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Background: As the older population increases, the need for early detection of cognitive decline is also increasing. In this study, we examined whether our paper-pencil type group examination for cognitive assessment (PAPLICA) could detect the effects of years of education and aging., Methods: PAPLICA was conducted on 829 older people. The inclusion criteria were age 60 years or older and the ability to come to the event site alone. The exclusion criteria were participants with a medical or psychiatric disorder or dementia.One examiner conducted the test on a group of approximately 10-20 people in approximately 25 min. Participants were instructed on tackling the issues projected on the projector, and their answers were recorded in a response booklet., Results: An independent sample t-test was performed for years of education, and ANCOVA was performed for aging. Among the test items included in PAPLICA, the Speed I and Letter fluency tests were unable to detect the effects of aging. Furthermore, the age at which the effect of aging manifests varies depending on the test item. For instance, a decline in scores in the Speed I and Picture ECR Free recall tests was observed in the 70-74 age group; for that of Word DRT, Picture ECR cued recall, and Similarity, in the 75-79 age group; for CFT, in the 80-84 age group, and for CLOX, the decline was observed in the 85 ≤ age group., Conclusions: PAPLICA, similar to other neuropsychological tests, was able to detect the effects of years of education and aging. Future testing should be conducted on different demographics to identify the differences in patterns of cognitive decline., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

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.

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.

Purpose The purpose of this introduction is to briefly describe the nature of the conference, Aging and Speech Communication: An International and Interdisciplinary Research Conference, and to introduce the articles featured in this forum that represent the nature of the biennial conference.

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]

Italy’s demographic setting is rapidly evolving and is characterized by a substantial increase in the older population segment. This trend, driven by prolonged life expectancy and declining birth rates, positions Italy as a leader in global aging patterns. The 38th National Congress of the Società Italiana di Geriatria Ospedale e Territorio (SIGOT), held in Rome, underlined the importance of addressing the health needs of this aging population, particularly focusing on preventing sarcopenia and cardiovascular diseases. Recent data challenge the notion of functional decline as an inevitable consequence of aging, highlighting the interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors in modulating health outcomes. Sarcopenia, a prevalent condition and biological substrate of frailty, significantly impacts physical function and mortality rates, necessitating behavioral interventions to mitigate its effects. Physical exercise emerges as a key strategy for maintaining cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of arrhythmias, prevalent in older age groups. However, the complex relationship between physical activity intensity, age, and cardiovascular risk underlines the importance of tailored interventions and preliminary screenings. Looking ahead, proactive measures such as enhanced screening, promoting lifelong healthy habits, research and innovation, robust community support systems, and adaptable policies are essential to address the multifaceted challenges posed by an aging population. With this consensus paper, we aimed to summarize the key messages from the three intensive days of the SIGOT National Congress.

The neuromodulatory subcortical system (NSS) nuclei are critical hubs for survival, hedonic tone, and homeostasis. Tau-associated NSS degeneration occurs early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, long before the emergence of pathognomonic memory dysfunction and cortical lesions. Accumulating evidence supports the role of NSS dysfunction and degeneration in the behavioral and neuropsychiatric manifestations featured early in AD. Experimental studies even suggest that AD-associated NSS degeneration drives brain neuroinflammatory status and contributes to disease progression, including the exacerbation of cortical lesions. Given the important pathophysiologic and etiologic roles that involve the NSS in early AD stages, there is an urgent need to expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying NSS vulnerability and more precisely detail the clinical progression of NSS changes in AD. Here, the NSS Professional Interest Area of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment highlights knowledge gaps about NSS within AD and provides recommendations for priorities specific to clinical research, biomarker development, modeling, and intervention. HIGHLIGHTS: Neuromodulatory nuclei degenerate in early Alzheimer's disease pathological stages. Alzheimer's pathophysiology is exacerbated by neuromodulatory nuclei degeneration. Neuromodulatory nuclei degeneration drives neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Biomarkers of neuromodulatory integrity would be value-creating for dementia care. Neuromodulatory nuclei present strategic prospects for disease-modifying therapies.

