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

For about two millennia, paper has served as a main medium for preservation of people’s ideas, stories, contracts, and art. This article reviews what is known about the various components that make up paper from the perspective of their long-term stability under typical storage conditions. Literature evidence is considered relative to the susceptibility of different paper components to embrittlement, acid hydrolysis, microbiological attack, and discoloration, among others. The cellulose that makes up a majority of most paper items is demonstrably stable enough to persist for many hundreds of years on the shelves of archival collections, though it is susceptible to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, which can be accelerated by byproducts of decomposition. Though less attention has been paid to the archival performance of various minor components of modern paper products, evidence suggests that at least some of them are subject to likely breakdown, embrittlement, or decay in the course of prolonged storage. Based on these considerations, one can envision different categories of paper that can be expected to meet different levels of storage stability: ancient recipes for handmade papermaking, e.g. washi and hanji, archival-grade paper products, ordinary modern alkaline paper products, and paper manufactured without concerns for its longevity.

For about two millennia, paper has served as a main medium for preservation of people’s ideas, stories, contracts, and art. This article reviews what is known about the various components that make up paper from the perspective of their long-term stability under typical storage conditions. Literature evidence is considered relative to the susceptibility of different paper components to embrittlement, acid hydrolysis, microbiological attack, and discoloration, among others. The cellulose that makes up a majority of most paper items is demonstrably stable enough to persist for many hundreds of years on the shelves of archival collections, though it is susceptible to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, which can be accelerated by byproducts of decomposition. Though less attention has been paid to the archival performance of various minor components of modern paper products, evidence suggests that at least some of them are subject to likely breakdown, embrittlement, or decay in the course of prolonged storage. Based on these considerations, one can envision different categories of paper that can be expected to meet different levels of storage stability: ancient recipes for handmade papermaking, e.g. washi and hanji, archival-grade paper products, ordinary modern alkaline paper products, and paper manufactured without concerns for its longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

In order to determine the influence of bast fibers isolated from Wikstroemia bark on the durability of paper, self-made paper was prepared using bagasse pulp mixed with Wikstroemia bark pulp using Kaihua paper manufacturing technology. The durability properties of the paper obtained with different proportions of Wikstroemia bark pulp were measured and analyzed. The results showed that Wikstroemia bark can lower the acidity, improve the mechanical strength, and delay the aging of paper. The mechanical strength showed an exponential relationship with the amount of Wikstroemia bark pulp added to the paper pulp. There was a linear positive correlation between the initial polymerization degree of the paper and the amount of Wikstroemia bark pulp, while the molecular fracture rate of the paper with Wikstroemia bark pulp was considerably reduced. Wikstroemia bark fibers are long fibers with high strength. At the same time, Wikstroemia bark fibers differ greatly in length, so the uniformity can meet the requirements. The durability of the paper made from only bagasse pulp was poor, but the overall strength and polymerization degree of the paper improve after being mixed with Wikstroemia bark pulp.

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

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

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

Thermal aging and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are used as methods to prepare samples of kraft paper spanning its full lifecycle within a high-voltage transformer, from new to end of life. The mechanical break strain is correlated with the degree of polymerization (DP), representing a progressive deterioration of mechanical properties during aging. Subsequent exposure to oil flow mimicking both normal plant operation and reclamation activities shows that aged paper exposed to high rates of flow experiences noticeable surface roughening. Despite this, no measurable erosion occurs even after long-term temperature/flow cycling in used mineral oil containing a notable particulate content. This indicates that kraft paper is unlikely to be eroded by normal reclamation activities, even in a severely aged asset. This confirms the validity of using this approach to extend plant life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

