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The article discusses the top 10 papers in cardio-oncology from the year 2023. It highlights various topics such as tailored cardiomyopathy surveillance recommendations for childhood and young adult cancer patients, the use of dexrazoxane for cardioprotection in high-risk patients, the effectiveness of statin therapy in preventing anthracycline cardiotoxicity, the timing and benefits of exercise therapy for breast cancer patients, the impact of radiation dose exposure on major ischaemic events in breast cancer patients, the treatment strategies for immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis, the increased risk of ICI myocarditis in patients with thymic epithelial tumors, the prediction and management of cardiovascular events after CAR-T therapy, the optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for distal deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients, and the increased risk of arterial thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation/flutter patients with newly diagnosed cancer. The article emphasizes the need for further research in these areas and provides recommendations for clinical practice. [Extracted from the article]

Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, recent calls have emphasized the unmet need to improve precision-based approaches in cardiovascular disease. Although some studies provide preliminary evidence of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of circulating coding and non-coding RNAs, the complex RNA biology and lack of standardization have hampered the translation of these markers into clinical practice. In this position paper of the CardioRNA COST action CA17129, we provide recommendations to standardize the RNA development process in order to catalyse efforts to investigate novel RNAs for clinical use. We list the unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular disease, such as the identification of high-risk patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure who require more intensive therapies. The advantages and pitfalls of the different sample types, including RNAs from plasma, extracellular vesicles, and whole blood, are discussed in the sample matrix, together with their respective analytical methods. The effect of patient demographics and highly prevalent comorbidities, such as metabolic disorders, on the expression of the candidate RNA is presented and should be reported in biomarker studies. We discuss the statistical and regulatory aspects to translate a candidate RNA from a research use only assay to an in-vitro diagnostic test for clinical use. Optimal planning of this development track is required, with input from the researcher, statistician, industry, and regulatory partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fragrance allergens (FAs) refer to these volatile or semi-volatile fragrance compounds that can induce sensitization, and they are widely used in household goods. Objective: In this work, a method combining solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed and applied in the analysis of 19 FAs (including hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and phenols) in paper household goods. Method: The samples (infant or personal paper hygiene products) were cut into small pieces and underwent SLE with methanol as solvent. The supernatant was taken, and ultrapure water, sodium chloride, and trichloromethane (extractant) were added, which was mixed with vortex. After centrifugation, the bottom chloroform layer was taken for GC-MS detection. Results: Under optimized conditions, a good linearity was achieved (r≥0.9985) in the range of 0.01-128.0 mg/kg with relative standard deviations lower than 15%. The method showed limits of detection (LODs) within the range of 0.96-12.0 mg/kg and recoveries from 70.6% to 128.9%, except furfuryl alcohol with low recoveries (53.8-64.6%). Twenty kinds of paper household goods samples were analyzed by this method; nine FAs were detected. The linalool detected in one sample was more than 10 mg/kg, and the contents of other analytes in this sample and all analytes in other samples were less than 10 mg/kg. Conclusions: The performance evaluation of the method met the requirements of the analysis of trace components. The established method was successfully applied to the detection of FAs in paper household goods samples. The proposed method could provide a basis for the establishment of relevant detection standards in the future. Highlights: The LODs were found between 0.96 and 12.0 mg/kg. A simple, economical, and sensitive method was established for the determination of 19 FAs in paper household goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A crisis in pain management persists, as does the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, addiction, and diversion. Pain medicine is meeting these challenges by returning to its origins: the Bonica model of multidisciplinary pain care. The 2018 Academic Consortium White Paper detailed the historical context and magnitude of the pain crisis and the evidence base for nonpharmacologic strategies. More than 50% of chronic opioid use begins in the acute pain care setting. Acupuncture may be able to reduce this risk. Objective This article updates the evidence base for acupuncture therapy for acute pain with a review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on postsurgical/perioperative pain with opioid sparing and acute nonsurgical/trauma pain, including acute pain in the emergency department. Methods To update reviews cited in the 2018 White Paper, electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for "acupuncture" and "acupuncture therapy" and "acute pain," "surgery," "peri-operative," "trauma," "emergency department," "urgent care," "review(s) ," "systematic review," "meta-analysis," with additional manual review of titles, links, and reference lists. Results There are 22 systematic reviews, 17 with meta-analyses of acupuncture in acute pain settings, and a review for acute pain in the intensive care unit. There are additional studies of acupuncture in acute pain settings. Conclusion The majority of reviews found acupuncture therapy to be an efficacious strategy for acute pain, with potential to avoid or reduce opioid reliance. Future multicenter trials are needed to clarify the dosage and generalizability of acupuncture for acute pain in the emergency department. With an extremely low risk profile, acupuncture therapy is an important strategy in comprehensive acute pain care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper wasps are a model system for the study of social evolution due to a high degree of inter- and intraspecific variation in cooperation, aggression, and visual signals of social status. Increasing the taxonomic coverage