Food is a key lever for human and planetary health(1). Shifting to more plant-based foods supports environmentally sustainable, healthy and affordable diets(1). Taste preferences are formed in early childhood(2), presenting an opportunity for influencing plant-based food intake throughout the lifespan. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) are important food environments due to high attendance rates for long hours(3), where children receive half of their daily nutritional needs(4). This study aimed to understand plant-based vs animal-based protein food provision in ECEC, their contribution to key nutrients, and their costs. Two weeks’ menus and recipes were collected from Victorian ECEC between 2018 and 2019 and entered into Foodworks10 for nutritional analysis. Desktop analysis categorised meals (lunches and snacks) by protein type as animal-based (red meat, white meat, fish, eggs, dairy, processed meat), plant-based (legumes, protein-enriched plant milk, seeds), or combined (both). Recipe items were priced at a metropolitan supermarket in March 2024 to determine cost per child per day and cost per child per lunch meal. A restricted maximum-likelihood mixed-effects model was used to estimate mean differences in lunch meal costs between the different meal protein types, adjusted for serving size. Iron bioavailability was assessed using previously published algorithms. Total daily energy, protein, calcium and iron were compared to 50% of the Australian Recommended Daily Intake for 2–3 year olds(5). Eighteen centres provided menus (n = 180 days, 540 meals). Preliminary findings indicated that 73% of meals contained animal-based protein, 7% a combination of animal and plant, and 4% plant-based protein. Animal-based protein meals most often contained dairy foods (64%, n = 253), followed by red meat (13%, n = 53). Plant-based protein meals mostly contained legumes (85%, n = 17). Mean (± SD) iron provision was below recommendations (2.86 mg ± 1.47 mg). Total protein (26 g ± 12 g) and calcium provision (271 mg ± 137.21 mg) were above recommendations. Mean food cost per child per day was AUD 2.46 (± AUD 1.09) and mean lunch meal cost per child was AUD 1.36 (± AUD 0.84). Animal-based lunches were AUD 0.45 more expensive than plant-based (p ≤ 0.01, 95% CI: AUD 0.15–AUD 0.73). These findings highlight very low provision of plant-based proteins in ECEC menus. Low red meat and iron provision suggests that plant-based protein should not displace current red meat on menus. High dairy and more than sufficient calcium may indicate that ‘meat-free meals’ are predominantly dairy-based, providing an opportunity for plant-based proteins in these meals. Plant-based protein lunches were a third cheaper than animal-based counterparts, suggesting an affordable option. Young children attending ECEC settings are currently missing the opportunity for exposure to plant-based proteins as healthy, environmentally sustainable and affordable additions to menus.

We investigate the deformation, dynamics and rheology of a single and a suspension of elastic capsules in inertial shear flow using high-fidelity particle-resolved simulations. For a single capsule in the shear flow, we elucidate the interplay of flow inertia and viscosity ratio, revealing the mechanism behind the stretching of capsule surface during tank-treading motion and the sign changes in normal stress differences with increasing inertia. When examining capsule suspensions, we thoroughly discuss the impact of volume fraction on average deformation, diffusion and rheology. Notably, we observe the formation of bridge structures due to hydrodynamic interactions, which enhance the inhomogeneity of the microstructure and alter the surface stress distribution within the suspension. We identify a critical Reynolds number range that marks the transition of capsule diffusion from non-inertial to inertial regimes. Furthermore, we reveal close connections between the behaviour of individual capsules and dense suspensions, particularly regarding capsule deformation and dynamics. Additionally, we propose multiple new empirical correlations for predicting the deformation factor of a single capsule and the relative viscosity of the suspension. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex behaviour of elastic capsules in inertial flows, informing the design of more accurate and efficient inertial microfluidic systems.

