Thermal Pure Quantum States at Finite Temperature

An equilibrium state can be represented by a pure quantum state, which we call a thermal pure quantum (TPQ) state. We propose a new TPQ state and a simple method of obtaining it. A single realization of the TPQ state suffices for calculating all statistical-mechanical properties, including correlation functions and genuine thermodynamic variables, of a quantum system at finite temperature.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, A shortened version will appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Comparison of ozone profiles from DIAL, MLS, and chemical transport model simulations over Río Gallegos, Argentina, during the spring Antarctic vortex breakup, 2009

This study evaluates the agreement between ozone profiles derived from the ground-based differential absorption lidar (DIAL), satellite-borne Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), and 3-D chemical transport model (CTM) simulations such as the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate (MIROC-CTM) over the Atmospheric Observatory of Southern Patagonia (Observatorio Atmosférico de la Patagonia Austral, OAPA; 51.6°S, 69.3°W) in Río Gallegos, Argentina, from September to November 2009. In this austral spring, measurements were performed in the vicinity of the polar vortex and inside it on some occasions; they revealed the variability in the potential vorticity (PV) of measured air masses. Comparisons between DIAL and MLS were performed between 6 and 100hPa with 500km and 24h coincidence criteria. The results show a good agreement between DIAL and MLS with mean differences of ±0.1ppmv (MLS-´DIAL, n,=-) between 6 and 56hPa. MIROC-CTM also agrees with DIAL, with mean differences of ±0.3ppmv (MIROC-CTM-´DIAL, n,=-23) between 10 and 56hPa. Both comparisons provide mean differences of 0.5ppmv (MLS) to 0.8-0.9ppmv (MIROC-CTM) at the 83-100hPa levels. DIAL tends to underestimate ozone values at this lower altitude region. Between 6 and 8hPa, the MIROC-CTM ozone value is 0.4-0.6ppmv (5-8%) smaller than those from DIAL. Applying the scaled PV (sPV) criterion for matching pairs in the DIAL-MLS comparison, the variability in the difference decreases 21-47% between 10 and 56hPa. However, the mean differences are small for all pressure levels, except 6hPa. Because ground measurement sites in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) are very sparse at mid-to high latitudes, i.e., 35-60°S, the OAPA site is important for evaluating the bias and long-Term stability of satellite instruments. The good performance of this DIAL system will be useful for such purposes in the future.Fil: Sugita, Takafumi. National Institute for Environmental Studies; JapónFil: Akiyoshi, Hideharu. National Institute for Environmental Studies; JapónFil: Wolfram, Elian Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Salvador, Jacobo Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; ArgentinaFil: Ohyama, Hirofumi. National Institute for Environmental Studies; Japón. Nagoya University; JapónFil: Mizuno, Akira. Nagoya University; Japó

Detection of Macroscopic Entanglement by Correlation of Local Observables

We propose a correlation of local observables on many sites in macroscopic quantum systems. By measuring the correlation one can detect, if any, superposition of macroscopically distinct states, which we call macroscopic entanglement, in arbitrary quantum states that are (effectively) homogeneous. Using this property, we also propose an index of macroscopic entanglement.Comment: Although the index q was proposed for mixed states, it is also applicable to pure states, on which we fix minor bugs (that will be reported in PRL as erratum). The conclusions of the paper remain unchanged. (4 pages, no figures.

Macroscopic entanglement of many-magnon states

We study macroscopic entanglement of various pure states of a one-dimensional N-spin system with N>>1. Here, a quantum state is said to be macroscopically entangled if it is a superposition of macroscopically distinct states. To judge whether such superposition is hidden in a general state, we use an essentially unique index p: A pure state is macroscopically entangled if p=2, whereas it may be entangled but not macroscopically if p<2. This index is directly related to the stability of the state. We calculate the index p for various states in which magnons are excited with various densities and wavenumbers. We find macroscopically entangled states (p=2) as well as states with p=1. The former states are unstable in the sense that they are unstable against some local measurements. On the other hand, the latter states are stable in the senses that they are stable against local measurements and that their decoherence rates never exceed O(N) in any weak classical noises. For comparison, we also calculate the von Neumann entropy S(N) of a subsystem composed of N/2 spins as a measure of bipartite entanglement. We find that S(N) of some states with p=1 is of the same order of magnitude as the maximum value N/2. On the other hand, S(N) of the macroscopically entangled states with p=2 is as small as O(log N)<< N/2. Therefore, larger S(N) does not mean more instability. We also point out that these results are analogous to those for interacting many bosons. Furthermore, the origin of the huge entanglement, as measured either by p or S(N), is discussed to be due to the spatial propagation of magnons.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures. The manuscript has been shortened and typos have been fixed. Data points of figures have been made larger in order to make them clearly visibl

