Distributed Edge Computing with Blockchain Technology to Enable Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency V2X Communications

Vehicular communication is a promising technology that has been announced as a main use-case of the fifth-generation cellular system (5G). Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) is the vehicular communication paradigm that enables the communications and interactions between vehicles and other network entities, e.g., road-side units (RSUs). This promising technology faces many challenges related to reliability, availability and security of the exchanged data. To this end, this work aims to solve the scientific problem of building a vehicular network architecture for reliable delivery of correct and uncompromised data within the V2X concept to improve the safety of road users, using blockchain technology and mobile edge computing (MEC). The proposed work provides a formalized mathematical model of the system, taking into account the interconnection of objects and V2X information channels and an energy-efficient offloading algorithm to manage traffic offloading to the MEC server. The main applications of the blockchain and MEC technology in the developed system are discussed. Furthermore, the developed system, with the introduced sub-systems and algorithms, was evaluated over a reliable environment, for different simulation scenarios, and the obtained results are discussed.

IoT: Communication Protocols and Security Threats

The IoT is recognized as one of the most important areas of future technology and is gaining vast attention from a wide range of industries. Although, after 20 years from the first published literature (2002) the technology (as a whole) is not yet mature. In this study we will review the basics of IoT with a general approach, by addressing the problems of a standard architecture, vulnerabilities and use cases of this promising technology. Moreover, we will review some of the communication protocols that have invented especially for IoT technology, security threats and general implementation challenges.

Exploring the Adsorption Site Coordination as a Strategy to Tune Copper Catalysts for CO2 Electro-reduction

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is a promising technology to reach a carbon-neutral economy. However, among other challenges, the design of active and selective catalysts still bottlenecks such advances. Herein,...

Blockchain for Transformation in Digital Marketing

Today, an increasing number of firms are embracing blockchain as part of their efforts to achieve operational efficiency and improve performance, thereby acting as a catalyst to bring about digital transformation. Gartner listed blockchain as the most promising technology in digital marketing in the year 2019. Blockchain is driving digital transformation by forcing organizations to rethink how they operate, in terms of identifying ineffectiveness of traditional approaches to doing business, to address their business needs, promote innovation, and through establishment of standard frameworks. Blockchain shows massive disruption potential in the area of customer relationship management and enhancing consumer experience, besides improving trust, security, and privacy. Therefore, this chapter focuses on providing an enlightenment on how blockchain can specifically address the areas of transformation in digital marketing, prominent frameworks in use, and listing the benefits and challenges of implementing this technology.

CONCRETE BLOCKCHAIN APPLICATIONS AND LEGAL ASPECTS

As we all know, blockchain has established itself as a promising technology with the introduction and use of cryptocurrencies. However, efficiency within administrative processes in companies and corporations is possibly the clearest use case. The industrial sector could not be less.

Extraction optimization and quality evaluation of humic acids from lignite using the cell-free filtrate of Penicillium ortum MJ51

Bio-solubilization of lignite is a promising technology to transform coal into humic acids (HAs) which are broadly used in agriculture.

Verifiable Authentication and Issuance of Academic Certificates using Permissioned Blockchain Network

Fake certificates pose a severe problem in today's world; they vouch for an individual's false skillset and put an organization's reputation at risk. Moreover, the existing verification process is performed in a centralized manner, often too cumbersome and time-consuming to the end-user, lacking transparency in the educational institutions' Issuance of certificates. Of-late, blockchain is a promising technology that provides transparent, secure, and reliable features, which offers solutions to the education sector. This paper provides the solution to the educational certification problem by employing the blockchain network. We proposed a permissioned blockchain network that identifies, authenticates the Issuer, adequate verification, securely shares academic records to the recipients, and stores the certificate credentials in the blockchain in a distributed manner.

Design of Dopant-Free Small Molecular Hole Transport Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells: A Viewpoint from Defect Passivation

The overwhelming improvement in performance and the cost-effective solution processing enable perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) as a promising technology to photovoltaic industry. Doped hole transport materials (HTMs) based high-efficient PVSCs...