Features of Formation of the Cyclone Wakes (Fluctuations in Seawater Temperature) in the Area of Cape Svobodny, the Southeastern Part of the Sakhalin Island

Purpose. The purpose of this work is to study the particulars of the formation of cyclone wakes after the regular passage of cyclones over the area of the wave measurements, and to estimate the internal wave parameters along the track according to the field observations. Methods and Results. The analysis of data from the field observations of sea waves and water temperature is presented. The measurements were carried out by a ARW-K14 device (autonomous recorder of the waves and water temperature) in the area of the Cape Svobodny on the southeastern coast of the Sakhalin Island at a depth about 8 m. The recorded time series of the sea level and temperature fluctuations, lasting about one and a half months, were subjected to spectral analysis using specialized Kyma spectral analysis software. Dominant temperature fluctuations reaching 8.5 °C with a 13.1 h period were detected in the upper mixed layer of the ocean. These fluctuations were identified as the cyclone wakes in the stage of their relaxation. Taking into account the synoptic circumstances that existed during the passage of several cyclones and the associated storms in the observation area, the authors investigated the presence or absence of a trace. Conclusions. It is shown that if the next storm arrives earlier than 10 days after the previous one, the trace may be shorter or even absent due to active water mixing in the upper mixed layer of the ocean. For the data obtained, the value of the coefficient ∈ in the expression ω = (1 + ∈ ) f, which connects the dominant frequency ω of internal waves, i.e. almost inertial oscillations in the trace of each typhoon, with the inertial frequency f (the Coriolis parameter determined by the geographical latitude of the water area where the waves propagate), is close to the value proposed in the paper by E. Kunze. Using a formula due to J. F. Price, the characteristic horizontal lengths of internal waves in the direction of movement inside the wakes of cyclones moving at a speed 15–35 knots are determined. These lengths range from 304.6 to 1066.1 km

Postnonclassical methodology and application of virtual reality technologies in social research.

The postnonclassical paradigm has increasingly become a conceptual basis for social research in various fields in an attempt to overcome the limitations of the classical and non-classical approaches. Subjects of social research activities require changes in the paradigm at all levels of research: from the statement of the problem to the elaboration of the appropriate methods and the analysis of the research data. The search for new research methods, technologies and techniques plays a crucial role in this process. One of the most promising methods that has rapidly developed in recent years is the technology of virtual reality (VR). This technology is being widely applied to both natural science and social science research. In this article, we examine the possibilities of using VR technology for the resolution of current tasks in social research from the perspective of the postnonclassical approach

X-ray emission and photoelectron spectroscopy studies of interaction of nanocrystalline TiN and TiB₂ after highpressure sintering

A few samples of nanocrystalline TiN–TiB₂ ceramics were synthesized by high-pressure (3.0 GPa) and high-temperature (t = 1300–1500°C) sintering a mixture of TiN and TiB₂ nanopowders (80 wt.% TiN and 20 wt.% TiB₂) and the microhardness of the samples was determined. Peculiarities of the chemical bonding of the TiN–TiB₂ ceramics possessing the highest microhardness among the samples under consideration, mainly 29.65 ± 0.90 GPa, were studied in the present work using the X-ray emission and photoelectron spectroscopy methods. The X-ray emission spectra reflecting the energy distribution of the valence electronic states of the constituents (the N Kα (N 2p-like states), B Kα (В 2p-like states), Ti Lα (valence Ti s,d-like states) and Ti Kβ₅ (Ti 4p-like states) bands) were measured for the mentioned ceramics and for the initial mixture of TiN and TiB₂ nanopowders. For the above substances the X-ray photoelectron core-level binding energies were evaluated as well. It has been established that, when synthesizing the nanocrystalline TiN–TiB₂ ceramics from the initial mixture of TiN and TiB₂ nanopowders, the half-widths of the X-ray emission Ti Lα and Ti Kβ₅ bands decrease by (0.5–0.6) ± 0.2 eV

Measurements of spin rotation parameter A in pion-proton elastic scattering at 1.62 GeV/c

The ITEP-PNPI collaboration presents the results of the measurements of the spin rotation parameter A in the elastic scattering of positive and negative pions on protons at P_beam = 1.62 GeV/c. The setup included a longitudinally-polarized proton target with superconductive magnet, multiwire spark chambers and a carbon polarimeter with thick filter. Results are compared to the predictions of partial wave analyses. The experiment was performed at the ITEP proton synchrotron, Moscow.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Phys. Lett.

