A new countermeasure against side-channel attacks based on hardware-software co-design

This paper aims at presenting a new countermeasure against Side-Channel Analysis (SCA) attacks, whose implementation is based on a hardware-software co-design. The hardware architecture consists of a microprocessor, which executes the algorithm using a false key, and a coprocessor that performs several operations that are necessary to retrieve the original text that was encrypted with the real key. The coprocessor hardly affects the power consumption of the device, so that any classical attack based on such power consumption would reveal a false key. Additionally, as the operations carried out by the coprocessor are performed in parallel with the microprocessor, the execution time devoted for encrypting a specific text is not affected by the proposed countermeasure. In order to verify the correctness of our proposal, the system was implemented on a Virtex 5 FPGA. Different SCA attacks were performed on several functions of AES algorithm. Experimental results show in all cases that the system is effectively protected by revealing a false encryption key.Peer ReviewedPreprin

Hardware architecture implemented on FPGA for protecting cryptographic keys against side-channel attacks

This paper presents a new hardware architecture designed for protecting the key of cryptographic algorithms against attacks by side-channel analysis (SCA). Unlike previous approaches already published, the fortress of the proposed architecture is based on revealing a false key. Such a false key is obtained when the leakage information, related to either the power consumption or the electromagnetic radiation (EM) emitted by the hardware device, is analysed by means of a classical statistical method. In fact, the trace of power consumption (or the EM) does not reveal any significant sign of protection in its behaviour or shape. Experimental results were obtained by using a Virtex 5 FPGA, on which a 128-bit version of the standard AES encryption algorithm was implemented. The architecture could easily be extrapolated to an ASIC device based on standard cell libraries. The system is capable of concealing the real key when various attacks are performed on the AES algorithm, using two statistical methods which are based on correlation, the Welch’s t-test and the difference of means.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Online signature verification systems on a low-cost FPGA

This paper describes three different approaches for the implementation of an online signature verification system on a low-cost FPGA. The system is based on an algorithm, which operates on real numbers using the double-precision floating-point IEEE 754 format. The doubleprecision computations are replaced by simpler formats, without affecting the biometrics performance, in order to permit efficient implementations on low-cost FPGA families. The first approach is an embedded system based on MicroBlaze, a 32-bit soft-core microprocessor designed for Xilinx FPGAs, which can be configured by including a single-precision floating-point unit (FPU). The second implementation attaches a hardware accelerator to the embedded system to reduce the execution time on floating-point vectors. The last approach is a custom computing system, which is built from a large set of arithmetic circuits that replace the floating-point data with a more efficient representation based on fixed-point format. The latter system provides a very high runtime acceleration factor at the expense of using a large number of FPGA resources, a complex development cycle and no flexibility since it cannot be adapted to other biometric algorithms. By contrast, the first system provides just the opposite features, while the second approach is a mixed solution between both of them. The experimental results show that both the hardware accelerator and the custom computing system reduce the execution time by a factor ×7.6 and ×201 but increase the logic FPGA resources by a factor ×2.3 and ×5.2, respectively, in comparison with the MicroBlaze embedded system.This research was funded by Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, grant number PID2019-107274RB-I00.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Faking countermeasure against side-channel attacks

Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Estudio transversal sobre la relación entre la actividad física y la calidad de la dieta mediterránea en estudiantes de Bachillerato de Murcia (España)

