Overcoming strong retention barriers of A- and V-series nerve agents on silica sorbents.

The present study explores the potential of silica solid phase extraction for gas chromatography mass spectrometric analyses of A- and V-series nerve agents. Owing to the presence of basic amidine and amine moieties, these analyte undergo strong ionic interactions with inherently acidic silica surfaces, producing poor recoveries. Subtle optimizations in the elution composition empowered the analytes to overcome the retention barriers from sorbent surfaces. Acetone containing 10 % (v/v) NH4OH effectively minimized strong analyte-sorbent interactions allowing good to excellent recoveries. Recoveries for A-series agents ranged from 88 to 96 %. VX, which is reported to be poorly recoverable from such sorbent matrices offered best data so far, reaching up to 74 % under optimized conditions. The method detection limits for the selected analytes in mass spectrometric analysis ranged from 47 to 171 ng/ml. Strong affinities of analytes towards silica sorbent were further exploited to expand the scope of analysis and establish the method's efficacy for a wide range of organic matrices. The applicability of the method to the real world applications was also validated in blind spiking exercises in diverse organic liquid samples received in 48th, 50th and 52nd proficiency tests conducted by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Public Mass Shootings: Counterfactual Trend Analysis of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.

Background: Assault weapon and large-capacity magazine bans are potential tools for policy makers to prevent public mass shootings. However, the efficacy of these bans is a continual source of debate. In an earlier study, we estimated the impact of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (FAWB) on the number of public mass shooting events in the United States. This study provides an updated assessment with 3 additional years of firearm surveillance data to characterize the longer-term effects. Objective: This study aims to estimate the impact of the FAWB on trends in public mass shootings from 1966 to 2022. Methods: We used linear regression to estimate the impact of the FAWB on the 4-year simple moving average of annual public mass shootings, defined by events with 4 or more deaths in 24 hours, not including the perpetrator. The study period spans 1966 to 2022. The model includes indicator variables for both the FAWB period (1995-2004) and the period after its removal (2005-2022). These indicators were interacted with a linear time trend. Estimates were controlled for the national homicide rate. After estimation, the model provided counterfactual estimates of public mass shootings if the FAWB was never imposed and if the FAWB remained in place. Results: The overall upward trajectory in the number of public mass shootings substantially fell while the FAWB was in place. These trends are specific to events in which the perpetrator used an assault weapon or large-capacity magazine. Point estimates suggest the FAWB prevented up to 5 public mass shootings while the ban was active. A continuation of the FAWB and large-capacity magazine ban would have prevented up to 38 public mass shootings, but the CIs become wider as time moves further away from the period of the FAWB. Conclusions: The FAWB, which included a ban on large-capacity magazines, was associated with fewer public mass shooting events, fatalities, and nonfatal gun injuries. Gun control legislation is an important public health tool in the prevention of public mass shootings.

Induction of male-like mandibles in XX individuals of a stag beetle by gene knockdown of a feminizer gene transformer.

Males and females share most of the genome, but many animals show different phenotypes between the sexes, known as sexual dimorphism. Many insect species show extreme sexual dimorphism, including beetles with "weapon traits" represented by extremely developed horns and mandibles. Existing studies of sex-specific development of beetle weapon traits suggest that sex-specific gene expression plays an important role. On the other hand, contributions of the Y-chromosome, which may potentially carry genes necessary for male development, to weapon trait expression have not been examined. In holometabolous insects, including beetles, the feminizing gene transformer (tra) is roughly conserved in its feminizing function. Only females express a functional isoform of Tra, which causes female differentiation. Knocking down tra in females leads to male tissue differentiation, enabling us to analyze male phenotypes in individuals lacking a Y-chromosome (XX-males). In this study, we investigate whether the Y-chromosome is necessary for stag beetles to express male-specific weapon traits by comparing tra-knockdown-induced XX-males with natural XY males. We show that XX-males could express weapons (enlarged mandibles) as in XY-males. These results suggest that the Y-chromosome does not have a major role in weapon trait expression in this species.

The use of micro-CT in the investigation of a case involving 3D printed firearms.

