A tutorial on the characterisation and modelling of low layer functional splits for flexible radio access networks in 5G and beyond

The centralization of baseband (BB) functions in a radio access network (RAN) towards data processing centres is receiving increasing interest as it enables the exploitation of resource pooling and statistical multiplexing gains among multiple cells, facilitates the introduction of collaborative techniques for different functions (e.g., interference coordination), and more efficiently handles the complex requirements of advanced features of the fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) physical layer, such as the use of massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO). However, deciding the functional split (i.e., which BB functions are kept close to the radio units and which BB functions are centralized) embraces a trade-off between the centralization benefits and the fronthaul costs for carrying data between distributed antennas and data processing centres. Substantial research efforts have been made in standardization fora, research projects and studies to resolve this trade-off, which becomes more complicated when the choice of functional splits is dynamically achieved depending on the current conditions in the RAN. This paper presents a comprehensive tutorial on the characterisation, modelling and assessment of functional splits in a flexible RAN to establish a solid basis for the future development of algorithmic solutions of dynamic functional split optimisation in 5G and beyond systems. First, the paper explores the functional split approaches considered by different industrial fora, analysing their equivalences and differences in terminology. Second, the paper presents a harmonized analysis of the different BB functions at the physical layer and associated algorithmic solutions presented in the literature, assessing both the computational complexity and the associated performance. Based on this analysis, the paper presents a model for assessing the computational requirements and fronthaul bandwidth requirements of different functional splits. Last, the model is used to derive illustrative results that identify the major trade-offs that arise when selecting a functional split and the key elements that impact the requirements.This work has been partially funded by Huawei Technologies. Work by X. Gelabert and B. Klaiqi is partially funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2021-DN-0) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101073265. Work by J. Perez-Romero and O. Sallent is also partially funded by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreements No. 101096034 (VERGE project) and No. 101097083 (BeGREEN project) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 under ARTIST project (ref. PID2020-115104RB-I00). This last project has also funded the work by D. Campoy.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Giant Optical Polarization Rotation Induced by Spin-Orbit Coupling in Polarons

We have uncovered a giant gyrotropic magneto-optical response for doped ferromagnetic manganite La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 around the near room-temperature paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition. At odds with current wisdom, where this response is usually assumed to be fundamentally fixed by the electronic band structure, we point to the presence of small polarons as the driving force for this unexpected phenomenon. We explain the observed properties by the intricate interplay of mobility, Jahn-Teller effect and spin-orbit coupling of small polarons. As magnetic polarons are ubiquitously inherent to many strongly correlated systems, our results provide an original, general pathway towards the generation of gigantic gyrotropic responses that can be harnessed for nonreciprocal devices that exploit the polarization of light

Design and evaluation of a treatment programme for Spanish adolescents with overweight and obesity. The EVASYON Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) among adolescents worldwide has increased since the 60 s. Spain has reached one of the highest OW/OB prevalence rates among adolescents from European countries. The aim of this methodological paper is to describe the design and evaluation in the EVASYON study (Development, implementation and evaluation of the efficacy of a therapeutic programme for adolescents with OW/OB: integral education on nutrition and physical activity).</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The EVASYON was planned by a multidisciplinary team to treat OW/OB in Spanish adolescents. The EVASYON is a multi-centre study conducted in 5 hospitals in 5 Spanish cities (Granada, Madrid, Pamplona, Santander and Zaragoza) and two hundred and four OW/OB Spanish adolescents were recruited for this intervention. The treatment was implemented for approximately one-year follow-up. The adolescents were treated in groups of a maximum of 10 subjects; each group had 20 visits during the treatment period in two phases: intensive during the first 2 months (1^stto 9^thvisits), and extensive during the last 11 months (10^thto 20^thvisits). In order to assess the efficacy of the treatment, 8 dimensions were measured: diet; physical activity and fitness; eating behaviour; body composition; haematological profile; metabolic profile; minerals and vitamins; immuno-inflammatory markers. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms were also determined.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The treatment programme developed in the EVASYON study was designed as a national pilot study to be implemented as an effective treatment for adolescents with OW/OB into the Spanish Health Care Service.</p

TP53 abnormalities are underlying the poor outcome associated with chromothripsis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with complex karyotype

Simple Summary Chromothripsis, a genomic event that generates massive chromosomal rearrangements, has been described in 1-3% of CLL patients and is associated with poor prognostic factors (e.g., TP53 abnormalities and genomic complexity). However, previous studies have not assessed its role in CLL patients with complex karyotypes. Herein, we aimed to describe the genetic characteristics of 33 CLL patients with high genomic complexity and chromothripsis. Moreover, we analyzed the clinical impact of chromothripsis, comparing these patients against a cohort of 129 patients with complex karyotypes not presenting this catastrophic event. Nine cases were also assessed via the novel cytogenomic methodology known as optical genome mapping. We confirmed that this phenomenon is heterogeneous and associated with a shorter time to first treatment. Nonetheless, our findings suggested that TP53 abnormalities, rather than chromothripsis itself, underlie the dismal outcome. Chromothripsis (cth) has been associated with a dismal outcome and poor prognosis factors in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite being correlated with high genome instability, previous studies have not assessed the role of cth in the context of genomic complexity. Herein, we analyzed a cohort of 33 CLL patients with cth and compared them against a cohort of 129 non-cth cases with complex karyotypes. Nine cth cases were analyzed using optical genome mapping (OGM). Patterns detected by genomic ..

