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We update the publicly available weak lensing shear measurement algorithm pyRRG for the JWST , and apply it to UNCOVER DR1 imaging of galaxy cluster Abell 2744. At short wavelengths (⁠|${\lt}2.5\, \mu$| m), shear measurements are consistent between independent observations through different JWST bandpasses, and calibrated within 1.5 per cent of those from the Hubble Space Telescope. At longer wavelengths, shear is underestimated by ∼5 per cent, probably due to coarser pixellization. We model the spatially varying point spread function using WebbPSF , whose moments are within 0.05 of real stars near the centre of the mosaic, where there are sufficient stars to also generate an empirical model. We measure shear from up to 162 galaxies arcmin−2 to derive a map of dark plus baryonic mass with 12 arcsec (55 kpc) spatial resolution. All code, catalogues, and maps are available from https://github.com/davidharvey1986/pyRRG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On retirement from the post of Editor in Chief of the JAE, it is appropriate that I offer some reflections on my editorship. First, I review the general performance of the journal over the period 2005‐2023, and conclude that the JAE has held its own amongst our peers though this is is largely due to our authors and reviewers, rather than the Editor. Second, I consider the subject matter and citation scores of our published papers over this period, as a reflection of the evolution of the state of the art of the Agricultural Economics profession. Here, I illustrate the increasing number and subject/method range of published papers, but raise some questions about what, exactly, citations really indicate. I conclude with some reflections on the challenges and opportunities for the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two eye movement while reading experiments address the issue of how reading of an unpredictable word is influenced by the presence of a more predictable alternative. The experiments replicate the robust effects of predictability on the probability of skipping and on early and late reading time measures. However, in both experiments, an unpredictable but plausible word was read no more slowly when another word was highly predictable (i.e., in a constraining context) than when no word was highly predictable (i.e., in a neutral context). In fact, an unpredictable word that was semantically related to the predictable alternative demonstrated facilitation in the constraining context, in relatively late eye movement measures. These results, which are consistent with Luke and Christianson’s (2016) corpus study, provide the first evidence from a controlled experimental design for the absence of a prediction error cost, and for facilitation of an unpredictable but semantically related word, during normal reading. The findings support a model of lexical predictability effects in which there is broad pre-activation of potential continuations, rather than discrete predictions of specific lexical items. Importantly, pre-activation of likely continuations does not result in processing difficulty when some other word is actually encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue is special in two major dimensions: the papers range intentionally over a much wider spectrum of social and natural science approaches and disciplines than is normal for the Journal of Agricultural Economics; and, the articles relate to ongoing research rather than completed work. These reflections, perhaps peculiar to a practicing applied economist and policy analyst, concentrate on the lessons to be learned and messages to be heard from the RELU programme, both by those engaged on the programme's research portfolio, and by other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the present state of applied economics and the difficulties of integrating its findings and insights with those of other social sciences. The philosophical basis of social science is re-considered as a route to resolving these difficulties. Without a more integrated narrative about how our social systems work, applied economics, and all applied social sciences, run the substantial risk of being considered part of the world's problems, rather than offering serious routes to their solution. Some possible strands of a more coherent and integrated framework are outlined, which indicate some potentially fruitful avenues for further development. The paper concludes with illustrations of this outline for the food chain and land use agenda of the Research Councils' Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with overall survival contingent on multiple factors -- most importantly, disease stage at diagnosis. Disruptions in healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in various reported diagnostic and treatment delays, which have had detrimental impacts on malignancies such as RCC. METHODS: Surgically managed cases of RCC at our center were identified using a retrospective chart review of all nephrectomies conducted from March 1, 2018, to February 28, 2023. Examination of disease characteristics in three time period cohorts (before, during, and following the COVID-19 pandemic) was undertaken. Timeframes were consistent with implementation and abolition of public health restrictions in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. RESULTS: A total of 483 surgically managed RCC cases were identified during the study period. The median age was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR] 56-71), and 62.3% of patients were male. Demographics did not vary across timeframes. Before and during the pandemic, pathologic stage 3 (pT3) disease was reported in 38.9% and 35.4% of cases, respectively, whereas the post-pandemic period saw this presentation in 50.0% of patients. Surgical wait times increased significantly across study timeframes (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The first year following the COVID-19 pandemic saw an 11.1% increase in patients presenting with pT3 RCC. These findings are suggestive of a clinically significant stage migration, which paired with prolonged wait times for surgery, provide critical consideration in the urgency of diagnostic and treatment decisions for RCC in the immediate future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate how strong gravitational lensing can test contemporary models of massive elliptical (ME) galaxy formation, by combining a traditional decomposition of their visible stellar distribution with a lensing analysis of their mass distribution. As a proof of concept, we study a sample of three ME lenses, observing that all are composed of two distinct baryonic structures, a 'red' central bulge surrounded by an extended envelope of stellar material. Whilst these two components look photometrically similar, their distinct lensing effects permit a clean decomposition of their mass structure. This allows us to infer two key pieces of information about each lens galaxy: (i) the stellar mass distribution (without invoking stellar populations models) and (ii) the inner dark matter halo mass. We argue that these two measurements are crucial to testing models of ME formation, as the stellar mass profile provides a diagnostic of baryonic accretion and feedback whilst the dark matter mass places each galaxy in the context of LCDM large-scale structure formation. We also detect large rotational offsets between the two stellar components and a lopsidedness in their outer mass distributions, which hold further information on the evolution of each ME. Finally, we discuss how this approach can be extended to galaxies of all Hubble types and what implication our results have for studies of strong gravitational lensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]