Japan is still a medium-burden tuberculosis (TB) country. We aimed to examine trends in newly notified active TB incidence and TB-related mortality in the last two decades in Japan. This is a population-based study using Japanese Vital Statistics and Japan Tuberculosis Surveillance from 1997 to 2016. We determined active TB incidence and mortality rates (per 100 000 population) by sex, age and disease categories. Joinpoint regression was applied to calculate the annual percentage change (APC) in age-adjusted mortality rates and to identify the years showing significant trend changes. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates reduced from 33.9 to 13.9 and 37.3 to 11.3 per 100 000 population, respectively. Also, crude and age-adjusted mortality rates reduced from 2.2 to 1.5 and 2.8 to 1.0 per 100 000 population, respectively. Average APC in the incidence and mortality rates showed significant decline both in men (−6.2% and −5.4%, respectively) and women (−5.7% and −4.6%, respectively). Age-specific analysis demonstrated decreases in incidence and mortality rates for every age category, except for the incidence trend in the younger population. Although trends in active TB incidence and mortality rates in Japan have favourably decreased, the rate of decline is far from achieving TB elimination by 2035.

Several studies have reported association of altered levels of lipids and some trace elements with risk factors for cardiovascular disease development in adulthood. Accordingly, the present study aimed to determine the relationship among the serum levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in preterm infants through an assessment of atherogenic indices shortly after birth. Blood samples were collected within 20 min of birth from 45 preterm infants with gestational ages ranging from 32 to 35 weeks. Serum Cu, Zn, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), apolipoprotein-A1 (apoA1) and apolipoprotein-B (apoB) levels were measured, and the TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc and apoB/apoA1 ratios were calculated. Upon determining the correlation between the levels of Cu, Zn and these indices of lipid metabolism, triglyceride (TG) and Cu were found to correlate negatively with birth weight (BW) and the standard deviation (s.d.) score for body weight. Furthermore, Cu levels correlated positively with the TG level and TC/HDLc, LDLc/HDLc and apoB/apoA1 ratios and negatively with the HDLc level and HDLc/apoA1 ratios. However, a stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the s.d. score for BW and TG level were significant independent determinants of the Cu level. In contrast, Zn did not correlate with any of these indices. In conclusion, intrauterine growth restriction and the TG level at birth influence Cu levels in preterm infants, whereas atherogenic indices do not affect this parameter.

The interactions between homogeneous turbulence and a planar shock wave are analytically investigated using rapid distortion theory (RDT). Analytical solutions in the solenoidal modes are obtained. Qualitative answers to unsolved questions in a report by Andreopoulos et al. (Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., vol. 524, 2000, pp. 309–345) are provided within the linear theoretical framework. The results show that the turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) is increased after interaction with a shock wave and that the contributions to the amplification can be interpreted primarily as the combined effect of shock-induced compression, which is a direct consequence of the Rankine–Hugoniot relation, and the nonlinear effect, which is an indirect consequence of the Rankine–Hugoniot relation via the perturbation manner. For initial homogeneous axisymmetric turbulence, the amplification of the TKE depends on the initial degree of anisotropy. Furthermore, the increase in energy at high wavenumbers is confirmed by the one-dimensional spectra. The enstrophy is also increased; its increase is more significant than that of the TKE because of the significant increase in enstrophy at high wavenumbers. The vorticity components perpendicular to the shock-induced compressed direction are amplified more than the parallel vorticity component. These results strongly suggest that a high resolution is needed to obtain accurate results for the turbulence–shock-wave interaction. The integral length scales ($L$) and the Taylor microscales ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$) are decreased for most cases after the interaction. However, $L_{22,3}(=\,L_{33,2})$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{22,3}(=\,\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{33,2})$ are amplified. Here, the subscripts 2 and 3 indicate the perpendicular components relative to the shock-induced compressed direction. The dissipation length and TKE dissipation rate are amplified.

