Multi-wavelength observations of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) during bright outbursts reveal many details about the coupling of their inflows and outflows. However, only high angular resolution radio observations are able to resolve and track the motion and variability of individual jet ejecta. We present the results of our intensive VLBI campaign on the black-hole low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) Swift J1727.8-1613 during its 2023-2024 outburst. We observed the repeated quenching and re-establishment of the highly-extended continuous core jet during several transitions between hard-intermediate and soft-intermediate states, and the repeated ejection of transient jets. Using time-dependent visibility model fitting, we tracked the motion of nine discrete jet knots, obtaining some of the most precise measurements of transient jet proper motions and ejection dates in an LMXB. These ejecta were only detectable for a short time with VLBI, and some showed rapid intra-observation flux density variability that was not captured in image reconstructions. For the first time, we use time-dependent visibility modelling to fit a piecewise model for the jet knot flux densities, allowing us to create complex, non-parametric light curves of their intra-observation variability. We observed the launching of multiple ejecta across several state transitions, however, we could not identify a consistent signature of jet ejection in the available X-ray intensity or hardness data. We constrained the intrinsic speeds and bulk Lorentz factors of the jet knots, finding that Swift J1727.8-1613 launched both mildly relativistic (βΓ<1) and highly relativistic (βΓ>2) ejecta throughout its outburst. We used their proper motions to constrain a posterior distribution for the maximum inclination angle of the jet axis, which had 50th, 84th, and 99th percentiles of 40°, 50°, and 66°, respectively. These unique observations of the repeated ejection of transient jets by a single LMXB reveal that fixed parameters such as black-hole mass, black-hole spin, and spin-orbit misalignment do not uniquely determine the varying properties of transient jets, particularly their speeds and Lorentz factors.

Objectives/Goals: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with unclear biological causes, potentially influenced by the gut-brain axis. This study sought to explore the infant gut microbiome to identify whether specific changes in the microbiota during early infancy are associated with later diagnosis of ASD. Methods/Study Population: Study participants included a subset of children from MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies – Learning Early Signs), an ASD enriched-risk cohort study. Infant stool samples were collected from these children between 0 and 7 months of age. At 36 months of age, children were clinically classified as having ASD (n=42), or non-typically developing without ASD (Non-TD, n=16), or typically developing (TD, n=79). The fecal microbiome was investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to evaluate whether the gut microbial composition during early infancy was associated with later neurodevelopmental diagnoses. Results/Anticipated Results: Overall, no significant differences in alpha diversity or beta diversity, or bacterial abundance, were found between groups of infants who developed ASD or Non-TD compared to those who went on to have TD. However, our findings highlight some early alterations in gut microbial composition during infancy that may relate to later neurodevelopmental outcomes. For example, infants who developed ASD showed slightly lower Veillonella and Flavonifractor levels, suggesting minor early microbial distinctions potentially linked to neurodevelopment. These differences are less pronounced than the effects of delivery mode or diet on the infant gut microbiome. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Although we found no significant differences in bacterial abundance in early infancy linked to later neurodevelopmental outcomes, our results highlight minor microbial shifts that align with findings in older children with ASD, which may indicate early gut microbiome dysbiosis, but further research is needed.

Objectives/Goals: Cancer cachexia is a wasting condition common in pancreatic cancer, marked by loss of muscle, fat, and bone and driven by inflammation. Immune signals contribute to this damage. This study examines how muscle-resident macrophages may regulate muscle loss in pancreatic cancer cachexia. Methods/Study Population: To identify resident macrophages in cachectic muscle, Lyve1Cre-Rosa26;TdTomato mice were orthotopically transplanted with KPCML1 pancreatic cancer cells. Resident macrophages were analyzed via flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. For muscle-specific macrophage ablation, lyve1-DTR mice (C57BL/6 background) received tumor cell injections followed by intramuscular diphtheria toxin (DTA) in the TA muscle. Quantitative RT-PCR assessed gene expression from whole muscle lysates and flow-sorted TdTomato+ cells. Results/Anticipated Results: We show that the population of muscle-resident macrophages increased as tumor burden increased. Further findings reveal that the ablation of the resident population of macrophages exacerbates muscle loss, suggesting that muscle-resident macrophages exude a protective phenotype on skeletal myofibers. This was confirmed with increased expression of atrophy biomarkers, MuRF1 and Atrogin-1, in muscles from DTA-injected mice. Additionally, preliminary data revealed an expansion of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) expression in muscle-resident macrophages, suggesting that TLR7 signaling may contribute to their phenotypic regulation in cachexia. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Results suggest muscle-resident macrophages protect against cachexia-induced atrophy via anti-inflammatory activity. Future work will define their signals and targets. Given TLR7 upregulation, we will test if TLR7 signaling regulates their phenotype and contributes to muscle atrophy.

