Accelerated Brans-Dicke universe in higher-derivative induced gravity-like conformally coupling and dominated by Gauss-Bonnet dark energy

We investigate the late-time dynamics of a four-dimensional universe based on the effective action of a Brans-Dicke scalar field in the presence of the matter source term, conformal coupling of the scalar curvature to the scalar field, a dynamical cosmological constant and Gauss-Bonnet higher-order terms in the scalar curvature. Many new interesting features are revealed and discussed in some details.     

Comparison of the effects of pollution on the marine bivalve Donax trunculus in the vicinity of polluted sites with specimens from a clean reference site (Mediterranean Sea)

The physiological and biochemical characteristics of tissue samples of the marine mussel, Donax trunculus, from an oil-polluted site (Qiryat Yam) and from a site adjacent to an industrial factory (Frutarom) producing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were compared with samples from a clean reference site (Akko). All sites were located along the sandy shores of the Israeli Mediterranean Sea. The mussels from the oil-polluted site showed increased activity of the system of active transport of organic anions (SATOA) in the gills and the renocardial organ and also of the multixenobiotic resistance transporter (MXR) in the gills. In contrast, samples collected near the PVC factory showed a decrease in SATOA activity and no increase in the activity of MXR in the gills. Specimens from the reference site demonstrated a redox state of equilibrium between energy production and utilization, while in Donax from both the oil polluted and the PVC-polluted sites, the mitochondrial redox state reflected intensive consumption of energy. No significant changes were found in the activity of reduced glutathione s-transferase (GST) in the cytosolic fraction of the digestive gland of Donax collected from any of the three sites. The data demonstrate a differential increase in the anti-chemical defense systems and an intensification of energy metabolism in the mussels exposed to pollution.     

The effect of cultivation method on erosion in agricultural catchments: integrating AHP in GIS environments

The cultivation method used in agricultural catchments can have a great effect on erosion processes; as such, determining the effects on form and degree is crucial. One commonly held hypothesis is that a shift to minimum tillage methods should reduce the rate of erosion. Here, we examine the effect of cultivation methods and environmental conditions on soil erosion risks in field crops and orchards in an agricultural catchment in northern Israel. The examination was conducted using AHP (analytic hierarchy process) and GIS (geographic information system)‐based computer simulations. Field validation of the simulations was conducted during the 2009–2010 winter season. The spatially explicit data on cultivation method, combined with environmental and climatic data, yielded an explanation of most of the variation in erosion risks in the catchment (kappa =0·93). Of the 10 criteria examined, the cultivation method and slope were the two variables with the greatest effect on increased soil erosion. Furthermore, soil loss risks were reduced substantially as a result of substituting conventional tillage with reduced tillage; substituting reduced tillage with conservation tillage; and changing the tillage direction to perpendicular to the direction of the slope. These results are reasonable in light of the modifications that mechanical tools cause in the soil structure, as observed in the penetration depth and the aggregate stability measurements used in this study. Despite the difficulty in collecting spatially explicit data on cultivation methods, we believe that it is of utmost importance to use such data to study erosion risks in agricultural catchments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A dark energy and phantom energy dilaton-Brans-Dicke multiverse with positive cosmological constant

We introduce a four-dimensional dilaton-Brans-Dicke cosmological scenario corresponding to multiverse filled with dark energy or phantom energy having a positive cosmological constant and containing infinite singularities with eternally Big Rip. Many interesting consequences are revealed and discussed in some details.     

Accelerated expansion from non-linear derivative interaction and Gauss–Bonnet invariant

We discuss in this letter a new cosmological model including both a non-linear derivative interaction and a Gauss–Bonnet invariant. The first interaction term appears in the theory with the Galilean shift symmetry, whereas the second term is motivated from string theory and plays a crucial role in Chern–Simons gravitational theories as well as in the renormalization of quantum field theories in curved spacetime. It is shown that the presence of both the cubic interaction and the Gauss–Bonnet invariant term supply amazingly prosperous cosmological phenomenologies, which are explored in some detail.     

Dark energy from logarithmically modified gravity and deformed Coleman-Weinberg potential

Recent astrophysical measurements strongly suggest the existence of a missing energy component dubbed dark energy that is responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the universe.A new class of modified gravity theory is introduced which yields a universe accelerating in time and dominated by dark energy.The new modified gravity model constructed here concurrently includes a Gauss-Bonnet invariant term,barotropic fluid with a time-dependent equation of state parameter,a Coleman-Weinberg(CW) potenti...     

Dark energy from “extended modified gravity” and Gauss–Bonnet invariant term

We investigate the cosmological dynamics of a four-dimensional Friedmann–Robertson–Walker homogenous and isotropic universe from Gauss–Bonnet higher-order curvature corrections, together with nonminimal coupling and with an infrared effective action of gravity based on a second-order gauge formulation for the Lorentz group. We study the evolution of the universe in such a model, identifying its key properties. Many new interesting features are revealed and discussed in some detail.