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Incorrect formula for calculation of likelihood ratios used in forensic anthropology: Comments on Scott & Rogers (2026)
No full textScott & Rogers (2026) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112673 promotes the use of the likelihood-ratioframework in forensic anthropology. This is welcome. Unfortunately, Scott & Rogers (2026) uses an incorrectformula for the calculation of likelihood ratios. This incorrect formula did not originate in Scott & Rogers (2026).It has, for some time, been used in the forensic anthropology literature; an earlier occurrence appears inSteadman et al. (2006) https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20393. Scott & Rogers (2026) also uses confusing languageand mathematical notation that are non-standard compared to the norms of the forensic-inference-and-statisticsliterature. This letter to the editor is offered in the hope that it will help prevent repetition of these problems
Prevalence and Patterns of Cranial Nerve Involvement in CIDP, Autoimmune Nodopathy, MMN, and Anti-MAG Neuropathy: A Multicenter Korea/UK study of 582 patients
Full text linkBackground Cranial nerve involvement is a well-recognized feature in Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) but remains less well understood in chronic forms of autoimmune neuropathies. Earlier studies of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) were conducted before updated diagnostic criteria and the recognition of autoimmune nodopathy (AN), which may limit the interpretation of their findings. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 582 patients with chronic autoimmune neuropathies—CIDP (n = 431), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) (n = 64), anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) neuropathy (n = 54), and AN (n = 33)—from 4 Korean and 1 UK centers. Patients with cranial nerve involvement were identified and described. CIDP patients with cranial nerve involvement (cranial+ CIDP) were compared with those without (cranial− CIDP). Results Cranial nerve involvement was observed in 8.8% (38/431) of CIDP and 24.2% (8/33) of AN patients but was absent in MMN (0/64) and anti-MAG neuropathy (0/54). Facial palsy was overall the most common manifestation (CIDP: 45%, AN: 50%). Patients with AN more frequently exhibited bilateral optic neuropathy (50%) and facial diplegia (38%), while CIDP patients more often showed trigeminal neuropathy and oculomotor nerve palsy (both 32%). Compared with cranial− CIDP, cranial+ CIDP patients were more often younger, of variant subtypes (especially multifocal), presented (sub)acutely with preceding infection/vaccination, followed by relapsing–remitting rather than progressive courses, and achieved greater improvement despite greater pre-treatment disability. Conclusions Cranial nerve involvement serves as a diagnostic clue in chronic autoimmune neuropathies, particularly in identifying AN and CIDP. Cranial+ CIDP appears to represent a distinct subset with partial overlap to GBS, suggesting unique underlying mechanisms
DMiNority Report:On Monitoring Cyber-Crime Innovation in Dark Net Markets
No full textThe Dark Web is often the primary meeting point of both the beginning of collaborations and end of cybercrime fulfilment such as sale of breached data. Such collaborations show a high level of “entrepreneurship” as (often anonymous) users are in constant dialog to create novel forms of activity, often collaboratively devising techniques to evade law enforcement. This paper reports on a cross-disciplinary project between Computer Science (Cybersecurity) and Social Sciences (Entrepreneurship). Our key question is whether we can identify patterns of “innovation” well before put in practice. To this end, we first show a machine-learning approach to detection of topics of conversation for the forum Dread over 7 years and then show a model from Entrepreneurship on how the Dark Web innovates. From here, we outline the design of a monitoring and detection tool which takes into account human patterns and context rather than pure content analysis
Methyl 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-d-ribofuranoside: isolation, crystal structure and conformation
Full text linkThe X-ray crystal structure of methyl 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-D-ribofuranoside (5) presented here, is a unique example of an alpha-configured, methyl 2-deoxyribofuranoside with the same protecting group at positions C3 and C5. Methyl 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α/β-D-ribofuranoside (3), exists as a mixture of alpha and beta anomers from which we isolated a single anomer on recrystallization from acetone. TLC analysis indicated the presence of a single compound with NMR analysis in support of the alpha anomer. SC-XRD analysis showed that methyl glycoside (5) crystallizes from acetone as the alpha anomer in the monoclinic space group I2. Methyl glycoside (5) possesses a glycosidic bond length of 1.408 Å with pseudorotational analysis showing the conformation of the five-membered ring to be 0E (O4-endo) with P = 89.9° and φm = 64.4°
Kubo conductivity of wires with strong multiparticle backscatterings: A variety of fractions
Full text linkWe study a multichannel quasi-one-dimensional system in the framework of the Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid model. Relevant backscattering perturbations create gaps in the corresponding fields, thereby changing the properties of the system. We model these gapped fields by introducing masses of bosonic fields and sending them to infinity to find the correlator of two fields describing the original channels. The exact solution for the corresponding Green function in the low-frequency limit allows us to use the Kubo formula to calculate the dc conductance of the system, which explains all seminal experimental results
Mortality and morbidity burden associated with smoking: evidence from a 1.6 million cohort in Hong Kong
Full text linkExisting evidence on the disease burden of smoking is often outdated and incomprehensive, particularly in Asia, which plays a pivotal role in the global tobacco control community. This study aimed to provide an updated and comprehensive estimate of the mortality and morbidity burden associated with smoking in Hong Kong. This retrospective cohort study included adults with smoking status information recorded in the Hong Kong Hospital Authority database between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012. Subjects were classified into never-smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted with fine stratification weighting and key baseline characteristics, yielded hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each outcome. Of the 1,571,065 individuals analyzed, there were 14.3% current smokers, 11.9% ex-smokers, and 73.8% never-smokers. After a median follow-up of 11.7 years, 61,198 current smokers, 45,918 ex-smokers, and 220,947 never-smokers died. Significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality were observed among current smokers (HR [95% CI]: 1.53 [1.51-1.56]) and ex-smokers (1.33 [1.31-1.35]) than among never-smokers. Current and ex-smoking were positively associated with the incidences of 76 and 60 out of 115 morbidities, respectively. Strong associations were observed between smoking and increased risks of suicide (intentional self-harm), mental, and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use and alcohol use, particularly among current smokers. Notably, these risks were higher in females than in males for all three outcomes. Additionally, females demonstrated higher risks of all-cause mortality, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma compared to males. Smoking remains a substantial burden on the healthcare system in Hong Kong, which may still be underestimated due to Hong Kong's relatively less advanced stage in the tobacco epidemic compared to some Western countries, where the full hazards of smoking have already manifested more prominently
