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The auto industry aims to deliver cost-effective, efficient vehicles to meet customer needs. They are utilizing aluminum to lower expenses, enhance durability, and lighten vehicles. Currently, the industry is developing a high-speed blow forming (HSBF) technique—a faster version of the aluminum thermoforming process, superplastic forming (SPF). HSBF allows the rapid creation of aluminum bodywork or structural parts at high temperatures using pressurized gas. It can produce up to 25 parts per hour, significantly faster than SPF, which only produces 4 parts per hour. The primary objective of this project is to select and characterize a seal that can increase the production rate to 120 parts per hour by allowing the sheet to flow into the mold, especially during the initial stages of the forming process, where most of the deformation occurs. Several test benches were developed to assess the performance and durability of the selected high-temperature seals under conditions that imitate the HSBF process. During the tests, low air pressures are applied to a gasket-enclosed cavity and the resulting mass-flow leakage is measured. The temperature of the mold is kept constant at approximately the superplastic temperature of the aluminum alloy. Through testing, we derived leakage mass flow curves based on cycle count, showcasing the superior sealing ability and longevity of packing seals in HSBF conditions. The seals displayed good durability and sealing performance under HSBF operational conditions, sustaining over 3000 cycles. Moreover, the seals attained a leakage mass flow rate of around 0.3 g/s·m·bar, nearly ten times below the target application limit of 2 g/s·m·bar, confirming their superior performance.

The purpose of this experiment was to study the stability and antioxidant activity of Torreya grandis hydrosols in vivo and in vitro. The work aims to study the stability, volatile composition and antioxidant activity of Torreya grandis hydrosols. The stability of untreated and filter-treated hydrosols was evaluated by LUMi Sizer stability analyzer, and the volatile components of hydrosols were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, the antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo was evaluated by free radical scavenging experiments and C.elegans tests respectively. The results showed that the filter-treated hydrosols revealed better stability as compared to untreated hydrosols, with the instability coefficient close to 0 (0.007±0.003). GC-MS demonstrated that a total of 49 volatile components were identified for the hydrosols, including 21 alcohols (41.82%), 7 terpenoids (5.27%), 5 phenols, 5 hydrocarbons, 3 aldehydes and some other types of volatile compounds. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging experiments demonstrated that T. grandis hydrosols revealed good antioxidant activity with radical scavenging rate of 67.3%±1.2% and 84.2%±3.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the hydrosols revealed significant antioxidant performance in C.elegans and prolong the life span of C.elegans (P

Consecutive charging and discharging of storage devices (SDs) might deem beneficial from the perspective of short-term operation. However, it highly impacts the life span of the embedded battery and render restrictions on energy storage capacity. We investigate short-term and long-term constraints of SDs through a three-stage price-elastic approach to the optimal operation of small-scale SDs in smart houses. The first stage deals with data and scenario characterization where the data for determining short-term and long-term operation constraints of SD are acquired. Proper number of scenarios are generated to represent uncertain parameters such as long-term demand forecasting, daily load profile, electricity price, and photovoltaic (PV) generation. The second stage optimizes the long-term operation of SD using the envisioned scenarios subject to the long-term operation constraints and the installment costs of SDs. The outputs of this stage are two indicators referred to as price elasticity and price offset coefficients, which are used as the inputs for the third stage. The third stage is responsible for decision-making on short-term operation of SDs. The outputs of the second stage along with short-term forecasting for daily electricity price, daily load and daily PV generation are acquired. Based on the acquired data, proper price elasticity and price offset are determined for optimal operation. Comprehensive simulations are performed for different demand forecasting and electricity prices. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

The requirements and modifications to the road infrastructure to achieve high levels of safety require different countermeasures that are not directly comparable considering their life span. It is felt that the effectiveness of a road safety programme highly depends on the best mix between capital and maintenance work measures. To this end, this article introduces a novel methodology that prioritises countermeasures by considering their effectiveness over their life span together with budget constraints, based on a mixed integer linear programming model with an objective function to maximise their economic safety benefits. To illustrate the application of the proposed model developed using the LINGO software, a case study from the Netherlands, Utrecht provincial roads, was used. The results show that this approach seems to enhance both the prioritisation and the number of countermeasures selected for implementation. Furthermore, the method can compute the minimum budget required to maximise the economic benefits from capital work measures. It may also prioritise road safety-related maintenance work programmes and offer a plan for capital works if funds are below the minimum budget. Consequently, this approach appears to enhance the non-life span approach due to an improved mix between capital and maintenance work programmes for road safety.

