Climate Policy in the United States and Japan: A Workshop Summary

Resources for the Future and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan) convened a one-and-one-half day workshop on domestic and international climate policy on February 12–13, 2004 in Washington, D.C. On the first day, 55 participants heard presentations from 14 speakers and discussed domestic activities, economics, and politics. The second day featured a smaller group of 27 participants hearing six informal sets of comments and discussing opportunities for international collaboration. Participants included government officials from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other U.S. administration and congressional staff; representatives from business and environmental groups; and academic experts. Over the course of both days, it was clear that great opportunities exist for informing participants from both countries on recent developments, economic analyses, and political nuances in the other country. For example, American participants were unaware of the Keidanren’s success at exceeding required efficiency standards. Japanese participants were unaware of U.S. treaty tradition, by which ratification cannot occur until implementing legislation is in place—a fact that makes the Kyoto Protocol virtually unratifiable. Participants on both sides benefited from a frank discussion of how and why it may be unwise for the international community to attempt to re-engage the United States in international climate policy until the United States settles on its own course of meaningful domestic action. Looking forward, an important lesson may be taken from U.S. experience with early environmental regulation, where state action provided experience and impetus for federal action. As an alternative to the Kyoto model, distinct national actions may provide experience and impetus for international action. In addition, policies in both the United States and Japan reflect a strong emphasis on technology development and commercialization; this may be an area where bilateral cooperation could be particularly beneficial.climate change, global warming, United States, Japan, Kyoto

Climate Policy in the United States and Japan: Prospects in 2005 and Beyond, Workshop Summary

Resources for the Future and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies convened a one and one-half day workshop on domestic and international climate policy May 11–12, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan. The first day included 49 participants hearing presentations from 13 speakers and discussing domestic activities, economics, and politics. The second day included a smaller group of participants listening to a panel of four experts and discussing opportunities for future international climate regimes. Participants included government officials from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment; the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Department of State; and the Massachussetts Department of Commonwealth Development; representatives from business and environmental groups; and academic experts. Over the course of both days, it was clear that great opportunities exist for regularly informing experts from both countries on recent policy developments, economic analyses, and political nuances in the other country. For example, U.S. participants had an opportunity to learn the process through which Japanese technology standards are set and implemented, the subtle evolution of mandatory policy discussions, and details of current policies on voluntary trading and an emission registry. Japanese participants benefited from a frank discussion with U.S. experts of how and why it would be difficult to link different domestic emissions trading markets, the current process to establish a regional emissions trading program, and the evolving dynamics in the U.S. Senate. Looking forward, important lessons may be taken from past negotiating experiences. A small group of national leaders, including large emitters of greenhouse gases and major economies, addressing not only climate change but also developmental issues, could be a useful vehicle for meaningful international efforts. Such a small-group process should be carried out in parallel with the multilateral United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process. In addition, policies in both the United States and Japan reflect a strong emphasis on technology development and commercialization; this may be an area where bilateral cooperation could be particularly beneficial.climate change, global warming, United States, Japan, Kyoto

キイロショウジョウバエ由来のチオレドキシン還元酵素のC未端テトラペプチド配列は、ヒト肺由来のチオレドキシン還元酵素では酸化還元活性を示さない

The isozymes of mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) contain the penultimate selenocysteineresidue (SeCys) in the redox-active C-terminal tetrapeptide, -Gly-Cys-SeCys-Gly (end). Amutant form of the mammalian enzyme TrxR-X498C in which SeCys is replaced with Cys showsa dramatically decreased catalytic activity, suggesting that SeCys residue plays an integral role inthe catalysis. In contrast, TrxR of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has no selenium in the corresponding C-terminal redox sequence, which instead of SeCys has flanking serine residues in the terminal sequence, -Ser-Cys-Cys-Ser (end). Because the catalytic activity of Dm-TrxR is comparable to that of the mammalian selenoenzyme, we introduced the serine residues at the corresponding positions of the recombinant TrxR-X498C and mimicked the redox center of the fruit fly TrxR. However, the catalysis remained as low as the Cys mutant of the selenoenzyme, suggesting that the additional structural features are still required for the tetrapeptide to function as a redox center. MOPAC calculation suggested that the complete motif might involve the hexapeptide sequence, which includes a proline residue, -Pro-X-Ser-Cys-Cys-Ser (end). The proline-containing motif is conserved among other insect TrxRs such as those of honeybee and fruit fly.ほ乳類チオレドキシン還元酵素はＣ末端配列-Gly-Cys-SeCys-Gly（end）の後ろから２番目にセレノシステイン（SeCys）残基を持つ．SeCys をシステインに変換すると酵素の活性は大きく低下するので，SeCys 残基が触媒活性に必須であることが分かる．これに対してキイロショウジョウバエのチオレドキシン還元酵素（Dm-TrxR）のＣ末端配列にはセレンが含まれず，システイン残基の対が２つのセリンに挟まれた配列-Ser-Cys-Cys-Ser (end）を持つ．それでも Dm-TrxR はほ乳類のセレン含有酵素と同程度の触媒能を示す．われわれはヒト肺チオレドキシン還元酵素に Dm-TrxR のＣ末端テトラペプチド配列を導入してその効果を調べた．しかし，酵素活性はまったく上昇せず，Dm-TrxR のＣ末端のテトラペプチド配列-Ser-Cys-Cys-Ser だけでは Cys 残基のチオール基を活性化する効果はなかった．そこで，分子軌道計算 MOPAC を用いて酸化還元機能を担うためのＣ末端配列モチーフを探索した．その結果，テトラペプチドにさらに２つ先のプロリンまでを含めた Pro-X-Ser-Cys-Cys-Ser（end）により初めて酸化還元モチーフとして機能する可能性が示唆された．Pro を含むこの配列モチーフはミツバチや蚊などほかの昆虫の TrxR でも保存されてい

