Hard Evidence Research Articles

Muon-induced baryon number violation

The search for charged-lepton flavor violation in muon capture on nuclei is a powerful probe of heavy new physics. A smoking gun signal for μ→e conversion is a monochromatic electron with energy almost equal to the muon mass. We show that light new physics can mimic this signature and that it can also lead to electrons above the μ→e signal peak. A concrete example of such light new physics is μ−-nucleon annihilation into a light dark sector, which can produce an energetic e− as well as e+e− by-products. Due to the size of the muon mass, the exotic muon capture process can be kinematically allowed, while the otherwise stringent constraints, e.g., from proton decay, are kinematically forbidden. We also discuss other relevant constraints, including those from the stability of nuclei and muon capture in the interior of neutron stars. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Clinical management of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm

BackgroundIntracranial hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm is one of the most serious neurosurgical emergencies. The patient mostly presents with severe headaches and neurological deterioration. A rapid diagnosis and an interdisciplinary approach play a major role in the fate of these patients. The treatment can vary from endovascular to surgical and must be carefully and individually planned. Neurovascular expertise and an interdisciplinary approach are of vital importance and obligatory for the best possible outcome.MethodsIn this narrative review, we scrutinize the current literature and discuss the actual data and guidelines in order to emphasize the importance of the interdisciplinary expertise and approach in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm.ResultsThe current approach to patients with ruptured aneurysm is inhomogeneous and often ineffective due to internal disputes between different disciplines. Although there is plenty of literature and hard evidence to “show the way,” many still choose to base their decisions on personal experience or opinion.ConclusionsEvery ruptured brain aneurysm should be approached in an interdisciplinary manor and treated according to the current evidence and guidelines.

Equilibrium Parametric Amplification in Raman-Cavity Hybrids.

Parametric resonances and amplification have led to extraordinary photoinduced phenomena in pump-probe experiments. While these phenomena manifest themselves in out-of-equilibrium settings, here, we present the striking result of parametric amplification in equilibrium. We demonstrate that quantum and thermal fluctuations of a Raman-active mode amplifies light inside a cavity, at equilibrium, when the Raman mode frequency is twice the cavity mode frequency. This noise-driven amplification leads to the creation of an unusual parametric Raman polariton, intertwining the Raman mode with cavity squeezing fluctuations, with smoking gun signatures in Raman spectroscopy. In the resonant regime, we show the emergence of not only quantum light amplification but also localization and static shift of the Raman mode. Apart from the fundamental interest of equilibrium parametric amplification, our Letter suggests a resonant mechanism for controlling Raman modes and thus matter properties by cavity fluctuations. We conclude by outlining how to compute the Raman-cavity coupling, and suggest possible experimental realizations.

Forensic toxicology backdates the use of coca plant (Erythroxylum spp.) in Europe to the early 1600s

Cocaine hydrochloride salts are one of the most commonly used drugs of our days, yet there is very little hard evidence regarding when people started consuming such an extensively popular drug in Europe. In this paper, we report the exceptional finding of Erythroxylum spp. in human remains dated to the 1600's in Milan, Italy.Toxicological analyses were performed on preserved human brains revealing the first evidence of Erythroxylum spp. use in Europe before the 19th century, backdating our understanding of the presence of the plant by almost two centuries. Specifically, the alkaloid of cocaine was detected in two separate biological samples and can be associated to Erythroxylum spp. consumption. Given that the plant was not listed inside the detailed hospital pharmacopeia, it may not have been given as a medicinal remedy but may have been used for other purposes. This study demonstrates the importance and the potential of the application of toxicological analyses to archaeological contexts and allows to backdate the arrival of the Erythroxylum spp. in Europe by almost two hundred years.

