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A new hyperon-proton scattering experiment, dubbed J-PARC E40, was performed to measure differential cross sections of the Σ+p, Σ−p elastic scatterings and the Σ−p → Λn scattering by identifying a lot of Σ particles in the momentum ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 GeV/c produced by the π±p → K+Σ± reactions. We successfully measured the differential cross sections of these three channels with a drastically improved accuracy with a fine angular step. These new data will become important experimental constraints to improve the theories of the two-body baryon-baryon interactions. Following this success, we proposed a new experiment to measure the differential cross sections and spin observables by using a highly polarized Λ beam for providing quantitative information on the ΛN interaction. The results of three Σp channels and future prospects of the Λp scattering experiment are described.

J-PARC E70 experiment measures the missing-mass of Ξ hypernuclei (12ΞBe) in Hadron Experimental Facility at J-PARC. We aim to reach the best missing-mass resolution of 2 MeV/c2 in FWHM with a new magnetic spectrometer S-2S. The high-resolution spectroscopy of Ξ hypernuclei will play an important role to understand the unknown ΞN interaction. The experiment will start at the beginning of 2023. This article presents the preparation status.

We are planning to carry out a high-resolution spectroscopy of Ξ hypernucleus at the J-PARC K1.8 beamline, which provides a highintensity K− beam (J-PARC E70 experiment). The high-resolution spectroscopy aims to be realized by introducing a new magnetic spectrometer S-2S and an active fiber target AFT. In this article, the role of the AFT in this experiment and its development status are described.

Ai Toride,1,2 Hiroshi Toshida,1 Asaki Matsui,1 Yusuke Matsuzaki,1 Rio Honda,1,3 Toshihiko Ohta,1 Akira Murakami3 1Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Nerima Hospital, 3Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan Background: Most patients with open globe eye injury are brought to hospital as emergency patients and usually require admission for emergency surgery. We analyzed the visual outcome in patients with open globe eye injury at our hospital over a 4-year period.Patients and methods: This study reviewed 40 eyes of 40 patients with open globe eye injury who were presented to Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital and required emergency surgery during the 4 years from January 2010 to December 2014. Retrospective evaluation of the visual outcome was performed using data from the medical records, including assessment of the influence of sex, side of the eye injury, cause of injury, and site/severity of injury.Results: The mean age (SD) at the time of the injury was 58.9 years (±25.1 years). There were 28 males (70.0%) and 12 females (30.0%). Statistically significant improvement in visual acuity after treatment was noted in the males (P=0.0015, Wilcoxon test), but not in the females. Twenty-five patients had injury to the right eye (62.5%) and 15 had injury to the left eye (37.5%). A significant improvement in visual acuity was achieved after treatment of injury to the right eye (P=0.021), but not the left eye (P=0.109). The most frequent cause of injury was an accident (15 eyes; 37.5%). The second most frequent cause was work-related injury (14 eyes; 35.0%), which only occurred in males, and the third cause was accident due to negligence (eleven eyes; 27.5%). Two patients developed sympathetic ophthalmia and one patient developed postoperative endophthalmitis. Conclusion: The majority of patients with open globe eye injury were male workers in Japan. The visual outcome of work-related injury was better than that of injury due to other causes. The visual outcome was also better if the right eye was injured compared with the left eye. Patients with injuries due to negligence were older than the other groups, and this finding might be characteristic of an aging society. Keywords: ocular trauma, visual outcome, accident, work-related injury, negligence

