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SUMMARY Seismic source amplitudes determined by using the amplitudes of high-frequency (5−10 Hz) tremor signals generated by sustained explosive eruptions have been shown to be related to eruption plume height by power-law and exponential relations and to eruption volume flux by a proportional relation. We further examined these relations and extended this source quantification approach to investigate eruption duration by using the envelope width, defined by the ratio of the cumulative source amplitude to the source amplitude. We first confirmed that the relationship between source amplitude and plume height proposed by a previous study holds for small eruptions at Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia), although slight modifications were required. We then showed that the relations of envelope width with source amplitude and with cumulative source amplitude of eruption tremor associated with sub-Plinian eruptions at Kirishima (Japan) and Tungurahua (Ecuador) could be described by a power law. The source amplitude functions of these tremors were characterized by three periods and could be approximated by a trapezoidal shape. A power-law function fitted to the relation between eruption volume and eruption duration obtained from these relations was similar to that estimated by fitting a power-law function to previously reported eruption volume and duration data of well-documented silicic and andesitic eruptions. Our results suggest that eruption duration may systematically vary with eruption volume when the conduit is stably open during the second period of the trapezoidal source amplitude function. This study demonstrated that source amplitudes can be used for real-time predictions of both plume height and eruption duration, which in turn may be used to estimate ashfall distributions and tephra transport for local residents and aviation operations.

SUMMARY Long-period (LP) seismic events have occurred repeatedly at Galeras volcano, Colombia, during the transition from effusive dome formation to explosive Vulcanian eruptions. Since 1989, two types of LP events have been observed there: one characterized by long-lasting, decaying harmonic oscillations (NLP events) and the other by non-harmonic oscillatory features (BLP events). NLP events are attributed to resonances of a dusty gas-filled crack in the magma plugging the eruptive conduit. Sixteen episodes of NLP events occurred at Galeras during 1992–2010, each characterized by systematic temporal variations in the frequencies and quality factors of NLP events. Our and previous estimates of crack model parameters during three of those NLP episodes indicate that the similar temporal variations in crack geometry and fluid properties can be explained by an increase in the ash content within the crack and a decrease in crack volume. We found that NLP events, associated with low SO2 fluxes, are anticorrelated with BLP events, which are accompanied by high SO2 emissions. From our observations and analytical results, we inferred that BLP events are generated by resonances of open cracks in the uppermost magma plug, corresponding to tuffisite veins, that efficiently transfer volcanic gases. After sufficient degassing and densification, the magma plug effectively seals the conduit. The growing overpressure in the deeper magma is then released through a shear fracture along the conduit margin. The intrusion of deeper, vesiculated magma into the shear fracture depressurizes and fragments the magma, producing a dusty gas and triggering the crack resonances that generate NLP events. Our results thus indicate that the evolution of the properties of the magma plug controls the occurrences of BLP and NLP events at Galeras. Although NLP events do not always precede explosive eruptions, they indicate that an important overpressure is building in the shallow conduit.

SUMMARYLong-period (LP) seismic events at active volcanoes are thought to be generated by oscillations of fluid-filled resonators. The resonator geometry and fluid properties of LP sources have been estimated by comparing observed frequencies and quality factors (Q) with those calculated by numerical simulations with a crack model. A method to estimate all the parameters of crack geometry and fluid properties using an analytical formula for crack resonance frequencies has recently been proposed, but this method requires long computational times to compare observed and simulated Q values, especially for LP events with large Q. To resolve this problem, we used numerical simulations to systematically investigate the empirical relation between Q and crack model parameters. We found that Q can be calculated with an empirical formula expressed by the crack width-to-length ratio and the ratio of P-wave velocity in the solid medium to sound speed in the fluid. We applied this formula to LP events at Kusatsu–Shirane volcano, Japan, between 1992 August and 1993 January and at Galeras volcano, Colombia, in 1993 January. Assuming misty gas as the fluid in the crack at Kusatsu–Shirane and dusty gas as the fluid at Galeras, the empirical formula provided more detailed estimates of the parameters than those obtained previously using the Q values estimated in numerical simulations. We then applied the empirical formula to LP events with large Q values observed at Galeras between 2006 December and 2007 January. When we assumed dusty gas as the fluid in the crack, we found decreasing trends in both crack volume and the gas-weight fraction of water vapour in the crack. We also found that the dust volume was proportionally related to the product of crack aperture and crack length or width. These trends and relations were similar to those in 1993 January, suggesting that the LP events at Galeras between 2006 and 2007 were triggered by the explosive fragmentation of intruded magma and the production of a dusty gas, as was previously inferred for the LP events in 1993 January. Welding of ash in the dusty gas and dense magma remaining in the conduit after fragmentation led to a decrease in the source crack size prior to the next LP event. These results demonstrate that our empirical formula for Q can be used to estimate the source properties of LP events with large Q values without requiring long computational times. Use of the formula may thus contribute to improved monitoring of fluid states and understanding of LP triggering processes beneath many volcanoes.

