Supplement to the bryoflora confirmed or recorded in Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, SW Japan

広島県廿日市市宮島の植物について，厳島の自然（1975）の発刊後に標本あるいは文献等で記録されたコケ植物のリストと標本・文献情報等について報告した。標本や文献情報，現地調査の結果，今回が初報告となるOrthotrichum consobrinum Cardot タチヒダゴケとPhyscomitrium eurystomum Sendtn. ヒロクチゴケ，Ulota crispa (Hedw.) Brid. カラフトキンモウケ，Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dumort. ミカヅキゼニゴケ，Riccia stenophylla Spruce ホソバウキゴケを含め12種が1975年以降に新たに報告された。また，分類学的研究や分子系統学的研究などの証拠標本として28種の宮島産コケ植物が1975年以降に引用されていることが確認された。Since the 1975 publication “Land and Life in Itsukushima”, we have documented the addition of 12 bryophytes confirmed or recorded for Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, SW Japan. Based on previous publications, specimens and our recent investigations, we add Archidium ohioense Schimp. ex Müll.Hal., Brachythecium sakuraii Broth., Ditrichum lineare (Sw.) Lindb., Eccremidium minutum (Mitt.) I.G.Stone & G.A.M.Scott, Orthotrichum consobrinum Cardot, Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendtn., Timmiella anomala (Bruch & Schimp.) Limpr., Ulota crispa (Hedw.) Brid., Fossombronia japonica Schiffn., Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dumort., Riccardia marginata (Colenso) Pearson var. pacifica Furuki, and Riccia stenophylla Spruce. We also provide additional information on previously reported bryophytes, including Diphyscium lorifolium (Cardot) Magombo, Syrrhopodon tosaensis Cardot, Weissia exserta (Broth.) P.C.Chen, W. newcomeri (E.B.Bartram) K.Saito, Archilejeunea planifolia (Horik.) Mizut., Odontoschisma pseudogrosseverrucosum Gradst., S.C.Aranda & Vanderp., Trichocolea pluma (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Mont., and Tuyamaella molischii (Schiffn.) S.Hatt.本研究の一部は一般財団法人広島地球環境情報センターおよびJSPS科研費16K07481，科学研究費補助金（特定奨励費）の助成を受けたものです

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Ca2+-Induced Membrane Permeability Transition of Isolated Rat Liver Mitochondria

The membrane permeability transition (MPT) of mitochondria plays an important role in the mechanism of apoptotic cell death in various cells. Classic type MPT is induced by Ca2+ in the presence of inorganic phosphate and respiratory substrate, and is characterized by various events including generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane depolarization, swelling, release of Ca2+ and high sensitivity to cyclosporine A. However, the sequence of these events and the effect of antioxidants on their events remain obscure. Flow cytometry is a convenient method to investigate the order of events among various functions occurring in MPT using a limited amount of mitochondria (200 µl of 0.02 mg protein/ml) without contamination by other organelles. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that Ca2+ sequentially induced ROS generation, depolarization, swelling and Ca2+ release in mitochondria by a cyclosporine A-inhibitable mechanism. These results were supported by the finding that Ca2+-induced MPT was inhibited by antioxidants, such as glutathione and N-acetylcysteine. It was also revealed that various inhibitors of Ca2+-induced phospholipase A2 suppressed all of the events associated with Ca2+-induced MPT. These results suggested that ROS generation and phospholipase A2 activation by Ca2+ underlie the mechanism of the initiation of MPT

Contents of the Digital Natural History Museum of Hiroshima University, especially in the field of biology

