Stock Identification of summer Flounder (Paralichthis dentatus) in the Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight

A total of 12, 339 summer flounder were tagged from Virginia waters during 1987-89. A total of 874 were recaptured for an overall return rate of 7 . 1%. Most of the returns ( 48.5%) were from Virginia waters, or areas to the south. A smaller number ( 21.6%) were from areas north and offshore of Virginia. Another 29. 9% were recaptured and returned with inadequate location data. Examining only the returns with adequate location data, yielded a separation of 69.2% and 30.8% between the groups. No differences were noted in the sizes at tagging between these groups. Tagged flounder held at VIMS exhibited no behavioral differences from untagged fish. No differences in growth and mortality were noted in these fish. The sex ratio of males to females was 1:1.16. Male summer flounder reached 50% maturity at approximately 280 mm, while females reached 50% maturity at about 330 mm. A total of 1040 flounder were successfully aged. The population was dominated by young fish ( 0- 2 years old). The compression of age structure i s indicative of a population being heavily overfished

Elevating zero dimensional global scaling predictions to self-consistent theory-based simulations

We have developed an innovative workflow, STEP-0D, within the OMFIT integrated modelling framework. Through systematic validation against the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) global H-mode confinement database, we demonstrated that STEP-0D, on average, predicts the energy confinement time with a mean relative error (MRE) of less than 19%. Moreover, this workflow showed promising potential in predicting plasmas for proposed fusion reactors such as ARC, EU-DEMO, and CFETR, indicating moderate H-factors between 0.9 and 1.2. STEP-0D allows theory-based prediction of tokamak scenarios, beginning with zero-dimensional (0D) quantities. The workflow initiates with the PRO-create module, generating physically consistent plasma profiles and equilibrium using the same 0D quantities as the IPB98(y,2) confinement scaling. This sets the starting point for the STEP (Stability, Transport, Equilibrium, and Pedestal) module, which further iterates between theory-based physics models of equilibrium, core transport, and pedestal to yield a self-consistent solution. Given these attributes, STEP-0D not only improves the accuracy of predicting plasma performance but also provides a path towards a novel fusion power plant (FPP) design workflow. When integrated with engineering and costing models within an optimization, this new approach could eliminate the iterative reconciliation between plasma models of varying fidelity. This potential for a more efficient design process underpins STEP-0D's significant contribution to future fusion power plant development.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, accepted by Physics of Plasmas 202

A preliminary study of genetic factors that influence susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis in the British cattle herd

Associations between specific host genes and susceptibility to Mycobacterial infections such as tuberculosis have been reported in several species. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) impacts greatly the UK cattle industry, yet genetic predispositions have yet to be identified. We therefore used a candidate gene approach to study 384 cattle of which 160 had reacted positively to an antigenic skin test (‘reactors’). Our approach was unusual in that it used microsatellite markers, embraced high breed diversity and focused particularly on detecting genes showing heterozygote advantage, a mode of action often overlooked in SNP-based studies. A panel of neutral markers was used to control for population substructure and using a general linear model-based approach we were also able to control for age. We found that substructure was surprisingly weak and identified two genomic regions that were strongly associated with reactor status, identified by markers INRA111 and BMS2753. In general the strength of association detected tended to vary depending on whether age was included in the model. At INRA111 a single genotype appears strongly protective with an overall odds ratio of 2.2, the effect being consistent across nine diverse breeds. Our results suggest that breeding strategies could be devised that would appreciably increase genetic resistance of cattle to bTB (strictly, reduce the frequency of incidence of reactors) with implications for the current debate concerning badger-culling

Standards of genetic testing in the diagnosis and prognostication of systemic mastocytosis in 2022: Recommendations of the EU-US cooperative group

Mastocytosis comprises rare heterogeneous diseases characterized by an increased accumulation of abnormal mast cells in various organs/tissues. The pathogenesis of mastocytosis is strongly linked to the presence of KIT-activating mutations. In systemic mastocytosis (SM), the most frequent mutation encountered is KIT p.D816V, whose presence constitutes one of the minor diagnostic criteria. Different techniques are used to search and quantify the KIT p.D816V mutant; however, allele-specific quantitative PCR and droplet digital PCR are today the most sensitive. The analysis of the KIT p.D816V allele burden has undeniable interest for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic monitoring. The analysis of non–mast cell hematological compartments in SM is similarly important because KIT p.D816V multilineage involvement is associated with a worse prognosis. In addition, in advanced forms of SM, mutations in genes other than KIT are frequently identified and affect negatively disease outcome and response to therapy. Thus, combined quantitative and sensitive analysis of KIT mutations and next-generation sequencing of other recurrently involved myeloid genes make it possible to better characterize the extent of the affected cellular compartments and additional molecular aberrations, providing a more detailed overview of the complex mutational landscape of SM, in relation with the clinical heterogeneity of the disease. In this article, we report the latest recommendations of the EU-US Cooperative Group presented in September 2020 in Vienna during an international working conference, on the techniques we consider standard to detect and quantify the KIT p.D816V mutant in SM and additional myeloid mutations found in SM subtypes.D.D.M., J.J.L., and M.C.C. were supported by the Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. P.V. was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) (grant nos. F4704-B20 and P32470-B)

Kinetics of ATP release following compression injury of a peripheral nerve trunk

Compression and/or contusion of a peripheral nerve trunk can result in painful sensations. It is possible that release of ATP into the extracellular space may contribute to this symptom. In the present study, we used real-time measurements of ATP-induced bioluminescence together with electrophysiological recordings of compound action potentials to follow changes in the extracellular ATP concentration of isolated rat spinal roots exposed to mechanical stimuli. Nerve compression for about 8 s resulted in an immediate release of ATP into the extracellular space and in a decrease in the amplitude of compound action potentials. On average, a rise in ATP to 60 nM was observed when nerve compression blocked 50% of the myelinated axons. After the compression, the extracellular concentration of ATP returned to the resting level within a few minutes. The importance of ecto-nucleotidases for the recovery period was determined by exposure of isolated spinal roots to high concentrations of ATP and by use of inhibitors of ecto-nucleotidases. It was observed that spinal roots have a high capacity for ATP hydrolysis which is only partially blocked by βγ-methylene ATP and ARL 67156. In conclusion, acute nerve compression produces an increase in the extracellular concentration of ATP and of its metabolites which may be sufficient for activation of purinergic P2 and/or P1 receptors on axons of nociceptive afferent neurons

Implementation of a Shared Data Repository and Common Data Dictionary for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Research

Many previous attempts by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders researchers to compare data across multiple prospective and retrospective human studies have failed due to both structural differences in the collected data as well as difficulty in coming to agreement on the precise meaning of the terminology used to describe the collected data. Although some groups of researchers have an established track record of successfully integrating data, attempts to integrate data more broadly amongst different groups of researchers have generally faltered. Lack of tools to help researchers share and integrate data has also hampered data analysis. This situation has delayed improving diagnosis, intervention, and treatment before and after birth. We worked with various researchers and research programs in the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CI-FASD) to develop a set of common data dictionaries to describe the data to be collected, including definitions of terms and specification of allowable values. The resulting data dictionaries were the basis for creating a central data repository (CI-FASD Central Repository) and software tools to input and query data. Data entry restrictions ensure that only data which conform to the data dictionaries reach the CI-FASD Central Repository. The result is an effective system for centralized and unified management of the data collected and analyzed by the initiative, including a secure, long-term data repository. CI-FASD researchers are able to integrate and analyze data of different types, collected using multiple methods, and collected from multiple populations, and data are retained for future reuse in a secure, robust repository