New Stepwedge for Bootstrap Sensitometry in Medical Radiography

A new stepwedge has been developed for bootstrap sensitometry, which is used for determining the characteristic curve of radiographic screen/film systems. Since each step of the stepwedge is separated by the lead septum, flare generated under one step will not penetrate the region of another step. The metal of the stepwedge can be changed with various materials. Characteristic curves obtained with new stepwedge bootstrap (NSB) and conventional stepwedge bootstrap (CSB) techniques were compared with those obtained for screen/film systems with inverse sqare sensitometry. The inverse square method was used as the reference standard for accuracy. The NSB method provided characteristic curves that agreed well with those obtained using the inverse square method. The slope of the curve in the CSB method was lower than that in the inverse square or NBS method, because of scatter radiation. The shape of the characteristic curve from the NSB method did not vary with the materials of step metals (aluminum and copper). The cumulative error involved when using the bootstrap method is also discussed

現像温度および時間のマンモフイルム特性に与える影響

The influence for developing temperature and processing time within film processing conditions was investigated using four mammographic films, Konica New CM, Fuji UM-MA HC, Kodak Min-R M and Kodak EB/RA (for rapid system). And Fuji UR-2, a double-emulsion film, was used as a control. Those sensitometric strips exposed by a sensitometer were processed in the different combinations of developing temperatures ranging from 28 to 36℃, processing times from 45 to 210 sec. Average gradient, relative speed and base plus fog obtained from the measured film characteristic curves were evaluated for the different developing temperatures and times. Fuji UR-2 was scarcely affected and mammographic films were greatly affected in the different combinations without an increase in base plus fog except EB/RA. In New CM, UM-MA HC and Min-R M, the average gradients and the relative speeds increased as the developing temperature was higher and the developing time was longer, but the increases were limit on the combination of 36℃ and 210 sec in New CM and UM-MA HC. In EB/RA, the average gradients were almost constant and the relative speeds increased slightly like the double-emulsion film. These results suggested that it would be possible to contribute to dose reduction and advancement of contrast in New CM, UM-MA HC and Min-R M by changing these processing parameters.フィルム処理条件において,現像温度と処理時間に対する影響を4種類のマンモグラフィ用フィルムKonica New CM, Fuji UM-MA HC,Kodak Min-R M,迅速処理用Kodak EB/RAについて調べた｡そして,比較基準用として両面乳剤フィルムFuji UR-2を用いた｡感光計で露光したフィルムを現像温度28～36℃,処理時間45～210秒で処理した｡特性曲線から得られたフィルム特性（平均階調度,相対感度,カブリ濃度）を異なる現像温度,現像時間に対して評価した｡UR-2はほとんど影響を受けず,マンモグラフィ用フィルムは,カブリ濃度が上昇することなく,現像条件の影響を大きく受けた。New CM, UM-MA HC,Min-R Mは現像温度の上昇,処理時間の延長に伴い,平均階調度と相対感度は増加した｡しかし,New CM, UM-MA HCの36℃,210秒で増加は限度に達した｡EB/RAの平均階調度は一定で,相対感度は両面乳剤フイルムと同 様にわずかな増加であった｡これらの結果は,New CM, UM-MA HC, Min-R Mにおいて,処理条件を変化させることにより,被曝低減,コントラスト向上に貢献できる可能性を示唆していた

Characteristics of Atmospheric Wave-Induced Laminae Observed by Ozonesondes at the Southern Tip of South America

