MiRiQ Database: A Platform for In Silico Rice Mutant Screening.

Genetic studies using mutant resources have significantly contributed to elucidating plant gene function. Massive mutant libraries sequenced by next-generation sequencing technology facilitate mutant identification and functional analysis of genes of interest. Here, we report the creation and release of an open-access database (https://miriq.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/index.php), called Mutation-induced Rice in Kyushu University (MiRiQ), designed for in silico mutant screening based on a whole-genome-sequenced mutant library. This database allows any user to easily find mutants of interest without laborious efforts such as large-scale screening by PCR. The initial version of the MiRiQ database (version 1.0) harbors a total of 1.6 million single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and InDels of 721 M1 plants that were mutagenized by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea treatment of the rice cultivar Nipponbare (Oryza sativa ssp. japonica). The SNVs were distributed among 87% of all 35,630 annotated protein-coding genes of the Nipponbare genome and were predicted to induce missense and nonsense mutations. The MiRiQ database provides built-in tools, such as a search tool by keywords and JBrowse for mutation searches. Users can request mutant seeds in the M2 or M3 generations from a request form linked to this database. We believe that the availability of a wide range of gene mutations in this database will benefit the plant science community and breeders worldwide by accelerating functional genomic research and crop improvement.

Genome-wide transcriptomic and functional analyses provide new insights into the response of spring barley to drought stress.

Drought is a major abiotic stress that impairs the physiology and development of plants, ultimately leading to crop yield losses. Drought tolerance is a complex quantitative trait influenced by multiple genes and metabolic pathways. However, molecular intricacies and subsequent morphological and physiological changes in response to drought stress remain elusive. Herein, we combined morpho-physiological and comparative RNA-sequencing analyses to identify core drought-induced marker genes and regulatory networks in the barley cultivar 'Giza134'. Based on field trials, drought-induced declines occurred in crop growth rate, relative water content, leaf area duration, flag leaf area, concentration of chlorophyll (Chl) a, b and a + b, net photosynthesis, and yield components. In contrast, the Chl a/b ratio, stoma resistance, and proline concentration increased significantly. RNA-sequence analysis identified a total of 2462 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 1555 were up-regulated and 907 were down-regulated in response to water-deficit stress (WD). Comparative transcriptomics analysis highlighted three unique metabolic pathways (carbohydrate metabolism, iron ion binding, and oxidoreductase activity) as containing genes differentially expressed that could mitigate water stress. Our results identified several drought-induced marker genes belonging to diverse physiochemical functions like chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, light harvesting, gibberellin biosynthetic, iron homeostasis as well as Cis-regulatory elements. These candidate genes can be utilized to identify gene-associated markers to develop drought-resilient barley cultivars over a short period of time. Our results provide new insights into the understanding of water stress response mechanisms in barley.

A nationwide study of obstetric management and outcomes in premature rupture of membrane at term: Report from the Perinatology Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2017-2018.

AIM: This nationwide study aimed to investigate the practical management of term premature rupture of membrane (PROM) and its relationship with maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 415 facilities participating in the Japan Perinatal Registry Network of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2016. The patients were women expecting vaginal birth after PROM at term without clinical chorioamnionitis. We classified the facilities into three groups based on duration of the expectant management after PROM (within 24, 24, and 48 h). Furthermore, we analyzed the association between perinatal outcomes and management protocol using the Japan Perinatal Registry Network Database 2016. RESULTS: Of 415 facilities, 346 (83.4%) completed and returned the survey. Among 231 facilities with management protocols, an interval of 3 days from PROM to delivery was acceptable in 167 facilities (72.3%). One hundred forty-nine facilities (64.5%) responded that they did not perform mechanical cervical dilation, and 90 (39.0%) used oxytocin as a uterotonic irrespective of cervical maturation. The number of hospitals that had a policy to administer antibiotics to Group B streptococcus-positive patients was 211 (91.3%). Neonatal outcomes at birth and the frequency of cesarean section and postpartum fever did not differ among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Most facilities in the Japan Perinatal Registry Network managed women at term to delivery within 3 days after PROM with attention to bacterial infection. Expectant management up to 48 h after PROM did not increase the risk of postpartum fever, compared to labor induction immediately after PROM.

Collection, preservation and distribution of Oryza genetic resources by the National Bioresource Project RICE (NBRP-RICE).

