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The insulation paper is a crucial factor for evaluating the insulation status of transformers. The traditional evaluation methods for insulation paper are dissolved gas component content analysis (CO and CO2) and furfural (2‐FAL) content analysis in oil. The detection principle of the former leads to its low accuracy, while the field application effect of the latter is not ideal due to the easy oxidation of furfural and low content. Methanol, result of its good stability and high production compared with other marker products (CO, CO2, 2‐FAL) has been investigated as a novel marker for aging evaluation of transformer insulating paper in recent years. The results of the investigation indicated that there is a good correlation between the content of methanol in oil and the degree of polymerization under laboratory conditions, which reflected the insulation aging state of the transformer insulating paper more accurately. This paper summarizes the current research status of methanol formation mechanism, detection methods and aging evaluation in insulating oil, and points out the key problems to be solved and development prospects, hoping to provide relevant reference for aging evaluation of oil immersed power transformer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, older adults have received little attention in the newly emerging technological narratives of transnational religion. This is surprising, given the strong association of later life with spiritual and religious engagement, but it likely reflects the ongoing assumption that older adults are technophobic or technologically incompetent. Drawing on ethnographic interviews with older Sinhalese Buddhist migrants from Sri Lanka, living in Melbourne, this paper explores the digital articulations of transnational religion that arise from older migrants' uses of digital media. We focus on how engagements with digital media enable older Sinhalese to respond to an urgent need to accumulate merit in later life, facilitating their temporal strategies for ageing as migrants. We argue that these digital articulations transform both the religious imaginary and the religious practices that validate and legitimize a life well‐lived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a well‐known problem, bearing faults are still one of the major challenges that the industry face. The growing use of voltage source inverters imposed the alertness of possible bearing damage due to their high‐frequency signals. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of capacitive discharges on a rolling element bearing to obtain a series of faulty bearings with different deterioration levels. An ageing test bench is built to generate bearing roughness using Electric Discharge Machining. The purpose is to study the effect of operation conditions, such as frequency of drive, amplitude of shaft voltage, radial load level as well as rotational speed, on the capacitive discharge occurrence within the bearing. Having the desire to further understand this phenomenon, the influence of each parameter on the discharge activity and the discharge waveform is analysed. A worst‐case scenario is conducted and applied to a series of bearings. Finally, the bearing damage is examined, and a quantitative fault detection method is presented based on a microscopic inspection of the bearing's surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research on human aging has largely been guided by the milestone paper "hallmarks of aging," which were first proposed in the seminal 2013 paper by Lopez‐Otin et al. Most studies have focused on one aging hallmark at a time, asking whether the underlying molecular perturbations are sufficient to drive the aging process and its associated phenotypes. More recently, researchers have begun to investigate whether aging phenotypes are driven by concurrent perturbations in molecular pathways linked to not one but to multiple hallmarks of aging and whether they present different patterns in organs and systems over time. Indeed, preliminary results suggest that more complex interactions between aging hallmarks must be considered and addressed, if we are to develop interventions that successfully promote healthy aging and/or delay aging‐associated dysfunction and diseases. Here, we summarize some of the latest work and views on the interplay between hallmarks of aging, with a specific focus on mitochondrial dysfunction. Indeed, this represents a significant example of the complex crosstalk between hallmarks of aging and of the effects that an intervention targeted to a specific hallmark may have on the others. A better knowledge of these interconnections, of their cause‐effect relationships, of their spatial and temporal sequence, will be very beneficial for the whole aging research field and for the identification of effective interventions in promoting healthy old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leakage current characteristic monitoring of transmission line insulators is considered a worthy technique for insulator state prediction. In this paper, the harmonic analysis of leakage current signals has been performed to analyze the composite insulator condition. Experimental studies of asymmetrically aged, fully aged, and virgin insulators have been conducted. The effects of different aging types, pollution, and humidity on leakage current components, such as harmonics and the phase differences with the applied voltage, have been investigated. The analysis of the results shows that the effect of asymmetric aging on leakage current components is non‐linear, and this non‐linearity increases with the degree of pollution. Also, the type of insulator aging can be determined by the ratio of the third‐ and fifth‐order leakage current harmonics. For instance, the classification of insulators into virgin, asymmetrically aged, and fully aged can be determined by examining the corresponding value ranges of 0–0.5, 0.5–0.9, and > 0.9, respectively. Similarly, the phase difference values of < 15% and those > 15% indicate the clean and polluted operating conditions individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global population is ageing rapidly and there is a need for strategies to promote health and wellbeing among older adults. Nutrition knowledge is a key predictor of dietary intake; therefore, effective educational programmes are urgently required to rectify poor dietary patterns. Digital health technologies provide a viable option for delivering nutrition education that is cost‐effective and widely accessible. However, few technologies have been developed to meet the unique needs and preferences of older adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore technology use among older adults and qualitatively determine the content needs and design preferences for an online nutrition education resource tailored to older adult consumers in Australia. Methods: Twenty adult participants aged 55 years and older (95% female) participated in one of four 2‐h participatory design workshops. In each workshop, prompted discussion questions were used to explore participants' technology use and preferences and to explore content needs and design preferences for an online nutrition education resource specific to older adults. Results: All participants were regularly using a range of different devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets and computers) and reported being comfortable doing so. Participants wanted a website that provided general nutrition information, practical advice and recipes. To enhance engagement, they sought a personalised resource that could be adjusted to suit their needs, included up‐to‐date information and allowed for easy sharing with others by exporting information as a PDF. Conclusions: Participatory design methods generate new knowledge for designing and tailoring digital health technologies to be appropriate and useful for the target audience. Specifically, older adults seek an online resource that has large and simple fonts with clear categories, providing them with practical advice and general nutrition information that can be personalised to suit their own needs and health concerns, with the option to export and print information into a paper‐based format. Patient or Public Contribution: Older adults actively participated in the development and evaluation process to generate ideas about potential features, functionalities, uses and practicalities of an online nutrition education resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vocabulary scores increase until approximately age 65 years and then remain stable