Tropical peatlands are important global carbon sinks, and the ways they differ from adjacent forest ecosystems in environmental functions have not been well characterized. Our study investigated family-level floristic and soil differences between adjacent paired patches of intact waterlogged peat forests and kerangas (free-draining heath) forests in Brunei Darussalam. For each patch, we examined total and labile nutrient concentrations in soils, tree stand diversity and structural characteristics, functional traits of live leaves and leaf litter, and nutrient resorption during leaf senescence. We found that total nutrients were more abundant in peat and kerangas humus than in kerangas sand, while available nutrients were highest in kerangas humus, suggesting that anoxic conditions in peat soils impair mineralization of nutrients to available forms but do not lead to losses of nutrient capital. We also found significant compositional differences among those families that occur frequently in both peat and kerangas plots. Despite this, family-level measures of tree diversity and structural characteristics, including tree abundance and stand basal area, did not differ between forest types. Similarly, leaf and litter functional traits and nutrient resorption were invariant across forest types, indicating low plasticity of leaf characteristics associated with plant nutrition. This suggests that belowground carbon accumulation in peatlands is disconnected from aboveground plant community characteristics and is likely driven by belowground processes.

The effect dietary FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di- and mono-saccharides and polyols) in healthy adults is poorly documented. This study compared specific effects of low and moderate FODMAP intake (relative to typical intake) on the faecal microbiome, participant-reported outcomes and gastrointestinal physiology. In a single-blind cross-over study, 25 healthy participants were randomised to one of two provided diets, ‘low’ (LFD) <4 g/d or ‘moderate’ (MFD) 14-18 g/d, for 3 weeks each, with ≥2-week washout between. Endpoints were assessed in the last week of each diet. The faecal bacterial/archaeal and fungal communities were characterised in 18 participants in whom high quality DNA was extracted by 16S rRNA and ITS2 profiling, and by metagenomic sequencing. There were no differences in gastrointestinal or behavioural symptoms (fatigue, depression, anxiety), or in faecal characteristics and biochemistry (including short-chain fatty acids). Mean colonic transit time (telemetry) was 23 (95% confidence interval: 15, 30) h with the MFD compared with 34 (24, 44) h with LFD (n=12; p=0.009). Fungal diversity (richness) increased in response to MFD, but bacterial richness was reduced, coincident with expansion of the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Anaerostipes, and Eubacterium. Metagenomic analysis showed expansion of polyol-utilising Bifidobacteria, and Anaerostipes with MFD. In conclusion, short-term alterations of FODMAP intake are not associated with symptomatic, stool or behavioural manifestations in healthy adults, but remarkable shifts within the bacterial and mycobiome populations were observed. These findings emphasise the need to quantitatively assess all microbial Domains and their interrelationships to improve understanding of consequences of diet on gut function.

Objectives/Goals: The never in mitosis kinase (NEK) family regulates vital processes, namely cell cycle progression, but their potential as therapeutic targets in TNBC has not been fully explored. Our studies aim to develop a toolkit to investigate the functional roles of NEKs in pathologies including carcinogenesis. Methods/Study Population: To assess differential NEK expression in normal and tumor tissues and correlation of gene expression with patient survival, we used Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan–Meier Plotter (KMPlot) pan-cancer analysis, respectively. Basal NEK protein levels were determined by immunoblot across a panel of cell lines, including breast cancer, osteosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and non-cancerous cells, to identify appropriate systems for evaluation of NEK function. Doxycycline-inducible cell lines were generated by transduction with lentiviral stocks of NEK shRNA and overexpression constructs and antibiotic selection. Expression was analyzed by qPCR and immunoblot. Results/Anticipated Results: Expression of NEK2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 11 was higher in breast tumors compared to normal tissue by GEPIA analysis. Further examination using KMPlot showed a correlation between elevated NEK6 expression and decreased overall survival in patients with aggressive cancers. As an initial proof-of-concept study, we analyzed NEK6 protein expression in breast cancer cells. Levels of NEK6 were elevated in TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231) compared to hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer cells (MCF7). Using complementary approaches to investigate the functional role of NEK6 in breast cancer, we depleted NEK6 expression using shRNAs in TNBC cells and expressed NEK6 in HR+ cells Discussion/Significance of Impact: Because kinase dysregulation promotes oncogenesis and metastasis, targeting kinases is a key strategy in therapeutic development. A NEK-specific molecular toolkit allows researchers to elucidate NEK functions and contributions to carcinogenesis, promoting advancement of novel therapies.

The over consumption of high fat, sugar, and salt foods increases population risk of overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The food environment mediates consumer food choices and thus plays an important role in diet quality and related health outcomes. The built food environment, where most people in high-income countries access their food, has been found to be obesogenic. The aim of this review was to investigate the healthfulness of the supermarket food environment. Supermarkets are an important source of healthy foods in the built food environment. However, there are disparities in access to supermarkets, and in several countries, supermarkets located in areas of higher deprivation have an unhealthier consumer food environment. This double burden limits access to healthy foods amongst lower socio-economic groups, contributing to widening disparities in food-related ill health. There is a strong body of evidence supporting improved purchase of healthy foods by increasing the healthfulness of the supermarket consumer food environment. Voluntary measures co-designed with retailers to improve the healthfulness of the supermarket consumer food environment through restriction of product placement and private label reformulation have led to an increase in healthier food purchases. However, evidence also shows that mandatory, structural changes are most effective for improving disparities in the access to healthy food. Future research and policy related to the food environment should consider equitable access to healthy sustainable foods in built and online supermarkets.

Two studies were conducted in 2022 and 2023 near Rocky Mount and Clayton, NC, to determine the optimal granular ammonium sulfate (AMS) rate and application timing for pyroxasulfone-coated AMS. In the rate study, AMS rates included 161, 214, 267, 321, 374, 428, and 481 kg ha−1, equivalent to 34, 45, 56, 67, 79, 90, and 101 kg N ha−1, respectively. All rates were coated with pyroxasulfone at 118 g ai ha−1 and topdressed onto 5- to 7-leaf cotton. In the timing study, pyroxasulfone (118 g ai ha−1) was coated on AMS and topdressed at 321 kg ha−1 (67 kg N ha−1) onto 5- to 7-leaf, 9- to 11-leaf, and first bloom cotton. In both studies, weed control and cotton tolerance to pyroxasulfone-coated AMS were compared to pyroxasulfone applied POST and POST-directed. The check in both studies received non-herbicide-treated AMS (321 kg ha−1). Before treatment applications, all plots (including the check) were maintained weed-free with glyphosate and glufosinate. In both studies, pyroxasulfone applied POST was most injurious (8% to 16%), while pyroxasulfone-coated AMS resulted in ≤4% injury. Additionally, no differences in cotton lint yield were observed in either study. With the exception of the lowest rate of AMS (161 kg ha−1; 79%), all AMS rates coated with pyroxasulfone controlled Palmer amaranth ≥83%, comparably to pyroxasulfone applied POST (92%) and POST-directed (89%). In the timing study, the application method did not affect Palmer amaranth control; however, applications made at the mid- and late timings outperformed early applications. These results indicate that pyroxasulfone-coated AMS can control Palmer amaranth comparably to pyroxasulfone applied POST and POST-directed, with minimal risk of cotton injury. However, the application timing could warrant additional treatment to achieve adequate late-season weed control.

The intraclass correlation, ρ, is a parameter featured in much psychological research. Two commonly used estimators of ρ, the maximum likelihood and least squares estimators, are known to be negatively biased. Olkin and Pratt (1958) derived the minimum variance unbiased estimator of the intraclass correlation, but use of this estimator has apparently been impeded by the lack of a closed form solution. This note briefly reviews the unbiased estimator and gives a FORTRAN 77 subroutine to calculate it.

An experiment was conducted in 2022 and 2023 near Rocky Mount and Clayton, NC, to evaluate residual herbicide-coated fertilizer for cotton tolerance and Palmer amaranth control. Treatments included acetochlor, atrazine, dimethenamid-P, diuron, flumioxazin, fluometuron, fluridone, fomesafen, linuron, metribuzin, pendimethalin, pyroxasulfone, pyroxasulfone + carfentrazone, S-metolachlor, and sulfentrazone. Each herbicide was individually coated on granular ammonium sulfate (AMS) and top-dressed at 321 kg ha−1 (67 kg N ha−1) onto 5- to 7-leaf cotton. The check plots received the equivalent rate of nonherbicide-treated AMS. Before top-dress, all plots (including the check) were treated with glyphosate and glufosinate to control previously emerged weeds. All herbicides except metribuzin resulted in transient cotton injury. Cotton response to metribuzin varied by year and location. In 2022, metribuzin caused 11% to 39% and 8% to 17% injury at the Clayton and Rocky Mount locations, respectively. In 2023, metribuzin caused 13% to 32% injury at Clayton and 73% to 84% injury at Rocky Mount. Pyroxasulfone (91%), pyroxasulfone + carfentrazone (89%), fomesafen (87%), fluridone (86%), flumioxazin (86%), and atrazine (85%) controlled Palmer amaranth ≥85%. Pendimethalin and fluometuron were the least effective treatments, resulting in 58% and 62% control, respectively. As anticipated, early season metribuzin injury translated into yield loss; plots treated with metribuzin yielded 640 kg ha−1 and were comparable to yields after linuron (790 kg ha−1) was used. These findings suggest that with the exception of metribuzin, residual herbicides coated onto AMS may be suitable and effective in cotton production, providing growers with additional modes of action for late-season control of multiple herbicide–resistant Palmer amaranth.

