Are we heading towards a reversal of the trend for ever-greater mobility?

In most industrialised countries, it can be seen that urban mobility and car traffic have stagnated since the early 2000s. In France, the report on traffic conducted by the National Transport Accounts Commission shows a similar break in the trend, which was confirmed by household travel surveys (EMDs) in most major cities, including Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg, and later by the National Transport and Travel Survey (ENTD), which shows that the trend can be attributed primarily to people living in large urban areas and provides an overall view of mobility: trips have become less frequent (with unbroken workdays) and less exclusively taken by car (as more young adults adopt multimodal behaviours), and car ownership is decreasing in the centre of greater Paris, as, for that matter, in the centre of London. Does this levelling-off of traffic suggest that the saturation point is near (with a decoupling of traffic and income trends in the most densely populated areas or above a certain standard of living) or, rather, a cancelling out of opposite trends (continued growth in rural and suburban areas and decline amongst residents of the most densely populated areas)? Is this a structural phenomenon (population ageing, etc.) or a cyclical one linked to rising and volatile fuel prices and the recession? We shall explore these issues in the light of data collected in France, supplemented by selected data from other developed countries, and then move on to a comparison with a number of Mexican cities in order to consider the extent to which, and in what timeframe, these trends could spread southward to the emerging economies

Long-term effects of caloric restriction or exercise on DNA and RNA oxidation levels in white blood cells and urine in humans

Excessive adiposity is associated with increased oxidative stress and accelerated aging. Weight loss induced by negative energy balance reduces markers of oxidation in experimental animals and humans. The long-term effects of weight loss induced by calorie restriction or increased energy expenditure induced by exercise on measures of oxidative stress and damage have not been studied in humans. The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of 20% caloric restriction or 20% exercise alone over 1 year on oxidative damage to DNA and RNA, as assessed through white blood cell and urine analyses. Eighteen men and women aged 50 to 60 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 23.5 to 29.9 kg/m(2) were assigned to one of two conditions — 20% CR (n = 9) or 20% EX (n = 9) — which was designed to produce an identical energy deficit through increased energy expenditure. Compared to baseline, both interventions significantly reduced oxidative damage to both DNA (48.5% and 49.6% reduction for the CR and EX groups, respectively) and RNA (35.7% and 52.1% reduction for the CR and EX groups, respectively) measured in white blood cells. However, urinary levels of DNA and RNA oxidation products did not differ from baseline values following either 12-month intervention program. Data from the present study provide evidence that negative energy balances induced through either CR or EX result in substantial and similar improvements in markers of DNA and RNA damage to white blood cells, potentially by reducing systemic oxidative stress

Looking for Melayu: Translators and Seafarers

This essay explores literary relations between the Philippines and Malaysia through a study of translational exchange between the two countries. It argues that translational exchange between the Philippines and Malaysia cannot be understood only through a study of contemporary translations since the connections between the two countries date back to pre-colonial times. Other than a discussion of some contemporary translations, the article cites two cases of translational exchange. The first is Pigafetta’s account of Enrique, the Malay slave/translator who accompanied Magellan in his expedition to the Philippines, and the appropriation of this account by a Malaysian historical novelist. The other case is the translations of Badjau-Sama tales. The link to the shared past between the Philippines and Malaysia in pre-modern times is Melayu, a cultural complex that can be understood partly through a study of common stories and tales that have that have undulated in the borderless seas of south of the Philippines and Sabah. We cannot just translate Malaysia as if it were apart from or foreign to us since there are components in our culture that connect inextricably with Melayu. In a sense, we translate Malaysia as we translate ourselves

Long-term moderate calorie restriction inhibits inflammation without impairing cell-mediated immunity: A randomized controlled trial in non-obese humans

Calorie restriction (CR) inhibits inflammation and slows aging in many animal species, but in rodents housed in pathogen-free facilities, CR impairs immunity against certain pathogens. However, little is known about the effects of long-term moderate CR on immune function in humans. In this multi-center, randomized clinical trial to determine CR's effect on inflammation and cell-mediated immunity, 218 healthy non-obese adults (20-50 y), were assigned 25% CR (n=143) or an ad-libitum (AL) diet (n=75), and outcomes tested at baseline, 12, and 24 months of CR. CR induced a 10.4% weight loss over the 2-y period. Relative to AL group, CR reduced circulating inflammatory markers, including total WBC and lymphocyte counts, ICAM-1 and leptin. Serum CRP and TNF-α concentrations were about 40% and 50% lower in CR group, respectively. CR had no effect on the delayed-type hypersensitivity skin response or antibody response to vaccines, nor did it cause difference in clinically significant infections. In conclusion, long-term moderate CR without malnutrition induces a significant and persistent inhibition of inflammation without impairing key in vivo indicators of cell-mediated immunity. Given the established role of these pro-inflammatory molecules in the pathogenesis of multiple chronic diseases, these CR-induced adaptations suggest a shift toward a healthy phenotype

Calorie restriction in humans inhibits the PI3K/AKT pathway and induces a younger transcription profile

