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The importance of diverse lifestyle factors in sustaining cognition during aging and delaying the onset of decline in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias cannot be overstated. We explored the influence of cognitive, social, and physical lifestyle factors on resting-state lagged linear connectivity (LLC) in high-density EEG in adults, ages 35-75 years. Diverse lifestyle factors build cognitive reserve (CR), protecting cognition in the presence of physical brain decline. Differences in LLC were examined between high- and low-CR groups formed using cognitive, social, and exercise lifestyle factors. LLC is a measure of lagged coherence that excludes zero phase contributions and limits the effects of volume conduction on connectivity estimates. Significant differences in LLC were identified for cognitive and social factors, but not exercise. Participants high in social CR possessed greater local and long-range connectivity in theta and low alpha for eyes-open and eyes-closed recording conditions. Whereas, participants high in cognitive CR exhibited greater eyes-closed long-range connectivity between the occipital lobe and other cortical regions in low alpha. Greater eyes-closed local LLC in delta was also present in men high in cognitive CR. Cognitive factor scores correlated with sustained attention, whereas social factors scores correlated with spatial working memory. Gender was a significant covariate in our analyses, with women displaying higher local and long-range LLC in low beta. Our findings support distinct relationships between CR and LLC, as well as CR and cognitive function for cognitive and social subcomponents. These patterns reflect the importance of diverse lifestyle factors in building CR.

Cognitive reserve (CR) is a protective mechanism that supports sustained cognitive function following damage to the physical brain associated with age, injury, or disease. The goal of the research was to identify relationships between age, CR, and brain connectivity. A sample of 90 cognitively normal adults, ages 45-64 years, had their resting-state brain activity recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) and completed a series of memory and executive function assessments. CR was estimated using years of education and verbal IQ scores. Participants were divided into younger and older age groups and low- and high-CR groups. We observed greater left- than right-hemisphere coherence in younger participants, and greater right- than left-hemisphere coherence in older participants. In addition, greater coherence was observed under eyes-closed than eyes-open recording conditions for both low-CR and high-CR participants, with a more substantial difference between recording conditions in individuals high in CR regardless of age. Finally, younger participants low in CR exhibited greater mean coherence than younger participants high in CR, whereas the opposite pattern was observed in older participants, with greater coherence in older participants high in CR. Together, these findings suggest the possibility of a shift in the relationship between CR and brain connectivity during aging.

1. When a plant species is introduced into a new range, it may differentiate genetically from the original populations in the home range. This genetic differentiation may influence the extent to which the invasion of the new range is successful. We tested this hypothesis by examining Senecio pterophorus, a South African shrub that was introduced into NE Spain about 40 years ago. We predicted that in the introduced range invasive populations would perform better and show greater plasticity than native populations. 2. Individuals of S. pterophorus from four Spanish (invasive) and four South African (native) populations were grown in Catalonia, Spain, in a common garden in which disturbance and water availability were manipulated. Fitness traits and several ecophysiological parameters were measured. 3. The invasive populations of S. pterophorus survived better throughout the summer drought in a disturbed (unvegetated) environment than native South African populations. This success may be attributable to the lower specific leaf area (SLA) and better water content regulation of the invasive populations in this treatment. 4. Invasive populations displayed up to three times higher relative growth rate than native populations under conditions of disturbance and non-limiting water availability. 5. The reproductive performance of the invasive populations was higher in all treatments except under the most stressful conditions (i.e. in non-watered undisturbed plots), where no plant from either population flowered. 6. The results for leaf parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements suggested that the greater fitness of the invasive populations could be attributed to more favourable ecophysiological responses. 7. Synthesis. Spanish invasive populations of S. pterophorus performed better in the presence of high levels of disturbance, and displayed higher plasticity of fitness traits in response to resource availability than native South African populations. Our results suggest that genetic differentiation from source populations associated with founding may play a role in invasion success.

Here, we provide the first report on flavonoid content in holm oak ( Quercus ilex L.) leaves, analyzed by HPLC–MS/MS. Flavanols and flavonols were the predominant groups, although proanthocyanidins and many soluble tannins had a relevant presence in all leaf samples. Seasonal variation of flavonoids was determined in extracts from Q. ilex leaves during resprouting after a forest fire in two Mediterranean forests. Similar seasonal trends were observed over 2 years during the two main stress seasons (winter and summer). The most abundant flavonoid was the flavanol epicatechin, which showed similar values during the two seasons. Hexosides of the flavonols, quercetin, kaempferol and rhamnetin showed considerably higher content in winter, especially at the lowest temperatures. These variations in both forests are discussed on the basis of the chlorophyll fluorescence results obtained. Anthocyanins were found practically absent in mature leaves. Nutrient or water availability differences between sites or seasons were not related to changes in leaf flavonol-hexoside content.

