Taming the interoperability challenges of complex IoT systems

of communication protocols and data formats; hence ensuring diverse devices can interoperate with one another remains a significant challenge. Model-driven development and testing solutions have been proposed as methods to aid software developers achieve interoperability compliance in the face of this increasing complexity. However, current approaches often involve complicated and domain specific models (e.g. web services described by WSDL). In this paper, we explore a lightweight, middleware independent, model-driven development framework to help developers tame the challenges of composing IoT services that interoperate with one another. The framework is based upon two key contributions: i) patterns of interoperability behaviour, and ii) a software framework to monitor and reason about interoperability success or failure. We show using a case-study from the FI-WARE Future Internet Service domain that this interoperability framework can support non-expert developers address interoperability challenges. We also deployed tools built atop the framework and made them available in the XIFI large-scale FI-PPP test environment

HUMANE external case study: eVACUATE #2

This case study was conducted in September to October 2016 with the purpose of providing an external validation of the HUMANE typology and method. This eVACUATE case-study comprises four different engagements in order to ensure a comprehensive evaluation: a quantitative online survey on the HUMANE design patterns; a quantitative survey on the HUMANE typology used for characterising Human-Machine Networks (HMNs); and two focus groups evaluating the HUMANE method (covering the profiling process, network diagramming, implication analysis, and design pattern approach). A summary of results, along with focus group transcripts, surveys and survey results are included here

HUMANE internal case study: eVACUATE #1

This case study was conducted on 14 December 2015. The purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of the HUMANE approach as perceived by relevant developers (software engineers), and additionally ask if the HUMANE typology facilitates cross-disciplinary understanding. The files included here provide a summary of the analysis and the transcript from a semi-structured focus group

An estimate of the stratospheric contribution to springtime tropospheric ozone maxima using TOPSE measurements and beryllium-7 simulations

Measurements of tropospheric ozone (O3) between 30°N and 70°N show springtime maxima at remote locations. The contribution of seasonal changes in stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) to these maxima was investigated using measurements from the Tropospheric Ozone Production about the Spring Equinox Experiment (TOPSE) campaign and the beryllium-7 (7Be) distribution from a calculation driven by fields from the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS DAS). Comparison with TOPSE measurements revealed that upper tropospheric model-calculated 7Be mixing ratios were reasonable (a change from previous calculations) but that lower tropospheric mixing ratios were too low most likely due to an overestimation of scavenging. Temporal fluctuations were well captured although their amplitudes were often underestimated. Analysis of O3measurements indicated that O3 mixing ratios increased by 5–10% month−1 for θ \u3c 300 K (the underworld) and by 10–15% month−1 for θ \u3e 300 K (the tropospheric middleworld). 7Be mixing ratios decreased with time for θ \u3c 290 K and increased with time for θ \u3e 300 K. Model-calculated middleworld increases of 7Be were a factor of 2 less than measured increases. 7Be with a stratospheric source (strat-7Be) increased by 4.6–8.8% month−1 along TOPSE flight paths within the tropospheric middleworld. Increases in strat-7Be were not seen along TOPSE flight paths in the underworld. Assuming changes in tropospheric O3 with a stratospheric source are the same as changes in strat-7Be and that 50% of O3 in the region of interest is produced in the stratosphere, changes in STE explain 20–60% of O3 increases in the tropospheric middleworld and less than 33% of O3 increases in the underworld

The regulation of microRNA biogenesis by ribosome-interacting proteins

MicroRNA (miRNA) are small, non-coding RNAs that affect gene expression through degradation of complementary mRNA targets or inhibition of translation. As they affect approximately 50% of all cellular processes, miRNA are tightly regulated by the cell through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Transcribed miRNA are capped and polyadenylated (referred to as pri-miRNA) which are cleaved by Drosha and DGCR8 to generate 60-90 nucleotide precursor miRNA. The precursors are cleaved again by Dicer and loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) of which Argonaute 2 is the functional component. Many of the proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis share a common role in ribosomal RNA regulation. Here we characterize two ribosome-associated proteins that are important for miRNA biogenesis. In one study, we identified nucleolin as a positive regulator of pri-miR-15a/miR-16-1 biogenesis. Nucleolin expression is inversely proportional to mature miR-15a/miR-16-1 expression. While nuclear localization of nucleolin increases miR-15a/16-1 expression, cytoplasmic localization of nucleolin decreases it in a mechanism dependent on the interaction of nucleolin with Drosha and DGCR8. Furthermore, pri-miR-15a/miR-16-1 is bound by nucleolin, which facilitates its processing in vitro. In another study, we analyzed TCGA patient datasets to uncover a miRNA signature associated with ZEB1/2 expression that refutes current models of miR-200 family (miR-200a/b/c, miR-141, miR-429) regulation. In breast cancer cell lines with low miR-200 expression an abundance of primary and precursor species exist. We found these precursors are able to regulate other miR-200 family members in a coherent feedforward loop, independent of transcription, by titrating away a repressor complex. We identified the repressor as Receptor of Ribosome Binding Protein 1 (RRBP1) by developing a new technique to capture endogenous protein-RNA complexes in vivo called Cross-linking and PNA Pulldown (CLaPP) assay. RRBP1 inversely correlates with miR-200 expression in cell lines and through gain- and loss-of-function studies. TGF-b treatment transcriptionally increased RRBP1 abundance resulting in loss of miR-200 expression. Lastly, RRBP1 was found to directly associate with miR-200 precursors through iCLIP analysis. In summary, the ribosome-associated proteins nucleolin and RRBP1 were identified and characterized as two novel proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis, each forming feedforward miRNA loops that regulate distinct cellular processes

