QTN detection and candidate gene identification for improved eating and cooking quality in rice using GWAS and PLS regression analysis.

We performed GWAS for starch properties and eating, cooking and appearance quality characteristics traits in rice and then used PLS regression to show importance of different loci for different food applications. We performed a genome-wide association study for appearance, eating and cooking quality traits in grain of japonica rice cultivars and identified candidate genes for adhesiveness of cooked rice grains, amylopectin composition and β-glucanase activity in rice endosperm among a total of 525 quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) loci. The study used 1,054,635 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on genome sequence data of 150 rice cultivars and 89 grain appearance, eating and cooking quality traits.

[A Case of Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by an Intraoperatively Recognized Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm].

An 89-year-old woman with an allergy to contrast dye and with a history of cholecystectomy visited emergency department complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain. The diagnosis of adhesive bowel obstruction near terminal ileum was made with plain computed tomography. Although intestinal decompression was attempted with nasogastric tube, followed by intestinal tube, no improvement was achieved, so adhesiolysis was planned.

Frontal branch of the left middle meningeal artery arising from the ophthalmic artery diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography.

Purpose: A case of frontal branch of the left middle meningeal artery (MMA) arising from the ophthalmic artery (OA).

Methods: A 73-year-old woman with vertigo underwent cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and cranial MR angiography using a 1.5-Tesla scanner.

Development of a rapid and reliable method to simultaneously detect seven food allergens in processed foods using LC-MS/MS.

Rapid analysis of multiple food allergens is required to confirm the appropriateness of food allergen labelling in processed foods. This study aimed to develop a rapid and reliable method to simultaneously detect trace amounts of seven food allergenic proteins (wheat, buckwheat, milk, egg, crustacean, peanut, and walnut) in processed foods using LC-MS/MS. Suspension-trapping (S-Trap) columns and on-line automated solid-phase extraction were used to improve the complex and time-consuming pretreatment process previously required for allergen analysis using LC-MS/MS.

Development of 12 sets of chromosome segment substitution lines that enhance allele mining in Asian cultivated rice.

Many agronomic traits that are important in rice breeding are controlled by multiple genes. The extensive time and effort devoted so far to identifying and selecting such genes are still not enough to target multiple agronomic traits in practical breeding in Japan because of a lack of suitable plant materials in which to efficiently detect and validate beneficial alleles from diverse genetic resources. To facilitate the comprehensive analysis of genetic variation in agronomic traits among Asian cultivated rice, we developed 12 sets of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) with the background, 11 of them in the same genetic background, using donors representing the genetic diversity of Asian cultivated rice.

Development of a simple and reliable LC-MS/MS method to simultaneously detect walnut and almond as specified in food allergen labelling regulations in processed foods.

We developed a simple and reliable analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to simultaneously detect walnut and almond as specified in regulations for food allergen labelling in processed foods. Five specific target peptides derived from walnut 2S albumin and 7S globulin and three target peptides from almond 11S globulin were selected by analysing several varieties of walnut and almond, eight kinds of other nuts, and ten kinds of major allergen ingredients or cereals. The limit of detection for the walnut 2S albumin peptide GEEMEEMVQSAR ( 698.

Genetic Background Negates Improvements in Rice Flour Characteristics and Food Processing Properties Caused by a Mutant Allele of the PDIL1-1 Seed Storage Protein Gene.

Phenotypic differences among breeding lines that introduce the same superior gene allele can be a barrier to effective development of cultivars with desirable traits in some crop species. For example, a deficient mutation of the Protein Disulfide Isomerase Like 1-1 (PDIL1-1) gene can cause accumulation of glutelin seed storage protein precursors in rice endosperm, and improves rice flour characteristics and food processing properties. However, the gene must be expressed to be useful.

Predictors of thermal increase in magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor: histogram analysis of skull density ratio values for 1024 elements.

Objective: Sufficient thermal increase capable of generating thermocoagulation is indispensable for an effective clinical outcome in patients undergoing magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). The skull density ratio (SDR) is one of the most dominant predictors of thermal increase prior to treatment. However, users currently rely only on the average SDR value (SDRmean) as a screening criterion, although some patients with low SDRmean values can achieve sufficient thermal increase.

Novel method for evaluation of anaerobic germination in rice and its application to diverse genetic collections.

Direct seeding saves time and labour in the cultivation of rice. However, seedling establishment is often unstable, and yields are lower than in transplanting. Anaerobic germination (AG) is a key trait for improvement of direct seeding of rice.

