives, 53.3% were controlled. Sixty per cent of those on anti-hypertensive medication were on monotherapy, 27.7% were on two, and 7.7% were on three or more drugs. Body mass index, calculated for the total population, was on average 25.6 (SD: 4.8) kg/m2. 16.2% of participants were classified as obese, 34.0% as overweight, and 4.0% were classified as underweight. Diabetes mellitus was reported by 9.4%, smoking by 7.3%, and 10.5% reported drinking alcohol regularly. Conditions associated with higher BP levels were obesity, diabetes mellitus, and women with a history of hypertension during a previous pregnancy. These results are consistent with the two previous MMM campaigns and indicate that repeated screening can routinely identify hypertension. There is an urgent need for Venezuela to implement programmes of detection, treatment, and control not only for hypertension but also for other common cardiovascular risk factors.

Climate-induced changes in the suitable habitat of cold-water corals and commercially important deep-sea fishes in the North Atlantic.

The deep sea plays a critical role in global climate regulation through uptake and storage of heat and carbon dioxide. However, this regulating service causes warming, acidification and deoxygenation of deep waters, leading to decreased food availability at the seafloor. These changes and their projections are likely to affect productivity, biodiversity and distributions of deep-sea fauna, thereby compromising key ecosystem services. Understanding how climate change can lead to shifts in deep-sea species distributions is critically important in developing management measures. We used environmental niche modelling along with the best available species occurrence data and environmental parameters to model habitat suitability for key cold-water coral and commercially important deep-sea fish species under present-day (1951-2000) environmental conditions and to project changes under severe, high emissions future (2081-2100) climate projections (RCP8.5 scenario) for the North Atlantic Ocean. Our models projected a decrease of 28%-100% in suitable habitat for cold-water corals and a shift in suitable habitat for deep-sea fishes of 2.0°-9.9° towards higher latitudes. The largest reductions in suitable habitat were projected for the scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa and the octocoral Paragorgia arborea, with declines of at least 79% and 99% respectively. We projected the expansion of suitable habitat by 2100 only for the fishes Helicolenus dactylopterus and Sebastes mentella (20%-30%), mostly through northern latitudinal range expansion. Our results projected limited climate refugia locations in the North Atlantic by 2100 for scleractinian corals (30%-42% of present-day suitable habitat), even smaller refugia locations for the octocorals Acanella arbuscula and Acanthogorgia armata (6%-14%), and almost no refugia for P. arborea. Our results emphasize the need to understand how anticipated climate change will affect the distribution of deep-sea species including commercially important fishes and foundation species, and highlight the importance of identifying and preserving climate refugia for a range of area-based planning and management tools.

Synthesis of novel 4-Boc-piperidone chalcones and evaluation of their cytotoxic activity against highly-metastatic cancer cells.

In this study, six curcuminoids containing a tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) piperidone core were successfully synthesized, five of them are novel compounds reported here for the first time. These compounds were prepared through an aldolic condensation by adding tetrahydropyranyl-protected benzaldehydes or substituted benzaldehyde to a reaction mixture containing 4-Boc-piperidone and lithium hydroxide in an alcoholic solvent. A 44-94% yield was obtained supporting the developed methodology as a good strategy for the synthesis of 4-Boc-piperidone chalcones. Cytotoxic activity against LoVo and COLO 205 human colorectal cell lines was observed at GI50 values that range from 0.84 to 34.7 µg/mL, while in PC3 and 22RV1 human prostate cancer cell lines, GI50 values ranging from 17.1 to 22.9 µg/mL were obtained. Results from biochemical assays suggest that the cytotoxicity of the 4-Boc-piperidone chalcones can be linked to their ability to induce apoptosis, decrease the activity of NFκB and cellular proliferation. Our findings strongly support the potential of Boc-piperidone chalcones as novel cytotoxic agents against highly-metastatic cancer cells.

Results of May Measurement Month 2018 campaign in Venezuela.

