Aurora and Airglow Observations with an All-Sky Imager on Shirase to Fill the Observation Gap over the Southern Ocean

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Special session: [S] Future plan of Antarctic research: Towards phase X of the Japanese Antarctic Research Project (2022-2028) and beyond, Tue. 3 Dec. / Entrance Hall (1st floor) at National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR

Annexin V assay-proven anti-apoptotic effect of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside after cold ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat liver transplantation.

Controversy exists over whether the predominant cell death of hepatocytes is due to apoptosis or necrosis after ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this study we investigated the predominant cell death of hepatocytes after cold ischemia/reperfusion injury using the Annexin V-based assay, and evaluated the anti-apoptotic effect of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (AA-2G) added to the University of Wisconsin solution (UW solution) in rat liver transplantation. The retrieved liver was preserved in 4 UW solution for 24 h, and then transplanted orthotopically to the syngeneic Wistar recipient. The animals were divided into 2 groups, a control group (n=10), in which liver grafts were preserved in UW solution (4), and an AA-2G group (n=10), in which liver grafts were preserved in UW solution (4) with AA-2G (100 ug/ml). The serum AST level 4 h after reperfusion in the control group was significantly suppressed in the AA-2G group, and the bile production of the liver graft in the AA-2G group was well recovered. The mean survival time in the AA-2G group was significantly improved compared with that in the control group. Annexin-V and Propidium iodide staining 4 h after reperfusion showed a significantly higher percentage of viable hepatocytes in the AA-2G group compared with the control group (93.4 +/- 2.0 vs. 80.3 +- 2.1%, P&#60;0.05). In the control group, the main cell death of hepatocytes was apoptosis (early apoptosis: 10.0 +- 4.7%, late apoptosis: 6.4 +/- 1.7%). The addition of AA-2G to the UW solution significantly inhibited both early and late apoptotic cell death 4 h after reperfusion (early apoptosis: 0.98 +/- 0.88%, late apoptosis: 2.2 +/- 1.1%). The expression of caspase 9 in the immunostaining of the liver graft was suppressed in the AA-2G group compared with in the control group. Our study using the Annexin V-based assay provided evidence that the predominant cell death of hepatocytes was apoptosis after 24 h cold ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat liver transplantation. The addition of AA-2G to the UW solution attenuated 24 h cold ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting the apoptosis of hepatocytes.</p

High-resolution seismic reflection profiling across the Senya fault at Hanaoka, northern Honshu, Japan: Data acquisition and processing

The Senya fault, northern Honshu, Japan, which generated the Rikuu earthquake (Mj 7.2) 1896, is a typical intra-arc active thrust. Subsurface geometry provides essential information for better understanding strong ground motions and crustal deformation processes. A high-resolution seismic reflection survey was conducted along the 63km long seismic line across the toe of the thrust to reveal the subsurface geometry. The seismic source was a Mini-vibrator truck and the receiver interval was 10 m. The seismic data were processed by the standard common mid-point method. The Senya fault is clearly identified as a boundary between horizontal reflectors of the basin fill in the Yokote basin and moderately dipping reflectors beneath the Senya hills. The thrust occurred in late Miocene mudstone, and shows a flat and ramp geometry. The emergent thrust dips 30 degrees down to 500m, and changes its dip to subhorizontal following the distribution of the mudstone