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This paper is devoted to studying in R n × (0 , T) (n ≥ 1) the Cauchy problem for a semilinear heat equation with source term f (x) non-rarefied at infinity, subjected to zero initial data. To such a problem, the novelty of this work lies in: (a) similar to no source case, non-rarefaction of f at infinity brings about its classical solution blowing up in a finite time T ⁎ > 0 ; (b) we derive the optimal upper and lower bound on the life span T ⁎. This may throw some light on studies of life span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of artificial light at night (ALAN) is an anthropogenic disturbance with eco-evolutionary consequences for both nocturnal and diurnal organisms. It has been hypothesized that light pollution could create a 'night-light' niche providing new opportunities for diurnal organisms to forage and reproduce at night, with fitness consequences still scarcely explored. We exposed diurnal parasitoid wasps (Venturia canescens) to control (0 lx), low (0.7 lx) or high (20 lx) intensity of light at night throughout their lives and monitored changes in behavioural and life history traits. Light pollution influenced the night-time activity of wasps, with increased feeding and egg laying at night and a tendency for higher night-time reproductive success under a high intensity of light pollution. Surprisingly, high light pollution also increased the wasps' life span. Light pollution did not significantly affect lifetime reproductive success but did affect the distribution of ovipositions between day and night. Additionally, we showed that reproductive senescence occurred in V. canescens and that offspring development time was influenced by light pollution, in interaction with maternal age. These findings highlight the use of the 'night-light' niche in a diurnal insect exposed to light pollution, with potential implications for population dynamics, especially in natural conditions. • Light at night led to behavioural changes in the diurnal wasp Venturia canescens. • Night-time feeding and egg laying increased in the presence of light at night. • Lifetime reproductive success was not influenced by light pollution. • Light at night also modulated reproductive senescence in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans and is one of the most fundamental pathways of living organisms. Since its discovery three decades ago, mTOR has been recognized as the center of nutrient sensing and growth, homeostasis, metabolism, life span, and aging. The role of dysregulated mTOR in common diseases, especially cancer, has been extensively studied and reported. Emerging evidence supports that mTOR critically regulates innate immune responses that govern the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. This review discusses the regulatory role of mTOR in macrophage functions in acute inflammation triggered by ischemia and in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), in which chronic inflammation plays critical roles. Specifically, we discuss the role of mTOR in trained immunity, immune senescence, and clonal hematopoiesis. In addition, this review includes a discussion on the architecture of mTOR, the function of its regulatory complexes, and the dual-arm signals required for mTOR activation to reflect the current knowledge state. We emphasize future research directions necessary to understand better the powerful pathway to take advantage of the mTOR inhibitors for innovative applications in patients with cardiovascular diseases associated with aging and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study wave breaking in the unidirectional non-local wave model describing the motion of a collision-free plasma in a magnetic field. By analyzing the monotonicity and continuity properties of a system of the Riccati-type differential inequalities involving the extremal slopes of flows, we show a new sufficient condition on the initial data to exhibit wave breaking. Moreover, the estimates of life span and wave breaking rate are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Hypothesis : Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have received considerable attention owing to their safety, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, the side reactions of hydrogen evolution revolution and Zn dendrite growth reduce the Coulombic efficiency and life span of AZIBs. To address these issues, we designed an artificial protective layer of a Te-hybridized core–shell zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). Experiments : A core–shell structure of ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was first developed as a protecting layer on the Zn anode. To improve the poor conductivity of ZIF and its affinity for Zn, the core–shell structure was hybridized with zincophilic Te to increase the surface area and reduce the charge-transfer resistance. Findings : By incorporating metallic Te into ZIF-8 and ZIF-67, the nucleation potential and charge-transfer resistance were significantly reduced, enhancing the ion reaction kinetics and electron migration. Benefiting from the Te-hybridized ZIF-8@ZIF-67-derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon (Te-hybridized ZIF-8@ZIF-67/NC) layer, a full cell of Zn coated with Te-hybridized ZIF-8@ZIF-67/NC//MnO 2 exhibited an excellent rate performance of 214 mAh g−1 at an ultrahigh current density of 10 A g−1 and ultralong cycle life (3200 cycles) without the formation of Zn dendrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity but it is also associated with costs such as exposure to parasites or reduced life span. Black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens , are a suitable model to investigate the trade-offs between reproduction and longevity as they largely rely on their larval resources and do not have to feed as adults. Here, we investigated the influence of mating status on adult longevity. We found that females had shorter longevity than males, but the intersexual difference in life span was reduced through mating which increased female but decreased male longevity. This suggests a cost of mating for males, while female longevity increased, likely via nutrients transferred by males during copulation (sensu nuptial gifts). We also investigated the transparent abdominal 'window' of adult black soldier flies, the fullness of which may be a proxy for both age and mating status. Window fullness decreased with age in unmated males whereas unmated females maintained high fullness until they were older. Additionally, mated females mostly had full windows while those of mated males were mostly empty. Our findings have not only expanded our understanding of resource allocation in this species, but they also harbour great potential for applicability in the industrial sector given the extensive use of black soldier flies in organic waste management. • Unmated male black soldier flies live longer than unmated females. • Mating reduces the longevity difference between unmated males and females. • The transparent abdominal 'window' of black soldier flies can be a proxy for age. • The relationship between 'window' fullness and age differs between the sexes. • Male black soldier flies may be choosing females with full 'windows' for mating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the life span of solutions for a semilinear heat equation with space inhomogeneous source term λ f (x). By using the comparison principle and modifying Kaplan's first eigenvalue method, we obtain asymptotic behaviour of the life span for different scales of λ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence linking nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) air pollution to life span of high-vulnerability older adults is extensively scarce in low- and middle-income countries. This study seeks to quantify mortality risk, excess deaths, and loss of life expectancy (LLE) associated with long-term exposure to NO 2 among elderly individuals in China. A nationwide dynamic cohort of 20352 respondents ≥65 years old were enrolled from the China Longitudinal Health and Longevity Survey during 2005–2018. Residential exposures to NO 2 and co-pollutants were assessed by well-validated spatiotemporal prediction models. A Cox regression model with time-dependent covariates was utilized to quantify the association of all-cause mortality with NO 2 exposure, controlling for confounders such as demographics, lifestyle, health status, and ambient temperature. NO 2 -attributable deaths and LLE were evaluated for the years 2010 and 2020 based on the pooled NO 2 -mortality relation derived from multi-national cohort investigations. Decomposition analyses were conducted to dissociate net shift in NO 2 -related deaths between 2010 and 2020 into four primary contributing factors. A total of 14313 deaths were recorded during follow-up of approximately 100 hundred person-years (median 3.6 years). We observed an approximately linear relationship (nonlinear P = 0.882) of NO 2 exposure with all-cause death across a broad range from 6.6 to 95.7 μg/m3. Every 10-μg/m3 rise in yearly average NO 2 concentration was linked to a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.045 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.031–1.059). In the updated meta-analysis of this study and 9 existing cohorts, we estimated a pooled HR of 1.043 (95% CI: 1.023–1.063) for each 10-μg/m3 growth in NO 2. Reaching a 10-μg/m3 counterfactual target of NO 2 concentration in China could avoid 0.33 (95% empirical CI: 0.19–0.49) million premature deaths and an LLE of 0.40 (95% empirical CI: 0.23–0.59) years in 2010, which greatly dropped to 0.24 (95% empirical CI: 0.14–0.36) million deaths and 0.21 (95% empirical CI: 0.12–0.31) years of LLE in 2020. The net fall in NO 2 -attributable deaths (–26.8%) between 2010 and 2020 was primarily driven by the declines in both NO 2 concentration (–41.6%) and mortality rate (–27.1%) under population growth (+41.0%) and age structure transition (+0.9%). Our findings provide national evidence for increased risk of premature death and loss of life expectancy attributed to later-life NO 2 exposure among the elderly in China. In an accelerated aging society, strengthened clean air actions should be formulated to minimize the health burden and regional inequality in NO 2 -attributable mortality. • Linear NO 2 -mortality association was observed in elders aged 80 years and over. • Meta-analysis estimated a 4.3% excess risk of death for each 10-μg/m3 rise in NO 2. • Reaching NO 2 target of 10 μg/m3 in 2020 could extend life expectancy by 0.21 years. • Decrease in NO 2 -related deaths during 2010–2020 was primarily driven by declined NO 2 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of