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For about two millennia, paper has served as a main medium for preservation of people’s ideas, stories, contracts, and art. This article reviews what is known about the various components that make up paper from the perspective of their long-term stability under typical storage conditions. Literature evidence is considered relative to the susceptibility of different paper components to embrittlement, acid hydrolysis, microbiological attack, and discoloration, among others. The cellulose that makes up a majority of most paper items is demonstrably stable enough to persist for many hundreds of years on the shelves of archival collections, though it is susceptible to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, which can be accelerated by byproducts of decomposition. Though less attention has been paid to the archival performance of various minor components of modern paper products, evidence suggests that at least some of them are subject to likely breakdown, embrittlement, or decay in the course of prolonged storage. Based on these considerations, one can envision different categories of paper that can be expected to meet different levels of storage stability: ancient recipes for handmade papermaking, e.g. washi and hanji, archival-grade paper products, ordinary modern alkaline paper products, and paper manufactured without concerns for its longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of senescent cells drives inflammaging and increases morbidity of chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Immune responses are built upon dynamic changes in cell metabolism that supply energy and substrates for cell proliferation, differentiation, and activation. Metabolic changes imposed by environmental stress and inflammation on immune cells and tissue microenvironment are thus chiefly involved in the pathophysiology of allergic and other immune‐driven diseases. Altered cell metabolism is also a hallmark of cell senescence, a condition characterized by loss of proliferative activity in cells that remain metabolically active. Accelerated senescence can be triggered by acute or chronic stress and inflammatory responses. In contrast, replicative senescence occurs as part of the physiological aging process and has protective roles in cancer surveillance and wound healing. Importantly, cell senescence can also change or hamper response to diverse therapeutic treatments. Understanding the metabolic pathways of senescence in immune and structural cells is therefore critical to detect, prevent, or revert detrimental aspects of senescence‐related immunopathology, by developing specific diagnostics and targeted therapies. In this paper, we review the main changes and metabolic alterations occurring in senescent immune cells (macrophages, B cells, T cells). Subsequently, we present the metabolic footprints described in translational studies in patients with chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and review the ongoing preclinical studies and clinical trials of therapeutic approaches aiming at targeting metabolic pathways to antagonize pathological senescence. Because this is a recently emerging field in allergy and clinical immunology, a better understanding of the metabolic profile of the complex landscape of cell senescence is needed. The progress achieved so far is already providing opportunities for new therapies, as well as for strategies aimed at disease prevention and supporting healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the key roles of the cerebellum in motor, cognitive, and affective operations and given the decline of brain functions with aging, cerebellar circuitry is attracting the attention of the scientific community. The cerebellum plays a key role in timing aspects of both motor and cognitive operations, including for complex tasks such as spatial navigation. Anatomically, the cerebellum is connected with the basal ganglia via disynaptic loops, and it receives inputs from nearly every region in the cerebral cortex. The current leading hypothesis is that the cerebellum builds internal models and facilitates automatic behaviors through multiple interactions with the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and spinal cord. The cerebellum undergoes structural and functional changes with aging, being involved in mobility frailty and related cognitive impairment as observed in the physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS) affecting older, functionally-preserved adults who show slowness and/or weakness. Reductions in cerebellar volume accompany aging and are at least correlated with cognitive decline. There is a strongly negative correlation between cerebellar volume and age in cross-sectional studies, often mirrored by a reduced performance in motor tasks. Still, predictive motor timing scores remain stable over various age groups despite marked cerebellar atrophy. The cerebello-frontal network could play a significant role in processing speed and impaired cerebellar function due to aging might be compensated by increasing frontal activity to optimize processing speed in the elderly. For cognitive operations, decreased functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) is correlated with lower performances. Neuroimaging studies highlight that the cerebellum might be involved in the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), independently of contributions of the cerebral cortex. Grey matter volume loss in AD is distinct from that seen in normal aging, occurring initially in cerebellar posterior lobe regions, and is associated with neuronal, synaptic and beta-amyloid neuropathology. Regarding depression, structural imaging studies have identified a relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebellar gray matter volume. In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and higher depressive symptom burden are associated with smaller gray matter volumes in the total cerebellum as well as the posterior cerebellum, vermis, and posterior Crus I. From the genetic/epigenetic standpoint, prominent DNA methylation changes in the cerebellum with aging are both in the form of hypo- and hyper-methylation, and the presumably increased/decreased expression of certain genes might impact on motor coordination. Training influences motor skills and lifelong practice might contribute to structural maintenance of the cerebellum in old age, reducing loss of grey matter volume and therefore contributing to the maintenance of cerebellar reserve. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques are increasingly being applied to enhance cerebellar functions related to motor, cognitive, and affective operations. They might enhance cerebellar reserve in the elderly. In conclusion, macroscopic and microscopic changes occur in the cerebellum during the lifespan, with changes in structural and functional connectivity with both the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. With the aging of the population and the impact of aging on quality of life, the panel of experts considers that there is a huge need to clarify how the effects of aging on the cerebellar circuitry modify specific motor, cognitive, and affective operations both in normal subjects and in brain disorders such as AD or MDD, with the goal of preventing symptoms or improving the motor, cognitive, and affective symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal aging and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are used as methods to prepare samples of kraft paper spanning its full lifecycle within a high-voltage transformer, from new to end of life. The mechanical break strain is correlated with the degree of polymerization (DP), representing a progressive deterioration of mechanical properties during aging. Subsequent exposure to oil flow mimicking both normal plant operation and reclamation activities shows that aged paper exposed to high rates of flow experiences noticeable surface roughening. Despite this, no measurable erosion occurs even after long-term temperature/flow cycling in used mineral oil containing a notable particulate content. This indicates that kraft paper is unlikely to be eroded by normal reclamation activities, even in a severely aged asset. This confirms the validity of using this approach to extend plant life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the influence of bast fibers isolated from Wikstroemia bark on the durability of paper, self-made paper was prepared using bagasse pulp mixed with Wikstroemia bark pulp using Kaihua paper manufacturing technology. The durability properties of the paper obtained with different proportions of Wikstroemia bark pulp were measured and analyzed. The results showed that Wikstroemia bark can lower the acidity, improve the mechanical