SUMMARY Seismic signals during explosive eruptions have been correlated to eruption size or eruption volume flux for individual eruptive episodes. However, the universality of these correlations has yet to be confirmed. We quantified the sources of high-frequency seismic signals associated with sub-Plinian and Vulcanian eruptions at Kirishima (Japan), Tungurahua (Ecuador) and other volcanoes in Japan using a simple approach based on highly scattered seismic waveform characteristics. We found that eruption plume heights scale to seismic source amplitudes and are described by two relations depending on the value of source amplitudes: power-law and exponential relations for plume height >6 km and

Seismic scattering and attenuation at volcanoes, thought to be strongest on the Earth, can be used to map volcanic feeding systems. We systematically analyzed high-frequency (5–10 Hz) seismograms of volcano-tectonic earthquakes at Galeras volcano (Colombia) and active sources at Kirishima, Unzen, Bandai, and Iwate volcanoes (Japan) to investigate their scattering and attenuation characteristics. The envelope widths estimated from these seismograms were compared with those calculated by Monte Carlo envelope simulations for 1D layered models parameterized by the scattering mean free path and the quality factor of medium attenuation for S waves. Our results indicated a surficial, highly heterogeneous, and attenuative layer up to around 1 km thickness at all studied volcanoes. The strongest heterogeneities at volcanoes thus exist in a thin surface layer, likely comprising unconsolidated and/or highly fractured materials. Using the space-weighting function for diffusive wavefields, we mapped the residuals between observed envelope widths and those calculated with our estimated 1D models at Kirishima, Unzen, Bandai, and Iwate. These maps showed spatial distributions of the envelope-width residuals were unique to each volcano and correlated with P wave velocity tomographic images. Areas of positive residuals correspond to low-velocity anomalies and thus to heterogeneous, strongly scattering rocks, whereas areas of negative residuals correspond to high-velocity anomalies and thus less heterogeneous volcanic or basement rocks. Our results demonstrate that envelope widths can improve the characterization of scattering and attenuation structures beneath volcanoes.

The source location method using high-frequency seismic amplitudes based on the assumption of isotropic radiation of S waves has been used successfully to locate seismic events and tremor at volcanoes. This amplitude source location (ASL) method overcomes the limitations of traditional hypocenter determination methods that use onset arrival times, and has great potential to improve volcano-seismic monitoring and the investigation of source processes of volcano-seismic signals. However, theoretical justification of the basic assumption used in the ASL method has not been provided in previous studies. In this study, we tested the ASL method by using seismic waveforms simulated with a finite-difference method in realistic heterogeneous volcanic structures with intrinsic attenuation and topography. Our results showed that ASL determinations were successful when using waveforms characterized by multiple scattering that can be approximated by the diffusion model. We found that the energy solution of the diffusion model provided an amplitude-distance relation that is similar to that used in the ASL method. Our results suggest that the ASL method is applicable to high-frequency seismograms in highly heterogeneous media with transport mean free paths of 103 m or smaller and strong intrinsic attenuation. These medium parameters are consistent with those estimated at various volcanoes. Our study validates the basic assumption of the ASL method and justifies its use to locate the sources of high-frequency seismic signals observed at volcanoes.

A large earthquake (Mw 7.7) occurred on 16 April 2016 within the source region of the 1906 earthquake in the Ecuador-Colombia subduction zone. The 1906 event has been interpreted as a megathrust earthquake (Mw 8.8) that ruptured the source regions of smaller earthquakes in 1942, 1958, and 1979 in this subduction. Our seismic analysis indicated that the spatial distribution of the 2016 earthquake and its aftershocks correlated with patches of high interplate coupling strength and was similar to those of the 1942 earthquake and its aftershocks, suggesting that the 2016 and 1942 earthquakes ruptured the same asperity. Our analysis of tsunami waveforms of the 1906 event indicated Mw around 8.4 and showed that large slip occurred near the trench off the source regions of the above three historical and the 2016 earthquakes, suggesting that a depth-dependent complex rupture mode exists along this subduction zone.

We performed repeated three-dimensional seismic tomography in 2009–2018 for the area influenced by the intersection of the Silvia–Pijao (Buesaco) and Cauca–Almaguer fault systems beneath Galeras volcano, Colombia. We analyzed two periods, 2009–2012 and 2013–2018, which were characterized by explosive eruptive activity and relative quiescence at Galeras, respectively. We used P- and S-wave arrival times of 2848 (2009–2012) and 2289 (2013–2018) earthquakes that occurred beneath the volcano. P- and S-wave velocity (Vp and Vs, respectively) anomalies and their changes between the two periods were interpreted to be associated with magma movement in the volcanic plumbing system, which was controlled by the intersection of the faults. Two possible pathways of magma ascent and accumulation were identified in the fault systems. One, located SW of the active crater, consisted of areas with high Vp/Vs values (>1.9) at depths of −2 to 4 km below sea level, and the other located NE of the active crater with high and low Vp/Vs values. The low-Vp/Vs (

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology implements a program on seismic and tsunami network development. It also plans to expand the Philippine seismic network (PSN), commission new stations, rehabilitate and improve existing stations, and repair and maintain the PSN. The PSN consists of 70 stations, 12 of which use broadband seismometers. Stations are strategically located to maximize the use of data from stations. The broadband seismic network is being developed to monitor earthquakes in and around the Philippines and to provide more accurate data for calculating earthquake parameters. Using data obtain from broadband records, the systemwill immediately calculate earthquake parameters useful for making decisions that provide highly accurate, timely warnings and information. PSN performance is evaluated in this study to ensure this. We consider background noise by analyzing station locations and conditions and their data contribution to SWIFT CMT solutions. We also use power spectral density (PSD) to compare station noise levels to global standards and study data gaps and their causes. Based on the above parameters and using a scale of poor-goodbest, the broadband seismic network is currently performing well.

