Axiomatic Foundations for the Principle of Entropy Increase

We show that the principle of entropy increase may be exactly founded on a few axioms valid not only for quantum and classical statistics, but also for a wide range of statistical processes.Comment: 8 page

On the origin of probability in quantum mechanics

I give a brief introduction to many worlds or "no wavefunction collapse" quantum mechanics, suitable for non-specialists. I then discuss the origin of probability in such formulations, distinguishing between objective and subjective notions of probability.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. This version to appear as a Brief Review in Modern Physics Letter

Satellite lifetime routine user's manual

A FORTRAN coded computer program which determines secular variations in mean orbital elements of earth satellites and the lifetime of the orbit is described. The dynamical model treats a point mass satellite subject to solar and lunar disturbing gravitational fields, second, third and fourth harmonics of the earth's oblate potential, earth's atmospheric drag, and solar radiation pressure. Each of these disturbing functions may be selectively simulated. Data preparation instructions, a sample problem, and definitions of output quantities are included

Local sensory control of a dexterous end effector

A numerical scheme was developed to solve the inverse kinematics for a user-defined manipulator. The scheme was based on a nonlinear least-squares technique which determines the joint variables by minimizing the difference between the target end effector pose and the actual end effector pose. The scheme was adapted to a dexterous hand in which the joints are either prismatic or revolute and the fingers are considered open kinematic chains. Feasible solutions were obtained using a three-fingered dexterous hand. An algorithm to estimate the position and orientation of a pre-grasped object was also developed. The algorithm was based on triangulation using an ideal sensor and a spherical object model. By choosing the object to be a sphere, only the position of the object frame was important. Based on these simplifications, a minimum of three sensors are needed to find the position of a sphere. A two dimensional example to determine the position of a circle coordinate frame using a two-fingered dexterous hand was presented

Physical aspects of oracles for randomness, and Hadamard's conjecture

We analyze the physical aspects and origins of currently proposed oracles for (absolute) randomness.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1405.140

Life History of the Emerald Shiner in Lewis and Clark Lake, South Dakota

The age, rate of growth, reproduction, feeding habits and population dynamics of the emerald shiner (Notropie atherinoides) were studied from 10, 375 fish collected in Lewis and Clark Lake South Dakota. The population consisted of four age groups dominated by young-of-the-yew during the summer and fall and by age group during spring and early summer. Age group II was common only in the spring and early summer. While age group III was rarely found. Average length at annulus formation was 66 mm for age group I and 84 mm for age group II. Females attained a size advantage over males after the first year. The spawning season extended from June through August. A rapid and precise method was devised for conducting food-habit determinations which could be analyzed statistically. Adult emerald shiners fed selectively on Daphnia. A gradual change in young-of- the-year food habits was evident; fish smaller than 40 mm fed primarily on algae whereas larger fish fed chiefly on cladocerane and copepods. Populations of emerald shiners were characterized by a fast turnover. Males had a higher mortality rate than females during their second and third years of life