Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Coral Genus Cyphastrea (Cnidaria, Scleractinia, Merulinidae) in Japan, With the First Records of Two Species.

The scleractinian coral genus Cyphastrea is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region and is common from the subtropical to the warm-temperate regions in Japan. Three new species in this genus have recently been reported from south-eastern Australia or the Red Sea. However, taxonomic and species diversity have been little studied so far in Japan. In this study, we analyzed 112 specimens of Cyphastrea collected from the subtropical to the warm-temperate regions in Japan to clarify the species diversity in the country. This analysis was based on skeletal morphological and molecular analyses using three genetic markers of the nuclear 28S rDNA, histone H3 gene, and the mitochondrial noncoding intergenic region between COI and tRNAmet. The molecular phylogenetic trees showed that our specimens are separated mainly into four clades. Considering the morphological data with the molecular phylogenetic relationships, we confirmed a total of nine species, including two species, C. magna and C. salae, recorded for the first time in Japan. Although eight out of nine species were genetically included within Cyphastrea, one species, C. agassizi, was genetically distant from all other species and was closely related to the genus Leptastrea, suggesting the return of this species to the genus to which it was originally ascribed. Two newly recorded species were reciprocally monophyletic, while the other six species (excluding C. agassizi) clustered in two clades without forming species-specific lineages, including three polyphyletic species. Thus, the species boundary between species in Cyphastrea remains unclear in most species using these three sequenced loci.

An External Coincidence Model for the Lunar Cycle Reveals Circadian Phase-Dependent Moonlight Effects on Coral Spawning.

Many marine organisms synchronously spawn at specific times to ensure the success of external fertilization in the ocean. Corals are famous examples of synchronized spawning at specific lunar phases, and two distinct spawning patterns have been observed in two dominant taxa: merulinid corals spawn at regular lunar phases, several days after the full moon, whereas Acropora corals spawn at more irregular lunar phases around the full moon. Although it has been suggested that the two coral taxa have different responses to moonlight and seawater temperature, their spawning times have never been analyzed by integrating the two environmental factors, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of spawning. In this study, we developed a new predictive model of coral spawning days by integrating moonlight and temperature effects based on the external coincidence model for the lunar cycle. We performed model fitting using a 10-year monitoring record of coral spawning time in Taiwan. Our model successfully demonstrated the synergistic effects of moonlight and temperature on coral spawning time (days) and provided two testable hypotheses to explain the different spawning patterns regarding the preparation (maturation) process for spawning and the sensitivity to moonlight at different circadian phases: (1) Acropora corals may have an earlier onset and longer period of preparation for spawning than merulinid corals; and (2) merulinid corals may use moonlight signals near sunset, while Acropora corals may have a similar onset at approximately midnight. This is the first study to indicate the difference in circadian phase-dependent moonlight sensitivities between coral taxa, providing a basis for underlying coral spawning mechanisms for rhythmic studies.

Reaction of Juntendo Shizuoka Hospital at Izu Peninsula to Typhoon Hagibis (2019) and an Analysis of Twitter Concerning Izunokuni City.

OBJECTIVE: This research was carried out to report the activity of the headquarters for disaster control at our hospital, and investigate the usefulness of obtaining information from Twitter when Typhoon Hagibis hit Izu Peninsula. METHODS: First, we recounted the activity of the headquarters for disaster control. We then collected information from Twitter from October 12-14, 2019, using the keyword Izunokuni.' We took into consideration the contents of Twitter user posts as well as the number of reactions ('retweets' and 'likes'). Twitter information was classified into photo (+) and (-) groups, depending on whether or not the post had a photo or video included. The number of reactions between the two groups was then analyzed. RESULTS: We counted 122 Twitter posts containing Hagibis-related information for Izunokuni City. The average number of both 'retweets' and 'likes' in the photo (+) group were significantly greater than those in the photo (-) group. All photos and videos depicted specific places in Izunokuni City and included actual footage of disaster scenes or local warning signs. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience at the headquarters for disaster control during Typhoon Hagibis, Twitter was considered to be a useful tool for obtaining local disaster information based on its timeliness, reality and specificity.