Exciton interacting with a moiré lattice: Polarons, strings, and optical probing of spin correlations

The ability to create and stack different atomically thin transition metal dichacogenide (TMD) layers on top of each other has opened up a rich playground for exploring new and interesting two-dimensional (2D) quantum phases. As a consequence of this remarkable development, there is presently a need for new sensors to probe these 2D layers, since conventional techniques for bulk materials such as x-ray and neutron scattering are inefficient. Here, we develop a general theory for how an exciton in a TMD monolayer couples to spin and charge correlations in an adjacent moiré lattice created by a TMD bilayer. Virtual tunneling of charge carriers, assumed for concreteness to be holes, between the moiré lattice and the monolayer combined with the presence of bound hole-exciton states, i.e., trions, give rise to an effective interaction between the moiré holes and the exciton. In addition to the Umklapp scattering, we show that this interaction is spin-dependent and therefore couples the exciton to the spin correlations of the moiré holes, which may be in- as well as out-of-plane. We then use our theory to examine two specific examples where the moiré holes form in-plane ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic order. In both cases, the exciton creates spin waves in the moiré lattice, which we analyze by using a self-consistent Born approximation that includes such processes to infinite order. We show that the competition between magnetic order and exciton motion leads to the formation of a well-defined quasiparticle consisting of the exciton surrounded by a cloud of magnetic frustration in the moiré lattice sites below. For the antiferromagnet, we furthermore demonstrate the presence of the elusive geometric string excitations and discuss how they can be observed via their smoking gun energy dependence on the spin-spin coupling, which can be tuned by varying the twist angle of the moiré bilayer. All these phenomena have clear signatures in the exciton spectrum, and as such our results illustrate that excitons are promising quantum probes providing optical access to the spin correlations of new phases predicted to exist in TMD materials. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Relationship between Modern ART Regimens and Immunosenescence Markers in Patients with Chronic HIV Infection.

The increased life expectancy of PLHIV (People Living with HIV) and the successful highly combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) poses new clinical challenges regarding aging and its co-morbid condition. It is commonly believed that HIV infection "accelerates" aging. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is characterized by inflammation and immune activation that persists despite cART, and that may contribute to the development of co-morbid conditions. In this regard, we aimed to compare current cART regimens in light of premature aging to evaluate differences in their ability to reduce immune activation and inflammation in virologically suppressed patients. We studied a panel of biomarkers (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, IL-18, GM-CSF, TNF-α, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, soluble CD14), which could provide a non-invasive and affordable approach to monitor HIV-related chronic inflammation. The results of the current study do not provide hard evidence favoring a particular cART regimen, although they show a less favorable regimen profile containing a protease inhibitor. Our data suggest an incomplete reduction of inflammation and immune activation in terms of the effective cART. It is likely that the interest in various biomarkers related to immune activation and inflammation as predictors of clinical outcomes among PLHIV will increase in the future.

A smoking gun signature of the 3HDM

We analyse new signals of a 3-Higgs Doublet Model (3HDM) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) where only one doublet acquires a Vacuum Expectation Value (VEV), preserving a Z2 parity. The other two doublets are inert and do not develop a VEV, leading to a dark scalar sector controlled by Z2, with the lightest CP-even dark scalar H1 being the Dark Matter (DM) candidate. This leads to the loop induced decay of the next-to-lightest scalar, H2→H1ℓℓ¯ℓ=eμ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ {H}_2\ o {H}_1\\ell \\overline{\\ell}\\left(\\ell =e,\\mu \\right) $$\\end{document}, mediated by both dark CP-odd neutral and charged scalars. This is a smoking-gun signal of the 3HDM since it is not allowed in the 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) with one inert doublet and is expected to be important when H2 and H1 are close in mass. In practice, this signature can be observed in the cascade decay of the SM-like Higgs boson, h→H1H2→H1H1ℓℓ¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ h\ o {H}_1{H}_2\ o {H}_1{H}_1\\ell \\overline{\\ell} $$\\end{document} into two DM particles and di-leptons or h→H2H2→H1H1ℓℓ¯ℓℓ¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ h\ o {H}_2{H}_2\ o {H}_1{H}_1\\ell \\overline{\\ell}\\ell \\overline{\\ell} $$\\end{document} into two DM particles and four-leptons, where h is produced from gluon-gluon Fusion. In order to test the feasibility of these channels at the LHC, we devise some benchmarks, compliant with collider, DM and cosmological data, for which the interplay between these production and decay modes is discussed. In particular, we show that the resulting detector signatures, or , with the invariant mass of ℓℓ¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\ell \\overline{\\ell} $$\\end{document} pairs much smaller than mZ, can potentially be extracted already from Run 3 data and at the High-Luminosity phase of the LHC.

