Middle-aged rat hippocampus and some early changes accompanying aging

Background  

Studies of the middle-aged hippocampus may clarify the early mechanisms of aging and may lead to timely initiation of treatment for age-related cognitive impairments.     

Bolboschoenus glaucus (Lam.) S.G. Smith, a new species in the flora of the ancient Near East

Taxonomic advancement in the genus Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae, formerly included in the genus Scirpus) have resulted in the re-classification of the plant previously known as Bolboschoenus maritimus (synonym Scirpus maritimus) into several closely-related but distinct Bolboschoenus species This improved taxonomy is of importance for archaeobotanical investigations of ancient sites within the temperate zones, where this genus frequently occurs, because it allows more precise definitions of the ecological requirements and growing habits of each species. Moreover, it details the distinct morphological and anatomical characteristics of the fruit (nutlets) of each species. Using these new nutlet classification criteria, we re-examined charred archaeological specimens which had previously been identified as B. maritimus (or S. maritimus), from five Near Eastern late Pleistocene and early Holocene village sites: Abu Hureyra, Hallan ?emi, Demirk?y, ?atalh?yük and Aswad. Because three of these sites are located in Anatolia, data on the recent occurrence of Bolboschoenus in Turkey were also investigated. All archaeobotanical specimens were found to be B. glaucus. This species was also found to be the most common Bolboschoenus in present-day Turkey, indicating that it has a long history of occurrence in this region. The environmental, ecological and economic implications of this new information suggest that it is entirely feasible that this plant provided late Pleistocene and Holocene Near Eastern people with a dependable and possibly a staple food source.     

Germination and seedling establishment inAlisma gramineum, A. plantago-aquatica andA. lanceolatum under different environmental conditions

The seed germination and seedling establishment ofAlisma gramineum, A. lanceolatum andA. plantago-aquatica were investigated to find differences in the reproductive strategy of these species and to explain their ecological and distributional differentiation. The influences of stratification, temperature and flooding on seed germination, winter survival of seedlings and their further development were tested in the laboratory and in the experimental garden. Seeds of the all species studied were dormant immediately after harvesting. Cold stratification was necessary for successful germination. Seeds germinated best under shallow water in temperatures of 25 °C and 25/10 °C and did not need fluctuating day/night temperatures to break dormancy. Seedlings established best under the limosal-terrestrial conditions in summer, and overwintered successfully only when flooded. The main interspecific differences found were in the percentage of germinative and dormant seeds, in the germination rates after individual treatments, in the course of ontogenetic development and in the longevity as well as in the resistance of vegetative organs to environmental conditions. Possible effects of the above-listed facts on the ecological amplitude and distribution of the studied species are discussed.