Recently, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has upgraded its seismic network, equipping it with accelerometers and broadband seismometers for intensity and focal mechanism determinations. As part of this upgrade, PHIVOLCS adapted the use of a source analysis system called SWIFT to determine the centroid moment tensor (SWIFT CMT). SWIFT CMT solutions were estimated for medium to large size earthquakes (4.1 ≤Mw≤ 7.6) in the Philippines for the period of January 2012 to November 2013 and were statistically evaluated with respect to the CMT solutions of the Global Centroid Moment Tensor (GCMT) Project. The seismic moments, moment magnitudes, centroid locations, depths and focal mechanisms of most of the SWIFT CMT solutions are found to be consistent to those of the GCMT solutions for earthquakes withMw≥ 4.6. The SWIFT system with the new broadband seismographic network provides more CMT solutions for moderate size earthquakes (Mw≥ 4.1) than GCMT. SWIFT proves to be useful in the development of the Philippines CMT catalogue that will lead to a better understanding of seismotectonics in the Philippines.

A network of 10 satellite-telemetered broadband stations was established under a cooperative project between Japan and the Philippines, and a source analysis system based on waveform inversion of regional seismograms was adapted to operationalize a regional moment tensor analysis of Philippine earthquakes. This study presents the source information generated by the system for recent damaging earthquakes: theMw6.7 Negros andMw7.6 offshore Samar in 2012, and theMw7.2 in Bohol in 2013. Results show that the Negros event was generated by shallow NE–SW thrust faulting with a small strike-slip component, and that the centroid was located slightly offshore. The Samar event occurred in relation to an outer-trench thrust fault within the Philippine Sea Plate, adjacent to a part of the Philippine Trench that has relatively low seismicity. Our centroid moment tensor (CMT) solutions show that the Samar event triggered distinct clusters of outer-rise normal and thrust aftershocks, which we explain as being consistent with a Coulomb stress change in the area. Finally, we infer that the previously unidentified fault zone that generated the Bohol earthquake has a length of ∼ 100 km, is oriented ENE–WSW, transects parts of Bohol, and extends offshore towards Cebu. These examples show how recent improvements in Philippine earthquake monitoring could contribute to the characterization of earthquake sources and in the understanding of the seismotectonics of the area.

During a phreatic explosion at Mayon Volcano, Philippines, on 7 May 2013, a very long period seismic event with a peak frequency of 0.4 Hz was observed. Our frequency-domain waveform inversion solution of the event in the frequency range 0.1–0.6 Hz is consistent with a subhorizontal tensile crack and a vertical single force at a shallow location beneath the summit crater. The source time functions obtained by the waveform inversion are band-passed forms. We estimated the deconvolved forms of the source time functions (DSTFs), which are source time functions corrected for the effects of the band-pass filter. The DSTF of the crack can be approximated by an impulse-type function composed of inflation followed by deflation, whereas the DSTF of the single force can be approximated by a downward impulse. The inflation of the crack may be attributed to boiling of underground water and its deflation can be attributed to discharge of water vapor, whereas the downward force may be understood as the counterforce of the explosion. Our results suggest that only a portion of the crack wall was destroyed by the explosion. We could not find clear precursors in seismic, thermography, geothermal, geodetic, and meteorological data. We present a model of repeated explosions in which an explosion can occur once the fragmented portion of the crack is sealed by precipitation of clay minerals or hydrothermal secondary deposits. This model may explain the absence of clear precursory signals before the 2013 explosion.

Taal Volcano, Philippines, is one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes given its history of explosive eruptions and its close proximity to populated areas. A real-time broadband seismic network was recently deployed and has detected volcano-tectonic events beneath Taal. Our source location analysis of these volcano-tectonic events, using onset arrival times and high-frequency seismic amplitudes, points to the existence of a region of strong attenuation near the ground surface beneath the east flank of Volcano Island in Taal Lake. This region is beneath the active fumarolic area and above sources of pressure contributing inflation and deflation, and it coincides with a region of high electrical conductivity. The high-attenuation region matches that inferred from an active-seismic survey conducted at Taal in 1993. These features strongly suggest that the high-attenuation region represents an actively degassing magma body near the surface that has existed for more than 20 years.

[1] The fluid-filled crack model has been widely used to interpret the peak frequencies of long-period (LP) seismic events at volcanoes. Up to now, numerical methods have been used to compute resonant frequencies in the model. We propose a simple analytical formula for the longitudinal resonance frequencies of a fluid-filled crack. We evaluated the formula by comparing its results with the resonant frequencies computed by finite difference method code. The comparison revealed that the formula well describes the resonant frequencies of both 2-D and 3-D cracks. The formula enables simple and rapid estimates of the fluid properties and geometries of LP source cracks.

