Tight focusing with very small f-numbers is necessary to achieve the highest at-focus irradiances. However, tight focusing imposes strong demands on precise target positioning in-focus to achieve the highest on-target irradiance. We describe several near-infrared, visible, ultraviolet and soft and hard X-ray diagnostics employed in a ∼1022 W/cm2 laser–plasma experiment. We used nearly 10 J total energy femtosecond laser pulses focused into an approximately 1.3-μm focal spot on 5–20 μm thick stainless-steel targets. We discuss the applicability of these diagnostics to determine the best in-focus target position with approximately 5 μm accuracy (i.e., around half of the short Rayleigh length) and show that several diagnostics (in particular, 3$\omega$ reflection and on-axis hard X-rays) can ensure this accuracy. We demonstrated target positioning within several micrometers from the focus, ensuring over 80% of the ideal peak laser intensity on-target. Our approach is relatively fast (it requires 10–20 laser shots) and does not rely on the coincidence of low-power and high-power focal planes.

The orbital ordering in perovskite-type vanadium oxides, RVO3 (R: rare earth), has been investigated by resonant X-ray scattering (RXS) near the V K-edge energy. The G-type orbital order, C-type orbital order and orbital disorder phases are elucidated on the basis of the azimuthal-angle and polarization dependence of the RXS signal reflecting the orbital ordering.

Incorporation of dry matter of perennial soybean into the soil, alone or with mineral fertilization, resulted in improved vegetative growth of common beans. Fairly high LAI was observed at flowering time where dry organic matter had been added, causing leaf self-shading and decreased growth in the later states of development. In contrast, both the control and mineral fertilized plots showed slower but continuous growth up to 50 days from plant emergence. Only slight differences in grain yield were noticed despite remarkable increases of Crop Growth Rate, Relative Growth Rate, Net Assimilation Rate, and Efficiency of Solar Energy Conversion that resulted from the application of dry organic matter.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus were isolated from faecal samples of wild aquatic birds in winter. Although V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus were present in low numbers in seawater in the area where the faecal samples of the birds were collected, the pathogens were isolated from the faeces of the birds. This study demonstrates that wild aquatic birds are a vehicle for V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus to survive in winter.