Yusuke Shimizu,1 Hiroshi Toshida,1 Rio Honda,1 Asaki Matsui,1 Toshihiko Ohta,1 Yousuke Asada,2 Akira Murakami2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan Purpose: To investigate the microbial isolates from patients with ocular infections and the trend in the emergence of levofloxacin-resistant strains over the past four years from 2006 to 2009 retrospectively. Patients and methods: The subjects were 242 patients with ocular infections or traumas treated in our hospital including outpatients, inpatients, and emergency room patients. Most of them needed urgent care presenting with eye complaints, traumas, or decreased vision. Clinical samples were obtained from discharges, corneal, conjunctival tissues or vitreous fluid or aqueous humor, and cultured. Items for assessment included the patient’s age, the diagnosis, the prevalence of isolated bacteria, and the results of susceptibility tests for levofloxacin (LVFX) cefamezin (CEZ), gentamicin (GM) and vancomycin. This information was obtained from the patients’ medical records. Results: There were 156 male patients and 86 female patients who were aged from 2 months old to 94 years old and mean age was 56.8 ± 24.2 years. Of the 242 patients, 78 (32.2%) had positive cultures. The culture-positive rate was significantly higher in male patients than female in total (P = 0.002) and in patients with corneal perforation (P = 0.005). Corneal perforation was the highest culture-positive rate (60.0%), followed by orbital cellulitis (56.5%), blepharitis (50.0%), dacryoadenitis (45.5%), conjunctivitis (38.2%), infectious corneal ulcer (28.5%) and endophthalmitis (24.7%). LVFX-resistant strains accounted for 40 out of a total of 122 strains (32.8%), and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was significantly higher in LVFX and GM compared with the other antibiotics. There were no vancomycin-resistant strains. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to a possible future increase of strains with resistance to LVFX, as commonly prescribed ocular antibiotics bring emergence of resistant bacteria. Although no vancomycin-resistant strains were isolated this drug should be reserved as the last resort, in order to prevent the emergence of vancomycin resistance. Keywords: ocular infections, drug resistance, levofloxacin, vancomycin, minimum inhibitory concentration

Rio Honda1, Hiroshi Toshida1, Chikako Suto2, Takuro Fujimaki2, Tairo Kimura2, Toshihiko Ohta1, Akira Murakami2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Shizuoka, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan Objective: The effect of eyedrops for glaucoma on conjunctival bacterial flora was investigated by comparing a group of patients treated with such eyedrops for at least 1 year to a control group that did not use eyedrops. Methods: In both groups, bacterial culture came from scrapings of the conjunctival sac, and the bacterial infection rate and pattern of drug resistance were determined. Findings were analyzed in various subgroups stratified by age, frequency of instillation, and concentration of antiseptic benzalkonium chloride in the eyedrops. Results: The culture-positive rate was significantly lower in the glaucoma eyedrop group (43/119 eyes, 40.3%) than in the control group (19/28 eyes, 67.8%) (P < 0.05). No differences in infection rate were found among the different age groups. The most frequent bacteria in both groups was coagulase-negative staphylococci. Gram-negative bacteria were only detected in the glaucoma eyedrop group. Retrospective evaluation was possible for 86 eyes of patients from the glaucoma eyedrop group, among which 45 eyes (52.3%) showed some corneal epithelium damage. There was no difference in the culture-positive rate of bacteria between patients who used eyedrops containing 0.01% or higher dose of benzalkonium chloride and those containing less than 0.01%. Strains that showed resistance to levofloxacin were significantly less frequent in the glaucoma eyedrop group (six strains, 15.0%) than in the control group (11 strains, 39.3%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients using eyedrops for glaucoma had a lower culture-positive rate of bacteria in the conjunctival sac, probably due to being washed out by the eyedrops. However, Gram-negative bacteria were detected in the eyedrop group. Bacteria isolated from the eyedrop group had lower resistance to levofloxacin, a finding that may have clinical relevance. Keywords: glaucoma, eyedrop, benzalkonium chloride, conjunctival flora, levofloxacin