Un enfocament empíric de la projecció de la cobertura 5G mitjançant la coincidència de sèries temporals

El aumento de la inteligencia y la capacidad de cálculo de los equipos de usuario (UE) deja la puerta abierta a un nuevo paradigma, en el que los dispositivos personales toman un papel activo en su integración como parte de la RAN. El uso de estas UE como relés es la tendencia dominante, ayudando a otros usuarios al enlace en la estación base cuando experimentan condiciones de mala cobertura. En este contexto, el trabajo desarrollado en este proyecto pretende contribuir y discutir si el UE puede ser consciente de una situación adversa cercana, es decir, pérdida de conexión o handover, estudiando y aplicando técnicas de análisis de series temporales en secuencias reales medidas en células 5G. Los resultados indican que las grabaciones que siguen el mismo camino por lo general tienen suficientes semejanzas para relacionarlos, lo que significa que la historia de un UE anterior se puede utilizar para avanzar una situación que puede empeorar.L'augment de la intel·ligència i la capacitat de càlcul dels equips d'usuari (UE) deixa la porta obert a un nou paradigma, on els dispositius personals prenen un paper actiu en la seva integració com a part de la RAN. L'ús d'aquestes UE com a relés és la tendència dominant, ajudant a altres usuaris a l'enllaç a l'estació base quan experimenten condicions de mala cobertura. En aquest context, el treball desenvolupat en aquest projecte pretén contribuir i discutir si el UE pot ser conscient d'una situació adversa propera, és a dir, pèrdua de connexió o handover, estudiant i aplicant tècniques d'anàlisi de sèries temporals en seqüències reals mesurades en cèl·lules 5G. Els resultats indiquen que els enregistraments que segueixen el mateix camí en general tenen prou semblances per relacionar-los, el que significa que la història de un UE anterior es pot utilitzar per avançar una situació que pot empitjorar.The increased intelligence and computing capacity of user equipment (UE) leaves the door open to a new paradigm, where personal devices take an active role in being integrated as a part of the RAN. The use of these UEs as relays is the dominant trend, assisting other users in the link to the base station when they experience poor coverage conditions. In this context, the work developed in this project is intended to contribute to and discuss if the UE can be aware of an upcoming adverse situation i.e., loss of connection or handover, studying and applying time series analysis techniques in real sequences measured in 5G cells. The findings indicate that recordings following the same path generally have enough similarities to relate them, meaning that previous UE’s history can be used to notice in advance a worsening situation

What do we evaluate in sport mindfulness interventions?: A systematic review of commonly used questionnaires

Interest of the study: mindfulness is a concept describing the focus on the present moment, intentionally and without judgement. This approach has only recently been applied to sport psychology. Objectives: the aim of the current review is to investigate which indicators and questionnaires are used in mindfulness research in sport, being specifically interested in mindfulness assessment. Methods: PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration were used. Literature searches were conducted in Psychinfo, PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Results: From 2,203 records initially retrieved, 17 articles were included. The results show that mindfulness, anxiety and acceptance are the most commonly studied psychological indicators. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire is the most frequently used mindfulness scale. We also discuss the possibility of using physiological indicators as complementary assessment. Conclusions: It is recommended to specifically adapt some questionnaires, such is already done with the Sport Anxiety Scale or the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport, for their use in sport psychology.Interesses de studo: Mindfulness ou mindfulness é umconceito que descreve a capacidade de estar no momento presente, intencionalmente e semjulgamento. Essaabordagemnãofoi usada até recentementena psicologia do esporte. Objetivos: O objetivo destarevisãoé investigar quaisvariáveis e questionáriossão usados emintervençõesbaseadas no mindfulness no esporte, com foco especial naavaliação do mindfulness. Metodologia: Foram utilizadas as diretrizes do PRISMA para revisões sistemáticas e as recomendações do Cochrane Center. As pesquisas bibliográficas foram realizadas na Psychinfo, PubMed, EMBASE e na biblioteca Cochrane. Resultados: Dos 2.203 primeirosartigos, 17 foramescolhidos. Os resultados mostram que a atenção, ansiedade e aceitaçãosão as variáveis psicológicas maisestudadas. O Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire é o maisamplamente usado para avaliar a consciência plena. O potencial de avaliarvariáveis fisiológicas como complemento de variáveis psicológicas também é discutido. Conclusões: Recomenda-se a criação de questionários específicos, como jáocorreucom a Escala de Ansiedade Esportivaou o I

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) and mendelian trait loci (MTL) analysis in prunus: a breeding perspective and beyond

Trait loci analysis, a classic procedure in quantitative (quantitative trait loci, QTL) and qualitative (Mendelian trait loci, MTL) genetics, continues to be the most important approach in studies of gene labeling in Prunus species from the Rosaceae family. Since 2011, the number of published Prunus QTLs and MTLs has doubled. With increased genomic resources, such as whole genome sequences and high-density genotyping platforms, trait loci analysis can be more readily converted to markers that can be directly utilized in marker-assisted breeding. To provide this important resource to the community and to integrate it with other genomic, genetic, and breeding data, a global review of the QTLs and MTLs linked to agronomic traits in Prunus has been performed and the data made available in the Genome Database for Rosaceae. We describe detailed information on 760 main QTLs and MTLs linked to a total of 110 agronomic traits related to tree development, pest and disease resistance, flowering, ripening, and fruit and seed quality. Access to these trait loci enables the application of this information in the post-genomic era, characterized by the availability of a high-quality peach reference genome and new high-throughput DNA and RNA analysis technologies