圣德大学

Featured Application Wild yeast 10-2 provides strong leavening in enriched dough, preserves crumb softness, and yields uniform gas cells, supporting naturally fermented, additive-free sweets such as kouglof.Abstract Two wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, 9-3 and 10-2, isolated from nectarine and apple leaves, show high fermentation performance in standard breadmaking but their utility in enriched-dough products remained untested. This study evaluated their performance in kouglof production against a commercial baker's yeast as a control. Fermentation was monitored by weight loss (reflecting CO2 production) and pH changes. Finished loaves were evaluated for macroscopic traits (weight, height, appearance), crust/crumb color, texture, and microstructure via 3D/2D analysis of gas-cell morphology. Sensory acceptance was also assessed. While size-related traits were similar across all samples, strain 10-2 significantly outperformed 9-3. Kouglof made with 10-2 exhibited commercial-grade softness, characterized by lower hardness and gumminess, lower residual sugar content, and a finer, more uniform gas-cell structure with a darker, well-developed crust, whereas 9-3 yielded a firmer crumb with fewer, larger gas cells. Sensory acceptance was comparable across variants, with all samples rated as highly acceptable. Strain 10-2 demonstrated high sucrose tolerance and performed comparably to or better than the control across multiple product-quality metrics in enriched-dough kouglof. These findings support the potential of wild yeast 10-2 for sweet bread production with high-sucrose and high-fat formulations, though further optimization is warranted.

Abstract Background Substitution of dietary saturated fat with seed oils highly enriched in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been advocated as healthy strategy to offset elevated cholesterol levels. However, both n-6 as well as n-3 PUFAs, considered essential because vertebrates lack the enzymatic apparatus for their de novo synthesis, are the main source of endogenous DNA damage during the aging process due to their high oxidizability. The membrane pacemaker theory of aging is an extension to the oxidative theory of aging and postulates that higher PUFA content in membrane lipids determines the lifespan of different species. Objective We have examined whether a saturated fat-rich diet lacking the essential fatty acids versus a PUFA-rich diet differentially affects lipid profiles and membrane fatty-acid composition, as well as markers of oxidative protein and DNA damage and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity in vivo. Methods Three-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed isocaloric, high-fat diets containing either coconut oil (SFA-rich) or soybean oil (PUFA-rich) for 12 weeks. Plasma and liver lipids were measured, and the fatty acid composition was analyzed in liver and erythrocyte membranes. Endogenous DNA damage was assessed using 1,N⁶-etheno-2’-deoxyadenosine (εdA) detection in blood and liver. mtDNA damage and lipid peroxidation derived protein adducts from liver were also examined. Results Mice were maintained on a SFA-rich diet for 12 weeks without exhibiting any symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) as described in historical literature despite the massive synthesis of compensatory n-9 PUFAs. Furthermore, EFAD mice showed reduced levels of endogenous εdA and mtDNA damage as well as protein adducts originating from the primary n-6 PUFA lipid peroxidation product, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. However, some other lipid peroxidation-derived protein adducts, such as malondialdehyde and, surprisingly, 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal, were elevated on a SFA-rich diet. Conclusions A PUFA-rich diet, relative to the SFA-rich diet, is associated with increased lipid-peroxidation linked adducts and a greater degree of mtDNA damage in vivo, in parallel with membrane enrichment in n-6 PUFA. These findings provide clear evidence of the biological effects of a PUFA-rich diet on endogenous genotoxic stress.

The present study employed a two-phase exploratory mixed methods design in English as a foreign language (EFL) classes at two private Japanese universities to gain a deeper understanding of students' perceptions of AoA and its influence on their perceived global competence (GC) awareness. The qualitative data revealed that students developed enhanced intercultural adaptability, respect, and tolerance, and cross-cultural knowledge, while demonstrating improved communicative practices in production, reception, interaction, and mediation. Subsequently, in Study 2, participants completed online surveys using adapted versions of Mohammed-Ismail and Prasantha-Kumar (2023) AoA scale and Coffey et al. (2013) GC scale after a semester-long exposure to AoA activities (N = 201). Both the linear regression analysis and the subsequent structural equation model indicated that AoA was positively associated with students' perceived GC, suggesting a possible link between AoA and GC. Further research is warranted to validate these findings across diverse educational and cultural contexts.

Burnout has become a major occupational health concern in Japan, particularly under flexible work arrangements that may intensify self-regulatory demands. This study aimed to clarify the effects of self-endangering work behavior (SEWB) and other work-related psycho-behavioral factors on burnout among Japanese workers. An Internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 800 participants (four groups of 200 each): two groups engaged in professional and planning work under a discretionary labor system, and two comparable groups of non-discretionary workers. The discretionary labor system in Japan allows employees greater autonomy over working hours while evaluating performance based on deemed working time rather than actual hours worked. Among professional workers, burnout (emotional impairment), SEWB, workaholism, and work engagement were significantly higher in discretionary compared with non-discretionary workers. Multiple regression analyses showed burnout was positively associated with SEWB and workaholism in both professional groups. Among planning workers, SEWB and work engagement were higher in discretionary workers, whereas burnout did not differ significantly. Burnout was positively associated with workaholism in both groups and with SEWB only in non-discretionary workers. These findings suggest differential risks of burnout depending on occupational type and labor system.

This study aimed to explore the psychological effects of wooden frames and interiors in open-plan offices (OPO) and to understand the evaluation structure associated with wooden materials. A combination of quantitative subjective evaluations and qualitative interviews was conducted, utilizing the Evaluation Grid Method (EGM) to understand participants’ evaluation structure and criteria for wooden OPO. The study involved 20 Japanese participants who evaluated 16 computer-generated images of OPO, designed with varying factors related to wood placement, material, and spatial elements. Findings revealed that OPO utilizing wooden columns and beams significantly enhances users’ willingness to use the office compared to those without. Notably, the combination of wood’s placement and other spatial elements is critical rather than the mere quantity of wood. Furthermore, the study reveals that factors such as age and gender affect the willingness to use OPO suggesting that different user attributes may lead to varying perceptions of comfort and privacy. The results indicated that while the evaluation criteria for assessing spaces were generally shared across participants, the relative importance of specific items varied depending on user attributes. This study offers valuable insights into the complex evaluation structures related to wooden office spaces, contributing to the growing field of research on wooden interiors.