NASA’s all-sky survey mission, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is specifically engineered to detect exoplanets that transit bright stars. Thus far, TESS has successfully identified approximately 400 transiting exoplanets, in addition to roughly 6 000 candidate exoplanets pending confirmation. In this study, we present the results of our ongoing project, the Validation of Transiting Exoplanets using Statistical Tools (VaTEST). Our dedicated effort is focused on the confirmation and characterisation of new exoplanets through the application of statistical validation tools. Through a combination of ground-based telescope data, high-resolution imaging, and the utilisation of the statistical validation tool known as TRICERATOPS, we have successfully discovered eight potential super-Earths. These planets bear the designations: TOI-238b (1.61$^{+0.09} _{-0.10}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-771b (1.42$^{+0.11} _{-0.09}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-871b (1.66$^{+0.11} _{-0.11}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-1467b (1.83$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-1739b (1.69$^{+0.10} _{-0.08}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-2068b (1.82$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$ R$_\oplus$), TOI-4559b (1.42$^{+0.13} _{-0.11}$ R$_\oplus$), and TOI-5799b (1.62$^{+0.19} _{-0.13}$ R$_\oplus$). Among all these planets, six of them fall within the region known as ‘keystone planets’, which makes them particularly interesting for study. Based on the location of TOI-771b and TOI-4559b below the radius valley we characterised them as likely super-Earths, though radial velocity mass measurements for these planets will provide more details about their characterisation. It is noteworthy that planets within the size range investigated herein are absent from our own solar system, making their study crucial for gaining insights into the evolutionary stages between Earth and Neptune.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This study examined patient perceptions on the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of conventional and complementary/behavioral pain strategies that can be offered in the ED setting including physical therapy, mindfulness, acupuncture, and yoga. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We conducted and recorded semi-structured interviews with 30 patients who presented to the ED with musculoskeletal pain. Interviews focused on patients’ perceptions of NP pain treatments, barriers/facilitators to utilization, and recommendations that would promote engagement. A hierarchical coding system was developed and refined using the interview guide, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and preliminary review of the transcripts. The iterative process of developing the coding system allowed us to identify preliminary themes. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Patients believe education on pain and the mind-body connection would give a sense of pain control. Likely barriers to engaging at the ED include lights, noise, interruptions, and uncertainty of their medical status. Post-discharge NP treatment barriers are financial and logistical. Engagement can be facilitated by a desire to avoid opioids, familiarity with meditation practices, and consistent positive communication with the health care team. Patients desire evidence on effectiveness, including testimonials, and suggested NP techniques should be introduced early, with written materials used for post-discharge referral. Patients prefer in-person treatment but would appreciate a virtual option. The initial session should occur in-person to build trust and facilitate virtual session engagement. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Patients are willing to engage in nonpharmacological pain treatment, however the unpredictable ED environment, uncertainty of their medical status, and financial and time constraints are significant barriers.

Flight crews’ capacity to conduct take-off and landing in near zero visibility conditions has been partially addressed by advanced surveillance and cockpit display technology. This capability is yet to be realised within the context of manoeuvring aircraft within airport terminal areas. In this paper the performance and workload benefits of user-centre designed visual and haptic taxi navigational cues, presented via a head-up display (HUD) and active sidestick, respectively, were evaluated in simulated taxiing trials by 12 professional pilots. In addition, the trials sought to examine pilot acceptance of side stick nose wheel steering. The HUD navigational cues demonstrated a significant task-specific benefit by reducing centreline deviation during turns and the frequency of major taxiway deviations. In parallel, the visual cues reduced self-report workload. Pilot’s appraisal of nose wheel steering by sidestick was positive, and active sidestick cues increased confidence in the multimodal guidance construct. The study presents the first examination of how a multimodal display, combining visual and haptic cues, could support the safety and efficiency in which pilots are able to conduct a taxi navigation task in low-visibility conditions.

Some physiological variables which could aid in assessing the welfare of beef cattle in feedlots were screened in this exploratory study. In two experiments, each of 42 days duration, the physiological responses of Bos taurus steers to three treatments were investigated: pasture (rotation between 1.5 hectare paddocks); a feedlot yard stocked at 12.0 m2 per head with a dry, firm pen surface; and a ‘high-density’ feedlot yard stocked at 6.0 m2 per head with a wet and muddy pen surface. Fourteen steers were used per group per experiment. Relative adrenal mass in both feedlot groups was 8-10% higher than in the pasture group, and this finding was supported by morphological measurements of the adrenal glands. Out of 17 immune variables examined, only serum IgA and the T-cell lymphocytes subpopulation WC+1 showed consistent differences between the feedlot and pasture groups. Interestingly, no differences were observed between the two feedlot treatments. It was concluded that although there may have been some disruption of epithelial/mucosal immunity, more support was required from other immune variables before it could be stated that the immune system was depressed and that pre-pathological states existed in the feedlot groups. However, measures of relative adrenal weight, adrenal index, serum IgA and WC1+ lymphocytes are good candidates for use in future welfare investigations of feedlot cattle.

Three experiments (N = 550) examined the effect of an interval construction elicitation method used in several expert elicitation studies on judgment accuracy. Participants made judgments about topics that were either searchable or unsearchable online using one of two order variations of the interval construction procedure. One group of participants provided their best judgment (one step) prior to constructing an interval (i.e., lower bound, upper bound, and a confidence rating that the correct value fell in the range provided), whereas another group of participants provided their best judgment last, after the three-step confidence interval was constructed. The overall effect of this elicitation method was not significant in 8 out of 9 univariate tests. Moreover, the calibration of confidence intervals was not affected by elicitation order. The findings warrant skepticism regarding the benefit of prior confidence interval construction for improving judgment accuracy.