Lyman Break Galaxies at z~5: Rest-frame UV Spectra II

We present the results of spectroscopy of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) at z~5 in the J0053+1234 field with the Faint Object Camera and Spectrograph on the Subaru telescope. Among 5 bright candidates with z' < 25.0 mag, 2 objects are confirmed to be at z~5 from their Ly alpha emission and the continuum depression shortward of Ly alpha. The EWs of Ly alpha emission of the 2 LBGs are not so strong to be detected as Ly alpha emitters, and one of them shows strong low-ionized interstellar (LIS) metal absorption lines. Two faint objects with z' \geq 25.0 mag are also confirmed to be at z~5, and their spectra show strong Ly alpha emission in contrast to the bright ones. These results suggest a deficiency of strong Ly alpha emission in bright LBGs at z~5, which has been discussed in our previous paper. Combined with our previous spectra of LBGs at z~5 obtained around the Hubble Deep Field-North (HDF-N), we made a composite spectrum of UV luminous (M_1400 \leq -21.5 mag) LBGs at z~5. The resultant spectrum shows a weak Ly alpha emission and strong LIS absorptions which suggests that the bright LBGs at z~5 have chemically evolved at least to ~0.1 solar metallicity. For a part of our sample in the HDF-N region, we obtained near-to-mid infrared data, which constraint stellar masses of these objects. With the stellar mass and the metallicity estimated from LIS absorptions, the metallicities of the LBGs at z~5 tend to be lower than those of the galaxies with the same stellar mass at z \lesssim 2, although the uncertainty is very large.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Preference formation, negotiations and implementation: Japan and the Basle Capital Accord.

The aim of this thesis is to elucidate the position of Japanese bank regulators in the international harmonising process of the capital standards set by the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision and in the domestic politics of banking regulation. An attempt is made to test a two-level-game model that positions Japanese regulators as the link between international and domestic politics. The thesis systematically assesses the strengths and the weaknesses of the two-level approach, and considers the validity of alternatives-systemic- and domestic-level approaches. The selection of case studies is made on such a basis: the case of negotiation processes and that of implementation. On the one hand, a close look at Japanese regulators' preference formation and behaviour through a filter of the two-level-game framework allows us to better understand their behaviour at the negotiation process. The thesis presents a counterexample to mainstream systemic-level explanations about the forces leading to the Japanese Ministry of Finance's negotiating position. The MoF was tactically motivated to use the internationally agreed rules and norms to legitimise its domestic policies and to shore up its position in the domestic politics. On the other hand, the thesis points out limits to the logic of two-level-game approach concerning implementation and compliance issues. The hypotheses derived from the logic of two-level-game approach do not sufficiently explain ineffectual Japanese compliance with the Basle Accord. Both domestic institutional "capacity" and the "willingness" of regulators are important in determining the degree of compliance. These institutional and intentional factors underline the possibility that the Basle rules can be sabotaged by vested interests at the implementation phase. With regard to implementation issues, therefore, more persuasive explanations come from the domestic-based argument that dysfunctional domestic institutions hampered Japanese credible commitments to the Basle Accord

Quantum Random Number Generation with the Superconducting Quantum Computer IBM 20Q Tokyo

Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) produce theoretically unpredictable random numbers. A typical QRNG is implemented in quantum optics [Herrero-Collantes, M., Garcia-Escartin, J. C.: Quantum Random Number Generators. Rev. Mod. Phys. \textbf{89}, 015004 (2017)]. Quantum computers become QRNGs when given certain programs. The simplest example of such a program applies the Hadamard gate on all qubits and performs measurement. As a result of repeatedly running this program on a 20-qubit superconducting quantum computer (IBM 20Q Tokyo), we obtained a sample with a length of 43,560. However, statistical analysis showed that this sample was biased and correlated. One of the post-processed samples passed statistical tests. To show the effectiveness of post-processing, a larger sample size is required. The present study of quantum random number generation and statistical testing may provide a potential candidate for benchmarking tests of actual quantum computing devices

Discovery of H alpha absorption in the unusual broad absorption line quasar SDSS J083942.11+380526.3

We discovered an H alpha absorption in a broad H alpha emission line of an unusual broad absorption line quasar, SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 at z=2.318, by near-infrared spectroscopy with the Cooled Infrared Spectrograph and Camera for OHS (CISCO) on the Subaru telescope. The Presence of non-stellar H alpha absorption is known only in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 to date, thus our discovery is the first case for quasars. The H alpha absorption line is blueshifted by 520 km/s relative to the H alpha emission line, and its redshift almost coincides with those of UV low-ionization metal absorption lines. The width of the H alpha absorption (~ 340 km/s) is similar to those of the UV low-ionization absorption lines. These facts suggest that the H alpha and the low-ionization metal absorption lines are produced by the same low-ionization gas which has a substantial amount of neutral gas. The column density of the neutral hydrogen is estimated to be ~ 10^18 cm^-2 by assuming a gas temperature of 10,000 K from the analysis of the curve of growth. The continuum spectrum is reproduced by a reddened (E(B-V) ~ 0.15 mag for the SMC-like reddening law) composite quasar spectrum. Furthermore, the UV spectrum of SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 shows a remarkable similarity to that of NGC 4151 in its low state, suggesting the physical condition of the absorber in SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 is similar to that of NGC 4151 in the low state. As proposed for NGC 4151, SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 may be also seen through the close direction of the surface of the obscuring torus.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap