Achieving Identity-based cryptography in a personal digital assistant

Continuous technological advances have allowed that mobile devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), can execute sophisticated applications that more often than not must be equipped with a layer of security that should include the confidentiality and the authentication services within its repertory. Nevertheless, when compared against front-end computing devices, most PDAs are still seen as constrained devices with limited processing and storage capabilities. In order to achieve Identity-Based Cryptography (IBC), which was an open problem proposed by Adi Shamir in 1984, Boneh and Franklin presented in Crypto 2001, a solution that uses bilinear pairings as its main building block. Since then, IBC has become an active area of investigation where many efficient IBC security protocols are proposed year after year. In this paper, we present a cryptographic application that allows the secure exchange of documents from a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) that is wirelessly connected to other nodes. The architecture of our application is inspired by the traditional PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) email security protocol. Our application achieves identity-based authentication and confidentiality functionalities at the 80-bit security level through the usage of a cryptographic library that was coded in C++. Our library can perform basic primitives such as bilinear pairings defined over the binary field and the ternary field , as well as other required primitives known as map-to-point hash functions. We report the timings achieved by our application and we show that they compare well against other similar works published in the open literature

Portable Multi-Hypothesis Monte Carlo Localization for Mobile Robots

Self-localization is a fundamental capability that mobile robot navigation systems integrate to move from one point to another using a map. Thus, any enhancement in localization accuracy is crucial to perform delicate dexterity tasks. This paper describes a new location that maintains several populations of particles using the Monte Carlo Localization (MCL) algorithm, always choosing the best one as the sytems's output. As novelties, our work includes a multi-scale match matching algorithm to create new MCL populations and a metric to determine the most reliable. It also contributes the state-of-the-art implementations, enhancing recovery times from erroneous estimates or unknown initial positions. The proposed method is evaluated in ROS2 in a module fully integrated with Nav2 and compared with the current state-of-the-art Adaptive ACML solution, obtaining good accuracy and recovery times.Comment: Submission for ICRA 202

Patent foramen ovale, deep venous thrombosis and stroke; a paradoxical embolism in an 80-year-old male

Background: A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital cardiac malformation describing a shunt in between the atrial walls. The overall incidence of a PFO is around 27.3% with a progressive decrease to 25.4% in the 4th and 8th decades. Once it has been established that a patient with an ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) has a PFO and other sources of the stroke have been ruled out, it is imperative to consider deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as the source of a paradoxical embolus. Case Presentation: 80-year-old gentleman with a history of right internal carotid occlusion of 80-90% status post right internal carotid endarterectomy. Presented to the emergency department (ED) for sudden left-sided weakness, left facial droop, slurred speech, and dizziness. Upon initial evaluation he was asymptomatic; NIH stroke score 1. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed important watershed infarcts. Cerebral angiogram found 50% concentric stenosis of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) with minimal lineal filling defect in the stenotic segment. The filling defect cleared after injection of intra-arterial integrillin. Post procedure, patient was started on heparin drip. Cardiology was consulted for suspected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Two days after the post cerebral angiogram, the patient began to complain of severe right leg pain. He was noted to be tachycardic and hypoxemic. The venous doppler of the leg revealed a DVT and subsequent CT chest angiography revealed bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). TEE results showed a positive agitative saline test with defect in the intra-atrial wall. The patient was on heparin drip and transitioned after 7 days to oral anticoagulation. Loop recorder was installed with possible PFO correction by cardiology in the outpatient. Patients\u27 symptoms improved and he was discharged to inpatient rehab. Conclusion: Although rare a paradoxical embolus should be considered in patients presenting with a stroke/TIA, PFO, and an unidentified source of embolus. Although this patient did have 50% occlusion of the R MCA, we cannot fully exclude a PFO-related stroke. The discovery of a DVT, and bilateral PEs supports the high suspicion for PFO-related stroke in the form of paradoxical embolus

Highly porous and conductive functional carbon fibers from electrospun phosphorus-containing lignin fibers

Functional carbon fibers were prepared by carbonization of thermostabilized electrospun lignin-fibers at 500–900 °C followed by a high temperature thermal treatment at 1200–1600 °C. The effect of the preparation temperature on their surface chemistry, structural order, textural properties and electrochemical behavior has been stablished. Maximum porosity development is obtained at 900 °C. The addition of phosphoric acid in the electrospinning lignin solution shortens the stabilization time of the fibers, increases the carbonization yield, generates phosphorus functional groups (P content as high as 3% wt.) and increases the BET surface area of carbon fibers from 840 to 1143 m2 g−1. Interestingly, when phosphorus-containing carbon fibers are treated even at very high temperature, 1600 °C, most of the porosity is preserved (ABET = 822 m2 g−1). XPS depth profile reveals the presence of reduced phosphorus in the core of carbonized fibers. XRD and TEM analysis make evident that the presence of phosphorus induces curvature of the graphitic layers, which seems to hinder the stacking of the graphene layers, explaining the preservation of microporosity after the thermal treatment at high temperature. However, Raman and XRD analyses point out that the presence of phosphorus does not affect the lateral growing of the crystallites. Thus, phosphorus preserves the porosity and allows the development of the electrical conductivity after the thermal treatments. Gravimetric capacitances of 79 F g−1 and capacitance retention of 63% at 68 A g−1 have been determined for phosphorus-containing carbon fibers prepared at 1200 °CWe gratefully thank MICINN (RTI2018-097555-B-100) and Junta de Andalucía (UMA18-FEDERJA-110 and P18-RT-4592) for financial support. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de M ́alaga / CBUA