or decrease slightly, unlike scores on tests of other cognitive abilities that decline significantly with age. Aims: To review the findings on ageing‐related changes in vocabulary, and to discuss four methodological issues: research design; test type; measurement; and vocabulary ability as a proxy for general intelligence. Main Contribution: A discussion of cross‐sectional and longitudinal research designs shows that cohort membership accounts for some but not all ageing‐related changes in vocabulary, and that drop‐out and test–retest effects do not alter conclusions regarding these changes. Test type affects age trends in vocabulary, and if researchers use only one test, they should choose a multiple‐choice synonym test. While some authors suggest that vocabulary tests do not measure the same underlying ability in younger and older adults, more research of this suggestion is needed. A brief examination of the use of vocabulary ability as a proxy for general intelligence in healthy ageing and for premorbid abilities in dementia indicates that such practice is often questionable. Conclusions: Vocabulary knowledge increases through the mid‐60s regardless of measurement method. However, there is little information on how word knowledge serves other verbal skills in old age, how and when adults learn new words, or how much exposure is necessary for meanings to remain in storage for a lifetime. Research of these issues may require new methodologies, as well as novel theoretical accounts of ageing‐related effects on vocabulary. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Unlike many cognitive abilities that decline with ageing, vocabulary knowledge continues to increase until approximately age 65, and then remains stable or decreases slightly. These findings have been replicated in different research designs and across languages. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: The article presents a summary of findings on changes in vocabulary across adulthood, and a discussion of four key methodological issues: research design, test type, measurement, and the use of vocabulary ability as a proxy for general intelligence. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: To better understand changes in vocabulary knowledge across adulthood, clinicians must be aware of methodological considerations that affect the field. Such considerations have direct clinical implications regarding the choice of vocabulary tests and their use as a proxy for other abilities in both healthy older adults and in individuals with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Paid carers play an important role in helping older adults with care needs to remain living in their own homes. This paper examines changes in the home care field, specifically the emergence of self‐employed care entrepreneurs ('microentrepreneurs'). To do this, it employs Bourdieu's concepts of field, capital and habitus. Drawing on 105 semi‐structured interviews with stakeholders working in home care, the paper describes how the interaction of changes to field structures, and altered practices of care have challenged the taken‐for‐granted acceptance of traditional, transactional forms of care provision. This process has been highly dependent on local state actors, their ability to mobilise relevant forms of capital and the factors which shaped their habitus. It should be seen within the context of changes to local field structures and the hierarchical classification processes which underpin them. These changes threaten the distribution of capital in the home care field in ways that are beneficial to microentrepreneurs. Bourdieu might categorise these developments as 'partial revolutions', which do not challenge the fundamental axioms of the field. However, for care entrepreneurs, formerly employed as low‐paid home‐care workers, a revolution that is only partial may be better than none at all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves to improve the upper‐limit temperature of hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) through regulation of the vulcanization process, filler system and cross‐linking additive. The tensile test and scanning electron microscope images showed that the aging at 180°C significantly accelerated the deterioration in the property of HNBR compared with 150°C aging. The results showed that a higher dosage of bis(1‐(tert‐butylperoxy)‐1‐methylethyl)‐benzene curing agent reduced the compression set of HNBR without sacrificing its tensile strength. Carbon black N539‐filled HNBR exhibited high tensile strength, while carbon black N774‐filled HNBR showed high heat resistance and low compression set. When the HNBR sample was reinforced with 20 phr of N539 and 20 phr of N774 carbon black, it achieved low compression set, high tensile strength, and heat resistance simultaneously. Then, N,N′‐bismaleimide‐4,4′‐diphenylmethane (BMI) was introduced into the HNBR composite as a cross‐linking assistant agent. The residual strength of BMI‐modified HNBR was 20.3 MPa (the retention rate of 92.3%), and its compression set was as low as 19.2% after aging at 180°C for 72 h. Even after aging the composite at 180°C for 168 h, its strength retention rate remained at 83.2% (18.3 MPa). The approach provided here increased the upper‐limit temperature range of HNBR to 180°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the social sciences the predominant engagement with ageing is through the study of human ageing, this also the exclusive concern of the "geography of ageing". With the aim of advancing scholarship substantially, in this paper we (re)turn to science and consider how a broader, more fundamental understanding of ageing is found in the process of increasing entropy that all entities/systems are eventually subject to and contributors towards. Based on this theoretical foundation – but cognisant of the need for a contemporary posthumanist sensibility – we challenge geographers and others to extend the study of ageing to encompass all entities/systems at all possible levels of scale and complexity, highlighting pockets of partial precedent for this extension in different literatures. We argue that, through accepting this "all‐world ageing" challenge, a more fulsome appreciation of the ageing macrocosm might be arrived at. With the aim of advancing the geography of ageing, this paper cautiously (re)turns to science and considers how a broad, fundamental understanding of ageing is found in the process of increasing entropy. Based on this theoretical anchoring, we challenge geographers to extend the study of ageing to encompass all systems at all possible levels of scale and complexity, supporting our proposition by showing areas of partial precedent for this across different disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The online program began in 2012 to support aged care workers without a tertiary education or vocational qualification. This paper documents changes in the student profile since initiation of the program, and how the program may support recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and engage other educators, providers and policymakers. Methods: Four hundred and seventy‐one commencing undergraduate students completed a 16‐item online survey in 2017 to document demographics and reasons for study. Categorical associations were assessed with univariate logistic regression in R v3.6. Results: Most students (71%; 336) were aged between 41 and 60 years but the program now included younger (<41 years) and older (>80 years) people. Unlike the 2012 students, about 41% had tertiary‐level qualifications, and 56% were employed in professional positions, including registered nurse, general practitioner and allied health professional. Professional and practice development was the primary reason for study; significantly so for younger (<41 years) participants in aged and dementia care (χ2 (5) = 18.15, p = 0.003) and for those with previous university experience (χ2 (4) = 22.17, p = 0.001). Older (≥61 years) participants enrolled to gain greater knowledge about dementia (χ2 (4) = 17.60, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Understanding the changed student profile guided program refinement to ensure the provision of effective, evidence‐based education in dementia understanding and care. Work now focusses on increasing partnerships with aged care organisations, community and postsecondary training institutions to support a continuum of workforce development options, guided by the recommendations of the Royal Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional filtration loss reducers, which help reduce the invasion into the formation, often