Endosperm enzyme activity is responsible for texture and eating quality of cooked rice grains in Japanese cultivars.

Eating quality of cooked rice grains is an important determinant of its market price and consumer acceptance. To comprehensively assess the variation of eating-quality traits in 152 Japanese rice cultivars, we evaluated activities of eight endosperm enzymes related to degradation of starch and cell-wall polysaccharides. Endosperm enzyme activities showed a wide range of variations and were lower in recently developed cultivars than in landraces and old improved cultivars.

Identification of QTLs for rice grain size using a novel set of chromosomal segment substitution lines derived from Yamadanishiki in the genetic background of Koshihikari.

Grain size is important for brewing-rice cultivars, but the genetic basis for this trait is still unclear. This paper aims to identify QTLs for grain size using novel chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) harboring chromosomal segments from Yamadanishiki, an excellent sake-brewing rice, in the genetic background of Koshihikari, a cooking cultivar. We developed a set of 49 CSSLs.

Variation in cooking and eating quality traits in Japanese rice germplasm accessions.

The eating quality of cooked rice is important and determines its market price and consumer acceptance. To comprehensively describe the variation of eating quality in 183 rice germplasm accessions, we evaluated 33 eating-quality traits including amylose and protein contents, pasting properties of rice flour, and texture of cooked rice grains. All eating-quality traits varied widely in the germplasm accessions.

Sense transgene-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing in tobacco compromises the splicing of endogenous counterpart genes.

Sense transgene-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing (S-PTGS) is thought to be a type of RNA silencing in which ARGONAUTE1 directs the small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated cleavage of a target mRNA in the cytoplasm. Here, we report that the altered splicing of endogenous counterpart genes is a main cause for the reduction of their mature mRNA levels. After the S-PTGS of a tobacco endoplasmic reticulum ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (NtFAD3) gene, 3'-truncated, polyadenylated endo-NtFAD3 transcripts and 5'-truncated, intron-containing endo-NtFAD3 transcripts were detected in the total RNA fraction.

[Inter-laboratory evaluation studies for establishment of notified ELISA methods for allergic substances (peanuts)].

Inter-laboratory evaluation studies were conducted for ELISA methods for allergic substances (peanuts). Extracts of biscuit, sauce, chocolate and butter spiked with peanut standard protein at a level of 5-20 ng/mL as sample solutions were analyzed in replicate in 10 laboratories. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of the ELISA methods using a Peanut Protein ELISA Kit (Peanut kit) and a FASTKIT Peanut ELISA kit (Peanut ELISA kit) were mostly below 10%.

[Inter-laboratory evaluation studies for establishment of notified ELISA methods for allergic substances (buckwheat)].

Inter-laboratory evaluation studies were conducted for the ELISA methods for allergic substances (buckwheat). Extracts of snack, bun and udon spiked with buckwheat standard protein at a level of 5-20 ng/mL as sample solutions were analyzed in replicate at 10 laboratories. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of the ELISA methods using a Buckwheat Protein ELISA Kit (Buckwheat kit) and a FASTKIT Buckwheat ELISA kit (Buckwheat ELISA kit) were mostly below 10%.

[Inter-laboratory evaluation studies for development of notified ELISA methods for allergic substances (wheat)].

Extracts of sausage, sauce, pasta sauce, fish paste and cereal spiked with wheat standard protein at a level of 5-20 ng/mL as sample solutions were analyzed in replicate in 10 laboratories. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of both ELISA methods using a Wheat Protein ELISA Kit (Gliadin kit) and a FASTKIT Wheat ELISA Kit (Wheat ELISA kit) were mostly below 10%. Mean recoveries of the wheat standard protein from the food extracts were over 40% in the two ELISA methods except those from cereal extract determined using the Wheat ELISA kit.

[Inter-laboratory evaluation studies of notified ELISA methods for allergic substances (egg)].

Inter-laboratory evaluation studies were conducted for the notified ELISA methods for allergic substances (Egg). Standard extracts of egg spiked in extracts of sausage, sauce, cookie, bread and cereal at a level of 5-20 ng/mL as the sample solution were analyzed in replicate in 10 laboratories. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of all three ELISA methods using an Egg Protein ovalbumin ELISA Kit (ovalbumin kit), an Egg Protein ovomucoid ELISA Kit (ovomucoid kit) and a FASTKIT Egg ELISA kit (Egg ELISA kit) were mostly less than 10%.