Takashi Fujiwara1, Mai Nishimura2, Ryoko Honda3, Takashi Nishiyama4, Masahiro Nomoto5, Naoto Kobayashi6, Masayuki Ikeda71Division of Educational Training, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan, 2Sixth-year medical student, 3Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitology, 4Department of Emergency Medicine, 5Department of Therapeutics, 6Medical Education Center, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan, 7Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, JapanBackground: The effect of peer-led training in basic life support (BLS) in the education of medical students has not been assessed.Subjects and methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial with a blinded outcome assessor. A total of 74 fourth-year medical students at Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan were randomly assigned to BLS training conducted by either a senior medical student (peer-led group) or a health professional (professional-led group). The primary outcome measure was the percentage of chest compressions with adequate depth (38–51 mm) by means of a training mannequin evaluated 20 weeks after BLS training. Secondary outcome measures were compression depth, compression rate, proportion of participants who could ensure adequate compression depth (38–51 mm) and adequate compression rate (90–110/minute), and retention of BLS knowledge as assessed by 22-point questionnaire.Results: Percentage chest compressions with adequate depth (mean ± SD) was 54.5% ± 31.8% in the peer-led group and 52.4% ± 35.6% in the professional-led group. The 95% confidence interval (CI) of difference of the means was –18.7% to 22.8%. The proportion of participants who could ensure an adequate mean compression rate was 17/23 (73.9%) in the peer-led group but only 8/22 (36.4%) in the professional-led group (P = 0.011). On the 22-point questionnaire administered 20 weeks after training, the peer-led group scored 17.2 ± 2.3 whereas the professional-led group scored 17.8 ± 2.0. The 95% CI of difference of the means was –1.72 to 0.57.Conclusion: Peer-led training in BLS by medical students is feasible and as effective as health professional-led training.Keywords: basic life support, education, training, randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmentally acquired opportunistic pathogens that can cause recalcitrant lung disease. Prior reports have demonstrated links between shower use and infections, yet the aerosolization of NTM from showerheads, as well as the humidity levels that may modulate NTM aerosolization from showerheads is less studied. The objective of the current study was to investigate the role of humidity in NTM aerosolization among showers in homes located in a geographic area with high lung disease incidence, Hawai’i, and test whether deployment of a dehumidifier in well-ventilated bathrooms reduce NTM exposure. Results Across two sampling events and five showers, existing NTM showerhead biofilms along with shower air were sampled at three points: pre-shower, post-shower, and post-dehumidification. In each of the sampling events, respiratory relevant NTM species were identified from shower biofilms, which were also detected in aerosolized shower air after showering events, but not after the shower was dehumidified and bathrooms vented. While sample size was small, these data suggest running a shower is a possible source of NTM aerosolization and using a commercial household dehumidifier in conjunction with opening bathroom doors and windows may be simple, cost-effective interventions to reduce environmental NTM exposures.

Rationale Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been reported to be transmitted between people with cystic fibrosis (CF) attending CF centres. A suspected Mycobacterium abscessus outbreak was investigated at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Adult CF Program using a combination of pathogen genomic sequencing and epidemiologic methods. The objectives of the present study were to apply the Healthcare-Associated Links in Transmission of NTM (HALT NTM) study to investigate the occurrence of potential healthcare-associated transmission and/or acquisition of NTM among people with CF infected with genetically similar NTM isolates. Methods Whole-genome sequencing of respiratory M. abscessus isolates from 50 people with CF receiving care at UTSW was performed to identify genetically similar isolates. Epidemiologic investigation, comparison of respiratory and environmental isolates, and home residence watershed mapping were studied. Measurements and main results Whole-genome sequencing analysis demonstrated seven clusters of genetically similar M. abscessus (four ssp. abscessus and three ssp. massiliense). Epidemiologic investigation revealed potential opportunities for healthcare-associated transmission within three of these clusters. Healthcare environmental sampling did not recover M. abscessus, but did recover four human disease-causing species of NTM. No subjects having clustered infections lived in the same home residence watershed. Some subjects were infected with more than one M. abscessus genotype, both within and outside of the dominant circulating clones. Conclusions Healthcare-associated person-to-person transmission of M. abscessus appears to be rare at this centre. However, polyclonal infections of M. abscessus species and subspecies, not originating from the endemic hospital environment, suggest multiple shared modes of acquisition outside the healthcare setting.

H-dibaryon has been predicted as a stable 6-quark color-singlet state. It has been searched for by many experiments but has never been discovered. Recent lattice QCD calculations predict H-dibaryon as a weakly bound or a resonant state close to the LL threshold. E224 and E522 experiments at KEK observed peaks in LL invariant mass spectra near the threshold in (K-, K+) reactions, which were statistically not significant. Therefore, we proposed a new experiment E42 at J-PARC. It will measure decay products of ΛΛ and Λπ-p in a (K-, K+) reaction. We design a large acceptance spectrometer based on a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) immersed in a dipole magnetic field. The TPC surrounds a target to cover nearly 4π acceptance, and accepts K- beams up to 106 counts per second. To suppress drift field distortion at high beam rates, we adopt Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs) for electron amplification and a gating grid. We show an overview of the experiment, the design of the spectrometer, and the R&D status of the TPC prototype.