Cardiovascular diseases, mainly coronary heart disease and stroke, are the main cause of death in Venezuela; hypertension is the primary risk factor. The May Measurement Month (MMM) study is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of elevated blood pressure (BP). The previous MMM 2017 campaign showed 48.9% of participants had hypertension, higher than previous Venezuelan epidemiological studies. The MMM 2018 campaign included 28 649 participants screened [mean age: 54.2 (SD 15.13) years; female 62.8%] carried out mainly in pharmacies in 61 sites. Physical measurements included height, weight, and BP, taken in sitting position three times. After multiple imputations, 48.4% had hypertension, of which 87.7% were aware of their diagnosis. Of the individuals not receiving antihypertensive medication, 14.0% had hypertension and 33.7% of those receiving treatment had uncontrolled hypertension. Overall, the percentage of hypertensives with controlled hypertension was 54.8%. Body mass index was calculated for the total population, and it was on average 25.2 (SD: 4.65) kg/m2. Of all, 14.2% was classified as obese and 32.6% as overweight; meanwhile 4.8% as underweight. Diabetes was reported by 9.5%. These results suggest that repeated screening like the MMM campaign can routinely identify hypertension and consequently implement programmes of treatment in Venezuela, also other common risk factors, like obesity or diabetes.

Results of the May Measurement Month 2017: blood pressure campaign in Venezuela-Americas.

Cardiovascular diseases, mainly coronary heart disease and stroke, are the first cause of death in Venezuela; and hypertension is the main risk factor. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of elevated blood pressure (BP) and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of regular screening programmes. Some representative studies indicate prevalence of hypertension in Venezuela between 24 and 39%, and control rate around 20%. Sixty-four sites were included to participate in MMM, mainly in pharmacies. Physical measurements included height, weight, and abdominal circumference. Blood pressure was measured in the sitting position three times after resting for 5 min, 1 min apart, using validated oscillometric devices. 21 644 individuals were screened. After multiple imputation, 10 584 individuals [48.9% (50.7% male; 47.7% female)] had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving antihypertensive medication, 1538 (12.2%) were hypertensive. Of individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 2974 (32.9%) had uncontrolled BP. About 16% had obesity calculated by body mass index; 43.8% of women and 20.7% of men had abdominal obesity. This was the largest BP screening carried out in Venezuela, in which 48.9% of the individuals had elevated BP, untreated hypertension was 12.2%, and one-third of subjects taking treatment were not controlled. About 16% had obesity by body mass index, and abdominal obesity is more common in women. These results suggest that repeated screening like MMM17 can identify hypertension in important numbers and can also evaluate programmes of hypertension treatment and control in Venezuela.

Síndrome metabólico y otros factores asociados a gonartrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether an association exists between gonarthrosis and metabolic syndrome X (MS) as well as other potential risk factors. METHOD: Comparative cross-sectional study of 310 patients evaluated by pathology of knee grouped in patients with gonarthrosis and without it. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and laboratory data was obtained. Gonarthrosis was defined as a ≥ 2 score in Kellgren-Lawrence radiological scale, and MS was assessed using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Odds ratio and logistic regression were used for bivariate and multivariate analysis respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS in patients who had gonarthrosis was 79.9%, statistically higher than in patients without gonarthrosis (p = 0.001). Other factors that had a statistically higher frequency in this group included diabetes mellitus (p = 0.02) and hypertension (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed MS had an association with a higher prevalence of gonarthrosis (p = 0.003), while high density lipoproteins (p = 0.02) was associated with a lower prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: MS and its related alterations are associated to gonarthrosis; their adequate control could prevent patients from developing the disease.

ARCTIC-3D: automatic retrieval and clustering of interfaces in complexes from 3D structural information.

