Significant Differences In Activity Research Articles

Eryngo essential oil nanoemulsion stabilized by sonicated-insect protein isolate: An innovative edible coating for strawberry quality and shelf-life extension

New bioactive coatings with eryngo essential oil (EEO) nanoemulsions stabilized by ultrasonically-treated lesser mealworm protein isolate (LMPI) were developed to extend strawberry shelf life and quality. EEO due to high carvone (43.03 %), phenolics (87.45 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), flavonoids (13.56 mg quercetin equivalent/g), and carotenoids (635.07 mg/kg) contents exhibited a significant antioxidant activity comparable to ascorbic acid (AA) and BHT. Nanoemulsions stabilized with 9 % sonicated LMPI showed smaller droplet size, higher negative ζ-potential, and greater stability, turbidity, and encapsulation efficiency of EEO compared to those stabilized with native LMPI. The FTIR spectra showed that sonicated LMPI had structural changes enhancing its emulsifying activity, with key peaks indicating the presence of hydrogen bonds, carbonyl groups, and protein conformations in both EEO and LMPI. Strawberries coated with optimal EEO-loaded nanoemulsions showed superior quality with minimal storage-dependent physicochemical, textural, color, and sensory changes compared to control samples. This edible coating also maintained higher total monomeric anthocyanin and AA contents with lower peroxidase activity during storage than EEO-based coatings. However, no significant difference in superoxide dismutase activity between samples covered by EEO and EEO-loaded nanoemulsions over 14 days of storage was found. Bioactive nanoemulsions stabilized by insect proteins would be an eco-friendly and safe approach to upholding quality standards in stored fruits and vegetables.

Physical and Chemical Inactivators Evaluation for the Puumala Virus Vaccine Technology Development

Relevance. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is leading among natural focal human diseases in Russia, the causative agents of which - orthohantaviruses - belong to the order Bunyavirales, family Hantaviridae. More than 98% of HFRS cases in Russia are caused by the Puumala virus. It is a serious zoonosis for which there is still no specific treatment. The WHO has not approved a vaccine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of formaldehyde, β-propiolactone, hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet rays, gamma irradiation and thermal inactivation on the immunogenic activity of inactivated vaccine preparations against HFRS Materials and methods. To achieve this aim, experimental vaccine preparations based on the PUU-TKD/VERO strain of Puumala virus were prepared and inactivated using the methods described above. The time intervals required for complete inactivation of the virus were determined, and the effects of the inactivators on viral RNA and immunogenic activity of the vaccine preparations were evaluated in BALB/c mouse and Syrian hamster models. Results. According to our results, vaccine preparations inactivated by different chemical and physical methods, which differ significantly in the mechanism of the mechanism of interaction with the virus, show no significant differences in immunogenic activity, except for thermal inactivation. Conclusion. A certain advantage of β-propiolactone is the short virus inactivation time, its complete degradation into non-toxic compounds within a few hours, and the reduction of total protein content after sterilization filtration, which is probably due to less aggregation of virus particles and cellular proteins

Effects of Using a Special Weighted Vest on Muscle Activity around the Scapula during Knee Push-Up Plus in Healthy Subjects.

Electromyography assessed scapular muscle activity in 32 healthy adults (15 males, 17 females) during three KPUP variations. PM and UT showed no significant activity differences across loads, whereas SA and LT did. SA activity was significantly higher in the weighted KPUP (WKPUP) 3 kg than that in KPUP and WKPUP 1 kg. LT activity was also significantly higher in WKPUP 3 kg compared to KPUP and WKPUP 1 kg, with KPUP showing higher activity than WKPUP 1 kg. PM/SA ratios remained consistent across loads, while UT/LT ratios varied significantly, being notably lower at 3 kg compared to 0 kg and 1 kg. Similarly, UT/SA ratios differed significantly among loads, being notably lower at 3 kg and 1 kg compared to 0 kg. WKPUP with 3 kg demonstrated significantly higher SA and LT activity compared to KPUP and WKPUP 1 kg. The lowest UT/LT ratio was observed during the WKPUP 3 kg, suggesting its effectiveness for optimizing muscle activation balance during KPUP exercises. These findings may inform the development of exercise protocols aimed at improving scapular stabilization.

