Salt ions improve soybean protein isolate/curdlan complex fat substitutes: Effect of molecular interactions on freeze-thaw stability.

Although emulsion gels show significant potential as fat substitutes, they are vulnerable to degreasing, delamination, and other undesirable processes during freezing, storage, and thawing, leading to commercial value loss in terms of juiciness, flavor, and texture. This study investigated the gel strength and freeze-thaw stability of soybean protein isolate (SPI)/curdlan (CL) composite emulsion gels after adding sodium chloride (NaCl). Analysis revealed that adding low salt ion concentrations promoted the hardness and water-holding capacity (WHC) of fat substitutes, while high levels displayed an inhibitory effect. With 40 mM NaCl as the optimum concentration, the hardness increased from 259.33 g (0 mM) to 418.67 g, the WHC increased from 90.59 % to 93.18 %, exhibiting good freeze-thaw stability. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and particle size distribution were used to examine the impact of salt ion concentrations on protein particle aggregation and the damaging effect of freezing and thawing on the proteoglycan complex network structure. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and protein solubility evaluation indicated that the composite gel network structure consisted of covalent contacts between the proteoglycan molecules and hydrogen bonds, playing a predominant role in non-covalent interaction. This study showed that the salt ion concentration in the emulsion gel affected its molecular interactions.

Investigation into the fabrication of plant-based simulant connective tissue utilizing algae polysaccharide-derived hydrogel.

Connective tissue is an important component of meat products that provides support to animal muscles. Hydrogels are considered a promising alternative to connective tissues and simulate actual products by adjusting the gel texture and mouthfeel. This study used soybean protein isolate (SPI), corn starch (CS), konjac glucomannan (KGM), and seaweed powder (SP) as raw materials to examine the effect of different added SP and KGM concentrations on the gel texture. The G' of the gel increased five-fold when the SP and KGM concentration was increased from 1 % to 3 %. The results of mechanical property tests showed that with the addition of SP, the gel hardness increased from 316.00 g to 1827.23 g and the tensile strength increased from 0.027 MPa to 0.089 MPa. Sensory evaluation showed that the samples with 2 % SP and KGM presented the highest overall acceptability score and the most significant similarity to real connective tissue. The connective tissue simulants exhibited excellent water-holding capacity (>90 %), significantly increasing their juiciness. SEM indicated that 2 % KGM addition improved gel network structure stability. The results demonstrate the potential of seaweed polysaccharide-derived hydrogels as connective tissue mimics. This provides a new strategy for the preparation of high mechanical strength hydrogels and lays the foundation for structural diversification of plant-based meat.

[Spatiotemporal Interaction Characteristics and Transition Mechanism of Carbon Intensity in China's Transportation Industry].

This research was conducted using many spatial analysis approaches to dissect the spatiotemporal interactive characteristics of carbon emission intensity within the transportation sector from 2002 to 2020. An in-depth exploration of their transition mechanisms was conducted by nesting the obtained timewarp types with the panel quantile model. Finally, the geodetector model aligned with different transition mechanisms was employed to investigate and analyze the interaction effects among various factors influencing carbon intensity in the transportation sector. The results indicated that:① The carbon emission intensity of the transportation sector in 30 provinces and regions of China showed an overall downward trend with fluctuations, and the spatial clustering level was relatively stable. ② The spatiotemporal interactive features of ESTDA revealed that the relationship between the northwest region and its adjacent spatial units was unstable, with significant variations and fluctuations. In contrast, economically developed areas such as coastal cities in the eastern part had established mature transportation networks, resulting in a relatively stable local spatial pattern, though a few areas still exhibited spatiotemporal competitiveness. ③ The spatiotemporal transition of carbon intensity in the transportation sector could be categorized into four driving or constraining modes(the population economy urbanization constraint model, population economy urbanization facility constraint model, technology consumption industry-driven model, and technology industry regulation-driven model). Most provinces were influenced by the low quantile constraint and high quantile drive modes, with only a few affected by the high quantile constraint and low quantile drive modes, the majority of which were located in the northwest or southwest regions. ④ Further, we introduced the geographical detector model based on the identified mechanism of carbon emission intensity transition in the transportation sector, emphasizing the coordinated development of multiple factors and strengthening inter-regional collaborative governance.