Biological resources are the basic infrastructure of bioscience research. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a good experimental model for research in cereal crops and monocots and includes important genetic materials used in breeding. The availability of genetic materials, including mutants, is important for rice research. In addition, Oryza species are attractive to researchers for both finding useful genes for breeding and for understanding the mechanism of genome evolution that enables wild plants to adapt to their own habitats. NBRP-RICE contributes to rice research by promoting the usage of genetic materials, especially wild Oryza accessions and mutant lines. Our activity includes collection, preservation and distribution of those materials and the provision of basic information on them, such as morphological and physiological traits and genomic information. In this review paper, we introduce the activities of NBRP-RICE and our database, Oryzabase, which facilitates the access to NBRP-RICE resources and their genomic sequences as well as the current situation of wild Oryza genome sequencing efforts by NBRP-RICE and other institutes.

Light-induced chloroplast movements in Oryza species.

Light-induced chloroplast movements control efficient light utilization in leaves, and thus, are essential for leaf photosynthesis and biomass production under fluctuating light conditions. Chloroplast movements have been intensively analyzed using wild-type and mutant plants of Arabidopsis thaliana. The molecular mechanism and the contribution to biomass production were elucidated. However, the knowledge of chloroplast movements is very scarce in other plant species, especially grass species including crop plants. Because chloroplast movements are efficient strategy to optimize light capture in leaves and thus promote leaf photosynthesis and biomass, analysis of chloroplast movements in crops is required for biomass production. Here, we analyzed chloroplast movements in a wide range of cultivated and wild species of genus Oryza. All examined Oryza species showed the blue-light-induced chloroplast movements. However, O. sativa and its ancestral species O. rufipogon, both of which are AA-genome species and usually grown in open condition where plants are exposed to full sunlight, showed the much weaker chloroplast movements than Oryza species that are usually grown under shade or semi-shade conditions, including O. officinalis, O. eichingeri, and O. granulata. Further detailed analyses of different O. officinalis accessions, including sun, semi-shade, and shade accessions, indicated that the difference in chloroplast movement strength between domesticated rice plants and wild species might result from the difference in habitat, and the shape of mesophyll chlorenchyma cells. The findings of this study provide useful information for optimizing Oryza growth conditions, and lay the groundwork for improving growth and yield in staple food crop Oryza sativa.

Evaluation of the indirect and IgM-capture anti-human cytomegalovirus IgM ELISA methods as confirmed by cytomegalovirus IgG avidity.

Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy often results in congenital CMV infection with severe clinical complications. IgM antibodies are one of the indices of primary infection. The IgG avidity index (AI) is also known to remain low for 3 months after primary infection. Here, we evaluated and compared the performance of CMV IgM and IgG avidity assays. Because sensitivity and specificity reportedly differ between CMV IgM kits, CMV IgM detection was compared between the two commercially available ELISA kits that are most commonly used in Japan. Sera for CMV IgM were first screened using a traditional indirect ELISA kit. Selected samples were then tested for CMV IgM and CMV AI using a CMV IgM-capture ELISA kit and a CMV IgG avidity assay, respectively. The rate of concordance between the IgM kits was 89% (42/47), indicating the absence of any significant difference. Most of the CMV IgM-positive plasma samples showed high CMV IgG AI; however, 18 commercially available plasma samples with low CMV IgG AI were all CMV IgM-positive. One plausible explanation for this discrepancy is that the duration of low IgG AI is shorter than that of IgM positivity. Alternatively, CMV IgM tests may generate pseudo-positive readouts in cases of congenital infection. Nevertheless, our study confirms that CMV IgG AI can be a reliable indicator of CMV primary infection.

A map of rice genome variation reveals the origin of cultivated rice.

Crop domestications are long-term selection experiments that have greatly advanced human civilization. The domestication of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) ranks as one of the most important developments in history. However, its origins and domestication processes are controversial and have long been debated. Here we generate genome sequences from 446 geographically diverse accessions of the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon, the immediate ancestral progenitor of cultivated rice, and from 1,083 cultivated indica and japonica varieties to construct a comprehensive map of rice genome variation. In the search for signatures of selection, we identify 55 selective sweeps that have occurred during domestication. In-depth analyses of the domestication sweeps and genome-wide patterns reveal that Oryza sativa japonica rice was first domesticated from a specific population of O. rufipogon around the middle area of the Pearl River in southern China, and that Oryza sativa indica rice was subsequently developed from crosses between japonica rice and local wild rice as the initial cultivars spread into South East and South Asia. The domestication-associated traits are analysed through high-resolution genetic mapping. This study provides an important resource for rice breeding and an effective genomics approach for crop domestication research.