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are the incretin hormones secreted from the intestine in response to enteral feeding to stimulate insulin secretion. We investigated the relationship serum GIP and GLP-1 levels with gestational age, and insulin secretion in preterm infants. Serum GIP and GLP-1 levels were measured at birth and at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after birth in 30 infants, including 12 born before 30th week of gestation (early group) and 18 born after 30th week of gestation (late group). Blood glucose and serum insulin levels were measured, and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) was also calculated. The levels of GLP-1 at 2 and 4 weeks were significantly higher in the early group than those in the late group. The levels of GIP were not significantly different between two groups. At 4 weeks, serum insulin level was significantly higher and QUICKI was significantly lower in the early group. Furthermore, GLP-1 levels were significantly correlated with QUICKI and the serum insulin levels in all infants at 4 weeks. In preterm infants, enteral feeding to premature intestine may be associated with GLP-1 secretion. GLP-1 is also related to stimulated insulin secretion in early postnatal period.

We studied GeTe structures in topological switching random access memories (TRAMs) with a [GeTe/Sb2Te3] superlattice by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We examined the electrical characteristics of the TRAMs deposited at different temperatures. We found that XRD spectra differed between the films deposited at 200 and 240°C and that the differences corresponded to the differences in the GeTe sequences in the films.

The decay characteristics and invariants of grid turbulence were investigated by means of laboratory experiments conducted in a wind tunnel. A turbulence-generating grid was installed at the entrance of the test section for generating nearly isotropic turbulence. Five grids (square bars of mesh sizes $M= 15$, 25 and 50 mm and cylindrical bars of mesh sizes $M= 10$ and 25 mm) were used. The solidity of all grids is $\sigma = 0. 36$. The instantaneous streamwise and vertical (cross-stream) velocities were measured by hot-wire anemometry. The mesh Reynolds numbers were adjusted to $R{e}_{M} = 6700$, 9600, 16 000 and 33 000. The Reynolds numbers based on the Taylor microscale $R{e}_{\lambda } $ in the decay region ranged from 27 to 112. In each case, the result shows that the decay exponent of turbulence intensity is close to the theoretical value of ${- }6/ 5$ (for the $M= 10~\mathrm{mm} $ grid, ${- }6(1+ p)/ 5\sim - 1. 32$) for Saffman turbulence. Here, $p$ is the power of the dimensionless energy dissipation coefficient, $A(t)\sim {t}^{p} $. Furthermore, each case shows that streamwise variations in the integral length scales, ${L}_{uu} $ and ${L}_{vv} $, and the Taylor microscale $\lambda $ grow according to ${L}_{uu} \sim 2{L}_{vv} \propto {(x/ M- {x}_{0} / M)}^{2/ 5} $ (for the $M= 10~\mathrm{mm} $ grid, ${L}_{uu} \propto {(x/ M- {x}_{0} / M)}^{2(1+ p)/ 5} \sim {(x/ M- {x}_{0} / M)}^{0. 44} $) and $\lambda \propto {(x/ M- {x}_{0} / M)}^{1/ 2} $, respectively, at $x/ M\gt 40{\unicode{x2013}} 60$ (depending on the experimental conditions, including grid geometry), where $x$ is the streamwise distance from the grid and ${x}_{0} $ is the virtual origin. We demonstrated that in the decay region of grid turbulence, ${ u}_{\mathit{rms}}^{2} { L}_{uu}^{3} $ and ${ v}_{\mathit{rms}}^{2} { L}_{vv}^{3} $, which correspond to Saffman’s integral, are constant for all grids and examined $R{e}_{M} $ values. However, ${ u}_{\mathit{rms}}^{2} { L}_{uu}^{5} $ and ${ v}_{\mathit{rms}}^{2} { L}_{vv}^{5} $, which correspond to Loitsianskii’s integral, and ${ u}_{\mathit{rms}}^{2} { L}_{uu}^{2} $ and ${ v}_{\mathit{rms}}^{2} { L}_{vv}^{2} $, which correspond to the complete self-similarity of energy spectrum and $\langle {\boldsymbol{u}}^{2} \rangle \sim {t}^{- 1} $, are not constant. Consequently, we conclude that grid turbulence is a type of Saffman turbulence for the examined $R{e}_{M} $ range of 6700–33 000 ($R{e}_{\lambda } = 27{\unicode{x2013}} 112$) regardless of grid geometry.

