Distributed Computing Infrastructures (DCIs) have emerged as a viable and affordable solution to the computing needs of communities of practice that may require the need to improve system performance or enhance the availability of their scientific applications. According to the literature, the ease of access and several other issues which relate to the interoperability among different resources are the biggest challenges surrounding the use of these infrastructures. The traditional method of using a Command Line Interface (CLI) to access these resources is difficult and can make the learning curve quite steep. This approach can result in the low uptake of DCIs as it prevents potential users of the infrastructures from adopting the technology. Science Gateways have emerged as a viable option that are used to realise the high-level scientific domain-specific user interfaces that hide all the details of the underlying infrastructures and expose only the science-specific aspects of the scientific applications to be executed in the various DCIs. A Science Gateway is a digital interface to advanced technologies which is used to provide adequate support for science and engineering research and education. The focus of this study therefore is to propose and implement a Methodology for dEveloping Scientific Software Applications in science GatEways (MESSAGE). This will be achieved by testing an approach which is considered to be appropriate for developing applications in Science Gateways. In the course of this study, several Science Gateway functionalities obtained from the review of literature which may be utilised to provide services for different communities of practice are highlighted. To implement the identified functionalities, this study utilises the methodology for developing scientific software applications in Science Gateways. In order to achieve this purpose, this research therefore adopts the Catania Science Gateway Framework (CSGF) and the Future Gateway approach to implement the methods and ideas described in the proposed methodology, as well the essential services of Science Gateways discussed throughout the thesis. In addition, three different set of scientific software applications are utilised for the implementation of the proposed methodology. While the first application primarily serves as the case study for implementing the methodology discussed in this thesis, a second application is used to evaluate the entire process. Furthermore, several other real-life scientific applications developed (using two distinctly different Science Gateway frameworks) are also utilised for the purpose of evaluation. Subsequently, a revised MESSAGE methodology for developing scientific software applications in Science Gateways is discussed in the latter Chapter of this thesis. Following from the implementation of both scientific software applications which sees the use of portlets to execute single experiments, a study was also conducted to investigate ways in which Science Gateways may be utilised for the execution of multiple experiments in a distributed environment. Finally, similar to making different scientific software applications accessible and available (worldwide) to the communities that need them, the processes involved in making their associated research outputs (such as data, software and results) easily accessible and readily available are also discussed. The main contribution of this thesis is the MESSAGE methodology for developing scientific software applications in Science Gateways. Other contributions which are also made in different aspects of this research include a framework of the essential services required in generic Science Gateways and an approach to developing and executing multiple experiments (via Science Gateway interfaces) within a distributed environment. To a lesser extent, this study also utilises the Open Access Document Repository (OADR) (and other related technologies) to demonstrate accessibility and availability of research outputs associated with specific scientific software applications, thereby introducing the concept (and thus laying the foundation) of an Open Science research.

Essa dissertação pretende contribuir para despertar na sociedade brasileira a percepção da necessidade de um sistema de segurança energético robusto para assegurar a capacidade de pleno desenvolvimento das potencialidades da Nação e do bem-estar da sociedade, no presente e no futuro. Esse trabalho assevera que a ausência da cultura de prevenção, ao longo de nossa história, já provocou prejuízos econômicos significativos e ao não ser desenvolvida uma cultura proativa poder-se-á ter sérias consequências em face de novas ameaças que surgem no mundo. São definidos conceitos de segurança energética e as infraestruturas críticas relativas ao setor de energia. São apresentadas as iniciativas de muitos países em relação à garantia de fornecimento contínuo de energia e os caminhos adotados para solução do problema que fica mais complexo na medida em que se aumenta a interdependência. Geopolítica e segurança do Estado são colocados em evidência para fundamentar uma visão mais abrangente e profunda do problema de garantir acesso contínuo aos recursos energéticos de forma economicamente viável. Apresenta um panorama do setor energético no Brasil, abordando os subsetores que mais contribuem na matriz energética nacional - eletricidade, petróleo e energia nuclear, esta por ser importante do ponto de vista tecnológico. Relata contingências que levaram a mudanças no tratamento das questões de segurança energética e a proteção de infraestruturas críticas ao redor do mundo, identifica diferentes tipos de ameaças e discute os riscos e a gestão integrada dos mesmos. Enfatiza que o gestor público precisa considerar medidas de mitigação de riscos acompanhadas de ações no sentido de proteção das infraestruturas críticas. Defende a aplicação de solução tecnológica em plataforma orbital por meio de uma constelação de microssatélites de monitoramento. / This dissertation aims to contribute to the awakening of the Brazilian society to the need for a robust energy security system to ensure the capacity to fully develop the potential of the Nation and the welfare of society, both now and in the future. This work asserts that the absence of a culture of prevention throughout our history has already caused significant economic losses and, if a proactive culture is not developed, serious consequences can arise in face of new threats. Concepts of energy security and critical infrastructures relating to the energy sector are defined. Initiatives of many countries are presented regarding the guarantee of continuous supply of energy and the ways of solving problems, which becomes more complex as interdependence increases. Geopolitics and state security are highlighted to provide a broader and deeper vision of the problem of ensuring continued access to energy resources, in an economically viable way. The text presents an overview of the energy sector in Brazil, addressing the subsectors that contribute most to the national energy matrix - electricity, petroleum and nuclear energy, this last one due to its technological importance. Several contingencies that brought changes in the treatment of energy security issues and in the protection of critical infrastructures around the world are described. Different types of threats and discussing risks and their integrated management are discussed. The text emphasizes that the public officials have to consider risk mitigation measures accompanied by actions to protect critical infrastructures. It suggests the development of a solution based on an orbital platform with a constellation of monitoring microsatellites.