Solution-Processed One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals Based on Hollow Silica Exhibiting High Refractive Index Contrast.

Poor interfacial quality and low refractive index contrast (Δn) are critical challenges for the development of high-performance one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPhCs) via solution methods that impede their optical efficiency. Herein, we introduce an innovative approach by hybridizing hollow SiO2 with poly(vinyl alcohol), referred to as PHS, followed by alternate assembly with TiO2 via spin-coating, achieving a 1DPhC with Δn = 0.76 at the wavelength of 550 nm. This method circumvents the need for high-temperature treatment and complex curing conditions, resulting in a 1DPhC with superior interfacial and optical characteristics. By adjusting the thickness of the PHS layers, we can finely tune the reflectance spectrum, attaining over 99% reflectance at the photonic band gap. Furthermore, 1DPhC demonstrates excellent adhesion to polycarbonate substrates and retains its optimal optical performance even after rigorous environmental testing, including hygrothermal cycles, exposure to hot water, friction, and solvent sonication. This research paves the way for the facile fabrication of high-performance 1DPhCs under mild conditions, offering new perspectives for photonic material processing.

Effects of Nonimmersive Virtual Reality Intervention on Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of nonimmersive virtual reality intervention compared with traditional rehabilitation in improving the functions of the upper and lower limbs, balance, and social participation among children with spastic cerebral palsy. We used librarian-designed searches of 10 databases to identify research articles on randomized controlled trials that assessed the effectiveness of nonimmersive virtual reality in intervening spastic cerebral palsy patients up to April 15, 2023. Independent evaluation was conducted by two trained investigators using the evaluation criteria of randomized controlled trial quality indicated in the Cochrane Manual of Assessment "risk-of-bias tool." The Physical Therapy Evidence Database scale was used to evaluate the method and quality of the literature. Twenty-one research articles involving 779 patients with spastic cerebral palsy were included. Significant differences between the nonimmersive virtual reality rehabilitation and traditional rehabilitation groups were observed in all indicators, except for the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Nonimmersive virtual reality intervention is effective in improving the function of the lower extremity, balance, and social participation in children with spastic cerebral palsy, but its effect on upper limb function is still controversial.

Novel automaticity index reveals a cognitive ability-related decline in gait automaticity during dual-task walking.

Gait automaticity refers to the ability to walk with minimal recruitment of attentional networks typically mediated through the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Reduced gait automaticity is common with aging, contributing to an increased risk of falls and reduced quality of life. A common assessment of gait automaticity involves examining PFC activation using near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during dual-task (DT) paradigms, such as walking while performing a cognitive task. However, neither PFC activity nor task performance in isolation measures automaticity accurately. For example, greater PFC activation could be interpreted as worse gait automaticity when accompanied by poorer DT performance, but when accompanied by better DT performance, it could be seen as successful compensation. Thus, there is a need to incorporate behavioral performance and PFC measurements for a more comprehensive evaluation of gait automaticity. To address this need, we propose a novel automaticity index as an analytical approach that combines changes in PFC activity with changes in DT performance to quantify gait automaticity. We validated the index in 173 participants (≥65 y/o) who completed DTs with two levels of difficulty while PFC activation was recorded with fNIRS. The two DTs consisted of reciting every other letter of the alphabet while walking over either an even or uneven surface. We found that as DT difficulty increases, more participants showed the anticipated decrease in automaticity as measured by the novel index compared to PFC activation. Furthermore, when comparing across individuals, lower cognitive function related to worse automaticity index, but not PFC activation or DT performance. In sum, the proposed index better quantified the differences in automaticity between tasks and individuals by providing a unified measure of gait automaticity that includes both brain activation and performance. This new approach opens exciting possibilities to assess participant-specific deficits and compare rehabilitation outcomes from gait automaticity interventions.

