Capability of a Liquid-Crystal Adaptive Optics System Based on Feedback Interferometry for Retinal Imaging

A modified arrangement of the adaptive optical retinal imaging system that we described previously is proposed to reduce the intensity loss in the system, so that it works properly even when the intensity of light incident on the eye is very weak. Experiments to verify the system performance were conducted using a conventional artificial eye with a specular reflector as a model retina. We observed that an image of a test target (mimicking a retina) blurred by an aberration plate (mimicking the ocular aberrations) was successfully restored in the adaptive optics fashion even when the intensity of the incident light probing the aberration of the eye became about 1.5% of that required in the previous system. Effect of a more realistic artificial eye with a scattering object as a model retina was also examined experimentally. We found that not only the ocular aberrations, but also the retinal scattering cause the wave-front deformations and that our adaptive optics system compensates for both of them simultaneously.     

Determination of elemental and ionic compositions for diesel exhaust particles by particle induced X-ray emission and ion chromatography analysis.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the chemical characterization of PM2.5 and PM10 in diesel exhaust particles (DEP). Sampling of PM2.5 and PM10 in DEP was carried out in November 1999 using an automobile exhaust testing system at the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, with a diesel truck (engine type: direct injection, displacement: 7,961 cc, carrying weight: 2,020 kg, equivalent inertia weight: 5,600 kg) placed on a chassis dynamometer. Sampling conditions included idling, constant speed of 40 km/h, M-15 test pattern and 60%-revolution/40%-load of maximum power. Samples were collected on a polycarbonate membrane filter (Nuclepore, pore size: 0.8 microm) using a MiniVol Portable Air Sampler (Airmetrics Co., Inc.). The concentrations of several elemental and ionic species in the PM2.5 and PM10 samples were determined by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and ion chromatography analysis. PIXE analysis of the PM2.5 and PM10 samples revealed 15 elements, of which Na, Mg, Si, S, Cl, Ca, Fe and Zn were found to be the major components. Ionic species were Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, SO4(2-), Na+, NH4+, K+ and Ca2+. Concentrations of elements and ionic species under the sampling condition of 60%-revolution/40%-load were highest in comparison with those of the other sampling conditions. The elemental and ionic species data were compared for PM2.5 and PM10; PM2.5 concentrations were 70% or more of PM10 concentrations for the majority of elements, and concentrations of ionic species in PM2.5 and PM10 were almost identical.     

Generation of NH-azomethine imine intermediates through the 1,2-hydrogen shift of hydrazones and their intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with olefinic dipolarophiles

The thermal 1,2-hydrogen shift of the hydrazone generates the NH-azomethine imine intermediate in the 4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-carbaldehyde system under mild conditions. Therein, the resulting NH-azomethine imine should be stabilized by forming an internal hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen at the 4-position. Its smooth stereoselective intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with olefinic dipolarophiles giving pyrazolidine derivatives is discussed.     

Nano-SIMS analysis of Mg, Sr, Ba and U in natural calcium carbonate.

Concentrations of minor (Mg and Sr) and trace (Ba and U) elements in four natural calcium carbonate samples were first analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after chemical dissolution and calibrated against a standard dolomite. Their homogeneities were checked by in situ laser ablation (LA) ICP-MS with 10-20 spots. The carbonate samples were measured by using a high lateral resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer (Nano-SIMS NS50). A approximately 4 nA O- primary beam was used to sputter a 5-6-microm diameter crater on the sample surface, and secondary positive ions were extracted for mass analysis using an accelerating voltage of 8 kV and a Mattauch-Herzog geometry. A multi-collector system was adjusted to detect 26Mg+, 43Ca+, 88Sr+, 138Ba+, 238U16O+ and 238U16O2+ ions at the same time. A resolving power of 2500-5000 at 10% peak height was attained by an entrance slit set at 40 microm, and each exit slit at 50 microm with adequate flat-topped peaks. The observed 26Mg/43Ca, 88Sr/43Ca, 138Ba/43Ca and 238U16O2/43Ca ratios agreed well with those measured by LA-ICP-MS. Foraminifera shells were analyzed at 5-6 microm scale by Nano-SIMS. There was a large variation of the Mg/Ca ratios, up to +/- 38%, even in a single fragment of the shell, suggesting that although the ratios provide a useful paleoceanographic proxy at bulk scale, they may reflect a more complex pattern at < 10 microm scale.     

Reinterpretation of Quantum Mechanics Based on the Statistical Interpretation

I attempt to develop further the statistical interpretation of quantum mechanics proposed by Einstein and developed by Popper, Ballentine, etc. Two ideas are proposed in the present paper. One is to interpret momentum as a property of an ensemble of similarly prepared systems which is not satisfied by any one member of the ensemble of systems. Momentum is regarded as a statistical parameter like temperature in statistical mechanics. The other is the holistic assumption that a probability distribution is determined as a whole as most likely to be realized. This is the same as the chief assumption in statistical mechanics, and maximum likelihood in classical statistics. These ideas enable us to understand statistically (1) the formalism of quantum mechanics, (2) Heisenberg's uncertainty relations, and (3) the origin of quantum equations. They also explain violation of Bell's inequality and the interference of probabilities.     

Z31 effect on the stopping powers of several metallic elements for 28.8 MeV alpha particles: Deviations of experimental data from theories

Stopping powers of several metallic elements for 28.8 MeV alpha particles have been measured. One fourth of the stopping power for alpha particles is larger than the stopping power for protons of the same velocity. But the differences do not agree with Z³₁ correction theories.     

Wechselwirkung zwischen Farbstoffen und Polyelektrolyten, 5. Mitt. Einfluß von organischen und anorganischen Salzen auf die Metachromasie von Methylenblau

Ohne Zusammenfassung