Wagyu bulls are known to have a highly exacerbated libido, as shown by the intense sexual interest of young calves. Therefore we believe that Wagyu male animals have specialized Sertoli and Leydig cells that are directly involved with the sexual precocity in this breed as mature bulls have a small scrotal circumference. This study aimed to evaluate whether there were differences in the hormone and sperm characteristics of Wagyu bulls compared with the same characteristics of subspecies Bos indicus and Bos taurus sires. Frozen–thawed semen from Wagyu, Nellore, and Angus sires were analyzed for sperm kinetics (computer-assisted sperm analysis), plasma membrane integrity, chromatin integrity, acrosome status, mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation and hormone [luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone] serum concentration. The results showed that Wagyu had lower total motility and an increased number of sperm with no motility when compared with Nellore and Angus bulls. Wagyu breed did not differ from those breeds when considering plasma and acrosome membranes integrity, mitochondrial potential, chromatin resistance, sperm lipid peroxidation or hormone (LH and testosterone) concentrations. We concluded that Wagyu sires had lower total motility when compared with Nellore and Angus bulls. Wagyu breed did not differ from these breeds when considering plasma and acrosome membranes integrity, mitochondrial potential, chromatin resistance, sperm lipid peroxidation, or hormone (LH and testosterone) concentrations.

Background: Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a disorder of the elderly with progressive worsening of gait and balance, cognition, and urinary control which requires assessment using criteria recommended by International iNPH guidelines. Methods: Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (AHCRN) prospective registry data from 5-centers over a 50-month interval included entry criteria; demographics; comorbidities; examination findings using standard AHCRN gait and neuropsychology assessments; shunt procedures, complications of CSF drainage, complications within 30 days of surgery, and 1-year postoperative follow-up. Results: 547 patients were referred for assessment of suspected-iNPH. 123 patients(21.6%) did not meet clinical criteria to proceed with further testing. 424 patients(74.4%;mean age 76.7 ± 6.0 years;males=269) underwent an LP or lumbar drain, and 193(45.6%) underwent insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. By 8-12 months after shunt surgery, gait velocity was 0.96±0.35m/s (54% faster than pre-CSF-drainage). Mean MoCA scores increased from 21.0 ± 5.0(median=22.0) at baseline to 22.6±5.5(median=24) 12-months post-surgery. Gait and cognitive improvements were clinically significant. No deaths occurred. 8% of shunt-surgery patients experienced minor complications. The 30-day reoperation rate was 4.1%. Conclusions: This AHCRN study demonstrated that CSF-drainage testing of patients with suspected-iNPH successfully identified those who could undergo CSF-shunt surgery with a high rate of improvement and a low rate of complications.

Background: To describe preliminary results of a multi-center, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, pilot trial of shunt surgery in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Methods: Five sites of the Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (AHCRN) randomized 18 patients scheduled for ventriculoperitoneal shunting based on CSF-drainage response. Patients were randomized to a Codman® Certas® Plus valve with SiphonGuard at either setting 4 (Active, N=9) or setting 8/”virtual off” (Placebo, N=9). Patients and assessors were blinded to the shunt setting. Outcomes included 10-meter gait velocity, cognitive function, and bladder activity scores. The prespecified primary analysis compared changes in 4-month gait velocity in the Active versus Placebo groups. Placebo-set shunts were then blindly adjusted to the active setting and all patients underwent 8 and 12-month post-surgical assessment. Results: At 4-months, gait velocity increased by 0.28±0.28m/s in the Active Group and 0.04±0.17m/s in the Placebo Group (p=0.071). Overactive Bladder (OAB-q) scores significantly improved in the Active versus Placebo groups (p=0.007). At 8 months, Placebo gait velocity increased by 0.36±0.27m/s and was comparable to the Active Group (0.40±0.20m/s; p=0.56). Conclusions: This AHCRN study shows a trend suggesting gait velocity improves more at an Active shunt setting than a Placebo shunt setting and demonstrates the feasibility of a placebo-controlled trial in iNPH.

With the explosive growth in the number of highly automated powder diffraction systems, many types of analyses which were previously considered a specialty analysis are now performed on a routine basis. Algorithms have been developed for measuring peak profiles from which crystallite sizes, residual microstrain, and X-ray crystal structure (Rietveld techniques for example) can be determined. However, these techniques require an instrumental peak profile calibration standard to correct the experimental data for instrumental broadening due to the system optics.

