Genomic Introgression in the Hybrid zones at the Margins of the Species' Range Between Ecologically Distinct Species.

Populations in extreme environments at the margins of a species' range are often the most vulnerable to climate change, but they may also experience novel evolutionary processes, such as secondary contact and hybridization with their relatives. The range overlap resulting from secondary contact with related species that have adapted to different climatic zones may act as corridors for adaptive introgression. To test this hypothesis, we examined the hybrid zones along the altitude of two closely related species, one temperate and the other subtropical species, at their southern and northern limits on Yakushima Island, Japan.

Discovery of TP0628103: A Highly Potent and Selective MMP-7 Inhibitor with Reduced OATP-Mediated Clearance Designed by Shifting Isoelectric Points.

Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play an important role in pathophysiological processes such as cancer and fibrosis. We previously discovered selective MMP-7 inhibitors by molecular hybridization and structure-based drug design. However, the systemic clearance (CL) of the biologically active lead compound was very high.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of (Asparagaceae) on Shikoku Island, Japan, including five new species, one new subspecies, and two new status assignments.

Japan has 16 native species of the genus Tratt. (Asparagaceae). A recent study on based on field surveys and molecular phylogenetic analyses resulted in the discovery of six unknown taxa in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku Island, southwestern Japan.

Structure-Based Optimization and Biological Evaluation of Potent and Selective MMP-7 Inhibitors for Kidney Fibrosis.

Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play important roles in pathophysiological processes involved in the development/progression of diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. We discovered selective MMP-7 inhibitors composed of arylsulfonamide, carboxylate, and short peptides by a molecular hybridization approach. These compounds interacted with MMP-7 via multiple hydrogen bonds in the cocrystal structures.

A new species of genus (Fagaceae) from Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam.

A new species, Ngoc, Binh & Son is described from Son Tra Nature Reserve, Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. We examined the morphology and constructed a highly resolved phylogeny of and its relatives (including and ) using Multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). The morphological analyses and molecular evidence support the distinction between the new species () and its relatives.

 (Hydrangeaceae), a new species from Osumi Peninsula, southern Japan.

Tagane & S. Fujii, from the Kimotsuki Mountains in the Ohsumi Peninsula, southern Japan, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to in having three-petaloid calyx lobes in marginal flowers, but is distinguished by the larger stamen number, and longer styles and seeds.

Dynamics of rumen microbiome in sika deer (Cervus nippon yakushimae) from unique subtropical ecosystem in Yakushima Island, Japan.

Yaku sika deer (Cervus nippon yakushimae) are endemic to Yakushima Island, whose landscape covered with primary evergreen forest is recognized as a World Heritage Site. In this study, the rumen bacterial microbiota (RBM) of wild Yaku sika was characterized using high throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes combined with targeted cultivation and functional analyses. Comparative analyses of RBM datasets from other ruminant animals revealed distinct community structure among domesticated and wild ruminants.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the complex (Hydrangeaceae) in western Japan, including a new subspecies of from Yakushima.

According to the contemporary classification of native to Japan, is a polymorphic species including six varieties. We discovered a plant identified as , but morphologically distinct from previously known varieties, in Yakushima island where approximately 50 endemic species are known. To determine the relationship of this plant with previously known varieties, we examined morphology and constructed a highly resolved phylogeny of and its relatives using three chloroplast genomic regions, L, L intron, A-H, and two nuclear genomic regions, ITS1 and ITS2, and Multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq).

A new subspecies of (Caryophyllaceae) from Yakushima, Japan.

An unknown taxon of was discovered in Yakushima, a Japanese island known to harbor several endemic species. To determine the identity of this taxon, this study employed MIG-seq for the reconstruction of a finely resolved phylogenetic tree of the newly discovered taxon, along with some related species of . The results showed that the newly discovered taxon is a relative of .

Morphological and molecular evidence reveals three new species of (Fagaceae) from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Vietnam.

Three new species, Ngoc & Tagane, Ngoc & Yahara, and Ngoc & Binh are described from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Central Highland of Vietnam. Morphological analyses and Maximum likelihood tree based on genome-wide SNPs support the distinction of those species from the previously known taxa in the region. The three new species are considered to be endemic to the Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and the preliminary conservation status for each species is evaluated as Critically Endangered.

Validation of (Asparagaceae) as a new species and its phylogenetic affinity.

Molecular phylogenetic studies of (Asparagaceae) and its relatives, which are native to Japan, have been conducted and resulted in a highly resolved phylogeny. Specifically, the relationship of to Hatusima, is investigated. These data include genome-wide SNPs obtained through conducting multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq).

Evolutionary history of Hemerocallis in Japan inferred from chloroplast and nuclear phylogenies and levels of interspecific gene flow.

The perennial herb genus Hemerocallis (Asphodelaceae) shows four flowering types: diurnal half-day, diurnal one-day, nocturnal half-day, and nocturnal one-day flowering. These flowering types are corresponding to their main pollinators, and probably act as a primary mechanism of reproductive isolation. To examine how the four flowering types diverged, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the Japanese species of Hemerocallis using 1615 loci of nuclear genome-wide SNPs and 2078 bp sequences of four cpDNA regions.

Rate-Determining Process at Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces for All-Solid-State Fluoride-Ion Batteries.