of genomic resources for this diverse clade will aid comparative genomic approaches for testing predictions about the molecular basis of social evolution. Here, we provide draft genome assemblies for two well-studied species of paper wasps, Polistes exclamans and Mischocyttarus mexicanus. The P. exclamans genome assembly is 221.5 Mb in length with a scaffold N50 of 4.11 Mb. The M. mexicanus genome assembly is 227 Mb in length with a scaffold N50 of 1.1 Mb. Genomes have low repeat content (9.54–10.75%) and low GC content (32.06–32.4%), typical of other social hymenopteran genomes. The DNA methyltransferase gene, Dnmt3  , was lost early in the evolution of Polistinae. We identified a second independent loss of Dnmt3 within hornets (genus: Vespa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Genetics Society of America is calling for submissions of papers on the Genetics of Bacteria for their journals GENETICS and G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. The series aims to highlight recent genetic and genomic work on various aspects of bacterial genetics, including genetic diversity, genome preservation, mutagenesis, gene function and regulation, bacterial defense systems, and the genetic basis of medically important traits. The series will be launched in mid-2025, and authors are invited to submit manuscripts by September 30. The papers will undergo peer review and will be published online shortly after acceptance. [Extracted from the article]

Hasan reads the poems as a 'picture of an inept state, one in which the king and his officials are reckless and indifferent and there is a total breakdown of law and order' (p. 75). Hasan notes that although two witnesses were required for property deeds, documents often bear a much larger, and quite heterogeneous, list of witnesses. [Extracted from the article]

This article focuses on the Royal Manuscript 18 B II which is the earliest and most complete surviving witness to the Middle English prose "Melusine." The article discusses the single-text codex and its features including the number and placement of capitula and explores the hypothesis that the manuscript was translated from the first edition of writer Jean d'Arras's "Mélusine" printed by Adam Steinschaber in Geneva, Switzerland in August 1478.

This article provides a summary of the top 10 papers in ischaemic heart disease selected by the European Heart Journal Editors. The three main areas discussed include microvascular dysfunction, the role of revascularization for managing obstructive coronary artery disease, and the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome and clinical outcomes. The articles cover topics such as the association between coronary microvascular dysfunction and cerebral microvascular abnormalities, the diagnostic and prognostic performance of microvascular resistance reserve, the causes of Takotsubo syndrome, the effectiveness of revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention, the management of left main coronary artery disease, the use of PCI for managing angina in chronic coronary syndrome patients, outcomes in patients who remained stable 1 year after myocardial infarction, the timing of complete revascularization in myocardial infarction patients, the de-escalation of dual antiplatelet therapy, and the value of serial cardiac troponin measurement in patients with acute coronary syndrome. It is important to note that the selection of these papers is based on the editors' views and not a systematic search based on specific objective criteria. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a summary of the top 10 papers in diabetes and metabolic disorders published in 2023, as selected by the editors of the European Heart Journal. The focus is on practical papers that address the identification and management of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The article highlights the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for managing cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, which emphasize the evaluation and identification of patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The guidelines also introduce a new score, called SCORE2-Diabetes, to estimate the 10-year risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes. Other topics covered include the association of loneliness and social isolation with cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, the efficacy and safety of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure and peripheral artery disease, the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cardiovascular prevention, and the impact of non-statin lipid-lowering agents on the risk of developing new-onset diabetes. Overall, these papers provide valuable insights into the management and prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a summary of the top 10 papers on valvular heart disease published in 2023. The papers were selected based on their quality, potential impact on clinical practice, and expected interest for readers. Some of the key findings include the long-term results of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low-risk patients, the 10-year outcomes of the Nordic Aortic Valve Intervention trial, the prevalence and outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in cardiogenic shock, the treatment of paravalvular aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation, the long-term impact of aortic prosthesis-patient mismatch, the risk of surgical primary mitral regurgitation repair, the optimal guideline-directed medical therapy before transcatheter valve intervention for secondary mitral regurgitation, the transcatheter repair for tricuspid regurgitation, the benefit of surgical and transcatheter treatment of tricuspid regurgitation according to clinical risk scores, and the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in mechanical aortic valves. The article also includes disclosures of potential conflicts of interest by the authors. [Extracted from the article]

