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Aging is associated with changes in body composition and muscle strength. This review aimed to determine the relation between different body composition measures and muscle strength measures and functional decline in older men and women. By use of relevant databases (PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL) and keywords in a search from 1976 to April 2012, 50 articles were reviewed that met the inclusion criteria (written in English, a prospective, longitudinal design, involving older persons aged 65 years or more, and at least one of the measures that follow: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, midarm circumference, fat mass, muscle fat infiltration, muscle mass, or strength as independent variables and a measure of functional decline as outcome measure). Meta-analyses were performed and revealed that BMI ≥30 and low muscle strength were associated with functional decline (pooled odds ratio (OR) = 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.43, 1.80, for BMI ≥30 and OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.64, for muscle strength). Low muscle mass was not significantly associated with functional decline (pooled OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.45). Future intervention research should focus on positive changes in body composition to prevent onset or worsening of functional decline in old age.

The measurement of the elastic properties of cells is widely used as an indicator for cellular changes during differentiation, upon drug treatment, or resulting from the interaction with the supporting matrix. Elasticity is routinely quantified by indenting the cell with a probe of an AFM while applying nano-Newton forces. Because the resulting deformations are in the micrometer range, the measurements will be affected by the finite thickness of the cell, viscous effects and even cell damage induced by the experiment itself. Here, we have analyzed the response of single 3T3 fibroblasts that were indented with a micrometer-sized bead attached to an AFM cantilever at forces from 30-600 pN, resulting in indentations ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 micrometer. To investigate the cellular response at lower forces up to 10 pN, we developed an optical trap to indent the cell in vertical direction, normal to the plane of the coverslip. Deformations of up to two hundred nanometers achieved at forces of up to 30 pN showed a reversible, thus truly elastic response that was independent on the rate of deformation. We found that at such small deformations, the elastic modulus of 100 Pa is largely determined by the presence of the actin cortex. At higher indentations, viscous effects led to an increase of the apparent elastic modulus. This viscous contribution that followed a weak power law, increased at larger cell indentations. Both AFM and optical trapping indentation experiments give consistent results for the cell elasticity. Optical trapping has the benefit of a lower force noise, which allows a more accurate determination of the absolute indentation. The combination of both techniques allows the investigation of single cells at small and large indentations and enables the separation of their viscous and elastic components.

Rapid conduction of nerve impulses requires coating of axons by myelin. To function as an electrical insulator, myelin is generated as a tightly packed, lipid-rich multilayered membrane sheath. Knowledge about the mechanisms that govern myelin membrane biogenesis is required to understand myelin disassembly as it occurs in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Here, we show that myelin basic protein drives myelin biogenesis using weak forces arising from its inherent capacity to phase separate. The association of myelin basic protein molecules to the inner leaflet of the membrane bilayer induces a phase transition into a cohesive mesh-like protein network. The formation of this protein network shares features with amyloid fibril formation. The process is driven by phenylalanine-mediated hydrophobic and amyloid-like interactions that provide the molecular basis for protein extrusion and myelin membrane zippering. These findings uncover a physicochemical mechanism of how a cytosolic protein regulates the morphology of a complex membrane architecture. These results provide a key mechanism in myelin membrane biogenesis with implications for disabling demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system.

Practical components for three-dimensional molecular nanofabrication must be simple to produce, stereopure, rigid, and adaptable. We report a family of DNA tetrahedra, less than 10 nanometers on a side, that can self-assemble in seconds with near-quantitative yield of one diastereomer. They can be connected by programmable DNA linkers. Their triangulated architecture confers structural stability; by compressing a DNA tetrahedron with an atomic force microscope, we have measured the axial compressibility of DNA and observed the buckling of the double helix under high loads.

Older women perform consistently poorer on physical performance tests compared to men. Risk groups for this \"female disadvantage\" in physical performance and it's development over successive birth cohorts are unknown. This is important information for preventive strategies aimed to enhance healthy aging in all older women. This study aims to longitudinal investigate whether there are risk groups for a more apparent female disadvantage and study its trend over successive birth cohorts. Data of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. All participants were aged 55-65 years at baseline. Longitudinal data of two birth cohorts with baseline measurements in 1992/1993 (n = 966, 24 year follow-up) and 2002/2003 (n = 1002, 12 year follow-up) were included. Follow-up measurements were repeated every three/four years. Cross-sectional data of two additional cohorts were included to compare ethnic groups: a Dutch cohort (2012/2013, n = 1023) and a Migration cohort (2013/2014, n = 478) consisting of migrants with a Turkish/Moroccan ethnicity. Mixed model analysis showed that women aged 55 years and older had a lower age- and height-adjusted gait speed (-0.03 m/s; -0.063-0.001), chair stand speed (-0.05 stand/s; -0.071--0.033), handgrip strength (-14,8 kg; -15.69--13.84) and balance (OR = 0.71; 0.547-0.916) compared to men. The sex difference in handgrip strength diminished with increasing age, but remained stable for gait speed, chair stand speed and balance. In general, results were consistent across different, educational levels and Turkish/Moroccan ethnic groups and birth cohorts. There is a consistent \"female disadvantage\" in physical performance among older adults, which remains stable with increasing age (except for handgrip strength) and is consistent across different educational levels, ethnic groups and successive birth cohorts. So, no specific risk groups for the female disadvantage in physical performance were identified. Preventive strategies aimed to enhance healthy aging in older women are needed and should target all older women.

