A 5G mobile network architecture to support vertical industries

The telecom industry is moving from a "horizontal" service delivery model, where services are defined independent of their consumers, toward a "vertical" delivery model, where the provided services are tailored to specific industry sectors and verticals. In order to enable this transition, an end-to-end comprehensive 5G architecture is needed, with capabilities to support the use cases of the different vertical industries. A key feature of this architecture is the implementation of network slicing over a single infrastructure to provision highly heterogeneous vertical services, as well as a network slicing management system capable of handling simultaneous slices. On top of the network slicing technology, functionality needs to be devised to deploy the slices required by the different vertical players and provide them with a suitable interface to manage their slice. In this article, we design a 5G mobile network architecture to support vertical industries. The proposed architecture builds on ongoing standardization efforts at 3GPP and ETSI, and incorporates additional modules to provide enhanced MANO and control functionality as well as artificial-intelligence-based data analytics. On top of these modules, a service layer is provided to offer vertical players an easyto- use interface to manage their services.This work was supported by the H2020 5G-TOURS European project (Grant Agreement No. 856950)

Advances in the development of non-lethal biomarkers for ecotoxicological study of the Mediterranean logger-head turtle (Caretta caretta)

The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is a long living species on the red list of threatened species. The Mediterranean population of C. caretta, living in a polluted land-locked basin, may be particularly threatened by pollution, hence the need for ecotoxicological studies using non lethal techniques. Our recent studies aimed to develop an ecotoxicological protocol based on non destructive biomarkers to investigate the health status of this species. In a first study 53 live stranded and/or hospitalized specimens were sampled from four sites along the Italian coasts. Blood was analyzed for vitellogenin, AChE and BChE activity, 17-(beta)-estradiol levels and several blood chemistry parameters (gamma-GT, AST, ALT). Excreta samples were analyzed to evaluate porphyrin concentrations. Biomarker responses showed considerable differences between the various specimens analyzed, both in relation to sex and maturity and to area of collection. In a second study 15 specimens of C. caretta were sampled for blood and/or excreta and skin biopsy from the recovery center on Linosa island (Sicily). The aim of this step was to develop and validate new biomarkers using skin biopsy and blood lymphocytes. Presence of CYP1A was measured by western blot and ELISA. Real-time PCR was also performed to detect gene expression. The results obtained represent a step forward in the development of a non lethal protocol for ecotoxicological study of C. caretta

Trials Supported By Smart Networks Beyond 5G: the TrialsNet Approach

TrialsNet is a project focused on improving European urban ecosystems through 13 innovative use cases in the three representative domains of Infrastructure, Transportation, Security and Safety; eHealth and Emergency; and Culture, Tourism, and Entertainment. These use cases will be implemented across different clusters in Italy, Spain, Greece, and Romania, involving real users. This paper provides an overview of the various use cases that will be trialled in different contexts through the platform and network solutions that will be deployed by the project based on advanced functionalities such as dynamic slicing management, NFV, MEC, AI/ML, and others. To this end, TrialsNet will develop assessment frameworks to measure the impact of use cases on a technical, socio-economic, and societal level through the definition and measurement of proper Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Value Indicators (KVIs). The project seeks to identify network limitations, optimize infrastructure, and define new requirements for next-generation mobile networks. Ultimately, TrialsNet aims to enhance livability in urban environments by driving advancements in various domains