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Many factors contribute to palatability. In order to evaluate the palatability of Japanese alcohol sake paired with certain dishes by integrating multiple factors, here we applied an evaluation method previously reported for palatability of cheese by multiple regression analysis based on 3 subdomain factors (rewarding, cultural, and informational). We asked 94 Japanese participants/subjects to evaluate the palatability of sake (1st evaluation/E1 for the first cup, 2nd/E2 and 3rd/E3 for the palatability with aftertaste/afterglow of certain dishes) and to respond to a questionnaire related to 3 subdomains. In E1, 3 factors were extracted by a factor analysis, and the subsequent multiple regression analyses indicated that the palatability of sake was interpreted by mainly the rewarding. Further, the results of attribution-dissections in E1 indicated that 2 factors (rewarding and informational) contributed to the palatability. Finally, our results indicated that the palatability of sake was influenced by the dish eaten just before drinking. The palatability of sake paired with certain dishes is evaluated by multiple regression analysis based on 3 subdomain factors (rewarding, cultural, and informational). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective This study aimed to examine the association between joint stiffness and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in community-dwelling older adults. Methods Participants in this cross-sectional study were 530 Japanese community-dwelling older adults (mean age, 73.9 years; women, 64.3%). Joint stiffness was assessed at the neck, low back, shoulder, elbow, hand or wrist, hip, knee, and ankle or feet; the duration of joint stiffness was also evaluated. We assessed HRQOL using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and EuroQOL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaires. We calculated the physical component summary scores (PCS) and mental component summary scores (MCS) from SF-12 and the EQ-5D index from EQ-5D. Results The prevalence of joint stiffness was 54.0%. Joint stiffness at two or more sites and at each site had a meaningful impact on PCS. Joint stiffness that lasted for 30 min or more was meaningfully associated with low PCS and EQ-5D scores (PCS, 30–60 min: beta = −6.122, P < 0.05; >60 min: beta = −5.962, P < 0.01; EQ-5D index, 30–60 min: beta = −0.068, P < 0.01; >60 min: beta = −0.070, P < 0.01). Further, joint stiffness that lasted over 60 min extended over MCS (MCS, >60 min: beta = −3.212, P < 0.05). Conclusions Joint stiffness is associated with HRQOL. Assessing joint stiffness and intervention could be beneficial for HRQOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Yukikoa M. Sat, 1976 are described from Honshu, Japan: Y. mashimai sp. nov. from Niigata Prefecture and Y. nishimotoi sp. nov. from Fukui Prefecture. A revised key to the described species of Yukikoa and a distribution map are provided.

This study investigated the relationship of a gap between the intent to be physically active and actual participation in physical activity ('intention-behavior gap') and self-efficacy for physical activity during childhood. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect information from 946 children from the fourth and sixth grades in Japan on self-efficacy, intention, and physical activity. Children with an intention-behavior gap (high intent-low activity or low intent-high activity) had higher self-efficacy scores than those with low intent and low activity (27.66 or 27.65 vs. 21.69; p < .001). They had lower self-efficacy scores than those with high intent and high activity (27.66 or 27.65 vs. 30.56; p < .001). Children with an intention-behavior gap had lower self-efficacy for physical activity than those who intended to be and were physically active. Such children may benefit from education interventions that focus on improving self-efficacy.

In high-quality sake brewing, the cerulenin-resistant sake yeast K1801 with high ethyl caproate-producing ability has been used widely; however, K1801 has a defective spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). To identify the mutation causing this defect, we first searched for sake yeasts with a SAC-defect like K1801 and found that K13 had such a defect. Then, we searched for a common SNP in only K1801 and K13 by examining 15 checkpoint-related genes in 23 sake yeasts, and found 1 mutation, R48P of Cdc55, the PP2A regulatory B subunit that is important for the SAC. Furthermore, we confirmed that the Cdc55-R48P mutation was responsible for the SAC-defect in K1801 by molecular genetic analyses. Morphological analysis indicated that this mutation caused a high cell morphological variation. But this mutation did not affect the excellent brewing properties of K1801. Thus, this mutation is a target for breeding of a new risk-free K1801 with normal checkpoint integrity.