Aging is a risk factor for the development of multiple chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Life expectancy has increased in certain countries but this phenomenon is associated with a reduction of years of healthy life. Aging is associated with a number of physical and functional changes, especially sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a clinical condition associated with a decrease in skeletal muscle and muscle strength, however, sarcopenia is a reversible condition. On the basis of the current scientific literature, sarcopenia could more appropriately capture an individual's vulnerability to negative health-related outcomes since it represents an early form of the chronic diseases. Recognition of this clinical condition can improve the management of older individuals in many different clinical settings. Despite the limitations of the indirect methods used to study body composition, the Italian College of the Academic Nutritionists ME/49 recommends that health authorities and health professionals around the world should make a greater effort to diagnose sarcopenia earlier and to manage it more effectively. In line with the development of cancer screening, the use of two diagnostic tools for sarcopenia (BIA and DXA) should be implemented.

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.

The aging of paper depends on various factors, including environmental conditions, microbiological factors and chemical composition. Chitosan-coated paper is an eco-friendly material that has potential use in various packaging applications due to its mechanical, barrier and antibacterial properties. In this study, the aging stability of chitosan-coated wood-free wrapping paper was evaluated by examining pulp and four paper samples with different quantities of chitosan. Accelerated thermal aging and dynamic thermogravimetric analysis were used to assess the aging stability, while color changes were examined to understand the impact of chitosan coating. The study found that increasing chitosan coating led to improved aging stability due to the improved crosslinking process between chitosan and paper. The coated paper samples displayed a yellowish hue after 72 h of aging, with increased strength and resistance to weight loss. TGA results indicated that the temperature of complete burning of the sample increased with increasing chitosan coating. Additionally, coated paper samples exhibited a more even surface and improved barrier properties. Overall, chitosan-coated paper is a promising material for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging, printing and wrapping applications. This study's findings have important implications for the development of environmentally-friendly packaging materials that possess desirable mechanical and barrier properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Inventory of Physical Activity Barriers (IPAB) assesses physical activity participation barriers. Development, refinement, and psychometric evaluation of the IPAB occurred via an electronic format. However, various circumstances may require using a pen-and-paper format. As instrument formats are not always interchangeable, the authors aimed to establish whether 2 different formats (electronic and pen and paper) can be used interchangeably for the IPAB. Methods: This randomized crossover study included 66 community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older (mean age = 73 [SD = 7.6]). Half the sample completed the electronic format of the IPAB first and the pen-and-paper format second, and the other half completed them in reverse order. Tests of equivalence and a Bland–Altman plot were performed. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient between formats was.94, and kappa was.68. The mean difference between the 2 administration forms of the IPAB was 0.002 (P =.96). Both administration formats had high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha =.92 and.93) and illustrated construct validity (P ≤.001 for both administration formats). Conclusion: Pen-and-paper and electronic formats of the IPAB are equivalent and, thus, can be used interchangeably among non-Hispanic whites who are highly educated. The format should be used consistently if completing preintervention and postintervention evaluations or comparing scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) can be used to determine the specific toxicant(s) in industrial effluents. In the current study, the authors have attempted to combine the advantages of the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, with the virtues of the TIE technique, to evaluate and identify the toxicity on aging from a paper recycling mill effluent. The results indicate that only the toxicities from mixed cellulose (MC) filtration and EDTA treatment are similar to the baseline aging toxicity, suggesting that the suspect toxicants inducing aging toxicity may largely be the heavy metal substances in this industrial effluent. Examination of the accumulation of intestinal autofluorescence in adult animals further confirms that the short lifespans are actually due to accelerated aging. In addition, exposure to fractions of EDTA manipulations cannot result in severe defects of reproduction and locomotion behaviors in C. elegans. Moreover, high levels of Ca, Al, and Fe in the effluent may account for the severe toxicity on aging of exposed nematodes, by TIE assay. The study here provides a new method for evaluating environmental risk and identifying toxicant(s) from the industrial effluent using C. elegans.

Therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma should be tailored to the circumstances and preferences of the individual patient. Age should not be a barrier to effective treatment. Systematic geriatric screening and assessment contributes to the goal of personalised management, in addition to the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. A task force from the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) updated its 2009 consensus statement on the management of elderly patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma by reviewing data from studies involving recently approved targeted drugs and immunotherapies for this disease. Overall, it seems that age alone does not appreciably affect efficacy. Among the pivotal studies that were included, there is a striking scarcity of analyses that relate toxic effects to patient age. Even if the adverse effects of therapy are no more frequent or severe in elderly patients than in their younger counterparts, the practical, psychological, and functional impact of treatment may be greater, especially if toxic effects are chronic and cumulative., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A longer life brings opportunities for older adults and their families as well as for their communities. Commercial businesses can be successful in innovating on these opportunities and achieving business expansion when they better understand the market dynamics and spectrum of older adults as consumers and view them more as assets rather than as burdens to society. While there is no "typical" older adult consumer, some traits, characteristics, and physical realities may be more common, including those related to family and community, the shopping experience, brand marketing and packaging, food and nutrition, and health. The opportunities of longer life are impacted by health and underscore the importance of positive, healthy aging-related behaviors like good nutrition and active lifestyles. Healthy aging also requires a sustained commitment and action from country leaders to formulate evidence-based polices--like systematic nutrition screening and intervention-and healthcare workforce training and education that can strengthen and support an active aging population. In addition, governments should consider engaging commercial businesses to help set sustainable policies that can advance products for older adults. Finally, governments should set national and local goals to incentivize commercial business development and investment in public-private partnerships to improve quality of care, promote healthy aging, and impact outcomes for noncommunicable diseases, ultimately benefitting population health for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries.

Ageing people with disabilities (APwDs) are faced with challenges of ageing which is straightforwardly related to disability that adds to the burden related to their early-onset disability. The aim of the paper is to improve Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physicians' professional practice for APwDs (as a distinct group from those who are disabled due to the ageing process) in order to promote their functioning properties and to reduce activity limitations and/or participation restrictions. A systematic review of the literature and a Consensus procedure by means of a Delphi process have been performed involving the delegates of all European countries represented in the UEMS PRM Section. The systematic literature review is reported together with the 30 recommendations resulting from the Delphi procedure. The professional role of PRM physicians in relation to APwDs is extending, expanding and/or improving health-related rehabilitation services worldwide in various settings (getting beyond the rehabilitation facilities) emphasizing the concept of integrated care with collaboration across other sectors to meet the specific needs of APwDs. This evidence based position paper (EBPP) represents the official position of the European Union through the UEMS PRM Section and designates the professional role of PRM physicians in APwDs.

PurposeOveractive bladder syndrome is defined as urinary urgency, usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia, with or without urgency urinary incontinence in the absence of urinary tract infection or another obvious pathological condition. Electronic questionnaires have been used in a few specialties with the hope of improving treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. However, they have not been widely used in the urological field. When treating overactive bladder, the main outcome is to improve patient quality of life. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether electronic questionnaires would be equally accepted as or preferred to paper questionnaires. The secondary objective was to look at the preference in relation to patient age, education and iPad® tablet familiarity.Materials and methodsWe prospectively evaluated the iList® electronic questionnaire application using a friendly iPad tablet in patients with overactive bladder who presented to the urology clinic at our institution. Each of the 80 patients who were recruited randomly completed the validated OABSS (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score) and the PPBC (Patient Perception of Bladder Condition) questionnaires in paper and electronic format on the tablet. Variables potentially associated with the outcomes of interest included demographic data, questionnaire method preference, patient response rate and iPad familiarity. We used the 2-sided Z-test to determine whether the proportion of patients who considered the tablet to be the same, better or much better than paper was significantly greater than 50%. The 2-sided chi-square test was applied to assess whether the intervention effect significantly differed among the demographic subgroups.ResultsA total of 80 patients 21 to 87 years old were enrolled in the study from November 2015 to August 2016. Of the patients 53% were female and 49% were 65 years or younger. The incidence of those who considered the tablet to be the same or better than paper was 82.5% (95% CI 74.2-90.8, p