Moonrise timing is key for synchronized spawning in coral Dipsastraea speciosa.

Synchronized mass coral spawning typically occurs several days after a full moon once a year. It is expected that spawning day is determined by corals sensing environmental change regulated by the lunar cycle (i.e., tide or moonlight); however, the exact regulatory mechanism remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate how moonlight influences the spawning process of coral, Dipsastraea speciosa When corals in the field were shaded 1 and 3 d before the full moon or 1 d after the full moon, spawning always occurred 5 d after shading commenced. These results suggest moonlight suppresses spawning: a hypothesis supported by laboratory experiments in which we monitored the effects of experimental moonlight (night-light) on spawning day. Different night-light treatments in the laboratory showed that the presence of a dark period between day-light and night-light conditions eliminates the suppressive effect of night-light on spawning. In nature, moonrise gets progressively later during the course of the lunar cycle, shifting to after sunset following the day of the full moon. Our results indicate that this period of darkness between sunset and moonrise triggers synchronized mass spawning of D. speciosa in nature.

Latitudinal Difference in the Species Richness of Photosymbiotic Ascidians Along the East Coast of Taiwan.

Some didemnid ascidians harbor cyanobacterial symbionts, and this is the only obligate photosymbiosis system known in chordates. These photosymbiotic ascidians are found only in tropical and subtropical waters, probably because the photosymbionts are vulnerable to low temperatures. We surveyed the photosymbiotic ascidian fauna along the east coast of Taiwan. The present and previous reports recorded 13 species in Taiwan, and the species richness and composition is different in five areas along the east coast. Along the middle-east, southeast, and south coasts, five or more species have been recorded, whereas only one species has been found along the northeast coast, and no species have been recorded on the north coast. This gap in the species richness is probably related to the Kuroshio Current, which travels from south to north along the east coast of Taiwan but changes to an easterly direction off the northeast coast. Increases in water temperature due to global warming could cause northward expansion of the distribution ranges of these ascidians in the future. Hence, the photosymbiotic ascidian fauna could be an environmental indicator in subtropical, shallow water, and the present study provides a basic dataset that illustrates the current status of photosymbiotic ascidians in Taiwan.

Grazing effects of sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes.

Herbivores control algae and promote coral dominance along coral reefs. However, the majority of previous studies have focused on herbivorous fish. Here we investigated grazing effects of the sea urchin Diadema savignyi on algal abundance and coral recruitment processes. We conducted an in situ cage experiment with three density conditions of D. savignyi (0, 8, 16 indiv. m-2) for three months during the main coral recruitment season in Taiwan. Results demonstrated a strong algal control by D. savignyi. At the end of the experiment, average algal cover was 95% for 0 indiv. m-2, compared to 47% for 8 indiv. m-2 and 16% for 16 indiv. m-2. Average algal biomass at 8 indiv. m-2 declined by one third compared to 0 indiv. m-2 and almost zero at 16 indiv. m-2. On the other hand, a negative grazing effect of D. savignyi was observed on coral recruitment processes. Notably, at 16 indiv. m-2, the density of coral recruits declined and mortality of small coral fragments (proxy of coral juveniles) increased. Our results confirm findings of previous studies and indicate the need to balance both positive (strong algal control) and negative (physical damage) influences of Diadema grazing to facilitate the coral recruitment process.

Prevalence and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder in Japanese relatives of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients after receiving a pamphlet concerning the grieving process.

AIM: To investigate the prospective frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among relatives of sudden death patients following provision of a pamphlet explaining the stages of the complicated grief process and self-regulating techniques. METHODS: From May 2017 to February 2018, we prospectively and consecutively provided a pamphlet to relatives of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims who failed to obtain spontaneous circulation. We investigated the psychiatric status of the bereaved relatives using the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R). An IES-R score over 24 was defined as PTSD. RESULTS: Fifty-four relatives of the 54 dead patients (victims) provided permission of entry to this research. All subjects and victims were Japanese. Among them, 24 subjects had an IES-R score of 0 and 5 (9.3%) had PTSD approximately 1 month after their bereavement. There were no relatives who received spontaneous psychiatric treatment. The IES-R scores for non-medical cardiac arrest, death inquests, and parent variables were significantly higher compared with medical cardiac arrest, no inquest, and no parent, respectively. The IES-R scores in those who were a child of the victim were significantly lower than in those who were not. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the frequency of PTSD was 9.3% at 1 month following bereavement among Japanese relatives of sudden death victims after an intervention. This frequency was minimal compared with previous reports.

