Result of the tests conducted by a newly developed helicopter borne gravimeter system

Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Japan Science and Technology AgencyAirborne gravity measurement has long been a desirable goal for exploration geophysicists. Success of the air-borne gravity surveys mainly depends on determining the three-dimensional(3-D) position of the moving platform(i.e. airplane/helicopter). Recent advances in technology, especially in Global Positioning System(GPS) have made it possible to determine the velocity and 3-D position of the moving platform with greater accuracy. Taking these advantages of the GPS technology and using a gravimeter system newly developed, helicopter-borne gravity measurements were successfully carried out over the Kanto district of Japan during May, August and December 1999. This new gravimeter system is composed of a servo accelerometer sensor, a stabilized platform, an optical-fiber gyroscope to control the stabilized platform, a data processor & controller, onboard GPS receivers and a land-based GPS receiver. Gravity acceleration and GPS positioning data were collected at intervals of 0.1sec and 1sec respectively. The GPS positioning data were used to compute helicopter vertical acceleration, Eoetvoes, altitude and latitude corrections, which were applied to the measured gravity acceleration. The gravity acceleration data collected were processed and necessary corrections were applied. Numerical filtering was carried out to remove high frequency noises present in the data. The observed free-air gravity anomalies were quite comparable with the upward continuation of the anomalies observed on the ground. Thus the preliminary analysis of the test data demonstrates the feasibility of helicopter-borne gravity measurements. (author abst.

Estimating the burden of foodborne diseases in Japan

Objective To assess the burden posed by foodborne diseases in Japan using methods developed by the World Health Organization’s Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG). Methods Expert consultation and statistics on food poisoning during 2011 were used to identify three common causes of foodborne disease in Japan: Campylobacter and Salmonella species and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). We conducted systematic reviews of English and Japanese literature on the complications caused by these pathogens, by searching Embase, the Japan medical society abstract database and Medline. We estimated the annual incidence of acute gastroenteritis from reported surveillance data, based on estimated probabilities that an affected person would visit a physician and have gastroenteritis confirmed. We then calculated disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost in 2011, using the incidence estimates along with disability weights derived from published studies. Findings In 2011, foodborne disease caused by Campylobacter species, Salmonella species and EHEC led to an estimated loss of 6099, 3145 and 463 DALYs in Japan, respectively. These estimated burdens are based on the pyramid reconstruction method; are largely due to morbidity rather than mortality; and are much higher than those indicated by routine surveillance data. Conclusion Routine surveillance data may indicate foodborne disease burdens that are much lower than the true values. Most of the burden posed by foodborne disease in Japan comes from secondary complications. The tools developed by FERG appear useful in estimating disease burdens and setting priorities in the field of food safety

Linear B-cell epitope mapping using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for libraries of overlapping synthetic peptides

The aim of this chapter is to provide a strategy for mapping linear antibody epitopes of protein antigens in order to discover candidates for vaccines or diagnostic tests. A set of overlapping peptides was designed and synthesised based upon a known amino acid sequence of the target protein, virulence-associated protein A (VapA) of the bacterium Rhodococcus equi, an important pulmonary pathogen in foals. The peptides were biotinylated and used in an ELISA to screen immune sera from foals. These biotinylated peptides were coated directly onto micro titre plates that had been pre-coated with NeutrAvidin™. A linear B-cell epitope was identified by a universal recognition of sera to the synthetic peptides which corresponds to a particular fragment of the VapA protein.Michael W. Heuzenroeder, Mary D. Barton, Thiru Vanniasinkam and Tongted Phumoonn

A Longitudinal Case Series Description of Meningitis Due to Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus in Infants

Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus, previously known as Streptococcus bovis biotype II.2, is known to cause multiple infectious complications, including bacterial meningitis, in adults. Only sporadic individual case reports have identified this pathogen as a cause of meningitis in infants. This study is the first to longitudinally document S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus as a cause of meningitis in four epidemiologically unrelated infants less than 2 weeks of age. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of all 4 isolates were identical, and further were identical to 3 central nervous system (CNS) strains (two adults and one child) reported in existing literature. S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus is an increasingly recognized cause of meningitis and bacteremia in the newborn period, and it merits further study with respect to etiology of infection