strength, and delay the aging of paper. The mechanical strength showed an exponential relationship with the amount of Wikstroemia bark pulp added to the paper pulp. There was a linear positive correlation between the initial polymerization degree of the paper and the amount of Wikstroemia bark pulp, while the molecular fracture rate of the paper with Wikstroemia bark pulp was considerably reduced. Wikstroemia bark fibers are long fibers with high strength. At the same time, Wikstroemia bark fibers differ greatly in length, so the uniformity can meet the requirements. The durability of the paper made from only bagasse pulp was poor, but the overall strength and polymerization degree of the paper improve after being mixed with Wikstroemia bark pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging process of paper will be accelerated by acidification behavior during the storage process of paper archives, and the mechanical properties of paper archives will be weakened. By deacidizing and strengthening, the further aging of the acidified archives paper can be delayed or prevented, and the mechanical properties can be improved, so that the service life of paper archives is prolonged. To delay even to prevent the aging process, deacidizing and strengthening technology is employed. Herein, the "hybrid" system was reported by combining nano-calcium carbonate as deacidification agent, modified hydroxypropyl cellulose as reinforcement agent and ethanol as dispersant. The artificially acidified paper was brushed with it, and the pH value, mechanical properties and whiteness were measured to study the effect of deacidification and reinforcement. The results showed that oleic acid was successfully grafted onto hydroxypropyl cellulose by N,N′-carbonyl diimidazole mediated method to obtain oleic acid grafted hydroxypropyl cellulose with good dispersion in ethanol. After treating acidified paper with "hybrid" system, the pH value and the tensile strength index increase, the whiteness is almost unchanged, that is, the use of "hybrid" system plays a good deacidifying strengthening effect. The acidified paper samples before and after treatment with "hybrid" system were subjected to dry-heat aging treatment. Compared with acidified paper, the pH value, tensile strength index and whiteness of acidified paper treated with "hybrid" system are effectively inhibited, that is, the use of "hybrid" system can effectively delay the aging and acidification process of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aramid chopped fibers/polyphenylene sulfide (ACFs/PPS) composite paper exhibits great potential for application in several cutting‐edge areas because of their excellent comprehensive properties. However, the mechanism underlying thermal aging and the role it plays in the performance of ACF/PPS composite paper remain poorly characterized. Herein, we studied the change in the chemical structure of ACFs/PPS composite paper during thermal oxidative aging and investigated the correlation between the evolution of chromophore/auxochrome groups and the development of color appearance in the ACFs/PPS composite paper. Using the color space theory, we established a correlation model among the degrees of thermal aging, the evolution of color appearance, and the changes in the mechanical properties of ACFs/PPS composite paper. On the basis of this model, the degree of aging and the corresponding mechanical strength of ACFs/PPS composite paper under different conditions could be rapidly received by estimating the change in color factor only. This study sheds new light on elucidates and provides a method for the study of polymer thermal oxidative aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging behavior occurs in the storage process of paper archives, which accelerates the aging process of the paper. Therefore, it is important for paper archives management to explore the aging behavior of acidified paper (AP) and to delay or prevent its further aging. The aging behavior of the commonly used university archives paper with artificial acidification were studied by measuring pH value, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties and whiteness. The results show that the pH value, conductivity, mechanical properties and whiteness of AP change significantly compared with the non-acidified raw paper (P). After dry-heat aging treatment, the pH value of AP decreased more obviously than P, which shows more obvious aging degradation and further acidification of AP. During the aging process of AP, the molecular and structural degradation are promoted by the presence of acidic substances, which increase the electrical conductivity of the system. The microstructures of the paper are changed by acidification and aging treatment, and more fiber fracture, etching and microscopic holes are found in the surface SEM images. The reductions of the tensile index and whiteness of AP are also more significant because of the degradation acceleration of the acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embodied theories of cognition consider many aspects of language and other cognitive domains as the result of sensory and motor processes. In this view, the appraisal and the use of concepts are based on mechanisms of simulation grounded on prior sensorimotor experiences. Even though these theories continue receiving attention and support, increasing evidence indicates the need to consider the flexible nature of the simulation process, and to accordingly refine embodied accounts. In this consensus paper, we discuss two potential sources of variability in experimental studies on embodiment of language: individual differences and context. Specifically, we show how factors contributing to individual differences may explain inconsistent findings in embodied language phenomena. These factors include sensorimotor or cultural experiences, imagery, context-related factors, and cognitive strategies. We also analyze the different contextual modulations, from single words to sentences and narratives, as well as the top-down and bottom-up influences. Similarly, we review recent efforts to include cultural and language diversity, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain disorders, as well as bilingual evidence into the embodiment framework. We address the importance of considering individual differences and context in clinical studies to drive translational research more efficiently, and we indicate recommendations on how to correctly address these issues in future research. Systematically investigating individual differences and context may contribute to understanding the dynamic nature of simulation in language processes, refining embodied theories of cognition, and ultimately filling the gap between cognition in artificial experimental settings and cognition in the wild (i.e., in everyday life). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term operation of dry-type transformer bushings at high temperatures can impact the performance of their primary insulation material. This article presents an experimental study of the effect of thermal aging time on electrical treeing in the epoxy resin-impregnated paper. The experimental results show that the electrical treeing pattern along the middle path of the electric field and the interlayer creepage along the average direction of the electric field are closely related to the aging time. Under the effect of thermal aging at 150 °C, the tree-starting voltage of epoxy resin-impregnated paper tends to increase and decrease as the aging time increases. An analysis and discussion of the test results in conjunction with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) tests suggest that the destruction of the cross-linked network of the epoxy resin-impregnated paper at 150 °C is a fundamental reason for the significant decrease in the material’s tree-starting voltage and the change in electrical treeing morphology and interlayer creepage. Long-term operation at high temperatures can seriously impact the primary insulation performance of dry-type transformer bushings and requires attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Remote dried blood spot (DBS) self-collection in older adults is highly feasible. • Remote DBS yields high-quality spots, sufficient for assaying multiple biomarkers, with high participant adherence. • Inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) from self-collected DBS are reliable and valid. Dried blood spots (DBS) provide a minimally invasive method to assess inflammatory markers and can be collected remotely at-home or in-person in the lab. However, there is a lack of methodological information comparing these different collection methods and in older adults. We investigated the feasibility (including adherence, yield, quality, and participant preferences) and