The Significance of a Cooperative Medical System for Treating Decompression Illness on the Izu Peninsula in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: In 2011, our hospital on the Izu peninsula began to hold meetings to discuss how to manage patients with decompression illness (DCI) to establish a cooperative medical system. We retrospectively investigated the influence of these meetings and the changes subsequently effected. METHODS: A medical chart review was retrospectively performed to investigate all cases between January 2005 and December 2017 in which the transport of patients with DCI via a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) was attempted. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the preprogram group and the postprogram group. RESULTS: There were 63 patients in the preprogram group and 65 in the postprogram group. There were no cases in which a patient's symptoms deteriorated during transportation by the HEMS. The frequency of dispatch to the scene for direct evacuation in the postprogram group (86%) was greater than that in the preprogram group (74%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.09). In the postprogram group, the duration of activities at the scene or the first aid hospital was significantly shorter in comparison to the preprogram group (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study revealed simultaneity between the introduction of the yearly meetings and a reduced duration of the HEMS staff's activity at either the scene or the first aid hospital.

Repetitive sex change in the stony coral Herpolitha limax across a wide geographic range.

Sex change has been widely studied in animals and plants. However, the conditions favoring sex change, its mode and timing remain poorly known. Here, for the first time in stony corals, we report on a protandrous (youngest individuals are males) repetitive sex change exhibited by the fungiid coral Herpolitha limax across large spatial scales (the coral reefs of Japan, Jordan and Israel) and temporal scales (2004-2017). In contrast to most corals, this species is a daytime spawner (08:00-10:00 AM) that spawned at the same time/same date across all the study sites. The sporadically scattered populations of H. limax among the coral reefs of Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan) exhibited significantly slower growth, earlier sex change, and lower percentages of reproduction and sex change in comparison to the densely aggregated populations in Okinawa (Japan). At all sites, sex ratio varied among years, but was almost always biased towards maleness. Growth rate decreased with size. We conclude that comparable to dioecious plants that display labile sexuality in response to energetic and/or environmental constraints, the repetitive sex change displayed by H. limax increases its overall fitness reinforcing the important role of reproductive plasticity in the Phylum Cnidaria in determining their evolutionary success.

Management of Multiple Burned Patients with Inhalation Injuries.

The fire department in Atami received an emergency call at 6:17 am, with notification of 4 or 5 casualties because of a fire. Because there was only 1 ambulance (O) at the station, an additional ambulance (P) was also requested. Ambulance O transported 2 patients (A and B), and ambulance P transported 2 patients (C and D). These 4 patients were judged to have severe inhalation injuries at the scene and were transported to 2 local hospitals (X and Y). After patients C and D arrived at hospital Y, the medical staff decided to transfer them to the emergency medical service center. Patient C was transported by an emergency medical helicopter (doctor helicopter), and patient D was transported to our hospital by ambulance P. After tracheal intubation, both patients (C and D) required intensive care and mechanical ventilation. Patient A at hospital X was also intubated and transported to another hospital by the doctor helicopter. Fortunately, all patients survived. After a review among the parties involved in the incident, initiating an early request for additional human resources, vehicles, and medical support was recognized as contributing a key role in achieving a successful outcome.

Regulation of Sufu activity by p66ß and Mycbp provides new insight into vertebrate Hedgehog signaling.