In order to determine the influence of bast fibers isolated from Wikstroemia bark on the durability of paper, self-made paper was prepared using bagasse pulp mixed with Wikstroemia bark pulp using Kaihua paper manufacturing technology. The durability properties of the paper obtained with different proportions of Wikstroemia bark pulp were measured and analyzed. The results showed that Wikstroemia bark can lower the acidity, improve the mechanical strength, and delay the aging of paper. The mechanical strength showed an exponential relationship with the amount of Wikstroemia bark pulp added to the paper pulp. There was a linear positive correlation between the initial polymerization degree of the paper and the amount of Wikstroemia bark pulp, while the molecular fracture rate of the paper with Wikstroemia bark pulp was considerably reduced. Wikstroemia bark fibers are long fibers with high strength. At the same time, Wikstroemia bark fibers differ greatly in length, so the uniformity can meet the requirements. The durability of the paper made from only bagasse pulp was poor, but the overall strength and polymerization degree of the paper improve after being mixed with Wikstroemia bark pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embodied theories of cognition consider many aspects of language and other cognitive domains as the result of sensory and motor processes. In this view, the appraisal and the use of concepts are based on mechanisms of simulation grounded on prior sensorimotor experiences. Even though these theories continue receiving attention and support, increasing evidence indicates the need to consider the flexible nature of the simulation process, and to accordingly refine embodied accounts. In this consensus paper, we discuss two potential sources of variability in experimental studies on embodiment of language: individual differences and context. Specifically, we show how factors contributing to individual differences may explain inconsistent findings in embodied language phenomena. These factors include sensorimotor or cultural experiences, imagery, context-related factors, and cognitive strategies. We also analyze the different contextual modulations, from single words to sentences and narratives, as well as the top-down and bottom-up influences. Similarly, we review recent efforts to include cultural and language diversity, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain disorders, as well as bilingual evidence into the embodiment framework. We address the importance of considering individual differences and context in clinical studies to drive translational research more efficiently, and we indicate recommendations on how to correctly address these issues in future research. Systematically investigating individual differences and context may contribute to understanding the dynamic nature of simulation in language processes, refining embodied theories of cognition, and ultimately filling the gap between cognition in artificial experimental settings and cognition in the wild (i.e., in everyday life).

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.

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.

Abstract 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

This study conducts thermal aging treatment to study the effect of thermal aging on the PD degradation process of the oil-paper insulation. The partial discharge inception voltages, extinction voltages, carbon mark, and microscopic morphology of samples are analyzed. The results show that thermal aging does not reduce the partial discharge inception voltages of oil-paper but can make the spark produced in the oil-paper more difficult to extinguish. At the initial stage, thermal aging has little effect on the development of partial discharge in normal direction of samples, while in later stages, the effect begins to appear; thermal aging reduces the insulation performance between layers of oil impregnated paper and accelerates the carbon trace growth rate in the horizontal direction. In this model, the first layer is most severely bombarded by electrons, and this layer is most obviously affected by the electric field in the normal direction at the contact point between the electrode and the insulating paper. The lower layer is affected by the horizontal and vertical electric fields; therefore, a large area of fiber looseness occurs on the surface of the oil impregnated paper. The degree of deterioration is proportional to the endurance time and aging time, and the damage degree of oil impregnated paper decreases with the increase of the number of layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil-impregnated dielectric papers are the main components of distribution transformer which govern its service time. Therefore, durability enhancement of this grade of paper will cause to extend transformers life. Hence in this research long fiber unbleached Kraft pulp and mixture of it with bagasse soda pulp with the ratio of 20% to 80% were used to make oil-impregnated dielectric papers with the grammage of 60 g/m2. The effect of dicyandiamide application with different content in paper structure and thermal aging were then assessed on dielectric properties and tensile strength of the insulation papers. The results showed that with increasing dicyandiamide content, the capacitance and tensile strength index decreased in comparison with untreated samples, but dielectric loss, insulation resistance, and breakdown voltage were improved. However, slight changes were observed in most dielectric properties during aging, but dicyandiamide caused to prevent loss of the tensile strength of insulated papers. Generally it could be concluded that dicyandiamide acts efficiently in thermal stabilization of insulation paper exposed to aggressive conditions inside the oil-filled transformer.

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.