We have investigated the criterion of interfacial crack initiation in nanometer-scale components (nano-components) by means of a loading facility built in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Three types of experiments are conducted in this project. (1) In order to clarify the applicability of conventional continuum mechanics to the nano-components, we prepare cantilever specimens with different size, which introduce different stress fields, containing an interface between a 20 nm-thick copper (Cu) thin film and a silicon (Si) substrate. These demonstrate the validity of the “stress” criterion even for the nano-scale fracture. (2) In order to examine the effect of microscopic structure on the mechanical property, we fabricate a bending specimen in the nano-scale with thin Cu bi-crystal (the thickness of about 100 nm) formed on Si substrate, of which understructure can be observed in situ by means of a TEM during the mechanical experiment. The initial plastic deformation takes place near the interface edge in a grain with a high critical resolved shear stress and expands preferentially in the grain. Then, the plasticity appears near the between Cu grain boundary and Cu/Si interface, and this development brings about the interfacial cracking from the junction. These indicate the governing influence of understructure on the mechanical property in the nano-components. (3) In order to investigate the fatigue behavior of metal in a nano-component, a cyclic bending experiment is carried out using nano-cantilever specimens with a 20 nm-thick Cu constrained by highly rigid materials (Si and SiN). The high strain region is in the size of 20-40 nm near the interface edge. The specimen breaks along the Cu/Si interface before the maximum load under the fatigue loading. The load-displacement curve shows nonlinear behavior and a distinct hysteresis loop, indicating plasticity in the Cu film. Reverse yielding appearing after the 2nd cycle suggests the development of a cyclic substructure in the Cu film. These indicate that the crack is caused by characteristic understructure owing to fatigue cycles.

We present new, wide, and deep images in the AzTEC/ASTE 1.1 mm continuum and the 12 CO (J = 1–0) emission toward the northern part of the Orion-A GMC. We have found evidence for interactions between molecular clouds and the external forces that may trigger star formation. Two types of possible triggers were revealed: (1) Collisions of the diffuse gas on the cloud surface, particularly at the eastern side of the OMC-2/3 region, and (2) Irradiation of UV on the pre-existing filaments and dense molecular cloud cores. Our wide-field and high-sensitivity imaging has provided the first comprehensive view of the potential sites of triggered star formation in the Orion-A GMC.

The validity of the Japanese version of the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was examined against the semi-structured interview-based Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) as external criteria. The GHQ total score discriminated ‘cases’ and ‘non-cases’ satisfactorily but its recommended cut-off point was higher (7/8) than that of the original English version (4/5). Discriminant function analysis revealed that only 13 items contributed to the discriminatory power and that their discriminant function score was better than a simple summation of the 30 GHQ item scores in terms of validity.

One hundred and twenty women recruited from attenders at the antenatal clinic of the Obstetrics Department of a general hospital were asked to complete ad hoc questionnaires during pregnancy; they were then interviewed by psychiatrists using a structured diagnostic interview, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS). Nineteen (16%) women were identified as having an onset of an affective disorder during the period of pregnancy, mainly (68%) during the first trimester. As compared with the women without any such onset (controls), the women with pregnancy-related affective disorder (PRAD) were characterized by (1) it being their first pregnancy or first delivery with past termination of pregnancy, (2) early loss of either parent by death, (3) high Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) Neuroticism (N) and Psychoticism (P) scores, (4) living in a flat with either a plan to stay there after the forthcoming childbirth or an expectation that their accommodation would be crowded, and (5) negative response to the news of the pregnancy by the husband with low intimacy. The effects of these factors were additive since the probability of developing a PRAD episode was highly correlated with the number of factors reported.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009

The process of target ablation induced by pulsed ion beams is investigated. The beam power density of 0.01–0.1 GW/cm2 is around the sublimation energy of the target material. The thickness of the layer to be removed from the target is estimated from the temperature distribution calculated numerically with a diffusion equation. The emitted particles are collected with C collectors, which are later subjected to RBS and SEM/EPMA analyses. It is found that ablated particles forming a film on the collector amount to only 10% of the target atoms within the maximum range of the ions, while a significant amount of the ablated material is observed as macroscopic particles with equivalent diameters up to several tens of micrometers. TOF measurements of the ablation plume together with RBS measurements of thin-film targets after irradiation suggest that the formation of the film is predominated by vaporization from the surface of the ablated mass, which is recondensed on the collector before completing the vaporization.

Plasmodium falciparum thymidylate kinase (PfTMK) can tolerate a range of substrates, which distinguishes it from other thymidylate kinases. The enzyme not only phosphorylates TMP and dUMP but can also tolerate bulkier purines, namely, dGMP, GMP, and dIMP. In order to probe the flexibility of PfTMK in accommodating ligands of various sizes, we developed 6 mutant enzymes and subjected these to thermodynamic, inhibitory and catalytic evaluation. Kinase activity was markedly affected by introducing a larger lysine residue instead of A111. The lack of the hydroxyl group after inducing mutation of Y107F affected enzyme activity, and had a more severe impact on dGMP kinase activity. PfTMK can be inhibited by both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, raising the possibility of developing highly selective drugs. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that enthalpic forces govern both purine and pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphate binding, and the binding affinity of both substrates was highly comparable. The heat produced due to dGMP binding is lower than that attributable to TMP. This indicates that additional interactions occur with TMP, which may be lost with larger dGMP. Targeting PfTMK not only affects thymidine nucleotide synthesis but may also affect purine nucleotides, and thus the enzyme represents an attractive antimicrobial target.

Radiocarbon concentrations in the northernmost region of the Japan Sea were observed during the summer of 2002. The averaged surface δ14C (above 100 m depth) was 52 ± 8%, which is significantly higher compared with the values of the Pacific Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. The δ14C in the deep water decreased with density, and the minimum value was −70%. By analyzing 14C and other hydrographic data, we found that i) the Tsushima Warm Current Water reaches to the surface layer in the southern Tatarskiy Strait; ii) deep convection did not occur in the northernmost region, at least not after the winter of 2001–2002; and iii) the bottom water that was previously formed in this region may step down southward along the bottom slope and mix with the Japan Sea Bottom Water. Furthermore, a new water mass characterized by high salinity (>34.09 psu) was found in the subsurface layer in the area north of 46°N.

Angiosarcomas rarely arise from schwannomas, but we describe here a case of angiosarcoma that arose from a remnant of a benign vestibular schwannoma that had been removed 10 years earlier. The patient was a 66-year-old man with no sign of neurofibromatosis. Although we attempted surgical resection, we could not totally remove the tumour. The patient died nine months after diagnosis, primarily as result of an abscess in the cerebellum and base of the skull. The histological diagnosis was confirmed by the immunohistochemical findings of positivity for CD34 antigen and S-100 protein in the resected tumour.

A review of the literature revealed four other cases of angiosarcoma with schwannoma, all of which arose from an extracranial nerve. The present case is the first report of an angiosarcoma with schwannoma arising from an intracranial locus.

Background. Depression is a remitting but recurring disease. However, there is a paucity of prospectively recorded data on the course of depression after recovery.

Method. A multi-centre prospective serial follow-up study of an inception cohort of hitherto untreated unipolar major depression (N=95) for 6 years. We report the time to recurrence after recovery from the index depressive episode and their predictors.

Results. The cumulative probability of remaining well without subthreshold symptoms was 57% (95% CI, 46 to 68%) at 1 year, 47% (95% CI, 36 to 58%) at 2 years and 35% (95% CI, 23 to 47%) at 5 years. The same without full relapse was 79% (95% CI, 70 to 88%) at 1 year, 70% (95% CI, 60 to 80%) at 2 years and 58% (95% CI, 46 to 70%) at 5 years. The median duration of well-interval from the end of the index episode to the beginning of the subthreshold episode was 19·0 months (95% CI, 2·4 to 35·7), and that to the end of the full episode was over 6 years. Residual symptoms at time of recovery predicted earlier recurrence.

Conclusions. The median length of the well-interval was much longer than previously reported in studies employing similar definitions but dealing with a more severe spectrum of patients. However, the sobering fact remains that less than half of the patients can expect to remain virtually symptom-free for 2 years or more after recovery from the depressive episode.

Haplotype analysis is important for mapping traits. Recently, methods for estimating haplotype frequencies from genotypes of unrelated individuals based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm have been developed. Our program estimates haplotype frequencies in the population and determines the posterior probability distribution of diplotype configuration (diplotype distribution) for each subject based on the estimated haplotype frequencies. Samples from three ethnic groups for the smoothelin gene (SMTN) and those from three Japanese groups for serum amyloid A genes (SAA@) were analyzed. The estimated diplotype distribution for each individual was concentrated, in most cases, in a single diplotype configuration. The diplotype configuration thus determined was the same as that determined in in vitro experiments, with one exception. Thus, the diplotype configurations determined using the estimated haplotype frequencies from unrelated individuals are reliable. Using this method, the risk of a subject developing a phenotype may be estimated from the diplotype distribution when the phenotype is associated with diplotype configurations.