I provide my personal perspective of the application of genetics to conservation. I began graduate school shortly after the first description of genetic variation in natural populations. The use of allozymes uncovered an unexpected amount of genetic variation in a wide variety of species. During this same period, Motoo Kimura proposed The Neutral Theory of Evolution. Understanding the adaptive significance of allozyme variation became the major focus of population genetics. The utility of population genetic data for conservation and management was questioned because if the observed patterns were determined primarily by selection, then they could not be used to estimate gene flow or genetic drift. The study of mitochondrial DNA next provided a different view of genetic variation by allowing the overlaying of genealogical information on the locations of sampled individuals (phylogeography). The introduction of microsatellites allowed the study of a large number of nuclear markers. The many loci and large number of alleles at microsatellites were valuable for detecting bottlenecks and identifying relationships of individuals. The use of single nucleotide polymorphisms next opened the door to genomic analysis that allowed sampling a mapped genome to detect forces affecting particular genomic regions instead of using a representative sample of loci. For example, using runs of homozygosity has revolutionized our understanding of the effects of inbreeding and the detection of inbreeding depression. Current techniques provide unprecedented power to study genetic variation in natural populations. Nevertheless, application of this information requires sound understanding of population genetics theory.

javascript:void(0) Hybridization is a potent mechanism for generating genetic diversity and transferring adaptive genetic loci across species or populations (lineages), enabling organisms to explore broader ecological niches. However, the effects of hybridization between species/lineages with different ploidy levels remain underexplored. In this study, we used transcriptomic approaches to investigate the abiotic stress tolerance of common reed (Phragmites australis) and in relation to polyploidy and hybridization. Our findings revealed that a brackish water population of a tetraploid lineage acquired salinity tolerance through adaptive introgression from an octoploid lineage. Among 46 adaptive genes with high FST values between populations, nine were significantly enriched in response to salicylic acid. In a common garden experiment, we chose two hybrid genotypes with similar genetic backgrounds to assess the consistency of adaptability from introgression under varying cadmium (Cd) concentrations. The Heze genotype exhibited a significant decline in net photosynthesis rate and chlorophyll content with increasing Cd concentrations, whereas the Panjin genotype exhibited greater tolerance. Correspondingly, the Heze genotype also had a higher number of differentially expressed genes under both low and high Cd concentrations. These findings suggest that introgressed loci may have varying functions in hybrid populations. This study enhances our understanding of how hybridization between lineages of different ploidy levels can lead to improved stress tolerance and its role in adaptive evolution.

Modern datacenter networks rely on multi-root tree topologies, to ensure efficient and reliable connectivity. However, traditional traffic engineering solutions like Equal Cost Multiple Path (ECMP) and Weighted-Cost MultiPath (WCMP) often fall short in addressing dynamic and heterogeneous traffic conditions. Specifically, these approaches struggle with asymmetric topologies and the allocation of elephant flows, which require more granular and agile traffic management. This paper introduces MTS-PolKA, a novel traffic splitting mechanism designed to enhance traffic engineering in datacenter networks. MTS-PolKA enables packet-level traffic distribution across multiple paths by embedding a label in the packet header that dictates the traffic division profile. Unlike existing methods that require reconfiguration of network tables at each switch, MTS-PolKA allows for dynamic and simultaneous adjustments across all switches in the path through simple modifications to the packet header. This approach significantly improves the agility and efficiency of traffic management. The implementation of MTS-PolKA on programmable switches using the P4 language, leveraging the Residue Number System (RNS) and M-PolKA architecture, demonstrates its potential through experiments conducted in the Mininet emulator. The results highlight the ability of MTS-PolKA to maintain flow stability, explore network multipaths, and enable rapid reconfigurations of traffic division profiles, enhancing the performance and efficiency of modern datacenter networks.

A document by Ricarda Alwaw. Click on the document to view its contents.

