The Cosmological Slingshot Scenario: Myths and Facts

We generalize the Cosmological Slingshot Scenario for a Slingshot brane moving in a Klebanov-Strassler throat. We show that the horizon and isotropy problems of standard cosmology are avoided, while the flatness problem is acceptably alleviated. Regarding the primordial perturbations, we identify their vacuum state and elucidate the evolution from the quantum to the classical regimes. Also, we calculate their exact power spectrum showing its compatibility with current data. We discuss the bouncing solution from a four dimensional point of view. In this framework the radial and angular motion of the Slingshot brane are described by two scalar fields. We show that the bouncing solution for the scale factor in String frame is mapped into a monotonically increasing (in conformal time) solution in the Einstein frame. We finally discuss about the regularity of the geometry in Einstein frame.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figs. Major clarifications and references added, version accepted in Gen. Rel. Grav. (2009

Relativistic Laser-Matter Interaction and Relativistic Laboratory Astrophysics

The paper is devoted to the prospects of using the laser radiation interaction with plasmas in the laboratory relativistic astrophysics context. We discuss the dimensionless parameters characterizing the processes in the laser and astrophysical plasmas and emphasize a similarity between the laser and astrophysical plasmas in the ultrarelativistic energy limit. In particular, we address basic mechanisms of the charged particle acceleration, the collisionless shock wave and magnetic reconnection and vortex dynamics properties relevant to the problem of ultrarelativistic particle acceleration.Comment: 58 pages, 19 figure

Subcutaneous REGEN-COV Antibody Combination to Prevent Covid-19

BACKGROUND REGEN-COV (previously known as REGN-COV2), a combination of the monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab, has been shown to markedly reduce the risk of hospitalization or death among high-risk persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Whether subcutaneous REGEN-COV prevents severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and subsequent Covid-19 in persons at high risk for infection because of household exposure to a person with SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown. METHODS We randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, participants (=12 years of age) who were enrolled within 96 hours after a household contact received a diagnosis of SARSCoV- 2 infection to receive a total dose of 1200 mg of REGEN-COV or matching placebo administered by means of subcutaneous injection. At the time of randomization, participants were stratified according to the results of the local diagnostic assay for SARS-CoV-2 and according to age. The primary efficacy end point was the development of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection through day 28 in participants who did not have SARS-CoV-2 infection (as measured by reverse-transcriptase- quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction assay) or previous immunity (seronegativity). RESULTS Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection developed in 11 of 753 participants in the REGEN-COV group (1.5%) and in 59 of 752 participants in the placebo group (7.8%) (relative risk reduction [1 minus the relative risk], 81.4%; P104 copies per milliliter) was shorter (0.4 weeks and 1.3 weeks, respectively). No dose-limiting toxic effects of REGEN-COV were noted. CONCLUSIONS Subcutaneous REGEN-COV prevented symptomatic Covid-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously uninfected household contacts of infected persons. Among the participants who became infected, REGEN-COV reduced the duration of symptomatic disease and the duration of a high viral load

Analysis of shared heritability in common disorders of the brain

Paroxysmal Cerebral Disorder

Modeling of powder behavior: Report for Phase 2 feasibility

We report on a Phase 2 feasibility study of an effort to compute the mechanical behavior of the incendiary powder RS41 during compaction and release using the experiments conducted at China Lake as a data base. Our simulation, using a prototype material model, develops two-dimensional density gradients in even these simple, uniaxial double-piston experiments. In our view, the computational simulation of the behavior of RS41 while press loading this material into a round and under subsequent launch conditions is feasible within the framework of current technology. For the model development that was conducted as part of this feasibility study, the code of choice was the implicit Lagrangian hydro code NIKE2D. The applicability of the explicit companion code DYNA2D is also discussed

Traditional farmers’ knowledge of sorghum (sorghum bicolor [Poaceae]) landrace storability in Ethiopia

Includes abstract in FrenchTraditional knowledge of grain storage was studied on small farms in Ethiopia. Sixteen of sixty landraces of sorghum collected from small farms in Shewa and Welo regions of Ethiopia were identified by the farmers as being stored sorghum landraces. Farmers were interviewed and asked to rate the storability of these stored-sorghum landraces with respect to the major insect pest of the area, the rice weevil. A farmers’ index of storability was then calculated for each landrace. The landraces were then assessed for rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), susceptibility in standardized tests at 70% relative humidity and 27°C. The mean farmers’ index for the 16 landraces was found to be inversely related with the susceptibility parameters of F1 emergence (r2=0.80), oviposition (r2=0.76), weight loss (r2=0.88), and Dobie Index (r2=0.95). It was much less strongly related with the median development period (r2=0.20). The results show that farmer knowledge is an excellent guide to sorghum susceptibility to storage pests

Traditional farmers' knowledge of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [Poaceae]) landrace storability in Ethiopia

Traditional knowledge of grain storage was studied on small farms in Ethiopia. Sixteen of sixty landraces of sorghum collected from small farms in Shewa and Welo regions of Ethiopia were identified by the farmers as being stored sorghum landraces. Farmers were interviewed and asked to rate the storability of these stored-sorghum landraces with respect to the major insect pest of the area, the rice weevil. A farmers' index of storability was then calculated for each landrace. The landraces were then assessed for rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), susceptibility in standardized tests at 70% relative humidity and 27°C. The mean farmers' index for the 16 landraces was found to be inversely related with the susceptibility parameters of F1 emergence (r2=0.80), oviposition (r2 =0.76), weight loss (r2=0.88), and Dobie Index (r2=0.95). It was much less strongl