Future 6G communications powering vertical handover in non-terrestrial networks

The integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into future 6G networks will open new possibilities for applications ranging from surveillance to communication infrastructure maintenance, precision agriculture, and surveying. However, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for UAVs operating in remote or dynamic environments remains a significant challenge. This paper presents a novel approach to achieving seamless handover for UAVs when transitioning between terrestrial and satellite communication networks. The proposed method in this paper, leverages graph theory and develop a decision-making algorithm to optimise handover decisions, minimizing latency, improving performance, and reducing service disruption. It establishes a comprehensive graph model that represents the dynamic topology of available network nodes, including terrestrial base stations and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which adapts in real-time to changes in UAV position and network conditions. The approach incorporates a decision-making algorithm that considers several factors, such as received signal strength (RSS), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and elevation angle, to determine the optimal time and location for a handover between terrestrial base stations and satellite links. This ensures a seamless transition between communication links, minimizing service disruption. The performance of this method is evaluated through extensive simulations and comparison with existing solutions demonstrating significant improvements in RSS, SNR, throughput, latency, ping-pongs and enhanced overall UAV connectivity. The proposed graph method-based seamless handover solution represents a crucial advancement in enabling reliable and uninterrupted communication for UAVs operating in remote and challenging environments. By managing handovers between terrestrial and satellite networks, this research contributes to the realisation of the full potential of UAVs in emerging applications, thereby advancing the state-of-the-art in UAV technology.This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Satellite Applications Catapul

Aircraft to operations communication analysis and architecture for the future aviation environment

Fifth Generation (5G) systems are envisaged to support a wide range of applications scenarios with varying requirements. 5G architecture includes network slicing abilities which facilitate the partitioning of a single network infrastructure on to multiple logical networks, each tailored to a given use case, providing appropriate isolation and Quality of Service (QoS) characteristics. Radio Access Network (RAN) slicing is key to ensuring appropriate QoS over multiple domains; achieved via the configuration of multiple RAN behaviours over a common pool of radio resources. This Paper proposes a novel solution for efficient resource allocation and assignment among a variety of heterogeneous services, to utilize the resources while ensuring maximum QoS for network services. First, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of different wireless data bearers. Secondly, the paper proposes a novel dynamic resource allocation algorithm for RAN slicing within 5G New Radio (NR) networks utilising cooperative game theory combined with priority-based bargaining. The impact of this work to industry is to provide a new technique for resource allocation that utilizes cooperative bargaining to ensure all network services achieve minimum QoS requirements – while using application priority to reduce data transfer time for key services to facilitate decreased turnaround time at the gate

Early Antenatal Prediction of Gestational Diabetes in Obese Women: Development of Prediction Tools for Targeted Intervention.

All obese women are categorised as being of equally high risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) whereas the majority do not develop the disorder. Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions in unselected obese pregnant women have been unsuccessful in preventing GDM. Our aim was to develop a prediction tool for early identification of obese women at high risk of GDM to facilitate targeted interventions in those most likely to benefit. Clinical and anthropometric data and non-fasting blood samples were obtained at 15+0-18+6 weeks' gestation in 1303 obese pregnant women from UPBEAT, a randomised controlled trial of a behavioural intervention. Twenty one candidate biomarkers associated with insulin resistance, and a targeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolome were measured. Prediction models were constructed using stepwise logistic regression. Twenty six percent of women (n = 337) developed GDM (International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria). A model based on clinical and anthropometric variables (age, previous GDM, family history of type 2 diabetes, systolic blood pressure, sum of skinfold thicknesses, waist:height and neck:thigh ratios) provided an area under the curve of 0.71 (95%CI 0.68-0.74). This increased to 0.77 (95%CI 0.73-0.80) with addition of candidate biomarkers (random glucose, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fructosamine, adiponectin, sex hormone binding globulin, triglycerides), but was not improved by addition of NMR metabolites (0.77; 95%CI 0.74-0.81). Clinically translatable models for GDM prediction including readily measurable variables e.g. mid-arm circumference, age, systolic blood pressure, HbA1c and adiponectin are described. Using a ≥35% risk threshold, all models identified a group of high risk obese women of whom approximately 50% (positive predictive value) later developed GDM, with a negative predictive value of 80%. Tools for early pregnancy identification of obese women at risk of GDM are described which could enable targeted interventions for GDM prevention in women who will benefit the most

The Calcitonin and Glucocorticoids Combination: Mechanistic Insights into Their Class-Effect Synergy in Experimental Arthritis