Expanded-Access Use of Elamipretide Improves Quality of Life in Patients with Rare Mitochondrial Disorders Characterized by Ophthalmic Symptoms: A Case SeriesSharique Ansari1, Mary Kay Koenig21. Kane Hall Barry Neurology, 1305 Airport Freeway, Bedford, TX, USA2. University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child & Adolescent Neurology, Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease, Houston, TX, USACorresponding Author : Mary Kay Koenig, MD, [email protected]: Sharique Ansari, [email protected]: The authors wish to thank the patients and their families for participating, as well as Jamie Dermatis, DPM, and Jim Shiffer, RPh, Write On Time Medical Communications, LLC, for their writing and editorial assistance during the development of this manuscript. Mary Kay Koenig wishes to thank her research nurse, Lindsey Miller, for providing patient support and assisting with administration and education responsibilities.Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.Data Availability: The data that support the findings of this case report are not publicly available due to the data containing information that could compromise the privacy of the patient, but may be available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Ethics Approval Statement: FDA and local IRB review and approval were obtained prior to initiating therapy with elamipretide subcutaneously daily under this EAP.Patient Consent Statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patients to be included in this study.Funding: Stealth BioTherapeutics provided support in supplying elamipretide for the patients and publishing this case series. The authors confirm independence from the sponsor. The content of the article has not been influenced by the sponsor.Keywords: Elamipretide, Mitochondrial Disease, Cardiolipin, NARP syndrome, CPEOKey Clinical Message: This case series presents the use of elamipretide in two patients with different progressive mitochondrial disorders (chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia [CPEO] plus and neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa [NARP] syndrome) characterized by ophthalmic traits. Elamipretide was well tolerated and both patients demonstrated improvement in symptoms while on therapy.

Statin prescription intensity, defined by statin type and dose required to achieve a targeted decrease in plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), has been involved in statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) development. This study aimed to assess whether muscle function improved differentially according to treatment intensity after two months of statin withdrawal in patients self-reporting SAMS. Patients (53.0±8.4 years [Mean±SD]) undergoing primary cardiovascular prevention were divided in two groups: low to moderate (n=49, targeted plasma LDL-C reduction <50%) and high (n=12, ≥50%). Strength, endurance, and power in extension and flexion of the dominant leg, and handgrip strength were measured using dynamometers. SAMS intensity was assessed using a 0-10 visual analog scale. After withdrawal, repeated-measures analyses showed improvements for 7/8 performance variables (+7.2 to +13.3%, all p<0.05), concomitant with a decrease in SAMS intensity (5.09 to 1.85, p<0.01), with no between-group difference. The improvement of muscle function following withdrawal was not differentiated according to treatment intensity.

To harness wind energy resources from the ocean, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are gaining increasing attention within the industry. In this paper, the impact of platform motion on the aerodynamic characteristics of the FOWT array is numerically investigated. A high-fidelity numerical tool with the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method is further developed based on the open-source CFD toolbox OpenFOAM by coupling the Actuator Line Model (ALM). The FOWT arrays consisting of three semi-submersible platforms and NREL 5 MW turbines with different arrangements based on tandem and staggered layouts are simulated, and their dynamic response and wake interactions are analysed under regular wave conditions. Results show that in gridded layouts, the downstream turbine experiences the most significant wind velocity reduction due to wake interference, compared with the staggered layouts. In the most common scenarios, the capacity factor of the total system of a tandem layout is 50%, while it is 92% for the staggered layouts. It is also found that whether the third downstream turbine is fixed or not has a minor influence on the time-averaged power output. However, the motion of the turbine, due to the floating platform, significantly influences power fluctuation. In gridded layouts, the downstream FOWT can have up to 25% higher fluctuation amplitude than fixed one, while for staggered layouts, this can reach 80% in the most critical case. It is also observed that strong wind turbulence reduces the impact of platform motion on power fluctuations, especially for the third turbine. By analysing the power output and the platform motion, it is found that the pitch and surge motion of the present OC4 platform have an opposite influence on the power output. Thus, a coupled model considering both degrees of freedom is necessary.

javascript:void(0) In this paper, simultaneous vortex and non-vortex based transmission is proposed to enhance capacity by covering multiple users. The system model proposes a cell scenario including new and legacy user equipments (UEs) for backward compatibility and a geometrical transceiver for uniform circular array (UCA) and uniform rectangular array (URA). The proposed scenarios are divided into two different types of transmissions; vortex based, non-vortex based and a simultaneous vortex and non-vortex based. The channel model is approximated by dominant transmission distance. Moreover, modified Bessel function is proposed to derive channel model giving fair divergence effect with elevation angle. The performance of simultaneous vortex and non-vortex based transmissions is derived and simulated in terms of the average capacity (AC), outage probability (OP), and throughput.

