In this paper, we classify quantum statistical models based on their information geometric properties and the estimation error bound, known as the Holevo bound, into four different classes: ...classical, quasi-classical, D-invariant, and asymptotically classical models. We then characterize each model by several equivalent conditions and discuss their properties. This result enables us to explore the relationships among these four models as well as reveals the geometrical understanding of quantum statistical models. In particular, we show that each class of model can be identified by comparing quantum Fisher metrics and the properties of the tangent spaces of the quantum statistical model.
In this work we propose a Bayesian version of the Nagaoka-Hayashi bound when estimating a parametric family of quantum states. This lower bound is a generalization of a recently proposed bound for ...point estimation to Bayesian estimation. We then show that the proposed lower bound can be efficiently computed as a semidefinite programming problem. As a lower bound, we also derive a Bayesian version of the Holevo-type bound from the Bayesian Nagaoka-Hayashi bound. Lastly, we prove that the new lower bound is tighter than the Bayesian quantum logarithmic derivative bounds.
A variety of Western technologies were introduced to Japan after the opening of the country’s ports in 1859. These included newly developed technologies as well as technologies that had been used for ...centuries, such as brick architecture. The new regime introduced the country’s first experiment in building a fire-resistant cityscape of brick following a large fire in 1872. The government also put imported Western systems of policing and sanitation in place, but it was the modern piped water system introduced by the City of Tokyo that had the greatest impact. A massive flood in Tokyo in 1910 spurred the national project to channel and reinforce waterways. In the middle of this project, the capital was hit in 1923 by the Great Kantō Earthquake, which burned down the majority of the city. Post-earthquake reconstruction brought reinforced concrete buildings to the center city. Streets were widened and regularized. In the meantime, the waterway improvement project was completed, encouraging urbanization of districts to the north and east of the city. This, in turn, resulted in expansion of the administrative area in 1932 to incorporate all of the area of Tokyo’s present 23 wards. In this way, efforts to overcome natural disasters with new technology transformed Tokyo’s cityscape, changed the city’s boundaries, and had a significant effect on local government and municipal autonomy. This essay examines the ways in which Tokyo’s modern development was determined by technological responses to natural disaster.
The contribution of sapling banks to the coexistence of species with different shade tolerance under the “wave regeneration” regime has not been researched extensively. This study first assessed ...spatial and temporal variations in the relative dominance of two Abies species, Abies veitchii and Abies mariesii, with different shade tolerance in a wave‐regenerated forest. Second, we present the age structure and its spatial variation in young Abies stands (sapling stage) to exhibit the prevalence and variability of regeneration from sapling banks (defined as trees established 10 years before canopy opening). The relative dominance of A. mariesii, the more shade‐tolerant species, compared to that of A. veitchii, did not change over a period of 10 years, irrespective of stand developmental stages, indicating the importance of initial dominance in determining the local species composition. The tree ages at the sapling stage were significantly higher for A. mariesii than for A. veitchii. Approximately, 30% of all trees were likely to arise from a sapling bank, and 86% of them were A. mariesii. Age structure significantly varied between 5 × 5 m quadrats; some quadrats were dominated by A. mariesii originating from sapling banks, while others were dominated by A. veitchii that were established at the time of canopy opening. These results indicate that regeneration from sapling banks contributes to the dominance of A. mariesii and that the spatial variation in the abundance of trees originating from sapling banks is essential for the coexistence of A. mariesii with A. veitchii.
Relative basal area of two Abies species did not change over a period of 10 years irrespective of stand developmental stage in spite of the difference in shade tolerance between the two species.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that may lead to the development of serious cardiovascular diseases. Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been reported to ameliorate atherosclerosis, ...although its mode of action remains unclear. We found that AGE increased the mRNA or protein levels of arginase1 (Arg1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), CD206 and hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) and decreased that of CD68, HIF1α and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the aorta and spleen of apolipoprotein E knockout mice. We also found that S-1-propenylcysteine (S1PC), a characteristic sulfur compound in AGE, increased the level of IL-10-induced Arg1 mRNA and the extent of M2c-like macrophage polarization in vitro. In addition, S1PC increased the population of M2c-like macrophages, resulting in suppressed the population of M1-like macrophages and decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These effects were accompanied by prolonged phosphorylation of the IL-10 receptor α (IL-10Rα) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) that inhibited the interaction between IL-10Rα and Src homology-2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1). In addition, administration of S1PC elevated the M2c/M1 macrophage ratio in senescence-accelerated mice. These findings suggest that S1PC may help improve atherosclerosis due to its anti-inflammatory effect to promote IL-10-induced M2c macrophage polarization.
Xk-related protein (Xkr) 8, a protein carrying 10 transmembrane regions, is essential for scrambling phospholipids during apoptosis. Here, we found Xkr8 as a complex with basigin (BSG) or ...neuroplastin (NPTN), type I membrane proteins in the Ig superfamily. In BSG−/−NPTN−/−
cells, Xkr8 localized intracellularly, and the apoptosis stimuli failed to expose phosphatidylserine, indicating that BSG and NPTN chaperone Xkr8 to the plasma membrane to execute its scrambling activity. Mutational analyses of BSG showed that the atypical glutamic acid in the transmembrane region is required for BSG’s association with Xkr8. In cells exposed to apoptotic signals, Xkr8 was cleaved at the C terminus and the Xkr8/BSG complex formed a higher-order complex, likely to be a heterotetramer consisting of two molecules of Xkr8 and two molecules of BSG or NPTN, suggesting that this cleavage causes the formation of a larger complex of Xkr8-BSG/NPTN for phospholipid scrambling.