A comparison of the physical activity levels of 3-to-6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder and children with typical development.

Physical activity during early development is closely related to health. Differences in physical activity between young children with autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development are unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity levels in children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children from the same area, including their sedentary physical activity, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and number of days in which the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity guideline recommendation of 60 min per day was met. A total of 77 participants aged 3-6 years were included: 41 children with autism spectrum disorder (mean age = 61.41 ± 10.69 months) and 36 children with typical development (mean age = 60.36 ± 10.16 months). The physical activity of the children was measured using an ActiGraph GT3x accelerometer. There were no significant differences in daily sedentary physical activity (439.70 ± 54.98 vs. 450.42 ± 53.67) or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (46.62 ± 18.93 vs. 47.47 ± 18.26) between the two groups. The average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of the two groups did not reach 60 min, and they had similar proportions of participants who reached 60 min a given number of times (24.4% vs. 25%). Daily light physical activity was significantly higher in the autism spectrum disorder group (263.96 ± 43.17 vs. 242.32 ± 37.91, p < 0.05). The moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of both groups was similar and lower than the recommended minimum physical activity. Targeted interventions should be considered in early intervention programs for children with autism spectrum disorder to increase their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Exploring the Utility of a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cannabis Cue-Reactivity Paradigm in Treatment-Seeking Adults With Cannabis Use Disorder

BackgroundFunctional magnetic resonance imaging studies examining cue reactivity in cannabis use disorder (CUD) either have had small sample sizes or have involved non–treatment-seeking participants. As a secondary analysis, we administered a functional magnetic resonance imaging cue-reactivity task to participants with CUD enrolled in 2 separate clinical trials (varenicline or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) to determine the task activation patterns for treatment-seeking participants with CUD. We aimed to determine the activation patterns for the total sample and behavioral correlates. We additionally compared studies to determine if patterns were consistent. MethodsTreatment-seeking participants with moderate or severe CUD had behavioral craving measured at baseline using the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire–Short Form and completed a visual cannabis cue-reactivity task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (measuring the blood oxygen level–dependent response) following 24 hours of cannabis abstinence. ResultsThe sample included 65 participants (n = 37: varenicline trial; n = 28: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation trial; 32% female; mean age = 30.4 ± 9.9 years). When comparing cannabis images versus matched neutral images, participants showed greater blood oxygen level–dependent response in bilateral ventromedial-prefrontal, dorsolateral-prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and visual cortices as well as the striatum. There was stronger task-based functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and both the amygdala and the visual cortex. Craving negatively correlated with blood oxygen level–dependent response in the left ventral striatum (R2 = −0.32; p = .01) in the full sample. There were no significant differences in either activation or task-based functional connectivity between studies. ConclusionsIn 2 separate treatment-seeking groups with CUD, there was increased cannabis cue reactivity and task-based functional connectivity in regions related to executive function and reward processing. Cannabis craving was negatively associated with cue reactivity in the left ventral striatum.

Three-Dimensionally Printed Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Ceramic Substrates as the Sole Inducer of Osteogenic Differentiation in Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells.

The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a derivate of fat tissue comprising both adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells and serves as a promising cell source for engineering vascularized bone tissues. Its combination with osteoconductive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic may represent a point-of-care agent for bone reconstruction. Here we assessed the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation capacities of SVF on 3D printed BCP implants, in comparison with isolated adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs). AD-MSCs and SVF isolated from human donors were seeded on plastic or 3D printed BCP ceramics with sinusoidal or gyroid macrotopography and cultured in the presence or absence of osteogenic factors. Vascular, hematopoietic and MSC surface markers were assessed by flow cytometry whereas osteogenic activity was investigated through alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase activity. Osteogenic factors were necessary to trigger osteogenic activity when cells were cultured on plastic, without significant difference observed between the two cell populations. Interestingly, osteogenic activity was observed on BCP implants in the absence of differentiation factors, without significant difference in level activity between the two cell populations and macrotopography. This study offers supportive data for the use of combined BCP scaffolds with SVF in a perspective of a one-step surgical procedure for bone regeneration.

