This chapter investigates the Network Layer aspects that will characterize the merger of the cellular paradigm and the IoT architectures, in the context of the evolution towards 5G-and-beyond, including some promising emerging services as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or Base Stations, and V2X communications.

This paper focuses on adolescents’ reading habits during the protracted lockdown (March 2020 - May 2021) due to COVID-19. Drawing on evidence from an online survey, several focus groups and semi-structured interviews with adolescents in Greece and Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper explores the extent to which reading books is still highly valued in adolescents’ lives and the degree to which this activity is related to adolescents’ advantageous familial and socio-economic background. Moreover, the paper examines whether reading should still be considered an activity that contributes to cultural reproduction in the digital era. This paper contributes to the examination of the often invisible mechanisms that originate from the family and produce socially stratified school underachievement that sustains social inequalities in contemporary Greek and Cypriot societies.

This paper is a part of a wider study – funded by EU-OSHA – that has the central aim of describing how the characteristics of the regulatory framework and employment relations tradition affect establishments’ management of health and safety at work. In this quest, a number of countries have been chosen, among them Cyprus, and this paper attempts to present an answer to the aforementioned question in Cyprus. The Cypriot economy is made up of a large number of micro firms (employing fewer than 10 workers). A number of these firms are family owned, creating an unusual and particular economic and work landscape. Also, a relatively large number of workers remain undeclared. By considering and comparing secondary data at the local, national and EU level, the paper attempts to identify and explore the determinants of workplace occupational safety and health within the particular context and conditions in Cyprus

Several studies have focused on the different types of laboratories arising with the evolution of technology and their influence within all educational levels concerning Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. Augmented Reality (AR) is receiving increased attention and interest in recent years, within not only the commercial and the entertainment sectors, but also the educational field. In this paper, some current trends are identified after a brief overview of the state-of-the-art concerning Laboratory-based education. Moreover, challenges are discussed and potential future areas of research are identified. Finally, an outline of a methodology is suggested aiming to identify how the use of different types of labs may affect students' enrollment in STEM-related studies.

This article presents a blockchain-based scheme for energy trading between electric vehicles (prosumers) and critical load (consumer) in a logical network. Unlike traditional wholesale energy markets where retailers sell energy to consumers, our proposed model directly connects prosumers with consumers to meet temporary energy demands. We exploit blockchain technology to establish a trusted energy trading ecosystem and develop an application to remotely monitor energy trading activities between trading entities. Experimental results illustrate that the energy trading system is effective in finding, associating, and routing prosumers to consumers, while protecting privacy of entities. Numerical results show a favorable performance of our optimization model in comparison to traditional frameworks.

The coverage and capacity of exploiting TV White Spaces (TVWS) from High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) with multiple antenna payloads using uniform rectangular phased array (URA) antennas are explored in this article. A scenario is suggested in which a HAP and TVWS base station are installed on the HAP within a HAP coverage area with a radius of 100 km and a cell radius of 10.5 km. The formation of HAP cells with various reuse patterns has been established. An analysis of coverage, capacity and power profile function for TVWS link from 25 × 25 URA HAP arrays is presented. To minimize the sidelobe levels in the antenna array synthesis, window function has been assumed. Power profile within a cell using URA is highlighted. Channel to Interference (CIR) performance contour, coverage probability and channel capacity have been determined. The channel capacity for the theoretical Shannon bound and practical truncated Shannon bound are determined and compared. Results show that a maximum channel capacity of 53 Mbps can be attained from the proposed model.

Conceptual design is a field that offers various aesthetic approaches to generation of nature-based product design concepts. Essentially, Conceptual Product Design (CPD) uses similarities based on the geometrical forms and functionalities. Furthermore, the CAD-based freehand sketch is a primary conceptual tool in the early stages of the design process. The proposed Conceptual Product Design concept is dealing with jewelleries that are inspired from space. Specifically, a number of galaxy features, such as galaxy shapes, wormholes and graphical representation of planet magnetic field are used as inspirations. Those space-based design ideas at a conceptual level can lead to further opportunities for research and economic success of the jewellery industry. A number of illustrative case studies are presented and new opportunities can be derived for economic success.

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.