Longtemps distants et étrangers l'un à l'autre, le monde des télécommunications et celui des collectivités locales amorcent un rapprochement depuis le début des années 1990. Tiré par un élan mondial d'ouverture à la concurrence (effective en France depuis le premier janvier 1998 sur les infrastructures et les services), le secteur des télécommunications est en train de quitter une organisation nationale et monopolistique. L'objet de cette thèse est de mettre en lumière les conséquences locales de cette évolution.<br />Basé sur quatre études de cas principales (Lille-Métropole Communauté Urbaine, Besançon, Chalon Val-de-Bourgogne, et le Grand Nancy), ce travail montre l'existence d'un double modèle (réactif et proactif) d'implication locale dans les télécommunications. Les collectivités territoriales, qui intéressent au plus haut point les opérateurs de télécommunications en tant que lieu d'implantation des nouveaux réseaux de télécommunications mais aussi en tant que nouveau marché à investir, sont amenées à mettre en oeuvre certaines actions destinées à gérer les infrastructures des opérateurs. Par ailleurs, et dans certaines configurations, les collectivités locales peuvent également investir la sphère des télécommunications (qui deviennent un élément stratégique de développement territorial) et initient alors de véritables politiques locales dans des domaines aussi variés que l'action économique, l'action administrative ou la création d'infrastructures de réseaux.<br />La recherche se poursuit par l'étude des modalités de genèse de ces initiatives publiques locales de télécommunications et de leur reproductibilité potentielle. Ces études démontrent en dernière analyse que les télécoms font désormais partie du champ d'intervention potentiel de toute collectivité locale tandis que, symétriquement, les collectivités locales comptent dorénavant au rang des acteurs des télécommunications.

Les systèmes embarqués sont utilisés dans de nombreux systèmes critiques, depuis les automobiles jusqu'aux les systèmes de contrôle industriels. La plupart des recherches sur ces systèmes embarqués se sont concentrés sur l'amélioration de leur fiabilité face à des fautes ou erreurs de fonctionnent non intentionnelles, moins de travaux on été réalisés considérant les attaques intentionnelles. Ces systèmes embarqués sont de plus en plus connectés, souvent à Internet, via des réseaux sans fils, par exemple pour leur administration à distance. Cela augmente les risques d'attaques à distance ou d'injection de code malicieux. Les fautes de fonctionnement de ces équipements peuvent causer des dommages physiques comme par example rendre des appareils médicaux dangereux. Par conséquent, il est primordial de protéger ces systèmes embarqués contre les attaques. Dans cette thèse nous présentons des attaques et défenses contre les systèmes embarqués contraints. Nous présentons plusieurs attaques contre des techniques d'attestation logicielle utilisées dans les systèmes embarqués. Puis nous présentons la conception et l'implémentation d'une technique d'attestation logicielle qui est résistante aux attaque présentées précédemment. Finalement, nous présentons la conception d'une solution permettant de réaliser l'attestation de code ainsi que la création d'une racine de confiance dynamique (dynamic root of trust) pour les systèmes embarqués. Cette solution est prouvée sure et ne dépend pas d'assomptions fortes faites dans le cas de l'attestation logicielle.