HIV is a potent risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, community-wide universal testing and treatment for HIV (UTT) could contribute to TB control, but evidence for this is limited. Community-wide TB screening can decrease population-level TB prevalence. Combining UTT with TB screening could therefore significantly impact TB control in sub-Saharan Africa, but to our knowledge there is no evidence for this combined approach. HPTN 071 (PopART) was a community-randomised trial conducted between November 2013 to July 2018; 21 Zambian and South African communities (with a total population of approximately 1 million individuals) were randomised to arms A (community-wide UTT and TB screening), B (community-wide universal HIV testing with treatment following national guidelines and TB screening), or C (standard-of-care). In a cohort of randomly selected adults (18 to 44 years) enrolled between 2013 and 2015 from all 21 communities (total size 38,474; 27,139 [71%] female; 8,004 [21%] HIV positive) and followed-up annually for 36 months to measure the population-level impact of the interventions, data on self-reported TB treatment in the previous 12 months (self-reported TB) were collected by trained research assistants and recorded using a structured questionnaire at each study visit. In this prespecified analysis of the trial, self-reported TB incidence rates were measured by calendar year between 2014 and 2017/2018. A p-value ≤0.05 on hypothesis testing was defined as reaching statistical significance. Between January 2014 and July 2018, 38,287 individuals were followed-up: 494 self-reported TB during 104,877 person-years. Overall incidence rates were similar across all arms in 2014 and 2015 (0.33 to 0.46/100 person-years). In 2016 incidence rates were lower in arm A compared to C overall (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 0.48 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.28 to 0.81; p = 0.01]), with statistical significance reached. In 2017/2018, while incidence rates were lower in arm A compared to C, statistical significance was not reached (aRR 0.58 [95% CI 0.27 to 1.22; p = 0.13]). Among people living with HIV (PLHIV) incidence rates were lower in arm A compared to C in 2016 (RR 0.56 [95% CI 0.29 to 1.08; p = 0.08]) and 2017/2018 (RR 0.50 [95% CI 0.26 to 0.95; p = 0.04]); statistical significance was only reached in 2017/2018. Incidence rates in arms B and C were similar, overall and among PLHIV. Among HIV-negative individuals, there were too few events for cross-arm comparisons. Study limitations include the use of self-report which may have been subject to under-reporting, limited covariate adjustment due to the small number of events, and high losses to follow-up over time. In this study, community-wide UTT and TB screening resulted in substantially lower TB incidence among PLHIV at population-level, compared to standard-of-care, with statistical significance reached in the final study year. There was also some evidence this translated to a decrease in self-reported TB incidence overall in the population. Reduction in arm A but not B suggests UTT drove the observed effect. Our data support the role of UTT in TB control, in addition to HIV control, in high TB/HIV burden settings. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01900977.

Background Access to affordable and effective menstrual hygiene products (MHP) is critical to the menstrual health of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). In this mixed-methods analysis, we use data from a programme delivering comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to describe access to MHP and how COVID-19-related closures affected access to MHP; we use qualitative data to understand AGYW’s experience accessing products during the study. Methods Between September 2019-January 2021, we used data routinely collected from ten Yathu Yathu hubs offering community-based, peer-led SRH services to adolescents and young people aged 15–24. Hubs offered free MHP (primarily disposable pads) as a service. To incentivise service access, a “loyalty” card system was embedded within Yathu Yathu, allowing individuals to gain points for services accessed and redeem rewards using these points. Branded pads, tampons and reusable pads were among available rewards. We describe access to service pads and to reward MHP, and use logistic regression to investigate factors associated with accessing pads and reward products before (Sept 2019-March 2020) and after (July 2020-Jan 2021) COVID-19-related closures. Focus group discussions explored accessibility of offering MHP through hubs. Results Between September 2019-January 2021, 6374 AGYW made 34,116 hub visits to access an SRH service and/or redeem a reward. At 30% of these visits, AGYW accessed any MHP. Before COVID19-closures, an average of 17% of monthly visits were for freely-available disposable pads compared to 34% after hubs reopened ( p  < 0.001). Results were similar for reward visits. Overall, 63% of 6374 AGYW collected pads as a service at least once. Prior to COVID19-closures, AGYW aged 18–24 were more likely to access service pads than adolescents (15–17-years). After reopening, access was lower among older AGYW. Prior to hub closures, uptake of reward MHP was higher among AGYW with some secondary education but not after reopening. Discussions revealed that, for adolescents aged 15–19, COVID-19-related hub closures required reverting to using ineffective materials to manage menstruation. Conclusion Availability of MHP through Yathu Yathu provided a large number of AGYW with access to these products. Hubs seemed particularly important for adolescent girls. Community-based, peer-led hubs should be considered as spaces to provide AGYW access to affordable and effective MHP.

