Ground state of antiferromagnetic Heisenberg two-leg ladder in terms of the valence-bond solid picture

We have proposed the plaquette-singlet solid (PSS) ground state for the spin-1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg two-leg ladder. Based on the PSS picture, we discuss the correspondence of the PSS state to the valence-bond solid (VBS) state of the ground state of spin-2 chain by introducing an appropriate composite spin picture. When the bond alternation is introduced, there occur quantum phase transitions and each phase can be identified with that in the dimerized spin-2 chain. Furthermore, we argue that the VBS picture of spin-2S chain can be applied to the ground state of spin-S two-leg ladder.Comment: 2 pages, 1 eps figure, Proceedings for LT23; Proper citation added, Author list change

Emission Credit Trading and Regional Inequalities

This paper examines how regional inequalities are affected by emission controls via credit trading and availability of absorption sources. We assume that homogeneous goods are costly traded without emission controls and that the rural areas have an advantage in terms of the availability of absorption sources. We especially focus on the long-term effects of firm relocation. Our two key findings are as follows. First, in the case where an emission control scheme is implemented without allowing for offsetting emissions with carbon absorption sources (carbon sinks), strengthening the emission controls drives firms to relocate from rural areas to urban areas, in the case that wage levels remain unchanged in both areas. As a result, regional inequalities in terms of both the number of firms and relative public welfare are enlarged by emission controls. Our second finding shows that in the case in which the emission control scheme allows for emissions-absorption offsetting, strengthening emission controls has mixed effects on the relative welfare of rural areas. Numerical simulations show that when the costs associated with transporting differentiated goods are relatively low, the introduction of emission controls with an offsetting system results in greater inequality across regions compared with introducing emission controls without such offsetting.

Erbium-doped-fiber-based broad visible range frequency comb with a 30 GHz mode spacing for astronomical applications

Optical frequency combs have the potential to improve the precision of the radial velocity measurement of celestial bodies, leading to breakthroughs in such fields as exoplanet exploration. For these purposes, the comb must have a broad spectral coverage in the visible wavelength region, a wide mode spacing that can be resolved with a high dispersion spectrograph, and sufficient robustness to operate for long periods even in remote locations. We have realized a comb system with a 30 GHz mode spacing, 62 % available wavelength coverage in the visible region, and 40 dB spectral contrast by combining a robust erbium-doped-fiber-based femtosecond laser, mode filtering with newly designed optical cavities, and broadband-visible-range comb generation using a chirped periodically-poled LiNbO3 ridge waveguide. The system durability and reliability are also promising because of the stable spectrum, which is due to the use of almost all polarization-maintaining fiber optics, moderate optical power, and good frequency repeatability obtained with a wavelength-stabilized laser.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure

Total Vertebrectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

We present a case who had left upper lobectomy with total vertebrectomy after arterial embolization in preparation for intraoperative bleeding. A 35-year-old man complained of left back pain. Chest CT revealed a tumor in S1+2 of the left lung, invading the third thoracic vertebra. As no nodal or distant metastasis was detected, we performed left upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection (ND2a-2) after embolization of the vessels feeding the tumor in order to reduce intraoperative bleeding. In addition, the team of orthopedics performed en bloc resection of the third thoracic vertebra and parts of the left third and fourth ribs. Histological examination of the tumor revealed pleomorphic carcinoma (pT4N0M0, stage IIIA)

Cerebral Glycogen Distribution and Aging

In the brain, glycogen metabolism has been implied in synaptic plasticity and learning, yet the distribution of this molecule has not been fully described. We investigated cerebral glycogen of the mouse by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using two monoclonal antibodies that have different affinities depending on the glycogen size. The use of focused microwave irradiation yielded well‐defined glycogen immunoreactive signals compared with the conventional periodic acid‐Schiff method. The IHC signals displayed a punctate distribution localized predominantly in astrocytic processes. Glycogen immunoreactivity (IR) was high in the hippocampus, striatum, cortex, and cerebellar molecular layer, whereas it was low in the white matter and most of the subcortical structures. Additionally, glycogen distribution in the hippocampal CA3‐CA1 and striatum had a ‘patchy’ appearance with glycogen‐rich and glycogen‐poor astrocytes appearing in alternation. The glycogen patches were more evident with large‐molecule glycogen in young adult mice but they were hardly observable in aged mice (1–2 years old). Our results reveal brain region‐dependent glycogen accumulation and possibly metabolic heterogeneity of astrocytes

Spatial Structure of Cities and Distribution of Retail Sales - Analysis based on a Potential NEG Model (Japanese)

This paper aims to estimate the retail sales turnover in cities based on a potential New Economic Geography (NEG) model, addressing how (the distribution of) sales turnover is explained by the spatial structure of cities. This also takes into account the population distribution, by treating the spatial distribution of population and retail sales turnover in the cities by district and street (cho and chome) data. The cities covered are prefectural cities excluding government ordinance cities located in provincial areas. With respect to the impact of improvements in inner-city transportation, bearing in mind the effects of the compact city policy, we conducted a simulation analysis with the city of Okayama using standard parameters. One finding of the analysis was that businesses in suburban areas will increase their sales turnover more readily as a result of reducing the distance resistance within the city, while inner-city businesses will conversely decrease their sales turnover. The other finding was that if, for example, approximately 10% of the population and businesses in suburban areas are shifted to the inner city, the sales turnover will increase by about 3.4% for businesses in the inner city, but decline by about 2% for businesses in suburban areas.