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

Gaseous acetic acid is formed under conditions of storage of historic paper objects. Its presence not only promotes hydrolytic cleavage of cellulose, but also causes acetylation of the cellulosic material to very small degree. The acetylation reaction proceeds under ambient conditions and without catalyst. Different analytical methods were used to prove the presence of organic acetates on cellulosic paper matrices. DESI-MS in combination with 2H-isotopic labeling showed the presence of sugar fragments with different acetylation patterns. A method based on Zemplen saponification was applied and worked also in the presence of a large excess of acetic acid and/or inorganic acetates. The acetylation effect was quantified for model papers and original, naturally aged paper samples. While cellulose acetylation was clearly proven to be another general pathway of paper aging, further studies of this acetylation phenomenon are needed with regard to conservational aspects and suitable paper storage conditions.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify and characterize the 100 most cited articles on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and phenolic compounds (PCs).MethodsArticles were selected in the Web of Science Core Collection up to June 2022 based on predetermined inclusion criteria, and the following bibliometric parameters were extracted: the number of citations, title, keywords, authors, year, study design, tested PC and therapeutic target. MapChart was used to create worldwide networks, and VOSviewer software was used to create bibliometric networks. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to identify the most researched PCs and therapeutic targets in PD.ResultsThe most cited article was also the oldest. The most recent article was published in 2020. Asia and China were the continent and the country with the most articles in the list (55 and 29%, respectively). In vitro studies were the most common experimental designs among the 100 most cited articles (46%). The most evaluated PC was epigallocatechin. Oxidative stress was the most studied therapeutic target.ConclusionDespite the demonstrations in laboratorial studies, the results obtained point to the need for clinical studies to better elucidate this association.

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

The applicability of using 2-furfural (2-FAL) and methanol as aging markers for synthetic ester impregnated paper insulation was investigated through laboratory aging experiments at temperatures of 80, 100 and 120 °C. Methanol in the synthetic ester increased linearly with paper aging until degree of polymerisation (DP) reached 400. During this period concentration of methanol in oil was higher than that of 2-FAL, which proved the concept of using methanol to indicate early paper aging in the synthetic ester. However, the rate of methanol increase against the reduction of DP in the synthetic ester was about three times higher than that seen in mineral oil. This is due to a difference in the partitioning of the marker between oil and paper. Since the synthetic ester is more polar than the mineral oil, it attracted more methanol molecules from the paper, resulting in a higher concentration of methanol in oil for the same reduction of DP. In addition, a reduction in methanol was observed at the later stage of paper aging at 120 °C. This could be due to either a change in the partitioning between oil and paper, or an esterification reaction which consumes methanol in the system.

Background and objective The number of people suffering from dementia is increasing worldwide and so is the need for reliable and economical diagnostic instruments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the processing times of the neuropsychological tests Trail Making Tests A and B (TMT-A/B) and Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT), which were performed in both digital and paper versions. Methods The pilot study was conducted among 50 healthy participants (age 65–83 years) using a randomized crossover design. The correlations and differences in the individual processing times of the two test versions were statistically analyzed. Further research questions concerned the influence of the individual usage of technology and the technology commitment of participants as well as the influence of the assessed usability on participants’ performance. Results Between the two versions (paper-based vs. digital) statistically significant correlations were found in all tests, e.g., TMT-A r(48) = 0.63, p rs(48) = 0.77, p t(49) = 11.24, p rs(48) = − 0.31) and smartphone (rs(48) = − 0.29) and between the processing times of the TMT-B and the usability (rs(48) = 0.29). Conclusions The high correlations between the test procedures appear promising. However, the differences found in the processing times of the two test versions require validation and standardization of digitized test procedures before they can be used in practice.

