Effect of molecular bending on the photodissociation of OCS

At 230 nm, the photodissociation of OCS via a hot band and a triplet state was investigated by selective probing of high rotational levels of product CO (Jϭ45-67) with photofragment imaging spectroscopy: . Additional two-photon IR excitation of the UV photoprepared OCS with intense 1.06 m laser pulses bleaches the UV processes listed above and induces a new excitation channel of OCS: OCS(vϭ0)ϩh(UV͒→OCS*, OCS*ϩ2h(IR͒→CO(X 1 ⌺ ϩ ,J ϳ74)ϩS( 1 S). The bending mode of OCS in the excited states plays a central role in the excitation and dissociation dynamics. Additionally, the alignment effect of OCS by nonresonant infrared laser pulse, which appears on the angular distribution of the photofragment, is discussed

Etiology and Factors Contributing to Mortality in Healthcare-associated Pneumonia: A Single-center Study

Factors contributing to mortality in healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) have not been investigated fully. We reviewed the etiology and identified prognostic factors of HCAP in hospitalized patients. We conducted a retrospective study of 500 Japanese patients with HCAP to assess these factors, with special emphasis on microbial etiology. Patients with HCAP were older (73.4±11.4 years), more predominantly male (74.4%), and had more smoking history and comorbidity than did community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. Microbes were identified in 52.8% of HCAP patients. The most frequent causative microbial agents were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 108, 21.6%), influenza virus (n = 47, 9.4%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 40, 8.0%). Multiple drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens were more frequent in HCAP patients (9.8%) than CAP patients. Overall, 47 HCAP patients (9.4%) died, with mortality being higher in HCAP than CAP patients. The three leading causes of non-survival from HCAP were S. pneumoniae, influenza virus, and P. aeruginosa. MDR pathogens accounted for 21.3% of non-survivors. Multivariate analysis revealed disease severity on admission and treatment failure of initial antibiotics as independent factors for 30-day mortality. Among patients with treatment failure of initial antibiotics, 29.9% had received appropriate antibiotics. The most frequent pathogens in HCAP were S. pneumoniae, influenza virus, and P. aeruginosa, in both survivors and non-survivors. Disease severity on admission and treatment failure of initial antibiotics were independent factors for mortality. MDR pathogens are important therapeutic targets to mitigate negative results, and treatment strategies other than antibiotic selection are also required

Delaying repatriation: Japanese technicians in early postwar China

Research on the Japanese living in Manchukuo in August 1945 has generally fostered the assumption that all Japanese there wanted to return to Japan as soon as possible. Yet, some made the conscious and voluntary decision to stay, at least for the short to medium term. Among those who chose to delay repatriation were a number of technicians employed by Mantetsu’s (South Manchurian Railroad Company) Ch¯uo Shikenjo. This paper looks at the political and personal realities faced by these technicians when making their decisions as whether to stay or leave in terms of the concepts of voluntary and involuntary repatriation. It shows that the circumstances faced, and consequently the decisions made by the technicians, differed over time. It argues that there were three main reasons behind any decision to stay: pragmatism, a sense of responsibility for Japan’s activities during the war and a sense of loyalty

Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic ODK-0901 Test for Detection of Pneumococcal Antigen in Middle Ear Fluids and Nasopharyngeal Secretions

Since the incidence of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae has been increasing at an astonishing rate throughout the world, the need for accurate and rapid identification of pneumococci has become increasingly important to determine the appropriate antimicrobial treatment. We have evaluated an immunochromatographic test (ODK-0901) that detects pneumococcal antigens using 264 middle ear fluids (MEFs) and 268 nasopharyngeal secretions (NPSs). A sample was defined to contain S. pneumoniae when optochin and bile sensitive alpha hemolytic streptococcal colonies were isolated by culture. The sensitivity and specificity of the ODK-0901 test were 81.4% and 80.5%, respectively, for MEFs from patients with acute otitis media (AOM). In addition, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.2% and 88.8%, respectively, for NPSs from patients with acute rhinosinusitis. The ODK-0901 test may provide a rapid and highly sensitive evaluation of the presence of S. pneumoniae and thus may be a promising method of identifying pneumococci in MEFs and NPSs