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The Open Archive Information System (OAIS) is a reference model for organizing people and resources in a system, and it is already adopted in care centers and medical systems to efficiently manage clinical data, medical personnel, and patients. Archival storage systems are typically implemented using traditional relational database systems, but the relation-oriented technology strongly limits the efficiency in the management of huge amount of patients' clinical data, especially in emerging cloud-based, that are distributed. In this paper, we present an OAIS healthcare architecture useful to manage a huge amount of HL7 clinical documents in a scalable way. Specifically, it is based on a NoSQL column-oriented Data Base Management System deployed in the cloud, thus to benefit from a big tables and wide rows available over a virtual distributed infrastructure. We developed a prototype of the proposed architecture at the IRCCS, and we evaluated its efficiency in a real case of study.

Cloud-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) tools are currently at an early stage. In this Forum article, we provide a clear picture of the current cloud-based NGS solutions and highlight what is still missing, along with future challenges for the achievement of an ecosystem of biotechnology clouds., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a well-known, chronic demyelinating disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and one of the most common causes of disability in young adults. In this context, one of the major challenges in patients' rehabilitation is to maintain the gained motor abilities in terms of functional independence. This could be partially obtained by applying new emerging and cutting-edge virtual/augmented reality and serious game technologies for a playful, noninvasive treatment that was demonstrated to be quite efficient and effective in enhancing the clinical status of patients and their (re)integration into society. Recently, Cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) emerged as technologies that can potentially revolutionize patients' care. To achieve such a goal, a system that on one hand gathers patients' clinical parameters through a network of medical IoT devices equipped with sensors and that, on the other hand, sends the collected data to a hospital Cloud for processing and analytics is required. In this paper, we assess the effectiveness of a Nintendo Wii Fit® Plus Balance Board (WFBB) used as an IoT medical device adopted in a rehabilitation training program aimed at improving the physical abilities of MS patients (pwMS). In particular, the main scientific contribution of this paper is twofold: (i) to present a preliminary new pilot study investigating whether exercises based on the Nintendo Wii Fit® balance board included in a rehabilitation training program could improve physical abilities and Quality of Life (QoL) of patients compared to that of a conventional four-week rehabilitation training program; (ii) to discuss how such a rehabilitation training program could be adopted in the perspective of near future networks of medical IoT-based rehabilitation devices, interconnected with a hospital Cloud system for big data processing to improve patients' therapies and support the scientific research about motor rehabilitation. Results demonstrate the advantages of our approach from both health and technological points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid growth and evolution in the number, functionalities, and scope of Internet of Things devices is evident. We present osmotic computing as a new paradigm able to respond to resource heterogeneity, secure data exchange, and efficient microservices deployment across federated cloud systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sudden traffic slowdown especially in fast scrolling roads and highways characterized by a scarce visibility is one of the major causes of accidents among motorized vehicles. It can be caused by other accidents, work-in-progress on roads, excessive motorized vehicles especially at peak times and so on. Typically, fixed traffic sensors installed on roads that interact with drivers’ mobile App through the 4G network can mitigate such a problem, but unfortunately not all roads and highways are equipped with such devices. In this paper, we discuss a possible alternative solution for addressing such an issue considering mobile traffic sensors directly installed in private and/or public transportation and volunteer vehicles. In this scenario a fast real-time processing of big traffic data is fundamental to prevent accidents. In particular, we discuss an IoT Cloud system for traffic monitoring and alert notification based on OpenGTS and MongoDB. Our IoT Cloud system, besides for private drivers, it is very useful for drivers of critical rescue vehicles such as ambulances. Experiments prove that our system provides acceptable response times that allows drivers to receive alert messages in useful time so as to avoid the risk of possible accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nowadays, in the panorama of Internet of Things (IoT), finding a right compromise between interactivity and security is not trivial at all. Currently, most of pervasive communication technologies are designed to work locally. As a consequence, the development of large-scale Internet services and applications is not so easy for IoT Cloud providers. The main issue is that both IoT architectures and services have started as simple but they are becoming more and more complex. Consequently, the web service technology is often inappropriate. Recently, many operators in both academia and industry fields are considering the possibility to adopt the eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) for the implementation of IoT Cloud communication systems. In fact, XMPP offers many advantages in term of real-time capabilities, efficient data distribution, service discovery and inter-domain communication compared to other technologies. Nevertheless, the protocol lacks of native security, data confidentiality and trustworthy federation features. In this paper, considering an XMPP-based IoT Cloud architectural model, we discuss how can be possible to enforce message signing/encryption and Single-Sign On (SSO) authentication respectively for secure inter-module and inter-domain communications in a federated environment. Experiments prove that security mechanisms introduce an acceptable overhead, considering the obvious advantages achieved in terms of data trustiness and privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secure boot-up and setup of Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected over the Cloud represent a challenging open issue. This paper deals with the automatic configuration of IoT devices in a secure way through the Cloud, in order to provide new added-value services. After a discussion on the limits of current IoT and Cloud solutions in terms of secure self-configuration, we present a Cloud-based architecture that allows IoT devices to interact with several federated