Einstein Probe - a small mission to monitor and explore the dynamic X-ray Universe

Einstein Probe is a small mission dedicated to time-domain high-energy astrophysics. Its primary goals are to discover high-energy transients and to monitor variable objects in the $0.5-4~$keV X-rays, at higher sensitivity by one order of magnitude than those of the ones currently in orbit. Its wide-field imaging capability, featuring a large instantaneous field-of-view ($60^\circ \times60^\circ$, $\sim1.1$sr), is achieved by using established technology of micro-pore (MPO) lobster-eye optics, thereby offering unprecedentedly high sensitivity and large Grasp. To complement this powerful monitoring ability, it also carries a narrow-field, sensitive follow-up X-ray telescope based on the same MPO technology to perform follow-up observations of newly-discovered transients. Public transient alerts will be downlinked rapidly, so as to trigger multi-wavelength follow-up observations from the world-wide community. Over three of its 97-minute orbits almost the entire night sky will be sampled, with cadences ranging from 5 to 25 times per day. The scientific objectives of the mission are: to discover otherwise quiescent black holes over all astrophysical mass scales by detecting their rare X-ray transient flares, particularly tidal disruption of stars by massive black holes at galactic centers; to detect and precisely locate the electromagnetic sources of gravitational-wave transients; to carry out systematic surveys of X-ray transients and characterize the variability of X-ray sources. Einstein Probe has been selected as a candidate mission of priority (no further selection needed) in the Space Science Programme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, aiming for launch around 2020.Comment: accepted to publish in PoS, Proceedings of "Swift: 10 Years of Discovery" (Proceedings of Science; ed. by P. Caraveo, P. D'Avanzo, N. Gehrels and G. Tagliaferri). Minor changes in text, references update

The impact of the new CHAMP and GRACE Earth gravity models on the measurement of the general relativistic Lense--Thirring effect with the LAGEOS and LAGEOS II satellites

Among the effects predicted by the General Theory of Relativity for the orbital motion of a test particle, the post-Newtonian gravitomagnetic Lense-Thirring effect is very interesting and, up to now, there is not yet an undisputable experimental direct test of it. To date, the data analysis of the orbits of the existing geodetic LAGEOS and LAGEOS II satellites has yielded a test of the Lense-Thirring effect with a claimed accuracy of 20%-30%. According to some scientists such estimates could be optimistic. Here we wish to discuss the improvements obtainable in this measurement, in terms of reliability of the evaluation of the systematic error and reduction of its magnitude, due to the new CHAMP and GRACE Earth gravity models.Comment: LaTex2e, 6 pages, no figures, no tables. Paper presented at 2nd CHAMP science meeting, Potsdam, 1-4 September 200

The Political Economy of India's Malnutrition Puzzle

Child malnutrition in India is shockingly high and is falling unusually slowly in a period of large gains in aggregate prosperity. Yet technical solutions to malnutrition are known. This article suggests the disjunction is a consequence of institutional features of India, in which rent?creation and rent?sharing in an unequal society are central. Economic reforms partially altered relations between the state and business, helping spur growth, but growth is much weaker in rural areas and poorer states. And service delivery remains enmeshed in patronage and populism. This is acutely misaligned with required action on malnutrition that involves provision of complementary public goods, by different agencies, with a key role for front?line workers. Systemic institutional change is going to be a long haul; in the meantime, public action needs to be designed around existing political and organisational realities. Otherwise increased nutrition?related spending will be like pushing on a string

Correlates of school dropout and absenteeism among adolescent girls from marginalized community in north Karnataka, south India.

Secondary education among lower caste adolescent girls living in rural Karnataka, South India, is characterized by high rates of school drop-out and absenteeism. A cross-sectional baseline survey (N=2275) was conducted in 2014 as part of a cluster-randomized control trial among adolescent girls (13-14 year) and their families from marginalized communities in two districts of north Karnataka. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used. Overall, 8.7% girls reported secondary school dropout and 8.1% reported frequent absenteeism (past month). In adjusted analyses, economic factors (household poverty; girls' work-related migration), social norms and practices (child marriage; value of girls' education), and school-related factors (poor learning environment and bullying/harassment at school) were associated with an increased odds of school dropout and absenteeism. Interventions aiming to increase secondary school retention among marginalized girls may require a multi-level approach, with synergistic components that address social, structural and economic determinants of school absenteeism and dropout