Penguin 'Staged' series: gendered YA Shakespeare editions for reading for pleasure
No full textThis chapter examines the Penguin 'Staged' series of Shakespeare plays, available as e-texts and in hard copies, offering a critical analysis of its paratextual elements to demonstrate how the edition constructs an implied reader who is not only a young adult (YA) but also female and ‘bookish’. It employs Gérard Genette's paratext theory and Wolfgang Iser's concept of the implied reader to consider the editorial strategies employed to make and market the six volumes available in the series (so far). My analysis focuses on multiple paratextual elements, including the volumes’ cover artwork, forewords by well-known female YA authors, synopses of the plays that echo their YA forewords in vocabulary and tone, and digital and print publicity materials. I demonstrate how the series seeks to reclaim Shakespeare's plays for reading for pleasure through a YA and gendered lens. I show how the series’ orientation around what it refers to as the tropes of YA literature heavily emphasizes (and often equates) romance fiction and female perspectives within these plays. In doing so, I draw on existing studies of exclusionary, neoliberal girlhood in Shakespearean adaptation by authors such as Ariane Balizet (2019). I draw out the series’ real achievements that should be celebrated (e.g. in relation to the inclusion of diverse YA authors, in terms of ethnicities, sexualities and disabilities); acknowledge the challenges it faces (especially in relation to recent UK statistics on young people’s reading for pleasure); problematise how wide an appeal these texts will have for young readers; and make some recommendations to strengthen this series, or ones like it, in the future
Plasmonic-enhanced annular fiber grating for label-free carcinoembryonic antigen detection with synchronous temperature monitoring
No full textThe accurate and sensitive detection of oncological biomarkers carries paramount clinical significance, serving as a critical gateway for early disease diagnosis and precision therapeutic strategies. Here, we demonstrate a plasmonic-enhanced annular small-period long-period fiber grating biosensor, where localized electric fields from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) amplify the sensitivity for label-free carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) detection. The innovative annular grating design simultaneously excites both Bragg resonance and cladding mode resonance, enabling synchronous temperature and molecular sensing, which is a crucial feature for precise measurements as fiber-optic biosensors are inherently susceptible to temperature cross-talk. By leveraging the localized surface plasmon-effect of AuNPs, the sensor achieves significantly enhanced sensitivity toward target molecules. This nanoscale field confinement effectively prevents nonspecific amplification of the whole fiber surface, thereby eliminating false-positive signals. The optimized sensor demonstrates a detection limit of 1 ng/mL in pure CEA solutions (1-100 ng/mL concentration range) while maintaining comparable performance in mouse serum and exhibiting excellent specificity against potential interferents. This work establishes a reliable and highly sensitive platform that addresses both multifunctional sensing requirements and clinical needs for early cancer biomarker detection
A convective instability analysis of a channel flow within a saturated porous medium
No full textThe influence of convection in a horizontal channel filled with a porous medium is examined to assess the stability of the fluid flow between the two walls that are held fixed at different temperatures. The flow is described by the Navier–Stokes equations, while heat transfer is captured through the energy equation. A coupled linear stability system is derived and solved using a Chebyshev spectral collocation method. The study focuses on the impact of the relevant nondimensional parameters on the development of the perturbations and the onset of instability within the flow. The onset of convection is advanced as the porous parameter (M) increases, while higher Prandtl numbers (Pr) and Reynolds numbers (Re) delay the onset of convection. The growth rate is unaffected by increases in Pr and the Rayleigh number (Ra); however, it increases as M decreases and as Re increases. The isocontours show that increasing Pr stabilizes temperature variations in the inner flow region
Community-based interventions for management of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Europe: A systematic review
Full text linkAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health problem. Several public interventions have been designed to increase AMR knowledge and awareness. This review assesses the availability and effectiveness of community-based AMR interventions in Europe. Four databases—Medline (OVID), Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science- and grey literature were searched for AMR interventions in community settings in Europe between 2000 and 2024. Studies reporting empirical findings in English were considered. A narrative synthesis was performed, and findings were presented in text and tables. Forty-nine studies were eligible for inclusion from 14 European countries. Interventions were primarily educational to raise awareness, targeting individuals, small groups, or the general public through mass campaigns, school-based programmes, online games, and pledges. Some interventions also monitored adherence, consumption, and doctor consultation. The majority of interventions reported increased knowledge and awareness of antibiotics and AMR; reduced antibiotic prescription, purchase, use, and non-compliance; reduced respiratory incidence and doctor consultations, and increased overall adherence. Fluctuations in knowledge over time were observed, but evidence was insufficient to analyse the long-term sustainability of outcomes of the interventions. Our findings show that community-based interventions can enhance knowledge and awareness of appropriate antibiotic use and AMR risks among different population groups. These can also positively improve adherence, expectation, and prescribing. However, long-term engagement and interventions are needed to attain sustainability and bring behavioural changes
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