Annual Report of the Perinatology Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2015: Proposal of urgent measures to reduce maternal deaths.

Perinatal care in Japan has progressed rapidly in recent decades, remarkably reducing maternal, perinatal and neonatal mortality rates. This is attributable not only to the sustained efforts and dedication of past obstetricians and midwives, but also to the collective results achieved by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and healthcare administration, including research on advanced medical care, education, medical care improvements and establishing perinatal care centers. Although the maternal mortality rate was in steady decline until 2007 (3.1/100 000 births), it repeatedly fluctuated thereafter, plateauing at 3.4 per 100 000 births in 2013 and 2.7 per 100 000 births in 2014. Thus, the Perinatology Committee has analyzed the current situation of maternal deaths and has proposed countermeasures to reduce such death. The items deliberated upon by related subcommittees in 2015 are presented herein. The addition of indications for 'fibrinogen concentrate', 'eptacog alfa' and approval of the PGE2 vaginal tablet for cervical ripening were discussed in the subcommittee for unapproved drug review. Thus, a request for approval for health insurance coverage was submitted to the 'Evaluation committee on unapproved or off-label drugs with high medical needs' of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Maternal and late-maternal deaths from suicide during the 10 years from 2005 to 2014 in Tokyo's 23 wards were jointly examined with the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office. The suicide rate in the 23 wards is very high, at 8.7 per 100 000 births. Thus, the subcommittee for the reduction of maternal death discussed countermeasures for the eradication of maternal death and maternal suicide and the revision of death certificates.

A Comparison of Self-Rated and Female Partner-Rated Scales in the Assessment of Paternal Prenatal Depression.

Maternal depression has been widely studied but paternal depression is often overlooked. Depression in men is generally more difficult to detect as the symptoms are not apparent. Furthermore, Japanese couples tend to suppress their real emotions to avoid confrontation. We aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the K6, K10 and PHQ-9 in assessing the mental health status of men when used by their pregnant partners, as well as the prevalence of paternal prenatal depression in a Japanese study sample. A total of 136 couples participated in this study. The prevalence of paternal prenatal depression reported by the men themselves was higher compared to that reported by their female partners (K6, 10.3 %; K10, 6.6 %; PHQ-9, 3.7 % vs. K6-FP, 2.2 %; K10-FP, 1.5 %; PHQ-9-FP, 0 %, respectively). Mental health issues in men may not be accurately rated by their female partners, suggesting the importance of self-rating and direct consultation.

Experience with recombinant activated factor VII for severe post-partum hemorrhage in Japan, investigated by Perinatology Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

AIM: To investigate the utility of recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) for severe post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) in Japan. METHODS: We studied 69 patients treated with rFVIIa for severe PPH; 44 patients were from the registry of Japan Society of Obstetrical, Gynecological and Neonatal Hematology, and 25 were identified by a survey of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. RESULTS: Overall, the mean and median blood loss were 11 835 mL and 8639 mL, respectively. Treatment before rFVIIa included transarterial embolization in 23 patients and hysterectomy in 38. Forty-two patients had a single dose, 17 had two doses, and four had three doses. The mean (± SD) single dose was 81.60 ± 16.25 µg/kg. Sixty-five patients survived, and four died. The cause of PPH in patients who died was uterine rupture plus amniotic fluid embolism in two patients, uterine cervical laceration in one, and placental abruption in one. The amount of blood loss in cases of death was 6428-43 810 mL. This suggested that whether a patient survives or not was more dependent on her general condition before and after rFVIIa treatment than on the amount of blood loss. Four patients had thromboembolic events after rFVIIa treatment (deep vein thrombosis; deep vein thrombosis plus pulmonary embolism; acute myocardial infarction; and pulmonary embolism); all of these patients recovered. CONCLUSION: The present promising results may support the utility of rFVIIa for severe PPH in Japan.