The Evolutionary Success of the Marine Bacterium SAR11 Analyzed through a Metagenomic Perspective

The SAR11 clade of Alphaproteobacteria is the most abundant group of planktonic cells in the near-surface epipelagic waters of the ocean, but the mechanisms underlying its exceptional success have not been fully elucidated. Here, we applied a metagenomic approach to explore microdiversity patterns by measuring the accumulation of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations as well as homologous recombination in populations of SAR11 from different aquatic habitats (marine epipelagic, bathypelagic, and surface freshwater). The patterns of mutation accumulation and recombination were compared to those of other groups of representative marine microbes with multiple ecological strategies that share the same marine habitat, namely, Cyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus), Archaea (“Candidatus Nitrosopelagicus” and Marine Group II Thalassoarchaea), and some heterotrophic marine bacteria (Alteromonas and Erythrobacter). SAR11 populations showed widespread recombination among distantly related members, preventing divergence leading to a genetically stable population. Moreover, their high intrapopulation sequence diversity with an enrichment in synonymous replacements supports the idea of a very ancient divergence and the coexistence of multiple different clones. However, other microbes analyzed seem to follow different evolutionary dynamics where processes of diversification driven by geographic and ecological instability produce a higher number of nonsynonymous replacements and lower intrapopulation sequence diversity. Together, these data shed light on some of the evolutionary and ecological processes that lead to the large genomic diversity in SAR11. Furthermore, this approach can be applied to other similar microbes that are difficult to culture in the laboratory, but abundant in nature, to investigate the underlying dynamics of their genomic evolution.This work was supported by grants VIREVO CGL2016-76273-P (AEI/FEDER, EU) (cofunded with FEDER funds) from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria, y Competitividad and HIDRAS3 PROMETEU/2019/009 from the Generalitat Valenciana to F.R.-V. and by grants CGL2013-40564-R and SAF2013-49267-EXP from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria, y Competitividad; grant ACIF/2015/332 from the Generalitat Valenciana; and grant 5334 from the Betty Moore Foundation to M.M.-G. F.R.-V. was also a beneficiary of the 5top100-program of the Ministry for Science and Education of Russia. J.M.H.-M. was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (BES-2014-067828). F.H.C. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Generalitat Valenciana (APOSTD/2018/186). M.L.-P. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria, y Competitividad (IJCI-2017-34002)

Kinetic characterization of the oxidation of catecolamines and related compounds by laccase

The pathways of melanization and sclerotization of the cuticle in insects are carried out by the action of laccases on dopamine and related compounds. In this work, the laccase action of Trametes versicolor (TvL) on catecholamines and related compounds has been kinetically characterized. Among them, dopamine, L-dopa, L-epinephrine, L-norepinephrine, DL-isoprenaline, L-isoprenaline, DL-α-methyldopa, L-α-methyldopa and L-dopa methylester. A chronometric method has been used, which is based on measuring the lag period necessary to consume a small amount of ascorbic acid, added to the reaction medium. The use of TvL has allowed docking studies of these molecules to be carried out at the active site of this enzyme. The hydrogen bridge interaction between the hydroxyl oxygen at C-4 with His-458, and with the acid group of Asp-206, would make it possible to transfer the electron to the T1 Cu-(II) copper centre of the enzyme. Furthermore, Phe-265 would facilitate the adaptation of the substrate to the enzyme through Π-Π interactions. To kinetically characterize these compounds, we need to take into consideration that, excluding L-dopa, L-α-methyldopa and DL-α-methyldopa, all compounds are in hydrochloride form. Because of this, first we need to kinetically characterize the inhibition by chloride and, after that, calculate the kinetic parameters K M and V max S. From the kinetic data obtained, it appears that the best substrate is dopamine. The presence of an isopropyl group bound to nitrogen (isoprenaline) makes it especially difficult to catalyse. The formation of the ester (L-dopa methyl ester) practically does not affect catalysis. The addition of a methyl group (α-methyl dopa) increases the rate but decreases the affinity for catalysis. L-Epinephrine and L-norepinephrine have an affinity similar to isoprenaline, but faster catalysis, probably due to the greater nucleophilic power of their phenolic hydroxyl