Following a growing body of research on supporting young children’s learning through play, in this paper we present two case studies describing the ways we have engaged a group of 18 4-6 year-old children in math and science through play in the context of an afternoon STEM club. Our purpose is to demonstrate some of the key features of a learning environment that balances between academic content and play, and how a learning process with dynamic and triggering ideas can be a productive way to involve young children in activities which share many properties of play. We present examples that illustrate the diversity and the complexity needed for any learning situation, and we highlight the magnitude of children’s ability of “doing” math and science that is empowered by their playful nature. We suggest that learning through play in STEM may be productive and engaging for young children.

Programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors guides treatment selection. PD-L1 expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may provide further information. We have explored PD-L1 and marker of proliferation Ki-67 (Ki67; also known as MKI67) in CTCs in longitudinal samples of 47 advanced NSCLC patients receiving pembrolizumab. A triple immunofluorescence, against cytokeratin, PD-L1, and Ki67, was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, at baseline, post-first cycle, post-third, and primary resistance (PMR). Patients displaying PMR (progression at first evaluation) were classified as progressive disease (PD) and those with clinical benefit as disease control (DC). CTCs were categorized as PD-L1high/low/medium/negative and Ki67+ or Ki67−. CTC evaluation revealed a significant increase in the PD-L1low CTC rate at PMR compared to baseline (2.5% at baseline vs. 36.5% at PMR), whereas a reduction in the PD-L1high CTC rate was observed (31.5% vs. 0%, respectively). Investigation of CTC status between PD and DC patients showed that PD patients more frequently increased total and PD-L1low CTCs after first cycle compared to DC (83% of PD vs. 37% of DC and 67% of PD vs. 8% of DC, respectively). Progression-free survival (PFS) was longer in patients with decreased total and PD-L1low CTCs after first cycle compared to those with increased CTCs (median PFS: not reached vs. 2 months). PD-L1+ patients presenting a high Ki67 index (% Ki67+ CTCs > 30%) before treatment had a shorter PFS compared to those with a low Ki67 (≤ 30%), and overall survival (OS) was shorter in PD-L1+ patients harboring Ki67+ CTCs compared to those not presenting (median OS: 11.8 months vs. 33.1 months, respectively). In sequential samples of patients with a durable benefit, a low Ki67 index was observed. Our results suggest that monitoring PD-L1 and Ki67 expression in CTCs of NSCLC patients treated with pembrolizumab may be predictive for pembrolizumab efficacy

EDucation and DIgital Cultural LABoratory (EDUCLAB) is a project co-funded by Erasmus+ 2018 of the European Commission in the field of early childhood education [grant number 2018-1-IT02-KA201-048316]. The main aim of the project is to develop training material for early childhood and care (ECEC) educators working with an increased number of students (age 3-6) with migrant background, on how to plan, organize and implement cultural and artistic workshops in the classroom in the framework of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. The focus of the project is to prepare children to visit museums, libraries, archaeological sites, theatres and musical institutions, to provide them with a "key" to enjoy such visits and to be able to interpret the art they are going to explore during these visits. In this chapter we present a suggested framework on how educational cultural workshops could be organized and implemented for children aged 3-5 with diverse cultural backgrounds at early childhood education and care (ECEC) facilities. The framework has been developed for the purposes of the EDUCLAB project. The framework is developed on the basis of an in-depth analysis of data collected during focus-group discussions with approximately 50 educators conducted across all five partner countries (Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Turkey); two focus-groups with a minimum of five educators each, for each partner country. The focus-groups aimed at identifying best practices and pedagogical approaches in planning and implementing cultural workshops in early childhood education, as well as the skill gaps of early childhood educators in relation to the use of digital technologies and in the field of inclusive education. The analysis of the data led to the identification of skill gaps and pedagogical approaches, as well as of other emerging themes, including school-parents' relations, characteristics of good practices relating to the implementation of cultural workshops in early childhood education and care, as well as challenges faced by educators across Europe in organizing and implementing cultural workshops. In the last section of this chapter we present guidelines, practical and useful indicators for educators, as these emerge from the analysis of the data collected and supported by references to contemporary literature.

Greece imposed a nationwide lockdown in March 2020 to mitigate transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 during the first epidemic wave. We conducted a survey on age-specific social contact patterns to assess effects of physical distancing measures and used a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model to simulate the epidemic. Because multiple distancing measures were implemented simultaneously, we assessed their overall effects and the contribution of each measure. Before measures were implemented, the estimated basic reproduction number (R0) was 2.38 (95% CI 2.01-2.80). During lockdown, daily contacts decreased by 86.9% and R0 decreased by 81.0% (95% credible interval [CrI] 71.8%-86.0%); each distancing measure decreased R0 by 10%-24%. By April 26, the attack rate in Greece was 0.12% (95% CrI 0.06%-0.26%), one of the lowest in Europe, and the infection fatality ratio was 1.12% (95% CrI 0.55%-2.31%). Multiple social distancing measures contained the first epidemic wave in Greece.