Potential of Erythrosine-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy as a Cavity Disinfectant: Antibacterial Efficacy and Bonding Ability

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of erythrosine-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) against &lt;i&gt;Streptococcus mutans&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;S. mutans&lt;/i&gt;) in dentin and its effect on the shear bond strength (SBS) of composite resin to dentin. Eighty extracted human noncarious premolars were used in this study. Forty teeth were used for the antibacterial activity test, while the remaining 40 were used for the SBS test. Both experiments were conducted with 4 experimental groups (n = 10): control (distilled water), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl, 6%), chlorhexidine (CHX, 0.12%), and erythrosine-mediated PDT. Antibacterial effects were evaluated by counting &lt;i&gt;S. mutans&lt;/i&gt; colony-forming units (CFUs). The SBS of composite resins to dentin was measured using a universal testing machine. All treatments (NaOCl, CHX, and PDT) demonstrated statistically significant differences in antibacterial activity compared with the control group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). The antibacterial effects were ranked from strongest to weakest as follows: NaOCl, PDT, and CHX. In the SBS test, the NaOCl group exhibited a statistically significant difference compared with the CHX, PDT, and control groups (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), with the lowest bond strength. No statistically significant differences were found among the CHX, PDT, and control groups (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). Erythrosine-mediated PDT exhibited significant antibacterial effects against &lt;i&gt;S. mutans&lt;/i&gt;, with higher antibacterial activity than CHX but lower than NaOCl. Only NaOCl negatively affected the bond strength of composite resin to dentin. In conclusion, erythrosine-mediated PDT shows potential as a cavity disinfectant due to its significant antibacterial effects against &lt;i&gt;S. mutans&lt;/i&gt; and lack of adverse effects on bond strength.

Analysis of Muscles Electrical Activities During Bench Press

The primary objective of the study was to compare the muscle electrical activity during Benchpress for the different muscle groups. The amount of contribution of each mentioned muscle duringbench press was also analyzed.For the purpose of the present investigation, total of 10 male power lifterswere chosen as the sample forthe study.The analysis showed that there is a significant difference in the muscle electrical activity during Benchpress for the different muscle groups. The results pertaining to EMG data of 1RM bench pressrevealed maximum muscle electrical activity in case of Pectoralis Major. Hence the Pectoralis Majordisplayed better muscle electrical activity than the Anterior deltoid and Triceps

In Vitro Antioxidant and Hypocholesterolemic Potency of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Seed Protein Hydrolysate

Protein hydrolysates have been reported to possess numerous bioactivities. However, research on melon (Cucumis melo L.) seed protein (MSP) hydrolysate is limited. This study aimed to analyze the antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic properties of MSP hydrolysate. Protein from melon seed was obtained by conventional alkaline extraction-isoelectric precipitation method. Enzymatic hydrolysis of MSP was carried out using three different proteases: pepsin, thermolysin, and trypsin, with the enzyme-to-substrate (E/S) ratio of 1:50 (w/w). The results showed that all hydrolysates exhibited antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activity. The thermolysin-digested hydrolysate had significantly greater (p &lt; 0.05) radical scavenging properties, while trypsin produced the highest (p &lt; 0.05) metal ion chelating activity. At 2 mg/mL, thermolysin-derived MSP hydrolysate showed no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) in HMGR inhibition activity compared to pravastatin. Additionally, the thermolysin hydrolysate had significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) bile acid binding ability than other hydrolysates. Overall, the MSP hydrolysate produced by thermolysin exhibited stronger antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activities when compared to those produced by pepsin and trypsin, suggesting its potential effectiveness in nutraceutical applications.