Cross-disciplinary lessons for the future internet

There are many societal concerns that emerge as a consequence of Future Internet (FI) research and development. A survey identified six key social and economic issues deemed most relevant to European FI projects. During a SESERV-organized workshop, experts in Future Internet technology engaged with social scientists (including economists), policy experts and other stakeholders in analyzing the socio-economic barriers and challenges that affect the Future Internet, and conversely, how the Future Internet will affect society, government, and business. The workshop aimed to bridge the gap between those who study and those who build the Internet. This chapter describes the socio-economic barriers seen by the community itself related to the Future Internet and suggests their resolution, as well as investigating how relevant the EU Digital Agenda is to Future Internet technologists

Multi-phase ecological change on Indian subcontinent from the late Miocene to Pleistocene recorded in the Nicobar Fan

Modern grasslands on the Indian subcontinent, North and South America, and East Africa expanded widely during the late Miocene - earliest Pleistocene, likely in response to increasing aridity. Grasses utilizing the C4 photosynthetic pathway are more tolerant of high temperatures and dry conditions, and because they induce less C isotope fractionation than plants using the C3 pathway, the expansion of C4 grasslands can be traced through the δ13C of organic matter in soils and terrigenous marine sediments. We present a high-resolution record of the elemental and isotopic composition of bulk organic matter in the Nicobar Fan sediments from IODP Site U1480, off western Sumatra, to elucidate the timing and pace of the C3-C4 plant transition within the ∼1.5 × 106 km2 catchments of the Ganges/Brahmaputra river system, which continue to supply voluminous Himalaya-derived sediments to the Bay of Bengal. Using a multi-proxy approach to correct for the effects of marine organic matter and account for major sources of uncertainty, we recognize two phases of C4 expansion starting at ∼7.1 Ma, and at ∼3.5 Ma, with a stepwise transition at ∼2.5 Ma. These intervals appear to coincide with periods of Indian Ocean and East Asian monsoon intensification, as well as the expansion of Northern Hemisphere glaciation starting at ∼2.7 Ma. Our data from the deep sea for a multi-phased C4 expansion on the Indian subcontinent are in agreement with terrestrial data from the Indian Siwaliks

Automation in Human-Machine Networks: How Increasing Machine Agency Affects Human Agency

Efficient human-machine networks require productive interaction between human and machine actors. In this study, we address how a strengthening of machine agency, for example through increasing levels of automation, affect the human actors of the networks. Findings from case studies within air traffic management, crisis management, and crowd evacuation are presented, exemplifying how automation may strengthen the agency of human actors in the network through responsibility sharing and task allocation, and serve as a needed prerequisite of innovation and change

Cybersecurity Awareness and Capacities of SMEs

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly exposed to cyber risks. Some of the main reasons include budget constraints, the employees’ lack of cybersecurity awareness, cross-sectoral cyber risks, lack of security practices at organizational level, and so on. To equip SMEs with appropriate tools and guidelines that help mitigate their exposure to cyber risk, we must better understand the SMEs’ context and their needs. Thus, the contribution of this paper is a survey based on responses collected from 141 SMEs based in the UK, where the objective is to obtain information to better understand their level of cybersecurity awareness and practices they apply to protect against cyber risks. Our results indicate that although SMEs do apply some basic cybersecurity measures to mitigate cyber risks, there is a general lack of cybersecurity awareness and lack of processes and tools to improve cybersecurity practices. Our findings provide to the cybersecurity community a better understanding of the SME context in terms of cybersecurity awareness and cybersecurity practices, and may be used as a foundation to further develop appropriate tools and processes to strengthen the cybersecurity of SMEs.publishedVersio