Relationship between statistical thermal alteration index and vitrinite reflectance for sedimentary rocks in northern Japan with reference to effects for unconformity,faulting, and contact metamorphism

Two organic maturity indices, the statistical thermal alteration index (stTAI) and vitrinite reflectance (R_O), are used to gain insight into the geological histories of sequences of Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous sediments in northern Japan that contain an unconformity and which are affected by faulting and contact metamorphism. The stTAI is based on the brightness, or gray level, of fossil pollen of Pinus, Podocarpus, Abies, and Picea species. Pollen brightness is measured using a transmitted‐light microscope equipped with a computer‐driven digital image processor. The stTAI represents the mean value of the modes for the complete array of indigenous pollen in rock samples. The stTAI indicates the level of organic maturation for Neogene sedimentary rocks of Japan, from incipient diagenesis to early catagenesis (R_O ≤1.0%). With the progressive diagenesis and catagenesis of sedimentary rocks, stTAI values generally show a progressive decrease, whereas R_O values increase. The effects of an unconformity and faulting are more clearly recorded in stTAI trends than in R_O trends. During early stages of organic maturation (R_O ≤0.7%), stTAI shows a rapid decrease, while R_O shows a rapid increase during the mature and post‐mature stages (R_O ≥0.8%). The occurrence of a range in R_O values for a given level of organic maturity makes it difficult to determine the influence of the unconformity on the increasing R_O trend. R_O values show a progressive increase toward an igneous dyke, but this trend is not apparent in stTAI values. Measurements of Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous rocks in Japan reveal that stTAI is more sensitive to heating duration than R_O, although R_O is more sensitive to heating temperature.     

应用BOLD进行核磁脑功能成像的误区：神经元活动时脑血氧变化的多样性

Functional MRI (fMRI) is recognized as a well-established non-invasive diagnostic method to image activating cortical areas. Currently, the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast method is widely used in fMRI. BOLD-fMRI images activating are as by detecting a reduced concentration of deoxyhemoglobin during neuronal activity, which is caused by a larger increase in O2 delivery compared with O2 consumption in normal adults. In the present study, near infrared spectroscopy, which is an optical method to evaluate cerebral blood oxygenation changes, has demonstrated an increase of deoxyhcmoglobin associated with increases of oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin at activation areas of stroke patients, whereas BOLD-fMRI failed to image the activation areas. The present findings have serious implications for the appiication of BOLD-fMRI to the patients with brain disorders because BOLD-fMRI may overlook neuronal activities in these patients unless both increases and decreases of signals are considered.     

Contact-metamorphic effect on parameters for kerogen maturation

This study examines the effect of contact metamorphism by an igneous dyke on parameters for kerogen maturation, such as elemental composition (H/C, O/C, N/C), ¹H-NMR T₁, vitrinite reflectance and infrared spectra. Although elemental composition and ¹H-NMR T₁ of the kerogen changed only within 1.5 and 5.0 m from the dyke respectively, vitrinite reflectance of the kerogen was thermally affected beyond 10.0 m from the intrusion. It is concluded that vitrinite reflectance is the most sensitive of the parameters evaluated to assess thermal stress of kerogens.     

The use of microstructures for discriminating turbiditic and hemipelagic muds and mudstones

The microstructures of turbiditic and hemipelagic muds and mudstones were investigated using a scanning electron microscope to determine whether there are microstructural features that can differentiate turbiditic from hemipelagic sedimentary processes. Both types of muddy deposits are, in general, characterized by randomly‐oriented clay particles. However, turbiditic muds and mudstones also characteristically contain aggregates of ‘edge‐to‐face’ contacts between clay particles with long‐axis lengths of up to 30 μm. Based on observations of the clay fabric of the experimentally‐formed muds settled from previously agitated muddy fluids, these types of aggregates, hereafter referred to as ‘aggregates of clay particles’, are interpreted as having been formed by the collision of component flocs in turbulent fluids. Furthermore, some aggregates of clay particles have ‘face‐to‐face’ contacts between clay particles; this is similar to face‐to‐face aggregates characteristically developed in fluid‐mud deposits that are commonly recognized only in turbiditic mudstones, indicating the possibility of a final stage of deposition under highly‐dense conditions, such as temporary fluid muds. In conjunction with earlier proposed lithofacies‐based and ichnofacies‐based criteria, aggregates of clay particles should be useful for the differentiation of turbiditic and hemipelagic muddy deposits, particularly with limited volumes of non‐oriented samples from deep‐water successions.     