National survey of fibrinogen concentrate usage for post-partum hemorrhage in Japan: investigated by the Perinatology Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

AIM: The aim of this study was to provide basic documents applicable to studying the usefulness of administering fibrinogen concentrate to patients with massive post-partum hemorrhage. We investigated the usage of fibrinogen concentrate at training institutions for specialist physicians of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The subjects were women who required fibrinogen concentrate for hemostasis of post-partum hemorrhage during the period between April 2008 and March 2013. The underlying diseases, obstetric disseminated intravascular coagulation scores, blood loss, amount of blood transfusion, dose of fibrinogen concentrate administered, and plasma fibrinogen levels before and after the administration of fibrinogen concentrate were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: Ninety-nine (98.0%) patients survived and two died after taking fibrinogen concentrate. Of the surviving 99 cases, the average amount of blood loss at the time of initial fibrinogen administration and total blood loss was 3559 ± 2103 mL and 4562 ± 3198 mL, respectively. The dose per administration was 3 g, and the plasma fibrinogen level before the initial administration of fibrinogen concentrate was 70.5 mg/dL, thereafter increasing to 187.0 mg/dL. The increase in the fibrinogen level was 32.9 mg/dL/g of fibrinogen concentrate. It was less than 150 mg/dL after the first administration of fibrinogen concentrate only in patients with amniotic fluid embolism and patients with atonic bleeding showed the smallest increase in fibrinogen per gram of fibrinogen concentrate. No adverse events, including thromboembolism, were reported. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the increase in blood fibrinogen levels to, on occasion, be insufficient even with fibrinogen concentrate use; however, this survey may support the safety and usefulness of fibrinogen concentrate for PPH.

Effects of campaign for postpartum vaccination on seronegative rate against rubella among Japanese women.

BACKGROUND: Japan experienced two rubella outbreaks in the past decade (2004 and 2012-2013), resulting in 10 and 20 infants with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), respectively. This study was performed to determine whether the seronegative rate was lower in multiparous women than in primiparous women in Japan. METHODS: Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test results during pregnancy were analyzed retrospectively in 11048 primiparous and 9315 multiparous women who gave birth at six hospitals in northern Japan in the 5-year study period (January 2008 through December 2012). Women with HI titer <  1:8 were defined as susceptible to rubella. RESULTS: The seronegative rate was significantly lower in multiparous than primiparous women aged 30 - 31 years (2.3% [22/967] vs. 4.5% [66/1454], P  =  0.0036), 36 - 37 years (3.4% [55/1601] vs. 5.7% [79/1389], P  =  0.0030), and overall women (3.8% [350/9315] aged 34.7  ±  5.2 vs. 5.4% [597/11048] for 33.2  ±  5.9, P  <  0.001). The susceptible fraction size did not differ largely according to hospital, ranging from 3.5% to 6.3%. Those for each year did not change markedly; 4.5% [150/3369], 5.2% [221/4268], 4.4% [195/4412], 4.6% [186/4056], and 4.6% [195/4258] for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Those for teenagers were consistently high: 22.7% [5/22], 20.7% [6/29], 20.6% [7/34], 13.0% [3/23], and 23.5% [4/17] for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The seronegative rate was significantly lower in multiparous than primiparous women. However, Japanese rubella vaccination programs were insufficient to eliminate CRS.

Pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to laninamivir during pregnancy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess pregnancy outcomes of women treated with a novel neuraminidase inhibitor, laninamivir, during pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective review of pregnancy outcomes of 112 pregnant women who were given laninamivir for treatment of influenza was performed. Possible adverse events, including miscarriages, preterm birth, foetal malformation and any neonatal morbidity requiring treatment, were assessed. RESULTS: Seventeen, 39, 46 and 10 women were administered a single inhaled dose of 20 or 40 mg of laninamivir at gestational week (GW) 3-11, 12-21, 22-36 and 37 or more, respectively. One (1.8%) of 56 women with laninamivir at GW <22 experienced miscarriage at GW <12. The remaining 111 women gave birth to 111 viable infants but at preterm (GW <37) in nine (8.8%) of 102 women with laninamivir at GW <37. Three (2.7%) of the 111 newborns had malformations: forefoot varus deformity, foot polydactyly and cleft lip in one each born to a mother taking laninamivir at GW 6, 17 and 21, respectively. Five neonates (4.5%) were small for gestational age. Eleven (9.9%), five (4.5%) and no neonates required phototherapy for jaundice, transient respiratory supports for respiratory distress syndrome (n = 2) or transient tachypnoea of the newborn (n = 3), and glucose administration for hypoglycaemia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study included a small number of study women and no control women, the results suggested that maternal exposure to laninamivir did not increase the rate of adverse pregnancy and foetal outcomes.