[1] We use broadband seismic recordings to trace the dynamic process of the deep-seated Akatani landslide that occurred on the Kii Peninsula, Japan, which is one of the best recorded large slope failures. Combining analyses of the seismic records with precise topographic surveys done before and after the event, we can resolve a detailed time history of the mass movement. During 50 s of the large landslide, we observe a smooth initiation, acceleration with changes in basal friction, and reversal of the momentum when the mass collides with the opposite valley wall. Of particular importance is the determination of the dynamic friction during the landslide. The coefficient of friction is estimated to be 0.56 at the beginning of the event and drops to 0.38 for most of the sliding. The change in the frictional level on the sliding surface may be due to liquefaction or breaking of rough patches and contributes to the extended propagation of the large landslide.

article i nfo The amplitude source location (ASL) method, which uses high-frequency amplitudes under the assumption of isotropic S-wave radiation, has been shown to be useful for locating the sources of various types of volcano-seismic signals. We tested the ASL method by using synthetic seismograms and examined the source amplitudes determined by this method for various types of volcano-seismic signals observed at different volcanoes. Our synthetic tests indicated that, although ASL results are not strongly influenced by velocity structure and noise, they do depend on site amplification factors at individual stations. We first applied the ASL method to volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes at Taal volcano, Philippines. Our ASL results for the largest VT earthquake showed that a frequency range of 7-12 Hz and a Q value of 50 were appropriate for the source location determination. Using these values, we systematically estimated source locations and amplitudes of VT earthquakes at Taal. We next applied the ASL method to long-period events at Cotopaxi volcano and to explosions at Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. We proposed a practical approach to minimize the effects of site amplifications among different volcano seismic networks, and compared the source amplitudes of these various volcano-seismic events with their seismic magnitudes. We found a proportional relation between seismic magnitude and the logarithm of the source amplitude. The ASL method can be used to de- termine source locations of small events for which onset measurements are difficult, and thus can estimate the sizes of events over a wider range of sizes compared with conventional hypocenter determination ap- proaches. Previously, there has been no parameter widely used to quantify the sources of volcano-seismic signals. This study showed that the source amplitude determined by the ASL method may be a useful quan- titative measure of volcano-seismic event size.

[1] To investigate source processes of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake, we utilized a source location method using high-frequency (5−10 Hz) seismic amplitudes. In this method, we assumed far-field isotropic radiation of S waves, and conducted a spatial grid search to find the best fitting source locations along the subducted slab in each successive time window. Our application of the method to the Tohoku-Oki earthquake resulted in artifact source locations at shallow depths near the trench caused by limited station coverage and noise effects. We then assumed various source node distributions along the plate, and found that the observed seismograms were most reasonably explained when assuming deep source nodes. This result suggests that the high-frequency seismic waves were radiated at deeper depths during the earthquake, a feature which is consistent with results obtained from teleseismic back-projection and strong-motion source model studies. We identified three high-frequency subevents, and compared them with the moment-rate function estimated from low-frequency seismograms. Our comparison indicated that no significant moment release occurred during the first high-frequency subevent and the largest moment-release pulse occurred almost simultaneously with the second high-frequency subevent. We speculated that the initial slow rupture propagated bilaterally from the hypocenter toward the land and trench. The landward subshear rupture propagation consisted of three successive high-frequency subevents. The trenchward propagation ruptured the strong asperity and released the largest moment near the trench.

Broadband seismometers produce artifacts resembling long-period pulses (non-seismic pulses) that degrade centroid moment tensor (CMT) estimations based on waveform inversion of broadband seismic records in long-period bands (50–200 s). We propose a method to discriminate non-seismic pulses and long-period noise from seismic signals, which can be applied to automatic CMT inversion analysis. In this method, we calculate source amplitudes as peak-to-peak displacement amplitudes in individual long-period seismic records after each event has been corrected for medium attenuation and geometric spreading and then estimate the ratios of individual source amplitudes to the minimum source amplitude. Because source amplitude ratios for non-seismic pulses tend to be greater than those of the seismic signals, we use seismic records in CMT estimations only if their source amplitude ratios are lower than a threshold value (R). We tested this method using broadband seismic data from the Philippines and found that reprocessed inversion solutions using this method showed a clear improvement when using R = 11, although focal mechanism estimations were not entirely stable. To investigate the general applicability of this method, we analyzed broadband seismic data from F-net in Japan. Our analysis indicated that source amplitude ratios in F-net data ranged up to about 20, indicating that the threshold value may be dependent on station density. Given that F-net is one of the highest density networks in the world, we may assume that a threshold value between 10 and 20 is appropriate for application of our method for most regional broadband networks. Our synthetic tests indicated that source amplitude ratios can be as high as 103, although observed ratios are only within the range 10–20. This suggests that we happened to observe only events having focal mechanisms with source amplitude ratios of 10–20. Alternatively, these high source amplitude ratios can be explained by distortion of radiation patterns in the long-period band, which reduces maximum source amplitude ratios and affects CMT estimates.

Our moment tensor inversion of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake, using regional broadband strong-motion waveforms, indicates that the earthquake can be approximated by a point source. The amplitude spectra of the observed displacement seismograms were fitted by the omega-square model, which resulted in the corner frequency of around 0.016 Hz. This implies a large slip over a circular fault having a radius of 70 km, with a rupture duration of about 40 s. The moment-rate function estimated from the inversion shows a large impulse of similar duration. We interpret this impulse to correspond to the rupture estimated from the corner frequency. From the seismic moment released during the impulse, we have estimated the average slip and stress drop over the fault to be 50 m and 40 MPa, respectively. This stress drop corresponds to an effective normal stress larger than 200 MPa, indicating that a strong localized asperity (mega asperity) was ruptured during the earthquake. Previous simulation studies suggested the importance of a large effective normal stress at a shallow plate interface, which was explained by a pore pressure distribution along the plate. We have explored the possibility of a subducted seamount to be the origin of the mega asperity.