a safe place to rest at night may be an essential survival strategy for diurnal animals. Despite the importance of parasitoid wasps as consumers in terrestrial ecosystems, their selection of sites to rest and their mortality during the night have not been measured, to the best of our knowledge, reflective of a general lack of understanding of resting behaviours of insects in the field. Here, we used parasitoid wasps of the genus Aphytis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), the highly successful biological control agents of the California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), to study the resting ecology of parasitoids in the field over space and time, considering both external and internal correlates of parasitoid resting behaviour. At night, Aphytis wasps tended to rest on citrus tree leaves, which have a lower host density, but also fewer predators and a greater density of food sources for adult wasps, compared to fruit and branches. On this plant substrate, most of the population avoided predators and survived the night. Aphytis wasps selected leaves on which to rest at night in a nonrandom fashion. They tended to aggregate on leaves with high densities of hosts and food sources (honeydew) and with low densities of potential predators. During the day, wasps with lower egg loads tended to remain on leaves, likely resting and maturing eggs. Overall, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that parasitoids select certain sites at which to rest safely at night. These findings also suggest that the availability of safe resting places could be a valuable resource for beneficial insects in agroecosystems, especially those that have life spans extending over multiple days. • Diurnal insects search for places to rest safely at night. • We studied the resting ecology of Aphytis parasitoids in the field. • At night, they aggregated on leaves with high densities of hosts and food sources. • Parasitoids avoided resting on leaves with potential predators. • More than 90% of the parasitoids avoided predator attacks and survived the night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SKN-1, the ortholog of mammalian Nrf2 proteins, is a transcription factor that plays an important role in oxidative stress resistance and longevity. Similar to other defense systems, the Nrf2-mediated stress response is compromised in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Our previous studies demonstrated that tetramethylpyrazine nitrone (TBN), a derivative of tetramethylpyrazine armed with a potent free radical-scavenging nitrone moiety, exerted multifunctional neuroprotection in neurological and other diseases. However, the ability of TBN to extend a healthy lifespan and its underlying mechanisms of action are not yet clear. C. elegans have become a popular animal model in aging research. Herein, we demonstrate that TBN can extend the lifespan, promote age-associated health indicators, and restore mitochondrial function in C. elegans. TBN also significantly reduced ROS levels and superoxide accumulation in C. elegans. We show that TBN-mediated lifespan extension is SKN-1dependent. The present study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms by which TBN inhibits aging via the Nrf2/SKN-1 pathway in C. elegans. • TBN has significant antioxidative activity in C. elegans. • TBN ameliorates age-related mitochondrial dysfunction in C. elegans. • TBN-mediated lifespan extension of C. elegans by activating the Nrf2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are highly social animals, and the interactions between individuals are likely to be important to their ecology and conservation. Social structures are affected by the physical environment (spatial factors), as well as varying over time and seasons (temporal factors). Compared with many other taxa, individual bats are capable of moving large distances, so experience a range of spatial locations. They have long life spans, providing opportunities to interact with others over a long period, and are often highly gregarious. Using a long-term data set, we examined the social behaviour, along with spatial and temporal influences, of greater horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum , during hibernation using social network approaches. Across 17 years, 2808 individuals were monitored, yielding a total of 5952 records at 21 roost locations. We investigated how individuals' life history traits (sex, age and breeding status of females) and the frequency of observation affected social associations and identified factors that influenced the movement of individuals between locations. Older and male animals were significantly more central in the social network, and adult males may act as a link between socially separate individuals within the society. The social network had high nonrandom dyadic structuring, with assortment by age stronger in females than males, and this was likely to be influenced by spatiotemporal factors. In general, higher weighted betweenness scores were recorded in a noncore hibernaculum, suggesting that these sites, despite low numbers of bats being present, may act as locations to connect less-connected individuals, as well as communities. Finally, movements between hibernacula were only associated with the frequency of observation rather than any life history trait. These results illustrate the interconnectivity across sites, stressing the need for appropriate cross-jurisdiction species management plans to be created for species that utilize and move between multiple sites within the landscape. • Older and male bats are more central in social networks during hibernation. • Assortment by age is stronger in female bats compared to males. • Assortment is likely to be influenced by spatiotemporal factors. • Movement between hibernation sites was only affected by frequency of observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Higher neuroticism was associated with more cognitive errors. • Higher conscientiousness and openness were associated with fewer cognitive errors. • The associations were generally similar across age, sex, race, education, and poverty status. This study examines the association between personality and cognitive errors in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study, a sample diverse across race (Black, White) and SES (above, below 125% of the federal poverty line). Participants (N = 1062) completed a comprehensive personality questionnaire and were administered a brief mental status screener of cognitive errors. Higher neuroticism was associated with more cognitive errors, whereas higher openness and conscientiousness were associated with fewer errors. These associations were independent of age, sex, race, poverty status, and education and were generally not moderated by these factors. These findings support the associations between personality and cognition across race and SES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ringing is one of the most commonly used techniques to monitor bird individuals and collect data on various aspects of their life history. However, this method involves practices (capturing and handling) that might affect individuals' behaviour. Wild animals can remember and learn from previous experiences, and, thus, they anticipate risks and modify their response in subsequent similar situations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of playback-associated mist netting on the behaviour of the tawny pipit, Anthus campestris , a medium-sized migratory passerine bird. In playback experiments simulating territorial intrusion of a conspecific male, we examined aggressive responses of individuals attracted in the past by conspecific song playback to a mist net ('experienced' males) and compared them to the responses of individuals without such an experience ('naïve' males). The interval between the capture of experienced males and the playback experiments ranged from several weeks to more than 5 years. Our results revealed prominent differences between the behaviour of naïve tawny pipit males and those experienced with a capturing event. Although all tested males responded to the stimulus, experienced males tended to be substantially less aggressive and more cautious in comparison to naïve individuals; prominent differences were observed, in particular, in the avoidance of close proximity to the loudspeaker by the majority of experienced males. There were no significant differences in responses to playbacks between the experienced males captured and exposed to subsequent experiments within the same or next season and those that underwent playback experiments later, up to 5 years after having been previously trapped. These findings suggest that male tawny pipits may negatively associate playback stimulation with capturing events and remember such experiences over a time period comparable to the expected life span of this species in the wild. • Tawny pipits apparently remember a capture after playback of conspecific songs. • Males experienced with mist-netting and handling behave differently to naïve ones. • More cautious and less aggressive behaviour persists even 5 years after trapping. • This period is comparable to the species' expected life span in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sodium lignosulfonate is used as the electrolyte additive of zinc-ion batteries. • The performances of Zn//MnO 2 battery are significantly improved by the additive. • The Zn//Zn cell with the modified electrolyte realizes excellent reversibility. • The Zn//Cu cell with the modified electrolyte exhibits uniform zinc striping/plating. • The additive can effectively suppress dendrite growth and byproduct formation. Thanks to high safety and low cost, rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (RZIBs) have become a promising candidate for grid-scale energy storage systems. However, zinc anodes suffer from severe dendrite growth and irreversible side reactions, leading to poor cyclability of RZIBs. In this work, low-cost sodium lignosulfonate (SL) is utilized as the electrolyte additive to solve this problem. The added amount of SL is optimized to be 0.02%, which enables the Zn//α-MnO 2 battery to deliver a large capacity of 146 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1, corresponding to a high capacity retention of 83.5%. The Zn//Zn symmetric cell with the modified electrolyte also shows excellent cyclability even under a commercial level of areal specific capacity (4 mAh cm−2). Overall, the results of this study confirm that the SL additive can improve the ionic conductivity of electrolyte, restrict the two-dimensional planar diffusion of Zn2+ ions at the electrode/electrolyte interface, lower the nucleation overpotential of Zn2+ ions, prevent side reactions, and inhibit the corrosion of Zn metal. Therefore, the dendrite growth and byproduct formation can be effectively suppressed. This study provides new insights into protecting metal electrodes of electrochemical energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and function during aging. Although mitochondrial dysfunction and related metabolic defects precede age-related changes in muscle, their contributions to muscle aging are still not well known. In this study, we used a Drosophila model to investigate the role of lipophorin receptors (LpRs), a Drosophila homologue of the mammalian very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), in mitochondrial dynamics and muscle aging. Muscle-specific knockdown of LpR1 or LpR2 resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced proteostasis, which contributed to muscle aging. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) ameliorated muscle dysfunction induced by LpR1 knockdown. These results suggest that LpR1/VLDLR is a novel key target that modulates age-dependent lipid remodeling and muscle homeostasis. • LpR1/VLDLR was gradually decreased in muscle tissue according to aging process. • Muscle-specific knockdown of LpR1 or LpR2 resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction. • Muscle-specific knockdown of LpR1 or LpR2 reduced proteostasis. • AMPK activation restored knockdown of LpRs-mediated muscle dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small birds in winter face trade-offs between predation risk and foraging, and alternate life-history strategies may arise from these trade-offs. Animal personality shows similarities with alternative life-history strategies, and using a life-history context to understand personality can provide valuable insights. Golden-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia atricapilla , a small migratory bird, have a complex winter social system with high site-fidelity, long-term social associations between individuals and competition mediated by badges of status. We asked whether golden-crowned sparrows show personalities during winter, whether these personalities were consistent over 3 years and whether they correlated with social and morphological traits. We found that golden-crowned sparrows had highly repeatable behaviours, as measured in captive behavioural assessments, constituting personalities consistent within one season and over time for up to 3 years, a time span that covers the average life span of the sparrows. While long-term repeatability was present, it varied considerably among different behaviours and time spans, and length of time between measures did not predict the magnitude of repeatability. Two movement-based aspects of sparrow personality were independent of the traits we measured (dominance, badges of status, size and age). However, nonsong vocalizations (a repeatable aspect of personality) correlated with wing length and gold badge size in some years. Because personality did not strongly link to the social traits we measured, sparrow personality could represent a separate axis of variation that might connect with other winter life-history parameters such as foraging, predation response or survival. • We studied whether wintering golden-crowned sparrows show personalities. • Personality was stable both within and across years. • Across-year repeatability showed considerable variability, indicating plasticity. • Personality was independent of dominance, badges of status, size, sex and age. • Personality may represent a separate axis of variation (e.g. survival, foraging). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasites can play an important role in host sexual selection. According to the 'Hamilton & Zuk hypothesis', females acquire benefits from choosing parasite-free or parasite-resistant males based on their secondary sexual traits (e.g. colourful plumage) as indicators of heritable parasite resistance. However, females may also gain benefits by avoiding sexually transmitted parasites or acquiring more parental care, higher quality sperm and nuptial gifts provided by uninfected males. Here we tested how the presence of the Ophryocystis elektroscirrha -like parasite (OE-like) affected longevity, reproduction and mating frequency in the moth Helicoverpa armigera. We found that OE-like infection affected the sexes differently: the life span of uninfected males was reduced when paired with infected females, while these females had higher reproductive output than when paired with infected males. These results suggest some form of terminal investment by infected males. When we assessed the effect of OE-like infections on female calling behaviour and sex pheromone signal, we found that the OE-like parasite did not affect the female's pheromone signal in quality or quantity, but it did reduce her reproductive output, suggesting that infected females reallocate resources to maintain an attractive sex pheromone signal. In mate choice experiments, when females were the choosing sex, infected females mated significantly more often with uninfected than with infected males. Since these females produced approximately 12% more offspring, and uninfected females did not prefer uninfected or infected males, these results indicate female choice for uninfected males. Unexpectedly, when we compared the calling behaviour of the two females that were caged together, we found that infected females called significantly earlier than uninfected females, while this was not the case when females were housed alone. Thus, OE-like infection affects reproductive strategies in both males and females, but in different ways, which suggests sex-specific parasite-mediated selection. • A neogregarine parasite affects H. armigera male longevity and female reproduction. • Infected females produce more offspring with uninfected than infected males. • Male choice is affected by when female calls not by her infection status. • Infected females call significantly earlier than uninfected females. • Sex-specific effects of parasite infection result in sex-specific mating strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate metabolism and energy balance by mediating physiological and behavioural responses to stress. Vertebrates respond to environmental challenges by increasing GC levels, which mediate the reallocation of resources from delayable activities such as reproduction to immediate survival necessities. However, when future reproductive potential is low, it has been hypothesized (and evidenced in a few semelparous species) that stress should adaptively promote reproduction rather than suppress it, even at the expense of wellbeing. Due to their unique life cycle and particular habitat, annual fishes (Cyprinodontiformes, Aplocheiloidei) are ideal unexplored model systems to test the prediction that GCs promote reproduction. Annual fishes are among the most remarkable extremophile species with the shortest vertebrate life span. They inhabit ephemeral ponds, and after reaching sexual maturity in few weeks, they breed continuously. As the breeding season progresses, and pond dry-out is imminent, future mating opportunities decrease together with the impoverishment of environmental conditions. In this study, we evaluate, for the first time in annual fishes, how reproduction is affected by high GC levels. We first show that male Austrolebias reicherti increase their cortisol levels as the breeding season progresses and environmental conditions deteriorate in the wild. Furthermore, increased cortisol levels in males were associated with increases in female gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indices and a decrease in male HSI. Secondly, we show that cortisol treatment induces (1) an increase in male courtship behaviour and in the intensity of male typical coloration, (2) a weight loss in males and (3) an increase in female HSI. Overall, we demonstrate that cortisol promotes reproduction in both sexes of A. reicherti with sexually distinct effects, representing a clear exception to the traditional role of the stress response impairing reproduction. • The canonical effect of stress on reproduction is reverted in annual fish. • As mating opportunities run out, cortisol levels and reproductive effort increase. • Cortisol treatment promotes courtship and bold coloration in males. • Annual fish arise as ideal models to test the link between stress and life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood adversity is associated with poor cardiometabolic health in adulthood; little is known about how this relationship evolves through childbearing years for parous individuals. The goal was to estimate differences in cardiometabolic health indicators before, during and after childbearing years by report of childhood maltreatment in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort study. Including 743 individuals nulliparous at baseline (1985–1986) with one or more pregnancies >20 weeks during follow-up (1986–2022), we fit segmented linear regression models to estimate mean differences between individuals reporting or not reporting childhood maltreatment (physical or emotional) in waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and body mass index (BMI) prior to, during, and following childbearing years using generalized estimating equations, allowing for interaction between maltreatment and time within each segment, and adjusting for total parity, parental education, and race (Black or white, self-reported). Individuals reporting maltreatment (19%; 141) had a greater waist circumference (post-childbearing: +2.9 cm, 95% CI (0.7, 5.0), higher triglycerides [post-childbearing: +8.1 mg/dL, 95% CI (0.7, 15.6)], and lower HDL cholesterol [post-childbearing: −2.1 mg/dL, 95% CI (−4.7, 0.5)] during all stages compared to those not reporting maltreatment. There were not meaningful differences in blood pressure, fasting glucose, or BMI. Individuals who reported maltreatment did not report faster changes over time. Differences in some aspects of cardiometabolic health between individuals reporting versus not reporting childhood maltreatment were sustained across reproductive life stages, suggesting potentially persistent impacts of childhood adversity. • Early life stress may shape dynamics in cardiometabolic health over life stages. • People reporting childhood maltreatment had a larger waist circumference on average. • People reporting maltreatment had higher triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol. • Differences were constant before, during, and after childbearing. • Maltreatment was not associated with the rate of changes over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli LF82 (LF82) is associated with Crohn's disease. The simplicity