Dark matter line searches with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Monochromatic gamma-ray signals constitute a potential smoking gun signature for annihilating or decaying dark matter particles that could relatively easily be distinguished from astrophysical or instrumental backgrounds. We provide an updated assessment of the sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) to such signals, based on observations of the Galactic centre region as well as of selected dwarf spheroidal galaxies. We find that current limits and detection prospects for dark matter masses above 300 GeV will be significantly improved, by up to an order of magnitude in the multi-TeV range. This demonstrates that CTA will set a new standard for gamma-ray astronomy also in this respect, as the world's largest and most sensitive high-energy gamma-ray observatory, in particular due to its exquisite energy resolution at TeV energies and the adopted observational strategy focussing on regions with large dark matter densities. Throughout our analysis, we use up-to-date instrument response functions, and we thoroughly model the effect of instrumental systematic uncertainties in our statistical treatment. We further present results for other potential signatures with sharp spectral features, e.g. box-shaped spectra, that would likewise very clearly point to a particle dark matter origin.

New records of Suncus etruscus (Soricidae, Mammalia) and its current status in Bulgaria

We present 17 new records of Suncus etruscus in Bulgaria, and the first finding of the species north of Stara Planina Mountains. The species is recorded in the diet of three owl species - Tyto alba, Asio otus and Athene noctua, and one bird of prey - Aquila heliaca. The bulk of records originated from T. alba, in the rest raptor species it is taken randomly and consists negligible part of their diet. Additionally, five dead shrews were used, which provided hard evidence for the presence of S. etruscus in north Bulgaria. All data on the species distribution in Bulgaria are summarised and the roads for its invasion are discussed. Climate change is considered as an expansion trigger for spreading of the Etruscan shrew.

Can we identify primordial black holes? Tidal tests for subsolar-mass gravitational-wave observations

The detection of a subsolar object in a compact binary merger is regarded as one of the smoking gun signatures of a population of primordial black holes (PBHs). We critically assess whether these systems could be distinguished from stellar binaries, for example composed of white dwarfs or neutron stars, which could also populate the subsolar mass range. At variance with PBHs, the gravitational-wave signal from stellar binaries is affected by tidal effects, which dramatically grow for moderately compact stars as those expected in the subsolar range. We forecast the capability of constraining tidal effects of putative subsolar neutron star binaries with current and future LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) sensitivities as well as next-generation experiments. We show that, should LVK O4 run observe subsolar neutron-star mergers, it could measure the (large) tidal effects with high significance. In particular, for subsolar neutron-star binaries, O4 and O5 projected sensitivities would allow measuring the effect of tidal disruption on the waveform in a large portion of the parameter space, also constraining the tidal deformability at O(10%) level, thus excluding a primordial origin of the binary. Vice versa, for subsolar PBH binaries, model-agnostic upper bounds on the tidal deformability can rule out neutron stars or more exotic competitors. Assuming events similar to the subthreshold candidate SSM200308 reported in LVK O3b data are PBH binaries, O4 projected sensitivity would allow ruling out the presence of neutron-star tidal effects at ≈3σ CL, thus strengthening the PBH hypothesis. Future experiments would lead to even stronger (>5σ) conclusions on potential discoveries of this kind. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Surveying the Onset and Evolution of Supermassive Black Holes at High-z with AXIS

The nature and origin of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) remain an open matter of debate within the scientific community. While various theoretical scenarios have been proposed, each with specific observational signatures, the lack of sufficiently sensitive X-ray observations hinders the progress of observational tests. In this white paper, we present how AXIS will contribute to solving this issue. With an angular resolution of 1.5″ on-axis and minimal off-axis degradation, we designed a deep survey capable of reaching flux limits in the [0.5–2] keV range of approximately 2 × 10−18 erg s−1 cm−2 over an area of 0.13 deg2 in approximately 7 million seconds (7 Ms). Furthermore, we planned an intermediate depth survey covering approximately 2 deg2 and reaching flux limits of about 2 × 10−17 erg s−1 cm−2 in order to detect a significant number of SMBHs with X-ray luminosities (LX) of approximately 1042 erg s−1 up to z∼10. These observations will enable AXIS to detect SMBHs with masses smaller than 105 M⊙, assuming Eddington-limited accretion and a typical bolometric correction for Type II AGN. AXIS will provide valuable information on the seeding and population synthesis models of SMBHs, allowing for more accurate constraints on their initial mass function (IMF) and accretion history from z∼0–10. To accomplish this, AXIS will leverage the unique synergy of survey telescopes such as the JWST, Roman, Euclid, Vera Rubin Telescope, and the new generation of 30 m class telescopes. These instruments will provide optical identification and redshift measurements, while AXIS will discover the smoking gun of nuclear activity, particularly in the case of highly obscured AGN or peculiar UV spectra as predicted and recently observed by the JWST in the early Universe.