This paper is concerned with the blow‐up phenomena for a semilinear pseudo‐parabolic equation with general nonlinearity under the null Dirichlet boundary condition. When the nonlinearity satisfies a new structural condition, we obtain some new blow‐up criteria with different initial energy levels and derive the growth estimations and life span of blow‐up solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A massive demand for rubber-based goods, particularly gloves, was sparked by the emergence of the COVID-19 epidemic worldwide. This resulted in thousands of tons of gloves being scrapped due to the constant demand for the items, endangering our environment in a grave way. In this work, we aimed to focus on the utilization of waste nitrile gloves (r-NBR) as a component blended with natural rubber (NR). The life span and other related properties of the blend can be improved by proper control of the chemical recipe. This study assessed three types of crosslinking systems, namely sulfur (S), peroxide (DCP), and mixed sulfur/peroxide (S/DCP) systems. The results indicate that choosing S/DCP strongly affected the tensile strength of the blend, especially at relatively high contents of r-NBR, improving the strength by 40–60% for cases with 25–35 phr of r-NBR. The improvement depended on the crosslink types induced in the blends. It is interesting to highlight that the thermal resistance of the blends was significantly improved by using the S/DCP system. This indicates that the life span of this blend can be prolonged by using a proper curing system. Overall, the S/DCP showed the best results, superior to those with S and DCP crosslinking systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhyzopertha dominica is one of the most important stored grain pests that seriously damage rice and wheat. At present, the method of controlling stored grain pests mainly relies on insecticide fumigation. However, the excessive use of pesticides not only leaves pesticide residues, with harmful effects on human health and the environment, but also induces insect resistance. Ozone is a strong oxidant with the characteristics of easy decomposition and without residue. Although ozone has been widely used in the food industry in recent years, research on the control of stored grain pests is limited. In this research, we used ozone treatment to control R. dominica adults and explore the molecular mechanisms that affect them. Here, we found that ozone treatment on R. dominica adults could decrease life span and increase malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as reduce activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Using RNA-seq technology, we identified 641 genes that were differentially expressed between ozone-treated and control R. dominica adults [fold-change of ≥ 2 (q-value < 5%)]. When comparing ozone treatment with control R. dominica adults, 330 genes were significantly upregulated and 311 were downregulated. RT-qPCR confirmed that 11 genes were differentially expressed in ozone-treated and control R. dominica adults. These genes were involved in insect cuticle protein and antioxidant system. This research showed that ozone treatment could reduce the lifespan of R. dominica through antioxidant system. It is an environmentally benign method for the control of stored grain pests and has great development potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gametogenesis is a conserved developmental program whereby a diploid progenitor cell differentiates into haploid gametes, the precursors for sexually reproducing organisms. In addition to ploidy reduction and extensive organelle remodeling, gametogenesis naturally rejuvenates the ensuing gametes, leading to resetting of life span. Excitingly, ectopic expression of the gametogenesis-specific transcription factor Ndt80 is sufficient to extend life span in mitotically dividing budding yeast, suggesting that meiotic rejuvenation pathways can be repurposed outside of their natural context. In this review, we highlight recent studies of gametogenesis that provide emerging insight into natural quality control, organelle remodeling, and rejuvenation strategies that exist within a cell. These include selective inheritance, programmed degradation, and de novo synthesis, all of which are governed by the meiotic gene expression program entailing many forms of noncanonical gene regulation. Finally, we highlight critical questions that remain in the field and provide perspective on the implications of gametogenesis research on human health span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Based on studies of children with motor disabilities on topographic working memory (TWM), no influence of age was reported. The only differences were in the degree of mobility and exploration of the environment. The more active a child was in exploring the environment, the less his/her TWM was poor. However, in typically developing children (TD), exploration of the environment increases with increasing age, and age-related effects have been described. Here, we aim at investigating TWM considering age in TD with the additional question of whether WM in the reaching space differed from that in the navigational space requiring body movements. We hypothesized that WM in both spaces would improve correspondingly with increasing age, assuming that the greater the autonomy in exploring the environment, the better TWM becomes. Method: 120 children (5–16 years old) performed the Corsi Block-Tapping test (CBT) and the Walking Corsi test (WalCT). Results: Statistical analyses evidenced significantly increasing WalCT and CBT spans between each school stage, except in the CBT span between middle stage (MS) and upper stage (US). CBT spans were significantly higher than in the WalCT in the pre-school, lower stage, and MS, with the CBT span increasing until MS, which is sufficient for using spatial orientation strategies effectively. Conclusions: When navigation is gradually controlled, a child may be able to pay increasingly more attention to wayfinding and behavior in traffic. Since the US group even presented as good in the WalCT as young adults living in metropolitan environments, assuming that children may gain spatial orientation from having opportunities to move in their surroundings, this is also relevant for children with motor disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is part of the life cycle evaluation methods, highlighting the overall economic cost of a specific product, service or system. The life cycle costs are the sum of the direct, indirect, recurring, nonrecurring and other related costs incurred or estimated to be incurred during the useful life span. This method can be a powerful technique enabling to make the most cost-effective decisions at different life cycle stages. An integrated life cycle evaluation study could combine more methods: Life