Functional Block in the Posterior Right Atrium. Introduction: Conduction block in the posterior right atrium (RA) plays an important role in perpetuating atrial flutter (AFL). Although conduction blocks have functional properties, it is not clear how the block line changes with the pacing rate, pacing site, and administration of antiarrhythmic drugs. Methods and Results: Forty patients with typical AFL were enrolled. Pacing (110, 170, 230 ppm) from the coronary sinus ostium (CSo) and low lateral RA was performed. After 1 mg/kg pilsicainide (pure sodium channel blockade) administration, the pacing protocol was repeated. Conduction block was assessed based on a color-coded isopotential map and 20 points of virtual unipolar electrograms in the posterior RA using noncontact mapping. Block line proportion was defined as the percentage of length of the block line between the superior and inferior vena cava. The pacing rate-dependent extension of the block proportion was significant during pacing from both sides (pacing from the CSo: 59 ± 17% at 110 ppm, 69 ± 16% at 230 ppm, P < 0.05; pacing from the low lateral RA: 43 ± 19% at 110 ppm, 55 ± 22% at 230 ppm, P < 0.05). The block line was significantly longer during CSo pacing than during low lateral RA pacing at each rate (all P < 0.05). After pilsicainide administration, the block line extended further. Conclusion: In addition to pacing rate-dependent and site-dependent changes in the block line, pilsicainide further extended the block line length. This phenomenon explains the clinical observation that counterclockwise AFL occurs more frequently than clockwise AFL, and the mechanism of class IC AFL. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 827-834, August 2012)

We developed a centroid moment tensor (CMT) catalogue of earthquakes in and around Indonesia (InaCMT) using data from the nationwide broadband seismograph network in Indonesia. We obtained CMT solutions for about 500 earthquakes that occurred in and around Indonesia between 2006 and 2009. The moment magnitudes ranged from 4.5 to 8.3. We examined the accuracy of the CMT solutions of the InaCMT catalogue by comparing them with those obtained by the Global CMT (GCMT) Project. The seismic moments and focal mechanisms of these catalogues were highly consistent with each other, but we found systematic differences between the catalogues in the source centroid locations of earthquakes off Sumatra. The InaCMT source centroid locations were closer to the hypocenter locations in the Preliminary Determination of Earthquakes (PDE) of the U.S. Geological Survey compared to those of GCMT. The systematic deviations in the GCMT source centroid locations may mainly reflect insufficient azimuthal coverage of the stations used for the inversions as well as uncertainties in the Earth model. Using the InaCMT catalogue, we investigated seismic activity related to the off Bengkulu seismic sequence on 12 September 2007 (Mw = 8.3, 7.9, and 6.8), southwest of Sumatra, and the earthquakes northwest of the island of New Guinea on 3 January 2009 (Mw = 7.7 and 7.4). In the aftershock activity of the 2007 off Bengkulu seismic sequence, we found that shallow earthquakes were aligned along the eastern coast of Siberut Island, located between the Sunda trench and Sumatra. These earthquakes may have occurred along the Mentawai fault or another unknown fault. The focal mechanisms of the earthquakes were dominantly reverse slip, although the Mentawai fault has been considered to be a strike-slip fault. Shallow large earthquakes along this fault may cause damage above the source region and generate large tsunamis. We found that the 2009 earthquakes northwest of New Guinea occurred along the Manokwari trough and that the aftershocks were aligned along a plane dipping about 30° to the south, indicating that the Pacific and/or Philippine Sea plate subducts below the Australian plate at the Manokwari trough. The InaCMT catalogue enables us to perform detailed analyses of seismic activity in and around Indonesia, which contributes to better understanding of tectonic features and potential seismic and tsunami hazards in Indonesia as well as the coastal regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

A very-long-period (VLP) volcanic event, which occurred on 25 January 2007 beneath Mt Ontake, central Japan, was recorded by nearby broadband seismometers as well as the Japanese nationwide Hi-net and F-net seismic networks. The VLP waveforms show a pulse-like shape with a duration of approximately 1 min. The VLP event was accompanied by a burst sequence of long-period (LP) events. We carried out waveform inversion to determine the source mechanism and location of the VLP event. Our analysis indicates volumetric changes in an inclined crack (seismic moment of 10 14 Nm) at the VLP source, which is located at 0.6 km above sea level beneath the summit of Mt Ontake and above dikes determined from GPS data. The source-time functions of the VLP event showed a pulse-like triangular shape, indicating inflation followed by deflation of the crack at the source. We interpreted the result of the waveform inversion as follows. Gases released from the intruded magma heated an aquifer system beneath the summit of Mt Ontake. A break of unstable superheated water in a hydrothermal crack in the system caused vaporization of water and associated crack inflation, which was followed by discharge of steam from the crack resulting in its collapse. These processes caused the VLP event, which may have been a precursor of a small phreatic eruption that occurred in late March 2007.