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the common neurodegenerative diseases, which often coexists with epilepsy. It is very significant to study the treatment options and the relationship between AD and epilepsy.AimsThe purpose of this study was to analyze the top 100 cited papers about AD and epilepsy using bibliometrics, and to describe the current situation and predict research hot spots.MethodsTop 100 papers were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The WoSCC was used to analyze the author, institution, country, title, keywords, abstract, citation, subject category, publication year, impact factor (IF), and other functions. SPSS25 software was used for statistical analysis and CiteSpace V.5.7.R2 was used to visualize the information through collaborative networks.ResultsThe number of publications gradually increased from 2000 to 2021. The total citation count for the top 100 papers ranged from 15 to 433(mean = 67.43). The largest number of papers were published in 2016 (n = 11). Meanwhile, USA (centrality: 0.93) and Columbia University (centrality: 0.06) were the most influential research country and institutions, respectively. The top contributing journals was Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (8%). The IF for journals ranged from 1.819 to 53.44. A network analysis of the author’s keywords showed that “beta” (centrality: 0.39), “amyloid beta” (centrality: 0.29), “hyperexcitability” (centrality: 0.29) and “disease” (centrality: 0.29) had a high degree of centrality.ConclusionAD and epilepsy have been intensively studied in the past few years. The relationships, mechanisms and treatment of AD and epilepsy will be subjects of active research hotpots in future. These findings provide valuable information for clinicians and scientists to identify new perspectives with potential collaborators and cooperative countries.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease, that occurs frequently in the aging population and is a major cause of disability worldwide. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are biologically active molecules that are substrates for proteoglycan, an essential component of the cartilage matrix. Evidence supports the use of glucosamine and chondroitin as symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs) with impact on OA symptoms and disease-modifying effects in the long term. Glucosamine and chondroitin are administered in exogenous form as a sulfate salt and multiple formulations of these agents are available, both as prescription-grade products and nutritional supplements. However, while all preparations may claim to deliver a therapeutic level of glucosamine or chondroitin not all are supported by clinical evidence. Only patented crystalline glucosamine sulfate (pCGS) is shown to deliver consistently high glucosamine bioavailability and plasma concentration in humans, which corresponds to demonstrated clinical efficacy. Similarly, clinical evidence supports only the pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate. The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) advocates, through careful consideration of the evidence base, that judicious choice of glucosamine and chondroitin formulation is essential to maximize clinical benefit, patient adherence and satisfaction with treatment. In future, the ESCEO recommends that complex molecules with biological activity such as pCGS may be treated as “biosimilars” akin to the European Medicines Agency guidance on biological medicinal products. It seems likely that for all other complex molecules classed as SYSADOAs, the recommendation to use only formulations clearly supported by the evidence-base should apply. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40520-017-0861-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The article presents issues related to the aging behavior of oil-paper insulations in transformers using different oil- and ester-based insulating fluids. Despite numerous conducted studies on the subject of oil-paper aging, the use of new insulating fluids is creating open questions. In addition, new liquids such as synthetic and natural esters, as well as oil of the newest generation, are being used. Furthermore, there is still little research on the formation of aging markers with this form of the dielectric. For this reason, in this contribution, oil-paper insulations with mineral oil-based insulating fluids, natural and synthetic esters, as well as oil from natural gas, are aged thermally accelerated at 130 °C over a duration of 15 weeks, by considering two cases of free-breathing and hermetically sealed transformers. Therefore, various aging markers are investigated to allow a condition assessment. The results show that differences exist between the fluids and design of the transformer, as in the aging rate of the paper and the formation of aging markers in the insulating liquid such as acids. These findings can be used to improve asset management strategies by a more precise determination of the aging state depending on the transformer type as well as the type of insulating fluid.

In a large proportion of individuals with fronto-temporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the underlying pathology is associated with the misfolding and aggregation of the microtubule associated protein tau (FTLD-tau). With disease progression, widespread protein accumulation throughout cortical and subcortical brain regions may be responsible for neurodegeneration. One of the syndromes of FTLD is the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), in which the underlying pathology is heterogenous, with half of the cases being related to FTLD-tau. Currently, there are no approved disease-modifying treatments for FTLD-tau, therefore representing a major unmet therapeutic need. These descriptive, preliminary findings of the phase 1 open-label trial provide data to support the potential of sodium selenate to halt the cognitive and behavioral decline, as well as to reduce tau levels in a small group of participants with bvFTD (N = 11). All participants were treated with sodium selenate over a period of 52 weeks. Cognition was assessed with the Neuropsychiatry Unit Cognitive Assessment Tool (NUCOG, total scores), social cognition with the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale (RSMS, total scores), behavior with the Cambridge Behavioral Inventory (CBI), and carer burden with the Caregiver Buden Scale (CBS). Fluid biomarker measures include cerebrospinal fluid of total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), NfL, p-tau181/t-tau, t-tau/Aβ1–42, and p-tau181/Aβ1–42 levels. After treatment at follow-up, cognition and behavior showed further negative change (based on a reliable change criterion cut-off of annual NUCOG decline) in the “progressors,” but not in the “non-progressors.” “Non-progressors” also showed elevated baseline CSF tau levels and no increase after treatment, indicating underlying tau pathology and a positive response to sodium selenate treatment. Significant changes in MRI were not observed. The findings provide useful information for future clinical trials to systematically assess the disease-modifying treatment effects of sodium selenate in randomized controlled designs for bvFTD and FTLD-tau pathologies.

Background: Paper mulberry is one of the most common skin-lightening agents in the beauty industry due to its strong anti-tyrosinase activity. This narrative review aims to summarize the chemical composition, biological activities, and applications of paper mulberry in cosmetics. Method: The literature for this article was acquired from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases before September 2022. The keywords for searching included “paper mulberry”, “Broussonetia papyrifera”, “skin-lightening”, “skin-whitening”, “depigmentation”, “pharmacological activity”, and “biological activity”. Results: Paper mulberry consists of various components, including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, coumarins, glycosides, and polysaccharides, which possess a wide range of pharmacological properties. Apart from its anti-tyrosinase activity, paper mulberry and its compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, antigout, antinociceptive, and hepatoprotective effects. Phenols and flavonoids were demonstrated to be the main contributors to the biological activities of paper mulberry. Paper mulberry is widely applied in cosmetics for skin lightening and skin moisturizing purposes and shows potential for application in hair care products due to the hair nourishing effects. The safety of paper mulberry for topical application was proven in clinical studies. Conclusion: The current review provides a better understanding of paper mulberry’s properties and allows us to extend the application of this plant and its bioactive components in cosmetics.

