On Quantum Jumps, Events and Spontaneous Localization Models

We propose a definite meaning to the concepts of "experiment", "measurement" and "event" in the event-enhanced formalism of quantum theory. A minimal piecewise deterministic process is given that can be used for a computer simulation of real time series of experiments on single quantum objects. As an example a generalized cloud chamber is described, including multiparticle case. Relation to the GRW spontaneous localization model is discussed. The second revised version of the paper contains references to papers by other authors that are are aiming in the same direction: to enhance quantum theory in such a way that it will provide stochastic description of events triggered by individual quantum systems.Comment: 20 page

The political economy of the Jospin government

This article explores the political economy of the French Socialist Party (PS), beginning with the neo-liberal U-turn of 1983. It then charts the re-evaluation of the PS's political economic foundations after the 1993 defeat, the rejection of the neo-liberal 'pensée unique', and the rehabilitation of a broadly Keynesian frame of reference. The article goes on to explore how this shift has fed through into the Jospin government's policy and positions at both the national and international level. It explores aspirations to reinvent the EU as a Keynesian social democratic 'policy space', and at the national level, employment, macroeconomic, and structural policies

A Goldstone Theorem in Thermal Relativistic Quantum Field Theory

We prove a Goldstone Theorem in thermal relativistic quantum field theory, which relates spontaneous symmetry breaking to the rate of space-like decay of the two-point function. The critical rate of fall-off coincides with that of the massless free scalar field theory. Related results and open problems are briefly discussed

A Model of Vertical Oligopolistic Competition

This paper develops a model of successive oligopolies with endogenous market entry, allowing for varying degrees of product differentiation and entry costs in both markets. Our analysis shows that the downstream conditions dominate the overall profitability of the two-tier structure while the upstream conditions mainly affect the distribution of profits. We compare the welfare effects of upstream versus downstream deregulation policies and show that the impact of deregulation may be overvalued when ignoring feedback effects from the other market. Furthermore, we analyze how different forms of vertical restraints influence the endogenous market structure and show when they are welfare enhancing

Quaterthiophenes with Terminal Indeno[1,2-b]thiophene Units as p-Type Organic Semiconductors

Quaterthiophenes 4T, Oct-4T, and Tol-4T based on a central 2,2′-bithiophene core α,ω-terminated with 4,4-unsubstituted and 4,4-disubstituted n-octyl or p-tolyl indeno[1,2-b]thiophene have been synthesized by Stille or Miyaura−Suzuki couplings. Compound 4T was also synthesized by an alternative route involving a soluble precursor bearing solubilizing trimethylsilyl groups which have been eliminated in the last step. The electronic properties of the compounds have been analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, UV−vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Thermal evaporation of 4T and Oct-4T leads to crystalline thin films and UV−vis absorption and X-ray diffraction data for these films suggest that the molecules adopt a quasi-vertical orientation onto the substrate. Strong π-π intermolecular interactions have been observed for 4T but not for molecules Oct-4T due to the presence of n-octyl chains. Sublimed thin films of Tol-4T show an amorphous character. The characterization of field-effect transistors fabricated from these three materials gave a hole-mobility of 2.2 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 with an on/off ratio of 2.2 × 104 for 4T while no field-effect was observed for Oct-4T and Tol-4T

The Controversy Surrounding The Man Who Would Be Queen: A Case History of the Politics of Science, Identity, and Sex in the Internet Age

In 2003, psychology professor and sex researcher J. Michael Bailey published a book entitled The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism. The book’s portrayal of male-to-female (MTF) transsexualism, based on a theory developed by sexologist Ray Blanchard, outraged some transgender activists. They believed the book to be typical of much of the biomedical literature on transsexuality—oppressive in both tone and claims, insulting to their senses of self, and damaging to their public identities. Some saw the book as especially dangerous because it claimed to be based on rigorous science, was published by an imprint of the National Academy of Sciences, and argued that MTF sex changes are motivated primarily by erotic interests and not by the problem of having the gender identity common to one sex in the body of the other. Dissatisfied with the option of merely criticizing the book, a small number of transwomen (particularly Lynn Conway, Andrea James, and Deirdre McCloskey) worked to try to ruin Bailey. Using published and unpublished sources as well as original interviews, this essay traces the history of the backlash against Bailey and his book. It also provides a thorough exegesis of the book’s treatment of transsexuality and includes a comprehensive investigation of the merit of the charges made against Bailey that he had behaved unethically, immorally, and illegally in the production of his book. The essay closes with an epilogue that explores what has happened since 2003 to the central ideas and major players in the controversy