cycle assessment (ISO 14040:2006), Life cycle cost analysis and social Life cycle assessment. So far, several specific instruments had been developed, IT tools and methods for LCCA method, alone or combined with LCA or other methods. The objective of this study was to present a review of the software instruments used in the Life cycle cost analysis. The LCCA method can be used in particular to model different scenarios. It allows the simulation of several analysis alternatives by resizing the volume of costs from key points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Despite the movement "Design for all" in the recent years, people with intellectual disabilities are facing several barriers in their struggle to participate equally in the society. The aim of the present study was to gain insight to the views and experiences of family members who had lived with an individual who had been diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS). Through in-depth interviews of 10 family members, we tried to explore the experiences in the life span from the past at the time of the diagnosis to the present situation and the goals for the future. Participants mentioned a lack of support services at the time of diagnosis, the inadequate support for autonomy from the educational system and the lack of awareness at community level regarding mental disability in combination with unemployment. The study investigated how crucial these experiences of families of people with DS were for the adult life of individuals, their autonomy, and their social and professional integration. The ultimate question was whether the Greek education system manages to visualize and deliver an adult with DS who has equal access to all aspects of life. So whether attending an inclusive environment or special units, the adult described in the parent interviews is an adult with partial autonomy at home, lack of autonomy outside the home, minimal social and interpersonal relationships, and finally minimal to no opportunities for professional integration. Parents' experiences were negative, with many rejections, exclusions and lack of information from the early stages of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinating insects are decreasing worldwide in abundance, biomass, and species richness, affecting the plants that rely on pollinators for fruit production and seed set. Insects are often sensitive to high temperatures. The projected temperature increases may therefore severely affect plants that rely on insect pollinators. Highly specialized mutualisms are expected to be particularly vulnerable to change because they have fewer partner options should one partner become unavailable. In the highly specialized mutualism between fig trees and their pollinating fig wasp, each fig species is pollinated by only one or a few wasp species. Because of their year‐round fruit production, fig trees are considered a keystone resource for tropical forests. However, to produce fruits, wild fig trees need to be pollinated by fig wasps that typically travel a long one‐way trip from the tree donating pollen to the tree receiving pollen. In a few previous studies from China and Australia, increasing temperatures dramatically decreased fig wasp lifespan. Are these grim results generalizable to fig mutualisms globally? Here, we use survival experiments to determine the effect of increasing temperature on the lifespan of Neotropical fig wasps associated with five common Panamanian Ficus species. Experimental temperatures were based on the current daytime mean temperature of 26.8°C (2SD: 21.6–31.7°C) and the predicted local temperature increase of 1–4°C by the end of the 21st century. We found that all tested pollinator wasp species had a significantly shorter lifespan in 30, 32, 34, and 36°C compared to the current diurnal mean temperature of 26°C. At 36°C pollinator median lifespan decreased to merely 2–10 h (6%–19% of their median lifespan at 26°C). Unless wasps can adapt, such a dramatic reduction in lifespan is expected to reduce the number of pollinators that successfully disperse to flowering fig trees, and may therefore jeopardize both fruit set and eventually survival of the mutualism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The sex gap in life expectancy has been narrowing in Finland over the past 4-5 decades; however, on average, women still live longer than men. Epigenetic clocks are markers for biological aging which predict life span. In this study, we examined the mediating role of lifestyle factors on the association between sex and biological aging in younger and older adults.Methods: Our sample consists of younger and older twins (21‒42 years, n = 1 477; 50‒76 years, n = 763) including 151 complete younger opposite-sex twin pairs (21‒30 years). Blood-based DNA methylation was used to compute epigenetic age acceleration by 4 epigenetic clocks as a measure of biological aging. Path modeling was used to study whether the association between sex and biological aging is mediated through lifestyle-related factors, that is, education, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity.Results: In comparison to women, men were biologically older and, in general, they had unhealthier life habits. The effect of sex on biological aging was partly mediated by body mass index and, in older twins, by smoking. Sex was directly associated with biological aging and the association was stronger in older twins.Conclusions: Previously reported sex differences in life span are also evident in biological aging. Declining smoking prevalence among men is a plausible explanation for the narrowing of the difference in life expectancy between the sexes. Data generated by the epigenetic clocks may help in estimating the effects of lifestyle and environmental factors on aging and in predicting aging in future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this scoping review was to summarise findings concerning cognitive characteristics in people with spina bifida and explain how cognitive factors influence activities and participation in different areas and stages of life. Methods: PubMed, Psych INFO, ERIC, Scopus, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched for English language papers published in 2000–2018. A total of 92 papers were selected and quality was assessed according to the McMaster criteria. The results were presented related to body functions, activity and participation from the International Classification of Function and Health, ICF. Results: People with spina bifida tended to have a lower IQ than those without. The majority also had cognitive difficulties manifested in problems with language, perception, memory, executive and attentional functions. Those difficulties affected activity and participation in all life domains in ICF. This may affect medical adherence and responsibility and by extension the prevention