For release-liner preparation, coating stabilization of the silicone layer on base paper often requires pre- and post-treatment. In this study, we used atmospheric pressure diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge in roll-to-roll configuration. The results of prepared coating showed that the A4 size clay-coated paper sprayed with silicone oil (0.25&ndash, 0.50 mL) gradually decreased the tape peeling force (180&deg, ) with prolonged and repeated air plasma post-treatment. Best results showing increased hydrophobicity and significantly enhanced release factor of the coating were obtained after the plasma treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere. The silicone coating on the clay-coated paper reduced the reference release force from 5.5 N/cm to less than 1.5 N/cm after the repeated silicone spraying and short nitrogen plasma post-treatment. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicate silicone curing by plasma post-treatment and pore-closing of base paper without changes of the bulk material. The aging test lasting 3 months revealed the stability of the prepared coating.

Paper-based diagnostics provide a low-cost, reliable and easy to use mode of blood typing. The shelf-life of such products, however, can be limited due to the reduced activity of reagent antibodies sorbed on the paper cellulose fibers. This study explores the effects of aging on antibody activity for periods up to 12 months on paper and in solution under different aging and drying conditions-air-dried, lyophilized, and kept as a liquid. Paper kept wet with undiluted antibody is shown to have the longest shelf-life and the clearest negatives. Antibody diluted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) protects against the lyophilization process, however, beyond 9 months aging, false positives are seen. Paper with air-dried antibodies is not suitable for use after 1 month aging. These results inform preparation and storage conditions for the development of long shelf-life blood grouping paper-based diagnostics.

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

Scientific research in cosmetics is growing, and there is significant interest in new data related to active molecules, basic science, methods, and product development in this field [...]

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

Historical papers are often locally damaged by exogenous influences and/or have endogenously degraded paper areas. The stabilization of such papers is very important because further use of the object can cause additional damage. Different types of nanocellulose are interesting as a novel stabilizing materials for paper due to their close structural relation to the paper matrix. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the treatment of historical papers with nanocellulose suspensions is a novel method for paper stabilization. Two different types of nanocelluloses, bacterial cellulose and a mechanically nanofibrillated cellulose based on wood pulp, were tested with regard to their performance in stabilizing fragile papers. Concerning material handling and application in conservation steps, different ways to modify the suspensions were tested. The resulting suspensions were applied to historical papers from several centuries with different extents of damage. The paper-nanocellulose composites were characterized with regard to their optical and microscopic integrity and by physical and chemical analyses. The treatment of mechanical damage and the consolidation of weakened paper areas could be realized by the application of a nanocellulose suspension without an additional adhesive. The results of the treatment depend on the type of nanocellulose, on the paper material, on processing and application techniques. The paper discusses the applicability and stability of the differently prepared nanocellulose suspensions, also with regard to their mode of application and long-term performance. Advantages and limitations are addressed in detail. Graphical abstract Bacterial nanocellulose and nano-fibrillated cellulose from pulp can be used to consolidate damaged historic papers without the application of additional adhesives

There is a growing interest in examining alterations in telomere length as a reliable biomarker of general health, as well as a marker for predicting later morbidity and mortality. Substantial evidence shows that telomere length is associated with aging; telomere shortening acts as a "counting mechanism" that drives replicative senescence by limiting the mitotic potential of normal (but not malignant) cells. In this Correspondence, we attempt to answer the question of why recently published papers about telomere length alterations increase our uncertainty rather than reduce it. This discussion includes three major research areas regarding telomere length: environmental stressors, aging, and life span. Our review suggests that activation of telomerase activity due to stressors in space might be a double-edged sword with both favorable and unfavorable consequences. The selection of an effect's consequence must clearly elucidate the experimental conditions as well as associated stressors. In this Correspondence, we attempt to answer the question of why recently published papers about telomere length alterations increase our uncertainty rather than reduce it. The selection of an effect's consequence must clearly elucidate the experimental conditions as well as associated stressors. Both positive and negative consequences must be clearly addressed in order to bolster the conclusions, as well as identify future research directions.

Background Executive skills refer to a set of cognitive skills that allow individuals to engage in goal directed behavior. They encompass planning, initiation, inhibition, monitoring and flexibility in approach to tasks, and are necessary for functional competence. Executive skills are vulnerable to disruption with damage to the brain, as occurs with dementia. Methods Participants were recruited from a tertiary memory assessment and support Service. The Assessment of Motor & Process Skills (AMPS), a standardised observational assessment of occupational performance (1Fischer, 2003) was administered by trained Occupational Therapists. In addition, the EXIT-25, a pen & paper based assessment of executive skills (2Royall et al, 1992) was administered. Process scores from the AMPS, and overall score from the EXIT 25 were utilised for correlation analysis. Results 22 participants, 12 male and 10 females, age range 60-91 (mean 75.5 years), was analysed using Spearman’s Rho correlation (-.2). Results did not identify a strong correlation Conclusion Dementia is commonly regarded as a disorder of memory. However, diagnosis is dependent on functional decline related to cognitive decline. The AMPS provides a formal assessment of functional skills, in terms of motor & process skills with cut off scores regarding safe independent living. The results of this study indicate that the AMPS is not associated with executive scores on formal cognitive assessments, highlighting the value of an extensive multi-component MDT approach (also incorporating history taking, imaging, bio marker testing etc.) in assessing and diagnosing a dementia.