There is limited information regarding the process of tissue remodeling in fibroblastic foci associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The aim of this study was to identify the different pathologic stages of tissue remodeling in fibroblastic foci based on the histopathologic differences in the glycosaminoglycan distribution and collagen deposition. In addition, we also aimed at clarifying the stage-specific characteristics by taking into consideration the expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinase and angiogenesis. Lung biopsies of 16 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were used. The presence of glycosaminoglycans was detected by Alcian blue staining, and type I collagen was detected by immunohistochemical analysis with a primary antibody specific to the cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen. The fibroblastic foci characterized by the expression intensity of Alcian blue and telopeptide of type I collagen were divided into 3 groups, namely, Alcian blue(+)telopeptide of type I collagen(weak), Alcian blue(+)telopeptide of type I collagen(+), and Alcian blue(weak)telopeptide of type I collagen(+); consequently, 3 new stages were defined--stages I, II, and III, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the area densities of Alcian blue(+) and telopeptide of type I collagen(+) in fibroblastic foci. Stage I was characterized by the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease-2 in fibroblasts and the overlying epithelium of fibroblastic foci, and also the absence of capillary angiogenesis. In contrast, the expression of these proteins was attenuated in stage III, except for that of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in fibroblasts. In stages II and III, capillary angiogenesis was observed. Lymphangiogenesis was undetected in all the 3 stages. Thus, pathologic staging helps understand the roles of the factors involved in tissue remodeling in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

SummaryWe describe a case of a 60-year-old male with dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by Fabry disease. He was diagnosed to have a cardiac variant of Fabry disease by an enzyme assay and a right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy which revealed specific features of this disease and cardiac involvement was the sole manifestation. He has developed dilated cardiomyopathy with sustained atrial flutter and frequent non-sustained ventricular tachycardia requiring isthmus ablation and cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator.

Debris flows, or lahars, frequently occur in volcanic regions and cause serious disasters to nearby communities. Lahars are commonly observed as long-lasting, high-frequency tremor in seismic records. We propose a seismic technique to locate the source of tremor originating from lahars by using waveform data from a seismic network. In this method, we fit the surface wave amplitudes from point sources positioned over the surface of a volcano to the observed tremor amplitudes, and estimate the spatial distributions of the normalized residuals in successive time windows. The observed tremor amplitudes at individual stations are corrected by site amplification factors independently estimated from coda waves of tectonic earthquakes. The positions of time windows applied to the observed tremor signals are corrected for the travel times of individual source and receiver pairs. We track the source of tremor or lahars as temporal changes of the best-fit locations in the residual distributions. This method is an extension of the existing methods used to locate seismic events and tremor associated with volcanic eruptions. We applied this technique to tremor signals of lahars observed by a seismic network at Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador. Our analysis showed regions with small residuals on the NE flank of the volcano. This suggests that lahars descended on this flank, which is consistent with the result of a field survey that found fresh lahar deposits on the NE flank. Our method, which can be easily automated, may be useful for the rapid detection and monitoring of lahars.

Decrease of ceramide in the skin is one of the aggravating factors of atopic dermatitis. The skin is often infected by ceramidase-producing bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacterial ceramidase then degrades ceramide in the skin. To develop anti-atopic dermatitis drugs, we searched for ceramidase inhibitors, which led to the discovery of ceramidastin, a novel inhibitor of bacterial ceramidase, from the culture broth of Penicillium sp. Mer-f17067. Ceramidastin inhibited the bacterial ceramidase with an IC(50) value of 6.25 microg ml(-1). Here we describe the isolation, physicochemical properties, structure determination and biological activity of ceramidastin.

The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs), LTC(4), LTD(4), and LTE(4), are potent inflammatory mediators and are involved in allergic reactions, such as bronchoconstriction, eosinophilic inflammation, and allergic cell proliferation. The present study aimed to elucidate the role of constitutively produced cysteinyl LTs in mast cell activation. We used a newly developed quantification method based on mass spectrometry to detect cysteinyl LTs in the cultured medium of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), which were obtained by interleukin (IL)-3-conditioned culture of mouse bone marrow. BMMCs were stimulated with immunoglobulin (Ig) E and antigen (IgE/Ag) or lipopolysaccharide for 1 or 24 h. This new quantification method revealed that unstimulated BMMCs produced and secreted LTB4 and LTE4 after 24 h of incubation. The treatment of unstimulated BMMCs for 2 h with montelukast, an antagonist of a cysteinyl LT receptor, CysLT1, resulted in the suppression of a downstream signaling event of this receptor, i.e., the decrease in phosphorylation of extracellular responsive kinases. Thus, cysteinyl LTs constitutively simulate BMMCs through the CysLT1 receptor in an autocrine manner. Treatment of BMMCs for 3 weeks with montelukast, which caused long-term inhibition of the autocrine cyteinyl LT-derived signal, significantly attenuated the IgE/Ag-dependent degranulation, as judged by the decrease in the release of beta-hexosaminidase, an enzyme contained in the granules, whereas the production of cytokines, such as IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, were largely unaffected. In conclusion, an autocrine signal derived from constitutively produced cysteinyl LTs predisposes mast cells to the degranulation upon allergic stimulation.