and genetic maneuverability of honeybees' gut microbiota make them suitable for studying host-microbe interactions. To understand the interaction between LF82 and host gut, LF82 was used to infect germ-free honeybees (Apis mellifera) orally. We found that LF82 successfully colonized the gut and shortened the lifespan of germ-free bees. LF82 altered the gut structure and significantly increased gut permeability. RT–qPCR showed that LF82 infection activated anti-infective immune pathways and upregulated the mRNAs levels of antimicrobial peptides in the gut of germ-free bees. The gut transcriptome showed that LF82 significantly upregulated genes involved in Notch signaling, adhesion junctions, and Toll and Imd signaling pathways and downregulated genes involved in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, protein digestion and absorption, and tyrosine metabolism. In conclusion, the human-derived enteropathogenic bacterium LF82 can successfully colonize the gut of germ-free honeybees and cause enteritis-like changes, which provides an ideal model organism for revealing the pathogenesis of bacterial-associated diseases. • Human pathogenic E. coli LF82 successfully colonizes the sterile intestinal tract of honey bees. • E. coli LF82 causes enteritis-like manifestations in honey bees. • E. coli LF82 alters the intestinal transcriptome and activates intestinal immune pathways in honey bees. • Sterile honey bees have the potential to serve as an animal model for clinical infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many migratory insects, migration occurs during the prereproductive phase of the life cycle. This trait probably arises from a trade-off between migration and reproduction and in females has been termed the 'oogenesis–flight syndrome'. However, the generality of this syndrome has been questioned, especially for monomorphic insects. We studied the relationship between migration and reproduction in the highly cosmopolitan painted lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui , which in the Palaearctic undertakes the longest known multigenerational migration circuit of any insect. We tested for the oogenesis–flight syndrome in both spring and autumn migrants in two regions linked by migration, North Africa and northern Spain. Field observations were combined with laboratory experiments to determine the life span and the age at first mating to unravel the reproductive strategy observed in wild-caught individuals. Females and males wait on average around 5–6 days before mating, and field data revealed that mating frequencies increased rapidly once females reached a medium wing wear category. There were seasonal differences in mating frequencies in the study regions depending on whether the region acted as a source or as a destination for migrants, and in the latter case there were almost twice as many mated females. Moreover, a great majority of females collected during migratory flights were unmated, the remaining females having mated only very recently. Our results thus strongly indicate that the painted lady fulfils the oogenesis–flight syndrome, as migration is concentrated in its relatively short prereproductive period. Field data also showed a high positive correlation between mating frequency and host plant abundance, which suggests that mated females are able to locate potential breeding areas. This, together with the high fecundity estimated in laboratory trials, makes the painted lady a highly successful migratory insect. • Females and males wait on average around 5–6 days before mating. • Migration is concentrated in the relatively short prereproductive period. • The painted lady is one of the most fecund of all butterfly species. • Mated females have a good ability to locate potential breeding areas. • These traits form a migration syndrome and allow a successful migratory strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

αβγ-crystallins account for ∼90% of ocular proteins in lens with concentrations ≥400 mg/ml, which has to be soluble for the whole life-span and their aggregation results in cataract. So far, four cataract-causing mutants G18V, D26G, S39C and V42 M have been identified for human γS-crystallin. Mysteriously, lens maintains ATP concentrations of 3–7 mM despite being a metabolically-quiescent organ. Here by DSF and NMR, we characterized the binding of ATP to three cataract-causing mutants of human γS-crystallin as well as its effect on the solution conformations and thermal stability. The results together decode several novel findings: 1) ATP shows no detectable binding to WT and mutants, as well as no significant alternation of their conformations even at molar ratio of 1:200.2) Cataract-causing mutants show distinctive patterns of the crowding-induced destabilization. 3) ATP differentially antagonizes their crowding-induced destabilization. Our studies suggest that the crowding-induced destabilization of human γS-crystallin is also critically dependent of the hydration shell which could be differentially altered by four mutations. Most unexpectedly, ATP acts as an effective mediator for the protein hydration shell to antagonize the crowding-induced destabilization. Image 1 • Human lens is extremely crowded with crystallins at concentrations of ∼400 mg/ml. • ATP antagonizes the crowding-induced destabilization of WT γS-crystallin. • Four cataract-causing mutations of γS-crystallin accelerate the destabilization. • ATP can still antagonize the destabilization of the mutants except for G18V. • ATP is an effective mediator for the protein hydration shell to prevent aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past threatening experiences, such as exposure to a predator or a capture event, can influence an animal's future behaviour, with profound consequences on its survival and ultimate fitness. We hypothesize that an animal's physiological stress response phenotype modulates the influence of past experiences on future behaviour in the Florida scrub-jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens , a species that exhibits individual physiological stress response phenotypes that are repeatable across a life span. We subjected young, trap-capture-naïve Florida scrub-jays to a standardized capture and restraint protocol to quantify stress-induced levels of circulating glucocorticoids. Twenty-four hours later, we assessed their response to a novel object and compared this measure of neophobia to age-matched individuals that had never been captured in a trap. We predicted that individuals trapped prior to novel object trials would be more neophobic than noncaptured controls. Furthermore, we predicted that scrub-jays with high glucocorticoid responses would be the most neophobic. Indeed, previously captured individuals had longer latencies to approach and enter a novel ring compared to controls. Past trap experience interacted with a bird's physiological phenotype to influence their neophobic behaviour. Contrary to our predictions, trapped birds with a low glucocorticoid response phenotype were more neophobic compared to low response controls, whereas trapped individuals with a high response phenotype where less neophobic compared to high response controls. Our results demonstrate that experience can affect individuals differently depending on their physiological phenotype. This novel finding highlights the need to consider how differential responses to invasive and captive protocols may confound results of behavioural studies involving free-living subjects. • Threatening experiences can influence future behaviour. • We tested whether corticosterone (CORT) responsiveness influenced this relationship. • After capture, low CORT response birds were more neophobic than low CORT controls. • After capture, high CORT response birds were less neophobic than high CORT controls. • Capture experience may differentially affect neophobia response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why females mate multiply has been a long-standing question in evolutionary ecology. In attempts to answer this question, many studies on diverse taxa have highlighted various costs and benefits associated with reproduction. However, how the costs of mating differ from the costs of harassment and whether they vary with environmental conditions are unknown. To explore this, we compared various fitness traits of singly mated Callosobruchus maculatus females, with or without access to water, subjected to different levels of male exposure: no male (i.e. no mating or harassment), ablated male present (i.e. harassment only), intact male present (i.e. both mating and harassment), exposure to males for a short time (i.e. repeated mating but with minimal harassment). We found that, overall, females lived longer in wet than in dry environments, and that the effects of male exposure on female life span differed between environments: wet environments showed cumulative costs of harassment and mating, while differing levels of male exposure had no effect in dry environments. Further, while females laid more eggs in dry environments, females mating repeatedly were more fecund than females housed with ablated males in both environments, suggesting both benefits of repeated mating and costs of harassment, which are environmentally independent. Finally, offspring survival was dependent on a complex interaction between environment and male exposure, potentially reflecting environmental differences in resource allocation trade-offs. • Independent of the environment repeatedly mating with the same male benefits females. • Overall females living in wet environments live longer but produce fewer eggs. • Costs of mating and harassment for female seed beetles depend on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ras1 (Ras85D) and Ras2 (Ras64B) are the Drosophila orthologs of human H-Ras/N-Ras/K-Ras and R-Ras1-3 genes, respectively. The function of Ras1 has been thoroughly characterised during Drosophila embryonic and imaginal development, and it is associated with coupling activated trans-membrane receptors with tyrosine kinase activity to their downstream effectors. In this capacity, Ras1 binds and is required for the activation of Raf. Ras1 can also interact with PI3K, and it is needed to achieve maximal levels of PI3K signalling in specific cellular settings. In contrast, the function of the unique Drosophila R-Ras member (Ras2/Ras64B), which is more closely related to vertebrate R-Ras2/TC21, has been only studied through the use of constitutively activated forms of the protein. This pioneering work identified a variety of phenotypes that were related to those displayed by Ras1, suggesting that Ras1 and Ras2 might have overlapping activities. Here we find that Ras2 can interact with PI3K and Raf and activate