Effects of Nutrition Education Program for the Japan Diet on Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acid Compositions in Patients with Dyslipidemia: Re-analysis of Data from a Previous Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim: We investigated changes in serum phospholipid fatty acid compositions with intake of the Japan Diet (JD) (higher consumption of fish, soybeans, vegetables, seaweed/mushrooms/konjak, and unrefined cereals with reduced consumption of animal fat, meat and poultry with fat, sweets and alcoholic drinks) recommended by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society.

Methods: A randomized parallel controlled clinical trial on JD intake was conducted on Japanese patients with dyslipidemia. Nutrition education, based on the JD or partial JD (PJD) at baseline and at 3 months, was provided and the participants were followed up for 6 months.

Reorganization of the ancestral sex-determining regions during the evolution of trioecy in Pleodorina starrii.

The coexistence of three sexual phenotypes (male, female and bisexual) in a single species, 'trioecy', is rarely found in diploid organisms such as flowering plants and invertebrates. However, trioecy in haploid organisms has only recently been reported in a green algal species, Pleodorina starrii. Here, we generated whole-genome data of the three sex phenotypes of P.

The HKT1 Na transporter protects plant fertility by decreasing Na content in stamen filaments.

Salinity stress can greatly reduce seed production because plants are especially sensitive to salt during their reproductive stage. Here, we show that the sodium ion transporter AtHKT1;1 is specifically expressed around the phloem and xylem of the stamen in to prevent a marked decrease in seed production caused by salt stress. The stamens of AtHKT1;1 mutant under salt stress overaccumulate Na, limiting their elongation and resulting in male sterility.

Effect of intramuscular fat content on the sensory characteristics and dynamic flavor attributes of Japanese black cattle beef.

The intramuscular fat (IMF) in beef affects its flavor intensity and attributes, which have a significant impact on palatability. We conducted a sensory evaluation by descriptive analysis, Temporal Check-All-That-Apply, and a chemical analysis of 40 ribeye steaks from Japanese Black cattle to determine the relationship among IMF% and sensory characteristics including dynamic flavor attributes. The increased IMF% of Japanese Black cattle beef had intensified sweet and grilled/roasted flavors and reduced off-flavor, whereas excessive IMF% resulted in a decrease in water-soluble precursors of volatile and taste compounds including free amino acid and reducing sugars and weakened the flavor intensities.

Rapid detection of lactic acid bacteria by lateral flow immunochromatographic assay.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cause quality deterioration including acidification and production of off-flavor components in food. To rapidly detect LAB, a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) was developed. An antibody (Ab) was obtained using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as an immunogen, and the LFIA was performed based on this Ab.

Diet Quality and Its Relationship with Weight Characteristics in Pregnant Japanese Women: A Single-Center Birth Cohort Study.

Maternal underweight and inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) are problems in Japan. However, increases in food intake aimed at weight gain alone are not sufficient for mother-child health. This study assessed diet quality based on the 3-day dietary records of pregnant women in an urban area of Japan in order to show the importance of evaluating diet quality, using the Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.

An Attempt to Identify the Medaka Receptor for Somatolactin Alpha Using a Reverse Genetics Approach.

Somatolactin alpha (SLα) is a fish-specific hormone involved in body color regulation. The growth hormone (GH) is another hormone that is expressed in all vertebrates and promotes growth. These peptide hormones act by binding to receptors (SLα receptor (SLR) and GH receptor (GHR)); however, the relationships between these ligands and their receptors vary among species.

The effect of guardians' health literacy on the child's spending time at home: A cross-sectional study among Japanese schoolchildren.

Background: The contents of children's daily activities and the amount of time spent on them has been directly linked to their health and development. Parental health behavior has also been considered a key factor, and the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parent/guardian health literacy (HL) and their child's time spent at home by behavioral types. The study was conducted in elementary schools in Japan.

Vitamin D restriction and/or a high-fat diet influence intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity and serum endotoxin concentration, increasing the risk of metabolic endotoxemia in rats.

Vitamin D insufficiency induces calcification disorder of bone or a decrease in bone mineral density, increasing the risk of fracture. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, a differentiation marker for intestinal epithelial cells, is regulated by vitamin D. It has also been suggested that ALP may prevent metabolic endotoxemia by dephosphorylating lipopolysaccharide.

Attention to inattention: Effect of the other's attentional state on visual search performance in chimpanzees.

In the present study, we examined the effects of the other's triadic attention to objects on visual search performances in chimpanzees. We found the search-asymmetry-like effect of the other's attentional state; the chimpanzees searched a target object not attended by the other individual more efficiently than that attended (Experiment 1). Additional experiments explored the possibility that the other individual "holding an object but not looking at it" led to expectancy violation (Experiment 2) or the role of nonsocial cues such as the proximity relation between the head and the object (Experiment 3).

