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The Chikyu Shallow Core Program (SCORE) has been started to provide more opportunities for the scientific ocean drilling of shallow boreholes (up to 100 m) during a short-term expedition. The proposal flow is a simplified version of that of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Although there are several limitations for a SCORE project, the opportunity to retrieve 100 m of continuous core samples will be of great interest for the scientific ocean drilling community in multiple disciplines. The first expedition of the SCORE program was implemented off Cape Erimo, Hokkaido, northern Japan. The target of the drilling was to investigate the impact of submarine mass transport on the subseafloor sedimentary biosphere. In the preliminary observation of the core samples, including X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan image analysis, chaotic and inclined beds were found and interpreted as mass transport deposit (MTD) units.

Metastasis stands as the major obstacle for the survival from cancers. Nonetheless most existing anti-cancer drugs inhibit only cell proliferation, and discovery of agents having both anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic properties would be more beneficial. We previously reported the discovery of small-molecule Ras inhibitors, represented by Kobe0065, that displayed anti-proliferative activity on xenografts of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line SW480 carrying the K-ras(G12V) gene. Here we show that treatment of cancer cells carrying the activated ras genes with Kobe0065 or a siRNA targeting Ras downregulates the expression of lysyl oxidase (LOX), which has been implicated in metastasis. LOX expression is enhanced by co-expression of Ras(G12V) through activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and concomitant accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Furthermore, Kobe0065 effectively inhibits not only migration and invasion of cancer cells carrying the activated ras genes but also lung metastasis of human CRC cell line SW620 carrying the K-ras(G12V) gene. Collectively, these results indicate that Kobe0065 prevents metastasis through inhibition of the Ras-P13K-Akt-HIF-1α-LOX signaling and suggest that Ras inhibitors in general might exhibit both anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic properties toward cancer cells carrying the activated ras genes.

We applied automated velocity analysis to a 3D seismic data volume to obtain a high-resolution seismic velocity model that we used to investigate the influence of fluid behavior on the subsurface distribution of gas in the Sanriku-Oki forearc basin, northeast Japan. We identified free gas accumulations as zones of low P-wave velocity separated from overlying high-velocity gas hydrates by the clear seismic boundary of the bottom-simulating reflection (BSR) between them. We then used conductive modeling to map upward heat flow in our study area from the depth of the BSR derived from the velocity model. The estimated heat flow demonstrates that upward fluid flux has considerable influences on the distributions of both gas hydrate and free gas. The areas of high heat flow (representing high fluid flux) correspond to underlying permeable geological features such as gas chimneys, faults, and the edges of porous slumps, suggesting that these features provide fluid migration pathways from Eocene to Oligocene source rocks to free gas and hydrate accumulations in overlying sedimentary rocks. The techniques we have employed can contribute to the high-resolution mapping of gas hydrate and free gas accumulations in similar deep-water reservoirs off the eastern continental margin of Japan and at tectonically similar plate subduction margins in other regions.

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The di-zhen (DZ) is an ancient type of acupuncture needle with a history dating back to more than 2000 years. Unlike modern acupuncture needles, the DZ is not inserted subcutaneously and is considered to be safe for common use, even at the bedside of terminally ill patients. In this case study, DZ application was selected and applied 14 times on a 92-year-old patient who had suffered severe oliguria along with administration of diuretics. Urine volume increased 12 out of 14 times following DZ treatment; however, the other two times it was ineffective. To investigate the reason and the differences in effective/ineffective DZ application, two internal conditions (effective vs ineffective) were compared by analyzing daily nursing reports (vital signs such as blood pressure, urine volume and body temperature) and weekly clinical data (including renal, liver and immune function, urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT, AST, the ratio and number of leukocytes, erythrocytes). DZ application increased urine volume via a transient modification of the autonomic nervous system when internal homeostasis was maintained. Aging populations, who often have several diseases and medications, are rapidly increasing in developed countries. Therefore, the study and application of DZ may contribute to a reduction in medical costs, which have been rapidly and heavily expanding recently.

Skin rubdown using a dry towel (SRDT) to scrub the whole body is a traditional therapy for health promotion. To investigate its mechanism, 24 healthy male volunteers were studied. Body temperature, pulse rate, red blood cells (RBCs), serum levels of catecholamines and cortisol, blood gases (PO(2), sO(2), PCO(2) and pH), lactate and glucose, and the ratio and number of white blood cells (WBCs) were assessed before and after SRDT. After SRDT, pulse rate and body temperature were increased. PO(2), sO(2) and pH were also increased and there was no Rouleaux formation by RBCs. Lactate level tended to increase, whereas that of glucose did not. Adrenaline and noradrenaline levels increased, indicating sympathetic nerve (SN) dominance with increase in granulocytes. WBC number and ratio were divided into two groups according to granulocyte ratio (≤ or < 60%) before SRDT: a normal group and a SN group. Only in the SN group did the granulocyte ratio decrease and the lymphocyte ratio and number increase after SRDT. It is suggested that SRDT is a mild aerobic, systemic exercise that might affect the immune system via the autonomic nervous system.

The di-zhen (DZ) is an ancient type of acupuncture needle with a history dating back more than 2000 years. Unlike modern acupuncture needles, the DZ is not inserted subcutaneously, and is safely and commonly used at the bedside. The mechanisms underlying its effects are not known. In this study, we measured sublingual and cutaneous body temperature, pulse rate, oxygen pressure (PO2), oxygen saturation (sO2) and carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2) before and after DZ application in 25 healthy male volunteers. Serum levels of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine) and white blood cells (WBCs; ratio and number) were traced for one week. Soon after DZ application, pulse rate, body temperature, PO2 and sO2 all decreased. The serum levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline increased, indicating sympathetic dominance, and the number of granulocytes was elevated. One week after DZ application, the number of lymphocyte increased. We therefore suggest that DZ affects body temperature, pulse rate, catecholamine secretion and immune function by inducing transient sympathetic dominance via actions on the autonomic nervous system. These effects are similar to the effects observed with modern needles, which are inserted subcutaneously. Therefore, we consider DZ treatment to be advantageous and safe in modern clinical practice, especially in post-surgical and terminal care, as it avoids the issues with infection and tissue damage sometimes seen with modern acupuncture needles.

The reservoir architecture of methane hydrate (MH) bearing turbidite channels in the eastern Nankai Trough, offshore Japan is evaluated using a combination of 3-D seismic and well data. On the 3-D seismic section, the MH-bearing turbidite channels correspond to complex patterns of strong seismic reflectors, which show the 3-D internal architecture of the channel complex. A seismic-sequence stratigraphic analysis reveals that the channel complex can be roughly classified into three different stages of depositional sequence (upper, middle, and lower). Each depositional sequence results in a different depositional system that primarily controls the reservoir architecture of the turbidite channels. To construct a 3-D facies model, the stacking patterns of the turbidite channels are interpreted, and the reservoir heterogeneities of MH-bearing sediments are discussed. The identified channels at the upper sequence around the β1 well exhibit low-sinuosity channels consisting of various channel widths that range from tens to several hundreds of meters. Paleo-current flow directions of the turbidite channels are typically oriented along the north-northeast-to-south-southwest direction. High-amplitude patterns were identified above the channels along the north-to-south and north-northeast-to-south-southeast directions. These roughly coincide with the paleo-current flow of the turbidite channels. An interval velocity using high-density velocity analysis shows that velocity anomalies (>2000 m/s) are found on the northeastern side of the turbidite channels. The depositional stage of the northeastern side of the turbidite channels exhibits slightly older sediment stages than the depositional stages of the remaining channels. Hence, the velocity anomalies of the northeastern side of the channels are related to the different stages of sediment supply, and this may lead to the different reservoir architectures of the turbidite channels.

