Dynamical trapping and relaxation of scalar gravitational fields

We present a framework for nonlinearly coupled scalar-tensor theory of gravity to address both inflation and core-collapse supernova problems. The unified approach is based on a novel dynamical trapping and relaxation of scalar gravity in highly energetic regimes. The new model provides a viable alternative mechanism of inflation free from various issues known to affect previous proposals. Furthermore, it could be related to observable violent astronomical events, specifically by releasing a significant amount of additional gravitational energy during core-collapse supernovae. A recent experiment at CERN relevant for testing this new model is briefly outlined.Comment: 4 pages; version to appear in PL

State of Maine General Order No. 30 March 30, 1839

https://digitalmaine.com/northeast_boundary_dispute/1004/thumbnail.jp

The person-based nature of prejudice: Individual difference predictors of intergroup negativity

Person-based factors influence a range of meaningful life outcomes, including intergroup processes, and have long been implicated in explaining prejudice. In addition to demonstrating significant heritability, person-based factors are evident in expressions of generalised prejudice, a robust finding that some people (relative to others) consistently score higher in prejudice towards multiple outgroups. Our contemporary review includes personality factors, ideological orientations (e.g., authoritarianism), religiosity, anxiety, threat, disgust sensitivity, and cognitive abilities and styles. Meta-analytic syntheses demonstrate that such constructs consistently predict prejudice, often at the upper bounds of effect sizes observed in psychological research. We conclude that prejudice theories need to better integrate person- and situation-based factors, including their interaction, to capture the complexity of prejudice and inform intervention development

Expression of schizophrenia in black Xhosa-speaking and white English-speaking South Africans

Objective. To inv:estigate whether schizophrenia manifests itself differently in  Xhosa-speaking South Africans, compared with English-speaking white South  Africans.Design. A comparative study ·of the presentation of schizophrenia in two groups of patients.Settings and subjects. A sample of 63 patients (43 Xhosaspeaking and 20 English-speaking) admitted to a large psychiatric hospital for the first time with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.Outcome measures. The Present State Examination (PSE) was used to confirm the clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia. The Relatives' Rating of Symptoms and Social Behaviour (KAS-R) was used to obtain information on the behavioural and emotional expression of schizophrenia.Results. A significantly higher prevalence of aggressive and disruptive behaviour was reported by relatives of Xhosaspeaking patients with schizophrenia of recent onset compared with English-speaking patients. The PSE elicited significantly more delusions of persecution, sexual and fantastic delusions, self-neglect and irritability in the Xhosaspeaking patients.Canclusion. Significant differences in the presentation of schizophrenia, but not its core symptoms, were identified in . Xhosa-speaking blacks and English-speaking whites

The subcoronary Toronto stentless versus supra-annular Perimount stented replacement aortic valve: Early clinical and hemodynamic results of a randomized comparison in 160 patients

BackgroundA stentless valve is expected to be hemodynamically superior to a stented valve. The aim of this study was to compare early postoperative hemodynamic function and clinical events in a randomized, prospective series of 160 stentless and stented biological replacement aortic valves.MethodsWe randomized 160 consecutive patients on 1 surgeon’s list to receive either a Toronto stentless porcine valve (St Jude Medical, Inc, St Paul, Minn) or a Perimount stented bovine pericardial valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif). Echocardiography was performed at discharge, between 3 and 6 months, and at 1 year after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed by both intention to treat and actual valves implanted.ResultsThe mean labeled size of both designs of valve was 24.7. There were no statistically significant differences in results at any time interval or whether analysis was performed by actual valves implanted or intention to treat. At 3 to 6 months for the Toronto versus the Perimount valve, the effective orifice area was 1.58 versus 1.66 cm2, the mean pressure difference was 7.54 versus 7.42 mm Hg, and the peak velocity was 2.07 versus 2.0.1 m/s. There was no difference in mortality, regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, or complications other than paraprosthetic regurgitation at 12 months or on follow-up for a proportion of the sample to 8 years. The incidence of regurgitation through the valves was similar for Toronto (10%) and Perimount (13.8%) at 1 year, but mild paraprosthetic regurgitation was found in 5 patients with the Perimount valve and none with Toronto valves.ConclusionsThere were no significant differences in hemodynamic function or clinical events between the stented and stentless biological valves chosen for comparison in the early postoperative period or in preliminary follow-up to 5 years

Quantum Key Distribution: Boon or Bust

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an emerging cybersecurity technology which provides the means for two geographically separated parties to grow “unconditionally secure” symmetric cryptographic keying material. Unlike traditional key distribution techniques, the security of QKD rests on the laws of quantum mechanics and not computational complexity. This unique aspect of QKD is due to the fact that any unauthorized eavesdropping on the key distribution channel necessarily introduces detectable errors (Gisin, Ribordy, Tittel, & Zbinden, 2002). This attribute makes QKD desirable for high-security environments such as banking, government, and military applications. However, QKD is a nascent technology where implementation non-idealities can negatively impact system performance and security (Mailloux, Grimaila, Hodson, Baumgartner, & McLaughlin, 2015). While the QKD community is making progress towards the viability of QKD solutions, it is clear that more work is required to quantify the impact of such non-idealities in real-world QKD systems (Scarani & Kurtsiefer, 2009)