Cloud providers. In particular, we present two possible scenarios, that is, single Cloud and a federated Cloud environments, interacting with IoT devices and we address specific issues of both. Moreover, we present several design highlights on how to operate considering real open hardware and software products already available in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, storage services represent a new way to do business in Cloud computing. This new trend is proved by the number of Cloud storage providers that are appearing on the market. In this work, we present an innovative approach useful for using different Cloud storage providers in a transparent way, avoiding both data lock-in and possible data privacy violation that can be caused by providers themselves. More specifically, we propose an approach enabling Cloud customers to rely on many Cloud storage providers. Differently from other solutions, with our approach only the customers have the full control of their data, and in addition, if a provider suddenly disappears and/or it is not available anymore, the customers will be able to continue accessing their data, reconstructing them from data fragments replicated in other Cloud storage providers. The paper shows how such an approach works. In particular, experiments, besides proving the goodness of our approach, also provide several guidelines regarding how to properly configure software systems in order to meet the customer's requirements (in terms of both QoS and costs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation of Dangerous Goods represents a sensitive problem due its congenital high potential risk of causing disaster if an accident occurs. Transportation of Dangerous Goods Risk Management systems reduce the possibility of both accidental disasters and terrorist attacks detecting unusual events and blocking possible threats. Cloud computing can facilitate the development of such kinds of systems thanks to new emerging paradigms and technologies. In this paper, we discuss the design of a new Message-Oriented Cloud Middleware for Cloud, that can be used to develop a Cloud-based Transportation of Dangerous Goods Risk Management system. More specifically, we investigate issues on Transportation of Dangerous Goods, in order to focus the attention on the requirements of the Risk Management system. Then, we describe how to use the Message-Oriented Cloud Middleware for Cloud architecture and the necessary utilities in particular here for supporting Transportation of Dangerous Goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm such that client data are processed at the periphery of the network, as close as possible to the originating source. Since the 21st century has come to be known as the century of data due to the rapid increase in the quantity of exchanged data worldwide (especially in smart city applications such as autonomous vehicles), collecting and processing such data from sensors and Internet of Things devices operating in real time from remote locations and inhospitable operating environments almost anywhere in the world is a relevant emerging need. Indeed, edge computing is reshaping information technology and business computing. In this respect, the paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of what edge computing is as well as the most relevant edge use cases, tradeoffs, and implementation considerations. In particular, this review article is focused on highlighting (i) the most recent trends relative to edge computing emerging in the research field and (ii) the main businesses that are taking operations at the edge as well as the most used edge computing platforms (both proprietary and open source). First, the paper summarizes the concept of edge computing and compares it with cloud computing. After that, we discuss the challenges of optimal server placement, data security in edge networks, hybrid edge-cloud computing, simulation platforms for edge computing, and state-of-the-art improved edge networks. Finally, we explain the edge computing applications to 5G/6G networks and industrial internet of things. Several studies review a set of attractive edge features, system architectures, and edge application platforms that impact different industry sectors. The experimental results achieved in the cited works are reported in order to prove how edge computing improves the efficiency of Internet of Things networks. On the other hand, the work highlights possible vulnerabilities and open issues emerging in the context of edge computing architectures, thus proposing future directions to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the penetration of sensors and actuators in different application fields is revolutionizing all aspects of our daily life. One of the major sectors that is taking advantage of such cutting-edge cheap smart devices is healthcare. In this context, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) at home represents a tempting opportunity for hospitals to reduce clinical costs and to improve the quality of life of both patients and their families. It allows patients to be monitored remotely by means networks of Internet of Things (IoT) medical devices equipped with sensors and actuators that collect healthcare data from patients and send them to a Cloud-based Hospital Information System (HIS) for processing. Up to now, many different proprietary software systems have been developed as stand-along expensive solutions, presenting interoperability, extensibility, and scalability issues. In recent years, the European Commission (EC) has promoted the wide adoption of FIWARE technology, launching 16 Industrial Accelerators focusing on different application fields. One of these, i.e., FICHe, is specialized in healthcare, providing the guidelines on how to develop eHealth systems. This paper focuses on how to compose new cutting-edge IoT and Cloud-based Cyber Physical Health Sytem (CPHS) services and applications interconnected with remote medical sensors and actuators using FIWARE technology in the context envisioned by FICHe. In particular, we discuss the design and development of an RPM system implemented through the collaboration between the Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) "Bonino Pulejo" (i.e., a clinical and research healthcare centre specialized in the treatment of neuro lesions), University of Messina, IBM Research, Telefónica, and the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. The description of our best practice provides a model and guidelines for the development of lightweight and low cost RPM services for rural and isolated areas, with the expectation of expanding healthcare to the developing world and in general allows us to outline how to deal with the real adoption of the FIWARE technology in an e-health project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As cloud computing becomes more predominant, the problem of scalability has become critical for cloud computing providers. The cloud paradigm is attractive because it offers a dramatic reduction in capital and operation expenses for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]