ABSTRACT IMPACT: Cholecystokinin-B Receptor -Mediates Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with the use proglumide. Proglumide is a non-selective antagonistic drug therefore, strategies that block signaling at the CCK-BR may provide to be a novel therapeutic option for Hepatocellular Carcinoma treatment OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Cholecystokinin (CCK)and gastrin mediate the growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) through CCK-R and interruption of this signaling pathway could decrease HCC. CCK-Receptors are overexpressed in HCC and proliferation may be mediated through CCK-B. Blockade of the CCK-BR with proglumide decreased both growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: RNA was extracted from murine Hepa1-6, RIL-175 and human HepG2 cells and was evaluated by qRT-PCR for expression of CCK-AR, CCK-BR and gastrin. CCK-R protein expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. HCC cells were treated in vitro with CCK peptide, the CCK-AR antagonist or the CCK-BR antagonist. Proliferation of selective CCK-R KO cells was compared to that of wild-type cells. To determine the effect of a CCK-R antagonist on tumor growth in vivo two cohorts of mice bearing subcutaneous Hepa1-6 or RIL-175 HCC tumors were treated with an oral bioavailable CCK-R antagonist proglumide or untreated water for 3-4 weeks. The mice bearing Hepa1-6 tumors were placed on a high-fat diet to raise blood CCK levels. Mice bearing RIL-175 tumors were fed standard chow to determine if proglumide could block autocrine growth by gastrin. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The mRNA expression of CCK-AR, CCK-BR and gastrin were increased 80-90-fold in all HCC cell lines compared to that of normal liver. CCK-BRs were detected on >85% of the cells by flow cytometry. CCK peptide (1nM) stimulated HCC growth in vitro in both wild-type cells and in CCK-AR KO cells but not in CCK-BR KO cells. CCK-BR antagonist blocked CCK-stimulated growth in vitro but the CCK-AR antagonist did not, suggesting that the CCK-BR was responsible for mediating proliferation. In vivo tumor growth was significantly reduced with proglumide treatment by 70% (p<0.05) in Hepa1-6 and by 73% (p<0.001) in RIL-75 tumors, respectively. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: CCK-Rs are overexpressed in HCC and proliferation appears to be mediated through the CCK-BR. Downregulation with CRISPR Cas9 or blockade of the CCK-BR with an antagonist decreases growth in vitro and proglumide therapy decreases tumor growth in vivo. Strategies that block signaling at the CCK-BR maybe a novel therapeutic option for HCC treatment.

Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2–4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sensitive band of current detectors. We present the design concept and science case for a Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory (NEMO): a gravitational-wave interferometer optimised to study nuclear physics with merging neutron stars. The concept uses high-circulating laser power, quantum squeezing, and a detector topology specifically designed to achieve the high-frequency sensitivity necessary to probe nuclear matter using gravitational waves. Above 1 kHz, the proposed strain sensitivity is comparable to full third-generation detectors at a fraction of the cost. Such sensitivity changes expected event rates for detection of post-merger remnants from approximately one per few decades with two A+ detectors to a few per year and potentially allow for the first gravitational-wave observations of supernovae, isolated neutron stars, and other exotica.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of cirrhosis in the world for which no anti-fibrotic therapies exist. We hypothesized that BMS-22 and maraviroc (MVC), chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and 5 (CCR5) antagonists, respectively, would diminish the fibrogenic activity of "fat-exposed" murine pHSCs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: pHSCs were isolated from livers of 6 week old male mice following 4 weeks on a NASH-inducing choline-deficient high fat diet (CDAHFD, “fat-exposed”) or standard diet (SD) and passaged in vitro. Early passage (6-12) pHSCs were plate-adhered and TGF-b-treated (10ng/mL) to maximally activate their pro-fibrogenic genes, collagen 1α1 (Col1A1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), or α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2). CDAHFD and SD pHSCs were then treated for 48 hours with increasing doses of BMS-22 or MVC (range: 0.3-120ng/mL) to determine (1) the degree of attenuation of the pro-fibrogenic response as measured by qPCR of fibrogenic genes (Col1A1, TIMP1,ACTA2); (2) enhancement of a fibrolytic response as measured by qPCR of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2, 9 and 13 genes; and (3) pHSC migration using the scratch assay. Cell viability and CCR2 and CCR5 gene expression in response to escalating doses of antagonists were also measured. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Plate- and TGF-b activated CDAHFD pHSCs had a 2-fold greater, dose-dependent attenuation of their pro-fibrogenic activity in response to BMS-CCR2-22 and MVC, when compared with plate- and TGF-b activated SD pHSCs, as measured by reductions in collagen 1α1 (Col1A1) and α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) gene expression. TIMP1 gene expression was unaffected by drug treatment for 48 hours. Cell viability was not affected up to doses of 30ng/mL of each drug. pHSCs also demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in CCR2, CCR5 and MMP-9 gene expression in response to surface receptor antagonism. Migration assays comparing CDAHFD and SD pHSCs in response to escalating doses of MVC and BMS-22 are ongoing and expected to demonstrate a significantly decreased migratory capacity of CDAHFD pHSCs than SD pHSCs in response to therapy, reflecting the increased susceptibility of the “fat-exposed” pHSCs to anti-fibrotic therapy than normal pHSCs. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Anti-fibrotic drugs that dampen pro-fibrogenic activities of “fat-exposed” pHSCs are urgently needed. CCR2 and CCR5 antagonists, BMS-22 and MVC, respectively, can selectively dampen the pro-fibrogenic response of fat-exposed pHSCs, and must be considered for future trials in human NASH. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DESCRIPTION: Dr. Jill Smith has a patent licensing agreement with Immune Therapeutics, Inc.

As part of a process to improve the quality of care, the French Society of Biological Psychiatry developed recommendations for clinical practice in bipolar disorder.

A comprehensive study of the fundamental characteristics of leading-edge separation in rarefied hypersonic flows is undertaken and its salient features are elucidated. Separation of a boundary layer undergoing strong expansion is typical in many practical hypersonic applications such as base flows of re-entry vehicles and flows over deflected control surfaces. Boundary layer growth under such conditions is influenced by effects of rarefaction and thermal non-equilibrium, thereby differing significantly from the conventional no-slip Blasius type. A leading-edge separation configuration presents a fundamental case for studying the characteristics of such a flow separation but with minimal influence from a pre-existing boundary layer. In this work, direct simulation Monte Carlo computations have been performed to investigate flow separation and reattachment in a low-density hypersonic flow over such a configuration. Distinct features of leading-edge flow, limited boundary layer growth, separation, shear layer, flow structure in the recirculation region and reattachment are all explained in detail. The fully numerical shear layer profile after separation is compared against a semi-theoretical profile, which is obtained using the numerical separation profile as the initial condition on existing theoretical concepts of shear layer analysis based on continuum flow separation. Experimental studies have been carried out to determine the surface heat flux using thin-film gauges and computations showed good agreement with the experimental data. Flow visualisation experiments using the non-intrusive planar laser-induced fluorescence technique have been performed to image the fluorescence of nitric oxide, from which velocity and rotational temperature distributions of the separated flow region are determined.

Optimising short- and long-term outcomes for children and patients with CHD depends on continued scientific discovery and translation to clinical improvements in a coordinated effort by multiple stakeholders. Several challenges remain for clinicians, researchers, administrators, patients, and families seeking continuous scientific and clinical advancements in the field. We describe a new integrated research and improvement network – Cardiac Networks United – that seeks to build upon the experience and success achieved to-date to create a new infrastructure for research and quality improvement that will serve the needs of the paediatric and congenital heart community in the future. Existing gaps in data integration and barriers to improvement are described, along with the mission and vision, organisational structure, and early objectives of Cardiac Networks United. Finally, representatives of key stakeholder groups – heart centre executives, research leaders, learning health system experts, and parent advocates – offer their perspectives on the need for this new collaborative effort.

The morphology and structures of intergrowth precipitates in some Norwegian aventurinized plagioclases have been described in previous publications; data collected during an investigation of a wide variety of heat treatments upon the same specimens are now reported. In detail the behaviour of different feldspar crystals is highly individualistic, though there is a common pattern in sub-solidus reaction(s) with the feldspar; even if the identification of the products is uncertain, it is this process which causes the apparent ‘homogenization’ of the feldspar.

Some comparisons can be made between the present studies and the more limited experiments of earlier workers, and suggestions for reconciling experimental data are discussed. On the paragenesis of aventurinized feldspars, these heating experiments confirm that mechanism(s) are complex, but that exsolution from an originally iron-enriched feldspar by cooling in the solid state is unlikely to be of more than peripheral importance.