Transcriptome analysis of developing ovules in rice isolated by laser microdissection.

Comprehensive genome-wide gene expression profiles during plant male gametogenesis have been thoroughly analyzed over the last decade. In contrast, gene expression profiles during female gametogenesis have been studied relatively little, and our knowledge concerning plant female gametogenesis is limited. We determined the genome-wide gene expression profiles of developing ovules containing female gametophytes from the megaspore mother cell at the pre-meiotic stage to the mature embryo sac in rice (Oryza sativa) using microarrays. In order to separate ovules from scutellum, we used a laser microdissection (LM) technique. Dynamic gene expression was revealed in developing ovules, and a major transition of the transcriptome was observed between middle and late meiotic stages, where many genes were down-regulated >10-fold. Many potential players in female gametogenesis, that showed dynamic or enriched expression, were highlighted. We identified the temporal and dramatic up-regulation of a subset of transposable elements during female meiotic stages that were not observed in males. Transcription factor genes enriched in developing ovules were also uncovered, which may play crucial roles during female gametogenesis. This is the first report of comprehensive genome-wide gene expression profiles during female gametogenesis useful for plant reproductive studies. Combined with additional experiments, our data may provide important clues to understand female gametogenesis in plants.

Outcomes of infants exposed to oseltamivir or zanamivir in utero during pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

OBJECTIVE: To assess adverse fetal outcomes and short-term prognoses of infants exposed to oseltamivir or zanamivir in utero during pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: Case series study. We asked the 2611 obstetric facilities in Japan that are members of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology to participate, and data were provided from 157 facilities. We evaluated the numbers of pregnancy complications and neonatal abnormalities. RESULTS: We evaluated 624 infants born to 619 women given oseltamivir and 50 infants born to 50 women given zanamivir. Of patients given oseltamivir before gestational week 22, 3 experienced miscarriage and 1 experienced induced abortion. The overall rate of congenital malformations was 2.1% (14/670). In infants exposed during the first trimester, the rate of malformations was 1.3% (2/156) with oseltamivir and 0.0% (0/15) with zanamivir, although in infants exposed during the second and third trimesters, this rate was 2.6% (12/464) with oseltamivir and 0.0% (0/35) with zanamivir. Increased rates of miscarriage in women given antiviral drugs before gestational week 22 (0.9% [3/322]), preterm delivery in women given antiviral drugs before gestational week 37 (5.5% [33/600]), stillbirth (0% [0/670]), neonatal death (0.15% [1/670]), birthweight <2500 g (8.7% [58/670]), small-for-gestational-age infants (8.4% [56/670]), necrotizing enterocolitis (0.0%), intraventricular hemorrhage (0.0%), seizures (0.15% [1/670]), and other transient abnormalities in the neonatal period (4.3% [29/670]) were not observed in those exposed to antiviral drugs before the corresponding episodes or complications. CONCLUSION: Short-term prognoses of infants exposed to oseltamivir or zanamivir in utero were not adversely affected.

Low titers of measles antibodies in Japanese pregnant women: a single-center study.

AIM: Measles during pregnancy has deleterious effects on both perinatal and maternal outcomes. In Japan, local epidemics of measles and cases of measles during pregnancy are still being reported; therefore, the seroprevalence of antibodies to measles is suspected to be still not sufficient. The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of antibodies to measles in Japanese pregnant women and estimate the percentage of these women who require vaccination or revaccination against measles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the seroprevalence of immunity to measles by the neutralization test in 10 349 pregnant women in the first trimester managed at the National Center for Child Health and Development between February 2004 and December 2010. The neutralization test titers were interpreted as follows: ≧1:8, seropositive; =4, low-positive; ≦4, seronegative. RESULTS: Of the total number of pregnant women tested, 7408 (71.6%) were seropositive, 1864 (18.0%) were low-positive, and 1079 (10.4%) were seronegative for measles antibodies, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that 28% of our pregnant population was seronegative or low-positive for measles antibodies, and thought to require revaccination or vaccination. Screening for measles immunity might be advisable for women of childbearing age.

Genetic mechanisms of postzygotic reproductive isolation: An epistatic network in rice.