This paper highlights how micro-CT was used to assist in the investigation of hybrid firearms constructed using a mixture of plastic and metal components, as a complementary technique to the physical examination performed by firearms experts. In recent years, there has been an increase in the complexity and sophistication of 3D printed and hybrid firearm designs. This was also the case in the investigation presented herein, with the firearms seized demonstrating a step change in the threat level they pose through their complexity. Thus, we describe how data produced from micro-CT scans was used to help firearms experts study the viability and mechanics of two hybrid weapons prior to dismantling and test-firing. This process aided experts in determining whether components were 3D printed or manufactured through other means, whilst ensuring that a digital record (digital twin) was retained in case evidence was damaged during testing. Finally, we show how the data was presented visually through animations and as evidence in court. This proved to be imperative when communicating to the judge, jury, and wider investigating teams, the complex multiple components and mechanisms within the firearms.

Synthesis and in vitro assessment of the reactivation profile of clinically available oximes on the acetylcholinesterase model inhibited by A-230 nerve agent surrogate.

The risk of the use of toxic chemicals for unlawful acts has been a matter of concern for different governments and multilateral agencies. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which oversees the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), considering recent events employing chemical warfare agents as means of assassination, has recently included in the CWC "Annex on Chemicals" some organophosphorus compounds that are regarded as acting in a similar fashion to the classical G- and V-series of nerve agents, inhibiting the pivotal enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Therefore, knowledge of the activity of the pyridinium oximes, the sole class of clinically available acetylcholinesterase reactivators to date, is plainly justified. In this paper, continuing our research efforts in medicinal chemistry on this class of toxic chemicals, we synthesized an A-230 nerve agent surrogate and applied a modified Ellman's assay to evaluate its ability to inhibit our enzymatic model, acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus eel, and if the clinically available antidotes are able to rescue the enzyme activity for the purpose of relating the findings to the previously disclosed in silico data for the authentic nerve agent and other studies with similar A-series surrogates. Our experimental data indicates that pralidoxime is the most efficient compound for reactivating acetylcholinesterase inhibited by A-230 surrogate, which is the opposite of the in silico data previously disclosed.

Synthesis of sexual selection: a systematic map of meta-analyses with bibliometric analysis.

Sexual selection has been a popular subject within evolutionary biology because of its central role in explaining odd and counterintuitive traits observed in nature. Consequently, the literature associated with this field of study became vast. Meta-analytical studies attempting to draw inferences from this literature have now accumulated, varying in scope and quality, thus calling for a synthesis of these syntheses. We conducted a systematic literature search to create a systematic map with a report appraisal of meta-analyses on topics associated with sexual selection, aiming to identify the conceptual and methodological gaps in this secondary literature. We also conducted bibliometric analyses to explore whether these gaps are associated with the gender and origin of the authors of these meta-analyses. We included 152 meta-analytical studies in our systematic map. We found that most meta-analyses focused on males and on certain animal groups (e.g. birds), indicating severe sex and taxonomic biases. The topics in these studies varied greatly, from proximate (e.g. relationship of ornaments with other traits) to ultimate questions (e.g. formal estimates of sexual selection strength), although the former were more common. We also observed several common methodological issues in these studies, such as lack of detailed information regarding searches, screening, and analyses, which ultimately impairs the reliability of many of these meta-analyses. In addition, most of the meta-analyses' authors were men affiliated to institutions from developed countries, pointing to both gender and geographical authorship biases. Most importantly, we found that certain authorship aspects were associated with conceptual and methodological issues in meta-analytical studies. Many of our findings might simply reflect patterns in the current state of the primary literature and academia, suggesting that our study can serve as an indicator of issues within the field of sexual selection at large. Based on our findings, we provide both conceptual and analytical recommendations to improve future studies in the field of sexual selection.

Leveraging 3D-printed microfluidic micromixers for the continuous manufacture of melatonin loaded SNEDDS with enhanced antioxidant activity and skin permeability.

Vesicants are chemical warfare agents (CWAs) capable of causing severe skin damage and systemic toxicity. Melatonin, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can mitigate the effects of these agents. Self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) containing a high melatonin concentration (5 %, 50 mg/g) were optimized using a quality-by-design approach from biocompatible, non-irritant excipients with a particle size of about 100 nm. The melatonin-loaded SNEDDS showed a 43-fold greater permeability than a conventional melatonin cream. Chemical stability at ambient temperature (25 °C) was maintained for one year. The preparation of optimised melatonin-loaded SNEDDS using a simple mixing method was compared to microfluidic micromixers. Mixing was successfully achieved using a 3D-printed (fused deposition modeling or stereolithography) T-shaped toroidal microfluidic chip (with a channel geometry optimized by computational fluid dynamics), resulting in a scalable, continuous process for the first time with a substantial reduction in preparation time compared to other conventional mixing approaches. No statistically significant differences were observed in the key quality attributes, such as particle size and melatonin loading, between mixing method till kinetic equilibrium solubility is reached and mixing using the 3D-printed micromixers. This scalable, continuous, cost-effective approach improves the overall efficiency of SNEDDS production, reduces the cost of quality control for multiple batches, and demonstrates the potential of continuous microfluidic manufacture with readily customizable 3D-printed micromixers at points of care, such as military bases.