of secondary complications. Conclusion: It is important for caregivers, professionals and especially individuals with spina bifida themselves to understand and handle both physical and cognitive consequences in all life circumstances. Having insight into one's own assets and difficulties paves the way to managing life challenges, which could enhance health, self‐management and participation in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Previous studies have shown the importance of individual markers of cognitive reserve, such as education and occupation, for cognitive health in old age. However, there has been only little investigation so far on how this relationship varies across contexts. Methods We analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe, using second-order latent growth models, to assess the moderating role of welfare regimes on the relationship between education and occupation skill level in explaining overall cognitive functioning and decline in old age. Our sample includes 13 European countries using data from 5 regular waves of the survey (2004–2007 and 2011–2015) and 2 retrospective ones (2008–2009 and 2017). Cognitive functioning was modeled as a latent variable measured by immediate and delayed recall, verbal fluency, and numeracy. Results 74,193 participants were included from the survey. Our analysis showed that the association of education with cognition was weaker overall in Scandinavian countries, but stronger in Southern European countries, relative to Bismarckian ones. However, educational differences in the decline of cognition were more pronounced only in Scandinavian compared to Bismarckian countries. Additionally, higher-skilled occupations in Scandinavian countries had better overall functioning compared to the same occupations in Bismarckian countries, but there was no difference in the decline in cognitive functioning. Discussion Our findings indicate that the associations of cognitive functioning and its decline with individuals' cognitive reserve markers (education and occupational skill level) vary according to welfare regimes, showing the importance of contextual factors in cognitive aging processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Identification and analysis of compounds that playing a role in delay aging and increase longevity is essential. Sirtuins are one of the main regulators of cell survival and longevity. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of six weeks HIIT swimming exercise and Resveratrol supplementation on the level of SIRT3 in left ventricular heart of aged rats. Materials and Methods: In this research, 30 wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (control (C), solvent (M), supplement (R), HIIT exercise (EX), HIIT exercise and supplement (EXR)). The EX group performed HIIT swimming for six weeks. C group did not practice. R group received only resveratrol supplementation. EXR group performed HIIT swimming exercises with resveratrol and M group received only solvent. The SIRT3 protein was obtained by Western blotting. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: After six weeks, there was a significant difference between the mean SIRT3 protein levels in the f ive groups. Therefore, Tukey post hoc test showed that SIRT3 levels were significantly increased in EX and EXR groups compared to C, R and M groups (P = 0/001). However, this difference between EX and EXR groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Moreover, the amount of SIRT3 in group R was significantly higher compared to groups C and M. Conclusion: Increasing the amount of SIRT3 indicates the involvement of this protein in metabolic pathways, antioxidant defense and improves cell condition. High intensity interval training with resveratrol supplement consumption can also be used to moderate oxidative stress and delay the aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: α-Klotho is a molecule associated with aging and several diseases. Previous studies have reported decreased levels of serum α-Klotho (SαKl) in smokers compared to never smokers. Interestingly, we also found the SαKl level could partly recover in those who quit smoking. The objective of this study was to investigate SαKl levels in the US population who quit smoking for a certain period., Methods: A total of 9268 participants, ranging in age from 40 to 79 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, 37.04 % were identified as former smoker. Data from the NHANES conducted between 2007 and 2016 were utilized for analysis. The association between the period of smoking cessation and SαKl levels was evaluated through multivariate linear regression models. Additionally, a detailed analysis stratified by key clinical factors was performed., Results: The mean level of SαKl among the former smoker was 827.41 pg/mL. After full adjustment, the SαKl level increased over time after smoking cessation, with an increase of 1.20 pg/ml per year of abstinence ( P  = 0.005). The linear correlation persists regardless of the duration of the smoking habit before quitting. In the stratified analysis, a positive correlation was observed between duration of smoking cessation and SαKl levels in individuals aged 60-79 years, females, normal weight individuals, those involved in moderate or vigorous physical activity, and those with a history of cancer (all P< 0.05)., Conclusion: This study showed a positive association between the duration of smoking cessation and SαKl levels in former smokers. Prolonged abstinence may contribute to increased SαKl levels which may protect people against aging-related diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The degree to which variation in adult food availability affects the population dynamics of a species depends on its position on the capital‐income breeding continuum. The long‐lived butterflies that feed on fruits as adults constitute an example of Lepidoptera with a high degree of income breeding.For three species of fruit‐feeding butterflies in Uganda, we assessed the contribution of income to breeding in the wild, and the consequences of variation in fruit availability for body mass and population dynamics. We interpreted body‐mass loss within individuals as well as younger individuals having higher body mass than older ones as evidence for the depletion of capital reserves.Despite large sample sizes, we were able to show only modest body‐mass loss in one species, indicating that large‐bodied fruit‐feeding butterflies are functionally income breeders in the wild. Butterfly body mass was sensitive to environmental factors, although the responses to fruit availability and weather parameters were dominated by interactive effects. In all three species, periods of higher availability of fruit were followed by periods of higher adult abundance three to five months later, fitting the egg‐to‐adult time.Our results suggest