Genome wide association study of antioxidant activity in pigeonpea germplasm

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) is a nutritious crop with antioxidant potential, making it valuable for health supplements and medicinal products. Pigeonpea seed coat possess a rich source of antioxidant properties, particularly in dark colour seed coat varieties. Recently, antioxidant-based drugs for the prevention and treatment of complex diseases have evoked a great deal of research interest in natural antioxidants. We resolved genomic regions by conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a high-throughput 62 K SNP “CcSNPnks” genic chip to identify SNP markers associated with antioxidant properties in 287 diverse panel of pigeonpea genotypes. Evaluated their antioxidant activity using a spectrophotometric technique based on ferric ion-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and calculated the gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g of extract. Significant differences in antioxidant activities were found among genotypes, ranging from 3.27 mg in ICPL-13271 to 16.85 mg in UP 9-I for ferric iron-reducing activity. The GWAS identified four distinct marker trait association (MTA) that exhibit a strong correlation with antioxidant properties. We identified significant marker trait associations with chr 2 (AX-165372487), chr 6 (AX-165348296) code for RGA1 protein, chr 10 (AX-165367685) codes for alkaline ceramidase (transcript variant), and chr 11 (AX-165411944) codes for (DL)-glycerol-3-phosphatase 2. The identified protein, RGA1, is involved in reducing ROS accumulation in response to stress by up-regulating the transcription of superoxide dismutases. It suppresses GA-induced vegetative growth and floral initiation. Rapidly degraded in response to GA and involved in fruit and flower development. Furthermore, the population structure analysis identified four distinct sub-populations with admixture types, effectively grouping all genotypes based on their ancestry. Our findings advance the understanding of the genetic underpinning antioxidant concentrations, holding potential for applications in crop breeding and aligning with consumer preferences. This study provides a cornerstone for future research into exploiting marker-assisted breeding to produce pigeonpea cultivars.

Stallion Sperm Freezing with Different Extenders: Role of Antioxidant Activity and Nitric Oxide Production.

Sensitivity to freezing remains a critical issue in stallion semen cryopreservation procedures. To explore this topic in-depth, semen was collected from ten stallions, diluted with three different extenders, transported to the laboratory, and then centrifuged and frozen with four different extenders. We conducted analyses of sperm kinetics, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and hydrogen peroxide content both before and after freezing. Additionally, we assessed antioxidant activity using the ABTS and FRAP methods and measured nitric oxide stable metabolites (NOx) in the blank extenders, seminal plasma, and extenders conditioned by spermatozoa before and after freezing. We found significant variability in the antioxidant activity and NOx content of the blank extenders and the seminal plasma. In the seminal plasma, ABTS-based antioxidant activity and NOx values were correlated with some sperm kinematic parameters and MMP in refrigerated semen, while no correlation was observed in frozen sperm parameters. Sperm function varied significantly between stallions but not between extenders, either before or after freezing. However, significant differences in antioxidant activities and NOx values were found among extenders conditioned following freezing. These results provide new insights into the factors contributing to the variability in individual stallions' tolerance to sperm freezing.

Microencapsulation of Betalains Extracted from Garambullo (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) to Produce Active Chitosan-Polyvinyl Alcohol Films with Delayed Release of Bioactive Compounds.

Garambullo is a plant with little industrial application. However, garambullo contains betalains, photosensitive phytochemical compounds, which through microencapsulation can be used in chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) films for application in tomato coatings. These biopackages were characterized by physical tests, water vapor permeability, puncture tests, extension, color, differential scanning calorimetry (DCS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity analyses. The influence of the biopackages on the tomato coatings was measured using parameters such as minimum weight loss close to 2% at day 9, pH of 4.6, Brix of 5.5, titratable acidity of 1 g acid/100 mL sample, and shelf life of up to 18 days. The biopackages containing betalain microcapsules had a water vapor permeability of 2 × 10-14 g/h·m·Pa and an elongation of 5 ± 0.5%, indicating that the package did not stretch. The deformation at the breaking point for the package without and with microcapsules was 0.569 and 1.620, respectively. With respect to color, adding white microcapsules and betalains can cause the material to darken, resulting in a yellowish color. Furthermore, the phenolic content was greater for the biopackages with betalains, while there was no significant difference in the antioxidant activity since the active compounds were not released. According to the in vitro results, the inhibition of B. cinerea was achieved on the eighth day when the active compounds were released from the microcapsules. The tomato with betalains lost 2% of its weight, and B. cinerea was inhibited, extending its shelf life to 18 days. The proposed biopackages have good properties as biopolymers and inhibit the presence of B. cinerea.

