We present a dataset of 1,119 radiocarbon dates and their contexts for Oaxaca, Mexico, a best effort to include all published dates, plus hundreds of unpublished samples. We illustrate its potential and limitations with five examples: (1) dated stratigraphy in stream cutbanks show how aggradation, downcutting, and stability responded to global climate and human activities; (2) 14C samples from Late/Terminal Formative contexts allow interregional comparisons of temple and palace construction, use, and abandonment; (3) new 14C dates provide better understanding of events during the Late Classic/Epiclassic, a problematic time in the ceramic chronology; (4) individual Classic/Postclassic residential contexts had long durations—several hundred years; and (5) model constraints from other data permit refinement at times of calibration curve deviation, as during AD 1400–1600. We recommend further chronological refinement with best-practice standards, new samples, existing collections, and statistical modeling.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) leads to progressive functional decline and reduced survival. Identifying clinical predictors like ALSFRS-R and FVC is essential for prognosis and disease management. Understanding progression profiles based on diagnostic characteristics supports clinical trial design and assessment of treatment response. This study evaluates disease progression and survival predictors in ALS patients from the CNDR. Methods: 1565 ALS patients in the CNDR were analyzed to assess baseline ALSFRS-R, FVC, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and their association with disease progression and survival. Results: At diagnosis, ALSFRS-R was 44.7 (SD = 5.46), with 72.3% scoring ≥44. Mean FVC was 84.2% (SD = 23.3), with 78.3% of patients having FVC ≥65%. ALSFRS-R declined at 1.06 points/month (SD = 1.33), with faster progression in patients diagnosed within 24 months (1.61 points/month). Patients with ALSFRS-R ≥44 had a median survival of 41.8 months, compared to 30.9 months for those <44 (p < 0.001). Similarly, FVC ≥65% was associated with longer survival (35.4 vs. 29.5 months, p = 0.002). Conclusions: ALSFRS-R and FVC at diagnosis predict survival and inform clinical decision-making. These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and targeted interventions to slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes.

Early Miocene land mammals from eastern North America are exceedingly rare. Over the past several decades a small, but significant, vertebrate fauna has been recovered by paleontologists and citizen scientists from the Belgrade Formation at the Martin Marietta Belgrade Quarry in eastern North Carolina. This assemblage has 12 land mammal taxa, including beaver (Castoridae), stem lagomorph, carnivorans (Mustelidae, Ailuridae), horses (Equidae), rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae), tapir (Tapiridae), peccary (Tayassuidae), anthracothere (Anthracotheriidae), entelodont (Entelodontidae), and protoceratid (Protoceratidae). Taken together, the biochronology of this Maysville Local Fauna indicates a late Arikareean (Ar3/Ar4) to early Hemingfordian (He1) North American Land Mammal Age (NALMA). This interval, which includes the Runningwater Chronofauna, documents numerous important Holarctic immigrants, including Amphictis, Craterogale, and cf. Menoceras found at this locality. Strontium isotope stratigraphy (SIS) of shark teeth collected in situ from the Belgrade Formation yield an age of 21.4 ± 0.13 Ma, which validates the age of interbedded land mammals within this unit. It also is consistent with the late Arikareean (Ar3/Ar4) biochronology and Aquitanian Neogene marine stage. New SIS analyses of oysters (Striostrea gigantissima) and clams (Chione) from this mine, previously assigned to late Oligocene or Late Miocene, are significantly older (28.0 ± 0.22 Ma and 27.6 ± 0.26 Ma, respectively) than the land mammals. Depending upon stratigraphic interpretations, these may confirm an older marine facies within the Belgrade Formation. This locality is important because of its marine and terrestrial tie-ins that facilitate intercalibration of both NALMAs and Cenozoic marine stages.

The description and delineation of trematode species is a major ongoing task. Across the field there has been, and currently still is, great variation in the standard of this work and in the sophistication of the proposal of taxonomic hypotheses. Although most species are relatively unambiguously distinct from their congeners, many are either morphologically very similar, including the major and rapidly growing component of cryptic species, or are highly variable morphologically despite little to no molecular variation for standard DNA markers. Here we review challenges in species delineation in the context provided to us by the historical literature, and the use of morphological, geographical, host, and molecular data. We observe that there are potential challenges associated with all these information sources. As a result, we encourage careful proposal of taxonomic hypotheses with consideration for underlying species concepts and frank acknowledgement of weaknesses or conflict in the data. It seems clear that there is no single source of data that provides a wholly reliable answer to our taxonomic challenges but that nuanced consideration of information from multiple sources (the ‘integrated approach’) provides the best possibility of developing hypotheses that will stand the test of time.