広島大学デジタル自然史博物館は，広島大学の開学以来長年にわたって蓄積された教育・研究に関する知的資産を外部に公開し，生涯学習や学校教育のために活用することを目的として設置されている。デジタル自然史博物館には生物学や地学とそれに関係する資料が含まれる。特徴のあるコンテンツとしてはコケ植物や世界遺産宮島に関するものがあげられる。コンテンツの大部分は日本語であり，アクセス数は2015年度以降増加傾向にある。今後，現在進めているMediaWiki を使ったシステムへの移行を進めるとともに，コンテンツの充実やICT を使った学習への対応，運用母体の強化などを通じて，教育・研究のためだけでなく地域貢献のためのリソースとして発展させる計画である。The Digital Natural History Museum of Hiroshima University is a cluster of web sites for dissemination and practical use of educational and research resources for lifelong learning as well as school education in collaboration with laboratories and centers of Hiroshima University, Japan. The museum site includes contents on biological, environmental and earth sciences, mainly in Japanese with some English, especially bryophytes and the world heritage listed Itsukushima (Miyajima) Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Online site access has increased since 2015. The museum site is now transferring the html based system to the MediaWiki system which is a free and open-source wiki software. For regional studies we plan to expand significantly the content of available resources to enable greater use and ease of access through information and communication technology (ICT)

Checklist of vascular plants of Kui Block Field, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

広島県三原市久井町に位置する久井岩海は国の天然記念物に指定されている。今回，久井岩海の天然記念物調査に際し，維管束植物（シダ植物，裸子植物，被子植物）のフロラの見直しを行う機会を得た。本稿では，標本および文献にもとづいて久井岩海および周辺地域の維管束植物フロラをまとめた。その結果，維管束植物合計415種（ヒカゲノカズラ植物1種と狭義シダ植物36種，裸子植物6種，被子植物372種。ただし，種以下の下位分類群や雑種は種として数えた）が生育していることが確認された。Kui Block Field, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, SW Japan is designated as a national natural monument. In this study, a checklist of the vascular plants recorded from Kui Block Field is provided, based on previous publications, herbarium specimens and our recent investigations. 415 species of vascular plants are recorded, consisting of 1 species of lycopods, 36 species of pteridophytes, 6 species of gymnosperms, and 372 species of angiosperms

A preliminary list of the vascular plants of Higashi-hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima Pref., SW Japan <Data>

広島大学東広島キャンパスは広島県西条盆地の中央部に位置し，その敷地内には様々な植物が生育している。キャンパス内の維管束植物に関しては学内誌などに断片的に紹介されてきたが，1995年の移転完了後，網羅的な植物相の調査は行われていない。本稿ではキャンパス内の植物相の現状を把握するため，文献および生態実験園とぶどう池周辺を中心に行った調査にもとづいて，東広島キャンパスの維管束植物目録（101科210属286種）をまとめた。A preliminary list of the vascular plants of Higashi-hiroshima Campus in Hiroshima University (Hiroshima Pref., SW Japan) was reported based on own field researches and previous reports. A total of 286 native, naturalized and garden species, including infraspecific taxa, were recorded

Effectiveness of Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccines Against Symptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections During the Delta Variant Epidemic in Japan: Vaccine Effectiveness Real-time Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 (VERSUS)

Background. Although high vaccine effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines has been reported in studies in several countries, data are limited from Asian countries, especially against the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant.Methods. We conducted a multicenter test-negative case-control study in patients aged ≥16 years visiting hospitals or clinics with signs or symptoms consistent with COVID-19 from 1 July to 30 September 2021, when the Delta variant was dominant (≥90% of SARS-CoV-2 infections) nationwide in Japan. Vaccine effectiveness of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections was evaluated. Waning immunity among patients aged 16–64 years was also assessed.Results. We enrolled 1936 patients, including 396 test-positive cases and 1540 test-negative controls for SARS-CoV-2. The median age was 49 years, 53.4% were male, and 34.0% had underlying medical conditions. Full vaccination (receiving 2 doses ≥14 days before symptom onset) was received by 6.6% of cases and 38.8% of controls. Vaccine effectiveness of full vaccination against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections was 88.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.8%–93.9%) among patients aged 16–64 years and 90.3% (95% CI, 73.6%–96.4%) among patients aged ≥65 years. Among patients aged 16–64 years, vaccine effectiveness was 91.8% (95% CI, 80.3%–96.6%) within 1–3 months after full vaccination, and 86.4% (95% CI, 56.9%–95.7%) within 4–6 months.Conclusions. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines had high effectiveness against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in Japan during July–September 2021, when the Delta variant was dominant nationwide