Business Case and Technology Analysis for 5G Low Latency Applications

A large number of new consumer and industrial applications are likely to change the classic operator's business models and provide a wide range of new markets to enter. This article analyses the most relevant 5G use cases that require ultra-low latency, from both technical and business perspectives. Low latency services pose challenging requirements to the network, and to fulfill them operators need to invest in costly changes in their network. In this sense, it is not clear whether such investments are going to be amortized with these new business models. In light of this, specific applications and requirements are described and the potential market benefits for operators are analysed. Conclusions show that operators have clear opportunities to add value and position themselves strongly with the increasing number of services to be provided by 5G.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

New Directions: Faculty Use of Technology and Attitudes Toward Library Research Instruction

The authors conducted a survey of the faculty at Western Michigan University to determine how faculty are using technology in instruction and how they perceive library research instruction, in order to determine how librarians can successfully incorporate technology into library instruction. Primary Research Questions How are faculty using technology in instruction? How do faculty perceive library research instruction? How can librarians incorporate technology into library instruction

Polyploid plants obtain greater fitness benefits from a nutrient acquisition mutualism.

Polyploidy is a key driver of ecological and evolutionary processes in plants, yet little is known about its effects on biotic interactions. This gap in knowledge is especially profound for nutrient acquisition mutualisms, despite the fact that they regulate global nutrient cycles and structure ecosystems. Generalism in mutualistic interactions depends on the range of potential partners (niche breadth), the benefits obtained and ability to maintain benefits across a variety of partners (fitness plasticity). Here, we determine how each of these is influenced by polyploidy in the legume-rhizobium mutualism. We inoculated a broad geographic sample of natural diploid and autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa) lineages with a diverse panel of Sinorhizobium bacterial symbionts. To analyze the extent and mechanism of generalism, we measured host growth benefits and functional traits. Autotetraploid plants obtained greater fitness enhancement from mutualistic interactions and were better able to maintain this across diverse rhizobial partners (i.e. low plasticity in fitness) relative to diploids. These benefits were not attributed to increases in niche breadth, but instead reflect increased rewards from investment in the mutualism. Polyploid plants displayed greater generalization in bacterial mutualisms relative to diploids, illustrating another axis of advantage for polyploids over diploids

Importance of nutritional counseling and dietary fiber content on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients under intensive educational intervention

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of nutritional counseling within a set of multidisciplinary interventions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia (A1C > 8%), treated conventionally (n = 19, GC) or intensively in six weekly visits (n = 28, GI) were analyzed. We evaluated mean weekly blood glucose (MWG) at baseline and after 6 weeks in both groups. RESULTS: GI reduced caloric (p = 0.001), carbohydrate (p = 0.004), and fat (p = 0.001) intake, and increased fiber consumption, while GC reduced fiber intake (p = 0.018). Glycemic control (MWG < 150 mg/dL) occurred in 75% of GI patients and in 31.6% of CG patients (p = 0.003), with negative correlation between changes in fiber intake and MWG values (r =-0.309; P = 0.035). Results were maintained after 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: Educational short-term intensive intervention was more effective than conventional treatment to achieve glycemic control. Our results also indicate that a more appropriate fiber content in the diet contributes for better blood glucose control in these patients.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a orientação nutricional dentro de um conjunto de intervenções multidisciplinares. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Quarenta e sete pacientes diabéticos tipo 2, hiperglicêmicos, tratados de forma convencional (n = 19) ou intensiva (n = 28) e avaliados pela glicemia média semanal (GMS) no início e após 6 semanas. RESULTADOS: GI reduziu o consumo de calorias (p = 0,001), carboidratos (p = 0,004), lipídios (p = 0,001) e aumentou o de fibras, enquanto o GC reduziu o consumo de fibras (p = 0,018). Controle glicêmico (GMS < 150 mg/dL) ocorreu em 75% do GI e, em 31,6% do GC (p = 0,003), houve correlação negativa entre as variações do consumo de fibras e a GMS (r =-0,309; p = 0,035). Os resultados mantiveram-se por 12 semanas. CONCLUSÃO: A intervenção educacional intensiva de curto prazo mostrou-se mais eficaz que o tratamento convencional para a obtenção do controle glicêmico. Nossos resultados ainda indicam que um consumo mais adequado de fibras na alimentação contribui para a obtenção de um melhor controle da glicemia.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de Medicina PreventivaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM Depto. de Medicina PreventivaSciEL

Diversity and substrate-specificity of green algae and other micro-eukaryotes colonizing amphibian clutches in Germany, revealed by DNA metabarcoding

Amphibian clutches are colonized by diverse but poorly studied communities of micro-organisms. One of the most noted ones is the unicellular green alga, Oophila amblystomatis, but the occurrence and role of other micro-organisms in the capsular chamber surrounding amphibian clutches have remained largely unstudied. Here, we undertook a multi-marker DNA metabarcoding study to characterize the community of algae and other micro-eukaryotes associated with agile frog (Rana dalmatina) clutches. Samplings were performed at three small ponds in Germany, from four substrates: water, sediment, tree leaves from the bottom of the pond, and R. dalmatina clutches. Sampling substrate strongly determined the community compositions of algae and other micro-eukaryotes. Therefore, as expected, the frog clutch-associated communities formed clearly distinct clusters. Clutch-associated communities in our study were structured by a plethora of not only green algae, but also diatoms and other ochrophytes. The most abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in clutch samples were taxa from Chlamydomonas, Oophila, but also from Nitzschia and other ochrophytes. Sequences of Oophila “Clade B” were found exclusively in clutches. Based on additional phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA and of a matrix of 18 nuclear genes derived from transcriptomes, we confirmed in our samples the existence of two distinct clades of green algae assigned to Oophila in past studies. We hypothesize that “Clade B” algae correspond to the true Oophila, whereas “Clade A” algae are a series of Chlorococcum species that, along with other green algae, ochrophytes and protists, colonize amphibian clutches opportunistically and are often cultured from clutch samples due to their robust growth performance. The clutch-associated communities were subject to filtering by sampling location, suggesting that the taxa colonizing amphibian clutches can drastically differ depending on environmental conditions

Multifractal Fluctuations in Seismic Interspike Series

Multifractal fluctuations in the time dynamics of seismicity data have been analyzed. We investigated the interspike intervals (times between successive earthquakes) of one of the most seismically active areas of central Italy by using the Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA). Analyzing the time evolution of the multifractality degree of the series, a loss of multifractality during the aftershocks is revealed. This study aims to suggest another approach to investigate the complex dynamics of earthquakes

O laboratório de ensino de matemática e suas perspectivas na formação inicial de professore

O artigo apresenta os resultados de uma investigação qualitativa, realizada emcurrículos dos cursos de Licenciatura em Matemática dasinstituições públicasde ensino superior do Estado do Paraná-Brasil, bem como os entendimentosdos licenciandos sobre o Laboratório de Ensino de Matemática (LEM) naformação do inicial. Foi realizada uma busca no portal do governo federal brasileiro sobre os currículos dos cursos de licenciatura e a aplicação dequestionário a alunos de um destes cursos. As análises indicam que o LEMprecisa ser repensado como elemento relevante de formação e comooportunidade de desenvolvimento do conhecimento pedagógicodo conteúdo