their downstream effectors Akt and Erk. However, and in contrast to mutants in Ras1 , which are lethal, null alleles of Ras2 are viable in homozygosis and only show a phenotype of reduced wing size and extended life span that might be related to reduced Insulin receptor signalling. • We generated mutations in the Drosophila Ras2 gene, orthologous to human RRas1 , RRas2/TC21 and RRas3. • Loss of Ras2 function does not compromise organism viability, but cause reduced wing size and expanded life span. • Ras2 interact with the InR transducer PI3K. • Activated and overexpressed Ras2 can supply for Ras1 function. • Ras2 participates in one of several complementary mechanisms downstream to InR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FgfrL1 is a novel growth factor receptor that is primarily expressed in musculoskeletal tissues and the kidney. FgfrL1-deficient mice have a malformed diaphragm and no kidneys. Such animals die immediately after birth because they are not able to inflate their lungs. The FgfrL1 molecule is composed of three extracellular Ig domains, a transmembrane helix and a short intracellular domain. To investigate the contribution of each of these domains to the function of the novel receptor, we generated mice with deletions of the individual domains. Mice lacking the intracellular domain are viable and phenotypically normal. Mice lacking the first (N-terminal) Ig domain are also viable and normal, but have a reduced life span. Mice lacking the Ig2 or the Ig3 domain are born alive, but die within 24 ​h after birth. Ig2-deficient animals exhibit substantially smaller kidneys than wild-type littermates and contain a lower number of glomeruli. Ig3-deficient mice completely lack metanephric kidneys. Interestingly, both the Ig2 and the Ig3-deficient animals show only minor alterations in the diaphragm, which still enables them to inflate their lungs after birth. Our results demonstrate that the principal function of the FgfrL1 receptor is to control the growth of the metanephric kidneys by regulating nephrogenesis. It appears that this function is primarily accomplished by the Ig3 domain with some contribution of the Ig2 domain. It is conceivable that the two domains interact with an Fgf ligand and another molecule from the surface of neighboring cells to induce condensation of the metanephric mesenchyme to renal epithelia and glomeruli. • Receptor FgfrL1 contains 3 extracellular Ig domains and an intracellular tail. • Ig1-deficient mice are normal but have a reduced life span. • Ig2-deficient mice have smaller kidneys and die within 24 ​h after birth. • Ig3-deficient animals have no kidneys and die within 24 ​h after birth. • Thus, FgfrL1 primarily controls nephrogenesis and the Ig3 domain is most important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable evidences suggest a link between autophagy dysfunction, protein aggregation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Given that autophagy is a conserved intracellular housekeeping process, modulation of autophagy flux in various model organisms have highlighted its importance for maintaining proteostasis. In postmitotic cells such as neurons, compromised autophagy is sufficient to cause accumulation of ubiquitinated aggregates, neuronal dysfunction, degeneration, and loss of motor coordination-all hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. Reciprocally, enhanced autophagy flux augments cellular and organismal health, in addition to extending life span. These genetic studies not-withstanding a plethora of small molecule modulators of autophagy flux have been reported that alleviate disease symptoms in models of neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the potential of such molecules to be, perhaps, one of the first autophagy drugs for treating these currently incurable diseases. Image 1 • Impairment in autophagy pathway leads to several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). • Formation of protein aggregates often cause dysfunctional autophagy flux in NDs. • Small molecule modulators of autophagy flux can be a therapeutic tool in such NDs. • A combinatorial approach will be useful in cases of multistep blockade in autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the Cauchy problem for a semilinear pseudo-parabolic equation with initial data non-rarefied at ∞. Our interest lies in the discussion of the effect of the non-rarefied factors on the bow-up phenomenon and the life span of the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cardio-protective and immuno-regulatory properties of RTP-026, a synthetic peptide that spans the Annexin-A1 (AnxA1) N-terminal region, were tested in rat acute myocardial infarction. In vitro, selective activation of formyl-peptide receptor type 2 (FPR2) by RTP-026 occurred with apparent EC 50 in the 10–30 nM range. With human primary cells, RTP-026 counteracted extension of neutrophil life-span and augmented phagocytosis of fluorescent E.coli by blood myeloid cells. An in vivo model of rat acute infarction was used to quantify tissue injury and phenotype immune cells in myocardium and blood. The rat left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded and then reopened for 2-hour or 24-hour reperfusion. For the 2-hour reperfusion protocol, RTP-026 (25–500 µg/kg; given i.v. at the start of reperfusion) significantly reduced infarct size by ∼50 %, with maximal efficacy at 50 µg/kg. Analyses of cardiac immune cells showed that RTP-026 reduced neutrophil and classical monocyte recruitment to the damaged heart. In the blood, RTP-026 (50 µg/kg) attenuated activation of neutrophils and monocytes monitored through CD62L and CD54 expression. Modulation of vascular inflammation by RTP-026 was demonstrated by reduction in plasma levels of mediators like TNF-α, IL-1β, KC, PGE 2 and PGF 2α⊡ For the 24-hour reperfusion protocol, RTP-026 (30 µg/kg given i.v. at 0, 3 and 6 h reperfusion) reduced necrotic myocardium by ∼40 %. RTP-026 modulate immune cell responses and decreases infarct size of the heart in preclinical settings. Tempering over-exuberant immune cell activation by RTP-026 is a suitable approach to translate the biology of AnxA1 for therapeutic purposes. [Display omitted] • Peptide RTP-026 obtaineed by solid phase synthesis retains pro-resolving properties. • RTP-026 displays pro-apoptotic effects on human neutrophils. • RTP-026 augments phagocytosis of E.coli by human myeloid cells. • RTP-026 reduces infarct size in preclinical models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. • RTP-026 tempers immune cell activation in circulation and recruitment to the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evaluation of different diets on longevity and fecundity of Torymus sinensis in laboratory. • Diet quality greatly influenced survival and reproductive output in T. sinensis. • Honey plus pollen increased lifespan by 33-fold, and fecundity by 2.3-fold at day 4 over unfed wasps. • Pollen alone did not increase lifespan but a higher longevity was recorded when it was provided in addition to honey. Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera, Torymidae) is a biocontrol agent released to control outbreaks of the Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae). This wasp is mass reared in controlled conditions in order to be released on a large scale in chestnut orchards and coppices, thus factors such as food quality may deeply influence the effectiveness of parasitoids. To identify different diets that could be used to increase mass rearing, performance, longevity and fecundity of T. sinensis were assessed using honey (diet 1), honey plus pollen (diet 2), pollen (diet 3), and water (diet 4), compared to unfed wasps (control) in laboratory experiments. In the present study diet quality greatly influenced survival and reproductive output in T. sinensis. Adults using honey plus pollen as food had the longest life span, and significantly increased fecundity compared to pollen alone, water, and unfed wasps. Median lifespan (day at which 50% of the initial number of wasps are still alive) was 31, 31, 2.5, 4, 1.5 days, in the honey, honey plus pollen, pollen, water, control, respectively. The egg production in wasps fed with honey and honey plus pollen observed over lifetime showed that the newly emerged specimens had an average of 2.40 ± 0.21 and 0.14 ± 0.12, respectively at day 0. The number of mature eggs increased rapidly reaching in diet 1 the highest average number, 26.60 ± 2.48, at day 6, and 30.2 ± 1.59 at day 7 in diet 2. No significant difference in the mean number of mature eggs between diets 1 and 2 was observed during all 13 weeks except for week 11. The mean number of reabsorbed eggs was 0 both in diet 1 and 2 at day 0. The mean number increased till 2.80 ± 0.66 at day 10 and 1.40 ± 0.24 at day 14 in diet 1 and 2, respectively. The cumulative lifetime mean egg load was 1012.67 and 1095.82 for honey and honey plus pollen, respectively, which was significantly higher than 32.40 for pollen, 58.40 for water and 43.57 for control. Based on our studies, feeding the female wasps with honey and pollen increased lifespan by 33-fold, and fecundity by 2.3-fold at day 4 over unfed wasps. This work contributes to a better understanding of the influence of different diets on lifespan and fecundity in the parasitoid wasp T. sinensis , to the refinement of mass rearing in controlled conditions, and to the optimization of classical biocontrol programs. Prior to the field release, it seems advisable to supply insects with sugar-rich diets to improve their performance in fields and to enhance parasitoid egg expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age of potential mates has been proposed to be an important target for mate choice by females. Alternative hypotheses predict preferences in either direction. Females might be expected to prefer older males because such males have demonstrated their capacity to survive. Alternatively, they might prefer younger males that have not accumulated deleterious mutations. Preferences in both directions have been observed in laboratory experiments, suggesting that this is an issue that needs to be understood within its ecological context. We measured individual behaviour and reproductive success in a natural population of the field cricket Gryllus campestris over 10 years. We found that in this annual insect, a male's age relative to his peers was poorly correlated with his life span. This suggests that there is limited potential for selection to favour female choice for older males because a strategy of choosing older males would not significantly increase a female's likelihood of mating with a long-lived male. Older males were more successful at pairing up with females at a burrow, but once paired they were less likely to mate with them. By genotyping the next generation of adults we confirmed that observations of both pairing up with a female and matings were associated with successful offspring production. However, there was no relationship between how old a male was at mating and how many adult offspring he had. This lack of evidence for any fitness benefits to females from mate choice in relation to male age was consistent with the observation that the age of males had opposite effects on their success in pairing up with females compared to their success in mating with them. • We test the prediction that females use male age to choose their mates. • We use 10 years of data from a wild population of field crickets. • At any point in time, older males are only slightly more likely to be longer lived. • Older males attract more females, but get fewer matings. • Male age at mating does not influence the number of offspring they have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Late DIO onset leads to impaired behavior and immune functions in both sexes. • Late DIO onset results in increased redox state in both sexes. • Late DIO onset affects more behavior and immune functions in males than females. • Late DIO onset results in shorter life span in males than females. • Old DIO females show exacerbated immunosenescence. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the late onset of diet-induced obesity (DIO) in middle-aged mice affected behavioral, immunological and oxidative stress parameters as well as life span of male and female mice. Also, it was analyzed whether the late DIO onset aggravated immunosenescence in old female mice. Late-adult male and female ICR/CD1 mice (28 weeks old) were fed either a high-fat diet or a standard diet during 14 weeks. After that, in these middle-aged (42 weeks old) diet-induced obese (DIO) and non-DIO controls, behavior as well as functions and redox state of peritoneal leukocytes were evaluated. These same parameters (excepting behavioral tests) were repeated when female mice were old (72 weeks old). The results showed lower exploratory activity and higher anxiety-like behavior in middle-aged male and female DIO than in controls. Moreover, these DIO animals from both sexes exhibited statistically significant impaired immune cell functions, such as chemotaxis of macrophages and lymphocytes, phagocytosis of macrophages, natural killer activity and lymphoproliferation in response to ConA and LPS, as well as an oxidative stress state in comparison with controls. Male DIO mice exhibited higher impairments in a variety of the evaluated parameters and a shorter life span than their female counterparts. In addition, female DIO mice, at old age, showed aggravated immunosenescence. In conclusion, the late DIO onset leads to impairments in behavior as well as in immune system functions of middle-aged male and female mice, males being significantly more affected than females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Autonomy, relatedness and competence have been defined as basic psychological needs. • Satisfaction of all three needs is closely connected to well-being. • These associations can change after retirement. • The changes occur at the within- and the between-person level. • Life span psychology offers explanations for some of these changes. Abstract Satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness is associated with higher well-being. However, little is known about change or stability in this association over the life span. We therefore investigated changes in the association between well-being and basic psychological need satisfaction in the retirement transition. Data was drawn from four waves of the Health, Aging, and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS) study (N = 5,074, M (age) = 63.16; 53.61% female). Multi-level models were conducted and the analyses revealed evidence for continuity as well as systematic changes in within- and between-person associations across the retirement transition. Our findings demonstrate the benefits of applying a longitudinal design and a life span perspective on basic psychological need satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigates the antimicrobial potential of sixteen indigenous probiotic bacteria in Caenorhabditis elegans infected with different serotypes of clinical Escherichia coli isolates. The probiotic cultures exhibited varying degree of antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic strains. The Cell Free Supernatant (CFS) of Lactobacillus plantarum K90 exhibited maximum antimicrobial activity against all indicator strains. Further, the pathogenic potential of the clinical strains was determined using liquid killing assay in C. elegans , where the pathogenic strains resulted in complete killing of the worm in 5 days as compared to 60% survival of worms fed with standard food of E. coli OP50. The clinical strains also resulted in impaired pharynx and internal hatching of the eggs in the worms. The protective effects of probiotics against the pathogenic strains was determined via competition, exclusion and displacement assays with different stages of intervention of probiotic culture. No significant increase in mean life span (MLS) of the worm was observed in competition and displacement assay. Among the tested strains in exclusion assay, a pretreatment with L. gastricus BTM 7 was found to result in better protection of the worm against infection with pathogenic E. coli strains by extending its life by three days and no other adverse effect on physiology and morphology of the worm. The results suggest that preconditioning with probiotic strains can be used as an effective way to reduce the invasion and colonization by the pathogens. Highlights • Competitive exclusion assays were established in C. elegans model. • Exclusion, displacement and competition assays were reported. • E. coli serotypes limited the life span of the worm upto 6 days only. • Pre-conditioning with probiotics resulted in extension of mean life span of infected worm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorie restriction (CR) is a broadly effective environmental intervention that extends life by operating through numerous biological processes. Here, we discuss how non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules act as mediators and targets of lifespan-extending CR. We also highlight how these RNA molecules connect CR to its effects on genome stability, cell metabolism, programmed cell death, senescence, cancer, and neurodegeneration. We anticipate that an advanced understanding of the connections between CR and non-coding RNA will provide unique insights into aging mechanisms while pointing to novel approaches aimed at modulating aging and age-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system is composed of Trr1, Trr2 and Trx2. • Transciptional induction of TRR2 and TRX2 by oxidants depends on Yap1 and Skn7. • Trr1 and Trr2 are necessary for the chronological life span. • Trx/Trr system is needed for survival in the presence of neutrophils. C. glabrata , an opportunistic fungal pathogen, can adapt and resist to different stress conditions. It is highly resistant to oxidant stress compared to other Candida spp and to the phylogenetically related but non-pathogen Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work, we describe the Trx/Trr system of C. glabrata composed of Trr1 and Trr2 (thioredoxin reductases) and Trx2 (thioredoxin) that are localized in the cytoplasm and Trx3 present in the mitochondrion. The transcriptional induction of TRR2 and TRX2 by oxidants depends on Yap1 and Skn7 and TRR1 and TRX3 have a low expression level. Both TRR2 and TRX2 play an important role in the oxidative stress response. The absence of TRX2 causes auxotrophy of methionine and cysteine. Trr1 and Trr2 are necessary for survival at high temperatures and for the chronological life span of C. glabrata. Furthermore, the Trx/Trr system is needed for survival in the presence of neutrophils. The role of TRR1 and TRX3 is not clear, but in the presence of neutrophils, they have non-overlapping functions with their TRR2 and TRX2 paralogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in accelerometer analytic and visualization techniques allow researchers to more precisely identify and compare critical periods of physical activity (PA) decline by age across the lifespan, and describe how daily PA patterns may vary across age groups. We used accelerometer data from the 2003–2006 cohorts of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 12,529) to quantify total PA as well as PA by intensity across the lifespan using sex-stratified, age specific percentile curves constructed using generalized additive models. We additionally estimated minute-to-minute diurnal PA using smoothed bivariate surfaces. We found that from childhood to adolescence (ages 6–19) across sex, PA is sharply lower by age partially due to a later initiation of morning PA. Total PA levels, at age 19 are comparable to levels at age 60. Contrary to prior evidence, during young adulthood (ages 20–30) total and light intensity PA increases by age and then stabilizes during midlife (ages 31–59) partially due to an earlier initiation of morning PA. We additionally found that males compared to females have an earlier lowering in PA by age at midlife and lower total PA, higher sedentary behavior, and lower light intensity PA in older adulthood; these trends seem to be driven by lower PA in the afternoon compared to females. Our results suggest a re-evaluation of how emerging adulthood may affect PA levels and the importance of considering time of day and sex differences when developing PA interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance Mitochondrial disease is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Although children with mitochondrial disease often have severe, life-limiting illnesses, many survive into adulthood. There is, however, limited information about the impact of mitochondrial disease on healthcare utilization in the U.S. across the lifespan. Objectives To describe the characteristics of inpatient hospitalizations related to mitochondrial disease in the U.S., to identify patient-level clinical factors associated with in-hospital mortality, and to estimate the burden of hospitalizations on individual patients. Design Cross-sectional and longitudinal observational studies. Setting U.S. hospitals. Participants Individuals with hospital discharges included in the triennial Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids Inpatient Database (KID) and the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) in 2012 (cross-sectional analysis); individuals with hospital discharges included in the HCUP California State