Modulation of taxane binding to tubulin curved and straight conformations by systematic 3'N modification provides for improved microtubule binding, persistent cytotoxicity and in vivo potency.

The taxane class of microtubule stabilizers are some of the most effective and widely used chemotherapeutics. The anticancer activity of taxanes arises from their ability to induce tubulin assembly by selectively recognizing the curved (c-) conformation in unassembled tubulin as compared to the straight (s-) conformation in assembled tubulin. We first designed and synthesized a series of 3'N-modified taxanes bearing covalent groups. Instead of discovering covalent taxanes, we found a series of non-covalent taxanes 2, in which the 3'N side chain was found to be essential for cytotoxicity due to its role in locking tubulin in the s-conformation. A representative compound bearing an acrylamide moiety (2h) exhibited increased binding affinity to the unassembled tubulin c-conformation and less cytotoxicity than paclitaxel. Further exploration of chemical space around 2h afforded a new series 3, in which derivatives such as 3l bind more tightly to both the s- and c-conformations of tubulin compared to paclitaxel, leading to more efficient promotion of tubulin polymerization and a greater persistence of in vitro efficacy against breast cancer cells after drug washout. Although 3l also had improved in vivo potency as compared to paclitaxel, it was also associated with increased systemic toxicity that required localized, intratumoral injection to observe potent and prolonged antitumor efficacy.

Discovery of Pyxinol Amide Derivatives Bearing Amino Acid Residues as Nonsubstrate Allosteric Inhibitors of P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance.

Nonsubstrate allosteric inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which are considered promising modulators for overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR), are relatively unknown. Herein, we designed and synthesized amino acids bearing amide derivatives of pyxinol, the main ginsenoside metabolite produced by the human liver, and examined their MDR reversal abilities. A potential nonsubstrate inhibitor (7a) was identified to undergo high-affinity binding to the putative allosteric site of Pgp at the nucleotide-binding domains. Subsequent assays confirmed that 7a (25 µM) was able to suppress both basal and verapamil-stimulated Pgp-ATPase activities (inhibition rates of 87 and 60%, respectively) and could not be pumped out by Pgp, indicating that it was a rare nonsubstrate allosteric inhibitor. Moreover, 7a interfered with Pgp-mediated Rhodamine123 efflux while exhibiting high selectivity for Pgp. Notably, 7a also markedly enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel, with a tumor inhibition ratio of 58.1%, when used to treat nude mice bearing KBV xenograft tumors.

The GRAS Salts of Na2SiO3 and EDTA-Na2 Control Citrus Postharvest Pathogens by Disrupting the Cell Membrane.

Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-Na2) are inorganic salts classified as 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS) compounds with great advantages in controlling various pathogens of postharvest fruits and vegetables. Here, we determined the median effective concentration (EC50) of Na2SiO3 (0.06%, 0.05%, 0.07% and 0.08%) and EDTA-Na2 (0.11%, 0.08%, 0.5%, and 0.07%) against common pathogens affecting postharvest citrus fruit, including Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Geotrichum citri-aurantii, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Na2SiO3 and EDTA-Na2 treatments at the EC50 decreased the spore germination rate, visibly disrupted the spore cell membrane integrity, and significantly increased the lipid droplets (LDs) of the four postharvest pathogens. Moreover, both treatments at EC50 significantly reduced the disease incidence of P. italicum (by 60% and 93.335, respectively) and G. citri-aurantii (by 50% and 76.67%, respectively) relative to the control. Furthermore, Na2SiO3 and EDTA-Na2 treatment resulted in dramatically lower disease severity of the four pathogens, while also demonstrating no significant change in citrus fruit quality compared with the control. Therefore, Na2SiO3 and EDTA-Na2 present a promising approach to control the postharvest diseases of citrus fruit.