Extreme range in adult body size reveals hidden trade-offs among sexually selected traits.

Sexually selected weapons used to monopolize mating opportunities are predicted to trade-off with traits used in competition for fertilization. Yet, the limited size range typically found among adults of a species often precludes clear comparisons between population-level and individual-level relative trait investment. The jousting weevil, Brentus anchorago (Coleoptera: Brentidae), varies more than 26-fold in body mass, which is among the most extreme adult body size ranges of any solitary terrestrial species. We reveal a trade-off at a population level: hypermetric scaling in male weapons (slope = 1.59) and a closely mirrored reversal in allocation to postcopulatory traits (slope = 0.54). Yet, at the individual level, we find the opposite pattern; males that invest relatively more in weapons for their size class also invest more in postcopulatory traits. Across 36 dung beetle and 41 brentine weevil species, we find the allometric slope explains more trait variation at larger body size ranges; in brentines, population-level scaling patterns become more detectable in species with a larger range in adult body size. Our findings reveal that population-level allometries and individual-level trade-offs can both be important in shaping relative trait allocation; we highlight that the adult body size range is rarely examined but may be integral to gaining a deeper understanding of trade-offs in reproductive allocation.

The impact of history of depression and access to weapons on suicide risk assessment: a comparison of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 in incorporating critical risk factors, namely history of depression and access to weapons, into suicide risk assessments. Both models assessed suicide risk using scenarios that featured individuals with and without a history of depression and access to weapons. The models estimated the likelihood of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, serious suicide attempts, and suicide-related mortality on a Likert scale. A multivariate three-way ANOVA analysis with Bonferroni post hoc tests was conducted to examine the impact of the forementioned independent factors (history of depression and access to weapons) on these outcome variables. Both models identified history of depression as a significant suicide risk factor. ChatGPT-4 demonstrated a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between depression, access to weapons, and suicide risk. In contrast, ChatGPT-3.5 displayed limited insight into this complex relationship. ChatGPT-4 consistently assigned higher severity ratings to suicide-related variables than did ChatGPT-3.5. The study highlights the potential of these two models, particularly ChatGPT-4, to enhance suicide risk assessment by considering complex risk factors.

Poxviruses as Agents of Biological Warfare: The Importance of Ensuring Ethical Standards for Research with Viruses.

Historically, biological agents have been used to target various populations. One of the earliest examples could be the catastrophic effect of smallpox in Australia in the eighteenth century (as alleged by some historians). Modern biological techniques can be used to both create or provide protection against various agents of biological warfare. Any microorganism (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) or its toxins can be used as biological agents. Minnesota Department of Health has listed Smallpox (variola major) as a category A bioterrorism agent, even though it has been eradicated in 1980 through an extensive vaccination campaign. Category A agents are considered the highest risk to public health. Laboratory-associated outbreaks of poxviruses could cause unprecedented occupational hazards. Only two WHO-approved BSL-4 facilities in the United States and Russia are allowed to perform research on the variola virus. So, poxviruses present themselves as a classical case of a dual-use dilemma, since research with them can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes. Although the importance of ethics in scientific research requires no further elaboration, ethical norms assume greater significance during experimentation with poxviruses. In this chapter, we will update the readers on the sensitive nature of conducting research with poxviruses, and how these viruses can be a source of potential biological weapons. Finally, specified ethical guidelines are explored to ensure safe research practices in virology.

Weapon Violence Dataset 2.0: A synthetic dataset for violence detection.

