What is Time? A New Mathematico- Physical and Information Theoretic Approach

A New Mathematico-Physical and Information Theoretic Approach Examination of the available hard core information to firm up the process of unification of quantum and gravitational physics leads to the conclusion that for achieving this synthesis, major paradigm shifts are needed as also the answering of `What is Time?' The object of this submission is to point out the means of achieving such a grand synthesis. Currently the main pillars supporting the edifice of physics are: (i) The geometrical concepts of space- time-gravitation, (ii) The dynamic concepts involving quantum of action, (iii) Statistical thermodynamic concepts, heat and entropy, (iv) Mathematical concepts, tools and techniques serving both as a grand plan and the means of calculation and last but not least v)Controlled observation, pertinent experimentation as the final arbiter. In making major changes the author is following Dirac's dictum "....make changes without sacrificing the existing superstructure". It is shown that time can be treated as a parameter rather than an additional dimension. A new entity called "Ekon" having the properties of both space and momentum is introduced along with a space called "Chalachala". The requisite connection with Einstein's formulation and mathematical aperatus required have been formulated which is highly suited for the purpose. The primacy of the Plancks quantum of action and its representation geometrically as a twist is introduced. The practical and numerical estimates have been made and applied to evaluation of the gravitational constant in a a seperate submission "Estimations of gravitational constant from CMBR data".Comment: 29 pages, pdf fil

Paramagnetic resonance in some cupric salts

Paramagnetic resonance absorption of 3 cm. wave in eleven copper salts has been studied. Of these four show paramagnetic absorption;g factors and half-widths obtained are given. Single crystals of cupric ammonium chloride and cupric ammino-nitrate have been studied for anisotropy in g factor and line-shape parameters. Results regarding cupric ammonium chloride indicate that exchange interaction may not be isotropic

Educational Needs Assessment for Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center

Strategic planning and external reviews of HMSC programs highlighted local strengths, and recognized significant untapped potential for expanding HMSC academic programs. More recently, OSU has looked toward HMSC and Newport as the next site for significant expansion of educational opportunities to include an additional 500 or more students. The purpose of this 2013 report is to identify pathways to fulfill these goals. Herein, we synthesize input from over 200 individuals throughout OSU, HMSC, the Newport community, and other academic institutions (including community colleges). The following summary identifies needs, highlights opportunities, and proposes a phased approach to expansion. The report was reviewed by Dr. Robert Cowen (HMSC Director), Dr. Rick Spinrad (OSU Vice President for Research) and Dr. Ed Ray (OSU President) before being made generally available.KEYWORDS: Lincoln County, Oregon; Hatfield Marine Science Center; Marine education; Educational opportunitie

Foraging in marine habitats increases mercury concentrations in a generalist seabird

Methylmercury concentrations vary widely across geographic space and among habitat types, with marine and aquatic-feeding organisms typically exhibiting higher mercury concentrations than terrestrial-feeding organisms. However, there are few model organisms to directly compare mercury concentrations as a result of foraging in marine, estuarine, or terrestrial food webs. The ecological impacts of differential foraging may be especially important for generalist species that exhibit high plasticity in foraging habitats, locations, or diet. Here, we investigate whether foraging habitat, sex, or fidelity to a foraging area impact blood mercury concentrations in western gulls (Larus occidentalis) from three colonies on the US west coast. Cluster analyses showed that nearly 70% of western gulls foraged primarily in ocean or coastal habitats, whereas the remaining gulls foraged in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Gulls that foraged in ocean or coastal habitats for half or more of their foraging locations had 55% higher mercury concentrations than gulls that forage in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Ocean-foraging gulls also had lower fidelity to a specific foraging area than freshwater and terrestrial-foraging gulls, but fidelity and sex were unrelated to gull blood mercury concentrations in all models. These findings support existing research that has described elevated mercury levels in species using aquatic habitats. Our analyses also demonstrate that gulls can be used to detect differences in contaminant exposure over broad geographic scales and across coarse habitat types, a factor that may influence gull health and persistence of other populations that forage across the land-sea gradient

Across borders: External factors and prior behaviour influence North Pacific albatross associations with fishing vessels

Understanding encounters between marine predators and fisheries across national borders and outside national jurisdictions offers new perspectives on unwanted interactions to inform ocean management and predator conservation. Although seabird–fisheries overlap has been documented at many scales, remote identification of vessel encounters has lagged because vessel movement data often are lacking. Here, we reveal albatrosses–fisheries associations throughout the North Pacific Ocean. We identified commercial fishing operations using Global Fishing Watch data and algorithms to detect fishing vessels. We compiled GPS tracks of adult black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and Laysan Phoebastria immutabilis albatrosses, and juvenile short-tailed albatrosses Phoebastria albatrus. We quantified albatrosses-vessel encounters based on the assumed distance that birds perceive a vessel (≤30 km), and associations when birds approached vessels (≤3 km). For each event we quantified bird behaviour, environmental conditions and vessel characteristics and then applied Boosted Regression Tree models to identify drivers and the duration of these associations. In regions of greater fishing effort short-tailed and Laysan albatrosses associated with fishing vessels more frequently. However, fishing method (e.g. longline, trawl) and flag nation did not influence association prevalence nor the duration short-tailed albatrosses attended fishing vessels. Laysan albatrosses were more likely to approach longer vessels. Black-footed albatrosses were the most likely to approach vessels (61.9%), but limited vessel encounters (n = 21) prevented evaluation of meaningful explanatory models for this species of high bycatch concern. Temporal variables (time of day and month) and bird behavioural state helped explain when short-tailed albatrosses were in close proximity to a vessel, but environmental conditions were more important for explaining interaction duration. Laysan albatrosses were more likely to associate with vessels while searching and during the last 60% (by time) of their trips. Our results provide specific species–fisheries insight regarding contributing factors of high-risk associations that could lead to bycatch of albatrosses within national waters and on the high seas. Policy implications. Given the availability of Global Fishing Watch data, our analysis can be applied to other marine predators—if tracking data are available—to identify spatio-temporal patterns, vessel specific attributes and predator behaviours associated with fishing vessel associations, thus enabling predictive modelling and targeted mitigation measures