make the rheology of the oil‐based drilling fluid difficult to control. In this paper, the new type of porous deformable polymeric particle was synthesized as filtration loss reducer (FLR), through dispersion polymerization using acrylamide and stearyl methacrylate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle apparatus, nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques and scanning electron microscope have been carried out to confirm the chemical structure of the FLR. The results illustrated that FLR is a hydrophobic porous solid particle with deformability. The oil‐based drilling fluid loaded with FLR retains high temperature resistance up to 180°C and the density of 2.2 g/cm3. The FLR help reduced the filtration loss to 3.2 mL, smaller than their counterparts, and synthesized FLR has small impact on the rheology of drilling fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has found that music brings back more vivid and emotional autobiographical memories than various other retrieval cues. However, such studies have often been low in ecological validity and constrained by relatively limited cue selection and predominantly young adult samples. Here, we compared music to food as cues for autobiographical memories in everyday life in young and older adults. In two separate four‐day periods, 39 younger (ages 18–34) and 39 older (ages 60–77) adults recorded their music‐ and food‐evoked autobiographical memories in paper diaries. Across both age groups, music triggered more frequent autobiographical memories, a greater proportion of involuntary memories, and memories rated as more personally important in comparison to food cues. Age differences impacted music‐ and food‐evoked memories similarly, with older adults consistently recalling older and less specific memories, which they rated as more positive, vivid, and rehearsed. However, young and older adults did not differ in the number or involuntary nature of their recorded memories. This work represents an important step in understanding the phenomenology of naturally occurring music‐evoked autobiographical memories across adulthood and provides new insights into how and why music may be a more effective trigger for personally valued memories than certain other everyday cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TikTok, as an emerging digital geography, has transformed remote communication to a live, instant, and uncannily realistic interaction. To explore the implications of TikTok on older adults, this paper examines the accounts of older Chinese TikTok celebrities – their participation in TikTok as well as the major discourses of ageing mediated by TikTok. An empirical study was conducted by quantitatively analysing web‐scraped comments on older TikTok celebrities and by interpreting the themes present in these popular TikTok accounts. The empirical results unveil that TikTok facilitates the social interactions of older digital celebrities by creating a caring environment. However, the healthy ageing paradigm promoted by the Chinese government is also promoted by TikTok's recommendation algorithm and platform capitalism. The healthy ageing paradigm prioritises older adults who are healthy and independent, and as a result marginalises those who have a disease or disability or are dependent on others in some way. As a result, the healthy ageing paradigm promoted by TikTok constitutes another form of ageism. Responding to the call to go beyond "the digital", our research contributes to digital geography by examining the geographies of ageing mediated by TikTok. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Non‐communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, now constitute a major proportion of ill‐health across most adult and older populations including in people with intellectual disability. The current paper is a comparative analysis of prevalence of NCDs across mid‐aged and older‐aged people with mild intellectual disability. Method: Comparative data comes from two cross‐sectional surveys using similar methodology and timeframes. The analysis sample comprises mid‐aged group (30–50 years, N = 291) and older‐aged group (≥60 years, N = 391). Results: People with mild intellectual disability start developing NCDs in early to mid‐adulthood and increases with age. The mean number of NCDs in mid‐aged group was 0.86 (SD, 0.84) compared to 3.82 in older group (SD, 2.67). Conclusion: There needs to be early identification and management of NCDs using relevant health promotion and preventative measures at optimal intervention points. The training of healthcare professionals needs improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with cold rolling and ageing on microstructure and mechanical properties of 2507 duplex stainless steel. Microstructure depicts acicular/Widmanstätten austenite and δ‐ferrite with dissimilar volume fraction (∼0.55 for ferrite and ∼0.45 for austenite). Cold rolling and ageing at 950 °C, 1000 °C and 1050 °C result in equiaxed austenite for samples solution treated at 1040 °C and elongated at 1300 °C. By lowering ageing temperature from 1050 °C to 950 °C, structure becomes finer from ∼20 μm to <10 μm grain size. The sigma (σ) phase appears after ageing at 950 °C. Micro‐hardness reveals maximum hardness for the hot rolled, solutionized (1040 °C) water quenched, and cold rolled (50 %) sample (380 HVδF 100 and 430 HVγ 100), whereas the tensile results reveal the hot rolled, solution treated (1300 °C, 1040 °C), cold rolled and aged at 950 °C samples show higher strength (yield strength=625 MPa, 567 MPa and ultimate tensile strength=892 MPa, 826 MPa) and lower ductility (23 %, 32 %) due to the σ‐phase. The solution treated (1040 °C), cold rolled, aged at 1050 °C sample exhibits attractive strength and ductility combination (∼30 GPa %). Fractography supports the tensile results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of transnational family relations from an intergenerational to a multi‐generational perspective highlights the significant role migration infrastructure plays in transnational family care arrangements at different family life stages. Changing migration policies and local‐bound welfare systems in the host and home countries tend to fixate the role of care‐receiver and provider against fluid transnational family care dynamics as the life course of the family unfolds. This paper focuses on Chinese transnational one‐child families in which the initial separation between parents and their only‐child was motivated by the child's overseas education, and followed by the adult child's employment and family formation in the UK. My findings illustrate how reified definitions of the family and familial roles structure mobile individuals' access to family rights in a transnational context. They warn of the danger of entrenched injustice embedded in the definitional classification of family migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the literature on old employment barriers by exploring empirically the relative importance of mental versus physical health in determining work. It combines regression and variance decomposition analyses to quantify the respective role of mental and physical health. The data used are from SHARE and inform in great detail on the health but also work status (employment and hours) of individuals aged 50+, interviewed between 2004 and 2017 in 21 European countries. The main result of the paper is that of the rather limited role of mental health – in comparison with physical health – in accounting for older individuals' work. The paper also shows that health (physical or mental) is much better at predicting old people's propensity to be in employment than the number of hours they work. Finally, the paper reveals that, in comparison with women, men's work appears to be more driven by their health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress in geroscience holds the promise of significantly slowing down or even reversing ageing and age‐related diseases, and thus increasing our healthspans. In this paper, I offer a novel argument in favour of developing such technology and making it unconditionally available to everyone. In particular, I argue that justice requires that each person be provided with sufficient opportunities to have a 'complete life', that many people currently lack such opportunities, and that we would substantially improve the status quo by giving them access to anti‐ageing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Occupational therapists recommending home modifications in Australia are often required by funding bodies to consider 'value' and 'value for money' (VFM); however, clear