Fast magnetic reconnection in laser-produced plasma bubbles

Recent experiments have observed magnetic reconnection in high-energy-density, laser-produced plasma bubbles, with reconnection rates observed to be much higher than can be explained by classical theory. Based on fully kinetic particle simulations we find that fast reconnection in these strongly driven systems can be explained by magnetic flux pile-up at the shoulder of the current sheet and subsequent fast reconnection via two-fluid, collisionless mechanisms. In the strong drive regime with two-fluid effects, we find that the ultimate reconnection time is insensitive to the nominal system Alfven time.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev. Let

1998 EASTERN ONTARIO ICE STORM MAPLE PRODUCERS' SURVEY: SUMMARY AND RESULTS

In August, 1999, a telephone survey of maple producers in eastern Ontario was conducted in order to gather information on the changes in their operations since the 1998 ice storm. This paper presents the findings of the survey. The results will be used in a larger study to examine the economic impact of the ice storm on maple producers in this region.Crop Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

High accuracy measure of atomic polarizability in an optical lattice clock

Despite being a canonical example of quantum mechanical perturbation theory, as well as one of the earliest observed spectroscopic shifts, the Stark effect contributes the largest source of uncertainty in a modern optical atomic clock through blackbody radiation. By employing an ultracold, trapped atomic ensemble and high stability optical clock, we characterize the quadratic Stark effect with unprecedented precision. We report the ytterbium optical clock's sensitivity to electric fields (such as blackbody radiation) as the differential static polarizability of the ground and excited clock levels: 36.2612(7) kHz (kV/cm)^{-2}. The clock's fractional uncertainty due to room temperature blackbody radiation is reduced an order of magnitude to 3 \times 10^{-17}.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

The Case Against Intensive Farming of Food Animals

The well-being of American agriculture is indeed a complex subject, fraught with interrelationships, predictions, recriminations, and at times, high emotionalism. In this paper, we will be concentrating on several aspects of the entire picture that we feel are fundamental to the issue of animal welfare in modern agriculture. First, we will take a brief look at two farm animal species maintained in very restrictive systems, that is, battery-caged laying hens and tethered and/or crated brood sows. Next, the human costs in terms of occupational diseases and consumer health hazards will be considered. Finally, some humane alternatives to the factory systems for these species will be presented

Advances in Animal Welfare Science 1984/85

This book, the first in an annual series, written by academicians--scientists, philosopher and other--is not intended exclusively for animal welfarists and conservationists. Since it is written by scholars, it will appeal to a wide range of academic and professional readers who are involved with animals for scientific, economic, altruistic, and other reasons. While this first volume cannot cover the entire spectrum of animal welfare science-related topics, it does, in its diversity of contributions, demonstrate the multi-faceted and interdisciplinary nature of the subject of this new series.https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/ebooks/1019/thumbnail.jp

Legal Aspects and Guidelines Pertaining to Drainage of Surface Waters

A previous study ( Research Relating to State Highway Laws , reported January 1967) afforded us an opportunity to review a vast array of literature and statutory law pertaining to enabling legislation and administrative authority to construct and maintain highways. It was surprising to find that the statutes are void of guidance on certain subjects: there are great bodies of unwritten or non-statutory laws which are referred to as common law and civil law , which are deeply rooted in the past; many are doctrinal or equitable; many are extraordinary and argumentative -- they should not be confused with Civil Procedure. They have been described as the laws of private rights and offer redress of grievances when statutory or constitutional laws are not specific. The right to own and possess land is constitutional; riparian rights attach -- some authorities contend that riparian rights cannot be severed and sold. Formerly, the attitude toward ownership of land was that rights extended from the center of the earth to the sky above and that owners rights were inviolable except through eminent domain and due process . Modern attitudes superimpose a limited-use or public interest condition upon private ownership. Even so, an owner of land may not perpetuate a nuisance or use his land in ways which are injurious or damaging to others. Interestingly enough, a nuisance does not exist until someone is injured by it; priority of occupation does not constitute a prescriptive right. The Department incurs liabilities when private rights are invaded or usurped. In some jurisdicions the state has been held liable in the same manner as a private owner; where sovereign immunity persists, damage to private property may be described as nuisance , trespass , or negligence . Ultimately, such actions are held as a taking of or adverse possession of private property