Analysis of Speech Features in Alzheimer's Disease with Machine Learning: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Changes in the speech and language of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been reported. Using machine learning to characterize these irregularities may contribute to the early, non-invasive diagnosis of AD.

Methods: We conducted cognitive function assessments, including the Mini-Mental State Examination, with 83 patients with AD and 75 healthy elderly participants, and recorded pre- and post-assessment conversations to evaluate participants' speech.

Tracking Metabolite Variations during the Degradation of Vegetables in Rice Bran Bed with Intact-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Fermentation-a process of compound degradation by microorganisms-is a traditional food processing method utilized worldwide for the long-term preservation of fresh foods. In recent years, fermented foods have gained attention as health foods. Fermentation increases the nutritional value of ingredients, producing complex flavors and aromas.

Enhanced decreases in rice evapotranspiration in response to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide under warmer environments.

A short period of exposure to elevated CO is known to decrease evapotranspiration via stomatal closure. Based on theoretical evaluation of a canopy transpiration model, we hypothesized that this decrease in the evapotranspiration of rice under elevated CO was greater under higher temperature conditions due to an increased sensitivity of transpiration to changes in CO induced by the greater vapour pressure deficit. In a temperature gradient chamber-based experiment, a 200 ppm increase in CO concentration led to 0.

Investigation of the relationship between ocular sarcoidosis and dry eye.

A relationship between ocular sarcoidosis (OcSar) and dry eye (DE) has previously been reported. Here we investigated the tear function in OcSar, and the other uveitis, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH), to elucidate the association between OcSar and DE. This study involved 27 eyes of 27 female OcSar patients [mean age: 67.

Estimation of komatsuna freshness using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy based on the interpretation of NMR metabolomics analysis.

The objective of this study was to explore the potentiality and mechanism of visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy in estimating the freshness of komatsuna. We monitored the cumulative CO production of komatsuna stored under different conditions as a freshness indicator and measured the Vis-NIR spectra of komatsuna as the predictor. Using the informative wavelengths (IW) selected using the stepwise selectivity ratio method, we constructed an accurate freshness prediction model through PLSR analysis.

16S rRNA-based amplicon analysis of changes in the bacterial population in the lesions of papillomatous digital dermatitis in dairy cattle after topical treatment with allyl isothiocyanate.

Papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) is a foot disease causing lameness in dairy cattle. It is regarded as a polymicrobial infection, although its etiology is not fully understood. PDD is treated by the topical or systemic administration of antibiotics such as lincomycin (LCM); however, the milk of the cows cannot be marketed during the treatment and withdrawal period due to the residual antibiotics in milk.

Allelic Mutations in the Locus Generate Extensive Variation in Tomato Ripening.

RIPENING INHIBITOR (RIN) is a transcription factor with transcriptional activator activity that plays a major role in regulating fruit ripening in tomato (). Recent studies have revealed that (1) is indispensable for full ripening but not for the induction of ripening; and (2) the mutation, which produces nonripening fruits that never turn red or soften, is not a null mutation but instead converts the encoded transcriptional activator into a repressor. Here, we have uncovered aspects of function by characterizing a series of allelic mutations within this locus that were produced by CRISPR/Cas9.

Towards application of water extract from heat-killed Lactococcus lactis H61 as a cosmetic ingredient.

We previously reported that oral administration of heat-killed Lactococcus lactis H61 improves certain human skin properties. For topical application of this strain, we reasoned that a bacterial cell extract obtained with an aqueous solvent could be readily formulated as a cosmetic ingredient. In the present study, we characterized the water extract from heat-killed H61.

An examination of the principle of non-destructive flesh firmness measurement of peach fruit by using VIS-NIR spectroscopy.

Evaluating the maturity of peach fruit is desirable during both the preharvest and postharvest periods, and flesh firmness (FF) is a representative maturity index. Although a non-destructive FF measurement technique using visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been developed, the principle has been unclear. This study was conducted to examine the structure of the FF prediction model by comparing with that of the model for measuring water-soluble pectin (WSP) content.

Nuclear magnetic resonance- and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomic characterization of water-soluble and volatile compound profiles in cabbage vinegar.

Non-targeted metabolomic analyses employing nuclear magnetic resonance- and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based techniques were applied for an in-depth characterization of cabbage vinegar, an original agricultural product made from cabbage harvested in Tsumagoi, Japan. Water-soluble and volatile metabolite profiles of cabbage vinegar were compared with those of various vinegars: rice vinegar, grain vinegar, apple vinegar, and black vinegar (Japanese kurozu made of brown rice). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the water-soluble metabolites indicated that cabbage vinegars belonged to an isolated class by the contributions of fructose, pyroglutamic acid, choline, and methiin (S-methylcysteine sulfoxide).

Study on the Change in Powder Properties of Rice Flour by Different Milling Processes.

The aim of this study was to clarify the change in the powder properties of rice flour depending on the milling process. Rice flour samples, which have gradual mechanical shock properties, were prepared using different milling methods. Furthermore, the correlation between the starch damage, owing to mechanical shock, and powder properties of rice flour was investigated.

Rapid discrimination of strain-dependent fermentation characteristics among Lactobacillus strains by NMR-based metabolomics of fermented vegetable juice.

In this study, we investigated the applicability of NMR-based metabolomics to discriminate strain-dependent fermentation characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are important microorganisms for fermented food production. To evaluate the discrimination capability, six type strains of Lactobacillus species and six additional L. brevis strains were used focusing on i) the difference between homo- and hetero-lactic fermentative species and ii) strain-dependent characteristics within L.

The therapeutic efficacy of allyl isothiocyanate in cows with bovine digital dermatitis.

Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is the most prevalent infectious cause of lameness in cattle. Because Treponema infection is a major etiology of BDD, the most common treatment of BDD is an antibiotic. Nonetheless, dairy cows require a withdrawal period after antibiotic treatment before their milk can be marketed.

NMR-Based Metabolic Profiling of Field-Grown Leaves from Sugar Beet Plants Harbouring Different Levels of Resistance to Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease.

leaf spot (CLS) is one of the most serious leaf diseases for sugar beet ( L.) worldwide. The breeding of sugar beet cultivars with both high CLS resistance and high yield is a major challenge for breeders.

FoodPro: A Web-Based Tool for Evaluating Covariance and Correlation NMR Spectra Associated with Food Processes.

Foods from agriculture and fishery products are processed using various technologies. Molecular mixture analysis during food processing has the potential to help us understand the molecular mechanisms involved, thus enabling better cooking of the analyzed foods. To date, there has been no web-based tool focusing on accumulating Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra from various types of food processing.

A survey of metabolic changes in potato leaves by NMR-based metabolic profiling in relation to resistance to late blight disease under field conditions.

Non-targeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolic profiling was applied to potato leaves to survey metabolic changes associated with late blight resistance under field conditions. Potato plants were grown in an experimental field, and the compound leaves with no visible symptoms were collected from 20 cultivars/lines at two sampling time points: (i) the time of initial presentation of symptoms in susceptible cultivars and (ii) 12 days before this initiation. H NMR spectra of the foliar metabolites soluble in deuterium oxide- or methanol-d -based buffers were measured and used for multivariate analysis.

Dietary intake of heat-killed Lactococcus lactis H61 delays age-related hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice.

Age-related hearing loss (AHL) is a common disorder associated with aging. In this study, we investigated the effect of the intake of heat-killed Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris H61 (strain H61) on AHL in C57BL/6J mice.

Development of flower buds in the Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) from late autumn to early spring.

We periodically investigated the lateral flower bud morphology of 1-year shoots of 'Kosui' pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) in terms of dormancy progression, using magnetic resonance imaging. The size of flower buds did not change significantly during endodormancy, but rapid enlargement took place at the end of the ecodormancy stage. To gain insight into the physiological status during this period, we analyzed gene expression related to cell cycle-, cell expansion- and water channel-related genes, namely cyclin (CYC), expansin (EXPA), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIP) and plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIP).

[Inhibition of aflatoxin production and fungal growth on stored corn by allyl isothiocyanate vapor].

Studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) vapor treatment with a commercial mustard seed extract (Wasaouro(®)) in controlling aflatoxin-producing fungi on stored corn. The concentration of AIT in the closed container peaked at 54.6 ng/mL on the 14th day and remained at 21.

Metagenomic analysis of the bacterial community associated with the taproot of sugar beet.

We analyzed a metagenome of the bacterial community associated with the taproot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in order to investigate the genes involved in plant growth-promoting traits (PGPTs), namely 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase, indole acetic acid (IAA), N2 fixation, phosphate solubilization, pyrroloquinoline quinone, siderophores, and plant disease suppression as well as methanol, sucrose, and betaine utilization. The most frequently detected gene among the PGPT categories encoded β-1,3-glucanase (18 per 10(5) reads), which plays a role in the suppression of plant diseases.

Characterization of leaf blade- and leaf sheath-associated bacterial communities and assessment of their responses to environmental changes in CO₂, temperature, and nitrogen levels under field conditions.

Rice shoot-associated bacterial communities at the panicle initiation stage were characterized and their responses to elevated surface water-soil temperature (ET), low nitrogen (LN), and free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) were assessed by clone library analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. Principal coordinate analyses combining all sequence data for leaf blade- and leaf sheath-associated bacteria revealed that each bacterial community had a distinct structure, as supported by PC1 (61.5%), that was mainly attributed to the high abundance of Planctomycetes in leaf sheaths.

A NMR-based, non-targeted multistep metabolic profiling revealed L-rhamnitol as a metabolite that characterised apples from different geographic origins.

This study utilises (1)H NMR-based metabolic profiling to characterise apples of five cultivars grown either in Japan (Fuji, Orin, and Jonagold) or New Zealand (Fuji, Jazz, and Envy). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a clear separation between the Fuji-Orin-Jonagold class and the Jazz-Envy class, primarily corresponding to the differences in sugar signals, such as sucrose, glucose, and fructose. Multistep PCA removed the influence of dominant sugars and highlighted minor metabolites such as aspartic acid, 2-methylmalate, and an unidentified compound.

Alternative splicing produces structural and functional changes in CUGBP2.

Background: CELF/Bruno-like proteins play multiple roles, including the regulation of alternative splicing and translation. These RNA-binding proteins contain two RNA recognition motif (RRM) domains at the N-terminus and another RRM at the C-terminus. CUGBP2 is a member of this family of proteins that possesses several alternatively spliced exons.

Functional gene expression analysis of tissue-specific isoforms of Mef2c.

Mef2c contains three alternative exons and generates six Mef2c isoforms in mice. Mef2c α1β isoforms are expressed in neuronal tissues, α2 isoforms are expressed in muscle, and α1 isoforms are expressed in many other tissues. The γ region inclusion and skipped isoforms are present in equal amounts in many tissues.