Objectives/Goals: We evaluated the implementation of a peer-facilitated research best practices training for Community Health Workers and Promotoras (CHW/Ps) at four new partner sites to increase the capacity and capability of a workforce increasingly involved in community-engaged research. Methods/Study Population: Staff were trained using a train-the-trainer model, and materials were disseminated to partners at three academic institutions and one community-based organization. Each site delivered the training virtually or in-person in English and/or Spanish. CHW/P learners at all sites completed online evaluation surveys about the impact of the training on their knowledge and skills for participating in research-related work, and two CHW/Ps from each site participated in follow-up interviews to gather feedback about their experiences. Staff completed fidelity monitoring, follow-up interviews, and three brief surveys regarding feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of implementing the training. Results/Anticipated Results: The four sites conducted six trainings with a total of 42 CHW/Ps. Two sites each conducted one in-person training in English while the other two sites each conducted two virtual trainings, one in English and one in Spanish. Staff noted facilitators to successful implementation, including providing a facilitator guide and course materials in both languages and tips sheets for navigating REDCap; using the train-the-trainer model; and compensating CHW/P learners for attendance. The primary barrier noted was not having a budget for in-person trainings (e.g., refreshments, printed materials). CHW/P learners reported positive experiences with few suggestions for improving the training. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Preliminary results suggest the research best practices training for CHW/Ps is feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for implementation by partners at academic institutions and community-based organizations, regardless of language (i.e., English or Spanish) or delivery (i.e., virtual or in-person).

Objectives/Goals: This study aims to explore the relationship between plasma biomarkers (GFAP, NF-L, and IL-1β) and cognitive impairment in moderate to severe TBI patients. We will assess biomarker levels and their link to neurocognitive outcomes at acute and chronic stages of injury. Methods/Study Population: We will recruit 100 patients aged 21 years and older with moderate to severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Score 3–12) from a trauma hospital. Blood samples will be collected at 24–72 hours post-injury and again at 3 and 6 months. Plasma levels of GFAP, NF-L, and IL-1β will be measured using multiplex ELISA. Neurocognitive tests will be administered at 3 and 6 months to assess cognitive function. Correlations will be made between biomarker levels, neurocognitive performance, and disability scores (Disability Rating Scale and Glasgow Outcome Scale). Exosome isolation from plasma will allow for detailed analysis of astrocyte-derived biomarkers and their association with long-term cognitive impairment and recovery. Results/Anticipated Results: We anticipate that plasma levels of GFAP, NF-L, and IL-1β will be elevated in the acute phase of moderate to severe TBI and will correlate with injury severity. At 3 and 6 months, higher levels of IL-1β, in particular, are expected to be strongly associated with cognitive deficits. We also anticipate that biomarkers in astrocyte-derived exosomes will provide more specific insights into long-term neuroinflammation and its impact on cognitive function. These findings could pave the way for targeted, personalized interventions to improve recovery in TBI patients. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This research focuses on inflammation’s role in cognitive impairment and disability in TBI patients. We propose using multiple biomarkers – GFAP, IL-1β, NF-L – paired with advanced techniques like exosomes and multiplex analyses to identify novel therapeutic targets, aiming for personalized treatment strategies, as well as prognosis.

Bartonella is a widely distributed Gram-negative bacterium that includes species that are capable of causing illness in humans. Rodents represent one of the main reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, and monitoring their populations can provide valuable insights into human health. We conducted a surveillance study of rodents from two north-western states of Mexico (Baja California and Chihuahua) to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. A total of 586 rodents belonging to 28 species were captured, and 408 were tested for Bartonella spp. The overall Bartonella spp. prevalence was 39.71%. The prevalence found in Chihuahua was higher (42.80%) than in Baja California (32.52%), and rodents such as Neotoma albigula, Neotoma mexicana, Peromyscus boylii, and Chaetodipus baileyi had the highest prevalence. The gltA sequences revealed seven genetic variants, some of which were obtained from Peromyscus and Dipodomys rodents and were associated with Bartonella species of human health concern, such as B. grahamii and B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis. In addition, a sequence obtained from a Peromyscus maniculatus was clustered with Candidatus Bartonella rudakovii, a previously unreported association. This study provides valuable data and new insight into the Bartonella-hosts interactions in rodent species in north-western Mexico.

This paper examined the interaction between narrative performance, language exposure, and standardized measures of morphosyntax and semantics, in bilingual children tested two times, 1 year apart. We aimed to 1) identify the factor structure of oral narrative measures, and 2) examine the direction and strength of the effects of (i) language exposure and (ii) the relationship between language domains and narrative production. A total of 143 Spanish (L1)-English (L2) bilingual children completed a battery of oral narrative and oral language proficiency assessments in Spanish and English at two time points (kindergarten and Grade 1). Factor analyses yielded an identical two-factor structure of bilingual oral narrative measurements, namely productivity (word production) and complexity (sentence structure), in both Spanish and English across the two time points. Cross-lagged analysis showed that narrative production predicted semantics and morphosyntax performance in Spanish and English one year later. Cross-language transfer from L1 to L2 on the complexity of narrative was noted. Language exposure predicted only Spanish narrative production, but not English. These results suggest within- and cross-language transfer, highlighting the importance of L1 language development. In addition, current findings highlight the importance of language exposure for L1 in early school-age children.