Products of interspecific crosses often show abnormal phenotypes such as sterility, weakness and inviability. These phenomena play an important role in speciation as mechanisms of postzygotic reproductive isolation (RI). During the past two decades, genetics studies in rice have characterized a number of gene loci responsible for postzygotic RI. I have identified 10 loci including three sets of epistatic networks in a single inter-subspecific cross (Oryza sativa ssp. indica × japonica). These results suggest that RI genes cause developmental dysfunction of vegetative and/or reproductive organs through a variety of molecular pathways. The latest molecular studies demonstrated that hybrid incompatibility is mainly due to deleterious interactions caused by species-specific mutations of two or more genes, mediated by proteins acting within the same molecular pathway. Because genetic interactions provide a perspective on gene function, epistatic networks are a key to the understanding of the molecular basis of postzygotic RI. In this review, I focus on recent progress in postzygotic RI studies in rice and discuss the evolutionary significance as well as implications for improving rice productivity.

Development of INDEL markers to discriminate all genome types rapidly in the genus Oryza.

The wild Oryza species are rich in genetic diversity and are good resources for modern breeding of rice varieties. The reliable ex situ conservation of various genetic resources supports both basic and applied rice research. For this purpose, we developed PCR-based and co-dominant insertion/deletion (INDEL) markers which enable the discrimination of the genome types or species in the genus Oryza. First, 12,107 INDEL candidate sequences were found in the BAC end sequences for 12 Oryza species available in public databases. Next, we designed PCR primers for INDEL-flanking sequences to match the characteristics of each INDEL, based on an assessment of their likelihood to give rise to a single or few PCR products in all 102 wild accessions, covering most Oryza genome types. Then, we selected 22 INDEL markers to discriminate all genome types in the genus Oryza. A phylogenetic tree of 102 wild accessions and two cultivars according to amplicon polymorphisms for the 22 INDEL markers corresponded well to those in previous studies, indicating that the INDEL markers developed in this study were a useful tool to improve the reliability of identification of wild Oryza species in the germplasm stocks.

Genome-wide association analysis provides insights into the genetic basis of photosynthetic responses to low-temperature stress in spring barley.

Low-temperature stress (LTS) is among the major abiotic stresses affecting the geographical distribution and productivity of the most important crops. Understanding the genetic basis of photosynthetic variation under cold stress is necessary for developing more climate-resilient barley cultivars. To that end, we investigated the ability of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (FVFM, and FVF0) to respond to changes in the maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II photochemistry as an indicator of photosynthetic energy. A panel of 96 barley spring cultivars from different breeding zones of Canada was evaluated for chlorophyll fluorescence-related traits under cold acclimation and freeze shock stresses at different times. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using a mixed linear model (MLM). We identified three major and putative genomic regions harboring 52 significant quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) on chromosomes 1H, 3H, and 6H for low-temperature tolerance. Functional annotation indicated several QTNs were either within the known or close to genes that play important roles in the photosynthetic metabolites such as abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, hydrolase activity, protein kinase, and transduction of environmental signal transduction at the posttranslational modification levels. These outcomes revealed that barley plants modified their gene expression profile in response to decreasing temperatures resulting in physiological and biochemical modifications. Cold tolerance could influence a long-term adaption of barley in many parts of the world. Since the degree and frequency of LTS vary considerably among production sites. Hence, these results could shed light on potential approaches for improving barley productivity under low-temperature stress.

Discrepancy between human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I screening test and confirmatory tests in non-endemic areas.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I among pregnant women at our institution in Tokyo, Japan, which is a non-endemic area, and to investigate the results of Western blotting among pregnant women who had obtained positive results from a screening test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The seroprevalence of HTLV-I was retrospectively reviewed in 11,352 pregnant women who gave birth at the National Center for Child Health and Development in Tokyo, Japan, between 2002 and 2009. For the screening test, a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay was performed followed by a confirmatory Western blot test. RESULTS: The overall positive rate for the screening test was 0.33% (37/11,352). Western blot testing was performed in 36 of these 37 cases. Only nine patients (25%) were positive for HTLV-I by Western blot testing, seven patients (19%) were indeterminate, and 20 patients (56%) were negative. CONCLUSIONS: In this study (carried out in a non-endemic area), the percentage of patients with a positive result from the screening test who were confirmed to be true carriers was significantly low, differing from endemic areas.