Visual spatial memory is enhanced in female rats (but inhibited in males) by dietary soy phytoestrogens

Background  

In learning and memory tasks, requiring visual spatial memory (VSM), males exhibit superior performance to females (a difference attributed to the hormonal influence of estrogen). This study examined the influence of phytoestrogens (estrogen-like plant compounds) on VSM, utilizing radial arm-maze methods to examine varying aspects of memory. Additionally, brain phytoestrogen, calbindin (CALB), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were determined.     

Using bulk convection in a microtensiometer to approach kinetic-limited surfactant dynamics at fluid-fluid interfaces

The effects of carbon chain length and temperature were investigated on adsorption kinetics and surface tension of a group of slightly volatile, short carbon chain molecules: 1-octanol, 1-hexanol, and 1-butanol. Experiments were performed in a closed chamber where simultaneous adsorption from both sides of the vapor/liquid interface was considered. The dynamic (time dependent) and steady-state surface tensions were found to decrease with temperature ranging from 10 °C to 35 °C. It was shown that, at the final steady-state, the effect of adsorption from the vapor phase was much more important than that from the liquid phase especially for short carbon chain molecules (e.g., 1-butanol). The modified Langmuir equation of state and modified kinetic transfer equation, which account for adsorption from both sides of a vapor/liquid interface, were used to model the experimental data of the steady-state and dynamic surface tension, respectively. Modeling results showed that the equilibrium constants and adsorption rate constants were increased with temperature and carbon chain length. The maximum surface concentration showed a decrease with temperature and an increase with carbon chain length. Some variations in the fitting parameters were observed in the dynamic modeling. These variations may be due to the experimental errors or the limitations of the proposed model.     

The application of homotopy analysis method to solve nonlinear differential equation governing Jeffery–Hamel flow

In this paper Jeffery–Hamel flow has been studied and its nonlinear ordinary differential equation has been solved through homotopy analysis method (HAM). The obtained solution in comparison with the numerical ones represents a remarkable accuracy. The results also indicate that HAM can provide us with a convenient way to control and adjust the convergence region.     

Neuromodulation by soy diets or equol: Anti-depressive &; anti-obesity-like influences,age- &; hormone-dependent effects

Background  

Soy-derived isoflavones potentially protect against obesity and depression. In five different studies we examined the influence of soy-containing diets or equol injections on depression, serotonin levels, body weight gain (BW) and white adipose tissue (WAT) deposition in female Long-Evans rats at various stages of life [rats were intact, ovariectomized or experienced natural ovarian failure (NOF)].     

The physics of diamond

The accurate measurement of the thermal conductivity of metals still poses considerable experimental difficulty. The reasons for this, and the main ways in which the problem has been approached, are summarized. A detailed examination of the development in technique and methods of measurement shows that while most of the steady-state methods introduced over 50 years ago are still being improved, the emphasis in the last few years has been on the development of methods which give more rapid results, particularly at high temperatures.     

Treating Tumors at Low Drug Doses Using an Aptamer–Peptide Synergistic Drug Conjugate

Combination chemotherapy must strike a difficult balance between safety and efficacy. Current regimens suffer from poor therapeutic impact because drugs are given at their maximum tolerated dose (MTD), which compounds the toxicity risk and exposes tumors to non‐optimal drug ratios. A modular framework has been developed that selectively delivers drug combinations at synergistic ratios via tumor‐targeting aptamers for effective low‐dose treatment. A nucleolin‐recognizing aptamer was coupled to peptide scaffolds laden with precise ratios of doxorubicin (DOX) and camptothecin (CPT). This construct had an extremely low IC₅₀ (31.9 nm ) against MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells in vitro, and exhibited in vivo efficacy at micro‐dose injections (500 and 350 μg kg^?1 dose^?1 of DOX and CPT, respectively) that are 20–30‐fold lower than their previously‐reported MTDs. This approach represents a generalizable strategy for the safe and consistent delivery of combination drugs in oncology.