Age Span Research Articles

Preindustrial levels and temporal enrichment trends of mercury in sediment cores from the Gulf of Thailand.

Four sediment cores in the middle of Gulf of Thailand (GOT) and one core close to Bang Pakong River mouth were examined for total mercury (T-Hg) using direct thermal decomposition coupled with the atomic absorption spectrometry (DTD-AAS) method and acid digestion (acid-CVAAS) method, and sediment chronologies using 210Pb dating. T-Hg in the river mouth core ranged 44.49-52.76µg/kg and higher than the cores from the middle of GOT (18.26-36.68µg/kg). The age span obtained from the cores dated back to the 1940s with the sediment accumulation rates of 0.15-0.76cm/year. The preindustrial levels of T-Hg showed an initial slow increase followed by a rapid elevation since the 1960s which marked the start of the industrialized period in the country. To this end, we posit that T-Hg in the GOT sediment can be attributed to not only land-based sources but also offshore activities including petroleum exploration and frequent accidental oil spills.

The spectrum of pyridoxine dependent epilepsy across the age span: A nationwide retrospective observational study

BackgroundPyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is a rare seizure disorder usually presenting with neonatal seizures. Most cases are caused by biallelic pathogenic ALDH7A1variants. While anti-seizure medications are ineffective, pyridoxine provides seizure control, and dietary interventions may be of benefit. As the natural history beyond adolescence is insufficiently explored, our study aimed to assess the spectrum of PDE at various ages in Norway. MethodsPatients were ascertained by contacting all Norwegian paediatric, neurological, and neurohabilitation departments and relevant professional societies. Medical records were collected and reviewed. ResultsWe identified 15 patients treated for PDE; 13 had ALDH7A1 variants (PDE-ALDH7A1), one had PNPO deficiency, and in one, aetiology remained obscure. Of those with PDE-ALDH7A1, 12 were alive at time of study; five were > 18 years old and six were < 4 years. Median age was 10 years (range 2 months–53 years). Estimated minimum prevalence was 6.3/million among children and 1.2/million among adults. Ten had seizure onset on the first day of life. Perinatal complications and neuroradiological abnormalities suggested additional seizure aetiologies in several patients. Pyridoxine had immediate effect in six, while six had delayed (>1 h) or uncertain effect. Median delay from first seizure to continuous treatment was 11 days (range 0–42). Nine experienced breakthrough seizures with intercurrent disease or due to pyridoxine discontinuation. Cognitive outcomes ranged from normal to severe intellectual disability. The condition appeared to remain stable in adult life. SignificanceWe found a much higher prevalence of PDE-ALDH7A1 in children relative to adults, suggesting previous underdiagnosis and early mortality. Perinatal complications are common and can delay diagnosis and initiation of pyridoxine treatment. Lifelong and continuous treatment with pyridoxine is imperative. Due to better diagnostics and survival, the number of adult patients is expected to rise.

Development of Gender-Specific Equations for Estimating Body Weight and Height Based on Anthropometric Measurements in Adults from Shiraz, Iran

Background: In various situations, such as determining nutrition requirements, medication dosage, mechanical ventilation, and resuscitation, height, weight, and BMI are considered. Anthropometric body measurements differ among populations of different genders and ethnicities. Objectives: This study aimed to develop gender-specific equations for estimating body weight and height based on anthropometric measurements in Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran, over six months. Healthy volunteers aged 18-80 were included. Exclusion criteria were limb(s) amputation or immobilization and pregnancy. Participants were randomly divided into modeling (n = 400) and validation (n = 78) groups. We used the modeling group to generate regression equations based on gender and the validation group to test them. Results: Demi-span, age, knee height, and arm span could predict height with reasonable accuracy. Calf, waist, neck, and wrist circumferences entered our regression for predicting weight. Waist and calf circumferences entered the regression for BMI prediction in both genders. Arm circumference in men and neck circumference in women is strongly correlated with BMI. Conclusions: Many different equations have been suggested to predict height, weight, and BMI. Linear and circumferential body measures are usually used to predict height and weight. The suggested equations in this study are simple, and the anthropometric measurements require only a cloth tape measure and have good predictive ability. Complimentary studies are necessary to evaluate the precision of these formulas in other samples from other regions of Iran and in immobilized patients.