The emphasis in L2 learning has mainly focused on individual writers and monomodal academic genres (e.g. narration, argumentation), neglecting the potential of collaborative composing and the use of digital genres that introduce additional semiotic sources, for fear of having to deal with “a messy transition to digital multimodal communication” (Lotherington, 2021: 220). Yet, because Web 2.0 technological upgrades have enabled interactivity, literacy has morphed from discretely reading and writing a static page to dynamically reading and writing a multimodal one, which underpins collaborative authorship and (local and global) audience awareness. Considering the inclusion of working collaboratively with multimodal tasks in the L2 classroom, the question of how to help students effectively incorporate multimodal with academic monomodal texts remains unanswered. In response to this challenge, this study examines the design and implementation of an online task to foster multiliteracies. Thirty-seven international students of diverse disciplines (e.g. economics, engineering, history), enrolled in a Spanish as a second language course, worked collaboratively to create multimodal texts based on previously created monomodal texts. Informed by a student questionnaire and a teacher focus group, we analyzed both students’ and teachers’ perceptions to ascertain the effectiveness of the intervention and the possibilities these kinds of tasks bring to the foreign language classroom. Both sets of participants reported positive results concerning linguistic advancement, motivation, and multiliteracies development. Pedagogical recommendations related to the inclusion of this pedagogical practice are provided.

The European shores of the Mediterranean are characterised by well-known sociocultural and economic dynamics during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages (2200–550 BC), but our understanding of the African shores is comparatively vague. Here, the authors present results from excavations at Kach Kouch, Morocco, revealing an occupation phase from 2200–2000 cal BC, followed by a stable settlement from c. 1300–600 BC characterised by wattle and daub architecture, a farming economy, distinctive cultural practices and extensive connections. Kach Kouch underscores the agency of local communities, challenging the notion of north-western Africa as terra nullius prior to Phoenician arrival.

We present a novel scheme for rapid quantitative analysis of debris generated during experiments with solid targets following relativistic laser–plasma interaction at high-power laser facilities. Results are supported by standard analysis techniques. Experimental data indicate that predictions by available modelling for non-mass-limited targets are reasonable, with debris of the order of hundreds of μg per shot. We detect for the first time two clearly distinct types of debris emitted from the same interaction. A fraction of the debris is ejected directionally, following the target normal (rear and interaction side). The directional debris ejection towards the interaction side is larger than on the side of the target rear. The second type of debris is characterized by a more spherically uniform ejection, albeit with a small asymmetry that favours ejection towards the target rear side.

In many species with encapsulated larval development, the larvae play an active role in hatching. However, the factors that control when the larvae hatch from each egg-capsule within an egg-mass are largely unknown. Advanced egg-masses of the gastropod Crepipatella peruviana were used to determine the hatching time of capsules from each egg-mass. After each female was detached, the egg-mass was also removed from the substrate and all capsules were then counted and measured. All capsules were examined to determine the time of hatching and the order in which capsules hatched from each egg-mass. Larvae were collected from each hatched egg-capsule and the number, size and weight of larvae from each capsule were determined. After 50–60% of the capsules from each egg-mass had hatched, the same characteristics of the remaining unhatched larvae from sister capsules were documented. Larvae were found to have hatched when they reached a size of 354 ± 22 μm (n = 245). Larvae from capsules within the same egg-mass hatched over a period of up to 12-days. The order of hatching in capsules from the same egg-mass was determined by larval content: capsules with fewer larvae and smaller capsules with heavier larvae hatched first. The hatching from one capsule in any given egg-mass did not induce the hatching of its sister capsules. Furthermore, hatching also occurred successfully in the mother absence, suggesting that this process is largely or completely controlled by the encapsulated larvae, although a possible maternal role in synchronizing hatching cannot be excluded.

We used the PW high-repetition laser facility VEGA-3 at Centro de Láseres Pulsados in Salamanca, with the goal of studying the generation of radioisotopes using laser-driven proton beams. Various types of targets have been irradiated, including in particular several targets containing boron to generate α-particles through the hydrogen–boron fusion reaction. We have successfully identified γ-ray lines from several radioisotopes created by irradiation using laser-generated α-particles or protons including 43Sc, 44Sc, 48Sc, 7Be, 11C and 18F. We show that radioisotope generation can be used as a diagnostic tool to evaluate α-particle generation in laser-driven proton–boron fusion experiments. We also show the production of 11C radioisotopes, $\approx 6 \times 10^{6}$, and of 44Sc radioisotopes, $\approx 5 \times 10^{4}$ per laser shot. This result can open the way to develop laser-driven radiation sources of radioisotopes for medical applications.