Choroid plexus perfusion in sickle cell disease and moyamoya vasculopathy: Implications for glymphatic flow

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid exchange have been shown to increase following pharmacologically-manipulated increases in cerebral arterial pulsatility, consistent with arterial pulsatility improving CSF circulation along perivascular glymphatic pathways. The choroid plexus (CP) complexes produce CSF, and CP activity may provide a centralized indicator of perivascular flow. We tested the primary hypothesis that elevated cortical cerebral blood volume and flow, present in sickle cell disease (SCD), is associated with fractionally-reduced CP perfusion relative to healthy adults, and the supplementary hypothesis that reduced arterial patency, present in moyamoya vasculopathy, is associated with elevated fractional CP perfusion relative to healthy adults. Participants (n = 75) provided informed consent and were scanned using a 3-Tesla arterial-spin-labeling MRI sequence for CP and cerebral gray matter (GM) perfusion quantification. ANOVA was used to calculate differences in CP-to-GM perfusion ratios between groups, and regression analyses applied to evaluate the dependence of the CP-to-GM perfusion ratio on group after co-varying for age and sex. ANOVA yielded significant (p < 0.001) group differences, with CP-to-GM perfusion ratios increasing between SCD (ratio = 0.93 ± 0.28), healthy (ratio = 1.04 ± 0.32), and moyamoya (ratio = 1.29 ± 0.32) participants, which was also consistent with regression analyses. Findings are consistent with CP perfusion being inversely associated with cortical perfusion.

Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurement of silver nanoparticles in metal-assisted etching of silicon

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were fabricated in a metal-assisted chemical etching method with two steps including dipping silicon wafers in AgNO3/HF solutions and then in H2O2/HF solutions. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements with a set of incidence angles were carried out on the resulting samples to detect characteristics of silver nanoparticles in the etched silicon. Compared with the uniform size of silver nanoparticles on the surface, the silver nanoparticles in etched silicon were found with size increasing and content decreasing corresponding to the depths. Based on the silver size increasing phenomenon, a detailed supplementary hypothesis about SiNWs formation was proposed about silver disintegration and redeposition in the later stage of silicon etching. For 2, 3, 4, and 8 mM AgNO3 solutions used to study their effect on the SiNWs, it was found that a higher quantity of Ag+ concentration such as 8 mM were not beneficial for producing good quality SiNWs.

Crime victims’ self-medication

While considerable literature has explored the complex nature of victimisation, few empirical studies have examined the role of alcohol and other drugs (AODs) in victims’ experiences, specifically victims’ self-medication using AODs and its impact on ongoing health and welfare needs. Addressing the dearth of empirical research on the nature and extent of victims’ self-medication, and drawing upon quantitative data from a survey ( n = 102) of victims from Adelaide, South Australia this article explores individuals’ experiences of victimisation and AOD use against type of victimisation, type of peer support network and type of consumption. The findings indicate support for the self-medication for trauma hypothesis, namely that victimisation is positively associated with considerable increase in AOD consumption. On the other hand, there is a lack of support for the supplementary hypothesis that network support is associated with victimisation/re-victimisation. The authors demonstrate that further empirical work is needed to deepen understanding of victims’ AOD use and expedite the development of evidence-based policy and support frameworks.

The Analysis of the Pentateuch

This essay addresses several methodological questions that constantly reappear in the discussion of the composition of the Pentateuch and that impede understanding among the various approaches to its analysis. The aim of this essay is not to argue for or against any particular hypothesis. Rather, it is to play out the different explanatory models, and to point out misunderstandings, one-sidedness, and inconsistencies in an effort to overcome barriers of thinking and to reopen the discussion. The following aspects are discussed in detail: 1) the three fundamental hypotheses (documentary, fragmentary, and supplementary hypothesis); 2) the role of empirical (external) evidence; 3) the criteria of the analysis; 4) the argument of quantity of literary layers; 5) the interrelation of literary layers; 6) the concrete situation of scribal practice; 7) historical presuppositions and expectations. In concluding, a proposal is sketched for how an analysis of the Pentateuch can be conducted that is based primarily on the phenomena found in the external evidence and in which all of the disputed methodological and historical presuppositions and options are left open to the greatest possible extent.

Sperm Competition in a Nuptial Feeding Spider, Pisaura Mirabilis

The paper tests two hypotheses about sperm priority in the spider Pisaura mirabilis. A 'phylogenetic constraints hypothesis' states that since the females have conduit spermathecae, first male priority should prevail. On the other hand, males offer nuptial prey to the females and females mate with multiple males. The evolution of these traits is most easily understood if late mating males also have a substantial fertilization success. The results indicate a compromise solution. Sterile-male technique with double-mated females indicated a first male priority pattern (P1 = ca 70%, after adjusting for sterilization damage and experimental mortality). However, the success of the fourth male of quadroublemated females was unexpectedly high (adjusted P4 = ca 24%, not different from P of 2 two-male matings). This lends support to a supplementary hypothesis of constant last male success, which may turn an initial first-male advantage into a last-male advantage, when the number of males mating with a female raises above a certain number. Independent of mating order, males may increase their share of fertilizations by long copulation times. It was tested whether female choice for symmetric males might account for differential male success. However, fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in male leg length showed no relationships with fertilization success or copulation duration.

The King's whetstone

One question fundamental to the interpretation of the elaborate sceptre found at Sutton Hoo is why whetstone should have been chosen as its material. Too heavy for convenience, yet neither rare nor intrinsically beautiful, why was this substance thought appropriate for such an important item of regalia? The interpretation so far has been that it symbolized the king as war-leader, ‘the forger, giver and master of the swords of his followers’. While this is undoubtedly an attractive and appropriate interpretation, it lacks literary confinnation; I would therefore like to put forward an alternative (or supplementary) hypothesis based on the evidence of certain passages in Old Icelandic writings where whetstones are mentioned in a mythical context, or are described as being used in non-realistic circumstances suggestive of ritual. Despite their late date, Icelandic sources have often cast valuable light on Germanic religion.

A Re-Examination of the Block Design Rotation Effect

The performance of 10 normal Ss on a modification of Shapiro's (1952) Block Design Rotation Test has been assessed using two measures: (1) angular size of errors of orientation of the reproduced designs (error scores), and (2) amount of rotation of reproduced designs, i.e., taking into account both angular size and direction of errors of orientation (rotation scores). The results show that these two measures are differentially affected by the experimental variables operating in this situation and that what has been called the “block design rotation effect” does not reflect a tendency by Ss to rotate their reproductions in a particular direction. A supplementary hypothesis that the so-called block design rotation effect is related to the Poggendorf illusion was not supported by the findings.