Análisis de la heurística en la contratación empresarial a través de una cartera de derivados reales

Departing from the notion that labour legislation should be founded in the generation of job stability a model for recruitment is presented in which the employer is likened to the holder of an investment portfolio containing two real derivatives – swap or the option of sale. This model allows us on one hand to analyze sensitivity to the variables that are at play in an employment contract and, on the other, look at the effects that the most recent reforms in Spanish labour laws have had on contracting decisions made by employers. The results are clear: social security benefits are shown to be the most sensitive variable on the work contract, and applying the changes proposed in the latest labour reforms, this effect is upheld. The study concludes that reducing the costs of dismissal does not increase the likelihood of employers’ taking on new staff.Dada la situación actual y partiendo del supuesto que como herramienta para una correcta política de empleo la legislación laboral debe sentar las bases sólidas para que en el momento de recuperación económica se generen puestos de trabajo estables, se presenta un modelo de simulación de contratación que nos va a permitir un análisis de sensibilidad de las distintas variables a tener en cuenta en una regulación del mercado laboral. El modelo consiste en asimilar el comportamiento del empresario al del propietario de una cartera de inversión compuesta por dos derivados reales, un swap y una opción de venta americana. Este modelo nos permite, por un lado, hacer un análisis de sensibilidad de las diferentes variables que intervienen en la contratación, y, por otro lado, analizar los efectos que la última reforma laboral española tiene sobre la decisión de contratar del empresario. Los resultados son claros, la variable que más sensibilidad presenta sobre la contratación es la cuota patronal de la seguridad social, y aplicando los cambios propuestos en esta última reforma laboral, se concretan estos efectos y también se concluye que la reducción de los costes de despido no acelera la decisión de contratar.Dada a situação atual e partindo do suposto que como ferramenta para uma correta política de emprego, a legislação laboral deve instituir as bases sólidas para que, no momento da recuperação econômica, se gerem postos de trabalho estáveis, se apresentem um modelo de simulação de contratação que nos permitirá uma análise de sensibilidade das diferentes variáveis a considerar em uma regulação do mercado laboral. O modelo consiste em assimilar o comportamento do empresário ao do proprietário de uma carteira de investimento composto por dois derivados reais, um swap e uma opção de venda americana. Esse modelo nos permite, por um lado, fazer uma análise de sensibilidade das diferentes variáveis que intervêm na contratação e, por outro lado, analisar os efeitos que a última reforma laboral espanhola tem sobre a decisão de contratar do empresário. Os resultados são claros, a variável que mais sensibilidade apresenta sobre a contratação é a cota patronal da previdência social e aplicando as mudanças propostas nesta última reforma laboral, concretizam-se esses efeitos e também se conclui que a redução dos custos de demissão não acelera a decisão de contrata

A systematic literature review of the use of social media for business process management

In today’s expansion of new technologies, innovation is found necessary for organizations to be up to date with the latest management trends. Although organizations are increasingly using new technologies, opportunities still exist to achieve the nowadays essential omnichannel management strategy. More precisely, social media are opening a path for benefiting more from an organization’s process orientation. However, social media strategies are still an under-investigated field, especially when it comes to the research of social media use for the management and improvement of business processes or the internal way of working in organizations. By classifying a variety of articles, this study explores the evolution of social media implementation within the BPM discipline. We also provide avenues for future research and strategic implications for practitioners to use social media more comprehensively

Spacetime states and covariant quantum theory

In it's usual presentation, classical mechanics appears to give time a very special role. But it is well known that mechanics can be formulated so as to treat the time variable on the same footing as the other variables in the extended configuration space. Such covariant formulations are natural for relativistic gravitational systems, where general covariance conflicts with the notion of a preferred physical-time variable. The standard presentation of quantum mechanics, in turns, gives again time a very special role, raising well known difficulties for quantum gravity. Is there a covariant form of (canonical) quantum mechanics? We observe that the preferred role of time in quantum theory is the consequence of an idealization: that measurements are instantaneous. Canonical quantum theory can be given a covariant form by dropping this idealization. States prepared by non-instantaneous measurements are described by "spacetime smeared states". The theory can be formulated in terms of these states, without making any reference to a special time variable. The quantum dynamics is expressed in terms of the propagator, an object covariantly defined on the extended configuration space.Comment: 20 pages, no figures. Revision: minor corrections and references adde