The involvement of ADAR1 in chronic unpredictable stress-induced cognitive impairment by targeting DARPP-32 with miR-874-3p in BALB/c mice.

Introduction: Chronic stress exposure is the main environmental factor leading to cognitive impairment, but the detailed molecular mechanism is still unclear. Adenosine Deaminase acting on double-stranded RNA1(ADAR1) is involved in the occurrence of chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment. In addition, dopamine and Adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate-regulated phospho-protein (DARPP-32) gene variation affects cognitive function. Therefore, we hypothesized that ADAR1 plays a key role in chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment by acting on DARPP-32. Methods: In this study, postnatal 21-day-old male BALB/c mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable stressors. After that, the mice were treated with ADAR1 inducer/inhibitor. The cognitive ability and cerebral DARPP-32 protein expression of BALB/c mice were evaluated. In order to explore the link between ADAR1 and DARPP-32, the effects of ADAR1 high/low expression on DARPP-32 protein expression in vitro were detected. Results: ADAR1 inducer alleviates cognitive impairment and recovers decreased DARPP-32 protein expression of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in BALB/c mice with chronic unpredictable stress exposure. In vivo and in vitro studies confirm the results predicted by bio-informatics; that is, ADAR1 affects DARPP-32 expression via miR-874-3p. Discussion: The results in this study demonstrate that ADAR1 affects the expression of DARPP-32 via miR-874-3p, which is involved in the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis in chronic unpredictable stress-induced cognitive impairment. The new findings of this study provide a new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of stress cognitive impairment from epigenetics.

Synthesis and in vitro Anti-proliferative Activities on LNCaP, LS180 and MKN45 of Novel 20(R)-Panaxadiol Derivatives.

BACKGROUND: 20(R)-PD, a tetracyclic triterpenoid, is a non-natural saponin present in the form of protopanaxadiol. Because of its essential biological activities, especially anti-tumor activity, structural modification of 20(R)-PD and the development of innovative and novel 20(R)-PD derivatives with better anti-tumor activity are increasingly relevant. AIMS: 20(R)-Panaxadiol (20(R)-PD) can inhibit tumor proliferation. Three series of novel 20(R-PD derivatives were synthesized by modifying the A-ring. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to synthesize and evaluate the in vitro anti-proliferative activities of 20(R)- PD derivatives in LNCaP, LS180, and MKN45 cancer cells. Structural modifications were performed at the C-3 position and A-ring. METHODS: The in vitro anti-proliferative activities of novel derivatives in LNCaP, LS180, and MKN45 cells were evaluated by the MTT assay. The effects of compounds 5 and C9 on apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compounds 5, B2, C2, C4, C7, C8, C9, C10, and C11 exhibited good anti-proliferative activities in LNCaP, LS180, and MKN45 cells in vitro. The best anti-proliferative activity was observed for the C-series derivatives with the introduction of amino acids at the C-3 position. C9 exhibited good potent activity with an IC50 of 2.89 µM. CONCLUSION: Compound C9 is a potential candidate with potent anti-proliferative activity.

Yellow emissive nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a fluorescence probe for the sensitive and selective detection of silver ions.

In this work, yellow emissive carbon dots (Y-CDs) were prepared via a simple hydrothermal method using catechol and hydrazine hydrate as the carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The average particle size was 2.99 nm. The Y-CDs demonstrate excitation-dependent emission properties, and the maximum emission wavelength is 570 nm at E x = 420 nm. The fluorescence quantum yield is calculated to be 28.2%. Ag+ could quench the fluorescence of Y-CDs with high selectivity. The quenching mechanism was further explored by various characterization techniques. A sensitive fluorescent probe for Ag+ detection was established based on Y-CDs with a linear range of 3-300 µM. The detection limit was calculated to be 1.1 µM. The proposed method shows satisfactory results in real water samples without interference by coexistence.