The release of millions of financial documents, which has been known as the 'WikiLeaks' of the financial world (a.k.a. 'Panama Papers'), has dragged global attention in how highly structured means applied by some of the elite to conceal their financial assets. Consequently, significant financial corruption allegations were raised. We concentrate on a somewhat overlooked region, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study aims to use social network analytics to study the information contained in these documents. We are checking the major players in the MENA's trends and patterns to determine if it matches the known economic powers. The analysis reveals that while the constructed network enjoys some typical characteristics, many interesting observations and properties are worth discussing. Specifically, using the extracted network consisting of 62 987 nodes and 84 692 edges, our social network analysis finding shows that, perhaps surprisingly, the nodes or the social network are not necessarily directly correlated with perceived economic influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few biomarker-based validation studies have examined error in online self-report dietary assessment instruments, and food records (FRs) have been considered less than food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and 24-hour recalls (24HRs). We investigated measurement error in online and paper-based FFQs, online 24HRs, and paper-based FRs in 3 samples drawn primarily from 3 cohorts, comprising 1,393 women and 1,455 men aged 45–86 years. Data collection occurred from January 2011 to October 2013. Attenuation factors and correlation coefficients between reported and true usual intake for energy, protein, sodium, potassium, and respective densities were estimated using recovery biomarkers. Across studies, average attenuation factors for energy were 0.07, 0.07, and 0.19 for a single FFQ, 24HR, and FR, respectively. Correlation coefficients for energy were 0.24, 0.23, and 0.40, respectively. Excluding energy, the average attenuation factors across nutrients and studies were 0.22 for a single FFQ, 0.22 for a single 24HR, and 0.51 for a single FR. Corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.31, 0.34, and 0.53, respectively. For densities (nutrient expressed relative to energy), the average attenuation factors across studies were 0.37, 0.17, and 0.50, respectively. The findings support prior research suggesting different instruments have unique strengths that should be leveraged in epidemiologic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moreover, Willis was not the critic of Locke's views in the I Reasonableness of Christianity i as expressed in I The Occasional Paper: Number I i , and the "Post-Script" to I The Occasional Paper: Number V i . The stylometric evidence from the Delta analysis conflicts with the clear indications that the author of I The Occasional Paper: Number I i also wrote the "Post-Script" to I The Occasional Paper: Number V i . I The Occasional Paper i was a series of anonymous pamphlets covering a diverse range of topics, published in quarto by Matthew Wotton and running for ten numbers from 1697 to 1698.[1] The I Paper i was intended to provide a moderate Anglican perspective through a regular publication rather than one-off pamphlets.[2] It is remembered primarily for its criticisms of Locke, Toland, and its contribution to the Collier controversy.[3] It has always been attributed to Richard Willis ( I bap i . 1664, d. 1734), successively bishop of Gloucester (1715-21), Salisbury (1721-3) and Winchester (1723-34). We were unable to source any published texts for the ascribed author of I The Occasional Paper: Number X i , Mr Hodges, "fellow of Wadham College", and no ascription was provided for I The Occasional Paper: Number VII i ; hence, it was not possible to provide com- parison texts for these two I Occasional Papers i . [Extracted from the article]

Currently, the main targets of drug therapy for ulcerative colitis [UC] are endoscopic and clinical remission. However, there is active discussion about the additional advantages of including histological remission as a target. Accumulating evidence indicates that microscopic activity persists in endoscopically quiescent UC, that histological changes may lag behind clinical remission after treatment, and that absence of histological activity predicts lower rates of relapse, hospitalization, surgery and subsequent neoplasia. Obtaining useful information from mucosal biopsies in this setting depends on accurate and consistent evaluation of histological features. However, there is no standardization of biopsy procedures, histological sample processing technique or histological scoring systems, and there is no agreement on the definitions of histological remission, response or activity. Accordingly, a consensus expert panel convened by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] reviewed the literature and agreed a number of position statements regarding harmonization of UC histopathology. The objective was to provide evidence-based guidance for the standardization and harmonization of procedures, definitions and scoring systems for histology in UC, and to reach expert consensus where possible. We propose the absence of intraepithelial neutrophils, erosion and ulceration as a minimum requirement for the definition of histological remission. For randomized control trials we recommend the use of the Robarts histopathology index [RHI] or the Nancy index [NI]. For observational studies or in clinical practice we recommend the use of the NI. To predict the risk of future neoplasia in UC, cumulative histological scores over time are more useful than single scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body size limits brain volume, but size may also differentially constrain the volumes of brain regions. Size variation and compartmentalized brains of swarm-founding paper wasps (Epiponini) make them good models for the study of size-related brain allometry. We analysed the relative volumes of brain regions that process different sensory inputs: the optic lobes (OL, vision), the antennal lobes (AL, chemosensation) and insect forebrain neuropils (MB, mushroom bodies). Species varied 25-fold in head capsule volume. Total brain volume increased with body size. This brain size increase was a non-linear decelerating function of size: relative brain volume was highest for the smallest-bodied species. In contrast, relative MB and AL volumes declined sharply at the smallest wasp body sizes, but relative OL size did not. Different brain regions showed distinct size-related allometries among Epiponinae. Such brain allometry differences should be accounted for in comparative analyses of brain evolution. However, there was significant deviation from size-typical brain architecture in the nocturnal genus Apoica: A. pallens had reduced relative investment in OL but greater relative investment in MB visual processing regions (calyx collars). This suggests that body size effects on brain region investment can be overcome by selection on particular sensory systems when species evolve to occupy novel sensory environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Medical Certificate of Stillbirth (MCS) records data about a baby's death after 24 weeks of gestation but before birth. Major errors that could alter interpretation of the MCS were widespread in two UK-based regional studies. Methods A multicentre evaluation was conducted, examining MCS issued 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 in 76 UK obstetric units. A systematic case-note review of stillbirths