The CDF collaboration recently reported a new precise measurement of the W boson mass M W with a central value significantly larger than the SM prediction. We explore the effects of including this new measurement on a fit of the Standard Model (SM) to electroweak precision data. We characterize the tension of this new measurement with the SM and explore potential beyond the SM phenomena within the electroweak sector in terms of the oblique parameters S, T and U . We show that the large M W value can be accommodated in the fit by a large, nonzero value of U , which is difficult to construct in explicit models. Assuming U = 0, the electroweak fit strongly prefers large, positive values of T . Finally, we study how the preferred values of the oblique parameters may be generated in the context of models affecting the electroweak sector at tree-and loop-level. In particular, we demonstrate that the preferred values of T and S can be generated with a real SU(2) L triplet scalar, the humble swino, which can be heavy enough to evade current collider constraints, or by (multiple) species of a singlet-doublet fermion pair. We highlight challenges in constructing other simple models, such as a dark photon, for explaining a large M W value, and several directions for further study.

About 47% identity was observed between the deduced amino acid sequences of a protein encoded by a gene of the parapoxvirus orf virus (OV) strain NZ2 and a 6 kDa protein of unknown function reported to be produced by an open reading frame expressed early after infection by the orthopoxvirus Western Reserve vaccinia virus (VAC); the open reading frame is absent from VAC strain Copenhagen. Examination of sequences reported for variola virus (VAR) strains Bangladesh, India, Congo- 1970, Somalia- 1977 and Garcia- 1966 revealed each encoded a correlate 58 amino acid protein. The open reading frame was not reported in the original analyses of these sequences because a lower limit of 60 amino acids was used to identify potential encoded proteins. Inspection of partial reading frames reported for cowpox virus (CWV) and ectromelia virus (EMV) suggested that these viruses might also code for a correlate of the VAC WR protein. DNA sequencing of cloned fragments of CWV and EMV confirmed that both these orthopoxviruses encode closely related, full length variants of the VAC and VAR open reading frames. The OV homologue is coded in the OV strain NZ2 BamHI-E fragment E2L open reading frame, which we reported is transcribed early postinfection; moreover, analysis of an NZ2 variant showed E2L was absent, indicating that E2L, like the VAC cognate, is nonessential for virus replication in cell culture. The parapoxvirus and orthopoxvirus correlates have about 20% amino acid sequence resemblance to African swine fever virus DNA binding protein p10, suggesting an ancestral relation of genes.

Linda Nazarko's article, Losing the battle of all NHS mothers (Viewpoint, November 24) stuck a chord with me as it echoed the plights I have experienced.

Oxaprozin, an anti-inflammatory agent with a half-life of 50 hours, was compared in regard to efficacy and tolerance with sulindac in a 12-week double-blind parallel treatment trial of rheumatoid arthritis. Oxaprozin was given as a single morning daily dose of 1200 mg, sulindac was given as 200 mg twice daily. Analysis of the results from the 20 patients (10 in each group) who completed the trial indicated that both drugs produced statistically significant improvement in morning stiffness, walking speed and the Ritchie index, but only sulindac produced significant improvement in hand function. Neither drug was associated with significant side-effects.