
An Overview of Challenges to Long-Term Sustainability and Scalability of Radio Frequency Fingerprinting
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCSPA61559.2024.10794273
The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming industries with its plethora of applications, from smart cities to healthcare. However, this rapid proliferation comes with a pressing need for additional cybersecurity needs to ensure stable and resilient operations. Resource-constrained IoT devices often rely on basic cryptographic mechanisms, allowing innovative solutions like Radio Frequency Fingerprinting (RFF) to thrive and enhance physical layer security. As part of European Union COST Action, this study dives into the current state-of-the-art in RFF, a technique that utilizes unique hardware characteristics for device authentication and classification. Key Takeaways: Challenges in Real-World Deployment: While RFF has shown promise in academic settings, its practical applications are limited by technological barriers. There is a burgeoning need to deliberate the potential CONOPS (concept of operation) and operational scenarios encountered in real world deployment. The research sheds light on critical performance metrics and the complexities of evaluating RFF systems. By addressing these challenges, the study lays a foundation for advancing RFF from theory and controlled environment to practical implementation, enabling its integration into secure IoT ecosystems. By connecting this work to the COST action, we aim to foster collaboration across Europe to develop cutting-edge security solutions for networks of the future.

Optimizing Radio Frequency Fingerprinting for Device Classification: A Study Towards Lightweight DL Models
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCSPA61559.2024.10794386
We developed a lightweight 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model optimized for edge devices, reducing inference latency while maintaining high classification accuracy. Using an open-source dataset of 30 LoRa devices, we evaluated preprocessing methods (Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)). Our approach demonstrated: A significant reduction in inference latency, making deployment on real-time edge devices feasible. Comparable classification accuracy when benchmarked against a 2D CNN model. This work not only bridges a crucial gap in the literature but also propels the adoption of RFF for edge devices—an essential step for secure IoT networks in 6G. By aligning this effort with COST Action, we aim to foster collaboration across Europe to achieve secure, resilient, and trustworthy 6G systems.

“Sweet MOFs”: exploring the potential and restraints of integrating carbohydrates with metal–organic frameworks for biomedical applications
DOI ref: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NH00525B
This review highlights recent advancements in combining metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with carbohydrate chemistry to create biocompatible systems for biomedical applications. MOFs offer unique properties like biodegradability, low toxicity, and high surface area, enabling functionalization with biological ligands and the loading of active cargos, from small drugs to biomacromolecules. Recent research focuses on leveraging carbohydrate chemistry to functionalize and modify MOF structures, aiming for efficient and naturally inspired designs. The review discusses the field’s progress over the past five years, addressing both its potential and challenges, including sustainability and real-world applicability.

A sustainable lecithin-based ligand for the bio-functionalization of iron and hybrid metal organic frameworks (MOFs) nanoparticles with the sugar mannose
DOI ref: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4GC03743J
A sustainable and eco-friendly ligand for diverse nanoparticles functionalization is reported. The ligand is synthesized through a photochemical reaction between lecithin and cysteine, followed by the addition of mannose, a sugar beneficial for biomedical targeting. The environmental impact of the ligand is assessed through green metrics, demonstrating superior sustainability compared to conventional ligands. The ligand is successfully applied to various nanoparticle platforms, including the MOFs MIL-101(Fe), PCN-222, UiO-66, and iron nanoparticles, highlighting its potential for safer and more effective applications in nanomedicine.

Securing the Internet of Things: Challenges and Complementary Overview of Machine Learning-Based Intrusion Detection
The significant increase in the number of IoT devices has also brought with it various security concerns. The ability of these devices to collect a lot of data, including personal information, is one of the important reasons for these concerns. The integration of machine learning into systems that can detect security vulnerabilities has been presented as an effective solution in the face of these concerns. In this review, it is aimed to examine the machine learning algorithms used in the current studies in the literature for IoT network security. Based on the authors’ previous research in physical layer security, this research also aims to investigate the intersecting lines between upper layers of security and physical layer security. To achieve this, the current state of the area is presented. Then, relevant studies are examined to identify the key challenges and research directions as an initial overview within the authors’ ongoing project.

Exploring the Tiny World of Microplastics in Your Own “Lab”
Scientists have known about microplastics in nature since the 1970s, but lately they are finding these tiny plastics almost everywhere they look – in the air, lakes, rivers, oceans, on land, and even in remote places like Arctic lakes and snow! This article will introduce young audiences to the hidden universe of microplastics, the tools scientists use to analyse them, and how people can do their own experiments to analyse microplastics from a nearby beach.

A Zero-Gap Gas Phase Photoelectrolyzer for CO2 Reduction with Porous Carbon Supported Photocathodes
With their variable active sites Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can achieve visible-light absorption and efficient charge separation for photocatalytic, and conductivity for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction into value added chemicals. This work illustrates the importance of porous carbon fiber layers (CFLs) on the activity and selectivity of MOF based photocathodes towards the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) in a zero-gap gas phase photoelectrolyzer. The wettability of the CFL modulates the local environment on the metal organic framework catalyst (UiO-66-NH2, yellow coloured). Hydrophobic CFL-based MOF photocathodes lead to CO2RR, producing liquid hydrocarbons ( CxHyOz) such as formate, methanol and ethanol. In contrast, hydrophilic, wetted CFL-based photocathodes favor the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER).The results are a step further in understanding how the design and composition of the photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical electrolyzers can impact the CO2 reduction efficiency and selectivity.

Using citizen science with alien species: a practical guide for project initiators
This guide provides topics to consider when initiating or running a citizen science project on alien species or invasive alien species. It includes key recommendations on how to engage with your target audience, plan and design your project, handle data, perform analyses and evaluate your project outputs. It is intended to help anyone set up an alien species citizen science project. Target people include NGO workers, researchers, policymakers, volunteer groups, government agency workers, project managers, invasive species managers, teachers and the general public. Since there are many published guides on citizen science, this guide summarises the most relevant topics, highlights topics that are more relevant in the context of (invasive) alien species, and refers to other sources of information.
The guide is translated into 23 languages.

Textile Crossroads: Exploring European Clothing, Identity, and Culture across Millennia. Anthology of COST Action "CA 19131 – EuroWeb"
DOI 10.32873/unl.dc.zea.1800
ISBN 978-1-60962-315-9
These essays on various aspects of textile research encompass a wide chronological perspective and vast geographical area, enriching traditional disciplines with innovative methodologies such as isotopic tracing of provenance, textile analysis, protein analysis, digital motion capture, and exploration of textile expressions in texts and folklore. All essays in this volume have been written by international teams of scholars from the participating countries. The anthology serves as a comprehensive and innovative resource, consolidating the research outcomes and insights gained from the interdisciplinary exploration of textiles in European history within the framework of EuroWeb. This volume has the potential to contribute to the advancement of European scientific excellence and competitiveness, fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural, technological, and societal significance of textiles and clothing in shaping European identity and heritage through the millenia. We hope that the anthology will find a wide and interested readership, and that it will inspire many new research projects in the field of textile history.