PMCID: PMC3564948This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Survey of attitudes, materials and methods employed in endodontic treatment by general dental practitioners in North Jordan

BACKGROUND: General dental practitioners provide the majority of endodontic treatment in Jordan. The aim of this study was to gather information on the methods, materials and attitudes employed in root canal treatment by dentists in North Jordan, in order to evaluate and improve the quality of current practice. METHODS: A questionnaire was posted to all registered general dental practitioners working in private practice in Irbid Governate in North Jordan (n = 181). The questionnaire included information on methods, materials and techniques used in endodontic treatment. RESULTS: Reply rate was 72% (n = 131). The results demonstrated that only five dentists used rubber dam occasionally and not routinely. The majority used cotton rolls for isolation solely or in combination with a high volume saliva ejector (n = 116). The most widely used irrigants were sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide, which were used by 32.9% (n = 43) and 33.6% (n = 44) of the respondents, respectively. Forty eight percent of the respondents (n = 61) used the cold lateral condensation technique for canal obturation, 31.3% (n = 41) used single cone, 9.9% (n = 13) used vertical condensation and 12.2% (n = 16) used paste or cement only for the obturation. The majority used zinc oxide eugenol as a sealer (72.5%). All, but one, respondents used hand instruments for canal preparation and the technique of choice was step back (52.7%). More than 50% (n = 70) of the dentists took one radiograph for determining the working length, whilst 22.9% (n = 30) did not take any radiograph at all. Most practitioners performed treatment in three visits for teeth with two or more root canals, and in two visits for teeth with a single root canal. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that dentists practicing in North Jordan do not comply with international quality standards and do not use recently introduced techniques. Many clinicians never take a radiograph for determining the working length and never used rubber dam or intra-canal medicaments

Alpine Russet: A Potato Cultivar Having Long Tuber Dormancy Making it Suitable for Processing from Long-term Storage

Alpine Russet is a later maturing, oblong-long, lightly russeted potato cultivar, notable for having tuber dormancy comparable to Russet Burbank. Processing quality of Alpine Russet from long-term storage is superior to Russet Burbank, with low percent reducing sugars and uniform fry color due to a low percentage difference of sugars between the bud and stem ends. Alpine Russet yields were comparable to Russet Burbank in early harvest trials and were comparable or significantly larger in late harvest trials depending on the location. At two late season locations, Alpine Russet had the largest total and percent No. 1 yields and the largest percent mid-range No. 1 tubers compared to Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank. It has moderately high specific gravity and is resistant to most external and internal defects. Alpine Russet has been evaluated in public and industry trials throughout the Western U.S. for over 15 years

How do NHS organisations plan research capacity development? Strategies, strengths, and opportunities for improvement

Research that is integral into a 'learning healthcare system' can promote cost effective services and knowledge creation. As such, research is defined as a 'core function' in UK health service organisations, and is often planned through research and development (R&D) strategies that aim to promote research activity and research capacity development (RCD). The discussion focuses around the content of ten R&D strategies for healthcare organisations in England and Scotland, with respect to RCD. These organisations were engaged with a research interest network called ACORN (Addressing Organisational Capacity to do Research Network) that included two Scottish Health Boards, four community and mental health trusts, two provincial district hospitals, and two teaching hospitals. We undertook a thematic documentary analysis of the R&D strategies which identified 11 'core activities' of RCD. The potential for building research capacity in these 'core activities' was established by reviewing them through the lens of a RCD framework. Core activities aimed to 'hard wire' RCD into health organisations. They demonstrated a complex interplay between developing a strong internal organisational infrastructure, and supporting individual career planning and skills development, in turn enabled by organisational processes. They also included activities to build stronger inter-organisational relationships and networks. Practitioner, manager and patient involvement was a cross cutting theme. The potential to demonstrate progress was included in plans through monitoring activity across all RCD principles. Strategies were primarily aimed at research production rather than research use. Developing 'actionable dissemination' was poorly addressed in the strategies, and represents an area for improvement. We describe strengths of RCD planning activities, and opportunities for improvement. We explore how national policy and research funders can influence health systems' engagement in research

Modeling Neurodegeneration in Zebrafish

The zebrafish, Danio rerio, has been established as an excellent vertebrate model for the study of developmental biology and gene function. It also has proven to be a valuable model to study human diseases. Here, we reviewed recent publications using zebrafish to study the pathology of human neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s. These studies indicate that zebrafish genes and their human homologues have conserved functions with respect to the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. The characteristics of the zebrafish and the experimental approaches to which it is amenable make this species a useful complement to other animal models for the study of pathologic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and for the screening of compounds with therapeutic potential