The nucleotide sequences of partial 18S, complete internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1), complete 5.8S, complete ITS2 and partial 28S of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 of mitochondrial DNA (MCOI) from five species of gnathostomes (G. spinigerum, G. doloresi, G. nipponicum, G. hispidum and G. binucleatum with the former four species being distributed in Japan and Asia) that cause human gnathostomiasis were compared by direct polymerase chain reaction cycle-sequencing. The nucleotide sequences of each region of the18S (613 bp), 5.8S (158 bp) and 28S (598 bp) rDNA from the five species were almost identical. The ITS1 region was different in length for the five species. The nucleotide sequences of each region of ITS2 and partial MCO1 regions were different among the five species. Therefore, these two regions can be used as genetic markers for identification of worms.

The clinical characteristics of male patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease have not been clearly defined. We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of male patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease compared with female patients.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease who visited the outpatient clinic of the Shinshu University Hospital between 2003 and 2016 and compared the clinical characteristics of male and female patients.

A total of 234 patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease were identified (68 men and 166 women). Male patients were significantly older than female patients. Blood examination results showed that the lymphocyte count, total protein level and albumin level were significantly lower in men than in women. Chest imaging findings were broadly categorised into the fibrocavitary and nodular bronchiectasis types. There were no significant differences in chest imaging findings and the time from diagnosis to disease exacerbation between men and women.

During the study period, the incidence of the nodular bronchiectasis type of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease in male patients increased compared with previous reports. Men had no difference in time to exacerbation compared with women.

We constructed a syndromic surveillance system to collect directly information on daily health conditions directly from local residents via the internet [web-based daily questionnaire for health surveillance system (WDQH SS)]. This paper considers the feasibility of the WDQH SS and its ability to detect epidemics. A verification study revealed that our system was an effective surveillance system. We then applied an improved WDQH SS as a measure against public health concerns at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit meeting in 2008. While in operation at the Summit, our system reported a fever alert that was consistent with a herpangina epidemic. The highly mobile WDQH SS described in this study has three main advantages: the earlier detection of epidemics, compared to other surveillance systems; the ability to collect data even on weekends and holidays; and a rapid system set-up that can be completed within 3 days.

An investigation is made of the role of hollow atoms in the spectra of an ultrashort-pulse-laser-driven Ar cluster target. Experimental measurements are presented from an Ar cluster-gas target using short-pulse lasers with various intensities, durations, and contrasts. Calculations in support of these measurements have been performed using a detailed atomic kinetics model with the ion distributions found from solution of the time-dependent rate equations. The calculations are in good agreement with the measurements and the role of hollow atoms in the resulting complicated spectra is analyzed. It is demonstrated that, although the presence of hollow atoms is estimated to add only around 2% to the total line emission, signatures of hollow atom spectra can be identified in the calculations, which are qualitatively supported by the experimental measurements.

High-resolution K-shell spectra of a plasma created by superintense laser irradiation of micron-sized Ar clusters have been measured with an intensity above 1019 W/cm2 and a pulse duration of 30 fs. The total photon flux of 2 × 108 photons/pulse was achieved for Heα1 resonant line of Ar (λ = 3.9491 Å, 3.14 keV). In parallel with X-ray measurements, energy distributions of emitted ions have been measured. The multiply charged ions with kinetic energies up to 800 keV were observed. It is found that hot electrons produced by high contrast laser pulses allow the isochoric heating of clusters and shift the ion balance toward the higher charge states, which enhances both the X-ray line yield of the He-like argon ion and the ion kinetic energy.

A new magneto-optical (MO) imaging system for high-throughput characterization of combinatorial magnetic thin films has been developed. The instrument allows us to measure both Faraday rotation and ellipticity maps at various wavelengths (400 nm∼1000 nm), different magnetic fields (0∼2000 G), and different temperatures (12 K∼300 K) for wide variety of materials. We used the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) modulation technique to map MO properties, relatively free from substrate effects. The superiority of this system is that magnetic hysteresis curves of numerous specimens with different compositions prepared by the combinatorial technique can be simultaneously measured at one sweep of magnetic field, providing an efficient characterization method for combinatorial magnetic materials. We also confirmed that the system possesses enough spatial resolution and sensitivity for detecting MO signals of individual pixels contained in a combinatorial library.