The Less We Eat,the Longer We Live: Can Caloric Restriction Help Us Become Centenarians?

Striving for longevity is neither a recent human desire nor a novel scientific field. The first article on this topic was published in 1838, when the average human life expectancy was approximately 40 years. Although nowadays people on average live almost as twice as long, we still (and perhaps more than ever) look for new ways to extend our lifespan. During this seemingly endless journey of discovering efficient methods to prolong life, humans were enthusiastic regarding several approaches, one of which is caloric restriction (CR). Where does CR, initially considered universally beneficial for extending both lifespan and health span, stand today? Does a lifelong decrease in food consumption represent one of the secrets of centenarians’ long and healthy life? Do we still believe that if we eat less, we will live longer? This review aims to summarize the current literature on CR as a potential life-prolonging intervention in humans and discusses metabolic pathways that underlie this effect.     

Durability of sulfur concrete in various aggressive environments

Durability of sulfur concrete with different fillers, as well as Portland cement concrete, was tested in the solutions of HCl, H₂SO₄, and NaCl. Regarding mass changes, in the solutions of HCl and H₂SO₄ sulfur concrete with talc and fly ash exhibited higher durability, while in NaCl samples with alumina and microsilica were better. The type of filler did not affect durability regarding compressive strength. Strength loss was higher in the solution of HCl comparing to H₂SO₄, while negligible in NaCl which is in accordance with apparent porosity increase. Portland cement concrete after two months lost 20% of mass.