QoSHVCP: hybrid vehicular communications protocol with QoS prioritization for safety applications

This paper introduces a hybrid communication paradigm for achieving seamless connectivity in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs), wherein the connectivity is often affected by changes in the dynamic topology, vehicles' speed, as well as the traffic density. Our proposed technique named QoS-oriented Hybrid Vehicular Communications Protocol (QoSHVCP) exploits both existing network infrastructure through a Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), as well as a traditional Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) connection that could satisfy Quality-of-Service requirements. QoSHVCP is based on a V2V-V2I protocol switching algorithm, executed in a distributed fashion by each vehicle and is based on the cost function for alternative paths each time it needs to transmit a message. We utilize time delay as a performance metric and present the delay propagation rates when vehicles are transmitting high priority messages via QoSHVCP. Simulation results indicate that simultaneous usage of preexisting network infrastructure along with intervehicular communication provide lower delays, while maintaining the level of user's performance. Our results show a great promise for their future use in VANETs

Beam shaping with tip-tilt varifocal mirror for indoor optical wireless communication

MEMS mirrors are currently used in many applications to steer beams of light. An area of continued research is developing mirrors with varifocal capability that allows the beam to be shaped and focused. In this work, we study the varifocal capability of a 380 mu m diameter, thermally actuated MEMS mirror with a +/- 40 degrees tip-tilt angle and a radius of curvature between -0.48 mm to 20.5 mm. Light is coupled to the mirror via a single mode optical fiber, similar to an indoor optical wireless communication architecture. The performance of the mirror is characterized with respect to (1) the profile of the reflected beam as the mirror deforms and (2) the mirror's impact when integrated into an optical communication system. We found that the mirror can focus light to a beam with a 0.18 degrees half-angle divergence. Additionally, the ability to change the shape of fiberized light from a wide to narrow beam provides an unmatched level of dynamic control and significantly improves the bit error rate in an optical communication system. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America

Investigation of land ice-ocean interaction with a fully coupled ice-ocean model: Part 2. Sensitivity to external forcings

A coupled ice stream-ice shelf-ocean cavity model is used to assess the sensitivity of the coupled system to far-field ocean temperatures, varying from 0.0 to 1.8C, as well as sensitivity to the parameters controlling grounded ice flow. A response to warming is seen in grounding line retreat and grounded ice loss that cannot be inferred from the response of integrated melt rates alone. This is due to concentrated thinning at the ice shelf lateral margin, and to processes that contribute to this thinning. Parameters controlling the flow of grounded ice have a strong influence on the response to sub-ice shelf melting, but this influence is not seen until several years after an initial perturbation in temperatures. The simulated melt rates are on the order of that observed for Pine Island Glacier in the 1990s. However, retreat rates are much slower, possibly due to unrepresented bedrock features

ESD Terms and Definitions (Version 12)

Basic terms related to engineering system

Estimating the incidence of acute infectious intestinal disease in the community in the UK:A retrospective telephone survey

Objectives: To estimate the burden of intestinal infectious disease (IID) in the UK and determine whether disease burden estimations using a retrospective study design differ from those using a prospective study design. Design/Setting: A retrospective telephone survey undertaken in each of the four countries comprising the United Kingdom. Participants were randomly asked about illness either in the past 7 or 28 days. Participants: 14,813 individuals for all of whom we had a legible recording of their agreement to participate Outcomes: Self-reported IID, defined as loose stools or clinically significant vomiting lasting less than two weeks, in the absence of a known non-infectious cause. Results: The rate of self-reported IID varied substantially depending on whether asked for illness in the previous 7 or 28 days. After standardising for age and sex, and adjusting for the number of interviews completed each month and the relative size of each UK country, the estimated rate of IID in the 7-day recall group was 1,530 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 1135 – 2113), while in the 28-day recall group it was 533 cases per 1,000 person-years (95% CI: 377 – 778). There was no significant variation in rates between the four countries. Rates in this study were also higher than in a related prospective study undertaken at the same time. Conclusions: The estimated burden of disease from IID varied dramatically depending on study design. Retrospective studies of IID give higher estimates of disease burden than prospective studies. Of retrospective studies longer recall periods give lower estimated rates than studies with short recall periods. Caution needs to be exercised when comparing studies of self-reported IID as small changes in study design or case definition can markedly affect estimated rates

A global descriptor of spatial pattern interaction in the galaxy distribution

We present the function J as a morphological descriptor for point patterns formed by the distribution of galaxies in the Universe. This function was recently introduced in the field of spatial statistics, and is based on the nearest neighbor distribution and the void probability function. The J descriptor allows to distinguish clustered (i.e. correlated) from ``regular'' (i.e. anti-correlated) point distributions. We outline the theoretical foundations of the method, perform tests with a Matern cluster process as an idealised model of galaxy clustering, and apply the descriptor to galaxies and loose groups in the Perseus-Pisces Survey. A comparison with mock-samples extracted from a mixed dark matter simulation shows that the J descriptor can be profitably used to constrain (in this case reject) viable models of cosmic structure formation.Comment: Significantly enhanced version, 14 pages, LaTeX using epsf, aaspp4, 7 eps-figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

A review of RCTs in four medical journals to assess the use of imputation to overcome missing data in quality of life outcomes

Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are perceived as the gold-standard method for evaluating healthcare interventions, and increasingly include quality of life (QoL) measures. The observed results are susceptible to bias if a substantial proportion of outcome data are missing. The review aimed to determine whether imputation was used to deal with missing QoL outcomes. Methods: A random selection of 285 RCTs published during 2005/6 in the British Medical Journal, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of American Medical Association were identified. Results: QoL outcomes were reported in 61 (21%) trials. Six (10%) reported having no missing data, 20 (33%) reported ≤ 10% missing, eleven (18%) 11%–20% missing, and eleven (18%) reported >20% missing. Missingness was unclear in 13 (21%). Missing data were imputed in 19 (31%) of the 61 trials. Imputation was part of the primary analysis in 13 trials, but a sensitivity analysis in six. Last value carried forward was used in 12 trials and multiple imputation in two. Following imputation, the most common analysis method was analysis of covariance (10 trials). Conclusion: The majority of studies did not impute missing data and carried out a complete-case analysis. For those studies that did impute missing data, researchers tended to prefer simpler methods of imputation, despite more sophisticated methods being available.The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorate. Shona Fielding is also currently funded by the Chief Scientist Office on a Research Training Fellowship (CZF/1/31)

A review of RCTs in four medical journals to assess the use of imputation to overcome missing data in quality of life outcomes

Peer reviewedPublisher PD