guidance on how to define and apply these concepts is not always provided. This paper reports on a qualitative study examining how the concepts of value and VFM are currently understood and operationalised by occupational therapists in Australian home modification practice, with the aim of positively contributing to both policy and practice in this area. Methods: The study utilised constructivist grounded theory to collect and analyse qualitative data from 20 occupational therapists who were currently working across Australia and had professional experience in home modifications. Findings: The grounded theory that was derived from the analysis highlights the unique position that occupational therapists occupy in home modification work as they strive to align the values of different stakeholders to create solutions that all consider to be valuable. In the absence of consistent frameworks or methods for determining value and VFM, evidence also emerged of occupational therapists using a range of individual approaches such as using formal and informal care as metrics, cheapest option approaches, and comparative costing. Conclusion: In addition to a clear need for consistent and transparent approaches to understanding and operationalising VFM in home modifications, there is also a need for further investigation into the value systems that underpin this work. A conceptualisation of occupational therapists as street‐level policy agents has proven useful here as it highlights the position occupational therapists occupy, enacting, making, and, at times, challenging policy in day‐to‐day practice as they work to align the values of the various stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Brexit referendum results, there may have been fears that a significant part of the British population in Spain, one of the largest outside the Commonwealth, would return to the United Kingdom. This paper uses different sources to assess whether, on the one hand, such a return movement has existed and, on the other hand, whether it could exist in the future. To do so, we analyse data from the Spanish Population Register (Padrón) and the Residential Variation Statistics (EVR) from 2003 to 2021, and a survey carried out in 2020 of 643 British people over 55 years of age living in Spain. In relation to the registry data, it has been observed that the return movement after Brexit has not been as significant as might be expected at a time of great uncertainty. Only in 2021 it was detected an increase in return movements, especially above the age of 75, probably caused by the end of the application of the Withdrawal Agreement. On the other hand, the survey results show that the intention to return is lower than in other similar surveys that have been carried out in the past, even in another COVID‐19 outbreak scenario. Moreover, this intention to return is especially related to variables linked to insertion, such as not being properly registered or owning a property in the United Kingdom, among other variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper prepared potassium oleate/silica/natural rubber composites by atomization spray drying technology. This study compared the effects of the environmental protection accelerator potassium oleate and amine accelerator 1,3‐diphenylguanidine on the Payne effect, silane reaction index, vulcanization performance, mechanical properties, static and dynamic mechanical properties, and aging properties of silica/natural rubber. The results show that potassium oleate can promote the silane reaction and increase the silane reaction's efficiency. When potassium oleate formed the silica coating, the carboxyl group of potassium oleate and the hydroxyl group of silica were bonded to form a covalent bond, which reduced the polarity of silica and promoted the dispersion effect of silica in the rubber matrix and enhanced the compatibility with rubber. Compared with the original formulation, after adding 3 phr of potassium oleate, the fracture elongation of vulcanized rubber was increased by 17.2%, tensile product increased by 57.3% and rolling resistance decreased by 54.6%. After adding 3 phr of 1,3‐diphenylguanidine, the fracture elongation of vulcanized rubber was increased by 1.1%, tensile product increased by 51.1% and rolling resistance decreased by 48.6%. In contrast, the anti‐aging performance of the rubber composites with potassium oleate was better than that of 1,3‐diphenylguanidine. This study opens up a new way to apply a new green rubber accelerator and prepare high‐performance rubber composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In 2007, the World Health Organization published a guide on age‐friendly cities. However, little is known about interventions that have been implemented to promote age‐friendly communities in rural and remote areas. This paper presents the findings from a scoping review undertaken to locate available evidence of interventions, strategies, and programs that have been implemented in rural and remote areas to create age‐friendly communities. Methods: This scoping review used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Results: A total of 219 articles were included in this review. No intervention studies were referred to as 'age‐friendly'. However, there were interventions (mostly healthcare‐related) that have been implemented in rural and remote areas with older people as participants. There were also non‐evaluated community programs that were published in the grey literature. This review identified the common health interventions in older people and the indirect relevance to the WHO age‐friendly framework domains in rural and remote contexts. Conclusions: The eight age‐friendly domains were not explicitly utilised as a guide in the development of interventions for older people in rural and remote settings. Implementation of age‐friendly interventions in rural and remote areas requires a multisectoral approach that is tailored to address the specific needs of individual communities. Age‐friendly interventions also need to consider socio‐ecological factors to adequately and holistically address community needs and ensure long‐term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: In Canada, the COVID‐19 pandemic was associated with significant morbidity and mortality in older adults, particularly those in long‐term care (LTC). Access to oral health services was limited during the pandemic due to public health restrictions. The aim of this paper was to describe the impact of the pandemic on the clinical education and service of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Geriatric Dentistry Program (GDP), which provides care to LTC residents. Methods: Data were collected from UBC GDP AxiUm dental software records, including number of dental appointments in 2019 and 2020. Data on revenue in 2019 and 2020 based on clinical production were collected through financial summary reports. Data on the number of educational rotations were collected from summary reports from scheduling software. Results: In 2020, significant reductions in clinical service, revenue, and productivity were observed in the UBC GDP relative to 2019. The number of GDP appointments for June‐December 2020 was lower by 68%. The clinical productivity reduced by 67% for the same period. Expenses were slightly reduced. The overall number of LTC clinical rotations for students were only slightly lower for undergraduate students in 2020 than in 2019, and it increased for graduate students. Conclusion: The COVID‐19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions had a negative impact on the clinical service and productivity of the UBC GDP in 2020 relative to 2019. However, clinical educational rotations to LTC were slightly increased in 2020 relative to 2019. Dental care for LTC residents can be provided if rigorous administrative controls, engineering controls and personal protective equipment are employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores both physical ageing of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymers with hexafluoropropylene (HFP). Water ageing and annealing are shown to have a negligible influence on mechanical properties. Chemical ageing is thus expected to be the main source of long‐term degradation. The nature of associated chemical trackers is discussed but it seems clear that their fraction is very slow for low temperature thermal ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the structure‐relationships involved in the degradation of fluorosilicones (FVMQs). For that purpose, FVMQs are thermally aged at 280 °C under various atmospheres (nitrogen, atmospheric air, pure