We carried out an experiment to produce the neutron-rich hypernucleus Λ6H via the (π−, K+) reaction on 6Li target at the pion beam momentum of 1.2 GeV/c (J-PARC E10). In order to calibrate the scale of the missing-mass or of the Λ binding energy of the hypernucleus, we also measured the 12C(π+, K+) Λ12C, p(π−, K+)Σ− and p(π+, K+)Σ+reactions. The experiment was performed at the J-PARC Hadron Hall K1.8 beam line in December 2012 and January 2013. The overall collected data sample corresponds to an integrated beam intensity of 1.65 × 1012 pions.

Abstract Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmentally acquired opportunistic pathogens that can cause chronic lung disease. Within the U.S., Hawai'i shows the highest prevalence rates of NTM lung infections. Here, we investigated a potential role for active volcanism at the Kīlauea Volcano located on Hawai'i Island in promoting NTM growth and diversity. We recovered NTM that are known to cause lung disease from plumbing biofilms and soils collected from the Kīlauea environment. We also discovered viable Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium abscessus, and Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. chimaera on volcanic ash collected during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Analysis of soil samples showed that NTM prevalence is positively associated with bulk content of phosphorus, sulfur, and total organic carbon. In growth assays, we showed that phosphorus utilization is essential for proliferation of Kīlauea‐derived NTM, and demonstrate that NTM cultured with volcanic ash adhere to ash surfaces and remain viable. Ambient dust collected on O'ahu concurrent with the 2018 eruption contained abundant fresh volcanic glass, suggestive of inter‐island ash transport. Phylogenomic analyses using whole genome sequencing revealed that Kīlauea‐derived NTM are genetically similar to respiratory isolates identified on other Hawaiian Islands. Consequently, we posit that volcanic eruptions could redistribute environmental microorganisms over large scales. While additional studies are needed to confirm a direct role of ash in NTM dispersal, our results suggest that volcanic particulates harbor and can redistribute NTM and should therefore be studied as a fomite for these burgeoning, environmentally acquired respiratory infections.

In order to test theoretical frameworks of the baryon-baryon interactions and to confirm the ”Pauli effect between quarks” for the first time, we propose an experiment to measure low-energy hyperon proton scattering cross sections in the following channels with high statistics, 1. Σ− p elastic scattering, 2. Σ− p → Λn inelastic scattering, 3. Σ+ p elastic scattering. According to theoretical models based on quark-gluon picture for the short range part of the baryon-baryon interactions, the Σ+ p channel is expected to have an extremely repulsive core due to the Pauli effect between quarks, which leads a Σ+ p cross section twice as large as that predicted by conventional meson exchange models with a phenomenologically treated short range repulsive core. In addition, measurement of the Σ− p channel where the quark Pauli effect is not effective is also necessary to test the present theoretical models based on meson exchange picture with the flavor SU(3) symmetry. Thus this experiment will provide essential data to test the frameworks of the theoretical models of the baryon-baryon interactions and to investigate the nature of the repulsive core which has not been understood yet. In order to overcome the experimental difficulties in measuring low-energy hyperon proton scattering, we will use a new experimental technique in which a liquid H2 target is used as hyperon production and hyperon scattering targets with a detector system surrounding the LH2 target for detection of a scattered proton and a decay product from a hyperon. The hyperon scattering event is kinematically identified. Because imaging detectors used in past experiments are not employed, high intensity π beam can be used, allowing us to take high statistics data of 100 times more than the previous experiments. We have proposed an experiment of Σp scattering at the K1.8 beam line by utilizing the K1.8 beam line spectrometer and the SKS spectrometer. A high intensity π beams of 2×107/spill at 1.32 GeV/c and 1.42 GeV/c for the Σ− and Σ+ productions, respectively, are used to produce as many hyperon beam as possible.With 16×106 Σ− beam and 55×106 Σ+ beam around 500 MeV/c which are tagged by the spectrometers, we will detect ~10,000 Σ− p and Σ+ p scattering events and ~6,000 Σ− p → Λn inelastic reaction events in 60 days beam time in total. In this proceedings, we will present the experimental plan of the scattering experiment and results of the detailed simulation studies.