was conducted by Obstetric and Gynaecology trainees, generating individual 'ideal MCSs' and comparing these to the actual MCS issued. Anonymized central data analysis described rates and types of error, agreement and factors associated with major errors. Results There were 1120 MCSs suitable for assessment, with 126 additional submitted data sets unsuitable for accuracy analysis (total 1246 cases). Gestational age demonstrated 'substantial' agreement [K = 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76)]. Primary cause of death (COD) showed 'fair' agreement [K = 0.26 (95% CI 0.24–0.29)]. Major errors [696/1120; 62.1% (95% CI 59.3–64.9%)] included certificates issued for fetal demise at <24 weeks' gestation [23/696; 3.3% (95% CI 2.2–4.9%)] or neonatal death [2/696; 0.3% (95% CI 0.1–1.1%)] or incorrect primary COD [667/696; 95.8% (95% CI 94.1–97.1%)]. Of 540/1246 [43.3% (95% CI 40.6–46.1%)] 'unexplained' stillbirths, only 119/540 [22.0% (95% CI 18.8–25.7%)] remained unexplained; the majority were redesignated as either fetal growth restriction [FGR: 195/540; 36.1% (95% CI 32.2–40.3%)] or placental insufficiency [184/540; 34.1% (95% CI 30.2–38.2)]. Overall, FGR [306/1246; 24.6% (95% CI 22.3–27.0%)] was the leading primary COD after review, yet only 53/306 [17.3% (95% CI 13.5–22.1%)] FGR cases were originally attributed correctly. Conclusion This study demonstrates widespread major errors in MCS completion across the UK. MCS should only be completed following structured case-note review, with particular attention on the fetal growth trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While we have the tools to achieve this goal, the persistent barriers to healthcare services experienced by too many individuals will need to be addressed to make significant progress and improve the health and quality of life of all people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The necessary structural changes require actions by federal, state, and local policymakers and range from ensuring universal access to healthcare services to optimizing care delivery to ensuring a robust and diverse infectious diseases and HIV workforce. In this article, we outlines 10 key principles for policy reforms that, if advanced, would make ending the HIV epidemic in the United States possible and could have much more far-reaching effects in improving the health of our nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human gut microbiota is the microbial ecosystem in the small and large intestines of humans. It has been naturally preserved and evolved to play an important role in the function of the gastrointestinal tract and the physiology of its host, protecting from pathogen colonization, and participating in vitamin synthesis, the functions of the immune system, as well as glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism, among others. Mounting evidence from animal and human studies indicates that the composition and metabolic profiles of the gut microbiota are linked to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, particularly arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. In this review article, we provide an overview of the function of the human gut microbiota, summarize, and critically address the evidence linking compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiota with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and discuss the potential of strategies for therapeutically targeting the gut microbiota through various interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is complex, and requires tight control of disease activity, close monitoring to avoid treatment side effects, health care professionals with expertise in IBD, and an interdisciplinary, holistic approach. Despite various efforts to standardise structures, processes, and outcomes, 1–8 and due to the high variability at the local, national, and international levels, there are still no clear definitions or outcome measures available to establish quality of care standards for IBD patients which are applicable in all contexts and all countries. For this reason, the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] supported the construction of a list of criteria summarising current standards of care in IBD. The list comprises 111 quality standard points grouped into three main domains [structure n = 31, process n = 42, outcomes n = 38] and is based on scientific evidence, interdisciplinary expert consensus, and patient-oriented perspectives. The list of proposed criteria is intended to represent the position of ECCO regarding the optimum quality of care that should be available to patients. Since health care systems and regulations vary considerably between countries, this list may require adaptation at local and national levels. It is recognised that not all these criteria that have been identified as optimal will be available in every unit. However, ECCO will continue its efforts to develop and coordinate projects and initiatives that will help to guarantee optimal quality of care for all IBD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms are internal regulatory processes controlled by molecular clocks present in essentially every mammalian organ that temporally regulate major physiological functions. In the cardiovascular system, the circadian clock governs heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac metabolism, contractility, and coagulation. Recent experimental and clinical studies highlight the possible importance of circadian rhythms in the pathophysiology, outcome, or treatment success of cardiovascular disease, including ischaemic heart disease. Disturbances in circadian rhythms are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and worsen outcome. Therefore, it is important to consider circadian rhythms as a key research parameter to better understand cardiac physiology/pathology, and to improve the chances of translation and efficacy of cardiac therapies, including those for ischaemic heart disease. The aim of this Position Paper by the European Society of Cardiology Working Group Cellular Biology of the Heart is to highlight key aspects of circadian rhythms to consider for improvement of preclinical and translational studies related to ischaemic heart disease and cardioprotection. Applying these considerations to future studies may increase the potential for better translation of new treatments into successful clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the "The Aspern Papers in reverse': A Note on the Emily Hale Letters" by Paul Keers. It mentions that in 1960 T. S. Eliot wrote a Statement, which was revised in 1963, sealed, and subsequently stored by the Houghton Library, Harvard University. It explores several similarities between the situation of T. S. Eliot and Emily Hale, and the characters in James's tale.