Recognition of humans from biological motion in infants.

Infant studies have suggested that the detection of biological motion (BM) might be an innate capacity, based on newborns' spontaneous preference for BM. However, it is unclear if, like adults, infants recognize humans from BM and are able to build the representation of bodies and faces. To address this issue, we tested whether exposure to BM influences subsequent face recognition in 3- to 8-month-old infants.

Gelatin-based cell culture device for construction and X-ray irradiation of a three-dimensional oral cancer model.

Bioassays using three-dimensional (3D) tissue models offer several advantages over 2D culture assays because they can reproduce the structure and function of native tissues. In this study, we used our newly designed gelatin device to generate a miniature 3D model of human oral squamous cell carcinoma with stroma and blood vessels. To enable air-liquid interface culture, we conceived a new device structure in which three wells were lined up and separated by a dividing thread; the wells could be connected by removing the dividing thread.

Preschool children aged 4 to 5 years show discomfort with trypophobic images.

The fear or disgust of clustered patterns, such as honeycomb or lotus seed pods, is known as trypophobia. A previous developmental study reported that 4-year-old children prefer neutral images over clustered images. However, whether those results indicated higher rating scores for trypophobic images has been controversial.

The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 rapid-response dataset.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments.

Genomic analysis of an ultrasmall freshwater green alga, Medakamo hakoo.

Ultrasmall algae have attracted the attention of biologists investigating the basic mechanisms underlying living systems. Their potential as effective organisms for producing useful substances is also of interest in bioindustry. Although genomic information is indispensable for elucidating metabolism and promoting molecular breeding, many ultrasmall algae remain genetically uncharacterized.

Fabrication of a Gelatin-Based Microdevice for Vascular Cell Culture.

This study presents a novel technique for fabricating microfluidic devices with microbial transglutaminase-gelatin gels instead of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), in which flow culture simulates blood flow and a capillary network is incorporated for assays of vascular permeability or angiogenesis. We developed a gelatin-based device with a coverslip as the bottom, which allows the use of high-magnification lenses with short working distances, and we observed the differences in cell dynamics on gelatin, glass, and PDMS surfaces. The tubes of the gelatin microfluidic channel are designed to be difficult to pull out of the inlet hole, making sample introduction easy, and the gelatin channel can be manipulated from the cell introduction to the flow culture steps in a manner comparable to that of a typical PDMS channel.

Kaniwa ()'s Nutritional Composition and Its Applicability as an Elder-Friendly Food with Gelling Agents.

(1) Background: This study attempted to develop an elder-friendly food suitable to the Korean Industrial Standard (KS) after identifying the nutritional characteristics of Kaniwa; (2) Methods: The nutrient composition and physiological activity of Kaniwa were analyzed, and the concentration of the gelling agent (guar gum, locust bean gum, and xanthan gum) to be added to Kaniwa mousse was derived through regression analysis to suit KS hardness level 1 to 3; (3) Results: It was found that Kaniwa not only had a good fatty acid composition but also had good antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Moreover, it was found that in order to have the hardness to chew Kaniwa mousse with the tongue, it was necessary to add less than 1.97% guar gum, 4.

Genome Sequence of Bjerkandera adusta Strain Dec 1, a Basidiomycete Secreting DyP-Type Peroxidase.

We report the draft genome sequence of Bjerkandera adusta Dec 1, a basidiomycete that was isolated from the soil in Yokohama, Japan, using the Illumina HiSeq platform. B. adusta Dec 1 was identified as a fungus that degrades persistent anthraquinone dyes, and the novel peroxidase DyP was responsible for this degradation.

A divergent RWP-RK transcription factor determines mating type in heterothallic Closterium.

The Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex (Closterium, Zygnematophyceae) has an isogamous mating system. Members of the Zygnematophyceae are the closest relatives to extant land plants and are distantly related to chlorophytic models, for which a genetic basis of mating type (MT) determination has been reported. We thus investigated MT determination in Closterium.

Prolyl Isomerase, Pin1, Controls Meiotic Progression in Mouse Oocytes.

During meiotic maturation, accurate progression of meiosis is ensured by multiple protein kinases and by signal transduction pathways they are involved in. However, the mechanisms regulating the functions of phosphorylated proteins are unclear. Herein, we investigated the role of Pin1, a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase family member that regulates protein functions by altering the structure of the peptide bond of proline in phosphorylated proteins in meiosis.