The asymptotic stability of the one-dimensional attraction-repulsion chemotaxis system is concerned with in this paper. First of all, we get the globally bounded classical solutions of the system with initial data ( u 0 , v 0 , ω 0 ) ∈ ( W 1 , ∞ ( Ω ) ) 3 . Next, by constructing an appropriate Lyapunov function, we also show that the solutions converge exponentially to the constant steady state ( u ̵̄ 0 , α β u ̵̄ 0 , γ δ u ̵̄ 0 ) if ξγ χα > max { β δ , δ β } . It is worth mentioning that Jin and Wang (2015) showed that the solutions converge algebraically to the constant steady state under conditions β= δ and ξγ− χα<0, and our results filled the gap in the ξγ− χα>0.

javascript:void(0) This study presents a novel predator-prey model that integrates disease dynamics within the prey population, using a Susceptible-Infected (SI) framework. The model introduces two control variables: one aimed at reducing disease transmission among prey and another focused on managing predator population levels. A logarithmic penalty cost function is employed to penalize reductions in prey and predator populations, reflecting the heightened ecological risks associated with low population sizes. The system is described by a set of differential equations that model the interactions between susceptible prey, infected prey, and predators under the influence of these control measures. The goal is to minimize the cost function over a specified time horizon, ensuring ecosystem stability while effectively managing disease spread and predator numbers. Our results provide insights into optimal control strategies that maintain ecological balance, offering a framework applicable to real-world wildlife management and conservation scenarios.

Objective: To systematically analyze whether COVID-19 vaccination increases the risk of lymphoma. Methods: Data were retrieved from five databases, including PubMed, BMJ, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Comprehensive searches of relevant articles in the databases were conducted to enhance search accuracy. Articles and references were further screened to improve retrieval precision. Data extraction and analysis were subsequently performed. Results: A total of 143 cases of post-COVID-19 vaccination lymphoma were identified, including 11 cases from 9 articles and 132 cases of vaccine adverse events. Systemic analysis revealed that among the cases, 53.8% were female, with a median age of onset at 62 years (range: 9-99 years). The most commonly implicated COVID-19 vaccines were mRNA vaccines, with Pfizer-BioNTech accounting for 51.7% and Moderna for 42.7%. Adenovirus vector vaccines, including ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (0.7%) and vAd26.COV2.S (4.2%), were the next most prevalent. Approximately 45.7% of patients developed lymphoma within 30 days of vaccine administration. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma constituted the majority of pathological types (71.3%). Conclusion: The administration of the COVID-19 vaccine may potentially elevate the associated risk of lymphoma incidence.

javascript:void(0) Background and Objectives: Dermatofibromas (DF) are common benign skin lesions with unclear etiology, possibly reactive or tumoral. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of DF misdiagnosis and correlate histopathological findings with clinical interpretations. Methods: The extraction for this retrospective study was conducted from 8035 excisions performed between 2016 and 2022 by 9 physicians. A total of 50 cases with conclusive histopathological diagnoses of DF and 33 clinical cases of DF were identified. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The clinical arm included 33 cases, with 7 having DF in the differential diagnosis. The mean age for a confident DF diagnosis was 57.86 years, compared to 44.35 years for a probable diagnosis (p=0.023). Diagnosis accuracy was 69% for certain cases vs 43% for probable cases. DF on legs had higher clinical uncertainty, 6/7 vs 9/26 (p=0.016). In the histopathological arm of 50 patients, lesions on lower extremities had higher correct diagnosis rates (p=0.024) and were least accurate on the torso (p=0.009). Conclusions: DF can pose a challenge even for experienced clinicians. Location is crucial as DF may escape diagnosis in less common areas. Patient’s age and physician’s expertise induce uncertainty.

