A Goodness Based Vertical Handoff Algorithm for Heterogeneous Networks

Part 6: Network ModelingInternational audienceWhile moving across heterogeneous networks with strict rate requirement, the possibility of getting the required rate from the target network, depends on the QoS-awareness of the network selection strategy of the concerned vertical handoff (VHO) algorithm. Inclusion of MAC layer scheduling information in the design of different VHO algorithms has previously been very limited though it is important as both user and system performance depend on it. In this paper, we introduce the notion of goodness of an access network and based on it propose a goodness based VHO (GVHO) algorithm. The notion of goodness explicitly considers the MAC layer scheduling along with current load and interference of the candidate networks. The GVHO algorithm accounts the goodness values of the candidate networks to select the target network. Simulation results confirm that GVHO algorithm improves both user and system performance compared to RSS and SINR based VHO algorithms

Clinical and genetic risk factors for new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT) in major transplant centres in Malaysia

Taylor-Robinson, AW ORCiD: 0000-0001-7342-8348Background: New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is associated with reduced patient and graft survival. This study examined the clinical and selected genetic factors associated with NODAT among renal-transplanted Malaysian patients Methods: This study included 168 non-diabetic patients (58% males, 69% of Chinese ethnicity) who received renal transplantation between 1st January 1994 to 31st December 2014, and were followed up in two major renal transplant centres in Malaysia. Fasting blood glucose levels were used to diagnose NODAT in patients who received renal transplantation within 1 year. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely; rs1494558 (interleukin-7 receptor, IL-7R) and rs2232365 (mannose-binding leptin-2, MBL2) were selected and genotyped using Sequenom MassArray platform. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to examine the risk of developing NODAT according to the different demographics and clinical covariates, utilizing four time-points (one-month, three-months, six-months, one-year) post-transplant. Results: Seventeen per cent of patients (>npp< = 0.002). Other demographic (gender, ethnicities, age at transplant) and clinical factors (primary kidney disease, type of donor, place of transplant, type of calcineurin inhibitors, duration of dialysis pre-transplant, BMI, creatinine levels, and daily doses of tacrolimus and prednisolone) were not found to be significantly associated with risk of NODAT. GA genotype of rs1494558 (HR = 3.15 95% CI 1.26, 7.86) and AG genotype of rs2232365 (HR = 2.57 95% CI 1.07, 6.18) were associated with increased risk of NODAT as compared to AA genotypes. Conclusion: The daily dose of cyclosporine and SNPs of IL-7R (rs1494558) and MBL2 (rs2232365) genes are significantly associated with the development of NODAT in the Malaysian renal transplant population