This chapter discusses an attempt to empower teachers to 'augment’ students’ reading experiences as part of the project The Living Book, Augmenting Reading for Life (Erasmus+). The project’s overall aim is to address the under -achievement of European students in reading by developing an innovative approach that combines offline activities promoting reading literacy with online experiences of books’ 'virtual augmentation.’ More specifically, recognizing the important role of teachers in any educational reform effort, the project aims at strengthening teachers’ profile and competences in adopting the Living Book approach and in dealing with diversified groups of learners, and particularly with pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, through a series of training sessions. The chapter outlines the theoretical premises of the Living Book and provides an overview of the theoretical framework underlying the design of the 'Augmented Teacher’ professional development course. It also describes the content and structure of the course, and the process of evaluation currently taking place in the project partner countries.

Inspired by the emerging technologies of Augmented and Mixed Reality (AR/MR), the Enlivened Laboratories in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (EL-STEM) project aims to develop a new approach, integrating these technologies into school laboratories, for encouraging secondary school students’ STEM engagement. In particular, EL-STEM’s main objectives are to attract students who might not be interested in STEM-related studies/careers, enhance the interest of those who have already chosen these fields of studies/careers, and improve students’ performance in STEM-related courses. Moreover, EL-STEM provides teachers with high quality professional development opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills to effectively embed AR/MR in teaching and learning. This book chapter aims to provide an overview of the EL-STEM project and describe use cases of Augmented Reality in STEM education.

Inspired by the emerging technologies of Augmented and Mixed Reality (AR/MR), the Enlivened Laboratories in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (EL-STEM) project aims to develop a new approach, integrating these technologies into school laboratories, for encouraging secondary school students’ STEM engagement. In particular, EL-STEM’s main objectives are to attract students who might not be interested in STEM-related studies/careers, enhance the interest of those who have already chosen these fields of studies/careers, and improve students’ performance in STEM-related courses. Moreover, EL-STEM provides teachers with high quality professional development opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills to effectively embed AR/MR in teaching and learning. This book chapter aims to provide an overview of the EL-STEM project and describe use cases of Augmented Reality in STEM education.

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the association of organizational health and safety policies and procedures (OHSPs) and safety perceptions of employees as reflected in safety climate with safety performance. Furthermore the impact of OHSP on work attitudes like job satisfaction and job commitment is also considered. Employee safety policies are considered within the context of a broader policy of corporate social responsibility. The study examines the need for formulation of a proactive safety strategy and its implementation. The research context is Cyprus, a small peripheral European country, which has a service-based, small firm dominated economy. Such an environment presents special problems and barriers in the formulation and implementation of safety policies and procedures and offers an interesting and so far relatively under-researched context for testing relationships between policies and safety outcomes. The results of this study illustrate that OHSP, safety climate, and organizational commitment have a statistically significant association with safety performance.

We investigate how a teacher's personal reflection shapes her decision-making process in classroom management. Following open coding, we analyze the teachers' reflections seeking to identify her rationale in the decision-making process during the language arts lessons. Our findings indicated that her thinking was based on the student's behavior, the student's personality, the educational context, her own emotional perspective and condition, her pedagogical knowledge, and her reflective experience. We discuss the theoretical and methodological implications.

This paper reports on a study that sought to explore mainstream and special teachers’ inclusive practices during the Covid-19 pandemic and discusses issues that are relevant in the post-Covid-19 period. The study is contextualized with European and international studies and reports on teachers’ role in the inclusion of children with disabilities before and during the pandemic. The sample of the study comprised of 17 mainstream and special teachers based in public schools in the Republic of Cyprus. They were purposively selected due to their commitment to provide quality education. Following a thematic analysis of teachers’ interviews, some of the themes were mapped with Florian and Black-Hawkins’ Framework for Participation which was used as a tool to conceptualize how teachers promoted participation through ensuring access, collaboration and inclusive pedagogy in distance education. The discussion links the findings with key values of inclusive education, such as interdependence and belongingness and resistance of ableist policies. It is concluded that teachers’ inclusive responses during the pandemic may inform professionals who are committed to inclusive education to bring about change in competitive and individualistic education systems across Europe.