Pendekatan Pembelajaran Berbasis Al-Qur’an Qur’annic-Based Learning Approach

This study discusses qur'an-based learning approaches. This research is a qualitative type with a literary analysis approach (literature study) that concludes that the Qur'an requires two approaches to learning, as two types of learning approaches in education theory are called teacher centered and student centered. But the Qur'an requires a more portion of the student centered approach considering the span of human age between the maturity period of intelligence development is longer than the age of physical growth, Moreover, the case study of verses that shed more on the maturity of intelligence that indicates independence as the case of Ulul Albab. In addition, the Qur'an indicates that the variety of learning approaches pay attention to at least three potentials of humans who are interlinked in the process of learning interaction, namely the potential of remembrance (affective), thinking (cognitive) and charity shaleh (Psychomotoric).&#x0D; Keywords: Approach, Learning, Qur’an-Based

New insights on the geochemical affinity and age of mineralized rocks in Timok magmatic complex, East Serbia

Bor and Cukaru Peki are world-class porphyry deposits spatially and genetically associated with the Cretaceous Timok magmatic complex. This research was conducted to determine the age and geochemical affinity of the magmatic rocks that formed these ore deposits. Our new geochemical analyses of magmatic rocks from Bor and Cukaru Peki deposits imply they comprise adakite-like compositions that have undergone the amphibole fractionation and sulphide saturation processes. The zircon ages indicate that the Bor system was formed in the age span between 84.5?82 Ma, while the Cukaru Peki system was created in the age span between 86.5?85 Ma.

Physical Therapy Management of Hip Pain in Adults with Scoliosis: A Case Series

Background and Purpose: Adult scoliosis (AS) is a structural deformity of the spine in a skeletally mature patient and can cause asymmetrical loading on both the spine and the extremities. The purpose of this case series is to highlight physical therapy management of 3 adults with AS and hip pain by incorporating scoliosis specific exercise (PSSE) into their course of treatment. Case Description: The three patients in this study all had structural scoliosis of the spine found on radiograph, complained of hip pain that limited their quality of life, and varied in ages: 31, 48 and 68 years. All three patients had prior treatment to address their hip conditions with only temporary relief. The patients were treated with a combination of PSSE to address their scoliosis and posture in addition to more traditional physical therapy modalities to manage their pain and tissue healing. Outcomes: At the completion of physical therapy, all three patients reported a decrease in pain on VAS, improved scores on LEFS and reported meeting functional mobility goals in ADLS with self-management of symptoms. Discussion: Scoliosis is an asymmetrical deformity in multiple planes of motion and therefore causes asymmetrical forces to the pelvis and hip leading to stress, soft tissue and intraarticular breakdown to the hips across an age span. Non-operative treatment of orthopedic sequelae in this population should include assessment and management of the spine and, if managed earlier in a lifespan, may help minimize permanent damage to the joint.

What does the Strange Stories test measure? Developmental and within-test variation

BackgroundHappé’s (1994) Strange Stories have been widely used to assess advanced theory of mind understanding in several clinical populations, but recent analyses have cast doubt on the links between it and other related measures of this skill. MethodsThis study tested 210 Pakistani and 46 British children to assess the developmental trajectory of performance across a 6-year age span in the test, and also to explore differences between and within the four most used sub-tests (Misunderstanding, Persuasion, White Lies and Double Bluff). ResultsThere were significant developmental differences in children’s overall understanding of the Stories and between not only the four sub-tests but also individual questions purporting to assess the same construct. Partial correlations, controlling for the age (in months) and SES produced inconsistent correlations between stories assessing the same construct (e.g. Double Bluff stories). Factor analysis also revealed two factors and for the two sub-tests (double bluff and misunderstanding), each story loaded onto a separate factor, contrasting the assumption that the Strange Stories assess the same underlying ability. Moreover, GLMM analyses showed that the model with two main effects (age and SES) fitted the best and age emerged as a major predictor. Post hoc analyses showed that performance on White lie (used as a baseline) was higher than on Persuasion and Double Bluff. Similar, but not identical patterns were found in a comparison between the six- and eight-year-olds in the two cultures, with children in the UK outperforming those in Pakistan. ConclusionThe results suggest that the test is less homogeneous than has been assumed. Relationships with other measures and diagnoses might only apply to subsets of the questions. The need for standardization is clear.