On the atmospheric muon energy spectrum in the deep ocean and its parameterization

The energy spectrum of those muons in the deep ocean ( 1000 m) that have been produced in the terrestrial atmosphere and have penetrated sea-water is calculated by Monte Carlo simulation and presented in a simplified form for easy use.     

Study on the managanese nodule

Chemical and X-ray analyses were performed on the fifteen manganese nodules collected from the Pacific Ocean floor. The results were discussed compared with the previous data on the manganese nodules. Minerals were found to be todorokite, δ-MnO₂ and other silicates, montmorillonite, illite, phillipsite and α-SiO₂. Average composition shows that copper is concentrated on the deep sea nodules more than the shallow ones, and that the todorokite rich nodules contain more copper and nickel than the δ-MnO₂ rich ones. The analyses of fresh water iron-manganese precipitates by bacterial activity suggest that biological process is one of the important factors on the genesis of the sedimentary iron-manganese deposits, including the manganese nodule. The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research     

Using trace elements in skin to discriminate the populations of minke whales in southern hemisphere

Concentrations of 12 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Cs, Ba, and Hg) were determined in liver and skin tissues of minke whales from various regions within the Antarctic Ocean. Cd concentrations in livers of southern minke whale were apparently higher than those in cetaceans from other regions, while Hg concentrations were lower. There were significant positive correlations between body length and concentrations of Cd and Hg in the liver. The concentrations of all trace elements in the skin were lower than those in other cetaceans reported previously. Significant positive correlations between liver and skin were found for Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Rb, Cd, and Cs, implying that the concentrations of these trace elements in the skin reflect those of internal organs. Large interannual variation of the accumulation pattern of trace elements in the skin was observed for the southern minke whales from Area V. There were significant differences in the skin element concentrations among Areas III, IV, and V, especially for males. Also, discriminant analysis between geographically two different groups collected during 1995/1996 austral summer season, based on the concentrations of trace elements in the skin, allowed for a correct classification of 90% of these minke whales. These results suggest that measurement of trace elements in skin samples could provide valuable information on the status of contamination and possible geographic differences in the accumulation levels in southern minke whales.     

Simultaneous Measurement of Hydrogen Peroxide and Fe Species (Fe(II) and Fe<Subscript>(tot)</Subscript>) in Okinawa Island Seawater: Impacts of Red Soil Pollution

The northern part of Okinawa Island suffers from red soil pollution—runoff of red soil into coastal seawater—which damages coastal ecosystems and scenery. To elucidate the impacts of red soil pollution on the oxidizing power of seawater, hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) and iron species including Fe(II) and total iron (Fe_(tot), defined as the sum of Fe(II) and Fe(III)) were measured simultaneously in seawater from Taira Bay (red-soil-polluted sea) and Sesoko Island (unpolluted sea), off the northern part of Okinawa Island, Japan. We performed simultaneous measurements of HOOH and Fe(II) because the reaction between HOOH and Fe(II) forms hydroxyl radical (•OH), the most potent environmental oxidant. Gas-phase HOOH concentrations were also measured to better understand the sources of HOOH in seawater. Both HOOH and Fe(II) in seawater showed a clear diurnal variation, i.e. higher in the daytime and lower at night, while Fe_(tot) concentrations were relatively constant throughout the sampling period. Fe(II) and Fe_(tot) concentrations were approximately 58% and 19% higher in red-soil-polluted seawater than in unpolluted seawater. Gas-phase HOOH and seawater HOOH concentrations were comparable at both sampling sites, ranging from 1.4 to 5.4 ppbv in air and 30 to 160 nM in seawater. Since Fe(II) concentrations were higher in red-soil-polluted seawater while concentrations of HOOH were similar, •OH would form faster in red-soil-polluted seawater than in unpolluted seawater. Since the major scavenger of •OH, Br⁻, is expected to have similar concentrations at both sites, red-soil-polluted seawater is expected to have higher steady-state •OH concentrations.