Nano-networks communication architecture: Modeling and functions

Nano-network is a communication network at the Nano-scale between Nano-devices. Nano-devices face certain challenges in functionalities, because of limitations in their processing capabilities and power management. Hence, these devices are expected to perform simple tasks, which require different and novel approaches. In order to exploit different functionalities of Nano-machines, we need to manage and control a set of Nano-devices in a full Nano-network using an appropriate architecture. This step will enable unrivaled applications in the biomedical, environmental and industrial fields. By the arrival of Internet of Things (IoT) the use of the Internet has transformed, where various types of objects, sensors and devices can interact making our future networks connect nearly everything from traditional network devices to people. In this paper, we provide an unified architectural model of Nano-network communication with a layered approach combining Software Defined Network (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and IoT technologies and present how this combination can help in Nano-networks’ context. Consequently, we propose a set of functions and use cases that can be implemented by Nano-devices and discuss the significant challenges in implementing these functions with Nano-technology paradigm and the open research issues that need to be addressed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Machine learning models for traffic classification in electromagnetic nano-networks

The number of nano-sensors connected to wireless electromagnetic nano-network generates different traffic volumes that have increased dramatically, enabling various applications of the Internet of nano-things. Nano-network traffic classification is more challenging nowadays to analyze different types of flows and study the overall performance of a nano-network that connects to the Internet through micro/nanogateways. There are traditional techniques to classify traffic, such as port-based technique and load-based technique, however the most promising technique used recently is machine learning. As machine learning models have a great impact on traffic classification and network performance evaluation in general, it is difficult to declare which is the best or the most suitable model to address the analysis of large volumes of traffic collected in operational nano-networks. In this paper, we study the classification problem of nano-network traffic captured by micro/nano-gateway, and then five supervised machine learning algorithms are used to analyze and classify the nano-network traffic from traditional traffic. Experimental analysis of the proposed models is evaluated and compared to show the most adequate classifier for nano-network traffic that gives very good accuracy and performance score to other classifiers.This work was supported in part by the ‘‘Agencia Estatal de Investigación’’ of ‘‘Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación’’ of Spain under Project PID2019-108713RB-C51/MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and in part by the ‘‘Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca’’ (AGAUR) of the ‘‘Generalitat de Catalunya’’ under Grant 2021FI_B2 00091.Postprint (published version

Obesity and hypertension in an Iranian cohort study; Iranian women experience higher rates of obesity and hypertension than American women

BACKGROUND: Once considered as the main public health problem in developed countries, obesity has become a major problem throughout the world and developing countries, like Iran, are joining the global obesity pandemic. We determined the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and hypertension in a large cohort of Iranians and compared age-adjusted rates with the rates in the US. METHODS: Golestan Cohort Study is a population-based study of 8,998 men and women, aged 35-81 years, from urban and rural areas. Anthropometric parameters were measured by interviewers. Prevalence rates were directly adjusted to the 2000 United States standard population. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence rates of overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) in this Iranian population were 62.2% and 28.0%, respectively. Both overweight and obesity were more common in women than men. Age-adjusted prevalence of overweight was significantly higher in Iranian women compared to the American women (68.6% vs. 61.6%), while the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity is closer in these two populations (34.9% vs. 33.2%). Iranian men—compared to American men—had significantly lower age-adjusted prevalence of overweight (53.7% vs. 68.8%) and obesity (16.2% vs. 27.5%). Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was higher in Iranian women than American women (35.7% vs. 30.5%). Diabetes mellitus was reported in 6.2% of participants. Mean waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) among women was 0.96. Smoking rates in men and women were 33.2% and 2.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of obesity, overweight, and hypertension in Iran is as high as the US. However, Iranian women are more obese than American women and Iranian men are less obese than their American counterparts. This discrepancy might be due to the low rate of smoking among Iranian women. Iranian women have higher mean WHR than what WHO has defined in 19 other populations

Contribution to the system architecture design for electromagnetic nano-network communications

