Vault-housed extensometers recorded a rapid initial pulse before precursory magma reservoir inflation related to the 2011 eruption of Shinmoe-dake, Japan

Previous studies of the major eruption at Shinmoe-dake volcano, Japan, in January 2011 suggested that gradual injection of magma from a deep source into a shallow reservoir began in December 2009 and led to the major eruption. To investigate the initial phase of this injection event, we examined extensometer data from the Isa Observatory,  ~ 18.5 km from the summit of Shinmoe-dake, and discovered a strain change event that spanned about 3 days in December 2009. The size of the strain change is comparable to those observed during each sub-Plinian eruption in 2011. The source of the rapid strain change appears to be deeper than the estimated location of the magma reservoir that directly supplied magma to the 2011 eruption sequence. These observations suggest that rapid injection of magma from the deep magmatic plumbing system in December 2009 triggered the continuous ascent of additional magma from depth, which in turn drove the climactic eruptions in January 2011. Extensometers also recorded two rapid strain change events of the same order of magnitude and with similar characteristics in December 2006 and August 2008; however, noticeable inflation of the edifice was not detected immediately following either event. This suggests that transient injection of magma into a shallow reservoir is not always followed immediately by a gradual recharge process

Phellinus linteus Extract Augments the Immune Response in Mitomycin C-Induced Immunodeficient Mice

Phellinus linteus is a fungus distributed throughout Japan, Korea and China. Boiled water-soluble extracts from P. linteus (PLW) have shown anti-tumor and immunomodulatory properties in experiments done by intraperitoneal treatment, or in in vitro cell cultures. This is the first investigation on how oral administration of PLW influences immune responses. Here, we established immunodeficient mice by mitomycin C (MMC) and then researched how PLW influenced plaque-forming cell (PFC) production and populations of cytokine [interferon- (IFNγ-) and interleukin-4 (IL-4)]-producing T lymphocytes. PLW samples were administered orally for 19 days (1, 2 or 4 g/kg/day). PFC assay was followed using Jerne's method. IFN- and IL-4-producing T lymphocyte populations were measured by flow-activated cell sorter (FACS). These assays were conducted the day after the last oral administration. MMC groups were given MMC (1 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 6 days with PLW administration. The number of PFC per 106 spleen cells increased significantly in the PLW (2 g/kg/day) group when compared with the MMC-control (P < 0.05) while populations of IFNγ- and IL-4-producing T lymphocytes decreased by MMC treatment. However, the PLW group tended to increase more than the MMC-control. Our results indicated that PLW augments the immune response of the spleen in MMC-induced immunodeficient mice

Seismicity controlled by resistivity structure : the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Kyushu Island, Japan

The M JMA 7.3 Kumamoto earthquake that occurred at 1:25 JST on April 16, 2016, not only triggered aftershocks in the vicinity of the epicenter, but also triggered earthquakes that were 50–100 km away from the epicenter of the main shock. The active seismicity can be divided into three regions: (1) the vicinity of the main faults, (2) the northern region of Aso volcano (50 km northeast of the mainshock epicenter), and (3) the regions around three volcanoes, Yufu, Tsurumi, and Garan (100 km northeast of the mainshock epicenter). Notably, the zones between these regions are distinctively seismically inactive. The electric resistivity structure estimated from one-dimensional analysis of the 247 broadband (0.005–3000 s) magnetotelluric and telluric observation sites clearly shows that the earthquakes occurred in resistive regions adjacent to conductive zones or resistive-conductive transition zones. In contrast, seismicity is quite low in electrically conductive zones, which are interpreted as regions of connected fluids. We suggest that the series of the earthquakes was induced by a local accumulated stress and/or fluid supply from conductive zones. Because the relationship between the earthquakes and the resistivity structure is consistent with previous studies, seismic hazard assessment generally can be improved by taking into account the resistivity structure. Following on from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake series, we suggest that there are two zones that have a relatively high potential of earthquake generation along the western extension of the MTL

Genomic Characterization of Lactobacillus delbrueckii TUA4408L and Evaluation of the Antiviral Activities of its Extracellular Polysaccharides in Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells

In lactic acid bacteria, the synthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS) has been associated with some favorable technological properties as well as health-promoting benefits. Research works have shown the potential of EPS produced by lactobacilli to differentially modulate immune responses. However, most studies were performed in immune cells and few works have concentrated in the immunomodulatory activities of EPS in non-immune cells such as intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the immunoregulatory effects of EPS have not been studied in detail. In this work, we have performed a genomic characterization of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L and evaluated the immunomodulatory and antiviral properties of its acidic (APS) and neutral (NPS) EPS in porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cells. Whole genome sequencing allowed the analysis of the general features of L. delbrueckii TUA4408L genome as well as the characterization of its EPS genes. A typical EPS gene cluster was found in the TUA4408L genome consisting in five highly conserved genes epsA-E, and a variable region, which includes the genes for the polymerase wzy, the flippase wzx, and seven glycosyltransferases. In addition, we demonstrated here for the first time that L. delbrueckii TUA4408L and its EPS are able to improve the resistance of PIE cells against rotavirus infection by reducing viral replication and regulating inflammatory response. Moreover, studies in PIE cells demonstrated that the TUA4408L strain and its EPS differentially modulate the antiviral innate immune response triggered by the activation of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3). L. delbrueckii TUA4408L and its EPS are capable of increasing the activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways leading to an improved expression of the antiviral factors interferon (IFN)-β, Myxovirus resistance gene A (MxA) and RNaseL

ネットワーク ト セイズシツ ノ マルチメディア ソウチ オ リヨウシテ ケンチク セッケイセイズ キョウイク オ カイゼン スル ココロミ

The purpose of our study is to improve our architectural design education using digital tools and computer network by recording educational process on web pages and sharing it among students. In this paper, we report last year\u27s attempt to improve Architectural Design V of third year later term which we took charge of, using computer network and multimedia equipment that was installed in every booth of the drawing room. First, in addition to the conventional drawing course, we set up another course of which final presentations were made on web pages. Both courses have the same subject conditions and they are made to coexist. Secondly, in the programming process, the record of every week\u27s presentations and the summary of all member\u27s workshop about planning subject, such as the way of thinking and ideas were presented in the homepage, and they were shared by students. Finally, inter-school design review of the final presentation using drawings and models was held with video conferencing system. And now by way of the bulletin board with images we intend to record the design process also of the conventional drawing course and exchange opinions through WWW, aiming at network design collaboration this coming term

Network Regulation of microRNA Biogenesis and Target Interaction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are versatile, post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Canonical miRNAs are generated through the two-step DROSHA- and DICER-mediated processing of primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts with optimal or suboptimal features for DROSHA and DICER cleavage and loading into Argonaute (AGO) proteins, whereas multiple hairpin-structured RNAs are encoded in the genome and could be a source of non-canonical miRNAs. Recent advances in miRNA biogenesis research have revealed details of the structural basis of miRNA processing and cluster assistance mechanisms that facilitate the processing of suboptimal hairpins encoded together with optimal hairpins in polycistronic pri-miRNAs. In addition, a deeper investigation of miRNA&ndash;target interaction has provided insights into the complexity of target recognition with distinct outcomes, including target-mediated miRNA degradation (TDMD) and cooperation in target regulation by multiple miRNAs. Therefore, the coordinated or network regulation of both miRNA biogenesis and miRNA&ndash;target interaction is prevalent in miRNA biology. Alongside recent advances in the mechanistic investigation of miRNA functions, this review summarizes recent findings regarding the ordered regulation of miRNA biogenesis and miRNA&ndash;target interaction

Subtle changes in strain prior to sub-Plinian eruptions recorded by vault-housed extensometers during the 2011 activity at Shinmoe-dake, Kirishima volcano, Japan

This study focuses on strain change observations with a precision of 10-9 associated with the 2011 Shinmoe-dake eruptions in Japan, using vault-housed extensometers installed approximately 18 km northwest of the Shinmoe-dake crater. The extensometers recorded major strain changes of 10-7 during three sub-Plinian eruptions and subsequent magma effusion. Our analysis indicates that these extensometer records provide a reasonable estimation of the parameters of an isotropic point source that can explain eruption-related ground deformation. The extensometers also recorded subtle strain changes of 10-9 prior to the three sub-Plinian eruptions. Time series data indicate that changes in strain at these rates are generally only observed immediately before explosive eruptions, suggesting that these strain changes are precursors to sub-Plinian eruptions. The source of these subtle strain changes is likely to be shallower than the magma chamber associated with these eruptions. The precursory strain changes might have been caused by a pressure increase and a subsequent pressure decrease under the volcano. One possible scenario that can explain these pressure changes is the accumulation of volcanic gases at depth, causing an increase in pressure that was eventually released during gas emissions from the crater prior to the explosive eruptions