High-Dimensional Single-Cell Mass Cytometry Demonstrates Differential Platelet Functional Phenotypes in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a group of complex heart defects associated with hematologic abnormalities, including increased risk of thrombotic and bleeding events. Past studies have observed evidence of platelet hyperreactivity, while other studies showed decreased platelet activation in patients with CHD. The goal of this study was to develop a mass spectrometry approach to characterize single platelets in infants with CHD and identify potential etiology for such discrepant results. We enrolled 19 infants with CHD along with 21 non-CHD controls at Yale New Haven Children's Heart Center. A single-cell high-dimensional mass cytometry method was developed to quantitatively interrogate platelet surface markers in whole blood. Additionally, plasma cytokine analysis was performed through a multiplexed panel of 52 vascular and inflammatory markers to assess for platelet releasates. We found that infants with CHD had significant differences in platelet activation and functional markers by mass cytometry compared with non-CHD controls. Based on cell surface markers, we classified the platelets into 8 subpopulations (P0 to P7). Distinct subpopulations of platelets (P1, P4, and P5) exhibiting decreased aggregatory phenotype but altered secretory phenotypes were also identified and found to be more abundant in the blood of infants with CHD. Electron microscopy identified increased proportion of hypogranular platelets in CHD. Moreover, cytokine analysis demonstrated an overall increase in plasma cytokines and biomarkers in CHD, including IL (interleukin)-6, IL-8, IL-27, RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), and VWF (von Willebrand factor), which are expressed in platelet granules and can be released upon activation. We developed a robust mass cytometry approach to identify platelet phenotypic heterogeneity. Infants with CHD had alterations in distinct subpopulations of platelets with overall reduced aggregatory phenotype and secretory dysfunction. These findings suggest that platelets in infants with CHD may be exhausted due to persistent stimulation and may explain both bleeding and thrombotic vascular complications associated with CHD.

Neuronal correlates of basic taste perception and hedonic evaluation using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Sensory evaluation combined with neuromarketing is expected to improve the understanding of consumer behavior during food tasting. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor neuronal activation in the prefrontal cortex in response to basic tastes (sweet and bitter) and hedonically different chocolates (whole-milk chocolate and dark chocolate) in 34 healthy consumers. Sweet and bitter tastes tend to elicit decreased and increased neuronal activity, respectively. However, no significant differences in neuronal activation related to different sensitivities to basic tastes were observed. Regarding hedonic neuronal reactions, we detected a significant difference in brain activity between Likers and Dislikers for both chocolates, but the results were inconsistent between the two chocolates. Due to the small sample size, generalizing our results is critical, but these findings suggest that fNIRS could potentially be applied to predict consumer preferences for food, necessitating further research with larger sample sizes.

The Effects of the Leg Position on the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Eccentric Force: A Randomized Cross-Over Study

Given the posterior chain configuration, it is anticipated that tibial positioning influences hamstring recruitment; medial hamstrings should be more activated during medial rotation, while lateral hamstrings should be more activated during lateral rotation. However, most studies showing this pattern have focused on concentric or isometric strength, leaving the influence on eccentric strength fairly unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the electromyographic response of the hamstring muscles during Nordic hamstring exercises in three leg positions: internal rotation, external rotation, and neutral. This study encompassed a randomized crossover study and used surface electromyography to analyze the activity of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles during the Nordic hamstring exercise, in the three positions. Results indicated no statistically significant differences in muscle activation between positions or sides (p &gt; 0.05), though small effect sizes were observed for the biceps femoris in different positions (η2 = 0.01–0.03). Furthermore, the internal rotation position generally elicited the highest muscle activations. Notably, biceps femoris muscles exhibited higher activations compared to semitendinosus muscles, with the greatest differences seen in the internal rotation position. This suggests that tibial rotation influences hamstring recruitment patterns; however, it was lower than expected.