Control of Gli function by Suppressor of Fused (Sufu), a major negative regulator, is a key step in mammalian Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, but how this is achieved in the nucleus is unknown. We found that Hh signaling results in reduced Sufu protein levels and Sufu dissociation from Gli proteins in the nucleus, highlighting critical functions of Sufu in the nucleus. Through a proteomic approach, we identified several Sufu-interacting proteins, including p66ß (a member of the NuRD [nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase] repressor complex) and Mycbp (a Myc-binding protein). p66ß negatively and Mycbp positively regulate Hh signaling in cell-based assays and zebrafish. They function downstream from the membrane receptors, Patched and Smoothened, and the primary cilium. Sufu, p66ß, Mycbp, and Gli are also detected on the promoters of Hh targets in a dynamic manner. Our results support a new model of Hh signaling in the nucleus. Sufu recruits p66ß to block Gli-mediated Hh target gene expression. Meanwhile, Mycbp forms a complex with Gli and Sufu without Hh stimulation but remains inactive. Hh pathway activation leads to dissociation of Sufu/p66ß from Gli, enabling Mycbp to promote Gli protein activity and Hh target gene expression. These studies provide novel insight into how Sufu controls Hh signaling in the nucleus.

Morphological and host specificity evolution in coral symbiont barnacles (Balanomorpha: Pyrgomatidae) inferred from a multi-locus phylogeny.

Coral-inhabiting barnacles (Thoracica: Pyrgomatidae) are obligatory symbionts of scleractinian and fire corals. We attempted to reconstruct the phylogeny of coral-inhabiting barnacles using a multi-locus approach (mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA, and nuclear EF1, H3 and RP gene sequences, total 3532bp), which recovered a paraphyletic pattern. The fire-coral inhabiting barnacle Wanella milleporae occupied a basal position with respect to the other coral inhabiting barnacles. Pyrgomatids along with the coral-inhabiting archaeobalanid Armatobalanus nested within the same clade and this clade was subdivided into two major lineages: Armatobalanus+Cantellius with species proposed to be the ancestral stock of extant coral barnacles, and the other comprising the remaining genera studied. Ancestral state reconstruction (ASR) suggested multiple independent fusions and separations of shell plates and opercular valves in coral barnacle evolution, which counters the traditional hypothesis founded on a scheme of morphological similarities. Most of the coral barnacles are restricted to one or two coral host families only, suggesting a trend toward narrow host range and more specific adaptation. Furthermore, there is a close linkage between coral host usage and phylogenetic relationships with sister taxa usually being found on the same coral host family. This suggests that symbiotic relationships in coral-inhabiting barnacles are phylogenetically conserved and that host associated specialization plays an important role in their diversification.

Mammalian Fused is essential for sperm head shaping and periaxonemal structure formation during spermatogenesis.

During mammalian spermatogenesis, the diploid spermatogonia mature into haploid spermatozoa through a highly controlled process of mitosis, meiosis and post-meiotic morphological remodeling (spermiogenesis). Despite important progress made in this area, the molecular mechanisms underpinning this transformation are poorly understood. Our analysis of the expression and function of the putative serine-threonine kinase Fused (Fu) provides critical insight into key steps in spermatogenesis. In this report, we demonstrate that conditional inactivation of Fu in male germ cells results in infertility due to diminished sperm count, abnormal head shaping, decapitation and motility defects of the sperm. Interestingly, mutant flagellar axonemes are intact but exhibit altered periaxonemal structures that affect motility. These data suggest that Fu plays a central role in shaping the sperm head and controlling the organization of the periaxonemal structures in the flagellum. We show that Fu localizes to multiple tubulin-containing or microtubule-organizing structures, including the manchette and the acrosome-acroplaxome complex that are involved in spermatid head shaping. In addition, Fu interacts with the outer dense fiber protein Odf1, a major component of the periaxonemal structures in the sperm flagellum, and Kif27, which is detected in the manchette. We propose that disrupted Fu function in these structures underlies the head and flagellar defects in Fu-deficient sperm. Since a majority of human male infertility syndromes stem from reduced sperm motility and structural defects, uncovering Fu׳s role in spermiogenesis provides new insight into the causes of sterility and the biology of reproduction.

Spatial analyses for nonoverlapping objects with size variations and their application to coral communities.

