WIDGET: System Performance and GRB Prompt Optical Observations

The WIDeField telescope for Gamma-ray burst Early Timing (WIDGET) is used for a fully automated, ultra-wide-field survey aimed at detecting the prompt optical emission associated with Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). WIDGET surveys the HETE-2 and Swift/BAT pointing directions covering a total field of view of 62 degree x 62 degree every 10 secounds using an unfiltered system. This monitoring survey allows exploration of the optical emission before the gamma-ray trigger. The unfiltered magnitude is well converted to the SDSS r' system at a 0.1 mag level. Since 2004, WIDGET has made a total of ten simultaneous and one pre-trigger GRB observations. The efficiency of synchronized observation with HETE-2 is four times better than that of Swift. There has been no bright optical emission similar to that from GRB 080319B. The statistical analysis implies that GRB080319B is a rare event. This paper summarizes the design and operation of the WIDGET system and the simultaneous GRB observations obtained with this instrument.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, Accepted to appear in PAS

A multi band study of the optically dark GRB 051028

Observations were made of the optical afterglow of GRB 051028 with the Lulin observatory's 1.0 m telescope and the WIDGET robotic telescope system. R band photometric data points were obtained on 2005 October 28 (UT), or 0.095-0.180 days after the burst. There is a possible plateau in the optical light curve around 0.1 days after the burst; the light curve resembles optically bright afterglows (e.g. GRB 041006, GRB 050319, GRB060605) in shape of the light curve but not in brightness. The brightness of the GRB 051028 afterglow is 3 magnitudes fainter than that of one of the dark events, GRB 020124. Optically dark GRBs have been attributed to dust extinction within the host galaxy or high redshift. However, the spectrum analysis of the X-rays implies that there is no significant absorption by the host galaxy. Furthermore, according to the model theoretical calculation of the Ly$\alpha$ absorption to find the limit of GRB 051028's redshift, the expected $R$ band absorption is not high enough to explain the darkness of the afterglow. While the present results disfavor either the high-redshift hypothesis or the high extinction scenario for optically dark bursts, they are consistent with the possibility that the brightness of the optical afterglow, intrinsically dark.Comment: 5page, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in PASJ Letter. PASJ styl

Implementation of earlier antibiotic administration in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in Japan: a descriptive analysis of a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Time to antibiotic administration is a key element in sepsis care; however, it is difficult to implement sepsis care bundles. Additionally, sepsis is different from other emergent conditions including acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or trauma. We aimed to describe the association between time to antibiotic administration and outcomes in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in Japan. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 1184 adult patients diagnosed with severe sepsis based on the Sepsis-2 criteria and admitted to 59 intensive care units (ICUs) in Japan between January 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017, as the sepsis cohort of the Focused Outcomes Research in Emergency Care in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Sepsis and Trauma (FORECAST) study. We compared the characteristics and in-hospital mortality of patients administered with antibiotics at varying durations after sepsis recognition, i.e., 0-60, 61-120, 121-180, 181-240, 241-360, and 361-1440 min, and estimated the impact of antibiotic timing on risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality using the generalized estimating equation model (GEE) with an exchangeable, within-group correlation matrix, with "hospital" as the grouping variable. RESULTS: Data from 1124 patients in 54 hospitals were used for analyses. Of these, 30.5% and 73.9% received antibiotics within 1 h and 3 h, respectively. Overall, the median time to antibiotic administration was 102 min [interquartile range (IQR), 55-189]. Compared with patients diagnosed in the emergency department [90 min (IQR, 48-164 min)], time to antibiotic administration was shortest in patients diagnosed in ICUs [60 min (39-180 min)] and longest in patients transferred from wards [120 min (62-226)]. Overall crude mortality was 23.4%, where patients in the 0-60 min group had the highest mortality (28.0%) and a risk-adjusted mortality rate [28.7% (95% CI 23.3-34.1%)], whereas those in the 61-120 min group had the lowest mortality (20.2%) and risk-adjusted mortality rates [21.6% (95% CI 16.5-26.6%)]. Differences in mortality were noted only between the 0-60 min and 61-120 min groups. CONCLUSIONS: We could not find any association between earlier antibiotic administration and reduction in in-hospital mortality in patients with severe sepsis

Magneto-optical effect of rare-earth-rich borate glasses prepared using a levitation technique

The magneto-optical properties of rare-earth-rich borate glasses prepared using a levitation technique were thoroughly investigated. Among the series of rare-earth borate glasses, Tb₂O₃-B₂O₃ and Dy₂O₃-B₂O₃ glasses displayed remarkably large Faraday effects in the visible region. The Verdet constant of 58Tb₂O₃-42B₂O₃ reached −229 rad/T·m at 633 nm, surpassing the value of commercially available single-crystalline Tb₃Ga₅O₁₂. Compositions with a higher rare-earth oxide content (60 mol%) than that of binary glasses facilitated the successful synthesis of Tb₂O₃–Dy₂O₃–B₂O₃ ternary glasses. The Verdet constant linearly increased with increasing Tb₂O₃ content for the glasses with 40 mol% B₂O₃. Results indicate that rare-earth-rich borate glasses are promising candidates for magneto-optical applications in the visible region, and that the types and amounts of rare-earth ion mainly affect these propertie

〔総説〕国際的な枠組みの動向と，持続可能な開発目標（SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals）の紹介：栄養に関する内容を軸に

　　In the wake of rapid social and environmental change, paradigm shifts have been emerging worldwide in a variety of areas including health and nutrition. This review article first provides a historical insight into the trend toward a global framework of what constitutes better health and nutrition. The framework examined begins with the WHO constitution, which redefined “health” just after the World War II, and continues through the Sustainable Development Goals proposed in 2015 which are projected to be fulfilled by 2030.　　Then, the authors explain the context and identify the goals the Sustainable Development Goals aim to achieve. The concept of “Human Security” is also examined.　　Finally, the authors present the specific goals and targets related to nutrition using practical examples and suggest future career option for registered nutritionists

Crystal-Like Atomic Arrangement and Optical Properties of 25La₂O₃-75MoO₃ Binary Glasses Composed of Isolated MoO₄²⁻

Transparent and brown La₂O₃-MoO₃ binary glasses were prepared in bulk form using a levitation technique. The glass-forming range was limited, with the primary composition being approximately 25 mol % La₂O₃. The 25La₂O₃-75MoO₃ glass exhibited a clear crystallization at 546 °C, while determining its glass transition temperature was difficult. Notably, despite its amorphous nature, the glass possessed a density and packing density comparable to those of crystalline La2Mo3O12. X-ray absorption fine structure and Raman scattering analyses revealed that the glass structure closely resembles La₂Mo₃O₁₂ due to the presence of isolated MoO₄²⁻ units, whereas disordered atomic arrangement around La atoms was confirmed. The glass demonstrated transparency ranging from 378 to 5500 nm, and the refractive index at 1.0 μm was estimated to be 2.0. The optical bandgap energy was 3.46 eV, which was slightly smaller than that of La₂Mo₃O₁₂. Additionally, the glass displayed a transparent region ranging from 6.5 to 8.0 μm. This occurrence results from the decreased diversity of MoOₙ units and connectivity of Mo-O-Mo, which resulted in the reduced overlap of multiphonon absorption. This glass formation, with its departure from conventional glass-forming rules, resulted in distinctive glasses with crystal-like atomic arrangements