GAR-transferase contributes to purine synthesis and mitochondrion function to maintain fungal development and full virulence of Penicillium digitatum.

Penicillium digitatum is one of the most critical phytopathogens during the citrus postharvest period. However, the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis remains to be further explored. Purine is a multiple functional substance in organisms. To verify the role of the de novo purine biosynthesis (DNPB) pathway in P. digitatum, we investigated the third gene Pdgart, glycinamide ribonucleotide (GAR)-transferase, of this pathway in this study. The deletion mutant ΔPdgart was generated in the principle of homologous recombination via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). The phenotypic assay indicated that the ΔPdgart mutant displayed severe defects in hyphae growth, conidiation and germination, which can be rescued by the addition of exogenous ATP and AMP. Compared with wild-type strain N1, the ATP level of strain ΔPdgart was detected to be sharply declined during conidial germination, and this was resulted from the damage to purine synthesis and aerobic respiration. The pathogenicity assay suggested that mutant ΔPdgart infected citrus fruit but attenuated disease, which was owing to its reduced production of organic acids and activities of cell wall degradation enzymes. Additionally, the ΔPdgart mutant showed altered sensitivity to stress agents and fungicides. Taken together, the present study provides insights into the essential functions of Pdgart, and paves the way for further study and novel fungicide development.

Influence of Surface Discharge on Resin Degradation in Decay-like Fracture of Composite Insulators.

Composite insulators have gradually become the preferred approach for electrical insulation in power systems, especially in polluted areas. Composite insulators consist of three main components: the shed, rod, and end fitting. Insulators withstand mechanical stresses via rods that are composed of glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRE). However, regardless of the high tensile strength of GFRE rods, in real-life operation, abnormal fractures have frequently been reported all over the world, which substantially increase the risk of major accidents in power systems. Fractural accidents mainly consist of brittle and decay-like fractures, which exhibit rather different morphologies at the cross sections. Brittle fracture has been effectively eliminated, while the mechanism of decay-like fracture has still not been clearly revealed. In this study, surface discharge tests were applied to investigate the discharge influence on the degradation of GFRE. The test successfully simulated the composition variation of the rods in real-life composite insulators with decay-like fractures. Moreover, it confirmed that the distinction between the characteristics of brittle fracture and decay-like fracture stems from epoxy degradation due to hydrolysis and carbonization. In addition, the respective influences of the resin type, glass fiber type, and acid liquid immersion on the degradation process were probed, and the degradation mechanism proposed in this research was verified. Based on the results, measures for preventing the development of decay-like fractures in real-life operations were determined.

Metatranscriptomic Sequencing Reveals Host Species as an Important Factor Shaping the Mosquito Virome.

Mosquitoes are important vector hosts for numerous viral pathogens and harbor a large number of mosquito-specific viruses as well as human-infecting viruses. Previous studies have mainly focused on the discovery of mosquito viruses, and our understanding of major ecological factors associated with virome structure in mosquitoes remains limited. We utilized metatranscriptomic sequencing to characterize the viromes of five mosquito species sampled across eight locations in Yunnan Province, China. This revealed the presence of 52 viral species, of which 19 were novel, belonging to 15 viral families/clades. Of particular note was Culex hepacivirus 1, clustering within the avian clade of hepaciviruses. Notably, both the viromic diversity and abundance of Aedes genus mosquitoes were significantly higher than those of the Culex genus, while Aedes albopictus mosquitoes harbored a higher diversity than Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Our findings thus point to discernible differences in viromic structure between mosquito genera and even between mosquito species within the same genus. Importantly, such differences were not attributable to differences in sampling between geographical location. Our study also revealed the ubiquitous presence of the endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia, with the genetic diversity and abundance also varying between mosquito species. In conclusion, our results suggested that the mosquito host species play an important role in shaping the virome's structure. IMPORTANCE This study revealed the huge capability of mosquitoes in harboring a rich diversity of RNA viruses, although relevant studies have characterized the intensively unparalleled diversity of RNA viruses previously. Furthermore, our findings showed discernible differences not only in viromic structure between mosquito genera and even between mosquito species within the same genus but also in the genetic diversity and abundance of Wolbachia between different mosquito populations. These findings emphasize the importance of host genetic background in shaping the virome composition of mosquitoes.

