An environmental DNA metabarcoding survey reveals generic-level occurrence of scleractinian corals at reef slopes of Okinawa Island.

Coral reefs have the highest biodiversity of all marine ecosystems in tropical and subtropical oceans. However, scleractinian corals, keystone organisms of reef productivity, are facing a crisis due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. A broad survey of reef-building corals is essential for worldwide reef preservation. To this end, direct observations made by coral-specialist divers might be supported by another robust method. We improved a recently devised environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding method to identify more than 43 scleractinian genera by sampling 2 l of surface seawater above reefs. Together with direct observations by divers, we assessed the utility of eDNA at 63 locations spanning approximately 250 km near Okinawa Island. Slopes of these islands are populated by diverse coral genera, whereas shallow 'moats' sustain fewer and less varied coral taxa. Major genera recorded by divers included Acropora, Pocillopora, Porites and Montipora, the presence of which was confirmed by eDNA analyses. In addition, eDNA identified more genera than direct observations and documented the presence of previously unrecorded species. This scleractinian coral-specific eDNA method promises to be a powerful tool to survey coral reefs broadly, deeply and robustly.

The analysis of Period1 gene expression in vivo and in vitro using a micro PMT system.

To detect a small amount of Period1 (Per1) expression, we developed a micro-photomultiplier tube (µPMT) system which can be used both in vivo and in vitro. Using this system, we succeeded in detecting Per1 gene expression in the skin of freely moving mice over 240 times higher compared with that of the tissue contact optical sensor (TCS) as previously reported. For in vitro studies, we succeeded in detecting elevated Per1 expression by streptozotocin (STZ) treatment in the scalp hairs at an early stage of diabetes, when glucose content in the blood was still normal. In addition, we could detect elevated Per1 expression in a single whisker hair at the time of diabetes onset. These results show that our µPMT system responds to minute changes in gene expression in freely moving mice in vivo and in mice hair follicles in vitro. Furthermore, Per1 in the hair can be used for a marker of diabetic aggravation.

Analysis of the Anticipatory Behavior Formation Mechanism Induced by Methamphetamine Using a Single Hair.

While the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) coordinates many daily rhythms, some circadian patterns of expression are controlled by SCN-independent systems. These include responses to daily methamphetamine (MAP) injections. Scheduled daily injections of MAP resulted in anticipatory activity, with an increase in locomotor activity immediately prior to the time of injection. The MAP-induced anticipatory behavior is associated with the induction and a phase advance in the expression rhythm of the clock gene Period1 (Per1). However, this unique formation mechanism of MAP-induced anticipatory behavior is not well understood. We recently developed a micro-photomultiplier tube (micro-PMT) system to detect a small amount of Per1 expression. In the present study, we used this system to measure the formation kinetics of MAP-induced anticipatory activity in a single whisker hair to reveal the underlying mechanism. Our results suggest that whisker hairs respond to daily MAP administration, and that Per1 expression is affected. We also found that elevated Per1 expression in a single whisker hair is associated with the occurrence of anticipatory behavior rhythm. The present results suggest that elevated Per1 expression in hairs might be a marker of anticipatory behavior formation.

The vibrational structure of the X 1A1 - A 1B1 and A 1B1 - B 1A1 band systems of GeH2/GeD2 based on global potential energy surfaces.

Transition probabilities were evaluated for the X (1)A(1)-A (1)B(1) and A (1)B(1)-B (1)A(1) systems of GeH(2) and GeD(2) to analyze the X-->A-->B photoexcitation. Franck-Condon factors (FCFs) and Einstein's B coefficients were computed by quantum vibrational calculations using the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the X (1)A(1), A (1)B(1), and B (1)A(1) electronic states and the transition dipole moments for the X-A and A-B systems. The global PESs were determined by the multireference configuration interaction calculations with the Davidson correction and the interpolant moving least squares method combined with the Shepard [Proceedings of the 1968 23rd ACM National Conference (ACM, New York, 1968)] interpolation. The barriers to linearity correcting the spin-orbit interaction are evaluated to be 22,000 cm(-1) for the X state, 6300 cm(-1) for the A state, and 560 cm(-1) for the B state. The obtained FCFs for the X-A and A-B systems indicate that the bending mode is strongly enhanced in the excitation since the equilibrium bond angle greatly varies within the three states. The photoexcitation and fluorescence spectra calculated for the X-A system agree well with the observed spectra. The theoretical lifetimes for lower vibrational levels of the A and B states were calculated from the fluorescence decay rates for the A-X, B-A, and B-X emissions, and the lifetimes for the A state are in good agreement with the observed values except those affected by predissociation.