javascript:void(0) The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, and thurberia weevil, Anthonomus grandis thurberiae Pierce (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), together comprise a species complex that ranges throughout Mexico, the southwestern regions of the United States, and South America. The boll weevil is a historically damaging and contemporaneously threatening pest to commercial Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvales: Malvaceae), whereas the thurberia weevil is regarded as an innocuous non-pest subspecies that is mostly found on non-cultivated Gossypium species, e.g. Thurber’s or Arizona cotton, G. thurberi, throughout its native range in western parts of Mexico and the southwestern US. Recent independent analyses using mitochondrial COI and whole genome ddRADseq have suggested the independent evolution of these lineages is largely attributable to geographic isolation and not to host plant preference. We furthered this investigation by employing comparative genomic, population genetic, and pangenome methodologies to identify large and small polymorphisms within this complex and described their role in demography and adaptation. We also leveraged genetic differences to identify nearly 40,000 diagnostic loci between the subspecies, find genes under selection, and model the subspecies’ shared and unique evolutionary history. Interestingly, structural variations capture a large proportion of genes at the population level and demographic reconstruction suggests a split between these subspecies that coincides with cotton cultivation in the southern U.S. in the late 1800s. Observed polymorphisms are enriched for reproductive, regulatory, and metabolic genes which may be attributed to the boll weevil’s rapid expansion onto commercial cotton.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Background: Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is an extrahepatic adenocarcinoma characterized by hepatoid differentiation, often associated with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. The stomach is the most common site of HAC, and this is specifically identified by the term hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS). Case: We present a case of a 71-year-old patient who was immunohistologically diagnosed with HAS along with both liver metastasis and pancreatic metastasis. Sindilizumab+ albumin paclitaxel+ 5-fluorouracil+ calcium folinate/ cyclophosphamide was started after the disagreement of surgical treatment. After 6 months treatment, both primary and metastatic lesions visibly shrank and imaging examinations did not reveal the presence of local recurrence or other distant metastasis. Conclusion: More research is still needed for HAS, especially for special cases with multiple metastases simultaneously.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Public datasets play a crucial role in advancing autonomous robotics research. The rapid evolution of sensors and applications continually drives the need for new datasets. For instance, the shift from mechanical LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors on autonomous vehicles to (hybrid) solid-state LiDAR technologies like MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) LiDAR has brought about enhanced durability and reduced costs. However, datasets supporting research on these sensors are scarce. This paper presents the multi-modular HK-MEMS dataset, incorporating data from LiDARs, a camera, GNSS, and Inertial Navigation Systems. Notably, it is the first dataset to offer automotive-grade MEMS LiDAR data for research in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). Compared with existing datasets, our data emphasize extreme environments like degenerate urban tunnels and dynamic scenarios, aiming to enhance the robustness of SLAM systems. The data are collected on various platforms including a handheld device, a mobile robot, and notably, buses with real driving behaviors. We collect 187 minutes and 75.4 kilometers of data. State-of-the-art SLAM methods are evaluated on this benchmark. The result highlights the challenges in extreme environments and underscores the ongoing need to enhance the robustness of SLAM systems. This dataset serves as a valuable platform for exploring the potential and limitations of MEMS LiDAR, and a challenge to enhance the robustness of SLAM in urban navigation scenarios. The data is available at https://github.com/RuanJY/HK_MEMS_Dataset.

From Dyspnea to Diagnosis: A Pediatric Case Report on an Unexpected ConditionYotam Ophir, MD1, Marketa Bloomfield, MD, PhD2, Jana Tukova, MD, PhD1Department of Pediatric and Inherited Metabolic disorders, General University Hospital, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.2 Department of Immunology, Motol University Hospital, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

javascript:void(0)Celiac artery aneurysm: Report of a rare case and brief review of the literature

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown Invasive species are a major challenge to managers worldwide due to their ability to rapidly change their niche space and behavior in order to reproduce and survive in a novel environment. One globally distributed invasive species, the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea (Magallana) gigas, first arrived in Sweden in 2006. To date, they have not colonized the low salinity waters of the Baltic Sea, and it has generally been assumed that the inability of Pacific oysters to reproduce in low salinities has acted as a barrier. We have studied differences in fertilization rates among oysters along the invasion range, and examined heritability of salinity tolerance through classic mating designs across five different salinity levels. We found that fertilization rates in low salinities increased with proximity to the range front, and that there was a strong heritable component to these differences. We then used whole genome sequence data to identify genomic regions that diverged significantly from expected Mendelian inheritance in larval full-sib families that survived in low salinities. Our results show that a chromosomal region containing coding sequences for all histones forming the nucleosome, as well as a region containing LSU and SSU subunit ribosomal DNA in the sperm, are involved in low-salinity tolerance at fertilization and early development. We also found no evidence of recent bottlenecks or reductions in genetic diversity along the invasion front compared to more established populations. We therefore conclude that the Pacific oyster has the potential to adapt further to low-salinity conditions and may invade the Baltic Sea.