Inpatient Database from 2007 to 2011, inclusive (longitudinal analysis). Exposure Hospital discharge associated with a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease. Main outcome measures Total number and rate of hospitalizations for individuals with mitochondrial disease ( International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification code 277.87, disorder of mitochondrial metabolism); in-hospital mortality. Results In the 2012, there were approximately 3200 inpatient pediatric hospitalizations (1.9 per 100,000 population) and 2000 inpatient adult hospitalizations (0.8 per 100,000 population) for mitochondrial disease in the U.S., with associated direct medical costs of $113 million. In-hospital mortality rates were 2.4% for children and 3.0% for adults, far exceeding population averages. Higher socioeconomic status was associated with both having a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease and with higher in-hospital mortality. From 2007 to 2011 in California, 495 individuals had at least one admission with a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease. Patients had a median of 1.1 hospitalizations (IQI, 0.6–2.2) per calendar year of follow-up; infants under 2y were hospitalized more frequently than other age groups. Over up to five years of follow up, 9.9% of participants with any hospitalization for mitochondrial disease were noted to have an in-hospital death. Conclusions and relevance Hospitalizations for pediatric and adult mitochondrial diseases are associated with serious illnesses, substantial costs, and significant patient time. Identification of opportunities to prevent or shorten such hospitalizations should be the focus of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gompertz empirical law of mortality is often used in practical research to parametrize survival fraction as a function of age with the help of just two quantities: the Initial Mortality Rate (IMR) and the Gompertz exponent, inversely proportional to the Mortality Rate Doubling Time (MRDT). The IMR is often found to be inversely related to the Gompertz exponent, which is the dependence commonly referred to as Strehler-Mildvan (SM) correlation. In this paper, we address fundamental uncertainties of the Gompertz parameters inference from experimental Kaplan-Meier plots and show, that a least squares fit often leads to an ill-defined non-linear optimization problem, which is extremely sensitive to sampling errors and the smallest systematic demographic variations. Therefore, an analysis of consequent repeats of the same experiments in the same biological conditions yields the whole degenerate manifold of possible Gompertz parameters. We find that whenever the average lifespan of species greatly exceeds MRDT, small random variations in the survival records produce large deviations in the identified Gompertz parameters along the line, corresponding to the set of all possible IMR and MRDT values, roughly compatible with the properly determined value of average lifespan in experiment. The best fit parameters in this case turn out to be related by a form of SM correlation. Therefore, we have to conclude that the combined property, such as the average lifespan in the group, rather than IMR and MRDT values separately, may often only be reliably determined via experiments, even in a perfectly homogeneous animal cohort due to its finite size and/or low age-sampling frequency, typical for modern high-throughput settings. We support our findings with careful analysis of experimental survival records obtained in cohorts of C. elegans of different sizes, in control groups and under the influence of experimental therapies or environmental conditions. We argue that since, SM correlation may show up as a consequence of the fitting degeneracy, its appearance is not limited to homogeneous cohorts. In fact, the problem persists even beyond the simple Gompertz mortality law. We show that the same degeneracy occurs exactly in the same way, if a more advanced Gompertz-Makeham aging model is employed to improve the modeling. We explain how SM type of relation between the demographic parameters may still be observed even in extremely large cohorts with immense statistical power, such as in human census datasets, provided that systematic historical changes are weak in nature and lead to a gradual change in the mean lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing how aquatic organisms respond to dam impacts is essential for river biomonitoring and management. Traditional examinations of dam impacts on macroinvertebrate assemblages were frequently conducted within single rivers (i.e., between upstream vs. downstream locations) and based on taxonomic identities but have rarely been expanded to level of entire basins (i.e., between dammed vs. undammed rivers) and from a functional trait perspective. Here, we evaluated the effects of dams on macroinvertebrate assemblages at both the within-river and basin scales using functional traits in two comparable tropical tributaries of the Lancang-Mekong River. At different scales, maximum body size, functional feeding groups (FFG), voltinism and occurrence in drift respond significantly to dam impact. Armoring categories varied significantly between downstream sites and upstream sites, and oviposition behavior, habits and adult life span significantly differed between rivers. The key traits at the within-river scale resembled to those at the between-river scale, suggesting that within-river trait variation could further shape functional trait structure at the basin scale in dammed rivers. Furthermore, water nutrients and habitat quality induced by dams showed the most important role in shaping trait structure, although trait-environment relationships varied between the two different scales. In addition, the trait-environment relationships were stronger in the dry season than in the wet season, suggesting a more important role of environmental filtering processes in the dry season compared with the wet season. This study highlights the utility of the trait-based approach to diagnose the effects of damming and emphasizes the importance of spatial scale to examine dam impacts in riverine systems. • The impact of dam on macroinvertebrate was extended from within-river to basin scale. • Max body size, armoring, functional feeding groups, voltinism are sensitive to dam impact. • Within-river traits variation could shape functional trait structure at basin scale. • Nutrient and habitat quality are most important in shaping trait structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show for almost every m > 0 , the solution to the semi-linear Klein–Gordon equation with a quadratic potential in dimension one, exists over a longer time interval than the one given by local existence theory, using the normal form method. By using an L p − L q estimate for eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator and by carefully analysis on the nonlinearity, we improve the result obtained by the author before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitual caffeine consumption has often been associated with decreasing age-related cognitive decline. However, whether habitual caffeine use preferentially spares different cognitive processes is unclear. Furthermore, whether basing habitual caffeine consumption patterns on current consumption or on a lifetime measure better represents an individual's use remains unclear. In the present study, we collected information from women, aged 56-83, about their current caffeine consumption patterns and history of use, including age they began consuming caffeine. Regression models assessed the relationship between caffeine consumption and performance on batteries designed to probe speed of processing, inhibition, memory, and executive function. While we found no direct associations between caffeine exposure and cognitive performance, we found that caffeine consumption and participant BMI interacted for inhibitory function and speed of processing performance. We discuss possible protective effects of long term caffeine use as well as the possibility of dose dependent effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hair follicles (HFs) are stem-cell-rich mammalian mini-organs that can undergo cyclic regenerations over the life span of the organism. The cycle of a HF consists of three consecutive phases: anagen—the active proliferation phase, catagen—the degeneration phase, and telogen—the resting phase. While HFs undergo irreversible degeneration during catagen, recent experimental research on mice shows that when anagen HFs are subject to ionizing radiation (IR), they undergo a transient degeneration, followed by a nearly full regeneration that makes the HFs return to homeostatic state. The mechanisms underlying these IR-induced HF regenerative dynamics and the catagen degenerative dynamics, remain unknown. In this work, we develop an ODE type cell differentiation population model to study the control mechanisms of HF regeneration. The model is built based on current theoretical knowledge in biology and mathematically formulated using feedback mechanisms. Model parameters are calibrated to IR experimental data, and we then provide modeling results with both deterministic ODE simulations and corresponding stochastic simulations. We perform stability and bifurcation analyses on the ODE model, which reveal that for anagen HFs, a low spontaneous apoptosis rate secures the stability of the HF homeostatic steady state, allowing the HF to regenerate even when subject to strong IR. On the other hand, the irreversible degeneration during catagen results from both strong spontaneous apoptosis rate and strong apoptosis feedback. Lastly, we perform sensitivity analysis to identify key parameters in the model to validate these hypotheses. • A novel hair follicle cell lineage model. • Discover mechanisms underlying radiation induced follicle regeneration and catagen follicle degeneration. • Mathematical modeling—differential equation model, stochastic simulation, stability and bifurcation analysis. • Apoptosis dynamics in hair follicles and its feedback control on follicle regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quantitative recurrent inference machine (qRIM) for accelerated R 2 * mapping. • Unified forward model for joint reconstruction and R2* mapping from sparse data. • Experiments at 7T with sub-millimeter resolution in a cohort study covering the entire adult life span. • An increasing reduction in the reconstruction error with increasing acceleration factor in subcortical regions. • Subcortical maturation over age preserved up to 9-fold acceleration. Quantitative MRI (qMRI) acquired at the ultra-high field of 7 Tesla has been used in visualizing