Interventions for fall prevention in community-dwelling older persons

Falls in individuals over the age of 65 is a pervasive problem resulting in significant health and economic burden in our country. Thus, effective fall prevention strategies are an important public health measure, especially in an age group that is growing rapidly. Research has shown a multifactorial approach to fall prevention addressing environmental hazards, strength and balance, medications, and medical comorbidities to be most effective. Despite there being strong evidence to support this, many individuals are unaware of the factors that put them at risk and ways to mitigate them. An educational pamphlet containing evidence-based strategies to reduce fall risk was produced for distribution within the New Milford primary care clinic in New Milford, CT.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1511/thumbnail.jp

Rigorous Quantum Limits on Monitoring Free Masses and Harmonic Oscillators

There are heuristic arguments proposing that the accuracy of monitoring position of a free mass $m$ is limited by the standard quantum limit (SQL):$\sigma^2 (X(t)) \geq \sigma^2 (X(0)) +(t^2/m^2) \sigma^2 (P(0))\geq \hbar t/m$, where $\sigma^2 (X(t))$ and $\sigma^2 (P(t))$ denote variances of the Heisenberg representation position and momentum operators. Yuen discovered that there are contractive states for which this result is incorrect. Here I prove universally valid rigorous quantum limits (RQL) viz. rigorous upper and lower bounds on $\sigma^2 (X(t))$ in terms of $\sigma^2 (X(0))$ and $\sigma^2 (P(0))$ for a free mass, and for an oscillator. I also obtain the `maximally contractive' and `maximally expanding' states which saturate the RQL, and use the contractive states to set up an Ozawa-type measurement theory with accuracies respecting the RQL but beating the standard quantum limit. The Contractive states for oscillators improve on the Schr\"odinger coherent states of constant variance and may be useful for gravitational wave detection and optical communication.Comment: 6 page

An Assessment of the ICC Statute

The large number of signature States together with the current speed of ratification from various regions of the world seems to indicate the general acceptance of the treaty; many of the problems first identified have since been clarified and resolved. It seems reasonable to expect the Rome Statute to come into operation as early as next summer. While it is necessary to ensure effective criminal investigation and prosecution to counter serious human rights violations, we need also to develop additional ways and means for addressing the root causes that led to violations and impunity. Justice is important but justice alone cannot bring peace. We need both justice and peace. Criminal prosecution through courts and tribunals will not and cannot suit all situations, bring justice to all, or, still less, end all conflicts. Accountability and criminal responsibility are important and necessary. But the tribunals cannot deal adequately when massive cases are involved. Massive trials require large resources and are time-consuming, particularly when there are large numbers of defendants. In recent years, various measures of accountability have been employed for managing situations involving past serious violations of human rights. These measures include acknowledging and publicizing responsibility through truth commissions, dismissing or suspending officials connected with the abuses of the previous regimes, seizure of property and assets of the perpetrators, blocking financial sources of rogue organizations, and compensation for victims and their families. All these are intended to demonstrate that a sense of sanctions has been applied to misdeeds, though such sanctions may not be sufficient in all cases. The parties concerned must work out by themselves the best solution to suit their need

Froissart Bound on Total Cross-section without Unknown Constants

We determine the scale of the logarithm in the Froissart bound on total cross-sections using absolute bounds on the D-wave below threshold for $\pi\pi$ scattering. E.g. for $\pi^0 \pi^0$ scattering we show that for c.m. energy $\sqrt{s}\rightarrow \infty$, $\bar{\sigma}_{tot}(s,\infty)\equiv s\int_{s} ^{\infty} ds'\sigma_{tot}(s')/s'^2 \leq \pi (m_{\pi})^{-2} [\ln (s/s_0)+(1/2)\ln \ln (s/s_0) +1]^2$ where $m_\pi^2/s_0= 17\pi \sqrt{\pi/2}$ .Comment: 6 page