Covariant localizations in the torus and the phase observables

We describe all the localization observables of a quantum particle in a one-dimensional box in terms of sequences of unit vectors in a Hilbert space. An alternative representation in terms of positive semidefinite complex matrices is furnished and the commutative localizations are singled out. As a consequence, we also get a vector sequence characterization of the covariant phase observables.Comment: 16 pages, no figure, Latex2

Geometrization of Classical Wave Fields

Geometrical model for material Dirac wave field and for Maxwell electromagnetic field is suggested where above fields are considered as propagating regions of the space itself with distorted euclidean geometry. It is shown that equations for these fields can be considered as relations describing the space topological defects. These defects, being closed topological manifolds, are embedded in the outer five-dimensional space, and observable objects appear to be intersections of above defects with the physical space. This interpretation explains irrational properties of quantum objects such as wave-corpuscular duality, stochastic behavior, instantaneous nonlocal correlation in EPR-paradox, the light velocity invariance and so on. Wave-corpuscular properties arise as a result of the defect periodical movement in the outer space relative to its intersection with the physical space, and just this periodical movement attributes phase to the propagating object. Appearance of probabilities within the formalism is a consequence of uncertainty of the closed topological manifold shape, and ensemble of all possible shapes for the same object can be considered as an ensemble of hidden variables that leads to probabilistic description. Embedded in the outer space topological defects provide channels for nonlocal correlations between their intersections-- noninteracting particles in EPR-experiments, and this means that the proposed approach can be considered as a nonlocal model with hidden variables.Comment: 7 pages, Int.Conf.,Quantum Theory: Reconsideration of Foundations-4, Vaxjo, Sweden. 11-16 June 200

Extreme phase and rotated quadrature measurements

We determine the extreme points of the convex set of covariant phase observables. Such extremals describe the best phase parameter measurements of laser light - the best in the sense that they are free from classical randomness due to fluctuations in the measuring procedure. We also characterize extreme fuzzy rotated quadratures

Document management guidelines for distributed project networks

This paper provides the project engineer with guidelines or a checklist on tasks that must be considered, defined and documented before the project can successfully implement a document management system in geographically distributed project environment. Topics ranging from configuration management, approval process, document types, user administration and document naming are covered. The underlying cases of the paper are that of CERN (European Laboratory for Particle Physics) and its latest accelerator project, together with the Nordisk Industrifond -funded Connecting Distributed Competencies (NI#: 98082) project, with a focus on distributed shipbuilding processes. Keywords: distributed project management, product data management, networking, document management, virtual workspace

The Pegg-Barnett Formalism and Covariant Phase Observables

We compare the Pegg-Barnett (PB) formalism with the covariant phase observable approach to the problem of quantum phase and show that PB-formalism gives essentially the same results as the canonical (covariant) phase observable. We also show that PB-formalism can be extended to cover all covariant phase observables including the covariant phase observable arising from the angle margin of the Husimi Q-function.Comment: 10 page

Daylight saving time transitions and hospital treatments due to accidents or manic episodes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Daylight saving time affects millions of people annually but its impacts are still widely unknown. Sleep deprivation and the change of circadian rhythm can trigger mental illness and cause higher accident rates. Transitions into and out of daylight saving time changes the circadian rhythm and may cause sleep deprivation. Thus it seems plausible that the prevalence of accidents and/or manic episodes may be higher after transition into and out of daylight saving time. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of transitions into and out of daylight saving time on the incidence of accidents and manic episodes in the Finnish population during the years of 1987 to 2003.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The nationwide data were derived from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. From the register we obtained the information about the hospital-treated accidents and manic episodes during two weeks before and two weeks after the transitions in 1987–2003.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results were negative, as the transitions into or out of daylight saving time had no significant effect on the incidence of accidents or manic episodes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>One-hour transitions do not increase the incidence of manic episodes or accidents which require hospital treatment.</p

Transitions into and out of daylight saving time compromise sleep and the rest-activity cycles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of transition out of and into daylight saving time on the rest-activity cycles and sleep. Rest-activity cycles of nine healthy participants aged 20 to 40 years were measured around transitions out of and into daylight saving time on fall 2005 and spring 2006 respectively. Rest-activity cycles were measured using wrist-worn accelerometers. The participants filled in the Morningness-Eveningness and Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaires before starting the study and kept a sleep diary during the study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fall transition was more disturbing for the more morning type and spring transition for the more evening type of persons. Individuals having a higher global seasonality score suffered more from the transitions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Transitions out of and into daylight saving time enhanced night-time restlessness and thereby compromised the quality of sleep.</p

Common mental disorders in young adults born late-preterm

Background Results of adulthood mental health of those born late-preterm (34 + 0–36 + 6 weeks + days of gestation) are mixed and based on national registers. We examined if late-preterm birth was associated with a higher risk for common mental disorders in young adulthood when using a diagnostic interview, and if this risk decreased as gestational age increased. Method A total of 800 young adults (mean = 25.3, s.d. = 0.62 years), born 1985–1986, participated in a follow-up of the Arvo Ylppö Longitudinal Study. Common mental disorders (mood, anxiety and substance use disorders) during the past 12 months were defined using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (Munich version). Gestational age was extracted from hospital birth records and categorized into early-preterm (<34 + 0, n = 37), late-preterm (34 + 0–36 + 6, n = 106), term (37 + 0–41 + 6, n = 617) and post-term (≥42 + 0, n = 40). Results Those born late-preterm and at term were at a similar risk for any common mental disorder [odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67–1.84], for mood (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.54–2.25), anxiety (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.40–2.50) and substance use (OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.74–2.32) disorders, and co-morbidity of these disorders (p = 0.38). While the mental disorder risk decreased significantly as gestational age increased, the trend was driven by a higher risk in those born early-preterm. Conclusions Using a cohort born during the advanced neonatal and early childhood care, we found that not all individuals born preterm are at risk for common mental disorders in young adulthood – those born late-preterm are not, while those born early-preterm are at a higher risk. Available resources for prevention and intervention should be targeted towards the preterm group born the earliest