The formation of a stable complex between proteins lies at the core of a wide variety of biological processes and has been the focus of countless experiments. The huge amount of information contained in the protein structural interactome in the Protein Data Bank can now be used to characterise and classify the existing biological interfaces. We here introduce ARCTIC-3D, a fast and user-friendly data mining and clustering software to retrieve data and rationalise the interface information associated with the protein input data. We demonstrate its use by various examples ranging from showing the increased interaction complexity of eukaryotic proteins, 20% of which on average have more than 3 different interfaces compared to only 10% for prokaryotes, to associating different functions to different interfaces. In the context of modelling biomolecular assemblies, we introduce the concept of "recognition entropy", related to the number of possible interfaces of the components of a protein-protein complex, which we demonstrate to correlate with the modelling difficulty in classical docking approaches. The identified interface clusters can also be used to generate various combinations of interface-specific restraints for integrative modelling. The ARCTIC-3D software is freely available at github.com/haddocking/arctic3d and can be accessed as a web-service at wenmr.science.uu.nl/arctic3d.

Population genomics and distribution modeling revealed the history and suggested a possible future of the endemic Agave aurea (Asparagaceae) complex in the Baja California Peninsula.

Agaves are an outstanding arid-adapted group of species that provide a unique chance to study the influence of multiple potential factors (i.e., geological and ecological) on plant population structure and diversification in the heterogeneous environment of the Baja California Peninsula. However, relatively little is known about the phylogeography of the endemic agave species of this region. Herein, we used over 10,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and spatial data from the Agave aurea species complex (i.e., A. aurea ssp. aurea, A. aurea ssp. promontorii, and A. aurea var. capensis) to resolve genetic relationships within this complex and uncover fine-scale population structure, diversity patterns, and their potential underlying drivers. Analyses resolved low genetic structure within this complex, suggesting that A. aurea is more likely to represent several closely related populations than separate species or varieties/subspecies. We found that geographical and historical ecological characteristics-including precipitation, latitude, and past climatic fluctuations-have played an important role in the spatial distribution of diversity and structure in A. aurea. Finally, species distribution modeling results suggested that climate change will become critical in the extinction risk of A. aurea, with the northernmost population being particularly vulnerable. The low population genetic structure found in A. aurea is consistent with agave's life history, and it is probably related to continuity of distribution, relatively low habitat fragmentation, and dispersion by pollinators. Together, these findings have important implications for management and conservation programs in agave, such as creating and evaluating protected areas and translocating and augmentation of particular populations.

Assessment of the effectiveness of an introductory general chemistry course in dentistry students enrolled in a biochemistry course.

As a strategy to carry out a better achievement in the Biochemistry course, undergraduate dentistry education manage a traditional course on the basic concepts of general chemistry necessary in the understanding of Biochemistry. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of learning outcome, we aimed to develop an evaluation tool that was applied to first-year dental students before and after receiving the general chemistry classes. Randomized trial consisted of 50 items distributed in 10 categories. The evaluation was applied to the students who took the Oral Biology course in the periods comprising 2020, 2021, and 2022 to a population of 109 students. Our results showed that after receiving the course the improvement rate was 20.71% with significant differences in each category. In conclusion, the introductory course allows students coming from different school systems to attend Biochemistry with similar knowledge of general chemistry.

Relative Water Content, Chlorophyll Index, and Photosynthetic Pigments on Lotus corniculatus L. in Response to Water Deficit.

This study aimed to evaluate different L. corniculatus L. ecotypes under water-deficit conditions to identify changes in relative water content and photosynthetic pigments as indicators of physiological responses during different years' seasons. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replicates. Ten treatments were performed as a factorial of 2 × 5, where the first variation factor was the soil water content-no water deficit (NDW) with 100% field capacity (FC), and water deficit (DW) corresponding to 85.4% of the FC-and the second variation factor comprised four ecotypes and one variety of L. corniculatus. A significant effect was identified on the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, mainly total chlorophyll, with chlorophyll a in the 255301 ecotype with records of 187.8, 167.5, and 194.6 mg g-1 FW in WD, corresponding to an increase of 86.0%, 172.6%, and 16.6%, respectively, in relation the lower values obtained in the ecotype 202700 under NWD. In carotenoids, higher concentrations were observed in the 255301 and 202700 ecotypes and the Estanzuela Ganador variety under WD in most seasonal periods, except summer; a similar response was found in the 202700 ecotype and the Estanzuela Ganador variety during the winter season, also in WD. The results showed that the first two principal components accounted for 71.8% of the total variation, with PC1 representing chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll, and PC2 representing carotenoids, temperature, relative chlorophyll index, and relative water content. The observations were grouped based on soil moisture content, with the optimal moisture group exhibiting higher chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. The findings suggest that soil moisture content significantly affects the performance of L. corniculatus ecotypes, and the plant shows seasonal variations in response to water-deficit conditions. This research contributes to understanding the physiological responses of L. corniculatus and its potential as a water-efficient forage crop for promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing food security.

Transient inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 after ischemia/reperfusion injury ameliorates chronic kidney disease.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, dapagliflozin (Dapa), exhibited nephroprotective effects in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We assessed the efficacy of short-term Dapa administration following acute kidney injury (AKI) in preventing CKD. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to Sham surgery, bilateral ischemia for 30 minutes (abbreviated as IR), and IR + Dapa groups. Daily treatment with Dapa was initiated just 24 hours after IR and maintained for only 10 days. Initially, rats were euthanized at this point to study early renal repair. After severe AKI, Dapa promptly restored creatinine clearance (CrCl) and significantly reduced renal vascular resistance compared with the IR group. Furthermore, Dapa effectively reversed the mitochondrial abnormalities, including increased fission, altered mitophagy, metabolic dysfunction, and proapoptotic signaling. To study this earlier, another set of rats was studied just 5 days after AKI. Despite persistent renal dysfunction, our data reveal a degree of mitochondrial protection. Remarkably, a 10-day treatment with Dapa demonstrated effectiveness in preventing CKD transition in an independent cohort monitored for 5 months after AKI. This was evidenced by improvements in proteinuria, CrCl, glomerulosclerosis, and fibrosis. Our findings underscore the potential of Dapa in preventing maladaptive repair following AKI, emphasizing the crucial role of early intervention in mitigating AKI long-term consequences.

Unveiling characteristic proteins for the structural development of beetle elytra.

Beetles possess a set of highly modified and tanned forewings, elytra, which are lightweight yet rigid and tough. Immediately after eclosion, the elytra are initially thin, pale and soft. However, they rapidly expand and subsequently become hardened and often dark, resulting from both pigmentation and sclerotization. Here, we identified changes in protein composition during the developmental processes of the elytra in the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus. Using mass spectrometry, a total of 414 proteins were identified from both untanned and tanned elytra, including 31 cuticular proteins (CPs), which constitute one of the major components of insect cuticles. Moreover, CPs containing Rebers and Riddiford motifs (CPR), the most abundant CP family, were separated into two groups based on their expression and amino acid sequences, such as a Gly-rich sequence region and Ala-Ala-Pro repeats. These protein groups may play crucial roles in elytra formation at different time points, likely including self-assembly of chitin nanofibers that control elytral macro and microstructures and dictate changes in other properties (i.e., mechanical property). Clarification of the protein functions will enhance the understanding of elytra formation and potentially benefit the development of lightweight materials for industrial and biomedical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The beetle elytron is a light-weight natural bio-composite which displays high stiffness and toughness. This structure is composed of chitin fibrils and proteins, some of which are responsible for architectural development and hardening. This work, which involves insights from molecular biology and materials science, investigated changes in proteomic, architectural, and localized mechanical characteristics of elytra from the Japanese rhinoceros beetle to understand molecular mechanisms driving elytra development. In the present study, we identified a set of new protein groups which are likely related to the structural development of elytra and has potential for new pathways for processing green materials.

The genetic consequences of captive breeding, environmental change and human exploitation in the endangered peninsular pronghorn.

Endangered species with small population sizes are susceptible to genetic erosion, which can be detrimental to long-term persistence. Consequently, monitoring and mitigating the loss of genetic diversity are essential for conservation. The Peninsular pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) is an endangered pronghorn subspecies that is almost entirely held in captivity. Captive breeding has increased the number of pronghorns from 25 founders in 1997 to around 700 individuals today, but it is unclear how the genetic diversity of the captive herd may have changed over time. We therefore generated and analysed data for 16 microsatellites spanning 2009-2021. We detected a decline in heterozygosity and an increase in the proportion of inbred individuals over time. However, these trends appear to have been partially mitigated by a genetically informed breeding management attempt that was implemented in 2018. We also reconstructed the recent demographic history of the Peninsular pronghorn, revealing two sequential population declines putatively linked to the desertification of the Baja California peninsula around 6000 years ago, and hunting and habitat loss around 500 years ago, respectively. Our results provide insights into the genetic diversity of an endangered antelope and indicate the potential for genetically informed management to have positive conservation outcomes.

