Googling the Anthropocene: Fractal media and ecology

The scars of humanity can be seen across the Earth. However, observing such ecological violence and their implications often requires finding the right perspective, moving beyond the spatial and temporal limits of individual humans. This article builds on discussion of the Anthropocene as a term and the anthropocentrism it implies to critique the relations between humanity, technology and ecology through posthuman perspectives. Focusing on Google's widely available tools, its problematic relation to the environment as a company and critical interventions by media artists Mishka Henner, Paolo Cirio and Geraldine Juárez, the article examines technologies that enable a 'posthuman' position from which to view the fractal activities of humanity: Google Maps and Earth; Street View; and the Google search engines. Fractals are offered as a mode of assessing the self-similar processes of mediation that define not only humanity's scalar expansion but also its shift into informational dimensions and the virtualization of ecology.

Kantowski–Sachs scalar field cosmological models in a modified theory of gravity

In this paper, we investigate the anisotropic Kantowski–Sachs model in the f(R, T) theory of gravity proposed by Harko et al. (Phys. Rev. D, 84, 024020, 2011) with scalar field (quintessence or phantom). Here R is the Ricci scalar and T is the trace of the energy–momentum tensor. The field equations have been solved using the fact that scalar expansion is proportional to the shear scalar of the space–time. We explore the behavior of the deceleration parameter, which represents a transition of the universe from the early decelerating phase to the present accelerated phase. Some physical properties and various cosmological distance measures are also obtained and discussed.

The metropolitan name game: The pathways to place naming shaping metropolitan regions

The centrality of metropolitan regions in policy and research does not mean they are perceived by their population as having a meaningful identity. This affects their political legitimacy, economic development prospects and place qualities. However, the ongoing scalar expansion of our spatial attachments creates the potential for a metropolitan identity, which can contribute to a stronger metropolitan region vision. As a component of identity formation, place naming becomes relevant both to represent and construct this scale. This article evaluates the geographical, institutional and social factors that shape naming processes in metropolitan regions undergoing integration. We consider historical examples representing different modes of name formation: New York, Stoke-on-Trent, Budapest, Charleville-Mézières, Metroplex and Thunder Bay. We find that metropolitan toponyms emerge from a nexus of interdependent factors, some of which decisively push naming processes into specific paths, and that such processes reflect the socio-political and cultural contexts shaping metropolitan regions. This provides a framework of questions that metropolitan institutions can consider to envision the names they are more likely to develop.

Bianchi type VI0 generalized ghost pilgrim dark energy model in Brans–Dicke theory of gravitation

In this paper, we solve Brans–Dicke (BD) theory (Phys. Rev. D, 24, 925) field equations for anisotropic Bianchi type VI0 space–time and discuss evolution of the expanding Universe. Here, we consider pressureless fluid and isotropic generalized ghost pilgrim dark energy as the source of matter and dark energy, respectively. To get the determinate solution of the field equations we have used (i) scalar expansion proportional to the shear scalar and (ii) scalar field (in BD theory) proportional to average scale factor of the model. Some physical and geometrical properties of the model are also discussed.

Kantowski-Sachs Cosmological model with quark and strange quark matter in f(R) theory of gravity

In this paper we have studied the Kantowski- Sachs cosmological model with the quark and strange quark matter in the f (R) theory of gravity. The general solutions of the field equations are obtained by assuming the physical condition shear scalar σ is proportional to scalar expansion θ, which leads to the relation B = An between metric coefficients B and A. The physical and geometrical aspects of the model are also discussed.

Thermal expansion in C2/c pyroxenes: a review and new high-temperature structural data for a pyroxene of composition (Na0.53Ca0.47)(Al0.53Fe0.47)Si2O6 (Jd53Hd47)

Single-crystal X-ray data collection was performed in situ at T = 300 and 700°C on a sample synthesized along the jadeite–hedenbergite series. The structural data, together with those of a previous investigation of a crystal of the same composition, were compared to those of the endmembers. The evolution of the displacement parameters with temperature shows significant residuals for the O1, O2 and O3 oxygen at T = 0 K, most significantly in the O1, which were interpreted as an indication of positional disorder.Volume thermal expansion and axial deformation ellipsoids were calculated for the above sample together with those of a series of C2/c pyroxenes. Pyroxenes with a divalent M2 cation, Ca, Fe and Mg have a greater expansion than those with a monovalent M2, like Na and Li; the Na pyroxene endmembers with Al, Cr and Fe were observed to show greater expansion than corresponding Li ones.The greater axial expansion is found along the b axis, except in LiCrSi2O6; the changes along the b axis are related to the volume thermal expansion. The axial orientation and anisotropy of the two axes onto the (010) plane is different in Na, Li and Ca-Mg-Fe pyroxenes, but the overall expansion onto the (010) plane, given by the sum of the scalar expansion along the two axes on (010), is very similar in pyroxenes.The deformation along the b axis with temperature and composition is driven by the deformation along b of the octahedral M1 chain; most important is the contribution from the O1−O1 shared edge between M1 octahedra in the same octahedral chain.

CROSSING OF THE w = -1 BARRIER IN VISCOUS MODIFIED GRAVITY

We consider a modified form of gravity in which the action contains a power α of the scalar curvature. It is shown how the presence of a bulk viscosity in a spatially flat universe may drive the cosmic fluid into the phantom region (w < -1) and thus into a Big Rip singularity, even if it lies in the quintessence region (w > -1) in the nonviscous case. The condition for this to occur is that the bulk viscosity contains the power (2α-1) of the scalar expansion. Two specific examples are discussed in detail. The present paper is a generalization of the recent investigation dealing with barrier crossing in Einstein's gravity: I. Brevik and O. Gorbunova, Gen. Relativ. Gravit.37, 2039 (2005).

VISCOUS FRW COSMOLOGY IN MODIFIED GRAVITY

We discuss a modified form of gravity implying that the action contains a power α of the scalar curvature. Coupling with the cosmic fluid is assumed. As equation of state for the fluid, we take the simplest version where the pressure is proportional to the density. Based upon a natural ansatz for the time variation of the scale factor, we show that the equations of motion are satisfied for a general α. Also the condition of conservation of energy and momentum is satisfied. Moreover, we investigate the case where the fluid is allowed to possess a bulk viscosity, and find the noteworthy fact that consistency of the formalism requires the bulk viscosity to be proportional to the power (2α-1) of the scalar expansion. In Einstein's gravity, where α = 1, this means that the bulk viscosity is proportional to the scalar expansion. This mathematical result is of physical interest; as discussed recently by the authors, there exists in principle a viscosity-driven transition of the fluid from the quintessence region into the phantom region, implying a future Big Rip singularity.