Design and implementation of a belief-propagation scheduler for multicast traffic in input-queued switches

Scheduling multicast traffic in input-queued switches to maximize throughput requires solving a hard combinatorial optimization problem in a very short time. This task advocates the design of algorithms that are simple to implement and efficient in terms of performance. We propose a new scheduling algorithm, based on message passing and inspired by the belief propagation paradigm, meant to approximate the provably-optimal scheduling policy for multicast traffic. We design and implement both a software and a hardware version of the algorithm, the latter running on a NetFPGA. We compare the performance and the power consumption of the two versions when integrated in a software router. Our main findings are that our algorithm outperforms other centralized greedy scheduling policies, achieving a better tradeoff between complexity and performance, and it is amenable to practical high-performance implementations

Arrecifes coralígenos infralitorales: estructura y variabilidad espacial de las comunidades de macroalgas

Coralligenous reefs are calcareous structures edified mostly by coralline algae that characterize the circalittoral zone of the Mediterranean Sea. However, in some cases coralline algae can constitute peculiar infralittoral biogenic reefs which have been studied less than the circalittoral ones. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of infralittoral coralligenous reefs by describing their macroalgal assemblages on a large rocky platform off the Tuscany coasts, northwestern Mediterranean Sea. To this end, a multifactorial sampling design was used to describe the structure of the assemblages and to evaluate the variability of the system at multiple spatial scales. A total of 71 macroalgal taxa were found on the coralline algae. Macroalgal assemblages were well structured, with high biodiversity values. The dominant taxa included both photophilous and sciaphilous species, guaranteeing peculiar characteristics in these assemblages, above all if compared with the typical infralittoral and circalittoral macroalgal communities of the same geographic area. The assemblages showed greater variability at a small and intermediate spatial scale than at a large scale. Although infralittoral coralligenous outcrops constitute a peculiar system, they are still poorly understood and should not only be the object of specific studies but also be included in monitoring programmes.Los arrecifes coralígenos son estructuras calcáreas edificadas principalmente por algas coralinas que caracterizan la zona circalitoral del Mar Mediterráneo. Sin embargo, en algunos casos las algas coralinas pueden constituir peculiares arrecifes biogénicos infralitorales menos investigados que los circalitorales. El estudio tiene como objetivo contribuir al conocimiento de los arrecifes coralígenos infralitorales describiendo sus comunidades de macroalgas en una gran plataforma rocosa frente a las costas de Toscana, al noroeste del mar Mediterráneo. Un diseño de muestreo multifactorial fue utilizado para describir la estructura de comunidades algales y evaluar la variabilidad del sistema en múltiples escalas espaciales. Se encontró un total de 71 taxones de macroalgas sobre las algas coralinas. Las comunidades de macroalgas estaban bien estructuradas con altos valores de biodiversidad. Los taxones dominantes incluyeron tanto especies fotófilas como esciáfilas, lo que garantizó características peculiares a estas comunidades si se comparan con las típicas comunidades de macroalgas infralitorales y circalitorales de la misma área geográfica. Las comunidades mostraron una variabilidad a pequeña e intermedia escala mayor que a gran escala espacial. Si bien los afloramientos coralígenos infralitorales constituyen un sistema peculiar, aún son poco conocidos y deberían ser objeto no solo de estudios específicos sino también incluidos en programas de monitoreo ambiental

Immunological-based approaches for cancer therapy

The immunologic landscape of tumors has been continuously unveiled, providing a new look at the interactions between cancer cells and the immune system. Emerging tumor cells are constantly eliminated by the immune system, but some cells establish a long-term equilibrium phase leading to tumor immunoediting and, eventually, evasion. During this process, tumor cells tend to acquire more mutations. Bearing a high mutation burden leads to a greater number of neoantigens with the potential to initiate an immune response. Although many tumors evoke an immune response, tumor clearance by the immune system does not occur due to a suppressive tumor microenvironment. The mechanisms by which tumors achieve the ability to evade immunologic control vary. Understanding these differences is crucial for the improvement and application of new immune-based therapies. Much effort has been placed in developing in silico algorithms to predict tumor immunogenicity and to characterize the microenvironment via high-throughput sequencing and gene expression techniques. Each sequencing source, transcriptomics, and genomics yields a distinct level of data, helping to elucidate the tumor-based immune responses and guiding the fine-tuning of current and upcoming immune-based therapies. In this review, we explore some of the immunological concepts behind the new immunotherapies and the bioinformatic tools to study the immunological aspects of tumors, focusing on neoantigen determination and microenvironment deconvolution. We further discuss the immune-based therapies already in clinical use, those underway for future clinical application, the next steps in immunotherapy, and how the characterization of the tumor immune contexture can impact therapies aiming to promote or unleash immune-based tumor elimination