Manifestations of Higher Mental Functions in Actors in Virtual Reality

Background. The study of the professional activities of actors from the standpoint of modern psychological theories is an urgent task for psychology of art. In particular, the question of whether there is a significant difference in the functioning of cognitive processes in actors as a result of training in acting techniques is considered. The answer can be revealed not only by classical measurements of the development of higher mental functions using standardized methods, but also, to a large extent, by the assessment of cognitive abilities in special conditions of virtual reality. Objectives. The study is aimed at measuring success parameters for actors performing tasks to assess the level of cognitive functioning in virtual reality in comparison with a group of students who are not actors. Methods. During the experiment, the control (students who are not actors) and experimental (novice actors) groups were asked to complete tasks to assess the level of cognitive functioning in two-dimensional and virtual reality formats. In order to do this, the experiment participants first performed two-dimensional tests to assess visual attention and working memory, and then did tasks to assess attention and memory in the HTC Vive Pro virtual reality helmet in a special virtual environment “Upgrade VR”. Sample. Two groups of subjects took part in the experiment. The experimental group consisted of 10 students of the O. Tabakov School (average age 17 years). The control group included 20 subjects (18 women, 2 men, average age 18 years) — students of the Faculty of Psychology at Lomonosov Moscow State University. Results. Comparing the performance of actors before and after immersion in virtual reality on two-dimensional computerized task assessing working memory, no significant differences were found (t = –1.35, df = 9, p = 0.209). Also, no significant differences were found when comparing the results of actors performing tasks to assess attention parameters (t = –0.070, df = 9, p = 0.946). When comparing the results of actors and students in performing tasks in virtual reality, significant differences were revealed in the success of completing a spatial orientation task (t = –4.44, df = 28, p < 0.001) and a task assessing working memory (t = –2.34, df = 28, p = 0.027). In addition, significant differences were identified in the average success rates in completing two-dimensional tasks between actors and students before immersion in VR according to the results of the N-back technique (t = 2.4, df = 28, p < 0.023) and the SART technique (t = –3.95, df = 28, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The study revealed differences in parameters of cognitive functioning between actors and students, especially noticeable when performing tasks in virtual reality related to spatial orientation and working memory. The use of virtual reality allows you to simulate a stage situation and create training conditions for the development of cognitive skills, reactions to unexpected events and emotional expression of actors. The results of the study showed that the use of digital technologies in art opens up new opportunities for the creative process and for the construction of unique artistic images

Membranes with a boundary

We investigate the recently developed theory of multiple membranes. In particular, we consider open membranes, i.e. the theory defined on a membrane world volume with a boundary. We first restrict our attention to the gauge sector of the theory. We obtain a boundary action from the Chern-Simons terms. Secondly, we consider the addition of certain boundary terms to various Chern-Simons theories coupled to matter. These terms ensure the full bulk plus boundary action has the correct amount of supersymmetry. For the ABJM model, this construction motivates the inclusion of a boundary quartic scalar potential. The boundary dynamics obtained from our modified theory produce Basu-Harvey type equations describing membranes ending on a fivebrane. The ultimate goal of this work is to throw light on the theory of fivebranes using the theory of open membranes.Comment: 48 pages, Latex, v2 references adde

The Dependence of the Superconducting Transition Temperature of Organic Molecular Crystals on Intrinsically Non-Magnetic Disorder: a Signature of either Unconventional Superconductivity or Novel Local Magnetic Moment Formation

We give a theoretical analysis of published experimental studies of the effects of impurities and disorder on the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, of the organic molecular crystals kappa-ET_2X and beta-ET_2X (where ET is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene and X is an anion eg I_3). The Abrikosov-Gorkov (AG) formula describes the suppression of T_c both by magnetic impurities in singlet superconductors, including s-wave superconductors and by non-magnetic impurities in a non-s-wave superconductor. We show that various sources of disorder lead to the suppression of T_c as described by the AG formula. This is confirmed by the excellent fit to the data, the fact that these materials are in the clean limit and the excellent agreement between the value of the interlayer hopping integral, t_perp, calculated from this fit and the value of t_perp found from angular-dependant magnetoresistance and quantum oscillation experiments. If the disorder is, as seems most likely, non-magnetic then the pairing state cannot be s-wave. We show that the cooling rate dependence of the magnetisation is inconsistent with paramagnetic impurities. Triplet pairing is ruled out by several experiments. If the disorder is non-magnetic then this implies that l>=2, in which case Occam's razor suggests that d-wave pairing is realised. Given the proximity of these materials to an antiferromagnetic Mott transition, it is possible that the disorder leads to the formation of local magnetic moments via some novel mechanism. Thus we conclude that either kappa-ET_2X and beta-ET_2X are d-wave superconductors or else they display a novel mechanism for the formation of localised moments. We suggest systematic experiments to differentiate between these scenarios.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Active Galactic Nuclei at the Crossroads of Astrophysics

Over the last five decades, AGN studies have produced a number of spectacular examples of synergies and multifaceted approaches in astrophysics. The field of AGN research now spans the entire spectral range and covers more than twelve orders of magnitude in the spatial and temporal domains. The next generation of astrophysical facilities will open up new possibilities for AGN studies, especially in the areas of high-resolution and high-fidelity imaging and spectroscopy of nuclear regions in the X-ray, optical, and radio bands. These studies will address in detail a number of critical issues in AGN research such as processes in the immediate vicinity of supermassive black holes, physical conditions of broad-line and narrow-line regions, formation and evolution of accretion disks and relativistic outflows, and the connection between nuclear activity and galaxy evolution.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures; review contribution; "Exploring the Cosmic Frontier: Astrophysical Instruments for the 21st Century", ESO Astrophysical Symposia Serie

The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

Analysis of 273 ancient horse genomes reveals that modern domestic horses originated in the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region.Domestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare(1). However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling(2-4) at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 bc(3). Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia(5) and Anatolia(6), have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 bc, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association(7) between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 bc(8,9) driving the spread of Indo-European languages(10). This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium bc Sintashta culture(11,12).Descriptive and Comparative Linguistic

The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

Domestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare. However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 bc. Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia and Anatolia, have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 bc, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 bc driving the spread of Indo-European languages. This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium bc Sintashta culture