Aim: The aim of the study was to purify and characterize cellulase from a previously isolated Novosphingobium sp. strain Cm1 and to evaluate its waste hydrolysis and bio‐stoning efficiency. Materials and Methods: There is a growing demand for cellulase, a multipurpose enzyme widely used in industrial applications. Here, we purified cellulase from Novosphingobium sp. Cm1 by cellulose chromatography. SDS‐PAGE revealed a molecular mass of 25 kDa. After 18‐fold purification, the cellulase had an activity of 31.4 U/mg at pH of 5 and 40°C, and it retained activity at a wide range of pH and temperatures. The presence of Fe2+ and Co2+ boosted the enzyme activity by 57% and 25% respectively. The hydrolysing capacity of the strain towards cellulosic material was assessed for two paper types and the highest activity (2.6 ± 0.05 U/ml) was found with filter paper as the sole carbon source. Alterations in the structure of the papers as a result of bacterial hydrolysis were confirmed by scanning electron microscope and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The strain was also tested for its potential in various industrial applications and exhibited pectinolytic activity (6.78 ± 0.68 U/ml), xylanolytic activity (0.22 ± 0.14 U/ml) and bio‐stoning ability. Conclusion: The highly active purified cellulase has a broad pH and temperature range. The strain possesses waste‐hydrolysing ability, pectinolytic and xylanolytic ability along with bio‐stoning capacity. Significance and Impact of the Study: The efficacy and versatility of the enzyme from Novosphingobium sp. Cm1 make it an excellent candidate for diverse industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R.A. Fisher's 1922 paper On the dominance ratio has a strong claim to be the foundation paper for modern population genetics. It greatly influenced subsequent work by Haldane and Wright, and contributed 3 major innovations to the study of evolution at the genetic level. First, the introduction of a general model of selection at a single locus, which showed how variability could be maintained by heterozygote advantage. Second, the use of the branching process approach to show that a beneficial mutation has a substantial chance of loss from the population, even when the population size is extremely large. Third, the invention of the concept of a probability distribution of allele frequency, caused by random sampling of allele frequencies due to finite population size, and the first use of a diffusion equation to investigate the properties of such a distribution. Although Fisher was motivated by an inference that later turned out to lack strong empirical support (a substantial contribution of dominance to quantitative trait variability), and his use of a diffusion equation was marred by a technical mistake, the paper introduced concepts and methods that pervade much subsequent work in population genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We exploit one of the largest data leaks, to date, to study whether and how firms use secret offshore vehicles. From the leaked data, we identify 338 listed firms as users of secret offshore vehicles and document that these vehicles are used to finance corruption, avoid taxes, and expropriate shareholders. Overall, the leak erased $\$$ 174 billion in market capitalization among implicated firms. Following the increased transparency brought about by the leak, implicated firms experience lower sales from perceptively corrupt countries and avoid less tax. We conservatively estimate that 1 in 7 firms have offshore secrets. Received May 29, 2017; editorial decision December 2, 2018 by Editor Itay Goldstein. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a few results about the global nonlinear stability of nontrivial large solution to quasilinear wave equations. Time-like extremal surface in Minkowski space is an important model of quasilinear wave equation. There are two folds in this paper. Firstly, we get the existence of traveling wave solution to the time-like extremal hypersurface in |$\mathbb {R}^{1+(n+1)}$|⁠ , which can be considered as the generalized Bernstein theorem. For |$n=2$|⁠ , we are also concerned with global stability of traveling wave solutions with speed of light to time-like extremal hypersurface equation in |$1+(2+1)$| dimensional Minkowski space, which is corresponding with quasilinear wave equation in two space dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undergraduate research increasingly features in university mathematics degrees. Despite this, research papers are used infrequently in mathematics teaching, and this is especially the case for first-year