Photonuclear reactions triggered by lightning discharge.

Lightning and thunderclouds are natural particle accelerators. Avalanches of relativistic runaway electrons, which develop in electric fields within thunderclouds, emit bremsstrahlung γ-rays. These γ-rays have been detected by ground-based observatories, by airborne detectors and as terrestrial γ-ray flashes from space.

Risk factors for wheezing, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in the previous 12 months among six-year-old children in Himeji City, Japan: food allergy, older siblings, day-care attendance and parental allergy history.

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify whether some environmental and genetic factors (food allergy, older siblings, early day-care attendance and parents' allergy history) are related to the development of allergic symptoms (wheezing in the previous 12 months [WP], eczema symptoms in the previous 12 months [EP], and rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms in the previous 12 months [RP]) in Japanese children.

Methods: Using the modified version of the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISSAC) questionnaire, we studied the prevalence of WP, EP and RP among six-year-old children attending 72 primary schools throughout Himeji City, Japan, during the two years from 2005 to 2006.

Results: Food allergy and parents' history of allergy showed a significant relationship with the prevalence of WP, EP and RP.

Use of an infrared sensor system to take long-term bedside measurements of rest-activity patterns in the elderly with dementia.

In order to study long-term rest-activity patterns of elderly residents in care facilities, an infrared sensor system was developed. This sensor system detects a resident's presence or absence from their bed and their activity with little inconvenience. Using this system, the rest-activity patterns of two elderly people with dementia was assessed over a period of 3 months.