Tokyo Axion Helioscope

The idea of a magnetic axion helioscope was first proposed by Pierre Sikivie in 1983. Tokyo axion helioscope was built exploiting its detection principle with a dedicated cryogen-free superconducting magnet and PIN photodiodes for x-ray detectors. Solar axions, if exist, would be converted into x-ray photons in the magnetic field. Conversion is coherently enhanced even for massive axions by filling the conversion region with helium gas. Its start up, search results so far and prospects are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, AXIONS 201

Training for the Urban Unemployed: A Reevaluation of Mexico's Training Program, Probecat

For many years the government of Mexico has implemented a large training program for the unemployed. The program has been evaluated twice before with similar methodologies. These two evaluations yielded encouraging results in that the program apparently reduces unemployment and increases earnings. This article suggests that both evaluations may suffer from inappropriate controls for the endogeneity of program participation. Using the availability of the program at the state level as a determinant of individual participation, the article uses the data of the second evaluation to indicate that Probecat does not decrease unemployment, nor does it increase wages.Mexico; probecat; employment programs

教員養成を教員需要減少から考える

The Ikuei university opened in April, Heisei 30 as a Faculty of Education. There is a big problem as a university that tackles teacher training. Students who wanted to become elementary school teachers entered the school, but some students who entered without being firmly conscious of being an elementary school teacher, because it was a new university, so I did not have any particular awareness of what to do especially Some students admitted to school. However, it is to study and develop students’ qualities and abilities that students must learn before graduation, university clear objectives, contents to be tackled by planning, and so on. Given the current state of elementary school workplaces, it is necessary to raise the qualities and abilities of students wishing for teachers, to graduate with the ability to acquire the necessary abilities as teachers. The teacher training course of the university has a role to send higher quality faculty to society. However, it is important to anticipate that harsh circumstances will arise for conditions adopted by teachers, such as a decrease in the number of children due to the declining birthrate, a decrease in schools, and so forth. One of them is to closely cooperate with primary schools. Improve teaching practice, improve motivation to become a teacher and graduate as a teacher with immediate fighting power. We must make an effort to build a solid position as a useful presence for the educational site

HI-selected Galaxies as a probe of Quasar Absorption Systems

We investigate the properties of HI-rich galaxies detected in blind radio surveys within the hierarchical structure formation scenario using a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation. By drawing a detailed comparison between the properties of HI-selected galaxies and HI absorption systems, we argue a link between the local galaxy population and quasar absorption systems, particularly for Damped Ly-alpha absorption (DLA) systems and sub-DLA systems. First, we evaluate how many HI-selected galaxies exhibit HI column densities as high as those of DLA systems. We find that HI-selected galaxies with HI masses M(HI) > 10^8 solar masses have gaseous disks that produce HI column densities comparable to those of DLA systems. We conclude that DLA galaxies where the HI column densities are as high as those of DLA systems, contribute significantly to the population of HI-selected galaxies at M(HI) > 10^8 solar masses. Second, we find that star formation rates (SFRs) correlate tightly with HI masses rather than B- (and J-) band luminosities. In the low-mass range M(HI) < 10^8 solar masses, sub-DLA galaxies replace DLA galaxies as the dominant population. The number fraction of sub-DLA galaxies relative to galaxies reaches 40%-60% at HI masses 10^8 solar masses and 30%-80% at 10^7 solar masses. The HI-selected galaxies at 10^7 solar masses are a strong probe of sub-DLA systems that place stringent constraints on galaxy formation and evolution.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures, Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa