IoT-A and FIWARE: bridging the barriers between the Cloud and IoT systems design and implementation

Abstract: IoT systems are designed and implemented to address specific challenges based on domain specific requirements, thus not taking into consideration issues of openness, scalability, interoperability and use-case independence. As a result, they are less principled, vendor oriented and hardly replicable since the same IoT architecture cannot be used in more than one use-cases. To address the fragmentation of existing IoT solutions, the IoT-A project proposes an architecture reference model that defines the principles and standards for generating IoT architectures and promoting the interoperation of IoT solutions. However, IoT-A addresses the architecture design problem, and does not focus on whether existing cloud platforms can offer the tools and services to support the implementation of IoT-A compliant IoT systems. In this work we attempt to fill this gap and we propose an architectural approach based on IoT-A that focuses (as a use case) on the FIWARE open cloud platform that in turn provides the building blocks of Future Internet (FI) applications and services. We further correlate FIWARE and IoT-A approaches to identify the key features for FIWARE to support IoT-A compliant system implementations

Modular and generic IoT management on the cloud

Cloud computing and Internet of Things encompass various physical devices that generate and exchange data with services promoting the integration between the physical world and computer-based systems. This work presents a novel Future Internet cloud service for data collection from Internet of Things devices in an automatic, generalized and modular way. It includes a flexible API for managing devices, users and permissions by mapping data to users, publish and subscribe context data as well as storage capabilities and data processing in the form of NoSQL big data. The contributions of this work include the on the fly data collection from devices that is stored in cloud scalable databases, the vendor agnostic Internet of Things device connectivity (since it is designed to be flexible and to support device heterogeneity), and finally the modularity of the event based publish/subscribe service for context oriented data that could be easily utilized by third party services without worrying about how data are collected, stored and managed

Virtual machine cluster mobility in inter-cloud platforms

Modern cloud computing applications developed from different interoperable services that are interfacing with each other in a loose coupling approach. This work proposes the concept of the Virtual Machine (VM) cluster migration, meaning that services could be migrated to various clouds based on different constraints such as computational resources and better economical offerings. Since cloud services are instantiated as VMs, an application can be seen as a cluster of VMs that integrate its functionality. We focus on the VM cluster migration by exploring a more sophisticated method with regards to VM network configurations. In particular, networks are hard to managed because their internal setup is changed after a migration, and this is related with the configuration parameters during the re-instantiation to the new cloud platform. To address such issue, we introduce a Software Defined Networking (SDN) service that breaks the problem of network configuration into tractable pieces and involves virtual bridges instead of references to static endpoints. The architecture is modular, it is based on the SDN OpenFlow protocol and allows VMs to be paired in cluster groups that communicate with each other independently of the cloud platform that are deployed. The experimental analysis demonstrates migrations of VM clusters and provides a detailed discussion of service performance for different cases

Innovative education and training in high power laser plasmas (PowerLaPs) for plasma physics, high power laser matter interactions and high energy density physics: experimental diagnostics and simulations

The second and final year of the Erasmus Plus programme "Innovative Education and Training in high power laser plasmas", otherwise known as PowerLaPs, is described. The PowerLaPs programme employs an innovative paradigm in that it is a multi-centre programme where teaching takes place in five separate institutes with a range of different aims and styles of delivery. The "in class" time is limited to four weeks a year, and the programme spans two years. PowerLaPs aims to train students from across Europe in theoretical, applied, and laboratory skills relevant to the pursuit of research in laser plasma interaction physics and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Lectures are intermingled with laboratory sessions, and continuous assessment activities. The programme, which is led by workers from the Hellenic Mediterranean University, and supported by co-workers from Queens University Belfast, the University of Bordeaux, the Czech Technical University in Prague, Ecole Polytechnique, the University of Ioannina, the University of Salamanca, and the University of York, has just finished its second and final year. Six Learning Teaching Training (LTT) activities have been held, at the Queens University Belfast, the University of Bordeaux, the Czech Technical University, the University of Salamanca, and the Institute of Plasma Physics and Lasers (CPPL) of the Hellenic Mediterranean University. The last of these institute hosted two two-week long Intensive Programmes (IPs), whilst the activities at the other four universities were each five days in length. In addition to this a "Multiplier Event" was held at the University of Ioannina, which will be briefly described. In this second year the work has concentrated upon training in both experimental diagnostics and simulation techniques appropriate to the study of Plasma Physics, High Power Laser-Matter Interactions and High Energy Density Physics. The nature of the programme will be described in detail and some metrics relating to the activities carried out will be presented. In particular this paper will focus upon the overall assessment of the programme

A dissection of SARS‑CoV2 with clinical implications (Review)

We are being confronted with the most consequential pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918‑1920 to the extent that never before have 4 billion people quarantined simultaneously; to address this global challenge we bring to the forefront the options for medical treatment and summarize SARS‑CoV2 structure and functions, immune responses and known treatments. Based on literature and our own experience we propose new interventions, including the use of amiodarone, simvastatin, pioglitazone and curcumin. In mild infections (sore throat, cough) we advocate prompt local treatment for the naso‑pharynx (inhalations; aerosols; nebulizers); for moderate to severe infections we propose a tried‑and‑true treatment: the combination of arginine and ascorbate, administered orally or intravenously. The material is organized in three sections: i) Clinical aspects of COVID‑19; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); known treatments; ii) Structure and functions of SARS‑CoV2 and proposed antiviral drugs; iii) The combination of arginine‑ascorbate

Innovative Education and Training in high power laser plasmas (PowerLaPs) for plasma physics, high power laser-matter interactions and high energy density physics - Theory and experiments

The Erasmus Plus programme 'Innovative Education and Training in high power laser plasmas', otherwise known as PowerLaPs, is described. The PowerLaPs programme employs an innovative paradigm in that it is a multi-centre programme where teaching takes place in five separate institutes with a range of different aims and styles of delivery. The 'in class' time is limited to four weeks a year, and the programme spans two years. PowerLaPs aims to train students from across Europe in theoretical, applied and laboratory skills relevant to the pursuit of research in laser-plasma interaction physics and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Lectures are intermingled with laboratory sessions and continuous assessment activities. The programme, which is led by workers from the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Crete, and supported by co-workers from the Queen's University Belfast, the University of Bordeaux, the Czech Technical University in Prague, Ecole Polytechnique, the University of Ioannina, the University of Salamanca and the University of York, has just completed its first year. Thus far three Learning Teaching Training (LTT) activities have been held, at the Queen's University Belfast, the University of Bordeaux and the Centre for Plasma Physics and Lasers (CPPL) of TEI Crete. The last of these was a two-week long Intensive Programme (IP), while the activities at the other two universities were each five days in length. Thus far work has concentrated upon training in both theoretical and experimental work in plasma physics, high power laser-matter interactions and high energy density physics. The nature of the programme will be described in detail and some metrics relating to the activities carried out to date will be presented

Μελέτη των υδροδυναμικών και ιζηματολογικών διεργασιών σχηματισμού και εξέλιξης του υποθαλάσσιου και παράκτιου Δέλτα του Αχελώου ποταμού

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή με τίτλο «Μελέτη των υδροδυναμικών και ιζηματολογικών διεργασιών σχηματισμού και εξέλιξης του υποθαλάσσιου και παράκτιου Δέλτα του Αχελώου ποταμού» εκπονήθηκε με σκοπό την ολοκληρωμένη ανάλυση των χερσαίων, παραλιακών και θαλάσσιων διεργασιών που σχετίζονται με το σχηματισμό και την εξέλιξη του δέλτα του Αχελώου. Τα ποτάμια δέλτα αποτελούν περιοχές προτεραιότητας, τόσο λόγω του πλήθους και της ποικιλίας της χλωρίδας και πανίδας που φιλοξενούν, όσο και λόγω των φυσικών πόρων και των οικοσυστημικών υπηρεσιών που προσφέρουν στον άνθρωπο (1/10 του παγκόσμιου πληθυσμού κατοικεί κοντά σε δελταϊκές περιοχές). Εξαιτίας της ιδιαίτερης μορφολογίας τους, τα δέλτα έχουν αυξημένη τρωτότητα στην ανθρώπινη παρέμβαση στα κύματα καταιγίδας και στην παγκόσμια άνοδο της θαλάσσιας στάθμης. Η έκταση της λεκάνης απορροής του Αχελώου είναι 7530 km2, με το δελταϊκό πεδίο να αποτελεί το 4% της συνολικής λεκάνης απορροής (270 km2) και να έχει υψόμετρο μικρότερο των 20 m από τους πρόποδες της Πίνδου έως τις εκβολές, ενώ το υψόμετρο στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της δελταϊκής πεδιάδας δεν ξεπερνάει τα 5 m. Κατά μήκος της κοίτης του Αχελώου έχουν κατασκευαστεί και λειτουργούν έξι υδροηλεκτρικά φράγματα, τα οποία παγιδεύουν στους συνοδούς ταμιευτήρες ίζημα από το 65% της λεκάνης απορροής, ενώ κατά μήκος της παράκτιας περιοχής έχουν κατασκευαστεί τεχνικά έργα για την προστασία έναντι της διάβρωσης. Η παράκτια περιοχή του Αχελώου έχει διαβρωθεί σημαντικά τα τελευταία 75 χρόνια, με μέσο ρυθμό οπισθοχώρησης περίπου 1,2 m/y, ο οποίος ήταν αρκετά εντονότερος κατά την περίοδο 1945-1971, όταν δεν είχαν αρχίσει να κατασκευάζονται παράκτια αντιδιαβρωτικά έργα, φτάνοντας ανά τμήματα να παρατηρούνται ρυθμοί υποχώρησης της ακτογραμμής άνω των 7 m/y. Η συνολική απώλεια γης για όλη την περιοχή μελέτης κατά την περίοδο 1945-2020 ήταν 1,63 km2, ενώ από αυτό το εμβαδό σχεδόν το μισό αφορά τις σύγχρονες εκβολές, ως απόρροια της επίδρασης των φραγμάτων στα ανάντη του Αχελώου. Ως αποτέλεσμα, η σύγχρονη μορφή του δέλτα (κατά Galloway) τείνει να αποκτήσει τα χαρακτηριστικά τύπου δέλτα στο οποίο κυριαρχούν οι κυματικές διεργασίες, σε αντίθεση με την υπερίσχυση των ποτάμιων διεργασιών κατά το παρελθόν. Η παράκτια και θαλάσσια περιοχή καλύπτεται γενικά από αμμώδη ιζήματα έως το βάθος των 10 m, τα οποία μεταπίπτουν προς τα ανοικτά σε πιο λεπτόκοκκα ιζήματα. Η μορφολογία της παράκτιας περιοχής είναι τυπική μιας δελταϊκής απόθεσης τύπου Gilbert, ενώ από το βάθος των περίπου 2 m έως το βάθος των 10 m υπάρχει έντονη παρουσία λειμώνων Posidonia oceanica. Το κυματικό καθεστώς που επικρατεί στην περιοχή του δέλτα περιλαμβάνει κύματα ανοιχτής θάλασσας, που προέρχονται από ΝΔ, Δ και ΒΔ διευθύνσεις, με μέση τιμή ύψους κύματος 0,6 m, σημαντικού ύψους 0,9 m και μέση τιμή του 1/10 των μέγιστων τιμών 1,3 m. Οι μέγιστες τιμές ύψους κύματος που παρατηρήθηκαν κυμαίνονται από 2,2 m έως 3,2 m και οι τιμές που αντιστοιχούν στις θαλάσσιες καταιγίδες είναι 2,64 m η μέγιστη και 2 m η μέση τιμή για όλα τα επεισόδια. Το μέγιστο βάθος κινητοποίησης των ιζημάτων πυθμένα είναι 4,7 m, ενώ το βάθος θραύσης σε μέσο βάθος 1,4 m και το μέσο ύψος θραύσης του κύματος 1 m. Η μέση δυνητική επιμήκης παραλιακή στερεομεταφορά κυμαίνεται μεταξύ 0,03 x105 και 2,8 x105 m3/y, βάσει των τιμών σημαντικού ύψους κύματος μεταξύ 0,03 x105 και 4,1 x105 m3/y και μεταξύ 0,1 x105 και 3,5 x105 m3/y για το 1/10 των μέγιστων τιμών ύψους κύματος, ενώ η φορά της στερεομεταφοράς στη νότια δελταϊκή ακτογραμμή είναι προς τα ανατολικά και στο δυτικό τμήμα προς το βορρά. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα της υψηλής διακριτικότητας σεισμικής στρωματογραφίας, εντοπίστηκαν δελταϊκά και προδελταϊκά ιζήματα σε στρώματα μεγάλου πάχους, που αποτέθηκαν σε σχετικά ήρεμο περιβάλλον και διαθέτουν χαρακτηριστικούς ανακλαστήρες δελταϊκής προέλασης σε μια λεκάνη γενικά προστατευμένη από έντονες θαλάσσιες διεργασίες. Το όριο της προδελταϊκής περιοχής όπου αποσφηνώνονται αυτές οι αποθέσεις βρίσκεται σε βάθος περίπου 80 m, με το μέσο όρο του πάχους του ολοκαινικού καλύμματος να είναι περίπου 85 m κοντά στην ακτογραμμή, το οποίο σε απόσταση περίπου 10 km από αυτή, φτάνει τα 50 m. Αντίστοιχα, ο μέσος ρυθμός ιζηματογένεσης για την περιοχή κοντά στην ακτογραμμή είναι περίπου 4,5 mm/y, ενώ βαθύτερα των προδελταϊκών αποθέσεων μειώνεται στα 2,5 mm/y. Αναγνωρίστηκαν τέσσερις παλαιοακτές σε βάθη περίπου 15 m, 52 m, 77 m και 130 m από τη σημερινή επιφάνεια της θάλασσας, που αντιστοιχούν στη μετάβαση από τη γρήγορη στην αργή άνοδος της θαλάσσιας στάθμης στο ανώτερο Ολόκαινο, στο ψυχρό επεισόδιο των 8,2 ka BP, στο Younger Dryas, και στη διαβρωσιγενή επιφάνεια του ανώτερου Πλειστοκαίνου, αντίστοιχα. Σύμφωνα με την ανάλυση των τεσσάρων επικρατέστερων σεναρίων του IPCC για την άνοδο της θαλάσσιας στάθμης έως το 2100 (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5 και High-End RCP8.5), αυτή θα ανέβει κατά 0,33 m, 0,42 m, 0,60 m και 0,71 m, ανάλογα με το σενάριο που θα επικρατήσει, κατακλύζοντας επιφάνεια 9,3 km2, 10,4 km2, 16,4 km2 και 19,8 km2, αντίστοιχα. Ανεξάρτητα του σεναρίου που θα επικρατήσει, υπολογίστηκε ότι για κάθε 0,1 m ανόδου της στάθμης, ο μέσος όρος απώλειας γης είναι περίπου 2,77 km2.The present thesis, entitled “Study of the hydrodynamic and sedimentary processes of formation and evolution of the submarine and coastal Delta of the Acheloos river”, deals with the integrated analysis of terrestrial, coastal and marine processes related to the formation and evolution of the Acheloos River’ delta. River deltas are areas of utmost priority, providing a diversity of habitats for wildlife (flora and fauna) and supporting various human activities. Due to their distinct morphology, deltas are highly vulnerable to human intervention, storm surges and global sea-level rise. Acheloos catchment area is about 7530 km2, with the deltaic plain to be about 270 km2. Thai deltaic plain’s altitudes, from the foot of Pindos Mountain to the estuary, are lower than 20 m, while in the most part of the plain the altimetry is less than 5 m. Six hydroelectric dams have been constructed along the Acheloos riverbed, trapping sediment produced from the 65% of the total catchment area, while technical coastal defense have been built along the deltaic front to prevent the area from erosion. Acheloos coastal area has been significantly eroded during the last 75 years, with an average regression rate of about 1.2 m/y, which was even greater during the period 1945-1971, when coastal protection works had not been installed, with a rate of more than 7 m/y. The total land loss measured for the whole study area during 1945-2020 was 1.63 km2, half of that being at the modern estuary, probably due to the reduction of sediment discharge. As a result, the type of Acheloos delta (according to Galloway) tends to switch from river-dominated to wave-dominated. The subaerial and underwater surficial area of the delta consists of sand down to the water depth of 10 m, and finer-grained sediments in deeper areas. The morphology of the coastal area comprises the typical Gilbert-type characteristics, while a dense Posidonia oceanica meadow grows at depths between 2 and 10 m. The average rate of potential sediment longshore transport ranges between 0.03 x105 and 2.8 x105 m3/year, due to significant wave height between 0,03 x105 and 4,1 x105 m3/year and between 0.1 x105 and 3.5 x105 m3/year due to maximum 1/10 values, while the transport direction is eastwards at the southern shoreline and northwards at the western shoreline. The high-resolution seismic reflection survey show the presence of thick layers of deltaic and prodeltaic deposits, with prograding reflectors, formed during relatively calm marine conditions. The boundary of the prodeltaic deposits is found at the depth of about 80 m, with the average thickness of the Holocene marine deposited sediments being about 85 m close to the shoreline and about 50 m 10 km away from it. Furthermore, the sedimentation rate for the deposits close to the shoreline was measured at about 4.5 mm/y and 2.5 mm/y at the deeper part. Four distinctive palaeo-shorelines were identified at the depths of about 15 m, 52 m, 77 m and 130 m below the present sea-level, corresponding to the transition from rapid to slow sea-level rise during the Upper Holocene, the 8.2 ka BP Cold Event, the Younger Dryas and the erosional surface of the Upper Pleistocene, respectively. According to the four most prevalent scenarios of IPCC by 2100, sea-level will rise by 0.33 m, 0.42 m, 0.60 m and 0.71 m, according to RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5 and High-End RCP8.5, flooding an area of 9.3 km2, 10.4 km2, 16.4 km2 and 19.8 km2, respectively. Regardless the prevailing scenario, it was estimated that for each 0.1 m of sea-level rise, the average land loss at the deltaic area is approximately 2.77 km2

Future internet systems design and implementation: cloud and IoT services based on IoT-A and FIWARE

In recent years, Cloud Computing and Internet of ThingsInternet of Things (IoT) (IoT) have been rapidly advancing as the two fundamental technologies of the Future Internet (FI) concept. Different IoT systems are designed and implemented according to the IoT domain requirements, thus not taking into consideration issues of openness, scalability, interoperability, and use case independence. This work focuses on the presentation of a framework that integrates future IoT systems in smart cities by utilizing state-of-the-art architectures, technologies, solutions, and services developed by the IoT-AIoT-A and FIWARE FP7 projects of the EU. We expect that in future smart city environments, an IoT infrastructure will act as a key enabler for the revolution of smart networked systems with embedded devices. Also, the proposed solution overcomes the fragmentation of vertically oriented closed systems, architectures, and application areas and move towards open systems and platforms that support multiple applications. This is a key requirement for smart city infrastructures that can be reused by a plethora of applications in various domains, such as transportation systems, energy, waste management, environmental monitoring, buildings, etc. The proposed system will encompass FIWARE and IoT-A to develop innovative IoT platforms and services and it will include generic IoT devices that are independent of connectivity modes and are not coupled to specific IoT protocols. It will further supply interoperability with emerging connectivity protocols based on actions regarding standardization and requirements. We expect that future solutions will simplify data transfer by supporting the vast majority of transfer protocols and will allow effective utilization of network capabilities for transition and reception of real-time data. Using FIWAREFIWARE services will ensure reliability, modularity, and uniform APIs independent of the underlying hardware and it will move beyond current solutions that are platform dependent, and vendor specific. The result will be a dynamic configurable infrastructure, scalable, interoperable, heterogeneous, and secure that could also seamlessly integrate other existing and future platforms and devices. Information can flow among IoT systems in a secure and privacy-preserving way, allowing for extracting context for developing cross-domain applications and breaking the domain silos of today's IoT world

Advanced healthcare provisioning based on future internet technologies

Nowadays, there is an increasing consensus that the impact of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) on healthcare organizations could be considerable due to the emergency of the Future Internet concept that is established over innovative technologies such as cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT). The FI-STAR project aims to implement the next generation of healthcare supporting applications by taking advantage of FIWARE state-of-the-art services. These are cloud applications and services for healthcare provision centred based on the needs of the patient and the healthcare professionals