Shifting Geopolitics: Reimagining Globalization and Spatial Representation in the Post COVID-19 Era

Abstract: Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilisation of maps has been at the forefront. Maps have informed policymakers, governments, and citizens of the distribution and spread of the disease. Although these maps have been used for various purposes, from border closures to curfews, there is an inherent danger in this widespread usage. Aside from the intricacy of these spatial representations, these widely distributed representations encourage isolationism and the reconception of borders in an increasingly globalised world. Furthermore, new connectivities through digital means have created a potential solution to international exchanges amidst physical limitations. Nevertheless, elitism prevents the effective distribution of resources from technical services to vaccines. The divide results in changing socio-economic relations and a growing need for international transparency and cooperation. Additionally, a facet of this elitism is the role of borders, which contributes to growing divides between countries. Therefore, the fracturing of spatial imaginaries translates to a spatial reality. This encourages a perspective of othering - potentially encouraging xenophobia and straining relations from Western, industrialised countries. This paper elucidates these emerging realities from the COVID-19 pandemic. A triangulation of source material critically engages and examines the dynamics of borders, exclusion, and the potential outcomes for reimagining globalisation in a post- COVID world. Ultimately, the contestation of public health has contributed to a new epoch within international relations, leaving societies to reconsider their connectivities

New Gamma-Ray Contributions to Supersymmetric Dark Matter Annihilation

We compute the electromagnetic radiative corrections to all leading annihilation processes which may occur in the Galactic dark matter halo, for dark matter in the framework of supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model (MSSM and mSUGRA), and present the results of scans over the parameter space that is consistent with present observational bounds on the dark matter density of the Universe. Although these processes have previously been considered in some special cases by various authors, our new general analysis shows novel interesting results with large corrections that may be of importance, e.g., for searches at the soon to be launched GLAST gamma-ray space telescope. In particular, it is pointed out that regions of parameter space where there is a near degeneracy between the dark matter neutralino and the tau sleptons, radiative corrections may boost the gamma-ray yield by up to three or four orders of magnitude, even for neutralino masses considerably below the TeV scale, and will enhance the very characteristic signature of dark matter annihilations, namely a sharp step at the mass of the dark matter particle. Since this is a particularly interesting region for more constrained mSUGRA models of supersymmetry, we use an extensive scan over this parameter space to verify the significance of our findings. We also re-visit the direct annihilation of neutralinos into photons and point out that, for a considerable part of the parameter space, internal bremsstrahlung is more important for indirect dark matter searches than line signals.Comment: Replaced Fig. 2c which by mistake displayed the same spectrum as Fig. 2d; the radiative corrections reported here are now implemented in DarkSUSY which is available at http://www.physto.se/~edsjo/darksusy

Search for Supersymmetric Dark Matter with Superfluid He3 (MACHe3)

MACHe3 (MAtrix of Cells of superfluid He3) is a project of a new detector for direct Dark Matter search, using superfluid He3 as a sensitive medium. This paper presents a phenomenological study done with the DarkSUSY code, in order to investigate the discovery potential of this project of detector, as well as its complementarity with existing and planned devices.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Letters B, minor changes in the tex

Observability of Gamma Rays from Dark Matter Neutralino Annihilations in the Milky Way Halo

Recent advances in N-body simulations of cold dark matter halos point to a substantial density enhancement near the center. This means that, e.g., the $\gamma$ ray signals from neutralino dark matter annihilations would be significantly enhanced compared to old estimates based on an isothermal sphere model with large core radius. Another important development concerns new detectors, both space- and ground-based, which will cover the window between 50 and 300 GeV where presently no cosmic $\gamma$-ray data are available. Thirdly, new calculations of the $\gamma$-ray line signal (a sharp spike of $10^{-3}$ relative width) from neutralino annihilations have revealed a hitherto neglected contribution which, for heavy higgsino-like neutralinos, gives an annihilation rate an order of magnitude larger than previously predicted. We make a detailed phenomenological study of the possible detection rates given these three pieces of new information. We show that the proposed upgrade of the Whipple telescope will make it sensitive to a region of parameter space, with substantial improvements possible with the planned new generation of Air Cherenkov Telescope Arrays. We also comment on the potential of the GLAST satellite detector. An evaluation of the continuum $\gamma$-rays produced in neutralino annihilations into the main modes is also done. It is shown that a combination of high-rate models and very peaked halo models are already severely constrained by existing data.Comment: 44 pages, LaTex, eps figures embedded with epsfig and subfigure macro