Population data quality checks: Romanian adult deaths and lives, an evaluation

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;This article investigates the quality of the Romanian population data for the years 1966–2018. The following age heaping measures are being used, each with its recommended population age span: Whipple, Myers, Bachi, UNASA, Kannisto, Coale and Li. In addition, the Kannisto measure of old age overstatement is used. Our analysis corroborates the results of our measures with the demographic characteristic of the Romanian population. We aim to establish whether; (a) the data spanning the time interval 1966–1989 is more accurate than the data collected during the 1990–2018 interval, (b) the Romanian data is at least of comparable quality with the tier 2 HMD data and/or (c) the Romanian data is not grossly inaccurate and therefore suitable for research. We find support for (a) and, cautioning against the live data for the time interval 2002–2018, for (b) and (c). Limitations aside (no through overstatement or cohort analysis), this is the first study to attempt such evaluation and hopefully not the last.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Magnetic resonance imaging changes and clinical features of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a rare clinical imaging syndrome. The causes of RPLS are complex and diverse, the pathogenesis is not yet clear. The onset is urgent and the onset age span is large, ranging from children to the elderly. The clinical symptoms of RPLS have no significant specificity, which can be manifested as headache, blurred vision, disturbance of consciousness or seizures. Clinicians have little knowledge on the disease, which may lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. This study aims to analyze and summarize the MRI changes and clinical characteristics regarding RPLS patients, so as to provide basis for rapid diagnosis and timely intervention for this disease. The clinical data and complete imaging data of 77 patients with RPLS diagnosed in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2012 to March 2021 were retrospectively collected. The main image data include T1 weighted imaging (T1WI), T2 weighted imaging (T2WI), T2 liquid attenuation inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) (b value=1 000×10-6 mm2/s), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The case group included 63 patients who underwent DWI examination, and 71 normal controls matched in age and sex. The characteristics of patients' magnetic resonance signals and the ADC value of 19 regions of interest (ROI) were analyzed. The differences in bilateral ADC value in the case group, the difference of ADC value between the case group and the normal control group, and the difference of ADC value in the case group before and after treatment were compared. Compared with the normal control group, the ADC value of the right frontal lobe, bilateral parietal lobe, bilateral thalamus, bilateral head of caudate nucleus, left lenticular nucleus, right internal capsule, bilateral temporal lobe and pons in the case group were significantly higher (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference in ADC value of bilateral sides of the case group and before and after treatment in the case group (all P>0.01). The lesions of RPLS were widely distributed and multiple, usually high signal in the posterior parieto temporo occipital lobe or pons of the brain, and involved the cortex and subcortical white matter. Most of them were bilateral, but not completely symmetrical. The imaging manifestations of RPLS and the occurrence and development of clinical symptoms are basically synchronous. The imaging manifestations are specific. Magnetic resonance imaging can show the range of involvement of RPLS. ADC value can provide information on the severity of the disease and predict the prognosis. There are few reversible diseases. It is very important to fully understand and timely diagnose the disease.

Null objects in Polish heritage language acquisition in contact with German

Aims and objectives: This study investigates the acquisition of referential expressions for direct objects by child heritage speakers of Polish living in Germany. Our main research questions are how object expression develops in bilingual children and whether their path or pace of acquisition differs from monolingual children. Methodology: We investigate the use of referential expressions in an elicited production task. In all, 39 Polish-German bilingual children participated in the test. Data and analysis: We compare the data of four age groups of bilingual children – 3- to 4-year-olds, 5- to 6-year-olds, 7- to 8-year-olds, and 9- to 10-year-olds – to each other and to monolingual children at the respective ages. For the analysis of participants’ responses, we ran a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with a multinominal dependent variable. Findings: The results show that child heritage language (HL) speakers of Polish display knowledge of semantic and pragmatic constraints of object realization from early stages on. However, from age 5 and up to age 9 to 10, they still produce high rates of inappropriate null objects and show a deceleration in the development of this knowledge, compared to monolingual children. This protracted development is attributed to reduced input in the HL, mainly due to the enrolment in the majority language school. Originality: This study is the first to investigate the development of referential expressions for direct objects in child heritage speakers of Polish in the age span 3 to 10 years. Significance: The study relates the higher rates of null objects in the bilingual production to the varying degrees of exposure to the HL during language development. Deceleration in the pace of object acquisition by the HL speakers at the age of 5 to 6 years is attributed to a prolonged stage of acquisition of integrating rules of syntactic and pragmatic knowledge.

Sex-dependent effects of parental age on offspring fitness in a cooperatively breeding bird.