undergraduates. Mathematical subjects are more likely than other STEM disciplines to pinpoint cognitive difficulty as the principal reason for not exposing undergraduate students to research papers. In this paper, we test whether first-year students can engage effectively with research papers. We describe an intervention that exposes first-year, first term undergraduate students to current research in probability and statistics by asking them to read a research paper and summarize it for a general readership following an interview with the paper's author. Our findings show that the activity introduced students to new fields of knowledge and helped to develop a clearer understanding of scientific process, leading to a heightened sense of personal satisfaction at engaging closely with current research. We argue that structured reading of research papers can lead to productive and rewarding engagement with difficult content, recent and current research and with research processes and that this should make us reconsider the role of research papers in the undergraduate mathematics curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larger animals studied during ontogeny, across populations, or across species, usually have lower mass-specific metabolic rates than smaller animals (hypometric scaling). This pattern is usually observed regardless of physiological state (e.g. basal, resting, field, and maximally active). The scaling of metabolism is usually highly correlated with the scaling of many life-history traits, behaviors, physiological variables, and cellular/molecular properties, making determination of the causation of this pattern challenging. For across-species comparisons of resting and locomoting animals (but less so for across populations or during ontogeny), the mechanisms at the physiological and cellular level are becoming clear. Lower mass-specific metabolic rates of larger species at rest are due to (a) lower contents of expensive tissues (brains, liver, and kidneys), and (b) slower ion leak across membranes at least partially due to membrane composition, with lower ion pump ATPase activities. Lower mass-specific costs of larger species during locomotion are due to lower costs for lower-frequency muscle activity, with slower myosin and Ca++ ATPase activities, and likely more elastic energy storage. The evolutionary explanation(s) for hypometric scaling remain(s) highly controversial. One subset of evolutionary hypotheses relies on constraints on larger animals due to changes in geometry with size; for example, lower surface-to-volume ratios of exchange surfaces may constrain nutrient or heat exchange, or lower cross-sectional areas of muscles and tendons relative to body mass ratios would make larger animals more fragile without compensation. Another subset of hypotheses suggests that hypometric scaling arises from biotic interactions and correlated selection, with larger animals experiencing less selection for mass-specific growth or neurolocomotor performance. An additional third type of explanation comes from population genetics. Larger animals with their lower effective population sizes and subsequent less effective selection relative to drift may have more deleterious mutations, reducing maximal performance and metabolic rates. Resolving the evolutionary explanation for the hypometric scaling of metabolism and associated variables is a major challenge for organismal and evolutionary biology. To aid progress, we identify some variation in terminology use that has impeded cross-field conversations on scaling. We also suggest that promising directions for the field to move forward include (1) studies examining the linkages between ontogenetic, population-level, and cross-species allometries; (2) studies linking scaling to ecological or phylogenetic context; (3) studies that consider multiple, possibly interacting hypotheses; and (4) obtaining better field data for metabolic rates and the life history correlates of metabolic rate such as lifespan, growth rate, and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Mexican nationals and consuls residing in the U.S. and how they worked together to navigate the U.S. immigration laws of 1917, 1924, and 1929 during the Great Depression. It notes that consular officials, under the direction of Mexico's Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE), collaborated with various entities including migrant organizations and Spanish-language newspapers to disseminate knowledge about repatriation and immigration laws and helped Mexicans acquire specific documents to facilitate their return to Mexico and future reentry to the U.S.

