a b s t r a c tSpectroscopy is emerging as a technique that can expand the envelope of modern oceanographic sensors. The selectivity of spectroscopic techniques enables a single instrument to measure multiple components of the marine environment and can form the basis for versatile tools to perform in situ geochemical analysis. We have developed a deep-sea laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (ChemiCam) and successfully deployed the instrument from a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to perform in situ multi-element analysis of both seawater and mineral deposits at depths of over 1000 m. The instrument consists of a long-nanosecond duration pulse-laser, a spectrometer and a high-speed camera. Power supply, instrument control and signal telemetry are provided through a ROV tether. The instrument has two modes of operation. In the first mode, the laser is focused directly into seawater and spectroscopic measurements of seawater composition are performed. In the second mode, a fiberoptic cable assembly is used to make spectroscopic measurements of mineral deposits. In this mode the laser is fired through a 4 m long fiber-optic cable and is focused onto the target's surface using an optical head and a linear stage that can be held by a ROV manipulator. In this paper, we describe the instrument and the methods developed to process its measurements. Exemplary measurements of both seawater and mineral deposits made during deployments of the device at an active hydrothermal vent field in the Okinawa trough are presented. Through integration with platforms such as underwater vehicles, drilling systems and subsea observatories, it is hoped that this technology can contribute to more efficient scientific surveys of the deep-sea environment.

Recent advances in developmental and stem cell biology have made regeneration-based therapies feasible as therapeutic strategies for patients with damaged central nervous systems (CNSs), including those with spinal cord injuries, Parkinson disease, or stroke. These strategies can be classified into two approaches: (i) the replenishment of lost neural cells and (ii) the induction of axonal regeneration. The first approach includes the activation of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult CNS and cell transplantation therapy. Endogenous NSCs have been shown to give rise to new neurons after insults, including ischemia, have been sustained; this form of neurogenesis followed by the migration and functional maturation of neuronal cells, as well as the responses of glial cells and the vascular system play crucial roles in endogenous repair mechanisms in damaged CNS tissue. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in regeneration-based therapeutic approaches using endogenous NSCs, including the results of our own collaborative groups.

a b s t r a c t Keywords:Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) Calibration-free LIBS Liquid-phase laser ablation Quantitative analysis Long-pulse laser Long-ns-duration, single pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is known to be an effective method to observe well resolved spectra from samples immersed in water at high hydrostatic pressures. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the signals obtained using this method are suitable for quantitative analysis of chemical composition. Six certified brass alloys consisting of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) were measured underwater using a laser pulse of duration 250 ns, and their compositions were determined using calibration-free LIBS (CF-LIBS) and corrected CF-LIBS (CCF-LIBS) methods. The mass fractions of Cu and Zn calculated using CF-LIBS showed better agreement with the certified values than those determined using CCF-LIBS, with relative errors of Cu 4.2 ± 3.3 % and Zn 7.2 ± 6.4 %. From the results, it can be said that the difference of preferential evaporation and ablation among elements does not need to be considered for underwater measurements with the long-pulse LIBS setup used in this work. While the results indicate that the CF-LIBS method can be applied for in situ quantitative analysis of major elements with concentrations N~10 %, the mass fractions determined for Pb, with concentrations b 5 % had large relative errors, suggesting that an alternative method is required to quantify minor elements.

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