oxygen). It seems that FVMQs undergo a strong mass loss irrespectively of the atmosphere. Under nitrogen, a chain scission (unzipping) mechanism is suspected whereas under air, a crosslinking mechanisms leads to an increase in tensile modulus. A degradation mechanism is proposed as a basis for lifetime prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain ageing has been related to a decrease in cellular metabolism, to an accumulation of misfolded proteins and to an alteration of the lipid membrane composition. These alterations act as contributive aspects of age‐related memory decline by reducing membrane excitability and neurotransmitter release. In this sense, precursors of phospholipids (PLs) can restore the physiological composition of cellular membranes and ameliorate the cellular defects associated with brain ageing. In particular, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) have been shown to restore mitochondrial function, reduce the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and, at the same time, provide the amount of acetylcholine needed to reduce memory deficit. Among PL precursors, alpha‐glycerylphosphorylethanolamine (GPE) has shown to protect astrocytes from Aβ injuries and to slow‐down ageing of human neural stem cells. GPE has been evaluated in aged human hippocampal neurons, which are implicated in learning and memory, and constitute a good in vitro model to investigate the beneficial properties of GPE. In order to mimic cellular ageing, the cells have been maintained 21 days in vitro and challenged with GPE. Results of the present paper showed GPE ability to increase PE and PC content, glucose uptake and the activity of the chain respiratory complex I and of the GSK‐3β pathway. Moreover, the nootropic compound showed an increase in the transcriptional/protein levels of neurotrophic and well‐being related genes. Finally, GPE counteracted the accumulation of ageing‐related misfolded proteins (a‐synuclein and tau). Overall, our data underline promising effects of GPE in counteracting cellular alterations related to brain ageing and cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the intersections between international migration, care and ageing. Through an analysis of the life stories of 24 Ecuadorian women who migrated to Spain between the years 1990–2000 and who work or have worked in the older people care sector, we aim to analyse the transnational strategies they have developed to care for their older relatives and also to explore how these women foresee their own old age and what strategies they are developing to face this stage. The results underscore the fact that while these women are capable of getting involved in transnational care arrangements to guarantee the wellbeing of their older relatives, they are faced with constraints that prevent them from achieving this objective due to their socially unequal position in terms of the intersecting axes of gender, social class and migratory status. Their main difficulties stem from limited access to geographic mobility, but also from the economic pressure they are subjected to in supporting long‐term care for their older relatives. Furthermore, their own old age planning is weighed down by their work itineraries in the field of care. In some cases, transnational social protection strategies become a way to compensate for this position of social disadvantage, but they are not readily accessible to the women migrants who need them the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an empirical exercise carried out in five villages of Odisha in eastern India, the paper looks into ageing of the farm population and the experiences and responses of farmers of various age groups to farming. The findings of the study indicate that agriculture is greying, farmers are getting older and the youth, particularly of higher and cultivating castes, are averse to farming. The unwillingness of these youths to join farming is mainly attributed to loss of social status, declining profitability in agriculture and discouragement of immediate 'mentors', the middle‐aged farmers, caused by the perpetual decline of farm income and loss of social recognition. The hitherto nonfarming youths, belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and service‐rendering castes, especially the female youths, are joining farming to fill this gap, mostly as leased‐in cultivators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the consequences on demographic changes observed in the municipalities of Abruzzo region after the earthquake of L'Aquila in 2009. Relying on Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) data on the population in the municipalities, we aim to understand how population growth changed after the earthquake, analysing population dynamics both in the municipalities affected by the earthquake and in the other municipalities of the Abruzzo region. We apply a spatial regression model to understand the associations between population growth, the earthquake, and some demographic and economic variables, taking into account the spatial autocorrelation. Our findings confirm the importance of space and the close association of the population dynamics after the earthquake with the population age structure, both in the pre‐existing situation and in the subsequent dynamics. Population trends in the Abruzzo region were closely associated with the pre‐existing vulnerabilities. The effect of the earthquake was strong in the crater municipalities in the period immediately after the shock, while it petered out over time. A destructive earthquake implies a tremendous shock, however, in places that are already suffering from demographic, social, and economic fragility, pre‐existing factors can act equally or even more strongly on the population dynamics in the medium term. Hence, in the medium period, the characteristics of the population and socio‐economic context are stronger than in the short one, and also the effect that space and territorial contiguities have on these and other nonobservable variables is stronger than in the short period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal aging of a commercial polyimide film, (poly[pyromellitic dianhydride‐co‐4,4′‐oxydianiline]) is investigated, providing further insight into the well‐known loss of properties that can occur for these materials in the presence of moisture. The study involved measuring ATR‐FTIR, ultimate tensile strength, and percent elongation at break, under accelerated hydrothermal aging conditions at three different temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C). ATR‐FTIR data was analyzed using chemometrics in order to identify significant trends that develop upon the accelerated aging conditions. The most dramatic changes were observed for the aging at 90°C. Changes in the ATR‐FTIR spectra for aging at all three temperatures can be attributed to hydrolysis of the imide groups. Ultimate tensile strength was also used to monitor the hydrothermal aging process. This data was used to construct an Arrhenius plot from which an activation energy of 71.8 KJ/mol was determined for the hydrothermal aging process. This value is comparable to that of textiles used in fire protective clothing, suggesting that polyimide is a viable candidate for modeling the degradation of these textiles. This paper also shows the large potential of chemometrics for polymer aging studies as it allows identifying degradation mechanisms from subtle chemical changes in the materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells play key roles in development, tissue homeostasis, regeneration, ageing and diseases. Comprehensive reviews on stem cells are available for the determinately growing mammals and insects and some lower invertebrates like hydra but are rare for larger, indeterminately growing invertebrates that can live for many decades. This paper reviews the cytology, function and dynamics of stem and progenitor cells in the decapod crustaceans, a species‐rich and ecologically and economically important animal group that includes mainly indeterminate growers but also some determinate growers. Further advantages of decapods for stem cell research are almost 1000‐fold differences in body size and longevity, the regeneration of damaged appendages and the virtual absence of age‐related diseases and tumours in the indeterminately growing species. The available data demonstrate that the Decapoda possess a remarkable variety of structurally and functionally different stem cells in embryos and larvae, and in the epidermis, musculature, haematopoietic tissue, heart, brain, hepatopancreas, olfactory sense organs and gonads of adults. Some