Biomedical research relies increasingly on large collections of data sets and knowledge whose generation, representation and analysis often require large collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts. This dimension of ‘big data’ research calls for the development of computational tools to manage such a vast amount of data, as well as tools that can improve communication and access to information from collaborating researchers and from the wider community. Whenever research projects have a defined temporal scope, an additional issue of data management arises, namely how the knowledge generated within the project can be made available beyond its boundaries and life-time. DC-THERA is a European ‘Network of Excellence’ (NoE) that spawned a very large collaborative and interdisciplinary research community, focusing on the development of novel immunotherapies derived from fundamental research in dendritic cell immunobiology. In this article we introduce the DC-THERA Directory, which is an information system designed to support knowledge management for this research community and beyond. We present how the use of metadata and Semantic Web technologies can effectively help to organize the knowledge generated by modern collaborative research, how these technologies can enable effective data management solutions during and beyond the project lifecycle, and how resources such as the DC-THERA Directory fit into the larger context of e-science.

The paper describes the experience of research and experimentation conducted for the configuration of a new "Biocycle" bike conceived through eco-friendly and bio-inspired design methods and with the support of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies aimed to achieve a customized and flexible production. According to this logic, it is necessary to consider the AM as a valid support to both innovation and growth of many sectors in which creativity and design capacity play a strategic role for original solutions. The multidisciplinary approach and the collaboration between research institutes, companies, laboratories and universities, characterize the design and experimentation of the Biocycle. This has enabled the development of a new bicycle according to eco-design and bio-design criteria, by using recycled materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), by introducing the principles of the environmental design into the definition of the entire product life cycle and by merging traditional production methods with AM to optimize the performance and reduce the overall weight, costs, and production time of the frame. To support the design phase, also a finite element (FE) model was developed. The aim is to obtain lightweight performing components with compact and ergonomic dimensions for the eco-bike. This leads to the synthesis of new unconventional shapes and a better distribution of the material from the topological-functional optimization analysis as well as AM. Advanced Models and Experiences for Eco-DesignThe contribution describes the research experience carried out at the Design and Experimentation laboratory of the University of Campania L. Vanvitelli. Data and information are shared according to a systemic approach integrated between technical,

International audienceThe global trend of Future Internet related experimentally driven research has gained a strong momentum. In this context sustainability and the best use of developed infrastructures are highly critical. While many facilities have reached a level of maturity that allows them to be opened up to a wider use, mainly the academic sectors have been targeted. The Fanning out Testbeds-as-a-Service for the EIT ICT1 (FanTaaStic) project explores best practices, has performed a gap analysis, investigates applicable business models and works out a concept for the operation of a self-sustainable commercial testbed service offering. For defining the operational model, an analysis of available tools and frameworks from past and current Future Internet testbed projects is being carried out, based on a standard framework that defines the required processes and applications for the carrier grade operation of telecommunication infrastructures and provisioning of services. The business model is defined as a gradually growing service offering, based on categories of a framework for IT Service Management in federated e-infrastructures. The applicability of both, the developed business and operational model for such a sustainable federation will initially be implemented and evaluated in 2014

No abstract

No abstract