Caloric restriction (CR) and down-regulation of the insulin/IGF pathway are the most robust interventions known to increase longevity in lower organisms. However, little is known about the molecular adaptations induced by CR in humans. Here, we report that long-term CR in humans inhibits the IGF-1/insulin pathway in skeletal muscle, a key metabolic tissue. We also demonstrate that CR induces dramatic changes of the skeletal muscle transcriptional profile that resemble those of younger individuals. Finally, in both rats and humans, CR evoked similar responses in the transcriptional profiles of skeletal muscle. This common signature consisted of three key pathways typically associated with longevity: IGF-1/insulin signaling, mitochondrial biogenesis, and inflammation. Furthermore, our data identify promising pathways for therapeutic targets to combat age-related diseases and promote health in humans.American Federation for Aging ResearchNational Center for Research Resources (U.S.) (Grant UL1 RR024992)National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.) (Grant P30DK056341

A PRDM16-driven signal regulates body composition in testosterone-treated hypogonadal men

Background Testosterone (T) therapy increases lean mass and reduces total body and truncal fat mass in hypogonadal men. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for the reciprocal changes in fat and lean mass in humans are not entirely clear.Methods Secondary analysis of specimens obtained from a single-arm, open-label clinical trial on pharmacogenetics of response to T therapy in men with late-onset hypogonadism, conducted between 2011 and 2016 involving 105 men (40-74 years old), who were given intramuscular T cypionate 200 mg every 2 weeks for 18 months. Subcutaneous fat (SCF), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum were obtained from the participants at different time points of the study. We measured transcription factors for adipogenesis and myogenesis in the SCF, and PBMC, respectively, by real-time quantitative PCR at baseline and 6 months. Serum levels of FOLLISTATIN, PAX7, MYOSTATIN, ADIPSIN, and PRDM16 were measured by ELISA.Results As expected, there was a significant increase in T and estradiol levels after 6 months of T therapy. There was also a reduction in fat mass and an increase in lean mass after 6 months of T therapy. Gene-protein studies showed a significant reduction in the expression of the adipogenic markers PPAR gamma in SCF and ADIPSIN levels in the serum, together with a concomitant significant increase in the expression of myogenic markers, MYOD in PBMC and PAX7 and FOLLISTATIN levels in the serum after 6 months of T therapy compared to baseline. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in the adipo-myogenic switch, PRDM16, expression in SCF and PBMC, and in circulating protein levels in the serum after 6 months of T therapy, which is likely from increased estradiol.Conclusion Our study supports that molecular shift from the adipogenic to the myogenic pathway in men with hypogonadism treated with T could be mediated directly or indirectly by enhanced PRDM16 activity, in turn a result from increased estradiol level. This might have led to the reduction in body fat and increase in lean mass commonly seen in hypogonadal men treated with T

Formation of bone-like apatite layer on chitosan fiber mesh scaffolds by a biomimetic spraying process

Bone-like apatite coating of polymeric substrates by means of biomimetic process is a possible way to enhance the bone bonding ability of the materials. The created apatite layer is believed to have an ability to provide a favorable environment for osteoblasts or osteoprogenitor cells. The purpose of this study is to obtain bone-like apatite layer onto chitosan fiber mesh tissue engineering scaffolds, by means of using a simple biomimetic coating process and to determine the influence of this coating on osteoblastic cell responses. Chitosan fiber mesh scaffolds produced by a previously described wet spinning methodology were initially wet with a Bioglass"–water suspension by means of a spraying methodology and then immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF) mimicking physiological conditions for one week. The formation of apatite layer was observed morphologically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result of the use of the novel spraying methodology, a fine coating could also be observed penetrating into the pores, that is clearly within the bulk of the scaffolds. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIRATR), Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis also confirmed the presence of apatite-like layer. A human osteoblast-like cell line (SaOs-2) was used for the direct cell contact assays. After 2 weeks of culture, samples were observed under the SEM. When compared to the control samples (unmodified chitosan fiber mesh scaffolds) the cell population was found to be higher in the Ca–P biomimetic coated scaffolds, which indicates that the levels of cell proliferation on this kind of scaffolds could be enhanced. Furthermore, it was also observed that the cells seeded in the Ca–P coated scaffolds have a more spread and flat morphology, which reveals an improvement on the cell adhesion patterns, phenomena that are always important in processes such as osteoconduction

The rise and fall of methanotrophy following a deepwater oil-well blowout

The blowout of the Macondo oil well in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 injected up to 500,000 tonnes of natural gas, mainly methane, into the deep sea1. Most of the methane released was thought to have been consumed by marine microbes between July and August 20102, 3. Here, we report spatially extensive measurements of methane concentrations and oxidation rates in the nine months following the spill. We show that although gas-rich deepwater plumes were a short-lived feature, water column concentrations of methane remained above background levels throughout the rest of the year. Rates of microbial methane oxidation peaked in the deepwater plumes in May and early June, coincident with a rapid rise in the abundance of known and new methane-oxidizing microbes. At this time, rates of methane oxidation reached up to 5,900 nmol l−1 d−1—the highest rates documented in the global pelagic ocean before the blowout4. Rates of methane oxidation fell to less than 50 nmol l−1 d−1 in late June, and continued to decline throughout the remainder of the year. We suggest the precipitous drop in methane consumption in late June, despite the persistence of methane in the water column, underscores the important role that physiological and environmental factors play in constraining the activity of methane-oxidizing bacteria in the Gulf of Mexico