New Research Project of "Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS)"

第6回極域科学シンポジウム特別セッション：[S] 北極温暖化とその影響 ―GRENE 北極気候変動プロジェクトと新しい方向性―11月18日（水）　国立極地研究所 2階 大会議

One-Step Detection of the 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Virus by the RT-SmartAmp Assay and Its Clinical Validation

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>In 2009, a pandemic (pdm) influenza A(H1N1) virus infection quickly circulated globally resulting in about 18,000 deaths around the world. In Japan, infected patients accounted for 16% of the total population. The possibility of human-to-human transmission of highly pathogenic novel influenza viruses is becoming a fear for human health and society.</p> <h3>Methodology</h3><p>To address the clinical need for rapid diagnosis, we have developed a new method, the “RT-SmartAmp assay”, to rapidly detect the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus from patient swab samples. The RT-SmartAmp assay comprises both reverse transcriptase (RT) and isothermal DNA amplification reactions in one step, where RNA extraction and PCR reaction are not required. We used an exciton-controlled hybridization-sensitive fluorescent primer to specifically detect the HA segment of the 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus within 40 minutes without cross-reacting with the seasonal A(H1N1), A(H3N2), or B-type (Victoria) viruses.</p> <h3>Results and Conclusions</h3><p>We evaluated the RT-SmartAmp method in clinical research carried out in Japan during a pandemic period of October 2009 to January 2010. A total of 255 swab samples were collected from outpatients with influenza-like illness at three hospitals and eleven clinics located in the Tokyo and Chiba areas in Japan. The 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus was detected by the RT-SmartAmp assay, and the detection results were subsequently compared with data of current influenza diagnostic tests (lateral flow immuno-chromatographic tests) and viral genome sequence analysis. In conclusion, by the RT-SmartAmp assay we could detect the 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus in patients' swab samples even in early stages after the initial onset of influenza symptoms. Thus, the RT-SmartAmp assay is considered to provide a simple and practical tool to rapidly detect the 2009 pdm influenza A(H1N1) virus.</p> </div

A dehydrated space-weathered skin cloaking the hydrated interior of Ryugu

Without a protective atmosphere, space-exposed surfaces of airless Solar System bodies gradually experience an alteration in composition, structure and optical properties through a collective process called space weathering. The return of samples from near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu by Hayabusa2 provides the first opportunity for laboratory study of space-weathering signatures on the most abundant type of inner solar system body: a C-type asteroid, composed of materials largely unchanged since the formation of the Solar System. Weathered Ryugu grains show areas of surface amorphization and partial melting of phyllosilicates, in which reduction from Fe3+ to Fe2+ and dehydration developed. Space weathering probably contributed to dehydration by dehydroxylation of Ryugu surface phyllosilicates that had already lost interlayer water molecules and to weakening of the 2.7 µm hydroxyl (–OH) band in reflectance spectra. For C-type asteroids in general, this indicates that a weak 2.7 µm band can signify space-weathering-induced surface dehydration, rather than bulk volatile loss

East-west comparison of the zooplankton community in the subarctic Pacific during summers of 2003-2006

The subarctic Pacific is known to have east-west gradients in the oceanic environment and phytoplankton community. The western subarctic Pacific is characterized by low temperature and high chlorophyll-a while the eastern region by high temperature and low chlorophyll-a. Although there is little information on the differences in the zooplankton community between the eastern and western subarctic Pacific, the gradients in the oceanographic environment and phytoplankton community may markedly affect the zooplankton community in this region. The aim of this study is to clarify east-west differences in the subarctic Pacific zooplankton community. Zooplankton were sampled at stations along the 165°E line (western subarctic Pacific from 41°30'N to 49°30'N) and 165°W line (eastern subarctic Pacific from 39°N to 53°30'N) using 0.335 and 0.100 mm mesh size Twin NORPAC net during the summers of 2003-2006. East-west differences in the zooplankton community were characterized as: 1) greater total zooplankton abundance in the west-and 2) larger body size of calanoid copepods within same copepodid stage in the west. Differences in east-west zooplankton abundances are attributed to differences in the magnitude of primary production (high in the west) and the size of primary producers (large in the west). Larger body sizes of calanoid copepods in the west are attributed to the lower temperature. Thus, differences in zooplankton abundance and body size are concluded to be due to east-west gradients in the oceanographic environment and phytoplankton community

2. Coastal Oyashio Multidisciplinary and Advanced Study (COMPAS) Program Using New Ocean Color Remote Sensing and Intensive Ship Observations

Ⅰ. Physical, Chemical Environment, Primary Production, Zooplankton and Their Coupling Model Studie

Abundance, biomass and body size of the hydromedusa Aglantha digitale in the western and eastern subarctic Pacific during the summers of 2003-2006

The aim of this study is to evaluate regional and interannual changes in abundance, biomass and body size of the hydromedusa Aglantha digitale in the subarctic Pacific. A. digitale was sampled by 0–150 m vertical tows using a 100 μm mesh-size NORPAC net at stations from 41°30′N to 49°30′N along the 165°E line (western subarctic Pacific) and from 39°00′N to 53°30′N along the 165°W line (eastern subarctic Pacific) during the summers of 2003–2006. The mean numerical abundances during the course of the study in the west and east were 32.9 (range, 0–368) and 169.2 (0–768) ind. m^－2, respectively, and those of biomass were 26.3 (0–264) and 69.1 (0–418) mg DM m^－2, respectively. The abundance and biomass showed no significant north-south or year-to-year differences within each transect but they were significantly greater in the east in some years. The body size was characterized with the dominance of small-sized individuals in the east. The higher abundance and biomass, and smaller body size in the east were probably due to sampling during or just after their reproduction in the east