Insight occurs when problem solutions arise suddenly and seem obviously correct, and is associated with an \"Aha!\" experience. Prior theorizing concerning preparation that facilitates insight focused on solvers' problem-specific knowledge. We hypothesized that a distinct type of mental preparation, manifested in a distinct brain state, would facilitate insight problem solving independently of problem-specific knowledge. Consistent with this hypothesis, neural activity during a preparatory interval before subjects saw verbal problems predicted which problems they would subsequently solve with, versus without, self-reported insight. Specifically, electroencephalographic topography and frequency (Experiment 1) and functional magnetic resonance imaging signal (Experiment 2) both suggest that mental preparation leading to insight involves heightened activity in medial frontal areas associated with cognitive control and in temporal areas associated with semantic processing. The results for electroencephalographic topography suggest that non-insight preparation, in contrast, involves increased occipital activity consistent with an increase in externally directed visual attention. Thus, general preparatory mechanisms modulate problem-solving strategy.

This article describes BabyIAXO, an intermediate experimental stage of the International Axion Observatory (IAXO), proposed to be sited at DESY. IAXO is a large-scale axion helioscope that will look for axions and axion-like particles (ALPs), produced in the Sun, with unprecedented sensitivity. BabyIAXO is conceived to test all IAXO subsystems (magnet, optics and detectors) at a relevant scale for the final system and thus serve as prototype for IAXO, but at the same time as a fully-fledged helioscope with relevant physics reach itself, and with potential for discovery. The BabyIAXO magnet will feature two 10 m long, 70 cm diameter bores, and will host two detection lines (optics and detector) of dimensions similar to the final ones foreseen for IAXO. BabyIAXO will detect or reject solar axions or ALPs with axion-photon couplings down to gaγ ∼ 1.5 × 10-11 GeV-1, and masses up to ma ∼ 0.25 eV. BabyIAXO will offer additional opportunities for axion research in view of IAXO, like the development of precision x-ray detectors to identify particular spectral features in the solar axion spectrum, and the implementation of radiofrequency-cavity-based axion dark matter setups.

AbstractThe first year of data taking at ATLAS should be a very challenging and rewarding time. It will include commissioning of the detector and many interesting physics results. The commissioning of the detector components will mainly rely on physics signals. The staging of some subdetectors will influence the B physics program and result in slightly reduced significances in most physics analyses. The searches for Higgs bosons and supersymmetric particles have been studied in great detail. If a Higgs boson from the Standard Model exists, it will be discovered within the first year. If supersymmetry exists the discovery of at least one light Higgs boson as well as some supersymmetric particles is very probable within the first year of the LHC.PACS: 25.70.Ef – 21.60.Gx – 27.30.+t

Red beech (Nothofagus fusca (Hook. F.) Oerst.; Fagaceae) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don; Pinaceae) were grown for 16 months in large open-top chambers at ambient (37 Pa) and elevated (66 Pa) atmospheric partial pressure of CO2, and in control plots (no chamber). Summer-time measurements showed that photosynthetic capacity was similar at elevated CO2 (light and CO2-saturated value of 17.2 μmol m−2 s−1 for beech, 13.5 μmol m−2 s−1 for pine), plants grown at ambient CO2 (beech 21.0 μmol−2 s−1, pine 14.9 μmol m−2s−1) or control plants grown without chambers (beech 23.2 μmol m−2 s−1, pine 12.9 μmol m−2 s−1). However, the higher CO2 partial pressure had a direct effect on photosynthetic rate, such that under their respective growth conditions, photosynthesis for the elevated CO2 treatment (measured at 70 Pa CO2 partial pressure: beech 14.1 μmol m−2 s−1 pine 10.3) was greater than in ambient (measured at 35 Pa CO2: beech 9.7 μmol m−2 s−1, pine 7.0 μmol m−2 s−1) or control plants (beech 10.8 μmol m−2 s−1, pine 7.2 μmol m−2 s−1). Measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence revealed no evidence of photodamage in any treatment for either species. The quantity of the photoprotective xanthophyll cycle pigments and their degree of de-epoxidation at midday did not differ among treatments for either species. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (yield) was lower in control plants than in chamber-grown plants, and was higher in chamber plants at ambient than at elevated CO2. These results suggest that at lower (ambient) CO2 partial pressure, beech plants may have dissipated excess energy by a mechanism that does not involve the xanthophyll cycle pigments.

Seasonal variations in free putrescine, spermidine and spermine content, gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were followed during winter and summer on leaves of a similar age from undisturbed holm oak trees (control, C) and resprouts (R) originated after fire. We observed a general trend of putrescine content decrease with increasing irradiance. Putrescine content decreased markedly from winter to summer, especially in R, which were located on a site with much higher irradiation. Daily summer variations in putrescine showed a decline at midday from morning values, and they were also more accentuated in R. Measurement of gas-exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed marked differences between C and R under their respective light conditions. R showed higher values of PSII quantum yield (Φ^sub PSII^), photochemical quenching (qP) and intrinsic efficiency of open PSII centres ((ProQuest: Formulae and/or non-USASCII text omitted; see image)) The Φ^sub PSII^/PPFD response curve showed that under the same irradiance, Φ^sub PSII^ was enhanced in R and mainly under high light conditions. In spite of increasing irradiance from winter to summer, and especially in burned areas, the mentioned chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were maintained indicating the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus. Results derived from A/C ^sub i^ and A/PPFD response curves showed enhanced photosynthetic capacity and lower non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis in R during summer stress. The contribution of putrescine decline in the photoadaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of species growing in natural forest habitats is considered.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]