In the current era, satisfying the appetite of data hungry models is becoming an increasingly challenging task. This challenge is particularly magnified in research areas characterised by sensitivity, where the quest for genuine data proves to be elusive. The study of violence serves as a poignant example, entailing ethical considerations and compounded by the scarcity of authentic, real-world data that is predominantly accessible only to law enforcement agencies. Existing datasets in this field often resort to using content from movies or open-source video platforms like YouTube, further emphasising the scarcity of authentic data. To address this, our dataset aims to pioneer a new approach by creating the first synthetic virtual dataset for violence detection, named the Weapon Violence Dataset (WVD). The dataset is generated by creating virtual violence scenarios inside the photo-realistic video game namely: Grand Theft Auto-V (GTA-V). This dataset includes carefully selected video clips of person-to-person fights captured from a frontal view, featuring various weapons-both hot and cold across different times of the day. Specifically, WVD contains three categories: Hot violence and Cold violence (representing the violence category) as well as No violence (constituting the control class). The dataset is designed and created in a way that will enable the research community to train deep models on such synthetic data with the ability to increase the data corpus if the needs arise. The dataset is publicly available on Kaggle and comprises normal RGB and optic flow videos.

Chemical Basis for Determining the Allelopathic Potential of Invasive Plant Wall Barley (Hordeum murinum L. subsp. murinum).

The study investigated compounds present in the invasive grass Hordeum murinum L. subsp. murinum and tested the allelopathic potential of this plant against common meadow species Festuca rubra L. and Trifolium repens L. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) performed separately on the ears and stalks with leaves of wall barley revealed 32 compounds, including secondary metabolites, that may play an important role in allelopathy. Two compounds, N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) and diphenylsulfone (DDS), were described for the first time for wall barley and the Poaceae family. The presence of 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one (TMP) has also been documented. Aqueous extracts of H. murinum organs (ears and stalks with leaves) at concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% were used to evaluate its allelopathic potential. Compared to the control, all extracts inhibited germination and early growth stages of meadow species. The inhibitory effect was strongest at the highest concentration for both the underground and aboveground parts of the seedlings of the meadow species tested. Comparing the allelopathic effect, Trifolium repens proved to be more sensitive. In light of the results of the study, the removal of wall barley biomass appears to be important for the restoration of habitats where this species occurs due to its allelopathic potential.

What makes a temperate phage an effective bacterial weapon?

Temperate bacteriophages (phages) are common features of bacterial genomes and can act as self-amplifying biological weapons, killing susceptible competitors and thus increasing the fitness of their bacterial hosts (lysogens). Despite their prevalence, however, the key characteristics of an effective temperate phage weapon remain unclear. Here, we use systematic mathematical analyses coupled with experimental tests to understand what makes an effective temperate phage weapon. We find that effectiveness is controlled by phage life history traits-in particular, the probability of lysis and induction rate-but that the optimal combination of traits varies with the initial frequency of a lysogen within a population. As a consequence, certain phage weapons can be detrimental when their hosts are rare yet beneficial when their hosts are common, while subtle changes in individual life history traits can completely reverse the impact of an individual phage weapon on lysogen fitness. We confirm key predictions of our model experimentally, using temperate phages isolated from the clinically relevant Liverpool epidemic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Through these experiments, we further demonstrate that nutrient availability can also play a critical role in driving frequency-dependent patterns in phage-mediated competition. Together, these findings highlight the complex and context-dependent nature of temperate phage weapons and the importance of both ecological and evolutionary processes in shaping microbial community dynamics more broadly. IMPORTANCE: Temperate bacteriophages-viruses that integrate within bacterial DNA-are incredibly common within bacterial genomes and can act as powerful self-amplifying weapons. Bacterial hosts that carry temperate bacteriophages can thus gain a fitness advantage within a given niche by killing competitors. But what makes an effective phage weapon? Here, we first use a simple mathematical model to explore the factors determining bacteriophage weapon utility. Our models suggest that bacteriophage weapons are nuanced and context-dependent; an individual bacteriophage may be beneficial or costly depending upon tiny changes to how it behaves or the bacterial community it inhabits. We then confirm these mathematical predictions experimentally, using phages isolated from cystic fibrosis patients. But, in doing so, we also find that another factor-nutrient availability-plays a key role in shaping bacteriophage-mediated competition. Together, our results provide new insights into how temperate bacteriophages modulate bacterial communities.

Persistence of A-234 nerve agent on indoor surfaces.