(English) A nano-network is a communication network at the nano-scale between nano-devices. Nanodevices face certain challenges in functionalities, because of limitations in their processing capabilities and power management due to their nano-scale size. One of these challenges is the ability to perceive partial or full routing tables, which are the main decision makers for data routing in legacy communication networks. The reason is that creating and updating routing tables continuously require adequate processing power with sufficient memory and computing capabilities, which is not the case with nano- devices. Hence, these devices are expected to perform simple tasks, which equire different and novel approaches. In order to exploit the different functionalities of nano-machines, a set of nano-devices in a full nano-network needs to be managed and controlled using an appropriate architecture. This step will enable unrivaled applications in different fields. An Electromagnetic (EM) nano-network is a type of nano-communication that uses terahertz (THz) EM waves in communication. Nano-network has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Consequently, several developments have been achieved in the fabrication, communication and management of various EM nano network devices serving potential applications ranging from software- defined metamaterials, wireless robotic materials and body-centric communication. Such applications need uplink and downlink communication between the deployed nano-network and the external macro- world or the Internet through nano-interfaces. This causes heterogeneity and interoperability in different Internet of Nano-things (IoNT) applications, which become new challenges for nano-network communication. In this regard, dynamic, flexible and distributed micro/nano gateways can accommodate such sustainable issues and make the nano-network fully operational, regardless of the adopted application domain or the protocols used in communication. With the arrival of the Internet of Things (IoT), the use of the Internet has transformed, where various types of objects, sensors and devices can interact, making future networks connect nearly everything from traditional network devices to people. It is worth remarking that Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) are two useful technologies for IoT. By outlining the way of combining SDN, NFV, IoT and fog computing technologies altogether, nano- network can overcome its challenges and limitations. The main objective of this thesis is to contribute to the system architectural design of EM nano- networks by developing an operational communication architecture to allow nano-machines to access the Internet. This communication architecture uses next-generation network technologies such as IoT and fog computing, besides well-known virtualization network technologies such as SDN and NFV to guarantee such accessibility. In addition, this communication architecture will provide added value to the data routing in the nano-network paradigm, whether inside the nano-domain or towards the macro- domain by providing virtualization and externalization of the complex routing decisions to be compiled externally on a powerful data center hosted on the cloud. The nano-machines will be able to access the cloud with the aid of smart hybrid devices called micro/nano-gateways, which provide two-way communication between nano-machines and the cloud. This two-way communication allows the end-user to easily control and manage a group of nanomachines expanding various applications in different fields. Moreover, it allows the nano-machines to store their measurements on the cloud, providing very large sets of data that are generated by a variety of nano-sensors/actuators forming big data, where Machine Learning (ML) approaches are used to perform complex analysis, intelligent judgments and creative problem solving on this big data extracting valuable information.(Español) Una nano-red es una red de comunicaciones a la escala nano, entre nano-dispositivos. Los nano-dispositivos afrontan determinados desafíos en funcionalidades, debido a las limitaciones de sui capacidad de procesado y la gestión de energía derivado de su nano-tamaño. Uno de estos desafíos es su capacidad de obtener una tabla de rutas parcial o completa, que es uno de los grandes puntos de decisión para el encaminamiento en redes de comunicaciones. La razón se encuentra en la dificultad y esfuerzo necesario para crear y actualizar continuamente las tablas, en términos de energía, memoria y capacidades de cómputo. En consecuencia, estos dispositivos únicamente efectuarán tareas sencillas, para las que se van a necesitar nuevas propuestas. Con el fin de aprovechar las funcionalidades de las nano-máquinas, un conjunto de nano-dispositivos en una nano-red completa necesita de mecanismos de gestión y control, a través de una arquitectura adecuada. Con ello, se podrán proporcionar nuevas aplicaciones en diversos campos. Una nano-red electromagnética (EM) es un tipo de nano-comunicación que emplea ondas en la banda de Teraherzios (THz). Las nano-redes han sido objeto de creciente atracción en los últimos años. En consecuencia, se han conseguido diversos desarrollos en la fabricación, comunicación y gestión con varios dispositivos en nano-redes EM, para aplicaciones desde metamateriales definidos por software, materiales robóticos wireless y comunicaciones en el cuerpo. Tales aplicaciones necesitan comunicaciones en sentido de subida y bajada, entre la nano-red desplegada y el macro-mundo externo, o Internet, a través de nano-interfaces. Ello causa heterogeneidad e inter-operabilidad en diversas aplicaciones de la Internet de las Nano-Things (IoNT), que constituyen nuevos desafíos para las comunicaciones en nano-redes. En este sentido, micro/nano gateways que sean dinámicos, flexibles y distribuidos, han de poder facilitar el acomodo de dichas aplicaciones y hacer que la red sea completamente operacional, independientemente del dominio de aplicaciones usadas o los protocolos de comunicaciones. Con la llegada de la Internet of Things (IoT), el uso de Internet se ha transformado, donde varios tipos de objetos, sensores y dispositivos pueden interactuar, haciendo que las futuras redes puedan conectar prácticamente cualquier cosa. Software Defined Networking (SDN) y Network Function Virtualization (NFV) son 2 tecnologías relevantes para IoT. Por medio de la combinación de SDN, NFV, IoT y fog computing, las nano-redes pueden solventar sus desafíos y limitaciones. El principal objetivo de esta tesis es contribuir al diseño de la arquitectura del sistema de las nano-redes EM por medio del desarrollo de una propuesta operacional que permita el acceso a Internet a las nano-máquinas Esta arquitectura de comunicaciones emplea las tecnologías de IoT y Fog Computing, además de las conocidas tecnologías de virtualización basadas en SDN y NFV. Además, la arquitectura de comunicaciones proporcionará un valor añadido al encaminamiento en el paradigma de la nano-red, ya sea dentro del nano-dominio o hacia el macro-dominio, por medio de virtualización y externalización de las decisiones complejas de encaminamiento, que serán compiladas externamente en un centro de datos situado en la nube. Las nano-máquinas serán capaces de acceder a la nube con la ayuda de dispositivos híbridos inteligentes denominados micro/nano gateways, que podrán proporcionar comunicaciones completas entre las nano-máquinas y la nube. De esta manera, el usuario final podrá controlar y gestionar un grupo de nano-máquinas y facilitar la creación de aplicaciones en diversos campos. Además, permite a las nano-máquinas almacenar su información en la nube, proporcionando grandes conjuntos de información, big-data, donde estrategías de Machine Learning (ML) se pueden usar para resolver diversos problemas complejos.Postprint (published version

Nano-networks communication architecture: Modeling and functions

Nano-network is a communication network at the Nano-scale between Nano-devices. Nano-devices face certain challenges in functionalities, because of limitations in their processing capabilities and power management. Hence, these devices are expected to perform simple tasks, which require different and novel approaches. In order to exploit different functionalities of Nano-machines, we need to manage and control a set of Nano-devices in a full Nano-network using an appropriate architecture. This step will enable unrivaled applications in the biomedical, environmental and industrial fields. By the arrival of Internet of Things (IoT) the use of the Internet has transformed, where various types of objects, sensors and devices can interact making our future networks connect nearly everything from traditional network devices to people. In this paper, we provide an unified architectural model of Nano-network communication with a layered approach combining Software Defined Network (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and IoT technologies and present how this combination can help in Nano-networks’ context. Consequently, we propose a set of functions and use cases that can be implemented by Nano-devices and discuss the significant challenges in implementing these functions with Nano-technology paradigm and the open research issues that need to be addressed.Peer Reviewe

Probability-based path discovery protocol for electromagnetic nano-networks

© . This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/One of the major challenges for nano-network is the forfeit of communication protocols to exploit the potential communication between nano-machines forming fully operational nano-network. Because nano-machines face some restrictions such as limited processing power and confined computing capabilities, up-to-date nano-machines cannot perceive partial or full routing tables, which are the main decision-makers for data routing in legacy communication networks. The reason is that creating and updating routing tables continuously require adequate processing power with sufficient memory and computing capabilities, which is not the case of nano-nodes. So, new innovative routing schemes have to be proposed for nano-networks to deal with such extremely low resources. This paper focuses on decoupling the routing intelligence from nano-network towards a computational architecture using Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies by externalizing routing decisions and complex computations from nano-nodes to be fully compiled externally. Moreover, the paper proposes a probability-based path discovery protocol denoted by (PBPD) for electromagnetic nano-nodes suitable for dynamic nano-network applications. The performance of the proposed protocol is evaluated and compared with other routing protocols discussed in the literature. The proposed scheme provides low energy consumption inside nano-nodes and low computational complexity thanks to SDN/NFV system.This work has been supported by the ”Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” of the Spanish Government under project TEC2016-76795-C6-1-R, AEI/FEDER UE and ”Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca” (AGAUR) of the ”Generalitat de Catalunya” under FI-AGAUR grant number 2019FI-B00056.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

SDN-based gateway architecture for electromagnetic nano-networks

Electromagnetic nano-communication has increasing attention in recent years. Several developments have been achieved in the fabrication, communication and management of various nano-network devices serving potential applications ranging from software-defined metamaterials, wireless robotic materials and body-centric communication. Such applications need uplink and downlink communication between the deployed nano network and the external macro-world or the Internet through nano-interfaces. As a result, heterogeneous nano-network devices and their interoperability in different Internet of nano-things applications become new challenges for nano-network communication. In this regard, dynamic, flexible and distributed micro/nanogateways can accommodate such sustainable issues and make the nano-network fully operational, regardless of the adopted application domain or the protocols used in communication. Network functions virtualization and software-defined networking technologies altogether can overcome these challenges. This article proposes SDNbased architecture and software module for the micro/nano-gateway. The proposed software module converts data formats and protocols between nano-network and traditional network domains allowing the nano-devices to be linked to the Internet. A prototype of the module is built, and the performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated based on two communication scenarios; single tenant and multitenant. The result shows the effect of the total number of connected nano-devices and the number of packets sent by each device on the total average round-trip processing delay and the overall throughput of the micro/nano-gateway

Dynamic, Context-Aware Cross-Layer Orchestration of Containerized Applications

Container orchestration handles the semi-automated management of applications across Edge-Cloud, providing features such as autoscaling, high availability, and portability. Having been developed for Cloud-based applications, container orchestration faces challenges in the context of decentralized Edge-Cloud environments, requiring a higher degree of adaptability in the verge of mobility, heterogeneous networks, and constrained devices. In this context, this perspective paper aims at igniting discussion on the aspects that a dynamic orchestration approach should integrate to support an elastic orchestration of containerized applications. The motivation for the provided perspective focuses on proposing directions to better support challenges faced by next-generation IoT services, such as mobility or privacy preservation, advocating the use of context awareness and a cognitive, cross-layer approach to container orchestration to be able to provide adequate support to next-generation services. A proof of concept (available open source software) of the discussed concept has been implemented in a testbed composed of embedded devices

Phytoestrogen <i>β</i>-Sitosterol Exhibits Potent In Vitro Antiviral Activity against Influenza A Viruses

Influenza is a contagious infection in humans that is caused frequently by low pathogenic seasonal influenza viruses and occasionally by pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIV) of H5, H7, and H9 subtypes. Recently, the clinical sector in poultry and humans has been confronted with many challenges, including the limited number of antiviral drugs and the rapid evolution of drug-resistant variants. Herein, the anti-influenza activities of various plant-derived phytochemicals were investigated against highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus (HPAIV H5N1) and seasonal low pathogenic human influenza A/H1N1 virus (LPHIV H1N1). Out of the 22 tested phytochemicals, the steroid compounds β-sitosterol and β-sitosterol-O-glucoside have very potent activity against the predefined influenza A viruses (IAV). Both steroids could induce such activity by affecting multiple stages during IAV replication cycles, including viral adsorption and replication with a major and significant impact on the virus directly in a cell-free status “viricidal effect”. On a molecular level, several molecular docking studies suggested that β-sitosterol and β-sitosterol-O-glucoside exhibited viricidal effects through blocking active binding sites of the hemagglutinin surface protein, as well as showing inhibitory effects against replication through the binding with influenza neuraminidase activity and blocking the active sites of the M2 proton channel activity. The phytoestrogen β-sitosterol has structural similarity with the active form of the female sex hormone estradiol, and this similarity is likely one of the molecular determinants that enables the phytoestrogen β-sitosterol and its derivative to control IAV infection in vitro. This promising anti-influenza activity of β-sitosterol and its O-glycoside derivative, according to both in vitro and cheminformatics studies, recommend both phytochemicals for further studies going through preclinical and clinical phases as efficient anti-influenza drug candidates