The Association between Social Isolation and Physical Activity among Korean Adolescents.

This study investigated the impact of structural isolation within peer relationships on physical activity levels among Korean adolescents, exploring how different types of social isolation within classroom networks influence physical activity. This study utilized cross-sectional survey data. Specifically, using data from the 8th Korean Children and Youth Happiness Index survey (2016), which included 3356 middle and high school students in Korea, the study employed binary logistic regression and social network analysis to assess the relationship between social isolation and physical activity. Based on types of isolation, adolescents were categorized into social avoidant, actively isolated and socially indifferent groups. The analysis demonstrated significant differences in physical activity based on social isolation status (χ2 = 13.0, p < 0.001) and types of social isolation (χ2 = 18.3, p < 0.001). Key variables such as gender, household subjective economic status, and self-rated health significantly influenced physical activity. The number of physically active friends had a considerable impact on both non-isolated groups (OR = 1.31, p < 0.001) and the actively isolated group (OR = 1.42, p < 0.05). The actively isolated group exhibited the highest explanatory power in the logistic regression models (Nagelkerke R² = 0.230). This study has highlighted that not only social isolation but also the type of isolation significantly influences physical activity among adolescents. Understanding these distinctions and tailoring interventions accordingly are crucial for promoting physical activity among socially isolated adolescents.

Altered functional connectivity of primary olfactory cortex-hippocampus-frontal cortex in subjective cognitive decline during odor stimulation.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a high-risk population in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and olfactory dysfunction is a risk factor for dementia progression. The present study aimed to explore the patterns of functional connectivity (FC) changes in the olfactory neural circuits during olfactory stimulation in SCD subjects. A total of 56 SCD subjects and 56 normal controls (NCs) were included. All subjects were assessed with a cognitive scale, an olfactory behavior test, and olfactory task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. The FC differences in olfactory neural circuits between the two groups were analyzed by the generalized psychophysiological interaction. Additionally, we calculated and compared the activation of brain regions within the olfactory neural circuits during odor stimulation, the volumetric differences in brain regions showing FC differences between groups, and the correlations between neuroimaging indicators and olfactory behavioral and cognitive scale scores. During odor stimulation, the FC between the bilateral primary olfactory cortex (bPOC) and the right hippocampus in the SCD group was significantly reduced; while the FC between the right hippocampus and the right frontal cortex was significantly increased in the SCD group. The bPOC of all subjects showed significant activation, but no significant difference in activation between groups was found. No significant differences were observed in the volume of the brain regions within the olfactory neural circuits or in olfactory behavior between groups. The volume of the bPOC and right frontal cortex was significantly positively correlated with olfactory identification, and the volume of the right frontal cortex and right hippocampus was significantly correlated with cognitive functions. Furthermore, a significant correlation between the activation of bPOC and the olfactory threshold was found in the whole cohort. These results suggested that while the structure of the olfactory neural circuits and olfactory behavior in SCD subjects remained stable, there were significant changes observed in the FC of the olfactory neural circuits (specifically, the POC-hippocampus-frontal cortex neural circuits) during odor stimulation. These findings highlight the potential of FC alterations as sensitive imaging markers for identifying high-risk individuals in the early stage of AD.

Attentional demands in the visual field modulate audiovisual interactions in the temporal domain.