Ferric Chloride Controls Citrus Anthracnose by Inducing the Autophagy Activity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes citrus anthracnose, which seriously endangers the pre-harvest production and post-harvest storage of citrus due to its devastating effects on fruit quality, shelf life, and profits. However, although some chemical agents have been proven to effectively control this plant disease, little to no efforts have been made to identify effective and safe anti-anthracnose alternatives. Therefore, this study assessed and verified the inhibitory effect of ferric chloride (FeCl3) against C. gloeosporioides. Our findings demonstrated that FeCl3 could effectively inhibit C. gloeosporioides spore germination. After FeCl3 treatment, the germination rate of the spores in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) groups decreased by 84.04% and 89.0%, respectively. Additionally, FeCl3 could effectively inhibit the pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides in vivo. Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses demonstrated the occurrence of wrinkled and atrophic mycelia. Moreover, FeCl3 induced autophagosome formation in the test pathogen, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. Additionally, a positive correlation was identified between the FeCl3 concentration and the damage rate of the fungal sporophyte cell membrane, as the staining rates of the control (untreated), 1/2 MIC, and MIC FeCl3 treatment groups were 1.87%, 6.52%, and 18.15%, respectively. Furthermore, the ROS content in sporophyte cells increased by 3.6%, 29.27%, and 52.33% in the control, 1/2 MIC, and MIC FeCl3 groups, respectively. Therefore, FeCl3 could reduce the virulence and pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides. Finally, FeCl3-handled citrus fruit exhibited similar physiological qualities to water-handled fruit. The results show that FeCl3 may prove to be a good substitute for the treatment of citrus anthracnose in the future.

Identification of a novel heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1) ligand that disrupts HnRNPA2B1/nucleic acid interactions to inhibit the MDMX-p53 axis in gastric cancer.

Gastric carcinoma is a highly malignant tumor that still lacks effective molecular targets. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1) is an essential oncogenic driver overexpressed in various cancers. The potential role of hnRNPA2B1 in oncotherapy has not been revealed because of the absence of active chemical molecules. In this study, we identified the pseudourea derivative XI-011 as a novel hnRNPA2B1 ligand using chemical proteomics. An interaction study indicated that XI-011 could bind the nucleotide-binding domain to disrupt the recruitment of hnRNPA2B1 to the promoter and untranslated region of the murine double minute X (MDMX) gene, thereby inhibiting its transcription. In addition, chemical targeting of hnRNPA2B1 recovered inactivated p53 and enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of apatinib in vivo. This work presented a novel strategy to restore p53 activity for the treatment of gastric cancers via chemically targeting hnRNPA2B1.

Metabolomics and transcriptomics provide insights into the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in the roots of developing Aster tataricus.