Understanding the fundamental physical characteristics of extremely toxic compounds and their behavior across different environments plays a crucial role in assessing their danger. Additionally, this knowledge informs the development of protocols for gathering forensic evidence related to harmful chemicals misuse. In 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in Salisbury, England, with a substance later identified as the unconventional nerve agent A-234. Contamination with the compound was found on items inside Skripal's home. The aim of this paper was to determine the persistence of A-234 on selected indoor surfaces. Ceramics, aluminum can, laminated chipboard, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) floor tile, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, acrylic paint and computer keyboard were used as matrices. The decrease in surface contamination and further fate of the compound was monitored for 12 weeks. Persistence determination involved optimizing the wipe sampling method. Simultaneously, evaporation from the surface and permeation of the contaminant into the matrix were closely monitored. The experimental findings indicate that the nerve agent exhibits remarkable persistence, particularly on impermeable surfaces. Notably, the process of A-234 evaporation plays a minor role in determining its fate, with detectable concentrations observed solely above solid, non-porous surfaces such as ceramics and aluminum can. The surface persistence half-life varied significantly, ranging from 12 min to 478 days, depending on the material. The article has implications for emergency response protocols, decontamination strategies, public health and crime scene investigations.

Depictions of Firearms and Other Projectile Weapons in Top-Selling Japanese Manga.

Firearm violence is a pressing public health issue in the United States and becoming increasingly so worldwide. This concern has prompted researchers to examine the prevalence of such violence in media entertainment. Japanese manga have a large youth readership in the U.S., yet research on their depictions of firearms is presently lacking. We randomly selected 50 chapters from each of ten top-selling manga series worldwide (N = 500) to identify dialogue, action, and other illustrations involving handguns, rifles, machine guns, other projectile weapons, and bombs. Of the 500 chapters, 129 (25.8%) had at least one depiction of a firearm or other projectile weapon, with 684 instances of characters handling (e.g., carrying, holding, firing, reloading) such a weapon. Of the 384 unique characters so depicted, the vast majority were males (88.3%), adults (92.2%), and "good" characters (73.4%). Manga readers, especially male adolescents and preteens, are frequently exposed to storylines in which one or more characters are using a firearm or other projectile weapon. Working collaboratively, manga publishers and distributors should act to develop and implement a comprehensive rating system to flag content that may be harmful to youth so that parents can more easily monitor what their children are reading.

Assessment of injuries patterns produced by a 9mm P.A.K "rubber ball" blank firing weapon: porcine model.

The use of less lethal weapons aims to mitigate civilian casualties caused by firearm use. However, due to numerous cases in which these weapons caused serious injuries, even lethal injuries, both legislation and the forensic field are interested in characterizing and regulating them better. In the forensic field, there is a lack of strong research about injury patterns of these weapons which makes it difficult to identify the type of weapon employed. In this study, the main objective was to characterize the injury pattern produced by the impact of the 9 mm P.A.K. projectile. A porcine model was used. Four different distances were studied: firm contact, 10 cm, 60 cm and 110 cm, using 3 of the more representative anatomical sites: the head, the hind leg and the ribs. The average measurement of the entrance orifice varied according to the anatomical site, being 6.67 mm wide and 6.25 mm long in the thorax, 7.3 mm wide and 8.8 mm long in the hind legs, and 7.62 mm wide and 7.54 mm long in the head. The variation in width and length measurements was not found to be directly related to the shot distance. The gunshot residues had similar characteristics to those of conventional lead projectiles, however there was more unburned powder deposit near the wounds, with a less dense soot and more dense powder tattoo. Depth varied widely regardless of tissue and firing distance, although loss of penetrating power and injury is observed as one moves away from the target.

