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.     

Magnetoresistance in dilute p‐Si/SiGe in parallel and tilted magnetic fields

We report the results of an experimental study of the magnetoresistance ρ_xx and ρ_xy in two samples of p‐Si/SiGe with low carrier concentrations p = 8.2 × 10¹⁰ cm^‐2 and p = 2 × 10¹¹ cm^‐2. The research was performed in the temperature range of 0.3–2 K and in the magnetic fields of up to 18 T, parallel or tilted with respect to the two‐dimensional (2D) channel plane. The large in‐plane magnetoresistance can be explained by the influence of the in‐plane magnetic field on the orbital motion of the charge carriers in the quasi‐2D system. The measurements of ρ_xx and ρ_xy in the tilted magnetic field showed that the anomaly in ρ_xx, observed at filling factor ν = 3/2 is practically nonexistent in the conductivity σ_xx. The anomaly in σ_xx at ν = 2 might be explained by overlapping of the levels with different spins 0 ↑ and 1 ↓ when the tilt angle of the applied magnetic field is changed. The dependence of g‐factor g^*(Θ)/g^*(0⁰) on the tilt angle Θ was determined.     

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)].     

Tuning X/(TiO2)x–(SiO2)100 – x (0 < x < 40) xerogel photocatalysts

Microporous (TiO₂) _x –(SiO₂)_{100 − x} (0 < x < 40) xerogels have been produced by sol–gel methods either by partial pre-hydrolysis or reflux of tetraethoxysilane and titanium isopropoxide. These have been characterised by ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, EXAFS at the Ti–K edge, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, FT infrared, N₂ adsorption at 78 K (BET), transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). These were dip coated onto fused silica and characterised by atomic force microscopy and UV–visible absorption. Their photoactivity in removal of alkylphenol ethoxylate TX100 from water was less than for less porous titania. The advantages of including thermally removable PEG or PPG templates in terms of increasing surface, meso-porosity and photon absorbance at visible wavelengths to give nanoengineered photocatalytic films are described.