measurement properties (reliability, validity) of remotely collected DBS inflammatory markers in older adults. Participants (N = 167, mean age = 72, range: 60–96 years) collected their own DBS (finger prick on filter paper) during three remote interviews over ∼ 6 months. Within 4–5 days on average of their last remote interview, a subset of 41 participants also attended an in-person lab visit that included a researcher-collected DBS sample, venous blood draw, and survey to assess participant preferences of DBS collection. DBS and venous blood were assayed for CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α. Adherence: 98% of expected DBS samples (493 out of 501) were completed and mailed back to the lab. Yield: 97% of DBS samples were sufficient for all assays. Quality: On average, 0.80 fewer optimal spots (60uL of blood that filled the entire circle) were obtained remotely vs. in-person (p = 0.013), but the number of useable or better spots (at least 30-40uL of blood) did not differ (p = 0.89). Preference: A slight majority of participants (54%) preferred in-person DBS collection. Reliability: DBS test–retest reliabilities were good: CRP (ICC = 0.74), IL-6 (ICC = 0.76), and TNF-α (ICC = 0.70). Validity: Inflammatory levels from DBS correlated strongly with levels from venous blood (r = 0.60-0.99) and correlated as expected with sociodemographic and physical health and function variables. Older adults can remotely collect their own DBS to acquire reliable and valid inflammatory data. Remote DBS collection is highly feasible and may allow for inflammatory markers to be assessed in larger, more representative samples than are possible with lab- or clinic-based research designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts thermal aging treatment to study the effect of thermal aging on the PD degradation process of the oil-paper insulation. The partial discharge inception voltages, extinction voltages, carbon mark, and microscopic morphology of samples are analyzed. The results show that thermal aging does not reduce the partial discharge inception voltages of oil-paper but can make the spark produced in the oil-paper more difficult to extinguish. At the initial stage, thermal aging has little effect on the development of partial discharge in normal direction of samples, while in later stages, the effect begins to appear; thermal aging reduces the insulation performance between layers of oil impregnated paper and accelerates the carbon trace growth rate in the horizontal direction. In this model, the first layer is most severely bombarded by electrons, and this layer is most obviously affected by the electric field in the normal direction at the contact point between the electrode and the insulating paper. The lower layer is affected by the horizontal and vertical electric fields; therefore, a large area of fiber looseness occurs on the surface of the oil impregnated paper. The degree of deterioration is proportional to the endurance time and aging time, and the damage degree of oil impregnated paper decreases with the increase of the number of layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the furan concentration in transformer oil is one of the most common methods of monitoring and evaluating insulation paper and estimating its degree of polymerization (DP). Here, methods for measuring furan concentration, especially ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy method, are reviewed on the old transformers oil. The results show that the excessive turbidity of old oils and noise at low wavelengths are the main disadvantages of this method, which reduce the measurements accuracy. The following solutions are proposed to overcome these disadvantages: 1) diluting insulation oil with hexane to reduce absorption intensity and 2) using average absorption at a given wavelength to reduce noise impact. These solutions are applied to the oil samples of ten old distribution transformer. It is observed that the correlation between 2-furaldehyde (2-FAL) concentration and average absorption intensity in 190–600 nm wavelength range is equal to ${R}^{{2}} =0.98$. A mathematical equation for calculating 2-FAL concentration based on average absorption is presented. It has been shown that to reduce the test time, a 190–400 nm range is the optimal measurement wavelength range. The results show that the average difference between the values of DP in the proposed method and the direct measurement method is equal to 77.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon oxides (CO2 and CO) in the insulating oil of power transformers come from the thermal aging of cellulosic insulating paper; the CO2/CO ratio can reflect the aging state of cellulosic insulating paper. At present, the formation mechanisms of CO2 and CO in oil-immersed power transformers are still unclear. In this article, the ReaxFF reaction force field is used to simulate the thermal aging process of cellulosic insulating paper, and the main reaction pathways of CO2 and CO molecules formed by cellulose pyrolysis are obtained. The study finds that the amount of CO2 and CO generated is related to temperature. When the pyrolysis temperature continues to rise, the amount of CO2 generated shows a downward trend, while the amount of CO generated continues to increase, and the CO2/CO ratio continues to decrease. The simulation results are consistent with the previous experimental results. Through pathway tracking, it is found that the CO2 and CO molecules are mainly derived from certain specific atoms of cellulose molecules. The COSMO-RS module is used to analyze the change trend of the solubility of CO2 and CO in insulating oil with temperature. The results show that the solubility of CO2 and CO decreases with the increase of insulating oil temperature, which provides theoretical support for accurate application of carbon oxides aging evaluation index at different temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging and acidification behavior of paper archives affect their long-term preservation. Therefore, delaying or preventing aging and acidification has become an important topic in the field of paper archives management. the aging and acidification behavior of commercial archival paper were studied by measuring pH value, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties and whiteness in this work. The results show that the aging and acidification phenomena are obvious after dry-heat aging treatment. The molecular degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and other components results in the decrease of pH value of the system, which decrease with the increase of the treatment temperature and time. The electrical conductivity of the system increases because of the molecular degradation and structural degradation, and with the increase of the treatment temperature and time, the electrical conductivity increases more significantly. After aging treatment, the paper appears etching and increasing microcosmic pores. With the occurrence of molecular degradation and structural degradation, the tensile index and whiteness of the paper decrease, and with the increase of the treatment temperature and time, the tensile index and whiteness decrease more significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely identification of the aging stage of the transformer can effectively ensure the safe operation of the transformer and prevent the aging fault of the transformer. This work proposes the aging diagnosis of transformer using the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot combined with learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network. Oil-paper insulation samples at different aging stages are obtained by accelerated thermal aging tests. Acquisition of Raman spectra of insulating oil is from 800 to 3000 cm−1 and converts to the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot. The gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) is used to extract the characteristic information of the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot. The optimal number of neurons in competitive layer of LVQ neural network is determined by the experimental method. A transformer aging diagnosis model based on the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot is established. The results show that the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed diagnostic model reached 95%. The Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot has more abundant aging “fingerprint” characteristic information and the proposed diagnostic method shows potential for monitoring oil-paper insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol is considered to be a new chemical marker to estimate the aging state of transformer cellulose insulation paper. The key to improve the assessment accuracy is to