Significant problems are encountered when laboratories try to cross-correlate or reproduce published data due to the lack of a common reference material for instrumental calibration. This is particularly distressing in microstrain and crystallite size calculations which can be dramatically affected by a poor choice of standard materials. Microstrain and crystallite size measurement are becoming increasingly important for the characterization of advanced materials and catalysts.

Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical manifestation of primary Epstein–Barr virus infection. It is unknown whether genetic factors contribute to risk. To assess heritability, we compared disease concordance in monozygotic to dizygotic twin pairs from the population-based California Twin Program and assessed the risk to initially unaffected co-twins. One member of 611 and both members of 58 twin pairs reported a history of infectious mononucleosis. Pairwise concordance in monozygotic and dizygotic pairs was respectively 12·1% [standard error (s.e.)=1·9%] and 6·1% (s.e.=1·2%). The relative risk (hazard ratio) of monozygotic compared to dizygotic unaffected co-twins of cases was 1·9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·1–3·4, P=0·03], over the follow-up period. When the analysis was restricted to same-sex twin pairs, that estimate was 2·5 (95% CI 1·2–5·3, P=0·02). The results are compatible with a heritable contribution to the risk of infectious mononucleosis.

An area of high, north-eastward plunge of b-axes has been mapped in Silurian greywackes around the mouth of Strangford Lough, N. Ireland. Reconnaisance over a wider area to the south-west is consistent with the hypothesis that this steep plunge is due to the upward push exerted during the emplacement of the Newry Granodiorite. A near surface extension of the intrusion towards the east-north-east is inferred.

We report the integration of six levels of Cu interconnects using dual inlaid patterning in a 0.2 μm logic technology. A review of process technology as well as device performance shortcomings using conventional aluminum metallization has been presented. Two tantalum based barriers, TaNx and Ta-Si-N as well as a titanium based barrier, CVD TiN, have been evaluated for their applicability. The use of embedded barriers wherein the barrier is formed below the surface of the dielectric has also been discussed as a potential option. No degradation to the device front-end parametrics were found with the choice of an appropriate barrier. Planarization by Cu CMP introduces surface topography that needs to be minimized in order to process multiple levels of interconnects within specified sheet resistance distributions for a range of line widths. Excellent results with highly planarized levels of metallization have consistently been achieved through an optimization of the unit processes and device integration.

This paper attempts to address the question of the role played by dimensionality in the observed optical transitions of porus silicon and related material systems. The effect of the degree of porosity on the transition energies, line widths and thermal stability. In addition more subtle effects observed in the thermal behaviour of the spectra which may relate to carrier trapping in a random potential of an imperfect localised system are reported. Comparisons with the spectral behaviour which would be predicted by quantum scale confinement of electronic particles are made.

We describe an X-ray polarimeter which will be flown on the SPECTRUM-X-Gamma mission. The instrument exploits three distinct physical processes to measure polarization: Bragg reflection from a graphite crystal, Thomson scattering from a metallic lithium target, and photoemission from a Cesium Iodide photocathode. These three processes allow polarization measurements over an energy band of 0.3 keV to 12 keV. The polarimeter will make possible sensitive measurements of several hundred known X-ray sources. X-ray polarization measurements will allow us to constrain the geometry of gas flow in X-ray binaries, identify nonthermal emission in supernova remnants, test current models for X-ray emission in radio pulsars, determine the radiation mechanisms in active galactic nuclei, and search for inertial frame dragging (Lense-Thirring effect) around the putative black hole in Cygnus X-1.

Abnormal intestinal absorption has been suggested as an aetiological factor in schizophrenia. A procedure for investigating intestinal permeability was carried out in a group of chronic psychiatric in-patients. A proportion of the subjects studied showed abnormal intestinal permeability which could not be attributed to established bowel disease. Patients who were receiving neuroleptic but not anticholinergic drugs were those most often showing abnormal intestinal permeability. This work is at an early stage of development but preliminary findings suggest that further investigations should be carried out to establish the circumstances in which changes in intestinal permeability may be associated with mental illness.

Cryogenic detectors for gravitational wave astronomy promise greatly improved sensitivity over room temperature detectors. The 3 mK detector which we have under construction should give an improvement of 106 over existing detectors. The cryogenic antennae are described and the calculated low temperature performance is detailed. New superconducting instrumentation is described.