La double contrainte changement climatique et raréfaction du pétrole oblige à considérer des alternatives énergétiques pour le moyen terme. Ce travail de recherche porte sur le développement d'une économie hydrogène, laquelle n'est pas possible en l'absence d'une infrastructure de distribution et sans la mise au point de la technologie pile à combustible. L'idée forte de la thèse est que l'Etat joue un rôle central aussi bien dans la mise en place de cette infrastructure que dans la viabilité de la technologie pile à combustible. Nous mobilisons les théories de l'organisation des industries de réseau, de l'innovation et du changement technique. Les infrastructures à la base d'un réseau sont porteuses d'externalités qui ne sont pas complètement valorisées par le marché (Economides, 1996). De plus, l'adhésion des consommateurs dépend des anticipations qu'ils font sur la taille que le réseau aura dans l'avenir (Buchanan, 1965). Ainsi, la dynamique de croissance du réseau n'est pas linéaire, mais plutôt caractérisé par l'existence de seuils à partir desquels les externalités positives accélèrent le développement du réseau (Katz et Shapiro, 1985). Par ailleurs, le réseau se développe d'abord pour des raisons techniques et économiques mais l'expansion reste une décision publique (Noam, 1991). La technologie pile à combustible à hydrogène représente une rupture technologique dans les différents secteurs d'utilisation, ce qui rend la transition plus difficile et complexe (Dosi, 1988a ; Freeman, 1982). Le développement de la demande est conditionné par l'évolution de la technologie et du contexte externe (Geels, 2005). A l'aide des théories de la transformation technologique d'inspiration évolutionniste (Christensen, 1997 ; Kemp et al., 1998 ; Arthur, 1989 ; David, 1989 ; Nelson et Winter, 1977, 1982), nous analysons les possibilités qu'a la pile à combustible à percer sur le marché et à remplacer la technologie conventionnelle. Cette thèse présente deux principaux résultats : le premier quant à l'organisation de la mise en place de l'infrastructure initiale et le second quant à la manière dont la voiture pile à combustible peut entrer sur le marché. L'analyse techno-économique de la nouvelle filière hydrogène-énergie met en exergue les enjeux de la mise en place des infrastructures. L'étude du développement des réseaux d'électricité et du gaz dans le passé fournit la base empirique qui confirme l'hypothèse selon laquelle la volonté publique joue un rôle important pour consolider la diffusion des réseaux sociotechniques. En outre, les projets privés de stations-service peuvent se justifier par des avantages de pionnier, mais leur viabilité dépend de la demande dont l'évolution est fonction des performances de la pile à combustible. La domination des technologies conventionnelles liées au pétrole rend plus difficile l'introduction des innovations de rupture telles que la pile à combustible. Et en particulier dans le cas des transports qui ont été verrouillés par le pétrole dans un processus historique de dépendance de sentier (Unruh, 2000, 2002). Dans ce contexte, la pile à combustible devrait entrer progressivement sur le marché à travers l'accumulation des niches où l'innovation est plus proche de la commercialisation. Ces niches de marché devront se retrouver dans un premier temps dans les applications portables. Cela doit s'accompagner d'un investissement en recherche et démonstration de manière à augmenter les performances et à diminuer les coûts, en permettant ainsi d'arriver rapidement aux marchés principaux. A l'aide d'un modèle simple de diffusion multitechonologique, nous étudions le comportement de la concurrence entre la voiture pile à combustible à hydrogène et la voiture hybride rechargeable. Nous montrons que l'entrée précoce de cette dernière risque de bloquer l'arrivée de la voiture à hydrogène sur le marché. Des progrès dans la pile à combustible sont nécessaires pour accélérer la diffusion de la voiture à hydrogène, ce qui demande le maintien d'un soutien public à la R&D. Le coût du carbone et la stimulation de la demande sont des mesures complémentaires permettant d'accélérer l'entrée de l'hydrogène dans le marché. En outre, une adoption à large échelle exige une couverture suffisante de l'infrastructure de support ; mais les plans des agents privés risquent d'être trop modestes initialement. Le financement public de l'infrastructure est alors une solution pour démarrer la transition.