Parental age can have considerable effects on offspring phenotypes and health. However, intergenerational effects may also have longer term effects on offspring fitness. Few studies have investigated parental age effects on offspring fitness in natural populations while also testing for sex- and environment-specific effects. Further, longitudinal parental age effects may be masked by population-level processes such as the selective disappearance of poor-quality individuals. Here, we used multigenerational data collected on individually marked Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) to investigate the impact of maternal and paternal age on offspring life span and lifetime reproductive success. We found negative effects of maternal age on female offspring life span and lifetime reproductive success, which were driven by within-mother effects. There was no difference in annual reproductive output of females born to older versus younger mothers, suggesting that the differences in offspring lifetime reproductive success were driven by effects on offspring life span. In contrast, there was no association between paternal age and female offspring life span or either maternal or paternal age and male offspring life span. Lifetime reproductive success, but not annual reproductive success, of male offspring increased with maternal age, but this was driven by between-mother effects. No paternal age effects were found on female offspring lifetime reproductive success but there was a positive between-father effect on male offspring lifetime reproductive success. We did not find strong evidence for environment-dependent parental age effects. Our study provides evidence for parental age effects on the lifetime fitness of offspring and shows that such effects can be sex dependent. These results add to the growing literature indicating the importance of intergenerational effects on long-term offspring performance and highlight that these effects can be an important driver of variation in longevity and fitness in the wild.

White matter and sustained attention in children with attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder: A longitudinal fixel-based analysis.

Sustained attention is a cognitive function with known links to academic success and mental health disorders such as attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several functional networks are critical to sustained attention, however the association between white matter maturation in tracts linking functional nodes and sustained attention in typical and atypical development is unknown. 309 diffusion-weighted imaging scans were acquired from 161 children and adolescents (80 ADHD, 81 control) at up to three timepoints over ages 9-14. A fixel-based analysis approach was used to calculate mean fiber density and fiber-bundle cross section in tracts of interest. Sustained attention was measured using omission errors and response time variability on the out-of-scanner sustained attention to response task. Linear mixed effects models examined associations of age, group and white matter metrics with sustained attention. Greater fiber density in the bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) I and right SLF II was associated with fewer attention errors in the control group only. In ADHD and control groups, greater fiber density in the left ILF and right thalamo-premotor pathway, as well as greater fiber cross-section in the left SLF I and II and right SLF III, was associated with better sustained attention. Relationships were consistent across the age span. Results suggest that greater axon diameter or number in the dorsal and middle SLF may facilitate sustained attention in neurotypical children but does not assist those with ADHD potentially due to disorder-related alterations in this region. Greater capacity for information transfer across the SLF was associated with attention maintenance in 9-14-year-olds regardless of diagnostic status, suggesting white matter macrostructure may also be important for attention maintenance. White matter and sustained attention associations were consistent across the longitudinal study, according with the stability of structural organization over this time. Future studies can investigate modifiability of white matter properties through ADHD medications.

Cardiac function and neuropathological substrates on MRI across age span: A Cross‐Cohort Collaboration (CCC)

AbstractBackgroundCardiac dysfunction has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. However, the underlying pathophysiological substrates remain largely unspecified due to considerable heterogeneity in prior studies. We aggregated data from seven community‐based studies within the Cross‐Cohort Collaboration, to study the association between cardiac function and brain health.MethodsParticipants from all cohorts underwent echocardiography to assess systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)) and diastolic function (EA‐ratio, deceleration time (DT)). High‐resolution brain MRI was performed to compute volumes of total brain (TBV), gray matter, white matter, hippocampus, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We used multivariable linear regression models to determine the association of echocardiographic measures and clinical heart failure with brain volumes, pooling the results using random‐effects meta‐analysis.ResultsAmong 10,307 individuals (median age: 62.5 years [54.7 – 70.5]; 54.9% women), moderate to severe systolic function was associated with lower total brain volume (beta per 1‐SD decrease: ‐0.18; 95%CI [‐0.32 ‐ ‐0.04], I2=36%), most profound for white matter and hippocampal volumes. Impaired relaxation in the diastolic phase was associated with smaller total brain volumes (‐0.10; 95%CI [‐0.16 ‐ ‐0.04], I2=2%), again driven by white matter and the hippocampi. Restrictive diastolic function similarly predisposed to lower hippocampal volume (‐0.16; 95%CI [‐0.31 ‐ ‐0.01], I2=0%). Diastolic dysfunction, but not systolic function, was associated with higher volume of WMH (0.03; 95%CI [0.01‐0.05]; I2=0% for DT). Of 8055 participants with clinical data, 277 (3.4%) had heart failure, which was related to all lower brain volumes. These results were consistent across cohorts. In stratified analyses, higher LVEF was associated with higher TBV, from age 50‐59 years onwards up until the oldest age category (80+ years), including larger hippocampi (0.04; 95%CI [0.00‐0.08]; I2=0%) for those aged between 50‐59 years.ConclusionCardiac dysfunction is associated with brain imaging markers of neurodegeneration in community‐dwelling individuals from midlife to late‐life. Preservation of cardiac function may be an additional target to promote cognitively healthy ageing.