Developing high-performance solid electrolytes that are operable at room temperature is one of the toughest challenges related to all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries (FIBs). In this study, tetragonal β-PbSnF, a promising solid electrolyte material for mild-temperature applications, was modified through annealing under various atmospheres using thin-film models. The annealed samples exhibited preferential growth and enhanced ionic conductivities.

Evaluating the genetic diversity in two tropical leguminous trees, Dalbergia cochinchinensis and D. nigrescens, in lowland forests in Cambodia and Thailand using MIG-seq.

It is vital to measure the levels of genetic diversity and differentiation between populations in a species to understand the current genetic structure and evolution of the species. Here, MIG-seq (multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing) was employed to assess the genetic variation in two tropical leguminous tree species, Dalbergia cochinchinensis and D. nigrescens, in Cambodia and Thailand.

Mentality and behavior in COVID-19 emergency status in Japan: Influence of personality, morality and ideology.

The COVID-19 pandemic began in December 2019 and severely influenced society. In response, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency on 7th April in seven prefectures. The study conducted an immediate survey on 8th April to record the response of the general public to the first emergency status due to epidemics.

Museomics for reconstructing historical floristic exchanges: Divergence of stone oaks across Wallacea.

Natural history collections and tropical tree diversity are both treasure troves of biological and evolutionary information, but their accessibility for scientific study is impeded by a number of properties. DNA in historical specimens is generally highly fragmented, complicating the recovery of high-grade genetic material. Furthermore, our understanding of hyperdiverse, wide-spread tree assemblages is obstructed by extensive species ranges, fragmented knowledge of tropical tree diversity and phenology, and a widespread lack of species-level diagnostic characters, prohibiting the collecting of readily identifiable specimens which can be used to build, revise or strengthen taxonomic frameworks.

, a new species of Lauraceae from Kaeng Krachan National Park, southwest Thailand.

A new species of Lauraceae, M.Z.Zhang, Yahara & Tagane, from Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi Province, southwestern Thailand, is described and illustrated.

Quantitative comparison of flowering phenology traits among trees, perennial herbs, and annuals in a temperate plant community.

Premise: Flowering phenology may differ among life forms due to the costs and benefits to attract pollinators, dependence on outcross pollination, and resource availability in their habitats. However, few studies have compared flowering phenology among life forms within a community and described flowering phenology at the individual, species, and community levels.

Methods: We recorded flowering events for individuals of insect-pollinated trees, perennial herbs, and annuals from spring to summer of 2016 and 2017 in a warm-temperate forest in Japan.

UV bullseye contrast of flowers attracts hawkmoths but not swallowtail butterflies.

The color and patterns of animal-pollinated flowers are known to have effects on pollinator attraction. In this study, the relative importance of flower color and color contrast patterns on pollinator attraction was examined in two pollinator groups, swallowtail butterflies and hawkmoths using two species; butterfly-pollinated and hawkmoth-pollinated having reddish and yellowish flowers in human vision, respectively. Flowers of both species have UV bullseye patterns, composed of UV-absorbing centers and UV-reflecting peripheries, known to function as a typical nectar guide, but UV reflectance was significantly more intense in the peripheries of flowers than in those of flowers.

A taxonomic study of complex based on morphology and DNA barcodes of classic and next generation sequences.

The taxonomy of and its relatives in Vietnam and Cambodia have been revised based on evidence obtained from field observations, morphological comparison of herbarium specimens and molecular analyses using both classic and next generation DNA markers. Based on Bayesian inference using L, K and ITS regions and Neighbour-joining tree using genome-wide sequences amplified with multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers (MIG-seq), the authors recognised ten species in the complex in Vietnam and Cambodia, three of which are newly described in this paper: , and . These new species are all phenotypically similar to in having lanceolate to oblanceolate leaf shape, upper 4-5/6-serrated leaf margin, acute or acuminate leaf apex and bracts of cupule arranged in 5-9 rings but distinguished both morphologically and phylogenetically.

(Fagaceae), a new species from Vu Quang National Park, Vietnam.

Ngoc & Hung is described from Vu Quang National Park, North Central Vietnam. The morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on , and ITS provided evidence that the new species was not assignable to any of the previously known taxa in Vietnam and its surrounding countries. The description, photographs, preliminary conservation status and DNA barcode sequences are also provided for the new species.

Size advantage for male function and size-dependent sex allocation in , a wind-pollinated plant.

In wind-pollinated plants, male-biased sex allocation is often positively associated with plant size and height. However, effects of size (biomass or reproductive investment) and height were not separated in most previous studies. Here, using experimental populations of monoecious plants, we examined (1) how male and female reproductive investments (MRI and FRI) change with biomass and height, (2) how MRI and height affect male reproductive success (MRS) and pollen dispersal, and (3) how height affects seed production.

A new species and two new records of (Fagaceae) from northern Vietnam.

A new species, Binh, Ngoc & Bon, is described from Xuan Lien Nature Reserve, Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to Skan, in having 8-11 pairs of secondary veins, bowl-shaped cupules and ellipsoid to cylindrical-ellipsoid and basally convex nuts. It differs in having serrulate leaf margins only at apical 1/5-1/7, almost entire margins of bracts on cupule and much longer nuts.

Draft Genome Sequence of OMI, a Bacterium That Degrades Alkylphenols and Bisphenols.

OMI is a bacterium that can degrade a variety of recalcitrant alkylphenols and bisphenols. This study reports the draft genome sequence of OMI.

(Clusiaceae), a new species from Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, southern Vietnam.

A new species, H.Toyama & V.S.