Purchaser, firearm, and retailer characteristics associated with crime gun recovery: a longitudinal analysis of firearms sold in California from 1996 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Firearm violence is a major cause of death and injury in the United States. Tracking the movement of firearms from legal purchase to use in crimes can help inform prevention of firearm injuries and deaths. The last state-wide studies analyzing crime gun recoveries used data from over 20 years ago; thus, an update is needed. METHODS: We used data for 5,247,348 handgun and 2,868,713 long gun transactions and law enforcement recoveries from California crime gun recovery (2010-2021) and California's Dealer Records of Sales records. Covariates included characteristics of dealership sales, firearms and their transactions, and purchaser's demographic characteristics, purchasing history, criminal history (from firearm purchaser criminal history records), and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Analyses for handguns and long guns was conducted separately. In multivariable analysis, we included correlates into a Cox proportional hazard model accounting for left truncation and clustering between the same firearm, purchaser, dealerships, and geographic location. Covariates that remained significant (P < 0.05) were retained. For handguns, we evaluated associations of violent and weapons crimes separately. In supplementary analyses, we examined interactions by purchasers' race and ethnicity. RESULTS: In total, 38,441 handguns (0.80%) and 6,806 long guns (0.24%) were recovered in crimes. A firearm dealer's sales volume, percent of transactions that were denials, pawns, pawn redemptions, and firearms that became crime guns were each positively associated with firearm recovery in crime. Handguns that were inexpensive, larger caliber, and that had been reported lost or stolen were positively associated with recovery in crimes. Purchaser characteristics associated with crime gun recovery included: being younger, female, Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander, or other race/ethnicity (vs white), having previous arrests, living in close proximity to the firearm dealership, and living in a more socially vulnerable census tract. Associations with race and ethnicity were modified by previous infraction-only arrests. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that many previously studied correlates of firearm recovery are still relevant today. We were able to expand on previous research by examining novel associations including purchasers' criminal history and previous firearm transaction history. These results provide evidence that can be used to disrupt firearm use in crimes.

Death in the high mountains: Evidence of interpersonal violence during Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age at Roc de les Orenetes (Eastern Pyrenees, Spain).

OBJECTIVES: To test a hypothesis on interpersonal violence events during the transition between Chalcolithic and Bronze Age in the Eastern Pyrenees, to contextualize it in Western Europe during that period, and to assess if these marks can be differentiated from secondary funerary treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Metric and non-metric methods were used to estimate the age-at-death and sex of the skeletal remains. Perimortem injuries were observed and analyzed with stereomicroscopy and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Among the minimum of 51 individuals documented, at least six people showed evidence of perimortem trauma. All age groups and both sexes are represented in the skeletal sample, but those with violent injuries are predominantly males. Twenty-six bones had 49 injuries, 48 of which involved sharp force trauma on postcranial elements, and one example of blunt force trauma on a cranium. The wounds were mostly located on the upper extremities and ribs, anterior and posterior. Several antemortem lesions were also documented in the assemblage. DISCUSSION: The perimortem lesions, together with direct dating, suggest that more than one episode of interpersonal violence took place between the Late Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age in northeastern Spain. The features of the sharp force trauma indicate that different weapons were used, including sharp metal objects and lithic projectiles. The Roc de les Orenetes assemblage represents a scenario of recurrent lethal confrontation in a high mountain geographic context, representing the evidence of inferred interpersonal violence located at the highest altitude settings in the Pyrenees, at 1836 meters above sea level.

OBJETIVOS: Estudiar nuevas evidencias de violencia interpersonal durante la transición entre el Calcolítico y la Edad del Bronce en los Pirineos Orientales, contextualizarlas en la Europa occidental durante ese periodo, y diferenciar estas marcas del tratamiento funerario secundario. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se han utilizado métodos métricos y no métricos para estimar la edad de muerte y sexo de los restos esqueléticos. Las heridas perimortem fueron observadas y analizadas con estereomicroscopio y microscopio confocal. RESULTADOS: Entre el mínimo de 51 individuos documentados en el yacimiento, al menos seis individuos mostraron evidencias de traumas perimortem. Todos los grupos de edad y ambos sexos están representados en el enterramiento, pero aquellos con heridas violentas son mayoritariamente masculinos. Veintiséis huesos tenían un total de 49 lesiones, 48 de ellos traumatismos cortantes en elementos postcraneales, y un traumatismo contundente en un cráneo. Las heridas estaban mayoritariamente localizadas en las extremidades superiores y costillas, tanto anterior como posterior. Varias lesiones antemortem fueron también documentadas en el conjunto. DISCUSIÓN: Las lesiones perimortem, junto a las dataciones directas, sugieren que se produjo más de un episodio de violencia interpersonal entre el Calcolítico Final y la Edad del Bronce Antiguo en el noreste de España. Las características de los traumatismos cortantes indican que se utilizaron diferentes armas, incluyendo objetos cortantes de metal y proyectiles líticos. El conjunto de Roc de les Orenetes representa un escenario de confrontaciones letales recurrentes en un contexto geográfico de alta montaña, representando la evidencia de violencia interpersonal localizada a mayor altitud de los Pirineos, a 1836 metros sobre el nivel del mar.