that adult food is rapidly used for reproduction so that body mass remains stable and population size responds to adult food availability.For these income breeding species, the frequent periods of low adult food availability may select for extended adult longevity for the purpose of postponing reproduction to the onset of more favourable conditions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acarbose can extend the life span of mice through a process involving the gut microbiota. Several factors affect the life span, including mitochondrial function, cellular senescence, telomere length, immune function, and expression of longevity-related genes. In this review, the effects of acarbose-regulated gut microbiota on the life span–influencing factors have been discussed. In addition, a novel theoretical basis for improving our understanding of the mechanisms by which acarbose extends the life span of mice has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, increased longevity has not been paralleled by extended health span, resulting in more years spent with multiple diseases in older age. As such, interventions to improve health span are urgently required. Zoledronate (Zol) is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, which inhibits the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase enzyme, central to the mevalonate pathway. It is already used clinically to prevent fractures in osteoporotic patients, who have been reported to derive unexpected and unexplained survival benefits. Using Drosophila as a model we determined the effects of Zol on life span, parameters of health span (climbing ability and intestinal dysplasia), and the ability to confer resistance to oxidative stress using a combination of genetically manipulated Drosophila strains and Western blotting. Our study shows that Zol extended life span, improved climbing activity, and reduced intestinal epithelial dysplasia and permeability with age. Mechanistic studies showed that Zol conferred resistance to oxidative stress and reduced accumulation of X-ray-induced DNA damage via inhibition of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase. Moreover, Zol was associated with inhibition of phosphorylated AKT in the mammalian traget of rapamycin pathway downstream of the mevalonate pathway and required dFOXO for its action, both molecules associated with increased longevity. Taken together, our work indicates that Zol, a drug already widely used to prevent osteoporosis and dosed only once a year, modulates important mechanisms of aging. Its repurposing holds great promise as a treatment to improve health span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

hMTH1 protects against mutation during oxidative stress. It degrades 8‐oxodGTP to exclude potentially mutagenic oxidized guanine from DNA. hMTH1 expression is linked to ageing. Its downregulation in cultured cells accelerates RAS‐induced senescence, and its overexpression in hMTH1‐Tg mice extends lifespan. In this study, we analysed the effects of a brief (5 weeks) high‐fat diet challenge (HFD) in young (2 months old) and adult (7 months old) wild‐type (WT) and hMTH1‐Tg mice. We report that at 2 months, hMTH1 overexpression ameliorated HFD‐induced weight gain, changes in liver metabolism related to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. It prevented DNA damage as quantified by a comet assay. At 7 months old, these HFD‐induced effects were less severe and hMTH1‐Tg and WT mice responded similarly. hMTH1 overexpression conferred lifelong protection against micronucleus induction, however. Since the canonical activity of hMTH1 is mutation prevention, we conclude that hMTH1 protects young mice against HFD by reducing genome instability during the early period of rapid growth and maximal gene expression. hMTH1 protection is redundant in the largely non‐growing, differentiated tissues of adult mice. In hMTH1‐Tg mice, expression of a less heavily mutated genome throughout life provides a plausible explanation for their extended longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic inequality has been consistently rising in recent decades in many Western countries including Germany. This is a pressing issue as greater economic inequality within a society has detrimental consequences for well-being, social stability, productivity, and even life expectancy. However, little is known about how individuals of different ages experience and respond to social inequality across adulthood. Because status differences are perceived as more malleable in young adulthood (i.e., young adults can expect to move up the social ladder) and only manifest across adulthood, we predicted that negative emotional reactions to the perceived standing in the social hierarchy should become increasingly pronounced with age. Consistently, a first study based on a national representative sample in Germany (N = 2,542; 18–91 years) confirmed that subjective social status had a much stronger effect on the acceptance of social inequality among middle-aged and older, as compared with younger, adults. In a second experimental study (N = 387; 18–89 years), participants of any age responded with negative emotional reactions when rising inequality was made salient. However, subjective social status moderated this effect only in middle-aged and older, but not younger, adults. Finally, a third experimental study (N = 605; 18–82 years) showed that, compared with middle-aged and older adults, younger adults maintained stronger upward mobility beliefs that accounted for the age-differential effects of subjective social status on negative emotional reactivity to rising inequality. We discuss the central role of upward mobility beliefs for individuals' responses to social inequality across the adult life span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Statins are progressively accepted as being associated with reduced mortality. However, few real-world statin studies have been conducted on statin use in older people and especially the most frail, that is, the nursing home residents. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of statin intake in nursing home residents on all-cause mortality. Method: This is a cross-sectional study of 1,094 older people residing in 6 nursing homes in Flanders (Belgium) between March 1, 2020 and May 30, 2020. We considered all residents who were taking statins for at least 5 days as statin users. All-cause mortality during the 3 months of data collection was the primary outcome. Propensity score overlap-weighted logistic regression models were applied with age, sex, functional status, diabetes, and cardiac failure/ischemia as potential confounders. Results: 185 out of 1,094 residents were on statin therapy (17%). The statin intake was associated with decreased all-cause mortality: 4% absolute risk reduction; adjusted odds ratio 0.50; CI 0.31–0.81, p = 0.005. Conclusions: The statin intake was associated with decreased all-cause mortality in older people residing in nursing homes. More in-depth studies investigating the potential geroprotector effect of statins in this population are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Social mimicry, the imitation of one's conversation partner, is associated with empathy, liking, and affiliation. Because previous research has mainly focused on young adulthood and zero acquaintances, little is known about age differences in mimicry and its role in romantic relationships. Methods In this study, 37 younger and 41 older couples talked about an ongoing problem faced by one of the partners while being video-recorded. Three independent observers assessed partners' facial mimicry. After the conversation, couples evaluated the quality of their relationship. Results Younger couples imitated each other more than older couples. The link between mimicry and relationship quality was mixed. While facial mimicry was not linked to subjective closeness in either younger or older couples, there was a significant positive association between mimicry and relationship satisfaction in young, but not older, couples. Discussion Overall, the results suggest that facial mimicry is a social process that becomes less prevalent and might differ in their function as individuals age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fructose-common sweetener, consumed in large quantities, is now known to be associated with various metabolic diseases. Recent reports suggest fructose's involvement in neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, and neuroinflammation. But, its impact at cellular and subcellular level and on energy metabolism, especially, mitochondrial bioenergetics, in neurons is not known. Objectives: To study the adverse effects of high fructose in general, and on the mitochondria in a spinal cord motor neuron cell line, NSC-34, in vitro, and Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo. Methods: NSC-34 was treated with 0.5%-5% of fructose for different time periods. Fructose's effect on cell viability (MTT assay), metabolic activity (XF24 Seahorse assays) and C. elegans, chronically fed with 5% fructose and alteration in healthspan/mitochondria was monitored. Results: In NSC-34: Fructose at 4-5% elicits 60% cell death. Unlike 1%, 5% fructose (F5%) decreased mitochondrial membrane potential by 29%. Shockingly, 6hours F5% treatment almost abolished mitochondrial respiration – basal-respiration (∨123%), maximal-respiration (∨ 95%) and spare-respiratory-capacity (∨ 83%) and ATP production (∨98%) as revealed by XF 24- Seahorse assays. But non – mitochondrial respiration was spared. F5% treatment for 48hrs resulted in the total shutdown of respiratory machinery including glycolysis. Chronic feeding of wildtype C.elegans to F5% throughout, shortened lifespan by ~3 days (∨ 17%), progressively reduced movement (day-2 -∨10.25%, day-5 -∨25% and day-10 -∨56%) and food intake with age (day-5-∨9% and day-10 -∨48%) and instigated mitochondrial swelling and disarray in their arrangement in adult worms body-wall muscle cells. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to high fructose negatively impacts cell viability, mitochondrial function, basal glycolysis, and healthspan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effects of aging on mind wandering (MW) using a sustained attention to response task (SART) with a low cognitive demand. All task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs) and the subcategory of stimulus-independent thoughts (SITUTs) were examined across the adult life span. The relationship between MW, cognitive variables (attention, inhibition, working memory), and non-cognitive variables (mindfulness, psychological well-being, and anxiety) was investigated. The sample included 210 healthy participants from 20 to 89 years old. The overall results showed few or no age-related changes in both TUTs and SITUTs. Path analyses revealed that the effect of age on both TUTs and SITUTs was only indirect and mediated by attentional resources, as well as by some aspects of psychological well-being (i.e., emotional competence), which had a direct effect, however. These findings raise doubts about any age-related differences between young and older adults' MW. Changes in MW across the adult life span are thus discussed along with the method and tasks used to assess it and different variables affecting it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidisciplinary nature and long duration of birth cohort studies allow investigation of the relationship between general and oral health and indicate the most appropriate stages in life to intervene. To date, the worldwide distribution of oral health-related birth cohort studies (OHRBCSs) has not been mapped, and a synthesis of information on methodological characteristics and outcomes is not available. We mapped published literature on OHRBCSs, describing their oral health-related data and methodological aspects. A 3-step search strategy was adopted to identify published studies using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and OVID databases. Studies with baseline data collection during pregnancy or within the first year of life or linked future oral health data to exposures during either of these 2 life stages were included. Studies examining only mothers' oral health and specific populations were excluded. In total, 1,721 articles were suitable for initial screening of titles and abstracts, and 528 articles were included in the review, identifying 120 unique OHRBCSs from 34 countries in all continents. The review comprised literature from the mid-1940s to the 21st century. Fifty-four percent of the OHRBCSs started from 2000 onward, and 75% of the cohorts were from high-income and only 2 from low-income countries. The participation rate between the baseline and the last oral health follow-up varied between 7% and 93%. Ten cohorts that included interventions were mostly from 2000 and with fewer than 1,000 participants. Seven data-linkage cohorts focused mostly on upstream characteristics and biological aspects. The most frequent clinical assessment was dental caries, widely presented as decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT/dmft). Periodontal conditions were primarily applied as isolated outcomes or as part of a classification system. Socioeconomic classification, ethnicity, and country- or language-specific assessment tools varied across countries. Harmonizing definitions will allow combining data from different studies, adding considerable strength to data analyses; this will be facilitated by forming a global consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central China Normal University is the property of Huazhong Normal University 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.)

