Squeezing at 946nm with periodically-poled KTiOPO_4

We report generation of squeezed vacuum in sideband modes of continuous-wave light at 946 nm using a periodically poled KTiOPO_4 crystal in an optical parametric oscillator. At the pump power of 250 mW, we observe the squeezing level of -5.6+/-0.1 dB and the anti-squeezing level of +12.7+/-0.1 dB. The pump power dependence of the observed squeezing/anti-squeezing levels agrees with the theoretically calculated values when the phase fluctuation of locking is taken into account.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Optics Letter

"Pricing Convertible Bonds with Default Risk: A Duffie-Singleton Approach"

We propose a new method to value convertible bonds(CBs). In particular, we explicitly take default risk into consideration based on Duffie-Singleton(1999), and provide a consistent and practical method for relative pricing of securities issued by a firm such as CBs, non-convertible corporate bonds and equities. Moreover, we show numerical examples using Japanese CBs' data, and compare our model with other practical models.

"Dynamic Optimality of Yield Curve Strategies"

This paper formulates and analyzes a dynamic optimization problem of bond portfolios within Markovian Heath-Jarrow-Morton term structure models. In particular, we investigate optimal yield curve strategies analytically and numerically, and provide theoretical justification for a typical strategy which is recommended in practice for an expected change in the shape of the yield curve. In the numerical analysis, we utilize a new technique based on the asymptotic expansion approach in order to increase efficiency in computation.

"Style Analysis Based on a General State Space Model and Monte Carlo Filter"

This paper proposes a new approach to style analysis by utilizing a general state space model and Monte Carlo filter. In particular,We regard coefficients of style indices as state variables in the state space model and apply Monte Carlo filter as estimation method. Moreover, an empirical analysis using actual funds' data confirms the validity of our approach.

A Study about Project Management for Industry-University Cooperation Dilemma

AbstractAs for strategic theory, industry-university cooperation is defined as an essential core functionality of industrial clusters. Industry-university cooperation has been recognized as an important strategy to make innovation happen in an industrial society today. Industry-university cooperation to organize a team that functions organizationally with a fixed-term at a university and the company, and can be defined as a project to address a purpose and values different from the past. Therefore, all those who have an interest in industry-university cooperation must be self-transforming. However, the need for self-transformation of individuals has not been strongly recognized up until now. In industry-university cooperation, conflicts of interest often exist. Therefore, those individuals interested in industry-university cooperation are faced with a dilemma. The purpose of this study is to reveal differences in values of the individuals in the company and that of the academic individual that produce such dilemmas. On top of that, the promotion of industry-university cooperation, project management methodologies on elimination of dilemmas arising from the difference in values are considered

Larger Seeds are Dispersed Farther: the Long-Distance Seed Disperser ant Aphaenogaster famelica Prefers Larger Seeds

Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is an important life phase in flowering herbs of temperate deciduous forests, and long dispersal is basically preferable in terms of plant fitness. Although it is known that larger ants transport seeds farther, previous studies conflicted whether larger seeds are preferred by large ants. We examine how seed size and ant body size influence removal rate of seeds and their dispersal distance by ants. The obligate myrmecochorous, large-seed bearing Viola hondoensis and ant-ballistic diplochorous, small-seed bearing Viola spp. and Corydalis pallida were comparatively investigated. 1) Ant preference: attraction rate and transportation rate of large V hondoensis seeds by ants were consistently high regardless of the disperser ant size whilst those rates of small diplochorous seeds were conspicuously lower for large Aphaenogaster ants than for small Pheidole ants, suggesting small seeds are not adapted to be carried by large ants. 2) Dispersal distance: large V hondoensis seeds were transported for a long distance because they were carried by both large and small ants while the small diplochorous seeds were transported for a short distance because they were carried only by small ants. These results suggest that large seeds are advantageous to attract large ants and to be farther dispersed as far as ant-mediated dispersal is concerned. On the other hand, the diplochorous small seeds do not attract large ants, and so are transported short by ants although they disperse their seeds by ballistic dispersal.ArticleSOCIOBIOLOGY. 59(4):1401-1411 (2012)journal articl

Larger Seeds are Dispersed Farther: the Long-Distance Seed Disperser ant Aphaenogaster famelica Prefers Larger Seeds

Seed dispersal by ants (myrmecochory) is an important life phase in flowering herbs of temperate deciduous forests, and long dispersal is basically preferable in terms of plant fitness. Although it is known that larger ants transport seeds farther, previous studies conflicted whether larger seeds are preferred by large ants. We examine how seed size and ant body size influence removal rate of seeds and their dispersal distance by ants. The obligate myrmecochorous, large-seed bearing Viola hondoensis and ant-ballistic diplochorous, small-seed bearing Viola spp. and Corydalis pallida were comparatively investigated. 1) Ant preference: attraction rate and transportation rate of large V. hondoensis seeds by ants were consistently high regardless of the disperser ant size whilst those rates of small diplochorous seeds were conspicuously lower for large Aphaenogaster ants than for small Pheidole ants, suggesting small seeds are not adapted to be carried by large ants. 2) Dispersal distance: large V. hondoensis seeds were transported for a long distance because they were carried by both large and small ants while the small diplochorous seeds were transported for a short distance because they were carried only by small ants. These results suggest that large seeds are advantageous to attract large ants and to be farther dispersed as far as ant-mediated dispersal is concerned. On the other hand, the diplochorous small seeds do not attract large ants, and so are transported short by ants although they disperse their seeds by ballistic dispersal

Neutrophil Activation in Ischemia-reperfusion Injury of the Lung

Activated neutrophils and oxygen free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of lung injury associated with ischemia reperfusion. This study tests whether postischemic reperfusion in the lung activates neutrophils and whether superoxide dismutase (SOD) could block this event. Ten anesthetized mongrel dogs underwent three hours of warm ischemia to their left lung followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. Pulmonary venous blood was assayed for neutrophil hydrogen peroxide production and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive materials (TBARM) immediately before (baseline) and during reperfusion. Neutrophil hydrogen peroxide production, as assayed flow cytometrically by dichlorofluorescein oxidation, was elevated significantly to 123.9 ± 21.1% of baseline at 30 minutes of reperfusion. Plasma TBARM was elevated significantly to 124.2 ± 23.6% of baseline at 60 minutes after reperfusion. However, in six animals which recieved human recombinant SOD (intravenously, 35000U/kg) at the onset of reflow, neither neutrophil hydrogen peroxide production nor plasma TBARM changed during reperfusion. Treatment with SOD was also associated with significant improvement in the recovery of lung function. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that post-ischemic lung reperfusion enhances neutrophil hydrogen peroxide and free radical production, and can be blocked by intravenous SOD

"Pricing Convertible Bonds with Credit Risk: A Duffie-Singleton Approach "(in Japanese)

This paper proposes a method to price convertible bonds with credit risk using Duffie-Singleton approach to handle credit risk. As such it also provides a method to replicate convertibles by trading common stocks and corporate bonds of the issuing company. Empirical comparison with existing models which incorporate credit risk is provided using Japanese convertible bond data.

"Dynamic Optimality of Some Yield Curve Strategies" (in Japanese)

This paper formulates and analyzes a dynamic optimization problem of bond portfolios within the Markovian Heath-Jarrow-Morton term structure models. In particular we find the exact comdition under which the so-called barbell/bullet strategies become optimal relative to the forecasted term structure movements.