Age and Ageing is now inviting papers on healthcare improvement for older people. In this article we outline the nature and scope of healthcare improvement and reference improvement models and the tools and methods of improvement science. We emphasise the issues of sustainability, including scale and spread; evaluation - including associated ethical consideration and the involvement of patients and the public in healthcare improvement and associated research. Throughout we refer to resources the authors have found useful in their own work, and provide a bibliography of sources and web-links which will provide essential guidance and support for potential contributors to this new category of submission to Age and Ageing.

A disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases affect older, minority populations. Obese older adults are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 complications and lower survival rates, and minority older adults often experience higher rates of obesity. A plant-based diet intervention may improve COVID-19-related modifiable risk factors for obesity. Encouraging the consumption of plant-based diets comprising vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts by utilizing community outreach strategies and digital technology can contribute to improving COVID-19 risk factors among this population.

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

Insulators or bushings are one of the most common cause of transformer failures especially those with fire and collateral damage. This can be prevented by application of off-line and on-line monitoring, especially by measuring of capacitance C and dielectric dissipation factor tanδ, but current physical understanding of these parameters should be improved. A complex research of temperature dependence of C and tanδ, which is based on measurements on a specially designed oil impregnated paper bushing models with different moisture contents in the insulation and during artificial ageing, is presented in the paper. Useful relationships, which enable calculation of tanδ as a function of observed influencing parameters, are also presented.

Interest in using vegetable oils as dielectric coolants in power transformers dates back to the early studies on linseed- and castor- based fluids as possible replacements of mineral oil. However, interest in vegetable oils was lost due to their high viscosity and their tendency to oxidize. But, in the early 1990s and due to environmental concerns, the interest in dielectric fluids based on vegetable esters re-emerged. As a result, two vegetable ester– based oils were developed, namely, BIOTEMP, developed by ABB, and FR3®, developed by Cooper Power Systems.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesized by Gluconacetobacter sucrofermentans CECT 7291 seems to be a good option for the restoration of degraded paper. In this work BC layers are cultivated and purified by two different methods an alkaline treatment when the culture media contains ethanol and a thermal treatment if the media is free from ethanol. The main goal of these tests was the characterization of BC layers measured in terms of tear and burst indexes, optical properties, SEM, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, degree of polymerization, static and dynamic contact angles, and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The BC layers were also evaluated in the same terms after an aging treatment. Results showed that BC has got high crystallinity index, low internal porosity, good mechanical properties and high stability over time, especially when purified by the alkaline treatment. These features make BC an adequate candidate for degraded paper reinforcement. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

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Background: Due to the aging of the population, cancer has become a health priority worldwide. While the number of elderly cancer patients is rapidly increasing, many barriers still exist to their effective management. Compared with their younger counterparts, the elderly are less likely to receive optimal medical, psychological and spiritual treatment provided in a culturally competent manner. Design: The scanty literature on cultural competence in elderly cancer patients has been reviewed. Additional material has been selected based on the authors' clinical research in medical oncology and psycho-oncology, and on their scholarly work in anthropology and bioethics. Results: The aging process is a synergistic product of biological, behavioral and social issues within a cultural context. Knowledge about how older people understand, perceive and experience their illness trajectory and make choices is essential to the planning and delivering of effective cancer care. Conclusion: This position paper of the SIOG Task Force on Cultural Competence in the Elderly creates awareness of the influence of culture in geriatric oncology. Negotiating cross-cultural issues in geriatric oncology helps managing possible conflicts between patients, families and physicians over differing health care values, beliefs, or practices. Possible areas of future scholarly investigation and clinical research are identified.

The paper-and-pencil digit-comparison task for assessing negative priming (NP) was introduced, using a referent-size-selection procedure that was demonstrated to enhance the effect. NP is indicated by slower responses to recently ignored items, and proposed within the clinical-experimental framework as a major cognitive index of active suppression of distracting information, critical to executive functioning. The digit-comparison task requires circling digits of a list with digit-asterisk pairs (a baseline measure for digit-selection), and the larger of two digits in each pair of the unrelated (with different digits in successive digit-pairs) and related lists (in which the smaller digit subsequently became a target). A total of 56 students (18-38 years) participated in two experiments that explored practice effects across lists and demonstrated reliable NP, i.e., slowing to complete the related list relative to the unrelated list, (F(2, 44) = 52.42, P < 0.0001). A 3rd experiment examined age-related effects. In the paper-and-pencil digit-comparison task, NP was reliable for the younger (N = 8, 18-24 years) and middle-aged adults (N = 8, 31-54 years), but absent for the older group (N = 8, 68-77 years). NP was also reduced with aging in a computer-implemented digit-comparison task, and preserved in a task typically used to test location-specific NP, accounting for the dissociation between identity- and spatial-based suppression of distractors (Rao R(3, 12) = 16.02, P < 0.0002). Since the paper-and-pencil digit-comparison task can be administered easily, it can be useful for neuropsychologists seeking practical measures of NP that do not require cumbersome technical equipment.

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

Dear Editor,With the great interest in the recent-online article entitled “High serum concentration of estradiol may be a risk factor of prostate enlargement in aging male in China”, we found some ...

Orientador: José Pissolato Filho Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação Resumo: Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados dos ensaios de seis séries de envelhecimento, feitos em provas de papel isolante tipo kraft novo, submersos em amostras de óleo mineral isolante novos e retirados de transformadores em operação no sistema interligado nacional. O principal objetivo do ensaio foi aferir se a mensuração dos ácidos de baixa massa molar presentes no óleo pode ser utilizada como uma ferramenta de avaliação do grau de degradação do isolamento sólido de transformadores com sistema de isolamento papel kraft e óleo mineral isolante. Outros objetivos da pesquisa, foram comprovar a maior influência dos ácidos de baixa massa molar em relação aos ácidos de alta massa molar, na degradação do papel isolante no transformador e acompanhar o envelhecimento do papel isolante imerso em óleos minerais isolantes com diferentes graus de degradação. Os resultados desta pesquisa mostraram a inaplicabilidade da mensuração dos ácidos de baixa molar presentes no óleo para estimar o grau de envelhecimento do papel isolante. Na pesquisa observou-se também que a ação dos ácidos de baixa massa molar tem maior efeito do que a dos ácidos de alta massa molar na deterioração do papel e que, ao contrário do senso comum, nem sempre o papel imerso em óleo degradado tem um envelhecimento mais rápido que o papel mergulhado em óleo em melhores condições. Esta constatação pode influenciar a forma como os proprietários de transformadores priorizam as manutenções neste equipamento Abstract: This paper presents the results of six series of aging tests. The tests were made in new insulated papers, kraft type, submerged in new mineral insulating oil and mineral insulating oils samples obtained from transformers in operation in Brazilian National Interconnected Grid. The main objective of the tests was to verify if the measurement of low molar acids present on oil should be used as a tool to evaluate the aging of solid insulation in transformers with insulation composed by kraft paper and mineral insulation oil. Others goals of the research were to verify the larger influence of low molar acids in the transformer paper degradation, in comparison to acids with higher molar mass, and ascertain the aging of the insulation paper immersed in mineral insulation oils with different degrees of degradation. The results of this research showed the inapplicability of the measurement of the low molar acids present in oil to estimate the aging degree of the insulation paper. In the research, it was observed that the action of low molar acids has greater effect than the high molar acids in the deterioration of the paper and that, unlike common sense, not always the paper immersed in degraded oil, aging faster than paper dipped in better conditions oil. This finding may influence the way of transformers owners prioritize maintenance on this equipment Doutorado Energia Elétrica Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is an ongoing, longitudinal, multicenter study designed to develop clinical, imaging, genetic, and biochemical biomarkers for the early detection and tracking of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The initial study, ADNI-1, enrolled 400 subjects with early mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 200 with early AD, and 200 cognitively normal elderly controls. ADNI-1 was extended by a 2-year Grand Opportunities grant in 2009 and by a competitive renewal, ADNI-2, which enrolled an additional 550 participants and will run until 2015. This article reviews all papers published since the inception of the initiative and summarizes the results to the end of 2013. The major accomplishments of ADNI have been as follows: (1) the development of standardized methods for clinical tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in a multicenter setting; (2) elucidation of the patterns and rates of change of imaging and CSF biomarker measurements in control subjects, MCI patients, and AD patients. CSF biomarkers are largely consistent with disease trajectories predicted by β-amyloid cascade (Hardy, J Alzheimer's Dis 2006;9(Suppl 3):151-3) and tau-mediated neurodegeneration hypotheses for AD, whereas brain atrophy and hypometabolism levels show predicted patterns but exhibit differing rates of change depending on region and disease severity; (3) the assessment of alternative methods of diagnostic categorization. Currently, the best classifiers select and combine optimum features from multiple modalities, including MRI, [(18)F]-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET, amyloid PET, CSF biomarkers, and clinical tests; (4) the development of blood biomarkers for AD as potentially noninvasive and low-cost alternatives to CSF biomarkers for AD diagnosis and the assessment of α-syn as an additional biomarker; (5) the development of methods for the early detection of AD. CSF biomarkers, β-amyloid 42 and tau, as well as amyloid PET may reflect the earliest steps in AD pathology in mildly symptomatic or even nonsymptomatic subjects and are leading candidates for the detection of AD in its preclinical stages; (6) the improvement of clinical trial efficiency through the identification of subjects most likely to undergo imminent future clinical decline and the use of more sensitive outcome measures to reduce sample sizes. Multimodal methods incorporating APOE status and longitudinal MRI proved most highly predictive of future decline. Refinements of clinical tests used as outcome measures such as clinical dementia rating-sum of boxes further reduced sample sizes; (7) the pioneering of genome-wide association studies that leverage quantitative imaging and biomarker phenotypes, including longitudinal data, to confirm recently identified loci, CR1, CLU, and PICALM and to identify novel AD risk loci; (8) worldwide impact through the establishment of ADNI-like programs in Japan, Australia, Argentina, Taiwan, China, Korea, Europe, and Italy; (9) understanding the biology and pathobiology of normal aging, MCI, and AD through integration of ADNI biomarker and clinical data to stimulate research that will resolve controversies about competing hypotheses on the etiopathogenesis of AD, thereby advancing efforts to find disease-modifying drugs for AD; and (10) the establishment of infrastructure to allow sharing of all raw and processed data without embargo to interested scientific investigators throughout the world.

The recent paper by Speakman et al. (2004), ‘Uncoupled and surviving: individual mice with high metabolism have greater mitochondrial uncoupling and live longer’, is significant for two reasons. First, Speakman et al . demonstrate that within a cohort of mice there is a positive correlation between metabolic rate and longevity. This result is contrary to long-proposed theories of aging that inversely link energy expenditure to aging. Second, they provide a credible explanation for why such a positive correlation might exist: increased activation of uncoupling proteins may increase metabolic rates, but decrease the overall production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). As such, this research potentially provides an important contribution towards understanding and attenuating aging. The scientific origins of the concept that aging is inversely related to the rate of energy expenditure extend back nearly 100 years. In 1908 Rubner published results comparing metabolic rates in five species of mammals and concluded that despite large differences in their chronological longevity, these mammals had approximately equal, mass-specific (metabolic output standardized to a given body mass), lifetime energy output. These studies were expanded on by Pearl, who proposed the ‘rate of living hypothesis’, which directly linked the metabolic output of an organism to its longevity (Pearl, 1928). The causal mechanism linking these two was unclear, but Pearl proposed that the duration of life was determined by the exhaustion of a vital cellular component that was consumed at a rate proportional to the metabolic rate, with death occurring upon

The usefulness of blood sampling paper for the detection of antibodies against porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was examined. The PCMV antibody titer of whole blood collected on the paper agreed with that of serum and the absorbances of the corresponding samples were well correlated (r = 0.88). Blood was collected from 26 piglets in the field on the blood sampling paper and ELISA was performed. The maternal PCMV antibody of these piglets decreased during the 8 weeks after birth and IgM antibody against PCMV was detected in four piglets.

LAST year we reported on the most highly cited recently published articles in the Journals of Gerontology Series A (1). In this article we will report on the most highly cited articles in the Journals over the last 3 years, i.e., from 2000 to 2002, as of June 30, 2003. First, however, we are happy to report a marked improvement in the Journals’ impact factor to 3.455. This impact factor is higher than the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (3.092) and the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (3.210). Two predominantly nonclinical gerontology journals, namely, Neurobiology of Aging (6.155)andExperimentalGerontology (3.535),hadbetter impact factors than the Journals. In addition, the Journals had an immediacy index of 0.675, showing immediate relevance of the Journals to gerontologists and geriatricians. From 2000, 29 articles were cited 15 or more times (Table 1). The most highly cited article was by Guralnik and colleagues (2) on lower extremity function and disability. The next most cited article was a review on sarcopenia by Roubenoff and Hughes (3). Seven of these articles involved exercise and muscle power. From 2001, 28 articles were cited 10 or more times (Table 2). The most-cited articles were one by Fried and colleagues (4), which provided a scientific basis for defining frailty, and another by Kenny and colleagues (5) on the effects

Mice harboring the p53 ‘m’ allele – the result of a 0.6-Mb deletion affecting the p53 N-terminus as well as its upstream region – alongside a normal copy of the p53 gene, show decreased lifespan, premature aging and reduced cancer incidence. In the June issue of Aging Cell , Gentry and Venkatachalam provide a characterization of the entire m region, identifying 23 genes located upstream of p53. These authors propose that at least part if not all of the phenotype associated with the presence of the ‘m’ allele is caused by haploinsufficiency of one or more of the deleted genes and not by a truncated p53. We disagree with their interpretation and believe that the truncated p53 protein is the major, and likely the sole contributor, to both early aging and low cancer incidence in this mouse mutant. Tyner et al . (2002) previously described mice with a shortened lifespan, early onset of a number of normal aging symptoms and low cancer incidence. These mice were mutated for p53 by conventional gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. However, the mutation was anything but conventional. Somehow a large region of DNA was deleted such that the N-terminus of p53 was removed along with an undetermined amount of DNA upstream of the p53 gene. The mutant allele was called the ‘m’ allele and is used in reference to p53. However, much more than p53 is affected by the ‘m’ allele. Homozygosity of this mutation results in embryonic lethality, so that the premature aging phenotype was only observed in heterozygotes, called p53 +/m . Tyner et al. suggested that accelerated aging in these mice is due to the expression of a truncated p53 protein. They found that mRNA specifically encoding the ‘m’ allele is expressed in almost all tissues of the p53 +/m mouse and translated into a p24 protein. However, the protein is hard to detect in vivo and it is unknown if other genes within the large deletion contribute to the aging phenotype. Thus, one could question if it is the truncated p53 protein that causes accelerated aging in the mouse or rather the haploinsufficiency of any or all of the genes residing in the genomic region affected by the deletion. In the June issue of Aging Cell , Gentry and Venkatachalam present their results that define the genetic alteration of the ‘m’ allele and show an approximate 0.6Mb deletion that contains at least 23 genes located upstream of p53 (Gentry & Venkatachalam, 2005). These authors propose that at least part if not all of the aging phenotype is caused by haploinsufficiency of one or more of the deleted genes and not by a truncated p53. We congratulate Gentry and Venkatachalam for characterizing the deleted region in the ‘m’ allele, which is important. However, we believe that their interpretation of the potential phenotypic consequences of the deletion confuse rather than clarify the issue of p53 as a putative pro-aging factor. We believe there are at least three problems with their interpretation in which they discount a truncated p53 as the culprit of the premature aging phenotype and the reduced cancer incidence in these mice. First, they fail to fully consider the ‘m’ allele in a genetic background deleted for wild-type p53 or adequately compare its effects with mice that overexpress full-length, normally regulated p53 or a natural variant of p53, i.e. p44. Second, they do not adequately compare the p53 +/m mice with other mutant mice that exhibit premature aging, possibly also involving p53 activity. Third, they do not provide direct evidence that haploinsufficiency of genes in the deleted region contribute to the premature aging phenotype. After all is considered, we believe that the truncated p53 protein is the major, and likely the sole contributor to both early aging and low cancer incidence, as we explain in more detail below.