establish the precise relationship between the concentration of methanol in oil and degree of polymerization (DP) of insulation paper. The previous research in this area has shortcomings and needs to be further improved. In this article, first, an aging assessment basic model (temperature 20 °C, moisture content of insulation paper 0.637%) is established based on the theoretical derivation of cellulose degradation kinetics, and is calculated by 130 °C thermal aging experiment. Furthermore, the effects of different temperatures (20 °C–90 °C) and moisture contents of insulation paper (0.6%–3.4%) on methanol in oil are studied by diffusion experiment. Based on the above effects, the temperature and moisture correction factors are established by mathematical reduction. What is more, a modified model is proposed by integrating the basic model and the correction factors. Eventually, the verification experiment is randomly prepared to test the accuracy of modified model and the result shows that the relative error of DP is within 7%. The physical meaning and accuracy of aging assessment are improved by model derivation and modification of influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Latino adults are disproportionately impacted by dementia due to high exposure to adverse social determinants of health (SDOH). • "Brain health literacy" in middle adulthood may be a modifiable factor that could help mitigate later life risk of cognitive decline. • The proposed Brain Health Literacy framework can guide health promotion efforts, with the ultimate goal of increasing brain health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological environment is increasingly damaged due to the impact of mineral oil extraction and leakage. As a kind of sustainable resource, a vegetable oil transformer has bright application prospects in future. However, the stability of vegetable oil has always been a problem to be solved. In addition, the metallic copper inside the transformer has a certain catalytic effect on the deterioration of vegetable oil. In this article, a copper–oil–paper insulation model is established. Based on the molecular dynamics simulation method, the catalytic mechanism of copper on the deterioration of oil-paper insulation is revealed from the microscopic level. Then, the effects of temperature, contact area, and oxygen on the catalytic effect of copper are discussed. The results show that copper could accelerate the decomposition of oil-paper insulation by attracting H atoms and O atoms in oil-paper. The increase in temperature accelerates the progress of the catalytic reaction and aggravates the deterioration of oil-paper insulation. The oxygen concentration has an important influence on the catalytic reaction of copper. As the oxygen concentration increases, the catalytic effect of copper is weakened. The abovementioned research could provide some theoretical reference for further exploration of effective oil-paper insulation deterioration protection technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation and distribution of furfural are significantly affected by moisture content in the insulating paper. However, the diffusion mechanism of furfural under moisture effect is not clear, hence, this study investigates the effect of moisture on the diffusion characteristics of furfural by combining macro experiment and micro molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation results demonstrate that the increased moisture content in paper accelerates the diffusion of furfural from paper to oil, which is also proved by the experimental data. Then, the results of interaction energy analysis indicate that the increase of moisture enhances the van der Waals force between oil and furfural. The present findings are expected to improve the theoretical level of furfural analysis, which will facilitate the aging evaluation of the transformer insulating paper based on furfural. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology has issued a call for papers on the topic of cardiovascular regulation during exercise, specifically focusing on the role of biological sex and the consequences of aging. The editors are seeking original research, short reports, and reviews that explore areas such as autonomic control of circulation, skeletal muscle, cerebral and cardiac blood flow, cardiac regulation, hemodynamic regulation, and thermal challenges. The aim is to better understand the sex-specific differences in cardiovascular responses to exercise and how they change throughout the lifespan. The call also emphasizes the need to consider the effects of aging, age-related diseases, and medications commonly prescribed to older adults on cardiovascular regulation during exercise. The editors encourage researchers to refer to recently published guidelines on the use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research. [Extracted from the article]

This article is aimed at quantifying the health condition of the power transformer insulation system through its frequency-domain dielectric characteristic by using the concept of the resistor and fractional calculus. In this regard, the dielectric model of the fractional Poynting–Thomson (PT) is proposed, and a mathematical model for parameter identification of the proposed model is presented. The shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SFLA) is used to realize the parameter identification and the fractional PT model parameters of the oil-paper samples under different insulation health conditions. The influence of moisture and aging on the fractional PT dielectric model parameters is experimentally studied. Results show that, with the increase in the water content within the insulation system, the parameters of the fractional PT model gradually decrease, and there is a strong correlation between the relaxation time and the water content. This facilitates the employment of the fractional PT model parameters to quantify the aging and moisture content of the power transformer insulation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol concentration as an aging indicator can assess cellulose aging and estimate cellulose degree of polymerization (DP). Despite the advantages of methanol (MeOH), its major disadvantage is that its concentration in the oil decreases after some time. This point is called the MeOH peak in this article. Therefore, using this indicator when MeOH concentration is reduced leads to incorrect results. When using methanol, the main problem is that whenever the methanol concentration in a transformer is measured, it cannot be identified that the measured concentration belongs to the left or right side of the MeOH peak. If the measured concentration belongs to the right side of the MeOH peak, the estimated DP is incorrect. In this article, an empirical equation is established to estimate the DP value as a function of methanol concentration when methanol concentration belongs to the left side of the MeOH peak. Then, a new index called methanol peak detector index (MPDI) composed of a 2-furfural/MeOH ratio and normalized DP is presented to ensure the validity of the calculated DP value. If it is found that the measured concentration belongs to the left side of the MeOH peak, then the estimated DP by the presented equation is valid. Finally, the application of this method is verified by applying it to measurement data samples indicating the validity of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The space charge effect of transformer insulating paper will distort its internal electric field, and its space charge effect will be more prominent under extremely complex working conditions. At present, the micromechanism of charge transport and electric field distortion characteristics of paperboard are not clear under complex working conditions. So in this article, based on the bipolar carrier transport (BCT) model and the dynamic carrier balance model, the effects of high temperature, aging degree, moisture content, and bent degree on charges accumulation in paperboard are studied under dc high voltage by numerical simulation and the measured data needed for simulation. The results show that the higher temperature strengthens the carrier migration, deepens the injection depth of the charge, and aggravates the distortion of electric field intensity in paperboard. The more extended the aging time of paperboard, the greater the internal trap density and the deeper the trap depth, which lead to charges migration difficultly. Increasing water content in the paperboard will accelerate space charges to reach a steady state, while further increasing it will slow down this process, which is related to the shallow trap getting deeper. When the critical part of paperboard is extruded, many traps are introduced, resulting in charges accumulation seriously. The