and analyzing subcortical structures. qMRI relies on the acquisition of multiple images with different scan settings, leading to extended scanning times. Data redundancy and prior information from the relaxometry model can be exploited by deep learning to accelerate the imaging process. We propose the quantitative Recurrent Inference Machine (qRIM), with a unified forward model for joint reconstruction and R 2 * -mapping from sparse data, embedded in a Recurrent Inference Machine (RIM), an iterative inverse problem-solving network. To study the dependency of the proposed extension of the unified forward model to network architecture, we implemented and compared a quantitative End-to-End Variational Network (qE2EVN). Experiments were performed with high-resolution multi-echo gradient echo data of the brain at 7T of a cohort study covering the entire adult life span. The error in reconstructed R 2 * from undersampled data relative to reference data significantly decreased for the unified model compared to sequential image reconstruction and parameter fitting using the RIM. With increasing acceleration factor, an increasing reduction in the reconstruction error was observed, pointing to a larger benefit for sparser data. Qualitatively, this was following an observed reduction of image blurriness in R 2 * -maps. In contrast, when using the U-Net as network architecture, a negative bias in R 2 * in selected regions of interest was observed. Compressed Sensing rendered accurate, but less precise estimates of R 2 *. The qE2EVN showed slightly inferior reconstruction quality compared to the qRIM but better quality than the U-Net and Compressed Sensing. Subcortical maturation over age measured by a linearly increasing interquartile range of R 2 * in the striatum was preserved up to an acceleration factor of 9. With the integrated prior of the unified forward model, the proposed qRIM can exploit the redundancy among repeated measurements and shared information between tasks, facilitating relaxometry in accelerated MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colony formation in Mediterranean coral Corallium rubrum is initiated by a larva that metamorphoses into the first polyp of the emerging colony approximately two weeks after settlement. The primary polyp then sets up a slow process that eventually, at least after a few years, gives rise to a tree-like rigid colony structure on which other polyps flourish. For a mature colony, this axial skeleton provides support for new polyps. However, the first emergence of the characteristic axial skeleton can take two years or more from the larva stage. The early colony morphology, instead, is shaped exclusively by the polyps' abundant deposition of sclerites, a magnesian calcite biomineral that has a different granularity from the distinctive red-coloured skeleton. With the appearance of the first polyp, a growing sclerite heap in a mesoglea layer provides a base for the emerging colony. In this paper, to elucidate the mechanical processes of early skeleton development in C. rubrum colonies, we present a computational model whereby the mesoglea layer provides a diffusion medium for the sclerites that the polyps deposit. We show that our stochastic model with three parameters captures the dynamic variability observed in measurements on living colonies. Our simulation results provide evidence for a diffusion process whereby the interplay between polyp budding and sclerite deposition are the main determinants of structure in early colony formation. Our model demonstrates that the frequency of budding events in an early colony can be described as a function of the available mesoglea surface whereas the number of polyps on the colony plays a secondary role in determining this frequency. We show that these model predictions are confirmed by direct observations on the colonies in our sample. Moreover, our results indicate that diffusion is a prevalent mechanism of colony development also at later stages of a colony's life span. • A stochastic model of early colony development in Corallium rubrum is proposed. • Samples of 1- and 2-year-old colonies are used for model fitting and verification. • Simulations based on diffusion quantitatively capture early colony development. • The frequency of polyp budding is only indirectly affected by the number of polyps. • The budding frequency remains unaffected with the availability of sufficient surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing baseline MRI biomarkers for normal brain aging is significant and valuable for separating normal changes in the brain structure and function from different neurological diseases. In this paper for the first time we have simultaneously measured a variety of tissue specific contributions defining R 2* relaxation of the gradient recalled echo (GRE) MRI signal in human brains of healthy adults (ages 22 to 74 years) and related these measurements to tissue structural and functional properties. This was accomplished by separating tissue ( R 2 t ⁎ ) and extravascular BOLD contributions to the total tissue specific GRE MRI signal decay ( R 2 ⁎ ) using an advanced version of previously developed Gradient Echo Plural Contrast Imaging (GEPCI) approach and the acquisition and post-processing methods that allowed the minimization of artifacts related to macroscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities, and physiological fluctuations. Our data (20 healthy subjects) show that in most cortical regions R 2 t ⁎ increases with age while tissue hemodynamic parameters, i.e. relative oxygen extraction fraction (OEF rel ), deoxygenated cerebral blood volume (dCBV) and tissue concentration of deoxyhemoglobin (C deoxy ) remain practically constant. We also found the important correlations characterizing the relationships between brain structural and hemodynamic properties in different brain regions. Specifically, thicker cortical regions have lower R 2 t ⁎ and these regions have lower OEF. The comparison between GEPCI-derived tissue specific structural and functional metrics and literature information suggests that (a) regions in a brain characterized by higher R 2 t ⁎ contain higher concentration of neurons with less developed cellular processes (dendrites, spines, etc.), (b) regions in a brain characterized by lower R 2 t ⁎ represent regions with lower concentration of neurons but more developed cellular processes, and (c) the age-related increases in the cortical R 2 t ⁎ mostly reflect the age-related increases in the cellular packing density. The baseline GEPCI-based biomarkers obtain herein could serve to help distinguish age-related changes in brain cellular and hemodynamic properties from changes which occur due to the neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary human skeletal muscle cells (hSkMCs) are invaluable tools for deciphering the basic molecular mechanisms of muscle-related biological processes and pathological alterations. Nevertheless, their use is quite restricted due to poor availability, short life span and variable purity of the cells during in vitro culture. Here, we evaluate a recently published method of hSkMCs immortalization, relying on ectopic expression of cyclin D1 ( CCND1 ), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 ( CDK4 ) and telomerase ( TERT ) in myoblasts from healthy donors ( n =3) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients ( n =2). The efficacy to maintain the myogenic and non-transformed phenotype, as well as the main pathogenetic hallmarks of DM1, has been assessed. Combined expression of the three genes i) maintained the CD56(NCAM)-positive myoblast population and differentiation potential; ii) preserved the non-transformed phenotype and iii) maintained the CTG repeat length, amount of nuclear foci and aberrant alternative splicing in immortal muscle cells. Moreover, immortal hSkMCs displayed attractive additional features such as structural maturation of sarcomeres, persistence of Pax7-positive cells during differentiation and complete disappearance of nuclear foci following (CAG) 7 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment. Overall, the CCND1 , CDK4 and TERT immortalization yields versatile, reliable and extremely useful human muscle cell models to investigate the basic molecular features of human muscle cell biology, to elucidate the molecular pathogenetic mechanisms and to test new therapeutic approaches for DM1 in vitro . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in Factor-Induced-Gene 4 ( FIG4 ) gene have been identified in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4J (CMT4J), Yunis–Varon syndrome and epilepsy with polymicrogyria. FIG4 protein regulates a cellular abundance of phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P 2 ), a signaling lipid on the cytosolic surface of membranes of the late endosomal compartment. PI(3,5)P 2 is required for retrograde membrane trafficking from lysosomal and late endosomal compartments to the Golgi. However, it is still unknown how the neurodegeneration that occurs in these diseases is related to the loss of FIG4 function. Drosophila has CG17840 ( dFIG4 ) as a human FIG4 homolog. Here we specifically knocked down dFIG4 in various tissues, and investigated their phenotypes. Neuron-specific knockdown of dFIG4 resulted in axonal targeting aberrations of photoreceptor neurons, shortened presynaptic terminals of motor neurons in 3rd instar larvae and reduced climbing ability in adulthood and life span. Fat body-specific knockdown of dFIG4 resulted in enlarged lysosomes in cells that were detected by staining with LysoTracker. In addition, eye imaginal disk-specific knockdown of dFIG4 disrupted differentiation of pupal ommatidial cell types, such as cone cells and pigment cells, suggesting an additional role of dFIG4 during eye development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mast cells (MCs) are strategically located at host/environment interfaces like skin, airways, and gastro-intestinal and uro-genital tracts. MCs also populate connective tissues in association with blood and lymphatic vessels and nerves. MCs are absent in avascular tissues, such as mineralized bone, cartilage, and cornea. MCs have various functions and different functional subsets of MCs are encountered in different tissues. However, we do not’ know exactly what is the physiological function of MC. Most of these functions are not essential for life, as various MC-deficient strains of mice and rats seems to have normal life spans. In this review article, we have reported and discussed the literature data concerning the role of MCs in tissue morphogenesis, and in particular their role in the development of thymus, duodenum, and mammary gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]