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 long-term operation of dry-type transformer bushings at high temperatures can impact the performance of their primary insulation material. This article presents an experimental study of the effect of thermal aging time on electrical treeing in the epoxy resin-impregnated paper. The experimental results show that the electrical treeing pattern along the middle path of the electric field and the interlayer creepage along the average direction of the electric field are closely related to the aging time. Under the effect of thermal aging at 150 °C, the tree-starting voltage of epoxy resin-impregnated paper tends to increase and decrease as the aging time increases. An analysis and discussion of the test results in conjunction with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) tests suggest that the destruction of the cross-linked network of the epoxy resin-impregnated paper at 150 °C is a fundamental reason for the significant decrease in the material’s tree-starting voltage and the change in electrical treeing morphology and interlayer creepage. Long-term operation at high temperatures can seriously impact the primary insulation performance of dry-type transformer bushings and requires attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the behavior of interface charges between oil and oil immersed paper insulations in unaged and aged samples. Combined accelerated thermal and electrical aging experiments of oil immersed paper insulations are conducted to obtain aged oil and aged paper samples. The interface charges between oil and paper samples with different aging status are measured with the Pulsed Electro-acoustic (PEA) method. Zeta potentials in samples with different aging status are determined. It is shown that the amount of interface charge increases with the aging duration, and does not follow the prediction of Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) law. This is explained in terms of the increase of the interface charge barrier due to the effect of electric double layer. It is proposed that interface charge may act as an optional characterization parameter for the assessment of oil immersed paper insulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetal oils are considered a suitable substitute for mineral oil that is widely used in power transformers as insulation and cooling medium. Due to the fact that more and more power transformers containing this alternative insulating fluid are being constructed a mathematical ageing models is needed to help predict transformer failures. The continued performance of power transformers depends on the condition of its paper insulation mainly. In this sense, this paper analyses Kraft paper degradation through the loss of its mechanical strength. Accelerated thermal ageing test of the paper in two different vegetal oils were carried out at three temperatures during diverse periods of time, in order to obtain information on the kinetics of the ageing degradation of the paper. The evolution of the mechanical properties of paper failure are analysed as a function of temperature and ageing time. In addition, the results obtained are compared with the traditional method of degradation analysis, based on the measurement of the degree of polymerisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life expectancy of a transformer is closely related to the ageing state of its paper insulation. This paper presents novel markers for ageing characterization of paper insulation in oil-filled transformers based on the dispersion staining colors of cellulose fibres. Accelerated thermal ageing experiments were performed for oil-paper specimens at 120 and 130 °C to obtain aged oil-paper samples of different ageing degrees. The average degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity index, and refractive index of insulation paper were measured; the experimental results show that an increase in refractive index of insulation paper was observed with the increase of ageing degree. Meanwhile, the dispersion staining colors of cellulose fibres in oil were observed using dispersion staining method; the experimental results show that the refractive index of cellulose fibres detached from insulation paper increases with the increment of ageing degree of insulation paper. Finally, two ageing markers—that is, the primary color ratio-based ratio of blue to red and the primary color ratio-based Mahalanobis distance were presented. Their relationship with DP and ageing time of insulation paper were obtained, and were compared with the corresponding relationship with 2-furaldehyde (2-FAL) and carbon oxides. The proposed ageing markers demonstrate an advantage over 2-FAL and carbon oxides and show potential in ageing state evaluation and residual life prediction of paper insulation in transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation and distribution of furfural are significantly affected by moisture content in the insulating paper. However, the diffusion mechanism of furfural under moisture effect is not clear, hence, this study investigates the effect of moisture on the diffusion characteristics of furfural by combining macro experiment and micro molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation results demonstrate that the increased moisture content in paper accelerates the diffusion of furfural from paper to oil, which is also proved by the experimental data. Then, the results of interaction energy analysis indicate that the increase of moisture enhances the van der Waals force between oil and furfural. The present findings are expected to improve the theoretical level of furfural analysis, which will facilitate the aging evaluation of the transformer insulating paper based on furfural. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of vibration-based condition monitoring methods to power transformers has shown the potential for detecting mechanical transformer failures. The ageing of winding insulation paper, which is a common problem in long-serving power transformers, affects both the electrical and mechanical strength of the windings. This paper is concerned with the vibration features of winding disks with aged insulation paper. The vibration characteristics of single-layer winding disks wrapped with insulation paper are investigated. By examining the vibration frequency responses of winding disks with different degrees of ageing of insulation paper, the effects of aged paper on the vibration behaviors of winding disks are demonstrated. The experimental results show that changes in the vibration responses of winding disks can be related to the ageing of insulation paper, and thus it is possible to detect this failure mode in a power transformer using a vibration-based method. A qualitative explanation for these changes is presented, using the degradation of the mechanical strength of the insulation paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embodied theories of cognition consider many aspects of language and other