ARDD 2020: from aging mechanisms to interventions

Aging is emerging as a druggable target with growing interest from academia, industry and investors. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced screening techniques, as well as a strong influence from the industry sector may lead to novel discoveries to treat age-related diseases. The present review summarizes presentations from the 7th Annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery (ARDD) meeting, held online on the 1st to 4th of September 2020. The meeting covered topics related to new methodologies to study aging, knowledge about basic mechanisms of longevity, latest interventional strategies to target the aging process as well as discussions about the impact of aging research on society and economy. More than 2000 participants and 65 speakers joined the meeting and we already look forward to an even larger meeting next year. Please mark your calendars for the 8th ARDD meeting that is scheduled for the 31st of August to 3rd of September, 2021, at Columbia University, USA

Research of accuracy characteristics of measurement of coordinates in the ground-based radionavigation system based on pseudosatellites

The issues of measurement accuracy of coordinates in the short-range navigation system based on pseudosatellites are considered in the article. The analysis of the errors components the of measurement of radio-navigation parameters is given, the values of the geometrical factor are calculated for various options of system constructin

Software and hardware complex for the development and research of methods for broadband access to multimedia resources and the Internet

The article describes the features of the organization of satellite communication systems in the separated and northern territories of Russia. For such conditions, satellite communications should support traditional voice and broadband Internet access. A promising method for implementing broadband access is to combine the DVB and TCP / IP protocol families without modifying them, taking into account their features. This will allow for the translation of data streams with all the advantages of DVB protocols in the most popular modes at the world level at present: many information sources – many information recipients. The use of the DVB-S2X standard for access to multimedia resources and the Internet requires the adjustment of IP packets for user packets of the UP (User packet) DVB-S2X standard. To support multiple access for different users, it is possible to use TDM time division multiplexing of UP packets. A hardware-software complex for the development and experimental research of methods for broadband access to multimedia resources and the Internet is described. The proposed software architecture provides the user with tools for conducting experimental studies of the studied methods. One of the important advantages of the proposed architecture is the breakdown of functionality into modules, which will allow parallel development of all modules at the same time and simplify the process of creating software

Automated measuring system for studies of microwave filters in a wide frequency range

The structure of an automated measuring system for the study of the frequency characteristics of microwave filters in a wide frequency range is given. It is based on a handheld probe station, a vector network analyzer, a vector signal analyzer and a signal generator. It provides automation of research and determination of the main parameters of microwave filters - amplitude-frequency characteristics, phase-frequency response, group delay differences, level signal attenuation in stop band. The function of documenting the results of measuring the parameters of microwave filters allows not only in real time, but also in post-processing to analyze and compare the characteristics of microwave filters in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 24 GHz. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Causality-enriched epigenetic age uncouples damage and adaptation.

Machine learning models based on DNA methylation data can predict biological age but often lack causal insights. By harnessing large-scale genetic data through epigenome-wide Mendelian randomization, we identified CpG sites potentially causal for aging-related traits. Neither the existing epigenetic clocks nor age-related differential DNA methylation are enriched in these sites. These CpGs include sites that contribute to aging and protect against it, yet their combined contribution negatively affects age-related traits. We established a new framework to introduce causal information into epigenetic clocks, resulting in DamAge and AdaptAge-clocks that track detrimental and adaptive methylation changes, respectively. DamAge correlates with adverse outcomes, including mortality, while AdaptAge is associated with beneficial adaptations. These causality-enriched clocks exhibit sensitivity to short-term interventions. Our findings provide a detailed landscape of CpG sites with putative causal links to lifespan and healthspan, facilitating the development of aging biomarkers, assessing interventions, and studying reversibility of age-associated changes

The selenocysteine tRNA STAF-binding region is essential for adequate selenocysteine tRNA status, selenoprotein expression and early age survival of mice.

STAF [Sec (selenocysteine) tRNA gene transcription activating factor] is a transcription activating factor for a number of RNA Pol III- and RNA Pol II-dependent genes including the Trsp [Sec tRNA gene], which in turn controls the expression of all selenoproteins. Here, the role of STAF in regulating expression of Sec tRNA and selenoproteins was examined. We generated transgenic mice expressing the Trsp transgene lacking the STAF-binding site and made these mice dependent on the transgene for survival by removing the wild-type Trsp. The level of Sec tRNA was unaffected or slightly elevated in heart and testis, but reduced similar to 60% in liver and kidney, similar to 70% in lung and spleen and similar to 80% in brain and muscle compared with the corresponding organs in control mice. Moreover, the ratio of the two isoforms of Sec tRNA that differ by methylation at position 34 (Um34) was altered significantly, and the Um34-containing form was substantially reduced in all tissues examined. Selenoprotein expression in these animals was most affected in tissues in which the Sec tRNA levels were most severely reduced. Importantly, mice had a neurological phenotype strikingly similar to that of mice in which the selenoprotein P gene had been removed and their life span was substantially reduced. The results indicate that STAF influences selenoprotein expression by enhancing Trsp synthesis in an organ-specific manner and by controlling Sec tRNA modification in each tissue examined