State of the California current 2012-13: No such thing as an “average” year

This report reviews the state of the California Current System (CCS) between winter 2012 and spring 2013, and includes observations from Washington State to Baja California. During 2012, large-scale climate modes indicated the CCS remained in a cool, productive phase present since 2007. The upwelling season was delayed north of 42°N, but regions to the south, especially 33° to 36°N, experienced average to above average upwelling that persisted throughout the summer. Contrary to the indication of high production suggested by the climate indices, chlorophyll observed from surveys and remote sensing was below average along much of the coast. As well, some members of the forage assemblages along the coast experienced low abundances in 2012 surveys. Specifically, the concentrations of all lifestages observed directly or from egg densities of Pacific sardine, Sardinops sagax, and northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, were less than previous years’ survey estimates. However, 2013 surveys and observations indicate an increase in abundance of northern anchovy. During winter 2011/2012, the increased presence of northern copepod species off northern California was consistent with stronger southward transport. Krill and small-fraction zooplankton abundances, where examined, were generally above average. North of 42°N, salps returned to typical abundances in 2012 after greater observed concentrations in 2010 and 2011. In contrast, salp abundance off central and southern California increased after a period of southward transport during winter 2011/2012. Reproductive success of piscivorous Brandt’s cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus, was reduced while planktivorous Cassin’s auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus was elevated. Differences between the productivity of these two seabirds may be related to the available forage assemblage observed in the surveys. California sea lion pups from San Miguel Island were undernourished resulting in a pup mortality event perhaps in response to changes in forage availability. Limited biological data were available for spring 2013, but strong winter upwelling coastwide indicated an early spring transition, with the strong upwelling persisting into early summer

Ecosystem response persists after a prolonged marine heat wave

Some of the longest and most comprehensive marine ecosystem monitoring programs were established in the Gulf of Alaska following the environmental disaster of the Exxon Valdez oil spill over 30 years ago. These monitoring programs have been successful in assessing recovery from oil spill impacts, and their continuation decades later has now provided an unparalleled assessment of ecosystem responses to another newly emerging global threat, marine heatwaves. The 2014–2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave (PMH) in the Gulf of Alaska was the longest lasting heatwave globally over the past decade, with some cooling, but also continued warm conditions through 2019. Our analysis of 187 time series from primary production to commercial fisheries and nearshore intertidal to offshore oceanic domains demonstrate abrupt changes across trophic levels, with many responses persisting up to at least 5 years after the onset of the heatwave. Furthermore, our suite of metrics showed novel community-level groupings relative to at least a decade prior to the heatwave. Given anticipated increases in marine heatwaves under current climate projections, it remains uncertain when or if the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem will return to a pre-PMH state."This project was made possible by the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long-term ecosystem monitoring program with financial support by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (EVOSTC)."Ye

Studies of colossal magnetoresistive oxides with radioactive isotopes

We propose to study Colossal Magnetoresistive (CMR) oxides with several nuclear techniques, which use radioactive elements at ISOLDE. Our aim is to provide local and element selective information on some of the doping mechanisms that rule electronic interactions and magnetoresistance, in a complementary way to the use of conventional characterisation techniques. Three main topics are proposed: \\ \\ a) Studies of local [charge and] structural modifications in antiferromagnetic LaMnO$_{3+ \delta}$ and La$_{1-x}$R$_{x}$MnO$_{3}$ with R=Ca and Cd, doped ferromagnetic systems with competing interactions: - research on the lattice site and electronic characterisation of the doping element. \\ \\ b) Studies of self doped La$_{x}$R$_{1-x}$MnO$_{3+\delta}$ systems, with oxygen and cation non-stoichiometry: -learning the role of defects in the optimisation of magnetoresistive properties. \\ \\ c) Probing the disorder and quenched random field effects in the vicinity of the charge or orbital Ordered/Ferromagnetic phase instability: - Investigating the local environment of ions at the Mn site, which trigger the ferromagnetic phase. Our approach to study these problems, combines complementary techniques such as Perturbed Angular Correlation, Emission Channeling and Electrical/Magnetic Measurements in pellets, single crystals and high quality thin films of CMR oxides doped with radioactive isotopes. Preliminary results obtained in La Cd MnO$_{3+x}$ pellets and thin films implanted with $^{111m}$Cd are also presented