Background Women have a higher life expectancy than men but experience more years with physical disabilities in daily life at older ages, especially women with a migration background. This pinpoints older women as an important target group for strategies that stimulate healthy lifestyle, which benefits healthy aging. Our study investigates motivators and barriers for healthy lifestyles and perspectives on determinants of healthy aging of older women. This provides essential information for developing targeted strategies. Methods Data was collected by semi-structured digital interviews from February till June 2021. Women aged 55 years and older living in the Netherlands (n = 34) with a native Dutch (n = 24), Turkish (n = 6) or Moroccan (n = 4) migration background were included. Two main subjects were investigated: (1) motivators and barriers on their current lifestyles regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet and sleep and (2) perspectives on determinants of healthy aging. Interviews were analyzed using Krueger’s framework. Results Personal health was the most common motivator for a healthy lifestyle. In addition, peer pressure and being outdoors were specific motivators for physical activity. Bad weather conditions and personal dislike to be active were specific barriers. The social environment, personal preferences and personal belief to compensate with other healthy lifestyle behaviors were barriers for low alcohol consumption. Personal preferences (liking unhealthy food and not making time) were the main barriers for a healthy diet. Sleep was not perceived as a form of lifestyle behavior, but rather as a personal trait. Since there were no smokers, specific barriers were not mentioned. For Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women, additional barriers and motivators were culture and religion. These were strong motivators to abstain from alcohol consumption and smoking, but a barrier for a healthy diet. With regard to perspectives on determinants of healthy aging, positive views on aging and being physically active were perceived as most important. Women often wanted to increase their physical activity or healthy diet to stimulate healthy aging. Among Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women, healthy aging was also perceived as something in the hands of God. Conclusions Although motivators and barriers for a healthy lifestyle and perspectives on healthy aging vary for distinct lifestyles, personal health is a common motivator across all lifestyles. Having a migration background added culture and religion as distinct barriers and motivations. Strategies to improve lifestyle among older women should therefore have a tailored, culture sensitive approach (if applicable) for distinct lifestyle factors.

This paper tackles the problem of generating world-scale multi-resolution triangulated irregular networks optimized for web-based visualization. Starting with a large-scale high-resolution regularly gridded terrain, we create a pyramid of triangulated irregular networks representing distinct levels of detail, where each level of detail is composed of small tiles of a fixed size. The main contribution of this paper is to redefine three different state-of-the-art 3D simplification methods to efficiently work at the tile level, thus rendering the process highly parallelizable. These modifications focus on the restriction of maintaining the vertices on the border edges of a tile that is coincident with its neighbors, at the same level of detail. We define these restrictions on the three different types of simplification algorithms (greedy insertion, edge-collapse simplification, and point set simplification); each of which imposes different assumptions on the input data. We implement at least one representative method of each type and compare both qualitatively and quantitatively on a large-scale dataset covering the European area at a resolution of 1/16 of an arc minute in the context of the European Marine Observations Data network (EMODnet) Bathymetry project. The results show that, although the simplification method designed for elevation data attains the best results in terms of mean error with respect to the original terrain, the other, more generic state-of-the-art 3D simplification techniques create a comparable error while providing different complexities for the triangle meshes.

Background Although being a woman and having a migration background are strong predictors of poor self-rated health among (older) adults, research on the sex difference in self-rated health among (older) migrants remains limited. This study therefore aims to investigate this topic and explore the contributing role of determinants of self-rated health. Methods Cross-sectional data from 360 Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch adults aged 55–65 as part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. Self-rated health (good versus poor) was measured by a single item question. Univariate age-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the sex difference in self-rated health and the contribution of sex differences in sensitivity (strength of the association) and/or exposure (prevalence) to socio-demographic, social, lifestyle or health-related determinants of self-rated health. Results Women had a 0.53 times lower odds (95%CI:0.40–0.82, p = 0.004) on good self-rated health compared to men. Women more often having a lower education level, living alone and having a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, chronic diseases and especially functional limitations contributed to the lower self-rated health among women. In contrast, men were more sensitive to the impact of memory complaints, depressive symptoms, visual difficulties and functional limitations. Conclusions Older Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women have a significant lower self-rated health compared to men. Women having a higher exposure to both socio-demographic and health-related determinants of self-rated health, which contributed to the sex difference. Future research should take these differences in self-rated health and determinants between women and men into account when investigating health among older migrants.