Resveratrol elongates the lifespan and improves antioxidant activity in the silkworm Bombyx mori

A number of research has shown that the plant polyphenol resveratrol,one of the most prominent small molecules,has beneficial protective effects in multiple organisms,including worms,flies,and killifish.To understand the effects of resveratrol on lifespan,we evaluated its effects in the silkworm Bombyx mori.In this study,we found that lifespan was significantly prolonged in both female and male silkworms treated with resveratrol.Silkworm larval weight was significantly increased from day 3 of the 5th larval instar(L5D3)to day 7 of the 5th larval instar(L5D7).However,the weight of the pupa,cocoon,and total cocoon was not significantly different in female silkworms with resveratrol treatment than that in controls.Meanwhile,resveratrol significantly improved the thermotolerance of the silkworms,which enhanced their survival rate.Moreover,antioxidant activity was increased by resveratrol in both female and male silkworms.Furthermore,an antioxidant-related signalling pathway,SIRT7-FoxO-GST,was activated in silkworms with resveratrol treatment.Collectively,these results help us to understand the molecular pathways underlying resveratrol induced pro-longevity effects and indicate that silkworm is a promising animal model for evaluating the effects of lifespan-extending drugs.

The enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission—eXTP

In this paper we present the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission—eXTP. eXTP is a space science mission designed to study fundamental physics under extreme conditions of density, gravity and magnetism. The mission aims at determining the equation of state of matter at supra-nuclear density, measuring effects of QED, and understanding the dynamics of matter in strong-field gravity. In addition to investigating fundamental physics, eXTP will be a very powerful observatory for astrophysics that will provide observations of unprecedented quality on a variety of galactic and extragalactic objects. In particular, its wide field monitoring capabilities will be highly instrumental to detect the electro-magnetic counterparts of gravitational wave sources.The paper provides a detailed description of:(1) the technological and technical aspects, and the expected performance of the instruments of the scientific payload;(2) the elements and functions of the mission, from the spacecraft to the ground segment.