research results can reference the design of paperboard and the maintenance of transformer insulation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional method for transformer moisture diagnosis is to establish empirical equations between feature parameters extracted from frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) and the transformer’s moisture content. However, the established empirical equation may not be applicable to a novel testing environment, resulting in an unreliable evaluation result. In this regard, it is acknowledged that FDS combined with machine learning is more suitable for estimating moisture content in a variety of test environments. Nonetheless, the accuracy of the estimation results obtained using the existing method is limited by the algorithm’s inability to generalize. To address this issue, we propose an AdaBoost algorithm-enhanced back-propagation neural network (BP_AdaBoost). This study creates a database by extracting feature parameters from the FDS that characterize the insulation states of the prepared samples. Then, using the BP_AdaBoost algorithm and the newly constructed database, the moisture estimation models are trained. Finally, the results of the estimation are discussed in terms of laboratory and field transformers. By comparing the proposed BP_AdaBoost algorithm to other intelligence algorithms, it is demonstrated that it not only performs better in generalization, but also maintains a high level of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the in-depth analysis of the physical mechanism of the broadband frequency domain spectroscopy of oil-paper insulation. The complex permittivity shows two low-frequency dispersion phenomena, and the real part of the complex conductivity exhibits two slope changes under the synergistic effect of aging and moisture. The two slope changes are mainly attributed to the migration characteristics of water molecules and polar aging products with a degradation of the oil-paper insulation, resulting in the transition of the frequency dependence between the DC conductivity and AC conductivity. When the oil-paper insulation deteriorates seriously, the imaginary part of the dielectric modulus shows double relaxation peaks. Physical models of parasitic capacitance and molecular polarity interface polarization are proposed to reveal the physical mechanism of the double relaxation peaks. The left peak of the double relaxation peaks is caused by the accumulation of water molecules and polar aging products at the electrode/insulation interface, and the right peak is due to the charge disturbance of the cellulose molecular chain surface. This paper can provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the condition diagnosis and evaluation of oil-paper insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the behavior of interface charges between oil and oil immersed paper insulations in unaged and aged samples. Combined accelerated thermal and electrical aging experiments of oil immersed paper insulations are conducted to obtain aged oil and aged paper samples. The interface charges between oil and paper samples with different aging status are measured with the Pulsed Electro-acoustic (PEA) method. Zeta potentials in samples with different aging status are determined. It is shown that the amount of interface charge increases with the aging duration, and does not follow the prediction of Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) law. This is explained in terms of the increase of the interface charge barrier due to the effect of electric double layer. It is proposed that interface charge may act as an optional characterization parameter for the assessment of oil immersed paper insulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traction transformers are one of the most important equipment in the traction power supply system. Thermal aging of transformer insulation system determines its reliable life. To achieve an estimation of the insulation life of traction power transformers operated under real load condition, the effects of traction loads on the thermal aging of oil-paper insulation in traction transformers were investigated. First, the design principles for the accelerated thermal aging experiment were studied and proposed by considering magnitude (i.e., load rate) and frequency (i.e. spare time and lasting time) of the traction load. Then, an experimental system was established in the laboratory to conduct extensive accelerated thermal aging experiments, in which the traction loads were mimicked by using positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating plates and a programmable logic controller (PLC). Finally, the experimental results were analyzed and discussed to reveal the effects of traction load on the thermal aging of oil-paper insulation in traction transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many government plans to address homelessness emphasize the importance of housing, income, and support, so Grenier is not proposing a radical departure from many other earlier efforts. In her new book, I Late-Life Homelessness: Experiences of Disadvantage and Unequal Aging i , Amanda Grenier takes a careful look at the circumstances of homelessness among older people in Montreal. Grenier relies on the Canadian definition of homelessness, which is consistent with most research and policy on homelessness in Canada. [Extracted from the article]

Natural esters have emerged as a viable and sustainable alternate for liquid insulation in power transformers. However, the natural esters currently used for transformer applications are extracted from edible sources, leading to concerns about their impact on the food supply. In order to overcome this issue, studies on the dielectric properties of non-edible natural esters have received a lot of attention in industries as alternative dielectric liquids for power transformers. In this research work, non-edible natural esters, namely Jatropha oil, Karanja oil, and Mahua oil are taken for analysis. Cellulose materials are impregnated with these oil samples, further, the samples are aged at 130 °C up to 28 days. Different dielectric, mechanical, physical and chemical parameters are measured and analyzed after every 7 days of aging. When comparing the results, karanja oil performed better than others. • Feasibility study on non-edible oils as alternative to existing mineral oil. • Accelerated aging study on non-edible oils. • Non-edible esters performed well after aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of 'energy shortage', developing a novel energy-based power system is essential for advancing the current power system towards low-carbon solutions. As the usage duration of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage increases, the nonlinear changes in their aging process pose challenges to accurately assess their performance. This paper focuses on the study LiFeO4(LFP), used for energy storage, and explores their performance degradation mechanisms. Furthermore, it introduces common battery models and data structures and algorithms, which used for predicting the correlation between electrode materials and physical parameters, applying to state of health assessment and thermal warning. This paper also discusses the establishment of digital management system. Compared to conventional battery networks, dynamically reconfigurable battery networks can realize real-time monitoring of lithium-ion batteries, and reduce the probability of fault occurrence to an acceptably low level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methodology used for analyzing the survival process should keep in mind heterogeneity in empirical data. Cross-sectional data are more heterogeneous in comparison with birth-cohort data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) was introduced in mid-2000 to increase participation in private health insurance that includes hospital cover (PHI-HC) and improve the risk profile of PHI-HC participants. It initially achieved both objectives, but since 2001 the PHI-HC population has aged faster than the general population. The aim of this study was to determine if the excess ageing of the PHI-HC risk pool has been due to passive age-based adverse selection, an inherent risk of LHC. This study has potential implications for the retention of LHC. Methods: A descriptive population-level analysis of publicly available administrative datasets was performed. Data relating to PHI-HC were obtained from the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority. National population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Trends in demography, PHI-HC participation rates and LHC loading payments were analysed. Results: By 2021, age-based adverse selection had returned to the pre-LHC level. Based on the