Al llarg del cicle de la vida avancem per una seqüència d’etapes: som lactants, infants, adolescents, joves, adults i vells. Popularment es diu que els anys “són en la ment” i que un té “l’edat que sent”. Aquestes creences han estat verificades en estudis sobre gerontologia social. Nosaltres fem un pas més enllà i mantenim que “tenim l’edat que comuniquem i que se’ns comunica”. En altres paraules, defensem que si un no sent la seva edat però és parlat i tractat com si la tingués, s’obren les portes a tot tipus de dilemes i ansietats. A Occident, per exemple, quan els joves i els adults interactuen amb les persones més grans ho fan de manera excessivament atenta i càlida, els parlen molt lentament, exageren l’entonació i eleven el to, i fan construccions lingüístiques gramaticalment i conceptualment senzilles. Però aquestes modificacions lingüístiques no es basen en necessitats reals de molts dels adults grans, d’aquells que són socialment i cognitivament actius, i, per aquest motiu, aquests adults creuen que aquestes formes de comunicació denoten una falta de respecte que els mina l’autoestima i la dignitat. El present treball aporta, en primer lloc, un model centrat en la comunicació per a un envelliment satisfactori (Giles 2011; Giles i Dorjee 2004) i, en segon lloc, una revisió d’alguns dels treballs realitzats en l’àmbit de l’atenció sanitària sobre parla condescendent o sobreprotectora i els seus efectes negatius per a la salut i el benestar psicològic (Viladot 1996a,1996b; Viladot i Giles 1998)., Throughout our life cycle we move through a series of stages: we are children, adolescents, young adults, adults and elderly. It is commonly understood and observed in studies in social gerontology that "age is in your head" and that one is “as old as you feel.” We go one step further and claim that, in addition, one is "as old as you communicate and are communicated to." In other words, we maintain that if one does not feel their age, but speaks and is treated according to this age, all kinds of dilemmas and anxieties arise. In the West, for example, younger adults linguistically depersonalize elders by becoming overly attentive and caring, speaking very slowly, exaggerating their intonation, using a higher tone and using grammatically and conceptually simple language constructs. However, these language changes are not based on the real needs of older adults who are cognitively and socially active and, therefore, feel that these forms of communication denote a lack of respect, which undermines their self-esteem and dignity. This work, in part, focuses on developing a model of communication for successful aging (Giles, 2011; Giles i Dorjee, 2004) and, secondly, provides a review of work done on patronizing speech or overaccommodation in the field of healthcare and its negative effects on the elderly’s health and wellbeing (Viladot 1996a,1996b; Viladot i Giles 1998)., A lo largo del ciclo de la vida, avanzamos por una secuencia de etapas: somos lactantes, niños, adolescentes, jóvenes, adultos y viejos. Popularmente se defiende la idea, verificada en estudios en gerontología social, que los años “están en la mente" y que uno tiene “la edad que siente". Nosotros damos un paso más manteniendo que "tenemos la edad que comunicamos y la que se nos comunica". En otras palabras, defendemos que si uno no siente su edad pero es hablado y tratado como si la tuviera, se abren las puertas a todo tipo de dilemas y ansiedades. En Occidente, por ejemplo, cuando los jóvenes y los adultos interaccionan con las personas más mayores se vuelven excesivamente atentos y cálidos, hablándoles lentamente, exagerando la entonación, elevando el tono, y haciendo construcciones lingüísticas sencillas gramaticalmente y conceptualmente. Pero estas modificaciones lingüísticas no se basan en necesidades reales de muchos de los adultos mayores, de aquellos que son socialmente y cognitivamente activos. Por este motivo, sienten que estas formas de comunicación denotan una falta de respeto que mina su autoestima y dignidad. El presente trabajo aporta, en primer lugar, un modelo centrado en la comunicación para un envejecimiento satisfactorio (Giles, 2011; Giles i Dorjee 2004) y, en segundo lugar, una revisión de algunos de los trabajos realizados en el ámbito de la atención sanitaria sobre habla condescendiente o sobreprotectora, y sus efectos negativos para la salud y el bienestar psicológico (Viladot 1996a, 1996b; Viladot i Giles 1998).