Dark matter annihilation at the galactic center

If cold dark matter is present at the galactic center, as in current models of the dark halo, it is accreted by the central black hole into a dense spike. Particle dark matter then annihilates strongly inside the spike, making it a compact source of photons, electrons, positrons, protons, antiprotons, and neutrinos. The spike luminosity depends on the density profile of the inner halo: halos with finite cores have unnoticeable spikes, while halos with inner cusps may have spikes so bright that the absence of a detected neutrino signal from the galactic center already places interesting upper limits on the density slope of the inner halo. Future neutrino telescopes observing the galactic center could probe the inner structure of the dark halo, or indirectly find the nature of dark matter.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Antimatter and Gamma-rays from Dark Matter Annihilation

A brief review of the indirect detection signatures of dark matter is given. In particular, detection methods of dark matter particle annihilation to antimatter and gamma-rays are reviewed. With the GLAST satellite soon to be launched, a crucial window in the energy range of a few GeV up to 300 GeV will open. The good angular and energy resolution of the instrument means that structures predicted by cold dark matter models can be searched for. Large, currently planned ground-based imaging Cherenkov telescope arrays, may further improve the limits, or discover a signal, if the current understanding of halo dark matter structure is correct.Comment: 7p, one fig., invited talk at TAUP 2007, Sendai, Japan, to appear in the Proceeding

Dark matter as a dynamic effect due to a non-minimal gravitational coupling with matter

In this work the phenomenology of models possessing a non-minimal coupling between matter and geometry is discussed, with a particular focus on the possibility of describing the flattening of the galactic rotation curves as a dynamically generated effect derived from this modification to General Relativity. Two possibilities are discussed: firstly, that the observed discrepancy between the measured rotation velocity and the classical prediction is due to a deviation from geodesic motion, due to a non-(covariant) conservation of the energy-momentum tensor; secondly, that even if the principle of energy conservation holds, the dynamical effects arising due to the non-trivial terms in the Einstein equations of motion can give rise to an extra density contribution that may be interpreted as dark matter. The mechanism of the latter alternative is detailed, and a numerical session ascertaining the order of magnitude of the relevant parameters is undertaken, with possible cosmological implications discussed.Comment: Talk given at First Mediterranean Conference on Classical and Quantum Gravity, Kolymbari, Greece, 14-18 September 2009

Long-Term Prognosis of Quality of Life in Dogs Diagnosed With Mild to Moderate Elbow Dysplasia in Sweden

Objective: The objective of this study was to increase knowledge regarding long-term prognosis of mild to moderate elbow dysplasia (ED) using a canine orthopedic index.Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.Sample Population: Sixty dogs randomly selected from each of five different breeds and three ED groups: ED0 (control), ED1, and ED2, based on the Kennel Club's screening results. The total number of selected dogs was 900 (60*5*3).Methods: Questionnaires were administered to owners by telephone interview. Bayesian network modeling was used to assess the relation between ED grade, treatment options, dog demographics, and quality-of-life indicators.Results: Seven hundred sixty-five questionnaires were collected (85% response rate), of which 61 concerned dogs euthanized due to osteoarthritis. There was no direct association between ED grade and owner's perceived quality of life, but ED1 and ED2 dogs were more likely to receive veterinary care and subsequent NSAID treatment compared to ED0 dogs. A significant association was found between the occurrence of euthanasia due to orthopedic disease and ED scores 1 and 2 in the sample (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The degree of osteoarthritis was not directly associated with the canine orthopedic index, except for ED2 and lameness score. It can be speculated that owners who paid closer attention to orthopedic symptoms and perceived them as impairing their dogs' lives were also more likely to seek veterinary care and get treatment, irrespective of the ED grading.Impact: ED1-graded dogs had a lower risk than might be expected to develop visible clinical symptoms and showed a similar quality of life as dogs with ED0. ED2-graded dogs were more likely than ED0-graded dogs to have their lives impaired by lameness, according to the owners' perception