Stability of associations between neuroticism and microstructural asymmetry of the cingulum during late childhood and adolescence: Insights from a longitudinal study with up to 11 waves.

Adolescence is characterized by significant brain development and marks a period of the life span with an increased incidence of mood disorders, especially in females. The risk of developing mood disorders is also higher in individuals scoring high on neuroticism, a personality trait characterized by a tendency to experience negative and anxious emotions. We previously found in a cross-sectional study that neuroticism is associated with microstructural left-right asymmetry of the fronto-limbic white matter involved in emotional processing, with opposite effects in female and male adolescents. We now have extended this work collecting longitudinal data in 76 typically developing children and adolescents aged 7-18 years, including repeated MRI sampling up to 11 times. This enabled us, for the first time, to address the critical question, whether the association between neuroticism and frontal-limbic white matter asymmetry changes or remains stable across late childhood and adolescence. Neuroticism was assessed up to four times and showed good intraindividual stability and did not significantly change with age. Conforming our cross-sectional results, females scoring high on neuroticism displayed increased left-right cingulum fractional anisotropy (FA), while males showed decreased left-right cingulum FA asymmetry. Despite ongoing age-related increases in FA in cingulum, the association between neuroticism and cingulum FA asymmetry was already expressed in females in late childhood and remained stable across adolescence. In males, the association appeared to become more prominent during adolescence. Future longitudinal studies need to cover an earlier age span to elucidate the time point at which the relationship between neuroticism and cingulum FA asymmetry arises.

Atypical development of social and nonsocial working memory capacity among preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have shown impaired performance in canonical and nonsocial working memory (WM). However, no study has investigated social WM and its early development. Using biological motion stimuli, our study assessed the development of social and nonsocial WM capacity among children with or without ASD across the age span between 4 and 6 (N=150). While typically developing (TD) children show a rapid development from age 5 to 6, children with ASD showed a delayed development for both social and nonsocial WM capacity, reaching a significant group difference at age 6. Furthermore, we found a negative correlation between social (but not nonsocial) WM capacity and the severity of autistic symptoms among children with ASD. In contrast, there is a positive correlation between both types of WM capacity and intelligence among TD children but not among children with ASD. Our findings thus indicate that individuals with ASD miss the rapid development of WM capacity in early childhood and, particularly, their delayed social WM development might contribute to core symptoms that critically depend on social information processing.

„Ratio Generationis” – Aspects for responsible generational research

Huge amount of literature has been published in recent years on topic of generation researchbut of varying quality. There is a significant interest in the topic, although an increasing amountof contradictory and methodologically questionable results have come to light. People developprejudices and beliefs based on popular media, which could be counterbalanced by scientificworks, but there is a noticable amount of thorough criticism against them. It is still a question,whether generation is the proper response to certain phenomena or we have just „generated” itand most charachteristics are rather related to age or life span? Cautious research is complicatedand lengthy, therefore many either choose to perform superficial research or to go so in-depththat does not allow answering problems and return to just individual differences. Some concludeby refusing the generational approach altogether. In these circumstances a kind of „responsible”generational research is to be suggested, which turns from dead ends to the scientific way andfinally tries to find „ration in generations” keeping in mind all the criticism of the approach.I summerize cosiderations in my work to find this right direction.

APOE ɛ4 allele and TOMM40-APOC1 variants jointly contribute to survival to older ages.

