Tor1/Sch9-Regulated Carbon Source Substitution Is as Effective as Calorie Restriction in Life Span Extension

The effect of calorie restriction (CR) on life span extension, demonstrated in organisms ranging from yeast to mice, may involve the down-regulation of pathways, including Tor, Akt, and Ras. Here, we present data suggesting that yeast Tor1 and Sch9 (a homolog of the mammalian kinases Akt and S6K) is a central component of a network that controls a common set of genes implicated in a metabolic switch from the TCA cycle and respiration to glycolysis and glycerol biosynthesis. During chronological survival, mutants lacking SCH9 depleted extracellular ethanol and reduced stored lipids, but synthesized and released glycerol. Deletion of the glycerol biosynthesis genes GPD1, GPD2, or RHR2, among the most up-regulated in long-lived sch9Δ, tor1Δ, and ras2Δ mutants, was sufficient to reverse chronological life span extension in sch9Δ mutants, suggesting that glycerol production, in addition to the regulation of stress resistance systems, optimizes life span extension. Glycerol, unlike glucose or ethanol, did not adversely affect the life span extension induced by calorie restriction or starvation, suggesting that carbon source substitution may represent an alternative to calorie restriction as a strategy to delay aging

Experimental investigation of propeller noise in ground effect

The aerodynamic propeller performance and aeroacoustic characteristics of a single two-bladed propeller subjected to Ground Effect are investigated using experiments in an anechoic chamber. A strong increase in thrust, torque and power coefficients when a propeller operates in Ground Effect is demonstrated, consistent with previous studies. A low-fidelity Blade Element Momentum Theory model adapted for Ground Effect is implemented to cross-validate the aerodynamic results. The near-field and far-field spectra and their coherence are studied for various propeller distances from the ground plane and compared with the isolated case. The far-field noise measurements indicate that additional tonal peaks appear with the introduction of the ground plane when compared to isolated configuration. While in-Ground Effect, additional high-frequency broadband humps are observed at some polar angles not seen in isolated configuration. Two discrete regions, a shielded and reflection zone, with respective reduction and enhancement of the Overall Sound Pressure levels are observed. The primary reason for noise increase within the reflection zone is a result of pure acoustic reflection from the ground surface. The near-field measurements from an array of embedded high-response microphones in the ground plane indicate that the main source of the propeller noise is in the tip region. Near-field measurements reconfirm flow results from literature with near-field and far-field acoustic results. The present study may find important practical applications within Urban Air Mobility (UAM), especially in the design of vertiport landing pads and propellers for effective noise mitigation, aerodynamic performance, and prediction during the vertical take-off and landing phases of flight