A single-source nosocomial outbreak of Aspergillus flavus uncovered by genotyping.

Aspergillus flavus can cause severe infections and hospital outbreaks in immunocompromised individuals. Although lack of isogeneity does not preclude an outbreak, our study underlines the value of microsatellite genotyping in the setting of potential A. flavus outbreaks. Microsatellite genotyping documented an isogenic hospital outbreak with an internal source. This provided the "smoking gun" that prompted the rapid allocation of resources for thorough environmental sampling, the results of which guided immediate and relevant cleaning and source control measures. Consequently, we advise that vulnerable patients should be protected from exposure and that genotyping be included early in potential A. flavus outbreak investigations. Inspection and sampling are recommended at any site where airborne spores might disperse from. This includes rarely accessed areas where air communication to the hospital ward cannot be disregarded.

Signature of nonminimal scalar-gravity coupling with an early matter domination on the power spectrum of gravitational waves

The signal strength of primordial gravitational waves experiencing an epoch of early scalar domination, due to an oscillating scalar field, is reduced with respect to radiation domination. In this paper, we demonstrate that the specific pattern of this reduction is sensitive to the coupling between the dominant field and gravity. When this coupling is zero, the impact of early-matter domination on gravitational waves is solely attributed to the alteration of the Hubble parameter and the scale factor. In the presence of nonzero couplings, on the other hand, the evolution of primordial gravitational waves is directly affected as well, resulting in a distinct steplike feature in the power spectrum of the gravitational wave as a function of frequency. This feature serves as a smoking gun signature of this model. Although the aforementioned results are obtained numerically, we also provide an analytical expression of the power spectrum to illustrate its dependence on the model parameters and initial conditions. Furthermore, we provide analytical relations that specify the frequency interval in which the step occurs. We compare the analytical estimates with numerical analysis and show they match well. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Gravitational-wave Radiation from the Magnetar-driven Supernovae

Rapidly spinning magnetars are potential candidates for the energy source of supernovae (SNe) and gamma-ray bursts and the most promising sources for continuous gravitational waves (GWs) detected by ground-based GW detectors. Continuous GWs can be radiated from magnetars due to magnetic-induced deformation or fluid oscillations, compatible with magnetic dipole (MD) radiation for spin-down energy. In this paper, we investigate the diverse light curves of magnetar-driven SNe in the scenario that the spin-down is dominated by GW radiation and/or MD radiation. By simulating the light curves of SNe and employing the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we constrain the parameters of the magnetars and SN explosions and show that the signature of GW radiation may be indicated by the bolometric luminosity curves of SNe Ic-BL 2007ru and 2009bb. We find that the ellipticity of magnetars in the order of 10−3 can be induced by the magnetic field of ∼1016 G. If such continuous GWs associated with SNe can be detected in the future by the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors, this would be a smoking gun for a magnetar engine powering SNe.