Renewed seismic activity of Cotopaxi, Ecuador, began in January 2001 with the increased number of long-period (LP) events, followed by a swarm of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes in November 2001. In late June 2002, the activity of very-long-period (VLP) (2 s) events accompanying LP (0.5–1 s) signals began beneath the volcano. The VLP waveform was characterized by an impulsive signature, which was accompanied by the LP signal showing non-harmonic oscillations. We observed temporal changes of both the VLP and LP signals from the beginning until September 2003: The VLP signal gradually disappeared and the LP signal characterized by decaying harmonic oscillations became dominant. Assuming possible source geometries, we applied a waveform inversion method to the observed waveforms of the largest VLP event. Our inversion and particle motion analyses point to volumetric changes of a sub-vertical crack as the VLP source, which is located at a depth of 2–3 km beneath the northeastern flank. The spectral analysis of the decaying harmonic oscillations of LP events shows frequencies between 2.0 and 3.5 Hz, with quality factors significantly above 100. The increased VT activity and deformation data suggest an intrusion of magma beneath the volcano. A release of gases with small magma particles may have repetitively occurred due to the pressurization, which was caused by sustained bubble growth at the magma ceiling. The released particle-laden gases opened a crack above the magma system and triggered the resonance of the crack. We interpret the VLP and LP events as the gas-release process and the resonance of the crack, respectively.

SUMMARY We propose a method of waveform inversion to rapidly and routinely estimate both the moment function and the centroid moment tensor (CMT) of an earthquake. In this method, waveform inversion is carried out in the frequency domain to obtain the moment function more rapidly than when solved in the time domain. We assume a pure double-couple source mechanism in order to stabilize the solution when using data from a small number of seismic stations. The fault and slip orientations are estimated by a grid search with respect to the strike, dip and rake angles. The moment function in the time domain is obtained from the inverse Fourier transform of the frequency components determined by the inversion. Since observed waveforms used for the inversion are limited in a particular frequency band, the estimated moment function is a bandpassed form. We develop a practical approach to estimate the deconvolved form of the moment function, from which we can reconstruct detailed rupture history and the seismic moment. The source location is determined by a spatial grid search using adaptive grid spacings, which are gradually decreased in each step of the search. We apply this method to two events that occurred in Indonesia by using data from a broad-band seismic network in Indonesia (JISNET): one northeast of Sulawesi (M w = 7.5) on 2007 January 21, and the other south of Java (M w = 7.5) on 2006 July 17. The source centroid locations and mechanisms we estimated for both events are consistent with those determined by the Global CMT Project and the National Earthquake Information Center of the U.S. Geological Survey. The estimated rupture duration of the Sulawesi event is 16 s, which is comparable to a typical duration for earthquakes of this magnitude, while that of the Java event is anomalously long (176 s), suggesting that this event was a tsunami earthquake. Our application demonstrates that this inversion method has great potential for rapid and routine estimations of both the CMT and the moment function, and may be useful for identification of tsunami earthquakes.

Guagua Pichincha, located 14 km west of Quito, Ecuador, is a stratovolcano bisected by a horseshoe-shaped caldera. In 1999, after some months of phreatic activity, Guagua Pichincha entered into an eruptive period characterized by the extrusion of several dacitic domes, vulcanian eruptions, and pyroclastic flows. We estimated the three-dimensional (3-D) P-wave velocity structure beneath Guagua Pichincha using a tomographic inversion method based on finite-difference calculations of first-arrival times. Hypocenters of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes and long-period (LP) events were relocated using the 3-D P-wave velocity model. A low-velocity anomaly exists beneath the caldera and may represent an active volcanic conduit. Petrologic analysis of eruptive products indicates a magma storage region beneath the caldera, having a vertical extent of 7–8 km with the upper boundary at about sea level. This zone coincides with the source region of deeper VT earthquakes, indicating that a primary magma body exists in this region. LP swarms occurred in a cyclic pattern synchronous with ground deformation during magma extrusions. The correlation between seismicity and ground deformation suggests that both respond to pressure changes caused by the cyclic eruptive behavior of lava domes.

BACKGROUND The ability to evaluate coronary stenosis using multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) has been well discussed. In contrast, several studies demonstrated that the plaque burden measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has a relationship to the risk of cardiovascular events. the accuracy of MDCT was studied to determine plaque and vessel size compared with IVUS. METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty-six proximal lesions (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification: segment 1, 5, 6) from 33 patients were assessed using MDCT and IVUS. The plaque and vessel area were measured from the cross-sectional image using both MDCT and IVUS. Eight coronary artery lesions with motion artifacts and heavily calcified plaques were excluded from the analysis. The vessel and lumen size evaluated using MDCT were closely correlated with those evaluated by IVUS (R(2)=0.614, 0.750 respectively). Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between percentage plaque area assessed by MDCT and IVUS (R(2)=0.824). CONCLUSION MDCT can noninvasively quantify coronary atherosclerotic plaque with good correlation compared with IVUS in patients with atherosclerosis.