Polistes paper wasps have striking and variable colour patterns. Although these colour patterns are known to function in communication, little is known about how they affect fitness in relation to the abiotic environment. In the present study, we used dried-preserved museum specimens, comprising male and female Polistes from all over the world, aiming to test for a correlation between the body luminance (assessed by digital photography) and environmental temperature (assessed by the available online environmental databases). We found that the female thorax and abdomen are darker (low luminance) in colder compared to warmer environments. In males, however, body luminance is not associated with environmental temperature. Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that darker insects have an advantage in colder environments because they can heat faster than lighter ones (thermal melanism hypothesis). By showing that melanic Polistes inhabit cooler areas more than the brighter species, we presume that selection for effective heating may provide an adaptive explanation for the evolution of Polistes colour diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Paper dust has previously been linked to adverse health effects. However, a comprehensive dataset of paper dust exposures does not appear to have been published previously. Our study was intended to address this need by describing a large dataset of measurements made in Swedish soft tissue paper mills. Methods We compiled personal and area total dust exposure measurements collected from a range of operations by our research staff at four soft tissue paper mills in Sweden. We also compiled measurements made by the occupational health staff at each mill and the Swedish Work Environment Authority. We analyzed these measurements to describe patterns and trends in exposures and used mixed-effects regression models to identify measurement characteristics that predicted exposure levels. Results We compiled 1578 measurements from 1971 to 2009, of which 1026 (65%) were personal samples. Statistically significant differences were found between measurements made by research, mill, and Swedish Work Environment Authority staff, as well as between personal and area measurements. The measurement data suggest that, beginning in the 1980s, exposures declined at three of the four mills, but that overexposures were still common at the end of the period. Papermaking and converting operations had the highest observed dust exposures. One mill had significantly lower exposures than the others. Type of measurement (personal versus area) and source of measurement (research staff, company, or regulatory agency) were not significant predictors of measured total dust exposure after controlling for mill, operation, and time. Conclusions Our analysis of measured paper dust exposures may be useful for historical and contemporary exposure assessment in our own and other epidemiological studies. We have identified specific characteristics (i.e. papermaking operations and mill) and time trends that are important data features to consider, and documented continuing overexposure situations. Our results highlight the ongoing need for application of exposure controls to reduce paper dust exposures in the soft tissue paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest industry is a significant contributor to many local and state economies in the United States (US). Informed public policy at state and national levels requires that decision makers have accurate and defensible information on the value and structure of these economic contributions. However, different methods and modeling assumptions used and different industry sectors included by various analysts complicate meaningful comparisons across regions and time. This work presents a standardized approach to economic contribution assessments of the forest industry. The US Southern Forest region serves as an example of this approach with standardized results for economic contributions per capita, per acre of timberland, and per unit volume of timber harvested when comparing across regions and time. Among other findings, the results suggest that states with developed wood and paper product manufacturing industries have significantly greater economic contributions than states that are concentrated on timber harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: UX and Usability 5 ~22 papers (paper titles including words: usability [6], user experience [5,] UX [1], Affective Computing 4 ~14 papers (paper titles including the words: emotion [12], happiness [2]) Chatbots 3 ~10 papers (paper titles including words: chatbot [5] conversational [2], voice Activated.

Golden everlasting paper daisies (Xerochrysum , Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae) were some of the earliest Australian native plants to be cultivated in Europe. Reputedly a favourite of Napoléon Bonaparte and Empress Joséphine, X. bracteatum is thought to have been introduced to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic during Napoléon's exile there. Colourful cultivars were developed in the 1850s, and there is a widely held view that these were produced by crossing Xerochrysum with African or Asian Helichrysum spp. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and subtribal classification of Gnaphalieae cast doubt on this idea. Using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, we looked for evidence of gene flow between modern cultivars, naturalized paper daisies from St Helena and four Xerochrysum spp. recorded in Europe in the 1800s. There was strong support for gene flow between cultivars and X. macranthum. Paper daisies from St Helena were genotypically congruent with X. bracteatum and showed no indications of ancestry from other species or from the cultivars, consistent with the continuous occurrence of naturalized paper daisies introduced by Joséphine and Napoléon. We also present new evidence for the origin of colourful Xerochrysum cultivars and hybridization of congeners in Europe from Australian collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Plant Ecology (JPE) established the JPE Best Paper awards in 2022 to recognize papers with high impacts in the field of plant ecology. The awards are given annually to two to five papers selected by the editors based on novelty and contributions to the field. Emphasis is placed on authors who have completed their graduate studies within five years prior to submission. The winners receive a certificate and a prize of Chinese RMB 5000. This year, three papers were selected as the winners, covering topics such as sexual differences in plant responses to stress, changes in soil microbial communities following degradation in grasslands, and the effects of nitrogen addition on plant biomass allocation. The authors of these papers are Miao Liu, Yang Yu, and Kai Yue, who are all researchers in the field of plant ecology. [Extracted from the article]

The Genetics Society of America is calling for submissions of papers on biobank-scale genomic data analyses. Biobanks, which are large collections of biological, medical, and genetic data on the same individuals, have revolutionized human genomics research. However, there is substantial heterogeneity between biobanks worldwide, creating both challenges and opportunities for data analysis. The series will focus on various topics, including population structures, selection bias, measurement errors, clinical observations, linkage with external data sources, meta-analysis, computational analysis methods, family-based analyses, ethical and privacy-related issues, and technological considerations. Manuscripts can be submitted until May 31, 2024, and the series will be an ongoing resource in this area. [Extracted from the article]

The article calls for papers on genomic data analyses in biobanks by highlighting the opportunities and challenges stemming from the heterogeneity between biobanks worldwide. Topics include population structures, selection bias effects, clinical observations, ethical considerations, and technological advancements in data generation for omics studies.