of these seem to be rather continuously active over a lifetime but others are cyclically activated and silenced in periods of days, weeks and years, depending on the specific organ and function. Stem cell proliferation is triggered by signals related to development, moulting, feeding, reproduction, injury, infection, environmental enrichment and social status. Some regulatory pathways have already been identified, including the evolutionarily conserved GATA‐binding and runt‐domain transcription factors, the widespread neurotransmitter serotonin, the arthropod‐specific hormone 20‐hydroxyecdysone and the novel astakine growth factors. Knowledge of stem cells in decapods primarily refines our picture on the development, growth and maintenance of tissues and organs in this animal group. Cultured decapod stem cells have good potential for toxicity testing and virus research with practical relevance for aquaculture. Knowledge of stem cells in decapods also broadens our understanding of the evolution of stem cells and regeneration in the animal kingdom. The stem cells of long‐lived, indeterminately growing decapods may hold the key to understanding how stem and progenitor cells function into old age without adverse side effects, possibly evoking new ideas for the development of anti‐ageing and anti‐cancer treatments in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing of lithium‐ion batteries results in irreversible reduction in performance. Intrinsic variability between cells, caused by manufacturing differences, occurs throughout life and increases with age. Researchers need to know the minimum number of cells they should test to give an accurate representation of population variability, since testing many cells is expensive. In this paper, empirical capacity versus time ageing models were fitted to various degradation datasets for commercially available cells assuming the model parameters could be drawn from a larger population distribution. Using a hierarchical Bayesian approach, we estimated the number of cells required to be tested. Depending on the complexity, ageing models with 1, 2 or 3 parameters respectively required data from at least 9, 11 or 13 cells for a consistent fit. This implies researchers will need to test at least these numbers of cells at each test point in their experiment to capture manufacturing variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental investigations on the durability of intumescent coatings Intumescent coatings are used in structural fire protection to improve the fire resistance of steel structures. Beside structural fire resistance also aesthetic demands can be fulfilled. The profile‐following application and the low dry film thickness of the products make it possible to maintain the filigree appearance of steel structures. In addition to the thermal protection effect, the durability of the coating must also be ensured. The assessment methods available at European level by EAD 350402‐00‐1106 aim to a service life of ten years. Test methods for a longer period are not described. This paper presents experimental investigations on the influence of weathering on the expansion behaviour, the thermal performance and the reactions taking place during foaming in case of fire. The tests were carried out on a water‐based and an epoxy resin‐based intumescent coating. The research results were obtained in the IGF research project 20470 N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limitations imposed by urban power grid outages for maintenance, on‐line harmonic current detection technology for distribution network cables is expected to become an effective supplement to traditional offline diagnostic methods, enhancing the real‐time diagnosis of distribution network cable insulation conditions. This study established a 10 kV distribution network cable test platform and prepared typical defective cables subjected to moisture and long‐term thermal aging. Using COMSOL finite element electromagnetic simulation, the magnetic flux evolution laws of the cable insulation under typical defects were obtained. Experimental tests provided the harmonic current characteristics and statistical features of cables with typical defects. Based on these data, a method for analysing the degradation degree of distribution network cables was constructed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Furthermore, a defect‐type identification method based on cluster analysis was proposed. Results indicate that the odd harmonics and the 4th harmonic of the distribution network cable's harmonic current are closely related to the cable's degradation state. A model integrating principal component analysis (PCA) data dimensionality reduction and expectation‐maximization clustering analysis achieved a recognition accuracy of up to 75.64% in distinguishing between moisture‐affected and normal cable states. The proposed on‐line detection and evaluation methods can effectively identify high‐risk cables with latent defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle (SM) acts as a secretory organ, capable of releasing myokines and extracellular vesicles (SM‐EVs) that impact myogenesis and homeostasis. While age‐related changes have been previously reported in murine SM‐EVs, no study has comprehensively profiled SM‐EV in human models. To this end, we provide the first comprehensive comparison of SM‐EVs from young and old human primary skeletal muscle cells (HPMCs) to map changes associated with SM ageing. HPMCs, isolated from young (24 ± 1.7 years old) and older (69 ± 2.6 years old) participants, were immunomagnetically sorted based on the presence of the myogenic marker CD56 (N‐CAM) and cultured as pure (100% CD56+) or mixed populations (MP: 90% CD56+). SM‐EVs were isolated using an optimised protocol combining ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography (UF + SEC) and their biological content was extensively characterised using Raman spectroscopy (RS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). Minimal variations in basic EV parameters (particle number, size, protein markers) were observed between young and old populations. However, biochemical fingerprinting by RS highlighted increased protein (amide I), lipid (phospholipids and phosphatidylcholine) and hypoxanthine signatures for older SM‐EVs. Through LC‐MS, we identified 84 shared proteins with functions principally related to cell homeostasis, muscle maintenance and transcriptional regulation. Significantly, SM‐EVs from older participants were comparatively enriched in proteins involved in oxidative stress and DNA/RNA mutagenesis, such as E3 ubiquitin‐protein ligase TTC3 (TTC3), little elongation complex subunit 1 (ICE1) and Acetyl‐CoA carboxylase 1 (ACACA). These data suggest SM‐EVs could provide an alternative pathway for homeostasis and detoxification during SM ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain atrophy and cortical thinning are typically observed in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and, to a lesser extent, in those with mild cognitive impairment. In asymptomatic middle‐aged apolipoprotein ε4 (ΑPOE4) carriers, who are at higher risk of future AD, study reports are discordant with limited evidence of brain structural differences between carriers and non‐carriers of the ε4 allele. Alternative imaging markers with higher sensitivity at the presymptomatic stage, ideally quantified using typically acquired structural MRI scans, would thus be of great benefit for the detection of early disease, disease monitoring and subject stratification. In the present cross‐sectional study, we investigated textural properties of T1‐weighted 3T MRI scans in relation to APOE4 genotype, age and sex. We pooled together data from the PREVENT‐Dementia and ALFA studies focused on midlife healthy populations with dementia risk factors (analysable cohort: 1585 participants; mean age 56.2 ± 7.4 years). Voxel‐based and texture (examined features: contrast, entropy, energy, homogeneity) based morphometry was used to identify areas of volumetric and textural differences between APOE4 carriers and non‐carriers. Textural maps were generated and were subsequently harmonised using voxel‐wise COMBAT. For all analyses, APOE4, sex, age and years of education were used as model predictors. Interactions between APOE4 and age were further examined. There were no group differences in regional brain volume or texture based on APOE4 carriership or when age × APOE4 interactions were examined. Older people tended to have a less homogeneous textural profile in grey and white matter and a more homogeneous profile in the ventricles. A more heterogeneous textural profile was observed for females in areas such as the ventricles, frontal and parietal lobes and for males in the brainstem, cerebellum, precuneus and cingulate. Overall, we have shown the absence of volumetric and textural differences between APOE4 carriers and non‐carriers at midlife and have established associations of textural features with ageing and sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the role of microRNA in senescence of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) induced by replication. Hsa‐miR‐134‐5p was found up‐regulated in senescent EPCs where overexpression improved angiogenic activity. Hsa‐miR‐134‐5p, which targeted transforming growth factor β‐activated kinase 1‐binding protein 1 (TAB1) gene, down‐regulated TAB1 protein, and inhibited phosphorylation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38) in hsa‐miR‐134‐5p‐overexpressed senescent EPCs. Treatment with siRNA specific to TAB1 (TAB1si) down‐regulated TAB1 protein and subsequently inhibited p38 activation in senescent EPCs. Treatment with TAB1si and p38 inhibitor, respectively, showed angiogenic improvement. In parallel, transforming growth factor Beta 1 (TGF‐β1) was down‐regulated in hsa‐miR‐134‐5p‐overexpressed senescent EPCs and addition of TGF‐β1 suppressed the angiogenic improvement. Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) disclosed expression levels of hsa‐miR‐134‐5p altered in adult life, reaching a peak before 65 years, and then falling in advanced age. Calculation of the Framingham risk score showed the score inversely correlates with the hsa‐miR‐134‐5p expression level. In summary, hsa‐miR‐134‐5p is involved in the regulation of senescence‐related change of angiogenic activity via TAB1‐p38 signalling and via TGF‐β1 reduction. Hsa‐miR‐134‐5p has a potential cellular rejuvenation effect in human senescent EPCs. Detection of human PBMC‐derived hsa‐miR‐134‐5p predicts cardiovascular risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the ageing process, TNF‐α can promote the expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). However, it remains unclear which receptor(s) of TNF‐α are involved in and how they modulate this process. Here, we report that TNFR2 hyperexpression induced by either TNF‐α or IL‐6, two proinflammatory factors of senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP), causes cellular apolarity and differentiation inhibition in aged MDSCs. Ex vivo overexpression of TNFR2 in young MDSCs inhibited their polarity and differentiation, whereas in vivo depletion of Tnfr2 in aged MDSCs promotes their differentiation. Consequently, the age‐dependent increase of TNFR2 versus unaltered TNFR1 expression in aged MDSCs significantly shifts the balance of TNF‐α signaling toward the TNFR2–JNK axis, which accounts for JNK‐induced impairment of cell polarity and differentiation failure of aged MDSCs. Consistently, inhibiting JNK attenuates apolarity and partially restores the differentiation capacity of aged MDSCs, suggesting that upregulated TNFR2/JNK signaling is a key factor limiting MDSC differentiation during organismal ageing. Therefore, abnormal hyperexpression of TNFR2 represents a general mechanism by which extrinsic SASP signals disrupt intrinsic cell polarity behavior, thereby arresting mature differentiation of MDSCs with ageing, suggesting that TNFR2 could be a potential therapeutic target for intervention of ageing through rejuvenation of aged MDSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous study, intranuclear cardiac troponin I (cTnI) may function as a co‐factor of Yin Yang 1(YY1). Here, we aimed to explore the role of intranuclear cTnI in ageing hearts. Nuclear translocation of cTnI was demonstrated using Western blot and immunofluorescence. The potential nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) of cTnI were predicted by a web server and then verified in 293T cells by putative NLS‐eGFP‐GST and NLS‐mutant transfection. The ratio of Nuclear cTnI/ Total cTnI (Nu/T) decreased significantly in ageing hearts, accompanied with ATG5‐decline‐related impaired cardiac autophagy. RNA sequencing was performed in cTnI knockout hearts. The differential expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed by overlapping with YY1 ChIP‐sequencing data. cTnI gain and loss experiments in vitro determined those filtered DEGs' expression levels. A strong correlation was found between expression patterns cTnI and FOS. Using ChIP‐q‐PCR, we demonstrated that specific binding DNA sequences of cTnI were enriched in the FOS promoter −299 to −157 region. It was further verified that pcDNA3.1 (−)‐cTnI could increase the promoter activity of FOS by using luciferase report assay. At last, we found that FOS can regulate the ATG5 (autophagy‐related gene 5) gene by using a luciferase report assay. Taken together, our results indicate that decreased intranuclear cTnI in ageing hearts may cause impaired cardiac autophagy through the FOS/ATG5 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Photo‐ageing is a form of skin ageing which affects the entire face. A photo‐aged skin has a diverse variety of wrinkles and dyspigmentation all over the face. Here, we discuss photo‐ageing on the Chinese skin evaluated using a photo‐numeric scale developed and validated on Caucasian skin (i.e., Caucasian scale) and evaluated using a photo‐numeric scale developed and validated on Korean skin (i.e., Korean scale). The Korean scale can be subdivided into two scales that separately address the wrinkling and dyspigmentation constituents of photo‐ageing. Aim: As there are currently no photo‐ageing scales for Chinese skin, the main objective of this study is to adapt existing photo‐ageing photo‐numeric scales for use on ethnic Chinese skin. Method: Three trained assessors studied facial photo‐ageing on 1,081 ethnic Chinese young adults from the Singapore/Malaysia Cross‐sectional Genetics Epidemiology Study (SMCGES) cohort. Results: All assessors are highly internally consistent (Weighted Kappa (κw) values≥0.952). We found that the Caucasian scale and Korean scale give nearly synonymous results for the wrinkling constituent of photo‐ageing (R2 = 0.9386). The two scales are strongly concordant (Spearman's Rank Correlation (ρ) value: 0.62 ± 0.06, p = 1.31×10−84). A weak‐to‐moderate inter‐scalar level of agreement (Cohen's Kappa (κ) values: 0.38 ± 0.05, p = 8.87×10−53) persists and is statistically significant after accounting for agreements due to chance. When tested on ethnic Chinese skin, both scales detect photo‐ageing consistently (Area under curve [AUC] values: 0.76‐0.84). Additionally, the Korean scale for the dyspigmentation constituent of photo‐ageing is concordant with both the Caucasian scale (R2 = 0.7888) and the Korean scale for the wrinkling constituent of photo‐ageing (R2 = 0.7734). Conclusion: Our results show that the Caucasian scale is suitable for capturing photo‐ageing on Chinese skin, especially wrinkle variations. The Korean dyspigmentation scale supplements the Caucasian scale to capture dyspigmentation patterns on Chinese skin that may be absent on Caucasian skin. Currently, photo‐ageing scales for Chinese skin are absent. When developed, these photo‐ageing scales must be properly validated for their ability to capture photo‐ageing of the entire face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older people with intellectual disabilities and their families report a lack of support for planning for parental death and transitions in care. This article aims to demonstrate the process of co‐designing resources to support older people with intellectual disabilities and their families to plan for the future. Methods: Following interviews and focus groups with older people with intellectual disabilities and their families, we used an adapted experience‐based co‐design process to develop planning ahead resources. This included a 'trigger film' summarising findings from the earlier interview study, 12 co‐design workshops and a user feedback phase. Results: The co‐design group developed a set of 102 'Planning Ahead Cards' to help families to talk about the future and prepare for meetings with social care professionals. The group made decisions about the content, format and design of resources, and how co‐design workshops would run. The user feedback phase led to changes to the cards, and families and stakeholder groups suggested that they would be useful for planning ahead. Conclusion: The Planning Ahead Cards may facilitate planning for parental death and transitions in care for older people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The co‐design approach was key to ensuring that the resources were useful and accessible for