Introduction: The aim was to determine the relationship between the level of physical activity and the quality of the Mediterranean diet in baccalaureate schoolchildren. Material and method: Cross-sectional study carried out with 119 schoolchildren from Murcia (Spain) with an age range of 16-17 years. These schoolchildren were selected by non-probabilistic purposive sampling. The quality of the Mediterranean diet (QD) was assessed through the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents questionnaire and physical activity (PA) through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. Statistical analysis was carried out using Pearson's chi-square statistical tests, Student's T, One-way ANOVA and a linear regression analysis. Results: The results of the analyses showed significant differences in the average of PA, where men showed higher values ​​than women (p <0.001). Among women, those with a lower level of PA showed a greater use of olive oil and a regular breakfast of industrial pastries (p <0.005). Among men, those with a higher PA level showed a higher consumption of fresh vegetables, pasta or rice, and nuts (p <0.005). Considering the total, regarding the differences in the level of PA as a function of QD, differences were found between a high level of QD and its homologous pairs with a low level (p <0.001). Finally, an association was found between PA and QD (p <0.001) with a value of R2 = 0.275. Conclusions: Increased physical activity is related to higher average diet quality in baccalaureate students.  The development of these constructs is of particular interest in guiding towards adherence to healthy lifestyles that will last into adulthood.  Training programmes must also be created that are appropriate to the needs and characteristics of 21st century society.Introducción: El objetivo fue determinar la relación existente entre el nivel de actividad física y la calidad de la dieta mediterránea en escolares de Bachillerato.  Material y método: Estudio transversal realizado con 119 escolares de Murcia (España) con un rango de edad comprendido entre los 16-17 años. Estos escolares fueron seleccionados mediante muestreo no probabilístico intencional. Se valoró la calidad de la dieta mediterránea (CD) a través del cuestionario Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents y la actividad física (AF) a través del cuestionario International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. El análisis estadístico ha sido llevado a cabo mediante las pruebas estadísticas ji al cuadrado de Pearson, T Student, One-way ANOVA y un análisis de regresión lineal. Resultados: Los resultados de los análisis mostraron diferencias significativas en el promedio de la actividad física, donde los varones mostraron valores más elevados que las mujeres (p < 0.001). Entre las mujeres, aquellas con un menor nivel de AF mostraron un mayor uso de aceite de oliva y desayunar habitualmente bolleria industrial (p<0,005). Entre los varones, aquellos con un nivel de AF mayor mostraron un mayor consumo de verduras frescas, de pasta o arroz y, frutos secos (p<0,005). Considerando el total, respecto a las diferencias en el nivel de AF en función de la CD, se encontraron diferencias entre un nivel alto de CD y sus pares homólogos con un nivel bajo (p< 0,001). Por último, se halló una asociación entre la AF y la CD (p < 0,001) con un valor de R2 = 0,275. Conclusiones: Una mayor actividad física se relaciona con una mayor calidad de la dieta media en escolares de Bachillerato. Estos resultados son de interés para el contexto sanitario y educativo ya que un correcto desarrollo de ambos constructos resulta de especial interés para orientarse hacia la adherencia de estilos de vida saludables. Asimismo, se deben crear programas formativos adecuados a las necesidades y características que presenta la sociedad del siglo XXI

Absorción acústica de paneles multicapas conformados a partir de fibras procesadas de NFUs

En éste trabajo se lleva a cabo el desarrollo de estándares de calidad para materiales derivados NFU nivel CEN (TC366), junto con el alto rendimiento alcanzado en el reciclaje y recuperación de NFU en toda Europa, es un gran paso hacia la obtención de un estatuto de residuos de productos derivados del NFU.Zamorano Cantó, M.; Segura Alcaraz, JG.; Nadal Gisbert, AV.; Crespo Amorós, JE. (2015). Absorción acústica de paneles multicapas conformados a partir de fibras procesadas de NFUs. Compobell, S.L. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/73484

The TGFBR1*6A allele is not associated with susceptibility to colorectal cancer in a Spanish population: a case-control study