[An unusual association of malakoplakia and adenocarcinoma of the prostate]. / Asociación inusual de malacoplaquia y adenocarcinoma prostático.

Malakoplakia is a chronic inflammatory process caused by a lysosomal defect in bacterial digestion. Although rare, it occurs more frequently in the genitourinary tract and in patients with immune dysfunction. The bladder is the most commonly affected site, although cases have been reported in other organs, including the prostate gland. Clinically, this lesion can be confused with malignant tumours, both on physical examination and imagining techniques. This is particularly pronounced in the prostate, making the differential diagnosis challenging. Histologically, characteristic aggregates of histiocytes with basophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions composed of calcium and iron salts are found. We present a case diagnosed on transrectal biopsy as acinar adenocarcinoma with a Gleason 5 + 5 = 10 score. Prostatectomy revealed an unusual association of diffuse prostate malakoplakia and an area of acinar adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 3 + 4 = 7.

High-Intensity Ultrasound Processing Enhances the Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity and Microbiological Quality of Melon (Cucumis melo) Juice.

The bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity and microbiological quality of melon juice processed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) were studied. Melon juice was processed at two ultrasound intensities (27 and 52 W/cm2) for two different processing times (10 and 30 min) using two duty cycles (30 and 75%). Unprocessed juice was taken as a control. Total carotenoids and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were the bioactive compounds analyzed while the antioxidant capacity was determined by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The microbiological quality was tested by counting the aerobic and coliforms count as well as molds and yeasts. Total carotenoids increased by up to 42% while TPC decreased by 33% as a consequence of HIUS processing regarding control juice (carotenoids: 23 µg/g, TPC: 1.1 mg GAE/g), gallic acid and syringic acid being the only phenolic compounds identified. The antioxidant capacity of melon juice was enhanced by HIUS, achieving values of 45% and 20% of DPPH and ABTS inhibition, respectively, while >120 mg TE/100 g was determined by FRAP assay. Further, the microbial load of melon juice was significantly reduced by HIUS processing, coliforms and molds being the most sensitive. Thus, the HIUS could be an excellent alternative supportive the deep-processing of melon products.

Moving back in the brain to drive the field forward: Targeting neurostimulation to different brain regions in animal models of depression and neurodegeneration.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is a promising noninvasive therapeutic tool for a variety of brain-related disorders. However, most therapeutic protocols target the anterior regions, leaving many other areas unexplored. There is a substantial therapeutic potential for stimulating various brain regions, which can be optimized in animal models. NEW METHOD: We illustrate a method that can be utilized reliably to stimulate the anterior or posterior brain in freely moving rodents. A coil support device is surgically attached onto the skull, which is used for consistent coil placement over the course of up to several weeks of stimulation sessions. RESULTS: Our methods provide reliable stimulation in animals without the need for restraint or sedation. We see little aversive effects of support placement and stimulation. Computational models provide evidence that moving the coil support location can be utilized to target major stimulation sites in humans and mice. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS WITH THIS METHOD: Animal models are key to optimizing brain stimulation parameters, but research relies on restraint or sedation for consistency in coil placement. The method described here provides a unique means for reliable targeted stimulation in freely moving animals. Research utilizing this method has uncovered changes in biochemical and animal behavioral measurements as a function of brain stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of research on magnetic stimulation focuses on anterior regions. Given the substantial network connectivity throughout the brain, it is critical to develop a reliable method for stimulating different regions. The method described here can be utilized to better inform clinical trials about optimal treatment localization, stimulation intensity and number of treatment sessions, and provides a motivation for exploring posterior brain regions for both mice and humans.