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Mispricing of international trade in natural resources contributes to significant tax base erosion from developing countries but is difficult to measure using aggregate trade statistics. In this paper, we apply a novel approach motivated by legal rules for trade and transfer mispricing to estimate abnormal pricing in gold and cocoa exports from Ghana, i.e., exports valued outside an assumed arm's length price range that indicates fair market values. Using daily frequency, transaction-level data from Ghana Customs, our results indicate abnormally undervalued exports of gold and cocoa from Ghana equalled USD 8.8 billion in constant prices (base year 2011) or USD 4.1 billion in current prices between 2011 and 2017. Approximately 11% of gold doré exports, 1% of cocoa bean exports, and 7.2% of cocoa paste exports appear abnormally undervalued. The implied corporate tax base erosion equals USD 2.2 billion in constant prices (base year 2011), corresponding to an average annual decrease of 0.3% in Ghana's tax-to-GDP ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South-East Asia is among the least studied regions for the growing issue of marine debris pollution, despite being a major contributor towards global marine debris. In the present study, we provide the preliminary results from the MARsCI project, a survey protocol designed to utilise citizen science to facilitate data collection on the ecological impact of discarded fishing gear (DFG) in Thailand. Over a three-year period, 103 surveys were carried out across Thailand, resulting in impact assessment of 606 pieces of DFG. Our findings indicate corals are regularly impacted by DFG in Thai waters and that isolated marine habitats may be more severely impacted than near-shore sites. We further identify crabs, muricid snails, and demersal fish to be among the most regularly entangled animals. We discuss our findings in the context of earlier work from Thailand, and conduct a critical review of the protocol itself, identifying improvements for future efforts. • Citizen science among the SCUBA diving community can drive marine debris research. • Entanglement of marine life by marine debris in Thai waters is prolific. • Isolated sites may be impacted more severely than near-shore sites in Thailand. • Data quality is influenced by prior training and willingness of citizen scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a recent ambitious plan to improve waste management in Thailand, few studies have monitored the impact of these policies on beached marine litter. Here, we assessed weekly the amounts and composition of stranded macro-litter (≥2.5 cm) on five beaches from an uninhabited island in Thailand during one year. A total of 24,407 items (391.86 kg) yielded a mean abundance of 3.18 ± 11.39 items m−2 (52.75 ± 204.68 g m−2), with plastic being the most abundant marine litter (48% of the total number). The overall Clean Coast Index (30.1) classified the beaches as ' extremely dirty ', with a Plastic Abundance Index of 9.8 (' very high abundance ' of plastics). When assessing the seasonal rates of accumulation, we found a higher flux pre-monsoon (0.05 items m−2 d−1; 0.66 g m−2 d−1) than post-monsoon (0.01 items m−2 d−1; 0.35 g m−2 d−1). Using modeling of the local hydrodynamic conditions, we explored the potential sources of the pollution, and surprisingly found that the closest river appeared not to be the source. Our results denote that the distribution and typology of marine litter were representatives of household and fishing activities, which in turn highlights the need for better regional litter management measures. [Display omitted] • ●Site location and season influenced macro-litter distribution over 7 months. • Plastic was the dominant debris, with a prevalent contribution of single-use items. • Marine litter were representatives of household and fishing activities. • Modeling of currents suggests that litter did not originate from the closest river. • Despite a recent management plan, Thailand is still challenged by marine pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are strikingly high in India compared to Western countries and are increasing. Moreover, ASCVD events occur at a younger age with only modest hypercholesterolemia, most commonly with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The course of ASCVD also appears to be more fulminant with higher mortality. In light of these issues, the Lipid Association of India (LAI) endeavored to develop revised guidelines with more aggressive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals in secondary prevention and for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia compared to guidelines in the United States and other countries. Owing to the paucity of clinical outcomes data in India, it was necessary to place major emphasis on expert opinion as a complement to randomized placebo-controlled data generated mostly in non-Indian cohorts. To facilitate this process, the LAI conducted a series of 19 meetings among 162 lipid specialists in 13 cities throughout India over a period of 11 months before formulating this expert consensus statement. The LAI recommends an LDL-C goal <50 mg/dL in all patients in secondary prevention or very high-risk primary prevention but proposes an optional goal ≤30 mg/dL in category A extreme-risk patients (eg, coronary artery disease + familial hypercholesterolemia) and a recommended goal ≤30 mg/dL in category B extreme-risk patients [coronary artery disease + (1) diabetes and polyvascular disease/≥3 major ASCVD risk factors/end organ damage, or (2) recurrent acute coronary syndrome within 12 months despite LDL-C <50 mg/dL, or (3) homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia]. More aggressive LDL-C goals are needed for prevention of ASCVD in India, as described in this expert consensus statement. Use of statins and ezetimibe needs to increase in India in combination with improved control of other ASCVD risk factors. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 inhibitors can improve LDL-C goal achievement in patients with refractory hypercholesterolemia. • Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events are skyrocketing in India and occur with only modest hypercholesterolemia. • More aggressive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals are needed in India, especially in secondary prevention. • Statin and ezetimibe use needs to increase in India. • Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 inhibitors can facilitate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal achievement, but cost is a barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic Regurgitation (AR) is fairly common with the overall prevalence being 4.9% in the Framingham Heart Study1 and 10 percent in the Strong Heart Study2 carried out in American Indians. The prevalence of AR increases with age and severe AR is more commonly observed in men than in women. AR is usually chronic but rarely, it may be acute and life threatening. We discuss in this article, the evidence based approach to evaluation and management of pure AR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In India the contemporary city is largely defined by its kinetic condition, that is its movement and the place-making of its residents in the form of festivals, rituals, impromptu bazaars, and events. The kinetic city has largely replaced the static city (its physical architecture) as the primary and most dynamic aspect of urban India. In light of this, conservation students and professionals who work and study in India must look to the kinetic city for their cues when assessing significance and developing conservation plans or interventions. Architectural conservation programmes need to broaden their scope of concerns to reach beyond the material fabric to include the expertise of urban planning and the motivation and vision of local community groups. It will only be through the integration of these diverse actors that architectural conservation will bridge the objects of the past with the motion of the present and the direction of the future. If conservation of the built heritage in India is to be relevant (useful) it will need to embrace the kinetic city and accommodate the dance of its residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]