Spatial distributions of individuals are conventionally analysed by representing objects as dimensionless points, in which spatial statistics are based on centre-to-centre distances. However, if organisms expand without overlapping and show size variations, such as is the case for encrusting corals, interobject spacing is crucial for spatial associations where interactions occur. We introduced new pairwise statistics using minimum distances between objects and demonstrated their utility when examining encrusting coral community data. We also calculated the conventional point process statistics and the grid-based statistics to clarify the advantages and limitations of each spatial statistical method. For simplicity, coral colonies were approximated by disks in these demonstrations. Focusing on short-distance effects, the use of minimum distances revealed that almost all coral genera were aggregated at a scale of 1-25 cm. However, when fragmented colonies (ramets) were treated as a genet, a genet-level analysis indicated weak or no aggregation, suggesting that most corals were randomly distributed and that fragmentation was the primary cause of colony aggregations. In contrast, point process statistics showed larger aggregation scales, presumably because centre-to-centre distances included both intercolony spacing and colony sizes (radius). The grid-based statistics were able to quantify the patch (aggregation) scale of colonies, but the scale was strongly affected by the colony size. Our approach quantitatively showed repulsive effects between an aggressive genus and a competitively weak genus, while the grid-based statistics (covariance function) also showed repulsion although the spatial scale indicated from the statistics was not directly interpretable in terms of ecological meaning. The use of minimum distances together with previously proposed spatial statistics helped us to extend our understanding of the spatial patterns of nonoverlapping objects that vary in size and the associated specific scales.

Bathymetric variation in recruitment and relative importance of pre- and post-settlement processes in coral assemblages at Lyudao (Green Island), Taiwan.

Studies on coral communities have typically been conducted in shallow waters (∼5 m). However, in the face of climate change, and as shallow coral communities become degraded, a greater understanding of deeper coral communities is needed as they become the main reef remnants, playing a central role in the future of coral reefs. To understand the dynamics of deeper coral assemblages, the recruitment and taxonomic composition of different life-stages at 5 and 15 m depths were compared at three locations in Lyudao, southeastern Taiwan in 2010. Coral recruits (<1 cm diameter, <4 months old) were examined using settlement plates. Juvenile corals (1-5 cm, several years old) were examined with quadrats, and adult corals (>5 cm, several years to decades old) were examined using transect lines. Pocilloporid and poritid corals had similar and higher numbers of recruits at 5 m compared to 15 m, whereas acroporid recruits were more abundant at 15 m. The primary cause for the former may be larval behavior, such that they position themselves in shallow waters, while that for the latter may be the dominance of brooding acroporid species (Isopora spp.) at 15 m. The taxonomic composition, especially between recruits and juveniles/adults, was more similar at 15 m than at 5 m. These results suggest a change in the relative importance of pre- and post-settlement processes in assemblage determinants with depth; coral assemblages in shallow habitats (more disturbed) are more influenced by post-settlement processes (mortality events), while those in deeper habitats (more protected) are more influenced by pre-settlement processes (larval supply).

Comparative embryology of eleven species of stony corals (Scleractinia).

A comprehensive understanding of coral reproduction and development is needed because corals are threatened in many ways by human activity. Major threats include the loss of their photosynthetic symbionts (Symbiodinium) caused by rising temperatures (bleaching), reduced ability to calcify caused by ocean acidification, increased storm severity associated with global climate change and an increase in predators caused by runoff from human agricultural activity. In spite of these threats, detailed descriptions of embryonic development are not available for many coral species. The current consensus is that there are two major groups of stony corals, the "complex" and the "robust". In this paper we describe the embryonic development of four "complex" species, Pseudosiderastrea tayamai, Galaxea fascicularis, Montipora hispida, and Pavona Decussata, and seven "robust" species, Oulastrea crispata, Platygyra contorta, Favites abdita, Echinophyllia aspera, Goniastrea favulus, Dipsastraea speciosa (previously Favia speciosa), and Phymastrea valenciennesi (previously Montastrea valenciennesi). Data from both histologically sectioned embryos and whole mounts are presented. One apparent difference between these two major groups is that before gastrulation the cells of the complex corals thus far described (mainly Acropora species) spread and flatten to produce the so-called prawn chip, which lacks a blastocoel. Our present broad survey of robust and complex corals reveals that prawn chip formation is not a synapomorphy of complex corals, as Pavona Decussata does not form a prawn chip and has a well-developed blastocoel. Although prawn chip formation cannot be used to separate the two clades, none of the robust corals which we surveyed has such a stage. Many robust coral embryos pass through two periods of invagination, separated by a return to a spherical shape. However, only the second of these periods is associated with endoderm formation. We have therefore termed the first invagination a pseudo-blastopore.