cognitive domains as the result of sensory and motor processes. In this view, the appraisal and the use of concepts are based on mechanisms of simulation grounded on prior sensorimotor experiences. Even though these theories continue receiving attention and support, increasing evidence indicates the need to consider the flexible nature of the simulation process, and to accordingly refine embodied accounts. In this consensus paper, we discuss two potential sources of variability in experimental studies on embodiment of language: individual differences and context. Specifically, we show how factors contributing to individual differences may explain inconsistent findings in embodied language phenomena. These factors include sensorimotor or cultural experiences, imagery, context-related factors, and cognitive strategies. We also analyze the different contextual modulations, from single words to sentences and narratives, as well as the top-down and bottom-up influences. Similarly, we review recent efforts to include cultural and language diversity, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain disorders, as well as bilingual evidence into the embodiment framework. We address the importance of considering individual differences and context in clinical studies to drive translational research more efficiently, and we indicate recommendations on how to correctly address these issues in future research. Systematically investigating individual differences and context may contribute to understanding the dynamic nature of simulation in language processes, refining embodied theories of cognition, and ultimately filling the gap between cognition in artificial experimental settings and cognition in the wild (i.e., in everyday life). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the in-depth analysis of the physical mechanism of the broadband frequency domain spectroscopy of oil-paper insulation. The complex permittivity shows two low-frequency dispersion phenomena, and the real part of the complex conductivity exhibits two slope changes under the synergistic effect of aging and moisture. The two slope changes are mainly attributed to the migration characteristics of water molecules and polar aging products with a degradation of the oil-paper insulation, resulting in the transition of the frequency dependence between the DC conductivity and AC conductivity. When the oil-paper insulation deteriorates seriously, the imaginary part of the dielectric modulus shows double relaxation peaks. Physical models of parasitic capacitance and molecular polarity interface polarization are proposed to reveal the physical mechanism of the double relaxation peaks. The left peak of the double relaxation peaks is caused by the accumulation of water molecules and polar aging products at the electrode/insulation interface, and the right peak is due to the charge disturbance of the cellulose molecular chain surface. This paper can provide theoretical support and technical guidance for the condition diagnosis and evaluation of oil-paper insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the furan concentration in transformer oil is one of the most common methods of monitoring and evaluating insulation paper and estimating its degree of polymerization (DP). Here, methods for measuring furan concentration, especially ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy method, are reviewed on the old transformers oil. The results show that the excessive turbidity of old oils and noise at low wavelengths are the main disadvantages of this method, which reduce the measurements accuracy. The following solutions are proposed to overcome these disadvantages: 1) diluting insulation oil with hexane to reduce absorption intensity and 2) using average absorption at a given wavelength to reduce noise impact. These solutions are applied to the oil samples of ten old distribution transformer. It is observed that the correlation between 2-furaldehyde (2-FAL) concentration and average absorption intensity in 190–600 nm wavelength range is equal to ${R}^{{2}} =0.98$. A mathematical equation for calculating 2-FAL concentration based on average absorption is presented. It has been shown that to reduce the test time, a 190–400 nm range is the optimal measurement wavelength range. The results show that the average difference between the values of DP in the proposed method and the direct measurement method is equal to 77.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical performance of two commercial papers used as solid insulation in power transformers, namely standard Kraft and a thermally upgraded Kraft paper, were studied during accelerated aging in Luminol oil at 170 ?C. The results show a relationship between the degree of polymerization and the mechanical properties measured by tensile testing. A linear relationship was found between the mechanical properties of paper, the tensile index (Tidx), and the concentration of methanol present in the oil. The methanol chemical marker has been proven to be an accurate assessment tool for the aging of cellulosic paper. The results show a promising tool for correlating the methanol concentration in oil, as an indirect indicator, with the mechanical performance of the paper. This approach can be used to monitor the real state of the cellulose chains in the power transformer insulation paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furfural content in oil is widely accepted as an effective parameter to mirror aging of insulation paper. However, pressboards are also abundant in transformers, which are always neglected in furfural analysis. Different masses of insulation paper and pressboard produce different amounts of furfural during the aging process. Thus, the furfural content in oil may differ in systems with different oil-paper-pressboard mass ratios. To address this problem, accelerated thermal aging experiments and furfural equilibrium experiments with different oil-paper-pressboard mass ratio systems were conducted under laboratory conditions. Furfural contents in oil, paper, and pressboard were measured. In a simplified oil-paper system, the furfural content in oil differs in systems with different oil-paper mass ratios. Further analysis shows the furfural amount produced by 1 g insulation paper is the same with good repeatability in groups with different mass ratios. Different oil-paper mass ratios change the distribution coefficient of furfural between oil and paper, and an increase in the mass of insulation paper leads to more furfural remaining in the insulation paper. The pressboards in field transformers produce little furfural during the aging process, but absorb part of the furfural from oil, which decreases the furfural content in oil. Therefore, more pressboard in an oil-paper-pressboard system indicates lower furfural content in oil. An increase in insulation paper in the oil-paper-pressboard system causes a decrease in the effect of pressboard on furfural content in oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol is considered to be