Quasilocal Conservation Laws: Why We Need Them

We argue that conservation laws based on the local matter-only stress-energy-momentum tensor (characterized by energy and momentum per unit volume) cannot adequately explain a wide variety of even very simple physical phenomena because they fail to properly account for gravitational effects. We construct a general quasi}local conservation law based on the Brown and York total (matter plus gravity) stress-energy-momentum tensor (characterized by energy and momentum per unit area), and argue that it does properly account for gravitational effects. As a simple example of the explanatory power of this quasilocal approach, consider that, when we accelerate toward a freely-floating massive object, the kinetic energy of that object increases (relative to our frame). But how, exactly, does the object acquire this increasing kinetic energy? Using the energy form of our quasilocal conservation law, we can see precisely the actual mechanism by which the kinetic energy increases: It is due to a bona fide gravitational energy flux that is exactly analogous to the electromagnetic Poynting flux, and involves the general relativistic effect of frame dragging caused by the object's motion relative to us.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur

ATTITUDES AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS INFLUENCING SOLID WASTE GENERATION: A HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE ANALYSIS

A survey of household decision-makers and an analysis of their garbage was used to suggest factors affecting the weight of household contributions to municipal solid waste. Iterative regression was used to build a model from the data that is hypothesized to explain garbage weight. Food expenditure, environmental attitude, consumption of soft drinks in plastic bottles, and cats in the household were significant for all households. Self-sufficiency and energy-conscious behavioral scales also affected the subgroup with female householders having an educational level of high school graduation or less.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Truth and Reconciliation Through Indigenous Health Research: An Instrumental Case Study in the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

Concern for the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada is at the heart of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action and Principles of Reconciliation. Universities have developed responses to the TRC, but to date few have discussed truth and reconciliation in the context of academic research. Historically, Indigenous health research (IHR) has been used as a tool of colonization in Canada, and harm to Indigenous peoples and communities is still occurring through IHR. Thus, it is imperative to consider implications of the TRC’s work in relation to university-based IHR. An instrumental case study in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan was undertaken to explore understandings and applications of truth and reconciliation in university-based IHR. Guided conversations with five Indigenous and six non-Indigenous faculty involved in IHR were complemented by analysis of key institutional documents and information on the university context from nine key informants. An iterative approach to data collection and analysis was informed by advisors from within the university community and member checking by participants. Informed by a decolonizing framework, principles of respect, reciprocity, relevance and responsibility were central to the undertaking of the project. Data revealed a multi-faceted understanding of truth and reconciliation in IHR. IHR has the potential to contribute to truth and reconciliation when conducted in a manner that attends to issues such as Indigenous self-determination, decolonization, ethical conduct, power and control. A model of ‘reconciliatory research’ is presented as a guide to considerations for substantive and procedural aspects of IHR. The model is centered in relationality, with actionable pathways supporting key characteristics of ‘reconciliatory research’. However, tensions between features of reconciliatory research and university values, norms, processes and policies impede researchers’ efforts towards truth and reconciliation through IHR. The resulting barriers are indicative of systemic and institutional racism around university-based Indigenous health research, with implications for Indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing. Researchers and universities have particular responsibilities to ensure that university-based Indigenous health research is conducted in a manner that facilitates truth and reconciliation. Systemic changes are required to address institutional barriers to reconciliatory IHR and to ensure that such research is conducted in a manner that supports Indigenous sovereignty, health and wellbeing

Geoids in General Relativity: Geoid Quasilocal Frames

We develop, in the context of general relativity, the notion of a geoid -- a surface of constant "gravitational potential". In particular, we show how this idea naturally emerges as a specific choice of a previously proposed, more general and operationally useful construction called a quasilocal frame -- that is, a choice of a two-parameter family of timelike worldlines comprising the worldtube boundary of the history of a finite spatial volume. We study the geometric properties of these geoid quasilocal frames, and construct solutions for them in some simple spacetimes. We then compare these results -- focusing on the computationally tractable scenario of a non-rotating body with a quadrupole perturbation -- against their counterparts in Newtonian gravity (the setting for current applications of the geoid), and we compute general-relativistic corrections to some measurable geometric quantities.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures; v2: reference added; v3: introduction clarified, reference adde