Fluctuations of ozone concentrations with dimensions of a few kilometers (i.e., ozone laminae) are frequently found in ozone-sounding profiles. We used ozonesonde measurements made at the southern tip of South America to examine the relationship between ozone laminae and atmospheric waves near the edge of the polar vortex and on the leeward side of the Andes Mountains. Laminar structures are formed by vertical and horizontal displacements of isopleths due to gravity waves and by isentropic advection of vortex air filaments with low ozone concentration due to Rossby wave breaking. We extracted components of these ozone fluctuations by applying a high-pass filter to the observed ozone profiles and normalizing them to background concentrations, which were extracted with a low-pass filter. Ozone fluctuations due to displacements caused by gravity waves were individually evaluated with experimental data. We assumed that the residuals between the observed and gravity wave-induced fluctuations were Rossby waves-induced fluctuations. We found that the gravity wave-induced variability was larger in the upper troposphere than in the lower stratosphere and was a maximum in winter. Rossby wave-induced variability showed a distinct seasonal pattern in the lower stratosphere and accounted for a large portion of the observed variability. We also examined the relationship between gravity wave-induced and Rossby wave-induced ozone variability and the differences in equivalent latitudes between the sonde positions and the polar vortex edge. We found that variability was larger inside than outside the polar vortex.Fil: Ohyama, Hirofumi. Nagoya University; JapónFil: Mizuno, Akira. Nagoya University; JapónFil: Zamorano, F.. Universidad de Magallanes; ChileFil: Sugita, Takafumi. National Institute For Environmental Studies; JapónFil: Akiyoshi, Hideharu. National Institute For Environmental Studies; JapónFil: Noguchi, Katsuyuki. Nara Women's University; JapónFil: Wolfram, Elian Augusto. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; ArgentinaFil: Salvador, Jacobo Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación en Láseres y Aplicaciones; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; ArgentinaFil: Benitez, Griselda Carolina. Ministerio de Defensa. Secretaria de Planeamiento. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Age-Specific Prevalence of Glaucoma is Determined by the Presence of Refractive Errors Among Japanese Workers

To develop appropriate glaucoma mass screening programs for occupational health among Japanese workers, we estimated the prevalence of glaucoma and the increase rate by age. A total of 10,579 Japanese general workers (men/women = 9292/1287) underwent frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry testing. Visual field abnormalities (VFA) were identified by the FDT-based glaucoma screening protocol (FDT-VFA). Subjects with FDT-VFA were ophthalmologically diagnosed and classified as "normal," "glaucomatous VFA" (preperimetric, suspicious, and definitive glaucoma) or "other ocular diseases." Prevalence of FDT-VFA and positive predictive values for "glaucomatous VFA" and "definitive glaucoma" were calculated by five-year age intervals, and then the prevalence of "glaucomatous VFA" and "definitive glaucoma" in each age interval was estimated. Prevalence of "glaucomatous VFA" and "definitive glaucoma" in workers younger than 30 years old was approximately 1.5% and 0.5%, respectively. Interestingly, the increase in prevalence of glaucoma by age was significantly different between workers with and without refractive errors (RE). From ages 30 to 55 years, the estimated prevalence of "definitive glaucoma" linearly increased with a regression coefficient (%/age in years) that was 2.5-fold higher in subjects with RE than in those without RE {regression coefficient = 0.131 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.109, 0.152; R2 = 0.980]vs. 0.047 [95% CI = 0.026, 0.068; R2 = 0.869]for subjects with RE vs. those without RE, respectively}. Further, among workers older than 55 years, the prevalence of glaucoma continued increasing in workers with RE, whereas it plateaued in those without RE. From these estimates, we propose that FDT testing should be conducted as follows: 1) once in workers under the age of 30 years, 2) according to both age and the presence of RE in 30-55 years old, and 3) by age only in those over 55 years old

Mite-antigen Stimulates MAL Expression in Peripheral Blood T Cells of Mite-sensitive Subjects

ABSTRACTBackgroundDifferential gene expression in CD3+ T cells from allergic patients stimulated with allergen will provide important information on the responses of T cells.MethodsAfter stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with mite extracts, levels of gene transcription were examined in CD3+ T cells from allergic patients.ResultsStimulation of PBMCs from mite specific IgE positive subjects resulted in specific upregulation of MAL transcription levels that was mediated by IL-4 secretion. The MAL protein in IL-4 stimulated primary T cells preferentially localized in glycolipid-enriched membrane (GEM) microdomains. When MAL was exogenously expressed in primary T cells, CD3ζ was concomitantly enriched, along with the expression of MAL, in GEM microdomains.ConclusionsGEMs are important for the formation and stabilization of TCR signaling complexes. Therefore, MAL may play a role in the formation of GEMs in activated T cells and the high expression of MAL may contribute to Th2 immune response

RESOLUTION PROPERTIES OF CRT MONITORS

We have developed a new technique for measuring the modulation transfer function (MTF) of a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor. The "nominal" MTF was measured by displaying a line image of a width of one pixel on the CRT monitor using the pattern generator. We also measured the effective pixel width. In order to obtain the "actual" MTF, the nominal MTF was divided by the sinc function which is the Fourier transform of the effective pixel width. The results indicate that the corrected MTF　converges to the constant value as the effective pixel width is narrower. Thus, the actual MTFs were determined and compared in the horizontal direction for two CRT monitors