Epigenetic regulation of caloric restriction in aging

The molecular mechanisms of aging are the subject of much research and have facilitated potential interventions to delay aging and aging-related degenerative diseases in humans. The aging process is frequently affected by environmental factors, and caloric restriction is by far the most effective and established environmental manipulation for extending lifespan in various animal models. However, the precise mechanisms by which caloric restriction affects lifespan are still not clear. Epigenetic mechanisms have recently been recognized as major contributors to nutrition-related longevity and aging control. Two primary epigenetic codes, DNA methylation and histone modification, are believed to dynamically influence chromatin structure, resulting in expression changes of relevant genes. In this review, we assess the current advances in epigenetic regulation in response to caloric restriction and how this affects cellular senescence, aging and potential extension of a healthy lifespan in humans. Enhanced understanding of the important role of epigenetics in the control of the aging process through caloric restriction may lead to clinical advances in the prevention and therapy of human aging-associated diseases

Fog and Rain Water Collection from Trees in the Dhofar Region in the Sultanate of Oman

This work had two purposes. The first was to measure and investigate the amount of fog and rain water collected by a sample of trees during the summer monsoon season in the mountains of the Dhofar region in the south of Oman. The second purpose was to assess the potential of trees with different leaf shapes, sizes and cross sectional canopy areas to collect fog and rain water in the area. In order to meet these purposes three different tree species, were selected for experimental investigation and field measurements. They included fig, lemon, and tamarind trees. The experiments were designed and implemented in the monsoon season of 2006, between the 13th of July and the 3rd of September. The daily measurements of water collection showed that the three species of tree have different water collection capacities. It was found that the fig tree collected the least water. The fog water collection of the fig tree over a period of 47 days between the 13th of July and the 3rd of September was 140.5 L/m2, or an average of 2.7 L/m2/d. The fog water collection of the lemon tree was 243.0 L/m2, or an average of 4.4 L/m2/d. In terms of potential collection of the tamarind tree, the results showed that it collected a fog water of 218.9 L/m2, or an average of 4.3 L/m2/d over the same period. The study contributes to the knowledge of how different tree species collect fog and rain water, and concludes with a set of recommendations

Optical properties and first-principles study of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite structures

Abstract Solution-processed organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites have attracted attention as light-harvesting materials for solar cells and photonic applications. The present study focuses on cubic single crystals and microstructures of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite fabricated by a one-step solution-based self-assembly method. It is seen that, in addition to the nucleation from the precursor solution, crystallization occurs when the solution is supersaturated, followed by the formation of a small nucleus of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ that self-assembles into bigger hollow cubes. A three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence microscopy investigation of hollow cubes confirmed the formation of hollow plates on the bottom; then, the growth starts from the perimeter and propagates to the center of the cube. Furthermore, the growth in the (001) direction follows a layer-by-layer growth model to form a complete cube, confirmed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) observations. Two-dimensional (2D)–3D fluorescence microscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements confirm a peak emission at 535 nm. To get more insights into the structural and optical properties, density functional theory (DFT) simulations were conducted. The electronic and optical properties calculated by DFT are in agreement with the obtained experimental values. The density-of-state (DOS) calculations revealed that the valence band maximum (VBM) consists of states contributed by Br and Pb, which agrees with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy valence band (XPS VB) measurements

GC-MS Chemical Profiling, Biological Investigation of Three <i>Salvia</i> Species Growing in Uzbekistan

Salvia is a potentially valuable aromatic herb that has been used since ancient times. The present work studied the chemical profile of three Salvia species essential oils (EO): S. officinalis, S. virgata and S. sclarea, as well as assessing their antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. A total of 144 compounds were detected by GC-MS analysis, representing 91.1, 84.7 and 78.1% in S. officinalis, S. virgata and S. sclarea EOs, respectively. The major constituents were cis-thujone, 2,4-hexadienal and 9-octadecenoic acid, respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) score plot revealed significant discrimination between the three species. The antioxidant activity of the EOs was evaluated using in vitro assays. Only S. virgata EO showed antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay (26.6 ± 1.60 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g oil). Moreover, this oil exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in 2,2-azino bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ferric-reducing power (FRAP) assays in comparison with the other two EOs (190.1 ± 2.04 vs. 275.2 ± 8.50 and 155.9 ± 1.33 mg TE/g oil, respectively). However, S. virgata oil did not show any effect in the chelating ability assay, while in the PBD assay, S. officinalis had the best antioxidant activity (26.4 ± 0.16 mmol TE/g oil). Enzyme inhibitory effect of the EOs was assessed against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α-glucosidase and α-amylase. AChE enzyme was more sensitive to S. officinalis EO (4.2 ± 0.01 mg galantamine equivalent (GALAE)/g oil), rather than S. virgata EO, which was ineffective. However, S. virgata had the highest BChE effect (12.1 ± 0.16 mg GALAE/g oil). All studied oils showed good tyrosinase inhibitory activity, ranging between 66.1 ± 0.61 and 128.4 ± 4.35 mg kojic acid equivalent (KAE)/g oil). Moreover, the EOs did not exhibit any glucosidase inhibition and were weak or inefficient on amylase enzyme. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models showed that there is an excellent correlation between the antioxidant activity and the volatile profile when being compared to that of enzyme inhibitory activity. Thus, the studied Salvia essential oils are interesting candidates that could be used in drug discovery for the management of Alzheimer’s and hyperpigmentation conditions

A sociologia urbana, os modelos de análise da metrópole e a saúde coletiva: uma contribuição para o caso brasileiro Urban sociology, analytical models for metropolisses, and collective health: a contribution to the Brazilian case

À luz da antiga relação entre a epidemiologia e o espaço geográfico e dos diversos modelos de produção das cidades, apresenta-se uma sistematização das noções de espaço/território, a partir da década de 1970 no Brasil. Discutem-se os principais modelos analíticos das grandes cidades brasileiras, cujas raízes conceituais encontram-se em disciplinas como a sociologia urbana, a geografia humana, a economia regional e o planejamento urbano. Sugere-se que a distribuição de investimentos públicos guarda relação com a estrutura social cristalizada no espaço. Procura-se ampliar as bases de um diálogo entre a literatura que apóia as análises das chamadas desigualdades socioespaciais e a saúde coletiva. Apresenta-se sugestão de arcabouço para o desenvolvimento de tipologias de análise socioespacial. Considera-se que se encontram disponíveis diversas técnicas computacionais que popularizam o emprego de variáveis passíveis de expressão espacial. No entanto, essas facilidades ressentem a falta de um aporte mais sociológico, ou humanístico.<br>In light of the historical relationship between epidemiology and geographic space and the relevance of a detailed examination of models for the production of cities, this article systematizes the notions of space/territory that have influenced urban sociology since the 1970s in Brazil. The principal analytical models for large Brazilian cities are discussed in such disciplines as urban sociology, human geography, regional economics, and urban planning. The article suggests that the distribution of public investments bears a close relationship to the social structure crystallized in space. The text attempts to expand the basis for a dialogue between the literature underlying the analyses of so-called socio-spatial inequalities and collective health. Two key points are raised in the article: there are increasingly available computational techniques leading to more widespread use of variables that are amenable to spatial expression; but, these facilities lack a more sociological or humanistic approach for both the methodological design and the results of such analyses