Ferromagnetic effect and spin assignment for the 390 keV state in 62Cu

The 390 keV isomeric state of 62Cu is assigned as Jπ = 4+. The magnetic hyperfine interaction has been observed in the 60Ni(α, pnγ) 62Cu reaction and the deduced Larmor period is consistent with known values of g and the hyperfine field of Cu in Ni

High Current, High frequency ECRIS development program for LHC heavy ion beam application

A research program with the aim of producing pulsed currents with hitherto unequalled intensity of Pb27+, with length and repetition ratecompatible with those desired by CERN (1 mAe / 400 ms / 10 Hz in the context of future heavy ion collisions at LHC) is organised in acollaboration between CERN/GSI/CEA-Grenoble and IN2P3-ISNG.Two main experimental programs will be carried out : (i) tests with the LNS-Catania team on the SERSE superconducting source with a 28 GHzgyrotron, (ii) tests on a non-superconducting source (new source at Grenoble) with a 28 GHz gyrotron. For this purpose CEA/DRFMC hasborrowed from CEA a 28 GHz - 10 kW gyrotron transmitter.The project includes also the construction of a source body, by ISNG, with conventional coils and permanent magnets for working at the frequencyof about 28 GHz and biased up to 60 kV. This source called PHOENIX will run on a test bench at ISN. PHOENIX is an improvement of thepresent ECR4-14.5 GHz/CERN source, having a mirror ratio R=2 at 14.5 GHz, and R=1.7 at 28 GHz (possibly reaching 2.1 T on the axis of thesource), and with a plasma volume up to 2.5 larger.Experiments at 28 GHz will be performed on the SERSE source in Catania at INFN/LNS where both the axial and the hexapolar fields will bevaried so that the mirror ratio is continuously varied up to R=1.6 ; the SERSE source will be also operated at lower magnetic fields such as thosewhich can be produced by conventional magnets (less than 2 T axial field at injection - far from the 28 GHz High-B mode)

The role of short-term memory and visuo-spatial skills in numerical magnitude processing: evidence from Turner syndrome

Peer reviewe

Cognitive Reserve and the Prevention of Dementia: the Role of Physical and Cognitive Activities

Purpose of Review: The article discusses the two most significant modifiable risk factors for dementia, namely, physical inactivity and lack of stimulating cognitive activity, and their effects on developing cognitive reserve. Recent Findings: Both of these leisure-time activities were associated with significant reductions in the risk of dementia in longitudinal studies. In addition, physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, is associated with less age-related gray and white matter loss and with less neurotoxic factors. On the other hand, cognitive training studies suggest that training for executive functions (e.g., working memory) improves prefrontal network efficiency, which provides support to brain functioning in the face of cognitive decline. Summary: While physical activity preserves neuronal structural integrity and brain volume (hardware), cognitive activity strengthens the functioning and plasticity of neural circuits (software), thus supporting cognitive reserve in different ways. Future research should examine whether lifestyle interventions incorporating these two domains can reduce incident dementia

Cognitive reserve and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers are independent determinants of cognition

The objective of this study was to investigate how a measure of educational and occupational attainment, a component of cognitive reserve, modifies the relationship between biomarkers of pathology and cognition in Alzheimer's disease. The biomarkers evaluated quantified neurodegeneration via atrophy on magnetic resonance images, neuronal injury via cerebral spinal fluid t-tau, brain amyloid-β load via cerebral spinal fluid amyloid-β1–42 and vascular disease via white matter hyperintensities on T2/proton density magnetic resonance images. We included 109 cognitively normal subjects, 192 amnestic patients with mild cognitive impairment and 98 patients with Alzheimer's disease, from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study, who had undergone baseline lumbar puncture and magnetic resonance imaging. We combined patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in a group labelled ‘cognitively impaired’ subjects. Structural Abnormality Index scores, which reflect the degree of Alzheimer's disease-like anatomic features on magnetic resonance images, were computed for each subject. We assessed Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (cognitive behaviour section) and mini-mental state examination scores as measures of general cognition and Auditory–Verbal Learning Test delayed recall, Boston naming and Trails B scores as measures of specific domains in both groups of subjects. The number of errors on the American National Adult Reading Test was used as a measure of environmental enrichment provided by educational and occupational attainment, a component of cognitive reserve. We found that in cognitively normal subjects, none of the biomarkers correlated with the measures of cognition, whereas American National Adult Reading Test scores were significantly correlated with Boston naming and mini-mental state examination results. In cognitively impaired subjects, the American National Adult Reading Test and all biomarkers of neuronal pathology and amyloid load were independently correlated with all cognitive measures. Exceptions to this general conclusion were absence of correlation between cerebral spinal fluid amyloid-β1–42 and Boston naming and Trails B. In contrast, white matter hyperintensities were only correlated with Boston naming and Trails B results in the cognitively impaired. When all subjects were included in a flexible ordinal regression model that allowed for non-linear effects and interactions, we found that the American National Adult Reading Test had an independent additive association such that better performance was associated with better cognitive performance across the biomarker distribution. Our main conclusions included: (i) that in cognitively normal subjects, the variability in cognitive performance is explained partly by the American National Adult Reading Test and not by biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease pathology; (ii) in cognitively impaired subjects, the American National Adult Reading Test, biomarkers of neuronal pathology (structural magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral spinal fluid t-tau) and amyloid load (cerebral spinal fluid amyloid-β1–42) all independently explain variability in general cognitive performance; and (iii) that the association between cognition and the American National Adult Reading Test was found to be additive rather than to interact with biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease pathology