During the last decades the demand for large-scale computational and storage resources in science has increased dramatically. New computational infrastructures enable scientists to enter a new mode of science, e-science, which complements traditional theory and experiments. E-science is inherently interdisciplinary, involving researchers from several disciplines, and also opens up for large-scale collaborative efforts where physically distributed groups of scientists share software tools and data to make scientific progress. Within the field of e-science, new challenges are emerging in managing large-scale distributed computing efforts and distributed data sets. Different models, e.g. grids and clouds, have been introduced over the years, but new solutions built on these models are needed to enable easy and flexible use of distributed computing infrastructures by application scientists. In the first part of the thesis, application execution environments are studied. The goal is to hide technical details of the underlying distributed computing infrastructure and expose secure and user-friendly environments to the end users. First, a general-purpose solution using portal technology is described, enabling transparent and easy usage of a variety of grid systems. Then a problem-solving environment for genetic analysis is presented. Here the statistical software R is used as a workflow engine, enhanced with grid-enabled routines for performing the computationally demanding parts of the analysis. Finally, the issue of resource allocation in grid system is briefly studied and certain modifications in the distributed resource-brokering model for the ARC middleware are proposed. The second part of the thesis presents solutions for managing and analyzing scientific data using distributed storage resources. First, a new reliable and secure file-oriented distributed storage system, Chelonia, is presented. The architectural design of the system is described and implementation issues are considered. Also, the stability and scalable performance of Chelonia is verified using several test scenarios. Then, tools for providing an efficient and easy-to-use platform for data analysis built on Chelonia are presented. Here, a database driven approach is explored. An extended architecture where Chelonia is combined with the Web-Service MEDiator (WSMED) system is implemented, providing web service tools to query data without any further programming. This approach is then developed further and Chelonia is combined with SciSPARQL, a query language that extends SPARQL to queries over numeric scientific data. This results in a system that is capable of interactive analysis of distributed data sets. Writing customized modules in Java, Python or C can fulfill advanced application-specific analysis requirements. The viability of the approach is demonstrated by applying the system to data produced by URDME, a computational environment in systems biology and results for sample queries expressed in SciSPARQL are presented. Finally, the use of an open source storage cloud, Openstack – SWIFT, for analysis of data from CERN experiments is considered. Here, a pilot implementation for the ROOT data analysis framework is presented together with a performance evaluation. / eSSENCE

The Internet, undoubtedly, is the most influential technical invention of the 20th century that affects and constantly changes all aspects of our day-to-day lives nowadays. Although it is hard to predict its long-term consequences, the potential future of the Internet definitely relies on future Internet research. Prior to every development and deployment project, an extensive and comprehensive research study must be performed in order to design, model, analyze, and evaluate all impacts of the new initiative on the existing environment. Taking the ever-growing size of the Internet and the increasing complexity of novel Internet-based applications and services into account, the evaluation and validation of new ideas cannot be effectively carried out over local test beds and small experimental networks. The gap which exists between the small-scale pilots in academic and research test beds and the realize validations and actual deployments in production networks can be bridged by using virtual infrastructures. FEDERICA is one of the facilities, based on virtualization capabilities in both network and computing resources, which creates custom-made virtual environments and makes them available for Future Internet Researchers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art research projects that have been using the virtual infrastructure slices of FEDERICA in order to validate their research concepts, even when they are disruptive to the test bed’s infrastructure, to obtain results in realistic network environments. / © 2011 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works. QC20120119 / FEDERICA

This paper investigates the effect of the reduction of transport cost Oresundsbron has caused between the two subregions of the Oresund-region. The paper utilizes the the Helpman (1998) model and the procedure used by Hanson (2005) for estimating this equation. The paperbrings a clear inside into the method and thus provides an excellent start-ing position.

This thesis will examine national/multi-national/international research andeducation networks of the some countries in context of innovation systems,and then Turkish case will be discussed. The developed countries are thepioneers of research and education network efforts, developing andundeveloped countries were integrated to the global research networks.Although Turkey has a lot experience in academic networking, its NREN(ULAKNET) should adapt itself to the global trends(i.e. direct fiber access,IP/DWDM networks, very demanding applications like grid), and networkingand supercomputing requirements in national innovation policies should berevised accordingly. Turkey can acquire some benefits from the globalinnovation policies and practices in order to improve its research networkinginfrastructure.

Dissertation--Universität Wuppertal, 2005. / Bibliogr. p. 363-461.