families. Patient or Public Contribution: People with intellectual disabilities and their families contributed to the design of the resources through the co‐design workshops and feedback phase. The research team includes a research assistant with intellectual disabilities who co‐facilitated co‐design workshops and co‐authored this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing results in lower exercise tolerance, manifested as decreased critical power (CP). We examined whether the age‐related decrease in CP occurs independently of changes in muscle mass and whether it is related to impaired vascular function. Ten older (63.1 ± 2.5 years) and 10 younger (24.4 ± 4.0 years) physically active volunteers participated. Physical activity was measured with accelerometry. Leg muscle mass was quantified with dual X‐ray absorptiometry. The CP and maximum power during a graded exercise test (PGXT) of single‐leg knee‐extension exercise were determined over the course of four visits. During a fifth visit, vascular function of the leg was assessed with passive leg movement (PLM) hyperaemia and leg blood flow and vascular conductance during knee‐extension exercise at 10 W, 20 W, slightly below CP (90% CP) and PGXT. Despite not differing in leg lean mass (P = 0.901) and physical activity (e.g., steps per day, P = 0.735), older subjects had ∼30% lower mass‐specific CP (old = 3.20 ± 0.94 W kg−1 vs. young = 4.60 ± 0.87 W kg−1; P < 0.001). The PLM‐induced hyperaemia and leg blood flow and/or conductance were blunted in the old at 20 W, 90% CP and PGXT (P < 0.05). When normalized for leg muscle mass, CP was strongly correlated with PLM‐induced hyperaemia (R2 = 0.52; P < 0.001) and vascular conductance during knee‐extension exercise at 20 W (R2 = 0.34; P = 0.014) and 90% CP (R2 = 0.39; P = 0.004). In conclusion, the age‐related decline in CP is not only an issue of muscle quantity, but also of impaired muscle quality that corresponds to impaired vascular function. What is the central question of this study?Does the age‐related decrease in critical power occur independently of changes in muscle mass and is it related to impaired vascular function?What is the main finding and its importance?The age‐related reduction in exercise tolerance, assessed by critical power, occurs independently of loss of muscle mass and is related to vascular function and exercise blood flow. Blood flow during exercise slightly below critical power reaches very high steady‐state levels that do not differ significantly from the maximum blood flow achieved during exercise above critical power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falls have a global impact, affecting people worldwide, with a notably high occurrence among the elderly. This study employs machine learning techniques to analyze falls and simulate Activities of Daily Living (ADL). The objective is to predict human falls by leveraging signals from accelerometers and gyroscopes as wearable sensors. By deriving statistical features such as mean, standard deviation, and range the authors successfully trained and assessed six machine learning models allowing them to compare solutions based on both wrist and waist data. The combination of these characteristics and sensors resulted in the Random Forest waist model achieving the most favorable metrics, with an accuracy rate of 97.22% in a 5‐s window. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing is characterised at the molecular level by six transcriptional 'hallmarks of ageing', that are commonly described as progressively affected as time passes. By contrast, the 'Smurf' assay separates high‐and‐constant‐mortality risk individuals from healthy, zero‐mortality risk individuals, based on increased intestinal permeability. Performing whole body total RNA sequencing, we found that Smurfness distinguishes transcriptional changes associated with chronological age from those associated with biological age. We show that transcriptional heterogeneity increases with chronological age in non‐Smurf individuals preceding the other five hallmarks of ageing that are specifically associated with the Smurf state. Using this approach, we also devise targeted pro‐longevity genetic interventions delaying entry in the Smurf state. We anticipate that increased attention to the evolutionary conserved Smurf phenotype will bring about significant advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the electrical tree resistance of epoxy resin, composites were prepared using dihydroxydiphenylsilane and a novel silicone modifier modified epoxy resin and micron silica, and the composites were subjected to accelerated thermal aging test and electrical tree test and recorded the growth process of electrical trees to further obtain the characteristic parameters of electrical trees in the experimental samples. The results show that the silicone‐modified epoxy resin/silica composite has better thermal stability and electrical tree resistance than the unmodified epoxy resin/silica composite and pure epoxy resin. Analysis of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and breakdown field strength results show that the introduction of the modifier enhanced interfacial properties between the epoxy resin and silica. At the end of the electrical tree test, the length of the electrical tree in the silicone‐modified epoxy resin/silica composite was at a minimum 25.31% of the length of the electrical tree in the unmodified epoxy resin/silica composite with the same silica filling ratio, and 9.19% of the length of the electrical tree in the pure epoxy, while the electrical trees in the silicone‐modified epoxy resin/silica composite have lower expansion factors, as well as higher fractal dimensions, compared to those in the resin without added silica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and ageing predispose to numerous, yet overlapping chronic diseases. For example, metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Low‐grade chronic inflammation of tissues, such as the liver, visceral adipose tissue and neurological tissues, is considered a significant contributor to these chronic diseases. Thus, it is becoming increasingly important to understand what drives this inflammation in affected tissues. Recent evidence, especially in the context of obesity, suggests that the intestine plays an important role as the gatekeeper of inflammatory stimuli that ultimately fuels low‐grade chronic tissue inflammation. In addition to metabolic diseases, abnormalities in the intestinal mucosal barrier have been linked to a range of other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as neurodegeneration and ageing. The flow of inflammatory stimuli from the gut is in part controlled by local immunological inputs impacting the intestinal barrier. Here, we will review the impact of obesity and ageing on the intestinal immune system and its downstream consequences on gut barrier function, which is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and age‐related diseases. In particular, we will discuss the effects of age‐related intestinal dysfunction on neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To capture current opportunities for social participation for older people living in residential aged care in Victoria, Australia. Methods: A postal survey of all 766 Victorian residential aged care facilities. Respondents were asked to outline the nature of social participation opportunities available to residents, any potential barriers to inclusion and organisational commitments such as funding allocations and staff fractions. Results: Surveys were returned by 153 facilities, representing a response rate of 20%. All facilities had a dedicated social program, although just over half (57%; 87 of 153) offered the social program over the weekend, usually on a Saturday morning only (90%). Barriers to older people's opportunities for social participation included their ineligibility to continue attending external community programs once entering residential aged care (86%), their illness (71%), carer availability (50%) and lack of funding (42%). Funding for almost all programs (128 of 153; 84%) was described as internal and ad hoc, and staff allocations for the program were almost entirely fractional. Only 12 (8%) facilities reported that they had a dedicated full‐time coordinator for the social participation program. Conclusions: Social participation programs are available in Victorian residential aged care facilities. However, limited funding and staff allocations reduce the opportunities for older people to engage in meaningful social participation with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]