Depredation: An old conflict with the sea

AbstractDepredation (the partial or complete removal of a hooked species by a non‐target species) is a human–wildlife conflict as old as humans and the sea. In some ways, depredation is no different today than it was a century ago. But in many ways, this conflict has become more complicated. Following three decades of successful management, some US shark populations have begun to rebuild. However, many anglers attribute perceived increases in shark depredation to management measures, claiming they have led to ‘overpopulation’ of sharks and/or learned behaviour by sharks. We investigated whether these factors could explain the reported increases in depredation. Based on fishery‐independent surveys, neither shark population increases nor learned behaviour by sharks is evident. However, increases in angler effort provide an alternative explanation that is not often considered. While far from a smoking gun, at least four themes emerge from this thought exercise. First, it is important to understand historical predator baselines. Second, it is important to acknowledge lifting baselines, that is, instances where previously depleted populations are recovering. Third, it is important to remember that there are many instances when stakeholder observations were initially misaligned with traditional scientific observations but were ultimately recognized as pivotal for filling data gaps. Finally, and perhaps most important, is the acknowledgement that perceived conflict is as potent as real conflict. Arguably, it may not matter if depredation has increased or decreased; the overwhelming perception from stakeholders is an increase in depredation, and this is the perceived (or real) conflict that must be addressed.

Enhanced radiation hardness of lead halide perovskite absorber materials via incorporation of Dy2+ cations

Continuously growing evidence of the excellent radiation hardness of perovskite solar cells stimulates their intense exploration in the context of potential aerospace applications. However, there is still a very limited understanding of the fundamental aspects such as the mechanisms of the interaction of complex lead halides with different types of ionizing radiation and associated aging pathways, even though this knowledge is essentially important for the development of new materials with improved properties. Herein, we made one of the first steps to fill this gap through a systematic study of the aging behavior of two perovskite absorber materials under exposure to three different stressors: 60Co gamma-rays, 8.5 MeV electron fluences, and light. The application of a set of complementary spectroscopy and microscopy techniques allowed us to identify and compare perovskite degradation pathways caused by each type of the ionizing radiation. In particular, radiation-induced phase segregation with the formation of δ-phases of CsPbI3 and FAPbI3 appears to be a common route in the case of double cation perovskites. Most importantly, we have revealed that the incorporation of dysprosium cations as a replacement of 1 % of Pb2+ ions in the Cs0.12FA0.88Pb0.99Dy0.01I3 material formulation results in a remarkably improved radiation hardness: this modification blocks the formation of metallic lead and strongly suppresses segregation of Cs-rich and FA-rich phases in perovskite films under exposure to gamma rays or high-energy electrons. Thus, these results open up a promising research direction for designing radiation-resistant perovskite absorbers through rational compositional engineering.

#3105 Tocilizumab for treatment of antibody mediated rejection in kidney transplant patients

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (caABMR) causes 40% of long-term graft failure after kidney transplantation (KT). Early treatment is of great importance, however, hard clinical evidence is still lacking. Currently the combination of plasmapheresis (PF), rituximab and intravenous immunoglobulin is used as standard treatment. Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a monoclonal antibody, IL-6 receptor antagonist, and it inhibits the production of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). We hypothesized that tocilizumab administration has an additional effect on graft survival and non-inferior to standard therapy in KT patients with ABMR. Method Retrospective single-center noninferiority case-control study was performed by involving 73 KT patients (43.5 ± 14.3 years, females 31, eGFR 19.5 ± 13.4) with biopsy proven ABMR diagnosed between June 2017 and May 2022. 19 patients received 8 mg/kg intravenous TCZ therapy for 6 months (12 aABMR, 7 caABMR, 38.6 ± 12.8 years, females 6). In the control group (C, n=54, 10 aABMR, 44 caABMR, 45.2 ± 14.5 years, females 25), 20 patients received plasmapheresis treatment, the rest stayed on optimized maintenance therapy (tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, prednisolone). Baseline demographic data, standard laboratory data, proteinuria and DSA level were also monitored and analyzed. Results Graft loss occurred in 13 cases (6 aABMR, 7 caABMR) in KT on TCZ therapy and 43 (6 aABMR, 37 caABMR) in C group, meaning significantly lower risk of graft loss in the TCZ group (RR 0.69, p=0.036) during the median follow-up of 11.3 (IQR 2.5-23.1) months. In TCZ group, all caABMR patients lost their graft during the observation. In TCZ group, 1 year after the TCZ treatment, DSA (pooled) was lower (7028 (575-17782) versus 1605 (551-16903), p<0.05). Conclusion Early administration of TCZ seems to be noninferior to standard therapy and effective to prevent early graft loss as part of standard therapy in aABMR. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify clinical indications of TCZ and its long-term effects on the course of chronic active ABMR.