On September 1, 2004, Mt. Asama in central Japan erupted for the first time in 21 years. Between this moderate eruption and mid-November of the same year, 4 additional moderate eruptions occurred. We installed 8 broadband seismic stations in addition to the short period seismic network around the volcano and succeeded in recording the near-field seismic signals associated with the summit eruptions. The results of the waveform inversions clearly show that the force system exerted at the source region is dominated by vertical single force components. The source depths of the single force are shallower than 200 m from the bottom of the summit crater, and the order of magnitude of the single force is 1010–1011N. The source time history of each vertical single force component consists of two downward forces and one upward force. The initial downward force probably corresponds to the sudden removal of a lid capping the pressurized conduit. The drag force due to viscous magma moving upward in the conduit can explain the upward force. The correlation between the single force amplitudes and the amounts of volcanic deposits emitted from the summit crater are not necessarily positive, suggesting that the amount of deposits remaining within the summit crater may have played an important role in the excitation of the single force.

Tungurahua Volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes is a large andesitic stratovolcano (5023 m) that has been erupting mildly since 1999. We studied the three-dimensional (3-D) P-wave velocity (Vp) structure beneath the volcano down to 5 km below the summit. We inverted 1708 P-wave first-arrival times from 263 volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes recorded by 5 to 10 short-period vertical seismic stations on the volcano from August 1999 to May 2003. A tomographic inversion method was used to image the velocity structure, in which first-arrival times were calculated with a finite-difference method. The Root Mean Square of the arrival time residuals (RMS) was reduced by 43% after running 10 iterations from the initial RMS of 0.15 s. The relocated hypocenters in our model are tightly clustered along a vertical structure at depths between sea level and the summit crater. A high-velocity zone exists above the central base of the volcano under the vertically aligned hypocenters, and may be interpreted as the source zone for recharge of the shallow magmatic system. High-velocity zones are also identified under the lower northeastern and southern flanks of the edifice. The southern high-velocity anomaly lies close to the surface and is connected to the high-velocity zone in the central base of the volcano, a feature suggesting an old lateral dike system. Except for these high-velocity zones in the central, northern, and southern flanks, the volcanic edifice is composed of low-velocity materials down to a depth of 2 km above sea level. These low-velocity zones correlate with young unconsolidated deposits, and older highly fractured and/or altered volcanic materials.

We investigate temporal variations in the complex frequencies (frequency and quality factor Q) of long-period (LP) events that occurred at Kusatsu-Shirane Volcano, central Japan. We analyze LP waveforms observed at this volcano in the period between 1988 and 1995, which covers a seismically active period between 1989 and 1993. Systematic temporal variations in the complex frequencies are observed in October–November 1989, July–October 1991, and September 1992–January 1993. We use acoustic properties of a crack filled with hydrothermal fluids to interpret the observed temporal variations in the complex frequencies. The temporal variations in October–November 1989 can be divided into two periods, which are explained by a gradual decrease and increase of a gas-volume fraction in a water–steam mixture in a crack, respectively. The temporal variations in July–October 1991 can be also divided into two periods. These variations in the first and second periods are similar to those observed in November 1989 and in September–November 1992, respectively, and are interpreted as drying of a water–steam mixture and misty gas in a crack, respectively. The repeated nature of the temporal variations observed in similar seasons between July and November suggests the existence of seasonality in the occurrence of LP events. This may be caused by a seasonally variable meteoritic water supply to a hydrothermal system, which may have been heated by the flux of volcanic gases from magma beneath this volcano.

SUMMARY We analyse a long-period (LP) event observed by a dense seismic network temporarily operated at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, in 1996. We systematically perform spectral analyses, waveform inversions and forward modeling of the LP event to quantify its source process. Spectral analyses identify two dominant spectral frequencies at 0.6 and 1.3 Hz with associated Q values in the range 10‐20. Results from waveform inversions assuming six moment-tensor and three single-force components point to the resonance of a horizontal crack located at a depth of approximately 150 m near the northeastern rim of the Halemaumau pit crater. Waveform simulations based on a fluid-filled crack model suggest that the observed frequencies and Q values can be explained by a crack filled with a hydrothermal fluid in the form of either bubbly water or steam. The shallow hydrothermal crack located directly above the magma conduit may have been heated by volcanic gases leaking from the conduit. The enhanced flux of heat raised the overall pressure of the hydrothermal fluid in the crack and induced a rapid discharge of fluid from the crack, which triggered the acoustic vibrations of the resonator generating the LP waveform. The present study provides further support to the idea that LP events originate in the resonance of a crack.

The anti-diabetic effect of cytogenin was examined using streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice. Cytogenin suppressed not only the increase of plasma glucose level but also the body weight reduction in diabetic mice. Histological examination of the pancreas taken from diabetic mice given cytogenin showed that cytogenin decreased the number of macrophages infiltrated into islet of pancreas. Further, cytogenin suppressed the nitric oxide generation by macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide through decreasing of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Cytogenin suppressed interleukin-6 expression by macrophage treated with LPS, suggesting that the anti-diabetic activity of cytogenin might be partly attributed to the suppressive activity against nitric oxide generation.

In the course of screening program for inhibitors of angiogenesis, novel substances designated as ICM0301A approximately H (1 approximately 8) were isolated from the culture broth of Aspergillus sp. F-1491. ICM0301s inhibited the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) with IC50 values of 2.2 approximately 9.3 microg/ml. ICM0301A (1) showed significant anti-angiogenic activity at lower than 10 microg/ml in the angiogenesis model using rat aorta cultured in fibrin gel. ICM0301s showed very low cytotoxicity against various tumor cells. Furthermore, 1CM0301A did not show any toxic symptom in mice by intraperitoneal injection at 100 mg/kg.