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]

Older adults exhibit increased gait variability that is associated with fall history and predicts future falls. It is not known to what extent this increased variability results from increased physiological noise versus a decreased ability to regulate walking movements. To "walk", a person must move a finite distance in finite time, making stride length (L n ) and time (T n ) the fundamental stride variables to define forward walking. Multiple age-related physiological changes increase neuromotor noise, increasing gait variability. If older adults also alter how they regulate their stride variables, this could further exacerbate that variability. We previously developed a Goal Equivalent Manifold (GEM) computational framework specifically to separate these causes of variability. Here, we apply this framework to identify how both young and high-functioning healthy older adults regulate stepping from each stride to the next. Healthy older adults exhibited increased gait variability, independent of walking speed. However, despite this, these healthy older adults also concurrently exhibited no differences (all p>0.50) from young adults either in how their stride variability was distributed relative to the GEM or in how they regulated, from stride to stride, either their basic stepping variables or deviations relative to the GEM. Using a validated computational model, we found these experimental findings were consistent with increased gait variability arising solely from increased neuromotor noise, and not from changes in stride-to-stride control. Thus, age-related increased gait variability likely precedes impaired stepping control. This suggests these changes may in turn precede increased fall risk., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This position document has been developed by the Dysphagia Working Group, a committee of members from the European Society for Swallowing Disorders and the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society, and invited experts. It consists of 12 sections that cover all aspects of clinical management of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) related to geriatric medicine and discusses prevalence, quality of life, and legal and ethical issues, as well as health economics and social burden. OD constitutes impaired or uncomfortable transit of food or liquids from the oral cavity to the esophagus, and it is included in the World Health Organization's classification of diseases. It can cause severe complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, respiratory infections, aspiration pneumonia, and increased readmissions, institutionalization, and morbimortality. OD is a prevalent and serious problem among all phenotypes of older patients as oropharyngeal swallow response is impaired in older people and can cause aspiration. Despite its prevalence and severity, OD is still underdiagnosed and untreated in many medical centers. There are several validated clinical and instrumental methods (videofluoroscopy and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) to diagnose OD, and treatment is mainly based on compensatory measures, although new treatments to stimulate the oropharyngeal swallow response are under research. OD matches the definition of a geriatric syndrome as it is highly prevalent among older people, is caused by multiple factors, is associated with several comorbidities and poor prognosis, and needs a multidimensional approach to be treated. OD should be given more importance and attention and thus be included in all standard screening protocols, treated, and regularly monitored to prevent its main complications. More research is needed to develop and standardize new treatments and management protocols for older patients with OD, which is a challenging mission for our societies., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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]

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]

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]

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]

There is a relative lack of research on the development of creepage discharge in aged oil-paper insulation subjected to AC-DC combined voltage in converter transformers. In this study, based on the physical and chemical properties of oil-paper, we propose a sphere-plate electrode model to study the creepage discharge parameters and characteristic spectra of aged oil-paper subjected to AC-DC combined voltage. The results show that the creepage discharge inception voltage of aged oil-paper is related to the AC voltage component of the AC-DC combined voltage. However, when the DC voltage component is 60 kV, the flashover phenomenon was found to occur in one of the severely aged samples before the AC voltage was applied. Despite being subjected to the same DC voltage, the flashover phenomenon did not occur in three other samples aged to different degrees. Large-amplitude discharges were found to appear earlier in the severely aged samples. At the same creepage discharge stage, as the aging time of the oil-paper increased, the number of large-amplitude discharges was found to rapidly increase, and the time interval between adjacent discharges was found to gradually decrease. At each stage of the creepage discharge, the small-amplitude discharge has a “hump” shaped distribution. The larger the DC voltage component, the shorter the endurance time of aged oil-paper, and the more severe the damage to the oil-paper. The DC voltage component was found to have an accelerating effect on the development of creepage discharge in aged oil-paper insulation.

Enhancing paper hydrophobicity is of key importance for many paper-based applications. Fatty acids or vegetable oils and their derivatives replace environmentally harmful conventional coating materials but still require challenging chemical reactions for covalent attachment onto paper. Here, we show that simple storage of olive oil-coated cotton linter paper at 70 °C and subsequent Soxhlet extraction is able to endow paper with hydrophobic properties, reaching water contact angles above 130°. In-depth chemical and morphological analytics show the relevance of temperature and air accessibility during the aging process compared with aging at ambient temperature and under the exclusion of oxygen, underlining the importance of assessing a coating's long-term performance and stability under diverse storage conditions. Simple storage of vegetable oil-coated paper at elevated temperatures followed by extraction proves to be an easy way to produce stable covalently attached hydrophobic paper coatings with exceptionally low coating amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term sarcopenia was introduced in 1988. The original definition was a "muscle loss" of the appendicular muscle mass in the older people as measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In 2010, the definition was altered to be low muscle mass together with low muscle function and this was agreed upon as reported in a number of consensus papers. The Society of Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders supports the recommendations of more recent consensus conferences, i.e. that rapid screening, such as with the SARC-F questionnaire, should be utilized with a formal diagnosis being made by measuring grip strength or chair stand together with DXA estimation of appendicular muscle mass (indexed for height2). Assessments of the utility of ultrasound and creatine dilution techniques are ongoing. Use of ultrasound may not be easily reproducible. Primary sarcopenia is aging associated (mediated) loss of muscle mass. Secondary sarcopenia (or disease-related sarcopenia) has predominantly focused on loss of muscle mass without the emphasis on muscle function. Diseases that can cause muscle wasting (i.e. secondary sarcopenia) include malignant cancer, COPD, heart failure, and renal failure and others. Management of sarcopenia should consist of resistance exercise in combination with a protein intake of 1 to 1.5 g/kg/day. There is insufficient evidence that vitamin D and anabolic steroids are beneficial. These recommendations apply to both primary (age-related) sarcopenia and secondary (disease related) sarcopenia. Secondary sarcopenia also needs appropriate treatment of the underlying disease. It is important that primary care health professionals become aware of and make the diagnosis of age-related and disease-related sarcopenia. It is important to address the risk factors for sarcopenia, particularly low physical activity and sedentary behavior in the general population, using a life-long approach. There is a need for more clinical research into the appropriate measurement for muscle mass and the management of sarcopenia. Accordingly, this position statement provides recommendations on the management of sarcopenia and how to progress the knowledge and recognition of sarcopenia.

There is no doubt that the world is divided and unequal, mostly with respect to wealth. However, the true obstacle preventing the progress of humanity is not the divide between the rich and the poor. It is the divide between the cognitive and the physical. Apart from the social and ethical issues associated with this, there are also medical ones. The implications of this divide have direct relevance to aging, both in research and in the clinical sense. We cannot simply apply the same 'healthy aging' guidelines to everybody, but we need to establish if our approach is specifically suited to the individual. Our research endeavours need to have this division in focus. In this Opinion paper I describe three separate groups of humanity, which are divided, not by economic criteria, but by a worldview of intellectual creativity. Each arbitrary group has its own health priorities. If we overlook these priorities we may, at best, give the wrong advice to our patients, or at worst waste resources and exacerbate the rate of age-related degeneration in many individuals. As our society becomes more reliant on technology, what is now considered 'healthy' may not be so, for many millions of people.