Background: TGF-β receptor type I is a mediator of growth inhibitory signals. TGFBR1*6A (rs11466445) is a common polymorphic variant of the TGF-β receptor I gene and has been associated with tumour susceptibility. Nevertheless, the role of this polymorphism as a risk factor for colorectal cancer is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the association between TGFBR1*6A and colorectal cancer, age, sex, tumour location and tumour stage in a Spanish population. Methods: The case-control study involved 800 Spanish subjects: 400 sporadic colorectal cancer patients and 400 age-, sex-, and ethnic-matched controls. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the TGFBR1*6A polymorphism were calculated using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Analysis of somatic mutations at the GCG repeat of TGFBR1 exon 1 and germline allele-specific expression were also conducted to obtain further information on the contribution of the TGFBR1*6A allele to CRC susceptibility. Results: There was no statistically significant association between the TGFBR1*6A allele and CRC (p > 0.05). The OR was 1.147 (95% CI: 0.799–1.647) for carriers of the TGFBR1*6A allele and 0.878 (95% CI: 0.306–2.520) for homozygous TGFBR1*6A individuals compared with the reference. The frequency of the polymorphism was not affected by age, sex or tumour stage. The TGFBR1*6A allele was more prevalent among colon tumour patients than among rectal tumour patients. Tumour somatic mutations were found in only two of 69 cases (2.9%). Both cases involved a GCG deletion that changed genotype 9A/9A in normal DNA to genotype 9A/8A. Interestingly, these two tumours were positive for microsatellite instability, suggesting that these mutations originated because of a deficient DNA mismatch repair system. Allele-specific expression of the 9A allele was detected in seven of the 14 heterozygous 9A/6A tumour cases. This could have been caused by linkage disequilibrium of the TGFBR1*6A allele with mutations that cause allele-specific expression, as was recently suggested. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the TGFBR1*6A allele does not confer an increased risk of colorectal cancer in the Spanish population.The research was supported in part by grants from the Generalitat Valenciana in Spain (AP106/06) and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Hospital of Elche (FIBElx-02/2007). T.M-B was a recipient of a fellowship from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology

Mechanical properties forecast in composites using neural networks

The aim of this paper is to introduce a method to forecast the mechanical properties of a composite based on its constitutive materials using a neural network. As input data, a limited number of tests to train the network are needed. From them it will be possible to make forecasts, with a less than 1% of error, the material properties. The forecasts can be done, not only inside the training range but also outside but with an unbounded error rate.Sanchez-Caballero, S.; Crespo Amorós, JE.; Parres, F.; Sellés Cantó, MÁ.; Pla-Ferrando, R. (2011). Mechanical properties forecast in composites using neural networks. Annals of The University of Oradea. 10(20):146-151. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/35895S146151102

Investigation of mechanical properties of plaster reinforced with pa microfiber

[EN] Polyamide fibers have been frequently used as a ceramic and polymer reinforcement, the main advantage of using fiber is to prevent a catastrophic failure of the ceramic material in two pieces. The compression and bending test show differences between samples prepared with different percentages of fiber.The authors thank the Generalitat Valenciana Ref: GV/2010/017 by the funding received for the development of this research through Projects Emerging Research Group 2010.Parres, F.; Crespo Amorós, JE.; Nadal Gisbert, AV.; Sanchez-Caballero, S.; Sellés Cantó, MÁ. (2011). Investigation of mechanical properties of plaster reinforced with pa microfiber. Annals of The University of Oradea. 10(20):7-16. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/35899S716102

Modelization of ironing process. Application to a three-layered polymer coated steel

This document shows a modelization for the ironing process (the most crucial step in can manufacturing) done by using a Neural Network. A design of experiments has been done, in which a number of process variables have been taken in consideration, controlled directly by the operator: die angle, punch speed, temperature and reduction in thickness. These will be the process inputs, whereas the exits are formed by two variables result: Surface quality factor and average roughness. Once the results have been obtained, data have been introduced in a neural network software, so that after being trained the network and used the BP algorithm (BackPropagation), generates a configuration that provides the smaller permissible error. Later, by means of the sensitivity analysis, the neural network generated has been simplified with a new configuration of a minimum error.Pérez Bernabeu, E.; Sellés Cantó, MÁ.; Sanchez-Caballero, S.; Juárez Varón, D.; Crespo Amorós, JE. (2011). Modelization of ironing process. Application to a three-layered polymer coated steel. Annals of The University of Oradea. 10(20):52-55. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/35894S5255102