Tight species cohesion among sympatric insular wild gingers (Asarum spp. Aristolochiaceae) on continental islands: Highly differentiated floral characteristics versus undifferentiated genotypes.

The Amami Island group of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, harbors extensive species diversity of Asarum in a small landmass. The fine-scale population genetic structure and diversity of nine insular endemic Asarum species were examined using nuclear DNA microsatellite loci and ITS sequences. High population genetic diversity (HS = 0.45-0.79) was estimated based on the microsatellites, implying outcrossing of Asarum species within populations accompanied by inbreeding. Bayesian clustering analyses revealed that species were divided into three robust genetic clusters and that the species within each cluster had a homogeneous genetic structure, indicating incomplete lineage sorting. This conclusion was supported by an ITS phylogeny. The degree of genetic differentiation among species was very low both within and between clusters (FST = 0.096-0.193, and 0.096-0.266, respectively). Although species can be crossed artificially to produce fertile hybrids, our results indicate that there is very little evidence of hybridization or introgression occurring among species in the wild, even within stands composed of multiple sympatric species. The highly differentiated floral morphology of the studied species is likely to impose reproductive isolation between them and maintain their integrity in the wild. A lack of genetic differentiation between sympatric species suggests that speciation within this group occurred rapidly and recently.

[Validation of a New (1 → 3)-ß-D-Glucan Test Kit, Fungitec G Test MKâ ¡ " Nissui "].

Using 415 residual blood samples subjected to (1→3) -ß-D-glucan assay, we studied the correlation of measurement results between Fungitec G Test MKII "Nissui" (Nissui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo) and its predecessor, Fungitec G Test MK (Seikagaku Corporation, Tokyo), which is now out of production. Their major difference is that MK II uses reagents derived from blood cells of Limulus polyphemus, the American horseshoe crab, whereas MK used those of Tachypleus tridentatus, an Asian horseshoe crab. Passing-Bablok analysis showed a linear regression with nearly one-to-one correspondence (slope=1.065, intercept=-0.287) between the two test kits over the regular range of measurements (4.0 pg/ml -500 pg/ml ). This was also true when data were subdivided and analyzed in the low to medium (≦150 pg/ml ) and in the low range (≦50 pg/ml ). There were several cases, however, that showed a wide discrepancy between the pair of measurements. This discrepancy is believed to be due in part to the difference between Limulus and Tachypleus in their reactivity to ß-glucans with diverse side chains. Despite of this, the even distribution on either side of the regression line of those samples that are associated with deep fungal infection and the abrupt disappearance of such samples below 20 pg/ml attest that MK II "Nissui" is an acceptable successor of MK.

The effects of exercise training on obesity-induced dysregulated expression of adipokines in white adipose tissue.

Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. White adipose tissue (WAT) is not only a static storage site for energy; it is also a dynamic tissue that is actively involved in metabolic reactions and produces humoral factors, such as leptin and adiponectin, which are collectively referred to as adipokines. Additionally, because there is much evidence that obesity-induced inflammatory changes in WAT, which is caused by dysregulated expression of inflammation-related adipokines involving tumor necrosis factor- α and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, contribute to the development of insulin resistance, WAT has attracted special attention as an organ that causes diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases. Exercise training (TR) not only leads to a decrease in WAT mass but also attenuates obesity-induced dysregulated expression of the inflammation-related adipokines in WAT. Therefore, TR is widely used as a tool for preventing and improving lifestyle-related diseases. This review outlines the impact of TR on the expression and secretory response of adipokines in WAT.

Highly Efficient and Specific Gelation of Ionic Liquids by Polymeric Electrolytes to Form Ionogels with Substantially High Gel-Sol Transition Temperatures and Rheological Properties Like Self-Standing Ability and Rapid Recovery.

We synthesized gel-forming polyelectrolytes having N,N'-(trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diyl)dibenzamide linkages, with chloride, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide, bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide, or tetrafluoroborate anions that could gelatinize a variety of ionic liquids at very low concentrations. The temperatures at which these ionogels transitioned into isotropic fluids were greater than 100 °C even at concentrations as low as 5 g/L. In addition, the ionogels exhibited high mechanical strength without a significant loss in their ionic conductivities, along with the rapid recovery.

Exercise intensity and antioxidant ability.

We performed maximal exercise tests on 6 men using a bicycle ergometer and then measured the ferric-reducing ability in plasma to clarify the relationship between antioxidant status and exercise intensity. The ferric-reducing ability showed a rectilinear increase with the increase in exercise intensity, whereas the generation of hydroxyl radicals showed a decrease with the increase in exercise intensity. Also, the generation of hydroxyl radicals showed a symmetrical correlation to lactate level in plasma. These results suggest that antioxidant ability is enhanced with an increase in exercise intensity, and that the lactate level, which increases with physical exercise, may act as a scavenger of free radicals.

Organogelation of diacetylene cholesteryl esters having two urethane linkages and their photopolymerization in the gel state.

Various diacetylene cholesteryl esters having two urethane linkages were synthesized to study the relationship between their gelation properties and chemical structures. Most of these compounds form organogels in cyclohexane, and some compounds gelatinized hexane, diethyl ether, N,N-dimethylformamide, and ethanol. The cholesteryl moieties play an important role in gel formation, but IR spectroscopic measurements show that the main driving force for gelation is hydrogen bonding of the urethane groups. Upon UV irradiation, most of the gels polymerized to give polydiacetylenes, with concomitant changes from colorless to a variety of hues, such as dark blue, orange, and pink. The polymerization proceeds efficiently in cases where the gels change color to dark blue. The polymerization reached 52% chemical yield, with the quantum yield estimated to be at least 54. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy confirmed that polymerization in the gel state proceeds via 1,4-addition.