We derive a corrected analytical solution for the propagation and enhanced phase mixing of torsional Alfvén waves, in a potential magnetic field with exponentially divergent field lines, embedded in a stratified solar corona. Further we develop a code named TAWAS that calculates the analytic solution describing torsional Alfvén waves using idl software language. We then use TAWAS to demonstrate that both our correction to the analytic solution and the inclusion of wave reflection have a significant impact on Alfvén wave damping. We continue to utilize TAWAS by performing a parameter study in order to identify the conditions under which enhanced phase mixing is strongest. We find that phase mixing is the strongest for high frequency Alfvén waves in magnetic fields with highly divergent field lines and without density stratification. We then present a finite difference solver, Wigglewave , which solves the linearized evolution equations for the system directly. Comparing solutions from TAWAS and Wigglewave we see that our analytical solution is accurate within the limits of the WKB approximation but under-reports the wave damping, caused by enhanced phase mixing, beyond the WKB limit. Both TAWAS and Wigglewave solve the linearized governing equations and not the complete non-linear magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations. Paper II will consider simulations that solve the full MHD equations including important non-linear effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simplifying assessment of dimensions of oral lesions using a syringe and "impression planimetry" with printer paper To measure a lesion, the tuberculin syringe was placed across the lesion without further mucosal stretching, with the zero mark on the posterior margin of the lesion and the barrel of the syringe lying across the dye-stained anterior margin (Fig. A change in lesion dimensions can be assessed using both methods as they are reproducible by different operators; the sole disadvantage is the inability to measure lesion depth/height. [Extracted from the article]

A significant proportion of patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF) and are in need of thromboembolic protection are not treated with oral anticoagulation or discontinue this treatment shortly after its initiation. This undertreatment has not improved sufficiently despite the availability of direct oral anticoagulants which are associated with less major bleeding than vitamin K antagonists. Multiple reasons account for this, including bleeding events or ischaemic strokes whilst on anticoagulation, a serious risk of bleeding events, poor treatment compliance despite best educational attempts, or aversion to drug therapy. An alternative interventional therapy, which is not associated with long-term bleeding and is as effective as vitamin K anticoagulation, was introduced over 20 years ago. Because of significant improvements in procedural safety over the years, left atrial appendage closure, predominantly achieved using a catheter-based, device implantation approach, is increasingly favoured for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients who cannot achieve effective anticoagulation. This management strategy is well known to the interventional cardiologist/electrophysiologist but is not more widely appreciated within cardiology or internal medicine. This article introduces the devices and briefly explains the implantation technique. The indications and device follow-up are more comprehensively described. Almost all physicians who care for adult patients will have many with AF. This practical guide, written within guideline/guidance boundaries, is aimed at those non-implanting physicians who may need to refer patients for consideration of this new therapy, which is becoming increasingly popular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, N-methoxybenzyl-methoxyphenylethylamine (NBOMe) derivatives, a class of designer hallucinogenic drugs, have become popular drugs of abuse. These drugs have been the cause of severe intoxications and even deaths. They act as 5-HT2A receptors agonists and have been reported to produce serotonin-like syndrome with bizarre behavior, severe agitation and seizures persisting for as long as 3 days. The most commonly reported derivatives are 25I-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe, respectively 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)- N-[(2-methoxyphenyl) methyl]ethanamine, N-(2-methoxybenzyl)- 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine and N-(2-methoxybenzyl)- 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine. Like many low dose hallucinogenic drugs these compounds are often sold on blotter paper. Three different types of commercially available blotter papers reported to contain NBOMe derivatives were obtained. These blotter papers were screened using Direct Analysis in Real Time AccuTOFTM mass spectrometry followed by confirmation and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrapole mass spectrometry. The major drug present on each of the three blotter products was different, 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe or 25B-NBOMe. The blotter papers were also found to have minute amounts of two or three NBOMe derivative impurities of 25H-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe and/or 25D-NBOMe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the relevance of the release of U.S. government documents related to its involvement in the Vietnam War known as the Pentagon Papers in the 1970s to the early 21st century release of information by the journalistic organization WikiLeaks, particularly concerning the concepts of freedom of the press and censorship. The article examines the classified study of the Vietnam War conducted by the U.S. agency the Defense Department commissioned by U.S. defense secretary Robert McNamara, the role of U.S. military analyst Daniel Ellsberg in releasing the Pentagon Papers, and the actions of the administration of U.S. president Richard M. Nixon that led to the U.S. Supreme Court case New York Times v. United States. It also discusses former U.S. agency the National Security Administration (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden.

The article discusses the top 10 papers in interventional cardiology published in 2023. The papers cover a range of topics, including percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary physiology and imaging, dual-antiplatelet therapy, cardiogenic shock, structural heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and arterial hypertension. The papers highlight the effectiveness of various interventions and provide insights into improving patient outcomes. However, the article also emphasizes the need for further research in certain areas. [Extracted from the article]