La Web Semántica Como Herramienta para el Apoyo a la Docencia

La web semántica consiste en un nuevo paradigma web para acceder, buscar, compartir y gestionar información a través de la combinación de tecnologías y de estructuras de gestión del conocimiento. El concepto de web semántica proporciona herramientas para el almacenamiento, intercambio y consulta de esta información mediante el desarrollo y la inclusión de metadatos y ontologías del cuerpo de conocimiento. La estructura de los datos que proporciona permite que sea consultada automáticamente por usuarios humanos o sistemas informáticos, mejorando su interoperabilidad. El desarrollo de la web semántica supone una evolución del desarrollo web en general hacia una web más inteligente o web 3.0. Este paradigma puede ser aprovechado en los procesos de docencia-aprendizaje para estructurar, almacenar y compartir los contenidos mediante sistemas automáticos de consultas alojados en web semánticas que tratan sobre los cuerpos de conocimiento de las materias. La disciplina informática es especialmente adecuada para este propósito debido a su complejidad y a la gran variedad de términos que maneja. Por otra parte, su desarrollo en continua evolución propicia la implantación de mecanismos automáticos de mantenimiento y de actualización de los nuevos contenidos

New Perspectives for Electrodialytic Remediation

Electrodialytic remediation has been widely used for the recovery of different contaminants from numerous matrices, such as, for example, polluted soils, wastewater sludge, fly ash, mine tailing or harbour sediments. The electrodialytic remediation is an enhancement of the electrokinetic remediation technique, and it consists of the use of ion-exchange membranes for the control of the acid and the alkaline fronts generated in the electrochemical processes. While the standard electrodialytic cell is usually built with three-compartment configuration, it has been shown that for the remediation of matrices that require acid environment, a two-compartment cell has given satisfactory removal efficiencies with reduced energy costs. Recycling secondary batteries, with growing demand, has an increasing economic and environmental interest. This work focusses on the proposal of the electrodialytic remediation technique as a possible application for the recycling of lithium-ion cells and other secondary batteries. The recovery of valuable components, such as lithium, manganese, cobalt of phosphorous, based on current recycling processes and the characterization of solid waste is addressed.This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 778045. Paz-Garcia acknowledges the financial support from the University of Malaga, project: PPIT.UMA.B5.2018/17. Villen-Guzman acknowledges the funding from the University of Malaga for the postdoctoral fellowship PPIT.UMA.A.3.2.2018. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Sistemas de evaluación flexibles como instrumento de mejora de los resultados académicos de los estudiantes

Esta comunicación continúa describiendo la experiencia de los firmantes en la aplicación de las nuevas metodologías docentes descritas en una comunicación anterior [1]. En primer lugar se recuerdan dichas nuevas metodologías y se resumen los resultados obtenidos con la aplicación de las mismas en los últimos cursos académicos. Se ha constatado en la práctica que, tanto el aprendizaje efectivo del alumno como sus resultados académicos alcanzados, dependen fuertemente del sistema de evaluación adoptado, condicionando incluso la estrategia de estudio y seguimiento de la asignatura por parte del alumno. En base a ello, y siguiendo las tendencias de autonomía del estudiante en su aprendizaje, auspiciadas por el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, se ha propuesto en el curso académico actualmente vigente (2012-2013) un nuevo sistema de evaluación más flexible que, intentando medir objetivamente el rendimiento de los estudiantes, le motive a éste a configurar de forma voluntaria las distintas actividades valorables en los distintos componentes de la evaluación. El objetivo principal de este nuevo sistema es reducir la tasa de abandono prematuro de la asignatura por parte de los estudiantes y la consecuente mejora de sus resultados académicos en la misma. REFERENCIAS. [1] RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA, E. A. CARRILLO ANDRÉS, A. SERRANO CASARES, F. DOMÍNGUEZ MUÑOZ, F. "La evaluación continua y la tutoría virtual como herramientas eficientes en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de los estudiantes”. En Actas VII Congreso Nacional de Ingeniería Termodinámica, (Bilbao 15, 16 y 17 de junio de 2011)

A study of the effect of noise and occlusion on the accuracy of convolutional neural networks applied to 3D object recognition

In this work, we carry out a study of the effect of adverse conditions, which characterize real-world scenes, on the accuracy of a Convolutional Neural Network applied to 3D object class recognition. Firstly, we discuss possible ways of representing 3D data to feed the network. In addition, we propose a set of representations to be tested. Those representations consist of a grid-like structure (fixed and adaptive) and a measure for the occupancy of each cell of the grid (binary and normalized point density). After that, we propose and implement a Convolutional Neural Network for 3D object recognition using Caffe. At last, we carry out an in-depth study of the performance of the network over a 3D CAD model dataset, the Princeton ModelNet project, synthetically simulating occlusions and noise models featured by common RGB-D sensors. The results show that the volumetric representations for 3D data play a key role on the recognition process and Convolutional Neural Network can be considerably robust to noise and occlusions if a proper representation is chosen.This work has been supported by the Spanish Government DPI2013-40534-R grant for the SIRMAVED project, also supported with FEDER funds. This work has also been funded by the grant “Ayudas para Estudios de Máster e Iniciación a la Investigación” from the University of Alicante