Abstract On January 15, 2022, we observed various unusual atmospheric wave events over South America: Atmospheric pressure waves (Lamb mode) around 12:30 to 17:30 UT, tsunamis along the Chilean coast at around 17:00 to 19:00 UT, and ionospheric disturbances between 11:30 and 20:00 UT. We understand that these events were generated by the Tonga volcanic eruption that occurred at (20.55°S, 175.39°W) in South Pacific Ocean at 04:15 UT. Several traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), the horizontal wavelengths of 330 to 1174 km and the phase speed of 275–544 m/s were observed before and after the Lamb wave passed over the continent and the arrival of the tsunami on the Chile coast. The observed TID characteristics suggest us that these waves might be generated by the two atmospheric events, Lamb wave and gravity waves induced by the tsunamis. This is the first time to report the signature of ionospheric disturbances over the South American continent generated by the huge volcanic eruption. Graphical Abstract

As environmental opportunistic pathogens, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can cause severe and difficult to treat pulmonary disease. In the United States, Hawai’i has the highest prevalence of infection. Rapid growing mycobacteria (RGM) such as Mycobacterium abscessus and M. porcinum and the slow growing mycobacteria (SGM) including M. intracellulare subspecies chimaera are common environmental NTM species and subspecies in Hawai’i. Although iron acquisition is an essential process of many microorganisms, iron acquisition via siderophores among the NTM is not well-characterized. In this study, we apply genomic and microbiological methodologies to better understand iron acquisition via siderophores for environmental and respiratory isolates of M. abscessus, M. porcinum, and M. intracellulare subspecies chimaera from Hawai’i. Siderophore synthesis and transport genes, including mycobactin (mbt), mmpL/S, and esx-3 were compared among 47 reference isolates, 29 respiratory isolates, and 23 environmental Hawai’i isolates. Among all reference isolates examined, respiratory isolates showed significantly more siderophore pertinent genes compared to environmental isolates. Among the Hawai’i isolates, RGM M. abscessus and M. porcinum had significantly less esx-3 and mbt genes compared to SGM M. chimaera when stratified by growth classification. However, no significant differences were observed between the species when grown on low iron culture agar or siderophore production by the chrome azurol S (CAS) assay in vitro. These results indicate the complex mechanisms involved in iron sequestration and siderophore activity among diverse NTM species.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental opportunistic pathogens that can cause chronic lung disease. Within the United States, Hawai'i has the highest incidence of NTM lung disease, though the precise reasons are yet to be fully elucidated. One possibility is the high prevalence of NTM in the Hawai'i environment acting as a potential reservoir for opportunistic NTM infections. Through our previous initiatives to collect and characterize NTM in Hawai'i, community scientists of Hawai'i have collected thousands of environmental samples for sequencing. Here, these community scientists were invited for the first time into a high school lab in O'ahu for a genomic sequencing workshop, where participants sequenced four of the collected isolate genomic samples using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencer. Participants generated high quality long read data that when combined with short read Illumina data yielded complete bacterial genomic assemblies suitable for in-depth analysis. The gene annotation analysis identified a suite of genes that might help NTM thrive in the Hawai'i environment. Further, we found evidence of co-occurring methylobacteria, revealed from the sequencing data, suggesting that in some cases methylobacteria and NTM may coexist in the same niche, challenging previously accepted paradigms. The sequencing efforts presented here generated novel insights regarding the potential survival strategies and microbial interactions of NTM in the geographic hot spot of Hawai'i. We highlight the contributions of community scientists and present an activity that can be reimplemented as a workshop or classroom activity by other research groups to engage their local communities.