Most US chief local prosecutors are elected, presenting foundational accountability questions. Prosecutors have significant incumbency advantages and wield broad discretion over criminal charges and plea deals. Our study illuminates a knowledge deficit regarding prosecutors. National and state surveys show that most Americans do not know core prosecutorial functions and cannot correctly identify their prosecutors, likely stemming from poor information provision. Among low-information respondents, job approval of prosecutors is lower compared to high-information respondents. This uncovers an accountability paradox: (1) the public knows little about prosecutors, (2) knowing less decreases prosecutor approval, but (3) most prosecutors are reelected time and again.

Migration challenges how we think about justice and state sovereignty. This is no less the case for political theorists, and this review symposium focuses on the work of one of the foremost political theorists working on these questions today. In his latest book – Strangers in Our Midst: The Political Philosophy of Migration – David Miller argues for a realist approach to migration, an approach that takes into consideration not just what we ought to do, but also the actual possibilities of implementing justice. In this regard, the relationship between (im)migration and state sovereignty and democracy is central. Miller’s approach is a ‘political’ one that seeks to take into consideration the fact that we live in political communities with (more or less) shared values, and that these political communities cannot easily be disentangled from the liberal democratic institutions of these states. In their reviews of Miller’s book, Sarah Song, Annie Stilz and Kieran Oberman all take issues with particular aspects of Miller’s approach, while also accepting the general thrust to think about migration in the context of state and popular sovereignty.

Effective waterhemp management in crop rotations that include sugar beet requires a proactive approach, starting with robust weed management in the preceding crop. Sugar beet is vulnerable to weeds due to its poor competitiveness during its early growth stages and a limited availability of effective herbicide options within this rotation. This research aimed to evaluate multi-tactic weed management strategies, including planting soybean in narrow rows with low- and high-input treatments, and a high-input treatment plus harvest-time weed seed control (HWSC) simulation, on waterhemp control and seed production in soybean, and their effects on waterhemp density in the following sugar beet crop. Field experiments were conducted from 2021 to 2023 in Franklin, Moorhead, and Rosemount, Minnesota. Soybean planted in narrow rows closed the canopy earlier at Franklin in 2021 and at Moorhead in 2022. Soybean row spacing did not affect waterhemp control, density, biomass, or seed production at any site-year. A high-input treatment consisting of flumioxazin applied preemergence followed by (fb) an early postemergence application of lactofen + acetochlor fb a late-postemergence application of 2,4-D + glyphosate provided ≥95% waterhemp control at harvest at all site-years and seed production was reduced to 0 seeds m−2 at Franklin and Rosemount. At those locations, waterhemp control at harvest was comparable among all high-input herbicide treatments. Soybean planted in narrow rows yielded 9.4% and 18.5% more than soybean planted in wide rows at Franklin and Rosemount, respectively, while no yield difference was observed at Moorhead. Waterhemp emergence in the subsequent season’s sugar beet crop fell by 72% to 92% at the Franklin site in 2022, Moorhead in 2023, and Rosemount in 2023 after high-input herbicide treatments. However, adding HWSC to a high-input treatment did not result in a further reduction of waterhemp density. In this research, 1 yr of effective waterhemp control with high-input herbicide treatments in soybean reduced waterhemp emergence in the following season’s sugar beet crop.

We corroborate findings showing a disparity in one’s willingness to update political beliefs in the face of counterevidence among bilinguals, examining the role of the Foreign Language effect (FLe) on belief maintenance. 133 Liberal English-Spanish bilinguals and 70 English monolinguals showed that belief change on political issues is lesser than on nonpolitical issues following counterevidence. Bilinguals, however, showed greater change in the second language (L2) compared to the first and greater belief change than the monolinguals overall. The second language also led to slower reading and rating times across all conditions, which corresponded with greater belief change. Among bilinguals using their L2, those most likely to show belief change reported having a less meaningful connection to the foreign language.