Evaluating Pigments as a Biosignature: Abiotic/Prebiotic Synthesis of Pigments and Pigment Mimics in Planetary Environments.

Pigments serve a multitude of functions in biology including light harvesting for photosynthesis, radiation protection, membrane support, and defense. The ubiquity of pigments-especially within extremophiles found in high-radiation, high-salinity, and dry environments-and their detectability via mission-ready techniques have elevated these molecules as promising targets in the search for evidence of life elsewhere. Moreover, the detection of pigments has been proposed as a "smoking gun" for extraterrestrial life as it has been suggested that these molecules cannot be generated abiotically. However, while pigments may hold promise as a biosignature, current understanding of their possible prebiotic origins remains understudied and uncertain. Better understanding of the abiotic synthesis of pigments is critical for evaluating the biogenicity of any pigment detected during missions, including by the Mars Perseverance rover or from returned samples. Compounding this uncertainty is the broad definition of pigment as it includes any compound capable of absorbing visible light and by itself does not specify a particular chemical motif. While not experimentally verified, there are promising prebiotic routes for generating pigments including hemes, chlorophylls, and carotenoids. Herein, we review the biochemistry of pigments, the inherent assumptions made when searching for these molecules in the field, their abiotic synthesis in industry and prebiotic reactions, prebiotically relevant molecules that can mimic their spectral signatures, and implications/recommendations for future work.

The anatomy of internal interference in public service media: How do journalists interpret whether editorial interference constitutes unacceptable encroachment on their autonomy?

This study examines the suspected transmission of political pressure through management to journalists in public service media, where independence is crucial for fulfilling its democratic mission. Such interference is often covert and performed without hard evidence, making it difficult to prove. To provide insight into these practices, this study explores the case of RTVS, the public service broadcaster in Slovakia, during a conflict that arose after the appointment of a new director general in 2017. Using semi-structured interviews with journalists and managers ( N = 16), it introduces an inductively developed classification scheme for internal interference and examines the context and conditions under which the journalists considered it to be politically motivated and as an illegitimate encroachment on their autonomy. The study shows that perceived internal interference by management takes two forms: interference in editorial content at various levels (and through multiple tools and means) and the use of disciplinary mechanisms. When journalists experience internal interference with a possible political background, trust in their superiors and the perception of their motives are crucial factors influencing their reactions and interpretation of the situation. However, for a variety of reasons that the study analyzes in detail, the RTVS journalists distrusted their superiors' moral integrity, professional skills, and political independence, which resulted in the departure of a large part of the TV newsroom. The article concludes with suggestions for methodological implications for further research on perceived interference.

Comment on: Fürsich et al., 2023, Miocene instead of Jurassic: the importance of sound fieldwork for paleontological data analysis

Abstract We published a series of papers regarding the oldest turritellids, naticids, their paleoecological interaction, and gastropod biozonation, which are of Oxfordian in age, from the Jhura pond section, Kutch, western India. Recently, an Oxfordian age was challenged by Fürsich et al. (2023) and they argued for a Cenozoic age. The authors reproduced a local geological map based on regional data where the Jhura pond section sediments were overlying the Bhuj Formation. In the original regional data, there was no Bhuj Formation and the introduction of the Bhuj Formation served to show that Jhura pond section sediments were “allochthonous”. Other lines of argument against our conclusions (e.g., identification of associated bivalve fauna, foraminiferal assemblage, and geological context) were brought forward. There were additional inconsistencies, such as the reworking of Oxfordian fossils, in their comment/opinion pieces. The only hard evidence was the report of a microfaunal assemblage, but the taxa were identified at the generic level and most of the genera appear in the Jurassic or even earlier. Here we provide detailed and concrete evidence explaining features at the Jhura pond section, such as the subvertical nature of the beds, the ooid-bearing lithologies, the presence of various Oxfordian fossils, the difference in turritellids, naticid assemblages, and differences in the diversity curves between the present beds and the lower Miocene Chhasra Formation of Kutch. Detailed paleoecological analyses (both gastropods and bivalves) speak for two paleocommunities. We, therefore, reiterate that the present Jhura pond section sediments are Oxfordian in age and validate all the interpretations and conclusions that we have made in our previous papers.