Abstract Pesticides are toxic chemicals used to control pests, plant diseases, or undesirable vegetation. Trifluralin (TRF), causing toxicity and mutagenicity, is a dinitroaniline class herbicide used to control undesirable vegetation in agriculture. Aloe vera is a widely used plant having rich gel content and a wide area of utilization. The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of Aloe vera on Drosophila melanogaster toxicity caused by TRF. For this purpose, life span, larval toxicity, and genotoxicity tests were performed on D. melanogaster administered with concentration of TRF (0.1 mM) and Aloe vera (2.5%, 5% and 10%). The results showed that life span was improved in the female and male populations when TRF and Aloe vera was administered (2.5%, 5% and 10%). Furthermore, the larval toxicity experiment showed that TRF decreased the survival rate of larvae; however, TRF and Aloe vera (10%) increased it at the highest concentration. According to the Comet Assay, TRF was found to cause an increase in the DNA damage; on the other hand, when D. melanogaster was administered with TRF and Aloe vera, the DNA damage decreased gradually in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, Aloe vera could be a good candidate to reduce the harmful effects of TRF, one of the most used herbicides.

Metal-ion capacitors (MICs) based on a battery-type anode and a capacitive positive electrode in an organic electrolyte, have come to the foreground in recent years, owing to their higher output energy than electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). However, the MIC's technology, especially the fabrication of stable anodic materials combining a high reversible capacity, a low irreversible capacity and a good rate capability, still needs to be optimized. Herein, the advantages, limitations and recent progresses in implementing alloying anodic hosts in MICs are critically discussed. The manuscript highlights the possible benefits from in-situ pre-metalation of the host and provides guidelines for optimizing the output energy and life span of metal-ion capacitors with alloy-based anodes.

Abstract Dozens of surrogates have been used to reflect the rate of aging in comparative biology. For wild organisms, the maximum reported life span is often considered a key metric. However, the connection between the maximum reported life span for a single individual and the aging rate of that species is far from clear. Our objective was to identify a pragmatic solution to calculate the aging rate from the maximum reported life span of wild birds. We explicitly linked the maximum reported life span to the aging process by employing a Weibull distribution and calculating the shape parameter in this model, which reflects the change in mortality across ages and be used as a surrogate for the aging rate. From simulated data, we demonstrated that the percentile estimator is suitable for calculating the aging rate based on the maximum reported life span. We also calculated the aging rate in 246 bird species based on published information from EURING and tested its relationship with body mass. Our study constitutes a new approach for using maximum reported life span in aging research. The aging rate calculated in the study is based on numerous assumptions/prerequisites and can be improved as more is learned about these assumptions/prerequisites.

ZrO 2 –SnO 2 –ZrSnO 4 composite nanofibers (CNFs) were fabricated by an electrospinning technique in three different ratios by volume (%v/v). Changing the composition ratio of CNFs affected the temperature and sinter time variation of both the band gap and the flash sintering (FS) phenomenon. FS experiments were used at a current cut-off of 3.77 mA/mm2 under thermal (844–878 °C) and electric field (420 V/mm). Highly dense CNFs were obtained in less than 80 s with a maximum power absorption of 1.58 W/mm3. In addition to the FS process, CNFs were sintered with the conventional sintering (CS) method at 1200 °C for 1 h. As the amount of Sn in the composition (%v/v) increases, the density increases, but the hardness value decreases. The FS process was proven to produce faster, denser, and harder material than CS. Long-term and permanent results are obtained by designing biocompatible nanocomposite materials in health. However, determining the long-term effects of CNFs, which are considered non-toxic, is necessary. Drosophila melanogaster female food was covered with these different v/v% ratios CNFs (ZrSn, Zr2Sn; 2ZrSn) and contact by life span: The effects were evaluated on movement, weight, egg production, longevity, and antioxidant system (Superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT, glutathione-GSH, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil-DPPH). It can be said that Zr2S CNFs were not toxic by not changing the life span, egg production, climbing, and biochemical parameters of the fly. However, it was determined that CNFs used in ZrSn and 2ZrSn ratios slightly reduced the behavioral (movement and longevity) and antioxidant activities (SOD and CAT) of the individual. [Display omitted] • CS, density, and hardness tests of ZrO 2 -SnO 2 -ZrSnO 4 CNFs (ternary system) were investigated. • The FS, yielded a short-time process, denser and harder compositions compared to CS. • The long-term toxicity of FS ZrO 2 -SnO 2 -ZrSnO 4 CNFs did not produce short-term toxicity using Drosophila melanogaster. • In aging flies, ZrSn and 2ZrSn CNFs decreased SOD and CAT activity and resulting in weight gain and reduced locomotion. • Flies in groups 2 and 4 had a reduced lifespan because of continuous contact with CNFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding senescence in semelparous species not only deepens our knowledge of the evolution of aging but also highlights the diversity of life strategies that have evolved in the natural world. This terminal phase occurs at the end of the lifecycle and is particularly evident in the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris , Cuvier 1797, a semelparous species with terminal reproduction. The aim of the present work was to document the natural process of senescence in specimens raised in captivity for two consecutive generations and the differences in morphology, behaviour and functional traits between the two sexes. Both sexes showed similar affections in the skin, with unhealed wounds, paler colors, and white lesions. At the same temperature males lived longer (six to seven months) than females, and showed extensive arm tip damage, with the exception of the hectocotylus