Aster tataricus (L.) is an important medicinal plant in China. Its roots are rich in flavonoids, the main medicinal components. However, the molecular basis of flavonoid biosynthesis in the roots of A. tataricus remains unclear. In this study, the content of total flavonoid of A. tataricus roots at different developmental stages was measured first, and the results showed that the content of total flavonoid gradually decreased from September to November, which may be caused by the stagnation of A. tataricus growth due to the decrease in temperature after September. Then, an integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome was conducted on five developing stages of A. tataricus roots to identify flavonoid compositions and potential genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. A total of 80 flavonoid metabolites, of which 75% were flavonols and flavonoids, were identified in metabolomic analyses, among which isorhamnetin, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin were the main skeletons of these flavonoids. Cluster analysis divided these 80 flavonoids into 3 clusters. The compounds in cluster I mainly accumulated in S1, S3, and S5. In cluster II, the relative content of the flavonoid metabolites showed an upward trend from S2 to S4. In cluster III, the flavonoids decreased from S1 to S5. A total of 129 structural genes, including 43 PAL, 23 4CL, 9 C4H, 4 CHS, 18 CHI, 3 F3H, 5 F3'H, 1 F3'5'H, 21 FLS, and 2 FSII, and 65 transcription factors, including 22 AP2/ERF, 7 bHLH, 5 bZIP, 8 MYB, 11 NAC, and 12 WRKY, showed significant correlation with total flavonoid content. Eighteen genes (7 4CL, 5 C4H, 2 CHI, 1 F3H, and 3 FLS) and 30 genes (5 PAL, 9 4CL, 1 C4H, 2 CHI, 1 F3H, 1 DFR, 7 3AT, 1 BZ1, and 3 UGT79B1) were identified as key structural genes for kaempferol and anthocyanins biosynthesis, respectively. Our study provides valuable information for understanding the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in A. tataricus root.

Novel attentional gait index reveals a cognitive ability-related decline in gait automaticity during dual-task walking.

Introduction: Gait automaticity refers to the ability to walk with minimal recruitment of attentional networks typically mediated through the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Reduced gait automaticity (i.e., greater use of attentional resources during walking) is common with aging, contributing to an increased risk of falls and reduced quality of life. A common assessment of gait automaticity involves examining PFC activation using near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during dual-task (DT) paradigms, such as walking while performing a cognitive task. However, neither PFC activity nor task performance in isolation measures automaticity accurately. For example, greater PFC activation could be interpreted as worse gait automaticity when accompanied by poorer DT performance, but when accompanied by better DT performance, it could be seen as successful compensation. Thus, there is a need to incorporate behavioral performance and PFC measurements for a more comprehensive evaluation of gait automaticity. To address this need, we propose a novel attentional gait index as an analytical approach that combines changes in PFC activity with changes in DT performance to quantify automaticity, where a reduction in automaticity will be reflected as an increased need for attentional gait control (i.e., larger index). Methods: The index was validated in 173 participants (≥65 y/o) who completed DTs with two levels of difficulty while PFC activation was recorded with fNIRS. The two DTs consisted of reciting every other letter of the alphabet while walking over either an even or uneven surface. Results: As DT difficulty increases, more participants showed the anticipated increase in the attentional control of gait (i.e., less automaticity) as measured by the novel index compared to PFC activation. Furthermore, when comparing across individuals, lower cognitive function was related to higher attentional gait index, but not PFC activation or DT performance. Conclusion: The proposed index better quantified the differences in attentional control of gait between tasks and individuals by providing a unified measure that includes both brain activation and performance. This new approach opens exciting possibilities to assess participant-specific deficits and compare rehabilitation outcomes from gait automaticity interventions.

Image-Driven Harmonious Color Palette Generation for Diverse Information Visualization.

Color has been widely used to encode data in all types of visualizations. Effective color palettes contain discriminable and harmonious colors, which allow information from visualizations to be accurately and aesthetically conveyed. However, predefined color palettes not only lack the flexibility of custom color palette generation but also ignore the context in which the visualizations are used. Designing an effective color palette is a time-consuming and challenging process for users, even experts. In this work, we propose the generation of an image-based visualization color palette to exploit the human perception of visually appealing images while considering visualization cognition. By analyzing color palette constraints, including harmony, discrimination, and context, we propose an image-driven color generation method. We design a color clustering method in the saliency-hue plane based on visual importance detection and then select the palette based on the visualization color constraints. In addition, we design two color optimization and assignment strategies for visualizations of different data types. Evaluations through numeric indicators and user experiments demonstrate that the palettes predicted by our method are visually related to the original images and are aesthetically pleasing, supporting diverse visualization contexts and data types in practical applications.