Attention and crossmodal interactions are closely linked through a complex interplay at different stages of sensory processing. Within the context of motion perception, previous research revealed that attentional demands alter audiovisual interactions in the temporal domain. In the present study, we aimed to understand the neurophysiological correlates of these attentional modulations. We utilized an audiovisual motion paradigm that elicits auditory time interval effects on perceived visual speed. The audiovisual interactions in the temporal domain were quantified by changes in perceived visual speed across different auditory time intervals. We manipulated attentional demands in the visual field by having a secondary task on a stationary object (i.e., single- vs. dual-task conditions). When the attentional demands were high (i.e., dual-task condition), there was a significant decrease in the effects of auditory time interval on perceived visual speed, suggesting a reduction in audiovisual interactions. Moreover, we found significant differences in both early and late neural activities elicited by visual stimuli across task conditions (single vs. dual), reflecting an overall increase in attentional demands in the visual field. Consistent with the changes in perceived visual speed, the audiovisual interactions in neural signals declined in the late positive component range. Compared with the findings from previous studies using different paradigms, our findings support the view that attentional modulations of crossmodal interactions are not unitary and depend on task-specific components. They also have important implications for motion processing and speed estimation in daily life situations where sensory relevance and attentional demands constantly change.

Influence of Fruit Load Regulation on Harvest and Postharvest Fruit Quality and Antioxidant-Related Parameters in Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. Regina Cultivated under Plastic Covers in Southern Chile.

Plastic covers have been used to prevent environmental constraints negatively affecting sweet cherry production in Southern Chile. However, less information is available on agronomic practices and their effects on fruit quality in sweet cherry covered orchards. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the impact of fruit load regulation on cherries' antioxidant-related parameters and the quality and condition at harvest and postharvest in sweet cherry (Prunus avium) cv. Regina that was cultivated under a plastic cover in Southern Chile. For this, four fruit load treatments were manually applied-(i) 100% fruit load (the control), (ii) 80% fruit load, (iii) 60% fruit load, and (iv) 40% fruit load-in a commercial sweet cherry orchard for two seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023). The results revealed that the yield and fruit load were not significantly different between the treatments. Interestingly, the 60% and 40% fruit loads increased the fresh weight, fruit size, and firmness (20.3%) compared to the control (the 100% fruit load) during both seasons. Likewise, the 60% and 40% fruit load treatments exhibited the highest fruit size distribution of 30 mm, while the 100 and 80% fruit load treatments showed the highest fruit distribution with fruit sizes between 28 mm and 24 mm. The total soluble solids (TSSs) did not vary among the fruit load treatments, while a significant increase was found in the titratable acidity (TA) in the 60 and 40% fruit load treatments during both seasons. No significant differences in antioxidant activity (AA) and total phenols (TPHs) among the treatments were observed during both seasons. Overall, the results revealed that the fruit load treatments, mainly 40%, increased the fruit weight and firmness and reduced pitting in fruits by 39.4% at postharvest. Thus, fruit thinning might be an important agronomical practice to regulate fruit load, positively affecting fruit quality at harvest and during postharvest storage in sweet cherry cv. Regina cultivated under a plastic cover. However, more biochemical and molecular studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism involved in this improvement.

Metabolic resistance mechanism to glufosinate in Eleusine indica

Eleusine indica is one of the most troublesome weeds in farmland worldwide, especially in Citrus Orchard of China. Glufosinate, as an efficient non-selective broad-spectrum herbicide, has been widely utilized for the control of E. indica in Citrus Orchard. The E. indica resistant population (R) was collected from a Citrus Orchard in Yichang City in Hubei province, China. Bioassay experiments showed that the R plants exhibited 3-fold resistance to glufosinate compared with the E. indica susceptible population (S). No known glutamine synthetase (GS) gene mutation associated with glufosinate resistance was found in R plants. And there was also no significant difference in GS activity between R and S plants. Those results indicated that the resistance to glufosinate in R did not involve target-site resistance. However, glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitor 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl) plus glufosinate gave a better control of R plants compared with glufosinate treatment alone. Moreover, both before and after glufosinate treatment, the GST activity in R plants was significantly higher than that in S plants. By RNA-seq, the expression of GSTU6 and GST4 up-regulated in R plants relative to S plants with or without glufosinate treatment. They were also significantly up-regulated expression in E. indica field resistant populations compared with S population. In summary, the study elucidated that R plants developed metabolic resistance to glufosinate involving GST. And GSTU6 and GST4 genes may play an important role in this glufosinate metabolic resistance. The research results provide a theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of resistance mechanism to glufosinate in E. indica.