Changing quantum reference frames

We consider the process of changing reference frames in the case where the reference frames are quantum systems. We find that, as part of this process, decoherence is necessarily induced on any quantum system described relative to these frames. We explore this process with examples involving reference frames for phase and orientation. Quantifying the effect of changing quantum reference frames serves as a first step in developing a relativity principle for theories in which all objects including reference frames are necessarily quantum.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, comments welcome; v2 added some references; v3 published versio

Using Games as a Means for Collaboration

The availability of a good interface for online user collaboration has been a sore point for most collaboration applications to date. While MUD's, MOO's, IRC and other chat applications are well suited to impersonal communication, the meaning of a single message can often be misconstrued or misunderstood, and the effort often required to learn control of a new application while understanding navigation in a virtual world, can be difficult to overcome. The Nexus promises to aid in the intuitive act of communication, interaction and movement and in the process enhance the collaboration experience for the user, through the use of a game engine

Focused Hospital Medicine CME on Pulmonary Point-of-Care Ultrasound through Just-in-Time Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: We describe the use of focused CME with just-in-time training in pulmonary point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for hospitalists as part of our response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This training served as a pilot for developing a longitudinal training program for our inpatient adult medicine providers. Methods: In mid-March 2020, ultrasound education and image review were deployed within hospital medicine at a large academic medical center. Faculty were provided (1) a small-group lecture focused on ultrasound findings in pneumonia, (2) weekly review of imaging, and (3) a monthly review conference of ultrasound imaging. Results: Use of POCUS for pulmonary pathology at our institution increased at the start of the pandemic. Providers eligible for privileging increased from 4% (2/45) to 20% (9/45) within 1 month of undergoing ultrasound education. Use of devices continued for 3 months after the last training was conducted. Discussion: Just-in-time training in pulmonary ultrasound incentivized by the COVID-19 pandemic provided an excellent pilot test for developing a longitudinal CME program focused on POCUS education for hospital medicine. This project demonstrated the need for clear privileging guidelines for physicians and advanced practice professionals. Conclusions: Just-in-time training in pulmonary ultrasound was well received by a large hospital medicine group and increased ultrasound use during the COVID-19 pandemic

Band width selection data from Near Infra-red Spectral (NIRS) quantitative modelling of energy storage components (protein, lipid, glycogen) for single and multi-bivalve species models

Data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Near Infra-red spectroscopy quantitative modelling of bivalve protein, lipid and glycogen composition using single-species versus multi-species calibration and validation sets” [1]. Band width selections were determined using a data-driven approach to modelling Near Infra-red Spectra (NIRS) of protein, lipid and glycogen content in bivalves. Models were produced for single species and combined species of Saccostrea glomerata, Ostrea angasi, Crassostrea gigas, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Anadara trapezia. Band width selection was undertaken using Fourier wavelet transformation coupled with a genetic algorithm (GA) to aggregate adjacent wavelet bands to select the minimum number of IR bands that were consistently identified in the majority of individual spectra

EXPERTISE AND DISTANCE AS CONSTRAINTS ON COORDINATION STABILITY DURING A DISCRETE MULTI-ARTICULAR ACTION

The purpose of this study was to identify how coordination variability of the shooting arm varied as a function of interacting task constraints of expertise and shooting distance. Skilled, intermediate and novice male basketball players (n=9 in each group) performed 30 shots from three distances (4.25, 5.25 and 6.25 metres). The dependent variables included shooting performance scores and measures of coordination variability in three joint couplings: wrist-elbow, elbow-shoulder and wrist-shoulder. A main effect for distance was observed for shooting performance, with a reduction in score occurring with increasing distance. Significant main effects for expertise were also apparent for shooting performance together with coordination variability for all three joint couplings. Regression analyses revealed significant, negative relationships between shooting performance and coordination variability for all three joint couplings irrespective of shooting distance. The findings corroborated extant data on changes in movement variability with practice, demonstrating how skilled performers assemble stable movement solutions to satisfy changing task constraints, in contrast to novices and intermediates

EFFECTS OF ATTENTIONAL STRATEGIES, TASK EXPERTISE AND ANXIETY ON COORDINATION OF A DISCRETE MULTI-ARTICULAR ACTION

The purpose of this study was to determine whether anxiety effects on performance of a discrete multi-articular action could be alleviated by attentional strategies and task expertise. 10 expert and 9 novice male basketball players performed 30 freethrows under both control and anxiety conditions. The dependent variables of interest included shooting performance, reaction time, joint amplitude of the wrist, elbow and shoulder, and coordination variability of the shooting arm using the normalised root mean squared difference technique. A significant main effect for condition was observed for reaction time, indicating the implementation of attentional strategies in both groups. In relation to this observation, no significant main effects for condition were found for shooting performance or any of the kinematic variables. Under conditions of elevated emotions, the allocation of additional attention to the primary shooting task seemed to attenuate the effects of anxiety, regardless of expertise. The findings are harmonious with existing data on attention and anxiety effects on coordination of rhythmical actions. They specifically demonstrated how participants, differing in expertise, used attentional strategies to stabilise performance of a discrete multi-articular action against emotional fluctuations