available data, this was due to passive age-based adverse selection not active age-based adverse selection. Specifically, it reflected the combination of an avoidable unintended consequence of the introduction of LHC (the over-representation, in 2001, of individuals aged 45–59) and one of LHC's intended effects (incentivisation of insured individuals to retain PHI-HC). Conclusions: This study supports the retention of LHC. Nonetheless, it highlights the risk of passive age-based adverse selection created by incentivising insured individuals to retain PHI-HC in the presence of distortions in the age distribution of the PHI-HC risk pool. Early targeted interventions are required when such distortions arise. What is known about the topic? Since the introduction of Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) in mid-2000, the participation rate for private health insurance that includes hospital cover (PHI-HC) has remained relatively stable, but the PHI-HC population has aged faster than the general population. What does this paper add? This paper makes a novel distinction between 'active' and 'passive' age-based adverse selection to explain LHC's role in the excess ageing of the PHI-HC risk pool. What are the implications for practitioners? Governments need to be vigilant for the emergence of distortions in the age distribution of the PHI-HC risk pool and respond with targeted interventions to normalise the age distribution, or risk problematic passive age-based adverse selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health authorities worldwide address older adults as a risk group for more serious illness and health complications associated with COVID-19, while social gerontologists have warned that addressing older adults as a risk group of COVID-19 bears the risk of reinforcing ageism. This paper empirically explores to what extent older adults perceive themselves as part of a COVID-19 risk group and how these perceptions influence their everyday lives and experiences of age and ageing. This paper draws upon data from a mixed-methods study on older adults' risk perceptions during COVID-19 in Lower Austria, including a representative survey on 521 adults (60+ years) and data from 20 semi-structured interviews. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents consider themselves at risk of COVID-19 and name age, in addition to pre-existing illness, as a contributing factor in this risk perception. Older adults with health constraints, and especially older men, have a higher probability of perceiving risk due to COVID-19. Additionally, older adults report that they experience being 'suddenly seen as old' or 'being put into a box' during the pandemic, which influenced their experiences and images of ageing. Our study provides insights into how perceived COVID-19 risk affects the everyday lives of older adults. Age-based categorisations of risk contribute to a shift in images of age and ageing, drawing on insecurity and risk, rather than successful and active ageing, to conceptualise later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its excellent performance, polyurethane rubber is often used as a protective baffle for the automatic passing neutral section sensor to protect the sensor from the impact of silt and stones, while the high-speed train is operating. However, this paper conducts case analysis of abnormal cracking of the sensor baffle used in high-speed trains. In fact, this kind of problem has happened several times, and the previous solution method was to replace the failed baffle. But such kind of method mainly treats the faults instead the root cause analysis, so it still brings the safety issue to the normal operation of the train. In order to avoid such potential accidents, this paper adopted a variety of material analysis methods to detect the properties of materials and analyzed the damaged area in detail by combining macroscopic and microscopic methods. Finally, the root cause of the failure was further confirmed by confirmatory experiment. Based on the above comprehensive analysis, a reasonable solution is proposed to avoid the recurrence of the accidents and provide an important basis for solving the complicated polyurethane rubber failure problem quickly, correctly and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the philosophy of ambiguity, associated with Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Simone de Beauvoir, provides a helpful framework for understanding the complex and paradoxical nature of old age outside the dominant categories of the "third" and "fourth" ages. Building on philosophical literature in cultural gerontology including that focused on the "art of living" and other approaches that draw on existentialist thought, it suggests "ambiguity" as a theme that has been overlooked in such literature. The advantage of this approach is that it can accommodate contradictory elements and thus underpin an integrated approach to old age. At the same time, in distinguishing between ontological and social dimensions of ambiguity, the conceptual framework offers a new perspective on ageism that can help clarify the distinction between ageism as oppression and the negative aspects of deep old age itself. The paper is structured as follows. After making the case for the value and importance of "ambiguity" as a framework for viewing old age, I set out the key aspects of this philosophy as found in the work of Merleau-Ponty and particularly Beauvoir. I then apply this framework to a discussion of 2 literary memoirs of deep old age, by Diana Athill and Florida Scott-Maxwell, respectively. I argue that the picture of old age that emerges contrasts with the hegemonic discourses enframed by successful aging and frailed old age and offers the possibility not only of a true appreciation of old age but also of a more meaningful life course itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\n Prior investigations have elucidated pathophysiological interactions involving blood coagulation and neurodegenerative diseases. These interactions pertain to age-related effects and a mild platelet antiaggregant function of exogenous α-Synuclein.Our study sought to explore whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tissue factor (TF), the initiator of the extrinsic pathway of hemostasis, differ between controls (CON) compared to patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), considering that these conditions represent a spectrum of α-Synuclein pathology. We further investigated whether TF levels are associated with longitudinal progression in PD.We examined CSF levels of TF in 479 PD patients, 67 patients diagnosed with DLB, and 16 CON in order to evaluate potential continuum patterns among DLB, PD, and CON. Of the 479 PD patients, 96 carried a GBA1 variant (PD GBA1), while the 383 non-carriers were classified as PD wildtype (PD WT). We considered both longitudinal clinical data as well as CSF measurements of common neurodegenerative markers (amyloid-β 1-42, h-Tau, p-Tau, NfL, α-Synuclein). Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analysis stratified by TF tertile levels was conducted.Higher CSF levels of TF were associated with an older age at examination in PD and a significant later onset of postural instability in PD GBA1. TF levels were lower in male vs. female PD. DLB GBA1 exhibited the lowest TF levels, followed by PD GBA1, with CON showing the highest levels.TF as representative of blood hemostasis could be an interesting CSF candidate to further explore in PD and DLB.Parkinson’s disease is a common age-related condition, primarily affecting older individuals. However, it shows a wide range of symptoms and clinical courses, influenced by genetic mutations, neuroinflammatory processes and lifestyle factors. Research into the disease’s mechanisms is important for developing new therapies that could potentially slow its progression. Early diagnosis is also essential, as new disease-modifying therapies are most effective when started at an early stage of the disease. In this paper, we focus on a protein called tissue factor, which plays a role in both blood coagulation and neuroinflammation. Proteins involved in blood-coagulation also exhibit an increase in blood-concentration with higher age. Also, a subtle platelet antiaggregant function of exogenous α-Synuclein was found, a protein which aggregates in the brain of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, higher tissue factor levels were found in plaques of proteins (amyloid-β 1-42) found in Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, tissue factor could be a promising biomarker candidate for neurodegenerative diseases. We analyzed the concentration of this protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of 479 patients with Parkinson’s disease, 16 control participants, and 67 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies, a sub-type of Parkinson’s disease with exceptionally high levels of α-Synuclein in the brain. Our findings showed the lowest levels of tissue factor in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies, followed by those with typical Parkinson’s disease, and the highest levels in controls. Additionally, older patients had higher tissue factor levels than younger patients, and levels were lower in male patients compared to female patients. Thus, measuring tissue factor levels could help in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease. Further studies, especially with larger control groups, are needed to confirm these results. Additionally, exploring the connections between blood coagulation and Parkinson’s disease could improve our understanding of the disease’s mechanisms, potentially leading to new pharmaceutical developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Color Trails Test ("CTT") is among the most popular neuropsychological assessment tests of executive function, targeting sustained visual attention (Trails A), and divided attention (Trails B). During the pen-and-paper (P&P) test, the participant traces 25 consecutive numbered targets marked on a page, and the completion time is recorded. In many cases, multiple assessments are performed on the same individual, either under varying experimental conditions or at several timepoints. However, repeated testing often results in learning and fatigue effects, which confound test outcomes. To mitigate these effects, we set the grounds for developing shorter versions of the CTT (<25 targets), using virtual reality (VR) based CTT (VR-CTT). Our aim was to discover the minimal set of targets that is sufficient for maintaining concurrent validity with the CTT including differentiation between age groups, and the difference between Trails A and B. To this aim, healthy participants in three age groups (total N = 165; young, middle-aged, or older adults) performed both the P&P CTT, and one type of VR-CTT (immersive head-mounted-device VR, large-scale 3D VR, or tablet). A subset of 13 targets was highly correlated with overall task completion times in all age groups and platforms (r > 0.8). We tested construct validity and found that the shortened-CTT preserved differences between Trails A and B (p < 0.001), showed concurrent validity relative to the P&P scores (r > 0.5; p < 0.05), and differentiated between age groups (p < 0.05). These findings open the possibility for shortened "CTT-versions", to be used in repeated-measures experiments or longitudinal studies, with potential implications for shortening neurocognitive assessment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe arts have enriched human experiences across time and culture. Beyond their intrinsic value, a growing body of evidence suggests that engaging with the arts has numerous benefits for health and well-being. Increasingly, research on older adults suggests that arts-based interventions and engagement with arts-based leisure activities enhance states of well-being (e.g. life satisfaction, positive emotions, belonging) and reduce states of ill-being (e.g. depression, anxiety, loneliness) In this paper, we focus on the potential for the arts to contribute to women thriving in their 80s and 90s. In particular, we aim to bring awareness to the ways in which the arts can play a vital role in cultivating positive states of social well-being (e.g. social connections, social networks, social support, and belonging) and mitigating negative states of social ill-being (e.g. loneliness, social isolation). We first lay the groundwork for the relationship between the arts and health and discuss social well-being as an important facet of overall well-being. We then review research findings from four artistic domains (music, visual art, art and craft, and performing arts) and their associations with social well-being in older adulthood. Finally, we discuss potential applications of art-based interventions to support the social well-being of women in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human dietary patterns are a major cause of environmental transformation, with agriculture occupying ~ 50% of global land space, while food production itself is responsible for ~ 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of freshwater use. Furthermore, the global population is also growing, such that by 2050, it is estimated to exceed ~ 9 billion. While most of this expansion in population is expected to occur in developing countries, in high-income countries there are also predicted changes in demographics, with major increases in the number of older people. There is a growing consensus that older people have a greater requirement for protein. With a larger and older population, global needs for protein are set to increase. This paper summarises the conclusions from a Rank Prize funded colloquium evaluating novel strategies to meet this increasing global protein need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital therapeutics refers to smartphone applications, software, and wearable devices that provide digital solutions to improve healthcare delivery. We developed a digital platform to support the GYM (Grow Your Muscle) study, an ongoing 48-week randomized, controlled trial on reduction of sarcopenia through a home-based, app-monitored physical exercise intervention. The GYM platform consists of a smartphone application including the exercise program and video tutorials of body-weight exercises, a wearable device to monitor heart rate during training, and a website for downloading training data to remotely monitor the exercise. The aim of this paper is to describe the platform in detail and to discuss the technical issues emerging during the study and those related to usability of the smartphone application through a retrospective survey. The main technical issue concerned the API level 33 upgrade, which did not enable participants using the Android operating systems to use the wearable device. The survey revealed some problems with viewing the video tutorials and with internet or smartphone connection. On the other hand, the smartphone application was reported to be easy to use and helpful to guide home exercising. Despite the issues encountered during the study, this digital-supported physical exercise intervention could provide useful to improve muscle measures of sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver, an important regulator of metabolic homeostasis, is critical for healthy brain function. In particular, age‐related neurodegenerative diseases seriously reduce the quality of life for the elderly. As population aging progresses rapidly, unraveling the mechanisms that effectively delay aging has become critical. Appropriate exercise is reported to improve aging‐related cognitive impairment. Whereas current studies focused on exploring the effect of exercise on the aging brain itself, ignoring the persistent effects of peripheral organs on the brain through the blood circulation. The aim of this paper is to summarize the communication and aging processes of the liver and brain and to emphasize the metabolic mechanisms of the liver–brain axis about exercise ameliorating aging‐related neurodegenerative diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the potential mechanisms about exercise ameliorating aging is critical for improving adaptation to age‐related brain changes and formulating effective interventions against age‐related cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cushing's Disease (CD) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by excessive secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, leading to significant functional and structural brain alterations as observed in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). While traditional statistical analysis has been widely employed to investigate these MRI changes in CD, it has lacked the ability to predict individual‐level outcomes. Purpose: To address this problem, this paper has proposed an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework, including model‐level assessment, feature‐level assessment, and biology‐level assessment to ensure a comprehensive analysis based on structural MRI of CD. Methods: The ML framework has effectively identified the changes in brain regions in the stage of model‐level assessment, verified the effectiveness of these altered brain regions to predict CD from normal controls in the stage of feature‐level assessment, and carried out a correlation analysis between altered brain regions and clinical symptoms in the stage of biology‐level assessment. Results: The experimental results of this study have demonstrated that the Insula, Fusiform gyrus, Superior frontal gyrus, Precuneus, and the opercular portion of the Inferior frontal gyrus of CD showed significant alterations in brain regions. Furthermore, our study has revealed significant correlations between clinical symptoms and the frontotemporal lobes, insulin, and olfactory cortex, which also have been confirmed by previous studies. Conclusions: The ML framework proposed in this study exhibits exceptional potential in uncovering the intricate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CD, with potential applicability in diagnosing other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) is an increasingly common place of end‐of‐life care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), who have unique care needs as their health declines. Approximately 22% of RC/ALs provide specialized memory care (memory‐care RC/AL). Understanding how end‐of‐life outcomes differ by memory care among residents with ADRD could facilitate aging/dying in place for this population. The objective of this paper is to examine if end‐of‐life outcomes (i.e., mortality, hospice use, and number of days receiving hospice in the last month of life) differ between residents with ADRD who moved to memory‐care RC/AL, compared with residents with ADRD who moved to RC/AL without memory care (general RC/AL). Methods: Prospective cohort of 15,152 fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries with ADRD who moved to large RC/AL (> = 25 beds) between 2016 and 2018. We used inverse probability treatment weighting to account for observable differences between memory‐care and general RC/AL residents. Two‐part models estimated the difference by memory care in the number of days receiving hospice care in the last months of life among RC/AL decedents. Results: The unadjusted mortality rates were 13.4% in general RC/AL and 15.8% in memory‐care RC/AL with an adjusted difference of 1.3 percentage points higher mortality among memory‐care RC/AL residents (p = 0.04). Hospice use was 8% and 10.6% among general and memory‐care RC/AL residents, respectively, with an adjusted difference of 1.4 percentage points (p = 0.01) higher in memory care. Two‐part models showed that decedents in memory‐care RC/AL spent about 1.4 more days receiving hospice care in the last month of life (p = 0.02). Conclusion: We find a higher mortality rate and higher rate of hospice use among memory‐care RC/AL residents. These findings suggest that memory care may attract residents closer to the end of life and/or promote hospice use at the end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborations that employ methods from arts and sciences to address research questions through multimodal study design are becoming more frequent, as it is increasingly apparent that complex challenges require transdisciplinary solutions. These different modalities rely on interdisciplinary exchange while involving unique expertise in associated delivery practices. In human subject driven scientific research specifically, guidelines for arts-based interventions deserve detailed reporting to allow for fidelity, replicability, and uptake of innovation and results. Details such as frequency, duration, delivery method, expected outcomes, historical precedence, and instructor training are crucial, along with nuanced descriptions pertaining to embodied aspects of specific dance or movement style(s) and adaptations made for the population or study design. This Perspective Paper outlines the current state and challenges of reporting on dance interventions and makes recommendations based on our experience as teaching artists who work in research settings alongside researchers who collaborate with dance professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the older population, depression, loneliness, and quality of life are closely related, significantly influencing health status. This paper aimed (1) to investigate autoregressive and cross-lagged associations over 2 years between depression, loneliness, and quality of life, and (2) to examine sex-related differences in the 2-year associations between depression, loneliness, and quality of life in a large sample of European citizens aged ≥ 50 years. Methods: This is a longitudinal analysis. We included 7.456 individuals (70.89 ± 7.64 years; (4.268 females) who responded to waves 7 (2017) and 8 (2019) of the SHARE project. The variables analyzed in both waves were depression, loneliness, and quality of life. Results: Comparatively, females indicated higher depression and loneliness scores than males and a lower perception of quality of life. Autoregressive associations pointed that past depression, loneliness, and quality of life predicted their future episodes 2 years later (p < 0.001). The cross-lagged analysis of males showed positive and significant bidirectional associations between depression and loneliness 2 years later. Females also showed a positive and significant association between depression and loneliness, but loneliness was not associated with depression 2 years later. In turn, previous high levels of quality of life had a protective role in late depression and loneliness up to 2 years. Conclusions: This study highlighted the need to simultaneously assess and manage depression, loneliness, and quality of life in the older European population. It is suggested that sex-specific policies can be created, including social support, in order to reduce depression and loneliness, and promote quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on numerous species have demonstrated strikingly conserved mechanisms that determine the aging process, from yeasts to worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, and humans. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model organism for studying the biological basis of normal aging and etiology of age-related diseases. Since its inception in 1967, the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC) has grown into the largest collection of documented D. melanogaster strains (currently > 91,000). This paper aims to briefly review conserved mechanisms of aging and provides a guide to help users understand the organization of stock listings on the BDSC website and familiarize themselves with the search functions on BDSC and FlyBase, with an emphasis on using genes in conserved pathways as examples to find stocks for aging studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at estimating the life of extruded HVDC cable insulation subjected to fast and slow voltage polarity reversals (VPRs). An ad hoc MATLAB code is used for the transient electric field simulation in the cable insulation thickness by solving numerically Gauss, ohm, and current continuity equations beside a macroscopic conductivity equation. A transient temperature is also considered during slow VPR transients. The results show a significant localized reduction in the life of the inner insulation, making the life distribution non-monotonous inside the insulation thickness. The results show that fast VPRs are the most stressing transients in this study. The longer the duration of the zero-voltage period in slow VPR, the less stressed the insulation, hence, the longer the local life in the inner insulation of the cable. The latter is justified by the charge relaxation during slow VPRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite insulators have been widely used in power grids due to their excellent electrical-external-insulation performance. Long-term operation at high voltage levels accelerates the aging of composite insulators; however, there is a scarcity of research on aged composite insulators operating at 500 kV for over ten years. In this paper, the mechanical, electrical, and microscopic properties were tested on different sheds along a 500 kV composite insulator that had been running for 18 years. Additionally, the results were compared with a new insulator and the standards for live insulator operation. The results showed that the aging of the high-voltage end of composite insulators was the most serious. The results of the physical properties test indicated that the insulator's hardness was compliant but its tensile strength and break elongation did not meet standards. Under wet conditions, the pollution flashover voltage decreases by about 50% compared to the new insulator. Combined with the microscopic test results, the shed skeleton structure could be damaged and the filler might be lost during the aging process of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The hardness of the insulator would increase by the precipitation of inorganic silicon; however, inorganic silicon might destroy the hydrophobicity and other properties of insulator sheds. These results can provide theoretical references for insulator life prediction and operation protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]