No abstract

Infection with the varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes two distinct clinical syndromes, varicella and herpes zoster. Primary infection with VZV results in varicella, characterized by viremia with a diffuse rash and seeding of multiple sensory ganglia, where the virus establishes lifelong latency. Endogenous reactivation of latent VZV typically results in a localized skin infection known as herpes zoster. VZV may cause various complications such as secondary bacterial infection, pneumonia, acute cerebellar ataxia, meningitis, encephalitis, and Reye syndrome [1,2]. In contrast, the occurrence of myopericarditis is extremely rare [2]. The occurrence of concurrent myopericarditis with herpes zoster, as in the present case, is extremely rare [3-5]. This article describes a case of pericarditis caused by herpes zoster. Case report We report the case of a 53-year-old immunocompetent male who developed pericarditis caused by herpes zoster. The patient had no particular past history except for varicella in his childhood. Six hours prior to consultation, the patient suddenly noticed chest pain at rest without physical disorders before chest pain developed. At the time of consultation, the patient had a blood pressure of 134/92 mmHg, heart rate of 110 beats per minute, and body temperature of 37.6 C. There was no paradoxical pulse observed. Heart sounds were slightly distant and muffled with no sound of pericardial friction. The jugular venous distension was not observed, and there was no edema of the legs. No rash was observed on the body surface. However, the chest pain persisted. The 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) revealed concave upward ST segment elevation in the leads of I, II, aVL, aVF, and V1-6 without mirror-image changes and PR segment depression (Fig. 1A). Blood tests revealed a white blood cell count of 11.5 Â 10 3 /mL [normal range (NR), 3.6-8.7 Â 103/mL] and C-reactive protein (CRP) of 1.27 mg/dL (NR, 0.00-0.17 mg/dL) both of which were slightly elevated. Myocardial enzyme was normal with the creatine kinase/ creatine kinase-myocardial band level of 158/80 IU/L (NR, 110-318/ 0-12 IU/L) and troponin I level of 0.02 ng/mL (NR, 0.00-0.04 ng/ mL). Renal function was normal with a creatinine level of 0.78 mg/ dL (NR, 0.65-1.07 mg/dL). The human immunodeficiency virus antibody (types 1, 2) and antigen (type p24) evaluated by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay test were negative (NR, negative). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed left ventricular ejection fraction of 67%, indicating normal left

On 1 April 2017, around 6 y after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station accident, evacuation orders for large affected areas were lifted, and areas to which people could return were expanded. In the current study, a dose estimation model based on a probabilistic approach has been developed to estimate the external radiation doses children would receive after returning to these areas. The target groups are children from infants to high school students, and the target areas are nine municipalities including evacuation areas as of 5 September 2015. The estimation period is for 4 y starting 1 April 2017. Validation of the model in an area for which individual personal dosimetry measurements were available showed that it is valid for infants, kindergarteners, 3rd and 4th grade elementary school students, 5th and 6th grade elementary school students, and junior high school students. Considering the statement of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the estimated radiation doses for these five age groups were taken to be the 95th percentiles of the predicted distributions as an index of conservative judgement. As a result of our estimations, the 95th percentile doses to all age groups were less than 20 mSv y−1 in all periods and in all areas. The 95th percentile doses in some areas were less than 1 mSv y−1, which is the long-term dosimetric target set by the Japanese government. It should be noted that our results are preliminary, being based on several assumptions and limitations regarding environmental contamination conditions and the behavioral patterns of children. To estimate the children’s doses precisely, further considerations for these assumptions and limitations will be needed.

Abstract:In aerial radiation monitoring (ARM), the air dose rate cannot be appropriately estimated under snowy conditions due to attenuation of gamma rays by the snow layer. A technique to address this issue is required for ARM to obtain enough signals for air dose rates. To develop this technique, we investigated the relationship between snow depth and ARM measurement results using ARM, laser imaging detection and ranging, and ground measurement before and after snowfall. From the measured data, the results obtained using three different correction factors were examined and compared. An appropriate correction improved the underestimation of the air dose rate. However, further improvement in the accuracy of the analysis requires accurate estimation of the snow water equivalent.

日本サンゴ礁学会若手の会・環境教育ワーキンググループでは，主に日本サンゴ礁学会会員を対象 として，サンゴ礁分野における教育活動の現状と課題を明らかにするためのアンケート調査を実施した。 537 名の調査対象者に対し，アンケートの回収率は 15.1% で，回答者の 69.1% が何らかの教育活動への参 加経験があり，また 98.8% がこうした教育活動に関心があると回答した。また教育活動が重要であると考 える理由としては， 「保全活動の一環として教育活動を重要視している」とする回答が 29.2% と最も多かっ た。活動実施の際の課題や必要な支援に関する主な意見としては，時間的負担，予算不足，人材不足が挙 げられた。加えて，若手研究者が教育活動に参加することへの正の効果についても考察し，若手学会員の 視点から今後の教育活動における連携や実施の促進に向けた活動案も提案する。 環境教育，サンゴ礁保全，科学コミュニケーション，若手研究者，アンケート調査 日本サンゴ礁学会若手の会の設立集会となった， 日本サンゴ礁学会第 15 回大会自由集会「若手の異 分野連携を考える─日本サンゴ礁学会若手の会たち あげ─」 (2012 年 11 月 23 日)では， 「環境教育」 や「科学コミュニケーション」に関心を抱く参加者 が多くみられた。これを受け， 「環境教育」をテー マにしたワーキンググループの立ち上げが提案さ れ，10 名の有志からなる環境教育ワーキンググルー プ(以下，環境教育 WG)が結成された。環境教育 WG ではメーリングリストやフェイスブックグルー プを活用して，本若手特集セクションへの原稿投稿 に向けた意見交換を行ってきた。 本稿では，日本における科学コミュニケーション の流れとサンゴ礁分野における環境教育の事例を概 説し，環境教育 WG で行ったサンゴ礁分野におけ る教育活動の現状と課題を明らかにするためのアン ケート調査の結果を示した。得られた結果から，研 究者や専門家(以下，専門家)が行う教育活動にお いて，特に学生や若手研究者等(以下，若手研究者) * 連絡著者