Possibility of Direct Measurement of the Acceleration of the Universe Using 0.1 Hz Band Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Antenna in Space

It may be possible to construct a laser interferometer gravitational wave antenna in space with $h_{rms}\sim 10^{-27}$ at $f\sim 0.1{\rm Hz}$ in this century. We show possible specification of this antenna which we call DECIGO. Using this antenna we show that 1) typically $10^5$ ($10^4\sim 10^6$) chirp signals of coalescing binary neutron stars per year may be detected with S/N $\sim 10^4$. 2) We can directly measure the acceleration of the universe by ten years observation of binary neutron stars. 3) The stochastic gravitational waves of \Omega_{GW}\gsim 10^{-20} predicted by the inflation may be detected by correlation analysis for which effects of the recent cosmic acceleration would become highly important. Our formula for phase shift due to accelerating motion might be also applied for binary sources of LISA.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, revised version, Phys.Rev.Lett in pres

Effect of Site Fidelity on Cooperative Breeding in the Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

We examined whether a low site fidelity has an effect on group territoriality and the occurrence of helpers in the Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus. This species was seen all the year round, except for summer, at the edge of Kasuga-yama Woody Hills in Joetsu City, but none of the banded birds were residents. Winter groups were stable in membership but on one occasion two groups joined together. Group territorialism was loose because winter home ranges overlapped each other and few aggressive interactions were observed. Pairs were formed not only within but also between groups. Helpers were all failed breeders and some were from different winter groups. Typical cooperative breeders are seen among resident birds which live in groups all the year round. Although Long-tailed Tits in our area were not residents, the birds still expressed cooperative breeding. We conclude that a strong site fidelity may be a necessary condition for group territoriality but it is not a prerequisite for helping behaviour in this species

Follow-up of isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block with longitudinal measurements of serum NT-proBNP and cardiothoracic ratio

There are a few children with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block (ICCAVB) who do not require a pacemaker. We report a female infant born at 36 weeks by emergency cesarean section because of fetal heart rate abnormalities who was diagnosed as having ICCAVB. In accordance with the echocardiographic findings, we simultaneously measured the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) by chest radiography and serum N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) and have continued to follow her as an outpatient for about 8 years. CTR and NT-proBNP showed strong positive correlation (r=0.894, p<0.05). In such few children with ICCAVB as this patient, CTR measurement during their follow-up would be very useful to easily understand their cardiac load status

The Banking and Securities Scandals and Fundamental Theories of Commercial Jurisprudence

The recent Japanese banking and securities scandals are among the most serious events that the Japanese business community has ever experienced. This article, written by Professor Seiji Tanaka, and translated by Yutaka Nakamura, analyzes these events applying positive laws from Professor Tanaka\u27s standpoint, emphasizing the social responsibilities that corporations should have in Japanese society. The article relies on the basic purposes and provisions of the Japanese Commercial and Civil Codes and establishes organic principles of social responsibility for Japanese corporations to follow. Finally, the article emphasizes that a high standard of conduct, based on these principles of social responsibility, is necessary for Japanese corporations to maintain the trust of the international community

Precise Orbit Determination for ALOS

The Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) has been developed to contribute to the fields of mapping, precise regional land coverage observation, disaster monitoring, and resource surveying. Because the mounted sensors need high geometrical accuracy, precise orbit determination for ALOS is essential for satisfying the mission objectives. So ALOS mounts a GPS receiver and a Laser Reflector (LR) for Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR). This paper deals with the precise orbit determination experiments for ALOS using Global and High Accuracy Trajectory determination System (GUTS) and the evaluation of the orbit determination accuracy by SLR data. The results show that, even though the GPS receiver loses lock of GPS signals more frequently than expected, GPS-based orbit is consistent with SLR-based orbit. And considering the 1 sigma error, orbit determination accuracy of a few decimeters (peak-to-peak) was achieved

Response Function of a 1-inch Diameter by 6-inch Long ³He Proportional Counter to Neutrons

The response of a 1-inch diameter by 6-inch long ³He proportional counter, of which the gas filling is 4 atm ³He and 2 atm krypton, to axially incident neutrons has been studied and expressed as a 50 by 50 matrix for an energy range from zero to 5 MeV. Applications of the matrix were examined for the purpose of obtaining response-corrected spectra of neutrons transmitted through a matter