An integrated sedimentological workflow was applied to the methane-hydrate exploration project in the eastern Nankai Trough area, central Japan, as a useful tool to investigate the distributions and actual volume of methane hydrates. Since previous research revealed that most of the methane hydrates in the eastern Nankai Trough area occur in matrix pores of submarine-fan turbidite sandstones, the facies distribution of turbidite sandstones may be one of the important keys to evaluate the occurrence of methane hydrates. Accordingly, this study conducted a) core facies analysis, b) log facies analysis mainly using FMI, c) depositional sequence division, d) seismic facies analysis on the 2D/3D seismic sections, and e) seismic geomorphological analysis on the 3D seismic survey data to map submarine-fan turbidite facies distributions for 17 depositional sequence horizons in the targeted Pleistocene interval. The obtained facies maps reveal that submarine-fan depositional styles changed throughout Pleistocene from a braided channel type, through small radial fan, trough-fill fan, and muddy sheet fan types, to a channel-levee system type. As the next step, the facies maps of each depositional sequence were overlaid with bottom simulating reflector (BSR) distributions as a proxy of methane hydrates. The overlaid maps indicate that the BSRs occur on feeder channels, distributary channels, and proximal lobes of submarine fans, suggesting that methane hydrates selectively occur in coarser grained portions of a submarine fan. The facies maps were also used for calculation of average net-to-gross ratio of the methane hydrate occurrence zones, as the maps provide information on the spatial distributions of seismic facies class, which has individual value of net-to-gross ratio. Finally, this study analyzed reservoir-scale geologic bodies, such as depositional lobes and braided channels of a submarine fan, using 3D seismic survey data, and constructed a detailed geologic model for simulations of methane-hydrate generation and production.

Integrated geological and geophysical study was carried out using newly acquired 3D seismic data in order to evaluate further exploration potential for sandstone pinch-out traps, offshore Kitakanbara, Niigata, Japan. The 3D seismic PSTM negative amplitude was useful for predicting the sandstone distribution in spite of the dominant frequencies as low as 10-12Hz. Depositional systems of the turbidite successions were estimated in sequence stratigraphic framework by integrating thickness, seismic amplitude and seismic facies maps which were calibrated with depositional facies associations defined in the wells. A deductive hydrocarbon migration simulation was then carried out for the purpose of migration and seal risk assessment. The study highlighted hydrocarbon accumulation to sandstone stratigraphic traps in downdip portion of structural highs. During a series of study, Stratimagic and MPath applications played an important role as new technology tools for seismic facies mapping and hydrocarbon migration evaluation, respectively, especially in combination with 3D seismic data.

This study aims to evaluate the hydrocarbon potentiality of the Kharita Formation of Lower Cretaceous age which is one of the most promising reservoirs in the Western Desert of Egypt. The conventional well log data and the advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) logging technique in addition to the Formation MicroImager (FMI) have been collected from Selkit-1X Well and used for analysis and interpretation. The Density-Magnetic Resonance (DMR) porosity can be used in volumetric calculations to provide more accurate reservoir volume estimates than previously possible. Reservoir productivity, and fluid contacts are the topmost objectives in petrophysical analysis especially in hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. On the other hand, designing a wireline formation testing job is very much dependant on knowing reservoir permeability and fluid types.The study indicates that the NMR has played an essential role with the help of FMI in reservoir characterization of the Kharita Formation. These techniques have been used also to identify, quantify movable and immovable water saturations, hydrocarbon fluid typing, and it has better permeability estimation. Also, when integrated with bulk density, data from both tools were used to enhance calculated total porosity and permeability.The combination of NMR log derived permeability and other tools confirm the obtained result and facilitate the determination of accurate fluid contact of the Kharita reservoir. It can be concluded that the NMR logging combinations with other logs provides better answers to hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs in today's search for hydrocarbons.

This paper attempts to seek an effective methodology for integrated sedimentological, seismic geomorphological and geostatistical reservoir-distribution analysis. Recent developments in sedimentology (e.g.,depositional systems and sequence stratigraphy) and 3D seismic geomorphology have improved our understanding of three-dimensional reservoir distributions on the basis of genetic and deterministic concepts. As geologic constraints, the sedimentological and seismic geomorphological information is used for a geostatistical reservoir characterization to obtain realistic distribution maps on reservoir properties. In this characterization flow, it can be efficient that known facts derived from sedimentological concepts are dealt with deterministically, whereas unknown territories (e.g., internal heterogeneity) are dealt with stochastically.