Fused (Stk36) is a ciliary protein required for central pair assembly and motile cilia orientation in the mammalian oviduct.

BACKGROUND: Motile cilia on the inner lining of the oviductal epithelium play a central role in ovum transport toward the uterus and subsequent fertilization by sperm. While the basic ultrastructure of 9+2 motile cilia (nine peripheral microtubule doublets surrounding a central pair) has been characterized, many important steps of ciliogenesis remain poorly understood. RESULTS: Our previous studies on mammalian Fused (Fu) (Stk36), a putative serine-threonine kinase, reveal a critical function of Fu in central pair construction and cilia orientation of motile cilia that line the tracheal and ependymal epithelia. These findings identify a novel regulatory component for these processes. In this study, we show that Fu is expressed in the multi-ciliated oviductal epithelium in several vertebrates, suggesting a conserved function of Fu in the oviduct. In support of this, analysis of Fu-deficient mouse oviducts uncovers a similar role of Fu in central pair construction and cilia orientation. We also demonstrate that Fu localizes to motile cilia and physically associates with kinesin Kif27 located at the cilium base and known central pair components Spag16 and Pcdp1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results delineate a novel pathway for central pair apparatus assembly and add important insight to the biogenesis and function of oviductal motile cilia.

Hedgehog signaling from the primary cilium to the nucleus: an emerging picture of ciliary localization, trafficking and transduction.

The unexpected connection between cilia and signaling is one of the most exciting developments in cell biology in the past decade. In particular, the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway relies on the primary cilium to regulate tissue patterning and homeostasis in vertebrates. A central question is how ciliary localization and trafficking of Hh pathway components lead to pathway activation and regulation. In this review, we discuss recent studies that reveal the roles of ciliary regulators, components and structures in controlling the movement and signaling of Hh players. These findings significantly increase our mechanistic understanding of how the primary cilium facilitates Hh signal transduction and form the basis for further investigations to define the function of cilia in other signaling processes.

The path to chemotaxis and transcription is smoothened.

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins governs the development of numerous tissues by regulating the activity of the Gli family of transcription factors. Emerging evidence shows that Hh also functions as a chemoattractant in several processes through a noncanonical pathway independent of Gli-mediated transcription. How Hh-responsive cells execute transcriptional versus chemotactic responses is a key issue. Data now suggest that altered subcellular localization of the transducer Smoothened, which functions in both the canonical and noncanonical pathways, is responsible for eliciting distinct Hh outputs.

Annual variation in the timing of coral spawning in a high-latitude environment: influence of temperature.

This study was conducted at a high-latitude location (32°N; Kochi, Japan), where annual seawater temperatures show large fluctuations due to the meandering of the Kuroshio Current, providing a unique opportunity to examine the influence of temperature on coral reproduction. Annual spawning of individual colonies of four reef coral species-two Acropora species (Acropora hyacinthus and A. japonica) and two faviid species (Favites pentagona and Platygyra contorta)-was monitored in situ for 4 years in 2006-2009. The spawning of the four species always occurred around the last quarter moon in the local summer, July or August, irrespective of high annual variations in seawater temperatures (from 23.7 to 29.5 °C) and weather during the spawning period. However, the exact timing of spawning during the spawning period varied among the years and was correlated with the cumulative seawater temperature during the late period of gametogenesis (0-3 months before spawning). When seawater temperatures were higher, spawning occurred in the earlier spawning month (July) and vice versa, except in A. hyacinthus, which always spawned in July. In the case of the two Acropora species, higher (lower) temperatures led to spawning earlier (later) in the lunar cycle. Seawater temperature may have an influence on gametogenesis, causing the shift in spawning timing.