Collaborative quality improvement and learning networks have amended healthcare quality and value across specialities. Motivated by these successes, the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3) was founded in late 2014 with an emphasis on improving outcomes of paediatric cardiology patients within cardiac acute care units; acute care encompasses all hospital-based inpatient non-intensive care. PAC3 aims to deliver higher quality and greater value care by facilitating the sharing of ideas and building alignment among its member institutions. These aims are intentionally aligned with the work of other national clinical collaborations, registries, and parent advocacy organisations. The mission and early work of PAC3 is exemplified by the formal partnership with the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC4), as well as the creation of a clinical registry, which links with the PC4 registry to track practices and outcomes across the entire inpatient encounter from admission to discharge. Capturing the full inpatient experience allows detection of outcome differences related to variation in care delivered outside the cardiac ICU and development of benchmarks for cardiac acute care. We aspire to improve patient outcomes such as morbidity, hospital length of stay, and re-admission rates, while working to advance patient and family satisfaction. We will use quality improvement methodologies consistent with the Model for Improvement to achieve these aims. Membership currently includes 36 centres across North America, out of which 26 are also members of PC4. In this report, we describe the development of PAC3, including the philosophical, organisational, and infrastructural elements that will enable a paediatric acute care cardiology learning network.

Across the globe, the implementation of quality improvement science and collaborative learning has positively affected the care and outcomes for children born with CHD. These efforts have advanced the collective expertise and performance of inter-professional healthcare teams. In this review, we highlight selected quality improvement initiatives and strategies impacting the field of cardiovascular care and describe implications for future practice and research. The continued leveraging of technology, commitment to data transparency, focus on team-based practice, and recognition of cultural norms and preferences ensure the success of sustainable models of global collaboration.

The transformation of dry snow to firn is described by the transition between densification by deformationless restacking and densification by power-law creep. The observed decrease with temperature of the density at the snow-firn transition seems to result from the competition between grain-boundary sliding and power-law creep. These two densification processess occur concurrently in snow, although there are probably micro-regions in which sliding alone occurs. Validation of a geometrical densification model developed for ceramics has been obtained from densification data from several Antarctic and Greenland sites and from the characterization of the structure of polar firn.

A K-band (18-25 GHz) reflected-wave ruby maser (Moore and Clauss 1979) has been borrowed from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory for radio astronomy use on the NASA 64-m antenna of the Deep Space Network at the Tidbinbilla Tracking Station, near Canberra. The purpose of the installation is to provide additional sensitive spectral line, continuum, and VLBI capabilities in the southern hemisphere. Previous measurements at 22.3 GHz (λ = 13.5 mm) determined that the Tidbinbilla 64-m antenna has a peak aperture efficiency of ˜22%, a well-behaved beam shape and consistent pointing (Fourikis and Jauncey 1979). Before installing the maser on the antenna a cooled (circulator) switch was added to provide a beam-switching capability, and a spectral line receiver following the maser was incorporated. The system was assembled and tested at JPL in late 1980 and installed at Tidbinbilla early in 1981. We give here a brief description and present some of the first line observations made in February and March 1981. Extensive line and continuum observations are planned with the present system and a program is under way to determine the telescope pointing characteristics.

Echinacea pallida (EPAL), a herbaceous flowering plant with immunomodulatory properties, has been chosen to determine the pre- and post-supplementary effects on the growth performances, bacterial community, blood parameters and immunity of growing rabbits. The same Grimaud does (14-week-old) from the studied in the first part of this study were randomly divided into two groups (n=50/group). The first group was fed a basal diet without supplementation (Control group, C) while the another group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 3 g EPAL/kg diet (Echinacea group, E). From the second parturition, 80 weaned kits (40 from the C does and 40 from the E does) were randomly assigned to four groups of 20 animals each and were fed a growing commercial diet supplemented with or without a 3 g EPAL/kg diet: the CC group (rabbits from the C does fed the control diet), CE group (rabbits from the C does fed the supplemented diet), EC (rabbits from the E does fed the control diet) and EE group (rabbits from the E does fed the supplemented diet). The dietary EPAL treatment did not affect the growth performance. Ten fattening rabbits from each group were selected to evaluate the bacterial community and blood parameters, while the remaining rabbits (n=10/group) were used to study phagocytosis and the humoral immune response. The variability was evaluated from hard faeces at 35, 49 and 89 days, and the caecal content at 89 days. The variability of the bacterial community of the EE group was higher than that of the other groups. The phagocytic activity was higher in the CE and EE groups than in the CC and EC ones (30.9 and 29.7 v. 21.2 and 21.8%; P<0.05), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed for the blood parameters or humoral immune response against vaccination (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) at 95 days old which the serum was collected at 88, 102, 109, 116 and 123 days old. In conclusion, no impact of EPAL dietary supplementation has been observed on the growth performances, bacterial community, blood parameters or humoral immune responses in growing rabbits, except for an increase in phagocytic activities.