Age-related diseases characteristic of post-reproductive life, aging, and life span are the examples of polygenic non-Mendelian traits with intricate genetic architectures. Polygenicity of these traits implies that multiple variants can impact their risks independently or jointly as combinations of specific variants. Here, we examined chances to live to older ages, 85 years and older, for carriers of compound genotypes comprised of combinations of genotypes of rs429358 (APOE ɛ4 encoding polymorphism), rs2075650 (TOMM40), and rs12721046 (APOC1) polymorphisms using data from four human studies. The choice of these polymorphisms was motivated by our prior results showing that the ɛ4 carriers having minor alleles of the other two polymorphisms were at exceptionally high risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), compared with non-carriers of the minor alleles. Consistent with our prior findings for AD, we show here that the adverse effect of the ɛ4 allele on survival to older ages is significantly higher in carriers of minor alleles of rs2075650 and/or rs12721046 polymorphisms compared with their non-carriers. The exclusion of AD cases made this effect stronger. Our results provide compelling evidence that AD does not mediate the associations of the same compound genotypes with chances to survive until older ages, indicating the existence of genetically heterogeneous mechanisms. The survival chances can be mainly associated with lipid- and immunity-related mechanisms, whereas the AD risk, can be driven by the AD-biomarker-related mechanism, among others. Targeting heterogeneous polygenic profiles of individuals at high risks of complex traits is promising for the translation of genetic discoveries to health care.

Identifying vulnerable brain networks associated with Alzheimer's disease risk.

The selective vulnerability of brain networks in individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) may help differentiate pathological from normal aging at asymptomatic stages, allowing the implementation of more effective interventions. We used a sample of 72 people across the age span, enriched for the APOE4 genotype to reveal vulnerable networks associated with a composite AD risk factor including age, genotype, and sex. Sparse canonical correlation analysis (CCA) revealed a high weight associated with genotype, and subgraphs involving the cuneus, temporal, cingulate cortices, and cerebellum. Adding cognitive metrics to the risk factor revealed the highest cumulative degree of connectivity for the pericalcarine cortex, insula, banks of the superior sulcus, and the cerebellum. To enable scaling up our approach, we extended tensor network principal component analysis, introducing CCA components. We developed sparse regression predictive models with errors of 17% for genotype, 24% for family risk factor for AD, and 5 years for age. Age prediction in groups including cognitively impaired subjects revealed regions not found using only normal subjects, i.e. middle and transverse temporal, paracentral and superior banks of temporal sulcus, as well as the amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus. These modeling approaches represent stepping stones towards single subject prediction.

Recent Progress in Regulation of Aging by Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caenorhabditis elegans has been used as a major model organism to identify genetic factors that regulate organismal aging and longevity. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF- 1) signaling (IIS) regulates aging in many species, ranging from nematodes to humans. C. elegans is a nonpathogenic genetic nematode model, which has been extensively utilized to identify molecular and cellular components that function in organismal aging and longevity. Here, we review the recent progress in the role of IIS in aging and longevity, which involves direct regulation of protein and RNA homeostasis, stress resistance, metabolism and the activities of the endocrine system. We also discuss recently identified genetic factors that interact with canonical IIS components to regulate aging and health span in C. elegans. We expect this review to provide valuable insights into understanding animal aging, which could eventually help develop anti-aging drugs for humans.

Child engagement in daily life measure V2: validation of psychometric properties for children with cerebral palsy

Purpose Measurement development is a reiterative process requiring refinements and revalidation. The purpose of this study was to examine structural validity and reliability of the Child Engagement in Daily Life Measure (Version 2) for parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) across a broader age span. Methods Participants were 1054 parents of children with CP 1.5–11 years of age. Parents completed the Child Engagement in Daily Life measure that consists of the Participation in Family and Recreational Activities domain (11 items) and the Performance of Self-care Activities domain (18 items) as part of two longitudinal studies related to outcomes for children with CP. Results Rasch analysis indicated acceptable fit of items, stable item calibration, and logical ordering of items by difficulty for both frequency of participation in family and recreational activities and performance of self-care activities. Test–retest reliability was good to excellent: ICC = 0.78 for frequency of participation, ICC = 0.68 for enjoyment of participation, and ICC = 0.97 for self-care. Conclusions Evidence supports reliability and validity of the Child Engagement in Daily Life Measure (Version 2) for parent-report of their children’s participation in family and recreational activities and performance of self-care activities for children with CP 1.5–12 years of age. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Participation in family and recreational activities and performance of self-care activities of children with cerebral palsy can be assessed using the concise parent-report Child Engagement in Daily Life Measure V2. Knowledge of the continuum of difficulty of the frequency of participation in family and recreational activities and performance of self-care activities can assist practitioners in progressing service plans. Practitioners are encouraged to use the measure to guide discussions with parents and children on areas to focus services to support participation in family and recreational activities and performance of self-care activities.