a new chemical marker to estimate the aging state of transformer cellulose insulation paper. The key to improve the assessment accuracy is to establish the precise relationship between the concentration of methanol in oil and degree of polymerization (DP) of insulation paper. The previous research in this area has shortcomings and needs to be further improved. In this article, first, an aging assessment basic model (temperature 20 °C, moisture content of insulation paper 0.637%) is established based on the theoretical derivation of cellulose degradation kinetics, and is calculated by 130 °C thermal aging experiment. Furthermore, the effects of different temperatures (20 °C–90 °C) and moisture contents of insulation paper (0.6%–3.4%) on methanol in oil are studied by diffusion experiment. Based on the above effects, the temperature and moisture correction factors are established by mathematical reduction. What is more, a modified model is proposed by integrating the basic model and the correction factors. Eventually, the verification experiment is randomly prepared to test the accuracy of modified model and the result shows that the relative error of DP is within 7%. The physical meaning and accuracy of aging assessment are improved by model derivation and modification of influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The space charge effect of transformer insulating paper will distort its internal electric field, and its space charge effect will be more prominent under extremely complex working conditions. At present, the micromechanism of charge transport and electric field distortion characteristics of paperboard are not clear under complex working conditions. So in this article, based on the bipolar carrier transport (BCT) model and the dynamic carrier balance model, the effects of high temperature, aging degree, moisture content, and bent degree on charges accumulation in paperboard are studied under dc high voltage by numerical simulation and the measured data needed for simulation. The results show that the higher temperature strengthens the carrier migration, deepens the injection depth of the charge, and aggravates the distortion of electric field intensity in paperboard. The more extended the aging time of paperboard, the greater the internal trap density and the deeper the trap depth, which lead to charges migration difficultly. Increasing water content in the paperboard will accelerate space charges to reach a steady state, while further increasing it will slow down this process, which is related to the shallow trap getting deeper. When the critical part of paperboard is extruded, many traps are introduced, resulting in charges accumulation seriously. The research results can reference the design of paperboard and the maintenance of transformer insulation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon oxides (CO2 and CO) in the insulating oil of power transformers come from the thermal aging of cellulosic insulating paper; the CO2/CO ratio can reflect the aging state of cellulosic insulating paper. At present, the formation mechanisms of CO2 and CO in oil-immersed power transformers are still unclear. In this article, the ReaxFF reaction force field is used to simulate the thermal aging process of cellulosic insulating paper, and the main reaction pathways of CO2 and CO molecules formed by cellulose pyrolysis are obtained. The study finds that the amount of CO2 and CO generated is related to temperature. When the pyrolysis temperature continues to rise, the amount of CO2 generated shows a downward trend, while the amount of CO generated continues to increase, and the CO2/CO ratio continues to decrease. The simulation results are consistent with the previous experimental results. Through pathway tracking, it is found that the CO2 and CO molecules are mainly derived from certain specific atoms of cellulose molecules. The COSMO-RS module is used to analyze the change trend of the solubility of CO2 and CO in insulating oil with temperature. The results show that the solubility of CO2 and CO decreases with the increase of insulating oil temperature, which provides theoretical support for accurate application of carbon oxides aging evaluation index at different temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely identification of the aging stage of the transformer can effectively ensure the safe operation of the transformer and prevent the aging fault of the transformer. This work proposes the aging diagnosis of transformer using the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot combined with learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network. Oil-paper insulation samples at different aging stages are obtained by accelerated thermal aging tests. Acquisition of Raman spectra of insulating oil is from 800 to 3000 cm−1 and converts to the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot. The gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) is used to extract the characteristic information of the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot. The optimal number of neurons in competitive layer of LVQ neural network is determined by the experimental method. A transformer aging diagnosis model based on the Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot is established. The results show that the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed diagnostic model reached 95%. The Raman spectroscopic recurrence plot has more abundant aging “fingerprint” characteristic information and the proposed diagnostic method shows potential for monitoring oil-paper insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological environment is increasingly damaged due to the impact of mineral oil extraction and leakage. As a kind of sustainable resource, a vegetable oil transformer has bright application prospects in future. However, the stability of vegetable oil has always been a problem to be solved. In addition, the metallic copper inside the transformer has a certain catalytic effect on the deterioration of vegetable oil. In this article, a copper–oil–paper insulation model is established. Based on the molecular dynamics simulation method, the catalytic mechanism of copper on the deterioration of oil-paper insulation is revealed from the microscopic level. Then, the effects of temperature, contact area, and oxygen on the catalytic effect of copper are discussed. The results show that copper could accelerate the decomposition of oil-paper insulation by attracting H atoms and O atoms in oil-paper. The increase in temperature accelerates the progress of the catalytic reaction and aggravates the deterioration of oil-paper insulation. The oxygen concentration has an important influence on the catalytic reaction of copper. As the oxygen concentration increases, the catalytic effect of copper is weakened. The abovementioned research could provide some theoretical reference for further exploration of effective oil-paper insulation deterioration protection technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]