The Pliocene Tamugigawa Formation in the Niigata–Shin'etsu inverted rift basin, Northern Fossa Magna, located in the junction zone of the NE and SW Japan arcs, demonstrates a trough-fill turbidite system, which is topographically controlled in depositional style and shows notable contrasts in depositional architecture from sandy radial-fan-type turbidite systems. The Tamugigawa trough-fill turbidite system shows an elongated morphology parallel to the basin extent and facies associations consisting of trough-fill, lateral-supply and trough-side elements. The trough-fill elements comprise thick-bedded sheet sandstone and sheet-flow turbidite associations, which show sheet-like sedimentation configuration, instead of depositional lobes, without distinct upward fining and coarsening successions. The lateral-supply elements form an intra-trough small fan along a lateral sediment-supply system into the troughs, and consist mainly of coarser-grained distributary-channel fills and sheet sandstones. The trough-side elements consist of slope-mudstone and spillover associations, which were deposited on the structural highs beside the troughs. The Tamugigawa trough-fill turbidites were deposited through three phases: (a) initial ponding stage with thick, sheet sandstones provided by the lateral-supply system, (b) main filling stage with sheet-flow turbidites provided by the longitudinal supply system, and (c) filled-up stage characterized by minor-scale channel–levee systems. Basin-wide tectono-sedimentary studies reveal that the trough-fill turbidites were characteristically formed during the compressional-stress-field stage related to basin inversion. The compressional stress induced basin-floor syndepositional folding and coarse clastic supply from the uplifted provenance, resulting in topographically restricted turbidite deposition within the troughs. In contrast, turbidites of the post-rift stage, prior to basin inversion, show no topographical control because of the simple and wide rift-basin topography, relative to the amount of sediment supply. It is concluded that the trough-fill turbidites of the Niigata–Shin'etsu basin have been strongly affected by basin tectonics in their depositional architecture and formation phases.

The Eocene Ishikari Group, deposited in a bay to fluvial basin in central Hokkaido, Japan, provides important information on fluvial sequence stratigraphy in a differentially subsiding ocean-connected setting. The Ishikari Group consists of four million-year-order depositional sequences (Isk-1, Isk-2, Isk-3 and Isk-4), composed mainly of meandering/braided fluvial systems. Each depositional sequence contains marine or lacustrine incursion beds, which show lake or bay to bay-margin tidal facies, at maximum flooding surface horizons. This indicates that marine or lacustrine incursion into fluvial environments took place when the increase rate of accommodation space due to relative sea-level rise exceeded the rate of accumulation. Fluvial channel stacking density varies in response to stratigraphic position within a depositional sequence, namely, high channel density in the lower part of the transgressive interval (Trs: LST to TST) and the upper part of the regressive interval (Rgr: HST), and low channel density in upper Trs and lower Rgr. Multistory channels tend to be developed in lower Trs, whereas single-story channels predominate in upper Trs and Rgr. These patterns in the distribution of fluvial channels resulted from changes in accommodation space in response to relative sea-level changes. Sequence boundaries are recognized at fluvial incision surfaces at the base of Trs, but the development of incised valleys is minor because of the relatively high subsidence rate, which obscured the effect of relative sea-level fall. Syndepositional differential subsidence within the paleo-Ishikari basin resulted in selective development of relatively downstream depositional systems in the more rapidly subsiding area. High-frequency depositional cycles are also prominently developed in the subsiding area where sedimentation rate was sufficiently high to record high-frequency relative sea-level cycles or autocycles of deposition.

This paper describes the significant depositional setting information derived from well and seismic survey data for the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene forearc basin sediments in the central part of the Sanriku-oki basin, which is regarded as a key area for elucidating the plate tectonic history of the Northeast Japan Arc. According to the results of well facies analysis utilizing cores, well logs and borehole images, the major depositional environments were of braided and meandering fluvial environments with sporadically intercalated marine incursion beds. Seismic facies, reflection terminations and isopach information provide the actual spatial distributions of fluvial channel zones flowing in a north–south trending direction. The transgression and regression cycles indicate that the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Eocene successions can be divided into thirteen depositional sequences (Sequences SrCr-0 to SrCr-5, and SrPg-1 to SrPg-7). These depositional sequences demonstrate three types of stacking patterns: Types A to C, each of which shows a succession mainly comprising a meandering fluvial system, a braided fluvial system with minor meandering aspects in the upper part, and major marine incursion beds in the middle part, respectively, although all show an overall transgressive to regressive succession. The Type C marine incursion beds characteristically comprise bay center and tidal-dominated bay margin facies. Basin-transecting long seismic sections demonstrate a roll up structure on the trench slope break (TSB) side of the basin. These facts suggest that during the Cretaceous to Eocene periods, the studied fluvial-dominated forearc basin was sheltered by the uplifted TSB. The selective occurrences of the Type C sequences suggest that when a longer-scale transgression occurred, especially in Santonian and early Campanian periods, a large bay basin was developed, creating accommodation space, which induced the deposition of the Cretaceous Kuji Group along the arc-side basin margin.

The stratigraphic distribution and abundance of molluscs and planktonic foraminifera within a sixth-order (41 kyr) depositional sequence of the early Pleistocene Omma Formation in central Japan provide several important information on the Sea of Japan since 2.5 Ma. The sea possibly experienced three substages in the paleoceanographic history since then. During substage I (2.5–1.71 Ma, oxygen isotope stage 60/59), cold northern surface water prevailed due to the closure of the sea's southern entrance. During substage II (1.71–1.52 Ma, stage 51), the warm Tsushima Current flowed into the sea from the south during interglacial highstands. During substage III (1.52–0 Ma), isolation of the Sea of Japan was reinforced by narrowing and/or shallowing of the northern entrance. These changes were caused by some local tectonic movements that affected topography of the southern and northern straits. Inflow of the Tsushima Current resulted in migration of warm-water organisms into the Sea of Japan during interglacial stages, and acted as a barrier to the migration of terrestrial organisms between East Asia and Japanese Islands.

新潟堆積盆の北部に位置する北蒲原地域の最上部中新統～下部更新統について, 地表地質・物理検層・地震探査・微化石データを用いてシーケンス層序学的解析を行った.その結果, 以下の点が明らかになった.a)14の4次オーダー堆積シーケンスと2つの3次オーダー堆積シーケンスが認識される.b)有孔虫化石の産状と堆積シーケンスには密接な関連性がある.c)堆積盆の中心部に向けて複数の砕屑物供給系が存在し, それぞれ海底扇状地を形成していた.d)砕屑物供給量や陸棚の狭さの影響により, 3次オーダー堆積シーケンスの高海水準期においても海底扇状地が顕著に発達する.e)堆積同時性隆起により, 堆積盆全体の堆積シーケンスと関係なくハイアタス, 浸食面, 無秩序堆積物などが見られる.北蒲原地域の堆積シーケンスの形態や構成堆積システムは, 構造運動・地形・気候などの影響を強く受けていると言える.

Not a few papers concerning terrestrial sequence stratigraphy have been published during the last decade, as applications using sequence stratigraphic concept have increased. This paper reviews current developments in terrestrial sequence stratigraphy in terms of sedimentation control factors and recognition methods of depositional sequences in terrestrial strata. Terrestrial sedimentary environments are divided into three territories; coastal plains, transfer zones and inland basins. Relative sea-level changes are the most important control factors in coastal plains, whereas climate and tectonic movement are critical in inland basins. In coastal plains, a depositional sequence can be recognized by such strata indicative of marine incursion as tidal, bay, estuarine or shallow marine sediments, which constitute a maximum flooding surface. Frequency and size of fluvial channels are important signals for recognition of a depositional sequence in fluvial strata, because they may have been formed in response to changes of accommodation space corresponding to relative sea-level or base level changes. In inland basins, it is necessary to recognize cycles in relation with base level, climate and sediment supply changes. In any case, we need to improve terrestrial sequence models by carrying out further case studies on a large variety of geological settings.

Studies of stratigraphy and sedimentary system for Cenozoic sequence in the Northern Fossa Magna have progressed in these two decades. Especially a regional stratigraphical correlation using volcanic ash markers has remarkably progressed, and contributed markedly in the geological studies of the Northern Fossa Magna. The Upper Miocene to Pliocene sequence has been so far correlated on the basis of zoning of benthonic foraminifera in the petroleum geology. However, the stratigraphic correlation on the basis of this paleontological zoning is not consistent with the stratigraphical correlation using the volocanic ash markers. The contradiction between these stratigraphic correlations was examined in this study.The geohistorical change of depositional system and tectonic evolution of the Northern Fossa Magna were discussed on the basis of sedimentary facies analysis and sedimentary petrography. Five geohistorical stages, namely pre-rift, rift, stable, conversion, and deformation stages, were consequently distinguished in the Cenozoic of the Northern Fossa Magna.