that was fully functional until the very last day. Females, contrarily to males, lose 35.4–46.8% of their body weight during brooding and senescence. Uncommon behaviours were registered during this terminal phase like egg laying outside of the den, egg ingestion or copulation between males. These observations provide new data that will help to better understand this terminal phase and the natural processes occurring in both sexes at the end of their life cycle. • Octopus vulgaris female life span is shorter than that of males at the same temperature. • Senescence comes earlier and is more apparent in O. vulgaris females than in males. • Octopus males suffer necrosis of all arm tips except in the sexual arm (hectocotylus). • Males of O. vulgaris are reproductively fully functional until their very last day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota is increasingly considered to play a key role in human immunity and health. The aging process alters the microbiota composition, which is associated with inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased tissue function, and increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. It has been demonstrated that plant polysaccharides have beneficial effects on the gut microbiota, particularly in reducing pathogenic bacteria abundance and increasing beneficial bacteria populations. However, there is limited evidence of the effect of plant polysaccharides on age-related gut microbiota dysbiosis and ROS accumulation during the aging process. To explore the effect of Eucommiae polysaccharides (EPs) on age-related gut microbiota dysbiosis and ROS accumulation during the aging process of Drosophila, a series of behavioral and life span assays of Drosophila with the same genetic background in standard medium and a medium supplemented with EPs were performed. Next, the gut microbiota composition and protein composition of Drosophila in standard medium and the medium supplemented with EPs were detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis and quantitative proteomic analysis. Here, we show that supplementation of Eucommiae polysaccharides (EPs) during development leads to the life span extension of Drosophila. Furthermore, EPs decreased age-related ROS accumulation and suppressed Gluconobacter, Providencia, and Enterobacteriaceae in aged Drosophila. Increased Gluconobacter, Providencia, and Enterobacteriaceae in the indigenous microbiota might induce age-related gut dysfunction in Drosophila and shortens their life span. Our study demonstrates that EPs can be used as prebiotic agents to prevent aging-associated gut dysbiosis and reactive oxidative stress.

Although loneliness is typically associated with adolescence and old age, research has revealed that it is prevalent across the life span. The present study contributes to the loneliness literature by investigating a broad range of risk factors in a Dutch sample (N = 52,341) ranging from late adolescence to old age using a cross-sectional survey administered by the regional public health services in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. Risk factors associated with higher levels of self-reported loneliness across the life span were being male, lower education levels, inadequacy of financial resources, mental health, informal caregiving that is experienced as burdensome, and limited social contact or network type. In addition, in early adulthood, having a non-western migration background and having a physical disability were associated with higher levels of loneliness, whereas living alone, having a non-western migration background, and not having a paid job were risk factors of loneliness in middle adulthood. In late adulthood, living alone and having a physical disability were associated with loneliness. The present study demonstrates that different stages of life are associated with different vulnerability factors of loneliness. Hence, the prevention of loneliness might require different interventions in different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome instability causes cellular senescence in many organisms. The rRNA gene cluster (rDNA) is one of the most unstable regions in the genome and this instability might convey a signal that induces senescence in the budding yeast. The instability of rDNA mostly depends on replication fork blocking (RFB) activity which induces recombination and gene amplification. By overexpression of Fob1, responsible for the RFB activity, we found that unstable rDNA induces cell cycle arrest and restricts replicative life span. We isolated yeast mutants that grew normally while Fob1 was overexpressed, expecting that some of the mutated genes would be related to the production of a “senescence signal” that elongates cell cycle, stops cell division and finally restricts replicative life span. Our screen identified three suppressor genes, RPS12, UBC4, and CCR4. Replicative life spans of the rps12 and ubc4 mutants were longer than that of wild-type cells. An increase in the levels of extrachromosomal rDNA circles and noncoding transcripts, known to shorten replicative life span, was observed in ubc4 and rps12 respectively, while DNA double strand-breaks at the RFB that are triggers of rDNA instability were reduced in the rps12 mutant. Overall, our observations indicate that Rps12 and Ubc4 contribute to the connection between rDNA instability and replicative life span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wayfinding skills decay in old age, more so for wayfinding in an allocentric than an egocentric reference frame. This study investigates whether wayfinding deficits of schoolchildren mimic those of older adults. Schoolchildren were tested on two wayfinding tasks: one could only be mastered in an allocentric, and the other only in an egocentric reference frame. The results were compared with those from a previous study of young and older adults who had been tested on the same two wayfinding tasks. It was found that wayfinding performance improved somewhat from school age to young adulthood and that this improvement proceeded more or less in parallel for the allocentric and the egocentric tasks. It was further found that wayfinding performance decayed from young to older adulthood and that this decay was more dramatic for the allocentric than for the egocentric task. This pattern of findings does not support the hypothesis that the wayfinding performance of schoolchildren mimics that of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office 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.)