NIVEAUX DE SPIN ÉLEVÉ DU 50Cr PAR RÉACTION (α, xnγ)

Afin de comparer les niveaux atteints dans les réactions induites par Ions Lourds et par α nous avons effectué les expériences 47Ti(α, nγ)50Cr et 48Ti(α, 2 nγ)50Cr. Nous avons retrouvé la même séquence de niveaux (de 0+ à 12+) que celle observée par Huber et al. (congrès de Munich 1973) par la réaction 40Ca(16O, 2pα γ). Les α incidents apportant un moment angulaire suffisant, les informations spectroscopiques obtenues dans les réactions produites par α ou par I. L. semblent équivalentes.In order to compare Heavy Ions induced reactions with the α induced reactions landing to the same residual nucleus we have performed the experiments 47Ti(α, nγ)50Cr and 48Ti(α, 2 nγ)50Cr. Essentially the same results are observed (0+ through the 12+ level) as those obtained by Huber et al. (Munich conf. 1973) by the 40Ca(16O, 2pα γ) reaction. It seems that the spectroscopic information deduced from Heavy Ions or α reactions is equivalent provided the angular momentum carried by the α particles is sufficiently high

Mesure de durées de vie par DSAM au moyen de la réaction (α, 2n a eα = 30 Mev sur cible autoporteuse : application aux 70Ge, 68Ge et 66Zn

Par la méthode d'atténuation de l'effet Doppler-Fizeau (ajustement de la forme de la raie) nous avons tout particulièrement mesuré, dans les noyaux 68Ge, 70Ge et 66Zn obtenus par réaction (α, 2nγ) à Eα = 30 MeV, les durées de vie des états de haut spin. Le fait que la cible soit autoporteuse d'épaisseur finie de 1,2 à 1,5 mg/cm2, permet de déterminer les pouvoirs d'arrêt avec une bonne précision. Les résultats concernent une trentaine de niveaux, en particulier les niveaux de spin élevé (Jmax = 8 dans 70Ge, Jmax = 10 dans 68Ge, J max = (12) dans 66Zn) et font apparaître dans le cas des 68Ge et 70Ge la coexistence de niveaux faiblement et fortement collectifs, indiquant ainsi la mollesse de ces noyaux de transitions

SPECTROSCOPIE GAMMA SUR FAISCEAU DU NOYAU 64Zn

Le noyau 64Zn a été étudié par les réactions suivantes : 65Cu(p, 2nγ) à 22, 25 et 31 MeV ; 61Ni(α, nγ) à 17,5 MeV ; 62Ni(α, 2 nγ) de 25 à 35 MeV ; 54Fe(12C, 2 pγ) de 35 à 48 MeV. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence une bande principale construite sur l'état fondamental [991 keV (2+ → 0+), 1 315 keV (4+ → 2+), 1 687 keV (6+ → 4+), 642 keV (?→ 6+)] et une deuxième bande moins intense construite sur le premier 2+ (808, 937, 1 500 et 400 keV). La réaction 54Fe(12C, 2 pγ) n'a pas permis d'observer d'autres transitions γ que celles vues en (α, xnγ).The 64Zn nucleus has been studied by the following reactions : 65Cu(p, 2 nγ) at 22, 25 and 31 MeV ; 61Ni(α, nγ) at 17.5 MeV ; 62Ni(α, 2 nγ) between 25 and 35 MeV ; 54Fe(12C, 2 pγ) between 35 and 48 MeV. We have found a main band built on the ground state [991 keV (2+ → 0+), 1 315 keV (4+ → 2+), 1 687 keV (6+ → 4+), 642 keV ( ? → 6+)] and another weak band built on the first 2+ level [808, 937, 1 500 and 400 keV]. The 54Fe(12C, 2 pγ) reaction does not show any other γ transition in 64Zn that those observed in (α, xnγ)