This article adds more information to the problem of natural ester use as an electroinsulating fluid in cellulose paper-oil systems, e.g., for use in power transformers. An accelerated thermal aging (120, 140 and 160 °C) of samples consisting of cellulose paper (transformerboard), a treated natural ester (filtered, basic Al2O3, 0.53% DBPC), a copper plate and moisture was studied. Research was especially focused on the impact of moisture on the aging of the above system. Samples with three different oil moisture levels (80, 143 and 305 ppm water content) were subjected to thermal aging to display the change in a selection of properties (tanδ, acid number, water content). For a study of the polarization effects, broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) was performed to observe the complex permittivity and conductivity dependencies on the temperature and frequency (±30 °C, 0.01-107 Hz). Havriliak-Negami (H-N) diagrams were used to further understand the results. The degradation products during thermal aging were recognized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Hydrolysis and hydrogenation occurred in the insulating system with a natural ester aged by elevated temperatures, which is in contrast to CO2 formation in the case of electric aging. The results showed an increase in the acid number, dissipation factor, and number of hydrolysis and hydrogenation products. Furthermore, changes in polarization were observed as a consequence of the thermal aging of paper-natural ester insulation system with the presence of copper and moisture.

Fluorescence is well-known nowadays as one of the most efficient anti-counterfeiting techniques. Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnOQds) are exceptionally fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, which makes them a candidate for anti-counterfeiting printing. The resulting anti-counterfeiting papers are sustainable and resistance against organic dyes. In this work, ZnOQds were prepared via a green method and characterized under UV–visible spectroscopy, along with microscopic observations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and crystallography by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Formation of ZnOQds nanocrystals with an average partials size of 7.3 nm was approved. Additionally, double-layers sheets were prepared at two loading concentrations of ZnOQds, namely 0.5 and 1 (wt./v) and underwent characterization using a topographical surface study via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Hybrid sheets were mechanically more stable compared to single-layer paper and likewise polymer film. Moreover, aging simulation approved a high stability for hybrid sheets. Particularly, the photoluminescence emission affirmed anti-aging character of hybrid paper for more than 25 years. The hybrid sheets also showed a broad range of antimicrobial activity.

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]

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).

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]

The paper presents the results of research and analysis of literature data on the paper insulation's thermal aging. An exponential decrease in the degree of polymerization of paper insulation from the aging time is established, at the starting time of transformers’ operation the aging rate of paper insulation is maximal and after that its slowing down. It was found out that the degree of polymerization at the starting time of the transformer's operation can be in the range of 900 units, this is due to its drying during the manufacturing process.

Ageing is the greatest challenge that health-care systems will have to deal with this century. This is because a wide spectrum of pathological impairments emerge in the later part of the human life course which sharply increase mortality and reduce quality of life. Dysfunction of the immune system with advancing age is of crucial importance to the development of disability in later life and finally death. Understanding immune ageing, immunosenescence, has long been recognised as an essential prerequisite for the delivery of effective interventions which will improve late life health. Ten years ago, the ImAginE consortium undertook a broad ranging series of projects which added significantly to our understanding of how fundamental ageing mechanisms drove immune decline. In the decade which followed, abundant evidence has accumulated from nonhuman model systems that ageing results from the progressive operation of a relatively few common processes which act across the major organ systems. These advances in fundamental understanding both allow better clarification of the potential cross-system dysregulation that occurs in ageing and open new avenues for intervention. Over the course of a 2-day workshop, the original ImAginE participants have considered these issues and present some suggestions for current priority areas in immunosenescence.

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify seminal Australasian Journal on Ageing papers published over 30 years through a Delphi consensus process., Method: The main data collection was a three-round Delphi consensus study with 38 past and current members of the Australasian Journal on Ageing Editorial Board, Editorial Team and Management Committee., Results: Three papers were agreed as top-ranking. One of the top-ranking articles was also highly cited. One article was published in the 1990 s, two in 2001., Conclusions: While it is difficult to judge how well the top-ranking papers represent seminal papers arising over 30 years, these papers do represent three different research strengths in Australasia, they do span three different disciplines, and they do reflect some of the diversity that characterises ageing research in Australasia over 30 years., (© 2013 ACOTA.)