Along-lasting and extensive literature has conceptualized the aging process as a universal and unavoidable process of physiological decline that is associated with increased global vulnerability to diseases and death. On the contrary, diseases occur in some individuals and not in others, are connected with specifi c exogenous risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms, and may not increase the risk for death. These characteristics make diseases preventable ( 1 ). As a consequence of this view, efforts to understand aging have emphasized the need to distinguish aging from disease. Indeed, the need to study aging separate from diseases was a fundamental premise of the fi rst large-scale study of aging, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging ( 2 ), which required all participants to undergo a careful physical examination to exclude diseases as possible causes of the observed age-related changes. Beyond theoretical models, chronic diseases accumulate with aging, and together, aging and diseases show mutual interactions in causing deterioration in health, physical and cognitive function, and premature death. Thus, it remains unclear as to whether we can truly distinguish the secondary effects of disease from those of aging per se. In animal models of aging, researchers have begun to characterize aging processes by manipulating diet and genes to change life span ( 3 ), although the effect of modifying these genes on disease susceptibility has not been fully explored. Intermediate phenotypes to longevity have also been examined using measures of physical function. Motility in worms ( 4 ) and gait speed in humans ( 5 ) are perhaps the strongest predictors of mortality even in individuals who are genetically identical. Thus, mobility can be considered to be a proxy phenotype for aging, a sort of universal parameter that can be used to relate the rate of aging across multiple species. Although the pathology of worms has not been studied in depth, it is unlikely that worms suffer from the extreme heterogeneous patterns of disease that contribute to the loss of mobility in humans. Hence, understanding what aspects of mobility loss in humans are due to universal aging processes independent of disease represents a true challenge.

Objective To report on the findings of a systematic review which examined the experiences and views of older people aged 65 years and over on health professionals’ recognition of sexuality and sexual health and whether these aspects of the person are incorporated into care. Review methods The review followed the methods laid out by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Eleven electronic databases were searched using the terms sexual*, aged, ageing/aging, attitudes and care in any health-care setting. Only quantitative and qualitative research and opinion papers written in English and offering unique commentary published between January 2004 and January 2015 were eligible. Results A total of 999 papers were initially identified and of these, 148 were assessed by two reviewers. Eighteen studies – seven quantitative, eight qualitative and three opinion papers – met the inclusion criteria and were appraised. The importance of sexuality to well-being, language used, expressing sexuality, discomfort discussing sexuality, inadequate sexuality health education and treatment and deficient communication with health-care professionals were all identified as significant issues in a range of settings. Fourteen categories and five syntheses summarize the 43 findings. Conclusions Sexuality remains important for many older people; however, embarrassment, dissatisfaction with treatment, negative attitudes and seeming disinterest by health professionals can all inhibit discussions. Professionals and health-care services need to adopt strategies and demonstrate characteristics which create environments that are more supportive of sexuality. Issues related to sexuality and sexual health should be able to be discussed without anxiety or discomfort so that older people receive optimal care and treatment.

Many countries in the world are stepping into the aging society with the challenge of the increasing agin gpopulation. The physiological functions of the human body begins to decline with aging, and the intestinal tract as the most important digestive organ will also be aging. How to relieve or reverse aging is an important scientific problem.The aging model in vivo and in vitro was established. Western-blot, indirect immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were carried out to explore the anti-aging effect of uridine.In the current study, we examined the anti-aging effect of uridine in vivo and in vitro experiments. In vitro cell model, we found that the aging level of intestinal tract was significantly reduced by uridine, uridine treatment down-regulated the Sa-β-gal-positive cells. Furthermore, the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress were also significantly reduced by uridine treatment. On this basis, in vivo experiments, we found that the aging level of mice fed with uridine was significantly lower than that of the control group as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses.In conclusion, our current research indicates that uridine shows a good anti-aging effect,which suggests that uridine is expected to be used as a health food or clinical drug to treat intestinal aging.

Recent studies using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) have demonstrated subtle blood–brain barrier (BBB) leaks in the human brain during normal aging, in individuals with age-related cognitive dysfunction, genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment, early AD, cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), and other neurodegenerative disorders. In these neurological conditions, the BBB leaks, quantified by the unidirectional BBB GBCA tracer’s constant K(trans) maps, are typically orders of magnitude lower than in brain tumors, after stroke and/or during relapsing episodes of multiple sclerosis. This puts extra challenges for the DCE-MRI technique by pushing calculations towards its lower limits of detectability. In addition, presently, there are no standardized multivendor protocols or evidence of repeatability and reproducibility. Nevertheless, subtle BBB leaks may critically contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment and dementia associated with AD or SVD, and therefore, efforts to improve sensitivity of detection, reliability, and reproducibility are warranted. A larger number of participants scanned by different MR scanners at different clinical sites are sometimes required to detect differences in BBB integrity between control and at-risk groups, which impose additional challenges. Here, we focus on these new challenges and propose some approaches to normalize and harmonize DCE data between different scanners. In brief, we recommend specific regions to be used for the tracer’s vascular input function and DCE data processing and how to find and correct negative K(trans) values that are physiologically impossible. We hope this information will prove helpful to new investigators wishing to study subtle BBB damage in neurovascular and neurodegenerative conditions and in the aging human brain. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11357-022-00571-x.