The Emergent Universe: inflationary cosmology with no singularity

Observations indicate that the universe is effectively flat, but they do not rule out a closed universe. The role of positive curvature is negligible at late times, but can be crucial in the early universe. In particular, positive curvature allows for cosmologies that originate as Einstein static universes, and then inflate and later reheat to a hot big bang era. These cosmologies have no singularity, no "beginning of time", and no horizon problem. If the initial radius is chosen to be above the Planck scale, then they also have no quantum gravity era, and are described by classical general relativity throughout their history.Comment: minor changes; version to appear in Class Q Gra

Cosmic microwave background anisotropies: Nonlinear dynamics

We develop a new approach to local nonlinear effects in cosmic microwave background anisotropies, and discuss the qualitative features of these effects. New couplings of the baryonic velocity to radiation multipoles are found, arising from nonlinear Thomson scattering effects. We also find a new nonlinear shear effect on small angular scales. The full set of evolution and constraint equations is derived, including the nonlinear generalizations of the radiation multipole hierarchy, and of the dynamics of multi-fluids. These equations govern radiation anisotropies in any inhomogeneous spacetime, but their main application is to second-order effects in a universe that is close to the Friedmann models. Qualitative analysis is given here, and quantitative calculations are taken up in further papers.Comment: Revised version, with some important corrections and improved clarity, highlighting the new results on nonlinear Thomson scattering effects and nonlinear shear effects. To appear Phys Rev

Inhibition of Protease Activity in Muscle Extracts and Surimi from Pacific Whiting, Merluccius productus, and Arrowtooth Flounder, Atheresthes stomias

Muscle extracts of Pacific whiting, Merluccius productus, and arrowtooth flounder, Atheresthes stomias, were assayed for proteolytic activity using azocasein as a substrate. Pacific whiting extracts showed maximum activity at pH 5.0-5.2 and a temperature of 50°C, while arrowtooth flounder extracts had maximum activity at pH 5.5 and 55°C. Three sources of inhibitors (potatoes, egg white, beef plasma protein) were evaluated in vitro for inhibition of protease activity. All three were found to be effective inhibitors in crude muscle extracts. Further studies utilizing these inhibitors in surimi showed that potato was equivalent to both egg white and beef plasma protein in preserving the gel forming characteristics ofheated kamaboko in both species

Scaling Theory of Giant Frictional Slips in Decompressed Granular Media

When compressed frictional granular media are decompressed, generically a fragile configuration is created at low pressures. Typically this is accompanied by a giant frictional slippage as the fragile state collapses. We show that this instability is understood in terms of a scaling theory with theoretically computable amplitudes and exponents. The amplitude diverges in the thermodynamic limit hinting to the possibility of huge frictional slip events in decompressed granular media. The physics of this slippage is discussed in terms of the probability distribution functions of the tangential and normal forces on the grains which are highly correlated due to the Coulomb condition.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1804.0771

QUARTERLY PREDICTION MODELS FOR LIVE HOG PRICES

Demand and Price Analysis,

The educational impacts of the Boyne River Natural Science School: Twenty-five years later (Ontario)

This paper examines how one or more visits to the Boyne River Natural Science School operated by the Toronto Board of Education affects students’ environmental attitudes and behaviours. It also looks at what effect these visits had on their perceptions about the environment and whether the program was important in their personal and educational development. The study surveys students who attended the Boyne River Natural Science School between 1973 and 1986. Effects were measured by means of a short questionnaire. From this time period 125 students filled out the questionnaire, with the gender breakdown being 65 females and 60 males. All years from 1973 to 1986 were represented, as were all grades from Grade 4 to Grade 13. The results indicate a very high degree of success for the program. The school’s aims for the students and the program were met at a high level, as indicated by the very positive responses given in the questionnaire. The results of the surveys showed a very high degree of satisfaction from the respondents. An astounding 99% of the respondents found satisfaction with the program. The study found that the environmental education program at the Boyne River Natural Science School had major and long lasting educational impacts on the participating students